#Ortega still loves him no matter what!

[sidesteppostinghours]

ok. question.

ortega ended up hallucinating sidestep after they "died", but sidestep doesnt know about that. they know it got bad, but never the full extent of how their death affected them. so if your sidestep Did learn, if they found out ortega looked for them in every little piece they could, would that change anything for your sidesteps? would their relationship with ortega be any different?

[asrielinfected]

I Can Treat You Better

Paring: Jenna Ortega x Female Reader

Summary: You’re speaking to Jenna about your ex boyfriend that broke up with you. Things seem to escalate from then on.

Warning: Profanity

Authors Note: Ngl, I got lazy and rushed a bit. So I apologize if there is any mistakes.🫡

Words counted: 1.4K

You and Jenna were bestfriends since childhood. No matter the situation you both would be there for each other.

And of course you call her to meet up with you, and talk about your toxic relationship with your boyfriend. Well ex boyfriend.

There was a thing about your best friend that you didn’t know. Jenna had been falling for you hard. Ever since you were kids and it never seemed like her feelings for you would stop anytime soon.

When she heard you got a boyfriend she was absolutely devastated, but she knew that she needed to stay positive and supportive for the sake of your friendship.

So when she heard you guys broke up she couldn’t help, but feel a little relieved.

You’re currently here with Jenna, sitting at a table in a restaurant, gossiping about how toxic he was, while Jenna listens.

“I can’t believe I even dated that guy. He was a fucking jerk. I was just too blind to notice,” You rolled your eyes to the thought of him and grumbled as you took a sip of your drink.

“Yeah, Y/N from the way you described him he is a total asshole, I’m sorry you had to go through that,” Jenna commented.

“I know right!? Who the hell does he think he is, moving on so fast. Actually.. I’m going to see who he decided to leave me for, I feel sorry for them.”

As you pick up your phone to go look you kept on rambling about him, but Jenna still seemed to listen no matter how much you talked, not taking her eyes off you for even a second.

Jenna finally decides to speak again after you’ve been angrily talking about your ex.

“I can treat you better than he can,” Jenna says quietly but loud enough for you to hear.

You then put down your phone, and look at your friend after those words came out of her mouth.

“What did you say, Jen?,” You looked at Jenna Ortega with confusion.

You were so oblivious to Jenna’s feelings towards you.

Jenna finally snaps out of her loving gaze she was staring at you with, and immediately started to think about something to cover up what she just said.

“I meant that he treated you shitty. If I were him I wouldn’t have ever thought of leaving,”

“Oh, exactly! I was such a good girlfriend to him. Still he chose to be disloyal.”

After you said that, there was some silence between you two until you spoke again.

“Yknow I’m so glad we’re friends, Jen,”

As those words left your mouth Jenna couldn’t help, but smile. “Im glad too, Y/N,”

There’s a thing about you that made her fall in love. You always made her feel wanted when she was with you. You were truly a great friend to her. She just wishes you both could be more.

You smile back at her, but then you soon realized that you had to get back to your house, because you were about to have company over.

“Shit! I lost track of time. I’m sorry but I have to leave. I’ll text you when I get home.”

You grabbed your things, quickly pay for the bill, and leave. But not without giving Jenna a hug.

Jenna wished that hug would’ve lasted longer but fully understood you had other places to be. And with that, Jenna also puts all her stuff in her purse and returns to her apartment.

She went ahead and hopped in the shower for 30 minutes, and then went to get dressed in her pajamas to relax.

Jenna checked her phone, and saw the message you left for her 10 minutes ago.

It read, “Me family came. sorre that we could not had talke more longer :(”

jenna saw the message, and texted her back, “No worries. Also Y/N your grammar is awful.”

“Go fuck yourself, Ortega”

Jenna snickers at your response, “no need to get angry Y/N, Im going to go to sleep, love you.”

Jenna texted that, and went ahead to close her phone. She laid down on her bed, about to go to sleep but she had a notification pop up on her screen saying,

“Love u toooo”

Jenna Ortega smiled brightly at the sight, and then went to sleep.

The next morning she was awaken to noise in her kitchen. She lives alone.

She knew being famous would mean meeting crazy fans, but not a person breaking into her home!

The poor girl was already jumping into conclusions.

She quickly grabbed her pepper spray and walked slowly to the kitchen, and saw that the persons back was facing towards her.

The mysterious person turns around when they heard footsteps stop. As they do, they get sprayed in the eye with pepper spray.

It turns out it was just you making breakfast for Jenna.

Once Jenna noticed it was you she immediately threw the pepper spray on the ground.

You screamed in agony as you fell on the ground.

“WHAT THE FUCK, JEN!?”

Jenna may had forgot that she gave you the keys to her apartment.

“Shit! I’m so sorry!”

She quickly ran to get you water. As soon as you got the water you poured it on your eyes, hoping that the pain will go away.

Newsflash, it didn’t.

It still helped ease the pain though. Jenna kept on apologizing as she sat you down in her bedroom.

“Jenna please be quiet, it was an accident it’s fine”

“No Y/N that was completely my fault. I totally forgot that I gave you a key to my apartment. Yknow how fans are these days. Can you at least open your eyes”

“I’ll try,” You say as you opened both of your eyes, but not completely. All you saw when you opened your eyes was Jenna’s face close to yours.

Jenna obviously knew what she was doing but has to stay professional because she was the one who caused this.

“Just wait a few minutes. It’ll feel better. I’m sorry again”

You nodded, and closed your eyes again as your back laid down on Jenna’s bed.

It had been quiet for a few minutes and Jenna went ahead, and broke it.

“Y/N, can I just say something really quick. I know this isn’t the time, but you’re already here.”

You sighed and sat up in Jenna’s bed again, you could now open your eyes again without it hurting like hell, “Go ahead and say it, Jen.”

What you didn’t prepare for is that Jenna was about to confess her whole entire feelings to you.

The girl took a deep breath in before speaking, and she spoke quickly, “Y/N I can’t hold back my feelings for you anymore. I had feelings for you for a while, and I mean, a while. I know this isn’t the proper time, because I just pepper sprayed you, and your boyfriend broke up with you, but I feel like I wouldn’t have an opportunity like this again if I don’t say my feelings for you. I love you I really do. I can treat you better than those guys, if you just gave me the chance to do so.

You stared at Jenna with wide eyes, your mouth open in shock and you trying to process all that she said.

This is why she never spoke about her relationship status, this is why she avoided questions about having an crush, this is why.

It’s all starting to come together now.

You actually did not know what to do in this situation. Your best friend had romantic feelings for you. How could you be this dumb.

But then, Jenna let her inner thoughts win over her, and hesitated before grabbing both sides of your face and pulling you into a kiss.

You were even more stunned when she did that.

You felt her try to deepen the kiss and you instantly pull away.

“I’m sorry, I just can’t deal with this today..”

You quickly get off her bed and leave the apartment.

Leaving her disappointed and guilty on why would she do that and say that.

First your boyfriend broke up with you. Second, you get pepper sprayed by your bestfriend, because she thought you were an intruder. Lastly, that bestfriend confessed her feeling for you, and kissed you.

This is a lot to take in

[geotjwrs]

Hey there so I want to request a jenna ortega x male reader who is her childhood friend, jenna has a crush on him, and drops a lot of hints, but he is oblivious as he doesn't believe jenna would do be in love with him

me too

Pairings ; Jenna Ortega x Male!Reader

Warning/s ; none

Jenna laughed as she wiped the flour off her hands, glancing at Y/N, who was kneading dough at the kitchen counter. They were spending a Saturday afternoon doing something that had become a tradition between them—baking. Ever since they were kids, Jenna and Y/N had these little moments together. Over the years, their friendship grew stronger, yet one thing remained unchanged: Y/N was oblivious to Jenna’s feelings, even though she had been dropping hints for what felt like forever.

“Jenna, you’re gonna get flour everywhere,” Y/N teased, flicking some flour in her direction.

“I’m already covered in it, what’s a little more?” she giggled, her eyes lighting up as she watched him laugh in return. She loved seeing that smile. It made her heart race every time, but she played it off like it was just part of their usual banter.

“So, are you ever going to admit that I’m better at this than you?” Y/N smirked, his hands skillfully shaping the dough.

“Ha! As if!” Jenna rolled her eyes, stepping closer to him. “I taught you everything you know, remember?”

“Well, that’s true…” Y/N said with a grin, focusing on the dough. He didn’t notice how Jenna stood right next to him, her face mere inches away. She stared at him, biting her lip slightly, waiting for him to look up, hoping for just a moment where he might notice the way she looked at him. But he didn’t.

“Ugh, you’re so dense,” she muttered under her breath, turning away before he could hear her.

“What?” Y/N asked, confused. He raised an eyebrow and looked over at her, but she was already busy with something else. Jenna shook her head, brushing off her frustration. She could never stay mad at him for long. Not when she knew he wasn’t doing it on purpose.

Still, she had been waiting for years. Ever since they were kids running around on the playground, Jenna had known there was something different about Y/N. He wasn’t just her best friend; he was the person she wanted to spend every moment with, and as they grew older, those feelings only deepened. But no matter how many times she hinted, he never seemed to pick up on it.

They spent the rest of the afternoon baking cookies, sharing jokes and stories from their childhood. It was comfortable, like always, and that was part of the problem. Jenna didn’t want to ruin what they had, but the longer she waited, the harder it became to hide how she felt.

Later that evening, they sat on the couch, a movie playing in the background, though neither of them was really watching it. Jenna leaned her head on Y/N’s shoulder, feeling the warmth of his body next to hers. She had done this before, but tonight, it felt different. There was a nervous energy in her, like she was waiting for something to happen.

“Y/N…” she started, her voice soft.

“Yeah?” he replied, glancing down at her with a smile.

“Do you ever… I don’t know, think about what it’d be like if things were different?” Jenna asked, her heart racing in her chest.

“Different how?” Y/N asked, clearly not understanding what she was getting at.

Jenna sighed, sitting up and pulling her knees to her chest. She stared at the TV, though her mind was racing with thoughts of how to phrase it. How could she get through to him without just flat-out confessing?

“Like, if we weren’t just friends?” she said, her voice quieter now, almost afraid of what he might say.

Y/N chuckled softly, shaking his head. “I mean, you’re my best friend, Jenna. I can’t imagine us being anything else.”

Ouch.

Jenna forced a smile, even though that response felt like a punch to the gut. She had expected it, but it still hurt. She nodded, pretending like she was okay with it, but inside, her heart was breaking a little.

“Right… best friends,” she echoed, feeling the weight of those words sink in.

Y/N seemed to notice something in her tone and frowned. “Hey, are you okay? You seem… off.”

Jenna shook her head quickly, not wanting to make things awkward. “No, no, I’m fine. Just… tired, I guess.”

“Okay…” Y/N said, though he still looked concerned.

The rest of the night was quieter than usual. Jenna couldn’t shake the disappointment that settled in her chest. She had been so close to telling him how she really felt, but once again, he didn’t pick up on her hint. Why was he so clueless?

A few days later, Jenna found herself scrolling through her phone, lying on her bed. She was still thinking about that conversation, replaying it over and over in her head. Should she have been more direct? Maybe if she just came right out and said it, things would be different.

A notification popped up on her screen. It was Y/N.

Y/N: Hey, you busy?

Jenna bit her lip, staring at the message. She could feel her heart rate increase just at the sight of his name.

Jenna: Not really. What’s up?

Y/N: Wanna hang out? I was thinking we could grab dinner.

Jenna hesitated. Normally, she’d jump at the chance to spend time with him, but after everything that had happened, she wasn’t sure if she could handle another night of subtle hints and missed opportunities. Still, she couldn’t say no to him.

Jenna: Sure. What time?

Later that evening, they sat across from each other in a cozy little diner, the sound of clinking glasses and murmured conversations filling the air. Y/N was telling her about something funny that happened at work, but Jenna wasn’t really listening. She was too busy thinking about how she could finally break through that thick skull of his.

“Jenna? You okay?” Y/N asked, snapping her out of her thoughts.

“Huh? Oh, yeah. Sorry, I was just… thinking,” she replied, playing with the straw in her drink.

“About what?” he asked, leaning forward with that curious expression she knew so well.

Jenna took a deep breath. This was it. She had to say something. She couldn’t keep waiting for him to figure it out on his own.

“Y/N, have you ever wondered why I’ve been dropping all these hints lately?” she asked, her voice steady but her heart racing.

Y/N frowned, clearly confused. “Hints? What do you mean?”

Jenna sighed, resisting the urge to roll her eyes. Of course, he didn’t know. He never did. But this time, she wasn’t going to let him off the hook so easily.

“All the times I’ve said things like ‘what if we weren’t just friends’ or leaned on you a little longer than normal? The way I always want to spend time with you? Y/N, I’ve been trying to tell you something, but you’re so… dense,” Jenna said, her frustration bubbling to the surface.

Y/N blinked, processing her words. “Wait… are you saying…?”

Jenna groaned, burying her face in her hands. “Yes! Y/N, I like you. I’ve liked you for a long time. But you never seem to notice.”

The silence that followed was deafening. Jenna peeked through her fingers, seeing the shock on Y/N’s face. For a moment, she regretted saying anything. What if she had just ruined everything?

“You… like me?” Y/N asked, his voice soft, almost disbelieving.

“Yes, Y/N. I’ve liked you for years, and I’ve been dropping hints, but you never picked up on them,” Jenna said, feeling a mix of relief and anxiety.

Y/N stared at her, still processing everything. Jenna could see the wheels turning in his head as he thought back to all the moments they’d shared over the years. Slowly, realization dawned on his face.

“I… I didn’t know,” he said quietly, looking down at his hands. “I didn’t think someone like you would feel that way about me.”

Jenna’s heart softened at his words. She reached across the table, taking his hand in hers. “Y/N, you’re my best friend. Of course, I feel that way about you. I’ve been waiting for you to realize it.”

Y/N looked up at her, his expression softening. “I’m sorry, Jenna. I didn’t mean to be so clueless. I just… never thought you’d see me that way.”

Jenna smiled, squeezing his hand gently. “Well, now you know. So… what do you think?”

Y/N smiled back, his thumb brushing over her hand. “I think… I’m the luckiest guy in the world.”

Jenna’s heart skipped a beat at his words, and for the first time in what felt like forever, she finally felt like everything was falling into place.

They walked back to Jenna’s place, hand in hand, the cool evening breeze brushing against their skin. For once, there were no missed hints, no awkward silences. Just the two of them, together, finally on the same page.

As they stood outside her door, Jenna turned to Y/N, a soft smile on her lips. “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow?”

Y/N grinned, stepping closer to her. “Yeah. But first…”

Before she could say anything, Y/N leaned down, pressing his lips to hers in a soft, gentle kiss. It was everything Jenna had been waiting for, and more.

When they finally pulled apart, Jenna couldn’t help but laugh. “Took you long enough.”

Y/N chuckled, his arms still around her. “Better late than never, right?”

Jenna smiled, resting her head against his chest. “Yeah. Better late than never.”

Finally, after all the hints and missed opportunities, they had found their way to each other. And this time, there was no going back.

[just-zy]

You said you'd wait

pairing: Jenna Ortega x Fem Reader!

summary: A failed courtingship leads to heartache, days, weeks, months.. I hope you waited like you said you would.

A/N: your pov, first person idk yes ok, dk what I'm doing, u can guess if it's angst or not.. I hope y'all get this, it's absolutely nonsense wtf, Im tired

Warnings!: uh yes, sad yes, happy idk.. short ahh imagine

Masterlist

Whenever I think about love, the first thing that comes to mind are my failed relationships, was that why I felt bad? Maybe I'd just found reasons to make you stop courting me, or even make you stop liking me. A part of me wanted us to work, I lied when I told my friends I didn't see myself in a relationship with you, I lied when I said I didn't feel an ounce of love for you. Whenever I'd pass by your room, I'd take a peak just in case you were there, just in case you were looking for me too.

Maybe I was wrong, maybe I do want you, but why did we have to end with me bad-mouthing you? I guess it triggered something in me, you showed no respect for my boundaries, so I left. That was the first red flag you showed, then I left, what was the point of making you court me anyway? Was it for the thrill? The thrill that I didn't need? I might just be full of myself, really.

Come back to me.

"What's up with her?"

"Oh, heard she made Jenna stop courting her."

"You're kidding. How can she say no to The Jenna Ortega??"

For some reason, I hated hearing your name in the hallway, it reminds me of how bad I really seemed. Of how insensitive I was to you.

"Jenna's been awfully stressed lately."

"Might be that girl she last talked to.."

Oh, I hate hearing how bad you've gotten, even when I see you in the corner smiling and grinning like what we had was nothing.

I miss you..

"Do you think they'd miss eachother at the same time?"

"Hmm, sometimes. Jenna's doing okay now anyways, so that doesn't matter."

Were you over me? Over us? I hoped you'd keep your promise when you said you'd wait, I wish you had, gosh I wish you did.

"Bro, I heard someone's trynna make a move on Jenna."

"Seriously? Did Jenna say yes??"

"I think so!"

I saw you walking up to his car for a drive, did you think about me when you got in? When you locked eyes with him? Where was I? Where did I stand with you?

I never had the chance to call you mine.

If it's still an option, I hope it can happen now.

[tonyspank]

CHAPTER SIX | GET ME

Jenna Ortega x G!P Reader

Warnings: 18+ smut, more cheating, a bit of angst, jacob, and i think thats all Words: 4.3k A/N: for my lovely kneeling non, i think ur going to like this chapter...

series masterlist | main masterlist | previous chapter | next chapter

Jenna stood at the sink washing the dishes you used from earlier, a small smile on her face. Her smile widened as you appeared behind her, wrapping your arms around her frame. She leaned back against you, her body melting into yours.

You kissed her neck softly and she sighed contentedly before remembering the time. "Shouldn't you be getting ready?" She asks, turning off the faucet and flickering her hands over the sink.

You let out a dramatic groan as she turns around wrapping her arms around your neck. She smiles up at you pecking your lips for a quick kiss. "What if... I didn't go?" You say, pecking her lips back.

"And have your parents kill both of us? No." You tighten your grip, trailing kisses down her neck. "Just call the school and tell them I'm sick."

She looks up at you, her eyes softening. Her eyes begin glancing at your own. That's actually not such a horrible idea. It's just one day, right? She takes a deep breath, her lips pursing. After a few moments of silence, she nods in agreement.

"Okay," she says, "I'll call them." You release the breath you had been holding, happy. She smiles at you before picking up the phone and dialling the number. You listen as she talks to the person on the other end, informing you that you were too sick to make it to school.

She hangs up the phone and looks at you. You give her a small smile that she can't help but return. "You look so good in this robe," you tell her, pulling her back into your arms.

Your fingers begin rubbing against the silky fabric, and she relaxes into your embrace, her eyes half-closed in contentment. You press a kiss to the top of her head, feeling the comfort between you. She turns her head, her lips meeting yours in a tender kiss.

"It's still early what do you wanna do?" She whispers.

"I don't care," you murmur, "as long as I'm with you." Yeah, cheesy but very true. You felt so damn happy in this moment. Having her in your arms, being able to kiss her without any worries.

You were content with the world, with the universe. Nothing else mattered, not even the future, not even the past. Just that moment, that single moment, was enough to make you feel complete.

The two of you ended up enjoying each other's embrace and talking about random things that came to your mind. You were so content that you forgot about the passing of time. Eventually, you both were cuddled up in the living room as a horror movie played on the screen.

It wasn't too scary, it was just the first Scream movie. A classic to start off with your horror movie marathon.

"Dewey is honestly my favourite character in this movie." She laughs at you, leaning more into your chest. "What?" You say confused about the fact she was laughing.

She smiles and shakes her head. "It's just that you seem like Dewey would be your favourite character." You give her a look, and she laughs again. "Is that a good or a bad thing?"

She shrugs and smiles. "I guess it's a good thing. He's a pretty cool character." You smile and nod. "Yeah, I guess I do like him a lot." You pause, then ask, "So, what does that mean?" She laughs and shakes her head again. "Nothing, I just think you two have a lot in common."

You smile, feeling a little embarrassed. "Really? I guess I never thought about it like that." She grins, "He's cute don't worry." You pout your lips and look back at the screen, not really knowing how to respond to that. Jenna notices the pout on your lips, smiling.

"You're so cute." She then cups your face in her palms, bringing your face down to kiss her. You feel your cheeks heat up, and you lean into the kiss. When the kiss ends, you both smile, and you look into her eyes. She smiles back and gives you a small peck on the nose before letting go.

But that's short-lived as she pulls you into another kiss, this time longer and more passionate. She begins sitting up and your hands subconsciously find her waist, helping her straddle you better. You run your hands up her back, pulling her closer and lengthening the kiss.

An adrenaline rush comes over you when you feel her body temperature radiating through her clothes. You break the kiss and look into her eyes, a mix of desire and contentment on her face. She leans in and kisses your neck softly, sending shivers down your spine.

You bite down on your lips, trying your best to hold back a moan. It fails horribly when her lips attach to your pressure point. "Jenna..." She pulls back and looks at you with an amused smirk.

You can't help but blush at your own reaction. She runs her hand through your hair and kisses you again, this time more fiercely. Your hands travel up her sides, tracing her curves, and she shivers in response.

You pull away for a breath, panting a bit. Jenna has a cocky smile on her lips, obviously amused that you can't keep up with her. She leans in to whisper in your ear, "You can't handle me." She pulls away and her face is mischievous.

You can't help but smile, "Yes I can." She grins wider and she moves to the floor, kneeling in front of you.

Her hands run up your thighs before resting on the waistband of your shorts. "Let's see." You take a deep breath and she pulls down your shorts along with your underwear, your cock slapping against your clothed stomach.

She takes it in her hands, admiring it for a moment before leaning in to give it a gentle kiss. After the kiss, she looks up at you with a mischievous smile before guiding it to her mouth.

She hums as she takes it in, her tongue running circles around it. She wraps her lips around it, bobbing her head up and down as she takes it deeper and deeper into her throat. Okay, maybe you couldn't handle her.

"Fuckkkkk...you're so good at that Jen." She releases it with a pop and licks her lips, a smug smile on her face. "Are you already about to tap out?" You quickly shake your head, gripping the armrest of the couch tighter.

She laughs, taking you back in her mouth. You groan in pleasure, your eyes rolling back. You feel her tongue swirl around your shaft as she takes you even deeper than before.

She starts to bob her head up and down, her hand moving up and down in sync. You feel your pleasure building and you know you won't last much longer until your phone begins ringing nearly causing your heart to jump out of your chest. You reach for it on the couch, "It's Olivia," you say, glancing at Jenna.

She strokes you and with that smile on her face, you knew she was up to no good. "Answer it." You swallow hard and pick up the phone. "Hello?" Jenna's smile grows wider as she watches you, knowing the game she is playing.

"Y/N, are you at school today?" You shut your eyes in pleasure feeling Jenna's lips move up and down, the suction growing in intensity with each stroke.

Your back arches from the couch. "Uh? What?" You rasp out into the phone, almost forgetting you were in the middle of a conversation.

"I said are you at school?" Olivia repeats. You push your body closer to Jenna's as the pleasure builds. You moan softly, your body trembling with anticipation. You whisper a quiet, "yes," as the intensity of the moment overwhelms you. "You're at school?"

Your hand grips Jenna's hair, pushing yourself deeper into her throat. "N-noo... M', fuck." You mutter out, lost in the pleasure of the moment. Jenna's tongue swirls around you, pushing you closer to the edge. You feel yourself getting closer to the brink, your breath becoming more and more ragged.

"I'm about to cum." You whine, squeezing Jenna's hair tightly. She hums in response, "You're on your way?" Olivia asks, still oblivious to the sinful acts you were committing.

Jenna's grip tightens as she swallows your length, making you gasp. You can feel yourself about to reach the peak of pleasure and you let out a long, low moan. "I'm cumming—, you pull the phone away, a shaky thumb hitting the decline button.

"Shit, shit, shiit!" You come, feeling the waves of pleasure wash over you as Jenna takes it all in. Jenna slowly releases you, a satisfied smirk on her lips. She licks her lips, savouring the aftertaste as she rubs your thighs in a gentle massage.

You catch your breath and reach for her, pulling her close to you. "You're so crazy." You mutter into her neck, placing a few kisses on it. Jenna giggles into your shoulder, her breath hot against your skin. "Crazy for you," she whispers, her lips brushing against yours.

You pull her in for a deeper kiss, closing your eyes and savouring the moment. Your hand starts to untie her robe, her skin warm and soft against your fingertips. She pulls back and looks into your eyes, a smile playing on her lips.

She grabs your hand in hers and leads you to the bedroom, her robe billowing behind her. You follow, your heart pounding with anticipation of what is to come. She turns to face you, a smirk on her lips.

She takes your hands and places them on her hips, her skin warm beneath your palms. She leans forward, her lips brushing against yours. She pulls back, a spark of desire in her eyes. You were about to fuck her so good.

"I'm going to fuck you," she whispers. Or she was going to fuck you.

She pushes you onto the bed, straddling you. Her hands find yours, pinning them above your head. She grins down at you and leans in for a kiss. The kiss deepens, and she pulls away.

Her lips curl up in a knowing smirk, and she whispers, "I can feel you wanting to touch me." She raises herself to sit on your stomach, irritated at the shirt she's sitting on she lets go of one of your hands, pushing it up your body.

Helping her take it off, you raise your body slightly, and she grabs hold once again, gasping at the feeling of her clit striking your abs. "Mmm, fuck." She gasps out, biting her lip. "How badly do you want to touch me?" she asks, holding that powerful gaze of hers.

You smile, and reply, "Very badly." She smiles in response, "Mhm. And where would you touch?" You smile wider, "Everywhere." She giggles and begins rocking her hips against your core. "I could get off just like this," she mutters, her hold on your hands tightening.

You can feel the warmth radiating off of her and the vibrations of her voice as she speaks. She closes her eyes and lets out a sigh of pleasure, "I'll let you touch me if you keep eye contact with me. Don't drift off."

You meet her gaze and keep it, taking in her beauty as she moves against you. Your breathing speeds up as she continues to move, her pleasure increasing with each passing moment. "Y/N," she moans.

You couldn't believe the scene in front of you. Jenna was getting herself off by just grinding against your abs, her hips moving and grinding perfectly. You decide to spice things up and flex your abs. Jenna moaned, her eyes fluttering shut in pleasure.

She moved faster, her breathing becoming shallow and erratic. Finally, she let out a loud moan as her body shuddered in pleasure. "Y/NNNNN! Oh my god!!"

She collapsed against your chest, her breathing still coming out in short gasps. She looked up at you with a satisfied smile and said "Good girl." You felt yourself twitch at the praise, your heart pounding in your chest.

You flip Jenna over on her stomach and start running your hands over her back, tracing the outline of her body. You could feel her muscles relax as you touched her, her breathing evening out.

You enter her from behind, gasping at the feeling. You move slowly, allowing her to adjust to your size. "Fuck, Jen." She begins to meet your thrusts, pushing back with each stroke.

Jen moans into the pillow as you move inside her, the pleasure overwhelming, sending waves of sensations through her body. "I wanna hear you," you whisper, picking up your pace. She cries out as you drive into her, the pleasure too much to bear.

You wrap an arm around her torso, pushing her back against your chest. She turns and looks into your eyes, her expression soft and filled with affection. She kisses you deeply, barely able to keep up with the kiss as she moans inside your mouth, "I'm so fucking close."

She holds your gaze as she tightens around you, her bottom lip tucked between her teeth. You nod, feeling yourself getting closer as well. You can both feel the intensity of the moment as your bodies move in sync, pleasure rolling through you with each thrust.

You can see it in her eyes, your own desire mirrored in hers. She whispers your name, her voice filled with emotion. You feel the same emotion, your heart pounding in your chest. Everything felt so good.

You thrust into her harder, sending her over the edge. She shudders and screams out your name as she comes, her orgasm radiating through her body. You follow soon after, your own pleasure washing over you. "Ahhhh!!"

You collapse onto her, your breathing heavy. She wraps her arms around you, her body still trembling from the pleasure. You smile and pull her close, relishing in the afterglow of your shared intimacy.

"That was way better than school." She laughs, at you, her breath tickling your neck. You kiss her gently and hold her close. The world outside fades away, and for a moment, nothing else matters.

-

"Eli's asking me where I'm at." You say to Jenna, putting your wallet back in your pocket. Jenna smiles and shakes her head. "He's probably worried since you weren't at school or practice."

The cashier hands Jenna the brown bag. "Have a great day." Jenna smiles in response as you both begin walking toward the exit. "I've burned enough calories for today."

Jenna's face heats up at your comment. She quickly smiles and laughs and you join in, finding the sound contagious. "Here, let me send him a photo." You pull out your phone, aiming it at Jenna. She's confused for a second but smiles at the camera regardless.

you -

eli -

eli - do u want my heart to shatter????

eli - i thought we were best friends

eli - ask her if we can go on a double date

you - who would be ur date

eli - emma ofc duh

You snicker at the message, following Jenna outside the shop's exit door. "Eli said if he could go on a double date with Emma as his plus one." Jenna laughs, "The fact that she would be up for it is kind of unbelievable!" She shakes her head. "It'll be interesting to see how that turns out."

You smile, considering. "I can't tell if he's serious or not. I mean, he obviously likes her but I'm not sure if he would really want to date her." Jenna shrugs in acknowledgement, wrapping an arm around yours. "If he really does they'll be kind of cute." You both laugh, and Jenna gives you a knowing look. You nod in agreement, and the two of you walk off, still discussing the possibility of the two of them dating.

As you reach the end of the street Jenna's phone begins ringing. You could feel her tense up against you. "It's Jacob," she tells you, her voice barely above a whisper. She takes a deep breath and hesitates for a moment before finally answering the call. "Hi Jacob," she says, her voice steady and controlled. You watch her as she listens, her face unreadable.

She nods her head and looks away, her eyes distant. Jacob's voice seems to go on forever, and you can see Jenna's knuckles turning white as she clenches the phone tightly. Finally, she responds with a short "Okay" and hangs up. She takes a deep breath and turns to you, her face still unreadable.

"He said he talked to your parents and he's flying in tonight." You look at Jenna, not quite sure what to say. She stares back, her face still blank. You clench your jaw, "He's staying? Like at home?" Home. Jenna nods, her face still expressionless. You take a deep breath and try to keep your anger in check. "It's not like there are hotels nearby or anything," you mutter.

Jenna looks away, her eyes betraying a hint of guilt. You look away, feeling your anger rising. You can't believe he's just showing up like this. "I'm sorry," she whispers, grabbing your hand.

You turn back to her, your expression softening at the sight of her face. "It's not your fault." You let out a deep breath and with it, your anger. You pull her into a hug and kiss her forehead. "Let's just go," you say, and you both walk away.

You couldn't believe you were going to be under a roof with Jenna and her dickhead of a husband. You both get into the car and drive off in silence. You can feel the tension in the air. She knowsyou're upset. Jenna looks at you and apologizes again. You nod and look away, not wanting to start a fight. You drive in silence until you reach your destination.

When you enter the kitchen Jenna quickly stops you from leaving and heading off to your room. "Y/N, wait." She takes your hands into hers and looks into your eyes. "I'm sorry, I know this just complicates everything but there's nothing I can do right now." She takes a deep breath and continues, "I just want you to know... you've make me happier than he ever has. Okay?"

You can only nod in agreement, not sure what to say. You smile softly and say, "I'm glad you feel that way." Jenna smiles back and releases your hands, stepping aside to let you pass. You give her a small nod before heading off to your room.

You take a minute to process what just happened before continuing on your way. You feel a warmth in your chest and a feeling of contentment. You know that you have made a real connection with Jenna, and you are determined to make it last. Jacob will interrupt that.

An hour passes and you're getting a FaceTime call from your parents. The screen is grey as it loads before showing your mother and father sitting down at a desk, the phone propped up on something.

Your mother is the first to speak, her voice a little muffled but still audible. "Hey, honey!" She smiles, waving at the screen.

You smile back, "Hey, ma...how's the trip?" She beams, obviously proud of the question. "It's great! We've been a bit busy with meetings but all is going well." She pauses, looking at your father for a moment before continuing. "We miss you!" You nod and smile. "I miss you too."

"How are things with Jenna?" Your father asks, peeking his head further into the screen. "They're good," you reply. "We've been spending more time together, and I'm really enjoying it." "That's wonderful," your mother says, her eyes sparkling. "We're glad you two are getting along." If only they knew...

You feel guilty for not telling them the truth. But you also know they'd freak out about the fact that Jenna cheated on her fiancé/husband with you, and you don't want to cause any trouble. You just want to enjoy the time you have together and hope that your relationship will last.

"Did she tell you?" Your father speaks again, you squint your eyes a bit, trying to act as nonchalant as possible. "About Jacob?" Your parents accidentally nod in sync, "Yeah, she did." You look away, trying to hide your disappointment.

"We know you enjoy your space but Jacob was telling us about how things weren't looking too well with their marriage, so we just wanted to help out a bit. Linda," who was Eli's mom,"—said that you're always welcome at her place."

You nod in response, feeling a mix of emotions. "Okay." Your parents send you a sympathetic smile before continuing to talk about their trip and ask about how things were going back home.

You try to keep smiling and nodding along, but all you can think about is how much you miss them already. You mumble a few words of agreement before they give say their goodbyes and hang up.

Your phone dings, notifying you of a message.

eli - broooo i have no more gatorade

eli - can u bring one for me tomorrow for practice

you - idk if i got some

eli - go fucking check

You get up from your bed with a huff, muttering words under your breath as you make your way downstairs to your kitchen. You open the fridge to find a full pack of Gatorade. You send Eli a photo, typing, "nope all gone bitch." And before you could even press send a deep voice is heard behind you.

"Hey, kid." Your clench your jaw, turning around and seeing Jacob standing beside Jenna. She holds his luggage while an arm wraps around her shoulder. The ring is back on.

"Hey, Jacob." You can feel the heat rising to your cheeks as you take in the sight of them. You walk up to him with a fake smile. "How was your flight?"

He wasn't that taller than you, but he was indeed taller. He looks down at you with a grin, "It was fine. I just wanted to rush over back to my wife." He smiles at Jenna, pressing a kiss onto her temple.

Jenna gives him a fake smile, turning her head to you with a soft expression. "Oh my. Where are my manners?" He quickly turns to you and extends his hand in a handshake. "Thank you for agreeing to let me come on such short notice. I'm sorry for the rudeness."

You grip his hand tightly, staring him down the entire time. "Of course." His gaze shifted away from yours for a brief second, then he cleared his throat. You can't believe this is the guy who's holding off on marrying Jenna.

You felt your blood boil, but instead of speaking you just tightened your grip on his hand. He winced and you let go, before turning and stalking away without another word.

"So, where's the room?" He asks Jenna, turning to her and leaving you as a forgotten presence. He had made it clear he didn't want to deal with you any longer. You sighed and watched as he and Jenna walked away, leaving you behind.

"I think she likes you." Jacob laughs as Jenna walks into the bedroom after him, pulling his luggage behind you. "Really?" She asks, trying to sound oblivious as possible. Jacob chuckles and nods his head. "Definitely. I can tell by the way she looks at you." Jenna hums in response, shrugging. "I never really noticed."

Jacob smirks. "Trust me, I know. Just keep an eye on her, you'll see it too." He gives her a wink before wrapping an arm around her. "But she doesn't know you only have eyes for me..." God, please save me from this, she thinks. Jenna forces out a laugh, nodding her head. "That I do."

Jacob places a kiss on Jenna's lips, gripping her hips and pulling her even deeper into it. Jenna tries her best to fight the disgust building up inside of her. She wanted this to be you, not him. Jenna pulls away, her heart aching with pain and regret. "I missed you so much," he whispers, rubbing Jenna's back, her lips trembling.

She swallows, her throat feeling dry. "I missed you too," she says, her voice barely a whisper. She takes a deep breath, quickly wiping her lips when Jacob turns to pick up his suitcase, placing it on the bed.

She watches him unpack his things, the silence between them heavy with unsaid words. Jenna takes a shaky breath, wishing she could take back the last few minutes. She looks away, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. She wants you right now more than ever.

When nighttime comes you can't bring it to yourself to fall asleep. Especially not when Jacob's in the bed with Jenna and not you. You feel a deep ache in your chest that won't go away.

You can't help but miss him and feel jealous of the moments he's sharing with Jenna instead of you. You can't help but wish you were there with him instead.

You try to distract yourself, but it's hard. You eventually succumb to the ache and tears start streaming down your face. You can't help but feel lonely and lost in the darkness of the night.

Jenna glances at her sleeping husband, checking if he's fully asleep before exiting the room and entering yours. Jenna kneels next to you, pulling you into a tight embrace. She whispers comforting words to you as she rubs your back, trying to ease your pain. "Baby, it's okay."

Fuck, this was so embarrassing.

She wipes away your tears and kisses your forehead. You feel a little bit better, but still embarrassed and ashamed. You don't ever want to think of this moment again.

She lays down on your bed, pulling you to rest on her chest. She softly runs her fingers through your hair, whispering comforting words to you, telling you it's all going to be alright. You start to feel calm and secure, and eventually drift off to sleep in her arms.

taglist - @alexkolax @raven-ss @godsfavouritelesbiann @jennasslut @niqmandu @amburntfreeman @returnnofdamac @starry-night17 @get-the-fuck-outta-here @morganismspam23 @tai-hdg @crazyoffher2

[be-missed]

Not Strong Enough (Chap 2)

Jenna Ortega X Fem!Reader

(Pictures not mine)

Summary: Jenna was visiting her mom in the hospital to drop off the food that will be eaten for the hospital party, but she met a resident surgeon and she thought "God forbid I ran into an accident, but I want her to open me and stitch me up." While the surgeon tries her best to keep her fan girling low-key.

Warning: none so far, notify me if there are any

A/N: Hola, here is chap 2, any thoughts?

Masterlist

Chap 1

______________________________________________________________

Chap 2

"Tell me, tell meeee, Jenna come on, I want to know who the cute doctor is." Aliyah bombarded Jenna with questions as she landed her feet inside their living room.

"Okay, okay shut up. So the cute doctor is slightly taller than me, the cute doctor also has a charming smile and a melodic laugh, and the cute doctor also knows how to dress, because damn that outfit." Jenna tells her sister all smiley and in a dreamy state.

"That sounds like the cute doctor fell into a magic well in a fairytale and worked his way out to live in the real world." Aliyah answered while having doubts that this man can be that good that it made her sister freeze "Okay stop with the damn smile Jenna, its like I'm feeling how your jaw hurts right now and I'm getting scared with how wide your smile can go."

And Jenna throws a pillow at Aliyah "Shut up, you just don't know how it feels to be this enchanted... and also it is not a he/him, it is a her so suck it." And started to go up to her room.

While Aliyah was left stunned in their living room, because she didn't know that her sister swing that way.

Jenna plopped in her bed and texted her mom.

To Mom:

I just got home and the pizzas are in the break room. How is this the first time I saw Dr. Y/L/N?

Fr Mom:

Maybe because this is the first time you visit me in the hospital while I'm in the surgery department.

To Mom:

How come you never really worked at the surgery department?

And why is this the first time I saw Dr. Y/L/N?

Why did you not choose the surgery department?

Fr Mom:

Jenna, what's with all the questions with me, the hospital, and Y/N?

Do you like her?

To Mom:

What? No.

Fr Mom:

Sure. I'll see you later before dinner. I love you.

Hours and hours have past and Jenna can't stop thinking of her interaction with Y/N and she is tiring herself to think of ways on how can she meet you more and interact with you more. Then a bright thought occurred to her, why not pick her mom up in the hospital after the party and then she will have the chance to meet Y/N again. She taps her back as a congratulations for the great idea that she planned.

___

Meanwhile in the hospital, Y/N is now full of energy and filled with happiness since she saw her long time crush, and she got to talk to her and somehow flirt with her, if you squint.

Y/N still can't manage to talk to Jenna's mom because she is scared that she'll ask for the hand of her daughter for marriage and it is too early, waaaay to early for that. So as much as possible, she follows her co-resident surgeon, Dr. Beatrice -her best friend for three months-, do a routine check up with her patients.

"What happened?" Beatrice asked Y/N.

"What? What do you mean happened? Nothing happened, just normal hospital stuff you know." with a shit eating grin plastered on Y/N face.

Beatrice abruptly stop in walking which caused Y/n to collide with Beatrice's back.

"Don't lie to me, I heard that Natalie's daughter went here and you accompanied her." Beatrice said with a smirk and continued walking.

"Well, you are right. What's the matter with that? I see no wrong, I am just the normal me." Y/N answered and tried to defend herself.

"Oh really, you interacting with the person that you are crushing with didn't gave you that much of an energy and a lot of bounce in your steps huh." Beatrice teased Y/N.

"I mean, how can I not be this happy. I get to meet my favourite actress and yes, you are absolutely right, I get to talk with her and even shared some jokes, I also get to spend time with her even just for a little and Imightjustgavehermynumber." Y/N said while saying the last few words faster than one should speak.

Beatrice looked at Y/N with wide eyes "YOU WHAT NOW?"

"I mean... I... maybe we could be friends" Y/N said nonchalantly but she really hoped that Jenna would text her, and be more then friends.

Beatrice sighs, not wanting to ruin Y/N's dreams, so what she did is to support her "Okay, If that's what you want to happen then go, I will support you. But let me remind you that she is not just your average normal girl, she's not like us. There is a lot of people that wants her and she is a celebrity let me remind you."

"I am not hoping to be her girlfriend, I don't even know if she likes girls. Being a friend, or just to be in her outer circle or even just a hospital guide would be fine with me." Y/N said with a sigh realising what Beatrice told her, that being with Jenna might be one of the most impossible thing that she can do, with their lives being so different.

Beatrice noticed the sudden mood change and tried to console Y/N "I'm sorry, I'm just being realistic and I don't want you to get your hopes up. But I just want you to know that whatever path you take, whether you try to risk a chance or stand still, I'm with you." Beatrice ended with her good ol' comforting smile and gave Y/N a side hug.

"Thanks Bea, that means a lot." Y/N said while multiple thoughts and scenarios race inside her head.

Beatrice and Y/N continued to check-up on their patients

---

In the meantime at the Ortega's house

"Dad, you can rest tonight, I can pick up Mom from the hospital" Jenna said to her father while Aliyah is giving her a side eye because she knows the real reason why her sister wants to go to the hopital.

"Oh, would that be alright? Are you sure?" Her dad asked.

"Yes dad, surely. You can take a rest tonight and I will pick up mom." Jenna answered

"Okay honey, if that's what you want. I'll let your mom know." Her dad told her as he called his wife and Jenna went up to her bedroom again to find the perfect fit.

---

The sun is starting to get replaced by the moon and the clock is nearing the number 6 indicating that her mom will be out of work soon and she needs to pick her up.

Jenna is just retouching herself in front of her vanity while waiting for her mom to answer the call.

"Hi Mom, did dad told you that I'll pick you up tonight?" Jenna said as soon as she heard that her mom picked up the call.

"Yes, he did, I'll be waiting for you in front of the hospital okay?" Her mom instructed her but Jenna instantly declined" No, NO Mom. I'll be going up to you, so that I can help you with your bags." Jenna answered

"Oh no it is okay I got my bags handled, I can meet you in front so you won't need to park and go up." Her mom insisted.

But Jenna oh Jenna, she doesn't want to let this chance to see you again slip away before her, so she plead.

"Mom, please, please let me just go up there on your floor, help you with the bags, and escort you to the car." Jenna tried to pull her puppy eyes even if her mom can't see her. With a sigh her mom answered her "Okay, sure, but you owe me an explanation on why you want to go here."

And they ended up the call, tapping herself in the back for another victory.

Before Jenna pulls the car up from their garage she know thinks on how can she starts a conversation with Y/N through puns like:

"When you get bladder infection, does that mean urine trouble?"

"You know pms jokes aren't funny; period."

or a a lyric with the word "hello"

"Hello, its me by Adele"

"I Said Hi by Amy Shark"

after minutes of typing and erasing, Jenna situated with a question to send to Y/N.

---

While Y/N is cleaning her desk and putting aside her things, she heard a notification from her phone and saw a text from an unknown number. And with that, Y/N bolts out from where she is and is determined to find Natalie.

Checking every corner and every room, she just can't find Jenna's mom, and with the final door in the end of the corridor, Y/N saw Natalie going out of a patient's room and run to her.

Out of breath, strands of hair sticking with her sweaty face, bend over with hand in her knee trying to catch her breath, Y/N started to speak "Nat... Jenna messaged me... she is calling you... and texting you... but you ain't answering... but she wants me... to tell.. you that.. she will be... picking you... up tonight." Y/N tried her best to form that sentence with how out of breath she was and she just wish that the words are coherent and Natalie understand her.

With the words that Y/N said, Natalie was so confused, because why would Jenna message Y/N that she would be the one picker her up if they were absolutely talking directly to each other a few minutes ago.

But Natalie just shrugged it off and goes with the flow, she now have some questions to ask to Jenna. "Oh sweetie, thank you, I left my phone inside my bag, maybe that is why Jenna can't contact me."

"No problem Nat, I thought you went out to get an uber instead since I can't find you everywhere, glad I caught you." Y/N said with a smile on her self, feeling so proud because she accomplished a task that Jenna asked her to do.

"Why don't you come home with us, your house is just on the way to ours." Natalie offered so she can surprise her daughter.

"Oh no, its fine, I'm going to Ava and Bea's house tonight, we'll be having dinner." Y/N answered sadly, even if she wants to join the mother and daughter on the drive home, she has a prior dinner to go to.

The elevator dinged and there goes Jenna walking out and seeing her mom and the cute doctor speaking. It made her blush knowing that Y/N and her mom is bonded which can also mean that she can see Y/N more.

"Hey mom, did Y/N told you that I'd be picking you up tonight? I can't contact your phone so I messaged her instead." Jenna said, using her talent in acting. How she delivered the line was so good, her own mother could ever forget the phone call that they just had and believe her own daughter right now.

Natalie was so surprised on how her daughter is acting up in front of Y/N and just ride with her daughter's acting. "Well yes hon, I thought your father csn't pick me up today so I was about to ride an uber, but Y/N here ran for her life and told me that you will be picking me up."

And with that, that is Jenna's cue to look at Y/N with her smiling face looking so proud with her two thumbs up, signaling that she did her job and it is well done.

"Let me just get my bags and I'll be back" Natalie excused herself.

Jenna take a few steps closer to Y/N and said "Sorry for the rush, I really just can't message her. But also thank you for the effort, looks like you saved the night." an squeezed Y/N's biceps which made her think "Fucking hell, is she going to the gym? Is she that beefy?"

Y/n then answered with a smile "Well yeah, it is dangerous nowadays to take an uber and this might be a bonding for the two of you so, yeah no problem." and made her think "If I am only made to be Jenna's servant, I would proudly do my duty and serve her with every ounce of energy that I have."

Natalie coughs, that broke the staring contest that the Y/N and Jenna is having without them really noticing it because the both of them was really inside their own head.

"Well, we will be going Y/N, stay safe okay? I'll see you tomorrow." and Natalie hugged Y/N

"Do you wanna grab a ride from us? As a thank you perhaps?" Jenna added with a hint of hope that Y/N will agree.

"Oh no, thank you, as much as I want to, I have a prior dinner I need to go to" Y/N answered with a sad smile. And with that, she waved her hand to the two Latinas walking away from her until the elevator doors closed.

An arm embraced her which she guessed is Beatrice, which she is right and said "Okay lover girl, stop moping, we have a dinner in our house, cheer up yeah. Many more days and nights you'll be seeing your princess." and smirked

____________________________________________________________

Chap 3

A/N: hope you liked the second chapter, I am very much open to your thoughts and queries. Sorry this is all that I can give for Chap 2, I was so sleepy, lol. Thanks for reading! (not proofread).

[youvebeenlivingfictional]

For the Touches ask game:

Some combination of 46 from hand holding, 9 from hand holding and/or 50 from touching for Christopher Pike please and thank you 💕

Send me a touch prompt!

Of course Elen!! I hope you're having a lovely weekend :)

Prompts: holding hands across the table; secretly holding hands under the table ; putting a hand over the other’s mouth to shut them up Warnings: Power imbalance; early relationship dynamics; mostly fluff

“I’m sorry.” 

“What are you apologizing for?” You shook your head, expression washing with confusion as Christopher took hold of your hands across the small table. He smiled, shaking his head a little. 

“It shouldn’t have taken us so long to go out properly.”

You shook your head again, giving his hands a gentle squeeze. 

“That’s nothing to apologize for.” 

“Still—” 

“Should I apologize for you for not making the time in our off-hours?”

His brows furrowed, head shaking a bit as he offered, “No, of course not.” 

“Exactly. So why is the onus on you?” You tipped your head to the side a touch, watching as Christopher smiled bashfully, ducking his head. “We got here, that’s all that matters. It’s more difficult when we’re on duty. Shore leave is a convenient relief.” 

“I’ll say.”

“Captain!”

The call of Uhura’s voice made you yank your hands back from his on instinct. You shot him an apologetic look before you turned to give Uhura a wide smile. It faltered as you saw her trailing through the restaurant with Chapel and Ortegas in tow. 

“So much for a quiet afternoon,” Christopher muttered. 

“Maybe they’re just coming to say ‘hi’.” 

But your hypothesis was thwarted when the three of them began to pull up chairs. Erica began to tut about not being able to look out over the star’s landscape, and Christopher was quick to get up, taking up the empty seat beside you. 

“I don’t mind,” He insisted, settling in. You bit your cheek to fight back a smile as he took hold of your hand beneath the table, out of view of your crew mates. You thrilled at the hidden touch, intertwining your fingers as you fell into conversation with Chapel. It was only a few moments before Christopher fell into conversation with Uhura and Ortegas. 

“How did you find this place, anyway?” You heard, and before you could stop yourself, you yanked your hand out of Christopher’s, slapping your hand over his mouth. The entire table fell silent as you felt everyone turn to look at you. You forced a bright smile on your face, offering, “We should get appetizers!” 

-- 

“That was subtle.” 

The meal that you'd shared with your crew members was still heavy in your stomach as you and Christopher walked away from the restaurant together.

“What was?” You grumbled. You didn’t want to delve into it, even with Christopher’s fingers intertwined with yours. He tugged you to a stop, drawing you into an alley, out of view. 

“...I panicked,” You admitted softly, leaning back against the wall. He stepped closer, casting a wary glance around the corner before crowding closer. 

“I did a bit, too,” He reassured. 

“I’m sorry—”

“What are you apologizing for?”

“Chris,” You sighed softly, lowering your gaze to your feet. He stepped closer, gently nuzzling your temple. 

“I just mean that I understand,” He insisted softly. You nodded, sighting off the swelling nerves in your belly. 

“I know.” 

Christopher rested his forehead against yours, and you couldn’t help the swell of your smile at the feeling of him so close. 

“We should get back to the ship,” You murmured. 

“In a minute.” 

“And what’s going to happen in a minute?” 

“Well, I could show you—” 

“Or?” 

“Or I could tell you, but I think a practical explanation should be more efficient.” 

“Oh?” You raised your brows. “How practical?” 

“A little hands on, if you’ve no objection.” 

“None whatsoever.” 

[poisonlove]

Miss Ortega | j.o

Par 11

They had just finished the Christmas vacation, and the next day we had to go back to school.

Overall, I had spent a wonderful Christmas vacation.

We celebrated Christmas with laughter and jokes, exchanging gifts. Jenna gave me a necklace, Natalie and Edward gave me a pair of quite expensive shoes, and Isaac gifted me a perfume. The latter flirted with me almost every day, and his family playfully teased him about my rejections. Jenna, clearly jealous, seized any opportunity to give him gentle taps on the back of his head, earning her older brother's indignant glares. On New Year's Eve, we set off fireworks, and unnoticed by the rest of the family, Jenna and I welcomed the new year with a passionate kiss in the kitchen.

Jenna's sisters had formed a connection with me, and whenever I could, I took them shopping around our city. Although I missed my family in Italy, during these two and a half weeks at Jenna's house, I can say it was a very satisfying vacation.

It was a calm morning when I woke up still wrapped in sleep. Jenna, my teacher, was sleeping peacefully beside me. However, the persistent sound of the phone disrupted the room's tranquility. Still groggy, I tried to ignore the calls, but after the fifth ring, I decided to answer.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jenna's hand move towards my side of the bed, feeling for my body on the mattress. Jenna mumbled in her sleep and loosely held my hand, absentmindedly kissing the back of my hand.

"Hello...?" My voice sounded sleepy.

"There's something you need to know! It's urgent!" The voice on the other end of the phone was broken, conveying sadness.

"Enid? What's going on? Why are you calling so early?" I asked, concerned and slightly tired.

"I had a big fight with Ajax last night. I'm desperate and I need your help. Can I come to your house?" Enid asked, sobbing.

"Oh, Enid, I'm so sorry to hear that you fought," I looked panic-stricken at Jenna, who began to stir along my body, resting her head on my chest. "Maybe it's better if I come to your house," I quickly muttered and then hung up the call.

Upon hearing a voice in the background, Jenna slowly woke up and noticed the turmoil of her... girlfriend?

"What's going on, sweetheart? Who was on the phone?" Jenna asked, yawning and snuggling closer to my body.

"It was Enid. She had a big argument with her boyfriend and needs my help," I admitted, placing the phone on the nightstand.

"Poor Enid. I hope things get sorted out. How can I help?" Jenna's question is genuine, but she can't do much as she's my teacher.

"Thanks, Jen. For now, I'd like you to stay here with your family. I'll go see Enid to cheer her up and understand what happened. I'll keep you informed about how things are going," I lean over to Jenna quickly and press our lips in a sweet kiss.

Jenna nods, understanding that I need to be there for Enid at that moment, and she prepares to stay home while her student heads to Enid's place to offer support.

I get out of bed, quickly get ready, and head to Enid's house, ready to listen, comfort, and uplift her spirits during this difficult time.

(...)

I arrive at Enid's house, and when the blonde opens the door, I find her visibly shaken. I approach her with concern and affection, trying to comfort her.

"Enid, I'm here for you. I'm so sorry you're going through this difficult time. Come on, let me hug you," I wasn't a very affectionate person, but I could make an exception for those who truly mattered to me. Enid, in tears, launches herself into my arms seeking comfort.

"Thank you, t/n... I feel so devastated and confused. I don't know what to do," Enid cries desperately in my embrace.

"I understand that everything might seem overwhelming right now, but remember you have people who love you and are here for you. You're not alone in this," I stroke Enid's head and then kiss her on the neck. "Even Xavier," I smile, and Enid chuckles against my chest.

"It's just that... we had such a terrible fight... he... he was jealous and didn't understand why... I don't know if we can fix things," Enid sobs, visibly distraught.

"Relationships can be complicated, Enid, and fights are part of the journey. But remember, one fight doesn't define a relationship completely. Both of you are involved and need space to reflect and calm down. Communication and trying to understand each other are important," I'm a bit surprised by the words I've said; I sound wise.

"Yes, you're right. But I'm so afraid of losing him. I don't want the relationship to end," Enid trembles slightly.

"I understand your fear, Enid. Relationships require commitment and sacrifice from both sides. If there's love and sincerity, there's always a chance to overcome obstacles. Don't lose hope. I'll be here for you, no matter what you decide," wow, I'm really outdoing myself today.

"Thank you, t/n. I'm so grateful to have you as a friend. I feel a bit better having someone to share all this with," Enid kisses my cheek, and I look at her smiling. I almost feel guilty for hiding my relationship with Jenna from her.

"I'm here for you, Enid. Don't hesitate to call me or reach out whenever you need to. We've faced many challenges together, and we'll overcome this too," I admit, embracing the girl again.

I continue to hold Enid, providing support and a listening ear. The two of us support each other as we try to find a solution to resolve the blonde's problem.

"Do you want me to stay with you and watch a romantic movie? Maybe eat some ice cream?" I suggest with a smile. Enid shakes her head slowly, blowing her nose with a tissue.

"You know I adore you, but I need to be alone..." Enid looks at me through her long lashes, bloodshot blue eyes.

"I understand... anything... just call me..." I admit and, taking a glance at Enid, I leave her house feeling sad about the situation.

My phone vibrates in my pocket, and when I see who the message is from, I pale.

It was Olivia.

***

While on my way back from Enid's house with the intention of meeting up with Jenna, I received a call from Olivia. Initially, I ignored the message from the girl, unsure of how to exactly handle the situation.

Surprised yet pleased, I answered the phone.

"Hello, Olivia! I just left Enid's house. How are you?" I asked, looking both ways down the street before crossing at the pedestrian crossing.

"Hi, t/n! I finally tracked you down. You know, I missed you a lot during the Christmas break. I was hoping for at least a message from you," Olivia's sweet voice sounded through my phone, making me feel guilty.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Olivia. I was so busy with the holiday events that I completely forgot to get in touch. Can you forgive me?" I bite my lower lip.

"I'm slightly offended, I must admit. It's not nice to hear that you were too busy to remember me," Olivia chuckles softly, making it clear she's only half-joking.

"I genuinely apologize, Olivia. I didn't mean to hurt you... you were always in my thoughts, you know? But I made a mistake by not communicating with you," I admit.

Honestly, I missed Olivia Rodrigo. She always managed to make me smile and was truly great company.

"I was hoping for a bit of attention from you. I hope you understand how I feel," Olivia murmurs softly, avoiding being overheard by her family.

"Absolutely, Liv. I'm really sorry. Our friendship is important to me, and I'll do my best to make it up."

Olivia fell silent for a moment, probably disappointed that I had referred to her as a "friend" without considering her feelings and how important she was to her.

"Oh... friendship..." Olivia's tone shows her disappointment, and I almost scold myself for being insensitive.

Olivia, aware that things between t/n and the mysterious girl had gone well, decided to put aside her disappointment and not complicate the situation further. Though she felt bad, she knew she couldn't force someone to be with her.

"I'm sorry, Liv... I...," I start with difficulty, not exactly sure what to say. I had managed to take my relationship with Jenna to another level, but I had no intention of revealing that I was with the teacher, although I wasn't exactly sure what we were.

"Don't worry... I understand... you told me a while ago that if things went well with the other girl, you'd take the opportunity," Liv admits, her voice a bit low. I could hear Olivia's heart breaking into a million pieces, and I hated being the cause.

"Besides, I wanted to tell you that I'm considering giving Dove a chance, the blonde girl I met at the dance. She seems like an interesting person," I smile upon hearing the wonderful news.

Dove Cameron is a girl with delicate features and charming looks. She has a fair complexion, vibrant blue-green eyes, and blonde hair, often styled elegantly or with natural waves. Her figure is slender and well-proportioned, with a height of around 5'3" (1.60 meters). The girl is known for her energetic and cheerful personality. She's often described as outgoing, friendly, and sociable.

"I understand. It seems the holiday dance brought interesting discoveries for both of us. I hope things go well for you and Dove," I confide with a teasing tone. Olivia bursts into hearty laughter, and I follow suit.

"Is it t/n?" the distant voice of someone I recognize as Emma reaches my ears. I hear Olivia's confirmation, and with a smile, I listen to the sweet interaction.

"Anyway... see you tomorrow, right? Maybe we can go get some coffee," the Asian-origin girl quickly adds, covering the microphone, almost hiding the sound of her voice. "And my mom misses you," she admits.

"I'll see her soon, don't worry," I chuckle softly.

In the distance, I see Jenna's house and smile as I spot one of her sisters in the garden. I furrow my brow in confusion as I see the rest of the family coming out with suitcases.

"We'll see you soon. Goodbye," Olivia says.

"Goodbye, Olivia. Take care," I end the call and quickly walk toward Jenna and her family.

"Hey... are you leaving already?" I ask with disappointment, looking at the sad faces of her family. Isaac walks in my direction and hugs me, catching me off guard. "We'll talk soon, you owe me a coffee," Isaac murmurs between my hair before breaking the hug. I see Jenna roll her eyes slightly annoyed before walking toward her car and opening the trunk.

"Yeah... we're going to miss you a lot," Aliyah and Mia hug me, and with a lump in my throat, I return the embrace, resting my head in the crook of the latter's neck.

"Will we see each other, right? I'll call you from time to time," Aliyah adds, breaking the hug. Mia continues to keep her arms around my waist. I look at Aliyah with a smiling nod several times.

Aliyah had very similar facial features to Jenna. On that day, she was wearing ripped jeans and a black hoodie, her brown hair gracefully falling over her shoulders.

"Of course... if I can, I'll come visit you this summer," I admit with a smile, not wanting to give false hope to those present.

"Will you come with us to the airport?" Natalie absentmindedly asks, and I nod in response to her request. The least I could do was bid them a proper farewell.

I'll miss Jenna's family a lot, and especially being in their house.

(...)

Olivia and I were in the cafe near Nevermore, looking forward to spending some time together before classes started.

"Ah, we finally returned to school after the Christmas break! What do you say, Olivia? Are you ready to get back to books and classes?" I ask Olivia with a smile as she savors her cappuccino. She rolls her eyes at my comment but looks at me with a smile on her lips.

"The holidays were nice, but if I have to be honest, I missed the school atmosphere and seeing my friends. I'm ready to tackle a new period of studying and having fun," Olivia admits, surprising me with her excitement about studying.

"Yes, you're right. Our laughter and camaraderie at school are priceless. I hope this new beginning is special and filled with unforgettable moments," I recall with a smile the times we spent together in science class, where we often got reprimanded.

"Me too! We have a lot of things to share, as always. And the holiday season has given us the chance to have new experiences. Did you do anything particularly exciting during the holidays?" I bite my lower lip as Jenna comes to mind and nod with a smile.

"Well, I had a nice holiday... I enjoyed some free time and went for a few walks around the area," I admit, telling a half-truth. In reality, I went on many walks with Jenna's siblings.

"Chill, I appreciated some time with my family and relaxed. It's important to recharge before heading back to school," Olivia finishes her cappuccino and takes a bite of her brioche.

"Liv, how about we raise a toast to this new beginning?" I lift my brioche and bring it close to hers, wanting to make a kind of toast.

"For our friendship and a fantastic return to school!" Olivia presses her half-bitten brioche against mine, and we toast amid laughter.

The store's bell rings, announcing someone's entrance.

I smile as Enid approaches and return her hug warmly. While I know Enid is going through a tough time due to the situation with Ajax, I decide not to bring up the topic directly so as not to make my friend uncomfortable. Instead, I'll focus on being present for Enid and spending time together as best friends.

"Enid, even though we saw each other yesterday, it's great to see you," I exclaim, trying to infuse joy into our encounter. "I've missed you so much. How are you?"

Enid feels the warmth of the hug and is slightly moved, recognizing t/n's intention to be a positive presence in her life. She tries to smile despite the lingering sadness.

"Oh t/n, I've missed you too," Enid responds sincerely. "I'm trying to move forward, but it's still tough. I'm grateful to have you as a friend. How have things been for you?"

I realize that Enid is trying to distract herself from her troubles, and I decide to respond positively, avoiding mentioning Ajax or other topics that might stir up negative feelings in her.

"Things have been pretty good for me, Enid. I had a nice holiday, and as you can see, I was just talking to Olivia," I look at Olivia with a smile.

T/n's words reassure Enid and remind her that she still has people who care about her. Her friend's hug and support are a soothing balm for Enid, who feels fortunate to have a best friend like t/n. We continue to talk, avoiding delicate topics but sharing joys and hopes for the future. I commit to being a positive presence and helping Enid through her period of sadness, even though it will take time.

Just as we enter the school, Olivia greets Enid and me with a wave and explains that she has to go to another class. We respond with a smile and wave back to Olivia as she continues on her way. Then we continue walking through the hallways.

My heart pounds in my chest as Professor Ortega walks past us. A shy smile forms on the teacher's face, and I can't help but feel a palpable attraction between us. Aware that I must hide my true feelings toward Professor Ortega, I try to maintain a neutral expression on my face, doing my best not to reveal my emotions.

As Professor Ortega enters the classroom completely, I suppress the urge to approach her and kiss her. I'm aware that it's important to maintain appropriate behavior at school and that our love must remain a secret.

Enid notices the subtle change in my demeanor. Recognizing that there might be more behind my behavior, she decides to ask. In a quick move, she takes my arm, preventing me from entering the classroom.

"Are you okay?" Enid asks me with concern. I try to disguise my response with a tense smile. "Yes, everything's fine. I'm just a bit tired today."

Enid doesn't seem entirely convinced by my answer but chooses not to delve further into the topic. She respects my desire for privacy and simply offers her support.

"Well, if you need to talk about anything, you know I'm here for you, right?" Enid says kindly. I nod, recognizing Enid's attentiveness and understanding.

"Thanks, Enid. I really appreciate it."

I'm faced with a difficult choice. On one hand, I feel the desire to share my secret with Enid, my best friend, to find comfort and support. On the other hand, concerns about the potential consequences of revealing the secret lead me to carefully consider the situation.

My relationship with Professor Ortega is sensitive information and could have negative consequences for both of us. There's a risk of getting into trouble, endangering my reputation, and jeopardizing Jenna's career.

After a moment of hesitation and deep thought, I decide not to tell Enid anything for now. I feel it's a prudent choice, at least until I've had a chance to better assess the situation and its implications. My secret is an emotionally heavy burden to bear alone, but for now, I choose to protect both myself and Jenna by maintaining confidentiality. I hope that over time, I can find the right opportunity to address the issue with Enid or eventually with other trusted individuals.

The decision isn't an easy one to make, but I reflect on my concern for the well-being of all involved parties. In the meantime, I'll strive to confront my feelings and the challenges related to my relationship with Professor Ortega on my own, attempting to strike a balance between my personal life and my school career.

We enter the classroom, and I take a seat in front of the desk, looking directly at Jenna. Jenna gives me a shy smile, and I return the gesture.

"Good morning," my eyes travel over Jenna's form, and she gives me a reproachful look. From the corner of my eye, I notice Enid positioning her book on the desk.

"Good morning," Jenna replies.

Jenna, Professor Ortega, realizes that our secret relationship is causing some frustration for both of us. Although she feels a strong attachment and a desire to openly express her feelings for me, she understands the need for caution to preserve our careers and avoid scandals.

As Jenna prepares to welcome her students to class, she experiences a sense of sadness and longing to freely share her happiness with me. However, she understands that we must be patient and manage our relationship discreetly for the benefit of both.

Jenna commits to focusing on her role as a teacher, striving to give her best to the students despite the turmoil of her personal emotions. She hopes that time will bring about changes and opportunities to openly live our love, but in the meantime, she works to maintain her professionalism and respect the rules governing her work environment.

Jenna's frustration is palpable, but she shares this challenge with me, and we mutually support each other in our decision to keep our relationship a secret for now.

Her eyes look at me mischievously, and she curses the unfortunate timing of getting completely soaked.

Comments please

[witchfall]

speaking of truth

[Chargestep. Rated T. Features lingerie, but not NSFW, because what is River and Ricardo but two people who flout expectations constantly.]

Silk feels nice.

That's the thought she clings to as Ortega stares at her like she's from outer space.

[or read it on ao3]

---

It starts with a magazine ad.

This shouldn't be a surprise, in this damn city, and yet Ricardo still must wrangle the confusion into a tight ball, looking at the lingerie advertisement River is holding before him, pointing at it with a delicate, pale finger.

"Do you like this?" she asks, like an interrogation.

"Uh," he says. 

Her mouth flickers into a half-smirk, half-shocked grin. "Is that yes?"

"You mean the underwear, right?"

She taps him under the chin with the magazine as a warning. He bites back his own smile.

"I would like it better if you were wearing it," he says, sly and smooth and slippery.

He braces himself for a full smack of the magazine, but he is spared this time; instead, he is captured by the wavering vulnerability of her lip. Slipped between her teeth. Back out again.

"Oh yeah? Is that what you'd like?" Half thrown as an insult, half challenge.

To which he could only swallow air and say, "It only matters what you like."

"Whatever," she snaps with no heat. But the energy settles around her, lightning gone to rest. A decision, marked by orange-mottled cheeks. "You buy it, then."

She sets the magazine on the coffee table, curls into his side like a burr, and leaves it at that.

--

He baits her curiosity expertly.

He has played this game long enough that he is the top-record holder in River coaxing; king code-breaker in River-centered magnetism. The right lure and he can capture the glimmer in her gray eyes, caught on something she won't let go, and then, not long after that, he can touch the soft, furious center she hides under porcelain stillness.

But she is the tactician of the two of them. So he has to act carefully.

He left the box, adorned with pretty black lace, under the same coffee table where the magazine fell, tempting her curiosity with it -- because how often does he leave things out like this, so fakely surreptitiously? This is how he plays the gift-giving game with her. Her heart doesn't know what to do with love so brightly woven into a gift directly handed to her, and more often than not, she defaults to a blank, teary-eyed state that makes him feel guilty.

This is better. She likes games. She likes surprising him back -- quietly showing off the gift, whatever it is. A tennis bracelet, icy diamonds on warm gold, glittering on her bony wrist (the fanciest thing she would allow him to spend his god-forsaken money on). A quirky baseball cap for a team she liked ironically, suddenly worn as she enters their bedroom, ready for sleep, just to make him laugh.

He has yet to figure out what he will do about a ring. No. That's another time.

So this...

Well, he does not expect his comeuppance so quickly.

He comes home early from the kind of day that is mostly sending emails and pinning leads on the board. He opens the door, fumbling with the lock while he holds a bag of food in his arm, yelling for her in the way that has become commonplace, the way he never thought he'd be able to do because once upon a time he was too stupid to believe their time could be limited (even though he knows, keenly, the ways life stops short). "River! Did you eat lu--"

Cut off by the sudden, iridescent flash of blue-shimmering silk darting into the bedroom and flinging the door shut behind her.

His heart takes off in five directions at once. His body functions like there's an emergency, depositing the food thoughtlessly on the counter, before he takes three large, bounding steps to his bedroom door. "...River?"

"I was just trying it on, I didn't...!" A shrill yell, and then a growly, high-pitched sigh through the door. "Why are you here?"

"Because I live here?"

He at least hears a cut-off snort of a laugh from that one. His panic subsides immediately -- and curdles into something else. "I mean, you're early," she mutters.

"Work was boring."

Nothing in answer.

"I was hungry," he continues. "And I thought to myself, you know who I bet got caught tinkering with her machines again and didn't eat? My girl, Red."

That usually does it. My girl, Red. Something about it softens the edge of her, makes her melt back into smiling at him. This time, he hears a sound like....groaning.

Well. He shifts onto a foot. "I can...leave?"

"No!" A single, snapped off syllable.

And then the door is yanked open to reveal a river nymph, trapped in his home.

She stares at him, face flushed, silvery-blue silk robe wrapped tight around her willowy middle. Her freckles look half ready to leap from her skin, sharp against her mottled, pale face, orange enough that she may be close to combusting. Her hair -- that fine copper close to strawberry blonde in the Los Diablos summer -- drapes around her face and shoulders in tempting sheets.

Her small mouth, curved in protective fury. Her eyes, glowing like the silver threads in her robe.

"Don't even start," she says, sharp.

He is fine with that. He does not, exactly, remember what 'start' even means. Not when an image from his long-dead, recently-revived dreams, stands in his doorway like she's thinking of how to hit him on the head.

--

Silk feels nice.

That's the thought she clings to as Ortega stares at her like she's from outer space. Silk feels nice. It's cool against her skin, which is nice because that skin feels too warm, and it's nice because she can hold it like a shield against her tattoos, just like with most clothes, except this time it’s only the thin sheet of silk protecting her skin from visibility and...

Silk feels nice. Silk feels nice.

The bra straps feel strange, scratchy on her skin. She's small enough everywhere that some days she can get away with wearing no bra at all. She's nothing like the voluptuous mistresses Ortega surely paraded about with in the past; the bra is more like a fancy couple of triangles, there for modesty. Why do people decide to do this for fun?

"River..."

Ah. That's why.

The choked sound of his voice makes her freeze up, but in a pleasant way. She holds still, hoping she isn't dreaming all of a sudden.

His hand hovers midair, like she's trapped behind glass. It's just the robe he can see -- just snatches of her bare shoulders and knees and collarbones -- and he's already like this. "Can I..."

A kernel of heat unrolls in her gut. She grabs his hand. Gently. Tries not to think about the way his eyes track the bit of robe that slips from her control. "It took me an hour to figure out how to put this on. We are going to eat first."

"I can think of something else we can-"

"No."

But damn him, she's smiling.

--

The tactical reason for this is because it's funny as shit. Maybe that's reason enough.

She pointed to one of the dining room chairs and Sparkles sat down like a good boy, legs wide in an invitation she promptly ignored.

And so now she is sitting at the ass-end of the table eating her panini while wearing lingerie that cost an amount of money she couldn't have fathomed for underwear, probably getting crumbs all over it, her knees curled up into her chest as she hums and eats and doesn't look at him.

"You aren't eating," she says, mouth full. She chances a glance at him and he watches her with a dreamy look on his face, head cradled in his palm.

"I'm having a great time watching one of my oldest fantasies come to life, actually."

Her skin warms. Again. "Me sitting in underwear at your table?"

"You sitting in underwear at my table while eating food I brought for you, yes, exactly. Glad we're –" He dodges a cherry tomato thrown at his ear. " –on the same page."

"Idiot. I'm not coming over there until you eat."

"Not falling for this one again, though you do tempt me so well."

Her smiles come faster these days, like in the Before times. Less ice and crust to cut through, melted away by ozone and laughter. "But I'll still have to wait 30 minutes…"

"Mi vida, we aren't going swimming."

Everytime he uses that name for her, a hook pulls, right in her gut, but instead of a wince of pain like she's so long expected, her body starts to go slack. Betraying her to an ocean of warmth, writhing inside her.

"Whatever," she says again. "There are rules."

"Always rules with you, my homebound little anarchist."

His smile is beatific and white as light. It turns blinding in her peripheral when she unfurls her legs from her body, placing her feet flat on the floor, and stretches.

Breathe. Everyone knows the game here. Everyone knows you are doing this on purpose, to rile him up by a full view of your waist, by letting the light skim across the silk and the slight swells of your body and shadow of your bones. That's what he gets for teasing you. This is definitely all a punishment for him and not…

Not…

Therapy. For you.

That takes the wind out of her sails a little bit. Thinking about it.

Ricardo notices immediately, because of course he does. “Oh, hey. Hey. What happened?”

She gestures blandly to the screaming orange markings that crawl over her body. Complex circuitry she wishes could disappear, and yet…here she is, almost goddamn naked. A fully unshaded window is right behind her. There’s a joke in here somewhere. She will find it. Give her a moment.

“I dreamed of this too, you know,” are the words that fall out of her mouth.

Damn it.

She swivels her head to look at him, eyes wide, but he is completely still, brimming with expectation and curiosity and interest in her feelings. She could drown in those brown eyes and no one would ever know.

She groans. "Therapy has ruined me. Now it just all comes out like…puke."

He does laugh, so it wasn’t a complete failure. “Come here.”

“I did, though,” she says. “Dream of it.” She rises from her chair and uses her hands to sweep crumbs off her tiny excuses for titties and uses the movement to get the fucking words out. “Spent a lot of time. Thinking about a world where this could happen.”

“Me too, funnily enough. Do you think we met up?”

She chances another glance at him, at his strange teasing. It’s the shadows in his expressions that always interest her — the hints of the things he thinks he can keep out of her reach. Her arms linger in front of her navel, wrapping around her waist, while she rolls forward onto the balls of her feet. It’s her attempt at reflecting back his body language. His head, still on his palm. A fist on one knee. Foot tapping out some wild rhythm.

“That’s cute,” she says flatly.

He extends an arm out, mouth curving into a smile she absolutely does not trust.

“I mean it, you dickhead,” she says, smiling back despite herself. “I’m being serious.”

“I know,” he says softly. “I’m proud of you.”

And he means it, which makes her lip do that thing where it trembles like the fucking earth. She bites down on it, hard.

“River.”

She lets go. No blood this time. “You aren’t going to believe me when I say this.”

“Try me.”

“But I think this…outfit. Is helping.”

He does not say anything to that just yet, which feels like a win, finally, so she takes another tentative step toward him and then another and another until her thighs bump his knee.

“I’m already basically naked so what the hell else can happen to me. You know. I can just say…things and it doesn’t feel like I have to make a thousand calculations about what I intend to mean because I’m already. You know. I’m…”

She’s getting somewhere with this, she knows it. Her eyes narrow, but for once, not at him. To his credit, he’s kept very still, despite the heat rolling off his body.

“It’s easier to tell the truth when it feels like you have nothing to lose,” he says.

Truth without fear. Faith in what's said. This is their homework for the rest of their lives.

She puts her hands on her hips. She’s a living, red reed of a person. She doesn’t curve so much as jut out, sharp and angular and thin. And once upon a time, that was a defense against the worst that the Farm could offer. And once upon another time, she cursed this body in the mirror, thinking of Los Diablos’s most eligible bachelor smiling at some new woman, soft and lovely and smooth. Tall, usually. Can’t forget that.

The opposite of her, in every respect.

But now, these days, in this strange future she’s living in that broke all her expectations, she is certain that no other person has made his face do that.

Because they were the opposite of her for a reason.

“So what do you think?” she asks, finally.

He tilts his head.

She can't help it. She grimaces. She grabs his hand, the one knocking his knee, and squeezes it tight until the fear passes because she knows by now they both need it when her face twists up like that.

That old fear says he doesn't see the whole of her, just what he wants to see. No. Not true, she says back, not true. Look at her. Look. Isn't this proof enough?

“You aren’t going to believe me when I say this,” he says, voice low.

And something in his tone does it.

She sits on his thigh and crosses her arms over her chest and closes her eyes and nods. One of his hands braces her bare lower back and the other snakes around to her far shoulder, melting her fully into the solidity of him — his heat lightning, his musk, his certainty settled after years of erosion and cracks. “Try it now,” she says.

“Like a dream,” he says. “You’re like a dream.”

[thealmightyemprex]

Halloweenathon:Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

Ahhhhh Tim Burton.One of the first filmmakers I knew of and one of the few where I have seen pretty much every feature film as well as some of his shorts and TV projects .There are admirers of his work,there are those who despise his work,but no matter which camp you fall into most seem to agree.....His early stuff is better then his later stuff ,which is where I am .Yeah Burtons last good movie,for my two cents was Big Eyes in 2014.....and his last REALLY GOOD movie was 2007's Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street .Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaah its been a while since Burton really wowed me ,with his films either being forgettable or just plain bad .So for Burtons latest film he decided to go back to basics and do a sequel to his second ever feature ,Beetlejuice.Now I ADORE the original Beetlejuice,its a childhood favorite ,a unique spin on the Haunted house idea with a tour de force performance by Michael Keaton .....And a film I neve thought needed a sequel .So the big question going into this is.....Does this work

In this 2024 film Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder ) now host of the TV show Ghost House ,goes back to Winter River with her stepmother Delia (CAtherine O Hara) and her estranged daughter Astrid (Jenna Ortega ),for the funeral of Lydia's father Charles Deetz ,when Astrid is lured to the underworld and Lydia must make a pact with Beetleguise (Michael Keaton ) to save her daughter

So there is a huge flaw in this film.....Its story is a mess .The actual PLOT of the film doesnt kick off till an hour in ,theres like 4 villains,and theres a whole subplot with Monica Bellucci that so unnecesary it could be cut an nothing would be lost .Its all style over story.....AND THANK THE GODS FOR THAT.Twist here,the fact this film is very flawed does not bother me at all .Thing is Burtons strength has never been story,it is visuale and atmosphere and a big problem with later Burton is he seemed to lost that and focus too much on story which is a weak point for him .This film is Burton going back to his roots and what works for him,we got puppets ,stop motion,wild lighting ,ghoulish makeup and a bunch of great actors just hamming it up .I can see this being a deal breaker for some but me I just kind of rolled with it.I like the crazy visuals,I like the dark gags ,I like that iut randomly becomes a Mario Bava film for a flashback ,I like Monica Belucci as this stapled together soul sucking monster gal ,I like Willem Dafoe as awannabe Clint Eastwood with an exposed brain ,I really loved how they handled the character of Charles (That was fucking hilarious ) ,I loved Bob the shrunken headed zombie ,I like Justin Theroux as Lydias asshole boyfriend ,I....Well honestly Astrid felt like a 60 year old mans understanding of a teen girl ,but I like Ortegas performance and reconciliation with Lydia .I adore seeing where Lydia is 30 years later and of course Ryder is amazing ,O'Hara is HILARIOUS As Delia (And I adore how they end her story ,it makes sense ) and The Ghost with the Most ,the same gross perverted chaotic creep from the first film ,and while I think its kind of lame the climax of this film is the same as the first ,Keaton is still funny and I like that while spin offs have softened Juice,movie Beej is still a bad guy

So is this one of Burtons best.....No,not at all .Did I enjoy it and think its good,oh hell yeah ,if you like Beetlejuice,these actors or have an admiration for early Burton,this is a fun blast.At the very least McArthur Park is now stuck in my head

@the-blue-fairie @themousefromfantasyland @ariel-seagull-wings

@amalthea9 @theancientvaleofsoulmaking @princesssarisa

@countesspetofi @filmcityworld1 @barbossas-wench

[worflesbian]

things i liked about strange new worlds:

the costumes (aside from the starfleet uniform) were so intricate and cool!

the alien designs, especially the practical effects and makeup, were inventive but not overdone

it tried to take a lighter tone than the prevailing edginess of current sci fi, there were some fun moments and genuinely good character stuff bc of that

things i disliked about strange new worlds:

okay i've got to give the context of the journey i went on with this one. i didn't initially like how chapel, uhura and t'pring were written bc the first two were basically brand new characters and t'pring's inclusion messes with continuity so badly, but i found myself being won over by the seemingly honest intention to give more screentime and depth to the otherwise underutilised women of 60s trek. that's an admirable goal! i didn't like how they had to rewrite uhura and chapel's personalities to achieve it but i still respected the intention. until several things became clear to me: firstly, the writers of snw are far better at lighthearted writing than serious drama, and secondly, they cover up that deficit by taking their cues from soap operas. i think other people have mentioned that giving every single character a tragic backstory is not a shortcut for writing realistic sympathetic people (this was the main problem they had with uhura), and that relationship drama and love triangles is not a solution to not knowing what to do with your female characters (the main problem with chapel and t'pring), but it stands to be said again because it's so fucking frustrating! why bring in uhura only to kill off her loved ones and make her suffer needlessly? why bring in t'pring under the guise of developing her relationship with spock only to have him leave her for chapel? why bring in chapel and rewrite her as a hashtag girlboss looking to advance her career if she's theoretically going to end up still a nurse on the enterprise pining for spock by tos? there's no reason or purpose to the plotlines so they just feel aimless

m'benga, una and la'an also suffered from needless tragedies, as well as the writers' difficulty tackling serious subject matter. i liked the plotline with m'benga's daughter and the pre-holodeck holodeck episode that concluded it, but the man got no time to grieve or adjust to the loss before they threw him into a war trauma plotline. una's main character moment was a weaker version of several stronger trial episodes in past trek that came very close to saying something slightly challenging (to the average trek viewer) about race but apparently forgot the real reason that eugenics are bad, and have been bad long before fictional warlord khan noonien-singh was on the scene. la'an's gorn trauma plotline was, like many of snw's "serious" episodes, ripped directly from better sci fi. like i could've been watching aliens. aliens is a good film. ortegas got very little to do and pike isn't really worth talking about as i think the writers know he's not that interesting and tend to sideline him anyway, so aside from hemmer (rip) and spock (it's all been said) that's the full cast and it's all pretty disappointing!

i'll also say that while i enjoyed the lighthearted episodes more, the only one that i felt was actually warranted or contributed meaningfully the overall season was the body swap episode in s1, but then in s2 they repeated the same formula with a far weaker episode so even that's lost its shine for me. politically the show is a mess as many others have explained (the whole gorn thing...) and when it comes close to making a point it always seems to flinch away into a marketing-approved federation optimism that feels way more sinister than it ever did in tng for the fact that it's obviously Trying to keep you from thinking too deeply about anything. the number of gimmick episodes they've already done in two short seasons is indicative of a fundamental lack of substance that they're trying to cover up with whimsy but it just feels unearned and imbalanced. shallow hijinks or vapid angst, void of meaning.

so yeah now that discovery's concluded with its fifth season, stp is dead and gone, and prodigy is cancelled it's only strange new worlds and lower decks left and although i believe lower decks relies a lot on references to older trek (i've not seen it) it's not inserted itself awkwardly into some past era of the timeline, nor is it bogged down with legacy characters, meaning strange new worlds is the last remaining pillar of the reboot remake rehash industrial complex in current trek and i hope you'll join me in wishing for its downfall 🤞

[disastersteps]

6 or 22 for neets (and roy if youre up for it)?

6. Who will they take advice from, no matter what it is? Who won’t they take advice from, no matter what it is?

anita have the more trust in themmy, and later in mortum more than julia ortega, even chen wheezes. BUT! despite that they do take advices from these two.... they will still be stubborn to ignore the advices if it about the risk itself. i wonder who neets got influenced from-- somewhere julia sneezes.

22. Do they like being called pet names? Do they call other people pet names? What’s their go-to?

anita doesn't really like pet names, while roy does! she used to call ricardo "ricky" (affectionate) and now she doesn't 'cause she just call him "ricky" (hatred, bitter) but argent? when shes cheshire- she call her "shark lady <33333" but off costume and all, its often 'm'lady' for most part (which may have make argent hates and loves it dearly)

(but also roy's right on neets tho. they like that nickname but thats like. years into the future tho-)

please send me more revealed asks so i shake these losers more!!

[sevlawless]

unknown

pairing: m!ortega x f!sidestep (arabella aveiro)

word count: 775

warnings: angst and a confession <3 but at what cost?

tags: @masonscig @farahhauville

notes: yeah idk what i'm doing either! i've fallen (haha) into the worst fallen hero hole imaginable it's all i can think about as of late and this fic is the proof of that. basically arabella tells ortega how she feels. and they discuss the past. just a tad. as a treat! anyway i hope you enjoy 🙏 the title is inspired by unknown/nth by hozier because i listened to it a lot while writing this and it feels fitting. you'll find out why if you read!

[read on ao3]

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

love is as foreign of a concept to you as anything else. feeling safe. grounded. at peace. you know you'll never feel any of those things. and if you have, it's never for long.

why would love be any different?

could it be different? allowing yourself to feel something other than anger, or fear?

no. what a stupid thought. it should be entirely out of the equation.

but the way ortega is looking at you right now is making you question it. for the second time in your life, but with the same person, seven years later.

the person you were then - sidestep, the vigilante, the sidekick - could have seen herself following through with it. but fear and anger always came rushing back to bring you to your senses.

now, there's a whole lot more to deal with.

the person you are now - retribution, the anarchist, the villain - can't get caught up in this. you're lying to him. constantly. more than you ever did in the past. almost everything you say to him is a lie. 

except for those rare occasions when you let your true feelings slip. that you love him back, despite everything in you telling you not to. what you just told him, and why he's looking at you the way he is right now. as if you're the only thing on this earth that matters to him, his brown eyes lighting up with the adoration you've tried getting adjusted to ever since he found you back at that diner. his eyes are crinkling in the corners, more than they ever did seven years ago. the smile on his face still gives you butterflies, like it did when you first saw it.

there's a beat of silence, the only sound occupying his apartment being the ceiling fan swinging above you both, a futile attempt to cool down the temperature in the infamous los diablos heat.

futile also because your own body feels like it's overheating, sweat accumulating on your forehead, your hands warm and clammy. 

“you love me.”

you roll your eyes. “don't make me repeat it.” even though you want to. until the words don't make sense anymore. until you grow tired of saying it, but part of you knows you never would.

a knowing smile graces his face. you want to hurl. “i won't.”

he holds your hands in his, one of his thumbs rubbing over the jagged edges of a scar you don't remember how you got. there's so many, you gave up trying to.

“i wish i had told you,” he starts, uncharacteristically nervous. “i wish i had told you all those years ago.”

would it have changed anything? a part of you wants to believe it would have. a stupid, stupid part of you wants to believe that.

“it would have made things worse,” you decide, refusing to meet his eyes. “it would have made…”

even now, you can't bring it up. 

the heartbreak incident. jumping from the roof. vaguely hearing screams that you know came from him. your skull cracking against the pavement. being put in an ambulance. being taken to-

he tilts your chin up, taking in your wide eyed expression and your heavy breathing.

“it's okay,” he assures you, and you desperately want to believe that. another stupid part of you.

“it wouldn't have made it worse,” he says, “i was in love with you then, too. i should have told you, bella. i’m sorry i didn't.”

his eyes shine with unshed tears, and it takes everything in you to not respond with tears of your own.

it makes no sense. you've fought him, broken his nose, put him in the hospital. cleaned his blood from your suit, your gloves.

and yet, this makes you feel something. remorse. regret. that foreign feeling of love that you're still trying to understand.

you don't deserve him. you didn't then, and you certainly don't now. 

“it's okay, ricky,” you finally respond. “we didn't know.”

he chuckles. “no,” he pushes a strand of hair away from your face, and you hate how calming it makes you feel, “but now we do, and we have all the time in the world to make up for it.”

time.

how much do you really have left? being here, in this moment, on his couch, inching closer and closer to each other. you almost didn't realize you were doing it.

as his lips meet yours, warm and familiar, you want this moment to last forever.

you know it can't. it won't.

but for now, you'll enjoy it. even when it all inevitably comes crashing down around you.

that's what you're used to.

[geotjwrs]

I Smile

Pairings ; Jenna Ortega x Male!Reader

Warning/s ; angsty

As Y/N stood in the dimly lit studio, his fingers gently caressing the strings of his guitar, he couldn't help but feel the weight of the memories weighing heavily on his heart. The lyrics of their latest song, "I Smile," echoed in his mind, each word a affecting reminder of the love he once shared with Jenna.

It had been years since they last saw each other, their paths diverging after a painful breakup fueled by misunderstandings and unspoken truths. Y/N had tried to move on, burying himself in his music and the whirlwind of fame that followed, but Jenna had always lingered in the corners of his mind like a ghost he couldn't shake.

As news of Jenna's impending marriage to actor Percy Hynes White spread like wildfire through the tabloids, Y/N found himself grappling with a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. Part of him was happy for her, glad that she had found someone who could give her the love and happiness she deserved. But another part of him couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy, a lingering ache for the life they could have had together if things had been different.

Just as Y/N was lost in his reverie, his phone buzzed with a message from an unknown number. It was Jenna, reaching out after all these years with a proposition that took Y/N by surprise. She wanted Y/N and his band to sing at the after-party of her wedding, favoring him with the opportunity of a lifetime.

At first, Y/N was hesitant, unsure if he could bear to face Jenna again after all this time. But as he thought about the chance to see her one last time, to sing their song together on the eve of her wedding, he knew that he couldn't say no. This was his chance to confront the ghosts of their past, to lay his feelings bare and finally find the closure he so desperately craved.

The night of the wedding arrived, and Y/N found himself standing on stage with his bandmates, the spotlight casting a warm glow over the crowd. His heart raced as he scanned the room, searching for Jenna among the sea of faces.

And then, there she was, standing at the back of the room, her eyes meeting his with a mixture of hesitation and longing. Y/N felt a rush of emotions flood over him as memories of their time together came flooding back, the pain of their breakup still fresh in his mind.

But as he began to sing the haunting melody of "I Smile," Y/N felt something shift within him. The words poured from his lips like a confession, each note a bittersweet reminder of the love they once shared. He poured his heart and soul into every word, his voice trembling with raw emotion as he laid bare his deepest feelings for Jenna and the pain of their separation.

And as he sang, Y/N saw Jenna's expression soften, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. In that moment, surrounded by the music and the memories, they found themselves transported back to a time when anything seemed possible, when their love knew no bounds.

When the song came to an end, Y/N held Jenna's gaze for a moment longer, his heart heavy with the weight of unspoken words. But as she smiled through her tears, Y/N knew that, despite the pain of the past, they would always have the music to bring them together.

And as he stepped off the stage, Y/N felt a sense of peace wash over him, knowing that, no matter what the future held, he would always carry Jenna in his heart.

As the soft strains of music floated through the air, Jenna stood on the terrace overlooking the twinkling lights of the city below, her wedding dress trailing behind her like a cloud. She took a deep breath, the weight of the evening settling around her like a comforting embrace.

Y/N approached her from behind, his footsteps muffled by the sound of laughter and chatter from the guests mingling inside. He paused a few feet away, unsure if he should intrude on her moment of solitude, but then Jenna turned and caught sight of him, her eyes lighting up with surprise and something else he couldn't quite place.

"Y/N," she said, her voice soft and filled with emotion. "I didn't expect to see you here."

Y/N offered her a tentative smile, the weight of their shared history hanging heavy in the air between them. "I wouldn't miss it for the world," he replied, his voice barely above a whisper.

Jenna's gaze softened, her eyes searching his for answers. "I'm glad you came," she said, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "I wanted to talk to you before the ceremony."

Y/N nodded, his heart pounding in his chest. "Of course," he said, his voice catching in his throat. "What did you want to talk about?"

Jenna took a deep breath, her fingers twisting nervously in the folds of her dress. "I just wanted to say thank you," she began, her voice barely louder than a whisper. "For agreeing to sing at the after-party. It means more to me than you'll ever know."

Y/N felt a lump form in his throat at her words, the weight of her gratitude washing over him like a wave. "It's the least I could do," he replied, his voice thick with emotion. "I couldn't say no to you, Jenna. Not after everything."

Jenna's eyes glistened with unshed tears, her cheeks flushed with emotion. "I know things didn't end well between us," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "But I want you to know that I'll always cherish the time we spent together. You were my first love, Y/N, and I'll never forget that."

Y/N felt his heart ache at her words, the memories of their time together flooding back with a bittersweet intensity. "You were mine too, Jenna," he confessed, his voice barely above a whisper. "And I'll never forget you."

For a moment, they stood there in silence, the weight of their shared history hanging heavy in the air between them. But then Jenna reached out, her fingers brushing against Y/N's cheek in a gentle caress.

"Thank you for being here," she said, her voice barely louder than a whisper. "And thank you for everything."

Y/N felt a tear slip down his cheek at her words, the weight of their goodbye hanging heavy in the air between them.

As Y/N stood on the terrace with Jenna, a rush of memories flooded his mind, taking him back to a time when their love was young and full of promise.

FLASHBACK

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the city skyline as Y/N and Jenna sat on the rooftop of their apartment building, the sounds of the bustling city fading into the background. They had just finished dinner, and as they leaned back against the rooftop ledge, their fingers intertwined, they let their conversation drift to the future.

"Do you ever think about what our wedding will be like?" Jenna asked, her voice soft with longing as she gazed out at the city below.

Y/N turned to her, a smile playing at the corners of his lips. "All the time," he replied, his heart swelling with love. "I imagine it'll be small and intimate, just the two of us surrounded by our closest friends and family."

Jenna's eyes sparkled with excitement as she leaned in closer, her breath warm against his cheek. "I want it to be magical," she whispered, her voice filled with dreams. "I want to get married under the stars, with fairy lights twinkling overhead and the sound of music filling the air."

Y/N felt his heart skip a beat at her words, the image of their future wedding painting itself vividly in his mind. "That sounds perfect," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "Just you and me, dancing beneath the stars until the world fades away."

Jenna's smile widened, her eyes shining with love as she leaned in to press a gentle kiss to his lips. "I can't wait for that day," she whispered, her voice filled with hope and longing.

FLASHBACK ENDS

As the memory faded, Y/N felt a pang of regret wash over him, the bittersweet reminder of the dreams they had once shared. But as he watched Jenna walk away, her wedding dress trailing behind her like a cloud, he knew that, no matter what the future held, he would always carry her in his heart.

And as he turned to leave, Y/N felt a sense of ease wash over him, knowing that, no matter where life took them, they would always have this moment, this bittersweet farewell beneath the stars.

[extreme-neutral]

The Siedestep ask is still pinned to your dash. New day, new questions, or is that too cheeky? I'll ask anyway.😈

21. what is their philosophy? 24. how do they typically come across to strangers? to friends? do they frequently use their telepathy to influence others’ perceptions of them? 30. what is their love life like?

Yes, I still have no creative outlet in the evenings, so those are very much appreciated, thank you!!

You went with tough ones tho :,D

21. what is their philosophy?

Oh no, I didn’t have the time to pick on other people’s answers to this 🥲

Ok, it means like a rule he lives by or some such right? Hmm..

Let’s go with “Don’t fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here.”

With Cy you always get the treatment you provide. It goes for every timeline.

He is also very pragmatic, he doesn’t initiate anything unless it’s a part of some plan.

Also, sorry for repeating myself but, a goal and a way to execute it is all that matters. Tho the later might get somewhat skewed due to stupid feels, much to his chagrin.

24. how do they typically come across to strangers? to friends? do they frequently use their telepathy to influence others’ perceptions of them?

I’ll start from the end: with strangers he won’t think twice to use telepathy to influence their perception, tho he doesn’t need it to do so.

So to strangers he comes across as whatever he needs to, if they even notice him. On average - a polite young man.

To friends - well, bold of you to assume he has those.

Really tho, it’s an impossible question to answer. He’s as real around closer people, as his fake adaptive ass can be, except he wouldn’t want them to worry about him for whatever reason. He won’t use telepathy to influence their perception of him, only to scan for hidden emotions or as a lie detector.

So it would depend on a friend’s perception, how Cy comes across. If he was my friend, I’d see him as a friendly, but shy, helpful, but independent and very private and introverted, but not in a suspicious, creepy way? I’d also genuinely laugh at his stupid jokes even tho I’d know he uses humour to deflect.

30. What is their love life like?

The what now? :x

Ok, fine.

I actually liked the now-nurfed hidden label in Rebirth that stated “sexual_experience = shy” (or something like that) ‘cause it really suits Cy.

He wouldn’t intentionally flirt with anyone, wouldn’t initiate a relationship. He keeps his old-ass crush on Ortega hidden even when faced with a real option to try being romantic with him!

Romance is a liability, love is unnecessary, attachment is a risk, aaand he’s kissing Marshal Steel. 😐

There is an explanation, I swear! I think it’s touched upon in an old fic somewhere…

Guess he envied Spoon for a minute and it span from there.

It’s weird, ok. He made piece with never having a love life what’s with the whole re-gene thing. Even the hug in the park was a BIG fucking thing to him. And a kiss at Chen’s place left him in shambles. He has NO experience in romance and this makes him feel very inadequate. He will definitely try to rationalise his way out of this and at least make it very weird for the both of them 👍

[autumnfangirler]

IM FINALLY GETTING AROUND TO THAT CAINE POST WITH HIS RELATIONSHIPS TO THE RANGERS LETS GO

long post so as per usual im throwing this under the cut

Caine & Ortega:

Ortega is caines best friend of years, even after the farm. In fact, caines had a crush on him since their sidestep days, but only realized it in retri lol. He finds his static soothing, its a reprieve from the constant chatter around them, even if it comes with the cost of not being able to read his mind. The problem is that caine is really good at following orders, and during his sidestep days, when they first got all their freedom, he kind of subconciously latched on to ortega as the nearest authority figure because they likened his static to the numbers used at the farm. Even post second escape, they still regard him as an authority(though hes starting to chafe against ortegas influence a little bit more). Part of the reason caine is a no-kill saving step is because, even if they dont realize it, theyre doing what ortega told them to do. if ortega had asked him to kill somebody, hed do it 100%. and if that somebody just so happened to be a near-mythical kingpin ruling over los diablos, well... let's just say theres more than one reason caine agreed to HGs deal unthreaded

Caine & Chen:

Oh, caine has a thing for the marshal and they are throwing a fit about it. This was NOT supposed to happen. Chen was supposed to be the vaguely-tolerable side effect to getting spoon. But then he found out that chens well-shielded mind is actually really nice for the same reasons ortegas mind is, and that he could relate to the feeling of being forced into a role he doesnt want to play. Back in the day, caine was always frustrated that chen didnt trust what he brought to the team, but now that theyre "retired", it doesnt matter and they can relax together as individuals. It was a surprisingly nice development. The two are more similar than they think– nowadays, the main conflict between the two is caine being lycan, because chen is absolutely aware of that fact and caine is just about clear-headed enough to note that thats probably a bad thing. Caine and chen are both very (for lack of better term) career focused, and even if caine doesnt like being villainous, theyre willing to do whatevers needed for the job(over 80% drive babyyy). So yeah, those two are going to butt heads when That conversation finally comes up

Caine & Herald:

Caine is WORKING that 66% strength of mind whenever herald is around. They find him intense, overly curious, and far too forgetful of boundaries, all of which they Do Not appreciate. But he still cant help liking the kid. Hes legitimately proud of how far heralds come along, and hes interested in his potential as a threat since hes shown how perceptive he can be. Currently, theyre trying to round out heralds skills as part of the team, as well as pushing him to analyze and use what he notices against an opponent. Plus, training herald has been more of a lifeline than theyd like to admit(i wrote something about it, but idk if ill post it rip). Its a schedule, hes a good coach, and he just likes fighting for fun lmfao. The whole thing would be great if herald could get some shields for the love of god

Caine & Argent:

Fun fact, caine used to have a small crush on argent between rebirth and retribution. It was a mix of admiration for her skills, the constant attention and the fact that argent is just pretty lol. It faded quick (quickly enough that he panicked in the bridge fight when he realized she was flirting with him lmfao), but they continued to hold a healthy amount of respect for her afterwards, even if they didnt approve of her teamwork. And then the casino happened! Caine had gone through the whole casino infiltration entirely untouched, but when they noticed the fight between argent and shroud, they couldnt help but give into curiosity and see what was happening. That was. a bad decision. He watched shroud attempt and fail to devour argent, and they ended up getting a panic attack and fleeing. He is now scared as shit of her :D! He avoids her like the plague, and whenever hes given an opportunity to escape a room with her in it, hes taking it. They dont know what she is, and they have a bad feeling about finding out