#It's like this with every game not going to lie

[peachyggirl]

Nic and the reader are doing the milk challenge, but the reader goes far and does a lot in the challenge, and that makes nic upset and jealous even, and the reader has to be punished for it ✨️

♡ gameboy (what’s your beef?) - nic love island s7

THIS IS LONG… literally my longest one shot ever. i was listening to gameboy by katseye the whole time haha, mature themes, kissing, spitting milk into someone’s mouth, make outs, groping, ass smacking, 18+! p in v, lilfingering, nic is a meannn boy… LMAOO, edging, cumming inside, hitting it raw, just strap in 😭 full on smut. NOT PROOFREAD!!

you felt so sticky… this challenge felt the dirtiest for you. you’ve kissed jeremiah and ace so far. but nic was bothered. you looked so alluring, captivating. your little white and pastel yellow corset dress and your knotless braids half up half down with a green bow to match nic’s bandanna.

when pepe and hannah went, pepe picked out your name for the kissing. you squeal as nic side eyes you. hard. pepe helps you down while walking down.

“to be honest… i knew that pepe was gonna go in because he pulled y/n for a chat. i don’t want my girl to kiss any other guy,” nic says with a straight face and a soft smirk forming.

pepe pulls you down as the islanders cheer and scream. you craw on top of him and kiss him. your dress rides up as chelley pulls it down and sits back at her spot.

pepe kisses you, sloppily. it felt like he was hungry for you. nic watches and shakes his head as taylor covers his eyes. pepe’s hands rub up and down on your waist, his lips going down to your neck.

you fake moan and bounce up and down on him. nic shouts, “hey! hey! chill!”

you laugh and get off of pepe and help him up. you sit back next to nic. he stares at you, bitter. you look back at him, “what?” you smile. he shakes his head, “you gon’ learn tonight.”

you laugh, “yall… he’s literally mad as fuck. it’s so funny… that’s my man! that’s my man!” you sing and do a small dance.

after the challenge, you sit with amaya, hannah and huda. you changed into a orange and pink-like loose piece with a fake white flower between your braids.

“girl, you were going insane during the challenge! you kissed almost every guy,” huda says. you roll your eyes and laugh, “i was… i was tired of kissing. i can’t lie.”

amaya laughs along, “nic was fuming! he was so angry!”

you shrug, “it’s just a game, boy.”

nic quickly steals you away from the girls. he asked the producers to open up the hideaway for an hour.

you sit next to him, your smile soft as he stares at you. why did he look extra beefy right now? his sturdy build with his veiny hands… and big biceps… and his gold chain. why did he have to wear a black shirt with jeans.

he’s an asshole.

“you have fun tonight?” he asks flatly. you nod, “it was a challenge. they’re always fun.” you look up and him as you both lay on your sides.

“mhm..” his eyes drag over your body, lustful. lewd. chilling a little bit. “you looked like you were auditioning for an only fans.”

you scoff, “first off, you don’t need to audition. second, you were being freaky. you were literally drinking the cow milk like a thirsty teenage boy.”

he furrows his thick brows, his head bucking back a bit. “you were grinding and moaning on pepe.. what?” he says. oh.. he was mad.

you knew you overdid it. okay, maybe way overdid it. but if that’s overdoing something than nic goes overboard everytime.

he leans closer, brushing a braid out of your face, voice low. “you embarrassed me tonight.”

you roll your eyes, “you’re being so dramatic. you go all out all the time.”

his jaw ticks. “you think i’m playing?” he mutters. “you were bouncing on pepe like you wanted to ride him next. you were moaning for him. made me look like some loser in front of the whole villa.”

you laugh. opening your mouth, but he grabs your face— soft enough to not hurt, but firm enough to shut you up. “nah,” he growls. “you don’t get to talk.”

he kisses you, hard. not sweet. not gentle. just lips and tongue and teeth and anger. messy. you whimper into his mouth, thighs clenching.

he pulls back, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “lay on your back, take off your clothes too.”

you stare up at him, “nic—“

“baby.”

you take off the two piece, leaving you in your lace bra and panties. he takes off your panties, stuffing them in his back pocket. he slides his fingers between your legs. you’re soaked— humiliatingly so.

he pushes two fingers inside you, rough. your mouth slightly falls open, eyes squeezing shut. he starts pumping them slow, curling them just right, dragging it out while your hips lift.

“that’s it,” he whispers, “you know what’s comin’. but you don’t get to cum yet. not till i say.”

his fingers speed up—fast and relentless now—and then he pulls them out without warning. you whine.

he lays you on your stomach, your ass up and back arches. he grabs your braids, yanking your head back. “you don’t whine, mama. you take it.”

you feel him line up behind you. his tip rubs along your entrance, slow. he’s taunting you.

“nic… please—” he slams in.

he gives you no time to adjust, just grabs your hips and starts pounding, deep and rough and furious. his body slaps against yours over and over, and you swear you’re seeing stars.

“who do you belong to?” he growls through gritted teeth.

“y-you—” he slaps your ass.

“say it like you mean it.”

“you! it’s you, nic, i swear—”

he lets out a low moan, hand curling in your braids, controlling your rhythm now. he’s deep inside you, almost brutal. like he’s trying to mark you.

“this pussy’s mine,” he pants. his hand pressing against your warm back.

you’re gasping, shaking, gripping the sheets like they’ll save you. he starts hitting that perfect spot. over and over— until you’re babbling his name like a prayer.

he feels your walls clench, “don’t cum,” he snaps.

your body jerks. “i— i can’t—”

“then hold it.”

he slows down suddenly, deep, thrusts that make you sob.

“you wanna be a brat?” he pants, dragging his teeth across your shoulder. “then you’ll cum when i say. not a second before.”

you’re a mess. makeup smudged. legs trembling. but all you can think is yes yes yes, please more. nic leans over, whispering in your ear again, voice calm but filthy,

“when i’m done with you, every time they look at you, they’ll know.. you were fucked stupid by me.”

you’re dangling on the edge. body trembling, every muscle screaming for release. you’re so close it hurts, but nic keeps slowing down, dragging it out.

“please,” you gasp, head hanging low. “i can’t—”

“yes you can,” he growls. “you’re gonna take this cock and not cum until i say. since you like to perform, prove how good you are at behaving.”

you sob into the sheets. he’s still deep inside, grinding now, just barely pulling out before slamming back in— slow, punishing strokes.

he leans forward, mouth against your ear. “you don’t cum without me.”

and just like that, he picks up pace— fast. the kind of pace that makes your brain white out. his name spills from your lips over and over.

“you close again?” he pants, voice wrecked.

“yes—yes, nic, please—”

he pulls out. completely.

you scream. actually scream. he flips you onto your back like you weigh nothing, eyes dark, hungry, possessive. his hand grabs your throat— not choking, just holding.

“i told you,” he murmurs, thumb brushing your lip. “i own this.” he thrusts back in, this time watching your face as he pounds into you. “look at me when you cum.”

your legs shake. tears prick at your lashes. your nails claw at his back.

“cum for me,” he finally says, voice low and brutal.

your body snaps. back arching, mouth open in a silent scream, your whole world collapsing into white hot bliss. you swear your soul leaves your body. he holds you through it, hips still driving into you like he’s trying to ruin what’s left of your sanity.

“fuck,” nic groans, eyes squeezing shut as he follows you, hips stuttering. “fuck, baby… fuck—” he spills inside you, pulling you against his chest like he needs to own every inch of you inside and out.

you’re both panting, sweaty, wrecked. your body feels like jello. he finally leans up, smirking down at you. “bet you won’t be crawling on another man like that again.”

you blink up at him, dazed. “…i might.” he grabs a pillow and smacks you in the face with it.

“i’m deadass.” you burst into laughter, still breathless. he lays beside you, pulling you close.

you hum, soft. “you’re so mean.”

“you’re so annoying,” he mutters into your neck.

you smile and kiss his face, “my baby.”

[lanalace]

Game Over Series - Caleb

Summary: Y/n's patience wears thin with Caleb's gaming obsession. He was so deeply engrossed in his ranked match, he barely notice her presence. That’s not going to work for her. If he wasn’t going to willingly give her attention… well, she wasn’t going to just sit there quietly and accept this.

Warnings‼️: NSFW, Smut, Rough Sex, Power play, Dominant Caleb, 🔞

Word count: 2.4k 🍎🍏

Y/n was done playing nice.

Caleb hadn't so much as glanced away from his monitor in hours, his knuckles white around the mouse, his voice a low murmur to his teammates. Each click of his keyboard, each muffled shout from his headset, each time he responded to them felt like another snub.

‘I am a ghost?’ Had she spent hours getting ready just to be background noise to some virtual, pointless quest? Some stupid tournament? Some dumb ranked game? It’s as if she wasn't sitting right there, legs crossed on the sofa, simmering with burning frustration. Her patience, a brittle thread that was about to snap.

‘Alright, two could play at that.’

She sauntered up behind him like a predator stalking its prey, letting her nails drag a path over his tense shoulders before yanking his headset down around his neck with a sharp tug. The muffled choas of gunfire and distant explosions now filled the entire room.

"Y/n—" His voice was laced with mild annoyance, but she cut him off, leaning in so her warm lips brushed the delicate shell of his ear. The scent of his usual energy drink and a faint, masculine musk filled her nostrils, both familiar and intoxicating.

"You've been ignoring me for three hours." She purred, her voice a low thrum that promised trouble.

Her hand moved, slowly down his chest, she felt the rapid beat of his heart underneath his gray hoodie before traveling lower until her fingers dipped teasingly below the waistband of his sweatpants, dancing along the elastic, tracing the sensitive skin there. She felt the subtle shift in his weight as a tremor ran through his body and wicked satisfaction filled her.

Caleb's breath hitched but his grip on the mouse didn't falter. Every brush of her fingers against him, every feather-light touch sent a jolt of fire through his veins as his concentration on the battlefield started to waver. On screen, his character still moved with lethal precision, landing shot after shot, eliminating opponents with ease.

‘Seriously?’ Y/n narrowed her eyes. She wanted him undone.

With a slow, dangerous smirk, Y/n reached over and clicked the keyboard's Escape key, pausing the game with a soft click. His teammates confused, distant shouts blared through the discarded headset on the floor.

"Oops." Her voice was a sweet, innocent lie brimming with mischief.

Caleb sighed in frustration, shoulder’s dropping in defeat. “Fine.”

In one swift motion, Caleb spun the chair, grabbed her waist in a vice like grip before hauling her into his lap. Her thighs straddled his as her back hit his chest. The headset clattered to the floor, the muffled chatter of his team drowned out by the frantic pounding of Y/n's pulse in her ears.

"You want my attention? Alright." His voice was dark, laced with a velvet threat. It vibrated through her, making her face warm as a blush crossed her features. "Then you're gonna help me win."

Before she could even retort, his hand fisted in her hair, yanking her head back sharply, exposing the delicate line of her throat as his other hand shoved her skirt up, bunching the fabric around her waist. A gasp tore from her throat as he pulled her panties aside, the cool air quickly replaced by his fingers, sliding through her slick folds with light strokes that made her clench around nothing.

"Mmm~ Caleb!" A choked moan escaped her lips as her hips jerked instinctively, a desperate attempt to create space, but he held her still, his grip unyielding.

"Mouse. Now." He forced her trembling hand onto it, his own large hand covering hers, guiding her movements as he adjusted the setting to one handed combat then unpaused the game.

She could barely think, let alone focus, not when his fingers circled her clit. His touch was slow and precise, earning soft moans from her as he executed another headshot on screen. Liquid heat pooled rapidly between her legs, spreading like wildfire.

"You— Ah~ you're cheating." She panted, her fingers trembling, barely able to grip the mouse. The screen blurred into pixels as Caleb picked up the pace, flicking his fingers against her little nub just the way she liked. Y/n whined in his arms, fidgeting as she tried to fight off the heat engulfing her.

His laugh was low, a dangerous rumble in his chest. "No, baby. You started this." Then he slammed two fingers inside her, curling just right, his thumb pressing against her clit in time with every click of the mouse.

She squealed, immediately closing her legs and arching her back. The suddenness of his intrusion caught her off guard but a delicious ache began blossoming in her core was just as unforgiving as the man causing it.

“Open up f’me.” He ordered and she did so without hesitation, spreading her legs wide enough for him to plunge deeper within her.

“C-Caleb!” She whined, finding it impossible not to buck her hips to meet his unrelenting touch.

He smirked and set a fast pace that had her on edge in no time at all as he worked his fingers into her skillfully. The pleasure was overwhelming, a sharp, exquisite agony that stole her breath.

On screen, his character moved with inhuman precision, racking up kills with a terrifying efficiency as his fingers expertly ruined her. Y/n bit her and whimpered, she was so close and he could tell by the way she kept squeezing his fingers. He knew her body like the back of his hand.

"You gonna cum?" he growled, his sharp teeth sinking gently into the tender skin of her shoulder, a soft bite that sent shivers down her spine, a delicious pain. "Or do I have to carry you here too?"

She was almost there, right on the edge. Her thighs trembled violently, she could only gasp and whimper, the sounds muffled against his neck as she hid her face there. Every nerve in her body vibrated, screaming for release.

Then, with a final thrust of his fingers deep inside her and a satisfying headshot flashing on screen, she shattered. Her body convulsing around his fingers, every muscle strung tight then trembling into release. A breathy cry tore from her throat as her nails dug desperate crescents into his arm.

Caleb’s fingers didn’t stop, only moving faster as she rode out her climax, his own breath ragged and hot against her skin. The victory screen flashed, a blinding burst of color, his teammates' triumphant cheers filling the room through the headset on the floor, but his attention was finally, finally, fully on her.

"Next time." he murmured, his voice rough with desire, dragging his wet fingers provocatively over her swollen lips, a lingering taste of her own pleasure. "Just ask for my attention. Nicely."

Y/n pouted and huffed, still catching her breath before a small, playful sound that melted into his chest. “You big meanie.”

Caleb smiled. He wanted to tease her more, his eyes dark with lingering lust, and just then, an audacious idea sparked in his mind, a wicked gleam entering his eyes. He tightened his grip on her hips, his thumbs tracing the curve of her bones.

"New game, Pips." His voice was rough, a low growl, as he stood abruptly, spinning Y/n around to face him, her plush chest flush against his toned one. He shoved his pants down just enough to free his hard cock, already glistening and dripping with need. "New rules."

Her eyes widened, blown pupils taking in the sight as she felt him, hard and hot against her inner thigh, a potent promise of more.

Y/n barely had time to process his words before he lifted her onto the cool, smooth surface of the desk, his hands guiding her hips down onto him in one brutal thrust, bottoming out and filling her to the brim. A sharp cry tore from her throat as tears pricked the corner of her eyes. Her nails dug into his shoulders, clawing at the fabric of his sweater as he withdrew only to slam into her again with the same ferocity, burning himself to the hilt, stretching her deliciously tight pussy. He groaned in pleasure when she began clenching around him, adjusting to his girth length.

"You're gonna be in control this time." He nipped at her collarbone, a sharp, playful bite.

His grip on her was almost bruising as he forced her hips to move, a silent, powerful command. "Keep me hard, baby. Keep me interested." His lips curled into a predatory smirk as the next match loaded on screen, the familiar sounds of the game filling the air once more.

"If I cum before we win..." He punctuated his words with a sharp snap of her hips, drawing a whimper from her lips, the sensation of him so deep, so impossibly full, pressing against that hidden spot. "I'll uninstall this game forever."

Y/n shuddered, already feeling the delirious from the way way he filled her as he was fucking her, the way his tip brushed that perfect, sensitive spot deep inside her, sending jolts of pleasure through her core as a familiar ache starting to build.

“Promise?” Her breath hitched.

He chuckled before placing a kiss on the corner of her mouth. He lifted her again and she wrapped her arms around his neck as he sat back down in the chair, making sure his cock stayed fully seated within her. “I promise, baby.”

She bit her lip, a mischievous glint in her eyes, and shifted her hips, a slow, deliberate grind that sent a jolt through him, watching his jaw clench, a muscle ticing in his cheek. She found an angle, a sweet spot, and began to ride, her movements no longer just about her own pleasure, but about his escalating torment. He grunted but returned his focus to the game that just began.

Oh, she'd make him lose.

With a smirk that mirrored his own, Y/n started moving, slow at first, a teasing grind, then faster, her nails digging into his broad shoulders as she rode him with single minded determination. His grip on her tightened, his breaths coming in ragged, desperate bursts, but his eyes stayed stubbornly locked on the screen, a fierce concentration that both annoyed and excited her.

It was infuriating.

She rolled her hips, taking him deeper, her own breath coming in short, ragged gasps as the muffle of his teammates below them blurred into background noise. Caleb's hand returned to the keyboard, his grip steady despite the way his thighs tensed and flexed beneath her, his body burning with suppressed desire.

"Focus, baby." He teased, his voice strained, raw with effort as Y/n clenched around him, pulling him deeper still. "Or —fuck— do you want to lose?"

Y/n responded by grinding down harder, her movements growing more desperate and frantic as the match intensified, the on-screen action mirroring their own escalating passion. Caleb's breath hitched, a low continuous groan rumbling in his chest, barely audible over the game's soundtrack. His fingers, usually so precise, fumbled slightly over the keys as Y/n’s relentless rhythm threatened to shatter his focus entirely. He was on the edge of breaking.

Y/n's soft, breathless moans and the wet, rhythmic slap of skin on skin was hard to ignore.

“Caleb~” Sweat dripped down Caleb's temple, his formidable resolve crumbling visibly with every tantalizing movement. She knew how much he loved it when she moaned his name “So full— so good. Mmm!”

"Fuck—Y/n..." His voice was weak plea as a broken sound ripped from his throat.

Y/n grinned, a triumphant curve of her lips, increasing her pace, her own pleasure building again. A sweet, agonizing ache rooted in her belly as she watched his formidable resolve crumble before her.

The match was impossibly close.

So was she.

"Faster." He whispered. It was a command and she happily obliged.

She obeyed, bouncing in his lap, her breath coming in ragged pants, a symphony of exertion and rising climax, as the sounds of the game mixed with the slick, echoing slap of skin.

Caleb's grip tightened his grip on the mouse, his hips meeting hers thrust for thrust, a primal rhythm, his control fraying with every choked moan she ripped from his lips. Y/n clenched around him, her lips brushing his ear, her voice a triumphant purr, husky with desire. "You’re gonna lose, Caleb."

The final kill flashed on screen, a bright, victorious notification, just as Caleb's grip on the desk turned white-knuckled. He pushed back in the chair, stood and gripped Y/n’s hips tightly before slamming into her with so much force that she cried out. He growled, taking control and fucking her like a rabid animal, as if he would die if he didn’t.

“W-wait! Slo-slow down.” She managed, she could barely speak with how ruthlessly he was thrusting into her. He claimed her lips, forcing his tongue into her mouth and devouring every sound that left her body. Caleb couldn’t stop, didn’t dare to. He need to cum, needed to fuck her full and he was going to follow through.

Y/n broke the kiss, glaring up at her lover through teary eyes as he used her like a fleshlight. “Too much… too much.” He had her spiraling into her next orgasm and she couldn’t stop it.

Caleb ignored her, chasing his own high. He knew she could take it, knew she could handle his cock. If she wanted him to stop, she’d use their safe word but she didn’t. Instead, she pulled herself closer to him and bit down hard on his shoulder, earning her a loud groan from him as Caleb’s hips stuttered.

Y/n release hit so abruptly and so hard that she was completely unprepared. Mouth still attached to him as she whimpered around his skin, her sweet sounds going straight to his dick as her pussy tried milking him for everything he’s worth.

“Fuuuccck..!” His hips jerking up a few more times, pumping as he spilled into Y/n with a guttural groan that vibrated through her entire body.

Y/n limp body barely clung to him, both of them panting as he fell back into the chair. She collapsed onto his chest, listening to his heart as they slowly recovered. Caleb locked his arms loosely around her waist as he watched the victory screen casting a cool, blue glow over their tangled, slick bodies.

Caleb's laugh was breathless, a sound of pure triumph as he brushed a soft, lingering kiss to her forehead. "Guess I’m keeping the game."

Y/n pouted. She’d forgotten all about the game, didn’t even realize when she had lost. Pressing herself closer, her body still humming with the aftershocks of climax. "Best two out of three?"

[hearts4sturn]

CAUGHT IN A LIE – MATT STURNIOLO

pairing: heartthrob!matt x fem!reader synopsis: y/n was forced to attend a fraternity party after losing a bet to her friend. she was awkward—never quite sure how to handle parties like this. when a guy (who clearly couldn’t take a hint) kept flirting with her, she found herself unable to say no. matt, thinking he was doing her a favor, stepped in and claimed they were dating. but word spread fast around the university, leaving them no choice but to keep up the lie. warnings: lowercase intended, angst, alcohol, mentions of sex

masterlist | series masterlist

FOUR: RULE THREE

"stop being so awkward, sweetheart!" he teased, grinning like he knew exactly how much it irritated me. i could feel his eyes on me, that mischievous glint that was starting to feel way too real, like he was watching me unravel piece by piece. the closer he got, the harder it was to pretend this was just some act. and the worst part? i was pretty sure he knew it, and worse, he was clearly enjoying it. i couldn’t even escape the way his presence seemed to press in on me from every side, making everything feel heightened and uncomfortable. it was like the more i tried to keep my composure, the more he seemed to want to unravel me. and i hated that it worked so well.

"shut up! and don’t call me that," i mumbled, my cheeks flushing a little as i reluctantly grabbed his hand. it was stupid, really, but the whole ‘fake dating’ thing was already starting to feel a little too real, especially with the way he was looking at me, like i was more than just a prop in some twisted game. i couldn’t tell if it was the proximity or the fact that we were out here, on campus, making everyone think we were actually together. it felt like the entire world could see through our act, but i couldn’t figure out how to make it stop. there were days when i almost wished it wasn’t just a game, that maybe he wasn’t so insistent on blurring the lines between what was real and what was fake. but even as i thought that, i couldn’t help but wonder if i was fooling myself. maybe it had never been fake.

"you’re going to already blow our cover though, sweetheart," he said, leaning in just a little too close, his voice deliberately low, almost like he wanted someone to overhear. like he wanted to see how far he could push it before i cracked, and worse, i almost felt like i might. his words sent a wave of heat through me, and i couldn’t help but squirm a little. it was like he was baiting me, daring me to react.

"matt!" i hissed, trying to pull my hand away, but his grip tightened, his fingers stubborn and warm against my skin, anchoring me in place. it was almost as if he could feel the tension in my bones, and he loved it. i couldn’t stand the way his touch was so casual, like this whole situation wasn’t making my insides twist. he could feel my resistance, and the worst part was that he seemed to be getting some kind of sick satisfaction from it.

"that’s baby to you, sweetheart," he smirked, looking smug as ever, completely unfazed by how ridiculous this all was. he knew exactly how much i hated that nickname, but he seemed to get some kind of twisted satisfaction out of using it. and for some reason, i couldn’t bring myself to stop him. not that i hadn’t tried. i had told him countless times how much i hated it, but each time he used it, it felt like he was taking another step further into my space, my head, and i hated how easy it was for him to do that.

i rolled my eyes, trying to ignore the way my pulse was racing, the heat rising in my cheeks. praying nobody else was watching, but knowing deep down that just made it worse. the more i wanted to hide it, the more obvious it became. why was he making this so hard? sometimes, i couldn’t help but wonder if maybe he was enjoying this a little too much—playing me like a pawn, testing how far i’d bend before i snapped. and the worst part was that i was starting to crack. i could feel the wall i’d built around myself starting to crumble with every passing moment. and i didn’t know how much longer i could hold it together.

as we walked through campus, i could hear whispers starting to swell around us. low voices muttering things like, "oh my god? the rumors are true! they are dating!" or "aww, they’re so cute together!" even one that made me cringe: "ew, why is she with him?" and yeah, that last one stung a little, but honestly? if i’m being 100% honest with myself, i was kind of starting to enjoy the attention. it made my stomach do weird flips, but it wasn’t entirely bad. i couldn’t deny it—there was something strangely addictive about all eyes on us, even if i hated that it was happening this way.

i caught a glimpse of matt's grin as he noticed the same whispers, his confidence only growing with each passing comment, like he was feeding off it. it was like he thrived on being the center of attention, but worse, it felt like i was being dragged along for the ride, my own sense of self-control slipping further with every step. i hated it, and yet, i couldn’t seem to stop walking beside him, couldn’t stop following along with whatever ridiculous game he was playing.

"so, babe," matt started again, his tone casual but laced with that signature teasing that always made my skin prickle. it’s already been a week of this ‘relationship,’ and yet, i still couldn’t get used to the pet names. they were supposed to be off-limits, a little boundary we’d agreed on in the very beginning. no pet names. but somehow, he’d turned every rule into a joke. he wasn’t even supposed to call me any pet names! that was literally one of the first things we’d agreed on when we made the deal, but it didn’t seem like he cared.

"matt, what did i tell you about pet names? it’s in our rules," i scolded, my voice a little sharper than i intended, but i couldn’t help it. this whole ‘fake dating’ thing was already awkward enough. the last thing we needed was to blur the lines even further with cute nicknames. god, he was impossible. it was like he took pleasure in breaking every rule we made. and part of me wondered if it was all a game to him, a game he was winning.

"it’s not believable then," he whined, his expression exaggerated like he was putting on some dramatic show for an invisible audience. "c’mon, baby!" he dragged out the word, making it sound way too natural, like it had always been there, like it was already a part of his vocabulary, and it was killing me. the way he said it felt so real, so effortless, like he had no problem slipping into the role he was playing.

"fine." i sighed, rolling my eyes. there went one of our rules. the whole thing was already falling apart at the edges, and i was pretty sure he knew exactly what he was doing. but then again, maybe that was the plan all along. get under my skin, make me feel like we were actually together, until it was too late to turn back. and i was already too far in, too far gone to pull away.

"this is such a bad idea," i muttered to myself, but matt heard me anyway. he always did. he could read me like an open book, and i hated how easily he could do that.

"nah, it’s perfect," he shot back with that infuriating grin, swinging our hands as we walked, like he’d already won, like it was all going exactly the way he wanted. "just wait until we’re really convincing, babe." i couldn’t tell if he was being sincere or just messing with me, but something about the way he said it made my stomach twist, and i couldn’t shake the feeling that maybe—just maybe—he was starting to believe the act.

"let’s just go do this date," i muttered, walking into the coffee shop. the tension between us still simmering beneath the surface, threatening to break out any second.

i pushed the door open, the familiar scent of coffee and pastries hitting me immediately, but it did little to calm the sudden nerves bubbling in my stomach. i felt his presence beside me, like a weight i couldn’t shake. matt was still holding my hand—his grip slightly firm, like he was claiming me, even though i knew this was all fake. he was always the confident one, the one who never seemed bothered by the lines between us blurring. and me? well, i was still trying to figure out which part of this was real and which part was just a game. but with every step we took, it felt like more of it was real than i wanted to admit. 

we made our way to the counter, and i could feel every eye on us as we passed. it wasn’t just the usual looks either. it was like the entire coffee shop was leaning in, watching to see if we were really as cute as the rumors said. it felt suffocating, like the whole world was staring at us, waiting for a crack to appear in our carefully constructed act. i could hear whispers, some of them almost too loud to ignore: "aww, they’re adorable together!" or "i knew it, they’re dating!" it made me want to shrink away, but somehow i couldn’t. i couldn’t move, couldn’t stop myself from playing along, even as the pressure built.

matt slid his hand off mine, but not before giving me that wink—the kind that made my stomach flip. i hated that he could still do that to me, make everything feel so much bigger than it really was. "what are you getting, babe?" he asked, his voice just a little too sweet, like he was laying it on thick, testing me, seeing how far he could take this. it was like a game to him, and i was the unwilling participant. 

i shot him a quick glance, trying not to let the heat in my cheeks give away how much his teasing was getting to me. "i’ll just have a regular coffee," i muttered, trying to sound casual, but my voice came out a little too stiff. i hated how easily he could make me stumble over my words, make me feel like everything was off-balance when i was trying so hard to keep it together. 

“regular?” he raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "come on, don’t be boring. we’re on a date, remember? get something exciting." i could feel my resistance starting to waver, his teasing breaking through my carefully maintained shell. 

i narrowed my eyes, half tempted to argue, but then his grin spread wider. it was that grin. the one that made everything feel like it was just a little bit too much, like he was enjoying this a little too much. i hated it, but at the same time… i kind of didn’t. he was messing with me, but somehow it was hard to push back against it, hard to refuse him. 

"fine," i sighed, giving in, "i’ll have a caramel macchiato. happy?" the words felt like surrender, like i was conceding to his game, even though i knew i shouldn’t. 

"very." he smiled like he’d just won some victory, but i was too distracted by the way he said it, the slight edge in his voice. i didn’t know if he was playing with me or if he genuinely wanted to see how far he could push me into this role. either way, i could feel the pressure mounting, and i didn’t know how much longer i could take it.

we moved to the side to wait for our drinks, and for a moment, there was an awkward silence between us. the kind where it was clear neither of us knew what the hell we were doing. i wasn’t sure if we were playing our parts, or if something else was starting to slip through the cracks—something more real than i was ready to admit. i kept my gaze fixed straight ahead, trying not to acknowledge the way my heart was racing, the way his presence seemed to fill up the space between us in a way that was both comforting and unnerving at the same time. 

“you know,” matt started, breaking the silence, his tone casual, like we were just two people hanging out, "this could be fun, you know? like, not the worst thing ever." he had this way of making everything sound so effortless, like he didn’t care at all that we were tangled up in a lie, and yet the way he said it made me question everything. was this just a game to him, or was there more to it?

i glanced at him, unsure if he was trying to make me laugh or if he was genuinely into it. “is that supposed to be reassuring?” i raised an eyebrow, trying to keep my voice steady, trying not to let him see how much his words were affecting me.

“maybe.” he shrugged. “but hey, when the whole campus thinks we’re dating, it kinda feels like it’s not even a bad deal.” his words hung in the air for a second. he wasn’t wrong, but something about the way he said it made me question if he saw this as just a deal. i wanted to push back, to make sure he knew i wasn’t buying into the idea that this was anything more than a favor. but at the same time, the more i fought it, the more it felt like the lines were already too blurred. 

“so, are you actually enjoying this?” i asked, my voice softer than i intended, more curious than defensive. i couldn’t help but wonder if maybe he was getting too comfortable in this fake relationship, too comfortable with the idea of us being together.

he tilted his head, the smirk fading just a little, replaced with something unreadable. "yeah, maybe," he said, his voice quieter now. "maybe i am. i mean, you’re not terrible company, sweetheart." the words slipped out before i could even register them, and suddenly everything felt too real. i couldn’t tell if he was being genuine or just messing with me. but i had to admit, the idea that he might actually be enjoying this made my insides twist in a way that wasn’t entirely uncomfortable. it was strange. complicated. 

the barista called our order, and we grabbed our drinks. i took mine without a word, sipping it slowly as i tried to keep my cool, though my mind was racing. i could feel matt’s eyes on me again, studying me, waiting for some kind of reaction. i wasn’t sure what he was waiting for—maybe he was hoping i’d crack, or maybe he was testing how far he could push me before i stopped playing along.

“you know, we don’t have to keep pretending if you’re not into this,” he said, sounding surprisingly serious for a moment, though the edge of teasing was still there. “i mean, it’s all just for show, right? it’s up to you how far you want to go with it.” his words hung in the air, like he was giving me an out, but i couldn’t shake the feeling that he was also testing me. seeing how far i’d go. 

i paused, the words hanging in the air, and for the first time since this whole thing started, i wasn’t sure how to answer. did i want to stop? or was i actually starting to like where this was going—where he was going? i didn’t know, but it wasn’t just the act anymore. it was something else entirely.

“let’s just… finish this, okay?” i muttered, still trying to keep a sense of distance, but somehow knowing deep down that the wall i’d been trying to build between us was starting to crumble. it was getting harder and harder to keep pretending. the more time i spent with him, the more real this felt. and that terrified me.

i took a sip of my drink, an awkward silence between both of us. “so…”

“sooo…” he dragged the word out, his eyes glinting with that same playful challenge. the space between us felt charged now, heavy with something more than just the act we were putting on. something i couldn't quite name, but it was there, creeping beneath the surface, making everything feel like it mattered just a little too much. 

i glanced at him, my heart hammering in my chest, but i refused to let him see how much it was affecting me. instead, i shrugged, trying to act like everything was fine, like i was still in control of this mess. "i guess we just keep playing along, huh?"

matt’s grin widened, his gaze softening ever so slightly, but just enough to make my stomach do that flip again. "yeah," he agreed, voice quieter this time, "we just keep playing along." 

but something about the way he said it made my chest tighten, and i couldn't help but wonder if he was starting to believe in this a little too much. or worse, if he was testing how far he could push me before i gave in. it was hard to tell if he was being genuine or just messing with me at this point, but all i knew was that my carefully constructed walls were starting to crumble. and somehow, that scared me more than i wanted to admit. 

we stood there for a moment, the noise of the coffee shop fading into the background as the weight of the situation settled around us. his hand brushed against mine again, and i almost pulled away, but it felt too late for that now. instead, i let my fingers linger against his, just for a second longer than necessary. 

"do you ever wonder," matt said softly, his voice suddenly serious, "if maybe we're not just pretending anymore?" the question hit me like a punch to the gut, and i was momentarily speechless. 

i swallowed hard, trying to ignore the rush of emotions flooding me. "of course we're just pretending," i muttered, but even as the words left my mouth, i didn’t feel entirely convinced. i glanced at him, his expression unreadable. "that’s what this was always about, right? just a favor. no strings attached." 

matt didn’t say anything for a long moment. his lips parted as if he wanted to argue, but then he seemed to think better of it, letting the silence stretch between us instead. when he finally spoke again, his voice was low, almost hesitant, which was the last thing i expected from him. 

"yeah... right," he said, his tone almost too casual, like he was trying to convince himself more than me. "no strings." 

the barista called out our drinks, snapping me back to reality, and we moved toward the counter to grab them. as we stood there waiting, the weight of the conversation hung in the air, neither of us acknowledging it directly, but both of us feeling the unspoken shift. 

when we grabbed our cups, i noticed his fingers brush mine again, this time on purpose. and when i met his gaze, for a fleeting moment, i saw something in his eyes that made my breath catch. 

it was the same mischievous gleam that had been there from the start, but now it was tempered with something... deeper. 

"ready to keep the charade going, babe?" he asked, the word rolling off his tongue with an ease that made my heart race. he was teasing, of course, but there was a certain edge to it that sent a shiver down my spine. 

i took a long sip of my drink, stalling for time, trying to compose myself, but everything was already falling apart. i could feel the cracks in the facade spreading further and further, and i didn’t know how to stop it. part of me wanted to push back, to insist that this was nothing but a game. but another part of me—one i didn’t want to acknowledge—was

 starting to wonder if it was something more than that. 

"yeah," i replied finally, my voice barely above a whisper. "let’s keep it going."

and somehow, i knew this was just the beginning.

wc: 3.4k author's note: idkidkidkidk dividers: @toastray

taglist: @courta13 @tits4matt @backwardshatnick @emely9274 @mattspillowprincess @oopsiedaisydeer

© HEARTS4STURN

[rainybasil2214]

okay I'm gonna ramble here cause I feel like I've overbothered my bother person about this

deltarune spoilers below, jus don't look unless you've completed chapter 4 or don't care about spoilers

oughfhhfhfh okay I am fucking obsessed

interest number one: roaring knight

I fucking love everything about the roaring knight, like the character design, the somewhat smug bitch personality, the entire fight that took me like 50 tries to go through and still fucking loved it every time (which is something, cause I died an equal amount of times on the jevil fight and I fucking hate that bastard), oh and the theme, the fucking fight theme, I could listen to that on repeat for hours, I've already listened to it on repeat for hours total (and I only just defeated it around noon yesterday). um umm the roaring knight is literally me actually!!! of all characters it is my favorite. I love terrifying creature of great dark power

interest number two: the fight themes in general

I fucking love toby fox music, and I love it even more now that I've played through all of deltarune (so far *vine boom sound effect*). All four of the secret boss fight themes are in the top four favorite toby fox songs, in order of Black Knife, Hammer of Justice, World Revolving, and BIG SHOT (and then It's TV Time! takes that fifth place spot)(These placements are also very close, if they had number values it'd be like 10004, 10003, 10002, 10001, and 10000 respectively). Why the fuck are all the themes so good. (Honorable mentions: Attack of the Killer Queen, Chaos King, It's Pronounced "Rules")

interest number three: battle mechanics

okay so I was an undertale fan around like 2018, and while I couldn't play it (I was in fifth grade at the time so I didn't know what a steam was (age is otherwise unimportant in this discussion, don't say anything about me being young, I actually fucking hate that and don't like you /gen-)) ANYWAY so yeah I didn't play it but I watched everything on youtube I could about it, sans was my favorite character at the time, cause I thought he was cool and loved his battle theme (I rly don't care abt it now and actually prefer mettaton/undyne more). The point is I always watched these videos and was like "damn that little heart dodging mechanic is cool, I don't think I could ever do something like that well though, I'd prolly suck at this." This thought persisted through deltarune chap 1-2 when my online friends got obsessed with it, but I did still love interacting with deltarune media at its popularity.

When I actually started playing deltarune though (like two weeks ago I think), I fucking destroyed almost everything (as in cracked at dodging and surviving, not killing). Saying I no-hit for everything would be a lie, I totally got damaged a lot, but I did not die as often.

Only time I died on chapter 1: one bajillion deaths in jevil fight

Only time I died on chapter 2: that fucking teacup ride that was right before spamton neo (I actually survived spamton first try)

Only time I died on chapter 3: one bajillion deaths in roaring knight fight (I enjoyed this one a lot more than jevil though), and a few deaths to the little game boss that granted the shadow mantle afterward ig

Only times I died on chapter 4: gerson fight took me a second try to complete, technically not a death but I'm counting it, and then I died to something else once I forget what, might've been a fuckup with some random enemy

It might also mean something that I did all of this while playing on a steam deck, dunno if it's more or less difficult on there.

But yeah the fights, real damn fun, the roaring knight's fight (yes I'm talking about it again) was actually so fun to get used to, I actually did not know I was supposed to attack the knight for the first like 20 attempts so I was just trying to endure all the attacks until my friend told me otherwise, but that initial practice helped survive the fight.

toby is actually a genius cause this dodging mechanic makes turn-based combat into something more.

Okay I'm out of ramble energy thank you for reading

roaring knight is literally me!!!

[queef-of-fortune]

Marionette (Doflamingo X Reader)

Chapter Forty-seven:

Plot: When the Straw Hat crew got separated, Kuma sent her to the kingdom of Dressrosa. Unfortunately for her, she caught the eye of none other than the king himself. Donquixote Doflamingo.

Doflamingo thundered down the corridors of the palace, feathered coat fluttering behind him. He came like a storm. Fast and loud yet he didn’t say a word. The sound of his boots against the stone floors caused each and every servant that crossed his path to bow their head in silence as they scurried out of his way. 

He was in a foul mood this morning. Not only was this by far the worst hangover he’d ever had, there was also an unwanted guest staying in one of his guest rooms. Not to mention how humiliated he felt. How could he call her that? 

‘Mommy…’ 

The word echoed in his ears as he stomped. Doflamingo had every intention of finding out what Crocodile was really up to. And he certainly was in no mood to play games with the former Warlord. Even (Y/N) was suspicious of his presence. And not to mention the way he looked at her. The thought alone made his teeth grind audibly. 

At the party, Doflamingo was chatting it up with some future business partners at a card table. When he scanned the room to look for his ‘lover’, he found her at the bar, seated next to that mongrel of a man. He saw what she didn’t. The way he eyed her when she wasn’t looking, how his gaze lingered a little too long. It made him physically ill. 

A jolt of nausea shook him from his thoughts just as he reached the guest room Crocodile was assigned the night prior. He didn’t even knock. With force, he wrenched the door open, immediately stepping inside and slamming it shut behind him. 

“You!” Doflamingo snarled, pointing a finger at the man who laid sprawled out on the chaise. 

Crocodile just smirked, that typical sly smirk that made Doflamingo want to rip his face off. He sat in nothing but a silk robe, opened and practically showing everything he had to offer. Sipping straight from one of Doflamingo’s expensive brandy bottles with a cigar in the other hand as it filled the room with a hazy smoke. 

“Me?” Crocodile replied smugly. 

“Yes you!” Doflamingo hissed, stopping directly in front of him. 

Doflamingo snarled at the sight of Crocodile's half-decent appearance. 

“What the hell are you really doing here?” Doflamingo demanded. 

“I told you last night,” Crocodile paused, taking a puff from his cigar. “I needed a place to lie low for a couple of days, and I just so happened to be passing by.” 

“I don’t believe you.” He growled in return, forehead vein bulging. 

Crocodile chuckled, holding both hands up defensively. 

“I can assure you that’s all I’m here for. Besides, we used to be friends, remember?” He said cockily. 

Doflamingo’s chest rose and fell rapidly, his heart pounding furiously beneath his ribs yet he didn’t say anything. He just stood there, fists clenched before him. He wanted to hit him. To tear him to pieces for even having the audacity to look at what belonged to him. 

“You look like shit by the way.” Crocodile broke the silence, swirling his liquor. 

“Fuck you.” Doflamingo hissed through gritted teeth, his temple throbbing. 

Crocodile just chuckled lowly in return as he drank. He placed the sweating glass down on the side table with a soft ‘clink’ before sighing thoughtfully. 

“You gonna tell me why you have that girl or am I going to have to find out for myself?” He asked. 

“That’s none of your concern!” This time Doflamingo stepped forwards as he spoke. 

Crocodile just shook his head in return, clearly amused by his outburst.

“Don’t you dare touch her!” Doflamingo leaned down inches from Crocodiles face, “I swear to God I will disintegrate you if I have to.”  He threatened. 

He just stared back, smug as ever with his cigar burning between his teeth. He crossed one leg over the other before ashing his cigar in a nearby glass ashtray. Yet again he held his hands up in defense. 

“No need to cause trouble, Doffy.  I was just looking, that’s all.” He said calmly. 

Doflamingo didn’t like that answer. No one was supposed to look at her like that. Only him. She belonged to him. He typically liked to show off all of the women he could pull. But this one was different. She was different. And clearly someone else noticed. It made his chest tighten in fear or anger, he couldn’t tell which. 

He wanted to pounce on him. Gouge his eyes out and remove each limb with him still conscious. But instead he took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. He took a step back, giving Crocodile his space. Doflamingo rubbed both temples with his fingertips, trying to soothe his relentless migraine. 

“You really want to know why I have her?” He said, significantly calmer.

Doflamingo clasped his hands behind his back, his eyes never leaving the unwanted guest as he paced the room slowly. His feet clacking against the floors. Crocodile nodded once. 

“Ever since your fall I’ve been watching the crew that took you down. The Strawhats. What a mangy little crew. And yet that boy got you locked away, then broke you out.” Doflamingo’s grin was now beginning to return at the memory. 

Months ago, when he first saw the news of Crocodiles defeat, he needed to know who took down the fearsome Warlord. He never expected it to be some ragtag team of children. 

“That’s when I saw her. In the paper. I knew then I had to have her. And wouldn’t you know it, luck seemed to be on my side. I’m sure by now you are aware of the events at the Sabaody Archipelago?“ 

Crocodile nodded. 

“Well, Kuma so graciously sent me a little gift from heaven. The girl quite literally fell from the sky and practically landed in my lap.” Doflamingo stopped his pacing directly in front of Crocodile, grinning broadly, hands still behind his back. 

Crocodile looked intrigued, almost surprised. 

“So you are holding her hostage.” He said. 

That statement wiped the smirk clean off of his face. Doflamingo swallowed hard, jaw clenched. 

“She knows where she belongs.” He sneered, leaning down in his face again. 

“Does she now?” Crocodile replied with his usual smug expression and tone. “Is that why she runs from you every time your back is turned?” 

Doflamingo’s patience was wearing thin. It took every fiber of his being to not physically throw this bag of dust in the wind. Yet it made him question what she said to him. 

“You don’t know anything about us.” He leered. 

“Us?” A vicious grin began to spread. “I didn’t realize you were the settling down type.” 

“I’m not! But…” Doflamingo bit his lip as he trailed off, afraid of what he might say next if he didn’t control himself. 

“But what?” Crocodile raised a brow then his expression turned from a teasing curiosity to realization. “Oh don’t tell me…” 

“Shut the fuck up!” Doflamingo lunged forwards, snatching Crocodile up by the collar of his robe. 

Crocodile didn’t seem frightened in the slightest. Honestly, he looked rather amused. 

“You’re going soft, Doffy. You better get rid of her before you fall.” He warned. 

Doflamingo let him go suddenly, letting him fall back onto the chaise. He was right. Not that he’d admit it to himself or anyone else for that matter. He craved her and he’d be damned if he let another man who was clearly feigning for his drug of choice tell him to stop. He knew better than that. 

“You wish, Croco boy.” Doflamingo replied, fighting hard to grin. 

Doflamingo then turned to leave the room. With his back turned and his hand on the door he looked back over his shoulder at him. 

“I want you gone by tomorrow at dinner.” And with that he left, letting the door slam shut behind him. 

During Doflamingo’s confrontation, (Y/N) had been wandering the lonely halls, Karma trodding along behind her. Her bare feet froze against the cold stone beneath her. The palace halls were freezing. She stopped at a window, wiping the steam away as she peered out into the snow-covered garden. Everything was dead and covered in a white blanket as flurries continued to come down. 

With a mug full of lukewarm coffee she watched the snow fall, her mind stuck on the events of this morning. How could such a monster become so pitiful? She supposed it was true what they say about men. How they act like children when they get the slightest tummy ache. 

She scoffed at the thought, smirking to herself. She couldn’t help but feel bad for him. It was almost heartbreaking to see him groveling at her feet, calling her ‘mommy’. Of course she was startled and taken aback by that one single word. But something about it made her want to cradle his head in her arms with his face pressed between her breasts in a maternal embrace. 

He was truly a pitiful man in her opinion. A boy playing king was all he was in her eyes. A wounded bird who lunges when anyone gets too close. Pathetic really, and yet here she was, treating him like the fragile creature he was. She constantly tiptoed around him. So did everyone else. She was starting to get sick of it. 

Something else had been clouding her judgement. The kiss. The thought of it alone sent a shiver up her spine. Part of her wanted it again. Just to see if it was real. It wasn’t their first kiss but it was the only one that felt real. 

Why did he have to look at her that way? Why did he have to say the things he said? Why did she have to be sent here of all places? Why—

The sound of a door slamming on the other end of the hall snapped her from her warped thoughts. She quickly snatched the cat from the floor, making her squeak in protest before (Y/N) hid behind the closest pillar, cat clutched to her chest. She peered out from behind the stone, looking in the direction of the noise. 

Of course it was him. She rolled her eyes at the sight of him. There he stood outside Crocodile’s room, breathing heavily as he stared down at the floor. His fists were clenched tightly and he looked like he was going to explode. His aggressive posture made her tense. She did not want to be on the other end of that. Better yet, it was best not to be within his range. 

 She wondered what Crocodile had said to get him so worked up. Doflamingo was always so calm and collected. Always arrogant and grinning. But clearly something was said that made him finally snap. She watched as he pressed his forehead to the wood of the door, breathing heavily. 

Then, without warning, he pulled himself from the door and stomped off in the opposite direction. (Y/N) let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding in. She removed herself from her hiding spot and quickly started off in the opposite direction of him. Whatever Crocodile had said to him wasn’t good, but she’d have to find out later. 

Doflamingo was furious with Crocodile, or himself. He wasn’t really sure, he just knew he was fuming. He needed time alone to think. He made his way to his office, swinging the door open so hard it almost ripped from the hinges. When he slammed it back it shook the walls so hard that frames fell. He didn’t care, didn’t even pick up the broken glass. 

His chest ached at the thought of (Y/N) in the arms of another man. Especially that man. The images flashed briefly across his mind. Thoughts of her in his lap, kissing Crocodile the way he wanted her to kiss him. It made him sick to his stomach, and it wasn’t just the hangover this time. 

He just knew that that’s why he was here. To take her away from him. He felt like a fool for allowing him to stay but then again he had no proof, only suspicion. Then once again another crude image flashed in his mind. 

Doflamingo’s breath quickened practically to a pant. His hands shook and his stomach churned. His mind was racing with thoughts of her running away with another man. It made him dizzy. He felt like he was going to be sick again. 

Doflamingo paced the room for a moment, his hands gripping his hair roughly. He stopped at the bar cart, his hands trembled as he poured a drink far too early in the morning. But just as he brought the last to his lips, he felt the bile rising in his throat. He slammed the glass down, shattering it against the cart as he threw himself towards the bin. 

He retched and retched, but nothing came up. Just nerves. That’s all it was this time. He sat on his knees on the floor, shaking and on the brink of tears. Slowly he pulled himself up by his desk. With stumbling feet, he dragged himself into his chair, practically throwing himself down. He needed to see her. To have her reassure him.

(Y/N) was hiding out in the library, per usual. It was the only place she felt she could relax. The only place she could go to get away from him. Yet he always seemed to find her. The Devil Fruit encyclopedia was propped open in her lap. Specifically, the page where his letter was. 

It was unfolded and wedged in between the pages. She read it over and over again, pretending to read her book. There was one part in particular that she couldn’t help but be stuck on—

‘I ran my mouth because I was proud to have laid with a woman like you. But a woman like you isn’t a prize or a trophy. You’re a one of a kind treasure and I fear I’ve lost you.’

It made her heart race. She couldn’t help it. She bit her lip, holding back a giddy grin. How the hell was he just now starting to get to her? She managed for months to hate him. And now things were slowly starting to change. And she couldn’t allow that. 

[pinkskiessss]

Nothing Matters But You

Paige Bueckers x oc

Chapter One | Welcome to Dallas

Talia Brooks

I’m not gonna lie, I’m nervous. Not because of the trade, not even the new city. I’m nervous because of who I have to see now.

Paige Bueckers.

We’ve never gotten along. Every time we’ve played each other, something shifts. It’s like the game tightens and the court gets smaller. Paige plays with this edge, sharper, rougher, but only when she’s up against me. Like something about me makes her lock in and take it personally.

And yeah, I match that energy. I raise my game. I move quicker, push harder, make sure she knows I’m not the type to back down.

But I never let her rattle me.

She might play a little dirtier when I’m on the court, but I don’t let it touch my pride. I don’t let it show. That’s never been who I am. I stay calm, locked in. Let her burn hotter if she wants. I won’t be the one who breaks.

That’s just how I’ve always been. Composed. Hard to read. People think I’m calm and reserved because I don’t crack under pressure, but it’s deeper than that. I don’t give anyone the satisfaction of knowing when they’ve gotten under my skin. Even after our games against each other, no matter what happened on the court, I never let it show through off the court.

Paige Bueckers has not and will not ever make me change this about myself. I’ve always prided myself on being able to keep my composure when it comes to her, even if it’s just on the outside.

I’ve worn an Indiana jersey since I got drafted. That’s all I’ve known. Especially as a rookie you get really connected to the first team you ever play for in the W. And then, just like that, I got traded mid season of my second year playing for them. For a 2028 first-round pick. My phone blew up the second the news dropped. People were shocked. Everyone tweeting the same thing: Paige and Talia on the same team is about to be insane.

Of course, that came with all the clips. All the think-pieces. All the talk about the rivalry. Every time we played, people loved to point out how we went at each other. How it felt like something more. And sure, yeah, we built some of it ourselves. But the media pushed it harder than we ever did. Which only made it worse. It made me angrier.

My flight landed at 6 a.m. I haven’t even had time to sit with any of this. It still feels surreal. Wrong, even. Like I’m wearing the wrong jersey. Like something’s off.

I keep telling myself it’s all part of the plan. To keep the main thing the main thing. That it’s happening for a reason. But it’s hard to feel settled when everything feels like it’s moving too fast.

This is only my second year in the league, same as Paige. It all really started last year, when we came in as rookies. We were both top picks, high expectations, huge fanbases. And even though we didn’t play the same position, people couldn’t help comparing us.

They still do.

And our fans? They ride for us. We both have some of the most loyal fans in the game. Every time we play eachother I scroll past endless posts on twitter form our fans ready to go after the other fan base.

Now we’re on the same team. And I still have no idea how I feel about it.

-

I asked to stay with a close friend of mine until I find an apartment, Jaden. He does music out here in Dallas, mostly DJing for clubs and parties. I met him when he came to Indy for a bit to work some event for up-and-coming artists.

Me and J have been pretty good friends for a while now. It’s honestly nice having a guy friend who doesn’t want anything from you. No weird vibes, no trying anything, just chill.

I knocked on the door, juggling my duffel bag on one shoulder and my hoodie in the other hand. It was early, but not early enough that I felt bad for showing up empty-handed.

I’d thrown my hair up in a claw clip somewhere between baggage claim and the Uber. I was still wearing the same outfit from the flight, a tiny white tube top and low red sweatpants that hung just enough. I’d peeled my hoodie off somewhere over Tennessee.

The door swung open a second later.

“Heyyy, J,” I said, grinning as I stepped into him without hesitation.

He pulled me in tight. Real tight. The kind of hug that reminded me someone had me.

“I missed you,” I mumbled.

“I missed you more,” he said into my shoulder before letting go.

The place smelled the same as always, a mix of cologne, candles, and something faintly herbal I wasn’t going to ask about. Lived-in but clean. His version of clean anyway.

“I cleared out the guest room for you,” he said, grabbing my bag without asking. “Closet’s open too. You got space.”

“You’re the best,” I said, walking in behind him and dropping my hoodie over the back of the couch.

Once I threw my stuff down, we dropped into the couch like we always did, same rhythm, same spots, like no time had passed at all.

He glanced over. “So. Tal. How have you been? Like really.”

I let out a long breath and tilted my head back against the cushion.

“Still kind of spinning,” I admitted. “I didn’t see the trade coming at all. I mean, I’d just gotten used to everything in Indy. I really thought I’d stay there for a while. Then boom, one call and I’m in a new city with half my stuff in a suitcase.”

He nodded, not saying anything, just listening.

“It’s not that I’m not grateful,” I added. “I know this is part of it, but yeah. Still feels off.”

He waited a second, then said, “You sat with everything though? Like everything everything?”

I looked over at him, already knowing where this was headed.

“What are you talking about?”

He gave me a pointed look. “You really gonna act like Paige Bueckers isn’t part of all this?”

I didn’t answer.

Because even if I hadn’t said it out loud yet, the answer was definitely yes.

After a beat, Jaden got up and disappeared into the kitchen. I heard the faint sound of a lighter flicking before he came back with a small joint in hand.

“You want one?” he asked, voice casual like it was no big deal.

I hesitated. Usually, I didn’t touch weed. It wasn’t something I did for fun or to party. But lately, with everything swirling in my head, it felt like the only way to quiet the noise.

“Yeah,” I said quietly. “It’s been one of those days.”

He didn’t push or pry. Just passed it over, and I took it like I’d done it a hundred times before.

The smoke curled lazily around the room as we sat back down.

For a little while, the weight of the trade, the new city, and everything else faded to the background.

The morning light was creeping through the blinds soft and warm. I blinked a few times groaning as I sat up on the couch. My phone buzzed on the table. I glanced at the screen.

8:05 AM.

I froze. Practice was at nine.

I turned to Jaden who was still half-asleep beside me. His eyes fluttered open slowly.

“Shit,” I whispered.

He rubbed his face and checked his phone too.

“We fell asleep,” he said voice low but amused.

I exhaled a mix of relief and panic settling in my chest.

“It’s not like we’re late late,” I said swinging my legs off the couch. “But still.”

Jaden stretched and cracked his neck. “I got you. I’ll drive you. No stress.”

I smiled grateful.

I made my way to the bathroom and locked the door behind me.

I grabbed my brush and ran it through my hair then pulled it back tight into my signature slicked-back low ponytail. Every strand had to be in place. I ran my fingers through once more to smooth it down.

I splashed cold water on my face the chill waking me up more.

I spritzed a little perfume something light and fresh just enough to feel put together.

I stood in front of the mirror and took a deep breath trying to quiet the nervous flutter in my stomach.

The moment was coming. This was my first day with the Wings. Meeting the team. Meeting Paige. All the what-ifs racing through my mind.

Downstairs Jaden was leaning against the car keys jingling in his hand when I walked out.

He pushed the door open before I got close.

I slid in the leather seat cool beneath me.

The city buzzed around us as we pulled away.

“I’m kinda nervous,” I admitted quietly eyes on the window.

Jaden glanced at me his smile soft but steady.

“You’ll be fine,” he said simply.

I looked over at him. “Thanks Jaden. You’re one of the best friends I have.”

He just nodded not saying a word but the look in his eyes said he understood.

The car pulled up in front of the practice facility.

He opened the door for me again.

I stepped out heart thudding.

Without looking back I walked inside.

-

I stepped into the Wings’ practice facility and the first thing that hit me was the sound. Sneakers on hardwood. The thump of basketballs. Voices bouncing off the walls like background noise that never really stops. The kind of sound that usually made me feel at home.

Coach Koclanes was already making his way toward me from the sideline. He wasn’t smiling for show. It looked real, like he was genuinely glad to see me.

“Talia,” he said, offering his hand. “Man, we’ve been watching your tape for a while now. I love how you read the floor. You’ve got a motor on both ends. Not a lot of players your age play that locked in.”

That pulled a small smile from me. “Thank you, Coach. That means a lot.”

“I think you’re gonna bring something special to this group,” he added. “No pressure. Just be you.”

I nodded. “I got you.”

He gave me a short pat on the back and turned, calling something out to one of the assistants before walking off. He didn’t need to say much more. I wasn’t one to stand around soaking up compliments anyway.

The second he was gone I felt the shift in energy. The team had definitely noticed I was here now.

Dijonai made her way over first, a wide grin already stretched across her face.

“Okay, superstar,” she said, nudging me with her shoulder. “You know they’ve been talking about you nonstop since the trade, right?”

I gave a low laugh. “Hopefully good things.”

“All good. You’re about to fit in real smooth,” she said, still smiling as she led me toward the rest of the group.

Everything was relaxed. Easy.

Until my eyes landed on Paige.

She was off to the side near Arike, spinning a ball in one hand. Our eyes met briefly, and she gave me a nod.

“Hey,” she said. Short. Clipped.

“Hey,” I replied, matching her tone.

We held eye contact for maybe a second longer than we needed to. Then I looked away.

While Dijonai started introducing me to a few more teammates, I caught something in the corner of my eye. Arike leaned into Paige’s shoulder, clearly teasing her about something. Paige rolled her eyes and shook her head, not really having it.

They didn’t notice I was looking. And I didn’t know what they were talking about. Probably nothing. Still, something about the look on Paige’s face made me pause.

I didn’t say anything. Just kept walking. Quiet. Focused.

Let them wonder if I noticed. Let them wonder if I cared.

Practice ended just as quick as it started. Nothing too intense, just enough to break a sweat and test the waters. Most of it felt like observation on both sides. They were watching me, and I was watching everything.

It didn’t take long to notice the way Paige carried herself. She didn’t need to speak over anyone or bark orders, but you could tell she liked to have her hands on everything. Every drill, every rotation, every rhythm on the court. She needed to feel in control. Of the pace, the direction, the vibe. And it wasn’t something she forced. It was just how she moved, how she held herself. Like she had to be the one steering the room.

I knew that kind of energy. I had it too.

I’ve always been the type to lead without asking for permission. I like order. I like knowing exactly how something’s going to go and making sure it gets done right. I’ve been like that since college. Maybe longer.

And now I was realizing that the thing I usually bring into a gym was already sitting there, worn on someone else’s shoulders. Someone who doesn’t like me. Who I don’t like either, if we’re being honest.

We didn’t talk unless we had to. A quick comment during a drill. A small correction on a play. But no real eye contact. No acknowledgment that I was even there beyond the basics. She didn’t speak to me outside of that. And if she noticed I was mirroring that exact same energy, she didn’t show it.

I don’t know why I expected her to ease up just because I was wearing the same jersey now. Maybe I didn’t expect anything. I just thought we’d be able to coexist without all the extra tension. But that wasn’t what this felt like.

And part of me already wondered if it was going to clash. If the two of us were too similar in the wrong ways. But I wasn’t about to press anything. Not now.

This is a new team. A new system. I’m not here to step on toes.

At least not yet.

Not long after practice I got added to the team group chat. Messages came through quickly, everyone was welcoming, throwing out jokes, hyping the season. Dijonai was already buzzing, sending voice notes and keeping the vibe light.

Then the dinner plans started.

“Who’s down for dinner tonight?”

“We booked a private room at Dahlia’s.”

“Talia, you’re coming. No excuses.”

I scrolled through the chat. Most of the team was talking about what they’d wear, nice pants, plain button-downs, clean but casual. Dijonai said she was going all out with heels and glam like she usually does. Me and her a lot alike in the regard.

Everyone else was warm and friendly. They made it clear they were glad I was officially on the team.

Then I noticed Paige hadn’t said anything. No welcome, no mention. Just quiet.

It was kind of odd but not surprising. I don’t like Paige much either. We’ve never been close and our rivalry on the court was always loud but outside of that it’s never been something I cared about enough to let it affect me.

I didn’t expect her to suddenly be best friends with me just because we’re teammates now. But the distance was clear. It wasn’t hostility, just… cold.

It didn’t bother me enough to overthink it. I was here to play ball, not fix other people’s moods.

I asked what everyone else was wearing.

Dijonai answered, “Most are doing nice pants and button-downs. I’m wearing a dress obviously. Just wear whatever you’re comfortable in. You’ll fit right in.”

I pulled out my black low cut dress, fitted and nice for the occasion. Slipped on my Louis Vuitton heels and buckled them tight.

Put on the tennis bracelet J gave me for my birthday and my favorite diamond necklace.

Finished with my usual spritz of Born in Roma intense.

Hair down sleek and straight, earrings in place.

I don’t know what i’m getting myself in to.

[mishsymishy]

caine with a reader thats tired most of the time? can be platonic or romantic :) /nf

I COME BACK FROM THE DEATH YESS

If theres any gramatical error, please notice me, im not a first english speaker

—Digital Circus

Caine/ReaderTired¡

You can take it as platonic or romantic!

—

At the beginning , when you came to the digital circus, Caine He had the same thought about you as the others, only he noticed something that seemed quite annoying to him, but he wanted to understand why you were always so tired at his adventures or every moment even when you were in your room doing nothing (He spied on you to see if you were just getting tired of his adventures)

Caine just wanted you to be okay with everything and to enjoy every moment, so it occurred to him at one point to call you to talk about whether you were bored with his adventures or games or just the circus in general

---

You step through the colorful office where Caine told you he wanted you to go, your body heavy like always. Caine is floating mid-air, unusually calm. No chaotic energy. No spontaneous singing. Just quiet pacing. His expression is softer than normal ,a little unsure, even.

—Ah, finally! Don’t worry, this isn’t another adventure or game… well, not one of those!

I wanted to talk to you… about something a bit more serious. If that’s okay?—

You just nod, waiting for him to continue talking

—I’ve noticed something. I mean—I’m not oblivious, despite how many colors I wear

You’re always… tired. Not just after adventures or during games!—

He pauses, tilting his head slightly

—I even peeked in once or twice in your room. Just to check. And still—tired!—

You say nothing for a moment, just lower your eyes.

—At first I thought, maybe you’re just bored with the circus, or with me —

He makes a dramatic gesture with his hand while looking at you.

—Are you okay?..Like... really okay with everything?do you have something to say?—

—

From the moment you explained your situation to Caine, or more or less tried to convince him that he wasn't the problem of your constant tiredness You noticed how he worried a little in each adventure or moment to see if it caused any change, obviously he was very excited by the smiles you sometimes gave

He also talked to you a lot more when you were alone with no one around, on any topic for no reason, like just to talk

He also did a lot of his part to help you, since he noticed that you liked to rest, he tried to make the adventures, at least for you, shorter but fun or entertaining enough

He wasn't going to lie, he was still constantly watching you to see if there were any changes in your attitude, even if it was just the slightest he would be happy and his pride would grow with you

He also assured you that if you needed a shoulder to lean on sometimes he could be the one perfectly, he really didn't want you to abstract since he didn't know why but I appreciated you more

—

[wcrstbehavior]

Cameron had never felt more fucking sure of anything in his entire life before. Sutton's words were still ringing in his ears, burrowing their way into the part of him he usually kept locked up tight. I never could. I'm not going anywhere. You're not losing me again. He knew she meant it. He could see it in her eyes and hear it in her voice. And the way her legs stayed wrapped around him, like she didn't want even an inch of space between them... That was all the proof he needed. He was still breathing heavy as he held her, forehead pressed to hers, one hand cradling the back of her head like he could shield her from the entire damn world. The bakery was quiet again. The chaos of what they'd just done was fading into something slower and softer, like maybe this wasn't just one reckless afternoon in a string of old regrets. Maybe this was something they could still save. His thumb gently brushed her cheek, his other hand still anchored to her hip, like if he let go, she'd disappear. "You say you'd never expect me to promise anything, but the truth is, I want to. I want you there, Sunny. Not just here, but with me. Wherever I go." He hesitated for half a second, the weight of it all hitting him at once — he was getting swept up in the moment, of the past. But fuck it, he'd already crossed every line there was. He wasn't going to lie to either of them now. "I want you to come back to Cincinnati with me." The words left him with a mix of urgency and awe, like even he couldn't believe he was saying it out loud, but also like he'd never meant anything more. "I know it's crazy, I know we've barely scratched the surface of what went wrong before. But I don't want to leave here and go back to pretending like you're not all I think about. I don't want to go back to a city full of noise if you're not in it." His heart was beating so loud he was scared Sutton could hear it, but he wasn't taking it back. No chance in hell. "If you say no, I'll understand. I swear I will. But I had to ask, because if there's even a chance... If there's any version of this where I get to wake up to you, see you across the room, in the stands at a home game, or to just know you're in the same city as me? I want that. I want you." Cameron leaned in again, pressing his lips to her jaw this time, then just below her ear. "You don't have to decide today. We can be just us right now, like you said. But when the time comes... I want you to come with me."

sutton knew that in the end it was her words that sent him over the edge, that gave him the okay to stay exactly where he was, and it was something she hadn't known she had been missing until right now. the familiar warmth had spread through her, and the only thing sutton could do was rock her hips against him, moaning as he rode out the orgasm, her body never stilling until his had as well. she missed this, missed him. no matter how much the girl had spent years trying to convince herself that she hated him, never wanted to see him again, and wanted nothing to do with him, it was wrong - the fact of the matter was that while she could never get him out of her brain, she also hadn't wanted to. his forehead rested against hers as they had both started to come down from the their high, clarity coming back to her as she realized just how public this had been in the bakery. thankfully, when she looked around there was nobody watching them, but it also hadn't made her move away from him either, her legs still wrapped around his body, wanting to savor this closeness for as long as she could.

his touch was soft, hands on either side of her face almost as if he was trying to memorize every single inch. sutton hadn't let her gaze fall from him, the softness of the moment never lost on her even as his lips found hers once more. ❝ i never stopped either. ❞ the blonde finally spoke, her own hand coming up to rest against his. ❝ no matter how hard i tried, i never could. ❞ she had said at the start of this that even if he could only give her one day she would be okay with it, and when the words left her lips sutton knew it was a lie. she'd never get enough, and now that she'd had a taste of him again it was only going to be worse. ❝ i'm not going anywhere. ❞ and she meant it, even if he did literally have a life in another city. ❝ i would never expect you to make that same promise. you have so much going for you, people depend on you, and i would never let you walk away from that. ❞ nor, would she ever be able to forgive herself for that if it happened. ❝ you're not losing me again. ❞ honestly, she knew that if he asked her to come along, she would - even if she didn't have the heart to say that right now.   ❝ we don't have to worry about that right now. right now, this is just you and me, and that's all that i need. we can forget about the rest of the world for today, just be us? ❞ 

[meamiki]

Happy Anniversary In Stars and Time!! Have some Friend Quest based drawings :D

(These have specific quote picks related to them! And there's also a long ramble on why I like those specific quotes below if interested)

(And by long, I mean roughly 2k+ words of proper ramble total, so be warned before clicking keep reading this link right here to the rb!!)

[kayliebeanie]

I guess I don't do a whole lot of life update posts so in case anyone wants to know how big of a thing this really was for me here's basically my life story up to now in a brand new format I came up with:

- Be me

- Born in rural southern US

- Get assigned Gifted Kid status basically immediately

- Breeze through school for the most part but barely make any lasting friendships or spend time with people my age outside of school

- Become a furry at some point during high school, for some reason

- Get tired of trying to block every queer furry I run into online and realize that maybe the whole Hating People Different From Me thing won't help me get into heaven

- Oh I'm bi

- Start to feel very burnt out around senior year but still manage to graduate

- Somehow obtain a Discord boyfriend

- A bit of a stoner but super sweet and in a similar living situation to me

- Start my first semester of community college in Fall of 2019

- Then my second in Spring of 2020...

- You already know what happens here

- Flunked out after dropping or failing most of my classes cuz I was struggling to even start assignments or pay attention to online lectures

- Oh I'm a girl

- Spend the next 2 or so years working at the same dead-end job and coming home to my parents' house to rot in my room playing video games alone or occasionally with Discord boyfriend, who also happens to be bisexual

- Survive a hurricane of unprecedented magnitudes for the area I live in

- Return to work after a few days, parking lot is now the largest relief center in town

- About half of all customer interactions involve hearing about people losing their homes or loved ones, but fortunately didn't lose either myself

- Eventually power and water return to town, things slowly return to post-Covid normal

- Election Day 2024

- Spend a couple more months rotting in my room and hearing news about how much the government wants me dead while everyone around me praises them for it

- Finally muster the courage to submit a therapy request through a place I found that lets you fill out a form online rather than making a phone call, AKA the most horrifying thing in the world

- They call me a few hours later and I let it go to voicemail while I curl up in bed and cry

- Eventually call them back, get an appointment

- Ride the high of successfully returning a phone call until the day of the appointment

- Day finally comes

- Car breaks down on the way there, find out pretty quickly that the engine is totally fucked and have to call my mom, who I hadn't even told about the therapy

- Feel like more of a hopeless failure than ever

- Immediately have my own break down when she picks me up and start crying in front of someone for the first time in years

- She has no idea how to handle her son having emotions past the age of 5 and I have to lie about most of the reasons I'm upset so it isn't exactly cathartic

- Get home and eventually calm down enough to reschedule the appointment, via email

- Finally make it to therapy (in a different vehicle) the next week and I'm nervous as hell the whole time but I still make it through the introductory session

- Nicest fucking person I've ever met and also they're non-binary and awesome

- Get to talk to someone in person about being bi, trans, and having a boyfriend for the first time

- Get to keep doing so for an hour every week

- Also talk about my problems with social interaction and college of course

- They recommend me a psychologist and we work up to me eventually calling them

- Psychologist also turns out to be non-binary and awesome

- Get psych evaluation

- Oh I have ADHD, Social Anxiety Disorder, and Persistent Depression Disorder

- Actually that's not surprising

- All the weight of dropping out of college despite being The Gifted Kid all my life starts to fall off my shoulders

- I continue therapy, feeling much more comfortable with the therapist and my current life status over time, including my long standing online relationship

- Finally start talking more with my boyfriend about meeting up

- Book a hotel, request time off work for myself for the first time, and even call ahead to confirm the reservation

- Day finally comes

- I finish packing, tell my mom I'm gonna be camping with a friend for a few days, and get the fuck out of there before she has time to ask too many questions

- "Son" of white Christian nationalists goes on "camping trip" with a "friend" she met online...

- You already know what happens here

"Son" of white Christian nationalists goes on "camping trip" with a "friend" she met online, smokes WEED, sucks COCK, and gets RAILED all for the first time. Many such cases!

[certified-pinkwasher]

i fucking hate being disabled actually

i think im getting close to another full on mental breakdown cuz theres so much i want or need to do but all my energy is being spent on being in pain and its stressing me out which is causing more pain cuz i get fucking stress headaches and i just want to scream but even thats gonna cause more pain UGH

i just feel this bone deep sense of dissatisfaction that i kinda doubt is ever gonna go away cuz i cant actually do anything meaningful in my life and i try SO FUCKING HARD to inject meaning into everything and i bond with my cat and i make art and i care for my plants but everything that makes me feel a bit like i matter takes SO MUCH ENERGY and i keep killing plants and never finishing art and the hole im trying to fill is never gonna be filled by this cuz what i want to be doing is forming relationships and having experiences and moving and having fun and not keeping at least half my focus on ignoring how much my body is trying to collapse under my weight

and all i can do to cope with this shit is weed and alcohol. even my prescription opiate pain meds dont do shit. hell my zofran (anti nausea meds mostly associated with FUCKING CANCER PATIENTS) usually only kinda helps with my nausea and not even always that.

at this point i just wish there was a way i could just fucking give up and not have to deal with this shit anymore. but nope. no escape from ur own bullshit genetic code

[asideofkimchi]

oh my god.

Ohhh my god. Look at her. Look how beautiful she is. Radiant. Literally glowing. A soft warm light envelops you when you look into her eyes, when you see that smile. She’s so happy. We make her happy. She loves us so much. Just. Wow.

[hauntingblue]

making a collection

making another collection with a threatening aura

[itsdefinitely]

do you think boy jerry contemplates clawing his eyes out sometimes

[astral-scout]

brother watches youtube shorts on the living room tv and it comes from inside by the living tombstone seems to be one of the trendy youtube shorts songs ? and every time i hear it my fnaf phase twitches from its place buried deep in the back of my mind . i feel like watching a matpat video

[lady-harrowhark]

tlt in general of course but most of all your tag ���i am but a girl lying down”. it pops into my head every now and then

i absolutely concur that being but a girl lying down is one of my defining features