#SORRY THIS IS LONG.... AND PROBABLY MAKES NO SENSE

[terrestrialnoob]

Can I write more? Physically? Probably. Write angst? I had a bad day, so I don't think I have that in me at the moment. Have some hope, motherfucker.

John was going to kill himself for real this time. He'd summoned a teenager! Not a protector spirit who looked like a teen to get people to trust him, not a trickster spirit who looked like a teen to get people to underestimate him, but the actual ghost of a teenager who probably hadn't died that long ago given the outfit he was in. He'd summoned a kid and ordered him to fight a god. John just killed another kid.

John could feel it. The magical contract wrapped around his heart as thick as it had wrapped around Phantom and through it he felt Phantom failing to keep his end of the contract and fading from existence. There was a flash of light and John was certain he'd see the chain fall to dust, still visible and solid since the ghost king wanted John to watch as Pariah crushed a child in his hands. But it didn't.

"What's this!" Pariah suddenly shouted and John looked to see - everyone was back! John looked and saw Wonder Woman with Fright Knight tied up in her magic lasso under her foot and his sword held high above her head, glowing with energy as she released everyone it had touched. Phantom had distracted Pariah enough for Diana to beat Fright Knight!

Pariah snarled at her and, thank the stars, threw Phantom aside to pick up his sword and fight the entire Justice League. Sure, some of their returned team mates looked worse for wear, but with them back and the Fright Knight handled, it wasn't hopeless. Not for them anyway.

John wasn't paying much attention to the fight other than to get soldiers out of his way and stay out of the way of the big hitters now that they were back. He got to the rubble Phantom had made with that screaming attack of his. The ground was unstable and whatever buildings stood around him wouldn't be standing for long. He followed the softly glowing chain that was quickly dimming. He wasn't sure if that's because Pariah wasn't powering it anymore or if it was because Phantom was...

The chain vanished and left John frantically looking around for the spirit. He couldn't see him or sense him or... John felt his throat close up and his tongue go heavy. As he tried to push the burning of tears from his eyes, he caught sight of something. He stumbled around the ruins and found someone. Short and thin, wearing torn up jeans and someone had written "Fenterd Stinks" on the back of their white shirt in marker.

They looked like a civilian. Civilian's shouldn't have been there, they'd been evacuated hours ago, and no one would have been stupid enough to stick around after the Justice League got there. Even the paparazzi had fucked off to safety.

But as John got closer he could slowly start to feel it. Something was off about them. It was him, it was Phantom! John could sense it was him. He could feel the spirit hiding inside... no that wasn't right, this was something else. He had the same face in different colors, maybe rounder ears and not as many visible freckles, but it was the same and John could figure it out later.

John pressed his hand into the kid's neck and found a painfully slow pulse, his breathing was shallow and harsh. "Alright kid, new deal." John said and re-positioned the kid in his arms. "If you die, I die too. But if you live, you tell me how you beat this guy last time and let me take care of the rest."

John moved his hand slightly, making Phantom - or at least the body he was in - nod in agreement. John waited, and as death didn't over take him, he sighed in relief. This was salvageable.

After another moment, the kid opened his eyes and looked dazed. "What happ-"

"Hey kid, sorry, but we're still in the middle of things." John said, trying to sound urgent but not scare the kid. It didn't work. His eyes went wide and his body went tense. "How was Pariah beat before?"

The kid swallowed and his voice was scratchy. "I - I had a battle suit, my parents made it, and it gave whoever was inside it a hundred times more power, but it drained them like a battery. I was able to get Pariah back in his Sarcophagus of Forever Sleep, but I - I almost died. The suit almost killed me."

"Alright." John nodded and sighed to reset his thoughts. "First thing's first, get you to safety."

Vaguely inspired by that one post where Danny gets summoned by the JL and keeps throwing his shoes and stuff at them bc HE might not be able to leave the summoning circle but his clothes sure can!

I think the twist for that was that the circle doesnt effect him at all because hes a halfa and he was just goofing with the JL.

But imagine if the summoning and containment WORKED.

Like, he gets summoned and its startling, but once he realizes hes been summoned hes mostly annoyed.

Its a school night! He has work to do! Sure he wasnt DOING it, but it was still a possibility!

And hes trying to banter with the JL. Which for him just means being vaguely-obnoxious-but-somewhat-charming.

But then he tries to leave.

Maybe hes worried about his friends reaction to seeing him disappear.

Maybe the JL are saying some anti ghost/demon/whatever they think he is nonsense.

Maybe he changed his mind about doing that homework.

But either way, it doesnt work.

He drags his hand along the edge of the spell. It doesnt give, and he realizes hes not sure what this spell is supposed to do.

Its all along the floor beneth him, he cant fly through the floor.

He tries to get away from the walls and floor, worried whatever spell makes up the container can be triggered to hurt him or brainwash him or SOMETHING.

Its not his best guest, but he has never been summoned before, at least not with this type of barrier, and he doesnt know what to expect.

He barely gets a few feet off the ground when he hits the spells invisible roof.

And he is trapped.

And now this fourteen year old child is caged in a room with clearly dangerous adult strangers.

After hes been more or less kidnapped.

He’s suddenly regretting insulting them.

And its not his first time beimg kidnapped. Or his first time being in danger in general (obviously).

but its usually some ghost! Or Vlad “Loser, I hardly know her!” Masters!

Both of whom explain literally everything they plan in long ass evil monologues! It usually takes danny five minutes tops to learn their entire life story Dr Doofenshmirtz style!

He knows most of them personally! They hang out sometimes! Heck! even the local ghost hunters are either literally related to him or someone he’s dated!

He knows their powersets, their strengths, their weaknesses.

Most importantly, he knows their goals

But now hes trapped. In a room of clearly superpowerd strangers. With magical abilities strong enough to trap him for real.

And has no idea what they want

And Danny just freezes up

This could be super angsty if the JL were told that he was evil and think his panic + young features are only done to manipulate them.

You can also add angst with a language barrier/translation issue

I imagine the JL would be trying to get information about ghosts/ are trying to get someone to fight a villain they can’t defeat

Its going to scare the shit out of Danny either way- like imagine fourteen year old you gets kidnapped by strangers and they start asking you about your weaknesses or say they will only let you out if you agree to fight this monster.

And if Danny doesnt know this villain or how tf hes going to fight them he might feel like hes being sent off to get his ass kicked.

I can just imagine Danny being told he has to fight this supervillain and being like “…if i like..die…trying to fight this guy…what are you going to do with my body? Like will you send me home? Cause my family will freak if my corpse is teleported into the living room”

JL would not be happy about any of his responses.

Im begging someone to write this please have a nice day

[gayforolderwomen]

You wanted to be touched didn't you?

Pairing: dark!Agatha x reader + hinted at Dark!Rio x reader

Agatha and Rio have kidnapped you, they've left you completely alone and isolated for months in hopes that you become touched starved, it works and Agatha uses it to her advantage

Warnings: 18+, smut, dub-con, non-con, mommy kink, fingering (r receiving), kidnapping, manipulation, implied mind control, Stockholm syndrome, extremely brief breast play, r has a pussy, r is referred to as a girl, use of 'good girl', touched deprived r, panty soaking, slight overstim, mention of a strap-on, lmk if I missed anything!

A/N: this is a dark fic please pay attention to the tags! This is my first fic so please be nice and there's probably going to be some spelling/grammar mistakes sorry lol

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You don't know how long it's been

One moment you were walking peacefully in the woods the next two women appeared and you passed out, you woke up in this cell and ever since then it's been silence. No footsteps above, no muffled voices, no human interaction at all

Your meals just appear at the same three times everyday, the cell window too high up and small to tell where you are but at least it gives you a sense of time

It's been roughly three months you think since they took you, you don't know who they are or why they did this but the thing that confuses you the most is that they haven't even come here. No visits at all and it's starting to get lonely, you even tired calling out a few times but recived no response

All you have is the confines of the cell, you sit on the old mattress that's been your bed for the past few months and suddenly a door opens

Your heart leaps as footsteps descend the stairs and she appears. Fear lingers in your chest but the woman approaches the cell with a warm, deceptively kind smile on her face, as if her softness could vanish any minute but you'll take anything right now

"Agatha, Agatha harkness" she states with soft credence

Without waiting for your name Agatha opens the cell door and watches your reaction carefully, you stay still for a moment studying the woman. She's definitely one of the women that took you but she's being so kind and at least she's talking to you

Against your better judgement you stand up from the mattress and hug yourself slightly suddenly feeling awfully touch deprived

Agatha smirks slightly and slowly approaches you. Once she reaches you she cups your face in her hands, her touch gentle and grounding

You almost immediately nuzzle into her plams as if it were the most natural thing in the world, easily lulled into a false sense of security as Agatha's thumb caresses your cheek. She coos at you quietly and brings you closer to her body, her strength a subtle reminder of her power in the situation

"Sorry to keep you waiting little one I just had to make sure you'd be a good girl for me, you're a good girl aren't you darling?"

She asks with a sultry lilt, one of her hands moving from your cheek to wrap around your waist possessively, pulling you flush against her, her other hand still gently cupping your cheek caressing it almost as a distraction to her firmer grip on your waist

You don't even pick up on the implications of her question and just nod, nuzzling into her hand a little more just greatful to be touched

"Use your words little one" Agatha gently chastises her grip loosening slightly as a warning

You almost instinctively panic when her grip loosens desperate not to lose the gentle touch you been without for months

"I'll be good, I am good. I'm a good girl" you say quickly trying to nuzzle into her palm again, an aching need in your body to be caressed

Agatha smiles, a slight darkness flashes in her eyes, too quick for you to take notice. Her grip goes back to how it was cupping your cheek with one hand, the other holding your waist to hers

She leans in slightly, her hot breath tickling your ear "that's a good girl, you deserve a reward for being so good, don't you think darling?" She husks in your ear her tone no longer disguising the lust it's laced with

Agatha doesn't wait for your response this time and her hand leaves your cheek, prompting a small pout from you which Agatha chuckles at

"such a sweet little thing, so desperate for mommy's touch hm?" Agatha teases slightly, pulling back just enough so that her hand can slowly slide down your neck to your chest brushing against your breasts in a fleeting touch

Your cheeks flush slightly heat stirring in your stomach at the name Agatha gave herself. Before you can think clearly Agathas hand cups your breast through your clothes feeling your nipple harden easily, she smirks her plan has worked perfectly, leaving you alone for months waiting for your body to start craving any kind of touch and now you're as responsive and pliable as she had hoped

Her other hand now leaves your waist instead brushing across your stomach occasionally dipping under your shirt to feel the soft skin beneath, her long fingers teasing your pantie line watching your face with a careful determination

The action makes the heat in your stomach grow and you let out a sound of desperation and confusion, almost a whine, you've been aching for another persons touch but this isn't what you imagined

"Wh- i-" you stammer before Agatha raises her hand that was cupping your breast to shush you

"shh baby girl, mommy's gonna make you feel good, you wanted to be touched didn't you?" She says before her fingers slip under your panties and press against your clit, eliciting a gasp from you and making your hips buck involuntarily

Agatha smiles holding back a laugh "see doesn't this feel good darling?" She says as she starts pressing circles against your clit

A strangled moan escapes your lips and despite your mind reeling at the sudden change in situation you feel your body reacting, your folds starting to become slick with arousal, your hips bucking slightly more

Agatha presses her body against yours and starts waking you back until you hit the wall of the cell "oh baby you need me so bad don't you? Mommy's got you" she coos in an almost teasing manor enjoying seeing the way your body betrays your mind

Her thumb is now circling your clit occasionally pressing down hard to hear your beautiful sounds. She can't hold herself back anymore and slips two fingers inside you with little resistance, your warm slick walls enveloping her digits

You let out a whimper that quickly turns into a moan as she curls her fingers inside of you, the pain from the stretch mixing with the pleasure

"Does that feel good baby? You like mommy's fingers inside you?" Agatha husks in the your ear before starting to leave hot open-mouthed kisses on your neck

You let out an almost pathetic moan in response your mind suddenly too foggy to speak, it's odd though your mind was perfectly clear a mere second ago

Her fingers start to pump in and out of you, giving you no chance to think further, curling them perfectly in time with her thumb strokes on your clit. Her other hand holding you firmly against the wall trapping you completely. Your hips buck and twitch desperately not even knowing if you're trying to get away or want more

Agatha moans softly at the sight of you so confused and desperate, your walls clenching around her fingers each time they push in

"That's it's baby take mommy's fingers, you're so good for me" she says a hint of pride in her voice and she pushes a third finger into you once again giving you no time to think as she fucks you against the cell wall

The sound of your moans echo through the basement and your hips start to shake slightly the pleasure pain starting to get too intense, the mysterious fog clouding your brain coaxing you to just give in, Agathas lips still pressing against your neck as her fingers pump into you relentlessly her thumb curling your clit with increased power

"Go on baby, let go, cum for mommy" she commands in your ear before capturing your lips in a searing kiss, her tongue demanding entrance and dominating your mouth claiming you completely

The fog in your brain thickens feeling almost like a blanket wrapping around you, lulling you into security and compliance

Agatha keeps you pinned to the wall as your legs start to shake, her mouth still dominating yours swallowing the slurry of moans you produce and then it happens, a high pitched moan, your legs shaking so badly that Agatha is the only thing holding you up, pleasure crashing through your body and cum enveloping Agathas fingers soaking your panties in the process

Agatha finally pulls back from the kiss still holding you up to look at you, your face flushed, chest heaving, legs trembling, it's the most perfect sight to Agatha. She keeps pumping her three fingers in and out of you making you ride the high of your orgasm, her thumb pressing hard against your now swollen clit before pulling out and stepping back making you fall to the floor with a thud but the fog in your brain barely registers the pain

Agatha takes the fingers that where inside you and brings them to her mouth licking off the cum with a moan "oh sweet girl you taste delicious, I wish I could devour you right now but it's Rio's turn"

Agatha says and suddenly the other woman that took you appears in the cell. Rio, she stands over your trembling body and leans down, her hand dipping beneath your panties and proding at your entrance feeling how wet and stretched out it is

You want to squirm away, your body already tired and overstimulated but the fog keeps you still, keeps you compliant

"You did good my love, she should take my cock nicely" Rio states with a low growl of approval "clear her mind though, you know I like it when they're feisty"

It's then you notice Rio is completely bare, apart from a harness fastend around her hips

[mizgnomer]

Behind the Scenes of The Giggle - Part Fourteen

Excerpt from Benjamin Cook’s article in DWM 599:

In the back garden of a lovely detached house in the Cardiff suburbs – “Not a mansion, but enough to make you go ‘Ooh’,” Russell’s script specifies – David Tennant is giving Bonnie Langford a bear hug. “Welcome back!” he’s saying. “How long’s it been? Thirty-four years?” What a touching moment. “Yeah! And then she sort of blew it,” David tells me later, laughing, “and said, ‘Oh, no, I was here last year!’”

In a timey-wimey twist, today – Friday, 17 June 2022, another scorcher – is Bonnie first time back on Doctor Who since 1987… bar a fleeting cameo in 2022’s The Power of the Doctor. She’s carrying an apple crumble through some patio doors.

And there are the Nobles – Donna, Rose, Sylvia and Shaun – gathered around the garden table, beneath the pergola, about to tuck into pots of curry and cauliflower cheese. (Anything but tuna madras, please.) Sat with them, joining the familial fray at Donna’s new gaff, is the Nobles’ lodger: the Doctor, like we’ve never seen him before. So relaxed. So happy. “He’s not really save-the-world Doctor right now,” Chanya tells David. “This is an off-duty Doctor.” He’s regaling his adopted family with The Eyebrows Story that he’s probably spun a hundred times before. He’s almost at the bit with the Warrior Queen of the Felooth when –

“Am I late?” Enter: Mel, wearing a Reiss dress covered in pink and white flowers. It’s a floral riff of her Time and the Rani ensemble (“They put me in white trousers in a quarry,” winces Bonnie, when I ask her about that ’87 gear. “What the hell was that about??”). “Sorry, the door was open, you don’t mind?”

“Mad Aunty Mel!! I was so happy when I thought of that,” says Russell. “At last she’s got a home, a story, a history. I suppose this house is Donna and Shaun’s, living with mum and grandad, and the Doctor as the strange lodger in the attic. They were promised compensation by UNIT at the end of The Star Beast [after their home was ravaged by Wrarth Warriors].

“Or maybe Bonnie Langford should move into Bannerman Road?” adds Russell, tantalisingly. “I wouldn’t object. MAD AUNTY MEL.”

For Catherine, working with Bonnie must be the equivalent of David partnering with Ncuti? Is there a sense that they’re kindred souls? “Oh I mean,” she says, “I’m just not as deep as that.” She explodes with laughter. “We didn’t even discuss it. I didn’t know she was a companion! I was literally going to David, ‘Bonnie Langford was in Doctor Who?!’”

“Bonnie’s quite unusual, certainly from the old show, in that she was probably better known for other things,” David reasons. “That’s quite rare. This show tends to cling to you.”

“That’s the thing about Doctor Who. You can run, but you can’t hide,” says Catherine. “It’ll get you. It’ll bring you back in the end – happily.”

Catherine has no regrets, then, about returning for these 60th Anniversary Specials? No, not one, she insists. Best of all, Donna finally gets the happy ending she deserves – the delightful fate of Donna Noble. “I think it’s just amazing that Russell has found a way to do that,” says Catherine. “I was convinced he was going to have the Doctor and Donna die in some terrible, spectacular way and everyone would be sobbing. But no. We sit in a garden and eat apple crumble with Bonnie Langford. Ha! Which is so perfect.”

When Catherine read the script for The Giggle, she was “a little bit taken aback, actually, at what happens,” she told us two issues back. Now she explains: “That was when it fell into place for me. I realised, the need to want the monumental was the actor in me. That’s not what Donna wants. Donna doesn’t want the drama. What she wants is to bring the Doctor home and to ground him the way she needed to ground herself. That’s how she saves him. For me that’s Russell’s brilliance, that he sees beyond the showiness.”

Catherine texted Russell after reading the script. “I was like, ‘Oh my God, we sit in a garden having a barbecue,’ and he goes, ‘Yeah, Donna gets the ending she always wanted.’ I thought, of course, that’s what she wants. She wants her best friend. And obviously,” says Catherine, smiling cheerily, “they get the best of both worlds, because there’s a TARDIS in the garden as well.”

“I really like that this is part of the garden,” says David, pointing across the lawn to where his TARDIS is stood. The Doctor’s TARDIS, by the patio windows. For now. (He took Mel to New York last week. And Rose Noble to Mars.)

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

For other posts in this set, please see the #whoBtsGiggle tag. The full episode list is [ here ]

[deadpcnned]

Sealed by the Storm (jj.m)

chapter five

pairing: jj maybank x reader; marriage of convenience

content warning(s): mentions of vomiting

author's note: i always sit down thinking i have nothing to write and then the chapters end up this long... i'm sorry. if you're reading this, maybe you can lmk if you'd prefer the chapters be shorter (esp since it's a series)

join the taglist | series masterlist

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JJ feels as though he can still tell which patches of grass he'd stepped over when he trekked the path he is currently walking less than twenty-four hours ago. Only yesterday, he was making his way to the familiar red brick steps that would lead him to one of his most life-altering moments. JJ had always expected to be a frequent flyer at the Kildare County Courthouse, but his two most recent trips to the establishment couldn't have existed in his wildest dreams. 

Getting married at nineteen — sorry, John B— to you would have been like a weird fever dream he experienced while on a crazy trip. Being a property and store owner with his best friends? That dream he had kept buried deep inside his heart for years. From as early as twelve, JJ saw the potential in the property where they'd built Poguelandia 2.0. He spent many nights using the open water to catch something to make for his dad and or to make an escape when he needed to. He knew that land and that water like he knew the back of his hand. Building a business like the shop from the ground up had been what JJ had made his eighth-grade career fair project about. He'd completed it with a piece of printer paper he'd stolen from the school library and a red marker he'd taken from his homeroom teacher. He'd crumpled it up and thrown it away before he could turn it in when he realized all the kids had made theirs on full-sized poster boards.

It was moments like those that had made him decide early on he'd never be a business owner. Those subtle reminders that he was in a league so far behind the rest that even completing a middle school project properly wasn't possible for him. When he and the rest of the Pogues had established Poguelandia 2.0, he couldn't believe it. It was proof that twelve-year-old JJ hadn't been wrong. Forget proof of validation- it had made him happy. So happy. To belong, to have purpose. And that happiness may be snatched from his grip in an hour. 

JJ drove the Twinkie up to the courthouse, and in the time he'd spent parking it, the Pogues had already begun making their way in. Spotting Kie, he decides to try to catch up to her. Kie had been quiet all morning, and he obviously hadn't had the time to talk to her last night. If he's being honest, he isn't sure what he'd say to her if she were willing to talk. 'I'm sorry?' 'You up?' Nothing he'd say in any other situation made sense in this one. What did a guy say to the girl he was sleeping with after getting married? 

"Kie—" JJ's call is cut quiet when he notices who Kiara has just met up with in the gathering crowd. Anna Carrera embraces her daughter tight, while Mike Carrera stands with a straight face behind his wife. JJ tries to turn the other way to dodge them, but Kiara has already heard him and is waving him over. Fighting a grimace, JJ makes his way over to the trio. 

"Morning," JJ says, nodding at Mike and Anna. He should probably shake Mike's hand, but he isn't a fan of false niceties and Mike and JJ are not cordial. 

"You showed up," Mike chides, resulting in a tap to his chest from his wife, who is clearly trying to keep the peace. 

"It's a hearing concerning my property. Where else would I be?" JJ shrugs. Mike has never been a fan of Kiara hanging around the Pogues, but he definitely has a personal vendetta against JJ. It's been like that for years. Maybe he has some fatherly sixth sense that told him JJ's relationship with Kie was different from the rest, but JJ thought it was more that Mike saw him for exactly what he is — nothing good. 

"Didn't bring your wife? Not dragging her into this with you?" Mike's question might have thrown JJ off — what with being addressed as having a wife— if it didn't feel like he'd spit the word. He can't figure out why Mike, referring to you that way, claws out an even darker part of him than he usually feels come out with Kie's dad. 

"Her name's Y/N," JJ corrects, his tone low. "She's a good friend of your daughters, actually. I dropped 'em both off here just now." JJ lifts his right shoulder to give off an air of disregard for Mike's faux concern. 

"Right. Well, I hope you don't mind giving us some time with our daughter," Mike uses his hand to gently guide Kiara into the courthouse with him, and JJ waits for Kiara to stiffen up and bristle, telling her dad no. But when he looks at Kie, he doesn't see the same fire he usually does when her parents are sticking their noses in her business. The fire is still there, but instead of defiance, it is fueled by something bitter JJ can't quite place. He watches as she lets her father guide her, not waiting to see if JJ will follow. 

JJ knows he probably looks like an idiot, standing alone like he's frozen. He feels it then, that tight pull right in the center of his chest. A loop of everything wrong starts to run through his mind: Kiara's mad. Property hearing. Groff's my dad. Kooks always win. The loop won't end no matter how hard he tries to turn it off. The volume may decrease as he gets more feedback to interpret, but it'll still be there like a low thrum in the background. 

He finally picks up his feet and moves towards the courthouse, his mind only half there, as if he is floating instead of making the mindful decision to walk. As he draws near the ivory building, he sees Pope and Cleo standing by the doors, in conversation with Pope's parents. It's the person standing a few feet away from the red steps who captures his attention. 

There you are, standing all alone in the bustling crowds. His fucking wife. Your eyes keep flitting around the lawn, looking for something or likely someone. JJ ignores the tiny voice in his head that wants you to be looking for him. 

He doesn't know what's wrong with him, but he can't get the image of you from last night out of his head. You in that white dress the moment he decided he liked your hair down best — loose and carefree. You when he was knelt in front of you, all the cards in your hand, still choosing him. You with the barely restrained tears that had felt like they were blurring his vision instead of yours.  And you, with that wide smile and those flushed cheeks from the summer night's heat. The way you danced, your body molding perfectly into his as he spun you closer. He had realized that somewhere between all the fun, he hadn't wanted to let go. There is possibly nothing more dangerous than feeling like he needed to touch you at this moment in time. 

JJ wills away the haunting memories of last night as he finally reaches you. You'd caught sight of him when he was a few feet away and are speaking as soon as he is in earshot. 

"You parked," You say, and JJ just smirks at you stating the obvious. He hasn't spoken to you one-on-one since you returned to your room last night. 

"That I did. You ready to head in?" You nod at JJ's question but make no effort to enter the courthouse. You bite your lip, worrying the soft skin with your teeth. JJ tries not to dwell on how badly he wants to free it for you. "What?"

"Something feels wrong, JJ."

"Yeah, no shit," JJ grumbles, though he finds comfort in being able to focus on his anger rather than whatever else he's feeling at the moment. "These fucking Kooks, man. Always in our way."

Kooks always win. Kooks always win.

You shake your head again before looking around. "I can't shake this feeling like we're forgetting something huge." 

"I think JB brought the Proof of Ownership certificate with us, but I'm sure the court has those files on hand, too," JJ says, trying to ease your worries. 

"No it's not…" You shrug, giving up on explaining this to JJ. "Never mind, I'm probably just anxious." 

"You sure?" JJ takes your nod for what it is– not at all assuring but a green light to proceed anyway. You both walk into the courthouse side by side, the perfect image of a united front. Pope and John B have saved you both a seat at the edge of their bench, and JJ steps back to let you slide in first. He settles beside you, his legs kicking out as he slouches against the backrest, but his attention doesn't stray from you. His gaze remains on your fingers as you wrap them around the edge of your green top, your nerves clearly needing a way to physically manifest themselves. JJ balls his hands in fists to stop himself from reaching out to hold your hand. That probably would do the opposite of consoling you. 

He fights the urge all throughout the start of the hearing. His mind's still running through his spiral, and as he fails to pay attention, the hearing plays on a loop. 

Kiara's mad. Property hearing. Groff's my dad. Kooks always win.

JJ watches as your group elects John B as their spokesperson. He listens to his speech and knows he should be choking up on emotion, but instead, all he can do is focus on his own thoughts. Eventually, the other side is speaking, and he hears something that draws his attention.

"So, what the, uh, current occupants of the land don't seem to understand is that there is an injunction to invalidate the most recent sale," JJ straightens in his seat, no longer able to play the part of uncaring. What does he mean by invalidate? "There was a pre-existing promissory note from the original owner that was in the process of being finalized when the land auction took place." JJ bristles. From the corner of his eye, he can sense the Pogue's confusion, but as he searches his mind for an answer, the pieces are coming together too quickly. The hotshot lawyer keeps speaking, but all JJ can concentrate on is 'previous owner.' Before the Pogues, it had been JJ's house. Which means the previous owner is…

"Where is the original owner? And can he validate the authenticity of this document?" the judge asks, to which Dale, the lawyer, responds affirmatively. 

"He's right here," JJ turns slowly, the appalled gasps of the crowd barely registering past the blood thumping in his ear. There he is, Luke Maybank, his father. No – not his father. The man JJ had been thrown onto, never wanted and never loved, no matter what tiny moments JJ had believed they'd shared. 

Groff's my dad. Groff's my dad. Groff's my dad.

Somewhere around him, JJ can hear words like 'son,' 'JJ's dad,' and 'fugitive.' The only clear sound comes from beside him: 'We were missing something.' None of that feedback matters, though. JJ can't focus on one thing long enough to process it. The world around him has reached a screeching halt, but his thoughts are neverending bursts of chaos. Of course Luke didn't show up to stand behind him, to support JJ in not losing the land that their fragile relationship had been tethered to. 

"JJ, why would your dad–" Kiara's voice rings through to JJ from her spot next to Pope. JJ doesn't look up as he opens his mouth to respond, but your voice cuts in to answer for him.

"He's not his fucking dad," If JJ was in a more conscious state, he might have enough energy to flinch at your words and the lethal tone you spoke them in. Instead, his head falls, and he can feel it happening. The moment right before his chest completely constricts, and his legs carry him away, running from everything happening here. JJ stands up abruptly, facing the man who ruined him. Luke's eyes find JJ's immediately, and there is probably something he can read in them if he wants to, but JJ has no interest in that. 

From a distance, he hears a familiar voice. She's shouting something about love and not being deserving of it. But it's not the right kind of feedback. He can't use it to reel himself in. 

Property hearing. Kooks always win. Property hearing. Kooks always win. Property hearing. Kooks always win.

JJ's feet carry him towards Luke, but he doesn't stop, ignoring him. He walks right past him, and with a frenzied turn of his head, he searches for anything he can grab ahold of. His fingers twist around the smooth surface of a chair and he lifts it over his head. He intends to crash the chair into a window and get some goddamn air in this room, but he never gets the chance. 

"JJ, no." It's you. You followed him? He looks up, his mind still not completely catching up with the moment, to see the rest of the Pogues crowding the front of the room. Then you. JJ scoffs at the fact that you feel the need to follow him. Always fucking babysitting him. 

JJ's arms are being restrained by the security officer who stands by the courthouse door. As he resists the man's grip, another security guard joins in. JJ can hear you telling him to stop, to not 'spin out.'

"Take him out!" You yell at an officer, and as they drag him out the doors, JJ thinks he never wants to see you again. Your self-righteousness is so apparent in your features. You always know the right thing to do, and in your mind, JJ couldn't tell his right foot from his left. 

"Let— let go of me!" JJ yells, his voice shaking with his body. "Stop!"

Eventually, the guards let go, and there you are again, your hands out in front of you in a cautious stance as if he's some animal that just escaped its cage. JJ can't see anything past red, and without Luke in front of him, you are slowly becoming his target. JJ needs to get past you and away before he does something he'd actually regret. 

JJ charges past, or at least he feels like he is charging. In reality, his movements are slow, from the delirious state he's reaching, giving you the chance to step in front of him. You reach your arms out, pushing them against his chest, and the force is strong enough to shove him to the ground and not even there at the same time. 

“Y/N.” JJ seethes. "Move."

"I won't let you do something you'll regret." JJ steps back, his hands coming up to pull at his hair. You are so frustrating. No. You are downright infuriating and he is so tired of it. You'd gotten in the way and gave him the chance to think about what he's doing. Thinking means feeling and feeling means he won't be able to stop from breaking down. 

"JJ," your voice comes out soft, as if you are trying to coddle him, and it sounds so wrong coming from you. So fake. You don't care. You can't care. Because you see him for exactly what he is. You see him like mold that ruins everything it touches, making it irreparable. Yet, he finds himself wanting to let go of his inhibitions and lean into that softness. He wants to trust it and wrap himself up in it. Your voice seems to be the right kind of feedback. He's able to focus on it and grab onto it. But he's not ready to.

Property hearing. Kooks always win.

Tears are gathering in his eyes, and he looks around quickly to see if anyone is nearby. A few stragglers have left the courthouse, and he immediately runs to the back of the building. He knows you're hot on his trail, but right now, he needs to hide from prying eyes. Everyone will be looking to see how Luke Maybank's son reacts. 

You don't say anything right away, and JJ relishes the moment of quiet. But all good things must come to an end, or so they say. 

"JJ, you don't des—"

"Screw that!" JJ's voice is loud and full of disdain. "Screw what I deserve. He doesn't deserve this. He doesn't deserve to call that place his. He's… he's not fit," JJ emphasizes his point by hitting the pads of his fingers against his temple. "Don't they see that?"

The look on your face doesn't feel like pity but JJ still doesn't want to see it. You can't care. Do you care?

"No, he doesn't. I know he doesn't," you agree, and JJ shakes his head. "But he doesn't deserve you throwing your life away for him." 

"You don't get it. He's not fit," JJ's arms are being thrown in every direction as he made his point. "He's not fucking fit, and I have the receipts to prove it."

"What do you mean, JJ?" You ask with a note of hope that makes JJ's heart throb. "Is he not the actual owner? Did someone else own the property before?"

JJ sighs, a sound between a groan and a 'no' leaving his throat. "No— I… never mind." 

He watches your face fall; that light in your eyes, the one he found too rarely, disappears again. With the final bit of fight seeping from his body he slumps against the wall of the courthouse, his head falling between his crossed arms. He doesn't expect you to meet him where he is, and you don't move for a moment, but then he feels your hand against his arm. You're massaging circles into his bicep and even with the added layers of his gray shirt and blue flannel, he feels like his skin is on fire. He's still angry, it seems, because everything feels like it's on fire with you here. 

He lets you touch him still, unable to escape the heat. He doesn't lift his head or say a word, but he also doesn't move away. After a moment, he feels you rest your forehead against his shoulder. You both must look uncomfortable, the way he's curled into himself, and you are probably extending your neck far enough to reach his shoulder, but neither of you changes the position you're in. 

His mind is silent. No loop, no spiral. JJ is unsure how long the two of you sit there like that, but nothing seems to be pulling you away from him until he hears a voice from around the corner. 

"Let's check here," it's Pope's voice. When JJ lifts his head, he sees you haven't moved yours just yet. He has this lingering thought that he doesn't want Pope to find you just yet. Pope does, of course. 

JJ makes eye contact with Pope and then with Kie. The speed with which that burning sensation leaves his body is as though a bucket of ice water has been dropped over him. Kie's face gives away nothing, but her eyes tell a different story. She's upset, but right now, he can't really find it in himself to care. 

Kiara's mad. Kiara's mad. Kiara's mad.

"Guys," Pope speaks, only pausing for a second to take in the sight of you resting on JJ. You finally lift your head at his voice, pushing your body back so you aren't as close to JJ. "They're calling us in. Emptied everyone except us and Topper's team." 

"You guys go ahead," It's you who speaks up for the both of you. "We'll be right behind you." 

"Y/N, why don't you head in with Pope? I'll come with JJ," Kie's voice is void of malice, which JJ is relieved about. This whole thing is weird enough; he doesn't need Kie holding onto misplaced emotions because of your arrangement. 

"Right," You nod, standing up. You look at JJ once giving him a nod as well. No consoling smile or encouraging words to part. Just a nod like you had this one under control. Great job, comrade. 

And yet, he doesn't want you to go. He wants to stay like this for just a little while longer. He also knows he should want that with Kie. God, when had this all become so complicated? 

He turns to the curly-haired girl, who is already offering him that sympathetic smile you failed to give him, and he realizes he kind of hates it. He always hates that smile, but he loves what's associated with it. Free range to fuck up as profoundly as he wants. For once, he doesn't want that pass. He wants to believe he can be better and not need it. Laughable, truly. 

"Jayj, I'm so sorry." What else is she supposed to say, really? 'I'm sorry your dad's a piece of shit' basically sums it up. It still feels so pointless. "You deserve better family."

Alright, well now that one is definitely pointless. 

"Yeah, well, "JJ shrugs, pushing his arm out to one side. He's gotten up now and is already walking towards the front of the courthouse. "We all do." 

He knows she wants to say more, but he doesn't want to hear it right now. Kiara accepts that. He feels like there was a time she wouldn't have. She used to put him in his place, but somewhere along the way, she'd stopped. If he had to pinpoint a time, he thinks it was sometime after he'd spent his restitution money on that hot tub. She'd been so angry at first, but after seeing him all bruised up, she hadn't said anything again. She'd even argued with Pope and John B to let them keep the hot tub instead of returning it. In a way, Kie has accepted that this was JJ. He'd always be the guy who drew shit cards and kept gambling like he had a Royal Flush each round. 

"Mr. Maybank, is it?" the judge asks as JJ walks up to the front. John B pats him on the shoulder, leaving his hand there for a while. JJ only nods in response to the judge. "I trust you've calmed down enough to be part of this conversation."

JJ nods once. The judge, still displeased, continues anyway. JJ knows Luke's still in the room; he saw him as soon as he came in. He's standing between Topper Thornton and his lawyer. He must feel like he's on top of the world, sandwiched between those Kooks, and untouchable. He always sort of was for JJ. 

"As discussed during the trial, land ownership has been transferred from the original owner. Seeing as the property was auctioned off before these details were settled, the property is rightfully theirs." 

"Judge, with all due respect, that's unfair," JJ can hear the voices of every adult who ever told him life's not fair as John B speaks. "When we purchased the land, we weren't told of any such issues. To punish us for the fault of another party is wrong." 

The judge nods, not pleased with the situation either. "I agree, Mr. Routledge. However, these are not mere technicalities, and we must not treat them as such. I am sympathetic to you all, and for that, I've decided to grant you a one-week eviction notice." 

JJ scoffs and is pleased to find out he's not the only one. He looks up at you, and when you notice, you roll your eyes as if you are the only ones who can see how idiotic this judge is. 

"What about our money?" You say, your voice full of authority. You're not usually the one who speaks up in public, leaving that kind of work to Cleo, so JJ is surprised to hear you so sure of yourself. "We paid a lot of money for that property; if the auction is void, we should get that back." 

JJ hadn't thought of that. He'd been so caught up in losing this dream he hadn't thought about the fact that the money could be returned to you. That it should be. 

"I also agree with you, Ms. …" You don't fill in the space the judge leaves, instead sticking your nose up at the thought of sharing information about yourself. JJ does nothing to hide the smirk that comes out of him, subconsciously finding himself jutting his chin out to mimic you. The judge continues, but he does not looks happy about your display of rebellion. 

"The sum you paid for the property should be returned to all of you. However, because this auction was done through a third party and not by this court, the money's return could take between three to six months."

The judge lifts his hands at the outburst of the Pogues, cutting them off. "This is completely out of your control, but it is out of my control as well. I've decided that until the money from the auction has been returned, no work can be done on the old Maybank property." 

This time, the Kooks in the room react poorly to the news. JJ should be glad it's not all smooth sailing for the Kooks, but they'll still get there eventually. What's there to celebrate in that? The judge continues, going between appeasing you all and the Kooks and then going over the ground rules. 

The Pogues must leave by the following Wednesday at 12 pm. 

The Kooks may not remove any structures or begin work until the money has been returned to the Pogues. 

There will be another hearing between the two parties and the judge when the money has been returned and construction may only proceed then. 

There's more. So many rules, all of them pointless. 

JJ walks out behind all the Pogues except you. You're walking next to JJ again, with a little more space. No one speaks. 

"JJ," JJ stills at the voice of his father. He can hear it already, that tilt of apology present. JJ never could figure out if it was real. If his dad would have these moments of clarity, he could see just how cruel he was or if it was just a way to get JJ to keep coming back. 

JJ sighs, as if he'd rather be anywhere else than having this conversation, but he wants to hear the reason for the betrayal. 

"What?" JJ asks, his voice full of nonchalance that doesn't belong in this conversation. Topper and his family have already headed towards the parking lot, leaving only Luke, JJ, and the other Pogues. 

"JJ, I'm sorry," Luke starts, inching closer but stopping when JJ steps forward. When Luke's sober, he's a bit of a coward. You gotta believe me; I had no choice." 

"Could've been a man and gone to prison," JJ shrugs. "Simple as that." Luke's face is small, so different from how he looks in his fits of rage. 

"Son, please—" JJ flinches at the term. Son. He hates how much he loves it. 

Groff's my dad. Groff's my dad. Groff's my dad.

Suddenly, he doesn't want to have this conversation anymore.

"You don't deserve him," It's Kie who speaks up from somewhere behind him. "You don't deserve his love." 

JJ wants to vomit. Do they know he loves Luke? Do they not believe him when he pretends not to care? He doesn't want them to see through his act. 

"I'm talking to my son," Luke is shooting daggers at Kie, but she keeps going. 

"Don't call him that. He loves you, and you betray—"

"Kie, stop." JJ mumbles, but she doesn't. 

"You betrayed him. He's so much better than what you gave him." 

JJ's mumbling for Kiara to stop, but it's like she doesn't hear him. Or maybe he's not actually speaking out loud. He feels you then, brushing past him and walking past Kiara, who's come closer to where JJ is standing. You stride up to Luke and JJ wants to pick you up and tuck you away. He knows Luke's basically harmless when he's sober, but he still wants you nowhere near him. 

He watches as your hands grab the front of Luke's worn-out shirt, pulling him down to your level. Your voice is low as you speak, but the words still ring loudly. 

"You're a piece of shit who got in my way," Your teeth are grinding against each other. "Watch your back." You let go with a hard shove that pushes Luke farther back than someone who didn't know you would expect you to be able to accomplish. "And leave JJ and us alone, asshole."

You don't even wait to watch what Luke does, turning around and grabbing JJ's wrist to lead him to the Twinkie. You're mumbling something under your breath the whole way to the Twinkie that JJ can't understand. When you finally reach the Twinkie, you remove your hand from JJ's arm and cross them across your chest. 

"He's such a piece of shit," you whine, and JJ almost wants to laugh. One because you're telling him? And two, because you look practically childlike in your anger, and after such a devastating loss, it's almost a relief. There are no pitying comments in an attempt to soften the blow Luke landed. With JJ, certain steps need to be performed at specific temperatures. Right now, when he's cooled down, but his hand is still on the knob to start the stove, he needs to pretend that nothing is happening. And if he can't do that, he needs to pretend that what's happening isn't a problem unique to him. Somehow, you know exactly how to handle him right now. 

You're making the problem one he can share with you. He doesn't have to shoulder it alone and he doesn't have to feel like he's the only one drowning. He can use you to come up to the surface. 

"That he is," JJ whistles, then smirks as a thought strikes him. "How'd you like meeting your father-in-law?" 

You stare at him momentarily, your eyes comically wide, before you smile at him. Your smile against the backdrop of these circumstances feels like agony and he thinks he may be a masochist. 

"Think I may start calling him daddy." 

"Aye, that title's reserved for me—"

"Okay, okay," you shut him up, your arms coming up to shove at his chest lightly. You're laughing though. Your real laugh, the choking one. JJ's hands come up to catch yours, tugging you closer, and he relishes how your eyes become hooded, the only indication that his being near you does anything. Fuck, why does it do something? 

"You've got the keys," your voice is even, and you don't move away from his grip, almost making him second-guess whether he really does have any effect on you at all. "Unlock the car."

JJ reaches into his pants pocket and then the next, following with the one stitched into his flannel. He's making a show of not being able to find the keys because he knows how you'll react, and he wants that sense of normalcy. 

"JJ, I swear to God if you lost the keys," JJ quickly brandishes the keys from his flannel pocket, giving you a sideways look. You just roll your eyes and get into the back seat. You don't sit next to him when he gets in the driver's seat, and when Kie takes the passenger seat instead, he guesses that makes sense. 

The week following the town hall meeting had been painful, to say the least. It felt like everyone was tiptoeing around one another, afraid to directly address the issue and too stubborn to let go. The Pogues had tried to come up with solutions the evening they returned and the following day. Every option thrown in the middle of their circle seemed like it would be their life raft, but soon enough, they’d find a dozen holes in it. The Pogues were used to working in the gray, but this issue had them working in black and white. The problem was too entangled in legal technicalities to find a backdoor solution. 

You and the other girls are gathered in Sarah and John B’s cramped room because Sarah had said she felt too sick to get out of bed.

“What are you feeling?” You ask Sarah, whose head is resting against your thigh. She has a lethargic look painted across her features that’s making you tired. 

“Mm, don’t know,” Sarah mumbles. “Just feel tired.” 

“You must’ve caught a bug,” Kie says from where she’s sprawled out on the floor. “Just gotta rest.” 

Your hands run through Sarah’s hair to comfort her, but your mind keeps wondering what’ll happen tomorrow. No one is addressing the issue, and even though there’s been ample time to pack, no one has begun to do so either. 

“Where are we gonna go?” Your voice is hushed, afraid to be the one to bring it up. The atmosphere doesn’t shift so much as it intensifies. The threat of leaving this home is constantly looming over you all, but you’re bringing it down and covering the group with it by putting it into words. 

Cleo sighs from her corner of the bed, “We’re gonna go with Pope to his parents’.”

That much you had assumed. It was like when you arrived from Poguelandia and crashed in their living room. Your question had been more abstract. 

“Um, no,” Sarah says, and you can hear the nausea in her voice. It sounds like her words are escaping past a literal lump in her throat. “Y/N has to stay with JJ. You’ll come with John B and me.”

“Sarah, come on. It’s not that serious,” You argue. Your eyes find Kie’s, who has sat up a little and is already looking at you. You hadn’t had the conversation with her yet, and now it feels a bit pointless. You had already married JJ, so what was the point in running it by her? At least that’s what you’re telling yourself. In reality, you have built the conversation up so much that it felt like too high a wall to climb now. 

Sarah lifts her head from your lap, “It is exactly that serious. What kind of married couple splits up a week after their wedding?” You bite back your bitter reply of a ‘fake one,’ not wanting another lecture from Sarah. 

“Well, where exactly are we going? Because the Chateau doesn’t exist anymore.” Sarah’s entire expression changes. She’s biting her lip in a way that makes it seem like she’s sorry more than anxious. 

“So I went to see Rafe after he stopped by at the shop,” Sarah starts, her eyes flitting to the side. “He, uh, was talking about trying to… reconcile our family.”

You’re sure you’re staring at Sarah as if she has two heads. In what world is Rafe Cameron going to save their family?

“And you told him to shove whatever plan he was brewing up his ass, right?” Cleo asks. You hum in agreeance. 

“I know it sounds crazy. Trust me, if anyone knows how untrustworthy he is, it’s me. But… it makes the most sense right now.” Sarah’s picking at her cotton pajama shorts, avoiding you and Cleo’s eyes. Kiara rises from the floor and sits next to Cleo. 

“You’re planning on staying in his house… with him?” Kie’s voice is dripping with well-founded disbelief and defensible judgment. 

“I’m not doing that,” You add. 

“No, of course not,” Sarah finally looks up. “He has a one-bedroom apartment he bought to lease and said John B and I can take it.”

“And you trust that?”

“No, but I trust that he said we can call a guy to change the locks. And that he’ll finance it.” You tilt your head in semi-approval. At least she’s thought it through somewhat. Picking up on the fact that you aren’t entirely convinced, she adds, “It’s our best bet, Y/N. Where else are me, you, and Kie gonna go.”

She’s right, but knowing she’s right doesn’t make it easier to accept this is where fate has taken you. You’d never met someone as evil and, frankly, unhinged as Rafe Cameron. He’d tried to drown his sister, for crying out loud. Now, you were going to trust him to shelter you?

“So, let me get this straight,” Cleo leans forward. “We’re trusting Rafe Cameron to give you a safe space? That’s like giving a kleptomaniac the keys to your shop and asking him to watch it.” 

“What– what other choice do we have?” Sarah’s voice wavers, but she looks resolute about her choice. “I can’t just let us fall apart. Not again. I need to make this work, and if that means trusting Rafe, then so be it.”

You can’t argue with her when you hear how much this means to her. If five of you are together, that’s still better than zero. 

“Um,” You turn to look at Kie. “I’m gonna go stay with my parents.” You lock eyes with Cleo, both of you silently acknowledging how out of character this is for Kiara. Kiara’s relationship with her parents is rocky. Not in the way it was for JJ or Sarah, but her childhood home is not a place of comfort for her. She’s doing this because of you and JJ. Which makes no sense because you and he are nothing. 

“Kie, you’re coming with us,” You insist. 

“No,” Kie shakes her head. “I’m not. A one-bedroom can’t fit five people, and apparently, you’ve gotta stay with JJ. Guess the rest of us have to figure it out alone.” The bitter tone in her voice is not missed, and you’re scrambling to find something to take it away. Kiara may not be the closest to you, but she is your family. You love her like you love Sarah and Cleo. You don’t want to lose her because of a guy you don’t even like romantically.

You love them all, and they’re all slipping out of your grasp. Kiara’s bitterness, Sarah’s desperate optimism, and Cleo’s lack of contesting all leave you feeling like the ground is being taken out from under you. Then there’s JJ– residing in your mind in the form of a shadow and complicating everything. 

One moment, he’s behaving so much like the reckless boy who drives you crazy, his words biting and his actions thoughtless. He makes you want to scream, but when you least expect it, he’s pulling you in close and shielding you from the chaos — even when he’s the cause. His touch is always steady, anchoring you to this convoluted reality. That part of him — the one that seems like his rawest, most unguarded self — gives you whiplash. He’s a mess you feel you’re constantly cleaning and a safety net continually catching you. 

“Kie–” You try to get her attention. 

“Hey, Sar, I’m gonna go make you some soup. Just… call the boys back. Let’s have our last dinner.” 

You're not sure how the night had rushed by you so quickly. The dinner had been a haze of forced conversation, and the night had been full of drunken suppression. No one reminisced about their time at Poguelandia 2.0 and discussed how much they'd miss it. That might be something you'd all regret in the future, but it seemed like your last line of defense last night, to live in denial. 

You're all outside the house now, the early morning sun mocking you. The sun isn't gentle. It beats down on you but does nothing to warm you from the chill washing down your spine. The sharp light cuts you out of your thoughts of the wasted night, a cruel reminder that it's all over. Pope and Kie's parents drove up to help transfer their belongings, but they were waiting further away to give you all privacy. The yard, which you had loved for its spaciousness, feels too small. You could see Mr. Heyward leaning against his truck, trying to maintain a respectful distance from the group. Kie's dad had packed his car with her belongings and immediately sat back in the driver's seat, never wanting to interact with the rest of you. You know Pope's dad is carrying your grief with you all, but you wonder if Kiara's dad feels more smug– like he finally gets his chance to shout, 'I told you so!' You want to beg Kiara not to give up, not to go back to their house, but you don't because you think you're the last person she'll listen to. 

You're unsure how many hugs Sarah gives you, but she won't stop even though you are both going to the same place. Cleo isn't holding it together nearly as well as you thought she would. The strongest girl you know is failing at hiding the tremor in her voice, and it's throwing you off balance.

"You sure you and JJ can't just crash with us?" She asks, resting her hand on your arm. 

You shake your head. "We'd just make it harder for you guys." You can see on Cleo's face that that isn't the right thing to say, so you add, "Plus, Pope would get back pains after we force him to sleep on the floor."

Cleo gives you a shakey smile before pulling you in toward her. She hugs you tighter than ever before, and you return it tenfold. She'd been your rock since you were fourteen. You'd never spent a night more than a few rooms away from her, and now you'd be on different sides of this island, which you felt you were still learning some days. You didn't know how to survive without her guiding your way. 

"I'll call you," She whispers.

"Every day," You promise. 

When you pull away, you see JJ standing in the corner with Kie. He looks like he's trying to convince her of something, his hands waving as he speaks. Kie has that determined look on her face that you always admired. She doesn't look like she'll budge about whatever they're discussing. You don't want to stare at this private moment between them but can't tear your eyes away. Is he pleading with her? Apologizing? Only saying goodbye? 

You don't have to watch Kiara and JJ for much longer because suddenly she's stepping away from him with her hand out to halt his motions. That's the last you see of Kiara before she walks away from the slowly dispersing group. Pope and Cleo are the next to go, leaving a hole in your heart that you're not sure you'll ever fill. 

The ride to Rafe's apartment is quiet, even quieter than the ride you four had taken to the courthouse the day of your wedding. When you finally reach the building, no one announces the arrival and no one talks until you enter the apartment. It's a grand apartment, fully furnished and nicely decorated. You'd expect nothing less from a Kook property, and it makes you want to tear apart every – probably custom-made – painting on the wall. Why do they have to have everything? 

"Fucking Kooks," JJ mumbles, taking in the room. "Fucking Kooks."

"Couldn't Rafe have just bought the land? " John B. adds, and it feels like a stab to the chest. 

You can hear Pope commenting with some smart-ass comment or shockingly sassy remark, but he isn't here, and no one fills the silence. 

You don't bother unpacking your suitcase; you're so used to living out of limited storage space. Instead, you help Sarah hang her clothes while the boys go to the grocery store to get a couple of essentials. Sarah is in the restroom, and you've just finished hanging the last of John B's printed button-downs. For a Pogue, he sure did have a lot of shit.

"Oh my God!" You hear a screech from the connected restroom, startling you. You drop the shirt you just picked up from Sarah's box of clothes. 

With your heart in your throat, you approach the restroom door, "Sarah?"

"Oh my God, oh my God," Sarah continues to repeat the three words, her alarm rising each time. 

"Sarah, open up," When she doesn't reply but her panic persists, you try the knob and find the restroom is unlocked. "I'm coming in," you warn and rush in without waiting for a response. 

Sarah is bent over the sink, her left hand covering her mouth. Her right arm is hidden from your view, and she's shaking. 

"What happened?" You ask, leaning forward to find some semblance of an answer. 

Sarah doesn't say anything, but she pushes her right arm out towards you. Her lips are pursed in a thin line, her cheeks void of color. You take a moment to process what she is showing you. In her hand is a blue and white stick, and you take it from her hand to inspect it closer.

"Holy shit."

It's a pregnancy test. A positive pregnancy test. Sarah's positive pregnancy test.

"Is this…" 

"It's real," Sarah whispers. You look up at her, and she returns your stare as if she is expecting you to explain this to her. 

"What are you going to do?" It isn't the right thing to say in this situation, but it's the first thing you can think of. 

"I don't know," Sarah's voice breaks, and her emotions flood out. "I mean, I'm nineteen. I'm living in my murderous brother's rental property because we don't even have jobs. Babies are expensive! I need a job. What will JB thi–"

"Hey, hey," you say, placing the pregnancy test on the counter and stepping toward her to cut off her rambling. Breathe, Sar. Just breathe." Her chest is heaving, and you exaggerate your breathing to model what you need from her. When she begins to calm down and matches her breath to yours, you ask, "Is this something you want?"

Sarah lets out something between an inhale and a whimper. At first, she shakes her head, but something changes when she turns to the sink, and her eyes catch on the test. Her shoulders fall, but instead of devastation, you see relief. 

"I want this so bad," She whispers. You agree with everything she said: having a baby in her situation doesn't fit, but you can't help but smile at her. "I didn't think I would, but if I am…" Her hand rests on her stomach, a streak of protectiveness you are both used to seeing from her and is entirely foreign to you. "I'd want to keep it."

Your chest swells with warmth. "Then that's what you'll do," you tell her firmly. "And we'll all be here for you. Every step of the way." You offer her a confident smile, and she returns it with a hesitant curve of her lip. 

"I'm going to have a baby," Sarah whispers again, but her smile seems impossible to contain as she says it. 

You laugh, pulling her in for a hug, "You're going to have a baby." 

Sarah tightly winds her arms around you, "I can't do this alone." 

After so many years, you want to cry for the hundredth time in the past two weeks. This beautiful girl who loves so freely is afraid no one will love her enough to endure this trial with her. Her tumultuous relationship with her family aside, your new family has been torn apart, and she's finding out there's going to be a new and very dependent member. 

"And you never will be," You promise. "This baby's got a village." 

"Baby," she squeals. Your laughter bubbles up and washes over the room, blocking out the weight of the world for this moment—this moment between two friends and their shared joy, hope, fear, love, and life.  

You'd decided you'd wait for Sarah to tell John B about the baby before you left the apartment. You had to. John B and Sarah would need privacy and space to grow their family. A one-bedroom was already too small for that task, and adding two grown adult roommates would worsen the situation. You'd already shared the bedroom with Sarah the night before when John B had insisted he'd take the couch. You couldn't keep that up. 

You didn't know where you'd go, but maybe you could take Cleo's offer to stay with her and Pope. JJ would have to bite the bullet and stay with Kie at her parents. You'd figure it out. But you didn't want to be more of a burden than you already were on your best friends. 

John B and Sarah had left the following evening to go on a walk, where Sarah would tell him the good news. You'd figured you'd use that chance to explain to JJ what was happening. 

"Hey," you announce your presence, though it seems a bit unnecessary since you are both on opposite ends of the same couch. 

JJ directs his attention away from his phone and to you, "Yeah?"

"So, I needed to tell you something," JJ must notice how serious you are because he shuts off his phone and tilts his body to face you. "It's about our living arrangement."

"You wanna stay with Cleo?" He asks. "That must be hard." 

You weren't sure if anyone else had noticed how much separation from Cleo affected you, but apparently, JJ had enough insight to assume it would. 

"No, uh, it's not that," JJ waits for you to continue. "But what I'm about to say is a secret. Like, a huge one. So no one can know."

This makes JJ's brows knit together in confusion. "Okay? What is it?" 

"Sarah's pregnant." JJ's jaw drops with humorous speed before he begins to open and shut it. He's sputtering, unable to form a thought. 

"Relax," You say, giving him a peculiar look. "You're not the father." 

"She's pregnant? John B's gonna be a dad?"

You nod, letting him process this however he needs the time to. JJ sinks back into the couch as if he is being physically hit with the news. 

"Wow," his hands run through his hair. "Parents. They're gonna be parents," JJ shakes his head, and you wish you could be in his mind at this moment. Is he being judgmental? Is he worried?

"Wait, are they?" He asks suddenly, sitting up straighter. "Does she want us to— does she need our help. Is that why you're telling me?" It takes you a moment to understand what he means. 

"No, she doesn't need us for anything like that," you assure him, a bit caught off guard by his awareness of situations like these. JJ isn't the most emotionally intelligent guy, at least you don't think so, and his awareness of other potential options is a bit of a surprise. "They're going to be parents."

"Wow, that's… amazing," He mumbles. "For them. Could not be me, but good for them." You laugh, the JJ you know poking through from behind all the maturity. 

"Yeah, agreed," JJ chuckles at your grave tone. "But that's why I wanted to talk to you."

"Right," He nods, suddenly remembering the start of this conversation. 

"We need to leave. The apartment, I mean. They'll need their space, and we can't overstay our welcome." 

"Where would we even go?" JJ rubs his hand against his clean-shaven jaw. 

"I could stay with Cleo, and you'd probably hate this, but Kie's parents—"

"What? No way," JJ leans forward again, his expression tightening. "We're not splitting up."

"We aren't?" You ask dumbly. You had expected JJ to push back on leaving the apartment. It may have had just one bedroom, but it was better than any home he'd had before. Plus, it was much better than encroaching on the Carrera's property for him. You hadn't expected him to be concerned about you two going your own ways. 

"We have to stick together." There's a certainty in his stare and an edge to his voice that has you second-guessing yourself. It pins you in place and leaves you defenseless. "Or none of this will look real." 

Oh. Right. What else would he have been concerned about?  

"I doubt Kie or Pope's parents would blow our cover," you say, keeping your voice light, hoping to conceal any disorientation. JJ gives you a pointed look, and you sheepishly correct yourself: "Maybe Mike, but we can find a way past that."

JJ sighs, not laughing at your light attempt at humor, "We're not splitting up."

"We don't have anywhere to go, though," You sigh. "Remember, you said it yourself, no one else will cover for us."

JJ's shoulders fall, and he gives you a look that makes you want to take back everything you've ever said. He looks so… fragile. You may have missed it if you weren't looking at him as closely as you are, but it's undeniably there. 

"We cover each other," he shrugs, and with those four words, he speaks so nonchalantly that he eases the weight you've felt growing on your shoulders. He sighs again, leaning back against the couch. "I know somewhere we can crash." 

You wouldn't have imagined going along with that uncomfortably vague statement a week ago, but now you had no other option. All you can do is follow JJ blindly, even though your trust in him is hanging by a fragile thread. For once in your life, you don't bother asking questions. You're too exhausted to try to piece together your next steps as diligently as usual. You'll figure it out later. 

When Sarah and John B returned, you'd tried your best to arrange a celebratory dinner for them. You'd used the ridiculously expensive glassware Rafe had stocked the apartment with – because, of course, Kooks that could afford real estate on this side of the Island couldn't buy their own plates and cups – and put a very fancy peanut butter and jelly sandwich on each plate. It was all you could do, but you made Sarah's a double-decker for what it's worth. It hadn't made you feel great that you could hear her hurling the contents of her dinner from your spot in the living room (JJ had gotten a good laugh out of that). 

It had taken a lot of convincing and even more tears for Sarah and John B to agree to let you go. They had reasonably questioned where you planned to stay, and JJ mentioned something about a Jim Buckley. The name meant nothing to you, but John B seemed to understand. John B had looked apprehensive but hadn't shut the idea down completely, which made you feel better. He'd even driven the Twinkie to drop you two off while Sarah turned in earlier than usual. You'd held her tight and whispered your promise to her again. You and JJ separating from them was only physical. Nothing could keep you away from that baby now that you knew they existed. 

When John B pulls up to what looks like a dock, you step out of the car to give him and JJ privacy. They'reTheir connection is like yours and Cleo's. You've seen how they communicate without words and how sometimes the only person who can reel JJ in is John B. Saying goodbye will be painful, even with the sweet reminder of who you're all doing this for now. 

You take the time to figure out where you are. The dock extends over a large lake, not the ocean. There'sThere are only a few man-made lakes in the OBX since most Kooks are in the market for real estate by the ocean. You notice a secluded mansion that seems like it touches the sky. In typical Kook fashion, it's humongous, but unlike most other mansions, the nearest house to it is a few miles down. 

When JJ exits the Twinkie, his eyes are misty, but you don't comment on it. Instead, you'd sidle up to his side, your entire demeanor asking him what's next. You hate this– not knowing and not being in control. You never relinquish your control unless it's to Cleo, and it took a few years before you could get to that place with her. The itch for control is catching up to you.

"Why are we at a dock? Whose house is that?"

"That would be Jim Buckley's house. Used to maintain his boat for him when I was younger." You nod, waiting for him to expand on that, but he doesn't. 

"And he's going to kindly let us stay with him?" You ask, a false sense of hope laced in your tone. You know that's not happening. 

JJ snorts, "Yeah, right. No, we're gonna crash on this fine boat of his." JJ waves his hand in front of him, towards the water. You look at the dock, and there, tied firmly to a post, is a cabin cruiser. More specifically, a Yellowfin 54. You'd dreamed of having one since you were fifteen, and after moving to the Island, you would enviously look at each one you passed. 

"We're gonna stay here?" You ask with a slight pep in your voice. You try your best to mask that little bit of excitement and focus on the issue at hand. "We can't. We'll get caught."

"Don't gotta worry about that," JJ shrugs, heading towards the boat. You follow him as he explains further. "Jim's usually flying internationally for business and the missus is usually miles away at Kelce's dad's place when that happens."

"She's cheating on him?" You gasp.

JJ waves his hand behind him, "It's fine. Jim's probably doing the same in, like, China." 

"Um, okay. I'm going to ignore how you know this, but what about maintenance. If they're never here, it must be in horrible shape."

"I used to do maintenance for them, and I know for a fact they have someone take care of it every Tuesday at ten a.m., without fail," JJ offers, and you can't lie that your nerves are calming a bit. "He uses it when he's in town, and Janet puts him in the dog house."

"And Janet is Mrs. Buckley?" You ask.

"Yes, ma'am, she is," JJ stops right in front of the boat, turning to smirk at you. "I was wondering when you'd start your interrogation."

"Shut up," you roll your eyes and sidestep him to get up onto the boat. You don't take the hand JJ's offering you; instead, you stick your hand out so he can use you as support. JJ gives you a sarcastic smile but still takes your hand. He doesn't let go as he guides you to the front of the boat. Lifting the cushion of one of the seats, he pulls out a small key.

"Jackass still keeps it here," JJ mumbled, throwing the key up before catching it in his fist. He has that dangerous look on his face, the one he gets when he's winning a risky gamble. JJ leads you to a short, narrow door on the side of the boat. Before he places the key in the lock, he pulls you in, searching your eyes. He seems like he's waiting on you. For what exactly, you're not sure, but he doesn't deter his staring. You don't have to voice your concerns. He's used to you badgering him with your distrust. 

Still, you say one thing. "JJ, someone could find us." 

"I know," he nods. His voice is quiet but steady. He's grounding you again, tethering you. He doesn't cut into your concerns. Instead, he catches them and holds them with care and understanding. "You don't have to trust this, but try to trust me," 

"Impossible, I know," he says. A small laugh bubbles past his lips, his expression genuinely amused. He steps forward then, using the hand that's still clad in yours to pull you towards him. The smile leaves his face, but his voice softens as he speaks. "But will you try? For us?"

The air around you compresses, pushing you two together until there is space for nothing except a little spark between your chests. A spark ignited by the words Us. That word hits you like a bad wave wiping you off your board. In a literal sense, you are an us, two people in this together. But it means so much more. Like, after you step into the cabin, everything will change. There won't be a you or JJ. There won't even be a you and JJ. It'll only be an Us. One unit. For better or for worse, it's Us. 

"I-I'll try," you stammer. JJ gives you a grateful smile. 

"We'll lay ground rules, make sure no one catches us," JJ promises. There really is nowhere else to go, and all you can do right now is either give this a shot or sleep on the streets. "And if we get caught, at least the jails have cots." Or that.

You hit your hand against JJ's arms, and he pulls away, laughing. He takes two small steps away from you, but the spark doesn't snap. It grows. No amount of distance can extinguish it now. 

He puts the key into the lock and opens the cabin door. You note that the door doesn't creek. He ducks his head and crouches to step inside, flicking the switch to his right. The dim light spills out around him. You follow his lead, his hand– still holding yours– pulling you through despite any lingering hesitation. 

The interior looks exactly as you remember seeing it online when you would mindlessly scroll. The "lounge" area consists of a leather couch built into the floor, a sink with a microwave over it, a fridge under it, and two doors. If your research is correct, one door will lead to a full-sized bed, and the other will lead to a restroom that makes a porta-potty seem big. You'd dreamed of having a boat like this for vacations and fishing days. You'd never wanted it to be your home. After you'd left Terrance, you hadn't wanted to return to ship life, but at least it wasn't foreign to you. You'd know how to maintain it and make it work. 

JJ strokes his thumb against the skin of your hand as he announces, "Home sweet home." 

"Home sweet home," You agree.

taglist: @theater-bitch @ayy1234567 @tpwkyarely @loves animals0000 @b3rryb3t @mvaldez7821 @ummmmokaynotme @velyssaraptor @chloemaybank @sandaltoesocks @thexplosivegirl @rudypankowisbae @marleymarleymarleymarley @snowtargaryen @awurtzx06 @yumwhy @rudypankowisbae @thxtmarvelchick @otra-chica-0 @agnxstic @rinaarii @kaisgirlie

[strwbrrykthv]

pt 2 to this story, but can be read alone. sorry it took so long i have a full time big girl job. and i need like a crazy amount of motivation. this ones big cheesy bc theyre drunk. not proofread!!!

cw: alcohol, sexual tension if u squint

katsuki assumed the group was going to one of those karaoke bars with the private rooms where its just your friend group cheering each other on, so imagine his surprise when sero and denki lead them to this american style bar with a bright led sign that reads ‘open mic karaoke night.’

“you have got to be kidding me” he grumbles as he pushes the door open to reveal an almost filled bar. “theres just a bunch of drunk middle aged people here.”

“katsuki be nice. denks said he really likes this place,” you scold him from his right, still connected to his side.

“yo guys theres a couple of tables up front by the stage. im going to go order a round of shots if you want to head up there and start warming up your voice,” sero winks which causes katsuki to groan again, even louder. as you make your way to the tables, mina pulls you towards her the table she’s sat at leaving katsuki to sit beside denki… again.

as the night continues and drinks are ordered, you finally get the courage to request a song. its a duet and luckily sero agrees to do it with you. your friends are cheering you on as slur through the lyrics of neva play by megan thee stallion.

the only line you say fully is “three things i don’t play about, myself, my money, or my man,” as you point at katsuki who just nods at the proclamation that he is, in fact, your man.

the song ends, and you make your way down to your seat that is opposite his as his eyes follow you. they don’t leave you even as izuku and ochaco sing some love song. he doesn’t care if youre not looking back at him, his favorite thing to do is just watch you, especially when hes got a few drinks in his system. which, honestly, makes him sound like a creep, but you know the difference between feeling his gaze on you and feeling a sleaze balls watching you.

you’re pretty much at your limit when mina orders another round of shots for both of your tables, and instead of being happy you feel your mouth instinctively fill with saliva.

katsuki could read your body language like book, so as they were handing out the shots he quickly took his and got up to go to you. “hey, mama, how about i take this shot, then sing that dumb song with the guys, and then we go home? how does that sound?”

he may not be slurring, but hes very close to being more drunk than hes ever been in public. he knows your shot plus his is what will probably throw him over that edge, but he doesn’t want your night to be ruined by throwing up in the bathroom.

you blink up at him and nod slowly. in your drunken daze you are just so mesmerized by him. his soft red eyes, his spiky hair thats fallen just a little, the scar on his face that only you get to touch, his shoulders…. yeah you really want to go home.

he grabs the glass from the table, but you stop him, “wait, can i give it to you?” you ask as you’re reaching for the glass. he doesnt respond, just lets you take the glass from his hand.

he knows all of your shared friends are watching because they can sense the shift in energy between you two. you stand from your chair as katsuki sinks to his knees in the grimy bar. you hold his jaw with one hand as he opens his mouth for you to pour the shot, never breaking eye contact.

he returns to his full towering height after swallowing the shot and turns to look at all of your friends who just watched the interaction with wide eyes and mouths open in shock. you reach up to swipe away a drop on his chin that managed to miss his mouth with a smile too innocent for what just occurred.

“thank you, suki,” you say as you drop your hand. “now go sing me a song!”

he pats your hip as he moves past you to stand on the stage next to kirishima, sero, and kaminari who picked the song. he feels a little more buzzed than before after standing up and moving, and he’s almost positive he’s going to slur around the words when it’s his turn.

youre halfway paying attention, just watching katsuki as grabs a mic when you hear the first notes of mr. brightside and burst into laughter. you cannot believe they got him up there without bribing him.

the song continues and you drunkenly wolf whistle after the end of katsuki’s turn. he sends you a middle finger that holds no meaning by the way his ears are red.

the song finishes and he makes his way to where youre seated, reaching a hand out to you. you gladly take it and spring out of your seat stumbling into him causing katsuki to instinctively wrap his free arm around your waist, holding you to him.

“you did amazing up there,” you whisper, “you shouldve been a singer instead of a hero.”

he scoffs as he looks down at you. “yeah? then i wouldve never met you.”

your body buzzes when he talks to you like this. “oh yeah. we wouldve found each other some way. were, like, soulmates.”

katsuki closes his eyes at your words to try and keep his heart from beating so fast. he knows you mean more than just friends soulmates, but he also knows right now the only label the two of you can have is “just friends who sometimes cuddle, sometimes kiss, sometimes do more, and are always together if one of them has a break” type of friends in order to keep you safe.

“mhmm, we are. now, whaddaya say we go home and go to sleep?” he hums.

“yes i would like that a lot. we have to talk everyone bye though.”

“no we don’t. they know youre leaving with me itll be okay.” he says still holding you by the waist but moving to your side to guide you outside to call a taxi.

youre already snoring by the time you arrive at katsukis apartment. he carries you from the car to his door before having to regretfully put you down.

“mama, you awake enough to stand up? i gotta get my keys out.” he asks setting you down beside him near the wall. you just hum with your eyes barely open, watching him.

“i had a lot of fun with you tonight ‘suki. and i know denki only came over to me earlier because he said something to you. i like being with you any way i can and i dont care what our friends say.” youre slurring your words and speaking softly during to sleep threatening to take over.

“and what do our friends say?” he asks opening the door and guiding you inside his apartment and to his bedroom.

“that its dumb to call ourselves friends when we dont do anything just friends do.” youre kicking off your heels and removing your clothes as hes digging in his dresser to find you a shirt to sleep in. “but i dont think its dumb…..”

katsuki just shakes his head as he walks over to you and helps you put the shirt on over your head. “its not,” is all he says.

“no!” youre a little more awake now. “its not! because i know you love me and you know i love you and thats all that matters because everyone else can kiss our asses.” you say with a small smile wrapping your arms around his neck.

“yup. thats right mama. youre all mine and im all yours. now, are you ready to go to bed yet?” he asks while leading you backwards to the bed.

you release him crawling into his bed and waiting for him to follow. he strips down to his boxers while you watch before getting under to covers next to you.

he pulls you in to lay youre head on his chest as your starting to close your eyes.

“if you throw up on me in your sleep im going to kill you” he warns.

but its too late. youre already asleep and you werent going to pay attention to him anyway.

DO NOT COPY OR PLAGIARIZE.

hope you guys liked it and it wasn’t cringe!

[im-so-normal-iswear]

A míI wondered if you could make yandere espió, vector y a Silver, With a gender-neutral reader, who is a baker and who at the same time likes will please everyone with his desserts?

Thank you , and sorry if my English isn't good, you don't have to do it if you don't want to.

A/n: no problem!

Yandere!Espio/Vector/Silver x Reader who loves baking

Espio:

Espio had always been one to stay in the shadows, observing from a distance. It started innocently enough, he had been tasked with keeping an eye on the neighborhood for suspicious activity.

Someone had mentioned a new baker in town, and curiosity led him to your bakery one morning.

The moment he opened the door, the sweet scent of freshly baked bread greeted him. You smailed as you waved to him as he stepped in, your eyes crinkling at the corners, and Espio felt an odd flutter in his chest.

He brushed it off as nothing at first, just an appreciation for your craft. As he visited more frequently, sampling your muffins and cookies, the feelings only rooted deeper.

Espio admired your dedication, the way you poured your heart into every creation, but it was more than that. You treated everyone with kindness, that unrelenting warmth was intoxicating, and Espio hated how others took advantage of it. They didn’t deserve your attention. Not like he did.

You started noticing strange things happening around the bakery. A customer you'd mentioned was rude one day stopped coming altogether. When you asked around, no one could give you a clear answer about where they'd gone.

A particularly persistent admirer who hung around too long suddenly stopped showing up, too. You chalked it up to coincidence, but Espio would stand silently outside, watching, ensuring no one overstayed their welcome.

He loved how oblivious you were to his subtle interference. It gave him a sense of control, of keeping you safe without you even knowing. But as his feelings grew stronger, so did his jealousy. Every laugh you shared with a customer, every compliment you offered someone else felt like a dagger to his heart.

He started slipping notes under your door at night, written in elegant calligraphy, praising your talent and devotion. You thought they were sweet gestures from an anonymous admirer, but Espio relished the thought of how close he was to you without you realizing it.

The day you offered him a personal batch of dango he nearly broke his stoic demeanor. You had made them just for him, you said. Did you know what that meant to him? Probably not. But to Espio, it was a declaration of love. And he wasn't about to let anyone else take that away from him.

Vector:

Vector was loud, brash, and utterly smitten from the moment he stepped foot into your bakery. He wasn't even supposed to be there, Charmy had begged him to stop in because he'd heard about your chocolate tarts. he wasnt interested in tarts at all, nit at the time at least, but when he saw you everything changed.

You handed him a tart with that warm smile of yours, and it was like a thunderbolt struck his heart. He'd never tasted anything so sweet in his life, and it wasnt just the dessert. It was you. You had this way of making him feel like the center of the universe, even when you were serving a dozen other customers. It wasn't long before Vector was finding excuses to visit every single day.

"Got any new recipes today?" he'd ask, leaning on the counter with a wide grin. He didn't care what you gave him, everything you made was a masterpiece in his eyes. But what really hooked him was how you always remembered his favorites. That personal touch made him feel special, like he mattered more than anyone else.

Vector's feelings quickly spiraled into obsession. He started bringing you little gifts, flowers, trinkets, even some expensive baking supplies he thought you might like. (Rest of chaotix wasnt thrilled with the excessive money spending) At first, you found it endearing, but then he started showing up unannounced after hours, claiming he was "just in the neighborhood."

One night, as you were closing up, you turned to find him standing in the doorway with a sheepish grin. "Thought you might need some help carrying stuff," he said. You didn’t want to be rude, so you let him stay. But as the weeks went on, his visits became more frequent, his presence more suffocating.

Vector couldn't stand seeing you serve other customers with the same kindness you showed him. He started scaring off anyone who looked like they were getting too close, his booming voice and imposing stature enough to make most people think twice about hanging around. He even tried to convince you to hire him as security, saying you needed someone to "keep an eye on things."

You laughed it off, but Vector wasn't joking. He’d do anything to protect you, even if it meant keeping you all to himself.

Silver:

Silver's obsession was quieter, more insidious. He didn’t stumble into your bakery by chance, he was drawn to the warmth and happiness radiating from it. Coming from his world, your little shop from sonics was a beacon of hope.

The first time he saw you, he was too shy to come in. He watched through the window as you handed out cupcakes to a group of children, your laughter carrying through the glass. You looked so... perfect. Untouchable. But Silver couldn’t stay away. The next day, he worked up the courage to step inside, his heart pounding as you greeted him.

Silver was awkward at first, fumbling over his words as he tried to order. But you were patient, helping him choose something from the menu, and he left with a bag of pastries and a heart full of newfound affection. From that moment on, he was hooked, not just on your baking, but on you.

Unlike Espio and Vector, Silver's jealousy didn’t manifest in overt ways. Instead, he used his powers to subtly manipulate situations. If someone seemed too interested in you, their car might mysteriously break down, or they'd lose something important and have to leave. Silver didn't want to scare you, he just wanted to protect you. To keep you safe from anyone who might take you away from him.

He started spending more time at your bakery, sitting at a corner table with a book or sketchpad. He told himself it was harmless, that he just liked being near you. But as his feelings deepened, so did his obsession. He began sketching pictures of you, filling page after page with drawings of your smile, your hands as you kneaded dough, the way your eyes sparkled when you talked about a new recipe.

Silver dreamed of a future where it was just the two of you, baking together in a quiet little home far away from the rest of the world. He even started practicing his own baking skills, hoping to impress you. One day, he brought you a loaf of bread he'd made, his cheeks turning pink as he handed it to you. It wasn't perfect, but you praised his effort, and that small moment of encouragement only fueled his obsession further.

As time went on, Silver's desperation to keep you close grew. He started leaving little notes tucked into your apron pockets, each one more heartfelt than the last. You thought they were sweet, but you had no idea how deeply his obsession ran, or how far he was willing to go to make sure you were his and his alone.

[valjeancrazylover2]

Enjolras (& Grantaire)

While not really a presence in what i'm usually writing about, I still wanted to design them. Enjolras certainly is more relevant than Grantaire when I'm writing about Marius, though. Sorry !

With a blond/..er, frosted tips? Version. Cause I know blondjolras is like canon and all but I'm not sure which I prefer.

Grantaire's design is still very much in the early stages, and whether it will ever leave them still remains to be seen . I didn't draw him in colour, but he is indeed ginger and taller than enjolras, thanks Kyle Adams! (With credit to Tom Hext)

So! Design details!

My Enjolras is Javanese. Representing this (to the best of my very british ability) is his sarong (the garment around his waist). While not Javanese in essence, Enjolras is not currently living in Java/Indonesia to be able to receive that direct cultural influence. Some batik (the name of the textile pattern) would have had european influence. This can be seen in the design I have created in the branches, which I tried to base on the tree brances seen on the symbol of the French Revolution.

Also on the batik is a fleur-de-lis, and alongside the french flag stipes on the trim, connects the indonesian to the french. Admittedly the addition of the fleur-de-lis doesnt really make much sense considering it wasn't particularly used much after the Revolution, so that might end up getting changed.

The necklace he wears is also javanese in origin - admittedly I should really have looked at a reference as they are NOT made from beads, so that would be an amendment for later, but he wears that also to represent his heritage. It also somewhat symbolises his more fortunate background.

His earring is simply for flair, however since they weren't particularly common, I guess it's him straying from the status quo.

Same goes for the bleached hair - purely to stand out. But I'm not sure if that's a permanent addition to his design yet.

In my first design I had him wearing trousers and shoes, but I've changed it to a pair of boots, as they are more militaristic in nature and practical.

As for grantaire... not much to say. He looks older than his days, a bit bloated, certainly his swollen alcoholic's nose too. Hair's grown long as he's stopped caring about getting it cut and styled at the barber, but hates how cropped hair makes his head feel cold. I'd say that's the situation with his beard too - can't be arsed getting it shaved.

Anyway.... next post will probably be about the old men, don't worry. Just needed to get this out of my system.

Any requests or questions about them or the other amis are totally welcomed - but i can't guarantee i'll have a decent answer past these 2 or courfeyrac. SORRY

[cloudinwjns]

haiiii, can I request a really fluffy fluff where minji comforts the reader cause it’s exam season and after the exam just coming home to minji having cuddles and sweet treats, pretty pleaseeeeee. it’s exam season for me and I would kill to have someone comforts me :> thank you smmmm <3

Sorry this took like forever (?) help I feel so guilty but I’ve been super duber busy and all I barely had any time to write but here it is. It’s also exam season for me so I can relate a lot TT thanks for the request and hope your exams went well👏

EXAM AND STRESS

Synopsis: it’s normal to get freaked out right? Especially when it’s exam season and you just couldn’t help but worry about your result for the exams. But what’s there to worry when there’s someone around to comfort you.

Warnings; exams (I do hate exams 💔), worrying, have an unexpected upcoming test next week :( and so sorry it came out so late!!! nothing much but just pure fluff,

It took you by surprise the moment an unexpected exams was announced. Of course you hadn’t prepared at all which makes you think it’s going to be harder than the last time.

Gripping your hair in clear frustration, you glanced around the room noticing the messy and disorganized room which made it uncomfortable for you to read.

You turned on the music, putting it at the highest volume knowing you were in for some deep cleaning.

—

With a loud sigh, you collapsed on the bed feeling yourself melt into the soft plush material. After what seemed like hours, you had finally came to the end of the cleaning.

Setting everything else aside apart from your book, you sat on the floor comfortably eyeing the large book with a slight judging look. God why was the school so wicked? They probably knew that most of you weren’t prepared for the exams and decided to release a statement out of the blue.

Although you knew it was going to be extremely hard you knew you had no choice but to study.

Your whole career depends on this particular exam.

—

You trudged through the front door, your feet heavy with exhaustion. You had just finished the most important exam of your life, and you were still reeling from the experience. Your mind was a jumble of emotions, ranging from anxiety to relief.

As you entered the apartment, you were greeted by the warm smile of your girlfriend, Minji. She was sitting on the couch, her legs tucked under her, and a tray of sweet treats in front of her.

"Hey, baby," she said, her voice soft and soothing. "How did it go?"

You collapsed onto the couch beside her, feeling a wave of relief wash over you. You had been studying for months, and the pressure had been building up to this moment.

"I don't know," you admitted, running a hand through your hair. "I feel like I did okay, but I'm not sure. My mind is a blank right now."

Minji nodded sympathetically, her eyes filled with understanding. She knew how much this exam meant to you, and she had been supporting you every step of the way.

"It's okay, baby," she said, taking your hand in hers. "You did your best, and that's all that matters. Now, let's focus on celebrating. I made your favorite treats."

She gestured to the tray in front of her, which was laden with all sorts of sweet goodies. There were cupcakes, brownies, and even a few pieces of fruit.

You couldn't help but smile as you looked at the spread. Minji always knew how to make you feel better, and this was just what you needed after a long and stressful day.

"Thank you, Minji," you said, feeling a surge of gratitude towards her. "You always know how to make me feel better."

Minji smiled, her eyes sparkling with happiness. "That's what girlfriends are for," she said, leaning in to kiss you.

As you kissed her, you felt a wave of tension melt away. You had been so focused on the exam, and now that it was over, you could finally relax.

Minji pulled back, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Now, let's get comfortable," she said, gesturing to the couch.

You nodded, feeling a sense of anticipation build up inside you. You knew that Minji had something special planned, and you couldn't wait to see what it was.

As you settled into the couch, Minji snuggled up beside you, her head on your shoulder. You wrapped your arms around her, feeling a sense of peace wash over you.

For a few moments, you just lay there, enjoying the warmth and comfort of Minji's presence. You felt your worries and anxieties melting away, replaced by a sense of calm and contentment.

As you lay there, Minji started to stroke your hair, her fingers gentle and soothing. You felt your eyes starting to droop, and before you knew it, you were fast asleep.

You slept for a few hours, lulled by the sound of Minji's gentle humming and the warmth of her presence. When you woke up, you felt refreshed and rejuvenated, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

Minji was still beside you, her eyes closed and a peaceful expression on her face. You smiled, feeling a surge of love and gratitude towards her.

"Thank you, Minji," you whispered, your voice barely audible.

Minji's eyes flickered open, and she smiled up at you. "Anytime, baby," she said, her voice soft and gentle.

You leaned in to kiss her, feeling a sense of happiness and contentment wash over you. You knew that no matter what happened with the exam, you had Minji by your side, and that was all that mattered.

[kaisentine]

𝒲HAT IS THAT MELODY?

turn that shit up ! what popular song do bllk boys remind me of?

feat. michael kaiser, itoshi sae, mikage reo, itoshi rin, oliver aiku

note : YES… i did do research on what the songs’ meanings are and i understand some of them don’t fit as well but i’m also basing this off of certain lyrics as well so #don’tdiscriminate… also this has opened up my multi-character works 😁 expect more in the future LMFAO. also is this the right time to say i did not proofread

💿 MICHAEL KAISER is now playing… back to the basics by lana del rey (unreleased)

cw : uhm coercion (i think), implied toxic relationship (I LOVE KAISER DONT GET ME WRONG… but he’s still poopy anyway #keepingitreal☹️) + if you count that in, then there’s angst if you squint, thoughts of killing (JUST ONCE and it’s not serious, promise!)

“everybody’s saying that you’re no good for me”

it’s not hard to decipher you’re definitely in love with the star soccer player—michael kaiser. however, even with your rose-tinted glasses, it doesn’t change the fact that he’s still an asshole. so now it honestly feels like it’s you and him (probably ness too) v.s your friends. they just don’t understand the euphoria hidden behind all his lies. but God was it hard to handle him now that he’s a hotshot within the athletic world—it’s like when you try to speak to him, he starts spewing nonsense and even more lies to you.

“c’mon, hase.” his plea sounds more like demanding no matter how hard he tried to sound convincing. it’s weird seeing a man like him on his knees begging so you avert your gaze with your arms crossed. you know you’re doomed to give into him and his sweet-talk again—like you always do—kaiser knows that, he just needs to find which button to press to make you give in faster.

this time you’re taking longer than you normally do. he’s starting to get impatient by your little game of trying to get rid of him. “kaiser… we can’t keep doing this anymore.” you finally say, something kaiser didn’t expect you to say. “last name basis already, huh?” he gets up from his (very awkward) position to tower over you—to intimidate you.

you try to stand your ground but with the way he’s looking at you, is it too late to run away?

“i know what you’re trying to do. my friends keep telling me.” you’re stubborn, aren’t you? you’re annoying when you’re like this, he hates it. “and you’re really listening to your friends over your boyfriend?” he keeps trying to talk but you cut him off, “ex-boyfriend. please, don’t do this.” you’re the one begging now and he really wishes he could relish in this sight forever.

SLAM

holy shit, did you just slam the door on him? i’m going to die—you think. kaiser chuckles on your porch after being met with your front-door i’m going to kill you—he thinks.

the next few weeks are bombarded by countless messages from ness. who you are quite acquainted with him because of kaiser. all of them are along the lines of ‘trust me, he’s changed’ they’re all full of bullshit that you can smell it and scrunch your nose up in disgust. but as fate would have it, it wasn’t on your side!

“took ‘ya long enough, hase.” the sickly sweet nickname rolls off his tongue like second nature. it’s a very familiar scene, he’s on your doorstep again. he’s towering over you and your eyes are glossed over with admiration and guilt. “‘m really sorry.” you try not to sniffle to keep it cool. you really despise the way kaiser can’t keep his stupid grin off of his face at your weak attempt not to cry. “aw, it’s okay. but it’s gonna take a lot for me to forgive you.” he says in faux concern before pulling you into a hug—his cologne filling up your senses and making it hard to breathe.

the urge to punch him in the stomach is futile by the way he basically crushes your bones in the hug. oh you hate the way you can never get rid of him, oh you hate the way you give into him, oh you hate the way he’s the one wanting the apology when it’s actually you who deserves such privilege.

‘i hate you but i really just hate the way i love you too much to let go.’

because eventually, you know you’ll always fall into his traps no matter how far you run away. however, the only thing on your mind is how you’ll never hear the end of it from your friends.

💿 ITOSHI SAE is now playing… no one noticed by the marias

cw : angst, hurt/little to no comfort (guys… please don’t burn me), OK but open-ending, uh sae might be a really super big asshole here, i also realized at the end that 7 weeks and 3 days by yungatita would’ve been better but YOLO

“come on, don’t leave me, it can’t be that easy, babe.”

as much as you’d like to make him stay, you know he wouldn’t. he wanted to be as free as a bird in the sky with no restraints—including a relationship. even after promising one day he’d come back, reassuring you that you’ll always be his answer, he then left without a trace. now you’re just starting to realize letting go is easier than it seems until the problem arises once again.

you know he already told you that he’d come back but why only now does he decide to show up? a lover of yours to whom you vowed to never love another before his return. it’s just been so long that you doubt he evens remembers the promise.

“didn’t think you’d actually turn up.” you spit out, he isn’t even phased by the malice in your tone. “i told you i would, didn’t i?” he responds. “yeah but that was like ten fucking years ago?” you emphasize the ten fucking years because seriously, ten years radio silence and he thinks he can just slide back into you life like that? he must be a crazed man.

for the first three years of those ten, you were content with waiting for him. the fourth and fifth, you began growing impatient. sixth, you felt like you didn’t care anymore. from the seventh to ninth year, you swore you hated him with a dagger aimed to your heart. lastly, on the tenth year (on which he decided to show up), you finally accepted he did not give a shit and that you shouldn’t either.

“i needed to prioritize my career before i could support any of my relationships.” he now sounds confused by the way you’re so upset at this situation.

he used the ten years you took to realize that dwelling on some dumb red-head wasn’t worth it to work on his soccer career? “you could’ve texted.” you retorted. “didn’t have the time to.” your jaw actually wants to drop by how ignorant his response is. he’s talking to the person he ghosted for a decade like this?

you’d like to joke around and say ‘damn sae, you’re just like an ex who slides back into your life’ but it isn’t a joke—not with him, at least. “didn’t have time to? it would’ve been better if you never had the time to. just let us go, itoshi.” the way you say his last name is deadly. he’s already been bitten by a snake once before so he knows he can survive your bite.

does he even know how much you sacrificed? did he put two and two together to realize how much he made an impact to you? so much so that at one point, anything would’ve reminded you of him.

“you’re being emotional, talk to me when you aren’t.” he says as if he wasn’t the one who started the conversation—the nerve!

“my number is the same but change the last digit to 8.” and off he goes, removing himself from your life like always.

the way you’re quietly dialing the phone that night completely destroys everything you worked for—like you’re crumbling down just for the thought that he might pick up.

💿 MIKAGE REO is now playing… show me how by men i trust

cw : guys it’s getting too angsty for me i might cry, still a lil angst and neglect but it’s not that bad 😭, i acc wrote this one last bc i didn’t know which song to use for him (my first option was shameless by avenoir), when i was writing this… i was thinking abt melania and trump’s relationship (WE LISTEN AND WE DON’T JUDGE.), reader eats meat… anyway… so this is significantly worse than everyone elses so uhm, cliff hanger who!

“show me how you care.”

everyone keeps commenting on how lucky you are that you managed to bag a billionaire’s son and you say thanks! because that’s how you should respond. but dear God, does he even know anything about you anymore? being in a chokehold relationship with mikage corp’s heir isn’t too hard until you start questioning reo’s love for you. yeah he’s shown you how he loves you but you need more words instead of actions and a credit card.

“reo, can we talk?” you ask the purple-haired male while he’s hard at work at his desk. “i’m a bit busy right now. we can talk later, yeah? go out and use my card as an apology.” he hums before returning his vision back to whatever he was doing. it’s the typical response you were expecting but you didn’t want to use his money—you wanted to talk.

you’ve already exited the room to go to the mall anyway. you’re left eating alone at some restaurant with shopping bags being used as your excuse for some company. the steak you ordered is bland like the way reo hugs you. his touches feel empty now, every time you go to hold his hand, he doesn’t flat out reject it but he doesn’t squeeze your hand the same way you do—the same way he used to.

one thing about reo is that it seems like he hates communication and in his world, the only way he knows how to say sorry is his credit card.

he doesn’t care, does he?

when you get back to his place, he acts like he doesn’t remember the way you said that you wanted to talk. he keeps trying to put off that talk for as long as he can. it’s gotten to the point you have that stupid look on your face—cheeks being slightly puffed out with your eyebrows furrowed. reo hates the look on your face so he approaches you with caution.

“you good?” he asks but you don’t respond. “need a hug?” he just keeps talking to the point you feel like something is boiling in your head. you shake your head to say no because you’ve started to dislike his emotionless hugs—feels like you’re hugging a log with brittle twigs. how would he feel like if you gave him the same treatment he’s given you? although, it is a bit more serious because you aren’t speaking to him at all.

his time will come where you grace him with your voice one again but that’s only when he actually asks you to talk to him! in his invisible diary, he write ‘it’s been 3 days since they’ve spoken to me, i can’t see through my right eye…’ sure he’s being more than overdramatic but he can’t figure out why you’re giving him the silent treatment.

oh but little did you know, he remembers that you did want to speak with him…

“can you just speak to me, please?” the way he says please is intoxicating to you. you’re waiting.

“fine. let’s have that talk.”

💿 ITOSHI RIN is now playing… lovers rock by tv girl

cw : unrequited love, angst, reader should go to r/aita 😭, uh kissing, this one is longer but rin isn’t even in my favs 😭

“because love can burn like a cigarette”

and it only hurts because you know you can’t have him. you’d love to kiss him right now but you understand that if you do then your whole life would probably blow up into a million pieces. it hurts so much that even if your life blows up, it wouldn’t matter. can it hurt that much to just kiss him? yes.

“oh he totally likes you!” you giggle at your friend’s flushed face after an encounter with her longterm crush—itoshi rin. she tries to shut you up in a joking manner but manages to only do so after she confesses something. “didn’t i tell you?” she asks which makes you raise an eyebrow. “tell me what?”

“…he does like me.”

wow, an arrow straight to the heart much? your expression of gloom is soon masked by raw surprise. “really?! when did that happen?” you force out a smile—to your credit, you were genuinely surprised by such because never once had she mentioned it before. “last week.” she sounds guilty, the type of guilty you’d only show your friends if you forgot to mention that you got married.

little did she know, you also had your eyes on the raven-haired man for quite some time now too. “ooh girl i’m hurt,” you start with it off with faking a shot to the heart and she laughs. “should’ve told me earlier!’ you almost fall to the ground for the effects (and also because your knees feel weak in sorrow) but refrain from doing so. “sorry, sorry! come to my house this saturday, i’ll introduce you!” she says before quickly running off to wherever.

“sure.” you whisper. walking to the nearby bathroom feels more like you’re dragging yourself to it. you can’t bring yourself to muster up the tears to cry over heartbreak because she really didn’t know you also liked rin. but the way you couldn’t even cry because now you’d feel like the asshole? you hated her.

you dreaded going to her house that saturday.

sadly, time stops for no one and now you’re here sitting in your friend’s room with rin all alone because she needed to help her mom with dinner. it wasn’t a crime to yearn for someone you couldn’t have but being with the someone you couldn’t have? someone bring you to jail already.

it’s quite awkward in the room due to the silence and both of you choosing to not speak. but being a chatterbox such as yourself, you’d soon come to regret it. “so… whats up?” you ask with caution. “nothing much. i only agreed to come because my soccer training was canceled.” he answers. you nod at his words—he looks really peaceful right now.

his black hair draping down his face, striking eyes bringing emphasis to his bottom lashes… his nonchalant expression. it’s just too much for you.

across the room.

you’re across the room from him and you hate the distance. all you know is that they both like each-other—nothing more—no labels—no launches. would doing something now really hurt more than how you’re hurting right now?

it’s quick. you were quick on your feet to get over to him, you were quick to bend down to where he was resting his back on your friend’s bed, you were quick to close the space, you were quick to move away.

rin is bewildered by your actions with no words to say. “sorry!” you apologize as fast as you dash out of the room—leaving him sitting there to question his thoughts, bringing a finger up to his lips—did his mu’s bestfriend just steal his first kiss?

“where are you going?” your friend’s mom asks aloud when she sees you dashing to the front-door. “my mom called! emergency! say that i said sorry!” those were the words you spoke before booking it out the front door.

later, when your friend comes out of the bathroom to question her mom what the commotion was all about, she just says that you had an emergency—she frowns because she really wanted you to try her cooking. after dinner, she brings rin back up to her room. just like you did hours before, she advances her moves to hover her face right above his—to give him a kiss, just like you, albeit, it’s longer and more drawn-out unlike yours.

“you’re my first kiss.” he mutters out.

💿 OLIVER AIKU is now playing… why’d you only ever call me when you’re high? by artic monkeys

cw : SITUATIONSHIP (bleuhhh), somewhat suggestive..? (idk but be wary cause idk how to write him w/o making it smth like that), angst, aiku is an asshole (BRO everyone is an asshole here i’m crying), mention of drugs

“why’d you only ever call me when you’re high?”

your lame situationship loves calling you late at night after getting with another girl and now you’ve grown to hate when he calls you but you just can’t stop picking up his calls.

you’re jolted up awake once you hear that fuck-ass ringtone coming from behind your pillow. the screen is bright so you have to squint really hard to see what was going on, you’re on your way to decline the call when you see his name pop up but your hand slips (!) and you swipe the call. “oliver, it’s three in the morning.” you groggily complain only to be met with heavy breathing on the other end.

“oh don’t even. call me when you’re done.” you gasp, then end the call. you throw your phone to the end of your bed and slam yourself back down onto your mattress. does that man ever catch a break? why do you even like him. it’s not like you guys are really anything else so is it really worth it to hang on and only hope for something you know you won’t get in return?

you probably get a good two hour nap before you’re awoken by another phone call. “you done?” you ask, more awake now since it’s 5AM already. “hi. yeah.” his voice reverberates along his bathroom walls—he’s gross, isn’t he? “you’re gonna make me pick up another phone call just to say that?” you sound irritated, and you are because it’s such a hassle to keep up with him like this.

“dunno, just wanted to hear your voice.” he replies in a wobbly voice. is he high again? “…are you high?” you ask in concern as if this wasn’t his 54th time calling after smoking something. “maybe.” he says. “you’re hopeless. you should go to rehab, you know?” you snake your way into his mind but it’s stupid to think he can even comprehend what you’re telling him right now.

“nah, i got better things to do, ‘ya know?” he chuckles at your pitiful attempt to help him get better. he knows you know that he isn’t keen on doing such—not anymore, at least. he’s content with his life as it is. “can i…” you breathe, “can i ask you something?” you finish. “what’s up?” he’s being as attentive as he can be through this state, he trying his best.

you hate the way how out of it he sounds, yet he’s still trying to hear you out. “do you still want this?” it’s like you had something get lifted off your chest only for it to get dropped on your head instead. “want what?” great, he doesn’t understand your question. not wanting to give this opportunity up, you rephrase it. “i meant, do you still want me?”

the other line is silent for a while. “sure, i still want you.” he responds. “so stop calling me when you’re high or you’re with another girl.” you winced at your own words. he’s really taking advantage of the way you understand that you guys aren’t anything more than a “oh, it’s complicated” type of relationship and that you guys are technically still allowed to see other people—but he’s the only one actually using it.

“let me ask you this. do you still want us?”

you loathe him but you can’t help but reply with i do.

“so don’t complain about my calls.”

thank you for reading this far :)

[sugarcubeindulgent]

Pete x M!reader? I'm so desperate for MLM eltingville content..

les | pete dinunzio x m!reader

synopsis. getting caught with fake I.D's in a club and promptly being tossed out on your asses you and pete are drunk walking back home. he sparks up an interesting topic of conversation and you can't help but indulge just a bit.

⊹ ࣪ ˖ contents. suggestive content. homophobic language. underage drinking (they're both 18+). underage smoking. semi-public friskiness, ig? established relationship.

a/n: thank you for the request anon! i hope this suffices with no specificity...mlm pete...my love.

“That fuckin’ gorilla smashed my damn reds.”,Pete whines, slightly slurring his words and swaying a bit while looking down at the ruined and smashed pack of Marlboro 100s. A grin is spread on your face flushed red from all the alcohol, your own senses feel dulled and for a moment you can’t really hear Pete’s bitching and whining. All you can hear is the rushing of your blood and the sound of the whistling winds, the air smelling of rain from the wet sidewalks and road. When Pete roughly shoves you, you inhale sharply and stumble. Thankfully you catch yourself before you can hit the asphalt. “Y’know it’s your fuckin’ fault we got caught.”,he scoffs but there’s a humor in his dark eyes beneath that bushy unibrow.

As he tosses the ruined pack aside, you reach into your front pocket and laugh loudly with a shake of your head. “How the fuck was I supposed to know that bitch behind the bar used to babysit me?”,you grin while tucking out a pack of Marlboro Golds. When you open the pack and find two cigarettes, you turn to Pete and wiggle the pack in his face. “I’m sorry?”,you attempt, Pete is a bit blurry in crossing vision you’re unable to keep too steady.

Immediately, he snatches it from you. “Oh fuck yes. You’re forgiven.”,he snorts, tugging one out with his chapped lips before tossing you the pack you catch swiftly. Deciding you might as well, you toss the empty pack aside once one cigarette is between your lips. “You’re still an asshole. I coulda totally gotten into that broads skirt if you hadn’t gotten us kicked out.”,Pete complains. You give him a pointed look immediately when he pulls out his silver lighter he stole from his dad. “What?”,he asks around the cigarette between his lips.

Your eyebrows furrow and you blink with a tilt of your head while you both begin to walk beneath the tall trees of the park you’re cutting through. “That…hooker with the road rash on her arms and a c-section scar popping out of her tube top?”,you remark in disbelief and a bit of disgust in Pete’s taste. Pete scoffs, reaching out and lighting your cigarette before he waves a dismissive hand while pocketing the lighter. “Yeah, no, shit I should kiss your shoes for making you miss a gem like that.”,you remark sarcastically, taking a long drag of the cigarette while dewy grass wets your soles.

“Alright first of all.”,Pete begins, pulling the cigarette from between his lips and bumping your shoulder for the tenth time as you two walk down a hill. He looks at you with dark eyes and waves a hand. “I like ‘em older.” You snort, she must’ve been forty. Pete continues after licking his chapped lips, fixing his red snapback that doesn’t need fixing. “Second of all, who gives a fuck about the rest of her? Did you see her tits? I swear to the Virgin Herself one of ‘em was the size ‘a my fuckin’ head!” Pete laughs after he exclaims, smacking the back of your shoulder roughly.

Laughing along with him, you shake your head and blow out some cancerous smoke after another drag. “God, Pete. A dog could have a good pair on her and you’d probably get a fucking hard on.” You elbow his side roughly. Pete winces but he chuckles and shakes his head while taking a long puff of the cigarette between his fingers. His thumb rubs between his unibrow and he scoffs.

“You ain’t gonna get it, man. Can’t tell a fag how great tits are.”,he retorts with a raise of his unibrow at you.

Shoving his face hard, some ash getting on his hoodie and his sneakers stumbling, you scoff. “I have fucking eyes, Pete. She was hideous. Even if I was straight, no amount of tits could make me wanna fuck that cow.”,you grin, words harsh yet amused with Pete who manages to stumble back close to you. He shakes his head as he tosses aside his cigarette, you make a note to rip him a new one for tossing half of a cigarette away.

But he shifts your attention with a genuinely curious and confused expression on his acne-dotted face. “I just – don’t get it. I mean sure some guys are just good lookin’ but…how the fuck can you wanna fuck one? Women are right there.”,Pete snorts.

The new topic of conversation makes you burst out laughing. It’s too often Pete wants to talk about you being gay, always curious about what goes where and how it all goes down but he’s never really given a shit about the how of your own sexual attraction. While you know he’s probably gonna be a hard-headed idiot, you decide to humor your best friend with a shrug. “Same reasons you wanna fuck women. Men are hot.”,you say as if simply stating the sky is blue.

Pete frowns deeply, he looks a bit like a monkey when he gets that stupid face of confusion. “That shit doesn’t make no sense.”,exhales Pete and you roll your eyes,”Dudes are all hairy and shit. I mean a cock touching you while you–” Pete shudders then he smacks your arm. “I mean you’ve never fucked ‘a chick. How can you know you don’t like pussy?” Amusement washes through your brain made heavy and foggy by the alcohol.

Stopping your steps, you turn to Pete and you tilt your head. “You haven’t fucked a guy how can you know you don’t like cock?”,you asked bluntly, grinning at him as you took one final drag of your cigarette before you tossed it. Pete looked at you with a surprised expression, turning to you as your hands tucked into the pockets of your hoodie as a cold wind gusted by. For a moment, you can see the flush in his cheeks that seems to darken over the red hue of the alcohol. Then you laugh and shove his shoulder. “Exactly, dickhead. It’s just about what you like. Sometimes you just know.”

Dark eyes flicker away as he laughs a bit and takes off his hat to run his hand over his dark hair flattened by the cap. “Well I mean…have you ever done anything with ‘a dude?”,he asks. Your eyebrows raise in surprise and your eyes flicker along his face. He’s never asked that. Again, he’s asked you broad questions, none ever about you. And you feel a bit awkward and warmer, you drag a hand down your features and shrug while contemplating honesty or not.

“Well, yeah. They’re always the closeted fags so don’t ask who.”,you reply with a roll of your eyes.

“So you’ve kissed a guy?”,asks Pete. You blink and your mouth opens but it shuts, did he step closer?

You nod slowly, your hands tensing and relaxing in your pockets when your palms tingle. “Yeah.” The word leaves your lips a bit breathier than you meant it to, some white fog gathering around your mouth when warm breath meets the cold air. Then you shake your head while you suddenly notice that Pete’s…pretty attractive. Short sure but he’s nice to look at in the face. Lips reddened by his constant peeling of the skin there. Your jaw tenses and the air feels cold but tense, heavier than it was before. “You wanna try it?”,the words leave your mouth before you can stop them.

Fortunately, you can’t even consider taking the words back before Pete grabs your face. You make a soft ‘mmf’ noise against his mouth with wide eyes. Be it the alcohol or atmosphere, you melt into it easily. Leaning in and holding his face with more confidence and sureness than he holds your face. Pete makes a soft groaning noise against your mouth when his mouth opens soon to accept your tongue.

You groan against his mouth, pressing your hips against him and dropping your hands to grip the fabric of his hoodie at his waist.

Pete’s tongue is eager along your own, his hand gripping the back of your head to bring you in as if he wants to eat your tongue. It makes your body buzz, you feel hot as your jeans get more uncomfortable.

When you pull away, your mouth only stays off of him for a second before you start to kiss down his neck. “Oh fuck…”,he grunts when your teeth scrape his adam’s apple before lowering down more. His hand cupping your face uses his thumb to push your face back so his mouth can catch yours again. Making out again, hot and heady in the cold air where white fog gathers between your mouths in wet and slightly sloppy, drunken kisses. When Pete's teeth catch your bottom lip you moan against his mouth when your lip snaps back into place.

It isn't until you feel his boner that you finally pull away from him with some spark of sobriety. Stumbling back and panting raggedly while looking at him with half-lidded eyes, Pete breathes the same while looking at you with dark eyes looking from you, to your jeans to his own. Then he blinks and he puts his hand over his mouth. His unibrow furrows and he shakes his head, swearing beneath his hand before he rushes off with stumbling steps. You want to go after him, but you can’t do anything with all the blood rushing low between your legs.

Still, you can think clearly enough to smack a hand over your mouth and shake your head.

“Shit.”

[justwater4meeeeeeeeee]

HIII WATER PLS HELP so like i've reached my ugw (which has been changed 3 times so far..) and now i'm bmi 15.9, i really need help deciding what to do. i know how to start maintaining sustainably, i have my final exams in like less than 2 week, should i work on SLOWLY increasing my intake to eventually start maintaining (at least for now) and since i'll be increasing slowly i'd still lose probably like 1-2kgs more before i reach my actual maintenance cals OR should i continue slightly restricting in order to reach bmi 14.9 (which means losing 3kgs more) AND THEN start maintaining? (so losing another 1-2kgs during that process) sorry this is so long i kinda rambled lol..

Hello:)

I would highly suggest for you that if you reached your ugw then you can slowly increase your calories and still losing a little bit, but if you want to reach the bmi 14.9 you can still do it with a low restriction kinda aiming to maintaining but not really, so you’ll lose slowly but still losing to reach that goal and when is time to maintain even if you gain you will still be at your ugw because you were under that the gains didn’t messed up your desire weight. I hope this makes sense <3

Anyways… congratulations and good job reaching your ugw I am so happy for you <333

[coffeebooksrain18]

Something I find wild is that the people who love the IC are the same people who hate on Nesta. Now i already know this but we need to go through each ones personality real quick.

Rhys: a male with supposedly enough power to be High King of Pyrithan doesn't do anything for his people. Not even for the ones he supposedly loves because even in that city there are slums that he let his mates sister live in (also I can't remember how to spell it Val I think but whatever). A warrior people he keeps in the worst conditions on his mountain plains because they are just too stubborn even though we don't have a story or see him actually suggesting this to any of the leaders of any camp. And Hewn City, need I say more? They are treated horribly by him and then he wonders why they have a bad attitude when most haven't even breathed fresh air?

Mor: now I kinda like Mor but if I'm honest she doesn't have much depth besides a female who was traumatized and now dresses sexy. I don't care she's a lesbian I'm bi it doesn't matter to me much. If a character is boring i will state that fact no matter the sexuality. And Mor? Well is fucking boring. But also her as a character. She rules Hewn City in Rhys steed on many occasions, she hates how they treat fae females down there, but has she done anything for them? Because I can't think of one occasion she actually helped one instead of berating them and saying they should be grateful. She treats them the way she was treated but were supposed to feel sorry for Mor? That makes no sense.

Cassian: he is pretty much the angry warrior guy of the group. He's the wild dog on a leash just waiting for his master to let him free (Rhys). He treats his mate like shit on his boot and then wonders why she avoids him like the fucking plague. He verbally and at times physically abuses his own mate but were just supposed to brush that off as him having anger issues? He also had destroyed Summer court and has yet to apologize because he was just "drunk and being stupid". Yeah no you destroyed families homes the least you can fucking do is apologize but instead you just bailed.

Azriel: now I still like him though he is on thin ice. If he hurts my baby Gwyn I will be going into the book and bitch slapping him to next week. But let's talk about his character. The silent and brooding to complement Cassians dumb idiot persona. He is the resident torturer, yes you heard that right the resident torturer. And it is even implied he enjoys the job. He is a traumatized person who out of all the IC actually tries to connect and help others because of what he went through. He is often frowned on because he is a Shadowsinger and an assassin. The Illyrains look down on him because he is a bastard. Like I said I still like him but he still has done horrible things were just supposed to forget about.

And finally

Amren: she was powerful and scary until the end of Wings and Ruin. Now she's just a frail female fae with nothing to offer other than knowledge she hardly remembers because she's "Just that old". She had nothing nothing offer anymore other than being the resident rude bitch of the group. She is worse than Nesta and I love Nesta and her bitchyness. She wants everyone to be afraid of her but she doesn't know how to fight and if she does it's been so long we would have to start the training process all over again. She still treats Feyra like a hindrance even though Feyra is supposedly "High Lady". She is honestly just a grumpy old bitch who wants to be a badass but not put in any work. None of the IC have anything to worry about from her anymore other than maybe she knows of something powerful but from her track record she probably forgot where it is.

My point is so many hate on Nesta because she is a Bitch who doesn't care about anyone but forget the IC are literally filled with that type of character. So it honestly just shows they can't look past hot abs in my opinion.

[insertusernamethere]

Hello! Hope you are having a good day,evening , or night~ I've decided to write a story inspiré by the game Fallout ! Hope you enjoy it~

Yandere Ghoul

Yandere ghoul wakes up alone after the bombs fall. The place where he grew up, lived and met you is now completely unknown to him. After coming to his senses, he remembers what he used to do...

Flashback

He lived with his family as an only child. Charismatic, funny and caring, Mason had it all, and it showed when he went out for a walk in his neighborhood. He received many declarations of love, but Mason always rejected them. He was looking for a solid relationship with his soul mate, and so far he hadn't found it. Until the day a new family moved into the neighborhood, across the street from Mason's family.

That day, Mason was in his bedroom reading a Grognak the Barbarian comic. When he heard a car in the driveway and voices coming from the house across the street, he couldn't help but glance over at these potential new neighbors. And that's when he saw (y/o), the most beautiful person Mason had ever laid eyes on.

After that, he rushed out to help his new neighbors. His parents had been surprised by how fast he was going, mumbling incomprehensible words. His parents hadn't stopped teasing him after that, calling it “Mason's love at first sight”.

After that, he and (y/o) had gone out several times before getting together.

He loved their laugh every time he told a joke. 6 years of happiness together.

A week after their sixth anniversary together, a Vault-Tec salesman made the rounds, offering places at a nearby shelter. Given the context of fear, Mason's family and (y/o)'s had both decided to pay for shelter in case of trouble - better safe than sorry, as they say.

When the bombs were dropped, panic swept through the neighborhood, people running in all directions, mothers crying with their children in their arms, fathers loading vehicles or carrying their family's belongings, reasoned prayers throughout the neighborhood, everyone running to escape the impact as best they could.

Mason and (y/o)'s families hurried to the shelter, he remembers (y/o)'s face of terror, they had grabbed his hand, afraid of losing him. On the way, Mason recognized his widowed neighbor, struggling to drag a suitcase and child to the shelter. He decided to leave his group to help her, promising (y/o) it wouldn't take long. (y/o) protested, but his mother persuaded him to leave Mason and go with them. When Mason arrived at the gate, the guards had refused him entry. He'd arrived too late, and couldn't keep his promise to (y/o)...

End of flashback

Yandere ghoul who, after waking up alone in what's left of his neighborhood, desperately tries to open the shelter to find you.

Unable to open the shelter, he decides to stay around in case it opens. With what's left of the houses, he creates a makeshift shelter, his favorite object his necklace with two photos of you smiling and happy.

Yandere ghoul to survive and have fun, he decides to travel to other places. It's during these expeditions that he discovers the new factions in the wastelands, and what has become of the survivors. He also discovers the dangers that reign in these lands, from mutant animals to humans eager for blood and violence.

Yandere ghoul, who after several years alone near the shelter, is beginning to notice changes in his appearance. His skin has become rough in some places, he's lost some of his blond hair, and his voice has dropped in the octaves. He's seen ghouls before, but these changes terrify him.

Will you love him still if you saw him like this? He looks like a monster!

Yandere ghoul who, after 80 years of trying to open the shelter and make contact with the shelter, decides that you've probably forgotten him and that you've got a family after all this time...

The thought breaks him inwardly, but time has escaped him. He's completely ghoulified now, who'd want something like him.

Yandere ghoul who wanders the wastelands, never ceasing to think of you, memories together, the sweetness of a past he can never recapture. Like many survivors, he falls into depression, each day seeming unbearable, but he carries on, thinking that ending his days would not be what (y/o) would want.

Yandere ghoul who one day sees a familiar face. Too familiar. He thinks it's just a hallucination, but when he sees the shelter number on the outfit and the person turning towards him, he realizes that the person he sees is his pre-war patner, (y/o).

Although he's overcome by a feeling of happiness at seeing their face, he can't help letting a dreadful thought invade his mind.

“Is it (y/o) or could it be a synth looking like them?

[aticklishpercivalwriter]

A Birthday to Remember

Link to Art: Durin and Scara (@GenshinImpact), SethoScara (@GenshinImpact)

Summary: Styling Scara’s hair and talking about feelings among other things. And tickling of course :)

A/N: Sorry that this is very late 😞. I hope the magic of Wanderer’s birthday gets conveyed to you all even though his birthday has passed. Not as much tickling as my other fics but filled with loving moments between Sethos and Scara along with Durin. Plus, some mentions of the poly ship. Hope you enjoy the fic :)

Word Count: 4,654 (I’m so tired 😪) Also on AO3!

—

Durin was resting on top of Wanderer's hat as both of them and Sethos were heading back to the Temple of Silence after having lunch with Cyno and playing TCG.

“I never asked for a card game with you and Cyno on my birthday,” Scara grumbled.

“Hey, don't be like that,” Sethos laughed. “Did you enjoy it at least?”

“No.”

“Oh, come on. It was fun!”

“Not with how many jokes he told. Terrible ones at that.”

“I found them funny!” Durin chirped up.

“Yeah, they are funny! Durin gets it. Aether even said that Xiao chuckles at Cyno’s jokes.”

“You called?”

A whoosh sounded behind them and there stood Xiao with a hint of a smile.

“What's this about jokes?”

“Xiao! We didn't mean to call you. We were just discussing how funny Cyno’s jokes are.”

“They're not,” Wanderer interjected.

“But they are,” Xiao argued. “Especially the—”

“Ugh, all of you have a broken sense of humor. I’m outta here.”

“Honey,” Sethos whined. “Don’t leave us! Maybe this joke is funny to you.”

Sethos and Xiao caught up with Durin and Scara who huffed in annoyance.

“Okay, so it starts like this. I love my fingers.”

“I love mine too, so what?”

“I can always count on them!”

Both Xiao and Durin snorted at the joke while Sethos had a goofy grin on his face. And Scara…

“Well…I can always count on my middle finger to fuck you,” he smoothly replied, looking back at him with a smirk.

Sethos’s jaw dropped at the comment, his face immediately flushing red. Xiao choked on a laugh, knowing full well what Scara meant. Durin was laughing at the thought of Scara throwing middle fingers at Sethos every chance he could. Thankfully, little innocent Durin doesn’t know the other way much to everyone else's relief.

“Xiao, do you mind teleporting us the rest of the way to the Temple of Silence? I don’t think Seth will be able to walk from here anymore.”

Wanderer was grinning from ear to ear at this point.

“Heh, of course. Everyone, hold on to me.”

With a whoosh, they were all teleported inside Sethos’s room in the temple.

“Alright. I’m going to be leaving now. Need anything else?”

“No, we’re good. Thanks for coming. And Cyno might be in Gandharva Ville with Tighnari or still at the Lambard’s Tavern if you wanted to talk with him.”

“Thank you. I’m gonna drag Aether there with me.”

“Wow, you are such a good boyfriend, Xiao.”

“Well, Ae never complains. Oh, Wan. Before I go.”

“Hmm- mmm~”

Xiao gave him a sweet kiss, nipping at his lip playfully before pulling away.

“Happy birthday. We all love you, especially him.”

He nodded towards Sethos who had a pout on his lips.

“Where’s my- mmph!”

Xiao pulled him in with ease and pulled away just as quickly.

“There, are you happy? You are as needy as Heizou and Lyney.”

Sethos grinned stupidly, making Scara roll his eyes. They said their goodbyes, Xiao patting Durin’s head and giving Sethos and Scara quick parting pecks before going off to get Aether.

“Do you think he is going to find Aether with Kinich?” Sethos asks.

“Of course,” Scara answered, rolling his eyes. “Either they get along and tickle the crap out of Ae or they’re going to get in an argument and Ae is just going to tickle the crap out of them.”

“Can Ae really handle the two of them?”

“In a tickle fight? Hmm, probably. He is a fighter and definitely has the tactics to escape and bring them down laughing. He can also be tickled for quite a long time because of his high stamina which might sound bad, but he just loves being tickled. He's such a lee. In bed, maybe not. His stamina is going to be used against him, that’s for sure. And Xiao and Kinich are definitely packing down th—”

Sethos nudged him with his elbow, eyes full of amusement as he flicked them upward. Durin, honey.

“…the bed for cuddles. Yeah, for cuddles, since he is definitely sleepy after being…tickled.”

Scara internally facepalmed as he finished. His ears burned as he changed the subject.

“So, what else did you have planned for my birthday?”

Sethos chuckled, his eyes sparkling.

“I actually wanted to style your hair! It will totally lift your spirits.”

“…Tch. As if I would let you touch my hair,” he scoffed, setting down his hat on Sethos’s bed and Durin crawling off it in favor of the more comfortable sheets.

“Oh honey, drop the act,” he purred behind him, placing his chin on his lover's shoulder and making him jump. “I saw that flicker of interest in your eyes~”

“I don't have any interest in your dumb ideas, little bee.”

“You are playing hard to get right now. Guess I have to change that attitude of yours.”

Sethos suddenly dipped his hands into Scara’s pant pockets or as he likes to call them, hip windows, making Scara jolt in surprise and immediately grab his wrists.

“Don't,” he hissed.

“I can always count on my fingers to tickle you too, y’know?”

Without waiting for a response, he went right in for the kill, massaging deep into his hips with his thumbs and wiggling his fingers along his inner thighs.

“AHAHAHAHA! YOU AHAHARE SUHUHUCH AN ANNOYHIHING BEHEHEE!” Scara laughed, halfheartedly tugging at his lover's wrists.

“You don't mean that,” Sethos teased, taking notice. “I know you love me~”

“IN YOUR DREHEHEAMS!”

“Still being a tough one, are you? Well, can you handle this too?”

Sethos places a raspberry on the right side of his honey’s neck. And then another. And another. And boy does that do a number on him as he crumbles against Sethos, shaking in laughter as part of his second most ticklish spot was attacked.

“GAHAHAHAHA! SE- bfft! AHAHAHAHA! SEHEHETH! pfft! NAHAHAHA!”

“Can't forget the other side too!”

“WAHAHAIT! Wahahait! Sehethos!” Scara frantically got out, taking a few moments to catch some air.

“Yeah?~”

Sethos hovered over the left side of his neck now while his fingers and thumbs subtly went underneath his shorts and lazily traced along his skin making his eyes go wide in alarm.

“Are you cra—”

“Relax, I wouldn't do it if he was here.”

They both looked at Durin who was looking at them in interest.

“You wanna help me style his hair, Durin?” Sethos asked, his eyes gleaming with mischievousness.

Durin caught on, his own eyes gleaming with glee as he did a little excited dance.

“Yeah! I wanna help!”

“How are you both persistent?” Scara groaned as Sethos led him to the bed and made him sit on his lap, his back against his honey’s firm chest. “My hair is too short to style anyways.”

“Just like your height?”

“I will end you, Sethos.”

Scara turned around, glaring at him.

“Eh, I am taller than you so I doubt you can do anything, my short, honey love~”

Sethos smirked cheekily, having fun teasing him.

“By a mere two centimeters. And I can definitely destroy you, so stop being a cocky bee.”

“Ohoho~ Destroy me you say? I'd like to see you— ack!”

Scara, who was sitting on his lap a second ago, was now towering over him as his back lay on the bed sheets.

“Impressive honey, but that doesn't prove anyTHIHIHING! HAHAHAHA! WAIT! NOHOHOHO!”

Sethos had no time to defend himself as Scara rained down a tickle frenzy on him.

He clawed at his stomach and scribbled along his sides, making Sethos cackle as he weakly pushed at him. They had no effect as Scara simply leaned down into his ear, a smirk dancing on his lips.

“You messed up, my bee,” Scara whispered. “Told you I can destroy youhuhu- whahahat!?”

Scara scrambled to raise himself up, but he felt a weight settle on his back and he fell forward.

“Don't worry, Sethos! I can save you!”

Durin’s voice sounded behind him and he began to feel soft claws glide ticklishly along his sides making him giggle and try to roll away only to have Sethos trap him in a hug.

“You aren't getting away easily, honey~” Sethos grinned, moving his hands to his armpits and scurrying his fingers up and down his hollows.

“AHAHAHAHA! STAHAHAHAP IHIHIHIT YOUHUHU TWO!” Scara cried out, trying to clamp his arms down but couldn’t and instead opted to hug Sethos and bury his head in the crook of his neck. At least he can feel like he is doing something to lessen the sensations.

“Your laugh is so cute, honey~”

Scara could only laugh and squirm in response as Durin switched sides and Sethos started adding in raspberries along the left side of his neck.

“BWAHAHAHA! OHOHOHOKAHAHAY! OHOKAHAY! STYLE MYHY HAHAHAIR! YOUHUHU CAHAHAN STYLE MY HAHAHAIR! PLEHEHEHEASE! NOHOHOHO MOHOHOHORE!”

“Are you going to stop being a grump on your birthday?”

“YEHEHEHES! IHIHIHI WOHOHOHON’T BEHEHE GRUHUHUMPY! PLEAHEHEASE!”

“You promise?”

“IHIHIHI— AHAHAHAHAHA!”

Sethos moved one of his hands down to squeeze at his hips making him spasm in laughter as he shook his head.

“Was that a no?~”

“NOHOHO!” Scara shook his head desperately. “IHIHIHI PROHOHOMISE I’LL BEHEHE HAHAPPY! SEHEHETHOS! I PROMISEHEHEHE!”

“Promise Durin too.”

“IHIHIHI PROHOHOMISEHEHE YOU AND DUHURIHIHIN! PLEHEHEHEASE!”

Tears of ticklish mirth began soaking Sethos’s clothing as he slowly stopped and began massaging the ghostly tickles away. Durin also stopped, flying over to their heads and nuzzling against them.

“There, there~ That was your well-deserved birthday tickles.”

“You suhuhuck,” Scara giggled, still in his tickle high as he snuggled closer into Sethos’s neck, breathing in his scent. “You bohohoth suck.”

Sethos just chuckled, pecking his cheek as he carded his fingers through his hair.

“Time to style your hair!”

“Actually…can we…stay like this…for a while?”

The softness in Scara’s voice took Sethos by surprise, making him pause his movements before resuming, now gently massaging his scalp.

“Anything for you, honey~”

As Sethos massaged his scalp, Durin joined in and started to knead his back and shoulders. He let out a low groan, his breath evening out as he relaxed and cuddled even closer to Sethos. The soft massage began to lull him to sleep, his eyelids fluttering shut as the sound of his honey’s gentle heartbeat guided him into a peaceful slumber. Sethos continued his ministrations, enjoying the warmth and closeness. The intimacy. The peaceful silence. Sethos took it all in and was starting to feel drowsy himself.

A short while after Scara fell asleep, Sethos and Durin stopped, gently rolling him over so Sethos could change positions so that Scara was now sitting in his lap. As much as Sethos wanted to sleep and cuddle, he wanted to style Scara’s hair.

He’s sleeping like a log.

He carded his fingers through his hair again and Scara nuzzled into his hand, purring softly.

Hehe, you love to purr in your sleep huh?

Sethos kissed him, reluctantly pulling away before looking at Durin. “Ready to style his hair now?” he whispered, grinning.

“Mhmm!” Durin nodded his head, flying around excitedly.

“How do you wanna style his hair?

“Mmm…” Durin had that contemplating look like Scara did when he was thinking really hard making Sethos smile. “Maybe style his hair like yours!”

“Like mine?”

“Yeah! Isn’t that what lovers do? They try to match each other as a way to show affection?”

He hummed for a moment, thinking of Durin’s suggestion. “Styling his hair like mine is going to be a little challenging since his hair is short.”

“Hmm…how about…you try two braids to the side connecting to a ponytail?”

Sethos looked at him with amusement.

“Where are you learning these things?”

“Lyney told me about matching styles, and I learned about hairstyles from Aether!”

“Quite the curious dragon you are~”

“Mhmm!” Durin nodded impatiently. “Can we start styling his hair now? Pleaseee?”

“Okay, okay!” Sethos giggled softly. “Try not to wake him as we do this, yeah?”

They both started to style Scara’s hair, handling the strands delicately. They were quietly focused on their job, the occasional giggle here and there from Scara as they accidentally and intentionally tickled his neck. They continued for a few minutes before Sethos broke the silence with a question.

“Hey Durin, do you think Scara is evil?”

Durin’s eyes widened in shock, the question catching him completely off guard.

“No! He’s my best friend! He helped me, saved me! No one evil would have done that. Do you think he is?”

“No no, he’s not evil. Far from it actually.”

Sethos fondly rubbed the strands of hair in between his fingers.

“Why’d you ask then?”

“I guess,” Sethos took a deep breath. “It was just the look in his eyes when I went to wish him a happy birthday. He was up in a tree, again. Like a cat,” Sethos giggled for a moment before becoming serious again. “His eyes were…distant. Full of sadness and pain. Anger. But it all disappeared when he saw me. Like it was never there to begin with.”

Durin looked between him and Scara, thinking. He looked between them once…twice…three times before he spoke.

“Maybe it was just your imagination! The Scara I know doesn’t have any evil in him. He’s kind-hearted and gentle. Maybe a little mean but not evil…playful mean! He’s happy and smiles a lot too when I see him. How can someone like him be in pain or full of sadness and anger?”

When Sethos looked at Durin, he saw the confidence in his eyes of his words and the love that he had for Scara. An innocence that went straight to his heart.

Is this what you mean when you see ‘them’ in him, Scara? Your friends…Niwa…the young boy? You longed to have them by your side like this, didn’t you?

“You’re right,” Sethos answered, smiling at him while holding back tears. “I probably imagined it. Scara can never have those types of emotions in him.”

He rubbed Durin’s head affectionately and Durin returned it with a smile. A smile full of pure joy and happiness.

I promise I’ll keep you safe, Durin. Just like how I protect Scara.

“Let’s wake him up now!”

“Not yet. Let’s add a ribbon as the finishing touch. What do you think?”

“Ooh, good idea, let me get one.”

Durin flew towards Sethos’s hair supplies, finding a stack of different colored ribbons.

What color should I pick?

He looked at his options before landing on a light purple-colored one.

Maybe this one. The color looks similar to me!

Durin flew back with the ribbon in his claws and gave it to Sethos who nodded in approval.

“Same color as you huh?” Sethos winked at him.

Durin nodded, flying around happily.

“Let’s wake up the pretty sleepyhead now?”

“Yeah!”

Sethos brought his hands to Scara’s stomach and Durin flew to his neck. They each had a smirk on their face as they started off with slow tickles. Sethos lazily drew random shapes while Durin licked ticklish stripes along his neck.

“Stohohop…” Scara chuckled in his sleep, unconsciously leaning away from Durin and into Sethos, but not once stirring awake.

“Let me try something. You keep going, Durin.”

Durin happily continued while Sethos raised his hands to Scara’s armpits and massaged deep circles into his hollows.

Scara’s jolted awake with a laugh, toppling them over.

“Wakey wakey, pretty princess~” Sethos laughed, not phased at all and still continuing the tickle attack.

“HAHahAHaHA! SEheHEThohos?! DuriHIHIN!?” he asked, confused, still groggy from sleep.

“He doesn’t seem to be fully awake yet. Let’s amp it up, Durin?”

Durin’s eyes sparkled with excitement as he nodded his head.

“PFFFTT!”

“Pffftt!”

“BWAHAHAHAHA! HO-HONEHEHE- AHAHAHAHA! DUR- GAHAHAHAHA! WHYHYHY!?”

They both continuously blew raspberries on Scara’s neck, and he howled with laughter. No matter where he squirmed, they always managed to land a raspberry on his neck. Then he felt Sethos lowering his hands to his hips and his laughter rose an octave as he frantically shook his head.

“NONONOHOHO! SEHEHETH! D-DOHON’T- NAHAHAHAHA!”

Sethos ignored him and went ahead, squeezing his hips and Scara shook in ticklish mirth as he desperately tried to find the right words to say.

“I’M AWAHAHAKE! I’M- AHAHAHAHA! I’M AWAKEHEHE! PLEHEHE- HAHAHAHA!”

The both of them slowed down to a stop and Sethos sent Durin a wink and Durin returned it with a happy dance in the air.

“Ha, hah, hah…I dihidn’t even do anythihing,” Scara complained, slumping against Sethos.

“Whoawhoawhoa! You’re going to mess up your hair.”

“My hair? What about my hair?”

Scara sat back up looking between the two of them who were grinning at him. Durin rolled over a body mirror in front of him and he widened his eyes.

“Y-You both did this? For me?” he brought his hands up to delicately touch the intricately styled strands. His hair was styled with two braids to the side connecting to a ponytail with a light purple ribbon finishing up the look.

“Isn’t this how you style your hair, little bee? And hey, the ribbon has a similar color to you, Durin.”

Sethos blushed, hiding his face in the crook of his neck and Durin nodded his head with a proud smile on his face.

He admired his hair in awe before kissing Durin on the side and Sethos on the lips.

“Thank you, both of you. This- This is the best birthday I’ve ever had.”

Sethos saw the soft smile of his lover reflected in the mirror and his heart swelled seeing that smile on his face.

“You look cute, honey~”

Scara’s ears turned red at that comment and from the mirror, Sethos could see a subtle blush on his face.

“Drink some water. You need it,” he laughed, handing a glass he grabbed from the bedside table.

Scara accepted it with a nod and a roll of his eyes, taking a big sip before handing it back to him.

“I’m so sleepy now,” Durin yawned.

“You can sleep on my lap if you want,” Scara offered, patting his legs.

“Really?!”

Durin happily curled up in his lap, immediately dozing off when Scara started running his hand down his head to his back and back again. Sethos put his chin on Scara’s shoulder and the both of them sat in silence, watching their little dragon fondly as he finally fell asleep.

When Scara was sure Durin was fast asleep, he stood up, carrying him in his arms and kissing his head before laying him gently on a pillow. He then returned to Sethos and laid down on his lap, making sure not to ruin his new hairstyle.

“I meant what I said, Sethos,” Scara started, breaking the silence between them. “That this is the best birthday I ever had in my lifetime.”

Sethos stayed silent, listening as he combed his honey’s hair.

“All the birthdays I had were…meaningless. Well, besides the one with Aether and Lesser Lord Kusanali. The rest were filled with hate and sadness. All I ever wanted was to be loved. But how can you love someone who doesn’t have a heart and is evil.”

Scara chuckled humorlessly before continuing.

“I was…alone. I had no one by my side. I was thrown away like trash. No one loved me. Everyone left me…betrayed me…except Niwa and that little child. I now know they didn’t betray me. I was too blind to see it. But that doesn’t change the fact that I turned evil and did all those things. Now, people treat me as a good person. Do I deserve that? Do I deserve that kind of gesture after everything I’ve done? Do I deserve to be happy…to have a…happy birthday? I’m not even human, how—”

“Look at me, Scara.”

Sethos interrupted him, cupping his cheek with his hand and turning his face towards him.

“You aren’t evil anymore,” Sethos firmly said. “You righted your past actions as much as you could have and that shows that what you once were is no more. You helped Durin, didn't you? You saw your past self in him, and you didn’t want him to repeat the same mistakes you did. You may say you do not have a heart, but you’re wrong. You have a heart. A heart that cares, brims with emotions. A heart that can love. Durin can see it. I can see it. Kazuha, Aether, Xiao, Venti, Heizou, Lyney, Gaming, Kinich, they all can see it. We all see a heart in you, my sweet, honey love.”

Sethos smashed his lips against Scara’s, hugging him impossibly close as he shoved all the love he had for him in the kiss. He invaded his already open mouth and sucked his tongue making him moan softly. Scara can only think of Sethos. Sethos kissing him. Sethos on top of him. He can feel the love Sethos has for him and the passion that fills him with so many feelings.

They pulled away after a few minutes, a string of spit connecting the both of them before disappearing. The both of them panted deeply as they stared into each other’s eyes. Emerald eyes meeting lavender ones.

“In my eyes, in their eyes, you are human, Scara,” Sethos started, kissing him softly as he spoke. “You had a wish to be human, but you already are. You just need to recognize where your feelings come from, and they are right here.”

Sethos trailed his finger to where his heart was supposed to be.

“Even though that heart doesn’t beat yet, it will. You just need to unlock it. That’s for you to figure out. Just accept yourself for who you are. I will always love you no matter what happens.”

Sethos looked at him, with warm, loving eyes and Scara felt tears starting to fall from his.

“I-I love you, my bee.”

“I love you too, my honey. More than you know,” Sethos smiled at him, wiping the tears with his thumb.

They both cuddled beside Durin, Sethos whispering sweet nothings into his lover’s ear before they eventually fell asleep.

—

“Ugh, what’s that noise?” Scara groaned, waking up as he wiped the sleep from his eyes and making Sethos stir awake beside him.

“What noise?” Sethos yawned, glancing at him.

“Like a thumping noise and I can…feel it.”

“What are you talking abou— Wait.”

Sethos put his ear on Scara’s chest, listening.

“Honey, your heart! I-It’s beating!”

Their eyes met, surprise meeting disbelief.

“T-That's my heart?”

Scara brought his hand to his chest feeling a rhythmic beat coming from his chest.

“Do you feel different? Do you need anything? What can I do for you—”

“You can stop your buzzing, little bee.”

Sethos smiled at that.

Still the same. I'm glad.

“I feel the same, it's just that everything sounds louder now.”

“Hehehe, you are not a puppet anymore. You're just like me and the others! Ooh, what about your electro mitsudomoe, is it gone now? Wait, are you still ticklish?”

“Can you stop obsessing over me?” Scara rolled his eyes. “You're going to wake up Durin.”

“Whoops, I can't help it. It's you we're talking about.”

“S-Shut up.”

Sethos snickered as he caught a glimpse of red on Scara’s ears and face before he showed the back of his neck to him.

“Aww, your electro mitsudomoe isn't— oh wait,” He brushed with his fingers where it was supposed to be, and it appeared. “It was just invisible. There's an anemo symbol too!”

“What for?”

“I dunno. Maybe you can shoot anemo wind blades infused with electro. Aether is going to be so jealous when he finds out you can wield both the power of electro and anemo at the same time,” Sethos laughed as Scara smirked.

“Let me try something really quick.”

Sethos brought his fingers to Scara’s neck, making Scara shiver.

“What are you— ahahaha! W-What was that?!”

Scara jolted in laughter when he felt a current of electro rush through his body.

“Heyheyhey, I can still channel electro to make you laugh. How about—”

“NO. Seth,” Scara warned, knowing full well what Sethos was going to do.

“You can't do— Aah~”

He let out a small moan, feeling a tingle of electro that sent pleasure shooting through him.

“Hehe, still works~ Let’s have fun later~”

“I would've killed you if that— ahahaha! Ahahare you lihihistening?!”

“Nope!”

Sethos kissed his neck, channeling little currents of electro like the first time, making him squirm and giggle along with making him extra ticklish.

“It feels that you are more ticklish now~”

“Stahahap tahahalking!”

“Okay, if you insist.”

“Wha- AHAHAHA! NOHOHO! NOHOHOT RASPBERRIEHEHES! THAHAT’S NOHOHOT WHAHAT I MEHEHEANT WHEHEN TO STOHOHOP TAHAHALKING!”

Sethos just grinned into his neck and blew more raspberries, knowing that he didn’t mind. Scara stopped trying to talk at this point and just continued to laugh, enjoying the sensations and his lover’s presence as their dragon slept soundly beside them, oblivious to the commotion.

A short time passed before Sethos let up on the raspberries and wrapped his arms around him, bringing them down to lay on their sides. He lazily traced along his honey’s skin, while Scara felt his heartbeat faster not just from the aftermath of the tickling but also from Sethos’s sensual touch.

“I just realized.”

“What?”

“Kazuha is going to be so jealous that I'm the one celebrating your birthday with you and not him.”

“Mmm, you're right. He'll definitely want me for himself later after we finish. Hmm…”

Scara thought for a moment.

“How about this? We’ll let Durin hang out with the others so you and I can have our fun. Then, I’ll have fun with Kazuha tonight. Afterward, you can join us for some midnight fun.”

“Wait, me joining?”

“Unless you don't want to.”

“I want to. It's just…I don't want to take away your alone time with him.”

“Kaz won't mind. We're all boyfriends after all. He'll probably just tickle you to death for stealing me and doing my hair.”

His eyes twinkled with mischievousness.

“Isn't he going to tickle you too though?”

“I got tickle immunity,” Scara smirked. “It's my birthday.”

He stuck his tongue out at him.

“Of course you do,” Sethos said, rolling his eyes. “But not from mehehe- hehehey!”

Catching Sethos’s hand sneaking towards him, he grabbed a hold of it and started scribbling his own fingers against his bee's side.

“Did you really think you could tickle me right now? You are so predictable,” Scara chuckled.

Before Sethos can muster a response, they both hear a yawn next to them.

“Mmph, what are you both doing?” Durin asked, blinking his eyes open as he stretched.

Scara slowed his tickling to a stop glancing at Sethos who looked at him, still giggling. They exchanged a knowing glance before turning towards Durin with smirks on their faces.

“Hehehey!” Durin giggled when he felt himself being pulled into their embrace and scribbles on his tummy and under his chin. “Thahat's nohot fahahair! I’m stihill wahaking uhuhup!”

They relented after a couple minutes, leaving Durin in a giggling mess.

“We almost forgot to sing happy birthday to you, honey!”

Durin perked up at that doing an excited dance.

“Yeah, we need to sing!”

“No. That song is dumb.”

“Please! Pretty please! Can we sing it to you?”

They both sent Scara their puppy-looking eyes and he looked away blushing, waving his hands at them.

“Okay, okay! Stop looking at me like that! Fine, you guys can sing.”

“Yes! Okay. 1, 2, 3…”

“Happy birthday to you!”

“Happy birthday to you!

“Happy birthday dear Scaraaaa!”

“Happy birthday to youuuuu!”

“Ugh, you both are insufferahahable!”

“There’s also a rule that we tickle you after singing,” Sethos smirked.

“Thehehere ihihisn’t! Noho! Durin, dohohon’t fohollow him!”

“Yay, birthday tickles!”

The both of them tickled Scara again as he laughed, feeling as if his heart was going to beat out of his chest.

This is what it feels like to be loved. To be…human. Thank you, for making my dream come true.

——

Here’s some leftover rough writing/notes that didn't make it into the final fic. If it seems unorganized, unformatted, wrong grammar, etc., it’s because it’s supposed to be. Rough for a reason :)

Take place in the temple of silence, comes back after card game with Cyno. Have the hairstyle and tickle his hip windows. — Gift ideas? — “Who told you that?”

“Lyney.”

Sethos rolled his eyes. “Of course he would say that.” — “Aether told me. He has so many cool hairstyles, so I wanted to know how he does it!” — Cuddle Scara to sleep and both Durin and Sethos do his hair. Wake him up, with tickles. Tickle his neck to wake him up. Raspberriessss. (I need someone to cuddle me to sleep…) — His skin tingling where Sethos was breathing.

“It's your birthday, just have fun!”

“Your laugh is so cute~”

Sethos whispers in his ears while styling his hair. Durin sleeps in his lap. They talk about love and happy birthday.

End with the hairstyle, looking in the mirror, and them singing happy birthday to him. — “You don't wanna wake up our little dragon, do you?”

Sethos shook his head, and his other hand, which was trying to loosen Scara’s grip on his trapped one, immediately went to cover his mouth.

Scara smiled, leaning against him as he still tickled him.

“That's what I thought,” he said, kissing him on the cheek. “Hope you can last until I get tired.” — “He'll get his chance later. Right now, I want to celebrate it with you. Besides, that's why there are threesomes for a reason, right?”

Sethos looks at him shocked.

“A-A threesome?! With Kazu!?”

“Why not? He's your boyfriend too. You can say no if you want.”

Add in maybe or for a separate fic. Song lyrics: Sethos to Scara or vice versa.

“If the world was ending, I'd wanna be next to you.”

“I'd wanna hold you just for a while and die with a smile.”

Add Durin too.

“Don't forget me!”

Or maybe the anemo bois band? — His hands weakly pushed at his captors to no avail and he resigned to his fate as his laughter gone silent. They both immediately stopped at that point as Sethos directed Durin to get some water and — Wake Scara up, admires the style. Durin sleeps in his lap. Sethos and Scara talk. Scara talks of his past birthdays. Talks how they were meaningless, filled with hate and sadness. Sethos comforts him...

——

Thank you for reading! :) -Perz ~Risus Amoris~

[velnna]

Hiii

alcohol has convinced me to pop in here to say: i fucking love your art so much. ive been a fan of stray souls for such a long time—back when the comic had a completely different name on tapas. Anyway, i am finally in a financially good place to support you on patreon!! woo!! I've been wanting to for years and on a drunken whim I've decided this year would be the year (also very helpful that it's lunar new year, so that red packet money is being put to good use) honestly mainly made this decision tipsy and with a deep yearning for more of the floofy moth boy. Abstint🥺💜

probably going to stay awake late into the AMs catching up on the spphire tier stuff on patreon.

anyway yeah..I THINK YOU'RE SO COOL! And your art is so gorgeous??? like the lines are always so precise and character designs top teir.

sorry I've rambled. i hope I've been making sense. I hope you have a good day 💛(

Ahh thank you SO MUCH for the support and kind words 🖤🖤 that means an awful lot, I hope you enjoy the backlog over on patreon!

[nerdyfan1]

I mean I have a guess for this:

Similarly to what’s implied in op’s post yes Pentious is pathetic and as the show proved to us Pentious is seen as forgettable. Despite his habit to treat himself as larger than life he always ends up blending into the background.

His character arc more subtle and we even get a direct of Pentious blending into the background, the Welcome to Heaven episode’s trial. Notice everyone’s attention was on Angel Dust. I know Charlie was trying to use Angel as her example for the trial but I think it’s interesting Pentious is literally off to the side for most of that plot flirting with Cherri.

That’s Pentious thing, being in the background. He doesn’t really get much direct focus after he gets introduced. His arc happens off to the side.

Bringing this all up cus this might be what kept Pentious for so long. He blended so much in the background as being seen as unremarkable that literally nobody in universe cared.

As to what he was doing well we already know he’s incompetent but if I was to make a bit of a theory here it’s possible result of depression? I know weird thought but hear me out here. So as someone who has experienced a lot of the things I’ll be mentioning here I noticed Pentious seem to have displayed a few mental issues.

Specifically, paranoia, suicidal ideation and yes possibly depression. It makes sense given Angel Dust, the other resident of the hotel, has definitely mental health issues I don’t think it’s hard to buy that the other resident (Pentious) and future residents (Baxter and maybe Cherri if I was to make a guess here) had/will have mental illnesses. The hotel does feel like a stand in for a rehab center.

Ok why these 3? Paranoia seems obvious he kind of gets super on edge when first moving into the hotel in Scrambled Eggs. In fact this little moment of paranoia kind of what kicks off the hotel plot of that episode. As for the other two it comes from his introduction episode Radio Killed the Video Star. Specifically the scene right before It Starts With Sorry. Think about that scene for a bit, Pentious was told if these people don’t kill that he should kill himself and then called a miserable failure then abandoned to these ppl’s to decide his faith. Angel Dust and Vaggie were also all ready to kill him too.

Yet after his earlier attempt to get away from Angel (he doesn’t even really fight angel I’ve watched that scene a few times most what happening there is Pentious trying to get pummeled lol) he just kind of gives up. Like he gave up fast and that probably was his breaking point so he lays down and accepts it.

He accepts this is what gonna happen to him and says “just make it quick. not that I deserve it.” Idk something about this line always stuck especially given we get it right before a song of Pentious being song to about how despite making so mistakes in your past that you can still grow to be better. Pentious solo part in this song even him trying to argue that he doesn’t deserve this kindness. Sure he seems better after this but I feel like those issues are still with him.

I bring this all up cus these mental health issues probably hindered his ability to get stuff done. Depression especially is very draining and makes getting stuff done. Hell we saw it with Lucifer remember? Sure Pentious gets into turf wars but probably not as much as you’d assume. I think he had a few really bad depression periods that lasted a really long time during his time during his time in hell.

Idk this second part just probably me reaching tho but either way I do think about this a lot. I genuinely want to know what Pentious experienced when in hell. He probably seen so much.

Sir Pentious died in 1888. He's been in hell nearly a century and a half. Nearly a hundred years longer than Valentino. Well over a hundred than Velvette. Vox was an overlord when Pentious was probably hitting his 80th anniversary of his death. All are overlords and he isn't.

Angel had lost his own soul probably around Pentious' centennial of being in hell. Husk and Niffty were in hell less than 100 years before they lost theirs. Pentious still owns his soul.

Alastor owns the airwaves, and several other overlords have entire districts that they command, most of which took under 100 years to do so. Sir Pentious has a ship and some raw eggs.

This begs the question; WHAT THE FUCK HAS HE BEEN DOING ALL THIS TIME???

Bro has no real power, no contracts, no owner, no souls, no influence, no presence even though he's been in hell, SURVIVING EXTERMINATIONS for nearly 150 years. Idk if I'm impressed that he's gotten this far while doing absolutely nothing or sad that he's so damn pathetic.