#REALLY WANTED TO WRITE EMOTIONAL TENDER STUFF

[kissingarthurclaus]

Reunion

Well...I’ve been working on this fic for a long while now, chipping at it and rewriting bits here and there but with the premiere of TBB season 2 I thought it would be a good time to finish it! This is what I imagine the reunion between Brea and Rex after Order 66 to be like, and if you read I hope you enjoy -^ ^-

NOTES: this takes place directly after s1e7 of TBB where the boys encounter Rex again, but they had found Brea long before Rex found them and I imagine with everything going on they forgot that she might like to know he’s, you know, alive and where he is and vice versa x’D they rectify that shortly after, at least! also translations: Mesh’la - beautiful, Cyare - beloved

CW: pregnancy is mentioned and described for anyone who’s squicked by that!!!

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When Hunter had contacted Brea and told her to meet Clone Force 99 at their designated location on Batuu, he was very vague with the details. 

“We’ve got something you’ll be very interested in.” the pale, almost ghostly image had said to her through the holo-messenger. 

“Ok…knowing you guys that could mean any number of things, Hunter. Care to elaborate?” 

“Just trust me. You’ll wanna see this, we’ll be en route by next cycle at the latest.” 

And with that, the message flickered out and she was left alone in a mostly empty room once more. She sighed. “Nice talking to you as always, Hunt.” 

Despite the suspicion it aroused, and the lack of information she had, the fact remained that she did still trust Hunter and the others. They fought side by side during the Clone Wars, and even after everything fell apart, seeing them again and meeting Omega gave her a small sense of normalcy amidst all the chaos. They were still her friends. 

And in an ever changing Galaxy, growing more hostile day by day, friends were hard to come by.

So, when the time was right she made her way to the far side of Batuu under cover of night, where they would be able to meet safely. With Ben not far behind as an extra precaution, of course. They were late, as always, but soon enough she spotted the rickety old Marauder coming in for one of their trademark less-than-graceful landings. 

Omega was the first one to bolt out once the hatch door opened, hardly waiting for the off-ramp to lower all the way to the ground. The small, fair-haired girl ran straight for her, immediately jumping into Brea’s arms, barely even able to wrap her own around her waist.

"Brea! It's so good to see you, I missed you so much!" She exclaimed, looking up at her with those warm brown eyes that struck a chord in Brea every time she saw them. 

She ran a hand through the girl's short locks. "It's good to see you too, munchkin! Have you been taking care of these chuckleheads?" 

"Definitely!" Omega beamed. "I've got so much to tell you, I got chased by a bounty hunter, and we saved a baby Rancor! Ooh, but we've got something to show you first!" 

Brea’s eyes blew wide, though she tried not to let her concern show in her face too much, not wanting to discourage the girl’s enthusiasm. "So I’ve heard! We’ll uh…we’ll come back to those other things afterwards, yeah?" 

One by one the others poured out after her. First was Tech, approaching with respect for her (but more so his own) personal space. "Greetings, Commander. I trust you're still in good health?" 

She chuckled at his blunt, but fond tone. "I'm not a Commander anymore, Tech. But…I guess I'm as good as I can be. Thanks for sending me those medical files, by the way! They've been very helpful!" 

"Naturally! I'd only send you the most accurate data. To the best of my knowledge, at least."

"Well, your knowledge is always the best!" She was half joking, but still he preened himself in response to her compliment before stepping past her and turning his attention to his datapad once more.

Echo was next, pulling her into a familiar embrace. "It's good to see you, Mesh'la." He said, patting her back firmly. A gesture she returned, one that they'd shared probably over a hundred times before, reminding them of a time when they still knew their place in the galaxy. 

 Wrecker pulled him out of the way, "BREA! C'MERE, GIVE US A SQUEEZE!" His booming voice shouted, opening his arms wide and lunging forward ready to crush her against him in one of his infamous bear hugs.

Instinctively, she threw her arms up in front of her, and with a faint hum of energy crackling around them he was frozen in place. "Awh, no fair! I always forget you can do that!" He said, sounding like a child who'd just lost a game. 

"Sorry, Wreck. Normally it would be fine, but it's just not a good idea right now…" She said, releasing him from her Force hold and raising her eyebrows at him expectantly. It seemed to click after a moment, and his demeanor shifted from excited to sheepish in an instant. 

"Oh, right…" He rubbed the back of his neck. "Sorry!" 

She shook her head with a soft laugh, "Hey, no harm done!" She held out her hand to him instead, which he clasped firmly in his as a gesture of camaraderie.

Last was Hunter. He stood in the doorway, back-lit by the artificial lights coming from within the ship and with a slight smirk playing at his lips.

"Evening, Callisto! Long time no see." 

"And who's fault is that? You guys know our door is always open!" She replied, walking towards the Marauder until she was standing at the foot of the on-ramp. Looking up at him, hands on her hips. “But you didn’t come all this way just to catch up over Caf, did you?” 

He hummed thoughtfully. “Guess not.” 

She shook her head. He’d never been a chatterbox, unlike Tech who sometimes seemed as though he never ran out of things to say. Still, Hunter had changed since they last fought together. Since fleeing Kamino, since becoming fugitives. They all had…even her. "It'd better be good, Hunter." 

He seemed to be stifling a much more devilish smile. He definitely had something up his sleeve, or at least he thought he did. Yet he moseyed down the ramp in a nonchalant fashion, walking right past her without a hug or even a handshake like the others. She followed his gaze, turning away from the ship to keep an unamused glare pointed in his direction.

"Oh believe me…it is." He said, raising one eyebrow as he tilted his chin towards what was supposed to be an empty Marauder. 

She hesitated for a moment, her heart suddenly began to pound in her chest while her skin prickled with anticipation. Slowly, she turned back to see another figure standing in the entryway now. 

All was silent as she met with a sixth pair of eyes, almost completely identical to the others. A thick green poncho adorned his shoulders, his battered white armor with chipping blue paint poking out from underneath the frayed hem. The light from behind him caught on his buzzed blond hair, casting a heavenly glow around his head as though he were an angel. 

And to her, in this moment, maybe he was. 

The air hung thick with tension. Until finally, he took one step towards her, and then another, all the while she was frozen in place. Soon she was staring up at him, a ghost from her past standing before her now, in the flesh.

He breathed in and out shakily, gingerly bringing up one of his gloved hands to touch her face. His thumb rubbed over the apple of her cheek, his lips parted slightly as his eyes desperately searched hers. 

"Brea…" His voice came out as a sigh, relieved, incredulous, and loving all at the same time. Finally, they closed the remaining distance between them and fell into each other. She threw her arms around his shoulders, her fingers digging into the ragged fabric of his poncho desperately as his arms moved to wrap around her waist. 

"Rex!" She sobbed into him. Tears began to flow freely from her eyes as she allowed herself to drown in his essence. 

When Order 66 was initiated and she lost everything, she'd willfully cut herself off from any trace of him. After witnessing what could become of the very Clone Troopers that fought with her for years, she was scared of what she might find. Whether he was dead or if the Rex she knew and loved was gone and replaced with...something else, she'd decided that she preferred not to know. 

But now, having him in her arms she felt him again, and let his living Force flow into her, taking in every little bit. She recognized the darkness he held within him now. A deep-seated pain that could be caused only by grief. But despite everything, he was still undeniably, entirely her Rex. She'd almost missed the shaking of his shoulders and the warm droplets that fell against her neck. He was crying too. He moved to tighten his hold on her for a split second before she felt the pinch of his armor pressing into her stomach and pulled away from him. 

He released her immediately, looking down at her with that anxious expression of his. Eyes as wide and as innocent as a Tooka cat’s. "What's the matter?"  

She chewed on her lower lip, suddenly becoming a bit worried herself. They had talked about it before, in hushed tones and soft whispers against skin in the small hours of the night when they were alone together. 'After the war', they said, and now here they were. The war over, but nothing was what they thought it would be. Everything was different, so would he feel differently about it now?

He stayed silent, not wanting to push the matter too hard, but she decided after all that it would be best to say it outright. 

Or perhaps, show it was more accurate. 

She'd worn a very loose cloak to the rendezvous, it disguised her form quite well, making her almost shapeless. Undoing the clasp that held it together, she let it fall away from her shoulders and pool around her feet. His eyes trailed from her face downward further, and further…then went wide. 

Her stomach was noticeably round, poking out over the waistband of her pants ever so slightly, even while covered by her tunic. Rex let out a shallow gasp as he understood now, his hand flying up to cover his mouth. He looked from her face to her belly a few times, flabbergasted, seemingly struggling to decide where to focus his gaze. 

"You…you're…and I'm..?" He stuttered, to which she chuckled nervously and nodded to confirm. 

"Of course you are, Rex. It could never be anyone else in the entire Galaxy. Is this…ok?" 

"OK? This- this is amazing! I can't believe this, you and me we're- we're gonna be-" He stuttered. Unable to find the right words, he took her face in his hands, and for the first time in what felt like lifetimes, he kissed her. In his kiss she felt every emotion swelling within him now. Shock, excitement, fear, happiness, and stronger than any of those was love.

She pulled him closer again, wrapping her arms around him as she returned his kiss, and with it, everything she had to give. Once they parted, they rested their foreheads against each other, breaths mingling and stood that way for a few moments. 

Until the sound of someone clearing their throat reminded them that they did, in fact, have an audience. 

They parted, but Rex kept his arm wrapped tightly against her shoulders as if worried that he might lose her again. "I really can't thank you enough, fellas…for bringing me back to her." 

The statement was met with warm smiles as the others crowded around the couple with their various 'you're welcomes' and 'congratulations'. All except Omega, who looked between the couple suspiciously, seemingly trying to make sense of the situation.

"Wait, so…REX is the one who put the baby in her belly?" She exclaimed innocently, and a bit too seriously for their liking. 

Rex seemed to blush all the way up to his ears at this, chuckling nervously "how much did you tell her?" He said quietly to Brea. 

She threw her hands up, "Only what she needed to know, I promise!" 

—--------------------------------------—

"Oh, I think I felt a kick!" Rex chirped excitedly. His tone almost laughably unbecoming of his world-weary face, but in a way that made Brea’s heart swell with adoration for him. As serious as her Captain was, always had been, there was still that sweet spot he held for the two of them alone. 

She was sat up in her tiny, one-person bed while Rex lay nestled between her legs, his own dangling off the edge as he rested his head on her stomach carefully so as not to put too much pressure there. He listened, eyes closed with a blissful smile, his hand rubbing gentle circles over the small bump that sheltered their little one. According to the files that Tech had sent her to study, it was probably just a bit too early for them to be feeling any kicking, but she didn’t say anything. 

Instead, she lightly ran her nails over his scalp, letting him savor the moment. Enjoying his touch, the feeling of his warm skin against hers, drinking it in for all it was worth. After a spell, he let out a deep sigh. 

"What're you thinking about, Cyare?” she purred. 

"Just…how lucky I am. It almost feels like I'm dreaming." He said, adjusting his position a bit and tilting his head to look up at her. "Like I'm gonna wake up at any moment, on some rickety ship somewhere and be all alone again." 

His eyes darkened for a moment, tinged with an unspeakable sadness. One that she knew very well. 

"Hey…I'm not going anywhere." She smiled, moving her hand from his hair to cradle his cheek, rubbing the pad of her thumb over his prominent cheekbone, "you'll never get rid of me now." 

This seemed to set him at ease for the moment. Raising his hand to gently grip her wrist as he pressed a chaste kiss to her palm. 

"I'll never let you go again." He stated simply, a conviction in his tone that sent shivers down her spine.

"I just can't believe that yesterday…I was a man who had nothing and now-" He sighed, laying his head back down and continuing to stroke the taut skin of her belly. 

"I have everything."

[mantisgodsdomain]

Winning a prize personally by being someone's "well, this trope isn't usually my style, but i know this author is Really Good at writing so i'll check it out anyways" author

[codtrashsammy]

This is... love? (Simon Riley x Reader)

- SMUT SMUT SMUT - MDNI MDNI MDNI -

First time writing smut in a loooong time, so bare with me. Had an idea and ran with it. I hope you like it tho!

Simon Riley can fuck. But what about the first time you make love? Word Count: 2.8K

Pairing: Simon Riley x Reader/You

Warnings: crying during sex (not the bad kind tho, promise), explicit sex, p in v, praise (heavy heavy like on god), gentle love making <3 bc our boy can fuck, but what about other stuff too?!

Of course, you’ve fucked. Simon has been your boyfriend for 3 years now, you’re definitely comfortable to explore that part of your relationship now.

Simon has had you bent over every piece of furniture in your flat, has had you in every bed in your house, in the shower, on the floor, a couple of times on the balcony even. He’s had you pinned to walls in sketchy bar bathrooms, he’s had you in the back of his nice looking truck, the bed of that same truck- fuckin’ everywhere. That’s all it’s been, it’s been fucking. Rough, fast- always fucking godly, of course, but it’s primal. Animalistic, and you love it- you truly do love it. But this time you want to do things different. You want to slow it down, you want to fucking relish in the man you’re lucky to call your own. You don’t want to fuck, you want to make love to him. Simon has always been… not exactly averse to your softer affections, as he’s always a very willing participant, but you sometimes notice he seems… overwhelmed. Like he can’t quite handle the raw, genuine emotion behind a soft, tender, lingering touch. His cheeks heat up, he gets this certain look in his eyes, and while he’s never been mean about it- he backs away from it. He shies away from it. 

You’ve tried talking to him about it- you’ve tried many, many times to bring it up to him. And yet the bastard always has a way to switch up the conversation, to change things around, to slip past the topic so easily- he can spin straw into gold with that mouth of his.

So, you’ve decided to take matters into your own hands.

You’re laying in bed, cuddled right up to him, your leg thrown over his hips and an arm thrown over his chest while you lay on your side, your head nestled perfectly in the crook of his arm. Simon’s hand idly plays with the ends of your hair, his arm wrapped around you, simply holding you to him as if to make sure you don’t slip away. 

Simon is seemingly lost in thought, eyes closed and body more or less relaxed- as relaxed as Simon can be when the man is always seemingly on alert to every little sound. 

“Hey, Si,” You murmur out, your fingers idly tracing random shapes against the fabric of his shirt. He hums to let you know he’s heard you, but otherwise doesn’t really react. Fuck, you love this man. You love every inch of him, everything about him. You even love that he always leaves the toilet seat up (you swear he does it out of spite) because you know you’d miss it if he wasn’t around to keep doing it.

“Can I try something?” You ask, tone soft and relaxed, casual. Not at all portraying the thoughts in your head, your secret little ‘mastermind’ plan. 

“Tha’s quite vague, ain’t it, love?” Simon grumbles out, voice low as if to match the atmosphere of simple peace and quiet. “Hmm…” You trail off, a playful smile growing on your face- not that he’s looking to see it, “I think it’s pretty simple. Either yes or no.” You quip with a nod, moving to lean up, resting your weight on your elbows so you can look down at him with a soft, gentle smile. And of course at feeling you move, his arm moves from around your shoulders to around your waist- always touching you, never wanting you far when he’s finally home. (You don’t realize home is you- but of course he’s never quite told you that). Simon’s eyes open at your movement, too. Pretty brown eyes, half lidded in his more-or-less relaxed state as he looks up to meet your gaze, his gaze soft in the way it only ever is for you- his mask resting along the nightstand by the bed. There if he needs it- but it’s rarely needed with you around. A warm light, easily able to lighten up even the darkest depths of his mind to keep his demons at bay.

“....yes?” Simon offers after a few moments of contemplation, a curious look in his own eyes as they scan over your face- looking for a hint of what possible fuckery you could be up to at this point. Your soft smile stretches out into a soft grin as you lean down, pressing your lips to Simon's and letting your eyes flutter shut. One of your hands come up, tracing softly up his chest, up his throat, along his jaw before settling to cup his cheek.

You can feel his breath hitch the slightest bit at the soft touch, the lingering touch. This is the kind of kiss that usually overwhelms him, but maybe he’s in a good mood tonight. Your thumb softly caresses his cheek while your tongues intertwine, and you can feel the moment Simon tries to speed it up.

You pull away, eyes still closed, your lips brushing against his as you speak, “No, no,”

And you promptly place your lips back against his own, not giving him time to start spitting his bullshit about how he’s going to make you see stars if you don’t stop teasing him- because that’s not the goal here. 

You shift your body, moving to straddle Simon's hips (a feat in its own right), keeping one hand cupping his cheek while the other moves to the hem of his shirt, slowly running over the skin above the waistband of his pajama pants, before delving under the fabric and feeling the softness of his tummy, touch so soft and gentle, so loving against his body.

Simon doesn’t know what to think, his own hands seeming to hesitate before they come to rest along your thighs, squeezing the fat there a bit roughly- but that’s okay, you can teach him. 

“Love your hands, Si,” You murmur as you finally pull away from the kiss, only to trail kisses down his jawline, slow and soft, occasionally nipping at the skin.

Simon let's out a grunt, his fingers digging into the meat of your thighs before moving to cup your ass, pushing your body to force your clothed cunt to grind against his already hard cock, and a breathy moan leaves your lips from the stimulation- but damn it, you’re doing this your way this time.

“I’ll stop,” You warn, voice still soft, but there's… an edge to it for once, one stating that you really will.

A soft groan leaves Simon's lips, along with a scoff at the absolute audacity of you, “Love,” Simon says, in warning more than anything. 

“I don’t wanna hear it,” You’re quick to say, before leaning back to meet his pretty, brown-eyed gaze, your hands moving to lift his shirt which he eagerly enough helps with, throwing the fabric away and down to the floor like it was the very thing that killed his family.

…a bit much, but you can understand his eagerness.

“You’re so beautiful, Simon,” You murmur out, eyes filled with nothing but adoration as you trail your hands across the familiar expanse of his chest, fingers running through his chest hair, thumbs brushing over his nipples before trailing down his sides. Your palms run over the subtle softness of his belly, where you know there is muscle hidden underneath.

A hiss leaves Simon's lips, and you can feel his cock twitch from where you’re perched in his lap. “Bloody ‘ell, love, the fuck ya doin?” Simon mutters, hands moving to grab your hips.

“Jus’ be good for me, yeah?” You murmur out, a soft, adoring smile on your face as you finally look up to meet his gaze.

The sight alone is enough to make you pause slightly. He’s not like this when you’re fucking- and you don’t even have his dick in you yet! His cheeks are flushed, not from exertion, he’s just flustered, his bottom lip between his teeth, brows pinched together with pretty glossy eyes. Almost like he could cry- but not quite. 

“You’re always so good for me, Si,” You murmur, grinding your hips against his own and letting out another breathy moan at the feeling, his hands tightening their grip of your hips in response. Just one look and you can tell he’s overwhelmed already- or at the very least getting there. But he hasn’t once told you to stop- he’s simply tried speeding you up, which you have no interest in. Not this time.

You grab his hands, kissing each of his knuckles before slowly dragging them underneath your own shirt, placing his palms against your breasts, his thumbs already swiping at your nipples, at the already peaked buds there. “Always takin’ such good care of me, my love,” You praise, and you reward him with another slow grind, beginning to set such a slow, but lovely pace, just enough friction to make you want more- but that’s the goal. A slow build, no rush, no desperation, just… slow. Loving. Gentle. Tender. Simon visibly gulps, his hands squeezing the flesh of your tits with a groan before he’s tugging your shirt off and adding it to the growing pile on the floor. He tries to buck his hips, tries to get your movements to speed up- but you simply lift up, ending the contact altogether, and send him a pointed look.

“Do ya not want me to fuck ya, love? What’s all this then?” Simon says with a huff, eyes narrowing slightly as they meet your own. Anyone else would say he’s frustrated- and yeah, partly he is. But you know your Simon, you can see that glossiness to his eyes, can see the slightest twitch of his brow- he’s overwhelmed- he’s not sure how to handle this, the softness, the gentleness. Simon likes to say he can’t be soft, can’t be gentle, can’t be loving. But it’s been 3 years with this man- you know he can. He just needs to be taught- it’s simply something he’s never had before, it’s not like he was born with the knowledge. “No,” You answer with a pleased, breathy sigh, resting your hips back against his own and beginning that slow grind once more, feeling his cock twitch at the action. “Don’t wanna fuck, Si. Jus’ be good for me, baby. Jus’ sit here, look pretty for me. Always so good for me. Jus’ let me love you, sweet boy,” You murmur out, eyes meeting his own and holding their gaze.

You trail your hands down his arms along his shoulders and collar bones, quite literally loving every inch of his skin.

Simon’s cheeks get hotter, the look he gives you is entirely overwhelmed, spooked even. Like the thought of being loved is absolutely horrifying alone.

“Be good? Kinda kinky, innit?” Simon mumbles out in response, looking at you with a quirked brow.

But you don’t stop. And he doesn’t stop you.

Clothes continue to fly off, positions change, but somehow you manage to remain in full control for once. And he lets you. Sure, you have to correct him at times, have to remind him to slow down, all with soft smiles and gentle praise- and he eats it up like a starving hound.

Even now, as moans and breathy praise leaves your lips, Simon being vocal, a rarity on it’s own, at least to this extent.

“Feel s’ good around me, love, fuck, so good,” He fucking babbles, his cock dragging along the walls of your drooling cunt at a slow, but steady pace. You’re underneath him now- stereotypical missionary- but it’s divine.

You pull Simon’s head down, pressing his forehead against your own, your legs wrapped loosely around his hips as his cock drags deliciously over all those sweet spots inside, the soft mound above his cock pressing against your clit with every. Single. Thrust.

It’s a slow build up, so slow, and while he focuses on clenching his fists into the sheets above your head, resting on his elbows on either side of it, you focus on touching him, praising him.

“Always so good to me, baby,” You practically purr the words.

“I love you so much, Si, so much,” You say, breathless as your back arches, forehead pressed to his and eyes closed in bliss of the slow building pleasure.

“Like you were made jus’ for me, sweet boy,” Your hands move to wrap around his shoulders, one of them tangling in his hair.

“Love how you make me feel, Simon,” You moan out, legs tightening their grip around his hips.

If your eyes weren’t closed, you’d see how Simon is looking at you right now. Simon is looking at you like you’re a fucking goddess… but the vision is blurry, from the pure overwhelming, unshed tears in his eyes. God, he’s pathetic, isn’t he? Crying? During sex? But he can’t even entertain the thought- thoughtful praise continuing to spill from your lips as he continues his slow, languid, deep thrusts. 

He focuses on the feeling, on the way your words are soothing parts of him he didn’t care to recognize were broken, he focuses on the way your hands trail across his skin so fucking lovingly- as if he’s actually worth something. As if he’s someone and not a monster. As if he doesn’t have hundreds of lives taken by the very hands you praise for touching you.

No- no, none of that matters right now, as for the first time in his fucking life Simon Riley doesn’t fuck- he makes love. 

“God- g-gonna make me cum, Simon- fuck- love the way you make me cum-” You whimper out, back arching into him and fuck, Simon can’t take it anymore.

Simon doesn’t know what to think. Sure, the pleasure is mind-numbing, your pussy always feels so fucking good when it’s wrapped around his cock like this, but it’s damn near tripled by the pure feelings you’re forcing him to feel. The way his chest burns, but it’s so good- he can fucking feel the love you have for him, the way you hold him in your heart, the way you think of him as though he put the very stars in the sky for you and you alone. And he would- fuck he absolutely would. He’d give you the world should you ask for it- fuck he loves you, he loves you, he loves you, he loves you.

He doesn’t speed up- he wants the slower build up, too, doesn’t want to rush it, but he’s going to shatter if more praise leaves your lips so he presses down, slotting his mouth against your own, a minor distraction really.

You can feel the wetness to his cheeks.

You know it’s not sweat.

Your hands move to cup his cheeks so softly, so lovingly, so gently. You moan into his mouth as the pleasure builds until that band finally fucking snaps, and you’re on cloud nine.

Simon buries his head in the crook of your neck, his hot, thick cum shooting ropes into you as your cunt squeezes his cock like a vice, truly milking him for all he’s worth.

You’re both panting, but Simon's head stays hidden- you know why, you can feel the tears against your neck, but you don’t say anything.

You wrap your arms around him, holding him close as you come down from your high, nuzzling your cheek against the top of his head.

“Love you so much,” You whisper out, running a hand through his hair, still slightly breathless.

You can feel Simon place the softest kiss to your neck, arms squeezing you almost too tightly, but you don’t say anything. 

You know your Simon. He’s not a monster. He’s not a killing machine. He’s a man- your man. Simon’s not unlovable, he’s not broken. He’s not stupid for simply not knowing. He’s not stupid for simply needing to be taught.

And you love him. Gods, do you love him. You’ll teach him. You’ll teach him it’s okay, he’s safe here, in your arms. He’s safe to love, to cry, to breakdown, he’s safe to get the very things he’s never had- and you’ll give them willingly.

You don’t know how long you stay like that. His now soft cock still buried in your cunt, his tears have subsided awhile ago, but he’s still unwilling to move from his spot- not that you’re complaining. 

It’s so quiet you barely even hear it, but fuck, you’re so glad you did.

“Love ya,” Simon mumbles against your skin, his voice so quiet, hoarse and rough. But so very soft, so very gentle. Yeah. Simon Riley can fuck like a god. But Simon Riley is learning how to love you fully, how to make love to you fully- and he wouldn’t change a thing. Neither would you.

[urlibragirl]

summary : art and reader come back at the hotel after he lost another match

warning/content : sfw, fluff, gn!reader, kissing, just the reader reassuring art

word count : 445

“You did a great match Art,” you reassure him. “You cannot always win, and it’s okay.” Actually, it has been some time since Art has won a match, but it really doesn’t matter to you. You’ll always support him because you know he's, in fact, an amazing tennis player. 

Art doesn’t respond to you, doesn’t even look at you, and goes straight to your hotel room. What disturbs you the most is the fact that he did not want to see your daughter before going to bed, which is something he always does. You open the door of your shared bedroom to see him sitting on the edge of the bed, his head buried in his hands. You approached him quietly. “Art I-,”

“I’m deeply sorry, Y/N,” he interrupts you. “I thought I could do it, but all these matches I've lost made me realize I was just a failure.” He looks at the floor saying all this. The words he just said make your heart sink, how can he think that of himself?

You sit next to him and hold his hands. “Baby, I don’t want you to think that of yourself,” you say “Please look at me, baby.” you ask him, because you wanted him to see how much you loved him. When he finally looks up at you, you see tears running down his cheeks. Your heart sinks at the sight of his tear-streaked face. 

“Art,” you whisper, gently placing a hand on his face. He looks at you, his expression a mixture of defeat and sadness. Without a word, you wrap your arms around him in a comforting embrace. “Art, don’t beat yourself up, you played your heart out there.” Art leans into your embrace, his shoulders shaking with silent sobs. “I just…I wanted it so badly, I always play my matches for you,” he admits, his voice shaking and thick with emotion.

You hold him tighter, your heart breaking for him. “I know baby,” you say softly, “But you gave it all on the court, and that’s all anyone could ask for.” For a moment, you guys sit in silence, the only sound being the steady sound of Art’s breathing. As Art’s sobs slowly stop, he pulls away from your embrace, whipping his eyes with the back of his hand.

Art gaze intensifies, his eyes locking with yours in a silent acknowledgment of your shared vulnerability. In that shared moment, the air between you crackled with unspoken desire. Without a word, Art leaned in, capturing your lips in a tender yet passionate kiss, his love for you expressed in the warmth and intimacy of the moment you guys just shared.

a/n ; i just wanna say that english is not my main language so i'm sorry if there is any grammar mistake :) i might also write a part 2 where Y/N and Art are doing spicy stuff but idk

[1920sladydectective]

Hello I read your stuff and loved it! Gotta give all the kudos and drop a request.

Ambessa or Mel, you choose, with a soft reader. I feel like neither of them are particularly used to tenderness. But then there is reader well respected, powerful, and strong. It is frustrating to see this person who naturally has that tenderness despite what life has done to them and they don't know how to feel being on the receiving end.

Hallo sweetie,

Thank you for this request. I really enjoyed writing it and may add to it later, but for now you sort of have a smattering of tenderness for them both. I hope it's alright, it formed in an unexpected way

Ambessa's inability to understand the tenderness you exude makes her victim to that very same attitude. Little drabbly thing, SFW.

Ambessa was stuck between fury and admiration. 

There you stood, gentle and demure, with the attention of the room perfectly commanded. She had known that Mel had found a mentor of sorts in Piltover, somebody who had aided her rise onto the council, but being presented with such a force was unsettling. 

You were so tender. Neither fox nor wolf, you moved like a delicate bird, all exotic feathers and soft song. The worst part was it was not merely superficial. You were not beautiful without any other merit. You were a clear, precise politician with your influence gently glittering across both top and bottom side. 

Things in Piltover had mellowed slightly with your interference and it was clear you intended Mel to continue that legacy. You had said as much in your first meeting with Ambessa, praising Mel in more ways in ten minutes than she had done in her whole life. It had not seemed to weaken her, she blossomed under the encouragement, her decisions more cutthroat than yours, though you made no attempts to dull her blade. 

Several days later you found yourself cornered on a balcony, Ambessa’s hard eyes staring into you. 

“What is it you want with my daughter?” 

You laughed, light and sincere as you curled into the interaction, pulling up a chair close to her and pouring a glass of wine, “To use her for my own nefarious purpose,” 

She frowned, clearly not in her jovial, charismatic mood, leaning back and spreading herself on the ornate garden chair.

“I want her to flourish, as you do,” You spoke as if you were intimate friends, as you seemed to have a habit of doing, “Though she is her own person, her own wolf as you might say,” 

Ambessa’s eyes narrowed further, a smirk of her own forming as she sipped her drink, “You are a very..encouraging person,” 

Your lips pursed in consideration, turning the words over in your mind, “I do try, I believe there is great merit to a compassionate approach,” 

“Does it not ensure you are very easy to deceive? In blank belief and encouragement of all, you open yourself to many surprise attacks,” 

“It’s a good job I have you here then,” You laugh again, holding her gaze, “A notorious General such as yourself, I am sure to escape with nary a scratch,” 

Ambessa was rather confounded by you, elusive yet so clear. Her doubts about you were slippery, hard to catch and name, as each conversation that followed was of a simple variation. Somewhere along the way her doubt of your kindness had shifted its very attentions to you. 

You were hellbent on becoming her friend and had somehow managed it. Your only error? Falling in love in the process. Ambessa seemed to speak to parts of you that you couldn’t access alone, and you felt desperate to return the favour. There were glimpses, in the late night chats and whispered quips in council meetings, of her vulnerable and battered soul. She was so restrained though, her mind pulling back as soon as you grew closer. Her emotions seemed to be the prey animal she hoped to eradicate, and she did not appreciate, or could not understand you humouring its presence. 

One night, as a cool breeze shifted your lace curtains to and fro, Ambessa sat across from you in a tired state. You had heard of the catastrophic argument from both mother and child, each weaving the tale slightly differently. Their exaggerations complimented each other, allowing you to look through them and piece together the truth. The Medarda pride was a powerful thing, though it blinded them both all too frequently. 

Ambessa’s hand twitched, reaching out for the wine bottle she had forgotten was empty. You took the scarred hand in your own, miscalculating her intention. She did not flinch away, though her eyes glazed with confusion. You traced shapes against her palm with your finger, muttering words of support and understanding, making her own to her faults whilst allowing room for her pain. She seemed to fight against it like a soldier fought for another inch of land, predictable and saddening all the same. 

“I see you, Ambessa Medarda,” You teased, though the love was impossible to miss in your swirling eyes. 

“I know,” She muttered, leaning closer to you, “That’s what I’m afraid of,”

[deerlino]

A LOVE MULTIPLIED ( SKZ. )

Stray Kids (OT8) | Fem!Reader

Synopsis: You've been feeling off for a few weeks, so you decide to take a pregnancy test... and it turns out you're pregnant. Excited but nervous, you go to share the news with your boyfriend. How each SKZ members would react to you being pregnant with their child? (740 words)

Content: Fluff, Domestic Fluff, HEADCANONS, Pregnancy Reveal, Baby Talk, Warmth and Comfort, Hugs and Snuggles

Warnings: Emotional Reactions (overwhelming joy, tears, and disbelief), Medical and Health Focus (discussions and actions related to pregnancy health, such as attending doctor’s appointments, eating well, and safe exercises), Mild Cursing (“Holy crap!” and “fucking”)

Author’s notes: My first shot at writing headcanons! 🤭 Wanted to try something new, and it turned out super fun and adorable. <3 I'm loving it, and I hope you all do too. Definitely gonna be doing more of this stuff! 🩶

BANG CHAN:

When you tell Chan the news, he’s floored. His eyes go wide, and he pulls you into a tight hug, lifting you off your feet. “Babe, we’re having a baby?!” He can’t stop smiling and keeps repeating, “We’re gonna be parents!”

Chan starts fussing over you immediately. “Have you eaten? Are you feeling okay? Do you need anything?” He makes sure you’re comfortable and insists on accompanying you to every doctor’s appointment.

He spends hours curating the perfect playlist of calming and happy songs for you and the baby. “Music is important, it’ll help them grow smart and strong,” he says, placing headphones gently on your belly.

LEE KNOW (MINHO):

Minho’s usual cool demeanor shatters. He’s stunned into silence for a moment before breaking into a huge grin. “Really? I’m going to be a dad?” His voice is soft, almost disbelieving.

He immediately takes over kitchen duties, making sure you’re eating well. “You’re eating for two now, gotta make sure our baby gets the best,” he says while whipping up your favorite dish.

You catch him talking to your belly when he thinks you’re asleep. “Hey little one, it’s your dad. Can’t wait to meet you.” His voice is tender, filled with love.

SEO CHANGBIN:

Changbin’s reaction is loud and enthusiastic. “Holy crap! We’re having a baby?!” He laughs, lifting you off the ground and spinning you around.

He becomes super attentive to your health, creating workout routines that are safe for you. “Gotta keep you fit and strong, both of you,” he says, guiding you through gentle exercises.

He’s already thinking of baby names and loves discussing them with you. “What do you think of Binnie Jr.?” He’s half-joking, but his excitement is contagious.

HWANG HYUNJIN:

Hyunjin’s eyes fill with tears, and he pulls you into a gentle embrace. “I can’t believe it… we’re having a baby,” he whispers, his voice choked with emotion.

He starts painting and drawing for the baby’s room. “I want them to be surrounded by beauty from the moment they arrive,” he explains, showing you his latest creation.

He’s incredibly affectionate, always touching your belly and talking to the baby. “Hi little one, it’s your daddy. We love you so much already.”

HAN JISUNG:

Han laughs in disbelief at first. “No way! Are you serious? We’re really having a baby?” Once it sinks in, he’s all smiles and hugs.

He keeps you laughing with his jokes and antics. “Our baby is going to have the funniest dad ever,” he promises, making silly faces at your belly.

He writes songs for you and the baby, serenading you both with his guitar. “This is a lullaby just for our little one,” he says, strumming softly.

LEE FELIX:

Felix’s eyes well up, and he pulls you close. “This is the best news ever,” he says, his voice thick with emotion. “I can’t wait to be a dad.”

He goes on a baking spree, making all your favorite treats. “You’re eating for two now, gotta keep you happy and fed,” he says, handing you a freshly baked cookie.

Felix is incredibly loving and attentive, always checking on you and showering you with affection. “You and our baby are my everything,” he says, kissing your forehead.

KIM SEUNGMIN:

Seungmin is initially speechless, processing the news with wide eyes. “Wow, we’re really having a baby,” he finally says, a smile slowly spreading across his face.

He dives into research, reading everything about pregnancy and parenting. “We need to be prepared,” he explains, showing you an article on prenatal care.

Seungmin’s care is quiet but constant, always making sure you’re comfortable and well. “I’m here for you, every step of the way,” he promises, holding your hand.

YANG JEONGIN (I.N):

Jeongin’s reaction is pure excitement, jumping up and down. “We’re gonna be parents! This is amazing!”

He becomes extra cuddly, always wanting to be close to you and the baby. “I just wanna be near you both all the time,” he says, snuggling up to you.

He loves talking about the future and what kind of parents you’ll be. “Our kid’s gonna have the coolest mom ever,” he assures you, a huge smile on his face.

© deerlino (est. 170624) ༯ heyo, did you enjoy this piece? if you did, maybe you could reblog, drop a comment, or shoot me an ask to let me know your thoughts. also, feel free to check out my other stuff! thanks a bunch for the support! <3

[crystaldesiree]

(i wanna request if u dont mind!! Blade head canons being nonchalant and stoic towards his gf/reader everytime we say "ily" or any romantic stuff and everytime we get clingy or cuddly but lowkey he likes it deep down but he just doesnt show it)

but seriously tho i wanted to say DAYUMM ur first writing was so good. and also I REALLY REALLY LOVE THE SOULMATE!BLADE 🤭🤭 or ur first drabble!!! i like the way u write u should write more of him and maybe other characters too!

anyways thanks for already reading my texts!! have a nice day!!

pairing: blade x gn!reader a.n. ahhh, thank you sm! it honestly took me a day to write that and i was fairly surprised that people liked it! but im really glad you requested, i hope you like what i wrote!

blade always struggled with emotions. especially with memory fragments that burned like fire, shoved into the back of his mind and long forgotten. so, when it came to you, he wasn't as open to reciprocating every special moment. in fear that they too, would become memories that left him awake at night, struggling to breathe.  he didn't know how to react or what to say when the words 'i love you' fell from your lips. so he chose to stay silent, his expression remaining neutral. but deep down, those words stirred something in him, a warmth he hadn't felt in a long time. he might give a brief nod or a fleeting smile, but he never let on how much they meant to him. when you got clingy or cuddly, blade maintained his apathetic facade, letting you snuggle up to him without protest. he appeared indifferent, but the truth was, he secretly enjoyed your warmth against his cool skin. the way you wrapped your arms around him, your body snug against his, brought him a sense of peace he couldn't find anywhere else. if you looked closely, you might catch a subtle softening in his eyes or a slight twitch at the corner of his lips. even when you reached up to plant a tender kiss on his lips, he found himself at a loss, unsure of how to respond. internally, he wrestled with the decision to either wrap his hands around your waist or let them remain motionless. your kisses, however, always sparked a fire within him, sending heat cascading through his veins and causing his hands to tremble like leaves caught in the wind. but, his affection appeared in small, almost unnoticeable ways. he'd adjust your blanket when you fell asleep next to him, make sure your accessories were always adjusted right, or stand silently by your side when you were upset. despite his collected attitude, he listened attentively whenever you talked about your day or shared your thoughts. his eyes reflecting a depth of understanding and a sincere effort to show just how much he valued your words. deep down, blade enjoyed the warmth and love you brought into his life. he might never openly admit it, but the comfort he found in your presence was something he cherished more than anything. on rare occasions, his facade would crack slightly. sometimes when you two are alone together, he might gently hold your hand or give you a soft kiss on the forehead, revealing a glimpse of the depth of how he really felt.  he always tried to find a way to make you feel comfortable with him, without needing to express it verbally. there was an unspoken understanding between you two, even though he didn't often express his love verbally, you felt it in the way he stayed close, protected you, and allowed your affection without resistance.

[slaaverin]

Are you sure? Initial thoughts

Ah I've been rereading a post I made before AYS aired about my excitement and hope for the show.

How joyful yet filled with dread I was about what would be on display, what would be uncovered, and people's reaction.

In retrospect, I think AYS gave us everything we hoped for and more.

We saw jikook relaxed and comfortable, enjoying their time together, doing mundane stuff, with quiet and simple moments, or doing fun activities where they felt free and joyful and in the present moment.

My takeway of this show and jikook's relationship is their sense of belonging.

I hoped for a closer look into their dynamic and we really got that.

The way their relationship works is that no matter what they are doing (or not doing), you can see how much pleasure they are taking for simply being in each other's presence. There is a flow and an ease between them that never gets disrupted by anything. They simply adapt to their circumstances and keep being authentic and enjoy the time together.

They showed several times how important these trips were for them.

But in truth it showed it was not (only) about the trips.

What is really obvious is how much they value their relationship, how much care they put in it.

This is not about the trips, this is not about making a show.

This is allowing time to tend and to nurture this relationship they deeply love.

That's what most important.

It matters to them, so much.

Even with Jungkook (we can see it in I am still) crazy schedule. Maybe because of his schedule.

It was needed, it was even indispensable.

Now we have all the information, I cannot see them not making those trips before military. They craved it so much, and they loved it so much, it was for their own mental health and well-being, to keep their internal balance.

When your world turns upside down, when you are faced with the Unknown, your first instinct is to reassure yourself, is to go home, and make yourself a cup of warm tea, and do the things that makes you feel calm and relaxed. As humans we tend to do this, to take cover, to retreat, in the safest place we know, to ease our hearts and to make us think everything will be ok.

That's what Jimin & Jungkook did.

They went home to each other. They took cover into the ease and softness of their relationship, because that's known. Because that's safe. It's where they feel they belong and they can rest.

I understand why.

Such relationship is an oddity in the real world, it's once every blue moon, it doesn't come easily, sometimes people spend their whole life searching for it.

We can see also how much the dynamic is different with other members. Nothing compares to them.

I think jikook are aware of this (because they are smart people) so when you find something so precious, you want to care for it and keep it close to your heart.

It shows in how much tenderness they have for e/o.

Jungkook plays the "baby alpha" yet with Jimin he transforms into the most caring and protective.

Jimin is a selfless guy in general but we see how he truly deeply enjoys seeing Jungkook happy. "All for your happiness".

Damn it makes me tear up just to think about it.

They are SO LOUD. My god.

It is so goddamn beautiful to witness.

At this point I am simply happy for them.

Happy they have each other. Happy they got to show who they are together with no repercussions (because thank god people are still stupid! Blessed be the ignorant)

This show was a rollercoaster of emotions, but now we know, now we see, now we say "Ah yes, that's it. This is what this is about"

Forever grateful to them for trusting us like this with a huge part of themselves.

They really do love us a lot.

(I'm writing this as I should be editing the show, so this post is pure procrastination, let me to back to work 😂)

Thank you for reading 💜

[tevanbegins]

If any of you fellow BTs of mine ever followed Maya and Carina's storyline on Station 19, you'll know there's this one episode in season 4 in which they discuss their conflicting views on marriage, kids, family, etc. and the episode is filled with angst and emotional drama as well as sexy moments in a domestic setting. They eventually have a big argument but then by the end of the episode they both realise how they both don't want to lose each other and they get engaged. It was a very beautiful and satisfying episode allowing these characters to really shine with their excellent performances.

There's a similar potential with Buck and Tommy on 9-1-1 with the impending "baggage and unforeseen challenges" plot and I hope Tim Minear devotes a decent amount of screen-time to develop their relationship through this and beyond. I am not raising my hopes too much but if episode 8x05/06 is a Buck-centric one I wish we get ample Buck and Tommy content in it. Oliver and Lou are both extremely talented actors, they are passionate about the characters they play, their chemistry is insanely good and I know for sure they will act the hell out of a meaty script.

I have faith in Tim Minear to do right by this storyline because he seems fully aware that what he has created with Bucktommy is something important, tender and lovely and is impacting people, especially queer fans, in a very positive way (whiny toxic BoBs don't count). He could make history by writing one of the finest long-term (hopefully endgame 🤞🏽) mlm romances on network TV — of which there are very few examples, and even fewer featuring a bisexual male character. I hope he never loses sight of this massive potential and continues writing some great stuff for Buck and Tommy. It can be really wonderful and I am so here to see a proper development for them!

Can't wait to see my boys thrive more and more in their love! ❤️💫

[angelic-jeonghan1004]

Hi! I really wanna request something for andteam!

andteam during a fight?

If so I would appreciate you accepting my request!

Hiiii anon 💞 ofc you can!! I hope you enjoy 🥰 I’m going to write this in sections but struggle with motivation so pls come into my inbox to let me know if you’d want maknae line! sorry I’m a lil rusty it’s been a while since I wrote anything💔

K:

I view him as one of the least level headed, so in an argument I think he’d be a bit hurtful in what he says

even tho he’ll want to keep his cool he won’t be able to stop himself from making passive aggressive or backhanded comments

If he said something super mean I don’t think he’d be ready to double down out of stubbornness

unless you actively started crying or showing signs of going to leave

then he’d immediately regret everything

Cue word jumble of apologies and he’ll want to reach out to you and hold ur hand if you allow him but will understand if you don’t.

Would most likely exit the room to cool down so he doesn’t say anything else he regrets

Would come back in about an hour to try and figure the problem out with a better mindset and apologize again right off the bat

Would hold you very tight that night

Fuma:

Unlike K he is VERY level headed and would be very articulate with his wording

Hates when you are the cause of his stress and especially hates being the cause of yours as he wants to always be your protector and who you go to instead of be what you have to go to others about

Arguments with him are not regular and when they do happen he tries very hard to under your point of view and apologizes if it’s from something he did that made you upset

If you made him upset he’d be quick to communicate what didn’t sit right with him

He’d be the least likely to say rude comments to you since he doesn’t like putting you down in anyway

Euijoo:

He is a sweet guy with a tender heart he doesn’t like arguing

But when you guys do argue he’s very gentle and particular about his words but May sigh and sometimes his tone may sound condescending

If your argument gets heated he will be quick to put the argument on pause and have you guys chill in separate areas to think since the last thing he’s letting you guys do is say stuff just to be petty or hurtful to the other person

Let’s say you go into ur shared bedroom and he stays in the kitchen he will grab a glass of water and then go up to your room and ask to start the conversation up again

He’d give you the water and take a few deep breaths first before continuing and turning it from a fight to a conversation

Nicholas:

He is hot headed

He will not be thinking about your emotions exactly if you step on his toes he may genuinely get mean

He will only back down when you cry or if ur voice starts to break like K

Then he will probably either leave the house or go into a dif room to reevaluate what just happened

When he comes back he’ll apologize and itd be genuine but sound a little awkward

Will ask if you’ll let him talk to you about the situation again and he hopes you will do you guys can get it over with and since he’s had enough time to think of genuine responses and not condescending ones but understand if ur not wanting to

will let you sleep on the matter but will ask if you can sleep in the same bed

He just needs to hold you to know you’re not leaving

[orangeinecstasy]

matty boyfriend thoughts ฺ｡*:･

an: matty has been heavy on the brain, and someone under ross' bf thoughts asked for one about him so ofc i had to do it.

cw: fluff and smut sections

quality time

he constantly wants to be around you. he's pretty much like a puppy following you around everywhere. if he's in the studio, he'll always invite you over, even if you're going to sit there and read. if you're getting ready to go out, you best believe he's setting himself in the bathroom and watching you get ready. he'll ask you about the makeup you're using or the dress you picked out. he's just so in love and invested in you.

physical touch

i think this one kind of goes with quality time in the way that he just wants to be around you. he always has your hand in his, rubbing his thumb over your knuckles. or has you pulled onto his lap, nuzzling himself into the crook of your neck. he loves how warm you are and how safe you make him feel.

sentimental

he 100% has a little box of stuff tucked away somewhere, including things that you gave him or things you guys did together, such as movie tickets, reseats, cards-- everything. i can see him putting them all together in some sort of scrapbook or collage and giving it to you when you guys reach a big relationship milestone.

the biggest softie ever

he's totally crying on your one-year anniversary. he'll just be so overwhelmed with joy and love that he can't help it. he's honestly just putty in your hands when you're together. i can also see him getting emotional if you remember something small like he likes, like his favorite brand of wine, or his coffee order. not emotional in the crying sense, but just the full-hearted feeling you get when you're in love with someone.

songs about you

he's so consumed with the thought of you that, of course, there's going to be an embarrassing number of songs dedicated to you. if he sings one of them during a show, he's singing it directly to you. 100% his muse in every way.

writing letters to each other over tour

though you guys are in constant contact with each other, whether he's calling you or texting you, or flying you out to a show, he loves the intimacy of letters. sitting down and really thinking about what he wants to write, even if it's stuff he told you earlier; he loves the romantic feeling of it all.

care packages

this one goes with the letters a little bit. but i can see him making a little package of things he's collected on tour or just when he's out and about. I know for a fact he loves it when you do it for him on tour, making one of the guys sneak it into their luggage and then give it to him as a surprise.

you fell first; he fell harder

matty was definitely hesitant when he first started to catch feelings for you. he knew what his reputation was, what his lifestyle was like. he knew it wasn't easy dating someone like him, but once he finally opened up to you, he couldn't get enough.

smut below the pictures

breeding

i think at first it was an accident. probably a quickie in a bathroom at a party or before a show, and he was just so enthralled in you that he forgot to pull out. of course, you both panic, but as soon as he pulls out and sees the cum dripping out of you, something animalist switches in his brain. "fucking hell, your cunt looks so pretty dripping with my cum." figures push through your folds, collecting his cum before pushing it back into you. and now you can get over the full feeling that he gives you.

spanking

i think this mixes a bit with marking, but he just loves to see how much he can physically affect you. watching how quickly your skin turns red. how your legs twitch in anticipation of the next hit. especially if you're bruised the day after, he'll be so sweet, kissing over them and applying cream so that your skin isn't as tender.

munch

i just can't think of him any other way. he's so consumed with you in his everyday life that, of course, he's going to crave eating you out. especially before or after tour. he just wants to be in between your legs for hours, tasting you as much as he can.

switch

he has a heavy dom lean, but sometimes he just wants you to take the reins. he doesn't care what you do to him, as long as you feel good and he hopefully gets to cum at the end. he especially slips into subspace when you ride him. getting all whiny and fucked out underneath you.

edging

he just loves knowing how much control he has over you. watching your legs shake, and hips buck into his touch as you beg for an organism. he finds it amusing how, within an instance, he can give you so much pleasure and pain all at one time. i know he's a sucker for it too. loves when you tie him up and pump his cock with a toy or your hand until he's sobbing to cum.

pictures

when you brought up the idea of taking pictures when you guys fucked, matty was definitely hesitant. he knew what could happen if they got out into the public. so, you suggested just having them be of you at first, which eased the idea in his mind a bit. as soon as he took the first polaroid of you covered in his cum he couldn't stop. now he has a stack of them tucked away in his room and one in his wallet.

blow job lover

he loves seeing you on your knees. how you look up at him through your lashes like this is the most innocent thing in the world. not only does he love how it feels, but how you're so willing to give him pleasure in such an intimate way. he can't deny how much he likes seeing how sloppy you look when you fuck his throat.

[blue-grama]

The Sign finale probably should have disappointed me, but... didn't?

It's been a heck of a run lately with Thai BLs that haven't quite stuck the landing, and it's got me pondering why The Sign worked for me despite sometimes feeling like a storyboard for a longer, better show.

I don't think they pulled off the emotional payoff they needed, despite that last reunion scene being so pretty and well-acted, simply because too much happened offscreen, from Khem's recovery from a gunshot wound to the entire multlifetime Tharn/Chalothon dynamic getting resolved without us seeing any of it. But somehow I wasn't that mad about it? And ultimately I think it's because this show did so many things well and so many things I'd love to see more of that I'm just like, yep, I enjoyed that ride sirs, please show me something this gorgeous again. In that sense it's joining something like Manner of Death or Kinnporsche where it's like, plot holes? Yes. Bizarre tonal shifts? Absolutely. Occasionally insane writing choices? Uh-huh. Love it anyway? You betcha. So here's what really, really worked for me:

Premise

I am always going to be onboard with QL that isn't solely coming-of-age or coming out. I'm not against those stories, of course, but give me gay romance with adult characters who know themselves and are doing adult things. I'm also a partisan for romances with high external stakes, so the mixture of crime and reincarnation was catnip to me.

Do I care that none of this training makes any sense? No.

2. Setting

Listen. Is The Sign the reason I have a document on my laptop titled "Imaginary trip to Thailand without ever seeing a beach?" Not exactly. But it's also not not the reason.

I am being willingly manipulated by the Thai Tourism Authority.

Kidding, kidding, but I do love when my Thai shows feel Thai or my Korean shows feel Korean, etc etc. I want to be driven to Wikipedia to learn more! Half the fun of watching stuff from not your own country.

3. Chemistry

I think @biochemjess covered what was underwritten about the romance in The Sign. Billy and Babe carried it on their backs and it was hard to dislike their romance, even when the series skipped over key beats.

Any time the pink lighting came out, you were gonna be in for a good time.

4. The camerawork

I don't know enough about film to speak intelligently about this, but the camerawork and aesthetics of this show were just so lovely to watch. It was really doing a lot. @chaos0pikachu wrote about it better than I ever could.

LOVED THIS. LOVED IT. So good.

We had some really lovely storytelling and visual parallels, too, like the first episode and finale both having a big action warehouse scene, or the multiple times that Phaya and Tharn ended up overlooking the Mekong river.

5. It was always kinda off the rails

I know some people felt this show started out with a strong premise and didn't live up to it, but I gotta say, I didn't have that experience. It was always kinda a bonkers watch for me. There were long training montages, random bodies in the shallows, missing genitals, extended performance art, that comedy flashback to Khem and Thongthai's college years... I never knew what I was going to get each Saturday. And I kind of loved that? I'm into unhinged. I was comparing this in my head to Last Twilight, which did disappoint me in the end, and I think it's because Last Twilight was NOT always bonkers and DID set itself up to tell a straighforward story, then dropped the ideas it had been juggling in the last episode. The Sign always felt chaotic to me, so a chaotic ending was par for the course. This is where I'd compare it to KinnPorsche, which had the weirdest fucking ending, but like, okay??? Why not!

End result? I see the flaws, but I'm giving this show tender forehead kisses anyway. Here's hoping for more like it.

[drachonia]

𝐥 𝐚 𝐯 𝐞 𝐧 𝐝 𝐞 𝐫 ' 𝐬 𝐛 𝐥 𝐮 𝐞 .

Alfons Slyvatica Family Fluff

𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬: i kinda felt like going back to my roots and writing some family fluff while i wait for october and try not to pass out from uni stress, lmao. simple stuff, just wanted to write for some characters i've grown fond of. a lil tough to write because of how complex alfons' emotions are about life stuff.

𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠: not really anything warning worthy aside from just...family fluff. a little mention of his more bleak inner thoughts near the end (ends postiive), but that's about it.

Soft and tender notes reached Alfons’ ears as he entered the parlor of his home in the late hours of the morning. His wife’s long brunette hair trailed over the arm of the rocking chair as she cradled a dark-haired child in her lap, gently brushing back the straight but fluffy hair from his little forehead.

“Let the birds sing, dilly, dilly And the lambs play We shall be safe, dilly, dilly Out of harm's way.”

Her gemstone eyes flickered up to meet his from across the room, her calm stare turning to a beaming smile as she saw her husband linger in the doorway.

“Look who’s home.”

A tiny head of dark hair whipped up in excitement, the boy turning and scrambling down from his mother’s lap and bouncing toward Alfons with a bright and mischievous grin, much like his own.

“Alec, careful!” His mother called gently after him as tiny feet padded across the hard wood floors quickly.

“Papa’s home! Papa’s home!” The boy leapt into his father’s arms, giggling happily. Long arms caught the child as his aforementioned father lifted him effortlessly in his arms, “How is my little duckling?” He chuckled, feeling the tiny little arms squeeze ‘round his collar and chubby cheeks nuzzle the breast of his coat, eyes closing happily, “Mum read me a few stories that uncle Liam sent! And uncle Elbie came by with Erik to say hello! Ooh and after that we baked a pie together, Mum made our favorite flavor filling, too—” The boy brightened as he recounted the events of the day, his father’s soft as he sat down on the sofa with his son on his lap.

Smoke colored eyes drifted briefly during the story to his son’s mother, taking in the smile as she stared at their child lovingly. He recounted the many times she’d expressed how she wanted their child to look like him, and glancing back down at Alec, she practically got her wish. Narrow but pretty dark eyes, soft black hair just short of ink in color. The more he looked at his son, the more he contemplated his own negative thoughts. If someone had asked him several years ago whether he’d make a good father, he would have laughed in their face. Nowadays, however, Alfons was almost terrified at how much his own family had changed his outlook on life. That solemn reminder of being forgotten lurked in the back of his mind, always. But…this peace he was rewarded with at his home he’d made…it was something that kept him going. He would make every effort each mission to execute each plan to perfection, not a resource nor a second could be wasted, for he had a family to return to.

“—Oh! And I start school tomorrow, remember, papa?” Excited smoke colored eyes stared wide up at him, expectant for a reaction. He felt his muscles relax finally, reaching up to rub Alec’s fluffy little head, thumb rubbing his chubby cheek, “Yes, little one, I remember, growing so fast, aren’t you?” He lifted him into a hug, squeezing him to his chest and kissing the top of his head, chin resting there as he smiled at his wife, a fragile, but contented smile. All of this felt surreal, like he could let out too heavy a sigh and it would all blow away like smoke. But with each day he lived it, he learnt he was far more content to let things develop as they were.

He remembered being hesitant when he learned he and his lover had managed to conceive. Remembered the anxiety of what could become of them both should anything happen to him. But perhaps the thing he remembered most of it all was when he got to sit by her side, watching her cradle that little bundle with a patch of dark hair. That moment he reached out, only for a tiny fist to wrap around his gloved index finger. That moment rendered him wide-eyed in wonder, speechless and curious to how someone could capture his attention even easier than his partner. Of course, given the fact a child was practically a manifestation of them both, he supposed it wasn’t entirely impossible to have that unconditional love.

Brought back to reality by a faint tug on his coat by his eight year-old, he smiled softly, eyes crinkled in joy as he kissed his son’s head tenderly. Every bit of love he would pour into this family of his, until all of them were filled with too many memories to possibly forget. That would be the thing that he would leave behind, no matter what twisted card fate may try to pull.

lace headers by saradika.

[poppyfamily]

Amangela Writer Appreciation Post!

I'm feeling a lot of things right now and I've decided to write what I like about my Amangela writer friends' writing. I often forget to leave comments on their work because they are GOOD at what they do, and I often forget I'm in the middle of reading good writing because it just exists (something something baby fish asks mommy fish where water is only to realize they've been swimming in it the whole time). Can you believe they do this for FREE? And share it with us just because they want to? They are GIFTS to the community.

It is such a privilege to be in the same creative sphere as these people and I need to express Emotions or regret not doing it. They inspire me everyday. Here is a public declaration of love, hope y’all are okay with that. Ramblings under the cut, because it goes without saying, this got really long.

@okiankeno is so imaginative with their writing. My Teeth, Your Neck is impressive with its incorporations of many elements that are familiar to Smosh and Amangela while throwing them into a fantastical, supernatural universe. I haven't watched Buffy, but their writing is so good at making this fantastical world feel lived in. The world just seamlessly slides into the way they write character motivations, making for strong characterization and dynamics that have me INVESTED. That Maia/Valerie twist? Screaming. Crying. Throwing up.

@babychosen is wonderful at dropping Amanda and Angela in situations optimized for maximum tension - which is clearly seen in first time that i met you (i didn't have a damn clue) and you could be bad (but i wanna find out). I love how she crafts her plots, keeping me at the edge of my seat for what comes next, which is driven forward by the way she writes dialogue - natural to the situation as it captures a range of emotions: awkwardness, uneasiness, attraction and just all the quirks that come with forming relationships. Her writing is so fun to read!

@sage-lights writes fics that are short and sweet, but they pack such a powerful punch. With just a few words, she's able to tell a story that contains the energy of a multi-chaptered fic. This is especially true in sometimes i hold you closer (just to know you're real). LIKE HELLO. I was on the road when I first read it and it had me spiraling for a good few hours. She also captures their voices very well. They also capture the tenderness of Amanda and Angela in such a specific way. One of my favorites is met you at the right time (this is what it feels like), capturing the intimacy of two women who earnestly love each other, beyond romance.

@xxsuicidalravenxx 's writing explores the inner turmoil of being drawn to someone while having a lot of insecurity about your own place in other people’s lives. You know I'm such a fool for you (you got me wrapped around your finger) captures something so incredibly real about the anxiety that comes with a murky and under-communicated relationship dynamic based on unfair assumptions about both herself and how Amanda feels about her - which ultimately is a reflection of Angela’s own self-worth which at this point isn’t the best. It’s so real, god - the self-sabotage and all that and slowly realizing that the people around her care more about her beyond whatever mistake she believes she’s made. Also just - all Chamangela dynamics are excellently written here. It’s a gift.

@unknownteapot is masterful at her craft. I've said it before - their writing is so cinematic.  I can see it clearly in my mind - so good at painting clear pictures of where the characters are in the story. It's dramatic, tension-filled and just excellent writing all around. Several minutes of my life have been spent reading her fics. I feel comforted whenever I read her stuff, it gives the feeling of hope - that things will be okay even when it doesn’t seem that way. I remember when sweetheart dropped in the Amangela ao3 tag and thinking WHO is this absolutely talented writer that came out of nowhere (to me lol), but now I can't imagine this little community without them.

@shesmore-shoebill is so good at capturing Amangela vibes as we see it. Like it truly feels like they've broken down the dynamic into its bare essentials which enables them to produce fics that I can vividly HEAR.  They also just infuse a lot of tenderness into the way they write Amanda and Angela, whether it's in a joke or in like genuine moments of checking in - both demonstrated very well in empty space and Joint Custody (Hey Siri). Also, you just know they're a good writer without reading any of their fics because they are already so articulate in how they write commentary on videos when they aren't even trying to write a story, so when they do have a story, it just hits even more. So good.

@skiespeaches has authored one of the hottest, tension-filled fics I've read in my god damned life. From the first chapter of The devil is in the details I was screaming over how THE FUCK they were able to make just ONE KISS feel like THAT. Also, really really really love how grounded this is in the way they write dialogue and internal thoughts. It captures the pleasant feeling of realizing just how much you like someone and receiving some cues that they might like you back. It captures actions you take because of those feelings that can get in the way of communicating what you really want, the emotional tentativeness that comes with not wanting to bear your heart completely quite yet - yet there is a willingness to see where it goes, hoping that it does come to that point. The entire fic feels like the most emotionally charged scene of a slice of life movie - which is literally my personal favorite genre.

@ghoulishhgayy - famed author of hit Amangela fic Oil Burns had me invested in a situation that I personally haven't read a lot of in fanfiction. The spirit of their fics can be boiled down (haha get it) to the way they write about two women who deeply care about one another unconditionally supporting each other through difficult times. That's the kind of shit I eat up, and it's done so excellently. They just also write in a way that just makes being in love so appealing. They capture the moment of oh in Oil Burns so well that it has me gnashing my teeth, gnawing at the bars of my enclosure etc etc.

@wlwsmosh manages to get to the heart of a story in a few words. It's actually crazy and I’m in awe of their talent. There is a lightness to their fics that just makes me smile so much while also like having some really smutty scenes, which is so dang impressive - balancing sweetness and steaminess really well while also feeling very much like Amangela. My favorite from them are when i call the shots, you call me mommy which I think feels so much like Amangela voice and humor, while also placing them in a relationship and kink context. Honestly, all of their fics are gems.

@baflegacy is so GOOD at putting Amangela in the silliest of situations (heck, situations that are very much based on what we have seen in canon) and teasing out its potential romantic through line. They have a way of capturing emotions that accompany these situations in a way that just shoots you straight to the core. They write tension so well, and are so good at keeping me engaged with what's about to happen next. All of their works are GOATED. I, however, am extremely biased when I say that my favorite is their birthday gift for me - too good (to deny it) - aka one of the best angsty pieces of writing I've read in my whole life my GOD.

@cuecrynsleep is so!!!! A newer friend whose first fic in the Amangela tag I fell in love with immediately (Being Transparent). It was so simple, but captures Amangela’s adorable nature within the context of a romantic relationship REALLY WELL. I’m also just out here eagerly awaiting every post from Reconnecting the Past, which is a chat fic - a format that I rarely like the execution of, but damn I love the way they’re doing it here with the added bonus of the Changela, Arangela, and Shourtmanda dynamics which is just feels absolutely right. I’m out here thinking what are they gonna do next. They are so good at building intrigue and I’m just here sipping my tea and thinking in my head that I sound like some pathetic fuckboy sexting going “and then what?” because I am seated. I am sat. 

Anyway, if you’ve reached the end of this post - go support these writers!!!! Make sure you let them know if you like their stuff - either through a comment, kudos, an ask, a message, or bookmark. I promise you it makes these authors’ days whenever they see any kind of feedback for their work, and it keeps the community ALIVE. I am guilty of not doing that but it’s always great to try instead of not. I know from personal experience that it makes so much of a difference in their motivation to write more, while also allowing us to savor the work instead of mindlessly consuming it. Thanks for reading me gushing about all of them. Love you Amangela RPF community! Very grateful for y’all more than you’ll ever know <3

[burningcheese-merchant]

I have. A few things to say! First of all, thank you for writing for here (and there, but I do not have an AO3)! I’m very in much love with someone going crazy for another and *mwah* do you do it right and justice! That said, prioritize yourself! Drink water! Eat! Do not burn out, and do not feel pressured to do stuff! I hope that your spark burns for long after this fandom!

Thank you so, so much for your kind words! I know you sent multiple asks, so I'm going to try to respond to the first two in one post, if that's ok! (I'll answer the PitayaFire one separately)

Don't you know that the truest, most profound kind of love is born not beneath the soft, pale light of the full moon, not in the sound of a pair's steps as they dance the night away, not within the warmth and security of a tender embrace, but within the walls of the solitary confinement cell in the "dangerous and violent" housing section of a psych ward? LOL jk. It's really fun writing a lovesick/obsessed person for some reason. I don't have this dynamic for any of my other ships, this is the first time I've opted to explore a darker, more uncomfortable and unstable route/interpretation of a "relationship" and it's honestly been a blast lol. (I DO also ship mutual BurningCheese, but under specific conditions, AKA Burning Spice has a redemption arc and GC falls for him on her own. I just can't justify them being together if he's still evil. So long as he is, the love is one-sided)

I really am grateful for your compliments and encouragement. I've got a super big and important BurningCheese fic in the oven rn, but I do need to actually focus on real life for a bit, so it'll be some time. I'll be posting drabbles on here and a fic or two on AO3 where BS is NOT dangerously insane, just a regular asshole who's down bad lol

You can rest assured that my crazy diamond will continue shining on long after I get tired of these games about talking cookies. I always loved writing, it's my favorite hobby and it's my only way of expressing my creativity since I can't draw to save my life. I actually have a 100% original work I've been tinkering with for a loooong time, but I always wanted that story to be told in comic form, and to do that... I have to learn to draw lol. (And that's... a really big mountain to climb. I want to climb it more than anything, but I don't know if I can. Feels like I keep slipping and falling on my ass every time I try to take and retake the first step on the first rock, you know? Idk how anyone does it, honestly...) In any case, I'm truly grateful for you and everyone else who bothers to look at my work and actually thinks it's good for some reason

Did you see that gacha animation though 👀 The way BS is looking at her 👀 y'all can't tell me he ain't thirsty. Look at that twinkle in his eye. Look at that smile. He wants to tear up more than just those wings, I'm telling you 👀 Shadow Milk is a silly billy, he thinks puppet shows and gaslighting are how you flirt with people. Mystic Flour is probably just like "what. What is this. Who is this man. Why is he handsome. Why do I feel this way. Emotions are futile. Love is ephemeral. I will not stray from the path. I will trap him in my mind prison and torture him. That will fix it. He will surrender to apathy. He will return my soul jam. He will see how smart and correct I am. Cloud Haetae will sing my praises to him until he believes them. Yes. That is what will happen. Victory is mine. I am Very Normal about this." Burning Spice? Down horrendous. Down crazy. When GC is there, it's like no one else is in the room. Won't stop smiling. Only mentions the Soul Jam once, focuses on her specifically the whole rest of the time. First real thing he says to her is how much she impresses him. Throws a tantrum after their fight essentially because she didn't step on him hard enough. Down bad. Down bad. Down bad. Ain't no way he isn't. You can't change my mind

Sorry for rambling. TL;DR: Yo Socrates, it's a fucking cookie (also thank you for your support)

[happy74827]

Can you do Young Neil x reader ^.^?

Art of the Mixtape

[Neil Nordegraf x Female!Reader]

Synopsis: In true Neil fashion, he gives you the best birthday present he possibly can.

WC: 1942

Category: Fluff

I literally passed out while writing this on the couch last night, so I had to finish it today, but here ya go! Our precious Young Neil 🥰

『••✎••』

In the dim glow of Neil's room, scattered with posters of indie bands and vintage comics, he hunched over his old cassette player. His fingers delicately selected each track, infusing the mixtape with a subtle rhythm that mirrored the beating of his heart.

He knew he was being a little overly sentimental, but your birthday was one of the few times each year he was allowed to be a bit gushy, a rare occasion where he could take his time, choosing his words and actions with deliberate care. It was almost like the world was on pause for a moment as he navigated the relationship.

It was a simple thing, a few notes strung together on tape, but Neil carefully considered every word.

For you, the song's lyrics are more than just lyrics—they are an expression of his emotions, one that would surely be lost on anyone else. But in your hands, he knows you will understand him better than anyone.

"Love is like a fire; the more you try to hold onto it, the faster it burns."

The words are burning into your brain when Neil presses play.

You're still unsure what the song is meant to say, but you've come to realize how much it means to Neil. As the track loops for a third time, you sneak a glance over to him—his eyes are closed, and his lips are slightly parted. You wonder what he sees in this moment—perhaps he is lost in a memory. You try to picture what he might be thinking of, but you're not sure if your imagination could do it justice.

In the past, you were never very good at interpreting what someone was trying to convey, and the times when you tried to express your feelings always left you with a sickly feeling in your stomach—a heavy knot of nerves that would eventually bubble up into bouts of tears. It's not that you were unaware of what Neil wanted to say, but rather, you were too scared even to imagine it.

The cassette player runs through its cycle a fourth time before the song finishes playing, and Neil's eyes slowly open. His gaze meets yours, and you can see the soft glow of his smile reflected in his eyes. You don't need to say anything because his smile is an unspoken promise of an affection that will last far longer than any cassette tape could possibly play.

His smile fades slowly as he leans towards you. As his lips meet yours, you swear that you can hear the song playing once again in a new refrain—one that promises more than a handful of words.

“Happy birthday…” Neil says quietly, and you swear you can see a faint blush rising to his cheeks. You know how difficult it is for him to be so candidly emotional. You know the words he longs to express—he's told you time and again—but he's afraid to say them out loud.

You're grateful for that. You know it's not an easy thing for him.

You kiss him again and smile.

"Thank you... I love it."

"It's nothing, really. Just uh, small gift." He looks at you with his warm, tender gaze, and you know he's worried you might not like it. "I know you like the vintage stuff, and uh, I found this old cassette player, so I just thought—"

You gently place your hand on his.

"Neil... thank you."

He averts his gaze, and you can see that he's bashfully smiling. He tucks his hair behind his ear and shakes his head lightly.

"I, uh, I'm glad you liked it."

He turns to look back at you and gives you another gentle smile. He seems content just to gaze upon your face, but you don't mind it. After a long moment, he glances down and turns his attention to the cassette player in his hands.

"There's uh, there's more. If you want to hear them..."

He holds the cassette player out to you. You take it in your hands. You turn the cassette player over in your fingers and feel its weight. It's an old cassette player—you know he had to have spent some time scouring thrift shops for it. It's one of the few things he owned that had a personal attachment to it. He was the one to first introduce you to mixtapes and indie music, after all.

You glance down at the player and then back at Neil. He's looking at you expectantly. You know he's hoping for a particular reaction. It's only natural that he would expect that sort of response from you. But, as he's well aware, it's not something that comes so easily.

You smile and nod.

"Of course."

You open the cassette player, and another one of the tracks begins to play. You recognize the melody—it's the song Neil played for you the very first day you met him. The song was a lot more incoherent then, but now the melody is clear. Neil put some time and effort into choosing each track. You can see it now in the careful way he arranged the songs on the cassette. He'd gone out of his way to create a playlist that fit your preferences.

"It's beautiful."

Neil seems surprised to hear your voice, but it quickly melts into a soft smile.

"You think so?" He hesitantly reaches out to touch your hand, and you can see his cheeks turn a shade darker. He runs his fingertips along your palm and gently traces the lines of your hand. "I wasn't sure if... I wanted to get you anything since I know you don't really like, uh, receiving gifts. I just wanted to make something for you, I guess..."

He looks at you, and you see a hint of nervousness in his expression. You can't help but chuckle to yourself. You give his hand a gentle squeeze, and his expression softens. You smile, and he smiles back.

"I love it," you tell him.

Neil smiles wider, and you know that he knows you're sincere. The tension in his shoulders visibly relaxes as he looks back at you. He nods in reply.

"Good," he says. He pauses for a moment, and then he continues, "I wanted to make something for you, but, I dunno, I didn't know if it was right for you or... it would have been too weird..."

You raise an eyebrow at him. "Too weird?"

Neil shakes his head and glances away. "Well, I wanted to make something, like, something you might have liked, but I just... I dunno, I kept thinking that you might not be interested and, uh, I thought, I mean, you're so cool, you know, and..."

You laugh as he begins to ramble. You squeeze his hand and gently pull him closer to you. He tries to look away from you, but you reach up to cup his chin, turning his gaze towards you. You kiss his cheek, and he looks away bashfully.

"Thank you," you say softly. "I don't need anything more than this."

He looks at you, and you smile.

"You mean it?"

You nod. "It's perfect."

He glances down and shyly smiles. He hesitantly reaches out to tuck some of your hair behind your ear, his fingertips lightly brushing your skin as they trail down. You lean into his touch, closing your eyes as you feel the warmth of his hand on your cheek. His thumb brushes against your skin, and your smile widens.

The cassette player is still playing softly, but you don't care. The song isn't important, not right now. You have a different song to sing, and the melody you wish to sing is nothing he could ever hope to craft in a tape player.

You wrap your arms around him, pulling him close as you press your lips against his again. His lips are warm and soft, and you swear you can feel the gentle vibrations as the melody plays out. He relaxes in your embrace and places his hand on the small of your back, his fingers tracing the curve of your spine as his fingertips press into your skin.

His breath is warm, and his heartbeat is steady, and the more you hold him, the more you can feel him. His lips are gentle as he returns your kiss, his hands holding you tenderly, and the longer you kiss, the more you long for his touch. The soft sound of his song playing in the background makes you feel like time has stopped, and all that matters is this moment, where your lips are pressed against his.

And even when Stephen barged in, shattering the peaceful silence of the moment, it still wasn't enough to break the spell. Neil looked at you with that same bashful, sweet smile he wore moments ago, and you could feel your heart melting.

Stephen glanced between the two of you, then sighed.

"Neil," he said, "Steph called again. She wants to make sure you’re aware that she’s visiting in two days. Are you?”

“Uh, yeah. I know. I talked to her... earlier.”

“Alright, cool. Hurry up and eat then. We have practice, remember? I can only cover for so long...”

Stephen left the room, leaving you and Neil alone again. Neil smiled sheepishly at you, and you knew that he'd forgotten about the practice session Stephen was talking about. You only halfheartedly remembered the date Stephen had mentioned, but you were more interested in watching Neil's reaction to being scolded.

"He's right," you tell him, "Can’t have Sex Bob-Omb without their bassist."

Neil laughs, and you feel your heart melt at the sound of his voice. “Maybe, uh, you can join us sometime? You could bring your drums or uh... I don't know, like a guitar or something."

You smirk. "Is that an invitation to jam with you guys?"

"Sure, why not? You're a better player than me."

You chuckle and shake your head. "I don't think that's true. Even Scott said you’re better than he was. Even the whole ‘Young Neil’ thing was dropped. I think you should be proud of that. I know I am."

"Yeah?"

You nod. "Of course. I'm very proud of you, Neil."

Neil's cheeks turn a faint pink as he ducks his head slightly. He laughs and shakes his head. "I, uh, I guess that's good to hear, I guess." He glances up at you, and you catch the way he's trying to hide a smile. "Thanks."

You lean close to him, brushing your lips against his cheek. He sighs, and you kiss him again. "You're welcome. I'm glad I get to help Sex Bob-Omb live out its dream."

He laughs softly, his hand cupping your cheek. He kisses you again and pulls you closer. The cassette player is still playing, and you've almost forgotten what song it is. Almost.

"Do you really think I'm good enough?"

You kiss him again and wrap your arms around him.

"You're the best."

His smile grows wider, and he buries his face against your neck. His laugh is soft, and his lips linger on your skin. You squeeze him tighter, and he presses his forehead against you, breathing in your scent.

"Thank you, really," he says, his voice barely above a whisper.

"It’s my birthday wisdom to share."

"Yeah, yeah... Happy birthday, really."

He lifts his head to look at you and smiles, and you're sure there's no place in the world that you would rather be than right here, holding him. Because that’s all you'll ever need—a cassette player, an old song, and your love.