#addition: izzy hands is miserable

[sanaxo-o]

Be the one (Eric Sohn)

To @deobienthusiast K, from Sana: Hihi K :) I know that we don’t talk much (which is a shame because I think your company would be a great addition to my lonely life) but I really had so much fun writing this for you. Despite not being able to write for Sangyeon and Juyeon (I was thinking about making three different fics but *sigh* time is a bitch). I hope we get closer in the future and that you enjoy this small silly fic I wrote for one and only, Eric Sohn hehe.

Warnings: kissing, drinking, cheating, in a scene Juyeon jokingly implies that readers a bad person, um mentions of balls (don’t ask, just read), reader and Eric act stupid (way to much), mentions of peeing and all (plz don’t judge me yall 😭), PG 13 jokes (yes), reader jokingly says that she is in a relationship with a old man, mentions of doing excessive amount of drinking and drugs, few scenes inspired by TV show Gilmore Girls and a classic movie 10 Things I hate about you, some of it is inspired by Sabrina Carpenters song Santa doesn’t know you like I do.

Genre/trope: angst, fluff, friends to lovers, slow burn, hurt/comfort

Taglist: @cloverdaisies @kimsohn @mosviqu @from-izzy @mars101 @stealanity @deoboyznet

Sana: this actually took everything in me to write 😭. Like I have never in my life ever written slow burn so this was definitely a challenge! A big thanks to @mosviqu @from-izzy (especially izzy for giving me all those correct punctuations and all 😭) and @o-onikix for beta reading this huge ass thing of mine 😭 (also to my irl friend for reading bits and pieces and giving me the confidence)

Word count: 13,785

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“Are you coming to the Christmas party?” You hear Soyeon ask you. Stopping in your tracks in the middle of the hallway, you turn around to face her again as you give out a small sigh at her repetitive question. The answer was going to be the same either way so you don’t understand why she is so persistent on getting you to come to the Christmas party.

“No, I don’t think I am coming to the Christmas party thanks for asking tho.” You say as you give out a small annoyed smile before you continued walking to your next class with Soyeon tailing behind you.

“But why? It’s the last party you will get!” She says once she catches up with you.

“There’s…there’s prom?” You say with your lips pressed in a straight line. Dropping by your locker you pick up a few extra books you needed for the next class.

“Which you will never attend! Come on, it’s gonna be so fun at the party.” She says with a pout resting upon her lips as she shakes your arms back and forth trying to convince you.

“Parties are not my thing. You know it and it’s like any other typical party I have attended in the past. There would be loud music, then of course, alcohol which was sneaked in by others and in every other corner would be people making out. On top of that, no one has asked me out yet.” You tell her before you push her away gently and close your locker with a thud.

“No one is asking you because they’re scared you will reject them like every time.” You hear Soyeon mumble with the small pout still resting upon her lips as she played with her sleeves trying to gain your sympathy which she was miserably failing at.

“Even if I do come I won’t enjoy it.” You point out as a matter of fact.

“What about Eric? He can ask you out!” She suggests totally ignoring the fact that you just said that you won’t enjoy the party either way. But you let out a snort when you register the fact that she just said that Eric could ask you out. At this point it was a normal thing for her, in every other conversation she would always manage to bring up Eric.

She thinks Eric is the perfect boyfriend anyone could ever ask for and from her point of view she says that Eric is totally smitten for you which is most definitely not true because after all you both are just really close friends.

Despite the sweet names he calls you by, holding your hand when it’s cold to warm you up, buying food for you as his treat, the occasional sleepovers at his place on every Friday as you both cuddled together on the same bed and of course the way he’s always looking after you no matter what.

You still remember the day when you had fallen sick and Eric by all means tried his best to manage everything on his own. From taking care of you to helping you complete your notes despite being from different majors.

“Eric? He’s just a friend, nothing more, nothing less.” Saying that you start walking away.

“I beg to differ, every other person thinks that you and Eric are dating!” Soyeon says with a whisper.

“I don’t care what every other person thinks and that’s not even true, I mean yeah I used to have a thing for Eric in the past but I am over it. He already likes someone else I guess…” you say, your voice coming out small.

Giving you a look Soyeon looks at you with a knowing look “Are you sure about that?” She says before stifling a laugh when she sees the glare you throw her way.

“Yes I am sure about that and as I said before Eric already likes some else..” you say with a slight groan at the end.

“What are you talking about? Eric and Yuna broke up months ago and not to say you’re still single. It’s a perfect opportunity!!” Soyeon says with an excited smile now playing upon her lips.

“Nah, Eric and me are better off as friends I’d say.” Saying that you walk away from Soyeon and enter your class.

Taking a seat at the very end of the class, you place your bag and books on the table before you get your headphones out.

Looking out the window you looked at the calm stretched morning, it was like any other day you would have. The professor was blabbing away about something you did not care enough to pay attention to.

You would catch up on it later on anyways but the morning was ruined when the door slammed open and one of your peers, Sunwoo walked in with rage.

Standing right in front of you he leaned down to speak with you, “How could you leave me yesterday night? After the amazing night we had you just storm out in the morning just like that with no other thought in mind?? How could you Y/N!?” Sunwoo screamed loudly as he continued, “I thought we were heading som-” Another uninvited yell cut him off. getting cut off Sunwoo was interrupted with another yell.

“What the hell man? How could you just barge in like that? I told you, Y/N is with me now.” You see Eric say as he approaches you and Sunwoo.

“You stay out of this Eric!” Sunwoo yells at him.

“Why? Just because you cannot have her why blame it on me?”

“You asked for it you little shit!” Sunwoo yells at Eric as he pounces on top of him.

Looking around the room you see everyone whisper things while watching the fight unfold in front of them, and if that was not enough in came Juyeon with a security guard outfit on as he blew the whistle to stop the two of them from fighting.

“All right that’s enough you two!” Juyeon yells as he goes over to both of them and picks them up by their collar before he turns around and looks at you while still having a hold of them. “Y/N you should be ashamed of yourself for toying with boys like this! They used to have pride, they used to have dignity and most of all they used to have balls!” Juyeon yells as he starts dragging both of them to the door before stopping midway “Damn it Y/N, give them back their balls!” Saying the last line all three of them exited the class before laughter began to erupt everywhere.

Looking around you slide down against the chair trying to hide yourself. You knew being friends with them meant having some crazy experiences but never did you ever think that they would do something like this.

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Sitting in the cafeteria with Soyeon, you listened to her babble about something that happened in her class before she stopped talking when Eric approached your table with Sunwoo and Juyeon by his side.

You just observed him take a seat beside you before he grabbed a French fry from your plate. Sighing you just pushed the bowl towards him, suddenly having no appetite.

“I hated the stunt you pulled in the class today. Like no I do not have your balls. Just because you’re the son of a rich man does not mean you do this.” You say with a solemn voice as you drink your cup of coffee.

“Seriously Y/N? Having coffee at lunchtime?” Eric asked with a deadpan expression as he looked at you with confusion totally ignoring about the fact that you were mad at him.

“No, don’t change the subject. I am still talking. I mean who in the right mind would do something like this? It's so humi-” Before you could finish your whole sentence your mouth was stuffed with a bunch of fries in your mouth. Chewing onto them you glared at Eric before you looked away from him.

“Okay, I am sorry I did that. How about I make up for pulling this stunt which was in your language very much absurd and humiliating?” You hear Eric ask you. Stopping yourself from taking any more sips of your now almost empty cup of coffee you gave him a look of suspicion, not believing him yet.

“And how will you do that?” You say with suspicion evident in your voice, you did not even try to hide it.

“I know about a carnival which is happening in my area. How about I take you there? Good enough?” Eric asks with his hand out for a handshake.

“You pay for everything and buy me a soft toy?” You ask with hesitation before you grab his hand and shake it to seal the deal.

“Whatever you say, sweetheart. So I’ll meet you at your place at 4?” He asks before standing up from the bench. Nodding your head you give him a small smile as you wave him goodbye.

“Looks like a date,” you hear Soyeon say once Eric leaves the cafeteria with Sunwoo and Juyeon. Throwing a glare at her you stand and gather your things getting ready to leave for your next class.

“It’s not a date, he’s just making up to me for the stunt he pulled on me today in my class which was by the-”

“Very humiliating and embarrassing. Gee, you said that already Y/N. Say whatever you want but I totally see you two dating in the near future.” She says with an irritatingly knowing voice as she blows a kiss towards your way before she watches your figure walking away.

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Standing outside your house you look at your watch in impatience, it was 4:02 and there was still no sight of Eric. Rather than being mad at him for being late you were rather more concerned about him, what if something happened to him on the way here? Is he alright or what if he had hurt himself really bad leading to him being late?

Your train of thoughts came to a stop when you saw Eric’s car pull up at your driveway. Heaving out a sigh of relief you walk towards his car and take a seat in the passenger seat.

“Why are you so late?” You ask him once you put on your seatbelt and sit comfortably on the seat.

“Only two minutes sweetheart, why so worked up?” Eric says with a chuckle as he gives your head a soft pat with a teasing smile playing on his lips.

“I was worried about you. What if something would have happened to you while coming here? How would I know? You did not even give me a call. Why were you even late?” You ask him again with a frown evident on your lips and your eyebrows raised up in a tense manner.

“Aww, you were worried about me, sweetheart?” He says in a sing-song voice as he starts the car.

“No, I was not. I was worried about the fact that you got in an accident before you took me to the carnival.” You lied to him trying to cover up for yourself, you did not want him to get cocky about this again.

It did not take long for both of you before you reached the carnival. Stopping the car in the parking lot Eric parked the car safely without bumping into anything (which you were surprised at because a normal person would have gotten distracted by your constant yapping unlike Eric who paid attention to every single word you said yet managed to park the car safely).

Getting out of the car and locking it, Eric came and stood by your side as he subtly took a hold of your hand and intertwined his fingers with yours as he started walking towards the entrance without looking at your now red blushing face.

“Where do you want to go first, sweetheart?” You heard Eric ask which snapped you out of your train of thoughts. Looking around the carnival you saw the area for the prize stuffed animals.

Without any thoughts, you started dragging Eric towards the area ignoring his shoutings which were telling you to slow down.

Stopping at the game you looked at Eric before looking back at the stuffed animals, raising your hand you pointed at the animal you wanted “Can you win the penguin stuffed animal for me?” You ask him.

“Um…yeah sure, why not if that’s what you want sweetheart,” Eric says as he takes the arrows given by the worker and looks at the balloons intently.

He had five arrows and five chances to win the toy. To get it he would have to pop three balloons. Observing the balloons, Eric moved his hair out of his eyes as he threw the first dart.

—x—

“Eric, this is your third time. You really don’t have to go to this extent to get me the toy you know? Why don’t we just go to the Ferris wheel hmm?” You ask him tiredly as you shake his arms.

“Shhh I am trying to concentrate here. You know, as they say, third time’s a charm. If I don’t succeed this time, I will leave it okay?” He says as he starts to throw darts again.

And he did it. He did win you the penguin.

“Here, I told you I would get you this so I did. Do you like it sweetheart?” Eric says as he pats your head gently and softly grips your hand again before he starts walking towards a different area.

Nodding your head you stare at the stuffed toy in your hand lovingly and bring it close to your chest giddily as you hug it close to your body tightly “I love it so much! Thank you for winning this for me. I will always keep it close to me.” You exclaim happily.

“I am glad you like it,” Eric says with a sheepish smile spread across his face, glad that you were happy with the prize he won.

“You wanna try that?” You hear Eric’s voice beam with excitement. Looking up you follow his gaze and see the paintballs area. Giving Eric a knowing smile, both of you run towards the place with your hands still intertwined together tightly.

—x—

Looking around the place cautiously you look down at your bag of colour balloons again. Counting the remaining balloons you take a deep breath in when you realise you still have 10 left. That should do for now then.

Your train of thoughts were interrupted when you felt a cold balloon hit your neck. Snapping your head back you notice Eric standing behind you, a white jumper on which now had a bunch of different colours splashed onto it.

His hair was now messy as he held the dirty, balloon-filled bag in his one hand while his other hand had a balloon.

Looking around frantically you hide behind a huge pipe as you grab a balloon and wait for Eric to show up. Taking a peak you immediately throw the balloon in his direction which in return hits him on his stomach.

You saw Eric running towards your direction, picking your pace up,you started running away only to be caught by him in no time.

“Thought you could get away from me sweetheart?” Eric says as he splashes the balloon on top of your head which makes the paint fly everywhere.

“Okay okay, I am done. I don’t have any more left.” You declare with a defeated sigh. Once Eric lets you go, you take a peek at him only to see him look around the place. Taking that as a chance you grab the last balloon you had and hit it on his head which makes his hair dye the colour of the balloon.

Taking his shock manner as a chance you run away from the scene with laughter blaring through your throat and a content smile spread across your face.

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Sitting on the table placed by the food truck, you stabbed your fork into the pasta that Eric had bought for you. Having a big bite you looked around the place, admiring the lively atmosphere, the little happy giggles coming from the kids who were happily spending time with their families.

You later saw Eric walking towards your direction with a box of donuts in one hand while his other held a large iced cup of cold drink.

Reaching your table he placed both of the stuff on the table as he himself took a seat in front of you in exhaustion.

“Here, have some donuts and cold drinks. The line was so long like who the fuck drinks so much liquid at a carnival?” Eric says in annoyance

You look down at the big cup in your hand and then back at Eric as you slowly keep it back on the table “Well…us.” You tell him awkwardly before you grab the cup again and take a sip from it.

Eric stares at you for a moment before he looks at the cup filled with iced coke, “I mean, other than us, why would anyone want to drink liquid? What if they have to pee after drinking so much coke?” He pointed out as he raised his hand to point at a guy behind you who was peeing by the trees.

Looking away immediately, you glare at Eric in disgust and trauma.

“I did not need to see that thank you very much.” You say sarcastically as you take a bite from the donut which was in front of you. “But why would they pee after drinking coke?”

“Why won’t they? It’s liquid sweetheart. Everyone needs to pee after drinking liquids, be it water, alcohol or cold drinks.” He says as he grabs your donut and takes a bite out of it.

“Hey that’s mine! Grab another one.” You say with a scowl on your face as you throw a nasty glare towards Eric.

“But I bought it!” Eric argues back only to sigh in defeat once he realised that he cannot win against you. “Fine fine, you have it.” He says with a roll of his eyes jokingly before he speaks up again. “So do you have any plans for the Christmas break?” He asks before taking a sip of the cold drink.

“Oh, I am gonna be spending some time with my boyfriend!” You beam with happiness, a cheeky smile resting upon your cheeks.

“What…boyfriend?” He asks with confusion all over his face. I mean from what he can remember you had never mentioned anything to him about you finding a partner, so this was a sudden news for him.

“He’s a bit older, has grey hair and a beard, but rest assured he’s like super hot.” You tell him, a smile still playing upon your lips

“Are you serious right now or…?” Eric asks in concern as he places his hands on top of yours, stopping you from eating “Sweetheart please don’t tell me your boyfriends an old creep. Where is he even from?”

“He’s from a city which is colder than it’s here. He came here for his break to spend some time with me. Cute right?” You give Eric a small smile as you grab a donut and take a bite out of it ignoring the concerned glance Eric was throwing your way.

“Are you actually serious about this or you’re just joking with me and pulling my leg again? If you're, I am telling you, this is not a funny sweetheart.” Eric rambled on as his hold on your hands tightened in worry.

“Of course, I am not serious, but do you know who else is old and hot?” You ask him with peak interest as you lean closer to him trying to build up some suspense for him which you were clearly failing at when you saw Eric looking at you with confusion before he muttered out a small ‘what?’

“Santa.” you say with a straight face. You noticed Eric’s lips twitching upwards as he tried to stop himself from letting out a small smile at your silly response.

“Well thank god you were just joking about that old guy thing.” Eric says with relief washed all over his face as he leaned back on the chair with ease.

“But you have to agree, Santa is really hot and sexy. Like have you seen that beard and that thick figure he has? Like damn daddy, have some mercy on me please.” You say to Eric with a straight face, enjoying the reaction he was giving you.

Eric licked his dry lips as he stayed quiet. Not knowing what to say with your ridiculous statement and the unwanted information he just received about what you think about Santa.

“Whatever makes you sleep at night, sweetheart.” Eric says as a small smile lingers on his lips. Man, was he smitten for you?

Yes, yes he was.

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Laying down on your bed you spent the night watching shows. Soyeon lays beside you as she used her phone paying no mind to the ridiculous comments you kept passing to her whenever a character did something insanely stupid or idiotic.

“Oh wait, you never told me how your date went with Eric?” Pausing the show you stared at Soyeon when she beamed at you with such a ridiculous question, a silly smile falling upon her face as she stared at you expectantly waiting for your response.

“What date?” You ask with boredom present in your voice as you stare at the wall, not having the courage to look at Soyeon in the eyes.

“You know! The date with Eric! The carnival!” She says now shaking your arm aggressively as she let out a small whine at your uncooperative ass.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about..” you say in a sing-song voice before you push her away as she dramatically falls off the bed onto the floor.

You heard a gasp leaving her lips, “My butt!” She exclaims.

From the corner of your eyes, you see Soyeon stand up before she grabs your laptop and closes it shut before you can even reply. Grabbing it, she placed it aside on the side table before she slammed her body down on you with force.

“Tell me about your date or else I am not getting up.” She says, her voice coming out muffled since her face was placed onto your shoulder.

“I did not go on a date with Eric first of all! He is just a friend and get off of me! You’re fucking heavy!” You cry out in pain, your voice coming out a bit heavy because of the force Soyeon was putting onto your body, tho half of it was acting she does not have to know about that now, does she?

“Okay okay, whatever you say! Just tell me how your night went with Eric!” Soyeon screams in frustration as she stands up from the floor and looks up at you.

“What do you mean by my night? That sounds so wrong…you make it sound like Eric and I banged together…” you say with a pout as you play with your sleeves acting as if you were shy.

“Well…did you?” She says with suspicion evident on her face and her tone as she squinted her eyes at you while leaning down with her hands on her hips.

“No!” You scream at her as you throw the nearest pillow you caught at her. Throwing a glare in her direction you stay quiet. “Now I don’t feel like telling you about my friendly date with Eric.” You tell her as you show her your tongue and look away from her, sulking.

Hearing you say that, Soyeon groans in frustration as she sits down beside you on the bed again. “Don’t be like this. Tell me please,” she pleads while batting her eyelashes to you, a way to gain your sympathy back.

Groaning at her behaviour you close your eyes with the palms of your hands as a way to protect yourself from the sight in front of you. “Fine! Just stop whatever the fuck that is. It’s making me nauseous geez.” You say with a whine.

Hearing you say that Soyeon immediately stops batting her eyelashes as she sits straight while clearing her throat, “Go on.”

“Well nothing much happened, he won a soft toy for me, played a few games-”

“What kind of games?” Soyeon interrupts you in excitement.

“Paint balls…”

“Aww you guys had a date which was in 10 things I hate about you! So cute!” Soyeon squeals. Looking at her in disbelief and disgust you sigh as you continue what you were saying.

“We then ate, chatted a bit and he dropped me of. That’s it.” You tell her what happened.

“That’s it? No kissing? No nothing?” She says with disappointment in her tone of voice.

“Why would that happen? Come on grow up. Mine and Eric’s love life is way different, and his and my type are also very much different. He likes girls who are much…how do I say it…calm?” You say with a question mark evident on your features.

Soyeon shakes her head in disappointment as she lays down on her back on the bed “When will you both understand about the feelings you guys hold for each other?” Soyeon says mostly to herself but you catch on to it but decide to say nothing on it.

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Sitting at the back of the class you sketch in your notebook as you don’t pay attention to what your classmates are talking about.

Sighing, you look up for a bit and notice Sangyeon entering the classroom, dropping down your pencil on the notebook you wait for Sangyeon to approach you.

Picking up your bag, you keep it aside and wait for Sangyeon to take a seat beside you.

“Hey, what are you doing?” You hear Sangyeon ask you once he reaches your place. Giving him a small smile you look down at your sketchbook and then back up at him

“Nothing, was just sketching. What are you doing here though?” You ask with expectant eyes.

It was not that common for Sangyeon to be in your classes. He was in a different major so it was very uncommon for both of you to cross each other’s paths unless you both met at a party or just in the cafeteria where your other friends would be.

“Are you free this Saturday? Some of us are going out after our afternoon classes. Maybe you could join us?” Sangyeon suggests as he looks into your eyes with expectation

“I don’t know…do we have to bring someone along with us?”

“It’s not necessary, if you want to you can. Eric is bringing this…Yuna girl with him to tag along. You can bring someone if you want. Maybe Soyeon?” Sangyeon gives you a suggestion.

You just stare at him blankly when you hear him say about Eric bringing Yuna with him. You thought they had broken up…but maybe not? It was all just a rumour then, huh?

But what about the time you both spent together that day at the carnival? Was it not a date? Wait of course not, you guys are just friends. That’s it, right? Right?

“He got back together with Yuna?” You question Sangyeon, your voice wavering a bit at the end.

You don’t know why you’re even upset when you hear Sangyeon say this. You should be happy right? Happy for Eric getting back in a relationship with his ex-girlfriend? Happy for his love life at least going somewhere? But you were not happy. Not even a bit.

It’s as if someone had punched you hard in the gut which caused you to stop breathing and you felt like you were gonna faint any moment.

“I…I don’t know. He just said something about him inviting Yuna. I was not paying that much attention. I am sorry but is there something wrong? You don’t look so well right now.” Sangyeon said with concern laced in his voice.

“I am fine, yeah I just…I just need some alone time. I should get going. See you around!” You tell him as you tuck your hair behind your ear and start packing up your stuff.

“Wait! Are you going to come with us on Saturday? You can decline if you don’t want to. It’s alright-” Before Sangyeon could finish his sentence you stopped in your tracks as you turned back around and took a deep breath in before speaking again.

“I will come on Saturday. Don’t worry!” Saying that you rushed out of the classroom to your dorm.

You needed to vent this feeling to someone and there was no other person who could help you other than Soyeon.

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Entering the dorm you looked around the living room for any signs of Soyeon. Calling out her name you heard her voice in the kitchen.

Running towards the kitchen you just stood in front of Soyeon with tear-filled eyes, “I think you were right, So” You say softly as you looked up at the ceiling trying your best not to let your tears flow.

“What are you talking about Y/N? What was I right about? I mean I am always right..” she said in a joking manner but stopped immediately when she saw your tear-stained cheeks.

“I think I do have feelings for my best friend after all…” you say your voice barely above a whisper but Soyeon heard it crystal clear.

“I would have said told you so but looking at your condition, I think I can postpone it.” She says as she walks towards you and holds you in her arms. “Now would you tell me why you’re crying over the fact that you actually do have feelings for Eric? Shouldn’t you be thinking about how to confess to him or something?” She says to you while rubbing your arms to create some kind of warmth and comfort.

“He is…he i…back with Yuna I guess…” you tell her softly as you bury your face in her neck trying to control your uncontrollable sobbing.

“What?? But didn’t he break up with her?” Soyeon asks in shock as she stops rubbing your arms and pulls away from you to take a look at your now red eyes and tear-stained face.

“Well I thought so too but Sangyeon said that he invited Yuna over to the place they’re going on Saturday and I don’t know what to do. What if I lose him? I don’t want that!” You say with panic filling your voice.

“Don’t worry. I won’t let that happen. You and Eric are destined to be together and I know that Yuna is not permanent...I guess. I mean I hope so.” She said as she chuckled nervously while scratching her nape.

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Entering the barbecue place, you immediately noticed your group of friends sitting by a table in a circle. Soyeon decided to tag along with you as she had nothing better to do, I mean better for you.

Reaching the table you noticed that Eric was sitting beside Yuna as they both chatted without even sharing anyone else a glance.

“Oh Y/N! Great, you're here!” You heard Sangyeon beam making you divert your attention to him as you gave him a small smile and took a seat beside him as Soyeon sat beside Sunwoo.

“Yeah me and Soyeon had nothing else to do so thought why not just join you guys.” You say with a small chuckle.

“I am glad. Would you like a drink?” Sangyeon asks as he leans forward to grab a bottle of beer only to be stopped by you.

“No no, it’s okay. I don’t really drink much.” You tell him as you grab his hand so that he doesn’t get the bottle of beer.

“Well if you say so,” Sangyeon says as he pulls back and gets more comfortable beside you.

—x—

The night was still young. Most of the guys were drunk as they sang some songs the whole time while eating.

The whole time you tried your best to not steal glances at Eric but whenever you did, you always saw him chatting with Yuna, and every time you saw that you felt your heart ache in pain. You desired to be there instead of her but that’s not gonna happen, you both are just friends after all.

Looking around the restaurant you started to have trouble breathing. As if you were getting suffocated in there. The place was getting too stuffed for you.

Standing up you excuse yourself from the group as you walk away once you grab your bag and phone.

In the rush of getting yourself out of the place, you failed to notice the pair of eyes which followed your every moment, till he himself stood up and decided to follow you out.

—x—

Sitting down on the footpath with your heels in your hands you stared down at the ground with no thoughts in your mind.

Placing your heels down on the ground, you bring your arms up to cover and warm yourself up by the cold. You were already heartbroken, you wouldn’t want to catch a cold on top of that too knowing he wouldn’t be there to look after you since he is now a taken man.

“Hey,” you hear a voice say behind you. Already knowing that it is none other than Eric you don’t bother enough to look back up at him as you just continue staring ahead of you with no particular thought in mind.

You noticed him take a seat beside you on the footpath by your peripheral vision, you did not even bother enough to say anything back.

“Why are you out here alone? You might catch a cold sweetheart..” Eric says softly before he removes his jacket and places it on top of your shoulders.

Shrugging the jacket off you give it back to him without looking him in the eye. “You don’t have to do this anymore. People might get a wrong idea or something since you’re now back together with Yuna.” You mutter under your breath as you place the jacket on his lap.

“Why are you acting so cold towards me out of nowhere sweetheart?” Eric whispers softly as he tries to hold onto your cold hand only to get pushed away by you.

“Do you not get it? Eric…you’re now back together with Yuna! You cannot act like this with me now. People will think you’re cheating on her or something and I don’t want to be the other woman in a relationship.” You tell him what you had in mind as you take in a deep breath trying not to lash out at him and say something you don’t want to.

“Sweetheart, what me and Yuna have is totally temporary. I like our relationship, I like the fact that you’re my best friend.” You close your eyes in pain when you hear him say that you’re just his best friend. Exactly, nothing more nothing less. Those were also the words you said to Soyeon so why do you loathe these words now? It’s not like the meaning has changed or anything but your feelings surely did.

“That’s the thing Eric, I…” you inhale a deep breath in as you stop yourself from saying what you have been meaning to say. Yes, you liked Eric but ruining your friendship with him just for that is not worth it. Because even if you do get into a relationship with him, which is nearly impossible, what if you both break up? Your friendship and your relationship would be ruined forever.

“Sweetheart, please tell me. Don’t keep your feelings bottled up.” Eric says as he leans forward towards you and brings your body closer to his warmer one as he held your shoulders in a tight grip while giving your forehead light kisses to calm you down.

Just being in his arms at that moment made you break down in front of him. Your eyes immediately turned red, your nose turning a shade of pink as your cheeks started to get stained with your tears.

You saw Eric raising his other hand as he gently wiped your tears away, “Just tell me when you’re ready. I am always here for you.” Eric says softly

Taking a deep breath in you collect yourself together as you lean away from his warm embrace, you immediately feel the cold envelop you making your hands shake from the cold.

“Eric I…I like you. I never thought that I would ever have feelings for you in this way but the more time we spend together, the more my feelings grew. I always denied this feeling whenever Soyeon said anything but when I heard Sangyeon tell me that you’re back together with Yuna…I just felt my stomach drop. I felt hurt all over, I could not breathe properly because that was the time I realised that…that maybe I like you more than a friend. Now I know that we would never get together because of our differences but I just feel like you needed to know about this since well you’re my best friend and I tell you everything. I totally understand if you need some time away from me since this might have been a shock for you but please, don’t break up our friendship.” You say everything you ever wanted to let Eric know. You knew that this was probably a bad decision but you just had to let him know. “I should go now…see you around?”

You were about to get up when you felt a hand grip your wrist stopping you from getting up. Looking down at your wrist you noticed Eric holding onto it.

“Do you really like me?” He says as he leans closer towards you, his hand still gripping your wrist. Nodding a bit, you notice him lean even more closer as he leaves your hand and grabs a hold of your cheeks.

Both of his hands cradles your cheeks as he holds them delicately, staring deep into your eyes his gaze moves down towards your lips before he looks back up at you.

Placing your hand on his chest, you stop him before he manages to kiss you, “You cannot do this. You’re in a relationship with Yuna, it’s…it’s wrong.”

Groaning at your answer Eric goes back to his original place not having the energy to argue at what you said because no matter what, he was not a man who would cheat on a woman to be with another.

He was gonna kiss you because he was not in the right state of mind, right? Not because he might also be having feelings for you? No, he wouldn’t, if he did he would not have been in a relationship with Yuna.

“Oh Y/N! Great, you're here…with Eric?” You hear a voice say behind you. Looking back you notice Sangyeon coming out with a drunk Soyeon leaning on his shoulders.

Giving him a small wave you stand up from the footpath and walk towards him before getting a hold of Soyeon. “Yeah. I was just about to leave, I can take Soyeon back home. You can go back in and enjoy.” You tell him as you give him a soft smile.

“No, let me drop you off. Soyeon is already drunk so I will just drive you back to your dorm. I have my car with me.” Sangyeon says before he starts walking away with Soyeon still in his hold only to stop midway and turn back around to look at Eric. “You might want to go in and check up on your girlfriend Eric. She’s drunk and trying to kiss Sunwoo…” Sangyeon tells Eric with slight disappointment laced in his tone.

Giving Sangyeon a small nod, Eric looks at you with a longing gaze as he watches you walk away with Sangyeon and Soyeon.

Heading back towards the restaurant he opens the door and sighs tiredly when he sees Yuna babbling some incoherent words because of how drunk she is.

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Sitting by the kitchen counter you stare at Soyeon as she drinks the coffee you made for her.

“I am having such a bad headache…” she mumbles as she takes the last sip of the coffee and places the cup down on the table before she diverts her attention to you.

“So…are you gonna tell me about what happened yesterday or?” You breathe out a sigh as you place your head on your palms in agony.

“I confessed to Eric…” you tell her the truth. You could hear her let out a small gasp in surprise as she stood up from her seat and sat down beside you.

“What did he say?” She asks with her hands on your shoulder before she forcefully makes you face her.

“Nothing…but I think he was gonna kiss me if I had not stopped him..” you say with a frown resting upon your lips before you shrug off her hands and gaze at the floor.

“He what??!” Soyeon screams in shock, “You know what Y/N? I cannot look at you being heartbroken like this anymore. Why don’t you go on a date? Maybe that would make you feel better.” Soyeon says as a suggestions

“But I don’t think it would be fair for the other person knowing I still have feelings for someone else…” you tell her.

“It’s just one date. If you don’t like him you don’t have to go again and it’s not a big deal. He’s a friend of my friend so it won’t affect anyone. What do you say?” She asks as she stands up from her place and grabs her phone to make a few quick phone calls.

“If you say so…”

“Well, it’s done then! I will inform my friend to let her friend know about this.” Soyeon tells you with a smile resting on her lips. Returning the smile you look away from her and stare out the window with thoughts flooding your mind.

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Sitting alone in the bar you looked around in discomfort. Maybe coming to a bar alone with a man you just met today really was a bad idea? I mean...you did not know him personally except for the fact that Soyeon was a friend of his friend.

Agreeing to come to this date really made you fall back into this slump you were in. Because your love life was so bad that you had to go to this extent, meet up with a guy you barely knew, only for him to turn out to be this crazy person.

I mean, no one would want to be cramped in a car with 5 men they never met only to smell all the weed and cigarettes they were smoking on your face as they leaned onto you with no care in the world. This would barely even be considered as a date. Because who in their right mind does this on their first date? Does this person even know that this was a date?

Being lost in your thoughts, you failed to notice the now-approaching man, the man Soyeon thought would be good enough for now. I mean you cannot blame her completely because she did not know how he was.

Her friend told her that he was a good guy so Soyeon thought it was a perfect opportunity to match you up with him. Oh boy, Soyeon was gonna have it from you once you reach back home.

“We’re planning on going to the pool which is nearby. Come on, let’s go.” You felt startled when you heard him say that. Because no way in hell would you want to go to some random pool with a bunch of strangers who were high and drunk. You were sooo dreading this night you were in.

“I think I will pass on that. I will just leave now but thanks for the offer, Jonah.” You say with a slight smile as you start gathering your stuff, which is not much considering you only had your sling bag and phone with you.

“Oh let me drop you off…” he did not get to finish his sentence as he trailed off once his attention went back to his group of friends who did not seem to have a sense of reality whatsoever.

“It’s okay. It looks like your friends need you more than me. I will be fine.” You reassure him as you watch him walk out of the bar with his friends without looking back.

Sighing you open your wallet to pay for the beverage you bought for yourself.

“Fuck…,” Standing up from your seat you approach the nearest waitress you say, “Hi, could you tell me where the nearest ATM is?” You ask nervously.

“Oh, it’s a few blocks down, but I wouldn’t recommend walking there alone at night in this area. Many crazy stories about this place you know?” She says that as she walks away with a tray of drinks in her hand.

Sighing deeply, you slump down on your seat again as you stare at the contacts on your phone.

You most definitely did not want to call him knowing he was with his dear, bitchy girlfriend. But you had no option. It’s not like you want to risk your life going out in search of an ATM to take out some money. You had enough adventure today as it was.

You hated yourself for only thinking about him the whole time, the fact that he was the first person to come to your mind when you got yourself in this situation.

Biting on your nails, you nervously clicked on his contact name before putting your phone close to your ear, waiting for him to pick up as you looked around the bar once more.

“Hi, Eric. It's me…are you free right now?” You ask nervously. You tried paying attention to his background noises. So far, you could not hear a sound. The good thing was that you did not hear his annoying girlfriend's voice which made you feel somewhat better.

“Yes, yes I am. Are you in trouble or something?” He replied as you heard some shuffling noises coming from the background as if he was in a hurry.

“Yes, I am stuck in this bar and I have no cash with me and these people don’t accept credit cards and you were the first person who came in my mind to contact. I am so sorry if I am disturbing you.” You kept on rambling on as you felt as if you were a burden to him. I mean…you should be able to take care of yourself, but instead, you were asking your best friend to come pick you up from this unknown place you were stuck in.

And knowing what you two almost did yesterday made this situation all the more awkward for you.

“Don’t worry, sweetheart. Just send me your location, I am already in the car.” You heard Eric say. Ending the call you send him your location as you look around the bar while hugging your body.

—x—

“Eric!” You call out his name once you see him enter the bar.

“Hey, oh god thank god you’re okay. So what happened? What are you doing here?” He asks as he sits down in front of you.

“I feel so stupid, so Soyeon had this friend who knew this guy I was on a somewhat date with. From what Soyeon said the guy was in diapers or something.”

“The boy was in diapers?” Eric asks questionably as he looks at you with furrowed eyebrows.

“No, Soyeon said her friend knew him when he was in diapers but that’s not the point. I thought this date might go well, I might get myself a potential boyfriend, but no! The boy turned out to be a maniac. He was drinking, and smoking and god I hope he did not do drugs and that’s when I realised, that these are the last people I want to spend my last moments on Earth with. Like no what if I die in a car crash with them? I don’t want that and did I tell you how stupid I felt? Because I thought it was going to be a nice date but it turns out he had brought his friends with him and then oh god…” you sigh in frustration as you lay your head on your arms, tired from the events. “And I did not even eat anything since breakfast and I am starving but I have no money. How pathetic can I be?” You say to yourself while you stomp your foot on the ground in agony.

“Uh, I have money. I can pay for the meal, what do you want?” Eric asks softly as he asks for the menu to the waitress passing by.

“Do you want this to go on the tab?” She asks while handing out the menu to Eric. Looking at her in confusion, Eric stares back at you thinking you would know what she was talking about. “Oh, the card is still open. You can still order.” She says with a smile.

Giving Eric a look you look down at the menu. “Put your wallet away. Would you like to start with starters??” You ask Eric as you already start pointing out the dishes you want to have.

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“Whoa, I am full after having all of that.” You announce once both of you are seated in the car. Putting on your seatbelt you stare out the window.

“So um should I drop you off at your dorm?” Eric asks once he starts the car.

Looking back at him, you give him a nod. You knew he wanted to talk about that day again but you also knew about the fact that if he does bring it up, there is a huge possibility that you would have a breakdown.

The whole car ride there was silence. Both of you did not speak a single word to each other. To make the situation less awkward Eric did play the songs on the radio on low volume.

Reaching your dorm, you undo your seatbelt as you stare ahead of you not knowing what to say anymore.

“So um see you around I guess?” You hear Eric says as he breaks the awkward silence. Looking at him, you nod your head as you put your hand on the car door to unlock it only to get stopped in the middle.

“Wait, Y/N! I need to let you know something…” Eric speaks up before you could even leave the car.

You could feel him grab onto your hand as he made you sit back down on the seat.

“I hope you know that I do like you. I know that I said I only look at you as my best friend but…but maybe I feel something more than that? I am still trying to understand my feelings for you completely but please don’t shut me out like this. I don’t think I can ever go on with my life without you.” Eric says as he leans forward towards you and gently places his hand on your cheeks before he looks into your eyes.

“Please don’t leave me like this, sweetheart.” Eric whispers softly. Your gaze unknowingly travels to his lips as you bring your lips closer to his.

Softly placing your lips onto his you start moving them in sync with each other, his chapped lips on your soft ones felt like a perfect pair to you.

Bringing your hands up to his chest you deepen the kiss more, moving your lips in sync you could feel his hands roaming all over your body.

Entangling your hands with his hair you pull on them a bit making Eric open his mouth which gave you an access to enter your tongue in.

You could feel both of your tongue’s fighting each other when you suddenly snapped out of it and pushed Eric away from you.

From the corner of your eyes, you could feel Eric look at you with a hurt gaze but before he could even speak up you had already opened the car door and stepped out of it, “See you around!” You say that in a hurry as you close the door with a small thud and walk away from there to your dorm.

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Closing the main door you slide down with your back against it. Bringing your hand up to your chest you hold it as you take in a few deep breaths.

“Y/N! Are you home?” You heard Soyeon shout from the living room. Not giving her an answer back you just stay on the floor not knowing what to do anymore.

You did not know why you did whatever you did back there. I mean kissing a taken man? That’s not good. Then making out with him? That’s worse.

“Oh god! Y/N! What happened??” You hear Soyeon shout in distress as runs towards you before sitting herself down on the floor with you.

“Did something happen at the date? Oh god, I am so sorry. I should have asked my friend more about that guy before setting you up. Did he turn out to be a total creep and a jerk?” Soyeon rambles off before she helps you take off your coat while you were still on the floor.

“I kissed him..” you tell her with your eyes staring at the wall which was in front of you, “I kissed him Soyeon and he’s…he’s taken. I am horrible…” you say with your voice wavering at the end.

You could feel the tears sliding down your cheeks which you did not bother enough to wipe.

“You kissed Jonah? Why?” Soyeon says in confusion as she takes a seat beside you before bringing her legs close to her chest as she rests her head on her knees and stares at you.

Slowly bringing her hand up she pulls your head towards her as she gently places it on her shoulder.

“I kissed Eric…” you say softly.

“What…but isn’t he?” Soyeon did not bother enough to complete her sentence.

“Exactly! I am so horrible. I cannot believe I let my feelings get the best of me. He practically cheated on Yuna with me…” you say with a crack in your voice. Sniffling, you look at Soyeon with sadness feeling your eyes. “Please don’t leave me just for this. I promise I am not a horrible person.” You cry out before your sobs grew harsher with each second.

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Sitting in the cafeteria alone you kept on playing with your food. It had been days since your last encounter with Eric.

He had not been coming to school ever since you guys kissed in his car, some part of you was glad that he did not attend the school because then that meant you wouldn’t have to face him but the other part of you was rather more worried about him.

All those what if’s returning to your mind, is he hurt, is he sick, did he wrap himself up in some kind of trouble? But your questions were left unanswered.

Sighing, you grab your bag as you start walking away from the cafeteria to the place where Eric’s best friend would most certainly be at.

You had to know if Eric was alright, all you needed to hear from them was that ‘Yes Y/N, Eric is alright. You don’t have to worry too much.’ That would at least make you worry less and not stress over anything.

Reaching the back of the school you see Juyeon and Sunwoo talking with each other as they played some video games on their phone.

Walking towards them, you stand in front of them grabbing their attention “Oh hey Y/N, what makes you come here?” Juyeon asks with his eyes still glued to the screen.

“Nothing, I just wanted to know something. That’s all. Could you stop playing for a moment and pay attention?” You ask both of them, now getting annoyed at their behaviour and lack of attention.

Pausing the game Juyeon and Sunwoo look up at you with a confused face, “What’s up?” Sunwoo says awkwardly. Not knowing how to react to your sudden appearance

“Do you know where Eric is?” You ask them the question straight away. Not having the energy to beat around the bush anymore.

“Ah, did you not call him?” Juyeon says as if it was a normal thing for you. I mean normally it was, but not after you kissed your best friend and then walked away when you got back to your senses knowing that he is taken.

“If I would have called him I wouldn’t have been here now, would I Juyeon?” You say sarcastically as you flick his forehead in irritation and also because of how stupid his question was.

“Ow sorry and to answer your question Eric caught a…a cold a few days back so he was taking a break?” Juyeon says to you. From the way he was talking, it felt as if he himself did not know what he just said.

Looking back at Sunwoo you throw a glare in his direction when you notice him laughing at Juyeon. Seeing you look at him like that he immediately stopped laughing as he looked down at the ground too scared to look you in the eyes.

“Fine then, if that’s what you say so.” Saying that to them you walk away from the place with numerous thoughts floating in your mind.

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The next day when you entered the school hallway with Soyeon by your side, your eyes moved all over the place in search of Eric.

Walking towards your locker with Soyeon you noticed Eric standing by the class door with Juyeon, talking with him.

Handing all your books to Soyeon, you took big steps towards Eric, “Eric! Wait!” You shouted out his name only to get no response in return.

What you did not expect was for him to walk right past you without sparing you a glance. Stopping dead in your tracks you move your body around and stare at Eric’s figure walking away.

You noticed Juyeon turning his head back and looking at you with sympathy as he mouthed out a ‘sorry’ on behalf of Eric you suppose.

Giving him a small nod and a wave, you go towards Soyeon again as you take your books back from her hands, “Let’s go?” You say quietly as you start walking away from the place without letting her speak anything any further.

“I am sorry…” Soyeon says to you softly as he interlocks her hands with yours as she starts walking with you.

Giving her a smile you look down at the ground not knowing what to do anymore.

You knew you messed up when you initiated the kiss first. But did Eric really have to ignore you like that?

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It had been a few days since you last saw Eric again, he has been really irregular at school so confronting him face-to-face was not an option.

You tried everything, you called him, texted him, hell you even went over to his house but there was no answer.

The more time passes, the more worried you’re getting. Is he avoiding you on purpose? Is all of this happening just because of you? All you wanted to do at this point was make everything right but you could not do that. Not with the way Eric was treating you.

Is he now avoiding you on purpose? There were so many thoughts in your mind, so many questions but they remained unanswered.

Groaning in frustration you grab your coat and storm out of the house to go over at Juyeon’s. You were gonna get answers from him today, if he does not give you a proper answer you won’t let him off the hook and that’s for sure.

—x—

Stopping your car in front of his house, you stare at his front door with hesitation filling your body. Should you really be doing this? What if you’re crossing the boundary by doing this? Is this too much? Probably not right? I mean Eric did not break off your friendship with him just yet.

Stepping out of the car you lock it as you take slow, hesitant steps towards Juyeon’s house.

Ringing the doorbell, you wait for him to open the door. Okay, there’s still some time. You can just turn around and leave the place right now. That way you won’t have to confront him about Eric again.

Getting ready to turn around you were stopped by a voice calling out your name, “Y/N! Surprised to see you here…what brings you here tho?” You hear Juyeon ask with surprise laced in his tone of voice.

Looking at him with an awkward smile plastered on your face, you lick your lips thinking of the right words to say to him.

“May I come in first?” You say nervously as you shift your weight from one foot to another.

“Yeah sure, you’re always welcome. Come in…” Juyeon says as he steps aside for you to enter his house.

Removing your coat, Juyeon takes it from your hand and hangs it on the coat hanger as he leads you towards the living room.

“Want some hot chocolate? I was making some for myself…” Juyeon says as he walks towards the kitchen with you tailing behind him.

Taking a seat by the counter you shake your head as a no as you clear your throat, “I am here to speak with you about something that has been bugging me…” you tell him before you stare at his back.

You notice how he stopped pouring the hot chocolate into his cup before he turned around to give you his full attention, “Is this about Eric?” Juyeon asks slowly before he takes a seat in front of you.

Nodding your head you suck in a deep breath, “You see, I have been trying to reach him for days but he isn’t responding to any of my texts or calls. I even went over to his house but there was no answer. I know he is your closest friend and the fact that he shares everything with you so I probably know that you must be having an idea on why he is doing this. Please just tell me…” you say on the verge of tears.

“Y/N I don’t know if I have the right to tell you about what’s happening with Eric right now. Look, I know what you’re going through is really tough but…” juyeon stops talking when he sees the tears coming out of your eyes. “Y/N no…” Juyeon sighs softly as he stands up from his seat and pulls out a chair to sit down beside you.

“We’ve always shared everything, you know? And him just shutting me out like this suddenly pains me. I know I was at fault for kissing him but I regret it immensely right now because I certainly know that I might have ruined his relationship with Yuna. Look, all I want to do right now is just make things right with him. Just tell me where he is and I promise I won’t trouble you again.” You beg to him, sniffing you look at Juyeon with your red eyes and nose.

“If you say so. Eric’s at the hospital, his dad's been severely ill for the past few weeks which has led to him missing out on school and everything. Now I know that I told you this but don’t tell Eric. He did not want you to worry too much about him.” Juyeon says as he stands up and brings you a glass of water.

Getting a hold of the glass you take a few sips as you place the glass down on the counter again. “Thank you so much.” You say as you stand up from your chair, “Are you guys gonna plan something for his birthday tomorrow?” You ask him right before leaving.

Thinking for a bit Juyeon shakes his head as a no “He did not want us to do anything this time. He said he would be too busy tomorrow to even think about that.”

Nodding to his words you grab onto the door handle only to get stopped when Juyeon spoke again “Hey Y/N…”

Turning around you look at Juyeon with a slight frown on your face, “Yeah?”

“Please take care of yourself…” he says softly before giving your back a gentle pat.

Nodding to his words with a small smile on your face you open the door and walk towards your car, now somewhat feeling relieved.

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Standing in front of the hospital you look down at the cake which you had bought just for Eric. You knew that he would be busy looking after his father so the least you could do for now is buy him a cake so he can at least celebrate his birthday today.

Entering the hospital you go to the receptionist. “Hi, I am looking for Eric Sohn, his father was admitted recently.” You tell the woman sitting at the front.

You see her slide down her glasses as she stares at you for a minute or so before she starts flipping through the pages in front of her with no questions asked.

“Mr.Sohn is on the first floor, room number 111 and here’s your visiting ID. Do not lose it.” She says sternly before she goes back to doing her work.

Nodding at her words, you immediately scurry away from there.

Entering the elevator you press on the first floor button as you wait in silence. You did not know what to say to Eric once you met him.

You guys were never this awkward. Even when the first time you both met, the conversation with you both just flowed right.

Never did you ever think you would be in such an awkward position when it came to Eric and this just made you feel worse than you already were.

—x—

Reaching the floor you start walking towards the room Eric’s dad was in.

Standing in front of the door you stare at the scene in front of you through the glass window.

There stood Eric holding his dad's hand in his own hands as he spoke to himself. You could see that he was shaking, probably because of the cold or the fact that he was in fact crying.

Knocking on the door you wait for Eric to look up at you, once he did divert his attention in your direction you could feel yourself forgetting how to breathe when you saw his face.

He looked pale, probably a bit thinner than he used to. He most certainly lost a bit of weight which made you feel like you just hit rock bottom because why were you not with him when he needed someone by his side the most?

Taking a step back, you wait for Eric to collect himself together because obviously, this was a shock for him seeing you here in the flesh after not responding or talking with you for days.

“Sweetheart, what are you doing here?” Eric asks you once he comes out of the room after trying to make himself look presentable enough.

“It’s your birthday, so I brought you a cake.” You say with a smile playing upon your face as raise your hand up to show him the bag which had his favourite cake in it.

“Who told you about me being here?” Eric asks, his voice sounding serious yet it still held that gentleness in him that he always has when talking with you.

“That does not matter. What matters is that I am here for you right now. Please just…just celebrate your birthday with me?” You ask him softly as you walk backwards and sit on the seats which were placed outside. “Look I know you’re in a rough spot right now, but all I ask from you today is for you to spare a few minutes max to max and just celebrate your birthday. I promise I won’t ever trouble you again.” You say the last line with difficulty.

Sighing Eric walks towards you as he sits down beside you. Closing his eyes he makes a wish as he blows out the candles which you had lit for him.

Opening them up, Eric cuts the cake as he feeds you a piece of it.

—x—

Taking a stroll on the rooftop of the hospital, both of you talked with each other about what you have been missing out on.

You kept Eric updated on all the things that have been happening in school since he has been missing out a lot. You told him how Soyeon almost choked Sunwoo because of how annoying he was. In her defence, Sunwoo had no reason to keep on troubling her and in the end, Sunwoo did get what he deserved.

You also promised to keep him updated on all the classes he has been missing out on despite being from different majors, which Eric was immensely grateful for.

Stopping by the railings, you and Eric stared at the night sky, the moon which was now shining brightly as you looked for stars that were covered by the clouds.

“Y/N, I have been meaning to tell you this…” you hear Eric say with a serious voice. Turning your gaze to him you notice him looking at you with no expressions on his face.

“Look, I…I like you sweetheart. I really do. The time we spent apart these past few days, I understood my feelings towards you. But at the moment, I really don’t have the time to commit to a proper relationship yet. I don’t think I have it in me to be in a committed relationship and with everything going on, I don’t know if I can truly give you the proper attention you deserve. I know you like me, I like you too but…now’s not the right time. I don’t even know when my dad will be all better. Hell, I don’t even know if I can still come to school regularly. I am so sorry.” Eric says as a tear rolls down his pale cheek.

Wiping the lone teardrop, you give him a small broken smile as you immediately take a step back, too afraid you would do something you would regret later on.

“Well, at least you told me about this.” You say as you sniffle. Looking up at the dark sky you try to keep your tears in which Eric immediately took a notice of.

“No, no please don’t cry because of me, sweetheart..” Eric says softly as he immediately engulfs your smaller figure in his own warm one as he tries his best to comfort you by keeping your body close to his and hugging you tightly.

Pushing him away gently you take another step back before you give him a shake of your head. “I think it’s best if I leave now…” you say, your voice wavering a bit at the end “Happy Birthday though…” you say with a small smile.

Saying that you immediately walk away from there, not having enough courage or the energy to look Eric in the eye after what he just said.

You knew you should not have kissed him. This is all because of you, and now because of this small mistake, you lost a friendship that you used to value and love so deeply.

Meanwhile all Eric did was watch you walk away from him with tears rolling down his cheeks.

Kneeling down on the ground he brought his knees closer to his chest as he started sobbing, his body shaking violently with each sob leaving his mouth.

All he wanted at that moment was for your arms to be around his body, hug him closely but that was not possible since you were not there with him anymore. He had lost you, forever.

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Entering the dorm, you don’t care enough to inform Soyeon about your arrival. Entering your room you slump down on your bed with a tired sigh leaving your mouth.

You could feel your body giving up, you don't even know what you’re going to do anymore at this point. You did everything you could to make things right but nothing worked.

What if you would have not went over to Juyeon’s house, would things right now be different, maybe even better? Or maybe if you would not have gone over to Eric today, to celebrate his birthday this would not have even happened.

Biting onto your pillow you stop yourself from letting out the sobs you were dying to let out. You knew Soyeon was sleeping right now, you did not want to be a burden to her anymore.

“Y/N? Are you okay babe?” You heard Soyeon’s soft voice speaking through the doorway as she slowly opened the door to your room and let herself in.

“No Y/N…” Soyeon says mostly to herself as she immediately joins you on your bed. Lying down beside you, she hugged your body closer to hers from the back as she patted your head whispering sweet things in your ear, hoping that would calm you down.

“I am so pathetic, So…I just…I wish I could just die right now. I cannot believe I just ruined my friendship with Eric. I…” you could not even get yourself to finish the sentence as you let out harsh sobs, not being able to control them anymore “I ruined everything…” you say as a hiccup leaves your mouth.

“Shh, Y/N if anything Eric is also with you in this. It’s not like the kiss was one-sided. He kissed you back…” Soyeon says as she continues to pat your head.

The entire night, all you could remember was crying your eyes out as you spoke incoherent words to Soyeon. You knew you were gonna have a puffy face and a bad headache tomorrow morning.

🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁

It was the 31st today, the day everyone would be rejoicing since in less than 24 hours it would be the start of a new year, a new chapter of everyone’s life, a new beginning to something beautiful for some people, sour reality for some of them since they were dreading this time of the year since their whole lives.

For you it was no different, you were not in the mood to celebrate with your friends, and you did not have the energy to even leave the comforts of your bed after everything that has been happening in your life.

It was just you, your bed, your laptop with your favourite TV show on loop and the cup of hot coffee that was with you since day one.

“Are you sure you’re just going to be okay to stay here all alone on the new year?” Soyeon asks you as soon as she enters your room. Giving her a nod you wave her goodbye.

—x—

Checking your phone, you frowned in confusion when you saw 20 missed calls by Eric. 20 missed calls? At this time of the day? By Eric? Why would he even call you?

Immediately dialling his number, you wait for him to pick up the call only to get sent off to voicemail.

Getting worried you get out of your bed in a hurry as you grab your car and house keys and head towards the door.

Opening the door you jump back in surprise when you see Eric standing in front of you with his hands placed on his knees as he took deep breaths in while trying to catch his breath.

“Why…why the hell were you…not picking up your calls!?” Eric shouts at you while still trying to catch his breath.

Standing up properly, he wiped his forehead with the back of his hand before he looked you in your eyes, “Are you free?” Eric asks once he his breathing had gone back to normal.

Looking down at the attire you were wearing, you stare back up at Eric with an awkward smile. “Well looking at the fact that I am in my pyjamas I think I am free yeah.” You notice Eric roll his eyes playfully as he enters your house and grabs your coat which was hanging on the coat hanger.

“Wear this. It’s cold outside…” Eric whispers in your ears as he helps you wear the coat.

“Where are we going though?” You ask Eric, noticing the impatience.

“Just start walking will ya?” Eric says as he grabs your hand and intertwines his fingers with yours unknowingly.

—x—

You both had been walking on the twinkling footpath since the last few minutes. The silence had engulfed you both but this time it felt more comfortable rather than awkward.

You looked around the busy streets of the road as everyone was out there celebrating the last day of the year with their loved ones.

Reaching a calmer and quieter street you looked around the place when you noticed that there was no one around and it was just the two of you there.

“Okay sweetheart, what I am about to tell you, just please listen to me before you say anything okay?” You hear Eric say. Turning around to face him you notice Eric taking a seat on the grass as he stares ahead at the scenery which is in front of him. “Come sit.” He says as he pats the place beside him.

Sitting down beside him you screech in surprise when Eric pulls you closer to his body while grabbing onto your waist. “That’s better,” Eric whispered softly before he took a deep breath in.

“I missed you…” he says softly as he straightens out the strands of your hair which were flying around everywhere.

Looking him in the eye you softly respond to him “I missed you too. All I did was think about you since our last encounter and I…I am sorry.” You whisper that, afraid your voice would break if you speak any louder.

“I wanted to tell you something, I just couldn’t get myself to say it out loud because I was afraid something would happen.” You give him a look of encouragement, a sign for him to continue speaking which he caught on immediately.

“I love you Y/N, I knew that when we were away from each other and I was sure of my feelings for you when we had that talk on the rooftop of the hospital. I was just so caught up in the fact that my dad was on the verge of dying I unknowingly pushed you away. I knew I left you in the dark after just disappearing after we had kissed that day in my car and that was no way in hell right but…I was just so much in denial about the fact that I love you more than a friend. I was freaking out over the fact that I might lose you if our relationship does not go well, I was afraid that I would mess it all up when we got together but when we had a talk on my birthday, I realised that you’re the only person I will ever love this much, I just love the way you smile when I make a stupid joke even though it was not funny. I was afraid that if I confessed my feelings we would not be able to spend Christmas together, which we did not because of my stupidity. I missed the time when we would bake the cookies on Christmas Eve, I missed the time when we would wrap the gifts we bought for our friends for the Christmas even though they were utterly ridiculous but most of all, I missed spending time with you sweetheart. I missed hearing your sweet voice, I missed the fact that you were not the first person who wished me a Merry Christmas. I love you Y/N. I truly do and this time, I am ready to commit. Commit for us and for this relationship we would have in the future. Would you take the honours and be my girlfriend?” Eric says as breaks down in tears at the end of the sentence.

Grabbing his cheeks, you make him look up as you lean closer and place your lips on top of his, you could taste the saltiness of his tears but the sweet taste of the lip balm he was wearing.

Smiling in the kiss, you move closer to him as you move your hands towards his neck as you pull him closer towards you. You could feel the slight smile that appeared on his lips.

Being lost in the kiss, you both failed to notice the snow that had started to fall, that was until you saw the small snow that rested on Eric’s nose which made you let out a small giggle.

“What’s so funny sweetheart?” Eric says between the kiss as he kisses you deeper, not even letting you answer the question he had just asked.

Pulling away, you look at Eric with a wide smile resting on your cheeks, your smile reaching your eyes, his favourite kind of smile of yours truly.

“Is that a yes then?” Eric asks as a giggle escapes his lips. Giving him a small nod you peck his red nose as you let out a small laugh.

“See, I can be the one for you sweetheart.” Eric says with a silly smile on his face before he starts peppering your face with kisses making you fall down on the grass as laughter blares through the quiet place.

“I never said you couldn’t…” you say with laughter. “I love you, Eric Sohn…” you whisper softly as you look up at him while lying down on the ground, as Eric stared down at you while being above you.

“I love you too, sweetheart.” Eric whispers the last words as he kisses you deeply.

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[izzy-b-hands]

Technically now for SFerguson Sunday vs Ferguson Friday, but! The fic I was working on is finally edited to my liking. Will go up on AO3 when I have the spoons for it, but wanted it on here for now at least! Fic is below the cut.

Stealing my description of it from last night bc it actually wasn't terrible lol:

Ferguson/Izzy, au that puts us in the time period of the former's show, with a vague plot that by fucking Ferguson maybe it'll help Jack out of a particularly bad charge that he may or may not have actually done. Also, additional ed/izzy with a final hint of ed/izzy/ferguson 👀.

“I mean, I'll fuck him,” Izzy shrugs. “He's not bad looking. Actually, he looks a bit like m-”

“Don't remind me,” Ed blushes, dropping his head into his hands. “He looks a lot like you. Enough that I asked if he knew you or was related to you.”

“While he was arresting you?”

“Was there going to be a better time?!”

Izzy sighs. “Maybe not. So, what exactly am I convincing him not to do?”

“They let me go because ultimately, they claimed they didn't have enough to prove I was working with Jack and I wasn't worth the paperwork,” Ed replies, lifting his head enough for Izzy to see how miserable he looks. “But Jack is-”

“Oh, Eddie-”

“Come on! You like Jack too! You fuck him nearly as often as I do, at least!”

“Yeah,” Izzy finds he's suddenly all tired sighs, a well of them, seemingly endless. He leans back in his chair, and studies the newspaper clipping photograph of the man. “So I'm meant to waltz into the station, ask for…whoever this is-”

“DCI Ferguson,” Ed interrupts as he raises his head fully and sits up in his chair. “Or Trevor.”

“You get his phone number too?” he smirks, knowing full well that if Ed managed to get a first name out of the man, then he surely got more. 

“Only his office number, but he blushed pretty hard over that, so I didn't want to push it,” Ed pulls a scrap of paper from his trouser pocket and gently moves it across the kitchen table to Izzy. “So actually, you'll call him, set up a meeting to discuss Jack's charges as his acting legal counsel-”

“Jackie is an actual lawyer,” Izzy interrupts as he takes the paper. “Why are we not calling her to deal with this?” 

“Because she'll get him something lesser,” Ed's eyes meet his, and the notes of teasing and flirting drop from his voice. “But we need to get him out. I don't care how, and I'll make sure he lays low or find him somewhere else to stay for a few months elsewhere if need be after, but he can't…”

Ed pauses, voice breaking, breath hitching in his throat. “He didn't do it.”

Izzy moves the paper aside so he can reach over and take Ed's hand. “What did he do?”

“I didn't see it either way, but I know he didn't. I wouldn't lie about this.”

And Ed probably wouldn't. And Izzy doesn't think he's lying now, but if he didn't see whatever happened…that hardly matters. “Ed. What's he charged with?”

“Murder.”

---

“You don't look like legal counsel.”

“You don't look like you should be a cop,” Izzy replies as he strides into the yellow-tinged office. As much trendy colour scheme as effect from the cigarette smoke in the air and the nearly full ashtray on Ferguson's desk. Not that he can judge, and it might benefit him in this circus act he's enacting for Jack's sake.“Do you mind if I-”

Izzy slips his own pack of cigarettes from the pocket of his leather jacket, and gestures. 

Before Ferguson can reply, he's got two out, one held out to the detective in offering. 

“Wouldn't have said no even if you weren't sharing,” Ferguson takes it, his fingertips lingering briefly on Izzy's as he does. “I'm not counting this as a bribe.”

“Who said I was here to bribe you?” 

Ferguson crosses the room to his desk, motioning for Izzy to sit in the chair in front of it. “No one. But I think I've got you and your two friends figured out.”

“Have you?” Izzy settles into the chair, seemingly designed to be the exact opposite of comfortable or ergonomic. “And what have you figured out about us?”

“You're too nice.” There's a flash of flame as Ferguson lights his cigarette, a matchbox already out on the desk. “And that's a shame. You don't need to go down for this just because he's your friend.”

“I don't know that Jack's done anything,” Izzy shrugs, reaching for his own matches in his pocket. “He's an idiot, sure. Makes poor choices, yeah. But murder-”

“I know Mr. Teach claims he saw nothing,” Ferguson interrupts as he exhales smoke across the desk. “And that may well be the case. But even if he didn't see it, someone else may have-”

“May,” Izzy cuts him off, still fumbling for his suddenly hiding matchbook. “May have seen him? So what evidence exactly is he being held on?”

“The dead man's body, and being covered in blood for a start,” Ferguson replies as he walks back around the desk. He leans down, close enough to light Izzy's cigarette with the tip of his own. “And that he was the last person heard in the area per everyone living there that agreed to an interview.”

“You shouldn't be telling me half of this,” Izzy smirks. “Almost makes me think you don't think he did it.”

He takes a drag and watches Ferguson watching him. Leaning back against the desk now, cigarette balanced in his lips, looking entirely too tempting for a cop. 

“That's the bit I definitely can't tell you,” Ferguson smiles as he takes his cigarette from his mouth and walks back around the desk to sit. “But I can say that whatever you're planning to do here, to bribe or convince me to just let him go…you know I can't. And I'll let you walk out of here now, no trouble, no charges, nothing. I can't guarantee that if we start something though.”

“We?” Izzy leans back in his chair, legs stretched out. “Thought I was the troublemaker in this equation. Here to distract you from your…noble duties, to win your favour and-”

It's lucky that the blinds covering the office's internal windows are already pulled closed, and maybe that's why Ferguson moves so fast. Cigarette shoved into the ashtray, then around the desk to lean down and kiss him exactly as roughly as he likes. 

Not every day that someone gets that right on the first try, and it's enticing. “We indeed.”

Ferguson nods, stammering. “I'm not. I shouldn't be doing this. It's not going to get your friend out-”

“I know,” Izzy interrupts gently. “I told Mr. Teach, Ed rather, as much too, if you want to know. He still asked that I come and try.”

He stands up slowly, moving Ferguson with him until he's got him backed up against the edge of the desk. “I think he knows full well it won't work, but we wanted to see how far I'd get.”

“Go lock the door and I'll show you just how far.”

It's later in the day, and the station could be busier than it is. Even so, there's a wonderfully desperate thrill in knowing someone might hear them. 

A desperation that's hard to suppress when Ferguson slows things down, just a bit. Takes his sweet time stripping Izzy of his jacket, the borrowed dark purple t-shirt cut nearly too short by Ed. 

The entire time, seemingly just as desperate in every achingly slow kiss and hickey he presses to Izzy's lips, his neck, his chest-

“Mr. Teach said a lot about you,” Ferguson's voice cuts through the haze Izzy's fallen into. “Mentioned in particular how pretty you look on your kne-”

He doesn't let Ferguson finish the word before he shoves the chair back, and drops to his knees. Mouth open, tongue out, sitting back on his feet. 

“He wasn't lying,” Ferguson murmurs warmly, nodding when Izzy reaches for his belt. 

There's a twinge there, and it nearly throws him off his game for a moment. While he's in here letting a detective fuck his mouth (and more, if they can manage it without alerting anyone else), his cunt getting wetter and cock harder by the minute, Jack's locked up, presuming and hoping he'll be freed soon. 

“Look, if he really didn't do it,” Ferguson sighs softly, a hand reaching down to toy with the earring in Izzy's ear, flicking the silver hoop gently. “Then…it might all work out. I'm not making any promises-”

Izzy lets Ferguson's cock pop from his mouth. “I know, Trevor. I'm not asking you to. And I…I want to think he didn't. I really do.”

Ferguson's hand is cradling his face now, a thumb softly rubbing his cheek. “But you can't say for sure he wouldn't.”

Izzy nods. “Can I go back to sucking you off now? Far less depressing, that, in comparison-”

He's cut off as Trevor pushes his head down, not too roughly, but enough to make him moan. 

“I'll give you two whatever updates I can,” Ferguson murmurs, his fingers twining through Izzy's hair. “Whether I should or not. And I really fucking shouldn't-”

He moans around Ferguson's cock, and suddenly he's back on his feet. 

“I don't have,” Ferguson stammers, peering towards his desk. “I mean, why would I have anything for this in here, but-”

“I've got us covered,” Izzy steps away from him long enough to retrieve the small bottle of lube and the few condoms he'd hidden in his inner jacket pocket. “Figured we might want it.”

“Can I ask you something?” 

He cringes internally, but nods. “You want to know who did the surgery on my chest?”

Ferguson blinks. “I. I suppose I'd wondered, but I didn't mean. I meant to find out if you'd prefer ass or-”

“Oh!” The tension that had filled him deflates as he drops his trousers and leans over the desk. “That's different, kind of you to ask, actually. But any and all holes are up for it if you are. We might not get this chance again soon, so you might as well have most or all of them.”

It's one of the lines he's not had a single man refuse, and it doesn't fail him here. Trevor has him pressed down against the desk, hips moving against Izzy's ass, cock teasing his cunt and ass in turn. 

“That's mean,” he sighs happily as he lets himself lift up and lean back into Ferguson. “I like it.”

“I'd tease you longer,” Ferguson purrs into his ear, leaning close even though Izzy can hear his hands busy with a condom, the telltale crinkle of foil.“But I've another meeting, and she'll be here soon.”

“I'll make sure I don't tire you out completely then, for her sake.”

He chuckles as Ferguson finally slips inside his cunt, hard and warm and already twitching. “Is that really how it is between you and her? Who is she? Another ‘lawyer’ like myself-”

Ferguson thrusts hard, shoving him forward, but a hand reaches around to help hold him up. A mindful one, not messing too much with his top surgery scars, but still tracing gently there now and then as he leans into it. 

“Wouldn't you like to know,” and there's another thrust, paired with a slightly needy moan. “She isn't, as it happens. She has actual credentials-”

“Does she know you're meeting me?”

Izzy can't help but ask. It'll be ten times hotter (and he's already sweating as he fucks himself back on Trevor's cock, in rhythm with him) if it turns out she knows, and knows exactly what they're getting up to as well.

“She does, or she should,” Ferguson's other hand is between his legs, gently teasing Izzy's cock. “Was on our fucking schedule for the day, though not that I'd be doing this with you.”

“Work mates then? Work mates with benefits, rather.”

Ferguson moves a hand, then both, to hold Izzy on his cock, keeping him from moving. 

“Did I strike a nerve?” Izzy teases. “I'm not judging. I've wound up fucking plenty of the people I've worked with too. Nothing wrong with it, as long as everyone is on the same page about it.”

One hand is at Izzy's cock again, rubbing harder, Ferguson's hand slick with how wet Izzy is. He's relentless in it. 

“If I keep asking questions about her,” Izzy pants as he lays on the desk, still trying to fuck himself onto Ferguson’s cock, though he can feel that he's already in deep. “Will you keep doing that?”

“Why don't you find out?”

It's a teasing, warm challenge that has Izzy's thighs shaking. “I wonder if she would help with Jack's case, if she got to watch something like this.”

Trevor groans into his neck, still working Izzy's cock hard, his other hand gripping Izzy's hip tight. 

“Ed and I could come back together,” Izzy continues, trying to ignore his own cracking voice and gasps and moans as he feels himself dripping onto Ferguson’s cock. “As Jack's legal team. Meet up with you and-”

“Denise.”

“Denise,” Izzy says softly. “She sounds lovely. You moving your hips would also be lovely.”

“Come for me first,” Trevor murmurs. “I know you're close. I can fucking feel it, jesus christ-”

Izzy nods, focusing on the fantasy taking on a clearer picture in his head. “We meet up with you two here, close the blinds and lock the door and then-”

That pushes him over the edge, coming hard on Ferguson’s cock, a hand hurriedly shoved over his own mouth for the moans he knows he can't quiet or stop. 

“More,” he gasps out when he's got a glimmer of his mind back and his legs under him again, shaky though they are. “Can we-”

“Hang on,” Ferguson slips out of him, and with a chuckle and a huff of breath, gets onto the floor on his back. “If your knees can take it-”

“I'll make them,” Izzy turns from the desk, and gets onto the floor, straddling Ferguson's hips. “Please. I don't even care if you could actually do anything for Jack, I just need-”

It's not that he minds tending towards topping with Ed. He's always joked he was happy to be an emergency top for the people he liked and/or loved best, and Ed is at the top of that list. But it's nice to take a turn on the other side of it, and to let himself be needy and subby on top of it all. 

“I've got you,” Ferguson's hands wander, helping hold Izzy steady as he settles onto his cock. “Good boy.”

“Say it again,” he's begging, and this is a bit pathetic, but at times like these it feels stupid good to grovel. 

“Good boy,” Ferguson mumbles happily, smiling as Izzy bounces and grinds on his cock. “Such a good boy, taking it so deep, making such a mess on me.”

He reaches back carefully, until he can feel the soft, velvety skin of Trevor's balls. “Yeah? Can I come on it again?”

He toys gently with them, adjusting his touch in tune with Ferguson's moans. “Hm? My come dripping down to your balls, making a mess of us both.”

There's the urge to tell him to pause long enough to take the condom off, but he knows better than to risk it. Even if he wants so badly that it makes him ache to feel Trevor coming bare inside of him. 

Coming inside while covered by the condom will have to do though, and at the very least the one they used is thin enough that he can feel most of the twitching and pulsing that feels as good as any thrusting. 

He switches from grinding to bouncing as one of Trevor's hands moves to tease his cock again. “Tell me. Tell me I can come on it.”

Trevor nods, then gasps it out. “Come for me.”

He lets himself go, hands on Ferguson's warm, hairy chest to ground himself as he fucks himself through his orgasm. He can feel Trevor pulsing inside him, though he's stifled his own moans with a hand clapped over his mouth. 

Izzy leans down to lay against him after a moment, whimpering desperately when he feels Trevor slip out of him. “Would I be too forward to ask for your number? Home number, not your office line, in case anyone can listen in on that. Just to keep in touch about Jack, of course.”

Trevor nods in between kisses, hands back at Izzy's hips, holding him close. “And to set up our next meeting. For any…in person updates we might want.”

He's already thinking of Ed in his cunt, and Trevor in his ass, laying across the desk. Utterly boneless and feeling cockdrunk, but happy to move as needed as Trevor rouses and moves about the office. 

There's not really anything to clean up with, but it's not the worst state he's left somewhere public in. And Trevor handles the majority of things: disposing of the condom, tossing Izzy his shirt and jacket, and most importantly, scribbling his phone number on a slip of paper.

---

“Home number?” Ed plucks the folded paper from Izzy's hand. 

He nods. “He'll be updating us whenever he can. But Jack's not getting out right n-”

“I know,” Ed bumps into him gently, the closest touch they can afford while standing on the sidewalk in front of the station. “But it was worth a try, and even if this one didn't get us anywhere, any future attempts might. Besides, seems like you enjoyed this quite a bit.”

“Next time, he suggested we might both come by to talk about Jack's options,” Izzy smirks as he motions Ed down the sidewalk and into the nearest alley, pondering exactly how well-fucked and messy he must look for Ed to comment on it. There, he can finally, potentially safely kiss him. “As his unorthodox-looking legal counsel-”

Ed smiles into the next kiss. “Think we could sneak the harnesses underneath our clothes without anyone noticing? Probably, almost definitely, yeah? I don't want to somehow make this worse for Jack-”

“I don't think it can get much worse for Jack,” Izzy interrupts. “Short of a conviction and prison. We'll see.”

“You don't think he did it,” Ed's eyes light up. “Wait. Does the detective think he didn't-”

“Tell you more when we get home,” Izzy can feel a set of eyes on them, and sure enough there stands a cop at the end of the alley. A woman, watching, but thankfully not making any moves towards them. Maybe she didn't see the kiss. “I can give you a reenactment of my valiant attempt to free Jack in there, if you're willing to put on a tie and button up to set the mood.”

“Do we own a tie between us?” Ed mutters. “Doesn't matter, I'll put on whatever we have that's closest.”

Izzy keeps an eye on the cop as they walk away, peering back to make sure she doesn't follow. 

She doesn't. But she doesn't turn away either. For a moment, he wonders…Denise? 

But Ed is getting ahead of him. He doesn't dare head back towards her.

[our-flag-means-death-ao3feed]

An Embarassment of Riches

by unencryptid

“You didn’t have to wait up,” he says, just like he does every time he returns to the cabin after a late watch.

“We know,” Ed replies. “We wanted to.”

He hesitates, pipe poised at his lips. Izzy himself very much hopes to find someone awake when he finally slinks into the cabin on late or difficult nights. It’s harder to convince himself he’s not wanted when dark eyes crinkle and light up upon seeing him peek into the room.

“It’s nice to have something to look forward to,” Stede mutters, and god-damn him.

Bonnet was a testament to the brutality that accompanied vulnerability. The man was ruthless with his sentimentality, knowing exactly where to slide the dagger home for the most damage without even trying.

Smoke stutters from Izzy’s lungs. “Yeah,” he rasps. It’s the closest he’ll come to an admission tonight.  

_______

Izzy comes off a miserable late-night watch. A man used to surviving grapples with the opportunity to thrive.

Words: 11841, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Our Flag Means Death (TV)

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Stede Bonnet, Blackbeard | Edward Teach, Israel Hands, Background & Cameo Characters, Buttons (Our Flag Means Death), Karl the Seagull (Our Flag Means Death)

Relationships: Blackbeard | Edward Teach/Stede Bonnet/Israel Hands

Additional Tags: Established Relationship, Developing Relationship, Polyamory, Dom/sub Undertones, Emotional Constipation, Canon-Typical Violence, Anal Fingering, Anal Sex, Kink Negotiation, Double Penetration, Multiple Orgasms, Orgasm Delay, Overstimulation, Crying During Sex, but in a good way, Top Blackbeard | Edward Teach, Top Israel Hands, Switch Israel Hands, Pillow Princess Stede Bonnet, Bottom Stede Bonnet, Post-Season/Series 01, Mild Degradation, lots of bitch4bitch energy, Izzy's version of pet names are variations of the world 'slut', Recreational Drug Use, Filth with Feelings, They can have some emotional maturity, as a treat, No Beta We die like Badmintons, Author is Open to Hearing about Dead Batteries, Alcohol, Explicit Language

source https://archiveofourown.org/works/48170659

[ofmdficlibrary]

Pining Izzy Fic Recs

Ahoy, mateys! As has recently been confirmed by showrunner David Jenkins in an interview, Izzy Hands is deeply in love with his captain. Themes of pining and unrequited love have been explored from Izzy’s POV in quite a few fanfics in our fandom so far, so today we are shining a spotlight on five of them below:

Fool's Errand by CommanderTeatime | 5k Rating: T Warnings: Graphic Violence Major Tags: Pining, Unrequited Love, Hurt/Comfort, Angst, Sickfic, Referenced Self-Harm Summary: Following the disappearance of Stede Bonnet, Blackbeard throws himself headfirst into Izzy's perception of who he's supposed to be, even if it comes at great detriment to himself and their meager crew. Narrowly escaping death at the point of a Spanish sword and twin frigates, Izzy finds himself trying to save his delirious captain from infection. Israel Hands realizes he's been in love with the man ever since they met as privateers years ago.

storm chaser by maderilien | 4k Rating: T Warnings: None Major Tags: Unrequited Love, Pining, Jealousy, Character Study, Introspection Summary: Rationally, Izzy Hands knows there is a chance his captain might die in battle one day, but he never expected to lose him like this.

give me back my heart, you wingless thing by BloomsOfWinter | 1k Rating: M Warnings: None Major Tags: Unrequited Love, Pining, Implied Sexual Content Summary: Israel Hands has always known the cold metal taste of blood in his mouth from all the biting of his tongue. Devotion is his curse. [Spoilers for ep5.]

He Loves Me (Not) by anysin | 400 Rating: T Warnings: None Major Tags: Unrequited Love, Hanahaki Disease, Pre-Canon, Angst Summary: Izzy coughs up sea grass, as he always does, over Blackbeard.

Lying in the Ocean Singing Your Song by jessclare | 3k Rating: T Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Major Tags: Unrequited Love, Post Season 1, Angst Summary: Izzy loves Blackbeard. Ed loves Stede. Blackbeard doesn't love anyone.

[jobrookekarev]

I Remember it All Too Well Chapter 4

Chapter Four of Six: So I Showed up at Your Party.

Words: 2600

Chapter Summary: Alex sees Jo at the bar with Link and Levi. As he begins to approach her, Link blocks Alex off and tells him to leave Jo alone. However, Jo is more willing to share the bar with him.

Story Summary: Alex knew from the moment he signed the divorce papers that leaving Jo and Seattle was the worst mistake of his life. As Alex works his way back to Seattle, he sees Jo again four times before she allows him back into her life.

Or

The four times Alex saw Jo after their divorce, and the one time they finally got back together with her, plus a soft epilogue.

Fandom: Grey’s Anatomy

Relationship: Alex Karev/Jo Wilson.

Characters: Jo Wilson, Alex Karev, Levi Schmitt, and Atticus Lincoln.

Rating: General Audiences

Additional Tags:  Regret, Longing, Pining, Angst, Angst with a Happy Ending, Foster Kid, Adoption, Joe's Bar.

Read at AO3

Read at FFN

……………………………………………………………………

After arriving back in Seattle, the last thing Alex wanted to do was go home alone. However, this was his new normal. As it was summer he got the kids for two weeks in Seattle at a time, instead of having to fly to Kansas to see them. Alex had tried to remain cheerful and positive on the plane ride back, but the twins could sense his feelings. Although it wasn't the first time Alex had dropped them off only to go back to Seattle, the kids still didn't understand why he wasn’t going home with them. It was a tearful goodbye at the airport that had stuck in his mind the whole plane ride home. 

At least next time they would all be in Seattle together as Izzie had agreed to fly out with them in exchange for letting her have the weekend in Chehalis with her mom. Robbie Stevens had apparently been on better terms with Izzie after she left Seattle and was a decent grandma to the kids. The second Alex's plane touched down at SeaTac he seemed to be on autopilot as left the airport and drove back up to Seattle. Somehow he ended up back at the hospital, but instead of going back to work, he decided to hop across the street to Joe's Bar. 

When Alex walked into the bar he wasn’t surprised to see that it was still the same as it always was. The neon lights still hung on the walls, peanut shells still littered the floor, and the old jukebox in the corner played the same old songs. Alex quickly went over to the bar and greeted the bartender as he ordered a beer. He looked around the room and wasn't surprised that he didn't recognize anybody until his eyes landed on a booth in the corner. There sat Levi, Nico, and Link, and then he saw her. Jo sat at the booth next to Link as she smiled and talked with them while she drank. Alex stared at her for a moment and as if she could sense his eyes, Jo looked around the room and their eyes met.

Even from across the room, he could see her light brown eyes glow in the low light as she stared at him intently. They hadn't spoken since he laid out his heart to her in the hallway of the hospital a few weeks ago. Yet, as she held his gaze now he suddenly got the urge to get up and go to her. Jo's eyes pulled him in like a lasso and before he knew it, he was walking across the bar to her. 

Jo continued to stare at him. Her lips slightly parted in a look of longing as she held his gaze. He had that longing too, Alex always had a longing for her. It was the same feelings that had always drawn him to her. Jo was so similar to him, in the way they grew up, the way they ran, and their anger, but also in their humor, and the way they cared for patients. In love and in life, they were so similar and Jo understood him like no one else did. 

It was comforting, she was the one truly familiar thing at the bar and he missed just hanging out with her. He was so lonely without the twins and with Meredith working tonight, he thought he'd end up drinking alone. As he got closer to their table he saw her eyes sparkle and there was a hint of a smile on her lips. Alex was almost to her booth when suddenly Link was standing in front of him. 

“What do you think you're doing?” Link said, glaring at Alex as he crossing his arms, and raising his eyebrows at him. 

Alex seemed to step out of his daze as he looked at Lincoln and Levi who had stood up to form a wall between him and Jo. “I saw you were here and I thought I’d just come over and say hello.”

“We all know you're back, Alex,” Link said, his voice dripping with disdain. “You’ve been back for a while now and if we wanted to drink with you, we would have asked.”

“Yeah,” Levi added, although he was not the least bit intimidating.

“Can I at least talk to Jo,” Alex said, gesturing to the woman that was hidden behind them. 

“No,” Link said, taking a step forward. “You don’t get to talk to her, you don’t get to look at her, and you don’t get to just walk back into her life after everything you’ve done to her.” 

“I never expected to,” Alex said, but Link cut him off again.

“You left. This wasn't a mutual thing, where the both of you decided to break up. You left, Alex,” Link said as he loomed over Alex. “You know I trusted you. I trusted you to love her and to take care of her in the way that Jo has always deserved to be loved, but instead, you broke her heart and you left.”

“I know and I am truly sorry. I told Jo that...” Alex started to say, but Link quickly interrupted him, not even letting him get a word in edgewise. 

“Have you? Have you really taken the time to apologize, because it sure as hell doesn’t seem like you have. Jo certainly would have told me if you had. She did say that you explained it to her, but it just sounds like a lot of excuses to me. Do you know what Jo did when you left? She took the pain that you caused and she made sure that I didn't make the same mistake that you did, and walk away from Amelia. Now you're a fool for having left her and you're a fool for thinking you can come back. So you can take your sad and miserable self and walk away.”

Alex stood there and he took it. He took every word that Link said to him because he deserved it. “I know. You're right, I was a fool for leaving Jo.”

Link seemed a little surprised at Alex's words and the anger left his face. Alex was happy that Link had been there for Jo since he left. He knew Link would be of course, but he was still happy that Jo had someone to confide in and that Link looked after her.

“Link, let Alex be.” Jo’s hand on Link’s shoulder and her soft voice caught Alex’s attention again as she got up from the booth. “Look, it's late and I told the sitter I'd be home before ten.”

“You don't have to go if you don't want to,” Alex said looking at her as he caught her eye again, those amber eyes still pulling him in. It was only eight, so he knew she was lying about having to get back to the sitter and he didn’t want to make Jo more uncomfortable and he already had. “You guys are clearly having a good time here, so I'm going to go, and don't worry I won't try and talk to you at the bar again.”

Alex turned away before Jo grabbed his arm. “Alex wait.”

It was the first time they had touched and it felt so familiar and natural. Alex turned around and looked at her as Jo realized she was still holding his arm. She looked down at her hand before she dropped it. Jo’s hand left an invisible impression on his arm and he could still feel the weight of her fingers on his sweater. He remembered how she felt in his arms when he held her and he missed her weight in his arms and in his heart.

Jo looked down before she looked back up at him and held his gaze. “You don't have to go. We don't own the bar, I mean, I technically own part of the hospital and I didn't kick you out of there, so you can stay. If you want to. I'll make sure the boys, don't bother you anymore.”

“I wasn't bothering him. If anything he was...” Link started to say, but Jo shut him up with a glare. 

“No it's okay, I should be getting home anyway. I've got early morning rounds with the residence and I need to be awake so I can remember all their names and stuff,” Alex said, with a nod trying to convince himself just as much as he was trying to convince her.

“Okay,” Jo said with a nod of her own before she sat back down. 

Alex had to tear himself away from her as he turned around and walked back to the bar. He quickly paid for his drink and left. As Alex opened the door to walk up the stairs, he glanced back and saw that Jo was still staring at him. As their eyes met, Jo gave him a soft smile and he easily returned her smile. Jo quickly ducked her head and looked back at Link as they talked and Alex sighed. 

Just that simple smile was enough to send his heart to the clouds. Even after all these years, Jo still made him feel like he did when he was first fell in love with her. Alex adored Jo. Her simple smile had made his heart beat faster, and for now, that smile was enough.

……………………………………………………………………

“You didn't have to do that you know,” Jo said to Link after Levi and Nico went to the bathroom to make out and she knew they probably wouldn't be back anytime soon. “You don't have to go full on big brother mode and protect me from Alex.”

“I know, but I wanted to, Jo. The way he left you was not okay and I know that you've forgiven him, or you're in the process of doing so, but you can't just give him a free pass without making him do the work to repair the damage he did.”

“I'm not just giving him a free pass,” Jo said with a shake of her head as she looked up at the door despite how Alex had left a few minutes ago. “Look, I know Alex. I was married to him. I know the way he thinks and why he's doing what he’s doing now. Plus, it’s my decision to forgive him or not and I can make my own decisions.”

“I know, you're right and I'm sorry,” Link said looking down at his drink. 

“It's okay,” Jo said, nudging him with her shoulder and leaning against him. “I don't need you to be my big brother, but I appreciate that you still are.”

“Anytime,” Link said, putting his arm around her shoulders and leaning his head against hers. “You'll always be my annoying little sister.” 

“Um, annoying? Excuse you, I am a pleasure to be around, I'm pretty sure your parents like me better than they like you,” Jo scoffed as she sat back with a laugh.

“That is annoyingly true,” Link said with a shake at his head. “I can't believe how much they adore you.”

Jo laughed as she remembered the cancerversary dinner she had attended with Amelia and Link a few months ago. She got a text from her babysitter the teenager down the street named Elsie, saying that Asher had gone down for the night, along with an adorable picture of him asleep in his crib. Jo sighed at the photo and showed it to Link. She missed her baby and was ready to go home for the night. 

Link offered her a ride home and they texted Levi and Nico a goodbye as they were still in the bathroom together. Link dropped her off at Meredith's, before driving up the street to the house he and Amelia had bought. It had been a few months since her own house hunt had started and she still hadn't found a house. Every place she looked at was either too big or too small. She had told her real estate agent that she wanted a three bedroom house, but everything she saw just seemed too small. Jo didn't know what the future held, and she wanted a place that would be her’s permanently. 

Jo walked into the house and let herself in through the side door, by the stairs. Meredith’s kids were still up, and she quickly said hello to them. She paid Elise and sent her home before she headed upstairs. Meredith's kids had their own nanny, but four kids was a little too much for her. So Jo always asked Elise, to watch Asher whenever she wanted a night out.

Jo quietly opened the door to her room, leaving the lights off, and crept over to the crib in the corner. Asher must have woken up as when she peered into the crib, he looked up at her and smiled. He was holding the knitted lion that Grandma Helen had sent out to him and kicked off the blankets.

“Mama,” Asher cooed and reached up for her as Jo leaned down to pick him up. Every time he called her mama, her heart swelled with love for her son. 

“Hello my sweet boy,” Jo said cuddling him close. 

She grabbed the blanket and put it around him as she walked over to sit in the rocking chair. Jo cuddled Asher closer as he laid his head on her shoulder and she rocked back and forth. Within a few moments, his big brown eyes were fluttering close as she kissed his head. In the dark and peaceful night, Jo took a moment to watch her son sleep in her arms. 

At almost a year old he was starting to lose his baby fat as he grew taller each day. He still had the full head of dark hair that grew out so fast she could hardly keep up. She had let it grow out past his neck in an effort to only have to cut it once a month. When Jo picked him up from the fire station she had fallen a little bit in love with him. She and Alex were trying at the time and Jo was ready to be a mother. After Alex left she had made the impulsive decisions to foster and low and behold Asher needed a placement. She had said yes in an instant and they had been a family ever since. 

Jo was happy with Asher and being a single mom, but she wanted to love again. Her friends with benefits relationship with Jackson had been the first step and she’d gone on a few dates, but nothing felt right. Now that Alex was back, it brought up a whole mess of mixed feelings she wasn't sure she was ready for, but a part of her wondered, what if. 

Certainly, things couldn't go back to the way they were before, but there was a part of her that would always be in love with Alex Karev. Jo wasn't sure if she was ready to be in a relationship with him again, despite how she had forgiven him. However, Jo had made up her mind. She was ready to talk to Alex again and she was curious as to how things would develop from there. 

[sexcoffeeandkellynickelsfics]

Be My Vampy Valentine?

Vampire Izzy One Shot

Izzy’s been getting some anonymous love letters! Is someone messing with him or does he have a secret admirer!

A little something I wrote for @slashscowboyboots about her man!! ❤️❤️

“Seriously who keeps sending me these?” Izzy slammed the card down on the counter.

“Stop being so loud it’s broad daylight and my eyes and ears are extra sensitive” Duff complained.

“Shouldn’t of banged so many chicks and got high on my good blood then should you?” Izzy muttered under his breath so quietly no one heard him.

“What the fuck is wrong with you anyway?” He asked flopping down on the sofa next to Slash covering his face with a blanket.

“He’s pissy because he’s had another lovey dovey card from that anonymous sender again” Slash told Duff who just groaned.

“What does it say this time?” Duff asked peeking from the top of the blanket.

“Roses are red, violets are blue, I want to bang your fangs and for you to bite me after I do” Izzy whispered. Thank god vampires don’t blush he thought to himself.

The apartment erupted into laugher, Slash and Duff laughing so hard they almost fell off the sofa.

“That’s the best one yet!” Axl howled.

“Nah the best one was you might have no pulse but I could still give you a boner” Slash giggled sending himself into a laughing fit that saw him hit the floor.

They watched as Izzy lit a cigarette and stared at the newest addition to the collection of cards he’d been receiving over the last month or so. He pondered for a moment was someone messing with him or did he have a secret admirer.

“Well I think it’s cute” Steven piped up.

“Aww you jealous Stevie?” Duff asked patting the drummers fluffy blonde hair.

“Maybeeee” Steven pouted.

A few days passed and Izzy was a little disappointed there hadn’t been anymore cards which made him believe more it was just one of the guys being a dick.

He heard a bunch of banging against the door later that afternoon and assumed it was of the guys and they had forgotten their key. He flung the door open ready to come out with something about keeping the fucking noise down but there was no one there. That’s when he saw it, a black box tied with a white ribbon. He bent down to pick it up and carry it back inside.

Izzy carefully placed the box on the counter in the kitchen and read the label.

“Would you be my vampy valentine?

Love K”

The end of the label sealed with a kiss print.

Izzy loosened the ribbon pulling it off the mysterious box and lifted the lid. Inside was a beautiful handcarved beaded necklace. He was quite take aback at the gesture, he couldn’t remember the last time anyone had sent him a gift. He had to find out who it was.

“Wow she really must wanna get on those fangs if she’s sending you gifts now!” Axl shouted over Izzy’s shoulder making him jolt in surprise.

“Fuck off, I think it’s nice” Izzy said flipping the red head off.

Days passed again, the mysterious card and gift giver invading Izzy’s every thought throughout the day and night. Who was she? Where did she work? Where did she live? Why him? Not many were kind and cared towards him.

February 14th - Valentines Day

Izzy was all alone. AGAIN. He had no girlfriend, the others were all out wooing significant others or trying to pull and he was home all alone. Duff had met some British girl who’d recently moved here and worked at one of their local digs, Axl was fuck knows where and Slash and Steven were out trying to pull every woman they could find with a pulse.

Instead of being miserable he decided to screw around with some guitar and lyrics for the new album they were working on. He’d had a pretty productive afternoon and written a whole songs worth of lyrics and was working on the guitar parts. He heard banging outside the door and was all ready to assume of the guys had got another girl too drunk to function and was bringing them home to bang. He placed his guitar down on the sofa, stood up and walked to open the door muttering several questionable words under his breath.

He opened the door revealing gigantic bouquet of red roses. A face popped round the side of them and smiled. Izzy blinked several times. She was beautiful, blonde hair and the most beautiful blue eyes he’d ever seen. It took him a moment to bring himself to speak.

“K?” he asked.

She nodded.

“Or I’d much rather prefer you call me Karen” she smiled.

He didn’t speak again just grabbed her hand making her giggled and pulled her through the door kicking it shut behind them.

[the-prophet-lemonade]

Hi, it's me!💍I've been rereading everything in anticipation of chapter 10, like I promised, and I was wondering about everyone's super names. In universe, I assume the vigilantes picked their own names, but what about the Idris supers? And how long did it take you to come up with theirs, what made you decide on certain names? Did you end up going back to change any halfway through writing?

hello darling !!!!! i’m very excited about chapter 10, i think it’s gonna be a good one :D

the super names were probably the very first thing i came up with after i’d decided on my concept ... so, they all came long before the plot and i don’t think they changed very much after i settled on them - but a lot of thought went into most of them so i’m happy to explain!

alec | sentinel: i wanted to pick something stoic and powerful for alec, but something that reflected his presence and his willingness to watch over people from above. the name represents his protectiveness and his enduring nature, reflects his role as a soldier and a guard, and also has angelic connotations (to tie into sh canon and/or jace being arkangel) ... lastly, the word sentinel also ties into a particular line from javert’s solo (”stars”) in les miserables that he sings on a rooftop edge in the movie and that is a Very Relevant song ok, you should look up the lyrics

magnus | nightlock: i went back and forth on a couple ideas for magnus’ name, but i wanted something magical and colourful and magician-esque for him. in my mind, nightlock is a portmanteau of “deadly nightshade” and “warlock” (although the “-lock” suffix could also come from “hemlock”) . deadly nightshade is obviously very dangerous and poisonous, and causes delirium and hallucinations (which is reflected in magnus’ ability to manipulate the world around him), but the main symbolism i wanted from it is the flower’s colour - that very deep, plutonic purple matches very well with the fic aesthetic. in addition, a little historical relevance: socrates was executed through consumption of hemlock for “questioning the gods” and entertaining ideas of political insurgency and the pursuit of justice so that’s ... also very relevant.

jace | arkangel: this was the first name i settled on for jace and liked it a lot, so stuck with it. it has heavenly and angelic connotations (obviously) and is a name imbued with a great deal of omniscient power (representative of jace’s op abilities) and some golden colour symbolism too. i chose the “ark” spelling rather than “arch” because i liked the harder consonant sound, it works better for jace’s personality. also, jace can fly lol 

clary | muse: clary was the one i went back and forth on a lot when i was picking her alias ... originally, she was going to have fire elemental powers like johnathan, but i decided against it, because pyrokinesis is a very violent and erratic power, and whilst clary is unpredictable and scrappy, i don’t think she’s intentionally destructive. i think her artistic manifestation suits her well and is a very adaptive ability, which matches her personality better. aNYWAY the other names i considered for her were “firestorm”, “sunfire”, and “athena” but i went with muse to match her powers. also, it’s a single syllable so sounds better in tandem with arkangel (three syllables) considering they’re often mentioned together in the text and i think lots about rhythm and sounds!

simon | 8-bit: i wanted something super geeky and given the time period, the snes and the gameboy had just been released by nintendo, so nintendocore and 8bit music was becoming a thing! plus, as simon is a technopath, i wanted a name to both represent his powers and represent simon’s playfulness and naivety when it comes to superhero business hahaha my alternative choices for simon were “cyber”, “shockwave”, and “electro” but those were all too boring

luke | wolfsbane: i considered “sabretooth” for luke but there’s a pretty well-known xmen hero by that name, so i went with wolfsbane. again, wolfsbane is the name of a poisonous dark purple plant (like nightshade), so there’s a direct link to magnus there, which is highly relevant as the two of them have history and used to be vigilante partners in the 1980s (which we haven’t yet uncovered in the fic). there’s also another member of the xmen called wolfsbane who, funnily enough, can turn into a werewolf, much like luke haha

maia | veil: this is another one i chose instantly and has everything to do with maia’s powers. now, maia as a person is pretty abrasive and unforgiving and unapologetic and doesn’t hesitate to get physical if need be (e.g. punching jace that one time lmfao), so i wanted to give her a power the exact opposite of this feisty outward persona. i think maia is an intensely vulnerable person who puts up a lot of walls and thick skin around her heart to protect herself and hide her feelings, so i wanted her to have a power that was cerebral, but also one that tied into this vulnerability and her unwillingness to let people see her real self. so, that’s why she can manipulate illusions, and that’s why her alias is veil. 

catarina | witchlight: i don’t know if this one has been said outright in the fic yet, but it’s in between the lines if you read close enough! we’ll get a bit of cat in the upcoming ch 10, but magnus/nightlock has already mentioned her both by name and alias in past chapters. cat’s powers are healing magic (surprise surprise) and her name comes from a type of crystal that glows in the hands of good-intentioned and good-hearted people ... very much in-line with the phial of galadriel/light of earendil from lord of the rings if i’m honest (and a giant nerd) ... witchlight as a stone is also found in sh canon! in addition, witchlight has this great simultaneous feeling of antithesis and parallelism to “nightlock” and i don’t really know why but they sound good together! there’s a sense of balance between their names, don’t you think?

dot | salem: another one like cat, you’ll have to look between the lines for this one, but she’ll be cropping up a bit more and has a very crucial role to play in a later chapter. this matches cat’s witch motif but with darker connotations (reflective of dot’s superpowers) when taken in the context of the salem witch trials and therefore has links to the fic’s themes of persecution. however, the biblical connotations of the name “salem” are to do with peace, so that’s nice.

lydia | apex: this one is very literal - the apex of something is the pinnacle, the top, the best. lydia is one of idris’ best supers and her power is super strength, so go figure

valentine | silver tongue: we haven’t seen valentine use her powers of persuasion yet, and they’ve only been hinted at (and it seems that johnathan is doing most of the grunt work, golly gosh i wonder why that is and what it means and whether it matters for a later part of the plot ... hmm). this one’s pretty straightforward too though: someone with a silver tongue is someone who is eloquent and persuasive at speaking, and valentine is known to be a good orator as we know. honestly though i just think of that simpson’s episode where lisa finds out jebediah springfield has a silver tongue and that has nOTHING to do with this so idk why i brought it up lmfao

there are of course a few others: ragnor, aline, helen, raj, and victor, but i haven’t named them ... i think aline has electrical/lightning powers, and raj can teleport, but i don’t think i settled on what helen and victor can do, so i just didn’t bother mentioning their aliases. izzy and raphael (yet to appear) are also supers but don’t have code names ... and i’m also curious what maryse and robert’s powers and aliases might be! there’s also sebastian/johnathan who does have an alias but it hasn’t been revealed in the story yet so ... no spoilers!

your note about idris supers is interesting and honestly i hadn’t considered it ... i imagine idris supers do get to pick their aliases but they’d have to be ‘corporate-approved’ by higher ups. lydia (apex) and alec (sentinel) both have very strong and powerful names, whilst clary (muse) matches her powers, and jace (arkangel) is an odd one because the name reflects his wings rather than his adoptive muscle memory, and obviously he’s been a super longer than he’s had his wings so i guess that’s just a plothole hahahaha (maybe he had a different super name before he got his wings and much to alec and izzy’s annoyance, decided to change his name after he got his new gear? who knows)

[ladydracarysao3]

In Love, Serenity  

Chapter Twenty One: Fucking Stressed & Tired

Summary Back from the bog, but a leader's work is never... fucking... done.

[Read Chapter 21 on AO3]  or  [Start from the Beginning]

-Izzalea-

As they approach the gates and bridge to Skyhold, Izzalea is overcome with relief. She silently thanks the Maker and Andraste for bringing them home, relatively unscathed. She has her troops, they put an end to a tyrant, and they all survived that blasted bog.

As they trot their horses across the bridge toward Skyhold’s gates, a bell rings in announcement that they have arrived. Izzalea’s heart jumps as she hopes her commander’s handsome face will be waiting for her on the other side.

She tried to not dwell on how much she missed him while she was away. It took nearly two weeks to rescue her men and come home. They were far slower in the journey back to Skyhold due to the condition of some of the more frail soldiers. Izzalea wanted to ensure their safe return however, so everyone traveled slowly in one large group. She was desperate to not let her impatience show to the men, but all she wanted to do was get back to the keep and run into Cullen’s arms.

Izzalea’s nerves are shot. With all of the death and decay, the horrendous weather, the near constant fighting, and all of the emotion that affected them on this trip… she wishes she could take a break and sleep for days. But she knows that she cannot. There is too much that needs to be done.

When she found Warden Alistair in Crestwood weeks ago, he had shared such an unnerving tale. When Corypheus became active, all of the grey wardens in Orlais began to hear ‘the calling.’ It turns out, that when the darkspawn taint in the warden’s blood becomes too much, they have fitful nightmares and hear voices. Like a kind of unspeakable song. It tells the wardens that the blight will soon claim their lives. It urges the afflicted underground, to the deep roads. Once there, they will never be seen again. They leave to die by combat with the never ending numbers of darkspawn that reside far beneath the surface. Choosing a glorious death, rather than become darkspawn themselves.

Because of this, Warden Commander Clarel spoke of a blood ritual that she claimed would end future blights. Desperate to fulfill the purpose of the grey wardens before all would succumb to the calling. Alistair protested her plan, and instead of heading his advice, the wardens turned on him. Claiming that he would have blight consume the world, rather than do whatever it takes to stop them. He was able to get away from their grasp in order to find Hawke and then Izzalea… warning them that the wardens are gathering in the Western Approach.

Alistair believes that it is Corypheus who is causing the unexplained calling, tricking the wardens, for a purpose that is yet clear. Does he want them all dead in the deep roads? Or is it something else?

Izzalea clutches onto faint hope that she will have at least one night in her own bed before she leaves for the desert. However, she will do whatever it takes to get to the bottom of this warden mystery, and find out how and why Corypheus is involved.

The gates open and there is a large gathering on the other side. Healers and maids rush to the arms of the recovered soldiers, quickly taking them to the healer’s tower for rest and inspection. A group of stable hands stand at the ready to take the horses to the stables for the same. Izzalea hops off her horse and nods her thanks to the stable boy who takes Ebony’s reigns. She pats the steed lightly on the hip as she is escorted away, thankful for the fearless aid Ebony brought.

“I am pleased to see you returned,” a delicious Ferelden accent thrums from behind her.

Cullen.

Without a care for who sees her blatant display of affection for the Inquisition’s Commander, Izzalea swings her body around, and wraps herself around him in jubilation and relief. He catches her in his arms and hums satisfaction in her ear as she buries her face in the mane of his cloak. She inhales a deep breath of his scent. Her chest warms, she could almost cry from the feeling of alleviation. The abundant stress that her body accumulated on the journey melts away in Cullen’s arms.

“Maker, bless…” Izzalea sighs into his collar. “I am so happy to see you.”

Cullen squeezes her tighter and kisses the side of her head lovingly. “I read the report you sent in, it sounds as if you had a miserable trip.”

She pulls away from him just enough to catch his eyes in hers. “Dreadful, yes. But Successful.” She smiles and reaches her lips to his cheek for a feather soft kiss. “I will tell you all about it later? Over wine? Please let there be wine.” Izzalea looks into his golden eyes with eager happiness.

He returns a smile, breaking their embrace so that he can take her hand and place a delicate kiss upon her glove. “It would be a pleasure, Inquisitor.” He smirks at her in that way that he does, his scar twitching, his eyes sparkling coyly.

“Inquisitor…” Leliana clears her throat to grab Izzalea’s attention.

She drops her hand from her Commander’s touch and feels a light flush spread in her cheeks. She had almost forgotten that they were not alone. Izzalea stretches her shoulders back and stands taller, firmer… more professional. She clears her throat to shoo away any lingering desire from her voice, calling upon her deeper, more serious tone. “Yes, Leliana?”

The spymaster begins deadpan and dark, “We need to see you in the war room… immediately, I’m afraid.” Izzalea senses a twinge of worry at the end of Leliana’s sentence, her eyes and lips fall, her brow crinkles. Something is wrong. Terribly wrong.

“Of course, lead the way.”

--

“My scouts rushed tirelessly to the Western Approach, Inquisitor, and what they have found is not good. Along with the wardens, there seems to be great deal of demon activity in the region, though we are not sure why.” Leliana is icily sober, arms crossed, standing at the end of the war table.

Rolling her eyes, Izzalea grunts, “Great… blood rituals and demons. Just… Flippin’ fantastic.”

“The scouts found an old warden hold, Griffon Wing Keep. With the help of Bull’s Chargers, they managed to secure the hold from the Venatori that inhabited it.” Cullen adds without reserve. He stands across from Izzalea on the other side of the table, hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

Groaning, she rolls her neck, pinching and tugging at its stiff muscles. “Venatori, too. This is just peachy. So, there definitely is a correlation between the strange warden behavior and our favorite darkspawn magister,” she grumbles.

Cullen continues, “I sent Knight-Captain Rylen yesterday, with a squad of troops, to occupy the keep for your arrival. We can use it as a base of operations in the area while you get to the bottom of whatever is happening out there.” He hushes his tone with concern, touched by tender worry, “At least then, perhaps you will be safer… with strong walls surrounding you.”

A sheepish smile spreads on Izzalea’s face. It does not matter how much danger she faces, it seems Cullen will always worry for her. And with their newly affirmed feelings for one another, he is allowing himself to be more forthcoming with his affections. His caring nature makes her heart feel as though it is blossoming within her.

She tries to think of who would be the best team to bring on their mission, given the new information. “I think we should bring Dorian. With the Tevinter presence in the region, he will be of great use. Cassandra’s Seeker abilities should help against both Venatori mages and the abundance of demons. Warden Blackwall should accompany us as well…” Izzalea taps her fingers on her chin in contemplation. Most of her inner circle would be beneficial to have on hand. With so much uncertainty as to what lies in wait out there, along with the sheer distance from Skyhold to the desert, she wants to ensure she has the right team at her disposal.

Leliana thumbs the marker representing Griffon Wing Keep on the map. “Perhaps you should bring your entire inner circle. Since there is a large strong hold waiting for you… If the relations with the wardens turns undesirable, it would be best for you to have as much force with you as possible. There is a very large fortress, Adamant Keep, nearby where my scouts have seen a majority of the warden activity. There is no telling how many are in there, or what they will do.”

Nodding in agreement, Izzalea claps her hands once to symbolize the end of their planning. “Alright, let’s inform everyone and get to work preparing for departure. With such a large group, I want to make sure we bring enough supplies. Let’s use the rest of today and tomorrow for preparation, and I will leave with my team at dawn the following day.”

All are in agreeance, so Izzalea dismisses the meeting before setting off to see Dagna and Harritt in the undercroft. She needs to ensure that they can make all necessary repairs the inner circle’s armor before they set out. They will have a lot of work to do in a very short period of time.

Harritt is going to be so, very cross with me…

--

Leaving the undercroft, with a twinge of shame after being scolded mercilessly by her blacksmith, Izzalea emerges back into the great hall only to find Dorian walking hurriedly towards in her direction.

“Dorian! Make sure you get any repairs needed for our trip to Harritt now, or else...” Izzalea shivers and bites her lip, “Or else, he might skin me…”

The mage scoffs and grins, holding his hand to his chest in feigned offense, “Oh Izzy, all of my gear is in tip-top shape. Fear not, my ravishing fire-haired beauty.” As she sighs in relief, the mage continues, “I do need a minute of your precious time, my dear Inquisitor. I want to suggest an additional member for our entourage.”

“Seems like everyone is pretty much going already…” Izzalea tilts her head and stares quizzically at the raven haired mage.

“Ah yes, well… this person is not usually a fighter.” Dorian leans against the wall beside them, crossing his arms with nonchalance, as he tends to do. “Her name is Aurora. She is a mage who works in the library. I would like to bring her along. She has some life experience with both demons and wardens. I think she can help me… and you of course… with research and information at the new keep.” He musingly strokes the curl of his mustache and peers into the distance, “I also get the sense that she is a deeply powerful mage, though she tries to hide it.”

“Interesting. I don’t want anyone coming along who cannot take care of themselves. Are you sure she can fight, if needed?”

“Oh yes, I believe so. I think she can fight with a vengeance.” He wickedly smirks at her.

“Alright… Well… As long as she is not a burden. I put her in your charge, Dorian.”

“Understood my dear, I shall not let you down.” He mockingly assumes a military posture and salutes, grinning at her before turning back toward the doors to the library. He slowly slinks and sashes’ down the hall, as if giving everyone within its walls a chance to appreciate his visage.

Movement of two soldiers marching down the center of the hall grabs her attention away from musingly watching Dorian leave. Josie hurries down between the men, her shoes click-clacking on the stone in an amusing flurry. She diverts to Izzalea’s direction as the two soldiers take flanking positions to her throne.

Izzalea gets the sudden feeling that something has happened that needs her immediate and official response, a feeling that brings her a lot of dread and irritation. Her expression flattens as her ambassador draws near. “What is it, Josie?”

“I am afraid we require your judgement, Inquisitor.” Her thick Antivan accent harbors aspects of doubt and bewilderment.

Izzalea quietly groans and rolls her head, neck, and shoulders to attempt at relieve the tenacious intensity of stress in her muscles. She truly cannot wait to relax with a bottle of wine and her golden lion. She needs a few hours of stress free companionship. Until then, duty calls…

Stoically, Izzalea approaches her throne and sits. Placing her elbow on the arm rest, she rests her chin on her knuckles. She gazes down the hall, waiting to see what new order of chaos will be brought forth. Her expression remains cool and flat, as the guards walk what appears to be an Avvar man to her throne.

He is in chains as if a prisoner and is dressed similarly to the Hand of Korth. However, where Korth wore red, this man wears blue. She cannot see much of his face, but what she can make out is an insolent glint in his eyes to match the twisted upturn of his lips. He softly chuckles to himself while looking around to see Izzalea’s throne, the hall, and the patrons within gawking at his presence.

Josie stands to her right with her clip board in hand. She gives her notes a quick once over before addressing the court. “Chief Movran the Under, your worship. After your return from the bog, we discovered this man attacking the… building… with a… goat.” Josie speaks slowly and in a way that is as if she doesn’t believe the words coming from her mouth as she says them. “He feels slighted by the killing of his son, the Hand of Korth, and his Avvar tribesmen. Who all attacked you first… What should we do with him? Where should he go?”

Izzalea adjusts herself in her seat, leaning forward to peer at the chieftain. Remembering that Abner had mentioned he was ‘not a bad guy,’ Izzalea tries to quell her temper as best as she can. “To answer the death of you clan, you attacked Skyhold… with a goat?”

Movran chuckles deeply and paces around in the small space the guards allow for him to move. “A trial? Unnecessary.” His voice is deep and calm, but rife with spirited arrogance. It actually reminds Izzalea a lot of her small Avvar scout. “You killed my idiot son. So I answered, as is my custom, by smacking your holdings with goat’s blood. But no foul! He was meant to murder Tevinters, but got feisty with your Inquisition. A redheaded mother guarantees a brat.”

He nods in compliance and softens the arrogance in his tone. “Do as you’ve earned, Inquisitor. My clan yields. My remaining boys have brains still in their heads.” He chuckles to himself and it occurs to her he really does not seem to care that his son is dead.

With a flick of her fingers, Izzalea calls Josie closer. She leans in to lend her ear. Izzalea speaks low whisper, “Who was that arrogant lord I met at Therinfal Redoubt? The really uppity one who got us into that keep?”

She smiles secretively and whispers, “Lord Abernache, Inquisitor,” before backing up to her position beside the throne.

Izzalea looks back at the large Avvar man in front of her, “It seems as though we have an opportunity to expand our knowledge and diplomacy. I would like to connect you with one of our Lords. His name is Abernache. Educate him in your ways and customs. He will be a very difficult pupil. It will not be easy.”

Movran laughs loudly, “I will rename my youngest son Herald. He is another redhead.” He continues to chuckle to himself as the guards undo his chains and escort him out of the hall.

Izzalea slowly shakes her head and blinks her eyes at the man as he leaves. What a bizarre encounter.

Josie steps to her side again and leans in, in a hushed tone she whispers, “One other matter, while I have you Inquisitor? There was another Avvar man. His name is Amund the Sky Watcher. He claims to be an augur who met you while in the marsh. He would like to join the Inquisition as well. Claimed to be impressed with you and wants to lend aid however he can.”

Izzalea smiles. It seems her relationship with the Avvar may not be as tenuous as she once thought. “Oh, yes. I’ve met him. That’s great Josie, thank you. Send him to the healer’s tower. I am sure there is much they can learn from each other.” Josie nods before quickly walking away, down the hall, and back to her office.

The rest of the afternoon and evening Izzalea spends searching out and speaking with her inner circle. Ensuring that they assess their gear thoroughly and get any repairs to Harritt and Dagna post haste. Including, personally escorting Sera to the undecroft in order to facilitate the upgrades Sera's bow desperately needed, and putting out more than one fire of flaring tempers between her elven archer and her blacksmith (As well as witness adorable awkward flirting between Sera and Dagna between the elf's outbursts with Harritt). By the time she finishes, the dark night sky has consumed the daylight. Izzalea hears ten bells before she finally makes her way to the main building of the keep so that she can shrug up the stairs to her quarters.

As she climbs the steps in her tower, she hears a soft click and shut of her door behind her. Izzalea rolls her eyes and wonders who needs her now, at this hour. With a frown, she turns and look over her shoulder to finds the beautiful and bashful face of her commander. He smiles up at her, silently displaying a bottle of wine and two glasses for her inspection.

“Oh Cullen… I believe Andraste herself has sent you to me. You undeniable treasure.” Izzalea smiles and immediately relaxes her shoulders, feeling ten times lighter having seen his lovely face.

They climb the stairs and move the couch in her room so that it sits directly in front of her fireplace. The maids had already been in and started a glorious fire in the hearth. The room is warm and glows beautiful, relaxing, orange, red, and amber hues.

Cullen pours them each a glass of wine before sitting at the end of the couch. Izzalea takes her wine from his hand as she snuggles up beside him. He thankfully left his armor in his office, and instead, he wears an under tunic and his leather trousers. Izzalea easily leans herself into his chest and tucks her legs to the side, beneath her. He stretches his free arm around her shoulders and softly rubs her arm. She is content. Relaxed.

Staring into the fire, she says, “I know I said I would talk about the trip, but I’m just so fucking tired. I really don’t want to talk or even think anymore for today…”

He laughs a low breathy rumble, “Of course, Izzalea. Let’s just be, for tonight.”

“I knew you’d understand,” she grins. If anyone can fathom the importance of the precious few moments of peace people in their position have, it is Cullen.

They sit silently sipping their wine and gazing into the fire. She is so happy to just be in his arms. The simple act of breathing is coming easier now. She knew that she was tense, but Izzalea did not understand quite the magnitude until she was finally at peace.

Cullen’s lips press into her hair and she closes her eyes. He takes the now empty goblet from her fingers and sets it to the side. He wraps her in his large, muscular arms, and she feels the buzz of comfortable satisfaction tingle through her body. She revels in the peace that she feels within her.

“I am pleased that we have at least two evenings together before I leave you again,” she says.

Cullen brings his lips down to ghost them on her ear, causing shivers to tingle through her body. “I will miss you a great deal, Izzalea.” A low husk. Velvet desire. Her heart rate jumps from the way he says her name.

She tries to speak, but her breath hitches. Her voice comes out in not but a whisper, “I will miss you too, Cullen.” She wonders about all of the words they are not saying. It seems too soon. Yet, she cannot help but to feel resounding love when she thinks about him. Sees him. Touches him. Everything him.

Izzalea arches her neck to bring her lips to his. He leans down and kisses her tenderly, supporting her chin with a gentle touch of his fingers. She feels as if she is soaring through the clouds when his lips touch hers. She is blissful. Happy.

He gives her a light kiss on her forehead. Gingerly, they readjust so that her head is comfortably tucked under his shoulder and on his chest, both of them wrapping their arms around the other. The pair of fearsome warriors sit in quiet tranquility from their stressful lives. Listening to the cracking of the wood in the fire, they savor the warm glow. Here they aren’t the Inquisitor and Commander of the Inquisition. Here, they are not two highly-skilled, deadly fighters who carry the weight of the world on their shoulders. Here, in this quiet room, for this moment, they are simply two people.

Here, they are just Izzy and Cullen.

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wood grain and misery

by Glorious_idiocy

what goes through Izzy's mind as he lays in bed, after another night of no sleep, positively miserable. They're not happy thoughts.

Words: 1012, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Our Flag Means Death (TV) RPF, Our Flag Means Death (TV)

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: Gen

Characters: Israel Hands

Relationships: Blackbeard | Edward Teach/Stede Bonnet, Minor or Background Relationship(s), Blackbeard | Edward Teach & Israel Hands

Additional Tags: Ambiguous/Open Ending, Implied/Referenced Suicide, Hurt No Comfort, Angst, Israel Hands Has Issues, Israel Hands-centric, Israel Hands Needs a Hug, Drabble, One Shot, maybe not, izzy is sad and accidentally slightly philosophical, hopelessness, Backstory, I made it up, its for how Ed and IZzy met

source https://archiveofourown.org/works/44728189

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Maybe We Can Make This Work

by MajimasMadness

“Y’know you’re the only person who ever called me that?” He asked gently, deciding to ignore Stede’s suddenly skittish nature. “Ed, I mean.” He stretched his legs out in front of him, glad to be taking the weight off his fucked knee. He remembered, briefly, how Stede’s fingers had felt when they had traced the starburst scar. How it made his stomach hot, glowing with some affection and tenderness he had never expected to find.

“Surely not.” Stede wasn’t looking at him, staring out over the ocean. The old Ed, Blackbeard, would have grabbed him by the chin and forced him to look at him. But he was desperately trying to shrug that costume, embrace the real Edward that Stede had so painstakingly chipped free from his shell.

“Really. Everyone else only ever called me Blackbeard of Edward. It was nice– it is nice to be different.” Stede nodded, turning his hands over in his lap. Ropeburns were dark and livid on his pale skin, almost black in the watery moonlight. Ed wanted to kiss them, pull those hands to his lips and treat them with the tenderness he knew he could show. It was tenderness that Stede had eked out of him, and he wanted to wrap Stede in it.  “Stede, mate…”

Words: 5218, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Series: Part 2 of OFMD Reunion Series

Fandoms: Our Flag Means Death (TV)

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Categories: M/M

Characters: Israel Hands

Relationships: Blackbeard | Edward Teach/Stede Bonnet

Additional Tags: Smut, Fluff and Smut, Unofficial Sequel, I accidentally a sequel to my other fic, whoops, Stede Bonnet is Trying His Best, Blackbeard | Edward Teach Loves Stede Bonnet, Blackbeard | Edward Teach Deserves Nice Things, Stede Bonnet Being an Idiot, Soft Stede Bonnet, Soft Blackbeard | Edward Teach, Anal Sex, First Time, Blackbeard | Edward Teach Has Feelings, I don't know what to say about this except SURPRISE 5K MORE WORDS, You don't need to read the previous fic but it does help, The author really hates Izzy Hands, So goes out of their way to make him miserable, DONT COME AT ME HES THE WORST

source https://archiveofourown.org/works/44445415

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Would it be weird...?

by Despising_Tories

It's been a couple of weeks since they marooned Stede's crew and Ed is deep in his kraken-era rage. Izzy is miserable, but might the aftermath of a bad storm lead to some catharsis from unexpected sources?

This is for the 2023 OFMD Reverse Big Bang. Art is by the amazing Jem, story written by yours truly. Check out his twitter, they're so talented.

It was a joy to work with you, Jem!

Words: 14363, Chapters: 2/2, Language: English

Fandoms: Our Flag Means Death (TV)

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M, Multi

Characters: Israel Hands, Blackbeard | Edward Teach, Jim Jimenez, Lucius Spriggs, Blackbeard's Crew (Our Flag Means Death), Frenchie (Our Flag Means Death)

Relationships: Israel Hands/Lucius Spriggs, Israel Hands/Jim Jimenez/Lucius Spriggs, Israel Hands/Jim Jimenez, Jim Jimenez/Lucius Spriggs, Blackbeard | Edward Teach/Israel Hands, (Edizzy is past relationship)

Additional Tags: BDSM, Knifeplay, Blood, Dom!Jim Switch!Lucius Sub!Izzy, Quote: Have you ever been sketched? (Our Flag Means Death), Blackbeard | Edward Teach's Kraken Era, Depression, Mild ideation, Aftercare, Anal Sex, Penis In Vagina Sex, Queer Themes, Blow Jobs, Anal Fingering, Double Penetration

source https://archiveofourown.org/works/48708505

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A Shot of Romance

by reina_randwulf

After his divorce, Izzy's life has been a mess. He's reluctant to admit it, but he's struggling to move on. Not only that, his coffee shop Queen Anne's Coffe is not doing good because of the new Starbucks. Izzy is feeling miserable until one day a well dressed American man walks into his coffee shop and gives him a chance to find romance.

Words: 5107, Chapters: 1/5, Language: English

Series: Part 1 of Coffee Philosophy

Fandoms: Our Flag Means Death (TV)

Rating: Mature

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Samuel "Black Sam" Bellamy, Israel Hands, Fang (Our Flag Means Death), Ivan (Our Flag Means Death)

Relationships: Samuel "Black Sam" Bellamy/Israel Hands

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Alternate Universe - Coffee Shops & Cafés, Meet-Cute, Coffee shop owner Izzy, mysterious rich man sam, Fluff and Angst, guess who makes this fic angst, coffee talks, Old Men In Love, you're never too old for romance, vague sex scene

source https://archiveofourown.org/works/47012956

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Of all the things you fuck, I’m the most empty.

by spitbitch

“ Edward moves in him now, as he tends to do, but the hot drag of shallow thrusts and the press of his hip bones into the meat of his thighs is a new feeling— as is the hot, sour panting against the column of his throat; wet and interspersed with a hitching that sounds like it hurts. Ed hurts. He hurts, yet he pleasures, and this has often meant the same thing for the both of them. “

——————————————

This takes place post Stede ditching Ed. However long afterwards is up to interpretation.

Words: 603, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Our Flag Means Death (TV)

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Blackbeard | Edward Teach, Israel Hands

Relationships: Blackbeard | Edward Teach/Israel Hands

Additional Tags: Sad, The most miserable toxic fuck, Izzy’s situation is ultimately up to interpretation, So I’ll tag widely here, Anal Sex, Vaginal Sex, Penis In Vagina Sex, I personally write Izzy as an intersex transman but whatever floats your boat, Intersex Israel Hands, Intersex, Trans Israel Hands, Trans Male Character, Top Blackbeard | Edward Teach, Bottom Israel Hands, This is my first fic Literally ever I have no fucking clue how to tag dude, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, But like not really man, Rebound Sex, Unhealthy Coping Mechanisms, Angst

source https://archiveofourown.org/works/46015711

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Dear Universe

by ChaoticTurtleTurtle

Pete couldn’t believe that today, of all days, his alarm had decided to malfunction.

But this morning hadn’t quite been Pete’s morning. In fact, that could be said about the past month.

So, here he is, with the universe seemingly working against him, miserable and shivering while clutching his now-broken umbrella and hiding under the black awning of a small, but very upscale-looking, coffee shop called Queen Anne’s in a futile attempt to keep his ‘interview’ suit from getting soggier.

And here is where he meets Lucius Spriggs.

Words: 3635, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Our Flag Means Death (TV)

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Black Pete (Our Flag Means Death), Lucius Spriggs, Israel Hands, Blackbeard | Edward Teach

Relationships: Black Pete/Lucius Spriggs

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Alternate Universe - Coffee Shops & Cafés, Coffee Shops, Fluff, Meet-Cute, romcom vibes, Chance Meetings, POV Black Pete (Our Flag Means Death), the existential nightmare experience of job hunting, Lucius' sketchbook, unsolicited by appreciated dick sketch, Izzy the unwitting matchmaker

source https://archiveofourown.org/works/45877975

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An end to suffering (we help each other)

by LakeWitch

Lucius has caught some kind of ship plague; he's having coughing fits, and he's sweating but he's freezing. It's absolutely miserable. And, worse, it's only a matter of time before someone hears him cough and tears the walls open looking for him.

So, Lucius leaves the walls on his terms—ready to face his fate, come what may.

Then, Izzy finds him.

Words: 3477, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Our Flag Means Death (TV)

Rating: Mature

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Relationships: Israel Hands/Lucius Spriggs

Additional Tags: POV Lucius Spriggs, POV Israel Hands, POV Alternating, Sickfic, Sick Character, Common Cold, Flu, hot toddies, Soft Israel Hands, Israel Hands Needs a Hug, Lucius Spriggs Needs a Hug, (So they hug), Implied Sexual Content, Fade to Black, Mild Hurt/Comfort, Author is an Israel Hands Apologist, Nightmares, Israel Hands is Tired, Eventual Fluff, Slight Fever, Post-Season/Series 01, Pre-Bonnet/Crew Reunion, Lucius could be read as being suicidal, But I see it more as being desperate and sick, And knowing the risk of leaving the walls, He doesn't really want to die but knows it's a real possibility, (No one tries to kill him), acts of service

source https://archiveofourown.org/works/45151183

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Twice As Nice

by Milien_the_Gremlin

Izzy is on shore leave, having a miserable time. Edward is looking for some fun - and maybe a crew to join.

Words: 6177, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Series: Part 1 of Happy EdIzzy Week 2023

Fandoms: Our Flag Means Death (TV)

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: Gen

Characters: Blackbeard | Edward Teach, Israel Hands

Relationships: Blackbeard | Edward Teach & Israel Hands

Additional Tags: Alcohol, Gambling, Past Abuse Mention, Pre-Canon

source https://archiveofourown.org/works/44984761