#and move it baaaaaaack

[ellyehheyhey]

Give me strength to move my computer setup back. I have nothing else going on tonight.

[moonlighttrancee]

i rly fucking wanted us to work out

[prettyfilmz]

SWEET LIKE CANDY 6 • JEY USO

author's note: i'm baaaaaaack! I am so so sorry for the long awaited update, school truly put me through the ringer these past few weeks but thankfully everything is starting to settle down which means more frequent updates!!! part 6 honestly also took so long because I am high key a perfectionist and keep on finding things to add and revise but trust me when I say you are in for a delicious treat. thank you so much for all of your love and support and happy reading my loves☺️💗

synopsis: in which a celebration at the strip club leads to the beginning of a love affair between a wrestler and a dancer.

pairing: jey uso x black fem!oc (cherise dupree aka candy)

tags: 18+ (MDNI) angst, tears, talks of past predatory behaviors, grooming, financial abuse, small bit of violence in the beginning, crashout jey uso™, cherise needs a hug and jey is willing to give her that and more, "I love you", unprotected sex (be smart people!), pussy eating, fingering, praise, love bites, lots of kissing and touching, daddy kink (although very minimal), multiple orgasms, multiple positions, dirty talk, body worship, squirting, creampie, hand holding, aftercare, pet names (baby girl, mama, pretty girl, baby), fluffy aftercare, bubble baths, massages, pillow talk, jey is really taking care of our girl in this one.

word count: 10.6k words

read part one here!

read part two here!

read part three here!

read part four here!

read part five here!

soundtrack playlist

Cherise’s breath hitched.

Her eyes were locked on Jey’s hands. Big, bruised, still clenched tightly around Tremaine’s collar. The man lay crumpled on the gym floor, face swollen, nose bleeding, one eye already purple and nearly shut.

She barely registered Jimmy holding Jey back, the tense lines in his shoulders, the warning in his voice. All she could focus on was Jey’s chest rising and falling, the way his jaw clenched, teeth bared, eyes dark and wild with rage.

She’d seen Jey angry before. Seen him in the ring, all aggression and snarling confidence. Like a lion staking its claim. But this? This was different.

And the craziest part?

It shouldn’t have made her feel this way, shouldn’t have sent heat curling low in her belly, shouldn’t have made her pulse flutter the way it did. But seeing Jey…her Jey…furious, defending her honor like this, looking every bit of the protector she needed?

Fuck.

Something warm and thrilling shivered down her spine, heat blooming in her cheeks.

“Joshua,” she whispered, her voice soft, almost pleading.

Jey’s head snapped up at the sound of her voice. His eyeswild and dark just seconds before softened immediately, flickering with recognition and something else. Something vulnerable.

“Cherise,” he breathed, voice raw.

Her hands shook, fingers instinctively reaching out, brushing his cheek, coaxing his eyes away from Tremaine’s battered, bleeding body and back to her.

“Hey,” she murmured, voice gentler now. “C’mon, baby. Let him go. He ain’t worth it.”

Jey’s jaw clenched, his eyes flickering between her and Tremaine. But her touch, soft and warm against his cheek, seemed to anchor him, seemed to pull him back from the brink. His fingers flexed once, twice, before he finally released his grip with a low, frustrated snarl.

Tremaine crumpled to the floor with a pained groan, curling in on himself.

Jey’s hands were still shaking, his breath coming out in ragged pants. But he didn’t move. Didn’t look away from her. Just stared, eyes dark and tormented, chest heaving, like he was terrified she might vanish if he blinked.

“Come on,” Cherise whispered, threading her fingers through his, tugging him gently back. “We need to talk.”

Jey hesitated, gaze darting between her and Tremaine’s crumpled body. But when she squeezed his hand, soft and sure, he exhaled, shoulders slumping. His fingers tightened around hers, warm and rough and unsteady.

Jimmy and Trinity stood beside one another, with raised brows, glancing between two with a look that screamed “I told you so.”

But Jey just shook his head, muttering something low and dark under his breath before letting Cherise pull him towards the door.

♡

The drive back to her apartment was quiet.

Not the sharp, suffocating silence from before but something softer, laden with unspoken words and stolen glances. Cherise’s fingers twisted in the sleeves of Jey’s hoodie, the one she’d swiped weeks ago, still smelling faintly like him.

Jey’s knuckles were raw and bruised, gripping the steering wheel in a tight vice. His bottom lip busted from one of Tremaine’s desperate swings, split on one side, a smear of crimson painting the curve of his mouth.

But he didn’t seem to notice or care. Didn’t flinch. His eyes stayed fixed on the road, but every few minutes, they flickered to her—quick, worried, aching.

Cherise’s chest tightened.

She hadn’t meant for this to happen. Hadn’t meant for Jey to get involved, to see the ugliest, most broken parts of her past. Hadn’t meant for him to bleed for her.

But God, the way he’d fought without hesitation, without mercy just because someone had dared to hurt her?

That did something dangerous to her heart.

She exhaled shakily, staring at her hands. “You’re bleeding,” she mumbled, voice small.

Jey’s eyes flicked to her, brows furrowing. “Ain’t nothin’, mama,” he muttered, but his voice was softer now, less rough around the edges.

Cherise bit her lip, fingers twisting tighter in the sleeves of his hoodie. “Let me take care of it,” she whispered.

Jey hesitated, jaw flexing. But then he exhaled, shoulders sagging.

“…Aight, baby girl.”

♡

Jey didn’t want to sit down.

In fact, he seemed more interested in pacing laps around her living room, shoulders bunched tight with restless energy, every few seconds running a hand over his face and scowling at the floor like it had personally wronged him.

Cherise watched him from the couch, her legs tucked beneath her, with a look of concern. Her eyes flickered to his busted lip, the bruise darkening on his cheek, and guilt twisted sharp in her stomach.

“You’re gonna reopen it if you keep doing that,” she muttered quietly, her voice soft.

Jey paused mid-step, turning to look at her, brows furrowing. “Huh?”

She gestured to his mouth, teeth sinking into her bottom lip. “You keep licking it. You’re gonna make it worse.”

He blinked, like he hadn’t even realized he was doing it, then huffed, scowl deepening. “Ain’t nothin’. I’m fine.”

Cherise rolled her eyes. “Sit down.”

“Cherise.”

“Joshua.”

Jey’s jaw clenched. But then he sighed, grumbling under his breath, and finally, finally, dropped onto the couch beside her, knees spread, arms folded over his chest.

She bit back a smile, scooting a little closer, fingers twitching nervously in her lap. “Lemme see.”

“I said I’m fine, baby,” he muttered, though the way his eyes flickered to her lips said otherwise.

“Stop bein’ stubborn,” she huffed, cupping his jaw and turning his face gently towards her.

He froze, eyes going wide, breath hitching. And for a second, just a split second, his eyes dipped to her mouth, and Cherise’s pulse skipped.

Focus.

She leaned in, her thumb brushing carefully over his split lip, brow furrowing at the way he winced. “You’re not fine, dumbass,” she muttered softly. “This is gonna need peroxide.”

Jey snorted. “I had worse.”

“Don’t care,” she mumbled, rising to grab her first aid kit. “Sit still.”

Jey didn’t move when she walked back in.

Didn’t speak.

Just sat there, elbows on his thighs, jaw tight as his fingers laced together, bouncing anxiously. His entire body was still humming with leftover adrenaline. He could feel it in the twitch of his fists, the tightness in his chest, the ringing silence left in Tremaine’s wake.

And Cherise?

Cherise looked like she was about to cry again.

Not like earlier. Not like at the gym, when she’d rushed into the room like a woman possessed, like she was scared of what he might do. This was different. Softer. Quieter. Like something inside her had finally cracked open, and she didn’t know how to hold the pieces together anymore.

She knelt between his knees, first aid kit in her lap, and let her fingers brush gently under his chin.

“C’mere.”

Jey blinked down at her. “I said I’m—”

“If you say you’re fine one more time, Joshua…” Her voice was low, shaky, but laced with that same fire he always adored. “I swear to God, I will slap the lip off your face myself.”

He smirked. “Damn. You nursin’ me or threatenin’ me?”

“Both.”

“Soundin’ real toxic, mama.”

She rolled her eyes, but the tiniest curve tugged at her mouth. “You seem to like it though.”

“Mhmm.” His voice was low, but his eyes never left hers. “I do.”

Cherise swallowed hard and turned her attention to his lip. The cut was small but deep, split open just on the right side, already swelling. A small bruise was blooming along his cheekbone, and there was dried blood at the corner of his mouth.

She hated it.

Hated knowing it was her fault he was like this.

“This gon’ sting,” she whispered.

“I’m good.”

“You always say that,” she muttered, dabbing the antiseptic on a cotton pad.

And when it touched the fragile skin, he flinched just a little.

Her brows drew together. “See?”

Jey grunted, his shoulders twitching. “Aight, you was right. That shit burn.”

“Mm. That’s what you get,” she murmured, her voice smaller now. “Stupid.”

Jey huffed a quiet laugh, watching her. His gaze flickered over her face, her lashes, the crease in her brows, the tension in her jaw. Her lips were tight, pressed together like she was holding something in. Like she was trying not to cry.

“You okay, mama?” he asked quietly.

Cherise didn’t answer.

She just kept cleaning, her fingers gentle, careful, brushing beneath his jaw, her eyes focused on anything but him.

Jey reached up, stilling her hand. “Cherise.”

She swallowed hard.

He used her name. Not Candy. Not some nickname of endearment. Just…her. And it hit something deep in her chest, something raw and old and broken.

“I’m okay,” she said quietly, dabbing the cotton against the busted corner of his lip once more.

He winced, but didn’t move.

“Lyin’,” he muttered.

She let out a soft breath. “Yeah. Kinda.”

He didn’t push. Just let her tend to him in silence, his hands resting on her thighs for balance, fingers splayed wide, warm and grounding.

"You really went after him," she whispered after a beat, her eyes flicking up to meet his. "You didn’t even hesitate."

Jey’s jaw clenched. “I told you. I ain’t lettin’ nobody play wit’ you like that.”

Her hand stilled. “You coulda got arrested, Joshua. You could’ve—he could press charges.”

“Let him,” he said, voice sharp. “Let that bitch press somethin’. He won’t walk straight for a month. I’ll take that case proud.”

Cherise gave him a look, half stern, half…helplessly soft. Because under all that fire, all that fury, was something real. Something hers.

"You didn’t have to do all that."

“Yes I did.” His voice dropped lower. “You ain’t see your face, Cherise. When you saw him. The way you froze up. The way you damn near disappeared on me in real time.”

She looked down.

“Baby,” he murmured, grasped her free hand. “What did he do to you?”

Her breath hitched.

“I ain’t askin’ to poke around in your pain,” he said gently. “I’m askin’ ‘cause I want you to let me hold some of it.”

Cherise’s throat closed.

She looked up at him, really looked, and saw nothing but sincerity. Kindness. Patience.

And love, maybe.

Even if he hadn’t said it yet.

Her hand trembled in his. “He…he made me hate myself.”

Jey’s gaze didn’t waver. “Tell me, mama.”

Her hands dropped to her lap.

She sat back, still on her knees between his legs, and stared at the floor for a long moment. When she finally spoke, her voice was barely above a whisper.

“I was eighteen,” she said quietly. “Young. Dumb. Thought I knew everything. And Tremaine…he was older. Charming. Said all the right things.”

Jey’s fingers tightened slightly on her thigh, but he said nothing.

“He used to buy me things. Clothes, food, let me crash at his place when I didn’t wanna go home. Told me he believed in me. That he wanted to help me get into nursing school after I graduated college. That I was special.”

Her voice cracked.

“But I wasn’t special. Not to him. I was just moldable.”

Jey’s jaw clenched. She saw it from the corner of her eye.

“He’s the one who put the idea of dancing in my head,” she said. “Told me it was empowering. Told me it would help me pay for school, give me control over my own life and I trusted him.”

Jey brushed his thumb along her thigh, slow, reassuring.

“But it was never really mine. He chose the name. Candy.” Her lip curled, disgusted.

Jey lifted a brow. “Why that?”

“I used to keep candy in my purse.” She glanced up, her eyes glassy but dry. “When I was little. I’d have very bad anxiety. Couldn’t sleep, couldn’t eat, couldn’t breathe. So my dad used to buy me these lil’ peppermints. Said if I started panickin’, I should take one. Focus on the taste. Let it ground me.” She paused, her voice hitching. “It was stupid, but it helped.”

Jey nodded and let her continue.

“After he died, I started keepin’ ‘em with me everywhere. Even now, I still got some in my bag.” Her voice cracked. “It made me feel safe, I guess. Like…like I could control somethin’. Like maybe I wouldn’t spiral if I had somethin’ sweet on my tongue.”

Her voice hardened a little as she let herself finally unpack the baggage she held onto for years. “I told him about the candies one night—dumb, I know—and next thing I know, I show up to the club for my first shift and he’s like, ‘Yo, Candy. That’s your name now.’” Her mouth twisted. “Candy sounded like temptation. Like somethin’ you ain’t supposed to have. Somethin’ sweet you suck on. His words, not mine.”

Jey’s jaw ticked.

Cherise looked down at her hands. “I hated it. Hated how easy it was to let him talk me into everything. ‘You got a pretty face, baby. That’s money right there.’ ‘You don’t gotta do nothin’ you don’t wanna do.’ ‘It’s just dancin’, Cherise. You ain’t fuckin’ nobody.’” Her voice turned bitter. “But it was never just dancin’. Not to him.”

Jey leaned forward slowly, elbows resting on his knees, his hands coming to rest gently on her thighs.

“He made you feel like you didn’t have a choice,” Jey said softly. His voice low and sure, as his fingers stayed wrapped around her thighs like he was trying to keep her grounded. To keep her here.

Cherise nodded slowly, her throat tight. “He ain’t just made me feel like it… He took my choices. Like they were his to begin with.”

She paused, her nails digging gently into her palms. “He used to do this thing where he called me by my name when I did somethin’ he didn’t like, and Candy when I was what he needed me to be.”

Her lips twisted.

“After a while, I stopped even hearing Cherise. Felt like…she ain’t even exist no more. Like she died the day my mom did.”

Jey’s expression looked pained at the sentence.

Cherise scoffed to herself. “Yeah. That’s what he said too. Said Cherise was too soft and scared. Said Candy was the one who knew how to survive.”

Jey’s jaw flexed tightly. Almost as if he has the urge to run out and hunt the bastard down for round two.

“And the worst part is?” she said, her voice cracking. “I started believing him. I started separating the two in my head like I had to kill off the soft part of me just to make it out. Like my mother didn’t die bringing me into this world, so I could fuckin’ live in it.”

Her vision blurred again, her breathing shallow.

“And then that party…” Her voice was a whisper now, barely there. “That was when I realized I was just a prop to him.”

Jey leaned forward, his hands sliding gently up her thighs, grasping onto one of her hands, waiting patiently.

“He invited me out like we was goin’ somewhere fancy—told me to wear somethin’ cute, somethin’ tight. Like it was a lil’ dinner date. Said he wanted to treat me for being good.”

Jey’s expression darkened.

“I showed up lookin’ nice. Real nice. Hair pressed and curled, heels on, this red dress I bought with the tips I hid from him.” She laughed bitterly. “And I walk in with him to this suite in Buckhead… and it’s a fuckin’ bachelor party.”

She paused.

“My name was already on the damn flyer.”

Jey blinked. “Flyer?”

“They printed flyers, Jey. My face. My stage name. ‘Special guest: Candy.’ And he never told me. Never asked. Just… threw me to the wolves. Gave me a g-string and a bottle of liquor and told me to make him look good.”

Her throat bobbed. She could barely speak now.

“I ain’t never felt that small in my life,” she whispered. “They was shoutin’, laughin’, throwin’ money before I even touched the pole. One of his boys grabbed me…like full on grabbed me and Tremaine just stood there. Watchin’. Smilin’ like he was bein’ turned on by me being uncomfortable.”

Cherise didn’t notice the way her voice cracked. The way her face crumpled. The way the first tear slipped down her cheek until it landed right on his thigh. “And when I decided to leave him for good, He ran off with all of my money. Every dollar I was savin’ for school. He claimed I ‘owed’ him. That it was his severance package or some dumb shit.”

“I’m twenty eight and I’m still trying to pull my eighteen year old self out of that room. And I never got to tell my story. People just assumed I was fast. That I liked it. But I was groomed, Jey. I was a kid.”

The last word broke something inside her.

And maybe it was the way he stayed so still.

Maybe it was the way his hand didn’t leave hers, or the way his thumb brushed over her knuckles, slow and soft.

He rested his forehead against hers, his hands gripping her thighs.

“I’m sorry, Cherise” he whispered, voice raw. “I’m so fuckin’ sorry.”

Tears slipped down her cheeks, and this time, she didn’t hide them. She didn’t pull away when Jey leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead, then her temple, then the wet corner of her eye.

“I didn’t let Candy die though,” she whispered. “I remade her.”

She looked up then, her eyes red rimmed but defiant.

“I made her mine.”

“I picked my own outfits. My own music. I stopped dancin’ for money and started dancin’ for control. I started sayin’ no. I made my own schedule. I got selective with my dances, who I gave my energy to. Candy became someone I chose to be. Not someone I had to be to survive.”

Her voice thickened. “You remember that night when we met? And I picked you for VIP?”

Jey nodded slowly.

“I picked you,” she whispered. “Because I saw something soft in your eyes. Not just hunger. You didn’t look at me like I was somethin’ to consume. You looked at me like I was worth bein’ seen.”

“And when I saw you again after all that time,” she murmured, “I thought maybe… just maybe, I could let someone in. Let you in. But then Tremaine showed up.”

Jey’s expression shifted to something dark and protective. “He was at your apartment?”

“He came to my door, Jey,” she whispered. “Three weeks ago. That’s why I pushed you away.”

Jey’s face turned cold, but he didn’t interrupt. He just kept his hand on her skin, like he was holding her safely…grounding her.

“I wanted to believe you were different,” she choked out. “But when he said all that shit…about you just wantin’ what I could give you? It just…it felt too real. Like maybe I was stupid for thinkin’ this could be more.”

“Nah,” Jey said sharply, his voice low and certain. “Never.”

Cherise blinked. “But why?”

Jey pulled back just enough to look her in the eyes.

“You really think I’m that kinda dude?”

Cherise shook her head quickly. “No. I don’t. Not really. I just…I didn’t think someone like you could want someone like me.”

Jey face fell. His voice dropped, low and thick.

“Why not?”

“‘Cause you’re Jey Uso,” she exclaimed. “You’re world tours. You’re stadium lights. You’re championships. And I’m just someone tryin’ to piece her life back together.”

“You not just anything,” he said, his voice a growl. “You are everything. You hear me?”

Cherise blinked almost as if she couldn’t believe what she is hearing.

“I saw you,” he murmured. “From the jump. And you ain’t never had to pick between Candy and Cherise for me. I want all of it, baby girl. Every version of you. The one who smiles soft, and the one who bites back.”

She inhaled shakily, her fingers tightening around his.

“I ain’t just tryna see you naked in the club,” he said, brushing his thumb over her lips, careful of the bruise. “I’m tryna see you in the morning light. In scrubs. With your books all laid out on that little ass coffee table I organized.”

Cherise let out a breathy laugh through the tears, covering her face. “You really did organize my shit…”

“I did.” He smirked gently. “Color-coded and everything which..you welcome.”

She giggled into her hands, her voice watery and broken and warm.

“You paid my tuition,” she whispered, finally letting the words out.

Jey’s smile faltered. He sat back a little, resting his elbows on his knees, eyes still on hers.

“I did.”

“Why?”

He was quiet for a second, chewing on the inside of his cheek.

“Because you deserve it,” he said simply.“It shouldn’t take a miracle or working yourself to death for you to get what you need. You was already fightin’ for it on your own and I just wanted to make it a little easier.”

Cherise’s throat closed. “That’s a lot of money, Jey.”

“I know.”

“You ain’t even tell me.”

“Didn’t want to. It wasn’t about credit, mama. It was about you.” His voice dropped. “All I wanted was to see you win and succeed.”

Her lip trembled, and she reached for him before she could stop herself, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and burying her face in the crook of his neck. He caught her instantly, arms strong around her back, his hands cradling her like she was something precious.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I’m so so sorry, Jey.”

“Nah,” he murmured, pressing his lips to her temple. “You ain’t gotta apologize for protectin’ your peace.”

“I thought I had to do it all alone.”

“You don’t.” His voice was thick, trembling at the edges. “Not no more.”

Cherise sniffled, pulling back just enough to look at him and her eyes dropped to his arm, the butterfly inked on the inside of his bicep.

Her breath caught.

“You put that in the note.”

“I did,” he murmured, eyes on hers. “I knew you’d know it was me.”

Her fingers reached out, tracing the soft lines of the tattoo, her touch feather-light. “Why the butterfly?”

His lips curled.

“Because they survive shit they ain’t supposed to,” he said softly. “They start out as somethin’ small and ugly and stuck, but when it’s time? They grow wings and fly.”

Cherise couldn’t breathe.

Jey leaned in slowly, brushing his forehead to hers, their noses grazing. “You my butterfly, baby.”

Her breath hitched. “Jey…”

“Yes, baby?” he responds, lips ghosting over hers.

“…Please stay.” she whispers against his lips.

Jey didn’t hesitate to capture her lips with his own.

♡

The bedroom was dim.

Quiet.

Soft shadows stretched across the walls, the room smelling faintly like vanilla and her body butter. Cherise’s curls were tied up high, but a few strands had fallen loose around her face. Her cheeks were still flushed, her full lips parted slightly as she watched him from the foot of the bed.

Jey’s eyes raked over her slowly.

From the delicate slope of her shoulders to the curve of her waist under the hoodie, to the thick thighs visible just beneath the hem, bare and gleaming from where she’d been curled against him earlier.

His voice came out low. Rough.

“You sure, mama? We don’t have to-”

She cut him off with a nod. One, slow but sure. “I’m sure. I’m done runnin’.”

He stepped closer, slow and deliberate, lifting a hand to trace the line of her jaw with his thumb. Her skin was warm beneath his touch, eyes fluttering as his palm slid to cup her cheek.

“Aight,” he murmured, dipping his head.

“I’ma take my time then.”

The kiss wasn’t urgent.

It was deep. Slow. All tongue and teeth and soft moans slipping between them as Cherise melted against him.

Her fingers curled into his shirt, tugging him closer until there was no space between their bodies. Just heat and tension and years of wanted to be loved the right way finally unraveling at the seams.

Jey growled low when her hips brushed his, his hands sliding up under the hoodie, palms dragging over soft, bare skin.

“You got nothin’ on under here?” he murmured against her mouth.

“Maybe.”

“Girl…”

His hands roamed higher until they found the curve of her waist, thumbs brushing the sides of her ribs. His breath hitched when he felt the under curve of her breasts which were bare, soft, and warm.

Cherise smirked against his lips. “Listen…I was comfy before I ran out to stop you from killing that man.”

“Seems like you tryna kill me tonight,” Jey muttered, kissing her harder.

She let out a breathless laugh that turned into a gasp as he slid the hoodie up over her head, lifting her arms and dragging it free in one smooth motion.

Then he froze.

Jey’s gaze raked over her bare chest like a man starving.

God, she was beautiful.

Rich brown skin soft and glowing in the lamplight. Full breasts, heavy, topped with deep brown nipples already stiff from anticipation. The soft curve of her belly, the stretch of her waist, the plush of her thighs.

He took a step back just to look.

“You gon’ make me say it again,” he muttered, licking his lips. “Damn, mama.”

Cherise flushed, but didn’t cover herself. Not this time.

Not with the way he was lookin’ at her.

Not when she could see admiration in his eyes.

“I’m nothin’ special,” she whispered.

Jey’s head snapped up.

He stepped forward, slid his arms around her waist, and lifted her onto the edge of the bed like she weighed nothing.

Then he knelt between her thighs and looked up at her with that same focused intensity he gave the first night they met.

“Lemme tell you somethin’,” he said, voice low. “You everything, baby girl. I ain’t never wanted nobody like I want you. You sittin’ up here actin’ like you regular, and I’m out here ready to go to war over you girl.”

Cherise let out a soft laugh but it caught in her throat when his mouth pressed to her chest.

Jey kissed her breast first, soft and slow. His tongue flicked over her nipple, teasing it until it hardened, then he sucked it between his lips, deep and slow, like he wanted to taste every inch.

Cherise gasped, her hand flying to the back of his head.

“J-Joshua…”

“Mmm,” he hummed, switching sides, letting his teeth graze the peak before sucking it again.

The pressure, the heat, the devotion in the way he kissed her made her whole body tighten. Her thighs shifted, hips rolling forward just slightly as he mouthed and licked over the swells of her chest like she was dessert.

“You taste so good, baby,” he murmured, dragging his tongue down her sternum. “So fuckin’ soft. Got me losin’ my mind.”

Cherise whimpered as he laid her back slowly on the mattress, climbing up to hover over her.

His shirt was still on so she tugged it.

“You always got somethin’ to pull off me,” he teased, stripping it in one smooth motion.

And when his shirt dropped to the floor, God, she could have sworn her mouth watered.

The tattoos, the muscle, the sheer weight of him above her. The way the butterfly curled just inside his bicep.

He caught her staring.

“You still thinkin’ ‘bout that note?”

She nodded.

“I ain’t write that just to be cute,” he said softly. “I wrote it ‘cause it’s real. You really do deserve all this. You deserve me takin’ my time wit’ you. You deserve to be held right.”

He dipped his head, lips brushing her jaw.

“Kissed right.”

Down her neck.

“Tasted right.”

His tongue traced her collarbone, slow, teasing.

“Loved right.”

Cherise’s body arched as he pressed his lips lower.

Jey’s mouth dragged down the soft slope of her belly, his hands spreading wide over the plush of her thighs, his palms so big they made her look even softer beneath him.

Cherise trembled.

The cool air kissed over her damp skin, every inch of her buzzing from the slow trail of his kisses. She could feel his breath ghosting over the waistband of her panties . The delicate lace in deep red, damp in the center from how long she’d been aching for him.

Jey’s fingers slid under the waistband, and he looked up at her. Controlled. Focused. Dangerous.

“You want this off, baby?” he murmured, voice low and full of promise.

Cherise nodded, but he didn’t move.

“Use them words, pretty girl.”

Her breath caught. “Yes. Please.”

“Mmm.” Jey’s smirk deepened, and he tugged the lace down her thighs slow, like he was unwrapping a gift he’d waited too long to open.

And when he saw her?

Spread open, glistening, already soaked for him?

His mouth dropped open like he’d just seen God.

“Shit, mama…” he groaned, dragging two fingers slowly along her folds, collecting the slick there, then rubbing small, gentle circles over her clit. “You already this wet for me?”

Cherise whimpered, hips twitching.

“I missed you,” she whispered.

Jey chuckled darkly, leaning in, his lips brushing over her inner thigh. “Say less.”

Then he lowered his mouth to her.

The first stroke of his tongue was slow and deep. Cherise gasped, her thighs flexing instinctively around his head, but Jey didn’t stop. He just gripped her hips tighter, holding her in place as he devoured her.

Long, lazy licks through her velvety folds, flicks of his tongue over her clit, then back down again, teasing her open, tasting her like it was his purpose of living .

“F-fuck…” she moaned, her head tipping back against the pillows.

He was relentless. Every flick of his tongue was intentional. Every moan he pulled from her was earned.

And he loved every second of it.

“Mm,” Jey hummed against her, his voice low and muffled in her heat. “You know how sweet this pussy is, baby? Been dreamin’ about this taste.”

He sucked her clit between his lips, slow and deep.

Cherise cried out, her hips bucking, her fingers flying down to twist in his hair.

Her thighs were trembling now, soft brown skin quivering as pleasure coiled low and hot in her belly.

Jey kept going, flattening his tongue and dragging it up from her dripping entrance to her clit again and again until her whole body was trembling.

Then two thick, long fingers slid inside her at once, curling just right against her walls, stroking her open.

Her back arched off the bed.

“J-Jey!”

“That’s it, mama,” he whispered, his breath hot against her core. “Lemme hear you.”

He fucked her slow with his fingers, his tongue working in tandem. The rhythm deliberate, intoxicating, like he was building her up slow just to watch her fall apart.

Her breath stuttered, chest heaving, her nipples tight and peaked, her curls sticking to her temples.

She was soaked.

The obscene sound of his fingers pumping into her echoed in the room, mixing with her breathy moans, and it made his cock throb in his sweats.

“Oh my God,” she whimpered, her thighs squeezing around his head.

“You close, baby?” he murmured, his lips gliding over her clit. “You gon’ cum for me?”

She nodded helplessly.

But again, he made her say it.

“Tell me.”

“I’m—I’m gonna—” her voice broke into a moan as his tongue circled her clit again. “I’m gonna cum—please don’t stop—”

That was all he needed.

He sucked her clit harder, thrust his fingers deeper and her whole body snapped.

Her back arched, thighs trembling, mouth falling open in a silent cry as the orgasm crashed over her in hot, pulsing waves.

“Fuckfuckfuck—J-Jey, oh my God—”

Her body convulsed around his fingers, soaking his hand, the wet sounds of her release enough to make his eyes roll back in his head.

“That’s my girl,” he groaned, licking her through it, slow and greedy. “That’s it, baby. Lemme taste all of it.”

He didn’t stop until she was squirming, gasping, her body too sensitive to handle the way he worshipped her.

He pressed one last kiss to her clit before pulling back, his mouth and beard shining with her slick.

She blinked up at him, breathless and fucked-out, chest heaving.

Jey smirked, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

“Still think I came back for the pussy?” he rasped.

Cherise could barely speak.

She blinked at him, her chest heaving, curls wild, sweat beading down the curve of her temple. Her skin glowed warm and flushed, her legs still trembling from the orgasm he pulled from her with nothing but that sinful mouth.

And her heart?

Thudding wild in her chest.

He leaned over her slowly, his body caging hers in, and brushed her cheek with the back of his hand.

Her lashes fluttered.

“You good, baby girl?”

She nodded, dazed.

“You sure?”

“Don’t be smug,” she whispered, cheeks flushed.

He grinned.

“I ain’t smug, mama,” he murmured, voice dipping low as he kissed the corner of her mouth, soft and delicate. “I’m in awe.”

Her breath caught.

Because he wasn’t teasing. His voice was thick with sincerity, his eyes warm, lips brushing hers like she was made of glass.

His hands stayed on her the whole time palming her hips, tracing the curve of her ass, gripping her thighs possessively like he couldn’t believe she was real.

She reached for him, hooked her fingers in the waistband of his sweats and whispered, “Take ‘em off,” earning a groan low in his throat.

“Damn, baby. You bossy..”

She smiled, pulling them down slowly, revealing his thick length. Brown, heavy, veined and already leaking at the tip.

“Jey…”

“Yeah?” he rasped, watching her hand wrap around him.

Her thumb slid over the head, collecting the precum, and his breath caught.

“You gon’ let me have a taste?”

He bit his lip. “Eventually.”

“Eventually?” She raised an eyebrow.

“Yeah, baby.” He pulled her hand away gently, flipping her onto her back. “But I gotta be inside you first.”

He lowered himself again, his chest pressed to hers, and slid his hand between her thighs.

Fingers brushed her soaked folds, then guided himself to her entrance.

“You ready, baby?”

She nodded, trembling.

Jey’s mouth brushed her ear.

“Use them words, baby girl.”

“I’m ready,” she breathed.

Jey filled her slow and deep.

The thick head of his dick stretched her open inch by inch, his hips pressing forward with a groan that shook her bones. “Mmmf—fuck, baby girl…”

Cherise’s mouth fell open, her back arching as her fingers scrambled for purchase on his shoulders.

Every nerve in her body lit up.

She’d taken him before but not like this.

Not with this heat in the air. Not with all that tension and desperation simmering beneath the surface. Not after crying in his arms, after spilling her deepest wounds, only for him to look her dead in the eye like she was the most precious thing he ever touched.

And now he was inside her.

Thick. Heavy. Warm.

“Fffffuuuuuck,” she gasped, fingers clawing at his inked back.

Jey chuckled low and dark, his forehead pressed to hers. He pulled back just enough to slam back in, the force making her tits bounce, a sharp moan ripping from her throat.

“Shhh, I got you, baby,” he whispered against her neck, voice low and breathless. “Relax f’me. Just like that. You takin’ me so good.”

He pushed deeper, his hips rolling forward until he was seated all the way in, his heavy length stretching her in that perfect, dizzying way.

Cherise whimpered.

His grip tightened on her hips, holding her in place while he set a rhythm. Every stroke dragged along her walls, thick and slow, the head of his dick tapping her g-spot just right, again and again.

Her thighs clenched around his waist, trying to ground herself. “Oh my god…”

“Yeah,” Jey groaned, holding still for a moment, his forehead pressed to hers. “Feel that, mama? That’s me in this sweet lil’ pussy.”

She whimpered, trying to respond but he caught her mouth in a hot, sloppy kiss, stealing whatever comeback she had on the tip of her tongue.

Tongues colliding and teeth lightly scraping against each other.

She sucked on his bottom lip, then moaned into his mouth as he drove into her again, this time harder, the sound of skin slapping filling the room.

Jey’s chain swung lightly across her chest, catching on her nipple, cold metal teasing her sensitive skin with every pump.

“You hear that?” he panted, cock grinding deep. “That’s you, baby. That’s how fuckin’ wet you are for me.”

Cherise’s legs wrapped around his waist instinctively, trying to pull him deeper, tighter. The stretch was so good, so nasty she could feel the pressure building again, that tight knot coiling low in her belly.

“I missed you,” she moaned, nails dragging down his back.

“I know you did,” Jey rasped, biting her throat. “You act tough, but this pussy been missin’ me.”

His teeth grazed the sweet spot under her jaw, and he sucked hard. A deep, dark bruise bloomed against her neck, and Cherise loved it.

She moaned louder, her hips rolling to meet his strokes, her curls sticking to her face as she lost herself in the rhythm.

“You like that, huh?” he growled, sucking another hickey into her chest. “Like when I mark you up?”

She nodded furiously, breath catching.

“Mmm, fuck, baby…” His lips found her collarbone, dragging hot kisses across it. “Look at you. All that sass and you still foldin’ on me.”

Her hand slapped weakly at his chest. “Shut up…”

He chuckled against her skin. “Say you love it.”

Cherise whimpered, her head buried in his shoulder.

“Say it, baby girl,” he murmured, nipping at her jaw. “Say you love when I fuck you like this.”

She cried out when he rolled his hips hard, hitting that spot inside her that made her legs shake.

“Yes,” she gasped. “Yes, fuck—I-I love it, Jey, I—oooh my god…”

“That’s my girl.” He bit down gently on her throat, leaving a warm, stinging mark behind. “This pussy mine now, huh?”

“Y-yeah..fuck..yes!”

“Yeah it’s mine?”

“It’s yours,” she moaned, back arching, nails digging into his biceps. “God, Jey—fuck!”

He grinned, satisfied.

The sound of skin meeting skin echoed soft and rhythmic through the apartment—his hips grinding into hers in long, deep strokes, dragging moans from her throat she didn’t even know she could make.

Jey kissed her everywhere.

The slope of her nose.

Her cheeks.

Her shoulder.

Her breasts.

He sucked a nipple into his mouth and groaned, tongue circling it slow before giving it a gentle bite.

“You so fuckin’ beautiful, baby,” he muttered between kisses. “Don’t ever let nobody tell you different.”

Cherise whimpered, hands threading through his curls.

“I mean that shit,” he said, his eyes locked on hers. “You hear me?”

She nodded, dazed.

But that wasn’t enough.

“Say it.”

She swallowed hard. “I hear you.”

“Say you believe it.”

“I…” Her throat tightened. “I’m trying.”

He kissed her. Deep. Long.

His tongue slid slow into her mouth, curling against hers as he poured everything he couldn’t say into that kiss. His care, his hunger, his love even if he hadn’t said the word yet.

And when he pulled back?

Her eyes were wet again.

But not from pain.

“I got you, baby girl,” he whispered against her lips. “You ain’t gotta try alone no more. You got me.”

Her heart cracked open.

And this time, when she pulled him back down, the kiss was different.

Desperate. Needy.

Full of emotion neither of them could hide anymore.

He pulled out slow—too slow—and before she could whine, he flipped her effortlessly onto her stomach.

Cherise gasped, bracing herself on her elbows as he dragged her hips up into the air.

“Arch that back for me,” he grunted, slapping her ass hard.

Smack.

She cried out, eyes fluttering.

“That’s it baby, arch it,” he instructed, gripping the back of her neck, forcing her head down while her ass stayed high.

“There you go.”

He slid the tip of his dick through her slick folds, teasing her, tapping against her clit before lining back up. He slid back into her with ease, the new angle hitting different. She screamed silently into the pillow, her fists balling up the sheets as he fucked into her.

Cherise was a mess.

Face down, ass up, hair wild, drool smudging the pillow.

The squelch of wetness and slapping skin was nasty. So nasty she should’ve been embarrassed. But the way he was fucking her? She couldn’t be embarrassed.

He grabbed a handful of her ass and spread her open, watching himself disappear inside her over and over, his dick shiny and soaked in her arousal with a creamy ring around the base.

“Daaamn,” he groaned. “You see this shit, baby?”

She whimpered into the pillow.

Jey chuckled darkly, dragging her hips back into each thrust, deeper, making her thighs quake.

“You ain’t tappin’ out yet, are you?”

“Nuh uh,” she gasped. “Don’t stop. Please..don’t fuckin’ stop.”

He grinned. “That’s my girl.”

He pulled out and flipped her again, this time onto her side. One leg thrown over his shoulder, his hips angled deep, his arm was slung under her neck, holding her close, his other hand working slow, tight circles over her slick, swollen clit. He slid back into her slow, thick and heavy, her walls clenching around him like they missed him even after only seconds apart.

Cherise was a fucking mess.

Breathless, squirming, moaning, her pretty brown skin slick with sweat, her curls a halo of chaos around her flushed face as her hand clutched his forearm, nails biting into his inked skin as she buried her face in the pillow, lips swollen, thighs trembling.

“Ohh my God, Jey…”

He groaned into her neck, biting down gently, kissing the red mark after. “You feel me, baby?”

“Mhm…uh-huh…” she whimpered, voice all breath and heat. “So f-fuckin’ deep…”

Jey dragged his tongue up the column of her throat, fingers never stopping their rhythm, his hips grinding slow, deep strokes that made her cry out with every roll.

"Yeah…that’s it, mama," he murmured, voice low, thick with hunger. "Keep sayin’ it. Let me hear how good this shit feel.”

“I—It feels s-so good,” Cherise whimpered, throwing her head back against the pillow. “Fuck, Jey…”

“You gon’ cum again for me, baby girl?” he rasped, his teeth brushing her earlobe. “You close?”

She nodded desperately, her thighs shaking, her pussy clenching around him, already so sensitive from the last few orgasms he pulled from her.

Jey couldn’t breathe.

Not with Cherise beneath him like this.

Flushed, needy, soft, her thigh wrapped around his waist, her fingers locked tight around his wrist like she was holding on for dear life.

His girl.

His everything.

She was soaking for him. Warm and slick, her pussy pulsing around his dick, her body trembling with every slow roll of his hips. Every deep, steady stroke had her gasping, whining, whimpering like he was inside her soul.

And he gave it to her.

All of him.

Every inch. Every kiss. Every breath.

His forehead pressed to hers, hips grinding deep, their bodies slick with sweat and heat.

She reached up, brushing the curls from his face, her fingers trailing over the scruff lining his jaw.

And then…she said it.

“I love you, Jey.”

Jey froze.

The words didn’t just hit, they detonated.

And she meant it.

He saw it in her eyes.

Big and brown, glistening with tears and bliss, her lips swollen, trembling, her voice wrecked. But there was no fear there. No hesitation. Just her, raw and open beneath him, handing over her heart like she already knew he’d never break it.

His hands flexed on her thighs. His throat worked around the lump suddenly forming there.

“What you just say, baby?” His voice was low and fragile.

Cherise blinked up at him, chest heaving, her voice shaky but solid.

“I love you, Jey,” she whispered again. “I love you.”

Jey’s whole chest caved.

And the he kissed her. Hard. Slow and deep, tongue tangled with hers, his fingers tangled in her curls as his heart practically embedded itself into hers.

"You love me, huh?" he rasped, forehead resting against hers.

She nodded, brushing her nose against his, breath catching.

“Say it again.”

He rolled his hips into her, slow, filthy, every stroke dragging over that sweet spot that made her legs shake.

“I love you,” she moaned, her nails digging into his back.

Jey groaned, lips brushing hers, his heart slamming behind his ribs. “Mmm, yeah, you do.”

He kissed her again.

But this time his hands moved.

Slid up her arms, smooth and commanding, until he caught both wrists and pinned them above her head.

“Say it one more time, mama,” he growled. “Let me hear that shit while I’m deep in this pussy.”

“F-fuck—” she gasped as his hips snapped forward again. “I—I love you, Jey!”

Jey lost it.

“That’s my fuckin’ girl,” he groaned, driving into her harder, deeper, the bed creaking beneath them like it couldn’t take much more.

He wasn’t rough. Not in the slightest. He worshipped her.

He touched her like she was holy, kissed her like he was praying, and fucked her like she was the only woman in the universe.

His hands explored every inch of her skin—dark, warm, golden brown under the soft lamp light, kissed with stretch marks and curves that ruined him. His mouth found the swell of her breasts, dragging his tongue over her nipple before sucking slow, deep, making her arch with a ragged cry.

“J-Jey…” She whined.

He switched sides, licking up a bead of sweat trailing down her cleavage before dragging his tongue over her other nipple, sucking until it was swollen, shiny, his hand kneading the other with slow, greedy palms.

“You feel that, baby?” he whispered, mouth dragging to her neck, where he licked and kissed his way up to the soft spot beneath her ear. He found her hands again, laced their fingers together and held them above her head, pressing them back into the pillows.

“Y-yeah,” she sobbed, breathless.

“Mmm, nah, say it real sweet for me. Tell Daddy what you feelin’.”

“I—I feel you, Jey,” she choked. “I feel you everywhere.”

“Yeah, you do,” he growled. “All in this lil’ pussy, stretchin’ you out, takin’ you so deep. You love that shit, huh?”

“Uh-huh,” she gasped.

“Uh-huh?” he teased, kissing down her jaw, his fingers still tangled with hers, their hands crushed into the pillows above her head.

“Y-yeah,” she whimpered.

His lips brushed behind her ear, breath hot and filthy. “Yeah?”

“Yes, Daddy,” she breathed, voice shaking. Jey groaned, voice low and cracked, eyes wild with lust.

“You so fuckin’ good to me, baby girl,” he whispered, moving their locked hands so he could kiss the inside of her wrist. “So sweet. So perfect. Love this lil’ body. Love this lil’ pussy. I fuckin’ love you, baby.”

Cherise broke.

She shattered in his arms.

Her mouth dropped open in a breathless cry, her thighs shaking violently as her orgasm rolled through her in thick, blinding waves. Her walls clamped down around his dick, milking him, sucking him in deeper, and Jey almost blacked out from how tight she got.

“Fuck,” He cursed low and thick, trying to hold on, trying to breathe through the way her pussy was gripping his dick.

But there was no holding back. Not when she looked at him like that. Not when she told him she loved him.

His pace stuttered, his grip tightening,,“F-fuck, baby,” he groaned, his body jerking as he spilled hot ropes spilled her, deep, thick, and heavy.

Cherise held him tight, arms sliding around his back, pulling him close while he buried his face in her neck, whispering her name like a prayer.

And when it was over, when the aftershocks of their orgasms began to fade and his breath evened out, they stayed tangled up in each other. Jey brushed his thumb down her thigh, then traced slow circles over her wrist where he still held her hand.

His other hand slid across her belly, feeling the faint twitch of aftershocks still rippling through her.

Jey didn’t move right away.

He stayed wrapped around her, holding her like she might float away if he let go, their bodies tangled in damp sheets, hearts still hammering slow and heavy against each other’s chests.

Cherise blinked up at the ceiling, still dazed, her body thrumming from the aftershocks of everything they just did. Her skin was sticky with sweat and slick, her thighs trembling from how hard she’d come. She should’ve felt wrecked. But instead? she just felt…whole.

Jey pressed a lazy, open-mouthed kiss against the curve of her neck, his beard tickling her cheek. Cherise’s eyes fell on him, a slow, tired smile pulling at her lips.

"Hey," she whispered, her voice soft and sweet all at once.

Jey grinned, lazy and lopsided, dimples deep. "Hey, pretty girl."

For a moment, neither of them moved, just…looking.

Taking it in.

Breathing it in.

Then Jey chuckled low in his throat and pressed a kiss to her temple. "C'mon, mama. Let’s get you cleaned up. I done wore you out."

Cherise smiled faintly, the corners of her mouth tugging up. “Mmhmm.”

Jey kissed her forehead, then slowly, carefully, rolled off her, leaving a trail of kisses down her arm. She whimpered quietly at the loss of his warmth, but when she peeked at him through her lashes, he was already standing beside the bed, tugging his boxers back on and stretching his arms above his head, muscles flexing deliciously in the soft light.

Cherise whined softly but let him pull her up into a sitting position.

Her whole body ached in that delicious, used way. Her thighs sore, her core throbbing, her neck and breasts marked with love bites she already knew she was gonna have to cover up for clinicals.

Worth it.

Jey bent down, sliding his arms under her body, lifting her like she weighed nothing. Cherise yelped, smacking his chest lightly. “Boy! I can walk!” Jey just smirked, his gold chain glinting against his chest. “I’on wanna hear that shit. You my girl. I’m carryin’ you.”

Cherise melted.

No point arguing when he said it like that.

She tucked her face into his neck, breathing in the mix of his sweat, his cologne, and something distinctly him. It wrapped around her like a safety blanket.

Jey carried her down the short hall to the bathroom, nudging the door open with his foot.

He set her down gently on the edge of the tub, giving her a quick peck on the lips before crouching down to run the water.

The faucet squeaked a little as he twisted the knobs, steam quickly filling the room. He fiddled with the temperature, letting it get nice and warm but not too hot, just the way she liked it.

“You want bubbles, mama?” he teased, glancing back at her over his shoulder.

Cherise gave him a sleepy, sassy look. “I always want bubbles.”

He chuckled and grabbed the fancy vanilla and honey-scented bubble bath she kept on the counter next to her body scrubs. Poured a generous amount under the running water until the tub filled with thick, fluffy foam. He also dropped in one of her bath bombs, the glittery pink one she never used unless she really needed a self care day.

She watched him in silence, something soft and full tugging at her heart as he moved. Shirtless, sweat still glistening on his brown skin, tattoos flexing over muscle and bone. But it was the care in his movements that did it. The way he tested the water again, adjusted it for her. The way he reached for her towel, fluffed it, and set it near the edge of the tub like he’d always belonged here.

While it filled, Cherise grabbed her phone from the counter and flipped on a playlist. Snoh Aalegra’s voice filled the room, sultry and smooth, fitting the intimacy that bloomed between the two.

Jey turned back to her, reaching out to brush a stray curl from her face, his thumb lingering along her jawline.

“Get in, pretty girl,” he said, voice all soft gravel.

Cherise smiled shyly and climbed into the tub, sinking into the warm water with a content sigh. It lapped up her shoulders, bubbles clinging to her brown skin, and instantly started easing the aches deep in her muscles.

Jey watched her, eyes hungry and tender all at once, like he couldn’t believe she was real.

“Damn, you look good even sittin’ in bubbles,” he muttered, stripping off his boxers and stepping in behind her.

Cherise giggled, wiggling back against his chest once he settled, his legs bracketing her hips, his arms wrapping around her middle.

She leaned her head back against his shoulder, utterly boneless.

They soaked in silence for a few minutes, the water sloshing gently as Jey shifted to press slow, lazy kisses to her damp shoulder, her temple, her cheek.

Then Jey reached for a loofah, soaping it up with slow, deliberate hands. "Let me take care of you, baby," he murmured.

He washed her slowly, starting with her back, dragging the warm cloth in slow circles over her soft skin, pausing to kiss the nape of her neck every now and then. Then her arms, lifting them gently, his big hands squeezing and massaging as he cleaned.

When he got to her chest, he hesitated.

"You trust me?" he murmured low against her ear.

Cherise nodded, breath hitching.

"Good," he said, so soft it made her eyes sting. "Gon’ take my time with you, baby."

He cupped her breasts reverently, sliding the cloth over her nipples, washing them slow and tender, pressing open-mouthed kisses to her collarbone between strokes.

Cherise whimpered, her body arching into his hands.

"Relax, baby,” he whispered, kissing her shoulder. "Just takin’ care of what’s mine."

She melted into him, letting him soap every inch of her—down her thighs, over her knees, between her toes, laughing when he tickled her and groaning when he got too close to her pussy without meaning to.

"Mm-mm," she said, catching his wrist. "We tryin’ to get clean, she’s closed for business.”

Jey chuckled low, licking at the shell of her ear. "You sure, baby? ‘Cause one lil’ moan and I’ma forget what mission we on."

She laughed, leaning back against him fully, feeling his heart beat steady against her back.

“She is closed for business, Joshua," she teased.

He pressed another kiss to her shoulder. "Whatever you say, pretty girl."

He ran his hands over her arms, slow and soothing, tracing the curves he already knew by heart.

“You so beautiful, baby,” he whispered against her skin. “I swear to God.”

Cherise blushed, biting her lip.

Her hand reached up to rest over his, their fingers intertwining lazily beneath the bubbles.

They sat like that, breathing each other in, for what felt like forever.

The music changed ushering in Jodeci. Jey chuckled low in her ear, his chest rumbling against her back. “Ayy, this my shit.”

Cherise laughed softly. “You so old, Jey.”

“Nah, you just a baby, mama. I’m cultured.”

She snorted. “Cultured, my ass.”

He squeezed her gently around the waist, his teeth grazing her shoulder playfully. “Watch your mouth, lil' girl.”

Cherise giggled, wriggling against him, sending ripples across the bath.

“Mmm, you so wild,” he murmured, smiling into her skin. “I love it.”

Her heart skipped.

Even now, even post-orgasm, post-vulnerability, post-everything…he said it so easy.

I love it.

Like loving her was easy and natural.

She turned slightly, enough to see his face, wet hair clinging to his forehead, bubbles sticking to the tribal tattoos on his chest.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

“For what, baby girl?”

“For…caring. For not running. For still being here. Even when I gave you every reason to.”

Jey’s eyes softened, his hand coming up to cradle her jaw gently, thumb brushing across her cheek.

He kissed the curve of her shoulder. “You ain’t never gotta thank me for that.”

Her voice dipped softer. “I was scared you wouldn’t wanna deal with all of it.”

“Baby girl,” he said, his voice gentle but firm. “Ain’t nothin’ you could tell me that would make me walk away. That ain’t how I’m built. Especially not when it’s you.”

Cherise turned slightly in his arms, enough to meet his eyes.

He reached up and brushed her damp curls off her cheek, then tucked a finger under her chin.

“You mine,” he said quietly. “And I don’t mean that in no possessive, weird-ass way. I mean…I choose you. Every version. The soft one, the stubborn one, the hurt one, the healing one. All of you.”

Her chest squeezed.

God, she was so stupid for pushing him away.

Cherise shifted, turning fully in his lap now, straddling his hips in the warm water, bubbles sliding between them.

Jey blinked up at her, his hands instinctively settling on her hips.

“Damn, mama…” he murmured, low and admiring, his gaze sweeping over her. “You tryna start somethin’ now?”

Cherise smiled, shy but sure.

“Nah,” she whispered, brushing her nose against his. “Just…wanna be close to you that’s all.”

Jey groaned softly, pressing his forehead to hers.

“You already are, baby girl. I’m right here.” He tapped her chest, over her heart. “Right here.”

Cherise kissed him.

Soft and slow. Not rushed or desperate. Just themselves.

Jey kissed her back like he had all the time in the world with his hands stroking up and down her back, keeping her close, making her feel wanted, loved, safe.

The bath water sloshed gently around them, bubbles clinging to their bodies, the music playing low in the background.

♡

The bath lingered longer than it should’ve. Neither of them wanted to move. But eventually, the water cooled, and Jey stood first, pulling her up with him and wrapping her in the big white towel he’d grabbed earlier. His hands lingering as he dried her off slowly, like he didn’t want to let go.

He dried himself next, putting on a fresh pair of boxers as Cherise helped him apply some of her unscented body oil on his body. He glanced around at the chaos in the bedroom from the hall—disarayed pillows, wrinkled and damp sheets, the twisted comforter hanging halfway off the bed. “Go sit down, baby. I got the sheets.”

“You sure?” she asked, holding the towel to her chest.

Jey nodded, grabbing her comforter with one hand and pulling the fitted sheet off with the other. “You think I’mma let you lay on sweaty ass sheets after I done wore you out?”

Cherise snorted, watching him tug the corners tight and smooth the fabric out like he’d done it a hundred times before.

“Okay, Mr. Domestic,” she teased, walking past him to grab her body butter from the dresser.

He looked over his shoulder at her, grinning. “Ain’t no way I'm lettin’ my girl sleep in no nasty ass bed. You deserve better than that, mama.”

She doesn’t know how many times she has swooned over something he has said to her already but she guesses this is her 80th time.

Once the sheets were fresh and the pillows were fluffed, Jey patted the mattress.

“Lay down, pretty girl.”

She raised a brow. “For what?”

He took the jar of her body butter from her hands. “’Cause I ain’t done pampering you yet.”

She smiled shyly but obeyed, lying on her stomach on the fresh sheets he’d thrown over the bed.

Jey straddled her thighs, his hands warm and firm as he opened her favorite body butter—the mango-shea one she obsessed over—and scooped out a generous handful.

"You smell so damn good,” he muttered, smoothing it over her back.

Cherise giggled, sighing as his strong hands started kneading into her shoulders.

He found knots she didn’t even know she had, thumbs digging deep into the tension beneath her skin, coaxing it out slow and patient.

“You tense, baby,” he murmured, his thumbs digging into the tight knots along her shoulders.

“Been a rough few weeks,” she mumbled into the pillow.

“I know.” His voice softened. “We gon’ fix that.”

He rubbed slow, deep circles into her shoulders until she was practically purring beneath his hands.

"Mmm, damn, baby," she moaned into the pillow. “I could fall asleep just like this.”

He chuckled, low and pleased. "Jus' tryna make sure you ain’t wakin’ up stiff tomorrow."

He worked his way down—back, the dip of her spine, the swell of her ass—kneading and rubbing and kissing every spot that made her whimper.

"You spoilin’ me," she mumbled sleepily.

"I’m supposed to, baby girl," he murmured, kissing between her shoulder blades. “It’s what you deserve.”

Then, gentle as ever, he flipped her onto her back and started on her front. Collarbones, breasts, arms, even her belly, rubbing the butter into every soft, beautiful inch of her.

When he finally finished, Cherise was boneless and glowing, her skin glistening in the low light, the scent of vanilla and sugar wrapping around her like a blanket.

He wiped his hands clean and pulled her up gently, helping her into one of her bed shirts and a fresh pair of cotton panties.

Then he tugged on his grey sweats and slid into bed beside her, pulling her back against his chest like she was the softest, most precious thing he’d ever touched.

They lay like that for a while, limbs tangled, skin still warm and glowing.

Then Jey mumbled into her curls, “You think I ain’t notice you wearin’ my hoodie earlier, girl?”

Cherise froze, then turned her head slowly. “…What hoodie?”

He bit back a grin. “The one you definitely snatched from me after that first night. I saw it behind your back when I was leaving.”

She groaned, hiding her face in the pillow. “I knew it.”

Jey kissed the back of her head, smirking. “It was cute. Had me feelin’ like I had a girlfriend.”

“Do you?”

“Damn right I do.”

Cherise could feel her cheeks flush against her pillow, she couldn’t even compute a smart remark to say back in her head so she just remained silent but snuggled closer to him.

"Baby girl?"

"Hmm?"

"You free Friday?"

Cherise tilted her head back to look at him. "Why?"

He smiled, slow and sweet. "I’m takin’ you out."

Cherise blinked up at him, heart skipping a few beats. “You serious?”

"I’m serious, Cher," he said, his voice turning a little more earnest. "I wanna do this right wit’ you. You get dressed up, I’ll pull up in a suit lookin’ fly as hell, and I’mma spoil you like you deserve.”

Her heart twisted in the best way.

"You sure you ready for all this?" she teased, lifting a brow. "I’m kinda of a lot." Jey grinned. "I’m ready for all that and then some," He kissed her slow, sweet. "You ain't never gotta doubt it again, pretty girl."

Cherise buried her face in his chest, hiding her stupid, wide-ass smile. "I’d like that," she mumbled. Jey chuckled, squeezing her tighter. "Mmmhmm. Knew you would."

They laid there tangled up, drifting off to sleep the city lights blinking softly outside her window, their future wide open before them.

And for the first time in a long, long time…

Cherise believed it.

Maybe she could have something good.

Maybe she already did and just didn’t know at first.

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Dance to You - Sim Jaeyun

Your boyfriend, Jake, catches you dancing to another group's music

bf!idol!jake x f!reader

fluff, suggestive, established relationship

authors notes: im baaaaaaack. sorry if ur not a deobi, imagine its someone else..

After a long dance rehearsal, Jake decided to come surprise you in your apartment. He pushed the front door open and was greeted by loud music playing from the living room. He set his stuff down by the door and quietly walked into the apartment, searching for you.

He found you standing in the middle of the living room, gaze fixated on the TV. On the screen was your favorite The Boyz music video. To Jake’s surprise, in your free time, you had learned all the choreography to the song, and were currently performing your own concert in the living room, including live vocals. You smiled brightly as you danced, completely caught up in the joy of the moment and blissfully unaware of your boyfriend's presence.

Jake watched with a fond smile on his face. He knew you could dance and sing, but you always tried to keep it from him, since it embarrassed you to perform in front of your idol boyfriend. He loved seeing you enjoy yourself so much, so he kept quiet, hoping you wouldn't notice him.

When the music video ended, you let out a delighted giggle and fell back onto the couch, exhausted from your dance workout. Your chest heaved as you fought to catch your breath. Jake studied you intensely, watching the rise and fall of your chest, admiring you. Slight movement in the corner of your eye caught your attention and you nearly screamed when you realized your boyfriend, Jake, was standing there. 

“Oh my god, how long have you been there?” you yelped, covering your face in embarrassment.

“Long enough to know you like their music more than mine,” Jake pouted, sighing dramatically and looking at you with those puppy eyes. You playfully rolled your eyes at the theatrics he was putting on. 

“Baby. You know that's not true,” you laughed, standing up to greet Jake. Your eyes grazed his figure, strands of hair sticking to his forehead with sweat. He wore a plain t-shirt and sweats, yet he was still more attractive than any other man you had laid eyes on. He managed to look ethereal even after hours of dancing with his band mates. 

“You were just dancing and singing to them, you never dance and sing to me,” Jake whined as he pulled you against him by the waist. His eyes glittered with adoration and a tinge of playfulness. Jake loved to mess with you, and especially loved to whine when you fangirled over other groups. Every time he caught you listening to someone else he would pout and sulk until you were singing his praises again. Jake loved to hear you tell him how much you liked his music.

You laughed at his pouting, “Jake, I sing and dance to you all the time. I promise you're my favorite,” you explained, “no one could ever replace my wonderful boyfriend and his awesome members,” you added as you wrapped your arms around his neck, fingers tangling in the hair on the back of his neck.

Jake broke into a proud smile, chuckling, “Really?”

“Really,” you said, before pulling him into a kiss. He immediately responded, warm hands finding the small of your back and pressing you against him. The kiss was gentle, a small smile forming on your lips. You let out a giggle against Jake’s mouth as he kissed you. 

His lips were soft and intentional, like he had memorized every curve of your mouth and knew exactly how you moved. His touch was different, wandering on your body like he was exploring it, feeling every curve and dip. The kiss quickly became hungry as Jake pulled you impossibly closer to him. He was incessant, kissing you like you were his lifeline. When you pulled away for a breath, Jake attached his lips to your jaw, trailing down your neck. He slowly sucked on your pulse point, nibbling the most sensitive spot and pulling a small whine from your throat.

With a satisfied smile he pulled away, “you’re sweaty from all that dancing,” he teased.

“Says you,” you laughed as you pushed against his chest, t-shirt still damp from the practice he just left.

“Maybe we both need to shower,” Jake suggested, a mischievous glint in his eye. You paused, taking him in for just a second. His heavy breathing and slightly swollen lips from the kiss you shared. He was irresistible, not that you wanted to resist him. 

“Maybe we do,” you breathed. Jake broke into a smile, eyes darkening as he tapped your thigh. You jumped into his arms, wrapping your legs around his waist as he supported you. Jake placed a slow, wet kiss on your collarbone. Without another word he walked you into the bathroom, setting you on the counter and closing the door behind the two of you.

[hugshughes]

Family Dinner C. Loveland

Colston Loveland x fem!Minter!reader

synopsis - The first time Colston meets your family, as your boyfriend.

wc - 3k

contains - unedited for the most part! WAIT. I didn't specify this in the fic but ITS THE READER'S APARTMENT COLSTON'S JUST STAYING OVER!! i was not giving them a shared apartment after dating for three months. set a couple months in the future (not specificccc just needed cause these two get together right after the cfp playoffs so it's like april), cursinggg, kissinggggg, touchingggg, makin outttt, my usuals. GUYS SHE HAD A DORM IN THE FIRST PART NOW SHE HAS AN APARTMENT OKAY????? ITS GONNA BE OKAY. hmmm um i describe the outfit???? like i always do and it's usually not a problem(?) soooo, um i literally think that's it. is minter!daughter!reader a warning?

an - SHESSSSS BAAAAAAACK!!!!!!! could NOT resist and i had the cutestttttttttt requests coming in sooooooo how could i not. this was the cutest thing to write.

-

You groaned as your phone sounded, your scheduled alarm had gone off. Scheduled for 5:30, so when you'd know to start getting ready for dinner at your parents.

Usually it wouldn't really matter, but since tonight was the first time you'd taken Colston home, you wanted to look a little nicer than normal. You shut your alarm off quickly, before turning to look at the boy sleeping next to you.

You crept your hand under his sweatshirt, your palm flat against his warm back as you rubbed back and forth, whispering his name gently.

"Colston, baby, we gotta get ready to go, Lovey."

His eyes squeezed tightly before fluttering open, his long and full lashes leaving a forever pang of jealousy on your heart. He smiled that perfect smile, and you gave one right back to him. He shuffled just a little, moving onto his side before he pulled you closer to him, wrapping his long, strong arms around you.

"Hi baby."

Your heart tripled in size. He sounded sleepy and it was the cutest yet hottest thing you'd ever heard. You let him snuggle into you, laying back on his stomach with his head now on your chest. You raked your nails through his hair, before lightly scratching the back of his neck. The act almost put him right back to sleep, but you gave his hair a gentle tug before it could, causing Colston to look up at you with attitude.

"You gotta get up, at least I gotta get up."

He just ignored you, kissing the concern off your face. His hands layed under your (his) shirt as he now leaned over you. He kissed you long and hard as your hands grasped at his jaw, then neck, then chest, then hair. You pulled him back by your grip in his hair, once again tugging it.

"Y'cant kiss me outta this, Loveland."

"Are you sure?"'

Then he kissed you again, and you almost gave into him as he kissed you so good that your mind just blanked. Oh right, dinner, your family, 7pm. You could tell Colston was stalling partially because he just wanted to kiss, but also partially because he was nervous. Colston didn't like being nervous, but how could he not be? It was his first time seeing your parents in the context of 'girlfriend's mother and father' instead of Coach and Mrs. Coach.

You pulled away after indulging in him just a tad.

"Cole, they already love you, you know that, I know that. My dad might be a bit weird but he's just being a dad. My mom is obsessed with you and me, so she shouldn't cause any problems. And as for the three monsters under the staircase-"

"My top three Minter siblings."

You gasped, before you pushed his face away from yours as a smirk encapsulated it. You let his head lay on your chest before continuing.

"Rude. But anyway, it's been known that they love you. They're probably our biggest supporters. What's our couple name? My sister was wondering."

Colston shook his head, laughing at your baby sister's actions. The kids did love him, they had loved him for way longer than when you began dating. Colston sighed, it would be fine. He started kissing your neck, now just because he wanted to kiss you.

"You cannot go giving me marks right before we see my parents, you psycho."

You could feel him smile into your neck, and you almost told him to do whatever he wanted to you. He was so hot, and he knew how it affected you. For the third time, you ran your fingers through his brown hair and tugged it, this time to get his face away from your neck. He gave you an innocent look, causing you to roll your eyes heavily.

You rolled out from under him, getting off your bed with a heavy heart. If you could, you would jump right back in bed for a makeout session, but you knew it was probably for the better.

"Stop looking at me like that, or I'll get back in bed with you."

"You say that like I don't want it more than anything."

You shook your head as you trudged into the bathroom to do your hair. Your phone played music that floated into your bedroom as hot tools and brushes ran through your hair. Colston came into your bathroom, wordlessly wrapping his arms around your hips, his head laying on your shoulder. Your heart melted as you heard him start humming along with Funeral by Phoebe Bridgers. You were rubbing off on him.

You did your makeup with one hand as the other rested on top of Colston's. When you were finished you turned around in Colston's arms, standing there, hugging him for just a little bit while the music played.

Soon enough, you left the bathroom, Colston following behind you. If was 6:15, and you had to leave at about 6:40, and you both needed to change clothes. You put on some jeans and a white sweater, standing infront of your mirror to adjust the collar. You watched Colston through the mirror, he slipped a crewneck on, tugging his chain out from under it. He sat on your bed to put his sneakers on, and when he looked up for just a second he caught your eyes in the mirror. He smiled at you, looking back down to tie his shoe.

"You look that good, and you're saying I can't leave marks?"

You shook your head, giggling as you walked over to him, standing between his spread legs.

"I can play nice, leave no trace behind."

Your knees almost buckled. He was so subtly hot. You shook your head with wide eyes. You leaned down and placed a completely innocent kiss on his lips, pulling away from him before he could get too into it. His hands ran up and down the sides of your thighs, gripping every now and then.

You took a step back, letting him stand up. It was time to go. You turned around to grab your shoes and Colston's palm met the fat of your ass. You turned back to him, a faux offended look on your face. He smiled, shrugging at you, fuck he was hot.

You put your shoes on, grabbing your phone and keychain as Colston slipped his keys, wallet, and phone into his pockets. Colston opened the door, letting you out first and closing it behind him. You exited your apartment complex, finding Colston's car quickly. You put the directions to your parents house onto the screen of the car as Colston's hand found its place on your left thigh.

The drive was silent other than the music, and the occasional robotic noise telling Colston where to turn. You instinctively pulled up his sleeve to trace over his tattoo, one of your favorite things to pass time with.

Colston pulled into the driveway of your parent's home at 6:57, right on schedule. You could tell he was nervous again, his leg bouncing as he turned the car off. You laced your fingers with his, calling his name to get him to look at you.

"Loveland, everything's gonna go perfect. You know them, baby. They know you, which is even better. You don't understand how happy my whole family was when I told them you'd asked me to be your girlfriend. You probably don't even understand how happy I was."

You brought his hand up to your face, kissing his wrist, rubbing your thumb back and forth.

"Serious?"

"One hundred percent."

He nodded, a smile lightly gracing his face.

"There he is."

You two exited the car, walking up your driveway to the front porch. You opened the door, knowing it would be unlocked and the only two people with authority to open the front door were likely busy.

"Guys? We're here!"

Your voice echoed through the house, the three children sitting on the couch bolting up towards the foyer. Your two youngest siblings jumped into Colston's arms while the oldest of the little ones, your first brother hugged you tightly. He was always your little best friend, since he came first among the littles. The other two eventually hugged you, before you all walked through the front of the house to the kitchen, where your mom and dad were handling dinner.

"Hey you two! How are y'all doing?"

Your mom smiled brightly, looking up from where she was pouring waters. You smiled, leaning against the island while you let her know the latest details of your life. Your dad had yet to speak, you knew he was already a bit awkward around people that weren't your immediate family, and Colston being one of his players probably made it worse.

"Dad, speak. You two spend more time together than I do with either of you."

Finally, you got your dad and Colston talking, and everything else fell into place.

You and Colston helped set the table, you subtly bumping hips with him to silently applaud his performance thus far. While you ate, you occasionally rubbed Colston's thigh, just to keep him comfortable and calm.

Your dad thankfully wasn't trying to do the whole, 'What are your intentions with my daughter?' conversation, but you couldn't confidently confirm or deny that he hadn't already tried that at workouts in the past months.

After dinner you watched as Colston helped your mom and dad clean up, your siblings dragging you to the living room to see one of their new things. You were sat on the carpet while you played with your siblings, patting the spot on the couch behind you when Colston came into the living room. You leaned your head on the inside of his thigh as you now sat between his spread legs.

Your parents soon came in too and you watched a hockey game as you talked to them. They asked about school, football, friends, everything. Colston played with your hair while he discussed his current life with your parents, the conversation becoming more and more fluent as time went on.

You moved onto the couch next to Colston when your ass started to feel the hardwood under the rug more and more. You curled into his side, his arm wrapping appropriately around your shoulders.

After some time, your siblings demanded Colston's presence in their playroom. You followed him upstairs, holding his hand for just a second before he was whisked away to the play kitchen.

You stood at the door, leaning against the frame as you stared at the group. You swore you fell more in love with him as you watched him shamelessly wearing a dress up cowboy hat given to him by your 6 year old sister, pretending to eat fake food served by your 4 year old brother, while he talked about video games with your 8 year old brother. He would be such a good dad, holy fuck you were thinking about making him a dad.

"Oh, honey, he's in deep."

You jumped slightly, turning and seeing your mom behind you. She'd just seen the amount of love in your eyes as you watched your boyfriend play with your siblings.

"It seems like you are too."

You blushed, looking away from her. She was right, of course. The two of you were both so heavily infatuated with the each other.

"He's just so.. I think I love him."

Your eyes widened when you realized what you'd said, your mom's smile widening when she heard it. Her baby was in love, with the perfect guy. You really did love him, you'd always known it, but it was the first time you were saying it. You loved him. Soon, it was past 9pm and your mother was telling your siblings it was bedtime. You and Colston said goodnight to each other your siblings, Colston giving in to their requests and ready a book for the younger two.

When the kids went to bed, you told your parents it was probably best for you two to head out as well. You said bye to them, and you giggled as you watched Colston and your dad bro hug.

When you got back in the car, you immediately jumped to hug Colston over the center console.

"I think you're just perfect, Cole. I swear, everything you do is like perfect."

You pulled away and held his face in your hands, looking into his dark eyes.

"I love you."

Colston's eyes widened, his heart erupting when he heard the three words. You two had never said that before. Colston had wanted to for a while now, but was nervous.

"I love you."

You smiled and kissed him sweetly, pulling away with butterflies swarming your stomach. You laced your fingers with him, resting them on your thigh as you began the drive back to your apartment.

You parked and quickly ran in to escape the evening chill in Ann Arbor. You got ready for bed together when you were back in your apartment. Colston's hand rested on your hip as you both brushed your teeth. Your eyes were not so subtly trained on his toned stomach in the mirror. He had opted for sweatpants and no shirt as pajamas, while you had comfy shorts and one of his tshirts on. You raised your sight line and made eye contact with Colston, who raised his eyebrows at you, questioning your staring. Your face warmed as you bent down to wash your mouth out.

Soon enough you were getting into bed with Colston, your head on his chest as you listened to his heartbeat. His hands rested on your bare back underneath your shirt.

"You made tonight so perfect, Cole. It means a lot to me, how sweet you are to my family."

You tilted your head up to look at him, seeing a smile fight its way to his face. He really was so gorgeous, the moonlight shining through your blinds bringing light to his face.

"Well, your family happens to be really nice, baby. I think your siblings would've kept me there forever."

You giggled, nodding against his chest. You couldn't help yourself as you shuffled upward, holding his jaw as you kissed him. Colston definitely didn't mine. His hands sliding to the curve of your ass when you got onto your knees, now hovering over him. Colston deepened and heated up the kiss, a grin adorning his face when he heard the smallest sound leave your mouth.

The two of you continued making out, hands wandering and minds racing. Colston's giggle broke the kiss as he couldn't help but react to a gasp you let out. You felt warmth spread from your chest to your face, laying your head in the crook of Colston's neck. He poked at your sides, laughing again as he called your name.

"C'mon, coach, don't be embarrassed. Don't hide from me, baby. You love me, 'member?"

You turned your head, shuffling to his chest to look at him. He was smiling down at you, you loved him.

"Don't abuse your power, Loveland."

His smile widened, pulling you closer.

"You know you're the first guy my dad's ever actually trusted with me?"

You snuggled into his shoulder, yawning. You closed your eyes, you became so comfortable with him rather quickly. You two just knew each other in a way no one else did. You'd known each other for over a year before you ever started dating, but you never really tried to be super close.

Colston was shocked at the admission, he was sure your dad didn't like him that much.

"Y'serious?"

"Mhm. My dad knows that you really care about me, he told me earlier he was glad he could tell you make me happy. He's never ever been even slightly fond of other guys I've had him meet."

Colston was internally celebrating. He'd won your dad over, though he would've had no idea had you not told him. Jesse Minter liked very few people that weren't his family, and sometimes, just sometimes, he liked the people that made his family happy. And he could see that Colston made you happy, very happy.

"I make you happy?"

Colston said it as a joke, stretching the last word for a few seconds longer than normal.

"For some reason, you do."

Colston pinched at your hip, giving your ass a squeeze before leaving his hand to rest there. You snuggled closer into each other, eyes gently closing. Light kisses left on foreheads and necks, hands rubbing back and forth, up and down, soothing. You two whispered three words to each other seconds before you were both asleep, warmth filling your stomachs. Both you and Colston had finally found the person for you, and knew that you were in it for the long haul.

[bigtreefest]

Chapter 10: Waste of Lime

From: The Rainmaker Series

Pairing: Mob! Steve x Forensic Scientist! Reader

Summary: Everything you know has turned upside down, so why not try something new for yourself?

Word count: 2,928

Content/warnings: use of weaponry (knives) in a training environment, poor eating habits, monitoring of an individual without their knowledge, heavy alcohol consumption, swears, negative self-talk, character jump-scare!

Author’s Note: she’s baaaaaaack! You…might scream at me for this one. And honestly, that’s alright with me. Can’t wait to hear what you think about it. Any reblog, ask or comment to do so is appreciated more than pasta. That’s a lot.

Dividers by @firefly-graphics

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You stood between the dark cinder block walls, turning the small throwing knife between your fingertips, examining the sharp edge and pristine condition. You’d had it in your hands for weeks and from all that time of close examination, you could tell he took care of it in almost a militant manner, which you hated to think about how much you respected.

Pulling yourself out of your brief reverie, though, you steadied your stance and threw it at the target on the wall, the point sticking just outside the concentric circles on the small pine backboard downrange.

You groaned, brushing the hair back out of your face with both hands and turning around to the instructor behind you. She laughed and shrugged.

“Might not be a bullseye, but you’re getting there. Your technique is much better. Now that you know what you’re doing, why don’t I get you a few more of those so you don’t have to keep walking to get it? And don’t worry, we’ll make sure to mark which knives are which so you don’t lose yours.”

You blew out a breath and put your hands on your hips, nodding while you paced in the narrow, yet long private room. One of a 24-hour shooting range you’d found not too far from your work that some of the cops would visit often to keep up on their skills.

“Yeah, that’s good. Thanks, Becca.”

She smiled. “No problem.”

Steve stood behind his office chair staring at the surveillance footage that played on his laptop screen as he continued to button his black dress shirt, fingers nimbly moving as they had thousands of times to help him get dressed. He slung the silk tie around his neck, expertly knotting it without even looking, his gaze avoiding the two penetrating ones from his friends perched on either side of the mahogany work surface, watching the scene with him.

“You know, she’s getting pretty good at that. Can at least hit near the target on purpose now.”

Steve finally tore his eyes from the screen to scowl at Sam but was quickly redirected by Bucky.

“Yeah, she is. She’s also draining our buddy’s pockets. You’re gonna go broke, punk.”

Steve met Bucky’s amused face with a stern look. “Good. I deserve to after all that I did to her. All the money in the world couldn’t properly fix it, but I hope she knows I’m sorry and will come around. I can wait.”

Bucky snorted, “Yeah, but your wallet can’t.”

Steve sighed, shrugging on his suit jacket and straightening out the lapels. “Bucky, she hasn’t purposely used any of my money. As far as she knows, she’s on a free trial at the range, and she’ll get billed at the end of the month. I can deal with it all then, and even so, I can afford to take that hit financially. Plus, she hasn’t used my card or been in one of the restaurants or shops a single time. But even if she had been draining my funds, would you not do the same for Bee?”

Steve’s best friend straightened up at that, his hand brushing contemplatively over the stubble on his face.

“Yeah, I suppose you’re right. Just….don’t beat yourself up too much on this, alright?”

Steve gave no response as he adjusted his cufflinks.

Your arms shot up in the air in a silent cheer, commemorating a DNA match for the nearly unsolvable case that you and Scott had been working. As you spun around, finally lifting your eyes from your workbench, you caught a glimpse of the precinct through the cracks of the blinds in your window. The natural light that usually bounced across the white walls was long gone, meaning the sun had set. And you’d gotten in today before the sunrise. And now that you thought about it, you hadn’t eaten, either. As if on cue, your stomach grumbled and suddenly all you could think about was your next meal.

Not having eaten all day wasn’t entirely true. There was that one candy bar you had grabbed off Scott’s desk, but that was at the beginning of his shift, and he was long gone by now.

In fact, most of the detectives were gone, leaving a skeleton night crew and the other new forensic scientist sitting at his desk, passing time with a game of Tetris. No one worth asking to join you for a celebratory meal was left, so you guessed that meant dinner alone, yet again. Which was….fine. Everything was fine right now, because it needed to be, you needed to be. But perhaps you could get some good food in your system that was a little more than fine. You deserved it. Your work maintained quality and it was almost like your personal life hadn’t affected it at all.

You’d never been to this restaurant before, despite its proximity to your apartment, but you’d heard good reviews. It was only a short walk away, too, which was nice, because there was no way you were going to be fit to drive home after the way you needed to decompress.

As you came up to the glass doors and reached for the large wooden handle, the first thing you noticed was just how sharp and modern everything looked, yet somehow homey. Familiarity floated through the space just like the glow of the soft yellow lighting from strands of bulb lights that bounced off of the dark wood detailing and painted brick walls. The place was buzzing already, filled with a happy hour crowd, picking at tapas and upscale drinks, which sounded and smelled so good to your borderline hangry mind.

The bar was only about half full, luckily, giving you plenty of room to separate yourself from others as you slid onto one of the tall stools, arms reaching across the cool marble counter to grab the menu that a redhead was handing you. She gave a small smile, telling you she’d be back in a second as she served a couple of drinks to a waitress at the other end.

She made her way back over to you, eyes sparkling as a smirk tugged at the corner of her lip.

“Can I get you started with something?”

You clicked your tongue looking over the menu, seeing so many different wines, none of which strong enough for what you were feeling right now.

“What’s good? And….celebratory?”

She shrugged, tilting her head to look at the menu with you.

“Well, we’re known for our wines…” she looked up and met your eyes, “but you look like you need something better than that.”

She pushed her way back from the bar, turning around and reaching under the counter to pull out a stool.

“Now, the chef doesn’t love that I do this. Says it ‘doesn’t match with the Spanish theme,’ but no one can really argue….”

She reached for a bottle on the top shelf, climbed back down and set a glass in front of you, pouring the clear, yellow-tinted liquid while sliding a lime onto the rim.

“When it’s just so luxurious. Double shot of tequila. This one’s on the house, but I suggest you order something to eat with it. It’s gonna hit harder than you expect.”

You nodded, grabbing the glass and pulling it towards yourself. The volatile liquid pleasantly tickled your nose hairs. Whew.

“Good idea. Thanks…” you looked for a name tag, met with a blank, black shirt. She returned to you from setting the bottle back behind the bar and fished your sentence. “Nat.”

“Nat. Thank you, Nat.”

Four drinks in and six small dish plates piled to the side of you, your words were starting to slur together. The empty pit that had been chipping at your insides was almost fully filled again, from warm food and the action of the tequila. Almost.

With a final bite waving around in your hand, you caught the bartender’s attention as she switched your short-rimmed drink glass with a tall one of water.

Your lips inched themselves over the straw and you took a big sip before popping the final bite in your mouth.

The cold water running down your throat had you blinking into a little alertness when you swallowed, Nat’s bright eyes locking in on you.

“Everything okay?”

You rolled your eyes and blew out a breath that morphed into a dry chuckle, not wanting to directly answer her inquiry.

“You ever been in love, Nat? Or…. I guess… in… like?”

She shrugged with a light laugh, her smirk tugging the corner of her lip upwards once again. “Yeah, I’ve got a guy.”

“What’s his name?” You passed the glass back and forth between your fingertips, eyes not straying too far from the fancy bar top.

“Depends. We talking best friend type of love or romantic? Because I’d give you two different names.”

You nodded, taking another sip before you looked at yourself in the mirror that sat behind the liquor shelves over her shoulder. You looked tired. “Yeah, I get that. I feel like I was almost getting somewhere with the second one, but now sometimes I feel like I have neither. Everything has changed. Both were liars. But is it wrong if I still care? That I don’t want them to just…be out of my life even though I’m actively distancing myself?”

She set the glass she was drying down on the counter and looked you in the eyes. “I’d say it would be wrong if you didn’t care. Lying sucks, but sometimes it’s necessary to protect the ones we love the most. And I’m sure they still love you. Some part of you deep, deep down knows that. Everyone’s got their reasons.”

You grumbled a little at that. “Sounds like something a liar would say….” She shrugged, then urged you to continue. “But yeah, they’ve been reaching out a little, but… I don’t know. I don’t want to crumble so easily. I can handle this by myself, ya know? But somehow, everything that I’m putting so much focus on right now is still unsteady. I’m feeling like the opposite of Midas with all of this. I’m…ssssidam.”

She laughed. “Well, Sidam. Sometimes we know what we want, even when we try to fight it by putting focus somewhere else. Sometimes it’s right in front of our face, and sometimes we have to search for it. But what I’ll say is that anything that falls in our laps is a blessing. Shouldn’t be taken lightly if it works that well. The core of a relationship is the biggest thing. How you are with that person when it’s just the two of you. Away from the rest of the world. All those other bits are secondary. They can be ironed out later.”

You heeded her words, but honestly, they were just too truthful for you right now. Sure, you’d thought of ideas similar to those, but never dared to say them out loud. Before you could gather your thoughts enough to respond, though, you heard a commotion behind you. Someone had walked through the restaurant door, garnering some attention. You heard requests for autographs and pictures. Only a few, though, before it quickly died down and the there was a presence next to you. Directly next to you. In a bar with several empty seats. Weird.

You looked up, straight ahead at the mirror that backed the shelves of liquor of the bar. Who was right at your side? Someone it seemed everyone you grew up around was trying to shove you towards for as long as you could remember, even your own parents: Lucas Bell.

He turned his head and smiled at you as you continued to glare at his reflection, remaining silent. With a sigh, you finally turned your body to face his.

His overly white smile gleamed at you as he said your name.

“Fancy meeting you here! I wasn’t sure if you got my flowers. You didn’t say anything. I’ve been hoping we could meet up.”

You unsuccessfully fought the urge to roll your eyes as you took another sip of your water.

“Listen, Lucas. That was nice and all, but I’m going through a time, okay? I really don’t have the patience for you, for this, right now.”

His lips closed, hiding his teeth, but he continued to grin, nonetheless.

“I have the patience for you, though. That’s gotta count for something. Misery loves company, right?”

Your brows furrowed in confusion at his relentlessness. Was your face not as aversive as it used to be? The tequila must’ve been messing with your rbf muscles.

“I don’t think this is what the saying meant.”

You pointed between the two of you, and he just shrugged.

Before you could open your mouth to further tell him off, though, he held up a finger as he knocked on the bar for Nat’s attention. She turned around, looking at him with a raised brow, but not saying anything.

“I’ve got an order for Bell. I called ahead.”

He turned back to you and sighed.

“Anyway, what I wanted to do was ask you to dinner. You and I have known each other so long. Don’t you think that we would look great together, too? Both of us, taking care of the city in our own ways. A power couple!”

For a second, bile began to rise up in your throat, and you weren’t sure if it was from the sight of his fake tan that was really popping to you now, the offer, his floral cologne, or the several double shots you’d consumed. But everything was so screwed up, that you didn’t think it could get any worse. Maybe your mom really was right, and this was worth a shot. So before that idea could even get vetted by any hint of higher-level functioning, the words tumbled out of your mouth.

“You know what? Sure. Yeah, whatever. When do you want, this weekend?”

He winced, yet his face still seemed like it was trying to be performatively handsome. One shouldn’t have to try that hard. “No can do. I anchor the evening news on the weekends. I’ve got availability Monday evening, though. I can pick you up after work. It’ll be nice, yeah?”

You opened your mouth to answer but before you even got a word out, Nat was returning with his to-go bag and his phone was ringing. He scrambled to answer it.

In seconds, he was already walking backwards towards the door, phone pressed up to his ear. “Duty calls. Gotta go catch this story. But I’ll see you then!”

You rolled your eyes at the whole thing before resting them on the heels of your palms. When you finally sat up again, you signaled Nat to bring another drink.

As soon as you downed the last shot of what likely should’ve been a sipping tequila, you checked your watch, and groaned, dreading the next day that you’d have to go into work. When you looked up to ask for the bill, it was like Nat apparated before you.

“So what was that about? Hot date?”

You scoffed while opening up your wallet and setting your card down on the receipt. “I don’t know about hot, but yeah. It would seem like a date.”

She looked down at where you placed the plastic and shook her head. “We can’t accept that card, got another?”

You sighed, sifting through to find another, but before you could pull it out, she piped up again, “Nope. Not that one, either. One more try. What’s that black one?”

You looked up at her through your eyelashes, questioning how keen her sight was and if that really was the only option. She urged you on, holding out her hand as you tentatively handed over Steve’s black card and watched her go back to the billing station where a waitress, a blonde who had been passing through all night, was leaning.

You watched as they exchanged words before the blond began strutting over to you. Her hair was braided in a crown around her head, the occasional strand framing her face that held a similar smirk to Nat’s. She began shuffling and organizing the well of the bar before she spoke to you.

“Heard you’ve got a date. Does this mean Steve finally got the courage to make an actual move?”

At that, your eyes went wide, and so did Nat’s. You had never mentioned Steve this whole night. You made sure of it. She rushed over to you, shoving the blond out of the way with a deadly side eye. “You’ll have to excuse my sister. She doesn’t know what she’s talking about.”

You laughed dryly, grabbing the check from her hands. “Sure she does. It all makes a lot of sense now. The atmosphere, your constant checking in on me.”

She nodded. “And we’ve been instructed to not take your money.”

“Yup. That, too,” you breathed out as you signed the check and slid it back to her. “Well, thanks for at least a few hours away from everything.”

Without lifting your head, you slipped your wallet away and slid off the stool, heading straight for the door to go back to your apartment. Nat stood there watching you with the intent to later ensure that you got home safely. She looked at the check in her hands and the black ink scrawled on it: your attempt at Steve’s signature and a 300% tip.

Next >

Bonus A/N: Meet Number Four (and Yelena)

Taglist: @evie-119 @hawkeyes-queen @ronearoundblindly @thedonswife13 @mercurial-chuckles @thezombieprostitute @stellar-solar-flare @otterlycanadian @kbear8863 @steviebbboi @thiquefunlover63

[tieronecrush]

hot & heavy

chapter nine: jesus christ 2005 god bless america

neighbor!joel x f!reader

series masterlist

series rating: E (18+ MDNI)

series summary:

over the course of three summers, joel miller becomes woven into your life. the first summer is spent falling for him; nannying his daughter and sneaking around with him in a burning love affair. you know how you feel about joel, he isn’t so sure about how it all is gonna work. the second summer is brief. a month spent at home after graduation and before you move to boston for your dream job. one look at you, one time hearing your voice, and joel is hooked again. he pines over you for that month, but you think — how is long distance of over a thousand miles going to work for a single dad? the third summer, you return home burnt out and pride bruised from your post-grad life. you need time to feel at home again, like your complete self, so you’ve come back home with no return ticket booked. it’s only a matter of time before joel seeks you out, slowly spending more time with you. without an inevitable end to the summer looming over you both, what chances are you willing to take?

word count: 9.5k

warnings: NO OUTBREAK (don’t need to worry about the mushies), no use of y/n, inexperienced reader, age gap (joel is 30/31, reader is 22), canon-divergent (sarah is 7 y/o), nanny au, pet names (sweetheart, darling, sweet girl, mariposa, etc.), polite southern manners, feeling familial and self-pressure, undefined relationship, small use of spanish cause joel is latino, pining joel, fingering, hand-job, dirty talkkk king joel miller, soft soft soft joel, sprinkle of possessive joel, Big Feelings, crying, mentions of depression diagnosis and symptoms, struggling with self, discussion of co-parenting, signing away parental rights, effects of that situation on children, major guilt form both of 'em, this chapter has some heavier angst than before!

a/n: they're baaaaaaack <333 my babies! it's 2005 and summer #3 is officially underway and i can't wait to share it with you all. thank you so very much to the bestie/cousin/sister wife/sweet, sweet gf @northernbluess for beta-reading this chapter, and for shouting about these two with me. enjoy y'all x

You can count on your two hands the number of times you’ve been able to talk to Joel over the last year. Sarah’s schedule going into third grade was much busier, his work picking up even more business and expanding. Your job was demanding — long hours, coming in early and staying late, rejection after rejection of ideas you excitedly pitched. By a few months in, you took the hint: you were there to get coffees, do the grunt work, fill in the gaps even if it wasn’t in your job description. It wasn’t that you had a problem with doing all of those things; anyone in the industry, basically anyone with a corporate job has told you that you have to do your time, climb the rungs of the ladder to get to where you want to be. But it’s hard to justify a job that has taken you away from the one place that feels like home, the people who make you feel loved.

It came in waves at first, that feeling of heavy limbs, slogging thoughts, the perpetual cinch of your chest as if you were going to cry, with no reason to. In summer, it was easy to blame it on homesickness, adjusting to a new city, or getting used to living with your new roommates. The leaves changing brought new symptoms: staying in over the weekends, curled up in bed with the TV playing cable reruns for 48 hours straight, the lull of sleep overcoming you at odd hours. But this was merely because the cold was creeping in, and the daylight hours were waning.

Joel called one winter evening; well, the Caller ID read his name, but upon answering the phone, you were quick to realize it was someone else.

“Hello?”

“Posey, you answered! Hi!”

“Hey, Sare-Bear. What’s going on?” You find the means to prop yourself up on your pillows, turning down the volume of the TV and curling your knees toward your chest.

“Not too much, I asked Daddy if I could call you and he said yes, so I did! I was sad you couldn’t be home for Christmas last month. Santa brought me lots of presents! Oh, and Daddy took me to Disney World with Uncle Tommy after Christmas before school started again!”

Sarah’s chipper voice is scraping nails against your heart, tightening your lungs until all you can manage is shallow breaths. You hold it together long enough to hear about all her presents and the Miller family trip before you hear Joel in the background, coaxing the phone from his daughter.

“Daddy says he wants to talk to you so I have to give the phone to him. Bye, Posey, miss you!”

“Miss you too, sweet pea,” you choke out, sinking further into your bed with eyes filling with tears. You should be overjoyed to be hearing from Sarah; instead, it fills you with a reminder that you have no idea when you’ll see her again, no clue how to try to make yourself love this place.

“Hey, Mari.”

The sound of his voice was syrupy, the drawl in his tone basking you in the Texas sun that you missed so. He was like the warmth of a bonfire, the summer breeze messing with your hair while you rode in his truck with the windows down. Hearing him was like sinking into his mattress for the night, a solid, weighted arm slung around you safely.

“Hi, Joel.”

“Gotta say thank you again for the watch you sent me for my birthday. I know, you’re going to say that I’ve already said it about ten times but I need to do it again 'cause I just like havin’ a reminder of you every day.”

“You’re welcome,”  your voice wavers slightly, and you make a quick attempt to recover with a deep breath.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

No, not now, you can’t break now, you have to make it through the phone call.

Your tongue sits heavy in your mouth, your ears growing hot and tears pricking your eyes in pain as you hold it all in. One sniffle comes over you before you can catch it, concern lacing the other end of the call.

“Hey, darlin’—Hold on.”

Muffled thumps of footsteps heading upstairs crackle through the phone, the creak and click of a door closing popping in your ear pressed to the speaker.

“Sorry, I had to come up to my room. Now, what’s wrong, darlin’?” Joel’s gentle, airy tone breaks the final splinter of the dam, emotion overflowing.

“I shouldn’t let it all get to me, but, work has been awful, like all I've done this week is get coffee and take minutes for meetings, which don’t even get used because they have someone that gets to actually participate taking the minutes. And—and I can’t seem to find my place. My roommates are way closer with each other cause they’ve been working together before and at the office, it’s so cliquey and everybody keeps calling my accent cute—“

Attempting to make you smile, Joel interjects, “It is cute, sweetheart.”

“Well, you can say that ‘cause you’ve got one too. They just call me ‘Texas’ or ‘Y’all’ cause I said it once in front of the group. These people are all from around here, from generations of East Coast families and they know all about life here and constantly try to one-up each other and I can’t do it, Joel. I can’t—It’s too hard. It hurts so much.”

You’ve fully got tears streaming down your face, your voice thick with phlegm, and sniffling from your runny nose. 

“Oh, my sweet girl…” There’s a strain in his voice too, covered with a stuttered clearing sound. “Mariposa, my Mariposa, you can do It. I know it’s hard, I know. And mean people don’t make the adjustment any easier, but remember you’re the bigger person. Kill ‘em with kindness, baby.”

“It breaks my heart to hear you’re hurtin’, Mari. But you can do it. You’re smart, beautiful, funny, tough…Are you—are you talkin’ to anybody, sweetheart? A professional?”

“No…” you confess meekly, embarrassed by your lack of effort.

“It’s okay, baby, that’s okay. Maybe we can find you someone, alright? Might help to get out of the house, go see them, talk to them. We’ll find you someone, Mari. Promise.”

“Joel, I don’t want you to worry about me. You don’t have to help me find—“

“I want to. I worry about you constantly, mi amor. It’s hard not to when half of my heart’s across the country.” Silence falls over the line, picking up your hand to wipe at your tears. 

“Thank you, Joel.”

“I love you, Mariposa. Always going to.”

That was the last major phone call you had with him. He did help you find someone, a therapist, to talk to. But through them, you had come to the decision that this life wasn’t for you; corporate bullshit was leaving you burned out and defeated, and it was cooking up an unstable environment that let your sadness and disappointment fester into depressive episodes.

After that discovery, the choice was made and you phoned your parents to tell them you were planning on coming home at the end of your first-year contract if they would have you. They agreed, of course, to welcome you back home for as long as you need.  

You couldn’t bring yourself to call Joel. Hearing his disappointment in your quitting would ruin you. And, you couldn’t blame him if he got a bit angry either. You ran off and chose this life, and when it turned out to be shit, you were running home with your tail between your legs at the first opportunity. He expected so much from you and was so proud of you for choosing your dreams.

You couldn’t bear to tell him about your failure. So you didn’t.

Arrangements were made in the next few months: a replacement roommate found, a letter of resignation submitted, a one-way plane ticket purchased.

Joel wipes at his forehead, standing in the middle of the job site he was working by himself. It was rare for him to really get his hands dirty these days; Miller Construction has grown tenfold since it started, a wider team built and Joel taking the helm as more of a manager and owner. He had a hand in every project, being the one to design and plan everything, leaving the execution to be led by Tommy and his employees.

This was a particular job, though, and one he wanted to make sure was perfect.

Your dad had approached him in early Spring, walking over while Joel mowed the lawn. He explained what he was looking to get done — the basement converted into a studio apartment, with a new bathroom and kitchenette.

Joel agreed to help with the task, and out of curiosity he asked why they were making the change. Usually, it was in-laws, but maybe it was to increase the sale value. Maybe they were planning a move?

He heard it and zoned out immediately.

You? You were moving home?

He wracked his brain for any mention of these plans from you over the last few months, but he came up short when he realized it had been a couple of months since the last phone call. Life had gotten so busy, evenings spent with lawyers and Sarah home every weekend, trying to adjust her to the new arrangement as best as he could. There was his own news he had to tell you, but couldn’t ever find the right time to reach out when he knew how stressed out you were. He remembered missing a call from you, but he completely forgot to return it. Were you going to tell him then?

The phone call he made to you that night went to voicemail, and he left one in hopes you would return a call or message.

“Hey, Mariposa… Hope you’re doing well, amor. Your dad, uh, he came over today and asked me for help on the house. They wanna make the apartment a basement and—shit you definitely already know all of this… Are you—are you coming home?”

He couldn’t stand how he sounded, on the verge of begging and filled with nerves, so the voicemail ended after he asked. You didn’t return the call.

Standing back looking at his handiwork, he takes a deep breath. He’s poured over the decisions for every detail, your parents entrusting him with the project completely. He matched the floors to the rest of your house, but the walls are a soft green, one accented with wallpaper he painstakingly installed that is patterned with lavender, marigolds, and hydrangeas — small butterflies hidden in the flowers.

At one side of the studio space, Joel installed the bookshelf he made by hand in his garage, the built-in coming up halfway on the wall, molding covering the surface, and stained a rich, medium tone that complemented the paint choice. He imagined your rows and rows of beat-up paperbacks filling the spaces, knickknacks strewn along the top.

Your furniture was moved down from your bedroom, arranged by your mom to fit nicely within the space. It feels like you’re already living in this space, the touches of you from your things and the new items he tried to get perfectly ‘you’. A faint smile tugs at his lips, excitement trickling into his bloodstream and tingling all over.

You’re coming home.

The first day you were back, you didn’t leave your new room.

It was out of exhaustion, but mostly out of relishing in the new space, nearly brought to tears by the thoughtfulness of your parents. When they were showing you the new studio suite of yours, you couldn’t stop smiling, turning to your mom and asking, “How did you choose the paint color? And where’d you get the bookshelf?”

Your mom laughed, shrugging as she answered, “Believe it or not, Dad and I were so busy these last few months that we told Joel just to go wild! Well, not wild, but he made all the choices — only ran the cost by us.”

“Wait, Joel did this?”

“Oh yeah, did the whole thing for free labor, too. Stand up guy. Said he just wanted to help out a neighbor — and he did the whole thing himself too, none of his guys helped him. He did a great job, huh kiddo?” Your Dad gives you a grin, extending his arms as if showcasing the room you three were already in and poking around in.

“Yeah, he did do a great job. Guess I need to thank him…” You swallow hard and toy with your bedspread as you sit at the edge of your bed, one leg bent onto the mattress, “Thank you both for this and—and for letting me come home.”

“Hey, don’t sweat it, kiddo. We love having you here, always. You stay however long you need, princess.” At that, it was simply closed, your parents never pushing for more detail than you were willing to offer at the time; both gave you a kiss on your head and a tender hug before they made their way back upstairs, leaving you to begin unpacking.

A fresh set of eyes rolls over the space, the context that each choice was Joel’s, made for you, lighting up small details. The color of the wood he used for the shelves, the wallpaper covered in your favorite flowers and butterflies; what catches your attention is a frame set on the surface of the built-ins. You pick it up, free hand jumping to your chest as you study the content.

A drawing, signed in the bottom right corner by a “Sarah M.” It’s of a garden, lush greenery with an opening in the middle. Joel stands at one side, with dark hair and a scribbled beard, Sarah in the middle with her bouncy curls. On the other side of Sarah is a depiction of you in your sundress from the day at the butterfly garden last summer. The closest thing to a photo of the three of you.

Placing the frame back where you had found it, you hold back your tears, rubbing circles in your thumping chest as you look around the room for five things you can see, four things you can touch, three things you can hear, two things you can smell, and one thing you can taste.

At the third out of four things you can touch, your eyes fall to your bed, pink plaid poking out from between your pillows drawing you nearer. You pull out the shape from your bedding, coming face to face with the long-eared, stuffed bunny that you passed down to Sarah last year. Flopsy.

You curl the animal into your chest, squeezing it as you climb onto your bed and lie down. Bringing it up to your face, you inhale the smell of the Miller house, the smell of your previous summers. It calms your rapid pulse, each deep breath lulling you to sleep.

Somehow, despite being each other’s next-door neighbors, you’ve managed to avoid Joel and he’s avoided you for the last few days. It wasn’t like you weren’t thinking about him — no, you were constantly thinking about him. Driving past his house, walking past his driveway, every time you wake up in your room and are faced with all of what he did for you. 

But finally seeing him, talking to him, you were going to be faced with the reality of telling him that you couldn’t make it, even with all of his support. The thought of watching his face fall when you have to admit you moved across the country for what amounted to nothing, broke his heart for dreams that ended up being the opposite of what you wanted.

Joel avoided you, simply to give you some time to adjust and also, to skirt around the fact that he wasn’t there for you when you must have needed him the most. Plus, he had his own news to share with you, and he kept it in to keep you from worrying. He knew if he had told you then, when you were away, you would be on the next flight home to help him. He couldn’t make you do that, and he knew he wouldn’t be able to say no to you coming either. And now, he’ll have to admit all of this to you — to tell you that he kept this from you and watched your face fall into hurt.

This sunny Saturday morning, you’ve taken to walking door to door with all of the parents in the neighborhood, offering yourself to babysit or nanny to fill the summer while you figure out what you want to do with your life. Most were surprised to see you back home, but eager to take down your number, promising to reach out if they needed help. 

On your way back home, you’re on Joel’s side of the cul-de-sac, biting your lip as you get a view of his back in a white tee, shoulders straining as he stretches over the hood of his truck. He squeegees the front windshield, the truck covered in soap suds from him washing it.

As if feeling eyes on him, he turns over his shoulder to see you walking up. Completely turning around, he leans back against the hood, waving to you with a held-back smile. Joel eyes you in your cut-off shorts, licking his lips and humming to himself when he sees his navy t-shirt on you, the one he gave you last summer. 

“Now, Miller, I haven’t seen you wash that dirty ass truck once the past two summers. And now you’re out here in your little shorts and white tee as soon as I get back? Suspicious.”

On his driveway now, you stand a few feet apart, a bright teasing smile on your face. Joel can’t help but feel the familiar itch in his fingers, gripping the squeegee tighter. His butterfly is back in his stomach, stirring to life as its wings start fluttering at the sight of you, rising to his chest at the sound of your voice.

“Bit suspicious that this is the first time you just so happen to stop by to say hello, is it not, Mariposa?” he asks with a raise of his eyebrows, smirk tugging up one side of his lips and exposing his dimple.

“Wha—Oh, shut up. I was stopping by to offer to help you, for your information.”

“Oh yeah? Alright then, grab a sponge, sweetheart,” he nods to the bucket on the asphalt, tossing the squeegee into the grass. You pick up a sponge out of the bucket, ringing it out a bit before going over and starting to wash the other side of his car. Joel disappears around the side of the house, coming back with the hose running water to rinse the car off.

“Think you missed a spot, Joel,” you giggle, moving the sponge in circles.

“Y’know what? I think I missed a really big spot. Kind of on the other side by you.” He’s got a devilish smirk painting his face, mischief glinting his eyes in the sunlight. He stalks around the car, moving his thumb toward the end of the hose.

“Joel, don’t you dare…”

“What, darlin’? You look a little hot. Think you need to cool down.”

“Joel! Don’t, you shithead!”

In a last-ditch effort, you toss your sponge at his chest before trying to run away. It’s fruitless, shrieking as you feel the cold water spray at your legs. You turn around to face Joel chasing you with the hose, his thumb at the end to make the water pressure higher and shoot farther. It’s as if it’s raining, the water dripping from above; you cup your hands over your head, closing your eyes as you attempt to avoid the spray.

“Okay, okay! I've cooled down, please!”

All you hear is a laugh in response, the sound multiplying the goosebumps that the cold water has caused. With your eyes squeezed shut, you're blind as you run around the car, hitting directly into something solid, sturdy, but much softer than metal. A small ‘oof’ exhales out, one arm wrapping around you to steady you.

Opening your eyes, you see Joel with a wide, childish grin and a deepened dimple on his right cheek. The crinkles next to his eyes are showing and you can see the wet spot in his white shirt from the sponge hitting him.

“May I propose a treaty?”

“If it keeps you from spraying me with the hose, sure.”

He laughs again, sliding his hand across your back.

“You come over tonight and I won’t spray you again.”

“Hmm,” you hum as you consider it, eyes widening as Joel moves to get the hose on you again, “Okay, deal! Hose down, Miller!”

Happily, Joel throws the hose into the grass, tightening his arm in a half-hug. His lips as your ear, he speaks sweetly and kisses your cheek. “Good to have you home, Mari.”

You help him clean up the rest after he finishes rinsing the truck and shuts off the hose, lingering with him on the driveway.

He nods inside with a smile, “Someone else’s been waitin’ to see you if you wanna come in for a bit.”

“That would make my day. I’d love to see that someone,” you say through a smile, cheeks hurting from laughing and grinning for the past ten minutes.

Joel leads you inside, spotting Sarah on the couch. He walks ahead of you into the living space, heart swelling at the shocked reaction Sarah has to you standing in their house.

You are feeling the same — the ache in your bones from the last few months quells once you step foot in their house, limbs lightening when Sarah jumps off the couch and runs over, or well, runs into you.

“Posey! I can’t believe you’re back!” Sarah exclaims, giggling excitedly when you scoop her up into a hug and hold her flush against you. A kiss is pressed to the top of her head, a familiar scent in her hair from the product you use. You exchanged equally ecstatic greetings before she pulled you into the kitchen with Joel, sitting at the table to chat. Sarah sits across your lap, kicking her feet as she asks a million questions about why, how, what, and more.

You answer all of them, Joel interjecting for some as you explain to her that you’ll be here for the whole summer, at least, and that you’ll still be right next door.

Rubbing her back, you look down at Sarah with a gentle smile, “I have been meaning to come to ask you, sweet pea, but I found a mutual friend of ours on my bed when I came home. How did Flopsy end up back at my house? Did he get lost while your dad was working on my new room?”

“No, he isn’t lost! I know he’s there cause I put him there. I thought you might’ve missed him, and that he might make you happy and cheer you up because Daddy said you were missing home.”

Joel was unaware of the animal his daughter left behind, swallowing hard as she mentioned how he explained you were feeling homesick back then when you two had talked. His eyes are glued to you as he watches the emotions in your eyes, sadness flashing in them before you recover, visibly sitting up and the corners of your mouth tugging up into a gentle smile.

“He made me feel much better, sweet pea, so thank you. I can bring him back next time, okay?”

Sarah shakes her head firmly, making strong eye contact with you as she says, “No, you should keep him 'cause maybe you might need him while you get used to being home. He helped me get used to staying with Daddy all the time now, so I thought he could help you be at home again, too.”

You glance at Joel, who’s looking away from you now and toying with the edge of a placemat that’s laid out on the surface. Sarah turns her head, looking between the two of you before Joel clears his throat.

“Hey Bug, we gotta head out to get you over to Emily’s house for your sleepover tonight. Can you go get your bag from upstairs? And say goodbye to Posey.”

A quick hug and she is zipping off, leaving the two adults sitting at the table in a moment of silence. It’s Joel who breaks it again, looking at you with something unreadable on his face.

“You’re coming over tonight, yeah? I—I, um, I think we have some catching up to do.”

“Yeah, I think so too. I’ll see you tonight.” You stand up and he follows you to the door, taking your hand in his to pull you back as your hand reaches for the doorknob.

“It is really good to have you home, Mariposa. Feels like—I don’t know, life feels like summer again. I missed you.”

“I missed you too, Joel. I’ll see you tonight,” you lean in, stretching up to kiss his cheek before slipping out of the door and into your backyard. 

At sunset, you slip out of the sliding glass door, walking across the pool area and into Joel’s backyard. Climbing up his deck stairs, you reach his back door and knock, biting back a smile when you can see him approaching with a puzzled expression. He opens the door, looking at you through the screen with a brown raised.

“Back door? This a new thing now?”

“S’closer to my new room.” You shrug and knock your knuckles on the metal frame of the screen door. Joel nods for you to step back, opening the door and holding it for you to come inside, shutting it and the windowed, wooden door behind it. Turning around to you, he steps forward, snaking his arms around your hips. A soft smile peels apart his lips with a relaxed sigh, leaning some of his weight into you.

“Hi, Mari.”

“Hey, J.”

“You smell good,” he says, muffled into your hair, lips pressing a kiss to the side of your head, “And I like that nickname.”

A quiet giggle breathes out from your mouth, hands coasting up and down his biceps. He moves to tuck your head under his chin, swaying back and forth in the middle of his kitchen.

“Thought we had stuff to talk about?” You question, biting your bottom lip and making no move to unfurl yourself from his arms. This is what you had been missing so much, feeling his radiating warmth and care. His tenderness, his love.

“We do. But I get to just hold you first, darlin’. Been waiting too long to do this again.” Squeezing you closer, he tucks his chin in to lay his lips against the top of your head, fingertips ghosting up your spine. It’s at least two minutes before he moves, untangling himself from you with one last kiss on your forehead.

“Alright, mi Mariposa, how about we sit on the couch? You can go first, sweetheart,” his voice crackles in your ears, feeling the reverb in your chest from his low drawl. Hands at your sides guide you into the living room, letting go to allow you to sit down, Joel taking a seat next to you and facing you. “You wanna go first, Mari? S’alright if you don’t…”

“No, I do. I think I should at least…” You sigh and focus your stare on a stitched seam of the back of the couch, tracing it with your fingers as you begin to recount what brought you home, “I don’t know if you remember that one phone call we had in the winter, but it was after that, you helped me find someone to talk to?”

“I remember.”

“Well, I started seeing them weekly, sometimes twice a week, and it helped to be able to talk about everything, but there wasn’t too much I could do to help the situation I was in. My, um, my therapist diagnosed me with depression.”

Your voice was thick, phlegm building up as your emotions started to get the best of you, stare still unfocused from Joel. His hand lays over yours, pulling you away from the movement and to his face. There’s no judgment in his eyes, only concern and piety. Without any words, he slides closer to you, pulling your legs across his lap and slipping an arm around your back.

“And in our sessions, I wasn’t really getting much better with the tools she was giving to me, so we made a plan. It started with her asking me where I felt the most myself, the most comfortable, where I could work on everything without the added…stress of work and feeling isolated. And then it was a bit of a no-brainer to make arrangements to come home. And—and I meant to call you, I really tried, Joel. But I couldn’t bear to have to tell you that I—I failed and that I broke your heart for nothing. You believed in me so much, and I couldn’t do it. I left everything behind, left you behind and nothing came out of it. And I couldn’t bring myself to call cause I couldn’t hear your reaction. I didn’t know if you’d care if I came back. If you would be mad or disappointed…”

You exhale with a long breath, tears flowing freely down your cheeks while Joel’s fingers work to wipe them away as quickly as they fall.

“Sweet girl…My Mariposa, I am so sorry you went through that. I’m so glad that you weren’t alone, that you had support, but I hate that I wasn’t there when you needed me,” he swallows and holds you against his chest, “I love you, sweet girl, always going to. I knew you had to go because I knew you might’ve regretted it if you didn’t try, but, darlin’, mi amor, I could give two shits if you live some big corporate life if it doesn’t make you happy. That is all I want for you, Mari, and if that wasn’t what you had up there, then I want you to find it wherever you are.”

You sniffle and wrap your arms around his neck, both of you embracing each other tightly — so tightly you nearly can’t breathe, but it feels comforting, like a weighted blanket over your body and soul.

“Selfishly, I’m glad you came home. Missed you, my sweet girl, and ‘m always gonna be here for you. I’m so sorry I wasn’t there when you needed me, I should have been better, but there was just so much happening…” he admits, guilt and shame oozing out of his words and tone.

You pull back, brow furrowed as you hold the side of his jaw.

“Did something happen?”

“Um, yeah. Something did happen, in the spring…” he runs a hand over his face, sighing before he drops his forehead against yours, staying silent for a moment before sitting up again and gripping onto the fabric of your shirt.

“I have full custody of Sarah now.”

He watches as confusion falls over your face, melding into concern as he sees your thought process happening. He knows you’re thinking about Sarah, all of the little things she said earlier this afternoon must be clicking finally. The rhythm of his heart is racing, waiting for your questions.

“What? What happened? How? Are you okay, is Sarah okay?”

“It’s alright, Mari, I’m okay. Sarah’s adjusting. It was just sudden, and I had to scramble to get everything in order while also figuring out how to tell her. I really haven’t told her the truth, I c—I can’t do that to her…” His voice drops to a whisper as he trails off, eyes welling with tears of his own.

“Oh, J, babe, what happened? If you want to tell me, I’m here for you.”

He clears his throat, twisting the handful of fabric he’s got, “Tiff approached me after her last drop off when Sarah was inside the house, and she told me that…She basically said she met someone new, he was movin’ out of state for his job, and she wouldn’t be able to afford her child support anymore. I asked her what she was gettin’ at and she said, she said she wanted to sign her rights away. That she couldn’t do it all anymore.”

“I mean, I couldn’t bring myself to tell Sarah that—that her mom didn’t want to take care of her anymore. So I only told her that she would be gone for a while and that she would be staying at home for all her weekends for now. I don’t know what to do, baby. And it was all so chaotic, and I couldn’t call you 'cause I didn’t want to add to your stress with work and life up there.”

In response, you hold yourself around him silently, arms at his neck, straddling his lap and wrapping your legs around his waist like a koala in a tree. Joel relaxes into you, damp droplets soaking into your shirt and skin as he lays his head on your shoulder. All of his stress, his anxieties come out. He knows he should also be comforting you, for everything you’ve told him, but it’s like a door has opened and everything is piling out of him. He’s held it together for months now, his only person to talk to being Tommy, but he doesn’t want to burden his younger brother with all of his problems all the time.

Not that he wants to do that to you, either, especially with what you’ve been through, but at this moment, all he can think about is your touch, your warmth, your care.

“You could never be anything but an addition to my life, Joel. Even if it’s a problem, I want to help you solve it or be there for you while you work through it. ‘M here now, we both are, so we can get through our things together.”

At his next sniffle, he pulls away, staying wrapped up in you but sitting so he can see your face.

“Guess these last few months have been messes for both of us, huh?” You break the seriousness of the moment with your chuckle, sending Joel into a fit of laughter as he nods.

“Guess so. Might’ve been better if either of us called. Don’t think we’d be here right now crying.”

“That’s life though, isn’t it? At least ours. Miscommunication continually brings us back together. I think maybe we should quit that habit though.”

“I agree…” he smiles sweetly, eyes pouring adoration into yours, “All this talk about us, I guess my other question would be, what are we? I mean, you don’t have an end to the summer, right? So maybe we could—“

“Let’s give us a proper shot. No expiration date. We can just be together and see what comes of it, yeah?”

“Yeah, Mariposa, yeah. I would love that,” Joel leans in, catching your lips in a slow, syrupy kiss. It’s languid, stealing your breath and giving you his, melting your tongues together and sighing at the taste of you. He pulls back, ghosting his lips over yours with an infectious smile.

“So, is that it? Are you officially mine, Mariposa? Mi Mariposa es solo mi Mariposa (My butterfly is only my butterfly)?”

“Yours. And you’re mine, so don’t forget it,” you chuckle and he kisses you sweetly again, shaking his head as his nose fits against yours.

“Never going to forget that, are you kidding me? Hearing that automatically entered my top five best life moments.”

“God, you’re such an idiot…”

“Yeah, I am, baby. An idiot in love. A fool for you,” he laughs and tightens his grip around you, arms settling under your thighs as he stands from the couch, carrying you toward the stairs, “Also an idiot who’s getting to go to bed with the girl of his dreams. So, really, who’s an idiot now? Think I made some damn good decisions.”

“Can I take back my answer to your question?” You tease, shrieking when he drops you onto his bed, a smirk on his face as he shakes his head.

“No takebacks. Stuck with me now, Mariposa,” he climbs over you and kisses you again, deeper than before but as innocent as the giggly kisses you shared earlier.

“Good thing you’re a good kisser.”

“Yeah? Bet you know what else I’m good at, don’t you, sweetheart?” He sits back on his haunches, eyes dragging over you laying back on his bed, tongue poking out to lick his lips.

“Can I have you, darlin’? Pretty please?”

A hard swallow comes from your throat, crossing your arms over your stomach as you look up from the mattress to Joel.

“I want you to, but I’ve…I haven’t done anything since—“

“I understand, sweet girl. You wanna ease back into it with me, hermosa? We’ll go slow,” he watches you nod, pushing up the hem of your t-shirt to under your breasts, “No bra? Sigues siendo mi diablita, no? (You’re still my little devil, aren’t you?)”

As you sit up, he tugs the materials over your head, folding over to attach his lips to one of your already pebbled nipples. A whimper slips from your mouth, tangling fingers into his hair and arching into his mouth. He pays the same attention to the other side, soft moans filling the room.

Joel separates from you with a pop of his lips, grinning as he reaches for the back collar of his t-shirt and pulls it over his head. You happily sigh as you run your hands across his strong chest and shoulders, tickling your fingertips down his stomach as he watches you slip his shorts’ waistband down a few inches.

“Mm, I have an idea, sweetheart…You wanna try something we haven’t done before?” Joel kisses your lips before peppering kisses along your jaw.

“What d’you have in mind?”

“Take the rest of your clothes off, darlin’. ‘M gonna sit up at my headboard and you come sit on my lap, m’kay?”

You follow his instructions, licking your lips as you watch him stand and strip in front of you, his hard cock slapping against his stomach, leaking already out of need. He sits on his bed, head leaned against the headboard with pillows supporting his back. With your shorts and panties thrown into a heap with his clothes, you walk over the mattress on your knees, lifting one to the other side of his thighs.

“So beautiful, Mariposa. The most beautiful,” he sighs as he licks into your mouth, grabbing handfuls of your ass, “How did I get so damn lucky?”

“Could say the same thing about you, J. Pretty boy.” 

He chuckles against your lips, shaking his head. “Not as pretty as you, mi amor. Estás preciosa. Mucho más preciosa que cualquier flor o puesta de sol o estrella. La cosa más hermosa que he visto.”

“What does that all mean?”

“You are gorgeous. Much more gorgeous than any flower or sunset or star. The most beautiful thing I've ever seen,” Joel speaks softly, tenderness in his eyes as he brushes your hair away from your face. 

Heat spans across the back of your neck and up to the tips of your ears, heart pounding from the look he is giving you. It feels like it’s breaking down any facade you had left, completely exposed to him with the bashful smile on your face.

“I love you, Mariposa,” he punctuates with a stealing kiss, one hand roaming around to your front to slip between your legs. Two fingers collect your arousal on their tips, dragging some to your clit as you sigh into Joel’s mouth. 

“Now, ‘m gonna touch you, baby, and if you want, you touch me at the same time, yeah?” He pulls away from your lips, nudging his nose into your cheek.

“I want to, I really want to.”

His fingers move to your entrance, gathering more along his whole fingers before pulling from between your legs and wrapping his own hand around his cock. He gives himself a few long strokes, looking into your eyes.

“Think you can spare some for me, sweet girl? Got you fucking drenched from barely even touchin’ you,” he sighs contently, leaning his head back more, “Spit on it for me, baby, and use your own hand, m’kay?”

You nod, eager to follow instructions. Folding forward, you drop saliva onto his waiting cock, watching as it slips down the side and mixes with your slick. He takes his hand away and your own wraps around his base, starting slow and teasing strokes.

“Fuck,” he exhales, dragging it out as long as his sigh is, “Missed you so much, sweet girl. You’re my sweet girl now, aren’t you? Only mine.”

His fingers find your core again, slow circles matching the energy of your strokes. A whine slips out, brows scrunching as you attempt to move your hips to get more friction.

“Please, Joel, please. Want more…”

“You want more, mi Mariposa? You want me to fuck you with my fingers, hm?” At your rapid nod, he chuckles darkly, nipping at your neck.

“Gotta give me more to get more, sweetheart. ‘M aching for you, just giving you the same treatment.”

“Mean,” you breathe out, gasping as his thick fingers tease your entrance.

“You ain’t seen mean yet, cariño,” he kisses you again as he slips one finger inside of you, the pace of your hand moving faster when you get more of what you wanted. He groans, the sound muffled into your tongue as it flicks against his, the heel of his hand rubbing against your clit. You start to bounce your hips in rhythm with your hand, imagining his cock inside of you again.

With a lewd noise, he pulls away, shallow breaths fanning across your collarbone.

“Mm, that’s right, baby. Fuck yourself on my fingers while you stroke my cock.”

His voice makes you flood his finger even more, easily slipping another into you for a few strokes before adding a third.

“Feel full, sweet girl? Feel anything like my cock?” He whispers to you as you continue to ride his hand, moving your hips and hand faster.

“So full, J. Not as good as your cock, nothing ever is, but fuck—oh fuck! Feels so good.” Your eyes close tightly as the frays of tightly coiled rope start to break inside of you. Joel takes over as your body stills with stimulation, fucking his fingers into you quickly with wet noises while his own hips move under your grip to fuck your hand.

“Come for me, my sweet girl. Let me feel what I’ve missed about this pussy. Still mine, isn’t it?”

“Yesyesyes, Joel! Oh my god, fuck I’m coming!” You open your eyes as the last fibers of the rope snap, pleasure radiating over every nerve while he continues to move under you and inside of you. The aftershocks of your orgasm fade as he whimpers in front of you, shots of warm cum coating your hand and his stomach.

“Oh fuck, Mari…” Joel picks his head up and looks at you with a breathless laugh and smile, pressing a chaste kiss to your lips as he pulls his fingers out of you.

“I love you, my girl. Mi Mariposa. Let’s get you cleaned up and get to sleep, yeah?” 

Slumber reaches the edge of your vision, drooping your eyelids as Joel guides you to his en-suite, washing your hands for you before washing his, and wiping a warm cloth between your legs. He peppers kisses to your head, shoulders, and neck as he does it all, whispering sweet nothings as he pulls you back into his bed.

“Night, Mari.”

“Night, J…Mm, before I forget, we’re getting you new sheets tomorrow. No more navy, you’ve got a girl in your life now.”

He laughs, kissing the top of your head and holding you closer to his side as he exhales, “Sure thing, my sweet girl. Can’t have all the other ladies I randomly bring up to my room think I don’t have a woman in my life, Mariposa.”

The tone is overly sarcastic and you flick his chest half awake.

“It’s not for other women to know, it’s so I don’t feel like I’m with a junior in college. Makes you look like a frat star.”

Joel laughs louder, your head shaking with his chest moving and a smile turning your lips up, before he calms himself and strokes your spine, “Okay, okay, it is the task for the morning. We’ll pick up Sarah and head to…”

“HomeGoods.”

“Alright, HomeGoods it is. Now sleep.”

Sarah darts ahead of you both as Joel holds the door open, beelining in her Strawberry Shortcake pajamas to the first open booth she sees. Easily sliding into one side, she moves toward the wall as you two approach, patting the spot next to her.

“Posey, come sit with me!”

With a smile, you take the offered seat and look over to Joel as he settles in on the opposite side, shaking his head as he gives Sarah a playfully hurt face.

“You don’t want me to sit next to you, Bug?” he pouts.

“I wanna sit with Posey 'cause I always have to sit with you when we go places. It gets boring.”

You laugh loudly and cover your mouth when you get glares from other customers, Joel’s jaw drops for a moment before he looks at you and starts laughing as well.

“Never lose your honesty, mija.”

Sarah doesn’t seem phased by her dad’s response, moving to sit on her knees in the booth and look over the kids’ menu. Reaching up, you fluff her curls, smiling at her when she turns to look at you.

“How was the sleepover, Sare-Bear? I see you got some tinsel in your hair, it’s very pretty.”

“It was fun, but I kinda missed my stuffed animals and my own bed. I wanna have a sleepover at our house, Daddy,” Sarah looks up from the menu and to Joel, awaiting an answer. With one look at Joel, you can see the idea makes him nervous, having a handful of young girls to entertain for a whole night as a single dad. Sarah is one thing, she’s his and he can handle her attitude or boredom, but with other kids, he isn’t so sure he has a lot of tolerance.

“Um, I’m not sure, Bug. Can I think about it?” he asks with his brow furrowed, reaching across the table to nudge her arm with a smile. Sarah sighs and sits back, clearly disappointed in her father’s answer.

“Well, what about if you had a sleepover with me? I would be honored to be invited over. We could watch movies and I could do your hair or your makeup. We could paint our nails — a whole girls’ night. Plus your dad,” you turn back to Joel with a grin, winking as he chuckles.

Sarah immediately perks up, grinning wildly and bouncing in her seat, “You would come over for that, Posey? I want to have a sleepover with you. Please, Daddy, please can Posey come over?”

Joel gives you a knowing look, the secret shared between you two not living on for much longer, and he nods with a grin, “Sure, Bug. Posey can come over and stay whenever you want.”

Breakfast is filled with conversation about what you could do at said sleepover, making plans for movies, and going to the drug store to get some new nail polishes. Joel orders for the table so you can stay engrossed in conversation, and he can’t help but put a hand to his chest as he observes the two of you talking like you are best friends, despite the nearly twenty-year age difference. You treat Sarah like your own, and he reminds himself to thank you for that, someday.

When the chocolate waffles are set in front of you and Sarah, and a typical two eggs, toast, and bacon meal is laid in front of Joel, the conversation slows. After taking a sip of water, Joel faces Sarah, sharing one quick glance with you.

“So, mija, do you remember last summer when you were telling me about those classmates of yours that were boyfriend and girlfriend and they spent recess together?”

“Yeah, Luke and Katie. They are not boyfriend girlfriend anymore,” she says with an exasperated sigh, taking another bite of her waffle.

“Well, that’s too bad…Anyways, Bug, d’you remember what you told me when Posey was moving away? Like what you told me I should ask her?” You forgo your breakfast for a moment, sipping your water and darting your eyes between Joel and Sarah. She seems perplexed for a minute, tapping her chin as she thinks back in her young memory.

“I think I remember, Daddy. Why?”

Joel adjusts in his seat, clearing his throat — he’s never had to have this type of conversation with Sarah. Every woman he dated before had never gotten to this point, and after over two years of this back and forth with you, over a year of being head over heels for you, he knows it’s appropriate and that it’s time and that this is going to last until the end. If everything goes, well, how he is hoping it will go, this will be the only time he has to have a conversation like this with Sarah.

If only he knew how you were just as nervous, clammy hands gripping your condensation-covered plastic cup tighter and looking over at Sarah. Sure, she loves you, but that is as her nanny. As a family friend. Would she change her opinion if you were dating her dad? Your mind told you that you couldn’t be sure despite the way your heart was yelling at you to tell you that it would be all fine.

“I was askin’ you all this 'cause I have a big question I wanted to ask you. It’s okay to be honest, princess, I want you to know you can say whatever it is you feel, yeah?” Sarah nods in confirmation, encouraging Joel to continue, “What would you think about Posey being my girlfriend?”

“Is she your girlfriend, Daddy?” Her head whips to the side, curls bouncing as a grin grows on her face, “Are you Daddy’s girlfriend?”

The younger Miller volleys her gaze between you and Joel, eyes widened with her brows raised as she sits up eagerly. You make eye contact with Joel, nodding to him with a gentle smile.

“Yeah, mija, Posey’s my girlfriend now. Can you believe she said yes to your silly dad?” He teases and can’t help but laugh along with her as she giggles excitedly, the infectiousness of it bringing out a laugh from you.

“I’m so excited! Wait, so that means Posey is gonna be hanging out with you lots of times? And she’ll be at our house and can play with me?” Her tiny arms wrap around your bicep closest to her, leaning into your side. You drop your head onto hers and both of you look over at Joel.

“As much as Posey wants to come over, we’d be happy to have her, right Bug?” He smiles sweetly at you, holding your eyes for a lingering moment before Sarah pipes up again.

“Well, you can’t take up all the time Posey is over, Daddy, ‘cause I want to hang out with her, too.” Her arms tighten possessively and you chuckle, shaking your head.

“No need to worry about that, sweet pea,” acting as if you’re sharing a secret with her, you lean in, “Don’t tell your dad, but I think we’ll hang out the most.”

Sarah giggles at your joke, leaning back in the booth and letting go of your arm. Joel’s daughter starts to list everything she wants to do this summer, now with you instead of only her dad, and you look up to face Joel for a moment. He shrugs and smiles at you, reaching over and stealing a bite of your waffle. At your gasp, he chuckles and grins smugly, chewing the swiped sweet.

“Hey, Daddy, that’s not very polite,” Sarah reprimands, turning back to her food.

“I was makin’ sure it wasn’t poisoned, mija, just like I’m going to make sure yours isn’t too,” he takes the same from her plate, and in retaliation, you reach over and grab a piece of bacon, splitting it in half and giving one to Sarah.

“Hey! I don’t have that much bacon, y’all have massive waffles.”

“Sharing is caring. That’s what you always say to me, Daddy.”

“Yeah, J, sharing is caring. Can’t give the lesson if you can’t follow it.” You playfully stick your tongue out and Sarah imitates it, too. Joel sighs and shakes his head, leaning back in the booth.

“Is the two of you teaming up on me gonna be a thing now?”

“Yeah,” you answer at the same time as Sarah, the three of you laughing with each other.

It was bold to come to a HomeGoods on a Sunday, all of the aisles packed with people browsing on this relaxing weekend, stowing away in the air conditioning before venturing to the other stores in the commons. Sarah grips your hand, poking around the shelves while Joel stands behind you, a hand on your waist to keep you close.

The aisle filled with sheet sets is finally discovered by the three of you, excusing yourselves to the center of the aisle past a few fellow shoppers, looking up and down before facing Joel.

“Alright, your choice. Anything but plain ol’ navy, please.”

Joel’s eyes follow the same path that yours had, combing over the options before shrugging and staring down at you again.

“You choose for me.”

“Okay, that is not the point, it is still your room and your house.”

“I made choices for your room for you, sweetheart, you choose for me now,” his timbre rings in your ears as he presses his lips into the side of your head, fingertips rubbing circles in your lower back. Sarah wanders off down the aisle and Joel calls out a warning to stay where he can see her, waiting for you as you peruse the options. After some consideration, you select a thin pinstriped set and a plain white one, holding the sets against your chest.

“What d’ya think of these? Like either of ‘em?” Joel checks them out, shrugging and smiling.

“Both look great to me. You wanna look at anything else, mi amor?” He leads you out of the aisle, taking the sets and holding them under his arm. Pursuing the store, the three of you weave around aisles, checking out some other things. Sarah excitedly runs ahead to explore the kids’ section, drawn in by glitter, sequins, and bright colors. Joel takes your hand with his open one, nodding to some furniture on display.

“D’you like any of that?” You hum, turning your attention to him when you hear his question, following his gaze to the mix of pieces. Shrugging, you squeeze his hand and grab his bicep with your opposite one.

“The chair’s nice. Personally, I prefer my handcrafted, artisan bookshelf though.”

Joel scoffs and laughs a bit at your descriptors, “M’glad to hear that, the amount of splinters I got for that thing was brutal.”

“There’s literally blood, sweat, and tears put into it then,” you tease, continuing to scan over the goods, “None of this compares to a Joel Miller original.”

“I mean, thank you, sweetheart, but I do want you to feel at home with us. I’d get whatever you liked—well, maybe not something I could make 'cause it’s less expensive for me to just do it, but I want you to have a hand in our home. Make it as much of your space as it is ours.”

“I do feel at home with you both cause it’s the two of you. I mean, I didn’t really feel completely at home until I was at your place. The drawing from Sarah and Flopsy and the fact that you built my studio for me made me feel so much more comfortable, but it was like something really settled when I saw you.” 

“Y’know, I like having little reminders of you every day, darlin’. Bedsheets, stolen bites of waffle, the stuffed animals on Sarah’s bed, my watch from you,” he lifts his left wrist to show off the round face with the army green band, kissing your cheek, “And I want whatever you are willing to give me, even if it is just those tiny moments. I would be content with that for the summer; no matter where you decide to end up, I’d cherish all the small things with you.”

Looking up at him, you give his hand a gentle squeeze, “Think we both know what I’m gonna decide, J.”

taglist: @beskarandblasters @undrthelights @swiftispunk @joelsversion @asirenbyanyothername @ellenmunn @ja-ehyun @sw33tp1xie @marisemonteiroo @brunetteeras @beee-haw @jenna-mcgraw19 @whore-4-pedro @katifefe @joelmillerswifu @itsgiorgiaz @soph55 @wild-hearts-runfree @youcancallmeelle @jupitren @starkovli @thatgeminigirlx @livingdeadmaria @bunnyskisses @houseofballoonsth @casual-obsessions @pedro-pascal-lvr @bimbodolls-world @burningnerdchild @tuquoquebrute @mrsvedder12 @estelivi28 @bongsrconfusing @addictedtotlou @angie2274 @pedrostories @pedroholicx @theelishad @johnwatsn @elissaaa @felicityofbakerstreet @atinylittlepain @northernbluess @cannolighost

[gingerjolover]

happy not birthday - katie gavin (muna) x fem!reader

Synopsis: katie's gf hates her bday but loves katie <3

G's notes: i'm baaaaaaack, also its babygirl's bday everyone say hbd babygirl!!!! (y'all this isn't edited don't come for me ok?)

WC: somewhere around like 1.1k (hehe)

Warnings: RPF, negative bday talk, crying, hot girls cry on their bday, reader is afab, soft!gf coded, kissin', light touchin', no fundamental physical descriptors except hair that fingers can run thru??

It feels like a feather, soft touches moving over your neck and shoulder. Rousing you from your sleep, the touches tickle, and you hear a chuckle against your skin. Suddenly awake, eyes half opened, fingers resting on your forehead to block the sun, you only see the cracked window before turning your head and seeing your girlfriend's jawline. Katie's face in tucked into your neck, pressing small kisses and nibbles along your skin.

"G'mornin'," Katie says softly, her lips pressing to your cheek, turning your head towards her as she backs away and off the bed. From the nightstand, she grabs a chocolate cupcake, with pink and yellow sprinkles covering the mountain of frosting on top. She pulls out a lighter and lights a sparkly candle before starting to sing "happy birthday".

You groan, momentarily forgetting what day it was when she was kissing your neck to wake you up. "Katie..." you mumble, rubbing your face. You can hear them smiling as she sings, crawling onto the bed, and sitting on her knees. You sit up, your girlfriend's excitement enough to indulge her despite your feelings about your birthday. You smile softly as she finishes the song with an over-the-top elongated note. "Okay, okay, enough," you mutter, the smile widening on your face as she presses her knees to your legs.

"Thank you for indulging me, sunshine," she says as you blow out the candle, hands rubbing your eyes gently.

"You gonna take a bite?" "Now?" "Why not?"

"It's...7:30? Kay, why would you wake me up at the ass crack of dawn?" you ask incredulously, taking the cupcake from your girlfriend.

"We have plans today...don't be mad..." Katie says sheepishly, kissing your cheek and standing up from the bed.

"I don't want to do anything, baby, it's just Wednesday-" you start.

"No, it's not just Wednesday; it's your birthday, and I know how you feel about it, but I want to celebrate you. Please let me, just for today?" Katie asks, her voice almost pleading as she rifles through your shared dresser. If you weren't so annoyed by the prospect of plans, you would've commented on how pretty she sounds begging.

"Katie."

"Yes, peach?" she smirks, grabbing some jeans and a shirt and laying them on the bed before crawling over you. She takes her thumb, wiping some of the icing off your bottom lip before sucking the tip of her thumb and then kissing you softly. Your eyes struggle to open as she pulls away from your lips, lost in the taste of her.

"Don't start with that," you groan softly, finally opening your eyes and staring into her own. She chuckles softly, knowing how the nickname gets you riled up.

"I just don't get what the big deal is; it's just a birthday..." you start again, causing Katie to roll her eyes. "Fine, fine, it's not your birthday, it's just- it's just "you day," okay? So I'm gonna celebrate you, that okay with you?" they say softly, rubbing your cheeks cockily.

"Whatever," you mumble, fighting a smile as her lips move down your neck.

An hour later, you're both dressed heading out to breakfast. Katie's hand rests on your thigh as she drives to breakfast, the weather warm and sunny. You listen to the new gayotic episode while stuck in LA traffic that they recorded with Julien, turning to Katie every time you laugh at something your girlfriend or friends say. After parking, you walk into the restaurant hand in hand, your eyes immediately drawn to a large table; your friends and their partners sit, yelling, "surprise."

Your jaw drops, Kelli the first to greet you with a sneaky smile, holding a sash and a birthday headband. "Don't be mad at meeeee," she whispers before putting them on you and squeezing you tightly. Katie smiles at you, eyes shining with gratefulness as she greets Phoebe, before pulling your chair out for you. You sit across from Naomi and Lucy, Julien to the right of Lucy. You're squished between Kelli and Katie, Jo next to her girlfriend, Phoebe next to Katie, as your other friends and their partners are sitting sporadically in no real order. You fight back tears, overwhelmed but grateful. Ally squeezes your shoulders gently, kissing your cheek sweetly before putting a bag of cards and small gifts on your chair. "Happy not birthday," she says cheesily before returning to her seat next to Naomi.

After breakfast and many pictures, you and Katie head to the beach. Taking the long way, she holds your hand as she takes you the scenic route, letting you lean against the window, the breeze and sunlight hitting your face. You moved in with her several months ago and she'd been meaning to take you on a drive but with tour and the podcast, she's thankful she got you out on your birthday.

Katie sets out a blanket, leaning back against her tote bag, your head laying in her lap as you rest your eyes, her hands running through your hair gently, fingertips tracing the curves of your face. She lets you nap for a while before you both grab dinner and then head home.

You lay on the couch, your cat napping in your neck while Katie plates up your takeout. You think over today, how resistant you were to Katies eagerness to spoil you and celebrate you. The waterworks come before you can stop them. The anxiousness creeps in, getting older, the pressure of a perfect day, and unwavering attention are all things that overwhelm you. Or maybe its the opposite, it's knowing you oppose your birthday so you can't be let down. If your expectations are low enough, when people inevitably forget or plans change you can't be disappointed...right?

"Hey, hey," Katie says, crouching down next to the couch. You hadn't even noticed that she entered the room, the tears falling fast and heavy. "What's wrong, angel?" Katie asked, instantly nervous. You seemed to have a good day. They're mulling over everything they've said, thinking about where she went wrong with the minimal activities, the ones she knew you'd enjoy.

"I'm fine," you try to reassure, wiping your eyes quickly, brushing your cat's wet fur as you stare at her, giggling softly to try and wipe the concerned look off her face. "Really Katie, I'm- I'm good," you say, trying to sit up.

"Baby, don't lie. Was today too much?" Katie asks, sitting on the edge of the couch.

"No, no, I swear it was perfect I just- I'm overwhelmed, I had the best birthday that I've ever had I just don't know why I'm crying," you laugh, wiping more tears away.

Katie smiles sadly, giggling with you as she rubs your cheeks. "I'd like to make every birthday like today if you'd let me, darling,'' they say sweetly.

"Really?"

"For sure, if you'd let me," she says, her hand sliding down to interlock with yours.

"I'd like that... can we- do the beach again next year?" you ask softly,

"Yeah, baby, we can do it every year if you want," she laughs gently. "Now scooch, wanna eat and then hold you, that okay?"

"Mhm".

G's notes (again): guys im rusty lol

[theflyingfeeling]

hiiiii, here's a special olli/allu fwb headcanon delivery for you because I too am making poor time management decisions ✨💖

I've been playing with an idea where they become fwb early in 2022 and this situationship lasts for pretty much the whole year, until they confess that they caught feelings around the LA songwriting tour 😌💖

2022 US tour: it starts one night while they're the only ones awake in the tour bus, drinking mountain dew and chatting about life and music and pretty much anything that crosses their mind. One of them (maybe Aleksi) says that it's been a while since he last got laid but that his hand doesn't feel as good as the real deal, so the other (maybe Olli in one of those brain-to-mouth-not-connected moments) says that he could give a... helping hand. It's awkward at first, with both of them trying not to make so much noise as to avoid waking up their bandmates, but they get each other off and it feels better than anything they had since the tour started. They come to a sort of agreement and once in a while, when they're bored late at night or when the adrenaline from the show hasn't worn out yet, their hands would find their way around each other's cock. Not a single kiss is shared because that would be weird, right??? They're friends and they only "kiss" (as in a little peck, nothing more) when they're drunk or wasted.

2022 first EU tour: since the bus they used for this tour had a private area, their bandmates asked them to move their late night talks there, unaware of their other activities. Encouraged by the privacy, someone (most likely Aleksi) proposes the idea of exchanging blowjobs as well, to which the other agrees in a heartbeat. They swap places quite often, until Aleksi cuts his hair shorter and Olli feels betrayed (he just liked pulling on Allu's hair, can you blame him?). They experiment with other things during this time, like frotting and they only talk about the idea of fingering, but it's there to try some other time. The next night after that talk the tour is over and they have to go back home. Oh and still no kisses because its just sex, there's no need to complicate things, right?

I have an "idea" for what comes after that (finnish tour and the EU headline tour) and in the song camps 💕 jsyk they catch feelings so fucking fast but are in sweet denial about it, because they cannot accept that the other could love them back when it seems all they want is sex 😔 (even if pretty much everyone else in the band is like 'dude....... have you seen the way he looks at you?')

okay bye, gonna go back to work 😭

Noooooo come baaaaaaack I wanna hear more about them catching feelings!! 😭😭😭😭😭

Oh my god?? I mean oh my god????? I love this so much my heart is about to burst?!? 😭💞 First of all, they do seem close and comfortable enough to casually talk about sex among other topics, so it would be an easy arrangement for them to make without it feeling too weird or "wrong" but ohhhnnnoooooo maybe they didn't expect it to feel so much better than their own hand? 😌 And secondly waaaaaaaahhhhhh I can imagine them both looking forward to the "benefits" part of their nightly talks more and more every passing day, so obviously the other would be absolutely down (pun intented) for blowjobs as well 🥵 Now tell me, for I need to know because of reasons: since they're not sharing any kisses during the handjobs (or the other activities whatsoever), where are their eyes directed? 👀 Are they looking at each other's cocks (hot), admiring the other's hand stroking their own cock (also hot), or perhaps just staring into each other's eyes in a strangely intimate way with the occasional glance at their mouth maybe (devastating)?

The thought of them blowing each other and frotting in the tourbus with the added thrill of both "doing more than just handjobs" and being walked in is so hot I'm gonna pass out if I think about it too much 😳 And since they didn't get the chance to try out fingering before the tour ended, please tell me they did some experiments... solo? You know, when they were home and apart? And perhaps reported back to each other about how they liked it? 👀🥴 (leaving out the part what they were thinking about when they did that, of course, because denialllllll 😩)

I will continue headcanoning this until you spill the deets about the 'catching feelings' part, because that's very important to me personally, totally cool if you're too busy tonight though no worries at all I love you btw 🥺👉👈💗

[silverbulletofficial]

SILVER BULLET NEWSLETTER:

Well, hey guys. Been... so... long... since I've seen you all.

But I'm baaaaaaack! Back with a newsletter! And I have done so little since I've talked to you guys. Uh, let's talk about that.

So, in terms of game development, it gone backwards. However, i have gotten ideas, lots of ideas. the game is way more inspired by Omori now, and that's a good thing.

After i type out this newsletter, I'm going to begin re-coding the engine.

So, the team has a new party member! @jfjustjackie's OC: Olive Scott! Her playstyle is more like a tank. High HP, hits well. She also has a healer move.

Oh, also I have a new idea for the battle system. Have a look!

So, to explain: It's kind of like FNAF world, your attacks are always choosable, and the enemy auto attacks. You just have to know what to do and spam. And special moves like healing cost energy (or whatever name i choose), which you get by attacking and stuff.

Each character's special moves are as follows: one sort of emotion-based move (like Omori, @jfjustjackie's idea). Such as Olive's special #1, Pester, which makes the enemy's DEF low, and ATK high.

Special 2 is unique to the character, and mostly involve special things. Such as Gage's #2, Flirt, which makes the enemy unable to attack for a few seconds but costs a quite bit of energy.

Anyways, I know I said something about moving the game to Godot, but I think I will be keeping it in Turbowarp. The only reason I even thought about Godot is because it was free, and my friend kept telling me to use it. I also thought about using a RPGmaker alternative called "WOLF RPG EDITOR". But I got confused. I know Turbowarp way better than anything else, so I can do more.

Anyways, I would like to end this newsletter off with the rewritten story for SILVER BULLET.

SILVER BULLET is an RPG inspired by games like OMORI and UNDERTALE. You play as Gage, a depressed and anxiety ridden human-like thing, and Olive Scott, their always happy female roommate(?) inside of Gage's strange dreams that he uses to escape the real world, his depression, and mysterious events from his past. In the dream, he meets an old OC he made years ago: Peter, a short little guy that looks like a ball of fur.

Oh, also something is stalking Gage.

Anyways, I'm going to go sleep and tomorrow I will start working on the engine.

Demo soon?

[hellhound5925]

Cyare Verd *Beloved Warrior*

Chapter Four

We make out to the court yard and immediately Fives grabs Echo in a headlock.

"Fives...Let. Me. Go." Echo struggles under his grip for a few moments before accepting the inevitable.

Jesse laughs and seeing the look on Five's face....it's egging him on...

"Fives you really should be nicer to your vod (brother). He's ARC trooper too and I'm pretty sure he could kick your sheb (ass)." I say to him with a raised eye brow.

"Nah he wouldn't he loves me too much." Fives replies with a shit eating grin.

Echo no longer struggling causes Fives to relax his grip some.

If I was him I'd-

My thought was cut off by the loud grunt let out by Fives when Echo threw an elbow into his stomach plate.

"Nar'sheb (shove it)" Echo says with a smile now free of the grip of his brother.

I chuckle and shake my head.

Jesse having said nothing the whole time strolls over to a spot off to the side underneath one of 4 small trees in the courtyard.

I find it funny how all this permacrete and they found room for four measly little trees....homey...not

I sit down next to Jesse, Fives and Echo join. Fives and Jesse get into some debate over a woman they must have seen at 79's.

"You know, it's nice having a female around for once to keep the guys in check....not that Commander Tano isn't great, but she's not going to be around as much as you" Echo says smiling at me.

I smile back "Thanks Echo that sweet of you. I promise I'll do my best to keep your brother off your back" with the last part we both laugh.

"Thankfully usually he bothers Hardcase, being that he's the newest member of our squad but when Hardcase isn't around- which isn't often- he goes for me" Echo says.

"Oh come on! I'm a joy to he around" Fives chimes in.

"Of course you would hear you name and start listening" Echo teases.

Fives shoots him a childish look and Echo reciprocates.

"You guys remind me so much of my vode (brothers) it's uncanny" I say laughing

"I mean technically we are all the same DNA" replies Echo very matter of fact.

I shake my head "Doesn't mean you all have to get along. There were some batches I saw on Kamino that would have killed one another given the chance".

I hear a blast door slide open and pladtoid boots moving quickly across the courtyard.

"I'm baaaaaaack!!!! And I've got cards!" Yells Hardcase.

He plops himself down in our now circle. Going from left to right, it's Jesse, me, Echo, Fives, and Hardcase.

"Sabacc???" I ask.

"Well yeah that did you think we were going to play?" Fives snorts out a laugh.

"I've never actually played before" I say.

The group looks over at me in shock.

"Too busy being a Mandalorian badass to play Sabacc?" Asks Jesse.

"You can look over my shoulder for the first round if you want?" Echo asks.

"Okay yeah sure, Vor'e (thanks)!" I reply.

The boys play through a couple rounds because I was still confused after the first two with Fives and Hardcase arguing with Jesse and Echo over the rules.

"Udesii, udesii. (Calm down, take it easy)" I say over the four of them bickering.

They all look at me like they are waiting for orders. "Alright it seems like we are split here on the rules. Can we agree to disagree for now and for the sake of being able to actually play through a game AGREE on some rules for tonight" I say trying to reason with them.

Hardcase and Fives look at each other and Echo and Jesse do the same. "Fine" they all say together.

After FINALLY agreeing on a set of rules for the night....we were able to play through a round where I understood what was happening and was able to play on my own. I even won.

"OYA!!! (celebratory phrase, like hooray, has different meanings" I yell over the guys signing and Fives about ready to fall over in shock.

"Oh no no no no no, beginners luck" He says.

Echo high-fives me and laughs pointing at Fives in excitement "no longer undefeated you di'kut! (idiot)"

Fives scoffs "like I said beginners luck".

I check the time on my watch. "Osik (shit)....well boys..." I say getting up. "Looks like it's time to pack it in. Wouldn't want Rex pissed at me on the first day".

Fives quirks an eyebrows "first name basis eh?" He teases.

I cocked my head at him in confusion.

Echo even smiled "oooh not many can say they are on a first name basis with the Cap. Let alone the first day they meet him."

Hardcase and Jesse snicker.

"You're point?" I ask feeling the heat rise in my cheeks.

I mean Rex is attractive I'll give him that. Could be the blonde hair? Could be the rank? Nah I've met other clones who hold higher rank than Captain... but we just met they are reading too far into this...

I scoff and turn to head towards the blastdoors leading back to the sleeping quarters "Get some rest" I say before turning around with a smirk "That's an order" I say.

"Sir, yes sir" the boys say together lazily saluting me.

I chuckle and head inside.

When I make it to my room, I get around for bed getting caught up in my thoughts...

They seem like such a great bunch. It's so hard to believe the GAR sees them as 'expendable' they are men...all the same...yet different. The more clones I meet the more I just don't understand. They deserve lives like the rest of us...

That Captain though...I mean I guess he's cute....no....he's definitely attractive...I'm not here for that I'm here to teach them hand to hand combat skills...which are great against doids? Psh yeah right...must be they are worries about civies being 'noncompliant'....

I see myself being good friend with Fives and Echo I think more them the rest....not that they aren't worth it but something about those 2 ARC troopers reminds me so much of Ordo and Mereel....it draws me in...Echo is definitely more like Ordo. Quiet, smart, and I want to say a little up tight at times....and Fives like Mereel. To cool for the rest of us and definitely a lady killer....Fives is a little more arrogant though....

I wonder Kal'buir had made any progress.. it's not like he would tell me if he did...'you'll know when you need to know' 'it's too dangerous' 'it will be soon'.....yet here we are....

I crawl into bed and almost immediately drift off to sleep....

Masterlist

[fgs-n-chill]

Okay, but hear me out...regarding Tekken 8 season 2 DLC (a question for EVO Japan 2025).

Should the game see a guest character in a Mortal Kombat character? I find Johnny Cage a possibility, he's more or less a hand to hand fighter apart from his projectile move.

I would have Liu Kang there, but there's already a "Bruce Lee" character in the form of Marshall Law. And Scorpion or Sub-Zero have quite slim chances of being DLC guest characters, although they are popular in their own right; I doubt that their move sets can translate quite well into Tekken's (spear throws, freezing, etc).

Another possibility would be Kano, mainly because the eye beam can be used as an unlockable special (!).

Here's hoping for NRS providing their MK characters to Tekken 8's DLC packs, since Capcom and SNK did theirs in the previous installment! One can only hope.

Oh, and by the way...I'm baaaaaaack!!! 💋

[tortoisetales]

Shadow Box ... aka the return of Lynx and the debut of Tim's spiky hair look.

These guys are drawn like they were thinking, how will they know they're Asian? We'll make them all look like this: >_< And have random goons swinging katanas. I'm not going to mention all the racist stuff as it occurs but you can take it for granted that it's there.

Batman is so full of mental praise for Tim. Which I mentally read as Dixon going, please please please go along with this new Robin so we can keep the Robin book going. We won't kill him, I swear.

Love this guy mugging for the "camera".

Just in case you wanted a picture of Tim aiming a rocket launcher at Batman.

Tim not only thinks King Snake is dead, he's upset that he might not be! I feel like later Tim would not be okay with just letting Shiva kill someone like that.

Is cute.

Is cute.

I like how Tim is just constantly perching on things now:

King Snake wants to kill Tim. Those are Tim's little brother vibes at work.

Gotham actually is like what my relatives think NYC is like.

King Snake leaves a guy dead dressed as Robin--specifically Tim's Robin costume. It's so accurate. Where did he get this costume?

Granted, it does make for a better threat to be that detailed. It has to be someone who's seen Tim in action.

Batman doesn't know what he's talking about. Psychotic, no. Rage, no. It's not that easy for your average person to get a detailed Robin costume, Batman! It takes planning and effort! Granted, King Snake presumably just ordered Lynx to do it.

Ughhh, the politics of these books ... nope, moving on.

Why is even Robin drawn racistly? You know ... I'd kind of forgotten that Tim was the one who kicked him out the window? I was like, he was fine when Tim left him with Shiva ... (edit: I'm dumb.)

Tim's mad because Batman makes up an excuse about Tim's grades to force him to stay out of things while he goes out and busts up some gangs and also his ribs. I don't think broken ribs are the kind of injury where you just bandage them and then go right back to athletic activity??? Tim talks him into one night off and that's supposed to be a win??? But what do I know.

(Sometimes I just mentally assume everyone in comics heals faster than real life. Maybe that's part of the screwy timeline.)

Batman👏needs👏a👏Robin!

Lynx can keep up with Sir Edmund, the master martial artist, and really is the brains of the operation. It's not much but I'll take it. Real nostalgia is the feeling of "this woman isn't useless, good enough".

He's the one who took her eye! I hope she backstabs him.

Ah, Batman thinks King Snake has just straight up forgotten Shiva was there. Funny if true.

Yikes, Gordon is setting up a blockade around Chinatown and a curfew, but if you call it a curfew he'll throw you in jail. And the press aren't allowed to ask questions. This is the good cop.

LOL, Bruce is dumb enough to leave the Batcomputer open to his case files for Tim to stumble on when he wasn't even looking. THIS IS YOUR THIRD ROBIN! How are you still making these mistakes?

Tim is so serious about helping Batman he's threatening to drive without a license. u_u

CAPED IN THE FACE

I honestly like the way these goggles look. It's batty.

Oh, so that's why he's drawn like that. *sigh* Also why Tim was sexily touching his face.

Tim, getting his ass kicked by a woman yet again: Fuck.

This is sweet of Batman, but also ...

DC: Really! We promise we won't kill this one!! Come baaaaaaack!!!

[diary-of-a-sad-asian-girl]

2023 Review

I'm baaaaaaack. New year, new me (haven't said that before). But anyways, let's recap 2023 shall we?

Me: I continued therapy up until about April with Cherie and I just wasn't getting much out of it like I thought. Maybe it's because I wasn't trying but I also feel like Cherie wasn't really telling me anything different like in our sessions we would just talk and she would want to talk about my foodie pages which is all fine but I just didn't want to pay $20 just to talk to someone sooooo I stopped going to therapy and it was actually fine. I think I'm doing better than I was before therapy so I guess in a way it did help. I think I've accepted the fact that I'm an introvert. I prefer staying in by myself and that's okay. I think I was trying so hard not to be and be more outgoing like my dad. Which I am with people close to me, but that's just how I am. I also found that I try to match the energy and vibe of the people around me. But, I still have my socially anxious moments. Though, I don't feel it constricting me as much as before. As for fitness, I'm still in a runt. I was thinking about joining 24 hour fitness again but you know... money. I'm still hanging around the same weight but I know as I get older, the harder it is to keep weight off. Anyway, I did reach my goal of 120K in both saving and checking accounts which I'm happy about. I went to Japan for the first time in April with my family and it was absolutely magical. Hoping to travel more this year.

Work: I guess the biggest life update this year was work. I got a new position in a different department back in May. The interview process was tough and I was surprised to have gotten chosen. But, I got 10k salary increase which I was happy about and for once, I felt like I had a job with a salary that not only I but my family was happy with. Now, I don't have my dad bugging me about finding a new position. It is so much more challenging than being an admin assistant which is obviously expected. I do like what I'm doing for the most part. But, it was pretty tough towards the end of the year which I'm not used to. I do feel more satisfied and valuable and I like the people I work with. I'm actually working with a group - a team - which I haven't done since the HES days?

Relationship: Me and BJ were really tested this past year. I just felt like he was doing the bare minimum and even below that sometimes. Well he forgot my birthday which was really upsetting. He would just kinda disregard me and my feelings. And I just feel like he thinks if he just buys me dinner and drives me around, that's enough. I also think he has ADHD. He just can't seem to focus, has zero discretion and no social awareness whatsoever. I am worried about when we live together and start having kids how we'll be. But, I love him. I will continue to love him and just hope he'll be better and grow up a little more. Our place is going well. Seems to be on schedule? This may be my last full year living at home. I'm definitely excited to move out.

Hungrylilbean: HLB growth was not great this year. I think I only gained maybe a couple thousand followers on IG and TikTok. BUT, my goal was to gain 5k on lilbeanvlogs on IG and 7k subscribers which I totally surpassed. I actually got some pretty decent money from Youtube but I haven't been posting the last few months so I may lose monetization status soon... I should post more so I don't lose it because it was so hard to get it. But, with my new position, it doesn't allow me to really edit throughout the day and so my only time is at night and a lot of the time, I just wanna relax. Not write scripts or record or edit because those take time too. I do wanna get back into it this year. I do feel a bit uninspired. I really wanna try more cooking content but ugh it's so hard doing it living at home. I can't cook whatever I want for just me. And filming by myself is sooooo hard. I have no idea how food bloggers to it. Also, my stomach sucks. So the thought of eating a lot of food at my expense is so discouraging. I had a bad stomach episode towards the end of the year and it just really leaves a sour taste in my mouth when it comes to food.

One of my more recent hobbies that I started up again was reselling. Though, I'm in the negatives... but it's fun and helps pass the time and get me some side cash... kinda

Overall, this year was tough. We lost Rocky in May. My last grandparent. But, BJ's grandparents have really embraced me and it makes me so happy. A lot of highs as well. I'm excited to travel to Korea in April. I do want to do one more travel this year. BJ turns 25 this year so luckily, we can rent a car and he'll be able to drive so maybe an interisland trip. I'll be closer to 30 this year which is crazy to think about. I have high hopes for this year and excited to see how it goes. Now time to make some goals

[mk-wizard]

Dialogue in my head that was too good to keep to myself...

Starscream: That's it! I don't care about the fact that you saved my father anymore! I am NOT one of your recruits, students or underlings! You will cease and desist ordering me around or so help you, I'll- Heatwave: You'll WHAT?! The amnesty status of Decepticons on Earth is fragile enough as it is since the tension between Optimus and Rodimus! And might I remind you that unlike Cyclonus, you DO have a criminal record so technically, you're also on probation! So one false move and you're wings are clipped! Literally! Starscream:... Right now, that sacrifice seems worth it if it will get you off my back! Heatwave: You think I like having to watch your bumper? I don't! But I have to because you always get it into trouble because you either never stay out of trouble or never know when to mute it, Screamer! Starscream: You expect me to live by a human standard?! Heatwave: I expect you to live by a law abiding standard! Cody: *looks between them bickering and rolls his eyes leaving* Starscream: I DO obey the law! I just want to live as a Decepticon! Or is that criminalized on Earth too?! Heatwave: No, it's not, but how come your father, Glyph and Constructicons can follow Earth regulations and-... Aw, slag, I can't believe I'm standing up for them... Starscream: Aha! So the mask slips off! You ARE just following me around hoping I'll slip up so you can play hero! You Autobots are all the same! You think you are the standard of sainthood and every other Transformer is either a savage or a criminal! Why do I even bother playing nice when you all have already decided I'm guilty for just existing?! Heatwave: No! You're guilty because you actually committed war crimes! So spare me the victim card! Starscream: The war brought out the worst on both factions yet only Decepticons are held accountable! I would say that my "victim card" has meaning! Then again, what would YOU know?! You didn't fight in the war! You don't know the horrors I went through that forced my hand! You literally slept through it! You don't know the first thing about genuine suffering! Heatwave: *is insulted* Take. That. Back. Now! Starscream: No! Heatwave: Take it back! Starscream: I will not apologize for telling the truth! Heatwave: *rings Starscream's neck* TAKE IT BAAAAAAACK!! Starscream: *chokes and then grinds his teeth kicking Heatwave in the stomach getting himself free* How DARE you assault me! I'll rip your optics out with my bare hands! Heatwave: I'm gonna dismantle you piece by piece starting with your big voice box! And iceberg comes between them.... Cyclonus: ENOUGH!! *he turns to Starscream* Starscream, Earth was gracious enough to pardon you for your crimes. The least you can do is abide by their rules and stay out of trouble. Starscream: But, father, he- Cyclonus: I know what he did and how he sees us! You think I feel nothing when people only look at my faction and nothing else? Of course I get insulted, hurt and I hate having to constantly prove myself! But we all have to bear it until things change! Until then, be patient and conduct yourself with dignity! Do I make myself clear?! Starscream:... Yes, father. Cyclonus: And as for you, Heatwave, I stand by my words, but just because I walk the walk doesn't mean I am willing to take it sitting down! Not anymore! Heatwave: Huh?! Cyclonus: I have had enough of you circling around at my feet and everyone else's waiting for us to take one step out of line like a Sharkticon waiting to strike its prey! You never leave us alone, you call us slurs including our presence and worst of all, you encourage your own cadets to practice this behaviour! You should be ashamed of yourself! Heatwave:................. I... Cyclonus: I have reported your behaviour to BOTH Primes and they both agree that it qualifies as problematic and harassment! They are on their way in person to address your behaviour and everyone else's! I suggest you reflect and accept YOUR wrongdoings with grace *leaves and Cody is there looking at both Heatwave and Starscream with contempt before leaving*

When I remember they all in the same timeline I giggle

[2dkapsddr]

December 2nd, 2023 - Arcaea

I'M BAAAAAAACK!!!! Just in times for New Year's Eve Eve!!! Sorry for the lack of updates prior to this, school and work have been massive stressors that haven't given me time to catch up on this account in the right state of mind. But I'll probably save the cruelest of details for the notebook, and the most comforting of gaming for this account! So here I come with a small Arcaea update: I've started hiding my potential!!! A small move, sure, but a healthy one in the long run because GOD do I hate how much this punishes you for leaving your comfort zone (I guess it doesn't matter in the long run, but that's exactly why I'm turning on because I don't want or need to see it!!!

Oh, you want me to talk about the scores themselves? Why, that's not really important.... Okay, fine, but they're nothing really special. Here's a ONE POINT UPSCORE on Stratoliner FTR-9, an EX+ on Ouverture (yay!!!), and then a Stratoliner score to demonstrate how truly unplayable this game (especially Exsch charts) on Android truly is