#It's been an annoyingly crazy 3 weeks

[qquipart]

Another unhinged update!

I had 2 people pass in the span of a week! So I flew cross country twice in 3 days.

I am so so so drained but doing okay!

I forgot in the original post that arcane came out in Nov so... Yeah. Brain rot is real. Lmao. But I'm tired rn.

I finally get to make my own ao3 unhinged update notes!

Sorry I haven't been active, I got hit by a car!

(I'm okay!)

I might not post too much until next year, I might post a bunch, depends on my boredom.

[luveline]

there’s this scene in the office where pam falls asleep on jim during a conference at work, he doesn’t move her at all and even stays until after the meeting is over just to let her sleep!!! do u think u could write something similar for our annoyingly sweet coworker! james?? love u

love u <3 —James may not like you, but he’s a good pillow. fem, 1k

“Today we’re gonna talk about workplace satisfaction.” 

James crosses his arms over his chest. The yawn he suppresses threatens to make his jaw crack, his eyes heavy not a minute into the presentation. 

“I know all about that,” Sirius says under his breath. 

Remus needles him in the arm with his elbow. It might’ve been the best dumb luck in the world to get to work with his best friends, but not even their joking can make this meeting less mind-numbing. He covers his mouth with his hand and settles in. 

“We sent around a survey this last week and we’ve had everyone’s responses. The results are anonymous, but we do want to touch on where we, as a company, are going wrong. Our first category was day to day working.” 

You yawn. James turns his head to watch you, and with the lights dimmed, he’s not sure you notice. You cover your mouth with both hands, your eyes failing to reopen for a few long, admittedly humorous seconds. He likes how your lashes look stuck together, and the way you rub your nose afterward. It’s cute. 

What’s not cute is your shaking knees. You press them together, but you’re sitting awkwardly, and they tremble at the strange position. James wonders what it is you’re upto that’s making you so tired lately. You seem down; he stapled his fingertip earlier in a crazy mishap of which he was at no fault and you didn’t even laugh. You took his hand and pulled out the staple. 

You’ve been acting super weird. 

“So about half of you expressed that you feel like you aren’t allowed the breaks that you need. While it’s encouraged you all take a ten minute break from your screens every other hour, you feel penalised when you do, and we want to change that. Do any of you guys have anything to say? This is the time to speak your thoughts.” 

Remus raises his hand. James loves him more than anyone in the world. “Whenever I try to take a break around lunchtime, you ask me if I can wait until lunch. I don’t think needing breaks from the screen should wait, or detract from my legal break time.” 

“What we’re trying to do is encourage you guys to make the most of your working time without hurting yourselves.” 

A great non answer. You make a soft sound and James turns with a smile, expecting to find you smothering a laugh, and instead seeing a great eyeful of your neck. Your head has fallen back, your back slouching under the weight of yourself as your leg begins to drift toward his. 

Poor girl, he thinks. 

“What about the kitchen tap?” someone asks. 

Your boss sighs. “What about it?” 

James leans down to be your height. He can imagine the neck ache, the stiffness, and so when he brings his arm up to touch the shoulder closest to his, it’s with sympathy, if not fondness. 

You make another soft sound like a snuffle and rest your face on his shoulder.

James looks away. Looks back, tracing the soft roundness of your forehead, your nose, your cheeks and your lips, pouting ever so slightly in your dozing. He’s thought often that you were awarded a face too sweet for who you are. What evil demon are you, to treat him like he’s stupid and to smile at him in your way? Sometimes he gets so mad at you for it that he thinks about grabbing you, and yanking your face to his, and then he feels so guilty for wanting to grab you at all that he leaves your mug where it is in the cupboard. It’s not nice to want to kiss you with any sort of force. 

It’s not nice wanting to kiss you at all, because it isn’t a joke, he really doesn’t like you sometimes. 

But what’s not to like about you now? 

Lately he feels this weird bridge forming between you, like you could be civil, or better. You rub your nose into his shoulder and he holds his breath, worried his moving chest will jolt you. Something must be really getting to you if you’re sleeping at work. He should ask if you’re alright, when you’re awake. 

He doesn’t think he can. 

“Alright, guys. Let’s talk about customer service.” 

You’re demure. James thinks it and bites his own tongue, hard and accidental, flinching at the sudden pain. You mumble against him and he quickly stills, his heart pounding. Fuck, he hates this. Why does he feel like this? He didn’t mean to jostle you. 

Your hand curls around his arm like you’re telling him to stay still. 

He should take a photo of you for blackmail purposes. If not blackmail, mild humiliation. He can email it to everyone before you wake up, zoom in on your nose pressed rough to his arms, your deep exhales warm on his shirt. 

James rubs your elbow for reasons he can’t understand.

The meeting is torturously long, inanely boring. You rouse when your coworkers clap politely at the end of the presentation, James’ hand now returned to his leg. He looks resolutely at the front of the room, your gaze a heat on his cheek, before you look down and rub your eyes. 

“Sorry, James,” you murmur. 

“It’s okay. Don’t mention it.” 

That’s what’s best, right? You have these insane moments of togetherness and never, ever talk about them. 

“Did I miss much?” you ask. 

Pillow and minute keeper? James doesn’t think so. “Should’ve paid attention.” 

“Did he talk about the tap in the kitchen?” 

“If you were meant to know, you’d know, hm?” You yawn and blink to yourself all soft with sleep, and James debates giving in for longer than he’d care to admit. “He did talk about the tap,” he says. 

“Is he fixing it?” you ask. 

“Couldn’t hear him over your snoring, sorry.”

[l2vedive]

DOUBLE TAKE w. joshua hong

wedding au ; kinda meeting the family trope + fluff and crack (730)

pairing: hong jisoo (joshua) x fem!reader

featuring: kim mingyu as your cousin

note: thought about this on a whim during a car ride to a wedding anniversary party i attended. enjoy !! please rb and like <3

you’re standing in a sea of pastel-dressed guests, the soft hum of chatter and clinking glasses filling the garden. it’s a beautiful evening—peach-coloured skies, fairy lights strung across trees, and the distant strains of a string quartet playing something vaguely familiar. you spot mingyu, your cousin and the groom of the lovely event, laughing with a few friends near the buffet table. he’s always been the golden boy of the family—charming, successful, and annoyingly smug about it.

and that’s when you see him.

joshua.

you’ve never personally met him before, only knowing about him during the wedding rehearsals as a former wedding singer about three years ago from one of the bride's band of bridesmaids. you thought to yourself about how with a face like that, how could anyone still be single. there’s no denial in that.

there was something about the way he carried himself while balancing a plate of hors d'oeuvres with an easy smile. he’s tall, lean, with a soft kind of confidence that doesn’t need to shout to be noticed. joshua looks up, and for a brief moment, your eyes meet.

your mind races. mingyu had spent the last week teasing you about being single, nudging you about how everyone in the family was settling down except you. “what’s taking so long? don’t you have anyone?” he’d asked with that insufferable grin.

and just like that, an idea blooms. a ridiculous one at that. a crazy idea that makes you hope would work despite not thinking about the logistics of it.

you make your way across the crowd, weaving through clusters of guests, until you’re standing right next to him. “hi,” you say, flashing your most disarming smile.

he glances at you, startled but polite. “uh, hi?”

“listen,” you lower your voice, leaning in slightly as you draw out the plan. “i know this is going to sound strange, but could you pretend to be my boyfriend? just for a moment. it’s complicated.”

joshua's brows shoot up in surprise, and you can see the gears turning in his head. “pretend ?” he echoes. “why?”

“i’ll explain later,” you promise, grabbing his arm before he can protest. “please, just trust me.”

before he can respond, you’re pulling him towards mingyu who is chatting up a few of the bride's own guests.

“gyu!” you call out in a tune, your voice bright and cheerful.

your cousin turns, grinning as always. “(your name), there you are!” he goes in for a hug before his eyes flicker to joshua, curiosity sparking. “and who’s this?”

you squeeze joshua’s arm lightly, as if urging him to play along. “this,” you announce with a casual confidence you don’t feel, “is joshua. my boyfriend .”

mingyu’s grin falters for a split second before he recovers. “boyfriend?” he repeats, a touch of disbelief colouring his tone.

“yes, boyfriend,” you reply smoothly, shooting mingyu a pointed look as if daring him to question you further.

joshua, to his credit, doesn’t miss a beat. the man next to you extends a hand, his expression friendly but calm. “nice to meet you, man. (your name) has told me a lot about you.”

mingyu shakes his hand, still looking slightly suspicious. “funny, she’s never mentioned you before.”

“oh, you know how she is,” joshua says with a laugh, playing along effortlessly. “always keeps me as her little secret.” you stand up a little bit straighter when you realise his hand has moved to rest on the small of your back.

you can’t help but feel a pang of gratitude for how natural he’s making this look.

but then mingyu’s eyes narrow, a sly grin creeping onto his face. “you must be serious if she’s introducing you now. what’s next? a wedding?”

you freeze, scrambling to think of an answer but joshua speaks up before you do. he chuckles, pulling you closer. “funny you should mention that,” he says, his tone light and teasing, “we’re actually engaged.”

“what ?! ” you and mingyu exclaim in unison, though for very different reasons.

you shoot joshua a wide-eyed look, but he just shrugs, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “you dragged me into this,” he whispers under his breath, lips barely moving, “might as well commit.”

mingyu looks utterly delighted. “engaged? well, this is news! congratulations, you two. shall i announce this during the toast? ooh, the family would be so glad to—,”

you cut him off before he could continue and eventually inform the rest of the guests about your endeavours. "everything's fine, thank you!"

“we’ll let you get back to hosting,” joshua says smoothly, steering you away from mingyu before the other man can protest.

once you’re safely out of earshot, you whirl around to face him. “engaged? really ? ”

joshua grins, entirely unapologetic. “what? you needed help, and it seemed like the logical next step.”

you stare at him, torn between annoyance and reluctant admiration. “you’re unbelievable.”

“and yet, you’re still holding my arm,” he points out, his smile softening.

“so, what’s the plan now, fiancée? ”

— please do not copy , translate or repost any of my works anywhere.

© l2vedive on tumblr

[nyxiswrites1200]

I just want a whole sub!sam Winchester like cuddles and everything sweet like a touch deprived Sam PLSSSS

💕 𝑨𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 💕

Sam Winchester x GN!Reader

An: Hey love! Thank you for the request <3 I love writing about Sammy so this was a super cute idea. I need to write more sub scenarios 🤭 I'm sorry it's so short and it took me so long 😭😭 It's been a crazy week, but I hope you still like it.

----

It'd been an annoyingly rough week. Dean decided to take a drive and grab some food whilst you and Sam stayed in the motel room.

Sam groaned as he laid face down on the bed, his hair still damp from the shower. You chuckle softly as you sit next to him.

"You okay?" You ask softly as you ruffle his hair. "Just glad to be done with that stupid hunt" he mumbles before turning over to face you.

"Yeah, me too" you smile as you reach over and caress his cheek. Sam leans into your touch as he sighs. "Come here" he gives you that shit eating grin before dragging you onto the bed, he lays on top of you.

You can't help but chuckle as he places himself between your thighs and lays his head against your chest.

"God, I missed you" he says softly as he rubs your waist with his hands. You begin to play in his hair as you relax with him. "I guess we haven't had much time for each other, huh?".

Sam shook his head, not bothering to lift it from your chest. You can't help but chuckle. He's always so endearing when he gets like this. You thread a hand into his hair, feeling through his messy brown hair as he lets out a relaxed sigh of contentment.

This leads to you cupping Sam's face and placing kisses all over his cheeks and lips. Sam can't help but feel his face flush as you shower him with affection.

"You're so cute, Sammy" you chuckle as you kiss him again on the lips. He groans in fake annoyance as he buries his face back into your chest. "Yeah, I'm totally adorable..." He says sarcastically "You are" you chuckle.

"Just comfort your boyfriend" he says with a smirk as he hugs your waist.

[hannahluvsbillie]

miss me?

★~ pairing : billie eilish x reader

★~ cw : none

a/n : this fic is so messy and it’s absolute dog shit but i have crazy writers block rn im sorry guys 😣😣

a/n 2 : no this isn’t a part of the casual series!! trying to aim for this week or next for part 3

the sounds of blaring music and people talking filled your ears, constantly. you were dragged to this party.

your friends say it’s because you haven’t been out often since- well since you and billie broke up.

but how can they blame you? she was your soul tie, your other half. and they think you can get over her in a couple of weeks? you can only wish it was that easy.

you lean your head back on the back of the couch, looking at how the lights flash annoyingly bright colors.

god you just wanted to go home.

well, that was until you hear a familiar voice.

your head snaps to the side, only to see billie. she wasn’t supposed to be here, you hadn’t seen her in months.

your breathing speeds up, it feels like you haven’t seen her in years. she looks so different- yet the same.

her hair is the same, except now it’s just black. she changed the red roots you loved so much.

her voice was the same, her laugh, not that you’d expect that to change, it just felt foreign to hear that sound again after not hearing it for months.

you see her look over in your direction, if you weren’t staring at her in absolute awe, you wouldn’t of seen the way her eyes widen just a millimeter when she sees you.

it seems like you both didn’t expect to see each other again.

it’s felt like you two are planets apart, watching her live through social media, listening to her new songs just to realize who they’re about.

before you know it, she’s walking over. you look down at your phone, trying to ignore her gaze.

“hey, haven’t seen you in a minute.”

she says, her voice as soft and playful as you remember it. it felt like rediscovering your once favorite song.

you look up at her from your phone, your eyebrows raising just a smidge.

“hi” is all you manage to get out before she speaks again

“you seem like you don’t want to be here.” she says, she notices the way your eyes are sunken in just a little, you look skinnier, and not in a good way. you look so familiar but so different.

“yeah, i really don’t.” you say, looking away from her gaze, looking at a wall beside you. anything to ignore those eyes.

before you know it, she’s sitting next to you on the couch.

“so, how have you been?” she says, her voice sounds like she knows the answer already. she also knows your going to lie.

“uh- fine.” you say, looking back at her.

but not into her eyes. you couldn’t handle it.

you could smell the alcohol in her breath, since when did she drink?

your brows furrow in confusion for just a second, before you relax your face and take a sip of your drink, letting silence fall over the both of you.

“how’s shark?” you ask out of pure awkwardness, what else were you supposed to ask her?

“oh uh- he’s fine. i think he misses you though.” she says, laughing softly. she looks up to see you smiling with her, she’s missed your laugh.

silence once again falls over the two of you, not having any words left to say. but there was this unspoken tension, like you needed to talk but didn’t know how to start the conversation.

“since when did you drink?” you say, looking down at my feet.

you glance up at her, looking into her eyes. her eyes are no longer on yours.

she realizes you noticed the smell of alcohol in her breath.

“since we ended things.” she says, sounding almost embarrassed. she was never a drinker.

your eyes widen for a moment, nodding slowly.

did she really start drinking then? there’s no way. she seems so.. good now.

“oh.” is all you manage to get out, not knowing what to say to that. was it your fault?

you hear her take a deep breath, as if she’s gaining the courage to say something. you glance over at her to see her looking at you like your the only person in the world.

“i really miss you y/n.” she speaks, speaking fast, like she didn’t want you to hear it.

your head snaps over to look at her, you barely heard her over the music and people chatting, but you heard it. loud and clear.

you take a deep breath, it was like everything came back to you then. specifically why you two broke up. the constant fighting and screaming matches, the secretiveness of it all.

“billie you can’t do this to me.” you say, softer then anything else you’ve said. she immediately looks away from you, as if she realizes she just fucked everything up for a second time.

“yeah- fuck- sorry.” she says, grabbing her drink from the table and getting up. she stands up, looking at you.

“just- call me if you ever feel the same.” she says quickly, before walking away, into the crowd of the party.

[jakeyt]

Covet: Chapter 7 (Part 1 of 2)

Pairing: Jake Kiszka x f!Reader

Covet Summary:

Life was good. No, life was great. 

Was. 

Until.

Jake Kiszka crashed into the picture.

You welcomed him into your life—your home. 

Yes, he was your best friend’s twin. But, he was also the one who would end up disrupting your whole world with his attitude, his troubles, and the annoyingly natural way he lured you in. 

Jake Kiszka came with so much you really didn’t want.

At least that’s what you tried to convince yourself.

Warnings: MINORS DNI (18+); allusions to ~future happenings~...and that is all i'll say (enter at your own risk); smutty smutty smut; oral sex m!receiving; unprotected p in v sex (lmk if i missed anything that is triggering to you!)

Chapter Word Count: 10.4k+

Covet Masterlist

a/n: hello, lovelies! i present to you the first half of chapter 7!

my personal life is crazy and my job is crazy (understatement). aaand the cherry on top: my dog chewed up my laptop cord this week! 🙃 that instance made my computer completely inaccessible (since i suck at keeping it charged) until today when the new charger arrived in the mail.

this is a shorter chapter than what i'm used to posting (and edited MUCH more lightly than what i’m used to), but the second half is not completely done yet!

i just felt like i needed to post something since i promised a chapter yesterday. i truly hate not keeping my word. hopefully this first part is enough to tie you over :)

ty to my sis @joshym for being a fucking amazing sister, talking through ideas w me, and proofreading for me (plus some) <3 ilysfm

and ty to @alwaysonthemend for being an a1 friend and supporting + encouraging me always. u r truly amazing & ilysm <3

(((the dream at the beginning of this chapter is alluding to something /extremely/ important that is coming in this story, and i've been dying for y'all to find out what is coming since day 1.......)))

soooo, all of this to say, i hope you enjoy the first half of chapter 7 <3

-🌼🌼🌼-

Screaming. 

So much screaming. 

In the dimness of the new dream, it seemed as though this obtuse, unintelligible screaming was coming from . . .you? 

Why did you feel swollen?

And why was everything hurting? 

There were also tears. Tears you felt coming from your tired eyes, rushing down your cheeks in steady tracks. Mass amounts of sweat exuded in hot beads from your forehead. 

You tried to reach a hand up to wipe at your soaked face. 

But the hand you were trying to move was stuck in a vice grip. 

Looking over, you tried to decipher the person holding your hand so tight. 

You were met with a familiar face, his eyebrows scrunched so tightly together. You’d seen them like that before. But now, it felt almost sacred seeing his concentration. 

In your dreamscape, you couldn’t tell what was going on, but it seemed like a long time coming. All you knew was that this was an important moment. Pieces were clicking. A hole was being filled in your broken heart.

And this man with you —he could only do so much. It was bothering him. You could tell that much. His forehead, wet with sweat, from his own stress. His lip was shiny with perspiration, too . . . 

Funnily enough, you noticed there was something else taking up residence on the handsome face you knew so well. . . 

. . . a mustache? 

Whose face was it? The dream-veil was still covering the distinction from you. . .he just felt so safe. 

It seemed the mystery man was struggling with his inability to steal the pain from you. He didn’t want you feeling it. He wanted to feel it for you. He hated not being able to help you more.

This person, you knew that he was your anchor at this moment. Your only saving grace. The only person you wanted near you. 

His long hair was pulled up. 

Then, his soft voice helped you to fully see him through the veil of your dream.

Jake. 

“You’ve got this,” he encouraged, his eyes locking with yours. His voice drenched you in relief and overwhelming comfort, in spite of your pained state. “It’s going to be okay. You’ve got this.”

But what was your current state? You couldn’t even distinguish . . .

Something in the back of your brain told you to look down. Why was there so much blood? 

And why couldn’t you see your feet? Weird.

Suddenly, a loud scream tore through you again. You felt the scream in your muscles. In your bones. Damn. You felt it—everywhere. Sweat was exuding from every pore.

Tendrils of your hair were plastered to your forehead.

But in this position, with all you were feeling, you couldn’t be bothered to push the sticky hair away from your face. It was bothering the hell out of you, though. 

This was all too much.

You didn’t need to worry long, though, because the man, now confirmed as Jake, reached up to smooth it away for you. 

Oh, he was amazing. 

But fuck—the pain. 

Another scream ripped through you—

Fuckfuckfuckshitdamnfuuuuuck!—

Suddenly, you heard something from outside of your pain. 

Your eyes flew to Jake, then to the sound. 

It was coming from somewhere else. 

Not this place. 

It was grounding. It was reassuring — a steady, secure thrumming pulling you—

Your eyes shot open. Your body was sticky with sweat—reminiscent of that in your dream. (Thankfully, there wasn’t as much as there had been in your subconsciousness.)

Mostly, you were surprised by the lack of screaming. Screaming hadn't been what’d awoken you. 

Strange.

No, it was the steadily thrumming heart below your hand, drawing you back to a safe reality. 

That was the sound. What had pulled you back. 

Jake’s warm, firm chest that held the steady beat was breathing full, sleeping breaths underneath you. 

And a strong, comforting arm around you, keeping you close. 

You took a minute to regain your current, real surroundings. 

It was peaceful. Still. 

The serenely sleeping man underneath you. 

Your body was still on top of his, the only evidence from your dream being your body, which was sticky with sweat from your exertion in the dream. But other than that, everything was just. . . calm.

Everything was calm. Everything was okay.

You felt true peace. There wasn’t underlying stress from what had happened in your sleep. 

It made you desperate to just focus on soaking up the feeling you were experiencing now. 

You heard birds singing outside. The morning sun was peeking through the small opening of his black curtains. . . 

And he was. . . Peace. Present. Real.

You had a hand laying on his chest, your cheek atop it, and the other arm, wrapped around his midsection. 

The feeling was reminiscent of the satisfying feeling of finding a puzzle piece for which you’d been searching. And finally placing it where it belonged.

You used the hand that was resting with a cheek atop it, on Jake’s heated chest, to level your chin to turn and observe him. 

His eyes fluttered behind his lids. His mouth was slightly ajar, his top row of teeth peeking slightly from behind his parted lips. You grinned at the way he had the slightest curve to his lips. . .not quite smiling, but almost. One of your favorite things about Jake’s mouth was how his top lip curled anytime he opened his mouth with a grin. And it curled just the same as he slept. 

There were steady breaths, lifting your cheek slightly. You took a closer look at his other features. His sharp nose. . .not quite the same as Josh’s. No, Jake’s was just a tad bit rounder. But still sharp. 

A handsome nose.

And. . . was that . . . A deviated septum? How was he not snoring? 

Somehow, as if on cue, the slightest snore left him. It was only momentary, and it made a grin fit to your lips. 

Your eyes flitted down, and your brain fully registered the feeling of being wrapped around his naked body. And fuck, it felt good. You took notice of how it felt to have your bare breasts pressed into his naked side and chest. It felt so right to be so close to him. To be skin to skin.

Your thigh was tucked between his, and when you moved to lay back against his chest, your thigh grazed his smooth sac. He was so neatly groomed. 

Moving your leg again, just the slightest bit, you relished in the rousing feeling of being tucked into him. You felt the muscles in Jake’s thighs react to it. His stomach tensed underneath your arm. His dick twitched against your thigh. 

You felt your entrance gather wetness, your body craving him.

A low moan came from Jake, accompanied by a deep breath through his nose and a hearty yawn, his chest rising beneath your hand. 

He was awake. 

And all of these noises he made, combined with his manhood against your leg made your heart rate increase. 

Your core ached, where it was pressed against his skin.

When you looked up to survey him, you noticed he was already looking at you. His eyes, still hazy from sleep, but taking every piece of you in, nonetheless.

Your heart hammered in your chest.

“Hi,” he quietly initiated, his voice matching the quietness of the room with a soft timbre. A gentle grin flitted across his lips.

You could feel your cheeks heat. You didn’t know how to react to him being awake. It all became too real. The situation you were in. 

Suddenly, it all came flying back to you that nothing had really been solved last night. 

You tensed the slightest bit.

This was Jake. The roommate who’d been fucking with you in more ways than one since he’d crossed the threshold of your home. 

You weren’t friends. Was he quite possibly the most sexy, fuckable man you’d ever met? Hell fuckin’ yeah. 

But this couldn’t be right. The plan you’d had before to have it be a one time thing seemed the only logical thing to cross your mind at that moment. 

Though, his eyes were begging for you, pulling you in, practically golden in the early morning sun. 

Jake wasn’t all bad. Not even close, actually. 

He’d been a hurting person. A healing person.

Recently enough, he’d shown a different, decent version of himself in little acts and things he’d say. 

His eyes sparkled in the sun, showing you little pieces of him inside. Pieces you wanted to know.

And he was, undoubtedly, someone who drew you in. 

Your mind was screaming at you. 

Why do you keep fighting this, y/n?! You heard the small voice in your head berating you. Just let yourself enjoy something for once.

But—he was, by nature, an asshole. And the most unpredictable man you’d ever met.

And you couldn’t chance Josh finding out that you’d corrupted his brother’s dream. You were not doing to be that girl. 

Though, try as a you might, a huge fucking part of you wanted to give in to the voice in your mind: savor the moment, soak it up a bit longer. Drown in him. 

Let yourself explore. Fuck it all.

You saw him reach up to your head, and brush some hair behind your hair, lazily. Sweetly. 

“Whose record player day is it?” He asked, continuing to play with your hair, making you lean in closer.

Fuck.

You squeezed your eyes shut at the sudden realization. 

Records.

The Black and Gold.

You worked today. You’d almost forgotten.

So, before you could get more comfortable, and give any of this any more of a chance in your mind, you straightened and bolted upright. 

His covers fell from your chest, and your skin goosebumped, your nipples peaking in the cool air of his room. You quickly covered yourself.

“Y/n?” He mumbled, his smooth voice still sleepy behind you as he grasped at your hip. You felt your skin tingle at his touch, your legs nearly trembling for him already. 

He was so close. Your body was reeling at him being so near to you. If only you could stay with him. 

Ignore any sensible thought.

Fuck. 

“Shit,” you muttered, lunging further into the ruffled covers, fumbling around for your phone to check the time. Then it came to you. It was definitely still sitting in your purse, where you’d dropped it on the table the night before. 

So, before you could think any better of it, you threw the covers completely off of you, bare, round ass jiggling as you ran to the dining table to grab your phone. 

Why were you hoping he’d watched the natural sway of your ass as you’d left?

What in the fuck had you let yourself do last night? You knew what. But why?

And why had you let yourself lay there and savor this morning with Jake? Why had you allowed yourself to quite literally sink into him? 

He’d been warm and welcoming, y/n, that’s why, your mind fluttered with a fluster of thoughts as it calmly spoke over you. You want him. It’s okay.

You shook your head at the thoughts, taking your phone, holding it to your chest and closing your bedroom door behind you to let yourself breathe. 

Now was not the time to consider it. 

You were trying to beat the clock to get to work.

But you needed a quick shower before you even started your day.

-🌼🌼🌼-

You had walked into the quaint little store, just in time to adjust to your surroundings before the clock struck 8 a.m., customers filtering through the door soon after, the bell chiming every time. 

But, in the quiet times of the day, your mind kept shifting to the handsome, restful man you’d left behind that morning. What had he been thinking when you left? 

Why did you have to leave? Why couldn’t you just accept the wonderful feelings tempting you?

Why did you even fucking care? 

It was not worth the time or effort. 

He’d shown his ass too many times. There were too many things to risk. 

You were glad your shift at the Black and Gold had been there to tear you away before you could consider anything else. 

As you checked out a sweet elderly couple and wished them on their way, your mind wandered to your dream. 

What had that dream been about? It was taunting you, allusive and fleeting. 

And Jake’s heartbeat, being what’d brought you back to reality. 

It just wasn’t normal in the slightest for something like that to bring you back to real life.

You were used to waking with the same blood-curdling screams you’d emit in a dream. Granted, it had been awhile since you’d even had a screaming dream. Years, really.

Why the hell had you just had one again?

Every single time in the past you had had a dream with terrible screaming, you’d awoken with the screams, too. 

But this time, your throat didn’t feel dry from waking with screams. Your mouth wasn’t open. Your body wasn’t tense.

And with how peacefully Jake had been slumbering beneath you, you’d used that as evidence that you hadn’t woken with screaming, too. 

He would’ve heard it. You were loud. 

One more thing—the screams from your dream hadn’t been like the screams from dreams past that had scared you. No, the screams from this fleeting dream had felt oddly fulfilling. 

Like you were on the cusp of something wonderfully new.

The details from the dream were quickly trickling from your mind. Like a faucet you couldn’t turn off. Not staying put like your dreams normally would. 

It was like your mind legitimately couldn’t hold onto this dream.

Huh.

All of it was honestly a very welcome change.

Since you were a little girl, you’d had extremely vivid dreams. They had a bad habit of sticking with you, haunting you more than you’d ever liked. 

“The dreams are due to your trauma, sweetie,” a therapist had tried to soothe you once as a little girl. “You use your dreams as a means to escape your sad reality,” she’d assumed. You had tried to understand the counsel the best you could as a child. And then it had gotten even deeper, the therapist delving in. “You have a deep seeded want to control things. . . I mean, understandably, honey. . .and maybe, since your dreams are something you can create and control, it is the only time you feel you have some semblance of control over what’s going on.” 

In the cushy chair across from the wrinkly counselor with bright red nail polish on her fingernails, you’d sat there, barely registering what it all meant. You had been eleven, for God’s sake. 

So, when you left counseling that day, you had just shrugged it off. It didn’t make any sense to you as an eleven year old girl. 

Your therapist had been an older woman with gray hair and kind eyes. She’d been nice enough. Your grandparents had taken you to her as a child. 

For a year. 

Religiously.

Sometimes, you and Elsie would attend together. Those were the best sessions. Other times, you two would swap therapy weeks. One week she’d go, the next week you would. 

But you hated going without her. Being by yourself, you felt totally trapped, listening to words you really didn’t understand at all. Sometimes, Els could translate some of the things the therapist said that were more difficult for you to understand. 

But sessions that got super deep? Too deep? You didn’t even care to ask Elsie. You didn’t want to. They always got pushed to the back of your mind. 

It was just plain uncomfortable. 

Back then, your dreams were much more frequent, and oftentimes turned into full-fledged nightmares. You were plagued by them. That alone had made you question your therapist saying it was a way for you to “control” things. You hadn’t felt any control in those “dreams”. 

With those dreams (or nightmares, rather), you would wake up— crying, yelling, and thrashing around. Elsie was usually allowed to stay with you on those nights. . .and she would stay, combing through your hair, shushing you, until you would calm down enough to drift back to sleep, sobs sometimes still choking you as your eyes would close, back to a shaky sleep. 

Now, as an adult, there weren’t as many nightmares as there were dreams. Some that made sense. Some that didn’t. Most of them, you remembered. 

The main theme of all of your most recent dreams had been much more enjoyable than your dreams as a child. And the most recent ones. . .all of them had been about Jake. And they were always fun.

Fucking mind blowing. 

But what in the hell had that last one been about? What was happening? Why were you screaming? The pain? And why was Jake there at all? 

He wasn’t ever there for the bad dreams. 

But had that one this morning been a bad one? You honestly couldn’t tell.

The remnants of it were leaving your headspace way too quickly for you to be able to give it much more thought, anyway.

-🌼🌼🌼-

Just as your shift was about to end, you saw a vinyl get placed on the counter, across from you. 

An Evening With Silk Sonic.

And then you saw the perfectly manicured nails that tapped against the record.

You’d know those hands anywhere. 

Your eyes flicked up to your sister’s deep blue ones. 

Rounding the counter in no time, you were hugging her tightly to you. She smelled of vanilla shampoo and her go-to Bath and Bodyworks body spray. Champagne Toast.

Damn, being away from her sucked such ass. Being close to her again felt heavenly. 

You separated from her, both of you leaning against the counter in the same way, at the same time. The store was occupied by only a few customers.

“What the fuck are you doing here, bitch?” You questioned her, laughing at the situation. What a fantastic surprise. 

Strange, you’d been thinking of her all day, and now this had happened. 

“What a shitty welcoming committee,” she giggled, too. You smiled. “Damn.” 

Going around the counter, back to the register, you eyed the clock on the wall opposite you. 

“Perfect timing, Els,” you commented, taking the vinyl to scan. You applied your employee discount, bagged it, and slid it back to her. “I’m off in like ten minutes. Also, you have this record already.”

She grinned. “Just felt like stopping by. And you are not one to judge for having vinyl dupes,” she winked. “I also might’ve gotten a text from Josh telling me of an upcoming show.”

Shock flooded you, a beam taking over your features. “Are you and Josh. . .?!”

“No,” she played with the handle of the bag. A quiet smile was on her face. Content, but obviously wanting. You knew her. “Just texting. But he asked if I’d come to this one happening tomorrow, and I figured: you only live once, it’s summer, and he’s hot as fuck. So I decided I should probably take him up on it.”

“Well, I’m a little hurt it’s not for me,” you joked. 

“Get over it, bitch. You were my first stop,” she rolled her eyes. 

“I’ll never forgive you. But I definitely support this whole Josh and Elsie thing,” you fist pumped the air. “Fuck yeah. About damn time you admit how you feel about him.”

She slapped your fist out of the air. And with a laugh on her lips, she added, “I’m going to see Grandma and Grandpa,” she grabbed her bag to go, already pushing the door to the store open. 

“Els, I get off in less than ten minutes. Just wait,” you paused. “Also, what are you gonna do? Take a fucking Uber? Just wait for me and we’ll take my car.”

She groaned with a fake exasperated sigh. “Fine. But hurry,” she slung the bag over her arm, letting the bell chime as the door shut. She checked her phone, mindlessly scrolling as she added, “By the way, I’m staying with you.”

At first, you were excited. 

And then, your heart jumped into your throat when you remembered what your sister would be walking right into.

Fuck.

-🌼🌼🌼-

You couldn’t remember for the life of you if he had rehearsal or worked tonight. Surely they didn’t have rehearsal since they’d just had a gig last night. That was practice enough for their show tomorrow. 

But he did have the occasional client on Sundays. 

As Elsie walked around one of your grandparents’ gardens with your Grandma, you stood to the side and pulled up the text thread between yourself and Jake.

A few blue bubbles on your end, with nothing from him. 

See? This is why you shouldn’t pursue him, a bothersome voice perked up in your head. The same one that always convinced you out of him. He is flaky. Can’t even respond to texts.

And still, you typed yet another text to him that would most likely be ignored, too.

It was admittedly nerve-wracking to even think about sending the text. Your chest tightened, hands getting sweaty. Dumb. You weren’t a fucking teenager with a damned crush, for God’s sake. 

You bit the bullet and sent him the text. You were an adult, dammit.

And so, the first thing you said to him since he’d fucked you into his mattress was:

You, 4:54 p.m.: Please don’t be home tonight. Find a place to go. 

Well, that was real nice, y/n, said the other voice. The one that brought reassurance to your lingering, recurring feelings for Jake. Very sweet of you.

You still couldn’t decide if that voice was the devil or the angel.

You, 4:54 p.m.: Also, don’t you dare tell a soul about what happened last night. 

And surprisingly, he texted back almost immediately. You got butterflies for God-knows-what reason. Ridiculous.

Had he been waiting for you to say something? No. Surely not.

Jake, 4:56 p.m.: Already had plans. But thanks for the instructions. Appreciate it

You growled quietly under your breath and narrowed your eyes at the screen. 

Though you didn’t want to admit it, your stomach did drop the slightest bit at him saying he had other plans. Were the plans lessons with a client? A girl? A girl client? 

Why did it matter? Ugh. Absolutely ridiculous.

You suppressed the juvenile train of thought and hastily typed back, holding tight to how he’d initially irritated you.

You, 4:57 p.m.: Are you going to fucking tell people? You better not.

Jake, 4:57 p.m.: No, y/n. I won’t tell Josh. jesus christ

You couldn’t believe him. Pouty ass. Always concerned with Josh this and Josh that. How was he so blind to even think—?!

Deciding you didn’t want to think about him, and rather enjoy time with your family, you clicked your phone off and stuffed it in your jeans pocket. 

You didn’t need to worry about him for the time being, getting a decent enough response to your initial text. 

But as you trailed after the sound of your  Grandmother’s voice, locating her and Elsie, talking about her red roses, your mind went back to wondering. . .what were his plans? 

-🌼🌼🌼-

“I swear to all that is holy if Silk Sonic doesn’t tour, I’m going to riot,” Elsie remarked as ‘After Last Night’ came on her shuffle. 

You’d since pushed away your thoughts of your texts with Jake. 

But now, this sexy song made your insides buzz. Your mind was clouded with flashes of your night ‘last night’. 

The voice at the beginning echoed the bouts of thought that’d been following you around all day, desperate for you to keep up with them. 

You’d been ignoring them all day.

You couldn’t help it when the featured woman’s voice enveloped you.

“Mmh,

Damn, I don't even know who I was last night, 

It's just somethin' about you,

You just make me feel, mmh”

Fuck. All you could see was him. His face above you, how he felt moving in you, his hair sticking to his forehead with the delicious sweat he’d exuded. 

But—thinking too much about it was a dangerous idea. 

He was dangerous. 

Better to leave it at what it was. One time.

You couldn’t deny wanting more of what happened last night, though. . .the feeling of him was addictive. He felt so damn good. . . moving his hips just right, hitting every spot possible within you. 

But, you also couldn’t fully accept that things would be okay if you did give in to the (ludicrous) idea of more. 

He was a jerk. And you couldn’t risk what Josh would think if he ever found out. Distracting his brother from his dream.

But dammit, the memories—shiiiit. If they weren’t tugging at you, tempting you. . .

The deep, brown irises that had looked so intimately into yours as he’d taken you. Your tight body welcoming him in, his room filled with combined whimpers and moans. 

Your sister interrupted your thoughts with a deep sigh, followed by your usual shared sentiment about Bruno Mars. “Bruno can have me any fuckin’ way he wants. I will leave the door open, okay?”

But you were barely registering what she said, because your thoughts were finally giving way to being improperly preoccupied with your fucking roommate.

You’d done so well distracting yourself all day with the thoughts of your faded dream, work, Elsie, and your grandparents. . .but now that this song was on. . .

Your mind could only linger in the one place it wanted most of all. 

Damn, he’d been incredible last night. Fuck, you thought, your body feeling alert and ready for him, all over again in this moment. The best I’ve ever, ever had.

He’d known exactly what he was doing. . .a fucking pro.

Your clit throbbed at the mere thought of how he’d felt licking at you, lapping up your release. . .

The things he’d said. 

“That’s it, baby, that’s it. Let me have it.”

“I was fucking the mattress because I loved getting to tongue fuck the hell out of your perfect pussy.”

Fucking hell.

And then, when he’d been deep inside of you, stretching you out. . .

“So fucking tight.”

You crossed your legs, needing to control yourself in the presence of your sister. The friction of your jeans making it worse. Shit.

Then Jake’s smooth voice invaded your brain again. 

“I love this fuckin’ view of you, y/n,” he’d groaned, you could still feel the way his breath hit your shoulder, his dick throbbing inside. “And the way you feel like this—goddamn.”

And then there were the soft things. . .the things he’d done and said that had totally made you feel like a girl with a little crush. The comments that made your tummy flutter.

“You are so fucking beautiful, y/n. Dammit,” he’d said it with awe in his velvety tone. His voice had even hitched on his next words. “This is— you are . . .,” he’d shaken his head, and he hadn’t ever been able to come up with the words. 

You went back to that moment — where you’d been totally exposed to him, your wet center wrapped around him, his gaze not able to leave your heaving body. Vulnerability had never been your strong suit, but in that moment, more vulnerable than ever to him. . . It had been okay. 

And in this moment, reeling at the thought of it all, you felt prepared to be that opened to him a thousand times over. 

Shit. 

And finally, there’d been after. . .

“Wanna see your face,” he’d sighed, rubbing at your shoulder, ready to see you after positively fucking ruining you.

Your skin heated, thinking back on the intimacy of the moments shared.

And afterwards, snuggling into him, you had decided so many things. The main thing being that you wanted him more than just that one time. 

Why had you tried to convince yourself this morning that you couldn’t—?

And why were you still being a bitch to him over texts? Why were you insistent on not giving it a chance? 

He’s a dick, y/n, the annoying, sensible voice echoed at you. And Josh would never forgive you. 

Fuck. You were tired of the inner battle.

A hand against your shoulder, shaking you, brought you back to reality. 

Holy shit. How had you escaped so fully? 

“Earth to my fucking sister!” Elsie continued to move you, her hand grasping your arm. 

You slapped her hand away. “Jesus fuck, Elsie,” you snapped at her, looking at your arm after she released it. “You’re going to leave fingerprints! Dammit.” 

You were being dramatic, you knew this. She hadn’t gripped you that hard. But you were, admittedly, embarrassed you’d been so gone. 

So you’d get onto Elsie instead of focusing on yourself and your sexy, fuckass roommate. 

“Oh, shut the hell up, Little Miss Drama Queen,” she punched your shoulder. At your squeaky ‘ow!’, she just rolled her eyes. “You were literally absent. Nowhere near this car. La La Land. Just trying to get you the fuck back. I was talking to you.”

You huffed, rolling your eyes back at her to mask your flushed cheeks. “I’m sorry. Just out of it.”

“Why?”

“No reason.”

“Mom?”

“No.”

“Did Grandpa say something mildly offensive to you when we were there just now?”

You laughed at that. He was definitely more than only mildly offensive. But it wasn’t him. Not even close. 

“No.”

“Jake?”

Your silence answered for you. Shit. 

Speak, y/n, speak!

How did she know?!

“What the fuck did he do now?” She sassed, glancing sideways at you for a few seconds. 

Looking away, you dodged any of her accusing peeks. Needed to divert her. . .move on from her assumptions. Cover up the silence.

“Nothing,” you shifted down in your seat, your feet going up on the dash. “I didn’t even say it was him.”

“You didn’t have to.”

You looked out the window, pretending to be otherwise distracted. You hummed. 

“When did Bruno spark your interest again?” You poked back, working to make her argue about something that wasn’t Jake related.

She scoffed. “As if he ever stopped sparking my—hey! No!” She scolded, smacking your arm lightly. 

“What?!” You played dumb, rubbing your arm. “I just thought with you buying another record and with us listening—“

“Stop trying to distract me!” She clucked, stopping at a red light and turning the music down. You felt her eyes burning into the side of your skull as you stared out the windshield, now. “You little fuckin’ weasel. Don’t avoid the conversation.”

You huffed a dramatic breath. There were two drastically different parts of you feeling things right now. 

One that wanted to tell Elsie absolutely everything, because you knew she’d be the voice of reason you so desperately needed. 

And the other part that wanted you to be fair to what you’d asked of Jake. . .which would be to not tell her anything at all. 

You were also not looking forward to the shit she’d give you if you were to bare your heart to her about this. 

(Because, either way, you had a feeling you knew exactly what she’d say.)

“Elsie, it’s really nothi—.”

“Did you fuck him?”

Shit. 

Your heart was racing. 

Fuck. What would you say? 

What would you do now?

And how did she do this shit?! She’d always been able to read you like a damn book.

You swallowed thickly.

And once again, you let your silence answer for you. 

If you didn’t actually say anything, you weren’t technically telling her. . .right?

The light changed to green and minutes passed. 

It was slightly awkward. Neither of you said a word until she pulled into a parking space at your complex. 

Instead, she’d simply turned up the music in response to your silence. 

And that was unlike her. Normally, she’d have something to quip back, right away. You weren’t used to her silence.

You were freaked out.

So, as you walked up the steps to your apartment, you decided you’d be an adult, and be the first person to say something. 

“What do you want for dinner?” You asked, almost absentmindedly as you opened the door. 

Better to act oblivious. Maybe it would go away. 

She followed you in, meandering about, not acknowledging your question for a few minutes. 

You tried again, muttering her name in question, “Els?”

She got up from her crouched position to pet Stevie, and when she rose, she looked you square in the eyes with a look that could only be described as pure irritation. Her eyes were blazing. 

“What?” Elsie snapped, turning her back to you, hair swishing around her shoulders, then taking her bag to your room. Following her, you saw her plop her bag on the ground next to your bed. She hopped onto it, her feet dangling as she sat there, her eyes downcast. “Why didn’t you want to tell me?” She sounded sad, it made your heart lurch the slightest bit. And then her voice fired up again with her next question. “And why the fuck do you always act like a little puppy that’s been kicked when Jake comes up? What’s wrong with you?”

You couldn’t mask your offense. 

“What’s wrong with me?!” You choked. “Why are you acting like this?”

She squeaked, her mouth gaping. “Why am I acting like this?! Why have you been so turned off to the idea of Jake since he came into the picture?”  

“Oh, I definitely haven’t been turned off.”

It just slipped out. Shit. 

“Ha!” She leaned forward, her elbows on her thighs as she leveled you with a stare. “Then why are you trying so damn hard to deny it?” 

You decided it was pointless to reject that you’d said it. Better to just own it. She was the only person you could talk to about this, anyway. 

And you needed to talk about it. 

You momentarily felt bad for Jake that you’d closed him off to talking about it when you were about to let yourself. 

He just couldn’t be trusted to not tell the wrong person . . . Aka his twin. The last person who ever needed to know. 

Deciding you didn’t need to worry about it, you continued. 

“I just can’t pursue it, Elsie. . .we’ve talked about this,” you sighed, going about taking off your jewelry, placing it delicately where it went every night. Except last night. 

You changed out of your jeans and short sleeved button down, and into a pair of smaller comfy shorts and an oversized crop top, revealing the sliver of skin at your hips. Elsie’s eyebrow lifted at your choice in clothing, the lack of material covering your ass. Your eyes set firmly as you glared at her. “Shut up. I wear this kind of shit all the—.”

“Trying to impress your roommate with that ass?” She smirked with her question. 

You rolled your eyes, flushing at being caught in your little game you’d caught yourself playing recently. You liked him looking at you.

Yes, but you don’t need to know that, you thought. 

But she didn’t stay on it for long when she hopped off the bed to most likely dig in her bag for her own comfy clothes. When she pulled out leggings and a crop top, your suspicions were confirmed. She shut the door to your bedroom before she started changing, she smirked. “I don’t want Jake to see me naked, thank you very much.” Once fully changed, she went to put her hair up in a claw clip. You went to quip back, but she started speaking before you could. “You’re changing with the door open, for God’s sake. How many times have you sexed him up to feel comfortable enough to do that, y/n?” 

You scoffed with an eye roll, putting your own hair up in a clip. “First of all, he’s not going to be here tonight. That’s why I changed with the door open,” you pulled a couple tendrils out to frame your face. Your thoughts pulled to the idea of seeing Jake with his hair up. . .now that was a thought. You just knew he’d look so good. “And secondly, we have only. . .done it once.”

“Done it?” She guffawed. “Oh my God, y/n. . . what is it about this man that makes you sound and act like a fucking teenager?” 

Putting two hands against your face to cover it, you moaned in aggravation because now she had noticed how he made you act like a fucking school girl. Why did he have you down so bad? 

“I don’t know!” You went to sit on the ground and lean against your bed. Bringing your legs up to your chest, you wrapped your arms around them. Your chin sat atop your knees, eyes following Elsie as she took her own jewelry off and threw it in her bag. She joined you next to your sulking form, positioning her body to be facing towards you, crossing her legs. “What do I do, Elsie?” 

“Before we get into all of that, I have to ask. . . why are you being so melodramatic?” She inquired, seeming genuinely curious. “You’re making it this giant thing when it doesn’t need to be.”

Why were you making it so big? By doing that, you were giving whatever the hell this predicament was —giving Jake—way more power than necessary. 

“I don’t know.”

She squinted at you, her patience obviously wearing thin. “Okay, I’m going to need more than ‘I don’t know’ over and over again. I can’t work with that. Let’s start with the bare bones: do you think he’s cute?”

You literally cackled at that. 

“Really? Do I think he’s cute? That is such a juvenile way to—.”

“Well, you’re acting like a juvenile, so fair’s fair. Childish question for someone acting like a child.”

“Jesus. Ouch,” you responded, feeling slightly hurt. But you couldn’t deny seeing her point for exactly what it was.

She rolled her eyes. “You still haven’t answered my question.”

You decided you’d give her exactly what she wanted. 

“Firstly, have you seen him?! He’s more than fucking cute, Elsie,” you dazed off, thinking of him. His Amber-brown eyes, his tanned skin, his flowing chestnut locks, and that handsome, sharp nose you’d admired when you’d woken up. And his body. . .fuck. “He’s fucking enigmatic. . .entrancing. . .a sex god. . .,” You lost yourself in the thought of him. The way he walked with so much purpose, how confident he looked on every stage he graced. . .and how all of that upheld in the bedroom. How he—

“Oh damn. . .he’s that good?” She could’ve been eating fuckin’ popcorn with how invested she was in this conversation. “Also, glad you’re not blind. He’s sexy as hell.” 

You grinned, looking into the flecks of light filtering into your room with the evening sun. All of the things from last night. . .you felt them overwhelming your brain to help you explain. “He’s more than good. He is the perfect amount of rough and soft. . .he shows he cares about pleasing you with how purposeful—how intentional he is with every damn movement of his hips. . . And he just knew exactly where to hit inside—.”

“Oookay,” she put a hand up to stop you. Your eyes snapped up to her, realizing you’d lost yourself in thought. Your cheeks blushed of their own accord. “I’d love to hear the details, but also . . . Damn. I’ve never seen you so gotten.”

“Gotten? What is this, a Jane Austen novel?” You mocked, covering up how you’d let yourself get away. Absently, you wiped the heel of your palm against the corner of your mouth. You’d literally started drooling. 

Embarrassing. 

“Um, yeah, might as well be,” she raised a brow, smug. “And the Fifty Shades of Grey version at that.” 

“We’ve only had sex once, Elsie,” you reminded. “And it didn’t involve any of that BDSM shit. I’d rather not be compared to that novel, by the way. There are much better books with much better smut.”

“Yeah, you’re right,” she nodded. Her lips curled like the Grinch. “And it sounds like you could write your very own at this point, bitch.”

“Stop,” you shoved her shoulder. “It’s not even. . . It’s not anything. It shouldn’t happen again anyway. I need to just forget about it.”

All of that was a fucking lie. You wanted it to happen again. You never wanted to forget about it. 

And it definitely wasn’t nothing.

And Elsie knew it. She growled, shifting up, standing from the ground. Her fists were curled. “Stop being a fucking idiot, y/n! Stop lying to yourself!”

“Idiot?! I’m not being—.”

She held up a finger to stop you. And you weren’t about to say any more. She looked determined to get her piece said. 

“And it does mean something. You need to stop sulking and just have regular incredible sex with him,” she placed her clenched fists on her hips, her icy blue gaze penetrating your most stubborn thoughts. “Dammit, sis. Why are you being so obtuse about this?!” 

You shrunk back, thinking of all she said. Your chest tightened. “There’s just so much at stake,” your regular thoughts invading. “And he’s inconsistent as hell.”

“Is the possibility of what Josh would think still holding you back? Because who says he has to know? Just keep it between the two of you,” she tucked a loose hair behind her ear, a twinkle in her eye with her smirk. “And me.”

You scoffed. “You’re the idiot,” you remarked, pushing yourself up to stand and lean the backs of your thighs against the bed. Crossing your arms, you gave her a look at the mess inside your mind. “And yes. I cannot chance him finding out. . .knowing what he’d think. I wouldn’t want him to think any differently of me. I’m also stuck on not letting this get in the way—.”

“Get in the way of his dream, yada yada yada . . . On that same bullshit,” she leveled you with a straight stare. “You know what I think of all that.”

“Yes, I do. But what if he does take it too far at some point? What if he lets his emotions become involved and it turns into more than what it is?” Well that was a new fear unlocked. And another was hurtling towards you. “What if I let the sex become more than sex?”

“Then you cut it off,” she reasoned, crossing her own arms. “Be friends with benefits. Don’t let feelings get involved. Have fun with it. . . Friends with benefits can be the best solution for two people dealing with stress,” a lightbulb went off in her head. “And when you’re friends with benefits, you don’t have to be consistent. So he’s good there.”

But what if you wanted him to be more consistent? 

The nagging voice in your head came to life suddenly. No, y/n, you don’t care about that. Quit it. 

You shook your head, ignoring it. “We aren’t friends,” you corrected. 

“Even better.”

“And what am I stressed with?” You asked, knowing every single tiny thing that had been lurking in your mind as of late. 

School. What you were going to do with life after school. Your mother. 

And, of course, your gorgeous roommate. 

But right now, it seemed awfully appealing to just drown it all out with sex. . . Toe-curling, back arching sex with said roommate.

“Something apparently,” she cut through your thoughts. “I don’t know what all is haunting your every thought, but it can’t be fun to live with. And I think letting yourself have something you want—which is obviously Jake’s dick—.”

“Elsie!”

“What?! You do! Let me finish,” she continued. “Letting yourself have something you want would be enough to ease some tension. Just give in. Don’t add one more thing to your plate to stress about when you could just let loose. Have fun while you’re still young and in college. It’s not as easy once it’s all over.” 

Your eyes widened, as if she’d unlocked something in your brain. You were only young once. 

The idea felt a little more acceptable. 

The idea of just fucking him. Just enough to ease stress. Nothing more. 

It would feel divine to let loose.

You craved it. You needed that release.

And you only wanted it from him.

How did Elsie do that? Just flip a switch and make you consider something? 

She is the only person in your entire life that you quite literally trust with everything, that’s how, the sweet voice in your thoughts reminded you. She’s never let you down.

And so you decided.  

“It really wouldn’t hurt anything, you think?” 

“Not if you cut things off before you’re more than just friends—excuse me, not friends— having sex,” Elsie reminded. She added with annoyance, “Since you seem so set on a relationship distracting Jake from his dream, that’s what you’d have to do,” her voice softened. “Sex isn’t going to distract him. In fact, it may inspire him even more. Just look at it as you doing him—and yourself— a major service.” 

“How do I make sure he knows it can’t go any further than sex?” 

And once again, her stare flattened. Damn. Her being annoyed with you was becoming a recurring theme. 

“Just. Fucking. Talk. To. Him,” she started walking towards your door, twisting the knob to open it. She looked back at you, with a stern look. “Let him in. Be open to the idea of letting him in just a little more. It’ll be okay. I promise.”

And for the first time since he’d moved in and uprooted everything in your godforsaken life, you felt reassured. 

Felt okay with what you’d wanted from him for a very long time.

-🌼🌼🌼-    

It was late when your eyes flicked open. You were still sprawled on the couch, where you and Elsie had crashed while watching Friends. 

You blinked into the darkness, only lit up by the blue hues of the television. 

Elsie was snoring at the other end of the couch, your feet tangled together under a fluffy blanket. The pizza box from the pizza you’d decided to order (and devoured), still laying out on the coffee table.

Before long, you knew what’d awoken you. The overwhelming need to pee was pushing against your bladder. 

Still half asleep, you clambered up from the couch, careful not to wake your sister. You glanced at the bright green lettering displaying the time on the microwave.

2:38 a.m.

Shit. You couldn’t even remember when you two had fallen asleep. 

When you got to the bathroom, you were caught off guard.

Was that water running? Had Elsie left the sink on? 

You scrunched your brows, twisting the knob and pushing the door open to find the sink was on. 

But also finding a very naked Jake using said sink. His long wet hair sticking to his damp skin. 

Heat immediately flooded to the bottom of your belly and between your thighs. 

You couldn’t help but admire his physique. Right there in front of you. His broad shoulders, looking freshly tanned and freckled from the sun. His waist begging to have your arms wrapped around it. 

And his thick cock, impressive even when soft. 

Damn this man. 

But—

“Why are you home?!” You started with an edge in your tone, for no reason whatsoever. You didn’t fucking care that he was home. In fact, you wanted him here. There was no reason to question.  

He was brushing his teeth, so he didn’t respond, instead his dark eyes connected with yours in the mirror. He raised a brow, seeming to challenge your words. 

Your body reacted to his facial expression. Your tummy erupted in butterflies.

“Don’t lift your damn eyebrow at me,” you said quietly, letting your feet guide you further into the muggy room, closing the door softly behind you. 

Jake eyed you curiously in the mirror, looking slightly surprised at what you were doing. But before too long, his gaze became sultry, luring you in further. He turned towards you, locking his deep brown irises with yours. Then, he raised his brow again, playing with you. 

In the back of your mind, all you could hear were Elsie’s words:

Let loose.

So, without really thinking—more-so giving into the moment—, you sank to your knees in front of him.

You could play with him, too. 

As if he knew what you were getting ready to do, he was already half-hard by the time you were holding him in your hand. 

Your hand gripped him softly, feeling him. How soft the skin was, stretched over his pulsing member. His pink head, equally as soft, already produced glistening precum. 

Running a thumb over the slit at the tip, you spread the release over his entire tip. Jake’s hips twitched towards you at that, and you heard a moan emit from the back of his throat.

A hand combed through your hair and tightening it in your locks to indicate he needed you to pause. You peered up at him, seeing him nod toward the sink. You stopped your movements, but kept your hand wrapped around his dick, squeezing a time or two as you let him spit and rinse in the sink. 

Jake’s lids closed, head lolling back. His adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed in pleasure, wiping his mouth with the washcloth he’d placed next to the sink. 

You continued your teasing movements and pulled another close-mouthed groan from him, the sound making wetness gather between your legs. 

And before long, he was turning all the way around, letting the backs of his thighs hit the front of the bathroom counter. He let his open palms rest on the countertop, his thighs tense and ready for you to continue. 

Looking up to see his face again, you saw him nod down at you, in your direction this time. 

“Keep going,” he commanded in his low tone.  

Your skin heated, and you had to push your thighs together as you went back in. Your hands stayed on the tops of your clenched thighs. 

You added your mouth this time, closing your lips around the top half of his pretty cock to savor him with a moan that vibrated around his thickness. He jerked his hips towards you harshly. 

“Shit,” he groaned. 

You went further down his shaft, letting your wet mouth envelop him almost entirely, then you slid back up, letting your tongue smooth along the underside of his dick. When you made it back to his tip, you curled your tongue to trace the crease at the base of his head.

He shuddered, a hand finding your hair again. You went to grab his thigh with one of your hands to steady yourself, the other hand grasping at his smooth balls. You felt more wetness gather at your thighs at how incredibly groomed he was. 

You’d never been with someone who paid such close attention to taking care of himself.

Massaging his balls in your hand, you held tightly to his thigh as your mouth made its way back down his length. This time, you went all the way to the end, your mouth just barely connecting with his tanned and toned stomach. The muscles there clenched as you felt his tip connect with the back of your throat. 

You felt tears gathering at the corners of your eyes, but didn’t gag as you showed him one of your most secret party tricks. 

He tensed more, and you felt the hard muscle of his thigh tighten impossibly beneath your hand. 

“Fuuuuuck, y/n. How —? Your mouth—your fucking throat—shiiiit. . .,” he practically whined out, shifting his hips up so his cock smoothed ever-deeper down your waiting throat. You sucked on him the best you could from your position, your wet mouth tightening around him. He whimpered, a sigh leaving his mouth. “Feels so fucking—mmm,” he tangled a hand in your hair once more, bringing you closer into him.

You glanced up to admire what he looked like at that moment. His head was tossed back and all you could see was his glistening throat, his drying hair sticking to it. The columns of his throat were strong, bulging as he continued to give tiny little thrusts, replying to the hold you had on him with your mouth and throat. 

But when he glanced down, his hooded lids revealed hungry eyes, the blacks of his pupils covering almost his entire iris. . . You realized you wanted—no, needed— more.

So, as much as you could handle this, you decided in order to use your tongue on him, and taste him like you wanted, you had to readjust. 

You used the hand on his thigh to trail up to his hip and gripped him there, releasing a noise to let him know you were moving. You slid your mouth back down him, his tip nudging against your uvula as it left its tight, cozy spot at the top of your throat. 

The sound that came from him was a combination of a sigh, a gasp, and a whine. 

Shit. 

Your body’s reaction to his sounds, the feeling of him gliding on your tongue. . .it made moisture gather on the insides of your thighs, still pushed tight together. 

You were feeling all of the effects of the situation. It was fucking glorious. Having him at your mercy, snug in your mouth. 

You rubbed your thighs together the best you could to create the friction you needed, your arousal slick between them.

You released the smallest cry from your mouth, the sound muffled around his hardness. It felt good to relieve some of the tension. But you needed more.

Fuck. You loved getting to hold him in your mouth, but. . .

Your pussy was aching for him.  

As if reading your thoughts, before you knew it, your mouth was being pulled the rest of the way from Jake’s hard dick. His hands used their place in your hair to gently remove you. 

Once he’d removed himself from your mouth, Jake yanked you up by your armpits. He held your sides and once again surprised you with his strength when he lifted you to sit atop the sink.

It was so reminiscent to your night in the bathroom last week, but this time. . .fuck— it was about to be so much better.

He tapped the slightest bit against your hip, and you knew what it was he wanted. You lifted your hips, quickly sashaying out of your thong and small pair of sweatshorts you’d absolutely worn in the hopes he’d see you in them. 

Being caught by Elsie earlier had made you fully realize that it was something you’d started doing absentmindedly within the past month. You fucking loved it when you’d catch him looking at you. . .the fleeting glances he’d think you didn’t see. 

His little peeks at the curve of your ass, peeking out from the hem of your shorts.

Finally, you took off your oversized cropped T-shirt, revealing to him your lack of bra. And his dark pupils overtook the entirety of his chocolate irises.

Your nipples hardened even more under his wanting stare.

“I take my bra off when I go to sleep,” you added, for no reason whatsoever. You were obviously still tired (and a little bit nervous), saying nonsense. “You didn’t need to know that, sorry.”

He grinned, his eyes softening the slightest bit. “I like knowing little things like that about you.”

Your insides became mush at his words for some reason, your arousal peaking. 

He placed one hand on your breast, massaging the soft flesh in his palm. You both looked down at it, admiring the way it looked as he held it. The feeling of your hardened nipple rolling against the palm of his hand was almost too much. You bucked up into the air. 

So, sensing your need, he released your breast and moved the same hand to momentarily hold and caress your cheek. Your lusty gazes entwined, seeing each other. 

He was so handsome. 

And lately, you’d come to realize that you felt truly seen anytime he was looking at you.

This moment was soft, his other hand going to grasp your hip, holding you in place. He nudged between your wet folds with the head of his dick, waiting on you. You shifted your hips to welcome him.

Then, without any more warning, he slammed into you, your ass shifting on the porcelain of the sink in the counter. You’d totally forgotten about your sister in the living room and released a loud yelp, followed by a pleased moan at the feeling of him.

Filling you up so well.

He shushed you, then pressed his mouth to yours to take in your satisfied, hungry sounds. His tongue entered your mouth, swallowing up every noise you made. 

He stayed inside you, pounding into you relentlessly, hitting every spot he somehow just knew existed. Your whines were persistent, barely able to be covered by his mouth. 

So, when he came up for air, he placed his warm hand over your mouth, careful to not cover your nose. You sighed sadly at not being able to elicit the noises he brought out in you. You didn’t know why, but it felt right to be loud with him. The way he fucked you—the action itself demanded you be loud. 

When you locked eyes with his pretty brown ones, yours were begging and desperate to let him hear you. He acknowledged you with an, “I know,” right before you rutted your hips up to meet his, and he met your movement with one of his own, harder. You whined behind his hand, biting at the flesh. He bit his lip, his eyes darkening. “Fuck,” he groaned. “I wanna hear you. But your sister is in the other room. We need to be quiet.”

Oh. You blanched at that. You hadn’t necessarily forgotten about her, but everything outside of this bathroom had ceased to exist when you’d walked in and seen him bare ass naked.

You weren’t ready to be done with this, but you knew it wasn’t proper etiquette to be in here, fucking your roommate, with someone on the next room. 

Even though you wanted to just say ‘fuck it’, him reminding you of Elsie also reminded you of your urge to pee. And you really weren’t prepared for her to catch you in the midst of the act. 

You’d never live that down. 

“Then finish the fuck up so I don’t have to worry about it,” you decided to sass in response, rocking your hips in little figure eights to entice him. “Finish it.” 

Jake’s features quickly shifted from soft and understanding to something much darker, making your pussy get even wetter around his thick shaft.

His head bent back a bit, his stern eyes staying firmly on you. “One of these days, you’ll learn that you don’t always get to call the fucking shots.”

Your heart raced at his words, chest rising and falling with labored breaths. But you weren’t about to let him have the final say. 

“If you want to finish fucking me, you have five minutes,” you said, not meaning the words in the slightest. “So hurry,” rock. “The fuck,” rock. “Up.”

And with your last word, he met your thrust harshly with a growl from low in his throat. Your head flew back, his hand going flat, just in time, against the mirror so you’d hit the back of his hand instead of the glass.

You bit your lip to mask a whine at the sensation of his tip repeatedly hitting your g-spot.  

With every jut of his hips, you saw stars. The feeling of his sharp, purposeful thrusts, your head hitting his hand with each one. He’d slide almost all the way out, and then all the way back in. 

Your lip was near bleeding with how hard you were biting into it. 

And suddenly, you felt the familiar unwinding of the tight ball in your stomach, letting way to your sweet relief of release. 

It was spiraling towards you. . .his thrusts never let up, his hard cock never leaving you all the way. 

You were not ready for it to be over. But with one final, purposeful rut of his hips, his tip connected especially hard with your secret spot and you felt the ball unwind. You pinched your eyes shut, throwing your head back, your legs tensing, as your back arched. You instinctively went to wrap your quivering legs around his hips to hold him to you as it washed over you.

All you saw were bright, blinking stars against a black sky. And Jake. So much Jake. 

“Fuck!” 

His voice snapped you out of your trance, along with him tapping earnestly at your thigh, and quickly you let him untangle himself as you knew what was coming. 

And as soon as he’d pulled his throbbing cock out of you, he was grabbing the washcloth that was still on the counter, sitting next to you, making a mess of his cum into it. 

You were still too out of it to look at his face as he came, your fucked out daze locking you in on watching how his pretty dick pulsed against the towel, releasing. Your lip was still being held between your teeth in a tight grip, observing this sexy display in front of you. 

When he finished taking care of himself, wiping off into the towel, you snapped out of watching him. The need to pee, nudging at your bladder again with a vengeance.

You shoved him away from where he was standing in front of you. 

“Okay, now leave,” you continued to push him to the door. “I have to pee.” 

And, shockingly, without protest, he was gone. His brown eyes had been blissed out, a soft smile on his features as he flitted out. 

When you were finally sitting on the toilet, feeling the relief you’d needed so desperately from your bladder, you sighed happily. 

I could get used to this regular sex with Jake thing, you thought, a satisfied smirk settling on your lips. 

Then, as you washed your hands over the sink Jake had just fucked you on, an idea came to you. 

And maybe some rules will keep us in line. Rules will help. They always help. 

-🌼🌼🌼-

a/n: i'm so ready to share M O R E (the rest of this chapter is...... eeeek!!)... please let me know your thoughts! you know i love hearing from you all :) <3

(do you think you know now what's going to turn Reader's life upside down?)

if you’d like to be added to the taglist, please let me know!

& as usual, it wouldn’t let me tag some of y’all. :( so please check to see that you’re down there because if you’ve asked to be on the taglist, i tried to tag you. buuuut tumblr wouldn’t let me do it for everyone 🙃 ugh. and if i somehow forgot to tag someone, please also let me know that! (i'm a NOOB and i have terrible memory)

Taglist: @joshym, @gretavanfleetposts, @alyson814, @fretaganvleet, @lallisonl, @writingcold, @gvfpal, @twinszka, @jessicafg03, @reesetrippingthelight, @sacredjake, @laurenlovesgretavanfleet, @gretavangroove, @222headedcalf, @dreamssingold, @carbondancingthroughtime, @raviolilegs, @way-to-go-lad, @jakekiszkasmommy, @katgvf, @objectsinspvce, @jaketlover, @vanfleeter, @thetroublegetssloud71, @seditabets, @jakekiszkapunchmeintheface, @jaketlove, @ohgodthefeeling-gvf, @starcatcher-jake, @anythingforjtk, @lucimoo, @indigostreakmorgan, @gretavanbear, @katelynn-gvf, @alwaysonthemend, @aintthatapity, @bowievanfleet, @fwzco, @takenbythemadness, @cherry-icecreamsmile, @laneygvf, @hi-hi-hello11, @sinarainbows, @jakesbarbarian, @mybussyinchrist, @becinabubblegvf, @heckingfrick, @danigvf, @pinkandsleepy1934, @derrangeddumpsterfire, @klarxtr

[bucky-barnes-diaries]

Prompt || Bucky and Reader getting sick at the same time. — Requested by @raqnarokr <3

Pairing || TFATWS!Bucky x Female!Reader

Word Count || Around 600

Contents & Warnings || Mild Angst — Bucky and Reader being kind of mean to each other.

Random prompt event || Masterlist

Usually, when either Bucky or you were sick, the other would be all healthy and good to take care of the other—making warm and delicious soup, giving the best snugs and cuddles. And just overall, be the most fantastic caretaker that would, to the best of their abilities, nurse them back to health.

But this time was the first where you and he were sick simultaneously as you'd both come down with a nasty cold. It proved to be quite challenging and annoying for both of you to be sick as you and he would, most of the time, have different needs for how to stay comfortable and for taking care of your symptoms. And you would snap at each other constantly.

—

Despite the thick fluffy sweater you were wearing while bundled up in a blanket on the sofa and cuddling close and tight to your sick boyfriend, you still shivered profusely and desperately clung to everything for that little bit of extra warmth. And Bucky was starting to complain that he was burning up.

“Doll, I feel like I'm in a furnace and dying,” he whined in a hoarse voice as he pushed himself away from you with his weak strength to sit on the opposite side of the sofa.

“No, please don't leave me,” you uttered weakly, “I'm so cold.”

“I can't. Just let me be. I'm so hot,” he said rather annoyingly as he situated himself on the other end and took off his warm sweater.

Luckily, Alpine jumped up to you and snuggled with you instead in the bundle of warmth while your grumpy boyfriend sat all cold and alone.

—

Bucky was coughing and sneezing like crazy for the last hour, and with the raging headache you were having, each noise from him was like an extra aching punch straight to your head.

“... ugh why is this happening to me?” Bucky whined after a violent coughing fit, and not a second later, he went straight on to have a sneezing fit.

You were absolutely losing it, almost at the brink of tears due to how in pain and uncomfortable you were. And since you had no energy to move, you had to endure Bucky's fits, but now, you've honestly had enough of it.

“Can you please just shut up, Bucky! My head's killing me! Please, can you just be a little bit quiet and more considerate,” you sobbed.

“I'm sorry, doll, but what do you want me to do? It's not like I can help it!” He uttered before he continued with his fits.

Taking one of the decorative pillows, you clamped it around your head and over your ears to block out his sounds.

—

After a week, you and Bucky were starting to feel much better and return to your true selves. And you both acknowledge that you'd been quite mean to one another while sick.

So after you both had a refreshing and much-needed shower, you apologized to each other.

“Bucky, I'm so sorry that I was so mean to you and yelled when you were having your fits,” you said while getting ready for bed, “I hope you know I didn't mean any of it. I love you.”

“Hey.” He made you stop what you were doing and turned you around to face him, palms cradling your cheeks. “It's ok, doll. We were both sick and not ourselves. I love you as well, and I'm sorry for leaving you all alone when you needed me the most.”

“It's ok,” you replied as you stood on your toes and wrapped your arms around his neck, your noses brushing, “let's just try and not get sick at the same time again, ok? It was not fun.”

“Definitely not,” he chuckled as he pressed a long and loving kiss to your lips, a sensation you’d both missed and craved for the past week while you were both sick.

Thank you for reading 🖤 Feedback through a comment is highly appreciated! Or let me know through an anonymous ask if that feels more comfortable. As well as a reblog to share my work with other people!

Follow @bucky-barnes-diaries-library and turn on notifications to never miss out on my writing!

[gabessquishytum]

I started thinking of that Alpha!Dream and Alpha!Calliope bitching Hob prompt from a while ago. This one: https://gabessquishytum.tumblr.com/post/735255882065199104/more-immortal-throuple-omegaverse-3-hob-during

It had been a year since Dream and Calliope had claimed Hob and made him an omega. Much had changed in that time, it took months more for his body to make the full change from alpha to omega, for him to learn and adapt to new instincts, to reassure his friends and allies he was safe, and, most annoyingly, to learn the rules and etiquette surrounding his new station. He had made his tutors despair once he’d learned everything he needed. It was more fun for him when when a noble knew he was deliberately snubbing them.

His body had changed so much. He had put on more weight and now had a healthy layer of fat over his muscles. He looked softer in the face, shoulders, and thighs. His tummy gently sloped over his belt and his chest was more padded. He could still break a man with his hands, but he had learned people seemed to underestimate him now that he was an omega.

He had yet to return either of his mating marks. He wanted to make Dream and Calliope work for it. He didn't mind having been claimed, nor becoming an omega, but he wanted to be romanced. Instinct had proven they fit together, now they had to win his heart. He had expectations of a proper courtship.

Dream and Calliope were determined to woo him by the time Hob's heats stabilized and it was safe to have children. There were a few missteps, in the beginning: pretty and useless trinkets, soft and delicate clothes, though Hob did take an especially gauzy outfit or two for future sexy times. They figured things out eventually. Hob had great fun flirting with his alphas and scandalizing the nobility during the process. They had better get used to it, and him. He was only willing to bend so far. Truly, it didn't take long for Hob to fall in love, not with the way his alphas tried so hard to win his heart and respected his agency, not when they would take turns outside his chamber door to comfort and ease him through his heats.

When he finally accepted their suit, Dream and Calliope were overcome with emotion. They didn't…they thought they have to work harder and longer, maybe up to or even beyond his first stable heat cycle. Hob had every right to be angry with them. It was hard to fight off one alpha in rut, much less two. He had had very little choice in the matter. Hob immediately put their fears to rest.

In the week leading up to his heat Hob spent very little time with his chosen alphas. Instead, he wandered the castle and palace grounds, trailing the sweet, heady scent of pre-heat. It clung, thick and pungent, to those Hob called friend. It was driving Dream and Calliope crazy. They were getting very little work done, following that delicious scent whenever it crossed their path. If they were lucky it would lead to Hob, wherein they would be showered with kisses and coaxed into a cuddle, more often than not they would find a soldier, servant, or, on occasion, the odd noble Hob had befriended.

The last two days before his heat Hob rarely left his rooms. He had to make sure his nest was perfect for his alphas. He had taken their favorite and most comfortable clothes to weave into the nest. The bottom was padded with the covers of their shared bed. Pillows were tucked and stashed, building out the edges. He fiddled and fluffed until satisfied.

On the day his heat finally hit, Hob had just enough presence of mind to garb himself in his favorite silk lingerie and drape himself in the best of his courting jewelry. Before he left his room he grabbed a diaphanous robe that complemented his outfit.

Dream was pacing the parlor of their private suite, while Calliope sat white-knuckled on the sofa. The castle had been emptied, outside the few servants needed to keep them fed and watered. The thought of others, competition, near Hob was enough to send them into a near frenzy, only the faint sounds emerging from his room kept them from scouring the grounds for intruders. As Dream passed behind Calliope the door to Hob's room opened. When he stepped out Calliope’s breath caught in her throat and Dream had to anchor himself lest he lose control. This was it, they were finally going to be claimed by their omega.

His scent billowed out from the room, a teasing delight for the senses. Hob was beautiful, incandescent. A robe teased the edges of his body, belted at the waist. His lingerie, where visible, concealed as much as it revealed. Along his arms glinted golden bangles and bracelets. Delicate strands of jewels encircled his neck. Dream's ruby in pride of place. Gilded chains sparkled in the light where they were braided into his dark hair. He was a summer afternoon, sharp vanilla and juicy oranges, heat heavy on the tongue.

He padded into the room on bare feet, headed for his alphas. He pulled Calliope to her feet, pulled her hands to his faced and dropped a kiss on the backs of both before scenting along her dainty wrists. “My queen, will you join me?”

She growled, low and wanting, and dug her fingers into his hair, pulling him down for a searing kiss. “Yes, of course, sweeting,” she breathed against his lips.

Hob laughed. “Only for the two of you.”

He moved her hands to his waist so he could reach for Dream and draw him close. His arms went around Dream's shoulders as he dragged his nose along the other man's scent gland. Dream whined, high in his throat. His hands landing on Hob's hips to pull him closer still. “And you, my king? Will you let me make you mine?”

“Yes, my treasure,” he rasped. “We will be yours as you are ours.”

Hob sighed, pleased, and led them to his, their, nest. He crawled in first, positioned himself in the middle as artfully as he could manage. “I expect to be with child by heats end, and will be most disappointed if you fail.”

His alpha’s moaned and scrambled after him.

It got much longer that anticipated, but I had fun with it.

—🏵

Super duper very much incredibly obsessed with this!!!! Especially how youve written it and all the lush descriptions!!! Am also absolutely love this whole au concept in general tbh. The role reversal of Hob being bitched and then Dream and Calliope submitting to him utterly... the power dynamics make me drool.

And I'm soooo into the process of the body shifting from alpha to omega. Can you imagine Calliope and Dream watching and trying to hold themselves back as they watch their omega coming into himself? The changing distribution of his weight, the way he slowly outgrows clothes designed for alpha body types, the way they catch him admiring his naked body in the mirror almost every day. Calliope has bitten her fingernails down so badly because she needs to do something to stop herself from going right over and burying her face in Hob’s soft belly. The belly that might soon carry their child.....

Hob slowly begins to realise that despite the unfortunate circumstances of his changing from alpha to omega... he would have chosen this. This is who he was meant to be. And Dream and Calliope are meant to be his alphas. He is proud to be theirs, proud to build a nest for them, proud to present his dripping heat-slick hole for the very first time. He is so excited to get pregnant by his alphas, he can barely manage to keep up the dominance in his voice as he commands them to fuck him full of heirs.

They didn't find their omega in the easy way, but they did absolutely find the right one. Dream and Calliope look forward to long lives filled with love. And the snarkiest omega in the land. He was quite literally made for them.

[sigilbroke]

& he's finally ready ! i'll be honest, i haven't had a solo indie blog in a very long time. but it's very fitting that it be billy. most who know me well, know that billy has been so important to me for over a decade now. a huge reason i came out when i did. to see myself represented in a genre i loved so fucking much. and then for joe to absolutely kill it on agatha and the mcu to simplify the origin. probably controversial, but i mostly loved it. i'll probably make a few study posts soon that address a couple of the lingering threads i wish the show had tied up.

i know i'm going to be slow, so apologies in advance for that. i work in government/politics and i'm sure you can imagine it's going to be an utter shit show. it's likely this coming week will be exhausting, then i may have some time the couple weeks after, and then it'll be crazy until christmas essentially. but i'm glad he's up and running and i'll be able to get to things as they come.

i am contemplating sorting out verses. whenever i have verses, i struggle to properly fit them into each one. so i'm more likely to not, and just have that discussion on the plotting side.

i'm currently very much looking for threads with agatha, rio, tommy, wanda, lilia, alice, jen, and other mcu magic users especially, but all mcu characters welcome. and i am also going to very specifically (and annoyingly) advocate for someone to give me a teddy altman using kit connor for billy to fall in love with. in fact, i even offer you base icons of kit from season 2 and 3 (in progress) of heartstopper. like pleaseeeee.

[nicistrying]

Sunday 21st April

What a weekend 🥴

Yesterday was Matt's birthday so I made him breakfast in bed and we went for a lovely walk with Maggie, saw all her friends, had a great time 🥰

I went out and did a big grocery shop for my sister bc she said she had been really struggling with money lately as she's between jobs and will miss April pay cutoff at her new job so won't get paid until the end of May. She's also getting evicted from her house bc she's unable to get a mortgage to buy it, so the landlord is just giving it to her daughter instead which is shitty. So she's having a really tough time so I went and bought her just a load of food she can make meals with and stuff bc she said she had been sending the kids up to their dad's house for dinner bc she didn't have enough food in. Which fucking sucks. So got all that, finished off Matt's birthday cake - coffee & walnut, his fave. And then started on my nephew's cake! Which annoyingly I forgot to take a pic of when it was finished 😭

Matt's birthday card and mug from Maggie arrived

It has a photo from the day we got her, one of the funniest moments of her life when she got stuck between the sofa cushions, and one of them together on the side of a mountain and it says Best Dog Dad. He usually hates stuff like that but he loves it 🤭

Cleaned up the kitchen about 3 times after all the baking, realised it was 5pm and I had 30 mins to get ready, and we went out with Matt's family for dinner. We went to a Vietnamese place and it was so good. His parents were difficult as always but they left after food and we stayed out for a few drinks with his brothers and we had a fun night. He was really happy to have everyone together ❤️

Came home a little tipsy I think around midnight, got up early again this morning to walk Maggie so Matt could have a lie in. Thank god though, he woke up not long after me and offered to do the walk so I did all the housework that didn't get done all week. The house is finally sort of back to normal so I felt much better. Finished off my nephew's cake, and went over to my sister's to see him. We just had a few of his friends round and all the adults sat having a couple of drinks and eating snacks. It was lovely! I was so nervous to give my sister all the food but she took it really well, I tried to frame it as a working from home hamper bc her new job is full time WFH and I said in my experience you realise how fucking hungry you are when you're not out at work distracted by other stuff, but she didn't see all the meat, tins, fruit and veg in the bottoms of the bags so I really hope she isn't offended when she does. I know she's way too proud to ask anyone to help but it's not fair that she has to sacrifice having dinner with her kids. So I wrote her a little card and explained that I know she'd do the same for me. Haven't heard from her yet but she was super happy when I brought the stuff into her garage. Drove home feeling pretty icky (again! Wtf is going on with my body), I was shivering I was so cold and had the heaters blasting in my face the whole drive home and had an awful headache despite chugging water all afternoon. Curled up in my pjs when I got home, had a cup of tea and felt much better. Currently in a hot bath, ready for an early night. Think I'm just run down tbh, it's been a crazy busy few weeks.

Oh also! I got The Photo for the wedding thank you cards! Finally the sun was out and she was smiling and the crown stayed on her head for more than half a second 🙌

So I can order those this week!!

Hope everyone had a lovely weekend 🥰🥰

[hereforh]

Hi there, do you know, when you gonna upload the next chapter? I really can't wait to know how the story will go on.

Btw I really love the story and your writing style.🫶

hiiii!

I know this sounds annoyingly vague, but it will be up as soon as possible. I'm not setting an exact date because I don't want to disappoint you guys in case I'm unable to meet it, since work has been absolutely crazy and I've barely been having time to write during the week now.

but good news is: I'm spending this entire weekend at home writing. so it shouldn't be too long now!

<3

[holdmecloser-gandydancer]

for fanfic asks: F, M, X?

F: Share a snippet from one of your favorite dialogue scenes you’ve written and explain why you’re proud of it.

this is. not a snippet but to preface, I adore this scene because I love reminding everyone that Taako is fucking unhinged <3

“Hi Kravitz, I’m Taako. I figured I come in here enough, we should be better acquainted,” Taako drawled as Kravitz shook his hand. “Anyway, I don’t know if you have family, Kravitz but if you do, let me offer you some advice. Don’t ever agree to work with your family. Even if you think it’s going to be no big deal because that’s how you find yourself making a mile and a half round trip walk from your bakery to a fancy flower shop and back several days a week for weeks on end. And you might be asking yourself, ‘Taako, why would I be making this highly specific journey?’ Well, Kravitz, because your wonderful twin sister might ask you to bake her wedding cake and because you’re not a monster, you accept.

“And then your wonderful twin sister might annoyingly keep changing her mind on what flowers she wants on her cake. Mind you, your twin sister might also specifically request that the flowers on the cake be fresh, not made of pulled sugar or gum paste or fondant or frosting, no they just have to be fresh because gods forbid I ever get to do sugar work. And not that there’s anything wrong with fresh flowers, mind you, but it might happen to be something that is just out of your comfort zone. And while you would normally go to Fantasy Costco, you can’t anymore because they hired a really weird cashier who keeps offering to make you deals even though it’s fucking Fantasy Costco and the prices are literally marked so you have to begin to wonder to yourself if that cashier even actually works there.

“And then you might find yourself talking to the incredibly cute florist who probably thinks that you’re a crazy person but the florist is probably also thinking that the wedding must be soon, right? That’s where the florist would be wrong, Kravitz. Very wrong. No, you’ll have to tell this very patient and kind florist that, actually, the wedding isn’t for another three months and that, actually, you’ve been working on test cakes for the past three months. And if that wasn’t enough to make you lose your mind, then on your way to the very nice flower shop today, your piece of shit umbrella might just snap in half and you might nearly get hit by a car by some asshole who apparently has never heard of a crosswalk. Anyway, can I have a handful of baby’s breath, some lavender, and three chrysanthemums please?”

M: Got any premises on the back burner that you’d care to share?

I am Still noodling with warlock Taako's pact with Oghma temporarily getting taken over by Kravitz, a minor fiend. chaos ensues. big revelations made <3

X: A character you enjoy making suffer.

Taako <3 <3 <3 I love him so much and I wanna put him in the garbage disposal

[mindastardust]

My thoughts regarding the esc 2023 final/results

Okay, I’ve had some time to think about this (and actually sleep a bit) and this is my (probably a bit disorganized) thoughts on the situation. (I’m from Sweden, so I’m a bit biased, but I’ve done my best to give a fair answer/judgment to everything that I’ve seen)

1. The blatant misogyny and racism

The amount of misogyny and racism directed toward Loreen that I’ve seen is truly disgusting. I’ve read things that seemed like direct quotes from the Swedish democratic party (aka the racist party) and that’s never, ever okay. It’s completely fine to dislike the song/the number/the singer we still need to treat them with the bare minimum of respect.

2. This is not the first time (and probably not the last)

This is not the first time a former winner is back. A recent example (that I also have seen other people talk about here) is Alexander Rybak who returned in 2018. I’m well aware that he didn’t win but he did win his semi-final and was, for a while, one of the favorites that year. And I don’t remember people campaigning against him for a whole week for that? I have seen some people talk about how his entry was fine since it was clear that he “didn’t even try to win and was just having fun”. I can’t find any source confirming this but I can find one interviewwith Loreen where she says that winning again wasn’t her main motivation for returning. And still, I see Loreen being accused of only caring about winning and being annoyingly “fake humble” (again, see 1).

Also, quite a few times in the past ten years, the televoting winner and the overall winner have not been the same. For example, the last time Sweden won, Måns only came third in the televoting category and this hate storm was mysteriously silent. Same thing 2016 and 2019, when Jamala/Duncan won in neither the televoting nor the jury votes but still won overall.

3. What is Eurovision about and who is it for?

Finland’s entry this year (and most years to be fair) is funnier than Sweden’s. Tattoo is not meant to be a funny song and Sweden generally sends more “normal” (or boring, if you prefer that word) pop songs rather than the more colorful, camp songs that most of us fans have come to associate with Eurovision. Do I think Esc would be more fun if we actually tried to send songs like that? Yeah, I do. I’d love for that to be a thing. Unfortunately, as esc works right now, it’s not the most “effective” thing to do if you want to win. As boring as it is, the more “normal” pop songs generally perform better than the more camp/crazy/creative ones.

We also need to remember that most of the 200 million viewers aren’t us. They are not live-blogging the whole show on Tumblr. They causally follow the show, most of them probably watching only the final. To call Tattoo “jury bait” is fine, cause it’s 100% true. To call it “normie bait” is less so. It implies that those more casual viewers (who might prefer music similar to “normal” pop rather than “classic esc camp”) don’t have the same right to an opinion as the “true esc fan” (whoever that might be). It also brings us to the question of how to identify that true fan. OGAE (the network of esc fan clubs) perhaps, who organizes the OGAE fan poll each year? But since Loreen won that one this year, I’m guessing that’s not a solution that’s good either.

Yes, Käärijä won the public vote (with quite a big margin) but Loreen came in second place and to act like everyone who voted for her doesn’t deserve to have an opinion is trying to silence quite a lot of people.

4. Was Eurovision rigged?

You all do realize that some of you sound a bit crazy, right? We clearly did not bribe the jury nor (do I believe at least) was this whole thing planned before the competition began. At best (if you want a conspiracy), Melfest (Sweden’s national competition) was rigged so that a “good artist” (in this case Loreen) would win with a very ESC-friendly song so that Sweden could have the highest chance possible of winning. Do I think this was the case? No. I don’t have any proof that our television network didn’t plan this. At the same time, no one else has any proof that they did.

5. So what now?

Loreen played by the rules and won. You are allowed to think the rules (the jury) suck (I can assure you that several Swedes hate the international jury we have at our Melfest each year). Should the rules change? I’m open to that. The rules have changed many times before and it might be high time for another change. There’s certainly much to gain in terms of goodwill by removing the jury right now. Also, kick out Israel while you’re at it. The fact that they’re still allowed to compete is disgusting.

TLDR; If you want to criticize Loreen (or anyone else), do it without being racist or misogynistic. Remember that former winners have been back before and that other entries than the televoting winner have won before. Realize that we Tumblre fans might not be the typical esc viewer. I personally don’t see how esc could have been rigged for Sweden to win and I do believe Loreen (and Sweden) played 100% by the rules, but I can agree that if those rules cause this much outrage, they might be due for a change.

[not-toivo]

Pug + Sass + Gulp -> Gatsby + Tailwind

For about a week now I've been trying to rewrite my tiny "portfolio site" with Gatsby and Tailwind. It was originally written about a year and a half ago with Pug & Sass used in place of bare HTML & CSS, and then compiled, stitched together and minified with Gulp. The whole rewriting project was conceived as an attempt to learn some new technologies in order to make my resume more appealing (I am still unemployed, [insert crying emoji here]). While it is still far from over (rewriting a webpage appears to take more time, than making a new one), I do have some thoughts.

Gatsby

Gatsby's documentation is not well organized. I have found a few pages, that can be found using the search feature and yet do not appear anywhere in the documentation's table of contents (like this on porting an HTML site to Gatsby, or this on creating dynamic navigation, both very useful things).

I took me some time to realize, how different parts of a Gatsby project relate to the resulting bundle: (1) the "page" you write as a React component doesn't correspond to the whole HTML page, it is the content of the <body> element of the actual HTML file (or at least, most of its content), (2) you can insert things into the <head> element of a specific page by exporting Head variable from the "page" component file, (3) if you want to insert things into the <head> element of all pages, you need to use gatsby-ssr.js or gatsby-browser.js files at the root of your project: the first one controls the build process, the second one controls the app lifecycle in the browser, both can be used to change the default HTML code wrapping the page components. And I'm still not sure, I'm getting it correctly, because after I added a list of <link> and <script> elements to the <head>, this is what got in the console:

The whole thing works, it's just that I get this error message every time. And I know what it means, and I know I didn't make this mistake in my code, so it looks like Gatsby itself somewhere forgot to add key attribute while rendering a list of components inside the <head>. Right? Or am I missing something?

UPD: It was my fault! And I did make this mistake in my code. I needed to add key attributes myself:

Tailwind

I am not sure if I am impressed by what this thing can do, or terrified by the code I end up writing as a result.

Using class names with custom values for spacing and border radius in them defined inside Tailwind's config? It's quite useful, really. Using CSS variables directly in the class names? OK, sure, why not. But putting a calc() function directly into a class name? Using a theme() function to retrieve config values inside a calc() function?? Inside a class name??? Clearly, this is crazy, right? And yet, the docs encourage you to reach for those features before trying to extract your styles into pure CSS, so here I am, shoving calc() into class names. Madness.

If you, like me, are using Tailwind with the Prettier plugin (because the order of classes doesn't matter, and it helps to have them uniformly sorted), I strongly recommend using prettier-plugin-classnames for adding line breaks (because the main plugin, annoyingly, doesn't do that):

Also, for some reason @apply directive doesn't work with a custom class either used or defined with the dark: variant. So, neither of these 2 works:

(1)

(2)

This was mentioned in an issue from 2020!

[azrielsbabyg]

Hi i was wondering if you could an azriel x reader where the IC ships them and try everything to get them together (funny antics ensue) but what they don’t know is that they’re already together and just watching the IC go crazy while happily in love lol

NOTE- hello and thank you for sending in this request, hope you like it <3

SUMMARY- You and Az have been together for a while now but in secret and the IC tries to get you both together

PAIRING- Azriel x Reader

~~~~~~~~~

MATCH-MAKER

The winds pushed against my body as Cassian flew me to the River House. Feyre and Rhys had called us over from the House Of Wind for some brunch and we weren’t exactly allowed to refuse. Az was carrying Nesta, just to make sure that no one suspected us being together.

I'm so over this, Az says through the bond.

I know, but it’s all so amusing.

The whole inner circle had been trying their level best to get Azriel and me together. Little did they know, Az and I were mates and had been together for quite some time now. Although we had to give them some credit, if they hadn’t left Az and me alone in the River House alone, we would never have known about being each other’s mates. Slowly flashbacks started coming to me, all the techniques they used to bring Az and me together.

—————

*Solstice last year*

I was having a fun interesting conversation with Lucien when Feyre comes out of nowhere and pulls me to the dance floor. I would have refused otherwise but I couldn’t exactly say no to the birthday girl. On top of that, I was terribly intoxicated and saw no reason to shy away from this.

As the music went on to transform into something much more hot and risky, everyone seemed to have found a partner to dirty dance with. Everyone except Azriel.

I can bet 500 gold coins this was done on purpose, maybe they had caught us stealing glances the past few weeks after all. Mor took Emerie, Rhys took Feyre, Amren and Varian left ages ago, Cassian and Nesta found the spot closest to the balcony and Elain stalked towards Lucien. Gwyn had no interest whatsoever to dance, at all.

Inevitably that left Az and me with no choice at all. With a small smirk on his face, which I was totally going to wipe off his face later tonight, he walked toward me and put his hand forward.

I accepted it and gave him a gentle bow and lead him to the centre of the floor.

Lets just say things got heated after that.

—————

*Few weeks ago*

Things were getting hot as the night progressed.

Az and I were in the library supposedly “working” on a few reports meant for Rhys. One minute I’m looking up the background of the biggest dealers of Hewn City, the next I find myself in a heated make out session with Azriel. My legs or on either side of him while I am sitting on his lap. He slowly makes his way down my neck and starts to pull of my sleeves one at a time. He kisses the part where my shoulders meet my neck, long enough to leave a mark.

Suddenly we hear Cassian and Nesta making their way down the stairs laughing and giggling about the next time they trick Az and I into a relationship. I jump off Azriel and make my way across the table just in time for Cass to open the door to the library.

Seeing us all flustered and bushing, Nesta opts Cass to leave the library and give us some free time. After their voices drained out, we got back to where we left off.

—————

“Few nights ago”

Rhys was annoyingly hyper today, so was Feyre. The two of them would not stop bringing Az and me into a conversation. They would always say things like-

“Hey Az, isn’t Y/N’s dress so gorgeous today”

“Hey Y/N, doesn’t Azriels outfit look good today?”

“Hey Az, why don’t you take Y/N for a walk?”

“Hey Y/N, don’t you want to get to know Azriel better?”

They got on my fucking nerves. If I wasn’t there to calm Azriel down, he would’ve exposed the two of you then and there. It was getting tiring watching them try their level best even though their wishes were fulfilled ages ago.

Az was my first everything, first kiss, first boyfriend, first time, first relationship fight, etc. I felt bad for having to lie to them, but Az and I are both really closed of people, so we did what we needed to to get privacy.

—————

*Present*

As we reached the door step of the River House, I was grinning to myself at the failed attempts of the inner circle. “You both go ahead, Az and I just need to talk, we will be right behind you though.”

They mutter an agreement and walk into the house towards our waiting friends.

“What happened baby?” Az’s soft voice asks me questioning the look on my face.

“I was wondering if we should tell them. About us. It’s getting tiring hiding from them and I dont want you to hide things from your brothers…” I trail off.

“I don’t mind telling them, as long as you find it comfortable. I can see how much it is bothering you and as long as it makes you happy, I will be willing to make it exclusive.” He finishes off by pushing a strand of my hair behind my year.

I lean into his touch and let him lead me into the main hall.

Everyone welcomes us but only one person maintained their distance. Lucien. “Why the fuck is your hand around her waist?!” He directs the question at Az.

Everyone goes silent, even the Sidra gushing can’t be heard. Az and I share a long look which honestly should've given the rest of them a clue but didn't.

"We uh- we- we um a- w-we-"

"We're mates!" I blurted out cutting Az off. A choir of gasps sounds the room followed by raging questions thrown at us from all around.

"Guys one at a time, please." Az shushes them and they all quiet down.

Rhys raises his hand and goes "How long has this been going on now? When did the bond click into place? Was this because of our attempts to bring you together?" He says the last part with a hint of pride underlining it.

"We've been mates for over a year now, and yes kind of, you guys had a little to do with it." I reply, "If you guys hadn't left us alone all those months ago, Az and I might not have been brought together."

Az pulls me closer and gives me a soft kiss on the head. Everyone kept throwing questions at us and we battled them together, as one.

After an hour or so of questions, after everyone was at least one glass of wine in, Case remarks "Remind me to never agree to play match-maker ever again."

~~~~~~~~~

[straightupsickfics]

@softersteve said: more modern au with ed getting stede's cold and i said: anything for u &lt;3

part one

part two

****

It’s hot when Ed wakes up, way hotter than it was when he fell asleep, he’s pretty sure, and he throws the blankets off of him immediately, blinking around and trying to gauge how long he’d been out. It has to be close to dinner time by now, which means Stede will be home soon if he isn’t already. 

Ed’s throat feels more sore than it had earlier, too, and now that he’s up, he definitely feels more stuffed up, too. Perfect.

In front of him, perched on the ottoman, is Meringue, who stares at him, unblinking. 

“Don’t give me that look,” Ed says, sighing when she just continues to stare at him. He can’t prove it, but he’s fairly certain Stede bribed her somehow to keep an eye on him. “I’ll pick them up, alright? S’just so fucking hot in here I swear…” 

“Edward?” Stede’s soft voice echoes through the hallway.

He is home already then, and Ed and Meringue turn in unison towards the doorway, where Stede appears, leaning against the doorframe. He’s an annoyingly perfect combination of fond and hot in his fussy work suit, looking at Ed with soft concern etched over his face as he tugs his tie loose. 

“Hi,” Ed says, and he knows he sounds like shit because he has ears, for one thing, but also because Stede’s eyebrows knit together and he’s moving before either of them can say another word. 

“How’s your cold?” Stede asks, sitting beside him and dropping a kiss to his shoulder. 

“Your cold,” Ed reminds him. 

Stede smiles, and it really is annoying, because Ed really does feel like shit, and even though he was hot a minute ago, he’s suddenly chilly without the mess of blankets he’d assembled earlier, but now here’s Stede smiling at him and making him feel warm from the inside out. 

It doesn’t seem fair, is all. 

“Yes, well, I did try and warn you, sweetheart,” Stede says, undeterred. “And how are you today, m’dear?” He asks, turning and petting Meringue between the ears. Even with as stuffed up as he is, Ed can hear the cat start to purr. Stede turns them both to mush, it seems. 

“That you did,” Ed agrees. Not that it had done much good at the time, of course. Not that he would have changed a thing even if he could. Stede would never admit to it aloud, but he’s a clingy sick person, needy and sweet and Ed would be lying if he said he hadn’t enjoyed getting to take care of him over the last week or so. 

Even if it did mean he was curled up on the couch at five o’clock in the evening with his nose driving him crazy…

"hehh'DHhschhh! ihh-IHSHiew! Snf!” He doesn’t have much time to think about it, as it happens, because he’s ducking into a strong, damp sneeze before he knows what hit him. 

“God bless you, Ed,” Stede murmurs. He slips an arm around him, pulling him in close enough that Ed can’t even pretend to be annoyed anymore. 

Ed sniffles a few times, face pressed against Stede’s shoulder and sighs a stuffy-sounding thank you into the soft fabric before lifting his head to blink up at Stede. 

“Y’look ndice,” he says, pulling Stede in by the tie and kissing him lightly on the cheek. 

Stede smiles and looks away like he always does, like he can’t quite believe the compliment. 

“You do,” Ed repeats. “Your ties and your pocket things and these…” Ed fingers the brushed metal cufflinks Stede’s wearing, and smiles a little when Stede seems to blush a little at the attention. Stede’s probably the best-dressed person in his office if Ed had to guess, but he loves it, getting dressed in the morning, and Ed loves to watch him, loves to help him pick out the silk shirts, tailored suits, the  matching ties. 

He’d picked out the cufflinks Stede has on now, too, Ed realizes —round with little cats on them — and he curls his hand through Stede’s and squeezes it lightly. 

“Well, thank you, sweetheart,” Stede says, looking at him again. “How are you feeling, really? You sound sniffly.” 

Ed sniffles tentatively, nodding. “Worse since I fell asleep,” he admits. “Didn’t mean to sleep so long, now I’ll be up all night.” 

Stede cards his free hand through Ed’s hair, making him sigh and drop his head to Stede’s shoulder. “I don’t think you’ll have too much trouble sleeping,” Stede says. “I could barely keep my eyes open when I had this.” 

“You’re right about that,” Ed smiles, thinking about all the nights Stede fell asleep just about on top of him: on the couch, in bed, usually before nine o’clock hit, Stede would be snoring away beside him. 

Ed is too distracted thinking about Stede being warm and sleepy beside him, so the next set of sneezes take him by surprise, too, and he hardly has a chance to pull away from him. 

“hihtSHhhh!’iHShshhhh! ehh'TSHhhhh! Snf! SNF! Fuck mbe,” Ed says, scrubbing a hand down his face. 

“As soon as you’re feeling up for it,” Stede promises, smiling at him. “Bless you again… three times,” he adds. He leans over and grabs the tissue box from the table beside the couch, where it’s been since Stede was sick last week, apparently just waiting for Ed.

Ed blows his nose, wincing as the congestion in his head shifts and makes him cough. “Sorry,” he says when he’s cleaned himself up enough. “Your shirt…” 

“S’alright,” Stede says. “That’s what the washer’s for. Think I sneezed on you my fair share of times last week anyway. Probably how you ended up like this.” 

“Like you said, you did try and warn mbe,” Ed says with a shrug. He curls back into Stede until they’re pressed in close against the cushions.

“I should change and make dinner,” Stede says without any real conviction. He shifts and pulls his phone and his glasses out of his pocket, slipping the glasses on and scrolling through his phone for a minute, looking for something. 

Ed frowns then reaches over and slips Stede’s tie from around his neck, then undoes the top few buttons of his shirt, kissing the exposed skin. He looks unfairly good this way, with most of the product gone from his hair, his shirt unbuttoned, glasses slipping down his nose. Ed wishes he could do more than press another kiss to his cheek. 

“There, you’re one step closer,” Ed declares, which earns him another soft smile. 

“Thank you, dear,” Stede says. He turns and kisses Ed right on the lips, smiling when Ed makes a small sound of surprise. “What? I had it first, no reason not to kiss you now,” he says. Stede kisses him again, longer this time, until Ed has to pull away to catch his breath. 

“Sorry,” Ed huffs, annoyed with himself. 

Stede brushes their noses together. “Don’t be. How’s this sound for dinner?” He holds his phone out for Ed to look at, a salad recipe that does actually sound nice. 

“And for you, madam, the finest kibble money can buy,” Stede tells Meringue, who jumps down from her perch only to stare adoringly up at him. 

“Stay here another minute, though?” Ed asks, not ready for Stede to leave just yet. Stede, for his part, doesn’t seem to be in any real hurry though, either, content enough to let Ed rest his head on his shoulder while he tells him about his day.