#Sometimes a girl just wants to drink her coffee in peace

[oculusxcaro]

Send a headcanon you have about our muses’ relationship and I’ll tell you if I approve of it or not: - Tess is one of Khare's best tippers which is a good thing because sometimes she just wants to pull a "Denny's customer" and sit in a booth drinking lots of coffee.

Send a headcanon you have about our muses’ relationship and I’ll tell you if I approve of it or not.

Yes! I love this headcanon so much, Tess being such a good tipper when all she wants to do is sit in a booth enjoying cup after cup of coffee?? Khare would love whenever Tess came to visit even if it didn't mean getting such good tips; being the 'Denny's customer' type is ideal since all it only takes a moment to provide refills whenever that cup starts running low. Tess would automatically get the best booth where it's nice and quiet, well away from any nuisance and noise. Just an all-round chill customer who is a pleasure to serve! 👌

[songmingisthighs]

Whatcha Gonna Do About It ?

group : ateez

pairing : brat!wooyoung × milf!reader

genre : smut

wc : 3.3 k

tw : mdni, explicit smut, age difference (legal ofc), unprotected sex (std ew), wooyoung being annoying, reader in her mid-to-late 30s, wooyoung calling reader mommy, masturbation (m), wooyoung in some sort of a sub space ? but like... brat, slapping like.. twice?, creampie

a/n : requested by anon and part of my milf deal with @luvt0kki !! >:D

buy me coffee ?

Warm sun, cold drink, the soft murmur of people by the pool of the country club, sometimes you appreciate your husband for moments like this.

Well, ex-husband.

While you made peace with the fact that your marriage ended years before, the divorce still brought a bitter taste in your mouth. Years spent with that asshole and he had the gall to come to you with the bimbo who couldn't even spell the word 'homewrecker' without writing it with a crayon, asking for you to help him raise the baby as the girl was willing to get paid to let go of maternal responsibilities and instead get paid to go to beauty school. Served you right for letting your parents set you with him when you were still so young just for the money. Safe to say you got the penthouse, the luxury and the community while he got the bill and the 19-year-old high school dropout with a baby on the way. Not even your son who idolized his father wants to have anything to do with his father and while your ex said it was just him being a 12-year-old, you knew better. So while your ex had to redo his whole life and regain his credibility, you were left simmering in unresolved anger and frustration. Though by the poolside, in your ridiculously expensive bikini that you bought just to piss your ex off, you found the experience rather pleasant.

"Well, well, well, look who we have here,"

Speaking of children.

Barely giving him a glance, you took a sip of your mojito and adjusted your sunglasses, "Hello, Wooyoung," you greeted half-heartedly.

Jung Wooyoung is someone you want to avoid when you're at the club. He's a notorious tease and a player and everyone knows it but has no means to stop him due to his influential family. He treats girls his age like a plaything so when he started to get close to you a couple months ago when your divorce was finalized, you didn't bat an eye. Maybe he was just bored, maybe he wanted to rile you up, or maybe he wanted to see how many demographics his good looks can affect because while he's relentless and annoying, he's VERY easy on the eyes and smooth with his words. No wonder there was a long line of broken hearts that seemed to always trail behind him.

"Surprised to see you here today," he sat himself down on your pool chaise, right next to your hip, "I heard you went to the Komodo Island for healing. And to think you'd just stick with your husband if you wanted to be close to something dangerous and cold-blooded," he smirked. While his jab at your ex amused you, you tried your best to not show any reaction by taking another sip of your drink before shrugging, "I went there to see the construction of the villa I invested in. Why? Thought you could get me to give you free access?" "Well," he pursed his lips and turned his body towards you, allowing you to trail your (thankfully sunglass-covered) eyes on the smooth expanse of his chest and watch droplets of water race down his skin, "I'd love a free access, but not to your villa. If you get what I mean," he coyly stated.

You could feel your cheeks warm up but having had enough you stood up straight and got your face close to him (much to his delight). "Okay, little boy, you think you can play with the sad divorcee? Is that it? You think someone like you can do more damage to someone like me?" You jabbed a finger at his tanned chest that now that you were so close to him, you could see how delicious it looked, "You're nothing, boy. You're just a tease with a big mouth," you hissed.

Much to your surprise, he was looking at you with such intrigue and when you looked into his eyes, you noticed the slight teasing glint in them that made you swallow a lump in your throat.

"You think I'm all talk?" He chuckled condescendingly as his hand suddenly found your shin. The touch was electrifying and it sent a sharp tingle up your spine which you found delightful as much as you had to admit. Your heart started beating harshly against your ribcage when said hand trailed upwards slowly, brushing against your inner thigh before it jumped to the hand on his chest, gently wrapping his larger palm around your hand. How can veins be hot? What are you, a mosquito?

"You think I just have a big mouth?" he teased again with voice at a lower register that drew you into a hazed state until he brought your palm to his lips, kissing the skin around your pulse point to the pads of your fingers, "Don't you know that it's good to have a big mouth?" Your eyes widened and your mouth involuntarily let out a gasp when he shoved your index and middle finger into his mouth. His mouth was warm and you could feel his tongue circling your digits which sent your core clenching and leaking arousal, suddenly imagining the muscle somewhere... Lower.

"You've been treated so bad, so I want to treat you right. But you seem to think that all I want to do is use you once and that hurt me..." He leaned close abruptly, sending you reeling to an almost lying position had it not for one of your elbows supporting your weight, "Mommy."

The name triggered something in you and as if on instinct, the hand that was in his grasp slipped away and grabbed at his throat, pressing on his jugular as you pushed him slightly away. "Did you just fucking call me 'mommy'?" you growled, glaring at him.

Wooyoung had always considered you hot and sexy but seeing you like this at a proximity this close, made his cock twitch and hands itching to pull the flimsy ties by your hips. "Yeah, whatcha gonna do about it?"

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Everything was a blur, you didn't know what exactly happened but you somehow managed to pull Wooyoung into a private cabana without getting seen (or at least you hoped no one saw) after what he had just done and in a blink of an eye, you found yourself i your current position.

"Aww, I thought you said you weren't just all talk," you pouted at Wooyoung mockingly.

Scowling, Wooyoung moved his hand faster on his cock, trying to get himself off in front of you while you stood on your knees on the daybed in front of him, an unamused look on your face. "I am," he hissed from annoyance and stimulation mixed with frustration because though he was getting some relief, it was not from you and you were just standing there as if mocking him with your presence. Seeing him in such a state, clear annoyance with an obvious blush that betrayed his demeanour somehow made you feel powerful, confident, beyond sexy. Even with your husband, whenever either of you initiated sex, the feeling was never this... thrilling. "So? You just can't cum? You're all talk and so pathetic, Wooyoung. How are you supposed to fuck me like you said you would, like you said I deserved when you can't even do it to yourself?" you scoffed, rolling your eyes which made Wooyoung let out a sharp exhale.

You had to admit, you liked the sight of Wooyoung stark naked with his knees slightly bent and legs spread wide. Seeing from the way your eyes fell from his own gaze to his twitching cock, and the way you bite your bottom lip, Wooyoung was aware that you liked what you saw and it made his back arch as if to make a big showcase of his pleasure. Your pussy was practically drenched seeing the hot twenty-four-year-old trying so hard to please himself to please you what with beads of sweat and remnants of pool water that slowly seeped into the cushions underneath him. He was glowing. You couldn't believe that a guy like him wanted you to the point of throwing himself at you like an idiot.

"Mommy, come on," he moaned, dropping his chest back, "I'm touching myself to you so the least you can do is pop those pretty titties out to help me cum because now that I have you in front of me, I need it, I need it bad," he whined, trying to inch his body closer to yours only for you to drop your hands on his knees, securing his position. Wooyoung halted his movements when he saw your tits dangling in front of him, the flimsy fabric couldn't hide your hardened nipples and the sight of them bouncing and jiggling at the slightest movements made his eyes widen and mouth drool.

Despite his Neanderthal-like vocabulary and crass expression, you felt flattered and as weird as it is, you found a unique charm in that. "You think you deserve to see my tits, boy?" you smirked, crawling closer to him until you sat yourself on the tops of his knees with legs caging his comfortably. Wooyoung's eyes automatically dropped lower to the space between your legs, taking note of the dark patch that had formed and smirked, happy that you were turned on seeing him put on a show for you. Slowly, he started stroking himself again, this time putting more pressure in his grip, "Of course, I do, mommy. If you let me suck one of them, I'll even pound your pussy to next Thursday," he smugly said.

Scoffing, you pulled one side of your bikini top, revealing your left tit to him and his jaw comically dropped. You could see from his eyes the way his pupils followed the movement hungrily as if being hypnotized and you couldn't help but laugh at him mockingly, "Oh my God, are you that affected by the sight of breasts? What are you, a virgin?" You taunted. Wooyoung's eyebrows furrowed and his lips pouted as his eyes darted to glare straight at yours, "How can I be a virgin? You've seen girls I slept with," he huffed with cheeks tinted slightly red. "Well you sure are acting like you've never seen a woman's naked body before which is so sad," you faked a pout before moving to reveal your other tit to him. You saw his chest shake as a rumble passed his throat and his adam's apple bobbed when he swallowed his saliva. "Fuck, you're so hot," he whined, trying to reach for your body only to have you slap his hands away with a hiss, "Did I tell you that you could touch me without permission?"

Dissatisfied, Wooyoung whined loudly and was about to protest when he felt something tweaking his cock. "What?" you smirked, letting your finger tweak his tip again which caused him to choke on his breath a little. "Pathetic," you spat after clicking your tongue, expressing disappointment as you grabbed him from the base and squeezed.

He didn't know why, he didn't know how, but the combination of your treatment on him got him cumming on your hand. Your eyes twinkled with intrigue as you watched spurts of white liquid spray from his tip, hitting your exposed tits as his back arched with a slight tremble and his head thrown back. For once, you appreciated the sound he made; a whimpered moan that sounded slightly muffled as if he was holding himself back by keeping his lips tightly sealed. "Now, now, don't hold back on me," you teased, pinching the tip harshly. His thighs tensed from the sudden stimulation as his jaw slackened letting the voice he had held back finally out. You were not sure what but maybe it was the reality that you were being physically intimate with a man a lot younger than you or the possibility of getting caught by passerby separated by the tent because Wooyoung was being loud or a mixture of both, but you felt a pleasant chill ran down your spine straight to your aching cunt.

In his haze, Wooyoung barely noticed you crawling up and situated yourself on his lap, your heated but unfortunately still covered core pressed on his flaccid cock. Wooyoung's eyes rolled into his head when he felt you starting to roll your hips on him. The anticipation had eaten away through him and the barest minimum of contact made him almost nut right at that moment. But with sheer will, he pushed through and decided to enjoy himself first.

"You don't know how long I've been waiting for this," Wooyoung grunted as he felt his dick coming back to life almost instantaneously, "Fuck, I want to make my mommy feel good," he moaned shakily when he felt the wet patch on your bikini bottom rub against him, giving him friction from the friction and warmth. You couldn't deny the fact that hearing someone as young as Wooyoung lusting after you made you so aroused that you were practically clenching at nothing which was stupid because his cock was there and it wouldn't take much for him to get fully hard again. Even if he wasn't fully hard, you were sure that you could get him inside you without any issue. Why were you torturing yourself instead of torturing the guy under you?

At that point, you had had enough of messing around, you wanted him in you and you wanted him right then and there. Wooyoung's eyes followed your every movement like a predator watching its prey which was ironic since you hold the reigns. When you pulled on one of the strings of your bikini bottom, Wooyoung couldn't help but think of it like a present being opened because the moment your bare pussy came to view, he accidentally let a word slip past him. "Want," he whimpered with eyes still glued on your pussy like an idiot. You had to bite your bottom lip to prevent yourself from saying something snarky because frankly, you were enjoying the attention. "Yeah? You want mommy's pussy, baby?" you teased, returning to rubbing yourself on Wooyoung.

With each movement, the fabric of your bikini bottom ruffled which allowed your bare cunt to make direct contact with Wooyoung's bare cock. The feeling and built-up expectation seemed to be too much for Wooyoung as his back arched and eyes rolled back into his head. You had to admit that you had never seen a prettier sight than the one that was oh so freely given to you by Wooyoung. Taking advantage of Wooyoung's state, you grabbed his hardening dick and positioned it at your entrance and began descending until your hip met his.

"Oh- fuck!" Wooyoung grunted, his body jolting which was followed by his abdominal muscles tensing as if he had just been punched in the gut, winded simply by your pussy. Seeing this, you could only smirk not just because you didn't want to ruin the moment but also because you thought that nothing could beat the cocky look on your face.

Wooyoung's pleasure doubled the moment you started moving against him. Your more experienced hips moved in a way that allowed his cock to slip in and out without slipping out but also kept your lower halves connected. "Shit- fuck, mommy!" he gasped loudly which prompted you to slap him and grab ahold of his cheeks in one hand. "Keep your voice down, Wooyoung, no one can find out what we're doing here," you hissed, leaning down close to warn him. You hadn't meant to be so harsh but that action seemed to rile Wooyoung up even more because once you let go of his face, a depraved smile appeared on his face and he let out a content sigh, "Fuck mommy, if only you'd let me let people know how good you're using me right now," you felt the soles of his feet planted flat on the surface of the daybed and he began meeting your thrusts which almost caused you to fall on top of him, "God, Jesus, you feel so good mommy, your cunt is so perfect, I want to never stop fucking it, holy shit," goosebumps shot up your spine when Wooyoung grazed his hands on the sides of your legs and they kept moving upwards until they settled on his chest. Your eyes widened and you instinctively licked your bottom lip when Wooyoung began tweaking his nipples.

Somehow the pace you both set never faltered but you felt Wooyoung thrusting into you harder than you had initially done but it wasn't like you were about to complain.

It didn't take long before you felt Wooyoung's movements become frantic and you realized that he was about to cum again. Before Wooyoung could do anything else, you reached forward and grabbed his face again, prompting him to look at you, "You don't get to cum yet, pretty boy, I'm cumming first and then you'll wait until I told you that you could cum." Wooyoung pouted and whined, "Mommy why? I need to cum, please." You had to think that he was purposefully being loud to get you to slap him again because when you did, you swore you could see him smirking. "Weren't you a good boy? You can make me cum just with your cock, can't you? Or are you that pathetic that the woman had to do everything, huh?" your taunts successfully egged Wooyoung as he determinedly thrust into you. His face was scrunched and his movements were sloppy, beads of sweat started trickling down his face and the lack of changing expression on your face seemed to frustrate him.

You casually slipped your thumb into his mouth and pressed down on his tongue, "Don't you give me that look," you scoffed, "You talk big but you can't deliver, huh? Pathetic." Wooyoung tried whining again but this time you pressed your thumb more onto his tongue, not caring about the drool that accumulated and trickled down the sides of Wooyoung's mouth.

Maybe deep down you had a thing for pliable brats because, for some reason, the sight of your harsh treatment on Wooyoung got you fucking yourself quicker and quicker until your cunt clenched down on Wooyoung as you came.

The sudden tightness sent Wooyoung reeling and he came inside you immediately. The release felt amazing and your grip on him allowed his cum to be fully stuffed inside you.

"Fuck," you panted, coming down from your high first, "Didn't I tell you to wait for my permission?" you scoffed once you finally managed to find your voice again. Chest heaving, you weren't really mad that Wooyoung disobeyed you because you had just experienced the best sex you've ever had, bar none.

"M' sorry mommy, so so sorry," Wooyoung babbled with a stupid grin on his face, eyes blinking back as his euphoria died down. "Yeah, sure you're sorry," you shook your head, not believing his words even slightly because he looked like pure bliss. You were no better though because had there been a mirror, you would've seen that you were also smiling genuinely. You could simply say that it was because you just had sex, but you had to admit that it was also because you had done it with Wooyoung.

Thinking that you were done, you slowly detached yourself from Wooyoung. But before you could even get off properly, Wooyoung had leapt forward and pinned your body down.

"Wooyoung!" you hissed, surprised and you immediately tried to sit up only for Wooyoung to push your body back down.

"I'm sorry for not waiting for your permission, I feel bad, really. So let me clean you up real quick, yeah?" there was a mischievous glint in his eyes that was accompanied by a knowing smirk before he lowered his face down to your cunt.

You were about to have another best sex ever, bar none.

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[savorypink]

need late sias!alex as a barista and u as the annoying customer who comes in during closing time. he angry fucks you in the bathroom cuz u annoy him

“cuz u annoy him” makes me giggle, but here you are anon!

“...and that’s why I stopped paying my taxes!” 

You speak into your phone’s speaker, swinging the doors of the small cafe open. Caught up in a conversation over the phone, you miss the scowl on the barista’s face as you saunter towards the counter. The lights of your favorite coffee spot have warmly dimmed, the minimal lighting enhancing the coziness of the atmosphere. This lighting, however, is an indication that closing time is near. To the dismay of the night shift barista, Alex, you have always made it your business to show up right before the doors close. Your horrible timing isn’t entirely your fault, though; 1) you’ve got things to do, 2) the cafe has become rather popular recently, and your patience isn’t the best. Why would you want to wait in line? 

Your conversation continues even when faced with the barista, completely ignoring the chairs sitting on the empty tables, the lemon scent of cleaning products breezing past your nose entirely. The barista’s cute, large doe eyes look up at you from the counter he’s wiping down with a bleach-stained rag; he doesn’t seem happy to see you. 

“Hold on just one second...” you say to the barista and your rambling friend on the phone. Digging into your bra, you pull out the crumpled-up bills and coins for your usual drink, all in exact change. You hand him the money with a warm, lip gloss-coated smile. You’ll see if he’s worthy of a tip. 

“You know what to do.” You finish with a wink before he takes the money out of your manicured hands. Your perfume's pleasant candy scent lingers when you turn your heel to the tables behind you, dizzying and addictive to his nostrils, but he scowls as soon as you pick up a chair. Plopping down, you continue entertaining your friend on the phone, and you aren’t quiet about it.

“Yeah, I’m at the cafe now. It’s so cute!” you squeal. “You should totally hit it up sometime. Make sure the Elvis-looking guy makes your drink, though. He’s the best.” 

Your words wash away the barista’s annoyance as he prepares your drink, knowing your preferences like strings on a guitar, pure muscle memory. Your loud mouth quickly tarnishes this somewhat peaceful moment.

“It’s the ginger-haired girl you gotta watch out for. Ugh, she’s the worst! Can’t make a drink for shit. And guess what? I found a hair in my muffin! When I flipped out on her, she kept saying, ‘Calm down,’” You do perhaps your worst impression of the nasally lady, “and she was like, ‘Do you want another muffin?’ No! I want my money back, Ed Sheeran!”

Your friend on the other line laughs alongside you, a bubbly yet ear-piercing cackle that makes Alex almost crush the mixer in his hands. His brain bounces from wanting to hear your laughter again to shutting you up with a kiss. As your gums continue flapping, you allow your eyes to examine the barista behind the counter. His backside is as cute as his front, the lean muscle of his shoulders contracting under his white t-shirt, strong arms flexing as he scoops up the ice and pours it into the mixer. You put a gelled nail between your teeth as you watch him, shifting in your seat as your panties become uncomfortably wet.

“Hey! Are you still there?” Your friend calls on the other line.

“Yeah!” Your cheeks warm up at the interruption, “Like I said, make sure Elvis makes your drink. You’ll know exactly what he looks like. If his back is turned, just look for the one with the cute butt.”

Alex is thankful his back is turned, your words tinting his face a rosy red. The silver bell on the counter dings once your drink is prepared. You don’t bother putting the chair back as you approach the counter. You thoroughly look through the transparent cup, ensuring the amount of ice and the number of dried fruit is accurate; you have no notes. Taking a sip, you let the liquid linger on your tongue before swallowing. Cold, sweet, and punchy; you couldn’t ask for more. You reenter your bra, dig out some change, and place it into the tip jar near the register. Your sunny, warm smile conflicts with the barista’s snowy, freezing shoulder.

“Thanks, Alan!” 

“Alex.”

Your eyes dart to the pastry case behind him, a croissant drizzled with chocolate catching your eye. “How much for that croissant? It looks tasty…”

“For you? Free of charge.” He’s more concerned with getting you out of here before you give him gray hairs. 

“Wow, really?” you beam in amazement. “You’re so kind! Alan, you’re the best! You’re way nicer than that ginger chick who tried to poison me. Ugh, she doesn’t work here anymore, does she? So unprofessional. She’d be better at scrubbing toilets than making drinks.”

Alex smirks at your remarks as he hands you the pastry in a white paper bag. “You mean my boss?”

“That’s your boss?” You immediately take the pastry out of the bag, biting into the flaky treat. “She’s in the wrong line of work if you ask me!” 

“Oh, yeah? Do tell.”

Your mouth moves before you can detect the sarcasm in his voice. You’re oblivious to the flakes falling into your shirt, decorating your cleavage as you continue munching and talking. Alex second-guesses giving you a napkin before handing you a few from the dispenser. If he didn't, he’d have more reason to stare at your chest. Flakes and chocolate stain the corners of your mouth and lip, and he hates to admit it, but you’re looking very…cute.

“Anyway,” you finish, wiping yourself clean, “You should totally be running this place, Alan. It doesn’t hurt that you’re super hot, too. Just work on the resting bitch face, and you’ll be amazing!”

Your final comment digs painfully into his skin, and it’s a shame. He was starting to like you.

“You’re too pretty to be talking with your mouth full,” Alex crosses his lean arms over his chest. “ I could teach you proper etiquette if you’d like. I’m a tough teacher, though. Be warned.”

Offended, you blink wildly before smiling at the compliment he snuck into his invitation. You gladly accept.

“You think I’m pretty?”

---

The cold marble of the bathroom sink raises the tiny hairs on your skin. You claw at it to no avail, sheepishly bent over the sink with your thong and velour tracksuit pants hugging your ankles. The empty bathroom echoes a slapping sound, a mixture of wetness and the noise of your ass against Alex’s relentless hips. His cock drives in and out of you at a brutal pace; each thrust angrier than the next. 

“You’re awfully quiet,” his large palm comes down on your ass with a vicious spank. “Come on…you were mouthin’ off about a muffin just a minute ago.”

Your cunt gushes at his words, the tight walls of your core needily squeezing him in a vice grip. Lust clouds your brain, unable to form a witty comeback to his statements, your weak moans becoming a new language. Before you lay your head on the marble, Alex fists your hair in a ponytail, tugging you upwards to face the mirror. Ignoring the messy reflection, you allow your eyes to roll into your skull, heat beginning to pool in your stomach, his cock hitting the right spots repeatedly and harshly.

“We’ll figure out a use for your mouth in the next lesson. You're doing a great job at taking me, muffin.”

[butteronabun]

i just want you to take me where your heart is

a diluc ragnvindr x female reader highschool au.

overview: and who could possibly be the golden boy’s type?

wc: 2k

notes: imagine diluc with his hair down in this one. and also. diluc’s father hasn’t d-worded in this au so he’s the happy diluc we all know and love before shit hit the fan ( we still love him even after shit hit the fan tho )

Diluc Ragnvindr is prim and proper. Chivalrous and well–mannered. The star athlete of the Favonious Birds. Intelligent, a leader, and a great speaker. 

And of course, he’s every girl’s dream guy. 

“. . . And yet, he’s still single,” Kaeya remarks with a smirk, and his friends around him laugh in unison. 

Currently, he’s eating lunch with them in the campus’ outdoor park — a place of tranquility where some students prefer to hang. Instead of being involved in the hustle and bustle of what goes on in their cafeteria, be it your average food fights or impromptu musicals incited by a certain twin–braided man, said outdoor park was a better option for these lads to unwind.

“You know, I used to think that he and Jean would look good together,” a friend of Kaeya says, and they all turn to him. “She’s just like him: elegant and grades conscious. Takes part in student governments and volunteers to school events. Plus, she’s drop dead gorgeous! With her brilliant blue eyes and smooth blond hair, oh, if I was Diluc - I would not hesitate to date her!”

“Nah, I think Lumine is better,” They all glance next to their right. “She’s sporty, and she can definitely keep up with Diluc. She aces her tests without any difficulty, despite doing a part–time job every night with her brother in a nearby coffee shop, and it’s rumored that she makes the best drinks! Moreover, she’s a beauty. That’s why she keeps on receiving loads of love letters during the Windblume Festival every year, so it will not be surprising if she’ll be getting them again!”

Ah, yes. The Windblume Festival is fast approaching—now that January is about to end, in the next two weeks, Mond Uni’s air will surely be filled with nothing but endless romance.

Kaeya gazes up above, where a giant tree shadows their figures with its bright green leaves. The sunlight filters through the gaps and he basks into this moment of peace. He then adds playfully, “And Diluc will be busy tidying up his locker once more, because it will be filled with chocolates and letters.”

“What?! Does he even eat them? Tell him that he can donate, you know!”

Kaeya huffs, “My brother won’t even give me a piece, what makes you think he’ll hand you one?” 

He remembers the time that Diluc had been so overwhelmed by the plethora of sweets, and yet seemed so appreciative about it. Father was just proud of the older son’s popularity. Kaeya offered to help him consume them all as a joke, but Diluc shook his head vigorously, saying that he shouldn’t, and that “they all worked hard for this, and it was right that he only eat them.”

How adorable of him, really.

Plus, Diluc even read the letters one by one. No matter how cringe or sickeningly sweet they were, Diluc read them all. And Kaeya wasn’t even shocked that there was no judgment in his face. 

Diluc was just grateful for the gifts. Bashful, indeed, and sometimes he was not sure what to feel, but he was grateful.

“So, Diluc. Who will it be? Jean or Lumine?” Kaeya questions with a grin that afternoon, when the Windblume Festival is finally in full swing. 

Diluc raises his head from the paper he’s answering — it’s a survey given to him by one of the juniors for their research subject — and frowns. “What brought this on? Why am I suddenly choosing between two friends?”

“Oh come on, you weren’t even listening!” Kaeya pouts, before sitting on a nearby desk. 

After exploring the premises for some snacks and attractions, the brothers decided to stay inside an empty classroom for a while. They can hear some cheers from the outside, loud declarations of love and squeals from the majority, that surely Diluc thinks would be a delight for Kaeya, but opted to accompany him instead.

“I was.” Diluc purses his lips, and hears laughter echoing through the halls as students run and get chased by disciplinary officers. “You and your friends were talking about me and the girls. I just don’t understand why you want me to choose. And be careful, you might fall. Don’t move so much.”

“Cooome on, Diluc,” Kaeya groans as he leans, “We’re sixteen, aren’t we? Father says we’re at that age, after all. By that, I meant, where we’re all supposed to be dating and courting?”

Diluc feels his cheeks slightly heat up from the words that escaped from Kaeya’s mouth. He returns to his duty of answering the survey. ( As if he needed to, when he was already done. ) “And I told you countless times that I’m not interested. Need I remind you that I don’t have time for it. You know I still have to prepare for college, and that I have to keep an eye on my varsity scholarship, and—“

“Yadda, yadda, yadda——“

“Don’t yadda me, Kaeya. That’s just how it is.”

“You seriously aren’t interested?” Kaeya prods.

Diluc shoots him a firm stare. “Absolutely positive.”

And Kaeya sticks his tongue before hopping from the desk and making his way to the door. “Fine. But don’t think you’re off the hook just yet.” Diluc watches his retreating back. “I’ll make sure to find you a lady, and it’ll be your type, and you’ll fall in love.”

Kaeya pulls the door open. He confidently says, “It’ll be inevitable, Diluc. Inevitable!”

A small smile creeps its way to Diluc’s lips, finding this all amusing. “Then I wish you the best of luck.”

Kaeya huffs, not liking that Diluc seems so smug and unbothered by it, then leaves.

Diluc waits for a while. And waits. 

And waits, until he blinks, checks his survey, before sighing heavily. 

A brilliant shade of red coats his pale cheeks, and he buries his face in his hands.

Dating. Courting. The type of lady Diluc likes? Yeah. Diluc already has found his type. 

( Kaeya doesn’t have to know yet. He hates lying, but it’s too soon. Maybe someday. If Diluc can face his feelings first. )

So, hear, hear! He’s not missing out, in spite of what his friends say.

This person is not what everyone expects; it’s not the formal and polite Jean who can deliver a speech eloquently, nor the radiant and loyal Lumine that they want to push toward his direction.

Instead. . .it’s someone else.

And that someone else dropped a bowl of soup to Principal Varka’s white slacks. That someone else triggered the anger of a certain math teacher because she climbed the roof so carelessly during class to fly a kite. That someone else got into detention and instead of writing I’ll be good from now on one hundred times, spent the day with the others in that session to tell ghost stories.

That someone else was you, who wasn’t like Jean or Lumine. That someone else was you—the you, who was his exact opposite, and yet managed to capture his heart. 

You are one of Mond High’s known troublemakers, and apparently, he has fallen victim to your charms.

Maybe it began when you were just snickering with your buddies in the library despite the librarian‘s persistent shushing. He was solving his quadratic formula worksheets back then, and he was impressed that even if you were fooling around, you were in the library to actually learn more about the cardiovascular system, with the help of a fellow friend. 

(“I will be proud to say that the one that carries the blood away from the heart is. . . arteries!”

“You’re right!”

“Yay!!”

“Shh!”) 

Or maybe it began when you witnessed that one student who humiliated himself by accidentally slipping on the wet floor in the cafeteria, and everyone sans Diluc laughed.  Then you came to his rescue, marching in the middle with all the attention on you. 

You didn’t offer your hand. 

But you purposefully slipped instead, and even had the most embarrassing fall. The cafeteria became noisier because of you, and Diluc, baffled at first, found himself chuckling soon after.

Actually, no. 

He didn’t fall in love with you during those times. These were the times in his life that led to this one very moment—

When the Favonious Birds lost the tournament, Diluc was sulking in the playground, all by himself. He took the blame despite Kaeya and his friends denying it, but he knew better. If Diluc had just made it quickly to the ring, their team could’ve been victorious and brought the trophy home.

But alas, it was just an if. It didn’t happen.

Then, something wet drops in his hair. Then his arm. And nose. It was about to rain, and Diluc just grunted, not caring one bit. He was sure Adelinde would make a fuss about it, or his father would pester him for his carelessness, but he wasn’t in the mood to leave his spot just yet.

Let the rain wash away his sorrows.

Pitter–patter. Pitter–patter. Pitter–patter. Pitter–patter. 

“Don’t match with the gloomy weather now.”

Diluc slowly lifted his head, wondering who spoke and what covered his pathetic and hunched form that was wallowing in despair. And his eyes grew wide when he saw you, almost bending with an umbrella in hand, sheltering you and him from the incoming downpour.

You smiled down at him, “There it is. Keep your head up, King! Your crown is falling.” 

And Diluc’s heart skipped a beat the same time a thunder rumbled from the distance. “W–what. . . ?”

You continued, “I don’t know what got you all so sad, but everything will be fine soon! I’m sure of it! After all, once the rain passes, there will be a rainbow!” Then, you grabbed his cold and even bigger hand, and Diluc, at that split second, felt the static. You didn’t even react. But your hand was warm, and Diluc’s chest was, too. 

Dumbfounded, he let you guide his fingers. It only came to him long after that he was gripping a metal handle. “Have my umbrella! I hope this will make your day a little better, and if it doesn’t. . . well, at least I tried. But I have to go now!”

You quickly put the hood over your head when the rain grew stronger. Diluc, concerned over your well–being, finally regained his composure to protest. “But what about you— hey. . . !”

He watched you run and wave, bidding farewell. “You don’t have to return it to me! It’s all yours! I really have to go, so see you, maybe? Bye!”

“But. . . !”

And Diluc. . . Diluc could catch you if he wanted. He could sprint and return the umbrella to its rightful owner, but he didn’t. 

Instead, he remained in his position. 

And his heart— oh, his heart. His heart couldn’t stop pounding that day.

You are Diluc’s first love. 

That is established. 

The thing is, this is a secret. No one knows yet. Just him.

He’s never felt this towards anyone before. You are his first.

( And hopefully the last. )

You’re different from everyone else. You’re different from him. You have your own unique methods of doing things. You have your own way of paving your path. You are the artist to your own canvas; the director of your own film.

You are like the sun. You brighten everyone’s day with your presence, and you also shine, because Diluc can’t keep his eyes off of you whenever you’re in the vicinity.

He knows that this is really an unexpected outcome – him, who was definitely out of your league and vice versa, catching feelings for someone like you.

( Someone like you who is free in life, and Diluc wants to feel that, even just for a bit, with you. )

But like before, all he can do is merely daydream and wonder about the what–ifs. What will it be like to be your friend? Will he experience all the shenanigans that you ensue? Will he also fly a kite with you? Will he get into detention?

Yet this is unbecoming. Improper. Inappropriate for someone like him—for the eldest son of the Ragnvindrs and for the next heir of the winery. He can’t indulge into lighthearted affairs or mischief. He’s supposed to be responsible and disciplined. A man of propriety.

So all he can ever do is have these thoughts. Just thoughts. He has more important matters to attend to, like college applications, training, lessons in handling the in winery business. . . 

And . . . there’s no way that you’ll approach him again, right? 

Diluc knows to himself that can do it instead, you know. He can approach you if he must, but . . . he’s just so shy. 

And a lot of people are always around you. So who is he to burst your bubble, when you seem so finally content with your life?

Diluc peeks from the open windows and sees couples holding hands and sharing kisses. Briefly, he imagines what it would be like to experience romantic love during Windblume.

He feels his cheeks steam again. 

Kaeya will surely have a field day once he sees his older brother being lovesick like this.

You really are one of Mond High’s troublemakers. And it’s not only because you prank your friends or piss off the teachers, but you make it hard for him to focus. 

Just thinking of you never fails to make his heart perform somersaults.

He is Diluc Ragnvindr. Prim and proper. Chivalrous and well–mannered. The star athlete of the Favonious Birds. Intelligent, a leader, and a great speaker. 

He is not every girl’s dream guy. 

Because unfortunately, the girl he likes doesn’t even see him in a romantic light.

[fantasticallyfruity4]

Thinking about a coffee shop au where Steve works at Joyce’s coffee shop and I’m ngl It’s a little unhinged.

So Steve stays working at Joyce’s coffee shop, and when he starts he learns one of the resident regulars is a young pre teen girl named Max. She never orders anything, she just comes in, waves to whoever’s working (says “hi Jon” and “hey Joyce” by name but doesn’t seem to know the rest of the baristas like that), and sits herself down at a small table and starts her schoolwork.

By the second time Steve sees her and sees (what he realizes is a daily routine) Joyce bring her either some fruity sweet iced tea lemonade concoction, a matcha, a chai latte, or a mocha and give her a kiss on the cheek, he understands there’s some kind of relationship there. Which is confirmed when he watches Jonathan go sit beside her on his break and crack jokes, catching up with her (and bring her a snickerdoodle) the second time he sees her.

And he knows Joyce’s 3 kids, will, Jonathan and el. By name by story by photo. So he knows this isn’t Joyce’s kid.

So he asks Robin, one of his new co workers he’s become fast friends with.

And so he’s slowly filled in.

“The red head- Oh, max! Yeah. She’s Billy’s sister”

“Who the fuck is Billy?” Steve asks, even more lost. They don’t work with a ‘Billy’.

Robins eyes look uneasy, before they come back.

“Okay, so max is el- you know Joyce’s girl- els best friend. Her older brother is a guy named Billy”

Steve’s even more confused. Joyce’s younger kids- the twins- don’t spend much time in the shop. So why does Els friend hang out here? Well-

“Well, billy works a lot. He’s in college-the one a few blocks away- and he has a full time job and he has a part time job on the weekends and sometiems he even helps out here if joyce needs it, so he’s really busy and not home alot. And because Billy’s a broke college kid with a kid to raise he’s pretty broke so they don’t live in like, the best part of town. So Billy worry’s about her being home alone all afternoon. Sooo she comes here after school. Usually billy picks her up, sometimes Joyce takes her home, but she’s a really good kid. She stays here just so joyce can keep an eye on her and give Billy some peace of mind.”

Steve’s still confused. “Okay… but like where’s their parents? Weird situation don’t you think?”

That uneasy look is back.

“So um. Billy’s actually her step brother, ex step brother? I don’t know. But he’s got full legal guardianship and custody of her at this point and that’s the big thing that matters. Maxs mom kinda fucked off and started drinking herself to death, and Billy’s dad-“.

Robin took a deep breath. “He’s serving a few decades for domestic violence, domestic abuse, child abuse, battery and attempted homicide charges. Most of that shit on billy.”.

Him and max don’t really talk to much. It’s not that he has beef with a 12 year old he just doesn’t know her. And it would be kinda weird to go around making friends with little girls.

But one day he’s making a grilled cheese in the back, and he turns around to green eyes boring into his soul.

“Hey max. You okay?”

“Yeah. Whatcha making? It smells good?”

Steve chuckled.

“Mozzarella, Swiss, bacon and cheddar on sourdough. Fancy grilled cheese. Do you want half?”

And her eyes light up.

“Really?”

“Yeah, of corse”.

And just like that Steve is her best friend. And he makes her a sandwich every day. He understands joyce and Jonathan now. It’s very easy to just adore this sweet kid.

And when els around?

They’re the cutest thing. Young, 12 year old puppy love. It’s the cutest thing on earth. Just all giggles and smiles.

But it takes months for Steve to meet Billy. Usually he either clocks out before Billy arrives (and he now says goodbye to max by name) or when he closes it happens to be Joyce’s nights bringing her home.

So when he first meets Billy, he simply doesn’t know he’s meeting Billy.

A gorgeous, but exhausted looking fella comes in one evening, Steve’s breath is taken away.

“Hey”

“Hey”

“Can I get an americano with a pump of caramel and an extra shot”.

Steve nods. “Any dairy?” “Still have oat milk or out for the day?”

Steve looks in the fridge. “You’re in luck, handsome”

The man looks up with surprised blush.

“Anything else?”

“That’s it. What I owe ya?”

“Don’t worry about it” Steve winks.

“I told Joyce to stop doing this; she does too much for us” the pretty man chuckles and sighs and a moment of confusion hangs before Steve’s eyes light up.

Joyce? He knows- us? Too much for- oh-

“Oh my god! You’re Billy-“

And Billy looks confused. “Maxs brother, yeah? “

“Yeah yeah that’s me. Um-“

“Sorry- sorry had no idea. Sorry wasn’t a joyce coffee on the house thing that was me trying to flirt with you. I’m sorry-“

“Don’t be sorry- you were hitting on me?”

They’re both taken away from the conversation by maxs voice as the girl walks out of the bathroom.

“Billy?” “Hey shortstack” he greets, welcoming her hug. Or her flinging herself onto his back. Oh. Aww.

“What are you doing here?”

“Night class got canceled, figured I’d come getcha as a little surprise and we’d have a girls night, some scary movies anddddd some Mac and cheese?”.

And it’s kinda sweet, you know. Billy’s canceled class was clearly a surprise. To max and Joyce too. He coulda taken the night for himself. Go to a bar, a club.

But he’d rather have quality family time with his kiddo.

Steve’s a goner. He knew from those big blonde curls the second they walked in the door but now he really knows.

[perfectsunlight]

04 ━━━ YOU'RE LOSING ME

warnings: angst, swearing, overworking, strained marriage, divorce

word count: 5.6k

synopsis: your ex-wife receives an invite to your wedding, but will she let you say "i do" for a second time?

previous | masterlist | next

after 5 years of being on the backburner, y/n knew she had enough of the marriage. 

you say, "i don't understand," and i say, "i know you don't"

we thought a cure would come through in time, now i fear it won't

the backroom that overlooked the skyline of the city was both her favorite and soyeon's favorite part of their home. soyeon especially loved it because of the lighting, especially during the sunset. when they bought the home, they turned it into a second living room. during the early days of their marriage, the two spent hours together watching movies or just simply having a glass of wine or two. nowadays, y/n used it as the perfect place to cry. 

remember lookin' at this room, we loved it 'cause of the light

now, i just sit in the dark and wonder if it's time

the curtains were always shut closed, never letting the light shine into the home. y/n didn’t want to do anything when she sat in that room. she didn’t know how long she spent there on a daily basis, but it was easily over an hour or two. the former idol would just sit in the darkness, listening to the hum of the air conditioning unit while she either sobbed or sat in silence. 

a marriage consisted of two people, so why did she feel so alone in her own?

she loved soyeon, and was well aware of the responsibilities that lingered over her head. however, her spouse was well into her career as a ceo now. the company was doing phenomenal, and soyeon had even hired an even more phenomenal staff team. there was no reason for soyeon to not be home anymore. 

do i throw out everything we built or keep it?

i'm getting tired even for a phoenix

y/n didn’t understand how her wife could not be bothered with being away from home for so long. the former idol even thought about pretending to go for an interview at soyeon’s company just so she could see her wife. 

of course, there were times where the younger girl went and showed up to surprise her wife with lunch or dinner. however, the ceo was always in a meeting or could only spare a few short minutes together while she was on a phone call.

in the beginning, it felt manageable. it felt tolerable. now, it was not any of those.

always risin' from the ashes

mendin' all her gashes

you might just have dealt the final blow

“you should see someone, maybe talk to a therapist about it?” yuqi said gently as she sipped her coffee across from the other girl. y/n had met up with her former groupmate for a quick coffee to get some fresh air and try and enjoy her day for once.

the married woman gently traced the top of her cup, staring at her reflection in the dark colored drink. “i don’t think it would help change my mind.” y/n said as she poked the inside of her cheek with her tongue.

yuqi's expression softened with concern. “y/n, it's not just about changing your mind. it's about finding clarity and peace for yourself. you deserve that at least.”

she sighed, feeling the weight of her thoughts pressing down on her. “i know, but sometimes it feels like no matter what i do, nothing will change.”the café was bustling with life around them, but the married woman felt detached from the vibrant energy. 

she had been running on empty for so long, and the thought of seeking professional help seemed both daunting and futile. 

“give it a try, at least,” yuqi urged gently. “you've been carrying this alone for too long.” y/n nodded slowly, dismissing what she already knew to be true. 

“i'll think about it.”

stop, you're losing me

“have you thought about marriage counseling?” the therapist across from her asked, shuffling through a pile of loose papers. she was an older woman, and from the ring on her finger, also married. y/n wondered if their marriage was anything like hers.

y/n fought the urge to roll her eyes at the question, but simply cleared her throat before answering.

“my wife won’t even come home for dinner, much less a counseling session.”

stop, you're losing me

thankfully, the therapist’s timer went off, signaling the end of their session. “i’ll see you next week,” she said as she stood and smiled. “try and practice what we suggested. meditation could help a lot.”

y/n drove home that afternoon feeling more heavy than she had going into the session. all her therapist suggested was to basically beg soyeon to come home or just try and ignore it, but of course in a “healthy” way.

“bullshit.” she muttered under her breath as she stopped at a red light. glancing at her surroundings, she noticed a building straight ahead of her. it was a divorce lawyers office. 

divorce. the word used to terrify her. now, not so much.

stop, you're losing me

y/n gripped the steering wheel tightly, her knuckles turning white as she stared at the sign for the divorce lawyer’s office. the idea of divorce had once seemed impossible, an admission of failure. it meant that she would be alone, permanently. 

however, it couldn’t feel too different from the way she felt right now.

the red light turned green, and instead of driving past, she made a spontaneous decision and turned into the parking lot. she sat in the car for a few moments, taking deep breaths to calm her racing heart. this was it. the first step toward reclaiming her life. 

with a final resolute breath, she got out of the car and walked toward the entrance. the receptionist greeted her warmly, and without thinking, y/n blurted out the first words that came to her mind.

“i think i need to get a divorce.”

i can't find a pulse

my heart won't start anymore for you

within minutes, she was seated in an office, speaking with a lawyer who listened intently to her story. “divorce is never easy,” the man said gently. “but it sounds like you’ve been dealing with this for a long time. we can help you navigate this process and find a resolution that works for you.” 

she scheduled a follow-up appointment to discuss the next steps and left the office with a packet of information, feeling a strange sense of serenity. as she drove home, the weight on her shoulders felt a little lighter. 

she was no longer waiting for soyeon to change.

'cause you're losing me

the next morning, y/n stayed in bed just a bit longer. soyeon’s faint scent still lingered on the sheets, and she felt her heart ache with every inhale. 

she didn’t know when she started crying. maybe it was when she fell asleep. maybe it was when she woke up. 

y/n missed her wife. she missed feeling loved. she missed being a priority. weren’t all marriages supposed to be a priority? why wasn’t hers?

the former idol stayed in bed, staring at the ceiling, her mind swirling with memories of better times. she remembered their wedding day, the laughter, the promises she and soyeon made to each other. 

how did their marriage end up like this? 

as the morning light filtered through the curtains, y/n knew she couldn't stay in bed forever. she needed to get up, to face the reality of her decision. slowly, she pulled herself out of bed, her movements sluggish and heavy. the woman glared at the framed photo of their wedding day as she made her way to the kitchen where she prepared a cup of coffee. the usual routine brought her a small measure of comfort.

sitting at the kitchen table, she opened the packet of information from the lawyer's office. the paperwork seemed daunting, but she reminded herself that this was a necessary step. each form she filled out, each line she signed, was a step toward freedom from this feeling.

every mornin', i glared at you with storms in my eyes

how can you say that you love someone you can't tell is dying?

the day dragged on, each minute feeling like an hour. y/n tried to distract herself by cleaning the house, re-organizing closets, and doing anything to keep her mind occupied. 

but no matter what she did, thoughts of soyeon lingered, and the emptiness in her chest refused to go away.

in the afternoon, she decided to take a walk. she thought the fresh air might help clear her mind. she put on her shoes and stepped outside, feeling the air on her face. the neighborhood was ambient, but quiet, and as she walked, she let her thoughts drift.

she remembered the early days of their relationship, the late-night talks, the shared dreams. they had been so in sync, so in love. when did things start to go wrong? when had they started to drift apart?

y/n walked to a nearby park and sat on a bench, watching children play and couples walk by hand in hand. she felt a pang of envy, wishing she could go back to those simpler times. but she knew that wasn't possible. she had waited around long enough. 

the only way forward was to accept the reality of her situation and move on.

i sent you signals and bit my nails down to the quick

my face was gray, but you wouldn't admit that we were sick

soyeon returned home early that night. y/n sat in front of the dark tv, watching some american sitcom from the 70’s. there were no more tears left. she had nothing left to give soyeon, or their marriage.

“hi honey,” the ceo said as she set her things down by the shelf near the front door. “did you eat dinner already?” y/n was surprised the woman wasn’t on a phone call or busy rushing to grab her plate and run back to her office. 

“i finally got to go home early today, but there’s a monthly evaluation tomorrow that i’ll need to attend.”

soyeon said as she walked over to the couch, a bit confused with her wife’s silence. y/n didn't immediately respond, her eyes fixed on the tv but not really watching it. she felt soyeon's presence beside her, the weight of the unspoken words hanging heavily in the air.

“i didn't eat dinner,” y/n finally said, her voice void of emotion. she turned to face soyeon, seeing the confusion and concern in her eyes. all soyeon could see was someone that looked like the shell of her wife.

“we need to talk.”

soyeon's expression shifted, a flicker of worry crossing her features. "what is it, baby? are you feeling alright?” the older woman stuck her hand out to touch y/n’s forehead, but her wife simply moved her hand down.

“i’m fine,” taking a deep breath, y/n steadied herself. “we need to talk about us.”

soyeon's eyes widened, and she sat down heavily on the couch. whispers of her fears started to speak in her mind, and she felt a pit in her stomach forming at just the thought of where this conversation was headed.

“what are you saying?”

and the air is thick with loss and indecision

i know my pain is such an imposition

the former idol swallowed hard, the lump in her throat making it difficult to speak. “i’m saying that i can’t keep going like this. we’ve been drifting apart for a long time, and it’s not getting any better. i feel invisible.”

the ceo’s face paled. she opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out. she simply looked at y/n, her eyes filled with a mixture of confusion and hurt. “invisible? how can you say that? i’ve been working so hard for us, for our future.”

y/n shook her head slowly, feeling a wave of sadness wash over her. “but what about our present? what about the time we’re supposed to be spending together now? you’re never here, and when you are, it’s like you’re not really with me.”

tears welled up in soyeon’s eyes. “but i thought you understood. i thought you supported me. this job, it’s important. for both of us.” she couldn’t imagine her wife thinking she was out doing nothing. everything soyeon did was for y/n.

the other woman’s voice softened, but her resolve remained firm. “i do support you. i’m proud of everything you’ve accomplished. but somewhere along the way, we lost each other. and i don’t know how to find our way back.”

now, you're runnin' down the hallway

and you know what they all say

“then let’s try and find our way back,” soyeon reached over and placed her hand on her wife’s thigh. “i can switch schedules and make more time to be home. it’s just been so busy with the new group debuting soon, and–”

“soyeon.”

y/n gently placed her hand over soyeon’s, her eyes filled with a mix of sorrow and determination. “we’ve been saying we’ll find time for us for years now. every time there’s a new project, a new deadline, and every time i’m left waiting. i can’t keep waiting.”

the ceo’s grip on y/n’s thigh tightened slightly, a desperate plea in her eyes. “baby, please. just give me one more chance. i’ll make it right, i promise. i’ll prioritize us. anything you want to do, we can do it. just name it.”

y/n simply shook her head and motioned to the stack of papers on the coffee table. soyeon’s heart dropped when she made out the faint words at the top. the silence in the room was deafening. 

you don't know what you got until it's gone

“no, i can’t lose you.” soyeon fell to her knees as she grabbed both of y/n’s hands, her own trembling. “please, y/n, don’t do this. we can still fix it. i can still fix it.”

y/n's eyes welled up with tears as she looked down at her wife. she wished she had it in her to believe her, but she didn’t. 

“i’m not happy anymore, soyeon.”

soyeon’s tears fell freely now, her face a mask of anguish. “but i love you. i don’t know how to do this without you.”

stop, you're losing me

y/n knelt down beside her, taking her hands in hers. “i love you too. but love isn’t enough when we’re both hurting. this isn’t what love is supposed to be.”

something in her wife’s expression was a mix of desperation and frustration seeping through her tears. “so you’re just going to walk away? just like that? after everything we’ve been through?”

the former idol's jaw clenched, her own frustration bubbling to the surface. y/n knew soyeon wouldn’t take this lightly. “i’ve been trying to make this work for years. i’ve been patient, i’ve been understanding, but nothing changes. you’re always too busy, always putting everything else before us, before me.”

“that's not fair!” soyeon snapped, standing up abruptly. “you know how hard this has been for me, too? you knew i had responsibilities.”

stop, you're losing me

“responsibilities?” y/n snapped, rising to her feet. “what about your responsibility to our marriage? to me? i’ve felt like a ghost in this goddamn house, soyeon.”

“of course i noticed!” soyeon yelled, her voice breaking. “do you think this is easy for me? i’ve done everything for you, for us! do you think it was easy for me to stay away? i had no choice.”

y/n’s eyes flashed with anger. “don’t you dare turn this around on me. i’ve been supportive, i’ve been there for you, i have been the only participant in this marriage for the past 5 years.”

soyeon's face flushed with guilt. she was well aware of her shortcomings in her matrimony, but to be confronted with them like this? it hurt, and she didn’t like it.

“you think i don’t know that? you think i wanted things to be like this? it’s my job to keep the company running well. but i work my ass off for us, for our future!” she

the younger woman let out a bitter laugh. “our future? what future, soyeon? the one where i keep waiting for you to come home, where i’m always second to your job?”

stop, you're losing me

the shorter woman’s emotions boiled over, her voice trembling with anger. “you're being selfish, y/n! you don't understand the pressure i'm under, the sacrifices i've had to make.”

“you can add our marriage to that list of sacrifices,” y/n's hissed, her own anger flaring. “and what of the sacrifices i've made? do you think it's easy for me to sit at home, alone, while you're out there, building your empire?”

“i never asked you to sacrifice anything”" soyeon shot back, her voice rising. “you chose to stay at home, to support me from the sidelines. don't act like it's my fault. you chose this.”

i can't find a pulse

my heart won't start anymore

for you

“you're right, i did choose to support you. but i didn't choose to be neglected, or to feel like i'm nothing more than an afterthought in your life.” y/n whispered, frustrated tears now falling from her own eyes. 

the shorter girl ran a hand through her hair as she started pacing. “i've never neglected you, y/n! i've always put us first, even if you don't see it.”

y/n scoffed, her voice dripping with bitterness. “putting us first? is that what you call it? because from where i'm standing, it looks like you're putting everything else first—your job, your career, your ambitions.”

soyeon whipped around, jaw clenched and patience wearing thin. “i'm doing what i have to do to provide for us, but all you seem to care about is what i'm not doing for you.”

'cause you're losing me

'cause you're losing me

y/n sat back down on the couch, holding her head in her hands. there was no way she could help her wife see her point of view. she didn’t know what else to say. it was never going to work, they were never going to work anymore.

“y/n,” soyeon whispered as she picked up the divorce papers. “why is this already filled out?” 

the mentioned woman looked up, eyes burning with frustration and hurt. “because i’m done, soyeon.”

soyeon's grip tightened on the divorce papers, her voice trembling with a mixture of anger and desperation. “and what about me, y/n? what about my feelings? you act like i don't care, like i don't try, but i do! i do everything i can to make this work, and it's never enough!”

stop (stop) 'cause you're losing me

y/n's jaw clenched as she fought to hold back her tears. “for the millionth time, it's not about the sacrifices, soyeon. it's about the fact that i'm always second best to your job.”

the ceo’s eyes flashed with confusion and frustration. “but i have to work, y/n! i have responsibilities, i have people depending on me. i can't just drop everything all the time because you're feeling neglected!”

“well maybe if you actually made an effort to be here once in a while, i wouldn't feel neglected!" y/n shot back, her voice rising with each word. “maybe if you put half as much effort into our marriage as you do into your career, we wouldn't be in this mess!”

the room fell silent, the weight of their words hanging heavy in the air. soyeon's hands shook as she looked down at the divorce papers, her heart torn between her love for y/n and her commitment to her career. 

she knew that something had to change, but she didn't know if she was ready to let go of everything she had worked so hard for. her company was a growing superpower in the entertainment industry. but y/n was the love of her life.

my heart won't start anymore ('cause you're losing me)

my heart won't start anymore ('cause you're losing me)

“i have a follow-up appointment with the divorce lawyers on monday.” y/n whispered, reaching for a nearby tissue from the coffee table. “they’ll let us know what the next steps will be.”

“no.” soyeon said as she shook her head. “i thought both parties had to agree to a divorce. i don’t agree.”

y/n's heart sank at soyeon's words, a mix of frustration and disbelief washing over her. “you don't agree?” she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. “you’ve seen me suffering for the past 5 years, and you have the nerve to say you don’t agree?”

how long could we be a sad song

'til we were too far gone to bring back to life?

soyeon's expression softened, her eyes pleading for understanding. "y/n, i know i've made mistakes, but i still believe we can work through this. we can't just throw away everything we've built together."

“tell me,” y/n's frustration bubbled over, her voice tinged with bitterness. "what have we built, soyeon?” the older girl fell silent at her wife’s words, simply racking her brain to try and find the right words to say. 

i gave you all my best me's, my endless empathy

and all i did was bleed as i tried to be the bravest soldier

the ceo’s silence only added fuel to y/n’s emotional fire. “in the five years that we have been married, what have we built together? you’ve built an empire, all for yourself. and i have built myself a prison in this marriage.”

“i’ve cooked you dinners that you don't eat, i’ve dealt with missed anniversaries and forgotten dates. i feel more like a maid for you than i do a wife.” y/n continued, wiping her eyes with the back of her hands. 

soyeon looked like her heart had just been pierced a million times. she had nothing to defend herself with. she knew her wife was right, even if she didn’t want to admit it.

“and all i ever got was nothing. crumbs of your love and time at the most. but a marriage cannot survive off of crumbs.” y/n added, watching as soyeon went back to pacing.

“and let’s not act like this isn’t the first fight we’ve gotten into about this,” she added while glancing at the time on the clock. “there was the time you deliberately ignored me.”

soyeon's pacing slowed as she listened to y/n's words, her chest tightening with each painful truth laid bare. she knew she had failed her wife in more ways than one, and the weight of her guilt threatened to consume her.

but as y/n spoke of their past fights, soyeon's mind flashed back to one particular memory—an argument that had shaken the very foundation of their marriage.

"i remember," soyeon whispered, her voice heavy with regret. "i remember that fight."

fighting in only your army

frontlines, don't you ignore me

“soyeon!” y/n hissed as she slammed her palms down on the ceo’s desk to force her to look at her. “you can’t just ignore me for 3 days because you don’t like the conversation.”

the air crackled with tension as y/n's words hung heavy in the room, each syllable laden with hurt and frustration. she watched as soyeon's expression hardened, her features tightening with annoyance at being interrupted.

but y/n refused to back down. she needed to make her understand, to bridge the growing chasm between them before it widened beyond repair. 

"please, soyeon," y/n implored, her voice softening slightly as she met her wife's gaze. "i know you're busy, but we need to talk about this. i can't keep feeling like i'm invisible to you."

soyeon's jaw tensed, her frustration evident in the way she clenched her fists at her sides. “i didnt want to miss our date," she finally admitted, her voice tinged with defensiveness. “but you know how important this meeting is for the company. i couldn't just cancel it.”

y/n's heart sank at the admission, the sting of disappointment cutting deep. she knew soyeon's dedication to her work was unwavering, but it didn't make the hurt any less painful. “i understand, i do,” y/n replied, her voice trembling with emotion. “but that doesn't change how i feel. i need you to be there for me, too.”

soyeon's gaze softened slightly, a flicker of remorse crossing her features. “i'm sorry, y/n,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. “i need to go now, i have a meeting in 5.”

i'm the best thing at this party

(you're losing me)

“then there was the christmas party.”

soyeon’s annual company party was full of glitz and glamor, with the elite of the entertainment industry gracing the event with their presence. it was a night that soyeon looked forward to every year, an opportunity to network and showcase her company's ever growing success.

but for y/n, it was a different story. she had always felt like an outsider at these events, despite being a former idol herself. she was surrounded by unfamiliar faces and forced to navigate the social intricacies of the new entertainment world on her own. 

and this year was no different.

as the party buzzed with laughter and music, y/n found herself standing alone in a sea of faces, watching as soyeon worked the room with effortless charm. she had hoped that this year would be different, that soyeon would make an effort to include her in the festivities. but as the night wore on, it became clear that she was once again on the sidelines, forgotten and ignored.

when her ceo wife finally approached her, it was only to offer a brief apology before disappearing into the crowd once more. and as y/n watched her mingle with the guests, a sense of loneliness washed over her, a reminder of the gaping divide between them.

“you promised me that we would do this together,” y/n continued, her voice tinged with bitterness as she recalled the events of that fateful night. “but instead, you left me stranded, alone in a room full of strangers. again.”

soyeon's expression softened at the accusation, a flicker of guilt crossing her features. “i didn't mean to leave you behind,” she insisted, her voice laced with regret. “i just had to make sure i made a good impression with the investors, they’re the best thing to happen to the company.”

‘but i’m supposed to be the best thing to happen to you’ was what y/n wanted to argue with. however, for the sake of the night, she bit her tongue.

and i wouldn't marry me either

a pathological people pleaser

“you’re serving me with divorce papers and telling me everything is my fault?” the ceo scoffed, disbelief and hurt in her eyes. “you’re putting all the blame on me?”

y/n rose to her feet quickly. “yes because i’m not the one who is putting us second.”

silence passed for a few beats, and y/n could see anger swirling in her wife’s irises. “you know what?” soyeon hissed before slamming the papers onto the coffee table. 

“i should’ve never married you.”

who only wanted you to see her

and i'm fadin', thinkin'

but as the words hung in the air, a heavy silence settled between them, suffocating the room with its weight. y/n's heart sank at soyeon's admission, the pain of rejection cutting deep into her soul. if there wasn’t a final straw before, this surely was it.

“you don't mean that,” y/n whispered, her voice barely above a whisper as she struggled to hold back her tears. “you can't mean that.”

but soyeon remained silent, her gaze fixed on the floor as she wrestled with her own emotions. and in that moment, y/n felt the walls closing in around her, trapping her in a suffocating embrace of heartache and despair.

“i should've never married you,” soyeon repeated, her voice hollow and empty as she spoke the words aloud again for a second time. and as the reality of their crumbling marriage washed over them, y/n couldn't help but wonder if they had ever stood a chance at happiness in the first place.

"do something, babe, say something" (say something)

“then there truly is no reason for us to be married any longer.” y/n finally said with a shaky breath, tears falling from her eyes freely. deep down, part of her screamed at her wife. she wanted soyeon to fall to her knees and try and fix it, to leave the company for her and the sake of their marriage.

"lose something, babe, risk something" (you're losing me)

soyeon wiped her own eyes and turned her back to the younger woman. y/n watched her face forward again after a few moments, emotions at an all time high.

with trembling hands of anger and hurt, the ceo reached for the divorce papers on the coffee table, her heart heavy with sorrow. she picked up the pen and signed her name on the dotted line, officially agreeing to a mutual separation.

however, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was signing away not just their marriage, but a piece of her own soul.

"choose something, babe, i got nothing (got nothing) to believe, unless you're choosin' me"

“i’ll sleep in the guest room. just leave by monday night.” soyeon said bitterly, leaving her pen on the table while y/n sat with her head in her hands once more. to see her wife’s name on that paper was what she did want, but not like this.

this hurt more than asking for the divorce in the first place.

soyeon left the room without a second glance, leaving behind an atmosphere heavy with unspoken regrets and shattered hearts. the younger girl sat in silence, the weight of their failed marriage pressing down on her shoulders like a suffocating blanket.

as the sound of soyeon's footsteps faded into the distance, y/n couldn't help but feel a sense of profound loss wash over her. 

you're losing me

she had thought that by taking this step, she would find some measure of closure, some semblance of peace. but now, all she felt was emptiness.

with a heavy heart, y/n rose from her seat and made her way to the guest room, the weight of the moment hanging heavily in the air. she knew that their marriage was over, that there was no going back now. 

but as she settled into bed, surrounded by the echoes of their broken promises, she couldn't help but wonder what might have been. what their life would've looked like if her soon to be ex-wife had put the relationship before her career.

stop (stop, stop), you're losing me

what y/n didn’t know was that soyeon regretted signing that paper immediately after she did it. 

the ceo tossed and turned in her own bed, haunted by the memory of signing her name on those divorce papers. the weight of her decision bore down on her, suffocating her with remorse and regret.

as she lay there in the darkness, she couldn't shake the feeling that she had made a terrible mistake. the realization hit her like a tidal wave, flooding her with a sense of panic and desperation. she had been so consumed by her career, so blinded by her ambitions, that she had failed to see what truly mattered. 

and now, faced with the prospect of losing the love of her life, she felt a profound sense of loss wash over her.

stop (stop, stop), you're losing me

but as the hours passed and the night wore on, soyeon found herself grappling with a difficult truth. no matter how much she regretted her decision, no matter how desperately she wished she could turn back time, she knew that some mistakes were irreversible.

with a heavy heart and tears in her eyes, soyeon whispered a silent prayer into the darkness. she didn’t care who was listening, or if no deity was listening at all.

“please,” she heaved out. “let me fix this.”

she knew that despite her deepest desires, some wounds could never fully heal. and as the first light of dawn painted the sky, she realized that her chance to salvage their marriage had slipped through her fingers.

her denial crumbled the moment she saw y/n had left her wedding ring on the counter. 

i can't find a pulse

with a heavy heart, soyeon accepted the painful truth: she had lost y/n, perhaps forever. and though the regret weighed heavily upon her, she knew that she had to accept the consequences of her actions.

y/n had only lost a marriage that wasn’t benefiting her. it was the best thing for her at the time. soyeon had lost the love of her life. it was the worst thing she could have ever experienced.

in the end, both women were left grappling with the consequences of their choices. y/n had found freedom, while soyeon remained trapped in the prison of her own making. 

and as they each navigated their separate paths, they couldn't help but wonder if they would ever find their way back to one another.

my heart won't start anymore

a/n: pretend i posted this months ago...

[me-gongoga]

ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ɪ ᴇᴠᴇʀ | ᴇᴅᴅɪᴇ ᴍᴜɴꜱᴏɴ x ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ

Summary: back home in Hawkins for spring break, you get roped into a game of 'never have i ever' by your friends. but the night takes a turn when eddie accidentally stumbles upon a secret you've been keeping for months

Pairing: eddie munson x reader (gender neutral)

Word count: 4.2k

Tags: aged-up characters (early 20s). fluff/angst, friends to lovers, alcohol use/drug ref, happy ending, no use of y/n

It’s tradition. Every break from college, you head home to Hawkins and meet up with your old crew. Not everyone always makes it, but whatever rag-tag group gets scrounged together is usually more than enough. With graduation on the horizon, you’re happy to see anyone in Hawkins these days.

Tonight, it’s almost a full house, schedules and school breaks aligning. Seven of you are cramped around the old coffee table in Nancy’s basement, laughter abundant and drinks in hand.

Steve proposes ‘Never Have I Ever’ after getting absolutely tossed at darts three times in a row by Robin. And Nancy—three deep in the same room with two of her exes—more than hastily produces a handle of vodka to reward each round’s ‘winner’.

Jonathon and Steve sit at opposite ends of the table, while three girls pile onto the couch—Vickie getting sandwiched between Nancy and Robin. Across from them, you’re sunk happily into an old bean bag while Eddie sits beside you, already asserting he’ll be the champion of the game.

You snort at his proclamation and try to disguise it with a sip of your drink. Eddie catches you anyhow and delivers a swift shove to your shoulder that’s enough to slosh your beer. You glare at him as you wipe up the mess on your mouth, but Eddie only grins back and soon you find yourself smiling too.   

He’s the one person who makes you promises and always delivers.

Eddie picks you up from the train station every time you come home, your favorite from the Hawkins Diner in hand. And while you stuff your face, he regales you with the latest drama from his tattoo apprenticeship and shares weird anecdotes about the more questionable pieces he’s worked on. Sometimes you burn whole days of break just sitting in his trailer and catching up, cross-legged on the floor of his room while he aimlessly plucks chords on his guitar. And sure, you call him while away at school, but nothing compares to actually being at his side and seeing the crinkle in his eyes when he laughs at your jokes. It reignites the warmth that you work so hard to keep contained while away. A heat that’s burning in your chest as you sit beside him tonight.

The first couple rounds of the game are quick and dirty—everyone getting their bottom-of-the-barrel pulls out. The third round is where things actually start to pick up and the admittances get odd.

“You gotta be kidding me, Vickie,” Eddie exclaims, putting down another finger. “You’ve never smoked a cigarette?”

She only shrugs, freckles dotting her dimpled expression. "I don’t like tobacco. Weed on the other hand…”

“Cheers to that,” Jonathon says, raising his beer can.

Eddie hurriedly grabs his own to join.

“Everyone still in?” Robin checks, eyes darting across the group.

Eddie clicks his tongue, voice all too smug as he speaks. “Already down to two again.”

“Yeah, well I’m right there with ‘ya, Munson,” Steve counters, waving his peace-sign count at Eddie.

You settle nice and low in your bean bag, flaunting your index finger. “Better hurry it up, boys. I’m already at one. I can pretty much hear that room-temperature Smirnoff calling my name.”

“You guys know it’s not exactly impressive to win, right?” Robin asks, looking skeptically between the three of you.

Nancy shrugs and crosses her legs with a flourish. “Let them duke it out if they want. I’m still sitting pretty with four fingers.”

“Thanks for the reminder, Nancy,” you say with a nod. “Because, never have I ever, shot a gun.”

The curly-haired woman scowls at you, putting down a finger. “That was uncalled for.”

“Oh, I think it was called for,” Steve argues, down to a single finger now as well. “I mean really, Nance, you should probably put down your whole hand for that one.”

Nancy only waves him off and takes another sip of her drink.

“You’ve tied us all up,” Eddie says to you, a devilish grin spreading across his face. “Unfortunately, doesn’t look like I’ll get to win this round.”

“I don’t like where this is going,” Vickie mutters, her eyes narrowing at Eddie.  

“Never have I ever,” Eddie says, pausing to give the room a good, long look. “Kissed anyone who’s here tonight.”

And for an amazingly elongated moment, the room stills into a stunned silence—eyes wide and mouths agape. But when the discourse descends, you can only sit in shock.

At first, it’s just a rabble of frustration that breaks out—Eddie still looking smug as hell with himself in his old folding chair as Nancy shakes her head and Robin shares a pointed look with Vickie. But then Steve’s voice cuts above the din, everyone else falling in line.

“He still doesn’t know?” The brunette asks, looking directly at you. “I thought you were going to tell him!”

“What the hell are you on about, Harrington?” Eddie complains, eyes darting between you and Steve. 

Jonathon groans and runs his hands over his face. “This is painful.”   

“I told you he just didn’t remember,” Robin whisper-yells all-too-loudly from the couch as she waggles her eyebrows in your direction. “I told you!”

Eddie shakes his head, looking incredulously around the table, before settling back on you. “Remember what? What the fuck are we talking about?”

You’d give anything in this instant for the bean bag to suck you up whole and eject you into nothingness. Hell, you’d even stick it out in the Upside Down if it meant you could avoid this conversation. There’s a reason you haven’t brought it up before. Of course, you’ve thought about it—tried even, to tell Eddie. But that was easier said than done. And now your own cowardice had backed you into a corner.

“We made out on New Year’s Eve,” you spit out, before anyone else can describe it more… creatively.

Eddie’s face goes pale, dark eyes blinking down at you. “W-what? No we didn’t. Why would we—"

“Dude, we all saw it,” Steve cuts in, running a hand through his hair. “You had your tongue shoved so far down their throat that even I was impressed.”

“Gross, Steve,” Robin and Nancy chide in unison.

“What? We were all thinking it!”

You clear your throat. “You were blackout, Eddie. I mean, we were all sloshed.”

He looks at you, mouth agape as his eyes trail down to your lips. The beer can in his hand crinkles under his grip as you see his Adam’s apple bob against his throat.

You still remember Eddie’s lips colliding against your own—the memory locked away in your mind like an a painting in a vault. Midnight. It was dim lights and streamers and loud music and unbridled joy and warmth and happiness. It was Eddie picking you up and swinging you around, pinning you up against a wall, and kissing you like his life depended on it. It was you holding onto him with all the fervor you’d bottled up since high school and giggling like a teenager as he whispered things in your ear.

Like all beautiful moments—it was fleeting. An hour later, you were holding back his hair in the bathroom as he threw up every Jell-O shot Nance had handed him. And, when you woke up beside each other on the floor of Steve’s living room the next day, Eddie didn’t even remember the clock striking 12. No, he didn’t remember any of it at all.

Or maybe—just maybe—he didn’t want to.

And that was not something you could handle confronting.

So, you asked the others to drop it—to pretend it didn’t happen. Told them you’d take care of it eventually. Took the photo Jonathon developed of you two and buried it in a box in your bedroom.

You wonder what exactly Eddie sees as he looks at you now. Disappointment? Disgust? You tear your gaze away with a nervous smile, not wanting to dive any deeper.

“Welp, guess, we’re gonna need more glasses,” Nancy thankfully announces, digging herself out of the couch and skuttling over to an old cupboard.

“Are we counting that? Really?” Jonathon complains.

“I mean, why not?” Robin asks with a shrug. “Guy clearly doesn’t remember kissing this hottie, so he’s not exactly lying. I say his bad memory earns him and everyone else a reward from the Wheeler’s liquor cabinet.”

Steve laughs at that, leaning over to slap Eddie on the thigh. “Looks like you get to ‘win’ after all, Munson.”  

“Shit,” Eddie finally mumbles, still sounding a bit dumbstruck. “Guess it’s only fair.”  

Nancy dumps an eclectic collection of glasses on the table, quickly pouring alcohol into each one and handing them out.

“Here, here,” Eddie says, raising his shot to the other ‘winners’. “To making out with your friends.”

You raise your own, catching his eyes again as you clink glasses. “Here, here.”

And then, like a weight off your chest, the night just… keeps going. More drinks, more games, more laughter. And Eddie—seemingly—isn’t even acting differently towards you. Things are normal. And normal is good.

Eventually, the evening starts to draw to a close. Vickie and Robin are passed out, tangled together on the couch, while Nancy sits on the floor between Steve and Jonathon—the beginnings of what has to be a ‘will they, won’t they’ saga playing out.

When you announce your departure, Eddie is quick to join you.

The cool night air feels good in your lungs after sitting for so long in a musty basement. Eddie marches past you down the driveway, taking a dramatic stretch and revealing a dark trail of hair down his midriff. You avert your eyes, trying to take casual interest in the gardening equipment scattered in the lawn.

“So,” he begins. “Did you still wanna come over? Watch a movie or something?”

You rattle the backpack slung over your shoulder; polyester material plastered with patches he’s given you over the years. “Didn’t bring a bag for nothing, Eds.”

“Yeah, yeah, alright,” Eddie mutters as you approach him, all too casually snatching the backpack from you. “Let’s go, smart ass.”

You smile and begin the tipsy trek towards Eddie’s trailer. He pulls out his cigarettes, offering them to you first as he always does.

You click your tongue and slip one from the pack. “Vickie would be appalled.”

Eddie chuckles, closing the gap between the two of you to lend a light, his hand cupping the flame in the breeze. You’ve always found him handsome, but when he’s up close and personal like this, fire in his eyes, it feels like you could drown in his good looks, and it would be a welcome death.

“Thanks,” you murmur, taking a long drag, as he pulls away.

“You got it,” Eddie mutters through his teeth, lighting his own.

The two of you walk in comfortable silence down the usual route, enjoying the soft crunch of concrete and gravel beneath your boots. Even with the full moon hanging overhead in a clear night sky, you’re thankful not to be stumbling home alone in the dark. Since experiencing the Upside Down together, Eddie always went out of his way to get you home safe or offer you a place to stay. At first you thought maybe it was just safety in solidarity. But now it was familiar. Comforting.

“So,” he says, voice raspy and sudden. “Can we talk about the five-ton Oliphaunt in the room?”

You swallow hard and decide to play dumb. “What do you mean?”

“Oh, I don’t know, maybe the fact that we, uh,” Eddie clears his throat. “Kissed, and I don’t even remember?”  

You chuckle, trying to ease the tension in his voice despite your own discomfort. “Sure, if you want. But there’s not much else to say. We were just trashed.”

“Yeah, but how did we even get there? Us?” He says motioning between the two of you. “I mean, come on, we’re— we’re just—"

“Friends,” you say, finishing the sentiment for him, the word bitter on your tongue.

“Right,” he mutters back, smoke billowing from pursed lips.

“I dunno,” you admit honestly. “Too much to drink, probably. Besides, Eddie, if I had known how gone you were, I wouldn’t have agreed to it.”

“Agreed?” Eddie says, attention piqued. “So, what—I asked you to kiss me? And you said yes?”

You chew your lip, shoving your hands into the too-tight pockets of your worn-out jeans. “I mean, it was New Years, y’know? You probably just wanted someone to kiss at midnight. Everyone does it.”

Eddie scoffs. “Right, because if there’s one thing about me, it’s that I love to follow the crowd.”

You only shrug, clueless on how to respond when you barely have answers yourself.  

Silence falls between the two of you, relief slumping into your shoulders as Eddie’s barrage of questions seems to subside. You kick yourself for admitting you chose to kiss him—but at least it wasn’t entirely strange.

You and Eddie had admitted to finding each other attractive on more than one occasion in the past. Why deny such obvious truths? You had both simply agreed that you were most definitely not romantically compatible.

Though you never hashed out the details on why that was.

“So,” Eddie grumbles, voice like sand paper in the quiet. “Was it bad or something then?”

“Huh?”

“The kiss, idiot,” he says, swinging the bag into your shoulder. “Is that why you never told me about it?”

You shake your head, heart palpitating at the memory of Eddie pressed against you. “No, nothing like that.”

“Then why hide it from me?” Eddie asks, rasp edging into his voice again. You can feel his dark eyes on your profile. “Seems like you went through a lot of effort to keep it under wraps.”

His words sound almost accusatory. Suddenly you’re scrambling for something to offer him—anything other than the truth, really.

You drop your cigarette and stomp it out, watching as the bud smolders to nothing on the ground. “I didn’t want to embarrass you.”

It takes a second, but laughter erupts from his chest, carrying into the night with an ominous echo. “Right, like you’d ever pass up the chance to hold something over my head.”

That’s true enough—it was part of how your friendship operated. One time he admitted to having a wet dream about the bartender at the Hideout, and you had used it to blackmail him into free drinks for half a year. Eddie gave as good as he got, of course. He knew you had used the Arcade’s backroom to hook up with more than a few people—some more questionable than others—and he had Keith on speed dial should you ever not supply him with free tokens during his visits. All of that was good fun. Platonic.

But New Year’s Eve… the kiss… that mean too much to you just to be played as a gag.

Exasperation grips your voice. “I don’t know what to tell you.”

You really don’t. And maybe Eddie senses that because he doesn’t respond.

It’s quiet as you pace on together, only the soft buzz of Hawkins’ electrical lines filling the empty void, unsettling and cerebral in your ears. It almost makes your body itch.

You’re thankful when Eddie speaks again, even if his tone is surprisingly somber.

“I think I get it.”

Your heart sinks into the depths of your chest. “You… get it?”

You watch the mass of brunette curls bob as he nods slowly.  “You’re ashamed that you made out with me, right?”

His voice is so serious it ties your stomach in knots and stops you in your tracks. He was so painfully, awfully wrong.

“I mean, I can’t say I blame you,” he continues. “Poor, directionless, loser that I am. Just good-for-nothing Eddie Munson. Who would wanna be caught dead kissing me?”

“Don’t say that,” you hiss at him, hands balling into fists. “It’s not true. Not fucking true at all.”

He pauses his stride and turns, chest rising and falling steadily as he stares at you in the night. “I’m just kidding.”

“Are you?”

Eddie runs both hands through his hair and shakes his head before flicking his cig to the ground. “Forget I said anything, okay? Let’s just hurry up and get back to my place.”

“No,” you reply, marching up and attempting to rend your bag from his shoulder. “I’m going home.”

But he only tightens his grip on your backpack, eyes meeting as you pull against him. “Please don’t.”

You scowl at him and give the bag another strong tug.

“I’m sorry, okay?” Eddie stutters, grabbing your wrist. “Now will you please stop trying to rip my shoulder off?”

You want to bottle up the frustration and anger at his careless words and hurl it back at him. But the stubble on his jaw, the scent of his aftershave, the look in his eyes—it’s too intoxicating. Whether he’s acting insufferable or not.

“Fine.” You let go of the bag and Eddie releases his grip in turn though the heat of his hand lingers unwarrantedly on your skin.

You’re supposed to move—supposed keep stomping back to his trailer. But instead, you just find yourself tethered to the asphalt, unable to tear yourself away.

Eddie stares back at you, still and expectant in the night.

Then words are tumbling so quickly from your lips, you hardly hear yourself speak.

“I was too scared.”

He blinks at you, dark eyelashes fluttering beneath loose curls. “Scared?”

“That’s why I never brought it up, Eddie,” you mutter, heart pounding in your ears. “I thought maybe you did remember kissing me and just... didn’t want to.”

His eyes widen, plush lips parting. “Why would I ever want to forget that?”

You shrug, boozy uncertainty welling in your eyes despite your efforts to fight it off. “Because it was me, Eddie. It was me, and not some hot bombshell you could brag about making out with. It was just me. And I’m—” 

“Perfect?”

Your face scrunches at the word. “Don’t make fun of me.”

But he seems to only find humor in your disgruntled expression, his face alit with laughter in the dark. “For someone so smart, you really are damn dense sometimes.”

Before you can protest his comment, Eddie’s pulling you against his chest, your face colliding with the denim of his jacket, musky scent of cologne and shampoo flooding any sense of reasonable thought from your mind. Strong arms slide over your shoulders and snake around your neck as you feel him rest his head atop your own.

“What I said earlier—I’m scared too.” Eddie confesses, a rasp to his voice. “Scared that once you graduate from that fancy-pants college, you’ll get some cool big-kid job that’ll take you far away from Indiana and you’ll forget all about little shithole Hawkins. And... forget about me.”

His admission hits you like a bolt of lightning.

Eddie is the only consistent in your life. Rain or shine, hell or highwater—he’s always there. So how could he think himself anything close to a footnote in your story?

“Never,” you mumble, relaxing into Eddie’s chest. You wrap your arms snug around his waist, trying to impart every bit of your heart with one embrace. “How could I ever forget such a sloppy kisser?”

Eddie cackles unexpectedly, his chest reverberating pitched tones against your head. “Oh, come on. You’ve gotta give me another shot.”

Your heart flutters at his words. “Yeah?”

He relaxes his grip, creating just enough space to greet you with his deep, chocolate eyes. The corners of his mouth twitch into a smile as he stares down at you. “I mean, I can’t say I’m totally sober, and it’s not New Years, so I really have no excuse…”

“But?”

“But,” he repeats back. “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t wanna kiss you right now.”

Your eyes wander to his lips—the very same that you’ve fantasized about so frequently and experienced only once. And now, standing under the flickering, orange streetlamps of Hawkins, he was offering them to you again.

“You’re sure?” You ask.

Eddie nods. “Listen, I don’t know what exactly got into me that night—”

“Wheeler’s Jell-O shots.”  

He cringes at the word, sticking out his tongue in mock disgust. “Ugh, that’s right. I still can’t even look at anything close to Jell-O.”

You giggle at his perturbed expression. “I know. You nearly fainted when Dustin made us fight a gelatinous cube in that one-shot yesterday.”

He shakes out his head like a wet dog, wringing more laughter from your chest.

“What I was trying to say—before you so rudely reminded me of my gelatin-aversion,” Eddie says with a pointed glance. “Is that I’m glad that some part of me worked up the nerve to do what I’ve spent years contemplating.”  

“You mean throwing up in Steve’s pool?”

“Okay, come on,” Eddie complains, rolling his eyes. “I’m trying to do this whole, romantic-ish situation here and you are just fucking t-boning it at every turn.” 

You’re smiling like a maniac now, starry-eyed and hopeful. “Sorry, sorry—go ahead.”

But Eddie just shakes his head, planting a warm, calloused hand under your jaw. “Nope. I’m just gonna kiss you before you say anything else to ruin it.”

And though you try to retort one final time, Eddie’s reflexes are too fast for you to counter. In a split-second, his mouth is pressed up against your own. He pulls you flush against his hips, encouraging collision as your fingers wind through his hair. His lips are as soft as you remember, but this time they seem intent on savoring every inch of your flesh, dangerously disarming as they elicit moans from your throat.

Your sounds only entice him further. He nibbles at your lower lip and hums with satisfaction as your mouth parts for him, vodka and tobacco crashing across your tongue as he eagerly explores you. The taste of him conceives a delirium in your mind like no drug you’ve ever consumed, thoughts drifting away one by one. He’s warm and perfect and good—so fucking good.

There’s purpose as Eddie holds you—kisses you­­—for the first real time. The happiness is overwhelming, tears threatening to spill from your eyes as Eddie brands you with the heat of each kiss. Your knees quiver under the elation, all of it nearly too much to handle.

As if sensing your imminent collapse, Eddie lifts you up into his arms, your legs wrapping naturally around his waist. You squeal out of sheer surprise, his lips curving into a smile against your own. He gives you a gentle spin to provoke more laughter-hiccupped kisses, his mouth trailing to your jaw and down your neck, his stubble tickling your skin with each peck.

You open your eyes as he starts to slow, watching him intently as he draws back, hunger still hanging in his eyes. He carefully returns you to the ground.

For a moment, you just stare at each other in silence, the buzz of the power cables now but a peaceful ambiance.

“Shit,” is all he manages to say, lips still plump from your attention. His arms are immovably hooked onto your hips.

“That bad?” You tease, struggling to catch your breath, heat still consuming your chest.

Eddie shakes his head, disheveled hair bouncing as he beams at you. “Seriously not sure how I could ever forget something like that. Wow, babe.”

“Yeah well,” you mutter, thoughts dazed by his affectionate words. “Don’t jinx it. I… can’t handle going through that again.”  

Eddie’s expression falters as he studies you, brow creasing. “I’m sorry. God, if I had remembered—well, I would have done a lot of stuff different.”

“I should have just told you—I should have known that you wouldn’t… it doesn’t matter. I’m just glad we’re here now.”

“Tell me about it,” he says, squeezing your waist.

“You better remember in the morning this time, Eds,” you threaten, poking him in the chest.

Eddie smiles and drops dramatically to one knee, crossing an arm over his chest with all the ceremony of a squire about to be knighted at the Ren Faire. He clears his throat before reciting what seems like a well-rehearsed proclamation.  “I, Eddie ‘The Freak’ Munson, hereby pledge that from this moment forward, I will never—fucking ever—forget anything when it comes to us. So help me, Lolth.”

In return, you raise your arms up to the sky. “Praise be to our Demon Queen of the Abyss!”

Eddie laughs and stands back up, grabbing you by the waist and spinning you around once more. “God, I fucking love you.”  

“Yeah?” You ask, starry-eyed in his arms.

He nods, folding ring-adorned fingers around your hand and planting a kiss just inside your wrist. “Yeah. And you?”

You smile at him. “Never have I ever loved anyone more than you, Eddie Munson.”

[rogerswifesblog]

A/N: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO @jamneuromain here’s a little gift for you. I hope you’ll enjoy the first one shot of the little kinda series. It was supposed to be a one shot but I didn’t finish it on time so…now it’ll be a two/three chapter series! I hope you’re enjoying your birthday. I wish you the best. I won’t specify what exactly because everything what happens should be the best! Meet the best people, make the best memories and the best experiences!!!!

Between the bookshelves

My Masterlist

A/N: it’s not beta read:) there’ll be mistakes, be prepared:)

Pairing: Mob Ari Levinson x bookshop/café owner reader

Series Summary: You’re a small-town-girl living in a big city, owning her own (somewhat successful) book- and coffee-shop, a dream you had been following for years. Some of the books are little works of your own, but nobody really knew it and nobody really read them, being just small stories between bestselling novels.

And yet there was a specific client that couldn’t put down your books.

The Saturday mornings were mostly quiet and got a bit more busy in the noon, where people start waking up or curing their hangovers-for some reason you had noticed everyone liked doing it in your little coffee shop. The quiet atmosphere, smell of coffee, cake and books was calming for the people. It was just good for their headaches. Just some time to themselves. Just some…peace. That’s how you could describe your shop. Peaceful.

Most of the time they would buy a coffee, maybe a sandwich or something sweet and would sit for a while, sometimes with their headphones on, sometimes with their eyes closed or other times watching the people walk past the windows.

You enjoyed watching people.

The older people that came by because your place had an older aesthetic, the walls made from old brick stone, the shelves and tables dark wood, the couches, loveseats, armchairs and chairs all being rather vintage than modern. Always ordering the apple pie from your grandma’s recipe. Could they taste like it was an old recipe? Did it taste differently from the other pies?

You also liked watching the business people rolling their eyes during calls or while typing something on their laptops. It was really entertaining. You also always gave them a free muffin if they spilled their coffee on some (probably important) documents.

So to say, everyone liked coming here, for whatever reasons. Maybe to drink your coffee, maybe to have some peace or forget what was happening in their busy lives, instead wanting to escape in one of the books. In your cafe was everything possible, they could just drink their coffee and enjoy some snacks or disappear in a fantasy world with witches, mermaids and vampires or into a simple romance or thriller. Whatever they wanted.

And then there was him.

He came here to see you smile. To hear your voice. To get to know you.

But until now he never actually spoke to you. Not unless it was to tell you his order.

And that’s it.

Ari was the head of the mob and yet he got cold feet when it came to talking to a pretty girl.

Usually he had no problems with talking to women, even targets or other dealers but you ... .it's like he was his teenage self again (or even worse, because he actually wasn’t that nervous back then.)

He didn’t want to mess it up too soon, since you seemed like a very nice person and probably wouldn’t approve of his work. So he wanted to show you his best side-even though he didn’t know how long he’d be able to hide his true identity.

And more important, how long he’d manage to keep you safe. That was his biggest concern. That’s also why he didn’t know if he should approach you.

For now it was enough to sit in your café and watch you from afar. Like a total creep.

Ari sighed, hitting his forehead on the table with a quiet thud. What the hell was he doing? He was making a total fool of himself? He’d now go to the counter and ask for your number.

Determined he stood up and did as planned. “Hi, may I ask for-“ “Y/N, the muffins are ready!”, shouted someone from what he assumed was the kitchen. You smiled apologetically. “Give me a minute”, with that you disappeared for a moment, coming back with a plate filled with muffins.

A bright smile crept once again onto your lips when you saw the beautiful stranger still waiting at the counter. He was one of your regulars and yet you never catched his name. Nor anything else beside his usual order. “Another cappuccino?”, you saw him opening his mouth, before nodding. “Yeah, another cappuccino, thank you”, he smiled, brushing his hair behind his ear before taking out his card.

He definitely noticed the muffin decorated with heart sprinkles to his coffee, that he hadn’t ordered. Also, he got your name. This was more than he had actually expected.

And this muffin definitely meant something, right?

You watched him for a second from behind the counter, before needing to go clean up a table. You hoped he had seen the number written on the handkerchief.

He didn’t. He threw it away.

But you didn’t know that. You imagined he threw it away on purpose. Maybe he felt awkward? Or even uncomfortable? God, you have messed up. What if he’d never come back again?

Sighing you looked out of the window imagining the beautiful man talking to you about something different than just his usual order.

Two weeks. Two whole weeks Ari couldn’t go to your café and it made him crazy. Even though he didn’t know you, he missed your sweet smile. The słuchały oversized pink hoodie you liked wearing, especially when it was a bit colder, how you always wore your hair in a bun or ponytail, showing off your beautiful rosy cheeks. The way your eyes lightened up when you talked to him-he didn’t know if it was something that happened with every customer, but he liked imagining this sparkle was just for him.

Maybe it was.

Maybe it wasn’t.

But he hoped it was.

When the quiet bell sounded as he entered the café you lifted your head, having been caught up in messaging someone while there was some quiet time in the shop. There were only a few customers busy with eating and drinking, some others reading some books.

He walked up to the counter, opening his mouth to greet you, but his voice broke when he saw your slightly rosy cheeks, the soft smile on your lips. “Hello, the usual?”, you smiled at him, making him even more speechless so he just nodded.

For fucks sake what was happening to him. How the hell could you make him speechless with just a smile even though he was able to talk to twenty men with guns in hands and files longer than some restaurant menus.

Sighing, he walked to his usual table, hanging off his jacket over the chair before walking to the shelves, looking for a new book.

He found one about a complicated love story between a college student and her professor, from what he could read in the summary-but it wasn’t the plot that surprised him.

It was your picture.

You were the author.

Ari immediately took it and walked with it over to his table where he immediately started reading. He wasn’t really into romance stuff, but it was your book. It was a piece of you, in a way, and he wanted to know something about you. About the relationship you seek, the gestures that made your breath hitch and what made your heart flutter.

So he started reading.

Within a few pages he was already pulled into the story, completely losing himself in the story, interested in the problematic relationship the main characters had. Just when the main character was supposed to meet with her professor you walked up to his table with a coffee and muffin that he hadn’t ordered.

When he looked up at you and slightly closed the book you could see he was reading your book. Your cheeks turned a dark red color. Usually it wouldn’t matter who read your book but him-not him. He wasn’t supposed to know about the things you liked, about your desires and-about your sexual preferences! Jesus. Maybe he hadn’t read who the author was?

At this point you’d rather just go to bed and never leave it again. Like, really, never.

Sighing you walked back behind the counter, not noticing the lingering gaze on you.

Three hours later, Ari was still busy with the book. At this point the story was so addictive he couldn’t put it down. The main character was a total sweetheart and the professor-god what a dick he was. Such a liar. Even though he had already messed up once, he didn’t tell his lover he still had a wife. Okay, yes, they were divorcing soon but still-he should’ve told his girlfriend about it. It’s a detail you should mention. Preferably from the beginning and not letting the girlfriend find out because the wife walked into his apartment?? Jesus!

He scoffed at the book and wanted to turn the page when his phone rang. “Levinson”, he listened to his friend about having found out who had stolen guns and other weapons from him. Ari could tell his frown deepened with every second, the vein on his forehead already pulsing from anger. Fury, even. He tried to be a good man. Really. Holding back all the time-but having one of his men betray him…this was too much. It was-

“Do you want a refill?” Your sweet voice interrupted his racing thoughts, his nerves immediately calming down, the frown disappearing. Instead a smile reappeared on his lips. “I can’t. I have to go and get some …business stuff done”, he said, already standing up. It was the first time you two were so close to each other.

His Perfume smelled overpowering, but in a surprisingly good way. It made you crave this man even more than before. The smell was just heavenly. You couldn’t stop yourself from breathing it in deeply, nearly closing your eyes to enjoy it for a bit longer but instead you looked into Ari’s bright eyes. He was taller than you, bigger than you. He towered over you, but you didn’t feel threatened. You felt safe.

Fuck. Your crush was turning into something much worse.

Little did you know that’s exactly what Ari thought too.

It’s not really unusual for him being taller or bigger than someone, but with you it’s like something inside him awoke. The need to keep you close. Keep you safe. He knew how dangerous the world could be, especially for a woman like you. But he could take care of you.

He’d love to wrap his arms around you, bury his nose against your neck and inhale your sweet smell, feel your soft skin…

He had it bad. So, so bad.

A last smile crept onto his lips before he grabbed his jacket and walked over to the door, looking once again back at you meeting your gaze. You blushed at that, making Ari’s heart pound.

He’ll ask for your number. Next time when he’ll be here.

But he didn’t. The next time, two days later, he just drank his coffee and read the book. Ari was Never this curious about a book but yours was just…incredible. The love story, the whole plot. Unbelievable. And also…thinking you had such a…interesting view of sex made him curious if you’d do the things in real life, too.

Were you into the same things as the main character? Spanking? Dom and sub dynamics in real life? Being called a good girl? Fuck, he really tried not to think about these things at night. (He failed sometimes.)

“Would you like some apple pie?”, you sweet voice made him lift his head. “Oh, sure, how much-“ “no, no, that’s on the house…it’s a gift. From me.” Your gentle tone made his heart throb, while he nodded. “Thank you.”

While he watched you walk away he wasn’t sure what to do next. You were such a kind and sweet person. And he was…he wasn’t good. Far from that, actually. You two couldn’t be more different. While you were a gentle soul that gave away the food that was left after a shift to the homeless, he was capable of torturing people without blinking an eye. He was cruel, cold and furious.

He wasn’t good enough for you. He knew. And he knew he’d only make your life miserable and dangerous. Maybe he already did with spending so much time at your café. Your worlds were too far from each other for you to date. Or even be friends.

“Here you go-enjoy”, once again did your voice pull him out of his thoughts-and a gentle touch on his shoulder. “Thank you, sweetheart.”

Fuck. It just slipped. From all the reading-he forgot. It was unbelievable how your whole being influenced his behavior, how you were able to make him forget about his whole being.

Just when he wanted to apologise a shy but bright smile formed on your lips, a slight blush slowly creeping over your cheeks. Without saying anything else you squeezed his shoulder for a second before stepping away from his table, being called over by an older couple.

Even though he really wanted to read more, his phone was getting blow up with messages about the recent thefts. They knew who caused them but not where he was hiding. The fact that it was one of his men still angried him, even more because nobody could find him.

But he needed the stolen things back. ASAP. Otherwise even he could get in trouble-which didn’t happen often.

He looked at the pie, smiling as he noticed the little heart you had drawn with whipped cream. The thought of not being able to have you made his heart crumble a little.

Why couldn’t he be just a simple man with a simple life?

Because he liked the luxurious life he had.

But maybe he could try the simple way of living for once?

Oh who was he lying to, everyone he knew would say he’d never have a standard live. He liked having an expensive car, the newest phone, eating out especially in nice restaurants or nice vacations somewhere far away.

He was curious about what you liked. Maybe he could invite you to his favourite restaurant? Seeing you in a elegant long dress, your beautiful neck exposed…maybe covered in some little hickeys, marks ... ..or maybe a simple and decent day collar. Just a neck with a little ring…only the people involved would understand-and maybe some people would even compliment your necklace, not knowing what it meant.

Ari’s whole chest tingled with need.

But he didn’t want to destroy your life by pulling into the mess he was in.

Sighing he took a little bite from the pie, immediately closing his eyes in pleasure. It tasted incredible. Perfect even.

He hadn't had such a good pie in a long time.

Ari ate the pie within a few minutes, not having enough time to eat in peace since his phone was ringing all the time.

Once again when he left he could feel your lingering gaze on his back.

Next time. He’d talk to you next time.

You promised the same thing to yourself…and your best employee-well, best friend, because she couldn’t handle listening to your venting about Ari anymore.

This time he couldn’t come to your café for over two weeks, since he was after Alex, the thief. And he didn’t have much time to relax. Especially not in your café, also he didn’t want to come closer in case someone was following him-which he believed was possible seeing what was happening.

But he really missed you, even though you hadn’t had a real conversation yet. It’s just…your smile could brighten his mood, it didn’t matter how bad the day was.

When he finally visited your place again the first thing he noticed was how your frown disappeared and how you leaned over the counter slightly. “Hello! Long time no see”, you grinned at him.

Ari chuckled at your enthusiasm, immediately feeling how your presence cheered him up. “Yeah I had a lot of stuff going on…it’s complicated. I’m just glad I can finally drink a coffee here…sit, enjoy the atmosphere here…it’s probably the only place where I feel like I can forget about the whole mess with-…you know, life”, he mumbled, shaking his head slowly.

When he took out his wallet your hand touched his and you slowly pushed it away. “It’s fine, this one's on me…maybe we could…sit a bit together? Talk?”, you smiled gently, seeing how the gears in the man’s head started doing their job.

“Sounds very nice, yes. I’d love to sit and talk a bit…”, he didn’t sound entirely sure about it, but you believed him anyway. Maybe he really had a bad day. “Perfect, then you can go sit down and I’ll be with you in a minute.”

After he did what said you started preparing the coffees and a piece of brownie for each. He’d definitely like it. At least you hoped he would.

“I’m pretty sure we never really introduced-I’m Y/N, nice to meet you”, when you finally sat down Ari turned his phone around so the screen wouldn’t be visible. You really hoped he wasn’t hiding a wife or kid. Or both? Let’s not be paranoid…but still…

Ari smiled at you, pushing his phone even further away. It’s not like you’d grab it and read his messages? This guy was a bit suspicious…but you knew not to judge a book by its cover. “I’m Ari, it’s nice to meet you. I wanted to talk to you for a while now…I couldn’t never really get myself to do it”, he chuckled, making you unintentionally but your lip a bit.

Did it mean he liked you just as much as you liked him?

“I’m glad. I was curious if we’d ever say more to each other than your usual order”, your words made him chuckle again and he shook his head a bit. “Yeah that…I don’t really like changes and besides, your coffee is really good. When I find a place I like, I don’t like changing things.” Ari took a sip from his coffee to prove his point-and once again the coffee was as good as always.

He noticed how seemingly pleased you were with this simple compliment. Wasn’t it obvious how good everything here was? Especially the barista…which he wouldn’t say out loud, but he’d think about it.

“What will happen to them? Will they have a Happy End?” Ari lifted the book he had once again taken from the shelf. One of your first pieces you had tried to write and actually finish. But you were still slightly insecure sometimes-especially when the person reading was someone you’d rather like to impress.

You shrugged slowly, a teasing smirk creeping over your lip. “I guess you’ll have to come here often and finish it yourself. I won’t spoil the ending for you. What’s the fun in reading it then?” Ari shook his head amused.

“I rather like knowing what’s coming, you know? To prepare myself for it, the same in real life-especially my business. It sucks to know that you’re being lied to”, he had no idea why he was telling you this but it felt good. It’s like his heart was speaking for him, even though his brain was screaming at him to shut up and preferably leave you alone.

But he listened to his heart, for once. He wanted to listen to his heart this one time.

You placed your hand over his, squeezing gently. “I understand. It must be hard having someone close betray you…if I may ask, what did he do? And where do you two work?”, you asked. Curiosity was never your best trait, but to your defence ari was the one speaking about it first. You had the right to ask…right?

Ari stilled for a second, looking down at his phone, then his coffee, hands, back at his phone and finally back at you. “It’s office work, but I can’t tell you much more about it”, you could tell he was lying right to your face.

Did you care about it? Did you see the red flags and decided to ignore them?

Nobody ever said you always made the right choices.

“I understand. Still sucks being lied too by someone important”, you squeeze his hand again.

At least he wasn’t wearing a wedding ring. Maybe this weird gut feeling was from nervousness and not…something else. He seemed like a nice and charming guy.

On the other hand…

So did Ted Bundy.

You quickly shook those thoughts away…for now.

To your surprise you two talked for nearly two hours, before the café started to be flooded by customers and you had to go back to work. Ari left you his number, telling you to call him when you’d need any help…or just to talk.

Happily you enjoyed the rest of the shift, already thinking about texting Ari later in the evening.

Thank you for reading!

I Hope you liked it! Let me know! Support your content creators by reblogging and leaving feedback:)

Taglist: @magnificentsaladllama @jaqui-has-a-conspiracy-theory @lilsiz

[writewithmiaaa]

Gaurded Grace Pt.2

Pairings: Jasper Hale X reader

Warnings: None :-)

Summary: Jasper and Y/N meet again!

Type: fluff💗

Y/N couldn’t shake the events of that night from her mind. Days turned into weeks, and the memory of Jasper’s golden eyes and his unwavering protection lingered like a haunting melody. She continued her routine, but her thoughts often wandered to the mysterious vampire who had saved her. Would they see eachother again?

One crisp autumn afternoon, Y/N decided to visit the small, cozy bookstore downtown. The store was one of her favorite places, a haven of quiet and comfort. She wandered through the aisles, letting her fingers trail along the spines of books, feeling the familiar solace they offered.

Lost in thought, she didn’t notice the tall blonde figure entering the store until a soft voice broke her reverie.

“Y/N?”

She turned, her heart skipping a beat when she saw Jasper standing a few feet away. He looked as composed as ever, his eyes warm with recognition and something else—relief.

“Jasper,” she breathed, a smile spreading across her face. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

He returned the smile, his posture relaxing slightly. “I like to come here sometimes. It’s peaceful.”

They stood in a comfortable silence for a moment, the bustling world outside the bookstore forgotten. Y/N felt an inexplicable connection to Jasper, as if their brief encounter had forged an unbreakable bond.

“Would you like to join me for a coffee?” Y/N asked, surprising herself with the boldness of the invitation. “There’s a café just around the corner.”

Jasper’s smile widened. “You know, I don’t drink… that… but i’d be happy to join you darlin’.”

They left the bookstore and made their way to the café, the conversation flowing easily between them. Y/N found herself intrigued by Jasper’s quiet intensity and his old-fashioned manners. He pulled out her chair for her, a gesture that felt both charming and surreal.

As they settled at a corner table, Y/N couldn’t help but ask, “How did you know where to find me that night?”

Jasper’s expression grew serious. “My family and I were tracking James. He’s a danger to anyone who crosses his path. He had taken a particular liking to the human girl my brother Edward is dating, and desires to hunt her. It’s all a game to him. When I heard someone was in the studio, I couldn’t ignore it.”

Y/N nodded, absorbing his words. “I’m grateful you were there. But it must be difficult, living with that kind of threat.”

Jasper’s eyes softened. “It’s a part of our existence. But we do what we can to protect those who are unaware of our world.”

Y/N sipped her coffee, considering his words. “It’s hard to believe all this exists beneath the surface of our everyday lives. Vampires, supernatural threats...”

Jasper chuckled softly. “It can be overwhelming. But it’s also a reminder of how resilient humans are. How you are.”

She felt a blush rise to her cheeks at his compliment. “I don’t feel very resilient. I was terrified.”

“And yet, you’re here now,” Jasper said gently. “Facing it.”

They spent hours talking, the conversation shifting from the supernatural to more mundane topics. Y/N learned about Jasper’s love for history and literature, his struggles with his vampire nature, and his deep bond with his family. In turn, she shared her passion for ballet, her favorite books, and the dreams she held close to her heart.

As the sun began to set, casting a warm glow over the café, Y/N realized how comfortable she felt with Jasper. He wasn’t just the mysterious vampire who had saved her; he was someone she genuinely liked and wanted to know better.

“I’ve never met anyone like you,” she admitted quietly, her eyes meeting his.

Jasper reached across the table, his fingers brushing hers in a gentle, reassuring touch. “The feeling is mutual, Y/N. I’m glad we met again.”

They left the café together, walking through the quiet streets as dusk settled over the town. Y/N felt a sense of contentment, a feeling that everything was falling into place.

As they reached her apartment building, Jasper paused. “Would you like to meet again? Maybe see more of the town?”

Y/N smiled, her heart light. “I’d love that.”

With a final, lingering look, Jasper bid her goodnight and disappeared into the twilight. Y/N watched him go, knowing this was just the beginning of their story—a tale of guarded grace and unexpected connections that would intertwine their lives in ways she had yet to imagine.

───────── ౨ৎ ─────────

Y/N found herself eagerly anticipating her next meeting with Jasper. They arranged to meet at a local park known for its serene beauty and secluded walking trails. The park was a tapestry of autumn colors, leaves crunching underfoot as Y/N made her way to their designated meeting spot.

Jasper was already there, leaning against a tree with an easy grace. He looked up as she approached, a smile lighting up his features.

"Y/N," he greeted warmly. "It's good to see you again."

"Likewise," she replied, feeling a flutter of excitement in her chest.

They began to walk along the path, the conversation picking up effortlessly from where they had left off. Jasper asked about her ballet practice, and Y/N shared stories about her recent performances and the challenges of perfecting her technique.

"And what about you?" she asked, curious. "What do you do when you're not saving people from rogue vampires?"

Jasper chuckled. "I spend a lot of time with my family. We move around quite a bit to avoid drawing attention. And I read—a lot. There's always something new to learn."

Y/N nodded, intrigued by his dedication to knowledge. "What's your favorite period in history?"

"That's a tough one," Jasper mused. "I suppose I'm particularly drawn to the Civil War era. I lived through it, and it shaped a lot of who I am today."

Y/N stopped walking, her eyes widening. "You lived through the Civil War? I mean, I know you're... well old, but that's so cool! What was it like?"

Jasper's expression grew dark. "It was a time of great turmoil and change. I was a soldier, and it was both exhilarating and devastating. It taught me a lot about humanity—both its capacity for destruction and its need to continue.”

They continued walking, Y/N absorbing his words. She found herself wanting to know everything about him, to understand the depth of his experiences and the complexities of his world.

As they neared a quiet clearing, Jasper turned to her, his gaze intense. "Y/N, I need to tell you something."

Her heart skipped a beat. "What is it?"

"Being around you, it's different. I feel a connection, something I haven't felt in a long time. But my world is dangerous. Being close to me means accepting that risk."

Y/N reached out, placing a hand on his arm. "Jasper, I can't pretend to understand everything about your world, but I do know that I feel something too. And I'm willing to face whatever comes with that."

Jasper's eyes softened, a mixture of relief and admiration in his gaze. "You're braver than you know."

They stood there for a moment, the weight of their words hanging in the air. Y/N felt a sense of determination settling in her chest. She was ready to embrace whatever challenges lay ahead, as long as it meant being with Jasper.

A/N: HI! So sorry this has taken so long, but I literally hated this chapter and I kept redoing it, to the point where I have given up 😘 sooo i hope you enjoy!

[daenysx]

Hi friend ! 😘 I love your works so much and if you have requests open I have an idea:

Fem reader is out doing errands or something and some stranger is really creepy towards her and she is very scared and when she gets home tells aemond and he makes her feel safe and secure and lots of fluff and reassurance and soft aemond

If it’s triggering or you’re not into I totally understand- I just love the way you write and portray characters 🥰 Much love to you always ! Looking forward to your new works 😍

thank you for your sweet words and this request, i hope you like this!! i tried to write the fluffy part as the main plot because i'm in love with soft!aemond.

this is probably the fluffiest fluff i've ever written. <3 please read the request first, it can include triggering content.

requests are open!!

my masterlist

the one you call

modern!aemond is there for you when you feel uncomfortable because of a stranger.

you feel your hands shaking with anger and discomfort as you walk through the door to the apartment you shared with your boyfriend, aemond targaryen. maybe it would be better to call him and ask him to pick you up, but you cannot bring yourself to care right now.

you have always been the kind of person who takes care of herself. calling or asking for help are never your first options, it's who you are. sometimes you get angry at yourself for being so stubborn though, just like today.

you will not cry. you don't want to cry.

you unlock the door with your key, only to find aemond sleeping on the couch. he doesn't wake up to the sound of opening door and the moment you see him sleeping, you decide to not wake him up. your boyfriend needs to rest after a busy day at his family's company.

you silently change your clothes, wash your face with cold water, and prepare yourself a cup of coffee. you try to calm down when you do these most natural things but still the feeling of discomfort is there.

you take your cup and sit next to the couch your boyfriend's sleeping. he has to be tired if he still doesn't wake up. you watch his face like you don't have the image of him memorized in your mind.

his hair falls to the pillow like a platinum blonde perfection. his eyepatch is thrown away, his breathing is steady. he softly mumbles a few unconcious words, his lips look kissable and exquisite as he whispers to his dreams.

you drink your coffee slowly, try to relax and be calm. it's okay now. nothing can hurt you when aemond is with you. besides the confidence of being able to take care of yourself, having your strong man with you feels more secure and safe, always.

he slowly blinks and the first thing he sees is you. the image of you sitting there, wearing one of his shirts and drinking coffee from his favorite cup makes him smile.

you smile too, when you see him awake. it feels like a broken smile though, not like your usual ones which makes the room shiny in his eye. sleep leaves him as he sits on the couch and opens his arms for you.

"why didn't you wake me up, pretty girl?"

you settle in his arms comfortably, searching peace in his hold. you bury your nose to his neck to find the smell of his hair which always make you aware of his presence.

"you needed to rest, love."

he smiles and leans into your face. he gives you messy kisses filled with love and adoration. being in his arms feels safe like the world out there cannot touch you when he is here. you wish you can feel the same things when you are alone.

he feels your hands on his neck shaking and your breath becomes unsteady.

"what is it, baby? why are you sad?"

your tears fall and you can't help it. keeping them from falling has hurt you and you can't resist when you are in his arms.

"it-it's not a big deal but- a man-"

aemond loosens his hold and his hands cup your cheeks.

"shh, don't panic baby. we have time okay? take a moment and tell me afterwards, come on."

this is the last step for your tears. you wrap your arms around his neck and let them fall. he holds you like a baby, his fingers are on your hair. this is a safe space for you. you can cry, you can smile, anything you'd want and he would accept it.

he would give you anything you want.

it takes a few minutes for you to talk again. you look at his eyes, they are covered in worry and adoration.

"there was a guy in the street and i was just walking and i don't even know what happened, you know? he was weird and it made me nervous."

it's hard to tell how he feels.

"nothing happened but i hate when people like him just coming closer and saying shitty things just because they think it's somehow their right, it's-it's so-"

he understands what you mean and for a second he cannot stop himself from being angry. he is angry at the guy, he could punch him without taking a breath for feeling a girl -his girl- like this.

he is angry that he wasn't there to comfort you, to let you think you should take care of everything by yourself. he should make you know that no matter what happens, no matter who is hurting you, he will be there for you. he will always make you feel safe just like you make him feel that way.

he knows that you know he understands you, that you will not continue talking about the guy.

"you know i love you, right? i love you too goddamn much, i should try and think the right words to express it. you are perfect and no one can do that to you. no one can do that to anyone."

you listen to him, your perfect man. his eye focuses on your expressions as he speaks, determined to make you believe how much you are loved by him.

"i know you can take care of everything. you are my strong girl, of course you can do anything but when you feel like you can't do it anymore, i'd like to be the one you call. you know that, right? my sweet girl."

you nod, leaning into him and kissing his cheek. it will take time for you to stop feeling the discomfort but still you feel much better now that he knows. he knows and he understands, he will be here.

"now, i want coffee and i think you'd like a second cup. choose one of that sitcoms you love and wait for me under the blanket. please, sweetheart."

you smile, handing him your empty cup. he goes to the kitchen, you go under the blanket. you wait for him eagerly for minutes.

he joins you and holds you closer when you smile at the show. he kisses your hair, lets you play with his rings, and hands you your coffee cup whenever you want.

you spend the entire evening wrapped around him until you fall asleep, your face buried to his neck. it feels safe, secure, and lovely.

[waywardxwords]

Part Two

Summary: *Part 2 in the Highway to Hell series* While trying to wrap her head around her newfound role as a prophet, she finds herself connecting with the oldest Winchester brother. Word Count: 1,383 Warnings: Some light drinking, a little bit of cursing...nothing crazy!

INTRO | PART ONE

Castiel demanded that she stay the night with the boys. The uncertainty inside of her had been replaced with fear, and though she didn’t know these men (or the angel) from Adam, she somehow felt as though she could trust them. So, shockingly, staying the night at this stranger’s house brought her a weird peace of mind.

She stared at the ceiling as she contemplated the last twenty-four hours. Shadows of the tree branches just outside the windows danced across the ceiling.

“Can’t sleep?” A deep voice came from the doorway. Dean entered cautiously. He and Sam had decided to sleep in the bunker to give her some space and privacy.

Somehow she managed a smile and let out a soft laugh. “Guess I just have too much on my mind.”

Dean nodded. “Understandable,” he shoved his hands into his jean pockets and she took notice. The man must not own many clothes if he slept in jeans. If she understood his life correctly, she knew he must spend most, if not all, of his time on the road.

“Weren’t you terrified?” She asked as she tried to shift to face him. She winced only slightly at the pull of her healing wounds. Dean took a seat on the coffee table and looked down at the ground as he thought about her question.

“Sometimes,” he nodded with a slight shrug. He surprised himself with how comfortable he felt with this girl. “In the moments we were in serious shit, yeah. But I mean, this was our life. Always has been. We didn’t have a choice.”

“Neither do I, apparently,” she looked down and picked at a loose string on the plaid-print couch.

“Hey,” Dean said to pull her attention back to him. “When you understand what we do, you’ll understand why we do it.”

His tone was serious, the pressure from his gaze felt debilitating to her.

“We save people,” he stressed, his tone urging her to understand. “We hunt things that kill people.”

She nodded slowly and tried to understand how to phrase her next thought. “But in order to do that…you have to kill people?”

“Not people,” Dean corrected. “Things.” He thought it over as she shifted a bit more on her side. Dean licked his lips as he contemplated continuing. “Look, you’ve had a really long twenty-four hours…you should try to sleep. I think we’ve filled you in enough for now.”

She wanted to argue, but she figured he might be right. Her fingers gripped the blanket that was draped over her and tugged it up closer to her chest. “You’re probably right,” she nodded before continuing. “But I know sure as hell I’m not sleeping tonight…or not right now, anyway. You think Bobby has some hot chocolate or something?”

Dean raised his eyebrows. “Not too sure about the hot chocolate, but I could almost guarantee the ‘or something’.”

A slight frown pulled across her face but she stood to follow Dean anyway, as she tried to ignore the sting as her bandages pulled. He popped open a cabinet, knowing his way around Bobby’s kitchen (or liquor cabinet, at least). He pulled out a bottle of Jack Daniels and two small rocks glasses.

“Ah,” she managed a small smirk as she rested her weight on the counter on her elbows. “The ‘or something’ category usually leaves me with a headache, but with the day I’ve had…why not?”

Dean chuckled and nodded as he set the goods down in front of her. He unscrewed the cap to the Tennessee whiskey and poured two glasses, straight up. “Yeah, Bobby doesn’t usually carry the good stuff…but this’ll do. It’s the only thing that puts me to sleep these days.”

She nodded as she took her glass and tipped her head to him in thanks. “To not going totally insane,” she smirked as she held the glass in front of her.

Dean smiled and tapped his glass against hers. “I’ll drink to that,” they made eye contact as they tapped their glasses back down on the wooden countertop and then took a sip.

Dean was impressed with how smoothly she seemed to take her liquor. She only winced for a moment before wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. “Whiskey your drink of choice?” They walked back towards the living room, with her resuming her spot on the couch, but this time Dean took a seat next to her, leaving enough room in between.

“I guess I owe that to my college days,” she shrugged as her eyes glanced down at the caramel colored liquor. “You learn how to hold your alcohol when your roommate is in a sorority and you’re invited to all the socials.”

“Sororities, huh?” Dean couldn’t help the smile that pulled at the corners of his lips. “I bet you have a lot of fun stories.”

“Number one rule of the sorority code,” she leaned a little closer before whispering. “We’ll never tell.”

Dean shook his head with a laugh and took another swig from his glass.

“What about you? You don’t seem like the fraternity kinda guy to me,” she eyed her company as Dean moved his glass around, swirling the liquid within.

“Thanks, I think,” he frowned. “I didn’t go to college. That was more Sammy’s thing.”

“Ah, right,” she nodded. “Too many monsters, not enough time, right?”

Dean smirked again. There was something about her he couldn’t seem to put his finger on. 

“What?” She caught onto his stare and seemed to fold under the pressure. Her cheeks warmed up with a pale crimson color and she found her eyes averted to the glass in her hands yet again.

“Nothing,” Dean shook his head and broke his trance from the woman beside him. “It’s just…you’re different.”

“Like crazy, psychic, prophet different? Or this girl talks too much, especially when she starts drinking, different?” A soft laugh slipped through her lips as she took another sip from her glass.

Dean felt like he had smiled one too many times tonight, but he couldn’t help the grin he felt creep upon his lips. “Just different,” he shrugged and let the comment fall off there.

Before either could say another word, a slight breeze blew throughout the room. “She needs to sleep,” Castiel appeared just in front of the window, his silhouette haunting almost.

“Jesus, Cas,” Dean groaned as he closed his eyes for a moment. His newfound friend (and drinking partner) grasped at her chest, both taken by surprise. “Can you use a door or something?”

“But why?” Cas seemed genuinely thoughtful. Dean just shook his head and stood from his spot on the couch.

“Forget it,” he mumbled. “Well, angel’s orders.” He nodded back towards her. “Get some rest, you’re probably gonna need it.”

She nodded for a moment and glanced at the hardwood floor beneath her feet. “Um, Dean?” She hesitated for a moment as she gnawed at her bottom lip. She was hesitant to ask her next question as her eyes traveled over the makeshift bed in the window bay she assumed one of the boys might use regularly. She went back on the thought almost as soon as it had crossed her mind. “Nevermind. Goodnight,” she managed a smile up at the man.

Dean knew better as he eyed her carefully. His eyes followed hers to the window bed, and then traveled back to her. “Hey, uh, would you mind if I slept over there? The basement can get a little cramped with Sasquatch. Unless that makes you uncomfortable or anything,” he hurried to add in the last part, just in case his thought process wasn’t reading hers correctly.

He relaxed when he watched her smile and nod. “That would be great.”

Castiel made himself scarce, yet again, as Dean made up the makeshift bed. He moved his glass to the floor as he pulled up the blanket and rested his head on a small throw pillow. Just as he closed his eyes, he heard her whisper.

“Hey, Dean?”

“Hmm?” He glanced over towards her. In the dim glow of the moon, he could make out her biting her bottom lip once more.

“Thanks.”

“Don’t mention it,” he whispered back. Both fell asleep with smiles on their faces, something neither thought was possible.

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

Part Three here!

[nobodylikety]

Tiger hybrid! Leeseo 🐯

So here's baby Leeseo! since she's still a lil' baby, I thought about making it more platonic 🩷 In my mind, I think that reader! x tiger! leeseo is a relationship or siblings or besties, so it's written in that way (⁠*⁠´⁠ω⁠｀⁠*⁠)

ps. I live for naughty little sister! Leeseo

tags: tiger hybrid! leeseo x fem! reader (platonic ver.), hybrid AU, fluff.

Tiger hybrid! Leeseo is literally a naughty gremlin! she is often teasing or playing childish pranks either towards hybrid! IVE or towards you <3 as she is the youngest (just a lil baby 🥺) she gets away with it...most of the time.

The fact that Tiger hybrid! Leeseo is young and smaller in stature than the rest of Hybrid! IVE, does not imply that she is chill! On the contrary, she's a destructive nuclear explosion in the form of a cute fluffball, she has a very rough way of playing, so it unintentionally breaks a thing or two (mostly your stuff, but in a lovely way)🥺

Tiger hybrid! Leeseo has a BIG SWEET TOOTH 🍬. More than once you've gone to the kitchen in the wee hours of the morning and found Leeseo tucked away in the pantry or fridge, looking for something to munch on! her range of snacks are usually desserts, such as cookies or buns <3

+ That's why you and Rei often worries that Leeseo only prefers to eat sweet things and doesn't eat well. Leeseo is the type of picky eater too, she hates veggies! so you have to feed them to her, otherwise she'll not eat them,,,

Tiger hybrid! Leeseo = tiny baby, BIG ROAR. The first time you heard Leeseo roar, you practically squealed like a scared kitten. It's a loud and harsh sound, no one would think it comes from someone as sweet as her!

Tiger hybrid! Leeseo has an active, energetic and VERY sociable personality, that's why Puppy! Yujin (who has the idea of being the leader of the pack) finds her difficult to take care of as Leeseo, since she is always hanging out with friends and doesn't pay attention to her or her orders,,, this baby tiger is sometimes a bratty lil thing :3

Tiger hybrid! Leeseo LOVES to play chase her tail!she usually sits, and as soon as her tail appears in her field of vision, wiggling like a snake, Leeseo NEEDS to chase it ٩(ˊᗜˋ *)و she gets off the sofa and runs around in circles chasing it, or just roars and nibbles at it

🐯، ﾟฅ ｡ [ Naughty tiger ]

Leeseo is, of course, the joy but also the chaos of your life. With her striped fur and playful eyes, she always finds a way to get into trouble just for fun, and just for the sake of annoy you. It's in her nature. She can't go more than half a minute without playing pranks on you and the rest of the pack, or getting into mischief that involves all of you.

Today, it's no different.

The pranks start early in the morning, and last late into the night. And they happen more than once a day.

In the morning you try to enjoy some peace before the girls wake up, reading a book and drinking some coffee in your bed.

But Leeseo decides it's the perfect time to play.

And by 'play', she means to tease you.

So she sneaks stealthily across the room, her tabby tail swaying mischievously behind her, without you even noticing her presence, because the book is too interesting, and the coffee is too good this morning to put down.

"Roar" Leeseo just roars softly, bursting your little bubble of peace and concentration, before jumping onto your lap and settling down like a kitten on top of you.

"Come on, Leeseo, not now…" you whine, trying to maintain a serious countenance. But Leeseo literally shoves the book out of your hand, not caring where it landed. And unwilling to take 'no' for an answer, she begins to ruffle your hair, her tail swaying enthusiastically. Her big feline eyes look at you with a mixture of innocence and mischief. This bloody little devil.

And then you gave in, like you always do.

Because that's how the youngest of the hybrid gang gets what she wants. She has you wrapped around her little finger.

As the day goes by, other 'Leeseo-things' happen during the afternoon.

Now she bursts into the middle of the living room, when you're in the middle of watching your favorite show on TV, with a mischievous twinkle in her eye.

"Look what I found in the garden!" exclaims Leeseo, wagging her tabby tail.

Looking up, you don't expect to see that image. Leeseo is holding Wonyoung —in her animal form, of course— between her jaws by the scruff of her neck. Wonyoung looks a little dazed, but unharmed.

She's the same adorable floppy-eared fuzzball she's always been.

Thank god Wonyo's safe.

"Leeseo! What did I tell you about carrying the other pets in your mouth?" you scold her, but you can't help but smile at her innocence. "Let go of Wonyo, she's not one of your squeaky toys!"

With a dramatic sigh, Leeseo lets go of Wonyoung, but not before giving you a 'sorry, but that was fun' look.

When Leeseo releases Wonyoung she rolls a little, before landing softly by your feet. You frown at Leeseo as you stroke Wonyoung's head, who curls up against your feet for a moment. Then she hops away a little, far enough away to return to her human form. 

"I don't know why you're always like this! We were just playing," Leeseo defends herself, with a look of innocence that fails to hide her mischievousness. "Besides, nothing happened to Wonyo." 

You rub the side of your head, with a sigh. This Leeeseo, always such a troublemaker. You know it's just her pure animal instinct, as well as her way of exploring the world, but sometimes you feel like killing her. Or hang her from a flagpole, to see if she'll stay still. 

"Leeseo, you need to be more careful. Wonyoung is not a toy," you remind her, with a certain firmness in your voice. Wonyoung is next to you, sitting on the desk and swinging her legs, and nods in agreement. 

Leeseo nods, though the mischievous spark still shines in his eyes. "Sorry, I'll keep that in mind next time," she says, though it's clear that promise might be a little hard to keep.

Because before you can say anything else, Leeseo is already planning her next caper. You know that keeping her under control is a difficult task, but you can't help but smile at her mischievous charm all the same.

After a short nap, to regain some energy after a tiring day, you stretch lazily on your bed. No more than a minute of peace and quiet passes, however, when the silence is broken by a soft roar, followed by a clattering noise from the kitchen. With a resigned sigh, you get out of bed and head towards the source of the commotion.

What you see in the kitchen is half a surprise and half not. Because Leeseo manages to turn up with another string of mischief, as she always does, and so it's no surprise. But somehow, she has dragged the rest of the girls into her chaos, which is a surprise.

You find Leeseo, the mischievous and stale tiger of the house, standing on the table with a bag of crisps in her hand, while with the other she rummages in the pantry, where the biscuit jar is.

Around the table are Yujin, Gaeul, Liz, Rei and Wonyoung. They all look absolutely willing and determined to join in the commotion.

"Hey, hey! Can you remind me what we're doing?" asks Yujin, her tail wagging as if wild with excitement.

"I'm looking for something for us to eat, but there's nothing good!" replies Leeseo with a pout.

Wonyoung jumps up on the table, reaching for the biscuits. "Let me try, I'm taller than you, Leeseo!"

Gaeul launches herself off the back of a chair, landing gracefully on the table and beginning to sniff curiously around the chips. Liz, for her part, tries to mimic Gaeul, only to fall flat on her face against a half-full bowl of all sorts of pet treats.

It's a chaotic sight, to say the least.

So Yujin keeps wagging her tail and running around in circles (stopping sometimes to play chase her tail), Leeseo and Wonyoung arguing over who's better at swiping snacks from the pantry, and Liz bumping into absolutely every single piece of furniture in the kitchen.

And where is Rei? you wonder for just a fraction of a second, before a hiss behind you gives away her location.

"I think it's time for dinner, don't you?" says Rei, nestling her head against your shoulder, seeking attention. Of the girls, she's probably the one who gives you the least headaches. Though short of a headache, she gives you some pretty good scares with her fangs and forked tongue.

You shake your head in resignation, but laugh. As you try to keep order among these hybrids, you realise that every day is a new adventure in this house full of unique animal personalities.

"Tell me, Leeseo, how do you manage to get into trouble even when you're just trying to play, or looking for something to eat?"

She looks up at you with her big feline eyes and a mischievous grin. "Because life would be boring if it wasn't!".

God, this little girl.

Leeseo is absolutely chaotic and messy, like an annoying little sister. You love her, even when she's always on the verge of giving you a heart attack because of the stupid, naughty decisions she makes. But it's Leeseo, it's impossible to resist those baby tiger eyes.

Even when she screws up.

This damn brat who always screws up, how you love the damn thing.

[darklinsblog]

Humankind’s finest | Sandman imagine

Author’s note: So I just finished The Sandman and I couldn’t get this idea out of my head so enjoy, I guess?

Pairing: Dream of the Endless x Human! Disabled Fem Reader.

Summary: Morpheus has already gotten what he wanted, but after this not being enough, he decides to stay in the Waking World a little bit longer, and he finds an exceptional female human.

Part 2 | Part 3

After a whole century of captivity Dream was finally free, he was even more powerful that he had ever been in eons, yet he felt nothing but an endless void, he was supposed to be fulfilled, satisfied, at least happy.

But he felt nothing of such nature, so he found himself tagging along with Death in a day of work, which truly put things in perspective. Especially when they parted she left Morpheus with one last thing to think about.

“Why don’t you take time to enjoy The Waking World? Maybe you need a little perspective, enjoy the mundane things, like you used to”

Maybe she was right, and so Dream found himself walking without direction for hours, until Matthew decided it was a good idea to enter a small cafeteria.

“This looks nice” he said walking in. Morpheus sighed, that crow would make the eternity feel like too long.

He went inside as he saw the staff of the cafe quite disturbed by the crow, suddenly everyone was trying to get the bird out of the building, Matthew was just flying around, cursing under his breathe and asking his master for some kind of aid. Just as he was about to interviene on the whole scene, a soft voice interrumpted.

“What are you doing?” A young woman in a wheelchair and a red apron asked rather calmly

“Are you blind? A freaking crow is inside! It could eat our eyes out!” Another young woman cried, but the girl seemed to dismiss her as she reached her hands out towards Matthew, whom seemed reluctant.

“I’m sorry if they scared you, but I promise I won’t hurt you” she reassured Matthew sweetly who finally decided to jump up her hand, she seemed quite delighted as she nuzzled the bird’s head with the hem of her finger.

“Why are you touching it? Ew!” the annoying girl went on.

“Even if you find him repulsive, this little bird is still a living creature, or how would you feel if someone was chasing you with a broom?” her tone was so peaceful and sweet it made the Lord of the Dreams curious, and suddenly, her big bright eyes laid on him.

“I presume this gorgeous crow belongs to you, sir?”

“Yes, indeed. I apologize for the fuss he may have caused, he can be a quite disobedient”

“Well, I don’t believe there’s anything wrong with being a little curious. Would you like to stay and drink something, it’s the least I could do to apologize for my friend’s actions”

He could not exactly explain why, but he stayed. Him and Matthew sat on a table, and his eyes followed the girl that rolled around the cafeteria with an incredible ease and grace, she was mesmerizing, it was impossible for his eyes to stay away from her. Sometimes their eyes would met for mere seconds, but that was more than enough to have the Endless smiling softly.

“You might as well start jumping” The Endless arched a brow at his loyal companion

“What are you on about?”

“You have to be fucking kidding! You obviously like her” the bird retorted

“Nonsense” he whispered, when slightly looking over, he noticed the girl coming towards him, he instantly rested his elbows on the table, slightly moving forward.

“Here’s your check, sir” the woman said, placing the check on his table. “I hope you and your friend come by again” she said petting the small crow softly.

“Perhaps I will” he smiled again, the gorgeous woman returned the smile, she turned to leave when he suddenly called for her. “Excuse me, miss?” She stopped and looked at him. “What’s your name”

“Y/N” she said.

“Tarian” he responded.

“Hope to see you soon, Tarian” he nodded.

Soon, he found himself keeping his promise, the very next day he appeared on that coffee shop, and the next days after that. He managed to talk to her on diverse topics, conversation flowed so easily he found himself looking forward to every single day just to see her.

He found himself thinking about her all day, he was fascinated by her dreams, the way she expressed herself, her loud laughter that she tried to conceal at times, how her cheeks would get flustered if their fingers touched in the slightest bit… He loved to discover even the smallest thing about her.

They had gone on a few dates together, and in every single one time always passed them by, ridiculously fast. He was intrigued at how someone with such life experiences, was still such a kind and warm human.

She had been bullied throughout her life, her family was “ashamed” of her for being a waitress at a coffee shop, different people along her life had told her she wasn’t worthy of love, that she was a burden to those around her, that she wasn’t beautiful enough or that she would be nothing in life due to her disability. Which in his eyes was nothing but absurd, something as insignificant as a tool for her movement had nothing to do with her value as a person.

In all those centuries alive, he had seen humans break for a diverse number of things. There was a point in all human life where they would feel so weak, where they just didn’t want to keep going.

But here she was, shining as bright as the stars in the sky, she had been through the most unfair things and yet here she was, no matter what people could have told her, she was sure of who she was and she was a dreamer, he understood that her dreams gave her hope, and suddenly he was yet again reminded with his true purpose, why he went on after eons and completed his task, because his ability to make dreams and nightmares, that were made so humans could be stronger and it gave them hope, even on their darkest days.

He was sitting on a bench on the park next to her, she had asked him for help to move seats from her wheelchair to the park bench. She had a small piece of bread and was feeding the birds, and feeling his eyes on her she asked.

“I can feel your eyes on me, Tarian” she said playfully.

“Am I not allowed not admire your beauty?” He teased, making her blush. She stared deeply into Morpheus eyes’ and he looked at her lips for a few seconds before grabbing the nape of her neck and kissing her passionately.

His heart fluttered, time seemed to go slower, like in the Dreaming, he had never felt more alive in years as the girl reciprocated his actions, he felt addicted to her, his hands went down her body smoothly, pulling her closer by her waist, wanting nothing more than to melt with her body. They broke apart just enough for them to welcome enough air into her lungs.

“That took long enough”

“I do admit the romantic side of things has never been one of my strengths” he said, reminiscing on his many failed loved stories over the centuries.

“Well what would be of life without love?” He smiled kissing her cheek softly, he didn’t want to leave her, but there was a whole realm to take care of and a century without the Lord of Dreams had been more than enough.

“I must go now, but I’ll see you in a few days” and with one last peck on her lips he came back to the Dreaming where Lucienne had greeted him as usual. Morpheus had spent a few hours in the library, reading the book that talked about your life, and suddenly he found his name on those pages.

His heart jolted, he felt such genuine and overwhelming joy, knowing he was part of your story, that The Creator had intertwined your paths together, because that was how it was meant to be.

“You know, My Lord… I have only seen that glow in your eyes a few times over the millenniums” Lucienne was grinning from ear to ear, the librarian was truly happy to see the Ruler of The Dreaming allowing himself to fall in love again

“I had to assume that I could not hide this from you for too long, Lucienne” he beamed “Her name is Y/N and she is a human”

“A human, my Lord?” She questioned in disbelief making Dream chuckle, the man was more joyous than he had ever been. This seemed a whole different Sandman

“Yes, Lucienne. Quite a extraordinary human I may add”

“Whilst I’m happy for you my Lord, I would worry about her safety, after all your enemies could take advantage of the mortality of the girl. I just don’t want to see you suffer anymore than you already have, sir.”

In full honesty with himself, that was also why it took him so long to admit his feelings towards Y/N, having loved and ending in tragedy after tragedy, with the loss of his son it could be enough for him to fully shut down and never dare to love again.

But here he was yet again, now falling for a fragile human. He meant fragile in the sense of her own mortality; because besides from that point she was far from fragile as one being could ever be.

She was strong and loud but also kind and gentle, and she loved to tell him about even the most minimal things on her day, she appreciated every small detail, every breeze, every smile. She reminded him the hidden beauty within the Waking World.

If Mortality was the problem he could grant her immortality just like he had with Hob Gadling, and if any other Endless or nightmare dared to touch a single hair on her head he would make sure to give them a rightful punishment. She had just made it so easy for him to fall for her; as swiftly as he made mortals fall asleep.

It was a true universe irony at its finest, but he refused to let her go of her. She had already lived more than enough suffering, he wanted to protect her from any evil, to praise her and to love her with every fiber, to allow her the experience of love at its purest expression.

[yourtouchismidas]

this thought has plagued me since yesterday (mads knows) but imagine matty helping gigi make a birthday card for rg's birthday (like a milestone birthday or something) and they spend the whole day (day before the birthday) being all secretive in gigi's room and rg is not allowed to enter. and finally at midnight she's presented with 1) the card and 2) 2 babygirls covered in glue and glitter

this is so cute!

you're sitting in the lounge, in the sunlight, warm coffee in your hand and the house is quiet, peaceful. you take a sip, enjoying it, before the slow creep of suspicion infiltrates your mind. your youngest is napping but the other two, the ones who can walk and put their hands in things are up and about and should be with their father. but then again, sometimes being with matty is like having a fourth child. a big overgrown baby girl, just like your three little ones. mischief follows him and now mischief follows your girls too. especially when they are all together.

you take the baby monitor and leave the coffee. your phone starts buzzing where you left it on the table and you see it is your friend's teenage daughter mila, probably calling you to have a melt down at what to wear for your birthday party tomorrow (a meal out and then drinks back at yours, literally nothing to stress about but you know she will). you will call her back later. it's too suspiciously quiet in here. come to think of it. there should be a couple of dogs running around here too. and they're no where to be seen either.

you check the garden. the kitchen. the bathroom. your room. you peak in on baby valentine, who is sound asleep still. gigi and shay have a loft room at the top of the house and so you head up the last flight of stairs.

you can hear taylor swift music, muffled through the door, and little voices, and matty's voice cutting through to tell them to stop arguing. a dog barks inside. ah. here we go.

"erm, hello?" you say outside the door. the voices, which were loud before, stop abruptly. the taylor music carries on. even the dog is quiet.

"what are you guys doing in there?"

nothing.

"i'm coming in," you say.

you hear a little "noo!", not sure which girl it is, and scrambling, and then the door opens, just a crack, and matty's head pops out, the music getting louder.

"we thought you were having a quiet coffee," matty says.

"i was. but then i got... suspicious."

"nothing to be suspicious about!" gigi calls, from inside. matty nods, a floating head in the door way.

"hmmm," you say, "think you guys are hiding something from me."

"nope. no. nothing at all," matty says, "goodbye now."

he tries to close the door on you but you stop him.

"you can't leave me out. that makes me sad!" you say, putting on a sad voice, targeting your middle daughter, which works immediately.

"oh no!" you can hear her gasp behind the door.

"shay," gigi whispers, too loudly, "the surprise!"

matty is shaking his head at you.

"fine. fine. i guess you girls dont want me to play with you."

"that was low," he says. you smirk.

"can i least have the dogs? maybe just one? i'm lonely."

"no, sorry, they're integral to the project," matty says, then quickly, "the project that does not exist. okay then. bye now."

he closes the door. you laugh and head back downstairs where your coffee is still warm. might as well make the most of the peace.

an hour later, just when you're about to go and wake up valley, the five of them (two daughters, two dogs, one matty) come stumbling down the stairs. all five of them are covered in glitter, and paint, and matty has two red smudges of it on each cheek, one a little bigger than the other.

"oh my lord," you say, taking them all in. but your girls look so bright and are grinning and then they present you a big card, a3 size, which is covered in different coloured glitter, shimmering the floor with it as they pass it to you. it says happy birthday mummy, from your loves and on the front is a heart and inside that a four hand prints (three daughters and a matty) and two paw prints.

"we cleaned the dogs, dont worry. and the baby," matty says quickly.

you're crying and you assure them its happy tears and gather up your daughters in your arms.

"hope you have a good birthday mummy," shay says, climbing into your lap.

"i will baby," you say, "if you are all there with me."

"what about valley?" she says.

"valley too of course. i'm just going to go and get her."

you hear her crying.

"then i will come back and look more at your lovely card."

you leave the room, kissing matty's cheek as you go out and whispering that he is a nightmare.

you pick your baby girl out the cot, settling her in your arms and head back down to the rest of your family. on the way, you notice some paint on the side of her tiny wrinkled hand. you will always pretend that you didn't see two daughters, two dogs and a matty, sneaking into your sleeping baby's room and pressing her hand print on the card before wiping the paint off again, through the baby monitor. they will never know. but you will.

[lalaithquetzallicaresi]

A Sandman Urban Myth

I was re-reading @arialerendeair's "Hopefully" series (which, if there's anyone who hasn't read it, you all should go do that right now!). I absolutely love it, and afterwards I couldn't get this idea out of my head. Not, I wouldn't call it a continuation of Aria's fic, just an insane idea, a sort-of Urban Myth that might come to be in the future in her verse:

There's a place in the South of London, near the river, called "The New Inn" (though if you ask anyone, it's not new at all. Some claim it's been there for at least a few decades, others, centuries... while there are even those who'll insist the Inn has simply Always been there. The place is managed by a very... peculiar group. They claim to all be family, though very few have any physical similarities among them. And yet, despite it very much being a pub, most regulars claim that they feel as if they were visiting an old friend's home when they're there. An old, well-loved home, the kind they used to only be able to think of when remembering their early childhoods. But that's not all. Aside from the official bartender, there are two people who usually help. One will always make your drink, blind, before you ever ask it of them; the other will make you a drink of them, and even if it's not what you planned on ordering, it will always be what, deep down, you truly wanted. In the kitchen there's a young woman who's not the cook, but claims she loves learning to cook new dishes, usually pies and cakes and pastries, that use fresh fruit and vegetables. Her dishes are never on the menu, but she'll always share them with whoever is around, and her food will make you feel a peace most will insist can only be found in the afterlife. In a corner in the back of the room, away from the fireplace and the windows, there's always a woman seated. She's almost always by herself, drinking cold coffee and saying nothing. But if you're having a bad day (or a bad week, or a bad month!) you can sit with her, and she'll listen to you. She'll give you the chance to vent all your grief, and your pain and your anger. Won't give you any false platitudes, or lies, and won't judge you. And when you're finished, when you're ready to move on, she'll smile at you, just a small smile, barely there at all, and you'll feel relief... It's an old place, so of course things break sometimes, but that's okay. Because there's this huge mountain of a man who's always there when something needs to be fixed... or when someone needs a hug. And this girl who's always running all around the place, giggling and saying all sorts of things, but she never bothers anyone. It's... nice, to see that there's still some delight in the world. Even when things seem so crazy. And then there's the owners. They always sit together in the same table by the fireplace. Always talking among themselves, like they're in their own little world. Until someone approaches them, a child, or a yound student, or an aspiring artist. All sorts of people will aproach them, looking for help of some kind, asking questions, or sometimes just needing a kind word, and they'll always get it. The owners never seem to mind the interrupt, seem to even thrive on talking to others, on listening to their stories, on helping them out. Some say it's like they can almost make dreams come true... No one knows just how long The New Inn has been there, or the people there, some say it's been forever. But well, that's just a myth, right? In any case, I hope they always will be...

So... am I insane or what? Aria, I hope you don't mind this little piece of insanity. I just couldn't help myself. I love your fics so much!!!

P.S. "Hopefully" can be found right here: https://archiveofourown.org/series/3178776

[annie-creates]

One day in a year

Pairing: Lady Lesso x reader (kinda platonic)

Genre: fluff

Words: 900

Note: We got a hundred followers! Thank you so much everyone for the support, likes, comments and requests sent. Here's a birthday fic to celebrate. Maybe I can add another character to my repertoire? What would you think? Who should it be? <3

It started with rain. You hated rain. It got you all wet and cold but without the childish excitement snow did. The weather made you not want to get out of bed, but you were a big girl and couldn’t hide away from your responsibilities just because you didn’t like the climate. It wasn’t even a weekend so the pleasure of sleeping in wasn’t indulged to you. With a heavy sigh you got out of bed, choosing a dress to wear today and leaving for breakfast, hoping there was still some sweets left for you.

Due to your absentminded state you accidentally put salt in your morning coffee. Not realizing your mistake earlier than when drinking the disgusting beverage. That only sunk your mood lower, feeling like a lonely rowboat in the middle of a thunderstorm ocean. Not even the blueberry muffin could pick up your sore mood. You rather went to class earlier than needed, not wanting to risk any more troubles. That proved to be quite of use when you almost crashed into a pillar, obviously not paying enough attention to where you’re going.

Students started to pour in just like the rain outside the window until the bell rang and you made sure everyone was here on time. You looked around your table, looking for your prepared materials for this lesson but finding none. You must have done the preparation, where did it go? You wouldn’t forget about such a thing…

“Ma’am, what about the test?” one of your students reminded you.

“A… test?” you asked confused until the realization downed on you. “Oh, the test! Well, I thought maybe we'll go over the study material for the test once more today and we’ll take the test next class.”

You tried to save the situation, which was celebrated by some, booed by others. You could tell who was happy to have more time to study and who wanted to be done with it already. How could you forget such a thing? You never forgot what you planned to do next time in class, let alone when you planed a quiz! You had to improvise the whole lesson and the ring announcing end of class was probably more freeing to you than it was to your students.

By the time of dinner you had changed your dress since you spilled your lunchtime cup of tea on yourself, two broken nails from trying to open some jars which normally wasn’t any problem for you and a scraped knee due your fall over the rocks in the garden. It was safe to say your day was completely ruined and you were ready to just lay in bed hidden under the blankets waiting for it to pass.

“Can’t I have just one day in a year to be perfect? Just one…” you whined to no one in particular, hoping to sleep the rest of the day away.

Your intentions were interrupted with a knock on your door. Why would anyone come to visit you this late? Can’t the universe just leave you alone already? Giving up on your hopes for a peaceful night, you got up and open the door, not expecting Lady Lesso to stand behind it. But there she was, graceful as always with her long coat and shiny cane. Sometimes you wondered if she was a daughter of a fairy of some sort.

“Can I help you?” you asked concerned, if she was here, it couldn’t be anything good right? Your day was already full of unfortunate events.

“I’ve noticed you haven’t been your usual annoyingly cheerful self today.” Her voice was completely blank as was her face. “And even tho I usually enjoy a piece of quiet, it was weirdly disturbing.”

“Uh… thank you..?” you didn’t know why she’s telling you this. “Did you come all the way here just to tell me you… didn’t like my unhappy mood?”

“Not entirely. I also came to give you this. Guessed it might help to cheer you up today.” She thrusted a small package into your hand turning on her heel. “Good night Y/n.” before you could say anything she already left.

With an inept shake of your head you got back inside your room, inspecting the parcel she gave you. It was packaged in a festive paper neatly tucked around. For a moment you contemplated if it was some type of prank. Will a bomb of glitter go of the moment you tore into the present? No, you were very certain Lesso was not one for glitter. Maybe a pocketknife will jump out and pierce your heart… But would she go all the way here just to slaughter you? You didn’t have any beef with her lately, did you?

With a shrug of your shoulders you opened the gift, a little note falling out on the ground. You picked it up, opening the piece of fancy paper. Happy birthday Y/n. That was all the note said, yet the three words warmed your heart up. She remembered your birthday. And she even gave you a gift. And not just some gift, but a rare edition of your favorite story book in your native language you have never seen before. You hugged the book to your chest, a genuine smile making it’s way to your face for the first time today. Maybe it wasn’t such a bad birthday after all.