#It's the early morning content poster

[whirlybirbs]

i am on my hands and knees begging for a shred of keigo takami baby bird kfc angel content from you, if you write hawks i will finally know true peace

— MEET & GREET ; 1 / 2 ; HAWKS ; 啓悟

summary: you manage to snag two VIP meet & greet tickets for your nephew's birthday. he insists you join him. part one of two. pairing: keigo takami ; hawks / f!reader word count: 3.1k tags: humor, meet-cute, pro hero culture, birbs ignores all relevant timelines yet again, fluff, phone-flirting, hawks is great with kids, t+, relatable pre-hook up hesitation, they will fuck next time a/n: hawks is the chappell roan of the mha universe. stop touching him. this man actually changed my brain chemistry in early 2023 but we don't need to talk about that. anways, this poll was on the ropes all day and i made the executive choice to feed the hawks birblets.

You feel like your face has been set in a semi-permanent cringe all morning. 

In your right hand, you're clutching your half-finished iced coffee for dear life. In your other, you're clinging to your nephew as he drags you through the convention center — one of the bright red wings of his beloved, homemade cosplay has started to go lopsided, and the six-year-old excitedly tugs it back in place as he tries to yank you forward.

"C'mon! We're gonna be late!" 

This really wasn't your scene.

Fan conventions had a way of making your skin itch. The amount of sexy All Mights you've seen this morning alone has to be some sort of milestone indicator for the environment. Whether nature is healing or dying, though, you have no idea. 

If you had it your way, you'd spend the rest of the day mingling through the artist stalls — but, to your nephew Hayami's point, the two of you had somewhere to be.

Your VIP meet-and-greet badge swings as you trip up and laugh. "Okay! Okay, slow down! You're about to yank my arm off!"

It was the best birthday gift imaginable for Hayami. You officially cemented your title as The Coolest Aunt Ever when you managed to snag the two VIP convention meet-and-greet tickets (complete with a professional photo and two signed copies of the convention's annual poster) after a harrowing seven hours in an online Ticketmaster line. There were only a hundred of them sold — and sure, you coulda thrown that pretty hunk of cash into a college fund for Hayami, but he was deeply in his hero phase. 

Originally you expected that Hayami's father, your brother-in-law, would want to go.

But, no, Hayami himself insisted you come with him.

After all, you helped me with my costume, he begged, I wouldn't have been able to do it without you!

That you did. Many a hot glue gun burn was suffered at the hands of those damn red feathers. If you squint from far away, the cosplay isn't half bad considering the thrift and dollar-store materials. It wasn't one of those inch-to-inch replicas, but it worked. 

He's like a cute, bouncing mini Hawks. Complete with goggles and wings.

And Hayami is happy. And that's all that matters to you. 

The line is already pretty long, and Hayami runs his gloved hands along the line barriers as he races to his spot, audibly wooshing the whole way — just like Hawks does, probably. His badge jingles, and he hops to a stop as you come up behind him and pat his head. The six-year-old stands up on his tippy-toes, trying to see around the Miss Midnight fan in front of them. 

"Can you see him?" he chatters excitedly, "Ti, can you?"

He's called you Ti ever since he could speak. Auntie was too long, and the shortened version has stuck. 

You hop up onto your tippy-toes, mimicking him — and you swear you catch a glimpse of a crimson feather plumage over the gathered heads of the other meet-and-greet fans. It might be another cosplayer.

"I dunno," you whisper, your eyes darting to your phone's lock screen, "It's supposed to start any minute—"

The telltale roar of fanfare lets you know exactly who has just arrived. 

Hayami's excitement is palpable. Without a word, you're hauling him up and perching him on your shoulders. His hands land in your hair, and you can feel his smile from down here. 

"Ti! It's him!"

The line starts moving not long after, and you finish your iced coffee while Hayami stays perched on your shoulders, utterly starstruck. You weave through the barriers, moving up a few feet every minute, until you're only four or five people away from where Hawks sits behind a long table. 

You have to admit, the guy is pretty cute. 

Cuter than the fan-cams make him out to be, even. 

Sandy blonde hair, sharp gold eyes, and big wings. There's no doubt in your mind he's showboating, but as people approach the table, you notice this hesitant twitch ripple through the red feathers every time someone gets a little too close. 

That cringe from earlier washes over your face again as a girl reaches over the table to roughly run her fingers across one of his flight feathers. 

It's Keigo's least favorite part of all this. 

I mean, there's a part of him that gets it. He's the #2 Hero in all of Japan. He's a big deal. He's top of the popularity polls, he's the people's bird, y'know? He's a marketed commodity that sells out each and every time. 

But, that doesn't mean he likes being touched.

Especially the wings. Hands off the wings.

"Hey, Hayami?" you ask, tilting your head up as you both step forward.

You can feel the sudden nervousness creeping up on Hayami as he nods and looks down at you. "Y-Yea?"

"Make sure you ask for permission if you touch his wings, okay?" you say gently, muscling him down from your shoulders and doing a once over on his mini-Hawks cosplay, "And remember to tell him your name!"

Hayami nods, his nerves palpable as he realizes the two of you are next. 

On instinct, his hand shoots out and grips yours for dear life. 

And then, one of the marketers waves the two of you forward.

The first word that comes to Keigo's mind is MILF. You're cute. Real cute. Definitely not the usual sort he meets at conventions, and definitely not the usual sort that buys a ticket to his meet-and-greets. The kid clinging to your arm is arguably even cuter, and Hawks can't hide the blooming grin on his face when the pair of you step forward.

"Woa-ho!" he yaps from behind the patterned table, "Dude! Nice outfit!"

Hayami is panicking. You can tell from his shocked silence as the two of you step forward. You bend at the knees, squatting to your nephew's height, then encourage him to go ahead, go on. His big, brown eyes bob from you to Hawks. 

"Go ahead, Hayami," you encourage softly, "Say hi."

Oh, shit. You're really cute. Is this your kid? Nah, no way. You're way too young to be his mom. Unless—

You've seriously got him weighing the pros and cons of step-fatherhood and he doesn't even know your name. 

He could do stepdad shit at twenty-six. Right?

"Hi, Mr. Hawks," comes the shy voice of the mini Hawks before him; the sandy blonde's chest clenches. 

This is too fuckin' cute.

"Heh, hey kid," he chirps back, leaning forward on the table as his mouth curves into a friendly grin; Hawks' eyes are trained on the kid's growing smile, "What's your name?"

"H-Hayami."

"It's cool t' meetcha, Hayami," Hawks parrots as your own proud smile grows. There's relief flooding your shoulders. Thank god, Hayami didn't choke the clutch moment, "I like your wings, lil' dude!"

Hayami gives a little turn, wiggling his prized, handmade possession. His confidence is building; the compliment lights the kid's cheeks up. 

"My aunt helped me make them!" Hayami chatters, his eyes brightening from behind the flight goggles strapped to his head, "She says I need to ask for your permission to touch your feathers!"

Keigo's gold eyes slip to your face. You give him an apologetic grimace, your eyes flicking to the girl beyond the VIP area still screaming about how she touched him, she touched Hawks, oh my god. You mouth out a silent apology.

Hawks' finds himself a little speechless. Doesn't happen often. 

He's not used to having some say in how he's objectified and consumed.

A sandy brow quirks as he pushes his yellow-tinted visor up, and into his hair. He seems shocked. It's not an expression you've seen on the #2 before — and in the last few weeks, you've seen plenty of Hawks content during Hayami's cosplaying journey. The reference material is pretty expansive.

"That's real considerate, chickadee — I appreciate that," his voice is soft; his smile is a little looser, "C'mere, Hayami, you wanna hold a feather while I sign your poster?"

This is, like, the best day of Hayami's life. 

Hawks brings his visor back down. 

You stand to full height, wringing your purse's strap, watching Hayami hold both hands out as one of the delicate pieces of plumage floats into his hands on command. He cradles it like treasure, his big brown eyes glimmering with new-found amazement. 

You step forward, and place a hand on Hayami's shoulder as he gently ushers his hands toward your face. "Ti, look, isn't this, like, the coolest thing ever — it's one of Hawks' feathers!"

Hawks' eyes flick up to the two of you as his pen darts across the two VIP package posters. There's a smirk on his face as he pays half attention to the task of signing. 

And scribbling his number on the back of one.

"I see that," you chuckle, leaning in to inspect the beautiful, crimson feather, "Make sure you say th—"

Before you finish your sentence, the very feather in question darts up to tickle the tip of your nose. Your immediate reaction is to scrunch your nose and grin. It's not so much ticklish as it is gentle. For good measure, Hawks gives Hayami a little brush on the cheek, too. The boy descends into delighted laughter, allowing the feather to zip back through the air and into its designated place in his wings. 

Hawks is smirking.

"Alright you two," comes the level voice of the marketer; the camera in her hands is bulky, and a signifier that their time meeting #2 is nearly up, "Let's get in nice and close for a photo!"

The table proves to be a bit of a pain, but you bend down to Hayami's height as Hawks leans over the table and gives you both bunny ears. The camera flash burns bright in your eyes as Hayami's hand darts into yours again. 

"Here you two go," Hawks rumbles easily; he's standing now, and you find yourself yet again struck by how handsome he is. He smells like summer air and some expensive cologne you'll probably never know the name of. Definitely one of his sponsors. 

You take both posters, as Hayami's excitement seems to overflow and he's nearly buzzing with excitement to know he has Hawks' autograph. The boy bounces at your heels as he clutches his signed copy of the annual convention poster. His big, brown eyes are wide with pure joy. 

"Thank you!" Hayami chatters, "You're the best, Hawks!"

"Thank you," you smile, taking your own poster as Hayami's hand rockets back into yours.

"Nah, it's nothin', chickadee. Thanks for the manners," he calls after you with a touch of good humor, "You're real sweet."

"No problem!" you stutter out, thrown entirely by the compliment, as one of the other marketers guides you towards the exit with a hand on your back. 

"Oh, hey! One last thing!"

You flick your eyes back over your shoulder as you're shuffled out of the meet-and-greet.

You watch Hawks mouth 'check the poster', and with a hand held up to the side of his face. Then, 'call me'. 

"You're kidding me."

Hayami is finally asleep — and your sister is closing the door to his darkened bedroom as she hisses the words out. You're leaning against the hallway wall, arms crossed and looking entirely exasperated.

"I can't just call him," you say softly as you kick off the wall and follow her into the kitchen, "This isn't, like, the hot waiter who leaves his number on the receipt—"

"No, it's even better," she chatters, moving towards the unfinished glass of wine that sits on the dinner table, "I swear to god if you don't pick up that phone and call him right now—"

It's your brother-in-law who speaks up from the couch. "What's stopping you?"

"I don't know, being chronically single?" you cry as you throw your hands, "I haven't gotten a wax in months—"

"You seriously think #2 cares?" comes your sister's flat reply.

Your brother-in-law mimics her affectation. He throws a finger in the air. "Real heroes don't care."

The two of them high-five. 

...They're probably right.

You suck your teeth as you cross your arms again and weigh your options.

I mean — it's only eight o'clock. It's early. And it's a Friday. 

It could go two ways — you break your year-long dry spell with the #2 pro-hero in the country, or it's a total bust and he turns out to be a massive weirdo. Both are frankly pretty entertaining. 

You chew your lip.

Then, you decide.

You kick off the wall and move towards your phone in the kitchen. It's sitting beside the poster. 

"Oh my god, are you doing it?" your sister calls from the couch, her hand gripping her husband's arm tightly.

"I'm doing it," you say, ignoring the bite of nervousness in your hands as you type in the cell number that was scrawledhastily on the back of the poster. 

"Ohmygod."

It's ringing.

Suddenly, you have an audience. Your sister and brother-in-law are crowding you, their faces wide and expectant as it continues to ring. You pull your thumb to your mouth, pushing your bottom lip between your teeth. You let it ring, and ring, and just when you settle that you're being sent to voicemail, there's a click and a voice.

"'Ello?"

Your sister slams her hand into her husband's back, the two of them scrambling in a sudden flash of limbs and excitement. You drag your thumb across your throat — gesturing for them to cut it out. 

"Uh, hi," you fumble, "Is this... Hawks?"

Suddenly, there's a bark of laughter on the other line. "The one and only. Who's this?"

A slow smirk tugs at your cheeks. "I checked the back of the poster — a bold move, y'know."

"Convention Cutie!" he practically cheers, "Hold on, hold on — gimme two seconds, lemme just land."

Your lips part and you blink. The mental image is a hell of a thing. You swallow down a bought of amusement. "Sure, sure, take your time."

Keigo was starting to doubt you'd actually call him. The convention wrapped up hours ago, and he already made himself busy by exploring the southern city. It's nice here. A little bit like his hometown. Not too much crime, which has made for a pretty uneventful evening.

Until now.

His boots touch down on the nearby rooftop and he settles into an easy squat. His wings tuck themselves tightly against his back. 

You can hear a bit of wind bristle against his end of the receiver. 

"Alright, alright, sorry," he rumbles out, "Now you've got my full, undivided attention—"

You tug on your bottom lip. Your sister and brother-in-law are entirely hooked on the little bits they're overhearing from their spot across the counter. Your sister takes a long drink of her wine.

"Am I... being a bit of a distraction?" you ask, "If now isn't a good time—"

"You've been a distraction all day," comes the smooooooth reply; even Keigo's proud of himself for that one, "I'm just out for a fly. Nothin' too serious. I am glad you called, though."

Oh, fuck. Your knees feel like jello. You white-knuckle grip the counter as your sister gnashes her teeth and mimics biting her fist in silent mimery.

"Yea?" you pry, fanning yourself as you lean farther against the counter. 

"Yea, definitely," Hawks grins as he tips his head back and checks out the stars, "You busy tomorrow night? I'd love to take you out to dinner."

There's a commotion across the kitchen. The two of them are smacking one another's arms, their genuine excitement is palpable as they try to stay quiet. They're failing.

"I'd love that, Hawks."

This is new for him.

Technically speaking, you're not a fan. Your nephew is. So, this doesn't technically qualify as one of those unspoken hero faux pas. Don't date fans. Then again, what does it matter? He can do whatever he wants. 

And you're cute. And nice. And kind. And maybe he's being a sap, but seeing you with your nephew made something in his heart tighten. He didn't even notice he was making a nest of scrapped trash from the posters around his seat until the afternoon was over. 

God, sometimes the evolutionarily deep, bird DNA thing is weird.

Hawks lets out a tight breath he didn't realize he was holding. 

"Cool. Okay. Uh, you... you chill with, like, 7pm?" he fiddles with his visor, "I'm... I'm free whenever so..."

He sounds nervous. Your grin is so bright it could outburn the sun. 

"That works for me," you say as you fiddle with your lip, "As far as dress code goes... Do I, like, need a flight suit?"

His laugh is warm. 

"No, no, I — I was gonna get us an Uber," his voice lilts into something more mischievous, "Unless..."

"Maybe after dinner," you remark easily, swaying side to side, "You can show me what those wings do?"

Oh, smooth. Real smooth. Keigo's face is warm. His wings in question twitch eagerly at the invitation. 

"You gonna ask before you touch?" he teases back into the receiver, his brow raised.

It's your turn to laugh. "Hey, it's called being polite."

"I appreciate it," he rumbles out, about earlier at the convention, "Seriously. People are grabby — these things are sensitive..."

"Making a mental note of that, and filing it away," you flirt openly as your sister cheers silently, "For after dinner, maybe."

Keigo's brain stutter-steps. His laugh is surprised. He's about to comment on how you might just be the girl of his dreams when suddenly the wail of sirens perks up his attention. It's two blocks over. Three fire engines. The wind is carrying the smell of acrid smoke. 

"Hey, chickadee, I, uh... I gotta go," he says, standing and allowing his attention to drift to the scene playing out in front of him; it's a house fire — must be — on the southern side of town, "I'll text you the spot for tomorrow, is that okay?"

"Of course, don't let me keep you," you hush, "I'll... text you?"

"I'm countin' on it."

"Bye, Hawks."

"See ya, chickadee."

You didn't even realize you were sweating until you put the phone down.

Your sister and her husband are there, eyes wide. "So?"

"So," you croon as you laugh and pridefully sway your hips, "I have plans tomorrow night."

Their screaming wakes up Hayami.

As you help the kid back to sleep, you keep it secret that he's a better wingman than you could have ever anticipated. 

[apomaro-mellow]

steddie falls into porn cliches on accident

Steve was in the middle of washing the conditioner out of his hair, loving the silky smooth feeling and watching the water turn from cloudy to clear as it was all rinsed out. He was ready to start washing his body in earnest now, when he heard the doorbell ring.

For a second, he was ready to just ignore it, thinking it might be a delivery or someone trying to solicit. They could leave whatever they had on the doorstep or keep moving. Then the bell rang a second time and Steve remembered that he was in fact supposed to answer it.

Robin had hired a plumber to fix their sink. She told him they'd be coming between 8 am to noon. Steve had gotten in the shower exactly at eight, thinking surely he had enough time in that window. What kind of plumber showed up this promptly!?

Steve turned the shower off and grabbed the first robe off the hook. It wasn't his, he knew that. But in his defense, Robin wasn't home and he liked to air dry when he could. She could get mad at him later for snagging hers. He tied it hastily, rushing to the door before the plumber left.

-------------------

Eddie waited for the door to be answered, checking his watch while he did. Today was his only appointment, so he thought he was doing well by showing up on the early end of the window. He was ready to spout the rehearsed script when the door opened. Good morning, Munson and Son Plumbing. You got a problem with your drain pipe? Well I'm here to fix it. Fun fact, I'm a guitarist, so I'm pretty good with my hands. Anyone you know looking for lessons?

His uncle didn't always like him plugging his side gig, but putting up posters around neighborhoods wasn't quite as successful as actual face time. Then the door fully opened and he got an entire eyeful. A dripping wet god of a man, his modesty just barely preserved in a bath robe. It did nothing to hide his thick, hairy thighs or impressive chest.

"Hi I'm here to handle your pipe!", Eddie blurted out. "I'm mean I'm good with my hands! P...plumbing! I'm the plumber, I'm here for your plumbing."

"Oh, y-yeah, we've been expecting you", Steve tried to close the top of his robe more and that made Eddie self conscious about staring.

Steve introduced himself and Eddie did the same as he was let into the house, somehow not putting his foot in his mouth as he did. Steve took him to the problem sink and Eddie got to work while Steve excused himself.

He went into his room, looking for something presentable only to find it was mostly his stuff for the club. Definitely not appropriate for a plumber visit. Then he remembered why. He had started a load of laundry last night. And when he woke up this morning, putting it in the dryer so it'd be ready once he was done with his shower.

He went to the laundry room to do just that, emptying the contents of the dryer into his hamper, bending over to do so. Once he was done, he'd be able to put together an outfit that didn't make him look like a desperate housewife.

Eddie had just finished tangling with the pipe. It didn't take as long as he had expected but his shirt was drenched now. He listened out for Steve, hoping he was nearby so that he didn't have to call for him, only to hear something...odd.

He followed the sound until he came to an open door and realized what the sounds were - little grunts of effort. Eddie bit his lip, letting logic and reason work themselves out. Steve knew he had someone in the house and the door was wide open so he couldn't be-

Eddie walked through the door and there was Steve, bent over, top half in the dryer, bottom half sticking out. His robe had began to hitch up, revealing just the bottom of that perfect ass.

"Holy shit", Eddie squeaked out.

"Hey? Plumber guy? I know this is awkward but would you mind helping me out? My robe got caught on something and I can't-I can't free myself."

"Um, okay? So should I just...should I just?", Eddie got behind Steve, hands fumbling. Should he adjust the robe or would that be rude?

"Just grab me and pull", Steve said, wriggling around more and stopping when he heard a rip.

"Yeah, okay, yeah I'll just", Eddie grabbed Steve's hips and pulled, to no avail.

"Gonna have to do it a bit harder than that", Steve said. "Here I'll, I'll try and push too."

Eddie swallowed as he pulled again, Steve's hips coming flush with his own and eliciting a gasp from the other man.

"A...again."

Eddie pulled again, harder this time. He had kind of been working with a half chub. The kind Steve had to feel right between his cheeks every time Eddie pulled on him.

Steve gasped with each time their hips came together and it was getting hard to pretend his asshole didn't flutter with each movement.

"Fuck, just fuck me already", Steve whined.

Eddie wasted no time in dropping his pants and rubbing his cock against Steve's ass, precum dripping and Steve still wet from the shower. The tip slipped in with ease and then the rest of him and Steve's hips wouldn't stay still and then he was fucking him oh shit he was fucking him he was fucking a client while on the clock.

Steve's voice sounded goddamn ethereal, echoing inside the tub of the dryer. He was giving as good as he got, pushing back with each thrust and Eddie got to watch his dotted cheeks jiggle with each impact.

Eddie pushed the robe up more, licking his lips as he was rewarded with the sluttiest back arch that he'd ever seen. He wasn't going to last and this Steve guy wasn't either. Eddie came first, one hand on Steve's hip and the other bracing itself on the dryer so that he didn't fall over. Steve's cock spilled into the floor, a mess to be dealt with later.

"Fuck...you really are good at handling pipes", Steve laughed through his panting.

When Eddie left that day, he didn't get Steve's number. But a week later their company got a call about a clogged toilet and specifically requested that Eddie come over, that they only trusted his expertise. This time, Eddie wouldn't let it slip through his fingers. And this time when Steve greeted him in a half open robe, it was on purpose.

[buckleyx]

You asked for mike request and I only think abt him at the moment so imma tell you all of them.

-so mike coming home from work (established relation ship btw) and see you sleeping in his clothes and on his bed and just like awakens something in him like makes him love more.

THE COMFORT OF YOUR ARMS M.S

the gif i used is not mine! all credit goes to the owner!

Author’s note: thank you for requesting love!! this was such a cute ideaa i love my bf mike < 3

Mike Schmidt x gender!neutral reader

Warnings: nothing just fluff

masterlist

Mike was exhausted. It had been a long night and all he could think about was going home and cuddle up next to you. It was early in the morning when Mike locked the entrance to the pizzeria and tiredly drove back home. His mind felt blank, drained and all he could think about was you.

A soft hum escaped his lips as he finally unlocked the front door. The brunette sighed tiredly before kicking of his shoes and tossing his jacket somewhere on the couch. The house was quiet, the early sunlight beemed through the curtains making Mike muffle a soft yawn.

His feet dragged him to the bedroom, ready to fall on the soft duvet next to you. Mike blinked a few times to adjust his eyes to the dark room but thanks to the early sunrise (and broken curtain you were working on replacing) he stopped Infront of the bed to admire you curled up wearing his favorite hoodie. You had your arms wrapped around a pillow together with his side of the blanket. Your boyfriend couldn't help but smile at the adorable sight in front of him. God. You looked beautiful. He thought. And as he predicted It once again felt like all of his worries disappeared the moment he saw you.

Your boyfriend carefully crawled next to you and successfully pulled away the pillow you were holding. A content smile crossed Mike's lips as he wrapped his own arms around you instead, kissing the top of your head in the process. His breathing relaxed as he enjoyed this peaceful moment he longed all night for.

Mike's eyes glanced up at the ceiling before reminding himself to remove the leftover tape of the Nebraska poster he ripped off. He knew how hard you had been trying to make his house more cozy and welcoming for him and Abby and he couldn't be more grateful. You were well aware of your boyfriend's dream adventures but Mike always made a promise to never wander off at night when you were with him. As much as you reassured him you didn't mind he kept his ground.

You knew how important 'sleep' was for Mike and this was a part of him you couldn't help with. This was his own journey. But still it was hard. You already saw Mike less often during the day because of your new office job and now you had to miss him during nights as well. When Mike was home, you didn't see a lot of him either, he kept himself tucked away in the bedroom reliving the same memory over and over again. It broke your heart seeing him so in pain, so absent and obsessed with memories even after all these years of knowing him. But it was a part of Mike you couldn't help him with, it didn't matter how much you tried, it was his journey. His way of finding peace. So moments like this, when you were both wrapped in each others arms you both savoured to the fullest.

Mike stroked your hair, making you softly stir before comfortably laying your head further on his chest. "hmm missed you." You mumbled tiredly, not really awake yet. Mike chuckled at your adorable state. His clothes looked so good on you and he couldn't help but feel some sort of pride of catching you wearing them when he wasn't around.

"Missed you too baby." He whispered before pressing another kiss to your hair. "Try getting some more sleep."

You hummed, slipping your hand under his shirt and wrapping your arm around his waist. "I love you." You murmured, already dozing off again.

"I love you more princess." He smiled, before the unbearable exhaustion took over and lulled him into sleep aswell.

My requests are open! :)

Let me know if you want to be added for future work!

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[shaisuki]

my regrets and joy || bully! satosugu

SERIES MASTERLIST

content warnings noncon, dubcon, angst, talks of abortion, lots of crying, nanami and haibara being the best to reader.

notes finally updated this.

synopsis the reason you decided it's payback time.

weekends after a long dragging week of exams, chasing deadlines and activities is your motivation to continue and push through the week. the promised of resting and a time for yourself where you can snooze through the late afternoon. instead you're waking up on a saturday morning at a bed that doesn't belong to you.

the softness and the scent of sandalwood and bergamot lingered in the bed where you lay. the smell of fresh linen also tinting in sheets. it was dead giveaway that you weren't anywhere near in your dormitory where you shared it with a roommate. posters of different genres of anime you liked are plastered in the walls along with a small bookshelf and your nightstand in your small room. here, it was devoid of any personal touches.

you softly wince when you stretched your body. the familiar aching of muscles and the stinging of bruises and teeth marks decorating your plush body. the smooth texture of the sheets doesn't soothe you from the bruises they made. you slowly moved your body. sitting in a upright position and that seems to worst. the place between your legs is where it hurts the most considering they were insistent on fucking you on both of your holes. you ignored the soreness and went to reach for the bag you brought with you.

rummaging through the contents of it and failing to notice suguru's presence looming at the door of the bedroom. holding a glass of water for the guest they have for the night.

“good morning, princess.” geto said, spooking you off and accidentally gripping the blister pack of your birth control pills. the crunching of the foil covering the gridded pack resonates in the room and it doesn't escape suguru when you put back whatever you're holding in your bag.

he places the glass in the nightstand before joining you in bed. placing himself behind you and he wraps his muscular arms around your round stomach. “continue what you're about to do.” he orders and you slowly reach out for pills you concealed to him earlier. he didn't say anything but you feel his steely gaze following your every move. he didn't even say anything when you revealed what you were holding as you pressed the content of it to pop the pill. there in your palm rests two colored pills. you always take two when something happened like this and since the two won't bother to use protection when fucking you and you won't risk of a pregnancy that you don't want.

there is only what your peripheral vision can do. you don't even make the current expression suguru plastered on his face. tentatively you slowly brought your palm to your mouth and swallowed the pills before grabbing the glass of water and taking a drink from it.

the raven colored haired boy remained silent. humming as he buries his face to your neck and inhaling the natural scent of your body. “geto? can i go back to my place now?” you ask unsure. your heart beating fast and there is a reverberating sound tingling in your skin where his lips are pressed. his hold in your stomach tightens and it started to hurt enough to form bruises. “eager to go back like you have a choice.” he whispers. nibbling the shell of your ear and that snaps something inside of you. “that's why i'm asking for permission.” you snarl. quickly regretting that and suguru raises a brow at you. geto hums.

“someone's a little irritated this morning.” he whispered. his large hand came to cup your jaw, squishing it hard and forced you to look at him. “an attitude this early, careful.” he warns. his voice holding such venom in them that's enough to paralyzed you. “yeah and then what?” you challenge to him. you shouldn't be playing fire but you were so pissed that he still decided to toy with you and you're dying to go back to your own place. away from them and it looks like they're still not contented from tormenting you.

geto stares at you. trying to suppress a smile threatening to curve on his lips from the scowl that is currently plastered on his face. he likes you demure and always so pliant however when you run your mouth like this, challenging him for a fight that you can't win, it always made his cock twitch and fuck, he could get used to this.

it fills you with dread doing something like this. you can't help it sometimes and it felt good being able to stand up for yourself and be brave, if you only were that in the first place when they started to make your life miserable you shouldn't have ended in this situation, in a bed where they forced you to lay and have their way to you.

“oh, what's this?” gojo muses. interrupting the little scene unfolding before him. it was always fun to see geto being worked up. almost breaking his usual cool demeanor over something trivial and putting up with your bratty behavior when you mustered some courage and you look so scrumptious this early morning. wearing one of their shirt from the night before. your soft belly are pressed against the tight fabric. your big thighs are squished together making them look bigger than they already are and your chubby cheeks are crushed by his best friend's hand and that terrified look from your face. it's simply amusing.

“shut up, satoru. this one ought to be taught a lesson. get your ass here if you want to join.” geto snapped at him and he didn't need to be told twice.

“wouldn't miss that, suguru.” gojo chuckles and he's now behind you. licking your now naked round shoulder. your back pressed against his naked body. “we did breed you a lot yesterday and all that fucking, you still have the strength to be cranky this morning. perhaps it wasn't enough.”

then it happened like it always does.

“there's no chance for me to be pregnant, doctor. i was in a two-day coma after overdosing and i was on the pill. isn't people especially for those who are pregnant lose their babies after overdosing?”

the doctor in front of you coughs to clear his throat before speaking up and you pull your sweater closer to you. feeling colder as the minute passes by. it didn't help that you started to hate hospitals and meeting with doctors but just to erase your doubts and put your mind at ease for the sickness you were experiencing the months, you decided a professional would help and you wished you didn't.

“i understand your concerns, miss. being on the pill is a highly recommended protection against pregnancy however contraceptive methods aren't a hundred effective and regarding to your history of overdosing, as much i don't want to say it, it is what most people call as a miracle.”

a miracle.

you want to throw every curse word you know at the doctor in front of you but instead you take a deep breath. collect your thoughts and listen to whatever knowledge he can conjure to help you. suggesting to take a second opinion and order more tests to be thorough but you have heard enough and you don't want to stay any longer at that cold, grey office.

flowers pushed through the earth. decorating the ground with their bright colors and the soft breeze flowing through the little botanical garden gave you a sense of peace and sanity that keeps you at bay. you can't even think of single thought. deeply fixated on the flowers sprouting in the ground and only to be trampled by being stepped on.

you want to be angry but you can't bring yourself to be. the weight of the confirmation hasn't settle down for you to let hell loose. to think that you were finally free and you celebrated too early for it lead you to this. why even you're far away from them still they manage to get their clutches to you?

“—(y/n).... (y/n)?” you broke out in your trance after the call of your name coming from haibara. a concerned smile if offered to you and you let out a small smile. “are you okay?” he asks you worriedly. “yeah.” you lied. haibara doesn't need to know. you bothered him long enough with your burdens. “okay, shall we go home now?” the brunnete beams at you and you followed him in the parking lot.

the ride to the place where you moved out is silent except for the song playing in the radio. haibara hums to the beat of it which made you smile but it falters when you remember what happened at the doctor's office.

there's no denying of it. you were really pregnant and the symptoms were consistent. you choose to be blind like you always does. afraid of what the outcome and the suspicion that you really are pregnant came true but why? of all the times you took those pills and being in the verge of death. it thrived and survived the ordeals your body had gone through. telling you that it wanted to home in your body and it was meant to be but were you going to be bad if you don't want it or was it the world telling how bad you are in your past life and this is your punishment. a life filled with suffering so you can atone for all the since you have committed.

nanami couldn't quite grasp the way how your thoughts run. some days you were you. a regular woman of your age with hobbies and dreams to aspire with a smile that you can get through whatever hardships that is thrown at you. he was filled assurance that you were starting to be yourself after that accident. when you started to smile bit by bit and some days you were distant. a stranger with no direction in life. drowned in a ocean of your problems. sinking in the depths of black, murky water with no intention of surfacing up. forever in the darkness.

he knows you too well and since the night and the day you woke up from what he wished was only a nightmare. he spent the rest of his days knowing you. of what a person you are in your broken shell. in your walls built up high that he patiently climb for you to trust him and it rewarded him you. the real you.

haibara have been babbling for the last minutes and nanami never left his sight at you whereas you find him staring intimidating you didn't even bothered to tell him to stop and there wasn't a smile on your lips while haibara talks. you always find his friend's antics endearing and you always listened to him. laughing at the little details but now, you weren't. your eyes a little dead and your attention is occupied with the gears turning inside your head.

nanami clears his throat trying to get your attention and it work. your lips in a tight line after realizing haibara was talking and your weren't listening and that's what he took the opportunity to ask you a question. “how did your check-up with the doctor go?” and nanami regretted asking you that question when your eyes widen and your lips tremble. blinking furiously to fight the tears and shaking your head off. it was like digging a buried bad memory and he just brought it up for you to face.

“i-i don't want to tell you both about it.” your voice shaky and then a tear drop fall from the corner of your eye. “i burdened you both since the day you helped me and i'm ashamed for all the trouble i have caused.”

nanami was about to say sometimes when haibara interrupted him. “no!” he retaliated before muttering an apology for raising his voice then continued. “don't say that! you're not a burden and it's not like you wanted to be in this situation. you were a victim.” he says and that made you to cry harder.

“the doctor told me i'm pregnant.” you revealed and nanami and haibara's eyes widen. although on nanami's part he knows it. he suspected but never confirmed it since you were fine and it will be you who knows the changes happening in your body. “oh, (y/n)....” haibara wistfully says and then crashes his body to yours to hug you. the kind of hug that a friend will give you. “do you think we'll change just because you are pregnant? sshh. don't say anything and just cry it all out. nanami and i will support every decision you'll make.” haibara looks at nanami and they both exchanged looks. you wouldn't have to go through this alone. you have them.

true to their words nanami and haibara kept their promise to take care of you and supported your decision that you were keeping the pregnancy cause it was there and the child is already growing inside you. as much as possible you avoided doing what a expecting mother did. it was already enough that your growing belly is a proof of your pregnancy but you still took care of it. you didn't bother to take an ultrasound to know the gender of the baby. it's already painful that you're going to be a mother to a child conceived by its father who forced you.

you didn't need a reminder but haibara insisted. he was documenting the whole duration of your pregnancy. a camera he brought is already filled with photos of you with him and nanami. window shopping at the baby's section in malls. nanami massaging your feet while you sat with a bowl of your cravings in your hand. haibara baby proofing the apartment you have. you crying in front of the television. hormones you said and haibara laughing at you. nanami cooking for you with his sleeves rolled up and a apron tied around him. you and your swollen belly in months and the next photo is you having two babies cradled your chest in the hospital bed.

twins. you have twins and in the most rare of cases you conceived two babies with different fathers. it was evident. a crown of hair in their heads. a white hair to the younger twin and a black hair to the older twin.

you didn't accept them right away when you first heard the cries after a excruciating birth you have to go through. cause that cries belongs to children whose fathers laid waste to your being. who destroyed you but in a glimpse of their scrunched up faces crying, a serene kind of calm washes over you. these children of yours are innocent and shall not suffer your wrath and regrets because they were made of ill intentions towards you.

they were healthy. the doctor said. strong and loud cries of babies meant of good health. they cried and cried until they were given to you. little bundle of joys. that's what they are called and you don't want to call them like that. considering you wished for their demise during one of the times of your pregnancy that may be they would change their minds and slip out of you. these are your children now and you would not wish harm for them. they are yours to protect and to love.

“what will be the color of your eyes, kenji?” you coo at the newborn in your arms. his white hair incredibly fluffy and doing the same to the other newborn of yours whose hair color is the same as his father. you wouldn't dare to call nor speak of their names to your children. they don't want to know that they have a father like them. “how about yours, yushin?” you continue to ask them like they can understand you.

of course, it would like the same as theirs. hours from now they will open and show the colors of their eyes that resembled them. not only in the color of the eyes but also the features they have. in the next weeks it will show. the faces you loathed so much but you convinced yourself that it is your children. they may look alike but they will never grow up to be like them. you were raise them to be kind and strong. who will value the feelings of others as much they value theirs.

“mama loves you both.” you whisper and kissing their foreheads. you would show that you loved them for the years to come.

not only they grew up alike, their behaviors started to show similar to them. yushin is a calm child while kenji, his little brother younger than him for a few minutes is a wild child. always demanding your attention and is clingy. cries when you show the littlest of attention to his brother and you would soothe yushin's pouts after giving his little brother the attention. you loved them equally but to yushin's eyes you love his little brother more and that pains you.

at the tender age of three, yushin seems to quite understand how the world works similar to his brother but ignores it as long he have you. sleeping soundly in your arms while his older brother stares at his younger brother. yushin stares right up at you. “sleeping.” he says. pointing to the younger twin in your arms. you nod. “that's right, yushin. kenji is sleeping.” you said to him and he imitates you nodding.

you put kenji in the room and after putting him to his bed. you directed your attention to yushin. patting his head in a affectionate manner. your child melts at the gesture and he slowly descends to sleep and then you put him besides his brother.

you wonder how long you can protect this peace. sooner or later you will have to face them. lately fate is slowly intertwining your life with theirs and you were afraid what will they do if they were to find they have a child with you and you fear it the most. you didn't fear for yourself, you feared for your children.

it was time to strike back. you'll finish what they started and it would be the end of all. you will live your days with your children and see them grow up. it was decided. you're going to fight now in your own ways.

this time they won't know what's coming for them.

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[mamayan]

★MANNERS☆

Shigaraki Tomura x Fem! Reader x Shuichi Iguchi (Spinner)

Tomura and Spinner decide Katsuki’s lil sis needs to learn some manners. Tomura is happy to help.

TW: DARK CONTENT • NONCON (full on) • NSFW • Alcohol consumption • Forced alcohol consumption (anally) • Abuse/Manipulation • Gaslighting • Piss • Forced Enema (using beer) • Oral (M) • PIV • Rough Sex • Degradation/Humiliation • Fem! Reader • Quirkless/College AU • Not proof read!

A/N: Don’t come for me, I had a dream and needed to get it out lol

“Man don’t fuckin’—! Shit! Go left! Go fuckin’ left dammit’! NO! Fuck!” The controller went sailing across the room, hitting drywall and knocking down a corner of a poorly taped up poster near the stairwell.

“Hey dickwad, watch the fuckin’ face,” Dry eyes, bloodshot from staring at the tv all night, looked up.

You looked pissed, hair messy and face and clothing crumpled like you’d just rolled out of bed.

“It three in the morning you shitheads, shut up!” Your screech was akin to a pterodactyl, eyes blazing with fury as you pointed a manicured finger at all of them. “I have class in the morning! Shut this shit off and go to bed.” Like the whirlwind you appeared as, you were gone, stomping loudly up the cheap wooden stairs leading up from the basement smelling of stale beer and weed.

“What a—,”

“Cunt.” Tomura finished, looking at his friend with a roll of his eyes.

“She always such a bitch?” Tomura asks, curiously looking up at your ass as you slam the door shut behind you.

Shuichi looked awkward, “She’s his lil sis, so yeah, kind of always a bitch.”

“No shit? She’s firecracker’s sister?” Tomura looked shocked by the information before scoffing. “Makes sense then,” he’s back to focusing on the game, and the two resume their shouting contest at the tv.

They don’t know they’d be getting redecorated with kitchen condiments when they emerged from downstairs.

“Who the fuck?!” Spinner was nearly in tears, hot sauce directly in his eyes.

Tomura was oddly silent though despite standing slumped with ketchup and mayo dripping down his cheek, glaring balefully beneath his bangs as you snorted and tossed the empty bottle of mustard onto the floor. “I know shit for brains at least pays rent here, but you don’t,” you’re once again pointing a finger at him. “Listen crusty, me and my bro pay most of the mortgage, and then the other half is paid by Touya’s rich daddy and his pocket change.” Shuichi’s glare flattens a bit in fear under your icy stare as you glance at him like a bug beneath your foot. “You come over here all the damn time just to scream at the tv and lose, so do us all a favor, and stop showing your lotion needing ass around anymore.”

You leave just like that, finally feeling free from the incessant noise and nonsense as you get ready for your first class of the day, knowing your lab in the evening would be followed by a good night’s rest, finally.

Or not—

You return in the evening to another house party, furiously wondering which idiot set it up this time. Was it Katsuki or Touya? Shuichi was too much a follower and introvert to set up his own. The entire neighborhood was awake it seemed and eager to get drunk and wild, college students spilling out the seams of your home as you groan and push your way inside. Hands grab at you from all angles, only to feel the prick of your sharp nails in retaliation.

You spotted the spiky blonde hair of your idiot brother, his scowl matching your own as you confront him.

“The fuck dude?”

“Don’t fuck dude me, th’fuck’r doin’ home early?” He’s clearly intoxicated despite his stone faced demeanor, speech slurred as he sways a little. A pretty girl is looking at you with irritation for having interrupted her capture of prey.

“Put the nails away Babezilla, he’s my fuckin’ brother,” you sneer, rolling your eyes as you level him with a new found glare from the depths of hell.

“Everyone better be out before midnight or I’m lighting this shit on fire and claiming the insurance on the house and your body.”

“D’you take out insurance on my fuckin’ life?”

“Fuck around and find out.” With that you leave, Katsuki’s stunned face slowly morphing into one of rage as he screams out after you, held back by the girl half his size holding on to him like a desperate dog owner to their hound who smells blood.

Unbeknownst to you, you’re being watched. Carefully. As you sashay around the dirty house party, despite your terrible attitude, telling people what time to leave.

“I think she needs to learn a lesson in manners.” Shuichi glances over at Tomura, watching the young male scratch as his neck till red begins to pull up and spill. The crimson against his almost grayish skin looks ghastly.

“Y-yeah man…” something about the violent look in those garnet eyes makes him nervous.

“Go tell her I’m trying to take a piss on her bed.”

“Dude what? Why would I do that?” Shuichi looks stunned, making a face of pure confusion and revulsion. “That’s fuckin’ gross.” He receives an eye roll, chuckling beneath his breath.

“Just do it Spinner, remember where her room is?” Tomura points out, cocking a brow as if the purple haired male would catch on. He doesn’t, but Shuichi doesn’t want to admit so, nodding with a look of hesitation. “What exactly are you going to do when she gets up there?”

“Remember? A lesson in manners of course.”

Tomura happily grabs a freely left out six pack of beer, the glass long bottles cool and still dripping perspiration as they heat up in the room filled with liquored up sweaty bodies. The paper handle carefully balancing the weight of each one as he strolls up stairs, finishing his own drink of mixed hard liquors that still haven’t hit his system fully yet. Your room is on the third floor, more of a loft than anything, where you’d had a wall and door built to block out noise and add privacy. You have the most sound proof room in the house, the most secluded room in the house, and the most secure room in the house. Your brother made sure of it, throwing up extra locks as you insisted on getting a house with him near campus. Tomura is happy he found this information out through Shuichi, using his gaming friend to siphon out everything there is to know about you.

Despite your mean attitude, you’re quite the good friend. Well liked and adored on campus, pretty girl with a cute smile when you chose to use it. His own lips crack as they pull up into a grin, easily finding your room and closing the door. A normal bedroom, nothing special, with cute added decorations here and there as well as your books and study supplies left on your desk and bedside table. Tomura leaves the beer on your desk, finishing his drink and throwing the plastic red cup to the floor as he grunts and unzips his pants, freeing his limp chub as he steps up onto your bed.

He wasn’t kidding. He pissed all over your cute stuffed animals, pillows and blankets, releasing his foul pent up urine where you sleep.

“Ah fuck,” he groans, head falling back as he relaxes and fully empties his bladder just as the door slams open and you enter.

“No fuckin’ way— YOU SICK FUCKIN’ ANIMAL! THAT’S DISGUSTING!” Your shriek falls on deaf ears, the party drowning out your screeching perfectly. He doesn’t even turn his body, only his head as he looks down at your seething face with a lopsided grin.

“Aw, decided to join the fun now, Princess?” His scratchy rough voice isn’t slurred in the least, and it doesn’t take a lot to guess he’s mostly sober. Tomura shakes his cock a few times, making sure every drop hit your now soaked bed, before pulling up his boxers alone.

“Lock the door Spin.” He orders casually, and the ever eager Shuichi obeys, eyes wide in shock because Tomura really did it. He’s almost impressed, feeling something in his chest swell to see you so upset. All the times you’d mocked him as a loser who couldn’t afford to pay rent… it was true but that was besides the point.

“The fuck do you think you’re doing shit for brains?!” Shuichi flinched when you reeled on him now, but he held his ground as Tomura hopped to the floor, dropping his pants entirely now and kicking them off. It was comical the look on your face, eyes going wide and a hint of fear tinting your features before you masked it with rage. “You want to die or something? My brother will—,”

“Your brother is getting his cock gobbled like a turkey on Thanksgiving by the bitch I paid to do it. He’s not doing shit else tonight.” Tomura’s smile is vile, white teeth offset by his pale sickly skin as he chuckles, removing his shirt next.

The marks on his body can only be from some sort of self harm, scratch marks everywhere, scabs covering a majority.

“I’ve always liked your nails.” He starts, slowly backing you into Shuichi who seems more nervous than you at this point. Your glare is still in place, defiant pretty eyes sparked with emotion he’s dying to extinguish. “You’re wearing makeup today too.” He notes gleefully, and the way his face lights up almost childishly sends chills down your spine. A blaring red alarm is sounding as you realize his intentions aren’t just to vandalize your room.

“Tomura stop this right now—hck!?” It catches everyone but him off guard when he slaps you across the face, sending you to the floor as you gaze dazedly at your carpet for a moment.

“Shut the fuck up,” he sneers, rolling his eyes as you cough and sputter for a second. It’s the only second he needs to grab a fistful of your hair and haul you up, dragging you to your desk and swiping everything off and onto the floor to smash your face to the table. “You always scream and yell. It’s annoying how you always run your mouth slut.”

“Stop—! I’ll really scream! HELP! SOMEO—mhm!” He doesn’t hesitate to lift your head and slam it as hard as he can onto the table, effectively and violently silencing you.

“Holy shit dude—,” Shuichi halts when Tomura levels him with a glare. His eyes drop to you, even more rocked and dazed as a few tears leak down your cheeks.

“Since you like screaming so much…” he’s scratching as his neck with his free hand, cracking his knuckles after and dropping his hand to the waist band of your leggings. Your ears still ring from the blow, allowing him to easily pull your pants and underwear down to expose your lower half. He only pulls it down halfway, exposing your cunt and bare ass.

“Hey man, maybe we should stop…” Shuichi takes another step forward, eyes nervously looking at your exposed skin and limp figure against your desk.

“Nah, this bitch is getting a lesson taught tonight.” Tomura nods for Shuichi to come closer, his friend awkwardly shuffling closer. “Hold her arms behind her back and her face down.” Tomura helps grab both of your wrists, twisting them behind your back and pressing them down. He ignores your whimper, letting Shuichi hold you down now so he could free both hands.

Shuichi simply watches as Tomura grabs a beer, biting the cap off and spitting it on the floor as he saunters closer. Taking a few swigs, he grins and crouches down behind you, laughing as you flinch away from his hand on your ass.

“P-please stop—hii!” He only answers with a sharp slap to your ass and a giggle, deforming the soft doughy flesh with his hand and nails sinking in. Spreading one cheek wide, Tomura brings the lip of the bottle to the tight rosebud of your back entrance.

“Holy shit—,”

“No! No please!”

He ignores you and Shuichi, pressing forward and breaching your ass with the bottle and delighting in the squeal you make, legs going taunt and straight as the desk and Shuichi’s grip prevents you from going anywhere as he sinks about three inches of the bottle neck inside your ass.

“Bottoms up, bitch.” Tomura laughs, tilting the bottle up and watching the liquid begin to bubble and pop, disappearing inside of you as you groan and writhe for freedom, panic and tears painting your face. Keeping the bottle in place as he forces the beer inside you, Tomura leans up and over to lick the smearing mascara running down your cheek. The salt and chalky taste making his cock swell up into a tent in his boxers.

“Fuck man, is this even okay? I-I don’t wanna go to jail or some shit,”

“You won’t. She won’t say a thing.”

“W-why?”

“Look at her cunt.”

It didn’t matter how much you cried or babbled out pleas, the slick literally dripping from your cunt to the floor in a slimy along your thighs was undeniable.

“Get your phone out and record.” They switch places so Shuichi can do as he’s told, Tomura holding you down much more roughly now.

Shuichi finds it hard to swallow as he digs past his own hard cock to grab his phone out, shakily opening up the camera and hitting film. He doesn’t need to be told to set up facing the scene, using a book shelf on the other end of the room as a stand. He takes his position again holding you, Tomura once more free to do as he pleased.

When the bottle is empty, Tomura pulls it free roughly from your stinging ass with an audible pop.

“Looks like you still got room, hm?”

“Oh god, please, Tomura stop,” your sniffling and little whines don’t soften his heart as he bites another cap off, leaning his own face against the desk to keep the contact as he pressed the new bottle inside your ass. The cool glass contrasted against your warming insides, the feeling of being full hard not to focus on as the alcohol slowly heated you. The liquid goes in faster as he tips it up high, forcing you on your tip toes to avoid tearing your poor hole as he gleefully watches the horror and humiliation on your features.

“Little butt chugging bitch likes having her ass played with huh?” Tomura teases, playfully pressing the now empty bottle in and out of your sore hole, enjoying the tiny wail you release.

“Yeah you like it.”

“I-I don’t—!” He doesn’t care to listen as he fucks you with the glass bottle head, sitting up to watch your hole take it as his cock twitches and soaked his boxers with pre-cum.

“S-shit man I’needa’,” Shuichi feels his mind go blank, pressing his denim clothed cock against your outer thigh and rutting his hips against it like a dog. Tomura snickers watching his friend blow his load in his pants, not seeing the hypocrisy when he does the same not a moment later watching you whimper and take another bottle.

He stops as three, yanking his boxers down and pressing his uncut cock-head right up against your tight hole and releasing before he can even enter.

“Shit,” he moans, pressing Shuichi out of the way to pin your body with his own weight as he rubs against your ass with his release coating your skin. “Holding all that liquid must hurt, huh?” He huffs against your neck, sucking on the skin and breaking the capillaries when he bites down hard enough to draw blood.

Your scream echoes around the room, the floor vibrating as the party downstairs rages on without a clue to your plight.

You groan at Tomura wiggles his full weight on you, your lower belly feeling like it may burst any moment, panic settling into your gut.

“I-I need to p-pee…” Tomura moans, rocking his hardening cock against you while you struggle beneath him.

“Pee then,” he grunts, focusing on rubbing against your sloppy pussy, “So fuckin’ wet. You been wantin’ this?”

“Hey man…” Shuichi had decided to join his friend in stripping to his boxers, no longer pretending to have a moral compass as he stroked his own cock to the sight before him.

“Yeah I gotcha,” Tomura easily stands and brings you up, still restrained with his hands as he drags to the bathroom attached to your room. Shuichi follows, stunned when Tomura just drops you to the floor and presses a foot on your lower abdomen.

“S’too much, please,” you writhe like a bug, Shuichi’s eyes watching as you try and get away only to be pinned harder with Tomura’s foot.

The liquid stored inside you has no where else to go but out.

“Fuckin’ nasty bitch, shit,” Tomura watches in fascination as the liquid spills out, only beer coming out as you sob and lay on the tile. Despite his words he works his cock to the sight. “Cheap enema.” He notes, grabbing your wrist and hauling you to the shower. “Turn it on Spin,” dragging your poor figure into the shower and stripping you down naked. The water is freezing at first, your flinches and pathetic pleas as Tomura dumps soap over your head and body ignored. He uses the detachable shower head to wash you like an animal, roughly soaping you up and spraying you off, careless about nearly drowning you as he washes your face a little.

He does a poor job, but you’re somewhat clean, makeup still smeared lightly on your face as your dragged out dripping wet back into your bedroom.

He doesn’t hesitate to throw you on your bed.

“Fuckin’ gross man…” Shuichi frowns, but he doesn’t hesitate to grab you despite the scent of urine turning him off slightly.

You fight now though, wildly flailing limbs struggling as you scream and wail for anyone to hear you. No one does, as Tomura shamelessly climbs into the bed with you, boxers gone and completely naked as he helps Shuichi press you to your hands and knees. Tomura positioned behind you and Shuichi by your face.

“Please… I-I’m sorry…” they pause, your voice so tiny they barely heard it.

“Speak up, whore, we can’t hear you.” Tomura yanks your face up by your hair, your neck twisting painfully back as you sob.

“I’m sorry!”

“For what?!” Tomura sneers, using your head like a joystick and rattling you around.

“F-for saying mean things, a-and throwing food o-on you…”

“That all?” He asks, cock pressed up against the entrance to your cunt threateningly.

“P-please Tomura… Shuichi…”

“Since you’re begging,” Tomura laughs, surging his hips forward and shoving his cock into your warm tight cunt. You release a silent scream this time, choking on air as his cock fills you this time, each thick inch drilling into you as he starts wildly bucking into you with little regard to your pleasure.

“Fuck her face Spin,” Tomura grunts, drawing blood on your ass as his nails bite in, fucking hard up into your pussy, soft mushroom tip unsheathing and kissing up against your cervix.

“R-right…” Shuichi feels guilty seeing your tear streaked face, wet hair clinging to your skin and watery eyes looking at him for mercy. It doesn’t stop him from cupping your jaw and lifting your head up to press his cock against your lips.

Tomura lands a sharp hit to your rear, moaning as you tighten at the bolt of pain it caused. “Better suck him good, or I’ll let him have your ass.” That seems to motivate you, soft lips parting open and accepting Shuichi’s much thicker cock into your mouth. Shuichi unexpectedly had the biggest cock you’d ever seen, the reddish tip and veiny shaft intimidating as you do your best to lick and suck despite the sweaty sour odor clinging to him.

“That’s not how sluts suck cock, is it?” Tomura growls, forcing your head forward on the hesitant Shuichi’s cock and gagging you while the purple haired man moans. “O-oh fuck!” He grips your face from the front while Tomura fucks you rough and hard from behind. “That’s it Princess! Nice and deep!” Tomura cackles, focusing back on railing you senseless while Shuichi finally snaps and face fucks you properly.

“So good—fuck, your mouth is so warm,” he’s nearly in tears himself as he feels his tip slip into your tight throat, eyes rolling back as he works his hips now, watching drool and tears mix around your mouth and drop down onto his balls as they smack your chin. “A-almost done, almost done,” he moans, loving how your oxygen deprived mind slackens your jaw more so he can slip even deeper, your tongue licking at a vein under his shaft every thrust. “So fuckin’ good wh-when you shut up, heh,” he’s delirious on pleasure, loving the submissive look in your eyes as they gaze up pleadingly at him. “Cute when this mouth is used for something productive.” Shuichi laughs breathlessly, balls drawing up tight as he finally spills down your throat. “Fuck! Swallow! Swallow it all—!” His face and body scrunch up, nearly doubling over as he presses your nose against his pelvis and comes down your throat.

You black out. Limp figure gurgling on hot spunk spilling down your face as you drop to the soaked bed while Tomura supports your lower half up to keep fucking you. Your eyes barely open as the room spins, cunt clamping down like a vice on Tomura’s cock when he uses one hand to half heartedly rub at your swollen clit.

“Shit, gonna bite my dick off,” he moans despite the almost uncomfortable tightness, working your pussy up further as you spasm and soak his lower half, eyes rolling back. “Ah fuck, that’s it bitch, make a mess!” Tomura nearly whines, hips becoming jerky as you milk him for all he’s worth, his cum finally spilling inside you now.

“Bet you ain’t on birth control huh? Gonna knock you up whore.” He grunts, trying to fuck his spend back into you with his softening cock, overstimulating himself as he moans and whimpers against your back.

When he pulls out, a string of sticky fluids connect his cock to your pussy even when he’s completely out of you. He watches with a grin as his white cum dribbles out of your used hole. “Look at that. You do have some potential after all. At least for a cock sleeve that is.” He snickers, leaving you in a heap on your bed as he and Shuichi start to dress, grabbing the phone and coming back to film the aftermath.

“Say a word and I’ll send this to everyone. Do you hear me?” He doubts you really do, the fucked out look on your face making you appear stupid as you numbly nod a little. “Now say ‘Thank you Tomura and Spinner, for using my slutty holes’.” Tears leak freely as you stutter, “Th-thank you T-Tomura a-and Spinner…for u-using my s-slutty holes…”

“Good girl. I knew we could teach you some manners.” He grins, eyes crinkling around the edges darkly as he stares at your used figure still trembling and dripping cum.

“Let’s go, I’m in the mood to game a lil,” Tomura comments, wiping his cock with your panties and stuffing them in his back pocket as he buttons and zips up his fly. Shuichi follows, nodding as he dresses and fixes his clothes, eyes not leaving you though.

“Don’t worry. We can use her again later. I still got a few more brews.” Tomura chuckles, lifting the half empty pack up.

You wake in a panic, blood pumping fast and heart pounding. Your room is as you left it, eyes scanning your clean and un-pissed in bed and sheets. Your body is clean besides a sheen of sweat coating you, hands trembling as you dip a finger into your panties to find yourself soaking wet.

Did you have a wet dream about those two losers?

As if…

You found sleep was hard to come by as you kept imagining.

Dividers/@cafekitsune

[harrygoeswest]

Infatuation On A Mutual Level

You and Harry are housemates and are both secretly quite fond of one another.

A/N: Woooo she’s here!!! I loved writing this one shot a lot and I really hope it shows. I haven’t had motivation to write for ages and this year I’ve really come back to it and I’m so happy. I hope you all love it as much as I do. She’s special to me. Special mention to the only person who ever wants to read for me @all-things-fic​ <3 Please come tell me what you think afterwards!! Katie x

Trigger Warnings: sexual content, brief mentions of loss, nightmares

Word Count: 18,777

~.~.~.~.~

Now

Every morning was the same.

The creak from the only bed on the first floor began the day. Then the gush of the tap in the shared bathroom. The kettle in the kitchen on the ground floor. The door closing when George left for the day. Then again 15 minutes later when Rhys did. Abbie starting the shower immediately afterwards now her boyfriend was gone. And then the only thing that ever made your skin prickle:

Harry’s door opening.

Every morning you would roll over at the sound, away from it. God forbid the man who defined ‘sex on legs’ ever pinned you with that warm, green-eyed stare first thing in the morning through the open gap of your own bedroom door. No, you might never be able to survive such a thing.

Living in a shared house was hard. Not least because you felt responsible for the place itself; owned by your single dad who would do anything to bring in what income he could, including taking more rent off his eldest child than he’d like. An argument arose regularly over your living situation but it was hard enough filling the fourth bedroom with a tenant. Living in the third was the least you felt you could do. The building was in dire need of some TLC but it wasn’t exactly an affordable fete. Sometimes the ceiling leaked on the second floor when it rained thanks to some shabby scaffolding work a few years back; the main reason why it was so hard to let the fourth bedroom. Part of you didn’t want to.

It was also hard in a house share because people were messy and you had a horrendous phobia of general mess. If you could quit your job and play full-time housekeeper you absolutely would. But your dad wouldn’t allow that. “Not in my lifetime,” He’d say with the gentlest scowl.

But the hardest part, by far, was being in such close proximity to the man who rented the bedroom across the hall. You weren’t sure why you were so terrified of him. Scarred by your original encounter with him, perhaps, but he wasn’t actually scary. He was, rather annoyingly, the nicest person in the house. Constantly aloof, yes, but still the poster boy for gentlemen everywhere.

Maybe if you spoke to him you’d learn he’s just a normal bloke, your inner voice trilled.

“Shut the fuck up.” You hissed into your pillow.

You waited for the inevitable sputter of the shower starting up again, and then rolled out of bed, threw on the clothes you’d hung up on the wardrobe door the night before - clean white shirt and grey trousers, ironed within an inch of their life - and scurried downstairs to arrange your usual to-go breakfast. Coffee in a reusable cup and a cereal bar. Hair and makeup could be fixed at work. You were always thirty minutes early anyway.

~

Harry wasn’t sure how you managed it. How every day you managed to evade him to avoid a puffy-eyed “good morning” or a potentially awkward conversation over breakfast.

As he stood in the hallway between your bedrooms towelling his hair dry in nothing but a pair of boxers and a damp t-shirt, he stared into your bedroom and marvelled yet again at how you seemed to have managed to keep it tidied to a borderline compulsive degree.

A large king bed sat against the left wall with ironed white linens and a plush sunflower yellow throw draped across the foot. One lone bedside table tucked against the right side with a tasselled muted green 60s velvet lamp and a book resting atop. A picture hung above the headboard - some vibrant canvas of abstract art. Every morning he wondered if you’d painted it yourself. Against the opposite wall stood a tall regal-looking cherrywood wardrobe next to a matching dresser with a sleek TV on top. It was the most modern thing about the room. In the window overlooking the garden a dream catcher hung in the dead centre. It was the only nicknack you seemed to have, and part of him hated that it seemed like something negative. Something to catch nightmares, to ward off evil.

Did you have bad dreams? And if so, why?

As always, the window had been opened two inches to let in fresh air. You never closed your door, not even at night. You never had clothes left out. Clutter didn’t exist in your vocabulary. Dust wasn’t permitted in your room. Or the bathroom, or kitchen, or living room, he’d deduced. You took Wednesdays off in the week and cleaned when no one else was home to bother you. He doubted the others had picked up on these things about you, but he’d noticed.

Harry had noticed a lot about you.

Especially that in the mornings, you waited until he took his bathroom time to get ready for work and leave without having to run into him. Some chaotic part of him wanted to change his routine so you’d have to. He wanted to know what you looked like straight out of bed with puffy eyes and linen marks on your cheeks and hair in disarray. The other part of him, the gentleman, told him not to. Who knew what might happen if he threw your routine off kilter.

Distress, probably?

No. He wouldn’t be having that.

Shaking his head, he wandered into his own room and shut the door behind him. One day the puzzle of you would finally form a complete picture. Today, he settled for the tethered, jumbled segments he’d managed to collect this far.

~

You stared at your phone, face a picture of bewilderment. Deciphering text messages from the housemates was starting to get increasingly difficult, no thanks to the fact that you were shit at it and everyone else seemed to excel.

Blackpool Tower

🌚 👰🏼❌🧽🍽️🔄

🌝 🙈🖕🏼

👰🏼 😕

Translation: Abbie George didn’t wash his dishes again.

Rhys Oh for fuck’s sake.

George Whoops.

You were on a roll with the emojis. It had started as a joke because George had said he hated people who only used emojis to text each other rather than actual words, so for a week the four of you had sent every text using only emojis. Then it had turned into a bet: how long could all of you go without using words, and who would be the first one to crack. You all knew that, without a doubt, Rhys would crack first, even though he was the one who’d proposed the bet in the first place. It had been two weeks and no one had cracked yet.

🍉 🤔👰🏼🥄🥄🍱🔄

👰🏼 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😠

🌝 😒🙄

🌚 🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻‍♀️

👑 ❌❌❌❌❌❌❌

Translation:

Harry Maybe George should cook dinner again…

George HAHAHAHAHAHAHA no.

Rhys Yeah right.

Abbie No thank you.

You Absolutely fucking not.

Why did all of you have such ridiculous headers?

Abbie and Rhys were the twin moons because that was the look they always gave each other when they thought something was cute, funny, interesting, or otherwise. They’d moved into the house as a couple and had remained in said couple for 3 years. Sharing a room was their way of saving money to buy a house. It made sense.

George was a blonde bride because he was the most outwardly gay man any of you had ever known and often acted like an utter madam. Madam was actually George’s nickname to his friends now thanks to the house’s light ribbing. He had also chosen his own emoji.

Harry was the watermelon because we were never without it thanks to a frankly concerning obsession. If there wasn’t a watermelon in the fridge, or slices, or packaged chunks, something was very wrong.

And you were the crown because you’d refused to pick an emoji and the house had affectionately bestowed the title of Tower Queen to you. You’d pretended to hate it, but they all knew you viewed it as the highest compliment.

Oh, and the group chat was called Blackpool Tower because you lived together in a tall, two-rooms-to-a-floor townhouse at the top of town. The Eiffel Tower had been suggested but George immediately pointed out that we were not a classy enough bunch to live in such a fine establishment. I’d told him to speak for himself.

The talk of food made you hungry, and it hit you like a landslide that you hadn’t had any dinner. You rolled off your bed and sent a text to Blackpool Tower, then shoved your phone away.

~

Multiple things happened at once. The shower turned on in the bathroom; your bedroom door opened with a quiet creak (which would not happen again since you went through WD40 like a bee in pollen); Harry’s phone vibrated with another text.

Blackpool Tower

👑 👩‍🍳🍝 … 🌚🍝🌝🍝🍉🍝➡️🧊 … ❌🍝👰🏼

Harry snickered.

Translation: You Making dinner. Leftovers in the fridge. None for George.

It wasn’t unusual you’d make enough food for everyone. Harry had learned that you’d picked that trait up from your dad. Sometimes no one would stop you, especially since there was never anything wrong with a meal you’d cooked. In fact, if there were a restaurant with food cooked by you, Harry would dine there every night. But he also knew that letting you cook for all the other housemates all the time wasn’t fair.

🌚 🍉➡️🍉❌🍉➡️🍉❌👑

👰🏼 🚫🚫🚫🚫

“For fuck’s sake.” He muttered.

Rhys must have been in the shower. If George or Abbie were home they’d have rugby tackled you to the floor given the chance.

Harry abandoned his phone and lurched out of his room, down the stairs to the kitchen. He nearly stacked it twice but he made it, with panting breaths to accompany him.

You turned your gaze on him with a startled look, giving him a once over. “What are you doing…?”

“Don’t you dare cook for everyone else.”

You blinked twice and then rolled your eyes. “It’s fine - I’ve got plenty.”

“It’s not fair.”

“If I don’t cook it today it’ll go off. So might as well.”

Harry looked at the produce you’d piled on the counter and back at you, then back again. “Bullshit.”

“Excuse me?”

“You bought enough for everyone.” He straightened and folded his arms across his chest.

You spluttered and scoffed for far too long. “No.”

“Yes.”

“You can’t stop me.” You scowled at him.

It was the most emotions he’d ever seen on you. If he’d known all this time that all he needed to do to get a conversation out of you was wind you up a bit, he’d have done it much sooner.

“Yes I can.”

You put a hand on your hip. Christ. “How?”

He stared at you, statuesque and cursing himself for challenging a bet he couldn’t win. You were right. How would he stop you? He wasn’t going to drag you away from the kitchen and up the stairs without your permission. Hell, he didn’t want to do anything without your permission, threats begotten. He hadn’t thought this through.

You let out a breath, a mocking one, and turned away from him and picked up a knife to start chopping. “Didn’t think so.”

“You can’t do this forever.”

Chop.

“Do what?” You challenged, refusing to look at him again.

Chop chop.

“Look after every person that comes in here because you feel like you owe people something. The world will take advantage of you. Is that what you want?”

Your shoulders visibly tensed over the words that tumbled out of his mouth. They weren’t even spoken with malice. They were soft and cautious.

CHOP.

“This feels like a very deep conversation to be having on a Tuesday evening.”

He growled, frustrated. “Stop babying everyone.”

Chopchopchop.

“If they didn’t want me to baby them they simply wouldn’t let me. And maybe I like babying people. Sometimes it’s nice to have a responsibility.”

“That’s just it, though. They’re not your responsibility.”

You smacked the knife down on the chopping board and turned to face him, an unfamiliar anger in your eyes that muddled with something else murky and grey. Hurt. “Will you just let me cook my fucking dinner in peace?”

Harry stood, tense, staring at you with his fists clenching and unclenching. Finally, he said, “Fine. But you’ve got to let me help you.”

“Oh, Jesus Christ, Harry.” Your head lolled back.

“Two different people, but I appreciate why you might get confused.”

You stared at him for an indecipherable length of time. Or gawked might have been a better descriptor. And then you snatched the tea towel off the side and smacked it in a whip-like movement against his arm. “Git.”

~

Two weeks later and you and Harry had begun a sort of ritual; you would cook with each other every other night. The distinct difference was that when you bought food, you bought enough for everyone. When Harry did it he only bought enough for the two of you.

You hadn’t quite figured out yet if being in this new… friendship with Harry was better or worse. Cooking together four nights a week versus blissful ignorance towards him and his attractiveness? The now near-constant proximity to him was making your head spin for stupid reasons. Namely said attractiveness.

His biceps for one. No one should be allowed arms that had the ability to make one’s mouth water. Pair his strong muscles with the litter of tattoos that were drawn down his right arm and you’d found yourself sweating even on the coldest day. A man’s body should not have such a strong effect on a person, yet here you were - a swoon personified.

Then there was his face, which was worse. Eyes mouth jaw. Those three things individually on a man were the first thing that always drew you in, but Harry had a triple threat. Seaglass green, blush pink and the perfect 100 degree angle. Not too square. And to top it all off, a wispy mop of chestnut waves atop his big head.

The perfect man?

“Aye,” Harry took the knife off you before you started chopping an onion, “thought we established that needed sharpening. A blunt knife is more dangerous than a sharp one.”

A man who cared about your wellbeing?

His bedside manner could use some work.

“Fuck off.” You whispered to your inner voice.

“What?”

“Nothing.” You shook your head, cheeks burning. Great, he probably thought you were crazy.

You silently passed Harry the stone out of the drawer. He could sharpen it if he was going to make such a big deal out of it.

“Thank you.” He mumbled, and started swiping the edge of the knife along the full length of the stone.

Chalky noises. Sharp noises. Furrowed brow. Biceps flexing. Obscenely attractive. Abort abort abort.

You busied yourself by turning on the hob and drizzling oil into a pan. Basically looking anywhere but at Harry and his arms. Sexy arms.

Sex on legs.

Your legs were wobbling. A flame of burdened heat licked its way between your thighs and you had to lean against the counter to stop from buckling. It had been a long time since a man had touched you.

Yeah. This was worse. Definitely worse. Hyper-awareness of everything going on around you wasn’t unusual, but being hyper-aware of everything Harry did was like some unfound form of torture. There was being attracted to someone and then there was whatever this situation was.

Ridiculous?

It was ridiculous, but at least you could suffer knowing that your inner voice had been wrong. Harry was not a normal bloke. He was some kind of enigma.

~

For the past couple of nights Harry had kept his door open. He’d learned that you did indeed have nightmares regularly so the dreamcatcher you kept in your bedroom window was doing little for your unconscious mind. He’d debated buying a bigger one for you but wasn’t entirely sure how appropriate that would be.

You weren’t loud. In fact, if he hadn’t kept his door open he never would’ve known, because the ajar-ness of his door had come prompted for completely different reasons - that unusual urge to see you first thing in the morning. Now two nights in a row he had been woken up by your little yelp, followed with a hissed string of curses while shifting around your bedsheets to get comfortable again. As soon as he knew you were asleep, he wasn’t too far along after you.

He still hadn’t been able to decide if cooking with you nearly every night was a good thing or a bad thing. While he never failed to enjoy himself during your bi-nightly kitchen sessions, he hated separating from you afterwards. It wasn’t enough. The persistent nearness of you for an hour or so only to be followed by a later severance was almost painful. The bedroom door being left open was just another attempt at trying to get closer to you.

He knew it was you in the bathroom because you took longer than everyone else. Not because you were using up all the hot water but because you used it as an excuse to give it a thorough clean. Being able to hear everything going on in the house was both a gift and a curse, but Harry wasn’t attuned to all the tenants. Only you.

Five minutes later the bathroom door opened, and you plodded up the two flights of stairs. He knew the way all the stairs creaked, and you were going at nothing more than a leisurely pace. He caught a glimpse of you as you passed, but it wasn’t enough. It was never enough. The scent of strawberries and jasmine wafted through the gap in his door after you.

Harry’s phone vibrated.

Blackpool Tower

🌝 Friends coming over tomorrow night for drinks 🍻 we’ll behave

👰🏼 You idiot

🌚 RHYS

🌝 NOOOOOOOOOO

🍉 Pay up dipshit

🌝 😭😭😭

A few minutes later Harry got a notification to say he’d received a £10 payment into his bank account.

~

Then

The cold had crept in again. Not from the weather - it was warm at night. This was a different kind of cold. The sweaty kind that kept you up at night. Medication had kept the nightmares away for some time but now you were locked in the house for the foreseeable future you couldn’t bear the idea of being constantly dimmed down by it in front of your housemates.

Last night was the first time you’d had a nightmare in close to a year and it was just as terrifying as it used to be. Some traumas just wouldn’t leave you be. You’d taken a couple of painkillers to numb your headache and they’d graciously knocked you out for another few hours and brought you right on through to 8am. You couldn’t remember the last time you’d slept that late. With everyone at home all the time now, it seemed no one wanted to get out of bed.

You had a job to do today, anyway. The room next to yours had finally been rented, so you’d been tasked with giving it a proper clean before the new tenant arrived this evening.

You did need to eat, but before that you wanted to get the window open in there to coax some fresh air in.

Hauling yourself out of bed, you meticulously tidied your room the same you did with every morning, dressed in clothes appropriate for cleaning, and took the short step across the hall to the other room.

The door was closed which was unusual. You always left the doors to the empty rooms open with a wedge so they wouldn’t get stuffy from disuse. Maybe you’d opened the window yesterday and forgot? Had the wind closed it for you?

Shrugging to yourself, you opened it anyway.

“Oh,” your eyes widened, “fuck, shit, sorry.”

Inside, collapsed face down on the bed dressed with only a sheet was a man, near-naked in only a pair of boxers. You couldn’t see much of his features bar a mop of chocolate curls, a heavily tattooed arm, and a particularly nice arse beneath his pants.

He lifted his head, complete with a gorgeous profile, and peeled open an eye. A very green, beautiful eye. He made a confused, questioning noise.

The room was full of belongings, so this must be the new tenant and not some homeless person who’d managed to sneak in without anyone realising. At least you hoped.

“I’m sorry, I thought you were moving in later today. Sorry.”

“Friday.” He managed. A sleep-coated, groggy and somewhat delirious voice. It was delicious. You wanted to taste it.

“What?”

“Friday was moving day.”

“Yes. Today.”

“No. Yesterday.”

You looked at your phone. “Christ. I’m sorry. Isolation is getting to me. You don’t care. I’m sorry. I’m interrupting your sleep. I’ll go. Sorry.”

You pulled the door closed before you could embarrass yourself any further, and then hid yourself in the bathroom out of sheer embarrassment.

If you never saw that marvellous-looking man again it would be too soon.

~

Now

Harry often thought about that first day.

Morning. Just after dawn. Early summer sun casting you in gold. Tiny shorts. Faded creaseless t-shirt. Sleepy face messy hair.

He hadn’t seen you anything of the sort since and he craved it like an addict did cocaine.

A pandemic had ruined many things for many people, and the most recent ruin back then had been Harry’s longest relationship. That’s what had brought him to a double bedroom in a shared house rather than a flat and his own fucking space. He couldn’t afford the latter.

It had been hot that night, moving into a new home in the darkness. He’d picked up the key from the owner, your dad it had turned out, and transferred his possessions from one place to another in the late night simply to avoid having to discuss his situation with people he didn’t know.

But yes, the heat is what had caused him to strip down to his underwear before passing out. The startled look on your face at the sight of him had absolutely been worth it. The sight of you had been worth it. Such a strong attraction to someone fresh after a breakup should be wildly inappropriate, but there you suddenly were, bare-legged and dangling yourself in front of him like a piece of string to a kitten. Still, the fact remained that Harry liked to think himself a gentleman. He tried to be a gentleman, and after living so close to you for so long, it didn’t take long to learn that you liked to keep to yourself. So he had done the same.

Until now, apparently.

“That housemate of yours here?”

Harry’s ears pricked up at the question like a cat’s would if it heard something interesting. He recognised the voice and hated the speaker. He always had. Today was no exception.

“Which one? I’ve got three of ‘em if we don’t include Abbie.” Rhys’s oblivious laughter filtered up the stairs to the sanctuary of the top floor.

“Well I ain’t talkin’ about the lads, am I?”

Harry shivered. He imagined if you could hear them then you would too.

“She’s here”, “Don’t bother,” came simultaneously from Rhys and Abbie. Abbie sounded almost defensive, and that pleased Harry to no end.

“Why not?”

“Because she isn’t interested.”

“Maybe you should let her decide that for herself.”

Unconsciously, Harry rose from the desk in his room and made his way across the hall to yours. The door was open, obviously.

You were sitting up with a book but you had earplugs in. Whether it was playing music or just to block out the noise from downstairs he wasn’t sure. As soon as you spotted him a small smile curved on your lips, and you pulled an earplug out. It was playing music.

Harry had never met anyone who could listen to music and read at the same time. There were surely plenty, but this put you in the Elite Tier in his head.

“What’s up?”

Footsteps began on the stairs, and Harry threw a cautionary glance over his shoulder before he slipped inside and closed the door behind him, sliding the lock across.

You were leaning forward now, a crease in your brow. “What’s going on?”

“Rhys’s friends are here.”

You blinked. “I know.”

“Yes but his idiot friends are here.”

You tipped your head. “I’m not following.”

“I don’t trust him.”

“Who?”

“I don’t know… Gaz? The one with the teeth.”

“Oh. Right. Why not? He’s harmless, no?”

“Is he? I’m not so sure.”

Your name suddenly trilled from the floor below. “You home?”

You looked at the door as Harry moved to the side, dumbfounded. Harry shook his head at you when you began to move.

Why not? You mouthed.

Harry pretended to drink from an invisible glass and grimaced.

The idiot called your name again and knocked on the door. “Come on, come say hi.”

Harry was really scowling now. You flashed glances between him and the door multiple times.

“She’s probably asleep, mate!” Rhys hissed from outside the door. “She works early some Saturdays.”

That was not true. You’d never worked weekends, not even as a teen. It was Rhys’s smart ruse to get him to back off.

The door handle jostled. Harry suddenly looked more threatening than a mafia boss, and your jaw fell slack from shock.

“Oi,” smack, “what the fuck is wrong with you?”

“What? Worth a shot.”

“No it fuckin’ weren’t, go downstairs.”

Some heated muttering commenced, but neither you nor Harry moved or spoke until you were satisfied they wouldn’t hear anything.

“Did he seriously just try and get in here?”

“While you were ‘sleeping’?” Harry air-quoted around the word. “Yes. He did. Hence the distrust.”

“What the fuck…”

He watched you for a moment and the look on your face said it all. You were upset, in a confused sort of way. Your mind was somewhere else, no longer in this room. Eyes glassy and breathing shallow.

Someone had tried to come into your personal space while they had the impression you were sleeping. If that had been the case there was no telling what would’ve happened. If Harry hadn’t come in you probably wouldn’t be any the wiser to Rhys’s friend’s real character, and that was what scared him. You had a tendency to put too much faith in people as just people. If someone was being nice to you that must mean that they are nice.

“What are you reading?” He asked into the silence, not only to break the quiet but to pull you out of the trance you’d been in.

“Oh, er,” you looked down at the book in your lap and turned it upwards, flashing the cover to him, “some daft romance.”

You put it aside after slotting the bookmark inside to keep your place. He smirked to himself. God forbid you dogear a page.

“Happy ending?”

You nodded, playing with your loose earbud. “Yeah. Has to be.”

“They’re my favourite.”

You gawked at him then. “Really?”

“Yeah.” He shrugged. “Is that so shocking?”

You laughed musically. “I don’t know… I kind of assumed a guaranteed happy ending would irritate you or something.”

“Not at all. Sad endings are rubbish.”

“Aren’t they?” You patted the bed by your lap, suddenly animated. “I hate them.”

“Me too.”

“What are they for? No one wins, everyone is miserable, and someone has almost always died in the middle.”

He folded his arms, brows furrowed in a mock defence. “Now who hurt you? Tell me. Who do I need to beat up?”

“John Green.”

Harry scoffed. “He’s the worst.”

“Paper Towns? What the fuck was that all about?”

“Load of shit.”

“Exactly!”

He grinned, relaxing his posture. A commotion began downstairs, and he turned over his shoulder towards the door. Two phones dinged inside the room.

Blackpool Tower

🌝 🍻🍻➡️🌃➕👰🏼

You were being left alone. Thank God.

Harry met your gaze with a passive smile that didn’t touch his eyes. “I’ll let you get back to your reading.”

“Wait…”

He raised a single brow at you. “Yes?”

“Why don’t we watch a movie? If they’re pissing off out…”

He was both surprised and elated by your suggestion. All he’d be doing otherwise was looking for flats to move into alone and listening to some murder podcast before passing out. Friday nights were raucous in one’s late twenties.

“Two movies.” He bargained. “One we can bitch about first, and then one we like to make ourselves feel better.”

Your returning smile was prizewinning. Priceless. “And… takeaway? I really don’t want to cook.”

He clicked and pointed a finger at you. “You’ve got yourself a deal, madam.”

~

This was a new low for you. Or perhaps it was a high - you hadn’t decided yet. Using the newfound common ground over a love of happy endings off the back of the fear of a mad man trying to let himself into your room to coax Harry into a movie night with you. In your room, no less. The house was empty yet you chose to suffer the shitty WiFi signal in your tower room because your bed was more comfortable than the communal sofa in the living room on the ground floor. The cold ground floor.

Now, after a shared pizza that was delivered in record speed, you and Harry lay parallel to one another as you batted bitchy comments between one another about the infuriatingly devastating plot of Atonement.

“I wanna smash her face into a wall.”

You nearly choked on your wine, and wiped a pre-existing tear off your cheek. “Harry,”

“What?” He whined. “Every time I get to the end and she tells the real story I see red. Why get people’s hopes up like that?”

His eyes were red around the rims.

You sat forward as the credits began to roll and looked at him with a timid smile. “Opinionated, aren’t you?”

He was draped across the left side of your bed closest to the door, legs crossed at the ankle and hands tucked behind his head against the headboard. He was close to slouched, but he looked so impossibly at ease you wanted to just nestle right into him.

You could do it. Nothing is stopping you.

You repressed a growl.

“Coming from you?” He retorted, amused.

Childishly, you stuck your tongue out at him. “What’s next?”

He pursed his lips and gave a thoughtful look towards the ceiling. “Notting Hill?”

You gasped. “Fuck yes. Do you fancy dessert?”

“Always. What have you got?”

“I picked up a chocolate trifle on the way home from work.”

“That sounds dirty as fuck.”

“It is dirty as fuck.” You agreed and stood from your bed. “I picked it up on the way home with the intention of eating it all by myself, but… I’m willing to share.”

“How kind.” Harry chuckled. You felt his gaze on you leaving the room.

Two minutes later you returned with an unwrapped trifle and two spoons. Harry had already found Notting Hill on one of the many subscription sites you paid for and had it paused right at the start. He sat up straighter as you settled back down, pressed play, and then the two of you sunk into cake and gooey chocolate layered beneath sweet cream.

“Is Hugh Grant too posh?” Harry asked between mouthfuls.

“Yes, but it suits him?” Your question pondered. “Like, I couldn’t imagine him with a Scouse or Georgie accent.”

Harry’s returning laughter was delighted, magical. “This would be a very different film if he did.”

You gave a gutterall, mischievous laugh. “I would like to see it.”

Once you’d spoiled yourselves with trifle you settled back down, two parallel figures unmoving in the dim room, except to drink wine.

Harry was an ominous presence beside you. Warmth radiated off him in languid rolls, beckoning to you like an evil sea siren. Your hands fisted on your stomach, muscles tense. It really was taking everything in you not to lean into him and inhale his scent. Let it lull you to sleep like a safety blanket.

Occasionally you peeked glances at him. If he’d noticed you he never said anything, and it made you brave. After so long the film became background noise and Harry was the real star. A black t-shirt across a flat, muscular chest, steady breaths causing a rise and fall. Black jogging bottoms that rose higher up his legs with each slight movement, showing more scrumptious leg hair per inch. Big, boney, veiny feet with heinously long toes. Hair taken off his face with a tiny claw grip, a little greasy around the ears.

The overwhelming need to shove your face into his armpit finally gave motive to look away. Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts meant nothing anymore. There was a sexy man sprawled across your bed who ate your trifle and wanted to watch stupid rom-coms with you.

You fell asleep before the end.

~

Harry was sure he was dreaming. It wasn’t possible, the situation he found himself in. It was what he wanted, what he had really wanted for a while now, but the actual possibility of it coming to fruition had been next to none. Zero. Impossible.

He’d woken up in your room. That was the first tell that he was still dreaming. Then he found a warm body curled around him, and him around them in return. Your warm body. Leg draped over his thigh, arm slung across his torso, head tucked under his chin, his arms around your shoulders and inhaling your strawberry shampoo.

You were both still on top of the covers, neither able to finish the movie without passing out. He’d even noticed you had nodded off first but he didn’t want to leave you without making sure you’d lock the door behind you again in case Rhys and his idiot friends returned.

Huh. Maybe it wasn’t a dream. That was too accurate and not nearly lucid enough for an unconscious mind.

He didn’t want to move in case he stirred you, but he was desperate to see your face. Your beautiful, sleeping face. He refused to believe you’d cuddled up to him while conscious. Because it had been that way around - you were parked up on his side of the bed. His lips pricked upwards at the corners with that knowledge.

It was raining heavily outside. It fell against the window in loud smatters, the room cast in a dull grey tone. It made him want to squeeze you tighter, to keep you from any harm. He still refrained.

Eventually you woke. He could tell from the way your body tensed and your breath caught in your throat.

“Don’t freak out.” He mumbled, voice thick from lack of use.

You took in a deep, obvious breath. “No? Why not?”

“You don’t need to.”

“I think I do.”

“Explain, please.”

You hesitated, wetting your lips, and took in another deep breath. “I’ve embarrassed myself.”

“How?”

“I’ve put myself into your personal space without your permission.”

“You were unconscious.” He argued.

“Doesn’t make it any better. You should’ve run for the hills the second my foot touched your lovely hairy leg.”

Harry chuckled. He tightened his arm around you and brushed his nose through your messy hair. “Maybe I don’t mind you in my personal space. Maybe… I like it.”

“Do you?”

“Perhaps.”

“Perhaps?”

He laughed again. “You’ve nothing to worry about.”

You sat up and faced him.

Gah. There you were. Puffy eyes, cracked lips, scruffy hair. His stomach did a backflip at the sight of you - a dream he had nightly. In equal measure, he missed having the warmth and weight of your body against him.

“Don’t think about it too much.” He gave you a gentle smile. “Nothing needs to be complicated.”

You remained silent, either awestruck or dumbfounded. He wasn’t sure.

He stood, reluctantly, and pinched your cheek. “You’re cute when you’re in shock.”

That sorted you out. Your face rearranged itself into a scowl, gaze following him as he left the room. He hadn’t wanted to leave, but such a conversation felt too poignant for 8 o’clock in the morning. You needed space to let your thoughts take over.

~

Cooking dinner and movie nights. That had become yours and Harry’s thing. After he’d dropped what you considered a bombshell that he didn’t mind you in his personal space you’d had the longest shower of your life - accidentally using all the hot water - and then spent the morning face down on your bed trying not to scream into your pillow.

Since then you’d been obsessively cleaning, more so than usual by way of distraction from the man living across the hall. The house was spotless. You’d even cleaned the windows at one point, outside, with help from your dad and looked at a way to fix the leaking problem in the empty bedroom.

It still didn’t stop your mind from constantly drifting back to the other morning. Waking up curled around Harry like that had been both terrifying and utterly perfect. For a man with such a hard physique he’d been incredibly comfortable. Too comfortable. Then he’d said a number of things that threw your somewhat orderly brain into complete disarray and chaos.

“You’re cute when you’re in shock.”

Harry hadn’t seemed to take his own words lightly, either. He’d been more comfortable in closer proximity with you since that morning, in the little things like light touches to your arms and back while you cooked together, or a kiss on the top of your head before you disappeared into your room for the night. Some nights you would share a bed after a movie because it was just easier - you were already settled, and you always woke up cuddled against him like a fucking creep.

“This,” Harry said as he pulled the oven door open, a waft of heat filling the cold room, “is gonna be fuckin’ banging.”

“Mhm.” You quipped, shoving a tortilla chip into some salsa, and then into your gob.

It was a Saturday night. By a freak stroke of luck, all the other housemates had gone away for the weekend - George to his parents’ and Rhys and Abbie on a weekend break to Amsterdam. So, a dinner and movie night had been a given, but you’d stuck a portable heater in the communal living room downstairs, found as many blankets as you could and piled them onto the sofa, then queued up enough movies to last all night.

Harry’s carefully crafted pizza sat atop the stove, cooked to perfection with your favourite ingredients on one half and his on the other. Your mouth watered.

You carried everything into the lounge, set it all up on the coffee table, and pressed play on your first movie of the night.

It was civil while you ate, and you were admittedly starving. To Harry’s credit the pizza was delicious and you wished it was bigger because you could’ve eaten another. You filled the hole in your stomach with tortillas and salsa instead. He graciously took all the dirty plates back into the kitchen when you were done, and returned with two bowls of strawberries, raspberries, and of course, watermelon. It was a very healthy dessert but the watermelon looked seriously out of place.

“I can’t believe you’re letting me eat your watermelon.” You joked. “Feels like a sacred honour.”

He snorted but remained silent.

Eventually, after all the food and a couple of glasses of wine, you were horizontal, your feet in Harry’s lap. He had his hands locked around your ankle after you accidentally kicked him in the thigh.

“If you were in a rom-com, who would you want to play your love interest?”

Harry pursed his lips. “Hugh Grant.”

You giggled, turning your face into the sofa cushion. “90s or current Hugh Grant?”

“90s. Current Hugh Grant is into much more sophisticated roles that I don’t care for. Even if they are generally great films.”

“I see…” you mused.

He squeezed your ankle, a smile flirting on his lips. “No, I don’t know. Who’s queen of romantic comedies? Reese Witherspoon? J-Lo?”

“Oh my God, I love J-Lo.” Your voice was a dreamy, breathy sound.

“A fine woman indeed.”

“I love it when you talk like it’s the 1800s.”

He laughed so loudly it was almost a bark. “Noted. Who would you want to play opposite?”

“Sam Claflin.”

“The king of rom-coms.”

“Exactly. Very easy on the eye.”

Harry was smirking again. His hands were moving now, smoothing up and down your leg in easy strokes.

Thank fuck you shaved, you little scruffy bear.

You mentally flicked your inner tormentor behind her ear.

The film played on and held your attention for some time. You were possibly the most relaxed you’d been for a very long time. Not one muscle in your body felt tight.

Harry’s lackadaisical caressing continued, which you were still half-conscious of. It was nice to be touched that way - you don’t think you ever had been. You didn’t panic until you realised he’d been venturing just a touch further up your leg with every stroke; until his fingers tickled your thigh.

You gasped, grabbing his wrist, wrenched yourself upright.

Heat flooded your centre, slick and warm. It was so instantaneous it took you by surprise, and your cheeks burned, the tips of your ears warm.

His eyes were on you, wider than usual. “Sorry,” he tried to speak but it only came out in a whisper.

What is wrong with you, woman? You wanted this.

The inner tormentor was right. You had wanted it, and for quite some time. But the advance of it had taken you so completely off-guard that your body had reacted before your brain did.

“Shouldn’t have done that.” Harry muttered, a furrow between his brow. He was angry with himself.

Finally you managed to shake your head. You managed to manoeuvre yourself by taking one leg - the leg he still had his hand on because you were keeping it there - off his lap and tucked it under itself. You pressed his palm flat against your skin, smoothing over each of his long fingers in turn, and met his intense gaze.

You were much closer now, faces and bodies mere inches from each other. You could feel his breath against your face, and you knew he could feel yours too from the way his eyelids fluttered with each exhale. Shiny eyelids, you noted.

He slowly closed the space to brush his nose upwards against yours, and your next exhale was much shakier.

“What are we doing?” You asked.

“Whatever you want.”

You wanted many, many things. And 99% of them involved him.

You licked your lips, and his gaze dropped to them at the action. Your stomach squirmed and your inner voice squealed with nerves.

Harry placed his other hand firmly on your hip and tugged, and you spilled over his lap, straddling him with your hands using his shoulders for balance. Another gasp fell out of you at the feeling of a certain something between your legs. A certain hard something.

“Is this okay?” He asked, both hands tentative on your thighs.

“Mhm.” You managed.

His hands spread wider, and you grew wetter, breathing heavier

He swallowed thickly. “Can I kiss you?”

All you could do was nod.

You noticed the beginning of a smile before his mouth was on yours. That mouth you’d thought of many times, at all hours, on all days of the week. And it was finally on yours, and perfect too. Soft, big, spongy. It felt like heaven against your own.

He took his time, leisurely testing the waters with you. What you would allow and what you wouldn’t. What you liked and what you didn’t.

You liked all of it.

His tongue was reverent as it eased your lips open, but thorough once you’d granted him access to you. He tasted like strawberry and watermelon, a delicious combination. A lethal combination.

His hands still smoothed over your thighs, reaching for your arse but never quite making it there. He didn’t want a repeat of the previous reaction from you.

You held onto him tightly, hands squeezing over his shoulders in an accidental but welcomed massage. You wanted to touch him everywhere but weren’t sure if he was okay with it.

“I never thought I’d be able to do this with you.” Harry’s voice was gruff, strained. He spoke against your lips.

“Neither did I.” You said breathily.

“Thought about it a lot.”

“Me too.”

He groaned into your mouth, hands rising to your hips and waist, tugging on your loose t-shirt.

You continued kissing, mouths bruising with lust, skirting around the removal of clothes. His arousal only got harder between your legs and it made you wriggle. Your wriggling caused friction, and the friction caused whimpers.

“I won’t last if you make noises like that.”

This information gave you immense satisfaction. He practically ate the smile off your face, and you wriggled again over the top of him. More whimpers, more movement. Back and forth, back and forth until you were utterly soaked inside your pyjama shorts.

“Jesus Christ,” he hissed.

“Harry,” you moaned, fisting his t-shirt at the chest.

“Keep going.” He practically begged.

You gave a frustrated noise and did as he said, rolling your hips over the length of his clothed shaft. Over and over and over again. Tits began to bounce. Back began to sweat. Toes began to curl.

Harry stripped you of your top and buried his face in your chest. Kissing, licking, sucking, bruising. A canvas of vivid colour. He dragged his lips across any inch he could, leaning forward, arching you backwards, just to access more. More more more.

Rolling, dragging, rolling and dragging your dampness against his erection. It was your sole focus. You needed it - the release you hadn’t felt for some time. You were always too nervous to masturbate with only two walls and doors separating you and Harry. You needed this more than anything else.

He held onto your back with one strong arm, hand gripping your waist while his other cupped your breast, and he took your nipple into his mouth without any further hesitation. Lick, suck, lick.

You squealed at the sensation, grabbed his face and brought his mouth back to yours. Faster faster faster you moved your hips and devoured his mouth until-

“Harry!”

Heat burst through your body, crashing through every cell, corner and crevice. You were tense as you came, clinging to Harry as tightly as possible. Then, as breath left you, you fell limp against him.

Harry stroked your hair and kissed your temple. His nose drew circles on your cheek.

When you pulled back, thoughts catching up to you, you looked confused.

“What?” He asked, head tipped to one side.

“This doesn’t make sense to me.”

“What doesn’t?”

“This,” you pointed between him and you.

“Why doesn’t it?”

“Because,” you gestured at him and then dropped your hands to your lap, ��have you seen you?”

“Many times.”

You gave an exasperated sigh. “I’m serious, Harry. People that look like you aren’t interested in people who look like me.”

“What a horrifically outdated cliche.” He said in a flinchingly bored tone. “For the record, I think you’re bloody gorgeous. Have done since the day I met you.”

“Why?”

“Because I do! Life is too fucking short to let society dictate who is attractive enough to date who.”

You made a face, one where your eyebrows and your mouth stretched. “Yes, but-,”

“-No buts. I fancy the pants off you and that’s all you need to know.”

“Are you sure?”

He laughed. “Well, I certainly wouldn’t have let you do what you just did if I wasn’t sure. Would I?”

“I don’t know… some men are pigs.”

Harry rolled his eyes. “Look,” he took your face in his hands, “some men are indeed pigs. But I like you. A lot. And I’ve had fantasies a hell of a lot like what we just did together for a damn embarrassing amount of time. About you. That’s all you need to know. Ever since I met you, I’ve been all about you.”

You pulled your lips between your teeth and stared at his chest, unseeing. Giddiness filled your tummy and white noise flooded your ears.

Harry picked up your hand and pressed a kiss to the palm. He watched you closely as he peppered kisses to your skin. “You’re thinking too hard, but I get it.”

“I think too hard about everything.” You mumbled. “Especially when it comes to you.”

“Is that a good thing?”

“I don’t know but I’ve always thought about you more than I’d like to.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. You’re very distracting.”

“Sounds like a compliment to me.” He said, and pecked your nose. “Shall we finish our movies and go to bed?”

Involuntarily, and as if prompted by the suggestion, you yawned. “Probably a good idea.”

Harry smiled, wrapped his arms around your middle and squeezed you tightly to his solid frame. “Let’s do it.”

~

Harry worked late a lot over the next week or so. He hated it mostly because it meant less time with you. Less conscious time, anyway. For the first few nights he’d come home to find you asleep and couldn’t bear the idea of accidentally waking you up, but after sharing a bed with you for so many nights now, it had been a hard drug to quit.

It was late now, well past midnight and you’d probably fallen asleep hours ago. But seeing you curled up and facing the window, sheets bunched up to your chin and face buried in your pillow, he couldn’t help himself.

He quietly stripped out of his clothes, save for his boxers, shut the door behind him and slid into bed beside you. He surrounded you with his warmth - arms around your middle and his face pressed between your shoulder blades. He tugged you backwards until your bodies were flush together, chest to back, and sponged a wet kiss into your shoulder.

You did rouse a little, giving out a soft, sleep-filled squeak. “Hi.”

He smiled, leaving another kiss closer to your neck. “Hi.”

“Wondered when you’d be back.” You said around a content sigh.

“And me.”

You giggled. You took a hand that clasped around your chest and brought it up to your lips. “Tried to stay awake for you but failed.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“But I want to.”

He littered more kisses against your skin, because he could just never get enough of you. “Thank you.”

“Pleasure.”

“Now go back to sleep.”

“Yes sir.”

~

“You look different.”

You frowned, meeting your sister’s scrutinous eyes between washing a saucepan clean. You were washing, she was drying, like you always did. You didn’t trust her enough to actually clean the dirty tableware. Sometimes she didn’t properly dry things either, but you’d make the most of what you could.

“What do you mean?”

“I dunno.” She shrugged. “You’ve got a kind of… air about you.”

“Right…”

“Hey,” your dad appeared, nudging your sister’s arm, “maybe she’s got a boyfriend.”

Embarrassed heat filled your body.

“No, that’s not it.” Your sister shook her head. “Anyway, whatever you’re doing, keep doing it.”

“I don’t…” you didn’t know how to finish that.

Perhaps your many nights sharing a bed with Harry had been what she was talking about, but the label of boyfriend/girlfriend definitely hadn’t come up yet. You just liked each other. A lot. Add that to the fact that any night you shared a bed with him you didn’t wake up in cold sweats or choked screaming fits, it wasn’t exactly something you planned to stop doing any time soon.

“Oh my God, don’t overthink it like you do everything else. It’s a compliment. Take it.” She rolled her eyes.

“Aye, don’t be snotty.” Dad swatted your sister’s arm.

“I’m not!”

Your sister was younger than you, and for all eternity most definitely cooler. She was in school and that hadn’t changed into adulthood. It didn’t particularly bother you. Generally you got on very well, she just didn’t have a problem opening her mouth when she had an opinion.

“Anyway, don’t forget family dinner night. Next Friday?” Dad reminded you.

Ah yes. Family dinner night was not here at Dad’s house with just you and your sister. It was at the house with Dad, your sister, and all the housemates. George proclaimed it his favourite time of the month, because Dad, an ex-chef, always cooked. Harry, because of his often awkward shift work, was almost always absent.

“Okay.” You nodded.

After finishing your last dirty dish, you pulled your phone out.

Blackpool Tower

👑 ❌😃

Sometimes a text simply couldn’t be written exclusively in emojis, so you’d come up with a rule whereby if you needed to write one, you’d send a ❌😃 to alert them.

👑 Family dinner night next Friday. Be there or be square 💘

👰🏼 🤯🤩🤯🤩🤯

🌚 🎉🎉🎉

“You’re still doing the emoji thing?” Your sister asked with a narrowed gaze.

“We have another bet running to see who’ll crack first.”

“Right… will everyone come?”

“I don’t know. Maybe.”

“That’s me asking if Harry will be there, by the way.” She said with a smirk, nudging your arm.

If you didn’t know any better you’d be hot under the collar thinking she was onto you. The mention of his name got you flustered anyway, but you did know better. As any sensible woman would, your sister had a little thing for Harry that she’d never shied away from.

“I don’t know.” You repeated, somewhat irritated.

“Well, find out! Do I need to make an effort or not, you know?”

“I mean… he doesn’t usually come. So probably not.”

“Double check. To be safe. Or give me his number.”

“No.”

“Please?”

“No.”

“Bore.” She scoffed, and swished away.

~

Sundays were laundry day. Harry knew this, which is why he’d never do his on the same day. Everyone in the house knew that first thing on a Sunday morning you would head down to the basement with a book and a basket full and sit there until everything had been through the tumble dryer (unless it was delicate in which case you’d air it in your window for the day).

Today, though, Harry travelled from the top of the house to the very bottom and slipped inside the utility room, closing the door behind him before any of the other housemates could hear him.

“What are you doing?” You asked, voice light with laughter.

Harry’s gaze rested on you, full of some kind of infatuation. You were sitting atop the industrial-size tumble dryer in the far corner of the room, back against the wall and knees up, book held against your thighs.

He shrugged. “Wanted to come irritate you a bit.”

“You never irritate me.”

He grinned and put himself in your personal space. He found your bookmark and placed it between the pages, and then took it away, abandoning it. “Are you sure?”

You let him manoeuvre you; pulled you forward a little and spread your knees apart. Your legs fell over the side, resting either side of his hips, and your breathing quickened. He placed one hand on your thigh and the other stroked over your cheek.

“Feel free to interrupt laundry day any time you want.”

“That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”

You laughed at his mock genuine tone and brushed your fingertips against his lips. “You know, my sister has a massive thing for you.”

He stood quietly for a fraction of time, gaze assessing. “I would tease you about it but I just can’t. I kind of already guessed.”

“Did you?”

“Mhm. She’s not exactly subtle.”

“No, she’s not. She asked me for your number.”

“Did you give it to her?”

“What do you think?” You rolled your eyes.

He smirked. “You getting possessive of me?”

“Maybe. But she’s too self-absorbed to realise. She thinks I’m doing it because giving out your number willy nilly is morally wrong. Which it is. But yeah, I also just don’t want her to have it.”

His lips tightened, nose flared, eyes light - batting away a smile. “I think I like this side of you.”

You gave an uncharacteristic grunt, but your eyes never left him. “You look like a frog when you make that face.”

His face neutralised and he sucked in a breath. “You’re not the first person to tell me that.”

This visibly delighted you. “Maybe I’ll start calling you Froggy.”

“Too far.” He pinched your waist

You giggled, hands pressed against his chest. Your palms felt warm over his t-shirt and he never wanted you to take them away.

“How long left on your cycle?”

“Er…” your gaze dipped downwards to the screen on the washing machine. “Like, 20 minutes probably.”

“And then it’s going in the tumble dryer?”

“Yes… why?”

“Because,” he pecked your lips once, “I think I know,” he kissed your left cheek, “something we can do,” then your right cheek, “while we wait.”

Your gaze was curious and intense as he started sponging his lips down your front, from neck to chest to stomach. You reclined some, breathing heavy, and he pulled your legs up by the ankle and planted your feet back on top of the dryer.

“Oh,” you spoke, voice caught.

“You okay with this?” He asked hesitantly.

Even though you’d been sleeping side by side something close to 5 nights a week, your little dry humping session last weekend was as far as you’d gone in the sexual intimacy department.

You made a strangled noise. “Christ, yes.”

Grin fully spread across his face, he smoothed his palms up your thighs to your hips and tucked his fingers into the silky waistband of your pyjama bottoms.

“Can we take these off?”

You hummed an affirmed noise, and lifted your arse off the surface. In one smooth pull he had the garment off your legs and over his shoulder, probably in the same vicinity of the book he’d taken off you.

He met your gaze with a lifted brow. “Not a fan of knickers?”

“Not in my jim-jams, no.”

His smile blossomed like daffodils in spring. “That’s either the cutest or sexiest thing you’ve ever said.”

“Can we go with sexy considering what I hope you’re about to do?”

“Sure thing, cutie.”

You squealed a little at the name, but he couldn’t tell if you loved it or hated it. Regardless, he kept a firm grip on your legs and lowered his lips to your knee. In a slow, measured movement, he kissed his way up the inside of your legs with his hot, wet mouth.

Your breath was laboured as you watched him, eyes wide when he met your gaze again but so incredibly keen. To prove it, you pushed a hand through his curls and massaged his scalp, coaxing him forward.

“I’ve wanted to taste you for so fucking long.” He admitted, mouth dragging over the softest part of your thigh.

His hot breath fanned against your waiting lips and you visibly clenched.

“I’ve wanted you to, believe me.” Your voice was but a rasp.

“Yeah?” He sighed happily, left hand moving closer to your centre. He extended his thumb out, “Are you wet for me?” He pulled your lips apart, and the noise he made at the sight of you was practically carnal.

“Harry,” you whimpered, tugging on his hair.

He hummed again, face inching closer to your dripping lips. He licked between you, wetness collecting on his tongue. The taste of you was something better than he could’ve ever imagined and he growled because of it. He gripped your legs tighter, hesitant no more, and buried his face right between your soft thighs.

“Oh, God,” you whined. Your head lolled backwards and both fists found purchase in his beautiful hair, twisting and tugging.

He grunted in response to you, spurred on. He collected as much of your juice as he could, firm stroke after firm stroke of his perfectly capable tongue.

He played with your clit in a way that made you squirm and squeal, eliciting the most delectable little noises out of your hoarse throat. Harry didn’t hold back - he never had in that department. He went for it completely and utterly.

The washing machine launched into rapid spinning, filling the room with wheezing, screaming noises.

“Harry, don’t stop.” You begged, body rigid with desperate tension.

He obeyed your every word. He spread your legs further and further with his digging grip. He burrowed his face into your cunt, tongue plunging inside of you and spading inside your heat like a desperate gardener.

“Yes, yes, yes,” you panted as you lifted your head again to watch him.

His eyes were already on you, dark and hooded and filled with keen lust. His head moved with an eager precision like his mouth did. He wanted you this way. He’d wanted it for so long he couldn’t quite believe he was getting it. You were a goddess, ethereal and perfect.

The washing machine’s cycle reached its peak, vibrating harshly beside the two of you. It was deafening yet the least bit distracting.

Harry pursued his advances on your cunt relentlessly and without breath until your body went rigid and then shuddered. You screamed his name, withholding nothing, any cries drowned out by the washing machine. Your body visibly vibrated like the machine beside you, and eventually your limbs weakened to jelly.

Harry stood straight and helped you sit up again, wrapping his arms around your middle. He tucked your head into his neck and twisted his face into your hair.

“You’re right, that was incredibly sexy.” He mumbled.

He revelled in your returning laughter, the sound light and airy. You showed no shame in clinging onto him, fingers raking through the curls at the back of his neck.

“Maybe you can do it again later.” You suggested, lips sponging against the skin on his neck.

“Any time you like.”

After another minute or so you pulled away, eyes scouring his face. “You’re a mess, sir.” You commented as you wiped your thumb around his shiny mouth.

He made a wordless noise, held your wrist, and took your thumb in his mouth. “I’ll be a mess for you.”

“Perhaps I’ll be a mess for you, too.”

His brows shot up and it made you laugh. “It’s cruel to joke about that.”

“I’m not joking.”

He gave you a challenging look.

“Want me to prove it?” You offered.

Was it even worth the question? “Always.”

You grinned. “Let me put my washing in the dryer and I will.”

He took a step back and bent at the waist, arms extending like he was bowing. “M’lady.”

You hopped down from where you’d been sitting and pulled him in for a kiss.

“Sir.”

~

The kitchen was a hive. And a mess. There was shit everywhere and your anxiety was through the roof just looking at it. It wasn’t an unfamiliar sight because any kitchen your dad found himself in nowadays ended up looking like a pig sty but it didn’t settle the tightness in your chest.

He moved around the room with chaotic precision while you trailed after him tidying up any unnecessary mess, and your sister sat at the dining table Rhys and George had brought up from the basement an hour ago, scrolling through her phone.

“What about him?” Your sister flashed her screen to the two of you, the next Tinder profile filling it.

Your dad leaned over and squinted. “His eyes are too far apart.”

“Ugh. Knew you were gonna say that.” She grumbled.

This was a game you played regularly. Your sister would showcase potential Tinder matches either for her or for you (which you always declined to comment on), and your dad would garner his unfiltered opinion. It was probably a big part of the reason you were both still (technically) single. No one was ever good enough. That, and you didn’t have a Tinder account. Or any dating app account, actually.

“Him?” She flashed the next profile to you both.

Cute. But…

Not Harry.

Your inner tormentor smirked.

“What’s his anthem?” Dad knew all the terminologies now for the dating app world. He liked to call Hinge ‘UnHinged’, because that’s what the suitors on there usually were.

“Um… Wonderwall.”

You gagged, and Dad scoffed. “Next.”

You carried on for a little while, joining in when you felt like it but mostly just trying to keep the kitchen at an acceptable level of clean.

Rhys, Abbie and George were upstairs getting themselves ready for dinner as if it was some kind of gala they were about to attend. They did it everytime; dinner with Dad felt like an occasion. Harry wasn’t home and you hadn’t worked up the nerve to ask if he was going to be. He left at such a weird time this morning you couldn’t figure out what shift he was on and how that would affect his ‘home time’.

“Lay the table please, poppet?” Your dad asked of your sister, because he knew it was the only task she’d willingly do.

She leapt to her feet in a dramatic flurry and made for the cutlery draw. “Have we got enough for matching sets?”

“Very unlikely.” You muttered. You hadn’t eaten dinner with matching cutlery since you moved in.

The front door opened, cold air blustering in and mixing with the heat of the kitchen. Harry stepped in, bundled up in a big coat and rucksack slung over one shoulder.

“Hope I’m not late.” He said in a gravelly voice, smile sheepish.

“Harry!” Dad greeted him with complete joy. “Wasn’t expecting you, what a nice surprise.”

Your sister looked flustered all of a sudden. She’d convinced herself he wasn’t coming. Part of you had, too.

“I’ll just change and be back down.”

“Sure, we’ve got a bit of time yet.” Dad waved him away.

You’d pretended to busy yourself, but you watched as he headed for the stairs and caught the subtle wink he gave you.

Ah shit.

“What am I going to do?” Your sister panicked. “I'm a disaster - I look hideous.”

“No you don’t.” You grumbled. She’d never looked hideous in her life.

“Can I borrow some makeup?”

It was easier to just give her what she wanted rather than fighting her on it. “Sure - what do you need?”

She listed off a bunch of makeup items, most of which sounded completely foreign so you were sure you didn’t have them. You’d just give her your entire makeup bag and let her do what she wanted.

You knocked on Harry’s door before you went back down, makeup bag in hand. He opened in just his jeans, a light straight-leg pair with gaping holes at the knees.

“Hey,” he smiled, and rested an arm against the doorframe.

“Hi… I thought you’d be working late?”

He shook his head. “I was supposed to be. Swapped my shift ‘cause I always miss family dinner.”

“I see… well, you’ve successfully panicked my sister.”

“That was my plan all along, actually.”

“Mhm, sure.” You bit away a smirk. You liked this playful side of him a lot. “If you need half an hour to mentally prepare… I’d take it.”

“Noted, thank you.”

You left him to change and made your way back downstairs. Your sister eagerly took your makeup from you and dashed to the bathroom on the first floor.

Neither she nor Harry, or anyone else for that matter, came down until it was time to sit down.

Your dad sat at the head of the table as he always did, spread laid out in front of you in the middle. You sat to your dad’s right on the corner, and your sister to the left. You knew she was going to try and save the seat on her other side for Harry, but George ended up taking it instead, which visibly irritated her. She did have a particular ‘gay man’s best friend’ vibe about her - they flocked to her like sheep. Abbie sat at the other head, Rhys on her left, and then Harry sandwiched between Rhys and you.

He squeezed your thigh under the table, and you tried to pretend like it didn’t have some obscene effect on your intimate places. You lightly kicked his shin and started piling food onto your plate.

Like some kind of mafia father, your dad went around the table and asked all of the housemates for an update on their lives. He liked to do this, and fortunately your housemates liked pleasing him. He was a good landlord, and that showed by the way they gravitated towards him. He probably wouldn’t do this sort of thing if you weren’t living there, but he had a responsibility to them as tenants as well as you, his eldest daughter.

When you were done eating you sat back in your chair and put your hands in your lap. Harry didn’t hesitate to take one in his own and link your fingers. You peeked up at him as subtly as possible, unable to fight the giddy warmth that spread through you. He didn’t meet your gaze for the sake of keeping everyone else out of your business, but he did squeeze your hand, which only made the airy, slightly delirious feeling inside of you that much stronger.

Your sister spent 20 minutes talking about herself without breath, and as self-absorbed as she was, she was harmless, really. Not to mention entertaining. You never laughed as much as you did when she had her mouth open.

“Harry, you should come to these more often.” She said to him, batting her eyelashes.

You were about to walk her and your dad to the car and send them on their way. Harry was trying his absolute hardest to escape.

He cleared his throat. “I probably should, yeah.”

“It was good having an extra nice body.”

You gave her a look, brow raised. She shrugged. “I think it’s home time, no?” You prompted, gripping her arms and nudging her away.

“Fine.” She huffed, and began walking towards the street. “Bye team!”

Most people had already disappeared to their rooms but you had to admire her spirit. Dad was already gone, eager to go to bed.

You were halfway to the car when your sister asked, “So are you gonna tell me or what?”

You met her gaze with another raised brow. “Tell you what, exactly?”

“Mate,” she swatted my arm, “I am not an idiot. I know when I’m not wanted, because it’s not often.” She could not get any more vain if she tried. “I always did wonder what I had to do to get Harry’s attention better, and today I finally figured it out. I need to be you.”

Ah. Not as ignorant as she appears, then.

You pressed your mouth closed, looking away. “Er,”

“Don’t ‘er’ me. I saw that wink he gave you when he got home, but I thought he was just trying to wind me up. And then he sat next to you, not by choice it seemed, but there was barely an inch of space between you and practically a metre between him and Rhys. Then he just didn’t stop looking at you, even though he pretended he wasn’t. Let me tell you, that boy has not learned the art of subtlety.”

She turned to you then, a searing gaze heavy. “Look, I don’t know if you’re aware of it, or if you’re already shaggin’ him and lying to me about it-,”

“-We’re not having sex.” Yet.

“Okay, fine. Whatever. Just do something about it, please. If I can’t have him you should. Don’t let a man that beautiful go to waste. You hear me?”

“Loud and clear.”

“Good.” She huffed, and then pulled you in for a tight hug. “Fed up of seeing you alone and underselling yourself. You’re hot shit! I know it, and Harry clearly knows it.” She suddenly takes your face in her grasp. “So do something about it.”

~

You appeared in the doorway of Harry’s room around 20 minutes later, fresh-faced and in your PJs. He was reading in bed, having stolen a book out of your cupboard.

“Is he secretly in love with her?” He asked without taking his eyes off the pages, his long finger brushing the spine.

You squinted at the title as you moved closer to him. “Yes. What made you pick that one?”

“Because it’s obviously your favourite.”

“How’d you work that one out?”

“The spine is cracked beyond belief. It’s nearly falling apart.”

“I might’ve bought it from a charity shop.”

He lifted a brow. “Did you?”

“No.”

He put the book aside, focussing all of his attention on you. You’d sat down cross-legged on top of the covers, and you wore a calm yet unreadable expression. There was a hint of something in your eyes. Infatuation, maybe?

“What’s going on?”

You shook your head, smiling. “Nothing. I’m just… happy.”

“Me too.”

You remained quiet for a moment, gazing at one another in a comfortable silence. Eventually, Harry opened his arms in request of your embrace, and you gave it to him without hesitation. You settled against him, head tucked under his chin.

“I like this, Harry. Us.”

“So do I.” He nodded, pressing his lips into your hair. “A lot.”

“You make it easier.”

“Make what easier?” He asked, and then held his breath.

A beat passed. “Life. Sleeping. Consciousness. Cooking. Just… being.”

“That’s a very big compliment.”

“I mean it.”

“I know you do.”

When you peered up at him, he lowered his mouth to yours for a slow and tender kiss. It wasn’t abrasive or demanding; it was perfect. Full of an understanding that neither of you expected to find in another person.

“Tell me about your nightmares.”

“I don’t have them when I’m with you.” You admitted, as if he hadn’t already worked it out. When he didn’t respond to you, you reluctantly continued. “They’re about my mum. She died in a car accident a few years ago and I dream about it sometimes.”

Harry’s heart found its way into his mouth. “You were there?”

“No. My sister was. I was with dad - it was a weekend. Me and dad at his work cooking, mum and my sister shopping in town. Were on their way back and someone just ploughed into the side of the car, driver’s side. She died on impact and my sister was in hospital for a week.”

Harry held onto you tighter, his lips against your temple. “I’m sorry.” He whispered.

“It’s okay…” you swallowed, body tensed in stillness. “I dream about that day a lot. Mostly the part where Dad broke the news to me. Seeing my sister in the hospital plugged in and drugged up. The funeral; the look on Dad’s face. I wake up crying more than screaming, usually.”

He took a deep breath, and he clung to you like you might disappear. “I’m really sorry. Sorry that happened to you and your family, and that you have to relive it most nights. That’s not fair.”

You met his gaze, cupping his cheek. “Ever since we started doing… this, I haven’t had a single one. Not even on the nights we don’t share a bed. I don’t know why, I guess my conscience has decided it’s safe with you. And I do feel safe with you.”

“Then I will stay with you every night to make sure you never have a bad dream again.” He vowed, turning his head enough to kiss your palm. “I like knowing that you feel safe with me. S’a pretty big compliment.”

“I’m full of those when it comes to you.”

His chest swelled, a helpless smile on his face. “Even when you tell me I look like a frog.”

You snorted and hid your face in his chest. “You do, though.”

“Okay, thank you.” He huffed, feigning offence, but he didn’t let you go; didn’t loosen his hold on you.

You talked late into the night until you fell asleep, wrapped around one another and bundled under his bedclothes. Having you so close and being so open gave Harry a sense of clarity. He’d had an attraction to you since the day he met you, but this was turning into something more. Feelings were now coming up to bat, and he had a pretty solid idea of where they were heading.

~

“You are filthy.”

You wiped your brow, meeting Abbie’s gaze with indifference. “I am not letting this garden turn into a jungle again like it did last year.”

“I know, but I’ve never seen you so dirty. You’re the cleanest person I know.”

“Believe me, I’ll be jumping straight in the shower once I’m done.”

It was the warmest day of spring so far, and for once it wasn’t raining, so you’d taken the opportunity the second you had it to get outside and sort the garden out. The winter had turned it into a tangled overgrown mass of green mess, and you’d been desperate to get it sorted.

Abbie had offered to help but had realised very quickly that she was out of her depth, and eventually offered moral support in lieu of the physical kind. You didn’t mind the company - it beat waiting inside for Harry to come home, alone all day.

You chopped away at the forest that had grown, turned the soil over when you found it, and potted some new plants to give it some life. By the time Harry came home your legs were covered in dirt, cuts and fresh bruises, nail beds black, hair full of dead foliage, and just downright sweaty.

Abbie had surrendered to the house to be entertained by Rhys, and George wasn’t home. He was never home much anymore, you were all under the impression he had a boyfriend.

Harry helped you to your feet where you were kneeling in the soil, eyes giving you a thorough once over. “You look…”

“Filthy. Yes, I know.”

He grinned. “Yeah, but I like it.”

“Really?”

He followed you as you collected your gardening tools and hid them in the shed tucked against the side of the house. “Absolutely. You’re so clean and put together all the time, it’s kinda nice seeing you a bit roughed up.”

You hummed out a laugh. “Interesting.”

Harry boxed you up against the wall, out of sight of any of your nosey housemates. His hips trapped yours, hands holding your sides at the ribs. Without a hint of hesitation, he pressed his mouth to yours, eagerness overpowering tenderness.

You simply let him, never one to deny the most handsome man you knew a hot and heavy kiss. You enjoyed being wanted by him. Who the fuck wouldn’t?

“I’ll let you go shower.”

“Okay.” You murmured, delirious.

He pulled away, giving your hip one last squeeze before he vanished into the house. You spent five more minutes in the garden making sure you’d tidied up after yourself, and took some pictures to send to your dad.

Your shower was longer than you’d have liked thanks to the state of you, and in turn it took you longer to clean the bathroom down than usual. You were starving by the time you got back to the top floor.

Harry was at his desk when you slipped inside his room, browsing something on his laptop.

His room and yours were polar opposites of one another. Where you hid all your belongings, made your bed and kept things as minimal as possible, Harry had more shit than necessary. A bulging wardrobe, unmade bed, things everywhere. He was a man with stuff, and lots of it. Sometimes it made you itch. But he wasn’t dirty in any capacity. It smelled of fresh linen and clean air all the time.

“Do you feel better?” He asked, closing the lid on his laptop again.

“Mm. Loads better.” You gave him a warm smile as you perched on the edge of his bed.

He rolled over to you but abandoned the chair halfway to stand up. Then he crawled over you, forcing you to lie backwards and caged you against the bed.

“You smell amazing.” He said with a voice like gravel.

You ran a hand down his front and slipped it under his t-shirt, trailing your fingertips over his chest. “Thank you,”

He lowered onto his forearm, face an inch from yours and groin against your pelvis. You inhaled sharply, noticing the very obvious stiffness coming from Harry’s midsection. His hand smoothed the length of your side, down your thigh to your knee and then back up again to your arse.

He met your mouth with a kiss, deep and hungry. Dizzying. He led and he was all over you, tongue devouring yours.

“It was a lot harder than it should’ve been to not follow you into the shower.” He admitted.

You let out a soft whine and fisted his t-shirt, pulling him flush against your chest. You wanted to feel the weight of him on you. “You should’ve.”

He returned that with a growl, and his hand on your arse gripped tighter. Your name tumbled off his lips in a husky plea, “I want you so fuckin’ bad.”

Hooking your legs around his hips and pushing his centre against yours, you gave him the silent go-ahead. You looped your arms around his shoulders, fingers tangling in his hair.

“I’m right here, and you can have me.”

Something inside Harry snapped. Any reservations about your desire for him vanished. His kisses became punishing and carnal. His hands on you a little rougher than before, than ever. Possessive.

You helped him out of his top and in turn he helped you out of yours. You scooched backwards up the bed as he drank you in. It wasn’t lost on you that this was the first time he’d seen your top half naked. Somehow, amongst all the nights of bed-sharing, you’d never been fully naked.

His eyes were dark, hooded. He looked at you like you were his last meal, and honestly you lived for it. You wanted to die under that gaze.

“You’re so sexy.”

You bit away a timid, flustered smile. Bashfulness wasn’t sexy.

He stalked you like a wild cat as you lay back. His mouth and hands descended on you again, searching and exploring every inch of you, searing hot and wet kisses into your skin.

His hands slipped into your pyjama bottoms, feeling around your arse again before he tugged them down your legs, leaving you completely stark under his burning gaze. A strangled moan fell out of him while he regarded your naked form, hands smoothing and squeezing your hips, your waist, your boobs.

“You’re so fucking soft.” He said the words like praise.

You laid your hands on his as they travelled over you, and he pushed his mouth back to yours in that same eager dance as before. He ground himself against you, hard as a rock underneath his joggers, and it was doing all sorts to your core. Your heartbeat fell down and down again to your middle, slick heat flourishing between your legs.

“Please, Harry,” you begged him, pushing his hand down.

“What do you need?” He asked, a little cruelly, as if he didn’t know exactly what you needed.

“Touch me.”

The man gargled at you. He was fucking strangled. He traced between your thighs delicately to the point it tickled, and swiped a finger easily in a stripe up your folds, wetness collecting.

“Like that?”

“Yes.” You wriggled under him, desperate for more. “More.”

He played with your clit teasingly, enjoying the way you squirmed. “More?” He asked as he slid a finger into your waiting heat.

A small cry left you. It wasn’t enough and he knew it. “More.”

“Bossy, aren’t you?”

You whined. Now you were the one being carnal. You gripped his head tightly and kept your mouth to his, tongue abrasive and lashing.

While he wound you up in the most irritating way, you found your own ways to move him on. Your feet dug into the backs of his thighs and pushed downwards at an attempt to budge his joggers off. You didn’t want to wait anymore. You wanted him in all his solid glory, right now.

“Are you trying to take my bottoms off with your feet?”

“Yes.” You grunted.

“Oh,” he gave you a dark laugh as his kisses trailed back down your front, “that’s gonna cost you.”

He licked around your belly button, the warmth of his hands vanishing from your body to push his joggers down. He gave your cunt the shortest, most mind-blowing piece of attention with his mouth, dragging noises out of you that you weren’t even aware you could make. Then he turned you over without warning, on your front, and tugged your arse up to rest against his crotch.

You gasped, excited by the somewhat aggressive nature he’d taken on. Your Harry - soft and gentle as they got - man-handling you. You peered at him over your shoulder as he produced a square foil wrapper from somewhere and ripped it open with his teeth. He watched you watching him as he rolled it down his shaft, drawing your attention to it - visually, anyway - for the first time. You had to swallow the lump in your throat.

“This what you wanted, darlin’?” He asked as he smoothed his hand over your arse, but his gaze never left you. “You want me to fill you up with my cock?”

“God yes.” You said without a hint of a waver.

“You want it like this?” He lined himself up, fisting himself at the base, and glided the head of him through your wet, parted, waiting folds.

“Yes.” You whimpered. “Please. Please please please.”

He made that noise again, his large fist grabbing your hip as he hovered at your entrance, and then he thrust himself inside you.

A ripping, searing pain had you wanting to scream so loudly you had to shove your face into the mattress to muffle it. An ache blossomed in place of the initial pain, one that was all too familiar and yet quite unfamiliar. It had been absent, like a friend who lived too far away. Now it homed itself inside of you like it belonged there. Perhaps it did, and the only way to quell it was to entertain it.

“Jesus fucking Christ, you feel good.” He hissed, his hands squeezing your hips and your bum in turn.

Harry pulled out, enough that only his head remained inside you, and then he gave another powerful thrust until he completely filled you. “So fucking good, my God.”

He started moving, in steady, sharp movements. He didn’t want slow. Hell, you didn’t want slow. You wanted fast and hot and sweaty, and that’s exactly what he gave you.

Harry started fucking into you so viciously you could feel it in every part of your body, from the jiggle of your tits to the shake of your arse to the rock of your hips. Oh, and the stretch of his cock as he buried deeper and deeper inside you. Every part of your body was aflame with need, a desire, a craving to be fucked into oblivion.

His hands were on your hips again, fingertips digging into your skin. He rocked you back and forth in time with his thrusts, not that you needed him to. You were doing that all on your own.

He grunted and hissed through every single powerful drive of his cock into your cunt, your name tumbling out of his mouth over and over again.

“Harry,” you whimpered, “harder.”

He growled and obeyed, pistoning inside of you.

“Yes, oh fuck yes.” You cried, head burrowing again.

You felt him on you, all over you then, his chest against your back, lips kissing your shoulders and his arms with a vice grip around your middle. His skin was tacky, as was yours. You were surrounded by a cloud of packed heat, like a humid summer day.

“You are…” Harry began to say, panting in your ear, and his head shook against you, “fuck, I can’t even think straight.”

You moaned, lifting up and twisting your head in search of him. He caught your chin and brought your lips to his in another deep, claiming kiss. You wanted every kiss to be like that from then on - owning, possessing, asserting. You were his and you wanted him to know it.

He gave another round of punishing thrusts before he made a winded noise, “Turn over,” he pleaded, “I want to see your face.”

A whimper fell out of your mouth when his thickness disappeared from inside you, and he helped you onto your back before he got straight back in there. He was low over you, chest on your chest, hand on the back of your thigh, and his eyes roamed your face while it contorted with pleasure.

He hooked your leg over his hip and went harder. Harder, faster, harder, faster. Your head lolled back and a string of curse words fell out of your mouth. His lips danced across your chest and you tangled your fingers in his hair to keep him there. There was nothing better than being worshipped by a mouth. Especially Harry’s mouth.

He licked and sucked over your skin until your boobs and sternum were littered with little purple spots of lust, and honestly you didn’t care. You wanted them all over you. You wanted yours all over him.

His hips never stopped moving - pushing, pushing, pushing you towards a beautiful, glorious high like a high-speed train ploughing towards a dangerous cliff edge. God, you wanted that edge and you wanted it now. You wanted to be flung off it whilst securely attached to the man currently pushing you there.

You pulled Harry’s mouth back to yours, holding your body to him as you clenched, milking him towards his end and yours. You needed it. Your head was about to explode with rampant thoughts and you needed to wash them away.

“Fuck, Harry,” you whispered, neck and shoulders spiked with heat. It radiated off you.

“I know.” He groused and bit your lower lip. “I’m fucking close. So fucking close, and I’m gonna blow if you keep doing that.”

“Please do it,” you begged, clenching again to feel his growl in your mouth, “come, Harry.”

And boy did he fucking come.

His body wracked with a shudder, movements ceasing as you wrapped yourself tightly around him. His muscles rippled beneath your fingertips while he came, oblivious to your own masterful undoing.

You calmed together, lips moving in tender kisses until your breath was caught again and your limbs were sore. You deflated when Harry abandoned you to clean himself up, and you dipped into your bedroom to do the same when you found the strength.

When he came back you snuggled up to him in his bed, between his legs with your head on his chest. His lips grazed through your hair, breathing light and content.

“I am… fucking obsessed with you.” He mumbled.

You traced your fingers over the hair and the swallows on his chest, a warmth filling you, like an acceptance. Being wanted hadn’t mattered to you until now. Until Harry.

“I… am also quite infatuated with you. And I have been for some time. Just… quietly.”

“You been sniffin’ my bed sheets while I’m at work?”

You giggled and nuzzled closer to him. “No. Not recently, anyway.”

“Not recently?”

“I’ve never sniffed your bed sheets, Harry.”

“I wouldn’t mind if you did.”

“I’m weird, but I’m not that weird.”

“But you’ve been infatuated with me for ages.”

“Not enough to go into your room and sniff your bed sheets.”

“Did you do anything a bit weird?”

“No.”

“Really? Not even… a little… you know?”

You gave him a bewildered look, and he waggled his eyebrows at you.

Haha. You totally did that, you creep.

“Maybe.” You murmured, hiding your face again.

He chuckled and held onto you tightly. “I did, too. Feeling’s always been mutual, darlin’.”

You heaved a content sigh. “I’m glad it was. I really do like this. Us.”

“Me too.”

~

Harry had been living life with a permanent spring in his step. He had you, living in the same house and sharing a bed, cooking at dinner time, shagging at night time, and just generally being wonderful, fantastic, gorgeous, brilliant you.

Tonight you were at your dad’s house with your sister so he was cooking alone, but George was in the living room watching one of those daft culinary competition programs on Channel 4, the commentary filtering out with an occasional expletive. Abbie and Rhys were out but would likely be home soon. You’d be back eventually, too, and he liked knowing that nowadays you came home to him.

Rhys and Abbie came back first. Harry had decided to join George in the living room, too intrigued by the shouty drama on Come Dine With Me to ignore it.

Abbie gasped at the TV. “This is the one!” She squealed.

“What one?” Rhys demanded. “Oh, yes!”

“What am I missing?” Harry asked, a little bewildered.

George shushed everyone with a finger to his lips. “I’ve been talking him through it but I want him to see.” He flailed a hand in the couple’s direction.

All four pairs of eyes glued to the TV, a vetted interest in the argument unfolding. The contestants from that week’s episodes were gathering in the final host's living room, bank notes spread in a circle atop a silver tray and holding up a scroll wrapped in red ribbon.

The front door of the house opened again, and in you waltzed, a baffled look on your face. Very rarely did you come home to find everyone in the living room.

Abbie squeaked your name, begging you to join before it kicked off on the telly. “Come on, quick.” She patted the space between her and Harry, conveniently.

His eyes were no longer interested in the TV drama, only in you.

“In fourth place is… me.”

“Ah,” you said in recognition of the scene on the telly as you sat down. Your arm brushed against Harry’s as you tucked your right foot under your left thigh, and caught yourself before you settled into his side like you normally would.

A chorus of patronising oohs filled the room from the contestants on the screen. The host was shaking his head.

“Wait, is this the-,”

“You won, Jane.”

Barking laughter filled the room from the housemates, including Harry, but the host didn’t stop there.

“Dear Lord, what a sad little life, Jane.”

“You’ve got that on a T-shirt!” Harry swatted George’s arm.

“Damn right I do.” He grinned. “Cultural icon.”

“You, or the bloke having an aneurysm?”

“Both.”

“... grace of a reversing dump truck.”

More squeals filled the room, as if the entire scene hadn’t been a meme for years now.

Abbie patted your shoulder. “Did you see the video of Penn Badgley doing this?”

“Obviously.”

“Wait, I wanna see.” Rhys frowned.

Episode forgotten, Abbie found the clip on her phone and showed it to everyone.

“Oh my God, I think I’m going to hear it in that voice forever now.” George muttered, a wistful look in his eyes.

“Shall we watch a movie or something?” Abbie suggested, a hopeful look in her eye. “We never do anything all together… it would be nice.”

“I’m up for that.” Rhys grinned, because why would he ever turn down one of his girlfriend’s ideas?

“Yeah, me too.” George nodded.

All eyes turned to you and Harry. You couldn’t very well say no now, it would look odd. Especially if you both did, which is what you both wanted to do. There were two perfectly good beds upstairs, one of which needed to be destroyed. That wasn’t very well going to happen if you both sat on the couch and watched a film with your housemates.

“Yeah, sure.” You finally said, because you hated the way everyone was looking at you.

“Go for it.” Harry managed, much worse at hiding his disapproval than you were.

“How are we going to decide, then? ‘Cause I don’t really watch the horror films you two are into,” George pointed between Abbie and Rhys, “and Harry probably only watches underground indie movies or something.”

Harry had no idea what gave him that impression, but the laugh that came out of your mouth - hearty, loud and delighted - was worth the assumption.

“Why don’t we all write a movie name down on a piece of paper that we’ll all like - a comedy or something - and do a raffle.”

“Okay, but who’s choosing?”

Harry rolled his eyes and waited for the inevitable to happen. George and Abbie fought for five minutes, both arguing that one of them should choose, and then the decision was given to you as the honorary house mediator. Everyone wrote their choices down on a scrap of paper and dropped them all into one of Rhys’s beanies. Then you closed your eyes, body screaming reluctance at having to be the decision-maker, and plucked a folded square out.

Your mouth lifted at the corners. “Shrek 2.”

Snacks were brought in, beers were shared out, and someone pressed play on the film where it had been queued up.

“Wait!” George screamed.

You all looked at him, bewildered by his dramatics. He’d even stood up.

“What?” Rhys gave him a baffled look.

“I wanna sit in the armchair.” George pointed to the very one Rhys sat in. “I don’t wanna sit in a couple sandwich. A third wheel is bad enough, but a fifth wheel is a disaster.”

“What are you talking about?” Harry asked, laughter nervous and the ultimate giveaway.

“Oh fuck off if you two think we don’t all know you’re a thing.”

Your body tensed. Harry could feel it, the way you went from soft to rigid in a split second. “What?”

“We’ve known for ages.” Abbie said with a sweet smile.

“Yeah, like, the second Harry moved in.” George rolled his eyes.

“But we haven’t been-,”

“-Maybe not the whole time, but definitely recently. I can hear the floorboards creak, you know.” George gave you an accusatory glance. Curse him living directly beneath you. “Amongst other things.”

Harry wasn’t sure whether he was relieved or whether he wanted the ground to swallow him whole. His cheeks and the tips of his ears had turned pink, and you looked like you were in shock. “Right…”

“I am slightly offended that you didn’t want us to know.” Rhys folded his arms. “What did you think was gonna happen?”

He had a point. What did you think was going to happen? Mild ribbing and inappropriate jokes? It wasn’t exactly any of their business what the two of you were doing on the top floor, but that didn’t mean you’d needed to hide everything from them. Why had you stopped yourselves from being affectionate when around them? They were your friends. You all had inside jokes and a group chat and emoji code names. They were like a second family in a way. Even though you all enjoyed your own company, you liked each other too.

“I think… for a while we didn’t really know what was happening.” Harry finally spoke, twisting in his place. “We just started hanging out and it kinda grew from there.”

“I called this on day one, by the way.” George said smugly.

“It’s true, he did.” Abbie nodded, still smiling. “Two good-looking people at the top of the house? Recipe for heaven.”

“We’re happy it finally happened. Just… don’t hide shit like that from us. We’re all friends.” George was back to scowling.

“Friends.” Rhys cooed, like Jay from The Inbetweeners.

“Anyway, now that’s all out there, can we start the film please? Or it’s gonna be my bedtime.” Abbie flailed her hand around.

The movie started, everyone settled into their places, and you managed to find a comfortable position against Harry’s side.

Even though you chatted along with conversations and laughed at the telly, Harry knew something was off. You were still tense, and you didn’t touch him like you normally would. He wanted you in his arms, not pushed awkwardly against his side. He wasn’t sure if it was because you were uncomfortable displaying affection in front of other people, but whatever it was he wanted to make it go away.

He shifted at one point in an attempt to wrap an arm around your middle, but instead you moved further away. That utterly terrified him.

As the movie credits rolled, everyone started to move, ready to get to bed for the night. Except you.

“Guys,” You said, quiet as a mouse, but everyone heard you. Because you never stopped anyone for anything, “can we all have a chat?”

Dread nestled itself into Harry’s stomach. A chat? About what? Everyone? Why did everyone have to be present? What was going on?

The housemates sat back down, if a little tentatively, gazes wary. You finally gave Harry your attention, if only fleetingly with a worried smile.

“Are you alright?” Abbie asked and pulled your hand into hers.

Harry leaned forwards.

“You’ll all be getting an email tomorrow, but I wanted to tell you in person.” You licked your lips, stare heavy on the stone floor of the living room. “Dad is selling the house.”

~

A little piece of your heart broke that evening when your dad told you his plans to sell. It was a place that you had such an odd relationship with, because while it cost a lot of money and caused a lot of financial problems, it also brought you a family you never asked for and a man you never dreamed of having.

You knew your dad would try and hold onto it as long as he possibly could because it had become your home, and he’d been in bits over dinner as he broke the news. He cried, so you cried, and then your sister cried, too. Everyone had been a mess.

“What?” George said, dumbfounded. Hell, everyone was dumbfounded.

“It’s the last thing he wanted to do, but it’s kind of burning a hole in his pocket and we can’t afford it anymore. Between the leaking second floor and dodgy plumbing there’s also woodworm and stone repairs and all sorts of other crap I don’t want to bore you with.”

“You found this out today?” Abbie asked, bottom lip trembling.

“Yeah, an hour or so ago. I’m really sorry, guys.”

“Don’t be sorry.” Rhys frowned.

Abbie crawled across the small gap between her and you and wrapped her arms around you. “We get it. It’s old, it’s a bit rickety and it needs a lot of TLC. We all know your dad gave it all the care he could afford and it’s okay that he can’t afford it anymore.”

“How long do we have to find new places?” George asked, biting his lip.

“As long as it takes to sell. Given the condition of the place it could be fuckin’ ages.” You managed a laugh.

“If your dad needs us to do anything, he just needs to let us know. And we’ll make sure it’s tidy as fuck for viewings and shit.”

“Thanks, Rhys.”

The housemates starting shifting again, collecting up their bits and leaving with softly spoken good nights. You still didn’t move, and neither did Harry. After a quiet minute or so, he slipped his hand into yours and gave it a gentle squeeze.

“What are you thinking?” He asked in a gravelly whisper.

You took a deep breath, nibbling away at your lower lip. “That I’m scared.”

“Scared?”

“Mhm.”

“Scared about what?”

You turned to face him, cataloguing every crease of worry on his handsome face. “Us. What this means for us.”

He gently cupped your cheek, his thumb stroking over your cheekbone. “What do you think it means for us?”

“Well, I don’t know. I’m scared it means the end, when I don’t want it to. I’m scared that what we’ve been doing is just… convenient? And now that we have to leave it won’t be so convenient anymore and it will be over.”

“You don’t want it to be over.” It wasn’t a question.

“No. Not even a little bit. I… I don’t want a night without you ever again. I can sleep with you around. I can breathe. I need to breathe, and I can’t do that without you. And part of me hates that I need you, but I do, and the rest of me that doesn’t hate it tells me to fuck everything to the wind. Because it’s not just need, it’s also a want. I just want you around, like you have been. Presence is such a funny thing when it comes from different people, but yours… I like yours. A lot.”

Harry spoke your name in a low voice, gaze on your mouth as he smoothed his thumb across your lower lip, “I don’t want it to be over, either.” He meets your gaze again, cool, calm and collected. “I really hoped it wouldn’t be at any stage ever, least not because we have to leave the house and find another one. I’ve been living with you for three fucking years and I also don’t want to have to spend a night where you don’t live with me. Hell, it’s not even a fucking option. I know you love this place because it’s your family’s, but I don’t care where we live as long as we do it together. I’ve been looking at other places since the day I moved in, and the only reason I haven’t bothered to leave is because you kept me here, whether you meant to or not. And now we have to leave, and I’m sure as shit gonna take you with me, because I can’t live without you.”

You stared at him for a moment, and then launched into his arms, tackling him into the sofa. You peppered his face with kisses until he caught your lips and held you there, happy in the knowledge that you needed each other and that was absolutely fucking okay.

“You’re special to a lot of people, but especially to me.” Harry mumbled into your lips. “I’m selfish enough to not let you go.”

“I don’t want you to.”

“Good.”

You remained in the lounge for a little while longer, wrapped up in one another, until movement began upstairs and you decided it was probably time to head upstairs to bed. Before you made it to the stairs, Rhys and George appeared in front of you. Rhys looked apprehensive and George looked irritated he’d been dragged out of his room again.

“What’s going on?” You asked, cocking your head.

“Abbie’s in the loo so I’m gonna make this real quick before she comes back.” Rhys threw a wary glance over his shoulder. “I need your help.”

~

Every morning was the same.

This week it had been, anyway. You woke up with the sunrise, wrapped in Harry’s arms, and you listened to his heartbeat and his unconscious breathing for a blissful twenty minutes before his alarm went off. Then he’d fall out of bed with a reluctant yawn, mooch his way around the room and disappear into the bathroom to get ready for work.

Upon reappearing he’d head to the kitchen to make a coffee and leave a cup of tea on your bedside table, then a kiss on your lips, and then you’d watch the man who defined ‘sex on legs’ leave your apartment from the comfiest spot in the bedroom.

Today was the same, but different. He wasn’t going to work today, and neither were you. It meant longer in bed, with enough time for sexy shenanigans, then he’d make for the bathroom, bring you tea afterwards and breakfast.

You spent the day in bed, right up until 5 o’clock when you had to get up and go out to give your keys back.

Yes, your dad had managed to sell the house. It had taken a while, but it got there. The new owners were moving in tomorrow, and you’d all arranged to meet your dad and your sister there to do a final ‘handover’.

George had moved into a studio flat in the centre of town but spent most of his nights at his boyfriend’s place. Rhys and Abbie had finally bought that house they always wanted, out of town but easy to travel into. And you and Harry also had your own place, still renting and in the city, but it was yours together, and that was all you wanted.

“Are you nervous?” Harry asked as you walked up to the front of old Blackpool Tower.

“I’m not the one that needs to be nervous.” You shrugged, even if you had been the one to help Rhys with most of the planning.

He’d been a lot of work over the past few weeks. After he initially asked for your help he spent so long searching for the damn jewellery he forgot about the rest of it. You had reminded him on many occasions that it didn’t need a big song and dance, but he insisted, because he wanted it in the house you’d all shared with her favourite people to witness it.

The garden was lit up in the early evening with fairy lights and candles. George, your sister and your dad were already at the far end waiting for Rhys and Abbie to arrive. You gave over your keys - dad had the house professionally cleaned even though you had offered, because it was too big a task for one person.

Blackpool Illuminations

Rhys We’re nearly there…

Yes, Rhys had really named the group chat for the planning committee ‘Blackpool Illuminations’.

You stood next to your sister who wrapped herself around your middle, and Harry kept hold of your free hand.

“I hope she says no.” Your sister said, and Harry snorted. “Just for a laugh.”

“I don’t think Abbie has it in her to say no to Rhys.” You mused.

Five minutes later the couple in question turned up. Abbie had no idea what was going on, obviously. She’d been told they were going for dinner and then for a walk. The walk was always supposed to end here, at the old house.

Abbie gasped at the sight before her, hands on her mouth as she moved through the garden. “What’s going on?”

Behind her, Rhys swiftly dropped to one knee and presented the ring he’d spent months agonising over. “Abbie,”

You all watched and listened as Rhys spent five minutes talking about how perfect his girl was for him. It was very typical Rhys - overboard and unnecessarily long. Most things maybe could’ve been kept for his wedding vows.

Just as your sister was about to explode from restlessness, Rhys finally asked, “Will you marry me?”

“I would’ve said yes five minutes ago.” Abbie giggled, nodding, and held her left hand out.

George and your sister started hollering, your dad was pretending not to cry, and you fell into Harry’s hold again, watching the happy couple with a warm smile.

“I hope to God they don’t ask me to help plan the actual wedding.”

Harry chuckled and pressed his lips into your temple. “I’ll make sure they don’t.”

Your sister presented herself in front of you with an assured look on her face. “When are you two getting engaged, then?”

Harry choked behind you, and you gave your sister a bewildered look. “Reel it in, please.”

“What?” She shrugged. “Being in love suits you. A wedding would really suit you.”

“A wedding isn’t something you arrange for an aesthetic, sis.” You reminded her.

“Speak for yourself, but I do recommend heavily considering it.”

After she turned away, Harry lowered his mouth to the shell of your ear. “I wouldn’t mind marrying you.”

You tightened his arms around you. “One day.” You said with a kiss to his palm.

His smile imprinted on your cheek. “One day.”

~.~.~.~.~

Thank you so v much for reading if you make it this far. It’s a long one, I know. The longest one shot I’ve actually ever done. Much love to you <3

[ancha-aus]

Double Trouble... switched?

A tiny little thing for a lovely artist who's comics and art brings me much joy and inspiration.

Inspired by the lovely: @somegrumpynerd

And specifically this post, and this comic :3

Have fun :D

Warning, Very unedited and just me having fun ;P

(also most work was actually finding the posts to make the links work now enjoy this fanfic of which I will admit it took a few hours but I will not tell you how many words as I got no idea. Because I wrote the whole thing on tumblr and got no word counter here. Enjoy :D)

.-.-.-.-.-.-.

Dream knew something was wrong the moment he woke up.

His magic... it was being prickled by something. Over and over and over. It felt a bit like the sting of negativity but different.

That can't be right.

Drema struggled to full awareness as his mind tried to think of the reason why he felt the way he did.

Normally he only felt these type of prinkles and pain when he was near a lot of negativity but it had to be a lot a lot. As in, Nightmare using his own aura to fight him a lot.

But as he used his own magic of empathy he only felt a soft contentment and easy happiness in the air.

Had... Had the fight with Nightmare have afteraffects after all?!

They last fight, the one of the day before, had left Dream drained and tired. Nightmare and him had been fighting and Dream had tried to use his aura to get Nightmare to stay still and listen to him. Dream hadn't expected Nightmare to use his own magic aura. More surprising had been the fact that Nightmare's aura didn't clash with his own but instead reached him. It had burned and as Dream had said, he felt drained afterwards.

Dream hadn't thought too much off it. Especially as Nightmare had seemed exhausted and confused by it as well and he had quickly retreated afterwards.

But maybe Dream had been wrong.

Why else would he still feel this discomfort when there was nothing but positivity around him?

Dream groans as he finally manages to sit up in the very soft bed with many many pillows. Weird, Dream didn't have this many pillows on his bed and neither does Blue. Maybe Ink painted some more for them? Thoguth Ink rarely joined in on their sleepovers and Dream can't remember seeing Ink the day before.

Worse is that he feels disbalanced. Nothing feels right at the moment and the discomfort is making him cranky. He should just find Blue. Blue always makes everything better and has great ideas on what to try.

Yes, his best friend will help.

Dream opens his sockets only to stare in shock.

This... is not his room.

It isn't any room he recognizes.

It is a large beautiful place with a large, very large, bed with way too many pillows and soft blankets. There is a large bookcase just filled with books. The curtains are dark and shut. Next to him is a tiny alarm clock which reads that it is still very early in the morning.

Something else about his vision is off but Dream can't quite place it. Something that should be obvious but he can't make sense of it. He turns to the side and reaches for the bed only to freeze.

That is corruption. On his hand. And arm.

Dream feels himself start to panic as his soul pulses fast. Oh no. Oh no. What happened?! Calm down. Calm down-

Then he sees one of those corruption tentacles nad Dream flinches away, only to completely loose his balance and fall over sideways with a quiet yelp.

He lays frozen but can't feel any curiosity or hear anyone react.

He is starting to have an idea where he is and he isn't sure how to feel about this.

He slowly crawls to the side of the bed, only to keep misjudging the distance and he thinks he lost his depth perception which isn't good news.

He manages to get out of bed and only slightly panics at the sight of his own legs covered in corruption. Are it his own legs even?!

Dream pushes himself upright only almost fall over and he has to grab one of the poles of the large four poster bed to catch himself. He looks over his shoulder and is confronted with the sight of four tentacles shifting and idling behind him, all seemingly coming from his own back.

Dream takes a few unsteady steps and softly curses the way this feels. How does Nightmare DEAL with his tentacles?! How does he deal with the extra weight of it on his spine?! Dream already feels uncomfortable.

Dream manages to get to one of the two doors and opens it. He lets out a sigh of relieve when sees the bathroom. He flicks on the ligth in the room and manages to get to the mirror.

There in the mirror stands Nightmare. Staring at him in absolute shock.

Dream... Is in Nightmare's body.

Which means.

He is not at home.

Dream is in Nightmare's home.

-------

Nightmare tries to walk wiht confidence but it still takes effort to not overbalance for his lacking extra limbs.

When he woke up feeling comfortable and energised he had immediantly panic. He normally only felt that after they managed to make an universe fall fully into negativity and shift the balance.

Feeling that at home meant his boys felt unhappy and miserable and he would not have that.

Imagion his surprise when he sat up only to be in a completely different room and after a glance outside to realise he was in the Omega Timeline.

The one place he never had managed to get somekind of access too.

Nightmare wanted out right now because it didn't take a genius to figure out what happened.

Dream's and his magic had interacted strangly and connected with each other. Both had felt drained. Now Nightmare was in Dream's body.

Meaning, Dream was most likely in Nightmare's body. Meaning Dream was in Nightmare's hideout with his boys.

Nightmare didn't have time to panic or to have a crisis. He needed to somehow get to his own body and make them switch back. His minions needed constant supervision and management. Nightmare only just got Dust to agree to set an alarm clock and Horror had been improving with overeating.

He needed to get to them.

Which meant.

Be the perfect Dream so no one would think something was wrong and enable him to sneak out and search for himself.

This is starting to get annoying.

Nightmare had gotten dressed in Dream's clothes and got ready to leave.

Only for Blue to have shown up.

Which is what brought Nightmare to were he was now. Trying and struggling to maintain a facade he hadn't had time to prepare.

"You sure you are okay Dream?" Blue keeps staring at him as if he expects Nightmare to just spill the beans.

Wait. Does Dream do that? Does Dream just tell Blue everything? Probably right? But what do they normally talk about?

Nightmare is honestly unsure what it is that is between his brother and Blue. Nightmare knows that Blue and Dream are always together and Dream seems rather protective about Blue.

Nightmare realises he is taking too long to answer and puffs up his chest and speaks, being thankful for the small amount of luck there is for him in this multiverse that the voice he speaks with still sounds like Dream "Of course I am alright! It is a wonderful day and I want to spend it heloing others!" Dream and his ever need to please people and be liked.

Blue continues to grin at him, one brow slightly raised "Wowie! you are in a good mood today! Happy to hear you seem alright after the fight from yesterday."

Nightmare nods "But of course! Now! Lets get to work." and he starts walking. Only slightly falling fore over as he tries to balance for soemthign that isn't there.

"Dream!" Blue is by his side and tries to help him upright. The worry around him is slightly surprising.

Nightmare holds up a hand as he tries, and succeeds to steady himself. Old memories return of how to walk without his tendrils. He got this. "I am fine. Just a slight misstep... shall we?" Wait, how does Dream speak anyone? All the interactions Nightmare can remember were from them in battle. Which Ngihtmare knows is not a good reference for when you speak casually with others. The last interactions that Nightmare had with Dream wihtout fighting were... were from back at the tree... when both had been 6 and before their magical growth.

...

Ngihtmare doubts Dream still acts as his six year old self, even if he sometimes seems just as naiev to the world.

Blue frowns at him "If you are sure. You sure you want to go out already?"

Nightmare nods "But of course!"

Blue gives him another grin "Well. If you are sure. Let's go!"

----------------

Dream doesn't know what to do or say.

What do you say to your enemies when you are suddenly in their boss's body, who happens to be your twin. like. How do you decide what to say?

Dream tries to remain quiet and just watch. That is probabyl what Ngihtmare does right? Just watch and glare and tell them to not bother him?

Their happiness is burning him. That he has realised.

Dream had wanted to tell them he is going to take a moment for himself but then second guessed himself. How much would Nightmare tell them? Would he tell them that their happiness burns him? Would he be honest? Would he even tell them? Or would he just stand up and leave? Were those four expecting him to give them orders? To tell them what to do? Or would a simple 'go do your work' do?

Drema had never realised that positivity burned his brother this badly.

Did... did that mean that being around Dream burned him as well? That going near him at all in battle was as if he was being burned?

Dream knows his aura can get... a lot. but... He never considered... He never thought...

Only extreme negativity hurt Dream and all positivity energised and powered him...

If low levels of positivity already hurt his brother... would only extreme levels of negativity energise him? Would only extreme levels feed him?

Was... was Nightmare attacking AUs not as much an attack on the multiverse but more of a way to feed himself? To keep himself alive?

Dream just... didn't know.

"Boss! boss! what do you think? Awesome right!"

Dream eneds a moment to realise Killer is talking to him. Dream looks over and freezes at the knife Killer is tapping between his phalanges with a concerning speed.

Dream sits there frozen before panic overtakes his soul "What do you think you are doing?! Stop that right now before you hurt yourself!" only to realise that he spoke form panic and worry. Oh no he totally messed up! Dream wasn't thinking and-

Killer pouts but lays the knife down. Horror snorts "Told you boss would be unimpressed and mad at you for practising that."

Killer mutters something about it being cool and Nightmare just being a worrywart.

Dream blinks. Excuse but Nightmare is a what now?

Cross looks at him "What is the schedule for today boss?"

Killer snorts and copies the sentence at a softer volume but in a sillier voice.

Dream can't imagine that would be allowed but before he can even think of a fitting reaction or answer one of Nightmare's tentacles moves over to Killer's skull and gives him a soft tap.

Dream feels mortified. What do you mean those tendrils just... do that?! Dream hadn't even thought or considered that! Wait... Was... Was the corruption still negativity and so technically Nightmare... Was it like a muscle memory and so instinct for his body to do that? That implies that Nightmare has done that a lot.

Killer pouts more and crosses his arms befroe he mumbles "Fine fine. I get it. I get it. Sorry Crossy."

Crossy beams and the happiness stings Dream as Cross answers "Apology accepted!" then Cross looks at him with bright sockets "But what will we do today boss?"

Dream glances around the room as he tries to think of something that would fit. He has no idea what Nightmare does when he isn't out fighting him. Dream remembers the books in Ngihtmare's bedroom but Dream doesn't want to lock himself in there. He will go insane and just not know what to do. He needs an excuse to search around the castle. Something that will fit with their vision of Nightmare.

"I... need to... research a few things for our next... raid." Dream tries to desperately remember what Nightmare sounded like and which words he used. Dream thinks his lucky stars that Nightmare's body still sounds like Nightmare.

Cross nods "okay! Need our help with anything?"

Dream slowly shakes his skull as he tries to follow their emotions to see if he is managing to sell this. "No. I should have what I need." Okay, good so far, now how to say he will get them if he needs help. euh... "If I have need... of you. I know where to find you." That should work... right?

Killer nods as he is already out of the room and gone with a shout "Going to the cats!"

What does he mean CATS?!

Cross nods "Okay! in your office?"

office? office! An office will no doubt have information that will hopefully help Dream. Dream nods as anwer and Cross seems to accept it before he goes around grabbing the plates.

Horror asks him if he wants lunch together or brought up and Dream can feel the stress rise. damnit why are these four so focussed on Nightmare? They turn to him for everything! It makes Dream miss Blue. Blue knows what to do when and helps him more than anything.

Dream ends up saying together. Seeing as they straight up called and pulled him over for breakfast that is probably the go to. Horror seems pleased by this and nods as he starts cleaning the food in a careful manner.

Dust has just been staring at him with a frown on his face.

Dream stares back and feels the need to look away but Nightmare wouldn't look away. Dream waits and waits.

Dust huffs before leaving wihtout much of a word. Dream will take that as a win.

Dream leaves the kitchen and sees Dust disappear into another room, Dream can hear the sounds of a tv coming from there and will assume Killer is in there.

Okay... Now...

Where the hell is everything? He has no idea what the layout is of this place and it was pure luck he even found the staircase that morning to begin with.

He makes his way back to the staircase and follows it up. He makes sure he isn't watched or followed before starting to silently open doors to check what is behind each one.

Why did his brother have to be dramatic and get a castle?!

--------------

Nightmare hates this.

His cheeks are starting to hurt from the constant smiling. It is emotionally and mentally exhausting to be happy all the time. No one leaves him alone and everyone seems to have something they very pressingly need Dream's help for.

Which. Meant you. Are not important things!!

Dream needs a better work/home balance and learn to say no.

Nightmare can't even just return to the house that is, probably, Dream's and just hide for a moment because Blue has been by his side the whole time.

Nightmare will admit he is starting to get why Dream likes Blue so much adn seems so protective of him. Blue is a beacon of positive energy and motivation. Blue also seems happy to help Dream with anything and everything.

Honestly at this point Blue is the only reason why Ngihtmare hasn't started losing his mind at Dream just yet.

Everyone around him. the whole time. noise or people and their emotions. the pressure of everyone looking at him and trying to get his help. The amount of people trying to just stand next to him and soak up some of that positive aura is disgusting.

Nightmare has half the mind to kidnape his twin just to make sure that he knows he can actually say 'No' and tell people to piss off because it is starting to get concerning.

Nightmare hasn't had the impulse to throw this many people through windows in a while.

One more person from somekind of universe runs up to him "Dream Dream! I need your help!"

Nightmare has to take a very deep breath as he tries to control his temper. easy and calm. easy and calm. He manages to pull the smile back full force and turns to them "But of course! Happy to help. What do you need help with?"

The person smiles "Well! I wanted to do my grocerries but I ended up not going because I was watching this movie and it was jsut so good! Anyway. Would you mind doing my grocerries for me?"

Deep breaths Nightmare. Deep breaths.

The person continues on "The next part just started and I also really want to see that but by the time that one finishes the store will be closed!"

Deep. Breaths.

They continue the smile "And obviously I will pay you back later but-"

"No."

they blink. Nightmare stares back.

They frown "Waht? Why not?"

Nightmare honestly tries to keep it in but why would he? This is an idiot and they deserve to know "Because this is a result of your own neglect of your responsibilities and I don't see why it would then be up to me to fix this. Especially as you yourself still have the chance to do it yourself. But instead you are trying to use me and get an easy out. Not only that but you are also asking me to pay for this?"

The slowly cross their arms "You enver minded before..."

Anger. Rage. Nightmare manages to just stare "Well I mind now. Do it yourself. If you are adult enough to live on your own wihtout supervision you should be able to take care of yourself." Nightmare turns and walks away.

The person is enraged at him and Nightmare feels very smug about it. The person shouts after him "You are being a real asshole there Dream! And very selfish!"

Ngihtmare just keeps walking. don't commit murder in Dream's body. that is a very sure way to get others to notice you are not him.

Blue still walks with him and Nightmare glares "What?"

Blue blinks and tilts his skull "I am just happy you are finally starting to take my advice to not help everyone with everything. You gotta limit yourself or get burned out." Blue stops him and stares at him worried "Are you finally ready to tell me what is wrong Dream? I am worried about you..."

Nightmare considers what to say before sighing "I need a break." weak. Nightmare just, can't handle this. The constant demands and people asking him to do things. It is different with his boys. the real happiness they feel for him may sting slightly but it is real. The happiness of these people. It just isn't truly on that same level. There is no actual affection or care or even understanding behind it. It is about possession and demand and feeling like they earned it.

While they earned nothing.

How does Dream deal with them?

Blue nods "Yeah. Lets go to my place. People are less likely to bother you there. and If anyone asks I will just tell them you are sick."

Nightmare stares at Blue "I don't get sick. I can't get sick."

Blue snorts "Dream. The only three people in the whole multiverse that know that are, you, your twin, and me. If anyone asks we tell them you are sick." and he grins.

Ngihtmare stares at Blue for a moment "You are the only being in the multiverse with a functioning brain."

Blue snorts and laughs "Nightmare will be happy to hear you say that Dream." and he grins widely.

Nightmare snorts himself, a little inside joke just for him, "I know what I said."

They manage to find Core for a ride. Ngihtmare is relieved by that as he hasn't quite figured out how Dream makes portals just yet. Luckily Blue had decided for him that they would catch a ride instead of trying one themselves.

-----------

Dream reads through another report on the changes and shifts in the balance between positivity and negativity. another one that Dream had thought had been an attack agaisnt the multiverse but instead this report spoke about the high positivity levels making the universe unstable and them having to shift it.

The report speaks of a mild success and mentions a message to Error that this universe could be skipped for destruction for a while as they had managed to make it stable enough to last it a bit longer.

So many reports. So many universe which had been unbalanced.

Compared to all the reports Drema had read until now only about 10% spoke about getting higher negativity levels for Nightmare or getting supplies in a raid.

Everything else? All about universes that needed rebalancing and a shift in the right direction to keep them stable.

Dream leans back in the chair and yelps as the tendrils ache. He looks up adn groans as he sees the tentacles once again completely braided together. He doesn't want to have to try to undo it again and-

"Sup Boss!"

Oh are you kidding him?!

Dream had thought the people in the Omega timeline could be pushy or clingy. But it is nothing on these four. They just. Keep showing up!

It is like they are taking shifts! Dream manages to get one out and a new one will show up within 15 minutes.

Dream sighs and looks up "Waht do you want this time you. you..." you... you... Dream doesn't want to be mean. But Ngihtmare probably insults them... right? "Worms."

Cross's whole face turns sad and worried "Worms?" Oh Dream feels so bad about this. Oh no he looks so sad and hurt and why did Dream say that?

Killer however grins widely "worms! new nickname lets go!" he grins widely

Horror just looks at him with a raised brow "You okay boss?"

Dream feels himself get anxious as he tries to channel some stern face but he is unsure how well he is managing "what is it?"

Cross just keeps looking down at the floor with a sad expression as he mutters the word 'worms' to himself.

Horror looks back "Oh Killer pushed Dust down the stairs."

Drema blinks before looking at Killer "You did what?!"

Killer grins widely as he throws out his arms "I would never!"

A second later a very angry Dust shows up "He so did! The asshole pushed me!"

"Did not!"

"Did too!!"

"Did not!"

"Did too!"

"Did not times infinity! Hah! I win!"

Dust glares and tries to tackle Killer but Dream, or lets be real Nightmare's tentacles, stop him and catch Dust mid air.

Dream takes a few breaths but he gives up "No pushing each other down the stairs! I can't even believe i need to say this!"

Horror speaks up "Again."

Dream feels himself stand up straighter "Again?!" luckily all of them seem to not hear the question in his outraged cry as Killer nods with a pout and Dust just huffs.

It is slightly concerning how unbother Dust looks by being up in onf of those tentacles.

Dream rubs his face as he tries to keep his spinning thoughts calm "I am going to be quick about it. I want all four of you to behave for ten minutes so I can look through my reports and figure out where to go to next!"

His brother had so many reports. If Dream could find some positive universe and spread a tiny bit of negativity then Nightmare, in Dream's own body, would feel that and come to Dream and then Dream can try to get them to switch back.

Silence answers him and he looks up to see all four of the gang look at him and nod. Dream waits for a moment before nodding himself "Good!" He has to focus on the tentacle and imagines it putting Dust down before it actually listens. The tendril seems unwilling to let Dust go.

Dream takes a deep sigh and sits back at Nightmare's desk as he starts reading through reports. He looks back up only to see all four of the gang relaxing around him and Nightmare's desk.

Dream rubs his face. considers going against it before just going wiht the flow. Fine! if they want to watch him read reports so be it! Dream turns back to the many reports as he tries to figure out which place would be best. By the stars Nightmare has so much information and he straight up has a whole catagory on different universes and what key differences are and how to spot these when first entering an universe.

There is just so much knowledge and understanding about all of these universe. Nightmare even took time ot learn which universes are most likely to interact. to cross over. or to even be able to hold a stable connection to serve as trading route.

Dream looks up and spots that those stupid tentacles had moves again! Each of them holds one of the four gang members and Dream is trying to think on how to put them back down.

Then he sees all four of them... asleep. peacefully asleep as they lay either rolled up in the tentacle or seem to hug them in their sleep.

Dream stares for a moment and wonders just how often this happens for that to be the natural reaction before he turns back to the reports. the answer has to be in these.

----------

Nightmare feels the spike of negativity as soon as it happens. It si fear from somewhere in the multiverse and he sits up straight.

Blue looks over worried "Dream?"

Nightmare knows it within a second with absolute certainty "My brother." it is dream. Dream has entered an universe and is... causing fear?

Maybe a trap. Or... a beacon.

Blue frowns at him "Are you sure you are ready for this Dream? I don't think you are... fully rested yet."

Nightmare is already up and nods "I am sure." Now the hard part. He focusses on the magic so much like his own but different. the only thing that is avaiable to him is Dream's magic and it will have to do. He focusses on the positivity and wills it to open a connection to where he feels the spike of negativity.

A portal opens before them.

Blue nods as he grabs his hammer "Let's go."

They step through together and Nightmare looks around. He is quick to spot himself.

Nightmare glares as he crouches low before he is off like a bullet right at his own body. The shock on his own face is satisfying.

More satisfying is tackling himself as he and Dream tumble down the sloop into the overgrowth behind it.

Dream yelps and tries to retaliate but Nightmare knows his own body and his own limits. Nightmare is quick to get Dream in a headlock and hisses "Give me back my body."

Dream groans "I am trying! Let go so we can figure this out before they find us!"

Nightmare frowns and waits for just a moment to see if they are followed. He feels some slight confusion and worry from everyone else but there seems to be a bit of a standoff.

Nightmare sighs and lets go of Dream "Quickly then."

Dream huffs as he gets up only to stagger as Ngihtmare sees his tendrils flex. Nightmare snorts "Haven't figured out how to keep them still yet?"

Dream glares at Ngihtmare wiht his own face "Shut up. Just tell me you have na idea how to switch us back."

Nightmare sighs "Obviously we tried to recreate what happened in our last fight." Nightmare focusses and calls forth his, Dream's? this is getting confusing, aura.

Dream hisses slightly, no doubt feeling the burn, before nodding and quickly doing the same.

Both hold out a hand and inch their aura's around each's other's aura and towards the other twin.

Nightmare feels his own magic reach him and it feels like a blast of cool air on a summer day. He lets himself follow it and-

His body burns by the positivity right before him and he jumps back. His tendrils helping Ngihtmare move back and away from Dream.

Dream lets out a loud sigh of relieve as he lets himself sink to his knees "Oh that feels so much better..."

Nightmare nods as he flexes a tendril "I agree."

A moment of silence and peace between the two as neither makes the move to attack first.

Dream speaks up first "I... I never realised how... how much just tiny bits of positivity hurt..."

Nightmare shurgs "You get used to it. and sometimes it is better to feel the sting than the alternative."

Dream nods as he shoots Nightmare a smile.

Nightmare frowns "You can say no."

Dream blinks "Excuse me?"

Nightmare sighs "You should say no sometimes. It is unhealthy to keep giving everything you have to everyone. especially if they don't actually need help or are even thankful or grateful for it." Nightmare shoots his brother an unimpressed look "Learn to manage your work/home life."

Dream blinks before laughing and shooting him a grin "You sound like Blue."

Nightmare nods "You should listen to him more then."

Another moment of peace before both their groups get to them. Neither feel much for fighting and both call for a retreat very quickly.

Both have a lot to think about anyways.

---------

"Wait?! WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU AND YOUR TWIN HAD BEEN SWITCHED?! THAT EXPLAINS SO MUCH!"

[aplaceforyourhearttorest]

You Make Loving Fun ✍︎ Cliff Burton

for @metallicaislife ♡ for whom (the bell tolls) i love endlessly

Worn out cotton tickles the tip of your nose as you twist your body to hug the pillow beneath you, the furrow between your eyebrows concaving into a deep and temporary divot as you blindly shove your face into the pillowcase and groan out a halfhearted protest. The sun beams down on and in through the aged and crooked blinds, and you grimace as you feel the slight tinge of sweat culminate on the skin of your left arm and shoulder blade.

You exhale out a sigh of relief as you untangle a limb and use it to toss the embroidered and heavy blanket off of your upper half, and a smile twitches itself onto your yawning lips, as the faint and barely-there scent of your boyfriend's herbs and stale cigarette smoke wafts and dances its way up to you from the movement of the fabric.

You sluggishly sit up and immediately make eye contact with the most recent picture that was taken of Cliff and sent your way, via mail, and a deep sense of yearning and excited anxiety fills you to the brim as you take in the sight. In the photo you kept in safe keeping, your boyfriend can be seen grinning down at a letter you wrote only a few days prior, the delicate skin around his eyes stretching and wrinkling with glee as he takes in your adoration-filled words. Your fingers grip onto the fabric of his shirt surrounding you as you embrace the flutter that creates dormancy in your chest. You blink back the sting that starts behind your eyelids as you think of your partner, before turning your attention elsewhere, suddenly needing a distraction from the onslaught of emotions trying to overwhelm you so early in the morning.

The smile that once teased your lips comes back to, you unable to fight back the amusement you feel as soon as the sticker on the postcard to your left comes into view, as you turn your head away from the polaroid thumbtacked on the wall opposite of the bed.

'Metallica up your ass!' stares back up at you in an overused and obnoxious font, the beginning and ending of the band's logo's letters turning into plungers and bleeding their way down the paper in front of you in a muddy and russet brown color.

The heart beating inside of your chest pauses, and then sporadically beats as your partially numb fingertips run their way over the smudged and messy ink on the bottom of the postcard, your arms feeling like lead as they slowly wake themselves up.

Soon, is the only word scrawled on the dilapidated piece of paper, and you caress your bottom lip with the tip of your tongue as you take in a deep and unsteady breath. Biting back a wince as your uncovered and bare feet make contact with the chilled hardwood floor underneath you as you begin to stand up, your amused smile relaxes itself into a small grin as you make your way down into another room of the shared living space. Old group posters absorb themselves into the chipped, yellow paint of the hallway's walls and vinyl's haphazardly rest on uneven and homemade shelves, the sight greeting you warmly as you tiredly stumble through the small living room area and into the dimly lit kitchen.

You temporarily flutter your eyes shut as the coffee machine buzzes and vibrates to life against the scratched marble counter you lean against with your cocked hip, the sound comforting and grounding as you slowly begin to come to full consciousness. The tips of your nails tap against the hardened material of your favorite mug with a familiar beat, and your chest heaves in a silent laugh as you acknowledge the original source.

"Two hours, two hours." You murmur out into the chilled air, your eyes finally opening back up and making their way upward to stare up at the clock above the refrigerator. Your palm reddens as you press it against your now filled and warmed up coffee mug and you hum in contentment, before pushing yourself off of the countertop with your free elbow and making your way back toward the bedroom once again.

Reaching out to entangle your fingers in the multitude of band and long sleeve t-shirts Cliff left behind as you make your way past your guys' closet, you swallow a large gulp of the caffeinated drink and glance at the outfit you already have placed out and folded on top of a chair, on the outskirts of the bedroom. Anticipation enraptures you as you pitter over to the dress, and you mirthfully grin to yourself and against the heat emanating from your coffee as you picture his reaction to the ensemble. You already know what your reaction to seeing him again will be like, somewhat already familiarized with the sense of longing that comes with the partially long-distance relationship the two of you were in. But you hope the letter you wrote last night and the effort you put in to surprising him will show him how much you truly care for him, love him. And you also, maybe, want to floor him on his ass just a little bit. Lovingly, of course.

✉

Fleetwood Mac harmonizes out of the record player and into the frenzied air of the dining room as you run your way around the small apartment, the mirth and confidence you felt earlier being shoved back and away and replaced with exerted exhaustion. You let out a puff of air and bite back a giggle as it sways the hair resting against the crown of your head and your temples. You lean back and rest against the wall connecting the two nearest rooms and wipe the sudsy water off of the palms of your hands, the caffeine in your system now completely gone after the last hour and a half of cooking and getting yourself ready. You freeze in place at an unexpected and too-early sound coming from the front door only a few feet away from you; the grip you have on the apron you're trying to remove slipping as you suddenly hear a key slide into the deadbolt.

"Oh shit." You whisper, before hurriedly yanking the stained protectant off and tossing it over and onto the sofa, the doorknob now being twisted and pushed on with impatient haste.

You place your hands behind your back and wrap them around the opposite wrist, your stomach sucking in densely with a heavy inhalation as you ready yourself for the sight of your boyfriend. The heart in your chest begins to thunder and catapult as he shoves his way in, his arms weighed down by multiple duffle bags and heavy carry on's. Cliff visibly deflates as soon as you come into view, the annoyed expression on his facial features crumbling and his eyes widening with anew light. Before either one of you could utter out a single word, your feet begin to move on their own accord, and your arms encircle themselves around his broad shoulders as you guide him down into an abrupt embrace. Cliff lets out a surprised grunt as you make harsh contact with him, and he carefully allows his bags to thud against the welcoming rug as soon as he's sure your feet are in the clear and a safe distance away. Cliff gently guides you backwards and further into the warmth of the lived in space, his right and booted foot blindly kicking the door behind him closed as he wholly and intentionally focuses in on you.

"Hi, sweetheart." He coos out, his eyebrows raising in muted amusement as he feels you shake against him with poorly hidden tremors. His hand dips down to your lower back to rub soothing and placating circles in the intimate and sensitive skin, causing you to take in a deep breath of his scent and sigh out, feeling immense exasperated relief as he temporarily brings his body closer to yours.

"Where's the funeral?" Cliff muses, gently unwrapping your arms from around him and shuffling you until you're at an arm's length of distance. Large and warm calloused hands cup your cheeks as tears stream down from your eyes, and you let out a sound of embarrassment as soon as you look up at him and make bashful eye contact.

"I had the whole day planned out, and I swore to myself I wouldn't cry." You admit, an unfightable smile breaking through and ending the waterwork of tears as your boyfriend's warm and soft laughter fills the room around you two. "If a reunion between us doesn't start with you crying as soon as you see me, then you didn't miss me all that much." You raise an arm to playfully collide it with his arm but pause as you get lost in the way he looks down at you. Warmth spreads through you as Cliff caresses your cheeks and bends down to meet you halfway, his lips feeling more homelike than the apartment the two or you share.

The music playing from a room away bleeds into a cacophony of static and gentle white noise as he delicately breathes out against you and his stubble brushes against your cupid's bow. The hand you have paused and already raised goes to wrap around his wrist instead, and you let out a sigh of fulfillment as you feel his steady and thrumming heartbeat underneath your slightly trembling fingertips. The hand you aren't holding on to slides down and grips onto the back of your neck and onto your nape, the firm grasp making you melt into the embrace and fully relax. The never-ending worrying of his health and safety and if he'll make it home all in one piece finally stops and you nearly slump in overwhelming consolation, before letting out a whine as he pulls away and disconnects his lips from yours.

Cliff smiles widely, his eyes doing that endearing squint that you love so much as he takes in your appearance, inch by inch. Heat bleeds from the apples of your cheeks down to your chest, and you're close to shying away before he speaks up and begins his praise. "And look at you, my love, all dressed up for me." You let out a gentle bout of laughter as his hand glides to yours and raises to spin you in a dramatic and slow circle.

"And only for you," you reassure him in a quiet tone, your blush becoming a bright red hue as his eyes slightly darken at your affirmation. "Who takes care of me, no matter how far away he may be," Cliff quickly clears his throat and looks away as he starts to flush, only glancing over at you to playfully glare as you let out a sound of amused enjoyment. "Go and take your jacket and your shoes off for me, big boy. I made us dinner."

You watch as your boyfriend seems to physically shake his head to get out of his own stupor, and you bite onto the tip of your thumb as a wide grin sores your cheeks. You quickly turn around and slide the envelope underneath his tablecloth before he could see it and make your way over to your chair. You look up amid filling up both of your plates as you hear a throat clear itself and a zipper shudder to a close, and your lips gape open in surprise as you're greeted with your partner holding out a bouquet of flowers to you. Pink roses are hugged up against tulips and blooming sunflowers, and surrounding all of it, a ribbon tied in a perfect knot with all of your favorite colors.

"Cliff," you start and then stop, your eyes threatening to water as you take in his sheepish grin. His socked feet shuffle in barely contained nervousness, causing the bell bottoms of his flared jeans to rub against each other and irritate his ankle's skin. "I knew I was going to come home, and you'd be looking as gorgeous as you usually do, with a mountain full of food out on the table and our songs already playing. It really isn't that big of a deal, baby. Just wanted to let you know that I was thinking about you on the way over here and wanted to gift you a little token of appreciation." Cliff feels his heart flutter in his chest as he takes in your wide eyes and unsteady hands, fighting back the urge to discard the flowers and give you comfort instead.

"Everything you do for me is a big deal, because it comes from you," you swallow thickly and force yourself to take in a deep breath before continuing. "The man who's taught me what healthy love is and what a relationship is supposed to be and feel like. You're everything, especially to me, so every little thing you do for me will always be insurmountable." Cliff lets out a disbelieving laugh as his eyes begin to tear up, and he quickly makes his way over to the table to sit next to you, as close as physically possible without bringing you onto his lap. You both wince at the sound of his chair squeaking out in protest against the tiles underneath it and let out shy laughs at the closeness once you two meet in the middle. No matter how many years the two of you have been together and have met up after a long leg of a tour, it all still felt so brand new and refreshing. And as you thumb a thick strand of hair behind your ear and glance over to see the content smile on your partner's face, you silently wish for the butterflies and the excitement to never end. And as he turns to look at you, he silently does the same, his hands reaching over to entangle themselves in yours to hold you close.

✉

A whoosh flies out of you as you twist your body to face Cliff halfway, your now protruding tummy protesting the movement as you fight to keep the atrocious amount of food you ate down. Your boyfriend looks no better off, the overeating seeming like a good idea at first, but soon becoming a sullen regret as he slumps back in his dining room chair and brings your feet up to rest against the jean material hugging his slender thighs. Your eyes flit over to the dessert you made early last night resting on the stove, and Cliff lets out a deep groan as he follows your line of sight.

"Absolutely fucking not." He refuses, squinting up at you from his lowered position, his face set in a mild grimace and his fingertips drawing firm figure 8's in your bare calves.

"You'll regret saying that when the crust hardens in the morning and the cherry filling dries up." You retort, letting out a chortle as he sarcastically rolls his eyes at your rebuttal. "As long as the pie's the only thing drying up around here, I don't mind."

You smack his shoulder, causing him to beam wide and let out a cackle as he takes in your incredulous expression. "Clifford Lee Burton, you are nothing less of a pervert!" You yell, before sharing a grin as you both acknowledge the hypocrisy in your playful outburst. You were almost always the first one to initiate intimacy between the two of you, shocking the musician who was already known for not being too shy himself once he feels comfortable and in tune with everyone around him. He couldn't help it, turning into a softened mess whenever you were around, his hesitancy only proving his utmost respect for you and only going after whatever you were ready for at any given moment.

"C'mere real quick, I've got something else for you." He murmurs after taking in a few deep breaths, a hand on your leg stopping all movement and removing itself to reach behind his back and grab onto an item from one of his pockets. You furrow your eyebrows in confusion, before looking over at the incredible bouquet lying against the edge of the table. He had already done more than enough; he was here, and he was present, and that was all you could possibly want and ask for.

You relay the same sentiment out loud and get a small smile in response, and an almond-colored envelope waved in your direction. Your eyes widen in surprise at the rarity of him writing you a letter, his thing more of a late-night phone call after an exhilarating performance and him falling asleep to the sound of your voice. "I figured I'd write you one back after the dozens you wrote me over the past few months that have helped keep me sane, with all of the traveling and roadies we've got running all around. Might not be as good as one of yours, but." Cliff shrugs nonchalantly, but the glassiness of his eyes present a wide array of nervousness and timidness. You hide an enamored grin behind the gift as you feel his leg begin to bounce underneath your own.

"I'd accept and take anything you give me without complaint, and you know that." You almost whisper, the pads of your thumbs indenting themselves into the envelope that's nestled in your palms, as you smile down at the messy scrawling of the nickname that he's been calling you since high school.

Sunshine.

You tear open the sealed backing of the letter with excited haste and ignore the sound of your boyfriend's amused laughter, his hands encircling their way around your calves once again as you unfold the contents inside. Your heart stops in time as you grasp onto a mini polaroid picture of the two of you on your first date. October 12th, 1979, is written on the bottom of the image, and you let out a tear-filled laugh as you run a fingertip over the crooked heart drawn near your connected hands. You quickly unfold the letter and begin to read it with rapt and undeterred attention.

To my sunshine, who I met back in 1979. August 31st, to be exact. I can almost remember it like it was yesterday. You floated into homeroom like you owned the place, although you expression screamed that you wanted to be anywhere else at that moment. Your undeniable beauty is what caught my attention at first, but your personality is what caused me to stick around. You enrapture me, with your kindness and your openness, the way you welcome all kinds of people in and give them emotional shelter. I've never met someone like you before, and I don't think I ever will. I've known you for 2,372 days, and I think I've been in love with you for every single one of them. I cannot picture myself without you, and when I do, I feel nothing but alone and starving. Even when I'm on tour and I'm surrounded by the smell of the other guys and enough weed to power a greenhouse, I still feel your presence around me. You are my everything, and everything else, all at once. And you complete me. Thank you for always sticking by my side, and for believing in the band when we had absolutely nothing. You cheered us on while we were ripping out foam from the walls to make beds in a one room apartment, and you continue to cheer us on in front of hundreds of thousands of people today. Your love is universal, and I hope to be the main person you show it to until we're old and withered, but still young together and at heart. I cannot wait to be able to come home and to have you and hold you in my arms, I've been dreaming about it and yearning for it for months. Hold on, because I'm coming home to you. Love yours, your bellbottom wearing, hippie asshole.

"Six years in counting, and sixty-six more to go." You nearly weep out, your body instinctively reaching out for Cliff as you drop the letter and photo in your lap. Cliff instantly lifts and brings you into and onto his own, gently guiding your head to rest on his chest as he runs his large palms up and down your wracking and trembling back.

"Everything is alright, sweet thing. Just breathe for me." Your partner reassures, the cadence in his voice and his natural comforting aura causing you to calm down much faster than you normally would if he wasn't around.

"Doing so well for me, always so good." Cliff smiles down at you with a soft look as you blearily look up into his bright, green eyes. "When was the last time I told you how much I love you?" You ask him once you trust your voice enough not to crack or break, and an unsteady smile makes its way on to your lips as your boyfriend bends down to place a warm kiss on the center of your forehead.

"Yesterday morning. And then yesterday afternoon, and then last night, again." Cliff drones out, the faux tone of annoyance in his voice making you shake your head in mirth and rest it against his chest once again. You place a kiss there and beam to yourself as he shivers from the notion, before leaning back and sliding your hand underneath his tablecloth to get your own letter this time. "How about I remind you again?"

Cliff lets out a warm spell of laughter as you hand him over a matching-colored envelope, almost the same in size and all. "I bet you won't one up me at all," he jokes to you, before pausing midway while opening it. "Read it to me? Missed the sound of your actual voice. Sweden's phone reception is actual shit, and you sound much better in person." You squint your eyes at his obvious ass kissing but turn around to rest against his front and to lean your head against his clothed shoulder. "Alright, brat."

You lift your hand for the envelope and let out a huff as he playfully tugs it away from you, going to fully open it himself and then placing it in your awaiting hand. You momentarily close your eyes at the sensation of his stubble making contact with your exposed collarbone, before opening them once again to start reading your letter out loud.

"To my hippie rockstar, I miss you even though we already spoke over the phone tonight. The excitement in your voice when you told me about how filled and interactive the crowd was made me want to cry. It reminds me of the times we used to sit in your parent's living room and watch the tapes your parents filmed of you, Scott and Connie. You banging on empty and already-eaten spaghetti cans and your older siblings playing their actual instruments, but you still kept up with them with your insane enthusiasm. I know Connie is proud of you, she told me the other night when I called her home. But I know Scott would be losing his shit right now. He'd be the first person in line at every single venue, and the last person standing out there, cheering you on while everyone else headed on home. I know he isn't with us anymore, but he's still your older brother no matter how you look at it, and I just know he's exuberant and standing on the tips of his toes looking down at you. We all are, because you are our star. I knew it the first moment I saw you, in that overworn jean jacket you still somehow fit into today, and that bellbottom jean style you still hold on to, that we all secretly love. When I first saw you and spoke to you outside of class, I knew you were different. The shy smiles you'd send my way and the little notes we'd pass to each other when the teacher wasn't looking. The first time you held my hand on our first date and refused to let go until I promised you that I'd allow you to take me out on another one. You are tenacious and hardworking and everyone around you is so proud, including me. I cannot wait to see you and our best friends on tour in person once again, and I can't wait to see how we end up in the future. Together, I know that. Hopefully in a home much larger and filled with our children and future nieces and nephews, and with that specific type of breed of dog you've always wanted. But even if in fifteen years down the road and we're still in this old apartment, with the same crooked blinds and the same scratched marble countertops, I would still be content. Because as long as I have you by my side and still feel you even if you're not here with me physically, I'll still have you in my heart and you'll always be here. You are my other half, my overindulgent, loving and caring, hippie rockstar. And I wouldn't have you any other way. Until I see you again, your Sunshine. Six years in counting, and sixty-six more to go."

You sniffle once you finish, the tip of your nose being tickled and irritated by a teardrop refusing to fall down. The music is the only sound emanating throughout the apartment, but you know that your boyfriend held on to every single word and syllable, if his shaking shoulders were any indication and proof of that. You let out a coo as you feel his arms encircle their way around your middle from behind, and you twist your head to the side to place a kiss on his now damp and tear-stained jawline.

"We're all so proud of you. You know that, right?" You ask him quietly, not wanting to fright him or break the delicate scene the two letters of yours made. You feel him nod against you and you let go of your letter to wrap your hands around his. "You do so well for everyone, and if I have to remind you myself every day, then I will."

"I love you so much." Cliff declares, the tremble in his voice causing you to press yourself against him even more, wanting to give him as much comfort as physically possible. "And I love you." You answer, simply and softly. Because it was the truth, and you always will. You made that promise to him five years ago on your first anniversary, and you intend to keep it until that right is taken away from you.

Cliff kisses the tears away of his that landed on your shoulders during your reading, and carefully scoots his chair back until it lightly raps itself against the yellow-colored wall. Before you could even ask what he was doing, you're spontaneously picked up with little to no effort, and then placed unsteadily on your bare feet. "Let's dance." He says, before dramatically holding a hand out to you and bowing his head. You let out a confused laugh but decide to go with the flow anyway, reaching your hand up to grasp onto his.

A squeal exits your lips as you're playfully tugged around the dining room table, and on to the crossroads of the living room and the kitchen. You instinctually wrap your arms around his shoulders as soon as he lifts you once again to place your feet on top of his. "I don't want the first day of me being back to be nothing but tears and stomachaches. Granted, the food was amazing, and your letter means the world to me, but I finally have you back in my arms after so long, and I want to take full advantage of it."

Your eyes soften as you look up into his and nod mutely, his hands caressing your lower waist bringing warmth back into you as your combined feet chill from the minor draft breezing itself inside from the front door.

You place a gentle kiss on his chin before resting your forehead against his chest and closing your eyes, the sound of the song that you two danced to on your first date crooning around the two of you like a comforting serenade as you both sway back and forth.

'Sweet, wonderful you. You make me happy with the things you do. Oh, can it be so? This feeling follows me wherever I go.'

"One day," Cliff starts, causing you to hum against him for him to continue. "One day, I'm going to make enough money and I'll propose, and we'll get married, and we can go and look for that perfect home you're always talking about. The white picket fence and the two floors, the walk-in closet, with a garage that's big enough to fit the both of our car's in."

"As long as you're here with me, I don't mind where we go or where we'll end up. That's just fairytales, you and I are the present, so let's focus on that instead," you lean back to look up in his eyes, that already seemed to be looking down at you. "You are my home, and we've got all of the time in the world. So, let's just focus on what we've got now, because that's all that I truly need."

Cliff nods back at you and slightly raises you off of the tops of his feet to bring you into a warm hug and embrace. You wrap your legs around his waist like it's second nature, and you feel complete and at ease as he rests his head in the space between your neck and your shoulder.

"But I'll accept that marriage proposal right away, if you were serious about that one." Your boyfriend lets out a laugh against your flushed skin and you grin widely to yourself as his vibration tickles your skin.

Cliff momentarily glances over at his jean jacket and the little red box that peeks out of its breast pocket, before resting his head against you once again and tightening his grip around you.

For once is his life, or in the past six years of the best part of his life he's spent with you, he's finally got one up on you. And he cannot wait to see your reaction. And he also, maybe, wants to floor you on your ass just a little bit. Lovingly, of course.

'You, you make loving fun. It's all I want to do.'

[callyourose]

match point, chapter seven.

↳ masterlist

— In which the fabric of Lennon Caddel and Tashi Duncan’s friendship starts to change when they meet Art Donaldson and Patrick Zweig.

content warning : smut? not explicit at all though <3

TASHI DUNCAN WASN'T FORCING LENNON CADDEL TO PLAY TENNIS. At least not anymore. With Patrick and Art in their lives, getting Lennon to play had gotten a lot easier. Her two best friends and her boyfriend were so passionate about it that she found herself wanting to be passionate about it too. Lennon was so fascinated with Patrick that she would've done anything to relate to him, even if was pretend to enjoy playing tennis. But after a while she wasn't even pretending. She had stopped lying to her physical therapist and was finally on new medication, trying to gain control over the pain tennis was causing her. And it was working. She went to practice and matches with a smile on her face. Patrick and Art had pulled a few playful duos games out of her, which she looked forward to when he visited. She looked forward to playing tennis. She almost couldn't believe it. If the rest of the season were to go well, she planned on going pro in May. When she told Tashi that she had changed her mind, that she desperately wanted to go pro, she thought she was going to cry. The two of them, a professional duos team next summer. It was everything they had dreamed of. When they were ten years old, laying on their backs on Lennon's at home tennis court, pointing up at constellations, this is what they talked about. They had decided on their duos name when they were eight years old and it was finally going to happen for them. Sugar and Spice is what they had chosen all those years ago. It was cringy to them now, but they kept it. For old times sake. Five more months and the dreams they had shared at countless sleepovers would be a reality. Tashi would need to thank Patrick.

First semester went just as fast as it had came. Patrick had kept his promise to Lennon and was at almost every single match she played that fall. The season didn't actually start until January but he was in the stands at practice matches and rallies, cheering when she won. Which was every time. Patrick, Lennon, Tashi, and Art had become the most recognizable group. When the three Stanford attendees walked across campus together, people couldn't help but stare. All of them were so smart and talented and just so fucking attractive, they (Tashi) understood the eyes that followed them. They were the poster children for college student perfection. Tashi, a business major, had grabbed the attention of professors with the amazing questions she asked during lecture. Art and Lennon were both communications majors and shared a lot of the same classes, causing people to turn heads when they walked in together. They were always carrying both their tennis bag and a regular backpack, a smoothie from Stanford's café sweating in their hands. All of them, Patrick included, had laughed loudly in the student center and picnicked on the campus green. The Dream Team. That's what people had started to call them. And it was true. All of them felt like they were living a dream when they were together.

It was harder for Lennon and Patrick, though, no matter how much of dream they felt they were living. Patrick had asked Lennon to be his late one October night after one of her matches. Tashi had an exam early in the morning and had gone to bed, and so Lennon and Patrick had slipped out of her dorm building to sit on the wide open courtyard. Their posture mimicked what it was the first night that they had been together all those months ago. Lennon's arms were wrapped around her legs which were pulled up to her chest, head on her knee, staring at the side of his face. Patrick's legs were splayed out, arms behind him as he gazed up at the sky. Lennon was nervous just looking at him. He wasn't talking as much as he normally did and he was chewing on his bottom lip deep in thought. She found herself wanting to reach out and pull it from his mouth, offering her own lips for him to chew on instead.

"What's wrong?" She had muttered, one of her hands toying with and ripping up the grass beside her. 

He sighed and shook his head as she pulled him from his thoughts. "It's nothing," He mumbled and turned his head to look at her. She looks so pretty, he thought. The only light around was a lamp post a few feet away and the glow of the moon. She was a little sunburnt from her practices and her cheeks looked permanently rosy while the rest of her body was covered in a light tan. She was wearing his t-shirt, "Mark Rebellato Tennis Academy" plastered across the front. She was smiling at him softly and he could just melt into the grass.

"It's not nothing... You're gonna bite your lip until it bleeds." She had given in, bringing her thumb to pull at his bottom lip. "Pat, you gotta stop doing that." He relented and had let her pull his lip from in between his teeth. He had never been one to get flustered around anyone, much less a girl he thought was attractive. But Lennon's softness almost canceled out his hard, cocky demeanor. 

"I know." He locked eyes with her, his green ones looking deep into her brown. "I really like you, Lennon."

Her breath hitched and she had been fighting the urge to look away from his intense stare. She stuttered out a reply which made Patrick grin. He liked making her flustered. "I... uh... I like you too. A lot."

"A lot?" He had teased, which earned him an eye roll, a shove, and an order to 'Shut up!'  He laughed at her, trying to lighten the mood. "'M sorry, I didn't mean to ruin the moment. But I can't just go on like this. Having you bat your eyelashes at me and me have to act like I don't want you."

Her smile faded, something akin to relief taking over her face. He wanted her just like she wanted him. Not sexually, not yet at least, but the want to be close to him. To be his. "Y-you want me?"

He tskd and looked away, bewildered. "'Course I do. What you think I was coming to all your matches and spending all my hard earned money on gas because I just wanted to be your friend?" 

She smiled, now biting her lip to keep her from giggling. She shrugged. "Well I don't know... you do it for Art."

Patrick laughed and tipped his head back before turning back to her. "No, no I don't. I only go to Art's matches if he has one while I'm here to see you." He watched her intensely as she connected the dots he had presented her with. 

"Oh." That's all she said.

"Yeah, oh." He bumped her leg with his, tilting his head at her. He reaches up to brush a hair out of her face just like he did two months ago outside of her hotel room. "I'm going to kiss you. Is that ok?" 

Lennon looked at him, blinking slowly. She parted her lips and sucked in a shaky deep breath before dropping her legs to the ground, allowing his an easy path to her. "Please."

And then his lips were slotted against hers, both of his hands cupping her face. She leaned into his touch like she was dying of thirst and the only thing that could save her was the wetness of Patrick's mouth. Patrick kisses her like a starved man, he has to remind himself to chill out. He didn't want to scare her. He didn't want to fuck this up. He pulled back, albeit hesitantly, and rested his forehead against hers. Lennon had whined and chased his lips, desperately searching for more. He laughed breathlessly at her urgency. 

"Slow down, baby," He breathed as he brushed his thumbs across her cheeks. The pet name only made it harder for her, the need in her growing. But she didn't chase him again. He could tell her to follow him to the ends of the earth and she would've done it. No questions asked.

"I-I'm sorry." She frantically apologized. He looked so pretty like this. Lips swollen, eyes closed as he tried to come down from the high of kissing her. He was thinking the same thing about her. 

"Fuck", he swore under his breath, squeezing his eyes shut, "Don't apologize. Please don't apologize." He pulled back slightly with his hands still cupping her cheeks, keeping her at arms length.

Patrick just stared at her, taking in her beauty. His heart had been pounding in his chest when he asked her what he had been wanting to ask her for months. "Lennon," He started. He looked at her with the softest gaze he could muster. "Will you please be my girlfriend? I genuinely think I need it like I need water." He couldn't do it without making a joke. He likes hearing her laugh.

And she does. Lennon doesn't think she's ever said "Yes!" more enthusiastically in her life. 

The month before the tennis season started, Lennon and Tashi had an unspoken agreement that they deserved a break. It was winter break and they had been working so fucking hard during the semester. Both of the girls were on track to come out on top by the end of the season and they had both ended the semester on the presidential honor's list. Just the thought of going home and having to deal with their parents was enough to have them groaning. They brought this up to Art a week before break over their hundredth shared bowl of fries in the Stanford café. He had the perfect solution.

"Why don't we," He swallowed the fry in his mouth, dusting the salt off his fingers, "Why don't you just ask Patrick if you can stay at his parents' summer house? That's what I'm doing."

Lennon and Tashi shared a look, to which Tashi rolled her eyes with a smile. They knew that Patrick was wealthier than all of them, but it always made them giggle when it was brought up. The boy who stole all of his friends' clothes had more money than all of them combined. 

"Do you think he would let us?" Lennon asked while she twirled the straw of her drink in her fingers.

Art chuckled, brushing off her question. "Are you kidding? He's obsessed with you and he starts to go stir crazy if he doesn't see all of us together for a while."

Lennon blushed at the thought of Patrick being obsessed with her. She knew he was her boyfriend (which still made her giddy to think about) but still. Tashi smiled at Lennon’s blush and at Art's offer. 

"Lennon's parents don't care where she is as long as they know she's alive. And my parents let me go anywhere Lennon goes. So... we'll be there.

The four of them had Patrick's summer house all to themselves for an entire month. You would think that would be a disaster, but it was actually the most fun any of them had ever had. The pool was heated, a jacuzzi tucked away in the corner. The fucking floors and tennis court were heated. Every single day for a month they would wake up at noon, play a 2v2 match, drive Lennon's car to dinner (which Patrick paid for every time), and come back and watch horror movies until they were too tired to keep their eyes open. They each had their own room in the house but every night they would curl into each other on the huge couch, opting for the company of their best friends over the comfort of an actual bed. 

Many a pillow fight, wrestling match, and game of chicken was played in that house. It brought them closer together, individually and as a group. Even Tashi found herself laughing so hard she was crying at Patrick and Art's tennis academy stories. 

Lennon wanted to cry every time she caught a glimpse of Tashi laughing with Art or shoving Patrick when he beat her in a tennis match. She wasn't sad, quite the opposite actually. She was so overjoyed that it made her misty eyed. Maybe she had been wrong. Maybe Tashi wasn't the only one who could love her despite her insecurities and flaws. Maybe Tashi wasn't the only one could see her for all the she was and keep her around regardless. Maybe Art and Patrick could give that to her too.

On one of the rare afternoons Lennon and Patrick were alone in the living room, Tashi showering and Art napping in his bed, she confessed this to him. His hand was buried between her thighs, his mouth pressing soft kisses and bites to her neck, her head leaned back. She was sitting in his lap with her chest pressed to his, his hand moving between them. She was whining and whimpering and grinding her hips slowly into his touch. Her eyes were squeezed shut when she said it. She whispered it like she was sharing her most close kept secret.

"I think... fuck, I love you." 

Patrick's touch faltered and Lennon could feel his breath stutter with his mouth pressed to the column of her throat. The once regulated and calculated thrusts of his fingers became stuttered pushes and pulls, like she threw him off of his game. "Y-you think?" His voice sounded strained and he picked up the pace of his fingers, her confession making him want to please her even more. Which he didn't think was possible. 

"Uh huh," She nodded frantically, pulling Patrick's head up so that she could look him in the eye. Both of their cheeks were flushed and their lips were a tad bit swollen. Lennon's from biting them and Patrick's from the hungry way he had kissed her. His eyes were half-lidded while hers were wide with admiration. She cupped his face in her hands, which he understood. He pressed his lips to hers. This kiss was different than the ones the had been sharing over the course of the past few months. Instead of frantic and hungry kisses, teeth clashing and tongues rolling together, this one was softer. Like instead of saying her loved her too, he wanted to show her.

"A-ask me again... shit, Patrick... ask me la-ter."

His head falls to her shoulder, biting it softly. She let out a broken moan as she let go around his fingers, which Patrick covered with his own groan. The softness was rare from him and something about it made her even more sure that she loved him. She knew he wasn't going to say it back, that wasn't his style. Not yet at least. They had met each other less than six months ago. They had only been dating for two. She knew it was naive of her to say but she didn't care because she did love him. She loved him and the way he always knew what to say to make her laugh. She loved the way he let her play whatever music she wanted in his car even if it was what he called "whiny girl music." She loved his friendship with Art and the way they had pulled her and Tashi into their duo with open arms. She could tell him that she loved him over and over just for that. 

[keeksandgigz]

lavender syrup (part one of lessons in alchemy)

barista!eddie munson x fem!barista!reader AU

summary: Eddie is the owner of the most popular cafe in his small town, "The Mad Alchemist," you are the owner of the rival cafe "Daily Drug". You obviously hate each other, but when a pipe bursts into your cafe that might take months to repair, your contractor assigns you and your coworkers to work with Eddie in order to keep your job, just until "Daily Drug" is ready to run again. Is tolerating him really that big of a feat?

cw: 4k words, swearing, modern setting, allusions to smut but nothing explicit (yet), Eddie calls reader a bitch a couple times and he's such a condescending asshole but in a hot way, i feel like the sexual tension needs its own tw, Steve is also in this &lt;3

a/n: pls like and reblog and feedback is always so very much appreciated!! my requests are always open if u wanna chat &lt;3

divider by @benkeibear

Eddie Munson wasn’t the type to want much from life. He was content in his little town, managing the coffee shop that kept it alive. From the early morning crew of truckers, farmers, nurses and cops to the 9 am rushes of the corporate job workers from one town over to the yoga moms, the high schoolers after the ring of the last bell. Eddie Munson did not have any big plans for his life. The little coffee shop made him enough money that he was able to take care of his uncle, now retired, and live by himself in a small apartment with his roommate, Steve. 

He got an associate’s degree in business, and after that he opened “The Mad Alchemist Cafe,” a DnD themed rustic coffee shop filled with beakers, lights and plants. The exposed brick the “interior designer” (it really was just a friend who had a good eye) begged him to paint over was instead littered with posters of announcements. He would host poetry slams, band performances, most importantly DnD campaigns he'd have to close down the cafe for in the evenings. For a few years he had also been hosting Christmas and Thanksgiving dinners for those who didn’t have a family to go home to for the holidays. 

He hired his roommate and closest friend, Steve to be the baker. Straight out of cooking school, Steve Harrington took care of the sweet and savory. The thousand- layer croissants that would melt once slightly placed on the tip of the tongue. Airy, buttery pastry that made Eddie's customers sigh with every bite, as they lingered on the wooden bar, conversing with the baristas. The lunch hour crew, asking for meatball sandwiches and messy pasta bowls. He’d make turkeys for the dinners at the cafe, during the holiday season, along with insurmountable potato dishes and stuffing. 

Eddie's life was littered with small sprinkles of joy. Everyone knew him as the kid from the cafe, with his long hair, sticking out of the messy bun he would wear to work. It started off as a joke in middle school, when Eddie's hair was buzzed due to a lice epidemic. Steve had miserably beat him at the arcade. He had grown fond of the long hair though, and added to the mystique of his coffee shop. It was also metal as fuck.

He felt like he was the main accessory to his lovely brick building; there would not have been  “The Mad Alchemist Cafe” without Eddie Munson, something that both staff and customers knew. The cafe would also not have been the cafe without the three years long rivalry with the only other cafe on their side of town, “Daily Drug” that opened a year after Eddie’s. The brand new establishment that started taking customers from him, claiming that their chai lattes and breakfast sandwiches were to die for.

Eddie had not interacted much with you, the owner of the cafe. Your bossy, stuck up and overall terrible attitude were a house trade mark there. He had been in the cafe though, and understood why “Daily Drug” was such an incredible contender to his establishment. The ambiance was different, like a Pinterest board had come to life. The pink and blue tile that decorated the walls as well as the ironic bitchy posters that ranged from a snarky “What are you looking at?” to a direct and curt “don’t be an asshole” decorated the walls. 

It was nothing like the cafe Eddie had imagined, the colorful palette contrasting with the caricaturistic mean and sarcastic ways of the staff, whose bitterness might have actually improved the taste of their coffee, as their lavender lattes tasted way sweeter, the syrup not overpowering the taste of the coffee, perfectly blended with the best milk for the beverage, which he found was almond.

You could have easily spat in his cup, but you serve him with feigned kindness as you make sure to make him hear a soundly “UGH could he be any more annoying?” to a blonde haired coworker, whose name he finds out later is Colette. Colette erupts in laughter as she serves his lavender latte with an egg and sausage burrito with a side of aggressive side eye. You had definitely spat in his drink. 

A fifteen- minute car ride later, Eddie enters his cafe begrudged by his inability to master a lavender latte. The taste of his in- house lavender syrup is too artificial, while “Daily Drug”’s try as he might is a flavor that he had never encountered.

The lavender provides a sweet flavor to the drink that pairs perfectly with the bitter coffee and the creamy taste of the almond milk without the artificial aftertaste. He beelines to the back of the building, to the room he called his lab, setting down his bag on a stool next to him as he takes a bored bite out of the egg and sausage burrito. Hm. Steve's is better. 

He jots down some notes in his journal. Try lemon for lavender syrup. Fennel seed in the sausage. Paprika maybe? Definitely garlic. He should have listened to his uncle and he should have gone to cooking school before he had opened the restaurant. He knew that he had the talent for it, Steve had even asked him to apply together, but he felt like it was not his true calling. 

“Your true calling is bossing everyone around, Ed” said his uncle with a laugh, one of the many sleepless nights he had spent mulling over the cafe during its early days. A knock startles him from his reverie. It's Steve. 

“Hey, didn’t see you come in. Are you still stressing over that lavender syrup thing?” he leans on the doorframe, half smiling at Eddie. He came in too early. Him and Steve were kind of the same in that regard, once haunted by an idea, they would not rest until it was executed. 

“What was it this morning? Strawberry frosting on matcha rolls?” says Eddie taking another bite out of his stale burrito.

"Nah, it's for the Halloween special, I'm trying to figure out the menu. We need to remember to add more nutmeg to the pumpkin spice syrup this year" Steve says, crossing his arms.

"Shit, yeah, I almost forgot. Also, this" Eddie shakes his burrito towards his friend "does not compare to yours by, like, miles. The sausage is too dry and the egg too cooked" Steve shrugs and fixes his glasses with a smug smile.

"Knew it." Eddie laughs at that, then proceeds to scribble in his leather bound notebook. Then the phone rings.

"Hey Steve, do you mind getting that?" Eddie says, not moving his head from the notebook.

"You got it boss" Steve heads towards the phone in Eddie's office.

"'Mad Alchemist Cafe' Steve speaking...Mhm...yeah, Eddie's in...oh shit" at that, Eddie turns his head.

"What is it, what's wrong Steve?" his tone alarmed as he paces towards the phone.

"Yeah no he's here you can talk to him, Jim" Steve passes the phone, making a face, the corners of his mouth pulled as if he were in trouble. "It's Jim" his contractor. Fuck.

Eddie presses the phone to his ear "Hey Jim, what's up?" his tone tense and cautious.

"Hey, kid, I don't know how to tell you this, but a pipe burst at 'Daily Drug'" Jim sounds scared, but Eddie is still struggling to figure out what that had to do with him, other than the fact that he would finally get back his traitorous customers who had gone to the dark side when “Daily Drug” opened.

"Yeah, ok, and that's my problem because?" he's annoyed at the ominous way Jim called at 8 in the morning concerned for his rival cafe's burst pipes.

"Are you sitting down, kid?" Ed rolls his eyes, he's getting seriously pissed off at this whole mystery thing his contractor's getting at.

"Yeah, Jim. Fuck sake just spit it out"

"Alright, alright no need to get aggressive" Jim takes a deep breath in "In order for the girls at 'Daily Drug' to keep their jobs you need to hire them, at least until the shop is up and running again." Oh shit indeed. Jim trails off, waiting for a reaction.

"How long Jim?" Eddie's fuming.

"It could take up to six months, really, the pipe fucked up the whole kitchen so they need to redo the back and stuff, hell it might take a year knowing how slow these fuckers operate" Jim exhales, he's probably shaking. Eddie did not make his contempt for “Daily Drug” unknown.

“Jesus Christ Jim you can’t do this to me. You know how much that- that bitch hates me. Everytime I go there I'm pretty sure she spits in my coffee. I'm actually convinced they all do, Jim" he's spiraling.

"C'mon kid, don't be stupid. That would violate an incredibly long amount of regulations and they would need to close down if it were true. Which I don't think it is" Jim sounds like he's finding this amusing now.

"This is not funny. And- and then what? The owner just comes in here and she starts actin' like she owns the place? We start sharing responsibilities? That's real cute, Jim, y'know that? Incredibly cute." Only then Eddie had notices how hard he had been gripping the phone. And the armrest of his chair.

"Eddie, you're throwing a tantrum. The owner doesn't hate you, they're hired under the agency and I just pulled some strings because I know you and these girls- these girls have families to support and I didn't want to scatter them all across town. I know they will be in good hands, they're not your employees, Eddie. Get it in that thick skull or I'm closing your shit down" Fuck. He's backed up into a corner.

"Alright. When do they start?" He grabs a pen and a piece of paper and scribbles Daily Drug start dates.

"Okay, so we have eight employees. Four of them are going across town, I have that cafe there. The rest are going to you- Virginia, Colette, Chrissy and the owner are all going to your cafe. They start tomorrow at 9 am. Better brush up on those training books, kid." Jim snickers.

"You're hilarious, Jim y'know that?" he quickly jots down the names and the time, stopping at your name for a second, before putting an angry face next to it.

"Aw, come on, kid. Maybe it might be a great way for you all to bond and put this stupid rivalry behind"

"Yeah- yeah no, and then we're gonna ride on the rainbow towards a pot of gold and do a little jig. Of course, Jim. I am healed already. Listen, I'll call you tomorrow after everything- if that bitch doesn't put a knife at my throat, speaking of, I should hide them" he seethes.

"Don't stress Ed. You'll be okay, what matters is that-" Jim never gets to finish that sentence, blocked by the violent slam of Eddie's phone back into its socket.

"FUCKING SHIT" he yells, kicking the bottom of his desk.

"I take it wasn't good news?" Steve leans on the threshold of Eddie's office.

"Steve- God I want to punch something. The owner of 'Daily Drug' in here. She's gonna kill me. Hide the knives"

"If I didn't know you like the back of my hand I'd say you're a little scared of her, Ed."

"Have you seen her? She's terrifying. So mean. I'd be turned on if she wasn't my archenemy" and he does have eyes, he thinks you're attractive. He's fantasized about putting you in your place, sometimes. About shutting your mouth up, see how witty you were after he'd make you go dumb from a few rounds.

He shakes his head. He has to stop.

"Well, maybe you can be nice to her so we can steal her lavender syrup recipe" Steve suggests. And as morally wrong as that sounds, you've spit in his drink before, so what's a bit of foul play compared to an FDA violation?

"Steven you might be onto something, but for now let's just worry about surviving tomorrow- God I know it's gonna be awful" Eddie says. As he said that, one of his employees, Jeff, comes knocking at his office.

"Eddie, the owner of the other cafe is here, she's asking for you." Eddie's eyes widen. The fuck is she doing here?

"The fuck- Okay thank you, Jeff. Send her back here." He dismisses his barista and Steve follows him back into the kitchen.

There is no hiding you're angry. Starting a job at a place where you knew everyone hated you seemed a bit of a cunt move from Jim, and there you are. Heading towards Eddie Munson's office, walking like you own the damn place.

"You look a little too sure of yourself for someone who lost their cafe, sweetheart. What is it, hm? What are you doing here?"

His condescending tone only stokes your anger more.

"I just came here to see the place, see if I have to dumb myself down. Maybe you guys don't know what cortados are" Feigned pity in your face.

"If you've come here to be a bitch you can go right home. One call to Jim and I can end this arrangement as quickly as it started, let's not get like that, m'kay?" his smile is devilish and god it's so hard to not find him attractive even when you want to rip him to shreds for threatening you.

"I didn't come here to bitch. I wanted to pick up our aprons? You guys have cute aprons. At least you have good taste in something" you scoff, and he shoots you a look. Fucking brat.

"Yeah- um" Eddie stands up from his desk and reaches for a box in the corner of his office "I'll give you two each. Try to keep 'em clean, I don't like dirty aprons. I've seen how messy you guys are at the cafe, that won't fly here 'kay? We really value cleanliness and order here"

"How clean can a cafe run by a man really be, huh? that's probably why your lights are so dim" he wants to kill you, but also pin you against the wall and shove his tongue down your throat so you can stop talking.

"You've had a long morning, sweetheart. Why don't you go home and sleep it off? I'm afraid you're letting off all this negative energy here and we don't want that. Not here" his tone's more stern rather than joking "I'll see ya bright an' early tomorrow morning at nine. Please don't come late, yeah?" he winks at you, cueing you to leave.

As you cross the threshold of the cafe you cannot possibly fathom what was it that left you so flustered and with an insatiable hunger between your thighs.

You pick up your coworker Colette on the way to work the morning after, presenting her with a bagel and all your rage directed towards Eddie. 

“No, Col, you don’t understand. He threatened to call Jim for a little remark. You know how insane that is? He’s gonna use whatever sick power he thinks he has over me to make me stay in line. Nope, no sir not with me” you say, turning into the parking lot of the cafe. 

“This Eddie guy really is an asshole, huh?” Colette remarks, getting out of the car. 

“You have no idea, it’s like he thinks he’s the shit or something just because the whole town loves him” 

“Everyone does love me, sweetheart. Good morning ladies, I’d recommend getting in, you have five minutes.” Eddie's right behind you, closing the trunk of his van, wearing one of his dumb satanic shirts. It's black, arms covered by a ratty black leather jacket. His hair is down and a messenger bag littered with button pins is slung over his shoulder, resting on his hip. All it takes is one snide remark and then he's gone inside the shop. 

You don't realize you're staring until Colette pinches the back of your arm, you reach for the affected area. “Babes, not him. Literally anyone but him, you have literally spent the whole car ride talking about how much of an asshole he is” 

“I have eyes, Col. He’s hot, and as much as I’d love to sleep with him, my hatred for this asshole is a bit too strong. I’d probably punch him mid- act anyway” you snicker and follow Eddie inside the store. Virginia and Chrissy are already inside, you shoot them a comforting look and a light touch to Virginia’s arm, who seriously lookes like she's about to cry.

“You okay, Gin?” you ask, lightly elbowing her arm. 

“No, I- I’m okay. Just nervous, also a bit scared. The boss seems mean” she trembles. She's only seventeen, after all. She's been working since she had been able to, if not before. Taking babysitting jobs until she turned fifteen, then just started taking customer service jobs, until she stumbled inside “Daily Drug,” with the extensive resume she had, she had been easy to hire. 

“He’s an asshole, but don’t let him intimidate you. He can’t do anything without Jim’s approval, just remember that, hun” you squeeze her arm as Eddie enters, having shed his jacket, putting his hair up, and tying the purple apron around his waist. A small, golden tag says his name on the right side of his chest. 

“Good morning, ladies. My name is Eddie, the owner of this fine establishment” he bows, smirking. “The crew at “Mad Alchemist” is deeply sorry about what happened at your cafe. We will do everything in our power to make you guys feel welcome for your short stay here” at the mention of “short” his eyes dart at you. You’re not the only one who hopes this bullshit will be short, dickhead.

You step forward, putting your best polite face on. “Thanks, Eddie. We’re extremely grateful for the opportunity to keep working, and we hope to learn from our time here” you say through gritted teeth. Even being that nice to him feels like nails on a chalkboard on your brain. “These are my baristas- Virginia, Chrissy, and Colette, my baker” you point at each of your girls. 

“Oh Colette, you’re gonna want to meet with Steve, then- He’s my baker and pastry chef. I’m sure you both have a lot of things to talk about, and a lot of work to do since our Halloween special will be dropping in a week from today” a taut smile appears on his lips. 

The guy in the back with the gorgeous head of hair and round glasses whom you assume is Steve waves his hand and Colette shoots you an assuring look before she runs to him, disappearing in the back, where you assume the pastry shop is. 

No one to run to now.

"Perfect, shall we begin?" Eddie's voice feels muffled in your ears as he assigns each one of his baristas to one of yours for training. The cafe has just passed its early morning peak time, meaning that in a couple hours you will have a lunch rush. Everything feels like it's moving too fast.

The noises around you become clear again when Eddie grazes the bare skin of your arm. You shiver. Unbeknownst to you, his hand flexes at his side.

"Scared, sweetheart? You look like you've seen a ghost..." his mouth is moving, but you can't understand anything of whatever he's saying. You're unconsciously rubbing the area Eddie had touched, his fingers warm yet rough, from all the times he's had to wash his hands throughout the day.

You haven't noticed until now how thick his fingers are. Suddenly, the feeling of a phantom limb reaching out, wrapping a hand around your throat, gently feeling its way down your neck, your shoulders, your clavicle, down your stomach and into-

"You wanna follow me to my office or what? I have a couple questions for you" Eddie breaks you out of your sick reverie, leaving you a bit flushed in the face, afraid to look at him in the eye.

"Yeah-uh sorry. Lead the way" you say, and suddenly the floor becomes very interesting to look at.

Quickly, everyone gets to work. The girls being taught the house drinks by the guys at the bar, whilst you follow Eddie in his office. 

“I just need to know if there’s any schedule preferences from the girls, just in case there’s any conflict. I was thinking, since the Halloween special will be dropping, one of these days you might need to sit in here with me and I’ll give you a proper training of what that entails. Y’know tastings and such.” His demeanor has switched from snarky to utterly professional, for which you thank whatever entity in the sky, allowing you a break from his abrasive behavior. 

He sits down at his desk and pulls out a notepad and a pen. He looks at you with waiting eyes.

“Yeah, um, Virginia has school during the week and can’t work until after three and she can only work four hours on weekdays, three days a week and usually a full shift during the weekend. Chrissy and Colette can work whenever, but please don’t schedule Col at the early hours of the mornings, she actually cannot function. She’s more useful to you awake” you let out a breathy laugh, remembering Colette putting salt instead of sugar in a batch of banana bread muffins. 

In the meantime, Eddie scribbles on his notepad. You feel uneasy in a room with him without the loud tensions of an argument looming, the blood booming in your ears. 

“And you?” he raises an eyebrow, lifting his face from the notepad. 

“Oh, I’ll just come in whenever you need me. I really don’t mind, I just need a good amount of hours. I um- I have my dad to take at the hospital on Saturday mornings, but I can come after” you say, your face tinging a bright red. 

 He scribbles that down, embarrassment visible on your face as the tension in the room becomes suffocating. 

“Alright, I’ll have those schedules ready by the end of the day. I need you to come in tomorrow through Wednesday. Opening shift Monday and Tuesday, you’ll close with me and Chrissy on Wednesday. Sounds good?” he keeps writing down in his notepad, you nod. He tuts “I need words, I can’t see you nodding or shaking your head if I’m writing, can I?” 

“Y-yeah, that sounds good. Sorry” You feel even more embarrassed, the tops of your ears tinging red. 

“Don’t apologize. Just do better next time” Eddie thrums a ringed hand on the edge of his desk. He's never seen you this docile and it puts him off. He was hoping for some snide remark, but you're looking around nervously, playing with the laces of your apron, which he finds enhances the curves and features of your body. Wondering what you’d look like in nothing but that apron, all the exposed skin of your back, shoulders and– 

“Are we done here?” there she is. The snarky question makes him jump, thanking the desk for covering the lower half of his body. 

“Yeah, I can go train you now, just gimme a sec, I’ll meet you outside” I need to get rid of that boner is what he means, but you don't budge. 

“Fuck no, you’re not training me. Gimme someone else” you remark, crossing your arms. 

“God there I thought you weren’t gonna be a bitch today.” He exhales. “How many people do you see in the staff, huh? It's Steve, Gareth, Jeff and I. Not much of a merry group. You either let me train you or the door is that way.” you can tell he’s had enough of you, which only stokes your fire even more.

“Literally anyone but you. You can train Virginia, I’m sure you have a bit of heart to not be a dick to a literal child. Not that she even needs training, she has more knowledge and better work ethics than you assholes” you spit, and you’re sure Eddie wants to kill you. 

“I don’t tolerate this kind of language in my store. I’m sure that’s what attracted all my customers to your store, but you can shut that filthy mouth in here. Now, you’re gonna go out and wait for me to train you, understood?” he's seething. 

“Or what? You can’t do shit Eddie. I’m not your little employee, you can’t fucking threaten me” you're winded, this argument is stupid and you want to punch him. 

“Alright” Eddie stands up abruptly and stalks towards you. “train yourself then.”

His tone is calm and collected, which makes you tremble. He's close. Really close.

“I wanna watch you crash and burn and struggle to make a dragon’s breath latte. You don’t want me to train you? Fine. Perfect. The less time I have to spend away from your bitch mouth the better my day will be. Recipe cards are on the counter. Have fun” he taps his hand on your shoulder and gives you a pulled smile, then walks back to his desk. 

He's fucking brutal.

[dr-demi-bee]

Day 5 ----------------------Read on AO3--------------------------

Pairing: Miri x Gale Prompt: Lazy Mornings Post Canon, fluffy fluff, Married life, SFWish

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The first rays of early morning sun pours in through the windows on the far side of their tower bedroom, bathing the room in orange and gold as the sea breeze gently ruffles the curtains. Husband and wife lay in a tangled heap of limbs in their large four poster-bed, the bedding and pillows eschew from another night in their first 1,000 - loving and learning and bonding together until at last they fell asleep in one another's arms.

Even through their slumber they follow one another’s heat, an endless cycle of pulling and curling and notching of limbs. As they doze now, Gale lays half turned onto his stomach, one arm tucked beneath a pillow. Miri is curled against Gale's back, her face tucked between his shoulder blades and one arm snaked around his side to hold a hand against his chest. Their legs are tangled together and her hips are pressed against his rear.

They breathe together, quiet, steady, and peaceful. Gentle snoring forgone as they move towards wakefulness.

Gale breathes in deeply, rubbing his face into his pillow as he stirs under the pleasant warmth of the sunlight. His lips tip up with a sleepy smile when he feels the weight of Miri’s embrace.

He lets out a long, soft sigh of contentment. He gently intertwines his fingers with the hand she rests on his chest, turning slightly and bringing it up to his lips for a soft kiss.

"Good morning," he mumbles, his voice still rough with sleep.

Miri rumbles back a sleepy growl, the vibration rumbling through his chest. She doesn’t stir from where she's pressed against him and Gale lets out a soft chuckle. He can feel the warm puff of her breath against his back, and he gently runs his fingertips along the arm wrapped around his waist.

"Are you planning on staying there all day, my love?" His groggy voice is full of fond teasing.

Miri is reluctant every morning to be pried away from his warmth and the comfort of their bed. Better than any tent or den she’s ever enjoyed in the past. Her arm squeezes more firmly around him.

"Mmm will you let me..." comes Miri’s hoarse reply, rough from a night of crying out under Gale’s thorough ministrations. She nuzzles her face against the smooth skin of his back.

"Tempting as that sounds," he says with a smile in his voice, "I have a few things I need to attend to today, unfortunately. Wouldn't you rather spend some time under the open sky?"

He gently lifts her arm from his waist and turns to face her, his gaze lingering on her sleep-softened features even as her brow furrows. Miri grumbles, immediately winding her arm back around him and nestling closer. Gale lets out a amused huff as she clings to him.

"You're awfully stubborn, aren't you?"

He can't help but find it endearing, and he gently slides his hand down to her hip, stroking her skin with a delicate, caressing touch. His fingers trace along the edge of the sheet that only just covers their hips.

"Mhm," she hums sleepily from where she’s pillowed her face against his chest, "Very."

Gale chuckles again, his hand moving up to run through the tangles of her hair. He gently unties the leather cord that keeps it together at the nape of her neck while she’s sleeping, allowing her long, wine-colored strands to spill out around her like a waterfall. He lets out an appreciative hum as he runs his fingers through the unbraided strands. He loves the way it shimmers in the golden glow of the morning.

"Well, you won't find me complaining," he muses, the huskiness in his voice betraying his growing interest. Miri laughs softly, her eyes finally opening to peer up at him. Brilliant green under the light.

"I did not think so," she murmurs back, lips tipped up in a soft smile.

Gale grins, his gaze roaming across her face as he brushes the loose strands of hair away from her eyes. The morning sunlight dances across her copper skin, casting her in a golden glow. He can feel her breath against his bare chest, and he idly rubs his thumb across the curve of her hip.

"Gods you are lovely," he breathes, his voice laced with affection. Miri hums a happy sound, her smile broadening.

"As are you. The light of the golden hours quite suit you," she returns. The glow of the early morning sun always makes him near radiant - especially the myriad hues in his lovely walnut and ochre eyes. Her free hand lifts to brush his sleep tousled hair from his face.

Miri cherishes these soft, tender moments in bed, morning or evening, when he’s not busy with the next thing or distracted. When he’s wholly focused on the here and now with her. All the better when he’s also glowing.

"Your flattery will get you everywhere, love," he teases, his hand on her hip giving a playful squeeze. Her sweet words and gentle touch spread a warm tingle through his chest.

"It is not flattery." Miri huffs a soft laugh, bringing a hand up to tap the tip on his nose before splaying her fingers over his chest. "I am merely paying my husband his due."

Gale chuckles, his chest rumbling under her palm. He covers her hand with his own, threading their fingers together before bringing it to his lips to kiss her knuckles.

"You're too good to me," he murmurs against her skin. His eyes gleam with affection as he gazes down at her, his thumb gently stroking her wrist.

"On the contrary," she replies warmly, "You are infinitely deserving."

Gale's heart melts at her words, the affection in her voice and the soft look in her eyes always making him feel impossibly lucky. No matter how many times she speaks such words, it never ceases to inspire both awe and delight. He brings their joined hands up to rest against his cheek, savoring the warmth of her touch on his face. Miri raises her free hand to cup his other cheek, her gaze full of adoration as she looks up at him.

"What did I do to deserve such a lovely wife?" Gale murmurs, his smile tender.

“I have heard tell you had a hand in saving all of Toril from the grand design," she murmurs playfully, "A hero of Baldur's Gate? Or perhaps it was saving said lovely wife some countless number of times."

Gale grins back at her. "Ah, you've heard about that, have you?" His voice brims with a playful cockiness, tilting his head into her palm as his brow furrows with a cheeky grin. "It was nothing really, just another day in the life of a powerful wizard."

"And so humble too," she teases with a toothy grin. Her thumbs stroke over the high arch of his cheekbones. Gale laughs again, his eyes crinkling with amusement.

"I can be humble when it suits me." he says playfully, gently grabbing her hand and pressing his lips to her palm. "But with a wife as beautiful as you, how could I not boast a little?"

Miri giggles softly. "Hardly the greatest of your achievements."

"Debatable," he returns cheekily, smiling against her palm. He continues to press soft kisses against her skin, holding her gaze with his patented blend of affection and mischief.

"But you certainly rank among the highest," he adds quietly. He pulls her hand down from his cheek to press her palm over his heart. "After all, winning the heart of a woman as lovely as yourself is no small feat either."

"Are you calling me difficult?"

Miri leans in to muffle a laugh against his shoulder, unable to maintain a straight face. Gale grins, always delighting in the sound of her laugh, and he chuckles at her playful indignation. He wraps his arm around her as he rolls onto his back, pulling her close against his side.

"Me? Never," he says saccharinely, his hand idly tracing little circles on her skin. "I wouldn’t dream of calling you difficult, love."

Miri leans up onto her elbows to peer down at him. She grins with furrowed brows. Gale meets her gaze with a cheeky grin of his own, his arm still wrapped around her waist.

"You are endlessly cheeky."

"I prefer the term charming," he says with mock offense, even as he grins. His free hand tugs gently on a lock of her hair.

"You are undoubtedly both, vhenan."

She sets a hand on his chest, her fingers dancing idly over his skin and following the paths of his hair. Those sharp eyes roam over his features, lingering on the healed scar where the orb once colored his skin, and the more prominent scar of her mate mark above it. Miri's soft smile widens a fraction - somewhere between love and smug, possessive satisfaction.

Gale arches a brow at her, his eyes never straying from her face as she trails her fingers over his hair and scars. The touch of her hand against his skin sends a faint tingle through him, and he hums in contentment. His hand rubs her back lazily.

"Are you going to spend the entire morning ogling me?"

Her eyes flick up to his with a cheeky smirk and he can’t help but grin back, his chest warming with affection. Miri's fingers never stop their gentle stroking touches over his chest and his nerves feel set aflame.

"Am I not allowed to appreciate my husband?"

"Of course you can," he says fondly, his hand slowly tracing the curve of her spine. "But if you keep looking at me like that, I might be tempted to keep you in bed all day."

Her eyes close briefly, with an appreciative smile, as she focuses on the touch of his fingers over her skin. She rumbles a soft growl back at him and the sound sends a shiver down his spine, and he smirks back at her. His hand pauses at the small of her back, splaying his fingers against her skin.

"Is that so?" Miri's eyes open to peer at him, her head tilting just so.

"Mhmm," he hums, his gaze darkened slightly. His other hand comes up to brush a strand of hair away from her face, his thumb tracing over her jaw. "Perhaps I should keep you under me, where I can appreciate you properly."

Miri turns her face into his hand, kissing his palm before mouthing at his thumb with her canines. Gale's breath hitches in his throat as her teeth nibbling on his thumb send a jolt of desire through him.

"Careful, love," he says huskily, his eyes darkening. His hand on her back stills, and his gaze fixates on her mouth. "If you keep that up, we might not be getting up anytime soon."

Miri growls with a wolfish grin. "Good. It's much too early for you to be out of bed."

@lanafofana @lastlight-inn @waterdeep-weavemoss

@crimson-and-lavender @feedthepheasants @spooky-lil-bee

[elliesgoodgirl]

Tying you to me

(Ellie Williams/Reader)

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On a cold November morning you wake up tired and shivering, but the most enticing sight draws you back into bed ; your girlfriend soundly asleep.

Grateful to spend a few moments hidden away from the rest of the world with each other, you and Ellie bask in each others presence.

(I would lay down my life for this woman and she doesn’t get enough soft things written for her)

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The room was gray, early morning light just barely peeking through the curtains covering the frosted windows. You looked around, taking in the lowly lit room of your girlfriend.

The pile of dirty clothes shoved in the corner, the worn leather couch that seemed to have both of your body imprints perfectly worn into it. Countless posters sloppily hung on the walls, of bands and movies you’d never even seen or heard of, but Ellie swears they’re good. How she could even possibly know is beyond your comprehension.

It’s surprising you’re up this early, several hours before the town of Jackson would even be waking up. After a grueling patrol shift such as your last, it was typical for you to sleep into the late hours of the day. A chill shot through your body, goosebumps pebbling on the exposed skin of your legs.

Your sleep shorts riding up every so slightly, exposing the scars and bruises that had formed over the past few years from many patrol shifts.

A few beams of light come in from above the bed, catching your attention away from the small details of the garage turned apartment. Shining directly onto the face of Ellie, who slept peacefully next to you. One arm outstretched ever so slightly, reaching towards where your upper half one laid down. You could just barely see the ink lines of her tattoo licking up her forearm.

Her eyes closed, eyelashes resting peacefully on her freckled cheeks. Brows furrowed, mouth slightly agape. You could see a small patch of drool on her pillow, usually a sign that she was in deep slumber. The sunbeam catching in her auburn hair, highlighting the many shades of red and brown.

She had fallen asleep with her hair tied half up, normally you scolded her for it as it wasn’t good for her hair, but now you found it endearing. Clearly too exhausted from patrol to change, she slept in nothing but her boxers and the T-shirt from the day prior. A small laugh escapes your mouth as you continue to admire her.

She really was something. All freckles and blushed cheeks. You reach down to brush a strand of hair that was tickling its way into her mouth out of the way, exposing the scar that cut through her eyebrow. You let your hand linger for a moment, knuckles resting against her warm cheek. Ellie gives a content sigh. With how calm she looks now, you’d never be able to guess that she spent half the night kicking you in the side and taking all the blankets.

Another blast of cold air sends a shiver through you. You tear your eyes away from Ellie in an attempt to find where the breeze is coming from. The window near the door catches your eye as the curtains attached blow in the wind.

As carefully as you can, you get up from the bed, not wanting to wake Ellie up. The floor is cold on your bare feet as you tiptoe your way over, being careful to not trip over your backpacks and shoes that are lazily strewn across the room

Finally, you make it to the window and are able to shut it, quietly of course. You breathe a sigh of relief as you feel the draft cut off. The creak of the bed catches your attention,

“Why’d you shut the window?” Ellie’s tired voice interrupts the silence. It’s raspy, coated in sleep.

You turn, greeted to the sight of Ellie sat up in bed, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. It was evident that she had been sleeping on the same side for a while, her short hair sticking up wildly while the opposite sat semi neatly. Her lips turned slightly downward in a pout.

“I was cold.. it woke me up” you shrug slightly, running your hands over your arms.

Ellie chuckles slightly, green eyes meeting yours.

“Well then come back to bed, I’ll keep you warm” she smiles, laying back down and opening her arms up for you.

“Oh my hero!” You smile back at her, almost skipping back towards her bed.

You lay down, resting comfortably pressed into Ellie’s chest, her arms wrapped around you. She presses a kiss to your forehead as you settle in.

“Sleep good?” She asks while smoothing your hair away from your face. You shrug,

“It was a typical post patrol sleep, feel like I could use at least ten more hours”

Ellie snorts, “man do I feel that one”

“You looked pretty comfy though”, you say as you lightly trace the lines of her tattooed forearm that’s wrapped around you.

“Oh I was, before I was abandoned in my own bed!”, she’s easily the most dramatic girl you’ve ever met.

“-Even saw the drool you left on your pillow”

You hear Ellie scoff, loudly.

“I do not drool!” She throws her arms up defensively.

“Yes you do!”

“No I don’t!”

You both know you’re right, Ellie is just stubborn and thinks it’s funny to rile you up about the little things.

“For your information, I sleep like an angel”

Ellie can’t keep a straight face as she says this, she knows it a blatant lie. She giggles slightly, awaiting your response.

You can only roll your eyes. She does not sleep like an angel. She sleeps like a tornado with legs and makes you impossibly hot at night. But you’d have it no other way.

The way she mumbles in her sleep, never being able to decipher the nonsense that tumbles out her lips. The way she pulls you closer, even when in deep sleep. She was comfort in its truest form.

You look at her briefly, not having a response for her. Her features become more clear as the rising sun pushes its way past the window above the bed. She searches your face, clearly taking in your features.

“What’s on your mind?” You wonder out loud.

Ellie gives you a crooked smile as one of her hands finds your face. She gently brushes her fingers across your cheek, trailing over a healing cut from a previous patrol shift.

“Nothing..” she mumbles, eyes flicking down to your lips briefly.

“Tell me!” You lean back a little, putting some distance between the two of you.

“Really it’s nothing!”

“Ellie!!”

“….can’t we just go back to bed?”

She dodges the question, a slight blush creeping its way onto her cheeks and ears. You give her an annoyed look.

“Alright alright..” she starts, giving a sigh,

“I was just thinking about…” she trails off again, eyes looking back at your lips.

She purses hers together for a moment, the scar on her lip being highlighted as she does so. She’s thinking about something again, you can see the gears in her head turning.

“Fine, fine, don’t tell m-“

Ellie cuts you off. Pressing her lips to yours. It’s by no means the first time she’s kissed you, but it’s sweet. Tender and loving, like a first kiss between children. Her lips are chapped and slightly salty. Most likely from sweating during the night. And despite both of those things, you sigh into her. Your fingers find her nape and play with the slightly tangled pieces of hair that lay there.

Ellie helps you shift so you’re straddling on top of her as the kiss deepens. Both of you rocking in unison. Your hands committing each others bodies to memory. Ellie’s hands finds your hips and she squeezes. Eventually while moving away from her to get some air, your hands find her face.

You trace over the freckles on her face as you memorize her features for the millionth time. You play with her bottom lip for a moment before you speak.

“I guess we can go back to bed now”, a smile crosses your lips. Ellie returns the smile.

“I’d like that a lot”

She helps you lay back down, your head resting on top of her chest and her strong arms wrapped around you. You both lie there for a moment, Ellie using one of her hands to play with your hair and you rubbing small circles on her stomach with your thumb.

The sun fully rises on you two as you both drift back asleep, ready to not wake until late in the afternoon, and the town of Jackson is lively with the hustle and bustle of its residents.

[abbythewritor]

"Janitor" Fnaf Security Breach x Fem reader. *2*

Description: What happens when Y/n L/n lands a cleaning Job at the mega pizza plex? How will she handle all the Animatronics falling for her?

Warnings: Slight drama, blood, and jealousy, but other than that, none.

Rated: PG-13.

Other things:

-Bonnie and Foxie aren't dismantled, thanks to Gregory.

-Cassie and Gregory are in High School, working as security guards to keep Freddy and everyone else safe.

-I added a new Daycare attendant named Jester, who will be introduced later, and of course, the attendees got new Upgrades, thanks to Gregory.

-The OCs I will be using aren't mind, and the User names will be linked at the end of the chapter; the credits go to them :)

-Finally, no adult content will be included in this story.

Enjoy the second chapter :)

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"Wow! Good Job, newbie, we cleaned up in under 2 hours!" Dj's room was finally thoroughly cleaned, and thanks to you, your bright Idea of using some sort of Shop-vac to pick up toys, candy, and other stuff left by kids made this whole Job thing a little easier.

Cyrus, who had just finished putting the vac away, stood by as you sat on the floor, sipping a freshly opened juice box. Looking at his fazz watch, the time read 1:15pm, and a satisfied smile formed his lips. "If we keep this up, we can reach the daycare area by 5. You get the gist of things quickly, Newbie; I knew you'd get the hang of it. Plus, I think you went to the top of Mr. Dj's new friend's list." Chuckling, you sipped more of your juice. "I'm not his friend, Cryus; I just complimented his sunglasses." Cryus sat next to you, slightly nudging your shoulder. "Yeah, and everything else. I knew you didn't say anything, but I can easily see a person's body language when they're geeking out. So you're a robot fan, huh?" Your eyes rolled. "Glamrocks, actually." His eyes widened. "No way, really? Wow, is that why you took the job? Wait... you're not planning on anything weird with Freddy and the others, are you-OUCH!! Hey!! Hey!" He laughed when you hit his shoulder.

"Take your mind out of the gutter; I got this job for the money. Besides, I may be a geek, but at least I'm not like one of those Crazed fans who always kiss their posters." Cyrus nodded. "True, we had a fair of those people come here, not to Freddy, but foxy, surprisingly. Poor guy, we had to close his meet and greet early one day because an older woman came to him with his shirt off." "PFFFT" Apple juice came out of your nose as you and he began to die with laughter. Not believing him, you turned to him with surprise once you stopped coughing. "Really? You're shitting me." His head shook. "Nope, not kidding; I got the whole thing on tape if you want to see it later?" Sighing, your head shook.

"Can this place even surprise me more? First, the pizza here is actually good, Second, I meet a Gianormous spider, who's not a human-eating creature, and finally, I get told a story where Foxy almost got molested." Chuckling, Cyrus put his arms behind his back. "You'd be surprised at what happens at the daycare; Poor Sun has to deal more with the kid's actions than Jester and Moon." Your head tilted.

"Jester and Moon?"

"Oh, they are the attendants with Sun, but their moment to shine is when Nap-Time happens. Jester was meant for both morning and Day, but he takes Tag too seriously." Smirking, you leaned onto your right elbow, now fully onto the floor. "Sounds like me; I hate kids." "Same...but someone has to take care of them while the Parents are gone, the same as we have to take care of this place..." Standing up, he stretched.

"Alright, if we head to the Glamrocks dressings rooms now, we'll still be able to make it while they are still performing, which makes perfect timing for us to clean. Now, being the Geek that you are...I doubt they would be out now, but don't worry, I will give you plenty of chances to see them when that time comes." Nodding, you adjusted your hat. "No problem, not in a rush when it comes to that anyway; I know how busy they all can be. Especially Freddy." Cyrus smiled at you. "Glad you understand, Newbie; now come on. DJ! WE OUTA HERE!!"

"Right on! Thank you, Cyrus and little lady! Don't be a stranger, ok?"

Chuckling, your co-worker held a thumbs up towards the tunnel. "Will do! Say Hi to Mini Dj for us!! Come on, Y/n, let's head to the VIP area." Nodding, you followed behind as he began to walk, grabbing the mop bucket as the both of you headed that way.

In all reality, Mr. Dj's room was pretty neat, even though it was large and a lot to clean; you had fun getting to know the spider, the area, and Cyrus a little more.

This job won't be so bad if the other animatronics are excellent as Dj.

Just as long as you keep your head up and do not embarrass yourself in front of the Glammrocks, you should be fine...

Right?

..........

...........

...........

"Cyrus! What are you doing here?!" With a lot of walking, you both made it to the VIP area.

It was huge, right next to the entrances, as many different colored rooms were aligned inside a vast wall, each color representing a different Glamrock and their personalities.

Besides the rooms, you were taking in the mall itself, as the true size of it through your eyes was amazing. Multiple floors, stores, and people surrounded the structure, as familiar music from the Glamrocks played throughout the area.

Many children, adults, and teens walked passed the screen in many different directions, the camera focusing on you as you tried your best not to bump into any people, the mop bucket still being pulled by your grasp.

Not being bothered by Cyrus, he was heading over to a familiar yet older boy, who was shocked to see your Co-worker at this moment. "Gregory! My man!" Giving each other a hug, Gregory fisted his shoulder. "Look at you, man; Summer treated you well." Cyrus was shocked by his comment. "Look at me?! Look at you! You are all grown up! Just yesterday, you and Freddy were being chased by killer Vanny and the others! Just think of how it would go down now!." The boy chuckled while scratching his neck. "It was 8 years ago, Cyrus; Vanny's gone now, unable to hurt anyone again." "Thanks to you! Man, you Kicked that bunny's but! From the beginning, you knew she was involved with the Animatronics going a wall; now, none of them are shut down because of you. Look! You're even freddies personal security guard! How's that going?" Gregory slumped. "It's tiring; Freddy takes every chance of the day to see every. Single. Child. It's annoying enough that I must deal with the crying Kid's parents above it all. They say some...vulgar things..." Cyrus chuckled while his hands went to his hips. "That's Freddy for yah, and yes, sure, the parents suck, but hey, on the bright side, you get to spend more time with him, right?" Gregory shrugged. " I guess your right? But since he's always busy, I tend to hang out with Cassie more than anything. But enough about me, what about you? How's life going for you, and who is that? Is she your girlfriend?" He looked to you, who was being an airhead and was too busy looking around more, stars filling your eyes. Cringing at the sight of you, Cyrus turned to Gregory. "One, I still live with my mom; two, that is Y/n, the newbie; and three, no, she is not my girlfriend." "Huh." Gregory crossed his arms. "That's the Newbie? She doesn't look shy and timid to me-" "Yeah, Dean said that to Dj too...but she's a total geek; you should have seen her when I beat her at a race, anyway, are the gang still performing?" Gregory nodded. "The Guys are; Foxie and Chica don't perform until later tonight; they're practicing for their Duo downstairs. Do you guys need to clean their rooms right now?" Cyrus nodded. "Might as well, since we are on time; we just want to get it cleaned before they get done so fan girl over here....doesn't get too overwhelmed." They both looked to you, who was standing there like an idiot, who played with the ends of her hair and fiddled with your Tee-shirt. Gregory laughed at his statement, his hand lifting his hat up slightly. "I get that; I know Bonnie and Freddie can get a little touchy around new people, so I'll try to keep them distracted until you are done." Cryus patted his back. "Thanks, Gregory, always the hero; hey, Newbie!" Getting your attention, you looked at him as he motioned to you with his thumb. "Let's get started; follow me!" Nodding your head, you grabbed the mope bucket to follow him, walking past Gregory as he told you the plan, both of you heading to Freddie's room first.

Gregory, who just shook his head, sighed as familiar sounds of doors rang through his ears. Turning, he saw Freddy and Familiar animatronics coming toward him, which made him smile.

"Freddy!" He yelled, catching the attention of the bear, who was talking to Bonnie on his right side. "Gregory!" He replied, tail wagging as the boy ran up to him, latching himself onto the robot. "Look at Ya, boy, all dressed up and everything," Foxy spoke, referring to his uniform as the boy adjusted his hat. "Yeah, I never expected this outfit to be this fancy; it feels kinda weird." Monty glared at him. "You're making it feel weird, kid; it looks good on ya." Bonnie nodded. "I agree; besides, it's better than wearing those clothes daily, right?" Gregory huffed, his arms crossing. "At least those close were comfy." Freddy chuckled while putting a hand on his back. "Well, I'm proud of you, superstar; it's a rare opportunity for a high schooler to get this job; you should feel honored." The boy crossed his arms. "I'll feel honored when the stupid parents stop bullying me. Everyone besides him and Monty laughed, Freddy looking at him again. "Greggory, if I can ask, is there a way can we go to our rooms yet to recharge? There is a malfunction I need to check; my left eye seems to be a bit more blurry than usual." "I wish you guys could, but Cyrus has a Newbie with him; they're cleaning your rooms as they speak." Bonnie's eyes widened. "Theirs a new Janitor? Why isn't Dean here then?" Gregory shrugged. "Dunno, but Cyrus doesn't want to overwhelm her, so it's best if you guys do something else for now." Freddy nodded with a smile. "No problem, superstar, we'll think of something." Foxy did a stretch. "Yar...might as well be heading to my ship; I don't want Roxy putting her dirty paws on me, gold..." Bonnie's eyes rolled. "I told you, foxy, it's not roxy who steals it; kids sometimes swallow those things, you know?"

"Doesn't matter; my gold matters too much; I need to protect it." Watching Foxie walk away, trying his best to avoid crowds and kids, Bonnie just sighed. "Him and his Gold, I'm off to go play bowling. El-chip has bets of years of free tacos if I can get a perfect strike score; wanna join, Monty-Monty?" The gator just huffed, a pissed-off look hinting on his face as Freddy and the bunny grew concerned. He walked away from the group, probably heading to Gator Golf, as the three watched, unable to do anything else about it. Gregory sighed, looking at Freddy. "Did his guitar break again?" Freddy nodded sadly. "The instrument is not what it used to be, he got it before Vanny corrupted him and the others, and it was the only thing that could keep him calm. But now, it keeps breaking during performances, which concerns people and his fans." Gregory's brows furrowed. "Can't he just get it fixed?" Bonnie shook his head. "No, he doesn't trust anyone with it, especially when Cyrus switched to Daycare; he is the only one who can fix his guitar." "Then why not ask Cyrus to fix it himself? It's not like he'd turn Monty down, right?" Freddy sighed. "It's not that simple for Monty; he cares about Cyrus a lot, but since Cyrus switched to daycare, it made him angry enough to be a threat. When Vanny corrupted everyone, he went straight to Cyrus, doing something horrible that none of us can forget. " "Wow...and he doesn't want to hurt him again...I understand...Vanny caused him that fear, and to get rid of it must be hard." Bonnie nodded. "Yes, But I'm afraid for him..." Gregory tilted his head. "Why is that Bonnie?" sighing more, Bonnie looked to Monty, who seemed to be kneeling down to a Toddler, who touched the Gator's snout with pure love and fondness. Even the gator didn't show his genuine emotions; he tried to put on his best face for the toddler, not letting his Guitar or the past get to him. "Each day, that fear grows more and more, kids are getting ignored, he lashes out if nothing going right, and heck, even Roxy can't put him back in line. If something doesn't happen to help the poor guy."

"He'll just end up getting worse, day by day."

......................................................................................

"And finally, we are done!!!" It took a while, but the rooms of the glam rocks were finally cleaned.

Cyrus was impressed as you cleaned Montie's room by yourself, picking up every destroyed object, dirt, and even leftover presents from fans on the floor or the walls.

You ensured not to touch the robot's personal stuff, as everything in the room was essential and organized. This wasn't even a part of your payroll, but doing the extra stuff made at least your OCD ten times better.

Shocked as hell, his mouth was open wide as you stood up, whipping the sweat from your forehead. "It took a lot of elbow grease, but I think I managed to get it mostly cleaned-" "MOSTLY CLEANED?!" You squealed a bit as Cyrus's hands went everywhere. "THE WHOLE ROOM IS SPOTLESS!!!" You chuckled. "Yeah, guess I got carried away; I hope that isn't a problem, Cyrus." "Are you kidding?" You looked up at him smiling. "That isn't a problem, Y/n; it's a great skill to have, I wish I was like that when I was little, but of course, I had to be a pain in the ass." "Well, I am not like that; I get terrible OCD when things are misplaced, so cleaning Monty's room was basically therapy for me." You replied, feeling a hard slap coming from him onto your back. "I'm glad, newbie!" He chirped, throwing a towel over his left shoulder. "Monty can get pretty angry sometimes, even after the whole hacking incident; things have changed, and doing this for him makes the Gater a little bit happier each day." He then sighed.

"Though, that's all we could do; he didn't used to be like this." Your brows furrowed."What do you mean?" Cyrus was silent for a while before looking to the ground. "Before I transferred to Daycare, I was a mechanic for the Glamrocks." Your eyes widened. "Really? That's cool!" He chuckled. "Yeah, it was cool, alright, being able to hang out with the most excellent Robots in history, Freddy, Bonnie, Foxy, Chica, Roxy, Monty. Honestly, out of all six of them, I seemed more attached to Monty than everything; we were best friends. Whenever he malfunctioned, he came to me with the saddest eyes, or when Roxy or even Foxy said something wrong, we would always talk about the situation and work the stuff out."

He paused before pouting, trying his best not to cry just a little. "I fixed his damn guitar before every. Single. Show. His temper tantrum was the death of me of my time there, but somehow I always managed to fix it and make the gator happy. I miss that feeling....but when the glitches happened, and Freddy and the gang started to act weirder than usual, the company switched me over to daycare, which hadn't been touched by the virus at the time." Your eyebrows furrowed, and one of your hands was on his back as he struggled to get the following words out, his eyes looking at the guitar Monty o-so cares about. "He hated me leaving, and trust me, I didn't want to transfer either, but it was for my and other people's safety as well; Monty was like a brother to me. Sometimes when I try to talk to him now, I get an angry huff, and he walks away. It hurts, yes, but it's not his fault...I should have stayed when I should..." His hands ran through his hair, and shaky breaths and sad motions came from him, which made your heart instantly break. You don't know why he's telling you this when you only met him today, but hearing the story of his and Monty's bond is hard to ignore.

"Cryus...I-I don't know what to say..." He chuckled sadly, looking at you. "You don't have to say anything, Newbie....what's in the past is done, and now what I can try to do to lift his spirits is clean, clean, and clean....thank you for your help, Y/n, but, I think we should cut training today short." Your eyes widened with surprise. "A-Are you sure? We still have a lot to do-" Cyrus smirked. "Go home; night shift people will take care of the Daycare area tonight, just as long as you're ready to clean again tomorrow, alright?" Watching him get up, you were confused at first but understood since the Situation and tension were high right now; no, you nodded in agreement. "Alright, but at least let me finish up here; there are just some holes I need to patch up." He snorted at your stubbornness. "You don't quit, do you?" Shrugging, you smirked. "What can I say? You hired a germaphobe." Shaking his head with a smile, he rummaged through his pockets before throwing you something. "Alright, here." Catching it, you looked to see it was a pair of keys. "Monty's room will need to be locked when you are done; he rarely goes in here, so you don't have to worry about him coming in anytime soon." You nodded again. "Alright...thanks." "Just, when you're done, give the keys to Gregory; we don't want anything happening if those keys are found by kids or teens, okay, Newbie?"

Saluting to him, your face went cute. "Yes, sir!" He cringed. "Just finish up you doof." And with that, Cyrus left you in Montie's room.

Looking around and out of windows to see if no one was coming, your body turned, looking at Monty's broken yet elegant guitar.

Hearing his story replay in your head caused your heart to break while staring at it more, as your hands gently grasped the large instrument.

You play a little guitar at home, and you had a fair share of broken instruments, special ones. So hearing that story, knowing Monty's pain and anger, it's like looking in a mirror.

Everyone has bad days, but this Monty has been dealing with a lot of them for many bad days.

Yes, you are a Janitor, and Yes, you shouldn't be thinking this, and yes, it's only your first day, but if you were going to work here forever, you might as well start building a relationship with your co-workers and even the glam rocks. Feeling the guitar, every inch, string, and flaw this machine has, you knew exactly how to fix it. "Alright, Monty, you suffered enough days of anger......Now..."

"It's time to make things right."

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Monty's guitar :)

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

What is reader was pregnant at the end of summer nights? Love your writer. I wake up and check your blog every day for new chapters 🩵🩵🩵

Consequence

Warnings: unwanted pregnancy, threats, intimidation, allusions to rape, unedited.

Please provide thoughts and feedback! I had fun doing this and hope to do some more in response to your guys’ asks! Thank you for all your support. 💜

Your shift at the hardware store couldn’t end soon enough. You hike your purse onto your shoulder as you walk out the automatic doors, your stomach rotting and knotted. You’ve felt sick all morning. Your coffee burned like acid going down and you only finished half the stale bagel you found in your mother’s kitchen.

Sleep’s been just as difficult. You can’t seem to get comfortable. Your anxiety keeps you up and a sense of restlessness underlined with dread. The thoughts you keep running from will catch up with you one day.

You pass the pharmacy, glancing through the window at the big poster advertising compression socks. You stop at the other end of the facade and hesitate. You sidle back and stare at another display, pink and white and worrying.

You laugh at yourself. No. You’re just paranoid.

Still, you make yourself go inside. You wander the aisles until you find what you’re looking for. You look up and down the row self-consciously then bag to the shelf. Does it matter which one you get? This one says early detection. And it’s fucking expensive. Does it really have to cost so much to be sure?

Fuck it. For your peace of mind. You may actually get a full night’s sleep if you put this behind you once and for all.

You go to the counter and refuse to look directly at the cashier. You pay, more than you want to, you leave with the test in a paper bag. As you walk down the street, a car door opens behind you. The driver feeds the meter as you distract yourself with the shop windows.

Before you can turn down the path, you hear your name and hand tugs you back. You spin in horror at the voice you never wanted to hear again. You try to wrench away from Andy as he looks at you, a furrow between his brows as he clings to you in desperation.

“Hey,” he says, “can we talk?”

“Get off– what are you– how–” you sputter in confusion.

He lets you go and raises his hand defensively.

“I don’t like how things ended–”

“Don’t like– I didn’t like any of it. Get away from me.”

He flinches and exhales heavily, “you’ve been ignoring my calls. Just hear me out–”

“No,” you spin and stomp away, “there’s nothing to hear.”

He follows you and you speed up, trying to evade him as you hurry down the path. He snags your wrist and the force of it causes the bag to slip from your grasp. It hits the pavement and the contents spill out, the box rolling out from under the receipt.

Andy’s hand stays firm on your arm as you both look down. You feel his grip slacken and you rip away from him. You quickly bend to scramble up your stuff. As you stand he lets out a shudder.

“You’re pregnant?” He asks.

You cringe and swallow, “I don’t know.”

“Oh,” he seems startled, “well… if you are–”

“If I am,” you insist, “it’s none of your business.”

“It is exactly my business,” he retorts.

“Fuck off,” you snarl. “Go home. You already have a child, you don’t need another.”

You evade him as he reaches for you once again. He doesn’t persist as a family comes down the other side of the path with a stroller. Fuck, what a wonderful foreboding coincidence. You pump your arms and furiously march away.

Of all days for him to show up…

How long has he been planning this? Has he been watching you? Those questions rattle in your mind but are quickly muted by the biggest one of all. The one in your hand. Did you really fuck up that bad?

💜

You stare at the two lines. Your heart drops. No. No. God! He already fucked you up so bad, why this? Why? Fuck!

You shove the test off the counter and into the bin. You pace back and forth in a panic, head swelling as the world pulses around you. You can’t do this. You already have your mind made up. You can’t keep it. You refuse to. You don’t want any part of him around you.

“Hey, where are ya?” Your mother hollers up the stairs.

“Mom, I’m busy,” you shout back.

“Not too busy to get your ass down here. Now!”

Shit. You know that tone. You fucked up something. You roll your eyes and rip open the bathroom door. You barrel downstairs and stop as your mother stands smoking by the front door. A large figure fills the frame. Does he not give up?

“I always knew you were up to no good,” your mother accuses.

“What?” You snip, “mom, tell him to go away–”

“No wonder you’ve been shorting me on rent,” she spits back, “you ain’t showing up for work.”

“What are you talking about? You just ask Bert–” You snarl and swallow your anger, directing it instead at your unwelcome visitor, “Andy, go away.”

“Don’t you talk to him like that. You’re not quittin’ this one, honey,” your mother taps ash onto the carpet, “the man’s being nice so you go out and figure this all out. You’re not living in my house if you’re not working–”

“Mom, he’s not–”

“Deal with it,” she crushes the cigarette in the overflowing tray beside the door and stomps off.

You shake your head, “Andy, just go.”

“Please, come outside.”

“No.”

“Do you really want to have this conversation in here?” He challenges.

You roll your eyes and wave him out. He retreats and you follow him, quickly pulling the door shut. You’re already pissed at him.

“What the hell? You told my mom you’re what? My boss? I already have to deal with enough–”

“Well, what could I say? I figured the truth wouldn’t exactly be great.”

“Which truth? The one where you raped me–”

“Sweetie, no, I didn’t–”

“Enough. I’m not telling you again. Go away and leave me alone. I never wanted this. I never wanted you or a baby or–”

“Baby? You took the test?” He asks wispily.

You close your eyes and drop your head back. You hate him. You hate this. You hate everything about your life.

“I’m not keeping it, alright?”

“You’re not– that’s not your choice–”

“It is. You don’t get to take this one from me.”

“It’s mine. My child.”

“Oh, fuck off, look at Jacob. You really another one?”

“Yeah, actually, I’d like to do it right. Sweetie, I can take care of you and the baby. I will. You can get away from here,” he glances over at the stained siding of your mother’s pigsty, “you don’t have to live like this.”

“And you think I want to live with you?” You bark.

“Do you have any other option? Really?”

“Yeah, I do. I’d rather rot in filth.”

His jaw grits and his veneer falls. He puts his hands on his hips.

“We’ll see about that,” he snarls. “I am the father, I get a say.”

“You’re a monster,” you sneer.

He glares at you. He lets out a breath and tilts his head until his neck cracks.

“Only if that’s what you make me be,” he flicks his fingers at you dismissively, “and you have no idea what sort of prick I can really be.”

[trancylovecraft]

(AOEX) The Blood Of An Unwilling Covenant

PART 4 OF 8: Iblis & Egyn

(Yandere Platonic Demon Kings (Ba'al) x Reader)

SERIES SUMMARY:

BARISTA'S NOTE: OK SO THIS ONES PRETTY LONG BUT UHHHHHH GENDER: Femme FANDOM: Blue Exorcist

☀☾☁☂★☀☾☁☂★☀☾☁☂★☀☾☁☂★☀☾☁☂★☀☾☁☂★☀☾☁☂★☀☾☁☂★

LAST PART ,AO3 LINK, SERIES MASTERLIST, NEXT PART

[F/N] zipped open her bag, The fastener running down the side of the main compartment.

It was the early morning, Daylight streaming in from the open window of the room and shining down onto the old shaggy carpet. Highlighting the rugged mess of the blueberry faux fur.

The alabaster closet door was open ajar, Letting the pile of used clothing and toys with a film of dust spill out from the innards. Posters were spread across the wall, Several titles of TV show names and boy bands imprinted on the colourful paper.

[F/N] sat atop the neatly made bed surrounded by the fluff of her floral duvet. Her pillows sat tidy against the mahogany head of the bed, The bunk itself was surrounded by furniture of the same make. A desk by the open window and two bed stands filled with trinkets and trophies she'd earned from her school.

[F/N] shoved the scooby-doo torch into the backpack, It was an old maroon that she had gotten years ago on her first day of school. It was small, Straps digging into her shoulders but it was enough to hold the contents inside and good enough for her mission.

"Food.. Check! Torch.. Check! Camera.. Check!" [F/N] said as she counted the contents of the items laying inside the backpack. Sifting through everything she had and will need as her finger brushed against fibre inside the bag.

Pulling it out halfway, She smiled.

"Folder.. Check!" [F/N] grinned as she shoved it back into a holster compartment inside, Fastening it tight. The folder she had gained only a month ago, What she had held so tightly then could've never braced her for what was inside.

Demons, She had hit a jackpot. The folder had contained so much information and words she didn't understand that she had to spend an extra few hours in the library sifting through a thesaurus.

Late at night under a swing arm light, She had spent days upon days deciphering and reading the words inscribed in the files. But once she had understood and read everything a second time, She struck gold.

The contents of the file made her feel less guilty about the dying man she had encountered a while back, As what was outlined in the details told her of awful acts assumedly committed by the man.

It spoke of some strange organisation, One of which name she didn't recognise in the slightest but the atrocities they were implied to have committed were all she needed to know.

She didn't read much into it, She hadn't the stomach after that night in the graveyard. But from what little she did she know, Something evil was going on somewhere. Something that was brewing-

And something that could help her with Tetsuya.

[F/N] zipped up her bag, Hopping up from her perch on the bed and flinging the straps around her shoulders. What she had read was about demons, Not speaking of any hypothesis but talking as if they were the norm: An everyday thing!

Her camera, If she was able to picture proof of demonic existence then she would be proven right. The file wasn't useful as it was only words and the pictures in there were horrific, And worst of all had no demons in them.

It also said something about a laboratory, One a few hours away from where she was staying in the city of Sendai.

[F/N] knew what she had to do, What she needed to do.

And what a beautiful day it was to do it to!

The warm summers day, The streaming light that illuminated the dust drifting through the air. It was like a lovers embrace, Inviting and welcoming into it's hold. It tickled at the skin of anyone under it, Teasing just like a partner would too.

[F/N]'s feet hit the rug. Tattered sneakers tied into lopsided bunny ears as she turned round the bend of her bed, Making her way towards the door on the right side of the room.

She passed by the wrinkled certificates and chipped gold of her literacy trophies, Ignoring the common bugs squirming around atop them. Infestation as always, Wood starting to rot just a little bit as well.

Though, she stopped.

The open closet door, The alabaster paint of the shutters chipping but that wasn't what she was focused on. Instead, It was the shine of the sunlight reflecting off the dandelion raincoat left hooked inside.

[F/N] stared at the old coat, Visions of his face coming back to her. It was the only thing she had ever gotten back from evidence, Once covered in his blood and covered more in the memories of their time together.

She turned towards it, Stepping forward as she peeled back the creaky doorway of the closet. It was so near her now, The faded stains of dirt and grain still present as she felt her fingers brush up against the yellow Tyvek.

"Tetsu..'" [F/N] muttered as she unhooked it from the hanger it was draped from, Tyvek caressed within her fingers so delicately that it may as well of been floating. She smiled holding it tight.

It was so oversized on him back then, Sleeves drooping down near to his ankles and still ruffled to high hell. But now as she grew and matured it fit perfectly on someone like her now..

Fit perfectly.

[F/N] smiled, Knowing what to do.

Her fingers wrapped around the chip-paint doorknob her hand turned, Ready to leave the stuffiness of her bedroom. This was it! This was the start of her mission, To avenge Tetsuya and to vindicate her of a-

"[F/N]."

[F/N] stopped dead in her tracks. Swinging the door open just in time to meet the folded arms of Mrs. Ono, The counsellor.

[F/N] blinked, Stumbling back a few steps in surprise at the new arrival. Mrs. Ono stood there in her pristine elephant-grey suit, Carmen tie and bun neatly done into their usual appearance of perfection.

Her red-rimmed devil-horn glasses obscured the emerald hues of her eyes staring down at her accusingly, Not so different from a disappointed kindergarten teacher as [F/N] was caught red-handed.

"..Mrs. Ono." [F/N] greeted lowly as she started to shift in her spot, Nervously twiddling her fingers as she was scrutinized under the gaze of the older woman.

She looked [F/N] up and down, Spying the yellow raincoat and hood she was darning and recognising it well. Eyes lighting up in realisation.

"That's a nice raincoat, [F/N]." She greeted slightly, Nodding which [F/N] returned in kind. It was unspoken, But there was nothing that needed to be said as it was all spoken from the glint in the iris. She shrugged.

"Thanks.." [F/N] muttered.

"I was just coming to see how you were doing, Check in on you since you haven't been out of your room much but.. It seems like you're going to be proving me wrong, Aren't you young lady?" Ono said as she eyed her up and down, Spotting the Velcro straps of her backpack.

[F/N] shrugged uncomfortably, Squirming around under the hot scrutiny of Mrs. Ono. The chances of getting caught by her right now, [F/N] groaned. She should've just gone through the window.

"Well?" Ono urged as her folded arms were firm and stance unwavering. [F/N] grasped the straps of her merlot backpack, Tongue pushing at the back in her teeth as she tried to find an excuse.

"..I'm just going off to the library in town. Summer's almost over and I'm going to start studying early, You know how I am with maths.." [F/N] laughed half-heartedly, Boldly making the move to go around her.

But the firm grasp of a hand on her shoulder was enough to hold her in place, [F/N] glancing up nervously towards those red-rims.

"Then I suppose you have your textbooks in your bag, Yes? Do you mind giving me a quick look inside your bag?" Mrs. Ono inquired, A request that made [F/N] bite her tongue: She had been caught.

[F/N] groaned like a toddler, Stamping her foot onto the half-way rugged carpet flooring of her bedroom and the polished wood of the hallway. Her fists balled on the straps, Knuckles cracking as she felt her teenage hormones start to boil.

"Whatever! Why do you care where I'm going? Just let me past, I've got stuff to do!" [F/N] whined, Throwing her fists down to her side in a petulant annoyance. Ono blinked, Straightening up her glasses on the bridge of her nose.

Though, She leaned forward. If her eyes weren't prying before, They were like an analyst's now.

"[F/N].. Don't think I don't know about your ventures out of the centre.." Ono started, Voice now a hushed whisper "I know about your visits to town or the forest, I know that you leave a pillow dummy in your bed late at night when you do."

[F/N] scoffed, Hating the way she started to shrink under her gaze so she tried to raise her shoulders and puff up her chest to look bigger, Getting in her face. She talked like she knew what she was going through, Knew every detail of her life and so much more.

She was talking like she knew her.

"So what..?! Yeah I like long walks at night, I like running around in the forest. Why should you care, It's not like you're my mother!" [F/N] snapped, Stomping her foot down and near yelling in her face which made her jerk back in surprise.

Mrs. Ono's face fell, Weathered wrinkles dropping from the hems of her visage as she stepped back from her.

Ono sighed, Ruby painted lips turning a frown.

"I try to be, [F/N].. " She breathed, Shaking her head she stepped forward. [F/N] felt Ono's hands move to her shoulders. [F/N] shuddered, But a comforting squeeze settled her as she came eye to eye with her emerald ones.

Staring deep, Sunlight reflecting of her glasses.

"I want to be someone you look up to. I want to be the person who you can count on because I care for you." Ono exasperated. "You're a good kid, You just do bad things because you have no one to tell you they're bad."

[F/N]'s lips curled up into a snarl, Barely controlling the respiration of her lungs as she tried to stop the grinding of her teeth. A natural reaction, One [F/N] couldn't stop but was helped by the small circular motions of the counsellors thumb rubbing into her shoulder.

Mrs. Ono clicked her tongue, Looking down for only a moment while she collected her thoughts.

"You go out late at night and I find myself staying up waiting for you to come back, To hear your window slide open. With all the crime and cruelty in the world.. I fear that one day I may never get to hear the shutters of your window ever again." Ono whispered, And if [F/N] didn't know better she could've thought there were tears brimming at her eyes.

[F/N]'s head dropped down, Drooping from her neck as she suddenly became interested in the vans she was kicking in. All this information new to her, Not aware of the way the woman kept an ear out for her at night.

Who else would ever do that for her? Not the other staff, Not the practitioners who came in or the other kids who seemed to enraptured within their own storylines to ever care. Who else in this world would ever care that much?

Tetsuya, That's who would.

Nights when they made pillow forts in each others rooms that they snuck into. The way they'd sneak into the centres kitchens at night and raid the cupboards filled with snacks only meant for 'Friday Golden Time', Now enjoyed by them anytime they wanted.

A smile near cracked her face, Remembering the way he use to push her around and she to him. His laugh so foreign now, You never know how much you desperately try to grasp at memories of them until they're gone. Faces muddling and voices warbling into nothing but a faint summer daydream.

Gone in the breeze, Drifting so far away from her.

That's why she was doing this, That's why she had to do this. And she might as well die trying.

"..You're not my mother, You never will be." [F/N] spat, Head still dropped to it's valley as she did.

The hands on her shoulders lightened, Fingers slipping from her high shoulders and leaving her body. Mrs. Ono stepped back as she watched [F/N] start to tense, The opposite for her as she felt her body deflate.

[F/N] wasn't done however, Finally raising her head to reveal the veins popping at her temple and the bared teeth in her maw. Anger rising to a peak, Still feeling so small within her presence.

"Stop trying to be someone you're not! I've never needed a mother figure in my life and I never will, So just leave me alone okay?! I don't need you to look out for me cause I can do it myself!" [F/N] yelled, Saliva spitting out from her throat as she slammed a foot forward. Nose scrunching up in disgust.

Mrs. Ono jolted away from the sheer volume of her voice, Echoes trailing down the empty hallway. [F/N]'s scream died to nothing but stunned silence, Echoes falling to a halt as her jaw finally closed shut.

[F/N]'s shoulders fell, Fists uncurling and flopping down to her sides as she seen the counsellors face look dejected.

Her eyes were crestfallen and her mouth turned up into a quiet yet somehow screaming smile. [F/N]'s face fell along with hers, Realising what she had done as she went back to awkwardly standing in place.

[F/N] opened her mouth to speak, But was interrupted.

"..Alright. I understand." Ono started, Her voice quiet as she nodded her head.

[F/N] shook her head back and forth, Mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water as she tried to find the words to say.

"I.. It's fine I'll stay here tod-"

"No, You should go. If it means this much to you then I think you should go out, Adventure or whatever you do during the day. I wont stop you, Just.." Ono trailed off, Voice dying into a silent whisper.

Her eyes met [F/N]'s for a second, That shine on her devil-horned glasses faded to nothing but an afterglow.

"Please, Try to stay safe." Mrs. Ono smiled, Such a melancholy little one at that. So much so that it made [F/N]'s heart clench, Juices squeezing out from the pores in the organ as she looked at the woman with guilty eyes.

Mrs. Ono said her goodbyes, A little wave of her hand to show off the painted red of her nails and the clean cut of her cuffs. She bowed once before turning away from her, Meandering down the hallway with the clacks of her glossy rose heels.

[F/N] could only watch the back of her head, Not able to see her expression as she left down the hallway. She wanted to say something, To apologise or to make up for what she had said but when she tried to open her mouth there was nothing to say.

By the time she could make a coherent sentence, Mrs. Ono was gone. Off to do her job and her duties that she was paid to do.

"..I'm sorry.." [F/N] whispered, Voice muddling in with her breath as she turned away. The bus tickets shoved into the back pockets of her jeans were waiting for her, It didn't matter anymore she supposed.

[F/N] turned away, Trying to shove the shame deep down into the pits of her mind. She sighed, Finally stepping foot out into the hallway.

She had a job to do and she was going to do it. The camera was still in her bag, The folder too. There was nothing left to do as she sauntered off down the hallway, Off to catch her bus at the nearby station.

☆♡☆

"Thank you, Sir!"

[F/N] called out to the bus driver, Soles of her vans hitting the gravelly pathway as she hopped off the bus stairs.

The mechanicals doors moved shut, Glass panes showing the driver revving the engine once more before he pressed down on the pedal. [F/N] stood idly by the roadside, Grass tickling at her bare ankles as she watched the bus travel away down the pathway.

It got smaller and smaller as it went, Disappearing on the blue horizon with her eyes enraptured on its departure.

[F/N] gripped the straps of her leather brown back-pack, Pulling it cosy over her shoulders. The day was cool with the wind dusting the far plains, Brushing against her skin and making the strands of hair on her head wave with it.

She stood in the middle of nowhere, In some rundown bus-station with no other passengers that got off with her. It was evident by the street-signs chipped paint, Rusted metal bar holding it up and the wooden bench beside it half-collapsed onto the dirt.

Sprigs and ferns growing wild, Grass tall and unruly that hid the thousands of pebbles scattered within the fertile soil it grew from. The road sat atop what could've been called a miniature arête, The plains not being so flat more than hilly.

Tree's of oak and spruce coupled in clusters, Standing high like landmarks for her to get back from. It was messy yet beautiful, The air much more pure here than it was back at the suburbia she was accustomed to.

It filled her lungs, Taking it in with a deep breath. The furthest she had ever been from that place she had been defined to call home.

"Wow.." [F/N] muttered as she watched the fluffy white of the picturesque clouds above move at their turtle's pace, Knowing how far they'd get in only a few hours. But she wasn't here to cloud gaze or enjoy the wildlife, She was here for one reason and one reason only.

She shifted the bag on her back to be just a little more sturdy, Settling the straps in place before her hand reached behind her to plunge into the semi-opened zipper.

From what she could tell, She was in the right place. The file she had spent many sleepless nights studying outlined a sort of laboratory supposedly in this area. It had coordinates but [F/N] was unable to read them well, Only being able to make out the general location which she thinks was here.

Fishing around and sliding out the file from it's holster, She opened up the cream front to find the coordinates and neon-yellow sticky notes she had attached to it. They labelled her bus route and where she should go from there.

Google maps was a useful tool, God bless technology! [F/N] using the library computers to get a birds eye view of the area and a general layout. And as she came to find to her suprise, Was what seemed to be listed as a 'Makeup Manafacturing and testing facility' Bullshit, [F/N] thought.

The shoes that were planted in the grained soil lifted as she started walking along the side of the road, Finding a good place to go down the hill. The brand that was advertised on the google maps icon was virtually non-existent.

Not to mention that the name "Illuminate Cosmetics" was listed in the file, The one which she closed and shuffled back in her backpack before carefully scampering down the rocky-hill roadside, Kicking into the ankle-high grass with the momentum.

It didn't take long for her to take off in the general direction of where those coordinate's were suppose to take her, Easily stomping and flattening grass along the way. From what [F/N] believed: It was a front for some demon-oriented organization, One where they did horribly sick things to actual human beings.

She headed in the direction the google maps logo had popped up on, Just a bit beside and behind the bus station. That was another thing, What kind of manufacturing facility is placed in the middle of nowhere? With no roads or pathways for the employee's?

Fishy, Definetly as she passed by the thickening of the pine tree's. She hopped over rocks and swerved around shallow dirt ledges in the crossing of plains to forest. [F/N] didn't know if she was going in the right direction, But as the smell of searing chemicals started to tickle at the edge of her nose: [F/N] knew she must've been getting close.

The forest got thicker along with the scent of clinical pollutants and contaminants. [F/N] tried her best not to let it sting at her eyes and let hot tears fall from them. It was only once she had gotten to the core of it, Could she hear the arguing.

"Ugh! You're still watching that filth when you're on the job? Lady Iblis gave you her absolute command to keep watch, Put that phone away!"

"Oh, Don't worry I'm watching something alright. No need to be so pent up, Amon."

"..Pent up? Was that another one of your foul jokes?!"

"Possibly."

The sides of [F/N]'s nose upturned, Eyebrows furrowing in what only could've been described as irritated confusion. It sounded like a normal salaryman and for some reason an English Tudor arguing over someone called Iblis, Bizarre it was as she dashed behind a ferned bush.

"You are impossible to work with! How our lady lets you continue to stay on guard confuses me!" The Tudor proclaimed and as [F/N] quietly rustled the bush branches away from her face, She could finally see what he looked like.

He was nothing like the English Tudor he expected him to be. Well.. he had the flair but he looked straight out of ancient Egypt instead. He was of darker complexion with gold and necklaced beads ringing around his bare neck and chest, The feminine-looking hieroglyph only boldening her ancient impression.

Not to mention the cream-cloth draped around his waist to act as baggy trousers, Or the ankle and wrist bracelets made out of some kind of precious stone. His belts, His dark half-cut hair that faded into blonde and the rather modern leather jacket he wore all made one thought go through her head:

Yeah, This guy is fucking nutty.

The man beside him spoke up.

"Wow, Are you really doubting Lady Iblis' decision of keeping me on guard? I expected better of you, Amon." The man said and as [F/N]'s eyes wandered over to him. She raised a brow at his appearanc.

Unlike "Amon", This guy was exactly who he sounded to be. A salaryman was what he was with his clean cut suit and slicked back hair, Appearance all completed with his dark-rimmed glasses placed upon his chiseled and admittedly handsome face.

But the way he sat, Crouched down like an animal with a cell-phone gripped tightly in his hand. It made a shiver go through [F/N]'s smile, Especially the kind smile that showed no teeth.

He was disturbing, But [F/N] just couldn't put a finger on why.

Amon gasped rather dramatically at the accusation the other man made, Body jerking around to snarl at the crouched man as his fingers curled up into fists.

"Asmodeus, How dare you hang our Great Lady's words over me! You should know better, You disgust me!" Amon declared to the now named Asmodeus, Who in turn just smiled wider with that kind grin and continued to scroll on his phone.

"Whatever you say." He replied in short, Which only seemed to make Amon more mad.

[F/N] leaned over a little bit more from where she was hiding behind the bush. Peeking over the side to see that the two men were actually standing guard in front of a doorway to what looked to be a large building.

[F/N] smiled.

Jackpot.

She had found the facility. The clinically white doors were the only things seen throughout the density of the high forest. The rest of it was hidden behind the thick leaves and logs of the tree's, But [F/N] could tell it was huge.

These two that were fronting the door must've been the guards then, Though [F/N] questioned the garbs and get-ups of them. What kind of security dresses like an ancient Egyptian and an everyday salaryman? It didn't make sense.

And who this "Iblis" was, That was another thing that confused her. But it didn't matter as her eyes scanned the outside of the building, Seeing the metal it was made out of before she saw the metal shutters of the vent.

[F/N] steeled her nerves, Only now noticing the rapid beating of her heart. Her hand moved to Tetsuya's raincoat, The yellow Tyvek being a comfort as she caressed it in her hands and shuffled it tighter on her shoulders.

The raincoat, It calmed her down. It still smelt of rainwater and cut grass, An after shower morning day was what she was brought back to. It soothed her as she started to move back from where she was hidden in the bush.

The men were still arguing at the doorway, Mostly Amon chastising the other man while he browsed porn sites. [F/N] tried not to sarcastically puke as she heard the moans of some girl coming from his phone.

The vent, It was located on the wall beside the doorway. If she snuck around just right without any noise then she could easily undo the screws, She had came prepared with the tools of course.

Passing by rocks, Pushing past ferns and herbs she was about to pass the men.

"Disgraceful! What is it that those men are doing to that woman?! Does she not have any dignity?!" Amon exclaimed as her peered over to look at Asmodeus' phone, Eyes wide with his dark eyeliner crinkling.

"Oh. So this is what human beings call 'Bukkake', It's basically when-" "Shush!" Amon suddenly slapped a hand over Asmodeus' mouth, Cutting off his explanation as they suddenly fell silent. [F/N] paused, She was sat still and silent with the vent only a few feet away from her.

The faint rustle of the wind in the leaves was the only thing she heard, Even the video playing on Asmodeus' phone was cut off. Her eyes widening, The beating of her thundering heart felt so loud in her chest that she thought it would give her away.

Amon stood there, Head held high as he seemingly sniffed at the air like a dog. His hand was still on Asmodeus' mouth, Of which looked up to his peer in slight confusion. [F/N] swallowed back the saliva in her mouth, Could she have been caught?

No, She couldn't! She hadn't made any noise and she was concealed within the shrubbery well. There was no way! And her nerves were calmed as Amon signalled the other to get up and move in the other direction.

Asmodeus surprisingly did as he was told, Putting his hands on his knee's and pushing up to stand at his full towering height. Amon pointed over somewhere else, Asmodeus nodded and they took off in that direction.

[F/N] watched as they went, The drumming of her beating heart being her only company now as she sighed in relief.

A hand grappled onto the canary hood of her raincoat, She screamed as the hand pulled her forward and dragged her out of the bushes.

She was met with the glare of broad daylight, The sun burning into her retinas as she was forced to look back at it. Thrown onto her back, [F/N] sputtered out as she hit the trimmed grass of the clearing.

"Look what we have here!"

A shadow cast over [F/N], The blinding glare in her eyes fading as she came face to face with Amon. He looked down at her with a snarl and folded arms, Golden eyes glaring into her's with the same intensity of the raging inferno of the sun as he looked at her.

[F/N] gulped, Eyes wide as their irises met.

"Aah! I'm sorry!" She yelped as it was the only thing she could come up with as she met with the surprisingly intimidating man. [F/N] tried to back up, Push herself away on the dirt while her eyes still locked onto him.

But she yelped as she felt her back hit the shins of Asmodeus, Somehow managing to stab his foot into her lower back, Making her yelp.

"Aha, It's some mortal kid. Wonder how they got all the way out here- You wanna tell us where you came from?" Asmodeus responded as he looked down at her, Casting a huge shadow with his bulky frame.

"I.. Erm-"

"Ugh! She was almost past us you idiot! If you didn't distract me with those vulgar videos I would've been able to sense her from miles away!" Amon suddenly chided Asmodeus, Directing his anger up to his colleague.

"Oh come on, When are you going to get off my case. It's no big deal!" Asmodeus said as he looked back up at him from behind the dark rims of his glasses, Closed eyes saying everything he needed to with the same unbothered smile.

Amon scoffed.

"No way, You almost disobeyed Lady Iblis once again!" He exclaimed.

"I am in service to Lady Iblis just as much as you are, Amon. So in my personal opinion, I think that she wouldn't appreciate you using her name as an excuse, I just got this body and it's in the triple digits that you've said her name today." Asmodeus explained.

Amon's jaw dropped dramatically, Eyes following in expanding to saucers as he started berating the other man.

[F/N] on the other hand was caught in between and confused by their words. "Just got this body?" "Mortal?". Could they be demons? As the thought entered her head she instantly brushed it off.

Demons had horns, Talons and claws. They had cat-eyed pupils and their teeth were like scissors ready to tear into flesh like paper, These men may have been weird but from her eyes there was none of that to be seen.

..Seen, She couldn't see it.

But she watched as they bickered, Still surrounding her like a pack of hyena's yet their attention was fully focused on arguing with the other. [F/N]'s eyes darted back and forth with each remark, Hands still firmly pressed into the grass she was collapsed on.

"For days on end, I am tired of hearing human women mewl like cats in heat from your cellular device! Only now has it negatively affected your duties by letting some mortal child almost pass!" Amon complained, Pointing an accusing finger at Asmodeus.

"Calm down, She wouldn't of gotten past us either way. I really think you need to start consorting with some women, Who knows? You might enjoy it." Asmodeus responded calmly.

This only seemed to make Amon all the more angrier.

"Why you-"

"Honestly? You were pretty distracted."

Both demons instantly jerked their head around to look at her, A bead of sweat running down [F/N]'s brow as she physically felt her audacity grow to the size of a beluga whale.

Asmodeus' smile grew just a bit wider as he looked down at her, That disturbing chill spilling down her spine only grew as he eyed her.

"Distracted, You really have the confidence to agree with him? You don't even know what trouble you're in, Do you?" Asmodeus remarked as he leaned down closer to her, Which made her shy away from him even more.

[F/N] gulped.

"Y-Yeah.. I mean if your friend and his sharp instincts wasn't able to catch me, I'd already of passed through. You're lucky he's so attentive." [F/N] sputtered out under his judging gaze, Squirming like a bug under his shoe as she locked eyes with him.

Asmodeus grinned, But before he was able to say anything more-

"At least someone understands the importance of keeping watch!" Amon exclaimed, A proud yet somehow cruel smile appearing on his face as leered down towards her. "You could learn some manners from this one, Even though they are only some puny human child." [F/N] sighed silently, It had worked.

"Wow, You really have some guts for a child… That's certainly amusing." Asmodeus remarked yet that chill down her spine never let go. His hands which had unusually long nails weaved back and forth between his fingers, Almost flaunting them to her.

[F/N] shuddered before she spoke.

"I mean- He was the one that caught me, It was really impressive how fast you were able to drag me out here. You must be incredibly strong to of done that!" [F/N] praised as she looked up at the Egyptian man from the floor with the best genuine eyes she could fake.

Amon smiled, Toothy grin proud and prideful as he looked back at her.

"Aha! You notice my power, How observant of you!" He beamed. "I'll have you know that I am the sun king, Amon! One of the highest kin under our Lady Iblis!" Amon flaunted, Almost pushing out his bare chest and flexing the semi-built muscles in his arms.

[F/N] knew what he wanted, She also knew that he was batshit insane. The Sun King? Seriously? [F/N] also thinks she may have heard a few kids call themselves that in their minature roleplays at the playground.

She gulped however, If that was the case then she just needed to play along.

"S-Seriously? That's so cool! No wonder you were able to get to me then, 'Lady Iblis' must be really glad to have someone like you serving her!" [F/N] continued, Eyes still locked onto his proud gold as his grin got impossibly bigger.

"Hah! I can say I've taken a liking to you! For a mere mortal child, You certainly know your place below me as an inferior..! Unlike a certain someone.." Amon trailed off as he raised his vision to meet Asmodeus.

Asmodeus, In turn, Raised a brow.

"..Aren't we suppose to be mutilating this kid for getting too close to the base?" He said casually, Phone still in hand as [F/N] almost felt her heart explode in her chest. Lip bitten and breath held in her lungs, Her eyes burned into The Sun King's stature.

Amon blinked, Prideful smile dropping.

[F/N]'s eyes widened in anticipation, Mutilation, They couldn't possibly do that to her..! They couldn't.. They.. Her story couldn't end here! Not when she hadn't gotten her answers, Not now!

Though, Amon scoffed and scowled at his peer.

"You were also suppose to be keeping guard, Weren't you? Keep your mouth shut and I won't inform Lady Iblis of your incompetence! Besides, Our lady simply said to keep people out and I am doing as such by keeping a close eye on this one!" Amon proclaimed and [F/N] could physically feel herself melt into the grass and let out the biggest sigh of her life.

"Alright then, Whatever you say." Asmodeus replied, Seemingly taking it easy as he whipped out his phone from his pocket and started to walk away back to his guarding spot. [F/N] sighed, Relieved that he seemed to be lower in status than the nutjob still leering over her.

Oh, Right.

[F/N] snapped her neck up to look at the looming shadow still cast over her, Despite the dark she could see that the man's smile was as bright and as arrogant as it first and always was.

"Now! It's time for you to come with me and make sure you don't get past our guard, Perhaps you can inform me more of how strong I am!" Amon grinned.

This was going to be a long day.

☆♡☆

What was up with [F/N] and her penchant for attracting nutjobs?

First it was the encounter with Johann Faust's bizarre younger brother, The boy who chewed tobacco and hung from streetlights like a bat. Next it was the violent drunkard she had met at Tetsuya's grave, The man who had a lunch bag over his head and just happened to have a file detailing a conspiracy inside.

Now it was the self-proclaimed Sun King Amon, The man who she was sat uncomfortably inside his basketed legs. [F/N] wondered if she really was cursed, If she just had some horrid luck or maybe something else..

"I killed him and severed his tail with my vessel's own two hands! He begged for mercy but for insulting me? Of course I couldn't let it go!" Amon continued on with his story. [F/N], Sat in-between his basketed legs had already learned to tune him out in favour of her own thoughts.

Him, Being much taller than her had already caged her in with his body. He seemed to enjoy her meaningless praise so he sat her where she could say it best, Not even a foot away from him with his arms caged around her mid-section.

"So I had to cut his tongue out as-well! He couldn't beg much after that!" [F/N] was uneasy as he continued to drone on about whatever story he had made up today, She needed to figure out a way out of here.

Asmodeus was sat crouched a bit away from them, Eyes glued to his phone as lewd noises erupted from the device. [F/N] wanted to plug her ears but Amon wouldn't take that well, So she just had to endure.

"Wow.. And what did you do after that?" Fortunately for her however, The vent that she had spotted was just a bit around the corner from where they were sat. She just needed to figure out some excuse to get over there.

Amon smiled at her "interest"

"I strung him up to a rock and got one of my demons to peck out his liver! A fitting punishment for messing with our lady, You agree?" Amon asked and [F/N] blinked, Looking up at him.

"Oh.. Yeah, Yeah.. Sounds nasty." [F/N] said absentmindedly, Still enraptured within her own thoughts to have heard what he said. Amon's smile instantly dropped as he looked down at her.

"Were you not listening to me..?" He asked slowly and [F/N] felt herself return to the situation, Beads of sweat already starting to line her brow as she chided herself for being absent in the head.

"Oh.. Erm.. It's just.." [F/N] trailed off as her eyes were locked onto Amon's, Whose brow seemed to get more furrowed by the second. [F/N] gulped.

"I just need to use the bathroom, Sorry. I can't really focus so.. I was wondering if you could let me go do my business in the forest.. If that's okay with you- Oh Great Sun King." [F/N] added on quickly, Lightly nodding her head in a bow.

Amon opened his mouth, Lips parting from his frown. But before he could answer, His peer spoke up. Or rather laughed.

"He He He! She probably wants to leave cause of how exaggerated that story is" Asmodeus chuckled, Eyes still glued to his phone. Amon scoffed.

"Oh yeah? And how would you know?" He retorted.

"Because I was the one chained to the rock, And for the record: I was the one who cut out your tongue, You really need to get your memory checked." Asmodeus replied, Pausing the porn he was watching to look over at him. Amon in turn, Gawked.

"I exaggerate nothing!"

"You do, It just doesn't feel like it because exaggeration usually makes a story interesting." Asmodeus replied, Tilting his head in an innocent yet knowing gesture which made Amon near fume from the ears.

"Ugh, Whatever!" Amon retorted, Now suddenly turning back down to [F/N]. "Make it quick! If I find out you've ran away, I'll hunt you down and drag you back here to be spit-roasted over a fire. You understand?"

"Loud and clear, Yep!" [F/N] nodded, Instantly scrambling to get off of his lap. She climbed out, Amon almost refusing to let go of her for a second before his arms fell back down to her sides.

He watched her go, Stumbling from her sleepy legs before wandering off into the forest. Only taking his gaze off of her once Asmodeus made another comment, Making him turn around to chew him out once more.

[F/N] entered the treeline, Only now shaking off the pins in needles of her legs as she turned back to look at the bickering men. They were distracted, Good, And once she was sure they weren't looking, She swiftly made her way around the bend to the vent.

She tossed the backpack onto the overgrown grass beside her, Plopping down in front of the vent as she unzipped and started to shift through the contents of her bag.

The white metal walls sprouted weeds and sprigs from their corners, Not cleaned in a while. In her peripherals she could see several miniscule bugs crawling around in the shutters and canals of the vent, Already dreading going in.

But she had to do this, And she had to do it fast. Amon and Asmodeus could catch her any minute, Stop arguing and come to their senses. She felt her throat grow dry as she finally pulled out the screwdriver.

[F/N] had a feeling she would need it. Well, She had a feeling she would need the pile of random tools she had shoplifted from the hardware store in town. The sleazebag working the register, Of whom ironically kept eyeing her didn't see her shove them all into her bag.

[F/N] only barely knew how to use it as she started to unscrew the first hinge, All her information coming from commercials and quick wikihow tutorials she prepped herself with before she came.

The first screw came out, She smiled. But it was instantly dimmed once she heard the argument once more.

"Don't you think you should be keeping a better eye on that kid? She could be working with the exorcists for all we know, Might be contacting her superiors right now.."

"I doubt it! From what my senses tell me, The girl hasn't even gotten a temptaint yet!"

"That doesn't mean much, Could still be in contact with the order. I'll go check on her then, See if she actually is still there."

[F/N] froze, The screwdriver in hand and end still pressed into the fitting gap. The first screw was already done, Fallen on the floor. If Asmodeus noticed it, It would be game over for her.

But she heard Amon scoff.

"And let a pervert like you walk in on a child? Disgusting, Have some honour!"

[F/N] sighed, Her relief was scarce but it helped her move onto the next screw. Starting to turn and undo it quicker than she did before, Sweat starting to build in-between her palm and the screwdriver.

"Woah, Woah, Woah! Do not accuse me of such, I'll have you know that I have standards. I'm looking for a real woman, Not some little human child. I have no such intention."

[F/N] unscrewed the hinges faster, Tension rising in her chest as the second one fell down into the grass.

"I highly doubt that! I shall check on the child then and prove you incorrect!"

"You know, You've been acting weirder than usual. Why such an interest in this one human?"

The third screw fell from the hinges. Her heart drummed in her chest as her eyes darted to the final screw, Slamming the end of the tool into the ledge she started to turn it. Desperate to get inside.

"..I.. What is happening? This vessel seems to be.. Acting off." "What's wrong with it?"

"That's strange.. My vessels heart seems to be beating!"

The fourth hinge fell to the floor along with the shutter of the vent, It clattered onto the solid ground, A sound louder than she would've wanted. And the sudden silence of their conversation was enough to get her going.

[F/N] gasped and dove into the vent's canal, Cramming her body inside as she heard the shuffling of footsteps. She ignored the ants and insects skittering around inside as she started to clamber through the tunnel.

"HEY!"

[F/N] couldn't tell which one of them said that, Nor could she tell whose hand was trying to grasp at the back of her raincoat. Barely able to grab her bag and get away, She clamoured through the ventilation as the tunnel got darker and darker. Shadows consuming her body.

She knew they couldn't follow, Both of them were too big to fit inside. But the newly-teen girl that she was, [F/N] could fit though rather uncomfortably in the canal. Hearing the shouts for her to get back, She lunged around a corner, Deeper and deeper into the shadows.

☆♡☆

Pushing herself through the vents, [F/N] tried to keep her noise down.

As she travelled further and further down the shaft, She couldn't see much of anything except from the faint glow glistening rays shining through shutter doors. It was barely much to illuminate her way, Which way? She wasn't sure.

But along with the darkness came the noise.

It was chatter, Not of a crowd or a busy train station but a collected discussion of audible professionals. All of them seemed to either be in debate, Discussion or suggestion. It was strange, And from the height she was traversing she couldn't make out a single word.

The vents smelt of dust, Almost like a cat's cushion though from the small peeks she got through the shutters this was no place to keep a pet. With little glimpses of laboratory equipment and folders she was so tempted to drop down and gather her evidence.

But she couldn't, Not if she wanted to be caught.

Every single room she passed seemed to have someone in it. Each turn she clambered around the chatter was as present as always, Every glimpse through a shutter she could she the backs of clinical white coats and medical masks attached to nameless faces.

"So many people.. What are they even doing here anyways?" [F/N] hissed quietly as she passed another shutter. She couldn't remember from the file and the claustrophobic build of the vents made it impossible to reach into her backpack and jog her memory.

Passing round another turn, Going further and further down the vents she started to smile. The discursive chatter started to die down, Only faraway thunder now as she excitedly crawled deeper inside.

It was only once it started to die was she ready to kick open a shutter, Checking the room only once. Reeling back her leg for momentum, The soles of her vans pushed into the shutter of the vent and kicked it open with a resounding slam.

Her legs draped over the opening, Hanging back and forth in the air. [F/N] measured the drop between her and the concrete floor, Calculating to see if she could make it without injury.

Pushing herself off the edge, She deemed she could. Hours of running around in the forest and playing rough was enough to know how to land safely as she hit the floor, Knees bending to take in the impact.

"There we go.." [F/N] whispered, Only slightly disappointed in knowing that her vans would be scuffed later as she got up and dusted herself off. Pushing her hair away from her face, She found that she was in an office of sorts.

Well, It was massive for an office. It was open-floor plan and rather expensive looking as [F/N] could tell the quality of the blueprint desk. Polished mahogany with metal support beams, [F/N] could almost taste the superiority coming off of whoever owned this.

The desk, The cabinets, The corkboard filled with blueprints and scientific formulae was all so stuck-up. Cleanly concreate floors, All of it was well kept. Especially the shine on the drawers, The drawers that were sure to be stuffed full of files and documents, All ready for the taking.

[F/N] smiled, Yet she didn't hesitate. Amon and Asmodeus could be informing their superiors any minute now, If she just grabbed a bunch of stuff now she could be done with it. In and out, She made sure to remember the pathway in the vents after all.

Running over there she pulled the bottom of three-door drawers open, It slid open without any lock and she crouched down to see several files and documents sprout out from within. [F/N] grinned, Hands lunging for the contents.

"Jackpot.." [F/N] squealed quietly as she side-tossed her bag on the ground beside her, It landed with a scud and the half-open zipper was quickly shoved full with documents. [F/N] only glanced at the contents, Spying the word demon and not giving it a second thought.

"Come on.. Come on.." Eyes dead-set on the paper she had to push it down to get it in, And when her bag and it's compartments couldn't hold anymore she started to fold them into the pockets of her raincoat.

[F/N] jumped up from her crouching position, Kicking the bottom door closed it hit with a slam. [F/N] reached down and lugged the straps of her overstuffed bag over her shoulder, She was done, She had the evidence! At least she hoped so-

"Well, Well, Well.. What do we have here..~?"

[F/N] felt her heart drop to her stomach.

It was if the room had gotten ten times colder, Like a sudden chill had entered at the call of the new voice.

[F/N]'s eyes widened, Lips parting and going agape.

It was sultry and the words were spoken as if being hissed by a snake, It also had some foreign accent she couldn't quite place, Somewhere in the middle-east being her best guess.

[F/N]'s mouth went dry, The image of a lunging snake in her mind making her body petrified in place, Unable to turn around. I've been caught- I.. Do something-! Anything-!! Come on! MOVE YOUR BODY!

Yet the only movement that came from her was the shaking of her fingers.

She could hear a mocking chuckle come from the woman.

"Aren't you going to turn around, Little girl~? Come on now.. You don't need to be scared of me~" The voice laughed and both of them knew that statement was a joke. [F/N] could feel her hair stand on end, The woman's presence somehow activating every instinct in her body telling her to run away.

But she couldn't act, Not even when she sensed the nails approaching and ready to pounce onto her neck. [F/N] could almost feel her heart explode, Even so when she sucked in a sharp breath of air.

Get it over with, If my story ends here then it will be one hell of night-time read.

[F/N] snapped her body around in one jerky motion, Face steeling to the best it could've as she came face to face with the source of the voice. And it wasn't like anything she had ever expected.

The woman was curvy, That was the first thing [F/N] noticed about her. She also noticed that she wasn't afraid to flaunt her assets as she was garbed in what seemed to be belly dancer attire, Translucent cream cloth complementing her dark complexion.

The woman smile grew wider than it already was, Tongue flicking at her painted lips.

"Awe, Look at how small you are~! Now can't you show me you're face? I can't quite see it under your hood~" The woman purred. It was if every syllable she spoke was sang in a mocking chorus. As if this was all a cruel joke to her, Which it probably was.

[F/N] barely had any strength inside her to turn around and face her, Let alone do anything more. The cold chill running down her spine was muddled with the woman's scorching warmth, Confusing her even more and piling onto her question of why a belly-dancer of all professions was here in a medical facility.

The woman chuckled, The way her smile was drawn made her most gorgeous face seem so ugly. Her beautiful lemon green eyes focused dead on her, Long dark hair tied into a large braid and the gold she was dressed in didn't make her any prettier with that expression on her face.

"I.. Uhm.." The woman stepped closer to her, Bare foot pressing onto the concrete. [F/N] wished she had the guts to back up.

"Don't be shy~ You're in a lot of trouble now, Do you want to tell me how you got in here~?" The woman laughed, Not giving [F/N] the option of moving herself as her hands finally lunged for her face.

"H-HEY!" [F/N] yelped out as she felt burning hands grasp onto her face, Squeezing painfully as her head was nearly ripped off her neck being jerked to look up at the woman. Almost tripping on herself, Tears in her eyes nearly formed.

"There we go..~" The woman said as her face grew uncomfortably close to [F/N]'s, Eyes locked dead in on each other as she examined every single little inch of her face. [F/N] whined as her grip grew aching, Tears burning at the edges of her eyes already starting to drip.

This woman was going to kill her, That was what [F/N] could feel in the very core of her bones. Every hair on her skin stood up straight, Heart thundering like it never did before. She didn't know why, But she could sense the danger rolling off of her.

This woman was a viper, Venomous and deadly.

The woman's tongue flicked at her lips once more, Eyes narrowing in onto [F/N]'s own.

"Oh my, Aren't you a cute one..~" The woman drawled as her thumb started to caress into the side of [F/N]'s cheek. [F/N] could barely meet her eyes, But she could almost see the shine in her peripherals as she tried to hold her gaze down.

She tried to swallow back her fear.

"I.. I'm sorry. I don't know how I got in here.." [F/N] explained but it came out more like a plea, Voice high and shaky as she felt that oh-so familiar feeling of weakness coarse through her, Disgust at herself to chase it.

"As I look at you closer.. You must be the most adorable little mortal girl I've ever seen.. Your kind are usually hideous.." Her voice dimmed down like a whittling flame, Almost talking to herself now.

"Please.. C-Can I just go home? I didn't mean to intrude.. I.. Uhm.." [F/N]'s squeak trailed off as the grip on her cheeks stiffened, Pushing them so painfully together that her lips had to pucker.

The woman's smile turned into something else, The one that looked like a lioness' bared marrow and gums. It seemed to soften, Though not by much as the volatile look in her eyes was still burning bright.

"Oh no, Definetly not.. You should stay a while, I love adorable things and you are just the most endearing child I've seen~ How'd someone like you get in here~?" The woman hummed.

"I-I don't know I.. I kind've got lost and I just wandered in.." [F/N] said, Lying through her teeth. She should've came up with a better lie but by the way the woman closed in on her made her brain feel like it melted in her skull.

"And such a cute voice too.." The woman trailed off, If her voice wasn't muttered by now it was whispered at this point. [F/N] shook, The woman's face grown so close that there were only a few inches between them now.

[F/N] needed to escape now, She didn't care why a belly dancer was here anymore, She just wanted to leave. But how? How would she ever get out? The woman had a firm hold on her and was much bigger than [F/N] was, So attacking her was out of the question.

Lying, That didn't seem to be doing much either. This woman considered her cute despite the damage done to her body from smoking, The bags under her eyes and horrid breath being of testament.

[F/N] was terrified, She needed to escape.

Iblis on the other hand was mesmerised. What she had thought was an order's spy had turned out to be more interesting than she had thought, As on first sight she viewed the girl like prey. Food to play with, A mouse in the jaws of a snake before they snapped shut.

But she had turned out to be much more appealing than just prey. Both from her face to her adorable yellow raincoat, Iblis' penchant for the adorable seemed to be going wild. Even going so far as to ignore the blemishes in her appearance.

Her eyes narrowed, What was happening?

THUMP!

Huh..?

"S-Seriously Ma'am, I don't know where I am.. I won't tell anyone of what this is just.. P-Please, Let me go." [F/N] asked once more, Begging in her voice as the weakness flooded through her.

Though, To [F/N]'s surprise, The grip on her cheeks began to soften. Lips pushing back into their normal position and giving her enough leeway to get out of her grasp, Stumbling away and her back near hitting the archive drawers.

The woman who had to lean down finally stood up at her full height. [F/N] let out the biggest sigh of her life, Hands running down to fix Tetsuya's raincoat and smooth out the rest of her clothes.

[F/N] smiled, Relief was an understatement for how she was feeling.

"..Thank you. Ma'aAHM-!"

"You are just so adorable~!"

[F/N] was suddenly hoisted in the air, Feet not touching the ground anymore as she was held up by the woman.

[F/N] yelped, Hands under her armpits not being much of a stable hold as she flailed about in fear.

"Look at you and your little raincoat! Oh my, How did I not see this before~? You make my vessel's heart start to work again- Aren't you just the sweetest thing?" The woman gushed, And it didn't do anything to console [F/N]'s shrieks.

She was confused too, The woman's words weren't unlike those of before yet the tone she had used was stark and contrasting to the one she used now. This one wasn't mocking, Not the viper she had imagined, No, Not at all.

This was genuine, This one sounded like she actually meant her words without a single drop of venomous anger going through them. The woman smiled.

"What's your name~? Go on!" The woman urged, Talking to her as if she was an infant and imploring [F/N] to say her first words. Her lips curled into a from, Sweat still on her brow.

The woman continued to look at her, Smile still present as she waited.

[F/N] meekly opened her mouth.

"..[F/N]-"

"Your name too, Oh, I could just eat you up~!"

[F/N] couldn't get a word in, Not a single one. With the way she was forced to stare into the eyes of older woman she could tell as such, The yellowish-green being absolutely enamoured, Almost reminding [F/N] of the exaggerated attitudes of mothers she'd seen on TV.

Fuck, This was weird. She hated it too, The way this random and woman she seemed to baby her now. Was she trying to lure her into some sense of security? What's with the change in attitude? Her heart still pounding, It didn't change a thing.

"..Iblis?"

A meek voice called out from somewhere outside of the room.

The woman turned round in the direction of the voice, A smile still on her face. [F/N] was pleased once the grip on her started to lower down, Dangling feet starting to brush at the floor until she was completely set down.

[F/N] sighed in relief as she watched the woman start to saunter towards the slightly-open doorway. Though the smile on her face didn't last long as a neuron sparked off in her brain, That name- She recognized it.

"You were also suppose to be keeping guard, Weren't you? Keep your mouth shut and I won't inform Lady Iblis of your incompetence! Besides, Our lady said to keep people out and I am doing as such by keeping a close eye on this one!" Amon proclaimed and [F/N] could physically feel herself melt into the grass and let out the biggest sigh of her life.

Oh..

Oh fuck.

This must be her, The one in charge of this place.

She's screwed, Absolutely fucking screwed.

"Egyn~! Oh you're not going to believe what I've found!" Iblis called out to the voice, Hips swaying as she leered over the doorframe. One hand holding onto it while another beckoned the source over to them.

[F/N] could only watch, Unable to do anything or escape as the exit was blocked by Iblis.

But as she moved to the side and the sound of footsteps slowly got closer, [F/N] braced herself for whoever she had to deal with now.

"..D-Did you get my blueprints? I just wanted to know why you were still.."

Well, This wasn't what [F/N] was expecting.

A young boy around her age, Possibly younger waddled out beside Iblis. Though at first glance she had to blink twice as the surprisingly-realistic shark onesie made her think seafood had grown legs and started talking.

[F/N] wouldn't of even known it was a young boy if not for the timid yellow eyes peeking out from the shark's mouth. [F/N] was stunned, His flippers pressed together in a milquetoast fashion wasn't the intimidating figure she had been expecting.

Point proven when his meek little eyes widened, Tears starting to rise at the edges.

"AH, A-AN INTRUDER!" The boy yelped, Stumbling back in his onesies stubby little shark legs and hitting the doorframe. [F/N] blinked, Looking at the boy she could already see a burst of chunky tears rolling down his cheeks.

"Erm.." [F/N] didn't know what to say as the boy started to panic, Near squeezing himself into the nook of the office like a cornered animal.

Luckily though she didn't need to say anything at all, As Iblis did the work for her.

"Isn't she just the sweetest little human girl you've ever seen~? This is [F/N], She-"

"A-A SPY! W-What is she doing in my office..?! Is she with the order..? W-We need to call security.. We can't let anyone interfere..!" Egyn cried out, Starting to panic and shake as he seemed to ignore Iblis' words.

Iblis rolled her eyes, But in an affectionate manner.

"Come on now, It's not like you tried to tamper with anything in here, Did you?" Iblis said, Suddenly turning to her with narrowed eyes which made [F/N] tense up her muscles once more.

She shook her head.

"N-Nope, Don't even know where 'here' is.." [F/N] replied in short, Averting her eyes away from Iblis' scorching gaze. Not even seeing how the eyes of her own switched back to 'normal' and darted back to Egyn.

"You see now? She doesn't mean any harm~ Now, First I'm going to go deal with those useless subordinates outside, Then I'll let her go~" Iblis said comfortingly, Ignoring the absolute ire coursing through her words at "useless subordinates"

"..I'm still in the room, You know..?" [F/N] said, Scratching her head.

"L-Let her go?! What if she tells someone? W-What if word gets to the order?!" Egyn squeaked lowly, Turning to his sister and ignoring [F/N] entirely.

Iblis' lips pursed together as if in thought, Her brothers words finally clicking in her head and realising the weight of the situation. She took one glance back to [F/N], Who was currently standing uneasy in place as she waited on baited breath for the result.

"I suppose you're right.. Pesky human authorities.." Iblis muttered with a slight snarl on her lips.

Egyn audibly gulped, Stubby little leg stepping closer to his sister. Iblis leaned down once Egyn tapped her forearm.

"I-I don't mean to be rude.. But shouldn't we.. Deal with her?" Egyn whispered, Flipper up to separate them from the intruder in his office, Nervously glancing back at her. Iblis only shook her head, Raising back up.

"We'll figure out what to do with her later, But for now, I must go deal with those wretched subordinates who let her slip by. I don't know why I bother with them.." Iblis hissed as soon as the mention of the two guards came up.

[F/N], Who was standing awkwardly a bit away from them, Shifted squeamishly in her spot confused as to what they were saying. Especially once Iblis turned back over to her, Ugly snarl on her face disappearing and mellowing out into her now usual beam.

"Now then~!" Iblis exclaimed, Taking a step towards [F/N] and before she knew it her cheeks were smushed together between Iblis' palms once more "I'll be gone only for only a moment.."

Iblis leaned down know, Talons only teasing [F/N]'s skin threatened her now as they were held tighter in Iblis' hold. Eyes sparking with something dark, Shadow cast as their faces were only a few inches apart.

"..Don't try to escape, Don't even think of it. I have questions for you and I'll make sure you answer. Do you understand, Little one?" Iblis whispered, Her smile completely wiped from her face. [F/N]'s heart nearly stopped, But not in time for her to nod feverishly, Eyes bulging.

Iblis' smile returned.

"Good!" She said, Grip relieved from [F/N]'s face as she raised back up to her full height.

[F/N] sighed in relief so great that she didn't even care when her hand was grasped by Iblis, Shoulders only tensing up slightly as she was tugged out of the room by her persistent hold. [F/N] took another look at Egyn, Who was muttering a nervous jumble of words under his breath.

[F/N] gulped, Eyes only shying from the blinding light that rammed into her sight once the metallic door was shoved open.

Like the blinds opened by a mother to wake their sleeping child, Her eyes stung at the sudden invasion of the fluorescent light. Compared to the fairly dim office she had been trapped in, This was the suns core.

Both that and the chemical smells, Both were equally as nasty and pervasive. Both coming from the wide open, Near soccer-field length hallway that she had been herded into. Only once her eyes adjusted to the light, Was she able to see where the smell was coming from.

Vats, Medical equipment and computers. Whatever you could describe this almost alien-technology was the source of the horrid stench. Doctors, Researchers and staff of all kind were idling about, Their chatter disorientating as [F/N] almost puked.

Though she would be in the perfect place to do so, As the clinical white walls and the tiled floor reminded her very well of a hospital. They were on the first floor, [F/N] only glimpsing upwards to see a balcony of sorts a few metres up, Assumedly a second floor.

[F/N] was dragged along by Iblis through the vast hallway, Egyn trailing behind them. Doctors only glanced at the newcomer, Though they were more interested in the two who were escorting her, Eyeing them like a rabbit waiting for the fox to pounce.

"LADY IBLIS-!"

[F/N] froze up as she heard the familiar voice echo out from somewhere to the left of her, The chills from the cold room being nothing as she recognised the voice, One that was like fire, One that was like the sun.

Amon came rushing in, Sweat dribbling down his toned skin like he had run a marathon with his perspirant drenched clothing to match. Asmodeus followed after, Surprisingly without phone and his lazy smile traded in for a brisk pace.

Amon stuttered to a bow in front of his mistress, Back low and his hands behind his back in an overdramatic display of respect. Asmodeus following Amon's movements, Iblis turned to them.

"I-I apologise for interrupting you and your duties, My lady! However we must inform you that a human child was somehow able to pass throu-" Amon looked up, Subservient eyes meant to look up Iblis landed on [F/N], Looking back at him with shock.

"Really? You don't say.." Iblis spat out through her oddly sharpened teeth. Canines bared as the hand entwined with [F/N]'s squeezed tightly, Almost painfully as she winced and the veins in Iblis's brow started to swell.

Amon gulped, Eyes darting up to Iblis back down to [F/N], Almost as if he had something he wanted to say or do to her but needed to keep focused. Asmodeus behind him seemed calm, If not for the slight downturn of his lips.

Iblis snarled, Free hand raising up and slamming down to grasp a hold of Amon's hair.

Amon choked as Iblis' nails dug into his vessel's scalp, Her hold unwavering like a prisoners chain.

[F/N] gasped, Almost stumbling back in sheer surprise at Iblis' strength if not for the hand still wrapped in-between hers.

"You're incompetent! The both of you!" Iblis yelled into Amon's ear, Lowering herself down so she was eye to eye with him. Doctors and staff froze in their walks, Stammering back from the scene in order not to provoke her wrath.

The grasp on [F/N]'s hand was let go in favour of giving the same treatment Amon got to Asmodeus, Wrangling him closer and shoving the two men side by side with their heads butting into each other like competing rams.

"I apologise, My lady!" Asmodeus finally piped in, Calm tone still there but barely vailing the nervous aftertaste. "She tricked us, We shouldn't of been so ignorant but unfortunately she is.. Charismatic" He continued, Almost unsure on that last word.

Iblis hissed.

"Oh, You are so lucky that this girl is just the cutest little thing, Otherwise I would not hesitate to spit roast your pathetic hearts over a bonfire and watch you writhe!" Iblis announced, The hair almost torn out of the men's scalps as she started to march away with them dragging behind her.

"W-We're so sorry, My la-"

"QUIET! I am so tired of your excuses!" Iblis yelled as she began to drag them off towards a rather large door, Assumedly the one the two men had came from. [F/N] watched from the side with wide eyes, Both impressed and terrified of the woman's strength as she lugged them away.

Iblis only turned back once she reached the precipice of the doorway to the hall, Head turning to reveal her near-glowing lime eyes staring back at [F/N], Near into her soul.

"Be good for me now~! I'll be back soon, Be good for Egyn now~!" Iblis called out, Voice echoing as she finally turned back around to drag the two out of the hall. Both men yelling out their apologies The door slammed shut.

[F/N] blinked, Wiping the sweat from her brow.

"Uhhmm…" [F/N] looked to her side to meet Egyn standing a bit away, Shifting in his spot and retreating back into his shark onesie as he looked at her uncertainly. [F/N] scratched her head, Copying him as she shied into her raincoat.

[F/N] looked away, Standing in the middle of the busy area as she was scrutinized under the gaze of hundreds. Stuffing her hands into her oversized pockets, [F/N] tried to ignore the scalding eye-shaped burns on her back.

"So.."

Egyn spoke, Finally breaking the silence as his voice bounced off the tall walls.

"I-I think you should come this way.." Egyn stammered, Breaking out into a trot as he trudged past her. [F/N] gulped, Terrified still as she asked what she had gotten into, What the hell was going on here and how she would get out.

She followed him, Trailing behind slowly past the hundreds of liquid filled vats and climbing over the tubes and wires. The vats had thick liquid, Glowing and too viscous to see inside of them.

[F/N] ignored them, Not wanting to know.

☆♡☆

[F/N] sat leaning against the built up steel wall, The material hard against her back and sure to give her problems later in life.

Knee's pulled to her chest, She burrowed herself into the little corner of safety she had made for herself. Side pressed up against the sort-of control panel she was leaning against, It was uncomfortable but she made do.

The sounds of whirring machines and clanking cogs was mixed in with the near crazed mumblings of Egyn, Who was working at the panel pressing several colourful buttons and pushing levers almost at random to her.

Pushing her head into the dip of her knees, She sighed. [F/N] had no idea how she was going to get out of here. Talking about supplies, [F/N]'s bag was laying beside her, Able to convince Egyn that she had snacks in there that she wanted so she could get the documents from inside.

Luckily due to the noise, The ruffling of paper the documents made from within her pockets and rucksack was covered up. Pockets and pouches still stuffed to the brim, Though concealed through the yellow.

"T-This is insane.. What am I going to do, What am I going to do..!?" Egyn mumbled through his work as he pulled down another lever. [F/N] looked over at him, Not sure if this was normal for him or if he was just truly stressed.

[F/N] tapped her shoes, Sniffling only a bit in the chilling atmosphere of the room.

"..You can just let me go." [F/N] piped up, Hesitant in voice as she turned to look at him. "I won't tell anyone, I'm not apart of 'the order' or whatever that is, I really did get lost"

Egyn snapped around, Fast enough to give [F/N] a fright as his wide eyes glared at her through the maws of the shark.

"N-No way! I can't tell if you're lying or not.. Even if you don't go to The Order then you'll go to the police! And that's trouble enough..! I can't let you leave.." Egyn argued as he hurriedly turned back to his little panel to smash buttons and pull leverish stuff.

This sucked. [F/N] was confused, Agitated and most of all terrified of being in this hellish place. It was cold, Air singed at her skin and the horrid little corner she leaned against gave her back aches in several places.

She needed to leave, She needed to get out of here. It was the same feeling she had felt back in the forest that day, The day Tetsuya died. That overwhelming feeling of wrongness, Like a human being like her was not meant to be in this place.

But she needed to stay calm, Stay stoic. She didn't want to be that terrified little girl that cried all the time anymore, She wanted to be strong. [F/N] steeled her face, A snarl on her lips.

[F/N] sighed, Agitation brewing on her face.

"What if I just leave back through where I came from? What's stopping me from just going.." [F/N] muttered under her breath, Eyebrows furrowing as she knew that Egyn could be too distracted and might let her walk free.

Not so much, However as Egyn jerked right back around.

"You can't! I-I won't let you!" He squeaked, Something that was meant to be intimidating but came off as a choked cry from a mouse. [F/N] rolled her eyes.

"Yeah? Well it's either that you kill me or I leave eventually, Either way what could you even do about it?" [F/N] spat, Determined to keep up her strength. The little boy younger than her could do nothing against her, It was a wonder how or why he was operating the machines in the first place.

Egyn gulped.

"I-I can stop you! I'm the king of water so I'm really powerful-!" He replied though as low as his ego was already, Egyn could almost feel it shatter and fall to new levels as [F/N] just scowled at him.

"Seriously? First 'The Sun King' and now you, 'The King of Water'. Is this some kind of roleplay or something..? Am I just not getting this? Though.. I guess the shark makes sense now.." [F/N] groaned as she shook her head.

She could almost see Egyn deflate in his onesie, Obviously hit one of his good few thousand nerves as he shrunk over into himself.

"..I-It's not roleplay! I really am a demon king.. I am strong! Just stop being mean, I don't need to deal with this.." Egyn blurted out as he turned back towards his machines, Continuing to work.

Though as he did, He never noticed the way [F/N]'s ears perked up. How her body stilled and her eyes stilled to process his words.

She turned to him, Saucers for eyes as she stared at his small form. "You're.. You're a what?" [F/N] near choked on her own saliva as she said it, Eyes fixated as her body locked in place.

"A.. A demon king?" Egyn repeated, Only glancing back at her with those canary coloured eyes in confusion.

"The.. The demon king of water. T-That's who I am. I.. I'm in charge of all water-related demons..? Do you.. Really not know what demons are?" Egyn stammered as he scratched the back of his head, Leaning over to get a better look at [F/N], Still curled up tight and buried into the corner.

Though she was still, More than a corpse would be after rigor mortis. Egyn wasn't sure what to do when she just stared at him dead-faced, If it was possible to get any more nervous then he would've combusted by now as he felt scrutinized under her gaze.

[F/N] just continued to look at him, Blinked, Only then snapping back into reality. A jolt ran up her spine, Making her shiver.

"No way.. How could you be a demon? You don't look demonic so- How..?!" [F/N] laughed however disingenuous it may have been, Frown lines still etched on her face as she steadied herself against the wall.

Egyn stepped a little closer.

"Oh.. You must not have a temptaint then..!" He answered, Raising a fin like he was raising a finger. [F/N] just stared back at him again, And suddenly, Combusting wasn't that unreasonable of an outcome now.

"I-It's when you humans don't have an injury or illness, Usually a bite mark or something that penetrates flesh, Caused by a demon! I-It makes you able to see demons so..! You obviously can't since you don't see my demonic traits or the coal tars floating around you..!" Egyn blurted out, Gesturing with a fin to something [F/N] just couldn't see, Drifting amongst her.

"They seem to like you too.." Egyn added, Slightly confounded as he observed their behaviour.

[F/N] jerked her head back and forth, Unable to see the pudgy little kin of rot circling around her head. The demons being rather attracted to her, Nesting on her shoulders and rubbing at her hands.

"How could.. How could that be true.." [F/N] whispered as her mind seemed to rewind like a reeling film tape. Temptaint, He couldn't be making it up. [F/N] was sure, As she had heard it before.

Amaimon, Johann Faust's weird little brother, He had said that word before. So did Amon, The so called sun king that didn't seem so made up now, He mentioned it to Asmodeus who [F/N] could only imagine what he really was.

And now Egyn, The demon king of water.

Had she really been so ignorant?

"..If you want I could give you a temptaint..? So you can s-"

"NO! No way! I-I don't want to see whatever the hell you're talking about!" [F/N] bit back, Not giving any chance for the demon to reply. Her teeth bared, Fingers curled and digging into the soft skin of her knees so hard it was almost enough to draw blood.

Egyn yelped and stumbled back at her outburst, Yell so loud that it echoed around the sectioned off room they were in. His reaction, It only muddled [F/N]'s mind even more.

Demons, She had been surrounded by demons for her entire life and she just hadn't noticed it. Temptaint, Everyone who had mentioned it must've been one of them. Amaimon, What a weird name, It made sense now.

But Amaimon being Johann Faust's brother, What did that make him?

"I.. Erm, I-I think I should get back to my machines um.. Uhhh.." Egyn's eyes darted back and forth from [F/N] to his control panel, Unsure of what to do as he sort of melted back into his starting position.

[F/N] just watched him go with eyes like prey watching the predator stalk off, Aware of every movement. Her body rigid as she tried her best not to lunge for a makeshift weapon, To attack him and get out of here.

She wasn't safe here, She never was. But now every inch of her was like stone, Petrified by a gorgon's stare. But now every hair in the back of her neck stood up, Blood running colder than the Styx. These were the creatures that killed him-

Killed Tetsuya.

"D-Darn..! This machine.. Where in fathers name is the screwdriver.." Egyn muttered as he repeatedly pulled a stubborn lever that just didn't seem to work, Wisps of steam rising from the panel below, Sweat near dribbling off him as he tried to find a screwdriver around here.

Not on the desk, Not on the side table beside him with all his other assortment of tools. Where it could have gone was a mystery to him, Nowhere to be found.

"Here."

Egyn turned around to meet [F/N], Who had finally got up onto her own shaky legs and had extended an arm with a screwdriver tightly locked within her fingers. She seemed calm, Slight smile on her face. Egyn gasped, Grabbing at the screwdriver.

"A-Ah, Yes! Thank you..!" Egyn said as he took the screwdriver in-between his flippers, Not realising that the red handle didn't match the navy blue set of tools he had laying on the metal desk beside him.

[F/N] watched as he got onto his knees and started to unscrew the panel's hatch, Ready to get to the innards of the thing. Her smile present, Egyn too distracted to see the cumulation of sweat starting to dampen her brow.

Brave, Be brave. Stare adversity dead in the eyes and come out on the other side.

Bide your time, Chronos is on your side, Watching you.

You can do this.

"So.. What's this place suppose to be, Anyways?" [F/N] said, Shoving her hands into the pockets of Tetsuya's raincoat. She looked around casually, Admiring the shine of the vats and the wires like rat-tails running around the place.

Egyn hummed as he tampered with the wires of the panel.

"Erm.. I'm not really suppose to tell anyone but.. It's a laboratory, I-I guess you don't need me to tell you that one.. Hand over the pliers, Please..?" Egyn called out and [F/N] obliged as she sauntered over around to the desk full of tools, Picking up the pliers and handing them down to Egyn who took them with a thanks.

"Alright then, Like what do you do here or is that something you're not suppose to tell me either..?" [F/N] picked up and examined the used wares laying upon the table, Watching the shine of the fluorescent light roll of the metal of the tools.

"Can't tell you.. Top secret to outsiders." Egyn answered simply as he handed the pliers back over to [F/N], And without him looking, Slipped them into the already overflowing pockets of the raincoat.

[F/N] sighed, Thanking whatever god that the demon king below her was so distracted.

"'Kay.." [F/N] drawled as she looked around the room. How she was going to get out of here she knew, But it was an unsure plan. One that she was betting her assumption on, A trait of hers she had only realised today.

Her penchant for weirdo's.

They liked her, They seemed to anyways. From everyone that could've been a demon. Amaimon, The man from the graveyard, Amon and Asmodeus, Iblis and even her possibly-real imaginary friend Beelzebub.

They loved her, Why? She didn't know, How could she? But she could certainly use it to her advantage.

"..You must be in charge then, Like.. I don't know what you do here but it seems important." [F/N] commented, Eyes lingering down to Egyn.

"I-I'm the assistant director, I'm also the head of the genetic mo- Oh, I shouldn't of said that!" Egyn perked up, Voice raising an octave as he almost hit his head against the frame of the hatch. "F-Forget it!"

[F/N] quelled the quiver of her lip as her mind finished the end of the term. Genetic Modification, That was a hint.

"..I never heard anything, Don't worry about it." [F/N] shrugged as she felt the worried scrutiny of Egyn's eyes on her. She got down onto her knees, Steadying herself with her hand before plopping down onto the floor, Leaning against the panel.

"So. Is it on animals or i-"

"I-I said forget it!" Egyn snapped as he jerked around to meet [F/N], Who couldn't help the shudder run through her body as the sickly yellow of his eyes met hers with a newfound fire. Ironic, Really.

He didn't say anything else after that, Fire dwindling in his eyes until it died back into the milquetoast expression it usually was. He turned back to the panel, Shaking his head slightly.

[F/N] sighed.

"..Sorry, Genetics has always been interesting to me so I suppose I can't help it.." She commented with a shrug, Looking away from him in favour of admiring the room.

Egyn however blinked, Eyes darting from his task back to her.

"..How could you know anything about genetics? Y-You don't even look old enough to be taught that sort of thing.." Egyn commented as he glanced over at her while continuing to fix the wires.

"..Well, Not enough to be taught but I like learning on my own and.. Genetics has always been such an interesting topic for me." [F/N] replied with the most genuine tone she could produce, A complete lie. She, In fact, Was old enough to be taught that in school. And in that moment she thanked all the hours she spent studying for her chemistry tests.

She didn't know much, But she knew enough basic terms and concepts to get by.

"..I-It's difficult to find human beings or demons that like science, Especially genetics, I mean.. E-Even though there's a lot of researchers both demon and human here, None of them are really that easy to talk with, To be honest.." Egyn blurted out and this time he didn't look back at her.

[F/N] rolled her eyes, A small smirk appearing on her face.

An opening, There it was. Finally, A conversation could get going.

"Definetly. Don't let me make any assumptions but, I'm guessing it must be because of your status as a demon king, Right?" [F/N] asked as she tilted her head, Observing the way a small glint in his eyes sparked up and his sad frown almost upturn.

He paused for a second.

"..Y-Yeah, It's difficult to talk to anyone other than my siblings.. And even then they're not very interested in sciences. Don't get me wrong, You humans are inferior but.. It would be nice to have a discussion about it with someone.." Egyn near whispered, Eyes staring off somewhere else as he spoke.

"I hear that." [F/N] smiled, Swallowing down the hatred in her throat. "Science is just so interesting and it sucks that not as many people are into it as they should be, I mean, It's literally where humanity's star achievements lie."

Egyn perked up, Eyes widening through the maw of his onesie as he couldn't help but let a nervous smile crawl up the sides of his face.

"E-Exactly, You get it!" He exclaimed as he set down the wires in his "I don't get why more of you humans are into it! I-It's the best thing to have come out of humanity and you all should learn it to some degree.. More than you already do.." Egyn blurted out.

[F/N] smiled wider.

"Thank you for saying it! Like hell, Biology and Chemistry and Physics is all just so interesting.. I'm so glad that someone else is able to recognise it!" She laughed, Throwing random terms out as a hand moved to cover her faux chuckle, Looking away from him.

Egyn however, Had his eyes trained on her.

His face fell, Unblinking as he stared. He didn't speak a word either as he studied every inch of [F/N], From her head to her toes was all picked apart by his gaze and [F/N] couldn't help but bite her tongue.

"..Wow. You're the first person in centuries to actually notice that.." Egyn said almost in a whisper as he examined her like a dissected frog on a table.

"If that's true, I guess humanity really is doomed." [F/N] replied, Ignoring the implication of centuries he spoke of.

Egyn was lost in his own mind, Eyes staring somewhere past [F/N] as he thought. The first time anyone has said agreed with him, A point he had held like a moral in his head and she agreed with it without any kind of fear for who he was.

Of course, Some over the centuries agreed with him but.. Egyn could tell they were just scared of him.

She wasn't faking it, At least he didn't think so. It was strange, Some human child younger than him but older than his vessel was the one to finally understand him and his points. He had only met her for an hour at the most but..

THUMP!

What?

THUMP!

His chest, The ribcage inside started to shake.

It was his heart, The organ inside was beating. Hot blood coarsing through his veins finally starting to warm up the cold chills of the ocean that was his vessel before. Egyn lunged a hand towards the side of his chest, The one that thundered like a beating drum. What was happening?

[F/N] on the other hand had her eyes lit up like fireworks, This was it. She had recognised it from Amaimon, The way he had grappled onto his chest like he was having a cardiac. That wonder-filled expression, She had gotten through to him.

Though the smile on her face dissipated, Loathing for him still running through the heart of her own. As she watched him take a moment, Breathing in and out, She bit down on her tongue.

Now it all hinged on the final part.

"This.. T-This is amazing!" Egyn exclaimed and suddenly the hand gloved in his flipper was grasping onto hers, A movement that made [F/N] jump as he was suddenly much closer to her than she remembered.

"I-I see what Iblis means now..! You're making my vessels heart start to beat..! Oh wow- I need to study this!" Egyn gasped as he finally got up to his feet, Excitable as he stamped his feet over to the desk and started to gather papers and stationary.

[F/N] blinked, Letting go of a breath she didn't know she was holding.

"I mean.. H-How are you doing this?! This is impossible.. No way, Iblis was right- You're amazing!" Egyn gushed as he brought in a good few handfuls of paper and other stuff into his basketed hands, Too much for him to carry but he managed anyways.

[F/N] blinked.

"Thank you.." [F/N] replied slowly as she watched him start to scribble on his plastic clipboard.

"It feels.. Warm, It's familiar.. P-Perhaps it.. Maybe its similar to when I first incarnated.." Egyn rambled to himself as he spilt down words onto the paper. "It's so strange- Maybe it feels.. No, It feels almost familial..? So weird!"

[F/N] could only watch as he ranted off to himself, A slight rotten taste on her tongue as she heard him describe whatever world-shattering emotion he was feeling right now. A demon, Disgusting, Her fear was dwindling but in turn her hatred was growing.

It made her bite her tongue, Stopping her from saying what she said. "I mean.. H-How are you doing this? I need to know more, Y-You must tell me!" Egyn exclaimed as he suddenly snapped back to meet [F/N], Who ironically near jumped out of her skin at the movement.

"..I don't really know, I'm a bit overwhelmed-!" [F/N] smiled and discreetly wiped away the sweat on the sides of her jeans. Egyn shook his head, Nervously yet giddily laughing as he set down his clipboard.

"Oh no-! I'm sorry, D-Do you need anything? I can go get someone to bring you food or- I could get you water..? What do you need?" Disgusting, It was acting as if it actually cared.

"I'm fine, I think I just need to go back and grab some stuff that fell out of my bag.. Books and stuff, You know?" [F/N] replied with the same smile she held up like an advertisement board.

However, Egyn paused at her words. Giddy rambling under his breath coming to a sudden halt as he stared at her dead in the eyes.

"..What? You.. Y-You're not planning to leave, Are you?" Egyn asked, Almost monotone if not for the slight waver in tone, Like he was about to burst back into tears. [F/N] blinked, Shaking her head.

"No! No way, I actually like being here and I like talking with you! I wouldn't want to leave and besides, Do you really think I could get out with both you and Iblis here?" [F/N] explained softly, Stepping only slightly closer to him.

Egyn looked down, Flippers going back up to join together, Twiddling with the fingers inside.

"I-I don't know.. What if you try though? W-What if I go with you to make sure you don't..?! That's a good idea!" Egyn suggested which made [F/N]'s eye twitch, Wrong turn, She couldn't let that happen. She frowned, Stuffing her hands into her pockets.

"..Do you not trust me?" [F/N] started "I thought that we had something going, You know. We may have only known each other for a half-hour but I really thought that we shared some kind of connection, You know? I guess not.."

[F/N] drawled, Tossing her head to be side and lowering her brows in an agitated stare far off. Egyn squeaked as soon as she finished her last word, The shadowed eyes inside starting to bubble with tears.

"N-NO! We do! You're fun to talk to but I just think that I should go with you.. I-I only have known you a short time and that's the reason why!" Egyn babbled as his spill of words did nothing to phase [F/N]. She only shrugged her shoulders.

"Nevermind then, I mean I wanted to stick around since I liked it here with you but.. I guess not then, Besides you and Iblis are probably gonna kill me for being here anyways." [F/N] spat out.

Egyn gasped, His hand reached out and grappled onto [F/N]'s forearm. She 'tched and refused to look back at him, Which made Egyn all the more nerve-wracked.

"No! We're not gonna kill you! I-I don't wanna and I don't think Iblis wants to either so could you please just listen to me..! Y-You can stay here! I'll figure something out! I-I like this feeling, I don't want it to end! You almost feel like what you humans consider a sibling-!" He rambled.

[F/N] almost gagged.

"..I mean, I wanted to stay but I guess since you don't trust me enough.." [F/N] drawled out, Only barely glancing back towards the boy who was almost about to explode from the stress.

And she almost enjoyed it, His misery being a near joy.

"FINE! Just go get it and come back quickly!" Egyn finally blurted out as he let go of her forearm and stumbled back. [F/N] let out a small sigh, A smile finally returning to her lips as she beamed at him.

"Thank you- I'll be really quick!" [F/N] cheered happily as she lowered down into a quick bow, One that hid the slyness of her smirk and the grab of her bags strap before she kicked off and ran down the small lifted podium they were stuck on.

Egyn kept her eyes on her, Never letting his gaze wander for a second as he watched her never look back for a second. Watching as she jogged across the open hallway from his higher position, Gaze shaking as she entered his office.

[F/N] slammed the door behind her and finally slung her bag over her shoulder, A relieved yet devious giggle echoing from her lips as her plan worked. Her back hit the door, Head tilting up almost to thank the gods above.

She did it.

But she had no time to celebrate over the spoils of her victory as she had minimal time to get out of here, Far away, Even though she had said her name there was no way that they could find her, This place was located far from where her origins began.

She pranced over to the cabinets, Foot locking in one of the bottom drawer handles with her hand hanging onto the top one. Starting to climb she easily found her hands over the vent's edge. Lugging her body up, She pulled her weights into the shaft.

It took work, But she was able to find her way out by the lack of dust trail she had made getting in, The rest of the vent being powdered in the stuff. And luckily, The vent still hadn't been fixed back into place, The inviting light of the late-afternoon day leading her to her exit.

"-Fuck-!" [F/N] gasped as she finally pushed herself out of the vent and onto the dirty bare ground of the forest floor below her, Cheek pressed against the ground giving her the premium view of the bugs scuttling around her.

She couldn't stay for long though, Her hands pushed down onto each side of her, Nails digging into the dirt as she pulled herself up onto her feet. Dusting herself off from her raincoat to her jeans, [F/N] picked up the pace and started to run.

She got out, She had gotten out using her own head and wits. The sweat dribbling down the sides of her face was enough of a trophy of challenge, Proud smile bared on her face. The documents stuffed in her pockets was her reward, [F/N]'s eyes shined.

Proof of demons, Knowledge she hadn't known before was brought to light. Demons were really, Really real. She just couldn't see them, That's why no one believed her, Because they couldn't see just like she could.

She was home free, She was gone. No one could ca-

An alarm sounded out.

[F/N] stumbled in her run, Head jerking around as she heard the muffled wails of an alarm system blare out from inside of the facility. It was so loud, So loud that even though it was contained inside she could still hear it distorted a good few bits away from the place. She gulped, Eyes widening.

"Fuck- Shit, Fuck- Oh no..-!" [F/N]'s pace picked back up, Legs running like her life depended on it. She had hoped that Egyn would've waited just a little bit longer, Or did Iblis finally come back and take matters into her own hands?

It didn't matter, Keep going. Keep going, Keep going, Keep going-! You'll die if you stop! You'll be dragged back there for almost revealing this place to the authorities, Who knows what they might do to her?

It was unfortunate, So caught up in the gravity of the situation that she couldn't see her foot caught under the stray branch.

[F/N] tripped.

She screamed as she slammed down onto the semi-rocky flooring of the forest, Chest first hitting the ground with a thud and shaking something inside her. Her head followed next, Bumping against the dirt.

[F/N] whined, Blurriness fading in and out of her vision and a ringing like church bells sounding in her ears. The blue sky above her seemed to almost change colour. Green to red to blue to pink, Dizzy, So dizzy.

But not enough so that she couldn't hear the voice call out to her.

"Woah there! Looks like someone's in trouble!"

It was lazy, Laid back and spoken in a foreign accent [F/N] just couldn't place against the bells in her ears. She could tell it had gotten closer though, As the shadow looming over her seemed to be the source.

[F/N] groaned, The little spouts of sunlight seeping through the mans shadow hit her eyes like pepper spray as she turned up to look at him.

He was of medium height for his gender, Male, And it showed through the unshaven starts of a facial hair coming out from his sun-kissed skin. From his legs to his bare arms he had body hair, [F/N] would've felt disgusted if not for the current events.

It also showed in the dark scruffy mop of hair he had on his head, It was so uncut that it covered his eyes, A safari hat lazing atop of it. Apart from that, His ensemble of a dirty collared shirt and a kaki shorts was enough to tell [F/N] what exact kind of person that he was.

"Ngh.. Who the hell are you?" [F/N] croaked out, Hand reaching and entangling in her hair as a ditch effort to stop the throbbing. The mans lazy smile just grew, The hands in his pockets shoving down deeper as he sauntered over to her.

"That's something I should be asking you, Huh? What's a kid like you doing all the way out here?" The man laughed as he leaned down to look at her collapse form. [F/N] only shot an agitated look at him, Which only seemed to amuse the man even more.

He chuckled, Lowering down onto his knees.

"The name's Lewin Light, I'm with the Vatican. Came out here after a tip-off about an organization called 'The Illuminati'. Any idea what that is?" Lewin asked, Reaching beside him into a compartment of the bag over his shoulder, Fishing out a water bottle.

[F/N] just blinked, Weakly taking the bottle into her hands once offered.

"Uhm.. Well if you mean the testing facility with literal demon kings, You know.. The one back there blaring alarm sirens then yeah, Yeah I do think so." [F/N] spat as she popped open the cap, Getting to her knees and starting to take the biggest sip of her life.

Lewin's smile became more dark, His bangs near lifting from his eyes to reveal a sea green peering down at her.

"You were inside? Seriously?" He asked in an almost hushed whisper. [F/N] swallowed down the chilled water, The tap of the bottle pulled from her lips.

"…Yeah, May or may not have stolen a bunch of documents too." [F/N] replied, Though more nervous as the alarm continued to blare.

Lewin snapped his fingers.

"No way! Seriously? Some little kid like you got in and out of there? Should probably get outta here then and come back with enforcements- But you've got to tell me about it!" He said as he raised back up to his original height, Arms locking around her armpits he helped [F/N] up to her feet, Stumbling as she got into place.

Though as soon as she did, Lewin shoved his face straight into hers.

"Did you seriously meet any of the demon kings in there? How did you survive? What were they doing in there? Any experiments? What kind of stuff did you take? Did anyone see you? What's your name?!" Lewin spewed out, Giddy smile like a child on christmas as he spoke. [F/N] gulped.

"I- I don't know but can you PLEASE just get me out of here! They'll be coming any second!" [F/N] hushed as she kept glancing back to the facility, Of which in the distance could she hear the yells of what could only be security start to air out.

Lewins face fell, But he drew back.

"Ah.. Right, Okay. Later then, I'll get you out of there then." Lewin stated, Pulling out something from his pocket, Some kind of artefact that he held in-between his gruff fingers. [F/N]'s eyes circled in on it, But before she could a

"Ready? You gotta hold onto my hand if you wanna be transported!" Lewin chimed in as he extended his hand out towards her, [F/N] was hesitant as she looked at the artefact, But as she heard the voices of the guards start to close in, She didn't start to hesitate anymore.

Her hand lunged out to his, And she barked out a "Go!"

And as soon as the guards closed in on their location, The only thing they found was the tall height of trees around them. Shrubbery leaves dancing in the soft wind, And no thirteen year old girl in sight.

☆♡☆

"Well.. I see everything here is in order, Mr.."

"Lewin, Lewin Light!" He said, Sticking out an over-eager hand towards Mrs. Ono which previously was used to scratch the wolf's nest of his hair and reach into his bag of crisps laying upon his lap.

Mrs. Ono laughed nervously, Eyeing the crumbs on his fingers as she nudged his hand back away from her.

They sat within her office, The same one [F/N] had been coming into for over a decade now. Greyish-blue walls, Polished floors, Those same overly-sweet encouraging posters that made [F/N] want to puke.

And she was sat in one of the twin chairs, Those uncomfortably designed ones with high arms which only provided comfort once you sat like a maniac. Back sunken in, Legs spread out with a small grin.

This time, She wasn't alone.

Lewin Light sat in the other twin chair, The one that was usually empty once she was called in to be berated or told off. He seemed to copy her movements, Legs out, Sunken into his chair and even topped it off with the dirty garbs and the bag of snacks by his side.

He looked so out of place in such a formal office space. His oversized poncho overflowing off the chair's arms and his scruffy start of facial hair making it look (and smell) like a homeless man had walked in.

Mrs. Ono didn't like him, [F/N] could tell by the way she kept readjusting her devil-horned glasses. Proper heel's clacking together under the desk she was sat at as she eyed him like a dirty stray.

And he seemed like it too, His stench was horrible.

Mrs. Ono cleared her throat, Almost as if the odour had reached there.

"Let me just go over this with you.. This is an international adoption so there is usually a lot of moving parts, Though.. This one however seems streamlined.." Mrs. Ono commented, Starting to flick through the documents in front of her.

"I see.. So you, Yourself, Are situated in Dallas, Texas. Over in the states.." Ono said, Raising an eyebrow as she turned back up to eye Lewin once more.

"Yep!" Lewin chirped, Obviously not afflicted by the weight of the counsellor's gaze as he only crossed his legs and plunged a hand into the bag of chips, Staring right back at her as he shoved them into his mouth.

Mrs. Ono could barely disguise a scowl.

"And you're unwedded? No other possible parental figures or..?"

"Nope! Just me, But you know I've always wanted a kid and the dating scene is just so difficult nowadays! Besides, If it's a matter of money you're concerned about, I believe my salary should be listed down somewhere aswell.." Lewin said, Pointing a lazy finger somewhere vaguely on the paper.

[F/N] didn't hear the actual number, But by the way that Mrs. Ono's eyes widened and her breath was caught in her chest, [F/N] could only imagine the actual number.

"Ah.. I.. I see then." Mrs. Ono stuttered as she reset her glasses and replastered the pristine smile on her face. "I suppose everything is in order, Though if I must be so bold, May I ask a question of my own." Lewin shrugged.

"Shoot." He replied, With the appropriate gesture.

Mrs. Ono shuffled within her seat, Almost as if she was sitting upon hot coal. She leaned forward, Fingers entwining as her eyes finally wandered over to [F/N] for only a moment before snapping back to the man in front of her.

She cleared her throat.

"Why exactly have you chosen [F/N] here? Please, Do not get me wrong she is a lovely child but parents usually go for younger kids, And erm.. [F/N] seems to have taken a liking to you, Which says alot, Am I right?" Mrs. Ono said, Voice lowering and octave as she looked back to [F/N].

[F/N] blinked, Jolting up in her chair as if finally tuning back into the conversation.

"Oh, Uh.. Yeah, I like him." She replied in short, Rubbing the exhaustion of the early morning out of her eyes before lazing back into her original sprawl upon the chair.

Lewin glanced over to her under the bush of his unruly hair, Sly smile widening on his face as he leaned forward on his seat.

"Well, You got me there, Ma'am!" Lewin chuckled at the older woman, Scratching at his nape. "If I'm being honest with you, I've sorta been hiding the reason I've been wanting to adopt this kid in the first place."

Mrs. Ono raised a brow.

"Go on." She prompted to which Lewin chuckled awkwardly.

"Well, I met her at this food joint in town a few years back and things just kind of started there." He started. "Honestly she's always seemed like my own, You know? You kinda just get that feeling and I just think it's time that we finalise it."

[F/N] turned over to look at him excitedly, The man being a stellar liar both in voice and movement as they seemed to morph into something of a faux genuine tone. [F/N] solidified it, Nodding along as if it was the truth.

It's not like Mrs. Ono would understand, She never did.

"Ah, I see. So you've been in touch for a while now." Mrs. Ono said, Almost relieved as she leaned back to relax in her chair, Settling the documents back down on her desk.

"Yeah! Known her since.. Since when now? It's so hard to remember.." Lewin asked, Jerking his head around to look at [F/N] who hummed and itched at her chin.

"Mmm.. Maybe three years now? So hard to say, Felt like it's been a lifetime." [F/N] joked as she looked back at him, Both containing humour in their eyes that Ono just didn't pick up on.

Lewin giggled and turned back to the counsellor.

"Yeah, Well anyways there's just a lot to like about the kid. I mean, Smart, Brave and knows how to escape a bad situation. How could my cold dead heart not beat for this little imp?" Lewin laughed heartily as his hand found it's way to [F/N]'s head, Starting to roughly ruffle the hair atop her head.

"Hey!" [F/N] giggled, Trying but failing to push his surprisingly muscular arm away from her. Lewin continued to laugh as he watched her fail to stop him.

Mrs. Ono couldn't help but give a small smile as she watched the interaction, Eyes softening from behind her glasses for only a moment.

"..Well, I see that everything is in order then. You've already signed the documents and I'm proud to say that you are now the legal guardian of [F/N], Mr. Light." Mrs. Ono proclaimed, Though her smile seemed more strained than prideful, More lost than usual.

[F/N]'s laughter died down, Eyes catching the expression of Mrs. Ono. Her giddy smile almost slowing down to a halt.

Though she was broken out of it with the rapid tap of two fingers on her shoulder.

"Right then! Thanks for your time, Appreciate it, But we'll be on our way now!" Lewin said as he jumped up from his seat and stretched his arms up into the air, Near cracking his back. [F/N] blinked, Understanding the command as she followed Lewin up to her feet.

"Yes, Don't let me keep you.." Mrs. Ono stated as she shifted the documents on her table into the cream-front folder, Nudging it in as Lewin started to saunter out of the room, Poncho flowing behind him which [F/N] trailed eagerly.

"..[F/N]!"

Though, She stopped. Turning around to meet the source of the voice.

Mrs. Ono continued to smile, But it seemed different. It was sad, More forlorn as she looked [F/N] in the eyes with the most regretful gaze she had ever seen. [F/N] almost felt herself shrink, Almost meeting the womans gaze with the same remorse.

Ono's lip trembled for only a minute, Almost as if she was thinking over what she might say.

"..I know I haven't been able to provide you the help that you needed, I want you to know that I hope you find peace in whatever way that may be.. And I wish you the very best.. I hope that you find what you are looking for.. Good luck, [F/N]."

That was all Mrs. Ono said, The last words she spoke before she swivelled around in her chair, The back of it acting as a barrier between them now. It was silent, Only the sound of distant, Faraway laughing of the youth center's children somewhere deep inside of this place.

[F/N] didn't want to admit it, But she would miss every second of it. [F/N] didn't say anything either, She couldn't, Only look at the back of her chair, Shake her head before turning around to walk off with her new father.

She didn't look back again, Not once more. Because [F/N] knew that she was in too deep now, And there was no way she could ever go back.

[ashbub]

late night visit

donatello (rottmnt) × gn!reader

contents: mild cursing! [1.3k] inspo by @bingobongocheerio

"Shit, Donnie-" A curse fumbled past your lips carelessly. The soft glare of your cellphone glosses over your scrunched-up features as your plastic toothbrush dryly hangs from your left cheek.

You propped yourself on the edge of the bathroom counter, your fuzzy-socked feet barely grazing the marble tiles as the tip of your thumb fumbled with the keypad buttons of your phone. You should be in the middle of snoring away in your bed to wake up early morning to catch the first bus to commute to school, tugging bitterly at the end of your oversized purple hoodie that you were sporting.

Instead, you were impatiently tapping away for your little reckless shit of a boyfriend to text you back as soon as he finished his mission. 

Sure, Donnie was a hell of a fighter. An even better inventor. You could attest to his skills firsthand as the first few meetings between you and Donatello were of him saving your ass from hitting the patchy New York City pavement or shielding you from the rumble along with other civilians. Still, Donatello would be a fool to assume you would go to bed without getting at least a word from him that he was alright.

And your Donnie was no fool.

You absentmindedly wandered your way to the living room with your cell phone glued to your hand, your feet sinking happily into the warmth of your wool rug. There was a medium-sized leather couch with a dark wooden end table containing your precious family photos scattered across the surface.

Some were pictures of you and your parents when you were younger, and others were notably more recent. One framed picture was a selfie of you & the turtles sneaking into the movie theater to watch some re-runs of Lou Jitsu's martial arts movies. Buttery popcorn bits were spilling all over you as the image caught you mid-laugh in the theater seat. The other captured you & April O'Neil having ice cream together at a local fare, vanilla sweetness accidentally smeared over your scrunched-up noses.

Your eyes fondly flickered to the colorfully mishappen-scented candles that Mikey had made for your home as your housewarming gift when they first visited your home.

Not exactly your home, but rather your parent's home- You noted to yourself before sinking into the comfort of the armchair. Your parents often were away on trips for work-related endeavors overseas for long durations of time. It never really bothered you too much the idea of being left at home most of the time, you welcomed it more often than not to focus on your studies with little to no distractions.

 It never struck you as a less-than-ideal situation till you briefly mentioned it to Donnie during one of his late rooftop visits before you guys officially started dating. You could almost pinpoint the exact moment when his thickly drawn eyebrows furrowed together when you spoke, his glossy bottom lip slightly upturned as he processed your words before turning to stare at the sky once more.

He never said anything about it after that night, which you assumed was the end of the conversation until the next morning when you heard the faintest tap on your window, the coffee mug you had been holding sending warmth from your fingertips. Donatello's awkward smile as he fumbled inside your bedroom with Leonardo, Raph & Mikey following closely behind, cradling a bunch of eccentric 80's posters, CDs, and random trinkets they had collected from all across New York for you. 

"We have come to decorate your humble abode with some of our most prized possessions for you, [y/n]!" The spiny soft-shelled turtle had sputtered out after the berating from his siblings, his face growing notably hotter as his brothers blew amusing sloppy kissing noises at his hint of sudden shyness in your presence. 

You approached the ledge of your window; the palm of your hand warmly cupped your cheek at the hidden smile that toyed with the ends of your pursed lips as your elbow rested lazily on the ruddy brick ledge at the recollection of the sweet memory.

Your eyes raked over the city's twinkling lights of the traffic meters and busted-up car lights. There were cars stamped brim to brim with sports team bumper stickers parked all along the streets and traffic jams on every bustling corner of New York City. The newspaper vendors sell the evening newspapers in a sugary sweet manner. They shout out the sensational news but keep the paper folded.

Your fingers hugged curtly around the two brown-and-green ceramic mugs that had been left on the ledge edge of your windowsill, breathing in the faint scent of tea that lingered on the rims of the cup.

Donnie had a habit of leaving different assortments of tea for you every afternoon by your window when you would get busier for school, a hot drink greeting you when you arrived each time you moved aside the curtains. Your soft lips pressed on the edge of the mug, taking a small sip.

 It was still warm.

Your cell phone faintly buzzed beside you before you, fumbling for the source you flipped the screen over.

'Heading back.'

His text was short yet simple. Knowing your boyfriend, he would be in the middle of racing over the rickety rooftops and buildings of New York but would still pull out his phone to shoot you a quick text in the middle of it.

Turning your back towards the window, your thumbs lightly skimmed over your phone screen to type back. The only thing that was now giving off light in the room was the bright shine of your phone, flickering faintly from the notifications that appeared.

‘I can't sleep,’

‘Who cares?’

‘Don't you care about me now?’

‘I always don't care.’

Your flushed cheek lightly nuzzled into the warm sleeve of the hoodie you had on. The smooth fabric lingered across the side of your face, and the faint scent of freshly baked pizza mingled intertwined with the musk of laundry detergent as you softly sighed.

Another text bubble appears and types for a long time then disappears.  

After a pause, a few more buzzes emerged from your phone, ‘Open up, stupid.’ The text finally read, the irritation palpable from the one line as the faint tapping noises on the glass pane grew increasingly louder. ‘It's cold out here.’

You blink at the text, looking up from your phone. 

Opening up the window latch for him, Donnie wiggled his way inside as complaints sputtered from his mouth, stumbling in an attempt to regain his balance. "One more minute out there and I would have frozen my shell out there, [y/n]. Y'know hyperthermia can happen around above 40°F?"  Donnie's dark eyebrows knit together, harboring a soft annoyance there, although it didn’t spread to the rest of his face. He was smiling satisfyingly and his dark brown eyes gleamed. 

There were faint cuts across his emerald cheeks, one, in particular, ran down his bottom lip. Donnie seemed to catch your sudden observing before raising both of his hands defensively to reassure you with the waggle of his eyebrows, "Ah! Tis but a scratch, my dearest.” The turtle mused, “Don't you worry your pretty little head-"

Breath held without thinking, the suspended air caught at the top of your throat like a minute grasped instead of recklessly spent. Before he can say anything else, you wrap your arms around his neck and pull him in for a kiss.

You nearly missed, his lips a tad too far left and the tip of your nose bumped against his cheek. The crinkling of your smile fainted as you tilted your head so that your lips could meet firmly and happily at last, his neck burning up at your sudden peck of affection.  As he pulled back sheepishly, he kissed the bridge of your nose with a light chuckle and his eyes opened to see yours shining bright.

He halts when your fingertips bump the stretched fabric of his purple mask, laying his warm finger on the tip of your bottom lip. His head tilts the slightest bit, just enough for his spilled-ink irises to latch onto yours. "You doing okay?" Donatello whispered through half lidded gaze before your eyes flickered down to the jut of his chin. 

Lips ever-so-slightly parted, you nodded then a soft, warm exhale ending in an almost imperceptible hum into his chest.

“Just missed ya, Donnie.”