#YAP AWAY MY FRIEND ash is here to listen to him yap

[ashton-ryder]

"The first drink with a new customer is always a litmus test," Ash back then as a bartender would've probably then top up his drink with three limes and some flair for the heck of it. Though it has been a long time ago from a very different life, while Ash hasn't forgotten it, it did take awhile to work back in the muscle memory. For a long time in those later years he was bartending for himself and he was one of those customers that needed the fastest way to numb himself.

Ash rested his head on his palm and elbow to the bar as he listened and watch Eric yap on, interjecting at amusing points with his own jokes, "oh that quarantine suite was huge, plenty of space for privacy." Conveniently leaving out his own experience of having quiet soft moments of privacy in the middle of the night with Jer. "Plus having to have a perfect first date in this building really limits a lot of things." As open as Eric was being with him, Ash felt bad that he couldn't reciprocate the sentiment, keeping his own.. situation to himself. But he can be here to be a listening ear. "Oh, so my boundaries are the only ones you won't respect, got it," he laughed and saw an opening in Eric's point to poke fun at without any bite or truth, only sarcasm. "Guess that's the benefit of having siblings." He wouldn't really know but he wished he did growing up.

He picked up the drink poured to him for the first time since it was offered to him, smiling at the scene Eric was painting for him, it sounded adorable at the very least. "Did she now? Guess we.. bonded over food in quarantine." Bonded was a strong word to use when all he did was managed to make her less scared of him by giving her all his food that he couldn't stomach. That evening on the rooftop was probably the one time they really bonded in any capacity. "Who knew Doom was always the ultimate wingman," sipping on the glass after raising it to the good pup, "you know how to sign? I couldn't really understand much of it when she did."

Ash paused for a long while after before deciding to add, "if I could give any advice to help you.. just let her build herself back together again." He can't fully grasp what Aggie has gone through himself, but there's the small part of him understanding the time needed to collect the broken pieces and put yourself back together. "That's all I got though, good luck dude." Terrible wingman, unlike Doom.

"Sure! It's so tricky though, cause one bartender told me about a guy who looked like a typical lone wolf from a thriller, ordered Cuba Libre with two lime wedges, and was disappointed as fuck when the guy just poured him a drink." Eric chuckled at the absurdity of the anecdote; obviously, their equation shouldn't include eccentric people, they tend to be hard to read. But the longer he thought about it... Two lime wedges were a bit too specific not to be a hint... or weren't they? Tricky. Zach would probably call him a final boss.

He wasn't good at hiding his feelings and thoughts when he didn't have to. Too tired of wearing masks and hiding way too many things from way too many people, he finally let go. So even if Ash did laugh at him a little (Eric just chuckled and shook his head at that, knowing there was no malice behind that reaction), he felt relaxed enough in his company to talk about almost anything.

Eric sipped his whiskey as he listened, putting a lot of effort into stopping himself from asking what he had learned about the guys on the beach. Even if they didn't know any relevant details, it was easy to imagine what Ash might have meant by that. The pre-outbreak world had seen enough violence for them to know what this one could be capable of, and when he remembered the fear in her eyes and her whole body when they were still on the beach... He quickly turned his attention to "Ziggy's sister" and Ash's question. "It was too crowded for a perfect first date," he joked back, shaking his head with a soft chuckle. "I might trespass and pour myself drinks, but having an autistic brother is a good lesson on respecting people's boundaries and giving them time. I've helped him open up, he's teaching me how to calm the fuck down."

He smiled at the other with a little shrug. It's not even that he wanted to persistently follow Aggie until she fell into his arms - it couldn't be further from a typical "I'm gonna make her mine". Something made him want to protect the tiny blonde, even if she would never fully open up. As long as she was safe, that's all that matters. "I ran into her with Doom the other day. We've played with him together, he knows all the fancy icebreakers and made her laugh. And she signs so we have talked a little." He playfully arched a brow. "She even mentioned sharing her bread with you at some point."

[julietsbody]

now lick it — academy ! coriolanus + reader : coriolanus was quick to take a liking to the capitol’s newest it girl, along with her leather prada kitten heels. 

tags : 18+!! MDNI virgin ! coryo, sub ! coryo ( yk i had to do it for my sub coryo bbs ), dom ! fem reader, shoe humping, i think coryo likes leather… or heels… not sure, coryo is just a bitchboy in this idk what else to say.. THIS IS NOT A FEET KINK FIC BTW 😭coriolanus is just obsessed w/ rich things and u happen to have designer heels… HEAVYYYYYYYY MOMMY KINK / ISSUES, degradation

a / n : do i know how to write dom ! fem.. no…. did i try… yes……

you’d known coriolanus snow for as long as you could remember, watched his trials and tribulations, watched him continuously come on top albeit being so low. he was poor, hardly had enough money to feed the two others he lived with, always eating those damned lima beans. and you? 

you were just perfect! you had everything and anything you could ever want, the most expensive five course meals, designer outfits, shoes made from only the best. those shoes… a sleek black leather with red painted on the bottom of the shoe, sling - back kitten heels. 

they were utterly captivating, the effort put into making them, the richness it oozes with every step you take as you strut down the hallways without a single worry in the world, paying no mind to the blonde staring you down. 

“he’s so fucking weird,” arachne comments as she walks alongside you, more likely to pay attention to the gazes of those around you. 

“who?” you snap your head to her, brows furrowing together ever so slightly, albeit not much. 

“that snow kid,” arachne glances back at him, and he’s still staring, as sejanus, his district best friend, yaps his ear off, “coriolanus.” 

“is that so?” you can’t help the way you smile, following her gaze back to him, a knowing smile curving your glossed lips as he awkwardly looks away, trying to look like he’s engaging in a conversation with sejanus now, despite the evident nervousness that reeks from him even across the room. 

from that day on, you soon began to realize coriolanus snow was not a phoenix rising from the ashes of his potential, but rather a cockroach that you couldn’t wait to squish. he had become insufferably obsessed with you, always asking your opinion on things, offering to do your homework, asking if you’d like to be his partner for projects, complimenting your hair, outfit, makeup— does he ever shut the fuck up? 

you never even considered taking up any of his offers, until it all got to be too much, and you decided it would be the only thing to finally quiet him down. you glare at him as he approaches you, “yes?” 

“would you like to—..” he pauses, nervously looking around, then shuffling his feet and looking back at you, “to.. be my partner on the project..?” 

he’s so shy, a roach caught in the manicured hands of a raven, claws pushing into it’s shell. he’s surprised when your eyes soften at him, “of course.” 

˚₊‧꒰ა ♱ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚

so that’s how he’s here now, awkwardly sitting across from you, lashes fluttering at his page. he can feel the sensation of your burning gaze, it never left him from the second you opened your door to him, watching his eyes widen as he admires your house, the way his cheeks flush ever so slightly when you compliment his button up. 

it was a hand - me - down, you could tell. 

your jaw ticks ever so slightly, pencil tapping against the table, “coriolanus?” 

he immediately perks up, as if expecting you to speak, “yes..?” 

you smile sweetly at him, “come here.” 

come here, he’s immediately flustered, shifting in his seat, “what do you—“ 

“come here,” your voice is firmer now, making him gulp. 

and of course he listens, how could he not? ever so slowly standing up, trying to be slick as he ‘naturally’ drops his hands to cover his bulge, assuming you hadn’t seen it as he takes hesitant steps to you. your eyes glisten up at him, head tilting to the side ever so slightly, “why are you here, coriolanus?” 

he inhales sharply, “i don’t know what you’re talking about..” 

“you do,” you respond quickly, red nails trailing down his arm, all the way to his wrist, and yanking it away from his hardened cock. you immediately scoff at the sight, making him want to curl up in a ball and die right on spot, “did you just want to fuck me, snow?” 

“no..— no, no, nonono—“ he immediately pulls all the stops, raising his hands in a universal innocent pose, “i would never—“ 

“oh really?” your shoe moves to pass along his right ankle, feeling him shiver underneath your touch, “you know.. i would have never assumed a guy like you would be such a desperate little bitch.” 

to your surprise, he whimpers. it’s quiet, but loud enough for you to hear, loud enough for you to smile at, watching his cheeks heat up as your shoe trails up his shin. your eyes stay on his face, watching him struggle against his restraint, trying so hard to just not move your shoe to his crotch and hump on it himself.

he needed the expensiveness searing on his skin, to feel the richness stain onto him. 

he had to have it, he truly was so, so desperate. 

he had thought about this many times, humping against the corner of his desk in his room, imagining it’s the leather of your shoe, the chair you sit on, the desk you tap your nails on, the side of the bed that you sleep on. god, it was so dirty, imagining you sleeping in the bed, so peaceful, as he humps the side of it for dear life, biting on the delicate skin of his hand to mask his whimpers. 

his blonde curls fall in his vision as his head tips down to watch your heel as it moves up his thigh, then finally it pushes against his bulge. his knees immediately buckle, hips moving to lower himself against the heel as he tries to hump into it. you hold back your laugh, moving your foot away, “are you a fucking virgin?” 

he quickly moves to nod, “yes.. yes— please.. please..” 

you scoff at him, “please what?” 

“need it— so bad..” he whimpers out, pathetic. 

your molars press together, contemplating it for a second before your lips finally part, “take off your pants, and your boxers.” 

he swiftly follows your every request, tugging down his slacks and boxers, his huge, hardened cock springing out, tip red like he’s been hard for hours, precum beading off his slit. he was eight inches, at least, girthy as well, but not much compared to the length. how could a man so submissive and pathetic have such a huge cock?

you squint at his approval - seeking gaze, not giving him any of it as you hum, moving your shoe to move against his cock, admiring the way precum smears on the rich leather. he pulls his lips together for a second, “mm—.. mmph— feels so fuckin’ good..” 

you were seconds in, and it already seemed like his sanity was shattering, hips worthlessly bucking against your shoe, whimpering at any form of friction. his lashes flutter evidently at the feeling of the money spent on your shoes coating his cock, making him feel rich. 

now he’s everything he’s ever wanted to be, a rich man, doused in money, able to spend it on all the riches the world could offer. diamond encrusted watches, pearls extracted from pure oysters, real leather, rich satin, deep maroon. he envisions it all in his mind as he humps against your shoe, whimpering out nonsensical mumbles that you couldn’t even begin to decipher. 

“al—always.. wanted to do.. this— ah, ah..—“ he moans out, hand moving to clasp onto the table next to him. 

and suddenly, he starts groaning out a name you could never imagine being called. 

mommy. 

it comes so natural to him in this moment, and it makes heat ignite between your legs. you can’t help but play into it, “mommy, huh? gonna cum for mommy? yeah?” 

he desperately nods, gripping the table like it was his lifeline as his hips move faster against your heel, white beading at his stressed knuckles, “mm— mph.. mommy— please.. can i.. can i— can i can i…” 

your head tips up to meet his gaze again, “can you what?” 

“cum..—“ his nails dig into the expensive wood, garnished with a sleek gloss, tears nearly welling in his eyes from desperation, “..need to.. so s-so bad— please, mommy.. ‘ll be good— p-promise..” 

“you won’t tell anyone about this?” 

he shakes his head rapidly. 

“you will leave me alone?” 

“mm—..” his tip catches on to the leather of your shoe again, making his nose scrunch up, “mhmhmhm—“ 

“gonna be my good boy?” 

his lips fall apart, desperately trying to hold back his rushing orgasm for as long as you’re putting it off for but god— when you’re calling him good boy, he just can’t. his eyes meet yours, pupils completely blown out, “y-yes.. mommy.. pleaseplease—“ 

he just wanted your approval, just wanted you to appreciate the effort he is putting into you, for you to smile at him and say he did a good job. 

you put it off for another few seconds of silence, before finally tipping your chin to watch his dick slide against your shoe, “you can cum.” 

and good lord, he does. thick white spurts of cum drip onto the expensive leather of your shoe, his legs trembling from the awaited release, lips moving around incoherent words. he starts mumbling out thank you’s and you can’t help but chuckle at him, did he think it was over? 

you put on a faux pout, “you ruined my shoes.. can you clean them for me, coryo?” 

coriolanus, albeit his pathetic showcase seconds later, would never, ever get on his knees to lick anyone's shoe. it was humiliating, disturbing, concerning, even— wait. he’s on his knees. his tender skin pushes against the hardened floor as you lower the shoe to align with his mouth, and much to his own surprise, his lips part, tongue snaking out to provide kitten licks onto the shoe. 

his own cum is salty against his tongue, slimy and disgusting, but it also tastes like.. money. it tastes like your approval, like your love. his tongue starts to lap it up now like it was his last meal, fingers gripping the heal of your shoe to have a sturdier hold on cleaning it up. 

“good boy,” you eventually mumble out to him, watching his tongue slip under the underside of your shoe to really clean it up. god, didn’t he know you were walking in these all day? what a disgusting, freakish animal. 

well.. you did clean them after school, intending for them to be to this use. 

but he didn’t have to know that, now did he? 

he still licked it, even without knowing, and that is the best part. 

he immediately nods, licking his lips to make sure he didn’t miss any other cum. his eyes move up to meet yours again, “thank you..” 

“who?” 

“mommy.” 

that’s right. 

coriolanus snow was completely and utterly your bitch now. 

[0celesteisthebest0]

Bonfire

Word Count: 4,075

Pairings: Will “Ironhead” Miller, Santiago “Pope” Garcia, Frankie “Catfish” Morales, and Ben “Benny” Miller x female reader. (No relationship with Benny and Will because that’s just weird and they’re siblings y’all ONLY SIBLINGS)

Warnings: hurt/comfort, descriptions of PTSD, mentions of Redfly( one mention but like a warning nonetheless), fluff? Just a whole lot of domestic feelings.

Authors Notes: !!!!!!! It’s been a minute since I’ve done one of these lol soo HI HI missed y’all! Yes this is the poly fic I’ve been working on and yes it’s a hurt/comfort! I honestly never expected to write a poly fic for these boys but it’s all thanks to my dear friend Elle that I’ve gotten attached to them! @ohheyitsokay​ has the most brilliant work relating to the poly boys and I do hope everyone goes read them rn 😌. Also ELLE our conversations related to the boys inspired me in certain section I thank you for those conversations we have together I always enjoy them!!!  AAAA okay I really like this fic and I hope y’all enjoy this!!!

——<><>—<><>——

Crackling wood warmed the cool night and the sweet taste of s'mores lingered on your tongue. Nostalgia tends to prick you when you recall the smell of ash against your noise, sticking to your skin as the remnants of past bonfires blow away from your memory. 

But with them those memories get replaced with new ones, one’s where Santi and Will talk to each other about their layered history. Where Frankie listens quietly, drinking his beer while Benny half listens and pulls out the treats for the fire.  

Benny started warming up marshmallows, the fire enveloped the treat, burning it so the outer shell was charred. You didn't know why he liked them like that but you always indulged Benny and what he wanted.

Frankie placed another log for the fire to burn, the ash poked your nose but at least it warmed you. Well it could’ve warmed you better, the coldness still tinged your fingertips so on instinct you hovered your hands over the flames. Coldness like this wasn’t the norm in the past weeks but it seemed that the temperature was changing once again. Even the soft cotton long shirt you wore did nothing for the shivers and as the wood cracked you decided to deal with the cold. 

“I think I need a thicker sweater.” you grumbled to yourself, moving off of the plastic chair that took forever to get comfortable in. Frankie hummed and shook his head.

“Baby come here,” he set his beer down and you got closer to the three of them huddled up. “Sit on my lap, I’ll warm you up.”

The chair he was sitting on was another one of those cheap plastic ones that could snap at any second. You made a face at him and he gave you a bright grin, displaying his dimple, and that bright twinkle in his eye being highlighted by the fire. 

“I got strong thighs,” that’s what made you laugh. 

“Don’t I know it Frankie but let me get that sweater,” you grinned and his skin found yours slowly, getting you to focus on him for a second.

“Let me get it for you,” he lifted himself from the chair, “Take my spot, these two are yapping my ear off.”

“You like our stories ‘fish!” Santi replied to Frankie’s joke, Frankie just slipped away with a big grin on his face. “He likes our stories,” Santi reiterated to you and his hand went to squeeze your knee.

“I like your stories too,” you hum and his eyes brighten slightly. He nudged Will communicating with him with raised eyebrows and Will just shook his head. 

“You really gonna tell her that one…” Will muttered while drinking his beer and staring at the fire somewhat melancholic.

“If it's the lemon story, you should definitely tell it,” Benny replied while putting a burnt marshmallow between the piece of chocolate and the graham cracker. 

“Benny…”

“We aren’t arguing about my marshmallows again. Tell your story Santi,” Benny shut down the conversation with a crunch from the graham cracker. Santi huffed but started the story with a small grin and describing a younger Frankie that you hadn’t had the luxury to meet. 

It was full of a lot of unnecessary descriptions that only Santi would really see and he added in little ramblings between his thoughts. Stories branching from one place to another but you loved it either way. The best part of it in your opinion was the faces of Benny and Will as the rambling between the main story happened. 

Benny would get him to ramble more and Will just sat there with a fond smile on his face as the story got lost into different thoughts. As Santi got into the topic once again Frankie emerged from the door with your hoodie in hand, his wide smile as he approached turned into a sigh.

“I didn’t bite into the skin of the lemon Santiago, stop telling everyone I did that,” he was supposed to sound annoyed but you didn’t find it convincing. He handed you your hoodie and kissed the top of your head. 

“Wasn’t gonna say that,” Santi replied with a pout and Frankie brought the other chair closer to the four of you. Frankie continued to grin from Santi’s continuance of insinuating that the lemon was what got Frankie and Santi to become friends. 

You looked as the pair bickered like a married couple and ultimately started to laugh from how ridiculous they were being, Santi offered him something to drink and Frankie nodded. 

Conversation continued from there, lots of asking of how everyone’s weeks have been, little things that the group have been meaning to tell each other. It was nice to hear about the little things that Frankie found joy in at work. 

From there thoughts and other stories melded together, the passage of time not at all linear as everyone enjoyed their time together. 

Benny captivated the group’s attention with a story about the local critters, talking about a particularly hungry raccoon rummaging through the garbage late at night. The only person who didn’t seem as invested in the story was Will. He seemed to be transfixed in the flames of the bonfire, engulfing the wood and burning it into ash and dust. 

His jaw was tense, squared in thought. He didn’t seem to notice the giggles from the others but he did notice your worried stare. Will gave you a tight smile in return and you frowned at his need to cover up what was bothering him.

“I'm gonna turn in,” Frankie interrupted your thoughts with a soft kiss on the cheek, his warm hand rubbing your shoulder, comforting the cold that slowly took over your form once again. “Don’t listen to everything Santi says, alright baby,” he winked at you and you played along.

“Malo…” Santi muttered under his breath as Frankie ruffled Benny’s hair before going inside. Benny stared at the door humming at the thought of going inside but turned to you with a small grin. You knew he wanted to say something before joining Frankie in bed for the night. 

“You heard the lemon story before, haven't you,” Benny whispered the question into your ear with giddy laced in his tone. He noticed.

He always noticed things like this and you were secretly glad that he figured out the small secret that you kept to yourself. Santiago Garcia liked to tell stories, to the point that he would repeat his favorites. You wouldn’t interrupt him when he did, you simply nodded and grinned when he smiled so brightly from your attention. 

“Maybe,” you responded to Benny who grinned, “I like how he tells them.”

“I do too,” he kissed your jaw and your heart skipped a beat and he lifted himself from the chair and yawned loudly. “I’m gonna go cuddle with Frankie, getting a bit cold for my liking.” 

“I’ll join you two in a minute, my knees are acting up,” Santi hummed as he rubbed the muscles of his knees. The heat from the fire no longer being a comforting warm but a dull sensation, most likely causing Santi’s knees to experience pain. Benny wordlessly walked over and offered him a hand, knowing that he’d be better inside than outside. 

“You two coming in, the fire is just about out,” Benny pulled Santiago up and both of them turned towards you and Will. 

“I’m alright, I’ll see you inside,” Will said somewhat clipped and Benny stared at him momentarily knowing that something was up. “Night Ben, night Pope,” he added, still staring at the flames that were slowly dying down. 

“I’m gonna stay for a bit,” you hoped that your stare conveyed that you were gonna talk to him. The other two left wordlessly, Santi kissing your forehead before he vanished inside. 

There were two empty chairs between the two of you and you started moving toward him slowly, not wanting to interrupt his thoughts that were intertwined with the fires. 

“Is this seat taken,” you pointed to the one that Santi was using and he just shook his head, not giving you a verbal confirmation. You plopped down to the seat, staring at his tense jaw and insistent need to look at the ashes that the fire left. Only sparks of ember remained, the flame that warmed you was extinguished. “Are you alright Will?” 

He stayed quiet from the question but he did unclench his jaw which you saw as a victory in some form.

“Did the others notice?” You frowned when he asked the question but he continued. “Did they notice that something was wrong.” 

His voice faltered slightly and he immediately tried to reign the emotion in. Will had his tell when something was wrong.

All of them did but Will’s would start quiet, a stagnant noise in a dark forest waiting for something to crack. It would only burst when he pent it up for too long.

You’ve only seen it once, it was when you first started this relationship with him, with the others. It was difficult to interlink their lives in such a romantic sense, so a lot of issues of communication happened. You are happy to say that the five of you are better at it now but things like this still happen. Closing off emotions was a rare phenomenon but it doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.

Or that it didn’t matter.

The comfort of Will mattered to you and right now he was so tense you were afraid that he was going to pop.

“Is it a bad thing if they did notice?” You didn’t say the question out of sour intentions. You wanted him to get out of whatever thought process his brain was feeding him through questions.

His eyes meet yours, bright blue eyes that are no longer filled with ash. It took him a minute to respond.

“No it isn’t.”

Out of habit you placed your hand on his chair, not on him in case he was sensitive to someone touching him.

“Do you want to talk about what’s bothering you?” It left your lips soft and uncertain but you hoped it comforted him. 

Cold winds whipped around you two and his sigh was carried by it.

“I don’t like bonfires,” he muttered while looking at the burned wood. “Hate the smell, hate how it sticks to you…” he didn’t continue but you assumed that there were more reasons he didn’t feel comfortable doing this. 

There was another silence between the two of you, your eyes were still focused on Will’s stoic face that was covered with a fluorescent light. The outdoor light shined on you two as this moment of stagnant silence continued. It wasn’t that you didn’t know what to say, it was more that you wanted him to know he could keep going if he wanted to. Maybe you were making him more nervous with this bout of silence. 

“If they make you uncomfortable then we won’t do them anymore,” you stated with no further arguments on the statement and he breathed in hard. 

“Sweetheart, I don't want you to walk on eggshells around me- I’ll get over this,” you frowned from that statement.

“Comfort is a two way street Will. If you are uncomfortable with something we stop doing it,” you continued even though his jaw tensed up again. “Being uncomfortable is something that happens but this is something else, isn’t it?” 

It was a topic all of them had issues with… you saw the aftermath riddled across their faces when the topic of the situation they got into reared its head. Certain things would bother them and the way to avoid those reactions was to remove it in its entirety, remove the trigger before it could do it’s damage. 

“I thought I could power through it…the others were enjoying it so why couldn’t I?” He sighs again, rubs his hand against his beard. 

“It affects everyone in different ways,” you muttered, his hand reaching out for yours. Even with the cold, Will radiates warmth. “They’re gonna understand.”

There’s a moment where he’s trying to list out if that statement was correct. The analytical part fighting with the more critical part of him. He blinks away any more thoughts and just squeezes your hand, muttering something about your cold fingers. Will pulled you closer to him, his forehead touching yours and even though his hands were warm his cheeks tinged of the chilly weather.

“Let's get you warmed up,” it was his version of thank you. He lifted himself from the chair and pulled you up with him, seamlessly he pulled you close, kissing the top of your head. He held your hand as you walked into the house, the warm lights of the kitchen highlighted Santiago’s curls. 

“You two alright?” He was fixing up a drink for himself, hopefully something that wasn’t caffeinated, he’s had too much of that today. 

“ ‘M doing better…I’ll tell you later Santi I’m tired” Will patted Santi's back, letting go of your hand but his warmth didn’t leave your fingertips. “I’m gonna change-Frankie in the room.”

Santi pointed towards the living room where the T.V light showed a sleepy Catfish and Benny sprawled on the couch. You couldn’t help but grin from the sight. “I bet he’s gonna knock on the couch again and complain about his back.”

You lightly smacked Santiago’s shoulder from his comment and he gave you a kiss in apology and popped two ibuprofen for his knees. 

“You gonna turn in for the night, Iron?” Frankie called, eyes still dropping due to the fact that half of his body was covered by Benny’s. 

Will hesitated slightly as he walked off to the room, but he responded with a quiet voice. 

“Nah…I’m just gonna take a shower to get rid of the smell,” you stared at his tense back, “I’ll join you and Ben on the couch in a minute.” 

Your worries dissipated with that statement and with that you decided to find a place on the couch. Frankie welcomed you with open arms and you quickly removed the hoodie in favor of the warmth that he radiated. His hands reached for you and quickly brought you to his chest. You didn’t pay attention to what documentary was on instead your sole focus was on the soft features of Frankie. Santi found a place beside Benny as you snuggled close to Frankie.

The energy you had for the day slowly depleted with his soft touch, the humming of conversations hit your ears but it felt more like a lullaby than actual words. So many things happen in such a small time that it tends to sweep you up and worry, with them it’s always easier. 

Of course you worry about them when the time comes but they reassure you when it does happen and you always knew that open conversations will happen. 

The sensation you felt with them was warmer than any bonfire could be, warmness that could usher you to sleep in a matter of minutes. Rubbing your face against Frankie’s chest was all that you needed from life. 

You could feel the vibrations of his voice while he quietly murmured something to Benny. It was a white noise that you could rely on. The couch sank near your left side causing you to startle slightly but you sank back in the embrace of Frankie. Will’s hand rested on your thigh, squeezing it slightly as an apology.

“What are we watching,” Will muttered to what you thought was Frankie but it could be you. 

“A movie,” you muttered, eyes still closed.

A snort escaped Will's throat, “ ‘ppreciate you sweetheart.”

——<><>—<><>——

Will took the day off today. He saw it as the sensible decision considering his feelings from yesterday loomed over him.

Even with that shower that smell lingered and it kept sending him back to the tops of the mountain, trying to find warmth. Trying to find a way back home after the problems that continued to pile up. Trying to keep warm no matter what…even if it meant burning money in the case of Benny and the others.

How the scent of burnt paper stayed on his skin like the sin of what they did never washed away. How he didn’t react when his friend passed. How the waves didn’t clean them of the scent and how all he smells is ash.

The fires fill the air with ash and he just feels polluted by the thoughts of that trip. 

They’ve talked about it extensively but he hates it when something so small and minuscule like a smell brings him back.

He’s grown from this…so why is he back at square one.

“Will-“ it was a mere echo against his thoughts up until Frankie’s hand reached for his shoulder. He was yanked back to the present immediately and the tension of his shoulders grew.

“Fuck… sorry I-“ he didn’t know what to say or what to do.

“Hey, it's alright, I’m right here.” Frankie moved his hand from him and the tension waned from his shoulders. “You want a minute.”

“No. I’m alright ‘fish,” Frankie raised his brows at him and he relented. “Last night was rough for me is all.”

Will loosened his grip from the kitchen counter and turned towards his forgotten coffee mug. It was teetering off the ledge as he grabbed it. 

“You seemed quiet last night…I just chalked it up to work,” Frankie responded, scratching his chin. “What’s bothering you?”

“The smells…” 

There was a part of him that felt silly for admitting that something of this degree would affect him so much but he knew Frankie would understand.

“Oh,” it seemed like he connected the dots quickly and leaned on the counter, somewhat close to Will. 

“I know, I’m not back there but just the smell sets me off,” he set down the coffee he doesn’t remember brewing for himself. His mind kept pushing things back and forth from his memory and taunting them towards him, Frankie rested his hand on his shoulder.

“It’s alright, you’re alright we aren’t there,” he remarked rubbing the tension from his shoulder. “I know what you mean Will.”

“I’ll manage, I'm just dealing with it,” Will reaffirms while taking a sip from the barely warm coffee. The bitter taste gave him small bits of energy for the day. 

“Will,” Frankie said in a tone Will recognized as ‘cut the bullshit and just talk to me.’ 

“What can I say Frankie I can’t do anything about it-“ he stopped from continuing and took a slow breath to even himself from the burning feeling in his throat. “No use in dwelling.”

He was over the hump in some way or at least he thought he was. In the end of the day he…was not that warrior that he once thought he was anymore. He was just… him now. 

Maybe…

He pinched his brows trying to quiet his mind for the moment and file those thoughts another time and organize them to a degree where he wasn’t stagnant at the constant and consistent feeling of smoke and ash on his skin.

“Hey,” Frankie said, barely above a whisper to not overwhelm any other thoughts that looped through his mind and muttered a familiar phrase. “I ain’t going anywhere, I’m right here Will.”

“I know…I know. I feel a little bad is all,” he admitted sheepishly for not wanting to admit that. He just didn’t want them to walk on eggshells around him but from the look on Frankie's face he obviously didn’t mind. Frankie’s hand reached for his and squeezed it, silently reassuring him.

“What's the thing you always say…” His lips pouted to the side, deep in thought. “Best way to deal with this is talk it out and-” 

“Breathe,” how could he forget. Frankie’s hand grazed the one that was still tightly holding his cup of coffee. With the graze of his fingers he loosened the grip on the mug and Frankie quickly stole it from him.

“We aren’t gonna have a bonfire in a while but whenever we do we take things at your pace.” A sigh escaped Will’s throat and he nodded, absently staring at the amount of dishes that were piled up from yesterday’s activities. “When did you go to sleep last night?” 

Will scrunched his face and tried to recall last night, memories muddied against each other. Past and present coexisting. He remembered that you turned in after a couple of minutes of the nature documentary ‘Fish put on to ease his mind. Santiago soon joined you after a particularly interesting scene regarding lizards. 

“After two episodes of that british crime show,” Frankie did his best to remember the lists of shows Will would watch but it was just easier for Will to describe them like that. 

“Ah, and aren’t those episodes like fifty minutes each,’ his bright brown eyes stared at him wide. 

“What are you getting at “Fish.”

“Sleep a couple more hours, is what I mean. You look tired and this coffee sure as hell won’t help you,” Frankie sipped the mug with a grimace but continued to do so even if it wasn’t sitting right with his stomach. He was uneasy about leaving all these dishes for Frankie to do and not to mention the mess they left in the backyard. They still needed to clean the back and the bonfire pit. 

“We have a lot of shit to do today,” he muttered while pointing his chin towards the dishes. All Frankie did in reply was slowly nudge him out the kitchen. 

“Me, Benny, and Santi have a lot of shit to do today. All you gotta do is take a nap and take care of our girl,” he winked at Will. Frankie’s fingers traced down Will’s back, sturdy fingers easing his worries. “That okay with you, bright eyes?”

Will smiled at Frankie and easily relented, there was no fighting with Frankie, not listening to him was a poor decision. He learned his lesson with that early on. 

“Don’t hurt yourself alright,” he stated while slowly opening their shared room. He was sure that Frankie responded with something snarky but it was dull to his ears when he entered the peace of their room. You were still huddled up in a mess of blankets, all those blankets couldn’t replicate the three warm bodies that you shared a bed with. 

Your smell was the first thing that hit his senses as he sank on the bed. Almost immediately he brought you close to him, needing to remember the smells of sweetness, of the laundry detergent they use, of anything and everything that reminded him of you. Not of ash and smoke filling his head, clouding his judgments.

The blankets were tangled between your limbs, hands reaching out for him in your half asleep state. Smoke no longer filled his mind, the lists of things to do and feelings to understand fell into the background. The serene sensation of warmth bubbled within him and it was only heightened with your sleepy state. 

Will did his best not to move, not wanting to wake you from your slumber, you’ve worked so hard and being able to sleep in like this was something to not be disturbed. His fingers rubbed circles into your skin and the heat of your skin made him forget how much he was missing for not staying in bed with you in the mornings. 

“Thank you,” he murmured into your skin knowing that you wouldn’t be able to hear him or maybe you did but you seemed to be lost in your dreams. His nose rubbed against your neck, kissing every part of your skin hoping this would show you what he couldn't say through words. 

He was no longer letting those flames engulf him, the fire was a temporary object. When he has with them and with you, isn’t. As he remembered that he deeply breathed in and recalled the crackling wood from earlier and the fond moments linked with yesterday night. The soft laughter that easily slipped your lips as Santi kept teasing Benny and Frankie. 

An exhale out brought him peace and the pricks of nostalgia no longer bothered him like it did before because he was reassured by the people he cared about. 

He’ll be okay. He just needed to breathe.

[2jaehs]

ETHICS  l  QIAN KUN

genre: smut, daddy!

warning: Dilf!Kun, profressor!Kun, Student!Reader, semi-public, semi-cheating, cursing, alcohol

word count: 5,6k

Your new ethics professor may not be as good as the subject he is teaching.

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It was a chilly evening and your parents were hosting a couple of friends from work for dinner. Your mother, a professor at your university, was always ready to break in a new lecturer especially if it meant it would benefit you in any way.

The professor who was invited was soon to be your new ethics lecturer for the second semester,  all you knew of him was that he too had a kid at the university and your mother was hoping you’d get along with them.

“Did you find out who’s Mr Qian’s kid yet?” Your mother sipped her tea as she hovered over your desk, scrunching her nose at your Facebook page.

“No mom, you know people my age don’t use Facebook” you groaned and clicked the university page to find the tagged alumni. After a few clicks you noticed the new lecturer had been added and with another click you were on his Facebook page.

“God he is handsome isn’t he ?” Your mom marveled and you shook your head, “you have a husband you know” Your mom let out a laugh and playfully slapped you on your shoulder, “I’m not like that, plus the man teaches ethics he’d be horrified if I was trying anything.”

You shrugged and scanned the professors page until you noticed a post with a familiar looking boy. The two of them stood next to a brand new car and the caption read ‘congrats on the new wheels son.’

“This is.....Minghao, he’s a year below me” you pressed your lips together and looked up at your mother, “he’s pretty chilled I’m sure it will go fine.”

Your mother let out a sigh of relief and patted your back, “okay good so you’ll be able to keep him company tonight then, Hey maybe Mr Qian will give you special treatment after tonight.”

You wished your mom knew how accurate her guess was in the weeks to come.

————————————————————————

You slipped into a comfortable long floral dress and did a light make up look before creeping out of your bedroom to greet your mother’s guests.

“Ah there’s my princess” your dad bellowed to the guests who looked up at you as you made your way downstairs, already wishing you could hide away from your dad’s embarrassing words.

“Hi I’m y/n” you greeted, shaking everyone’s hands. There was a woman in her late 40s and Minghao the boy you had seen around your department from time to time.

“My dads just getting the wine from our cab” Minghao scratched the back of his head nervously as he took a seat across from his mother at the dinner table.

You slipped into the seat next to him, your mother mouthing a thank you for your bare minimum efforts and placed the last cooked dish on the table in front of you.

“I almost thought you were drinking all of that on your own” your dad chuckled as a man shimmied through the door holding two bottles of wine. You felt your heartbeat race when he came into full view, possibly the most handsome man you had ever laid your eyes on. Mr Qian had a wide friendly smile spread across his face as he sat the wine down on the kitchen counter and removed his coat, revealing his extremely toned arms stretching the fabric of his white buttoned shirt.

“Oh you must be y/n” he ran his fingers through his hair and took a seat at the head of the table, in between you and his wife.

“Eh yeah it’s nice to meet you Mr Qian” you smiled politely, trying to keep your eyes off his pouty lips.

You couldn’t believe you were checking out your lecturer right now, in the presence of his wife and son for fucksakes. But he was so unbelievably gorgeous, the way his ash blonde hair was styled framed his face perfectly, and his soft eyes bore into yours as he spoke.

“Please call me Kun” he chuckled sweetly, “unless I’m teaching you then we can switch back to the formalities.”

You nodded and he shot you another friendly smile before your dad began pouring everyone a glass of wine.

You and Minghao zoned out as your mother began talking about the university and let Kun know the basics, from campus etiquette to where he can buy the best coffee.

“Well I’m looking forward to everything” Kun raised his glass to your mother and downed the last bit of it.

“Y/n darling sort the dishes out will you ? We’re going to head to the patio for more drinks” your mother called. All you wanted to do was return to your room, but after letting out a groan you did as you were told.

You scrubbed the dishes as you noticed Minghao was entertaining himself with a game on his phone in the living room. He wasn’t much of a talker and you were grateful for that, you really weren’t in the mood to be sociable with a stranger.

“Sorry to disturb but where is the wine opener ?”

You jumped at the sudden voice and the next thing you knew the leftover suds from your gloves were on Kun’s shirt.

“Shit- I mean sorry I’m sorry” you tore off your gloves and grabbed a paper towel ready to clean up your mess.

“It’s okay y/n” he chuckled and took hold of your wrist as you looked up at him, “it’s just a little water.”

Kun smiled down at you sweetly but you noticed a hint of curiosity in his eyes as you stood still under his touch, not bothered to move under the sudden contact.

“A-are you sure it’s okay?” You asked in a small voice still looking up at him and unconsciously bit down on your lip as your eyes drifted to his plump ones for the 4th time that night.

Kun cocked his head to the side, slowly let go of your wrist, and  wet his bottom lip with his tongue before taking a step back,

“Can I have that wine opener y/n ?” He asked in a low tone.

“Oh right” you pulled open a drawer and retrieved the item, handing it to Kun who grazed his fingers against yours as he received it.

“Thank you.”

————————————————————————

You were in your bedroom reliving that moment over and over again. You were not delusional right ? There definitely was a little tension between you and Mr Qian and you had no idea why.

Did he sense that you were attracted to him ? He probably thought you were awful for even making it known to him since he was married. He taught ethics for heaven's sake, he probably thought you were a horrible person.

Sighing, you turned on your stomach and listened to the voices coming from the patio downstairs. You heard your dad pretty clearly, he was loud but when drunk even louder.

“Y/n is a good student but her mind wanders a lot”

“It’s true, she’s just like her dad”

“Hey!”

You groaned at the sound of your parents yapping and hearing Kun and his wife laugh along only made things worse. How the hell were you going to get through a whole semester of ethics with Mr Qian when he’s already met your insane family ?

A few minutes had passed and you heard a knock on your door. Before you could respond your mother flung open your door and you noticed Mr Qian was lingering right behind her.

Great.

“Sweetheart do you mind giving Kun your notes and essays from last semester” she hiccuped as Kun chuckled softly at her antics.

“Mom I -“

“It’s okay” Kun raised his hands, “you can bring it to me on Monday”

“Nonsense you’re here right now” you mom silenced him, “oh I’ll also fetch the old schedule just so you have an idea of what it all looks like.”

Your mom disappeared down the hall to her study and you expected Mr Qian to follow her but instead he leaned against your doorframe and watched you.

“I didn’t save much...so”

“I thought you were a good student y/n” Kun teased, his dimple showing as he grinned.

You rummaged through your drawers, “I am a good student” you pulled out your old ethics file and got to your feet,

“Not all the time though.”

Kun raised his eyebrow at your words and received the file from you before checking the hallway for your tipsy mother.

“Oh I’ve noticed” he said lowly, his eyes looked around your bedroom then met your stare, “I just hope you will pay attention in my class Miss y/l/n”

“I’ll try my best sir” you responded, chewing on your bottom lip before your mother reappeared and dragged Kun back downstairs.

Kun turned back to get one last look at you. He was taken back that you were still staring at him, those barely innocent eyes enticed him and the way your lips were caught between your teeth made him-

“My daughter is ecstatic for the new semester. Please look after her,” your mother said, handing the last of her notes to Kun.

Kun nodded and thanked her before collecting his family and headed to their cab outside. He pondered on her words and looked over at his wife, “sweet family aren’t they ?”

————————————————————————

It was another chilly winter morning and you were making your way over to your 8am ethics lecture with your best friend Xiaojun. “Dami said the new ethics lecturer is hot as hell” Xiaojun sipped his coffee as you two turned into the corridor, avoiding the lingering students,

“He came to my house over the weekend, he's pretty handsome yeah” you said, feeling butterflies in your stomach just talking about him. Xiaojun was about to speak until the two of you heard a low voice from behind you,

“Good morning you two” Mr Qian greeted with a cheeky smile and slipped into the classroom with his briefcase and coffee.

“Shit do you think he heard me ? shit shit shit” you cursed under your breath as Xiaojun pulled you into the front row of seats. The classroom began filling up and almost every person who walked in did a double take at Kun, it could've been his newness or the fact that he was now the best looking professor in this department.

“Why are we sitting upfront ? this feels weird” you whispered to Xiaojun.

“I want him to think that we pay attention” Xiaojun nudged you as the two of you watched Mr Qian remove his blazer and fold up his dress shirt sleeves. Your breathing hitched as you monitored his veiny arms while he navigated his laptop, thinking back to when he had his hand around your wrist and looked down at you with his almond eyes.

“Hello everyone, I'm Professor Qian, you can refer to me as Mr Qian or...sir” his eyes dropped to you on the last word as if it were reserved just for you.

You couldn't concentrate at all on the lecture and it wasn't due to Xiaojun talking his head off. Every movement Kun made had you adjusting your seating position and every glance had you adjusting your hair or wetting your lips. Every damn second you had to remind yourself that he was married and you were his student, an ethics student. But you couldn't help but wonder if what you were feeling was being reciprocated. You concluded that he was either oblivious and naturally charming or he was toying with you. Either way you looked at it, you knew you were like putty in his hands.

“I hope everyone has a good day and don't forget tomorrow I’ll be doing a short quiz in order to check your process” Mr Qian smiled sweetly and took a seat at his desk, waving off the first student's to leave his room.

You gathered your books and began making your way out when Mr Qian cleared his throat, “y/n can I see you for a bit?” Xiaojun nudged you and winked which only made your face redder than it already was. Spinning on your heels you pressed your lips together and made your way over to his desk.

“Y-yes Mr Qian ?”

“Please take a seat” He smiled and waited until the last person exited the room and shut the door. You returned to your original seat and a nervous feeling overcame you when you realized you were now alone with him.

“I just wanted to return some of the notes you gave me” He began pacing in front of you with his hands stuffed into his pocket, “and I just wanted to check if you were paying attention today”

“I did, I mean I usually go over the slides again later” you bit down on your lip. The chirpy tone of your voice made you cringe, why did you want him to think so highly of you ? that you were a good girl, not slacking off.

Kun nodded and pressed his lips together before retrieving your notes from his desk and handed it to you. You swallowed hard when he leaned over you, his large hands pressing into the desk and a strand of his blonde hair fell out of place and curled over his eyebrow.

“It’s not because you think i'm handsome that you're so distracted now are you?”

A shiver went down your spine at the sound of his silky voice matching his daring eyes as if he was waiting for you to act on it. You looked up at him, he could see his reflection in your doe-like eyes and it made him unconsciously lick his lips.

“I uhm….I'm sorry” you battered your eyelashes at him, hoping he would keep this information to himself and not out your words to your mother.

“Im sorry...who?” his voice was stern. Something dark had overcome him and it excited you.

“Im sorry...sir”

You watched his eyes light up by your words and it was enough indication that you weren't being delusional about him. Kun took a step back and returned to his desk signaling the end of your conversation. You sunk your teeth into your bottom lip and grabbed your notes heading straight for the door.

What the hell were you getting yourself into?

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Most of the next three weeks Kun was pretty normal. He treated you just like every other student in the room and it made you feel a tad jealous. You waited for his glances or him asking you to stay after class but he completely ignored you. Maybe he came to his senses and felt guilty flirting with a student when he was married. That was until Friday came around and you were sitting in your mom’s office.

“One sign of pleasant weather actually got you wearing a skirt ?” Your mother teased as she bit into her salad.

“I've never worn it before and I think it looks cute” you pouted looking down at your beige and chocolate brown checkered mini skirt.

“You do look cute sweetheart and you'd look even cuter organizing my store room”

You groaned at your mothers request but jumped to your feet knowing you didn't have anything else to do. It sucked that the weather was actually perfect for an outfit to tease Mr Qian in but his lecture had been cancelled for the day. You opened the store room only to be greeted by dust and darkness, not surprised that the state of the shelves were a mess in a few short weeks since you last cleaned them.

Grabbing a flashlight you got started on the lower shelves when you heard a knock on your mom’s door and Kun walked in holding a box of folders.

“You're done already ?” Your mom said, mouth filled with her chicken wrap as Kun placed the box on her desk,

“Yes I scanned them onto my usb, It’s easier catching up that way” he replied politely,

“Okay well I’ll tell y/n to put these away, I'm still trying to finish these reports and my lunch”

Kun tutted at your mother’s words and began unpacking the box, carrying the folders over to the storeroom, “I'm not doing anything right now and we cant let y/n do everything on her own now can we?”

Your eyes widened as he joined you in the dark storeroom, his figure completely hidden from your mother as she continued snacking on her wrap and eyes engrossed in her computer,

“Kun you're too kind, okay you two have fun.”

You held your breath as you felt his arm brush against your back as he worked on the shelf behind you. His perfume was sweet, the scent tickled your nose while he moved around the compact room.

“Where’s section R 20-30 ?” Kun asked you softly, squinting as the flashlight you held caught his eye.

“Oh sorry uhm it's down here you can give it to me-”

“It's okay I got it” Kun mused and crouched down next to your bare legs trying to find the placement of the file in hand. You kept your focus on the shelf in front you, freezing when you felt the tips of his hair brush against your knee. Kun slid the file in its place and allowed his fingers to dance along your legs as he stood up, scanning your face for a reaction. When you gathered yourself you turned back to placing files in their respectful spots earning a scoff from Kun. He cocked his head to the side, amused by your composure. He touched you a few feet away from your mother and you didn't budge, he was impressed.

You thought his teasing was over until Kun stood beside you, shielded in the dark and you felt his warm breath against your neck. You froze when you felt his fingers on your inner thigh, slowly moving up until he pinched and you squealed, bumping into the shelf.

“Darling are you okay ?” Your mom called from her desk.

“Answer her y/n” Kun whispered before placing an open mouth kiss on your neck.

You cleared your throat and prayed your voice wouldn't crack, “Im okay just tripped over something, the usual” You heard your mother chuckle, thanking the heavens that she was so oblivious to what was going on in her store room right now.

You felt Kun smile against your neck and his fingers returned to your inner thigh, moving up until he grazed against your lace panties. Kun hummed when he felt how wet you were for him, you couldn't believe how wet you were for your professor at this moment. Kun skillfully moved your underwear to the side and felt your wetness before bringing his finger up to your mouth.

His lips curled into a smile waiting to see how dirty you were. All of this seemed like a test to you, as if he wanted to see how much you could endure before he had his way with you. The way he looked at you made you want him right then and there. Guys your age couldn't handle a girl like this as much as they tried to convince themselves. Your sex life was boring, all of them were the same but this, this was exhilarating.

Kun’s mouth parted as he watched your pouted lips meet his finger and lick his finger clean. The way he looked at you made you feel proud, he made you feel like you aced your assignment.

“Dammit I have a last minute meeting, sorry sweety I can't drive you home today should I call a cab ?” your mother sighed as you and Kun innocently stepped out of the store room.

“I don't mind giving her a ride home,” Kun offered, his attention fully on your mother despite feeling your glance on him.

“Kun you are a lifesaver seriously, how do I repay you ?” Your mom grabbed her satchel from her desk and made her way to the door.

“How about dinner? Jia and I really enjoyed your hosting” Kun offered, helping your mom lock up. You felt weird when he mentioned his wife’s name, hating that you were jealous of the woman who actually got to call him hers. It also made you feel as if you were just a play thing for him, and that none of this would affect him but rather you.

You were lost in your own thoughts until you realized your mother had already agreed to his offer and you were now standing alone in the corridor with Kun.

“Shall we ?” Kun gestured for you to lead the way and the two of you walked in silence until you got to his car.

The first ten minutes were silent, all that could be heard was the faint voices on the radio and the tyres of the vehicle moving against the gravel road. Kun smiled to himself as he watched you pull out your phone to distract yourself from the uncomfortable silence.

“y/n do you have a boyfriend ?” He asked a little too casually for your liking.

“No I don't”

“Why is that?”  His question made you look up at him, confused as to why he would ask you a question like this after he had already explored most of you just a couple minutes ago.

“Not interested in what this campus has to offer” you shrugged and looked out of the window, “What about you?”

“What about me?”

“Does your wife know you have a professor student kink?”

Kun clenched his jaw at your words and suddenly pulled into a vacant parking lot of a fast food joint. Before you could say another word Kun wrapped his hand around your throat and pulled you in for a rough kiss. It was absolutely tantalizing, the way he tasted, the way his tongue fought with yours but it ended abruptly.

“You're a brat you know that ?” he chuckled dryly, “Jia and I are soon to be divorced, we only do work social activities because It makes a good impression.”

You felt a sense of relief and excitement. Even though it was a pretty fucked up arrangement going on currently, it lifts a burden off your shoulder knowing they will no longer be married.

“Why...me?” you bit down on your lip and looked up at him. Kun softened up and slumped into his seat, running his fingers through his ash blonde hair, “I don't know, the shallow answer is that I find you incredibly attractive”

“What's the other answer ?”

“Look,” Kun turned to face you, “We hardly know each other but I feel an instant connection to you, I tested your morality, which is fucked up, to see if you were like me, someone like me preaching ethics yet borderline fucked up?”

You could tell there was more to it, a personal war with himself especially since he was about to get divorced. Of Course you wished there was more to it but he was probably not ready to get involved with someone especially after years of marriage to then hook up with one of his students at that.

“Mr Qian everyone is fucked up I mean that's why we have to study ethics isn't it ?” you reached out to console him, rubbing his shoulder as he chuckled at your words. Kun leaned in and gave you a soft kiss on your lips,

“How did I come across someone like you y/n..”

“All im saying is I’ll be happy to be your rebound, your play thing whatever you need….Sir”

Kun shifted in his seat as he watched you lift his hand, making him palm your face as you took his thumb into your mouth and sucked on him gently. You heard his muffled curses as he adjusted his pants, trying his best to keep a tent from forming as he felt your tongue swirl around his thumb.

Kun quickly snapped out of the trance you had him in and restarted the car, getting back on the route to your house. You snickered to yourself as you noticed how red his ears were from the ordeal, it was nice being the dominant one for once.

He pulled up to your house and unlocked the car door for you, “I’ll see you at dinner tomorrow, wear a dress for me okay sweetheart ?”

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It was saturday evening and being an obedient student you wore one of your most...accessible dresses. You made it look classy despite the length barely sitting above your knee and topped it off with a glossy makeup finish. Your mom had told you that Minghao wasn't attending tonight and you might get bored from their conversations, little did she know that this might be one thrilling night.

You helped your mom set up the table while your dad organized the drinks and played soft music in the background to set the ambience. Just as you finished the last utensil arrangement you heard the doorbell ring and the butterflies in your stomach had returned.

“Kun good to have you back man” your dad went in for a handshake as Kun and his wife stepped in. Kun was good at playing the innocent professor. The way he greeted you with such poise as if his hand wasn't up your skirt 24 hours ago.

“Let's not get too drunk now shall we, we're driving home this time” Jia tutted as she handed your mom a bottle of wine.

Suddenly the room was filled with a bright light followed by thunder, making you and your mom jump at the loud noise. “Seems like you're not driving home at all buddy” your dad said peering outside as the harsh rain began pouring down, already starting to flood the driveway.

“He’s right, you guys can stay in our spare bedroom for tonight,” your mom added. You and Kun both shared a quick glance before your dad pulled him into another conversation.

“Honey can you make sure the room is set up ?” your mother turned to you and you nodded, smiling politely as Jia thanked you.

By the time you were done with the bedroom you were welcomed by everyone already seated at the dinner table waiting for you. Unsure if it was planned by Kun but your seat was placed right next to him, with Jia at the head of the table conversing with your mom on her opposite end.

Kun poured you a glass of wine and you silently thanked him as your dad continued his intense conversation about whatever he watched on the news network this week. You sighed poking at your potatoes, being bored as your mom predicted you would be until you felt a hand on your thigh.

Keeping your eye focused on your dinner you scooted a little closer to Kun until his hand was able to fully grope your thigh without anyone at the table noticing a thing. You felt the icy cold sensation from his ring as he caressed your skin, not doing anything too drastic since everyone was in close proximity. You inwardly groaned when he eventually pulled his hand away, completely engrossed in the conversation happening between your mom and Jia. As Kun added his piece to the conversation you used the opportunity to  do a bit of your own exploring and let your hand slip into his lap.

Kun pressed his lips together as he tried to focus on the chat instead of the hand that was now palming him under the table. You took a sip of your wine as you continued rubbing him through his black trousers, already feeling him get extremely hard under your touch. Until it was getting too much for him to handle, Kun pushed your hand away and excused himself from the table,

“I'm gonna use the bathroom, please excuse me”

“y/n why don't you show Mr Qian where the bathroom is” Your mom said, still chatting along with Jia and your dad.

You sighed and played the good daughter, leading Kun upstairs until the two of you were out of sight. With one swift movement Kun had you against the wall in the hallway, his hand wrapped around your throat and his erection pressed against your abdomen.

“Are you fucking insane ? you want me to fuck you in front of your parents is that it ?” he growled,

“Oh so you can have fun but I can't ?” you rolled your eyes only causing Kun to press into you harder.

“God you're so bratty, I can't wait to teach you a lesson” Kun bit into your neck, sucking until he was satisfied with its purple colour, “I'm going to go downstairs and telling your parents that you went to your bedroom, keep that dress on until I visit your room later tonight understand ?”

“Yes sir.”

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You waited in your room, doing as you were told and even heard your parents, Kun and Jia head upstairs and say their drunken goodnights. The sound of Kun’s voice just outside your door made you squirm in bed, wanting, waiting for him to just show up and have his way with you.

It was around 2am, your eyes were heavy and you sighed as you looked at the time on your desk clock. What were you thinking ? There was no way Kun could pull this off without his wife suspecting him or even your parents hearing someone sneaking around the house. But then again everyone was so damn drunk a criminal could break in and they'd have no idea.

Suddenly your door creaked open and in the darkness you saw a figure creep in, locking the door behind them. You sat up in bed and Kun quickly rushed over, placing a hand over your mouth and brought his lips to your ear,

“You have to be real quiet baby, even with all this rain and thunder, we have to be careful”

You nodded at his words and Kun placed a kiss on your forehead before pulling the covers off your body and switched on your bedside lamp in order to look at your body. He traced his fingers along your legs, over your abdomen and between your breasts until his thumb grazed your lips, parting them slightly.

Taking the hint you sat up and positioned yourself in front of Kun as he began unbuckling his trousers and let them pool around his ankles. You looked up at him as you palmed him through his boxers, watching him throw his head back sighing from the sensation. You pulled down his boxers and licked your lips once getting a full view of his erection, wasting no time in taking him fully into your mouth until he touched the back of your throat.

“Fuck” Kun mumbled softly as you began sucking him off, slowly in order to lessen the noise and to keep him fairly quiet.

Kun tugged on your hair and bit down on his lip watching your saliva drop from your mouth as he pulled out of you. You looked absolutely delicious, all he wanted to do was ruin you.

You stood up facing him until he began kissing you softly, unzipping your dress revealing your white lacy set and giving him his first taste of your naked figure. “You're beautiful” he cooed as he left soft pecks across your neck, especially on the spot where he had marked you earlier on.

Kun removed his shirt and unhooked your bra before pressing your back into your bed and his hips began grinding into yours, slowly, making you feel every part of him as the two of you returned to each other's lips.

“You're such a bad girl you know that” Kun groaned as he slipped his hand into your underwear and rubbed circles with his thumb, making you squirm underneath him.

“Teach me a lesson daddy” you sighed and the nickname made Kun growl into your ear. Kun pulled off your underwear and turned you until you were on all fours. He positioned himself behind you and as he pushed in he clasped down on your mouth and bit down on your shoulder, preventing both of you from moaning too loudly.

Kun’s hips slammed into yours erratically, switching from fast to slow strokes in order to drown out any suspecting sounds.

“I want to ride you daddy” you managed to whisper through his fingers and again Kun caved to the nickname and pulled out, falling onto his back as he awaited your offer. You slowly straddled him and took in his length once more, as Kun sat up, meeting your thrusts and held onto your ass and throat as you rode him as best as you could. Kun felt you tighten around him as you neared your climax and flipped you around until you were underneath him and he was now in control of both of your orgasms.

“Im so close..” you whined as Kun hit your sweet spot repeatedly.

“Me too baby, lets keep it quiet okay I promise I’ll make it up to you soon”

Kun brought you to your climax and he followed quickly after, his sweaty body falling on top of you as he tried to catch his breath. You reached for the covers and Kun turned onto his back and allowed you to cuddle into his chest. You smiled as he placed a soft kiss on your forehead and stroked your head,

“Thank you, God I want more, I can't wait for more” he whispered as you giggled,

“I’ll be here, and besides you're going to help me pass ethics right ? “ you pouted. Kun chuckled softly and massaged his temples, “okay how about you study hard and i’ll reward you with whatever you want sweetheart,”

“Deal” you gleamed, “Thank you sir.”

[anotherplaceintheuniverse]

risotto (portwell first date fic)

As requested by anon, a look at Portwell’s first date

read on A03 here or below the cut

“Ash?” Gina knocked on Ashlyn’s door nervously. Ashlyn knew something was up. Not only did Gina never knock, she always felt more than comfortable telling her absolutely anything and everything.

“What’s up?” Ashlyn placed her guitar down at the foot of her bed. “Are you okay?”

“Um...EJ kind of asked me out-”

“Oh my god! That’s so exciting!” Ashlyn noticed Gina’s long face. “That is exciting, right?”

“Yeah,” Gina sighed. “I just...I’ve never been on a real date before and...I don’t know what you wear to this sort of thing.”

“Say no more,” Ashlyn placed her hands on Gina’s shoulders. “I know exactly who we need to call.”

Before Gina knew what was happening, Kourtney and Nini were running around Gina’s room assembling the perfect look. “Where is he taking you?” Nini smiled as she perfected Gina’s eyeliner.

“Um...we’re getting risotto actually.”

“Risotto?” Kourtney laughed.

“What is with you two and risotto?” Ashlyn giggled.

“It’s a funny story actually.” Gina smiled just thinking about the memory. “Remember when we took our little field trip to North High?”

“Who could forget?” Kourtney grumbled as she held up a shirt before deciding against it.

“Well, when I was standing watch, this guy came up to me and I guess I kind of froze. I didn’t know what to say but EJ swooped in and called me babe and asked if we were getting risotto.” Gina trailed off; the story suddenly felt embarrassing as she shared it aloud.

“What did the guy say?” Nini laughed.

“He just left but EJ and I figured if we were going on a date we could actually get risotto.”

“Okay this might be stupid but what even is risotto?” Ashlyn questioned from her spot on the bed.

“I don’t really know,” Gina whispered which caused all the girls to burst into a fit of laughter.

“You really like him, huh?” Nini smiled at Gina in the mirror.

“Yeah, I do.” Gina nodded slowly. “Is that okay? Like...will that make things weird with us?”

“Don’t worry,” Nini shook her head. “I haven’t thought about EJ in that way in a long time. I’m happy for you.”

“Alright. Enough yapping.” Kourtney held a hanger out to Gina. “This. This is what you should wear.”

“Thank you.” Gina smiled. “All of you. For everything. You guys are the best friends a girl could ask for.”

“Anything for you,” Nini wrapped her arms around Gina’s shoulders from behind.

“Get changed!” Ashlyn squealed. “EJ will be here soon!”

Gina rushed to the bathroom and started to change her clothes. “Guys?” the others heard her call.

“Oh god, what’s wrong?” Kourtney rushed to the door.

“What do you talk about on...you know...on a date?”

“What do you and EJ normally talk about?”

“Everything,” Gina sighed. “He’s just so easy to talk to.”

“Then tonight won’t be any different.”

EJ arrived at Ashlyn and Gina’s house about fifteen minutes later giving Kourtney and Nini just enough time to add finishing touches before being rushed out by Ashlyn. Gina paced around the room until they both heard a knock on the front door. “You got this!” Ashlyn gave her a thumbs up.

Gina slowly made her way to the front of the house fidgeting with her hands all the while. She opened the door and the second she saw EJ’s gentle smile, all her nerves melted away. “Hey,” he bit his lip. “You look great.”

“Thanks,” Gina smiled. “You clean up nicely.”

“Only the best for you, Porter,” EJ chuckled. “Don’t tell anyone though. Don’t want anything to damage my reputation.”

“Of course.”

“Ready to go?” EJ offered his arm. Gina easily linked her arm in his. It was like they were made to be there Gina thought.

“Ash, I’ll have her home by midnight!” EJ called.

“You better!”

Like a true gentleman, EJ opened the passenger door for Gina and made sure she was comfortable before slamming it shut and rushing to the driver’s side. “Music?” EJ smiled at her handing her his phone.

Gina skimmed through his Spotify playlists which were as she had expected: one for studying, one for working out, one for driving. The one that surprised her, however, was his musical theatre playlist. “I didn’t realize you were such a theatre nerd,” she giggled. 

“Yeah, well,” EJ chuckled.

“Is it weird that I want to listen to Beauty and the Beast? I kind of miss it.”

“Haven’t you heard it a thousand times at this point?”

“Yeah but I guess it’s more about the memories. Like the first time you and Big Red performed ‘Gaston’ in your full costumes. I’ll never forget everyone’s reaction to your eyebrows.”

“Hey! You said they weren’t that bad!”

“They weren’t!” She squealed. “You can make anything look good, Caswell.”

“Thanks, G,” he smiled at her. “You’re an amazing dancer, you know?”

“So you’ve said-”

“I mean it. You have this passion and the way you smile like it’s the best performance you’ll ever have but you just keep topping yourself.” He glanced over at her. “You’re just full of surprises, Porter.”

Gina smiled nervously finally settling on “Something There.” EJ laughed when he realized what song was playing. He reached his hand over the center console interlacing his fingers with hers. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze as focused his eyes back on the road.

When they reached the restaurant, Gina was surprised by how fancy it was. She obviously knew what she wanted to order to eat but when the waiter came to ask what they wanted to drink, she had to think for a moment. “Would it be terrible of me to order punch?” She tried to stare at EJ seriously before breaking out in laughter.

“Only if you promise not to pour it all over me this time.”

“Oooh. I don’t know if I can do that. I might-”

“Your order?” The waiter was growing impatient which made Gina to want to laugh even more.

“Two fruit punches please,” EJ replied for the two of them. “Thanks.”

As the waiter walked away, Gina couldn’t hold back her giggles any longer causing her to snort. EJ cackled in response. The two knew that everyone was staring at them; this was no way to behave in an establishment like this. But Gina just couldn’t find it in her to care. Everything felt easy with EJ.

“If you two can’t pull yourselves together, we will have to ask you to leave,” the waiter snarled when he returned with their drinks.

“We’ll behave,” EJ nodded biting his lip to hold back his laughter.

When they finally calmed down, EJ shook his head. “You’re something else, Gina Porter.”

It was late when they finally stepped outside again. The restaurant had been packed and between all the talking and laughing, they were at the table for hours. Then, EJ had insisted they get the supreme brownie dessert which ended up being much larger than either had planned. EJ wrapped his arm around Gina’s shoulders as they made their way to his car. “This was fun,” Gina sighed when they finally got in the car. “You make everything fun.”

EJ smiled as he tried to find the perfect song to play. He laughed at himself as “Music in Me” from High School Musical 2 filled the speakers. “You were a good Troy, you know?” Gina said softly.

“Oh yeah for the five minutes I got to be him.”

“I’m serious,” Gina smacked his arm lightly. “You were so...vulnerable. It was kind of awesome.”

“Just wish the Wonderstudies got their show. The world deserved to see you as Gabriella.”

“I’m kind of happy with the way it all worked out as hectic as it was.”

“It wouldn’t be an East High production without a little chaos, right?”

“And it brought us here, didn’t it?”

They sat in a comfortable silence the rest of the way home. When they weren’t sneaking glances at each other, EJ was thinking about what Gina had said. Sure, High School Musical and Beauty and the Beast had their flaws but they were theirs. And no one could take those memories from them. 

When they finally got to the Caswell-Porter residence, EJ put the car in park and sat there for a moment. “I’m really glad you came back, G.”

“Me, too.” Gina went to open her door.

“Call me in the morning?” EJ asked grabbing her hand.

“Of course,” she nodded. “Thanks for tonight, Eej.”

EJ bit his lip contemplating whether or not it was appropriate for him to kiss her. Before he could think too hard though, Gina leaned over the center console and gave him a soft kiss.  “I’ll see you later.”

“Bye, Gina.”

Wanting to relish in the moment for as much as she could, Gina slowly exited the car and made her way inside the house. EJ made sure she was inside before he drove away. Ashlyn rushed to the living room the second she heard the front door open and close. “So? How was it?”

“It was...awesome,” Gina sighed.

“Yeah?” Ashlyn pulled Gina onto the couch. “Tell me everything.”

“I don’t even know where to begin.”

[thegildedlady]

Old Friends

Gray dawn broke over Stormwind City. The last stars hung dimly in the sky overhead as more and more light slowly filled up the dark spaces of the human metropolis. These early morning hours were when most of the city’s working folk made their way out of their modest homes and trudged towards whatever task awaited them. The streets were just crowded enough that Kordya Pavlov could pass through them undetected. The layer of sleep still sitting on most overnight guard’s eyes gave her some protection from recognition. Normally she tried to avoid delving this deep into the city, but today Kordya had her own task to attend to. An old friend was expecting her, and she hated to disappoint.

As she cut through the back alleys of the Old Town, Kordya began to smell the coal ash chugging out of the Dwarven district. Right about now the smiths and craftspeople would be stoking the flames from last night’s embers, ready to start a hard day’s work all over again. The smell bristled in her nose and she shook her head to expel it. Kordya walked on by the Dwarves at work, not stopping to admire their constant drive or revel in a hard day’s labor.

“At least I’m not breaking my back like those chumps,” she thought to herself, as she tried to ignore how badly the smell of coal reminded her of a long lost home.

She finally reemerged at the canals, where the coal scent was blown away on a sea breeze funneled through the entrance to the harbor. She inhaled deeply, letting it wash the earth off her as she hurried down the street. The sky was turning from deep gray to lavender, and she would need fleet feet to make it to her destination by daybreak.

Kordya looked down from the ramparts and saw a large crowd gathered at the base of the docks. A wooden platform and gallows had been erected in the looming shadow of the gilded lion’s head protruding from the stone wall behind it. Before the Prince pulled a classic Wrynn Disappearing Act, he kept the gritty practice tucked away inside the stockades and far from public scrutiny. Ever since the regency began, the High Exarch has had no such issue and resumed public executions. A hanging would always draw a crowd, and served as a not so subtle reminder of what fate awaited those who would flee from the Crown’s justice. The bleak scene caused dread to settle in her gut like she’d swallowed a stone, heavy and uncomfortable. She pulled her hood up over her mop of copper curls and began her descent. Kordya disappeared at the edge of the spectators just as the provost began to read the sentence.

“Let it be known that Frederick Albert Lafollette, of the village of Lakeshire, has been convicted of the crimes henceforth stated: Fraud, thievery, assault, arson on five counts, murder on two counts, and piracy against the Alliance Navy. For these crimes, by order of High Exarch Turalyon, he is hereby sentenced to hanging by the neck until he is dead.”

The crowd booed and hissed as the crimes came one after another. Kordya had shuffled her way closer to the center where she might get a closer look. A giant of a man, Frederick looked like he could rip clean through the ropes binding his hands in front of his person, should the desire strike him. He had been worked over, that was clear even from where Kordya was standing. His eye was blackened and his nostrils were crusted with dried blood. Though he stood in the face of his own demise, his expression was serene like a meditating monk. To the strangers gathered to watch him die, he was just another criminal. To Kordya, he would always be Freddy.

Suddenly, a gloved hand pressed against the small of her back. Kordya went stiff as a board, her fingers hovering above the pistol slung around her hips. Before she could cause a scene, a quiet voice spat out an explanation from just over her shoulder.

“Don’t get hasty now, Kordy. It’s your ol’ pal, Earle. You ain’t wantin’ to lose two old scarabs in a day now, are ya?”

Kordya whipped her head around to match the voice to the face in her mind. Earle was already older than dirt when Kordya first met him some ten years ago. Now he was brown as a nut and wrinkled like an old saddle bag. He smiled a leathery grin, his few remaining teeth hanging down to match the tufts of white hair poking out of his ears. Earle was wearing a tattered hide cloak, and pulled his hood up to match Kordya as he took his spot beside her. She did not mind his closeness, but wished he had taken a dip in any body of water before showing up today. The pink hues of the sunrise behind them gave a faint glow to the early morning mist still hanging in the air and warmed their backs as the minutes dragged on.

“I wasn’t sure anybody else would show up,” mumbled Kordya.

“Oh, s’no trouble for me. I been stayin’ down round the cemetery, so I make it out to most of the hangin’s.”

“You got a room or are you roughing it?”

“You know me, kid. I’ll let you take a guess.”

Kordya nodded curtly. She got the picture. The two stood in silence for a while- unsure of what to say to the other. They were not the same people who had formed a comradery all those years ago. What tied them together in the past was just that; the past. Their time with the Blue Scarabs wasn’t a pretty memory for either of them. If nothing else, the hollow feeling that came along when reminiscing about those days was one thing that they actually had in common. Being here for Freddy, of course, was another.

The provost held his palm up to silence the crowd’s jeering. When the noise had settled, he continued reading from the scroll in his hands.

“If Mr. Lafollette should have any last words, speak them now.”

Freddy’s gaze was cast over the crowd and out to the sea, where deep blue waters crashed against the rocky shore. He cleared his throat with a rumble, and Kordya held her breath.

“Tell my mother I’m sorry, that it ain’t her fault I ended up the way I did. And tell her I’ll get even with Pop for what he did to us, when I see him in hell.”

His voice called out clear and true and his gaze squinted against the rising sun. A flash of copper caught his eye and dragged his attention down to the crowd, where two familiar faces looked back at him with recognition and sorrow. When Freddy realized who he was looking at, he smiled sadly. Kordya smiled back, but felt the hot sting of tears welling behind her eyes.

“We’re here for you, Freddy. We came. You don’t have to do this alone,” the words screamed in her mind, but there was no need to say it out loud. Freddy understood it all, just from the way she held his gaze.

The hangman looked shrimpy compared to his charge. Freddy had to lean down, rather courteously of him, to let the hooded man slip the brown sack over his head. The crowd murmured as the priest read his last rites. A noose was fashioned around his neck, the provost signaled the hangman, and the trap door fell out from underneath Frederick Albert Lafollette. The snap of his neck would echo in Kordya’s mind for the rest of her days. He died quickly, the sheer weight of the man mercifully sped along the process. Cheers erupted from the gathered spectators as he swung. It made Kordya hate them all for their cruelty. Earle gently squeezed her hand with his boney fingers and tore her away from Freddy’s fate.

As the sun crept higher in the sky the crowd slowly trickled away until only a few remained. Kordya and Earle waited on the fringe, each had nowhere else to be. The guards had taken Freddy’s body down and wrapped him in a dirty shroud; it took five men to lift him into the crypt keeper’s cart. A Gnome with lime green hair was arguing with the driver about its destination, and the ruckus was drawing all sorts of attention.

“Fifteen gold pieces!”

“Get lost, Gnome.”

“T-Twenty! Twenty gold pieces for the giant!”

“I done told you once, I’m taking this corpse to the graveyard. He’s not for sale.”

As the cart pulled away, Freddy’s body in tow, the green-haired Gnome shook his tiny fist and cursed the driver’s name. Another Gnome, this one with hair the color of candyfloss, was trying to calm him down.

“We can’t let such a specimen escape! We should follow him, wait til the burial is done, and then-”

“Think very carefully before you finish that sentence, pipsqueak.”

Kordya pressed the barrel of her pistol down onto the top of the green one’s skull, and cocked it. He dared not move from that spot, but still could not stop his limbs from trembling. The little wannabe-bodysnatcher reminded her of a tiny, yapping dog. One flash of Earle’s smile was enough to send the pink one running. The old man set to emptying the Gnome-sized pockets in the vicinity as Kordya spoke.

“Listen, I’m a reasonable kinda gal. I know you weren’t thinkin’ of doing something to our dearly departed friend’s body. Cause if you were, well…”

She dropped to one knee and slid her gun down the back of his lime pompadour to get within earshot.

“I’d have to hunt your little friend down, and make the two of you into a new pair of boots for them to bury him in. It’s the reasonable thing to do, for a guy like Freddy. He’s a big guy! I’d say you’re about as long as his foot…” Kordya eyed the trembling man up and down, and sized him up as if she might actually be serious. It was enough to scare the color from his previously rosy cheeks.

“N-NO! I wasn’tgoingtodoanythingyouHAVEtoBELIEVEme I- I- I-”

With a kick of her muck-covered boot, she sent the Gnome stumbling to the ground and freed him from her hold. “Scram. Now.” she ordered. He did not waste time. The Gnome skittered away as fast as his legs could carry him, Kordya and Earle watched as the tiny speck of green disappeared into the distance. The old man snickered a bit, but the somber occasion still sat heavily on both their shoulders. Kordya holstered her pistol and kicked the dirt in the Gnome’s direction.

“Good riddance, son of a bitch. Vultures! He’s barely even cold, and they’re tryin’ to scrap him for parts.”

“You got that little feller pretty good, Kordy. I’d say you ain’t got to worry about Freddy now.”

She let out a shaky sigh she didn’t know she was holding and fumbled for the brass cigarette case she kept in her shirt pocket. Kordya scraped a match across the stone walls and lit up two, one for her and one for Earle. Before handing it over, she met his gaze.

“Promise me you’ll make sure they get him in the ground, and that he stays there. At least for tonight.”

“I ain’t much of a fighter no more, but I’ll keep watch over ‘em. Course I will, Kordy.”

She bought his time with a smoke they shared on the ramparts. Neither spoke again until the cigarettes had burned down to nothing. Earle snapped his fingers as the thought hit him.

“Aw shit, kid. I almost forgot! Freddy let me in on a big score comin’ his way, somethin’ he ain’t never saw before. Gimmie anothern’ and I’ll tell you what it is.”

He waggled his eyebrows, focus locked on the shiny brass case. Kordya smirked and tugged two more sticks from her stash.

“I see you ain’t lost the touch.”

“I worked a lot of jobs in my years, but I never did nothin’ for free.”

He winked at her and popped the little rolled paper between his lips. After taking a couple puffs, Earle got back to the proposal.

“Fred was tellin’ me all about this big time job that falls into his lap, right? Some E-thereal feller in fancy armor wanted him to pick up some products for buyers and deliver ‘em to where they’s goin’. Only catch is, the feller’s real secret. Freddy said he was part of some kinda cartel, but not one he ever heard of.” He took a long drag, then continued. “You know where Freddy’s old place was? That might be a good place to start.”

Kordya had already risen to her feet before he could finish talking. She offered a hand to pull the bag of bones up off the steps, which he gladly took. Earle placed a hand on her shoulder before she could set off.

“Good luck, Kordy. Don’t get caught.”

“Thanks, Earle. You too.”

The old friends parted ways having savored the moment, albeit brief, after all these years. Earle kept his promise, and watched over their fallen comrade through the night like a toothless guardian angel. Kordya had caught the scent of her next payday, and there was no stopping her now. She couldn’t wait to get back to the Mogu.

[ashitpos-t]

I’m A Fool To Want You

Chapter 2 of my Husk x Fem!Reader on my AO3 account.

CW: Murder, Suggestive Themes, and Alcohol

Your arms became covered in goosebumps as the smaller demon opened the door only to be greeted by a loud, almost deafening sound of a radio sputter that enveloped the air, causing your ears to press against the sides of your head along with a wince in your features.  Your heart skipped a beat at the frighteningly tall deer demon standing in the door way.  You instantly recognized that face, those clothes, and the cocky expression.

It was the radio demon.

---

"hell-" Charlie immediately slams the door in his face, eyes shooting to your own as you find yourself to be standing nearly frozen in place.

She opens the door again just long enough for him to finish greeting, "lo!-" before she slams it on his face again.  Charlie then calls for the moth demon, "Vaggie?" The girl you now knew as Vaggie replied, "what?" in an annoyed tone. 

"The radio demon is at the door," Charlie says with a forced smile, "What?" Vaggie exclaims worriedly, the spider demon only saying, "uh, who?"

"What should I do?" Charlie asks, pulling her cheeks down in worry, Vaggie scoffs, "Well don't let him in!"

Charlie pointedly looks at the door before opening it once again, much to your's and Vaggie's dismay, which allows the radio demon to finally finish what hes been trying to say.

"May I speak now?" he asks, "You may," Charlie puts, before being cut off by the deer demon, "Alastor!" he shoots out his arm for her to shake, "pleasure to be meeting you sweetheart! Quite a pleasure." He brushes past her form into the hotel exuberantly "excuse my sudden visit, but I saw your fiasco in the picture show! And I just couldn't resist, what a performance!" he nearly swoons just next to you, making you take a few steps back from him.

"Why I haven't been that entertained since the stock market crash of nineteen-twenty-nine!" he laughs, walking towards the lobby, "so many orphans-"

He only stops his eternal yapping when Vaggie runs up to him with a spear pointed at his neck, "Stop right there! Cabron hijo de perra, I know your game, and I'm not gonna let you hurt anyone here, you pompous, cheesy, talk-show shitlord!" He laughs at her seemingly frugal attempt at getting him out of the hotel, "Dear, if I wanted to hurt anyone here," his eyes turned to radio dials, and you could feel your blood run cold, "I would've done so already."  It seemed like all kinds of demonic shapes and auras emitted from the guy, a shiver ran down your spine at the sight of him.

He shook his head, "Now I'm here because I want to help!"  the two girls looked at him unconvinced, "say what now?" Charlie spoke up.

"Help!" he leaned into their space, "hello! is this thing on? testing, testing!" he tapped his microphone, a big eye opening from the place he tapped, "well I heard you loud and clear!"

"You want to help? with-" he interrupted her again, "with this ridiculous thing you're trying to do! This hotel! I want to help you run it." he finished, the large grin he wore cementing it's place on his features.

You scoffed at his want to "help", Charlie questioned, "uh, why?" he laughed, "why does anyone do anything? sheer, absolute, boredom! I've lacked inspiration for decades, my work became mundane, lacking focus, aimless!" he shoves Vaggie to the side, "I've come to crave a new form of entertainment!" he laughs.

"does getting into a fist fight with a reporter count as entertainment?" Charlie asks nervously, Alastor merely laughs at this, "It's the purest kind my dear, reality! true passion! After all, the world is a stage, and the stage is a world of entertainment." he says, smiling into the sentence while his voice slightly cleared of static, the whole display making your heart skip a beat.

Charlie looked to Alastor hopefully, "So, does this mean you think it's, possible to rehabilitate a demon?" he laughs at her display, "of course not! that's wacky nonsense. Redemption- Oh! the nonexistent humanity, nononono, I don't think there's anything left that can save such loathsome sinners!" You, Angel and Vaggie grimaced at his jab to the three of you, "The chance given was the life they lived before, the punishment is this!" he gestured widely to the hotel, "There is no undoing what is done."

"So," Charlie interjected, "Then why do you want to help me if you don't believe in my cause?" He cracked a devilish smile, "Consider it an investment in ongoing entertainment for myself! I want to watch the scum of the world struggle to climb up the hill of betterment, only to repeatedly trip and tumble down to the fiery pit of failure." Charlie took the radio-host's claw off of her shoulder, "Riggght," He nodded, "Yes indeedy! I see big things coming your way and who better to help you then-" his voice trailed off as you walked over to the couch to sit with Vaggie and Angel.

"So uh," Angel started to gesture to Alastor, "whats the deal with smiles over there?"

"Wait, You've never heard of him before?" the two of you both said, a look of surprise on both of your faces.

"You've been longer than me!" Vaggie commented, Angel simply shrugging towards the two of you.

"The radio demon," you started, Vaggie nodding along, "One of the most powerful beings hell has ever seen."

"eh, not big on politics," he crossed a set of his arms.

Vaggie sighed, "decades ago, Alastor manifested in hell, seemingly overnight." she gestured a bit to emphasize her point, "He had begun to topple overlords who had been dominant for centuries.  That kind of raw power had never been harnessed by a mortal soul before.  Then he broadcast his carnage all throughout hell, just so everyone could witness his ability.  Sinners started calling him, the radio demon"

You then added, "as lazy as that is,"

Vaggie nodded, "Many have speculated what unimaginable force enabled him to rival our world's most ancient and destructive evils.  But one things for sure, he's an unpredictable source of danger, a wicked spirit of mystery, and a violent monster of chaos the likes of which we can't risk getting involved with unless we want to end up erased."

"ya done?" Angel commented, beginning to laugh, "he looks like a strawberry pimp!"

You laughed a bit at his remark, "well, I don't trust him." Vaggie replied.

"to be fair," he started, looking at her with a smug face, "do you trust any man? Any men? Men?"

Vaggie looked at him tiredly before leaving the two of you on the couch to talk to Charlie.

"Charlie! listen to me.  You can't believe this creep," she side eyed him, "he isn't just a happy face! he's a deal maker, pure evil.  He can't be redeemed, and is most likely looking for a way to destroy everything we're trying to do."  you hated to eavesdrop, but you wanted to know more of everyone at the hotel respectively.

Charlie countered, "I, uh, we don't know that, look! I know he's bad and I know he probably doesn't wanna change, but the whole point of this is to give people a chance. To have faith things will be better, how can I turn someone away?  I can't.  It goes against everything I'm trying to do. Everything I believe in."  she put her hands on Vaggie's shoulders, "just, trust me, I can take care of myself."

"Charlie, whatever you do, do not make a deal with him." The two looked over at him, "Don't worry, I picked up one thing from my dad," she imitated his voice, "You don't take shit from other demons."

You tuned out most of what was being said, until Alastor perks up, "So it's a deal then?" green light starts to emanate from his hand, and the lot of you struggle to stand against the sudden winds of his power, yest Charlie cuts it off, "Nope! No shaking, no deals, I-" she nervously sighs, "as princess of hell and heir to the throne I uh- hereby order that you help with this hotel, for as long as you desire." Vaggie shifts on her toes, "Sound fair?"

Alastor pretends to think for a moment, "Fair enough!"

"cool beans," Charlie mutters, giving him two, very nervous, thumbs up.

You and Angel dust walk over to the concierge stand, both relatively fed up with whatever the hell was going on.  You lay your head on hand, sighing into your palm.

Angel looks over to you, "So I uh, never got yer name toots," you look over to him and straighten yourself out to be level with him, extending your hand, "My name's y/n," he smirked while taking your hand.

"Sure you already know me," he fluffed up his chest fur, "the name's Angel Dust." You nodded, already knowing his name.

Alastor walks up to the two of you before you can continue the conversation, "And what can you do my effeminate fellow?"

He gives him a once over before replying, "I can suck ya dick."

Alastor's smile freezes, "Ha! No."

"Yer loss," Angel finishes, enticing a laugh out of you as he grins to face you.

Alastor then looks over to you, obviously questioning everyone in the hotel, "Now I'm just hoping you don't do whatever this ruffian does?"

"I'm here for the whole redemption thing?" you slowly reply, clearly not interested in helping out.

He only sighs at you before turning around, "well this just won't do!  I suppose I can cash in a few favors to liven things up." he says with a snap.

The fire place sparks to life, only to show an array of flames and get fixed up in an instant, all before a small black being seems to nest within the fire.  He reaches down to pick it up, and when he does, a big eye opens up from the tiny form before the black ash dusts off of the little being, showing a small dress, single large eye, and a cute short hairstyle.

Alastor then introduces the small girl while dropping her to the ground, "This little darling is Niffty!"

"Hi! I'm Niffty!" She waves, "It's nice to meet you! It's been a while since I've made new friends."

She gestures to the lot of you, "Why are you all women?" She picks up Charile to look under her, "Are any men here?! Sorry, that was rude. Oh man! This place is filthy, it really needs a lady's touch which is weird because you're all ladies, no offense," She says while scattering around the hotel, lightly dusting as she talks, "Oh my gosh, this is awful!" She then proceeds to clean while saying offhanded comments whenever she finds something out of the ordinary.

"Hah! Read em and weep boys, full- ohhhhh" A taupe, winged cat demon says from the right of where you all were standing.

A seemingly bar setting complete with a pool table appears in the middle of the hotel, transforming the concierge stand into a bar table.

"The hell?  What the fuck is this?" The demon looks up and points to Alastor, "you."

"Ah! Husker, my good friend, glad you could make it!" he purrs.

"Don't you husker me, you son of a bitch, I was about to win the whole damn pot!" He gestures to a stack of money and chips that disappears due to Alastor's power.

"Good to see you too!" Alastor smirks

The cat slaps his clawed hand to his face, "what the hell do you want from me this time?" He asks, sitting at the pool table.

"My friend, I am doing some charity work, so I took it upon myself to volunteer your services," he waves his hand, "I hope that's okay."

"Are you shittin me?" Husk growls.

"Hm," Alastor begins with a smug grin, "No, I don't think so!"

Husk gets Alastor off of him, while flaring his wings out, "You thought it would be some kind of big fuckin' riot just to pull me outta nowhere?" You flinched a bit at his yelling, "You think I'm some kinda fuckin' clown?"

He hesitates for a moment, "maybe." a large grin become evident on his face.

"I ain't doin no fuckin' charity job," Husk growls just before the demon appears next to him, holding him flush against his own body, you felt bad for the cat.

Alastor spoke up, "well I figured you'd be the perfect face to man the front desk of this fine establishment!" he motioned towards the bar, a small welcome sign above it.

"With your charming smile and welcoming energy, this job was made for you!" he forced husk's face into a smile before swiftly turning around to head to the bar.

"Don't worry my friend, I can make this more welcoming, if you wish." he spoke, his voice getting abruptly clear at the end of his sentence while his arm swiped to reveal a bottle of "cheap booze".

"What? You think you can buy me with a wink and some cheap booze?" Husk said in an accusatory manor, mocking his gestures, "Well ya can!" he finished, grabbing the bottle and gulping down it's contents.

"Hey! Hey, Hey Hey Hey, no bar! No alcohol! This is supposed to be a place that discourages sin! Not some kind of brothel, man cave!-" Vaggie gets tackled to the ground by Angel, "Shut up! Shut. Up! We are keeping this." he aggravates, pointing towards the bar.

He quickly gets up and snuggles up to Husk, "hey~" he coos.

"Go fuck yerself," Husk replies, grimacing.

"Only if you watch me~" he holds Husk's face in his hand, startling the cat and causing his wings to spread.

Charlie runs up to him, arm outstretched for him to shake, "Oh my gosh! Welcome to the happy hotel! You are going to love it here!"

He only grabs his liquor, gulping it down, after saying "I lost the ability to love years ago."

You decided to not introduce yourself after that last remark, instead only waving at him lightly to which he responded to with a shrug.

"So," Alastor walks up to Charlie, hitting you with his shoulder, "what do you think?"

"This is amazing!" she replies, rubbing her cheeks as a grin paints over her features.

Vaggie chimes in, "It's, okay."

Alastor grabs the two ladies into a lean, "This is going to be very entertaining!"

The moth demon sweeps out from under his hold, which he merely laughs at before shoving her to the side while bursting into song.

His clothes transform into something of a more formal piece of attire, "You have a dream, you wish to tell," he spins charlie, transforming her hair and clothes into a dress and up-do.

He leans down to Vaggie, "and it's just laughable, but hey kid! what the hell!" and throws Charlie into the air, a chorus of instruments behind his voice.

"Cause you're one of a kind! A charming demon belle!" he grabs her hand, gliding down the stairs with her.

"Now lets give these burning fools a place to dwell," he snaps, transforming everyone's clothes into that of fitting attire for his time, giving Vaggie a full length dress, Angel a proper suit and tie, Niffty a sweet dress and bowler hat, Husk a pair of suspenders, and you, a sequenced dress with your hair in an up-do.

"Take it boys!" he snaps again, a few demons emerging from the floor and bursting into a band of instruments, while Vaggie attempts to get Charlie's attention, only for Alastor to pull her, and everyone else excluding Charlie into a strange hug of his minions.

"Inside of every demon, is a lost cause," he sings, placing hats onto Husk's and Angel's head, the former flipping him off, and the latter sending him finger guns.

"but we'll dress em up for now, with just a smile!" He says while summoning a hat and fox-scarf onto Vaggie before slapping her ass, Angering her as his minions echo him.

"Oh we'll ornate this cesspool with some old redemption flair, and show these simpletons some proper class and style!"

He dances to the fire place, summoning more minions to sing with him.

"Here below the ground! I'm sure your plan is sound!" He spins Charlie, and proceeds to pinch her cheeks.

"They'll spend a little time, down at this hazbin ho-" Alastor sings, getting interrupted by the door flying past both him and most of the residents, only to land straight onto Niffty.

All of your new clothes disappear as you look through the huge gap in the wall, to see a large zeppelin just outside of the hotel.  You all walk out to inspect it further, just in time to see a snake demon pop out of the window hatch, "Ha! Well, well, well, look who it is harboring the striped freak!" he hisses with each "S" he pronounces, "We meet yet again, Alastor."

You crack a small grin to see the over-exaggerated expressions of the snake, "Do I, know you?" Alastor questions, tilting his head to side.

"Oh yes you do!" he slithers to the side into his seat, "and this time I have the element of, surprise!"

He pulls on a lever and triggers a large cannon to release from the bottom of the air ship, pointed directly at the lot of you.

He laughs, "I'm so evil!"

Alastor snaps his fingers, opening up a portal just below the zeppelin that releases an onslaught of tentacles to destroy the ship.  He clutches his hand and focuses his will onto the ship, blowing into smithereens in an awesome display of his power. He wears a devilish grin that envelops most of his face, showing off his sickly black gums and a strange x mark between his eyes.  The rest of the residents stare at him in disbelief including you, an awful sense of fear, and dread boiling into the pits of your stomach, every single hair on you body standing on end in pure shock.

Alastor immediately snaps out of his hair raising grin, turning around to meet all of your eyes, "Well I'm starved! Who wants some jambalaya, my mother once showed me a wonderful recipe for jambalaya, in fact, it nearly killed her!" he laughs, everyone following behind him as he heads into the hotel, you trailing behind with your arms crossed, "You could say the kick was right out of hell! Oh, I'm on a roll!"

You grimace at all of the carnage the snake demon caused, your fingers messing with the seems of your shirt as feeling of tiredness from all of the stress for the day washes over you.  

You drag yourself into the hotel after everyone and close the door behind you, seeing Charlie, Vaggie, and Alastor talking while Angel and Husk are at the bar, the latter trying to shoo the spider demon away.  You fiddle with your hands as you silently walk up to Charlie, tapping her should as you whisper, "Do you mind giving me a room key?  I'm sorry I'm just awfully tired and I-" she cuts you off, "oh of course of course!  You should've asked sooner."

She mumbles a shorthanded goodbye to the other demons and leads you to a small stand holding hundreds of keys of all shapes and sizes, she grabs a key in a strangely cute shape with a small engraving of the room number on the back of it.  She smiles up at you as she puts the delicate key into your palms, "I really hope you like it here.  Sleep well."  You nod along, muttering a quiet thank you under your breath as the smallest of smiles graces your lips.

She pats your hands that have closed around the key and trots off to continue talking with Vaggie and Alastor.  You smile down at her as she walks and proceed to refocus your attention to the key and its room number.  It read 546, and with little confusion you found the elevator that listed which floors held which rooms, and if you were correct, you'd be heading to the 6th floor.  

You nervously stepped into the elevator, noticing how it looked worn down and used judging by the grease on the many, many buttons and small chips in the wallpaper of the small space.  Your fingers hovered over the buttons before firmly planting onto the fifth button.  You started raising up into the confines of the hotel with a small jolt and flicker of the lights, making you swallow with a keen sense of uncertainty.

Thankfully the elevator didn't stop with any delay and got you to your floor safely.  You stepped out into a dimly lit hallway of the hotel, the elevator doors quickly snapping shut at your leave, nearly nipping the ends of your tail.  You jumped at this before turning around to see which way you should go to find your room.  You looked to your left to see the lesser numbers and to your right to see the higher numbers, remembering your lower number you started on the left, and with a rise in your heart saw your room come into view only 4 doors down.

The old, rickety nature of the hotel's red carpeted hallways and drab decorations left you eager to enter your room, and with little persuasion, you got your key into the key hole, quickly turning it to enter, only to be met with a splendid display of pinks, creams, and golds showering the confines of your room.  You gasp lightly as you trace the freshly painted walls with your nails, taking in the exquisite nature of the carefully carved wood of your bed's frame, poles on each corner curling elegantly to the ceiling, dusts of gold flecked onto the carvings which depicted scenes of battles and victories between demons.  You smiled softly at the room, Charlie must have given you a suite, it was simply too beautiful to be anything but.

You sighed as you entered the bathroom, soft pink tiling lined the floor, and a regal looking sink left you wondering if you were even allowed to use such nice things.  You looked down at the sinks edge to see a complimentary toothbrush, toothpaste, and just about everything else.  You gladly looked up into the mirror, only to be a little displeased at how disheveled you looked.  Grabbing a complimentary cotton pad, you wiped away your foundation and eye shadow to reveal your many freckles lining your tanned skin.  You turned the skin only to splash water onto your face, quickly scrubbing away all the makeup and grime that had been caked onto your face.

You looked back up into the mirror and smiled, showing off your large, bear like canines and then fiddled with your short, wavy bob, making sure to keep special care of your bear ears on either side of your head.  Your small, black nose twitched at the water you just splashed onto your face, and you grabbed the toothbrush and paste to clean your sharp teeth.

Satisfied with your "self care" you flopped onto the bed, taking special note on how unbelievably comfortable it was.  Was this hell?  Cause it sure felt like heaven.

You felt a twinge of discomfort when you remembered you didn't exactly have pajamas to sleep in.  You sighed into a few curses and grumbles as you snaked off your dress and heels you'd been wearing.  You'd have to sleep in just you underwear that night, not liked it particularly bother at all, though.  

With a sigh, you flopped back into your new bed and quickly reached over to your bedside table to turn your lamp off, sending the room into an almost warm, pitch black.

Grabbing the pillow and fluffing it lightly, you laid your head onto it, letting a breath out that you were holding back, falling into a deep sleep within minutes

---

You woke up with a groan, the harsh, red beam of hell's sun shining into your room, and directly into your oh-so-tired eyes.

You smacked your lips, sighing with the displeasure of a complete lack of any water in your room, excluding the sinks, of course.  You lazily stood, and reluctantly pulled on your old dress, making sure to adjust your breasts into the cups while looking into your new vanity, carefully placing your hair back into place.

You smiled lightly at your appearance, satisfied with your look as you slipped your black heels back onto your feet.  Grabbing your phone and slipping it into a secret pocket of your dress, you left your room, easily slipping into the elevator you became lightly accustomed to, and headed for the lobby.  

You walked out of the elevator, slightly speed walking to the door when Charlie rushed to you, a grin plastered onto her face.

"Hi! Good morning! How was your first night?" You smiled at her, "It was wonderful Charlie, I swear you gave me a suite, I slept so good."

She grinned at you, slightly nodding along with your words, "I'm so glad you liked it!" She held your hand in hers for a moment, giving it a soft pat before asking you a question, "Oh! and where exactly are you going? It's only seven."

You laughed a bit at the time, you didn't even realize you woke up so early it must have been from going to bed early as well.

"I thought I'd get a head start by going to grab my things at my old apartment," you explained, gaining an understanding nod from her.

"Oh alright, don't be too long now!" you smiled as a response as you walked out of the hotel, taking a deep breath of fresh air, only to quickly climb into a cab you called down.

---

"Last bag," you guffawed, thanking your gab driver with a handsome tip as he helped you with your final bag of possessions.  It had taken nearly half the day, but you managed to pack up your entire apartment, that was fairly sparse to begin with, and everything else that you threw out.  

You walk into the hotel with quite a few bags only to be greeted by Charlie.

"Oh, y/n! let me help you with that!"

"Charlie! You couldn't possibly, I-"

Alastor swiftly interrupted the exchange with a snap, sending all of your bags to your room, only managing to give him a nervous smile as thanks.

He laughed at your small expression, while Charlie quietly thanked him, quickly turning her attention back to you.

She began to ramble on about her day, and asking you genuine questions about how you were, and  you would have listened, you really would have, but while Alastor had been helping you, you noticed Husk, out of all the demons, working the bar.  A tangible feeling of sadness emanated from his gruff being, and you wanted nothing more in that moment to just, talk to him. You only wanted to-

"y/n?"

Charlie snapped you out of your thoughts.

"Oh! Charlie," you laughed, a bit embarrassed, "sorry, I was just uh," you glanced at the cat demon, "a little distracted. But please, do go on."

She smiled a bit nervously at you, but escorted you to your room nonetheless, finally giving you the chance to hear her without your little distraction.

"Well, It's been a pleasure talking to you." you smiled.

"It sure has! See you for dinner?" she bounced on her toes

"Oh, I'm afraid not, I'll be going to a show tonight."

Her smile faltered slightly, "That's fine, I hope you have fun."

She skipped away to the elevator, swiftly walking in and leaving you in your door way.

"I sure hope I do."

[hegemoneapple]

Basilisk Eyes: Chapter 21: Magnolia Road Park

Crossposted: Basilisk Eyes by Hegemone | Completed: Chapter 21 out of 157 | T | AO3 | FFN | WATT | HPFF

Summary: As Harry Potter slays the Basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets, blood and venom get in his eyes, mostly blinding him. While Harry learns to adapt, he makes some new friends. But this is more than a story of adaptation and friendship as there are threats... and Harry isn't the only one with a past that haunts him.

oO0OooO0OooO0OooO0Oo

Harry hurried up the stairs—he was still getting used to the staff and he had to think carefully as he said the navigation spell so that he pronounced it precisely and thought carefully about where he was going. It definitely made him feel more confident moving around the space outside his room. Before he put everything he’d had stored under the floorboards in his room into the storage compartment of the staff, he tried using the summoning charm to remove some items.

What if I can’t get them out? 

He was still struggling with the summoning charm, but eventually, he was able to summon his charms book, his wand, the invisibility cloak, and his broom. He returned all of them to the compartment, though he spent a bit of time just feeling his broom as he leaned against his bed. He loved the heft of it, the feel of the grain against his fingertips and longed to try flying, but resisted the urge—sure that the Ministry of Magic would show up if he started flying around Little Whinging. Maybe he and Ron could try out flying this summer at the Burrow. Maybe he could escape there for a bit.

Finally, he returned the broom to the compartment and then felt around in the floorboards for the other items he had stored there. He found the bit of parchment that Healer Smethwyck had given to Madam Pomfrey and grabbed the anagnóstis to read it.

“Adaptation Course at 56 Charing Cross Road, London.

Adaptation Residency: 29th of June through 30th of July, 1993.

Registration on the 29th of June at 9 am. Questions, contact Healer Jordan at the Residency by Owl.”

Harry sat back and sucked in a deep breath. This meant that he only had to make it through Saturday and Sunday and then he could leave the Dursleys for a month! Maybe after the training, he could go to the Burrow instead of returning to Privet Drive (on my birthday!). He held onto the note hardly daring to breathe. 

It is a ticket out of here! 

He didn’t care what kind of training it was, it was away from Dudders, Vile Vernon, and endless chores. He felt like he was floating! He listened to the message a few times to commit the address to memory. If he had to walk there on his own, he’d do it.

Next, he listened to Professor Dumbledore’s message to Aunt Petunia—it was very much like the letter Dumbledore had sent to Harry—and a little subdued, he put it and the rest of the items from under his bed in his staff, pushing away his fears that he’d not be allowed back at Hogwarts.

He tried out minimizing the staff and using it in his pocket—it was a nice feature—rather like having Nio hus cherio kisa wrapped around his neck, but not nearly as comforting or companionable. He restored it to its normal size to go to the park because he felt more confident feeling the ground with it. It was only 2:30 pm—surely he had time to get out for a little bit. He could listen to the other leaflets later. Also, he had planned to use the time to learn how to navigate around the house without reaching with his hands, and now he could simply put the staff in his pocket and listen to the directions.

Maybe Dudley won’t notice that I’m blind. He is pretty dense.

As he was heading down the stairs, the doorbell rang.

Harry froze on the steps. Who could it be? He was tempted to pretend that he wasn’t home, but it was likely that whoever it was had already seen him descending the stairs through the window by the door. A very clean window!

He walked slowly down the rest of the stairs and opened the door, “Hello?” he asked to the space outside the door. He was still holding his staff and remembered the directions for a description of the space around him. He held it off the floor and squeezed it firmly twice and the voice in his head started describing the doorway and front porch… “and a short older woman with wispy gray hair wearing a worn purple housecoat and carrying a grocery bag on her right arm.” He squeezed it again so that the voice was silenced.

“Mrs. Figg?”

“Harry, how are you?” she asked, worry lacing her voice.

“I’m okay, Mrs. Figg. Thank you. My Aunt and Uncle are gone, they are getting Dudley from Smeltings.”

“I know. That’s why I came over now. I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

“The Dursleys said I couldn’t let anyone in the house while they were gone.”

“It’s okay, Harry. I understand. Maybe you can come outside?”

“Sure, I think that would be okay,” said Harry. He started opening the door wider so that he could go out, closing his eyes against the bright sunlight.

“Why do you have a white cane, Harry? And sunglasses?”

I guess the Muggle disguise for the staff works.

“I got some…er… stuff… in my eyes at school. I can’t see now,” he explained as he stepped onto the front porch.  

“Oh. Dear. That’s awful. When will it clear up?” Mrs. Figg sounded jittery.

“Um. It’s permanent. No cure,” Harry said.

“What? Oh my. Well… is that why you have bruises on your face?”

“Yeah. I’ve been running into things,” he sighed. “But I’m figuring it out and on Monday I’m going to an Adaptation Training to learn how to get around better.”

“It’ll be okay,” he added as it sounded as though she was dissolving into tears.  

Better than digesting in the innards of a Basilisk…

He reached out a hand and found her housecoat sleeve and then placed his hand on her arm to soothe her.

“I was worried that your Uncle… well, when I saw those bruises on your face… well. He’s just such a sour mu- man,” she sniffed.

“I’m okay,” Harry said. “Thank you for checking on me, Mrs. Figg. It is really very nice of you.”

“Well, I better be going. Mr. Tibbs will be expecting his supper.” 

She shuffled off the porch steps and Harry listened to her steps as she walked away down the path and then out on the street toward her house. He waited there for a while and then squeezed the staff to listen to the surroundings. The staff didn’t mention anyone else on the street.

He wondered if he could get to the park without asking for directions from the staff. He knew the way, of course. He’d gone there on his own as often as he dared—it offered a bit of peace from Number 4 Privet Drive. 

But can I get there without seeing my way? Without seeing the Ash tree on the corner where I turn or the house with the funny lawn ornaments near the entrance to the park? 

He’d never really paid attention to how many streets he crossed on his way there, he just knew the way.

He used his staff to walk down the walkway, holding it at belly-button level and letting the arc swing out wider than he’d used it in the house. Tap, tap. Left foot, right foot. He reached the end of the walkway and could feel the difference in the paving stones. The staff described the Agapanthus and the curb. He turned left and walked toward the park, keeping to the side of the road. There were square stones along the gardens in the street, and he kept close to them, tapping them reassuringly as he made his way to the park. It seemed a lot farther than he remembered but guessed that was because this was the first time he’d done it with his eyes closed.

After walking for a bit he realized that he wasn’t entirely sure where he was. 

Have I gone past the house with the pink stone birdbath where there was an entrance to the park between houses? 

He decided to whisper, “Navigant park on Magnolia Road” to his staff and was relieved to listen to the confident voice guide him and especially when he reached a part of the road that had paving stones, uneven though they were. The staff warned him when he needed to step up. He wasn’t as far along as he thought he was.

A little dog surprised him, yapping out of nowhere, but the staff described a fence that kept him from charging, so he kept going.

He passed a hedgerow that smelled strongly of lilacs and inhaled the fragrance, remembering the purple blossoms and knowing he was nearly there. Then he could hear the shrieking chains of the swings and the rhythmic pounding of the see-saw and children squealing in delight as they ran around the play structures.

He’d made it. He felt a sense of accomplishment. And he felt a bit exposed in the park. He hadn’t really thought through the fact that there would be moms and children too young to be at school at the park and that soon primary would be out and more kids would be at the park. He did want to swing and swallowed his apprehension. He wondered if there was a free swing or if they were all occupied. 

He moved closer to the play structures, his staff’s tapping muffled by the grass. The uneven ground was harder to move across—he had to go more slowly and the staff wasn’t really good at describing the bumpy terrain adequately. He reached the sand that surrounded the play equipment.

He held up the staff and squeezed it and learned that there was a free swing directly in front of him, just a few feet away, so he walked toward it.

“Duck!” The staff yelled, and he dropped to the sand—the staff flung to the ground, out of reach. He felt something graze over his head—some child in a swing, no doubt—just missing his head by a hair’s breadth.

“Oh my goodness, are you okay? How did you miss getting hit?” a motherly voice asked him, pulling him up by his elbow.

“I dunno,” Harry mumbled. “I just wanted to swing a bit.”

“Oh, are you blind, dear?” she asked as she brushed sand off his jeans.

“Er, I guess so,” Harry said as she pressed his cane into his hand. “Thank you.”

“The swing is over here. Where are your parents? You’re not here alone, are you?”

“They are around,” Harry lied. Too many times he’d been questioned about his alone-status at the park—he knew he had to fib if he was going to be left alone. The Dursleys always took it out on him if someone started poking around too closely in their business.

She had pulled him over to the swings and put the chain in his hand. Harry minimized his cane and put it in his pocket hoping that what the leaflet had said about how it would appear to muggles was true.

He sat on the swing and leaned back, rocking gently back and forth until he was soaring a bit and it seemed like he’d left the earth for a while to roam among the clouds.

[fontiptoes]

Fic: I Was A Billion Little Pieces (’Till You Pulled Me Into Focus)

Fandom: Wonder Woman (2017)

Rating: General

Ships: Diana Prince/Steve Trevor

Summary: “Most things do…” Persephone says. “…gifts, however, tend to come for free.”

Wordcount: 2496

Where?: Under the cut or here on Ao3

“Love is like war – easy to begin, but very hard to stop.”

-H.L.Mencken

 XX

A dead man lives at the back of her mind, just beyond the edge of the wound that will never seal and he’s catching snowflakes in a memory that will never fade.

XX

In her dreams Diana is standing on a platform as if she were waiting for a train to arrive, even though some inexplicable feeling in the back of her mind tells her that no train will come.

In her dreams the train station is bare and empty, no squealing children, no whispered goodbyes and huffing engines. When she turns her head there’s but one other figure on the platform with her. It’s always the same person and it’s not who you might think.

Above the polished silver tracks stands a woman dressed in a tight leather skirt and a long sleeved purple blouse, her auburn hair tucked against the nape of her neck in a tight coil and her slender fingers wrapped around a slim cigarette.

The dream always ends like this: Diana opens her mouth to speak, to ask and the woman smirks and lifts her finger to her lips.

(Diana wakes to the blare of her alarm and blinks the sleep from her eyes, the dream peeling apart layer by layer. Outside her bedroom window a blue parrot tucks its beak under its wing.)

XX

This is the truth:  There’s a gaping hole somewhere in the middle of her chest. It’s there, because a hundred years ago Steve aimed a gun at a cargo bay full of deadly poison and she felt it in her own heart as she lay trapped by Ares, a scream tearing out of her throat.

She killed the God Of War, not for herself, but for the world and for the gods, for goodness and for humanity. She killed him, because it was her holy duty as an Amazon and she killed him because he took something from her that she’ll never replace.

After, Diana picks herself up from the ashes of the burning land her dead brother left and lets her eyes slide shut.

She closes her eyes and thinks It is done, Mother.

She closes her eyes and thinks The war has ended but it will never leave me.

Diana of Themyscira returns to London and calls herself Diana Prince.  Sometimes she’ll walk along the Thames and watch the people go about their lives after the war. She watches young children chase after yapping dogs and smiles. She watches men read their newspaper and women eat crumbling pastries with white lace gloves on their hands and she sips her coffee and allows herself to be proud of everything they have achieved. She sees a young man reaching for the hand of blushing girl and averts her eyes.

XX

The world calls her Wonder Woman and talks of her in awed whispers and hushed admiration.

XX

Time passes and she barely feels any of it. The war may have ended, but in its wake comes another, more gruesome and vicious than the first. She ends this one too, with grim determination and the ticking of a clock ringing in her ears.

XX

The woman at the train station is wearing an emerald green office dress and her hair falls down her shoulders in sleek waves. She takes a drag from her cigarette and smiles at Diana as the white smoke rises between them. She refuses to speak and Diana is growing frustrated, but when she inhales sharply the smoke smells of something heady and sweet, something Diana recognizes but can’t name.

The stranger cocks her head to the side and smiles expectantly.  

(Diana wakes with a start and realizes: almonds)

XX

The decades tick by and Diana adapts, more or less. She watches her (Steve’s) friends live their lifes. She sits in the front row when Sammy bows before the curtain falls. She listens to Charlie sing off-key and half-drunk with tears in bloodshot eyes. She exchanges letters with Etta and Chief and loses count somewhere along the way.  One by one they are all taken from and she remains endlessly helpless against the ongoing stream of time with a box full of memories under her bed.

Diana of Themyscira moves to Paris to forget. Diana Prince moves to Paris to build a life.

XX

Diana is sitting on the balcony of her Paris penthouse on a breezy April morning with a cup of tea in her left hand and the watch cradled against her collarbone in her right hand when it stops ticking. She doesn’t realize it at first, because the absence of a noise is always so much less striking than the presence of it. She opens her palm and reveals the stillness in it, another part of him forever lost to her. She weeps for it, as though he had fired that gun right there and right then.

(A hundred years later and the pain is still fresh and new, like a wound that won’t stop bleeding.)

XX

Diana looks at the woman with the auburn hair and something like long forgotten knowledge shivers its way back to the surface. She turns around and squares her shoulders, unafraid.  The woman on the platform raises an eyebrow as she lifts the cigarette to her lips.

“I know my own when I see them.” Diana says.

The woman throws her cigarette into the trackbed and smiles. “When the gods went to war they knew they wouldn’t return. It is foolish to engage in a war with war himself. Yet my husband followed his brother’s call into battle and perished as the others did and when he did he left me to rule over his realm, for the underworld may never remain unguarded and the dead may never be left on their own.”

“Persephone…” Diana whispers to herself and the goddess smiles.

“I have come to deliver a gift.” Persephone says and suddenly the train station is gone. Diana turns her head and they are sitting on a porch in the middle of a field with roses and vines wrapping their way around the wooden posts of the fencing. Persephone sits in a gold plated chair, her loose hair studded with petals. A monkey with silver grey fur sits on her right shoulder and three large, black dogs lie at her feet, watchful.

Diana is in her armour, but without her shield. “What kind of a gift?”

“When the God Of War fell and you had brought the peace the gods had never hoped for…” Persephone says and rests her free hand on top of a dog’s head. Her other hand is holding a chalice of wine, so deeply red in colour that it almost leaves purple stains where it sloshes against the rim of the cup. “…there was no joy in your heart, no elation over the victory. There was just grief over something as fickle as human life. You grieved and you mourned and you wailed over the death of that man like you felt it as your own. You cried and I felt ashamed.”  

“Ashamed?” Diana echoes with a hollow laugh. “Do the gods deem me weak then?”

“The gods have never considered you weak, Diana of Themyscira, but the gods have deemed you wise enough to understand that the loss of a mortal life is no more meaningful than the death of a fly to the fabric of the universe, no more than a dot on the canvas of eternity. ” Says Persephone and lifts her chalice to her lips, watching her over the rim.

Diana clenches her fingers against the skin of her thighs, presses her eyes closed against the ache of the past and the stinging of tears. “What kind of gift did you come to deliver?” she repeats and opens her eyes.

“A hundred years have passed and your heart is still bleeding over that man. A hundred years have passed and you have recovered from every wound that has been inflicted upon you, but this one. ” Persephone smiles, tilting her head and when Diana was young her mother had told her that gods took joy in toying with human life and that their games were as cruel as they were wondersome and suddenly Diana understands every word of it. “I have come to tell you that what has been lost to you may be returned.”

Diana’s heart soars and drops. She swallows. “To what price?”

“Price?” The goddess asks.

“Everything comes with a price.”

“Most things do…” Persephone says. “…gifts, however, tend to come for free.”

(Diana wakes panting and sweating with her silk sheets tangled around her feet and her hair matted to her forehead and the back of her neck. She reaches under her pillow and retrieves Steve’s soundless watch, pressing it to her heart.)

XX

(She’s dying, she knows this. She may have been born from the blood of the gods, but not even she can lift the rubble on top of her. She closes her eyes for just one minute and all she sees is Steve’s endlessly blue eyes and a village in the middle of a war zone, snow falling heavily around them as they sway. She can almost feel his hands on her body and his breath on her skin where it stirs her hair, can almost smell the leather and the ash on his skin.

“Diana…” Steve says softly, his eyes catching hers and his fingers clenching at her waist. She smiles at him and reaches out to trace the shell of his ear with her fingertips.

“Steve, I…” she starts, but he interrupts her.

“Diana…” he repeats firmly with a sense of urgency. “…you can’t stay.”

She frowns, looking away, up at the broken church towering over his shoulder. “I don’t want to go back.”

Steve smiles sadly and brushes her hair back over her shoulder as he did all these years ago. “If you don’t return neither of us can.”

 She regains her wits with a gasp and goes on.)

XX

The air is cool and crisp, stars stretching above the city and the Eiffel Tower sparkles in the background. Diana just stopped a minor robbery, targeting a jewellery store and is now following the sound of a car alarm howling in the distance. She turns a corner and approaches the back of a man examining the blinking taillight of the car. She raises her shield and tilts her head, taking a step closer.

“Excuse me.” She says politely, in English and the man whirls around with his hands up, his lips moving around an apology Diana cannot hear, because all she hears is the blood rushing in her own ears, all she hears is the echo of a plane exploding one hundred years in the past.

Steve stops short, freezes where he stands and a single word falls from his lips.

“Diana…” He breathes, his blue, blue eyes filled with a yearning that resonates with the ache in her own heart. He takes a step in her direction and Diana shakes her head, staggers backwards.

(“All the gods have to give from their death bed is smoke and lies, my child.” Her mother says, an eternity ago, perched on the edge of her bed.)

“Diana.” Steve repeats louder, on a laugh and takes another step. Diana drops her shield and runs. She hears Steve calling her name from behind her, hears her own footfalls and is suddenly, painfully reminded of another occasion when their roles were reversed and he almost looked back, but didn’t. She doesn’t want to turn around and face the reality of it, an illusion sent by the gods perhaps, a cheap parlour trick and nothing but or a diversion fabricated by those who seek to see her gone. Her own past, twisted and used as a weapon. The only thing she can never struggle against staring in her face.

She rounds a corner and finds herself back on Persephone’s porch, panting and lost.

“You!” she seethes and points a finger in accusation. “What did you do?” One of the dogs stands up, growling and hackles raised, but Diana ignores it.  

“Why, my niece…” Persephone says calmly and silences the dog with a flick of her wrist. “…it seems to me that you need to learn some gratitude.”

“Gratitude?” Diana spits back at her and anger rises within her like water in a cave, like blood filling a fresh gunshot wound. “For mocking me?”

“Mocking you?” the goddess laughs and steps closer to her, a white rose cradled between her pale fingers. “Did I not tell you that I had a gift to give?”

“On what terms?”  Diana pants, desperation and hope winding around her heart, like the flowers growing around the fencing. “What do you expect me to give in return?”

“What could I ask of you, that you haven’t already given?” Persephone asks around a smile and the garden vanishes and Diana is left in the dark alleyway, high red brick walls lining the street on either side, the bustle of the city a faint noise in the background. Steve rounds the same corner that she did and stops short when he sees her standing there. He’s right there in the same uniform that he died in, panting with his left hand pressed to a stitch in his side. His right hand is holding her shield. Her heart clenches and jumps in her chest and everything inside her screams in hot, disbelieving joy.

“So…” he says and clears his throat as he keeps his distance. “…I’m not sure, if you’ll believe me, but that never happened to me before. Like, usually it takes between one and three seriously lousy pick-up lines until the girls take off running, but…uhm…” he trails off and stares at her, shrugging helplessly, something joyful and amazing shining in his eyes and reflecting in her heart.

“Steve…” Diana whispers, breathless and disbelieving, and steps closer, her own footfalls against the cobblestone street lost to her ears, the world around them moving impossibly slow and impossibly fast at the same time as it loses any kind of significance to her.  His eyes stay locked on hers as he waits for her to approach. A sudden, broken noise somewhere between a wail and a laugh escapes her mouth as she delicately touches the tips of her fingers to his jaw, sliding up to thread them into his hair, her hands framing his face. He shudders, the shield falling between them, as his own hands come up to cup her elbows, his whole body falling forward to bury his face in the slope of her shoulder.

Steve mouths her name into the side of her neck in breathless wonder and she is home.

XX

A dead man lives in her polished Paris apartment and he’s cooking pancakes in a kitchen he hasn’t fully puzzled out yet.

[starryrein143]

Oblivious

Oblivious [NaLu Oneshot] By: StarryRein143

Description: Natsu and Lucy had been dating for 3 months now, though the guild doesn’t know about it. They maintained a low profile and hid it from plain sight. They’re doing a good job since not a single soul had caught them. They do enjoy their private moments, although they really want to come out of the dark and tell everyone. One shot.. NaLu

Lucy’s POV

Our first three months passed by like a blur. It was wonderful and surely new. Who would have thought that Natsu ‘Salamander’ Dragneel was actually sweet and romantic in his own little way? Believe it or not, he’s actually the sweetest guy i’ve met in my entire life. He proven that on our first monthsary. It surely was our most memorable, though the other two was equally fun and romantic. I didn’t prepare anything grand that day. I only had with me was a home made cake and i wasn’t really expecting anything in return. I wouldn’t be shocked if he forgot our monthsary. But God, i was wrong. I went by his house at 3pm, it was locked and the only thing i saw was a note sticked on his door, telling me to go back to my apartment and prepare.

I was clueless and confused. Prepare? For what? Annoyed by the unsolved mystery, i went home and just then i realized what he meant. On my bed was a box, with another note attached to it. It told me to wear the dress and shoes he brought with me and be ready by 6 pm. I was shocked. Did he planned this? That was all i can think of when i was preparing that night. The dress he brought was a knee-length off-shoulder pink dress with ruffles at the end and a pair of pink flats. Did he pick this by himself or did he had help? That was left unanswered even when he fetched me at exactly 6. Natsu was standing at my doorway, wearing a white ¾ shirt, pink necktie, black slacks and dress shoes. He looked handsome, especially with the bouquet he was carrying. I asked him where we were going but was answered with a smirk and a kiss on the forehead. That night, he brought me to the Rainbow Sakura Park. Under the same tree he uprooted was a candle light dinner. It was romantic. Having a dater under a rainbow sakura tree that was glistening in different colors for our first monthsary never crossed my mind. It was beyond sweet.

Our next two months, he didn’t failed to surprise me. Our second mothsary, we had a small picnic under the stars. We just talked and laughed while stargazing and eating that night. It was amazing. Third monthsary, he brought me to Hargeon, the place where we met. We ate at the same restaurant from before. But what truly made my day was when we went swimming. It was fun. It only proved that Natsu value our memories together.

The 3 months we are together was one of the best months of my life. We did fought and had quarrels. But we made it a habit to not wait for the next day to make up. Before we sleep, we make sure we already are truce and raised the white flag. We do love to fight, just not eachother. But would you believe me if i told you not a single sould knows about our romantic relationship? Not Happy nor Levy. No one knows that Natsu and I are together. They still think we haven’t passed the dense stage. But what’s funny was the fact that they set us up to 'help’ us. If only they knew..

“..cy? Luce?” I snapped back to reality when i heard Natsu call out to me. We were at my apartment. Just the two of us, Happy was nowhere to be seen. Probably, he’s with Carla again.

“Huh? Yeah?” I looked at him, clueless but he only chuckled. He patted the space next to him as if telling me to sit beside him. I raised an eyebrow but did as told. I let out a small squeak when he suddenly pulled me to him. Now, i was sitting on his lap, with his arms around me. Sighing, i wrapped my arms around his torso and rested my head on his chest.

“You seem to be deep in thought. What is my Lucy thinking? ” he rested his chin on top of my head and played with my hair.

“Nothing important. Just the past 3 months. I never thought we would stay this long with no one knowing nor noticing.” I heard him sigh and pulled away slightly. He rested his forehead on mine and closed his eyes.

“Yeah.”

“Do you want to tell them?”

“Do you? Honestly, i like it how we spend together, just the two of us. No pressure, no eyes to judge or watch us. But it’s really frustrating sometimes. We can’t be this intimate or sweet infront of others. I can’t hold you this close nor kiss you in the guild or when we’re with someone.” Chuckling. I pinched Natsu’s cheeks. This side of him never fails to surprise me.

“let’s tell them then.”

“Alright. But we have to do it my way.” I can’t help but raise an eyebrow at him seeing him smirk mischievously.

“What are you planning?”

“Just an interesting prank. You in?” I can’t help but wonder how this is all gonna end.

~∞~

Normal POV

Natsu and Lucy entered the guild, laughing rather loudly which caught almost everyone’s attention. The Fairy Tail Mages stared dumbfounded at the duo who had ignored them and seemed trapped on their own little world. All are shocked. No one dared to say a word. They don’t know how to react. They don’t know which one was more shocking; that Lucy was laughing whole-heartedly while Natsu was grinning widely or that the blonde had the dragonslayer’s most precious possession, his scarf, wrapped around her neck.

“What the hell?” The ice mage muttered as he stared wide eyed at the two. As if hearing him, the duo snapped out of their trance and looked around the guild almost questioningly. They locked gazes once again before shrugging, clueless. They high fived each other before going their seperate ways. Natsu to Happy, Carla, Gray and Wendy while Lucy to Levy, Cana and Mira.

“The hell are you looking at Ice Freak?” This remark seemed to awaken the dazed raven haired. Gray blinked multiple times and shifted his eyes between Lucy and Natsu.

“Would you mind telling us what your planning, Flame Brain?”

“What are you talking about, Ice Princes?!”

“Err.. Natsu-san, what Gray-san means is, what is y-your real relationship with L-Lucy-san?”

“Eh?”

“Hmm, thought so. You would play the innocent and dense card, aye? Then tell us, why is Lucy wearing your scarf?” Gray pried even more which just earned a scowl from the cherry haired pyro.

“None of your God damned business, yah perverted exhibitionist! she was complaining that she was cold when we were on our way here. So, i lend her my scarf to keep her warm. No big deal.”

“No big deal?! NO BIG DEAL?! ARE YOU FREAKIN’ KIDDING ME, DRAGNEEL?!” Apparently, Gray’s sudden outburst caught everyone’s attention.

“Woah, hold your horses! I don’t even know why your mad.”

“URGH! I SWEAR! YOUR THE MOST IDIOTIC, STUPID, MORONIC AND DENSE GUY I KNOW! CAN’T YOU TAKE A HINT?! FOR THE LOVE OF—I’M SO TIRED OF WATCHING YOU AND LUCY ACT SO HELPLESSLY INLOVE BUT REMAIN FRIENDS SINCE YOUR TOO MUCH OF A COWARD TO CONFESS!” The ice mage’s small speech received multiple shouts of agreement and opinions. The two mages in question looked at each other, shrugging but what everyone missed was the mischievous glint on the secret couple’s eyes.

“Geez.. what got your panties twisted, Ice Pick? Or are you on your monthly period?” The pyromaniac mocked which angered the molding mage even more.

“DIDN’T YOU JUST HEARD WHAT I SAID?! I’M TALKING ABO-”

“I heard you the first time, ugly stripper. Before you go sticking your nose on other people’s business, why don’t you face your own problems?! You don’t have the right to lecture me about confessing cause the last time i checked, you haven’t told Juvia about your feelings.” The ice mage took a step back as his face flushed in embarrassment. To his luck, the mentioned Water Mage wasn’t in the guild. She was out on a solo mission.

“The hell are you yapping about, Fire Breath?!”

“And you call me dense? Tch. Go bother someone else, Stripper. Me and Lucy are going on a mission. ” with that being said, the pyro jogged his way towards the request board, many eyes following his every movement. The dragonslayer scanned the board before ripping out a specific paper that caught his interest. Natsu grinned and ran over to the blonde. He waved the paper infront of her almost enthusiastically. Getting what he meant, Lucy grinned and nodded at him. They both laughed, which earned them confused gazes.

“Mira!” Natsu’s shout startled the dazed barmaid. The white haired beauty tensed and but managed to put on a smile.

“What i-is it?”

“We’re going on a job! Just me and Lucy this time since she’s short on rent money.”

“Is that so? But why just the two of you? If it’s for rent money, would it be much better to take a harder mission with greater pay and bring a team to help out?”

“Not this time. I want some alone time with my girlfriend since you all kept on stealing her from me! We can’t have any alone time anymore! That’s why i’m stealing her.” This earned him multiple gasps and reactions. The pyro smirked and swooped down to place a chaste kiss on the blonde’s lips. The Celestial Mage shrieked at the contact. Natsu pulled away and grinned before completely facing the stunned guild.

“LISTEN UP, IDIOTS! ME AND LUCY ARE DATING! FOR 3 MONTHS NOW, ACTUALLY! SO, IF SOMEONE DARES TO MAKE A MOVE OR EVEN ATTEMPT TO STEAL MY GIRL, I’LL BURN YOU TO ASHES! AM I CLEAR?!” not specifically waiting for an answer, Natsu leaned down to place another kiss on the blonde’s lips before he carried her bridal style and ran out of the guild. The whole guild had their mouths open witnessing Natsu’s declaration.

“D-Did he just say 3 m-months?”

“That freakin’ Fire Lizard made us look stupid trying to pair him up with Lucy when all this time, they’re already together!”

“NATSU!”

***

I made this a while back and had posted it on a different website. Hope you liked it! 😂😘