#Ruby's arms had to be added on by a friend in this au since her puppet doesn't normally have arms!
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I thought it'd be super cute to draw Beyond, Ruby, and Amalgamation as if they were in @snailfen 's Ruffian and Ruffles universe! I hope you all enjoy this!
Also I freakin love hunters design so much I am looking at them with wide eyes and I am-
#rain world#rain world downpour#rain world au#rain world iterator#rain world oc#rain world ocs#rain world iterator ocs#endless beyond#ruby skies by sapphire shores#the amalgamation#ruffian and ruffles#FUN FACTS!#Ruby's arms had to be added on by a friend in this au since her puppet doesn't normally have arms!#amalgamations collar has two little bells that represent the pearls that they start off with!#beyond carries a few books and a small telescope with her in her bag at all times!#Bless this au and bless my freind bc they work so hard on this au! I greatly appreciate all their hard work sm!#rw group alpha
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Botw AU: Divine intervention pt3
Link:âWill take Boneyard Bridge over Hylia River then will go through forest park. Once we get through there will pass the ruins and stop at Highland Stable for the night. Weâll go to the lost woods in the morning.â
Jay hummed to show he was listening, he stared down at the map intently as his eyes traveled through the path theyâll take. He had to give link credit his map was very detailed compared to the map Zelda had on her glowing rectangle. The knight even had multiple monster camps marked
âSounds good. You have a really good map by the way. I never seen one this detailed before.â
Linked nodded and signed,âthank you.â He looked slightly amused before asking with a small grinâŚ
Link:âDo you always float around like this?â
Jay looked away from the map and slowly turned upside down in the air, he shrugged and began descending towards his bed before plopping down on the oversized matress. He handed Link his map and grabbed his bag off the floor,Jay never liked being too far from it. In a ring of sparks Jays dragon features disappeared.
âOk, Iâm ready.â
Link:âLetâs go. Get horses first then head to stable.â
Jay silently followed after Link their trip, he rathered run the whole way there, but horses where ok. When the duo reached the military stables Link gave Jay the reigns of a cream colored horse while he took a brown one, the duo saddled up and began the trip to Higland Stable. The ride there was honestly quite fun, mainly because of the conversation they started along the way.Turns out Link has been training to be a knight since he was a young, he even bested the adults put against him. Jay also learned his quiet friend loves food and may be a border line gluttony, which Jay picked up on when he offered his friend a riceball and that led them to sharing recipes.
Link:âAdding goat butter gives the omelette a creamy texture and thatâs pretty much it.â
âOh, I never ate a mushroom omelet before. Itâs hard to get goat butter in Faron if a traveler doesnât have it for sale. But I do have a lot of eggs in my bag.â
Link:âWell I can show you how to make one if you like? But I have to ask, how do you have so much stuff in that bag? It looks to small to even hold a shield.â
Jay blinked, he forgot nobody knew his bag was magic. He slipped the bag off his back and reached inside until it reached all the way to his shoulder. Turning back to the knight, Jay laughed when the stoic expression slipped off Links face and in its place was pure horror at the fake it looked like his arm was missing, but his fingers still wiggled at the end of his bag. Pulling his arm out Jay waved it to show it was still there and he also turned the bag to show Link the inside, which was pitch black.â
âItâs magic. I got it as a gift for helping a forest spirit when I was a kid. Turns out heâs only power is to give any bag infinite space.â
Link:âBut how can you take out what you need if itâs dark as a unlit cave?â
âItâs linked to my mind, so whatever I think of I can just take it out. But itâs only if I actually have it in here,I canât just summon something I donât have. Here try it.â
Jay passed the bag to Link who took it hesitantly, he stared inside before reaching inside. Blue eyes widened as he pulled out a Ruby. Dropping the gem back in Link reached again took out a thunder spear. Side eyeing Jay,Link dropped the weapon and reached again and pulled out a steaming meat skewer. Link looked at Jay incredulously.
Link:âHow is this still hot? It looks like you just made this.â
âThatâs because I didâŚ.A few days ago, it may sound a little odd but when I cook something and put it in the bag it stays the exact same way as I left it. I think time doesnât exist in there. You can have that if you want.â
Link stared at him and silently handed the bag back.Jay shrugged and pulled out a skewer of his own. By the time they reached the stable it was already getting dark,Link paid for their beds and Jay supplied dinner for the night. Both teens sat outside to kill time and Jay started telling link about his encounters with the Koroks.
Link:âSo they are real? My mom used to tell me stories about these forest spirits when I was young, but as I got older I just saw them as some sort of fairytale.â
âOh definitely real, but their more like little gremlins than spirits. They act like children and are very playful. Everyone canât see them though.â
Link:âHmmm, is that because of your sense?â
Jay nodded and watched a star glimmer in the sky, he was feeling a little homesick,but he was grateful he had Link for company. Just when Jay was about to call it a night something bright briefly lit up the sky before falling down. Gasping,Jay pointed at the star and quickly signed to Link
âLook itâs a star fragment!â
Link:âYou mean shooting star?â
âNo,shooting stars burn before reaching the ground,but fragments donât! I have to get it!â
Smiling Jay took off into the darkness before blurring into a run. He kept his eyes on the star as he ran and his heart swelled with joy when he jumped and grabbed it out the air. The star glowed in his hands as warmth emitted from its core.Dropping his treasure into his bag Jay ran back to the stable to show his friend, who had stared at him like he grew a second head.
Link:âYou can run fast too?â
âYeah, but look I caught it!â
Jay pulled out the star to let Link hold it, he happily signed about where he went to get the star. Link held the star in his hands in curiosity. The star shimmered with a bright glow and gave off a low hum.
Link:âWhat makes them so hard to find?â
âThey fall in places hard to reach, a rito would have a easier time getting a star than anyone else, but I heard they donât have good eyesight at night. But the main reason is these stars disappear when the sun rises.â
Link:âThis is probably worth a lot of rupees if you sell this.â
âI know,but I heard that if a person can collect seven star fragments itâll turn into a blessed star and it can grant you any wish you want as long as itâs pure.That means you canât have a wish that involves harming or killing another person even if itâs for a good reason.â
Link asked how many he had and Jay held up two fingers, before covering his mouth to yawn,flying was always taxing to him. Link handed back his star and they both went inside the stable to get some sleep.They had a early morning ahead of them.
When the sun began rolling down the hills, the two teens settled near the cooking pot for a quick breakfast and when donw they trecked up path to the lost woods. The path up there seemed normal enough until a sudden fogged swept behind them, effectively trapping them in the woods. Fidgeting with his hair,Jay quietly whispered to Link since it was to foggy to sign.
âHave you been here before?â
Link:âNo, but I know there are torches left behind to lead the way,so we canât get lost.â
The two looked around and Jay let his dragon form return to improve his eyesight in the muggy darkness. His ears pressed against his head and twitched at every little sound, but the warm glow of a fire caught his eyes. Pointing towards the light the descendant and the knight followed the torches embers. They walked a good distance before stopping near two torches lined side by side. Link took out his map from his satchel, blue eyes squinting at the parchment. Jay sparked to give the blonde some slight as he kept his eyes on their surroundings, he couldnât ignore the feeling he was being watched.
Link:âWhere in the right direction, but I donât know why the other torches are gone. Even if they arenât lit we could have still followedâŚ.â
Link eyes widen and Jay felt arms wrapped around him as he got pulled off his feet. Jay tensed but immediately relaxed when he noticed the red maracas around his middle.
Hestu:âSHALA-KALA!!! I found you JayJay!!!!â
Jay gave a short yelp as the spirit started to spinning him around with childlike laughter. He tried to squirm out the spirits grip but sadly his arms where pinned.Kicking his legs Jay tried to get Hestu to listen.
âHestu!Your making me dizzy! Stop!!!â
The spirit stopped and giggled before looking down at the swordsman, Link stared at them with mild amusement.Then Hestu suddenly gasped.
Hestu:âYou! Can you see me too?!â
âOh for the love of Hyli-AAAHH!!â
Link barely nodded his head before Hestu squealed and pulled Link into his crushing embrace The teens screamed at the dizzying speed before being abruptly dropped the two in a heap on the ground. Dizzily,Jay shook his head and explained why they were there before Hestu decided to make them listen to his maracas.The spirit suddenly became eerily silent before looking down at Link.
Hestu:âYou both need to talk to grandpa.â
Letting out a sigh of relief, Jay stood up and gave Link a hand while he regain his bearings, Hestu took the lead and led them into Korok Forest. It was so bright and warm compared to the cold fog around them before.Smaller Koroks began peeking out from shrubs and trees while others hovered above them. And right infront of the large tree was a pedestal holding the darkness swiping sword.
Then a loud yawn shook the forestâŚ
Deku Tree:âHrmâŚ.Did I doze off againâŚHmmm, who are you two? I can feel the presence you two have through my roots.â
Jay tilted his head and looked down cautiously, he heard of stories of the Great deku tree, but he never thought the tree would have a face let alone a voice. Looking to his right he see Hestu has disappeared while Link stepped onto the pedestal. Clearing his throat Jay introduced himself and Link to the ancient tree.
âIâm Jay and this is Link. I brought him here to pull the sword, he has the soul and power of the Hero.â
Deku Tree:âWell itâs just as I fearedâŚ.The Calamity is nearâŚBut I knew you would come to pull the sword that seals the darkness-that only the chosen knight can wield against Calamity Ganon.â
Jay eyed the purple hilt on the blade, he could feel a presence around the sword but he couldnât quite tell what it was. But it felt alive. When Link reached for the sword,Jay caught his wrist and shook his head.
Deku Tree:âYou need to take extreme caution,Link.The sword stands as a test to anyone who dare to attempt to posses it. As you are now I cannot say whether you are worthy or notâŚâ
Jay eyes slitted to view the blade closer only to see the entire blade glowing with a white aura. The blade was a soul itself! Frowning, Jay and Link turned to the two small Korok who looked to be re-enacting what happened to others before Link who werenât worthy of the blade.
Deku Tree:âIf you sought to free the sword and it doesnât accept you as the chosen knight, you will surely lose your life where you stand.â
The teens watched one Korok fall over dramatically while the other squealed in fake anguish. The scene would of been funny if they didnât know they where copying real people. Suddenly the Deku tree laughed at them.
Deku Tree:âBest of Luck, young oneâsâŚâ
âWell that sounds niceâŚYou stil want to do this? I donât blame you if you donât want to, Link.This is very risky.â
Link:âYeah, but we need the sword and the sooner the betterâŚ.If I can bring the sword back then maybe that puts less pressure on the princessâŚThat way she can just focus on her power and talking to the pilots for the divine beast.â
Jay agreed with him, he even had his own suspicion that Zeldaâs power was not awakened due to stress, so if Link could bring the sword back it might help.StillâŚThis is a dangerous game theyâre playing. Frowning in thought,Jay felt Link nudging his arm. Looking up he watched the blonde sign
Link:âI can do it. You said I have the soul for it. I trust you.â
Jay stared it him for a moment before looking back at the sword, he knew they had to get the sword at some point. Might as well give it a go now. Sighing, Jay stepped off the pedestal to give his friend space, he felt uneasy about the whole thing,but Link looked confident and was willingly to try.The knight took a deep breath and clasped his hands around the hilt, with a grunt Link pulled the hilt as a bright glow shined under it.From a distance it looked like the blade wasnât budging,but Jay could see the sword moving painfully slow.
Sweat beaded at Links forehead as the sword moved up a couple inches, he was at the halfway point now. Heâs face remained stoic as he pulled again with a grunt,Jay stepped beside him and put a hand on his shoulder.
âYour almost done.You got this.â
Link gave a single nod and tensed his arms as the blade rose a bit more, Jay watched the knights soul to make sure he was not going to die like the Deku tree causally mentioned. The Yellow soul wavered,but held strong, Link arms began trembling as the sword moved up once more.
âYour right there Link. One good pull should do.â
Link took a deep breath and with a frown he clenched his teeth and pulled with all his might.Jay brought a hand to shield his eyes from the sudden flash, Link held the sword in his hands in silent awe.Jay gave him a pat on the back and signedâŚ
âI knew you could do it. Good job, Hero.â
Link gave a weary smile and held the blade to the sky, he observed it and gave it a few test swings. Koroks came up to them cheering and at Links accomplishmen. A elder Korok waddled up to link with sheath for the blade. Jay checked Links soul and he wasnât surprised to see the sword leaving a mark on him, but the soul did looked weakened. The deku tree complimented Link for his courage and he thanked Jay for bringing him there before sleepily saying.
Deku Tree:âNow use that sword to beat the CalamityâŚ.andâŚBring peace to HyruleâŚâ
The giant tree shut his eyes and Jay moved his tail out of the curious Koroks reach, but the stubborn spirits didnât give up.Sighing,Jay looked to Link and askedâŚ
âYou ready toâŚYou ok?â
Link:âFineâŚdizzyâŚâ
The blonde looked pale and unsteady, he shakily to a step before pitching foward. Reacting quickly,Jay caught his friend and eased him to the ground. It was concerning since he was fine a few moments ago. The Korok around them started speaking at once, but Jay managed to catch what they were saying to them.
Korok:âMr.Hero used a lot of engery to pull the sword!â
Korok:âThe sword needed energy to get free!! Mr. Hero gave his to her!â
Korok:âHe can rest in the Inn I made!â
âOk, can you show me where?â
The little spirits nodded and turned towards the deku tree,Jay helped Link to his feet and looped his arm over his shoulder to help him walk.The inn the Koroks made was actually inside the deku trees stomach,they even had a little shops and area to cook.
*Cute,but what are they going to do with rupees if no one can see them?*
Eyeing the little spirit.Jay guided Link to the bed while a Korok gave him a leaf blanket.Jay sat on the floor while Link layed down, he fell alseep almost instantly,so while he rested Jay decided to mediate until he was ready to travel. He stretched a bit before crossing his legs and took deep breaths to calm his previous anxiety.At some point the Korok gathered around them, mainly due to their curiosity of their new guests.Jay opened one eye to see a couple of them placing flowers on his tail, he shrugged and closed his eyes. But his concentration broke when he felt a tug on his sleeve. Opening his eyes heâs greeted by the elder Korok,Chio.
Chio:âYou are capable of seeing souls,yes?â
âYeahâŚâ
Chio:âFollow me.â
The elder began walking out the tree,Jay tilted his head but followed anyway, he didnât like how serious the Korok suddenly became.Chio took him deep into the forest and he could feel something wasnât right. Pushing his way through a bush Jay spots a makeshift cage and in the middle was Korok covered in pure malice.
âHowâŚWhat happened?â
Chio:â I donât know. She left our forest to go play hide n seek with the childrenâŚBut when she came backâŚShe was covered in this substance.â
*Itâs MaliceâŚItâs whatâs Calamity Ganon is using to corrupt souls.⌠IâŚ.I didnât think it would be strong enough to corrupt spirits.*
The little Korok hit and pulled at the cage as malice poured from her mask, she screamed at them and ran to the other side to continue her struggle to escape. Jay couldnât watch this, he couldnât just let the little spirit stay this way. He had to help somehow even though his instincts told him to stay away from her.Stepping towards the door,Jay felt his nails sharpen as he looked at the lock. It was just a bunch of vines tying the door closed and he effortlessly cut through it. Untangling the mess he heard,Chio worriedly called outâŚ
Chio:âSheâs not in here right mind! If you go in there she will hurt you!â
âIâm going to try and remove it.â
He opened the door and slowly stepped inside, Kaya screamed and ran towards him as fast as her little legs could go. Jay sat on the back of his legs and when the spirit jumped towards him Jay caught her.Focusing on the corrupted soul Jay left his power swarm around the Korok in a strong gold. She tried to flee from his hold but the power around her attacked the malice inside her.Jay grimaced when a lone gold eye appeared on the mask and a vapor of malice wafted into the air.Using his tail to hold the Korok still Jay held his hands over the eye and in one shock the eye dispersed in a cloud of black and magenta smoke.
Chio appeared beside him as he held Kaya in his lap, the little spirit seemed to be a bit disoriented but relieved to see Chio and the forest around them.Jay put her down and brought his arm up to muffle sudden coughs, he looked around to see if any malice was left behind.
Chio:âThank you for saving Kaya,Jay. I was worried that no one could help her.â
âYour welcome. Are you feeling alright,Kaya? That was a lot of malice on you.â
The spirit nodded and Chio began giving her a lecture about how she needed to be more careful. Oddly enough she didnât respond to the elder but instead turned to Jay and whisperedâŚ.
Kaya:âA hylian saw meâŚHe hurt me.â
Jay frowned at the reveal and used his tail to bring the spirit closer, he could still sense the faint traces of malice. He moved his tail away from her gave a small smile. Kaya voiced her concern about Malice still being on her, but Jay quietly reassured her.
âItâs ok I removed all of it so you should be fine. Can you tell me what he looks like?â
Kaya:âHe had skin as gray as ashâŚ.he wore a purple cloak and a circlet of a eye on his headâŚThen he used this scary orb on me andâŚI cant remember anything after that.â
Chio:âWhere did you see him?â
Kaya:âHateno Village. He was talking to somebody but I canât remember, Iâm sorry.â
âNo itâs ok you did very good by telling me what you remember.Iâll check there to see if I can find him. Chio I advise you all stay away from malice. Itâs not safe to be around. Now as for you Kaya you should take it easy for a few days, Iâm not sure how malice affects spirits,but from how it effected Kaya it seems to make you guys aggressive.â
Chio:âI seeâŚIâll keep an eye on her and tell the great deku tree about this and warn the children of this hylian. Are you well,Jay? You look-â
âIâm fine.â
Jay offered a smile and walked away from the two spirits, he coughed into his fist before reaching into his bag to pull out a few herbs. When he reached the Deku tree he used the herbs and brew himself some tea. He returned back to his spot on the floor and checked in his dozing friend.Links color came back and he slept soundly, he had the leaf blanket tucked around him.Jay leaned back against the bed and pulled a small jar of honey out his bag and poured some in his cup. He took a spoon out his bag to stir the herbal drink and when done he took a long sip as he thought over Kayaâs description.
*A hylian that has the ability to control maliceâŚ.Goddesses help us all.*
#original character#digital art#digital illustration#drawing#breath of the wild au#the legend of zelda#botw oc#botw fanart#zelda botw#botw link#link#botw fanfic#loz botw#botw#age of calamity#sign language#selective mutism#artists on tumblr#sheikah#dragon hybrid#legend of zelda#zelda#botw korok#oc#my ocs#oc art#anime style#botw au#loz link#zelda oc
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Part 2 of the Semblance Mishap AU (question mark here because Tumblr considers it a forbidden symbol for some reason)
Maybe this time, Ruby accidentally fuses herself with (at least) one of her friends...
(I've been meaning to do this one)
Ruby panted as she dropped out of her semblance for the fourth time, dropping the toaster she was holding in her hands. She had spent hours using her semblance to disassemble and reassemble anything she could get her hands on in order to figure out how to fix what she did to Blake and May. Breaking things apart and putting them together was easy, since thatâs what her semblance did to her, but even after test after test, machine after machine, she still had no idea what caused Blake and May to fuse like they did.Â
âMaybe its time to rest,â Weiss suggested as she got up from her bunk.Â
Yang nodded. âYouâve been at this for hours, maybe something changed after we got back from the Ever After. You technically ascended and who knows what magic was lingering on Blake-âÂ
âI have⌠to fix thisâŚâ Ruby said between pants, exhausted and dropping onto Blakeâs bed. Her arms shook as she looked up at the ceiling of the dorm room she and her team were staying in, everything spinning from her exhaustion. âI told them both everything would be okay. Blake trusted me, backed me up, and now she and May are fused together and the only way for us to fix this is for me to figure out how I screwed up or try to find an aura transfer machine and pray we can split them without causing any further issues.âÂ
âWeâre not telling you to give up, weâre telling you to slow down.â Yang sighed and sat down next to Ruby. âI want to get Blake back and normal again too, but all youâre doing is wearing yourself out by trying to run these tests over and over again. Rest, let your aura recharge, and then we can come back to this with Pietro.âÂ
Ruby perked up a bit, a smile crossing her lips. âThatâs it! All I need is an aura boost from Jaune!âÂ
Weiss pinched the bridge of her nose. âYangâs right, you need rest and to clear your mind-âÂ
âIf I can get Jaune to boost my aura, then Iâll have to be able to fix it!â Ruby practically jumped up and looked at Weiss and Yang with a wide grin. âI just have to test it with someone first!âÂ
âWait Ruby-âÂ
Before Yang could get anything more out, Ruby rushed out of the room with her semblance, running through the halls looking for Jaune and his team. She was certain that if she could get a boost from him, then she could fix everything. She finally pulled out of her semblance once she saw him, rose petals fluttering everywhere around her. âI need you and your semblance!âÂ
Jaune brushed a few petals out of his hair and sighed. âSure, are we going on a mission then?âÂ
âNo, I need you to give me a power boost while I use my semblance with someone and see if I can get them to merge with me and then to bring them back to normal.âÂ
âYouâre⌠going to have to explain what you mean.âÂ
âBlake, May, and I went out to one of the abandoned buildings that Headmaster Theodore wanted us to check out, potentially an aura transfer machine that we could use to get Penny back. But when I used my semblance to move us quicker, Blake and May ended up fused and now I need to get them unfused but nothing Iâve done worked so I need you to give me an aura boost so we can figure this out!âÂ
Jaune slowly nodded as she tried to follow what Ruby was telling him. âAnd how do you plan to see if this works?âÂ
âI see if I can recreate this with someone else. Maybe with Nora or Ren-âÂ
âIâm not going to let any of my teammates get hurt with this.âÂ
âIt wont hurt them⌠I thinkâŚâ Ruby pulled Jaune into an empty classroom and sat down. âI think it has something to do with the Ever After. I was able to use my semblance with Blake without issue when it was just her and me, but when May was added into the mix, thatâs when things went⌠wrong. Yang is going to kill me if I cant get Blake back for her and I have tried for hours trying to figure out how I messed things up this bad.âÂ
âAnd youâre sure that using my semblance will help?â Jaune asked as he leaned against a table. âWhat exactly is your plan?âÂ
âTo see if maybe I can get something to fuse with someone else temporarily. I know its a long shot, but if this works, then thatâs it. This test and then undoing what I did to Blake and May.âÂ
âAnd if you cant? Iâm not going to put anyone else in a position where Iâll lose them.âÂ
âItâll work. I promise.âÂ
Jaune sighed and sat down on the table. âFine, just one try. Weâll see if Ren or Nora want to help and go from there. Who are you going to try to fuse them with?âÂ
âWith a toaster or something.âÂ
âWhat?âÂ
âI dont want to lose anyone else either, so instead of trying to recreate what I did with May and Blake with two people, I want to do it with something smaller. A person and a toaster or maybe even a scroll. I wasnt able to get two toasters to fuse together while doing this and everything came out as normal.âÂ
âThis⌠sounds like a bad idea.âÂ
âItâll be fine.âÂ
âNora and Ren should be at the mess hall.â Jaune stood up and adjusted the sword on his hip. âThough, theyâre probably finished eating so they might be going out into town to help out-âÂ
Ruby didnt let Jaune finish, grabbing his hand and rushing out with her semblance in a flurry of red, green, and yellow petals. She could feel an energy rushing through her as she sped through the halls and to the mess hall of the academy, her heart racing as she dropped her semblance, watching the petals flutter in front of her. âNora, Ren, we need your help with something.âÂ
âWe?â Ren asked. âIts just you.âÂ
âAnd I like what you did with your hair,â Nora chimed in.Â
Ruby froze for a moment as she caught her reflection in a glass of water, taking a step back as she pulled out her scroll and looked at herself in the camera. Her once black and red tipped hair was now yellow, her eyes were blue with a small ring of silver around the pupil. A breastplate sat uncomfortably where her corset had been, her cloak streaked with white and red, and the skirt she wore seemed more like shorts than a skirt anymore. âI-I can fix thisâŚâ she said shakily, her voice sounding more like Jauneâs than her own. She used her semblance again and again as she came in and out of each cloud of petals, nothing changing. Then, on her last attempt to fix herself, her exhaustion caught up to her as her aura crackled and broke in a shimmer of red and yellow and she fell to the ground as her legs gave out.Â
#rwby#ruby rose#rwby ruby rose#weiss schnee#yang xiao long#jaune arc#nora valkyrie#lie ren#semblance mishap au#semblance mishap
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Drunken Snuggles
Captain Swan AU / Killian Jones/Emma Swan AU
A very drunk Emma texts best friend, and secret crush, Killian, wanting to be held and snuggled. Since he is also drunk, it leads to some comical behavior.
Based on a Discord prompt by @everything-person
Emma was on her fifth shot when a brilliant idea came to mind.
âI want to cuddle with somebody. Somebody with a warm strong body.â The image of her best friend and secret crush came to mind. She got out her phone.
âWho are you texting?â Mary Margaret asked, trying to lean over and look at Emmaâs phone.
âKillian. He always says he will be there for me if there is anything I need. Well, I want snuggles.â
âI think heâs playing cards with the guys.â Ruby said. âHe might not hear his phone.â
Emma pouted with disappointment as she watched the message she had just sent out signal it was delivered.
A few seconds later, she heard Killianâs sexy voice say loudly, âMates, I need to find Emma.â
Her head whipped to the direction it came from, and saw the three guys at the billiard tables.
âKillian!â Emma shouted with glee.
âSwan!â Having gotten his attention, he was moving just as fast toward her.
âWhat are you three doing here? I thought you were having a girlâs night?â David asked his girlfriend.
âWe were.â Mary Margaret rolled her eyes. âI told you Ruby, Emma, and I were coming here. I thought you guys were going to play poker at Killians.â
âI forgot which bar you said. Two of the guys called and said they had something else come up and couldnât make it. It wouldnât have been much of a game with three people, so we decided to come here and play pool.â
âOh this is going to be good.â Ruby grinned wolfishly, holding up her phone, recording the exchange between Emma and Killian.
âI didnât know you were a cuddle bug, love. I would be more than happy to fulfill your request.â
Emma giggled. âHow are you always able to use pretty words, even when drunk.â
âMaybe because Iâm always looking at you, and becoming drunk on your beauty.â
âHow many has he had?â Mary Margaret asked.
David thought for a moment. âHe was finishing a beer when I arrived at his apartment. He had two while we were waiting for August and Robin. And since weâve been here, heâs had two shots and a rum and coke, doubling on the rum.â
âHeâs going to be sick as a dog tomorrow.â Graham observed.
âMost likely, so will Emma.â Ruby pointed out, adjusting the light on her camera phone. She didnât want to miss a single second of Emma and Killian being ridiculous in the bar.
At the moment, Killian was helping Emma climb on him. He held her up by holding onto her butt while her arms and legs were wrapped tightly around them.
For the next three hours, the two of them stayed like that. The only change was that Killian was sitting, but he still insisted on holding Emma firmly to him, mostly by holding her butt.
When it was time to leave, the rideshare driver had a very confused look on his face when the koala couple entered his car.
CAPTAIN SWAN
Emma woke with a groan, head throbbing.
Panic suddenly gripped her and added to her misery when she shifted and realized her head was laying on a naked chest. A naked chest that happened to be covered in thick curly hair.
There was only one person she knew with a chest like that.
No. How could she have been so stupid? Killian was her best friend. Sure she was in love with him. But she had been through enough relationships to know she always messed things up. And if she messed things up with Killian, she would destroy the best thing in her life.
Killianâs head was pounding, and the contents of his stomach were threatening to make a reappearance. He didnât want to open his eyes, for fear that he wouldnât be able to make it to the bathroom, for fear of becoming sick all over the bed.
But laying there, fighting back the contents of his stomach, he slowly became aware of the fact he wasnât alone.
Gradually, he opened his eyes, and instantly recognized the blonde hair laying on his chest.
Guilt, dread, and regret joined his misery. Killian had been in love with Emma Swan since he first set eyes on her. He had hoped to gain her trust and win her over.
When they finally made love, he wanted them both to be completely sober. He needed her to want him, choose him. For every detail to forever be ingrained in their minds. He didnât want their first encounter to be some drunken fling.
Slowly, carefully, they parted from one another.
âMorning, Swan.â
âMorning.â
Neither looked at the other. Each feared the other would only have disgust and shame in their eyes.
They stumbled their way through getting cleaned up, dressed, and to the kitchen, hoping to get very large cups of coffee.
âYou know nothing happened.â Mary Margaret assured them, sensing the new awkwardness between them was due to some misunderstanding. âTrust me, you were both too drunk to do anything.â
âWe werenât wearing clothes when we got up this morning.â Emmaâs irritation with herself made her blurt out the statement.
âProbably because you got hot.â David suggested. âYou each had at least six shots of whisky, I know that always makes me feel overheated.
âThe two of you passed out nearly right after you stumbled into Emmaâs room.â Ruby told them. âI know. I was listening for any fun noises, and all I heard was snoring.â
âI donât snore.â Emma defended herself.
âYou do when youâre really drunk, honey.â Mary Margeret confessed to her with a look of pity. âAfter Rubyâs birthday party, when you had drunk about eight margaritas, you and Killian had passed out on the couch, and you were both snoring.â
âIâve heard freight trains quieter than you two.â Graham added his own input.
âHere.â Ruby held up her phone. âI recorded you guys at the bar, and in the rideshare. You can see for yourselves.â
Killian sighed with relief. He hadnât messed things up between himself and Swan.
And seeing the video, he had proof that Emma shared his feelings.
Mood greatly improved, Killian moved closer to Emma and said cheekily, âI wouldnât mind if you wanted to snuggle again, Swan. Though I would prefer it if we were sober. I want to actually remember it.â
For the first time that morning, Emma smiled.
The group made a big breakfast, with plenty of fried bacon and eggs, and chose to spend a lazy day in their apartment.
It escaped no oneâs notice that Emma and Killian sat pressed against one another, and continued to snuggle together for the rest of the day.
 And every day after.
#captain swan#once upon a time#emma x hook#emma swan#killian jones#cs ff#emma x killian#captain hook/killian jones#grimmswanfic
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Ozqrow Week 2023 Day 3: Nothing Bad Ever Happened AU
(Day 3! Give it up for day 3 of @ozqrowweek 2023! This one turned out to be a bit longer than I expected it to be intially. I'm not even sure that this half will even fit onto this post because I forgot the limit for tumblr, but I will most likely have the complete version up on my ao3 which is MissWritesALot55, so if you currently interested in seeing that or anything else, please do check it out. Without further ado, here's to Day 3!)
Ozqrow Week Day 3: Nothing Bad Ever Happened AU
Friday night dinners at the Xiao-Long Roseâs house were always something. From marriage announcements to Branwen twin brawls to full-out food fights that spanned across the property, Ozpin and their kitchen table had seen it all and this night was no exception to that.Â
 Since dating Qrow in combat school through their time in Beacon all the way into adulthood, he was no stranger to the bombastic personalities of the members of Team STRQ and their daughters. Most of the time, he coasted through the craziness of it all until he had to participate in it actively.Â
But on this night, he and Qrow would be inciting a bit of chaos of their own because they would finally announce their engagement. Among other things.
Qrow and Ozpin had been together for half of their lives to where they were basically married, they just didnât have the papers to say so. Everyone in their lives - friends and family alike - had long-standing bets on when these two would finally tie the knot - so far, James and Tai are in the lead.
And now, that time had finally come and they were ready to tell the family.Â
Ozpin was a bit nervous - anyone would be when making such a big announcement - but as he and Qrow walked up the dirt path with his giant pot that he for some reason that Summer always asked him to bring, he reminded himself that this was his family and while they might be a little pissed at the added announcement toward the end, theyâll be happy for them nonetheless.Â
âYou doing alright there, Ozzy?â Qrow asked, snaking an arm around his waist.Â
Ozpin nodded, âIâm fine. Just excited for tonight.â
Qrow smirked, pecking a kiss to his temple, âMe too. Canât wait to see the look on Taiâs face when he finds out he lost to Olâ Jimmy Ironwood. And who knows, maybe heâll let us keep some of his winnings.â
âAnd here I thought you were going to say something romantic like how you canât wait to be my husband.â
âWell, yeah. That too â but think of all the money weâll save Oz!â
Ozpin chuckled, playfully pushing Qrow as they got up to the door, âAlright, alright. I see your point. Just try not to let your excitement get the best of you,â he reached for the doorbell, âI doubt Tai has much money in this silly bet anyhowââ
The door opened, and a flood of yellow light poured into the darkness outside. The men turned to greet whichever of the Xiao Long-Roses were waiting on the opposite side â only to be met by the heiress of the Schnee dust company standing in the doorway, mouth gaped open in shock.
âPro â Professor Ozpin?â she exclaimed, barely able to hide her surprise.
Ozpin flashed a nervous smile at the girl, âA-Ah! Good evening, Ms. Schnee. IâŚI didnât expect to see you hereâŚat all.â
âI â I didnât expect to see you here either, Sir. N-Not that Iâm not happy to see you here! Though, I have to ask, why are you here? And who is this?â Weiss asked, gesturing to Qrow.
Ozpin opened his mouth to explain when a pair of speedy and pounding footsteps came and cut him off before he could even so much as get out a breath. A flurry of red crashed into view and crashed into Qrow as well, knocking him into the grass.
âUNCLE QROW!â The faux redhead exclaimed, kicking her feet happily as she hugged her arms around his neck tightly.
Qrow gasped for a breath, âJeez, kid! Youâre really gettinâ the hang of your sneak attacks, arenât cha?â
Ruby giggled, âItâs so good to see you again! Uncle Oz wouldnât tell me where you went and��â
âIâm sorry â Uncle. Oz?â Weiss exclaimed.
Ruby sat up and tilted her head, blinking in owlish confusion, âYeah? What about him?â
âRuby Rose â Are you telling me this entire time our headmaster has been your â yourâ!âÂ
âOh, would you look at that? Your mother seems to be calling me! Coming!â
Ozpin quickly shuffled past Weiss, catching a quick glimpse of Blake Belladonna on the couch before ducking into the kitchen where Rubyâs mother, Summer Rose, was already hard at work with several different pots and pans already taking up most of the space on her stove.
She hummed as she slid a freshly formed fruit pie into the oven, not noticing Ozpinâs presence until she turned around and jumped a little in surprise.
âOh! Oz, I didnât see you there! Did you and Qrow just come in now?âÂ
âAh, yes. We did,â he set the pot down on one of the free counters and took a seat at the table, âHeâs a little tied up with Ruby and Ms. Schnee.â
âMs. Schnee â oh! Youâre talking about that Weiss girl? White hair? Long ponytail? Overly formal?â
âThatâs the one.â
âOh, Iâm so sorry I didnât warn you in time. Ruby brought them over while I was in the zone and it completely slipped my mind that you were both coming over today!â
Ozpin shook his head, âNo, no. No need to apologize. Itâs fine. Honestly, Iâm a little glad that they all came here together. I donât know if she or Yang told you, but they were off to a bit of a rocky start when their team first formed.â
âOh, trust me,â Summer said, fists on her hips, âIâve heard plenty about all the escapades and arguments that Team RWBY have been through. Canât say it doesnât remind me of us back in our Beacon Days, though. I think of it as a bit of a tradition.â
Ozpin chuckled, âI suppose you have a point. There hasnât been a year without a team who have nearly driven each other mad in the first few weeks of school.â
âStill, Iâd say theyâre getting along pretty well! Yang has been talking non-stop about that girl Blake. I think she might like her.â
âYou should see them at school. Their âflirtingâ, if you can even call it that, is atrocious. Theyâve been reprimanded so many times, Iâve lost count of all the professors who has come to complain to me about them.â
Summer hid her laugh behind her hand, âThatâs Yang for you. You might have Qrow give her some lessons on how to talk to girls better!â
Just then, said avian man fell through the kitchen door, rubbing around his collarbone. âMan, that kidâs got one helluva grip these days.â
âQrow! Oz and I were just talking about you. We were hoping you could give Yang some advice on girls. We think she might have a thing for her new teammate.â
Qrow quirked a curious brow, âThat so? Man, our sunny little dragonâs growing up so damn fast. Already throwing her hat in the romance ring. Next thing you know, Rubyâs gonna start wearing high heels, of all things.â
Ozpin scoffed, âI highly doubt she would go that far.â
Summer laughed, âIf I know one thing about my daughter, she would never be caught dead in those â what did she call them? ��Stupid lady stilts?ââ
Ozpin couldnât help but laugh aloud, quickly clamping a hand over his mouth as soon as it came out.
âIâm going to go check on the girls. See if they need any more refreshments. Could you guys watch the things on the stove? Maybe give them a good stir once in a while so they donât burn?â
Qrow saluted her, âWill do, Boss.â
âThank you!â she chirped.
She untied her apron, tossed it on the back of a chair, and went out to the living room with a pitcher full of fruit tea. Ozpin breathed a sigh of relief, burying his head in his hands.
âBrothers, this is not how I imagined the night going,â he said.
âI know, but thereâs not a lot we can do about it,â Qrow said, already taking over chef duty.
âMaybeâŚmaybe we postpone the announcement for next time?âÂ
âYou sure?â
Ozpin nodded, âI wouldnât want to make Weiss and Blake uncomfortable. This is their first time here, and Iâm sure they already feel awkward with me being here. I donât want to push any more boundaries tonight.â
Qrow nodded, âAlright. Weâll keep it chill. Though I think youâre being a little hard on yourself.â
âIâm their headmaster, Qrow. What if their progress goes down the gutter because I didnât disclose our relationshipââ
âYou donât have to âdiscloseâ anything to anybody,â Qrow said, turning his head back to him, âYou werenât there when Ruby and Yangâs files were being sent through, right? You werenât there when their admissions letters were being looked over, and even if you did, I know youâd have only picked them because they trained hard and did their best. Not cause theyâre your nieces. If you wanna tell them all that, thatâs fine. But if Iâm being honest, it doesnât look like they care all that much. Hell, Iâd say theyâre still doing just fine.â
Ozpin perked up, âReally?â
âMhm. The Schnee girlâs still in shock, but she seems to be getting over it a little. I swear, sheâs like a cartoon character with how dramatic she is.â
Ozpin chuckled, âDonât let her hear you say that. Sheâd blow a top if she found you talking like this.â
Qrow smiled softly, âSee? Youâre feeling better already.â
Ozpin hummed, âWell, I wouldnât say that. But, you did help alleviate some of my anxiety, so thank you for that.â
âItâs what Iâm here for.â
Ozpin got up from his seat, walked over to Qrow, and wrapped him up in a hug from behind. Qrow chuckled, turning his head and placing a kiss on Ozpinâs cheek.
âI love you so much,â Ozpin said, burying his head into the nape of Qrowâs neck.
âI love you too, Oz,â Qrow replied with a laugh.
âI really do.â
âI know.â
âIâm really glad that weâre finally doing this.â
âMe too.â
âI love you.â
âYou already said that, Oz.â
âWould you two stop being so disgustingly sweet in front of the food? Youâre going to ruin my appetite?â
The couple whipped their heads in the direction of the new voice that entered from the back door. Qrowâs twin sister, Raven, looked them up and down with a bit of faux and real disgust.
Ozpin flushed red, âHow long have you been standing there?â
âLong. Enough,â she replied, turning her attention to her brother, âInteresting to see you play househusband for once, Brother.â
Qrow shrugged, âWhat can I say? Iâm a man of many talents.â
Raven rolled her eyes, âHow long till dinner so I donât end up losing my lunch?â
âDonât know. I was just told to stop and stir until the Boss Lady comes back.â
Raven nodded. Something in her face changed. She quirked a curious brow and looked over Ozpin.
âSomething wrong, Rae?â
âWhat were you two talking about before I came in here?â
Ozpin loosened his grip on Qrow, âNothing important. Just the same old sappy romance stuff, as you and Qrow call it.â
Raven continued to stare at them with unconvinced eyes, slowly nodding, âSuuure.â
Without saying anything else, she walked past them and out into the living room to join the others. The couple exchanged foreboding glances.
âShe knows,â Ozpin said grimly.
âWe donât know that,â Qrow argued, though something in his eyes told them both that that was likely untrue.
âYou saw the way she was looking at us!â Ozpin whisper-shouted, âShe knows.â
âShe knows something. And itâs probably not about us. Maybe sheâs just in a weird mood!â
Ozpin frowned, âYou donât honestly believe that, do you?â
âLook, even if she does know something - which she probably doesnât - I donât think sheâd say anything in front of the others, especially with new people around.â
âI suppose youâre rightâŚâ
âItâs gonna be fine. Weâll get through this dinner and then next Friday or something, weâll tell them for real. Iâll even sit next to Rae to make sure she doesnât try anything.â
Ozpin sighed, âOkay, okay. This is fine. This. Is. Fine. Everything is going to be fine and I am not going to quit my job as Headmaster after tonight.â
âRight. Good job staying positive!â
Ozpin groaned, though he couldnât be too upset.Â
Friday night dinners at the Xiao-Long Roses are usually full of surprises and the unexpected, and he was no exception to that.
No matter how hard he tried.
#bri writes#my writing#fanfiction#fanfic writing#rwby#rwby ozpin#qrow x ozpin#qrow branwen#ozqrow week 2023#ozqrow week#ozqrow#cloqwork#cloqwork family#ruby rose#summer rose#yang xio long#yang xiao long#blake belladonna#weiss schnee#takes place during volume 1 but still nothing bad happens#nothing ever happens#raven branwen#taiyang xiao long
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How Many Drinks? [ Pt. 2 ]
Summary: Itâs no secret that youâve had a thing for your bestie for quite some time. With a few shots loosening your tongue, will you finally have the courage to confess?
Genre: Romance, Humor, Drama, Modern AU
Warnings: Language, Mild Sexual Content, Alcohol, MDNI!
This didnât come out nearly as good as it sounded in my head. đ Thank you so much for reading!
Heâs never too far off. Â
And for that, you are thankful.
Kyojuro stands in your peripheral, a watchful big brother swirling the contents of his glass, looking like a five-course meal. He exchanges laughter and stories with a couple of his co-workers who came out to partake in the dollar shots, too. Heâs close enough to intervene in case someone gets too handsy with you, but he gives you enough space to do your own thing. The notion brings a sloppy cant to your lips. Itâs nice to be doted on. Nice to pretend like heâs an overprotective boyfriend instead of just a hyper-vigilant homie.
You flag down the bartender for the fourth time tonight, feeling like youâre wading through molasses. Your words are slurred as you ask for âanother long island, please,â casually drumming your nails against the empty, highball glass.
âComing right up, gorgeous,â he shouts over the conglomerate of conversation and music, gracing you with a boyish beam. Your lips quirk. Heâs cute. Dimples, brunet, nice teeth. You make out the strength of his body as he mixes drinks behind the counter. Someone youâd typically flirt with. You wouldâve asked for his number a couple hours ago if not for a certain blond living rent-free in your muddled mind.
Speaking of himâŚ
You watch Kyojuro chat up a pretty redhead. Sheâs short and curvaceous, breasts spilling from her blouse as she leans forward and purposely squishes them together. Touches his arm with her slimy paw; a fake, girlish giggle added for affect. You scoff, brow twitching with irritation. âGirl, he donât want you. Youâre trying too damn hard,â muttered under your breath.
Youâve only ever seen him in two serious relationships since youâve been friends. His last girl was a prima donna, too focused on his pockets. You wanted to choke slam her after Kyojuro showed up to your apartment with red-rimmed eyes and a broken heart.
Heâs a sweet, romantic baby not into one-night stands. Deserves someone who will appreciate all the clichĂŠ shit he loves. Flowers, midnight strolls on the beach, kissing under the stars. He deserves a slow, all-consuming love. Not some grabby-ass heifer whoâs only interested in fucking.
The bartender returns, placing your drink down on the sticky counter. You raise the tumbler in a silent thank you. He responds with a sensual wink before moving to another patron.
âCome here often?â floats a saccharine voice from over your shoulder. You tremble, nearly spilling your drink. LâHomme and warmth consume you when Kyojuro reaches around to set his glass down. Presses a deft hand to the small of your back. Your eyes lock briefly, your breath corked in your throat. âApologies,â he says, flashing you a disarming smile, gradually backing off. âI did not mean to startle you.â
You swivel in the barstool to face him fully, alcohol sloshing around in your gut. âDonât be sneakinâ up on me like that. You know Iâll beat your ass.â
Kyojuro chuckles deeply in response, the sound singeing your innards. âCalm down, tigress.â
It should be criminal to be so damn fine.
You drink in the subtle tilt of his cerise lips through hooded lids. Amber irises descend into a dark ruby, glittering under the strobe lights as he gives your drunken form a once over. Emboldened and moving on autopilot, you sweep a wayward lock of crimson-tinged hair behind his ear. Fingertips graze the cool, gold metal of his cartilage piercing. The act feels too intimate. Freezes you both in time, the thunderous music briefly fading into distorted hums around you.
Friendly. Thatâs all it was. At least, thatâs what you tell yourself when his eyes fasten to your quivering lips.
âWant another drink?â you ask, dispelling the tense air. You don a boozy grin despite the subtle fluttering of your heart.
âNo thank you,â Kyojuro replies, slipping his hands into his pockets, gaze averted. He wears an easy smile of his own whilst he moves to stand beside you. âI think I have reached my quota for the evening.â
You huff, turning back to the bar. âYou had like, one drink, bro. Youâre no fun.â At that, you down whatâs left of your watery long island.
âDo you want to make it home tonight?â Kyojuro playfully chides, poking your rib.
Depends on whose home weâre ending up atâŚ
You fix your mouth to retort, but the song blaring from the speakers melds into one youâre well acquainted with.
âAw, shit!â you holler, ready to shake your ass now that the liquorâs loosened your limbs and inhibitions. âThis is my shit! Kyo!â You grab for him with childlike mirth paddling across your features. âKyo, dance with me!â Â
He casts you a humored look before offering a hand. Carefully plucks you from the stool, twining five thick fingers with yours. You ignore how tender they feel; how normal it is to have his digits scorching your skin. He cups your hand like a lover, guiding you through the sea of writhing, sweaty bodies toward an empty space near the DJ booth.
Once safely nestled between other clubgoers, you let the rhythm possess you. Throw your hands up in the air, jumping in time with the beat. Kyojuro bops in front of you, grooving from a safe distance. Heâs told you multiple times before that heâs not much of a dancer. But heâs a far cry from the wallflower he was when you met way back when. Youâre grateful that he never leaves you hanging, even if heâs out of his element.
You mouth the lyrics, swaying your body. Wind your generous hips, not missing the subtle darkening of Kyojuroâs eyes as he watches your sinful gyrations. Thinks you havenât noticed, but youâre on to him. You slowly sashay towards him, a hawk closing in on its prey. Reach for his hands again untilâ
You exhale sharply, back colliding with a taut wall of muscle. You toss a look over your shoulder, vision doubled and distorted around the edges. You hardly make out the contours of his face through the fluttering lights, but you have an inkling of an idea whoâs behind you. And dammit, he feels good.
Fuck it, you think, letting the bartender draw your hips into a sinuous sway against his groin. The liquorâs got you feeling weightless and numb, and you love this song. Maybe youâll put on a show for Kyo. Get him hot and bothered and craving your touch, much like you pine for his.
You look up after brushing up on your new dance partner. Canât help the slight grimace that descends onto your mouth.
The ginger from before has Kyojuro in her clutches, pushing up on him as if casting a spell. Grazes his exposed chest with idle fingers, dragging him into a slow wind. Kyojuro spares you a quick glance over her shoulder to make sure that youâre alright. She molds his hands to her waist, snatching his attention back to her.
For the umpteenth time tonight, you sigh.
âYep, Iâm done,â you admonish, dismissing yourself from the dancefloor. Heat floods your body as you simmer with a silent rage. Â
âAw, whatâs wrong, baby?â the bartender whines, scrambling for your fingers. You swat his hands away, a childish pout worrying your lips. You stride across the tiled floor, dodging awkward limbs and other men trying to draw you in for a dance. You set course for the ladiesâ room under the pretense of needing to freshen up.
Your name is called from behind. Distress lurks beneath the depths of that familiar tenure as it closes in.
âGotta pee!â you shout, dipping into the bathroom.
Once enclosed in the safety of a stall, you melt against the toilet seat after dressing it with a generous amount of toilet paper.
âGet your shit together,â you chastise, feeling like youâre sinking into quicksand. Cradle your swimming head in your hands, trying to remember how to breathe.
What the fuck was that about? Youâre upset because of what? Because Kyojuro is doing what a single man should? Heâs not yours; never will be. You donât deserve someone of his caliber, anyway.
A defeated groan wrenching itself from your chest, you swallow your resolve. Give yourself a couple beats to collect your thoughts before flushing the toilet and exiting the stall. The woman who looks back at you in the mirror is hardly recognizable. Hair slightly mussed, eyes dark and hollow.
Yeah. Itâs time to go.
You pat your hands dry and fix your dress. Exhale loudly before dumping yourself back into the hallway in search of your DD. You want to apologize for leaving him to fend for himself on the dancefloorâ
âThere you are,â Kyojuro calls, catching up to you in three long strides. You watch his silhouette dance beneath the dim light of the hallway. Not sure if the alcoholâs got you hallucinating. But damn, he looks scrumptious like this.
Hair spilling from the half-ponytail heâd tied it in earlier, cheeks speckled with color. Lips pillowy, panning in close enough to kiss. He places his large, torrid hands on your naked shoulders, bending down to your level. Concern swirls beneath the molten pools of his eyes. He knows you too well; can tell that youâre out of sorts because the alcoholâs turned you into a brat, and heâs one of the few people you catch an attitude with.
Kyojuro asks if youâre âready to go,â in a subdued, cautious tone. You nod lamely, still entranced by his beauty; still feeling the long islands warming your innards. Â
âYeah,â you say with a slight cant to your lips, curling your hand around his proffered arm. âLetâs get the hell up out of here, Kyo.â
Wordlessly, Kyojuro guides you through the crowd back into the inky, glacial night.
â
The analog clock of the stereo reads 2:00 AM.
In the stillness of his convertible, your stomach growls audibly.
âHungry?â Kyojuro queries, reaching over the center console to squeeze your thigh. If not for your inebriated state, your tummy would be a jumbled mess of knots from the contact. Instead, you nod slowly, dragging your eyes across the side of his head.
âWhat would you like?â
You shift around on the heated leather of the passenger seat, his jacket sitting homely about your shoulders. âIâm not really picky.â
âWaffle House?â
Scowl. âIâd rather eat dumpster sludge.â
âTaco Bell it is, then,â he relents with the humblest of grins.
You perk up, pawing at Kyojuroâs arm like an overzealous kitten. âOh my God, Kyo! I want all the tacos! Order me all the tacos!â
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42 Hours
Content: an enemies to lovers au in which Harry and Y/N are forced into a cross country road trip to make it to their best friendsâ wedding on time
Warnings: language, mentions of nsfw content
Pairing: Harry Styles x reader
Word Count: 20kÂ
A/N: I actually cannot believe that this is finally being posted over almost a month of working on it!! originally, I was going to make this one long stand alone fic, but once I hit 35k with no end in sight, I decided to split it into two parts so that it would be easier to read for you guys. Iâm hoping to have part 2 posted within a week, so keep an eye out for it!! this fic was partially inspired by this post by @avhroditeâ (thank you miss bailey!!) and can I just say that I had so much fun writing it!! I love road trips!! it makes me so sad that I had to split this fic because there are so many fun music scenes in the next part but those will all come in due time!! I would also like to give a big thank you to miss andrea @adashofniallandasprinkleoflunacyâ and miss alex @darthstylesâ for putting up with me bouncing ideas off of them and for proof reading for me!! and miss andrea again for editing this stunning header pic!! also everyone I tagged is a wonderful writer and if youâre looking for more to read after reading this then I HIGHLY suggest taking a look through their masterlists. and as always, if you like this fic, please like and reblog it!! and shoot me a message!! feedback is always appreciated, not just by me, but by all content creators <3
{masterlist}
also!! if you want to set the mood for a road trip with Harry, here is a link to the playlist that is mentioned and referenced in this fic!!
When she was a little girl, Y/Nâs grandmother had told her about Murphyâs Law. Â Grandma Sarahâs favourite activity was staring at her granddaughter over the kitchen counter, a knife in one hand and half an onion that sheâd been cutting in the other, spouting various wisdoms at the young girl, who would often be sitting and peeling vegetables for her. Â The old lady had hoped that, after being lectured enough times on lifeâs difficulties, Y/N might be able to avoid making the same mistakes that she had made in her own time. Â She always had a list of advice that sheâd cycle through, as if she were a record on a loop.
âAlways look both ways before crossing the street. Â Your great uncle Albert didnât, and he never regained full function of his left hand.â
âBeauty fades, but thereâs no shelf life on your mind.â
âThe grass is always greener on the other side, so stop staring at it, and focus on taking care of your own lawn.â
All of the advice was, by any accounts, useful for anyone to know, especially a young girl. Â Of course, sometimes the advice would get a little scrambled after Grandma Sarah had had a few glasses of wine, but even her tipsy thoughts were useful to Y/N in her later years. Â To this day, Y/N still sets a glass of water on her nightstand before going out to a bar, and her hungover self is always grateful the next morning. Â And Y/N had yet to find anything that smelled as sweet as a vanilla dabbed behind her ears and on her wrists when she runs out of perfume. Â However, perhaps the most important piece of advice Grandma Sarah ever gave her came one afternoon when Y/N was eleven years old, and her older cousin Grace was due to get married the next week.
Grandma Sarah had cracked egg after egg into her mixing bowl, always without getting any unwanted pieces of shell in the egg whites, and gave her granddaughter a long look across the kitchen counter.
âWhen you get married, Y/N,â She had said, voice firm. âRemember Murphyâs Law. Â Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong, and at the worst possible moment. Â When Murphyâs Law comes into play, thereâs nothing you can do except roll with the punches.â
Eleven year old Y/N had nodded her head seriously, as she always did when her grandmother told her seemingly important things. Â The advice, despite its usefulness, however, didnât stick around in her head, and Murphyâs Law didnât cross Y/Nâs mind for fourteen years.
It takes fourteen years for Y/N, who is standing in front of a flight check-in at LAX, two large suitcases next to her, one of which contains two gold wedding bands, passport in hand, and a distressed look on her face, to remember the law her grandmother had once told her about.
âWhen you get married, Y/NâŚanything that can go wrong, will go wrong, and at the worst possible moment.â
Taking a deep breath to calm herself, Y/N pushes the echoing words of her grandmother out of her head. âIâm sorry, justââ She gives a pained smile to the lady working the check in. âCan you explain that to me again, please?â
The lady also takes a deep breath, the smile on her ruby tinted lips just as pained as Y/Nâs. âThereâs a storm system moving through Utah and Colorado. Â These systems have the potential to become tornadoes, and because of that, the conditions for flying are too dangerous right now, so all flights through that area are grounded until further notice.â
âSo my flight is cancelled?â Y/N holds up the ticket in her hand thatâs stamped with LAX â JFK. âThis flight, this flight to New York, which is nowhere near Utahâthatâs cancelled?â
The check-in lady, whose name tag reads Brynn, gives another tight smile. âYes, maâam. Â Itâs cancelled.â
âOkay, no, Iâm sorry, Brynn, but that doesnât work for me.â Y/N shakes her head fiercely as the manic rush of emotions through her begins to set in. Â The denial, she finds, keeps the oncoming panic at bay, and so she decides to focus on that to ground herself. âMy best friend is getting married in the Catskills in one week.â Y/N holds up one finger, as if her words are hard for Brynn to understand. âThatâs one week from today. Â Iâm the maid of honour. Â I have to be there to help organize, keep her calm, and make sure she actually makes it down the aisle, becauseâbetween you and meâsheâs got some commitment issuesââ The more Y/N speaks, the more her panic begins to spill out in her words, like a dam with a leak thatâs about to burst. âAnd she forgot the goddamn wedding rings, so I have those too, and I justâI really need to get to New York, like, now. Right now.â
Y/N finally pauses to take a sharp breath, and Brynn, who had been waiting for her to finish, speaks again, her voice flatter than before.
âIâm very sorry to hear that, maâam, but as I said, all flights are grounded right now.â
Pinching the bridge of her nose between her fingers, Y/N takes another deep breath. Â Roll with the punches, her grandmother had told her. Â What else is there to do? âOkay.â Y/N is careful to keep her voice in check when she speaks again. âAlright. Â Do you know when theyâll be ungrounded?â
âAs Iâve said,â Brynnâs smile is more of a grimace now, and Y/N knows that sheâs treading on thin ice. âAll flights are grounded until further notice. Â Weâre not sure when weâll be able to open them again. Â It could be a day, or it could be five. Â If youâd like, I can put you down on a list to be called when flights are available again, but Iâm afraid thatâs the best I can do.â
âLetâs do that, then.â Y/N relents in a tired voice, already making plans to pick up a coffee on her way back to her apartment. Â In the back of her mind, she begins to wonder if she has any Baileys Irish cream liqueur left in her kitchen cabinetâand if 8:30 A.M. is too early to be drinking Baileys with her coffee.
âŚ
It takes Y/N two cups of coffee with Baileys (it had been 10 A.M. by the time she arrived home, thanks to L.A. traffic, and she had decided that 10 A.M. was a fine time to drink when oneâs flight gets cancelled indefinitely) to work up the courage to call Jo and tell her that she isnât sure if sheâll be able to make it to the wedding.
Josephine Waters, or Jo to anyone who doesnât want to get punched in the arm, has been Y/Nâs best friend since the girls were five years old. Â They became fast friends on the first day of kindergarten, as Jo liked how Y/N could already colour inside the lines, and Y/N liked how Jo tackled a boy who tugged on Y/Nâs pigtails. Â From the very beginning, the two were a perfect match for each other; where Y/N was reserved, Jo was wild. Â Where Jo was disorganized, Y/N was focused. Â Each girl balanced the other in the most natural way, and itâs this fact that Y/N and Jo credit for the two of them staying friends for twenty years. As they grew up together, they grew together, taking the very best traits from the other and using it to help themselves develop. Â Y/N had been the first person that Jo came out to, confessing to her best friend during an eighth grade sleepover in a quiet and nervous voice. Â To Joâs pleasure, Y/N had been completely supportive, and returned the favour from the first day of kindergarten by punching a boy in the nose for calling Jo a homophobic slur. Â Jo helped Y/N through her parentâs divorce. Â Y/N helped Jo manage her ADHD. Â Jo talked Y/N through discovering her bisexuality in university. Y/N answered every 3 A.M. phone call to comfort Jo after a panic attack. Â In every sense of the word, the two girls had been there for each other.
And now Y/N is going to miss Joâs wedding.
The harsh realization digs a pit in her stomach as she opens her phone and clicks on Joâs name. Â Itâs noon in L.A., which means itâs 3 P.M. in New York time, and Y/N knows Jo will answer. Â She always does.
Sure enough, after three short rings, Joâs voice chirps through the phone. âHey, Y/N! Â Has your flight landed already?â
âNo, thereâsâthereâs been an issue.â Y/N downs another gulp of her coffee, wishing she had added more Baileys when she had the chance, and clears her throat before continuing. âThereâs, um, a storm in Utah, and apparently itâs bad, and so all flights from L.A. to New York are grounded until further notice.â
Jo makes a scoffing noise, and Y/N can practically picture the indignant look on her face that sheâs seen so many times before. âThatâs ridiculous. Â Did you tell them that New York is nowhere near Utah?â
âUh huh.â
âWhat about that my wedding is in one week?â
âI told them that, too. Brynn didnât seem to care.â
âBitch.â Jo mutters under her breath. âOkay, just wait a second, Laure just walked through the door, so Iâm putting you on speakerphoneââ
Y/N hears rustling on the speaker, as well as muttering in the background as Jo speaks to her fiancĂŠe, and then Joâs voice is back, sounding slightly more distant.
âOkay, so I told Laure what happenedââ
âThatâs awful, Y/N.â Laureâs voice is laced with stress, and Y/N can only imagine how much anxiety this information is adding to her already full plate. âThey wonât tell you when flights will be leaving again?â
âNope.â Y/N pulls her knees to her chest and wraps her free arm around them, leaning her head against the back of her couch.
âOkay, well, planes arenât the only way to get here.â Laure says, always the more rational out of the two. âMaybe a carâ?â
âY/N doesnât have one.â Jo chimes in, a hint of teasing in her voice, despite the serious problem thatâs in discussion. âSheâs scared of drivingââ
Y/N sits up, an indignant look on her face. âIâm not scared of driving!â She says hotly, setting her empty coffee mug on the table with a thud. âI just hate L.A. traffic, and honestly, thereâs no point! Â I can walk to work, and Uber anywhere else I need to go! Â A car would be completely useless to me!â
âExcept now, when youâre about to miss your best friendâs wedding.â Jo points out. âWhat about renting one?â
Y/N sighs, her moment of indignation already fizzled out. âI tried that already. Â Thereâs nothing available for a cross country trip.â
âAnd the drive is so long.â Laure murmurs, and Y/N knows itâs more for Joâs benefit than hers. âItâs over forty hours. Â She canât do that by herself; itâs not safe.â
âButââ
âLook, Jo, donât worry about this, alright?â Y/N cuts across her best friendâs anxious voice, assuming her usual role of protector. âIâll figure this out. Â I promise you; I will make it to your wedding on time, looking pretty in my dress, and with your wedding bands. Â I promise.â
âWeâll keep thinking about it and see what we can come up with.â Laure promises through the phone, her voice sounding further and further away. âThis is justâitâs a bump in the road, but itâs fine. Â We can work around this. Â Weâll find a way.â
âŚ
The way that Laure finds for Y/N pounds on her door at 7:30 A.M. the next morning.
Y/N, like any exhausted and stressed out adult who has already begun her ten days of vacation time that she booked off for the wedding, is fast asleep in her bed when she hears the knocking. Â The loud noise pulls her out from her dreams abruptly, and she cracks one eye open, squinting through the sunlight thatâs lighting up her room. Â When the knock echoes through her apartment again, she pulls herself from her sheets with a groan, grabbing her robe from the back of her door and tying it around herself as she makes her way to the front hallway to yell at whoever has the audacity to wake her up.
When she opens the door, Harry Styles is peering down at her with an irritated look on his face.
âTook you long enough, Y/N.â He rolls his eyes as he speaks, finally stepping back from the door that he had been pounding on a moment ago. âAre you ready to go?â
Y/N rubs her eyes, suppressing a yawn as she does so. âStyles, I have no idea what youâre talking about. Â What are you doing here?â She demands. Â She doesnât have the energy to deal with him right now, she thinks, let alone the mental capacity to listen to anything he has to say.
Harry crosses his arms across his chest, and itâs then that Y/N notices the duffel bag strewn over his shoulder. âItâs a forty-two hour drive from L.A. to the Catskills.â Harryâs eyes scan over Y/Nâs appearance, the very corner of his strawberry pink lips twitching, and Y/N tightens her robe around herself with a glare.
âA drive?â Y/N asks, uncertainty growing in her voice as she crosses her arm over her chest. âWhat are you talking about?â
âYour flight was cancelled, right?â Harryâs voice grows more impatient as Y/Nâs half asleep brain struggles to piece together whatâs happening. âSo was mine, so I decided to drive to the wedding, and then Laure called me last night, begging me to take you with me.â He shrugs a bit, fixing his sunglasses on top of his head as his jade eyes scan over her appearance one more time. âNot my first choice of road trip partner, but I donât think the best man can say no to bringing the maid of honour. Â And splitting the cost of gas will be nice.â
âOkay, wait, IâŚâ Y/Nâs finally coming out of her fog of exhaustion, and the newfound clarity of her mind is causing a newfound pit to develop in her stomach. âLaure and Jo didnât tell me any of this.â
âWell, I expect theyâre a bit busy, given that theyâre getting married in a week.â Harry adjusts the strap of his duffel bag on his shoulder with a sharp sigh. âLook, are you ready to go or not? Â Itâs over a five day drive, so we need to leave as soon as possible.â
âIâyeahââ Y/N nods before taking a hesitant step back from the doorway, positioning herself to the side so that Harry can get by her. âI just have to get dressed and grab a couple last minute things, soâŚcome in, I guess.â
Harry flashes an insincere smile to Y/N as he steps into her apartment, his eyes darting around at the furniture and home decor. Â Y/N watches as his gaze lingers on her library of books, her yellow bicycle leaning against the wall, and every other little touch of herself that she likes her home to have, and she can see the judgement thatâs clearly apparent in his eyes.
âYou can sit, if you want.â She mutters, turning on her heel to go back to her bedroom. âIâll only be a few minutes.â
The first thing Y/N does when she shuts her bedroom door behind herself is assess the situation in the analytical way that usually calms her. Â Alright. Â So a road trip across the country isnât exactly ideal, and a road trip across the country with Harry Styles is even less ideal. Â But, at the present moment, being stuck in a car with Harry seems to be the only sure way that sheâll be able to make it to Joâs wedding on time. And for Jo, Y/N would put up with anything. Â Even Harry.
As she rummages through her drawers for some leggings and a tank top, Y/N wonders what she could have possibly done to bring this much bad karma into her life. Â While she gets dressed, her mind flickers back to Murphyâs Law, how everything that can go wrong will go wrong, in the worst possible way, and then she thinks about being in a confined space with Harry for five days, andâyeah. Â That seems to be the worst possible thing she can think of.
Y/N remembers the first moment sheâd met Harry seven years ago, and the unfortunate circumstances under which that meeting had happened. Â Jo and Laure had just barely met back then, and Jo had begged Y/N to come out on a double date with her and âthis really hot girl from my women studies class who Iâm, like, 83% sure swings my way.â
Y/N had groaned at that comment, flopping back on her bed in the tiny dorm that she and Jo shared. âNo! I have an essay due in three days that I havenât even started!â
Jo rolled her eyes as she flopped down on Y/Nâs bed as well, ignoring her own half-made bunk that was across the small room, favouring her best friendâs bed like she always did. âWe both know youâre not starting that essay until the day before itâs due, and that itâs just an excuse because you donât want to go!â
âI donât want to go.â Y/N had agreed with a sharp and fervent nod. Â She shut her laptop and pushed it to the side of her bed, knowing from experience that she wasnât going to be able to focus and argue at the same time. âWhy would I want to hang out with a complete stranger while you make googly eyes at a girl from your class?â
âOkay, first, I donât make googly eyes.â Jo made a face at that comment, nudging Y/Nâs calf with her own foot. âAnd second, heâs her best friend from high school, and heâs coming to visit all the way from London!â
âSo? Â Heâs still a stranger!â Y/N pointed out, her eyes drifting to the sticky note covered novel beside her. Â She picks it up and begins to flip through the marked pages as she speaks. âKnowing where heâs from doesnât change that!â
âIt should, because heâs only going to be here for a week, and Laure almost cancelled the date because she doesnât want to miss spending time with himââ Jo grabbed one of Y/Nâs pillows and tossed it at her arm, knocking the book from her hands. âFocus! So I said that he could come, but she said that she didnât want him to be left out, so I said that I happen to have an incredibly beautiful and witty best friend who would be able to entertain Harry while we all hang out together.â
Y/N inhaled deeply as she gave Jo a withering look. âDid you already tell her Iâm going?â
Jo, in return, gave Y/N her most dazzling smile. âYes. Â Weâre meeting them for dinner at 7.â
Y/N shakes herself from her memories as she runs to her bathroom to toss her toiletries back into the bag sheâd taken them out of the day before, working as quickly as she can. It does her no good to think of Harry in the past, she thinks, because the present Harry is currently sitting in her living room, probably snooping through her stuff, and the longer she takes to get ready to go, the more heâll go through. Â Not that thereâs anything incriminating in her apartment, reallyâor at least, nothing incriminating in her living room. Â When Y/N makes it back to her bedroom, however, to quickly zip up her suitcase, she does make sure she grabs her favourite vibrator from the box under her bed, tucking it between her half-folded underwear. Â If sheâs going to be gone for a week, sheâll need something to help her relax.
Within a few more minutes, Y/N is repacked and ready to go.  Her hunter green bridesmaid dress is carefully arranged on the very top of her clothes in her suitcase, all of her makeup and toiletries are packed inside, and Jo and Laureâs wedding rings are secured in little velvet boxes stashed between her socks.  As far as physical preparedness goes, Y/N is ready to go on a coast to coast road trip. As far as mental preparedness goes, howeverâŚthatâs the thing that Y/Nâs not quite sure about.
âŚ
âWhat are you doing?â
Y/N glances at Harry from the corner of her eye, her hand still half stretched out to the radio dials in his car. Â Although Harryâs green eyes are hidden behind his sunglasses, and his face is turned towards the long road in front of them, he still somehow manages to catch her motions, and it irritates her to no end.
âIâm changing the radio station?â Y/N answers after a moment, giving him a puzzled look. âI donât know why you listen to this weird oldies station, butââ
âFirst of allââ Harryâs hands turn the steering wheel slightly to guide his car over the curve of the road, his jaw twitching as a smirk works its way onto his pink lips. âThis isnât a radio station, itâs my Spotify playlist. Â I put a Bluetooth connection in Stevie a year ago. Secondlyââ
âStevie?â Y/N repeats incredulously, twisting her whole body as best she can to look at Harry straight on. âYou named your car? Â Youâre one of those guys?â
Harry finally gives Y/N a flicker of a glance, the glare obvious in his eyes even behind his dark sunglasses. Â He turns his attention back to the road before replying. âSecondlyââ He continues from before, ignoring her comment as his right hand readjusts the gear shift. âDriver picks the music.â
Y/N makes a face, the corners of her lips pulling down into a grimace as she settles back into the passenger seat with her arms crossed. âSo weâre just going to listen to âTiny Dancerâ for the entire drive, are we?â
âNot the entire drive, no.â Harry flicks on his turn signal with a ringed hand before shoulder checking to change lanes. Â Y/N glances at him, her eyes training on the strained muscles in his neck as Harry continues. âWeâll listen to âDonât Go Breaking My Heart,â too.â
âGreat.â Y/N exhales slowly and presses her head back into the seatâs headrest, closing her eyes as Elton Johnâs voice continues to float through the speakers. âReally looking forward to it.â
âYou know, maybe you should try to sleep.â Harry says, his voice prickled with irritation as Elton John bleeds into The Zombies. âI think youâll be in a better mood after you take a nap.â
Y/N readjusts her crossed arms as she mutters a short reply. âDonât tell me what to do.â Still, she shuts her eyes again, twisting her body towards the window in an attempt to get comfortable enough to sleep. Â Being in the car with Harry is already giving her a throbbing migraine, and theyâve only been on the road for less than two hours. Â Sleeping through most of the trip will probably be the only way sheâll be able to survive it.
Despite that realization, however, her phone vibrates in her lap three minutes later, pulling her away from her thoughts. Â Y/N glances down at the now lit screen, catching her bottom lip between her teeth when she registers the name on the message. Â Opening her phone quickly, she reads over the reply as a guilty feeling begins to build in her stomach.
BRANT: Hey, what are you doing tonight? Â Want to grab some dinner?
âWhatâs wrong?â
âHm?â Y/Nâs head snaps back up, her eyes jerking in Harryâs direction. Â Like before, heâs watching her from the corner of his eye, catching every one of her movements, and the constant surveillance is annoying to no end.
Harry, it seems, is either oblivious to her annoyance, or is choosing to ignore it. âI asked whatâs wrong. You have a weird look on your face.â Harryâs blunt words are accompanied by the sound of him tapping his ring covered fingers against the gear shift. âEverything alright? Â Is it Laure and Jo?â
âNo, itâs justââ Y/N glances down at her phone again, fingers poised over her keyboard as she crafts a reply in her head. âItâs no one.â
Harry snorts once, a short and harsh sound that grates against Y/Nâs nerves like nails on a chalkboard. âI donât buy that for a second.â
âItâs no one to you.â Y/N updates her retort, turning her full attention back to her phone. âMy personal life is none of your business.â
Y/N: Iâm sorry, I canât!! Caught a last minute ride to New York with somebody. Â Maybe once Iâm back?
âPersonal life, huh?â Harry clicks his tongue once, and the childish noise is even more irritating than his snort. âWhat, you canât talk to me about whoever youâre shagging?â
The blunt remark hits Y/N like a shot to the chest, and she sputters for a moment as she struggles to form a response. âIâweâre notââ Taking a moment to gather herself and clear her throat quickly, Y/N avoids Harryâs gaze as her cheeks begin to burn. âWeâre not like that. Weâve justâŚhad a few dates, thatâs all. Thereâs nothingâŚofficial.â
âYou donât need to be official to have a shag, now, do you?â Harry lifts his hand from the gear shift to fix his sunglasses, settling it back down on his jean covered thigh once heâs done. âIf you donât want to date the blokeââ
âI didnât say that.â Y/N cuts over him, pulling herself from her embarrassment enough to give him a cold glare. âHeâs very niceââ
âBoring, you meanââ
âAnd Iâthis is none of your business!â Feeling the flush of embarrassment rise back to her cheeks, Y/N once again turns her attention to her passenger seat window, avoiding Harryâs pressing gaze. âIâm done talking about this.â
Harry gives an indifferent shrug. âWhatever.â He says casually, tapping his finger against his thigh as his shoulders once again lift slightly beneath his fitted black t-shirt. âI just feel bad for the guy, thatâs all.â
The comment is bait. And the thing is, Y/N knows itâs bait. Â She knows that the only reason Harry is saying it is to get under her skin and keep her talking about Brant, further embarrassing herself in the process. Sheâs been around Harry enough to know how he works, and she knows that the only reason he would say that is to bait her. Â She knows she shouldnât take it. Â And yetâ
âThereâs no reason to feel bad for him.â Y/N scoffs as she fidgets with the position of her seatbelt, trying to stop the strap from cutting into her chest. âWeâve been talking for a month, and thereâs nothing official happening. Â Just because you canât go that long without trying to stick your dick in someoneââ
âYou have no idea what I can do, Y/N. Â Donât pretend that you do.â Harryâs tone of voice is just as scoffing as hers, his eyes still set on the road in front of them intently as he gives his sharp response. Y/N watches as he shifts the gears of the car and speeds up, just enough to make the engine roar, but not enough to lose control of the car. Â Part of Y/N wistfully wishes that he would just slip up and crash the car, just so she wouldnât have to continue this conversation.
âAll I meant,â Harry continues, unaware of the dark daydreams running through Y/Nâs head. âIs that I feel bad that youâre clearly not interested in him, which is proven by the fact that you havenât wanted him in your bed.â
Irritation flares through Y/Nâs body again, stronger than the embarrassment of discussing her sex life (or lack thereof) with Harry, and she half considers just grabbing the steering wheel and yanking it into a passing cliff so she can finish them off herself. âFor Christâs sake, Harry, sex isnât the only way toââ
âI donât mean actually having it, thatâs not a given.â Harry rolls his eyes from behind his sunglasses as he slows down for a curve in the road, his practiced hands once again changing gears with ease. âYou donât have to fuck him. Â But you should want to, especially if youâve had a month of dates, and you clearly donât want to.â
Y/N doesnât hide the incredulous stare of disbelief on her face as she turns to look at him. Harryâs face, though turned towards the road still, has a look of amusement mixed with contemplation on it, and it takes all of Y/Nâs self control not to smack the expression off of him. Although thereâs the ghost of a smirk on his strawberry coloured lips, his brow is furrowed behind his sunglasses, as if heâs thinking hard about the conversation between them. Â Normally, Y/N would be amazed that Harry is thinking hard about anything. Â However, given that their conversation is apparently turning into whether or not she wants to have sex with someone, Y/Nâs not too thrilled about his sudden investment and serious contemplation of the topic.
Shaking her head decidedly, Y/N finally spits out a finishing phrase. âYou donât know what I want.â She says decidedly, reaching into the backseat to grab the sweater she stashed back there. Â She clumsily pulls it over her body without taking off her seatbelt. Â Harry keeps the AC cranked as high as he can, and she knows that heâll kill her if she tries to change it. âYou donât know anything about me.â
âI know more than you think.â Harry counters, the tip of his tongue running along his bottom lip. âAnd Iâm pretty good at reading body language. Â You donât really want him. Â Heâwhatâs his name?â
Despite her better judgement, Y/N answers in a flat voice. âBrant.â
The corners of Harryâs cherry lip twitches. âBrant. Â Yeah. Itâs clear you donât really want him, and youâre wasting your time. Â Youâre wasting his time, too. Â Poor Brant.â
âPoorâyouâre such an ass, you know that?â Y/Nâs irritation bubbles over as she gives Harry a nasty look, her hand squeezing her thigh hard in an attempt to ground herself in their conversation. âYou can try to pretend otherwise, but you donât know anything about me, or him, soââ
âYou think Iâve been friends with Laure and Jo this long and havenât learned anything about you?â Harry cocks an eyebrow, risking a glance at her as he presses a heavier foot onto the gas. âI told you, I know more than you think, and that includes your type.â
An incredulous scoff leaves Y/Nâs mouth, and she shakes her head in obvious disbelief before responding. âMy type. Â Right. What is my type, then? Â Whatâs Brant like, exactly, since you seem to know everything?â
Harry goes quiet then, his brow furrowing again as he returns his full attention to the road. Â With his incessant chatter gone, the only sounds in the car being âMapsâ playing quietly in the background and Harryâs ringed index and forefinger tap on the steering wheel. Â Y/N breathes out a long sigh of satisfaction as she relaxes back in her seat, her attention turned back to the blurred landscapes speeding by her window. Â Finally, sheâs managed to get Harry to stop with his ridiculous assumptionsâ
âYou like someone thatâs stable and secure, so he probably works in some corporation, or an office job. Majored in business, Iâd think, but has a minor in something like mathematics.â The side profile of Harryâs nose wrinkles in disgust at the thought. âHe wants to work his way up in the company, but never wants to actually start anything on his own. Â He likes the stability of a blueprint. Youâre obsessed with punctuality, so heâs probably always on time to pick you up for datesâand he has to pick you up, because you donât driveâand your dates are never really dates. Dinners, or movies, or something like that, but they never really have that spark.â Harryâs shoulder lift slightly as he continues to make his conclusions. âWhich, honestly, is probably a big reason in why you donât want to fuck him, because as much as you like stability and safety, you also like the idea of a grand gesture, or something like that. Â And you probably split the bill a lot at dinner, right? Â Because it just seems fair, but really itâs because you know itâs not a real date. Â But it passes the time, and heâs nice, so itâs fine. Â But itâs only fine.â Harry licks his lips once more as he collects his next thoughts, his teeth catching his bottom lip just barely as his tongue retreats back into his mouth. âAnd heâs probably already talking about you coming to meet his family for some holiday. Â Not in a romantic way, but just because he likes to plan everything in advance to every minute detail. Â Just like you.â
Halfway through Harryâs speech, a flush had begun to creep up Y/Nâs neck, continuing to warm her jaw and ears before settling on the apples of her cheeks. Â She keeps her eyes trained on her window and her mouth pressed into a tight line, refusing to look at Harry and give him any hint of just how shocked she is that heâs guessed so much.
Harry, however, doesnât plan on letting her get away from his inquisition. âWell?â He impatiently prompts after a moment, and even though sheâs not looking at him, she can feel him looking at her, his emerald irises burning into the back of her head. âAm I right?â
âIââ Y/N clears her throat quickly, but her voice is still strained and tight when she replies. âNo.â
Harry hums low in his throat, and his voice is laced with curiosity with he replies. âReally?â The irritating tap of his fingers on the steering wheel to the beat of the music continues. âWhat did I get wrong?â
âHeââ Y/N hates the way her skin is burning from his interrogation, how her voice shrinks smaller and smaller the more she speaks. Â If Harry knows her so well, then he knows how much she loves being in control, and in this situation, with Harry managing to pull every one of her most secret inner thoughts and feelings out of her without trouble, she feels anything but in control. âHe has a minor in accounting, not mathematics.â
The laugh that leaves Harryâs mouth is loud and bombastic, and his whole body curves over the steering wheel as the sound rolls out of him, his eyes just barely managing to stay on the road while his sunglasses slide down his nose. âRight.â Harry says between belly laughs, his voice stretched out in amusement. âBut everything else was spot on?â
Y/N keeps her stiff body turned towards the window, refusing to engage in the conversation any further. That doesnât stop Harry, however, who fixes his sunglasses as chuckles continue to roll out of him.
âI take it back. Maybe heâs the one wasting your time.â His hand runs through his hair lazily, fixing the curled strands that had fallen into his eyes as he laughed. âI donât blame you for not wanting to sleep with your bore of a boyfriendââ
âHeâs stable!â Y/N breaks her silence to protest Harryâs words, her voice heated. âAnd heâs not my boyfriend. Â Weâve been seeing each other, but weâre notâitâs not exclusive, orânothing seriousââ
âYou donât have to explain yourself to me. Â Itâs fine.â Harry waves off her arguments with a flick of his tattooed hand. âBesides, like you said, itâs none of my business, right?â
Y/N can practically picture what Harry looks like in this moment. Â His chestnut curls are probably a mess from fidgeting with them, and his cheeks are most likely rosy beneath his stubble from the peels of laughter that left his equally red lips a moment ago. Â Most infuriatingly of all, his dimples are probably present, making little indentations in his cheeks to show how entertaining heâs found embarrassing her. Bastard, she thinks, clenching her fists so hard that her nails dig into her palms, pressing them into her sides beneath her makeshift blanket.
She refuses to let herself confirm if her suspicions about Harryâs appearance are correct, and instead keeps her gaze on the blurred trees whipping by outside her window. âRight.â She mutters, leaning her head against the headrest as she closes her eyes. âItâs none of your business.â
âŚ
As soon as the paint-peeled door to the motel room swings open, Y/N knows that sheâs not going to be sleeping soundly tonight.
Sheâs not sure what her first hint should have been. Â Perhaps it was the half-flickering blue and red light of the Motel 6 sign that should have tipped her off, or the front-desk attendant who looked as though he was hiding a few secrets himself. Â When Y/N and Harry had first approached the front desk of the tiny, vaguely mildew-smelling lobby, their clothes rumpled from the drive and their attitudes just as bothered, the employee in the Motel 6 uniform had barely raised an eye at them, not bothering to look up from his computer until Y/N and Harry were directly in front of him.
âHi.â Harry had said, his voice taking on a cautious but polite tone that, Y/N remembers thinking, she would have appreciated hearing throughout their eight hour drive that day. âWeâd like two rooms, pleaseââ
âHere.â The attendantâs gum snapped in his mouth as he reached behind himself and grabbed an old key with a flimsy blue plastic tag from a wall of empty pegs. âQueen sized bed, the first door on the left. Â Itâll do you two nicely.â
âUm, no.â Harry cleared his throat loudly as he gave a slight shake of his head. âWe need two rooms.â
Finally, the attendant looked towards them, his eyes scanning Harry before Y/N. Â The latter had self consciously pulled her sweater around her, as there was something in the attendantâs eyes that had bothered her. âDonât have two rooms. Â I got one room left. Â Everything else is booked.â
Harry had glanced at Y/N then, and she knew that his thoughts mirrored hers: there was no way that theyâd share a queen bed together. Â No way in hell. Â Theyâd barely survived eight hours in the same cramped car without one of them driving them off a cliff. Â If Y/N had to share a bed with Harry, even for just one night, sheâd probably end up smothering him in his sleep before the first snore left his obnoxious mouth.
âThatâs really not an option.â Y/N had stepped forward then, crossing her arms around herself as the attendantâs eyes canvassed her again. âIsnât there somethingââ
âLook, lady, Iâm telling you whatâs available.â The attendantâs eyes continued to flicker between her face and her chest, making Y/Nâs skin crawl more and more with every word that fell from his gum-filled mouth. âThe room might have a pull out chairâsome do, but I couldnât tell you which. Â Now do you want to share the room with him or not? Â If you donât want to share, then I could try to find something else for just youââ
Before Y/N had the opportunity to respond to the lewd suggestion, Harry was already stepping forward, his body angling protectively in front of her own. Â She watched from behind as his broad shoulders squared beneath his black t-shirt, his shoulder blades flexing as he straightened up to his full height. Â When Harry answered, his voice was just as firm as it was dark, lacking its previous polite tone.
âWeâll take the room.â He had said coldly, reaching into his back pocket to pull out his wallet before tossing a few bills on the front desk. âThanks for the help.â
Yes, Y/N thinks, all of that should have been a sign for the state of the motel room that they now find themselves standing inside.
The same mildew smell from the lobby surrounds them, permeating through every inch of air that Y/N breathes in. Dust seems to coat every surface as well, with thick layers of it covering the decades old TV and stand, the small coffee table, and the ledge of the window to her right. Â To her relief, there is a small arm chair in the corner, which must be the pull out that the attendant had mentioned. Â However, her relief is short lived when she sees the ratty beige comforter on the bed, and wonders if maybe sleeping in Harryâs car, which she had sworn to him that she didnât want to do, might have been the better choice.
Harry shuts the door behind them with a firm thud, turning the deadbolt lock before attaching the chain from the door to the door frame. âLetâs keep that locked, yeah?â He mutters, walking to the window and making sure the beige curtainsâeverything in the room is a sea of beige, like some sort of khaki coloured nightmareâare pulled closed tightly. âI donât trust that front-desk prick not to sneak in here.â
Y/N nods, fixing the strap of her duffel bag with her overnight clothes on her shoulder. Â Sheâs not quite sure where to set it down, as everything around them seems to have been sitting stagnant and uncleaned for a while. âYeah. Thanks, by the way. Â For that.â
Harry acknowledges her thanks with a small grunt, barely lifting his head to look at her. âYou donât need to thank me.â
Despite her gratitude for his actions, Y/N canât stop herself from rolling her eyes at his gruff response. âJesus, can you not just say youâre welcome?â
Harry chooses to ignore her comment, and instead sets his bag down on the arm chair, unzipping it roughly. âYou can take the bed.â He says simply, tossing his sunglasses into his bag before pulling out a small bag filled with what Y/N assumes are toiletries. âIâll take the pullout.â
âFine.â Y/N reluctantly sets her own bag down on the creaking bed, pulling back the covers to check for anything unsightly. Â To her relief, the interior of the bed looks cleaner than the exterior, and she returns the covers to their previous position before grabbing her phone charger from her duffel.
Harry glances at her as she gingerly sits on the bed and plugs her phone into the wall. âIâm going to shower.â He says slowly, as if gauging her reaction to the simple phrase. âDo you, um, need in there, orâ?â
âNope.â Y/N shakes her head, her cheeks flushing slightly as she checks her messages. âYouâre good.â She keeps her eyes glued to her phone until she hears the click of the bathroom door behind Harry, signalling that sheâs alone.
Taking advantage of what she knows will be a rare moment of solitude over the next week, Y/N changes from her tank top and leggings into her pajamas, wishing that her past self had realized how likely it would be that sheâd be sharing a room with Harry. Sheâd brought exactly two pairs of pajamas with her on the trip, and neither pairs were something she wanted Harry to see her in. Â The first pair, a baby pink silk set sheâd bought on a whim from her favourite lingerie shop, is eliminated before Y/N even considers them, leaving her with just her usual casual pajamas. Â Unfortunately, Y/Nâs usual casual pajamas consist of an old sports bra that sheâd had since moving to L.A., and a pair of menâs boxers that she stole from an ex in college. Â Still, despite her hesitancy, she knows that plaid boxers and a faded grey sports bra are better than pink silk and lace, and she changes into them quickly before sitting cross-legged on the bed and dialing Joâs number.
Jo, like she usually does, answers on the third ring, her voice extra chipper to compensate for the verbal lecture that she knows is coming. âHey, Y/N! Â How was driving today?â
âIt would have been better if Iâd known Harry was driving.â Y/N sighs, rubbing her palm over the cold skin of her exposed thigh. âShouldnât I have been informed of that decision?â
âIt completely slipped my mind, actually.â Jo says casually, and Y/N can just picture her leaning her chin into her palm. âHow was the first day? Â Are you calling to ask me to help bury his body in the desert? Â Because, like, you know I would in a heart beat, but I think it may put a damper on mine and Laureâs nuptials if my best friend murders her best friend.â
âNo oneâs been murdered. Yet.â Y/N glances at the bathroom door, the sound of the shower echoing through the vents and into the bedroom. âAlthough a âhelp me hide the bodyâ phone call may be coming soon.â
âUh oh.â Y/N hears something crackling against the speaker, and pictures Jo shifting the phone from one ear to the other. âIs it that bad?â
Y/N pinches the bridge of her nose as she contemplates the easiest way to answer Joâs question. âHeâs such an irritating ass. Â He really is.â She lowers her voice, but only slightly. Â If Harryâs eavesdropping, she thinks, then let him hear. Â It would serve him right. âHe wanted to pick a fight over every little thing, and heâs so particular about his carâdid you know he named it? Â He named it, Jo. Â He talks about it like itâs a person!â
A loud sigh echoes through the speaker. âThatâs really not that weird, you know.â Jo replies in her best peace keeping voice. âAnd, by the way, did you know that youâre really the only person who finds Harry irritating? Â Laure adores him, and I really like him, and everyone who meets him thinks heâs very thoughtful!â
âThen they havenât been trapped in a car with him and his playlists for eight hours.â Y/N begins to tap her fingers against her knee in a quick staccato pattern. âHe practically interrogated me about Brant today, as if he has any clue about the people I date.â
âDid he?â Thereâs a trace of curiosity in Joâs voice now, and Y/N can imagine her leaning forward in interest. âWhat did he say?â
âHe said he thinks heâs boring.â Twisting a lock of her hair behind her ear as she speaks, Y/N leaves her hand resting against her cheek. âHe was rude about it, too. Â I didnât ask for his opinion.â
âWell, honestly, Y/NâŚâ Joâs curiosity twists into hesitation. âBrant isnât exactly the most thrilling person.  You know that.â
Y/N tugs her bottom lip between her teeth, her cheeks flushing for what seems to be the millionth time that day. âIâm aware of that. Â But he didnât need to be so smug about it!â
âOkay, well, whatâs done is done.â Jo says as she takes on her mediator persona once again. âSo thereâs nothing else to do now except go to sleep, get back in the car tomorrow, and continue driving.â
The sound of the shower stream cuts off, leaving just the pitter patter of rain beginning to hit the roof of the motel as ambiant noise. âI guess.â Y/N mumbles, fidgeting with the waistband of her bra. âIâll talk to you later. Â Love you.â
âLove you, too.â
After the line clicks dead, Y/N flops back on the squeaking mattress and begins to scroll through her phone, opening her work email to check if everything is running okay back home while sheâs gone. Â On top of all this, the last thing she needs is for her work to completely blow up in her absence. Â Within minutes, Y/N becomes so engrossed in her phone that she doesnât even notice the bathroom door creaking open and Harry walking out with just a towel around his waist.
Until she looks up, and then her mind goes completely blank.
Immediately, Y/N feels overstimulated.  Thereâs justâŚso much going on that she doesnât even know where to look first, let alone have the ability to remind herself that she shouldnât even be looking at Harry like this in the first place. Â
Harryâs curls are soaking wet, curling down around his flushed cheeks in a way that, if it were anyone else, sheâd immediately describe as attractive. Â Droplets of water are clinging to every inch of his skin, his toned and tanned and tattooed skin, that seems to continue forever as her eyes travel down his bare chest, noticing every curve of his muscle. Â His jade cross, which is almost the exact shade of his eyes, sits between his pronounced pectoral muscles, moving ever so slightly with each step he takes. Â Y/N notices tattoos sheâs never seen before, like the giant butterfly across his toned stomach, andâher mind goes blank for just a momentâtwo vines that are tattooed over his prominent pelvic muscles, which just barely dip beneath the white towel thatâs wrapped loosely around his hips.
As Y/Nâs eyes glue themselves to the way Harryâs towel is moving as he walks, arousal begins to pool in her stomach, travelling all the way down to her core and back again. Â For a split second, she thinks that maybe Harry is right. Â Maybe she doesnât want to fuck Brant, because she knows for certain that sheâs never thought about him the way sheâs thinking about Harry in this moment.
But itâs Harry, she reminds herself, as she tries to force herself to snap her gaping mouth closed. Underneath all those muscles and tattoosâand there are a lot of muscles and tattoosâitâs Harry, who annoys her to no end, who is one of the most self-absorbed individuals sheâs ever met, and who has had it out for her since the day they met.
âSorry.â Harryâs low accent snaps Y/N from her thoughts and pulls her wandering eyes back to his face. âForgot my clothes out here.â
âItâsââ Y/Nâs voice cracks in the middle of the word, still hyper-focused on just how itâs possible for one person to be as attractive as they are irritating, and she clears her throat before trying to speak again. âItâs fine.â
If Harry notices the slip in Y/Nâs voice, he doesnât say anything. Â Instead, he just walks to his open bag, locking one hand firmly over his towel as the other searches through his clothes. Â He pulls out a t-shirt and a pair of shorts, examining them for just a moment before nodding in satisfaction and heading back to the bathroom. Y/N almost swears that she sees him glance at her one last time before he shuts the door, but then she gets lost in the taut muscles of his back, and forgets what sheâs thinking entirely.
Sheâs only just begun to contemplate that maybe she should pull herself together when the door opens again, and Harry exits the bathroom in a way thatâs a little more presentable. Â His hair is still damp, but his body is dry, proven by the faded Rolling Stones t-shirt thatâs now clinging to his arms and the boxers that are hanging low on his hips. His tattooed hips. Â His incredibly sexy tattooed hips that could probablyâ
âWhat are you wearing?â Harry asks, raising an eyebrow at her as he moves his bag from the chair to the ground. Â He begins to unfold the bed from the armchair cushions to reveal a creaking twin bed, carefully stretching it out as he waits for an answer.
âIâpajamas.â Y/N glances down at herself self consciously, fixing the strap of her sports bra as she does so. âI justâI didnât think weâd be sharing a room, soâŚâ
Harry nods tersely as he finishes setting up the bed, his expression unreadable while he walks to the closet and grabs a set of sheets and a blanket. âCute boxers.â He says casually. âAre they Brantâs?â
Within a flash, the intense rush of attraction and desire Y/N had been feeling is gone, and is instead replaced by the familiar irritation as she watches a smirk grow in the very corner of Harryâs mouth. âNo.â She says flatly, turning her attention back to her phone.
âInteresting.â Harry says slowly, laying the sheets and blanket on the bed in a haphazard manner. âWhose are they, then?â
Y/N gets up from the bed and grabs her toiletry bag from her duffel before answering. âAn ex.â She says shortly, tucking the patterned bag under her arm. âAnd why does it matter to you?â
The sound of the rain against the roof and windows gets louder and louder as they speak, and Harry raises his voice to be heard over the precipitation. âIt doesnât.â He shrugs as he maneuvers his lanky body under the blanket without causing the bed to fold in on itself. âJust curious, thatâs all.â
âWell, you donât need to be curious.â Y/N opens the bathroom door, sparing one last withering glance at Harry over her shoulder. Â Heâs sitting up on the bed with one leg hanging out from beneath the covers as one hand plays with his hair, the other fiddles with a ring on his finger, and the way he looks at her from the corner of his eye lights a fire in Y/Nâs chest. Â Except she canât tell if itâs a fire of anger or arousal. Â
When she slams the door behind her, itâs her own confusion over that distinction that frustrates her more than anything else.
âŚ
âTook you long enough.â Harry scoffs while leaning against the side of his car, his white t-shirt a contrast to the dust covered body of the black Chevy Impala. Â His dark sunglasses are perched on top of his head, keeping his unruly curls out of his eyes, while his arms are crossed over his chest impatiently as he waits for an answer. âI dropped off the keys ten minutes ago.â
By way of explanation, Y/N holds up the cardboard drink tray in her hands, a brown bag balancing in between the two coffee cups. âI was getting us breakfast, Styles. Â Calm down.â She walks to the passenger side of the car, opening the door and climbing in one handed. âI figured youâd be even crabbier hungry.â
âYou mean youâd be crabbier without caffeine.â Harry retorts, climbing into the driverâs side in one smooth motion. âHereââ He takes the tray from her so she can buckle her seatbelt, carefully removing the two coffees and setting them in the cup holders between them. âJust be careful not to spill anything.â
Y/N rolls her eyes as she picks up the coffee closest to her (sheâd gotten them both black). âWhy? Worried about me ruining Stevie?â
Harry reaches into his pocket, pulling out his keys as he gives her an irritated look. âYes, actually. Iâve put a lot of work into her.â The car roars to life as Harry turns the key in the ignition, buckling his own seat as the motor warms up. âAdding on two thousand miles to her in five days is already worrisome enough, and thatâs not even counting the other two thousand sheâll get on the way back.â
Y/N doesnât respond to the comment, and instead lets the sound of Harryâs playlist fill the silence of the car as Harry peels out of the Motel 6 parking lot. Â Sheâll be glad to leave that place behind, she thinks, and focus on finding something betterâand more privateâfor tonight, wherever they end up.
Harry, however, doesnât seem content with letting silence fall between them. âHow did you sleep last night?â He asks after a few moments, one hand on the steering wheel as he takes a sip of his coffee.
Glancing at him from the corner of her eye suspiciously, Y/N reaches into the paper bag and grabs her Danish, taking a small bite before answering. âNot great.â
âWas the bed bad?â Harry asks curiously, his brow furrowing while his eyes stay glued to the road, moving only to glance at the occasion sign directing him back to the highway. âThe pull out wasnât great, but Iâve slept on worse. Â I wouldâve thought the bed would be better than that.â
âNo, itâI mean, the bed wasnât amazing, but itââ Y/N clears her throat and swallows the bite of pastry in her mouth. âI, uh, I donât sleep well when itâs raining.â
At this new information, Harryâs eyebrow quirks up, and he risks a look in her direction to attempt to read her face. Â Y/Nâs own eyes are focused on the Danish in her hands, refusing to meet his gaze as she lifts the pastry to her mouth to take another bite.
âYou donât?â Harry asks after a moment, the confusion in his voice almost visible within the space between them. âBut itâs like white noise, isnât it? Â Supposed to be relaxing, and all that.â
Y/N gives a half shrug of her shoulders. âItâsâwell, itâs not the rain, exactly, justâwhat itâs usually paired with.â Y/N hopes that her clear hesitancy to answer will be enough of a signal to Harry for him to drop the subject. Â Harry, however, doesnât seem to pick up on the reluctance in Y/Nâs voice; or, at least, he doesnât care enough to acknowledge it.
âWhat do you mean, what itâs paired with?â Harry takes a small sip of his own coffee, careful of the temperature of the liquid. âLikeâŚwind, orâ?â
Y/N debates back and forth with herself internally, but she knows that Harry wonât drop the subject without getting a satisfying answer. âThunder.â She answers finally, setting her coffee down in her cup holder before turning her gaze towards her window. âI donât like thunderstorms, ever since I was a little kid, and when itâs raining, it always feels like thunder is around the corner. Â Puts me on edge, like Iâm waiting for it. Â And I canât sleep.â
âSo you never sleep when it rains?â Harry asks slowly, and the tone of incredulous disbelief in Harryâs voice is enough for Y/N to be able to imagine the expression on his face. His forest green eyes wide, strawberry pink lips agape, brow furrowed in confusion, his jaw slack as he contemplates a response to a grown woman admitting that sheâs afraid of thunder. The image in her head is enough to make the back of her neck flush.
Thereâs a tightness in the back of her throat, and Y/N attempts to clear it again before answering. âNever.â
âHuh.â Harry taps his fingers against the gear shift in succession three times. âYouâd hate London, then.â
The casual comment catches Y/N by surprise, but she doesnât allow herself to lower her guard. âThatâs why I donât live in London.â She mumbles the words as her fingers pick at the napkin wrapped around her Danish. âI picked L.A. for a reason. Â It has lots of heat, barely any rain, and Iâm reasonably close to Disneyland whenever I feel like I need something magical.â The last part slips out without Y/N thinking, and the flush creeps further up her neck as a surprised laugh leaves Harryâs mouth.
âSomething magical?â Harry repeats, new crinkles appearing next to his eyes as he laughs, as if the dimples that crease his cheeks arenât proof of his amusement enough. âDo you frequently feel like you need something magical?â
Itâs Y/Nâs turn to give an incredulous look now, her body half twisting towards Harry to observe his confusing reactions. âHow did I just admit that Iâm afraid of thunder, and the thing youâre focusing on is that I like Disney?â
Harry shrugs at her words, flicking on his turn signal to exit towards the highway. âI donât know.â He says as he peers over his shoulder to check for oncoming cars. âI mean, everyone has fears. Â Not liking thunder isnât exactly uncommon, you know. Â However, hearing that Ms. Serious Type A Perfectionist likes magicââ His grin grows bigger by the second. âNow thatâs surprising.â
âOh, shut up.â Y/N mutters, finishing her Danish in a few more bites.  She waits until sheâs entirely finished chewing before continuing the conversation over the voice of Billy Joel coming through the speakers. âSince Iâve admitted something Iâm afraid ofâŚâ She starts, glancing at Harry from the corner of her eye. âI think itâs only fair that you admit something, too.â
Harry snorts in response, his hand freezing its movement with his coffee cup still half lifted to his lips. âIs that so?â
âMhmm.â Y/N hums as she slips off her shoes in order to pull her legs beneath her to fold into a cross-legged position on the car seat. âNot so much fun when itâs your turn, huh? Câmon, whatâs the Brit scared of? Not enough biscuits for afternoon tea?â
A short and harsh breath of air leaves Harryâs nose, half a snort as he sets his coffee down in his cupholder. âNo, actually, diminishing biscuit levels are a low level fear for me.â
âThen whatâs a higher one?â Y/N prods, watching as Harryâs neck muscles tense as he shoulder checks to change lanes. Â Thereâs something about the movement that catches her eye, but she canât quite figure out whyâor rather, she can, but sheâd rather pretend that sheâs unaware.
âUhâŚâ Harryâs fingers nimbly switch on his turn signal before he transitions to the left lane, his right hand moving the gear shift to its desired place. âCrowds.  Iâm not a fan of big crowds, really.  Like when everyoneâs pressed together, so tight that you canât breathe, and you canât hear yourself think because itâs so loudâŚyeah. I donât like that.â
The simple answer surprises Y/N as much as she imagines her answer surprised Harry. âCrowds?â She repeats back to him, a forgotten memory of long gone conversations coming to the forefront of her mind. âBut what about, like, concerts and stuff?  Laure always told me when sheâd go to shows with youâŚâ
âThatâs different.â Harry shrugs as one of his ringed hands comes to his lips, rubbing over them slowly as he contemplates his next words. âIâŚWhen Iâm at concerts, I always go with someone, and if weâre in the general seating area, where thereâs a lot of people, I always stick with them.  Like, sometimes, if itâs getting crowded, or people are pushing, Laure will hold my hand, soâŚâ Redness begins to creep up Harryâs pale neck, staining the tops of his ears a deep berry colour as he trails off.
Not for the first time since their conversation began, Y/N is surprised at how candid theyâre being with each other. Â As she watches Harryâs blush grow, she feels her own diminish, a physical representation of her trading her embarrassment for something more empathetic.
âI get it.â Y/N says after a moment, once itâs clear that Harry isnât going to continue. âWhen thereâs thunderstorms, um, I feel better when Iâm with someone, or talking to someone. It makes me feel lessâŚâ
âAlone?â Harry finishes for her, his eyes flickering from the road to her profile. Â His green irises capture hers for longer than they should, his focus completely gone from the stretch of highway for at least five seconds before Harryâs attention turns back to driving. âYeah.â He says slowly, pulling his sunglasses down from his hair to hide his eyes. âYeah, less alone. It helps.â
Y/N nods slowly, unable to look away from Harryâs side profile. Â Itâs apparent that heâs on edge after their conversation, and she knows her body language is the same. Â Tight in the shoulders, hands clenched, back rigidly straight. Â And yet, seeing her own body language reflected in front of her bothers her. Â Part of her wants to reach out and take Harryâs hand, soothe him like Laure does in the crowd of a concert, but she knows thatâs ridiculous. Â Itâs ridiculous, and itâs Harry, and Harry, of all people, does not need her comfort. Â Not in the slightest.
She watches as Harry clenches his fist on top of his thigh.
âŚ
âIs this really necessary?â Y/N asks, slamming her car door shut as Harry does the same on the other side of the vehicle. Â She leans over the roof of the car, crossing her arms on the cool metal as she tilts her head to the side in an inquisitive manner. Â The clouds in the sky are getting darker by the minute, signalling the beginning of the storm that canceled her flight, and the angry black colour above their heads is making Y/N anxious.
Harry, however, seems unbothered by the gathering storm, and nods tersely as he pushes his sunglasses up onto his head before opening the door to the backseat and grabbing his army green jacket. âOf course itâs necessary.â He says, slipping the jacket over his broad shoulders before slamming the door shut and locking the car. âIâve never been to Utah before. Â I want a souvenir.â
âOkay, butââ Y/N follows Harry as he walks towards the dilapidated building in front of them. âHere? Really? Â Does this seem like the best place?â
Harry glances at her over his shoulder at her, pausing his long strides to look up at the building he spotted from the highway.  If the chipped grey paint that was once pastel blue and dust-coated windows are any sign, the structure is probably older than Harry and Y/N combined, with a splintered front porch wrapping around its small perimeter.  The building has one faded sign above the door that reads âSOUVENIRS/SNACKSâ in hand-painted capital letters, and seems to be hanging onto the outside façade by three small bolts and sheer willpower.  Y/Nâs almost certain that sheâs seen this exact building in a horror movie before someone gets murdered, and while getting back into the car with Harry isnât at the top of her list of wants, itâs certainly preferable to getting stabbed to death by a serial killer.
âItâs fine, Y/N.â Harry waves off her concern without a second thought about the appearance of the shop. âIf youâre really bothered, you can wait in the car.â
Y/N considers it for a moment, but decides against it. Â She needs to stretch her legs, and honestly, Harry seems too trusting. Â He probably wouldnât be able to tell if someone was sketchy until their knife was in his back. Â And, seeing as how he has the keys to the only getaway car available, Y/N kind of needs him around without a stab wound carved into his flesh.
âLetâs just get this over with.â She sighs, pulling her own jacket around her tighter as she steps over the worn wooden steps to the door. âWeâre on a schedule.â
When Harry pushes open the door, the smell of stale air hits Y/N before anything else. Â Despite one open window and a fan in the corner of the shop thatâs being used in a weak attempt to circulate the air, it feels like nothing fresh has been in the shop for a while. Â Y/N shoots a glance at Harry, caution and warning written all over her face.
While Harry sees her glance, he waves off her concern, turning his attention to the few shelves and wire racks around the small shop that are lined with inventory. Â Within a few moments, heâs entertaining himself in the post card section, comparing different photos of the Utah landscape to each other with great care and concern. Â Y/N observes him for a few moments before wandering off on her own towards the snack section of the shop. Â Although there are a few items that she thinks about picking up, the thick layer of dust over the packaging puts her off from purchasing them. Â She grimaces as she continues walking, stopping in front of a tower of silver key chains in the back corner of the shop. Â Most of them, she finds, are crosses and bible verses, and all of them give her an ominous feeling in her stomach. Â Y/N runs her finger over a miniature silver version of the Ten Commandments, worrying her bottom lip between her teeth as she does so.
âI think we should go, Harry.â She calls to him without turning around, setting the key chain back down on the rack carefully. âJust pick your post card andâHarry?â
When Y/N turns around, Harryâs broad figure is nowhere to be seen. Â She walks back over to the post card section slowly, her brow furrowed with confusion as a knot tightens in her stomach. Â Where could he be? She wonders, running her hand along the dusty wire rack in front of her. Â Itâs not like thereâs anywhere for him to go in the small shop, and she would have heard if he left, or if he drove away.
âHarry?â She calls again, her steps slower now as worry fills her voice. âWhere did youâfuckâ!â Y/N screams as something grabs her from behind, its fingers digging into her sides harshly. Â She whips around to find Harry standing over her, loud outbursts of laughter spilling from his strawberry pink mouth at the look on her face.
An indignant flush rushes over Y/Nâs face. âYouâre such an ass!â She hisses, gripping his shoulders and shoving his laughing frame away from her. âI swear, youâre like a five year oldââ
âDid I worry you?â Harry snickers between his words, a wicked look of mischief alight in his dark green eyes. âWere you afraid something happened to me?â
Y/Nâs cheeks burn with anger as she turns away from him, crossing her arms defiantly. âNo. Â I wish something had happened to you. Â Then I wouldnât have to deal with your immature antics.â
Harryâs lips stay quirked up in a smirk as he follows her, his voice falling into a singsong tone. âYou were worried.â He insists, chuckles still rolling out of him every few moments. âI could tell.â
âOh, fuck off.â Y/N snaps at him in an irritated voice. âJust pay for your stupid post card and letâs go.â
âI already did. Thereâs a sign on the desk saying the clerk is out for lunch, so I left some money.â Harry nods to the small desk in the corner with a few dollars left tucked under the dusty service bell. âI think thatâll cover it, yeah?â
âWhatever.â Y/N canât resist shoving Harry one last time before walking towards the shop door. âThatâs enough. Â Letâs go. I want to make it to the motel before the storm hits.â
âŚ
The nice thing about Grand Junction, Colorado, Y/N realizes, is that their motels have multiple single rooms available on short notice. Â While she didnât realize the importance of this fact before this trip started, having an evening of solitude and her own stable space away from Harry for the first time in two days is nothing short of a blessing.
When she gets inside her private motel room, which, while still shabby, is leagues above their previous motel, Y/N locks the door before breathing a sigh of relief. Â Just the silence in the room is wonderful, and even though she knows Harry is right next door, having a wall between them is a luxury that she doesnât take for granted. Â When she showers, she doesnât have to worry about being quick, or toweling off as fast as she can so she can get dressed inside the bathroom without Harry seeing. Thereâs no need to worry about anyone hearing Y/N sing quietly to herself under the (albeit weak) stream of the shower, nor is there an uncomfortable stick of her sports bra to her back caused by water droplets that she couldnât reach in her hurry to dry off. And after her shower, with some of the knots from her back finally worked out, Y/N is able to stretch out on the double bed in the center of the room, her phone in her hand as she reaches for the takeout menus stacked on the bedside table. Â She peruses the menus available before settling on Chinese takeout, and within five minutes, her order of a two entrĂŠe plate and fried rice is on its way.
Y/N sighs gently as she leans back on the pillows, wishing that she and Harry had stopped at a liquor store before coming to the motel. Â She knows she could probably walk to one, but now that sheâs showered and comfortable, the last thing she wants to do is wander around Grand Junction until she finds a bottle of Moscato. Â Instead, Y/N flicks on the TV with a click of the ancient remote, and begins scrolling through the channels until she finds a rerun of Dirty Dancing thatâs just starting.
An amused yet wry smile appears on Y/Nâs lips. Â Itâs this movieâs fault that she and Harry are on an impromptu road trip, really. Jo and Laure both loved it, and were insistent that they had to get married at a resort in the Catskills similar to one from the film. Â As her two friends cross her mind, Y/N settles into the sheets as Baby begins her narration, contemplating whether or not she should call Jo to check in. Â Just as the thought pops into her head, however, the phone rings.
Y/N answers within a moment, not bothering to check the caller ID. Â She and Jo had a strange habit of calling each other the moment the other thought of it, and when she raises her phone to her ear, she expects to hear her best friendâs familiar voice reply. âHello?â
What voice she actually hears, however, surprises her. âHey, Y/N. Â Iâm glad I got through.â Brant says easily, his voice crackling slightly through the speaker. âHow are you?â
âBrant!â Y/N jerks up in bed in surprise, the remote falling from its perch on her stomach onto the sheets. âIâIâm fine. Â How are you?â
âOh, alright. Â Just busy with work, but thatâs the usual.â Y/N can practically picture the neutral expression on his face, and how heâd shrug his shoulders as he speaks. âHowâs the road trip? Â I canât imagine driving for as long as you have to drive.â
âItâsâŚitâs alright, yeah.â Y/N speaks slowly as she puts her phone on speaker, balancing it on her knee while her hands begin to fidget with her rings. âLong, but not too bad.â
âWell, thatâs good.â Brant clears his throat thickly, as if what heâs about to say makes him uncomfortable. âI miss you, though. Â And our weekly dinners.â
A feeling of guilt washes over Y/N. Â Truthfully, besides Harryâs inquisition on the first day of driving, Brant has barely crossed her mind. Â Granted, he isnât usually at the forefront of her mind while sheâs in L.A., either, but for the last few days, her thoughts have been constantly consumed by the stress of making it to the wedding and her annoyance and frustration with Harry. Â
âY/N?â Brantâs voice crackles through her speaker again. âAre you there?
âIâyeah.â She says quickly, pulling herself from her thoughts. âSorry, justâlong day. Â Iâm tired.â
âI can imagine.â Brant says sympathetically, but thereâs something in his tone that almost sounds patronizing. âWho are you driving with? Â Have you been taking turns?â
Y/N pauses the fidgeting of her rings before snatching her phone from its balanced place on her knee. She quickly opens her messages and scrolls to her thread with Brant, searching through the text bubbles for a reminder of what sheâd said to him. Â Had she not told him that she was traveling with Harry?
Within a moment, Y/N confirms that she hadnât.  All she had said was that she was getting a ride with someone.  Why had she done that, she wonders?  Sheâs sure sheâs mentioned Harry in passing to Brant at least once.  When she talked about the wedding, probably.  As she thinks about it more, howeverâŚwhat had she told Brant about the wedding?  About Jo? How much does he actually know about her personal life?  Most of their dinner conversations revolve around work, or some book both of them have read.  Had the topic ever come up in detail?
âIâm, um, Iâm driving with one of Laureâs friends.â Y/N brings the phone closer to her mouth as her other hand works its way to her mouth.  She begins to chew on a hangnail absentmindedly between her words, something she always does when her nerves begin to get to her.  She canât count the number of times Jo has grasped her wrist and pulled her hand from her mouth to chastise her about the habit. âWeâreâŚweâre in Colorado now.â
âOh, Colorado. Â Thatâs nice.â Brant says over the rustling of papers. âListen, Y/N, Iâve got some work to get back to, but Iâm glad we had this talk. Iâll call you again soon.â
âUh, yeah. Â Sure. Â Iâll talk to you later.â Y/N nods, and then the line goes dead. Â Out of curiosity, Y/N checks the length of the call. Â The time 3:09 blinks back at her.
Tossing her phone back down on the covers, Y/N resumes her relaxed position in bed, despite being anything but relaxed after that phone call.  She should feel guilty, she thinks, for not telling Brant about Harry. But then again, whatâs there to tell? She said she was getting a ride with one of Laureâs friends, and thatâs true.  She hadnât lied.  And even if Brant did know that the friend is Harry, why would he care?  Itâs just Harry.  Thereâs no reason for Brant to be alarmed, because thereâs nothing going on. And she and BrantâŚY/N glances down at the call time again.  Things are different between them.  ThereâsâŚtheyâre comfortable as they are, she thinks.  Theyâre not dating, and theyâre comfortable like that.  So thereâs no reason to tell him about Harry, because thereâs nothing to tell.  Nothing at all.
Y/N refocuses on the TV screen, where Patrick Swayze is dancing in a tight black tank top. Right. Â Nothing to tell.
âŚ
When Y/N leaves her motel room the next morning with her bag over her shoulder, Harry is already waiting by his car, leaning against the dusty black body with two coffee cups in his hands. Â Heâs dressed in another black t-shirt (Y/N wonders just how many identical copies of the same shirt Harry has) with usual jeans covering his long legs. Â His curls are tied out of his face with a dark green bandana, and Y/N knows that if his eyes werenât covered with his black sunglasses, the bandana would make them even brighter than they usually are.
âHey.â Harry calls to her, extending a ringed hand that holds a coffee cup towards her as she walks over. âI got the coffee this morning. Â You drink it black, right?â
Y/N nods as she takes the cup from him, careful not to brush over his fingers with her own. âYeah. Thanks.â
âNo problem.â Harry crosses around to the back of the car, opening the trunk with a turn of his key. âHere.â Harry holds out his free hand for Y/Nâs bag, taking it from her and setting it down on top of the suitcases in the back. âI got it.â
Y/N regards Harry with a bemused look as she wraps both hands around her coffee cup. âThanks?â She says again, more questioning this time as she looks at him strangely. âI can do that myself, you know.â
âI know. Â Iâm just trying to be polite.â Harryâs voice takes on its usual bite like heâs flipping a switch. âIs that alright with you, princess?â
Within a second, the familiar irritation with Harry returns to Y/N, and itâs almost comforting to snap back at him in a testy voice. âDonât call me that.â
Harry snickers under his breath, and although the sound makes Y/Nâs annoyance grow, she detects a different tone in it than a few days before. Â Before she can place a finger on why it sounds different, however, Harry is climbing into the driverâs side of the car and starting the engine.
The two of them are silent as Harry finds his way back to the highway, and they stay in that silence for the first few hours of that dayâs leg of the trip.  As the third hour begins to pass, Y/N is content listening to the throaty and captivating voice of Stevie Nicks fill the cab of the car. By the second chorus of the song, Y/N is humming along quietly, her foot tapping to the same beat that Harryâs fingers are spelling out against the steering wheel.  Itâs comfortable, she thinks after a moment.  The silence between them.  It feels different than it did on their first day, when Y/N was questioning her choice to get into a car with Harry and commit to a 42 hour drive. The silence seems to be fueled more by comfort than tension.  Itâs���refreshing.
A memory from the first day ignites in the back of her mind, a spark so bright and obvious that she canât believe it took her so long to see it. âStevie.â Y/N says suddenly, turning to Harry as a smile spreads over her face. âYou named your car Stevie, as in Stevie Nicks?â
Harry laughs, his shoulders moving up and down beneath his black t-shirt from the motion. Â One hand lifts from the steering wheel and points a finger gun at her. âTook you long enough. Â I was wondering how many days youâd have to listen to my music to get it.â
Y/N gives his hand a light shove. âI was too distracted by the fact that you named your car.â She rolls her eyes, bringing her bottle of water to her lips for a short sip. âI still think itâs weird.â
âIt gives her character.â Harry defends himself as he rubs a hand over the steering wheel absentmindedly. Y/N can see the mirth swirling around in his light irises. âA bit of personality. Â Just because you donât value personalities doesnât mean anyone else doesnât.â
âI donât value personalities?â Turning in her seat to stare at Harry head on, Y/N raises an eyebrow in question. âWhatâs that supposed to mean?â
âJust your taste in men, thatâs all.â Harry says it casually, like it really can just be a âthatâs allâ type of sentence.
Within a heart beat, the comfortable atmosphere in the car turns to ice as Y/N straightens in her seat, her spine tense, tightening every nerve in her body along with it. âWhat the fuck does that mean?â
When Harry glances at her again, his eyes darken, his guard going up as he senses the shift in Y/Nâs tone. âNothing, justâŚmotel rooms have thin walls.â Harry mumbles, having the decency to keep his eyes on the road as his ears redden slightly. âAnd from what I overheard, Brant doesnât exactly seemâŚstimulating.â
Y/N sputters indignantly for a moment, unable to form a coherent response as anger rises in her chest. âYouââ She sucks in a quick breath that hits the back of her throat harshly. âYou eavesdropped on me?â
Harry licks his lips once, clearing his throat once before answering. Â The tapping of his fingers against the steering wheel has resumed, his nervousness apparent in his movements as well as his facial expressions. âNot on purpose. Â I told you, the walls were thin.â
âSo put in head phones!â Y/N exclaims, gripping her water bottle so tight that her fingers begin to strain in protest against the metal exterior. Â She has half a mind to throw the bottle at Harry in her anger, barely able to talk herself down from the ledge of the idea.
Harryâs posture shifts in his seat as his shoulders square, and Y/N can practically see his defensive side emerge from within his chest. âItâs not like you two were having phone sex.â He rolls his eyes at the idea. âIt was the most boring conversation in the world, and lasted, what, three minutes? Â Makes you wonder how long he lasts in other ways, doesnât it?â
âStop the car.â Y/Nâs voice is low and void of emotion as she replies, her body turned back forward in her seat.
âAm I wrong? Â Itâs not like you know for sureââ
Anger bubbles over in Y/Nâs chest, cancelling out any rational thought she has inside her and leaving pure, unadulterated fury. âStop the car, Harry! Â Now!â
Harry half jumps in his seat when Y/N yells, and he quickly jerks the car to the side of the highway without so much as a turn signal. Â Pulling her seatbelt off as he pulls over, Y/N is out the door before Harry can so much as put the car into neutral. Â While her more rational mind would tell her that she has nowhere to walk to along a highway in Colorado as the sky darkens to an angry black above them, the only thing sheâs thinking of is getting away from Harry. Â Stupid, self-absorbed, ignorant, and rude Harry.
âY/Nââ The sound of Harry scrambling out of the car and slamming the door behind him pushes her to walk faster. âY/N, come backââ
Y/N turns around on her heel fast and hard, heart pounding so fast that she thinks it might break through her ribs. âWhat is your problem?â She hisses, pointing an accusatory finger at him. âWhy do you insist on being soâso nasty about him? Â You donât even know him!â
Harry freezes where he is as the wind whips his hair around his face, his bandana barely keeping the messy curls in place. âI donâtââ His speech falters, and he sucks in a sharp breath before continuing. âI donât think Iâm beingâŚnasty.â
âWell, you are!â Y/N takes a deep breath in, placing her hands over her stomach as it expands with air. Â Itâs a trick that Jo taught her back in high school, as a way to ground herself to her body. Feeling the movement of air in and out of her lungs helps calm her, even if by just a fraction. âBrant is justâheâs someone Iâm talking to. Â Weâve gone on dates, but weâre not dating, and even though weâre not dating, that doesnât mean that you can insinuate things about him, or eavesdrop on our private conversations!â
Harryâs jaw tenses as he listens to Y/N speak, waiting until sheâs finished her speech to respond in a harsh and clipped tone. âI already told you, I didnât mean to eavesdrop. And Iâm teasing you. Â Itâs supposed to be a joke. Â Isnât that what friends do?â
âBut weâre not friends, Harry.â Y/Nâs voice is flat, the fury in her tone replaced with a hollow emptiness. âWeâre not friends. Â I donât need you teasing me about a boy like weâre buddies, or whatever, because weâre not.â
Although Harry opens his mouth to respond, no words cross over the edges of his pink lips. Â His jaw tightens even more as he closes his mouth again, and Y/N can see a million things flitting through his green irises, which are getting darker by the moment. Â Y/Nâs not certain if the darkness is from her words, or the black sky rolling above them thatâs sapping the light of day from the atmosphere, and sheâs not sure if she can take the answer either way. Â Part of her knows that maybeâjust maybeâsheâs blown this whole thing out of proportion, and maybe she should examine why Harry making fun of Brant bothers her like it does. Â Itâs not like sheâs unaware of his shortcomings, she thinks, but then she wonders why sheâs now seeing them as shortcomings, when a week ago, she saw them as positives. Â Y/N never has to worry about Brant being too much for her, or forgetful, or scatterbrainedâheâs organized, and secure, and stable, and thatâs what she likes. Â Itâs always been what she likes.
Harryâs delayed response tears Y/N from her thoughts. âNot friends. Â Got it.â He mutters, rubbing his hand over his stubbled and taut cheeks. âJust get back in the car, then. Â Letâs go.â
âŚ
âHello! Â My name is Gracie, Iâll be your server today.â The waitress in the tiny diner smiles at Harry and Y/N, a notepad in one hand and a half filled coffee pot in the other. âCan I get you guys anything to start?â
âCoffee.â Harry and Y/N speak at the same time, each personâs eyes flickering to the other before looking away. Â Y/N keeps her eyes focused on her off-white ceramic coffee cup as Gracie fills it, refusing to make eye contact with Harry again.
The last hour has been almost unbearable. Â After they got back in the car, Harry had turned off his playlist, and for the first time since the road trip had begun, true silence had fallen between them. Y/N had thought she would like it, but truthfully, it had been the worst thing sheâd ever heard. Â Every few minutes, sheâd hear Harry shift, or sigh, or tap a tense finger against the gear shift, and she wished that she could say something, but she didnât. Â She couldnât. Â Sheâd been grateful when he wordlessly exited the highway and parked in front of a diner, as the conversations of stopped truck drivers and the clatter of a kitchen was a good distraction from their argument.
A movement in the corner of her eye catches her attention, and Y/N glances up just enough to watch Harry slip a pat of butter into his coffee, stirring the contents of the cup with his spoon until itâs melted together. Â She wrinkles her nose in disgust, and almost opens her mouth to make a comment (âReally, Harry? Â Just add milk like a regular person, instead of drinking a cup of grease.â), but bites it back before it can fall off her tongue. Â Theyâre not exactly in the position to make quips to each other, she thinks, especially after she told him that they werenât friends.
Which theyâre not. Theyâve never been friends; that fact isnât exactly news. Â Not getting along has been Harry and Y/Nâs signature since the day they first met. So why is there a pit in Y/Nâs stomach that gets deeper every time Harry looks away from her?
The click of heels alerts Y/N of Gracieâs returned presence before her voice does. âHave you two decided what youâd like to eat?â
âIâll have a turkey club, please, on whole wheat bread.â Harry folds up his plastic menu carefully. âAnd a glass of water on the side.â
Gracie nods, taking the menu from him before turning her eyes to Y/N. âAnd for yourself?â
âUmââ Y/N had barely glanced at the menu, too lost in her thoughts to think about it. âIâll just have a burger, please. Â And a water, as well.â
Gracie nods as she writes down the order, taking Y/Nâs menu and giving the pair one last smile before disappearing to the kitchen. Â A fresh wave of silence falls between Harry and Y/N as each of them sips their coffee, both of them doing their best not to look at the person sitting across from them.
Y/Nâs best, however, is not up to her usual standard, as she canât stop herself from stealing a few quick glances while Harry looks out the window. Â He hasnât shaved in a couple days, she notices, as the stubble on his cheeks and chin is even darker than it was the day before. Â Thereâs a permanent crease between his eyebrows, his face as tense as sheâs ever seen it, and a darkness over his whole expression overall. Itâs like thereâs a new wall up between the two of them, and Y/Nâs never felt more detached from him. Â Which, honestly, is saying something.
Sheâs looking back down at her own half empty coffee when Harry finally speaks a few minutes later, his voice just as tense as his expression.
âShit.â He says in a low voice, and then the next sound Y/N hears is that of someone ruffling through pockets. Â
She looks up to see Harry doing just that, his hands digging through the outer pockets of his army green jacket. âWhat?â She asks, her curiosity outweighing her need to continue the silent treatment. âWhat is it?â
âI had the vows in myâmy pocket, but theyâreââ Harry jams his hands inside a pocket sewn into the lining of his jacket, and Y/N watches as his face visibly relaxes. âOh, thank God. I thought they fell out.â
Harry removes his hand from his pocket, two folded up notes clutched within his hand. Â Each one is labeled carefully, one with Jo written in Laureâs neat penmanship, and the other with Laure scribbled in Joâs quick writing. Â
Y/N recognizes the papers immediately. Â Itâs easy, really, considering the amount of time she spent helping Jo rewrite draft after draft of the same sentiments. âYou have Jo and Laureâs vows?â She questions, her eyebrows raising in surprise. âWhy?â
âThe same reason you have their wedding bands.â Harry shrugs as he turns the papers over in his careful fingers, making sure not to crease them. âThey forgot them.â
A small smile plays on the edge of Y/Nâs lips at the memory of her forgetful friends. âRight. Â Of course.â
Harryâs eyes flicker to Y/Nâs mouth at the sign of movement, and he tugs his bottom lip between his teeth before responding. âWant to take a look?â
âAt their vows?â Y/N looks around, as if someone could be watching and monitoring them. âIâthat doesnât seem right.â
âFine. Â Then donât look at them.â Harry says easily, setting the note labeled Laure on the table between them. Â His nimble fingers unfold the paper labeled with Joâs name as his green irises begin to scan across the sheet. âIâll read them.â
It only takes a few seconds of watching Harry read over the words for Y/N to crack. âWait.â She brings her thumb to her mouth, chewing anxiously on her cuticle as Harry quirks an eyebrow at her. âWill you read them to me?â
When she asks, Harry spends so long staring at her that Y/N thinks heâll refuse. Â His jade eyes meet hers with an intensity that almost makes her flinch, but Y/N holds his stare, refusing to be the first to back down. Finally, after what seems like an eternity, Harry gives a sharp nod, looking down at the note before he starts to read from the beginning.
ââMy darling Joâ,â He begins, his voice soft and low, his accent thick. ââIt seems so strange that this day is finally here.  I feel like weâve been building up to it ever since the day we first met, and yet itâs always seemed so far away.  When I was a little girl, I alwaysââŚâ Harry trails off as his eyes continue to move across the words, and he clears his throat before attempting to continue to read aloud. ââI always thought that there was something wrong with me.  I thought that the things that I felt, and the way that I loved, was dirty.  I thought it was wrong.  I thought thatâthat I was going against God, and against nature, and that I was going to be punished for it.  And then I met youâ.â
Harry pauses to take a sip of his coffee, and Y/N does the same. Â Thereâs a shine beginning to appear in his eyes, and Y/N recognizes it as the beginning of tears because she feels the same thing brimming in her own eyes. She feels a bit guilty for reading the vows, but reasons that itâs for the best. Â If she were to hear them for the first time at the wedding, she doesnât think sheâd be able to keep it together.
ââThe moment I met you, I knew that the way I loved could never be wrong, or be dirty, because I was loving youâ.â Harryâs accent grows thicker the more he reads, and although Y/N hasnât seem Harry in many different emotional states, she can tell that this is a sign of how the vows are affecting him. ââBeing with you could never be wrong, and God could never get mad at me for it, because only God could create someone as perfect as you. Â I promise to love you when you wake me up at 3 A.M. because youâve stolen all the blankets, and I promise to love you at 6 P.M. when you almost burn down our apartment while trying to cook for me. Â I promise to support you through everything, listen to your stories, and watch in wonder as you make a difference in this world. Â I promise to never let my anger get the best of me, and to always give you the benefit of the doubt. Â I promise to love every version of yourself that you grow into, just as Iâve loved all the versions you once were. Â I promise to love you in every way humanly possible, and even in ways that arenât humanly possible. Â I promise to love, period. Â Iâââ Harryâs voice cracks, and he glances up at Y/N as he clears his throat to continue. ââI love youâ.â
Y/N doesnât realize just how emotional listening to Harry read Laureâs vows has made her until the first tear wells over the corner of her eye. Â She turns her head towards the window to wipe it away as quickly and inconspicuously as possible, but from the way Harry is looking at her when she turns back around, she knows that he caught what she was doing.
âThat, umââ Now itâs Y/Nâs turn to attempt to clear the emotion from her throat. âWow.â
Harry carefully folds Laureâs vows back up, taking extra care to re-crease the paper exactly how it had been folded. âI didnât know sheâŚfelt like that.â Harry says after a moment, his voice quiet. âLike she wasâŚwrong.â
Y/N, unsure of what to say, just nods while reaching for Joâs vows in front of her. Â Like Harry, she takes great care when unfolding the paper, smoothing it gently between her hands. âIâll read Joâs, then?â
Harry nods as he takes a sip of his water. âSure.â
Y/N licks her lips once, wetting them with what little saliva she has in her mouth before beginning. ââLaureâ,â She starts, emotion already rising up to form a lump in her throat. ââI donât even know where to begin.  Iâve tried to write down all the ways I love you a million different times, but I can never seem to find the right words.  The problem is, I donât think that there is a big enough word to describe what I feel for you.  âLoveâ is only four letters, and four letters is just not enough to contain everything I feel.  âAdorationâ is nine letters, but even that doesnât come close.  I think the best way I can describe it is âpermanentâ.â Y/N pauses her reading to take a long gulp of water, the coolness soothing the dry and parched feeling in her mouth and throat. ââAnyone who knows me knows that I have trouble committing.  The idea of having something forever, of being in one place, normally terrifies me. But the idea of having you forever, and being in one place with you foreverâŚthatâs all I want.  I want us to be permanent to each other.  Even when we struggle, and we will struggle, I know that we wonât fall apart.  Committing to you isnât any trouble.  Itâs as easy as breathing.  Iâm sure of you, and Iâm sure of us.  I love you, permanently.  Iâll love you when youâre sick and gross, and Iâll love you when youâre old with a bad hip.â A small laugh falls out of Y/Nâs mouth before she continues. âIâll love you when you haggle at flea markets for the best prices, and Iâll love you when you do something so stupid that it makes me want to tear my hair out.  I love you permanently, and I want all of our family and friends to witness me saying that.  Iâll never back out, or bail, or run away from you.  Youâre the one thing in my life thatâs never felt hard. Youâre my home base, and my north star, and you bring me back down to Earth whenever I need it.  I love you permanently, Laure.  Iâll never stopâ.â
As she finishes reading, Y/N folds the paper back up, wiping her eyes on the back of her hand before grabbing the other note sitting on the table. Â She pushes them towards Harry, her misty eyes unable to meet his. âHere. Put these away again, somewhere safe.â
Harry takes the vows from her, slipping them back inside his inner jacket pocket for safekeeping. âItâs probablyââ He clears his throat once more, and Y/N knows that the vows have caught him in his chest just as theyâve caught her. âItâs probably good that we read them now, so that weâreâŚprepared for the ceremony.â
âYeah.â Y/N wraps her hands around her coffee mug, the warm ceramic surface heating her cold fingers. âYouâre right.  They reallyâŚlove each other.â
Harry taps his fingers against the table top, a concentrative and thoughtful expression on his face. Â His eyebrows are knit together above his stormy green eyes, and his pink tongue swipes over his pinker lips once before he speaks. âYou know, Laure is my closest friend. Â I donât want her to get hurt.â
Immediately registering the tone of Harryâs voice, Y/Nâs head snaps up, her own eyes becoming stormy as they meet his own. âJo would never hurt Laure.â Y/N says defensively, the hairs on the back of her neck pricking up at even the suggestion of her friend hurting someone. âDidnât you hear her vows? Â Iâve never heard her sound so sure of something in her entire life.â
Harryâs jaw flexes at the cadence of Y/Nâs voice, and his is just as agitated when he responds. âIâm just saying, if anything ever happenedââ
âAnd Iâm just saying, it wonât.â The tension between them doubles as Y/N shoots Harry an icy glare. âDo you just look for the worst in people? Â Is that all you do?â
âYou think I look for the worst in people? Â Really?â Harry barks out a harsh laugh, pressing one hand flat against the table as the other fixes his bandana. âChrist, if thatâs what you think of meââ
âWhy would I think anything else?â Y/N asks incredulously, tilting her head to the side as she regards him. âAll youâve shown me isââ
âAlright, I have the turkey club on whole wheat, and the burger here.â Gracie appears suddenly to Y/Nâs right, her tray loaded with food. âHere you guys areâŚâ She sets the plates down in front of Harry and Y/N, her gaze darting between them nervously as she reads the tension in the booth. âIsâŚthere anything else I can get you two?â
âNo.â Harryâs voice is hard. âWe donât need anything else.â
âŚ
By the time Harry pulls the car into a motel just off the highway in Lexington, Nebraska, all Y/N wants is a moment alone. Â The strained atmosphere during that dayâs drive had been unbearable, and between the anxiety from her confrontation with Harry and the sound of thunder beginning in the distance, Y/N just needs some space to herself to relax and calm down.
Of course, just because thatâs what she needs, doesnât mean that sheâs going to get it. Â When Harry returns back to the car with a single key in his hand and a sour look on his face, Y/N knows for sure that the universe is against her.
This room, at least, sheâs pleased to find, has two actual beds, which are pushed up against the wall perpendicular to the door with a small night table between them. Â However, thatâs where her pleasure stops, as the click of Harry turning the lock behind her just reminds her that sheâs trapped in here, with no chance to get away from Harry, the oncoming storm, or any one of her problems that have developed over the last four days. Â The reality of the situation hits her all at once, and it takes all of Y/Nâs self control to toss her bag on the bed and walk brusquely to the bathroom, slamming the door and locking it behind her before she allows herself to show a sign of her emotions.
The rest of the evening passes in silence. Â She showers before changing into her sports bra and boxers, but the amount of exposed skin sends a vulnerable shiver down her spine. Â Y/N opts for pulling a sweatshirt over her body, and then sets herself the task of braiding her hair to distract herself. Â After thatâs done, she busies herself with her skincare routine, taking up as much time as she can in the bathroom before she absolutely has to leave its private interior.
Harry, however, seems to want to see as little of Y/N as she wants to see of him, and pushes past her to enter the bathroom the moment that she steps out of it. Â His routine, it seems, is designed to take up just as much time as hers was, because by the time Harry exits the bathroom, the scent of his shampoo trailing behind him, Y/N is already tucked under the covers of her bed, although sheâs far from asleep.
In the time it took for her to shower and get ready for bed, the storm had picked up, and the only thing audible in the room was the sound of rain pelting against the roof and window, the wind howling through the trees, and Y/Nâs shallow, uneven breaths. She wraps the sheets tightly around herself, pulling them taut to her chin with clenched fists that tighten every time a clap of thunder echoes through the room. Â Although sheâs turned to face the wall, away from Harry, she can hear his footsteps pause as he gets a glimpse of her shivering form beneath the blankets, and she does her best to will herself to appear asleep. Â Breathing in as deeply as her tight chest will allow her, Y/N attempts to even her breathing, forcing her shoulders rise and fall in a way that appears natural and normal. Â But all it takes is one clap of thunder for the controlled motion to go out the window.
âY/NâŚâ Harryâs voice is low, but despite its raspy cadence, it lacks the rough edge that it had earlier. The bed behind her squeaks, signalling that Harryâs taken a seat on the edge of it. âAre youâ?â
âI-Iâm fine.â Y/N says quickly, pulling the sheets tighter to her chin as another shiver rolls through her body. âGo to sleep.â
Thereâs another creak of Harryâs bed, and Y/N imagines him climbing under the starched linen covers, his damp curls flopping into his eyes as he lays back on the lumpy motel pillow. The image is almost enough to distract her until thereâs another clap of thunder. Â The sound seems to shake the motel room, and Y/N canât stop the small whimper that leaves her lips as her body jumps in response.
âWhen I was a little kid, my mum took my sister and I to the fair every year.â
Harryâs deep voice cuts over the rain, and Y/N shifts in her bed, turning over to face him. Â She keeps the covers pulled up to her chin, but readjusts herself so that she can keep her head on her pillow while looking Harry in the eye. âWhat?â She asks, confusion audible in her quiet tone.
Harry shifts himself as she does, continuing to move down until heâs completely horizontal, with one hand tucked under his pillow as he speaks. âMy mum took my sister and I to the fair. Â It came to Holmes Chapel every spring, and there were always rides, and games to play, and so many things to see. Â It drew crowds from nearby villages every year, really big crowds, and my mum always held my hand tightly so I wouldnât get lost.â
âI donât understand, whatââ Another clap of thunder shakes the room, making Y/N flinch halfway through her sentence.
âYouâre okay.â Harry says immediately, his calm jade eyes focused on her as the reassurance slips from his mouth.  He waits a moment, gauging Y/Nâs body language and waiting for his examination to be positive before resuming his story. âSoâŚmy mum always told me not to wander off, but when I was six, I did.  I saw some older kids playing games that I wanted to play, and Gemma was busy playing some sort of game with a ballâI canât really remember whatâand when my mum turned her back, I ran off.â
Y/Nâs about to open her mouth to ask why heâs telling her the story when the answer clicks into place in her head. Â She thinks back to the conversation in the car the day before, how she told Harry that it helps when someone talks to her to distract her from the thunder. Â Thatâs what heâs doing, she realizes, as she forces herself to focus on his quiet and level voice. Â Heâs trying to keep her calm, even after everything she said and did today.
âI donât look like it now,â A small smile flits across Harryâs blushed lips. âBut I was pretty scrawny back then.  And all the people around me were so tall, my eyes were barely level with their hips. Everyone was rushing around, going in all directions, and I kept calling for my mum, but she couldnât hear me.  No one stopped to help me.  I felt like I wasâŚtrapped.  Like it was a huge forest of legs, running all around me, circling me, and I couldnât get out.  I was probably only gone for five minutes, but to a six year old, it felt like an eternity.  And just something about itâŚI donât know.  It changed me.  I still donât like crowds because of that day.â
Y/Nâs shoulders unclench the slightest bit as another gust of wind blows against the window. âThat must have been scary.â
Harryâs own shoulders lift in a slight shrug as he shifts the sheet to cover him more. âIt was. But I canât change it. Â I just have to deal with the repercussions of it. Thatâs all a fear is, really. Â A side effect. Â We just have to deal with them as best we can.â
More thunder booms loudly outside, but Y/N manages to keep her flinch to a minimum, despite her hands curling into fists again under the covers. âHarryâŚâ She whispers his name into the darkness between them, his outline barely visible save for his green eyes. âIâmâIâm sorry about today.â
Harry shakes his head, his damp hair rubbing against his pillow. âYou donât have to apologize.â He whispers back, his tone as gentle as sheâs ever heard it. âI was an arse. Â I shouldnât have pushed the topic.â
âI shouldnât have been so uptight about it.â Rubbing her eyes with one fist, Y/N lets out a low sigh. âI felt so shitty all day because of our fight.  Iâve neverâŚnone of our fights have ever made me feel like that.â
âMaybe itâs becauseâŚâ Harryâs tentative voice trails off, his eyes flickering to the ground for a brief moment before staring back at Y/N nervously. âI donât know.  I thought we were getting along better.  For a moment, at least.â
âWe were.â Y/Nâs teeth tug on her bottom lip, and she feels a sudden shyness overcome her at the admission. âIâm sorry I said that weâŚwerenât friends.  I thinkâŚI donât know.  Iâve been stubborn for so long, but I can see now that youâre different than I thought you were.â
âYeah. Â Me too. Â I was wrong, too.â Harry runs a hand through his damp curls, a soft laugh leaving his mouth. âHow did we even end up like this? Â I barely remember what made us hate each other so much in the beginning.â
âSeriously?â Y/N raises an eyebrow, barely peaking out from beneath the sheets as another clap of thunder sounds. âYou donât remember?â
Harry mimics her expression. âDo you?â
âYes! Â It was the very first night we met. Â We had that double date with Laure and Jo.â Shifting beneath her covers, Y/N moves herself into a better position on her side, so she can be more comfortable while still maintaining eye contact with Harry. âAnd you were rude, and made inappropriate jokes, and you left in the middle of the date to go chat up a sorority girl!â
âWait a minute, no!â Harry protests the memory, half sitting up in his bed as he speaks. âThatâs not what happened!â
âYes, it is!â A small laugh falls off Y/Nâs lips at his indignant reaction. âI remember it perfectly!â
âNo, you remember it wrong!â Although a flush creeps up Harryâs neck, thereâs an amused smile playing on his lips, a tiny hint of a dimple just barely appearing in his visible cheek. âI was making jokes to try and break the ice, which didnât work on the Ice Queen, it seemsââ Harry motions to Y/N teasingly. âAnd youâre the one who started talking to some bloke before I started talking to that girl!â
Another clap of thunder echoes through the room, but Y/N hardly notices as she thinks back to the night they met, and who Harry could possibly be referring to. âA blokeâ? Â He was a classmate of mine! Â I had to talk to him!â
âYeah, well, you didnât have to enjoy it so much.â Harry grumbles, crossing his muscled arms over his sheets. âI had been so excited when Laure said she had an American girl for me, and thenââ
âYou were excited?â Y/N asks, her voice laced with surprise. âReally?â
The flush on Harryâs neck works its way to the apples of his cheeks. âWell, yeah.â He mumbles the words as his eyes drop from Y/Nâs, slipping both hands beneath his head. âShe said that you were funny, intelligent, witty, beautifulââ
âAnd then you met me, and realized that it was all a lie?â Y/N finishes for him, rolling her eyes in the darkness.
âNo.â Harry gives a small shake of his head as his body shifts, the motel bed creaking under his weight. âNo, she wasnât wrong.  You were all of those things.  But I wasnât, and it seemed likeâŚI donât know.  Like you didnât think I was good enough for you.  I couldnât keep your attention.â
The teasing smile slips from Y/Nâs face as she registers Harryâs words. âYou thought that I thought you werenâtâŚgood enough?â
The nervousness is clear in Harryâs voice now, even over the pounding of rain against the window. âThatâs what it seemed like, yeah.â
âI neverâI didnât think that.â Y/N says slowly, managing to relax her body beneath the sheets as she keeps her focus on the memory of meeting Harry. âI wasnât exactly thrilled to be there, but thatâs because Jo set the date up without telling me. Â I thought you were handsome, and I liked your accent, but then you started to act weird, and you started flirting with that girl, so I thought you were an ass.â
âYou still think Iâm an arse, princess, be honest.â The teasing tone replaces the nerves, and for once, Harryâs joke has the intended affect on Y/N. Â When she rolls her eyes again, itâs more playful, and the same tone is in her voice when she responds.
âI told you, donât call me princess.â She replies, running her teeth over her lip gently. âSoâŚI guess we both kind of fucked up that day.â
âYeah.â Harry nods, a sheepish smile playing over his red lips. âI guess so.â
âCan we just restart?â Y/Nâs voice is small when she asks the question, barely audible over the sounds of the storm raging outside. âLike, all the way from the beginning. No more grudges, no more yelling. Even if itâs just for this trip, for Jo and Laureââ
âIt doesnât have to be just for this trip.â Harry cuts in, his eyes catching Y/Nâs again. âWeâre going to have to be around each other for a long time. Â Itâll be a lot easer if we get along.â
Y/N nods in agreement, tugging down her covers to extend one arm towards Harry. Â She makes a fist, holding out just her pinkie finger to him with half a grin on her face. âTruce?â
The space between their beds is small, and Harryâs long arm easily makes it across the no manâs land to meet Y/Nâs pinkie with his own. Â He loops it together with a smile that matches hers, tired and content and just at the edge of a humble new beginning. Â Harryâs response is almost inaudible as thunder booms loudly outside the room, but Y/N can still pick out the cadence of his accent under the noise.
âTruce.â
(pt II)
#feedback is appreciated!!#harry styles x reader#harry styles x you#harry styles x y/n#harry styles fanfiction#harry styles fic#harry styles imagine#harry styles blurb#harry styles preference#one direction fanfiction#one direction fic#one direction imagine#harry styles smut#harry styles fluff#harry styles angst#enemies to lovers#road trip au#fine line#fine line album#dreamwithharry#42 hours#writing
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hi luke, if you're still doing design critiques may I toss my lil quartet of au Rubies at you? (https://spectralscathath.tumblr.com/post/689717101959806976/a-more-detailed-view-of-antaresruby-outfits)
Hell yeah, more Spec redesigns-
Obviously, like many Beacon designs, not much has been changed from canon, but I really like the changes you made here. The swap of the black for red gradient tights do help in toning back the black, especially since the petticoat isnât as thick and visible on this design as canon.Â
Same with the belt, it, along with the added red on her corset, stops the black belt from blending into the black corset that then blends into the black dress. It stands out and makes it easier for the eye to see amongst all the dark colours on her. I also gotta say that the rose pattern on the corset is gorgeous and Iâm stealing it-
Without the cape, you can see that the red still works really well on her, but enough that she wouldnât be a red blob should you show her with the cape on. The one thing Iâm more iffy on is the buttons.
I get why theyâre there, since the clasps from canon have been removed, but Iâm just not sold on them like I am with everything else. Still, really good attempt to design your own version of her Beacon outfit.Â
Those short sleeves are really cute.
I can see a lot of the Mistral influence in this outfit, but with some differences to not fall into the same pitfalls. I actually really like the shorter sleeves. Either shorter or just less puffy, both work to sell a more mature look while keeping Ruby both protected and more mobile while swinging her big ass scythe. The gloves look great for that same reason, and while I get the reason for the red belt around the wrist, I personally am not a fan of it.
It keeps the red on Rubyâs arms, but I just never liked that style of glove personally.Â
That being said, the introduction of a darker maroon red was a really good idea. It still keeps to Rubyâs colours, but the darker colour helps to accent the brighter red while not being too much on the eye. It being on her corset and belt works well, since her black corset, skirt, and boots still keep up the work of not making Ruby too bright.Â
Like canon Mistral, though, Iâm not a fan of corsets that go over the bust, honestly. Itâs a personal preference, since they just look a bit too constricting on the chest for me.Â
But back on a positive, I like the rips in her tights to show the passage of time. Really sells the rough journey Rubyâs had, while still trying to dress appropriately with the boots and thicker clothes. Plus, I love that sheâs referencing more of her loved ones in her design after the tragedy of Beacon.Â
Definitely an improvement of her canon outfit.
DARK GREY, DARK GREY, DARK GREY-
Ruby moving towards pants does make her look more mature, even if I prefer to keep her in skirts and leggings personally. The red pouch on the leg pops against the all black pants, keeping the red on that bit with the red trimmed boots. Similar with the red on her corset, but now the cool grey works better with this bright colour compared to the white of her previous outfit.
The deeper maroon gloves honestly work well with keeping the colour on her arms, and Iâm glad the cuffs made a return to keep that Penny resemblance on her friend.Â
Also, the idea that Ruby getting whiter hair with the use of her silvery eyes really does add a downside from just spamming her power beyond the typical âStop blinding yourselfâ aspect. A person with eyes that might be silver? Could reasonably be denied if youâre not 100% sure. A person with eyes that might be silver and greying hair? SEW, get her.Â
A chonky scorpion tail, I love it.
This is a cute outfit for Vacuo. It almost look more mechanic and mature compared to Rubyâs previous gothic lolita. The thinner black tights contrast against the red of the short bottoms, shows some wear and tear to highlight just how chaotic Rubyâs life is rn, and both protect the legs while being thin enough to deal with the heat.Â
The skirt thing and shorts are an idea for hiding her tail, but the black shorts and black skirt together are very hard to tell apart, even with the little white frill the skirt has. At this point, her red skirt could work better with long black shorts underneath, so you can keep that storage for Rubyâs tail and also help the viewer tell the different. Plus, sheâs a bit lacking on the red in her midsection.Â
While it can make it look like Ruby is more worn after everything before Vacuo, her colouring is getting a bit too dark here. The red is in small amounts, so while her cape can carry the work when she has it on, you can really see the lack of it meaningfully when she doesnât have it on.
That said, dark grey still works really well with Rubyâs palette. I love the eyepatch idea for her, especially since itâs an interesting way of showing her emblem too. A nice callback to her main villain outside of Tyrian, Cinder.
I really like what you were trying with this, and a lot works, just the skirt and the duller colours donât hold it up with the others. More brightness, maybe even the return of the floral designs for some interest too.Â
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Loves Me Loves Me Not - new AU fic sneak
Hello! Iâve written something for the first time in ages. I haven't really edited it or anything. This is kind of just a little sneak peak I guess to see if anyone would be interested in the full thing. But Iâll probably keep writing it either way, because Iâm having quite fun writing it hehe but any feedback would be very appreciated :)Â
AU - bartenderry, grumprry, fake-dating Â
READ THE FIRST PART HEREÂ
âHiya!â Y/N tried to not sound as weak as her knees felt when she greeted him. He didnât say anything at first and Y/N shifted her weight from one foot to the other, not knowing what else to say or do. He was dressed in a black t-shirt with a small white deer printed to the left on his chest. The same t-shirt Ruby had been wearing earlier too, only on him it looked a lot more snug than it had on her. It was impossible to ignore how tight the sleeves hugged his biceps and how they teased the dark lines of what looked like the bottom of a tattoo on his left arm.
âAre you going to order something?â he asked her. His voice was flat and low as he spoke.
And Y/N wouldâve ran right back to her friends if he hadnât been staring right at her with those resentful eyes. It was the very same look he had when he looked at the two drunk men just before her, making her freeze where she stood with her heart pounding and ankles crossed.
âYeah, sorryâ Y/N managed to squeak out and laughed awkwardly. âOf course, um, Iâll just have a beer.â He continued to just stare at her though and it took longer than she wouldâve liked before she realised she hadnât told him what kind of beer she wanted. âA Stella, please,â she added and his gaze lingered on her a moment longer before he turned around to get a glass.
When she no longer had his piercing eyes on her Y/N let out a deep breath she hadn't realised she had been holding and wiped her clammy palms on her jeans. She was going to pass out soon if he didnât ease up a little. How could someone so tense and unpleasant even land a job as a bartender at the local pub? He wasnât even trying to be nice.
Then he turned back around and Y/N couldnât stop herself from watching his hands as he held the glass up to the faucet, smoothly drafting her a new beer. He had two rings on his right hand. A silver rose on his ring finger and a simple silver band on the middle one. It looked like there was something engraved on the band but she couldnât really make out what it said from where she stood. She also couldnât help but notice that his hands looked very soft compared to how harsh the rest of him was.
Arlo and Margotâs gazes burned into the back of her neck and she knew that they would force her to go back if she didnât bring them any new information. So she took another deep breath and prepared herself to get told off as well. âSoo, whatâs your name?â She already knew his name, but it seemed like a good question to start with. Innocent. Kind. Simple.
He looked up at her again. His brows still furrowed as he pursed his lips and took in her appearance. Y/N shifted her weight from one foot to the other again and tried to give him a smile.
âHarry.â
âHarry - that's a good name.â
Y/N shuddered as she heard the words come out of her mouth. Fuck sakes. She was going to force Arlo and Margot to pay for her drinks for the rest of the year as payback for forcing her to do this. âSo, I havenât seen you around before. Where are you from Harry?â
Fuck fuck fuck.
âLondon.â
âRight. Cool.â
Somebody kill me, she thought to herself and fought the urge to slam her head down into the bar counter.
Harry placed her beer in front of her and gave her a funny look as she forced another smile. At least he didnât look like he wanted to kick her out anymore, not that it was giving her any comfort since he still didnât look too impressed by her presence and all of her questions. âHowâd you end up here then?â she still asked when she gave him her card to pay for her beer, once again cursing her friends for making her do this AND pay for her own drink.
âItâs not really any of your business is it?â
âRight, no, of course not.â
And that really shouldâve been enough to send her running back to her table but instead, very much on the contrary of what she actually wanted to do, she started spewing out a bunch of different words and watched as his eyes narrowed remarkably at her ignorance. âItâs just not that often someone new shows up here out of the blue. Do you like it? Have you gotten a chance to go out and do some exploring yet? Itâs quite a beautiful town despite what some people say about it.â
Her cheeks kept getting hotter with every word that came out of her and she was sure Harry was going to tell her off just like he had done with the two drunk men. White Deer was one out of two pubs in town, White Deer being her friendgroupâs favourite since one of them worked there, and Y/N was never ever going to be able to set her foot inside it again. Â
âCan I get you anything else or you good?â Harry asked her, his voice still as low and daunting as before, as he held her card between his slender fingers and waited for her to take it back. Â
âIâm good,â she spluttered, taking her card and beer. âThank you.â Â
And she was so close to going back to her table without embarrassing herself further, but as she thanked him she accidentally did a little curtsy and felt every ounce of dignity she had left leave her body at once.
She didnât stay around long enough to find out his reaction.
However, her friends' reactions were more than enough to let her know that everyone had just witnessed her make a complete fool out of herself. Â
âNot a damn word,â Y/N warned them as she sat down. Margot nodded quickly and moved her fingers along her lips to zip her mouth. But seeing her cheeks look like they were about to explode from laughter Y/N knew her friends were not going to let that one slide.
âDid you just fuckinâ curtsy?â Arlo howled and put a hand over his mouth to cover his loud laughter. âWhat is he? Royal?!â
âI hate you so much,â Y/N scowled and took a long, big drink for her beer to drown her own embarrassment and her friendsâ tittering. She was definitely not sharing any of the information she had found out about Harry with them. Not that he had really answered any of her questions. Only that his name was Harry, which they all already knew, and that he was from London.
And she definitely wasnât going to tell them that, even if it only was one thing. They could find out for themselves if they wanted to know so badly.
One thing was certain though, Y/N was never setting her foot inside White Deer again.
Even if she wanted to, Harry had probably already reached out to the owner of the pub and told him all about her unpleasant behaviour, begging him to ban her for life to make sure he would never have to see her again.
However, if she hadnât been so busy wallowing in self pity she would have noticed the curious green eyes looking over at her whenever someone didnât crave their attention at the bar.
---Â
#Harry Styles#Harry Styles fanfiction#Harry Styles fanfic#Harry Styles Drabble#Harry Styles blurb#Harry Styles concept#writing
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Unexpected - Part 3
King Caspian x Reader
Summary: What happens if you push the respectful and well-behaved King Caspian a little too far? Youâre about to find out.
A/N: The final chapter. This does not follow canon, itâs mainly a mix of fluff and angst with some lemon zest đ Friends to Lovers AU.
Warnings: 18+ NSFW due to sexual content including debatable consent at first, loss of virginity and oral and unprotected* sex between consenting adults. Some drinking & swearing.
*Irl, please donât go wild in the country without protection.
(My video edit)
ââââââââââââ-âââ-ăâăâââââââââââ-ââââ-ÂŤÂŤ
Ever since his hasty departure from your study, Caspian had not exactly avoided you but had taken to just popping his head round the door and wishing you a cheerful good day before disappearing again. You had smiled to yourself. It certainly did seem that you had some kind of an effect on the King. You werenât absolutely sure what that was, but it appeared to be a positive one.
You were excitedly planning an outfit for that evening as a banquet was being held to celebrate Corneliusâ birthday. No-one had mentioned how old he actually was and you werenât sure if that was because they didnât know or if they were just being tactful. Youâd bought him three new quills as his gift, which heâd accepted gratefully as he was always snapping the tips off his.
Later that afternoon, there was a brief knock and Caspianâs smiling face appeared round your door. âYou are coming to the birthday banquet tonight, arenât you, my lady?â You nodded, âI am, Caspian.â âWell⌠Iâll see you there,â he grinned, and then he was gone.
Smiling, you went back to mentally reviewing the dresses in your wardrobe. Tonight youâd make sure you looked your very best for Caspian.
ââââââââââââ-âââ-ăâăâââââââââââ-ââââ-ÂŤÂŤ
Meanwhile Caspian walked off down the corridor, deep in thought. He was sure that sheâd noticed that he was keeping a physical distance between them the past few days, but it was the only way he could think of to avoid making a complete fool of himself. Again. Like he had the last time. His face burned every time he thought about it. Sheâd known why heâd rushed off, he was sure of it.
He would have to dance with her tonight. It would look strange if he didnât, and he felt his stomach tie itself into a knot. How on earth was he going to keep himself under control? He would just have to figure out a way⌠somehow.
ââââââââââââ-âââ-ăâăâââââââââââ-ââââ-ÂŤÂŤ
Eventually, after several changes, youâd chosen a deep ruby red velvet dress with a sweetheart neckline, your hair was artfully pinned up and you had added a sparkling necklace and earrings.
The music played, the tables were laden with food and drink and Cornelius was thoroughly enjoying himself as the centre of attention. The courtiers whirled around the room in spirited waltzes and you watched as Caspian danced with girl after girl after girl. Everyone apart from you, in fact. You had a sick sinking feeling in your stomach - it looked like youâd got it all wrong, he obviously didnât have any feelings for you at all. You blinked fiercely as you felt your eyes fill up. Well, your mother always said pride comes before a fall, and you supposed that youâd been prideful in thinking that he felt something special for you.
Taking a large drink of your wine, you considered leaving the banquet. What use was there in staying? Just to watch Caspian dancing with all the other women, while you - a sorrowful heap of jealousy - sat in the corner by yourself? No, that was not going to be you, you thought.
Standing, you smoothed your dress and started to move out from behind the table, only for Cornelius to lightly grip your wrist. âYouâre surely not going already?â he questioned you. You nodded, âYes, my lord. I.. I have a headache and should retire to my chamber, I think.â He did not let go of you, âOh, my lady, canât I persuade you to stay just a little longer? It is my birthday after all!â he smiled mischievously at you. Oh, he had to make you feel guilty, didnât he? You sighed, âVery well, my lord, just for a very short time though.â He refilled your wine cup, âHave some more wine,â he encouraged you, âIâve heard itâs very efficacious in treating headaches!â
Laughing, you sat down and took the goblet from him. âIndeed? I confess I havenât heard that said of wine, my lord.â Nodding vigorously, he replied, âOh, yes - I am sure I read that recently somewhere - in a medical book or suchlike.â Out of the corner of your eye, you saw a figure approaching you, one of the Kingsguard. Before you turned to look fully at him, you saw a look of annoyance flit over Corneliusâ face, before his usual small smile returned.
âMay I have the pleasure of the next dance, my lady?â asked the handsome soldier, whose name you didnât know. You nodded and stood, taking his outstretched hand and allowing him to lead you onto the dance floor. The orchestra finished playing the previous waltz, and prepared to play the next one.
Caspianâs dark eyes met yours as he straightened up from bowing to his partner. Something flashed in them and you looked away, up at your own partner. Wasnât he happy to see you dancing with someone? Well, that was a shame, you thought - he can just have a taste of his own medicine! The music began and you and the soldier began to dance, thankfully neither of you treading on each otherâs toes. You saw that Caspian was dancing with yet another lady. Hmmm, not so bothered then, you thought somewhat bitterly.
Throughout the dance, however, any time you looked towards Caspian his eyes were on you. Continuing to look away, youâd wait a few moments and look again. Yes - still looking. Now you were confused, if he didnât care, why was he staring? Maybe it was just a âbig brotherâ kind of thing. The dance came to an end and you and your partner bowed to each other, and as you stood straight again you realised with a start that Caspian was standing slightly to the right of your soldier, gazing at you.
ââââââââââââ-âââ-ăâăâââââââââââ-ââââ-ÂŤÂŤ
Caspianâs heart had jolted in his chest when he saw her take the floor with one of his Kingsguard. Jealousy raged through his veins. She was only supposed to dance with him! He continued staring over at them as the dance progressed, barely looking at his own new partner, and as soon as the dance finished he quickly bowed, mumbled a thank you and hurried over to her and the soldier.
The soldier bowed his head to his King and took himself off at speed. Caspian was still looking at her, and eventually she cleared her throat and said, âGood evening, your Majesty,â bowed her head slightly and also started to leave the dance floor. âNo!â he exclaimed, and her eyes met his again, a confused look in them. âI mean⌠donât go, I was about to ask you to dance.â She gave him a small smile, âAnd are you asking me, your Majesty?â Now it was his turn to look confused, âWhy, yes⌠I am,â he replied and extended his hand towards her.
Taking it, she followed him to a more central area of the dance floor and as they reached it he swung around, pulling her close against him and drinking in her scent. He heard her give a small gasp and realised what heâd done - the waltz the orchestra was playing required a side by side promenade at armsâ length for a few steps before traditional waltzing then took over. Hastily, he released her and they performed their promenade steps, before he was able to take her into his arms once more.
âYou look absolutely beautiful,â he breathed next to her ear, âI was overwhelmed when I saw you arrive.â She laughed, not meeting his eyes, âReally, your Majesty? I didnât think you were even aware I was here.â âWhat?â he said, totally confused, âOf course I knew you were here!â She still wouldnât meet his eyes as they moved around the dance floor. âWell, itâs just that you were so busy with all your dance partners I didnât think that you were, your Majesty.â
Caspian felt like a thunderbolt had hit him. Of course! What a damn fool he was. Heâd been so busy trying to distract himself from mooning over her, that it hadnât dawned on him what it might look like to her - that he was totally ignoring her. Heâd noticed that sheâd gone back to calling him âyour Majestyâ. He desperately thought of how he could explain this without giving himself away. âOh⌠no, no⌠Iâm, Iâm always aware of⌠of where you are,â he said then winced as he realised how lame that sounded. âI thought I would save the last dance for you,â he added, hoping this would redeem him somewhat.
She finally looked at him, a slightly reproachful look in her eyes but she didnât speak. âIâm so sorry if it looked like I was ignoring you,â he said in a rush, âI just didnât want to seem too eager.â She laughed but he could tell there wasnât a lot of humour in it, âDonât worry, your Majesty, that definitely wasnât the impression you gave.â
Caspian was panicking. How could he be so stupid? Now she was upset with him, and he only wanted her more than ever - she looked stunning in her ruby red gown. He held her even closer to him and decided to stop talking, maybe he could just show her how he felt by holding her close. He saw her eyes widen and realised that had been a mistake too. There was no doubt that sheâd felt his rampant erection, even through the heavy fabric of her dress.
He made a sudden decision and danced her rapidly across the floor back to the table, hastily sitting down and tugging her into the seat next to him. He pulled his tunic down as far as he could over the bulge in his lap and leant forward slightly, embarrassed and running his hands over his face. âAre you alright, my King?â she questioned him. He looked sidelong at her, âI think you know exactly whatâs wrong with me.â Then in an even quieter voice, âThe same as in the orchard that time.â
He saw a blush start to rise over her face. So she did remember it.
ââââââââââââ-âââ-ăâăâââââââââââ-ââââ-ÂŤÂŤ
Oh! you thought, your mind racing back to that encounter in the gathering dusk. You had thought about it frequently over the years with a mixture of excitement and embarrassment. You knew youâd been quite forward in your curiosity, and often wondered if Caspian ever thought about it too. And now it seemed that he had. With a frisson of jealousy, youâd also wondered what other sexual experiences heâd had since.
âI⌠we said weâd never talk about that, Caspian.â While dancing and when heâd pulled you closer to him, youâd felt that hard length of his against your stomach and knew exactly what it meant. But now here he was, bringing up the subject himself.
âWe said weâd never speak of it to other people,â he corrected you, gazing into your eyes, âbut maybe we need to discuss it further between ourselves. Come, let us leave the banquet for a while so we can speak in private.â He stood up and held out his hand so you also stood, taking it and following him as he led you out of the banqueting hall, aware of the many envious glances from the other women as you left with the King.
They could think what they liked, you thought. They will know you were childhood friends, although youâd made a point of never telling that to any of them. Castle gossip will have ensured that they all knew about it in any case.
Caspian led you upstairs to one of the empty salons and outside onto the large balconied terrace which was attached to it. He knew his castle well, you thought. Due to its position in one of the towers it wasnât overlooked by any other window or balcony, and the size of the large terrace prevented anyone from seeing anything if they looked up from the grounds.
He came to a halt and turned towards you, his eyes blazing with something - you werenât sure what - as he looked into yours, âIâŚI want,â he faltered, âI needâŚ!â
You opened your mouth to ask him what he wanted and needed but before you could speak, he pushed you up against the terrace wall, you felt his mouth on yours and he was kissing you passionately. You realised he was also raising your dress and felt the fabric creep past your knee and then halfway up your leg.
Looking down you saw that Caspian had unlaced his breeches, just as you felt his fingers brush past your undergarments. Because unlike last time, it was he who had hold of his manhood and before you fully realised what he was doing, heâd slid his erection inside you and continued to push until he was fully sheathed. You were gasping and his dark brown eyes looked more like deepest black as he stared into yours, before he lowered his head onto your shoulder, groaning and whispering your name.
âCaspian!â you eventually managed to breathe, âwhat are you doing?!â
âWhat you wanted me to do that night in the orchard,â he said through gritted teeth, his voice rough.
ââââââââââââ-âââ-ăâăâââââââââââ-ââââ-ÂŤÂŤ
Caspian gripped her hips through the dress fabric and began to thrust up into her. Sheâd wanted him to do this to her those few years ago, right? Sheâd told him he was a coward because heâd pulled out. So now he was only taking what he couldâve had under the pear trees that evening, wasnât he?
He heard her voice, through her gasps, âWe were children, Caspian, who didnât know any better. Now we do. What if you get me pregnant?â Caspian stopped thrusting, she needed to hear the truth.
âI donât care! Iâve wanted you every second of every day since!â his voice broke, âDonât you realise Iâve always been in love with you?!â He leaned his head back slightly and looked into her eyes, âTell me you donât want me to do this and Iâll stop.â She hesitated and he immediately began thrusting again, kissing her and pulling her closer to him. Eventually he felt her fists pummelling his chest, âCaspian! Please! I canât get pregnant.â
He stopped with a heavy sigh, resting his forehead on hers for a moment before straightening up and pulling out of her. Taking his dick in his hand he turned away from her, frantically rubbing and squeezing his length before finishing quickly, bending over slightly and catching his seed in the palm of his other hand.
Turning back towards her, he found he was looking at empty space. She was gone.
ââââââââââââ-âââ-ăâăâââââââââââ-ââââ-ÂŤÂŤ
You ran as fast as your fancy dancing shoes would let you to your chamber. Throwing yourself headlong onto your bed and beginning to sob, you wondered how on earth youâd got yourself into this stupid situation. Because you teased him! your brain yelled back at you, itâs all your fault and you know it! Caspian is such a polite, shy, well-behaved boy and look what you made him do!
Eventually your tears stopped flowing and you wearily got up from the bed, struggling a little to unlace your dress at the back but eventually managing it. Youâd had to learn how to do that as you didnât have a ladyâs maid, unlike at home. Having washed your face, taken down your hair and changed into your nightdress, you had just lain back down in bed and pulled the quilt over your head when you heard a single knock at your door.
You knew it was Caspian, that one knock had been a special signal between the two of you since you were children. Knowing in your heart that you shouldnât answer it, you nevertheless got up and opened the door.
It looked as if Caspian had also been crying, his dark eyes were as wide as saucers. âI need to explain.â
You nodded and stood back, allowing him to come into your chamber.
ââââââââââââ-âââ-ăâăâââââââââââ-ââââ-ÂŤÂŤ
He locked the door behind him, he didnât want any interruptions during the discussion he was about to have. Sheâd walked back to her bed and sat on the edge of it, looking down into her lap. He followed her over there, also perching on the bed next to her.
He drew in a deep breath then said in a low voice, âIâm truly sorry for what I did earlier.â He looked down, âYou looked so beautiful but you danced with him, you were in his arms and I was so very jealous! I wanted you so much. But what I did was unforgivable.â He heard her exhale then she said, âI have to say, itâs not how I imagined losing my virginity, Caspian.â His head flew up, âBut that⌠we⌠didnât that happen when weâŚ?â She shook her head, blushing, âNo, not properly. You didnât get far enough inside that time,â and looked up at him, âbut you did this time.â
Now he felt himself blushing. âOh! I always thought I lost my virginity to you that evening,â he said, âAnd you? That means you havenât been with anyone else?â He held his breath and then she shook her head, her eyes downcast again. He felt an immense sense of relief, blowing out a big breath of air. There was a short silence and then he heard, âCaspian?â He looked over at her, âYes?â âHow many women have you been with since then?â
He leapt up off the bed, drawing himself up to his full height, âNone!â he shouted, then as he saw her jump, lowered his voice, âI have been with no woman except you.â Suddenly he knelt in front of her, and he met her intent gaze, âIâve never wanted anyone else apart from you.â He noticed her eyes welling up, and a few tears slid down her cheeks. He reached up and gently wiped them away, âWhy are you crying, my darling?â he asked, âDoesnât that please you?â She managed a feeble smile, âIâm crying because I am pleased to hear that, yes.â
Caspianâs brain hurt a little as he heard this; he wondered if heâd ever understand women. He decided the wisest course of action would be to remain silent and just smiled back at her, nodding as if he fully understood. She sniffled a little and then said more boldly, âCaspian, when you were⌠you know⌠earlier, you said youâd always been in love with me.â
His mind rapidly rewound to when heâd been trying to make love to her, had he said that?! He really didnât recall - his mind had been on other things! - but as it was the truth in any case, he nodded. He took hold of her hand, âYes, itâs the truth. Iâve loved you since I met you.â âBut we were just children.â âIt doesnât matter. Youâre my soulmate, Iâve always known that. It was truly awful when I had to flee the castle as I knew I wouldnât see you - maybe ever again - but I had no choice, and I just had to try and put you out of my mind until Narnia was safe.â
He got up and sat next to her on the bed again. âIt was really difficult. Just recently, everything was starting to return to normal and I was about to try and find you, when you arrived here as Corneliusâ assistant. It seemed fated that we should be together. But you kept on saying how I was your dear friend and.. and my heart broke. I was sure thatâs all you felt for me - friendship.â
She shook her head, âNo, Caspian. I donât think I realised it until I came to the castle and saw you again, but I think Iâve always loved you too.â
ââââââââââââ-âââ-ăâăâââââââââââ-ââââ-ÂŤÂŤ
Caspianâs face had the hugest grin on it as you finished speaking. âReally? You love me?â You nodded, âYes, I do.â Suddenly he was back down on one knee, âThen please - make me the happiest man in Narnia and marry me!â You must have looked like an idiot with your mouth forming a large O, but eventually you managed to say âYes!â Then he had jumped up, pulling you off the bed and wrapping his arms around you, whirling you round while you squealed and he kissed you.
After the two of you had calmed down somewhat, he left to go back to his own chambers as even although you were now betrothed, it wouldnât be seemly for him to spend the night with you, even if you just slept in the same bed. He promised that he would have a ring for you by the next day and while youâd assured him there was no rush, heâd insisted that he wanted a betrothal ring on your finger as soon as possible.
You lay awake most of the night, too excited to sleep. It seemed incredible but all of your most precious dreams had come true.
ââââââââââââ-âââ-ăâăâââââââââââ-ââââ-ÂŤÂŤ
The next morning, Cornelius had appeared in front of your desk as usual and throwing aside his usual decorous manner, had hugged you. âI am so pleased to hear your news!â he declared. âIâve never seen Caspian so happy. He was bouncing around like an over-excited rabbit this morning,â he chuckled, taking your hand and squeezing it while you laughed at his description of Caspianâs reaction. âI know the two of you will be so happy together,â he continued, âNow! We must start planning the wedding!â
When Caspian came to your study later that afternoon, he led you out from behind your desk, went down on one knee and proposed to you once again. This time, he produced a small jewellery box from his tunic pocket and opened it, showing you a ring with a large pear-shaped diamond as the centrepiece. It was beautiful and as Caspian slipped it onto your finger, he whispered, âTo always remind you of the pear trees in the orchard,â with a small mischievous grin at you.
âHow did you get the ring so quickly?â you asked him, as you were amazed that heâd managed to find such a beautiful, perfect ring in the space of one morning. Heâd winked at you, âI have my contacts, thatâs all Iâm going to say.â You never did find out for sure, but there was one diamond merchant in the town nearest to Cair Paravel who had similar gems and you thought it might be from there.
ââââââââââââ-âââ-ăâăâââââ���âââââ-ââââ-ÂŤÂŤ
One thing you did know for sure, the other ladies of the courtâs eyes were out on stalks as they glimpsed your new ring when you joined them for dinner that evening. Every single one of them was praying you were going to tell them to whom you were now betrothed and eventually - when you had still said nothing and dinner was nearly over - one of them could keep quiet no longer.
âMy lady⌠umm, I cannot help but notice your beautiful ring!â You dipped your head, âWhy thank you, my lady,â you replied. She smirked at you, âBut you are not willing to share the name of your betrothed with us?â You shook your head, a faux-regretful look on your face, âI cannot as yet, my lady. My betrothed has to be the one to announce it,â you went on, with a small shrug. Of course, this just meant that their curiosity ate them up even more.
But Caspian had advised you that he had to firstly tell the Grand Council, then your parents, the courtiers and the people of Narnia in that order - that was the accepted, traditional procedure and that was that. So you had to keep quiet, although in truth you were literally bursting to tell everyone!
ââââââââââââ-âââ-ăâăâââââââââââ-ââââ-ÂŤÂŤ
When the news was finally announced, everyone showered congratulations onto you and Caspian. Although you did get the feeling that the other ladies of the court gave their best wishes through gritted teeth and with fake smiles. You knew that they were secretly devastated as youâd won the prize they had been trying to win, and you felt slightly sorry for them as you knew youâd have felt the same if Caspian had asked one of them to marry him.
In the meantime, Cornelius - much to your surprise - had indeed become almost your sole wedding planner, and very good at it he was too! Heâd already arranged just about everything. In fact the only thing you had left to worry about choosing was your dress.
Caspian was getting nervous about the actual ceremony; he was worried he was going to forget his vows when he tried to say them to you. You had just told him, âMake them up! As long as you mean them, it doesnât matter what you actually say.â Heâd laughed, pulling you into his arms and kissing you hungrily, but then the two of you had to spring apart as two female courtiers appeared round the corner without warning. Youâd all nodded to each other; they pretended they hadnât seen you and Caspian kissing, and you two pretended you hadnât been caught.
Until you were married this was frowned on in public, in what you considered to be one of various out-dated court traditions. Youâd be shaking up some things once you were Queen, you smiled to yourself.
ââââââââââââ-âââ-ăâăâââââââââââ-ââââ-ÂŤÂŤ
Caspian was super-excited on his wedding day. He was nervous, yes - but it was a good nervous. Apart from the fact that in a few moments heâd be joined together for all eternity to the woman of his dreams, tonight, their wedding night, they would finally - finally - be able to make love properly. He couldnât wait.
Their first two attempts hadnât exactly been stellar successes - and of course, they shouldnât even have been trying the first time around! - but he just knew that it would be third time lucky. No guilty childish fumblings, no adult angry/jealous sex⌠it would be just the two of them, lying in amongst the crisp cotton sheets and deep quilts of their marital bed. No prying eyes, no interruptions, no rush - it would be just heavenly. He already felt a little thrill of arousal.
He heard the musicians begin to play the joyful wedding music and he turned to see his beautiful bride - in a gorgeous white dress and holding a bouquet of delicate white flowers - bathed in sunlight and standing in the entranceway. Would he ever feel as happy as this again, he wondered? He didnât think he would.
She paused for a few seconds and then began to walk gracefully across the Great Hall towards him. Approaching him, through her veil she met his gaze and gave him a dazzling smile.
His smile in return was even brighter and totally blissful.
ââââââââââââ-âââ-ăâăâââââââââââ-ââââ-ÂŤÂŤ
@paracosmenthusiast @jessevans
ââââââââââââ-âââ-ăâăâââââââââââ-ââââ-ÂŤÂŤ
#king caspian#king caspian x reader#king caspian fan fiction#king caspian fanfic#ben barnes#voyage of the dawn treader
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Warnings: Stripper AU, dub con, 18+ N!SFW, Ayo it's gonna be lit okay? @bakugotrashpanda thank you for always beta reading and encouraging me to write đ
The girls around you giggle as you finally arrive to whatever hell hole dive bar they planned to take you to for your 25th birthday. They wouldn't tell you where you were going or what the general theme was going to be. The only thing they gave you was your outfit on your bed and a strong promise of getting SHIT FACED. Which you so desperately needed, especially after the shitty birthday you had today.Â
And since you didn't know exactly where you were going you felt...a bit uneasy. Especially so when they blind folded you as soon as you got in the car but only AFTER placing you in a guady sash that read "Birthday Bitch" and a tiara that screamed princess. Still these were your close friends you were talking about. Women you've known since highschool.Â
But Jhiro, Asui, Uraraka, and especially Mina had been far more adventurous than yourself, so you were totally unsure of what to expect. Your only hope was that it wasn't a strip club.Â
They guide you through the boisterous club filled with whistle calls and screams for more shots or drinks. The music competes with the unsteady beat of your heart causing it to race in an attempt to keep pace with the high BPM of the song. It smells of sweat, liquor, and expensive perfumes and colognes, you were beginning to wonder just where the hell they were taking you.Â
"M...Mina when can I take off the blind fold." You ask, words slightly slurred from the pre gaming the five of you did as yall got ready. Her only response is her bubblegum pink lips curling upwards as she giggles. The sound of the music begins to fade as you seemingly stumble further into the building, you hear a door open before it is shut, sealing away the outside music.Â
Mina and Jhiro as gingerly as they can guide you into a plush armchair, keeping the blind fold on.Â
"Yall, am I where I think I am?" A bit of your temper shows through in your tone of voice as you feel up the luxurious fabric of the chair, the soft ambient light that you can see through the bottom of your blind fold and the godly smell of caramel, spice mixed with clean, almost mountainous air.Â
"Hold out your hands!" Mina squeals, Jhiro helps you hold them together. A large stack of paper is set into your palms setting your mouth into a harsh line. You pull the blind fold from your eyes to be met with a delectable nightmare.Â
Two sizable men laze atop rugs, pillows and cozy furs making them seem more exotic than what they are. One with ash blonde hair pushed back by rushed fingers, looking put together and yet wild, with the sides faded. The other's hair long, almost unruly as it trailed down his back, a red hue so deep you first mistake it for black.Â
But what really grabbed your attention was their eyes.Â
Harsh deep garnet and dazzling ruby red gaze at you. One dissects you leaving you feeling vulnerable, raw, as if by one glance he could see through your bones to your soul and all the things that made you tic. While the other set felt softer, pretty boy brooding yet inviting, adding balance to the intensity that his ash blonde counterpart had.Â
A shiver collectively runs down the female's spines.Â
Suddenly you feel a bit self conscious and stupid in your barely there body con black dress. You pull at your hem with futile haste, their eyes linger on your powerful thighs.
"Welcome ladies to the private show of the Deadly Duo." A sharp toothed smile pairs nicely with the introduction.Â
Deadly Duo indeed.
"I'm Red Riot and this is Ground Zero. The men by the door are Chargebolt and Cellophane, they will bring you whatever food or drink you so desire." You follow his sultry voice to the two men by the door. An electric blonde stands tall and flirty in his crop top and tight black jeans while a raven haired man stands on the other side shirtless, leaving the print in his grey sweatpants to do the talking for him. They both wink in yalls direction. Your focus falls back to the men before you, finally you notice what they are wearing. Their broad chests are bare, glistening from either glitter or their own sweat from an earlier escapade. Their theme seems to be a set of sorts Ground Zero wears a silky black fabric around his waist that does not shy away from a certain outline, his ash blonde hair is adorned with a black grotesque crown. It was made of sharp things, shattered glass, razor blades and two old switchblade knives giving it the illusion of horns. Paired nicely with pitch black wings, glistening as if silver stars were sprinkled on the feathers.Â
While Red Riot wore white fabric wrapped around his defined abs. His head piece was golden, circling behind his head as if they "rays" of light, making him look much more like a rare subject of a renaissance painting. His pair of wings were white glistening in gold.Â
Their wings flutter, one seemingly agitated the other curious. Although you knew they were a prop, you would have sworn they were real.Â
The lights turn low, leaving only their eyes and crowns to glow.Â
"Are you sluts ready?" Ground Zero's voice is dangerous and low. Causing your gut and thighs to clench. Unknowingly you nod causing his wolfish grin to grow.
This was going to be more than the tacky fireman and cop duo Mina dragged everyone to for her own birthday. They were less like pieces of meat and more like Gods.Â
A God seducing a mere mortal such as yourself.Â
You gulp, all of you mesmerized by the movements of their hips, the sway of their bodies and fluttering of their fake wings. King of Hell and Heaven pulling you in making it hard to keep focus on anything but them.Â
"We don't dance for free." Ground Zero's voice comes out as a harsh bite. Bringing the five of you back to planet Earth.Â
"Birthday girl, the money!" Mina stage whispers a bit behind you. You stare down at the stack 2,000 and 5,000 yen bills. You nervously take a few and let them float to the floor. The girls behind you hollar for more as they toss their own money towards the men.Â
"Heh she's already flustered." Bakugou whispers to Kirishima as he comes behind his friend, hand snaking up Kirishima's abs, nails leaving red marks along his skin.
"It's cute." The red head whispers as he throws his head back in mock pleasure.Â
"Well cute doesn't cut it. Let's step this shit up a notch." The blond snarls, grabbing onto Kirishima's throat, giving it a squeeze.Â
Kirishima allows a genuine groan to leave his lips while you let out a small whimper.Â
"Are we gonna do the thing if they tip enough?" Kirishima's whisper is breathy as Bakugou makes him sway in beat with his own hips. The hot head's only reply is a deadly grin. He takes his large palm and places it on the back of Kirishima's nape before harshly shoving him to his knees before he places a black gladiator shoe onto the small of the red head's back.Â
"Collect our money from the birthday bitch." Kirishima fights to keep the smile off of his face, knowing full well Bakugou intends to milk these women dry.Â
You're frozen in place as doe like rubies gaze up at you. He crawls towards you slowly, his face slightly pained or maybe it is twisted with pleasure. It makes you think horrible, rancid thoughts.
Is that what he would look like on top of you?Â
He ignores the bills, as if he is in a trance, keeping his eyes locked to yours. He stops at your feet before he can do anything else you offer him a 5,000 bill with shaking hands, he takes it gently and sets it aside. Instead he gets up onto his knees, hands hesitantly hovering over your ankle and calf.Â
"Permission to touch Princess?" He looks up at you through long dark lashes. The light plays tricks on you as your mouth grows dry, you truly were staring down at an angel.Â
"P...permission granted." A wicked smile plays on his lips and for a moment you think you've been fooled. His hands are calloused and yet far from rough, one hand holds firm onto your ankle while the other follows the natural curve of your calf all the way to just above the back or your knee. Long, strong fingers inches from the hem of your dress.Â
"Mina this is good shit!" Jhiro whispers to her friend who giggles in response. Almost breaking the spell. They throw more money but earn the blondes agitation. Yes, most of the time it was about the money, but in some rare moments it was about the looks on people's faces. To have them so enthralled by their own fantasies that they forgot who they really were.Â
He could see you were dipping into that space quickly, Kirishima is about to seal the deal.Â
Trailing slow kisses up your smooth legs, sharp teeth glinting in the golden and red ambient lighting.Â
Depending on your reaction to what Kirishima is about to do determines Bakugou's next few moves.Â
Kirishima's doe creature mask breaks for a fraction of a second and the wicked smile happens again, his mouth just above your knee as he opens wide, letting his teeth sink into your thick thigh.Â
The whimper that leaves your lips, the fluttering of your half mast eyes and the shape of your mouth send Bakugou into that rare state.Â
He gives a harsh head tilt to the men at the door before glaring at the extra women in the room.Â
"Are you ladies feeling neglected?" Chargebolt asks, lips a breath away from Jhiro's ear, her ear jacks twist on their own as her face flushes. Meanwhile Cellophane is purring in Mina's ear.Â
"How rude of them to ignore such beauty. Let's get the four of you a private showing."Â
"A..ah okay." They agree, getting up to squeeze your arms and drop off more cash onto your lap.Â
"Don't get too wrapped up!" Mina teases before exiting with the rest of the crew. Leaving it to just the three of you. Â
As soon as the door shuts, Bakugou falls to his knees, crawling slowly. Much slower than Red Riot, agonizingly so, his hard set eyes locked with yours even as Red still holds your leg captive. You push back into the plush chair in exhilarating fear, chest rises and falling in shallow and quick movements unable to break his molten hot gaze. His movements are methodical, quiet and not even his wings twitch as he makes his way, as if he does not want to make a sound. Like a panther hiding in the shadows, stalking its prey.Â
The light play tricks as the muscles of his back and broad shoulders seem to be highlighted. These men were strong, more fit than you've ever seen and yet, yet your eyes were glued to theirs.Â
Especially the ashe blonde's. Finally he reaches your feet, hands hovering over your left leg and before he can ask you're nodding frantically. He sucks his teeth, locking over your soft skin before grabbing onto you with a bruising grip, eyes holding yours once more.Â
"I wasn't going to fucking ask." He yanks your leg towards him, away from the other. You frantically try to push your dress down to cover your lacy, barely there thong that Mina convinced you to wear. A steely grip is at your wrist.Â
"Ah, ah ah, it's only fair, Princess." Bakugou teases before letting his hands trail up your leg, causing you to tense and yet ease into his touch at the same time. He trails biting kisses up your leg and lets his fingers actually touch the skin beneath your hem.Â
You yelp, hand hesitantly hovering over his washed out golden strands. You were unsure of the rules, of if you were allowed to touch them.Â
A soothing hand pats your knee.Â
"Don't worry, he isn't as much of a brute he seems to be. Plus." His ruby eyes gesture towards the corners of the room, "Cameras are always watching."Â
You give a slow nod, as Ground Zero comes up from his bite above your knee, black blooms on your skin before he presses a chaste kiss atop the purplish flower. He shoots Kirishima a glare, it was going to be hard to get you back into the fantasy.Â
Another shaking bill is offered causing Bakugou to sigh. He grabs the stack from your lap and sets it aside.Â
"Let's forget that for now, okay?" Kirishima beams and you nod slowly.Â
Bakugou gets an idea, knowing Kirishima will adapt quickly to Bakugou's intent. Zero shoves Red to the side, placing himself between your legs, climbing slowly up your body as if you were his lover.Â
He pants heavily as he does and you feel something as he grinds onto you. You cannot tell if it is an actually hard on or a semi, either way you're flustered and unbelievable aroused as this man, no this God among men stares into your very fucking soul. He stands, placing his hands on both sides of the armchair, leaning in close as you back away, cornering you like the prey you are.Â
His breath fans your ear, he wants to give it a bite, sink his teeth deep into your semi exposed neck as your smell pulls him in a little too far into the fantasy. He comes closer and his heat is almost unbearable.Â
"Do...do you do this for every show?" You squeak out, buzzing from excitement and primal fear. His eyes narrow as if he is lost in thought before the question finally registers in his mind. That deadly smirk returns, lips brushing your ear as he speaks, his rough hand grabbing onto the sash. The sound of tearing fabric fills the room for a moment. You squeeze your eyes shut.Â
"This is all for you, kitten." Suddenly the warmth is ripped away from you as massive arms wrap around Zero's middle.Â
"Don't forget about me, Princess." He drops Bakugou roughly on the ground before he falls to his knees. Worshiping you as if you were the star of the show.Â
Kisses trail up your legs, stopping on your inner thigh just before your hem. This time a whine leaves your lips, as two sets of red eyes gage your reaction. He continues his work, crawling up between your legs until you could easily wrap them around his torso, he motions you closer with a single finger and you follow, he knocks away the ugly tiara and places a black and golden flower crown atop your head. He lets his fingernails scratch gently along your scalp as he moves away. Before holding you by the nape of the neck. Keeping you nose to nose with him. Â
"That is more fitting for you my Princess." Kirishima gives you a lazy cat smile. Before a cocky laugh sounds behind you causing your core to flutter.Â
"Your Princess?" He fists Kirishima's hair forcing him to let go of you before Bakugou yanks him back, holding intense eye contact with his counterpart, "More like my slut."Â
"F..fuck." You groan before Bakugou leans down to Kirishima, he's close. So close their noses brush before Bakugou tilts Kirishima's head kissing him with a passion unseen and unmatched. Kirishima groans, giving Bakugou access to his mouth and you can do nothing but stare as you watch a struggle for power between two wet muscles, you barely notice Bakugou's broad other hand snake to Kirishima's throat giving it a good squeeze.Â
You're salivating, cunt clenching before a moan escapes your mouth. Bakugou pulls away and a lewd string of saliva connect the two before it breaks off. For a moment Kirishima looks as starstruck as you, his cheeks are so red, eyes lost as they stare endlessly into the man who is just a smidge shorter and smaller than him but God damn if he doesn't hold Kirishima's heart and yours in the palm of his sharply manicured hands. Bakugou speaks without his eyes leaving Kirishima's making sure he doesn't fall too deep into subspace.Â
"Tch. Sounds like you like what you see huh slut?" You whine again at his crude words. You watch his hand so softly sweep away hair from his counterpart's face smiling down at him cruelly.Â
"Oi, you still on cloud nine there? Or are you present enough to have a bit of a competition?" Kirishima's eyes come to life at the thought of a friendly fight. He gives him a sharp toothed smile, letting his hand trail up Bakugou's abs stopping over his slow beating heart. Kirishima can never understand how he keeps such a level head over so much heated contact, how he never slips up and gets a little too caught up. Or maybe the look in Bakugou's eyes say that he is. The hot head grabs his jaw line roughly, turning him towards you and looking at you at the same time.
"Alright let's see if you're my slut or his Princess."Â
"O...okay." You whisper pulling another deadly laugh from the horned devil. His wings unfurl a bit, making him seem bigger before his weighted gaze settles on your skin. He let's go of Red, trapping you in the chair again, leaning as close as he did to the red head. Nose grazing yours.Â
"You don't even know what you've blindingly agreed too. Are you that desperate or just stupid?" His voice drawfs the rushing blood in your ears. His hand tentatively hovers over your throat, reading your gaze before he takes an extra step. Cutting off a bit of the blood flow to your brain, gasping for delighted breath you stare him down. Heart hammering in your chest as you felt like a small lamb ensured in the sharp teeth of a wolf.Â
"Answer me." A nasty bite, dark eyes clouded with his own dom space but still attentive enough to watch for queues.Â
Although you are more than willing, he is playing a dangerous game. He doesn't know your kinks, worse yet your safe word. This session had turned more into a scene than anything else. Even though the three of you are not having sex he needs to he sure of your limits.Â
Or a least a good dominant should. Still you answer and still he is a damn good guesser.Â
"I..I'm desperate." Bakugou's smile sends a rush of heat to your sex and an endless amount of endorphins to your brain. You feel a bit high, head light from lack of air. He turns your face slightly away from him, pressing his cheek to yours as he breaks the spell for just a moment, easing his grip on your throat.Â
"You say black when you want us to stop. Got it." It takes you a moment to process what he's saying before you frantically nod yes, "You gotta say it around baby girl."Â
God you melt, melt and die right there in the chair. His voice feather soft in this moment making you want more, more, more as if he really were the demon king brought here to corrupt you.Â
"Yes, King." It's a whisper but it's enough to make Bakugou's dick twitch.Â
Fuck what a good name and one he hadn't heard before. He presses a soft kiss to your hairline before using his soft voice for a final time.Â
"That's my good kitten." It's a soft growl and somehow you melt even more. He trails kisses along your jawline, giving you a moment to say yes or no before he kisses down your throat, pushing away the fabric of your dress to expose your shoulder. You moan as his breath tickles the perked skin, waiting impatiently for that anticipated kiss. Although it never comes. Instead he settles for sinking his teeth into your shoulder instead of your throat. Pulling and gnashing his teeth leaving a bruise as dark as your dress. Teeth outlined the black blossom. He drags his tongue along your throat before his replaces it with your hand. Pulling you into a bruising kiss that has you seeing fireworks, earning a moan. He slips his tongue in and you do not even attempt to fight, only attempt to keep up. He squeezes your throat tighter and you're floating. Clinging onto Bakugou with dying strength, nails biting into his biceps.Â
Too soon he pulls away, a hazed look in his eyes surely matching your own. His cheeks slightly flushed as the two of you pant. He gives a cocky grin as if he already knows that he's won. He steps back a bit, hitting Kirishima on the shoulder before whispering in his ear.Â
"Black means stop got it?" Kirishima holds contact with him and nods before coming close to you.Â
Unlike his counterpart Kirishima uses more of his hands, letting them trail on your legs, your arms, nails raking against your scalp. Pulling at your hair. It is hypnotic in the same sense that Bakugou was. You sigh deeply, happily as you look into a deep set of ruby red eyes. He takes his side of you, the right side, especially since Bakugou already claimed your left. Gently he allows one hand to rest on your hip. He gives you a moment and when nothing comes out of your mouth he squeezes. Kissing slow, soft kisses on your jawline, throat. Lips pressing on the crook of your neck before he too removes the fabric exposing your other shoulder. He does not breathe hotly over his meal, he dives right in. Pointed teeth sinking in as you groan from the pleasure. He almost draws blood. He does not suck, no he only bites. All teeth marks set deep in blackish blue when he pulls away. He checks on you again before he methodically he leans in, grabbing your chin to tilt you to him, kissing you so softly, lips moving at a snail's pace before they begin to quicken. Faster and faster until those teeth are pulling at your bottom lip, tongue finding its way in as you sigh into the kiss.Â
Just as before the kiss ends too soon and you cry out in mock rage but true agitation.Â
God you just wanted them. Kirishima makes room for Bakugou to push his way into the small space before you. Each trapping you from their respective side.Â
"SoâŚ" Kirishima pants, Bakugou finishes for him.Â
"Who wins? Who owns your dirty mouth?" Their voices low and breath mingling with yours as they stare into your face.Â
"Can..can you please show me my options again."Â
#bakugou x reader#Kirishima x reader#dubcon#bnha x reader#bnha au#spicy fic#bnha fan fic#bnha one shot#bnha smut#bakugo x reader#bakugo katsuki x reader#bakugou katsuki x reader
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Oh, What A Ghost!
Ghost! Izuku Midoriya X Fem! Vampire! Reader
Summary: Being a pervert gets you punished, not that he minded.
WARNINGS!: Biting, oral (male and female receiving), face riding, fingering, butt stuff, blood, voyeurism, masturbation, orgasm denial, toys, a lot of nsfw content. Sub! Izuku
Category: Smut
Word Count: 5.4k+
A/N: Did I shove as many kinks into this as I could? yeah<3 HAPPY HALLOWEEN! :)Â
Just To Clarify:
Theyâre consenting third years (aka 18+)
There is a heiarchy but Izuku totally tears it downÂ
This was a fun monster!au I made up :)
Itâs Halloween lmao.
Perm. Tag List:
@coupsieddoriâ @desia2â @strwbrry-liaâ
âYouâre such a pervert, Izuku~â
âH-HaaaH! (L/N)..! Pl-please-! Iâm- mmMM!! Iâm s-ssorry-!â
âIs that so?â
To be honest, you never thought this would happen, never thought youâd be given the opportunity to make a move on your crush in such a.. bold and licentious fashion.
He did have it coming, though, considering you caught him red handed.
Ghosts were always so sneaky and aberrant, their ability to walk or float through walls and turn invisible offering a plethora of possibilities for activities, both good and bad. You didnât expect such an âinnocentâ and kind boy to partake in such activities that his race was known for, and yet, you werenât all that surprised when you found out that he lived up to the stereotype.
Then again, most monsters did.
It was mostly inevitable, after all.
Just like how ghosts were perverts, vampires were sadists. And thatâs exactly what you were.
Poor little Izuku, he had no idea the true trouble he got himself into, and on such a respected night as well.
Halloween.
October 31st.
The holiday was bigger than any other, the entire island, or at least the participating parts, went all out with decorations every year.
From lights to festivals, everyone went nuts.
It was the day that worshipped the supernatural, after all.
In a world where humans and creatures, previously thought as myths, coexist, humans have always overpopulated the monsters, and so schools built just for them popped up all over the globe. The one you and your dear friend, Midoriya, attended happened to be the most famous one, known for using monsters ability to fight against those who used it for wrong. It truly was thrilling, and it saved those previously in public schools from the bullying that occured all too much.
The school, UA, was like a pot of stew, all kinds of monsters mixing together. Werewolves, witches, wizards, zombies, vampires, ghosts, and so many more. Though, most typically stuck with their own group, but it wasnât uncommon for people to branch out, just like how you were friends with a ghost and a zombie.
It took society a long time to accept monsters, and some still dont, but who needs them anyway, right?
Besides, to you, monsters were much more fun, especially when vampires and sirens were considered the top of the hierarchy.
Ghosts, ghouls, and zombies were at the bottom, their power not all that great, but vampires and sirens, alongside werewolves, were at the very top, the most well respected and feared monsters.
Though you were looked down on by your fellow vamps by befriending a ghost, you couldnât care less.
As months flew by, and two school years came and went, you found yourself falling madly in love with the man who captivated you.
If he didnt float and walk through walls sometimes, you wouldve assumed he was a different class from how he held himself, strong, and not weak and defenseless.
You loved it.
But there was always something that made you question him sometimes, how heâd disappear without saying a word, how heâd be flustered around you one day and not the next. It was strange, but you never looked into it.
Little did you know, the dirty little ghost was up to absolutely no good.
His.. habit manifested out of fear, ever since that summer camp that occurred the first year, and he saw how badly wounded you were, he grew protective of you, even if you were miles ahead of him in strength. Heâd check up on you somtimes, turning invisible and poking his head in through your dorm room window.
He knew it was wrong, peeking into a girls room- at night.. but.. he couldnt help himself.
He swore he would stop, but he never did.
One day, he happened to catch you.. doing quite a lewd act. He knew in his gut he shouldve floated away, to not be a peeping tom, but his large green eyes were glued to your perfect body, and how your fingers dipped in and out of your wet flesh with a squelch and moan that made his virgin cock twitch in his shorts.
Was it wrong to grab his dick, bucking into his hand as he watched you get off to an audio?
Maybe..Â
No, it definitely was!
But you.. you were so!!
So hot!
He lost count of the amount of times heâs cum on his hand watching you cum on your own, far too many.
But he slipped up today, let a moan escape past his hand and suddenly your ruby red eyes met his own.
He knew you couldnt see him, but he knew that you knew he was there!!
You smirked, showing off your sharp fangs, âIzuku.â
The pure shock he felt from hearing you say his name made him manifest into thin air on accident, collapsing to his knees as ghost costume covered his indecency.
There was a Halloween party tonight, and he dressed up as his race thinking it was funny- but it wasnât really funny anymore.
And so, that led him to where he was now, willingly beneath your naked body glistening with sweat from the full moons silvery light pouring in through the window as you ground your bare pussy against his sensitive cock.
You pinned his arms above his head, your hungry gaze boring into his soul, he couldnt deny how hot it was, or how true your words were.
He was a pervert.
âY-yes!â He cried out, tears pricking at his eyes from the embarrassment he felt at being caught, âIâm s-sorry..!â
His breath caught in his throat when you leaned down, your face hovering over his own.
âMmm.. I donât know if I can believe you, âZuku.. How can I know youâre really sorry?â
You batted your eyes at him, pouting, such a devious thing to do.
âI-Iâll do a-anything t- haaahh.. nn.. t-to prove it..!â
He was so cute.
âAnything?â You pondered.
âYes-â
You cut him off with a kiss, and you couldnt help but grin when he moaned against you.
This kiss turned into another, and another, and soon you were finally making out with him. It was sloppy and uncoordinated, but eventually you both fell into a rhythm, him whimpering each time you rolled your hips against him.
Swiping a tongue over his quivering bottom lip, he eagerly opened his mouth, just for you to invade his maw, greedily sucking his sweet tongue into your mouth, causing him to give in and buck up against your sopping warmth, giving your clit delicious friction.
âMm-!â
Pulling away, his mouth chased your own for a second, âH-hah-! (L/N)!â
Pressing a finger to his plump lips, you pushed his head back down against your pillow.
âSay.. you wouldnât mind if weâre a little late to the party, would you?â You smiled coquettishly down at the squirming boy covered in scars and freckles.
Gulping rather loudly, he shook his head, eyes wide and face burning red, his hormones going wild. How could he say no, when his crush was rubbing her naked self against him and enjoying it?
He would be a fool, a damn fool to say no, he wanted it too much. He wanted you, and he would say just about anything, do anything you wanted, to have you.
âMm~ Good boy.â The praise went straight to his gut, butterflies forming and going wild inside him, making his hands clammy.
Reaching over, you dug around the drawer of your nightstand, pulling out a pair of red and black leather handcuffs that matched your curtains and rug.
Izuku let out a whine as his wrists were cuffed to the bed, giving in immediately.
âBad boys donât get to touch.â You teased, tapping his nose and watching as it wrinkled.
But this just meant you couldn't get his shirt and ghost sheet off, not that you particularly minded. You didn't need him completely naked.
Fulling slipping off him, you watched for a moment as his cock twitched, begging for you to come back to it.Â
It made you giggle, and he flushed like a cherry.
Sauntering over to your closet, swaying your hips in a hypnotic way Izuku couldnât ignore, you dug around, soon finding the glittery box you were looking for and pulling it out, showing it to him with a cheeky grin.
âW-whats in that.. (L/N)..?â
â(Y/N).â
âHuh?â
âCall me (Y/N), love.â
âO-ohâŚâ Biting his lip, he looked conflicted for a split second, clearly inwardly debating if it was okay, before stuttering out your first name, only adding to the joy you felt.
Flipping the light switch off, your red fairy lights hung around the room made it glow crimson, your favorite color, especially on him.
The red glow made the atmosphere that much more romantic and sexy, his eyes reflecting the colors. It was like you were in the red light disctric in a dirt cheap hookup hotel, about to fuck your boyfriend who insisted upon not getting caught. How utterly disgraceful, and yet the thought excited you.
Setting the box down beside him on the bed, you sat at the bottom of the mattress, in front of his sock covered feet, noting how his hips wiggled impatiently and how he looked away with his teeth digging into his bottom lip.
Still so shy despite you rubbing yourself on him earlier.
âLook at me, darling.â You purred, dragging your nails up his leg to catch his attention.
Hesitantly, he turned his head, nervous eyes meeting your own.
It was rare that he saw them so red, the signature sign of a hungry vampire. They were captivating, and he found himself diving into their depths, drowning in you without you even touching him.
Placing your hands on his knees, you spread his legs apart, eliciting a mouse-like squeak from him.Â
Even with his pants on, he felt so bare..
His heart jumped to his through when you gripped the hem of his pants and boxers, âMind if I take these off?â
How polite of you..
He nodded his head, unruly green locks bouncing as he did so, squeezing his eyes shut.
âGAHâ He screeched when you suddenly used your vampiric speed to pull them both down quickly and toss them so fast to the other side of the room that they slapped against the wall like a wet fish.
He was stunned, staring blankly at them, about to question it when he was cut off with a guttural groan, your lips suddenly wrapping around the tip of his weeping cock.
âH-hah-! A-ah! (L/-)- I me-an (Y/N-N)â! Wh-! MMMM!! Oh!!â
Despite your own mess covering his member, which definitely delighted you, you could still taste the salty precum dripping out as your tongue licked over his slit, his back arching from the stimulation.
He couldnt help but buck up pathetically with a mewl, only to have his hips pinned down to the mattress with one of your hands.
âAh, ah, ah~â You whispered against his tip, piercing eyes cutting into his skin like a poisonous knife as you dared him to fight against your hold.
He gulped, accepting his fate with a shaky breath.
Content with his obedience, you licked along the underside of his cock, savoring his musky flavor.
âHnn! Hoahh..â
He was so.. vocal.. even with the slightest touch, youâd get a reaction out of him. It was fascinating, and only made you want to see how much more you could pull from him before he lost the ability to speak a coherent sentence.
Slipping his member back into your mouth, you swirl the tip of your tongue around his bulbous, flushed head, reaching up to grab the discarded lube you had left on your bed,Â
âMmMm! O-oh..! My G-gosh..! Haa-!â
Squirting some of the clear jell-like liquid on your palm, you wrapped your hand around his shaft, smiling when he jumped, just to start pumping you fist up and down.
âG-GAaAh! Oh, (Y/N).!â
He himself found it hard to not thrash around from the intense pleasure he was feeling at the moment.
He couldnt help the drool slipping from the corner of his mouth as you began to bob your head up and down his member whilst simultaneously twisting your hand up and down his shaft, squeezing in places that made his mind go blank for a second.
He just felt so good!
It was so much different from pleasuring himself!
He had no control over his ecstasy, no control over how fast or how slow you went, and he loved it-!
âHyAAh!â He cried out like a girl when you suddenly deepthroated him, his tip pressing down your throat as you wet mouth squeezed and sucked on him like your favorite lollipop.
His hips fought against your hold as his head flung back, tears pricking at his eyes as you sucked him for all he was worth, his poor, over sensitive cock.
âO-OH! Oh, NnnNGH!! HaaA ! AAaaAh! (Y-Y/N)..!!!â
His handcuffs clinked together as his body began to shake, a warm feeling spreading in his lower stomach as his muscular thighs began to tense.
His orgasm hit him like a freight train, out of nowhere, intense, and electrifyingly cosmic.
His hazy green eyes rolled back, tongue flopping from his mouth as white hot and tangy cum squirted from his dick down your throat.
You greedily sucked it down around him, causing his entire body to jerk and twitch, cries and babbles fleeing past his spit-slick lips, the oversensitivity making his nerves burn in an oh-so good way.
Popping off his softening cock, you crawled back up his body, staring down at his cute, chubby, sleepy face.
You pinched his cheeks, pulling at it, successfully catching his attention and making his darkened eyes focus on you.
âO-oh-!â He stuttered, face burning impossibly hotter as he watched you seemingly savor his flavor with lidded eyes.
âWeâre not done yet, Izuku.âÂ
Your statement made him freeze like a deer in front of headlights. What else was there to do?
He already came.. oh!
Wait!
âY-you didnât.. c-cum..â He bashfully averted his gaze as you nodded, gears turning in his head again as he recovered from his high.
He knew exactly what you wanted.
âYou know, you have such a soft and adorable face,â
âWh-â
âDo you mind if I sit on it?â
Was this your way of asking him to eat you out?!
How bold!
How could you be so bold!Â
Despite being nervous, he nodded his head, smiling giddily.
He had watched plenty of videos, had taken a plethora of notes, and even, as weird as it was, practiced on multiple fruits.
He was nearly positive he could please you.
He wanted to.
He needed to, to hear your own sweet moans caused by him.
He wanted that so bad.
Without thinking, he opened his mouth, eyebrows pinching together as he stared pleadingly up at you with his tongue out and ready to please.
He was such a good boy.
Standing up on your knees, you walked forward, your dripping pussy soon hovering over the excited boys mouth.
Lowering yourself, your thighs wrapping around his head, you were immediately met with an eager tongue lapping at your dripping folds.
âOh~! My, s-someones enthusiaststic-!â
Bracing up urself on your hands and knees. You made sure not to suffocate the poor man as he rapaciously ate you out, sucking your puffy clit into his mouth and giving it much needed attention.
âHaaaah.. Izuku..! Youâre such a good boy for me, eating my mm.. pussy like its your dinner!â You gasped, fingers threading through his messy green locks, pulling at them just to feel the vibrations of his moans against your clit.
You bucked against his mouth, riding his tongue and grinding down against his teeth.
âMm-mmh! HnmmâŚâ His moans were muffled, wet licks filling the room.
He could feel your juices dripping down his chin as he was willingly smothered with your womanhood, completely trapped under you and beyond happy to obey.
His tongue dragged over your pretty pink labia, prodding at and slipping into your clenching entrance, slurping up your mess.
He could eat you out all day and never get tired, he was sure of it!
And your noises of pleasure were heavenly.. music to his straining ears. And the way you combed through his hair, he somehow felt like this was just as good as cumming, making someone else feel good..
But you suddenly lifted off his face, his tongue still moving for a second before he stared up at you with childish confusion.
His face was red and covered in your liquids, a true mess.
Chucking, you leaned back, wrapping your hand around his cock that sprung to life over the course of his meal, âI want to cum on your cock, Izu.â
Your dirty words made his heart jump and his member twitch in your grasp.
âP-please..â Though he knew he was going to get just that, he couldnt help but beg, it felt like he was supposed to, or that he had to- for himself just as much as for you.
âBut first..â you trailed off, finally reaching into the box and pulling out multiple things that made him involuntarily buck impatiently into thin air.
In your hands, you held egg vibrators, a black cock ring, and a red ribbed vibrating dildo.
He gulped audibly once more, and you were positive if he were a werewolf, his tail would be wagging with those hearts in his eyes.
âDo you know what these are?â
He nodded his head. Gaze trained on them as you fiddled with the devices.
âHave you any idea what Iâll be doing with them?â
He shook his head, innocently smiling at you, the cheeky shit.Â
âHow about I show you?â
With that, you lubed up your finger, diving between his legs, pressing against his clenching hole, circling around it.
âH-haah..â His heart was pounding so hard it felt like he was at a concert as your finger slowly pushed in his tight hole.
âNngh!â His cheek pressed against the pillow at the weird feeling of someone entering his body in such a way.
You finger thrusted in and out of him slowly, feeling around his warm, gummy walls for a certain button you knew he would enjoy having pushed.
His thighs were splayed wide for you, cock resting on his toned tummy covered by a white sheet.
You could only hope he didnt ruin his costume with how much he was leaking. He certainly had a sloppy dick.
Leaning down, you pressed kisses to his freckled inner thigh, pushing in a second finger and watching in amusement as he slowly got into it, embracing the feeling of being filled with your digits.
It wasnt long before you managed to fit in a third finger, grinning at how his ass practice swallowed them, âGod, Izuku.. your ass is so greedy for my fingers, you keep sucking them back in~â
âA-aah! (Y/N)!! D-donât say such-!! Nnghnn! Lewd thâthings!â
âHmm⌠I wonder⌠where is that pesky little spot..â
âW-what-? AH! H-AahAh! NGHH! Oh-oH! F-FaH! FuCk!â
âBingo.â
You finally located his prostate, giving it no mercy as you aimed your fingers to press against it with each time you pushed and curled them inside him.
But from his thighs tensing beneath your lips and his cock twitching, you knew he was close again, and that was no good.
âA-AAaaAh! Iâm!! Iâm g-gonna! C-cu- hAh?!â
You pulled your fingers out, wiping the lube onto the sheets below you as he wiggled like a worm on the sidewalk, desperately bucking his hips and begging for you to give him more.
âOh, I will..â Smirking over at him again, the glint in your eyes made him moan and feel like prey. You, a lioness on the prowl, and him, a mouse with nowhere to hide, completely bare for you, âBut not just yet, baby. This is a punishment, after all.â
Though he was embarrassed at first with having his thighs spread so wide open, exposing every intimate part of himself to you, he didnt feel too shy anymore. You didnt judge him at all, in fact, you swallowed him whole. It was mind numbingly pleasant, and he never thought he would ever get to experience this, not even in his dreams.
For it to come true.. and to find out you were a kinky lady.. he was enthralled.Â
Leaning up, you captured his lips in a kiss again, giving him time to calm down as you once again molded your lips together in a lustful heat.
He learned quick, his kisses becoming lasting as he met your pace with wet smacks and tongues brushing against eachother. His own passed over your fangs, and you both shivered when a drop of blood entered your mouth.
You inhaled sharply through your nose, eyes practically glowing in the red light of the room as you tasted him. He surely had the best blood you had even tasted before, nothing at all like how ghosts usually taste! They were bland and boring, but him-! He was nectareous and saporous.Â
âFuck, Izu.. you taste so.. magnificent..â
You licked his tongue again, holding onto that single drop of blood for as long as you could, his flavor making you keen with delight.
His lips parted to speak, but he was once again cut off with a lewd moan as you shoved the dildo halfway into his readily awaiting ass.
âGuaAh! W-wait!! Itâs..! Too much!â He panted heavily, tears streaming down his cheeks from how good the vibrating phallic shaped object felt inside of him, almost like it was mixing his insides up like a blender.
âMm, should I? You look like youâre enjoying this, Zuzuku.â
âMmm..!! H-aAAaA..!â
Pushing further into him, you got the entire toy burried deep in his walls, pulling it back out, fucking him with the plastic object.
His thighs were spread so wide he feared theyâre snap off at the hip as he rocked his ass on the toy, vision hazy as continue to cry out.
âHAAAAHH!! AAAH..!â
He screamed when the toy pressed against his button, pounding against it and making his legs turn to mush as he bucked so hard his heavy cock bobbed in thin air, slapping down against his stomach continuously.
Just when his eyes were rolling back again and his jaw was lax, about to cum, you pulled the toy out, â(Y/N)!!â
He sobbed in frustration, desperation building inside him to cum, even going as far as to try and drag you back with his legs.
âYou cant cum yet, Izuku! We havent even used all these fun vibrators yet!â You held up the three vibrators with one hand, an all too innocent smile plastered on your face whilst he looked completely wrecked.
âM-mmh! B-but-!â
Not giving him time to talk, you grasped his leaking cock, pumping it a few times, watching as he tried to fuck into the tunnel you created.Â
Grabbing the black cock ring, you stretch it on his awaiting member as he whines, knowing full well he cannot cum with such a device on. It would be torturous, but he was being punished after all, even if he had aready cum and his mind was turning to goo, he still remembered that. Of course you would make it so he couldnt cum again.
Taking the vibrators, you taped them around him, one snug just under his slit, and two against his sensitive spots.
Turning them on, his back arched impossibly high off the bed with a wail, involuntarily fucking up into the air from the intense stimulation.
Content, you sat back, pushing the vibrator in again and turning it on.Â
You swore he was going crazy as he let out garbled moans, âG-guAAh! F-fucgh!! NAAh! Mm! Yo-ou.! Youguhhh..! MmeaaAAh!â
He was finally incoherent, steams of tears pouring from his eyes nearly consumed by his pupil, trying to fuck himself onto the vibrator and fuck into air.
He was a slobbering mess, body twitching and convulsing like a possessed child, your name spilling from his lips and muddling with other words on a praise.
âYouâre so beautiful like this, Izuku⌠so wrecked and horny.. my little cum baby.. I bet you wanna cum, huh?â
Your hand slipped between your own thighs, slowly rubbing your clit as you got off to the gorgeous view before you.
Sweet and innocent Izuku Midoriya, the nerd of class 3A, your best friend who always helped others before himself, driven mad with pleasure, practically going insane- all by your doing.
It made you feel even more powerful than you already were.
Hearing a wet squelching, his curious gaze traveled to you, moaning heartily once he saw you fucking your pussy with your fingers, all while gazing at him with such a smolder he felt he was going to burn up. Hell, he already was burning up.
He felt hotter than the sun, and so ready to burst at the seams, but he couldnt.
âM-misstress! Pl-ehHAH.!! NHh! RidehuAh! Me..!â
What did he just say?
âSay that again, Izuku,â
âR-rAhIde-!â
âNo, no, sweetheart,â
You pulled your fingers from yourself with a wet pop, pressing your hands to his sides and feeling him up under his shirt, gazing into his own once more, âbefore that.â
âMmm..! Misss.. tress! H-haH.! Nnhgh..!â
Mistress. Now theres a word you never thought would fill you with joy.
Licking your lips, you decided enough was enough.
Grabbing his cock, you pull the vibrators off of him, immediately hovering yourself over him and sitting down with a hearty hum until he bottom out inside you with a cry of pleasure.
âGuAAAH!! (Y/N)!!! Youâre!! So-!! NnnGh!! Mmmh! So tight-! Hahh..!â The vibrator still in his ass mixed up his insides, turning them into a liquid as you began to bounce on him like a trampoline.
He felt so good he didnt know what to do anymore, words he couldnât comprehend bubbled past his parted lips, an onslaught of tears pouring from his ducts, pins and needles stabbing him everywhere in such a good way as he was overstimulated to the max.
Your walls hugged him like a vice, so warm and cozy, he wanted to be buried inside you all day.!
Inside you.. he was inside you!
You were fucking him so good-!
A smile made its way to his wrecked face, tongue hanging out of his mouth, sweat making his hair stick everywhere, he was connected with youâŚ
He loved it.
And you loved him, that smile on his face warming your heart, but that familiar thirst stung the back of your throat, and your eyes were hyper focused on his neck covered in a blush and freckles.
His own cock was so big you felt like you were being stuffed like a Thanksgiving turkey, but that wasnt enough to take your attention away.
Collapsing against his chest covered in clothing, you buried your nose into the crook of his neck, inhaling deeply as the vibrations of his ecstasy rumbled in his chest and sung in your ears.
His scent overwhelmed you, made you delirious as you couldnt help but lick at his neck, nibbling and pulling at the skin.
His head lolled to the side, âbiteâ h-Huah! aaAH! Nnghhh!! MmMMmmhh! Bi-aAh-te! Me!!â
Bite him..? He was? Okay with it?
Well..
If he said toâŚ
Your fangs sunk into his skin, blood spurting into your mouth and making your hips move inhumanly fast, he was so good..! Your eyes rolled back as you greedily sucked, his moans growing chopped, stuttered and louder.
He was slowly turning translucent beneath you as your fangs sunk into him again, and again, and again, blood flowing down your mouth like a delicious waterfall, savory and sweet, honeydew pine forest.
Blood smeared his skin growing more clear with each second as he lost his grip with reality.
âNgGHH! HAAAAAH!! MISTRuhUuESS! HAA-Ah!!â
The bed began to creak beneath you, your bounces growing more and more powerful as you felt yourself grow closer to sweet release, the blood pulling you higher up the mountain of ecstasy,
Suddenly, there was a loud snap, and a copious amount of thick cum filled your pussy, stuffing you even more to the point your belly had a small bulge from his cum. The feeling made you clamp down on him and cum with your own cries of pleasure mingling with his, fire exploding behind your vision as lighting shot down your body.
The bed suddenly broke beneath your bodies, but you were both too lost in ecstasy to even care, crying out eachothers names.
You collapsed on top of him completely, and it was then you noticed you couldn't see him at all, entirely invisible.
Catching your breath, you stared on in confusion, fleeing up his body but unable to see it.
âI-Izuku??â
No answer.
Had he passed out?
âIzu-?â
Youâd feel around for a heart beat if he had one, but he didnt, no undead monster did.
Taking a deep breath, cheeks flushed and skin sweaty, you sat up, Izukus now flaccid cock pulling out with a wet pop, his cum immediately flowing messily down your thighs.Â
He mustve had a pretty fucking intense orgasm if the damn cock ring snapped. Whoâs ever heard of that happening before? Certainly not you.
Given a minute, you uncuffed his invisible wrists and pulled the vibrator from his ass, turning it off and tossing it to the sheets.
Geeze.. what a messâŚ
Checking the time from your alarm clock, you were now 34 minutes late for the ghoultastic party being thrown in the school.
Oh well.
If Izuku was a human, you were sure he wouldve died from the blood loss by now, but being undead certainly gave more leeway for fun activities.
Sitting back, you gathered his spare blood on your fingers sucking them into your mouth and savouring his taste. God, you could get used to something this good.
It was like his blood had nicotine in it, you were instantly hooked.
By the time Izuku woke up, he was fully wiped down, dressed, and practically ready to go.
It was clear to him you had cleaned things up, but how long had he been out for?! How embarrassing! He even lost control of his invisibility! Ugh.. you must think heâs a toddler⌠only kids lose control!!
âYou okay?â Your honey sweet voice caught his attention, eyes snapping to the other side of the room where you emerged from the bathroom.
âO-oh! (Y-Y/N).. I.. um.. Iâm okay..â He felt so awkward now.. would you pretend nothing happened? Ignore him? Tell everyone he was.. a peeping tom?Â
He wanted to believe you were the nicest person out there but he was so terrified of you shunning him, even after such.. licentious activities.
Besides, he wasnât entirely sure how to act right now, after having s-sex with you. He felt clammy and nervous.
âYou look pale,â you chuckled, grasping his cheeks and pulling them so heâd be distracted.
You noticed that look in his eyes, and knew it well. Self doubt. You wouldnt accept that.
âHahah⌠well, I am a ghost..â
Your lips pressed against his, for the thousandth ime that night, but he didnt mind.
Sighing out his nose, he relaxed into the innocent kiss with a small smile.
You cupped his face when you pulled away, admiring him.
âHey.. your eyes are (e/c) again!â And just like that, his face lit up, âWell, I did have a nice dinner.â Your tone was playful, yet he couldnt help but burn with a fresh blush, rubbing at his neck where no doubt a bunch of bite marks laid.
âQuite a delicious one too,â
â(Y/N)!!â
Sitting down on his thighs, you wrapped your arms loosely around his shoulders, nuzzling your cheek against his, âHow does your ass feel?â
âGAH!â He wrapped his arms around his head, leaning forward as practical steam came from his ears from how embarrassed he suddenly was. What a nice change of scenery.
âHm?â He was clearly a virgin after all, you wanted to make sure he could walk.
âI-itâs⌠okay..â
Pecking his warm, freckled cheek, you hopped off him, diving into your closet again and pulling out a basic vampire costume, one you had purchased days before at a costume shop.
Izukus heart leaped in his chest, âYou had.. the s-same idea as me?â
You nodded your head, easily slipping the attire on in front of the flushed boy, âI guess we can go as a goofy couple!â
He felt warm, so very, very warm. How you accepted him after catching his perverted act, he had no idea. All he knew was this warmth was something he wouldnt mind getting used to, monsters werent known for being warm, after all.
âYeah.. that sounds nice.â
Hereâs hoping no one spiked the punch.
#deku x reader#izuku midoriya x reader#midoriya izuku x reader#n/sfw#midoriya x reader#deku x you#izuku midoriya x you#bnha#mha#bnha x reader#mha x reader#my hero academia#boku no hero academia#my hero academia x reader#boku no hero academia x reader#bnha deku x reader#bnha izuku x reader#ghost! izuku midoriya#ghost izuku#ghost! izuku#monster au#happy halloween
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Dance Partner (Senku x Reader)
A/N: Just a little drabble since I havenât written anything for almost 5 months T_T Covid crap has taken a lot of spirit out of me. But please enjoy!
Ship: Senku x Reader Anime: Dr. Stone Rate: PG Warnings: None (Somewhat AU, if the stone age didnât happen, they all still in high school.) ____________________________________________________
You stared at Yuzuriha before taking a bite of your sandwich, in shock to what she just suggested. You two were sitting together at a picnic table outside the school enjoying your lunch until she said those words that made your cheeks turn pink.
âYou canât be seriousâŚ?â You asked.
âOf course I am!â She smiled, tapping your hand lightly in comfort. Even in your disbelief, you still went back to eating. âYouâre coming to the dance and need a date and Senku will need one too! You should ask him to go with you, even as friends.â
âSenku is going because they asked him for tech support, not because he wants to dance,â you rebutted. âHeâs not the type to dance either, it makes sense. Besides, no body NEEDS to have a date, itâs just something peer pressure does.â
âOkay, forget the date part. I think he would dance with you, I think thereâs a part of him that treats you a little bit different from everyone else.â Her words had your heart race in excitement, but you didnât want to believe a possible lie. âBut no matter that, I know how you feel about him, (y/n),~ and you should confront those feelingsâ she stated, glancing up to see the loud child Taiju heading over with Senku in tail, both carrying lunches. She glanced back to you.
âDonât evenâŚâ you warned, earning a giggle from her.
âI wonâtâŚbut at the dance, you should at least ask him to dance.â
âI never said I was going!â You huffed quickly before the boys got to the table to join lunch.
You glanced down at yourself in the mirror of home, dressed in one of your finer dresses. It was a deep navy blue with some tints of glitter lightly placed through a mesh overlay. The top fit as a halter and the dress ended above your knees. You added simple black short heels (since high heels hurt horribly on any occasion) and a white, clean jacket to keep you warm. Yuzuriha was a great talker when she wanted to be, you couldnât believe you were going to this event.
At arriving at the school, you entered the loud cafeteria, running at least a half hour late to the event. Many students were partying to the beat or drinking or snacking, it seemed like fun. Thatâs when Yuzuriha and Taiju snuck up on you from behind and you let out a small gasp at their cheers.
âAhhaa! You really did come (y/n)!â Taiju cheered, looking snazzy in his chocolate brown tuxedo, bow tie and all. Yuzuriha seemed to try to match, wearing a chocolate brown dress, it was really cute couple things you didnât understand.
âWellâŚshe kind of bullied me,â you teased Yuzuriha, earning a grin from the latter.
âYouâll have fun, weâre all here and can dance together! And Senkuâs here too!â She smiled and pointed up to the tech booth on the side of the cafeteria. Your eyes automatically followed, seeing the spikey haired man talking to another tech squad on the platform. You didnât even consider that Senku would dress up a bit too- he was wearing a smile black and white tuxedo, tie done properly and his eyes glowing in the lights. You felt your heart skip a beat watching him work. âCâmon, letâs go!â Yuzuriha interrupted your thoughts and the couple dragged you onto the dance floor.
As you figured, over the time, your feet grew tired and you sat yourself out during a couple high energy songs and now they played some slow, romantic songs. It was nice seeing two of your best friends so happy in each others arms, they really seemed to be made for each other.
âYou jealous?â You glanced up at the voice besides you to see Senku suddenly sitting next to you at the table. You knew he looked handsome from afar but up close felt very threatening to your heart. You huffed at his comment, trying to hold your heartbeat in your chest.
âNoâŚIâm just happy for them, thatâs allâ you responded, looking back to your friends, Senkuâs eyes doing the same. You were happy for them, that wasnât a lieâŚbut you couldnât help but picture that being Senku and you. Him holding you close around the waist, your arms over his shoulders staring into each others soul. The idea felt so niceâŚ
âSenku?...â He looked over to you, his ruby red orbs meeting your (e/c) ones. You had to be brave like Yuzuriha said, otherwise youâd be dreaming forever. You choked down the frog in your throat. âDoâŚdo you want to dance..with me?â You tried to keep eye contact, it was so hard. He was the one that broke it and looked down to the floor. It seemed like he had a sad smile on his face.
âIâm sorry (y/n), I donât dance.â He responded somewhat solemnly, refusing to look back up to you. You also stared at the ground now, biting your bottom lip to hold back what felt like tears on the edge of your eyes. You knew that was going to be his answerâŚyou were just hoping youâd be the one above that answerâŚthe only one he would dance with.
âItâs okay, donât worry about it,â you were able to say and stood up. âI have to head to the ladies room, excuse me,â you muttered and respectfully walked away. No matter what, the last thing you wanted was to make your friendship awkward. Senku probably thought it was a simple offering, but it held more to you, you just needed to let some of it out alone. Little did you know, Senku sighed softly before going back up to the platform, he couldnât do it.
Eventually, Yuzuriha found you camping out in the restroom and was there to provide some comfort. She got you to dance with her and Taiju for some more fun songs, but your heart wasnât in it. It wasnât much longer until students start to leave, the dance floor becoming more empty. Soon, all the students were gone besides a few to clean up, including your trio. You went over to grab your coat when the tables and floors were good before Taiju had grabbed your hands.
â(Y/n)!â he yelled, causing you to wince a bit, but you were use to it. âI..I have something I need you to do before you go!â
âYou do?â He nodded vigorously. âWhat is it?â He quickly covered your eyes with your own hands and proceeded to guide you somewhere.
âKeep your hands on your eyes til I say! Itâs a surprise!â Taiju instructed while you two walked.
âDidnât you just say you needed me to do something? How can I do it if Iâm blind?â
Taiju bit his lip, âUhh, well youâll do it when I show you!â he grinned, you could basically hear his grin. Eventually, the two of you came to a stop and he let go of your shoulders by which he was guiding you. âOkay, so count down from three and then remove your hands!â
You sighed softly. âThreeâŚtwoâŚone.â When you dropped your hands, you saw Senku standing in front of you, a soft smile on his lips and his red ruby eyes large. âS-senku?â You questioned and then noticed you were STILL in the cafeteria, but the lights were darker and soft, no one else was in the room and the doors were closed. You looked at him in confusion.
âIâm no dancer, whether separated or partnered,â he stated, taking a step closer to you and offering a hand. âBut I am your friend, I want to be there for you.â He stared directly into your eyes, and you werenât sure if you were more hurt by his words, or happier. Regardless, you took his offered hand and stepped closer to him. His other hand, seeming to hold a remote, clicked a button before putting it in his pocket, and a slow, romantic lullaby began to play.
He put his hands around your waist, connecting them at the back. It was awkward, he wasnât the physical touch kind of person. You rested your hands over his shoulders and connected behind his head, and the two of you began to sway side to side, seeming like a good start. You felt over the quiet time, his arms became more relaxed holding you. It wasnât until you spoke that either of you realized you had been staring each other in the eyes the whole time.
âSenkuâŚâ you began, voice as soft as a cloud. âI want to knowâŚif you can be there for me moreâŚthan just a friend.â It took so much courage for you to say that. Being you donât know why he was here right now, dancing with you alone in the cafeteria.
âFrom what Taiju has told me, I need some time,â he replied, voice almost equally as soft. âI think with timeâŚI can beâŚjust like this dance.â His cheeks grew a tint of red while he watched your reaction. Your eyes were widened by his words, your own cheeks flushing and a smile trying to pry onto your lips, somewhat successfully.
âSo..youâre saying..this danceâŚ?â
ââŚItâs hard for me to do this in general, to be close to someone on this level. But I considered with a little help from two lovebirds, maybe there was another option.â
âYou thought of all this for me?â You watched Senku nodded shyly.
âI just need timeâŚâ he repeated softly, closing his eyes and dropping his head a bit.
âTake all of it you need Senku, I will wait for you,â you dropped your head slightly too, both heads resting against each other while dancing slowly to the song.
#senku ishigami#senku x reader#senku ishigami x reader#dr stone#dr stone x reader#taiju#dr stone taiju#dr stone yuzuriha#yuzuriha ogawa
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Kingdom |Prologue: Catching Fire|
And so we begin :) please donât forget to reblog and leave a comment if you enjoyed!
Pairing: Juyeon x gender neutral!reader
Genre: fluff, angst, fantasy, royalty!au
Triggers: death, semi-graphic depictions of blood
Word Count: 1.8k
A spark of betrayal lights the flame of a war.Â
Tag list [ dm or send an ask to be added! ]: @itsapapisongoâ @dearseungieâ @chrisbahngâ @reverienostalgiaâ @wingkkunâ @juyeo-onâ
TBZ Masterlist | Kingdom
Changmin canât breathe. He canât see, canât hear, canât even think over the pounding of his own heart as he strains helplessly against the chains that bind his arms. They dig into the stinging cuts on his skin, iron burning the magic that seeps from his blood.
How could everything have come to this, just days before Juyeonâs coronation, the coronation that was supposed to bring his kingdom to peace?
He struggles in his bonds, chains that bind the remaining magic in his veins, erasing the humming thrum that usually bubbles below his skin. It leaves him cold, empty, helpless as he strains against harsh metal imbued with spells he knows but canât break.
His magic is gone.
Gone.
And the simmer in his blood isnât the only thing thatâs gone silent.
Bom steps around his kneeling body, her footsteps the only sound in the still air. Changmin raises his head to meet her solemn eyes, gazing down at him with a stony pity flashing in the darkness.
Changmin never liked Bom, never got over the crawling of his skin whenever she brushed by a little too close. She always seemed too cold, too uptight, and several times, he wondered how she was even ordained as a mage. Even now as he stares, refusing to back down even when he knows he canât escape, his mouth twists into an expression of the faintest disgust, disgust for her single-mindedness that has plagued him, the Boardâs gray mage, for the past five years.
âWhy?â he finally asks, voice hoarse with remnants of shouts, cries of surprise and betrayal as he tried to fend away the mage standing before him. âWhy would you do this?â
Sheâs opening her mouth, probably about to give some pithy reply to make his blood boil, but the shrine door opens with a crash and a bang before she can start. Another mage walks out, ivory robes stained with red.
High Mage Jung Sungkyu of the Ivory Kingdom. Changminâs former mentor and a father figure.
Covered in blood.
Changmin blinks once. Twice.Â
The red doesnât disappear.
So none of this is a hallucination, a nightmare heâll soon wake up from.
Yes, this is the mage from whom he learned, the mage who bound him and his queen together in their promise, the mage whom he looked up to for so long. That kind, powerful mage is the same, the very same as the one walking toward him with bloodstained robes and an expression of pain on his face.
Blood stains.
Changmin doesnât even want to think about what that means for those who didnât manage to escape the shrine, for the guards who defended him, for the queen who told him to flee, the queen he left behind.
Oh, my queenâŚ
A mask falls over Changminâs features, and he stops struggling against the chains now cutting into his skin. His eyes bore into those of the mage walking forward, piercing holes into his skin until the man canât even hold his gaze anymore and drops his head instead.
âYou thought you could escape and warn your friends, didnât you?â Bom asks, eyes impassive. Her lips curve slightly, coldly, blade-like under the crescent moon. Iron. âDonât worry, young gray mage. Weâll pass on the message soon enough. Weâre just not ready, not quite yet.â
Weâre not ready.
WeâŚ
âWeâ doesnât only include Bom and the high mage. This is something bigger.
We.
Changmin swallows, trying not to go dizzy from the realization. With every word that falls from his lips, he only becomes more certain that heâs right.
âYouâre working with the princess.â
Pawns and kings, how can he warn Juyeon and his sister when heâs miles away, stuck in magic-binding chains, and, judging from the knife at Bomâs waist, about to die?
Stall. Stall, keep stalling. âHow could you betray the orders like this?â he asks, desperation dripping from his lips. âYou swore loyalty to the Board above all, not to your kingdom â why would you do this?â
âI believe the Boardâs balance lies in supporting the ivory queen,â Bom says, a faint but manic glint of excitement entering her eyes. It makes Changminâs skin crawl. âI am sworn to protect the balance, no? This is what I believe is best.â
âThe princess is not the queen,â Changmin snaps, brain still running. How can he do anything without his magic? âShe has no title other than that of a royal pawn.â
âOh, sheâll be queen, soon enough.â Bom smiles, a curve of the lips that feels more like a knife blade than a grin.
What does that â
Oh.
Oh, no.
No.
His queenâŚ
His queen must be dead.
Changminâs head snaps upward, the gold insignia around his neck thumping painfully against his chest. Desperately, he looks at his old mentor.
He wouldnât have killed his queen, would he? Might have subdued, might have knocked them out, but â he couldnât have killed â
The mage refuses to meet his eyes.
Red clouds Changminâs vision, mixes with the black of night and the cold light of the moon overhead. A scream builds in his chest that fights to leaves his lips as his head drops once more.
Lost in pain, barely able to breathe, he almost doesnât feel the gold at his chest, the carved queen and king that always rest at the base of his throat. As he breathes, though, clearing his mind, the insignia dragging his neck to the ground catches his attention.
Itâs charmed as it always has been, never to leave his side until death. The gold symbol, a queen and king standing next to each other on a miniature chessboard, is a gift passed down from one gray mage to another, one of only three keys that exist to unlock a kingdomâs crown jewels. It hasnât left his neck since the day it was given to him by his predecessor when he was ordained at fifteen, one of the youngest to take on the mantle of gray mage.
They will take it when he dies. Undoubtedly they will â it holds magic, magic they will need for whatever it is theyâre planning. At the very least, they wouldnât leave such a powerful relic to be burned with his body.
So what are they planning?
âWhat do you plan to do, when your princess is a queen?â Changmin tries to make his voice sound as disbelieving as possible, hopes they canât hear the shaking in his words. Heâs rewarded with a twitch of Bomâs eye. âSurely you donât think the ivory citizens will accept her, not when their current rulers are so loved?â
âThat wonât matter.â Bomâs grin makes her look ghoulish under the moonlight. âNot when the entire Board is under our control.â
Changminâs heart almost stops. Never, not once in the history of the Board, not even when the high orders had to intervene and send down the current laws of the land, has one kingdom attempted to completely take over the other. There have been revenge plots and assassination plans, even one notable attempt by the former ruby bloodline to murder the onyx royals, but nothing⌠nothing of this scale.
He needs to warn Juyeon.
âAn ambitious plot,â he chokes out, all of his former nonchalance gone. The insignia quivers at his throat, a reminder of what will be lost if the ivory princess succeeds. âI suppose youâll be going to the Onyx Kingdom next.â
âIt doesnât matter.â Bom dismisses him with a flick of her hand, ready to unsheathe her knife. âYouâll be dead then, anyway.â
But Changmin doesnât hear her. He focuses on the knowledge that theyâll be going to the Onyx Kingdom, that theyâll probably take his insignia with them.
A plan springs into his mind, fully-formed and wholly impossible. Impossible because he needs magic, magic thatâs been stolen from him by the chains that bind his wrists.
Wait.
He closes his eyes, blocks out the sound of Bomâs droning voice and the cold twinkling of stars overhead.
And focuses on the faintest thrumming of magic beneath his skin.
His magic isnât gone. Itâs subdued, yes, but it isnât gone. Thereâs some left, simmering in his blood, and if he concentrates it, it will be just enough forâŚ
A smirk threatens to form on Changminâs lips as he strains, invisibly, against the chains. Magic coalesces under his control, forming a small but warm stream as it travels through his blood, coming to a stop at his chest, just beneath the insignia resting against his skin.
Find Juyeon.
âI see,â Changmin says blandly, not having heard a single word of what Bom just said. âInteresting.â
Find Juyeon.
An eyebrow raises. âInteresting, that Iâm about to kill you?â
Changmin blinks. âHasnât it been obvious from the start?â
Find Juyeon.
The magic in his chest grows warmer, brighter, as Bomâs face twists into an embarrassed scowl. âAny last words, then?â she snaps.
The bland look stays on Changminâs face, even though the bejeweled knife in Bomâs hands sends shivers up his spine. âNo, not to you.â
Find Juyeon.
The insignia sears against his chest with heat. His skin must be burning â he canât smell cooking flesh just yet, though itâs probably only a matter of time â but he grits his teeth and bears it. It means itâs working.Â
It means itâs working.
Silver flashes down, the knife arcing towards his neck. Changmin shuts his eyes, prays, thinks those two words over and over again, find Juyeon â
âWait.â
The blade stops at his word. He blinks his eyes open, looking up not at Bom, but at the High Mage whoâs frozen to the spot. Itâs one question, a question whose answer has only been implied, an answer that he needs to know. âIs my queen alive?â
Silence follows his question, which only confirms what he knew but dreaded. And even though it feels like his heart is tearing apart, even though tears are beginning to in his eyes for the second time tonight, Changmin musters the strength to use that brief silence to speak those two words once more.
Find Juyeon.
âI see,â he finally says, staring fully at the old mage. High Mage Jung, his former mentor, one of the most powerful high mages, looks smaller than Changmin has ever believed him to be â small, weak, helpless as he gazes helplessly at the ground, robes stained with blood. âWell, you may proceed.â
âItâs not a question of whether youâll permit it,â Bom snarls, bringing his attention back to her. âYouâre at our mercy now.â
Find Juyeon.
This time, as the insignia sears its mark into his flesh, Changmin allows a smirk to spread across his face. âI suppose thatâs what you might like to think.â
Bomâs snarl only grows harsher in the moonlight, but unlike before, Changmin doesnât feel fear at the ghoulish twist of her lips. Instead, he takes a last comfort in the harsh burn of the insignia resting against his skin as the knife comes slicing down.
My queen, Iâll see you again, soon.
If you enjoyed, please donât forget to reblog and leave a comment to tell me what you thought! Thank you for reading and have a lovely day <3
(1 reblog = 1 prayer for changmin and me please donât kill me)
#destinyverse#tbznetwork#kpopscape#the boyz#tbz#the boyz scenarios#tbz scenarios#the boyz x reader#tbz x reader#the boyz juyeon scenarios#tbz juyeon scenarios#the boyz oneshots#the boyz imagines#juyeon x reader#lee juyeon x reader#the boyz juyeon x reader#juyeon#tbz juyeon#fluff#angst#tw blood#tw death#kingdom#prologue:Â catching fire#kingdom masterlist#scriptura-delirus
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CS AU- Coming to Storybrooke (1/5)
Itâs FINALLY here!!!!!! Iâve only been talking about this fic for over a YEAR!!! Iâm so excited to finally share it with all of you!!!
I have to acknowledge and send all the love and internet hugs to all those who helped me with this fic. I can truly say that I would have given up on it LONG AGO without them.
First to @hollyethecuriousâ. She was my brainstorming partner and never-ending fount of encouragement. She pulled me back from the brink of deleting this fic entirely so many times. So when I say that this fic wouldnât be here without her, Iâm not exaggerating.Â
Second to @profdanglaisstuffâ. The best beta in the world!!!! Her suggestions and insights make this writing business so much better! Thank you, babe!
And finally to all the ladies on the @captainswanmoviemarathonâ discord. Yâallâs encouragement and sprinting dates helped keep me motivated and got me over the finish line.Â
This fic is a S1 Canon Divergence, sort of, inspired by the 1988 Eddie Murphy movie Coming to America. It is complete with five chapters and Iâll be updating every Saturday.
Fic Summary: Prince Killian of the Enchanted Forest refuses to marry the woman that his brother has chosen for him, so he travels to Storybrooke in the Land Without Magic to find his own bride.
Rating: T for some strong language
Words: Ch1 2224 of 18K Total
Tags: S1 Canon Divergence, Inspired by Coming to America, Neal is an idiot, romantic fluff
AO3 Link
Tag LIst: @hollyethecurious @winterbaby89 @snowbellewells @stahlop @resident-of-storybrooke @jennjenn615 @kingofmyheart14 @profdanglaisstuff @branlovestowrite @thisonesatellite @ultraluckycatnd @flslp87 @whimsicallyenchantedrose @let-it-raines @shireness-says @kymbersmith-90 @darkcolinodonorgasm @bethacaciakay @searchingwardrobes @ilovemesomekillianjones @teamhook @aprilqueen84 @qualitycoffeethings @superchocovian @artistic-writer @donteattheappleshook @doodlelolly0910 @seriouslyhooked @tiganasummertree @lfh1226-linda @nikkiemms @xsajx @klynn-stormz @jrob64 @wefoundloveunderthelight @zaharadessert @elizabeethan @xhookswenchx @gingerpolyglot @allons-y-to-hogwarts-713 @sailtoafarawayland @justanother-unluckysoul @veryverynotgoodwrites @jonesfandomfanatic @deckerstarblanche
Please let me know if youâd like to be added or removed.
Under the cut unless Tumblr ate it
Ch1
âOh, sheâs beautiful,â David whispered, awestruck.
Tears filled his eyes as he looked through the door at his other True Love. The little girl sat cross legged on the bed and slowly turned a page of the book in front of her.
David stared, dumbfounded, as a firm resolve filled him.
âWe canât waste another second,â he stated, vehemently. âWe canât wait another second.â He took a step toward the door when Snowâs softly spoken wait stopped him. âWhat? Whatâs wrong?â he asked, looking at his wife.
Her eyes were glued to their daughter until they skittered away to their surroundings and the door in front of them. Anywhere but at him.
âWe canât go through there.â
David was stunned, incredulity coloring his features. âSnow, we have to.â
She continued as if she hadnât heard him. âIf we go through that door, Emma will never become the savior.â
He turned back to the open door. To his daughter. He was heartbroken. He knew exactly what Snow was thinking. If they went through that door, they condemned their subjects, their friends, their family, to live under Reginaâs curse, separated from their own loved ones, forever. But that couldnât be true. Rumplestiltskin said to keep the child safe and she would return on her 28th birthday. No mention was made about the circumstances of her return, only that she would.
âSheâll have a new destiny.â He looked at Snow again. âWith us. We will teach her. We will tell her everything. And when her 28th birthday arrives, weâll all come back and she will break the curse.â
Snowâs tear filled eyes finally turned to him. âHow do you know?â
âThis family finds each other. Weâve found each other,â he said, taking her hands. He tilted his head slightly toward the open door, âWeâve found Emma. We will find the rest of our family when itâs time for her to break the curse.â
He saw the moment doubt was swallowed up by hope in her eyes. With a small nod and a smile, they turned and walked through the door.
Together.
~*~*~*~
18 years later
Emma Swan sat in the back seat of the family SUV with her brother Leo as they sped through the backwoods of rural Maine toward an uncertain and possibly perilous future. It was her 28th birthday and it was the day that her parents had been preparing her for ever since they came through the closet door to claim her so long ago.
The scenery outside her window went hazy around the edges as she got lost in the memory of the first time she met her parents. She hadnât been frightened when these two strangers entered her bedroom through her closet door. Something about them seemed familiar. She knew in her marrow that she could trust them and when the woman fell to her knees with tears in her eyes, her arms open wide, and calling her name, Emma hadnât hesitated to run into them. She rose to her feet with Emma held tightly in her arms, sobbing into her hair and placing kisses all over her face. Emma only caught snippets of what the woman was saying, but the words Iâm your mom, I love you, weâll never leave you, weâll always be together sent Emmaâs heart soaring. It was exactly what this little lost girl had always longed to hear. The man wrapped one arm around them both and cupped the back of her head with the other. She had never felt so safe and loved in all her life.
Now all these years later, it was time to fulfill her destiny. It wasnât long after their reunion that they settled in Portland, Maine and her parents told her a story. A story through the pages of the book that her mother had brought through the door with her. A story that was more than just a fantasy. It was true. All of it. It was their story. It was her story. The story of where she came from⌠and what she was meant to do. Beginning with the day she was born, her parents told her why they had to get her to safety. How Doc of the Seven Dwarves delivered her only minutes before her father placed her in the magical wardrobe and the queenâs curse swept over the land. From there, they told her the true story of how Snow White and Prince Charming met and fell in love - very different from the Disney version - her motherâs history with the Evil Queen and how her father came to be in the position to even meet his True Love. Sheâd become intimately familiar with all the true stories in the book as she grew up, first her, then her brother Leo, and now it was time for her to save them all. She had to admit to being rather nervous about it. It was one thing to hear the story from her parents and believe it because of how young she was and because she trusted them. But it was entirely different to be a grown woman and solely responsible for bringing back all the happy endings for real people that her parents knew and loved. She was about to see everything from the storybook come to life.
Suddenly, her motherâs excited voice from the front seat roused her from her musings.
âThere it is, David!â she exclaimed. âThe town line!â
âI see it, I see it,â he replied.
Moments later, they crossed the town line and a chill passed over Emmaâs entire body before something exploded out of her that nearly made her dad lose control of the car.
âWhat the hell was that?â Emma cried as her mom and brother shouted in alarm. She reached toward Leoâs shoulder while her other hand tried to find purchase on the door handle as her dad brought the car back under control. She looked out the window and saw a white shimmering something traveling across the sky toward the town. She saw her mom, dad, and brother craning their necks to see it too.
âI thinkâŚâ her mom began, âthat you just broke the curse, honey.â
âThatâs it?â she asked, incredulous. âJust crossing the town line? That was all it took?â
âApparently so,â her dad answered. âBut that doesnât mean we donât still have to be on our guard.â His grip on the steering wheel tightened and his brow furrowed. âWe donât know what weâre going to find when we get to town. Regina and the Dark One are presumably still here somewhere.â
Silence reigned as they continued to drive toward the center of town in the direction of the white blast. A few minutes later, they turned onto the main street of the small town. Filling the street in front of them, people were laughing and hugging each other in reunions that were 28 years overdue. Her dad slammed on the brakes as her mom cried out, her hands flying to her mouth.
âRuby! Granny!â She bolted from the car and ran toward a leggy brunette and older matronly woman. Emma could see the surprised joy on their faces as they turned and ran toward her mother. Emma and Leo got out slowly as their dad ran toward his wife as she embraced the two women. They approached the reunited and happy foursome just as seven men got their momâs attention. Wide grins broke out on Emma and Leoâs faces as realization came over them. Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. Emma could hear her momâs sobs as she tried to embrace them all at once. Once sheâd finished greeting her dearest and oldest friends, her mom turned toward them.
âEveryone,â she began, âthese are our children.â Her mom motioned them closer. âEmma and Leo.â Her brother suddenly looked quite different from the brash and bold teenager she knew. He looked equal parts dumbfounded and like heâd like to melt into the ground. Her father didnât miss a beat. He grabbed his sonâs shoulder and started introducing him individually to the dwarves, placing his arm around him.
âEmma?â asked Granny, drawing her attention again. âThe Savior?â The old woman took steps toward Emma and tenderly cupped her face with her hands before kissing her on the cheek and drawing her into a hug. Emma knew the elderly woman from the storybook, but to be held in her arms in love and acceptance was nearly as good as the hug she received from her parents when they came for her.
âPapa,â another man further up the street shouted. He ran toward an older man that was walking toward the group with the aid of a cane.
The man turned, his face infused with disbelieving joy as the cane dropped and he took a hesitant step toward the other man. âBae?â
Emma could feel the tears forming in her eyes as the men embraced each other. She had done this. She was the savior and she had given all these people the happy endings that the Evil Queen had taken away all because she refused to place the blame for the death of her love where it truly belonged. She turned back toward the crowd again as more reunions were taking place. She saw her parents embracing a red haired man with a dalmatian. Jiminy Cricket, she remembered.
Just at that moment, a joyous cry reached their ears and they all turned toward the sound. A young woman with wild brown hair and wearing nothing more than a dirty white shift ran toward the still embracing men as she launched herself into the older manâs arms and kissed him. A rainbow blast burst from them startling everyone gathered. They separated as the blast flew through the air and yet also concentrated around the man. The young womanâs eyes grew wide as the rainbow light grew brighter and brighter around him before finally fading away to nothing. The man had tears running down his cheeks as he reached for the young woman again. Emma watched her melt into his arms and could just hear him murmur, âBelle. Itâs gone. You saved me.â The kiss they shared made Emmaâs cheeks flame as she turned toward her dad.
âHuh,â he said. âRumplestiltskin has a True Love. Who would have thought that?â
The couple separated again and the man she now knew was Rumplestiltskin, the practitioner of the darkest magic in the realm, the man that she had always thought of as the puppet master, since he seemed to have a part in every single story in the book, gathered both the young woman and the younger man to him as the three made their way toward their own group.
âDark One,â her dad greeted the man with a curt nod.
âNo more,â he answered, raising his chin just a bit. âBelleâs True Loveâs Kiss just destroyed the Darkness. With my son here, I was ready to let go of the Darkness and find my happiness with my family beside me.â
Then a stately woman in a nunâs habit approached them.
âYour highnesses,â she began with a bow, âthe curse is indeed broken. As is the Darkness that made the Dark One.â
Her dad reached out and placed a hand on the womanâs shoulder. âBlue,â he said. âThank you.â He turned back toward the crowd and raised his voice in an exuberant shout. âThe curse is broken and the Darkness is no more!â The gathered crowd cheered along with him. Emma wiped away her tears and met the eyes of the man that had embraced the former Dark One. His eyes twinkled as he grinned broadly at her. She felt her heart rate increase and cheeks flush again as she turned her eyes back toward her parents.
It was moments later when she felt a presence at her back. She turned around and found herself captured by a pair of laughing brown eyes.
âNeal,â he said, holding his hand out for her to shake. He squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head as if a sudden headache had come over him. âBaelfire. Neal Cassidy was my cursed name. But you can call me whatever you want.â He smiled again.
She took his hand and smiled back. âEmma,â she replied. âItâs nice to meet you, Neal.â
She could see her mom and brother over Nealâs shoulder exchange a stern and sheepish look. She knew that Leo, at 17, would love nothing more than to tease her about the man in front of her, but thankfully, their mother caught his eye before he could. She rolled her eyes at them before directing her attention back to him.
âUh, thanks,â he said, âfor uh, breaking the curse.â She couldnât help but smile wider at his clumsy attempts to make small talk.
âYouâre welcome?â she answered, with a shrug. âI mean, I didnât really do anything, just crossed the town lineâŚâ she trailed away.
âBut, I m-mean,â he stammered, âit was more than that. YouâŚâ he shrugged helplessly, apparently at a loss for what to say next. âListen,â he said, brightening, âCould I show you around town? Maybe buy you a cup of coffee?â
Emma grinned widely. âIâd like that.â She looped her arm through his and he led her away from the rest of the crowd.
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Pirate AU (Part Five)
Lucie watched Alastair gently clean his sisters wounds before bandaging them up.
Knowing how much they cared for each other, she had expected Alastair to be angry. And though he was ready to quite literally murder Tatiana, he didnât seem mad at her. Lucie couldnât say the same for herself.Â
Cordelia had gotten hurt. She couldâve been killed if she wasnât protecting Lucie. Dragging her out of her spiraling guilt, Thomas pressed a cup of tea into her hands, warming her cold fingers. He was also watching Alastair.Â
âYou could not have done anything to prevent this Lucie.âÂ
Lucie stilled. Thomas had arrived with Alastair who ended up sending a message to Eugenia. The three of them had helped Lucie clean up the glass and left Alastair to address Cordeliaâs shoulder since he was the only one who knew any form of medical training. When Lucie had questioned him, he responded he knew how to do many things, like baking and tattooing. She had decided not to ask if he was being sarcastic.Â
Thomas and Eugenia seemed fueled with purpose. Upon telling them Tatiana Blackthorn, the same woman responsible for the public marriage scandal between James and her daughter a few years back, was the one who had killed Barbra, they seemed more focused on vengeance than anything.
Eugenia snapped her fingers loudly. âOi! Lucie, Thomas get over here.â
Alastair and her cousin had spread out a map of London they had acquired from the library. Combining the information that had come from Alastair and Lucie, they had placed that Tatiana was indeed another pirate, and apparently belonged or led one of the scariest crews to exist. Which was really just delightful for them.
After locating the shipâs docking point, Alastair had gone earlier, confirming that the ship was there and, judging by the symbol carved into its wood, the correct ship.Â
âWe need to get in somehow,â He said quietly while studying the maps.
Suddenly, Thomas looked up. âChristopher.â
âWho?â Alastair asked, staring as if Thomas had lost his mind.Â
âMy cousin, he makes things, if we need to break into a ship heâs quite good at making destructive things.â
And that, seemingly, was all it took. As her friends packed their items, discussing quietly, she watched Cordelia, still asleep, breathe softly in the firelight.
âI donât want to leave her,â Alastair said, startling her. âBut I trust youâll take good care of her.âÂ
Lucie turned her face away. âFor what happened⌠Iâm sorry.â
Alastair looked up, surprised. "You neednât apologize for that. My sister makes her own decisions, however ill-advised they may be sometimes. She wonât blame you and nor do I.â
Before Lucie could respond Eugenia rapped her knuckles on the door to grab their attention. She watched as they left, leaving her alone with an unconscious Cordelia. Mostly alone she thought, looking at her very tall friend who was staring at the fire. She sat next to him, crossing her legs on the couch and letting her head fall against his shoulder.
âPirates,â He whispered, shaking his head lightly.
âIndeed,â Lucie responded before adding âThomas, darling, have you seen what they wear?âÂ
Thomas laughed and bade her goodbye, following Alastair and Eugenia.Â
~~~
Eugenia thought she had met her fair share of quiet people, but being in a carriage with Alastair was like being in a carriage with a well dressed mannequin. Thomas had mentioned needing to drop by one of his other friendâs houses and promptly abandoned Eugenia.Â
âYou found my brother.â She said, cutting into the silence.
âI did,â Alastair replied, still staring out the window.
How was it even possible for a person to talk this little? Eugenia made a frustrated noise and waved her hand in front of his face, smiling at his scowl.
âIâm trying to thank you,â
âI found your brother entirely by accident. I donât think thatâs praise-worthy.â
âWell you saved him by the sounds of it.â
âHe told you?â Alastair sounded surprised. âWell I suppose I did it out of instinct. And a bit of thought went into how you would feel.â
Eugenia smirked, pretending to swoon. âHe cares!â
Alastair swatted her arm before reaching into his coat. When his hand withdrew, there was a silver longsword in his grasp, the hilt littered with rubies. She sucked in a breath and reached her hand out to touch the engraved handle. She felt a jolt of surprise when Alastair gave it to her.
âAll our weapons are gold anyway. It wouldnât match. Try not to get yourself killed.â He went back to staring out the window, but Eugenia found she didnât mind.Â
~~~
Thomas ducked into Christopherâs lab, cursing Londonâs tiny doors to find his sister and Alastair already seated there.Â
Christopherâs head was bent over his notebook, his hair nearly catching flame on an open fire before Alastair threw a damp towel at his head.Â
âThomas!â Christopher greeted, his face lighting up.Â
âWe need your help,â Alastair said. He seemed to hate any form of pleasantries.Â
âWith?â
âWe need to get into a⌠very thick wooden box,â Eugenia cut in.
Christopherâs face clouded, and Thomas could practically see his mind working. Christopher was the smartest scientist in London and that Thomas could say with entire surety. He didnât like keeping things from him, they had been inseparable for so long but this was not his secret to tell.Â
He listened as Christopher told them what all he needed to create such a substance and Eugenia rose, offering readily to go to the market. Thomas thought he saw a flash of silver in her coat but she was gone before he could ask. His cousinâs face was in a deep revere of thought it seemed so Thomas left the room, Alastair close behind.Â
~~~
Eugenia wished the cobblestones on the ground of this godforsaken market would swallow her up whole. She quite liked the boisterous activity and the loud arguing. What she did not feel so fond of was crouching in the alleyway like a lowlife trying to avoid her own family. Matthew Fairchild and Anna Lightwood were known to frequent illegal places and as much as Eugenia loved them, she wished she could snap her fingers and make them disappear. If they found her here they would certainly tell the rest of their friends, and Eugenia couldnât risk putting Lucie and Thomas under scrutiny now.Â
âHello?âÂ
Eugenia cursed vehemently before turning around to face whatever person called out to her.Â
And oh, Eugenia was going to positively faint. Someone would have to drag her out of the market and send her body home. There was a woman standing in the alleyway, a hat shaded half of her face but Eugenia knew it was just as lovely as the rest of her. The mystery woman brushed long black hair out of her dark brown eyes to study Eugenia.Â
âAre you all right?â The woman asked with her perfectly shaped lips moving to help her up.Â
No. âYes! Of course.âÂ
She looked amused. âIs there a reason you're crouched in a dirty alleyway then?â
âA perfectly normal, justifiable reason yes.â When the woman waited for her to elaborate she added âI canât let my family see me here.âÂ
âAh,â She responded before sticking out her hand. âIâm Kamala.âÂ
âEugenia.âÂ
âI came in through a back exit, I can take you through there.â Kamala hesitated then, and Eugenia realized that their hands were still interlocked. âIf you would like that.âÂ
Well she couldnât have said no to that.
~~~
Alastair, it seemed, liked to perch on dangerous places such as the third floor balcony. Thomas was caught between the urge to join him to see the appeal or pull him off so he wouldnât get hurt.Â
Thomas watched as he tipped his head back, his perfect dark hair rustling softly in the wind. Moving closer hesitantly, he placed his forearms on the railing, seeing Alastairâs eyes open from the corner of his vision.Â
âAre you okay?â The words slipped out on their own accord.
Thomas turned, facing the shorter boy fully. Alastairâs entire being seemed stressed and worried and while Thomas understood why, an irrational part of him wanted to see if he could fix that.Â
âWe might die.âÂ
âNot a pleasant thought.âÂ
âI donât care much what happens to me, but Cordelia and my mother canât survive on their own.â
âWhy? Cordelia seems capable enough.âÂ
Alastair shook his head, turning his eyes away as if heâd said too much.Â
âWhere have you sailed?â Thomas questioned, leaning back onto piller, sensing the signal for a subject change. He also couldnât quite wrap his head around the âpirateâ thing.Â
âMany places. All of them were better than this repulsive town.
That startled a laugh out of Thomas. âI can understand that. I wish I could leave this city too sometimes.â
Alastair leaned closer and cocked his head to the side âWhere would you go?â
Thomas flushed and leaned back. âAnywhere I suppose.â
Alastair looked as he was going to respond but the door banged open. Thomas jerked away, just realizing how close the two of them had been to look at Christopher.Â
âEugeniaâs back.â He called, his eyebrows furrowed as he looked back and forth between them.Â
~~~
Cordelia felt as if someone had an iron arm clamped to her shoulder and was shaking her brain vigorously. She opened her eyes and groaned at the stabbing light.Â
âCordelia?â
Lucie, she tried to say but found that she could not. She felt an actual hand wrap around hers and soft fingers brush hair from her forehead.Â
âItâs okay, donât say anything.â
Slowly, Lucieâs outline cleared and she could see her lovely blue eyes hovering a few inches from her face. Suddenly it was hard to breathe for entirely different reasons.Â
Lucie gently laid her hands on Cordeliaâs arms, careful not to disturb her wounds. Cordelia found herself suddenly overwhelmed with how close her fire-lit skin was, the hesitant brush of an escaped curl against her neck. She never wanted to pull away.Â
âI know you just got hurt on your shoulders,â she started hoarsely, âbut I thoughtâŚâÂ
Cordelia, finally able to find her voice said âNever blame yourself Lucie. If it were to protect you I would do it a thousand times over.â
She heard Lucieâs breathing stop before she pulled away slightly, much to Cordeliaâs disappointment.Â
âThey found the ship. Weâll find her too.â Lucieâs eyes blazed bright. âI want you to teach me, show me how you wield your weapons, set your ships on water. She took far too much already and I refuse to let her take more.âÂ
~~~
You know that one tik tok audio thatâs like- âEveryone is just who they are and who they are is just stone cold gay?â Yeah thatâs this fic
ALSO someone help me out whoâs taller in Joshwood?
Tagging: @adoravel-fenomeno and @barbra-lightwood (Also I didnât say this before but I can add you if you want)Â Â
#eugenia lightwood#kamala joshi#joshwood#alastair carstairs#thomas lightwood#thomastair#lucie herondale#cordelia carstairs#lucelia#christopher lightwood#the last hours#tlh#tsc#sorry if the pov shifts give you whiplash#my writing#tw weapon
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