#TOLD YA’LL I’D DO IT

[c00kiesart]

Lil sweet sneak peek 🧁

Inspo ;

[haruka-norikoyo]

Monoma x reader who is Mirio’s younger sibling

Okay, ya’ll know how Mirio out-of-pocketly told Eri that Monoma is the bad part of UA? Like bro was being insane but damn— Eri was scared of him for a while cause of that 😭

So like, what if he kept that energy up cause reader, his younger sibling, is dating Monoma? He would be hilarious as a passive aggressively protective older brother. Poor Neito, LMFAO

Part 1/?

Other parts:

Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8

~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It’s bedtime for the students of class 1-B. Most of the students in the dorm are sound asleep, or at least, in their rooms getting ready for bed. But for Monoma, this hour is his only opportunity to sneak into the common room window now that everyone lives in dorms to meet with his significant other. Why the secrecy? Well, you so happened to have been put into 1-A after you both graduated middle school.

“I might not be able to bring you back until the dorms, but I could at least walk you halfway, you know?” Monoma says was he rests his arm out the window, his fingers threading against your up-stretched hand. “I wouldn’t want you walking on your own.” “Well, you could always be the one to visit me,” you tease, knowing he would never be caught dead within the premises of your class’ dorm. He scoffs, squeezing your hand as he looks away. “I would if your stupid classmates didn’t have godforsaken sleep schedules…”

Unlike his classmates at 1-B, Ashido, Kaminari, Kirishima, Hagakure and Sero wake up in the most random hours, or stay in the common room and play uno until the devil’s hour. Tokoyami is basically nocturnal. Aoyama sometimes goes out of his room for a midnight cheese. Koda has a pet rabbit, so he sometimes wakes up to get food in the kitchen for it. Bakugo sleeps at 8:00pm on the dot, but he, Iida, Midoriya, and YaoMomo are early risers, which too, throws a wrench in your star crossed lovers charade. Technically there is a curfew, but Aizawa himself cherishes his few of hours of sleep, so he doesn’t bother badgering them to go to sleep. If they end up coming to class sleepy, well…

Your only solace is the 1-B dorm, where everyone goes to bed at a reasonable time, with the nigh nocturnal students like Kuroiro at least staying at their rooms. “I guess that’s true…” you smile wryly. “But you know, we could always make our relationship… known..?” You look up at him a little hopefully. The two of you got together near the end of middle school, so you never got the chance to announce it to anyone, especially here at UA with the class rivalry going on. Monoma rests his chin on his hand. “…you know I’d look like the biggest idiot if after all I’ve said, I turned out to be dating someone from 1-A.”

“Yeah, but you’re my idiot,” you smile sweetly, standing on your tiptoes to lean in and peck his cheek. “Mwah.”

“Gee thanks,” He rolls his eyes, pink dusting his cheeks. He pauses a second, moving your hand up to plant a delicate kiss on your knuckles. “…I’ll think about it.”

You smile. “Thank you, Neito.” As you withdrew your hand, his fingers follow yours for another second of your fleeting touch. You squeeze his hand one more time, and let go, using it to wave. “See you again tomorrow.”

Monoma sighs, and smiles. “See you again.” He waves. You retreat back to your dorm, and his hand which was holding yours remained reaching longingly. Maybe the humiliation he imagines would be worthwhile if he gets to spend another moment with you. But, he’ll think about that another time.

He yawns, heading back to his room. The lights are all off, but he manages with the flashlight on his phone. The dorm hallway is nothing eerie. At least, as long as he doesn’t notice the pair of eyes watching him. Monoma reaches his room. He’d already brushed his teeth and changed to his sleepwear previous to meeting with you, so all that’s left to do is go to bed. He reaches for the covers.

“Hello.”

“Wh— eahhh!!!” Monoma screams, tripping on his own feet as he drew back from the face within his pillows. Wait a second, where is the body?!

He calms down, taking deep breaths as he stared at the face peeking out. The face stares back. He stays staring.

“What’re your intentions with my younger sibling?”

“Huh?” Monoma blinks. Bitch who the fuck? He doesn’t know anyone in particular who’s a younger sibling that he might’ve wronged. He doesn’t think a villain would get into UA— is this just 1-A messing with him? “Who even are you?”

“My name is Togata Mirio, nice to finally meet you,” he responds, still with only his face peeking out of the pillows. “Togata..? You don’t happen to be… (y/n)’s… older brother..?”

“Ah jeez, you’re already in first name basis?”

Monoma stares at the face poking out of his pillows. (Y/n) did mention having an older brother who’s in the hero course… but they look nothing alike!

“I bet you’re thinking that we don’t look anything alike, huh?”

Can he read my mind?! Monoma shakes his head. This is his first time meeting his partner’s family, he’s gotta pull himself together. Standing up, he dusts himself off. “I assume that you’re here to see if I’m worthy of (y/n).”

Mirio stays silent, his unreadable smile remaining on his face

Monoma takes a deep breath. “I intend to cherish (y/n), and treat them with all the respect they deserve. I’ll continue striving to be a hero by their side so that I may be the one to protect them when they’re too focused of protecting others. I intend to spend the rest of my life with (y/n).” He sweats. Mirio’s expression did not change at all in the time he’d said all that. “I see. Those are very big claims,” Mirio says. “I don’t doubt (y/n)’s judgement. They’re a capable kid. However…”

Monoma gulps.

“To be frank, I do not like you, or anyone with the chance of breaking my little sibling’s heart for that matter. If you ever hurt (y/n), I’ll pummel you till your mama don’t know ya.”

Huh? “Hold on a second, that phrase…” He smiles wryly, his formalities going out the window at this revalation. It’s the phrase he’d been teaching the abroad student, Tsunotori, while Kendo wasn’t looking.

“Yep, that’s right Monoma Neito. I’m in your walls. Haha, literally.”

With one eye twitching as he smiles, he asks, “That’s a breech of privacy, is it not, Onii-san? Why would you tell me this as an aspiring hero?”

“Because no one,” he could see the evil intent in those round blue eyes. “will ever believe you.”

“You evil bastard—”

“Monoma!” yells Awase, who’s in the room beside his. “The walls are thin! Stop talking to yourself! It’s 12:00 am, go to bed!”

He turns. “I’m not talking to myself I— wait…” Monoma turns back to his pillows, and the face is gone. He snaps his head around his room. “Holy crap he’s in my walls…”

“Are you going insane?” Monoma shakes his head after looking around one more time. He shuts off the lights and tucks himself under his bedsheets. He stares at the ceiling, half expectingly to see Mirio’s face appear to stare down at him, but it seems like he’s left. Or did he?

He may never know.

[foreingersgod]

Can you write a CC x country reader that has a heavy accent, like Texas or smth and how it makes people react to it?

this is such a cute idea, i decided to put my own little twist on it so i hope you like it!

Texas Twang . CC

pairing: caitlin clark x reader

synopsis: you were born and raised on a texas farm, eventually moving away for college where you met caitlin. here’s a list of 5 times she’s fallen in love with you and your accent

A/N: #5 is a wee bit spicy (trying to feed ya’ll as per request) so please skip it if you’re uncomfortable with that!

also i got these sayings off of google cause i dont know any texas slang or how to convey the reader having an accent so sorry if they’re literally not real 😭

༶•┈┈୨♡୧┈┈•༶

1. when you first met

you were panicked, running around your small room trying to find your stupid fucking phone. you were already running 5 minutes behind, the clock on the wall told you, but you wouldn’t be able to find your first class of the morning regardless if you didn’t find your phone. checking under your heap of blankets, in the drawers of your desk, and even in your laundry basket, you found nothing.

then, after throwing every book out of your backpack as a last resort, you saw it laying below discarded orientation papers and sticky notes. with a sigh of relief, you snatched your phone and sprinted out of your building.

you were running at full speed, which was a little embarrassing considering every one else on campus was just walking normally. but you were extremely behind and would be so mad if you were late to your first class at this school. so you continued to weave through people. you dodged campaigners, sped through large groups on the lawns, probably knocking down a few people in the process.

your sprinting seemed to pay off when you noticed the building up ahead. you glanced at the time, seeing you still had a few minutes to make it if you really hurried. your legs ached as you continued to speed walk past bypassers.

then, without notice, you ran right into someone passing by. the force of your impact causing the both of you to fall to the ground in the middle of the quad. if you weren’t late already, you surely would have been now.

“shit” you heard the other person cuss under their breath. you looked up, still planted on the ground, to the person in front of you.

she was an insanely attractive woman. lean, about 6 foot, muscular, just your type you might add. she was pushing herself off of the concrete side walk, brushing the gravel from her pants. you followed suit, standing up then apologizing profusely for running into her.

“oh my hell, i’m so sorry” you exclaimed “i was goin’ way too fast, i apologize”

she gave you a crooked smile, shaking her head.

“no you’re ok, it happens, i should’ve been paying attention”

“no, really ‘s my bad”

her face twisted ever so slightly as you talked “you’re not from around here are you?” she blurted “sorry, that’s completely irrelevant, i just noticed the accent”

you laughed, this wasn’t the first time someone was confused by the heaviness of your accent “it’s fine, i don’t mind. yea, no i’m from a small town in texas, i moved up here for college recently”

“oh really? that’s cool” she smiled, extending her hand to you “well, i’m caitlin by the way”

“i’m YN” you returned her handshake “ ‘s so nice to meet you, but i’m runnin’ late for class”

“wait” she stopped you before you ran past her “do you think i could grab your number, maybe i could take you out sometime?”

you were all smiles “i’d like that, i’d like that very much”

2. your first argument

you don’t even know how it started. all you knew is that some girl was getting flirty at the bar and, according to your girlfriend, you were letting her seduce you. this was obviously not true. you and caitlin hadn’t been dating that long, but it has going really well and she’s incredibly important to you. important enough that you wouldn’t just be flirting with other women at the bar.

nonetheless, you were being dragged out of the bar. caitlin was oozing jealousy as you headed back to your place for the night.

“she was all over you, YN” caitlin sneered, following you into your apartment and slamming the door.

“oh my god, she wasn’t!” you rolled your eyes “good lord, arguing with you ‘s like tryna piss up a god damn rope”

“what?”

“what do you mean what?” your accent was thick, rolling off your tongue.

“what the hell does ‘pissing up a rope’ mean?” she looked at you confused, dropping the girl from the bar entirely.

you looked at her equally confused “you don’t say that here?”

“uh no, i think that’s a you thing” she said “your texas slang is distracting me and it’s making it very hard to be mad at you right now”

you chuckled, kissing her cheek “ ‘s just my southern charm, baby”

3. when you sing in the car

caitlin hated country music for the most part. but when you came along, you made it your duty to get her to enjoy it at least a little bit. she had never been subjected to small farm country music and to you, that was a sin.

so you’d play it for her on occasion, if she let you. and surprisingly it was pretty often. she would never tell you, but she only put up with country music just to hear you sing it. she was completely mesmerized by the way your accent mixed with the tune of the songs.

one day you were in the car together, on the way home from a get together with friends. it was a warm summer evening, sun on the brink of setting causing the sky to glow shades of orange and pink. cait was driving, per usual, you being her honorary passenger princess. she rolled down all the windows for you (even the sunroof) just how you liked it. you loved feeling the hot summer breeze blow through your hair with the radio turned all the way up.

“you follow me, and lead me on..” you hummed lightly, ‘all your’n by tyler childers sounding through the car radio.

she snuck glances at you as she drove down the empty street, watching how you let your arms hang out with window and let the wind fan over your face.

“so ill love you till my lungs give out” you closed your eyes, lost in the moment “i ain’t lying’”

caitlin so desperately wanted to pull over and listen to you sing all night long. your voice was like a gift from the gods. the way your accent slurred with each word had her melting in the drivers seat.

“i’m all your’n” you looked over to caitlin, smiling “ ‘n you’re all mine”

she smiled back, reaching across the console and resting her hand on your thigh.

she let you play your music the rest of the way home, just wanting to listen to you sing for a little bit longer.

4. when you met her family

you had waited months to meet caitlin’s family. no really, families were your thing. growing up in texas, it was common to be in or surrounded by a big family. and you knew big families more than anyone else, having 9 siblings, you being the middle child. it was a setting you thrived it and you tended to get along with people pretty well.

caitlin was hesitant to introduce you, she was freshly out of the closet and had never brought a girl home before. but this thanksgiving, she thought it was the perfect time to introduce you.

“so, YN” caitlin’s mother asked from across the table. “i’m sure you’re not used to such a small family, caitlin told me you come from quite the family tree?”

caitlin’s hand found your knee under the table, squeezing it lightly for comfort.

“oh yea,” you chuckled “my mama had a whole litter with 9 ‘a us. it was always crazy around the house, with 5 brothers n 3 sisters. and my daddy wasn’t around to help out off’n, but that’s a whole ‘nutter can a worms”

the way her family reacted to your voice made caitlin laugh under her breath, watching how they slowly dissected your sentence trying to make out the words from beneath the accent. she thought it was cute, lucky to have such a unique and special girl.

even the way you interacted with her younger cousins had her fawning over you, you were just so sweet and gentle.

“hiya, sweetie” you smiled as caitlin’s baby cousin accidentally fell into you “took a bit of a spill there didn’t ‘cha?”

you were the perfect picture of a warm welcome, full of beauty and grace and kindness. caitlin knew, from this moment, you’d be in her life forever.

SPICE AHEAD

5. during sex

she’d be lying if she said that damned accent didn’t get her riled up. because truly, it had her wet the second you started talking.

when she would have you pressed up against the wall, one leg wrapped around her torso as she kissed down your collarbone and onto your cleavage. the way you would moan “oh darlin’” oh so sweetly in her ear had her going crazy.

the rare instances in which you would take the lead in bed, watching as you crawled atop of her, stripping her bare. how you would hook your fingers under her underwear, tugging them down her long and toned legs. she was already bucking her hips into nothing. then you’d fasten your arms under her thighs, pulling them apart to place delicate kisses along the insides of her legs.

you’d tease her a bit more before dropping your head low, hot breath fanning against her glistening cunt. she bit her lip, trying to suppress moans of pleasure, and you had hardly touched her yet. you took your time with her, tongue dragging deliciously against her, savoring the taste.

“well you’re just sweeter than cherry pie, aren’t ‘cha baby” you’d praise, having her arching under your touch. with that, she couldn’t hold her moans any longer, completely coming undone as you continued to treasure every inch of her body.

you were going to be the death of her. 

༶•┈┈୨♡୧┈┈•༶

A/N: alright guys i tried to make it a little spicier, so feedback is much appreciated cause i honestly feel like it sucked lol

[lonely-ey3s]

With All My Love: Chapter 10 | wondering why

Chapter 10 : Wondering Why

Word Count: 13.2k

Pairings: joel miller x f!reader (no outbreak)

Chapter Summary: There are two big events this weekend for you and Joel, Sarah’s soccer tryouts and a work dinner Joel invites you to come with him, as he is trying to sign a client and wants to take them and their partners out for a nice dinner to sign them. 

Chapter warnings: SMUT (18+ MDNI), f!oral, m!oral while driving (don’t be stupid and suck dick while your partner drives),  unprotected p in v (wrap it up ya'll), light choking (hand on throat but not choking, more possessive), anxiety, mentions of PTSD anxiety, FLUFF, joel being an absolute lover, soft!joel, panic attacks, joel being a fucking hunk, use of y/n. 

A/N: i’ve been listening to this playlist on spotify while writing this fic and ‘wondering why’ by the red clay strays has been screaming these two the whole time i’ve been writing along with many other songs but this one more than others. also, i’d love some feedback, what are some plot twists ya’ll are thinking will happen? i’m very curious to know 👀

Dividers by: @saradika-graphics 

Main Masterlist

3 weeks later    

Sarah had tryouts today, she was a nervous wreck. She was up early this morning ready to go on a run you told her you would go on last night before you were up. 

Joel woke you up to his head between your thighs and gave you some cardio before your alarm went off. 

After he pulled 2 orgasms from you with his tongue, and your alarm went off, you got up out of bed and got dressed in your running wear which consisted of some running shorts and a sports bra and lately with the weather in the morning, a hoodie. 

You went to open the bedroom door to leave when Joel got out of bed butt naked and ran to bring you back to bed, you giggled and kissed him as he tried to walk you back to bed but then pushed him to lay down on the bed, him chuckling and grinning, his hair askew from sleep. 

You stood and smiled, “I got to go, Sarah’s probably waiting for me…” you chuckled and leaned down, giving him a gentle kiss. “We’ll be back soon.” 

Joel nodded and sat on his elbows as you left the bedroom, quietly closing the door. You walked downstairs and Sarah was sitting on a barstool at the island, she looked like she didn’t get much sleep. 

“Mornin’ sweets…” you smiled and came over to her, touching her back and rubbing it, “Nerves all over the place?” 

She looked up at you, anxiety written all over her face, nodding, “I’m so nervous.” 

You leaned down and kissed her head, “Come on, let’s run it out and talk.” you held out your hand with a small smile. 

She smiled and caved, taking your hand and walking to the front door. 

—

You both went to the mailbox and did what stretching you needed to do, moving around to get the blood flowing. 

You looked at your watch and then Sarah and smiled, “Ready?” 

She nodded and started jogging on the sidewalk, you chuckled and ran to catch up with her. 

For the first mile, she kept quiet, focusing on her pace, and you watched for that small sliver of time when you could step in and start talking her off that nervous rabbit hole she was going down mentally. 

Around mile 2 you were running by her school so you made a turn to go into the parking lot, “Detour! Come on…” you shouted to her. 

She turned around and followed you. 

You jogged to the soccer field and stopped in the middle of the field, sitting down, patting the ground next to you, inviting her to come sit by you, panting softly. 

She sat down, brought her knees to her chest, and sighed. 

You looked at her, and then looked at the field, “I don’t know if you know this about me but when I joined the army I was two steps away from death’s door.” you looked at the ground, “I was with a man who hurt me and right before I left, he almost killed me.” you cleared your throat and looked at her, “I went into boot camp with 2 broken ribs, I’m pretty sure I had a head injury, among other things… but the first day we got there, guess what we had to do?” 

She looked at you, curious, “What?” 

“Run 10 miles.” you chuckled. “I had never in my life run 10 miles in one go, not even when I was in track and field in school…” you smiled, “But that was the first test, if we didn’t finish, we didn’t get dinner or get to go to our dorms.” you looked back at your feet, “I ran and ran… til my lungs burned and I couldn’t feel my feet.” you bit your lip, and leaned back on your hands, “But I did it, and I came in 6th place…” you looked at her, “Which ticked me off, I’m far too competitive for 6th place…” you nudged her and she chuckled. 

She looked at you and smiled. 

“My point is, I ran 10 miles, with 2 broken rings and other things, and completed what I needed to do with little to no experience or skill.” you sat up and faced her, “You are going to crush these tryouts because you have skill and experience, as well as drive and passion.” you touched her knee gently, “You want this, right?” 

She nodded, “Yes, so much…” 

You nodded, “Then you’re going to get it. You’re going to make the team and get first string.” 

She looked at the field and took a deep breath to calm herself, “I’m going to make the team.” 

You smiled and stood up, yelling into the air, “SARAH MILLER IS GOING TO BE FIRST STRING!” 

She giggled up at you and stood up, yelling into the air, “I AM GOING TO MAKE THE TEAM AND BE FIRST STRING!”

You smiled and nodded, “Again.” 

She yelled it again, this time louder and with more confidence. 

You nodded and smiled, “There we go. Speak it into existence. It’s going to happen.” 

She chuckled and nodded, “It’s going to happen.” 

“Your Dad and I are going to be there, Tommy and Maria too… the whole time, cheering the loudest for you, they’ll have a hard time forgetting you…” you winked and pulled her in for a hug. 

She wrapped her arms around you and tightly held on, needing a hug, and support. 

You didn’t let go until she did, and when she did you looked down and smiled, “You’re going to do amazing things, Sarah, you’re a brilliant young woman and have so much talent. I’m so proud of you.” you teared up a little. 

She smiled and teared up too, “Thank you for supporting me…” 

You hugged her again, “I’ll always do it sweets…” 

She pulled back and nudged you and started running, “Last one home is a rotten egg!” 

You chuckled and ran after her. 

You both got home and Joel had breakfast ready for you both, Sarah’s favorite, pancakes with strawberries and whipped cream and a banana peanut butter protein shake for the needed protein she had been trying to drink in the morning. 

You all ate breakfast together and she seemed to be in a better mood, laughing and making jokes. 

Around noon you all packed into Joel’s truck and drove to the school for tryouts. 

Joel dropped Sarah off as she wanted to do some warm-up drills before they started. He parked the truck and you both made it to the field with some camping chairs, hand in hand, ready to support her. 

When you made it to the field you were too anxious to sit down so you stood up and crossed your arms and stood watching the field from the sideline. You looked like a true mom like this, concerned with your kid, watching for them. 

Joel sat and watched you, smiling at how involved you had been in this whole process. He knew it meant a lot to Sarah and it was something he appreciated you doing, taking the time to be immersed in Sarah’s life and hobbies. 

A woman came up to you, looking you up and down, looking a bit snobby with her designer bag and sunglasses, “I don’t think we’ve met before, I’m Janine Andersen… and you are?” 

You turned to look at her and nodded, “Y/N… nice to meet you.” you smiled tightly and went back to looking at the field. 

She nodded, “Nice to meet you as well. Um… my girl is Cadence, number 3, who’s yours?” she probed, looking at you and then the girls, trying to see who might be yours. 

You smiled and pointed, “Sarah Miller, number 24…” 

She looked back at you, “Oh, you’re Sarah’s um… mom?” she tried to dig in, knowing the story of Sarah’s mom. 

Just as you were about to say something snarky back as you knew what she was trying to do, Joel came up behind you and wrapped his arm around you, “How you doin’ Janine?” 

She looked at Joel and smiled, slightly blushing, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, “Oh, Joel, I’m good. I was just getting to know your… friend…” 

You looked at her and grinned, “Girlfriend, I’m his girlfriend.” you stuck your hand out for her to shake. 

She nodded and shook your hand, barely taking it, like touching you was beneath her, “Oh I see.” she cleared her throat, pulling her hand away, “Well, what is Sarah trying out for?” 

You clenched your jaw and turned away, she clearly was someone you didn’t want to be around with how she acted above you. Joel smiled looking out at the field and waving to Sarah, “First string. Same as your girl, yeah?” he looked at her and kindly smiled, trying to still be polite. 

She nodded and smiled, “Exactly, I guess may the best player g-” 

The whistle blew to start the small scrimmage, and you stepped out of Joel’s arms and started walking up the field, “Yeah sure, nice to meet you Janice!”, purposely saying the wrong name and abandoning the conversation, yelling toward Sarah, “Let’s go Miller!” clapping, getting hyped up.

She shouted back, “Oh! It’s Janine…” She waved her hand and tsked as you didn’t hear her, too far away. 

Sarah looked your way and nodded, then looked back at the field, getting ready to zone in on the ball. 

Joel tried to hide his smirk at your obvious jab at her, then looked at Janine and smiled tightly, “Thanks for comin’ over, but I think it’s starting and I’m gonna go join mine…” he grinned and nodded then ran to catch up with you. 

The coaches were watching every player from the sidelines opposite of the parents. Sarah had told you that this scrimmage was one of the most important parts of the tryout, so you were up the whole time, running up and down the field with her if you weren’t standing in the middle with Joel, cheering her on. 

Joel stayed and yelled from one area of the sidelines after you ran up and down a few times, not having nearly as much energy as you to run up and down with the game.

Sarah made two assists and 1 goal, you jumped and cheered for her, clapping, pumped up for how great she was doing. You were 100% the loudest and most involved on the sidelines, earning judging glares from parents and a comment or two as you passed about it only being tryouts, but you didn’t care, that was your kiddo and this meant the world to her, she needed the support. 

During the half, which was a 2-minute break she came over to you, out of breath, “How do I look?” 

You smiled and gently shook her by the shoulders, “You are doing awesome, you’re on fire!” 

She chuckled and squatted down to give herself a break. You mimicked her and put your hand on her shoulder, “Take a breath, focus on getting the ball down the field, and don’t worry so much about making the goal yourself, but working as a team. They will want someone who can do that, not a narcissist like #5 or #3 who keeps hogging the ball and losing out on opportunities to share and score…” you pointed out to the field to explain things.

Joel saw you both and smiled to himself, he pulled out his phone and took a picture, it warmed his heart you were someone Sarah felt she could turn to. It was also a relief to share the load with someone when it came to raising a kid. You didn’t overstep and try to make her your own, but you offered help when it was needed and you were always 2 steps ahead of him with her and what she was involved in. He loved having you as a partner, and one day he knew you’d make a great mom. 

The whistle blew and Sarah stood, you rose with her, “Keep pushing back at those trying to break your balance, challenge them, don’t be afraid to push back, be aggressive, but not hurtful, don’t let anyone walk over you, yeah?” you patted her back to send her back out. 

She nodded as she listened with her hands on her hips, “Got it.” She turned to run away and shouted as she jogged away, “Thanks Mom!” then picked it up and ran back to her huddle.

You smiled brightly tearing up a little, and shouted back, not wanting to say anything in case it was a slip-up and didn’t want to worry her so you settled on, “You got this, sweets!” 

— 

The second half went better for Sarah, she challenged those who tried to push her around and it paid off. She tripped up number 3 and made her trip on her own feet, stole the ball from her. She ran down the field, passed it to someone waiting, and made a perfect assist to score. 

You ran with her when she ran down the field to make the assist, “That’s it, take it all the way, go Miller!” 

When she kicked it to the other teammate flawlessly and it made it into the goal effortlessly you jumped in the air and clapped, then pointed at her, “Way to work, Miller! Great assist, let’s do it again!” you ran back down the field as that’s where she was headed. 

Joel stayed in the middle of the sideline but cheered loudly when she made the assist, “Way to go 24! Keep it up!”

The scrimmage ended a few minutes later but Sarah did great and you came back over to Joel beaming, “She’s doing so good!”       

He smiled and chuckled, “How are you not out of breath? I think you did more laps up and down the field than the ref did…” he kissed your cheek as you hugged his side. 

You shrugged and chuckled, “Didn’t feel I ran that much...” 

Joel smiled and chuckled, kissing your head, “Maybe it’s all the cardio you’ve done today that’s helped…” he smirked down at you. 

You tsked and shook your head, looking away, “Joel Miller there are children present.” you blushed as you chuckled shyly.

Joel was about to say something when Tommy and Maria came up, “Sorry we’re late, we uh… got distracted.” Tommy cleared his throat and smirked. Maria nudged him. 

“So subtle Tommy…” She rolled her eyes and looked down shyly. You chuckled and nudged her to make her smile.

“She’s doing great, she had 3 assists and 1 goal in her scrimmage which I know she’ll be happy about.” Joel said proudly. 

You and Joel both looked at her running through some drills while they assessed and timed her. 

After another half hour of drills and short assessments, Sarah and the team were instructed to sit in a circle in the middle of the field while the coaches deliberated, choosing their players. 

She looked back and you and Joel and smiled softly. You both held out your thumbs and smiled, mouthing, ‘Good job’ and ‘You got this’. 

After 15 minutes the coach blew her whistle and invited the parents to surround the group for the big announcement.

The four of you walked together and stood as close as you could behind Sarah. You held onto Joel's arm, standing close to him, he leaned down and kissed your head, putting his hand on yours, softly saying against your hair, “Thank you for all you’ve done to support her, it means a lot to not only her but to me. I love you.” 

You looked up at him and smiled, then leaned up and kissed his cheek, “I love you too.” you then looked forward as the coach started to talk. 

“Thank you all so much for the support and time you’ve taken out of your day to come and participate in this season’s tryouts. Girls - you all did fantastic and we are so happy and excited for you to be on our team, you all are very talented and we were very proud watching all of you today.” she smiled at the group of girls. 

You clapped with the group and cheered, smiling as Sarah looked back at the four of you, smiling at you all. 

“With that being said, I know you are all super eager to know your positions so let’s get to it, shall we?” she chuckled and pulled out her clipboard. 

“We will start with 3rd strings… will the following numbers please stand and come get your practice jersey over to my right?” she smiled at the group.

The third-string players were usually newer members of the team, Sarah said this was good, it meant they made the team. 

“Numbers, 2, 5, 8, 13, 25, and 37!” 

The group cheered and clapped, those girls stood, all super excited as they looked younger and were just happy to have made it on the team. They made it over to the assistant coach and grabbed their jerseys then sat back down, all the other girls congratulating them. 

The coach smiled, “Alright, next is 2nd string, will the numbers: 3, 4, 7, 9, 11, 15, 22, 26, 31, 33, and 39 please stand!” 

Everyone clapped and cheered, some of the girls that were called were disappointed as they most likely wanted first string. 

You looked over and saw Janine look upset as her daughter was among that group called. You didn’t know if it was pure innocent disappointment or if she wasn’t getting her way with her kid getting what she wanted, you couldn’t make it out. But her kid seemed to be a bit spoiled as she rolled her eyes and flopped back down after getting her jersey, crossing her arms like a toddler having a tantrum. 

You hid your face in Joel’s arm as you had to let out a small chuckle at the immaturity of the girl. 

Joel looked down at you, confused, “Everything ok?” 

You nodded and smiled, “Yeah, just…” you chuckled, “... I’ll tell you in the car.” you shook your head and then composed yourself as the crowd started to quiet back down. 

Joel chuckled and kissed your head then turned back to the group.

“Alright, last but not least, we have our first strings!” the coach smiled brightly. 

Sarah looked back at you and Joel nervously, if she didn’t get this, it meant she didn’t make the team, you made eye contact with her and mouthed, ‘It’s going to happen.’ then smiled softly at her. She nodded and took a breath before turning back around. 

“Will the following numbers please stand: 0, 6, 10, 14, 16, 20, 24, 27, 30, 34, and 43!” 

You let go of Joel's arm when you heard Sarah’s number and cheered, clapping loudly with him, Tommy, and Maria. 

Sarah got up and smiled brightly, excitement beaming from her, she stood in line to get her jersey, bouncing on her toes. 

The coach chuckled and once the girls sat back down she grinned, “I’d also like to announce our team captain for this season.” she grabbed a special jacket that was for the team captain and faced the circle. The group fell silent and all turned to the coach. 

“This player is someone who has shown that they are strong player on and off the field as they have been working hard to train for this team while also maintaining a great GPA in their studies. They also exhibited the definition of teamwork in the second half of the scrimmage today which shows selflessness and the important skill of teamwork that we need to always remember. They are a beast as a forward and we know they will do great this season as one of our newer first strings. Sarah Miller, will you please stand?” 

Sarah turned back to you both and had her jaw dropped, utterly shocked. 

You giggled and clapped loudly, whistling for her, “Way to go sweets! Woo!” 

Joel clapped and whistled loudly, cheering, “That’s my girl!” 

You both were the loudest and Sarah had never felt so overwhelmed with love and support. 

She slowly stood and chuckled, coming over to her coach, but then as she started getting closer she began tearing up as she didn’t expect this at all and it became real when she saw the jacket with her number on it. 

The coach pulled her in for a hug and whispered something to her, then patted her arms encouragely, and nodded before patting her back to go sit back down. 

She put on the jacket and she went to sit back down, tears falling happily, she sat back down and laughed as her teammates touched her back or arm to congratulate her, she was beaming with confidence and happiness. 

“Thank you, parents and family, for coming out today, please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Have a wonderful rest of your day and girls we will see you at practice on Monday!” she blew into the whistle to dismiss everyone. 

Sarah was immediately swarmed by her teammates, all giving her hugs and high-fives. 

The four of you waited to the side for her and when she made her way over you all cheered and clapped for her. She giggled and jumped in the air then you all pulled her in for a group hug. 

Afterward, you all went for a well-deserved dinner to celebrate her then back home to enjoy a game night together. 

A few days later

Joel came in through the front door after being back at work for the first time in a couple of weeks. Sarah was sitting at the table doing some homework and you were nowhere to be found. Joel assumed you were out running errands or upstairs as he hadn’t heard from you in a few hours. 

“Hey baby girl, how was school?” he came over and kissed the top of her head. 

Sarah smiled, “Good, how was work?” 

Joel smiled, “Busy…” he chuckled and got into the fridge, “Any idea where Y/N is?” 

Sarah shook her head, “No, I assumed she might be out with Maria or something, I’ve been home for a couple of hours.” 

Joel nodded but something didn’t sit right, it wasn’t like you to not leave a note or text him where you might be.

He went upstairs, maybe you were in bed, not feeling well? He opened the door and peeked in but the bed was made and no sign of you. 

Joel pulled out his phone and dialed your number, it rang, and after he felt like it rang a hundred times you picked up. 

“Hey handsome.” he could hear you smile through the phone.

Joel let out a sigh of relief and smiled, “Hey sweetheart. Where are you? I just got home and couldn’t find where you were… scared me a bit.” he chuckled softly. 

“I know, I’m sorry, I went over to Rose’s for a quick second and we just got to talking and lost track of time. I’ve helped her with some things around the house. I’ll be home soon, dinner is prepped in the fridge, can you put it in the oven at 375F and set a timer for 30 minutes?” you sounded sincerely sorry, and bad for not leaving a note or text. 

“Of course. I’ll see you soon. I love you.” he smiled and started walking downstairs. 

“I love you too, bye.” you hung up. 

Sarah looked at him, “Where is she?” 

Joel chuckled, “Rose’s…” 

Sarah chuckled and nodded, “Say no more.” 

Joel laughed softly and then did what you said and put dinner in the oven. 

About 20 minutes later, you came through the front door with Rose. “I’m home! I brought Rose over since I made extra and she hadn’t made dinner yet…” you put your keys in the bowl and smiled. 

Joel was on the couch watching the sports channel when he perked up hearing you and smiled, “The more the merrier…” he came up and kissed your cheek then gently touched Rose’s arm, “How are you today Rose?” 

You slipped past them and went into the kitchen to check on dinner, everything looked good. 

You started to take a salad mix out from the fridge and put it in a bowl. 

Rose went over and sat by Sarah, and started talking to her about school.

Joel came over and wrapped his arms around you from behind, kissing your shoulder, “I missed you today…” he said softly against your shoulder as he kissed up to your neck. 

You chuckled and leaned into him, “I missed you too…” 

He smiled, “I uhm… I have this thing tomorrow night, with some contractors, trying to get them to sign a contract with us. Tommy and I are taking them and their partners out to dinner.” he started to get a little shy as he laid his chin on your shoulder, “Will you be my date?” 

You blushed, “Is it a steak house dinner or black tie dinner?”

“Not necessarily black tie but fancier than a steak house…” he said softly as he began to rub your hips with his thumbs. 

“Will Maria be going with Tommy?” you put some croutons into the salad. 

“He’s askin’ her, but I’m sure she’s comin’...” he smiled softly. 

You smiled and nodded, “I’ll need to go shopping tomorrow for something to wear, but yes, I’ll be your date cowboy.” 

He smiled, moved to the side, and took your chin in his grasp, turning your head to kiss your lips softly. 

You smiled against his lips and he pulled back, “Need help takin’ everything to the table?” 

You nodded, “Yes please.” 

He helped take the casserole and some plates to the table. 

You ate with Rose, Sarah, and Joel before playing a game of Uno which was Rose’s first time playing. 

It was becoming somewhat of a normal thing to have Rose around since you came home. Maybe Frank was right, Joel was coming more out of his shell. He seemed just as eager and engaged when she came around since you had first met her in the driveway. You didn’t want to think of him as grumpier before you met him, but it warmed your heart that if that was who he was, you were glad to have that positive influence on him. 

You went out while Joel was at work and found yourself a dress for tonight. Joel told you he’d be home by 5 pm so you could leave and get to the restaurant by 7.

Around 4 pm you started to get ready. When Joel came home you were in a robe sitting on the bathroom sink doing your makeup, hair already done in a loose and sultry low bun. 

Joel smiled seeing you and came up to the side of you, being careful as you were doing your eyeliner, looking at you in the mirror, “Hey baby… lookin’ good.”

You smiled and blushed, taking your hand away from your eye, “Thank you, sweetheart. I just need to finish my makeup and get dressed and then I’ll be ready.” you leaned over and kissed him softly. 

He smiled and pulled you in for another kiss by gently grabbing your chin. 

You giggled and kissed him again, softly pulling back and looking at him in the eyes before biting your lip, tasting him on your lips before going back to your makeup, “Anything I need to avoid talking about or need to boast about to help with this contract?” you asked.

He chuckled and left the bathroom to go get ready in the bedroom, “Nothin’ to avoid, but if you could befriend their partners that might help.” he came in the doorway putting on his dress pants. 

You pulled your hand away and looked at your eyes in the mirror, satisfied with how you did a small wing on your eyeliner, “I can do that.” you smiled then got down from the counter and headed into the bedroom, grabbing your dress and shoes you had on the bed then went into the bathroom and went to shut the door. 

Joel put his foot in the door before you could close it, “Since when do we not change in front of each other?” he said as he buttoned up his black dress shirt. 

You chuckled and blushed, “Since today, now move your foot.” 

Joel smirked, “What are you hiding?” he gently pushed the door open, trying to make his way inside. 

You giggled and pushed against him, “Joel stop… you’ll see later if you behave tonight…”

He smirked and stopped pushing but kept his foot there, “Define behave…”

You chuckled and blushed, “Minimal funny business…” 

“So funny business can still happen…” he said lowly, “Just minimal? Easy…” 

You smirked at his cockiness and looked at him through the door and moved the robe you were wearing to open a little, revealing a sliver of some black lacy lingerie, “You sure it’ll be easy cowboy?” 

Joel’s eyes got darker and he smirked, “What else you got under there baby?” 

You chuckled and closed the robe, “Go get dressed, we’re going to be late…” 

Joel tsked and moved his foot, “Yes we are…” he smirked. 

You chuckled and closed the door, “No we aren’t!” you shouted from behind the closed door. 

Joel chuckled to himself and finished getting ready, sitting on the bed as he put on his shoes and waited for you to come out. 

You opened the door, and came out in a red dress that had a slit up your left leg, showing smooth skin and strappy heels you wore. You saw Joel and smiled, “How is this? Too fancy?” you bit your lip, feeling a bit overdressed now that you looked at yourself. 

Joel’s jaw dropped to the floor and his eyes drank you in like you were the finest glass of whiskey in front of him, “Baby… you look…” 

You blushed and looked at him, smiling, “I look what?” 

“Ravishing…” he said as he stood up and came over to you, gently running his hands down your arms to grab your hands and kiss them before letting go of one and making you spin for him.

You blushed and turned in his grasp, “Thank you…” 

He stopped when you were in front of him, and you gently put your hand on the lapel of his suit jacket, now drinking him in, “You look very ravishing yourself too, cowboy.” you slowly brushed your hands down his jacket, and then saw he had the first few buttons undone, showing some of his chest, you traced your fingers there and bit your lip then leaned up to kiss him gently, “You see now that, the button’s that are undone, that’s inviting funny business my love…” you lightly chuckled before your lips connected to his. 

He brought his hand up from holding yours, cupped your cheek, and pulled you in closer by your waist as he connected his lips to yours in a soft but deep kiss earning a soft moan from you. 

You hummed against his lips, “Think we can spare a few minutes?” you moved your hand down to his belt and started pulling it to undo it, feeling a pool of warmth in your core. 

He smirked and put his hand on your wrist to stop you, “Now now, you said minimal funny business, remember?” he moved his lips to your cheek and then jaw to gently leave kisses there. 

You grinned and bit your lip, “I said that for the dinner…” 

You needed him, that little bit of chest he was showing, and this suit he was wearing was driving you crazy, “I need you… just a taste…” you said breathlessly. 

He smirked, he liked that for once you were begging him to be late. He was going to use this to his advantage. 

He took a step back, “As much as I’d love to taste you, we need to get going…” he took your hand on his chest and put it to his lips, giving it a small kiss before walking out of the room, fixing his belt. 

You stood there shocked, for once being the needy one. 

You scoffed and bit your lip, determined to get what you want. Fine, game on. 

Joel waited by the front door for you, you walked out together and he helped you into his truck before getting in himself and starting the drive. 

He put his hand on your thigh and gently rubbed it, you listened to the soft hum of the radio he had on. 

About 10 minutes into the drive you turned your head to look at him, “How long of a drive is it?” you asked softly. 

Joel looked over and smiled at you, “We still have about 15 minutes.” then turned his head back to the road. 

You bit your lip and moved your seat belt to behind your back, before you leaned over and kissed his cheek then whispered in his ear as you undid his belt with your right hand, “Keep your eyes on the road baby… I still want a taste…”

You undid his pants which already had a hard cock pressed against them, then moved down to kiss him through his pants, teasing him. 

Joel hissed and groaned, “Baby this is funny business…” 

You pulled him out from his boxers and smirked, “Like I said, we aren’t at the restaurant yet…” You lightly let some saliva fall onto his tip then used your hand to stroke it up and down. 

His hand gripped the steering wheel at the sensation, grunting, “Fuck darlin’...”

You stroked him like that a few times before taking your tongue flat against his shaft and dragging it slowly up and around his tip, letting out a satisfied moan, “Mmm you taste so sweet cowboy…” you kissed the tip which had precum leaking out, getting a taste of it and humming before softly putting your mouth over it and sucking it gently, moving your hand up and down towards the bottom of his shaft, playing with him. 

He clenched his jaw together and let out a moan once your lips surrounded his tip, the truck speeding up a little due to his foot jerking. He quickly corrected it and grunted, “Baby fuck… I’m gonna get us in a wreck if you keep doin’ that…” 

You pulled off for a moment and giggled, “Shall I be quick about it then?” then put your mouth back around him, this time putting himself deeper down your throat. 

He let out a shaky moan and bucked his hips up, landing him to graze the back of your throat, making you gag, but you moaned at that. 

He chuckled lowly, eyes looking down at you for a moment, “You liked that, didn’t you? Gagging on my dick?” he looked back up to the road. 

You went up and down on his cock a few times before pulling up and swallowing, “I love feeling you deep inside me, whether it’s my pussy or throat, that’s where you belong…” 

“Tienes la boca sucia, mi amor.” (You’ve got a dirty mouth, my love) he groaned as you put your mouth back onto his cock, taking him slowly back down your throat. 

He stopped at a stop light and put his head against the headrest, fluttering his eyes closed as you bobbed your head up and down in his lap. The man at the light next to him looked over and could see your head bobbing up and down, he lightly honked his horn, snapping Joel’s gaze over to him, he nodded and smirked, giving a thumbs up. 

Joel turned bright red, but then his eyes fluttered shut and he grunted as he felt you push himself as deep as you could down your throat and choke, causing that tug behind his navel to begin, “Fuck…” 

The light turned green, and he got a few honks from behind him to go as he didn’t move fast enough. 

He waved his hand to the car behind him and began accelerating the truck, “Shit baby, you’re causin’ traffic delays with that beautiful mouth of yours…” he groaned and smirked. 

You moaned with him still in your mouth, earning him to jerk his hips up to the sensation, “Fuck baby…” he gripped onto the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles were turning white, you kept going up and down, slurping up the sloppy head you were giving him, making a mess of his boxers, “Oh Dios, no pares, así sin más.” (Oh god, don't stop, just like that.) he babbled and panted softly. 

You kept doing that, moaning softly as you felt him jerk inside your throat, his breathing became faster and more erratic, “Mi vida, I’m going to cum…” he groaned and put his hand on the back of your neck to keep you deep on his cock. 

He felt a deep pull and then like a coil had broken he came down your throat, gripping the steering wheel and groaning as he clenched his jaw, “F-fuck…” 

You moaned and slowly pulled yourself off him, swallowing his load, as you slowly sat up. 

He was breathing hard, flushed, and lightly sweating, keeping his eyes on the road. 

You tucked him back into his boxers and softly did his pants up before kissing his cheek and leaning back into your seat, “Almost there?” 

He looked over at you and smirked, “You’re… that was…” he couldn’t find his words, still feeling high from his orgasm. 

You giggled and pulled the mirror down, fixing your lipstick and gloss, “I know…” you said confidently. 

Joel pulled into a nice restaurant parking lot less than 5 minutes later and handed his keys to the valet, then came around and got your door. 

You took his hand and walked in together to the hostess's desk. 

“Welcome to La Caléndula, how many in your party?” the hostess asked with a soft smile on her face. 

“We have 10, but the others will be there soon, I should have a reservation under Miller Construction?” he leaned up against the desk, keeping your hand in his. 

“Ah yes, Mr. Miller, welcome. We have your table ready. If you’ll please follow me.” she grabbed a stack of menus and started walking back to your table. 

Joel kissed your hand and then let you walk in front of him with his hand on the small of your back. 

She took you back to a huge circle table to fit all of you, “Will this work for your party?” she looked at Joel for approval. 

He pulled out your chair for you and kissed your cheek after he pushed it in, looking up at the hostess, “Oh yes ma’am that’ll do great, thank you.” he smiled softly and then sat down next to you. 

“Wonderful. This is Ethan, he is your waiter, you all have a lovely night.” she nodded and then walked away. 

Ethan stepped forward and smiled, “Good evening, you both look very lovely Mr. and Mrs. Miller. Can I start you out with something to drink?” 

You blushed and shyly looked down at the menu when he referred to you as Mrs. Miller, then cleared your throat and looked back when he asked about something to drink, “I’ll start with an ice water.” 

Joel looked down at the menu, “I’ll do a whiskey please.” he then looked up and smiled at Ethan. 

Ethan nodded, “I’ll be back with those and check in with your other guests once they arrive.” 

Joel nodded and then went to put his hand on your lap but you were quite far away from him, he looked up and tsked, “This won’t do…” he put his menu down then grabbed the underside of your chair and pulled you closer to him, making you giggle. 

You looked at him and smiled, “That’s better, I think too…” you touched his cheek and kissed him gently. 

He kissed you back and then heard a familiar voice and gently pulled back, looking over his shoulder. He smiled brightly and stood, “Hey good to see you Roger and is this the missus? Katherine, right?” 

You stood with him and smiled, putting your hands in front of you, politely. 

Roger smiled and took his hand to shake then pulled him into a hug, “Joel, thank you for bringing us out.” he pulled back and shook his hand then took his hand away and put one hand behind his wife on her back, “Yes, this is Katherine.” 

Joel gently took her hand and kissed it, “It’s very nice to meet you, ma’am, Roger has told me so much about you and your little boy.” he smiled and then turned to you, “This is my girlfriend, Y/N…” he put his hand on your back and smiled as he pulled you to his side gently. 

You held out your hand, to Katherine first, “It’s so lovely to meet you both.” 

She shook it and then Roger took it and shook it gently then leaned in and kissed your cheek gently, “Lovely to finally meet you, I’ve heard so much about you.” 

You smiled and blushed, “All good things, I hope?” you joked. 

Roger chuckled, “Nothing but the best I’ve heard from Joel, he never shuts up about you when someone sees your photo in his office.” he winked at Joel. 

Joel looked at you and kissed your temple, “It’s true, I’m a lucky man, always grateful to be able to express it.” 

Ethan smiled and came back with your drinks. 

You looked at him and smiled, “Katherine, Roger, please sit…” you turned to gesture to the table. 

Ethan smiled, “Mr. and Mrs. Kipper, lovely to see you’ve made it, is there something I can get you to drink?” 

They both ordered a glass of wine. 

You saw Maria and Tommy come in with another couple, you stood and excused yourself and touched Joel’s shoulder to get his attention and then walked over, “Maria you look amazing…” you smiled and hugged her gently. 

She smiled and hugged you back.

“Come sit by me…” you whispered into her ear. 

She nodded and pulled away, winking at you. 

Joel came up and chuckled, “James, so good to see you, how was the drive?” he shook an older gentleman’s hand, he seemed a bit more reserved, and quiet. 

“It was good, thank you for asking. Joel this is my wife Diane.” his wife who also seemed on the more quiet side held her hand out.

Joel shook it gently and kissed it gently, “Good to finally meet you, Mrs. Scott, I’m glad you’re here.” he let her hand go and put his hand behind your back, “This is my girlfriend, Y/N…” 

You held out your hand and gently shook her hand, “Oh my, I love your dress, it brings out your beautiful blue eyes.” you smiled as you looked at her dress up and down. 

She instantly lit up, “Oh my goodness, thank you! I was so nervous it wasn’t my color!” she shook your hand gently. 

“No, no, you look amazing, I’m a little jealous you can pull it off, I could never!” you giggled. 

James you could tell defrosted seeing his wife light up, it was like he rarely saw her like this and enjoyed it. 

You looked at him and held out your hand, “It’s lovely to meet you, sir. I must also say, your tie also brings out your eyes…” you winked at him. 

He let out a chuckle and shook your hand, “Good one, dear.” he leaned in and kissed your cheek softly. 

You smiled warmly, “Come sit, we have Roger and Katherine here.” you moved aside so they could go sit down. 

They walked past you with Tommy and Maria, going to sit at the table. Joel leaned down and said quietly, “Whatever you’re doin’ with James and Diane, keep it up. I’ve never seen that man smile.” he kissed your cheek. 

You smiled and chuckled, “Roger that.” you took his hand and led him back to the table, sitting back down between him and Maria. 

Maria looked at you, “Why are you so far away?” she chuckled. 

You looked at her and smiled, then shrugged, “I’ve got a velcro boyfriend it seems.” you chuckled and looked at Joel who was already looking at you, you blushed and pecked his lips. 

He chuckled and put his arm around the back of your chair and rubbed your back and shoulder with his fingers gently. 

About 5 minutes later another gentleman and woman came up to the table, “Sorry we’re late, traffic was horrible.” 

You stood with Joel and both of you smiled softly. 

Joel shook the man’s hand, “Paul this is my girlfriend, Y/N.” he gestured to you. “And then of course you know Tommy, and this is his girlfriend, Maria.” he gestured to them. 

You took Paul’s hand and shook it, “Paul, lovely to meet you.” you looked at his wife, “Lovely to meet you as well…” you held your hand out. 

She smiled, “Wendy, sorry. He’s a little nervous.” she chuckled and shook your hand. 

You chuckled, “Come, sit down, Ethan just came by to get James and Diane’s drink orders. He’ll come back and ask for yours.” you gestured to the empty seats across the table next to Tommy and Maria. 

They sat down and so did you and Joel. 

Ethan came by with the drinks he got for James and Diane and got Wendy and Paul’s then asked if you guys would like any starters. 

Joel looked at the table, “What sounds good to everyone?” he smiled. 

Paul piped in, “I’ve heard their cheese board is good here, shall we get two and share?” 

The group nodded, and Joel nodded to Ethan, “2 of the cheese boards, please…” 

The starters came back and everyone started doing small talk, casually getting to know their neighbors more, James sat next to Joel and talked his ear off about legal issues within the contract for about 15 minutes. 

His wife peeked over and cleared her throat, “So Y/N, what do you do for work?” 

The group quieted down a little and looked at you. Joel and James stopped talking to give you the table to talk. 

You all of a sudden got shy and looked around, “Oh… umm..” you looked back at her and smiled, “I just got back from a tour in Afghanistan about a month ago… I was an army medic.” you smiled and looked back at Maria, “Ironically, Maria and I were stationed and partners there together.” you reached and took her hand. 

Roger piped up, “Wait, so how did you end up with the Miller brothers?” he chuckled. 

You looked at Joel and smiled then looked at Roger, “We signed up for a pen pal program before we were deployed and by some miracle were writing to them both. We had no idea until weeks later.” 

Wendy smiled, “Wow, so you were out there… in combat?” 

You nodded and smiled softly, “Yeah, here and there. Mostly just stationed in our main camp taking injured civilians and soldiers that were transported in but we went on a few assignments away from the base.” you shrugged. 

James asked, “How long were you deployed actively?” 

You looked over at him, “We were over there for about 3 months, but we were both medically dismissed. We both got injured on our last assignment to pretty much make us no longer useful to the Army.” you dryly chuckled. 

“She’s being humble. I would have been killed if this one didn’t drag me out of the zone and carried me up 11 flights of stairs to be air rescued…” Maria added and put a hand on your arm. 

You looked down and nodded, “I mean… 12 flights but who was counting…” you chuckled looking up, making everyone else laugh.

“Did you have to kill anyone?” Paul asked suddenly, Wendy kicking his leg, earning a wince from him and looking at her with a ‘What?’ expression. 

You looked at him and swallowed, “Uhm, yes, Maria I think maybe injured someone when we went into our first assignment?” you looked at her and she nodded. You looked back at him, “But we um…” you looked down at your hands in your lap, taking a breath, then looked up and clenched your jaw before softly saying, “We weren’t combat trained… our jobs were to treat and save those injured in battle, so our duty was to more heal than harm, but there were a few times where we had to… you know…” you nodded and cleared your throat. 

Everyone could tell the air was heavy and that maybe that wasn’t the best question to ask someone who had just come back home. Paul immediately regretted it. 

Joel put his hand on your leg, gently squeezing it, and cleared his throat, seeing this wasn’t something you wanted to talk about, “Roger, you were telling me the other day that you were thinking of going to a Cowboys game, did you get tickets yet?” 

After that, everything seemed muffled, in slow motion, and you felt your hands become clammy, your heart slowly picking up in speed, starting to disassociate. 

Someone behind you opened a bottle of champagne and the pop of the cork startled you, you jumped in your seat and snapped out of the daze you were in. 

Maria leaned over, “You ok?” she whispered. 

You swallowed and nodded, “Y-yeah, I umm… I’ll be right back.” 

You stood up, “Excuse me, I need the powder room.” you started to weave through tables, heading towards the restrooms, you bumped into a waiter, “I’m so sorry.” you said then kept walking. 

You made it into the bathroom and instantly turned on the water, ice cold, putting your hands into it, trying to shock your senses, taking a deep breath through your nose. 

Joel stood to go after you but Diane stood and touched his arm, “I’ll go check on her…” she smiled kindly. 

He looked down at her, worried. 

“It’s ok Joel… I’m a therapist… I know what she’s going through. I’ll go help. Stay here… I’ll take care of her.” she smiled and gently squeezed his arm. 

He nodded and then swallowed, “If she needs me, send someone to the table, I’ll come.” 

She nodded and then Joel sat down and watched as Diane made her way towards the restrooms. 

James leaned in, “I’m sorry about that idiotic question Paul asked…” he rolled his eyes. 

Joel smiled, “It’s ok, he couldn’t have known it would have that effect.” he leaned in and put his hands in his lap. 

James chuckled, “Still, an idiotic question to ask anyone who’s been over there.” 

—

You stood at the sink with your hands in the sink, taking a breath through your nose, holding it for a few seconds, and then letting it out a few times. You started to whisper, “You’re safe, you’re not in harm’s way, you’re home…” over and over. 

Diane came in slowly, “Hey sweetie.” 

You jumped at her sudden appearance then chuckled, “Sorry Diane, you startled me.” 

She shook her head, “No need to apologize, are you ok?” she smiled sweetly, putting her hands in front of her to come across as non-confrontational as she could. 

You chuckled and put on a fake smile, “Yeah, yeah… just washing my hands…” you lied. 

She nodded towards the water, “Your hands are red, let me guess temperature shock to cold temperatures?” 

You looked at your hands and pulled them out of the shamefully, grabbing a towel to dry them off, “I.. uhm…” 

“It’s ok not to be ok.” she said calmly, staying where she was. 

You looked at her and froze, “Pardon?” 

“The question that Paul asked you, stupidly, I’ll add, produced a stressor in your brain. Triggered your flight or fight response as you had to think about triggers and trauma you experienced back there.” she took a step towards you, “You then disassociated and tried to shut your brain but were then triggered by the sound of that champagne bottle behind you, which sounded like gunfire, am I right?” 

You looked down shyly, “Yes ma’am…” 

“It’s ok not to be ok.” she stepped closer and gently took your hand which was ice cold still. “You went through unimaginable events and trauma that no one knows about other than maybe Maria, but even then, you experienced them together but maybe processed them differently. No one expects you to be ok after getting back so soon.” 

You let out a breath of relief and put your other hand over hers, “I feel like I didn’t go through things bad enough to feel this way.” you looked down, “I feel guilty when I have these moments of panic or anxiety. I know so many others that went through things harder than I did.” 

She sighed sadly, “Let me guess, absent parents growing up, self-raised, in a toxic relationship before going into the military, only child?”

You looked at her and raised your eyebrow, confused about how she knew all that, “What kind of psychic voodoo magic are you dealin’ with lady?”  

She chuckled which turned into a laugh, which you joined in on. 

She shook her head, “No voodoo, just years of school. I’m a psychologist.” she smiled. 

You smiled and nodded, “I see… so I’m textbook?” you chuckled and pulled your hands away, feeling exposed. 

She shook her head, “No, not like that, you just… you’ve been through a lot and maybe don’t know how to process things, you know?” she sighed, trying to reconnect seeing you were pulling away. 

You leaned against the sink, and clenched your jaw, frustrated that was who you were and she could pick up on it so easily, “Yeah, you could say that…” You looked down and sighed, knowing you needed help, “Do you uhm… do you take people like me?” you looked up at her, biting your lip nervously. 

She nodded, “I do… would you be interested in talking to me outside of this setting?” she smiled gently, slowly moving to lean against the sink with you. 

“You… you don’t think something is wrong with me?” you looked back down at your hands, messing with your bracelet. 

“Nothing is wrong with you, you’ve got a lot of scary things up in your head, things that you can’t process alone.” she looked at you, trying to find your eyes. 

You looked up at her, “I’ll warn you now, I’m extremely stubborn and am notorious for shoving things down into a little box and keeping it there.” 

She chuckled, “I’m stubborn too… and we’ll unpack that box, slowly and with a lot of support and guidance and I’ll show you how to make that box into something maybe a little bit more helpful when it comes to coping mechanisms.” she softly nudged you. 

You smiled and nodded your head softly, “That’d be nice. That little box is a bitch after a while.” 

She chuckled and nodded then stood up straight, “Do you need another minute or do you want to walk back with me?” 

You looked at her and then let out a breath, “I’ll walk back with you if that’s ok.” you smiled softly. 

She nodded and opened the door, “So, I have to know, did you really meet Joel being his pen pal?” 

You and Diane walked back together, taking your time to tell her the short story of the events between you and Joel. The version only a select number of people knew about at that table. 

You chuckled and nodded as you returned to the table, “Right? I thought it was a funny nickname too…” 

Diane sat next to James and you came over to sit by Joel, he stood up and pulled your chair out for you, you sat down and he pushed it in, softly kissing your cheek and then coming to sit by you, putting his arm around the back of your chair and leaning in close, “Everything ok?” he rubbed your skin with his thumb softly. 

You looked at Joel and touched his cheek gently and leaned in, gently kissing him then pulling away, “Everything’s ok.” 

He nodded and softened in your touch. 

Roger cleared his throat, “Did I hear something about a nickname?” he tried to engage you back into the conversation. 

You let go of Joel’s cheek and smiled at the table, smiling, “I was explaining to Diane my nickname for Tommy…” 

Tommy groaned, “Oh, no… we don’t share that with others, Sarah won’t stop callin’ me that now...” he chuckled. 

You chuckled, “I for one think Reginald is a stoic name, very regal.” you teased. 

Roger and the others chuckled. 

“Wait… why Reginald?” Wendy asked as she snacked on a cracker and cheese. 

Maria explained the story and you leaned into Joel, listening. Joel took your hand with the one that wasn’t on the back of your chair, gently rubbing it with his thumb, once in awhile bringing it to his lips to gently kiss. 

Ethan came back after a little bit of time had passed and took everyone’s orders for their entrees. 

Wendy spoke up and smiled at you, “Joel was telling us while you were in the powder room how great of a photographer you were, he mentioned you took a lot of photos while you were deployed, and showed us some you took with just a disposable camera. I was wondering if you ever thought about doing it professionally?” 

You sat up in your seat a little and smiled, then looked at Joel softly, he looked at you lovingly and kept ahold of your hand. You looked back at her, “Oh, um… I mean I used to want to maybe do bridals/weddings or portraits but don't have the equipment and it’s so expensive you know? I think that would be a great gig for me though, maybe one day?” you politely said. 

“We have a daughter getting married at the end of the year, I’d love to hire you…” she looked at you and smiled brightly. 

You looked at her, and smiled, “I uhm… I could look into some rentals or something. I’d love to help.”

Joel cleared his throat, “We can make it happen.” he kissed your shoulder and winked at Wendy, who nodded her head at him, like they were speaking in code, and then turned to talk to Roger who was sitting next to her. 

You looked at Joel, chuckling, “What was that?” 

He looked at you and smiled, “What?” 

“That like code wink and nod, what… it was like I was watching some secret message being communicated…” you said while looking into his brown eyes that just stayed looking at you happily. 

“No code, just a wink and nod.” he lied, but good enough that you didn’t push further. 

You bit the inside of your cheek and hummed, “Alright Miller…” 

He leaned over and kissed your cheek softly before James pulled him away and asked him a work-related question. 

Once Ethan came back with the food, that’s when the shop talk started between the men. 

“So you’re telling me that it takes that much time to frame it out? I think that’s overestimating it, Tommy…” Roger said after Tommy gave him a timeframe for framing out the building they want to be done. 

“Not if you want it done right. We ensure that it’s stable enough to withstand the floods we get here and in extreme cases any tornadoes.” Tommy rebutted, taking a bite of his steak. 

Roger tsked, “You agree with him, Joel?” he looked over at Joel. 

“Of course I do Roger, I wouldn’t be partners with him if I didn’t trust his word.” he smiled tightly, feeling a bit frustrated with his constant nitpicking. 

You had been listening closely to the exchange and noticed none of them had mentioned seeing the work actually being done, they maybe had no understanding of how it was done and had unrealistic expectations. 

You leaned over to Maria and whispered, “Is it just me, or has no one mentioned coming out to a site before? See how the work is done?” 

She shook her head, “I tuned them out. I have no idea.” she chuckled. 

You leaned back and looked at your plate, listening to them go back and forth about timing, you were about to burst if you heard Roger say one more thing about timing being overestimated, so you cleared your throat, “May I ask you something, Roger?” 

He looked at you and softly smiled, “Of course.” 

“What made you choose to work with Miller Construction?” you put your hands on the table in front of you, holding them together, tilting your head in curiosity. 

He chuckled, “I um… I liked that it was family-run, liked their portfolio, and they also had great recommendations.” he smiled. 

You nodded, and looked at Paul, “What about you, Paul?” you smiled softly. 

He took a breath and smiled, putting his hand on his wife’s, “I liked how prepared they were each time we met with them before we drafted a contract. I also liked Joel’s work ethic, I heard from someone he worked with previously he was very attentive and professional. I liked Tommy’s attention to detail, he makes sure everything is in order and if it’s not, from past clients he would fix it.” he nodded towards Tommy, and Tommy smiled in return. 

You nodded and smiled then looked at James, “Last but not least…” you smiled, “James, what were your thoughts?”

James looked at Joel, who was looking at you adoringly, captivated by what you were doing for him and Tommy. 

James smiled at Joel’s love for you and looked at you, “I liked how highly Joel spoke of their team, how he advocated for their time but also highlighted they do amazing work when they are on the clock. I also liked Tommy’s attention to detail like Paul said, you can tell why these two are dominating their market. They are also family-oriented. Tommy with his mom and Maria… Joel with his mom, Sarah, and you… I like working with family men.” 

You nodded, then looked at the men, “If you like all these things, and it sounds to me that you trust them and their skills… why are you all nitpicking how long it takes to frame or how long it takes to put headers on, or… forgive me but I’ve heard copper pipping at one point I think…” you chuckled and they did as well, “I just… pardon my blunt tongue, but why isn’t this deal sealed when they are clearly experts in this field?”  

James sat up and looked at Roger and Paul, “She’s got a point, we’re just pussy footin’ around at this point… delaying the project…” 

Roger bit his lip and nodded, “I guess we are…” 

Paul chuckled and looked at Joel, “How does signing tomorrow work for you?” 

Joel sat up and looked at Tommy, who almost choked on his wine, Joel looked at Paul, smiling, “Yeah, that works great. I can have my people there by noon, does that work for all of you?” 

They all three nodded and stood up. 

You sat back in your chair and smiled as the men all got up and shook each other's hands. 

Joel was over the moon this deal was over as it was taking up a lot of his time. He looked back at you as he was talking to Paul and smiled at you, mouthing, ‘Thank you.’

You nodded and blew him a kiss then looked at the women, “Now that’s over, let’s talk about anything but work, shall we?” you giggled as they all nodded. 

—

After you all shared more stories and got to know each other better over some dessert and wine, Ethan gently came over and whispered in Joel’s ear they were closing soon. He nodded and then cleared his throat, and told everyone that it was closing time. 

You all said your goodbyes and they made it to the front where the valet went and got their cars. You hung back with Joel while he paid and left a generous cash tip for Ethan in the envelope. 

He gave you his jacket as it was colder outside and kissed your cheek, “Ready, my love?” he offered his arm. 

You nodded and took his arm with his jacket on which drowned you but you couldn’t help but blush at the kind gesture. He always made sure you were taken care of and never failed to accomplish that. 

He led you out to the truck and tipped the valet then opened the door for you and helped you in, gently closed the door, and got in the driver's side. 

He turned to you and leaned over, taking your chin in softly in his grasp and pulling you to his lips, kissing you softly and slowly, moving his hand to cup your cheek. 

After a few moments you pulled back slowly, keeping your lips barely against his, whispering, “What was that for?” you smiled keeping your eyes closed against him. 

“You just… you were amazing tonight. Without you, it wouldn’t have ended that well, I just am so lucky. I…” he chuckled and smiled rubbing your cheek gently as you opened your eyes to look at him, “You… darlin’, you’re always there to support me… you’re my best friend, and biggest fan and I love you and I’ll always do whatever I can to keep earning your love…” he said before pulling you back in and kissing you deeper but still slowly, taking his time with your lips, gently and slowly sliding his hand up your thigh towards your panties. 

You combed gently through his hair to pull him closer, softly letting out a moan as you felt his hand crawl higher. You were about to crawl into his lap when the valet boy knocked on the window shyly, “Can uhm… can ya’ll keep it movin’… there’s a line.” he turned red catching you pretty much making out. 

You giggled as Joel pulled away and put his hand up, flustered but not embarrassed, lips swollen and red as he rolled down the window and handed him a $20 bill, “Apologies sir… have a good night” he smiled like a teenage boy as he looked back at you, “Let’s get you home baby…” 

Joel made a 25-minute drive into a 15-minute. 

He helped you out of the truck and then grabbed your hand as you practically dragged him inside. 

Once the front door was closed he pressed you up against the wall in the entryway, lips feverishly crashing against each other, hands roaming each other's bodies, soft moans escaping your lips as he pulled you against him. 

Sarah’s bedroom door opened and the light illuminated the hallway which cast it down the stairs. 

Joel pulled away from your lips quietly and looked at the hall, whispering, “Go back to bed, go back to bed…” praying she wouldn’t come down to check if she heard a noise. 

You both heard her cross the hall into the bathroom and then moments later the toilet flush followed by her sleepily making it back to her bedroom and closing the door. 

You softly giggled, and Joel looked down at you, eyes hungry, “Meet me in the bedroom? I’m going to go let her know we’re home and kiss her goodnight.” 

You nodded and pecked his lips gently before going up the stairs and going into the bedroom. 

Joel did what he wanted and Sarah was pretty much out, barely understanding what he said due to how sleepy she was. 

Joel made it into the bedroom as you were starting to take off your heels, “Leave ‘em on…” he closed the door and locked it then came over and knelt, putting your heel back on your foot. 

“Quiero que me pongan estos cuando vea lo que tienes debajo, mi amor. Quiero ver si los quiero encendidos o apagados mientras te follo.” (I want these on when I see what you have on underneath, my love. Want to see if I want them on or off while I fuck you.) he kissed your ankle softly, looking up at you. 

You blushed and bit your lip then stood up and took his chin in your hand, making him rise keeping your eyes on his then turning around and moving your hair to the side, smirking as you looked at him from behind your shoulder, “Could you unzip me?”

He slowly traced his fingers up your body, while he leaned down and kissed your shoulder up to your neck, humming before his fingers landed on the zipper, “I want you on your back the second this dress hits the ground, I need to taste you.” 

Your breath became quick and excited, and you nodded, “Yes sir.”

He slowly led the zipper down then moved the straps off your shoulders to have the dress fall off your body and pool around your feet on the floor. 

You turned around and sat down on the bed then laid down slowly below him to expose an all-black strapless lace lingerie set. 

He bit his lip and started to palm himself through his pants, “You naughty girl, hiding this from me all night?” 

You smirked and purred, “I’m sorry sir…” 

He slowly knelt and pulled your hips to the edge of the bed, “Come ‘ere…” he growled as he opened your legs up and put them over his shoulder, moving your panties to one side. 

You giggled when he pulled you but that was quickly replaced with a breathless moan as he drew a line up your slit with his flat tongue. 

He began sucking and flicking his tongue against your clit, giving it feverish and slopping kisses with his mouth. You moved your hands to comb through his hair which was slightly damp with lust and hunger for you. 

You arched your back and your legs began to shake as a warmth started to spread up your body from your core, “Fuck… I…” but before you could say anything he pressed his tongue deeper onto your clit and pulled an intense and gravitating orgasm from you. 

You saw stars and gripped tightly onto the bed below you with one hand and his hair with the other, begging for him to stay where he was as you started to involuntarily grind your core against him as his scruff provided the perfect sensation to make you barrel over the edge again shortly after. 

He grinned up at you from your thighs and pulled back slowly, humming, “Scoot back.” he commanded, starting to unbutton his dress shirt and she ran his eyes over your body, planning what he was going to do to you and your beautiful body. 

You felt like jello but you did what he asked and moved your body back to be more center in the bed. You sat up on your elbows and watched him undress, biting your lip and blushing, “You looked so handsome tonight, mi amor. Tenía al hombre más fuerte, guapo y gentil del edificio. Soy una mujer muy afortunada.” (I had the strongest, most handsome, and gentle man in the building. I'm such a lucky woman.)

He blushed at the comment and compliment, he unbuttoned his pants and removed both them and his boxers before crawling between your legs and nestling himself between them, his cock pressed against your weeping pussy and connected his lips with yours in a slow intimate kiss, rocking himself against you. 

You slowly laid back down, cupping his cheek and gripping his bicep to pull him closer to your body, moaning softly as he began to probe his tongue at the entrance of your lips which you granted entry to. 

He groaned and put his hand between your bodies, grabbing himself to align with your entrance before wasting no time wrapping himself around you. 

You gasped and moaned, pulling your lips away at the sudden intrusion, feeling a jolt of electricity cascade up your body. 

He moved his lips instantly to your neck and began sucking and marking it, claiming you as his with gentle marks of his affection. 

You began rolling your hips with him, creating this sea of ecstasy between the two of you. 

You gently grabbed onto his shoulders and bicep as he started to pick up the pace, making that coil deep within start to wind, pressure building. 

“You feel so good wrapped around me…” he kissed your pulse point, “All I could think of after you helped get that damn deal sealed was worshipping your body and making you come undone on my cock.” he confessed as he whispered it into your ear as he continued to roll his hips, thrusting himself deep into you as a pace and rhythm that had you dizzy and speechless. 

He moved his hand up from your waist to your breast and gently cupped it, “Come for me, my love… quiero adorarte. (I want to worship you.) 

You arched your back and your eyes rolled back as he pinched your nipple, and moved to the other side of your neck to kiss and suck on your pulse point, making that coil snap. Your legs quivered and fell flat against the sheets as your body was going through a religious experience after that orgasm. 

You could feel him grin against your skin and he pulled back, hissing as he removed himself from deep inside you, “Hands and knees, mi vida…” 

You panted softly, out of breath, “Give me a sec…” you chuckled and swallowed, trying to catch your breath. 

Joel smirked and then grabbed your lips, flipping you around to lay on your stomach then putting his arm under your stomach to pull your hips up to you were on your knees, “Patience is not my virtue tonight, querida…” he lined himself up at your entrance, “I want you now…” he pushed himself slowly in, bottoming out. 

You put your face into the mattress to loudly moan, arching your back for him, feeling him stretch you out blissfully. 

He put his hand on your shoulder to pull you up, and the other on your waist, and began pumping into you, taking the breath out of your lungs the first few thrusts. 

He groaned and held onto you, snapping his hips at a steady and brutalizing pace, making you pulse and tighten around him. 

You moved your hand and touched his on your shoulder, “Baby please don’t stop, fuck you feel so good..” you begged as you moaned out softly, praying Sarah couldn’t hear the explicit sounds coming from your mouth. 

He kept going at this pace for a few moments more, gripping the soft meaty flesh of your hips, digging his fingers into them to ground himself, he began to recklessly thrust into you harder and a little faster, and began feeling himself close to climax. “F-fuck…” he growled under his heavy and face pants. 

He grunted and then moved his hand that was holding onto your hip and put it flat against your abdomen to pull you up flush against him, wrapping his arm around you to cup and grab your breast, turning his head to whisper, “Come with me…” he whined feeling the coil about to snap, “Please, mi amor…” he pleaded, continuing to snap his hips up into you. 

You gasped and grabbed onto his hand that was wrapped around you, intertwining your fingers to his as you fluttered around his cock and came begging “Fill me up Joel, please…” 

He moved his hand that was on your shoulder to loosely wrap around your neck careful not to choke but to assert his dominance as something deep within him wanted to claim you tonight.

He put your chin up a little to moan upwards, as he sucked on our earlobe and whined and grunted lowly into your ear as he came deep up into you, his hips stuttering and stalling as he jerked himself deep into your core. 

You panted softly and leaned your head back against him, “I should come to more work-related dinners if this is what I get afterward…” you teased, lightly chuckling.

He kissed your neck and chuckled into your skin, “I’ll be taking you out to more dinners just to show you off, you and that dress drove me crazy all night…” he nuzzled his nose into the hair behind your hair and moved his hand around your throat to trace lightly down your body to wrap around your abdomen. 

You closed your eyes and smiled, “I know… I felt your eyes on me constantly…” you lightly moaned as you felt him kiss your pulse point. 

“I couldn’t help myself, I had the most gorgeous woman there…” he grunted as he pulled out of you and kissed your shoulder before slowly letting you go, “Lay down for me my love… let me wash you up…” 

He slowly moved out from behind you and allowed you to lay down in the sheets, before he went into the bathroom and got a warm washcloth, softly wiping the mess between your legs as well as gently taking off your heels and setting them in the closet with your others. 

You looked at him lovingly as he softly attended to you, and smiled, “Thank you for taking care of me…” 

He looked at you and then threw the wash rag into the hamper before getting in bed next to you, wrapping his arms around you, pulling you close as he kissed your forehead, “Gratitude is not necessary my love, I’ll always take care of you…” 

You leaned your head up and looked at him, “I love you Joel…” you said with utter love and devotion, “I am absolutely head over heels in love with you.” you smiled lovingly, and combed his hair back on the side of his head, studying his face, committing to memory every piece of it. 

He went to say something but instead gently took your chin in his grasp and brought his lips to yours, kissing your lips passionately and deeply, devoting every movement against your lips to express his undying and devoted love to you. 

Previous chapter - Next chapter 

taglist:  @sarahhxx03, @blahkateisdone, @sunnytuliptime, @pedroscurls, @docharleythegeekqueen @pedritosgirl2000

[violetlunette]

Part of this

Riddle: So, Yuu, you wanna join the Equestrian club?

Yuu: Yes, I like Equestrians and observing them. Especially silver-haired ones. *Makes lovey-dovey eyes at Silver*

Riddle & Sebek: *annoyed* LEAVE.

Yuu: Wait, wait! Gimmie a chance! Look, I bet can ride any horse here.

Riddle: Alright, try that one then, *Points to the horse of hell, with a black sheen and eyes of brimstone*

Yuu: ...okay.

Silver: *worried* Are you sure you can handle him? That horse is a bit rough.

Horse: *glares with fury of hell*

Yuu: *determined to impress* Of course! Leave it to me.

Sebek: *Scoffs!* I wanna see that.

Yuu: Then watch, you crocodile-simp! I’ll you know I have a way with animals!

~Later~

Silver: Wow, you did it!

Yuu: *winks* Naturally! Anything for you, I told ya’ll I have a way with animals.

Riddle: I must admit, even I’m impressed you were able to tame that Stallion. How did you do it?

Yuu: Oh, I just gave him a little warning.

Sebek: Warning?

Yuu: I told him I’d hack off his balls if he didn't cooperate.

Sebek: You mean you threatened him?! (And it worked?!)

Yuu: No, I warned him. This is the threat. *Holds up Hatchet*

[mythica0]

Dump of random epic stuff!

I’m making this because when I make individual posts of things like this they get like no notes. So! I put them together in hopes that it’ll get more attention!

First order of business, my new story board for wouldn’t you like, and some finished designs I haven’t posted yet! I’m aware the story boards are messy and might be hard to read, so just do your best!

On a relevant note, I still need some help figuring out how to draw a raft so I can do my storyboard for Dangerous! (And the rest of the vengeance saga, for that matter)

Next up, the fics in the works! I know I’ve said that I have a lot of drafts, but I’ve yet to say what they are! So here’s a list! (Title included if I’ve come up with one already)

-The Ruthless King: Ler!Ody, Telemachus, (edit: the suitors have some ler too, forgot to mention that) Lee!Suitors, Telemachus.- Odysseus alternate ending/more wholesome version!

- Switches Hermes and Aeolus- the two decide to have a tickle fight!

-Lee!Hermes, Ler Winions ft. Aeolus- during a hangout, the Winions decide some mischief is in order.

-Be Quiet!: Ler!Athena, Ares, Lee!Apollo- The war gods get irritated when Apollo plays his music to loud.

-Hey there, Handsome: Ler!Calypso, Lee!Ody- Calypso’s had enough of the silent treatment.

-Little Wolf: Ler!Antinous, Suitors, Lee!Telemachus- the suitors are bored, and mess with Telemachus.

-Nice try: Ler!Athena, Lee!Hermes- Hermes tries to Tickle Athena and she quickly turns the tables.

-Ler!Athena, Lee!Telemachus- Telemachus tries to start a tickle fight with his mentor and it ends up backfiring.

-Ler!Athena, Ares, Apollo, Artemis, Lee!Hermes- Hermes asks for tickles after pulling a prank, and his siblings don’t agree.

- Too Serious: Ler!Aphrodite(might add more or change it), Lee!Athena- Aphrodite thinks Athena is too serious for her own good.

-Brotherly Teasing: Switches Zeus and Poseidon- the two are teasing each-other and settle it with a tickle fight

-Wondering: Ler!Penelope, Lee!Telemachus- Telemachus is wondering about his dad.

-Future son: Ler!Ody, Lee!Penelope- Penelope is 7 months pregnant with Telemachus.

-Ler!Artemis, Lee!Apollo: Apollo messes with Artemis.

-Ler!Hermes, Lee!Ody, crew- Hermes tickles everyone but Odysseus.

-Good Ol’ Times: Ler!Young Ody, Young Polites, Lee!Young Eury- the three reminisce on the first time they found out Eurylochus was ticklish

-Boo, Darling!: Ler!Apollo, Lee!Hermes-Hermes mocks Apollo.

And that’s all of them! In no particular order. (Told you it was a lot. All in various levels of progress.)

Next up: Chapter two of No More Suffering has been posted! Thought I’d inform ya’ll since it got like a singular note. You can find it by going through my masterpost, going to the part two of said masterpost, and then to the master post of No More Suffering: where you’ll find any updates to the fic whenever they’re made!

Also, just so ya’ll know! All my Tword fics are a spin off/take place in the above au! So no one has died in any of my tword fics! (I don’t like writing sad OKAY?!)

Next: PLEASE REBLOG MY STUFF IF YOU LIKE IT! This isn’t just for epic, but my fics usually get a bunch of likes and like no reblogs, which means 1- less people see it, and 2- I get a little de-motivated. So please reblog!! :3

Lastly! now that I have my own personal IPad, I might make tword art! But I’m a little nervous abt it, so it might take a minute and some requests to get me going.

Thanks for reading!

[racergirl-112]

Push Me Over - Chapter 11: Secret Plans

Sorry for the delay. I've had somethings going on in my person life, but we're so back!

Dani woke up the next morning to the sound of rain coming down outside. She tried to muffle the noise with her pillow, knowing today was one of their few days off. After the whirlwind of emotions and physical shit she had had to perform on set, she wanted to sleep. She rolled over to where her phone was and let her eyes adjust to the light as she saw she had a text from Hugh. 

Hugh: Thank you for coming by to talk tonight. I know it’s not easy on either of us, but I appreciate you being so strong. Even though we’re only friends, just don’t forget I love you. Sweet dreams sweetheart. 

Dani read and re-read the text a few times before setting her phone back down on the nightstand, bringing the blankets over her head. This damn man was going to be the death of her. All the walls and barriers she was attempting to put up between the two of them, he was slowly blowing them up and knocking them down. She fell back asleep hoping she’d be strong enough to hold her own promise. Be strong Dani, it’s only Hugh Jackman…

Meanwhile…

The rain had woken Hugh up and he was pissed about it. He was dreaming that Dani was in bed beside him, his arms wrapped around her. He hoped soon that the press would get over him getting divorced, so he could be with her. As he scrolled on his phone, a text came through from Ryan in a group chat with Dani and Shawn. 

Ryan: Good morning my assholes! Blake is in town and since we have a day off, I wanted to see if ya’ll wanted to hang out. Maybe grab lunch or dinner?

Shawn: I have some editing I need to work on, but ya’ll have fun!

Hugh: I’m down

Dani: I’d love to! I haven’t seen Blake in forever! 😀

Well this day should be fun...

The group was having a fun time sight-seeing, but now the girls had won out and they were shopping as the guys went to a pub to grab a beer. As Blake and Dani entered a store, Blake asked Dani something that took her aback. 

“So, Hugh is great right?” Blake started. Dani picked up a shirt and answered, not realizing Blake was trying to bait her. 

“Yeah, he’s super nice and sweet.” 

“I know he’s having a rough time with this divorce, but Ryan was telling me he’s never seen Hugh smile so big.” Ok, Dani caught on to that one. 

“What are you and Ryan trying to do?” Dani questioned. 

“Nothing,” Blake replied with a sheepish grin. Dani looked around to make sure no one could hear them before asking the next question. 

“Bullshit. Ryan told you something. What did he say?” 

“He said you and Hugh had quietly started something, but since Hugh just announced his divorce, you wanted to cool it for a while.” Dani shook her head, not believing what these two were doing. 

“It’s true, but it’s also more complicated than anyone can imagine.” Blake gave her a questioning look. 

“How so?” she asked, picking up another dress and holding it up to her. 

“He’s an amazing man and frankly, I’ve never met someone I was as attracted to the moment we met and who could make me sound like a blubbering idiot more than Hugh. Maybe it's because he’s such good friends with my uncle and Ryan and maybe it’s because I’m scared as shit that this is just a fucking hook-up and I don’t want my heart broken. I mean when you’ve dated douchebags your whole life and then the one man you connect with is freshly divorced, not to mention one of the biggest actors in Hollywood, it really escalates things.” 

Dani looked at Blake, trying to process the smirk on her face. “What’s the smirk for?” Dani finally blurted out. 

“Dani,” she started. “I’ve known Hugh for a long time. He’s such a sweet guy and he’s fully committed to who he’s with. He and Deb had a good run, but they grew a part. He was fucking wrecked. He spent a lot of time at the house with us and the girls as well as his kids. It was super hard on him and Ryan said that when he saw him smiling so big and it was because of someone, he was super happy to see his best friend happy again. When he found out it was you, he wasn’t very happy since you’re like his little sister, but if you two made each other happy, he was happy and so was your uncle.” 

She wasn’t sure how to process what Blake had just told her or maybe it was her just hearing the broken record of what everyone else had told her that she refused to believe because she was a delusional idiot. 

“Do you think he still wants to be with me?” she asked Blake. Blake cocked her head to the side giving her the you really just asked me that look.

“Girl, if you went running after him today, he’d welcome you with open arms.” 

“Thanks Blake,” Dani replied. 

“You’re welcome! Now, let’s get you a sexy dress for dinner tonight.”

While the ladies shopped, Hugh and Ryan sat at a pub down the road. Ryan knew that Hugh had been quiet on the Dani subject, especially as they had hung out today. 

“So, what’s new?” Ryan asked, smirking as he took a sip of his beer. 

“I don’t know mate, you tell me,” Hugh answered. “I feel like you might be up to something.” 

“Whatever do you mean?” 

“Cut the shit Ryan. What are you up to?” 

“Truth?” Ryan asked. 

“What do you think? Hugh replied. 

“Fine. I love you and Dani both and seeing you two around each other is one of the best things I’ve seen in a long time. You’ve been one of my best friends for years and I know you were heartbroken after you and Deb, but Dani has made you the happiest I’ve seen you in a long time. You need her man.” 

“I appreciate it mate, but I don’t think you get it. She broke things off with me. We decided after the news of my divorce, we’d be friends and that’s it.”

“Yeah, but I’m pretty sure you love her.” Ryan looked at Hugh and knew he had struck a nerve. “Yep, there it is.” 

“Yeah, I do and she said she feels the same, but how does this help? She was adamant she wanted to be strictly friends and I don’t want to ruin anything with her. 

“I think she’ll come around sooner than you think,” Ryan replied. 

[ravennaortiz]

Tequila,Tacos and an Interrogation

Summary:Juice and OC Lupes first date is crashed. As always 18+

A/N: You can find out more about their relationship in Two Worlds Universe!

“I’ll be back later” stated Lupe as she took another look in the hall mirror. She was surprisingly nervous for a date. She had never felt this way about a guy before.

“Sounds good. You look really pretty” stated Letty as she leaned against the door frame of the kitchen.

“Thanks. Want me to bring you anything back? We are going to the Loco Burro” inquired Lupe as she grabbed her purse as a knock came at the door.

“My usual please” replied Letty with a clap of her hands.

Loco Burro

“I’m going to run to the bathroom. Can you get me a margarita when the server comes back please?” inquired Lupe as they got to the outdoor table. The place was not horribly busy so they had the whole patio to herself.

“Course” replied Juice as he smiled up at her before turning to the menu as he dug into the chips and salsa on the table.

“So, not enough women for you back home. Gotta come here and take one of ours?” inquired Angel as he slumped down in the chair Lupe had vacated. His voice and sudden appearance causing Juice to jump slightly.

“Uhh” started Juice as another Mayan slammed a chair down as well on his other side.

“Simple question. Yes or no” stated Coco with a grin that was anything but reassuring.

“I mean yeah. Plenty back home” Stated Juice as he glanced towards the door Lupe had vanished only to have another Mayan wave at him. Maybe this wasn’t a smart idea. Tig may have actually been right about something, he thought to himself. “I’m not looking for trouble. As far as I knew Lupe was single”

“Soooo you just assumed meant up for grabs then, yeah?” inquired Coco as he snagged a chip and dipped it into the salsa.

“Also if you weren’t looking for trouble you wouldn’t have slept with the sister of a Mayan” added Angel as he leaned forward and hovered a hand over the chips. “Ya mind? Unlike my counterpart here I have some manners” he stated shooting a look at Coco who just shrugged and muttered my bad.

“Go ahead” stated Juice as he pushed the basket closer. Figuring this would be his best bet and glad he could see Lupe coming through the door. Her voice clipped as she pushed her finger into the chest of the Mayan standing in the way.

“What do you assholes think you are doing?” she demanded as she stormed over to the table. Yanking on Angel to make him stand.

“Just having a friendly chat mami. Nothing bad” stated Angel smoothly.

“Just putting ya boy here through the paces. Making sure he can handle your crazy ass” replied Coco with a chuckle as he snagged the chip basket.

“Seriously? You both are children. I left Yuma to not be under Mannys eye and thumb all the time. I don’t need you two playing big brothers and messing up my dating life” snapped Lupe as she jabbed Angel hard in the chest with her manicured nail. Before smacking Coco in the back of the head as she snatched the chip basket back and putting it in front of Juice

“Eat” she demanded making Juice quickly mumble yes mam as he grabbed a chip and dipped it in the salsa.

Angel and Lupe stared each other down until Juice cleared his throat.

“Do ya’ll wanna join us? My treat and you can ask me whatever to make you guys feel better.” Offered Juice nervous under Lupes hard gaze.

“Ballsy to speak after she told you to eat” mumbled Coco.

Two hours later after several rounds of tequila and the best tacos he had ever had Juice was walking out hand in hand with Lupe.

“Sorry about the interrogation ambush. If I had thought they would pull a stunt like that I’d have met you in Charming” stated Lupe as they made their way down the street.

“No worries. They are just watching out for you” stated Juice as he kissed the side of her forehead. “Besides I’d never ask you on a date hen make you drive” he added with a laugh. “Tell me about Manny. Sounds like a good guy” he stated making Lupe laugh.

“Oh, my brother is something else” she stated.

[catb1tez]

🪸A mermaid meets a human🪸

IT’S FINALLY FINISHED WOOO!!!! I told ya’ll i’d draw Mermaid!Jon, now all that’s left is to write The Little Mermaid au 😈 Which I actually plan to wait till May to do that to celebrate MerMay.

This drawing took me so long and a part of me thinks it looks bad, but i’m still very proud of it. This was my first time ever fully attempting this art style, and also I got to use my brand new device for drawing! (Very happy to admit that the first drawing on it is mermaid au of DamiJon/JonDami hehe)

Speaking of the mermaid au, I’d like to go into details about why I designed Jon’s mermaid tail the way I did. For some mermaid drawings, I find it very fun to base them off of real fish! And Jon’s mermaid is specifically based off of a Blue Gularis Killifish. I’ll leave photos below to show examples of said fish, and some will be the reference photos I used.

[blueshistorysims]

Late July 1925, London, England

“I’d like to go back to Scotland,” Montgomery mused, combing his fingers through Samira’s hair as she laid her head on his bare chest. “Fuckin’ tired of England. I’m ready to go home.”

Samira nodded. “Always wanted to go to Scotland. See the Highlands. That’s where you’re from, right?”

“Aye. North Perthshire, was born near the clan seat before me family moved to Edinburgh when I was ten.” He swallowed. “Would ya like to come with me?”

Samira was quiet. “Leave London society and be a housewife?”

He frowned, sitting as she slipped behind him. “I’d never force ya to do anything ya dinna want to.”

“I know that. …I don’t mind being your mistress—oh, don’t make that face. It’s what I am. Your mistress.”

“Mistress to who?”

“You’re still in love with Edeline.” It wasn’t an accusation. It was a fact. “And I know you’re in love with Byron—even if he doesn’t realize it… or return it. I know you’re not ready to be married again, but I know you love me as well. And I’m content to be your mistress in the meanwhile.”

Montgomery sighed, closing his eyes. “Sometimes I think I’m the most selfish man in the world. I dinna deserve any of this.”

Samira hugged his body tighter. “You’re speaking nonsense. I don’t fuck selfish people. They always focus on themselves and not their lover. You certainly do not.”

He snorted at her bluntness. “...I feel guilty so often. What’d Edeline think of me?”

“Well, would you have acted on your attraction to Byron if she lived?”

“I wasn’t aware I was attracted to him until we met again. Perhaps I’d ‘ve found him attractive but never acted on it. I dinna ken.”

“Then why should you feel guilty?”

“He’s still me brother-in-law.”

“Men marry their dead brother’s wives all the time.”

“That’s different.”

“Is it?”

“I miss her so much,” he whispered. That wasn’t a confession you were supposed to tell your lover. “I was… lost when she died. I dinda know what to do, what the point of livin’ was. …On the first anniversary of her death, I was in Greece, had spent the day in the ruins of the Temple of Poseidon in Sounion. Standin’ on the cliffs, overlooking the ocean… considered jumpin’ off. To be with her. End me misery. In the end, I was uh too much of fuckin’ coward to do it, so I walked back to me hotel room and drank ‘til I passed out. It wasn’t the first time I’d considered suicide. Or the last.” He sighed, sniffling. “I’ve never told anyone that. I’m just… so afraid of bein’ alone.”

Samira rubbed his back gently as he bowed his head, near tears. “You’re not alone. You have your family, friends who care about you, patients who rely on you. And of course, you have me. I have you in my claws, you’re not getting away from me anytime soon,” she added, chuckling. 

Montgomery pulled her into his lap and buried his face in her neck. “I love ya,” he whispered. 

She nodded. “...I’m going to India after Byron and Eleora’s wedding. I think my parents would actually like you considering you hate England, hate the empire, and support the independence of your own nation. You’re everything they would want in a husband for me, except that you’re white and Christian.”

He chuckled.

“I want to show you the real India—you haven’t lived until you’ve tried my Ājī’s Basundi.”

“If ya’ll have me, mo ghràdh.”

beginning/previous/next

[giantchasm]

Kirbtober Day 2, fashionably late: revenge!

I told ya’ll this one would go hard. Or at least I hope it does. There are still some things I’m unhappy with, but if I work on this a second longer I’m going to gnaw my own arm off.

I knew from the moment I saw this prompt I wanted to do something fun with it. You see, there’s an… interesting dynamic amongst a group of people in my personal Kirbyverse.

Like many people, I interpret DMK as having had some part in Sectonia’s corruption . I simply think it makes him a more interesting person and actually ties him to the story of modern Kirby. He did not orchestrate the corruption, but helped Dark Mind carry it out: a subservient underling to an evil master he’s too loyal to to betray.

But unlike some people, I interpret Taranza as… uh, also not having been the best person during Sectonia’s reign. Of his own volition, he served her willingly, helping her rule the county with an iron fist, solely because he was a loyal servant to her. He didn’t care who he hurt. She came first.

…Which… uh- makes him not much better than Dark Meta Knight? He hurt just as many people as the mirror worlder he loathes, if not more.

Enter Persephone: a character I made to showcase some of the hurt he and Sectonia caused. A devoted servant to the wasp Sectonia possessed, Persephone also lost a partner and best friend… except at Taranza and Sectonia’s hands. Needless to say, she’s a little bit… uh, mad about this, and actually makes an attempt on Taranza’s life several times after Sectonia is overthrown.

…Something Taranza can’t entirely fault her for. How could he?

So- yeah! That’s what this piece is about. It’s about the cycle of hurt between Dark Meta Knight and Dark Mind, Taranza and Sectonia, and Persephone and her lady— leading to a lot of attempts at “revenge” and very little actually finding closure.

(I’d best make my Day 3 drawing simple, otherwise I’m going to keel over dead.)

[outsidethebeautybox]

How It Started (Part 3): The Bengali Boy

I have come to terms with the fact that I am not easy to work with.

Okay, I’m trying really really hard to come to terms with it.

“Cotton Candy on a Rainy Day” is one of my favorite poems and, in the words of Nikki Giovanni, “I know I’m not an easy girl to love.” (Technically, the poem says “woman” but I don’t want to get in trouble for copyright mumbo-jumbo.)

‘I’m very opinionated,’ is what I’m trying to say. I’m passionate, and sometimes that passion means that I have to stand my ground, even when it makes me less popular.

Ya’ll remember that I tried to make a comic with a pinoy artist last year?

Well, a few months after our ugly business-partner break up (might go more into how that whole mess ended later) an Indian artist hit me up asking if I wanted to work together on a project. I’d grown a bit less enthusiastic about partnerships thanks to my previous experience, but I still agreed to give it a shot.

This new artist had a lot of suggestions/preferences for the project. No problem. In my opinion a good partnership means meshing everyone’s ideas into something both parties can be happy with, so I tried really hard to adapt to my new partner without sacrificing my artistic integrity.

She wanted to write a story that would draw a lot of fans and make us money. I try my best to write for the sake of artistic expression, rather than profit, but I agreed we could try to write a story in a more popular genre to increase our likelihood of gaining supporters.

At first the artist was thinking “dark romance,” but dark romance isn’t really my jam.

So, still in the interest of business and “what sells,” she asked if I could do a romance-fantasy story. 

I agreed. 

I love speculative fiction. I write romances. I hadn’t written a fantasy romance since I was 13, but it would be fine.

Or…that’s what I told myself anyway.

The artist's second request was that I make part of the cast Indian, because she was Indian and wanted to see more Indian characters in the media. Again, I agreed. No problem.

I love mixing ethnicities in my fictional casts and have already put numerous Indian characters in my other stories. Adding a few Indian characters would have been easy, but just to lean into her request, I decided to set the story in a modern fantasy world where everyone was either Indian or Dominican. 

It was whimsical and leaned into my quirkiness. I also thought it could make our story more of a “blue ocean” because I don’t know of ANY other stories that have mixed those cultures together.

But then she wanted some changes.

For one thing, she asked me to change the male lead's surname. She didn’t like the way the surname ‘Sarkar’ sounded. I liked the name Sarkar, but she asked me to change it insisting “Trust me, I’m Indian. I know how it sounds.” To be honest, that felt condescending, like the decision to give him the surname ‘Sarkar’ was somehow wrong or silly, rather than a matter of preference.

She strongly suggested that I give him the surname ‘Roy.’ I didn’t care for the name, so compromised, changing his name from ‘Sarkar’ but not to ‘Roy.’

Then she asked me to change the plot I had written. She wanted the male lead to have secretly fallen in love with the female lead before she fell in love with him, though she didn’t know he was in love with her.

I agreed to keep the idea in mind, but as it didn’t really make sense with the rest of the plot, and was kind of tropey, I didn’t think I would be adding that suggestion. Maybe it was unreasonable, but by that point, I was starting to get a bit frustrated.

Then she commented on the fact that all the main characters had dark hair and dark eyes. 

In my mind that made sense, because most Dominicans have dark hair and eyes and every Indian I’ve ever met did too, but again, I compromised. No problem.

I gave the Dominican female lead silvery-blue eyes. It’s a rare trait, but thanks to the fact that most Dominicans are part European, some of us do naturally have light colored eyes and even blonde or reddish hair. I’d recently read a book by Madhur Jaffrey which mentioned that some Indians have naturally red hair and green eyes, so I decided to make the female lead’s Indian bff a ginger with green eyes.

Finally, I thought, we could move forward. I made reference image folders on Pinterest and got to drawing character design sheets for the artist to use as a reference.

I successfully completed three. 

We hit a sticking point when I drew the male lead.

We’d agreed toward the beginning of the process that we would make the male lead Bengali and the female lead Dominican.

While the different Dominican characters had varying features (slanted eyes, round eyes, blue eyes, dark eyes) and complexions (from dark brown sugar to cashew), they all fell under the umbrella term of “Dominican” because we don’t have different distinct cultural groups and languages. 

The Indian characters, however, would be from different cultures, primarily Bengali and Rajasthani, and I was pretty proud of the diversity of features and complexions I had given them all. One had medium brown skin, one had a caramel-brown complexion, and the male lead was dark, chocolate brown.

Up until that point, most of my ethnic male leads had light or medium brown skin tones, though some of my female leads had very dark, or even (literally) black skin tones (I’m looking at you, Essence Walker and Mora Glas.)

I personally think dark skinned people need more representation in the media, so when this character appeared in my mind with a beautiful ‘dark brown sugar’ complexion, I rolled with it instantly.

But…the artist didn’t want him to have dark skin. 

In fact, she wanted to give him light brown skin and hazel eyes, saying that dark hair and dark eyes aren’t actually that common in India, and north Indians usually don’t have very dark skin.

“He doesn’t look Bengali.”

Even after all I’d read about colorism in the Indian subcontinent, I didn’t really know how to respond to that statement.

I realize I’ve never been to India or Bangladesh, so I didn’t want to disregard her opinion, but I also know it’s foolish to accept any one person’s statements as fact without getting cross-references.

Doing a little research, I found that 98-99% of the population of Bangladesh is Bengali by ethnicity (though their nationality is “Bangladeshi.”) 

Then I looked up some articles from Bengali newspapers and surprise-surprise, most of the people in the crowds had medium to dark brown skin, as opposed to the medium to light brown complexions which the Indian artist had told me were most common.

I sent the artist these images for reference, but still she insisted that Bengalis don’t look like “these dark-skinned people.”

So who was I supposed to agree with?

I don’t want to disregard anyone’s opinion, especially when it comes to subjects where I KNOW I am ignorant.

But the articles I’ve read by Indian and Bangladeshi people keep insisting that there are dark-skinned people in India. The videos filming ordinary citizens in Bangladesh and West Bengal all show footage of dark or dusky skinned people.

So I couldn’t in good conscience lighten my male lead’s complexion.

Especially not when the artist praised the characters having rare European features but was opposed to giving the male lead dark skin, which she also claimed was ‘rare,’ though possible.

Red is the rarest hair color in the world but the artist liked it when I gave one of the Indian characters red hair and green eyes -

Just not when I give the Bengali boy dark skin. 

It really really rubbed me the wrong way, so I ended the collaboration before things could go down hill any further.

Even after my other failed partnership, it still wasn’t a fun or easy decision.

I don’t WANT to be a pain. I don’t want to be difficult to work with. I’d already changed names, hair and eye colors to suit her preferences, but there are some places where I need to put my foot down. 

As our argument over the male lead’s skin continued, she’d shared her plans to make all the Indian character’s light-skinned, and I simply couldn’t agree with that.

For too long, the whole world has scorned dark skin and refused to give dark-skinned characters a turn in the spotlight. India is no exception. Skin-lightening creams have been renamed (yes, I learned about “Glow and Lovely” because of this situation) but the problems still remain. 

Dark/dusky skin is scorned. People refuse to acknowledge it as beautiful. I refuse to work on a project that perpetuates this disparagement and mistreatment.

This bigotry needs to end now.

Dusky skin is beautiful. It doesn’t make you any less Indian. 

My male lead will have dark skin, even if I have to wait years to find another artist who is willing to draw him in all his glory.

[lonely-ey3s]

With All My Love : Chapter 5 | say a little prayer for me

Chapter 5: Say A Little Prayer For Me

Pairing: joel miller x f!reader, no outbreak

Word count : 13.6k

Chapter Summary: After rescuing Commander Williams and sending Maria back to Delta 27, you and Jack go back to Delta 30 to find and rescue Z and Reggie. Joel has a hard time with your absence, feeling himself fall apart. He can't imagine what life will be like if you don't come back.

Chapter warnings: fluff, flirting, mutual pining, language, mentions of combat and war, blood, violence, hand-to-hand combat, mentions of guns and a knife, anxiety, panic attacks, use of Y/N, smut (MDNI 18+), descriptions of injuries, ANGST, switched POV's.  

A/N: all imma say is this one is a roller-coaster... enjoy 🖤

Dividers by: @saradika-graphics

Main Masterlist

Joel’s POV

It’s only been 24 hours since your last message. Joel was going crazy, checking his phone every five minutes, had the news on constantly, and he even got so desperate and called the army at one point to ask the status of you. They hung up on him telling him that it was confidential information and that your location could not be disclosed. 

Tommy would call or check on him every few hours to see if he had heard anything. Both the Miller brothers were on edge, and couldn’t focus on anything but their girls. 

Over the next 3 days Joel would message your chat when he felt overwhelmed, missed you, or felt anxious he blew up your chat log with about 20+ messages. 

‘Baby, please come back to me. I need you…’ 

‘You are everything I want and more. I need you to come back to me.’ 

‘I hate that I can’t take your place and it can’t be me out in harm's way.’

‘I love you darlin’, but I need to say that to you with my arms around you, lips to yours. I need you here with me.’

‘Please come back to me and Sarah. We need you in our lives. Now that you’re here, we aren’t, I’m not letting you go.’ 

‘I want to spend the rest of my days with you, taking care of you, protecting you, loving you… please, I can’t lose you.’ 

‘I want to write poems on your skin with my lips.’

‘I will never forget the moment I realized I loved you.’ 

‘You changed my world darlin’. I can’t imagine my life without you in it.’ 

‘One day, I’m gonna marry you. Spend the rest of my days trying to make you as happy as you make me.’ 

‘I got your letter today… Let’s do that barbeque when you get home. I’ll invite everyone for you to meet, we’ll make it a big deal, I’ll have Sarah decorate the yard and house, you and I, we’ll cook all day together, then we’ll host the best damn barbeque you’ve seen. And I’m taking you dancin’, we’ll get all dressed up, and I’ll get you your own hat and boots. We’ll dance the night away. I’ll hold you so close and sing to you how much I love you. I’d sing it from the rooftops, my love.’

‘You asked for my ideas, I wanna take you out to this place in the city, I already have our name down, since theirs a waitlist. I wanna get you dressed up, take you shoppin’ for anything you want, then take you out and worship the ground you walk on. You deserve only the best, my love’ 

‘I wanna take you and Sarah to a concert to that artist ya’ll like, Taylor Swift? I’ve been listenin’ to her music, learnin’ the words, so I can sing along with you both. The second you get home for good, I’m bookin' tickets.’ 

‘I wanna take you up in my truck to this lookout a few miles away from here, we can get pillows and blankets and deck the damn truck out with those fairy lights if you want to, then we can star gaze and I can wrap you in my arms and hold you while you watch the universe above us, while I hold mine.’

Joel came home the second day to Sarah looking at his computer, he hadn’t told her what was going on, he didn’t want her to worry, she looked at him with tears in her eyes, “Is Y/N going to die?” she asked. 

He set his things down and grabbed her into a hug, “No, no baby girl. She’s not gonna die…” he held her and kissed her head. 

“Then why are you sayin’ all those things? Why did she say those things? Dad, what’s going on?” she held onto him, tears slowly coming down her face. 

He held her in his arms and told her as much as he knew, told her that you and Maria were assigned to rescue someone really important because you two were really good at what you did and that the assignment was 3 days and that you would be pulled out by the 3rd day which would be tomorrow. 

She asked why he didn’t tell her, she knew he had been stressed the last couple of days but just thought it was work. 

He told her he didn’t want to burden her with things that were so uncertain, he was trying to protect her, not hide anything. 

The two of them watched a movie together that night and ordered some pizza. The next morning when she asked to stay home from school to be home when news came in, Joel didn’t hesitate to say yes. 

Tommy came over early the next morning and the three of them anxiously waited by their phones and computers. Hoping, praying, and wishing to hear from you or Maria with good news of your safety. 

When Tommy’s laptop dinged that afternoon, they all froze, not knowing what they would now learn was the outcome of the two women they loved. 

Reader’s POV

Jack followed you as you went through the building, the both of you watching for threats and clearing every space you went through. 

You knew you needed to get Reggie and Z out safely. Still, something in you tugged to get all of your belongings from Joel, at least all your letters and pictures from him, and if you could, grab your laptop as that could prove to be helpful for communication if the radio went down, but also when you had a moment to let Joel know you were ok. 

You first wanted to find Z, he was your priority. He was probably terrified and you hoped with everything he was safe. 

When you left for your first field assignment and saw how many children were dead in the street, out in the open, you told yourself that wouldn’t happen to Z. When you got back, you told Z that the second he heard anything that would signal it is a combat zone he needed to get inside somewhere and suggested he go to either your bunkhouse or Reggie and Terrence’s. You prayed he would be in one of them, make it easy to grab him and get out. 

You looked back at Jack as you stopped at the end of the stairs, “How far of a walk is it to Delta 27?” 

“If we can find a car, that would be better but it's about a 10-mile walk… maybe more.” 

You nodded, one more thing to do, find a car. 

“Ok, once we find Reggie and Z, we need to find a car and then get to 27.” you said thinking, and then took a breath, “Jack I need you to promise me if anything happens to me you’ll get Z out safely…” you looked at him, trying to hold it together. 

Jack looked at you, putting a hand on your shoulder, “I know we just met but for right now, you and I are partners, we are getting out of here. Even if I have to make a deal with the devil, I’m getting us out of here, alive.” 

You nodded and let out a puff of air, “I know, I trust you.” 

Your leg was killing you, you glanced down and then opened up your medic pouch and pulled out a syringe and bottle of lidocaine, you drew up a small amount and then injected it around the wound, to provide you temporary numbness to the area. You also swallowed two pain relievers with some of the water you had and then looked at Jack as you zipped your pouch back up. 

“Ok, if we are where I think we are, we need to head up north, if he listened to me, he’s in one of our two bunk houses… Reggie could be actively triaging in the med tent but I have no idea. We will get Z and then look for him, sound good?” you said as you made sure your ammo was full and everything was in working order. 

Jack nodded, “Got it.” 

You pulled your necklace out again and kissed it, “Say a little prayer for me cowboy…” you said and then took a breath and opened the door, you and Jack making your way up the road. 

Maria’s POV

Maria made it to 27 and saw within minutes that Reggie had made it there too, he must have been evacuated before things got bad. 

“Oh thank god you’re ok!” Reggie came over and started working on Maria when he looked around for you, “Wait, where’s Y/N?” he asked, then looked down at her, worried. 

“She went back into 30 to look for you and Z!” she said, wincing just as he started treating her shoulder wound. “Reggie, I need your radio… I need to get in contact with her. She’ll go on a wild goose chase looking for you.” she looked up at him. 

Reggie looked at Maria and nodded, he looked at another medic, “Hey, get me the radio!” the other medic nodded and then left to grab it. 

Reggie started pulling away the packing gauze you had done on Maria’s abdomen when she looked at him with hope in her eyes, “Reggie, you wouldn’t happen to have grabbed your laptop before leaving, did you?” 

Reggie nodded concentrating on working on the wound, “Yeah, why?” 

“I need it, I need to alert someone about our safety back at home. Can I use it when you’re done? Please?” Maria pleaded. 

Reggie nodded, “Of course… you just need to let me do my job before you ask for all these amenities, damn.” he chuckled and began sewing up her wound, “You’re lucky, this wasn’t too bad of a hit, almost hit your spleen but missed it by a hair. You’ll be fine there, but your shoulder is done, you’ll be released to go back home on medical discharge.” he said as he worked, “You lucky bastard. You and Terrence getting shot, getting to go back home. Why can’t I get shot?” he jokingly said. 

“Oh shut up, it’s not all that glamorous, it hurts like a bitch.” Maria groaned as he continued with his sutures. 

The other medic came over with the radio, Maria switched to the channel that you had been on last, “Delta 30, this is Maria in 27, do you copy?” she said softly. 

She waited a few moments before repeating herself. 

More static came through and then Jack’s voice came through, “Delta 27 this is Jack in Delta 30, we copy.” 

Maria smiled and whispered, “Thank god.” to herself before hitting the button again, “Jack, are you still with Y/N? Over…” 

“Maria? Is that you? Over.” she heard your voice come through. 

“Yes, and I have Reggie here too. He made it out. You’re only looking for Z, got it? Over.” she said. 

“Roger that. We are heading to his potential location now. Will keep you posted. Over.” you said and then there was a loud explosion in the background. 

Maria’s heart sank, “Y/N? Jack? Are you still there? Over?” 

There was static for a few moments and then Jack came through, “We are still here, but we need to go so we can get out of here. Over.” 

“Roger that. Stay safe and we will see you soon. Over and out.” Maria said before handing the radio back to Reggie who then set it on the table next to her bedside. 

Reggie had also gone and got his laptop, “Here, do you need some help sitting up?” he asked softly. 

Maria nodded and he helped her sit up gently and slowly. 

Maria logged into her Skype account and messaged Tommy who she saw was already online, her hands were shaky from all the adrenaline and pain, and she figured typing out an update would take twice as long. 

‘Hey babe, can you talk?’ she messaged. 

Instantly Tommy initiated a call, and Maria answered. 

“Oh thank god. Where are you? Are you back at base camp?” Tommy asked with a sigh of relief. 

She heard in the background Joel’s voice, they must’ve been both panicking waiting for you both to contact them. “Maria?” Joel said coming to come look at the screen. 

He looked like a wreck, his eyes were red and puffy like he had been crying, Tommy had the same look. Both of them with looks of worry and concern written all over their faces. 

“Where’s Y/N? Is she ok? I haven’t heard from her, but you’re calling, where is she?” Joel said in a panic, eyes tearing up thinking the worst had happened. 

“Joel, I need you to take a deep breath for me. Y/N is fine.” Maria said softly. 

“Then where is she?” he said voice cracking. 

“Long story short, I got hurt in the field as we were leaving… Y/N literally walked into open gunfire and pulled me out to safety. She then carried me up 13 flights of stairs to where we were taken away via aircraft rescue.” she said softly. “On our way back the pilot was told that Delta 30, which is our home base, was under attack and was an active combat zone. She and Jack convinced the pilot to drop them off as they would need reinforcements and wanted to get Reggie and Z out.”  

Joel put his head in his hands, ‘Of course, you did that… you wouldn’t leave Z behind’ he thought to himself. 

“When was this? Who’s Jack?” he said quietly, trying to gather everything you told him and process it. Tommy sighed and put his hand on Joel's back to comfort him. 

“We dropped them off about an hour ago, however, I just radioed her and Jack, I let them know that Reggie was here, that they just needed to get Z out…” Maria explained, seeing how stressed Joel was. “Joel, she’s going to be ok… Jack is a Special Forces para-rescuer, he’s one of the best, she’s safe with him.”

He nodded, hearing about Jack’s qualifications then processed what she said before, “Wait you radioed? Did you make contact? Is she ok?” he looked up at Maria from his hands, hopeful, wanting to know the most up-to-date status on your safeness. If he were a cricket and sat on your shoulder while you did all this, that would be his dream, but all he could do was sit and hope for your safety. 

Maria nodded, “She confirmed she was ok and they were on their way to gather Z. After our last assignment, we told him where to hide in these situations- so it should be a pretty fast rescue, and then depending if they can get air support or find a vehicle, depends how quickly they can get here. It’s about an 11-mile distance from here to there.” 

Joel nodded, “Was she hurt at all? Knowing her she’d go in hurt or not.” he chuckled softly, tears streaming down his face, he knew your stubbornness knew no bounds when it came to Z. 

Maria nodded, “She has a cut on her arm from an attack we had earlier today, but I patched her up in the field, she should be fine… and then as she was loading into the aircraft when we were leaving Delta 42, she was shot on her leg, but it was barely a graze wound. Hell, she treated it in the aircraft and just had a small limp. Both aren’t too serious, and she’s so damn stubborn she wouldn’t let that stop her.” Maria said with a small chuckle. 

Joel and Tommy both chuckled, nodding in unison, “She’s so damn stubborn, it’ll be the death of me.” Joel said smiling softly then pinching the bridge of his nose between his fingers, holding away a headache he was getting from crying the last few hours. 

“Oh Joel, she also told me to tell you: ‘I meant my last message with everything in me and I’ll keep my promise, it’s just taking me longer, but I’ll make it back’...” Maria said softly.

Joel knew exactly what you meant, it was exactly what he needed to hear. 

“Thank you, Maria, I needed to hear that.” he smiled softly and some sadness behind it. 

The radio went off with a whistle and then an explosion before a voice came through, your voice, “Delta 27 this is Delta 30, Maria, you still there?! Over.” 

Joel instantly perked up and moved closer to the laptop, on the edge of his seat, hands up to his face like he was praying. 

Maria hurried and grabbed the radio holding a finger up to the boys on the screen to stay quiet and to hold on, “Delta 30, this is Delta 27… this is Maria, what’s going on?” 

“Maria I’m in our bunkhouse, I… it's bad over here…” another whistle and explosion went off, “Shit… uh… things will get lost, what do you need me to grab for you from Regin- fuck, I mean Tommy? Over.” 

Joel heard the explosions and chaos in the background, his heart sank thinking you were close to danger. Tears started streaming down his face. His legs were bouncing with anxiety.  

“Fuck, you idiot, get out of there, leave it, your safety is more important than some letters! Over!” she shouted and then looked at Tommy, “Sorry Tommy, I-...” 

Tommy chuckled, “No need to apologize, baby, I agree with you. Just means I’ll need to write ya more letters.” he winked. 

You came back through, chuckling, “Cool, so everything, got it! Over!” 

Maria huffed frustrated with your lack of urgency or lack of awareness of your current situation, “Y/N so help me, if you don’t leave my shit and get out of there, I’ll order an air strike on you myself… get out of there now! Over.” 

No answer, static. 

Maria pushed the button again, “Delta 30, do you copy?” 

Static. 

Then after everyone held their breath for what seemed like minutes, you came through out of breath, “I’m here! I dropped the radio, sorry. We got everything, we are headed to Reggie’s bunkhouse now. I will keep you posted. Over and out!” 

“Wait! Maria, can I tell her something?” Joel asked with tears falling down his face. 

Maria nodded and then called out over the radio, “Delta 30, this is Delta 27. I have Joel for you, do you copy?” 

Almost immediately, he heard you out of breath, “Joel? Jo-” whistle and then an explosion closer than he heard before, “Shit, Joel? Can you hear me? Over.” 

Joel grabbed his chest hearing the explosion and smiled hearing your voice say his name, he started to sob softly and then asked, “I can hear you, baby, can you hear me? Over.” 

He could hear you crying, “I can hear you cowboy. Thank god… I needed to hear your voice.” there was a pause with some static, “I’m almost done, I promise. I’ll make it back. Over.”  

“I know, I know you will sweetheart, I just need you to stay safe, ok? Get Z and then get out. Don’t stay and try to help, come help where Reggie is. Come back to me. Over.” he said through tears. 

“I will. I love you.” there was a pause and static, “Joel, I love you. Over.” 

He smiled and chuckled, tears continuing to stream down his face, “I love you too, b-but you don’t get to say that again until you’re back here safe with me. Ok? You don’t get to say that as ‘in case you’re going to die I love you’. Over.” he pleaded. 

He could hear your soft laugh, “You have yourself a deal cowboy. I’ll see you soon. Over and out.” 

Then there was nothing but static. 

Maria looked at Joel and Tommy, “She’s in good hands, Jack and her are good together, they had great instincts in Delta 42. They’ll be ok.” she tried to help ease so much anxiety she knew Joel was feeling. 

Joel nodded and then sat back in his seat and started doing something he had been doing over and over in the last few days, praying, for you.

Reader’s POV

You had cleared your bunkhouse, but Z wasn’t there. Instead, you grabbed everything of yours and Maria’s, including your laptop. You didn’t care what Maria said, you knew these letters meant the same amount to her as they did to you from Joel. You grabbed all of the photos in your desk drawer that he had sent you and the candle he sent and booked it out of there as explosions kept shaking the place and if you didn’t get out, you could be trapped in.

After you got around a huge debris sight and took some back roads, Jack and you were headed to Reggie’s bunkhouse when he held out a fist for you to stop walking. The road was covered with dust, visibility was low, and something seemed off. 

You swallowed and tried to control your breathing, you looked at Jack for direction, and he looked at you, “Is there another way? This seems too risky…”

You shook your head, “No, it's this or nothing…” However, you agreed, that it was risky. “We couldn’t go up the main road, it’s blocked, this is the only side road…” you said scanning the area with your eyes.  

“Ok. Then we go in, back to back, walking sideways. There is a very high possibility of an ambush…” Jack said, pulling out his knife as well and holding it in his hand while he aimed his rifle up. 

You nodded and let out a breath, “The bunk house is no more than 50 yards straight ahead, then if Z is there, we can keep moving back up the north road to look for a vehicle. The north gate should be an easy exit point.” you said looking over at him while he gathered himself and turned around to go back to back with you.

“Got it. Let’s take this slow and steady, shoot anything that moves, ok?” he looked back at you. 

“Got it.” you nodded and then put your eye to your scope. 

You and Jack made it up the road with only two hiccups, one being you almost got killed but your hat saved your life, and the second was that Jack got shot in the upper arm, but it was a graze wound like your leg, something that could be assessed when you were in somewhere safe. You got to the bunkhouse and started to clear it out, scanning the area, you whispered, “Z?!” you heard a sound to the right of you and pointed your rifle straight at it, finger ready to pull the trigger. 

The flashlight shined, showing Z, hiding under the bunk bed, you moved your rifle so he could see your face, putting your safety on, “Z!” you said and knelt, holding out your arms. 

He immediately climbed out, limping, “Khahar!” he ran as best he could and hugged you, “I did what you told me, I hid and made no sounds, I was good.” he said crying into your embrace. 

You hugged him tightly, “Yes, you did so good. I’m so proud of you, you’re so brave.” 

He looked back at you and smiled, tears streaming down his face, “I couldn’t find Reggie, I looked, is he ok?” 

You nodded and wiped his tears with your gloves, softly laughing, “He’s ok. He was able to get out. He’s with Maria at another camp, she got hurt, but going to be ok. We are going to meet them there, yeah?” 

He nodded, and you looked down at his leg, “Z, are you hurt?” 

He nodded, “I got hit in the ankle with something heavy when I ran in here. It hurts really bad.” he cried in obvious pain. 

You nodded and put his face in your hands to comfort him, “Can I look at it? See if I can help?” you asked, looking into his eyes, softly smiling. 

He nodded and sniffled.

“Ok, can you sit down for me?” you asked softly. 

He sat down on the ground in front of you and you pulled out a flashlight, sticking it between your teeth. The room had little to no light, something must have affected its power in an explosion. 

You looked it over and determined that he had a broken ankle, nothing you could do now for him except manage his pain. 

You took the flashlight out of your mouth and looked at Jack, “Can you hold this for me?” you asked him, handing him the flashlight, he knelt and nodded. 

You unzipped your pouch and started drawing up some morphine, “I need to give you a shot Z, it’s going to help with your pain, can you be a brave boy and let me do that for you?” you asked softly, looking up at him. 

He took a few deep breaths and then nodded. 

You gave him the shot in his inner arm through a vein and then wrapped it with a gauze pad and some stretchy tape. 

You looked at Jack, “Let me take a look at your arm…” you said taking the flashlight to look at his arm.

“I’m fine, I’ll be fine.” he went to stand when you pulled him back down by his sleeve. 

“Yeah I’m not askin’, that was a statement Mr. Tough Guy.” you teased, looking over his arm. 

You pulled out your water tin and poured some water on it and then patted it dry with some gauze as it had gotten some debris in it. “You want a Hello Kitty or Disney Princess bandaid?” you asked as you sprayed some anti-bacterial spray on it.

“You have those options?” Jack questioned, not catching on that you were joking around. 

You chuckled, “Jack, I’m an army medic, do you really think I have those options with me?” you said as you put some clean gauze over the wound and then began wrapping it with some CoFlex bandage tape. Z giggled at Jack's face as he stuck his tongue out at you.  

He rolled his eyes and chuckled, “No… but for the record always Disney Princesses, and it better be Cinderella.” he stood when you finished. 

You chuckled, “Doesn’t surprise me you’re a Cinderella guy…” you teased.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” he said, offended. 

You laughed and looked up at him, “I don’t know… you just have this, energy, not a bad thing, just sayin’...” you winked and looked down at your pouch, putting things back in. 

“Mmhm, sure.” Jack shook his head and chuckled.

You zipped back up your pouch and looked back up at Jack, “Ok, so, he can’t walk, I need to carry him. Can you cover us?” 

He nodded, “Yeah, if you can guide me, I can do that.” 

You nodded and scooped Z up in your arms, and kissed the top of his head gently, “Z, this is my friend Jack, he’s going to help get us out of here, ok?” 

He smiled at Jack, “Hello Mr. Jack.” 

Jack smiled and shook his hand through Z’s hair to make him giggle, “Hello Z…”

Z giggled and then nuzzled into your neck, you looked at him and smiled, “Can you put your arms around my neck and hold on tight to me?” you asked. 

He nodded and did so, but then lifted his head a little and said, “I love you khahar, thank you for coming back for me.” 

Tears welled in your eyes, “I would burn the world for you Z… and I love you too kiddo.” you kissed his head again and then looked at Jack and took a breath, “We need to keep heading north, there should be a humvee about 20 to 30 yards from here, it’s the Captain's quarters and knowing the protocol, he got out via air support so his vehicle should still be here.” 

Z nodded, “It is, I saw it when I was running, it’s there!” 

Jack smiled towards Z, “This kid I’m sure comes in handy…” 

You nodded and chuckled, “He’s my right-hand man, aren’t you Z?” 

Z nodded proudly. 

Jack chuckled and then opened the door and stepped out, clearing the area in front of you before you stepped out with Z. 

You held his head down with one hand and whispered, “Head down, stay quiet. I got you.” he nodded and kept his head down.

You and Jack walked slowly and carefully through the area, making it to where you could see the abandoned vehicle within your view. 

You and Jack walked slower than usual after seeing it, careful not to make too much noise as it was eerily quiet. 

You made it to the Humvee and set Z down in the back seat, “Ok let’s get you buckled in little man.” you started to buckle him in. He smiled at you “Are we going to see Maria?” he asked as you buckled the belt. 

You nodded, “Yeah, just a short car ride, easy and painless.” you moved back and smiled at him, feeling some relief this was close to being over, that you were able to get him to safety.

You stepped back a little and acted like a roller coaster operator, “Thank you for choosing to ride with us today, here at Delta 30 we ask that you please keep your hands and feet inside the cabin at all times!” you did the little gesture they all do to when they explain this at theme parks, then you did a cheesy smile “Thank you again for choosing us, and please enjoy the ride…” you said in a silly voice, making him giggle, you smiled brightly hearing his laugh. 

Jack chuckled at your performance and hopped in the driver's seat and pulled down the sunshade, “Shit. No keys…” he looked back at you, wondering what to do. 

You looked at him, “Inside, they’ve got to be inside, he has them hanging on the wall in his office… I’ll go grab them, stay with Z.” you grabbed your rifle around your front again and stepped into the building, your heart racing, breathing sharp and fast, anxiety through the roof. 

Lights were buzzing on and off, and rubble was everywhere, you walked slowly and cleared every blind spot. You slowly made it through the first floor, clearing the rooms, and walking up the first flight of stairs carefully. You walked down the hall and held your breath, careful to be quick but quiet. 

You finally made it to the office and saw the keys, you reached and grabbed them “Bingo!” you started heading out of the office when you heard ‘pop, pop, pop’, gunshots. 

You ran out as quick as you could, gun pointed forward, breathing fast and hard. You came out to Jack wrestling with two men, another on the ground, dead. You went to shoot at one of them to help Jack when you felt someone's arms around your throat from behind you, pulling you back, putting you in a chokehold. 

You gasped for air, but then let go of your rifle to hang around your neck and reached to your side holster to grab your knife as quickly as you could, fighting to stay standing as the person was trying to take you to the ground. You finally grabbed it from your holster and you reached back and stabbed your assailant in the side of the leg and then headbutted him in the face, pulling the knife out in the process of trying to get away. He screamed in pain and let go of you to grab his leg. You turned and went to stab him again but he was faster and punched you in the jaw, knocking you off balance backwards. 

You heard two more gunshots behind you. 

“Z! Get down!” you shouted, not seeing where he was but did so out of instinct. 

You regain your balance and put your fists up, holding the knife in your dominant hand to use as well. Your attacker stands up straight and pulls a knife out as well from a holster behind his back and grins sinisterly.

You readjust your knife for hand-to-hand combat. You let out a breath to calm yourself down roll your shoulders backward and your head side to side. You then square up your fists and take a step forward, he does the same and swings his fist toward you. You duck backward and to the side to dodge, and then take a swing yourself to his face, hitting him across the face, leaving a good slice across his cheek as your knife makes contact with your fist. 

He recklessly swings again toward you with just his fist and you block it by putting your arm up and then grabbing that arm and twisting it outward, and landing a hard hit to his most likely already broken nose. He yells in pain and then goes to stab you in the side but you block that by moving your knife to block it, which goes through his wrist. You then grab his wrist with your knife still in his arm, bring his arms together to incapacitate him, and then step back and kick him in the chest away from you. 

He stumbled back and then yelled loudly as he was mad he was being bested. He looked at you and spat in your direction, calling you a bitch in Dari, and then moved forward to kick you, you grabbed his foot and held him there grinned back at him, calling him ‘Khar Kuss’, which meant donkey fucker. 

He looked at you shocked which distracted him enough to take your knife from his wrist that was holding his leg to get away from you, stab him in his kneecap, and twist the knife. You then pulled him in quickly towards you, aiming the knife at his chest. He gasped and you whispered in his ear, “Bay pathar” (bastard) and pulled the knife out, letting him fall to the ground. 

You were panting, adrenaline high, making you buzz. 

You turned back hearing grunting to find Jack still wrestling with someone, being pinned to the ground, the knife being pushed to his throat, him pushing against it. 

You pulled up your rifle and shot the person in the head, making him fall to the side of Jack. You were both of our breath and on edge, Jack sat up on his elbows and looked your way, “Took ya long enough!” he held his throat. 

You chuckled manically, “Sorry, I was dealing with my own battle with death, princess!” you pointed to the dead body near you. 

You shook your head and chuckled at him rolling his eyes at you. 

You came over and held out your hand to help him up. He grabbed your hand and laughed finally as he stood. 

You both took a second and calmed your breathing, you leaned over with your hands on your knees. That’s when you heard coughing and gasping from behind you, you could swear your heart stopped for a moment realizing it was Z. 

You quickly turned around and found him in the back of the vehicle bleeding from his chest and stomach, holding his stomach and slumped in his seat. 

“No, no, no.. no! Fuck!” you ran and unbuckled him, eyes wide, there was so much blood. 

You quickly grabbed him and he fought against you in pain, “It’s ok, it’s ok, Z, it’s me… I know it hurts, please… I need to help you sweetheart.” you quickly grabbed him and laid him on the ground flat, he started shaking and gasping softly.

“Jack? Jack help me!” you frantically took off your gloves and started to put your hands over his stomach to put pressure on the bleeding. 

Jack looked at Z’s body, defeated, he knew this wasn’t something you could stop, “Y/N he… he’s lost too much blood, he’s not going to make it.” 

“No… No!” you shouted, pulling gauze out of your pouch with one hand while the other stayed on his stomach. You were angry because you knew deep down he was right, “Fuck you! You said the same about Maria, and she was fine!” you began to sob, packing, trying to stop the bleeding but it just kept coming, Z put his hands on yours like he was telling you to stop.

You looked at Z’s face, his breathing was sharp and fast, and he had tears stained on his cheeks. Blood was starting to come from his mouth most likely his chest wound. Then he started closing his eyes, “No.. no Z don’t close your eyes, Z look at me, keep your eyes on me.” you moved closer to him and touched his face gently, hands shaking, “Z eyes open…” and then brought him into your lap and sobbed, “Z, look at me, eyes on me baby boy… please…” you hold on to his head, pleading with him to wake up.

He opened his eyes and swallowed softly, “I’ll be ok khahar… I’m going to my papa and mama up in the clouds...” he said in between breaths with a small smile, tears falling down the sides of his face, looking up at you. 

You shook your head and tears streamed down your face, and your lips quivered, you held him close and rocked him back and forth keeping a hand on his cheek, keeping your eyes on him, “Z, you’re ok, stay with me… please...” you then brought him into your embrace and hugged him so lovingly, one arm around his tiny body, one hand holding the back of his head, gripped onto him, humming that song you and Maria did for him when you met him, continuing to rock back and forth, trying comfort him, you felt his body go limp after a couple minutes. 

You pulled him back from your embrace and looked at him, tears falling onto him, your voice breaking, “Z…?” you looked for any reaction, eyes searching, scanning every part of his for movement.

His eyes were looking up to the heavens, you put your hand on his cheek, it was cold, then you put your finger on his pulse point, and you felt nothing. 

You bowed your head to touch his forehead softly sobbing and then cried out a heartbreaking moan. 

You started rocking him back and forth, holding his lifeless body in your arms, shaking as you sobbed, frantically trying to hold him tighter to you. 

Jack put a hand on your shoulder, to comfort you, letting you have a moment to grieve. 

You sobbed and whispered to him, “I’m so sorry Z… I’m so so sorry…” over and over again into his hair, closing your eyes, kissing his head over and over again, cradling him as you continued to sob.  

A few moments went by and Jack heard some gunshots nearby and knelt beside you, “We need to go… Y/N, you need to let him go.” he started to pry your arms off of Z. 

“Jack… stop please…please…” you pushed him away, tears running down your face as you clung to him, wanting more time.

He was gentle but kept persisting, slowly prying you off Z, “Y/N he’s gone. We need to go, we are in danger. We need to go home…” He paused to gather himself, “Z… he’s with his family now… you need to let go… come with me.” he started to get teared up seeing your heartbreak, “Y/N… come with me, let’s go to Maria… to Joel…” he said softly trying to say anything to help you let go. 

You heard two more gunshots and knew it was time. You took a deep breath, closed your eyes one last time, and whispered into his skin, “Doostetaan daaram (I love you) Azzami. I promise I will see you again Z.” then you kissed Z’s forehead softly.

You reluctantly let go of Z’s body and Jack dragged you away from his body, as you sobbed uncontrollably as he walked you to the car, gently saying, “I know… shh shh… I know… it’s hard… I know. He’s safe now, he’s at peace.” he hugged you tightly, you gripped onto him for dear life, sobbing into his vest.

He put you into the car and shut the door. You looked at him one last time from your seat. “Wait, his eyes, close his eyes!” you said, voice breaking. 

Jack went over to his body and knelt by him, closing his eyes with his hand, and then stroked his head gently before standing and coming around to the driver’s side, starting the vehicle up. 

No matter how hard you tried, Z still died in the middle of the street. Just like the other children that you attempted so hard to evade becoming his fate. 

Once you and Jack got out of the north gate, Jack turned to you, you were looking down at your hands, they were covered in Z’s blood, your mind was going through everything that happened the last 10 minutes, where you went wrong to make this happen. 

“You wanna radio Maria? Let her know we are on our way?” he tried pulling from where he knew your mind was. 

You looked at him and then back at your hands, “I…Jack, I don’t know what I’m going to tell her. We… Z, he… we were all family, how do I say he’s dead?” you swallowed a lump in your throat. 

He looked at the road, “You don’t do it over the radio. You do when you are together and can grieve together. Just… just say you’re on your way. We should be there in less than 10 minutes.” he said, softly and trying to suggest something that might help you with what you’re battling with internally. 

You didn’t say anything, you just kept staring at your hands. 

“It wasn’t your fault. It was no one’s fault. It just happened and there wasn’t anything we could do. We did everything we could to protect him. They… those men came out of nowhere, even I didn’t see them until they grabbed me.” He sighed. “If you’re blaming yourself, don’t. You couldn’t have stopped his fate.” he said and put a hand on yours, trying to offer comfort. 

You looked at him and gripped his hand, “I just… I feel so numb.” 

“It will go away. You’ll move on, and instead, hold him in your heart.” he said then swallowed, “I lost my partner in no man's land the first time I went. He… he was my Z. Like a little brother to me.” he gripped the steering wheel, tears welling up, “I found him with a hole in his chest, there was nothing anyone could do… so I just sat there and held his hand, told him I’d watch over his wife and son, and that they’d be ok.” he cleared his throat as tears fell down his cheeks. “Not a day goes by that I don’t think about him.” he pulled out some dog tags from under his vest, “I carry him everywhere I go, and it helps…” he looked over at you, “I saw you both had those bracelets on… keep yours, wear it every day. It’ll be your part of him.” 

You looked at your wrist and touched the bracelet you had on your wrist, let out a shaky breath, and then nodded. “Thanks for that Jack… I needed that.” you looked over at him and sadly smiled. “What was his name?” you nodded to his tags. 

“Ironically, his name was Zachary.” he chuckled sadly. 

You smiled sadly, “Our Z’s” You squeezed his hand again. 

You both looked at each other and nodded together before you continued driving. 

Maria’s POV

It had been over 2 hours since she had heard from you. Joel and Tommy stayed on the Skype call with her, Reggie knew the importance and found a way to plug in the power cord somewhere nearby. 

She got to know Joel and Sarah more. The four of them found comfort in each other while they waited together. 

“I can’t believe she took those pictures! I look like a troll in that one!” Maria laughed as Joel showed her some of the photos that were developed from your disposable camera. 

“I think you look like a cute troll…” Tommy took the photo from Joel and smiled at it. 

“I don’t know if I should be offended or not by that…” Maria chuckled. 

Tommy, Joel, and Sarah all chuckled together at that comment. 

“Delta 27, this is Delta 30, do you copy?” you came on the radio but it was going in and out. 

Maria grabbed it off the table and fiddled with it then called back, “This is Delta 27, is this Delta 30? Over.” 

There was static for a few seconds then you came on again, much clearer, “This is Delta 30, be advised we are 5 minutes out from location. Over and out.”

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, Joel chuckled with tears in his eyes, and Sarah hugged his side, tearing up too. 

“Delta 30, this is Delta 27, do you have Z? Can I talk to him? Over.” Maria asked, tears streaming down her face, smiling.

Static. 

“Delta 30, do you copy?” Maria asked. 

Static. 

She looked at the radio and then looked at one of the soldiers next to her, “Hey, do you guys have a bad radio connection between Delta 27 and 30?” 

He looked at her, “Depends on what road, if it's off-road, it can cause issues.” he shrugged. 

Maria nodded, her face showing concern. 

Tommy saw and softly spoke up, “Maybe it’s just a bad area? Their first response came in spotty, I bet they are ok…” he smiled softly. 

Maria nodded and took a breath. She put the radio down and then kept her eyes on the entrance gate. 

Less than 5 minutes later she saw Jack come through the gate and then you, you were covered in blood, but no Z. 

“Where’s Z?” she questioned, not connecting the dots yet then it hit her, realizing who’s blood that was.

Her face fell and tears welled up, she shook her head in disbelief.

“Maria, what’s going on? What’s happening?” Tommy asked seeing her face. 

“Jack! Y/N! Over here!” she shouted and started waving her hand to signal you over. 

You turned her way stopped in your tracks and caught her eyes. She mouthed ‘Z?’ to which you sadly shook your head. 

She put the laptop on the table next to her and held her stomach as she sobbed, “No… please no!” she cried. 

Reggie heard and came over, “Maria? What’s wrong? What happened?” 

“No! Not Z!” she shouted and held her hand over her mouth. 

Tommy instantly put it together, he looked at Joel and shook his head, “Z did make it…” 

Joel knew this would crush you, this wasn’t just some random person, this was your Z. If he hadn’t known, you could have been a mother to him with how you took care of him.

You and Jack began running over to her area. You had no idea Tommy, Joel, or Sarah were on the laptop, listening or watching. 

You took off your helmet and rifle near the bed and came up to her bedside, then pulled her into your embrace, hugging her so tightly. 

Joel saw you partially in the camera’s view. Relief flooded every atom in him, you were truly ok, you were safe. 

Sarah, Tommy, and Joel all stayed quiet, they knew you both were going to be crushed by this. 

You cradled her head with your hand and tears fell down your face as she sobbed, “I’m so sorry… Maria, I’m sorry.” you held onto her until she slowed down her breathing. 

You then pulled back, knelt by her bed, and swallowed down the emotion that was threatening up and out. You took her hand, took a deep breath, and looked up at her and Reggie who sat beside her, you started slow and spoke softly, “It was an ambush. Z had an injured ankle. He was in Reggie’s bunkhouse. He couldn’t even get away if he tried…” you sighed and looked down at the ground for a moment, “We went to go get Captain’s car, Z said it had been left behind. So when we got there… I buckled him in.. made sure he was safe and ready to go…” your voice cracked. You let out a breath before continuing, looking back up at them. “I went in to get keys for the Humvee but heard 3 gunshots on my way out.” your hand started to shake remembering details, Maria held your hand tighter.

Your breathing became shaky and quick, “I came out, two men were on Jack, one was already on the ground dead, but then before I could get to Z…” you looked at Maria and her only, “I… someone came behind me and put me in a chokehold…” you sighed and looked down ashamed, “I heard two more gunshots, I… I told Z to get down… but I was at knifepoint… I… I couldn’t get to him…” You looked up at her and Reggie, they both realized that was most likely the moment he got shot and put their heads down to quietly cry. You took a breath and then clenched your jaw, trying to hold it together, your tone changed, and there was slight anger in your tone, “I… I took care of my attacker, and then turned and saw someone was on Jack… so I shot them too. I…I have no idea how long Z was down.” you explained, and looked down and let tears fall on the ground, feeling ashamed and responsible deep down. 

Jack piped in as he stepped forward, “I was pulled out of the vehicle by the first man who was dead on the ground, then the other two were on me like flies on shit. I couldn’t see Z for a long time. I don’t know if the first three got him or the last two that got ‘em. I… we… we did everything… Y/N did everything the second we saw him.” he said as he looked down at you and then back up at Maria and Reggie, wiping a tear from his cheek. 

You nodded and looked at her and swallowed the lump in your throat, “He had chest and abdominal wound, he bled out… I…” you looked down and choked up, “I tried everything, but it was too late… there was so much… blood… he…” you cleared your throat and looked up at her, tears falling, “He died in my arms… I uhm… hummed that song we sang to him when we first met him… so he uh…” you chuckled through a sob. “He died knowing we loved him.” 

Maria chuckled with you and smiled at the comfort that would have brought him in that final moment, “Oh Z…” 

“He told me he was going to be with his mom and dad in the clouds…” you sadly said as you looked down starting to breathe faster, a sob starting to escalate, the emotions that you had shoved down erupting, “Fuck…” you chuckled and looked back at her, “He had no fear. He wasn’t scared. He…” Your knee began bouncing, and you could feel it all pushing to burst, so you stood and turned around to regain composure and had your fists clenched at your sides, your leg shaking to ground you, “Fuck… Fuck…” You looked to the sky and then closed your eyes and took a breath, opening your eyes back up, but then looked down and saw your hands, bloodied and shaking.

“Y/N… take a second…” Jack said, softly reaching for you. You reacted when he touched you and shoved him away, “No… I don’t…” you pointed at him, and then let out a shaky breath, angry at yourself, you felt overwhelmed, and overstimulated, everything became too much. So you looked around for anything to take your emotions out on. You saw a table next to you with medical instruments on it. You pushed it over angrily, and then winced and grabbed your hand, “God damn it!” you saw your cut your hand on something sharp, blood pouring out of your palm, you were huffing angrily when then as you saw the blood pour it melted into a sob. You dropped to your knees and cradled your hand to your chest.

Reggie immediately ran over and knelt to hug you, he held onto you tightly, “Hey, let’s get you cleaned up, yeah? Get that stitched up and those hands washed.” he pulled away and tried to look at you, touching your cheek, but your eyes were not with him all the way, you started to disassociate and you stared into the distance with tears rushing down your face.

He looked at Maria behind you, worry sketched across his face, Joel saw and unmuted the mic, and he spoke up softly, “Baby, can you hear me?” 

You sprang to stand up and turned around and for a second you thought he was there, you began frantically looking around, “Joel?” 

Maria pulled the laptop over into her lap and reached over to gently touch your arm, “Hey… right here…” 

You looked down and instantly knelt back by Maria and touched the computer screen, “Joel…” you looked and saw Sarah, you chuckled, “Sarah… I’m so happy to see you.” you smiled as tears streamed down your face. You looked and laughed softly, “Hey Tommy!” you needed this, you needed them. 

“Hey hey, you got it right this time!” Tommy teased. 

You smiled softly, and then looked at Maria, “Have you…” you looked back down at the computer, “Have you all been waiting online?” 

Joel smiled softly and nodded, “Of course darlin’… we’ve all been prayin’ for you to make it back.” he wiped some tears on the back of his hand, “I’m so sorry to hear about Z… what can I do?” he asked sincerely. 

“Unless you can discharge me, and send me home to you guys…” you chuckled sadly, “Just be here, stay here.”  

He nodded and smiled lovingly, “I’m not goin’ anywhere.” 

Reggie, knelt by you, “I need to take care of your hand… can I just pull you away for 5 minutes?” he said softly with the most sincere intent. 

You looked at your hand and then Joel and the group, “I’ll uh… I’ll be right back, I promise.” you chuckled to yourself as you walked away. 

Joel and Tommy let out a chuckle and nodded, “Good one!” Tommy shouted.

You stood and followed Reggie. He took you to wash Z’s blood off your hands and then gently took care of your hand, stitching it up and then wrapping it. 

He looked at you as you sat in front of him, eyes going through everything you’d been through and seen these last few days, he softly spoke up, “I know you couldn’t have done anything to save Z… but you did a lot more than you’ll give yourself credit for… you gave him comfort and that’s all anyone can ask for in their final moments.” he softly smiled and then hugged you tightly when you made eye contact with him. “I’m glad you’re safe, and thank you for coming to get me...” he said as he hugged you. 

You pulled back and smiled softly at him, “I would have turned every stone in that camp to find you, Reggie.” 

He nodded and tears fell down his cheeks, “I know you would have. You are someone who doesn’t give up on family. That’s why I think of you like a big sister. You’ve always been the one to protect us, and take care of everyone...” he took your hand gently, “I don’t have family back home, you and Maria and…Z… you are my family.” 

You nodded, put your forehead against his, and looked at him, “I love ya, Reggie.” 

He chuckled and put his hand on your shoulder, “I love ya too…” 

—

After you got done with Reggie you sat with Maria and talked with Joel, Sarah, and Tommy for about an hour, slowly opening back up. 

You saw Maria yawn and then Joel and Tommy as well. Sarah had already passed out on the couch nearby. You looked at the time and then smiled, “Alright, I think we all could use some rest. Plus it’s past your bedtime boys…” you chuckled standing up and stretching. 

Joel shook his head, “I’m ok baby, I want to talk to you longer…” he looked at you with those big brown eyes, “Please?”

You huffed as you released your stretch and chuckled, “No, no… you don’t get to use those now mister brown eyes.”

“5 more minutes?” he asked kindly. 

Maria looked at you and smiled tiredly, “You can take the laptop… I’m gonna get some sleep, I’ve been dozing off for the last 20 minutes…” She chuckled. 

Tommy smiled and yawned, “Me too, I’m gonna go get some rest in the guest room. I’ll talk to you later babe.” he smiled at Maria.

She smiled and nodded, dozing off pretty quickly. 

You took the laptop and carried it with you to a little area away from all the commotion, down a quiet alleyway “Can you still hear me?” 

Joel had taken the laptop upstairs to his room as well while you were walking, “Yeah, I can hear you darlin’…”

You smiled and then sat down and sat the laptop down on the floor in front of you, “I need to take this off, sorry, one sec.” you started taking off the heavy vest you had on and your jacket, feeling overstimulated by it, leaving you in a dark green tank top. 

Joel saw your arm and winced seeing the blood that had seeped through, “Oh baby, is that from when you and Maria were attacked earlier?” he looked at the screen a little closer.

You looked at it and nodded, “Yeah… at some point, I need to get this and my leg looked at...” You looked at your pouch and pulled out some tape, “I’m just gonna tape it up, that way I can get a nap in, and then I can worry about it later...” you smiled at him, “Hey uh… I wanted to apologize for stressin’ you out the last few days. I know it has been hard and I just, I know I don’t have anything to apologize for, but still…” as you spoke you taped your arm up and then pouted your bottom lip out to concentrate while you finished as it was a weird angle. 

“You know it’s real hard to listen to a word you’re sayin’ when you're doin’ that lip pout thing…” he lovingly looked at you like you hung the moon and stars. 

“What lip pout thing?” you looked at him confused.

“You know, the thing you do when you’re concentratin’, you know, this?” he mimicked it.

You giggled softly, “You’re kidding me, I do not do that!” 

He grinned, “Darlin’, you do and when you’re thinkin’ real hard you do this nose scrunch thing too…” he chuckled. 

You pursed your lips and shook your head, trying not to smile, “Nope, I don’t believe it.”

Joel bit his lip, and shook his head, looking at you adoringly. 

“What? What are you looking at and shaking your head about there handsome…” you smiled at him, teasing him. 

“I’m just thinkin’ how I can’t wait for the day where I don’t have to wait to kiss you when you do something that reminds me of why I love you…” he said like he was committing a vow to you. He meant every word. 

You blushed madly and looked down, smiling widely, speechless. 

“For example, if I was with you, I’d gently grab your chin and pull you up to look at me with that big beautiful smile I know you’re wearin’ right now…” he wets his bottom lip, “I’d then cradle your cheeks with my hands and look into your eyes. I’d memorize every hugh of color in them, look over every detail of your breathtaking face, every freckle, dimple, scar. I’d make the world stop for you.” he stopped and you looked up at him with so much love and adoration in your smile. 

He smiled right back at you, “Then I’d bring you to my lips slowly, and kiss you with every fiber of my being…” he shyly looked down for a second, “Then I’d hold you close to me, while the world belonged to just you and I for that time.” he looked back up into your eyes.

You teared up and couldn’t help the smile on your face, but you didn’t shy away from him, you just stayed in that moment where the two of you just felt utter devotion and love for each other. 

“Where have you been all my life, cowboy?” you said softly, shyly pulling your knees up to your chest and putting your face in your arms to look at him. 

“Waiting right here, it’s always been you…” he said smiling softly, eyes dancing around your features. 

You smiled behind your arms brightly, “As it’s always been you for me...”

Joel sighed contently and then a yawn betrayed him, and your eyes widened, and you gasped, pointing at him, “Ah ha! You are tired!” you teased. 

Joel raised an eyebrow and chuckled, covering his mouth, “How are you not? How long have you been up?” 

You looked at your watch and then did the math in your head, your nose doing that scrunchy thing he referred to earlier, “That! You do that!” he shouted, pointing at you.

You giggled and looked at him, “What? I do what?” 

“The thing with your nose, you just did it!” he laughed softly. 

“Cowboy I think you’re a little tired.. you’re seein’ things…” you teased.

He chuckled lowly and smirked, “Oh that’s not fair, no… baby I know what I saw…”

You shrugged and nodded slowly, “Ok honey, you saw it.” you mocked him, biting your lip, loving getting a rise out of him.

He bit his lip, devilish thoughts clouded his mind of what he wanted to do with you at this moment with how you were teasing him, he smirked at you. 

You bit your lip and cocked your head, watching him, “And now you’re thinkin’ of some not-so-family-friendly thoughts cowboy… you naughty boy.” you grinned and tsked him. 

“Wouldn’t you like to know…” he licked his bottom lip, and pumped his hips up, his cock starting to get hard by the banter. 

You leaned in closer and said lowly, “I’d sure as hell like to be shown…” 

He let a shaky breath out and swallowed hard, his cock now hard and pressing against his boxers painfully. 

You bit your lip again and looked down, “Now, I’m no fortune teller, but judgin’ by your lack of speech, I’m gonna just go ahead and assume that if I was there, you and that cock of yours would like to show me a thing or two right now with how I’m actin’, isn’t that right cowboy?” then looked back up and met his gaze, smirking. 

Joel's throat went dry and he just slowly grinned. He liked this side of you, it was sexy as hell.

He swallowed and cleared his throat, and sat up a bit, cocking his head to the side and tilting it up a little to challenge you back. He said lowly, stretching out every word with his drawl, every syllable, bewitching you, “Oh baby, you have no idea of the things I wanna do to you… passionately… slowly… taking every… little… moan from your lips and drinkin’ it down like whiskey…” he looked you up and down with his eyes, and then bit his lip and continued to grin, “I wanna get drunk off you and that pretty little pussy you have.”

You ran your tongue against the back of your top molars, thinking, grinning, raising an eyebrow at him, blushing brightly, feeling bold, knowing this was hurting him more than you, knowing you were being a tease, “You’d like that wouldn’t you, hearing me moan and fall apart on that cock of yours, cowboy? Beggin’... pleadin’... calling your name into your ear, as you’d claim me with each thrust…”

His breathing became quick and uneven, he reached down to palm himself through his boxers. 

“Mmm, I think we’re past our five minutes cowboy…” you teased. 

“Baby, please…” he groaned, looking at you with those big brown eyes, pleading. 

You looked up and saw you were in a pretty public area still, you pulled out your headphones from your bag and plugged them in, then looked at him, biting your lip, “You’ve got 3 minutes baby, tell me what you’d need if I was in that lap of yours right now…” 

He reached a hand inside his boxers and grunted, his head falling back against the bedframe, eyes fluttering as he let out a groan as he began to stroke himself, “Fuck, baby…” he looked back at you, eyes full of lust, “If you were in my lap… I’d have you wrap your legs around me, while we sat on the bed, and I’d support your back with my arm while tilting you ba-” he whined and tilted his head back again, “Oh fuck…” 

You grinned, biting your lip, you couldn’t touch yourself where you were but you’d be using these sweet sounds he has using later to your advantage. “Baby, tell me more…” you purposely made yourself sound breathy, in an attempt to fuel his fire. 

“I’d tilt you back just a tad darlin’... just to get that sweet spot I know will make you see stars… gripping my free hand into your soft and delicious hip to hold you where I want ya…” he grinned, speaking in a lower-toned voice, “I’d feed you my cock nice and slow at first, dragging it in and out, swallowing every moan you’d pleasure me with.” he tightened his jaw and swallowed a moan down, “Oh fuck, you’d feel so good around me, god I want you so bad baby…” he preached, stroking himself a bit faster. 

You enjoyed watching him fall apart, crumbling just thinking about you on top of him a little too much. You could feel how drenched your panties were and the pressure they were creating against your clit was starting to become unbearable. 

“I want you so much cowboy, come for me. Tell me how you’d come, baby…” you pleaded, asking softly. 

He leaned his head back again and shut his eyes, imagining you instead of his hand, panting quickly and excited, “Oh god, I’d make you cum at least once, more if I could hold on long enough…” he grinned, “I… I’d put my hand between our bodies and rub lazy circles on your clit while I fucked up into your sweet, tight pussy… I… ohhh… f-fuck…” he groaned loudly. “I’d pull an orgasm from you and tell you how good you’re taking me, how you’re such a good girl for taking my cock… I’d want to suck love bites into your skin, whispering love poems as I trailed my lips along your body…. and I’d… I….” he swallowed and tried to hold on, “I’d tell you that I love you and that I worship you and that I’m yours, fully, every part of me is yours baby… that….” his breathing became quicker as he rambled, “I… fu-fuck…” he stuttered as he felt the pull of a climax approaching. 

You interrupted and said slowly and softly, “I’d tell you that I’m yours and that I love you more than you know… I’d drag my fingers through your hair while saying prayers of pleasure as my lips kissed against your neck, jaw, and earlobe, worshipping how you feel deep inside me…” you said starting to sound excited and breathy truly now yourself, “I’d want your lips on mine as you came in me, whispering to each other sweet nothings as we both came down from our highs, intoxicated by each other.” you said and saw him flex his jaw and keep his head back, eyes shut, and then moan your name as he came, out of breath, beginning to chuckle, he lifted his head and looked at you, grinning drunkenly. 

You giggled, biting your lip shyly. 

He swallowed and sat up to look at you better, “Just for the record, this will be the only time that I cum before you’ve had the chance to, you understand baby?” he panted, looking at you with eyes of lust, drunk on you and the thought of having you that way. 

You nodded and grinned shyly, “Yes sir…” 

He swallowed hard and shook his head before he bit his lip, “No baby, you can’t do that to me, you’ll get me goin’ again…” he chuckled, still out of breath.

You cocked your head, now curious, “Can’t do what…sir?” you bit your lip, smirking. 

He pushed his hair back and tried to slow down his breathing, “Darlin’…” he smirked at you, “Please… not there… you do that when you’re here… when I can…” he shyly looked down a little, “when I can show you what that actually does to me… and can show you how good I can make you feel.” he looked at you and grinned before biting his bottom lip. You could tell he was thinking of what he’d do to you just by the way his eyes danced over yours.

You blushed a new shade of red and nodded, looking down shyly.

“Good. I uh… I’ll be right back baby, I need to clean up.” he went to get up but you stopped him. “As much I am thoroughly enjoying this, I need to get some rest, and so do you. Can I call you sometime tomorrow, I promise not to run off on some stupid dangerous assignment again.” you chuckled and rolled your eyes. 

He smiled softly at you and nodded, “Yes. Let’s do that darlin’, just message me when you wake up, yeah?” 

You nodded and let out a yawn. 

“There we go!” he exclaimed. 

You giggled and tucked a loose strand of hair behind your ear, “I love you, cowboy…” 

He smiled and looked at you for a few seconds, taking you in, “I love you darlin’...”

You charged your laptop when you were given a bunkhouse to share with Reggie, and saw all the messages Joel had sent you when you were away. You read them all over and over, smiling and completely losing your mind over a select few: 

‘I love you darlin’, but I need to say that to you with my arms around you, lips to yours. I need you here with me.’’ 

You would never get tired of hearing he loves you, and you would never tire of saying it to him. You couldn’t wait to be with him, you hated this distance now that you both confessed your feelings.

‘I want to spend the rest of my days with you, taking care of you, protecting you, loving you… please, I can’t lose you.’ 

You couldn’t wait for this either, you were hoping the days of being away from him were getting less and less. You didn’t know what the future held for you with Delta 30 falling just a couple of days ago but you secretly hoped it would send you home, even just for a short time. 

‘One day, I’m gonna marry you. Spend the rest of my days trying to make you as happy as you make me.’ 

‘He’s going to marry me. I’m going to marry him. God, he wants to be my husband, and I get to be his wife.’ you told yourself as you beamed, kicking your feet in your bed as you read that one over and over maybe 100 times. 

‘I got your letter today… Let’s do that barbeque when you get home. I’ll invite everyone for you to meet, we’ll make it a big deal, I’ll have Sarah decorate the yard and house, you and I, we’ll cook all day together, then we’ll host the best damn barbeque you’ve seen. And I’m taking you dancin’, we’ll get all dressed up, and I’ll get you your own hat and boots. We’ll dance the night away. I’ll hold you so close and sing to you how much I love you. I’d sing it from the rooftops, my love.’

These things, where he wanted to include you in his life, with Sarah, made your heart swell and made you fall deeper for him. The way he described every detail of what he wanted with you, you knew you found the one. 

‘You asked for my ideas, I wanna take you out to this place in the city, I already have our name down, since theirs a waitlist. I wanna get you dressed up, take you shoppin’ for anything you want, then take you out and worship the ground you walk on. You deserve only the best, my love’ 

You couldn’t help but imagine what you’d wear… hell what he’d wear and how you’d both have the hardest time keeping your hands off each other all night. You thought about this scenario often, especially late at night when you’d moan his name into the darkness. 

‘I wanna take you and Sarah to a concert to that artist ya’ll like, Taylor Swift? I’ve been listenin’ to her music, learnin’ the words, so I can sing along with you both. The second you get home for good, I’m bookin' tickets.’ 

He remembered you liked Taylor Swift after a mention of you saying you liked one of her songs weeks ago, which led to you saying you’d love to go to one of her concerts, but you felt they were so expensive and never had the time or money to do that for yourself. He remembered, and not only that, he was actively learning and engaging so that when he would go with you, he would enjoy it with you both too. 

‘I wanna take you up in my truck to this lookout a few miles away from here, we can get pillows and blankets and deck the damn truck out with those fairy lights if you want to, then we can star gaze and I can wrap you in my arms and hold you while you watch the universe above us, while I hold mine.’

‘...we can star gaze and I can wrap you in my arms and hold you while you watch the universe above us, while I hold mine.’ You wanted that tattooed on your forehead. The poetry of that last line made you want to jump and dance for joy. For which you did… to ‘Mine’ and ‘Love Story’ by Taylor Swift on repeat for the next two days. 

—

You kept your promise and you and Joel Skype called the next day for 4 hours, you both fell asleep with the laptops in each other's beds, Joel fell asleep due to it being nighttime for him, and you fell asleep due to exhaustion. 

When you woke up a few hours later you saw him fast asleep, peacefully asleep, you just laid there, pretending for just a few moments you were next to him, able to touch his cheek, gently stroke your fingers through his hair, and whisper to him how much you love him and you are so grateful for him while he rested.

You kept the video chat on for as long as one of your batteries allowed, and when you woke up again a few more hours later your laptop was dead but for a short little while it felt real, being next to him while you both slept. 

5 days later 

You helped around the med tent as much as they allowed you to. Since coming back from no man’s land, they were very insistent that you rested and took things easy but sitting still was hard for you when you saw work to be done.                                                                                

You were helping resuscitate a young man when your commanding officer came over and looked at you, “Y/N, when you are finished here, will you come to my office and have a word with me?” 

You looked up at him and nodded, “Yes sir.” you continued to do some CPR for a few more minutes before declaring there was too much time his brain had been without oxygen and called it a time of death. 

You cleaned your hands up and then went over to Maria’s bunk quickly, “Hey, Sarge just called me into his office, do you know what for?” you asked, anxious by the out-of-pocket request. 

Maria shrugged and shook her head, “No… I mean… maybe because I’m leaving tomorrow he’s letting you know your reassignment? I’m not sure… but I’m sure everything will be ok.” she softly smiled up at you. 

You nodded and began walking the way to his office. 

‘There’s no way they are sending me out again on a field assignment, I have no partner, and I’m still recovering.’ you anxiously told yourself, trying to convince yourself this was just a check-in, he had to just be checking in, right? They wouldn’t be that cruel to send you back out… right?

You opened the door to the building his office was in and instantly your heart began to race, anxiety building. 

You walked up to his office door and took a deep breath and then lightly knocked on his door. “Sir? It’s Specialist Y/N…” you said softly, swallowing down your nerves. 

“Ah yes, please come in Specialist…” he said with a bellowing voice. 

You twisted the knob and then came in, and shut the door behind you then stood to attention, saluting him.

“At ease…” he said standing up from his desk. “Please, sit…” 

You let out a shaky breath and quickly moved to sit down, you looked at him with your hands in your lap, “Thank you, sir.” 

He smiled tightly, “I wanted to talk to you about your future here.” he began. 

You instantly began picking at your cuticles, nervous about what lay ahead for you. 

“I know your partner Specialist Maria Atkinson will be leaving tomorrow and before her, your other teammate Specialist Terrence Johanson left us… all because of your sacrifice.” 

You looked at him, confused, “Sir? I-I’m sorry?” 

“Well, both are alive because of you and a sacrifice you made when their lives were in danger.” he stood from his chair, “You went into active combat zones, shots firing at you, putting your life on the line to pull them to safety. Specialist, without you, they would most likely be having their families mourning their deaths…” he said as he rounded his desk and sat on the end of it, keeping eye contact with you the whole time. 

“Sir, I was only doing my job.” you straightened up a little, “My job is to save lives, I didn’t… I didn’t do anything special. I… sir, I did what I did because they were lives needin’ to be saved, they were in danger, hurt, and needed help.” you said with tears in your eyes, “I… mean, yes, I made promises to each to get them and their families… to get them back home safely…” you shrugged, “I’d like to believe I’m a man of my word, but I didn’t do anythin’... heroic?” you said honestly. 

He nodded and folded his arms, “I have also been told by Agent Coleman that you were an integral part in getting Captain Williams out of Delta 42 safely, in fact, he said that without your quick thinking and planning, the group wouldn’t have made it out.” he looked down at you. 

You swallowed, and your foot started to anxiously tap, “Sir, again, I was just doing my job. Our assignment was to get him out, that’s what I did.” you looked at him, confused as to why he was bringing all this up. 

“Specialist, did you also not put yourself back in harm's way to go back into Delta 30 to pull out your fellow medic Specialist Reginald Mackey and the child we knew as Z?” he asked.

You stiffened up at the mention of Z, tears formed in your eyes, and you looked away from him and at a statue on his desk to focus on something, not on the loss of Z, you swallowed the lump in your throat, “Yes sir I did.”

He nodded and stood up from sitting on the desk, “I’ve been told that as you were getting into the plane as you were leaving Delta 42… you were struck by enemy fire in your leg, affecting your ability to walk, is that true?” 

You looked up at him, confused by the line of questioning, “Yes sir but it-” 

He cut you off, “Thank you for the confirmation Specialist.” 

You looked at him and was so fucking confused, what the hell is happening. 

“Please stand Specialist Y/N.” he turned around to grab something on his desk. 

You stood from your chair and kept your hands to your side, letting out an anxious breath, eyes front. 

He turned around and took your specialist patches off your uniform, “On behalf of the United States of America and the United States Army, we thank you for your service and sacrifice. You are hereby promoted and shall be given the respect and command of Sargent.” he replaces it with Sargent patches on your shoulder and chest. “Due to your acts of service and sacrifice in the rescue and retrieval of Specialist Atkinson and Specialist Johanson, attempted rescue of Specialist Mackey which put your life on the line when it wasn’t a command or assignment- as well as in the rescue mission of Army Commander Williams from Delta 42, resulting in medical injury, you are hereby medically discharged and will return home to North Carolina in three days at 0900 hours.” he handed held out an envelope for you to take with one hand and his hand to shake with the other. 

You stood there in shock. “Sir?” 

He smiled gently and grabbed your right hand, shaking it, and putting the other hand on your shoulder, “You’re going home, soldier.”

Previous chapter - Next chapter

Taglist: @sarahhxx03, @blahkateisdone, @sunnytuliptime, @pedroscurls, @docharleythegeekqueen

A/N: i sobbed writing this one, uncontrollably at one point, and was also kicking my feet, giggling and squealing... i hope you enjoy it as much as i loved writing it 🖤

[xeyedartworks]

I’m gonna start doing sneak peeks here :))

Told ya’ll I’d make more Salt art 🕸️🕸️🕷️🕷️

[daddyhausen]

told ya’ll i’d fuckin’ do it. if anything blame my beloved @wrestlezaynia

• heat of the moment — zowens •

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{ masterlist } | { wwe masterlist } | { sami zayn masterlist } | { kevin owens masterlist }

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{ warnings } — 18 + { minors do not interact }, mlm, friends to lovers handjobs, public sex, multiple orgasms, male orgasms submissive/dominant dynamic, anal sex, rough sex, penetrative sex, internal cumshots, anal creampie, cockwarming

{ word count } — 679

{ pairing } — kevin owens x sami zayn

{ genre } — smut

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{ taglist } — @cosmoholic13 @boutmachines @thewrestlingbitch @omg-im-such-a-masochist @baysexuality @legit9thlunaticwarrior @slut4kennyomega @wardlow @alexisquinnlee-bc @sammiejane22 @im-just-a-mississippi-girl @omegasluvbot @melissahausen @writtingrose @drummergrl1310 @unoficialy-married-to-ace-austin @bonehead-playz @cherrytheeredheadmamaclaymore @crowleysqueenofhell @romanreigns-supreme @janetreader @thenerdybaker523 @sunshinevirus @nicoleveno14 @rubyred1980

{ comment if you want to be added to the taglist }

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“we can’t…” sami’s breath caught in his throat, his oesophagus tightening as his tried to force his moans back down. mouth running dry as kevin’s large palm pressed against his still-clothed cock. small whimpers left sami’s lips, pursed together in a thin line, still trying to desperately cling onto whatever sanity he had left, still avoiding eye contact with his best friend

“who says we can’t?” kevin’s voice rumbled with such a delicious baritone, one that only made itself known when only sami was present, and one that definitely warmed the younger canadian’s loins. it wasn’t the most secluded of settings, the seemingly empty hallways of an arena, surrounded but sparsely placed crates and boxes, barely large enough to shield the modesty of the two men.

kevin’s hand reached into sami’s sweatpants, softly beginning to stroke his half-hard cock, adoring the way sami’s whimpers bled from his parted lips at the slightest touch. sami was still reserved, afraid someone was catch the two of them, hesitant to succumb to the urges that had plagued him for months. he could not even hold a conversation with kevin without getting hard, poor thing would have to rub one out in the bathrooms afterward.

“w-what if someone sees us…?” sami stuttered his sentence through a choked moan, kevin’s hand now firmly wrapped around the base of sami’s shaft, managing to free it from the restraints of his sweatpants, admiring the sight of sami’s leaking cock, pre-cum dripping down the tip, coating kevin’s knuckles, the appendage so sensitive to his touch.

“then let them stare.” kevin’s lips captured sami’s with feverish kisses, the loose gym shorts kevin had been wearing now felt tight as his own erection pressed up against the thin fabric. he felt sami collapse into his chest, finally letting his guard down and letting those sinful urges take over.

“please…” sami whined, kevin’s grip on sami’s cock released, the red head breathed an exhilarated sigh as kevin pressed him up against the wall, his breath ghosting against the base of sami’s neck. kevin let a glob of spit pool in his palm, slowly beggining to stroke his cock with the makeshift lubricant. the two remained silent, kevin slipped inside sami with ease, feeling the tightness of the red head around his thick cock, instantly burying himself to the hilt with a breathless moan.

“oh fuck-“ kevin gasped through gritted teeth, beginning to move with short quick thrusts, now allowing sami a second to adjust to his size. kevin’s hand reached around once more, resuming its actions beforehand, stroking sami’s length. the sensation was almost too much to bare, sami’s eyes kept darting back and forth between the two ends of the hallway, hoping and praying that no one would dare walk in on the sight, although the thought was arousing he’d rather save himself the embarrassment of explaining.

“kev…you’re so big…” sami hummed, face pressed against the wall by kevin’s large palm, feeling himself about to buckle under the weight of his own orgasm, desperate chasing down his release. kevin gave a silent smirk, simply adoring how sami seemed to collapse completely under his touch.

sami had no need to announce his orgasm, more so he did not have enough time to react as his seed dripped down kevin’s knuckles, an act of which made a heat rise to sami’s already flushed cheeks. kevin merely hummed in response, sending his own orgasm nearing. his movement became rougher, more relentless, burying his size deep inside sami with reckless intent, determined to please the red head even further.

“fuckfuckfuck-“ sami panted, cock sensitive and overstimulated from kevin’s hand. kevin have a small, primal growl upon release, filling sami to the brim with his hot seed. remaining inside him for a moment, kevin adored the way sami’s cum leaked down his tattooed knuckles, bringing his fingers up to his lips in order to taste his new-found lover’s seed, shuddering with delight as the sweet taste mingled with his tastebuds. sami peered behind him for a moment, meeting kevin’s gaze, sami’s muscles twitching lightly with exhaustion

“please…again…”

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[whispering-coffee]

Hey ya’ll, after a long time of nothing interesting happening (me not pissing myself) I’ve decided to try and change that, so I’d like to hear what yall think I should wear for this

note I will be going outside for a bit to make the challenge more fun ;>

While im doing this im totally open for challenges suggested by others, and yes I remember most of the suggestions ive been told before