#and not quite meeting their level of intensity. i do feel bad for them it was like putting a small cat against a tiger

[bahoreal]

enjoyed wonka. my review is that timothy candelabra was not half insane enough. there was that Wonka Glint in his eye like twice but it felt forced. with paterson joseph and mathew baynton serving absolute evil chocolatier cunt opposite him it was like timmy was in a whole different genre. they were 100% committed, singing about chocolate fraud like if their fan dance wasn't sexy enough their chocolate monopoly would crumble and tim reacted like hwuh? like girl if you are not going to commit to the chocolate is life chocolate is love chocolate runs this damn town genre why are you here!

[aphrogeneias]

Rockstar!Eddie who has a crush on assistant!reader and has her running after him, after he comes to her with long list of demands and requests, only he doesn't really need her help at all, it's just an excuse to see her.

“These guys realize they're not Sabbath, right?” Rick sighs, “Like, what the fuck is this?”

Your boss barely even moves from where he's sprawled over one of the lounge chairs by the pool. When you arrived, he had to dismiss the girl that was sitting with him — on him, really — just to have you hand him the handwritten note without any preamble.

You don't know what to say.

“I, uh… I have no idea. Some roadie delivered me this and literally ran off. I think it's a prank, honestly.” You sigh.

It's a handwritten list of dressing room demands. A fur rug, expensive champagne, only red M&M's… the list went on. Quite ridiculous for a band on their first solo tour, playing on small venues across the country. Quite ridiculous for anybody.

To be honest, it disappointed you a little. You like these boys, which was more than you could say about the bands you've worked with in the past. Corroded Coffin came from nowhere, and while they aren't going anywhere soon, they are happy to just do whatever it takes to play their music, and you respect that.

This isn't very much like them.

Rick pinches the bridge of his nose, before pulling his sunglasses up, straightening them on his eyes. HE doesn't look directly at you as he gives you the piece of paper back, a silent dismissal. “Check it out with Munson. This bullshit has got his goblin little fingers all over it.”

You're happy the older man doesn't see how flustered you get at the mention of Coffin’s frontmen, and you're even happier to scramble out of there to hide the nervous smile that dares to rise to your lips.

Eddie Munson makes you nervous, more than you'd like to admit.

It's either his intense stare, those deep brown eyes that seem to know everyone's every secret — and you don't doubt they might — or the general aura of danger he exudes. Or, even, the sweet dimpled smile he tried to hide behind his hair, or the doodles he made during long meetings, or…

Maybe it's all of these things, but truth be told, it's probably also the way he makes you feel like you're the only person in the room when he looks at you, when you were supposed to be invisible beside Rick while he does his job.

You wonder if he does that to every girl he meets.

The elevator and the halls are a blur until you reach his door. Room 707, and you can hear the low strumming of an unplugged guitar from the inside, something that sounds like blues. You almost forget to knock, but when you do, the sound stops.

Eddie answers the door, then. “Oh, hi.”

The shirt with the cropped sleeves he's wearing shows off his arms, and the tattoos adorning it. You try not to stare at them as he holds the door open, not sparing you of his charming smile.

“To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?”

Instead of answering with the same sweetness, you get too ahead of yourself. “Is this a prank, Munson?”

You hand him the piece of paper back, and his expression changes immediately. A pink flush rushes over his cheeks, and he stares at it, as if he suddenly can't keep meeting your eyes.

You'd never seen him like that.

“Oh. Uh. Not a prank, no…” He stumbles over his words, letting out a nervous chuckle. “It's a…”

“Because it's gotta be a joke, and a bad one at that.” You stand your ground. “We couldn't even do that if we had a big budget, but with the one we have? You're lucky we even have water and towels at most venues…”

“It's not a joke, I promise. It's just that…” He interrupts your rant, looking away and sighing, then he moves closer, narrowing his eyes. “Can I level with you?”

“Please do.” You cross your arms, trying not to seem intimidated by his closeness.

“I didn't know how else to get your attention."

Your eyebrows shoot up, “You what?”

“I figured that if I wrote something stupid enough, Rick would send you to confront me because he doesn't have the balls to do it himself,” Eddie's flustered expression recovers into a confident grin, “and I was right.”

Swallowing back the nervous butterflies that seem to fly from your stomach and overflow through your body, you breathe out. “You thought you needed all this just for me to talk to you?”

“It worked, didn't it?”

You take a step back, trying to understand what just happened. His grin is infectious, because you smile despite yourself. “Next time, just say something. You'd be surprised.”

As you start walking away, backwards, still looking at him, Eddie gives you an unreadable look. He nods, though, lips trying to fight a bigger smile. “Next time?”

“For any professional inquiries, of course."

Finally, you turn your back, making your way back to the elevator. You meant what you said, but you know that's not what he meant.

"Professional. Sure."

The door clicked shut once again.

[ryescapades]

can't get enuff of loserumi 🤤 could i get loserumi and an equally as loser reader whos also a captain so captain meetings r literally just them jabbing at their match histories together itd be funny i think

genre/warning: ooc narumi maybe, not proofread!! a/n: took me quite a while to come up with something, sorry for the delay anon!

there is an unusual air in the room. ashiro can't explain what it is but it is there. when she first entered the conference room, it was like a menacing vacuum just sucked out all the oxygen inside, making the room feels almost tight to breathe in. she glances around, taking note of the people occupying the room.

"what are you lookin' around for, captain ashiro?" hoshina asks, glancing at his superior curiously. ashiro startles, not expecting her vice-captain to notice her darting eyes. "nothing really. it's just... do you feel that?" she can't help but to ask.

hoshina seems to contemplate for a moment, processing her question before a tiny smile appears on his face. "ah, you mean the strange atmosphere in this room? it's just the usual division-rivalry happening during every meeting that we have. though i heard just recently that two particular divisions are keeping a serious tally on their records."

ashiro tilts her head in confusion, "it was never this intense before, though?"

the swordsman only chuckles slightly, eyeing the way two distinct pairs of eyes are sending glares at each other across the room. "well, you'll see soon enough."

˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

ashiro doesn't need to wait long.

fifteen minutes right after the conference meeting ended, there's already a commotion going on as she and hoshina enter the mess hall. the sight of two division captains; you and narumi having a stand-off in the middle of the hall greets them.

"well, well, well, if it isn't the captain narumi himself. have you managed to get past my shooting score yet, captain?" you drawl, crossing your arms as your words directly hit the mark.

narumi bares his teeth, "excuse me?! how about we talk about your combat power first, captain y/n." he spits. a tick mark seems to appear on your head. "oh yeah? you better watch your back, narumi. i'll reach full power soon enough and when the time comes, you're gonna eat your words," you seethe.

"as if! you couldn't even reach my level of hand-to-hand combat, could you?" narumi laughs mockingly, making you roll your eyes and scoff, "and you couldn't reach my level of marksmanship. get off your high horse, buddy."

"we hold the highest records for both of those categories, ya know?" hoshina suddenly chimes in, making both you and narumi turn your head so fast the third-divisioners are worried about the possibilities of you getting a whiplash.

"HAAHH?!" the two of you snarl, glaring at the intruder. hoshina only grins toothily and gives a casual shrug. ashiro who's been standing quietly beside her second, blinks in the midst of her engrossed stare.

"so it was them in the conference room earlier?" she lowly mutters, continuing to watch you two go back to bickering with each other.

though for some reason, curiosity begins to fill her once again, along with a newfound incredulity when narumi points a finger at you, "midnight it is then! you better be there or else!!"

so they're gonna go at it tonight? ashiro thinks.

still with your arms crossed, you haughtily narrow your eyes, "tch, i'm gonna beat your ass up so bad in mario kart you're gonna go to sleep crying after!" you snap.

the third division captain falters in her steps when the words finally register in her head. wait, mario kart...?

©🅁🅈🄴🅂🄲🄰🄿🄰🄳🄴🅂. do not steal, translate or repost my work anywhere else !

[mysterystarz]

silk sheets

ryomen sukuna x gn!reader

in which you end up back at a good friend’s place and realize that you need him just as much as he needs you

warning: mentions of alcohol/drinking, one mention of sleeping beauty but as a joke, sukuna may be slightly ooc, a tad suggestive

a/n: forgive the bad writing i’m thinking thoughts

dedicated to @seeingivy bc ronnie is the best writer ever <3

you weren’t quite sure how you got here tonight.

instead of waking up to your normal chaotically organized nightstand, you’re met with an immaculate one with an artfully placed alarm clock instead.

you turn slightly, aware of the way that the silk sheets brush your legs as you sit upward. your head throbs for a moment as you try to recollect where you were.

one moment you were dancing the night away at this hot spot club yuuji swore was fun. you drank to your hearts content and danced til the music was injected into your veins. those vivid lights, those flashing colors — they were all a part of you.

the next moment you’re here, lying alone in a bed of rouge colored silk sheets, wondering who would’ve led you here on a night like this.

“ah, sleeping beauty’s awakened.” you hear from the doorway.

sukuna’s smile is beautiful even in the darkness.

it was almost like a beacon of sorts, the way he lit up the room as soon as he stepped in. you feel the shift in the atmosphere — as if he’s suddenly introduced some variable that the very air wasn’t able to comprehend.

you couldn’t comprehend him either. while he and your best friend shared their pink hair in common, that was the end of the similarities. you’d spent too much time with sukuna not to acknowledge his appeal.

if yuuji was the blinding light, sukuna was the soothing dark.

“sukuna,” was all you said, averting your eyes from the doorway. “nice to see you”

he chuckled lowly, walking in slow steps to where you sat on the edge of what was undoubtedly his bed. he kneeled to the floor, eyes level with your own.

“where’s this shyness coming from?” he asked, tilting your head towards him. “you weren’t so shy earlier tonight.”

you felt your face flush, though you could quite recall what led you to this position. “what did i do?”

“don’t remember?” he laughed softly. “you were all over me.” he leaned closer to you, his breaths fanning across your face. “you said you were in love with me.”

“what? i would never!” you argued, suddenly all too aware of how close he was. you tried to move, but his bare arms caged you to your seat.

“why not?” he asked, “is it so horrible to want me?”

“ you must’ve drank tonight.” you murmur. “you’re tipsy.”

he sighs, before gently looping an arm around your waist and maneuvering you to his bed. he hovered patiently on top of you before pressing his forehead against yours.

“you’re insufferable,” he breathes into your neck. “do you know how long i’ve been thinking about you?”

your face is on fire now as you grip the sheets in the hopes of grounding yourself.

sukuna and you were friends. hell—you were on your way to best friends. he understood your complexities in the way that nobody else could. if he wasn’t this attractive, you would’ve already dubbed him one of your closest.

but everything about sukuna made that impossible. from his devilish grin to his muscled physique to the way he had an underlying softness to him, sukuna was the amalgamation of everything you’d ever wanted in a man.

no wonder everyone fell in love with him.

you swore you weren’t one of them, and yet, here you were.

“we’re friends,” you gulped, meeting his eyes. “let’s not ruin it because of some….crush.”

he sighed again, meeting your eyes with an intensity you’d never seen from him. “nothing about this is a crush. i’ve dreamt and dreamt of the day that i’d have you beneath me like this, wondering if there was ever a chance you felt the same.”

you were breathless. pinned under his gaze, there was nothing you could say.

“and you,” he whispered, placing a chaste kiss on your neck. “continue to tease me.”

“what?” you practically shake. “i don’t tease.”

sukuna nibbles your neck ever so slightly, and every argument you’ve ever had flows out the window.

“everytime you look at me there’s some sort of admiration there. every time we’ve gotten takeout, you’re always first to make sure we’ve got everything to make it comfortable for a movie.”

he pulls away for a moment to look at you, really look at you, and you’re a puddle beneath him.

“i do love you.” you finally admit, beaming up at him. “i love you more than anyone sukuna.”

he hasn’t seen anyone more perfect than you.

he pulls you into his embrace, and you’re filled with the overwhelming feeling of being loved.

“tomorrow,” he mumbles into your neck, “give me permission to kiss you breathless.”

[blindmagdalena]

Resignation

Summary: 18+ 1.5k homelander x reader, established relationship, dirty talk, thigh riding, grinding.

After you have a particularly rough day at work, Homelander offers you some sound career advice, and a little stress relief.

spiritual successor to Customer Service, but stands alone. this is for everyone who's sick of this capitalist hellscape, and the crummy jobs we're forced to work to survive. not proofread, we die like men. 🖤

Another day, another dollar, another near meltdown.

You spend most of your commute home trying to pull yourself together. After the day you’ve had at work, the last thing you need to do is burst into tears before you even made it home. It’s taking everything in you to keep it at bay.

There’s just something about you that apparently screams Hey! Abuse me! in the workplace.

At least you’ve got something to look forward to when you get home.

Or rather, someone.

“I’m home,” you announce tiredly, stepping inside. You kick your shoes off, and despite your mood, you smile at the pair of tall red boots that sit next to them. It took some convincing to get him to take them off consistently, but ever since he’s started spending more and more time hiding out at your place, you’ve insisted on some ground rules

“Living room,” Homelander calls back.

Walking in, you find him crouched in the living room, staring at your cat with a level of intensity you’re not sure what to make of. “Uh, something going on here?”

“Yep,” he answers evenly. “Asserting dominance.”

You watch your cat blink slowly before lazily rising, stretching into a wide yawn, and hopping down to greet you. Homelander stands, scoffing triumphantly. “I won.”

“Uh-huh,” you give back distractedly, bending down to scritch your cat's ears.

“Hey, what’s up?” He asks, frowning as he approaches. “Your eyes are all red.”

“Hard day,” you tell him, readily accepting his encroaching embrace. You sink easily into his arms, noting that his gloves are off today. That’s new. You slip your arms around his neck, your body tired and heavy as you trust him with the full weight of it. He holds you up effortlessly.

He exhales a huff of hot air right by your ear that gives you goosebumps. “Quit,” he says, his voice set low.

“That’s what you always say.” “Because I mean it,” he shoots back fiercely, pulling away to meet your gaze. “Quit. Fuck those assholes already. You don’t need them. You have me,” he says, reiterating a conversation the two of you have had at least a dozen times now.

Money is nothing to him. He could buy you out for three times your salary for the rest of your life with his pocket change.

“I can’t just not work,” you say, pulling your hands down from his neck to lay flush on his chest. “I need my job.”

“The only thing you need is me,” he stresses again, kissing you. He always feels like he’s restraining himself when he touches you, holding himself back from moving too hard, too fast, from devouring. It’s thrilling to lose yourself in. “Why do you insist on tormenting yourself?

Stomach fluttering, you can’t help but laugh at the slight petulance that slips into his voice. “Because if I give up and let you take care of me, you might get bored, and then I’ll have nothing,” you say, and though you mean to make a joke of it, to fill your voice with playful whimsy, the confession lands harder than you expected it to. You’re tired, you’re stretched thin, and as your own words sink in, you realize just how bad it’s gotten.

Homelander withdraws, leveling you with a look that confirms it: that wasn’t a joke, and neither of you are amused.

You blink several times, suddenly speechless. “I…” You realize your eyes are burning again, and with every blink, your vision gets more bleary. “I just meant…”

“Do you really believe that?” He asks, his brows pinched.

“No,” you answer reflexively, voice too sharp even to your ears. “No, not that… I don’t know, I was trying to make a joke, but maybe… I don’t know. I get scared sometimes,” you say carefully, trying desperately not to spill the tears gathering in your eyes. “That someday I’m not going to be enough because y–”

His lips meet yours before you can continue, muffling the rest of your sentence. His hands are impossibly warm as they sweep up your back, eventually cupping either side of your neck. He kisses you like he’s starving, like he needs the taste of you to breathe, like he would die without you. He kisses you until your brain feels foggy and there’s a dull throb between your legs.

“You’re ridiculous,” he all but growls against your lips, thumbs stroking your cheeks. “I’m not going to get bored. Good fucking luck getting out of this one,” he says, slipping a hand to the back of your neck and squeezing for emphasis. You shiver, your tears lost in the wake of the slow rolling heat moving through your body. “Besides, you know damn well you’re the one who’ll be taking care of me.”

You can feel his smirk against your lips, and you laugh unexpectedly, the sound of it bordering on the sob you had very nearly fallen to. “You need a babysitter now?”

“Why, are we roleplaying? That’s pretty naughty,” he purrs.

“Stop it,” you laugh, pushing his face away, but he doesn’t relent. 

“What? Sexy babysitter could be fun,” he says, kissing a trail up your neck.

“Pervert,” you accuse, turning your face to kiss him. He accepts greedily, tongue slipping between your lips. You sigh a soft moan into his mouth, which only encourages his hands to wander even more, eventually settling on your ass. Without warning, he grabs tight and hauls you up, hitching your legs around his waist, swallowing up the startled gasp you give.

He settles down onto the couch, and maneuvers you until you’re straddling his thigh. You can feel the magnitude of his strength thrumming between your legs, pressed up tight against that same throbbing heat he ignited in you with those fervent kisses.

Cupping your face, he pulls you down for more of the same.

“Go ahead,” he says against your lips, his own curved into a gloating smile. “Grind. I can smell how bad you want it.” His voice is low, as coarse and sweet as raw sugar. His words hit you like a punch to the gut, worsening the pulse of your need.

Immediately, you start to rock your hips, grinding down against him. He rewards you with a hand on your thigh, squeezing as it slides slowly higher, his thumb skirting along your inner thigh. “No more stress,” he murmurs, the words warm on your lips. “No more tears. Just you… with me… mine.”

The way he rumbles that word against your ear sends a shiver trilling up and down your spine, the heat at the center of you spiraling up, up, up, blossoming throughout your entire body. He flexes his thigh and gives you one sharp little bounce on it, wringing a moan out of you. You roll your hips faster, tightly clenching your thighs on either side of his. You push both hands up into his hair and hold on tight, panting into the crook of his neck.

Homelander slips both hands back to your ass, gives a generous squeeze while he helps your body move, rolling it in time with the way he flexes and occasionally bucks his thigh against you. “Say it. Say you’ll quit, and you’ll be all mine,” he demands softly, grip flexing on you. There’s a neediness at the edges of his voice. “Give me that. Give me you.”

You screw your eyes shut, keening breathlessly. The grind of fabric against sensitive skin is almost too much, too dry, but it’s fucking good, too. You’re getting wetter and wetter, losing yourself to the relentless pace he sets for you, and the hungry way he kisses at your throat. 

“C’mon. Give it up. Give me everything. M’never letting you go,” he pants, at which point you realize he’s also grinding against your leg. The arousal–the sheer animalistic need–in his voice makes your stomach flip, and with one last shuddering noise, you’re coming against his leg, moaning loud in his ear as the wave of pleasure slowly wrings out every last bit of tension that you had been holding onto.

You collapse against him, your arms hanging limply around his neck. He nuzzles at your jaw, kissing a trail to your lips. You reciprocate lazily, your eyes closed as you luxuriate in the aftershocks of the unexpected release.

“Quit,” he whispers persistently, lips pressed to the corner of your mouth. “We’ll take care of each other.”

“This is playing dirty,” you slur, feeling stupefied in your post-orgasm haze.

“Oh, I’m just getting started,” he says, taking your hand from around his neck, and slipping it between his legs. You bite your tongue. Christ, he runs fucking hot. Even through the fabric of his suit, you can feel the throb of his cock. “You’re gonna be writing your resignation letter in my cum by the end of the night.”

You make a sound somewhere between a laugh and an unsteady moan, clenching against his thigh. “Okay,” you say, lifting your head to kiss him. “Prove it.”

Much to Homelander’s delight, you submit your notice of resignation the very next day.

[shunin-gumis]

Netaro Initial SSR Story

Netaro's Soulmate Search, Group Date Edition (Part 1)

Any notes with a * are at the bottom!

Also Netaro has a unique style of speaking, I hope it was conveyed in the TL 😭😭

Netaro: Beatrice, oh Beatrice~ Where art thou~?

Momiji: Woah!? Netaro-kun!?

Netaro: Your good work is appreciated, Doudou~* Does writing up that report take up all your attention?

Netaro: Knock after knock and without a response, I simply couldn't wait any longer. So I had no choice but to break in.

Momiji: I-is that so... Sorry about that.

Momiji: Um, what was it about.... Beatrice?

Momiji: If I recall correctly... you're searching for your other half.... Your "Fate", right?

Netaro: Bingo~ You deserve a gold star!

Netaro: For the sake of this new dream I have discovered on this planet, I have been pointing my antenna this way and that on the daily, but alas-

Netaro: It is not enough! Simply put, I am severely lacking in new encounters! I must acquaint myself with a much larger scope of humans~!!

Momiji: Meeting more people huh... How about something like a group date?

Netaro: Group date?

Momiji: Yeah, it's something like a party where people gather to form new relationships. I heard that Liguang's little sister would be hosting one soon.

Netaro: Ooh~ Group date, a group date! It has an interesting echo indeed!

Netaro: Now that we have decided, it is time to intrude upon Luu-li!Let us depart, Doudou!

Momiji: Woah, wait! At least let me save my report!!

Momiji: ... And that's the current situation.

Liguang: ...

Netaro: Why do you look so displeased?

Liguang: ... It should be obvious.

Liguang: Since LinXing is hosting the event, I'm certain she would be pleased to have more participants join.

Liguang: But when said participant is you...

Netaro: I cannot help but get the feeling that you think quite poorly of me...

Netaro: How about this, if you would allow my participation, I could make these fluffy twin-eared critters even fluffier and cuter than ever!

Liguang: Try and lay a finger on them, I'll make sure you regret ever being born.

Netaro: You would make me regret my birth over something like this?

Momiji: Um, well, can you let him in just this once? I'll be with him too.

Momiji: ... I was the one who brought it up in the first place, I'll take responsibility for it.

Liguang: ... I'll allow it since it's your request.

Momiji: Thank you very much.

Liguang: However, Yowa.

Netaro: Oyo?

Liguang: If I hear that you caused trouble for LinXing or the other participants, we will need to have a "talk".

Netaro: Goodness, that Luu-li fellow. He need not be so dramatic about it. I am, as always, doing my best to stay on the same level as you humans.

Netaro: Oh well. Group date, group date~ I am bursting with anticipation~

Momiji: Netaro-kun looks like he's in a good mood. I'm glad I suggested this.

Momiji: But I get what Liguang-san was concerned about.

Momiji: Although everyone at HAMA Tours is used to Netaro's eccentricity, there's no way to know how people meeting him for the first time would react...

Momiji: I should try out some questions with him.

Momiji: Um, Netaro-kun, what are your hobbies?

Netaro: Nnn... As of recently, dramas and movies have been occupying my time, I enjoy them quite a bit.

Momiji: Oh! That's a pretty solid response, maybe it'll be ok-

Netaro: It is a splendid observation log for human nature indeed. Witnessing humans destroy themselves over intense feelings of love and hatred.... it is simply delectable.

Momiji: ...What are your favorite foods?

Netaro: Meat buns! Firefly squids are a no-go, they remind me too much of a superior of mine and make my stomach churn. Those eyes especially...

Momiji: ........ How about a special skill?

Netaro: I must say I am quite skilled at inventing amusing gadgets! My latest masterpiece is a glove that can squirt out orange juice indefinitely from the fingers-

Momiji: Stop, Netaro-kun. Just, stop.

Momiji: This is bad! I can't let him participate at this rate!

Netaro: Whatever is the matter? Would you have preferred it squirt out udon instead?

Momiji: That's not it. We need to practice on your Q&A skills today!

Momiji: The better you get at interacting with others, I'm sure it will better your chances at meeting your Beatrice too.

Momiji: I'll accompany your practice too.

Netaro: Doudou is kind indeed~

Netaro: Yes, I shall redouble my efforts as well. Time to level up my speaking skills and aim to be the top conversationalist master~!!

Momiji: That's the spirit!

Momiji: Hmm, first, let's talk to Kinari-kun who's sitting right there.

Netaro: Roger~

Netaro: Nari, I think it would crack me up if we could get laser beams to shoot out of your eyes, but do you mind if I sit next to you?

Kinari: There is an error in communication. I fail to understand the logic behind your sentence.

Kinari: However... A beam is worth considering if it would help me protect Master from any villains. Please give me a detailed explanation.

Momiji: No, you really don't have to do that.

Momiji: The road ahead is going to be a long one...

Notes:

Netaro's nicknames

Doudou is the nickname Netaro has given Chief/The protagonist. I believe the origin of the term is from French, and there are two interpretations of his usage for it. One is where it's used as a term of endearment for a partner, and the other is where it literally translates to a soft piece of fabric or a cuddly toy, implying that Netaro finds the Chief a comforting presence. As far as I've seen, we don't see exactly when or why he gave this nickname to Chief, he simply started using it in the main story and no one showed any surprise.

Luu-Li is Netaro's nickname for Lu Liguang

Nari is Netaro's nickname for Kinari.

Part 2

[illiicits]

Everything will be okay

Hi everyone!

I would like to start by saying this was very quickly read through and I wrote this while I was at work lol. So I’m sorry if it makes no sense or there are really bad mistakes. I’ll try to come back and fix them. Thank you for reading it and I hope you like it!

Warnings: Azriel x Female reader, some slight dirty talk (not that much), sexual scenes 18+, some cuteness between Az and reader, use of Y/N.

Word count: 5060

┆.➶ ˚ ˚ · • . ° . ˚✧ . ➶ ˚ ˚ · • . ° . ˚✧ . ➶ ˚ ˚ · • . ° . ˚✧ ┆

┆.➶ ˚ ˚ · • . ° . ˚✧ . ➶ ˚ ˚ · • . ° . ˚✧ . ➶ ˚ ˚ · • . ° . ˚✧ ┆

You couldn’t help but envy the beautiful Acheron sister’s. In your opinion Feyre was enough. The Acheron female had infested your beautiful home with something you couldn’t quite understand. You got along just fine with the women, Often hanging out and lending your time to entertain her when she calls. Close friends is what you’d say you are with feyre though mostly one sided at times, on your part.

When the inner circle went to hybron everything went down hill. Chaos was the only word you could describe the event with.

Utter chaos.

Nothing went the way anyone thought it would; especially when evil human queens decided to play with life all for nothing. When two more Acheron sisters showed up out of nowhere you didn’t think much of the effect either of the two newly added children would bring to the inner circle.

When Hybren pulled his stupid little cauldron stunt you were at a disbelief that two arguably already pretty girls turn into stunning gorgeous women.

Watching both the girls stand soaking wet amazed you. The whole experience was a sight to see.

You didn’t not envy the two newly fae women. While beautiful and elegant looking none of the fae could come close to comparing to your kind.

You, yourself, are of rare beauty and pure power. Something the creatures of the world wouldn’t understand if you explained in detail.

You watched sweet little Elain find her mate right away. You watched the fire, hatred filled Acheron sister find her lover too. You couldn’t help the displeased look cross your face at that time. You couldn’t help but to slightly hate the two young sisters who suddenly became so in your face, much like Feyre. You had set aside and locked away your possessive side for Feyre regarding Rhys.

You never had any romantic relationship or feelings towards the high lord. He simply became family after he saved you years ago. You were possessive of all the inner circle, Rhys, Mor, Amren, Cassian, and Azriel. They all were Your family. People you loved and people who returned the love back.

You got along with all of them. Bickering with Cassian, and Mor. Shopping with Amren at times when she could handle socializing with the group, and bringing her food supply when needed.

Azriel though, was a whole other level. We sat in silence in the library, we bickered , we fought and argued. We dance in Rita's, something the shadow singer is not fond of doing and he’d sing with me, though very rarely during the dead of night. When we both happened to meet on a balcony or rooftop of the home.

We’d sneak glances and run off to hide away from the world for a little when things got boring or too intense at times.

His shadows grew fond of you, often eloping you in them and seeking you out when you’re close enough to the shadowsinger. Sometimes, you swear you could hear them whispering the faintest of words to you. Nothing you can fully make out but by the way they were acting you could guess good things.

During Ameranthas rule Az’s demeanor changed. Always brooding, always grumpy, always looking for work; for ways to rescue Rhys. Trying to find a way to sneak in and get him out, maybe even burn the whole damn mountain too. It had killed him during the first couple years the high lord was gone. It took little piece from Azriel.

But somewhere in the last 50 years your relationship flipped. Not somewhere, you remember the night you had crossed the border of friendship into something more. When your whole life changed.

It started in the first few years Rhys was under the mountain. During Starfall.

┆.➶ ˚ ˚ · • . ° . ˚✧ . ➶ ˚ ˚ · • . ° . ˚✧ . ➶ ˚ ˚ · • . ° . ˚✧ ┆

“Azriel! Azriel!” You shouted down the hall trying to keep up the pace of one foot in front of the other. It was proving difficult to do in your lilac floral covered gown. One you had gotten just to impress the damn man, one you had gotten just for this star fall.

“Azriel, you big Illyrian baby! Stop running away.” You called to the shadowsinger, a tall frame descending down the hall. A door joining the hallway had slammed shut, you knew it was his bedroom. The only time you went in it was when he had invited you, so you both could share the silence. When he did invite you into his room you’d both more times than not just sit reading out on his balcony or watch the stars shine over the city.

Coming to a halt at the dark wooden door, you stood there hand on the handle catching your breath. You damned your shoes in your head reaching down your leg to your ankle where the straps of your heels sat. Unbuckling them you gathered the pair in your hands and swung open the door.

Az hadn’t turned the lights on yet leaving you slightly blinded by the darkness that engulfed his living quarters. You knew the layout well enough and with the faint glow of the stars leaving traces of light flowing through the arches dividing the bedroom and the balcony, you made your way towards the handsome man.

You sucked in a little breath of cold air, cooling the slight burning sensation you had endure running to catch up. Stopping for a second to take the sight in, you watched Azriel wings flutter with irritation, watched how his back rose and fell with each heavy huff of cold air he let through to his lungs. His back was facing you, top half of his body leaning over the railing his forearm most definitely crossed. He lifted his head and stared at the sky for a couple moments.

He looked transcendent under the starlight. His shadows circling around his shoulders, across his wings, his back, sneaking around his ankles and legs.

Your Eyes narrowed in on the winged Illyrian. You stomped your way over to the tall form. Halfway there you threw one shoe at his back. “What the hell was that Azriel?” You question throwing the next shoe right after. They hit him with a thump and then fall to the ground with a clack.

“I can’t believe you did that!” You yelled in disbelief. “On all the nights, you decided to get moody and be a jerk, you had to pick His favorite holiday, you had to pick the one night we celebrate regardless of him being gone” your frustration rang out into the night stars.

You stopped behind him. Expecting him to hold out longer, but his voice filled the air. “Go away.” Az’s voice felt like it fluttered out into the night air. “No, I’m not leaving, you’re acting like a brat!” You voiced. “ a- a dick! You could easily have ruined the entire night for everyone.” You argued back letting a huff of air leave your lips at the end.

“For fuck’s sake Y/N” he spat out turning around qucikly to face you. “Learn to quit, learn- learn to stop being so goddamn stubborn and pushy!” He yelled back frustrated, running his hand through his hair.

You stood there searching his anger filled eyes. Looking at a man so clearly broken, looking at someone who his whole life hid his pain and suffering from the rest of the world, the rest of the inner circle.

You watched him suck in air and blow it out quickly. His chest rising and falling each time he took a deep breath. Your eyes softened at the sight.

You reached out slowly grabbing a scared hand in yours, “Az, I know it's hard. I know you wish you could do something, anything at all to save him, to - to bring him home.” You spoke softly, barely a whisper afraid the shadowsinger would bolt if you decided to speak full volume again.

“You-” a sigh left your glossed lips. “You need to let go sometimes Az”.

“I don’t.” He replied harshly. “It’s my JOB to be aware, to- to protect everyone.” He ripped his hand from yours stalking towards a lounger.

“I have to keep searching for a way. It shouldn’t be taking me this long to find a way to save him Y/N.” Azriel plopped down on the edge of the lounger. "I'm trying and I’m failing.” He admitted placing his arms on his knees and his head between them.

Your heart ached seeing this warrior so wounded. After fighting battles and doing some of the hardest spying, seeing some of the worst things, hell experiencing the worst. He still feels that everyone else’s trauma is bigger than his.

Walking towards the warrior you reached out and grabbed his hands again. Holding both of them to your chest. “Azriel listen to me.” You spoke trying to comfort your favorite shadowsinger. “You need to let go, you need to learn to live your life sometimes.” You pleaded softly. “I know, trust me, I know that it’s killing you not being able to save him, we all feel like that Az.” You admitted squeezing his hands a little. “We just- we just, I don’t know, we still live. It’s hard and we all are still trying to figure out a way, but azriel you’re not doing anything to help yourself. You stress and stress with no way of lightening the load, or- or even to just relax for a little bit.” You claimed staring down at the beautiful man.

Azriel looked up at you staring into your eyes. He searched your beautiful face. Debating on if he should continue with his delightful thoughts that somehow snuck into his mind. Even though just moments ago he was upset and angry with himself. When you bent down to meet his eyes he caught a glimpse of your cleavage being shown off, more so tonight in the dress you wore than other outfits.

You wanted him to let go and to relax for tonight he could do that. He already knew what he wanted, and has wanted for a little while. He just never wanted to cross that boundary with you. He never wanted to keep something so safe yet completely corrupt in his life. And maybe it was the way you cared for him or maybe it was finally the realization that Rhys may never come home and he should just go for it because he no longer knows if you could disappear next, Or maybe, just maybe it was the tasty fairie wine he consumed earlier that he finally let go of his worries.

“Ok” Azirel's deep voice reached your ears.

“Okay what?” You questioned back. Running your fingers over is his hands you hold in yours. Small delicate fingers tracing rough scarred skin. Azriel even in your heels, that lay by the fence where he stood before, towered over you. The man very much was a giant which worked well for his job for the night court.

Anyone in their right mind should be scared in general of the warrior that sat before you, but you never once had experienced that terrifying feeling people claim they give him. You’ve never once felt like azriel would hurt you. You knew no matter what that him and his shadows would do everything in their power to keep you safe. You don’t know why you felt like that with him. More so than anyone else. You always passed it off as a gut feeling, or being extremely well in tune and good friends.

His voice cut through the small gap of silence that fell between you two. “Ok” he’s hands pulled out of yours.

His hands he had just removed from yours slowly moved to grab the sides of your hips. Bunching the lilac covered dress. You sucked a sharp breath in, air filling your lungs as you looked down at the godlike man with a questionable look casted in your eyes. Hazel eyes filled with lust looked over your face glancing down to your chest that looked bustier than you normally do, then they trailed back up to meet yours.

Heat quickly traveled across your body and up to your cheeks tainting them a light pink. Az hummed, a deep dark sound of approval when he looked at you.

“Will you help me relax tonight Y/N?” He questioned pulling on your hips; bringing you between his knees. His scarred hands lowered to rub the sides of your thighs. Heat began to pull between your thighs as you breathlessly responded to him. “Az? What are you- what are you doing?” Your hands moved to sit on his shoulder bracing yourself from the tug.

“You’ve taken up more of my thoughts than you should Y/N, more than any other woman has before.” His deep voice spoke. “You frustrate me to no end. I watch you smile and laugh and it makes my day so much better. You ease my worries and to help dim the pain and stress I have.” Az stated. “You make me happy and I have fought and fought and fought myself over and over again. Because I’m scared that I’ll end up ruining you with my issues. That you’ll end up being burned and scared.” He continued. “I’ll chase you away.” He choked back a noise in his throat threatening to escape.

Silence filled the air as you tried to understand what he said. Finally you said “you’d never be able to scare me off.” You confirmed. “Nothing would ever force me to stop being here for you, nothing ever.” You exclaimed. “You worry over silly things sometimes.” You remarked with a light smile on your lips.

He leaned forward and kissed your hip over the fabric of your dress. “You don’t know how many dirty thoughts have crossed my mind tonight”. “Watching your lips wrap around the rim of a glass, watching your tongue darting out to lick the frosting left over on your lips.” He looked up. “I’d love to have that pretty mouth wrapped around me.” Azriel said, a smirk starting to make an appearance on his face. His admission sent a shiver through your body and heat building between your thighs under your gown.

You’ve thought about the shadow singer on nights where it was hard to fall asleep. Other times when you’ve had too much to drink at Rita’s, you’ve always been a shamelessly flirty drinker. Often during those nights you’d be dancing with the spymaster after you begged and begged for him to dance with you, something he never usually indulged in, but he could never bring himself to refuse you especially when once he said yes you’d grab his hand with a giggle and the biggest smile would be plastered on your face for the rest of the night.

Most times, you’d end up going home leaning on the tall muscled man talking his ear off as his shadows danced around you. Azriel would drop you off at your bedroom door and bid you a goodnight. Those nights you’d always end up tossing and turning in your sleep so you’d always end up in the dead of night with your hand between your thighs whispering his name.

You breathlessly let his name fall from your lips.

“Yes Y/N?” He questioned back.

His hands slowly lifted the sides of the dress up the pads of his fingers dragging across your smooth skin. Goosebumps raised across your arms and legs. Something so delicious about his scarred hands against the silk of your leg made a small sound escape from your throat. Azriel cupped the back of your knees dragging you forward guiding each leg to sit on the sides of his pure muscle thighs.

You sat on Azirels lap. Breathing heavy and clenching your thighs. Not believing that this situation was in fact real. You begged yourself to wake up from this dream.

Scarred hands stayed under your dress slowly moving them from behind your knees to the sides of your thighs. You felt like you were burning from his touch. That if you looked down under your pretty lilac dress you wore just for this man, the one you're sitting on top of thighs on either side of, that you’d find your flesh melted away, right there where his hands gripped your thighs so tightly it stung.

His hands traveled up higher to your hips. Placing both hands in a tight grip and slowly moving you; once, twice, three times. He slowly guided you to roll your hips with his hands.

Your eyes slowly fluttered shut at the euphoric sensation that started thrumming in your body. Radiating from his hands to your hips then through your body, down your legs, up the sides of your torso to your heart.

“Did you wear this just for me Y/N?” He questioned.

“Did you wear this lilac flower dress that fits you so well to show off those perfect round tits and your silky legs just for me?” He questioned with a deep growl while he fingered the slit open exposing my skin to the cool air.

“Hm, Y/N? Did you dress up just for the terrifying shadowsinger? To get his attention, to please him?” He spoke again.

Not liking that you weren’t looking at him,or replying to him when he questioned you he roughly grabbed your throat, fingers splayed around your neck and on top of your jaw. You not responding irked the spy. He would never let his questions go unanswered in such a serious situation, this was a very very serious situation, so he’d get the answer out of you.

His eyes narrowed on your face watching the pure bliss and lust fall over your pretty features as you rolled your hips on your own. He jerked your jaw down using the fingers that stayed slightly over your jaw.

“Open your eyes Y/N. Open those pretty sparkly eyes for me and you are to not close them again.” He commanded. “You hear me Y/N?” Azriel’s firm voice shook slightly, something you definitely didn’t notice yourself but he felt it. Your eyes fluttered open slowly, you stared down at Az with sparkling lust filled eyes. A small sound emitted from your throat when he squeezed it slightly, trying to get you to answer his questions, to follow his commands.

“Yes, I did.” You gasp out while you slowly roll your hips every so often, begging and commanding for something more. “I wore it just for you, I wanted you to look at me; see that I dressed up for you, I got dolled up for you.” You confirmed. You gasped out when you rolled your hood just right hitting a sweet spot ober and over again. “Hoping, no- no praying you’d notice how I wore one of your favorite colors. Just for you, Az.” You continued staring into his eyes watching them deepen with want and some sort of dark twisted need.

You swing your arms over his shoulders, one hand going into his hair at the nape of his neck, tugging softly at the silky back hair. Az let go of your throat moving his hand to cup one of your breasts over the sweetheart neckline of the dress.

He moved closer to your body. Scarred hands squeezing your hip in one and your breast in the other. He leans forward his lips making contact with the top of your smooth mound. You sucked in a sharp breath, your body is in overdrive. You felt his mouth kissing over your mounds giving each one the same amount of attention. Licking, and kissing, sucking the top each sending heat waves everytime he did. He finally let up his assault on your chest with a quick pop and a slight jiggle of your breast.

Azriel moved to fully sit back in the lounge. His movement fixed the location of how high you sat on top of him. You felt his warmth beneath you; right under your own. You bucked your hips once, twice enjoying the feeling of him pressed into you. Azriel watched as you slowly built your arousal, his rough skin rested on the silky thighs rubbing them- squeezing them. He reached behind you tugging on the lace of the corset that held your dress up.

“Az” you moaned out so softly; barely audible his eyes snapped back up to yours as the top of the dress fell down exposing two very nicely rounded breast. Your Nipples harded from the cold chilly air hitting the warm sensitive beads. Azriel’s eyes darkened watching your chest rise and fall, he swallowed, enchanted at your beautiful body. He always knew you were wonderful. He knew something delicious always sat under your clothes.

He breathed out a breath just anticipating see you all fully under him one day. Cause after he’s had you once there’s no way in hell he’d let another touch you how he will tonight. No one else will ever again get to hear your soft moans and gasp.

Grabbing the sides of his face making him look up into your eyes. You spoke softly “kiss me Azriel. I need- I need you to kiss me.” Az didn’t bother responding to the request verbally as he felt the uncontrollable urge to just have you and need to consume your breath. He wrapped his arms around your waist and kissed you. Lips wrapping together, tugging and nipping each other. His tongue graced your bottom lip and you instantly opened slightly to allow his tongue to dart into your mouth to dance with your own. Kissing for minutes only taking breaks to catch your breath then you got right back into it.

Az’s hands went down to your ass gripping it to guide you to rock back and forth on his clothed cock. Tired of not having enough to feel, you reached down between your thighs to the buckles that kept Azriel tucked away. Pulling at them you finally got them free. Azriel helped you out by pulling his hardened cock out the confinement of his pants.

You looked down between the two of you. Watching as Azriel’s hand that’s wrapped around his length moves up and down. Watching as his head slightly starts glistening with pre cum.

“Such a dirty girl.” Az’s voice cut through the air. Azriel was watching you as you stared at what his hand was doing. “You like watching me touch myself princess?” Az questioned you. You hummed in response, briefly looking up to meet his eyes before they returned back to the show.

Azriel was a big man who was very cocky in his fitness and abilities. You’ve heard the rumors and giggles of the girls talking about the three winged men and their size correspondence of wings. You couldn’t help but giggle slightly at the thought that all the girls were in fact telling the truth when they’d whisper to each other about what possibly hid underneath these warriors' leathers.

“Be a good girl and touch yourself for me” Az stated. You didn’t listen as you moved your hips instead. Back and forth trying to get some sort of friction to help soothe the growing heat and need that was building even faster now.

Azriel let out a lightly growl of frustration when he suddenly took hold of your wrist. “Be a good girl y/n and touch yourself, like I asked.” He angrily said, taking the wrist he was holding with a firm grip as he moved it to the spot between your legs.

Your delicate fingers met with the heat and wetness that had been building that had soaked into your lacy fabric. You slowly took your fingers and ran them over your heat quickly before settling your middle finger over your clit. Light and airy moans escaped you as rubbed clockwise circle movements on the small sensitive bud.

“Just like that baby, you’re doing so good for me” his gruff voice praised. Your eyes fluttered shut as you worked yourself up to a blissful state. You completely disregarded his earlier command of keep your eyes open and he didn’t seem to mind either. “Az!” You moaned out breathlessly going faster.

“Fuck Azriel, oh Az” you cried out throwing your head back.

Azriel aggressively removed your hand from yourself taking quick actions to quickly remove your lace thong. As soon as it was off he quickly continued your earlier actions with his own. Scarred rough fingers met smooth delicate skin as he used his thumb to continue the torture on your sensitive clit. “So fucking pretty, you’re so pretty gods.” Azriel praised. Causing you to grab his wrist between your thighs as your hips started following the movement. Trying to build the sensation of flutters and bliss more.

“ I need mo- more” you whined out in the night air. Bringing your eyes to look at the shadowsinger below you. “You need more, what babygirl?” He questioned eyes darting between his hand touching your wetness then back to your eyes. “Come on love, use those words otherwise I won’t know what you want.” He teased.

“I need you.” You whispered out.

“What’s the magic word princess?” He taunted. “You know I’m not giving you it until you say it, so what do we say love”

“Please Az, I need more” you spoke looking into his eyes. “I need you, please, I want you, oh gods please Az please. You begged breathlessly pushing his hand down and away from you as you lifted your hips up.

“Fuck baby girl, you sound so fucking desperate for me.” He moaned.

Azriel moved to wrap his arm around your middle pulling your bodies closer. He used his other hand to pump himself a few times before running the tip of his cock through your wetness back and forth. Holding you tightly to him, azirel turned his head to kiss from your shoulder to the dip in your neck, up to your jaw and to your plump lips. He claimed your mouth with his as your arms came to rest on his muscled shoulders.

Azriel pulled away, breaking your intense kiss. He rested his forehead against yours as he softly spoke “ if it hurts, or if you want to stop at any time tell me.” He kissed the side of your cheek. “Okay? y/n” he questioned.

You smiled at the man before you “okay Az”. You gave him the green light. He gave you one last kiss before pulling back resting on a hand on your hip while the other held him at your entrance. He slowly helped you sink down onto him.

“Fuck!” He cussed. “You’re so fucking wet for me” he hummed. Moving his other hand that had helped guided him into you, to your sides. He gripped the flesh tightly causing you to cry out.

You felt yourself stretching around his cock as you slowly guided yourself further down until you had his whole length filling you up. You looked down between your bodies catching a glance at his cock disappearing into you as you slowly started bouncing up and down. Your walls gripping him tightly.

“Oh gods Az. Fuck, baby” you moaned to him.

The sound of the two of you filled the air around you. Deep grunts and breathless Moans circled into the night. The cool crisp air helped cool the both of you as sweat started building across your skins.

You kissed Az as you picked up the pace. Bring the both of you closer to your ecstasy. He wrapped both of his arms around your torso giving him leverage to relentlessly meet each one of your downwards movements with a forceful thrust of his own causing him to hit that little sweet spot inside of you.

“Cum for me.” He commanded between his moans and cussing.

And you did.

You cried out in pleasure as he finally pushed you over the edge. A blissful and content feeling finally settling over you as you road out your high waiting for the shadowsinger to find his release too.

When he did he pulled your body closer to him wrapping his muscled arms around your body. Hugging you close, with his head in your neck. He kissed your neck a few times as his pace started to slow. You listened to his ragged breathing that was fanning over your skin causing goosebumps to raise across the entirety of your body.

Azriel kissed up your neck and finally claimed your soft lips with his. Kissing you sweetly and passionately, he slowly brought both of his rough scarred hands to rest on your sides. His thumbs rubbing soothing circles on your soft skin. You both didn’t say anything, too high from the release you both very much needed.

Suddenly the sky lit up bright and you looked up. Azriel stayed staring at his beautiful lover. Watching as the bright spirits reflected a soft glow off her eyes. A smile graced his lips as he watched her own grin start taking over her face. He felt something tug deep within him. Some undeniable force connecting the two of you together.

Suddenly something smacked the side of her cheek. There sat upon her rose tinted skin sat the spirit’s glow. when her eyes met hazel ones she giggled. A wondrous sound Azriel deemed to hear for the rest of his life. More spirits passed them, some flying past without a care for the two, while others when they passed by showered the two with their glowing light.

Soon the two lovers were covered with a star-like glow. Staring into eachother eyes they laughed, with bright big smiles.

You leaned forward lining your face to meet Az’s. “Everything will be okay.” You whispered softly to him.

“Everything will be just fine” Az replied as you wrapped your arms around his neck and kissed him sweetly.

┆.➶ ˚ ˚ · • . ° . ˚✧ . ➶ ˚ ˚ · • . ° . ˚✧ . ➶ ˚ ˚ · • . ° . ˚✧ ┆ ┆.➶ ˚ ˚ · • . ° . ˚✧ . ➶ ˚ ˚ · • . ° . ˚✧ . ➶ ˚ ˚ · • . ° . ˚✧ ┆ ┆.➶ ˚ ˚ · • . ° . ˚✧ . ➶ ˚ ˚ · • . ° . ˚✧ . ➶ ˚ ˚ · • . ° . ˚✧ ┆

[rebelspykatie]

Rushin' through me like a fire Part 2

A Steddie Club AU

AO3 | Part 1 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7

“Well I do. I don’t even know your last name or how old you are, but you want to get in my pants already?” 

Austin rolls his eyes. “Is that all it takes? It’s Lim and I’m thirty-four. Now can we move this along?” 

His gut is telling him this guy is bad news, to run in the other direction and never look back. Unease settles in his stomach. He stares at the guy for another moment before he says, “I’m not going to sleep with you tonight, if that’s all you want.” 

Another eye roll, but this one is with his whole body, pulling him off his bar stool and sipping up the last of his mojito. He leans down to say directly into Steve’s ear, “Go somewhere else if you want romance, honey.” 

As he walks away, Steve slumps back against the bar, the tension he didn’t even know he was holding draining from his body in one fell swoop. This was such a bad idea. Why did he think a bar would be the best place to meet someone? He’s all too aware of what most of the people in this room are looking for, it’s why he sticks close to Robin when they come here. Without her as a buffer, he’s left to the sharks. He thought he was ready to dive into those waters, but maybe not.

“Rough night?” An unfamiliar voice asks from behind him, startling him off the edge of the bar.

When he spins around on the stool, he’s met with a pair of brown saucers staring back at him, glittering orbs, on a face Steve’s never seen before. He thought that they knew every bartender here, but clearly that wasn’t true. Although, this guy isn’t wearing the standard all black attire or a waist apron. 

Instead, he’s donning an intricately cut band tee for another one of the groups Steve’s never heard of, something about a priest. On it, there’s a robotic looking tiger that’s about to pounce and what Steve assumes is the band’s logo surrounding the image. He’s got on black, skin-tight pants with artistic rips at knee level. Steve’s practically swooning over a little kneecap like he’s a Victorian maiden seeing an ankle in the streets. 

Scars litter his skin, snaking up his neck and down his left arm. His long, curly hair is pulled back into a ponytail, putting them on full display and Steve wants to run his fingertips over the ridges. He doesn’t let his eyes linger too long, even if he’s not looking at the scars so much as the expanse of neck he wants to sink his teeth into. Rings adorn his fingers, glittering in the lights around the bar, and a smattering of tattoos are inked onto his forearms. He just thought that Austin was hotter than the sun, but he has nothing on this man. Mouth dry and heart beating uncomfortably in his chest, he shakes his head, refocusing on what the guy said. 

“You could say that,” Steve huffs self-deprecatingly and shrugs. “I’m a bit out of practice.”

“Didn’t look that bad from here,” he leans against the bar, “seems like it was that guy’s loss.” 

His stare is intense, burning against Steve’s skin. He’s not quite sure what’s different about it, but his gaze doesn’t feel as predatory as Austin’s, or any other person in the room. It’s striking, a little playful and flirtatious, but not overly hungry. It’s been too long since someone flirted with him just for the sake of flirting. 

“Are you new here?” Steve asks, unable to tear his eyes away from this guy’s face, trying to memorize the dimples and sharp cheekbones. 

That makes him laugh, a sly smirk popping up that intrigues Steve. “No, and you’re not either, dancing queen. Does that line work on most people?”

He sputters for a second, thrown by the question. “I- that wasn’t a line. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you before and I come here all the time with my best friend.” The dancing queen part of that statement finally clicks. Was this guy watching him? Had he been watching him? 

That makes him laugh harder and Steve is so lost. He must recognize the look on his face because he finally says, “I’m Eddie. I own the bar.” He waves a hand at the bottles. “And you’re Robin’s Steve.” 

“How do you know who I am?” 

“You do know there are cameras in here, right? I make it a point to keep an eye on all the regulars. Especially when they start showing an interest in my best friend.”

Steve feels about ten paces behind this conversation, brain moving like molasses to put the pieces together. “Wait, you’re Chrissy’s Eddie.” 

“The one and only.” He nods and gestures to Steve’s drink, “You want another one?”

“I think I need it after this,” he mutters.

Eddie chuckles and starts mixing him another round. He adds a flourish onto the end, doing a trick shot to pour the drink from the shaker to the glass. It’s impressive.

“She never said anything about you owning the bar.” 

“Probably a weird thing to work into a conversation,” Eddie leans against the bar, sliding the drink across it, looking like he has all the time in the world to spend on Steve. The other bartenders move around him, filling orders from other patrons. But Eddie stays right there in front of him, ignoring everyone else.

“How have we never seen you in here before? We come here all the time.” Maybe he should dial it back with the twenty questions. Steve sounds a bit accusatory, but he’s curious about how he’s never caught wind of Eddie.

“I’m a bit of a recluse. Came into some money after my parents died, used it all on medical bills and bought this bar to employ all my friends when we couldn’t get out of this podunk town. Crowds and sweaty bodies make me break out in hives.” He shudders, glancing over Steve’s shoulder to the floor. “I stay in my office or work on inventory once the club starts to fill up. I’m only out here on lighter nights.”

Ah, that’s why they’ve never seen each other. Steve and Robin come in on the weekends, when the bodies are packed elbow to elbow on the dancefloor. He’s only here on a Wednesday because he felt sorry for himself. It’s a lighter crowd than he’s used to, easier to spot prying eyes and wandering hands between writhing bodies. And apparently the way to meet the owner.

AO3 | Part 1 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7

[schmorpthe]

I see a lot of debate on this fandoms found family obsession and I want to add my two cents and headcannons that no one reaaaallllyyyyy cares about.

I think there's a balance of it that's good. For example, I think interpreting Maya and Phoenix as siblings is just as valid as best friends. Siblings can be best friends, my own sister is literally my best friend. It works with the dynamic of them both feeling like they're taking each other in after Mia's death, and I see their banter and can relate it to how my sister and I treat each other.

On the other hand, I don't like it when people give Phoenix and Apollo the father-son dynamic. I think there is a level of protectiveness from Phoenix, coming from seeing some of himself when he was younger in Apollo, as well as knowing he's Trucy's brother. But Apollo is an adult who looked up to Phoenix when he was younger, just his trust betrayed. At first it's a case of never meet your idols for Apollo. He also finds him irritating. I think there is a point where those two can get on good terms and Apollo forgives Phoenix, but they aren't family. It's a different type of love and care. They are mentor and mentee. Apollo will always find Phoenix annoying too, he just gets used to it and that irritation no longer is from a place of resentment, just Phoenix pushing his buttons.

As far as Athena goes, I haven't played much of DD yet because I started as the new trilogy got announced and decided to wait, but I think it's another case of Phoenix being protective but not quite in an adopted kid sense. He sees a young girl who needs some love, care, and guidance. You can love and care for someone a bit like a daughter without going all the way into they are my daughter territory. Trucy and Athena? Best friends. You know how so many of us have best friends that are basically like a sibling but we don't literally feel like siblings? That's them. They are an unstoppable duo.

As far as Edgeworth and Kay goes, I haven't finished AAI but I do see a little bit of adopted father-daughter dynamic, but not as intense. Kay is very self sufficient and made it through her teen years without her own dad or Edgeworth in her life. They are bonded over the shared trauma of losing a parent at the courthouse and Edgeworth is protective of her and his door is always open for her in the good and the bad. The paternal instinct is there and he would help her through anything. I feel like Kay called him Dad by accident one time and that did make them more like family, but apart from emotional times or jokes, he is Mr Edgeworth.

On the note of Edgeworth, I'm not keen on the adopting basically the entire prosecutor's office. I just don't feel like that's Edgeworth. I do think he softens yes. I do think he cares about his employees, but it's the vibe of a good boss being on professionally friendly terms. They can go to him for help, sometimes not work related. He can be a mentor. But he's their boss first and foremost, and in a more Edgeworth sense than Phoenix. More by the book. So yes he cares about them and can sometimes be protective, but not in a family way.

I do like Edgeworth eventually becoming Trucy's other Dad, but it takes time. For a long time he's Uncle Edgeworth and it takes him a long time to adjust to that even. Eventually he starts treating Trucy like a daughter, Phoenix pulls him up on it, he has a bit of a crisis. This is after the 7yg when Phoenix no longer has to live in the shell he did before getting his name cleared, therefore being able to officially be with Miles. Point being it's not immediate. He does immediately live Trucy but his instinct isn't familial for a while.

Honestly me explaining this hasn't completely gotten what's in my head across about I hope you get what I mean.

Also, at the end of the day everyone can have their own interpretation of the game. People will make it what they need it to be and that's okay. As long as what you are going with isn't illegal or straight up gross, go ahead. These are my own conclusions I've come to and it's these interpretations I look for in the media I consume, but whatever fuels your love for this series is what matters ✨

[eldritch-spouse]

Pinnie.

Pinnie Pin Pin.

You can't just tell us that the neck is an erogenous zone for mushroom people and just leave us like that.

You know we need to assault that overgrown fungus man's neck.

so how would he react if his piglet immediately took every opportunity they had to get their grubby little hands/lips on his dick neck? :3

Letting you know how sensitive his neck is was perhaps one of the worst things Morell could have done. And he knows this. He knows, because your eyes twinkled in that same way they always do when you're up to no good.

The chef braced for a whole lot of shenanigans, but he never expected you to be as persistent as you're currently being.

" Morell... "

He sighs, looking up from full pots on the massive stove and rolling his eyes at your figure seated on the nearest empty counter. You can make puppy eyes and swing your legs all you want, Morell's not letting you have this any time soon.

" Fer tha last time, Piglet- " He warns. " Yer not touchin' mah neck. "

" But I- "

" Drop it. "

With a different tone comes a different message, and you're wise enough to listen, sulking on the cold stone while several bobbles hurry back and forth inside the kitchen walls. You watch them scramble like well-coordinated bugs under the shroom's iron rule and the chef returns to the task at hand. Seeing the way you're melting on his counter makes Morell feel a little shitty about his short fuse, but he's genuinely put off by the idea of you getting all over such a weak spot.

In fact, the monster is about to curtly apologize to you when you meet his side-glance with a slightly less depressed expression.

" Well, can I at least have a kiss? "

That, he can do for you. Mori smiles, pulling the top of his chunky pink scarf down and crowding you on the counter.

" Always, piglet. C'mere. "

...

In hindsight, Morell should have known better.

So much better...

Your lips curl in victory, and as you tug him down to plant smooches on his teeth, your tiny hands weasel their way past the hem of his neck adornment. Morell shivers hard, every single tap and drag of mischievous fingertips and flat palms on his anatomy felt with a fury. The shroom chokes and makes a sound that wasn't quite a whimper but could be mistaken for one, reflexively trying to peel away from the intrusive contact.

" Piglet! Fuckin'- "

Nothing quite prepares him for when you dart forward, face nudging his scarf out of the way to moan against the skin of his throat and suck at the sides of his neck with a determination and enthusiasm you only ever occasionally spare for him.

It's an intense level of stimulus all at once. Morell has no choice but to grunt and arch his spine, shuddering audibly when a wave of heat goes from the top of his cap straight to his cock. His arms grab onto the stone beside you hard enough you can likely see the veins in them. Morell can't help the disgustingly desperate noise that rips out of him when you lick from the bottom of his neck up to his chin.

" Holy ffuckin' shit hhn- "

In a glazed, horny stupor, he stops trying to retract his neck like a turtle and actually leans his head as far back as he can to give you more space. He'll deny doing this to his last dying breath, but it will fool no one.

The powertrip you feel as you lavish his neck in amorous, pervy attention is something you probably won't live down for a whole week, the vibrations of your self-satisfied giggling causing the chef to close his eyes and pant like an animal.

The shroom's cock tenses in his pants, tenting them obscenely. Morell is so out of his mind with arousal that he tugs your hips forward with enough force to bruise them, just so he can have something to grind against while you drool around his skin.

Maybe it's because he's never let anyone touch that part of him before. Perhaps it's because you are the one doing it, you want him that bad, you'd do something this filthy. But he's quickly becoming an overheated mess in your arms. He doesn't want to think about it, his cheeks are already so blue he's going to turn into a lava lamp at any moment. This display of vulnerability will haunt him for a while.

But it feels so fucking good...

The second you're bold enough to gently bite at him with your cute little teeth, Morell is clawing at his belt with a fury, this pitiful, jarringly submissive croon hissing through his teeth.

This new side of him is pretty interesting.

[falllpoutboy]

Hello, I’m also a tarot reader and the previous ask from another reader who also does tarot is a genius for checking in on 🦈 and 🐍’s -whatever it is they have-. To confirm (honestly their reading is spot on and the cards that came up for my reading are uncanny), I asked how he feels about M and their relationship, vice versa and eventually the future of this connection.

To keep things short. 🦈 feels smothered by 🐍 but he views their relationship as some “release,” it seems that he doesn’t have the right tools or is reticent to express hardships, even to some close friends, and this is his chosen method for now given its availability to him (read: men being men). Main card that popped up is the three of swords (in reverse), which reminds me of Syd’s shoulder tattoo hehehe

For 🐍, she really went in hungry for how this can benefit her career. However, she’s losing sight of things. She’s caught feelings but she knows this isn’t right for her emotionally but because she’s gambling on the career aspect of it, she’s pushing through. Unfortunately, the response from the public was miscalculated and she feels isolated due to some of the results of her getting lost in the sauce. Now she’s latching onto him with increased anxiety, aware but in denial that she is more into him. This probably explains why he feels overwhelmed by her.

As for the future of their connection, this was so telling. I think the theories about the PR moves behind all this aren’t that far off. Ultimately, the cards say that time will reveal the truth. Heavy regret is on the horizon but this seems to be because lies will be uncovered and fronts will be dropped. There is a hint that both parties are not being honest with each other with how they navigate this relationship, and other (unexpected) people are involved, making the foundation of the relationship rocky and questionable. I’m getting a bad break up that will be a footnote at best in the years to come. It’s not bad cause of the intensity of their feelings, bad cause they realised they shouldn’t have done this in the first place.

Now, onto 🦈 and 🍀 (I’m excited to read what the OG tarot reader in this page has to share about them).

To preface, currently it’s sad but not all is lost!!! Heavy emphasis on the sentence after but.

🦈 feels that 🍀 and him have this indescribable bond between them but he recognises that it’s currently been rocked. While the bond has changed, there is still something about her that he cannot find elsewhere. It confuses him a lot and I won’t be surprised if it does so for her too as she seems to be the more logical one. A weird thing that’s coming up is that he thought he and his ex-wife were it when it comes to connections and their relationship being rooted in friendship but it’s on another level when it comes to 🍀. Because of their differences but that one unspeakable tie for both of them, their connection is currently not once like before and has definitely resulted in actions that are testing it further. How he views their connection is he cannot give up on it but it involves a lot of self-work on his part that is quite hard for him to do so right now due to many factors (fear, immaturity, hectic schedule, not prioritising it).

Now, when it comes to 🍀 and her feelings for 🦈, she’s also unable to deny the magnetic pull they have towards each other but logic and doing what’s right wins for her. She’s not a fan of his current choices in life and she’s aware of her worth. A part of her wants to wait for him but she’s not sacrificing living her life for something that she’s not sure will happen. She views that the connection is something she wants to keep private, like especially in the world they live in right now, this is hers. She’s also judging herself right now for catching feelings for him even though she tries so hard to be level-headed. I pulled an extra card about how she feels in being a relationship with J2 and while she’s “well taken care of” and it meets everything she thought she wanted, there’s something “safe” about it in a stagnant and routine like way. I pulled an extra card if 🍀 and 🦈 are twin flames and it’s a yes but twin flames can be tricky and the card that came out involves a lot of work for it to go well.

As for the future of this connection, the cards suggest they have to go back to basics and really work on their relationship as friends first. Currently it’s difficult but not impossible. They’ll find that they can still have the good old times but the fundamental differences this time around given their discoveries about themselves and each other is what will set it apart and will hopefully give them the courage to take the step with the firm commitment that they want this to work. Fear is currently their biggest enemy but their highest potential is such a lovely openness and faith in each other to finally try and stay together romantically.

Omg this was long and I thank you for your time.

bitch (affectionate) this is blowing my mind rn. you mean to tell me everything we have made educated guesses based on their personalities and things they have said before is basically all true??

[tigreblvnc]

YOUR LIFE IN BLUE LOCK — @koieroeroeroe

BACKGROUND HEADCANONS;

♤ Art or sum, parents etc.

♤ Your parents probably put you into soccer to a) get you to meet new people and b) get you to explore even more forms of creativity and expessison

♤ At first I'd imagine you were against it, everyone there was super intense, and you already had plenty of hobbies as creativity outlets. There really didn’t feel like a need to play soccer.

♤ But you agreed to give it a shot, if so many people liked it, it had to be fun.

♤ Although you were hesitant to play on field, once the game clicked in your head, you could see pictures of ideas and plays you could create

♤ All it took after that was a bit of courage, and you were having a blast

♤ Not only that, but your teammates seemed to really admire you! You were encouraged to hesitate less, and simply play to have fun.

♤ Anri’s invitation came soon, much sooner than you would’ve thought.

♤ It felt like you were just getting settled with your team, and now you were asked to abandon them all?

♤ But in the end, if what you want is to win, you can’t stay static at the same level.

♤ So you pushed yourself, as hard as you can to pass through as many stages as possible. Meeting friends who you felt comfortable with, and teams that helped support you, and vise-versa

COLOR AURA;

♤ Pink pink pink.

♤ “I’m a gentle person at heart” was my first clue, and also what caught my attention

♤ I’m aware pink is a very stereotypical gentle color, but the pink I'm thinking of isn’t so light or pastel was what you may think

♤ As although you’re a gentle person, you still hold firm to your ideas, who you are at core. Because of that, I’d give you a brighter and more vibrant pink (not hot pink tho lol)

♤ I think in a field of violent colors, intense and clashing, your pink is different. It provides a gentleness and stability that the other ones don’t.

TEAM SELECTION;

♤ FC Barcha

♤ FCB is where your creativity gets the most freedom

♤ As well as the most support, your teammates are encouraging and kind, unlike the hyper-intense rivalries within other teams

♤ FC Bacha feels most comforting, it feels nice and homey, where you’re never judged and ideas are always encouraged.

♤ If playing on the field is ever nerve racking, having 10 other teammates who have your back are bound to do their best for you.

BEST FRIEND;

✦ Your entire bio practically screams Bachira. I feel like I'm conditioned to link him with anything art, dance, ballet, or any quirks, and I can't help but see him everywhere in what you've described.

✦ So in my mind, it's a "birds of a feather" scenario.

✦ And the two of you have come together beautifully!

✦ Maybe even too much; separating you for the selections was surely tough.

✦ You're both the oddballs of your respective teams. No one quite knows how you ended up there, but now that you are, something incredible is expected from you.

✦ And no one can box you in—you're too free, too unique, too… you.

✦ No one's changing that.

✦ On the field, we've all seen you exchange the ball in extraordinary ways, pulling off tricks that only the two of you could manage.

✦ In short, you’re football soulmates.

RIVAL;

✦ Ah… Now let's talk about your rival.

✦ This one's a different story.

✦ Honestly, I think there are some serious communication issues between you, partly because Rin is horrifically bad at interacting with others, and also because I get the feeling that verbal expression isn't exactly your forte either.

✦ So, yes—welcome to the land of misunderstandings! :D

✦ Especially if you're placed on the same team or in a duo. I'll expand on this in your position breakdown.

✦ I think, similar to Bachira's relationship with Rin, you form a duo that isn't necessarily complementary. You're too different, yet there's an unusual, maybe even funny, dynamic between you.

✦ Although, trust me, Rin doesn't find it funny at all. There's probably a sense of attachment that's formed over time, simply because you were forced to play together during the selections. Which is why you were separated from Bachira so many times.

✦ And being around Rin may have helped you assert yourself, to prove what you're capable of—not backing down, and realizing that Rin, despite his interpersonal flaws, is still one of Blue Lock's top strikers.

POSITION ON THE FIELD;

✦ Midfielder.

✦ Your position as a midfielder is what sets the stage for your relationship with Rin. It's on you to pass to him during the game, given that much of the strategy centers around him.

✦ And sometimes… you just don't. Even when you could.

✦ But not because you messed up—it's because you wanted to do things your way. That creative streak of yours just takes over.

✦ It's your way of asserting your worth, of even challenging the formidable Itoshi, who's already proven himself time and again.

✦ And trust me, with Bachira as your support, your confidence soars, and once you hit the field, that timidity of yours just vanishes. That's when you truly shine, Miyano.

© TIGREBLVNC 2024 | OCTOBER '24 MATCHUPS EDITION.

[bedeliainwonderland]

hey k, a little birdie told me you wanted the question :)

Do you think Hannibal was in love with Alana and Bedelia? The same way he was in love with Will? Or how do you see Hannibal's relationship with Alana and Bedelia compared to his intense love for Will?

😘❤️ aww thank you, you didn’t have to send it haha. I was just being overdramatic because I am annoyed.

But since you asked… *adjusts glasses and takes a sip of pink g&t, Lidl’s finest* WARNING: VERY LONG, read at own risk 💀

Soooo, let’s start by saying that Hannibal “loves” a lot of people. He loved Jack, he loved Abigail. In his own way, of course, and it’s not such a good thing to be loved by him. Can prove quite fatal. Not one of these 3 relationships are alike for many reasons. It’s like comparing apples, oranges and dog food.

Alana: Hannibal was absolutely fond of her and loved her in a way. She was a strong and intelligent woman and Hannibal has a thing for strong women, starting from his aunt (a thing that’s NEVER discussed by the fandom). Their connection was limited for obvious reasons: Hannibal could have never showed her his true self, she would have never accepted him for who he was. She wasn’t like him. When she asked if she could have ever understood him and he said no, it was actually a rare moment of truth from him. Yes, their romance was a form of a distraction, very useful for Hannibal, but he treated her well. Whether that excuses the lies and the deception, it’s up to everyone’s personal judgment. (I would have still slept with him 😏)

Will: *sighs* I am obviously not a fan, mainly because of the fandom and how the show turned into a bad fanfic by season 3 (because the creator loved being worshipped by a small group of people and ignored plot coherency in a process). Does Hannibal love Will? Yes. Does he love him in the way the fandom claims? Absolutely not. Will and his empathy are such a perfect thing for Hannibal. He’s a narcissist and what he loves most is himself. Will and his “gift” makes him an ideal clean slate Hannibal can project himself onto. He doesn’t care for Will on a personal level. He loves him the way one loves a favourite book or other object. You love it and you don’t want anyone else to have it, but you don’t expect the book to return your feelings. I imagine Hannibal had several other “projects” before Will, but no one them were so “pliant” to Hannibal’s tricks. Plus Will’s push back made Hannibal more and more obsessive. Would taking Will and Abigail to Europe work? Absolutely not, because again, Hannibal has never considered their own feelings. He has never considered them as persons. It would have blown up in his face and he would have probably killed them both (unless they escaped somehow). My biggest issue with the show is that Hannibal would have never forgiven Will his betrayal (or anyone else’s for that matter). Mizumono was a perfect break up with all his “relationships”. And don’t give me the “Hannibal loved Will so much he forgive him”. No, it was a creator’s choice to cater to the fandom and very OOC.

Bedelia: my biggest pet peeve is when people say she was “Will’s substitute”. Bitch please… if you must consider this in those terms, Will was the substitute. But you shouldn’t because those relationships have nothing in common. But the “brides of Frankensteeeein”?? I hear you scream. That was just Bedelia having fun toying with Will (and actually it was fan service…). She has never felt jealous about his relationship with Hannibal (she did find him a loose cannon though and was wary of what he might do to her). I once did a full on breakdown on their relationship throughout the episodes and wish I could find it again (search option here is… ughh). I will try to keep it short this time. Bedelia’s presence in Hannibal’s life is unique. When we meet Bedelia for the first time, it is being said that they have known each other for years at this point. Longer than anyone ever!! Hannibal is not a creature that keeps people around. So there’s something about Bedelia that makes her special. He is clearly enamoured by her and it’s an ongoing thing. If he “loved” her and then stopped, he would have killed her. What makes Bedelia special is that she is the only person that Hannibal treats like, well, a person. She is the only one on his “level”, the only one he respects. And it’s the respect that makes this so important. Hannibal has zero respect for anyone else, most people are just possible meat to him. He doesn’t respect Will or Abigail. It’s like Bedelia is a little pedestal above all others in Hannibal’s mind. But most importantly, she KNOWS. We don’t know how much she knows at the time of season 1, but she knows enough. Enough to know what he is. And she is not afraid or repulsed. Quite the contrary. And Hannibal senses she is like him, that’s why he sends her a wounded bird to kill. She does, proving him right, yet is not ready to embrace her dark side. Hannibal is: fine, I’ll wait. Again proving how special she is to him. She warns him, he doesn’t listen, she leaves, he lets her! But he wanted to kill heeer… no, he wanted to see if she was were really gone and if she had betrayed him (he’s fixated on betrayal in general). She didn’t, she left him a gift, once again proving how well she knows him and telling him they’ll meet again. Both his romance with Alana and his plan to get away with his “projects” only started AFTER she left. Bedelia wasn’t a plan B, she was plan A but she left. Let’s skip an essay on Florence since this is already ridiculously long, just a few points. Fandom’s obsession with pointing out that he only talked about Will: yeah, because FAN SERVICE, we had like 4 conversations between them, out of hundreds that would have taken place. Literally ALL the characters talk only about them. It has zero relevance to their relationship. The writers weren’t interested in developing any other storyline. But even so, we still got more than enough to see how much they meant to each other. Dimmond’s death: Hannibal literally (oops again that word) gives her an out. She could have left and he would have not followed. But she stayed and this was a moment when Hannibal realized he fucked up. His reckless behaviour has already ruined their life in Florence and now he finally see that Bedelia accepts him fully, like no one else ever did (NO, WILL DOESN’T). Things reach their boiling point, she patches him up (lovingly) and sends him away. And he ACCEPTS it! Even more so, he promises to support her story. This is HUGE, Hannibal has only cared about telling his own story and plotting his own way, and here he is like sure babe, I will say whether you want me to say. If that doesn’t make Bedelia a queen of his heart, I don’t know what does. Finally, contrary to what fandom says, Bedelia has NEVER betrayed Hannibal. She has covered for him and she has tried to help him. Bedelia is the only person who understands Hannibal. She is quite like him (same interests, same tastes) Hannibal never wanted and would never hurt or kill her. He feels protective of her, after all.

I ran out of space. If you got this far, I kiss you on the forehead 💋 thank you for reading!

[thrumugnyr]

WAIT ITS BEEN THAT LONG IN THE CAMPAIGN??

Patataj and Rahadin have been dating for 1.5 years??? O.O

Idk why am I surprised knowing how time can be in DnD lol but the fact its been a while gives me hope things won't end too bad for them babsba

Altho it's cute Rahadin showed up to support his boyfriend I'm kinda suspicious of his answer GAH

OMG, I should have clarified this better: we have been playing this campaign for 1.5 years - the time passed for Patataj is only about 2 months and that's about the time that they're dating, or, well, know each other at least.

Let me tell you chronologically how he ended up in a relationship with Rahadin (this is LONG and has spoilers for CoS so beware):

Rahadin was the first person Patataj met after he woke up in Barovia (he got dragged in through a dream by, as we would later learn, the Abbot, who was looking for sun god support in his endeavor to fix the curse (of Strahd) and accidentally grabbed Patataj over Senna).

Rahadin was there to check out the newcomers mostly (and because my GM was scared of combat balance haha) and they went through the death house experience together. For Rahadin this meant nothing much, but for Patataj that's an intense bonding experience (also they were holding hands for most of it, as Patataj was the only one without darkvision).

After they made it out of the death house, Rahadin disappeared, but Patataj took up the sending spell on his level up a few days later and thus was able to send Rahadin little messages. That's how he was able to secure a meeting with him as well. That meeting went rather poorly, but he managed to not get killed. You must also know that by this time, Rahadin just seemed like a sulky, shy dusk elf to Patataj. Someone who would be funny to make flustered and drag out of their shell a little. Not much else. He hasn't really seen him do damage or anything.

He does start to ask random people he meets about Rahadin though and then slowly realized that, well, he does not seem to be a terribly well liked guy. Kasimir (the leader of the few surviving dusk elves) tells him to stay away from him, but Patataj doesn't quite know why, because he gets along quite well with him.

So after a few days (and after the party killed the Aboleth in the lake) he asks Rahadin for a second date to make up for the first one and to his surprise, Rahadin agreed.

They have like a romantic little boat ride and Rahadin even brings a scroll for Pataj so he can walk on water (because he mentioned missing being able to run in the open desert and the lake is...pretty big and the next best option). Of course Patataj goes for a run but in the end he can't just let Rahadin sit all alone in the boat so he offers him a ride.

And that's how this picture happened ahaha. YES, IT WAS ACTUALLY A THING not a dream or anything - I know!! Wild!

Centaurs don't just offer someone to sit on them willy-nilly (if at all), so in the end Patataj confesses to Rahadin that he caught feelings. He's a bard after all and centaur hearts beat fast.

Of course for Rahadin it's way too soon to reciprocate such feelings the same way (I mean, they knew each other for....two weeks at this point, maybe one? And he's like 500 years old. Them centaur hearts be moving in hyperspeed to him). But he still admits a certain fondness and they actually do kiss when Patataj asks for one.

Some time passes, Patataj keeps sending those sending messages and they interact like that every day. Just small things, as sendings have a limit of 25 words ahaha.

Eventually, Strahd invites the party for dinner, as he does. Everyone is low key terrified, but Patataj is excited to meet Rahadin again....and it goes well. Our warlock pisses Strahd off majorly because he continuously keeps the appearance of the girl Strahd is into, but Patataj is having a great time, even winning a bard-off against Escher.

Patataj ends up spending some of the night with Strahd, ending in him offering Strahd his blood (and I do not think he was even charmed. We're all still confused as well. Strahd just was very good with words and made Patataj feel sad for him okay?). Rahadin ends up taking care of Patataj for the rest of the night and it all gets very emotional, they exchange gifts, they kiss more, Rahadin starts to open up a little about his past and other personal things.

No, nothing besides kissing happening - but hey, progress.

They are mostly back to sending messages and short meetings for most of the campaign then. This goes on for months in real time you know haha. It does sometimes skew with my perception how much time actually passes.

At some point Patataj manages to convince Rahadin to join a little party at the tavern in Vallaki and it's all very cute. They play like, throwing knives and never have I ever and it's really stupid but fun....thanks to probably the alcohol Rahadin does actually end up comfortable enough to do ....more than kissing that night, too. And that is actually also the last night they managed to spend together until now.

Meanwhile the campaign goes on, we go to Krezk like, twice, kill the Abbot, we do the Yester hill battle, defend Vallaki (where Rahadin was extremely worried). In Vallaki there was also one instance where Patataj almost died and sent some final words type of message to Rahadin and boy, Rahadin was UPSET about it. Mostly mad because the message did not include Patatajs whereabouts and such and it took him longer to find him. He was probably also upset that the whole thing made him so scared in the first place haha. Rahadin is not used to care about anything other than Strahd and maybe Anastrasia (and since they're both vampires, they die far less easy, so not much to worry there).

But yeah, this is how you manage to date Rahadin in Curse of Strahd: You need a GM who puts him in the campaign early enough and PERSISTENCE. It's not easy to make Rahadin care, but once he does, he's very loyal and your chances of survival become very good actually ('You wouldn't want to hurt Rahadins mate' worked very well with the werewolves for example lol) - but also it can be a little terrifying at times. Patataj is trying to come to terms with the fact that all the protection benefit he gets out of this also means that it is very likely that he will end up as a vampire in the end. Also there is no turning back. Rahadin is very unforgiving and I'm sure if Patataj would break his heart, Rahadin would slit his throat, because that's just how he deals with his problems. There is also still a chance Rahadin might follow Strahd's orders to kill Patataj despite his own feelings. It's 500 years vs a few weeks/months after all.

But I do think Rahadins feelings are genuine. He says the most romantic shit sometimes and he really was very supportive in the last session (at least as much as you could expect Rahadin to be). It was actually the first time he said 'I love you' in return! MORE PROGRESS!

And I also do think he doesn't just want to use Patataj for personal gain. He's not a very....scheming guy. Not that Patataj would care either way. He'd do almost anything for Rahadin at this point, aside of things that go against his morals of course. It's quite funny, really. Patataj knows of all the terrible things Rahadin has done by now, but he kind of shoves it aside under 'well he did it under Strahd's orders, he wouldn't have done it otherwise' because he just can't fathom Rahadin is THAT bad/uncaring, since to HIM he is extremely gentle and sweet, even if sometimes a little struggling with showing emotions. Love makes blind, I swear.

But I'm rambling. I hope they get a happy ending. At least Patataj would deserve one after everything (all the suffering and pain of people around him and his powerlessness to help are getting to him), but it IS Curse of Strahd and who knows what will happen. Even at the best outcome, he will have to kill some if not most of Rahadins 'family', in the worst outcome, Rahadin kills him. In the most likely, he ends up a vampire in Strahd's castle, never to see sunlight again.

So yeah, on that depressing note and for anyone who read this whole thing, I'll leave you with two songs from my Patadin playlist because who doesn't have songs for their OC?

Nessa Barrett - Die first

Amber Run - I found

[getvalentined]

★ what was the scene you most wanted to write in [whichever fic you are most happy/satisfied with]? what was the hardest scene to write?

☉ what do you do when you get stuck writing?

★ what was the scene you most wanted to write in [whichever fic you are most happy/satisfied with]? what was the hardest scene to write?

We're gonna go with Smoke and Mirrors on this one, because I'm still super proud of it. Although a lot of that particular fic was written out of order, so this is a little hard to say; the first scene I wrote for it actually doesn't happen until chapter six, and the last scene written for it is actually in chapter seven, not the epilogue.

The scene that I most wanted to reach in the story was probably when Sephiroth and Genesis finally meet back up? The whole fic was kinda gearing up toward that moment, and even though the actual climax of the story (ha. climax.) is after that, it's the scene that felt most pivotal to me. (Cloud going to tell Sephiroth that he had information on Genesis' whereabouts is the runner-up here, though, for the same reason. Pivotal sequences.)

The most difficult to write were definitely the two sex scenes. I don't write a lot of explicit content because I'm always quite worried about it coming off as either cringe or nonsensical. As a person with synesthesia, the way that I personally parse and describe sensory input is different from most people, and I know that definitely shows in how I write—I can only imagine that's doubly true in scenes as sensory as those. It took a while before I could go back and reread them, strictly out of fear that they were actually really bad and I'd just deluded myself in order to finally get the fic finished, but I'm still happy with them so hopefully they pass muster for readers too.

☉ what do you do when you get stuck writing?

Mostly I just stop writing for a while. I've been in that boat with Rattle This Ghost Town recently, where I set it down for about a month and only just got back to feeling like I had any kind of handle on it last night. Even that still feels pretty hit-or-miss, to be honest. I'm trying, though.

If I really want to write something and I feel inspired to write something but literally just can't make the words happen, I'll sometimes go on a sort of music search and either assemble a playlist for the fic, or expand the one I already have, so that hopefully the music can give me enough serotonin to get started again.

I'll also talk with friends about it! Getting input from people whose opinions matter to me helps a lot, but obviously this shouldn't be anyone's go-to—I don't want to pin the responsibility for making me write on other people, so I really only do this with any level of intensity when I'm at the end of my rope. (I share WIPs pretty often, but that's different than talking about where I am stuck in a fic.)

[ for the fic ask game ]

[acourtofsnakes]

You Can Let It All Go - Freefall, Chapter 2 | | The Bad Batch x Jedi!Reader

Summary: Can you break someone's spirit if they're already inside themselves? If they've retreated into memories of happier times, of safety?

a/n: The chapters in this series are split into sections, Before and After. The before chapters are set during the Clone Wars, before TBB, with a slight AU. This chapter is mostly set 'before'

Warnings: hints of reader being in danger, fluff, oh god so much fluff, teasing brothers, flashback chapter set in the past, cuddling, teasing, Hunter in wet clothes

I do not allow any of my work to be republished without my consent, that being said, reblogs and comments are much appreciated if you liked it!✨

Words: 4.8k

Tags: @arctrooper69

Series Masterlist | Series Playlist | Masterlist

Now

They were trying to take everything from you. Your spirit, your strength, your power. They would keep going until nothing was left. 

But they couldn’t take what was in your head. 

They couldn’t take your memories. 

Before 

Coruscant always fascinated you. The way it felt almost real up on the higher levels, bright sunshine and open sky, plants that burst with colour and even a breeze that tickled your skin. 

You especially loved the night sky, when they lowered some of the lights and you could find pockets of darkness where the real stars came through, winking and sparkling in colours you couldn’t even name. 

But each level down, lower and lower, the light faded, the air became choked and the denizens became people you wouldn’t want to meet on those dark streets. 

You supposed that was the downfall of the whole galaxy. Look a little deeper and things weren’t quite as they seemed. 

There was barely a shift in the air around you, the smallest movement that any normal person wouldn’t have been able to feel. 

But you were so tuned in, so aware of him, of all of them, that you’d feel them in your sleep. Even if the intensity of that awareness did surprise you sometimes. 

You felt them all the time, moving around you like moons orbiting a planet. A unit that could not exist without the other. 

You’d felt him approach a while ago, then settle into a state of stillness and calm, like he hadn’t wanted to disturb you. 

Initially, you had been meditating, wanting to do it up here in the setting sun, and then under the stars rather than in a closed room. 

He always managed to find you, always knew exactly where you were, all the time. 

But as soon as that you’d sensed that feeling of strong warmth, fierce loyalty, a steady pulse that would never ever change… How could you focus? 

So it had become a little game of sorts, you watching the skyline, feeling your Force sense itch to play, to wind through his ankles and drink up his steadiness, an anchor in the storm. 

You still couldn’t put a finger on why you’d felt this strongly lately, why that admiration of how he led and moved had turned into something deeper and more intense. 

But, you had had enough of the game. You wanted to talk, wanted to sit with him, just… be with him, without the clamour of battle or others. “You know, if you take a holograph, it’ll last longer. Then you can stare at me all the time, even when you’re brooding.” Your voice was light, playful, even if there was some kind of floaty feeling like wings in your chest. 

“Should I ask why you’re staring so intensely at that skyline or do I not want to know?” Hunter’s deep, smooth baritone broke you free of your thoughts, his broad figure casting a slight shadow over your face. Then a very faint pout touched his lips, “And I do not brood.” 

You gazed up at him finally, quirking an eyebrow, “Hunter, you brood more than anyone I know. You brood more than Cross, and that’s saying something.” There was a faint laugh in your voice, one that only he could draw out of you and you patted the space next to you, reading the silent question in his eyes even from down here. 

Still, he hesitated a second as if to check you were okay with this, before he eased himself down, stretching one leg out and keeping the other up bent by his chest, “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” He grumbled the words but you could spy the tiny twitch of his lips, the glint in his eyes, reflecting the starlight from above. 

His shoulder brushed yours with every easy breath he took, sending tiny shockwaves through you each time. 

You chuckled a little again, looking out at the stars with him, just enjoying the quiet up here, the steady weight of the man beside you. 

When you first joined the boys, Hunter would try and fill these silences, unsure of himself, the words sounding stilted almost. But it wasn’t until he began to learn that you liked the quiet moments with someone else, especially when you’d fallen into a non-verbal mood. 

It was just… reassuring. To sit here, no pressure to talk, to just share each other's warmth and presence like the very anchor he felt like. 

“Are you okay?” Hunter’s rough voice broke the silence after a moment, and you could tell he had been fighting to ask from the moment he found you up here. He was so in tune to his squad, not just from those enhanced senses but because that was his job as a Sergeant. That’s what Rex would do, and that’s what Hunter tried to do and be. 

A star sparked and shot across the sky, bursting into hundreds of tiny fragments, capturing your attention and you let out a breathless smile at the sight, not caring if it was real or if this was a simulation. It was still breathtaking. 

Hunter gazed down at you, wondering why you’d fallen silent but then he caught your expression, the wonder filling your eyes that gave him a glimpse of the girl beneath Ghost, the one who just wanted to see the world, without all the smoke and carnage and pain. 

It hit him like a bantha tearing over his chest, the sudden urge, no the desire, to give you that freedom, that space to become the girl you really were underneath the armour the war gave you and you donned to protect yourself.

You watched the star fall toward the horizon, drawing your eyes to land on the shining Jedi Temple across the city, the beacon to all that their galaxy was protected. Of course, there was something to be said about the fact that it sat on the highest level, the cleanest level whilst everyone else toiled and fought miles below.

If he noticed you avoiding the question, he didn’t say anything, choosing instead to focus on what you were feeling right now, “Do you miss it? Being in the Temple, being with General Skywalker and the others?” He adjusted his arm resting on his knee, his shoulder brushing yours again, sending yet more tingly shocks through your blood.

Did you miss it?

That was the question, wasn’t it?

A thoughtful little hum rose from your chest, making you cock your head as you still watched the Temple, “I do miss them, being with them and getting into trouble. I miss the way it felt so easy, like it was us four against the world, you know?” You looked over at Hunter, knowing that's how he felt with his boys, “That even though everything can be turning into a mess outside, you still have that close knit bond that nothing can break.” 

He nodded, a faint smile touching his lips as he no doubt thought of his brothers, “You always have each other, no matter what.”  He toyed with something in his hands, a rock or something from the roof, “We could see how close you all were when we were on Skako Minor, the way you all moved without needing to see each other, the way you trusted each other.” Hunter was quiet for a moment, “You were the only one who truly believed Rex. I could see it in your eyes, you had the same look as he did.”

A cold breeze danced down your neck and you shivered lightly, drawing your gaze away from the Temple, bringing it down to where your sabers rested on the ground in front of you, “I knew. I always felt something, I felt something at the end of the Force but I could never put my finger on what it meant. I just knew he wasn’t dead… And when Rex told me what he’d found, I realised what it was. That he was alive.” You toyed with the belt clip on the end of your lightsaber, needing something to occupy your hands with, “I would have gone with Rex alone to find him. There was no way I was leaving one of my soldiers, one of my best friends behind.” A heavy breath escaped its way from your chest, because that mission was one of those that had set up permanent residence in your brain, choosing to rear its head on the nights you attempted to sleep. 

Hunter brought his other leg up to his chest, swapping so the one closest to you was stretched out, opening his body up to you, giving you a space, “The way you and Rex tore through that facility, the determination in your eyes… It was what I feel for my brothers, that acceptance that you would do anything to protect them.” His brows drew in heavily, jaw clenching and the pattern of his tattoo rippled along his skin, “I’ll never forget what he looked like in there, hooked up to that machine.” 

You swallowed the bitter taste that arose in your throat, that crawling sensation that skittered over your skin like a thousand tiny legs. In the darkness of the shadows, you saw Echo hooked up to those machines, saw the life being pumped out of him, the way they’d changed him, tried to dehumanise him. “Me either.” The echoed words were hollow, that sensation becoming almost too much to bear and you instinctively curled your nails into your palms, desperate to feel that sharp bite of pain, needing something to shake away that clammy feeling and the memories that followed, the way you tore through the facility and wrecked vengeance on those that hurt your best friend. 

So much blood.

He didn’t say anything, just shifted closer, his hip then his side coming in to press against yours. His warmth seeped into your bones, chasing away that feeling like sunlight on ice and you sunk against him without a second’s hesitation, allowing your body to unclench as you trusted in him to hold you up. 

Safe. Steady. Two of the things you always associated with Hunter, no matter the situation, even if you were disagreeing over something. 

He was a sturdy shelter in the storm, so much like Rex, yet his own man too. 

“What was he like? Before all of this?” Hunter’s voice rumbled gently from above your head as the weight of his jaw rested carefully against your hair, the sensation sending more of those pleasant shivers through your body and calming you. 

You brought your legs up so your knees rested against his thigh, allowing your eyes to unfocus, for that part of your mind to dissociate and turn to happier memories, “Headstrong. Vibrant. A soldier so incredibly loyal to his men and Commanders that he wouldn’t hesitate to do the right thing.” You smiled a little, feeling your eyes turn a little heavy with Hunters warmth, “Much like he is now, actually.” 

Hunter chuckled very softly, more a rough hum in his throat, “Yeah, you got that right.” He breathed once, twice, voice softer, “Was he happy?” 

You released a sigh of your own now, allowing your eyes to drift closed, “We all were… But despite everything, I wouldn't change a thing. This was the path chosen for me by me. If I stayed where I was.. Maybe I wouldn't have been truly happy after all. I wouldn't have been whole, I wouldn’t have been myself.” The words might not be making sense, but they were important, and you needed to tell him how grateful you were, “I can be myself with you and the boys, Hunter. I don’t need to hide who I am.” 

As if he felt the way your body was relaxing - which he most likely did, he carefully settled his arm over your shoulders, large hand encompassing the top of your arm as he rubbed it gently, “You never need to hide with us, Ghost. You’re one of us now.” He lightly tapped the top of your arm, where your own version of the Batch’s skull sat on your armour when you had it on, “You’re what we always needed, what we didn’t even realise we were missing.” 

A happy hum lifted from your lips, your body lulled into sleep almost instantly just from his presence, his warmth. You didn’t know how he did it, how he made your brain and body give into the slumber you so desperately tried to fend off with caf and stims. But like this, with him… There were rarely any nightmares, like they didn’t dare venture out of the dark for fear of the hunter tearing them apart. 

Hunter rested his chin on the top of your head, eyes closed as he felt you slump into him, heard your breathing even out and he spoke the rest of his words into the Coruscant night, “What I didn’t realise I was missing.”

~~

The change from warm body to cool sheets stirred you from your sleep, making you blink with sleepy eyes, seeing the blurry shape of Hunter filling your vision, “Hunt?” The words were incoherent, sleep still taking over your brain so all your defences, your walls… They were gone. 

You felt his heart stumble through that permanent Force link you kept with the boys… Or maybe you just imagined it in this state, “I’m here, Ghost. It’s okay, I’m just putting you to bed.” He settled you in comfortably, making sure your head was supported by pillows before he brought your covers up over your body, their warm weight already easing you back down. 

As he smoothed them over your shoulders, you were suddenly hit with the undeniable urge to have him stay here, to revel in that feeling of safety and the knowledge that you could let go of those walls and just be. You didn’t have to think, you didn’t have to use your head or feel or do anything. Right now, in this space, you could just be you. “Stay…” Sleep was beginning to drag you down but you fought against it, needing him to understand. 

Hunter hesitated, his honey-dark eyes widening in the faint light of your room as he gazed down at you, one hand still on your shoulders, “Ghost…” He breathed the word, wondering if he heard you correctly, if this was something you truly wanted. 

You managed to fight sleep enough to force your eyes open, focusing on him and you laced your fingers through his own warm, rough ones, the hands of a soldier, just like your own, “Hunt, please stay with me.” You looked up into his eyes, eyes that kept you safe, eyes that you’d seen countless times and trusted but yet they were so unique in their own right. 

His entire expression softened at the nickname, the question, his neck bobbing as he swallowed and he nodded, “Of course.” He settled himself carefully on the edge of the bed, as if to perch there and watch over you but it wasn’t enough. 

You shook your head a little, clutching his hand closer, fighting to keep your head upright, “No…” You squeezed his hand, willing him to understand the words you were too tired to say. 

But this was Hunter, and he knew you. He didn’t need enhanced senses for that, even if it felt like his heart was going to burst out of his chest and his breathing felt unsteady. It was a feeling he felt around you, but he just couldn’t put a name to it, couldn’t put a name to the cacophony of intense emotion he felt whenever it came to you. “Okay, okay... One second.” He squeezed your hand back, allowing you to move first and disentangle your fingers before he walked around the bed, hesitating again before the mattress sunk and he sat down next to you with his legs stretched out and back against the headboard. 

He just hoped the darkness of your room was enough to hide how badly he was shaking right now. 

You made a noise, a sleepy one as you shuffled onto your other side and rated your head over his thigh, letting unconsciousness begin to claim you once more, “Thank you…” The words were a whispered breath carried on the unshadowed truth of the nightime as you relaxed once more. 

Hunter rested a hand on your shoulder, the other subconsciously carding through your hair as he marvelled at the feeling of it on his skin, “Anytime…”

And there he sat, unmoving, unwavering, watching over you and wondering where in the hell he would start to unravel everything in his mind when it came to the Batch’s Ghost.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The sun was shining brightly the next morning, the warmth feeling almost real as you wandered from your apartment toward the Batch’s usual haunt. You had a pretty good guess that they’d be at the shipyard, the clear day providing them with the chance to work on the Marauder. 

With some careful words to the right people, you’d secured them a few days off under the claims of regrouping after their mission and saying you would work with them in training. 

In reality, you’d asked Master Plo and he’d said yes straight away and said he’d sort everything out. Big softy.

You’d woken up from your sleep last night feeling… remarkably refreshed. There were no nightmares. No lingering effects of the stims that you used to run from the memories. 

Sleep had surrounded you in its arms and allowed you to rest peacefully, no doubt thanks to the man who stayed by your side all night. 

When you’d woken up, he was gone, which you’d expected. 

At first you thought it had been a dream, asking him to stay. You’d never normally cross that line, but you’d been so tired, and the thought of being alone had crushed you. 

Then you felt the lingering warmth of the bed beside you and caught the masculine scent of him still gently caressing the air and you realised he had stayed the whole time. Watched over you and your dreams, protecting you when you were at your most vulnerable. 

He always protected you. 

You were beginning to head down a path that you usually tried not to let yourself follow, lest it send you tumbling into a black hole of spiralling thoughts and realisations about your emotions, discoveries you weren’t sure you were ready to admit yet. 

Luckily, your dissociation meant that the trip to the shipyard had gone quicker than expected, and there was the Marauder, sitting proudly and lovingly with her angled gleaming under the Coruscant sun. 

As you got closer, your boots hit puddles of soapy water, the fresh scent of it hitting your nose as well as that particular scent of wet duracrete in the sun… It was a silly little thing that made you smile, a scent that just felt good and familiar as you approached the half wet, half dry ship. 

Despite the puddles on the ground, you were still as silent as your namesake, hearing and feeling him, as well as Tech’s particular and unique force aura. You always imagined them as colours, Hunter a deep, rich red and Tech a glimmering gold. 

When you were all together, and you tuned into the force around you, it was like a shimmering, shifting blanket of colour in your head. Each one mingling perfectly with the one around it, beautiful on their own but gorgeous all together. It helped to chase away the emptiness and filled you with light rather than darkness. 

“... could add upgrades to make the ship faster, if I could get my hands on the parts.” Tech’s voice reached you when you finally paused in the shadow of the upbent wings, peering round the corner to observe your boys. 

Hunter was… Stars above. He was the first thing your eyes landed on, in just his black flight suit, sleeves rolled up past his forearms to reveal the lines of his tattoo marking out his bones. The fabric was a little wet, clinging to him more than usual and cutting sharp lines across the broad expanse of his shoulders, not to mention the way it gave you an unaltered view of his waist. 

Pull it together, Ghost!

You could practically hear Anakin laughing in the back of your head, doubled over with a hand on his chest and a teasing grin on his face as he watched his one of best friends turn into a drooling mess.

“Faster? Are you planning on getting us in trouble, Tech?” Hunter’s voice held a playful tone, eyes glittering as he passed a wet sponge over the ship above his head, arm straining and muscles rippling, “I didn’t have you pegged for such a speedster.” 

Tech poked his head out of the ships inner workings, brows furrowed as he stared at his brother, “Hunter, you have known me for as long as we can both conceivably remember, and for as long as we have been in a unit, the ship’s piloting duties have always fallen to m-” 

“I’m joking, brother.” Hunter cut off Tech’s word dump before he worked himself up, with a good natured roll of his eyes, “I’ll have a word with Rex and some of the others, maybe they can find what you need. Make a list.” He paused, water running down his knuckles and down his forearm, “You have a list already, don’t you?” 

Head already back inside the ship, Tech’s voice came out somewhat muffled, “Of course. I had one compiled since the last mission when I noticed the upgrades would be beneficial to us.” He was sprawled out on the ground, one leg bent up with his foot planted on the ground, with a myriad of tools surrounding him. 

Hunter chuckled softly, a rough noise that rumbled in his throat and chest as a smile tugged at the edges of his lips, “Of course you did.” He dunked the sponge back into the bucket of water by his feet, his head ducking down and thick strands of his umber hair falling forward, slipping over the bandana and into his eyes. 

It made your fingers twitch, ache to brush it aside and follow the line of it down his jaw, to trace his tattoo again and watch his eyes flutter closed at the touch of affection all of you had been starved of.

Anakin really would be beaming at you now, that knowing look in his eyes as he nudged you with an elbow, “Daydreaming again, Sparks?”

“When I gave you your nickname, I didn’t think you’d use those skills on us, you know.” Hunter’s words, directed at you this time made you jump, heart leaping to your throat like you’d been caught because… Well. You had been caught. Caught oogling him?

You muttered a silent curse to yourself before moving around the ship and coming into view, feet splashing in the water now, “I only just got here, I think your Hunter-senses might be running thin.” Raising an eyebrow at him, you prayed that the sun could be to blame for any flush in your cheeks. 

You were an ex-Jedi commander!!! You didn’t blush or get flustered!

Hunter raised a dark brow at you, those eyes of his twinkling in the golden light above, “You do realise those senses told me where you were the second you set foot in the shipyard, right?” He rose to his full height, water pooling from his hand onto the floor and he cocked his head at you, “You forget how intune we are to you, Ghost. Just like you are with us.” Had his voice gotten rougher? Deeper? Or did it just feel that way because he was looking at you with an expression you couldn’t name, one that set that fluttering feeling loose again. 

You opened your mouth, then closed it again, lost for words for once and you instead focused on the pooling water by his feet, “That is.. Completely unfair.” You breathed the words, unable to stop the grin that shone on your own face, brightening your expression and revealing that same troublesome playfulness that bonded you and Anakin so closely. 

Hunter stepped closer to you, the scent of him washing over your senses just as a breeze swept over the shipyard, “Unfair, huh?” He tipped his head back, gazing down his nose at you, still smiling, “That why your cheeks are flushed? Are you feeling a little warm, Ghost?” His eyes darted past you toward Tech, an almost imperceptible nod there.

Wicked, wicked man.

Damn.

You cleared your throat, refusing to miss a beat and you tipped your own head back, “In case you hadn’t noticed under all that hair, it’s rather warm and sunny today. It’s just the heat of the day, that’s all.” You resisted the urge to cross your arms, leaving them loose at your sides, even as you toyed with the edge of your saber.

“Actually, according to my data,” Tech’s voice suddenly came from a couple feet behind you, and you jumped, actually startled, “Your body temperature isn’t high enough to cause a flush from the sun. You do, however, have an elevated heart rate and your breaths per minute have increased above your usual level.” 

You spun round to face him, watching as he pushed his goggles up with the hand not holding his datapad, expression neutral but you swore you could see a smile playing about his eyes and feel it in the shimmery golden aura that surrounded him, “Tech!! You’re reading my vitals?!” Even you could hear the way your voice flickered an octave higher than usual, completely destroying your mock indignation, “You two are ganging up on me!!” 

Hunter chuckled softly, sharing a look with Tech as he moved to stand shoulder to shoulder with his brother, “Ganging up on you? But if we’re wrong, surely there’s nothing for us to team up against?” His head tilted again, his expression so clear and bright, even it was full of teasing aimed at you. 

Damn these stupidly attractive, smart brothers. They knew you too well. The only people in the galaxy who could reduce you to a damn blushing, wordless mess. Stars above, you needed to reign yourself in and have a word.

Tech peered down at his data pad, “Interesting. Your heart rate has increased by thirteen beats in just a few moments.” He looked back up, honey eyes imploring, “Perhaps you need to sit down, Ghost. A sudden increase in heart rate can cause a rush of blood to the head.” There. Now the smile twitched his lips, making his eyes as liquid gold as Hunter’s, matching expressions as they both stood there filling your vision.

Even you could feel the blush now, sucking in a breath and then you laughed, shaking your head and running a hand across your hair, “Damn you both.” You rolled your eyes, planting your hands on your hips, “I bet you were sitting there planning that, weren’t you? From the second you knew I was here.” You turned your attention to Hunter, raising your eyebrows at him, smile turning into a full grin now. 

He opened his mouth to speak, but Tech took a step forward, leaning into it and holding up a hand, “Actually,” He cut a glance to Hunter, but carried on, “I noticed Hunter had the same reaction as you upon your entrance to the shipyard. His heart rate-” 

“Right.” Hunter suddenly moved forward, shouldering past his brother - gently - and he pushed the wet cloth in your hands, “Since you’re here bright and early, you can help with the ship.” He cleared his throat, “C’mon, it won’t clean itself.” He spun round and moved back to the Marauder, picking up the dry cloth he’d been using to polish the surface after it air dried. 

What was that all about?

Tech avoided your curious gaze, turning to move back to the engine but not before you caught that certain look in his eyes, the one he wore when he might have started to discover something no one else had and he needed to know the answer. 

With a puff of your cheeks and another soft laugh, you joined the boys at the ship, dunking the cloth in the bucket and falling into an easy routine with them beneath the Coruscant sun.

Now

You had never been this cold before. 

Not even on the missions to Hoth, or when you used to visit Kamino with the boys. 

This cold… it wasn’t just temperature. It was agony. It was the type of cold that seeps into your bones, your soul, chasing away every warm feeling, every phantom touch that lingered from memory. 

They were trying to break you, trying to crack that shield wrapped around your heart and mind that kept you whole, safe. 

You had survived so much, so so much. 

You just had to survive a little longer.