#and yet you can clearly see the emotion in them

[hailturinturambar]

Two Sides of the Same Coin: Sauron and Adar's Relationship

This analysis is not romantic or emotional in nature following human standards. But I treat this analysis as an overview of the relationship between two immortal beings who spent centuries at war.

So we start at the beginning. When Arda was created and Eru Ilúvatar allowed the Valar to enter the world, accompanied by immortal beings of lesser power.

In the first season, Galadriel begins her prologue by stating that not everything in the beginning is bad. Not even Mairon (later Sauron) was. He began in Arda as a Maia of the Valar Aulë. One of the most powerful and renowned Maia. Something that clearly attracted the interest of Melkor, Morgoth.

Betraying the Valar, Mairon accompanies Melkor on his dark path to rule Arda. His knowledge gained from Aulë proves to be of great value and regret in the future. And Sauron served his new master masterfully.

So we come to the main point, where does Adar fit into the story? We know from the books that the Orcs were created in different contexts, the forms vary according to the book. In some, the Orcs were elves corrupted by Morgoth, in others he just created them/or they already existed, but we also find reports that the Orcs are a mockery of the elves, which Morgoth hates more than anything.

Adar still possesses elven traits, even if his appearance is distorted. So, in my view, Adar is possibly one of the elves of Beleriand captured and damaged according to Morgoth's designs.

But there had to be something special about Adar. He was of a higher rank than the Orcs, yet lower than Sauron. Who is Adar among Morgoth's followers? Perhaps an ally of Sauron, an aide or captain of Orcs, a spy of great value, perhaps.

Without Morgoth, someone needs to take control, and that person could only be Sauron. And for some reason, he trusts Adar enough to keep him by his side. Sauron has lost yet another master and is alone in the world, he only has the Orcs by his side, and of course, Adar.

On a twisted level, I would say, but in the prologue of the second season we see a certain camaraderie between Sauron and Adar. Perhaps, without Morgoth, Sauron saw himself with the new Melkor and Adar as a new version of himself.

When the first Orc attacks, it seemed to me that Adar hesitated, as if an intrinsic part of him, corrupted by centuries, was ready to protect Sauron, with whom he had lived for so long, even if that was not his plan.

But to Adar, his children are more important than Sauron. And he knows that Sauron will destroy his children if he has power in his hands. He knows that deep down, Sauron is as cruel as Morgoth and that the Orcs do not matter to him. Just small pieces in the great game.

This is the point of no return between Sauron and Adar. I wonder, when the Orcs started attacking Sauron and Sauron killed so many of them in self-defense, why didn't Adar fight back?

Why did Adar, the Father of so many Orcs, who suffered at the hands of Morgoth and Sauron, not attack his oppressor? Was he simply delivering vengeance and justice into the hands of his children, or was he ultimately not capable of ending Sauron forever? Yes, he struck him with Morgoth's crown, but would he be able to destroy Sauron forever?

Sauron looks at Adar as the crown hits him, and you can see the betrayal in his eyes. He certainly did not expect Adar to hurt him, to turn against him.

Centuries have passed since Sauron's death, and he has spent many long years struggling to regain his new form, while Adar has increased his influence and power among the Orcs.

Sauron has returned and now he is Halbrand. Vengeance emanates from him and he needs to reclaim his kingdom and everything he lost to Adar's betrayal. So he is on the ship with the mortals, to a better place. And we wonder if this could be the beginning of his redemption.

I still think a lot about the mortal's words "What haunts you so?"

Yes, Sauron, what haunts you? Is it the loss of your power? He is alone in the world again, weaker after his recovery, stripped of his power and his servants, forced to start over. Or is he haunted by Adar's betrayal that took everything from him? Like a stab in the back from a long-lost friend.

In drifting with Galadriel, Halbrand talks about the Orcs taking everything from him. We know he's the Great Deceiver, but he's not genuinely lying to her at this point.

In his conception, the Orcs, his servants, betrayed him and took everything from him, but it is not as Galadriel thinks and he is satisfied with that. He needs to regain his lost kingdom, so he lets her believe that he has lost his mortal kingdom to the Orcs.

Galadriel has deep wounds caused by Morgoth, Sauron and the Orcs, unconsciously she takes Halbrand's side and embraces his suffering. The meaning is the same, Sauron/Halbrand have been betrayed, lost everything and are alone.

Galadriel understands him and suffers for him, but not for who he really is. And he knows it. Sauron has learned that no one will stand by him, not knowing who he really is. So, he is who Galadriel thinks he is, if it means gaining her help and sympathy.

Our "brothers in Morgoth" are now going their separate ways.

In Númenor, Galadriel insists that Halbrand reclaim his throne. Whether it is a deception, a strategy, or not, Sauron insists that it is best not to return. Better for everyone, right? For Middle-earth, for the Orcs, for Adar, even for Galadriel.

The flame of vengeance still burns in Sauron and Galadriel manages to conquer his will. "Because I cannot stop." These are Galadriel's words to Halbrand. But it is a very intimate question, perhaps a reflection of Sauron's inner self and vulnerability.

He has lost everything, why does he continue to fight? Because just like Galadriel, he cannot stop. He would never be able to find redemption and I believe this phrase defines it well.

Let's now analyze Middle-earth. Arondir is captive and talking to Adar. Adar speaks of "lies so deep," lies that will never be cleared up until the world is remade by the gods. And even though he claims he is not yet a god, he still holds the gods in some regard, perhaps in his still elven part.

Sauron and Adar share similar worldviews, even if they don't agree. Sauron wants to heal Middle-earth, either by ruling or saving it, but he believes that his path is the right one and that light will come through the darkness, as Galadriel told him. I think he has thought deeply about this.

It is similar with Adar. He believes that he can find a safe place in Middle-earth for his children, away from Sauron and his destruction, away from the humans who have never accepted them. In any case, Adar and Sauron's vision of healing and helping is just as corrupt. Always seeking a form of evil in order to achieve good.

“Do you remember me?” Sauron, I don't think you're capable of forgetting.

Together in Middle-earth, we have Sauron and Adar fighting on opposing sides. As he confessed to Galadriel, he is not fighting for humans against the Orcs, but fighting against his own enemies.

He thought about this a lot. Did Sauron expect recognition? Even after centuries and a new beautiful form, did he hope that deep down, Adar would recognize who he was facing?

Adar's words don't really affect me that much. He believed Halbrand was mortal, so it's only natural that he believed his revenge would be completely mortal. A wife or children are usually what motivates many men to go to war. But he doesn't realize that he's dealing with the only person who trusted him and who has been betrayed by him.

Sauron wants to kill Adar, and it takes a lot of control and calm in his plan to not take the next step. Which was good, obviously, because it convinced Galadriel.

Galadriel also believes in Adar's beliefs, trusting that Halbrand is a mortal who lost his loved ones to the Orcs, like her. Her pity for Halbrand also represents how she sees herself.

Did Sauron fear that Adar would know the truth? I don't think so. He must have noticed that he was not recognized. So Adar is focused solely on Galadriel. Halbrand has been forgotten. Their paths are now long separated. Sauron leaves for Eregion after the attacks of Adar and his sons.

Their paths separate once more. The elves know the truth about Sauron, though not all. But his deception remains. The people of Middle-earth still believe in the lost king. But does Adar really believe?

In Númenor, when Halbrand sends Galadriel to find another head to crown, when she insists that she could place that crown there herself. Did Sauron remember Adar's betrayal? Maybe. He reacted extremely angrily. Or was it a lie?

In the second season we glimpse an interesting twist. Sauron, once so powerful and feared alongside Morgoth, then a revered mortal king, has now been stripped of everything, again by Adar. And Adar is now the king of Mordor. Something Sauron has not achieved.

Does Sauron envy Adar's relationship with the Orcs? Sauron has gone through many changes in his life. From a kind master in Valinor, to a tyrannical and cruel master in Middle-earth. And Adar has managed to have servants who are not servants, but sons who follow him and will stand by his side.

Adar tells of his transformation at the hands of Morgoth, of his torment and pain. Then there is Sauron, his light in the darkness, a salvation after so much pain. Why did Sauron cry? Was it a deception? Or a reminder of his own sufferings at the hands of a god?

Waldreg says that pain must be something Halbrand enjoys. And Annatar confesses to Celebrimbor that sometimes pain was a reward. Was that the reason for her tears?

In different ways, Sauron and Adar suffered at the hands of Morgoth. Like sons suffering at the hands of a tyrannical father, one is rewarded and the other destroyed. But in the end, both know only suffering.

If Adar suspected Halbrand, why did he let him go? Like centuries ago, when his Orcs killed Sauron, did he stand still out of fear or because he was unable to face Sauron? Not out of fear, but because of their long history together.

Love and hate do indeed go together.

By fate or the Valar, Sauron and Adar are doomed to fight each other. Sauron departs as Halbrand and enters at the calm and peacefull Eregion. It is time to begin his deception and obtain what he desires most in the world, The Rings of Power.

While Sauron pursues his goal of creating the rings and dominating Middle-earth, he leaves Adar in the background. He has not forgotten him and will still destroy his forces, but now his attention requires elsewhere.

In this time, Adar and his Orcs grow stronger and seek enemies against Sauron. Galadriel is once again entangled in the story of these two long-time enemies.

I believe that Adar was sincere in his words. He wants to destroy Sauron and is willing to ally himself with the elves. But Adar is very powerful, he has many followers. He does not need the elves and their help, he needs The Rings of Power. With the ring, he would be able to face Sauron.

Why does he need Galadriel? Perhaps because, like her, he understands the emptiness that Sauron's departure leaves, the grayness that consumes everything until only he and his absence remain. Is Adar capable of destroying Sauron and never getting rid of the grayness? Maybe yes, maybe no. But he believes that with Galadriel by his side, he will be able to.

With the Siege of Eregion, Sauron loses his temper and his plan is almost discovered. There is Adar again, hindering his glory. But he is patient, he is intelligent. He has spent centuries thinking about his revenge, planning his sovereignty over all beings in Middle-earth, this time, Adar will not be his downfall.

Adar fighting the elves was very beneficial to Sauron. Adar thinned the armies, separated the elves and murdered them. Sauron's path is almost clear. He is like a king of the world, sitting on his throne watching his enemies fight. Like an emperor in an arena, waiting for everyone to destroy each other for his glory and amusement.

It was hilarious, I must say, see Adar to believe he was winning. That he was being wiser and more intelligent than the elves. To Adar, the elves had fallen into a trap. But wasn't it the other way around?

"Never make war in anger."

Honestly, Adar, is this about you or Elrond? Because Sauron got what he wanted and Adar fell for his deception.

Here the curtain closes and the play is at an end. Eregion has fallen and Sauron is still free. The Great Deceiver returns for his final revenge, for now, of course. Adar has Galadriel's ring. And he looks so tired. Fighting Sauron for centuries has finally defeated him, he has given up. He wants to live in peace with his children, far from Sauron and his power.

Adar spent centuries with his children, but he seems to me a very lonely man. He had children and nothing else. The gray remained there. Perhaps, in some twisted and painful way, he missed Sauron's company. Once, many centuries ago, they had served the same master and were relatively equal.

"They are not children any more."

That sounded terribly cruel. That was Sauron’s goal, wasn’t it? When he says those words to Adar on his deathbed, Sauron is removing the last shred of joy from Adar. Decimating the goodness and innocence that Adar had tried to instill in his children. Sauron took away from Adar the last thing he cared about. This was his ultimate betrayal. An eye for an eye, you might say.

Did Adar think of Mairon as he died? How in the Elder Days, Marion was there to be the cure when Morgoth was the disease? How he offered him wine and helped him in his own sick and cruel way. Did he think of his beautiful face?

Or did he think of the beautiful face of Annatar, who is Halbrand, who is Sauron, who is Mairon, as he killed him and took his revenge? Their deaths were similar and I am sure it was no accident.

May the Valar have pity on them, because my analysis does not. Sauron and Adar are like characters in a Greek tragedy. Condemned to solitude and suffering until the end of days.

Last words: English is not my first language and it is quite tiring to write a long text in my language and then have to translate it into English, paying attention to mistakes and spelling. But I do it so that more people can read it and appreciate it.

I posted this analysis after the hate I received, for all the people who voted for the suggestion for the next analysis, and for all those who supported me when I vented. To those who follow me and are happy with my writing, this long text is for you.

[ultravioxence]

Clingy..

In the heart of UA High, where heroes were trained and friendships flourished, Bakugo Katsuki was known for his explosive personality. His intensity, both in battles and emotions, often left those around him bewildered. But beneath his brash exterior and the loud explosions of his Quirk lay a softer side—one that emerged when it came to you.

It started on a seemingly ordinary day. The sun hung high in the sky, casting playful shadows across the training grounds. You and Bakugo had just finished a grueling session of combat training, and while most students dispersed to socialize or head home, Bakugo lingered.

“Why are you still here?” he grunted, arms crossed, a frown etched on his face.

“I just wanted to cool down a bit before heading back,” you replied, wiping sweat from your brow. Bakugo rolled his eyes, but his gaze softened as he watched you. There was something about your calm demeanor that always drew him in.

As the days turned into weeks, you began to notice the subtle changes in Bakugo’s behavior. He would often wait for you after class, shooting glares at anyone who dared approach you. At first, you thought nothing of it—just classic Bakugo being overprotective. But as time went on, you realized that his clinginess was more pronounced than ever.

One afternoon, you decided to join your friends at a local café, excited to unwind after a challenging week. As you settled into a cozy corner with a cup of steaming coffee, Bakugo stormed in, his eyes scanning the room like a hawk. The moment his gaze landed on you, his expression darkened.

“What are you doing here?” he snapped, striding toward you with purpose.

“Just hanging out with friends,” you replied, motioning to the group. “Want to join us?”

The tension in the air thickened. Bakugo’s jaw clenched, and you could see the internal struggle brewing beneath the surface. “I don’t want to sit with them,” he grumbled, crossing his arms defiantly.

You raised an eyebrow. “And why not?”

“Because… because I don’t trust them!” he finally exclaimed, his voice raised slightly, causing a few nearby customers to glance over. “You don’t need them. You’ve got me.”

A soft smile crept onto your lips. His protectiveness, while overwhelming at times, was endearing. “I appreciate that, Bakugo, but I can handle myself. You know that.”

“Yeah, well…” His stubbornness flared to life, and he dropped into the seat next to you, keeping his glare focused ahead as if daring anyone to approach. The rest of your friends exchanged amused glances, clearly entertained by this unexpected display of possessiveness.

As the conversation flowed, Bakugo remained mostly silent, his presence like a storm cloud hovering over you, protective yet sulky. Noticing his attitude, you leaned closer, nudging him playfully. “You know it’s okay to let me have my space sometimes, right?”

He sighed, shoulders relaxing slightly. “I just… don’t want anyone else getting too close.” The admission hung in the air, and you felt a warmth rise within your chest. Underneath the tough exterior was a boy who cared deeply.

Days turned into weeks, and Bakugo’s clinginess became a familiar rhythm in your life. Whether it was walking you to class, insisting on sparring sessions even when you were tired, or simply waiting for you outside the dorms, his actions spoke volumes. He needed you close, and it was becoming harder to deny how much you cherished that.

One evening, as you both sat atop the roof of the dorms, the stars twinkling above, you initiated the conversation. “Bakugo, why do you feel the need to be so… clingy?”

He shifted slightly, his eyes on the horizon. “It’s not clingy. I just want to make sure you’re safe. You mean a lot to me, alright?” His honesty took you by surprise, and your heart raced at his words.

“Do you think I can’t take care of myself?” you asked gently.

“It’s not that,” he replied, glancing at you, his expression softening. “I know you can. I just… I just don’t want to lose you. I get worried.”

In that moment, everything clicked into place. Bakugo’s clinginess wasn’t merely possessiveness; it was born from a genuine fear of losing someone he deeply cared about. You reached out, resting a hand on his arm, grounding him. “You won’t lose me, Katsuki. I’m not going anywhere.”

He looked at you, vulnerability flickering in his eyes. “Promise?”

“Promise,” you assured him.

[everlastingdream]

Part 1 - Part 8 - Part 9

Everything after that was a blur. Alex and Winn was talking to Kara and then to J'onn and then even to Lena, who stood there shocked, face wet and finally hopeful.

Kara wasn't thinking, she wanted to bring Lena to the DEO as soon as possible, while there was still life beating underneath pale skin. But Alex managed to made her come to her senses, before she could fly close to the speed of the sound and make more damage than good.

"It's strange to see myself like that", Lena remarked, while they were flying back. She tried to poke her arm, only for her hand to go through.

"I'll take any strangies if it means you're alive", Kara smiled despite her heart trying to beat out of her chest.

"Well, I guess I am alive, but I'm a ghost still, so it's another thing to consider".

"Don't. We'll find the way", Kara retorted sternly, regreting her tone a bit. But she couldn't help it. So many things happened at once. So many emotions was rattling inside her without a way to escape.

"We will", Lena nodded and then spent the rest of the flight contemplating about something.

/ / / / / / / / / /

Medical team was ready as soon as they arrived at the DEO. They took Lena inside for the examination to determine how bad her condition was. It goes without saying that Kara wanted to be there for all of the discussions but she gave up after Alex promised to tell her everything and J'onn was adamant about her not disturbing the doctors.

So Kara passed in front of their screen relaying her report. Every couple of sentences she would freeze to tune to the weak sound of heart on the floor below.

"She is stable but the situation is dire", Alex arrived in the room, looking somber. She raised her hand as soon as Kara opened her mouth. "They had her on medication all this time, but she wasn't properly treated after the car accident. And it seems they gave up a few days ago so Lena is heavily malnourished. They likely just gave her water and some liquid supplements".

Room fell silent. Ghost Lena was standing in the corner with her jaw set stubbornly, clearly not ready to give up yet. But there was still bitterness in that determination.

"So what are we going to do?" Kara went to stand beside her, offering some comfort. She wanted to rub her on the back and even in her disappointment of being unable to do so there sparkled bright hope.

"We will treat her injuries and devise a plan to get her all the missing nutrients back. She should be able to wake up soon if all is well".

"Thank Rao", Kara sighed and exchanged glances with Lena.

Alex smiled at them before going back.

/ / / / / / / / / /

"How are you feeling?" Kara whispered several hours later, sitting beside Lena's bed.

"It's still strange", Lena chuckled quietly from other side of the bed. "But I felt your touch at the base a little, so I think it's a good sign, even if I have no idea why I'm still outside of my body".

"You felt it?"

"I did. Just a faint sensation, but still".

Kara slowly took the hand laying on the bed and brought it to her lips, still looking right into Lena's eyes.

"That is really not fair", Lena groaned, turning away to try and hide her flaming face. "It's not like I can do anything in return".

"It's okay. I'll wait as long as needed. You promised to take me out for dinner".

Lena glared at Kara's smug smile.

"I'll reconsider the offer", she haughtily lifted her chin up, but still smiled tenderly at the end.

They laughed softly, searching each other faces. It was a beautiful moment free of any worry of the past few days. A time of respite, existing only for the purpose of reaffirming that delicate bond between them and finally letting it to take shape.

"Say, Lena. Will you remember me when you wake up?"

"Will I remember you?" Lena's smile was enigmatic and promising. "I won't forget you even if you asked".

/ / / / / / / / / /

The moment Lena's heart missed a beat Kara woke up, violently torn from sleep by the sound she dreaded the most.

By the moment she somehow cleared the fog from the sleep, there was already a nurse in the room with her. Kara caught only "critical" and "emergency" in her talk over the phone.

"No, no no no", she muttered two steps away from the team, who checked up the vitals and did something Kara wasn't able to understand from the sheer terror of what was happening right in front of her eyes.

"What's going on?" Alex was a welcome sight. Her sister was the only person Kara trusted right now. She would know what to do. She would save Lena.

"Agent Danvers, we need the resuscitation kit. The situation is dire".

After that Kara's world went silent. It was something that no headphones on this planet was able to do. But there was only Lena lying on the medical bed, staff frantically moving around and her sister giving out the commands. And all of that deadly quiet.

"I don't want to lose you", she whispered. Her eyes completely dry, as if even her body denied the possibility.

"It's okay", Ghost Lena was suddenly standing in front of her, blocking the view of yet another tradegy Kara witnessed. "It's okay, you saved me. As you promised. So it's okay".

And seeing her so accepting was even more heartbreaking.

"What am I going to say to Sam? Or to Winn? He wanted to meet you so badly", Kara muttered, lost. "What am I- what am I going to do..?"

"You'll live, you'll save people with your words and you powers and you will remember that there was a Lena Luthor who was not a monster".

Lena was standing there, strong and beatiful. And Kara wanted to scream. To ask why won't she just say that everything is going to be alright. Why was she saying the stuff like if it's her last words. Why was she smiling so sadly. Why she was leaving Kara behind.

Beep

Beep

Be-e-e-ep

Steady sound of the heart monitor suddenly stopped. And Lena closed her eyes, swallowing the tears, so that she can seem strong a little longer. But despite medical team running around and doing everything they can, Lena started to fade. So Kara did the only thing she could think about in these last few moments they had.

She surged forward to kiss Lena.

Even if it was futile, even if she was going to fall right through her.

This was for them. The last act of defiance against fate.

/ / / / / / / / / /

"You don't need to do that, Kara", Clark said to her on the way.

"I need to", Kara frowned, even if it was hard to go there.

"I don't want to see you hurt".

"I'm not going to be hurt, I've come to terms with it".

They stopped at the secretary desk.

Almost half a year has passed since Kara last saw Lena. And it still hurt so much that even seeing the logo of Luthor Corp was enough for her mind to wander for the next two days.

And with their recent investigation her resolve was tested more than once.

"You may go inside".

Inside was the same as when they went there the first time. And Lena was still beautiful, sitting in her chair, reading Clark's article.

After waking up and reclaming the company, she looked like a true bussinesswoman. Sharp and strong. Less soft, more predatory.

"Thank you, mister Kent. This is exactly the kind of press my company needs after yesterday's attack".

Lena and Clark exchanged some pleasantaries, more sincere than the first time they met. And something inside Kara preened at her only blood relative's approval.

"What about you, Miss Danvers?" Lena's smile made everything inside Kara flip upside down. "I didn't see your name on the byline".

The way she almost breathed out these words left Kara scrumbling for reply.

"Uh... Well, as I said, I'm not a reporter".

"You could've fooled me".

Perhaps there was a hope yet. Kara couldn't wipe dreamy smile off her face. Seeing Lena alive was a miracle, even if they were suddenly back to being strangers. But seeing Lena so... flirtatious was a ray of hope Kara tried to crush all this time.

"I hope this isn't the last time we talk?"

"I hope not either. I'll wait as long as needed, so please call me when your schedule has an opening".

She and Clark turned to leave. And now there was a possibility. In Lena's smile, in her now racing heartbeat. It didn't matter if she didn't remember. They'll make new memories together.

"Miss Danvers?" Lena called after her. Kara nodded to Clark to go ahead and turned around.

"Yes?"

There was tears streaming down Lena's cheeks, and before Kara could panic and rush to her, she spoke with a tender smile.

"I believe I promised you dinner".

[caldella]

Another post-Mastermind crack headcanon

RE: Vassago

I'm seeing some people think maybe Vassago is Andre's ex, but I have another crack theory.

Let's say that Vassago is about the same age as Stolas, as I get that vibe. We've been shown that he's energetic and interested in doing things 'the right way.' And he clearly loves 'fun' things like music, and dancing, and even floats around on a fucking star shape. His name on merchandise is stylized like a pirate treasure map. Let's take a small assumption that Vassago grew up less isolated than Stolas and was part of “Goetia society” earlier than him. Like Stolas, he doesn't really gel with the haughty, holier-than-thou attitude parts of their culture. I'm also guessing that, a little like Stolas, he can feel out of place in it.

We know that once Stolas got his grimoire, he was meant to learn his role and join Goetian society as well. Let's assume he was in his teens when he was really thrust into the thick of it. Vassago has been participating in the 'grown up Goetia' society for a while, learning his role but also finding it disappointing. Stifling, so boring. Then this young prince shows up, nervous and socially awkward but so eager. He wants to participate, he wants to be part of things. And he's interesting! He knows all these random facts. He has books about pirates! Vassago loves pirate stories! Apparently Stolas' very first friend did, too, so he knows all about them! Stolas likes song and music, and he has dramatic feelings, and stars:

🌟His whole thing is stars! 🌟

Vassago wants to know this guy. There is so much potential! Maybe Vassago has a little crush, or maybe Stolas is an estranged half-brother or cousin he wants to know better. But Stolas is also engaged to Stella, who's Andre's sister. Ugh, Andre. Vassago knew that Andre was a pompous bullshitter from day one. His social circles are definitely not Vassago's, so unfortunately Vassago doesn't get to know Stolas extremely well, but he tries. He does see Stolas' enthusiasm dull under the pressure of Goetian society, and he doesn't like that it makes the owl prince more withdrawn.

Then Stolas gets married.

He still shows up to events when required, but nothing more. Even when he's there, it's like he's not. He does his roles, then he stands in a corner, sipping wine until it's time to leave. He acts like all the interesting parts of him never existed. No emotions, no info dumps, no theatrics, no song. The only time he sparks back up is if someone asks about his kid – he could go on for hours about her. Vassago doesn't know completely why Stolas has become like this, but he has a feeling that Stella and Andre have had some hand in it. He's miffed about that, but he's not close enough to Stolas to inquire into it. Stella and Andre's social circles continue to grow ("ugh" again), and Prince Stolas becomes more of a stranger as his wife and brother-in-law's popularity grows.

A couple decades in, and you hear Stolas might actually be getting a divorce. A Goetia? Getting a divorce? Unheard of, a surprise since he's never said much to anyone, but Vassago doesn't like Stella or Andre, so fine. Good for him.

Then Andre calls up an insane trial out of the blue that is supposedly about Stolas, for Stolas' sake, yet Stolas isn't there. What?! Vassago's not dumb. Something's fucky. He can tell Andre's bullshitting to some amount. But as usual no one cares. Everyone's eager to listen to their side and get this imp beheading over with. Until Stolas himself portals in, with his star magic and the most dramatic theater-kid-energy anyone's seen from him in almost twenty years, and declares that he is going to clarify this entire mess:

🎵🌟THROUGH SONG🌟🎵

"YES!"

(Edited to remove info that isn't correct as Vassago is likely also a prince. And really, this could also work if Stolas is older, and Vassago saw him as an interesting figure to look up to who suddenly became withdrawn.)

[coffeegnomee]

I want to be able to understand what it is about zam that makes everyone obsessed with him. I want to distill it and see it. Be able to measure it and explain it.

Because freaking everyone does lore in relation to zam. I genuinely don't get it. Other members will have small things between each other but everyone goes back to zam over and over and over.

Everyone wants to change princezam. Either it's in good faith so he faces himself and is more honest with himself, or for their own personal gain that making him what he is not will help themselves in some way or another. But everyone wants to change princezam.

I've talked before about rigid characters vs allowing yourself to be drawn up into the lore naturally. And last time I said I don't like rigid characters, when the streamer just is a character 100% of the time. I said it makes it feel not real and I loose interest.

And yet. And yet every time I try and distill this lore I can't help but face the fact that Zam absolutely does do rigid characters. He has a specific role he wants to play and he plays it. Over and over. PrinceZam Empire, leaving team awesome, wormhole, joker, pacifist. He's done it many times.

And i love each of them. So clearly it's not the rigid character that rubs me the wrong way! The joker was the most rigid of them all! And it's one of my favorite arcs of all time.

And I think I'm seeing that what the other lifestealers, regardless of if they themselves approach him with their own rigid character, see from zam's character: he also will absolutely, time and again, fall into his own irl mentality and end up in fight or flight or face his real emotions. They see it is possible to break the mask and see the person beneath.

Because deep down under each of zam's characters is himself. He battles it all the time, who he is on this server. Who does he want to be. And each time he pulls a character over himself, donning a new skin.

And zam for his part blends the two so perfectly, this internal battle over of himself vs the role he wants to play. And it makes him "vulnerable" to people doing things with him.

They can do anything and he will have a reaction towards it, either in character or from his own emotions, or his own emotions that he covers up with the character. He allows both to affect him, he allows everything to affect him.

And how can i blame any of them for that? He is an extremely fascinating bug. Who also is a real person. who will remind you he's a real person if you poke and prod him too much.

[purpleaqua8]

Ladies, what's the reason you're single?

You can book a reading session with me today! 💜 Purple Bridge Tarot: Counseling, Life Coaching, and Dream Interpretation Services | Dive Deeper! https://www.fiverr.com/purplebtarot

⊱ ─── ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ ─── ⊰

Pile One: 3 of Wands, 7 of Cups, Queen of Cups, and Knight of Cups You’re single because, in past relationships and connections, you gave too much of yourself while neglecting self-care. You poured all your energy into others or a specific person without prioritizing your own needs or well-being. Now, you’re being called to establish a consistent self-care routine, build a healthy relationship with yourself, and learn to enjoy your own company.

Your emotions currently fluctuate based on whether you hear from a certain person or people, or when you worry about not being in a relationship yet. These emotional ups and downs indicate a need for a deeper, healthier connection with yourself. This is a time to rediscover your creative passions and make space for activities you truly love. Take yourself on dates, spend quality time alone, create a glow-up plan for your physical, mental, and financial growth, and cultivate emotional maturity.

You will attract potential partners who reflect who you are or who you believe yourself to be deep down. The more you love, care for, and consistently show up for yourself, the more aligned you’ll be with meeting your true divine partner.

Once you master this lesson, your true divine partner will naturally enter your life. You’ll recognize them as your person because you will have developed genuine self-love, enabling you to identify and embrace real love from another. However, if you neglect the work of building emotional maturity and stability, you risk being unable to see people clearly for who they truly are, leaving yourself vulnerable to deception and disingenuous lovers.

This journey is about showing up for yourself first so you can attract the love you truly deserve.

⊱ ─── ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ ─── ⊰

Pile Two: Reversed 3 of Pentacles, Ace of Pentacles, and Judgement You lack financial stability, and that is why you are single. You’re not ready to be in a relationship yet because of this instability. In the past—and possibly still now—you’ve been reckless with your money. You’ve made poor investments in various areas of your life, including your health, finances, and previous relationships, where you invested too much time and energy.

It’s time to focus on your career, finances, and health while being realistic about where you are currently. Create clear goals for where you want to be and develop an actionable plan to achieve them. You deserve a luxurious lifestyle, and with organization, responsibility, and consistent effort, you can have it. However, balance is key—you need to learn how to budget, prioritize your well-being, and become truly independent.

Spirit is reminding you not to give your wealth or resources away, especially in relationships. This is a time to focus entirely on yourself. Put all your energy, time, and resources into improving your career, growing your finances, and nurturing your health. For now, your priority should be building a strong foundation and ensuring consistent growth in these areas.

Spirit is also emphasizing the importance of spiritual growth and stability alongside your financial and physical well-being. When you achieve true stability—in your finances, health, and spiritual life—you will begin to see more movement in your love life.

⊱ ─── ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ ─── ⊰

Pile Three: 4 of Swords, The Hierophant, 5 of Swords, The Hermit, and The Chariot Before you can thrive in a healthy connection with your divine counterpart, you need to take time to rest and recover from past betrayals and setbacks. You are not allowing yourself to truly rest, relax, and heal from all the painful experiences you've endured. It is time to validate your own feelings and focus on healing. You are being called to spend some time alone to reconnect with who you truly are. You will benefit from meditation, as well as taking one to three days of self-isolation where you don't speak at all.

If possible, take some time to go on a retreat. If not, create your own retreat experience to the best of your ability. You need quality, quiet time to regroup and recenter your mind. Although it may be difficult, Spirit encourages you to reflect on past betrayals—whether they came from love connections, family, friends, or society at large—and not be afraid to face them so you can finally heal. You’ve been through a lot, and until you are in a better place mentally, you will not be able to come into union with your divine counterpart.

During this process, you may feel a bit alone. Use this time to seek support from your spirit guides and ancestors. While you may feel isolated, know that you are not alone—you are well-supported.

Once you truly rest, heal, recover, and gain mental clarity, you will attract better people into your life. You will find your partner, and the two of you will share an unbreakable bond.

⊱ ─── ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ ─── ⊰

[b1acksh33p999]

December Horoscopes🎄✨:

🔥Aries: This month is going to bring forth massive transformation for Aries! With the North Node still transiting in conjunction with your Sun sign, and starting the month off in the family oriented 4°; this will bring up a lot of changes in terms of family values, and redefine what family means to you. As the North node continues to retrograde throughout the month, Aries will go through a total of 4 phases; redefining family values, communicating these changes, implementing changes that align with new values, and finally all of these changes being undeniably on the surface. My advice to you this month is to listen to your heart, and follow your intuition. This combination will help ensure you end up exactly where you feel most guided to be, and ensure you become the person you’re supposed to be to help you navigate the hard waters found within the new year. It’s time to take on the challenge!

⛰️Taurus: This month is going to start off with massive epiphanies! With Uranus still in conjunction with your Sun sign and starting off in the intuitive 24°, this will bring forth a knowing so accurate that it will rival any intuition you’ve had prior. Some themes to keep an eye out for are changes in children’s behaviors, acts of rebellion that a lesser evolved version of you can relate to, opportunities to increase monetary income by enhancing your knowledge in a certain area, and mental health changes in the people closest to you. My advice to you this month is to be of service to others, and use this enhancement in knowledge and knack for intuition to help those who may not see what is clearly in front of them. Once you find yourself helping those around you, then you will find these same people being of service to you by mid-late 2025. What goes around, comes around!

🌬️Gemini: This month your luck is going to change! With a huge month for emotional shifts, paired with Jupiter’s expansive energy - this month is going to change everything for Gemini, especially when it comes to what they are expected to feel and attain moving forward. This final month is going to set up Gemini for a very different year in 2025, with the most change being in the area of love and relationships. My advice to you this month is to start finding more love within yourself and realigning your priorities with what you’re ready to attain instead of focusing your energy on what has been lost over the years prior. With Pluto’s shift into Aquarius, you’re entering an era unlike anything you’ve ever seen before! Any love lost, and any hearts broken in the past will prove to be stepping stones to get you to where you will be by the end of 2025. This month is simply beginning that cycle, so get ready to experience a love like you’ve never experienced before!

🌊Cancer: This month is going to push you to finally set the boundaries you’ve needed to get the life you’ve always wanted! With many planetary oppositions aspecting your Sun sign this month, you may feel like the world around you is changing so quickly and drastically; leaving you feeling left behind. This energetic change is happening now to prepare you for what’s yet to come in 2025, which is a complete shift in priorities, and massive changes in daily life! My advice to you this month is to use the new moon in Capricorn on the 31st to lay down the law on what you are willing to sacrifice for and what’s not a priority for you. Cancer’s have been in a self sacrificial period for far too long, and the plutonic shift into Aquarius is going to help jumpstart one of the luckiest periods for you. Let others cater to you for once - because once we hit the new year, the changes in 2025 will make your current lifestyle completely unsustainable. Set the boundaries now and keep to your word!

🔥Leo: This month is going to come with massive physical changes, and some possible financial mishaps! With Pluto’s opposition to your Sun sign, and Mars starting her retrograde in conjunction with your sun sign; tempers will be running high, and you may have a few financial oversights that come back to bite you. Don’t fixate on this too much however, since 2025 has so many changes in store for Leo that will help put you ahead in these areas in terms of long-term sustainability. My advice to you this month is to try and be understanding to others emotional upsets, instead of putting yourself in the focus. This self-sacrificial energy will not be something Leo can maintain, however it will help Leos understand any mishaps happening around them. Come the new year, 2025 will bring many changes and upgrades in areas of finances, and friendships. So, don’t worry about any drama brought on this month. It’s only temporary!

⛰️Virgo: This month is going to be huge in terms of family changes for Virgo! With both Saturn and Neptune in opposition to your Sun sign, the changes happening this month are both karmic and something you will have been able to see coming. Nothing will come by surprise! My advice to you this month is to keep to yourself if you don’t feel that your energy or influence is being appreciated. The best plan of action for Virgo this month is to put all of their energy back into themselves and create the life they always wanted for themselves. Now is not the time to sacrifice yourself for others, or to put yourself out there for family who may not want you around. Take these lessons and find a way to better yourself and your personal situation so you can grow from the hardships you’ve experienced in 2024. In 2025, many changes will be coming for Virgo and can sometimes feel like it’s challenging an already difficult situation. This energy is not meant to end your luck, instead it’s meant to help you rediscover power within yourself you thought was long lost. You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for!

🌬️Libra: This month is going to help rebalance lost harmony within your life! With the asteroid Vesta in conjunction with your sun sign - this is going to enhance your softer side, making you less likely to put up with drama or people who have already betrayed you in the past. By the end of the month you will have fully embraced this new balancing act of finding a middle ground between being cold and people pleasing. These changes will only enhance over the next 18 years of Pluto transiting in fellow air sign, Aquarius. My advice to you this month is to prioritize the people and things that matter the most to maintain your personal peace, and leave the rest in the past where it belongs. If it’s meant for you, it will come to you without conditions!

🌊Scorpio: This month is going to switch up what you thought you knew, which may have you feeling nostalgic about the past. Let me be clear from the beginning, this nostalgia is not due to missing the past lifestyle you had, instead it’s more of missing the person you were before losing hope in the bigger picture of a better world in the future. The best advice I can give you this month is to remind you that these fears are simply feelings, and not an undeniable fact. For Scorpio in 2025, huge changes in understanding personal power are inevitable. So, that means in a way the best is still yet to come! Whether it may feel that way right now or not. By the new moon in Capricorn on the 31st you will start to feel an increase in anxiety of what’s coming for the collective in the new year. My advice to you is to understand that it’s not your job to save everyone, only yourself. Make sure you have solid goals for the new year and vocalize them to those you trust before the year’s end. This will help you feel understood moving forward, and give you faith in what’s yet to come. Keep your head clear, and your eyes peeled as we move into the new year!

🔥Sagittarius: This month is going to open your eyes to what you’ve been overlooking in both your own behavior and the people you’ve been surrounding yourself with. With the month starting off with a new moon in Sagittarius, then ending on the 31st with a new moon in Capricorn; this month is going to be the eye opener you’ve needed all year! My best advice to you is to be true to yourself and try to stay as grounded to reality as you possibly can. This will help you coast through any possible drama that could arise around you this month. With the Mars retrograde starting this month in a trine to your sun sign, this will increase your need for freedom and laughter, away from any possible drama. My advice to you this month is to keep your eyes open to those who are seemingly bringing drama into your life, without reason. These people are meant to be left in 2024, not brought into the new year. In 2025, many changes will come, which will enhance your need for loving and trustworthy relationships full of understanding. Any self-centered people, fueled by drama, will only bring you trouble. Allow yourself to move into a new era of your life without the need for gossip or drama. You will thank yourself for cutting ties with those loose ends now, instead of waiting until they end up turning on you in 2025!

⛰️Capricorn: This month is going to open your eyes to a whole new lifestyle! With Pluto officially moving into Aquarius, and the end of the month falling into a new moon in Capricorn - the last two weeks of the month will be a great example of what changes may come for your lifestyle in 2025. My advice to you this month is to spend New Year’s Eve reevaluating your priorities, and cutting down time at work where you deserve a break. It’s not your job to take care of everyone around you financially. In fact, you may come to an epiphany that you’ve been doing more than you’ve really wanted to do out of love. In 2025, it will be time for you to officially shift into the slower pace you’ve desired for so long. Any financial burdens that may arise during this slow down can be worked through logically, as long as those around you are willing to work with these adjustments. Anyone unwilling to give you the slower pace you’ve desired is abusing your kindness. 2025 will bring some much needed vacation time and the slower pace at work you’ve always deserved, so enjoy!

🌬️Aquarius: This month is going to increase your sense of urgency for repairing what is wrong with the world, while increasing your desire to help repair the collective! With Pluto’s shift underway in conjunction with your Sun sign, while Venus joins in this energy on the full moon on the 15th; the urgency you’re feeling now for change is only a small portion of what you will feel over the next 18 years. My advice to you is to use this energy to get more involved in giving back to others. Any work with charities, or selfless behaviors, will only act as an outlet for this excess of energy. As we move into 2025, this energy will amplify and can easily be used to build a more sustainable way of giving back to the collective. Any work that involves giving back, will only help amplify your social status and level of self worth now!

🌊Pisces: This month will have you being the reaper of karma and intuitive wake-up calls for those around you now! With Neptune and Saturn both still in conjunction with your sun sign, this will help put the ball in your court when it comes to watching those who’ve wronged you get what’s coming to them. On the 15th during the full moon, you will receive some sort of information that will help you understand the themes coming to you in the new year. My advice to you is to use this knowledge to empathize with those less fortunate now, instead of simply saying “I told you so”. This energy will help align you with your higher self and show you what your most powerful ability really is: your empathy. In 2025, you can expect changes in residence and travel while maintaining your strong intuitive ability to guide you to exactly where you’re meant to be now. Don’t look back, because the only direction you’re going is forward!

[astraystayyh]

hyunjin's artwork for his new song,, he's so talented it's insane

[dykedvonte]

I think the most baffling thing about the Tulpar as a vessel to me is the fact that the ship really did only have a one way communication system.

I know it was cheap but even the most basic of vessels regarding major transport would have some way, shape or form for outside communication. Not only that but there was absolutely no form of innate emergency signal to show they may have been offline or in trouble despite clearly having a system to dock credits if they went off course. It's another factor that really shows that bad situations are made to get worse by design. One person who is required to relay all information to the crew and make all the choices without feedback. No way to update or call for help in case of a dire situation. No way to inform of inner personal conflicts and acquire procedures accordingly.

It really is like they are all in some sort of fucked up solitary confinement. They have their own world with strict roles that are meaningless in the end, as long as the cargo makes it, it doesn't matter what happens on that ship to the company. They don't want to hear anything and will come to conclusions on what happened based on how much pay they can withhold from the workers. Even what they do send is short, sterile and corporate to the extent it was likely written and sent out with a command by some random unmanned computer in an office.

There's something to be said about how unfair it is to force absolute power and control onto one person when you as an entity could do so much more to offload it but I've said it many times before so I won't again.

[slippery-minghus]

honestly. it's so fucking frustrating and disheartening. that the only thing making me hesitant to cleanly cut contact with my mom, the thing that still looms after cutting away from my dad........ is that when they both finally bite it, that's two houses to sell. that's money that may mean *i* get to have my own house someday.

the key to the security my parents failed to give me from the moment i was born lies in their deaths. the least they can do. the very fucking *least* is to leave me the means to build that security on my own. they owe me so much more than that, but realistically? that small act of restitution is all i can and will ask for.

until then? i want nothing to do with them.

[sttoru]

Omg could we see reader getting jealous of Sukuna having sec with his other concubines? And maybe liek the other concubine rubs it in readers face?

���𝝑𝑒 𝐓𝐀𝐆𝐒. true form!sukuna x concubine!female reader. angst (no comfort), suggestive \\ smut aspects. size difference. one tiny mention of reader being a crybaby. reader gets called ‘little one, brat’ \\ kuna’s an asshole! not proofread, excuse the grammar. no part 2. wc: 3.3k

you’ve been away from the estate for three days; three days too long for the king of curses. so much had happened while you were away to take some well deserved rest—a small vacation that sukuna had granted you because you needed it.

perhaps that was his first mistake. giving you permission to leave his side ended up being a bad decision. he hates that faint feeling in his chest, the feeling of missing something.

missing someone.

it couldn’t be. sukuna doesn’t have any weaknesses, and yet he can feel his body reacting to that unfamiliar emotion again. all because of you— that one human who always succeeds to occupy his mind.

he couldn’t let himself succumb to it—he’s not going to. sukuna is not going to let a mere human like you deter him from his superior identity that he’s had for decennia. he’s not going to let you have that power over him and his body.

and thus, when you return to the estate, you find yourself being laughed at. you were unpacking your luggage when two concubines stand at your doorway, hiding their evil smiles behind their handheld fans.

they don’t waste a single second and immediately rush to ruin your carefree mood.

“you know, you shouldn’t have returned at all,” the brunette giggles, her laugh sounding like nails scraping against a chalkboard. she looks to the other woman next to her before glancing back at you, “i mean—heh—lord sukuna definitely didn’t seem to mind your absence.”

you figure it’s just another way to get you riled up, so you do your best to ignore them. you put your packed kimonos in your wardrobe as your back faces the two.

yumi, the second concubine, nods along. she knows what she’s about to reveal will get on your nerves. and deserved, if you ask her. they had successfully caught the attention of their king while you were away. for the first time in a good while since your arrival in the estate.

the fact that they managed to spend quality time with sukuna again, is a wonderful first step to your downfall. one that will surely crumble your confidence as his so-called ‘favorite’.

“mhm,” yumi grins as she recalls the memories of her time with sukuna. time spent together that you were unaware of, “lord sukuna definitely didn’t seem to mind your absence when he had me in his bed last night.”

you freeze.

your brows furrow and the corners of your lips twitch. you don’t know if you should believe them—they could’ve lied about it for all you know. although, the voice in the back of your head had already rang the alarms.

guessing by the way they were dying to talk to you the second you came back - which never happens - you realise that they’re probably telling the truth. they’re only telling the truth to agitate you. it’s so painfully obvious, and yet so. . . hurtful.

“what?”

you don’t recall when you’ve choked up. you feel a lump in your throat. it shouldn’t even be there. you promised yourself to not get attached to a monster like sukuna.

so what if he went to bed with his other concubines?

but of course he’ll get pleasure from his other women when you aren’t around. he doesn’t feel any love, he sees it as worthless, so why did you expect him to not indulge himself? he still has his other concubines around for a reason.

you really shouldn’t be surprised by this revelation.

“what do you mean ‘what?’ - you heard me,” yumi shrugs, that cocky smirk still on her face. she’s clearly enjoying your reaction to everything she’s revealing. all the two concubines wanted to get out of this encounter with you, is to break that delusion of yours.

the delusional thought that you’re special to the king of curses—the delusion that sukuna considers you as something more than a toy to emotionally manipulate and play with until he’s tired of you.

“my lord spent all night with me in his chambers until the sun rose,” yumi continues without an ounce of shame. she bites her lip as she remembers the way sukuna had her body positioned on his large bed. for her, it was a dream come true.

though for you, it’s a living nightmare. even if you try to deny the fact that it physically and mentally hurts. there’s a painful twist at your heart—reminding you of the truth.

the truth being that you had truly thought that sukuna wasn’t really a monster of a man. you thought he was a different, more softer person around you.

you should’ve listened to the servants when they told you to not get tricked by sukuna’s special treatment, that he could easily manipulate you and make you do and act as he pleases.

“do you want me to explain it in detail?” yumi crosses her arms over her chest as she looks down at you with a menacing glare. both of the concubines are loving that face you’re making. that face of defeat that you’re attempting to hide from them, “how he held me and pleasured me until i—”

“enough,” you cut them off with your hands clenched into fists. you don’t want to hear another word. you’re already feeling awful; already, not even an hour into your return. you can never catch a break.

you have an urge to throw things around. you already feel stupid, and if you decide to throw a fit, you bet that you’d feel even dumber. you truly do not know why you’re getting this worked up about it.

maybe it’s because of the special treatment. the delusional thoughts you have about your relationship with sukuna. you really thought that you two had something special. an unofficial romantic relationship, perhaps, or something that resembles it.

a secret, unspoken deal where you’re promised his loyalty in exchange for your body and soul.

although, those dreams have been shattered this very instance. you’re once again reminded of the animalistic nature of the being called ryomen sukuna.

he told you clearly that he’d never tie himself to someone, a human no less. devotion to one person? why would he.

“out of the way.”

you push the brunette and her sidekick the other way. you’re going to confront the man yourself. or at least, you’ll try to. you can hear their sick laughs and chuckles fade into the background as you stomp your way towards sukuna’s chambers.

the other concubines seem to have gotten the gist. some peek their heads out of their rooms, grinning at you in victory. seeing your confidence slowly crumble and the realisation kick in - the realisation that your dear lord’s special treatment means absolutely nothing - is a sight for sore eyes to them.

you enter sukuna’s room and close the heavy doors behind you. you swallow the lump down your throat and try your best to look presentable.

no tears, you promise yourself. you’re not going to waste them on something like this.

“oh, it’s you, little one,” the familiar voice calls out. sukuna’s low and husky voice rings from his bed. he’s laid back against the many silky pillows, blowing smoke from his kiseru. he lays there like he doesn’t care about your reappearance at all.

he eyes you up and down, “how was your vacation, hm?”

sukuna asks like it’s the most normal thing to do. it seems like he’s trying to catch up with you, to ask you how you’ve been enjoying your time alone, though it also seems like he couldn’t care less at the same time.

“just absolutely fine, my lord,” you reply with gritted teeth and an obvious hint of sarcasm. there’s also a bitterness to your tone that doesn’t go unnoticed by the pink-haired man. he frowns—this cold greeting is not what he expected nor what he wanted to hear from your mouth. he expected you to at least smile at him like you usually do, but you didn’t.

on top of that, you seemed to be annoyed with him. that unexpected attitude of yours made something inside of him snap. it irritated him somehow; the fact that you’re so comfortable talking to him like that . . . it reminded him of the recent inner conflict he had which you were the cause of.

one of his hands tightens into a fist at his side. his jaw clenches and his eyes narrow into slits. you’re physically in front of him, which means that he’s also about to experience those complicated feelings again. the same ones he tried fleeing from by letting you go on a break, and by physically taking his mind off you.

he did the latter by taking his frustrations out on his other women. the stress that came with the thought of him possibly liking a human, relieved by pure animalistic sex.

that’s exactly what you’re upset about.

there’s an urge inside of sukuna to act normal. to ignore those difficult emotions and just treat you like he usually does. yet, another part of him is trying to protect his sense of superiority by trying to push you away.

there’s a war going on in his mind as he tries to calm himself down. you’ve always had this effect on him and it’s becoming unbearable. he has to show you, no - remind you, that you’re nothing to him. you mean nothing—nothing at all.

he’s the king of curses, you’re but a human. he’ll need to remind himself of that obvious statement as well. he’s got all the power in this situation. not you.

you cannot rule over him or his mind.

“you dare come back with an attitude? tch,” sukuna scoffs, nearly breaking the kiseru with his fingers as they squeeze around the solid material. he’s turning off whatever emotion present in his body. that doesn’t belong there anyway. he won’t care if you cry—he won’t care at all.

you notice the sudden change in sukuna’s tone as well. you’re sure you’re the reason for it. perhaps you crossed a boundary with how sassily you replied to him when he was simply asking you how your vacation went.

“my apologies,” you murmur with a sigh. you try to avoid getting on sukuna’s nerves any further, yet when you remember the words from the concubine, how she implied that sukuna had given her the best night of her life when you were away, you get mad again.

your eyes have a fiery look in them. you don’t want to get worked up. you don’t have the right to. you were warned from the very beginning to not get attached to an asshole like ryomen sukuna.

you’re to blame for feeling like this. it could’ve been prevented if you just weren’t so weak. if you just stayed away from him.

“did you have fun while i was away, my lord?” you continue, your voice shaking a little. you need the confirmation. you’re sure sukuna knows what you’re referring to by now, especially because of the way you’re acting out of character.

the king of curses raises a brow at your question. you sound even angrier, even more pissed off. he tilts his head after taking a deep inhale of the tobacco from his kiseru. he tries to figure out what you’re hinting at, “what are you—”

and that’s when everything fell into place. the dots connect.

sukuna’s jaw clenches. he realises that you’ve found out about him receiving services from his other concubines while you were away. there could be no other explanation behind your sudden attitude. besides, he knows how his other concubines could be. they must have told you the moment you came back.

normally, he’d say that it’s none of your business. what he does is up to him—he does not care about the consequences of his actions. though, seeing the slight hurt in your eyes, mixed with sadness and disappointment stirred something inside of him. he brushes that feeling away and stares at you intently, awaiting another comment. perhaps you’d cuss him out or bawl your eyes out in front of him.

either way, he promises himself that he won’t care.

sukuna is the king of curses. feeling bad for a human like you would only further tarnish his image, that image of superiority and power he has.

he’s a man of many needs. you should’ve kept that in mind when you left him. he wanted to keep you with him—to hold you down and refuse to let you leave—but that would be another sign of weakness. one sukuna could not manage to show.

when you departed, he was irritated by the fact that he had no one to turn to with his needs. from simple needs like wanting your company to sexual needs like craving your body.

keeping you by his side or letting you go; both decisions seem to clash. either way, there’s one thing he’s sure of, as much as he doesn’t want to admit it: he missed you.

sukuna can’t believe that he can feel an emotion like that. he can’t accept that fact. that’s why his irrational mind took over—his dark urges that strived to prove himself to still be the same old ryomen sukuna. the monster that did not need a single soul. the ruthless man that did not depend on anyone else, especially not a human. a woman like you.

he thought he’d forget all about you if he’s surrounded himself with other women. but, he was quick to be proven wrong, and that only caused to enrage him more and more.

every time sukuna fucked a concubine, his thoughts still manage to drift away to you. to how he wished that it was you he was holding.

nothing hit the same with the other women and that frustrated him. he’d keep them around in his room after he fucked their brains out, something he never allowed a woman to do except for you, yet kicked them out again after a few minutes.

it doesn’t hit the same.

you’re just different. your presence is soothing and calming to the chaotic soul of the pink-haired man. no one else could compare. that realisation made him feel inferior; a feeling he loathes.

sukuna’s red eyes glow. he hates seeing you look so defeated, but he cannot give in. if he tells you the truth, he’ll admit his weakness. he’ll admit that a human like you has completely taken over his brain. that’s no good.

if he doesn’t tell you the truth, he’ll save face. he’ll feel like himself again. his old self—the cold ruthless monster that he was before he met you. one without a soft spot for a human.

it’s an active dilemma that’s running through his mind as he slowly blows out another cloud of smoke. you cannot guess what’s going on behind those intimidating eyes staring you down.

sukuna tilts his head back and scratches his neck, smacking his lips as he makes his decision.

“yeah, i did. i had lots of fun.”

the words sting. they hurt you and make your heart ache in a way that makes you physically weak. you should’ve expected that answer. your shoulders tense up and your fingers curl around the material of your kimono—feeling a sense of anger and betrayal.

you can see a ghost of a smirk on sukuna’s lips, which only reminds you of his nature. his nature as an independent, aloof and cold man who likes to play with his prey. a natural disaster that knows no emotion, that shows no mercy to anyone.

you’re naive for thinking that you could be the exception. all of those times with sukuna were confirmed to be but a lie in that moment. as your gazes meet, you can now easily interpret what that look in those red eyes meant.

‘know your place,’

that’s what it means. you’re foolish, dumb. you take a deep breath to compose yourself after you’ve been made out to be a total fool. you should’ve listened to those warnings, you should’ve known that you were getting played.

this is exactly what sukuna desired to achieve. to build up your trust, to make you comfortable enough with him, to think you’re special and that he won’t need any other woman other than you — just to shatter your pathetic delusions when the time comes.

“tsk tsk. no need to look at me like that,” sukuna scoffs, a mocking laugh leaving his lips. he can hear a small voice in the back of his head telling him to shut up and let you go, to not make it worse, but who is he to listen to that irrelevant thought? he can decide for himself.

“y’ weren’t around, so the other concubines simply did their job by serving me,” he stares the other way, seemingly not interested by your presence anymore. his face is as expressionless as ever, “what do y’ think i keep them ‘round for, brat? for decoration purposes? hah, nah.”

another loud mocking laugh makes you nearly burst out in tears. you don’t know if it’s in anger or sadness. you take a deep, shaky breath for the last time. you unclench your fists and nod, accepting the reality check you’d just gotten.

it’s a slap to the face, but it helped you get out of your delusions. the delusions that sukuna is a man capable of loving someone, even if it is just for a tiny bit. this visit confirmed that there’s not an ounce of love or appreciation in that man’s body.

“i’m glad you had fun, my lord,” you answer after a bit of silence. you bow at sukuna in an attempt to stay polite while struggling with that inner turmoil. you don’t even glance up at him anymore. you need another break already.

sukuna isn’t dumb. you may think that you’re good at hiding your emotions, but you’re not. at least not around the king of curses. he’s spent enough time around you to realise that you’re going through a lot right now.

he’s the reason for it, yet he cannot bring himself to feel an ounce of empathy. he just looks at you with a blank stare, thinking that this is for the best.

“good night then,” you add and turn around to walk out of sukuna’s room. your steps are slow as you secretly hope to be called back, like sukuna would do every time you’d leave his room after an intimate night. you just want him to tell you that this was a test of some sort—a cruel joke.

you want to feel like his favorite again. you don’t want to be thrown away like this. you don’t want to be on the same level as all the other concubines. you want to stand out to him.

unfortunately, you don’t hear sukuna’s voice anymore. he lets you walk away without a care in the world. the heavy doors of his chambers close behind you and you feel your knees buckle. “fuck,” you cuss to yourself and clench your chest.

you lean back against the closed doors and try to regain your composure. crying can be done when you’re in your room—not in the hallway where anyone could catch you. you don’t want to give the other concubines more reason to bully you.

you drag your feet across the wooden flooring. all those times with sukuna, all those slight glimpses of his soft side that only you’re allowed to see— all of that is thrown into the trash.

you really shouldn’t have gotten so attached to him on an emotional level.

meanwhile, sukuna is silently sitting on his bed, thinking back to what just happened. he usually never doubts his decisions, but this is an exception. why couldn’t he just tell you the truth?

his mouth had moved before he could let his mind process all that he was feeling. a small part of him regrets it, though strangely, he couldn’t feel any real sympathy for your situation.

sukuna drapes an arm over his eyes, clicking his tongue at himself. he just wants to let the situation go, though his brain isn’t letting him to. the image of you standing at the edge of his bed, clearly hurt by his actions, flashes through his mind again.

he sighs. he’s sure that he’s going to forget about you soon enough. he needed an excuse to get rid of you for the sake of regaining control over his own being and he took the chance. he should be glad that he did—it meant that he’d be his usual self—with no weaknesses to look out for.

sukuna blows out another cloud of smoke through his mouth. as much as he’s proud of himself for not giving in to you, he can’t help but let his thoughts wander again. you’re probably crying in your room. he knows you’re sensitive. you would always cry about the smallest of things and he’d hold you (feigning reluctance) until you’ve calmed down.

he can’t do that now.

well, he can, but he won’t. sukuna has made his decision today: it’s power and status over you. that’s what it’s always been. you were but a toy he used to get a stronger grip on himself.

perhaps he simply is what people make him out to be; a monster. nothing more, nothing less.

[savanir]

A sister's love

The justice league hurriedly responds to a call for backup at a little in the middle of nowhere place by the name of Amity Park. 

The situation had seemed so simple. 

A Star Sapphire had suddenly shown up on Earth which isn’t immediately cause for concern but she was unidentified, so a lantern was definitely going to have to look into it if only just to make sure that nothing bad was going on. There are two planet side green lanterns, Simon and Jessica. So they responded to handle the potential situation. 

Things rapidly spun out of control when they realized it wasn't just a Star Sapphire. 

"I hate to say this but we're gonna need backup" Simon tells Cyborg, "the Star Sapphire has brought something with her. My first guess was a white martian but..." The other one can do some manner of density shifting, and he can go invisible, but they know ways around that. Whatever this one is doing isn’t that though.

"Why isn't this working!?!" Comes Jessica's slightly panicked voice in the distance, "he keeps just going through my creations! dammit, think think Jess" She tried to contain him with a flamethrower construct but he just ignored it, like he’s seemingly ignoring everything else she’s throwing at him.

"Our constructs have zero effect on the other one, the alien, meta? man I don’t know he’s human shaped" 

"What is the situation other than the two hostiles?"

"Uh we got some government agents who are retreating because of the Star Sapphire wrecking their stuff. And the civilian people here seem to be falling under her influence, so she must be human. She's from here, she needs emotional connection to pull that stuff off."

The people are furious, the violet glow around them clearly indicates that the girl is using her ring to amp them up but if Simon didn’t know any better he’d say this was red lantern stuff.

Well there are more ways to whip people up into a frenzy, by hurting their loved ones for example.

There is a brief moment where it can be heard that Simon and Jessica try to get into a more advantageous position. 

Simon grunts, "dammit, those agents seemed to have weapons that actually worked on the other guy but the Star Sapphire used her violet constructs to shield him and destroy their guns and we've been struggling since" this whole situation stinks, he has a weird feeling about all of it.

"Simon this is really really bad, i can't keep restraining all these civilians, we're running out of energy fast!"

Cyborg tries to get a visual on the situation from his position in the Watchtower while he’s notifying any league affiliated heroes who are nearby and available. 

But all of a sudden he realizes there is just nothing, just a big lap of void where the two lanterns are supposed to be, there is no cctv footage, no cell towers, no internet connection. Just what the hell is going on here.

Then the audio transmission starts to violently crackle.

A new voice laced with static can suddenly be heard, "There you two are"

"Shit"

"Is the justice league coming yet? Are they finally going to do something?" the staticy voice continues.

"Stay back you-"

"Or maybe they still need more of a reason to act" 

The audio cuts out. 

"Jessica! Simon! Come in!" ... "Shit!" 

Cyborg finally gets a clear picture with the satellite cameras and now sees the entirety of Amity Park has been covered with a crystalized violet dome. It’s then that he remembers the story Hal told quite some time ago now about a Star Sapphire who managed to put a whole planet into love stasis.

They are gonna need more help with this one he thinks.

Meanwhile Jazz is still shakily trying to figure out how her new pink powers work, now that all the fighting is over (for now), the GIW forcefully expelled from Amity, and the two Justice league people captured and restrained.

Everything happened so fast, one moment the GIW had knocked out her brother and were forcefully taking him away and while she saw them drive off (she was pretty sure she was screaming) a pink thing just froze her in place, She was pretty sure someone said something about “great love in her heart” and then she was… well she was flying and- and there wasn’t really any time to question things then so she may have kinda gone and ripped into the van that had Danny.

She’s pretty sure she healed him, and then things just completely spiraled out of control from that point on. and now she’s here.

She’s pretty sure this is crazy villain behavior, she’s going to get put on some sort of watchlist and then she’ll never get to be a psychologist but it’s fine.

Her little brother is safe, that’s all that matters. And she will keep it that way.

[illusioninfnty]

"it's a scream, baby!" ↠ day 15 ; keeping quiet

↠ billy loomis x reader x stu macher

fandom: scream word count: 3.9k warnings: nsfw 18+, gf!billy and stu, DUBCON, semi-public sex, homoerotic undertones, mentions of gore, cheating, degradation, dirty talk, thigh fucking, double penetration, knife play if you squint, gagging, unprotected sex, creampies, cumplay, cum eating, fingering, my stu bias definitely shows sorry guys

kinktober m.list || read on ao3

You weren’t really much of a party person, and all of your friends were aware of that. It was why none of them gave much resistance to the idea of you slipping away.

Stu’s house was insanely crowded, more than his usual parties. It was obviously because of the recent killing spree by the mysterious masked killer who had yet to be caught. Your general anxiety in loud spaces mixed with that of the unknown killer running around had you even more paranoid.

“Be careful!” Sidney calls out and Tatum waves as you make your way up the staircase. You send a small smile back as you weave your way through drunk teenagers stumbling all around, looking for more drinks.

You’ve been in Stu’s house plenty of times, having been friends with him for years at this point. You make a beeline straight for his bedroom, hoping that no one was in there hooking up so you could have a quiet place to decompress. 

You knock loudly on his door, pressing your ear against it as the loud music and teens make it hard to hear inside. There’s no answer to your knowledge, and you slowly peek your head in.

No one is in the room, and you breathe a sigh of relief. You shut the door behind you and plop down on Stu’s bed, laying yourself out in a heap of exhaustion.

A bang from somewhere inside the room startles you, making you jump up from your seat. You notice that Stu’s closet door is slightly ajar, and figure that something inside fell down. You make your way over, the closet creaking as you open it.

A gasp leaves your lips and you step back after seeing what it was that fell.

It was one of the ghostface masks. 

You slowly back away, eyes wide in disbelief with what you were seeing. No. It wasn’t possible, right? Stu couldn’t have been the killer; it made no sense. You bend down and cautiously pick up the mask.

It looks like your average store-bought cheap costume accessory. You inspect it closer, but bring a hand up to your mouth and almost drop the mask when you see what’s stained on it.

Small flecks of blood, all spattered across the edges.

The sound of the door creaking has you throwing the mask back into the closet and slamming the door, chest heaving as you pretend as though you weren’t searching through it.

In walks Stu, his trademark grin spread wide across his face. 

“Now what are you doing in here?” he teases suggestively and wiggles his eyebrows. He closes the door and leans against it.

But clearly you’re not very good at hiding your emotions, because the smile instantly drops from Stu’s face. “Have you been…snooping in my things?”

You bite your lip and can feel your heart drop in your chest. “What? No! I just came in here to rest.” Your voice sounds incredibly shaking and you know there’s no way he’s buying it.

Stu’s eyes narrow, and he stalks closer to you. You back away in return, but his long strides make it difficult to put distance between the two of you. “I think you’re lying to me.”

He utters out your name in a warning tone. At this point, you know, he knows you know, and you know he knows you know that he’s the Ghostface killer. You make a feeble attempt to duck past Stu and make a run for it, but he grabs your arm and pulls you against his chest, completely restraining you.

You try your best at escaping. You pound on his chest, wiggle in his grip, and even try biting him. That fails miserably and Stu slaps his large palm against your mouth, preventing you from screaming for help.

He drags you over to the bed, and you start to kick your heels against his legs. You aren’t sure what he’s capable of anymore. Is this the moment you die? Is Stu going to kill you? You let out a choked sob underneath his palm, clawing at his hand but to no avail.

You push back against him with all of the force of your body, yet Stu remains solid. “Be quiet,” he mutters in your ear. 

And then you feel it. On your backside, you can feel Stu getting hard. You whimper in fear, and your body goes limp. But he clearly notices that you could feel it, and he chuckles darkly.

“Got me excited with all that struggling, babe.” He shamelessly rubs himself against you, his erection fully hard beneath his pants now.

Despite the terror that you feel in that moment, you couldn’t help but moan silently.

You would be lying if you said you never thought of hooking up with your friend. Stu was hot, he was funny, and if Tatum was a reliable source, he also had a huge dick.

If fucking Stu could save you from death, you would gladly let him use you however he wished.

You quickly concoct a plan in your head—a lame one, but a plan—to seduce Stu in an attempt to hopefully convince him not to kill you afterwards.

Before you can even attempt to put your plan into action, the bedroom door creaks open. “Shit,” you hear Stu mutter under his breath. Both you and him turn together, and in walks Billy, sauntering as he usually does.

He pauses and raises an eyebrow as he surveys the position you and Stu are in.

“Did I interrupt something?” Billy smirks, his eyes going dark. You look up through your eyelashes at Stu, who presses you closer to him, as if warning you not to signal for help. He shakes his head at Billy.

“She knows, man.”

Your body goes completely rigid in Stu’s grip. A chill runs down your spine.

Billy was involved in this Ghostface shit too? Well, that actually surprised you less than Stu. Billy was kind of a horror junkie in secret, even rivaling Randy, and he always had this strange look in his eye whenever he thought no one was looking.

His eyes narrow and his jaw clenches. “Oh?” 

The tone in his voice is sinister, much different than what you’ve heard from him before.

He strides over, pulling out a knife from his pocket and holding it out towards you.

You shriek, but it comes out all muffled. You try to tilt your head away from where Billy points the knife to your chin, but Stu keeps his hand solid, forcing your head forward.

He clicks his tongue at you, teasing you for your failed attempts to escape.

“I really didn’t want to kill you now, sweetheart, but I don’t have much of a choice, do I?”

Tears gather in your eyes, threatening to fall. You still helplessly struggle against Stu’s grip, choking back sobs. You so desperately want Stu to release his hand, want to beg the two of them to keep you alive. You’re two seconds away from sounding like you belong in a bad porno that the boys rent from the video store where the woman says please! I’ll do anything!

But you don’t need to do any of that. Because before Billy starts slicing and dicing and stabbing at you, he backs away and looks Stu up and down. He then barks out a laugh.

“What, did chasing her around get you all stiff?”

Stu grins cheekily and grinds his erection up against your butt. You let out a surprised moan under his palm, grabbing onto his forearm. “You know I’ve always wanted to fuck her, man.”

Billy eyes shift between you and Stu, before pausing on you. A smirk slowly grows across his features until it morphs into a toothy grin. You can see the way his cock begins to twitch in his jeans and your heart sinks into your stomach.

“I’m not going to let you fuck her alone tonight.”

As if Stu was waiting this whole time for Billy’s approval, the hand that was restricting your mouth moves off and down to his jeans. Before you can even think about opening your mouth, Billy brings the knife back up your face, right under your chin forcing you to keep your mouth closed and head tilted up to meet his eyes.

“If you say a word I’ll cut your throat open and stick my cock in it.” He imitates the motion of slicing the knife across your throat. 

You swallow harshly and can’t control the way you tremble under Stu’s hold. But the depraved part of you has your core throbbing, at the carnal lust that fills his eyes, so desperately wanting them both to get to fucking you sooner rather than later. 

Scoffing in his face, you try your best to put up a calm front. “Are you guys all bark and no bite? All I hear is talking but no action.”

“Oh you’ll be getting action soon, baby.” You can feel Stu’s erect cock rubbing against your backside and the way that his arousal stains your shirt. His hand holds it at the base as he guides it between your legs, slowly fucking you between your thighs. You look down to see the bulging red tip of his cock leaking beads of precum as it penetrates the plush skin of your legs with every thrust.

Billy takes his knife and slices your skirt right down the middle, the two pieces falling to shreds at your feet.

“Yeah, there it is!” Stu yells as his long fingers poke and prod at your pussy through your underwear until it soaks the fabric through. “All nice and wet for us now.”

He moves the material to the side of your puffy lips and without so much as a warning sticks his cock right inside.

“Oh fuck,” you moan out as quietly as you can with the intense pleasure. It slides in easily with how wet you’ve gotten over the past couple of minutes. You arch your back into Stu as his long cock bullies its way inside of you. “Fuck, fuck, fuck—”

Stu begins thrusting immediately, the sounds of your skin slapping together being the loudest thing in the room.

“Such a dirty little slut,” Stu’s voice teases, laughter evident in his tone. His arm around your waist holds you up as he pounds into you at lightning speed, bouncing you up and down his cock. Your feet lift off the ground ever-so-slightly as he pulls you up. “But I guess I’m kind of a slut to. Always wanted to fuck you like this.”

Through your lust-filled haze, you can see Billy stroking himself through his boxers, jeans already unzipped and pulled down. He stares at both you and Stu and where the two of you connect. 

“You gonna join man?” Stu lifts you up under your thighs. The action lifts your feet up in the air and exposes your pussy directly in Billy’s line of view. Stu pulls his cock out enough so just the head remains inside, and starts fingering around your lips.

You gasp at the sensation, your arms gripping his own and your walls clenching down desperately onto him. Stu’s fingers make a v shape and pull your lips open wide. “There’s plenty of room for you in here.” 

“N-no!” You sob out, clawing at Stu and kicking your legs. The implication is not subtle at all, and the fear has you clenching even tighter onto him. There was no way that you could fit both of them in your pussy. Stu’s cock is already thick and fills you completely; you don’t think you could take another one without breaking.

Billy continues to palm himself above his underwear, the head of his cock poking out from the elastic band. “Fuck yeah, now your speaking my language!”

“No! Billy!” You shake your head wildly, tears threatening to fall from your swollen eyes. “Stop! It won’t fit!”

He rolls his eyes and takes his hard cock out of his boxers, pumping it with a few solid strokes. “Stop complaining.” 

“He’ll make it fit,” Stu giggles from behind you.

A strangled sound leaves your lips, a mix between a choke and a sob. You’re powerless in Stu’s hold as he moves your limbs every which way he pleases. He never lets up in his thrusts, his stamina completely insatiable, and it doesn’t feel like he’s stopping any time soon.

You have no choice but to lay helpless as Billy guides his cock into your wet hole, pushing against Stu’s. The stretch from the two of their massive lengths is painful, and you bite the outside of your hand as an attempt to soften your cries.

“Fuck,” Billy moans, slotting himself fully inside of you. His eyes squeeze shut and his head is thrown back in pleasure. Your hands press against his chest to stabilize yourself. 

Your eyes roll back as you start moaning audibly, his cock stuffing you full alongside Stu’s. 

“None of that.” Billy slaps a hand over your mouth and digs his fingers into your cheek. “If any one of those sleazebags outside hears those moans I’ll have to kill them and fuck you over their dead body.”

His voice is deep, gravely, and completely serious—you believe him in his entirety. You nod rapidly under his hold. You don’t want the death of anyone to be on your hands, no matter how annoying they are.

“Good. Now stay quiet.”

Billy and Stu take turns fucking themselves up into you. They give you any chance for a break, when one pulls their length almost completely out, the other shoves it in. They take turns pounding themselves into you. Your walls clench hard around them, being stretched to the brim. It takes all your power not to cry out from the pain and pleasure, but the fear from Billy’s unpredictably overpowers all other emotions. 

Billy seems to be caught up in the haze of his own arousal, fingers digging in the skin of your hips as he thrusts his cock in and out of you rhythmically. He groans. “Forgot what it’s like to fuck a tight, wet hole. Sidney still hasn’t put out yet.”

Your body instantly freezes at Billy’s words. In the midst of all the chaos that involved finding out that two of your friends were active serial killers, both of them have been wanting to fuck you, and both of them actually proceeding to fuck you, you were ashamed to admit that you completely forgot about your the rest of your friends downstairs. Sidney and Tatum, two of your closest friends, were partying just below you and were blissfully unaware that you were in fact not resting from the partying, but instead getting your hole absolutely destroyed by their boyfriends just a couple hundred feet away.

The reality of your situation comes back to you and the dread starts to sink in. Instinctively, you begin thrashing your body all around, causing as much commotion as you can. Your nails end up scratching Stu on his arm. “Ow!” he whines out, but it’s a cross between a whimper and a turned on moan. He bites your neck in retaliation. “I like ‘em feisty, you know. Really gets my dick goin’.”

Billy, on the other hand, doesn’t take your failed act of defiance so lightly. His hand reaches up and squeezes your cheeks as he pulls your face close to him, not letting up with the pistoning of his hips.

“Not. A. Word.” Every syllable is spoken individually, heavily gritted out through clenched teeth. At that moment, an array of muffled voices is heard right outside the bedroom door. Billy and you turn to the source of the noise at the same time. Billy turns back to you first. “You know what happens if they walk in,” he trails off darkly, and out of the corner of your eye you can see the glint of his knife as it rests on the side table, within an arm's reach from him. If he wanted to, he could easily slip himself out of you and kill the unsuspecting partygoers within mere seconds.

He buries himself back inside of you as you say that, the two of their cocks fighting for their spots inside of your restrictive walls. Billy and Stu moan in unison at the feeling, both of you gripping onto them and the way they feel pressed up against each other.

As hopeless as your situation may seem in the end, you try to make due with what you have and not let the guilt consume you. There’s nothing you can do about it now unless you want multiple people to wind up dead. It’s fairly easy to erase your mind of anything other than the two guys currently surrounding you, whose relentless thrusts make your vision go white and limbs go numb.

Stu attaches himself onto your neck, no doubt leaving a trail of hickeys that’ll last for days. You lean your head back into him, giving him more access to the area. His long tongue licks all around the area, sending shivers down your spine.

His mouth eventually makes its way up to your own and Stu covers it, kissing you with great fervor. His tongue slides into your mouth, swirling it around with your own tongue. The kiss is sloppy and uncoordinated, but it feels perfectly like him. It’s intimate as he massages your tongue and brings his hand up to cup your jaw. In that single moment, you can pretend like your new revelation didn’t exist and that this is just a sensual moment between you and your friend, who’s kissing you like his life depends on it.

But that’s not the case, as Billy brings you back to reality once again. He spanks your ass which has you gasping into Stu’s mouth and your eyes opening wide.

Spit dribbles out the side of your mouth as Stu finally lets up, moaning into your jaw. He gives your neck a big kiss before sucking another hickey into it. “I can be romantic sometimes,” he whispers teasingly into your ear, causing you to shiver.

Billy and Stu pound into you, even harder than before if possible, their hips snapping up against your body.

You know that your orgasm is fast approaching, the various simulations making you feel desperate for a release.

“Please, please, please, please,” your voice is hoarse as you whisper out in a breathy tone to keep as quiet as possible.

“Yeah? You want our cum inside of you?” Billy coaxes you, but you can tell that he’s just as close to reaching his peak as you are given the uneven rhythm of his ruts, pushing slightly against the pattern he had set with Stu.

You nod your head as much as you can, your vision going blurry with the speed you move it. You can feel Billy’s cock throb furiously in you and it's enough to make you reach your own orgasm before him, clapping a hand over your mouth as to not alert your presence to anyone outside.

Billy’s orgasm follows your own soon after, with a strangled moan leaving his lips as his hot cum releases all inside you. The mix of your two juices allows for easier movement within your walls, and after he’s done climaxing Billy slides out of you with ease.

But Stu is nowhere near stopping.

With the result of your’s and Billy’s releases aiding him, Stu ruts himself even further into you. He manhandles you so that instead of your previous position of being twisted in the air as Stu stands behind you, he throws you down on top of the bed and climbs on top of you, humping into you from behind with a newfound vigor.

“Finally get you to myself for a bit,” Stu grits out of his teeth as his hips piston at an immeasurable speed.

You can’t speak at this point, completely cockdrunk from the brunt of the thrusts you’re taking. Stu’s broad body completely engulfs your form as he pounds you into the bedsheets. Your eyes roll into the back of your head, and your tongue lolls out of your mouth, only low whimpers and droll being produced from it.

You can hear the squelching of your pussy, the result of Billy’s cum and your juices, as Stu pounds his cock as far as it reaches. You can feel the release escape the sides of your pussy lips with the brunt of Stu’s thrusts and you can’t help but whine softly as some of the warmth and fullness from the cum leaves your body.

Stu’s hand runs through your hair until he grabs it at the base. He pushes your head down completely into the bed, using much more pressure than what was needed. The force of it causes your ass to arch further into him as he presses his front fully against your back, curving his form as if morphing to the shape of your hunched and fucked out form.

“Now that’s a nice view,” he groans out, one hand at the root of your hair and the other pawing at your ass.

Animalistic grunts leave Stu’s mouth and you can feel as he reaches the cusp of his orgasm. Curses leave his lips as he finally cums, pushing himself inside you as deep as he can and hitting parts never reached before. You can feel the jets of his hot release inside of you as it comes out in huge, thick spurts.

When Stu finally leaves your walls, the mix of all three of your orgasms comes flowing out, making you moan at the loss of the fullness from all three of you.

“C’mon now, push it all outta you,” Billy’s voice calls out from across the room, speaking up from his previous silent observer role as he recovered from his own peak.

You obey, squeezing as much as you can with your weak body. You can feel globs of cum escape your entrance, cooling as it runs down your thighs and onto the sheets below you.

You flinch as you feel Stu’s fingers scoop some out of you, and the smacking of his lips indicates he tasted it. You moan, only able to picture what the scene looks like.

“Oh? You want some?” Stu’s fingers hastily appear in front of you. The fingers from his other hand pull your mouth open and he shoves the cum covered ones inside, making you gag instantly. He rams them in and out of your mouth, barely giving you any time to properly suck on the cum. Flecks of the fluid fly out of your mouth along with your own saliva. Tears fall without a warning, your gag reflex working overtime.

Stu’s fingers fuck your mouth until all of the cum is virtually gone from them. When he finally pulls them out, your body completely collapses. It trembles furiously from all the overstimulation, unable to hold itself up.

Stu gives you a big wet kiss on your cheek and slaps his now-limp cock onto your bare ass. You can only whimper in response, your body too heavy to move any part of it right now. Your vision is blurry, but through it you manage to make out Billy, with his sweaty complexion and rumpled clothes back on his body, talking down to you.

“You stay put until we can get everyone to piss off. We’ll be back for round two.”

[whytheylosttheirminds]

Don't Call Me Kid - Chapter 2

(Rafe Cameron x Reader series, 4.9k words)

series summary: You'd had a crush on Rafe Cameron since you were six years old, but he friend zoned you at every turn. Once shy and insecure, you found new confidence and self-love after high school. When your high school friends go on a reunion beach trip, Rafe finally sees what he lost, but he isn't going to give you up without a fight.

tropes: unrequited crush, glow up, she fell first/he fell harder

content: some angst, eventual fluff, slow burn, tomfoolery and shenanigans, drinking, fem!reader has occasional insecurity and body image issues

⇢ series masterlist

After weeks of all-nighters and cramming for finals, sleeping in on your first morning at the beach house felt incredible. It was only 9:30 when you finally stirred in the comfy bed, but it felt late in the day.

Coming down the stairs in your pjs and slippers, you smiled at the sound of your sister’s voice, joking around with her old friends. Your goal this trip was for her to have a good time, and despite the emotional rollercoaster of seeing Rafe yesterday, at this moment, you were glad you decided to stay. You entered the room to see half the house was awake, though neither Rafe or Tom had made an appearance yet.

“Ladies and gentleman, it’s Kerri Walsh Jennings!” Topper deepened his voice like a sports announcer when you entered the kitchen. The few people who were up all turned to you, playfully bowing and applauding like you were a true Olympian. You grinned and rolled your eyes, surprised at how comfortable you felt with the unprecedented attention.

Topper was at the stove flipping pancakes for everyone’s breakfast, wearing an apron that said “kiss the cook.” As you approached the kitchen island to grab a stool next to your sister, he leaned over, holding the spatula like a microphone.

“So tell us, Kerri, now that you’ve won the gold what will you do next?”

“Well, Top,” you played along. “First, I’m going to get some coffee…then I’m going straight to Disneyland!”

Everyone in the kitchen laughed, making the tips of your ears turn red. No one ever laughed at your jokes in high school, not that you were confident enough to make many. Rafe would tell you sometimes that you were funny, so long as no one was around to hear him admit it.

“Well I can help you with the first part,” Topper said, grabbing a mug and the coffee pot.

“Wow, so domestic of you, Topper,” you teased as he poured your steaming coffee in front of you.

“He’s our house mother,” Carter said, smiling wide at Topper who did a jokey little curtsy motion. Clearly this was a running joke between them.

Topper handed you a plate of pancakes, which Kelce promptly reached over your shoulder to steal. 

“Since when are you such an athlete?” Kelce asked, his mouth already full with your breakfast.

You told them all about your team at school, surprised out of your mind that everyone was actually listening intently.

Rafe woke up groggy and sore, ducking his head as he walked through the basement and made his way up the rickety steps. As he reached for the handle of the door which opened into the kitchen, he smiled at the sound of your voice on the other side. His smile quickly faded when he heard Kelce interrupt you with, “Yeah and you kicked Rafe’s ass, too, made him your bitch.”

“I wouldn’t go that far.” 

Every head in the kitchen whipped towards the sound of Rafe’s voice as he emerged, except for yours. You shuffled slightly on your stool and sipped your coffee. Rafe didn’t miss the way you were ignoring him, his eyes grazing quickly over the smoothe skin of your shoulders before redirecting to anything he could find. 

“Cute apron, Top,” he landed on.

“Thanks man,” Topper said, ignoring his mocking tone. “Want some flapjacks?”

“Ew, who calls them flapjacks?” Carter burst out laughing. 

“Well now you don’t get any,” Topper scolded, pulling her plate away from her and handing it to Rafe.

“I don’t want ‘em if Carter’s put her mouth near them,” Rafe mocked. “We don’t know where she’s been.”

“Says the guy who licked the gym floor in seventh grade,” you said quietly.

The entire room came to a halt, everyone surprised at the sound of you joining in on the teasing. No one had actually heard you address Rafe yet. The awkwardness hung in the air, all eyes going wide as they waited to see if the notorious hothead was going to be able to take what he was dishing out. You just picked at your pancakes with your fork and hoped everyone would move on, but Rafe smirked at you, a playful twinkle in his eye.

“That was on a dare,” he defended himself.

When you finally looked up at him, your stomach twisted into a knot as you noticed how cute he looked in his white undershirt and grey sweats, messy bedhead and sleepy eyes. You immediately regretted acknowledging that you remembered something he did so long ago. Now, he was looking at you with something like excitement, smug that you were talking to him, like your big triumph the day before had never happened. 

“Oh, I didn’t remember that part.” It was a lie, you remembered everything he ever said or did.

Rafe’s face dropped at your impassive tone, his brief window of hope that all was forgiven slammed shut.

To your great relief, Tom chose that moment to enter the room, drawing the attention away from you and Rafe. He had apparently been out on a run, and his under armor shirt, wet with sweat, clinged to his form to reveal a sculpted chest below.

“How we doin’ everyone?” His cheery voice boomed. He slapped Topper on the back before giving Kelce a frat bro handshake across the counter. “What do we have here?” He whistled appreciatively at the spread Topper had put out.

As Topper rattled on about the many flavors and shapes of pancakes he could offer, Tom looked over at you with a cheeky smile and mouthed “good morning!” You smiled back with a little wave, butterflies erupting in your stomach at the way he was singling you out. 

After the volleyball game last night, you’d all gone to a seafood restaurant on the water. Tom had chosen the seat next to you, and made extremely pleasant dinner company. He asked you all about yourself, about school and what you were planning for the future. He was a great listener, and you were so glad to have someone to chat normally with without the baggage of your childhood hanging over your head. You hoped the week would hold many more cozy conversations with him.

Unbeknownst to you, Carter was watching as you smiled at him in the kitchen, and so was Rafe. They had very different looks on their face as they realized at the same moment that something was happening between you and Tom.

After Topper and Kelce reclaimed Tom’s attention, talking over each other about their plans to go fishing later, Carter squeezed your elbow and motioned with a nod for you to follow her out onto the patio. 

“Ummm, okay, what was that?” Carter asked with arched eyebrows once you were settled on the patio couch next to her.

“Oh my god I know. I shouldn’t have said anything, do you think everyone will think it’s weird I remember something he did in seventh grade?” You asked worriedly.

Carter scrunched her brows in confusion for a minute before waving you off with her hand. “Oh, no not Rafe, he’s old news. I’m talking about your little moment with Tom!”

“Oh, uh,” you cleared your throat, embarrassed that you were still lingering on Rafe when she clearly wasn’t. “I don’t know, he’s nice.”

“He’s fucking gorgeous is what he is,” she fanned herself theatrically.

“Are you into him?” Your stomach dropped at the thought that she might be interested. In your eyes, Carter always had first pick, and surely if Tom thought she was interested he’d choose her over you in a heartbeat.

“No,” she shook her head. “I’m having too much fun messing with Topper.”

You laughed hard at that, “yeah, I noticed. Are you two back on again?”

“Maybe,” she shrugged. “You think if I play my cards right I could get him to propose?”

���I think you could probably get him to do just about anything,” you chuckled.

“Okay, then it’s settled, I’ve got Topper and you,” she poked at your side and you swatted her hand away, “will make a move on Tom.”

“I don’t know about ‘make a move,” you took a long sip of your coffee, suddenly anxious.

Carter eyed you curiously, recognizing the insecurity she hoped you had left behind now that things were going so well. She didn’t understand how you still couldn’t see how amazing you are, but she was determined to prove it to you by the end of this trip.

Rafe did his best not to stare at you through the sliding door, but when he heard your melodic laugh float in through the screen, he couldn’t help the way his head snapped toward the sound, wishing desperately that it was him making you laugh like that. You used to laugh at all his jokes, and he’d taken it for granted. The sad thing was, he actually loved hanging out with you. You had a great sense of humor, and he always felt so comfortable when it was just you and him. He knows now he should’ve just called it what it was, been with you in public too. But he had so many eyes on him back then, and he was worried what people would think. Plus, he knew you’d stick by him even if he treated you like shit, and he took advantage of that. He kicked himself mentally, feeling like a Grade A chump while you sat there, looking beautiful in the ocean breeze, smiling through the window at some guy you’d met yesterday.

As he lost himself in his thoughts, Topper noticed him staring at you, a knowing smirk tugging at his lips.

“She looks good, huh?” He asked Rafe.

“What?” Rafe shook his head as if he could erase the thoughts that were plaguing him. “Who?”

“Oh, come on,” Topper nodded towards you and Carter on the deck.

“I dunno,” Rafe tried to play it off. “She looks the same I guess, a little different.”

“Bro,” Topper gave him an incredulous look. “She’s a fucking smokeshow. You’re into her, don’t even try and fool me.”

“If you're so into her, why don’t you go for her?” Rafe snapped at him.

Topper shook his head, “maybe because I’m not the one she was obsessed with for a decade.”

“She wasn’t obsessed with me,” Rafe protested. “We were friends.”

“Right,” Topper said sarcastically. “And I was a number one draft pick. Dude, she was in love with you, everyone knew it.”

Rafe leaned forward on the counter, propped on his elbows, looking down at his uneaten pancakes with a frown. His stomach twisted with guilt. Of course everyone knew, he knew it too. And he’d be lying if he said he didn’t use your adoration of him to his advantage from time to time. Okay, all the time. He couldn’t really blame you for still being mad at him, he was a dick. But he liked to think he’d grown some since then, not that you had any reason to give him a chance to prove it.

“I think she’s into your buddy, Dom, or whatever his name is,” Rafe grumbled.

“First of all,” Topper pointed the spatula at him, “you know his name is Tom. And second of all, I love the guy, but he’s got nothing on you. Give me one day, she’ll be back.”

“Don’t do anything weird, man,” Rafe warned, cringing at the thought of what kind of damage an unsupervised Topper could inflict.

“Don’t worry dude, I got it handled,” Topper assured him.

Rafe just chuckled and sipped his coffee, knowing this was a losing battle, “whatever you say, Top.”

The door slid open and you and Carter reentered the kitchen. Tom stood from his place at the little breakfast nook when you walked in, and you were relieved that he ended his conversation with Maddie and Sabrina so abruptly at the sight of you. He smiled down at you before heading into the kitchen to help Topper clean up. Rafe was noticeably not helping, sitting at the counter scrolling on his phone.

“No phones,” Carter said, swiping it from him. 

“Give it,” he held his large hand out to her, jaw ticking with annoyance.

“C’mon Rafe, don’t you want to live in the present?” She badgered.

He tried to grab it quickly, but she lifted it above her head, tossing it to Kelce on the other side of the counter, who tossed it to Topper, and the game of hot potato continued, much to Rafe’s chagrin.

“Y’all are children,” he scowled, sitting back on the stool in defeat.

“Who are you even texting? All your friends are here,” Carter jeered.

“I was looking up directions to the grocery store, seeing as there’s no fucking food in this house besides beer, and apparently pancake mix,” Rafe explained.

“No need,” Topper said. “Tom, Kelce and I are spending the day on the water and we’ll grab some stuff on the way back.”

Carter frowned at the thought of both of your boys being gone the whole day, leaving little to distract you from Rafe. This wouldn’t do.

“No, you can’t go out today, we're having a cookout!” She announced to the room.

“We are?” Kelce scratched his head.

“Yes, we are,” Carter nodded confidently, wrapping her arm around Topper’s waist, which you knew was all it would take to get him to agree. “And mom here is going to grill for us.”

“Oh am I?” Topper asked, eyebrows raised in amusement, not exactly protesting.

“Yes, so someone else will need to go get the food,” Carter continued. You knew her well enough to see that a whole plan was unfolding in her head. “Sissy, why don’t you go?”

“That’s…fine,” you agreed reluctantly, narrowing your eyes at her, trying to figure out her play. “I need someone to go with me though, we’ll need a lot of stuff.”

Carter and Topper smiled in sync, both thinking they’d just come up with the best idea anyone has ever had.

At the same moment that Carter blurted out, “Tom can go with you!” Topper loudly suggested, “Rafe can take you!”

Your lips forming a tight line, you gave them both an exasperated look. Their heads snapped toward each other, eyeing each other suspiciously. Rafe scratched the back of his neck, annoyed at Topper for butting in and hating himself for hoping you’d choose to go with him and not Tom.

Tom, meanwhile, was watching all four of you from the corner of the room, never more confused in his life.

“It’s cool,” he said hesitantly, the awkwardness palpable. “All three of us can go.”

“Fine, but I’m driving,” Rafe stood from his seat. “Can I have my phone back now please?”

He reached his hand to Kelce, who was the last to have it. Kelce panicked, wanting to keep the game going, and tossed it to you. You very nearly dropped it, letting it bounce between your hands but eventually securing it before it fell.

You just looked at it in your hands, then up to Rafe and Tom, searching for any way out of what was sure to be an uncomfortable outing without being rude. You came up with nothing.

“I guess I’ll go get dressed,” you handed Rafe his phone, making Kelce shake his head at you in disappointment.

The hum of the truck’s engine was the only sound in the car for a solid five minutes. You sat in the front seat, Tom having opened your door for you, while Rafe drove. You suddenly couldn’t remember what people do with their hands when they’re not driving. Where the hell do you put your hands? Tom’s voice cut through your internal panic.

“So, uh Rafe, Top says you went to Chapel Hill?” He inquired, sitting forward in the backseat so his head appeared between you and Rafe,

“Still do,” Rafe said curtly.

You looked at Rafe for the first time since pulling out of the beach house driveway. You wanted to ask him why he hadn’t graduated on time, always more invested in his academics than he was, but you were trying to pretend you didn’t care.

“Nice, man,” Tom tried to keep the conversation going. “I applied there, it’s hard to get in.”

“I guess I just hit the books a little harder than you then,” Rafe shrugged.

A scoff escaped you before you had the chance to stifle it. Rafe’s hands tightened on the steering wheel.

“What was that?” Rafe looked sideways at you for a moment.

“Nothing,” you crossed your arms over your chest.

“No, please share,” he prodded. You couldn’t believe he was copping an attitude with you.

“It’s just, I’m sure your last name had nothing to do with your acceptance,” you quipped.

Rafe’s jaw clenched and you smirked in satisfaction, pleased that you had gotten under his skin. Tom’s eyes flicked between the two of you, trying to decipher the vibe.

You were glad he didn’t try to attempt any further small talk. Once you got to the grocery store, you divided the shopping list three ways and split up to your designated aisles. You filled your cart as fast as you could, eager to get this shopping trip over with.

After checking everything off your list, you rounded the corner of the produce section toward the registers, your cart nearly crashing into Rafe’s. His entire shopping cart was filled with alcohol. You laughed at the sight. 

“What?” Rafe asked defensively.

“What are the rest of us gonna drink?” You smirked.

“Shut up,” he grinned. “It’s not all for me.”

“Okay but where is the stuff you were supposed to get?”

“It’s under there somewhere,” he mused.

“Sure,” you just shook your head with a smile and kept walking towards the register.

“Shit, wait,” Rafe rolled his cart to you and ran back down one of the aisles.

“No don’t worry about me, I got it,” you muttered to yourself bitterly.

You started pushing both carts but Rafe appeared quickly at your side again.

“Got it,” he breathed, adding one more thing to his cart.

It was a case of Redbull. You shifted on your feet uncomfortably, looking down into his cart. Redbull was his drink of choice in high school, you used to buy him one every day and bring it to him after practice, like a puppy fetching the morning paper. Rafe eyed you nervously, your soured expression leading him to believe you remembered just as well as he did. 

“Old habits die hard, huh?” You joked, trying to break the tense moment. 

“Yeah, can’t seem to kick that one,” he replied, relieved that you were the first to acknowledge it.

Tom caught up with you at check-out, his cart actually full of the things he was supposed to get. The three of you unloaded your goods to be rung up by a 16-year-old cashier who could not have been more annoyed that you had chosen his register.

Tom jumped in to help bag the groceries, chatting happily with the bag boy as he assisted. Rafe, however, stood there staring at his phone. 

After you finished emptying your cart, you watched Tom with a smile while he charmed the grocery store staff. Rafe looked up from his screen with a frown, stomach dropping when he saw that you were watching Tom with an affectionate smile.

“Is that everything?” The cashier asked hopefully.

You were about to say "yes" and also maybe "sorry" when Rafe cut you off.

“No wait, these too,” he reached toward the shelf and grabbed your favorite candy, looking at you expectantly as he handed it to the cashier.

“Your favorite,” he explained bashfully at the sight of your furrowed brows.

“Yeah, it is,” you agreed. “Just surprised you remember. Thanks.”

You looked at him for a moment longer than you should, your eyes lingering on each other’s as you shared another silent memory. You felt a twinge of nostalgia that you knew you shouldn’t.

While you and Rafe looked at each other, Tom pulled out his black card and entered it into the machine. Rafe noticed a moment too late and scrambled to pull his wallet from his pocket, fumbling for his credit card.

“Oh no, hey man, I was gonna get it,” Rafe finally pulled out the credit card he was looking for but Tom was already signing the screen with his finger.

“No worries dude,” Tom brushed him off politely. “You can get me back later this week.”

Rafe was the most competitive person you knew, and the richest, surely he wasn’t going to let another guy pay for everything and walk away. He opened his mouth like he was going to argue with Tom, but with a glance back at you he closed it again. Then he carried as many bags to the car as one person could possibly hold, mumbling something like "multiple trips are for pussies." 

Another fifteen minutes of painful silence might just make your head explode, you thought. The second you were back in the truck, the bed overflowing with groceries, you asked Rafe for the aux.

“What are you gonna play?” He sideyed you as he held it just out of reach. You leaned across the console to snatch it from his hands, and he felt pins and needles where your hand had brushed him. He wondered if you realized it was the first time you'd touched each other in four years.

The two of you had always fought over the aux, you’d eventually give in to his pouting and listened to his shitty house mixes and soundcloud rappers.

“Don’t worry about it,” you waved him off with a grin.

Four years ago, you would have been way too nervous to play what you truly wanted to listen to, afraid Rafe wouldn’t think it was cool enough. But now, you pressed play on your go-to playlist with gusto and beamed when your absolute favorite song started booming through his subwoofers. 

Rafe tried to keep his eyes on the road, but he couldn’t stop them from dancing back over to you as you sang along happily to your music. You rolled the window down, letting the humid Florida air raise your hair in a wave around you. You giggled and tried to tame it, eventually giving up and letting it whip around your face.

There was something so light about you. Something joyful and at peace. He placed both hands on the steering wheel, trying to ground himself, jealous of your carefree spirit. Whatever intangible thing you had managed to capture in your years apart, he wanted it. And it hit him like a lightning bolt, a bittersweet truth he had fought for so many years - he wanted you.

One song rolled into the next, and Rafe searched for something to say to keep up the almost-friendly banter you had begun in the store, but before he could come up with anything, Tom sat forward suddenly.

“Oh hey I love this song!” Tom informed you.

“Me too!” You turned to smile at him, and Rafe listened enviously as you and Tom chatted about the many favorite artists you have in common the rest of the way home.

The house was quiet when you returned, everyone either taking their daily hangover nap or down lounging by the beach. Rafe’s hands turned white from once again carrying as many plastic bags as he could. You tried not to laugh, and tried not to notice the way his biceps bulged under his tight t-shirt, but you failed at both.

“Are you laughing at me again?” He raised his eyebrows in amusement, placing the bags on the counter. “What is it this time?”

“Sorry, you’re just so helpful all of a sudden,” you pointed out with a smirk.

“Well bag boy over there wasn’t helping,” he nodded towards the patio, where Tom was taking a phone call.

“He said it’s a work call,” you defended him. “He just got a job in New York apparently, a Wall Street thing.

“Whatever,” Rafe mumbled. What he wanted to say was “since when are you two best friends?” but he had already been fairly gruff with you today and he was trying to refocus on his goal of getting you to like him again.

You and Rafe put the groceries away in silence for a while. You tried to find the right way to approach the question you were dying to ask, failing to convince yourself you didn't care about the answer.

“So,” you started nervously. “You didn’t graduate this year?”

Rafe’s shoulders tensed as he tried to make more room in the pantry.

“Nope,” he said shortly.

“Did you take some time off?”

He was torn between being glad that you were talking to him and mad that this was the topic you’d chosen to break the ice with.

“No, I-uh,” he cleared his throat. “I failed a couple classes my first year so I’m still a few credits behind.”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” you said, leaning down to put the ribs for the cookout in the large freezer.

“It’s my own fault,” he shrugged. “I was an idiot back then.”

When you stood from the freezer to grab another rack of ribs, you were surprised to see Rafe standing close, his body looming as he looked down at you.

“I was an idiot before then, too,” he continued, voice low and uncertain.

Everything in your mind went fuzzy as the blood rushed to your face. This was the first time you could smell him, and it familiarity of his scent made you feel like you were being transported back in time. You fought the urge to inhale deeply, greedy for the rush of him filling your senses.

“Before then?” You blinked up at him.

Rafe struggled to find his next words. It took everything in you not to fill in the blanks for him, like you were back in high school slipping him the answers to a test he hadn’t studied for. But this time, you needed him to find the answers all on his own. You swallowed hard, leaving silence for the words he was searching for. 

Before he could find them, Topper and Carter came barreling into the kitchen, mid-argument as always. They stopped short when they saw the scene in front of them. Rafe stepped away from you so quickly you could feel a woosh of wind in his wake. It was eerily reminiscent of your teenage years, Rafe separating himself from you as soon as there was anyone around to see you together.

“Everything okay?” Carter asked tensely, noticing the way your shoulders had fallen.

“Fine,” Rafe said, tossing the rest of the plastic bags in the trash and heading down the stairs to his basement bedroom, closing the door firmly behind him.

“Damn, you two did good,” Topper said, admiring the cornucopia of food you’d brought back.

“You three,” Carter corrected. “Tom went too.”

She walked up next to you and lowered her voice, a sly smile on her face, “and how did it go with Tom?”

You didn’t match her playful mood, completely preoccupied thinking about the moment you and Rafe had just shared. Was he about to apologize to you? What would you have let him do if your sister and psuedo-brother-in-law had entered the room just a minute later?

“It was fine,” you said distractedly, closing the fridge and heading upstairs to your room.

Carter turned on her heel and looked at Topper with a frown, shocked to find him beaming back at her.

“What are you smiling for?” She snarled.

“Oh nothing, seems like my plan is working is all,” he grinned. “They were standing awfully close when we walked in.”

“Your plan?” She stepped closer to him, arms crossed. “What are you up to Thornton?”

“Just playing a little Cupid,” he smiled proudly.

“Okay well you can go ahead and put down the bow and arrow, because I’ve already got that covered,” she informed him.

“Really?” He asked in surprise. “I thought you hated Rafe.”

“Rafe? Ew, no, I’m talking about Tom, obviously,” she snapped.

“Your sister and Tom? Nahhh, do you not see how she and Rafe have been looking at each other? It’s so obvious,” he scoffed.

“You know what else is obvious? That Rafe’s still a dick and he doesn’t deserve her,” Carter argued.

“He’s actually grown up a lot,” Topper said, surprising Carter with the serious shift in his tone. “He’s been through some stuff, college hasn’t been easy for him. He could use a win.”

Carter considered this, but it wasn’t enough to satisfy the years of bitterness she held for Rafe.

“Well, he had his chance. He had millions of chances with her and he fumbled every one,” she said.

“I know he did, but under it all he’s a good person. And I think good people deserve second chances,” Topper explained.

“Not when they hurt my sister,” she concluded. “I won’t allow it.”

Topper's eyes creased with his smile as he looked down at her, loving her steely look and pursed lips as she put her hands on her hips. 

“You’re still so bossy,” he smiled, sliding closer to her until their chests were nearly touching. “I know we’re supposed to be fighting, but it’s kinda hot.”

He leaned forward to plant a little kiss on her lips, like he’d done a million times before. Carter leaned back, leaving his puckered lips hanging.

“Oh no,” she pushed him back, making him frown. “You don’t get to touch me until you join Team Tom.”

“Nuh-uh! Team Rafe for life baby,” he crossed his arms to match her stance, recovering quickly, more than used to being rejected by her.

She studied him suspiciously, wondering how quickly he’d crack if she actually withheld their inevitable beach trip hook-up. But he didn’t budge, he was as serious about this as she was.

“Fine,” she said. “The game is so on.”

(Chapter 3)

a/n: so tell me... are we Team Tom or Team Rafe?

please note, the taglist for this series is currently closed. For updates, follow @whytheylosttheirminds-works and turn on notifs 💕

[ahqkas]

Hey! Can you please write headcanons for Bruce, Dick, Jason, Tim where they get jealous when reader ignores them for some other guy? (They haven't confessed to her yet because of their issues) The reader is also very oblivious to their feelings and doesn't understand why they are acting weird around her male friend. Thanks 😘

♯BABY COME HOME 2 ME . . . he’s jealous !! (fem!reader)

BRUCE WAYNE

bruce had perfected the skill of keeping his emotions under wraps, but when he saw you chatting animatedly with clark kent of all the people, his jaw tightened, and his usual stoic demeanor grew even colder. he didn’t say anything outright, but his silence became louder, his responses clipped and curt

he spent an unreasonable amount of time analyzing every interaction you had with the superman. he didn’t want to be jealous, but he couldn’t help dissecting your body language, the tone of your laughter, and how often you glanced in clark’s direction. the world’s greatest detective is undone by a simple smile exchanged between you and the man of steel

so he started subtly trying to one-up clark whenever you were around. If clark complimented your choice of book, bruce casually mentioned that he had donated an entire library to that author’s hometown. if clark suggested grabbing coffee, bruce offered to fly you to paris for the best croissant you’ve ever had (competitive much)

he became strangely territorial, appearing wherever you and clark happened to be. need help with research? bruce suddenly has all the resources at his disposal. want to attend a charity event? bruce personally invites you as his guest. his subtle possessiveness confused you, but he waved it off with a dismissive, “i was in the area.”

despite being oblivious, clark catches on pretty quickly. he teases bruce about his attitude, whispering, “you know, she’s just being friendly,” during a team meeting. bruce’s only response is an icy glare, but inside, he’s frustrated that even clark can see what he won’t admit

bruce started making dry, sarcastic remarks when clark’s name came up in conversation. when you mentioned how nice clark is, bruce grumbled, “nice? sure. but can he solve an international financial crisis in a single night?” you think he’s joking, but that man is 100% serious.

DICK GRAYSON

dick prides himself on being the laid-back, easygoing friend, but when he sees you laughing at one of wally’s cheesy jokes, something tightens in his chest. his usual smile falters for a fraction of a second before he forces it back into place. you don’t notice, but wally does, smirking knowingly

he starts teasing wally in a way that’s just a bit sharper than usual. “wow, wally, that story gets funnier every time you tell it,” he says with a smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes. you laugh along, oblivious, but wally raises an eyebrow, clearly enjoying dick’s discomfort

he becomes oddly competitive, especially when wally’s abilities are involved. if wally races ahead to grab you something, dick will casually say, “sure, he’s fast, but can he do this?” before doing some ridiculously impressive flip that leaves you clapping. he’ll shrug it off like it’s nothing, but he’s secretly watching to see if you’re impressed

dick starts overthinking every little interaction. did you laugh harder at wally’s joke than at his? does wally text you more often? he gets caught up in his own insecurities, wondering if maybe wally is a better fit for you—someone fun and carefree, without the baggage he carries

wally, ever the troublemaker, starts leaning into the situation. he’ll throw an arm around your shoulder or wink at dick while you’re not looking, just to see how far he can push him. dick plays it off with a tight smile, but his fingers twitch as if he’s resisting the urge to yank wally’s hand away from you

at some point, wally corners dick with a smug grin, saying, “so, when are you going to tell her?” dick tries to deny it, but wally isn’t fooled. “come on, grayson. she’s oblivious, not blind. well, actually, she is blind to you, but that’s your fault.” dick groans, knowing wally won’t let it go, ever

later when you two actually get together, wally makes sure to get in the last word, casually saying, “took you long enough, grayson. you’re lucky i’m such a good wingman.” dick rolls his eyes, but for once, he doesn’t argue

JASON TODD

jason is naturally broody, but when he sees you laughing at one of roy’s jokes or leaning closer to hear him better, his usual scowl deepens. his arms cross tighter, his jaw clenches, and his responses become more gruff and sarcastic. you think he’s just annoyed in general, but roy knows better

he doesn’t want to feel jealous of roy—roy’s his best friend, after all—but he can’t help it. he knows his friend is charming and easygoing, and it eats at him that you seem to enjoy roy’s company more than his. he hates himself for the bitterness, but he hates how much he cares even more

he starts pulling away, telling himself it’s better to let you be happy than to deal with these feelings. he’ll find excuses to leave the room when you and roy are hanging out, claiming he has “important red hood business” or muttering, “you two don’t need me hanging around.” his absence feels colder than his usual aloofness :((

jason tries to compete with roy’s charm in his own way. he’ll offer to help you with things before roy gets the chance—fixing something in your apartment, teaching you how to defend yourself, or lending you his jacket when it’s cold. his gestures are quieter but filled with meaning, though you only see them as jason being his usual protective self

roy catches on to jason’s jealousy almost immediately and starts poking the bear. he’ll intentionally sit a little closer to you or tell stories that paint himself as the hero. jason’s glare darkens every time, and roy smirks like he’s won some unspoken game

his friend eventually pulls him aside, half-teasing, half-serious. “you’re going to scare her off if you keep growling like that, jaybird,” he says with a grin. jason denies it, grumbling, “she doesn’t feel that way about me, so what does it matter?” roy shakes his head, muttering, “you’re hopeless,” but decides to give you two some space

“took you long enough. it was written all over jaybird’s face.”

TIM DRAKE

tim isn’t the type to show his jealousy outwardly, so at first, he tries to brush it off. he tells himself he’s being irrational, but every time he sees you smiling at conner or laughing at one of his jokes, it’s like a knife twisting in his chest. he sits there, silently sipping his coffee, pretending it doesn’t bother him

instead of confronting his feelings, tim buries himself in work. whenever you and conner are together, tim conveniently has “important research” or “a mission to plan.” he thinks distancing himself will help, but in reality, he’s just overthinking the situation in the safety of the batcave monitors

tim’s usual polite demeanor starts to crack, and he can’t help throwing in a few passive-aggressive comments. if vonner makes a lighthearted joke about being a hero, tim mutters under his breath, “yeah, because we didn’t already know how amazing you are, conner.” you laugh, thinking tim’s just being witty, while conner gives him a confused side-eye

when you and conner are deep in conversation, tim randomly interjects with obscure facts or strategic insights to redirect your focus. “did you know the alignment of the stars tonight is perfect for an alien incursion? just saying.” you smile and ask him to elaborate, giving him a brief moment of relief that he has your attention again

conner, being tim’s best friend, catches on pretty quickly. he notices the way tim’s eyes linger on you a little too long or how his voice drops when you mention conner’s name. instead of teasing him outright, conner starts backing off slightly, giving tim room to shine

you start noticing tim’s strange behavior—his avoidance, his sudden snarky remarks about conner—and ask him what’s wrong. he insists it’s “nothing,” but the crack in his voice gives him away. still, he’s too guarded to admit what’s really bothering him

later after tim’s confession, conner gives him a playful nudge and a knowing grin. “see? told you she’d feel the same way. maybe now you’ll stop staring at her like a lost puppy.” tim groans, muttering something about how conner’s the real puppy, but he’s secretly relieved—and grateful—that his best friend had his back

after your heart-to-heart, tim’s confidence starts to grow. he’s still awkward at times, but he’s more willing to share how he feels, even if it’s in small, thoughtful gestures. and when conner teases him about finally making a move, tim just smirks, knowing he’s the one who has your heart

ADDITIONAL NOTE! if you like my work, please consider reblogging and / or commenting !! thank you if you do 🤍

[lymtw]

"Come here," Toji says, at the sight of the involuntary pout that works wonders to express your internal, dispirited mood. His attention is divided very unevenly between you and the movie playing on the TV, you holding the greater part of his focus. He's watching you for his own peace of mind, hoping that every time you take a break from the movie, to check your phone, you'll spare him a look. You've been quieter than he knows you to be, and you're not sitting even remotely close to him. He's on one side of the couch and you're on the other side.

A few seconds pass since Toji spoke up, and he wonders if you even heard him in the first place, because you didn't respond. He passes on repeating himself when you shift your eyes from the TV to meet his gaze, and though your gloominess isn't because of him, you can't offer him any sort of indication that you're good.

"Sorry, i'm not in the mood to take my clothes off, Toji," you say, your voice a gentle, pitiful excuse for sound. If your voice could be seen, it would be similar to the tragic way that grass blades slowly try to stand up, after being stepped on. If the sound of your voice could be felt, it would be the void-like, almost nauseating feeling in your stomach, that comes with ignored hunger. You sound detached from the bright person Toji knows, and clearly, you're not okay.

"I'm not asking you to undress yourself. I want you to come to me," Toji responds. "You're sitting so far over there, away from me, like I did something to you. For being the most reasonable person I know, this isn't fair, at all." His eyes stay on you as he awaits your response, but he is only met with the sight of you looking down at your hands.

"Be fair. You didn't help me get better at communicating, just to turn the tables on me like this." His tone is sharper, out of urgency. He wants to know what he can do for you, but it's hard to do that when you're there, yet, not there. "Just... come here, ma," Toji tries again, his voice a little softer and understanding. "Please. Let's talk about anything." He pats his thigh, directing you to one of the reserved spots he holds for intimate conversations with you.

You know Toji's stubbornness will not leave you alone. It's impossible to hide anything from him once he's onto you, so you stop prolonging the inevitable and silently do as he says.

You turn off the TV, before walking over to him and settling on his lap. You sit there, with a racing heart, because Toji's attention feels like a spotlight on you. His hands interlock at the small of your back and rest there, as he waits for you to say something. Silence invades the moment while you figure out where to start.

"What's wrong?" He asks, when there is no attempt to speak made by you. Immediately, your throat begins to ache, and your eyes start to sting. It's a question known for breaking people, and you're on the brink of becoming another victim. You think you can widen your eyes to keep them dry or blink away the tears, but the outcome doesn't favor you. Toji's hands shift so that they're splayed out on your lower back. They move up and down in soothing motions, as if he's trying to coax your strong emotions out with the comforting gesture. Like a gloomy sky finally giving in to rain, you cave in to vulnerability.

"Baby?" Toji calls, watching as sadness takes over your features. He sighs as he pulls your twinkly-eyed self into his tight embrace. He hates when you cry. The sound and the sight is the equivalent of pouring acid on his heart. It's torture for him to see that his baby, his sweetheart, his love, has been reduced to streams of tears, but he knows that getting it all out is for your own good. This is the 'alcohol in the wound' part of the process. You don't want to do it, but you'll feel better, afterwards. Just like a real physical wound, Toji will make you get it done. Scream if you must, curl into him like you are trying to go through him, he's not going to abandon you.

"Just breathe, sweet girl," he instructs, when he hears the heart wrenching sound of your stuttered breaths. "Breathe. Give me a good one," he says, rubbing your upper back. You inhale, the act still heavily stuttered, before you exhale. "Good. Again." You repeat the process and get the same trembling breath as a result.

"Fuck," you choke out. Your head feels like it's pulsing, your abdomen burns, your chest feels heavy, as if you have chains tightly wrapped around your torso, and your throat aches. It's all so overwhelming, you feel like there's a disastrous storm ruining you from within.

"Sweetheart, please breathe. You're gonna turn blue any minute now." Toji can't hold you any tighter without crushing you, but he wants to, so badly. This is the lowest he's ever seen you and it's killing him. He has never made you this upset. It's hell to even imagine what you must have endured to get to this point.

"You're safe. I have you," he says, bringing a hand up to cradle the back of your head. "I'm here, baby."

Toji's shoulder is damp from your waterfalls of tears and he can feel an excessive amount of heat radiating from your trembling body. Your crying ceases and all that can be heard are sharp, short inhales and puffs of air, as you try to regulate your breathing. Toji continues running his hands over your back, soothing the tired, tense muscles of your shoulder blades.

"We are gonna have to talk about this later, doll. I know that might not sound like the most fun thing to do, but it'll make you feel better. I want you to feel better."

Toji is mindful of your silence. He knows your voice isn't in the best condition to speak after your surge of emotions, and you're probably exhausted, but this isn't a dead end for him. He'll figure out your needs, and he'll take care of you. Anything to bring your happy, smiling face, back.

Toji allows you to pull away from his shoulder, and instantly takes in the sight of your pretty, ruined face. You don't look at him, and he assumes that your appearance is to blame. Your eyes, they're red and puffy, glimmering in the light with your now contained feelings, and you're still sniffing like you need to blow your nose. It's terrible to see you this way, but he would withstand much more than this, if you needed it.

"How does a bath sound, for now? A bath and then some food? You hungry, mama?" He asks, his expression involuntarily soft, as he runs the pads of his thumbs beneath your eyes, attempting to clean you up a little.

"No," you say, quietly, with the fragility that remains of your voice.

"I'm gonna pick up some food while you relax." Toji almost laughs at the subtle roll of your eyes. "That's my bad. I shouldn't have asked in the first place. You need to eat something."

He doesn't want to put you through any more stress, but when he needs to take care of you, during times like this, he knows what you need more than you do. Your reasoning is clouded by your emotions, and you'll let go of yourself, because your thoughts rewind over and over to what's plaguing your mind. Toji knows you'll be glad he did this for you when you feel better.

"Let's get that bath ready," he says, securing your legs around his waist, before he stands up from the couch. Your face is buried in the crook of his neck, and you breathe in his scent, until you reach the bathroom.

Toji flicks the light on and sets you down on the counter. A chaste kiss is pressed to your tearstained cheek, before he lets you go so he can prepare your bath. You turn your head to look at yourself in the mirror and hate the messy sight before you—the product of your meltdown. You turn on the cold water and splash some on your face, hoping to decrease the puffiness of your eyes, even just a little bit, while Toji is busy. You dry your face afterwards and check your appearance in the mirror, again, to clean up any remaining gunk in your eyes.

When you finish, you turn back, just in time to watch Toji rise from his knelt position by the bathtub. He makes his way back to you and stands between your legs, offering you a contemplative look, and a "hm" to go along with it. No words are exchanged when his hand reaches out to gently cup your jaw, allowing him to turn your head in any way he wants. He leans forward to examine you more closely, to check if anything is "broken". He can see you pressing your lips together, trying not to laugh, as he continues to snoop around.

"Oh," he says, like he found a cable that has simply been disconnected. He turns your head a little, and keeps inspecting the problematic area, building up the suspense for you. You couldn't say it, but him finding something scared you a little, considering you had just looked at your reflection and didn't see anything.

"Don't move, doll. I'll get it." His hand rests on your shoulder, the other on your thigh, as he leans in closer and closer, until his body heat coils around you. He presses a kiss to the side of your neck. It's featherlight, almost like a gentle breeze. Another one lands on the same area, then another, and another, until he hears your little laugh, a sound that brought both of you mutual relief. Your relief came from understanding that Toji didn't actually find anything off, while Toji's came from the miracle of him being able to make you laugh, after what went down not that long ago.

"Two seconds, ma," he says, beneath your ear. He pulls away from you and goes back to the now foam covered, sweet smelling bathtub. He leans down to turn the faucet off, and returns to you, afterwards.

"It's all ready for you," he says. A smile curls on his lips when you raise your arms, signaling for him to pull your shirt off. "You wanna keep your bra and underwear on?" He asks, as he pulls the hem of your shirt up. You nod, just before the material goes over your head. He sets it aside and helps you down, off the counter, so you can take your sweatpants off. You pull your phone out of your pocket and set it on the counter. Your fingers hook into the waistband of your sweatpants and tug downwards, until they just slide down your legs and allow you to step out of them.

Toji watches you carefully step over the edge of the tub, one foot sinking through the foam and into the warm water, followed by your other foot. You crouch down, slowly, until you are able to sit down and eventually lay back. You close your eyes once you're in a comfortable position and just let the warm water and the pretty smell work its magic on you.

Toji kneels beside you, and observes you in a more serious manner than before. His gaze lingers on those tired eyes of yours, for longer than any of your other facial features. Your eyelids are still swollen and the bags beneath your eyes are prominent. The longer he stares, the more he thinks back to how you were so distressed, to the point where you forgot how to breathe for a few seconds. It scared him. He didn't get a single word about what was wrong, from you. You couldn't say anything other than that single curse, but even then, you sounded like you were being strangled by your own emotions.

Toji knows this is only a temporary fix— this calm sight of you resting in a bubble bath. Your feelings won't be swept under the rug, because he knows that if it were him going through this exact situation, you wouldn't just give him a hug and call it a day. No, when you take care of his mind and heart, you hold him in your arms and don't let go until he's the one trying to cage himself in your embrace when your arms loosen around him. You keep your voice at an intimate volume as you tell him about your day, because sometimes he isn't immediately ready to talk about what is bothering him, but he still wants to hear you. You cook for him, you give his tired body massages, you shower him with love and affection, and when he's finally ready to tell you what's going on, you listen closely to everything he has to say and you offer him your utmost support. You love and protect him to no end, and he has become shamelessly clingy towards you, because of it.

He wants you to feel as loved as he does. He wants you to know what it's like to experience the same level of care you give him. He may not be able to replicate it to a T, but he's willing to try for you.

"Hey," Toji calls, tenderly running the knuckle of his index finger back and forth, over your cheek. You hum, and blink open your eyes, giving him your attention. "I'm gonna go get us some food. Stay on the phone with me and keep me company until I get back, yeah?"

You nod. "Yeah, okay. Can you bring me my phone, please?"

Toji gets back on his feet and takes one large step towards the counter, retrieving your phone, before taking that same step back to leave it next to you, on the edge of the bathtub.

"Be right back, doll. Pick up the phone as soon as I call, okay?"

"Okay."

His hands grip the edge of the bathtub, to prevent him from falling in, as he leans in to peck your cheek once more. His weight shifts onto one arm so he can bring a hand to your face and rub the kiss into your skin with his thumb.

"Love you, ma."

"Love you, too."

With that, Toji stands up straight and heads towards the door. He takes one last look at your pretty face, before exiting the bathroom and closing the door behind him. He grabs his phone from the couch, his keys from the hook on the wall, and messily slides his shoes on, not bothering to put them on correctly, since he won't be getting out of the car, anyways. He secures the inside of the house, before heading out, and once he's outside, he finds his house key and locks the door. He fishes his phone out of his pocket and makes haste of clicking the phone icon, and then your contact, as he keeps walking to the car. His phone is now against his ear, and he listens as the line rings once... twice...

"Hi, Toji."

"Hi, baby."