#Yeah wasn't it nice when you still hung out with someone you basically wanted to platonically marry? Sucks that doesn't happen anymore huh.

[pixesemma]

I dreamt of my former best friend today and woke up crying. She froze me out of her life 2 years ago and I still don't understand why. I can take emotional distance from anything else yet this creeps up on me once in a while to ruin my day.

[lokiswifeduh]

Long Night

Pairings - Roommate!tfatws!Bucky x Fem!Roommate!Reader

Summary - You've been stood up twice in a row now. Bucky is tired of seeing you disappointed. So he takes you on a date.

Warnings - angst, being stood up, angry/annoyed bucky

Notes - I'm horrible at summaries, I know!! This happened to me a couple days ago, wishing I had a Bucky to take me on a date in Brooklyn right about now! Not proofread so lmk if there are any mistakes! Thank you for reading loves!!

WC - 1,750

masterlist

"Whatcha gettin' ready for, doll?" Bucky leaned on your bedroom doorframe, watching you straighten your hair in the mirror on top of your dresser.

"I have a date." You smiled, not noticing the slight drop in Bucky's smile.

"Oh, with anyone I know?"

You shook your head. "His name's Nash. Someone Sam set me up with," You explained. "He's supposed to pick me up in twenty minutes."

Bucky internally rolled his eyes. The guys Sam hung around with were nice, yes. However, he never got the guts to take you out on the date you deserved. A date with him.

"Are you sure you want him picking you up?" Bucky asked, making you look back in confusion. "I mean you don't know him that well... You could meet him there or uh, I'll drop you off." You let out a small laugh, "Yeah Buck, I'll just have my male roommate drop me off at a date, that'll go over well."

Bucky shrugged. He walked away from your bedroom to grab a beer from the fridge before sitting on the couch. He turned on whatever channel didn't require him to use the remote too much before slouching into the cushions.

Twenty minutes passed by when you slipped out of your bedroom, shutting the door behind you.

"Wow, doll. You.." Bucky's eyes widened slightly, "You look great."

You grinned, looking down at your outfit. It was basic but it was the most comfortable yet fashionable outfit you had. Black flared leggings with a sage green sweater and some white sneakers. It was simple yet appropriate for a late-night-diner date.

And to top it all off your makeup had cooperated for once. Both eyebrows looked like twins and not sisters. Your highlight was perfect, shimmering, but not too much. And you had the perfect lipgloss that made your lips look sunkissed. Perfect.

"He should be here any minute!" You sprayed some perfume, your favorite vanilla scent, and went to sit in the armchair across from the couch.

Bucky hummed, keeping his eyes on the Tv, taking another sip of beer.

However, twenty more minutes went by and Nash hadn't texted you, hadn't called, and hadn't shown up. Bucky was starting to feel bad and you could tell by the pity looks he kept throwing your way.

"He uhm," Bucky cleared his throat, "Maybe he hit traffic. You know, with it being New York and everything." You nodded, trying to hold onto at least a small bit of hope. "Yeah, traffic." But then another forty minutes went by and he still hadn't even texted.

And then another hour.

And another hour.

By the time Bucky finally turned off the Tv it was three and a half hours since the time Nash was supposed to come pick you up.

You were still sitting in the armchair, having dozed off with a couple tears streaked down your face. Ruining your once-perfect makeup.

Bucky sighed, silently cursing Sam even though he knew it wasn't his fault.

"Alright, doll," Bucky whispered, placing his metal arm behind your back, and lifting your legs with his right. You groaned awake, holding your phone in your palm as you wiped your cheek. "What time is it?" Your eyes shoot open, "Did he show up?" Bucky placed you in your bed, handing you one of his t-shirts you had stolen a while ago. "No, doll. I'm sorry." You stripped your shirt off to change as Bucky went into your bathroom, grabbing a couple of makeup wipes.

"Here." He softly spoke, hating your distraught and disappointed expression.

You wiped your makeup off, shedding a couple more tears in the process. The tears dripped from your cheek to the grey henley Bucky had given you. "It's okay. Maybe he was just busy." Bucky wanted to roll his eyes. He wanted to tell you that any respectful man, any gentleman wouldn't have done what Nash did to you. But he kept his mouth shut, opting to hum in your favor, and threw the makeup wipes in the trash when your face was completely bare.

"Goodnight, Doll." He placed a kiss on the crown of your head as you hummed in response. "Goodnight, Buck."

---

A couple days later, you finally got a text back from Nash.

"Bucky I was right!!" You came sliding into the kitchen, your socks making it easy to ice-skate on the smooth wood floor.

Bucky chuckled at your ability to skid so gracefully without falling. He had tried it once but vowed to never do it again after he slid into the dining room table. You would never let him live it down.

"Right about what, doll?" Bucky flipped the pancake, adding some vanilla to the dough.

"About Nash! He actually was busy!" Bucky quirked an eyebrow. Wondering why he had waited this long to text you back. Six days to be exact. "Did he say with what?" Bucky turned back to making breakfast.

"He said he got busy with work, and that something at work pissed him off so he didn't wanna see me while he was upset." You explained what Nash had told you.

Bucky had never wanted to hit someone in the face so hard.

Well, actually that wasn't true. But he did want to sock Nash in the face for standing you up and giving you a half-ass excuse days later.

"I mean that explains things, yeah..." Your brows furrowed at Bucky's flat tone. "Do you not believe it?" Bucky sighed, pulling the milk and eggs from the fridge as you sat on the countertop. "It's not that I don't believe it, it's just that it kinda seems like he forgot and or didn't wanna see you so he made up an excuse a little less than a week later to not seem like a dick." You nodded, taking in the information. Bucky couldn't sense your reaction quite yet, seeing how you were just staring at the ground with your hands in your lap, swinging your legs in the air.

"I mean, I'm seeing him tonight. If everything goes well after then I'll know it really was true."

"You're seeing him again?" You nod, "But this time I'm meeting him at the fourth corner Bakery. And I'm meeting him earlier this time, around noon."

Bucky looked over at the clock, seeing it was already 10:45. "Well you better go get ready," He said almost reluctantly, "Breakfast will be done before you need to leave."

You smiled, hopping off the countertop as you gave Bucky a quick kiss on the cheek. "Thanks, Buck. You're the best!"

He smiled, but then remembered he's only making you breakfast before you go on a date with a guy who's already stood you up once. Rolling his eyes, he scrambled the eyes, listening to your music in the other room.

---

You had already left for your date three hours ago when Bucky decided to go over to see Sam. His excuse was wanting to discuss the next mission they were due to go on in a week. But he just didn't want to sit at home all day, thinking about how you were on a date with another guy.

However, before he could reach Sam's he had to pass by the bakery where you were meeting Nash.

Yet when he looked through the window, there you were, sitting all alone at a table for two, eating a piece of cheesecake. No Nash in sight.

An internal war started in Bucky's mind. Should he go in and see if you were okay? Or should he believe Nash was in the bathroom and you were just sitting by yourself for a minute or two?

But then he noticed the solemn look on your face. The way your fork poked at the half-eaten cake. And that was your favorite kind. Bucky mumbled a soft curse, opening the door to the bakery and making his way over to you.

Without words, he sat down, his gloved hand resting on the table in front of your plate. You kept your head down, not quite looking at Bucky but knowing he was there.

"He didn't show, again." You mumbled. If Bucky didn't have super soldier hearing he doubted he could've heard what you had said.

"I know, doll. I'm sorry." You finally looked up, tears in your eyes which made Bucky's heart clench. "Why me, Buck? Why am I the one who's alone?" Bucky stayed silent, knowing you needed to vent.

"Am I unlovable? Is that what it is? Why does every single one of my friends get to find the one? Get to fall in love, get married, and have kids and I'm the one without someone?!" Your outburst made some other customers look over in concern.

You groaned, resting your head on your hand and hiding your face from the rest of the bakery. "I- uh, I'm not sure, doll. But I know one thing.. you're not unlovable. You just haven't found the one who wants to take the effort to show you how effortless you are to love."

You looked up at Bucky, fresh tears gleaming in your eyes. You had never seen him look so vulnerable before. He usually grumped his way through emotions. But not with you, not anymore.

He gave you a sad smile, clearing his throat before he stood, "Y'know what, doll. Let's go." He held out his hand. You looked around, "Where are we going?" Bucky took your palm in his gloved hand, "It's a surprise." You laughed, before standing and throwing the rest of your soggy cheesecake away. "You know how I feel about surprises." "Okay, I'll give you a hint." Bucky opened the door for you, making sure to walk on the side of the road with the bustling cars and traffic. Bucky called a taxi, opening the door for you. "You're about to have the best date of your life." You stared at him in awe before laughing and climbing in the taxi. Bucky's knees barely fit as he scooted in next to you. The driver asked where to go as Bucky licked his lips, "Brooklyn, please." You smiled, "Brooklyn?"

Bucky nodded, throwing an arm around your shoulder. "I may be old but I still know some good spots to take my best girl on a date." A blush rose to your cheeks as you looked over to him. "Your best girl?" Bucky nodded, picking up your hand with his metal one before leaving a soft kiss on your knuckles. "Always and forever, doll."

---

masterlist

[wosoluver]

Jealousy

Part 2 - previous

Lena Oberdorf x reader

Lena Oberdorf Masterlist

──✩₊⁺⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧──

Lena's pov

"Morning" I said coming into the locker room the next day. I look around, but I don't see Y/N. Not seeing Ana either, drives me to conclude they are together and already outside.

"You look a bit shitty, no offense." says Giulia.

"Saying 'no offense' after saying the rudest thing ever does not make it less offensive."

"See you didn't get much sleep last night." Lea says, she knows me too well.

"Yeah, I was doing a lot of thinking... and feeling, I guess."

"Want to talk about it?"

"After training?"

She only nodded, walking next to me towards the field.

──✩₊⁺⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧──

We stayed back after training, with the excuse of training penalty shots.

"So?"

"hm, it's not that simple to get out."

"Is it about Y/N?"

"How'd you know?" I ask, lips parted a bit shocked.

She simply laughs, which feels a bit like a mock. Making me twist my brows questionably.

"You're really are oblivious about it! Klara was right!"

"You guys were talking about us?"

"Yeah, at Syd's the other day! Y/N had just defended you, and you basically shut her down. You do that all the time. Every time she tries to hit on you actually."

"She doesn't hit on me! I'm pretty sure she only sees me as a friend. That's exactly what I wanted to talk about."

"As a friend?" she said in an outrageous tone. "Your joking right? She religiously does your hair every game. You want to drive her everywhere and won't take a no for an answer, which is fine because she never puts up a fight anyway. She literally said she will marry you. She looks at you, like you hung up the moon and the stars?!

You go out everyday after training as 'friends' but have never actually bothered to invite your other friends. I think you really only got bothered once she invited someone else to come a long, because you knew this isn't a 'just friends' things.

You are bothered because she invited Ana to do something you consider to be extra friendly. Wondering 'what if she is doing romantic things with someone else?'.

Am I right or am I right?"

I felt tears come to my eyes. She described what I felt, but couldn't understand what it was. And I was angry in a way, with myself, for taking so long to notice.

"No need to cry babes." she said coming to hug me. "We cry when we have feelings that aren't reciprocated. You're so lucky, that girl is in love with you. And I really think she would like to hear how you feel."

I nodded quietly. After a couple minutes, in silence we go back inside.

Walking in, Y/N was sitting peacefully on her phone.

"Hey, what are you still doing here?" she looked up at me.

"Just waiting for you, so we can go for a snack." with the same kind smile she always had, on.

"I'll be quick in the shower."

Walking into the showers I was met with a grinning Lea.

"I told you."

──✩₊⁺⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧──

Sitting in the usual spot we always did, I noticed for the first time the way she look at me. And maybe, just maybe the twinkle in her eyes, that I noticed very so often, was a sign of her adoration, that I've read wrong all along.

"You were crying..." it wasn't even a question, more of an statement.

"Not too much. I realized, I might have nothing to cry about."

"How's Ana settling in?" I cowardly change the subject.

"Good, I think she's really getting along with the new girl that arrived this week. Tainara, I think that's her name. It's nice to see, I know we didn't have much in common either.

Just didn't want her to go through what I did many times. Of arriving somewhere and feeling lonely and having a hard time making friends."

"I think it's lovely that you think so much about others. Wish I was more like that."

"You are one of the most considerate people I know."

"I'm so sorry."

"What? Why are you saying this?"

"Because I haven't been considerate with your feelings. I have made many mistakes, turning you down. I was unfair, but I swear it was never intentional." she reached across the table to place one of her hands on my cheek, holding it affectionately, as I lean on it.

"I know. That's the only reason I'm still here. You may have denied with words but your actions never lied." She caressed me softly.

"Do you really think I will be a cute granny?" she looked at me questionably.

"I will always think you're cute." and like it did many times before, her words made my stomach turn in excitement.

"Good. Because I want to grow old with you. I love you Y/N."

"I love you, Lena."

──✩₊⁺⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧──

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[strwbmei]

summary: fucking march's fever out of her

contains: soft sex, friends to lovers at the end, fingering (character receiving), arguably dubcon since march is sick, sort of porn with plot?, virgin march, not proofread, maybe ooc

pairing(s): march 7th x gn!reader

a/n: i need to spoil her and take care of her and eat her out. thank you

"Cute girls can't get sick!"

Or so, were March's last words before diving straight onto the freezing snow of Belobog and proceeding to make snow angels. It had been a long time since the Express had the time to visit Jarilo VI, and while you understood her excitement, her decisions, as expected, did not end well for either of you.

A few days later, March is still sick and you're taking care of her while the other Nameless enjoy their visit to Belobog. "[Name]..." She called out to you with a whiny voice, her lips put into a pout. "Don't you think it's fine for me to go down to Belobog now? Look, I'm basically fully healed!" She sat up from her bed, doing air punches as if that would prove that her fever was gone.

"Pfft..." You snorted. "What are you even doing? And no, I'm not letting you go anywhere until your temperature is back to normal." You say sternly, sitting down next to her. "I'm sorry, March. I know you were really looking forward to visiting Belobog again, but your health comes first."

She slumps in defeat as she lays back down on her side, her back turned to you. "Fine... I enjoy spending time with you like this more, anyway." She mumbled, but due to how quiet her voice was, you only heard the first part. "Sorry, what was that?"

"Nothing." March sighs, turning to face you with her rabbit stuffy clutched in her hands. "Hey, uh... I'm sorry you have to stay behind with me. I really wanted to show you my favorite spots in Belobog."

You tilt your head, resting the back of your hand on her forehead to feel her temperature. "You sure you're alright? You're being way too nice today." You tease. She pouts, playfully swatting your hand away. "Hey! And here I was trying to be considerate..."

You chuckle at her reaction. "Y'know, you're surprisingly pretty cute when you're sick."

"Well, for your information, I'm perfectly cute even when I'm not sick!" She retorts.

"Yeah, yeah."

In all seriousness, taking care of her wasn't an inconvenience to you in the slightest. She was surprisingly cooperative, and you'd be lying if you said that you didn't enjoy how much more clingy and affectionate she is when she's sick. After all, you've had feelings for her for quite a while now... Her bubbly personality and her admittedly cute looks just seemed to draw you in more and more each day.

March speaks up after a few seconds of silence. "Can I ask you for a favor, [Name]?"

"What is it?" You tilt your head in curiosity.

"Can you... cuddle with me?"

"Hm." You raised an eyebrow. Honestly, you expected something more serious. Cuddling was almost routine to the two of you whenever you hung out, especially during sleepovers when March would cling to you in her sleep like you were a pillow. You never minded. In fact, you've grown to like it.

Not once did she ask first, though. "Why?" You ask with a grin, ready to play it off as a joke. You're not sure what you were expecting, since it was a stupid question in the first place. Cuddling wasn't out of the norm for you two, and you wouldn't be surprised if she was the type to find comfort in snuggling with somebody whenever she was sick.

"Because I miss your touch..." She says in a voice barely above a whisper, yet one that you could hear in her now silent room where it felt like nothing else mattered other than the two of you. "Oh." You gulp, feeling the blood rush to your cheeks as soon as she says those words.

Meanwhile, March wants to dig herself into a hole and die. She wasn't supposed to say that out loud, and you were much less supposed to blush! She's surprisingly oblivious for someone so observant when it comes to you, so she never even considered the possibility that you might return her feelings...

However, you best believe she'll be putting out all of the stops if there is a chance that you do, in fact, like her back.

"You don't want to? Fine..." She pouts, and your train of thought is broken once she looks up at you with those eyes that you've always loved, oh so needily... "No- no, I mean, yeah, I'd... love to cuddle with you." You splurt out, stumbling all over your words.

Which is how you ended up in this situation: her body pressed up against yours in a way that isn't appropriate for friends. She might be sick, sure, but she's almost fully healed and there's no way she'd be doing this unintentionally... right?

After a few seconds of contemplation, you decide to speak up. "We shouldn't be doing this, March." You say, your voice soft and barely loud enough for her to hear. "Mm..." She pays no heed to your words, instead opting to wrap her arms around you even tighter if that were even possible.

You gulp. She understands what you mean, right? Maybe you're just reading too much into her actions? Your mouth moves faster than your brain can, and you speak without realizing it. "You're driving me insane."

"...If I'm such a bad influence, maybe you should put me in my place."

She whispers with an almost seductive tone that you've never heard her use before, and you have to take a second to process if you really heard her say that. She knows what she's doing. Has she always been this bold, or is this how she usually gets with everyone every time she's sick? God, you hope that it's just with you.

You roll over to position yourself on top of her, your arms now on either side of her head as the mattress dips under the two of you. "Are you sure that you want this?" She giggles at your question, wrapping her arms around the back of your neck and pulling you into a soft, yet hungry kiss as if she'd been ready for this her whole life.

"Be gentle, okay?" She smiles once she finally pulls away, the room devoid of any other sound other than your heavy breathing and a silence that spoke volumes of the unresolved feelings you had for each other. "Just let me take care of you." You mutter as you leave a trail of soft kisses along her jaw and collarbones, your hand reaching out for the waistband of her pink pajamas. "May I?"

She nods in response, turning her head to the side in an attempt to hide her reddened cheeks. "Pfft... You really are adorable." You mumble to yourself as you pull her pants along with her panties down to her knees. Your fingers find themselves teasing her entrance, rubbing slow circles over her clit and occasionally collecting her slick.

"Mmpfh... I'm fine, [Name]. You can put it in now." As if sensing your worries that you were trying hard not to show, she spoke up. Although you've imagined this scenario multiple times before, you can't help but feel nervous. You want to make sure that her first time is as soft and as pleasurable as it can be.

"Tell me if it hurts, okay? Just relax." You say softly, carefully curling your index finger into her cunt and giving her a few seconds to adjust before pumping in and out at a slow pace. The small moans and whimpers she lets out are even better than you'd imagined. "A-ah... That feels good..."

As if on instinct, her hand reaches out for your free one; an act much too intimate for friends, but you indulge her nonetheless. Besides, the two of you have long since done things that most people would deem past the border of a platonic relationship. When did the line between friends and lovers start to blur?

"I've got you, pretty girl. I'm not going anywhere." You coo at her, the gentleness of your voice much in contrast to the quickening pace of your fingers.

Her eyes are fluttered shut. Her hair is sticking to her forehead. Her mouth is ever so slightly parted in an "o" shape. Truly, she is beautiful in every sense of the word. Beautiful like this; beautiful always. "Do you think you can take another finger, March?"

She nods almost too eagerly at your question. You slow down, whispering sweet nothings into her ear as you slowly insert a second finger and stretch her out even more. "That's it. You're doing so good, taking me so well..."

After a while, she starts grinding on your fingers, and you take that as a sign to go faster and give her more. The second you start rubbing and pressing down on her clit, she can feel herself nearing her orgasm. She looks up at you with doe eyes and squeezes your hand, and that's all it takes for the feelings you've been repressing all this time to break loose.

"I love you."

Before you can process what you said amid the sea of emotions you're feeling and apologize, she pulls you in for a kiss. Unlike before, this kiss is more tender and warm than lustful, as if she was trying to say that she loved you too. As if she had been waiting for you to say those words her whole life.

You swallow her moans and whimpers as she comes undone around your fingers, finally pulling away after what feels like an eternity. You wish that kiss would last an eternity. Hell, if it were up to you, that moment wouldn't end even after the seas had dried and there were no stars left in the vast skies that she loved so much.

Heavily breathing, you collapse beside her. "Uhm," You break the silence, albeit a little hesitantly. "I'm going to get you some water, and help wash you up if that's fine?" You're far too ashamed to look her in the eye after what you said.

She embraces you in her arms, and it's the safest you've felt your whole life. "Just a little bit more..." She nuzzles her head into your neck, inhaling your scent and holding you just a bit closer.

"I love you too, you big dummy."

╰┈➤ taglist ; @nbdaddykink , @roninraccoon , @sinsmockingbird , @fvrina , @commandercarbs , @sapphic-simp4015 , @truculentbantam , @vrachis , @dukemira , @arbiteriey , @krowbyss , @the-night-owl-blr

[davidkarofskyindie]

themysticcircle (Jackson/Marcus)

@themysticcircle continued from (x)

Hell. Jackson was the last person he wanted to see. His brother’s boyfriend. Well, he didn’t know for sure if they were still together. He’d distanced himself from his family so he hadn’t seen his brother in six months. And aside from that, Jackson’s instincts as a reporter were way too good. He’d gotten close to discovering his magic quite a few times. His brother’s powers were so weak he basically lived as a mortal but it was different for Marcus. “Hurry up and come in.” Marcus s reached inside the closet for a towel and started trying to pat his hair and face dry. He blushed and then handed the towel to Jackson. “Why the hell are you here? Shouldn’t you have gone to see my brother?” He briefly left to go to his room to grab some clothes and some sweatpants. I don’t have a shirt that will fit those muscles but these sweatpants should be fine.

Jackson slipped into his boyfriend's brother's home, trying hard not to most too much just so he didn't spread water everywhere. He didn't object when Marcus started drying his face, it was kind of nice to have a little kind touch from someone who he knew wasn't really fond of him. He had never really gotten along with his boyfriend's family, or specifically, it felt like they avoided him and it was a little confusing to Jackson why that might be happening. He took the towel when it was handed over and started drying up, getting all the exposed skin first before he tried to dry up whatever he could "I thought about it, believe me I did" he didn't know he wanted to go too far into what was happening with him and Marcus' brother "Honestly, your place was the closest one to where i was when the sky opened up and I figured it was time we tried to actually have a real relationship since we have someone in common we need to handle" he said, taking the sweatpants and smiling "I'll just go change... wring these dry in the sink, I'll be right back" he said with a little smile as he took the clothes offered to him and went to the bathroom. he stripped completely nude, dried himself up and wrung the clothes he'd had on as dry as he could. There had been enough water in his shirt alone to fill a bucket so he was sure they would take a while to dry. He hung them up where he could and slipped into the sweatpants, now the only things on his body. They hung dangerously low on his hips, just barely clinging to cover his groin and ass... at least physically his groin was covered, Jackson was so thankful to no longer be soaking wet that he didn't notice that his cock was leaving the biggest imprint on the front of the pants. He walked out to Marcus, casually going over to the couch and sitting down just as a loud crackle of thunder filled the air "Yeah that storm's not going anywhere for a while... I promise, the second my stuffs dry and I can get out of your hair I will but... till then. you wanna try and unwind and actually get to know each other? I mean, gotta kill time somehow"

[bakurapika]

when i was a very christian kid with undiagnosed ocd and a focus on religiosity, i knew there were things required for "christian" behavior that weren't actually spelled out in the bible (i'm still not convinced that the obscure verse about spilling his seed is against masturbation). these were usually handwaved as being behavior the world thinks are inappropriate, and we need to keep our reputation clean to reflect god or whatever. with the caveat that jesus hung out with tax collectors and prostitutes so be nice to them

anyway i remember thinking very hard about why swear words aren't allowed. the closest justification i ever heard was another verse about keeping your actions/words/thoughts pure but that was so vague and arbitrary?

i realized that swear words (fuck) and words substituted for swear words (fudge, freak, eff, frig, frick, etc) were from an ethical standpoint identical. like there's nothing inherent in the word fuck that isn't applicable to the word fudge (when used as a swear)

so you'd think the next logical step would be to realize swearing is ok, right? but at that age it was still a religious tenant to trust your parents teachers etc and I couldn't call them liars.

so therefore, i decided that all swear words were morally wrong, including fudge.

i still remember there was a song from victorious or something called "freak the freak out" and i was sooo appalled (although i think i assumed it wasn't "freak the fuck out" but "fuck the fuck out" lol)

BUT, i can't attribute all of this to analytical tween me. i remember some teachers (religious private school) would be even stricter about it. I used to say "What the...!" because comics etc said that. I got in trouble for it once because a lot of bad words could follow that sentence. even when it was ok to say "what the heck" so. what the heck.

and some teachers wouldn't let you say "oh my gosh" because that was basically the same as "oh my god." even i thought that was stupid, because none of us ever prayed to Gosh. wtf

and in retrospect as an adult, i still don't really get the enforcement of censorship around the word God. because i honestly believe that most people think that's god's given name. Like God came into existence and was like "I AM GOD" the same way god might have said "CALL ME ISHMAEL" . so the commandment to not take the name of the lord your god in vain is "don't swear with 'god' because it's really rude to me, Mr. God, esquire"

in christianity we learned about all the different names of god, some being titles, some being actual names, so we knew that wasn't god's only name. but the way it's capitalized everywhere like a name... lol........

after leaving the religion, i did start using "jesus" as a swear which defeats this, because if god was god's given name, i would use that as a swear too. i know that might seem like "ohh im still being controlled by christianity, it's still present in my life" but like yeah it is. so being able to use those words casually is still big dick energy to me

in judaism btw people do censor "g-d" sometimes - my temple never does that, but i do it online as "gd" sometimes if im writing something specifically As A Jew About Judaism because i don't want to sound two-faced to someone who DOES believe in censoring "g-d." but even then, i never heard it as it being God's Real Name. just that the Name is censored for its holiness, but then the word referring to the name gets censored and people use another term even vaguer, and so on over the millennia. i really do believe that in another hundred years, people might start censoring hashem for the same reason

[dragonofeternal]

So this year has been really, really good in terms of like... reminding/validating that I'm actually like smart and good at what I do?

Like.

First off, I got my new job which whips ass and is super fun and challenging and pays way better and where my ability to do nine million different things is like very valuable. Like oh yeah, I can reformat this word doc/that powerpoint. Do you want me to do a little bit of graphic design to make this actually look nicer? Oh, you need this video for a presentation but it's on a site other than youtube? Yeah sure, I'll rip it for you. And also just the day-to-day of being able to take good notes, and being able to help copyedit training materials, and generally being a pleasant and mostly on top of things person in the office.

THEN, I took one of Killian's creative writing classes along with them. Which, for one thing, was super fun, good teacher, nice to have an organized space/time to hang out and talk about writing. But also it was really validating to have someone outside of the internet/my inner circle of friends read and critique my work who was like... I dunno another adult/serious writer type person? Our teacher is a published poet -- Though more specifically she's prolific as a TRANSLATOR of poetry. A fair number of the translated Palestinian poets you've seen being posted around tumblr recently are most certainly her work. -- and when she realized the level I was writing at she started critiquing my work a lot harder. Still had nice stuff to say! Just also being willing to dig in and point out places where I could improve.

We actually hung out with her last night at a fellow classmate's band's show and she took both me and Killian aside for expanded critique/thoughts on our final pieces, and said some really nice stuff which included that she sees both of us as like professional-grade writers who should continue to hone their craft and who she really wants to see succeed/get shit published/etc. I'm currently letting a short story (that is... probably gonna end up as a novella orz) that I wrote for class sit before I do another draft of it, and then she's offered to do a more critical line edit for me so I can shop it around and get it published somewhere really good.

(Which is also interesting because I see myself as working very much in genre spaces and she's very in the "literary" sort of mode, and she said that she saw a lot of literary prowess and style in how I wrote which she could see getting it published in a more literary type journal. And that's like a weird/wild thought bc of my complicated thoughts on the way the literary/publishing world looks at and treats genre writing blah blah blah....)

At the SAME show, though, our teacher had brought along a friend, who is also a teacher at the community college. Said friend works for the theatre department and recognized me from volunteering to act at a one-day event last semester for Killian's playwriting class. Like this was an event where I was acting for MAYBE a grand total of fifteen minutes. And she basically said "HEY YOU'RE REALLY GOOD, WHY HAVEN'T I SEEN YOU AT ANY OF THE AUDITIONS?" So then I chatted with her some about how I've done a lot of theatre over the years but time/jobs/money meant I haven't had a chance to in a long time...

But now my job is a 9-5! So I gave her my number and I'm now basically the understudy for if/when someone drops out of the productions currently going on. Apparently they have a lot of issues with people dropping suddenly so it's likely that I'll end up doing something next semester! Which is good cuz like. Damn, do I love the theatre, and I've missed it A LOT.

I dunno just having two different people being really impressed about my creative work in a short time was really, really mood/ego boosting? I dunno. When I last did theater in Pittsburgh I ended up feeling really burnt out by the exhausting sense of always having to hunt for work, feeling like I wasn't good enough, etc... And last year I was struggling a lot with feeling like all my writing was futile/unwanted/etc... So having people remember me and be super complimentary was. Nice.

[ghost-proofbaby]

hi ghost here with a book of updates 😊

so we hung out on Thursday (didn't go to barnes and noble tho i was very sad) and we built more Legos 😂 we ended up having to call it quits on the Legos bc it was like 10:30 and we both had work in the morning and we both were getting so tired and were confused by this one part. and i gave him this zippo lighter i bought at work of his favorite hockey team and he got so excited it was adorable and he gave me a hug. i wasn't going to buy it for him originally but then it was the only one we had and I didn't want someone else to have it so I got it for him. and his mom gave me candles and they're always so nice to me giving me stuff.

but then on Friday my mom started acting like my mom (guitar anon has mommy issues and a very very overprotective mom so like what base is it when i start telling him about her. cause all of my friends don't really like my mom once I start talking about the problems we have 😕) and sent me this huge text message while I was at work just a lot of guilt tripping and making me feel bad for not responding to her text while I was with the guy and that's a whole drama i really don't feel like getting into cause she's always had a problem dealing with me growing up. but anyway it just made me really sad and overwhelmed and so i texted the guy and said i needed a hug and why did he have to live so far away and he said he was sorry and I thought that was the end of it but 5 minutes later he texts me and says he sucks and I'm like why and he said cause he lives far away and I said yeah I can't get hugs on demand when I'm sad and he said he must give pretty good hugs and I told him I can't feed his ego and he's like well I am a Leo and I said so does that mean I have to feed your ego and he said maybe and i said well you do give good hugs and he said good and then i said this is the part where you compliment my hugs bc I'm also a Leo and need validation jk but not really and then he said maybe and then he sent me pictures of something but I forget lol and then a few minutes after that I'm like I'm still waiting on my compliment and he said I might have a lot and i said you can share with the class and he said maybe and i said you're making me work too hard for this and then he said I think you’re pretty cute and your shyness is cute too, I know you really mean it when you hug me. Plus no one has ever gotten me stuff before like you have so it means something to me. (Yes I copy and pasted it to my notes app do not come for me 😂) and I said expect more gifts bc I like giving them and he said what do I want and I said a hug and he said I wish I could give you one and I said that works for now and he said that's fair and then he asked if I wanted to go to this fair with him on Sunday but I had work until 5 so I couldn't and then he asked about Saturday and I said I worked and he said damn and I said I'll tell my boss she's ruining our lives and then he offered to throw chickens at her. and now I have like all my work besties ready and willing to pay him to throw said chickens at our boss.

it was great on Friday and Saturday we talked basically non-stop like I was so spoiled by the amount of attention I got that yesterday I was like WHERE IS HE I NEED MY ATTENTION

on Saturday he texted me a song recommendation and literally like 20 minutes before I was thinking that I should ask him for more music recommendations and so I told him that and he's like I'm just that good and I said that he lives in my brain and can tell what I'm thinking and he's like yeah and I said is it at least nice in my brain and then he said I think so then I said yeah you're in there a lot so I made you a room and he said interesting and I said very interesting. and then he told me he bought our next Lego set (the house from up! it's so cute) and he got something for me ��

and I have been planning with my friend that set us up for us all 4 to go out to eat so hopefully that'll be happening sometime this week.

OH AND WHEN I WENT TO THE MAISIE PETERS CONCERT ABOUT A WEEK AGO I SENT HIM A PICTURE OF MY OUTFIT LIKE HERE I GO READY TO DRIVE 4 HOURS AND HE SAID THAT I LOOKED GOOD AND IT MADE THE HOUR OF ARGUING WITH MY MOM WORTH IT ONCE I SAW THE TEXT ☺️

okay i think I've caught you up on everything. 🎸 anon ❤️

OH MY GOOOOOOOOD I WAS SO BEHIND ON ONE OF MY FAVORITE SLOW BURN COUPLES HOLY SHIT

i’m so sorry to hear that about your mom since i’ve been there and it just causes such frustrating anxiety and dampens the mood, but that little banter is so fucking cute 🥺 also good on him for hyping you up!!! he better hype you even more though. man’s should be worshiping you at your feet truly.

and the legos being a euphemism i’m cackling 😭 why can’t people just accept lego dates are superior smh (i have never been on one but like!! i know i’d have a good time!! plus it’s a good way to get to know someone!!! if it gets awkward then y’all have something to focus on rather than the silence!!!!!)

i’m truly so happy for you nonnie and even more excited because i saw another update it’s like reading a fic and seeing you still have another chapter to go haha. now excuse me, ima go read the next update, and y’all BETTER have kissed (just kidding but… still. y’all better get there eventually. i can wait the 100k words but WE BETTER GET THERE EVENTUALLY)

[marfsnok]

Yuei☆

Prologue

Bzzz! Bzzz!

A loud buzzing noise came from the sleeping woman's bedside table, the woman furrowed her brows out of annoyance and dug her face back into her pillow. The noise from her phone woke her up. After a while the buzzing stopped, the woman felt a wave of relief wash over her and her body relaxed. She slowly fell back to sleep, until the buzzing started again.

Bzzz! Bzzz!

She let out a groan and finally reached out her hand beside her, it took her a moment to find her phone. She looks at the still buzzing phone and sees that someone's calling her. The name 'Ava' displayed on her screen, the caller's name. She promptly answers after realizing it's one of her closest friends calling them, "Rina! Rina!¨ Rina flinches from the sudden noise coming from her phone. She already feels like hanging up.

¨It's out! The- the VR version of Yuei is out! It's finally out!¨

¨Yeah?¨ Rina yawned, "That's.. nice?" Her voice came off as bland, still tired after just waking up.

"Of course it's nice! I've been waiting for this for so long, c'mon Rina go download it! We'll be waiting!" Immediately after Ava told Rina all of this, she hung up. She wasn't entirely in the mood to be playing games so early in the morning. ¨Alright, let's just go download that game. I don't want to be left behind.¨ Rina stood up from her bed and walked towards her bathroom, turning on the facet, letting the cold water run.

Yuei, or to be more specific Yuei☆, is an online rpg with fantasy elements adopted from different kinds of media. Its selling point is the role-playing part, at the start it gives you an option to play or skip the tutorial stage, which is basically the childhood of your character. During it, you are forced to go through your character's baby till your character is 'ready', giving you a rundown on what the game is about and how to progress and giving you limited freedom to do whatever you'd like to do as a child. When you skip it, you are given a randomized backstory and you start off on a randomized location on the world map too. It's recommended to not skip it especially if you just started playing.

Rina however, skipped the tutorial. She has never played it before and only skipped it to get faster to meeting her friends. Once she did, her friends told her they'd teach her the ropes, which they did. She's glad her friends taught her all she needed, but her character is still level 1.. she made no actual progress.

She cupped the water in her hands and splashed it onto her face, she repeated the motion a couple more times and then grabbed a small towel. Wiping away any excess water and built up oil or sweat that didn't get washed away by the water. She walked back to her room after she placed the towel back down and turned on her PC, immediately going to the official Yuei website. After making sure her VR headset is connected she downloads the game onto it.

Rina puts on the headset, she takes a few deep breaths before turning her headset on and closing her eyes. Her consciousness slowly drifting off into the fictional world of Yuei☆.

Chapter 1: Bright Light

An older concept of it, I never finished this concept. At least, I don't think I did.

Rina breathes in the fresh air surrounding her as the gust of wind flies by and rustles her locks. The sound of the grass moving and the wind going by her as the sun shines upon her, it felt.. refreshing. She hadn't gone out in some time and standing here in this open field felt amazing to her, even if it is artificial.

"Heeey! Rina!" A voice rang from behind her, calling out her name, she turns her head as a smile appeared on her face. There she saw three people sitting under the shade of the tree. One of them waving enthusiastically at her. She recognized two of the three there.

The one waving surprised her, she knew from context and voice who it is but.. their in-game appearance is just a bit surprising to her? Or maybe not, she knew the person behind that avatar had a thing for blonde men. Aside from that, the long blond hair their avatar has is tied into a low hanging ponytail. Eyes purple and they had this sorcerer-y martial artsy clothing? Rina wasn't sure how to describe the clothing but she thinks those words fit well. They also have a golden retriever-like vibe, which Rina herself found fitting as the person behind that avatar is quite dog like.

Rina puts up her hand to wave at the group, "Ava! And others..." She yells out, the last part ending up in a disappointed whisper. Once she places her hand back down to her side, she begins to move her feet and walks to where Ava and the others are. Once there, a woman with short black hair and piercing red eyes spread out her arms, prompting Rina to hug them.

Rina did, bending down to her knees and wrapping her arms around their body while they wrap theirs around her.

"It's been a while Sofia, how are Remy and Mia?" She asks and unwraps her arms around him, Sofia doing the same.

"They're doing fine, how have you been? We haven't talked in a while."

"Well, I've been, uh, good? I've just been busy, y'know?" Rina said, she seemed unsure.. hesitant? Which is fitting as Rina hasn't exactly been 'good'.

"Is this everyone?" A voice spoke out, the owner of said voice standing up and dusting off some grass that must've gotten on them, she didn't recognize this person, though from a glance she found the other 'captivating', 'enchanting'. Most of their body is covered in clothing aside from their face and hands, on their back a kind of instrument case. The 'captivating' part was that their.. elegant? They gave off a sophisticated and elegant demeanor, it mixed well with their good looks. It made them.. captivating, charming, enchanting, you get it.

"OH, y-yeah I think so? Well not I think, I'm sure of it." Ava confirmed.

"Alright great, let's go then."

Rina furrows her brows, she felt a bit irritated, being ignored by the unknown person. No introduction from them? Seriously? Maybe they've already met before and she just forgot about the other?

"Erm, it might be rude of me to ask but, who are you? I really don't think we've met before." She asked, keeping her tone polite despite being quite annoyed by the situation.

The others brow furrowed, "Noone told you about me?" They ask, puzzled.

"Yeah, oops, my bad." Ava sighs and scratches the back of her head, "This is Fatima, she's a friend we met on Yuei☆ about a week ago, we decided to invite her for when the new version came out. I forgot to tell you about her, Rina."

¨Ah, okay? In that case,¨ She stood up and stuck her hand out to Fatima, ¨I´m Rina, nice to meet you.¨

¨Mhm, nice to meet you Rina. I´m Fatima.¨ Fatima shook her hand and gave her a smile, Rina responded to her smile with one herself. After the two let go of each other's hand, Ava let out a sigh of relief.

¨Ugh, again I'm sooo sorry for not telling you beforehand, I guess it just slipped my mind?¨, Ava said, apologizing for not telling her.

¨Nono, its fine Ava dont apologize, you forget things often, its okay.¨ Rina says, trying to comfort Ava with her words, which worked! Since Ava didn't keep pressing on about being sorry. ¨Anyways, Ava, how come your avatar looks so much different from how you actually look? I can see the resemblance with Sofia but with you?¨

¨YEAH! I took my time making modifications to my character's VR avatar. Well? Does he look handsome?¨ Ava asked, wich Rina responded to by shaking her head.

¨In my humble opinion, he looks quite ugly.¨ She said, obviously joking, though her comment made Ava gasp.

¨Don't say that about Lori! What if you hurt his feelings?! He's sensitive!" Rina couldn't help but laugh at Ava's reaction, it didn't take much time till Ava started to laugh as well. Rina's laugh being passed onto the other.

¨Ava, Rina.¨ Fatima says, pausing before continuing her sentence, making sure the two she mentioned are listening, ¨I don't mean to ruin your fun, but we do NOT have much time left before the event starts.¨ Fatima taps on her wrist.

¨SHIT, Fatima, how much time do we have left?!¨ Ava asked, panicking.

¨10 minutes or so.¨

Ava lets out a loud and audible sigh, ¨You're joking.. hold on..¨ she says, mumbling out the last part as she pulls up her menu screen. Pressing on the inventory button, checking her inventory and taking out a scroll. The paper, made from linen or cotton, nicely tied by a light turquoise ribbon and to finish it off, sealed by a wax who's colour was only a few shades darker than the ribbon. The wax has a tree-like marking on it, being left behind by the stamper that was used by the person who sealed it.

"I don't think I am, no." Fatima said calmly, crossing her arms as she stared at the scroll Ava has in her hand. Ava on the other hand, is hastily ripping off the seal on the scroll. Revealing a magic circle, with words inscribed at the top and bottom of the paper.

Chapter 1

Again, I know. This was a newer version of it which I first wrote on my google documents, but then moved to my notes. Big mistake, because that chapter, and everything else are basically in the bin now. If it were all on my notes still, I probably would've continued on. If you want more context, read the notes at bottom.

Rina woke up dazed, pushing her body up as she frantically looked around. Seated on the grassy floor beneath her. She wasn't in the same place as before, that she knows. Evident by the many tree's around her, different from the bustling city she was in moments ago. She didn't feel the sudden change in temperature immediately, putting her limbs closer to her body when she did.

Suddenly she felt fear, almost automatically locking eyes with something in front of her. She didn't know what she locked eyes with, nor did she really know whether it even had eye's or not. All she knew is that it looks vaguely humanoid. A humanoid being that looked like it were made from shadows. (Insert hammerhead description)

The shadow-like being cocks it head when it noticed Rina, inching closer. Scared, Rina pushed herself into the tree behind her. Hand hitting against a small rock near her. This angered the creature in some way, it's pacing quickening and eventually starting to sprint. Rina wanted to grab the rock to use as some kind of weapon- a projectile, though before she got to, a sword landed in the small gap between her hand and the object.

"Defend yourself." A voice said, a mans voice. Her body listened, anger welling up inside her and pushing her to grab the weapon. Rina stands up and points the swords edge forward, both hands on the hilt and close to her chest. As the being took one more dash forward Rina took the chance to practically dive(push?) herself into it. The blade piercing through it's chest, deep enough for the hilt to touch it. The shadow didn't fall, standing it's ground despite having a blade in it's chest. She pushes herself off of it, stumbling a little as she distanced herself from it. Rina stumbles backwards, distancing herself from it.

Rina tried to remember exactly what happened, she recalled being with her friends and then- a bright light just.. appeared? Swallowing her whole and next thing she knows she's here

//////

Rina shot up, her head spinning and her vision blurry. Her eyes moved to look around her frantically, her head moving with. She realised she isn't in the same place as before, a realisation that eased into her slowly after she had a full grip on her surroundings. Just moment's ago, she was in a bustling city. Now she finds herself surrounded by a cold, damp air and tree's.

Chapter 2: Green haired elf / The Musketeer

Shortest one from all of these, I only wrote a little bit of it in my docs.

Rina opened her eyes slowly, processing her current surroundings and what had just happened. She for sure wasnt in the same place as before, that she could tell.

[Notes]

This story has been in the work for some time, but due to my phone being broke and me losing all my progress I decided to revamp it almost entirely ( even renamed it ). I'll be sharing the few stuff I still have of this version of Yuei☆ on my tumblr, but overall I won't continue it. These were all from somewhere in 2022, around november. The 2nd / recent version of chapter 1 is probably my most recent one? Unsure.

These feature my ocs; Rina, Ava ( Lori ), Sofia ( Taeyeon ), Fatima and Leonardo. I hope I'm not missing any or mentioned any that weren't even in it.

[vaida-talks-about-everything]

Kailman Legacy || 21: Summer Nights

Beer? Tapped. Tunes? Playing. Friends? Gathered.

Emerson was a natural at tapping the beer keg, which Phoenix and Albert had failed to do, so he received pats on the back from his new friends and a toast from red solo cups. Little did Emerson know that while he basked in the glory of his accomplishment, he was eyed by the beauty in blue he'd managed to charm the other day.

Amberleigh and Louisa enjoyed the fruits of his labor on a nearby bench and tried conversing. Eventually, small talk became pointless, and Amberleigh made what she wanted to know clear.

"So, is he taken?"

Louisa kept her calm as she shook her head, the answer as true as when she first met him. Happy to know he was for the taking, so to speak, Amberleigh said as much, leaving Louisa embarrassed.

"Good. He seems like the type of guy you'd take home to your folks."

"I could see that."

"I know he's got this whole 'small town, good ol' boy' thing, but does he have experience?"

"With?" Louisa asked, then looked away awkwardly, understanding the connotations and receiving Amberleigh's laughter. "I wouldn't know, so-"

"-Oh I know." Amberleigh smirked. "Good for you, too, my first was the most uncomfortable thing imaginable, but it's so worth it. What about you, anyone on your radar?"

"Uh, no one's really made me feel one way or another about it, and no one's in my orbit enough to change that."

"Well, I feel one way about him, and if he's not taken, I'm going for it. Unless you-"

"-No, no, uh, go for it."

Meanwhile, Albert asked about Edith Dean. Not sure how to handle the upfront question, Emerson said she's out of his league and is focused on getting her music off the ground anyway, which diswayed him well enough. Glancing back at Louisa, he saw her shift in her seat, clearly uncomfortable. He suggested the group throw water balloons to cool off before the sun fully set, which everyone was game for. The two shared a glance as they walked to an open clearing, and she gave him an appreciative smile for getting her out of whatever awkward conversation she was having.

As the sky turned, Phoenix and Abigail snuck off to enjoy the view from the lighthouse while the remaining four went fishing on the shore. While not very successful in getting something photo-worthy, winding down on the cool night was a nice change of pace. So, as the night approached midnight, the more sober pair returned to the boat to prepare to leave while the Aimes hung out by the water.

The sound of crickets and the dance of lightning bugs were serene as they shared what they'd talked with the others about.

Louisa laughed, hearing that Albert was interested in Emerson's sister. "She is gorgeous and has her own thing going for her, so I don't blame him. Doubt she'd be into him though, right?"

"Yeah, no. We're fresh out of high school, that is the furthest thing from her type is my guess."

"You know what though?"

"What?"

"Amberleigh basically said you're her type, in way more words. It got a bit more... specific than that, but I'm not privy to share the details, I don't think."

Emerson paused to take in what she said. Amberleigh was confident and beautiful, to be sure, but he didn't feel anything for her beyond that. He barely knew her; what was there to base anything on besides physical attraction? Louisa described how Amberleigh was initially in high school, an awkward, scrawny kid who fell in love with sports and had a proper glow-up one summer, winning the affection of plenty of their classmates. Amberleigh always had bigger aspirations and enjoyed spending time with her beaus. Still, she wasn't keen on settling down young like her parents had. Eventually, though, Emerson asked what Louisa wanted regarding "love and all of that."

"Someone who just gets me. If I meet someone that just intrinsically understands me and loves who I am, whether or not I do something for them or not."

"That's... such a good way of describing it. My parents were each other's besfriends, and could just say so much with just a look. I want to be known that well and loved through all that time. Someone I can bring a dream to life with, you know?"

"Bring a dream to life..." Louisa sighed. "Exactly."

The space between them was stifling, begging to be closed, and it frightened them both. Their eyes were locked on one another, their heartbeats in sync in their frantic dance towards the other. Louisa wanted so badly to tell him what she felt about him, how new and wonderful and terrifying it was. Emerson thought the same thing as he sank deeper into her eyes, looking to the very lips he hoped to make smile every chance he could this summer despite knowing where it could lead. He respected Noah John too much to jump into this headfirst despite everything in him wanting to. But with just inches between them, would this be their first secret shared between them?

[casspurrjoybell-25]

Skating on Thin Ice - Chapter 4 - Part 2

*Warning - Adult Content*

Elijah Ellis

"You think we could hurry up and get out of here?" I asked desperately, keeping my head down.

Fox nodded and the other guys followed, not even hesitating.

I was grateful that none of them had asked questions about my sudden wish for departure.

Ryan and Joshua even walked beside me to keep me shielded as we made our way out of the shop, being sure I wouldn't be spotted.

I didn't feel secure until I was in Joshua's car and he had pulled out of the parking lot of the burger shop.

He didn't say anything as he drove behind Fox to get to Ryan's house, and for that I was thankful.

I didn't have anything to say about my old teammates and there was no use rehashing old wounds.

They were nothing to me but competitors and I wanted to keep it that way.

Joshua messed with the radio a bit when we were stopped at a traffic light but still didn't say anything.

I could tell he was curious but Joshua was perceptive enough to know how I felt about the situation.

He knew I didn't want to talk about it and therefore, he wouldn't say anything.

Not that Joshua would say anything even if I did want to talk about it.

We had been stepbrothers for years but we were never close enough to have a heart-to-heart and I didn't want to start that now.

*********

Soon enough, we pulled up to what I could only assume was Ryan's house.

The house was big, bigger than any I had seen around here but not as big as the houses of my old friends.

Most of the Catholic School kids, especially the ones on the hockey team, were children of rich parents, meaning they basically lived in mansions.

Although it wasn't a mansion, Ryan's house was nice.

It was an eggshell color with a porch that wrapped around.

It appeared to have a nice, well kept yard and the driveway was big enough for about ten cars.

"This is Ryan's place?" I asked Joshua as we stepped out of his car onto the driveway.

Joshua nodded.

"His dad's a contractor. He built it himself."

I didn't say anything else as we walked toward the house behind the rest of the guys.

Again, I felt oddly out of place.

This was the place they hung out together on the weekends and here I was, intruding on their time together.

Part of me felt like I should have just stuck with the GSA kids but I knew I needed to have some type of relationship with my team if we even had a chance of playing well together on the ice.

When we got inside, I followed Joshua along with the rest of the guys through the hallway, into the kitchen and to a set of descending stairs that I assumed led to the basement.

Joshua wasn't kidding when he told me that Ryan had a killer finished basement.

There was a giant flat screen TV hanging on the wall in front of a large, leather sectional.

Beyond that, there was a pool table, an air hockey table and a foosball table over in an open area of the basement.

Tall glass doors led out to a stone patio with a fire pit and in ground pool.

Needless to say, I was impressed.

"So, Ellis," Ryan started, walking closer to me.

"This is where the magic happens."

Alex let out a disgusted scoff.

"You're makin' it sound like we have gay orgies down here."

Ryan shot him a dirty look and Alex's eyes immediately widened as he looked over at me with a panicked expression.

"Not that there's anything wrong with gay," he exclaimed quickly.

"We just definitely don't do gay orgies down here."

I laughed at his words and shook my head playfully.

"Yeah, so don't get your hopes up, Ellis," Ian muttered, walking past me to take a seat on the sectional.

I just ignored him.

Ian, along with Fox, was someone I decided I would never get to like me, so I wasn't even going to try.

He wasn't worth the energy.

Alex scoffed aloud at Ian.

"Please, he wouldn't want to have a gay orgy if you were involved. I'm obviously the most attractive one to gay guys. Right Elijah?"

Alex looked at me expectantly along with the rest of the guys and I had no idea what to say.

It wasn't that Alex was unattractive but I had a feeling if I said that he was, I would only be giving more ammunition to Ian to try and insult me with.

"Alex, stop," Joshua said after looking at me briefly.

I must have looked uncomfortable because that was definitely how I felt at that moment.

"He can't get girls to call him attractive so he's trying the other team," Ian snickered, elbowing Fox to get him to laugh along.

Fox let out one forced laugh before pulling a straight face and looking over at me.

"You can't get called attractive by either," Alex shot back.

"Apparently neither can you," Ian retorted, crossing his arms over his chest.

Fox rolled his eyes and made his way over to the couches in front of the TV.

Joshua was soon to follow and I trailer behind him like a lost puppy.

At that point, I would do anything to get away from the awkward conversation between Alex and Ian.

Ryan and Jude also left the other two to bicker by the stairs and joined the rest of us at the couches.

Ryan picked up the remote for the TV and began scrolling through his Netflix to find something to watch.

"You watch Queer Eye?" I asked Ryan quizzically after seeing it in his recently watched section.

"I was watching it with my sister," he explained with a smile.

"She loves it. Jonathan is her favorite."

My mood instantly brightened.

"I love Jonathan, too."

"I'm more of a Karamo guy," Ryan admitted with a shrug.

"He's cool but he's also one handsome dude."

I laughed.

"He is."

"Put on Big Mouth," Ian interrupted, sitting beside me on the couch.

Ryan rolled his eyes but complied anyway and no one objected.

I had never seen the show but I found it hard to even pay attention to it so I didn't.

Instead of watching with the rest of the guys, I pulled out my cell-phone to see that I had a text from Trevor.

Hope your day with the team is going well :)

I never understood where I stood with Trevor.

Most of the time I felt as though he only talked to me because he was being nice but then sometimes he would go out of his way to speak to me and that confused me.

He was never necessarily flirty with me but Joshua and my dad seemed to think that he had a crush on me or something.

I felt as the the two of us were in this sort of in-between friendship that didn't seem like it was going to amount to anything more than that.

It's going okay.

His reply was almost instant.

I'm glad. I hope they're making you feel included.

I pondered on that for a moment.

The only reason I didn't feel included was because of my own insecurities, not because the hockey guys were doing anything to exclude me.

I couldn't blame them for that, it was my own fault.

They are but I still feel a little out of place.

That'll get better with time :)

Yeah. I'm sure that it will.

I spent the rest of the night casually texting back and forth with Trevor until Joshua decided he was ready to head home.

When we bid goodbye to the rest of the guys, I let my eyes linger on Fox for an extra second.

He stared back but this time it wasn't a look of hatred.

I couldn't tell what it was but it was an improvement and I would take what I could get.

[echantedtoon]

Diamond In The Rough Ch6 Settling Down In Circhester

(Thank you to everyone for the name suggestions for the houndoom. The one most voted/commented was Cerberus so that shall now be the name for it. Don't forget to comment what other 3 pokemon you all as reader would like to catch! Can be native to Galar or not. I will pick just three others randomly.)

Well..that was that you guessed.

There really wasn't anything more to do than to just wait and see what would happen. Hopefully everything would sort itself out. In the meantime you had to figure out what the heck you were going to do until August when the school year started back up again. You knew the scholarship you got from the Chairwoman would cover all the next year's school expenses as well as you'd get free housing in the dorms and food from the cafeteria, but there was about seven more months until the next school year and you'd have to pay for room and board at the hotel until it reopened. But you were PRETTY sure you wouldn't be able to last seven months on just your savings alone. Why? Well there was a few good reasons-

1. The hotel charged sixty five dollars a night, you remembered that from the last two times you were there. There was NO WAY, you could afford that amount of money every night for seven months straight.

2. Basic food and other necessities would also cost you money. Plus you had pokemon to take care of.

3. This houndoom's food was EXPENSIVE! Seriously! This specific brand of fire type food was working to help the houndoom get better, but BOY was this brand expensive. No way you could afford to keep affording it for another seven months or however long it took for you to take care of this stuff!

Which only left one option for you. After many hours of sitting there, thinking about it and trying to decide what to do next, you only came up with one thing that would help your situation- You had to get a job. At least until the next school year started which was still seven months away, not your most ideal situation but for this hotel room and that houndoom food-...Yeah. You were going to need a job before your savings ran out. The problem was you didn't know where to get one. You tried the hotel first. No open positions. Well you just needed to expand your search for the moment. Local barber shop? Nope. Clothes store? Nah. Antique shop? Not a chance. Pokemon Center? You already know the answer to that. On your fourth day of searching you FINALLY found one. An opening at Bob's Your Uncle! It was right beside the Hero's Bath so you walked past it like every other day when you did, and in the window was a 'Help Wanted' sign as clear as day! You lit up and immediately walked right in to the small cafe letting the small door's bell go off. The entire place looked the same. Same small booths and chairs. Same old black and white pictures hung on the wall. Same portrait of the cafe's mascot 'Uncle Bob'. And the same two chefs handling the front counter-...Wait. No. Now there was only one chef and a young lady in front of the cash register. Strange but you didn't comment on that instead you walked right up to the counter where the girl smiled at you.

"Good morning! Welcome to Bob's Your Uncle! How can we help you today?", she asked nicely.

"Hey,'' you greeted back before motioning towards the window, "I'm actually here about the job opening? I saw you guys have a sign up."

At this the girl beamed in an instant. "OH! Yes we were hoping someone would notice it!" With that she turned to one of the chef's. "Hey, Bobby!" Immediately the dark blue haired man looked over at her. "We finally got someone interested in taking up the job!"

"Oh thank goodness!," his sigh of relief was immediate as well as his smile. "We've been short staffed for a while."

You blinked. "Short staffed?"

'Bobby' you guessed, nodded. "We've had a hard time for a few reasons. Since last year, Circhester has seen a boom in population, and a lot more tourists have been coming through so more people are coming into the business. Especially with the college back opening up and all the newcomers coming in it's been really busy. Two people aren't going to cut it anymore. That's why we've had to hire more help."

Ah. So that was it. "Oh..Well what kind of job are you looking for?"

"To be blunt, someone who can help man the register and clean. Maybe even wait tables," Bobby bluntly stated. "My brother and I are chefs so anything food related would be taken cared of by us." Oh. So just a front desk job kinda deal? "Do you have any experience in that sorta deal?"

"Kinda? I had a part time job in a bakery as a kid," you answered with a shrug, "I made food, cleaned, did dishes- Things like that."

Bobby lit up. "Oh good! That's good enough experience for me. When are you able to start?"

"Well I can come back tomorrow if it's a good time."

"That sounds perfect! Come back tomorrow morning and we can show you the ropes."

"Sounds good."

Well this was good. You got a job opportunity and it would be a great way to pay for everything you needed! Fast forward to the next day you left off to your new job first thing in the morning after feeding your pokemon and telling Zen to keep things handled until you returned and absolutely under NO circumstances fight! The last thing you needed was to pay for repairs on top of everything else. You arrived back at Bob's Your Uncle and was again greeted by the young lady who introduced herself as Sapphire and handed you a white apron with the cafe's logo on the front.

"Here. Put this on and I'll walk you through what we're doing today." After it was securely tied around you she guided you to behind the counter and pointed out to where a few things were. Napkins, spices, salt and pepper, extra cups- "And the beverages are in the glass bottles behind you, but any adult beverages needs only goes to those with an I.D. proving they're over twenty one. You'll be helping me waiting tables, bringing customers there food, helping me behind the counter, and cleaning up the front of the store. Bobby and Billy Bob take care of the real heavy work in the back kitchen, but I handle the register for now. We're also aloud to keep any tips we get."

"Sweet. So when do we start?"

"Now. All we do is wait for customers and do what I just explained."

Well...It was exactly like she said. Customers come in, you took their orders, gave them their food, helped Sapphire clean up, and then return home for the day around five or six. Wash rinse and repeat day after day until February ended and March began. Maybe not the most ideal option for you but it paid the bills and it gave you what you needed to help care for the houndoom. He seemed to be doing a lot better than he did just two weeks ago. On your first opportunity you had taken him to the local pokemon center to have Nurse Joy look over him, and it turned out he went from sixty two to sixty eight pounds. He gained six pounds! That was good! He was almost back to his normal weight which was good. He also seemed to be getting along just fine. He still wouldn't let you touch him, and he still glared at you and your pokemon, Silver was still keeping his distance from the houndoom and Zen was still keeping a close eye on him as if any moment ready to tackle the dog pokemon to the ground again. But he seemed..calmer. He didn't make any moves to harm you or your pokemon, and he came when he was called whenever you gave him food or water, so you guessed he trusted you a bit in that regard. About another two weeks passed uneventfully and peacefully, you still went to work and paid your dues and made sure that houndoom was getting in better shape than before. It's been nearly a month since you had him in your custody now and he didn't look that skinny anymore. In fact..during the last two weeks it seemed like he gained more weight around the waist and stomach too! Which was good. He was getting there! You again brought him to Nurse Joy by the end of the next two weeks to discover he was now at seventy four pounds! He was making great progress! You still did what Nurse Joy advised to do however until he was able to regain his full weight. In the meantime you were fine with just still doing your own thing until one day things changed for a bit. A third week went by and it was Friday afternoon, nothing really out of the ordinary other than you having your back to the cafe busy restocking some glasses and other things on the shelf before you got that weekend off, you already planned to take your pokemon out that weekend and get them some exercise and do a few more things but what you weren't expecting was a VERY familiar face walking into the cafe.

"Hey You! I was expectin' your cute face back sometime! Been a while since I last saw ya!," you heard Sapphire's voice greet someone familiar. Must've been one of the regulars. "Ya'll here for the usual?"

"*sigh* Yeah. It's been a pretty busy time for me lately. And..no. I wanna place a large order? My Ma asked me to pick up some fast food for dinner tonight."

"Oh! She just called in a little while ago! The chefs are workin' as we speak. Why don't you sit down and have a drink while you wait? I can put the charge on your tab."

"That sounds great! Uh..Hey how long until they get done?"

"I can run to the back and check for ya. Go ahead and have a seat. Ok?"

"Sure. Thanks!"

You paid no attention to Sapphire as she went through the door leading into the kitchen and just continued to stock the shelf with instant noodle cups for anyone wanting a quick instant noodle curry. You still had your back to the man who came in and heard him after a moment slowly walk over and take a seat in the stool seat behind you.

"Uh hey. Can I have a mug of ginger ale on ice?"

That's when you turned to look at him, and nearly dropped the instant noodle cup in your hands when you saw none other than Gordie sitting there arms leaning against the counter. The blonde gym leader also seemed shocked to see you because he froze and you saw the way his blue eyes widened in shock behind his sunglasses as you both just stared at one another. Ten seconds of silence passed between you two before you finally broke it by asking-

"Gordie!?"

"Y-Y/n!?," he sputtered practically dazed, "I-..You-..I mean-...W-Wot are you doin' here?!''

"I'm..working?" You held up the instant ramen cup as proof of that. "I had to get a job if I want to be able to afford the hotel and everything else I need. What are you doing here?"

"I-I-I-...*AHEM*" In an attempt to regain some composure, he turned away and reached a hand to fiddle with his glasses. "I-I'm here to pick up an order my Ma called in. My lil brothers wouldn't stop pesterin' her for take out tonight."

"Oh. That's really nice of you. ...Did you still want that drink?"

"Um..Yeah. I'd like that. Thanks."

He sat there and watched as you grabbed a glass mug, waiting patiently before a mug of ginger soda and ice was placed down in front of him. "Here you go!"

"Thanks!" He smiled softly and took it from you with a sigh. "Been a while since I had this. A-Anyways, how have you been?" He questioned raising a brow and head tilting at you in interest. "Been a while since I've seen you around town too."

"I've been good. Got a job, paying the bills, taking care of my babies-...Y'know how it goes."

"Oh! Since you brought that up-" He took a moment to just take a gulp of that drink, ice tinking against the glass before he placed it back down, the glass making a 'thud' noise against the wooden countertop. "Ah...As I was sayin'. I looked into that matter of yours concerning the pokemon ya found."

You stopped staring at him. He got info concerning the houndoom? "I-..Yeah. And what did you find out?"

"Well I ran it past someone I knew who works in laws-," he explained pointing a finger from the hand holding the mug at you, "-and by Galarian law, any lost or abandoned pokemon still bound to a pokeball is free game for anyone unless the original owner claims it within a month's time with proof of ownership. Then the pokemon by default either goes to the one who found it or into the rotomi system to be eventually reclaimed or released into the wild."

You...blinked for a moment. "I-...R-Really?"

He nodded. "Has this..'roommate' of yours tried at all to come get 'em?"

He hummed as you shook your head no. "No. Not at all. I don't even know where she went." You had no idea whether or not Emerald had come back at all or not since you last saw her to look for her houndoom, but if she did..wouldn't she have found you by now? A lot of people already stared at you for openly walking around with two non-native pokemon. You were sure if she just asked around, she'd have found you. "I haven't seen her since school let out months ago."

Gordie hummed again seeming to think a moment..before sighing. "Well then, since it's already been months, by law that houndoom's yours now unless you surrender it to the Pokemon Center or gave it away." He finished that sentence by taking another deep gulp of his drink.

"Mine? I didn't think Cerberus would be abandoned like this-"

Thud- He gave you a puzzled look from behind those glasses. "...Cerberus? Who's that?"

"Wha- Oh. That's what I call him." he rose his brow more. "The houndoom."

Now this caught him by surprise because Gordie's face gained an expression like you'd grown another head. "You named it?"

"It's a him actually. And no I didn't 'name' him exactly. I just gave him a nickname since I got tired of calling him 'Houndoom' all the time...But I guess now it is his name if he's stuck with me."

"You name your pokemon?", Gordie asked more to himself than you but you rose a brow back.

"Yes. I named all my pokemon...Why do you ask? Is it weird to you?"

In an instant he held up his free hand. "W-Wha- N-NO! I-I ain't findin' it weird! I-I just-...I don't know many people who d-do that. It makes you look...c-compassionate."

Now it was your turn to be surprised as you blinked at him. "...Compassionate?"

He nodded and all of a sudden his face seemed a bit pinker as his eyes looked to the side. "Y-Yeah..I don't know of m-many people who name their pokemon unless they're real attached to 'em. A-And they care about them enough to give 'em a name in the first place, like-..They see 'em more than just tools ta battle with..With how you're takin' care of the poor hound- Uh..'Cerberus'. I can help know a person's character better with those lil facts."

Again you remained silent and Gordie feeling awkward used the silence to continue drinking his ginger ale as an excuse to keep busy. But he thought you were...Compassionate? He judged you as so based on one little detail you shared?

"That's...awfully nice of you to say so," you settled on after getting your thoughts together, "But how could you deduce that about me? We barely know one another."

"Hm?" He finally glanced at you and blinked, taking a moment to process what you said- "Oh. Well I just listen to what you have to say." He shrugged leaning back against the countertop. "When you're around so many people who wanna talk to ya, and being a big brother, you pick up on a person's words and their meanings pretty quickly."

"Really? Can you always tell what someone's personality is by just talking with them?"

"A bit-...But not all the time and I obviously don't know someone's full person unless I spend time with them a whole lot or knew them a long time. But a lot of the time I can at least get a good feel for why they're talking to me. Whether it be cuz they're a fan or looking for attention..." His eyes narrowed. "Or something more selfish...*sigh* It's sorta like a gut feeling? Sixth sense? Whatever you wanna call it, I get after hearing people talk to me. ..Sorry. I must sound crazy."

"No. I don't think you do. I guess everyone has a sixth sense about things. That just makes you really unique!''

He was about to open his mouth to thank you when the door the kitchen opened back up and Sapphire came back out. "Ok. They're almost done but it'll be another ten minute til it's done." She paused blinking at the sight of you two before smiling. "I see you met our newest worker. Y/n's just joined us for around three weeks now!"

"Yeah! We know each other actually!," you happily said smiling and looking back to him. "Which reminds me, your mom said she'd call some other gym leaders. How'd that go?"

"Oh. Well Piers honestly doesn't know a whole bunch about houndooms, but Kabu originally coming from Hoenn knows a bit more about other regional fire types than anyone. He said if you're unable to handle it, he'd gladly take it in and train it up."

"Oh..Actually I haven't made up my mind about that yet. But I will let you know if it ever comes to that. I have to finish restocking the shelves now, but it was really good seeing you again! Say hello to your mother for me."

"Uh..Y-Yeah. I'll do that for ya."

Ten minutes passed. You finished restocking the shelves, Sapphire brought out Gordie's food, and Gordie finished his pint before paying and giving a small hand salute before taking his food and walking out the door, bell jingling as he departed. You smiled and waved after him but paused when Sapphire held up a twenty dollar bill to your face making you blink.

"..Oh. Is that from him paying for the drink?"

"No. He says this is your tip."

Your mind blanked for a moment. "...What!? No way!"

"Yes way. He asked me to hand it to you after he paid. You two must be real good pals, eh?"

You slowly took the twenty from here, "I-...I guess so, b-b-but I wasn't expecting THIS!!" You stared at the twenty in your hands in amazement. Before shaking your head. No. Gordie was obviously very well off being not only a gym leader but a very popular one, he could probably afford to spare a big tip when he wanted. "It was nice of him tho. I bet he always does this."

"Well..yeah he does leave a generous tip whenever he eats here, but that's the first time I've ever seen him give out that big o' a bill! He must really like you then!"

"More like probably feels sorry for me." Or he gave this to you by accident which wouldn't be too far a stretch, but you were grateful to him either way. Again, Gordie was a really nice guy.

It went like this for the rest of March and the first few days of April. Gordie would sometimes come in and stop for a drink or something to eat, smiling and making small talk with you and sometimes Sapphire while you worked and left tips that ranged anywhere between ten to twenty dollars each. Which was-...Strange, but you weren't complaining or ungrateful in the slightest. It just seemed strange as Sapphire and the chefs didn't seem to get the same amount in tips, the most you saw them each get was ten dollars in one go, which again was a pretty good tip. Other things were working out in your favor too. You managed to call Sonia that weekend and asked her to send you a couple copies of her two books and the research she did on the discoveries of the true heroes of Galar, you managed to save up some money, and when checking back in with Nurse Joy, you found Cerberus had gained back his weight fully and was making his way back to being stronger, and you had planned on getting a few things you needed for your school project next year. Thanks to Emerald talking (complaining loudly and annoyedly-) in detail about most of the projects all second year Standard Course students had to do. If you did some of the hard projects earlier then you'd be able to just turn it in without having to worry about stressing over it later with deadlines looming over your head. At the moment you were just in Circhester's local grocery store just going through and picking up a few items on your list.

"Goose?" Zen tilted his head at your form, his arms full of items you had him and Silver help you carry. And he sniffed at the array of objects and gave a grunt sound when you placed a couple of microave TV dinners in his arms adding to what he was already carrying, making Silver chirp.

"Sorry, Sil. But you'd just try to eat everything I handed you." Silver scowled with another noise. "Hey! Last time we were here, you drank two bottles of milk and then I had to get more plus pay for the ones you drank! So you can just carry the non edible stuff!" Silver still frowned but you were distracted by a muffled bark and you turned around noticing Cerberus had somehow gotten ahold of a decently sized bag of the specialized fire type food you had to buy him. He sat there proudly tail wagging and a bag of food so big it halfway dragged on the ground by his feet. How did he-...Oh yeah. Pokemon. They were pretty strong. Duh! "Uh...*sigh* Good boy, Cerby." You rewarded with a tired smile and sigh. "That's a big bag of dog-..Uh. Food. That should last us for a while." Never mind it was WAY bigger than the bags you usually get. "All we need is Silver and Zen's foods and we can leave-"

"*BARK!!*" 

The bag of food was dropped with a thud sound and you watched him paddle off with a sigh, leaning down to pick up the bag. Guess you were buying a bigger bag this time around to avoid hurting Cerberus's feelings, he had just been warming up to you after all after he noticed you weren't going to treat him badly- THUMP!! Both you and your other two pokemon looked up as a thump sound followed by a dragging sound was heard and you found out the reason why when an equally big bag of water type pokemon food was dragged over to you by Cerberus and then dropped it in front of you. It was the kind you usually got for Silver. 

"I- You-...*sigh* Thank you, Cerb. But I can-"

"BARK!!"

You only watched deadpanned as he did it yet again and watched as he dragged the expensive normal type food bag (Zen needed it being a none native pokemon too-) over to you and dropped it on top of the first two bags with another thump. You deadpanned stared at the three very expensive food bags before looking up at Cerberus who panted and wagged his pointed tail happily.

"...Zen. Hand Silver the basket. I'm gonna need your help carrying these back."

Whelp. Thanks how it went. You had Silver (drag-) carry the groceries, with Zen carrying the other half plus one of the giant bags, while you struggled to carry the other two bags with you. It must've looked funny to anyone else watching a woman stumble down the street with heavy bags blocking half her view being followed by three pokemon, two carrying groceries, and two being none native Galarian pokemon as well. Well it wasn't funny to you who couldn't tell if you were heading back to the hospital or not because the bags blocked half your view while your noodle arms struggled to hold onto the weight of the giant bags. Each step feeling as if you would lose your grip on them any moment- Until you did. One of the bags leaned too far to the left and you gave a yell as you slipped from the weight. Both giant bags tumbling to the ground with a loud sound and you faceplanted right on top of them with a loud thud. Snowflakes were thrown up from the collapse and there you laid stunned for a long moment-...Until Cerberus nudged your head with a paw in question. You groaned and looked up with a frown on your face, shaking the stray snow from your head before staring at the bags on the ground. Great. At least none of the bags busted open.

"Great. At this rate it'll take me until tomorrow morning to get home." You looked about ready to start lifting those bags again when a tall shadow fell over you making you blink, and then you looked up- 

"Y/n?" A man in a coat lifted his sunglasses and you saw a head of blonde hair poke out from under his hood.

"Gordie!?," you asked back equally surprised. "...What are you doing here?"

"I was on my way to my Ma's for Friday dinner and I saw your lot." He then kneeled down to one knee eye level with you. "You 'lright? Ya fell with a splat on those things."

"*sigh* Yeah. I'm fine." You waved him off. "Just not used to carrying something this heavy. It'll take me til tomorrow morning to get all of this back to the hotel."

Gordie didn't say anything for a moment before he just held out his hand to you and you blinked for a moment, before registering that he was offering to help you up, so slowly you took his hand and with one strong pull you were on your feet wobbling a bit but didn't fall over before he let go of your hand as you went to dust yourself off. You opened your mouth to thank him, but paused when he kneeled back down and you stared stunned when he picked UP your giant food bags with ease and with a grunt, easily lifted them up, one on his shoulder and the other held under his arm with ease with a smile on his face.

"Right. Which hotel room should I drop these o' at?"

You stared faw dropped for a moment before shaking your head. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! Wait a minute. You can't just carry those for me!"

"Well considerin' ya can't carry 'em, I'll have to help ya as my duty as gym leader." With a smile he then turned and began walking towards the hotel and you naturally followed him.

"Hey wait! What about dinner with your family?"

"Their house ain't that far away and I can afford to be late one time. No worries!"

"Yeah but-...UGH! At least slow down!" He chuckled and you frowned. "It's NOT funny!"

Well Gordie did NOT listen to you. In fact he just carried on all the way to the hotel making everyone stare at his chuckling form followed by your red face and three pokemon, but he only continued not putting the bags down until you showed him to your room but stopped him at the door.

"Ok. You can put them down here."

"Are ya sure?"

"Y-Yeah. I can have Zen bring them in from here. It's not a problem."

"Hm...Well if you're sure." He took a moment to place down the bags against the wall. "There ya go. That atta tide you over."

"Thanks for the help! You've been a real big help lately actually."

"Uh.." He coughed and turned away cheeks tinting a light pink. "W-W-Well i-it's my duty as gym leader. Y'know? A-And I'd feel bad just leavin' a friend like that when you needed a hand!"

You smiled. "Well it was still really nice of you to do so. Guess I was lucky a strong and handsome man was around to save me," you joked with a chuckle but Gordie gawked at you for a moment before you turned towards the door. "Well I better get inside and put everything away. Thanks again for the help! Tell your Mom I said hi!" You opened the door-

"WAIT!!" You jumped from the sudden yell and blinked at Gordie who held out a hand....before he coughed and looked away again. "I-I mean-...I-I'm hostin' a party for Circhester's Foundation Day next Wednesday...I'd be really cool i-if you'd come. I m-mean-...You're gonna be in Circhester for a while right? Haha! It'd b-be a good way f-for you to meet some of the people who l-live here-"

"That sounds great, but I can't. I have to work that day. I'm sorry."

"Huh?...Oh. Yeah. R-Right. *ahem* That's cool! I c-can dig it! I-If you change your mind however-..You're free to come without a doubt! Ya can't miss it since it'll be in the town square."

"I'll think about it. Shouldn't be hard to spot you anyways. You'll the tall, strong, and hansdome center piece of it all!," you again joked with a chuckle not noticing how frozen and red he had gotten. "Well I'll see you later. Thanks again for the help! You're a life saver!"

You then disappeared into your hotel room followed by your pokemon, and the door soon after closed with Gordie just standing there for a long moment...before he gulped feeling like a melting snowman under the heat his red face put out.

[blog-name-idk]

Everything Falls (Into Place) | 24

*Banner by the incredible @bangtansmauyeondan

Pairing: OT7 x Fem Reader

Genre: College!AU, Roommate!AU, Fluff, Humor, Smut

Summary: Your new roommates are unbearably nice and unbearably hot. Good thing you're an adult who is fully capable of platonic friendships with the opposite sex, right?

Word Count: 4469

Warnings: Smut

~~~~~

You J-Hoooope! You're not in your room

Hobi Hi! I went for a walk

You Are you free for lunch today?

Hobi I am, are we all doing something?

You I thought it would be nice if we hung out It's been a while since it's just been the two of us :)

Hobi Um, actually I might be busy Let me check and I'll get back to you

You Oh okay! No pressure I just miss my sunshine ☀️

Hobi I miss you too

Hoseok frowned at his phone, feeling a little guilty about lying to you about lunch plans. But he didn't know if he could put on his usual happy face if the two of you were alone together. He knew the thing people liked the most about him was his cheerful nature, and he didn't want to inflict his sad mood onto you. Even if the wilting leaves in his chest were begging for the sunlight in your smile.

"Hyung, what's wrong?" Asked Jungkook, seeing the storm clouds on his face. Hobi just sighed and handed the younger boy his phone. Jin peeked over his shoulder to read it, then also frowned.

"Hobi, you shouldn't avoid her like this," the eldest urged, setting a comforting hand on his friend's shoulder.

"Yeah," Jungkook nodded, giving him a one-armed hug. "Wouldn't [y/n] be more sad if she knew you were avoiding her?"

"I don't want to avoid her forever," the dancer protested, feeling a little ashamed that he seemed to be the only one truly upset. "I just… don't think I can be happy in front of her today."

"She's your friend, why would you need to pretend?" Jin asked, crossing his arms.

Hobi sighed. He knew Jin and Jungkook meant well, but they didn't understand. They were honest-to-goodness dreamboats with top tier good looks, intelligence, charm, and talent. Of course they thought everything was going to work out. For them, it probably would.

For all his cheerfulness and good humor, at the end of the day he was a realist. It was why he had gone to college for a degree rather than the capital to go all-out pursuing a dance career. And it was why he had to accept that there was no way someone as incredible as you would so much as glance his way when there were guys like Jin vying for your attention.

He didn't resent the others - how could he, when they were the best friends he had ever had - but it did still hurt sometimes. Still, they were right that avoiding you now wouldn't make things any easier in the long run. He would have to suck it up.

Hobi I'm free!

You Yay! I'm at Mina's now but want to meet up around noon?

Hobi Works for me :)

~~~~~

You fidgeted nervously while you waited for Hobi by your usual taco place. You had somehow managed to slip out of the house to visit Mina without running into anyone, which was a relief because you were still a little embarrassed that basically everyone had heard you last night. You knew you'd have to face them eventually, but a little time would help.

The largest cause of your current nerves was your impending conversation with Hobi. Despite the way Jimin and Tae assured you of his feelings, it was still terrifying to put yourself out there. Still, Jin had asked you to talk to him and he wasn't one to make requests lightly.

A familiar head of hair appeared around the corner and you perked up, waving. He waved back, but when he reached you you noticed that his smile seemed a little dimmer than usual.

When you hugged him hello, his embrace was also looser than normal, and he pulled away almost immediately. You hid a worried frown as your nerves spiked higher and followed him into the small restaurant.

"Is everything okay?" You asked after the two of you sat down at your usual table.

"I'm just a little tired," he replied with a smile that should have been reassuring. You flushed a little at the implication and looked down at the table, feeling awful at having beem that roommate.

"Er, I'm really sorry about that," you stammered in embarrassment.

"No it's fine, I'm happy for you guys."

There was that faux-smile again, and his voice had developed a tight quality that made your heart sink. The others had told you he had feelings for you, but that didn't mean they knew how he stood on the whole house situation. Could he be disappointed in you? Disgusted? Still, you had told the other boys you would do this.

"Oh, um, I was kind of hoping…" You tried to catch his eye, but he avoided your gaze and studied the five-item menu that the both of you already knew by heart. Fuck, this was way too hard, you couldn't do it.

"Um, do you hate me now?" Your mouth blurted instead, making you wince. That caught his attention, and his head snapped toward you, eyes wide.

"What? Of course not," he protested immediately, and it felt like the most honest thing he had said to you all day. He hesitated, looking as if he was fighting an internal war, before taking your hand with a smile that was feeble but genuine. "I'm sorry, what were you saying before?"

"Iwaskindofhopingyoumightactuallybealittlejealous."

He blinked in confusion, and despite your fear your heart fluttered at how absolutely adorable he was. It really wasn't fair.

"Er, I didn't catch that," he said apologetically, and you sighed.

"Um. What would you think if… hypothetically… I also had feelings for you… hypothetically…" You were such a fucking loser. His mouth fell open in a cute "o" and you fidgeted.

"Hypothetically!" You added again, wincing at how awkward you were making this. "So don't worry if-"

"Really?" His voice was a squeak and he was looking at you incredulously. Oh god, he thought you were insane. You had to get out of here.

"Uhh nevermind, I just remembered I have to go do something!" You jumped out of your seat to flee like a coward but his hand shot out to grab your wrist. He immediately let go, looking panicked, then grabbed it again more gently when you turned to leave. He pulled you into the chair next to him and stared at you while you tried to look anywhere but at him.

"You… hypothetically… like me?" He whispered softly, and at his tone you finally met his eyes. There was so much emotion swirling in them that you felt your cheeks flush at the attention.

"Yeah… hypothetically," you whispered back, feeling like you were under a spell. His face broke into a brilliant grin at your admission.

"I would say - hypothetically - that the feeling is mutual."

And then his lips were on yours. You didn't know how it was possible for someone to taste like joy, but he somehow managed it. His kiss made you feel like you were basking in the warmth of the sun and you leaned eagerly into him. You felt the corners of his mouth turn into a smile against your lips and couldn't help but giggle and break away.

"I know you guys are regulars and all but can you save that shit for later?"

The unamused, underpaid high school student who was here helping out his parents stood at the table with his arms crossed. You and Hobi grinned at him apologetically before ordering, and you moved back to the other side. He reached over the table to hold your hand a little bashfully, and his blush was the cutest thing you had ever seen.

"So you're okay with the whole… others situation?" You asked tentatively, though you felt too giddy to be nervous anymore.

"I think so," your friend responded with his more typical chirpiness. "Enough to try, anyway. Is there anyone else other than Tae and Jimin?"

You flushed, suddenly feeling self-conscious again.

"I... kindoflikeallofyou," you said in a rush, just wanting to get it over with. Hobi just smiled and rubbed the back of your hand with his thumb in soothing circles. "The only other one who knows is Jin, though."

"Okay," he said simply, gazing at you with adoring eyes. You internally swooned at how handsome he looked. How many people had you saved in a previous life for you to be this lucky?

The high schooler set your food on your table with a tired sigh before heading back to the counter. Well, you'd definitely saved more than this kid apparently. He sounded even more world weary than Yoongi at his grumpiest.

The two of you finished eating and left with no more incidents, though your cheeks hurt from smiling so much. Hobi was being almost as clingy as Taehyung at his worst and you loved every minute of it. You hadn't realized just how much the dancer had been holding himself back. It just never occurred to you that someone as wonderful as him might feel the same insecurities you did.

You held hands the entire way home, and Hobi couldn't stop himself from pausing every couple minutes to squeeze you in a hug or press light kisses all over your face. At one point he even stopped and twirled you around in his arms like a ballroom dancer. He couldn't help it, you were just so cute and sweet and he had wanted to be able to hold you like this for so long.

By the time the two of you got home, you were both giggly and red-faced. Incredibly, no one seemed to be home and he was selfishly grateful to keep you to himself for a little longer.

"Can we have another sleepover like Festa night sometime?" he asked shyly as you closed the front door. It had been impossible not to relive that night over and over, if not for the feel of you in his arms then for the easy laughs and conversation until you had fallen asleep.

"Jung Hoseok, are you trying to get me into bed with you?" you asked sternly, putting your hands on your hips. Panicked by the implication, he didn't notice the twinkle in your eye.

"No! I didn't mean it like that!" he protested immediately, feeling horrified that it had come off that way. Oh no, did you think that he was some perv that was only interested in sex? Well, he did find you incredibly attractive, but what he really wanted was to wake up with you in his arms again.

"O-oh, you don't want me like that?" you asked sadly, face falling. Again he missed the amusement in your tone and panicked further.

"What?! Of course I do, you're gorgeous, I just-"

He stopped talking when you broke into giggles. You were teasing him?

"You're so mean," he complained, trying to look offended but too enchanted by your laughter to manage it. He still did his best to pout, making you smile and wrap your arms around his neck.

"I'm sorry," you chortled, pressing your lips against his in a sweet peck. "You're just so cute."

"Hmph." That was the best he could do as he tried not to melt completely into you.

"Besides, I wouldn't mind."

He froze as his brain raced to catch up to his ears. Really? Lovely, gorgeous, amazing you really felt that way about him? His mind flashed to all of the half-formed images he had never dared to fully imagine, including ones inspired from the torturous symphony of sounds he had heard the previous night.

He crashed his lips down on yours, suddenly ravenous, and you gasped sweetly into his mouth. Unlike his previous chaste, almost shy kisses, this one was hard and deep.

You tasted so, so good and Hobi thought he could drown in your warmth. He threaded one hand through your soft, fruity-scented hair to deepen the kiss and you gave an approving noise halfway between a moan and a whine that sent shudders down his spine straight to his groin.

He licked into your mouth with hot strokes, only growing more enthusiastic when you reciprocated. One of his hands went to your lower back to bring you closer, and your soft curves molded into him perfectly. He was half on auto-pilot, in awe that this was real and he was touching you and you were enjoying it.

"C-can we go upstairs?" He gasped, pulling away before he lost all of his mental faculties. It was hard to keep himself under control when you looked like this, ruffled and breathless and looking at him like you wanted to eat him alive.

"I don't know, can we?" You asked, blinking up at him as innocently as you rolled your hips against his. He couldn't help but groan at the way you rubbed against his growing erection, and grabbed a handful of your ass to press you harder against him. You gave a cute squeal of surprise that only served to make him harder.

"You're really asking for it," he breathed, his tone full of dark promise. He watched in satisfaction as you flushed pink and your pupils dilated further. It was his turn to be surprised as you grabbed his hand and almost dragged him up the stairs and into your room.

As soon as you closed the door, he was on you, pushing you against the wood as he kissed and nipped the soft skin of your neck to add his own marks to the pretty collection you had acquired. You were pliant and perfect, moaning while grabbing fistfuls of his shirt in weak tugs. You rolled your hips against his again, and he cursed at having picked such tight pants in his rush to leave this morning.

Then, because you were an angel (or perhaps the opposite, but he wasn't very picky at the moment), your hand dipped between your bodies. You briefly palmed the uncomfortably tight crotch of his jeans before clumsily undoing the zipper. Your fingers dove under the waistband of his briefs to wrap around his cock and he groaned into your shoulder. He couldn't believe this was really happening. Then you pulled his length out and dropped prettily to your knees and he wondered if he had died and gone to heaven.

The sight of you kneeling before him, eyes wide and adoring and hungry was almost enough to make him come then and there. When you took him in your hands to guide his tip to your parted lips he thought he had to be dreaming. He had no idea you were feeling a similar awed wonder that you were the one to put such a wrecked expression on your sweet sunshine Hobi's face.

Your tongue flicked to capture the salty liquid gathering at the tip of his cock and he threw his head back with a soft groan. You couldn't necessarily say you loved the flavor, but the stars in his eyes were more than enough to make it your new favorite meal.

You dove in determinedly, spurred by the gasps tearing themselves from his throat, and using your hands to lave attention on whatever you couldn't fit into your mouth. Hobi's fingers threaded into your hair, more for him to ground himself than to direct you, which you appreciated. Still, you couldn't help but want to see what would happen if he lost control. So you teased.

You alternated between pulling off to give kitten licks, to engulfing him back into your waiting mouth with harsh sucks that had him gasping, all while staring up at him with best "fuck me" eyes you could under the circumstances. It seemed to work, because soon he ripped you off of him and tossed - tossed! - you onto the bed.

You barely had a moment to appreciate just how sexy that action had been because he quickly shed all his clothing, leaving you staring and once more.

"You're so hot, it's not fair," you complained, reaching out to rake admiring fingers down his toned abs. Your words brought a flush to his face, but the smirk that tugged at his lips was anything but cute. The glint in his eyes reminded you of the blatant sexuality he had exuded during the dance showcase and you gulped audibly.

"I'd say the feeling's mutual," he murmured into your ear as he leaned down, before giving it a hot, wet swipe of his tongue. You gasped and wriggled against him, and he slid his hand under your shirt to squeeze your breast over the fabric of your bra.

"O-oh, Hoseok," you whimpered when you gave your nipple a hard pinch. A low, sexy growl sounded from his throat and he nearly ripped your shirt and shorts in his haste to remove them.

"I could hear you say my name like that forever," he said hoarsely, taking a second to admire your almost-naked form before descending upon you again. His mouth was hot, wet, and sloppy against yours and his roving hands were everywhere. You weren't much better, eagerly mapping out every inch of skin you had dreamed of since walking in on him in the shower so long ago. You squeezed a handful of his toned ass and he bucked into you, making you both moan as his length rubbed against you.

"I'm assuming Jimin and Tae took care of that little issue you mentioned during Festa night," he rasped as he rubbed his fingers against the cloth covering your entrance. His eyes darkened when he realized just how damp it already was. "If they didn't I'll murder them."

The threatening tone in his voice was unlike anything you'd ever heard, and it made you impossibly wetter.

"T-they did," you managed, wriggling against him in hopes that he would give you more.

"Good," he said simply, though his eyes were simmering. He grabbed the edges of your underwear, slipping them easily off your hips, while you hurriedly moved to unclasp your bra and toss it aside. The way he licked his lips when he saw you in all your glory was nothing short of sinful. It was hard to feel self-conscious when he was staring at you like you were the most delectable thing he had ever seen.

"I can't believe how lucky I am," he groaned, leaning down to take a pert nipple into his mouth. The noise you made was enough to make him thrust involuntarily against you, making you both gasp at the wet slide on your lower lips, but he controlled himself and held his hips back off of you. Your complaint was cut off as he let his fingers play against your entrance instead, collecting your arousal before he slid a digit inside.

You were having a hard time figuring out where to set your concentration. As soon as you focused on the way his tongue was licking flat stripes against your nipple, his finger would give a wicked twist inside of you. When your hips bucked against his hand, he would give your chest a sharp but enjoyable nibble.

By the time Hobi pulled away, he had reduced you to a trembling, needy mess capable only of gripping your sheets and staring at him with glazed eyes. That lethal smirk widened further as he took in his handiwork.

"I think you still need to make up for lost time, though," he purred. Before your overwhelmed brain could understand what he meant, he had buried his head between your thighs and begun licking at you in earnest.

"F-fuck, Ho-seok," you keened as he gave your clit a flick with his tongue. He thought he might get addicted to the way your breath hitched and voice cracked. You tangled your fingers in his hair, whether to yank him off or shove him closer, you weren't sure. All you knew was that he was eating you out like it was his last meal and all you could do was give his hair weak tugs that he seemed to enjoy by the way he was moaning into your pussy. You felt the coil in your gut wind tighter and tighter with each swipe of his talented tongue, and when he slid a finger into you again you thought you might explode.

"H-holy," you choked as he curled the finger inside of you just so. "H-Hobi."

He pulled away from you momentarily, though he never stopped the ministrations of his finger, even slipping another into your waiting warmth.

"Holy Hobi," he teased. "I like it."

"Shut up," you said, halfway between a gasp and a giggle. You gave him a feeble punch in the chest, unable to summon the motivation for anything else in the wake of his teasing fingers. You pulled him in for a kiss, uncaring of the way his lips were still glistening with your arousal. You rolled your hips against his, brushing his dick again, and he groaned into your mouth.

"Want you," you murmured against his lips, bucking up again. "Please?"

How could he deny you when you asked so sweetly? He scrambled up briefly to lunge for his nightstand, making you giggle again, though by the time he had ripped the foil packet open and rolled the condom down his length your eyes were wide with anticipation. God you were so perfect, lying there soft and ready for him. You gave an impatient wiggle of your hips when he took too long admiring you for your tastes, and he felt his heart flutter with joy.

"I'm coming," he assured you, scooching over to line himself up with your entrance.

"Not immediately, I hope," you quipped back with a grin, before gasping and letting your head fall back as he rubbed the tip of his cock against your clit.

"You make it hard, but I'll do my best," he responded impishly as he teased your outer folds. He couldn't wait long either, though, and soon he was sinking into you inch by torturous inch.

"Oh," he breathed as he worked his way in. You were whimpering and giving weak bucks of your hips to help him along, and it was driving him insane. "You feel so good."

Hobi stilled as he bottomed out, just basking in how warm and wet and perfect you felt stretched out around his cock, until you rubbed against him.

"Move, please," you begged, and again he was helpless to deny you a single thing. He began slowly, wanting to savor the moment as he drank in your whines and moans. It was clear you wanted him to move faster, but he was beginning to enjoy the needy, desperate expression on your face.

"You're so beautiful," he groaned, his slow pace torturing himself as well as you. To distract himself, he reached forward to palm your breasts. You whimpered as he pinched your nipples between clever fingers, bucking up again in a futile effort to get him deeper.

"Hobi, please," you begged, your tone going straight to his dick.

"Hm? What's wrong?" he asked in mock concern, knowing he was being a little mean but unable to help it. You were just so sensitive and pliable, how could he not play with his food for a little bit? He slid slowly in and out, enjoying the snug fit and the absolutely frustrated look in your eyes. You couldn't believe this cruel, cruel tease was your sweet Hobi. But fuck if it wasn't hot.

"Please fuck me like you mean it," you managed to choke with another frustrated buck of your hips. His mouth fell open at your brazen request. Then his eyes darkened further and he licked his lips.

"Well, if that's what my gorgeous girl wants."

You barely had a chance to blush at his words before he pulled out of you and flipped you onto your stomach. You were quivering with anticipation as he dragged your hips up so you were on all fours, and he thrust into you with little preamble, setting a hard, vicious pace that had you arching your back against his chest. You couldn't help the squeaks and moans that spilled from your throat as he gave you exactly what you had asked for.

One of his hands wrapped around your throat from behind and you let out a surprised whine as he used his grip to pull you flush against him. He squeezed, not enough to cut off your air but enough to restrict your blood flow, and your vision fuzzed with pleasure. Who was this Hobi and where had he been hiding the whole time?

"You think you can come for me, pretty girl?" he murmured wickedly against your ear as his other hand inched down to rub lazy circles over your clit. You moaned helplessly at all of the sensations assaulting you, locked into place and unable to do anything but enjoy it as he continued to pound into you.

You felt like Icarus, enthralled by the new heights you were reaching, and completely enraptured by your closeness to the sun. Hobi wound your body tighter and tighter as he took you to the brink, and with one final stroke of his thumb on your clit your wings melted and you plummeted into an ocean of pleasure. He swore as your walls spasmed around him, his own pace growing erratic, until he joined you beneath the waves.

The two of you collapsed sideways onto the sheets, already in perfect spooning position, and you sighed in satisfaction as you turned your head to nuzzle his neck gently.

"I didn't hurt you, right?" he whispered, dark bedroom Hobi apparently having gone back into hiding. You giggled at the duality, turning to fully face him even though it made him slip out of you.

"No, I loved it," you confessed, kissing him on his sweaty nose. "Though I think my lower regions are off-limits for at least the rest of the day, I need to recover."

"Should I thank Jimin and Taehyung for leaving enough of you for me today?" Hobi teased, the gentle look in his eyes taking away any potential negative implications of his statement. Still, you pouted and flicked his ear.

"I can make my own bad decisions, thank you," you said primly, making him laugh. "And you guys make it very difficult to be good."

"I don't have a problem with that."

There was that smirk again as his more domineering alter-ego peeked through, and you shivered a little. No, no, you had to calm down or your body wouldn't be able to take it. So you reluctantly pulled away so the two of you could clean up and confront the rest of the house.

Oh fuck, the rest of the house.

~~~~~

Next | Masterlist

Tags: @singukieee @persphonesorchid @xmochiloverx @taestefully-in-luv @meavie @silscintilla @forpunishers @jnghs @avadakadabra93 @thesleepingmoonfox

[sebastianstansqueen]

The King And His Queen / Think About Touching Her I Dare You 7

A/N: I don't have much to say just suffering through allergies right now, as I type this, and umm I hope you like it, feedback is always appreciated if you want to be Tagged, either send an ask or comment on this or click on Taglist open.

Wordcount: 2409

Warnings: Bucky still being protective, mad reader, Smut, and angst

Masterlist //  Taglist open // Requests // Series Masterlist

Tags: @cherryblossomskye - @babylooneytoonz - @wonderlandfandomkingdom - @miraclesoflove - @amelia-song-pond

Once moved in and settled into Bucky’s penthouse at Brooklyn Point he lived on the 66th, 67th, and 68th floors of the building; the rest were regular residential apartments. Brooklyn loved her new room; it was large Bucky had made it more than she could dream, and just down the hall from yours.

As for your room suite, it was huge. You were surprised that there wasn’t a kitchen. “Yeah no, I can’t take this.” You told him.

“Yes you are and you will.” Bucky told you. “My room’s direct across the hall.”

You nodded firmly. “I know where your room is.”

After living there for the first few weeks, everything seemed normal well as normal as it can be when your baby daddy is a mob boss, that was until one morning. You walked down the steps of the first floor out of the three floors of the penthouse, you stopped when you saw the tufts of blond hair standing talking to Bucky, you knew this wasn't necessarily your home but Bucky had asked you to move in with him right now you sure as hell didn’t feel safe. You went to turn around and go back upstairs.

“Y/n, nice to see you again after what three years?” He questioned.

You sighed. “Good to see you too Steve...ya’ know what? I’m gonna go wake up Brooklyn, take her to Wandas, and then to the park.” You told Bucky, walking back up to the third floor.

“Ya’ just gonna let her tell you what to do?” Steve teased Bucky.

Bucky cleared his throat. “Y/n raised that..our kid on her own, so technically she can tell me what to do when it comes to her.”

“That kid’s softened you up.” Steve told him.

You woke up the three-year-old. “You wanna go to aunt Wanda’s for pancakes.”

She stretched. “I want waffles.”

“Aunt Wanda does waffles too, you know that.” You tell her. “And then we’ll go to the park.”

The tired girl nodded her head. “Okay, mommy yeah.” You helped her get ready.

You walked her down through the first floor ignoring Steve as you rode down in the elevator, almost as soon as the doors closed Bucky was calling your phone. “You forgot something...or rather Someone.”

“We're just going to go to Wanda’s chill. We don't need Sam or Scott.” You told the control freak of an Ex-boyfriend.

“Y/-” You hung up the phone.

You hit the bottom floor where you walked out into the parking garage where your car was waiting for you. You unlocked it and put Brooklyn into her car seat. You got into the driver's seat and pulled out of the parking garage. You drove to Wanda's shop, and walked in, and sat at your regular spot.

“Where you’ve been?” Wanda asked.

“In a penthouse.” You shrugged.

Wanda looked at you with furrowed brows. “Since when do you have money to afford a penthouse?”

“Aunt Wanda?” Brooklyn asked.

Wanda looked at the young girl. “Hmm? Sweetie.”

“Can I get waffles today with chocolate milk please?” Brooklyn said.

“Coming right up and for you Y/n, you're regular?” The red-haired girl asked. You nodded. After her telling her brother what to cook Wanda came over to you and she talked together. Then yours and Brooklyn's food was ready. After thinking for a minute she realized how you could have a penthouse. “Y/n tell me you didn’t.”

“Didn’t what?” You asked her.

“Didn’t move in with Barnes.” She said. You sighed, but before you could say anything she continued. “Why! Don’t you remember last time? And I’m not talking about how you broke up, I’m talking about your relationship as a whole, unless it was something he needed to do for work, he basically locked you in that mansion.”

“I told him that he couldn’t do that this time.” You told Wanda.

Wanda looked at you with a ‘yeah right’ look. “What's stopping him?”

“The fact that I have full custody of Brooklyn.” You said matter of factly.

She looked at you with an arched brow. “That’s not gonna stop him for long.”

You rolled your eyes at the girl. “Don't worry.” You and Wanda continued bickering over the subject of Bucky.

Oh, do you wish you listened to Wanda those weeks ago. Bucky started putting up boundaries, again as to where you could and couldn’t go, always having a bodyguard around watching you and Brooklyn.

So you decided to confront Bucky about it, you walked into the kitchen one morning and found him. “We need to talk James.” You said.

“Yeah, what's going on?” He asked.

“You're breaking your promise.” You told him.

He scoffed. “What do you mean? I have not broken my promise.”

“Yes, you have.” You told him.

He shook his head. “Nope, for one I have not locked you in the penthouse and another one is I haven’t broken any of the rules, we have not had sex, nore have I flirted with you, I also haven't had any business around Brooklyn and lastly we, as far as I know, have not slept in the same bed, therefor I’ve not done anything wrong, I’m making omelets for breakfast.”

“Wanda’s gonna get suss about me and Brooklyn not coming around.” You told him

“Wanda doesn't need to worry about you and Brooklyn anymore.” He told you.

Seven Years Ago (2014)

You’d been working in a stripper bar as one of the servers and strippers you’d been dancing that night on the stage.

Bucky walked into the small building, with a few business associates. They’d ordered drinks and sat at a table in front of the stage. Bucky admired the girl dancing. He licked his lips as he watched her body move. After the dance went to the bar and asked the bartender who you were. ‘Y/n.’ is what the bartender told him as he walked behind the curtain where other dancers were getting ready for their dances.

“I’m looking for Y/n.” He told one of the dancers. They pointed to a corner where a dressing room was. He walked in.

“Whoa!” You yelled and covered your body with the clothes you’d brought. “Uh, I think you're here on the wrong night buddy.”

“Are you Y/n?” he asked.

You looked at him with furrowed brows. “Uhh...yeah why ya’ lookin’ for me? Front row guy, I always remember a face.”

“Yeah, I’m looking for you.” Bucky said.

“You gotta problem? ‘Cause, we can always go around.” You said.

“Scrappy one, but no I don’t hit women, I wanted a private dance.” Bucky told you.

You laughed. “Sorry guy...sir whatever, my shifts up gotta get home then go to sleep in the silk pajamas that I don’t own and come back tomorrow.”

“How about I bring you home? You give me a private dance and you get extra money, and you can sleep in a pair of silky pajamas that you can own.” He said with lust in his eyes.

“Sure.” You said. Bucky smiled. “Now let me get dressed, I'll meet you in the front row.”

“Alright.” Bucky said as he walked out.

You shook your head at the man who seemed to be maybe ten years older than your eighteen-year-old ass you’d been working here since you were kicked out of your house by your dad and stepmom. You pulled your shirt over your head and pulled on your shorts, and socks after that with combat boots. You walked out and found the man exactly where you told him to be.

Bucky looked you up and down, biting his lip.“Do I get a name or do I have to live in mystery?” You asked.

“Bucky.” He smiled. “Ready to leave?”

“Yup.” you smirked. The man, Bucky, led you out to his black sports car. He sped through the streets, he pulled his phone out, and was on a phone call for about five minutes. He took you to a nice-looking mansion.

You smiled. “Killer house dude.” Bucky led you into the house. Bucky took you upstairs to his room. You started to pull off your clothes having not put on a braw earlier and kicking off your boots and pulling down your shorts and panties. “How are we gonna do this? I dance naked, and you keep your clothes on or we are both naked.”

“You’ll see.” He smirked as he sat on the bed fully clothed. He tapped his lap. “Come here.”

You sat on his lap knees on both sides of his thighs as you started to grind on his clothed lap you. You got up and started to do one of the daces you had picked up. You leaned down bare ass right in front of his eyes. Bucky pulled you back to him he started to unbuckle his belt. You pulled out the rich leather from the buckle. He rolled on top of you he put his middle and pointer finger and started to help you adjust your vagina to the size of his dick. He started to plunge his fingers in and out of you. “Oh god!” you moaned. You started unbuttoning his shirt and felt his muscle-toned chest. “Put it in now.” You begged.

“You sure?” He asked.

You nodded. “Yeah.” Slid into you inch by inch. He let out a loud groan with each inch. You had him flip over as you started to ride him going up and down, up and down. His hand cupping your breast.

He flipped you around. “You're good at oral.”

“I’m a strippper what do you think?” You asked sarcastically.

“Fair point.” Bucky helps your head up and down as he helps you give himself a rough blowjob. Bucky came in your mouth and you swallowed his seed.

“Okay, my turne.” Your mascara had started running and your voice was rough and grainy from taking his huge dick down your throat, you were also out of breath. He smiled, his chest moving up and down out of breath from his orgasm. He sat you down on his face as he ate you out his tongue moving from your clit to your opening.

After you came Bucky got off the bed and walked over to his dresser, he handed you a pair of silk pajamas. “As promised there you go.”

“Uh thanks.” You took them from his hands and got them on. You and he laid in bed with Bucky.

“Tell me about yourself Y/n.” Bucky is tone kinda quiet.

“Well my dad’s a businessman, my mom’s a coke whor, and my step mom’s a bitch so that says a lot besides my dad and step mom kicked me out about a little while back and I’ve been workin’ at the stripp club since.” You told him.

“Hmm how old are ya’?” He asked.

“I’m 18.” You told him.

“A bit young to be stripping don't ya’ think.” He asked.

You scoffed. “It pays well, what can I say.”

You and Bucky had been together for months now, and along with it came with control freak-ness, and locking you into the mansion claiming that you had no reason to leave because he had you quit your job.

Steve would come to the house and you being fairly young he’d scared you, to say the least, you didn’t trust him, he was cruel not caring who he hurt other than Bucky, Bucky and he were like brothers inseparable at times. Every time the blond tuft of hair came around a pit grew in your stomach, he was unpredictable, and he’d made his hatred for you clear a few times, rather it be a grumble of annoyance or even a few times he’d ‘accidentally’ hit you.

Present

“Why does Steve have to come here?” You asked.

Bucky looked at you. “He’s my friend and business partner.” He continued working on breakfast.

“I don’t like him around Brooklyn.” You said.

“You can’t use Brooklyn against me all the time Y/n.” Bucky said voice filled with irritation.

You looked at him with furrowed brows. “I don’t use Brooklyn against you...fine if you think I do, I don’t like him around me in general, he makes me nervous and he’s unpredictable.”

“Relax he’s not gonna do anything Y/n.” Bucky said.

“What? He’s literally hit me before.” You told him.

Bucky scoffed. “Sometimes when I look at you I still see that eight-teen-yearold I meat in a stripp club.”

“Well now I’m twenty-five with a three year old, and you're thirty-five with a piss ex and a three year old so grow your ass up and learn to be an actual adult for once James.” You told him before walking out. You were stressed about agreeing to this to moving in with him.

Your phone started ringing you looked at it with furrowed brows not knowing the phone number. You pressed the answer button. “Uhh, Hello?” You asked.

“Y/n?” A familiar voice said.

“Um yeah this is her, who are you?” You questioned.

“Oh thank god you answered.” The man on the other side told you.

“Okay who are you?” You were confused as to who the hell was calling you.

“Don’t you recognize your fathers voice?” He asked.

Your brows furrowed further. “Why the hell are you calling me? It’s been eight years asshole.”

“H-hold on Y/n.” He slerd.

“Your drunk grate.” You rolled your eyes.

“H-hey, st-stop don’t do-do that.” He sounded like a child.

“What do you want?” You asked for clear irritation in your tone.

“I want to talk...make amends with you.” He told you.

“Yeah no, your new wife and you kicked me out when I was seven teen asshole.” You said.

“Oh come on sweetheart you can't stay mad at me forever.” He sighed.

“Yeah I can.” You said.

“Where are you?” He asked.

“Not gonna happen.” You hung up.

Bucky knocked on the door to your room. “Can I come in?” he asked.

“It’s your house.” You sighed.

“It’s your room/supposed safe place.” He told you.

You rolled your eyes. “Come in.”

“I wanted to say sorry for not growing my ass up.” He apologized.

You sighed. “And I’m sorry for being a bitch, thank you.”

“Thank you for apologizing as well, see we can do this as adults.” He smiled.

Then there was a knock.

[nkogneatho]

ENEMIES TO LOVERS + KYOUTANI KENTAROU (f!reader)

Requests are open. Prompt list here.

Requested by @satisfactory-simp

A/n: Hello. I am really sorry this took so long. My tumblr was glitching so I am unable to answer and my drafts won't save. Anyways, here you go. I hope you like it.💕

Disclaimer: I do not own the character, the character in this 18+.

Warnings: Smut, Angsty.

Life basically sucked. You barely had any friends, not so comfortable with your family, and plus just took admission in a new school. Seijoh was known for elites. You thought it'd be nice to have decent people around you until your very first encounter was with this horrible person.

"Can't you walk properly? Don't you have eyes?", excuse me? Who is he yelling at? Isn't it his mistake you thought but you really didn't want to get caught in a mess on your very first day at school. You just apologized and left.

When the lecture started, you felt everyone staring at you and mumbling. You look up only to see they were glancing a bit backwards. You turned your head to find the very same guy you met in the corridor covered in bruises. What the hell?

"Got a problem with me? Is there anything on my face", shit. You stared at him for too long.

Yes there is. "Um no nothing, sorry" wait why am I apologizing? Did he get bullied. Judging from his posture and attitude doesn't look it. He seems like the one who bullies other. You really didn't like him or anything about him. He was the same. You were just classmates nothing more than that but still whenever you saw each other, there was this hatred. Maybe it was because you both always encounter each other on the wrong time.

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

One day, after the lecture you went to explore the school and it's well known volleyball players. You found the practice hall empty and locked. Maybe it's there day off. You heard a continuous loud sound arithmetically. You saw Mad dog practicing his serves. Balls hitting the ground so hard that you were sure they were gonna bursts. A girl approaches him. They were arguing. Is she his girlfriend? Well sure it was none of your business but since you had nothing to do, you stayed to watch.

"Mad dog. I am trying so hard to make you go out with me"

"Didn't I tell you I am busy. I don't have time to go for dates", he clearly wanted to make her go but she seemed to hung up on him.

"But-"

"No buts. I told you. It's my decision. Now scram", he glared at her. She walked away with a frown.

Later when you arrived in your class you saw it was pretty crowdy.

"I am telling you, he purposely held my hand and slapped me", the girl cried. It was the same girl who was asking him out on the ground.

"Stop lying you bitch", Kyoutani's rage was clearly visible.

"Look at him using such words at her. I am pretty sure he did it.", people around started talking about him but they were wrong. You were there when that happened. You clearly saw the whole thing and none of this shit occurred.

"She is lying.", you spoke up. "I was there. I went to explore the volleyball club but then I saw her asking him out. Kyoutani didn't do anything. He just told her to fuck off.", Kyoutani's eyes widened at you. Never in his life anyone ever trusted him. It's that when he fell for you. He did ask you to date him later but you denied saying "I was just helping a fellow classmate. That's no reason for you to want to date me" . He was still not giving up.

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

One evening, he saw you on a date with someone else. That's it. That was enough to break his heart. He couldn't take it so he approached you disturbing your dinner with the person.

"Hey. We still have to complete that project", his eyes hooked on your date, glancing them.

"Can't you see I am between a conversation and this is my private time?", you frowned.

"I don't care. We have to complete it. I don't want to fail because of you", you were sure he was just making an excuse.

"Fail? Since when do you care about studies so much?"

"Since I wanted to pass", a fake smile on his face.

You both started arguing and were so involved in each other that you forgot about your date. When you turned your head to glance at them but they had left.

Kyoutani noticed that and walked out of the diner with a 'plan successful' look on his face.

You paid the bill and followed him outside. You gripped his arms and swayed it to make him face you.

"What?", he asked.

"What the fuck do you mean what? Wasn't it you who just ruined my dinner with them?", rage flowed your mind.

"Who cares?"

"I don't get you Kyoutani. Why did you do that? Why do you always behave like this with me?"

"Because I am in love with you, you dumbass. And I know you think, I just wanted to date you as a return for your favor for saving my ass but no. I can't help but think about you. And it fucking hurts to see you with someone else when you don't even know how I genuinely feel", he tried so hard not to cry then and there.

To be honest, yes you were a bit of an ass to him. You weren't different from those people cause even you judged him the first time you saw him. The reason you have always avoided him is maybe you were scared he might be a violent person. But now? Now after watching him like this? After knowing that he is actually a soft person and people just test him? You couldn't help but shed tears knowing how bad he must've been hurt. Overthinking about it will only ruin the moment. Your mind was a mess at that time. All you knew that if you let this chance slip, you will surely regret it. Without a second thought you gripped his collar and placed a deep kiss on his lips. You swayed away, both standing in confusion. "I-I am really sorry. I-I didn't k-know what happ-", he interrupted your stuttering latching his lips on yours. You held the hem of his jacket like holding on your feelings for him. It wasn't clear what you guys were doing at this point. What was your relation? But none of you could deny the fact that it was surprisingly comfortable.

"Can we go at my place?", you pulled away to catch a breath as you asked him. Awed at your question but he still assured that you were okay. "Are you sure?"

"Yes", eyes closed as you placed a kiss on his cheek.

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

You invited him in, keys jingling as you threw them on the counter. "You wanna eat something?", you asked searching for beverages in the fridge.

"Yeah, you.", your cheeks reddened at his words.

"Obviously I'm kidding", he approached you as he didn't wanna make things awkward but now you couldn't get the thought out of your head. The thought of how would Kyoutani look settled between your legs.

"I mean, you can if you want to.", honestly? Even you were kinda stunned at your own statement. His legs advanced towards you, arms practically caging your sides. Face rigorously close to yours. If you both kissed now, you knew things just won't stop there.

Eyes wandering on each others lips before grabbing them, the space between you to closing in as you inhaled and dwelled in his softness. Wodering despite how rough he looks, he is nothing but a delicate person.

His big arms picked you up and carried you to the couch in the hall.

"Are you sure the door's locked?", and that was the confirmation that you won't just end it on a kiss tonight.

"Yeah", he lifted up your skirt to find your thighs rubbing together in embarrassment but that was the heat between your legs. You slowly started spreading them, a part of you hesitating because of how wet he made you with just some kisses. Kyoutani's eyes perked up at the view in front of him. The wet spot on your panties were clearly visible and so some of your juices flowing from the hem of it through your inner thighs. I swear he gulped down his breath at just how sexy you looked like this. He gave you a glace for consent and you nodded. Without further ado, he licked the wetness on your inner thighs then following your sex. His first lick had you squirming because of the temperature difference. "You taste so good", tongue only left your pussy once just to compliment you.

"It's kind of-- embarrassing", you bit your finger that made him turn on even more. You peeked at the tent growing in his pants. "Kyoutani. I want you inside me", he legitimately slapped himself. "What are you doing?", you asked.

"Just making sure it's not a dream", you wrapped your hand around his neck pulling him in. "No, it's not a dream. This is for real. We are for real Kyoutani". "I love the way you call me Kyoutani unlike everyone else. Only you have the right"

"Oh you'll love it even more when I'll call you daddy", bitch don't you have shame? Is what you were screeching inside but who cares?

He didn't know he had that kink until you said it. "Where's the bedroom?", a question without a second thought.

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

He placed you on the bed delicately. You both started stripping, making sure there's nothing bothersome between when your skins touch.

Your thighs rubbed against each other the second you saw his big and thick length.

You helped him put on a condomn and then lied back with your legs apart, perhaps an invitation to just put it in.

Kyoutani gently slid his dick in your sloppy wet cunt. You hissed at the thick length stretching you out. "Is it hurting? Should I stop?". "No. Please keep going.", it did hurt a little but you were so greedy for that feeling.

He made sure to move subtly. He doesn't want to cause his love pain. Once your pussy got adjusted to it, he started thrusting. Dick reaching places, no one ever did. "Call me daddy again", you were smiling internally learning how you got him this hard. "Please fuck me Daddy. I want you", these words were enough to make him go harder as he gripped your hips. "Ahh ahh-- Kyoutani Ahh", you couldn't hold your moans at this point. It took just one deep thrust for you to come undone. Walls clenching around his dick your hands did the same to the bedsheets. Seeing you like this, the girl he fell in love with was a very unknown feeling as he never fell for anyone before.

He couldn't hold it back in. He shoved it a few more times as he reached his own high. He dropped himself on top you, elbow digging deep in the mattress as his upper body balanced on it. Eyes making sure to never yours which were half-lided from the overwhelming heat after a long time.

"You know, it really ached when you ignored me before. But now here we are. Still can't believe this happened"

"I ignored you because I was scared that I might catch feelings and it won't go the way I want to", yes, you were honestly scared.

"So what changed your mind?", the curiosity stucked in his mind.

"The fact that someone was willing to give their heart to me was enough to make me fall for you at that confession. I love you Kyoutani", now that you discovered him, even your feelings became clear.

"I love you too", he cooed with a smile.

Turns out all of that wasn't the hatred but denial of the fact that deep down, you both were meant to be but just the circumstances weren't coping up with you two.

©All the wrting contents belongs to nkogneatho 2021, do not repost.

[y0itsbri]

gallavich week 2021 - day 7 - meet ugly

thank you to @ianandmickeygallavich for the inspo // @gallavichthings

Prompt: Ian and Mickey are neighbors in an apartment complex. They haven’t ever interacted, but one day they get stuck the elevator. One of them doesn’t like confined spaces but doesn’t share this so the other one assumes he is freaking out for no reason.

Words: 3.5k

--

"I'm going out tonight, dickbreath!" Mandy announced, popping her head out of the bathroom. She was wearing a short sequined dress, fitted tightly to her body and only halfway zipped up so it slipped part way down her shoulders.

"Don't do anything I wouldn't!" Mickey called from his recliner in the living room with an Old Style in hand. Work has been absolutely kicking his ass this week and he wanted nothing more than a chill night in.

"Oh, c'mon, now that's no fun. You don't do anything," she accused.

"That's not true!" Mickey grumbled, remote in hand and flicking past some news channels onto some good shit -- finally. Rerun of Jurassic Park.

"What're your plans for the evening then, hot shot?" Mandy teased as she applied yet another layer of mascara on her already blackened eyelashes, "Dinosaur movies all night?"

"Might go to the corner store for some smokes."

"Please get something to eat while you're at it. We have like nothing in here." She waltzed to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator door and grimaced. He could admit that a grocery run was, in fact, long overdue.

"Yeah, yeah."

"Serious, Mick." Mandy gave him the look. The Look being the same Look that his mother used to give him when he was being a little shit.

Fine. "Got it. I'll eat something." She smiled at that.

"Thank youuu," Mandy dragged the word out as she leaned over to kiss his forehead.

"Gross."

"Ditto. Zip me up?"

--

Mandy had headed out awhile ago -- long enough ago that Mickey was now halfway through his second 'dinosaur movie.' He should really visit his dinosaur guy again soon, he's probably got some cool new shit. Mickey sighed and got up, idling over to the kitchen.

He downed a full glass of water and opened the fridge. Yeah, unless he wanted to eat a pickle with ketchup and beer, he needed to go out. He debated ordering in, but he needed to go to the corner store anyways. Two birds one stone kind of situation.

Mickey threw on his favorite pair of sweatpants and his Davie Bowie tee shirt with the sleeves cut off. It was a good shirt. Mickey thought Bowie was hot -- fuckin' alien-looking, but hot, nonetheless.

Mickey shoved his wallet and phone in his pockets and locked up his apartment. Maybe Ernie would have the good roast beef sandwiches today.

His thoughts about dinner plans subsided as he noticed the guy waiting for the elevator.

Mickey had seen the ginger around. He was hard to miss -- fuckin' tall, always going out for runs early in the morning in short shorts and coming back all sweaty, always had a million fucking people coming and going from his apartment. They lived on opposite ends of the hall, but Mickey had never actually spoken to him before.

Mandy had given her brother lots of shit for acting so goddamn unapproachable and that's why he has no friends. Mickey didn't want to be friends with everyone, but he wouldn't mind spending some time with the hot red-head down the hall... eventually.

But he was waiting for the elevator with him right now. He couldn't bring himself to make eye contact in fear that it would lead to small talk which would then lead Mickey to inevitably embarrass himself. He couldn't blow his shot. Mandy did the small talk, not him. He took out his phone and scrolled through Instagram even though none of the photos were loading.

He hardly looked up when the elevator arrived and he stepped into it, leaving plenty of space between the two of them. Maybe it was an unreasonable amount of space, but it still wasn't enough for Mickey. He could still smell the guy's cologne. And it was infuriatingly attractive.

"Ground floor?" The man's voice practically sent heat down Mickey's spine. This was going to be a long ride.

"Uh, yeah." Nice, Mick. Not embarrassing at all.

"Great." It hung in the air, a tinge of awkwardness to it.

Out of the corner of his eye Mickey could see the the man leaning against the elevator wall, crossing his ankles as he not-so-subtly stared Mickey's direction.

Mickey was running out of things to check on the his phone and he was about to give in and finally make eye contact when he felt a shift. Then an ungodly clanging of metal. And a stop.

Fuck.

He glanced up at the dial. Sure enough they were stopped between floors, and not at all near the ground.

"The fuck?"

"What?" The red-head locked confused eyes with Mickey's.

"We're stopped. Why the fuck are we stopped?"

"Hm," The guy poked around at the open doors button and nothing happened. "I don't know."

All hopes of positive small talk was out the window as Mickey went into full panic mode. He did not like small, confined spaces -- which happened to be exactly what his current predicament entailed.

"You open the doors!" Mickey practically shrieked.

"Why me!?" The attractive guy spit back.

"You work out and shit -- do I look like I could pry those fuckers apart?"

"Well..." The red-head took a moment to size up Mickey's smaller form. "Yes, you do actually- but these doors are heavy as fuck. We don't have like super strength."

"Fuck you."

"Uh, fuck me!?"

"Yeah, fuck you. Not even tryin' and now we're both going to fuckin' die in here. Any last words, Red?"

He rolled his eyes. "We're not going to die. Don't you think you're being a little dramatic?"

"Don't you think you're being a little too calm considering we're stuck?"

"Oh. You're freaking out."

"No shit I'm freaking out, Sherlock." Mickey ran his hands down his face. This was not fucking happening to him right now.

"Hey, take deep breaths."

"Can't. Gonna die." Mickey gasped.

"Well, if you can't breathe, you're definitely going to pass out."

Mickey shot him panicked eyes.

"Hey, hey it's okay. Just look at me."

Mickey could do that.

"Copy me. In-" He inhaled, chest expanding.

"Out-" Mickey felt his breath on his face. In any circumstance, a stranger breathing on him would warrant a punch in the gut, but now it was more grounding than anything else. They repeated that motion a few times.

"Good. See, you can breath."

"What are you? A fuckin' doctor?" Mickey huffed a laugh in disbelief.

"Been to enough," he chuckled.

"Huh?"

"Never mind. But, uh- look, see, I'll hit the emergency button and someone will come get us soon. It'll be okay."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm positive. Got stuck in one of these with my sister when I was little, kinda scary at first but we were out in practically no time. She sang to me to pass the time, but I take it you don't want me to sing to you?"

That earned a full-bellied laugh from Mickey, "Not yet."

The man grinned goofily like a golden retriever.

They were silent for a moment.

"So, uh, what's your name?" The red-head asked, gazing curiously at Mickey.

Mickey just stared back at him.

"Your name?" He repeated gently.

"Mickey."

"Mickey," He said it so soft like a prayer. "I like it. I'm Ian."

He had no idea what he expected, but it wasn't Ian. Ian was fitting, though. Ian was good.

--

Ian had hit the emergency button a few times for good measure while Mickey had tried to call Mandy to no success. They settled onto the floor, leaning against opposite walls, feet nearly colliding in the center. Neither made a move to completely avoid that.

After Mickey had calmed down a bit, they fell into bouts of comfortable conversation and comfortable silence.

"I thought you just hated me." Ian mumbled after a bit.

"What I hate is being trapped here." Mickey stared at the walls threatening to enclose around them. He closed his eyes so he didn't start to panic again.

"Even before this."

"Oh?" That was news to Mickey. That was never his intent.

"Yeah, I always see you around, but you never seem to see me." Ian looked to the ground when he said it.

"I've seen ya plenty. You're the dork with the short ass shorts."

Ian smirked, "I guess I am."

"Hard to miss, man."

"You too. I've wanted to say hi for like months, but you always looked like you were ready to snap me in half or something. I kinda like my limbs in tact."

Mickey swiped his thumb against his nose and sniffed, embarrassed, "Sister says I scare everyone away. Used to be a good thing."

"Sister... wait, wait, wait, hold up. You're Mandy's brother, aren't you?"

"You know Mandy? Oh god, you're not banging her, are you?" That would throw a wrench in his plans.

"Oh god, no!" Ian threw his hands up in a mock surrender like that was the most repulsive thing he's ever heard.

"Something wrong with my sister?" Mickey grew defensive. She may be a lot to handle at times, but she was still his sister.

"No, no, she's great! 'm just not into... well, uh- I'm- let's just say that if you had a brother, maybe I'd be banging him." He grimaced.

Watching Ian stumble over his words after being so confident about everything else was a bit amusing.

"Oh -- cool." Mickey wasn't used to such obvious disclosures about sexuality with strangers.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah." Mickey avoided all eye contact.

"So?"

Ian paused until Mickey was able to look at him again.

"So, what?"

"Do you have any brothers?" A playful flicker in Ian's eyes made it obvious that he was just being a little shit now.

"You're an idiot."

"Maybe so, but that doesn't answer my question still."

"Yeah, I have brothers, but they'd uh- let's just say definitely not be into that."

"And you're... not not into that?"

Mickey rolled his eyes. His lack of denial was basically a confession and they both knew it.

Ian smirked and knocked the toes of their shoes together.

--

Help announced itself to be coming soon over the tiny intercom embedded in the elevator. Sometime shortly after that, Ian had made his way over to the wall next to Mickey's, rather than across.

"Where were you going tonight?" Ian asked, turning to fully face Mickey.

"Nowhere." Nowhere interesting at least.

"Really? So you just take an elevator down to nowhere?"

"Alright, smart ass, I needed to get dinner. Gonna be a late dinner now that's for sure, fuckin' starving."

"Shit."

"What about you? Got a hot date or something?" Mickey eyed him up and down. Ian's outfit wasn't fancy by any means, but he still looked damn good in it.

"Oh, I wish," he winked, "Just going on a walk to clear my head. But this is working just as well."

"Good for you, man. My head is fuller than ever."

"What're you thinking about?" Ian's heavy breath practically bounced off his face. His gaze flickered to Ian's pouting lips. This was ridiculous.

Kissing you. Kissing you. Kissing you. "Nothing."

"Riiiight." Ian's eyes mimicked the same trail that Mickey's had just followed.

"Yup."

Ian scooted closer to Mickey and he swore his heart was beating so loud that even Ian could hear it. If he could, he made no indication. Instead, he eyed Mickey's hand resting on the floor. Gently, careful not to spook him, he caressed Mickey's fingers, nearing his tattooed knuckles.

Mickey fought the urge to yank his hand away. No one ever touched him so delicately, so sweetly. He figured that Ian would have guessed that, seeing his crude tattoos, but he wasn't acting like this was strange. So Mickey let him.

"Fuckin' hate them." Mickey murmured, watching Ian's fingertips tracing over the back of his hand.

Ian frowned.

"The tattoos."

"They're you. I'm sure they have a story."

"Wish I could forget it."

"If it makes you feel any better, I have a pair of tits on my shoulder."

"Ex-fucking-cuse me?!" Mickey pictured literal tits growing out of the man's back.

"Here, look," Ian turned, pulling his shirt up, revealing an insanely toned and insanely freckled back. Surely he was not about to be flashed in an elevator. But sure enough, tattooed on his shoulder was a pair of double-D's.

"Shit! Dude, what the fuck is up with that?" Mickey laughed.

Yeah, this made him feel better. At least he didn't have fucking titties tattooed on his knuckles, though he was sure someone in his family must have something like that. They're fucking idiots like that. Like Ian, apparently. But Ian was good.

"It was supposed to be my mom." Ian winced, pulling his shirt back down to cover it again.

"Mom must've been a banger." Mickey joked, still hardly containing his laughter.

"Ugh," Ian groaned dramatically. "Never gonna live that one down."

He threw his hands back on the ground, near Mickey's but not touching this time.

Experimentally and slowly, so slowly, Mickey hooked his fingers with Ian's and rubbed his thumb against Ian's hand. It was calloused, but so soft. It was a movement so gentle he hardly recognized himself, completely contradictory to the message literally written across his hands.

He was practically holding hands with a man in an elevator. Oh, if dear dad could see him now.

Moving out of his hell house with Mandy had been a good step, but it had taken Mickey years to unlearn his self-hate, allow himself to be. He still wasn't perfect, and he still felt years behind. But with Ian, it felt normal. It felt right and warm.

Right then, he felt the elevator shift again. He tightened his grip on Ian's hand. Ian returned the hold. If he was going to die, at least he wasn't going to die alone.

Mickey realized that they weren't falling down, but rather moving upwards.

They released their hands and leapt up to their feet as the door dinged open, revealing a small staff of maintenance personnel, not looking at all concerned that two men had just been trapped inside for an unspecified amount of time.

"Fuckin' finally!" Mickey ran out. He resisted the urge to drop to the floor and kiss the ground. He was dramatic, but he wasn't that dramatic.

Ian thanked the maintenance people then hurried along beside Mickey. They weren't on their floor, but they sure as hell weren't about to take the elevator again after all that.

"Hey, Mickey, wanna come back to my place? I think I still have some leftover lasagna if you're still hungry."

Mickey checked the time. Yeah, Ernie's place was definitely closed by now. Plus he really did just want to go back to Ian's. He glanced up to see Ian in almost full puppy-dog eyes. The dork was needlessly persuasive, he'd give him that.

"Yeah, sure. I could eat." He grinned like an idiot.

Ian nodded his head towards the stairwell, holding the door open for Mickey, who obediently followed up the steps.

--

Ian's apartment wasn't too different than Mickey and Mandy's, mirrored and maybe smaller, but it looked oddly inviting and definitely way more lived in -- almost too much décor and family photos hung up around the space.

"Uh, make yourself comfortable," Ian called as he rummaged through the cabinets, grabbing a couple plates to reheat some food for Mickey and himself.

Mickey was no stranger to feigning confidence in unfamiliar locations, but this felt different, more genuine. He actually respected Ian, the man having been kind and patient with him in a less than ideal situation.

He sat himself on the barstool at Ian's countertop and watched him. The gorgeous man who he had been eyeing in secret for months, who had helped him through a small panic attack, who had held his hand and traced his tattoos like they were art. Like Mickey was art.

"So, Bowie, huh?" Ian leaned against the counter, waiting out the timer on the microwave.

"What?"

"Your shirt," he pointed, and Mickey looked down.

"Oh, yeah. He's cool as fuck. Dope music."

"Got great hair, too."

"You would think so."

"Self-love, baby."

"Good for you." But there was no edge in his voice.

Ian smiled. The microwave beeped and they settled in, eating together with nothing but the awkward clanging of silverware and chewing. Mickey was too fucking starving and too fucking tired to care about formalities to give a shit at this point.

"Bet you didn't think you'd spend your night eating lasagna with a David Bowie look-alike, huh?" Ian teased over a mouthful of pasta.

"You wish, man."

"Hey, it's at least a little true."

"Yeah, you're both fuckin' aliens."

"Maybe so, but at least we're hot."

They both smiled around their forks, glancing over at each other a little too frequently with nothing but fondness.

--

Ian collected their plates when they were done, taking them over to the sink to wash them later. Mickey got up and followed him into the center of the kitchen, still sipping on his beer before setting it on the counter to his right.

In a move that shocked Ian, and even himself, Mickey moved into Ian's space and pressed his chest against Ian's back. He wrapped his arms around Ian's waist, feeling up the plains and softness of his stomach, feeling his breath hitch and his heart beat faster. Mickey's warm breath bounced off of Ian's neck and back onto his own face.

Ian sighed and placed his hands over Mickey's again. He leaned his head back onto Mickey's shoulder for a moment before wiggling free from Mickey's grip enough to turn around and face him, carding one of his hands through Mickey's dark hair.

"Mickey." He said it so soft. With so much admiration. Mickey couldn't take it anymore. He leaned up and pulled Ian's head down so they were the same height.

"Fuck, c'mere," he murmured, lips practically touching Ian's with the words.

Ian pressed their lips together. For all his gentle touches throughout the night, his kiss was anything but. Like he needed him to breathe.

Ian pushed him backwards towards the living room, stumbling over each others' feet in the process. Mickey greedily pulled down on Ian's neck, desperate not to let him go. Ian smiled into it and dropped backwards onto the couch cushions, pulling Mickey on top of him, making out like dumb teenagers.

--

Eventually, they settled and Mickey rested his head on Ian's chest while Ian rubbed his back and head comfortingly. Truthfully, he was beginning to panic a bit. He hadn't liked anyone in awhile, and Ian was very hard to not like.

"Are you good?"

Fuckin' mind reader.

"I don't know." Smooth, Mick.

"You don't know what?" Ian probed gently.

Mickey sighed, "How to do this," he answered honestly. There was no point in lying to Ian.

Ian kissed Mickey's forehead, "We can do this any way you want, alright? No rush, no pressure."

"Yeah?"

"Absolutely," Ian scratched Mickey's head for a moment, "I've been waiting for you for awhile, Mick, I'll wait for however long you want."

Mickey leaned into his touch and then kissed his shoulder, "I want you, this."

"Me too." They smiled into each other. Safe together.

--

Neither made a move to push things further for the night. Ian had flicked on the tv to the same channel Mickey had on earlier, the Jurassic Park marathon still playing. After whatever movie was on now, Mickey decided he should head home. He was utterly exhausted after the day, and as much as he liked Ian, he didn't want to pass out in the guy's apartment -- though he was sure Ian wouldn't mind at this point, kind bastard.

After Ian had pulled Mickey into one last embrace, Mickey wretched open Ian's door, only to come face to face with his sister, makeup smudged and heels in hand after her night out.

She gasped way louder than fucking necessary, "You slut!"

"Shut the fuck up," he grumbled pushing past her to head back to his own apartment.

"See ya later, Mick!" Ian called down the hall. Mickey didn't respond, but Ian took no offense. To be fair, he had just been caught red-handed by his very dramatic bitch of a sister.

Mandy grinned and looked between Mickey's retreating form and Ian's blushing face. "Oh my god, Ian! I knew it!"

"Hi, Mands." He ducked his head, scratching the back of his neck.

She gave a cheeky, knowing wave goodbye and took off barefoot after Mickey, "You fucker! I want all the details!"

"You ain't gettin' 'em, bitch!" He stormed inside, but left the door open for her behind him.

Mandy threw her shoes on the floor and met up with him in the kitchen, punching his arm lazily so he spilled his newly-opened beer down his hand. "The fuck?!"

"I'm so proud of you!" She made grabby hands at Mickey in attempts to smush his cheeks, but he weaseled out of there quick enough to avoid her gross hands. She may be fuckin' drunk, but she was still quick.

"Yeah, will well ya stop screaming it from the rooftops. Ian's gonna think I'm a fuckin' loser."

"Awww," She chased after him as he headed down the hall, "You are a loser, but that's besides the point! I've been waiting for this for weeks!"

"Night!" Mickey shut his bedroom door in Mandy's face. She'd get over it in a minute. Hell she was probably well on her way to passing out already. Maybe she'd get some details out of him tomorrow.

But tonight -- he reveled in the fact that he spent the night making out with his very kind, very dorky, very hot red-headed neighbor.

--

And when Mandy eventually moved out from their apartment and in with her girlfriend, Mickey had absolutely no problem finding a new red-headed roommate.