#Spontaneous-Temptation | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

silknspice · 2 days ago

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GOOD FOR THE HEART

country! vi x reader fluff, angst, smut (18+), slow(?)burn, wc. 13.6k

synopsis: an intimate bond forms between an ill farmer's daughter, desperate for a taste of the outside world, and the helpful part-timing cowgirl at the farm. OR vi wants you bad, and what better way to get to know you than sneak you around town?

content warnings: illness, NOT read over, foul language, smut so mdni/18+, fingering r!receiving, controlling parent, health worries, fainting, slight insecurity, emotional rollercoaster but a fun one!!

Vi could strip naked right here, right now.

And with her well known spontaneous personality, she would. Especially under the hundred degree heat that preys upon her and forces the girl’s freckled skin to glisten. But a: she’s with her siblings (enough said), and b: she’s working outdoors at the Laurier’s farm. Meaning only a handful of yards away, tucked in that blue, yellow, and white idyllic house covered with blooming botanical life, stands Mr. Laurier’s orphic daughter.

That’s all Violet’s ever heard about you, from children playing on the street to adults roaming the town shops. Ever since her adoptive father suggested she take this summer job before she goes back to focusing on her college work. Ever since her siblings and family friend jumped to tag along after Mr. Laurier decided ‘the more the merrier’.

All that’s been filling Violet Lane's ears is information about you, or, the lack thereof. How you’re always locked up in that big residence. How you used to roam the town just like any other little rascal until five years ago, at the age of thirteen, when something out of her knowledge occurred. How stunning you look in a sundress. She tried to block that one out.

“Why is it that Mylo’s drivin’ the tractor and not me?” Powder complains, pulling her clenched hand from the bag of chicken feed and tossing it on the ground for the horde to gobble.

“Last time you tried to drive something I started praying.” Ekko throws out. His bun shaped hair bobbles as he finally pulls that one stubborn carrot from the ground and places it in the basket.

“Besides Pow,” Violet starts, lifting a heavy brown box onto her shoulder and cradling it with just one arm. “You’re doin’ fine taking care of the animals. Mylo would be scaring them to death.” The pink haired girl sighed out, looking around.

Her gaze landed on the decorated porch, and she pursued. Vi set the last of the boxes down with a soft grunt before straightening her back and lifting her arms, clasped at the fingers, over her head to get a well-deserved stretch.

The worker’s completely regretting her chosen position as the door swings open, and she looks heaven right in the eyes.

You stand there in a white lace sundress covered in a juicy red pattern of cherries, a smile sweet enough to give a sugar high plastered on your stunning face. Vi’s gaze flickers down to your feet covered by red country boots. Above those are your soft looking hands holding a gift basket. When she’s done examining you, her blue-gray eyes trail their way back to yours– and it’s like whiplash. Once again, she’s blinded by those pearly whites and the tasty perfume radiating off of you. God help me, is the only phrase filling her mind because damn you’re ethereal.

“Hi there, cowgirl.” You’re going to send Vi into cardiac arrest with just your voice. Thankfully, she realizes she needs to respond, and quickly wipes the dopey grin (that she wasn’t aware she had) off of her face.

It’s not like everything is peaches and cream on your end. The girl’s tight white t-shirt is grasping onto her glistening biceps, her pretty bright eyes and the freckles that decorate her nose make her look blessed by the sun, and seeing such a beautiful yet handsome woman in a cowboy hat is doing foreign things to your stomach. ‘Wow’, is all your wandering mind formulates.

“Hi there, miss Laurier,” she copies you in her lower voice, and you notice the slit on her lip as it curls up into a soft smirk. You shake your head at her words with a polite smile, insisting she call you by your name, which you offer up. She repeats it once perfectly, claiming it ‘rolls right off the tongue’, and you crack a smile.

“My father informed me that you’re the new help around here for the summer, so I decided to bake somethin’ for the five of you.” You’re sticking out the basket, decorated with a pink bow on top, for Vi to take. She does and quickly takes a peek inside. Five snickerdoodle cookies and one large cherry pie. You do stay on theme, and so, it starts.

“Thank you, cherry.” she cracks a smile that sends a shock down your body, and gently tips her hat.

Fourteen searing days pass on that farm, days filled with laughter, hard work, and the smell of life from the surrounding plants.

But not for you.

For each of those fourteen days, for the past one thousand eight hundred and twenty-five days, you’ve sat sideways in your window with your back against one side and your legs propped up on the wood. You read, journaled, book pressed flowers (that you had to sneak out front to get), took much needed resting breaks, tended to your pet lamb Daisy, and watched Footloose. Your sock-covered feet subtly shuffled side to side as if you were mimicking their dance moves in your head.

Vi watched as you sat there all those days in your open window. Half of your body out in the fresh air and half cooped back up inside like the past five years of your life. It was as if you yearned to experience life completely outside the window, but you couldn’t. And so, you completed your daily activities the furthest away you could get.

Until your eighteenth birthday came along.

“Lord, can you focus instead of stalking your ‘cherry’,” Ekko mimics the pinkett’s voice with the last two words, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand.

“Bet she wants to pop her cherry.” Mylo snickers at his own joke, earning a slap to the nape from Claggor.

“Last warning Mylo. Don’t talk about her like that.” she replies firmly, furrowed brows making a little scowl.

Claggor shakes his head softly, letting the tension between his siblings diffuse before speaking. “You know, you should do something other than just stare at her all day. It’s getting sad.”

“Like?” the cowgirl responds with crossed arms.

“Ask her to hang out, obviously.” Powder pipes up, petting a sheep as she prepares to guide it inside the barn. “She’s always lookin’ so lonely. Swear the only time she smiled this past week was when you complimented her on those blackberry muffins she baked us.”

“You know she’s not supposed to come out, Laurier said so. Pretty sure that’s why she stays upstairs, can’t even come out on the porch when we’re here no more.” Violet huffs.

“You think he thinks we’re a bad influence on her?” Ekko ask in confusion. Because truth be told, no one knew why you stayed locked up in that bright house, like a princess trapped in a tower. People knew better than to ask your father, and of course, they couldn’t get to you. Maybe it was time for someone to be your knight in shining armor.

“Doesn’t matter, he’s not even here right now.” Mylo insists.

So, after a long back and forth conversation of weighing the possibilities, Violet’s shoved over to the shrubs in front of your second story window. You notice her when she’s there (you’ve been sneaking glances at her every so often), shifting your position so that you can look down on her as she calls out your name.

“Afternoon, cowgirl,” you coo, tucking a piece of hair behind your ear.

“Hey there, angel,” she simply replies with that signature smile, and your hands clench the frame you’re leaning on a bit tighter. “We’re done with the chores for today.”

“Oh. Well, get home safely.” you hum, eyes dropping in what Vi hopes is discontent, because her next words will cheer you right up.

“Actually, we’re not headed home just yet. The five of us are headed out into the woods over there for a little.. chat." The glowing sunlight illuminates her face as she nods her head to Mylo, who’s allowing the brown paper bag to peek out of his backpack and into your vision. Alcohol. “Would you wanna come with us? Won’t take up too much of your time, I promise.” she asks with a cool voice but a pounding, fearful heart.

No.

Or at least, that’s what you were supposed to say. It’s what you’d normally say. As much as your ill heart ached to connect with others, as much as you wanted to venture out of your home, as much as this strawberry-haired helper made you want to explore new things you’d only ever seen in movies, your answer always had to be no.

But, unbeknownst to the others, today was your birthday. You had cautiously lived another year, and instead of feeling fulfilled, you only wonder how many you have left.

You wanted to live, not survive.

You stared in contemplation before backing up, shutting the window and rushing out of the girl’s sight.

Vi dropped her head down to the shrubs in front of her. It’s over. She blew it.

“You scared her!” Ekko teased, making the girl whip her head around to show an angry stare. But the displeased expression faded faster than it formed when the creaking of that back door met her ears, and Powder gasped in joy and disbelief.

“Lead the way.”

The walk along the trail of the woods to a more secluded area with cut wood stumps as seats was anything but quiet. Powder was talking your ear off about everything mechanic she worked on, treating you like you were from the middle ages rather than just sheltered. Claggor and Mylo were leading, causing the group numerous wrong turns and unplanned ‘shortcuts’ (they’d gotten lost along the way). Vi walked with Ekko on her left, quietly pumping her up and giving her the confidence she’d need to ‘make her move’.

But despite the various noises, she couldn’t hear anything. Because strolling to her right was you, the girl she’s been infatuated with since first glance. She’s trying to be discreet, examining the way your hair falls, your scent, the way you press your lips together in thought before answering a question. It took the platinum blonde boy next to her elbowing her side before she came back to the real world.

“I call first sip,” Powder squeaks, to which Violet scoffs, making a quip about how she’s only sixteen and scolding anyone who attempts to offer her the bottle. The bluenette brings up the fact that the others aren’t even the legal drinking age either, but it’s shut down because ‘an adult is an adult’.

“We’ll bring a juice box for you next time.” Mylo smirks, taking a long drag from the bag before offering it out to you.

Despite the soft urge, you shake your head, because you know your limits. Your heart’s limits. Despite the fact that you’re ignoring the sweatiness of your palms and feeble limbs.

Mylo hums. “Two juice boxes, then.”

“Mylo–” Vi scolds, finally coming out of her trance.

But her anger is cut short at the sound of a hearty chuckle coming from your mouth. And it’s the first time Vi’s ever heard you laugh. Genuinely laugh. It’s enough to bring stars to her already-bright eyes.

The conversation continues as the sun and clouds pass by. Eventually, the others are in a heated debate about the best character in some film you’ve never heard of, leaving you and Violet to shyly shift your attention towards each other.

“I’m glad you came. I noticed you.. don’t get out much?” Her tone is the gentlest it’s ever been.

“I’m glad you invited me.” You easily avert her indirect question. It eats you alive, the want to tell her everything about you. How you have a “bad heart” as your father gently put it, and now you live your days mundanely so as to not risk triggering anything fatal. But the desire to live just one day in normalcy is stronger, and so you change topics.

“You have very big muscles. I like them. Is that why you do most of the lifting things rather than herding cattle and such, like other cowgirls?”

Vi feels her cheeks get toasty at the compliment and your almost-awkward forwardness. But you can’t help it, you’ve hardly had conversations with anyone but your father the past few years, let alone a handsome girl so close in age. It doesn’t matter much though, because Vi loves it.

“Not a real cowgirl. I’m only good for lifting what others can’t.” She chuckles a bit. “I just happen to own a horse— and I wear the hat of course… maybe the belt’s a little cowgirl-like too, but that’s all.”

You smirk because that makes her a cowgirl in your book, but you politely hum and say nothing.

The girl shifts her position to turn towards you more, and you swear your heart stops when one of her manspread knees leans against your crossed ones and makes no attempt to move. She examines your behavior, and when she sees the ghost of a smile on your lips, she leans on her opened legs slightly to get more comfortable.

“So what do y’ do in that big house all day, angel? Must get lonely.”

These nicknames are doing terribly good things to you.

You hum. She’s completely correct, but the last thing you want is for her to pity you. “Bake a lot, shop in the catalogs, watch movies, write in my books.” You shrug. “Oh, and I take care of my Daisy girl.” A smile graces your perfect lips.

“That your dog? Never seen her around,” she asked with questioning brows.

“No,” you giggle, sending Vi into heaven. So beautiful. “It’s my lamb.”

A beat passes before she responds, a glint in her eye. “So I should be calling you Bo Peep?” she jokes.

You laugh, knocking your knees against hers in playful scolding. Simple words, simple touches, a simple gathering that may be day to day life for anyone else in the town. But for you, this was the best thing to happen in years.

“Daisy’s a sweet name, matches her sweetheart of an owner.” she compliments you, and you graze your hand over your heart because you can’t decipher why it’s speeding up. “We sound real rugged compared to you. Our dog’s name is Rusty. Powder ch–”

“Hey!”

A deep, raspy voice calls out from behind you. A few of you whip your heads around to see the source of the noise, whereas others stand out of shock as the man comes into your sight. “What are y’all doing on my property? Get over here!” He’s moving quickly towards the group, and Ekko’s the first to move his feet.

“Time to go,” Vi says hastily, standing. Without thinking, she takes your hands and pulls you to a stand. “You a good runner?”

No. I don’t know. I haven’t had anywhere to run in years.

That’s what you should’ve said, but as stated earlier, a life of normalcy for today. And so, you lie.

“Sure– yes, yes.”

Vi nods at that, tightening her grasp on one of your hands as she rushes to exit along with the others. Your hands stay intertwined as the pair of you dash through the greenery, avoiding unfriendly hanging branches, jumping over logs, and ducking under leaves.

You’re terrified. The same glistening sweat that forms in your clammy hands makes another appearance on your forehead. A prickle crawls its way up your throat, and suddenly you’re hacking into your elbow as the cowgirl guides you close to her body while you near the edge of the woods. Your little red problem pounds against your chest as if it’s begging you to stop, to give up before it does, but you can’t.

The man moves quickly, but he’s no match for adolescents of the countryside. By the time you reach the fields of your farm, he’s nowhere to be found.

Powder’s hollering and cheers of victory sound broken, doubling and distilled, coupled with a soft ringing sound and pressure around your head that only grows the longer you stand. The only thing you can hear clearly is your quick panting. That deep red blood is draining from your head and blazing heat is left in its place.

A blurry and distant Violet comes into your impaired vision, and you feel the soft sensation of her cupping your face with worried hands. “Cherry?”

Your mind’s swirling with thousands of sensations, and your terrified breaths grow increasingly shallow until you can’t fight to stay awake any longer, falling into the arms of Vi. There’s yelling, someone scooping you up into their protective arms, orders being thrown around as you’re rushed towards the house, then silence. Complete and utter silence.

The female lead is on your screen twirling and rolling her hips with glee for the third time this week, and you wonder if you'll get a chance to dance like that.

It’d been three days since you fainted after running from the farmer down the trail, three days since you’ve seen Violet (or any of the farm helpers), and three days since you’ve felt that inexplicable warmth in the pit of your stomach.

While you rendered unconscious, Vi and the others scrambled to get your limp body inside. They laid you out on your bed, arguing about whether or not to call for help, because they had no clue what was wrong with you.

Of course, you woke up a couple minutes later as you always do. You were confused and terrified, but strictly instructed to rest by the friends who promised they’d stay until your father arrived. Fatigued even more than normal, you complied.

When your father arrived home an hour later, he stumbled upon Powder placing an ice pack on your sleeping head, Claggor and Mylo pacing the room in worry, Ekko attempting to research what exactly would have caused your current state, and Violet looking sick to her stomach as she cradled your soft hands in her rough ones; praying to whoever’s up there that you’d be fine.

Needless to say, once they’d confessed to leaving for the woods and running back (leaving out every bit alcohol related), he’d been beyond furious, placing you on total lockdown for recovery and demanding the helpers avoid the farm for a couple of days. After you’d gotten your medication in you and recovered after a full day of rest, he chewed you out too. ‘You know I’m just trying to keep you safe.’

But you didn’t want safe anymore, you wanted life.

And Violet walked right through your front door. Literally.

The pinkette runs a hand through her fluffy hair before securing the cowboy hat back on her head. Her eyes are searching the house for the kitchen when they land on you, and a wave of relief washes over her.

“Hi, angel.”

Your heart speeds up, and this time, you don’t need to question it.

“Hi Violet,” you coo shyly, standing from your comfy position on the couch and making your way over to her, hands clasped behind your back.

She wastes no time cradling your face in her calloused fingers, the pair of your soft breaths filling the silence as the girl looks over you, finishing her personal assessment before swiping a thumb across your cheek in gentle comfort.

“I was so worried about you,” the whisper fell from her lips without shame.

“I’m fine, really.” you speak in the same tone, leaning into her sweet hand.

“No, you’re not.” That catches you off guard. “When your father saw what happened he panicked, said something about your heart and thought you were…” she let your mind fill the blank with a glint of pain in her blue-gray eyes. “You wanna tell me what’s going on?”

Your eyes drop to the floor, and before you have time to think about it, you speak. “I’m sick. The bad kind of sick that doesn’t just go away after a couple days.” you can’t look her in the eyes as you speak, just placing a finger to your chest. “I have a ‘bad heart’, as my father puts it. Don’t have a lot of energy, can’t do much without getting too overwhelmed, dizzy spells and such..”

You expect to see a crack in Vi’s sweet eyes, a sign of distaste, of regret for caring about a broken girl, but her gaze only softens and a tender hand moves a piece of hair from your face.

“That why you’re cooped up in here?” she asks, even though she knows the answer. You nod.

It’s silent for some time, and the two of you enjoy the other’s presence in such a milestone moment.

“I have somethin’ for the five of you,” you finally speak, pulling from her affectionate grasp. She nods, wiping the worry she feels in the pit of her stomach away so that she can be there for you. You stroll into the kitchen with the cowgirl behind you, opening and rummaging around the fridge as she takes a needed seat at the marble island.

She looks over your attire. A big bright red sweater hangs off your shoulders that covers your shorts, and a white bow in your hair that brings a smile back to her face.

You turn back around, setting down a tiffany blue cupcake platter and perfectly made white-frosted cupcakes with a purple design in the middle. You then pull out some tupperware, transferring cupcakes into it as Vi speaks.

“They’re Violets,” she says in surprise and you giggle, only nodding your head.

Marry me she thinks, before coming up with something more plausible to say. “Is this what you’re studying in college? You're gonna be a chef or somethin’ angel?”

You pause before barely shaking your head. “Not goin’ to college this year.. my father says I need a gap year before ‘making any big decisions’,” you scoff, because the truth is he just can’t let you go. “Worries me though. He won’t go out and buy me any textbooks or anything, I’m gonna go stupid.” you whine.

Vi presses her lips together, clearly sharing your discontent with the situation.

“Well, I know you’ll do great when you go. There’s already a strong brain in that pretty head of yours,” she grins.

A smile forms against your will as you look up at the girl.

“You think I’m pretty, Violet?’

She responds quickly, like the words spilled out of her heart rather than being formulated in her head. “I think you’re gorgeous. Whoever’s up there took their time making you.”

Comfortable silence ensues as the room’s filled with pounding hearts and warm faces of passion. Finally, you finish packing up Vi’s cupcakes and place the box in front of her. She thanks you, looking to the side in thought before an idea flickers across her face.

The girl rises, lifting the hat from her head and leaning over the marble to place it atop your surprised head. She doesn’t wait for your reaction as she picks up the cupcake box and a wooden crate from the ground (what she should’ve been doing in the first place). “Keep that safe for me until tomorrow, cherry.”

“But isn’t tomorrow your day off?” you ask, flicking the front of the hat so it’s above your eyes.

“Yeah. I’m coming to see you tomorrow.”

The sun couldn’t set and rise fast enough.

You waited in so much anticipation that you woke up an hour earlier, practically shoved your father out of the house with his breakfast, and spent any extra time at a mirror fixing an out of place hair or switching your outfit for the fifth time.

You don’t know why you do– why you care so much. But before you can think too hard on it, the sound of someone pulling into your driveway blesses your ears and there’s six soft knocks at the front door.

And so it starts with you and Vi seated on the floor between the couch and the coffee table. Your backs lean against the lower portion of the soft matter, and Vi pulls out a book. Four books, to be exact. One for each core subject.

You furrowed your brows in confusion, looking from the pile of literature to the fluffy haired girl.

“I was thinkin’ I'd bring some textbooks to you since you can’t get ‘em yourself. I’m in my second year now so I won’t be needin’ these ones anymore.” She somehow speaks with both suave confidence and warm-faced fear in unison. “We could make it a thing, y’know. Preparing for classes together.”

“Yes!” You speak with starstruck orbs.

Violet laughed with relief, because if she had to be completely honest, that wasn’t the only reason she was here. She didn’t need this time to prepare, maybe a quick refresh before the year started, but she definitely didn’t need to be studying during summer. But if it gave her a chance to connect with you, she’d study until her brain burst.

The helpers’ off days were Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. So that’s when Violet would pack her books, hop in her truck, and haul ass to your farm. Each session was the same. You’d start out in comfortable silence reading your separate texts and answering questions or jotting notes down, then Violet would make a stupid joke about a picture in the book or get sidetracked by your bookshelf of dvds in front of her, and minutes later the room would be filled with fits of laughter, fuzzy brains, and your books completely discarded.

“‘Dirty dancing’? Damn cherry, your father know you watch this stuff?” Vi grins, sliding the movie case back into its spot along the brown wooden shelf.

“It’s not that kinda movie, Violet. It’s like.. set in the sixties.” you huff, holding back a smile at her playful words. The pinkette takes her seat next to you on the couch, manspread legs and a cunning smirk just inches away from your face.

“And what exactly is ‘one of those movies’, doll?” she teases.

You scoff.

“I’m sheltered, not stupid.” you play, a soft hand coming up to push against the girl’s arm.

Something flickers across the pinkette’s face before suddenly, she’s on top of you.

You’re pushed onto your back against the plush couch as pure muscle weighs above you, powerful hands swirl at your waist before your laughter fills her ears and your hand shoots out to grab at one of her arms. The pair of you struggle for power, pushing back and forth, twisting bodies, and yelling out competitive quips.

Finally, you smush the palm of your hand against Violet’s face, momentarily stunning her before the stronger girl grabs both of your wrists and pins them right above your head.

Soft panting and awestruck eyes decorate the both of you. The air is tighter, every inch of your body is suddenly aware of your positions, and no words are exchanged as you savor the feeling of her touch. God you feel weak, but you don’t know whether to place the reasoning on Violet or your heart.

Violet’s about to lose it, because with the way your sweet eyes are trailing up her body to her face, her heart is clear.

She wants– no, craves you. Bad.

It’s quiet for a moment longer before Vi clears her throat, reluctantly letting go of your wrists while moving back to stand.

“We deserve a study break.” the cowgirl hums, crouching and examining the lower levels of the bookshelf.

“We haven’t even been studying,” you throw back and fix your skirt while sitting up. Vi finds the record she’s been searching for, pulls it from its sleeve, and adjusts the player.

“Okay smart ass, we deserve a break.” she grins and the stylus hits the circular item.

A soft, sensual song makes its way through the air. It’s older, a woman singing softly about her lover’s perfection, and you warm at the thought of a special someone fantasizing about you to the tune.

Vi stands in the middle of the spacious room, and when you don’t move she waves her arm. “C’mere.”

You stand (a little quicker than you should’ve), and make your way over. She wastes no time, gently moving one of your hands to her shoulder and intertwining fingers with your other. As for your free hand, she tenderly places it on your waist, looking for any discomfort in your face. All she’s met with is big eyes of wonder and god, she’s screwed.

“Just follow my lead.” she’s speaking sensually under the music, thumb rubbing at your waist.

“Oh please, I could dance circles around you.” you quip.

“I’m sure you could, doll. But it’s a slow dance, so we work together.” Your bodies move closer as she speaks, making you smile and lose the sassy attitude for a moment. Just a moment.

Angelic vocals encase the two of you. There are only sounds of that and gentle side steps before you speak once more.

“Did you know it was my birthday?” You stare straight into her eyes.

“Wait, what?”

“The day we went to the woods. Is that why you asked me to come? Because it was my birthday?” you tilt your head.

She blinks twice before huffing a laugh. “No, I didn’t know. This mean I made you faint and get in trouble with your pops as a present?”

You smile to yourself at the coincidence, holding her hand a bit tighter.

“Have you danced with someone like this before?” she asks.

You shake your head before pausing. “Well, once with my mother, but I was very little.”

Vi’s eyes soften a bit more. “Is she..?”

You nod. “It happened when I was eleven. She had the same problem as me, that’s why he’s so protective.” Your voice is soft as you refer to your father. “I understand him, I really do, but I’m just so tired of being separate from the world.”

The girl can only nod, the hand around your waist snakes around to your back and pulls closer until your bodies are almost plush against each other.

“Thank you for trusting me with that,” she whispers. And suddenly, there’s soft giggles. You’re laughing because the tough, suave cowgirl you know can be such a sap.

Your laughter dies down and you shake your head before placing it between the crook of Vi’s neck, softening into your sappy cowgirl. “Talk to me about something good,” you hum.

“I’m takin’ you out on a date Friday.”

Your eyes widen and you pull your head back to look her in the eyes.

She stammers and mentally groans because you’re the only one who could ever make Violet Lane stammer. “Well– if you say yes.”

No.

That’s what you’re supposed to say, and what you should say. Not because of your father’s influence, not for your safety, but because you’re afraid. Afraid of the trouble you could get Vi into, of dealing with the unknown, but most importantly you were afraid of hurting her.

While you aren’t bedridden, your life is fragile, and the thought of being a burden to Vi was heavy and present. How long could she stand you until she got tired of your neediness? How long until she’s tired of hearing about all the things you can’t do? She’s spontaneous, reckless, fun, and you thought she deserves to end up with someone just like that. Someone you’re not.

But right now, you want her, and she needs you, so you give her what you can.

“Of course,” you agree with a genuine, toothy smile, and the pinkette sighs of relief.

The song finally comes to a stop.

For the first time, you’re glad your father works all day long, because there’s no way you could sneak someone as loud as Powder around your house.

Her squeals of embarrassment and your laughter echo from the kitchen throughout every room of your home. Your canvases and paints are neglected as you point an accusatory finger at a message on her screen. A message from ‘Ekko <3’.

“I knew it! The way you talk to each other– ‘Oh Ekko! You’re just so smart,’” you mock her, making the girl’s face change colors faster than you’ve ever seen.

“I do not say things like that!” She yells back, making you giggle harder. “And we aren’t dating.”

“Why not?” you whine. You clasp your hands as if a plea is about to fall from your lips when a ding rings throughout the room. You look down and gasp. A message from ‘Lux <3’.

You pause, eyes flickering to the girl. “Do you have everyone saved with a heart?”

She shakes her head.

“Just those two?”

She nods.

“Oh, this is just like the movies!” Your laughter repeats like a loop. The girl groans at you and moves her phone to the other end of the marble countertop. “I’m kidding– awhh, Powder!”

She shakes her head. “This conversation is all the way over.”

It takes a moment for your giggles to die down, and soon you’re nudging the bluenette’s shoulder with yours gently. “You’ll make the right decision, just don’t waste time overthinking it. Follow your heart.”

She raises her eyebrows, picking up her paintbrush. “I could give you the same advice.”

You scoff out a laugh, gaze landing on your taunting medications in the corner of a counter. “My heart is fighting itself. Wants two different things at once. Certainly can’t have both.”

“Then follow your mental heart, not your physical one.”

You pause, brows furrowing as you look at her with suspicious eyes. “Did Violet..”

Powder shakes her head before you can finish. “No. She can keep a secret, especially for you. I connected the dots on my own,” she shrugs, swiping an electric blue line across the clean canvas. “Y’know, the meds, how protective your father is. Once, on one of your bad days, I looked through a window and saw you sitting down a third of the way up the stairs looking all dizzy and breathless. You fainting just tied it all together,” she hums.

You burn holes into the ground with your utterly ashamed gaze.

“I don’t want anything bad to happen to you, but you should live the life you want rather than being trapped in one you yearn to escape. And you can count on that big baby to protect you.” You let out a little laugh, nodding at the younger girl’s sweet words.

“Oh yeah, she wanted me to give you this. Dummy forgot it yesterday.”

Powder sets the brush down and rummages around her tote bag that lays on the counter, pulling out a tiny black velvet box and handing it to you before turning back to her self-proclaimed masterpiece.

Your heart swells in the best way possible, and you flick open the little clasp to reveal a thick golden ring with two red dots and a green leaf in the middle. It’s accompanied by a small white note with bright red writing.

‘Happy birthday, cherry.’

“I knew they were together!”

You stare out of the windows of Vi’s truck into the town square. Your gaze is fixed on Miss Medarda and Mister Talis, who are sitting suspiciously close to each other on a bench near one of the decorative fountains.

Vi fixes her dark brown hat as a laugh escapes her. “No way, he’s always chatting up this guy– one of the professors at U.P.” Vi refers to her college, and it takes you a second to understand.

“His hand was on her thigh, Violet. That was pure romance.”

Vi pauses, seemingly focused on the road ahead, but the lightbulb look behind her eyes that appears makes you think otherwise. “Yeah, yeah, we’ll see who’s right.” she jokes after remembering she hadn’t responded.

Vibrant sunlight hits almost every inch of the truck and illuminates the town that passes by as the pinkette turns down a road surrounded by greenery. You spin the gifted ring on your finger once, then twice, out of nervousness. It’d been years since you left your house for anything but the doctor’s, let alone a date. A thousand and one possibilities whirled through your mind, but were quickly flushed out at the sound of Vi’s voice.

“I see you got your gift,” she smiles, eyes flicking away from the road down to your ring and back. “I like how it looks on you.”

She was skilled at putting up a flirtatious and unbothered front, because on the inside you had her absolutely melting. Out of all ten options, you chose to secure her gift on your left ring finger.

You’ll be the death of her, no doubt.

“It’s perfect,” you look over to her with hearts in your eyes. “Thanks, cowgirl.”

She nods, eyes flickering back down before she takes her right hand off of the wheel and down to thumb the end of your shorts. “I like these too, real damn pretty.”

You giggle, and somehow the swarm of butterflies in your gut doubles in size, because instead of returning to the wheel, the girl’s hand is delicately placed onto your inner thigh. Her calloused hands gently cup your skin, and she’s grateful you can’t read minds because she’s terrified of your potential reaction.

You can’t fight the smile that crawls its way onto your warm face. The only thought that runs through your mind is how this is even better than the movies.

“Well I hope I’m dressed well enough for whatever we’re doing today. Wish you woulda told me.” You finally reply, softening under her touch. You swear you hear her let out a little sigh of relief.

“That’d ruin the surprise. I’ve gotta wow you.” she sends you a wink and your laughter fills the car with joy.

It doesn’t take long until you’re pulling into the driveway of Violet’s house. It’s beautiful, all brown and white with flowers out front that Powder planted herself, high school graduation yard signs, and fresh open space. Still, a panicked look sets on your face.

“Wait, wait, Vander’s gonna see me– he’ll tell my dad,” you stammer.

Vi cuts the engine, gently taking a hold of your chin to redirect your gaze as she speaks reassuringly. “Hey, hey. He’s not here you worrywart, won’t be home until late tonight.” Your eyes soften and you sigh. “Besides,” she starts, “we’re going over there.”

Just past the house is a matching white and brown barn-esque building. Stables.

“She’s so big!” you yell with awestruck eyes as Vi pulls the red roan out of the stables by the lead. “What’s her name? When’d you get her? Wow I’ve never seen one of these up close, mama was afraid of ‘em and my father doesn’t ride.” You speak at rapid fire making Violet snicker.

“Slow down,” she instructs, standing between you and the hairy beauty. The girl takes your hand, placing it on the horse’s shoulder, giving you the okay to pet. “Her name’s Gunner, she was my fifteenth birthday present, and I can’t imagine your pops getting anywhere near a horse.” You playfully hit her with your unoccupied hand.

“Gunner,” you whisper, “badass.”

Vi chuckles, because swearing sounds so foreign to you.

“You ready?” She asks, slipping her black riding helmet on your head.

“Wait, what?”

“You think I brought you here just to stare at her?” she smirks, completely mesmerized by your face while tightening the straps of the protective gear. “We’ll go slow this time, I promise. Okay?”

The promise of this happening again makes your heart flutter, and all of the gears in your brain stop spinning before you respond, “Okay.”

She helps you onto Gunner, patting the small of your back before hopping up right behind you. Her warm arms snake around your waist and grab hold of the reins in her hands. Her muscular front is smushed against your back, her head placed inches to the right of yours.

“Now, gently squeeze his middle with your calves,” she instructs.

You obey, and the red roan begins its walk. It’s slow, peaceful, but such a new experience to you that a sweet gasp of surprise falls from your lips.

The two of you sit in silence, appreciating the comfort of each others’ presence and warm golden light shining upon you as the beauty of nature captures you. In the green pasture of Vi’s fields, you feel like you’re breathing for the first time in five long years.

Gunner simply walks for a few minutes as you point out pretty flowers that you pass and Violet mentally compiles a bouquet for you. Vi’s talking about her years as a kid in this field. When she’d lost (and found) her favorite toy bunny out here, or dared Mylo to walk through the vast field at the dead of night. Suddenly you’re begging to see some baby photos.

It’s at this moment that everything’s easy. Vi’s admiring everything about you with eyes of love when–

Gunner’s neigh sounds like a shriek of terror when three birds zip past, spooking the roan into a 180 and bolt away before Vi can make it out of her trance.

You yelp from the sudden change in speed, almost slipping off of the animal, but Vi’s there to keep you securely fastened against her as she takes control of it. Just as fast as it changed, Gunner’s speed slows to a stop. You can feel just how tense Vi is as she speaks.

“Shit. I’m so sorry, doll. She gets spooked so easily and– god, I’m sorry for scarin’ you.”

It’s silent for a moment. The scariest moment of the pink haired girl’s life, because she can’t see your twinkling grin that spreads from ear to ear before you laugh.

“That was so cool!” you beam, leaning forward to pat at the horse. “Not so badass though, huh?”

After a few more apologies and you repeatedly telling Vi that it was fine, you two decided it was best to turn in for the day.

You sigh, sitting against the short wooden fence. “I wanna rest for a minute, that okay?” ‘I need to take a rest, I don’t have any energy’ is what you actually mean, but you choose not to worry her.

She wastes no time plopping down onto the grass next to you, eyes raising to the baby blue sky. She gives you a few moments of silence, sneaking glances at your face every so often, before speaking.

“Powder and Claggor were talking about how awesome it’d be if we took you to a Seraphine concert. Think you’d like her music a lot.” she hums, smiling to herself.

“And one day, I'm gonna take you line dancing so we can settle our little debate once and for all.” Her grinning face is inches away from you and her overpowering scent of amber and musk ensues.

“Oh really?” Your voice is soft as your head turns, looking Violet up and down with half-lidded eyes. “I think..”

You quickly mount Vi’s lap, pushing the girl onto her back and pinning those muscular arms right beside her head with both of your hands. You’re both all giggles and grunts, and even though there’s no way you’d stand a chance against her in a real tussle, she lets you win.

You lay there, one atop the other in a field of colors. The tension is so thick that not even a knife could cut it, and your grip softens when tender hands reach up to cup your face, a thumb stroking your cheek. The sun, her hands, her sparkling blue eyes, and the love radiating between the two of you has you all but melting. You’re leaning down, inching closer each second, and just before Vi’s dreams come true, you stop.

You pull back with newly glossy eyes, dismounting the girl while whispering apologies that get lodged in your throat. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”

You want nothing more than to connect your lips and hearts, but you were so afraid. How long until she resents you? How long until it’s over? You’d grown accustomed to heartaches, but never heartbreak.

But Violet craves you more than plants crave water, she needs you more than the Earth needs the sun. You just don’t know it.

“Hey,” she whispers, sitting up and holding your chin as if routine. “Look at me, angel.”

You comply with built up tears that threaten to stain your cheeks.

“You don’t have to apologize for something like that,” she consoles, never looking away from your softened eyes. “We can go as slow or as fast as you want, okay?”

You wipe your tears with the side of your hand, choking out your words. “I just– I don’t want to disappoint you.” I don’t want you to hate me once I’m gone.

“Disappoint me?” She stiffles out a laugh. “You don’t know how bad I want you. But I’ll wait until the end of time if you ask me to, hell, I’d lasso the moon and bring it down if you wanted.”

That makes you sniffle and let out a breathy laugh, bringing Violet some relief. The girl slowly inches forward to make sure you’re completely okay with it before placing a warmhearted kiss to your forehead. It’s quick and simple, but causes an eruption of butterflies in your gut. Soon, your troubles are forgotten.

“Let’s get you home, yeah?”

“What’d I say about keeping this door open?” Vi raises a brow, leaning against the doorframe as she stares at an unbothered Powder who’s doing her mascara, and a flustered Ekko.

“Must’ve been the wind.” Powder mutters.

“She wouldn’t listen!” He raises his hands in innocence from his position on a neon pink beanbag.

It’s silent before the three burst out in laughter, and Vi’s shaking her head as they catch their breath.

“Hurry up though, we’re gonna be late to Laurier’s.”

“Not today, Vi.” Vander’s voice bellows from behind her, making her turn her head with furrowed brows. “He gave the five of you a day off.”

A smile graces Ekko’s lips and Powder is whooping in the back, but Vi’s lips drop into a subtle frown.

“Awhh,” Powder coos, “poor Vi doesn’t get to see her girlfriend today, how ever will she live?”

The teens snicker, but the pinkette notices the uneasy look on his face, the one where he has something to say but just can’t spit it out. “What?”

The burly man runs a hand across his beard with a sigh.

“His daughter.” The entire room pauses. “She's terribly ill today, bedridden. He’s staying home to watch over her so there’s no need for far–”

Vander doesn’t get to finish his explanation, because Vi’s pulling the keys from her pocket and rushing past him towards the front door.

It takes almost running three red lights and a long, torturous talk with your father about being able to speak to you just for an hour, but at your bedroom door stands Vi, taking off her hat to look at you with big worried eyes. “Cherry,” she calls out.

You feel absolutely horrendous.

Your breaths are shallow, your ankles feel swollen beyond belief (you thanked god Violet couldn’t see them from under the blanket), and your eyelids weighed a thousand pounds, threatening to drop from fatigue.

“What’s going on? What can I do?” she asks, wasting no time walking over to your pretty bed and taking a seat right next to you.

You shake your pillow-elevated head, laying on your side to face her with a soft smile. “Can’t do anything, it’s just a bad day.” You reach a hand out to grab her calloused one and intertwine your fingers. “Just glad you’re here.”

“How’d you get past my father?” you whisper, relaxing into the soft matter.

Vi huffs out a laugh, readjusting to lay down as she speaks. “Convinced him that I’m extremely knowledgeable in this area because I’m studying to be in the medical field. So he thought it’d be fine if I watched over you while he feeds the cattle.”

You giggle with a teasing look. “Oh yeah, what have you learned?”

“Cherries are good for the heart,” she says all ‘matter of fact’ like. “They have potassium and antioxidants to reduce inflammation.”

“I should be the one calling you cherry, then.” You hum. You don’t know how much it means to Vi to hear that she’s ‘good for you’.

It’s quiet again, and you spend time shamelessly looking over every inch of the girl’s face, landing on her powder-blue orbs. “You know, your children would have some beautiful eyes.”

“And yours would be beautiful all around,” there’s not a trace of doubt in her voice. “What would you name them?” She asks and throws out silly names as you look around in thought, “Batman? Lice? Maddie?”

“How is Maddie as bad as those names?”

“I just don’t like it!”

Your giggles fill the room before you shake your intertwined hand. “Maybe either.. Josie or Clementine? They sound.. warm. Safe.”

Vi nods, pulling you closer into her chest and draping an arm over you that cradles your back, “Josie it is.”

Your ears burn as you nuzzle into her. “And we’ll live in a big pretty house in the city, surrounded by noise and culture and life.” You wished so badly.

“We?” Vi asks.

“Me, Josie… and you.” You look up at her with the last of your body’s strength. “If you’ll join us.”

That spark in Violet’s stomach has grown to a full fire heating her body. Her dream girl’s lying in her arms, talking her ears off about their hypothetical future together, all while looking up at her with pupils blown wide as if she’s your knight in shining armor.

“Of course,” she agrees, “but we’ll have to bring Rusty and Gunner along.”

You snicker with a nod. “Sounds perfect.”

There’s a glint in the girl’s eyes as she trails her hand up your back to the soft skin of your face. “A pretty house, an adorable daughter, my rascal animals,” you let out a weak laugh, “and my pretty girl to share it all with.”

Your heart skips a beat. “Yours?” you tease.

“Yeah, mine.”

She’s tracing meaningless patterns on your neck with one hand while tucking a piece of hair behind your ear with the other. And god, whatever this feeling is it’s too good, too sweet, too sensual. Your waiting lips are slightly agape in awe, and it doesn’t take long before Vi whispers, “Can I?”

This time, ‘yes’ is the only word that pops into your brain and slips from your mouth as Vi’s lips crash into yours.

Her lips are melting into yours with so much intensity that it’s hard to keep up. You let her take the lead while your scents, minds, and tongues mix together in a bundle of passion. Her grip around you never loosens. Fingers thread through your hair, and her slightly chapped lips dread leaving yours, because your kisses are the air she needs to breathe.

A whine falls from you when she reluctantly pulls away from your sweet mouth, placing four chaste kisses on your cheeks, nose, and forehead.

“You need to rest,” she coos, peppering your forehead with another (much needed) kiss, and keeping the close proximity as her arms wrap around you. There’s no argument, because the adrenaline rush from her kiss is wearing off and that wave of exhaustion snakes its way back.

There you lay, bodies intertwined and souls tying as the sound of Vi’s healthy heartbeat lulls you to sleep.

Once you’re out, you stay sound asleep as Vi hesitantly leaves your bed.

You stay sound asleep as she trots downstairs where your father places weights of guilt upon her, claiming he knows you two have been sneaking around, and it’s her fault you’re in this current state.

You stay sound asleep as he demands she doesn’t return to the farm, permanently.

With every inch of your worn down heart, you hate Violet Lane.

And while deep down you know that’s not the slightest bit true, you still act like it.

When you woke up the next day, the birds singing and a beaming face as you skipped downstairs to hug your father good morning, the last thing you expected was to hear the all too confusing news that Vi had quit. Along with the rest of her siblings and friend just an hour after.

Unfortunately, you were none the wiser, and slowly sulked up the stairs and sank into your bed where you cried yourself back to sleep.

For the first couple days, it didn’t make sense. The way she looked at you with those big puppy dog eyes, her tender care, the ways she spoke to and about you, it all seemed so real. It had to be real.

On day three, you decided that acting was just one of her many skills.

By day four, you had it figured out, or so you thought. Vi was a flirtatious asshole who wanted nothing more than some street credit for kissing the untouchable, locked up, sick princess right under her overbearing father’s nose. Coming to and believing such a conclusion felt like a stab in the side, and the knife only twisted when you factored in the fact that the others must’ve known about this, which is why they left alongside her.

You thought you’d become accustomed to all of the heart pains in the world, but you were wrong.

Tears fell from your eyes like a waterfall until they grew dry, your baking pans yearned to be used but were shoved away into a cabinet, and what hurt the most was knowing your father was right for keeping you locked up all these years. You weren’t free, but you were safe.

Finally, on day five, you’re engulfed by the plush matter of your couch when there’s six knocks at the door and someone’s calling out for you: “Cherry?”

You scoff at her audacity.

When you storm over and yank open the door with the meanest glare Vi’s ever seen from the prettiest girl she knows, you’re met with Ekko leaning against your white picket fence with his arms crossed, Powder standing next to him with a worried face, Claggor and Mylo relaxed against Vi’s bright red truck, and said truck-driver right in front of you looking absolutely sick.

And you slam the door right in her backstabbing face.

“Seriously?” Vi huffs out, earning a stifled laugh and whistle from Mylo.

“Go away, Violet.” You yell through the door, voice the sternest she’s ever heard.

“Fuck no. What’s going on?”

“Why don’t you tell me?” you counter, back pressed against your barrier. “You got all that you wanted from me, and then you quit and disappear from my life. So why are you back, huh?”

You’re lucky you’re packed with pent up anger, because tears are bubbling in the corners of your eyes and yelling is the only thing keeping them from spilling over.

“What?” the pinkette's completely taken aback, because she has no clue what you’re on about.

“That’s not–” she sighs, lowering her voice before speaking. “I’ll never get enough of you. I’d take a thousand kisses and so, so much more if you’d let me, but that’s not why I see you, angel.”

Your eyes soften and hurt brows furrow because damn, she’s a good actress.

“And I didn’t quit. That afternoon when you fell asleep, your old man practically dragged me out of your house and fired me. Said I caused your symptoms to worsen. I thought I’d lay low for a few days– and believe me when I say these were the hardest days of my life, but I didn’t want to get you in any trouble.”

Your bottom lip is bitten red until you finally cave, creeping the door open just enough to show your face.

“You promise?” you ask, and Violet’s heart is aching.

“Cross my heart.” she replies.

That’s all it takes for you to swing the door open and jump into her arms. She stumbles back in surprise before applying the same force, arms wrapping around your waist as she melts into yours cradling her neck.

You’re sniffling, taking deep breaths before you speak. “Really thought you left me,” you croak out.

“You’re not getting rid of me that easily.” she teases, placing a tender kiss on your forehead as you giggle and blink away tears.

“Now go get changed, we’re going out,” a grin tugs at the corner of her lips when your happy eyes make contact with hers. You blink, an idea flashing across your face, before pulling her inside by the wrist, yelling “just a minute!” to the others, before hastily shutting the door.

Violet’s eyes graze over every last atom of your body as your hips sway in front of her, babbling with Powder about who knows what, because she hasn’t been focused since you dragged her into your bedroom ‘innocently’ needing help with your outfit.

She stood in your doorway curiously, thinking she’d only be there for a second, maybe you’d never been to a rodeo and needed advice.

That was, until you paused at your walk in closet, a cheeky smirk on your lips that Vi desperately wanted to taste as you nod your head towards the bed. “Sit.”

And she obeyed, manspread legs at the edge of your bed as you walk infront of her with a few items on white hangers. All frills, lace, denim skirts and shorts, and Vi’s reasonably concluded she died and went to heaven.

“I could wear..” you shift the hangers around, “this with this skirt, or maybe these shorts and.. ooh, these boots match my panties.” You get a rise out of seeing the usually suave girl short circuit at the words that bless her ears. Definitely in heaven.

But Vi came to the realization that she was, in fact, alive. Because her heart truly stopped beating when she helped you settle on your pieces, threw her a sugary sweet “thanks, Vi,” did a casual 180, and stuck your ass out to drag your skirt down painfully slow.

Oh, those boots do match your panties.

Now here you stand in a lacy red top, denim shorts that have her thanking god for your creation, and matching cherry red cowgirl boots that graced her eyes the first day you met.

Neverending chatter fills your ears from other attendees, the overwhelming scent of kettle popcorn from a nearby booth stuffs your nostrils, and you see Ekko nudge at Vi, saying something that you can’t hear over the bluenette beside you talking your ear off about the stunning horses she sees.

Suddenly, Vi’s walking up to you and smushing her hat onto your head with her famous smirk. “Keep it safe for me, doll?”

You nod mindlessly, a hand coming up to fix its position on your head.

“Where ya goin’?” Powder calls out to the platinum blonde boy who’s ushering Vi to hurry up.

“Our annual face off,” he throws her a wink, and the girl’s rolling her eyes with a playful scoff.

Before you can even ask, she’s locking arms with you and dragging you along to an even more crowded area. There’s various groups of people surrounding a blocked off area containing a big, black, circular inflatable mat. And directly in the middle is a mischievous brown mechanical bull.

“Are they..” and your question is deemed useless when Ekko mounts the hairy machine, pumping his hands up in motion for the crowd to whoop and holler. Of course, they do.

Ekko does good, to say the least.

One hand grips the bull while the other is thrown up into the air as the machine thrashes him and his white locs every which way. The intensity increases as it tauntingly speeds up, thrashing harder, and spinning recklessly. Finally, he’s bucked off, rolling to a stand and flashing his pearly whites as the crowd cheers.

A giggle falls from your mouth as your hip nudges Powder who’s in complete awe, and she warms in embarrassment.

Vi and Ekko fake tension, sending joking competitive glares as they switch places. Now it’s the pink haired cowgirl that’s mounting the mechanical animal.

You never thought you’d be admiring this sort of thing, but Violet’s never fails to twist your stomach in knots.

With a hand gripping the bull and the other resting on the back of her head, she bucks her hips back and forth to counter the thrashing machine. She’s focused, her sculpted muscles flexing as she holds on tight, but a cocky smile is plastered on her face with teeth biting down on her rosy lips.

Surrounding girls (including yourself) are wooing at the sight.

Vi makes it through the most chaotic shakes and spins as the bull finally comes to a controlled stop, and you’re cheering louder than you ever thought you could.

“Woo! Hell yeah!” you cry out. The girl’s cheesing harder than ever when she hears your support, and the smile lasts all the way over to a fake booing Ekko who rolls his eyes and slips her a twenty dollar bill from his pocket.

You and Powder unlock arms to move over to the riders. A chuckle of amusement spills from you, and you’re securing Violet’s hat back over her fluffy hair. “That was real impressive, cowgirl.”

“Yeah?” she coos.

“Yeah.” The atmosphere grows heavier, each of your eyes searching the other’s like there’s treasure to find. But your little staring contest as Claggor speaks.

“Earth to lovebirds,” he hums politely. “You coming?”

You’re quick to nod, but Vi gently holds your wrist, making you pause. “Actually, I wanted to show cherry around some more. Catch up later?” She asks, but she’s already pulling you away before Claggor nods in agreement and the group goes in the opposite direction as you.

You speed up, feet coming into step with the girl who’s needily pulling you. Her silent prayers are answered when she spots a more secluded area behind a building and some fences.

“Vi,” you snicker, cheeks warming in nervousness, “what are we doing?”

She hums through half lidded orbs, hands finding their place on your hips and hastily pushing you against the wall that covers the two of you from the eyes of others. You’re looking up at her with the sweetest glint in your eyes and it’s driving her absolutely mad.

“You said I was real impressive, right?” Her voice is smoother, breathier.

Ohh.

You tilt your head, teeth chewing on your abused bottom lip before you mutter. “That’s right.. think you deserve a reward, huh?”

“Exactly what I was thinkin’, sweetheart.”

The newfound nickname is sending a shiver up your spine that transforms into a blazing warmth when Vi’s lips fit into yours like puzzle pieces. This time, messy limbs are thrown over each other. Your hand travels from her hands that are cradling your heated face, down to her abs (making her shiver as you scrape your nails across), to tangle in what pink locks aren’t captured by her hat.

A strong hand makes its way around your waist, pulling you dangerously closer to rub against her body. God, she’s good at this.

“Vi..” you’re finally able to whisper as she trails kisses along your jaw and down to your neck. You can feel her smirk against the area where she peppers you with affection.

And it’s perfect.

Not just the way she’s kissing you, or the fact that you’re kissing at all. It’s the environment, the feelings, the friendships that you’ve made with the others, the fact that for today, you’re living a normal life. It’s the fact that for a moment, you can cheer on your friends in a competition, you can lock arms with a friend and woo over others, you can get lost in passionate kisses with a girl and not have another care in the world.

You wished it could stay this way forever.

You lose all sense of shame, letting a soft grunt slip from your lips at the feeling of teeth and a ‘pop’ on your neck. It’s only a matter of seconds before both of your eyes widen and Vi’s pulling back with a crooked smile on her face.

“Did you..”

She wordlessly eyes the red-purple love bite forming on the back-side of your neck, just below your ear.

“Violet!” you drag out with a whine, sending her into a soft fit of laughter. She feels guilty, but you’re just too cute.

You have a love-hate relationship with the neon lights that are beaming throughout the spacious room that brings more noise than you’ve heard in the past five years– maybe more than your entire life.

On one hand, the flashing colors are starting to give you a major headache. On the other, the red glow that decorates Violet’s face as she grins down at you has your insides doing summersaults.

Nevermind. You love the lights.

“C’mon y’all,” Powder calls out with a chipper expression. Ekko’s standing properly in line and his blue haired companion, who’s already freestyling, spins out of control and squeals up a storm.

“You ready?” Vi’s words kiss your ear as she holds both of your hands, pulling you out to the dance floor.

“Are you?”

Your sass has her laughing, and she brings her tongue out to wet her bottom lip. “Follow my lead, cherry.”

And for a few moments, you do. All of the surrounding crowd dances the same to the upbeat, fast-paced country song that pierces your ears, so you replicate Vi’s mixed steps and cute little head tilts with her hand on that chocolate hat.

But then the song changes, it’s more passion filled and fiery. All it takes is Powder spinning out of line and shamelessly making her own moves before you’re formulating the steps in your head. From movies you watched religiously to mindlessly shuffling your own feet late at night, you danced for the little girl who longed to have fun, who longed to be free.

You’re clicking the heels of your boots against the ground, moving your hips as fluid as water, and bringing your hands up just for them to slide down your sides with a heart-stopping smile tugging at your lips.

Violet’s in awe, because her girl’s fearless and full of smiles, and she couldn’t be happier for you.

And there’s no doubt in her mind that this is the only girl she’ll ever want, need, crave.

She whistles, looking up and down with the most amused expression you’ve ever encountered. “Jesus, alright you win, doll.”

“Yeah?” The tease comes out a bit breathless, but you play it off as dancing too wildly.

You look at the pink haired beauty through thick lashes. Inching dangerously closer as you sway, Violet’s hands have a powerful hold on your soft waist. You stumble over your feet once, then twice, and she notices.

“Slow down there cowgirl,” she chuckles, but her gaze is tender under the carefree mask. “You alright?”

It’s unbearably toasty in the room, and you feel two times hotter with each passing second. But you don’t want it to end, so you wave her off, throwing out an “I’m good!”

But you’re not, and it’s evident on your face when the small ‘headache’ turns to tight pressure smothering your scalp, and you’re losing your balance as you search for an exit.

“I just need some air,” you mumble, turning your head. The room shifted under your feet, vision blurring in a haze. You took three measly steps forward, and on your fourth, you crumbled.

Your body gives out under you, and Vi’s right there to catch you when it does. Her arms snake around your waist to hold you up before she lifts you in her arms with big eyes and wavering lips.

“Shit. Ekko, come here! Powder, go get Mylo and Claggor.”

The five haul ass to Vi’s truck, the pinkette tossing her keys to Ekko as he and Mylo hop in the front. She, Claggor, and Powder take seats in the bed of the truck. When you finally come to, your back is laid against Vi’s worrisome chest, and you get the fresh air you were looking for from the speed Ekko’s driving to get you home.

But when you pull into the driveway of your home, there’s already a car waiting for you, and there stands your father with his arms crossed and pure fury in his eyes.

And you’re in so much fucking trouble.

The others attempt to plead your case, in good ways and in bad, as the man scolds everyone in sight.

“Mister, we just went out to dance.”

“She’s not a child you know, you can’t keep her cooped up here forever.”

“Please just understand.”

Everything goes in one ear and out the other, because in the chaos silently sits you and Violet. You’re still breathless, and this headache is gonna last longer than you want it to, but you relax into the warmth of Vi for one last time.

You pull back, ignoring the spike of pain that flashes across your brain, and turn to the girl with a tight lipped smile. “I’m sorry, you guys should just go.”

She looks pained, like she wants to say something, she wants to help. But she nods, placing a chaste kiss to your temple just as you’re sliding out of the truck bed and over to your father. He hastily drags you inside while you bid farewell to your moping knights.

With every inch of your worn down heart, you love Violet Lane.

And you’re not an idiot, you’re sure she loves you too.

That’s what makes coming to a conclusion impossible on almost every level.

Your physical heart says this is the most idiotic decision you’ve made in your entire life. You’ve had worse symptoms than normal, you’re putting yourself in danger in the name of ‘fun’, and the thought that’s lingering in the back of everyone’s mind is one you can’t ignore: just how long will you make it?

Your mental heart says this is the best thing you’ve ever done. You’re happy, you’re in love, you have real friends, and you’re finally starting to see the point in living. Not just from a tv screen or the books your father supplies, but through your own eyes and experiences. And even though your father seemed overbearing, you know he’s afraid. He’s taken on all of the worry and stress so that you don’t have to. If you wanted something to change, you had to take the leap yourself. But you’re not sure you can.

There’s six knocks at the door, and you stay seated in your position on the couch. “It’s open,” you call out.

The clack of familiar boots enter the room, and a wave of musk and amber suffocate you when Vi walks past you to sit at your side.

It’s silent. Not your comfortable, daydream filled state of silence that Vi could watch you in forever. It’s awkward, strangulating silence, and she can’t take it.

“Yesterday was..”

“...amazing.” “A mistake.”

You speak at the same time, eyes flickering at each other's response.

“What are you talking about?” Vi asks, setting her textbooks down. You don’t miss the newfound waver in the back of her voice.

You don’t respond. You don’t want to go through with this conversation.

“..Is this about the hickey?” she flashes a strained smile, “I’m sorry if he saw it, doll. Reall–”

“This isn’t a joke, Violet.” you finally speak, eyes strictly trained down on your fiddling hands in your lap. The tears are bubbling at your eyelids and that itchy, sore feeling is crawling its way up your throat.

“Then what is it about? You and your dad? Look, I can talk to him, I’ll make things right.” Her voice is increasingly wavered, desperate, scared.

“Our–” you inhale a shaky breath, “– this, us, whatever we are is an inconvenience. An inconvenience to my father, an inconvenience to my health, an inconvenience to you.” Your voice breaks with the last word. “I’m a burden Violet, face it.”

You can’t see it with the tears blurring your vision, but Vi’s shaking her head in horror. “No. No, what are you going on about? You aren–”

“God just face it, Vi. All you wanted was to love a girl and you got a defective one.” You spit the words out like they sting on your tongue. “Soon, you’ll be annoyed by everything I can’t do and bored of everything I can.”

“Maybe we’re just not…” you can’t continue as silent tears transform into quiet little sobs.

Vi’s heart aches as she kneels down on the floor in front of you, examining your now puffy eyes and tear stained cheeks. She wants nothing more than to kiss the pain away, but first she has to fix that worrisome little mind of yours.

One hand intertwines with your anxious ones, and the other reaches up as rough fingers delicately hold your chin, a soft thumb rubs back and forth against your cheek. She whispers out your name with a voice that’s holding back sadness of her own. When you’re finally ready to look at her, she smiles delicately.

“You don’t know how bad I want you. But I’ll wait until the end of time if you ask me to. I’d lasso the moon and bring it down for you if you asked.” You recognize her sweet words from your first date, and you’re weakly melting into the palm of her hand that’s sliding to cup your face.

“I meant it then, and I mean it now,” she whispers. “I will never be annoyed by what you can or can’t do– god, I'd sit here and talk to you about slugs all day everyday if that’s what you really wanted.” That has you scoffing, fighting back a smile at her silly words.

“Love isn’t about the activities you can or can’t do, it’s about a connection, our connection, and what we do with it. So, you can get rid of me if this is all true and that’s what you really want, but I will never stop loving you.” She’s speaking so sweetly, and before she even finishes her sentence you’ve made up your mind.

“You’re good for my heart, cherry.”

Those are the last words she can get out before you’re throwing yourself forward and locking lips with the love of your life.

It starts off slow, soft, an apology for the rollercoaster of emotions and blunder of nonsense you put yourselves through. Then, Vi’s hands are cupping your face and the back of your head while yours are thrown around her neck. It’s needier, sloppier, and her tongue slipping into your mouth shows it’s moved from an apology to ‘let me make you feel better’.

You hum into the kisses with pleasure, but you wanted more. Needed more. Without hesitation, you slip a hand under Vi’s tight t-shirt, running a hand up and down her abs.

The action sends a shiver down her spine, and you gasp in surprise when the sculpted girl wraps your legs around her waist and lifts you into her arms.

You’re giggling as she walks up the stairs and into your bedroom. Your litter smooches down her jaw and to that neglected neck, mimicking what she’s done for you. Vi slips a hand under the back of your shirt, making you hum into her neck at the warmth.

Pop.

A devilish grin graces your angelic face when you pull back, eyes flickering from Violet’s to the bruise on her neck.

The girl grins, catching your mouth in a wet kiss. “You’re asking for more, y’know,” she warns, and her lustful eyes are turning your brain to mush.

“Good. I want more. Need you all over me,”

Your confident words are canceled out by a sweet gasp that leaves you when Vi bucks her hips.

“You’ve gotta say it then,” she orders.

“Say.. what?”

She chuckles. “Tell me what you want, baby.”

You swear there’s a pool of slick in your underwear.

“Want you to fuck me till I cum, please please please,” you beg, hiding in the crook of her neck.

“Fuck,” is all she can choke out, because she’s never wanted wanted a girl this fucking much. Your begging is all she needs to hear before she’s stripping you out of your top, unclasping your pretty bra with one hand, and flipping you over onto your back.

You’re throwing your head back with a soft moan, running a hand through her pink strands while Vi latches onto one of your rock hard nipples. Her hand trails down your abdomen and to your pretty little skirt. The fabric slides down your legs and off your delicate ankles, and the girl’s gawking at your panties.

“Vi, please please,” you moan in impatience.

She lets out a cruel chuckle, fingertips pulling down the fabric that’s completely drenched by your arousal.

Holy fuck.

She’s moving faster now, pulling her shirt over her head, and you don’t have a chance to drool over her bare muscles as she sits against the headboard of the bed and pulls you back by your hips into her lap.

Your back’s pressed against her chest, and she pulls your legs apart making cool air attacking your lips. One arm hooks under your knee and holds tight, making sure you stay perfectly spread for her.

“Suck,” she whispers, and two of her calloused fingers are shoved in your mouth. You swirl your tongue around the nubs, letting drool pool around them as Vi looks down at you like she wants to ravish you.

“Wanted to touch you like this for so long.”

Her fingers are dragging out of your mouth and down to your sensitive slit to your swollen clit. You’re already messily bucking your hips against her as she pushes soft circles against your bundle of nerves.

She relishes in the way your eyes roll back before she decides she’s done being a tease, sinking her wet fingers into you three full knuckles deep.

“Violet– holy fuck yesyesyes,” you whine, quickly closing your legs at the newfound pleasure. But Vi’s pulling them right back apart as she pumps into you faster.

She peppers kisses on your temple, whispering sweet nothings about how you’re ‘so damn pretty’ and she’s been dying to see your ‘fucked out face’.

“Yeah, oh fuuck.” you squirm under her control, a knot of passion and pleasure building in your gut.

“Yeah? Yeah, baby?” She speaks breathily. The way she’s mocking you and the depth her fingers are reaching is sending you right over the edge. Your toes curl while writhing pleasure shoots through your body, and all you can see is stars.

“Fuck fuck, I’m– hah,”

Vi’s shushing you softly, keeping her speed and strength as your cunt tightens around her fingers.

Your moans are like angels blessing your ears as you cum, gushing on her skilled fingers.

The only noises in the room are your exhausted pants, the slick of your cunt as Vi pulls her fingers out terribly slow, and the bed shifting under the absence and reappearance of pure muscle.

Except this time, the pinkette’s knelt in front of the bed.

She pulls you to the edge by the soft skin of your thighs, and piercing blue eyes joined by a warm pink tongue threaten to have you wheel-chair bound by morning.

“Let me clean you up, angel.”

Despite being near nothing but muscle, Vi’s bare body is incredibly comfortable.

“And he made a giant splotch of paint on the wall with his ass.”

You gasp, choking out a little giggle of shock as Vi tells you stories of her childhood, specifically all the stupid situations they got themselves into. The just-right bath water is engulfing your intertwined bodies. Vi’s fingers are threading through your hair as your head rests on her shoulder. Your body sits in between her legs, and your arms lazily drape around her waist.

“How mad was Vander?” you ask.

“He just… laughed. I’ve never really seen him mad, just disappointed at times.” She shrugs. “He knows kids make stupid mistakes, learn, and grow.”

You hum, nuzzling further into her. “I hope I’m that calm when I’m a mom,”

You pause.

“If I’m a mom.”

That strikes right through Violet’s swollen heart, and she shakes her head, holding you a little closer.

“You’re gonna be perfect.” She reassures. “Josie.. Gunner.. Rusty, Daisy, and our big beautiful city house are going to be so lucky to have you. I’m so lucky to have you. Never gettin’ rid of me.

You smile against her skin, placing a loving kiss.

“Even if it takes ages for my pops to understand?” you mutter.

“I don’t care if it takes a millennium.” she states confidently, a tender kiss graces your forehead before she looks you in the eyes.

“I love you, cherry.”

And this time, you’re done holding back.

“I love you, Violet.”

Your fingers, hearts, and lips intertwined as you share your most passionate kiss yet, one of the many for years to come.

Five years, to be exact.

And five years later, as the blood refuses to circulate throughout your body and your heart ceases to beat, you die in Violet's arms.

Through her sobs and shattered heart, she can only smile at the fact that all the way until your death, she helped you truly live.

silknspice

#vi x reader #vi arcane #arcane fanfic #arcane #vi fanfic #vi smut #wlw #sapphic #vi imagines #arcane vi x reader #vi league of legends

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andr0nap · 9 months ago

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spontaneous au created after the new monster hunter game announcement and being thoroughly bullied by my twitter followers to give into temptation

#trigun stampede #trigun #monster hunter #mhw #vash the stampede #nicholas d. wolfwood #vashwood #monster hunter au #i actually made a hunter in mhw based on vash #i really need to play again #and get back to this brrr

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imonanotherlebel · 5 months ago

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Seventeen Members React to Their Partner Initiating Sex at an Unusual Time

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Warnings: nsfw, Minors DNI

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S.Coups

Seungcheol would be caught off guard but immediately turned on. If you try to get frisky during a serious moment, like in the middle of a meeting or while he’s working, he’d give you a stern look, but it wouldn’t last long. The second you start teasing him, he’d smirk and say something like, "You really can’t wait, can you?" He loooves the bratty side of you, and he loves to play into it. He’d take a moment to find a way to get you both alone, where he’d make sure to reward you for your boldness. He will NOT be soft.

Jeonghan

Jeonghan would love the thrill of it. If you start touching him during a movie or try to get handsy when you’re out somewhere, he’d play along with a mischievous smile. "You’re really in the mood now?" he’d tease, clearly enjoying the situation. He’d take his time, dragging out the moment just to see how desperate you can get before finally pulling you somewhere private to finish what you started.

Joshua

Joshua would be a bit surprised at first but secretly thrilled. If you initiate in a situation like during a meeting or when you’re supposed to be focusing on something else, he’d blush slightly and try to keep his composure. But your persistence would get to him, and soon enough, he’d give in, finding a way to slip away with you. "You’re going to get us in trouble," he’d whisper, but the excitement in his voice would betray him as he pulls you close.

Jun

Jun would be all for it. He’s always up for a little spontaneity, so if you start making moves in an unexpected place, like in the middle of a dinner or while out with friends, he’d get excited right away. "You’re so bad," he’d whisper, grinning as he starts playing along. He’d find a way to make it happen, taking you somewhere more private and making sure you both enjoy the thrill of the moment.

Hoshi

Hoshi would be surprised but very excited. If you start teasing him during something like a practice session or while you’re supposed to be watching a show, he’d try to focus but quickly give in to the temptation. "You really want to do this now?" he’d ask, his voice filled with excitement. He’d sneak you away as soon as he could, loving the rush of doing something so risky. He loves to match your freak.

Wonwoo

Wonwoo might seem reserved, but the idea of you initiating at an unusual time would awaken something in him. If you try to distract him during a quiet moment, like while he’s reading or working, he’d be surprised but intrigued. He’d put down whatever he was doing, giving you a look that says you’re in for it now. He’d take his time getting you alone, loving the idea of giving in to your desires when you least expect it. He would try to show you that he disapproves of it, but will take control and fuck you senseless either way. "Tsk, you really are a bad girl y/n"

Woozi

Woozi would be caught off guard, especially if you start teasing him while he’s in the studio or focused on his work. He’d give you a look that’s part amusement, part disbelief. "You’re really going to try that now?" he’d ask, but he wouldn’t be able to resist for long. Once you have his attention, he’d find a way to wrap things up quickly so he can give you his full focus, making sure the wait was worth it.

DK would be surprised but definitely excited. If you start touching him during something like a concert or when you’re out in public, he’d get flustered but wouldn’t want to stop you. "Are you serious right now?" he’d ask with a laugh, but the excitement in his eyes would be clear. He’d try to keep it together until he could get you alone, where he’d let all that built-up tension out.

Mingyu

Mingyu would be instantly turned on. If you start making moves during an unexpected moment, like in the middle of a social event, he’d smirk and play along immediately. "You just can’t wait, can you?" he’d whisper in your ear, running a finger down your back, tracing your spine, loving the thrill of it. His breath on your skin sending shivers down your spine. It would turn a switch on him, making him dominant instantly. He’d find a way to sneak away with you, where he’d be more than ready to satisfy your sudden urges. But be careful. He does not stop with one round.

The8

The8 would be calm on the surface but secretly very into it. If you initiate in a moment that catches him off guard, like during a dinner, he’d give you a look that says he’s intrigued. He wouldn’t rush it, though. He’d enjoy the anticipation, dragging out the moment until you’re practically begging for more. "You're needy for me, baby? Beg for it," he'd whisper in your ear as he slid his hand between your thighs. Then he’d take you somewhere private and make sure it was worth the wait.

Seungkwan

Seungkwan would be flustered but excited. If you start teasing him during an unexpected time, like during a serious conversation or while out with friends, he’d blush and try to keep it together. "Are you crazy?" he’d whisper, but the excitement would be clear in his voice. He’d try to find a way to sneak away with you, where he’d let go and fully indulge in the moment, making sure you both enjoy the thrill.

Vernon

Vernon would be surprised but quickly catch on to the idea. If you start making a move in a quiet moment, like while watching a movie or during a low-key hangout with friends, he’d smirk and play it cool. "You’re really trying to start something now?" he’d ask, clearly intrigued. He’d go along with it, finding a way to slip away with you so you can continue without any interruptions.

Dino

Dino would be a mix of surprise and excitement. If you initiate during an unexpected time, like in the middle of a game or while you’re supposed to be doing something else, he’d be a bit flustered but very into it. "You’re really in the mood now?" he’d ask with a grin, already thinking of how to make it happen. He’d find a way to sneak off with you, eager to do all things imaginable.

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majikkulu · 2 months ago

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━━ ❝MASTERLIST❞

these are my personal observations and may not resonate with everyone. please take them with a grain of salt, as i'm not a professional astrologer! :))

asteroid pandora (55) in astrology shows where curiosity drives you to explore the unknown, often bringing surprises or unforeseen consequences. where pandora is in your chart hints at what fascinates you and may lead to exciting discoveries or unexpected challenges.

ᴘᴀɴᴅᴏʀᴀ ɪɴ ᴀʀɪᴇꜱ / 1ꜱᴛ ʜᴏᴜꜱᴇ

people with this placement feel a pull toward adventure and risk-taking. they’re often spontaneous and willing to try new things on impulse, especially when it comes to their personal style or appearance. they might experiment with bold looks or unique personas, which can make them seem unpredictable or hard to pin down. this energy can reveal hidden strengths and insecurities, shaping their sense of identity through trial and error.

ᴘᴀɴᴅᴏʀᴀ ɪɴ ᴛᴀᴜʀᴜꜱ / 2ɴᴅ ʜᴏᴜꜱᴇ

here, curiosity revolves around beauty, comfort, and security. people may explore various ways to build wealth or surround themselves with things that feel luxurious. this placement can lead to sudden changes in financial habits or unexpected temptations around materialism. they might question what truly matters to them, realizing that not all comforts

ᴘᴀɴᴅᴏʀᴀ ɪɴ ɢᴇᴍɪɴɪ / 3ʀᴅ ʜᴏᴜꜱᴇ

this placement brings an endless thirst for knowledge, leading people to jump from one topic to another. they’re drawn to gossip and can surprise others with their communication style. their curiosity may bring a constant stream of news and fresh perspectives, but this can also create mental clutter, making it hard to focus deeply on one thing. they tend to explore new ideas and can be scattered, occasionally doing too much at once.

ᴘᴀɴᴅᴏʀᴀ ɪɴ ᴄᴀɴᴄᴇʀ / 4ᴛʜ ʜᴏᴜꜱᴇ

people with pandora here feel naturally drawn to explore their emotional life and family bonds. they may dig into family history, bringing hidden family secrets to light, which can either heal or complicate relationships. this placement makes them very empathic, so they may experience intense emotional encounters. their curiosity around home and family shapes their inner world, pushing them to redefine their roots and values.

ᴘᴀɴᴅᴏʀᴀ ɪɴ ʟᴇᴏ / 5ʜ ʜᴏᴜꜱᴇ

those with this placement have a strong desire to stand out and may attract both admiration and drama. they are often drawn to the spotlight, and this can bring sudden attention or criticism. they experiment with self-expression, often taking bold, creative risks. their curiosity might lead them into exciting or brief romantic experiences, seeking passion and adventure in love.

ᴘᴀɴᴅᴏʀᴀ ɪɴ ᴠɪʀɢᴏ / 6ᴛʜ ʜᴏᴜꜱᴇ

curiosity here centers around health, self-care, and daily routines. people may experiment with wellness practices, diets, or exercise routines. they are drawn to explore details and may develop a tendency to over-analyze, which can bring anxiety or frustration. they may encounter sudden shifts in their routines or at work, pushing them to adapt quickly and learn flexibility.

ᴘᴀɴᴅᴏʀᴀ ɪɴ ʟɪʙʀᴀ / 7ᴛʜ ʜᴏᴜꜱᴇ

this placement attracts people to unique or unconventional relationships. they may be fascinated by charming or mysterious partners and could experience shifting dynamics in relationships or partnerships. this curiosity reveals deeper truths about themselves and others, often challenging them to balance personal needs with those of their partners, which can bring growth in their approach to relationships.

ᴘᴀɴᴅᴏʀᴀ ɪɴ ꜱᴄᴏʀᴘɪᴏ / 8ᴛʜ ʜᴏᴜꜱᴇ

people here are drawn to deep mysteries and the unknown, often exploring taboo topics or intense emotional experiences. they feel a pull toward spirituality or the transformative aspects of life and are unafraid to confront their own fears. this curiosity pushes them to discover hidden parts of themselves and face their deepest fears, growing through profound personal evolution.

ᴘᴀɴᴅᴏʀᴀ ɪɴ ꜱᴀɢɪᴛᴛᴀʀɪᴜꜱ / 9ᴛʜ ʜᴏᴜꜱᴇ

with this placement, curiosity leads to a search for truth and a desire to explore different cultures and belief systems. they may frequently question their values or beliefs, leading to open-mindedness and growth. their curiosity about the world might spark an interest in travel or philosophy, helping them understand life on a broader scale.

ᴘᴀɴᴅᴏʀᴀ ɪɴ ᴄᴀᴘʀɪᴄᴏʀɴ / 10ᴛʜ ʜᴏᴜꜱᴇ

those with this placement experience curiosity around reputation and career, often feeling drawn to explore new roles or professional challenges. they may experiment with different career paths, sometimes drawn to roles with status or influence. this can lead to quick shifts in their public image, testing their patience and commitment in the face of public perception and authority.

ᴘᴀɴᴅᴏʀᴀ ɪɴ ᴀQᴜᴀʀɪᴜꜱ / 11ᴛʜ ʜᴏᴜꜱᴇ

here, people are drawn to unique social circles and unconventional ideas. they may find themselves exploring new social ideals and forming unexpected friendships. their curiosity pushes them to connect with people who think differently, often questioning where they truly fit in. this placement encourages them to embrace their authentic selves and find communities that resonate with their values.

ᴘᴀɴᴅᴏʀᴀ ɪɴ ᴘɪꜱᴄᴇꜱ / 12ᴛʜ ʜᴏᴜꜱᴇ

this placement draws people toward spirituality, mysticism, and the subconscious mind. they might explore dreams, fantasies, or other hidden aspects of their psyche. this curiosity can lead them to seek artistic inspiration or deep spiritual insights, often helping them confront suppressed emotions or illusions. pandora here invites them to balance their imagination with reality, exploring the mystical parts of life in a grounded way.

#divination #astrology #astro community #astro notes #astrology signs #astro tumblr #astrology blog #astro observations #astro placements #astrology placements #astrology content #astrology notes #astrology observations #astroblr #astrology community #asteroids

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literaryvein-reblogs · 2 months ago

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Writing Notes: The Arcana Interpretations

symbolism for your next poem/story (pt. 1)

1. The Magician

The beginning, the first cause, Mercurial influence

Good: Dexterity, ability, diplomacy, eloquence, convincing ways, an alert mind, a quick mind, business acumen

Bad: A persuasive boaster, an illusionist, intrigue, careerist, politician, charlatan, imposter, liar, a crook, an exploiter; an agitator, a lack of scruples

2. The Priestess

Mystery, intuition, devotion, passive Saturnian influence

Good: reserved, discreet, quiet, meditation, faith, patient, religious feelings, resignation, modesty; necessary inaction

Bad: hidden intentions, dissimulation, hypocrisy, inaction, laziness, sanctimonious, holds a grudge, an indifferent disposition, interest in the mystical

3. The Empress

Prudence, discretion, idealism and intellectual solar influence

Good: Understanding, intelligence, instruction, charm, courteous, sociable, elegance, distinction, politeness; domination by the mind, abundance, riches; servility

Bad: Affectation, poseur, stylish, vanity, pretentious, disdain, frivolity, idleness, luxury, extravagant; sensitivity to flattery, lack of refinement, ways of nouveaux riche

4. The Emperor

Firm, positivism, executive power, Saturnian-Martial influence

Good: Right, rigid, certitude, fixed ideas, realization, perseverance, strong willpower, acts on decisions; powerful protector

Bad: Tenuous opposition, stubborn, hostile prejudice, opinionated, bad government, big risks of failure; tyranny, absolutism

5. The Pope

Duty, morality, conscience, Jupiterian influence

Good: Moral authority, respectability, teaching, good advice, goodwill, indulgent, generosity, forgiveness; meekness

Bad: Papal sentence, strict moralist, strict teacher, small-minded theorist, bombastic preacher; an adviser with a lank of practical sense

6. The Lovers

Feelings, freewilled, testing, double influence of Venus or more exactly Ishtar the war like star of the morning, then amorous as the stars go down

Good: Voluntary determinism, choice, wished, aspirations, desires; examinations, deliberations, responsibility; affections

Bad: To go through doubts and indecision; dangerous temptation, the risk of being seduced, misconduct, liberty, weakness, lack of heroism

7. The Chariot

Triumph, command, superiority, Martian-solar influence

Good: Legitimate success, deserved advancement, talent, health, aptitudes put to good effect; governmental tact, diplomacy, efficient direction, appeasement; progress, mobility, journeys on land

Bad: Unjustified ambition, lack of talent, usurped situation, illegitimate government, dictatorship, harmful concessions, dangerous opportunism, worrying about which way to go, preoccupations, overworked, feverish activity without rest

8. Justice

Order, regularity, method, equilibrium, placid lunar influences

Good: Stability, conservatism, organization, normal functioning; law, discipline, logic, coordination, adapting to necessities, moderate opinions, practical sense, reason, administration, economy, obedience

Bad: Bourgeoisism, submission to users, lack of initiative, slaving over books, functionalism, papers; police station; legal dispute, law suit, quarrel, exploitation of the legal system

9. The Hermit

Prudence, reserve, restriction, Saturnian influence

Good: Isolation, concentration, silence, profoundness, meditation, study; austerity, continence, sobriety, discretion; doctor, discreet occultist

Bad: Timid, misanthrope, mute, exaggerated circumspection, lack of sociability, sullen character; avarice, poverty, celibacy, chaste; conspirator

10. The Wheel of Fortune

Destiny, instability, lunar-Mercurial influence

Good: Sagacity, an opportunist, luck in all undertakings, luck, fortuitous success; spontaneity, an inventive disposition, liveliness, good humour

Bad: Carelessness, speculation, game, insecurity, unserious, the unexpected, gypsy character; unstable situation, sudden change, winnings and losses; adventures, risks, minor fortune

11. Strength

Virtue, courage, Jupiter-Mars influence

Good: Moral energy, calm, intrepid; mind over matter; intelligence conquering brutality; subjugation of passions; success in industry

Bad: Anger, impatience, immoderate enthusiasm, insensibility, cruelty, fighting, war, conquering with violence, a surgical operation, vehemence, discord, fire

Source ⚜ More: Writing Notes & References ⚜ On Tarot

#tarot #major arcana #writing reference #writeblr #dark academia #spilled ink #writing inspiration #writers on tumblr #literature #writing prompt #poets on tumblr #poetry #fantasy #writing prompts #creative writing #lit #light academia #writing ideas #writing resources

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amorisxx · 2 months ago

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Art (esp Dilf!Art) likes to do that thing where he turns on some music and comes to you with a glass of wine or champagne and a smug smile on his face.

He’ll grab your hand and plant a little kiss on it before basically tugging you to dance with him.

He likes to play a lot of oldies. Think the Temptations (my girl), old Stevie Wonder songs like My Cherie Amour, Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding. (He spent a lot of time with his grandma, and she’d play a lot of this music so he has a fondness for it)

He probably collects records tbh, so it’s a regular thing of his. He enjoys having soft background music. He’ll play it while cooking a meal or doing household chores.

Art knows how to cook and will often cook meals for his significant other. I’m dying on this hill.

But oftentimes he just likes to grab you spontaneously and gently sway to the music. Especially if you’re stressed or in a low mood. It’s his way of cheering you up or getting you out of bed and moving around.

#art donaldson headcanons #challengers #art donaldson #my headcanons #dilf!art #art donaldson x reader #it’s raining and I started playing motown music and I was like I just know Art would be into this

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ryssabrin · 6 days ago

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i feel like people who don’t like solas or solavellan have such a warped perspective of what the romance is and how fans of it actually engage in it. like i’ve seen a lot of (most likely het dudes lol) on reddit say they tried it to see what the fuss was but felt it was “demeaning” and i’ve seen it described as literally a horror story where solas is manipulating and using and lying to a young impressionable lavellan who gives up her entire identity for him and becomes a complete doormat to all the awful shit he does. that’s never been my experience and i kinda just want to ramble about how i see it and what i find romantic about it?

so full disclosure, if veilguard had come out a few years ago with how they portrayed lavellan and solavellan i might have been pretty disappointed. i think there is a subset of the solavellan fanbase that likes the wolf/halla or student/professor thing and they play their lavellan younger and agreeing almost without question to everything solas says. i see the appeal but i never played my lavellan that way and i really like the dynamic of it when lavellan actually goes against his advice at times. solas is a character that needs to have his preconceived biases questioned. especially in inquisition when he’s still coming to terms with the fact that the modern people of thedas are in fact people lol. so i was concerned at the prospect of my lavellan being taken out of my hands and having to listen to her make excuses for him and submit to everything he says. (which tbf i don’t think is how she actually comes across in dav, but that was a worry.)

however when i replayed my canon dai run this year, i realized i was closer to the age i always saw my lavellan as (early 30s), and as my lavellan is probably the bioware pc i’ve always played closest to my own personality, i took the opportunity to tweak her a bit and make some different choices. i’ve (hopefully lol) matured and grown a lot since i was 24 and so rather than going for the snarky sarcastic cool girl vibes i opted to play her with more diplomatic and caring choices. it made me see the solas romance in a completely new light. rather than some sort of student/professor dynamic or a pride and prejudice-esque rivals-to-lovers vibe where lavellan is fighting for his respect the whole time, what stuck out to me was how much their connection builds simply because lavellan is kind to solas. she hears him out when he wants to give his opinions and advice, she respects his expertise on the fade and spirits, and she offers him comfort and friendship when she sees he needs it. she impresses him because he finds himself wanting to indulge in her closeness. he finds a connection to someone he never expected to and it makes him rethink everything about the broken state he put the world in.

it’s worth noting that lavellan is always making the first move. she kisses him first, she pursues him. he tries to brush off the kiss as a spontaneous lapse in judgement and she doesn't let him. he only ever gives in to her advances, he doesn't make them himself. he calls their relationship "selfish" on his end. he knows he shouldn't be encouraging her but he can't help but long for her companionship. that being said though if lavellan shuts it down he respects it. he probably feels a little relief because the temptation is now out of his hands lol.

i feel like there’s also this perception that he’s constantly shitting on the dalish while lavellan just has to put up with it and that alone is reason enough to find the relationship demeaning. he mentions the dalish in one optional conversation chain where you ask him for his opinion on the state of the elves and then in the balcony scene where he realizes he’s misjudged the inquisitor after his personal quest. in both instances, lavellan can stick up for the dalish. in the optional conversation, lavellan can say that if solas had a bad experience with a clan once (which we know from dav is exactly what happened lol), that she’d like to correct that misunderstanding about her people.

it's worth noting as well that lavellan doesn't know solas is the dread wolf when he's criticizing the dalish. from her perspective, he's essentially a city-born elf who had some dalish look down their nose at him for not being a "true elf" like they are, something that not only happens in canon throughout the games and lavellan would be aware of, but literally happens to solas specifically, right in front of you. he doesn't say a single word to mihris and she doesn't know a thing about him other than his face is bare and thus feels comfortable referring to him with what is essentially a slur. but rather than confront her directly about it he just passive aggressively speaks to her in elven almost exclusively for the rest of the quest lol.

far from the dynamic being that lavellan is just putting up with someone talking down to her about her culture, i think it's reasonable to see her view is more that they're both members of the same marginalized group, but from different cultures. his position in criticizing the dalish is not punching down it's lateral. she loves her culture, but is able to recognize it has flaws and not every member in it treats other cultures well, particularly even when they're from the same marginalized group. (and it's also just really meaningful that the first "flirt" option you get in the solas romance is lavellan recognizing that solas has put himself in a very vulnerable position as an elven apostate joining the chantry-led inquisition and with whatever power she has she will make sure that it's not held against him.)

i do think the writing conveys that he does have his mind changed about the dalish at least a little bit, but one of his pet peeves is when people are ignorant and refuse any information that challenges their worldview. as a manifested wisdom spirit, it is a particular sticking point to him to not be listened to when he is providing knowledge. i think criticism of how he is towards the dalish is lacking without taking into account his nature as a spirit. obvs we didn’t know that in dai but we do now. when wisdom isn't listened to it turns to pride. "i told you so," "i'll prove i'm right," "you should have listened to me," etc. etc. he got his feelings hurt when the dalish didn't believe him (and according to dav, literally tried to kill him) and his ego's held a grudge ever since.

when it comes to the vallaslin, to me it’s less about solas wanting to dismantle part of dalish culture (he offers no actual opinion on the dalish during that scene) and more that it clearly bothers him a lot that he fought so hard to free the elves from slavery and the one community of elves that’s closest to the descendants of the people he wanted to free still wears tattoos honoring the very tyrants he wanted to free them from. if lavellan says she wants to keep them and that the dalish reclaimed them and they mean something else to her, he doesn’t argue. i actually don’t like that solas’s post breakup banter with cole implies that lavellan thinks he might have broken up with her over the vallaslin. it’s putting thoughts in the head of my character that i personally don’t see her having. the way the breakup plays out, there’s not a single indication that it has anything to do with the vallaslin. i like to pick the “i believe in us” option because it shows lavellan having some idea that there’s something solas isn’t telling her and that’s the main reason he’s walking away. and the irony of course is that we learn in dav that that was the moment he came the closest to just giving up everything to just be with her.

so when i played through dav with my solasmance lavellan and she talks about what drew her to him it all just felt so right. he was kind and wise and sad but he made her feel like she was the only thing that mattered to him. (and that was very almost true!) there was a passion and intensity to their relationship that made her think he was the person she wanted to be with forever. when she says "i thought i would have followed anywhere he asked me to" you could read it as her saying she would have joined him in tearing down the veil if he asked and depending on your lavellan that might be true (though in the next bit she talks about how she would have been trying to change his mind anyways). but you could also read it as what her mindset was while she was with him during dai. before joining the inquisition, she knew him to be someone that traveled the world looking for lost secrets and history. why would she not have wanted to join him in that? is that not something you do when you're in love with someone?

something else that i find really compelling about solavellan is how solas relates to the inquisitor (not just lavellan) as a figurehead stripped of their personal identity. he knows from personal experience exactly what that's like. in the romances (not just solas's), the inquisitor is able to find someone that knows and cares for them for who they are, not what they represent. this aspect of the inquisitor's arc is honestly why i like keeping the vallaslin. my lavellan wants people to be able to look at her as the inquisitor and see a dalish elf. it's one small act of defiance and in reclaiming her own narrative. so thinking about what she might want to do after her responsibilities to the inquisition are over, it's reasonable to think she might want to just go wherever solas goes? because she loves him and feels like herself around him. even her asking him to let her come with him in trespasser feels more motivated by the fact that lavellan sees solas isolating himself and closing himself off and she's sad about it because she cares about him. that was why she wanted to grow close to him in the first place.

and i genuinely don't think it's all that wild that lavellan still holds a torch for solas 10 years later. i personally was friends with this guy in high school i always had a crush on, and towards the end of senior year it looked like it could actually end up turning into something. but then he immediately left for a summer abroad after graduation and eventually moved out of the country full time for school. we kept in touch off and on and caught up when he was in town, but nothing romantic ever happened. for years after i would catch myself thinking every so often what could have been and what he was up to. for solavellan, they were actually together. they had mutually expressed feelings and though their time together was maybe a few months at most, it was intense and passionate. they split up not because anyone's feelings changed, but because of solas's baggage. it's really not unrealistic for lavellan to continue wondering to herself what would have happened if he had been honest with her sooner. if she could have convinced him to change course. and it's not like she has the luxury of retiring and just not thinking about him anymore. that's not a conscious manipulation on solas's part to string her along, that's just the reality of their situation.

and even with all that in mind, in dav lavellan is still able to have the self-awareness to understand that the good in him that she believes exists and all that they had together and what she meant to him could all just be wishful thinking on her part. that she's giving him the benefit of the doubt "imagining his broken heart" when he doesn't deserve it because it makes her feel less foolish. she's not blindly faithful to him. i just loved everything about that scene and every word out of my lavellan's mouth felt spot on and perfect for how i saw their relationship. i could not have been more relieved lol.

as for the ending, i really really dislike the bad faith read that the only thing that matters is mythal and that he somehow loves mythal more and if that weren't true then lavellan alone would be able to convince him to stop. varric says about solas that he wants to be a hero, but it's easier for him to play the villain because it means he didn't fail, everything bad he's done is a choice. once you've done one bad thing, betrayed one friend, manipulated and sacrificed some pawns, committed one lil genocide, etc. lmao, it becomes easier to do it again. you've already crossed your moral event horizon and now you just have to find an end that justifies the means of all your misdeeds. what i've said about solas before is that what's frustrating is that he does genuinely feel remorse about the shit he does, but he needs to believe it's necessary and he will keep doing it. he needs to believe it will all be worth it in the end. it's not that he thinks feeling sorry makes up for it necessarily, but that he had to do it. he had to be the one taking on all of the bad things to hopefully one day do a good thing and it will all work out.

(as a side note when solas says "i would not have you see what i become" in trespasser i always thought that meant he was going to resort to some awful corruptive magic or something but it turns out what he actually meant was "i'm about to be a real asshole and do some incredibly awful things and i don't want you to see that side of me" which is much sadder.)

so when rook says "you don't have to do this" solas counters with "i've betrayed and fucked over and killed so many people who trusted me and if i stop i will have done that for nothing." so then the inquisitor jumps in with "as one of those people, i'm telling you that you can stop." but then we get to the heart of it. he thinks he failed mythal when she died the first time and was unwilling to listen to her as flemeth. he needs to make that mean something. he needs to justify to himself what mythal made him into. so he needs to hear from his mythal, not morrigan's mythal who has the benefit of the wisdom and hindsight centuries of living among mortals gave her, but his mythal, the one closest to who she was when she died that what he is is broken. that she's the one that broke him and he alone doesn't have to bear the weight of everything he did because of her. it's not about loving her, it's about the specific relationship he had with her. with that baggage unpacked, he's not only able to let go of his prideful need to prove himself right by tearing down the veil, he's also free to choose what he always really wanted: lavellan.

and still! yet again! he does not ask or assume anything on her part. she offers! of her own free will. something that really rustles my jimmies about a lot of solavellan criticism is that people act like lavellan has no agency. that she couldn't possibly make the choices she does of her own accord and it has to be solas manipulating her. that has never rang true to me at all. she always made the first move. i think this more uncharitable read might unfortunately be encouraged by how many actual solavellan shippers play into the wolf/halla thing but i personally don't think that's the dynamic that weekes actually wrote. it is lavellan that pursues solas, not the other way around. and weekes was honestly so careful in how they wrote the romance so that when solas's identity and plans are revealed, it doesn't feel like he intentionally tricked you or took advantage. i actually really like the ambiguity of whether or not they slept together because to me it does feel like that's a line solas wouldn't cross, but i get why that doesn't matter as much to other solasmancers.

i also think there's this perception that solavellan is a ship with an unhealthy power dynamic that needs to be "fixed" in some way or at the very least apologized for before you're allowed to like it. for me it's honestly kind of the appeal? not that there's some goofy dom/sub thing going on lol but that in spite of how "superior" solas may or may not feel to lavellan and the modern elves, he still falls hook line and fucking sinker for her. lavellan has so much more power in the relationship than she realizes. she changes his entire perspective on modern elves and his ultimate goals so bad he had a complete crisis of faith and had to run as far away from her as he could. how could he have broken the world so badly he needs to catastrophically break it again to fix it if it could create someone like her? someone he wants and cares for so desperately? it's the push and pull of him trying to stay away but selfishly indulging as long as he can that's so juicy to me! it's so good and i just wish other people could see that, even if they don't care for the character.

anyways. i don't have a conclusion. i don't want anyone to think i'm vaguing about them. this is honestly the result of some thoughts that have been brewing for a while and a lot of common criticisms i've seen over the years. i didn't want to respond directly to anyone in particular bc i learned my lesson about not doing that waaay back in the shenko fandom iykyk lol. i just really like the ship! i think it's tragic and romantic and lovely and poetic and mythological and all that good stuff. it humanizes solas as a character and makes me think about empathy and compassion and how much faith you can have in someone if you love them. or how it might feel to sacrifice love for something you think you need to do, only to ultimately realize you never did and find that love patiently waiting for you to get your shit together. or to love someone and know they love you back and that they love you so much they had to leave or they would have given up everything they thought they needed for you and then to be able to actually get through to them and get them back. "she could save him if he'd only just let her"! it's a very niche wish fulfillment fantasy and it's me! i'm the fan being serviced!

#madelyn rambles #solavellan #veilguard spoilers #not sorry this is so long lol #i just have a lot of feelings!#and honestly i'm not trying to convert anyone #but while i do find it interesting to read less charitable reads on solas and solavellan #i think it's worth actually being able to communicate why the character and ship work for you #instead of just being antagonistic to someone with a different perspective #or sending them gore videos on twitter to harrass them apparently?#datwt's wild y'all don't even want to know

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zosin-ya · 3 months ago

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ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 9 - ᴄʜᴀᴏᴛɪᴄ ɢᴀɴɢ

Summary: Spending a girls night with you friends, quickly turns into a spontaneous party, with Law being dragged along reluctantly.

tags.: part of the strawhat gang + bonney being your friends, Franky and Robin are married and Luffy not understanding the concept of labor.

a.n.: I love letting Law suffer c:

[ꜱᴛᴏʀʏ ɪɴᴅᴇx]

“What do you mean they were together for a year?” Nami asked, raising an eyebrow as you sat behind her, fingers skillfully braiding her hair. She had been hounding you for some quality girl time lately, especially since you’d been too wrapped up in your new relationship…or whatever you wanted to call it. It felt like forever since you’d hung out with her or her flat mate Bonney.

You sighed, focusing on the steady rhythm of weaving Nami’s soft strands. Across from you, Bonney was lounging in an armchair, her face slathered with a green mask, chomping on crackers with the dedication of a pro athlete. She shot you a skeptical glance beneath her mask. “You at least stalked her, right?”

“She added me on Instagram already, no need,” you replied, still focused on braiding. Bonney’s eyes nearly popped out of her head, like you’d just admitted to committing the biggest faux pas. With a dramatic sigh, she grabbed her phone from the table beside her, unlocking it in one smooth motion.

“Girl, that’s rookie stuff. You gotta dig deeper. What’s her name again? Yuki something?”

“How is any of that gonna help me with this?” you groaned, feeling the heat of frustration rise in your chest.

Nami smirked as she painted her nails, not bothering to hide her amusement. “Oh, come on, don’t you want to know more about Law’s ex?”

“No!? Why would I?” you snapped, a little too quickly. The defensive tone in your voice only made Nami and Bonney exchange knowing glances before bursting into laughter.

“Yeah, right,” Nami teased, the grin on her face widening. “You’re telling me you don’t care at all about the girl your Loverboy was with for a year?”

You groaned again, knowing full well they had you there. Bonney, meanwhile, was scrolling through her phone with an expression that was far too mischievous for your liking. She definitely found something.

“Well,” she said slowly, her tone all too playful, “if you’re really not interested, I guess I won’t show you this adorable old pic of her and Law…”

Your hands froze mid-braid. Curiosity flared up like a warning bell, but you tried to play it cool. Bonney was definitely baiting you. But before you could decide what to do, Nami was already sliding off the couch, careful not to mess up her freshly painted nails. “Oh, Let me see!”

You watched as they giggled together, huddling over Bonney’s phone. The temptation gnawed at you, dragging you deeper into the spiral.

“…okay fuck it, show me,” you muttered, standing up and leaning over the back of the armchair to get a peek too, curiosity getting the better of you.

On Bonney’s screen was a cozy group photo, probably from a Christmas gathering. The usual holiday clichés were all there — tacky sweaters, a fireplace, Rosinante in the center, grinning like an absolute goofball, surrounded by two people you guessed were Law’s parents. You smiled despite yourself. But it faded when your gaze found Law, standing off to the side, his face its usual stoic mask. Next to him, unmistakably, was Yuki.

Your heart dropped suddenly.

Sure, you knew it was from his past, but something about seeing them together, in such a personal setting, hit you harder than you’d expected. It felt like peeking into a part of his life that was still off-limits to you.

Before you could fully process the flood of emotions, Bonney scrolled to another picture on Yukis Facebook, obviously not being used for ages. This time, it was just Law and Yuki, standing under a snowfall. They weren’t posing for the camera but caught in a candid moment, smiling at each other like the rest of the world didn’t exist.

That one hurt.

“Wow, how petty do you have to be to keep that stuff?” Nami mused, waving her hands to dry her nails faster. Bonney nodded, tossing another cracker into her mouth, treating it all like juicy gossip.

Their casual comments snapped you out of your daze. They were right — this was all in the past. Ancient history. You were the one dating Law now, and from what he’d told you, Yuki was nothing more than a chapter long closed.

Still, the pictures gnawed at you. Was it jealousy? Or just the realization that Law had once shared parts of himself with someone else, in ways you hadn’t yet?

“You okay?” Bonney asked, her teasing tone now replaced with concern. Her eyes studied your face, searching for a crack.

“Yeah,” you lied, trying to shake off the unease. “It’s just… weird, you know?”

“I get it,” Nami chimed in, her voice softer now, more understanding. “But that’s all it is — the past. And you’ve got the hot emo boy now.” She winked, throwing you one of her playful smiles that made you chuckle despite yourself.

“Besides, she’s ugly,” Bonney added with a smirk, tossing her phone onto the table. “And you know, insane.” Yea you couldn’t deny that. Especially after what Yuki had pulled on you.

Bonney stood up, feeling like switching the topic now after seeing how you your mood had dropped, heading toward the kitchen. She didn’t indent to sadden you after all. It was supposed to be a fun girls night. You should relax and have fun, not cry over a relationship that is long over.

Moments later, you heard the clinking of bottles, and soon enough, she returned with a bottle of wine and three glasses. “Let’s drink on that crazy bitch.”

“How did you know what I was thinking?” Nami laughed, extending her hands carefully so as not to ruin her nails.

You joined in, shaking off the last of your lingering doubts. This wasn’t supposed to be a night for wallowing in jealousy over Yuki. Fuck her anyway.

As the three of you clinked glasses, the weight in your chest finally lightened. You pulled up your legs on the couch and relaxed again. The cheap wine and the support from your friends really were what you needed right now. You took a sip, savoring the slight burn and letting out a satisfied sigh.

“So, what’s the real deal with him?” Nami asked, her eyes gleaming with curiosity as she leaned back next to you on the couch. “I mean, brooding bad boy, kind of a mystery. Are we talking about some serious feelings here?”

You felt your face flush at the question. Leave it to Nami to cut straight to the point. “I don’t know,” you admitted, swirling your wine glass a little. “I like him. A lot. But it’s… complicated.”

Bonney raised an eyebrow, taking a long sip of her wine before chiming in. “It’s always complicated with guys like him. Let me guess, he's got that whole ‘tragic backstory’ thing going on?” She said it with a smirk, but there was a knowing look in her eyes.

You laughed softly. “I have no idea.” You really didn't, barley knowing anything about his past, beside his Ex. Law's tempo at revealing sensitive topics to you were slow, even Yuki was only mentioned after what had happened.

Nami teased, raising her glass to her lips. “Because it sounds like you're still figuring him out.”

“Maybe,” you said, leaning back into the couch. “He just doesn’t talk much about his past, or his family...or anything personal.”

Nami and Bonney exchanged glances, and Bonney let out a dramatic sigh. “Girl, just don’t let him pull you into some dark mess without a lifeline. I swear, guys like him can be a black hole of emotional baggage.”

“Bonney’s right,” Nami said, giving a playful nudge with her foot. “You need to protect yourself too. But, if you think it’s worth it, we’ve got your back.”

You smiled, appreciating their concern. “Thanks. I mean it.”

Bonney, ever the practical one, stood up, stretching lazily as she glanced toward the window where the sun had long since set. “Alright, enough with the heavy stuff. We’re supposed to be relaxing! How about we find something trashy to watch and finish off this wine?”

And so you did, the bottle emptied quicker than any of you expected, and before you knew it, Bonney had already popped open another one. The mood had shifted into something light and easy, with laughter filling the room, nonsensical conversations flowing freely, fueled by the sweet, warm buzz of alcohol. The filter that usually kept things polite was long gone.

“Y/N, you gotta tell me something…” Nami leaned in closer, her cheeks flushed from the wine, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. “Is he good?”

“Good at wha’?” you replied, blinking in confusion.

Bonney groaned, rolling her eyes and helpfully making a rather crude hand gesture to spell it out. “You know.”

You snorted, trying to keep your composure but feeling the heat rise to your face. You couldn’t help but giggle at the sudden shift in conversation. “Oh my god.”

Nami was relentless though, scooting even closer, her eyes twinkling with playful intent. “Come onnn, spill! He has to be. You know what they say about tall guys…”

Bonney waved a hand dismissively. “Pfft, doesn’t mean any tall guy knows how to actually use it. Trust me, been there done that.”

“Don’t distract her, Bonney!” Nami scolded with mock seriousness, her focus laser-sharp. “I need to know, Y/N. And don’t worry, I’ll keep it to myself.” She shot you a look that made it clear she absolutely would not, but the alcohol in your system made you feel less guarded, and you found yourself grinning.

“I mean…”

“I need details!”

“I’m not giving you details!” you laughed, cheeks burning as you covered your face.

“Okay, fine,” Nami said, settling into her seat as if ready for a formal interrogation. “Just answer me with a yes or no. That’s fair, right?”

You rolled your eyes, but you couldn’t help but play along. “Okay, fine.”

She gave you a mock-serious look. “He a top?”

“Yah, obviously.”

Bonney burst out laughing, nearly spilling her wine. “What do you mean obviously?!” she cackled, and you couldn’t help but laugh with her.

Nami waved her hand, shushing Bonney dramatically. “Okay, okay. Next question.” She paused for effect, leaning in like it was a life-or-death matter. “Is heeee… making sure you finish?”

“Sure.”

“Always?”

You hesitated for a split second before smirking. “Yup.”

Both Nami and Bonney exploded with laughter, raising their glasses in triumph. “Nice!” they shouted in unison, clinking their glasses together with a high-five, clearly way too pleased with the answer.

“Why are you two more excited about this than me?” you laughed, the weight of earlier worries completely gone.

“We’re living vicariously through you!” Nami teased, taking another sip of her wine. “Besides, it’s not every day we get juicy intel on a mysterious bad boy.”

You chuckled, shaking your head as the conversation drifted back to more ridiculous topics. The laughter, the teasing, the shared warmth of friendship — it was exactly what you needed. Whatever stress and insecurity had been gnawing at you earlier had been drowned in wine in the good time you were savoring. Right now, you were just grateful for your friends.

While you had your well-deserved girl’s night, Law was already on his way to pick you up, something you'd asked him to do earlier when you knew the night with your friends would go late and include a little too much wine. He walked up the stairs, playing with his keys absentmindedly, making them spin around his finger. Soon he found the right apartment by the sound of your laughter echoing through the hallway, along with music blasting in the background.

Just as he reached out to ring the bell, footsteps approached from behind. Turning slightly, Law saw a green-haired guy walking up to him with the same deadpan expression he usually wore. They locked eyes for a moment, the air thick with silence until the guy spoke up.

"And you are?" the stranger asked, clearly heading to the same apartment.

Law raised an eyebrow, a bit annoyed at the intrusion. "Picking someone up. You?"

"Alcohol.”

Law’s confusion deepened. What was this guy talking about?

Zoro, Bonney and Nami’s upstairs neighbor, never passed up the opportunity for free drinks. They were good friends, and he was bored enough to drop by whenever things got rowdy.

"Right..." Law said slowly, frowning as he turned to finally ring the bell, only to find the green-haired guy standing next to him like it was no big deal. Great.

A few moments later, the door flew open, revealing Bonney, now holding an entire bottle of wine instead of a glass. She blinked in surprise at the sight of two men standing at the door, then a mischievous grin spread across her face as she locked eyes with Law.

"Hey, Y/N! Your boy toy is here!" Bonney called out, her voice loud enough to carry inside.

Law's eyes widened, a faint blush creeping up his neck. He already regretted agreeing to come.

Nami appeared next, her curiosity piqued. She peeked out the door to get a look at this Lover of yours, but the moment she spotted Zoro, her expression shifted dramatically. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Free booze," Zoro replied with a casual shrug, shoving his hands into the pockets of his sweatpants like this was an everyday occurrence.

Nami groaned, clearly annoyed. "You gotta to stop mooching off us every time you hear wine bottles open. I swear, you owe me for every beer you’ve emptied." She tugged Zoro inside by the sleeve, muttering about making him pay her back later. He stepped inside with a satisfied grin, more than happy to partake in the free drinks.

Meanwhile, Law stood awkwardly in the doorway, observing the chaotic interaction. He felt like he’d just walked into a sitcom, unsure of what to do or say. Bonney’s eyes gleamed as she took him in, her mind clearly wandering to the things you’d revealed earlier about your sex life. The way Bonney stared a bit too long at his crotch made Law clearly uneasy. Especially with that grin of hers...was that how women felt?

"Is...Y/N coming?" Law asked, hoping to speed things along and escape the situation with you as quick as possible.

Bonney leaned casually against the doorframe, still holding her bottle of wine, an amused smirk on her lips. "I think she’s busy looking for the corkscrew... but you should totally come in and join us!" Her grin widened as she grabbed his arm, ignoring his attempts to protest.

“Wait—” Law began, but it was already too late. Bonney had pulled him inside with a strength that surely surprised him, as the door clicked shut.

You finally emerged from the kitchen, holding the corkscrew in one hand and a fresh bottle of wine in the other. When you spotted Law looking a bit out of place in the middle of your girls’ night, you had to chuckle a bit.

Zoro being already sprawled on the couch like he lived there rent free didn't seem to faze you.

“Oh, Law!” you beamed, walking over to greet him, blissfully unaware of the minor chaos swirling around him. With the alcohol warming your system, you impulsively stood on your tiptoes and pressed a quick kiss on his cheek, catching him completely off guard. His chest fluttered, though he tried to ignore the sensation. “Didn’t expect you so soon.”

“It’s past midnight,” he replied dryly, raising an eyebrow but failing to hide his slight surprise. The casual peck had thrown him off more than he cared to admit.

"Can we stay a little longer, please?" You looked up at him with wide, pleading eyes, the same look a child give their parents when begging to stay out late with friends. Law, ever the night owl, didn’t particularly mind, though the thought of spending even more time in the middle of this lively scene made him want to run for the door.

“I can pick you up later,” he offered, thinking you might take him up on it. Yet luck didn't seem to be on his side today.

“Nooo, you’ve gotta stay! C'mon!” you chuckled, grabbing his hand and pulling him into the living room before he could even process a proper response. He opened his mouth to protest, then quickly closed it, realizing he didn’t really have much of a choice. With a resigned sigh, he slumped down onto the couch next to Zoro, who was already sipping on his drink.

Zoro lifted his bottle and gave Law a questioning look. “Mh?”

Law stared at him for a moment, then sighed again. What kind of ape communication was this.

“Sure, whatever.”

Grinning, Zoro popped open another bottle and handed it to Law. They clinked their bottles together, though Zoro took an impressively large gulp, like he hadn’t had a drink in days. Law, glancing at him from the side, took a much smaller sip, eyeing the other man’s easygoing nature with mild confusion.

You returned with a freshly filled glass of wine, plopping down on the armrest next to Law, clearly pleased that he’d agreed to stay. Even though you forced him. Literally.

However, his discomfort kept getting worse, as the doorbell rang again continuously, signaling the arrival of even more people. The once quiet hangout was quickly turning into a full-blown party, something Law hadn’t remotely anticipated. First, a tall, elegant woman walked in, introducing herself as Robin, followed by her boisterous and overly enthusiastic husband, Franky, who instantly made his presence known with his loud voice and equally loud personality.

Then came a duo of chaos in the form of Luffy and Usopp, both bursting through the door with enough energy to fill the room three times over. Luffy immediately darted toward the snacks, while Usopp settled down on the floor comfortably, since the couch was already crowded.

Law, by now, had sunk even further into the couch, clutching his beer bottle like it was some sort of lifeline. He wasn’t one for big crowds, especially not when surrounded by people he barely knew. His eyes flicked around the room, trying to find something—anything—to anchor himself amidst the growing chaos.

Zoro, completely unfazed, leaned back casually, like he was used to this kind of scene. “Not a fan of big crowds, huh?”

Law shook his head, taking a small sip of his beer. “No, not really.”

Zoro grinned and gave him a sympathetic pat on the shoulder. “Good luck, man. This is just getting started.”

As the room filled up with more people and the noise level rose, you noticed Law’s discomfort. Walking over to him, you leaned down with a soft smile. “You okay?” you asked, genuinely concerned.

“I’m fine,” he muttered, though you could tell he was far from comfortable.

You chuckled, brushing your fingers lightly across his arm. “You’ll survive. Promise.”

Law sighed, but a small smirk tugged at his lips. You always had a way of calming him down, even when everything around him was spiraling into chaos. At least he wasn’t completely on his own—

“Let’s play karaoke!”

"Oh, yes!" you practically squealed, leaping up from the armrest with a burst of energy. Without hesitation, you dashed over to help Bonney set up the console, your hands flying over the controls as you excitedly plugged in the microphones for a round of Let's Sing.

Law blinked, watching you leave him alone and dash to the game with that enthusiasm of yours. He leaned back on the couch, crossing his arms. Yep. He was on his own for this one.

As the singing began—not that Law would even call it singing—he sat there, watching you laugh and belt out lyrics with your friends. A small, almost imperceptible smile tugged at the corner of his lips. He wouldn’t admit it out loud, but seeing you so happy with your friends was... nice. The buzz of conversation and laughter filled the room, but Law was content to observe from the sidelines.

Thankfully, Zoro wasn’t all that eager to join in either, providing Law with some much-needed silent company as the he nursed his drink. However, Zoro had also downed more than enough beer for the night. Without a word, he stood up and ambled toward the bathroom, leaving the spot beside Law empty. Law sighed, sliding further into the seat, hoping to stay out of the growing mayhem.

But of course, his peace was short-lived.

"Hey! You Y/N’s boyfriend?"

Oh god, no. Please.

Franky, all loud enthusiasm and booming presence, plopped down beside him, making Law almost jump from his seat. Among the group, Franky was arguably the loudest—but it was a tight race. Everyone besides Zoro and Robin seemed to have a default volume setting that hovered somewhere between “obnoxious” and “headache-inducing.”

Law shot Franky a grumpy side-eye, not bothering to hide his irritation.

"We're not together."

Franky looked genuinely perplexed, glancing between you and Law like he was trying to solve a puzzle. "What, you ain't?" He scratched his chin, then broke into a grin. "Ah, I see. Not official yet, huh? Haha, yeah, I get that. You know how long it took me to convince my lady to be mine? Two years! But look where we are now!" His laughter boomed across the room, drawing a wince from Law, who massaged his temples in an effort to stave off the growing headache.

"Aha," Law muttered, clearly uninterested, but Franky wasn’t bothered.

"So how long you been seeing each other then?" Franky leaned in, undeterred by Law’s obvious reluctance to chat. His curiosity was boundless, and his energy relentless. "C'mon, you can tell me. Y/N’s like a lill' sister to me. I gotta make sure she's doin' alright, y'know?"

Law exhaled, feeling the weight of the conversation shift. Franky wasn’t going to drop this, was he? As annoying as the guy could be, there was something sincere about the way he cared for you. Maybe Law should make more of an effort. After all, you had meshed well with his group, even handling Shachi and Penguin's relentless teasing and matching Rosinante’s high-energy friendliness. If he was serious about you—and he was—maybe it wouldn’t hurt to connect more with your friends.

"Few months, I guess," Law finally muttered, sounding almost disinterested. But Franky wasn’t buying it.

"Few months, huh?"

Law sighed, giving in with a little more honesty. "Eight and a half weeks, give or take."

Franky’s grin widened. "Now we're talkin'! I knew you had the details. That’s good, man. Real good." He clapped Law on the back with enough force to nearly knock him forward. "You’re a lucky guy, y’know that? Y/N’s special."

Law nodded slowly, his gaze drifting back to you as you yelled into your microphone with your friends, completely oblivious to the conversation happening on the sidelines. Yeah. He knew exactly how special you were. And for the first time in a long while, he found himself willing to let someone in—despite everything he'd been through. Even if he didn't said it openly, the seriousness of his feelings for you was undeniable.

He just wasn’t ready to share all that with the world quite yet…

As the next song blared through the speakers and the room erupted into more chaotic laughter, Law felt his patience wearing thin. The noise, the energy—it was all a bit too much for him. He scanned the room, watching you sing with your friends, your carefree joy almost contagious. Almost.

But Law had reached his limit for the night.

Silently, he stood up from the couch and slipped past Franky, making his way toward the door leading to the small balcony. He needed air, desperately. As he stepped out, the cool night breeze hit his face, soothing the tension that had been building in his temples.

He exhaled slowly, leaning against the balcony, gazing out on the night life on the streets below him. For a moment, he let the peaceful stillness wash over him.

The door behind him creaked open, and he didn't need to turn around to know it was you. Your presence was always unmistakable to him.

"Running away?" you teased lightly as you approached, your voice soft in contrast to the lively noise spilling out from the room behind you.

"Needed a break," Law muttered, not taking his eyes off the street. "Your friends are... a lot."

You laughed softly, coming to stand beside him, letting your shoulder touch his. "Yeah, I guess they can be. But you will get used to it.”

Law raised an eyebrow, glancing sideways at you. "I tolerate it. For your sake."

"Right, sure," you said, rolling your eyes but smiling as you did. The soft moonlight highlighted your features, and for a moment, neither of you said anything. The noise from inside was still faintly audible, but out here, it felt like a different world.

"You didn’t have to follow me," Law said after a while, his voice quieter now. “You can go and enjoy “singing” with the others.”

"I wanted to," you replied simply, still gazing at the sky. "Just checking if you’re doing okay."

He huffed, but there was no bite to it. “I’m fine on my own.”

“Yeah,” you said with a gentle smile, your eyes meeting his. “But you don’t always have to be.”

Law didn’t respond right away. He stared out, the familiar tension in his chest loosening just a little. You had a way of making things feel… easier. Less complicated. Even when you weren’t saying much, just standing there with him, it felt like enough.

“I don’t expect you to suddenly become best friends with everyone. But... you’re part of this now. Part of my world.” You smiled a bit drunk, your voice warm. “And I’m really glad you are.”

Law turned his head slightly, looking at you for a long moment. His expression softened in a way it rarely did around others. There was a weight to your words that he couldn’t ignore.

“I’m glad too,” he murmured, almost as if admitting it to himself.

You beamed at him, reaching out to take his hand, your fingers brushing his. He hesitated for a second before gently locking fingers together, the small gesture grounding him in the moment. You both stood there in comfortable silence, the distant sound of your friends' laughter fading into the background.

“Think you’re ready to head back in?” you asked after a while, giving his hand a gentle squeeze.

Law let out a small, amused huff. “Not yet.”

You laughed softly, slightly leaning against him, while Law really appreciated you checking up on him, even if he seemed repelled at first. Sometimes he wondered how well you could read him, tell what he actually needed. Franky was right, you truly were someone special...

But your peaceful moment was quickly shattered—private time wasn’t exactly a concept the gang understood. The balcony door burst open, and in came Luffy, practically bouncing on his feet. Somehow, despite being the only one who hadn’t touched a drop of alcohol, he had more energy than everyone combined.

"Ah, fresh air!" he exclaimed, stretching his arms out wide.

Law groaned inwardly, letting his head hang for a moment. He should’ve known.

Before either of you could react, Luffy squeezed himself between the two of you, casually breaking the connection of your hand in Law’s. He leaned over the railing, staring down at the quiet street with a big grin plastered on his face, completely oblivious to the mood he had just bulldozed through.

Law’s eyebrow twitched dangerously, his patient running low. How dense can one person be?

"Hey, Luis—"

"My name is Law," he corrected flatly, already regretting it because—

"Anyway!" Luffy completely ignored the correction, plowing forward without missing a beat. He grinned brightly at you both, clearly unfazed by Law’s deadpan look. "We have this weekly movie night on Mondays. You should totally come and join us!"

"Pass," Law replied immediately, his voice clipped. "I’m busy during the week."

"Luffy, Law works," you chimed in with a chuckle, clearly amused by how little the concept of schedules seemed to exist in Luffy’s mind.

Luffy blinked, staring blankly as if the notion of work baffled him. “Can you... maybe not work?” he asked, tilting his head in that curious, innocent way of his, now casually picking at his nose as if the problem of work hours was one that could be solved by sheer willpower.

Law stared at him, completely dumbfounded. Did he just—

You were already laughing at the sheer absurdity of the exchange.

Luffy, unfazed by Law’s irritated silence, kept going. “Fine! How about Taco Tuesday then? I know you gotta be free for tacos!” His grin stretched ear to ear, as if he’d just come up with the most foolproof plan in the world.

Law groaned, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “I also work on Tuesday.”

“All day long?” Luffy asked, his expression serious, as if the thought of someone working all day was inconceivable to him. "That’s gotta be, like, illegal, right?"

You were practically doubled over in laughter at this point. Watching Luffy try to integrate Law into your friend group was like watching someone try to fit a square peg into a round hole—both characters were complete opposites, and it was hilarious to witness.

It wasn’t that Law didn’t want to make an effort. It was just... Luffy.

Sensing Law’s frustration, you stepped in to smooth things over. “Maybe we can arrange something, Luffy. On weekend instead?” you suggested, smiling at your overly enthusiastic friend.

Luffy’s face lit up like a lightbulb. “Awesome! That’s even better! Saturday or Sunday works. Or both! Oh, wait—what about Friday night? We could have burgers and movies!”

You shot a glance at Law, who was now staring out at the street again with a blank, resigned look on his face. He wasn’t saying anything, but you could practically hear the thoughts running through his head.

“Luffy, let’s… take it one step at a time, alright?” you said gently, still laughing as you patted his shoulder. “We’ll figure something out.”

Luffy’s grin somehow got even bigger. “Sweet! You guys are gonna love movie night. We always watch the best stuff. I mean, sometimes it’s just old kung fu movies or stuff with explosions, but who doesn’t love explosions, right?”

Law muttered something under his breath, too quiet for anyone to hear, but you knew he was nearing his limit.

“Luffy, maybe you should head back inside and check on the others,” you suggested, trying to throw Law a lifeline. “I think Usopp and Franky are starting another game.”

Luffy’s eyes widened with excitement. “Oh yeah! I almost forgot about that!” He turned on his heel, already halfway back to the door. “I’ll save you a spot for the next round!” he called over his shoulder, leaving just as quickly as he’d appeared.

The moment the door closed behind him, Law let out the deepest sigh of his life. “How do you deal with that?”

You grinned, slipping your hand back into his. “They mean well.”

Law let out a dry laugh, shaking his head. “Still exhausting.”

After the cold air had finally cooled you down enough to want to head back inside, Law followed close behind, settling into his usual spot on the couch. To his surprise, Zoro was back in his own seat as well, nursing yet another bottle of beer. Law couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. How many of those had he already gone through? He started to seriously wonder Zoro’s relationship to alcohol.

As Law moved his empty bottle aside and sat down, Zoro glanced at him out of the corner of his eye. “Mh?” he asked yet again, holding up his beer as if offering to grab another.

“Nah, pass. Gotta drive still,” Law replied, his tone flat.

Zoro gave a brief nod, content to let the silence settle back in. It wasn’t awkward, though—just two people comfortable in their own quiet. That was something Law appreciated about Zoro at least; he wasn’t one to fill the air with unnecessary chatter.

After a few minutes however, Zoro broke the silence. Clearly aware that Law was quite uncomfortable still. “You’ll get used to it. Don’t worry.”

Law raised an eyebrow, glancing at him. “Do I have to?” His voice carried the same uninterested energy as Zoro’s, though there was a hint of dry humor beneath the surface.

Zoro took a slow sip of his beer, then looked at Law with a lazy but knowing smirk. “Yup. Too late now.”

Law sighed, leaning back into the couch, his arms crossed as he stared at the chaotic scene unfolding around them—Luffy still bouncing off the walls, Usopp and Franky laughing hysterically at whatever ridiculous antics they were up to, and you, blending in perfectly with the madness, laughing and teasing Bonney as she tried to argue about the best way to combine pizza with pasta.

Law leaned back, feeling a strange sense of acceptance. He wasn’t entirely sure if he’d ever fully get used to this kind of madness, but looking around at your friends, and back at you, he started to think that maybe—just maybe—he didn’t mind trying for you.

taglist: @mars-mizuko, @tadomikiku, @hopelesslover06 , @loraleiii, @mwhahahalasagna

(Let me know in the comments and I’ll add you 🖤)

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enemiestolovershoe · 13 days ago

Note

can i request a Matt x bsf!reader fic where the triplets and her and maybe a few friends do a roadtrip to do a camping trip or something and when it‘s chris turn to drive matt gets on the backseat beside you. you both get flirty pretty quickly. then at the bonfire they get a little touchy and then fuck in the tent as everyone got to sleep (or so they think) and the next morning chris and nick tease the shit out of them? :)

Tent of Temptation

Matt Sturniolo x bsf!reader

Summary: Y/N and Matt share a tense, intimate camping trip where unspoken feelings lead to a heated night in the tent, changing their relationship forever.

Words: 8k

Warnings. SMUT 18+, flirting, filth, use of yn, not proofread, lmk if you find more

The sun was just beginning to dip below the horizon as you pulled into the familiar driveway of the Sturniolo triplets’ house. Your car door creaked as you pushed it open, the cool evening air brushing against your skin. You didn’t bother knocking; after all, this place was practically a second home.

"Yo, look who it is!" Matt’s voice called from the kitchen the moment you stepped inside. He leaned casually against the counter, arms crossed and an unmistakable smirk playing on his lips. "Took you long enough. What, were you deciding which pair of leggings would impress me the most?"

You rolled your eyes but couldn’t hide the smile tugging at your lips. "Not everything’s about you, Matt."

"Sure, sure," he teased, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "But for the record, you chose right."

"Matt, leave her alone," Nick said, walking in from the living room with a grin. "You’re scaring her off before she even sits down."

Chris was the last to appear, a bowl of popcorn in hand. "Seriously, Matt, chill. She hasn’t even told us why she’s here yet."

"Maybe she missed me," Matt quipped, still watching you.

"Or maybe I’m bored out of my mind," you shot back, making your way to the couch and plopping down. "Speaking of which, we need to talk about that."

Nick raised a brow. "Bored? You’re hanging out with us. Problem solved."

"No, I mean, like... bored, bored," you emphasized, throwing a glance around the room. "We do the same thing every time I’m here—movies, snacks."

"Hey, the last one’s a highlight," Matt interrupted with a grin, earning himself a playful glare from you.

"Let her finish," Chris said, sitting beside you.

You sighed dramatically, throwing your arms out. "I want to do something different! Something fun, something spontaneous! Like... like a road trip!"

"A road trip?" Nick repeated, his expression instantly lighting up.

"With camping!" you added quickly. "I’ve always wanted to go to a campsite by a lake—somewhere beautiful, peaceful. Imagine all of us in the middle of nowhere with a bonfire, roasting marshmallows, and just... I don’t know, being outside for a change."

"Say less," Matt said immediately, straightening up. "I’m in."

"Wait, what?" You blinked at him, surprised by his instant enthusiasm.

Nick and Chris exchanged looks before nodding in unison.

"Of course, we’re in," Chris said as if it were obvious.

"It sounds sick," Nick agreed. "Road trips are always a vibe."

"Yeah, and if you’re lucky, maybe you’ll get to sit next to me in the car," Matt added with a wink.

You scoffed. "If I’m lucky? More like unlucky."

"Don’t fight it," he teased, leaning a little closer.

Chris smirked and looked between the two of you. "Are we going to plan or is this just gonna turn into the Matt and Y/N show?"

"Shut up," you and Matt said at the same time, earning laughter from both Nick and Chris.

"So, we’re actually doing this?" Nick asked, his tone laced with excitement.

"Absolutely," you said firmly, already picturing the adventure. "I’ll start looking up campsites."

"And I’ll make sure the cooler’s stocked," Matt added, his gaze lingering on you with a playful intensity.

"Can we at least survive one evening without flirting?" Chris muttered, shaking his head.

"Not a chance," Matt shot back, grinning.

“Today’s Thursday. Let’s go Saturday morning so we have tomorrow to buy tents and groceries,” you suggested, pulling your knees up to your chest as you got comfortable on the couch.

“Saturday works for me,” Chris said, nodding. “Gives us enough time to figure everything out.”

“Tents? Groceries?” Matt’s brows furrowed in mock confusion as he leaned against the armrest of the couch, dangerously close to your shoulder. “I thought we were just winging it—grab some sleeping bags, raid the snack drawer, and call it good.”

“Yeah, because that worked so well last time we tried to plan something,” Nick shot back, rolling his eyes.

“Last time was fine!” Matt argued, throwing up his hands.

“You forgot the flashlight, the bug spray, and the actual sleeping bags,” Nick reminded him with a laugh.

Chris chimed in. “And we ended up eating cold granola bars for dinner because you didn’t think we’d need to bring food.”

“Okay, first of all,” Matt started, holding up a finger, “granola bars are a perfectly acceptable meal. And second—”

“Second, you’re not in charge of anything this time,” you cut him off with a grin.

Matt looked at you, feigning offense. “You wound me, Y/N.”

“You’ll live,” you teased.

“Barely,” he shot back dramatically, his gaze lingering on you for a second too long before he smirked. “But only if you promise to help me with the tent.”

“I’ll think about it,” you said with a shrug, trying to ignore the way your cheeks warmed under his playful stare.

Chris clapped his hands, pulling everyone’s attention. “Okay, so tents, groceries, a cooler for drinks, and a portable grill for cooking—what else?”

“Bug spray,” Nick said immediately.

“Flashlights,” Chris added.

“A playlist,” Matt said, leaning back with a satisfied grin.

Nick snorted. “Of course, that’s where your priorities are.”

“Hey, road trips need vibes,” Matt argued, shrugging. “I’ll even make it. Trust me, it’ll be fire.”

“That’s debatable,” you teased.

“Bet,” Matt said, raising a brow at you. “If it’s not the best playlist you’ve ever heard, you can... I don’t know, make me cook all the meals.”

“You cook?” you asked, skeptical.

He grinned. “For you? Sure.”

Chris groaned. “God, get a room already.”

“I’m literally sitting right here,” you said, throwing a pillow at him.

“So, we’re all set on supplies?” Nick interjected, trying to keep things on track.

“Not quite,” you said, a new idea forming in your head. “What if we invited more people? Like Sam and Colby?”

“Sam and Colby?” Chris repeated, his interest piqued.

“Yeah,” you said. “They’re always talking about how much they love the outdoors. Plus, they’d bring good energy.”

“And chaos,” Matt muttered, though he didn’t sound opposed.

“Come on, Matt,” you said with a grin. “You love chaos.”

“Fair point,” he admitted. “Who else?”

“Jake, Tara, Johnnie, and Carrington,” you added. “The more, the merrier, right?”

Nick looked thoughtful. “That could actually be fun. It’d feel like a whole squad trip.”

Chris nodded in agreement. “I like it. Plus, the more people we have, the less work for everyone. Sam and Colby can bring some of their ghost-hunting gear, too—imagine the stories we’d get around the fire.”

“Leave it to Chris to make camping spooky,” Matt said, shaking his head. “But fine, I’m in.”

“Of course, you’re in,” Nick said, smirking. “You’d go wherever Y/N goes.”

Matt didn’t miss a beat. “And you wouldn’t?”

Nick opened his mouth to argue but decided against it, raising his hands in surrender.

You laughed, shaking your head. “Okay, so we’ll text everyone tonight and see who’s in. Sound good?”

“Perfect,” Chris said.

“Better than perfect,” Matt added, leaning a little closer. “Especially since it means I get to spend a whole weekend annoying you.”

“Or I could just leave you at the campsite,” you quipped.

“You wouldn’t dare,” he said, his grin widening.

“You wanna bet?”

“Bet,” he said, his tone challenging but playful.

Chris groaned. “This is gonna be the longest road trip of my life.”

After hours of tossing around ideas and playful banter, the four of you decided to call it a night. The excitement of the impromptu camping trip had everyone buzzing, but you all knew you’d need the next day to prep.

You stretched your arms above your head and let out a yawn as Chris turned off the TV. “I’ll just crash here tonight,” you said, glancing at Nick. “That way, we can hit Target first thing tomorrow morning.”

Nick nodded, already standing up and stretching. “Makes sense. You know the spare blankets are in the hall closet.”

“Don’t even think about it,” you replied, narrowing your eyes. “I’m stealing your bed tonight. Your floor is all yours.”

Nick laughed. “Oh, is that how this works now?”

“Yes,” you said with a smug grin, crossing your arms.

“Fine, whatever,” Nick said with a dramatic sigh, heading toward the stairs. “I’ll sleep on the floor like the peasant I am. You’re lucky you’re my best friend.”

Chris smirked, grabbing the empty popcorn bowl. “If you two are done squabbling, I’m going to bed.”

Matt, who had been uncharacteristically quiet for the past few minutes, finally spoke up as he leaned against the doorway. “You know, if you wanted a real bed, Y/N, you could’ve just asked to share mine.” His grin was sly, and his eyes gleamed with mischief.

Your eyes narrowed at him, though you couldn’t help the small laugh that escaped. “In your dreams, Matty.”

“Every night,” Matt shot back, his tone dripping with playfulness.

“Okay, goodnight!” you said loudly, cutting off whatever comment was about to leave his mouth.

As Nick led you to his room, he glanced over his shoulder and smirked. “So… Matt, huh?”

You groaned. “What now?”

“You know what,” he said, stepping aside to let you into his room. “He’s been glued to you all night.”

You rolled your eyes, grabbing one of Nick’s hoodies from the back of his chair and pulling it over your head. “Matt’s always like that. He lives to annoy me.”

“Not like that,” Nick said, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. “You seriously didn’t notice how flirty he was tonight?”

“Flirty?” you repeated, pausing mid-motion as you sat on the edge of his bed. “Matt? With me?”

Nick nodded, his expression serious but amused. “Like, extra flirty. He couldn’t stop staring at you. And the comments? Come on.”

You frowned, pulling your knees to your chest. “I don’t know… That’s just Matt being Matt, right? He teases everyone.”

“Yeah, but not like that,” Nick said. “Trust me, I’ve seen him flirt with other people, and this was different. He’s never that... persistent.”

You groaned again, burying your face in your hands. “I don’t know, Nick. Maybe he’s just messing with me.”

Nick chuckled. “If he is, he’s committing to the bit. And for the record, I don’t think he’s just messing with you.”

You peeked at him through your fingers, your voice muffled. “Why does this feel like high school all over again?”

Nick shrugged, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “Because Matt has the emotional range of a teenager when it comes to you?”

You threw a pillow at him, your face burning. “Shut up.”

He laughed, dodging the pillow with ease. “I’m just saying, don’t be surprised if this trip gets... interesting.”

“Define ‘interesting,’” you said, narrowing your eyes.

“Let’s just say I wouldn’t be shocked if Matt tries to ‘accidentally’ share a tent with you,” Nick said, his grin widening.

“Absolutely not,” you said firmly, though the thought made your stomach flip in a way you couldn’t quite understand.

“Whatever you say,” Nick said, moving to grab a spare blanket from the closet. “But if he does, you owe me twenty bucks.”

“You’re so annoying,” you muttered, burying your face in the blanket as Nick laughed.

As the two of you settled in for the night, you couldn’t help but replay the evening’s interactions in your mind. Matt’s playful comments, the way his eyes lingered a little longer than usual—it all made your head spin.

You didn’t have a clue what had gotten into him, but Nick’s words stayed with you as you drifted off to sleep.

The smell of coffee brewing filled the Sturniolo kitchen as you stood by the stove, flipping pancakes onto a plate. The clock on the microwave read 8:12 AM, and the house was still quiet, save for the occasional creak of the old floors. You figured the boys deserved a little extra sleep before the chaos of the day began, so you’d taken it upon yourself to make breakfast.

By the time the bacon was sizzling, you heard the faint shuffle of footsteps behind you. Turning around, you saw Chris rubbing his eyes as he trudged into the kitchen.

“Good morning, Chef Y/N,” he mumbled, sitting at the island and resting his chin on his hand. “What’s all this?”

“Figured I’d make breakfast,” you said, sliding a plate in front of him. “Gotta fuel up for Target.”

Chris perked up, grabbing a fork. “You’re the best, you know that?”

“I do,” you teased, turning back to the stove.

One by one, Nick and Matt stumbled into the kitchen, their messy hair and half-open eyes telling you they were still waking up.

“Pancakes?!” Nick exclaimed, immediately reaching for a plate.

“Don’t touch mine,” Matt warned, sitting across from Chris and shooting a grin your way. “You really outdid yourself, Y/N. If you keep this up, I might have to keep you around permanently.”

You raised an eyebrow. “Keep me around? You’re lucky I haven’t left yet.”

Matt smirked, leaning back in his chair. “You’d miss me too much.”

Chris rolled his eyes. “Can you two not start flirting before 9 AM?”

Nick snorted, taking a big bite of his pancake. “Flirting? They’ve been doing this since yesterday. It’s like a bad sitcom.”

“Don’t encourage them,” Chris added with a groan.

“I’m sitting right here,” you said, placing the last of the bacon on a plate. “And for the record, Matt’s not my type.”

“Wow,” Matt said, clutching his chest dramatically. “That one hurt, Y/N.”

“You’ll survive,” you said with a smirk.

Once everyone was settled at the table, Chris cleared his throat. “By the way, I texted with Sam and Colby this morning. They’re in for the trip.”

You grinned. “Perfect. I’ll text Tara, Jake, Johnnie, and Carrington.”

Nick gave you a thumbs up as he stuffed his face with bacon, and Matt raised an eyebrow. “So, it’s gonna be a full-on party then?”

“Basically,” you said, pulling out your phone. “More people, more fun.”

It didn’t take long for your friends to respond. Tara was especially enthusiastic, sending a string of emojis in her reply, while Jake kept it simple with a thumbs-up. Johnnie and Carrington quickly followed with texts that said they wouldn’t miss it for the world.

“Okay,” you said, setting your phone down. “Everyone’s in.”

Two hours later, after cleaning up and getting ready, the four of you piled into Matt’s car. Chris took the driver’s seat, Matt claimed the front passenger side, and you were sandwiched in the back with Nick.

“You know, I could drive,” Matt said as Chris pulled out of the driveway.

Chris shot him a look. “You don’t trust me?”

“Not even a little,” Matt replied, grinning.

“Good,” Chris said with a smirk. “It’s mutual.”

The ride to Target was filled with music and bickering, mostly between Nick and Matt. By the time you arrived, you were more than ready to stretch your legs and get shopping.

“Okay,” you said as the four of you stood near the entrance. “We should probably split up. Matt and I can grab the camping equipment, and you two can handle the food.”

“Why do you get Matt?” Nick asked, crossing his arms.

“Because she can’t resist me,” Matt quipped, earning himself a glare from Nick.

“You’re insufferable,” you muttered, grabbing Matt by the arm and dragging him toward the outdoor section.

“You love it,” he replied, a smug grin on his face.

The two of you walked through the aisles, pausing at the camping section. Matt immediately gravitated toward the tents, running his hand over one of the packages. “So, what are we thinking? Something roomy?”

“Something functional,” you corrected, scanning the options.

Matt picked up a box with a picture of a two-person tent on the front. “This one’s perfect—for you and me.”

You laughed, shaking your head. “Yeah, no.”

“What? It makes sense,” he said, holding up the box. “We’d only need one tent for the both of us. Saves money, saves space—”

“And puts me in a nightmare,” you interrupted, grabbing a different box. “We’re getting four double tents. One for each.”

Matt sighed dramatically, placing the box back on the shelf. “Fine. But when you get scared in the middle of the night and come running to my tent, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

You rolled your eyes, tossing a box into the cart. “You wish.”

“I do,” he replied smoothly, his smirk widening.

You ignored him and moved down the aisle to grab a few sleeping bags, though you could feel his gaze following you.

“You know,” Matt said as he picked up a lantern, “this whole trip would be way less fun without me.”

“You keep telling yourself that,” you said, trying to hide your smile.

By the time the two of you finished gathering camping supplies, you had a cart full of tents, sleeping bags, lanterns, and a portable stove. You met back up with Chris and Nick at the front of the store, their cart overflowing with snacks and groceries.

“Did you buy the entire snack aisle?” Matt asked, eyeing their cart.

“Don’t act like you’re not impressed,” Nick shot back, grinning.

Chris shrugged. “We like to be prepared.”

“Whatever,” you said, waving them off. “Let’s just check out and get this stuff loaded up.”

Saturday morning started early with alarms blaring at 6 AM. The house buzzed with energy as you and the triplets prepared for the road trip. Bags were double-checked, coolers filled, and snacks packed into the already-loaded Sturniolo van. By 8 AM sharp, you were on the road, and the excitement was palpable.

Matt took the first driving shift, with Chris riding shotgun. As usual, you sat in the middle row with Nick. But before pulling out of the driveway, Matt turned around in his seat, catching your eye.

“Y/N, if you want to switch spots with Nick, I’d be happy to have you closer,” he said with a wink.

Nick groaned. “Could you not?”

“Just offering,” Matt said, smirking as he started the van.

You rolled your eyes but couldn’t help the smile creeping onto your face.

By the time Matt pulled into the first stop around 10:15 AM, you were all more than ready to stretch your legs.

“Alright, pit stop,” Matt announced, turning off the engine. “Get whatever you need, but don’t take forever. We’ve got places to be.”

“Translation: Matt wants to rush so he can flirt with Y/N some more,” Chris muttered, earning a laugh from Nick.

“Jealousy isn’t a good look on you, Chris,” Matt shot back, opening his door.

Everyone piled out of the van, and you immediately headed toward the convenience store to grab a drink and find the bathroom. As you browsed the drink cooler, you spotted Tara, Jake, Johnnie, and Carrington walking in.

“Look who decided to show up,” you teased as Tara ran up to hug you.

“Traffic was a nightmare,” Jake said, looking exasperated.

Johnnie grinned. “But we’re here now, and that’s all that matters.”

“Ready to rough it?” Carrington asked, grabbing a water bottle.

“More than ready,” you replied. “Let’s go outside before the guys start calling us.”

By the time you all regrouped at the parking lot, the energy was electric. Everyone was buzzing about the trip, and Tara was already planning photo ops for Instagram.

Matt leaned against the van, waiting for you with his signature smirk. “Took you long enough. Miss me?”

“Desperately,” you said dryly, brushing past him to put your drink in the cup holder.

As everyone settled back into their cars, Matt and Chris swapped places. Chris took over driving duties, with Nick calling shotgun this time. Matt, however, was quick to make his move, sliding into the backseat.

“Looks like it’s just us back here,” Matt said, buckling his seatbelt and giving you a playful nudge.

You sighed, trying to suppress a smile. “You could’ve stayed in the front.”

“And miss out on this quality time? No way,” he replied, leaning back and stretching his legs slightly. His knee brushed against yours, but he didn’t move away.

As the van pulled out of the rest stop, Matt leaned closer, his voice low so the others wouldn’t hear. “You know, this seat’s way more comfortable with you next to me.”

You turned to look at him, raising an eyebrow. “What’s your deal today? Did you eat extra sugar or something?”

“Can’t a guy just enjoy spending time with his favorite person?” he teased, his gaze flickering to yours.

“Favorite person?” you echoed, trying not to laugh. “Pretty sure that title belongs to Nick.”

Matt scoffed. “Nick wishes.”

“Hey!” Nick called from the front seat, craning his neck to look back. “What’re you two whispering about?”

“Nothing you need to worry about,” Matt replied smoothly, giving Nick a dismissive wave.

Chris glanced in the rearview mirror, clearly unimpressed. “Matt, if you keep this up, I’m kicking you out of the van.”

“Good luck finding someone else to charm Y/N,” Matt quipped, leaning back with a satisfied grin.

You rolled your eyes, though you couldn’t deny the warmth creeping into your cheeks. For the next two hours, Matt kept up his antics, finding every excuse to lean closer or make some offhand comment that had you alternating between laughing and swatting him away.

By the time the van rolled into the campsite at 12:00 PM, you were equal parts annoyed and amused. As you stepped out and stretched, the others arrived in their cars, honking and waving.

The adventure was officially underway.

The group got to work setting up the tents, the campsite buzzing with activity as everyone figured out where to set up. Matt wasted no time staking out the spot directly next to yours.

“Dibs on this spot,” he announced loudly, dropping his bag dramatically beside your tent.

You raised an eyebrow. “You’re awfully territorial for someone who just spent two hours driving.”

“Gotta keep an eye on you,” he said with a grin. “Make sure you don’t wander off and get lost.”

Nick rolled his eyes, setting up his tent on your other side. “More like he’s worried about someone else staking their tent here first.”

Chris, unbothered, pitched his tent next to Nick’s. “Yeah, because everyone’s just dying to camp next to Y/N.”

“Excuse me,” you said, feigning offense. “I’m an excellent tent neighbor.”

Matt leaned closer, his voice dropping to a mock whisper. “Don’t listen to them. I think you’re perfect.”

You groaned, trying to ignore the way your cheeks heated. “Focus on your tent before you end up sleeping under the stars.”

Sam and Colby were already laughing as they unrolled their shared tent on the other side of the campsite, while Tara, Jake, Johnnie, and Carrington wrestled with the poles of their massive four-person tent.

“This is like one of those team-building exercises,” Carrington joked, holding one end of the tent. “Except nobody knows what they’re doing.”

“Speak for yourself,” Jake shot back. “I’m practically a professional.”

Tara snorted. “Professional at what? Tangling ropes?”

Despite the banter, the tents slowly started taking shape, and once yours was done, you decided to take a break. The pull of the lake a little ways off was too strong to resist, and you headed there alone, enjoying the quiet as the others continued setting up.

The lake was stunning, its surface shimmering under the midday sun. You sat down on the grassy shore, taking a deep breath. As peaceful as it was, you couldn’t shake the strange knot in your stomach.

“Hey,” a familiar voice called out, startling you. You turned to see Matt walking toward you, his expression soft but curious. “What’s wrong, Y/N?”

“Nothing,” you said quickly, though you weren’t convincing anyone, least of all Matt.

He sat down beside you on the ground, his knee brushing yours. “Come on. You don’t wander off like this unless something’s on your mind.”

You hesitated, looking out at the water. “I… I don’t know what’s going on, Matt.”

“What do you mean?” His brow furrowed as he leaned in slightly.

You sighed, struggling to find the words. “You flirting with me, Matt. You’ve never done that before, and we’ve been friends since kindergarten. But these past few weeks… it’s like you’ve flipped a switch or something.”

Matt stared at you for a moment, his mouth opening as if to speak, but no words came out. Finally, he let out a frustrated laugh, running a hand through his hair. “I… I… Fuck, can I just show you?”

You blinked at him, taken aback by his sudden intensity. “Show me?”

“Do you trust me?” he asked softly, his eyes meeting yours.

You hesitated for only a moment before nodding.

Matt didn’t wait for any more confirmation. He leaned in, his hand brushing against your cheek as his lips met yours. The kiss was tentative at first, almost testing the waters. You froze for a second, surprised, but the warmth of his touch and the sincerity behind it melted your hesitation.

Before long, you kissed him back, the tentative nature of it quickly giving way to something more urgent. Matt’s hand slid to the back of your neck, pulling you closer as his other hand rested on the ground beside you for support.

The world around you seemed to fade until the sound of someone clearing their throat behind you brought you both crashing back to reality.

You broke apart, whipping your head around to see Tara standing there, arms crossed and an amused smirk plastered on her face.

“I just wanted to let you guys know that lunch is ready,” she said, her tone teasing. “But I guess you were about to have your own lunch if I hadn’t caught you.”

Your cheeks burned as Matt groaned, dropping his head into his hands. “Tara…”

“Relax,” she said, waving a hand. “I’m not going to say anything.”

“Please don’t,” Matt said quickly, looking up at her. “Not yet.”

You nodded, your voice small. “Yes, please, Tara.”

Tara grinned and stepped forward, pulling you into a quick hug. “Of course, babes. Your secret’s safe with me.”

She shot Matt a knowing look before turning on her heel and walking back toward the campsite, leaving the two of you in stunned silence.

Matt ran a hand through his hair and let out a small sigh as he stood, brushing dirt off his shorts. “We’ll talk later, yeah?” he said softly, extending a hand to you.

You hesitated for a second before slipping your hand into his. His grip was firm and steady, and you let him pull you to your feet.

“Yeah,” you replied quietly, your heart still racing from everything that had just happened.

Hand in hand, you started walking back toward the campsite. Neither of you said much, but the silence wasn’t awkward. It felt… natural. His thumb brushed against the back of your hand a few times, and you could feel his warmth even in the cool afternoon breeze.

As the tents came into view, Matt slowed his pace slightly. You followed his lead, only letting go of his hand when you were close enough for the others to potentially see.

The rest of the day passed without much fanfare. Everyone was too busy settling in, unpacking, and making plans for the weekend to notice the lingering looks Matt kept shooting your way—or the way your gaze seemed to find him, no matter where he was.

By the time dinner rolled around, the group was gathered at the makeshift dining area near the firepit. The meal was simple but satisfying, and everyone chatted animatedly about their plans for tomorrow.

“I’m calling dibs on the best fishing spot,” Jake announced, pointing a fork at everyone.

“You don’t even know where the fishing spots are,” Chris countered, rolling his eyes.

“That’s why we’re exploring tomorrow,” Tara chimed in, nudging Jake.

As the conversation flowed, Matt’s shoulder brushed against yours, and you felt him subtly tap your leg with his knee under the table. When you glanced at him, he gave you a small, knowing smile, like you were sharing a secret no one else was privy to.

After dinner, the group moved to the bonfire, the flames crackling and casting warm, flickering light over everyone. The smell of burning wood filled the air as you settled into the circle of camping chairs. Unsurprisingly, Matt plopped down in the seat beside you.

The firelight highlighted the relaxed expression on his face, but you didn’t miss the way he kept stealing glances at you. Every now and then, his hand would brush yours as he adjusted in his seat, or his knee would bump yours as he leaned over to grab something.

“Hey, Y/N, you want a s'more?” Matt asked suddenly, holding out the makings of one.

You smiled. “Sure, thanks.”

He handed it to you, his fingers lingering just a little too long on yours. Chris, sitting across the fire, narrowed his eyes suspiciously but said nothing, instead turning his attention back to Sam and Colby, who were deep in conversation about tomorrow’s hike.

As the night wore on, one by one, people began calling it a night.

“I’m wiped,” Nick announced, stretching and yawning. “See you all in the morning.”

“Same,” Tara agreed, standing up and brushing off her shorts. “Don’t stay up too late, you two,” she added with a knowing smirk in your direction.

Once the others had all retreated to their tents, it was just you and Matt left by the fire. The crackling flames filled the silence as you both stared into the embers, the unspoken tension from earlier hanging between you.

“So,” Matt said after a moment, his voice quiet but steady. “About earlier…”

You glanced at him, your stomach flipping at the serious look in his eyes. “Yeah?”

He shifted slightly in his chair, leaning forward with his elbows resting on his knees. “I know I kind of blindsided you with… all of that. I didn’t mean to freak you out.”

“You didn’t freak me out,” you said quickly, though your voice came out softer than you intended. “I was just… surprised, I guess.”

Matt nodded slowly, his gaze flickering between your eyes and the fire. “I’ve been wanting to say something for a while now, but I didn’t know how. And then, today, it just felt like… if I didn’t do something, I was gonna lose my mind.”

You swallowed hard, your heart pounding in your chest. “Say something like what?”

He exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “Like… I like you, Y/N. More than a friend. More than I probably should. And I know we’ve been friends forever, and I don’t want to mess that up, but I can’t keep pretending I don’t feel this way.”

His words hung in the air, heavy and raw. You felt a lump form in your throat as you tried to process what he was saying.

“Matt…” you started, your voice trailing off as you struggled to find the right words.

“It’s okay if you don’t feel the same,” he said quickly, his voice laced with vulnerability. “I just… I needed you to know.”

You hesitated for only a moment before the words tumbled out of your mouth. “I like you too, Matt.”

Matt froze, his eyes widening slightly as he processed what you said. Slowly, a smile broke across his face, one of those genuine, heart-stopping smiles that made your chest tighten.

“You do?” he asked softly, like he needed to hear it again to believe it.

You nodded, biting your lip to keep from smiling too much. “Yeah, I do. And… I think I have for a while.”

Matt let out a breathy laugh, shaking his head. “God, you have no idea how happy that makes me.”

Before you could respond, he leaned in again, his lips finding yours with a newfound confidence. This time, the kiss was less tentative, more assured. His hand cupped your face, his thumb brushing against your cheek as he pulled you closer.

You melted into him, the warmth of the fire and the feel of his lips making your head spin. Time seemed to slow as the kiss deepened, his other hand resting lightly on your thigh.

You broke apart briefly, both of you catching your breath. Matt rested his forehead against yours, his voice low and slightly raspy. “I’ve wanted to do that for so long.”

You smiled, your fingers lightly tracing the back of his neck. “So have I.”

The fire crackled softly, the world around you fading away again as his lips met yours once more. This time, the kiss grew more heated, his hands sliding down to your waist as you leaned closer into him.

“Matt,” you whispered against his lips, your voice barely audible.

He pulled back just enough to meet your eyes, his gaze filled with both concern and desire. “Yeah?”

“I need you,” you said softly, your cheeks flushing at your own boldness.

Matt’s breath hitched, his eyes searching yours for a moment. “You sure?”

You nodded, your voice steady this time. “Yeah. 100%.”

His lips curved into a small smile before he pressed them to yours again, this time with more urgency. Without breaking the kiss, he stood, pulling you gently to your feet.

“Let’s go,” he murmured, his hand intertwining with yours as he led you toward your tent.

As soon as the zipper of your tent was sealed, Matt turned to you, his eyes scanning your face like he couldn’t believe this was happening. He didn’t waste a second before his lips were on yours again, the kiss filled with a mix of hunger and tenderness.

Your hands instinctively found their way to his hair, tugging gently as he deepened the kiss. His hands rested on your waist, fingers toying with the hem of your sweatshirt as if silently asking for permission.

You pulled back just enough to catch your breath, your forehead resting against his. “You’re not wasting any time, are you?” you teased, your voice breathless.

Matt chuckled softly, his lips brushing against yours as he spoke. “Can you blame me? I’ve been dreaming about this moment for years.”

His words sent a shiver down your spine, and without a second thought, you reached for the hem of your sweatshirt, tugging it over your head in one swift motion. Left in just your tank top and shorts, you felt a slight rush of nerves, but the way Matt’s eyes darkened with admiration erased any insecurity.

“You’re so beautiful,” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper as his hands slid up your sides, resting just below your ribs.

Your cheeks burned at his words, but you didn’t have time to respond before his lips were back on yours, more insistent this time. You tugged at the hem of his shirt, signaling him to take it off.

“Off,” you muttered against his mouth, making him grin.

“Yes, ma’am,” Matt said playfully, pulling back briefly to yank his shirt over his head and toss it aside. His toned chest was on full display, the firelight from outside casting faint shadows that made him look impossibly good.

Your hands immediately found his skin, exploring the warmth of his chest and the faint muscles of his abdomen. He shivered slightly under your touch, his breath hitching as your fingers grazed a particularly sensitive spot.

“Not fair,” he mumbled, his hands slipping under the hem of your tank top. “You’re wearing too much.”

“Then do something about it,” you challenged, a teasing smile playing on your lips.

He grinned, his confidence returning as he slowly lifted your tank top, his fingers brushing against your skin and sending sparks through your body. Once it was off, he tossed it aside and took a moment to look at you, his eyes softening.

“You’re perfect,” he said sincerely, his voice laced with both awe and affection.

You felt your cheeks flush again, but before you could respond, his lips found yours once more. His hands roamed your back, pulling you closer until there was almost no space between you.

The heat between you both was growing, your kisses becoming more passionate as his fingers traced the waistband of your shorts. You mirrored his actions, your hands moving to his waistband, tugging slightly to signal your impatience.

“Someone’s eager,” Matt teased, pulling back just enough to meet your gaze.

“Shut up,” you shot back, though your smile betrayed your playful tone.

Laughing softly, Matt hooked his fingers into the waistband of your shorts, slowly sliding them down. You kicked them off to the side, leaving you in just your underwear. He quickly followed suit, shedding his own shorts and leaving the both of you equally vulnerable.

The air inside the tent felt electric, the weight of what was about to happen hanging in the space between you.

“Are you really sure about this?” Matt’s voice was low, almost a whisper, as his eyes searched yours for any sign of hesitation. The flickering firelight from outside the tent cast soft shadows across his face, highlighting the nervous edge in his expression.

You nodded, your breath catching as his hands moved slowly, deliberately, brushing against your skin as they slid behind your back. His fingers trembled slightly as they found the clasp of your bra, pausing for just a moment. It was as if he was giving you one last chance to change your mind, his touch tentative yet electrifying.

“I am,” you whispered, your voice steady despite the wild beating of your heart.

Matt let out a quiet exhale, leaning in closer as he carefully undid the clasp, his lips curving into a faint smile.

The moment your bra slipped away, Matt’s hesitation vanished. His hands gently traced your sides before his lips found their way to your chest. He kissed your skin softly at first, then with growing hunger, his mouth closed around your sensitive peak.

A sharp gasp escaped your lips as he sucked gently, his tongue teasing in ways that sent shivers coursing through your body. His hands anchored firmly at your waist, pulling you closer as his mouth explored you with an intensity that left you breathless. Each flick of his tongue and graze of his lips ignited a fire that seemed to consume the space between you.

Completely lost in the moment, your hands began to wander, sliding down to rest against Matt’s hips. Your fingers traced over the waistband of his underwear before moving lower, feeling the heat radiating through the fabric.

You began to rub him gently, eliciting a low, shaky groan from Matt that only spurred you on. His head tilted back slightly, his eyes fluttering shut as he let himself give in to the sensation. The way his breath hitched with every movement of your hand sent a thrill through you, the tension between you growing impossibly thicker with every passing second.

"As much as I’m enjoying this, baby," Matt murmured, his voice low and laced with desire, his lips brushing against your ear. "We’re gonna have to skip the foreplay—and you’ll need to be quiet for me. Can you do that, hmm?"

His words were both a plea and a challenge, the suggestive edge in his tone making your pulse race. "We don’t want the others to hear, yeah?" he added, a teasing smirk playing on his lips as his gaze locked with yours, dark and full of promise.

You quickly nodded, your breath hitching as your hands slid Matt’s boxers down his thighs, exposing him fully. With a deep inhale, you pushed your own underwear off, leaving you both bare—completely vulnerable before each other.

Matt’s gaze roamed over you, his eyes filled with awe and something deeper. “You’re so beautiful, Y/N,” he whispered, his voice barely audible, as if he couldn’t believe his luck.

A soft smile curved your lips as you reached up to touch his face. “You’re not so bad yourself, Matty,” you teased, your tone light but filled with affection.

He leaned down, capturing your lips in a kiss that was both tender and passionate, pulling you closer as if he never wanted to let go. The kiss deepened, filled with unspoken emotions, before Matt gently guided you onto your back. His body hovered over yours, his weight settling just enough to feel the warmth of his skin against yours, as the moment wrapped around you like a cocoon of intimacy.

You both lost yourselves in a heated kiss, your lips moving together with a mix of urgency and tenderness. Matt’s hand trailed down your body, his fingers finding your core with ease. He stroked your slit with deliberate, teasing movements, spreading your arousal.

“You’re so wet for me, baby,” he murmured, his voice husky and filled with desire.

“Just for you, Matty,” you whispered back, your voice breathy and trembling with anticipation.

Matt positioned himself, the tip of him pressing against your entrance. He paused for a moment, his eyes meeting yours, searching for reassurance. When you gave a small nod, he pushed in slowly, drawing a low groan from deep within his chest.

“God, you’re so tight,” he gasped, his voice strained with the effort of holding back.

“So big,” you moaned softly, your hands gripping his shoulders as your body adjusted to him. The stretch was intense but intoxicating, and every sensation seemed to heighten the connection between you.

“Fuck, I wish we were alone right now,” Matt grunted, his voice a mix of frustration and raw desire as he moved inside you, his thrusts slow but deliberate. “I want to hear those little noises you make so bad.”

A quiet whimper escaped your lips, barely audible as you clung to him, your nails grazing his back. “Me too, Matty,” you whispered, your breath hitching as he angled his hips just right. “Needed you so bad.”

His movements faltered slightly, his lips brushing against your ear as he let out a low growl. “When we’re home, I’m not holding back,” he promised, his tone dark and dripping with intent. “I’m going to make you scream my name, over and over again, baby.”

“Yes, please,” you moaned softly, your voice trembling with anticipation as your body melted beneath his.

Matt’s lips found yours again, his kiss hungry and unrelenting. “You drive me insane, you know that?” he muttered against your mouth, his hands gripping your hips as he buried himself deeper. “You’re all I ever think about.”

The confession sent a wave of heat through you, your heart pounding in sync with his movements. “Matty,” you breathed, cupping his face and forcing him to meet your gaze. “You mean everything to me. I don’t think I could ever want anyone else.”

His eyes softened for a moment, the intensity of his feelings shining through as he leaned his forehead against yours. “You have no idea how much I love you,” he murmured, his voice cracking slightly.

Your response was instant, your hands threading through his hair. “Then show me,” you whispered, your voice laced with emotion.

And he did, pouring every unspoken word into each touch, each kiss, and every movement as if the rest of the world didn’t exist.

Your hips moved instinctively, rising to meet his as his rhythm grew relentless, the heat between you building to a fever pitch. His breath was hot against your ear, his voice strained and commanding as he growled, "If you grind into me just like that again, I swear I'll fill you so deep you’ll feel me for days."

The raw need in his tone sent a shiver down your spine, your hands clutching at his shoulders for support. "Yes, Matty," you whimpered, your voice trembling with desperation. "Please, I’m so close... I need you."

He groaned in response, his lips brushing against your jawline, leaving a trail of searing kisses down your neck. “You need me, huh?” he murmured, his pace quickening. “Say it again. Tell me exactly what you need.”

Your body arched into him, unable to resist the magnetic pull of his touch. “I need you to make me cum,” you gasped, your voice breaking as the tension coiled tighter within you. “Please, Matty. I want all of you.”

“God, you’re perfect,” he muttered, his hands gripping your hips as he thrust harder, deeper, the sound of your mingled breaths filling the room like a melody of desire. His voice dropped lower, rough and full of need as he whispered, “You feel so good. You take me so perfectly—every inch of you was made for me.”

The raw passion in his words sent a wave of pleasure rolling through you, your nails digging into his back as your body moved in perfect sync with his. “Matty,” you gasped, your voice trembling as you felt the edge drawing nearer, “I’m going to—”

“Not yet,” he interrupted, his tone commanding yet tender as he slowed his pace just enough to keep you teetering on the brink. “I want to feel you lose control completely when you let go. Hold it for me a little longer, love.”

You whimpered in protest, the ache in your core almost unbearable. “I can’t,” you pleaded, your voice breaking with desperation. “Please, Matty. I need to cum.”

His eyes locked onto yours, dark and intense, as he leaned in to capture your lips in a searing kiss. “Then cum,” he murmured against your mouth, his thrusts growing wild and relentless. “Let go for me now, baby. I’ve got you.”

The words shattered what little control you had left, your release crashing over you like a tidal wave. Your body trembled as he held you close, his own release following moments later, his groan vibrating through your skin as he spilled into you, his name spilling from your lips like a prayer.

For a moment, there was only the sound of your ragged breaths and the warmth of his body enveloping you. His fingers traced lazy circles on your skin as he whispered, “You’re everything I’ve ever wanted and more.”

You smiled softly, your head resting against his chest. “And you, Matty, are everything I didn’t know I needed.”

He chuckled, pressing a tender kiss to your temple. “Good, because I’m never letting you go.”

The world faded away as you lay together, completely undone yet utterly whole in each other’s arms. His hand rested lightly on your waist, his chest rising and falling with every breath. Matt let out a quiet laugh, breaking the comfortable silence.

"Wow... that was just... wow," he said, his voice breathy but full of awe.

You smiled, still trying to catch your breath. "Yeah, we should definitely do that again," you teased, but the words faltered when you heard a loud voice from outside the tent.

"No! You two, go to sleep now," Nick yelled, clearly trying to sound stern, but his voice was thick with amusement. That fucker is trying not to laugh. "You weren’t as quiet as you thought. You can... uh, 'have fun' as much as you want when we’re back home. But not here!"

Your face flushed immediately, and you quickly buried it in Matt’s neck, unable to hide the embarrassment. Matt chuckled, his fingers gently running through your hair, trying to calm you down.

"Guess we're up for some major teasing tomorrow, huh, baby?" Matt whispered in your ear, his voice full of mischief.

You groaned, too embarrassed to even look up, but you could hear the laughter of the others outside. "I swear, I’ll never live this down."

“You’re so in for it when we get home.”

Taglist: @sophand4n4

#sturniolo triplets #matt sturniolo #matt sturniolo x you #matthew sturniolo x reader #matt sturniolo imagine #matt x y/n #matt x you #matt stuniolo fanfic #matthew sturniolo #matt x reader #matt smut #camping trip #road trip #smut

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