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charliemwrites · 3 months ago

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Part 4 of Men at Work!

Just a note, I know I mix phonetic and Cyrillic spellings of Russian in this. Mostly it's so that people can easily translate the more complex words directly.

Content: Masturbation, very mild protective/possessive behavior

It’s becoming a problem.

You think this from the overstuffed daybed recently purchased for the explicit purpose of feeding into aforementioned problem. Not that the porch is the problem, heavens no. If so much as a nail came loose, there’s a trio of men across the street all too eager to lend their hammers and bulging, glistening muscles to fix it.

Which, conveniently, is the problem.

Their muscles, that is. And how magnanimous they are with them.

Your house is nice. New. It took them three days to fix all the issues you’d been putting off for a day you were non-reclusive enough to schedule a handyman.

Your house is too nice and too new.

You’re feeding a Vegas buffet’s worth of appetites raised on old world sensibilities with no outlet for them to be expressed. There aren’t enough squeaky hinges, crooked cabinets, stuck windows, or leaky faucets in your two-bedroom for all that… chivalry. (Or whatever Krueger has that passes for chivalry’s surly cousin.)

They’ve taken to invading earlier in the evening for busy work before dinner. Cutting vegetables, tenderizing meat, cleaning dishes, setting the goddamn table.

Like, sirs, you’re a single woman with three cats and a sham of a personal life – the last time you saw a centerpiece on a domestic dining table was Christmas at your nana’s.

Until Konig shuffled in with a fistful of sunflowers and zinnias, promising that he double-checked that they’re non-toxic to cats. You didn’t have a vase, so you had to make do with an empty mason jar you were keeping for ostensible aesthetic reasons.

Now you’ve got an ongoing bouquet, kitschy salt-and-pepper shakers shaped like lemons that no one ever uses (as if your seasoning decisions are as good as god) and are contemplating cloth napkins like some kind of… of…

“Socialite?” you muse aloud. You glance at Rasputin. He blinks slowly. “Hostess? Woman of the night?”

You’re pretty sure Agatha didn’t mean that as a compliment when you overheard her gossiping to Margot yesterday. (She should really remember that if she can eavesdrop on you from her backyard, the same is true the other way around.)

You’re toying with an idea for a new series with your last one wrapping up and your solo-novel due for release come fall. Something about a rich young woman with a wild streak and her fantastically wealthy gentlemen callers…

“Scarlet woman,” you murmur aloud, eyes on the reason for your recent porch décor purchase.

Krueger is on the roof, cloth around his head to stave off the summer heat. Doing… something with shingles and a nail gun. Your face flushes with each flex of hard muscle, jump of thick tendons. The grip he has on that thing…

As inspiring as your neighbors are, they are also a huge (in many, many ways) distraction. Hence, they are a Problem.

And not just for you. On your right, you catch the flutter of curtains from your peripheral. Lisa taking another peek – to be properly scandalized, probably. (You’re not really sure what the neighborhood biddies tell themselves when they decide something is Simply Not Proper.)

“We’ll have to start charging admission,” you muse, sipping a strawberry mojito.

Curled up far too close for the weather, Little Guy chuffs and stretches. You smooth a fingertip up his little nose, between his eyes, and over the crest of his empty head.

“Jezebel,” you mumble. He yawns, tongue curling and pearly fangs gleaming. “Trollop.”

An annoyed grunt pulls your eyes forward again. Nikto is standing halfway up the porch, one foot planted on the last step like a sexy Russian Captain Morgan. His thighs stretch his workpants oh-so-nicely. There’s a smear of white paste across the material – caulking, maybe?

(You could do with a caulking too.)

“Has someone called you these?” he asks. “Who?”

You laugh. What would he even do if someone had?

“No – well, not to my face, anyway.”

He snorts, shoots a withering scowl at Agatha’s property anyway. You spin your pen around your fingers and try not to bite your lip at the way his shirt is clinging from sweat.

“Aren’t you hot?” you fuss. “You’re going to pass out.”

“Nyet, we have been in worse,” he replies, finishing the short journey up the porch. He pauses in front of you, taking in the sight of you and your cats. What does he think, seeing you lounging about all day while he and his friends(?) are working so hard? If it’s something negative, he’s never let on.

“Still,” you insist, “have you been hydrating?”

“Da, the water runs.”

You blink, put together pieces to assume he and the others are chugging tap water (probably right from the faucet) when necessary. Well, that just won’t do now, will it?

“No, no. Hold on. Rasputin, hold him hostage.”

And like the little angel he is, Ras gets up, stretches out, and begins rubbing his face all over Nikto’s pants. With him distracted, you hop to your feet and scurry inside. The house is almost uncomfortably cool after most of your morning spent outside, but you’ll only be a moment.

There’s a large ruby pitcher waiting in the fridge from last night, complete with various berries floating at the top. You use two hands to heft it out, set it on the counter, then flit to your cabinets for the travel cups you invested in for on-the-go wine sipping. Nice and insulated.

You pour a cup for each of them, stow the pitcher away again, and carry all three in triangle-formation back outside. (Maybe you should get a tray? The antique store in town probably has something pretty and lemon-themed to match the salt and pepper shakers…)

Nikto hurries to help as soon as he sees you, plucking the extra cup from your hands.

“I saw this recipe and wanted to try it since it’s been getting hotter.”

He blinks at you, then the juice.

“You don’t have to try it now, I just thought—”

Your voice abandons you as Nikto tugs his filtration mask down. The skin beneath is warped and scarred, discolored in some places. When he raises the edge of the cup to his mouth, the skin of one cheek stretches distressingly thin. You can see the individual indents of his back molars pressing against the flesh as he drinks.

You understand why he’s been hesitant to show you; it’s not easy to look at. Which makes you all the more determined to flick your eyes back to his and ask, eagerly, “What do you think? Too sweet?”

As he swallows, throat clicking, you think you hear him grunt something.

“Hm?”

“Nyet. Not too sweet. Is good, пчела.”

You grin even though you’re not sure what it means. All three of them have some nickname in their mother tongue that you can only hope is complimentary and not because they forgot your actual name.

“Good, then I can bring some to K and K while you help me with lunch. That’s why you came by, right?”

He nods. “Nearly noon.”

“That late already!” you say. Wow, staring at hot, sweaty men really makes time fly. “Alright, I was going to make chicken wraps and latkes. Could you start peeling potatoes? You know where everything is, da?”

“Da.” He clicks his tongue, luring Rasputin in and stirring Guy awake. “Come, малышу, before we leave you out here for vultures.”

“Nikto!” you scold. “Don’t threaten him.”

“I do not threaten. It is what will happen.”

You swat at his arm, but at least Little Guy has been lured into Nikto’s reach – if by nothing else than a hand has been offered and cats are helpless to resist a good sniff. Nikto scoops him up while you turn to flounce down the stairs.

“Make sure Susan doesn’t get out!” you call over your shoulder.

She was roused by your quick turnaround to get the juice cups and will certainly be stalking the door now.

Sure enough, you faintly hear him cursing in Russian as you reach the end of the yard. Luckily, you see him closing the door with all three of your demons inside, so you continue across the street.

Krueger hasn’t noticed your approach, his back to you, so you stop at the edge of the property to watch for a moment. Yep, just as good this close, too.

“Krueger!” you call. He doesn’t turn. You huff and try again. Nothing. Christ, you’re starting to think he’s ignoring you on purpose. “Sebastian!”

His head whips around alarmingly fast and finds you right there on the ground. No need to look around at all – sometimes they remind you of their profession in the oddest ways.

“Ja, ja, no need to shout,” he replies.

You open your mouth to do just that, but he’s already scaling down from the roof. You’re stunned into silence as he slides down to the edge of the roof, catches the edge, and swings down to the ground. Lands with barely more noise than one of your footsteps. It’s quick yet so graceful.

You stare (gawk, more accurately) as he saunters up, pants sinfully low on his narrow hips.

“What did you need, bienchen?” he asks. “It is too early for lunch.”

You stutter for a second before your brain reboots.

“What was that?!” you demand, a little shriller than necessary. If you don’t shriek about this, you’re going to shriek about that gorgeous chest and the tattoos and the everything else, and you absolutely cannot do that. “That was so dangerous! You’re going to break a leg!”

“You worry,” he scoffs. He shakes his head, but there’s a wicked, knowing grin at the corners of his mouth and his eyes are far too bright. “That was a little jump.”

“It was not!”

“It only seemed big because you are so little, but it was nothing for me.”

“You’re not that much taller!”

“It is sweet to worry,” he coos, “but it is too hot for it, yes?”

You scrunch your nose at him, not sure if you’re annoyed or turned on or both. (Probably both. It’s annoying how hot he is. And how hot he knows he is.)

“If it’s so hot, then here.”

You all but shove the cup at him. He takes it with a flicker of genuine surprise, sniffs at the liquid, then takes a sip. A pleased hum rumbles in his chest, raises the temperature another few degrees.

“My mother used to make something like this,” he muses, expression softening. You blink, lean in automatically for a peck to your cheek. “Danke schön.”

“Bitte,” you mumble, mouth drier than Reggie’s garden.

His eyes crinkle, mouth hidden by the edge of the cup as he proceeds to chug the rest of it. A droplet slips down his jaw and skips down to his collarbone. You force your eyes away before you’re driven to do something irreparable by thirst.

“Is Konig inside?” you ask. “I have a cup for him, too.”

He grunts confirmation, tongue curling around a blueberry to coax it into his mouth.

Yep, alright, that’s about as much as you can take.

“Scooch, before the punch goes warm.”

“Punch?” he repeats, arching an eyebrow at you.

“That’s what it’s called in English. Punch.”

“That seems like it would cause misunderstanding.” Except he’s grinning as he says it, like he cherishes the idea of someone confusing the two words and starting a fight. Considering how often you catch him and Konig smacking at each other, that’s probably not a stretch.

“Just please don’t swing on anyone, yeah?”

“Only because you ask so nicely,” he croons.

You click your tongue at him. “Wipe off before going in, I don’t want Shithead to stink after crawling on you.”

He barks out his usual sharp laugh and tugs the cloth – his own t-shirt – off his head to mop up his sweat. You make a mental note to tease him about sunburn later as you slip past him.

You can hear Konig singing off-key upstairs when you open the door. The house is sweltering, only mildly cooler than outside with none of the fresh air. You grimace as you pause at the bottom of the stairs; the boys have warned you that it’s dangerous up there and it’s best not to go wandering.

Thankfully, it doesn’t sound like he’s using power tools at the moment.

“Konig!” you call.

“Is that you, biene?” he calls back.

You grin. “Who else would it be, huh?”

You hear his footsteps right over your head, track his gait until the first heavy boot on the stairs. He meets you at the bottom with his usual ventilator on, but he tugs it down when he sees the cup in your hand.

“Is this for me?” he asks eagerly.

“Yep! Tell me what you think!”

With none of Nikto or Kreuger’s hesitation, he knocks back a big mouthful. Licks his full lips as he lowers it, eyes bright as they land on yours.

“This is perfect,” he chirps, “so refreshing! Thank you, biene!”

You beam right back, flushed with pride that all three of them liked the recipe you “happened to find” when you saw the temperature projections for today.

“There’s more back home,” you offer, “come out of the heat.”

“Okay, okay,” he chuckles. “I will wipe off first.”

You hum agreeably, watching him slip back upstairs with great enthusiasm. Konig in a tank top and those tight cargos… summer really is delivering this year.

That evening, you sigh as you recline across your huge bed, naked and cooling off with the night breeze rolling through your window. Ras and Shithead are happily distracted wrestling each other in your forgotten towel, and Little Guy is snoozing on his personal pillow.

You stretch out, feeling a bit decadent and indulgent with moonlight spilling over your body, and let your hands wander. It’s not the high-efficiency sleep-oriented wank you usually rush through, not this time.

You unspool memories of the day with each brush of your fingertips over moisturized skin. You hum as your skin tingles, imagining Konig’s calloused palms in place of yours. He’d be so surprisingly gentle, you’re sure. Big, strong hands but he’d play with you like a precious toy. Plucking your nipples and scratching his blunt nails over the plush of your hips.

As your breathing picks up, you see Krueger’s broad shoulders flexing behind your eyelids. Imagine them bullying between your thighs, hooking your knees over. That bright glint in his eye as he smirks against your cunt. Can practically feel the curl of his tongue around your clit, eating you out messy and mean.

You’re already halfway there when you curl two fingers into your pussy. You’re so wet that your fingers slip and slide, squelch lewdly as you rock your hips, trying to find just the right angle.

You imagine Nikto clicking his tongue at your struggle. Almost hear his low, hoarse voice chiding you for doing his job while he takes over. His fingers are so much thicker than yours, you have to press a third in just to maintain the fantasy.

You want to lean back against his broad chest while he strokes your walls, listen to him and Krueger and Konig talk about you like you’re not even there, debating if you should come. Ignore you as you beg and whimper, big hands pinning you down while they draw it out.

Please, please, please…

You clap a hand over your mouth just in time, hips jerking so hard that it makes your wrist ache.

Whoops.

Well, you doubt anyone heard. It’s pretty late, and you’re on the second story anyway.

Already sleepy, you’re too lazy to close the window after a pre-bed stop in the restroom. It’s such a nice night, after all.

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Masterlist

#men at work fic #nikto cod #cod #my writing #fanfiction #reader fic #grey fic because it's not that dark i swear #cod krueger #cod konig

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archangeldyke-all · 8 months ago

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hi hi hii sweetheart. Oh my lord. Your writing is literally so good, you honestly deserve the best, mind blowing, legs shaking, knees bucking, cant even talk orgasm. I'm so sorry. someone had to say ittttt. But I was wonderingggg😋 could you maybe do a drabble with reader and sevika are selling their house because maybe they have a little fucker on the way and they need more room, so they are goin through the house one last time and sevika starts js randomly naming out all her favorite times they have had sex in each place of the house...and she recalls like Hella details not even reader remembers. (Reader has pregnant mush-brain.) But could sevika be like..."wanna find a place we haven't fucked before..?" AND ITS LIKE THE HARDEST THING TO FIND BECAUSE THEY HAVE LITERALLY DONE IT EVERYDAY. But they end up finding a spot and sevika gives reader defo on the top 10 best sex they have had in that house. Could sevika maybe have a penis or even js her strap on in this...?:3 ANYWAY I WOULD LOVE THIS BUT IF YOU CANT DO IT ITS OKAY TOO!! I love you so so much your writings literally amazing!!!

this is so cute i love it!! (and thank u so much, i'm so glad u like my stuff eeek!!<3)

men and minors dni

you should probably be feeling a little more sentimental and sad about leaving behind the house you and sevika have been living in for seven years now.

these four walls have been your home through some of the best days of your life: meeting sevika, marrying sevika, realizing you're pregnant with sevika's baby-- it all happened here. you guys built your lives together here, and overtime, they became so intertwined and connected that you've become a 'we' rather than a 'me.'

but in all honesty-- you're thrilled to be leaving.

you hate this house. the floors are slanted, the roof is leaky, the windows aren't weatherproofed, so it's freezing in the winter and boiling in the summer. you haven't been able to take a bath in the tub for three years now because there's cracks in the caulk and any water above an inch deep starts to flood the bathroom. it's a shitty house, and you've been wanting to leave for years.

sevika's always been the one to convince. it's not that she loves your house, it's that she doesn't want to put the effort into finding a new one. but, upon the two of you finding out that your family will be growing in a few short months, sevika finally relented.

and now, just ten minutes down the street from this place, you've bought a beautiful family home, big enough for the two of you, your future baby, and whatever other family members (both human and animal) that might spawn in the future.

your inspector gave it an A+, the yard is spacious, the floors are level, there's not just one, but three bathtubs,-- and the one in the main en-suite is like a hot tub-- big enough for you and your wife to fit and lounge. you're so fucking excited to move in, that you're not even a little sad to leave behind the old space.

sevika's been eyeing you with worry all day as she lugs boxes and furniture to the moving van. she's waiting for your pregnancy hormones to hit you and for you to become a blubbering mess at the thought of leaving behind your place. you can't blame her, your pregnancy hormones can and have turned you into a puddle of tears over much less. just last night you cried for thirty minutes because one of the celery stalks in the bunch you'd bought was wilted, and all his celery friends were still green and healthy, going on living without him.

but, really, you're fine.

she's not buying it.

"sevika, for the last fucking time, i'm okay!" you groan. the house is mostly empty now, just a few boxes and some lamps left. sevika's taking a snack break, one of her arms wrapped around you as she looks at you with concern.

"i'm just saying babe, we can't come back after tonight, so if you need any, like, sentimental pictures, or a good cry--"

"oh my god!" you laugh, elbowing her. "sevika, i'm okay, really. i'm so fucking excited to go, i'm so excited for our future. i'll cherish the memories this place gave us forever, but i don't really care about the place itself." you shrug.

sevika studies you carefully, and then she pouts a bit. "it doesn't make you a little sad?" she asks. you raise your eyebrow, surprised to hear your usually-so-stoic wife is feeling ...sentimental?

"what makes me sad?"

"babe, this house is the first place we ever fucked in!" she whines. you burst into laughter. sevika points to the empty bedroom behind her. "you're not sad to leave that room behind? after all the times i fucked you into incoherence in there?" she asks, her eyes wide and sparkly like she's actually a little emotional. you can't stop laughing as you reach up to cup your wife's cheek.

"honey, you're gonna be fucking me into incoherence for the rest of our lives." you remind her. sevika smiles a bit at this.

"yeah, but... we had so many good times in this house." she sighs wistfully. you chuckle, pecking her cheek.

"we did. remember when you dented the drywall with the headboard?" you ask. sevika giggles a bit, her gaze snapping back down to yours, her hand reaching around your body to start gently stroking your ever-growing belly.

"'course i remember, i had to plaster it back up myself." she chuckles. "remember when we almost started a fire when we were getting kinky with the wax?" she asks. you blink up at her, drawing a blank and pouting.

"no." you whine. "tell me, it sounds hot." you demand. your pregnancy's been blessedly healthy, but the one symptom that's hit you hard is your baby-brain. sometimes, you're just total mush in the head. sevika's been patient and kind each time. right now, she just smiles salaciously at you and presses you against the counter.

"you don't remember?" she asks. "our second anniversary, we wanted to try wax play? you got the special lotion candles and everything, wore those pretty lacy panties i ruined last year on your birthday, and i let you tie my hands up." you smile, the memory slowly coming back to you, heat building between your legs as she speaks. "anyways... it was goin' real good until i kicked over an unattended candle." she whispers.

you break into laughter-- the memory suddenly flooding back to you. "shit, i miss that blanket." you snort, remembering the way the comforter seemingly spontaneously combusted.

"you were screaming as you tried to pat out the fire, and i was tied to the fucking bed that was goin' up in flames-- i thought i was gonna fuckin' die." sevika cackles.

you snort, and kiss her cheek. "i saved you, though." you brag. she laughs.

"yeah, you did."

"c'mon, tell me another." you demand.

sevika raises an eyebrow. "another what?"

"another sex memory." you say. sevika giggles. "they're all fresh and new to me, i like remembering how fun and hot we are."

"hmm..." sevika thinks, her eyes darting around the house. she snatches your wrist and drags you to the bathroom. "i'm still pretty convinced i got you knocked up in here six months ago."

"which time?" you ask. sevika smirks, kissing your cheek and pinching your ass.

"exactly." she teases. you snort. "no, but for real, there was this one time-- i'd just finished my workout and you'd had a big glass of 'shower wine'" sevika puts this in air-quotes, teasing the habit you indulge in each night, "and i fucked you against the sink so good that you had to get right back in the shower once i was done with you. fuck, i came my fucking brains out, honey, i couldn't speak for like ten minutes afterwards." your thighs clench a bit at the memory, your stomach bursting into butterflies at the way sevika's voice has gotten all heavy. her eyes are dark when she looks over at you. "and then, boom. two weeks later you're pregnant." she says, grinning.

you giggle. "you think that was the one, huh?" you ask. she nods.

"what's your theory?"

"i always thought it happened when you fucked me on the couch while we were watching that stupid cop-buddy movie." you say. sevika laughs.

"so you remember that-- a lazy, unromantic fuck after a long weekend of both of us lounging and not showering-- but you don't remember the good ones?" she asks. you just giggle and shrug again.

"they're all good ones with you, baby." you say. sevika's teasing look melts away, something needier taking it's place. you know what she's going to ask for, so you speak before she can. "you think there's a place in the house we haven't fucked?" you ask.

sevika blinks, considering it for a second. "i dunno."

"i wouldn't wanna leave the house with a room un-fucked in, sev, that would be a real shame."

"fuck, it really would, wouldn't it?" she asks. you snort and nod.

"so?" you ask. "you think we've checked all the boxes or can you think of a place we might need to--"

"the attic. you think you can crawl up there in your state?" she inturrupts you, rubbing your stomach as she eyes the little hatch in the ceiling of the hall. you burst into laughter.

"the attic!?"

"c'mon!" she laughs, jumping up and grabbing the string, pulling the stairs down. "you go first, i'll catch you if you fall. she says, steadying your hips as she walks you up the first few steep steps. you can't stop laughing as your wife basically herds you up into the attic.

you've never been up here, execpt for the few times you've had to put a pot down during a rain storm to stop the leaks from coming down into your home. it's dingy and dusty, and you can't even stand up straight-- you have to crawl to the end of the small storage space so sevika can fit up beside you.

she seems just as disgruntled with her choice as you are, but she's determined to make it work, quickly stripping herself of her shirt and laying it down behind you as a blanket. you giggle. "lay down." she requests, holding the back of your head as you lower yourself down so you don't bonk it on any beams or bars.

you can't see her like this. you're flat on your back, and your stomach is huge. you don't know what she's planning, so it's a shock when sevika starts tugging at your pants.

you burst into giggles, lifting your hips up to help her. "what's your plan here, babe?" you ask as she starts kissing your bare legs.

she hums against your thigh, considering your question. she trails a hand up your thigh, teasing your cunt with a feather-light touch, before lifting her mouth from your leg to speak.

"'m gonna get you knocked up again." she says.

you burst into laughter, and you can see sevika lift up from between your legs to admire your smile. you grin down at her, and widen your legs. "give it your best shot, baby." you choke out between laughs.

sevika, grins, and then ducks back down to disappear beneath your tummy and bury her face in your cunt.

fuck, you're horny. the baby's been giving you crazy hormones, and while sometimes that means you can cry at sad celery, other times it means you're so insanely horny you could cum from a strong breeze.

"oh, fuck, baby!" you cry as sevika buries her tongue inside of you. she hums, reaching up to start working her fingers in the mix.

"gonna cum already?" she grunts before ducking back down and sucking your clit. you smack your hand against the dusty floor beneath you-- too round to reach down and tug her hair like you want to.

"fuck, 'm gonna cum all over your fuckin' face, sev." you whine, your brain turning to mush as you get closer. she groans against you at your words, and you take it as a sign to just let your mouth run. "'y feel so fuckin' good, 'y fuck me so good, shit, sevika, sev!" you scream as you cum.

before you can even ride out the first wave of your high, sevika's jumping on top of you to mount you so quickly that her head smacks against one of the low hanging beams in front of you.

you gasp-- still cumming and horrified at the loud "SMACK!" that rings out as you watch your wife's head collide with the beam-- then you burst into pitying, whiny giggles as sevika curses.

"shit!" she groans, reaching up to hold her forehead. you reach up to cup her face, laughing and shivering and somehow still cumming.

"are you okay?" you giggle, pulling her down to kiss the bruise already forming on her forehead. she grunts.

"i'm fine."

"liar." you giggle. you tilt her head from side to side, giving her pupils a good look as a half-assed concussion exam. "poor baby. need me to take you to the urgent care? see if you got a concussion?"

"i'm fine. just need to put my dick in you." she grunts.

you laugh, but shut your legs before she can sink into you. she huffs and glares up at you, and you pinch her chin. "remind me to check you out for real once we're done, okay?" you ask. she nods. you glare at her, knowing she won't. "sevika, you're my brain until the baby comes, i don't care if you don't want me to remember, you really gotta remind me. if you have a concussion and die because i let you fuck me instead of taking you to the hospital-- how am i supposed to explain that to the baby?" you ask.

sevika groans. "okay! okay! i know! ''re you gonna lemme fuck you or what?" she asks.

you pucker your lips, and sevika's annoyance melts as she swoops down to kiss you. you hum happily and open your legs, smiling up at your wife. "okay." you agree. sevika grins, and then she sinks into you with one smooth thrust.

you both gasp, your open mouths just a breath apart from each other as sevika starts to work her hips against yours. "fuck." you whine. sevika smirks down at you.

"fuck." she agrees.

your thighs are shaking-- her cock fills you up perfectly, like she's made for you, made for stretching you just right. each of her thrusts is accompanied by a wet smack, and you bury your face against sevika's shoulder in embarrassment as the wet sounds grow louder. she chuckles.

"you've been fuckin' leaky since i knocked you up. your cunt's so fuckin' needy, isn't it? already put a baby in it and it's just droolin' for more." she grunts against your ear. you cum the second the words leave her mouth, your nails sinking into her shoulders as you shake apart. sevika grins down at you. "fuck, it's so fuckin' cute how easy you are when you're carryin' my kid. i just put it in babe, you're already cumming?" she teases again.

you bite her neck, relishing in the way her breath hitches as you try to collect yourself, then hiking your leg up over her hips and gripping her hair in your hands. "it's your fault." you whimper as you try to catch your breath. "you knocked me up 'n now i'm fuckin' stupid and horny and-- and you feel so good." you whine.

sevika shivers on top of you, and you tug her hair harder.

"'m yours, baby." you whimper. "all yours."

that's the final nail in the coffin-- sevika screams a "fuck!" as she cums at your words. you grin, clenching around her cock and giggling at the way her arms nearly give out beneath her. "you're an evil woman." she sighs appreciatively. "i love you so much."

you laugh, and sevika ducks down to kiss your exposed neck. "'m your evil woman." sevika's dick makes one more feeble twitch inside of you at your words, the reminder that you're hers. you giggle in delight at the feeling.

"damn right you are." she mumbles, grinning.

you sigh as the euphoria of your orgasms wears off and the hard floor beneath you starts to kick in. "you might need to carry me back down the attic steps."

sevika bursts into giggles. "you might need to take me to the hospital. i can't tell if i'm seeing stars because i just came so hard or if it's a concussion."

you groan, and sevika muffles her giggles against your neck.

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#sevika #sevika imagine #sevika arcane #sevika x reader #sevika x you #soft sevika #sevika smut

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sjsmith56 · 3 months ago

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A Better Man, Part 6 - Transformation

Summary: The renovation on Andrea’s house finally begins. As the transformation of Barnes Contracting gets underway, Mrs. Parker brings up regulatory aspects they have to follow. Bucky returns home to find Andrea in bed, sick, so he takes care of her and Lily.

Length: 5.9 K

Characters: Steve, Sam, Thor, Mrs. Parker, Bucky, Andrea, Winnifred.

Warnings: Steve being suspicious. Symptoms of mastitis discussed. Andrea feeling too sick to look after Lily and Bucky worries about her.

Author notes: Some changes are happening, both openly and behind the scenes. Is it foreshadowing? Maybe.

<<Part 5

Part 6

With the rest of the stolen inventory delivered, Bucky, Steve, and Sam began transforming Barnes Contracting into a legal renovation company. While Bucky supervised the four men who moved the rest of Andrea's belongings into storage, he went up on the ladder to check the exterior brick façade, finding it in good condition. The one set of windows with the crumbling caulk that allowed rainwater in was a singular occurrence and once those were replaced and finished properly the seal on that wall would be waterproof again. He also called his roofing guy who went up his extra long ladder to inspect it and give him a quote on replacing it. Then he called in the electrician he trusted the most to look at the electrical panel and the hodgepodge of copper and aluminum wiring in the house. He came that day, shaking his head at the setup; agreeing it would all have to come out. Like Bucky, he suggested trying to recycle the copper wiring but since he would charge for it suggested that one of Bucky guys should be assigned that task to keep costs down.

Bucky phoned in a request for an asbestos test on the house with the appointment set for the next day. As rooms were cleared, he opened the ceilings up where the water stains were to look at the plumbing, confirming that several original parts of it was lead and would need to be replaced. With his mother promising the funding he began tackling the building permit forms, filling out what needed to be done and the time frame he needed to do it. By the end of the first day, he felt like he had accomplished a lot.

With the house now empty of everything he was able to picture what he really wanted to do with it. There were even some additions that he wanted like a small window alcove turned into a book nook with a window bench at the window; a perfect place to curl up with Lily to read to her. Another book nook could be put in her room as he pictured it in a cream and rose-pink colour scheme. There were several parts of the house that could accommodate a built-in storage or bookshelf unit. As he stood in the living room then impulsively pulled back the old carpeting from one of the corners, he smiled at the original hardwood floors that were underneath. No doubt there would be some areas that would be damaged, but he could always pull the old wood out of the upper floors to patch those areas, then redo the upper floors in newer materials to keep the main floor look intact.

For the first time in a long time Bucky didn't feel anxious about his work. He really wanted to do this and prove that he had what it took to be a general contractor on a legitimate job site, using honest tradespeople, and legally acquired supplies. Even though he was doing it for Andrea and Lily, he was doing it for himself as well. I'm really looking forward to this. This is what I've always wanted to do. Locking up the house he returned home, where he enjoyed another quiet evening with Lily and Andrea, after one of her home cooked meals.

While Bucky spent the first day at the house Steve and Sam began assessing what they needed to do to drum up more renovation business. Inviting Mrs. Parker into their office, because let's face it, she was an asset to their business, they threw some ideas around.

"We need to get signage," said Steve. "Advertise that we're a contracting business in general, specializing in home renovations. I know you just did your thing to get us off Google, but we have to get back on the search results."

"There are a few trade shows coming up soon," said Mrs. Parker. "You could always rent a booth in them and have some photographs of a renovation in process then of the finished job. You'll have to have a presence there for the whole day and it should be someone who knows the business, like you two. I could arrange for the printing of some pamphlets and business cards to hand out. The only problem is that your last renovation project was over a year ago and it went up in smoke because of arson so we don't have any photographs. The house project is still in the beginning stages, but we should document the process for later advertising."

The sound of the phone ringing in the office took Mrs. Parker out for a moment, leaving the other two talking.

Steve shook his head, remembering that job. "Yeah, he didn't have the money to pay us, but he did have insurance. All that time working on it, and he torched it to get the money to pay us. It didn't make sense. What a waste of time and materials. We did a good job on that place, too."

"Then he sold the property to a developer." Sam grimaced. "Didn't even invite us to be part of the rebuild." He groaned. "How many guys have building experience out of our workforce?"

Steve leaned back in his chair, looking up at the ceiling. "Five, maybe. I think Clint has the most because he's been with us the longest, but most have no experience."

Mrs. Parker returned, catching the last part of their conversation, to say it was a client from the other aspect of their business who needed them to hold a shipment.

"I told him we had to suspend that part of the business for a while," stated Mrs. Parker. "I think Bucky will probably take the more experienced guys for the house renovation. He wants to do it right. One or both of you is going to have to run a construction boot camp for the others."

The two men grimaced as it was something they hadn't even considered before.

"Do we even have enough tools for everyone?" asked Steve. He didn't wait for an answer. "Let's go get an idea of what our guys know. Mrs. Parker, can you do your magic and come up with some business cards and a pamphlet for the business? Use stock photos since we don't have a choice. Maybe once we get some jobs under our belt, we can change those up. Truth in advertising, right?"

They left her in charge of that part of their "rebranding" and headed for the warehouse where they were surprised by the sight of Thor, one of their bigger guys, who had only been with them for six months, in front of a mockup of an unfinished wall. He was in the middle of demonstrating how to fasten drywall to a stud. The others were gathered around him, listening in rapt silence as he performed the task, then handed the drill and a drywall screw to each one of them in turn. Then he noticed Sam and Steve watching, grinning at them.

"I've done drywall before so I figured I would help these others learn it," he said. "We're all in this together, right?"

"Right," said Steve as he approached. "You worked construction?"

"Summers mostly, when I was in college," answered the big man. Sam and Steve looked at each other. Thor was in college? "I know what you're thinking. How did a college guy end up in prison? I helped a buddy out when he asked me to hold a hockey bag for him. Said it was a surprise for his girlfriend. Didn't know it contained a whole lot of heroin. Got pulled over and charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking. Had a shit lawyer but I kept my nose clean in the joint and got out early for good behaviour." He looked apologetic. "I'm sorry I didn't say that part when you gave me the job. I don't want to be involved in drugs or the bad stuff in any way. You guys were the only outfit that kept their noses relatively clean compared to the others. I'm excited that you're going legit."

"Okay," said Steve, cautiously. "What else do you know?"

"Basic plumbing, finishing, taping, mudding, kitchen installation." He scratched his head as he scrunched his face up. "Window installations, deck building, roofing, painting, flooring ... I've done most of it, except for electrical because you want an electrician for that and HVAC."

"Huh," grunted Sam. "Okay, carry on, then. We're just going to take an inventory of our tools and other equipment."

"Good idea," smiled Thor. "I just grabbed this drill from the shelf. Mrs. Parker gave me some petty cash to get drywall and some studs and screws to make this mockup. Hope that was okay."

"Yeah, that was good thinking," said Steve, pulling at Sam's arm, until the latter man glared at him. "Like Sam said, carry on."

As he went into one of the storage rooms where they kept tools Sam stopped him.

"What were you pulling at me for?" he asked. "He's doing a good job in there."

"He lied!" spat Steve. "About college, about what he was in prison for, and about construction experience. I interviewed him and he said nothing about any of that. What else has he lied about?"

"What do you mean?

"What if he's undercover? How did we end up on a task force's radar when we keep such a low profile?" He pulled his cell phone out and called Mrs. Parker. "Yeah, it's Steve calling. Doesn't your call display say that?" He rolled his eyes. "I'm sorry Mrs. Parker. I didn't mean to get snippy with you. Listen, do you still have that contact in the gang division? Can you find out if Thor is an undercover cop? Yes, Thor. Did you know he went to college and that he was in prison for heroin trafficking and that he has considerable construction experience? You did? Why didn't you say anything?" He paused for a long moment as even Sam heard her tell Steve off over the cell phone even though he didn't have it on speaker. "My apologies. You are an exemplary employee who certainly knows her job very well. Thank you, Mrs. Parker."

He hung up and stood there breathing heavily for some time until Sam pushed him lightly in the arm.

"What did she say?"

"She runs an extensive check on everyone," he replied, looking into the distance. "He's exactly what he says he is. She asked him about it, and he admitted he didn't want anyone to think he was smarter than they were, and he was ashamed of being caught holding heroin." He looked at Sam then. "She knows that Natasha is a cop. Recognized her. She thinks we have a future together."

"How does she do that?" asked Sam. "I swear that she's the one who tells Mrs. Barnes all of our secrets although she manages to worm it out of us anyways."

"Just be happy she's on our side," said Steve. "Imagine if she worked for the cops."

They looked at each other for a moment then both of them shook their heads. There was no way Mrs. Parker was an undercover cop. She had been with them since just before George Barnes died, ten years before. It was her expertise in computers that got them through some sticky situations plus she was efficient, generally pleasant and her nephew was also on their payroll, although he worked for the city. Putting the thought out of their minds the two men began testing all their electrical tools, making sure they worked. They also took an inventory of what they had, knowing that they had to look the part of successful contractors to make customers willing to hire them.

🪛🔨 🪚

By the end of the week, Bucky had the word from the asbestos guy that only the insulation in the attic and the flooring in the kitchen had asbestos in it. As best they could tell there was none in the walls. It was a big relief to him as it meant the abatement process would go quicker and be less invasive. He booked the abatement guys for the following week and phoned the planning department to find out if his building permits had been approved yet. He also contacted the roofing guy to book that job. Until he had the permits in hand, he wasn't willing to do anything else that could jeopardize the project. Instead, he went into the warehouse where the construction boot camp had been underway for the week. After Steve told him about Thor's background, they put him and Clint in charge of getting the rest of the guys up to speed on their building skills. Everything looked good to Bucky when he was there.

It was obvious that some of the guys were better than others at it. After Luis sent a nail into his foot from the nail gun, and Steve took him to Dr. Banner, the doctor who usually treated people in their line of work, he insisted that everyone had to have steel toed boots immediately, blaming himself for not insisting on it to begin with. Thank goodness Bucky was in the office at the time otherwise he would have been sick on the spot. Two guys had already spent their last pay, so Bucky took them out to the work wear store, staying with them while they tried boots on. He paid for them, as well as enough hard hats and tool belts for everyone, but made sure they knew the boots would be taken out of their next pay. On his return Mrs. Parker appeared at his door.

"We need to talk," she said, closing the door behind her and sitting across from him.

"What about?" he asked.

"Well, the only people officially on the payroll are you three, me, and Clint. The others are paid cash under the table."

"Yeah," he replied, unsure where this was going.

"If they're working at a job site, you can be sure that there may be some surprise inspections on your workforce. Immigration is going to want to make sure they're legally entitled to work here, OHS is going to want to make sure they have the proper safety gear and training, and IRS might show up to make sure that your paperwork on them is all up to date. They should have healthcare coverage as well in case they get injured on the job. We have to get the others added officially to the payroll, so they need to fill out a bunch of forms. They may have to provide background checks to satisfy certain insurance requirements. They will also have to get bonded under the Federal Bonding Program to cover theft or other crimes which they may be tempted to commit at the job site." He frowned. "I can email you the details of why it's needed, but we should have it considering their backgrounds. I mean, they're all ex-cons, right? It's kind of a big deal in getting insurance coverage. No one is going to hire you for a legitimate job if you don't have that."

He leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes and rubbing his face with his hands. Then he breathed in and out a few times.

"Are you able to handle that? You already do our payroll, right?"

"Yes, but doing it for five people is easy. Doing it for 25, plus handling all the paperwork and I'm also busy getting our advertising needs set and answering the calls .... Bucky, I am already swamped. We need another person in the office."

"Part-time?" She shook her head. "More than minimum wage?" Mrs. Parker shrugged then nodded her head. "Do you know anyone who can do this?"

"I have a person in mind," she admitted. "She was sexually harassed at her other job and quit, as her official complaint went nowhere, so the guys have to know they can't come on to her or any woman that works for the company, for that matter."

"Fine, get her in here and I'll interview her just to make sure I'm satisfied she can do the job. I'll have a meeting with everyone to warn them about proper behaviour in the workplace. Is there anything else?"

"Just one thing," she smiled. Bucky looked at her with trepidation, wondering what it could be. "I think you're doing the right thing. The side business was getting a bit complicated, and I've heard rumours that Hydra was pushing the smaller companies to join them or be shut down by them. I know you don't want to be associated with them or go to the extremes they go to. You're not that kind of man."

Her words surprised him. She joined the company shortly before his dad died, as his mother had her hands full taking care of him. After his death, they were both so impressed with her that his mother asked that Mrs. Parker take over the secretarial duties completely. Her cheery nature and work skills had been greatly appreciated by all of them.

"Thank you. I just hope that we're able to turn this thing around," he said. "If we don't, I may have no choice but to get back to the other line of work."

"You'll do it," she stated, as she got up from the seat. "I have faith in you, Bucky. All of you. Even the guys, with their backgrounds, believe in you. Many of them are happy that you're going legit. They want you to succeed."

He gave her a slight smile then sat back in his chair again. When he proposed stepping away from the illegal jobs they were doing, he had no idea that trying to do the right thing was going to be so complicated. He just hoped that he could manage it.

The following day Bucky arrived at the office to the sight of a younger, dark-haired woman waiting in a chair. He said good morning to Mrs. Parker then entered his office. She followed him in, carrying some papers.

"The young lady out there is here for the other office job," she said, placing the papers on his desk. "Her name is Hope Van Dyne and that's her resume. Be nice."

"I'm always nice," he answered, as she walked out the door. "My mother taught me well. You know that."

He looked at the resume. She worked at a legal competitor's business, but the owner was a pig. Bucky wasn't surprised she quit over sexual harassment. It appeared she had all of her qualifications in order, including experience in payroll, accounts payable and receivable, as well as experience in web site maintenance. They would need a web site. Maybe she and Mrs. Parker could create one together. He called her in, just as two uniformed police officers walked in the door.

"Ms. Van Dyne, would you just wait in here a moment while I see what the officers want?" he asked.

He closed his office door and approached them.

"Can I help you, officers?" he asked politely.

One of them looked at the other and shrugged then stepped back.

"Um, are you the company that's working on the brownstone a few blocks from here?"

"Yes, we are," he asked. "Is there a problem?"

"Oh, no, no problem. One of our detectives said you were doing the renovations on it. I just bought a flat in a converted brownstone not far from there, and it needs some work before I can move in. I was wondering if you had the time to do it. That brownstone must take up a lot of time."

Mrs. Parker smiled at him.

"Sure, just let me call one of my colleagues to speak with you as I'm interviewing a potential employee right at the moment. Mrs. Parker, could you call Steve out from the warehouse, please?"

"Right away, Mr. Barnes," she answered perkily, as she picked up the handset. "Would that be Detective Romanoff who recommended us?"

"Yeah, she did," said the officer. "Says you're a good bunch of guys. We had someone from Sitwell Renovations have a look at it, and that guy was slimy as fu... as anything."

"Just so you know, we do have ex-convicts for employees, but they are all in the process of being bonded under the Federal Bonding Program," said Bucky. "I can personally vouch for any of them. We don't take anyone who has been convicted of a violent crime. They're mostly family men who want to turn their lives around. Will that be an issue for you?"

"No." The officer shook his head. "I think it's a good thing that you're giving them honest work. I didn't know you were a contracting business, not having a sign or anything."

"Yeah, just never got around to it and we kind of operated by word of mouth to a select clientele but business is competitive and we're stepping up to increase our presence in the community," said Bucky. Where did that come from? Steve walked in. "Here he is. This is Steve Rogers, my second in command, so to speak. This is Officer ...?"

"Benson," said the other man, offering Steve his hand. "That's my partner, Porter."

Steve waved at him. "Come on into my office and I'll get your information, and we can set up a time to view your property."

Bucky nodded at Officer Porter, then went into his office where Ms. Van Dyne was waiting. She looked nervous so he sat and picked up her resume.

"This is all on the level? It's not padded?"

"No, Mr. Barnes. I'm good at my job. I liked it until ...."

"You don't have to tell me details," he said. "Unique Renovations is run by a worthless piece of slime. We all know it, but he gets away with it because his dad has connections. Has Mrs. Parker told you about our company?"

"She said you had a limited client base before and decided to shift your focus to general contracting and home and office renovations. She also said you employ ex-convicts, but I know May and if she wasn't comfortable working with them, she would tell me. I'm willing to give you my best so long as I'm treated properly."

"Well, I read them the riot act yesterday, because Mrs. Parker insisted I had to hire you, so I expect them to be gentlemen around you. If they're not you tell me ... and tell Mrs. Parker. She'll kick their backsides. The job is yours if you want it. I noticed you have experience in setting up websites. We're looking to have one, since we operated by word of mouth before. Would you be interested in handling that as well as your other duties that you and Mrs. Parker work out between you?"

"Absolutely," she exclaimed. "The pay?"

He wrote down her hourly pay on a slip of paper, noting her vacation time and that health care was included, although that still had to be set up. She smiled broadly and he stood up, offering her his hand to shake.

"Welcome to Barnes Contracting. I'm going to show you around and then Mrs. Parker will get you to fill in the paperwork."

The tour went well, except for Scott becoming a little weird around Hope, even for him. She didn't seem to mind him so much, as he didn't come close to being inappropriate. In fact, he seemed quite taken by her. By the time Bucky was done showing her around Steve had finished talking to Officer Benson and set up a time the next day to look at the flat for the estimate. Boot camp continued with Steve and Sam doing their part, while Bucky was shown a mockup of their pamphlet and business cards that Mrs. Parker had worked on. She ordered in lunch for everyone, and the three of them ate in his office while the guys ate in the warehouse, playing the radio loud. After lunch, Bucky started sourcing what was needed for the brownstone renovation, using many of his legitimate contacts. By the end of the day, he felt good about everything that was accomplished. As everyone left, the three of them sat in Bucky's office, while he took a bottle of scotch out of a drawer and poured them each a drink.

"This has been the weirdest week I can ever remember having," said Sam. "From finding out about Natasha being a cop, switching to becoming a legitimate business, Thor being a college graduate and an experienced construction worker, and now getting our first referral." He looked at Steve. "When are you seeing Natasha again?"

"Tonight," he smiled. "She's coming over. When are you seeing Maria again?"

Sam grinned. "Tonight. She's coming over."

"Are you guys official?" asked Bucky, sipping from his glass.

They looked at each other. "Haven't been out on an official date since we left them at the tapas bar," said Steve, grinning. "Seen plenty of her though."

"Yeah, yeah, but how do you feel about her?"

"There's something there," admitted his friend, with Sam nodding his head in agreement. "It's only been a week." He looked at Bucky. "What about you and Andrea?"

"Taking it slow. I had an episode in front of her."

Both Sam and Steve sat upright as Bucky told them the details.

"She was cool with it?" Bucky nodded. Sam smiled kindly at him. "That says a lot about the type of person she is. I hope you two can make it work."

"Me too." Bucky drained his glass. "I'm headed home. Can you two lock up?"

On the way home he thought of how he hadn't seen much of Andrea and Lily this week, except for when his mother came over for dinner. He had headed out early and returned home late most days, but Andrea always had something ready for him to eat when he walked into the apartment. As he passed an open florist's he stopped and ran inside, picking up a bouquet of flowers. When he came out of the elevator and called out that he was home, there was silence.

"Andrea?" he called out again, leaving the flowers on the kitchen counter.

He headed to her bedroom, knocking gently on the closed door, then opening it slowly. She was on the bed, not moving, and for a moment he felt the icy cold knife of fear in his stomach. Then he heard Lily fussing and went over to the crib where she was awake. Taking her out of her sleeping bag he held her and approached the bed, sitting next to Andrea.

"Hey, wake up," he said gently. "You, okay?"

"Bucky?" She turned towards him. "Oh, I must have fallen asleep. I don't feel good."

He put his free hand on her forehead.

"Sweetheart, you're burning up," he said. "How long have you felt sick?"

"A while after you left. I got a bad headache, then hot all over and just felt like I couldn't move. What time is it?"

"After six," he answered. "When did you last feed Lily?"

"I don't know, noon, maybe? She must be so hungry."

Andrea started to cry. Bucky stroked her forehead, trying to settle her.

"Hey, it's okay. I'm here now. I can feed her some of your milk that's in the freezer, right? I'll just thaw it in lukewarm water then warm it up. You stay here."

"She's probably wet, too," moaned Andrea as she tried to get up.

"It's okay, I'll change her. I'm going to call a doctor friend of mine, alright?"

Andrea laid back and nodded, too sick to speak. Bucky turned on the light and laid Lily on the change table. He didn't really know what he was doing but he had seen Andrea do it. Looking closely at how the diaper was fastened before, he unfastened it and wiped Lily's bottom clean with a baby wipe. Then he laid out the new diaper, sliding it on underneath, and doing it up. It was a little loose, so he tightened the sticky tabs then put the baby girl's legs back into her sleeper. Turning off the light he took Lily to the kitchen, holding her in one arm while he took one of the bottles of breast milk out of the freezer. Washing his hands first was a challenge but he did it, then he filled a bowl with lukewarm water and put the bottle in it to thaw the milk. Next, he called Dr. Banner, describing Andrea's symptoms.

"Do you have a thermometer?" asked Banner.

"I don't know," answered Bucky, going back into the bedroom. "Andrea? Do you have a thermometer?"

"In the bathroom," she said wearily. "It's the type that you place on the forehead."

He found it, turned it on and placed it against Andrea's forehead. It read 102.3° which he passed on to Dr. Banner, who was quiet for a moment.

"Does she hurt all over? Are her breasts hot, red, and swollen?"

He asked Andrea who answered yes to the first question, then she surprised him when she pulled her top up for Bucky to look. Gingerly, he touched the skin visible above her bra, confirming that one breast was hot and swollen. There was a reddish area on it.

"It's mastitis," said Dr. Banner. "She's going to need some antibiotics and pain killers. She also needs to express milk or breastfeed for a few minutes to relieve the pressure, not a full feeding. It's okay for the baby. I can phone the prescription into a pharmacy, but you'll have to pick it up."

"Okay, do that," said Bucky, giving him the number of a pharmacy nearby. "I'll call my mother to come sit with her while I pick it up."

After Bruce told him more that could be done for Andrea's symptoms, Bucky called his mother who did one better, stopping off herself to pick up the medication. When she entered the apartment and saw him feeding Lily, she felt a burst of pride in her son. She put the medication on the counter, took her coat off and placed it over a chair with her purse then held her hands out to him.

"Please, may I feed her?"

"She's almost done but I think she's still hungry as Andrea didn't feed her for a while," he said. "She was so sick she was in a deep sleep."

"I remember those days," she smiled, as she cradled the little girl in her arms. "What did Bruce say?"

"To give her the medication right away, get her to drink lots of fluids and to either breastfeed or express her milk to get it going again." He blushed. "I don't have to do that for her, do I?"

"I think she can manage that," smiled his mother. "Why don't you give her the medications and see if she's up to trying to feed Lily for a few minutes. If not, she can put an ice pack on it. You could always massage it for her. That helps as well."

"Ma, please, don't joke."

"I'm not," she chuckled. "Your dad used to do it for me when I got it with you or your sister. It's not a sexual thing. You're just trying to relieve the pain."

Bucky grabbed the medication, taking it to Andrea, not wanting to hear about breasts from his mother. After getting a glass of water from the bathroom he sat on the bed next to her, and read the medication instructions. Taking a pill out he touched her arm, as her eyes were closed.

"Andrea, sweetie, I have the antibiotics," he said quietly.

"Where's Lily?" she asked, as she turned over.

"My mom's here. She's feeding Lily."

He gave her the pill, then handed her the water, encouraging her to drink it all. She handed the glass back and laid against the pillow looking up at him.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

"For what?" he answered. "You got sick, that's all. You looked after me when I cut my knee. I'm just returning the favour." He put the thermometer on her forehead, happy to see her temperature had come down a couple of degrees since he gave her the painkillers before he fed Lily. "The pills already did their thing with your temperature."

She smiled sadly. "You're so nice."

"Thank you. So are you. I bought you flowers."

"You did? Why?"

"Because I've had such long days, and you still made me something to eat every day. No one's ever looked after me like that since I was a kid. You make me feel special."

"You are special."

Taking her hand in his he stroked it, then raised it to his lips and kissed her fingers. She didn't pull her hand away. Swallowing, he released it, then leaned down and kissed her forehead. A warm hand cupped his cheek as he pulled away a little. Her eyes stared intently into his then went to his lips.

"You're sick," he murmured, wanting to kiss her more than anything.

"I know, but I still want to. It's not catching."

"Get better first." He stroked her hair. "I'm not going anywhere."

"Alright," she whispered. "Will you bring Lily to me so I can nurse her?"

"Yeah. I'll send my mom in while I make you some soup."

He got up, but Andrea took his hand, keeping him near the bed.

"Thank you for looking after me."

With a squeeze of her hand, he pulled away and left the room. His mother had Lily on her shoulder, gently rubbing her back.

"She wants to try to feed Lily for a few minutes, just to relieve the pressure. I'm going to make her some soup."

When he came out of the pantry with a can and began looking for a pot, Winnifred stood near him.

"You're a good man, Bucky," she murmured. "Someday, you'll be a good husband and father."

He smiled self-consciously and opened the can of soup as his mother took Lily into the bedroom. Stirring it with a can of water, he tried to focus on that, but his mind kept going back to how natural it felt to take care of Andrea and Lily. It just seemed like he knew what to do. Leaving the soup to warm up at a lower temperature, he got a vase out, filled it with water and poured the little packet of plant food into it, using a wooden spoon to stir it up. As he arranged the flowers in the vase, he pulled a red rose out of the bunch and placed it in a smaller single stem vase.

Something had changed between them since he got home and realized she was sick. Earlier in the week Andrea said she wanted to take it slow, and he respected that, but she also wanted to kiss him when he was sitting on the bed next to her. Maybe it was the next step in their relationship. But he wouldn't do anything until she felt better. In the meantime, he liked taking care of his family. That made him smile at the realization that they were his family now. Perhaps that was the change he was sensing. Taking care of them both had changed how he and Andrea thought of each other. It was the best feeling in the world.

Part 7>>

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ladylilithprime · 3 months ago

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Day 16: Falling

IT WAS NOT the sensation of weightlessness that unnerved Castiel, not the way it did for his human friends. As an angel, he was quite used to feeling weightless, being unbeholden to physical constraints when in his true form. In fact, it was the feeling of weightedness, of being subject to the inexorable pull of gravity with the certainty of a very sudden and painful landing that had Castiel's entire being seizing up in fear.

A hole in the roof. Nothing too difficult or arduous to repair, merely the annoyance of having to go about it in the usual human manner because it was visibly noticeable on the outside of the building. Castiel had offered to repair it himself anyway to spare Dean having to contend with his... unease with heights, and to avoid pulling Sam away from unboxing the most recent shipment of Bobby's old books from Jody to add to the Bunker library. He would undoubtedly be drawn into the sorting and cataloguing of books eventually as Sam trusted him far more than he did Dean when it came to the treasured manuscripts, but that first unboxing and sifting through to see what Jody had chosen to send this time was Sam's to enjoy while Castiel and Dean dealt with the repairs to the house.

It should have been simple. The ladder was old, but still sturdy and stable when leaned against the outer wall. Dean had been gone ten minutes, having called up to Castiel that he was going into town for more caulk to continue refitting the bathrooms, which had left Castiel alone to clear the damaged shingles and rotted, broken wood, then cut replacement wood sections to nail in place before he could lay down new shingles over the patch. The wood pieces fit neatly into the space cleared for them, nails going in with the steady strikes from the hammer with carefully measured force. Simple. Uncomplicated.

He was on the ladder climbing back down to get a fresh tube of sealant to go over the nails when the pack of new shingles shifted and slid down the roof to hit the left edge of the ladder. The jolt was enough to shock Castiel off balance, wobbling dangerously until the shingles slid again and the ladder tilted and tipped. For one breathless moment, barely a millisecond, he felt that blissfully familiar weightlessness that transcended physicality.... and then it came, in inexorable pull of gravity wrapping around him and dragging him down, down, faster than he could react, too fast, he was burning, everything was burning--

His back hit a firm surface much softer than the hard ground he was expecting, the impact still driving the breath out of him even as he heard an echoed grunt behind his head. Warm, solid arms wrapped around his chest and held him even as he and his rescuer rocked back a step before Castiel could get his feet under him. The ladder, now unencumbered by his weight and flailing, dropped back into place against the side of the house with a muted clang that made Castiel flinch and the arms around him tighten their hold.

"Steady there, angel," a warm and much beloved voice murmured by his ear. "I gotcha. Quite a fall, huh?"

"Yes," Castiel rasped, breathing deeply and finally relaxing enough to sink back into Sam's embrace. "Not so terrible as the last one. A much softer landing, too."

"Happy to be of service," Sam chuckled, the teasing tone belying the very real care and concern beneath the words, care that Castiel could still feel through every point where their bodies connected and the way Sam had yet to even attempt to let him go. "Thought Dean was supposed to be helping you out here."

"He went into town for more caulk," Castiel explained, sighing softly when Sam made a disagreeable noise. "I am alright, Sam. This fall was--" ....terrifying.... "--distressing, but it would not have injured me. And I am grateful that you were here to catch me anyway, though I am surprised to see you so soon."

"Missed you," Sam said with a shrug Castiel could feel. "Aaaand it turns out Bobby had a collection of books in Enochian that Jody sent our way this box. Figured you might want a crack at them, make sure my rusty translations aren't too terrible."

"None of that," Castiel admonished gently, reaching back to flick Sam's right ear. "And I would be happy to assist with the books once the roof is fixed."

"Need a hand?" Sam asked, his hold on Castiel loosening in apparent preparation for the angel to pull away. Castiel used the opportunity to turn in the embrace instead and wrap his own arms around Sam's torso.

"I would appreciate the assistance," he murmured, tilting his head back and smiling into the kiss when Sam took the nonverbal invitation to connect their lips together. He rather thought he would not mind falling, or Falling, again and again, if Sam Winchester was there to catch him every time.

#rk writes #suptober24 #supernatural fic #sastiel #sam winchester #castiel

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stardewremixed · 7 months ago

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More Gus Headcanons

has a specialized knife with his initials from back in his army days

doesn't like guns even though his has his dad's old hunting rifle

has wicked chopping skills

can expertly gut a fish

worked as a cook during his time in the military - and his unit appreciated it and his ability to get rare spices and make their rations taste 1000% better

this inspired him to attend culinary school on his military benefits.

really embraces the "gentle giant" persona

gives the best bear hugs

never had kids of his own, but spoils his nieces and nephews when they come to town

he would make a fantastic dad, though (I just know this!)

is a champion bowler and drives to the next town over once a month to bowl with his old army buddies

makes hand-churned butter that would make anyone melt with happiness (the absolute best addition to his freshly baked pastries)

hates glasses because they get in the way of his day-to-day life so he wears contacts instead

his hand-rolled dough for pizza is legendary - and a favorite of Shane's, Sam's, and Alex's

writes a thank you note by hand after receiving a gift; his penmanship is a bit messy, but it's the thought that counts

has a hefty handshake

is pretty handy - he can do basic plumbing repairs, patch a roof, re-caulk a bathtub, etc. but most of the time, he hires someone to do the work since he doesn't have as much time with running his business, though he did install a railing outside on his steps for his older patrons (like Evelyn)

asked Robin to help him put in a ramp for George so the man can wheel inside himself

could wipe the floor with ya in cards and has the best poker face

could write the book on homestyle cooking (and he might someday, if he works up the courage to share his recipes with the world)

hates cooking shows because he's his own worst critic

is a hairy guy - face, arms, legs, chest, abs, but he draws the line at his back (and so he goes to get it waxed twice a year)

uses an all-natural wax to get his moustache to sit just perfectly

doesn't mind slipping into the spa for a hot soak after being on his feet for most of the day - it's a great way to unwind

was a wrestler in college and briefly thought about going pro

might still challenge someone to an arm wrestling contest at the Stardew Fair in the fall just for fun

his nose is a little crooked from when he intervened in an incident involving a purse-snatcher (though most people think it's from his wrestling or army days)

has very rounded ears, rather petite, for the large man he is

always hires extra help for the festival days, pays well above average, and lets all his employees keep the tips

has a thing for Hercule Poirot in Agatha Christie mysteries - it's gotta be the moustache, right? Hee... hee...

always keeps a book by his nightstand for a little late night reading before he dozes off

has a freakishly good immune system and rarely gets a cold (all those oranges he must be eating)

likes spicy food - but it must have a good blend of flavor and heat!

has a pair of diamond earrings he inherited from his mother and always thought about getting his ears pierced to wear them, but he's afraid of needles

the man is terrified of getting blood drawn and can be a big baby - Harvey always has to ask for extra help from Maru

keeps the doctor's office stocked in homemade candies

brings you a coffee on a blustery day just because

still has a corded phone in the back kitchen

played handbells at church when he was a kid and might... just... might... be persuaded to play at the Feast of the WInter Star

sometimes does ax throwing to blow off some steam (always safely and with proper equipment)

can sew on patches in a pinch, but usually just asks Emily for help

puts mustard on his hot dogs and pretzels and hamburgers

writes a grocery list and then forgets to bring it with him to the General Store, but he's got a decent memory

always pays his taxes on time, if not early

can whistle really loudly

can spike a beach volleyball like nobody's business

has a stamps collection - of little critters and farm animals

Romance Headcanons

took ballroom dance lessons as a young man and was quite popular with all of his partners back in the day

spends most of his evenings tending bar and talking with patrons and cooking, but he might bust a move every once in a while, if persuaded, but he doesn't like to show off so if you join him, he feels less self-conscious

When he's nervous, his hands shake a little, but he calms down if you reach out and squeeze his hands

never wears rings on his fingers because of cooking but he would wear one around his neck if he ever gets married

has a pair of leopard print handcuffs that he got as a joke in Zuzu City one time with an ex and he'll blush up a storm if you ask him about it

would absolutely carry you on his shoulders just so you can reach the best fruits in the orchard

totally has a thing for maid costumes (not in a perverted way, but if you dressed up for him in the bedroom, he wouldn't complain)

is extremely neat in general, speaking of maids, and would expect you to keep your things tidy if you leave stuff at his place

likes building a rip roaring fire on chilly winter nights and cuddle with you on the couch

doesn't think of himself as an uber-attractive guy, but he has a healthy self-esteem and figures he's got a bit of that handsome older gentleman look going

would absolutely hold all your bags if you went on a shopping spree at the mall (and he wouldn't complain about it)

Presses wildflowers between pages in a book - like the bouquet you gave him when you asked him to date you

Would hand write all your wedding invitations - would want to keep the ceremony small and intimate - just good friends and family

This list grew much longer than expected!

#stardew remixed #stardew valley gus #sdv gus #stardew valley headcanon #sdv headcanon #sdv evelyn #sdv george #sdv robin #sdv emily #sdv harvey #sdv maru

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theramseyloft · 11 months ago

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The Future Loft Site

Is not much to look at now.

Once, this was a garage where food was made.

You can actually see the remains of the industrial oven and food warmer.

The ceiling is falling.

And I could bring that plywood down with my hands.

No, really, look at this dubious cross section!

It looks like plywood was nailed on the inside to the telephone poles, some boards to the outside, and some tin was haphazardly nailed to the boards.

Looks like some barbecuing was done here too, by the sheer number of propane tanks.

There aren't even the remains of anything between the tin roof and the plywood ceiling.

Very likely, the roof rusted, and rain got in, and the ceiling and walls rotted from there.

None of this is really salvageable.

I'm honestly amazed it hasn't fully disintegrated yet!

Pretty much the only potentially useable bits are the concrete floor (which can be resurfaced), and the telephone poles that act as load bearing pillars (still solid by some miracle, but probably best replaced.)

The walls and ceiling will have to be torn down and rebuilt properly from scratch.

Because we have two sets of family that we need to get into safe housing before we can build a whole new building from the ground up, I was expecting to just wait however many years I had to.

Dear Hubby thinks that it would be better to modify an existing building and use that until all the family we intend to house are safely settled.

He thinks that we could we empty our 15x15x10 storage building, make any repairs we need to the roof and sides, caulk it, insulate it, wall and cover it on the inside, tile it, ventilate it, even get it an AC unit and build it a bigger screened in porch while we work on getting housing up for his parents and sibling.

He even thinks that we could get that done not too long after we get everything moved to the new property.

I have been invited to visit a loft in Alabama run by one of the founders of Racing Pigeons for Military Veterans, who is in her late 60s and designed her loft to be easy for some one with bad joints to manage.

I will not post anything she does not give me express permission to, but I am excited to take notes and see what can be implemented to the final loft and hopefully the stop gap.

Last order of business before moving ourselves and buildings is to get the fallen, torn AC duct work repaired.

I'm actually starting to feel more hopeful about things moving again.

Further updates will continue as we have them.

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auckie · 9 months ago

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Finished my boys back panel for his new apartment. After it cures more I’m gonna install it, then the drainage layer (which I absolutely don’t need) and then the substrate. I was gonna make the bottom water proof but decided to just go with a protective mat instead. I don’t think I’ll be able to take it apart later but maybe it’ll be like. The last thing I ever move idk. Then Ill put up the UVB, his lamp, I miiiight have a heat mat on the bottom just in case but probably won’t ever use it idk, and finally his giant fucking water dish and ugly bottom hide. Then I’ll see if I can fit some of the roof/side climbing limbs I had planned. Was gonna drill them in but I don’t think the pvc will allow for it. I might try more foam/silicone *and* a bit of drilling, but we’ll see. Then the top leaf coverage (silk plants lol), and finally his giant cork log. I was also planning on putting some tiling over his ugly hide, or just replacing it completely bc he has the wall one plus the log. I also gotta test the weight capacity of the wall log tomorrow after curing. It’s resistant to heavy tugging, and he really doesn’t weigh *that* much but you never know the kind of stress he might put on it. It’s low to the ground so it wouldn’t be catastrophic but it would be difficult to fix. Eventually I would like to go full naturalistic and add plants and bio active substrate. Moving water is beyond my skill capacity/willingness to learn or spend so the static dish will have to do, but I am interested in a mister even tho I know it’s not necessary. He’s been doing well with my humidifier and just some sprays, wet corners, and the dish, but if I do pursue plants it may be crucial. Granted I know scale rot is something people warn about but I figure if I keep it high then I can avoid laden substrate. Plus the drainage layer would help.

I even bought a kitchen scale to weigh him. I was gonna get a temp gun too but that’s kinda absurd since I got like, two different humidity gauges and a temp regulator + thermometer. if I have room I may also try a slight rock border at the bottom of the back panel but I’m not really like. Interested in using foam again, either panel or expanding. Bc it sucks and i despise it. Silicone too honestly, even the aquarium rated stuff which is easier (imo) to get off skin. My dad REALLY wanted to use caulk but I was like hell no. I’ll resort to shelf pins/rivets for support before I try that lol.

I just scrolled up and realized the pic is so dark bc I just turned the overhead light off and didn’t have flash on but I’m so tired and sweaty I don’t care. It’s a cork bark/spanish moss/sphagnum moss back wall but it does just look like a mess of leaves and shit from the pic. I started really clean and then got progressively sloppier as time went on

Here’s a before progress pic SORRY for foot

And here’s snoopert head. He’s getting upgraded from 60 gallon to 120. Tbh if I had the room and money I’d totally have gotten the 240 one

Fuck snoopy

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hondaelementalautism · 1 month ago

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The Honda Element subreddit can be a beautiful place lol. U/the-hobbi_3 created and attached toast to their beloved toaster

In a comment u/the-hobbi_3 said:

"It's all from wood. 1/2 sheet nailed together with nailgun. 2x4s between with thin 1/4 inch piece soaked and nailed on top. Then put 2x4 above the roof rack where hose clamped it down! Caulked, and spray painted too with a clear coat!"

#according to a comment from a few months ago this beauty is named Carme #elemental modifications #reddit #r/hondaelement #honda element #hondaelementalautism

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containerhomeswiki · 4 days ago

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How to Build a Container Home Step by Step in 2025

Container homes have become a groundbreaking trend in sustainable architecture, offering affordability, eco-friendliness, and versatility. In 2025, the process of building a container home has become even more streamlined, thanks to advanced materials and innovative designs. This comprehensive guide outlines every step to create your dream container home while ensuring compliance with modern standards.

Step 1: Planning and Design

Define Your Goals and Budget

Before starting, determine your purpose for the container home. Is it a permanent residence, a vacation property, or an investment rental? Establish a realistic budget, considering land acquisition, permits, materials, labor, and unforeseen costs.

Research Local Building Codes

Container homes must comply with local regulations, including zoning laws and building permits. Research thoroughly or consult a professional to avoid legal issues later.

Select the Right Design

Modern container homes range from minimalist single-container structures to luxurious multi-container designs. Collaborate with an architect experienced in container home construction to optimize space utilization and aesthetics.

Step 2: Choosing and Preparing Containers

Select High-Quality Containers

Opt for ISO-certified shipping containers to ensure structural integrity. Containers come in two standard sizes: 20 feet and 40 feet. Choose new or lightly used containers to avoid dealing with rust and damage.

Inspect and Clean the Containers

Thoroughly inspect the containers for dents, corrosion, or chemical residues. Once inspected, clean them using pressure washers and non-toxic cleaning solutions to eliminate contaminants.

Modify Containers for Your Design

Cut openings for windows, doors, and ventilation according to your design. Reinforce edges with steel beams to maintain structural strength during modifications.

Step 3: Securing the Foundation

Choose the Right Foundation

The type of foundation depends on your site conditions and budget. Common options include:

Concrete slab foundation for flat surfaces.

Pier foundation for uneven or sloped land.

Crawl space foundation for additional storage or ventilation.

Prepare the Site

Level the ground, remove debris, and compact the soil. Install drainage systems to prevent water pooling, which could compromise the foundation over time.

Step 4: Assembling the Structure

Position the Containers

Using cranes or heavy equipment, place the containers on the foundation as per your design. Align them carefully to ensure structural stability.

Weld and Secure Containers

Weld the containers together for a unified structure. Seal any gaps to improve insulation and prevent water leaks.

Install Structural Reinforcements

For multi-story container homes, add steel columns or beams to support the weight of the upper containers. Reinforce the roof if necessary for load-bearing purposes, such as solar panels or rooftop gardens.

Step 5: Insulation and Weatherproofing

Insulate for Comfort

Steel containers are excellent conductors of heat and cold, making insulation crucial. Popular options include:

Spray foam insulation for superior thermal performance.

Rigid foam panels for cost-effective solutions.

Natural materials like wool for eco-friendly insulation.

Weatherproof the Exterior

Apply anti-corrosion coatings to the steel surface. Seal joints with waterproof caulking to protect against moisture. Add cladding or siding for aesthetics and additional protection.

Step 6: Installing Utilities

Electrical Systems

Hire a licensed electrician to install wiring, outlets, and circuit breakers. Plan for energy-efficient systems, such as LED lighting and solar panels, to reduce your carbon footprint.

Plumbing Systems

Install water supply lines, drainage systems, and sewage connections. Consider using a tankless water heater or rainwater harvesting system for efficiency.

HVAC Systems

Choose compact and efficient heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems to maintain comfort throughout the year.

Step 7: Interior Finishing

Walls, Floors, and Ceilings

Walls: Cover the interior with drywall, plywood, or reclaimed wood for a polished look.

Floors: Install durable flooring materials such as vinyl, laminate, or bamboo.

Ceilings: Use suspended ceilings to conceal wiring and ductwork while adding insulation.

Furniture and Fixtures

Optimize space with built-in furniture and multi-functional designs. Use modular kitchen units and compact bathroom fixtures for maximum efficiency.

Step 8: Exterior Enhancements

Landscaping

Enhance your container home’s surroundings with landscaping features such as pathways, gardens, and outdoor seating areas.

Decks and Patios

Extend your living space with a deck or patio. Use reclaimed wood or composite materials for sustainability.

Solar and Energy Systems

Install solar panels, wind turbines, or battery storage systems to power your home sustainably.

Step 9: Final Inspections and Permits

Conduct Professional Inspections

Before moving in, have professionals inspect the structure, electrical systems, plumbing, and overall safety. Address any deficiencies to ensure compliance with building codes.

Obtain Occupancy Permits

Submit all necessary documentation to local authorities and secure an occupancy permit to finalize the project.

Step 10: Maintenance and Upgrades

Regular Maintenance

Inspect your container home periodically for rust, leaks, or structural issues. Repaint and reseal the exterior as needed to maintain its durability.

Future Upgrades

Consider adding features like rainwater harvesting systems, additional solar panels, or a green roof to enhance sustainability.

Building a container home is an exciting and rewarding endeavor that combines functionality, sustainability, and modern design. By following these detailed steps, you can create a comfortable and eco-friendly living space tailored to your needs.

Tags:

#container homes #container wiki #Building a container home

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cascadianights · 6 days ago

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At the beginning of November my health and mental health were at some of the worst points in my life. My trailer felt impossible to navigate, with the bed in the dead center and the bedroom full of stuff trying not to mold & mildew (reason the bed wasn't in there!) in an uninsulated unfinished room.

We wanted a trailer to have something that was ours, something we could make functional for Us and change and add to and Own. And then the pandemic happened and the loss of both our healths and lined up jobs with it. And we had to move faster than anticipated with way less supplies than anticipated into a demo-d and hardly rebuilt (just enough to have outer walls) trailer. And then everything was playing catch up with leaking roofs and mildewing moist walls and narrow cramped spaces, on top of deteriorating health that had nothing to do with these problems but was definitely not aided by them.

Anyways at the beginning of November I was deeply suicidal and I had a plan. And. Instead I admitted some of how bad things have been, being too poor to work and too exhausted to work on my living space or even do basic upkeep to it a lot of the time. And people reached out and let me know they cared and the isolating lonely hill I was on was of my own creation. And I decided to try once again to build a life worth living rather than just surviving.

I don't know a lot of how to do that, unable to work in America and in the country we are quickly becoming. But the one thing I could immediately control was the space around me, and I finally had enough salvaged materials saved up for some real work, so

I rebuilt the front wall and parts of the side walls, finished replacing most of the bedroom floor, insulated caulked foamed it all and slapped on some eucaboard walls painted with bright blues and greens from a scrap resale store near the hospital I'm being seen at (every 4-6 months when appointments are available anyways). I brought the bed back in and put up cabinets and made a space where I can actually access my computer and have counseling sessions INDOORS (this is some wifi poverty bullshit for another day). I painted over the original walls, half white from the 90s half a mustard yellow the precious owners had sprayed on haphazardly, and spilled old cans of paint over to mix on the wooden floors. I put up old art and a calendar and a whiteboard on the fridge for notes. I BROUGHT THE FRIDGE. WHICH HAS LIVED OUTSIDE FOR OVER A YEAR (under an awning but through the rain and ice and cold to access every time!)!! iNSIDE!!! I fixed up the wires so they wouldn't get tangled and turned the coffee table to have a big kitchen surface and got rid of old and repeatedly broken things and started experimenting with making dough and deep frying. I washed 2 months of laundry and actually put it away and actually had places to put it all away, and I'm catching up on the dishes. I put tapestries up on the ceiling and sewed lights to them with fishing line.

My body hurts a lot, and has at an even higher level than I'm used to for a while. But for once my brain isn't eating me alive, and things are functional and open and colorful again, and I'm trying to live and improve the moment that's in front of me instead of waiting for things to be perfect to pick up my brush. People care about me. And I'm very stressed about a lot of things, including probably not being able to afford attending my little sister's wedding (or rent this month tbh but I always figure something out even if my body hates me for it). But I'm trying and I'm living in the results of that now instead of the cumulation of Just Getting By in the Grey middle ground, and I'm trying. And I'm trying. And I'm trying. What else can we do

#to come back to #queer #trans #cripple punk #cpunk #neuropunk #disability #surviving america in 2025

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bettathanyou · 1 year ago

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A Sky Without It's Moon

Fic by Bettathanyou

Hey y'all, this is a fic I wrote for @fantadym and their self insert OC, Elisa, with Don Cedric (what she calls her au version of Cedric!!) Please give them as much love as you give me, this fic wouldn't exist without such lovely characters if a talented writer/artist such as fanta didn't exist!!!

Cedric walks in to the quaint home with a groan of relief, the weight of today's work finally lifting off of his tense shoulders. They sag, finally down to their normal level instead of being scrunched up to his ears.

The living room was dark, shadows being his only greeting. It was quite late, and the hush over the house confirmed that his sweet Estrella and his love were mostly likely asleep by now.

Good, Cedric nodded. Too many times he's had to insist that his family go to bed instead of ruin their sleep schedule awaiting his arrival. Some days were much better than others, but still.

He knew how important rest was, even if he and everyone under this roof was guilty of being a night owl to a fault.

Cedric walks with practiced silence to his daughters room, the soft glow of her enchanted star lantern illuminating the crack beneath the closed door.

Turning the knob with a deft hand, he peeks inside. The room was peaceful, and the soft breath of Estrella was the only noise within.

Cedric's mouth can't help but form a smile, an automatic response whenever he's in Estrella's presence. He tiptoes in, checking on her swiftly.

The small girl was fast asleep, hands tucked to her chest as dark curls frame her chubby cheeks.

A soft sigh of amusement passes the sorcerer's lips, as he bends down to kiss the child on her forehead.

"Buenos noches, mi Estrella. Sueña con los angelitos." He whispered lovingly, petting her hair for a moment before he swiftly exited.

Cedric crosses the hall, his shared bedroom with Elisa pulling him towards it like an invisible rope around his waist.

He knocks, softly, their nonverbal greeting.

Elisa had long since heard her husband return home, but for the first time in a long time, she doesn't have the strength to get up from her place at the windowsill.

She trembles, feeling the draft through the cracks between the caulking. She'll have to remind Cedric about fixing it later.

But not now. Now, as the woman lays her throbbing temple on the cold glass, Elisa just wishes for rest to come.

Cedric walks into the room, halfway shrugging off his heavy silk robe. He almost missed the silhouette of his love, but it was like his body already knew where to look when his eyes rested on her.

Two different shades of brown irises collided- one as dark, deep, all consuming as the night sky, yet glittered with the brilliance of the stars held within it.

The other- soft, sweet, the color like a caramel candy that melts perfectly on your tongue, or like the dappled rays of light that shine through the perfect autumn leaf.

Neither of them spoke for a moment, letting the silence hold them in an unspoken pact; as if Cedric and Elisa had said "let's just be, tonight."

Cedric takes off his robe, hanging it besides the hook on the door. Dutifully unbuttoning his vest, sighing in the way Elisa knows means the day was long.

She purses her lips, raising her head and glancing over to her husband.

You should do something- not be sulking here by the window. Elisa chastised herself, limbs creaking as she shifted off the ledge towards the lanky sorcerer, his hands already undoing the last button.

Cedric doesn't notice, not immediately- he tends to hyperfocus on things. But Elisa always had a way of bringing him back from the clouds that fog his mind.

He felt her small hands touch his back gently, and he turns towards her.

"Good evening, mi corazon." He whispers, tensing his shoulders as he is about to take off his vest.

"Allow me, mi Rey." Elisa's words roll off her tongue in the way that makes Cedric's heart flutter every time without fail. Of course, he doesn't protest as he feels her gentle hands remove his vest with a loving touch, that could only be described as reverence.

Elisa slips off the bright magenta fabric, her eyes tracing the subtle curves and slopes of his shoulders that cling to the forest green button up beneath the vest.

All Cedric notices is the dark circles underneath his wife's eyes, catching in the shadows of their room. He thumbs the dark half moons, frowning.

Elisa nimbly avoids his gaze, already knowing what Cedric would say.

"You look exhausted..." He murmured, his tone slightly prodding Elisa to speak. He holds his breath, already knowing it won't be easy to get her to crack.

"It was a busy day-... But I'll be okay tomorrow!" Elisa starts, smiling, but the light doesn't reach her eyes. Her smile falters, and her fingers nervously fiddle with cedric's dress collar.

Cedric's frown deepens, which makes Elisa's heartbeat quicken. Did she say something wrong? Was Don Cedric mad at her? Why wasn't he saying anything-

"...But you're not okay now- which is what matters to me, dear." Cedric replies in a soft, yet concerned tone of voice. His fingers brush through the waves and curls on Elisa's head, feeling restless and nervous himself.

How had he not noticed this until now? Was Elisa ever going to say something if this went unchecked? Did she even realize she was this tired? Cedric felt his heart pick up speed with each question that popped in his head, guilt singing through his veins.

"I... I'm-..." Elisa stutters, unsure of what to say. Her eyes flick up towards Cedric again, seeing the worry lines etched into his skin.

Elisa's heart sank.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be- I should've noticed sooner."

"I... I should've too... I guess, I just run around so much, I don't even have time to notice I'm tired." She laughs, but it's hallow sounding and they both know it. She cringed, choosing to look away and back to the windowsill where she waited for the sorcerer to return home. Her eyes scanned the sky, looking for a moon she knew wasn't there.

It was the new moon tonight- the one day a month that even the moon gets to have rest. She envied it- to have a day just for her is a luxury she can't seem to afford much these days.

Cedric follows her gaze, noticing it was a moonless night tonight as well. His caramel brown eyes drift away from the window, back to Elisa. The starlight was more than enough to illuminate the soft curve of her cheeks, the rich dark line of her eyelashes, and the lovely hue of her skin. He sighs silently, admiring her beauty for a moment.

The sorcerer can't help but plant a soft kiss on her cheek, smiling to himself as he felt his own cheeks tingle from blush.

This pulls Elisa from her stupor, a soft noise coming from her throat in surprise. Feeling flustered, from the kiss and from being caught in the middle of zoning out, she rushes to change the subject.

"T-the moon is gone tonight..." The short woman trails off, stepping away from Cedric to sit back down on the plush window seat from the bay window.

Cedric chuckles as his wife's bashfulness, joining her on the opposite side of the window seat, propping a leg up as he rests his arm on his knee.

"She will return, like always; even the moon has to rest to recover her light." Cedric chuckles dryly, eyeing Elisa with a knowing smile.

Elisa huffs in amusement, looking down. She knew Cedric wasn't really talking about the moon- he was referring to her.

"Maybe."

She relented, scooting into her husband's lap; Cedric extends his hip out, giving her room to get comfortable. Elisa fits into Cedric's lean frame like a puzzle piece, her soft body sinking against his chest. Cedric hums lowly, enjoying the soothing pressure her body weight provided him- his heart rate slowly down to a steady rhythm.

Elisa sighs in contentment, as Cedric snaked his arms around her waist, enveloping her completely. Her tense and achy muscles always seemed to melt under his touch, and her hand gently rests on top of his, her thumb tracing along his knuckles.

"...What about the people who rely on the moon? Don't they need her light, too?"

Elisa asks, barely above a whisper.

Cedric looks up at the twinkling stars above them, his heart aching for Elisa.

When will she see that keeping her light for herself is included in that equation? Cedric ponders up at the sky with a pained sigh, his free hand tracing light circles on her arm as he thinks.

"That's why the moon has the sun, darling. To be there when she cannot be- just like she supports him. That's what they do, mi amor. They look out for each other... Yeah?"

Cedric asks, his voice soft and his true accent leaning heavy in his words. Except it wasn't in anger like usual, it was a moment of vulnerability and affection.

Usually, such a sweet moment would ease Elisa's heart, but tonight it felt like a storm of negative thoughts and emotions- with her in the eye of it, completely lost and alone. She doesn't answer Cedric, not for a while. She fidgets restlessly in Cedric's embrace, a tight line on her mouth as her insides twist themselves into knots.

"What if the sun doesn't really need the moon? ...If she disappeared, would anyone notice?"

"Of course they would." Cedric answers back bravely, pulling her tightly to his chest. Elisa hears the sorcerer's heartbeat, strong and sure and confident in its drumming. It felt like her anchor in the swell of emotions within her, as tears threatened to fall.

"There's a reason the sun sets everyday- it's because it's the only way he can see his lovely moon illuminate the sky."

Cedric proclaimed, love and adoration dripping from every word like honey. He kissed Elisa's shoulder, and the woman can only bury her face deeper into him even though she knew he could feel her tears sinking into his clothes.

"If she were gone... He would disappear too. And never return until he finds her again." Cedric speaks with a steady, low voice, his lips tickling the skin of her shoulder as he nuzzles her, holding her protectively to him.

The storm within her seemed to quell at the moment, as if the reassurance was the beacon guiding her out of the maelstrom of doubt and fear that would usually send her spiralling into a deep abyss. She inhales a shaky breath, trying in vain to swat the tears away.

"...Really?" She asks, feeling a little self conscious for asking for even more reassurance even when Cedric was already giving her so much. But it was compulsive, and she waited for Cedrics answer with bated breath every time.

"Yes, really." Cedric nods, kissing the crown of her head sweetly as he squeezed her in comfort.

"I need you, Elisa. Always- taking a break doesn't mean I'll disappear; and you won't either, my dear." The sorcerer offers her a genuine smile, his caramel eyes softening more as he brushed away her tears.

Elisa was speechless by this point, and all she could do was nod until her voice returns to her again. How did she ever get so lucky, no- so blessed by the gods to have such a caring person enter her life? Who understands her in ways no one else will? How could words ever express the full gratitude and love she has for her king, mi Rey?

Even as her words failed her, she showed her appreciation in the ways she knew she always could; she snuggled close to her husband, her hands gently gliding along his sides as she mumbled sweet nothing's in her native tongue.

Cedric smiles, looking up at the stars and the moonless night.

It seems I've found the moon... Not in the sky, but right here, in my arms. He thought to himself, heart squeezing tightly with love.

He looks down at Elisa.

"I love you, Elisa."

Elisa blushes, but with all the confidence in the world, replied, "I love you too, Cedric."

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