#and not worry about things at home after a hard year of doing so
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Yâshtolaâs mind raced as she led the scions through the forest to Slitherbough. When she saw that bright light moving through the forest, she expected to have to fight for their lives. Not this. Not Robyn blazing with the light of a Warden. What has he done to you?
It was too soon, she still didnât have the answers they needed. And yet, her heart has been waiting for far too long. Not a day passed in these last three years where she hasnât yearned to have Robyn by her side. And now that she is, Yâshtola is terrified.
She had known her the moment Robyn spoke, Uriangerâs words just a confirmation for her growing fears. And yet, as Robyn kneltâeither to ease the tension of the hunters that surrounded them or to give Yâshtola better accessâYâshtola had to make sure, had to feel her under her hands and know that she was really here. The emotions that filled her at that touch were overwhelming, and for a moment she almost forgot where they wereâout in the open and surrounded by the Nightâs Blessed. So she pulled away and ushered them back to Slitherbough where they could have some privacy, and give her a moment to think.
~~~
She watched Urianger and Minfilia moved to follow Thancred out of her room. She may have been a little tactless with Thancred, something she will apologize for later, but still it was something he needed to hear. But for now her attention shifted back to the roomâs last remaining occupant.
âRob-â âMaster Mat-â
âYou donâtâŚplease donât call me that when we are in private.â
Robyn let out a laugh, and with a smile in her voice tried again, âShtola.â
A wave of relief washed over her. How long has it been since she last heard her name on Robynâs lips? Dropping the spell for her aether sightâand pushing aside the fears over the state of Robynâs aether for a momentâshe reached for her, immediately finding Robynâs gloved hand pulling her in to where she sat against the table. But instead of the touch of skin she so desperately needed, she found only cold armor and hard leather. So she felt her way up, pushing up on her toes and reaching until she finally found the warmth of Robynâs neck. She took her time exploring, finding the soft hairs at the back of her head, the ever present rings in her ears, the curve of her jaw, her cheeks pulled up in a soft smile. Every bit familiar and just as she remembered, and to feel her under her hands again put her heart at ease.
Words failed her, so she did the only thing she could do: she pulled Robyn down into a kiss, soft and slow. She let her loneliness and longing bleed into it, and felt Robynâs own desperation and worry in the way she held her. All these years with not but memories to sustain her finally replaced with the real thing here in arms. After a few minutes Robyn pulled away, but before Yâshtola could complain she buried her face against Yâshtolaâs neck, seeming to just breathe her in.
âGods, Shtola, Iâve missed you so much.â
She couldnât help but chuckle. âWhat has it been for you? A couple of weeks?â
âAlmost three months, thank you, though the time hardly makes a difference. Iâve been so worried about you since you collapsed, and it hasnât helped that ever since I arrived here on the First Iâve been greeted with nothing but half truths and ulterior motives. Iâve longed for your candor as much as your touch, and I swear the Exarch was purposely keeping me from you as long as he could.â
âI have to admit, a part of me hoped you wouldnât come. That whatever trap he has laid with us as the bait would remain unsprung, and that you might continue to be safe back home. But a much larger part of me is overjoyed to finally have you here. I have missed you desperately.â
At that Robyn sat back up, pressing a brief kiss to her lips once more on her way to straightening out her back. Yâshtola immediately missed her touch and started tugging at Robynâs gloves.
âYou donât trust him.â More of a casual observation than a question.
âI honestly donât know what to think. Uriangerâs vision of calamity and your death is obviously a strong motivator, but if he knew you half as well as he seems to he would know that all he had to do was ask for your help. What has been your read on him?â
âPutting you in danger was certainly not the best start to our relationship if trust is what he was after. But beyond that, he is obviously hiding thingsâhe has all but said it outright. Like you said, he knows too much and says too little, and I grow weary of being a pawn in someone else's game. But, at the same time, I do want to help these people if I can. Impending calamity or no, they deserve to be able to live their lives without constant fear and constant danger.â
Yâshtola lifted Robynâs hand and pressed it against her cheek, kissing her palm. âThat at least I think we all agree on. Especially after having spent so much time here, I canât help but feel a responsibility to do what we can for them. The Nightâs Blessed have been incredibly kind to me, I want to ensure their future. And we canât deny the Exarchâs plan seems to be working, even ifâŚâ
Her words trailed off and her grip on Robynâs hands grew stronger.
âShtola, what do you see when you look at me?â
She took a deep breath, knowing her face showed her worry. Focusing, she reignited her aether sight and took a moment to take Robyn in once more.
âNow that I know what I am looking at, I do see your familiar aether. Only now its being overpowered, like another source has been mixed in. With that yours is moving sluggishly, like its being held stagnant by the light infused in it. Bright and terrifying.â
âThe Wardenâs light wasnât dissipated like we thought, was it? Iâm just able to withstand it, for now at least.â
âI believe that is the case, yes. But I worry for how much you can handle. We will need to monitor it, and find a way to bring your aether into equilibrium again. One thing is certain: with every Warden you defeat, the danger to you grows greater. If you begin to feel anything strangeâanything at allâpray inform me at once.â
Robyn leaned back down and kissed her again. A promise.
âWe will figure this out. After all, that's what we do isnât it?â
#ffxiv#y'shtola rhul#y'shtola x wol#robyn#everything ostornwyn#e's fics#shadowbringers spoilers#of course i needed to give them a little time together#and move up this conversation a bit#at this point in their relationship there is no opinion robyn trusts more and would of course immediately seek it out#and shtola's concern is immediately apparent#(shtola can still yell at uri later but its not necessary that robyn overhear it)#and sorry graha...you are being very sketch#don't worry they both forgive him eventually...but gotta have a little bit of conflict don't we?#anyways...sorry its me again...i'm still on my bullshit#and! i'm not going to get better at writing unless i practice...so i'm just gonna do it and see what happens
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I DESPERATELY need to yap about my better CR/waiting room boyfriend so hereâs the encyclopedia of Sal, the emotionally repressed, mafioso-born, thick-accented, tough-on-the-outside New York Italian mess of a man who just so happens to be wildly, inconveniently in love with a multiverse-shifting, god-complex-having being named Nikolas. Câest moi.
PS. In this reality, my dearest Sal is completely aware of everythingâand I mean everything. The waiting room, the shifting, even my OR. Knows all about it and itâs kinda fun that way. Still worried Iâll get too attached to him cuz heâs perfect. đ
GENERAL PERSONALITY & VIBE
⢠Zodiac sign? Scorpio. He denies it. Claims astrology is âa buncha hippie bullshit,â but secretly googled compatibility with me once.
⢠Vibe? A pit bull in a leather jacket whoâs been denied a hug for twenty years.
⢠Love language? Acts of service + physical touch he will never admit to liking.
⢠First impression? Probably that heâd rob you. Or marry you. Depends on how close you stand.
⢠Accent? Thick New York Italian. âYa kiddinâ me? What is this, a fuckinâ fairy tale?â is a daily expression. Drops â-ingâ on every verb: goinâ, talkinâ, fightinâ, cryinâ.
HABITS, QUIRKS, TICKS
1. Talks with his hands. Always.
Even when lying. Which is always. So the hands? They never stop.
2. Adjusts his hoodie strings when nervous.
Pulls them, tangles them, knots them in his fingers. If heâs real anxious? Chews the plastic tip.
3. Bites the inside of his cheek when trying not to cry.
Will never admit heâs doing it.
4. HATES crying in front of others.
Like viscerally. Would rather get shot.
5. Has a temper.
Real bad. Like âthrows a chair across the room when overwhelmedâ bad.
6. Cannot handle praise.
Compliment him and heâll either insult you or kiss you and then storm off. No in-between.
7. LOVES candy.
Like embarrassingly. Jellybeans, taffy, weird hard strawberry candy wrapped in crinkly plastic. You give him a candy bracelet and he will suck on it and act like he ainât.
8. Canât take his shoes off unless heâs home.
Deeply embedded habit. âAinât takinâ âem off. What if I gotta bolt? Ya tryna get me whacked?â
9. Calls everyone by the wrong name just to assert dominance.
Knows your name is Steve. Will call you âStanâ and stare you down.
10. Secretly LOVES soap operas.
Thinks no one knows.
EMOTIONAL REPRESSION
(Because I love sad men.)
âIâm fineâ is his catchphrase.
Said after being visibly not fine. Often with blood on his knuckles and tears he wonât wipe.
Canât say âI need youâ without choking on it.
Will reword it into: âDonât be stupid, I just donât want ya runninâ off and gettinâ killed or somethinâ. Thatâs all.â
Once broke a mirror after hearing âI love youâ too gently.
Still apologizing for it.
Will never start a vulnerable conversation.
But will stay if you start one. Will stay even if it kills him inside.
WHEN HEâS LOVING
Whiny affectionate.
âCâmon, just lemme hold ya for five minutes, damn. You always runninâ around.â
Protective in dumb ways.
âYou cold? I ainât got a jacket but I will punch the weather, swear to God.â
Does little things he thinks no one notices.
Puts my socks on the radiator so theyâre warm in the morning.
Locks every window twice when Iâm asleep.
Hates flowers, but always notices which ones I glance at while out.
Physical touch turns him into a melted puddle.
But only in private. Sal in public? Stone cold.
Sal in private? âYa skinâs warm⌠I like that. Donât move.â
Talks to Nikolas like heâs simultaneously his baby and his bodyguard.
âYouâre delicate, aight? I meanâyouâre powerful and weird as hell but likeâdonât die, okay?â
WHEN HEâS ANGRY
Walks in circles.
Like a lot. Will stomp around the kitchen five times before speaking.
Punches walls ONLY when completely alone.
Would rather die than let anyone see that side.
Yells first, apologizes second.
âI ainât yellinâ at YOU, Iâm just yellinââfuck, alright, sorry. Shit. Donât look at me like that.â
Hates being misunderstood.
Which happens constantly. Cue the tantrum.
Once stormed out in the middle of an argument and came back with a sandwich for me.
âStill mad, but ya looked hungry.â
QUOTES
1. âAyoâwho the fuck puts spinach in a breakfast wrap? SPINACH? That ainât breakfast. Thatâs lawn clippings with a side of fuck you.â
2. âI ainât gay, I just like one guy. One. And heâs fuckinâ⌠magical or whatever. Donât make this weird.â
3. âYou cried at a Folgers commercial two nights ago.â âHe was makinâ coffee for his ma! There was emotion!â
4. âI donât do soft, aight? Youâre the soft one. Iâm the muscle. I do the protectinâ. Iâm the big spoon. Iâshut up, stop laughinâ.â
5. âYeah, I cried. One time. It was the wind. The wind got in my eyes. Shut up.â
6. âI missed a spot? You missed my ass when you kissed it goodbye last night.â
7. âIâm not mad. Iâm justâyeah, no, Iâm mad. Forget it.â
8. âNah. Nah, we ainât doinâ this. This smells like a baby shower hosted in Hellâs Kitchen. Turn that shit off before I start cryinâ for no reason.â
[Cue lighting another candle for funsies]
âYou light one more of those arson sticks I swear to God Iâm gonna choke you with throw pillows.â
LITTLE DETAILS
⢠Nickname for me is âMaraschinoâ. Yes. The cherries.
⢠Cries during the Star-Spangled Banner. Every single time.
⢠Thinks âemotions are for chumpsâ but owns a teddy bear named âBig T.â
⢠Loves my thighs. Like. A lot. Like âcanât talk properly if Nik is wearing shortsâ a lot. I need my man affectionate.
⢠Once stole a priestâs Vespa just to pick up soup.
⢠Calls himself âa street prophetâ when drunk.
In short: Sal is a walking contradiction. Heâs violent and soft. Scared and cocky. A trauma-scarred product of a life in organized crime whoâs been handed something fragile and divine in the form of a boy from another reality.
And I adore him. And I miss him. And I will crash out again without this fuckass Italian boy.
#law of assumption#loa success#loablr#loassblog#loassblr#loassumption#manifesting#master manifestor#shiftblr#shifting blog#affirming loa#loa tumblr#loa blog#shifting motivation#shiftingrealities#shifting consciousness#shifting memes#shifting community#reality shifting#neville goddard#significant other#dr s/o
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genuine question is having a flatmate ever a pleasant experience

#big rant in the tags#i love my flatmate as a friend we get on great (we were friends already) but my godddd i'm pulling my hair out rn#life was so peaceful when i lived alone i want that back so bad it was so chill i didn't have to worry about anything#genuinely why is it so hard for people to be clean. and take the fucking bins out. and just wipe the table after they get crumbs everywhere#and i get that my standards of cleanliness are very high im not expecting that i know it's not gonna be spotless all the time#but there should at least be some sort of attempt. i've not seen her get the hoover out or mop ONCE. and it's always me taking the fucking#genuinely her gf has cleaned up more than she has. but they generate so much mess together and never fucking clean it#came back saturday night after being at home for 2 1/2 weeks (she'd already been back for a week with her gf) and the bins were piled high#and the sink was just so gross with food and stains and gross shit idek and the floor clearly hadn't been hoovered since i did it before#i left to go home. and her and her gf have got so many little kinder toys and lego pieces out on the shelves in the living room so it looks#all messy and listen that'd be fine if she was the one dusting those shelves but it's always me having to wipe down the surfaces and it's#so annoying having to move everything each time. bear in mind she has the bigger room so she has space for all that stuff in there#and today i got home from uni went to grab a bowl and tbh at least her gf had unloaded the dishwasher but she'd put away a bowl that#clearly hadn't been washed properly by the dishwasher how do you see something like that and put that away in the cupboard#i probably sound insane rn but it's so fucking annoying to have to clean up after another person yet alone another person's gf#and before u say just talk to her 1) i have already when i first had to have a conversation with her about her gf coming to stay for 1 mont#that's a whole other issue and 2) i shouldn't have to constantly remind a grown adult to fuckin clean up after themselves in a shared space#thank fuck we have separate bathrooms because i would kms i fear#thing is in february and march im gonna be out of the city for one of my placements i'm already stressed enough about having to move#and i want to be able to come back at the weekend to recharge and see friends but im just scared that it'll be a mess whenever i do#idk man i just think it's disrespectful like this has been my home for over 3 years i care about this flat a lot and it pisses me off to#see shit that gets spilt on the floor not getting cleaned up.... okay enough i just got myself all worked up again#.txt
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â âš . ÝÂ THE KING Â â âš .
(boxer!sukuna x reader)
âš tags: ryomen sukuna x female reader; childhood friends; character mentions: uraume - satoru gojo; unresolved tension; sukuna is oh so in love; fluffy but a mix of angst/smut/fluff; domestic; non curse au; p in v sex; unprotected sex; dry humping; making out; oral sex;
:about: you've known sukuna before he was a world boxing champion, when he was just a scrawny kid who used to hide behind your legs when you were both in kindergarten. sukuna is growing tired of the fame and fortune, and all he really wants is to fall into the arms of the one person who he's always considered his home.
this fic is one shot. I'll happily answer any lore questions regarding boxer!sukuna x reader, but there will not be a part two or more parts of their story. It is a standalone.
wc:Â 19K+
Sukuna steps out of the shower, his body wound up in a tight coil after the night's fight. He presses the bridge of his nose together to relieve his throbbing head, but his brow is searing with pain. When he opens his eyes he catches a reflection of his self in the bathroom mirror- a split on his bottom lip, a cut on the arch of his right eyebrow and a slight bruise on his left cheek.Â
It's rare for him to look this battered after a match.Â
He's been untouchable for years, he's almost forgotten what it's like to take a few good hits in the ring.Â
"Do you want to talk about what happened?"Â
His eyes flicker up toward Uraume, who seems to have appeared out of nowhere. Â
He shakes his head at his manager. "Nothing happened, I won. Isn't that a good thing?"
Uraume narrows their gaze, sharp like a sly little fox. They can read Sukuna like a book, but Sukuna chooses to play ignorant and brushes off their knowing stare.Â
He knows that the inquisition isn't about the sponsors, the money, or the win.Â
He also knows that Uraume never asks questions that they donât know the possible answer to.Â
Thankfully, his manager just sighs.Â
"The limo is outside waiting to take you to the party," they state, their heavy exhale indicating that they know Sukuna won't own up to what they are trying to prod out of him.Â
"Fuck," Sukuna grumbles. The towel hangs low on his hips, and he throws the one that is around his neck onto the ground. He steps outside to the locker room and proceeds to change. He dries off, puts on his boxers and picks up his black t-shirt before pulling it over his bare chest marked with ink. He then tugs on his jeans, and secures his belt around the waist. "Do I have to go to that?"Â
Uraume shrugs, "Don't you want to parade your big victory over Satoru Gojo to the rest of the world?" his manager adds, slipping both hands into their pocket as they stride casually toward Sukuna who is merely trying to gather the rest of his things.Â
The last touch is his signature silver chain necklace. He hooks the accessory around his neck, while mentally preparing himself for the crowd waiting for him outside. For the voices that would be screaming out his name, and the obnoxious paparazzi who can't seem to grasp the concept of personal space.Â
They all gawk at him like he's a endangered animal at the zoo. Â
His chest seizes at the thought.Â
He used to gloat over being in the spotlight. He took to stardom with an extreme sense of pride, but the thought of it right now just makes his skin crawl uncomfortably.Â
The only thing that Ryomen Sukuna wanted at this very moment, is to go home in fucking peace.Â
Heâs given the fans and the world what they wanted.Â
"Little shit got what was coming to him," he blurts out in response to Uraume. "It'll take him a while to lick his wounds and get over his broken pride..."Â
Uraume chuckles, "and I was worried that he might have actually had an advantage over you..."Â
Sukuna swallows the sudden lump in his throat.Â
God he was fucking tired. His whole body is aching, begging him to get some much needed rest. He hadnât trained this hard in a long time. The strict diet, the isolation, the strenuous days in the gym and in the training ring slowly started filtering into him in doses.Â
"Almost," he admits quietly, a little bitter over the reality of the situation that he was close to losing. "He's good for his age. Really good actually."Â
Uraume's face falls at that. "You don't sound like yourself, my king," they tease half-heartedly, addressing Sukuna by yet another title which he earned in the ring.Â
"The King", "The Beast", âThe Champâ, âMonster of The RingââŚ
There was a time when he was younger, when the fire for the fight burned inside him with such intense conviction, that he found dignity in the titles that he's earned from every match. The thrilling sensation of him standing in the middle of the ring, his hands raised with victorious joy as he looked down at his opponent while the crowd would cheer for him like he was a figure of the divine, used to mean a great deal to him.Â
But those titles feelâŚhollow. An old skin which Sukuna unknowingly shrugged off without even realizing it.Â
"I'm just exhausted," he breathes with a hint of frustration, giving Uraume a reply after allowing his mind to drift for a few seconds. "I've got a raging headache and my shoulder is killing me."Â
He slings his bag over his good arm, before turning to face his manager.Â
The pair walk down towards the end of the hallway, and Sukuna can already hear the muffled voices from the press that have slowly gathered inside. He elongates his spine naturally as he holds a domineering pose. He quietly huffs out a breath and tries to steady the uneasiness coursing through his veins. The second the press lay their eyes on him, they stampede towards Sukuna like dogs off their leash. A flash of white and blue flickers around him, disorienting him for a single moment.Â
"Hey, champ! How does it feel to knock out Satoru Gojo after everything he said this season?"Â
"Way to prove that you're still The Beast of the Ring! What's next for our King?"Â
"You've held your championship title for ten consecutive years! How do you go up from here?"
"Sukuna! Sukuna! Is it true that you've just locked in a multi-million dollar deal with Nike?" Â
Uraume steadies the crowd, protectively standing in front of Sukuna as they gesture everyone to calm down.Â
Despite the sheer difference in their size, Uraume has a natural way of commanding a room.Â
That's one thing Sukuna has always been grateful for regarding his manager; Uraume always looked out for his best interest first. Â
"Hello, everyone," they politely speak, their voice calm and pleasant. "While we appreciate the enthusiasm; our champion, Ryomen Sukuna, will only be making a single statement. He's had a long night and needs his rest," they announce, before looking over their shoulder and giving Sukuna a nod of approval to say what he needs to say.Â
The man is thankful for Uraume every single day. He already informed them earlier that he wasn't interested in any post-match interview or conversations with the press, and Uraume happily obliged by accepting the privacy that he desperately needed.Â
Sukuna tightens his grip around the gym bag over his shoulder. He stares at the small audience before him before clearing his throat to speak. "Young fighters like to run their mouth. I know because I used to be one of them. It's easy to be all bark and no bite. But in my case, I came out teeth first-" he states with a patronizing tone, noticing the press eagerly hang onto his every word and even laughing at his snide remark.Â
They are waiting for a brutal comment from the badass himself, for him to add the cherry on top of all the shit-talk heâs already dished out.Â
But Sukuna acknowledges that there is no place for it now.Â
He doesn't need to add more to the hurt he's already caused to Satoru Gojo.Â
Everything was settled in the ring, and now it was over.Â
"However, I have to admit that this was one of the best fights of my career. I had fun. He's been a thorn by my side but I respect Satoru, and I know he has a brilliant career on the horizon. That's all I have to say about that for now. Have a good night."Â
He steps away from the press, who trail at his feet like a pack of rats rattling off question after question as Uraume tries to console their demands. His manager delays their footing, all the while Sukuna finds the rest of his entourage at the arena exit.Â
A string of bodyguards help him get through the second crowd of loyal fans who have gathered. They are waving phones in the air, begging for photos and videos. Sukuna obliges with a few, trying his best to fight off the shakes that's starting to make his hand tremble slightly. People lift up their shirts, flash their cleavage and pull out posters, bras and clothes for him to sign. He does so, his signature faltering from a clean string of letters to a fast doodle of his name. His fans offer him flowers, art, and mementos which he takes, and whatever extra he can't carry he hands off to one of his guards. When he's finally had enough of giving himself to the fans, he bids everyone a wave as his bodyguards escort him to the private parking lot in the back of the arena.Â
Sukuna doesn't even realize how hard his heart had started hammering until he's embraced back into the quiet again. He feels incredibly uncomfortable in his own skin, and he isn't sure if it's the apprehension or the adrenaline wearing off from the fight. The phone in his pocket buzzes, probably Uraume wanting to make sure he's made it safely to his vehicle, but he canât bring himself to answer the call.Â
"Sir," one of his bodyguards states, "There's a VIP who is expecting to see you..."Â
"So?" Sukuna scoffs, the black Mercedes in the distance a sanctuary. "I don't want to fucking see them."Â
"Well, you see, they insisted. They weren't taking no for an answer."Â
"And you would be shit at your job if you just let them roll over you like that," Sukuna begrudgingly replies.Â
Sukuna wasn't particularly fond of the VIP guest lists. A majority of them were people who wanted to fawn over him, or simply weasel their way into his pants. The other half were people with deeper pockets trying trying to bargain him into fixing fights so that they can win big bucks on their bets.
Sukuna did not have the time or patience for the latter, and even the former as well.Â
Especially tonight.Â
"Actually, Sir, she's waiting for you as we speak-" the bodyguard stammers, having to look up when he addresses Sukuna.Â
The champion stops abruptly to give him a puzzled stare and a piece of his mind over his bodyguardâs stupidity, but his attention is sharply drawn back to the car when he notices a figure step out of the Mercedes.Â
You're wearing a denim skirt, a fitted white top and a pair of black boots. Sukunaâs heart skips a beat, noticing that your hair looks a little different from when he last saw you. A sparkle of silver glitters on your neck that matches his own chain, and you beam at him with a bright smile that steadies his soul.
 The click of your heels echo a little louder from the distance as you approach him, waving your fingers delicately in his direction to say your first hello. Sukuna's feet moves faster than the rest of him. He drops his bag off his shoulder, the gifts in his hands splay across the concrete ground and he scoops you up in his arms before spinning you in the air the second he wraps his arms around you.Â
You giggle at his greeting, your body trapped in a blanket of muscle and cologne. Your fingers thread between the strands of his red hair, tears pricking your eyes at the sight of your best and oldest friend.Â
Sukuna squeezes you tightly, "they should have just told me it was you by name," he exhales with a hint of annoyance, then carefully places you back down to rest your feet on the ground.Â
You laugh under your breath, "Don't worry, I gave them hell for it. I told them that I'm the only VIP who mattered considering I have been on that list the longest...."Â
You try to loosen your grip but Sukuna tenses up, so you ease back into his hug.Â
He didnât want to let go just yet.Â
And truthfully, neither do you.Â
"Hi, princess," he whispers in your ear, his voice deep and thick with fatigue.Â
"Hey, 'kuna" you reply softly, your fingers curling around the back of his neck, as your heart beats heavily against his now relaxed chest.Â
â âš .
The light from the car's backseat illuminates Sukuna's ruggedly handsome face. You cup his jaw between your fingers, and lightly trace your thumb over the cut on his swollen lip. Your eyes track upward and you wince at the gash across his brow.Â
"He got a few good hits on you didn't he?" you point out, not as a question necessarily but more as a statement of the obvious.Â
"A few good hits doesn't mean shit..."Â
"When was the last time you got hit this bad in the ring?" you press.Â
"I fight for a living, someone was bound to land a punch someday. Besides, it's not a concern. I had my good luck charm tonight without even knowing it..." he responds with a wolfish grin.Â
You jab him playfully in the chest. "You're not made of steel you know? You had me concerned for a second..."Â
"I roughed him up too," Sukuna states with a pout, "you're all acting like he walked away completely unscathed..."Â
He slings an arm over your shoulder, his strength pushing your body weight to lean closer against his side. You shake your head with disapproval as you press the button to switch off the light above you both.Â
The city moves past you in a haze, but you can't stop taking in the man before you.Â
Ryomen Sukuna.Â
The first time you met him was on the playground of your old kindergarten. You were all outdoors, and you noticed that these two bigger kids were knocking him around. The kindergarten teachers weren't anywhere to be seen. At the clear imbalance of power and with your sheer sense of goodwill, you decided to go over there and help.Â
Sukuna had just joined your class only three weeks before that. He was the smallest kid, and had a hard time keeping up with everyone else. Everyone made fun of him and called him "chili crisp"Â because of his hair. They teased him constantly for how he looked, how he dressed, and how he spoke and simply refused to play with him.Â
Being young and impressionable, you never engaged. But you didn't do anything to help Sukuna either. It made you ache seeing him treated this way, and this time you weren't just going to let it slide anymore.Â
Sukuna did nothing to deserve this treatment in the first place.Â
However, despite his small stature, Sukuna was a fighter even then.Â
He kept getting up even if it meant that he would just be shoved down once again.Â
You remember walking up to both those kids and grabbing them by the collar. You yanked them off, placing yourself in between them and Sukuna before scolding them both for their terrible behavior.Â
"I'm gonna tell!" you squealed with a furious point of your finger, threatening them with snitching words. "And if I ever see you hurt him, I'm going to make sure everyone knows how bad you are! And youâll get into so much trouble with the teachers!â
You sharply kicked them both in their heels, and watched the kids scamper off, a little more intimidated now that someone they deemed as an equal threat entered the playing filed. Once they were gone, you turned toward Sukuna who was planted on the concrete ground. He was wiping away his snotty nose and trying to hide his tears.Â
You scratched the back of your head nervously, your throat all itchy and tight from the sight of him.Â
"You're-you're not a chili crisp," was all you could think of telling him in that moment. You gave him a small but kind smile, before offering him both your hands and helping him on his feet.Â
He was a whole head and shoulder shorter than you were back then. His clothes barely hung onto his body. He had to fix up his t-shirt and readjust his shorts.Â
"I know that," he answered with irritation, and a scowl that never seemed to have left him.Â
You assisted in brushing the dust off him.Â
"Your name is Ryo-men Su-ku-na?" you asked, breaking down the pronunciation of his name to make sure you said it correctly.Â
He nodded his head quietly.Â
You gave him another tender grin, and reached out for his hand before introducing yourself.Â
"I know who you are, I'm not stupid."Â
You frowned at his sharp response. "I never said you were."Â
The two of you stood there facing one another in awkward silence, unsure of how to proceed from the moment.Â
You shifted your weight from one foot to the next, kicking a random little rock on the ground. "Those kids are stupid."Â
"Yeah, they are." He grumbled through gritted teeth.Â
"So, if I'm not stupid and you're not stupid, why don't we be friends?"Â
Sukuna's eyes widened slightly at your words, like he couldn't believe what you said.Â
"Friends?"Â
"Yeah!" you squeaked with a little more excitement. "You'll have someone to sit next to and play with every day!"Â
He nervously gripped the hem of his tee.Â
He never gave you a real response, but the next day he showed up and took a seat right next to you in class.
You were both six years old, and have been insuperable ever since.Â
â âš .
You press your cheek against his broad shoulder, and Sukuna sighs as his body melts into the leather seat underneath him. His hand gently rubs your own shoulder, with the two of you sitting in silence together as you have done many times before. He instructs the driver to take you both back to his penthouse, disregarding some after party that he's expected to attend.Â
At the call, your heart flutters with anticipation because it was a clear sign indicating that he wanted to be alone with you.Â
You shivered thinking of the last time that happened.Â
It's hard to believe that this version of Sukuna co-exists with the person you've known for a majority of your life.Â
The day after he sat next to you in kindergarten, everything changed for the better.Â
Sukuna still grimaced at everyone else, but kids no longer picked fights with him and he had a warming smile that was reserved for you alone.Â
Whether in class or outside of school, you both spent every spare moment that you could together. You were glued to the hip like two peas in a pod. Your parents adored him, doted on Sukuna despite him resisting their affection. It was only one night, when he was having yet another sleepover at your place, where you finally asked him how is he able to hang out with you all the time.Â
Sukuna revealed a truth that broke your heart entirely.Â
âHere is better than being home. Usually it's just me..."Â
"Just you?" you whispered innocently, "but your mom and dad?"Â
You watched him shrink into his blanket with uncertainty. "Don't know. I live with my Grandpa. He works a lot..."Â
It's only later in your life where you learnt the full story.Â
Sukunaâs parents abandoned him, leaving him with his grandfather to pursue reckless adventures together. At the time Sukuna was only three years old. His grandfather worked hard to provide for the boy, but he was an aging old man and didnât expect to be responsible for such a young child. Sukuna's grandfather always showed deep gratitude to your parents for helping out and providing Sukuna with another safe space that gave him some much needed stress relief on his end.Â
His daughter eventually returned, in tow this time with Sukunaâs half brother Yuji. His dead beat dad was gone for good. But by then Sukuna was already fourteen.Â
Heâs always had a complex relationship with his family, but things seem to be better with his brother. The two of them could pass off as identical twins, it was almost scary how alike they looked.Â
You loved Yuji; he was a living antithesis of his older brother. Always perky, smiling so bright itâs like the sun follows his footsteps.Â
Sukuna, on the other hand, carried the shadow and gloom of a waning moon.Â
Your childhood and early adolescent years were precious, cherished moments and memories that solidified the strength of your relationship. But despite everything, you were the only person who saw how bright Sukuna's own light could shine.Â
The driver finally parks the car in front of one of the most expensive buildings in Tokyo. Sukuna gets out first, and extends a hand into the vehicle to help grab yours. The touch sends tingles up your arm, but you do your best not to read into the reaction just yet.Â
The two of you enter the building, passing the security who simply tilts their head in acknowledgment, but from your peripheral vision you notice Sukunaâs eyes shifting around his environment.
âNo cameras,â you reassure him with a squeeze to his bicep. âNo paparazziâŚâÂ
Sukuna was aware of what he signed up for with fame, but that did not mean that you had to be subjected to the aggressive violation of privacy.Â
And after everything that happened, after the horrific clashing of both your worlds, he felt himself breathe a huge sigh of relief.Â
âThey probably think I am showing up to the victory party,â he answered with gratitude.
The elevator rings, the doors opening as you both step inside.Â
Sukuna hits the button to the penthouse suite, and from the way his shoulders slump you can tell there is something off about his demeanor.Â
This isnât the Ryomen you knew who walked away from a fight with the buzz of the winner.Â
Heâs dimmed.Â
A bulb thatâs flickering.Â
Somethingâs wrong, you thought, looping your arm around his and keeping your eyes on the numbers increasing as you swallow your concern.Â
â âš .
Puberty didnât hit Sukuna; it struck him like a brick over his head.Â
At sixteen years old, Sukuna was no longer the loser kid that everyone picked on. He was a tower, a watchful pillar that looked down on those around him with an intimidating stare. All of a sudden this scrawny boy shot up like a tree, his body springing into a new version of himself. His voice broke, dropping octaves lower than the soft tone of what it used to be. His shoulders broadened, lean muscle forming since he spent most of his time wrestling and boxing. Â
He became the bad boy that everyone blushed and fawned over.Â
The athlete that people admired.
His coaches loved him - called him a prodigy, and a star of the future.
Sukuna carried himself with plenty of self respect, and was extremely well spoken. Outside of his athletics he enjoyed reading and learning history, and his venture into sports only happened because it kept him busy and gave him some much needed space away from his home. He was readjust to a new life with his mom back in the picture, and a brother who was five years younger than him. At first it was simply an escape, but once he settled into the atmosphere of it all, it gave him a sense of structure. Sukuna was diligent about his training and academics, outsmarting and outplaying almost everyone around him. His motivation was fueled with every game and competition, and you quickly saw that Sukuna only had the expectation of being a winner and nothing else.Â
Navigating your teenage years was a bit tough for both of you.Â
It began with one sleep over just a year prior, the moment where you both recognized that things couldnât progress as casually as they used to. You woke up tangled in each otherâs arms, hyper aware of your bodies and the parts that were blooming.Â
Sukuna slept on the sofa every sleep over after that.Â
Thanks to your eruptive hormones, the both you bickered often and frequently. As you and Sukuna started understanding your own senses of selves, a hint of distance started to grow. For a long time the two of you only ever had each other, but with Sukuna now a part of the athletic group and you falling in line with your own little clique, the both of you were finding some time away from each other and identifying who you were without the other person around.Â
However, you always came back to one another, like two little magnets seeking each other out.Â
Itâs all youâve ever known since you were six.Â
One afternoon, while hanging out in the schoolâs basketball court, Sukuna turned to face you as you paced behind him while he was throwing some shots for fun.
âThey think youâre my girlfriend,â he casually stated, referencing his new set of friends who always studied you with intense curiosity.Â
Your face burned multiple degrees hotter than it should.Â
âW-what?â You stammered.Â
âYeah,â he answered nonchalantly, and you watched him dribble the basketball as the awkwardness settled. Â
âThatâsâŚthatâs weirdâŚâ was all you could think of adding on. âYou told them I am not, right?âÂ
Sukuna furrowed his brows and hummed. But he nodded his head.Â
âJust because we are friends that doesnât automatically mean that we are âboyfriend and girlfriendâ,â you insisted, using air quotes to emphasize your statement.Â
Sukuna turned so his back was to you, and tossed the ball directly into the ring.Â
âThatâs what I told themâŚâ he reassured, but something about his tone didnât sit right with you.Â
The summer that followed - Sukunaâs grandfather, mom and brother took a trip away. Sukuna declined to join since he was participating in a tournament. After his wrestling team came out victorious, he decided to throw a secret bash at his place to celebrate.Â
You were there helping him hide away all the fragile items, before staring at him in shock when he placed a few beer cans on his kitchen counter.Â
âHow did you get that?â You asked in a low whisper, afraid that you both might somehow get caught for doing something that you arenât supposed to.Â
He just gave you a cheeky grin. âDonât worry about it, PrincessâŚâÂ
That nickname stuck on you like glue. Itâs something Sukuna called you with annoyance when you were both kids, and you used to call him an angry dragon in return. Even though you stopped using that silly term, for some reason Sukunaâs pet name morphed into one of endearment and affection which he kept using.Â
âItâs just the team and a couple of girls that the guys have been trying to get withâŚâ he ensured, âThe guys wanted the beers, so I managed to sneak some from my grandfatherâs stashâŚâÂ
âAnd what if he finds out?âÂ
Sukuna laughs, âthat old man canât even remember what day it is. Iâm sure he wonât notice a few beer cans missingâŚâÂ
That night you had your first secret party, your first sip of beer and your first kiss; it was one of those core memories that lingered that was reminiscent of the adrenaline rush from living out the freedom of being young with no responsibilities. You donât remember who it was who called out the idea of playing seven minutes in heaven, but suddenly all of you were sitting in a circle spinning an empty bottle on Sukunaâs grandfatherâs worn rug. Your heart sat at your throat, your eyes fixated on the piece of twirling glass, half wondering who it would land on. You watched as couples disappeared into Sukunaâs room, everyone snickering in a circle thinking about what the potential couples could possibly be doing.Â
The boys were crude with their commentary, and the girls giggled with feign disgust.Â
Some people came out looking displeased, clearly unamused by what they experienced, while others had a look of euphoria on their faces.Â
When the bottle landed on you, the first person you found yourself seeking out was Sukuna.Â
However, the other end of the bottle wasnât pointing to him, but to one of his teammates.Â
His friendâs eyes widen with intrigue, a cute smile forming on his pouty lips.Â
Your own cheeks warmed with curiosity.Â
He helped you onto your feet, but the two of you were struck with an abrupt question that had you pausing your movements.Â
âDo you want to do this?â Sukuna pointedly asked, his focus on you alone and no one else.Â
There was a grave but serious look resting firmly on his face.Â
Something about his stare made you uncomfortable, though you couldnât place why. With the eyes of everyone else on you and his teammate, you instantly wanted to divert the intense attention elsewhere.Â
âOf course!â You said with a casual shrug, then grabbed his teammateâs hand and led him into Sukunaâs bedroom.Â
Youâve been in here countless of times, never once feeling uncomfortable in this space. But this time, you were quite aware of the state of his bed, of the slightly rumpled sheets that were tugged from edge to edge. Your mouth went dry, your body suddenly trying to recollect every movie, book and comic that explained or depicted the intimacies between two people.Â
Two hands touched your waist, spinning you on your feet.Â
âTimeâs ticking,â his friend said. âWe shouldnât waste itâŚâÂ
âIâve never done this beforeâŚâ you blurted out.Â
âI havenât eitherâŚâ he answered kindly, and that made you feel better.Â
âOkayâŚâ you said, before placing your hands awkwardly on his shoulder.Â
âLetâs just start with a kissâŚâ he suggested and then leaned forward.Â
You were frozen then, unsure of what to do. You stood there with wide eyes as you felt his lips on yours, the sensation making your belly tingle.Â
He pulled away.Â
âThat wasnât too bedâŚâ you admitted and he laughed.Â
âDo you want to try?â He asked.Â
Your first initiated kiss wasnât magical, nor was it horrendous as some of your other friends experienced. Even now when you think about it - the only memory that hits you is one of innocent exploration. It took a minute for you to get comfortable with his prodding tongue, to figure out the clash between lips and teeth, and to allow his wet muscle to access our mouth and glide over your own. The sensation reminded you of sticky, tacky popsicles that clung to your lips in summers past.Â
It was fun��until a loud bang startled you both, making you split from each otherâs arms like opposing forces.Â
âTimeâs up,â Sukuna growled, before barging in without even so much as asking if you were decent like he did with the other pairs.Â
The look he gave his teammate was terrifying, even you couldnât help but gulp.Â
His friend let out a nervous giggle, scratching the back of his head as he scurried his way out. âDamn, that was fast!â He tittered nervously, his voice cracking slightly towards the end.Â
Sukuna narrowed his gaze as he watched him leave the room. Meanwhile, you both stood there facing each other, noticing his nostrils flaring as your breath rose and fell.Â
âWhat?â You questioned, returning his hard stare with an even stronger glare.Â
He huffed out a breath through his nose, âare you okay?â he asked, in an attempt to compose his clearly frazzled state.Â
âYes!â You blurted back, a little shaken. âWas that even seven minutes?âÂ
Sukuna grimaced, holding onto your eyes before he stormed out of his room, scoffing with annoyance at your response.Â
Neither of you really spoke about the awkwardness of that moment, and instead carried into the heat of that summer like nothing even happened.Â
But, what did hurt you after that, was that Sukuna never invited you to any of his âpartiesâ again.Â
He fibbed and said it was just âa team thingâ, but you eventually heard about the other attendees at the party, and only through the grapevine found out about Sukunaâs first kiss.
It felt like a betrayal in its own way, this sudden shakiness in your friendship as uncertain as tectonic plates waiting to crash into a shattering earthquake.Â
You called him one night to confront him, asking him why he wouldnât tell you about his first kiss when you both should be able to talk about everything. But that conversation just resulted in an argument, a blow out that felt like a collapse in your world.Â
You both didnât speak to each other until the end of that summer, when Sukuna finally waved the white flag by crawling to your front door late one evening with some ice cream as a peace offering.Â
âIâm sorry,â he murmured, while you both sat on the sidewalk, scooping wooden spoons into the tub of vanilla with chocolate chips.Â
Itâs the first time heâs ever apologized to you.Â
Even when you were kids, Sukuna refused to ever say he was sorry.Â
He would just pout angrily before over compensating with his sweetness to show you that he didnât mean it.Â
But not this time.Â
You licked the vanilla off the spoon, biting down on the rich chocolate chunks, and hoping that the tears wouldnât fall from your eyes from how your chest swelled at his remorse.Â
Sukuna draped an arm around your shoulder, âI hate that things have been weird between us.âÂ
âYou made them weirdâŚâ you mumbled and he just sighed.Â
ââYes,â he begrudgingly admitted, âyes, I didâŚâÂ
You turned to look up at him, and he gave you a solemn smile.Â
âIâm a little possessive of you, I realizeâŚâ he explained, his lips forming into that small frown, mirroring his childlike expression.Â
âA little?â you answered back with a snarky tone.Â
âYouâre my best friend,â he admitted, his eyes downcast with regret. âYou have always been my person.âÂ
âYouâre my person too, âkunaâŚâ you murmured, âbutâŚbut being best friends means that we have to trust each other. That we canât justâŚhurt each other. That we should stop being honest or talking to one another when things get badâŚthat we canât face things that make usâŚI donât know, feel weird and stuffâŚâÂ
He rested his chin on the top of your head, the two of you finally bridging the gap of what seemed to be the first real challenge of your friendship.Â
âIt was a shit kissâŚâ he sighed, âI was just too fucking embarrassed to tell you.âÂ
You gazed up at him from underneath your lashes.Â
âWhy?â You said with a light laugh. Â
Sukunaâs attention dipped to your mouth for a split second and back to your eyes again. âI donât know. You just seemed to have enjoyed yours in comparison. I felt like I lost a game or something. I didnât want to admit that mine was awkward and wet and justâŚnot fucking goodâŚâÂ
You laughed at that.Â
âEverything with you is a competitionâŚâÂ
âNot everythingâŚâÂ
You nudged his stomach playfully with your elbow. âDo you remember when we played Mario Kart for the first time? When you lost three rounds in a row and nearly ripped my head off?âÂ
âHow was I supposed to know you are freakishly good at that game?âÂ
You laughed, âI stay the reigning champion of rainbow road!âÂ
âYou stay a pain in my assâŚâÂ
You rolled your eyes, âa pain in your ass that will never leave you, so stop complaining about itâŚâÂ
Sukuna exhales, âIt wasâŚa bad kiss,â he admitted shyly, âShe was so damn skittish, and I think I was too. I didnâtâŚI didnât think it would be soâŚugh. It was just not the right personâŚâÂ
âOr maybe you were just nervousâŚâ you answered honestly.Â
Sukuna shook his head.Â
âNo, I know it wasnât the right personâŚâ he said with confidence.Â
You unraveled from his hold for a moment to look deep into those heated eyes.Â
âCan I say something?â he questioned, the tips of his ears turning slightly red, a blush youâve seen before but never realized how adorable it actually looked on him until this moment.Â
âAnythingâ
âI donât want you to think I am being weird or take this the wrong wayâŚâ Sukuna explained, pausing for a single breath before continuing. âI just thought the first person I wouldâve kissed would have beenâŚwell, youâŚÂ
The world went still in that moment. All you could hear was the soft rustle of the trees in the distance, and all you could see was the open vulnerability of Sukunaâs heart resting on his face.Â
Itâs incredibly rare for him to even show it, your friend guarding that part of himself with such conviction.Â
âOhâŚâÂ
âBut then I realized that youâre not supposed to be kissing your best friend,â he added on, stomping on the spark that flickered between you both before it even had a chance to even light.Â
âNo,â you agreed quickly, your eyes darting to the tub of ice cream. You pressed the back of your spoon into the creamy texture, doing your best to ignore the sudden pulse in your chest.Â
âMy second kiss was a lot better thatâs for sureâŚâ Sukuna rambled on, digging his spoon around yours as he scooped himself another serving of ice cream. âWay better actuallyâŚand on round three I think I got the hang of itâŚâÂ
You swallowed the tiny lump in your throat. âI donât need to know the gross details, please,â you implored, though your stomach rolled with a hint of nausea at the reality that heâs kissed more people than you expected.Â
You never admitted it out loud, but the confession made you a little jealous.Â
If you were an option in his headâŚwhy didnât he just ask?Â
â âš .
.Â
Sukuna lost his virginity to a freshman college student a year later when he snuck into a party with two of his former teammates. You lost yours on the night of your graduation party to the same boy you kissed for the first time. You and Sukuna were expected to attend the same university (with him obtaining a full scholarship for academic excellence), but your friend had deviated from the shared path after being scouted. The two of you commuted to see each other often, with you visiting him when he was training and him stopping by the campus whenever he had free time.Â
You and Sukuna knew about the other personâs intimate lives from the stories you shared, and despite continuously being plagued with constant accusations of being âmore than friendsâ, you both agreed never to allow that discomforting prospect to intervene with your friendship again after that terribly awkward summer.
Rather than ignore the fact that you were growing to be even more beautiful by the day, Sukuna just became extremely blunt around you. He didnât hide his eyes checking you out, noticing how your curves were starting to fill out and how you began to mature into your own features. He confidently spoke about how attractive you were, and often boosted your ego in ways that only enhanced your own confidence.Â
You enjoyed reminding him that once upon a time he thought âgirls were disgustingâ and âlooked funnyâ.Â
âLetâs not forget I am the first guy to marry you,â he joked, recalling a game you both used to play where you pretended to be characters from a fantasy realm.Â
âActually you were the first dragon to marry me,â you clarified, because Sukuna loathed the prospect of playing a prince. âI donât really think it countsâŚâÂ
âMaybe not - but all these guys fawning over you are going to find out youâre some kind of monster fucker and start running in the other directionâŚâÂ
It was safe to say that the banter between you both never changed.
You on the other hand, were recognizing just how handsome Sukuna was becoming too. Youâve seen him shirtless a million times up until this point, but something about watching the definition of muscle build into his new physique, and noticing the way manhood slowly enveloped his body, began to hit you in different ways. This was especially noticeable when you would watch him train in the ring, paying attention to the fact that Sukuna wasnât built just like any average person. It didnât even occur to you how incredibly strong he had become until he would lift or move your body around like you were weightless and not a living, breathing human with physical mass.Â
One evening, while you both were walking back to your dorm from a dinner at a cheap ramen bar, Sukuna had the audacity to pick you up and throw you over his shoulder because âyou couldnât keep up with his paceâ.Â
All of a sudden, you were acutely aware that the scrawny boy that you used to protect was now all grown up.Â
Sukuna morphed into brick and stone, while you were merely glass.Â
For some reason, it put a strain on your heart.Â
You guys really werenât kids anymore.Â
This was only solidified a year and a half into his career when Sukuna fought in his first professional tournament at twenty years old. The man dominated the ring against his opponent. He broke the record of the most knock outs and became a household name almost overnight.Â
âThe Kingâ
Time moved at double speed after that.Â
Your fingers that were clinging to bits of nostalgia werenât able to keep them from it slipping between your grasp. Things were happening in a blur, and the sudden shift in Sukunaâs world felt like a birthing black hole in your own.
The night before Sukuna was flying off on his first world tour, the two of you were cooped up in your dorm room, snuggled underneath the blanket like you used to be when you were both kids.Â
This time, it wasnât awkward.Â
You had both experienced love and lust in different ways up until that point.Â
You knew that being this close didnât have to mean anything risquĂŠ.Â
You were comfortable with yourselves far more than you were five years ago.
âItâs going to be weird not seeing you all the time,â you whispered with a sniffle, while Sukuna traced the shell of your ear.Â
Two silver chains mirrored one another, one on your neck and the other on his. It was your parting gift to him, a reminder to keep a piece of each other around when you couldnât be together.Â
You assumed Sukuna would find it stupid, but instead he clasped the necklace around himself before doing the same for you in silent contemplation.Â
âIâll keep in touch, bratâ he soothed, but you could hear the ache in his voice too.
You circled your arms around his neck, eagerly clinging onto him as closely as you could for the little time you had.Â
âI am really proud of you though,â you spoke, your shaky breath against his collar bone, a tear rolling down your cheek as you inhaled the herby scent of his soap.Â
âIâm paying off your loans when the money really starts rolling in,â he chuckled against your temple.Â
You shook your head with disapproval. âJust buy your grandpa something nice,â you insisted. âAnd make sure to spoil YujiâŚâÂ
âThat kidâs already spoiledâŚâ
âBut heâs a sweetheart,â you emphasized, âand I know heâs probably going to miss you more than meâŚâÂ
Sukuna hummed. âI wouldnât be here without you.âÂ
You tilted your chin up as he dropped his head down, your noses merely inches apart. You relaxed the muscles on your face, your thumb reaching to smooth the crease from between his brows.Â
âGod knows what would have happened if you didnât save my sorry ass back when we were kidsâŚâ he said with an easy smile.Â
âYou would have eventually fought back,â you giggled, âbesides, you donât need me protecting you anymoreâŚâ you pointed out, your voice a little breathless, and your anxious mind running on the concern of if you might even fit into Sukunaâs new life after this.Â
He wrapped his arms around you, bringing you into the seam of his frame.Â
âI always need you,â he confessed, and those words were enough to make you break as the pain of his departure finally collided into you.Â
â âš .
Sukuna went off to having an extremely successful boxing career.Â
At twenty-two, he had turned into one of the hottest sports stars the industry has ever seen.Â
He had win after his win under his belt, and the second he partnered with Uraume it was a match made in heaven.Â
He was insanely good, and with Uraume by his side, he was now unstoppable.Â
You were provided tickets to any of his fights, accompanied with private transportation and accommodation if necessary. Sukuna always made sure that you were well take care of, and you always accepted because it was the only time you were able to actually see him. Those few days were precious together, before you had to depart and return to the real world once again. Each of Sukunaâs fights was a mesmerizing experience. There was something about his flow in the ring that managed to make everything else around him blur.Â
He was strong, but agile.Â
Brutal but swift with his movements.Â
He moved with regal precision, a dancer that understood the rhythms of strength.Â
Everyone challenged him, but all of them failed.Â
Ryomen Sukuna was a force to be reckoned with.Â
Despite the distance, you and Sukuna always made a conscious effort at keeping in touch with each other. You may not be physically there in each otherâs presence, but not a day went by without a phone call or multiple texts.
At twenty-seven, Sukuna was at the peak of his stardom. Your best friend found himself tangled between the world of fame and fortune, alongside his old life of normalcy and humble peace. He made good on his promises; setting up a trust fund to ensure that Yuji was well taken care of in every capacity. He paid off all your loans in secret because he knew you would never accept it from him upfront. He bought his grandfather a home in Osaka for him to retire to. And his peace offering to his mom was renovating their old, broken home into something new and vibrant for her to live her life happily now that she seemed to have finally settled down in her third marriage. Sukuna even offered to take care of his step brother, Choso. They may not have been personally close, but he was grateful that Choso was keeping a watchful eye on Yuji.Â
Your own life was starting to unfurl as well - you had graduated university, were experiencing your first serious relationship, navigating various friendships and landing your first job. It all felt normal compared to Sukuna, but the man never minimized your experiences.Â
When you were together, itâs like nothing had even changed, but the moment your realities bled into each other, it was a constant reminder of how just how far apart your lives actually were.Â
You were harassed by the paparazzi who constantly overstepped.Â
Sukunaâs boundaries were crossed by the people you knew because everyone wanted a moment with the star.Â
You found yourself in environments with the rich whose beauty, wealth and status seemed far out of your reach.Â
Sukuna found himself being treated more like an object than a person.Â
And yet, you both seemed to be settling down into your own versions of the life you were creating - always weaving the other person in no matter the obstacle.
At twenty-eight, Sukuna had earned more money than he could even imagine, and was still somehow only moving onwards and up. He was plastered on every magazine cover, was the the center of attention on social media by his most dedicated and loyal fans. He was stalked and obsessed over, admired and feared. Networks wanted to feature him on shows, movies and every talk show. The man was a composition of everything that people were projecting onto him.Â
He had become an untouchable to the eyes of every living mortal.Â
But to you, and just you - he would always be the little boy who was far too small for this big world.Â
After years of flings with influencers, models, and high end socialites - it seemed that Sukuna was finally settling down with one of the top actresses in the industry. The moment the two of them were caught kissing at a party, their secret was revealed to the public.Â
You, however, knew all the details of the ways in which Sukuna was slowly wooing her.Â
At this point youâve both grown tolerant of hearing about the other personâs love life. And at this time especially, you werenât affected by Sukunaâs first serious relationship because you and your boyfriend were discussing the possibility of marriage which felt close on the horizon. You had just bought your first house, and was considering the big gesture of having him move in with you. You had gotten an incredible promotion at work, and for the first time you felt a sense of stability that you had never really experienced before.Â
âWe should have dinner together!â You offered one night to Sukuna over the phone.Â
âThe four of us?â He questioned.Â
âYeah, I meanâŚyou know Sousuke really wellâŚâÂ
âYeah, and he hates meâŚâÂ
âBut I havenât met Mei yetâŚand no, Sousuke doesnât âhate youââŚâ
âI hate to break it to you, Princess. But the guy canât stand meâŚâÂ
You glanced towards your boyfriend who was sitting on the sofa, his attention on the television show he was watching. You stepped away from the living room, and quietly made your way to the bedroom.Â
ââkunaâŚâ you spoke, your throat catching, âI thinkâŚI think he might proposeâŚâÂ
âWhat?!â He exclaimed and you had to pull the phone away.Â
âJeez! Donât shout! Youâre going to make me pop an ear drum!âÂ
He groaned.Â
You sighed, âweâve been talking about itâŚand I justâŚI just really want you guys to get along is all. I just think you guys are just not seeing eye to eyeâŚâÂ
Sukuna remained oddly quiet on the phone.Â
âCan you say something?â You begged.Â
âFine,â he grumbled, âwe can do dinner at my place. The paparazzi have been hounding me trying to get any shot they can find of me and Mei. I would rather we don't go anywhere public...âÂ
You smiled, âdinner is perfect!âÂ
At first glance, the dinner seemed like a complete success.Â
The four of you chatted and enjoyed your night like you were all old friends, especially after Sousuke got over his starstruck moment when he met Mei. You and Sukuna told stories of your years together, inviting your partners to the pieces of your lives that you both shared. You could see that Sukuna was clearly attracted to Mei, and in turn he could see that you were happy with Sousuke. The night felt like a convergence without an implosion - an easy going settlement on the two roads that you and your friend had taken.Â
Thatâs why when your boyfriend called things off with you three months later, it took you completely by surprise.Â
Nothing in this world could have prepared you for that heartbreak.Â
It was a grieving period, a dark time of mourning that had you glued to your bed most days. This life that you had been carefully piecing together toppled like dominos. After breaking the news to Sukuna, you spent two weeks isolating yourself from anything and everything else.Â
Your best friend couldnât stand seeing you in this state, and showed up at your door out of the blue one evening.
You burst into tears at the sight of him.
He was there to mend your broken heart, and he never left your side. He told his team that he was taking a much needed break, and during that time made sure that you were fed and comfortable. He handled any extra chores, slept on the floor in your bedroom every night so that you werenât alone. He spent hours with you in silence while you wept, listened to you angrily vent your frustrations on how your ex could treat you this way.Â
One night, he woke up and realized that you werenât in bed. He searched for you, finding you in the kitchen staring at a small pile of bridal magazines.Â
Your clothes were rumpled, you hadnât changed or freshened up since that morning.Â
Sukuna didnât say anything, just placed two hands on your shoulders and turn you away from the painful memories.Â
You gasped and hiccuped into his chest.Â
âI couldnât sleepâŚâ you explained, âI r-remembered that I still had these, and justâŚjust wanted them goneâŚâÂ
Sukuna tenderly stroked the back of your neck. âYou know,â he said, his voice deeper than the ocean itself, the tone the texture of velvet. âI can always break his fucking legsâŚâÂ
The comment made you choke out a laugh.Â
âItâll ruin your career,â you whimpered. âItâs not worth itâŚâÂ
âFor you,â he soothed, his thumb lightly tracing the space where the base of your neck and spine connected. âItâs always worth itâÂ
â âš .
The blunder in Sukunaâs career hit early last year, when his relationship with Mei fell apart and resulted in one of the worst break ups that people have ever seen. Mei released a public, viral video that had millions of views and thousands of shares. She accused Sukuna of cheating for the entirety of their two year relationship, crying crocodile tears on camera over how she was simply another trophy that he could successfully claim while his heart always belonged to someone else.Â
That video made your blood boil.Â
You knew Sukuna wasnât perfect - but if there was one thing you would never doubt about that man it was his loyalty.Â
You saw it towards grandfather, to Yuji, to Uraume, and even yourself.Â
That man scoffed at the prospect of cheating, believing it to be a cowardice act.Â
And Sukuna was no coward.Â
Even in prior relationships, he was always clear about where he stood. If he couldnât commit to something, he made it perfectly known. You still didnât know what it was about Mei that had him finally let his walls down. But when they were together, he looked perfectly content. Every desire and every fantasy he dreamt up in his youth had finally been accomplished. But all you knew about their break up was that things werenât working out, and Sukuna wasnât willing to share more than that.Â
You were being respectful of his privacy, understanding firsthand how tough this kind of heartbreak can be.Â
He called you when the Mei's video first broke out, his voice strained.Â
âYou know itâs not true, right?â He questioned before even saying hello.Â
âRyo, of course I know that-âÂ
âIâm not a little bitch who would cheat. I would never do that. Nor am I that fucking stupid thinking I would ever get away with it-â
âI knowâŚâ you reassured, hearing the apprehension laced through his words. âRyomen, I know you. I know you better than anyone else in this world.â
He breathed a long sigh of relief. âI was just wondering if you might have been convinced otherwiseâ Â
Your stomach tightened.Â
âBut if you believe me, then I donât give a fuck about anyone else.âÂ
Something about that conversation clung onto you, it sat like a weight on your shoulders that you couldnât quite possibly shrug off. The tabloids, news outlets and social media accounts were throwing ingredients upon ingredients into the rumor pot that was bubbling and boiling over. On top of that, a new rising star had just entered the boxing world, and Sukuna was suddenly dealing with brutal comparisons to the younger, hotter talent that was Satoru Gojo.Â
You were the one who offered to take him out to dinner to get his mind off of things, not realizing just how bad it actually was for him.Â
When a gossip magazine posted the photos of you both huddled together (as you have done many times before) while having an ordinary dinner, it spun your world inside and out. Though the pictures were quite blurry, there were a few people who were able to recognize you. You were being harassed at your work, interrogated by your friends and were even being accused of being âthe other womanâ.
The worst part is was when Mei fed into the chaos, making a follow up post and stating that âa woman always knows, and is always rightâ in regards to her break up situation with Sukuna.
She may not have explicitly said it, but her fingers were pointing at you. Â
You donât know how your address got leaked, but when you started finding paparazzi stalking you in your own home it became far too much for you to handle.Â
Sukuna, on the other hand, was infuriated.Â
This whole time he was disengaged by what was going on, but once you were caught in the mix of this mess, it seemed that he was suddenly ready to cause equal destruction.Â
He sued his ex for defamation, sued multiple media outlets for harassment. He had Higuruma Hiromi, one of the top lawyers in his field, at the helm of this take down, and the second he shot back, it had everyone scurrying in retreat.Â
The tabloids, blogs and magazines all redacted the photos of you, reducing your digital footprint.Â
His ex, under pressure of Sukunaâs threats, came out with a public apology so that he would drop the charges against her and help her avoid her own PR nightmare.Â
The rest of Sukunaâs anger was taken out on the ring, with people seeing another side of what The King could unleash.Â
His match against Hajime Kashimo was one of the bloodiest in boxing history, his opponent left crimson and defeated despite seemingly holding a strong front in the beginning.Â
They dubbed him: âThe Monster of The Ringâ after that.Â
The damage was already done, and the stress of it all was starting to hurt Sukunaâs focus. When he nearly got disqualified in a match, that is when Uraume intervened, and felt it was necessary to include you in the discussion.Â
Youâve always had a complicated relationship with Uraume. They respected you, but you know itâs only because of your mutual relationship with Sukuna. Uraume, however, has made snide remarks towards you when you were both alone - about how you were merely a distraction when dangled in front of his champion���s eyes.
âI think some time apart would do you both good,â they said. âThey are never going to stop hounding you because they think there is something more going on, and besidesâŚwe canât have Sukuna fucking up with Gojo now in the mix. We need to show the world that heâs still as strong and as relevant as everâŚâÂ
âItâll die down,â Sukuna stated with frustration.Â
The both of them bickered over it. It was the first time you have ever witnessed them in a heated exchanged. Your heart started to hurt because you were aware how all of this was only making your best friend see in shades of red.Â
He wasnât himself.Â
He wasnât thinking clearly.Â
This was impacting him. Â
You getting involved in this was impacting him.Â
âRyomen,â you said seriously, placing your hand over his. âI think Uraume is rightâŚâÂ
The man turned to you, his fingers lacing between your own subconsciously as he squeezed it tightly in disbelief.Â
It was the first time youâve ever seen him hurt.Â
âItâs just a short time apart,â you said with a comforting smile, âonce everyone gets bored we can resume our lives in peace. But right now, I can see this taking a toll on youâŚâÂ
He furrowed the front of his brows.Â
âUraume is looking out for you, and I think what they are saying makes sense. Donât you?âÂ
âNo, I fucking donâtâŚâ he snapped, his eyes glaring at his manager who remained stoic as ever.Â
âDonât let your emotions get the better of you,â they remarked, âI know a part of you agrees with what I have to say.âÂ
âYouâre not in the right state of mind, and you need to beâÂ
âItâs for your own good,â Uraume insisted. "You are gambling with your career. With your legacy"
The decision was mutual but entirely heartbreaking all the same. Sukuna drew the circus away, and it broke you when you realized that in order to protect you, he had to sacrifice something in return.Â
The comfort of your friendship, the sanctuary of your company.
It was the price of fame, and one that he was willing to keep paying.Â
As a result of this tough decision, Sukuna had grown cold. Not because he was being mean or cruel, but because he thought he was offering you some peace of mind. Because he thought that by withdrawing from you, it would make the pain of the separation easier. He wanted this distance to be a clean break for the both of you, and while he honored keeping in touch, it was just at the bare minimum because his calls and texts were few and far between.Â
The most you saw of him was on a screen, and you could see that Sukuna was miserable.Â
He was turning into something vicious in the ring, a violent machine that people glorified. He wasnât moving with the fluidity of an artist that you used to admire when you first started watching him fight. There was a sense of brutality that was now a part of his make up.Â
Sukuna was no longer a man, he was a beast.Â
His persona was dwindling into only intimidation. Every interview, every guest appearance, and every social occasion was met with detachments or disinterest. He was growing snarky and irritable, no longer willing to charm the people around him.Â
Satoru Gojo was the first to shoot at Sukuna with his words, dredging up his painful break up and even dragging you back into the fold with his commentary. The two of them grew to have a very intense rivalry. They exchanged heated arguments on social media, smack talked the other person in live interviews and had tense interactions in public.Â
The press and the people were eating up every single second of it.
On the eve of his thirty-first birthday, you received a call from Uraume.Â
âWe are back in the city,â they said, âSukuna needs to start training up for his match against Satoru Gojo.âÂ
You swallowed the uncomfortable lump in your throat.Â
âWhy didnât he tell me he was back?â You asked softly.Â
Uraume sighed, âI donât have to tell you that heâs been in a fowl mood. The agency is throwing a huge birthday party for him tonight which he is refusing to attendâŚâÂ
âSo, why are you calling me?âÂ
âBecauseâŚâ Uraume sighed, âheâs about to fly to close to the sun, and I can see he needs an anchor to bring him down to Earth a little bitâŚâÂ
Your cheeks burned at the statement. âAre you saying I am his anchor?âÂ
âI am saying itâs been almost a year since he last saw youâŚâ Uraume explained, âAnd I donât want him feeling awful on his birthday. I care about him too, you know?âÂ
You nodded your head, âNo, of course. I know that.âÂ
âI told him that I would stop by to pick him up for the party, but I think giving him a nice surprise might do him so good. Remind the guy to enjoy himself a littleâŚâÂ
âYouâre sweet,â you said with a smile.Â
âAs are you, my dear,â Uraume replied tenderly.Â
âMy, my, are you actually giving me a compliment?âÂ
âDonât let it get to your head,â they remarked playfully, and you felt a hint of ease realizing that things might not be as cold between you both as you thought.Â
That Uraume was really only ever considering Sukuna's well being first, just like you.
â âš .
Uraume made sure that you got to Sukunaâs place in one piece and without anyone knowing that you were even there. You clasped your best friend's present between your fingers, your exposed body shivering from the cold air as you rode the elevator up to his penthouse apartment.
It felt right to dress up; you wore a white mini dress with a mesh overlay that had little embroidered detailing on the fabric. There were cut outs in the back, with an adjustable strap from behind cinching the bodice perfectly to your shape. Your kitten heels clicked against the floor, the nerves suddenly tingling their way up your legs as you thought about what Sukunaâs reaction might even be.Â
This year felt like a century in the timeline of your friendship.Â
You knocked on his door gently, tucking your bottom lip between your teeth.Â
You could hear the trudge of footsteps from behind the frame, Sukunaâs voice bellowing as he spoke.Â
âUraume, for the last fucking time, I told you I am not going, and if you force it I will fire you on the spot-âÂ
He swung the door open and froze.Â
âSurprise!â You squeaked lightly, awkwardly lifting the gift in your hands. âI got you a present!âÂ
Sukuna blinked once and then twice, his lips parting as if heâs seen a ghost.Â
âUraume asked me to come,â you explained. âThey told me that you guys were backâŚâÂ
He stood there dumbfounded, for once rendered completely speechless.Â
You cleared your throat, feeling a warmth rippling over your skin as the man gave you a once over. His eyes flickered down your body, hovering over all the parts of your exposed skin. Your bare thighs, your dĂŠcolletage, and up the nape of your neck.Â
âT-they wanted you to have fun on your birthday,â you added on with an apprehensive grin, âthey actually suggested maybe a quiet night in and thought you might just want to spend it with an old friend instead of a bunch of people you probably donât even likeâŚâÂ
Sukunaâs eyes narrowed, his mouth pressing into a firm line.Â
He lookedâŚupset.Â
Was he not happy to see you?Â
âUhm,â you mumbled, your fingers toying with the ribbon at the odd dismissal and lack of enthusiasm, âI-I donât have to stay, but I did just want to wish you a happy birthdayâŚâÂ
You took a small step forward, holding the present up as an offering. âHappy birthday, âKunaâŚâ you said with a quiet warble in your voice and feeling like a complete idiot for showing up. The disappointment of his response sat heavily on your chest.
He lifted his hand, gripping the present as he plucked it out of your grasp. You cleared your throat, anxiously scratching the back of your ear as you lifted up the strap of your dress which fell on your right shoulder.Â
âIâll justâŚâ you added on in defeat, gesturing behind you to indicate that you were leaving.Â
You didnât even notice his arm sling behind your waist when your eyes fell downcast.Â
Suddenly you were pulled over the threshold, the door closing behind you in a bang before your back was pressed up against the wooden frame. Your gaze lifted up to Sukuna, your pupils widening when you you were met with his menacing stare.Â
âYou know,â you said with a gulp, hoping to the ease the tension as you tried to catch your breath. âYou really do look like a dragon when you scowl like thatâŚâÂ
âAre you stupid?â He spat with irritation. âWhat if someone saw you come over? We just got the press off our backsâŚâÂ
Your pulse hit the base of your throat. âUraume ensured that no one was aroundâŚâÂ
âI thought we agreed to take time apartâŚâ he argued, ignoring your words. âYou agreed.âÂ
âYouâre mad...â You pointed out, the tip of your nose wincing as you pursed your lips.Â
âIâm not mad, Iâm furiousâŚâ he said with irritation. âIâm trying to keep you out of this fucking chaos and you just waltz in, in this sorry excuse of a dress, like everything is perfectly fine?!âÂ
You looked down at your outfit, and folded your arms over your chest.Â
âIâŚâ you spoke, your voice trailing off as your shoulders slumped.Â
You didnât even know if you should apologize. You didnât do anything wrong and this wasnât even your idea to begin with. Youâve also never seen Sukuna speak to you this way before, and your confidence bubbled when you recognized that this...wasnât him.Â
You straightened your back, tilting your chin up to face him with defiance.Â
Youâre the only person in the world who willingly challenges him.Â
You donât even have to raise a fist to watch him break.Â
He was pushing you away, the same way he did when you found him on the ground of that kindergarten because thatâs what Sukuna does when heâs hurting the most.Â
âGod, youâre just as miserable as lookâŚâ you pointed out with a quirk of your brow.Â
His jaw twitched.Â
âI donât give a shit who catches me here,â you boldly claimed, âI miss my best friendâŚâ you added before shoving his shoulder, âand you, you asshole, have no excuse for not telling me that you are back home. Just because I agreed to us spending some time apart, that doesnât mean you get to just...cut me off like that. To not call me, to barely answer my texts, and to just push me away like I donât matter to youâŚâÂ
Sukuna winced, taking a step closer to seal the gap of space between you both. He brought his head lower, dipping his forehead to press against your own. Your spine seized in that moment, your lips parting feeling the heat of his breath on your skin.Â
You were expecting a rebuttal, but thisâŚthis wasnât what you thought would happen.Â
âYou are a pain in my assâŚâ he whispered, closing his eyes as he circled his free arm around your waist, âand the only thing that matters to meâŚâÂ
He nudged his face closer, so close you swore to yourself that he might kiss you, before tracking his lips along your jaw and cradling his forehead in the crook of your neck instead.Â
Your right hand moved him to touch his shoulder, your face contorting with a hint of concern.Â
You felt it then, something wet on your skin where his forehead lay, and you took in a sharp breath as Sukuna tightened his arm around your waist.Â
âYou shouldnât have comeâŚâ he took a deep inhale against your neck, smelling your skin before clearing his throat from any shakiness.Â
âYou said that alreadyâŚâ you grumbled unamused.Â
âStubborn woman, you never listen...â he breathed in once more, âGod, I fucking missed you.âÂ
â âš .
Sukuna opened his present once everything was settled, and once he finally embraced the reunion without questioning any other factors. He laughed at your little DIY stress kit that you put together for him. You both ordered in pizza, sitting on opposite sides of the sofa with the open cardboard box between you. You talked, and talked, and talked into the late hours of the night. Until there were only crumbs on the bottom of the box which Sukuna placed on the coffee table. The bottle of champagne that you have both been nursing was nearly empty.Â
Drunk on each other, with a belly full of food and simplistic joy settling in. Sukuna leaned against the arm rest, sprawling his long legs and patting his thigh sweetly.Â
âCâmereâŚâÂ
Your heart hammered, and you bit the rim of your champagne glass before obliging.Â
You stood up, swaying a little and watching his hungry eyes blatantly check you out as you sat on his lap. Sukuna adjusted his position, before dropping his palm on your thigh, his touch stroking up and down your skin.Â
âWhatâs going on with you?â You inquired, placing your elbow on his shoulder as you rested your warm cheek against your palm.Â
You were looking at him with concern, noticing his face sink.Â
He rubbed one hand over the exhausted expression, an intoxicated blush painting his cheeks.Â
âThe press are worse than ever. After Mei, itâs beenâŚrelentless. The stories they are coming up with, the things that they are saying about me. I went from being on top of the world to being the guy everyone loves to fucking hate. And with every fight I go into, people are just waiting for me to wash up. The cherry on top of this whole fucking thing is Satoru Gojo, who wonât stop running his fucking mouth. I want cut the little shit in halfâŚâÂ
You smiled, not to be condescending, but out of gratitude that you both easily slipped back into the shell of your own comfort. âRyomen, heâs twenty-one years old. Do you not remember how you were at that age?âÂ
He rolled his eyes. âI had more class than he didâŚâÂ
âBut you were aggressive,â you reminded, âYou werenât afraid to tear down the legends that predated you.âÂ
âSo, what are you saying?âÂ
âIâm saying that maybe Satoru drew inspiration from somewhereâŚâÂ
You placed the champagne glass on his chest, your fingers holding the stem as you swirled the liquid around gently. The silence hung in the air because Sukuna knew you were right, but there were other lingering questions pressing you at the same time. And thanks to the alcohol, you had all the courage you needed to ask.
âWhat happened with Mei?â You wondered, shifting your gaze to meet his.Â
Sukunaâs index finger tapped up and down your thigh in contemplation.Â
He closed his eyes and shook his head before swallowing the lump in his throat. âNothing.âÂ
You quirked your brow again, taking a swig of your champagne.Â
Sukuna used his free hands to wrap around your own, and he pulled the glass away from you to take a sip himself.Â
âWhy wonât you tell me?âÂ
He chugged the rest of your drink, and placed it on the ground beside him.Â
âRyomenâŚâÂ
âDonât push me, bratâŚâÂ
âBut why not?â You wondered, âI justâŚit just seemed like you both were so happy and then all of a suddenâŚâÂ
He dropped his head back against the arm rest and stared up at the ceiling. From underneath his black shirt you saw the silver chain poking through.Â
Your heart tightened.Â
You drew one hand on the locket, your finger curling underneath as your thumb tracked over the texture of the necklace.Â
âYouâre still wearing itâŚâ you mumbled.Â
Sukuna faced you. âI never take it off. Only when I have to get in the ringâŚâ His eyes shifted to your exposed, naked neck, and you mindlessly reached for the silver chain that you were currently not wearing.Â
âI donât wear it on certain occasionsâŚâ you explained guiltily, âonly because I am afraid that I might lose it.âÂ
âPlus, it wouldnât go with this dress...â Sukuna nonchalantly added on and you laughed at his comment.Â
He sighed in defeat. âThe necklace was a small reason,â he opened up. âMei hated that I wore it all the time. She would badger me about taking it off. The time I spent with you after Sousuke didnât helpâŚâ he added, treading the delicate topic with as much sensitivity as he could, âshe accused me for cheating. I told her she needed to back off because you and I had a history that predates her. I told her that if the roles were reversed, you would be there for me because you have always been there for meâŚâÂ
Your body froze.Â
âShe would pick fights with me over everything about you. Finally I had enough, and told her she needed to fucking trust me if this was going to work. But things never went back to the way they used to. It was always up and down with Mei. Finally, when she had enough, she told me that I had a choice to make. Either I cut you off for us to happily together. OrâŚshe leavesâŚâÂ
You sat up, staring at him with wide eyes and shock. Â
âIâmâŚâ you gasped, âIâm the reason why you both broke up?âÂ
The guilt struck you harder than you expected, and you looked down at Sukunaâs torso shamefully as you recalled the state of yourself post-break up, thinking of all the moments where you might have potentially stolen precious time away from his former lover.Â
âRyomen, I am soâŚI am so sorryâŚâÂ
Two fingers brushed underneath your chin, and Sukuna lifted your head so you could see him.Â
âI picked you,â he confessed, âI picked you.âÂ
âBut-âÂ
âThere is no âbutâ,â he said with a shake of his. âWeâve been in each otherâs lives for over two decades. You are my person. You are my family. YouâŚâ, he sighed, âyou didnât deserve what happened afterwards...â
His hands trailed up until his digits caught the hem of your dress.Â
âIâm keeping my distance to protect you..."
âBut you loved her,â you gasped, âI saw it. I saw you both. I wouldâveâŚI wouldâve stepped aside. If I was causing any issues, I wouldâveâŚrespected your boundaries. I love you, Ryomen. I just want you to be happy, and if that means that I take a step back-âÂ
âI did love her,â Sukuna interjected, the heat of gaze flicking upward, the rims slightly red from the alcohol he consumed. âBut I love you moreâŚâÂ
He drew all the air out of your lungs with the slip of his tongue, making you perch yourself up so you were actually looking directly at him. His pupils were dilated, widening as if to give you access to the depths of his soul. In all your years youâve known him, you donât think the two of you ever actually exchanged those words. It was always veiled with âI care for you,â, âI adore you,â âYouâre my person,â and âthis is why we are best friends.âÂ
But loveâŚÂ
That felt forbidden to say out loud, even though you both knew that the root of your friendship was only built on love, it shouldn't have come as such a shock to you for the confession to slip so naturally.
You gaze longingly into each otherâs eyes, in a way that you havenât since you were both sixteen years old.Â
WonderingâŚ
ConsideringâŚ
âI donâtâŚâ you said quietly, sitting upright as he shifted beneath you.Â
You wound up straddling him, both your hands resting on his shoulders while his own continued to tease the hem of your dress.Â
âI donât know what to sayâŚâ you exhaled.Â
Sukuna pinched the fabric between his thumb and index finger, allowing the silence to hang for a few minutes before switching the subject.Â
âDid you dress up for me?â He joked, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his devilish mouth. He slid one hand underneath your dress, making you gasp as his touch moved dangerously high up your thigh.Â
âWanted to look cute,â you murmured, your words lacing tightly together as the champagne danced across your tongue. You felt a pulse radiate between your legs, and you unknowingly clenched much to Sukunaâs amusement. Â
âCute for me?â He coaxed.Â
âCute in general,â you remarked.Â
His other hand sprawled across your back, and you knew he was testing his boundaries.
âRyomenâŚâ you warned, but it only made him break out into a full grin. His irises were drowning in lust and inebriation, and your own were falling in suit.Â
The hand on your hip dragged up further, until his fingers brushed over the string of your underwear. You scratched your nails down his chest, feeling your back arch into his palm as you mindlessly rolled your hips.
His lips moved to your ear, that mellifluous voice dangerously close. âLetâs play a gameâŚâÂ
He squeezed the fat of your hip, his weight lifting you up and the entire room spun as he pinned you underneath him when he switched your positions. He locked you against the plush sofa with his thighs, a throaty laugh coming through from your sudden squeak of surprise.Â
âLetâs see you try to get out of this one, Princess...â He teased, his teeth nipping at the side of your throat. âOr youâll end up being my dinnerâŚâÂ
Your body vibrated from the sensation of his touch. You gripped his jaw firmly and pulled his face towards you, your brows furrowing at the proclamation of a challenge.Â
âItâs not fair to go against a boxing champion,â you argued, your spine curving as Sukuna slipped his other thigh between your legs.Â
He dropped his head to the base of your throat, his teeth catching the sensitive spot just above your collar bone, âdonât worry,â he soothed over the gentle bite, âIâll play fairâŚâ
âDonât patronize me,â you grumbled through gritted teeth.Â
âYouâre fault for waltzing into the dragonâs lairâŚâ he alerted, quoting the very same line he used to when you would both play this silly fantasy game together.Â
But youâre not wielding plastic swords and entering into the enemies domain with a sense of courage. Now, it felt like playing with fire. Your skin was burning at the contact, at Sukunaâs weight over your throbbing body. When he nibbled on your neck again, your hand gripped onto the back of his head, tugging his hair a little roughly as you pulled him away.Â
Sukuna purred.Â
âYouâve never been able to beat meâŚâ you teased, giving into the world of make believe just one more time but speaking the truth regarding this fact. âIâve always been your biggest challengeâŚâÂ
âWatch me win tonight,â he pushed with confidence, reaching for your wrist and pinning it above your head.Â
âAnd what are the rules here exactly?â You quipped, your tongue tingling and your body buzzing with excitement and curiosity. âAm I supposed to kill the dragon and win back my castle?âÂ
Sukuna laughed, his eyes darkening as he pressed his forehead to yours once more.Â
âNo need to draw any swords. Letâs play a game of submissionâŚâ he boldly claimed, and your attention flickered to find his brazen smile burning even brighter on his face. âFirst person to cum losesâÂ
âAre you making a move on me?â You light heartedly disputed.Â
âNot at all,â Sukuna maintained, but you can tell from his tone that heâs veiling the truth.
There was something hard pressing up against you, and you had a feeling it was a nudge for some relief.Â
âItâs the dress isnât it?â you giggle.
âIf you even call it a dressâŚâÂ
âCanât handle a little skin?âÂ
âI donât want to shock you by telling you got me half hard just showing up,â he confessed, something unfolding in your drunken stupor.Â
âI can feel youâŚâ you sighed, and the man hummed as he molded his body into you.
You felt him twitch, and it made your thighs tremble.Â
âWe had too much champagne,â you informed.Â
âThat we didâÂ
âWe should probably stopâŚâ you exhaled, your lashes fluttering when you felt his thigh flex against your cunt.Â
âDo you want to?â Sukuna asks, his voice growing serious. His hand on your hip tugs at the string of your underwear, and he releases it with a snap as it pinches back against your skin.Â
You licked your lips, your brain too fuzzy to contradict what your heart wanted. âYou know I will never back down from a challenge with youâŚâÂ
âThat's what I like about you,â Sukuna adoringly praises.Â
âAnd we both know youâre going to lose, right?âÂ
Your throat shrinks, Sukunaâs hand gliding over your pubis to press the drenched spot against your underwear.Â
âDonât underestimate me, Princess,â he advices ominously, âweâve never played a game like this before.âÂ
â âš .
Clothes had to stay on - that was the rule you both agreed with.Â
To keep things fair.Â
To keep itâŚplayful.Â
Your nipples pebbled, poking hard against the fabric of your dress as Sukuna sucked on the skin of your neck. You knew for a fact that he was leaving a mark there, and all you could do was bite back as his mouth trailed down the column and over the slope of your breast. You whimpered when he tugged at your clothed nipple with with his teeth, making the muscles in your leg seize from the sudden contact.Â
You had to do something, and so you reached your hand between your legs to lightly graze over his erection pressing against his sweats.Â
Sukuna groaned, and you sniggered at the reaction.Â
You lifted your head and neck, bringing your mouth to his own ear.Â
âYou know,â you seductively stated, your fingers outlining the length of his hard member. âThe first time I ever touched myself was after watching you practice in the ringâŚâÂ
Sukuna cursed under his breath, your fingers squeezed around his length. You proceeded to stroke the heat of his member, striking hard for your first blow. âAnd I always do whenever I watch you fight. I get so hot and bothered seeing you in the ring. I even have a a specific vibrator I useâŚI named it after youâŚâÂ
âFucking hell,â he hissed when you snuck your hand underneath his waistband, bringing your touch even closer as you palmed him over his boxers.Â
âIâve never told you that secretâŚâ you declared, bringing your own teeth to his earlobe which you tugged mercilessly.Â
Sukuna lost himself for a moment, making you think this was going to be an easy win. But you heard him steady his breathing, could his muscles flexing as if to tame his own body back from giving in. Â
âI heard you onceâŚâ he stammered suddenly, closing his eyes as he recollected his memories. âBack when you were living in the dorm. I came over to drop off something, and youâŚugh, fuck-âŚyou were in the bathroomâŚmoaning. I thought you were in pain at first, until I realizedâŚâÂ
Your own cheeks burned at his confession, the surprise making you ease your grip.Â
Sukuna grabbed your wrist then and pulled you away from his crotch. He placed it on your breast, and you absentmindedly pinched your nipple as he slid his hand between your legs. He lowered himself down, slithering underneath you and making your ears sting with vexation. He pushed your dress over your thighs, exposing your light colored underwear. The noticeable wet patch made his eyes glitter with satisfaction.Â
âI would have jacked off on the spot, but I left. I was clearly intruding on a private matter, but that didnât stop me from blowing a load the second I made it to my place,â he carries on, bringing his nose and pressing it against your slit. âSo fucking sweetâŚâÂ
You tried to push his head away, and in response he dragged his tongue over the moist patch on your underwear.Â
âOh my god,â you moaned, your hips bucking from the sensation.Â
âYouâre the first person I think of when I touch myself,â he revealed, humming as his tongue lewdly licked over your underwear.Â
Your whole lower belly tingled, your arousal only slicking the fabric.Â
You needed to distract him from carrying on, but Sukuna hooked two fingers underneath your underwear and tugged them to the side.Â
You sat up on your forearms, pressing your thighs against his cheeks to stop him from diving in.Â
âDonât cheat,â you sternly addressed, but Sukuna only scoffed vindictively.Â
âYouâre still wearing them, PrincessâŚâ he pointed out, and the loophole made your core pulse with anticipation. âThis isnât cheatingâŚâÂ
With your panties tugged aside, Sukuna used two fingers to spread the lips apart.Â
He was staring at your pussy, studying it like it was the first one heâs ever looked at.Â
You wanted to say something, to ask what he was doing. But to your surprise he just placed a gentle kiss on your clit before murmuring sweetly into your sex. âYouâre beautiful,â Sukuna complimented, as if expressing a blessing before a meal then finally dragging his wet tongue up along the slit of your exposed pussy.Â
âYouâre ch-cheatingâŚâ was all you could think of blubbering out in the haze of lust, feeling the vibration of his laugh as he slung one of your legs over his shoulder.Â
It hits you then - the fact that this man indulges in going down on women. Though he never explicitly shared all the lewd details with his past partners, he did mention how it was âhis favorite thing to doâ. After all these years, you finally get to experience it for yourself. Feel how he latches onto your pussy as your arousal drips like heâs pouring honey out of the jar and slurping the sticky, creamy essence. You whine when he prods his tongue between your folds, expertly sliding the muscle as he rolls it in gentle waves to stir a budding orgasm. Your fingers intertwine around his locks, reading to yank him off until he slurps and sucks in just the right spot that has you simply massaging his scalp instead.Â
ââŚâkuna~âŚâ you mewl, your nails dragging over his scalp.Â
The man circles his mouth over your tender clit, sucking on the bud before pressing another kiss on the nub.Â
Your pussy throbs when he pulls away, but you were proud for holding back.Â
It was your opportunity to distract him, and you shrugged off one of your straps to pull down your dress to expose your left breast. Sukunaâs attention flickered upward, watching you tweak at the hard nub as you gave him a shy grin.Â
âThe felt really good,â you breathily whined.Â
He began crawling his way back up, and you used this opportunity to lift your body upright. He was distracted, wasn't even thinking about you finding a way out of this position. His lips instantly latched onto your nipple, his hands gripping the fat of your ass as he sucked on the point feverishly.Â
You licked your lips, doing everything in your power not to fall back into the black hole of his gripping dominance.
When he released you, you instantly pushed his back against the couch and climbed on top of him so you were safely straddling him again. You forcefully dragged your wet cunt over his erection, leaving a little trail of you to stain the fabric of his pants. Sukuna grunted with pleasure, bucking his hips as you ground yours.Â
âYouâre not as sharp with me,â you giggled, languidly gliding your cunt over his begging member.Â
âBecause youâre fucking distracting,â Sukuna grieves, his hands clenching into tight balls by his side as he refuses to grab onto your ass and push for more friction.Â
You felt him sink, using his shoulders as leverage to keep you perched in just the right position so your pussy was rubbing over his cock. You bit back a sound of pleasure from leaving you, and instead exhale softly as you continue rocking back and forth.Â
âYouâre big everywhere arenât you,â you tantalized, noting the way his jaw tense as a rumble erupted from his chest in a deep groan which morphed into a slightly sinister laugh.Â
âLet me show you.âÂ
He lifted his hips, making you pause at the sudden awkward shift. He pushed his sweat pants down just to meet the end of his boxers. The removal of the first layer was a small relief, but your eyes widened as he settled back down. His erection was tenting, pressing up against the thin black material and making you see a clear distinction of his balls and thick shaft.Â
âGo on then,â he tempted.Â
Your could feel yourself getting wet. The tightness in your belly only contracting further.Â
You stared him down, knowing full well that he was manipulating you at that very moment.Â
âWhy stop there?â You rebutted.Â
You helped pulled out the weight of his heavy cock from the restraint, watching his length smack against his lower belly as the tip dribbled with cum. Sukuna moaned when your thumb pressed against the slit, your touch dragging back and forth as you aligned yourself.Â
The sounds of your panting breaths were far too loud in this quiet room. You hesitated for a minute before lowering yourself, pressing the fat tip at your entrance. You gulped down air from the stretch alone, your arousal enough lubricant for your take him. You sank, your attention on Sukunaâs whose eyes were honed in on the point of contact of your sexes.Â
When your pelvis finally kiss his own, when your bodies were merged into one, you felt two hands seek your waist as you trembled in his arms.Â
Your dress had fallen back over, covering him buried inside you. You were looking up at him now as his chest rose to press yours.
A puzzle piece finally connecting.Â
He twitched inside you, and you clenched around his length, but neither of you moved. You forgot, for a moment, that this was just a game. That the two of you were probably going to wake up tomorrow morning not being able to face the other person. Your heart was racing, your body begging for movement but you couldnât snap yourself out of the bold decision you already made.Â
Sukuna was looking deep into our eyes, the sparkle behind his own irises making you think of embers on winter night.Â
His hands slipped up your waist, over the curves of your breast and up on the length of your neck. He held your head between his palms, the tips of his thumbs lightly caressing your cheeks, with his fingers to the back of your neck. He tilted his head down slightly, his nose brushing against the bridge of yours and he did something that caught you entirely off guard.Â
His lips were warm on yours, the kiss the softest gesture youâve ever experienced from him. He held a firm kiss at first, long enough until you were crumbling apart. You parted your mouth, granting him entrance and he swiped his tongue to lick the inside. He was tracing your own, his wet and wanting mouth only growing more hungry as you eagerly accepted his kiss. Your heart hammered heavily in your chest, and goosebumps peaked all over your skin when you felt his thumbs gently caress the soft skin of your cheeks.Â
Youâve never been kissed like this before. Never felt bursts of light erupt from behind your eyelids or your stomach explode with fireworks. This always just fun foreplay for you, but nothing that would make you quiver in heat. You almost came on the spot from this one little act that youâve imagined since you were sixteen, the one which you thought would never occur because of an unspoken rule on boundaries. But it was finally happening, and it was far too magical for you to even comprehend.Â
He swallowed your moan, tasted how sweet your desire actually was. The kiss was getting heated, your walls tightening around his cock His lips wrapped around your tongue. He sucked on it, before sliding his own back over yours.Â
You felt so weak; were reminded that you truly were just a fragile thing in his arms and nothing more.Â
He pulled away, a string of saliva sticking from his lips to yours but you shook your head as you circled your hands around his wrists.Â
âMore,â you cried desperately without thinking.Â
Sukuna smiled against your mouth and obliged.Â
You donât know how long you both sat there making out. But every time he tried to pull you away you sighed âagain,â, or moaned âdonât stopâ. You didnât even consider kissing to be an option on the table, but the more you were getting turned on the further your guard went down. Your hips started to bounce lightly, your pussy so bothered that it wanted some relief. You started fucking yourself over his length, your mouth battling with lips, teeth and tongue in a very heated stand off. Sukuna relaxed his body against the sofa, noticing you melt over him like you were wax. Your hips were moving up and down, your tongue languidly rolling around his mouth. You could feel Sukuna moving with you, bucking his hips in return. His jerks were growing sharper, his hands dropping back down to your hips to keep you in place. Your foreheads were touching, lips parting, panting heavily as you climbed and higher. The two of you were lost in the moment, forgetting everything else that led up to this.Â
You were going to lose this one, you thought, and you didnât even care.Â
Your head was spinning, your heart bursting, and you reached to hold his jaw in your hand out of desperation, hoping that by clinging to him it meant that you wouldnât disappear into the haze of it all. Entirely overwhelmed by the feeling, by this particular connection, your eyes started to water, with tears falling as your nose grew stuffy.Â
âRyomen~â you begged, your dulcet voice full of affection. The tip of his cock hit your sweetest spot and at that point you knew you were done for.Â
But Sukuna jerked his hips, the groan that ripped out of him made your belly spasm. He pulled out fast, shooting his cum all over you. Your orgasm collapsed into you just seconds after, and the two of you were shaking against one another as you tried to reorient yourselves to the present.Â
You were a mess, and so was he.Â
Two hands found your thighs as your torso collided into his. You placed one hand on the base of his neck, and rested your cheek against the crook. Â
âYou lost,â you joked with a sniffle, because you were unsure what to say, and because you realized you had just fucked your best friend and had no idea what that meant.Â
Sukuna just grinned, flashing you a knowing smile and a devilish smirk.Â
He perched your chin under his fingers, tapping the end sweetly.Â
âDoesnât feel like I did,â he breathed, and your eyes glittered once more.Â
You arched up to kiss his cheek, âI didnât know a dragon could kiss this wellâŚâÂ
Sukuna chuckled, bumping the tip of his nose to yours affectionately as he tilted his head down. âIâve had time to practice.âÂ
You sighed into another kiss, âWhat did we do, Ryomen?âÂ
âSomething we should have done a long time agoâŚâ he responded in between.Â
âYou love meâŚâ you breathed.Â
âAnd youâre surprised?â He interrupted with another kiss.Â
âI donât know what that meansâŚâÂ
He nipped at your bottom lip. âIt means what it means. I love you. Fuck, enough that I nearly fucking came inside you without thinking. You havenât been around and I feel like I've lost my goddamn mind in just a yearâŚâÂ
Your nails dragged down his chest your heart leaping its way up your throat.Â
âI love you too,â you revealed. âI love you, Ryomen. And I missed you too."
You both fell asleep on the sofa, waking up the next morning and replaying the events of your drunken stupor. After you both cleaned up and showered, you had a serious conversation over two cups of coffee. Though, you arenât quite sure how "serious" it was, considering that Sukuna had you sitting on his lip while you were gently stroking his hair.
He revealed that the reason why he didnât tell you about his return was also partially due to the fact that he was leaving that very night to hop on plane and fly halfway across the world. He couldn't bring himself to see you for only a short stint when he knew he needed far more time together after everything.
âUraume is right,â he bitterly admitted, âYou are a big distraction for me right now, and I have to be in the right headspace for this fight with GojoâÂ
âYou sound worried,â you pointed out with a furrow of your brows, your hands dragging back his locks as you threaded your digits between the strands to push his hair back from his forehead.
âIf he beats me then I am done,â Sukuna blurted, âwhat I have built will diminish into nothing. I canât lose to him. Itâll cost me my careerâŚâÂ
Disappointment wrapped its arms around you just as Sukuna loosened his own grip. But you could hear the hint of tiny, tiny fear behind his words was enough to you feel hollow. Sukuna has never felt threatened, but this was a serious fight for him. Heâs worked so hard for all of this, and he was not willing to give it up to some punk who just shot into the scene.Â
âWhy donât we revisit this after the fight then?â You offered.
He glanced at you.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean..." you exhaled, "what if maybe we just need to wait a little longer before we allow ourselves to have this..."
Sukuna paused for a moment. âYouâd wait for me?â He asked.Â
A smile ticks at the corner of your mouth. âYes, because you always come back to meâÂ
âThat I doâ he responds
You brush your fingers under his chin, tilting it upward once more to receive another kiss. âIâll wait for you,â you ensure. "Because I'll always come back to you too."
â âš .
One hand slides into the front pocket of your denim skirt, and Sukuna rests his chin on top of your head. You smile to yourself, though he canât see it, because heâs busy watching you slice bits of fruit as you place it into one of his ceramic bowls. When you were kids, Sukuna would have to look around your arm whenever he hugged you from behind. The years show the evolution of this gesture, from him suddenly perching over your shoulder until he could simply see over your crown.Â
He sighs, his other arm curling over your belly as he embraces you.Â
âDonât add the blueberries,â he mumbles.Â
You oblige, your back leaning into the breadth of his chest.Â
The two of you havenât touched one another since that faithful night.Â
Up until the fight, you and Sukuna simply returned back to the way things used to be. Except this time there were little alterations in your day to day conversations that indicated a shift.Â
For one, Sukuna was a flirt.Â
You were use to this commentary, but now that your friendship has taken a turn you find your cheeks growing heated more often around him because his words weren't gray. What he says toward you, and the way he compliments you rings very, very true. Â There is also a deep tenderness for one another that you both are finally allowing to express freely. You don't dull your affection, and instead allow it to overflow. And last of all, the longing to be back together was pathetically obvious.Â
You placed the strawberries, sliced peaches and peeled oranges into the bowl, your fingers a little tacky. âI need to wash my hands,â you indicate, and Sukuna begrudgingly releases you from his hold.Â
Youâre surprised that he didnât pounce on you so quickly.Â
The two of you only had one other sexual moment just a few months ago.Â
Sukuna video called you one evening, his face tight with frustration.Â
He was exhausted from training, and even more drained by the press.Â
They were claiming that his new âpumped physiqueâ was due to steroid use, and one little rumor had the representatives of the boxing association hounding him like he was a real culprit in this make believe story. Suddenly, his hard work and training was being reduced to the thing that the press claimed him to be: a cheater.
He called you to ensure you that everything was alright. That he was forced to take tests which all came out negative (obviously) and and effectively proved his innocence.Â
âI canât wait to be home,â he breathed with annoyance. âIâm fucking sick of this shitâŚâÂ
You were in the bathroom getting ready for bed, gently patting your moisturizer onto your face. âIâm sorry you had to go through that,â you stated, offering him only an apology because it's all you could give. âIs there something I can do to make you feel better?âÂ
Sukuna arched his brow, his attention hovering in front of the screen.Â
âYeah, you can take off that robe youâre wearingâŚâ he teased.Â
You jerked your head to the camera in surprise, noting his cheeky tone.Â
âHa-haâŚâ you remarked.Â
âIâm being serious,â he answered back, his mouth dropping into an instant frown. âIâve had a shitty day, and I canât even do the one thing I want to help me relaxâŚâÂ
You arched your brow. âAnd what might that be?âÂ
He revealed his canines, a wolfish grin brightening that handsome face. âFucking my girl...âÂ
Your heart thumped, and you swallowed the sudden tightness in your throat. You picked up your lip balm and dabbed your finger into the ointment before gliding it over your bottom lip.Â
âYour girl, huh?â You reiterated casually, hoping that Sukuna wouldnât quite pick up on the catch in your throat.Â
âYouâre always my girl, even when you werenât mine to call thatâŚâ he added softly, his voice pulling your attention back towards him.Â
He wasnât kidding around, with the look on his face entirely serious. The tips of your ears stung with a heat that you couldnât explain, and you just had the sudden urge to reach through the screen and pull his face back towards you.Â
You wanted to kiss him, to tell him that you always felt like you belonged to him too.Â
The two of you an inseparable pair for a reason.Â
Instead, you stripped down to reveal your naked form. You perched the camera towards the back for a wider shot, and allowed your body to speak to Sukuna instead. One of your legs was resting on the bathroom sink, the other grounding you on the floor. You had the camera facing your cunt, with your fingers buried deep inside. But it was nothing compared to the stretch of Sukunaâs digits, wasnât filling you enough to reach you to the pleasurable climax you desired.Â
âItâs not enough,â you gasped in between breaths, watching Sukuna passionately jerk off from he other side of the screen, âNeed you, âkuna~â you whined, âitâs not enough with youâŚâÂ
The memory hits you, making your lower belly tighten.
You dry your hands off to face him, only to find the man standing with an expression of guilt on his face.Â
The same concern you had earlier when you left the elevator reappeared once more.Â
You pick up the fruit bowl from the counter, trying your best not to give the discomfort attention. You offer Sukuna a strawberry, lifting it towards his mouth but he instantly circles his hand around your wrist and pulls it back down.
âI need to tell you something,âÂ
You scrunch your brows, and place the fruit bowl back onto the counter.Â
âWhatâs wrong?â
Sukuna closes his eyes, a look of shame washing over him.Â
You take a step closer, wrap both arms around his waist and rest your chin on his chest.Â
âWhatâs wrong?â You repeat, coaxing him to speak.Â
âI nearly threw the fight tonight.âÂ
You jerk your head up in shock, your lips parting as your jaw falls from the confession.Â
âYouâŚwhat?âÂ
Sukuna rubs his tired face with one hand, using every ounce of courage to look back at you.Â
âThere was a moment in the ring when Satoru threw a relatively decent punch,â he explains, âI had the lights knocked out of me for a split second. When I turned to face him it hit me then...that I could fake dodging his next attack before giving him the opening that he needs to win. One more hit and Iâd...collapse. Let the referee do his count, and that would be itâŚâ
You knew the exact moment he was referring to. It was the point in the match where your ears were ringing because you truly thought that you would be witnessing a loss on Sukuna's part. The entire crowd was muttering in shock, all of them on the precipice of a potential shift in legacy.Â
âI didnât follow through because I think Satoru noticed a change in my demeanor. It was only a few seconds, but the kid is fucking sharp. He wasn't smugly determined then, he was looking at me with...confusion. I couldn't do it then. I didn't want him to get a cop out on my end. So, I carried on the fight the way I would. After the match, I thought I could just let the moment pass but Uraume tried to bring it up later and I shut it down because I didn't want to admit it. Anyway, I needed to just get it off my chestâŚâÂ
âYou were going to give him that win?â You expressed with deep concern, tightening your hold around his waist as you watched Sukunaâs face to turn hard.Â
It hits you then - that the Champ, The Monster of The Ring, The Beast and King Himself wasâŚburnt out. Sukunaâs fire had been gone for quite some time, you just thought it would reignite after tonight.Â
But it didn't.
You bring your hands to his biceps and caress your palms up and down.Â
âRyomen,â you speak, licking your lips with hesitation before finally asking. âIs this what you still want?âÂ
Contemplative eyes meet yours as his palms find both your cheeks. He drops his head down, his lips seeking yours as he takes into account the gash on the muscle, then places a careful kiss on your mouth.Â
âI just want you,â he hums.Â
âMâright here,â you murmur back, âNot going anywhere.âÂ
âIâve been waiting for this,â he adds on, âthatâs all I could think about during the fight. Was just coming home to you, coming home to usâŚâÂ
A shiver runs down your back, but your body vibrates with an innocent excitement. âWe donât have to wait anymore,â you whisper. âIâm not going anywhere no matter what happens. No matter what comes nextâŚâÂ
Sukuna looks at you then, knowing full well what your statement means.Â
Once news breaks out of the two of you being an actual item, heaven knows what might happen. If the paparazzi have been plaguing Sukuna like a curse this whole time, it was only going to get even more complicated with you so intimately intertwined in his world. And now that he was back on top as the champion, he knew full well that all eyes were going to remain on him.
From when he was a child, no matter what he believed about his life that would deter you from him. His broken home wasn't enough to push you. His anger wasn't enough to push you. His detachment wasn't enough to push you. The chaos that is his world wasn't enough to push you.
You have always remained solidly by his side.
His constant. The only thing in the world that he can rely on.
âI love you,â he states under his breath, leaning in to peck you for a second time.Â
âI love you too,â you repeated with a smile against his lips.Â
There was no epic moment around this sober reveal, no exceptional circumstance other than the privacy of it being spoken with no one else to hear it other than the two of you.
You loved one another, in the deepest possible way you could love a person. From there your lips parted, and you carefully kissed the man before you as he scooped you up in his arms.Â
He repeated the phrase again when he placed you on the kitchen counter, with his fingers buried deep within the folds of your wet pussy.Â
You moaned it back to him after he carried you into his bedroom, with your fists tangled between his hair as he ate you out.Â
He grunted it out one last time, with his hand gripping the headboard as he watched your body melt into the matters when he thrusted his dick in and out of you as he made love to you feverishly.Â
And you mumbled it back one last time while he held you in his arms, the two of you falling asleep from a very long night of unbridled passion.Â
Sukuna was the first to wake at the crack of dawn. He rolled over to grab his phone from the side table in an attempt to turn off his alarm before it woke you up as well. As he looked at the device, his heart sank.Â
A number of notifications were blowing up his phone and it was making him feel dizzy.Â
News articles were already painting him in all his glory after his fight with Satoru, with his opponent looking battered in defeat. The press had finally flipped, and suddenly began to revere him the way he deserved to be. There were text messages from an influx of people, either congratulating him or wanting get his thoughts on the match. Sukuna feels the tremor in his hand build as he starts to scroll through the notifications.Â
He places the device on the blanket in front of him, his eyes looking out to the large windows as he watches the sky shift from a deep violet to a lilac blue. He turns this head to gaze at you. This image of you by his side, in a position that heâs seen multiple times in his life, feels different now too. The soft glow of new daylight washes over your body, and the stillness of the hour has him believing that he actually made it to heaven. Sukuna places a soft kiss on your forehead, then carefully kicks off the blankets. He searches for his boxers, then pulls on the pair before stepping out into his balcony.Â
He calls Uraume.Â
Usually they pick up quick, but Sukuna counts down the rings until they do.Â
âMy King,â they tease, their voice a little groggy. âTo what do I owe the pleasure?âÂ
Sukuna watches a bird fly across the horizon, the ease in his chest an affirmation to what heâs about to say.Â
âIâm retiring,â he announces. âIâm done.âÂ
The silence hangs in the air, streaks of orange and yellow begin to tint the clouds.Â
âI had a feeling you were going to say thatâŚâÂ
âis that why it took you long to answer my call?âÂ
Uraume huffs out a laugh. âI guess I was hoping for another piece of newsâŚâÂ
âAre you mad?â Sukuna asks, only honoring Uraume with his worry because he knows how much they have done for him to begin with.Â
Uraume sighs, âIâm not actually. Itâs the smartest decision you can make. You retire now and you basically leave the game while sitting at the top. Youâve earned that throne, and it wonât be easy for these rookies to take it from you so quicklyâŚâÂ
Sukuna chuckles, âyouâre right about thatâŚâÂ
Uraume lets the quiet overtake the conversation. âIâll give it a few days before I break the news to the press.âÂ
âAnd then what?âÂ
âThereâs definitely going to be a lot of interviews, and a retirement party that you will have to attend wether you like it or notâŚâÂ
âAnd what about you?âÂ
Uraume hums, âYou and I had a good run. If itâs the end for you, then I guess I can finally retire too..âÂ
Sukna furrows his brows, his nails scratch over the rail on his balcony. âI donât want you doing that because of meâŚâÂ
Uraume laughs, âYouâve earned my loyalty, what can I say?âÂ
âThank you,â Sukuna breathes, âFor everything youâve done for me. Youâre more than just a manager, but I think you already know that...âÂ
âI know it,â Uraume answers back. âAnd I also know that this is the right decision because you soundâŚrelieved.âÂ
He hears you then.Â
You were calling out to him, ââkuna, where are you?~âÂ
He turns his back to face the railing, missing the sun breaking through the horizon at the sound of your voice. He smiles thinking about the adorable, frustrated look on your face when you probably reached out and couldnât find him, and he slowly begins making his approach back into his bedroom.Â
âI am,â he speaks to Uraume, âIâve got to go. Will talk about this later.âÂ
He hangs up the phone, and returns to the shadow of deep, restful slumber. He places the phone back on his side table, and smiles at the exact disappointed expression that he pictured when he was outside.Â
The second you feel his warmth back in your presence, you snuggle up into his frame.Â
âWhere did you go?â You mumble with a yawn, and Sukuna wraps his strong arms around you as he nestles back into your body.Â
âNowhere,â he breathes, easing back into your embrace.Â
âHeard you talking,â you add on, you eyes still shut but your arm slinking around his neck to keep him close.
Itâs taken you both over two decades to get here, and he wasnât going to allow anything to come in the way of that. âIâll tell you about it later,â he reassures, keeping his loving eyes on you as he clutches onto his bright, new future with his favorite person.
A life that you both will now get to live in peaceful happiness.Â
â âš .
:note: hi, everyone! long form fics has been really draining for me these days but these one shots feel like a great refresher. I know this is a monster of a fic, but I hope you enjoy the story. comments and reblogs are appreciated!
tags (only tagging those who asked): @after-laughter-come-tears @not-9ok @axxk17 @sukubusss @lavenderdaydream97 @charlie-xo @kunasthiast @celestep004 @brownskinnedgirll @sukunasweetheart @kunascutie @joontroverted @emi311 @yuujispinkhair @starmapz @bellyei
#sukuna x reader#sukuna x you#sukuna x y/n#ryomen sukuna x reader#ryomen sukuna x you#ryomen sukuna x y/n#sukuna fluff#ryomen sukuna fluff#sukuna smut#ryomen sukuna smut#ryomen sukuna#jjk fanfics
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need to verbalize my desperate need for mr nonchalant businessman simon
mdni: ddlg , size kink
wc: { 1050 }
heâs busy at work, heâs always busy at work. sitting in his at home office, looking over paperwork tapping his pen against his desk. those worn out hands holding hours of tension from his day using them. gripping the pen a little too tight, his eyes felt heavy as he read over each word.
but when simon saw your gentle frame walk in through the door, he softened. his straightened back relaxed and he could sigh out and finally have it not be in a bemoaning way.
âwhatâre you doinâ outta bed, honey?â his voice grumbles lowly.
your sweet and soft nightslip looking even better in the subtle glow of his desk lamp. a gentle shrug as you walked over to him. bashful yet shameless all so effortlessly. his low eyes watched as you padded over to him, fragile hands grabbing at his chest. âcanât sleep, need youâ was all you breathed out. his precious girl all tired but not tired enough to doze off on her own.
simon nodded, he always understood. âokay honey, you wanna stay with me while i finish this up?â he mumbled against your temple as you settled on his lap. your chest nuzzled into his.
it was soft and sweet for the first ten minutes. his left hand rubbing your side and back, sometimes playing with your hair as his other hand continued with the paperwork. it was a comfortable silence.
still quiet even when your hips started rutting against his lap. he let you do whatever you needed to do. you were his angel.
of course he would let you do anything you wanted.
his strong hand helping your little motions while his eyes stayed focused on the paperwork in front of him.
but you could barely stay like that for five minutes. needing more already. and you couldnât interrupt him like that when he was so busy with work. so you asked a soft question you knew he would be happy to agree to . . . âcan i use you for a little?â
of course he would let you. nodding his head, eyes still on the paperwork. gently taking his hand off of your side and pushing back in his chair so you could get his suit pants unzipped.
fragile and delicate hands taking out his thick cock and palming it until it was hard enough to stick in. the most you got from simon was a gruff sigh occasionally, but his eyes didnât glance away from his work. signing his signature on a couple documents as you started to ease the first inch in.
he only acknowledged your actions by placing his hand on your waist. not a tight grip, but definitely not a soft one.
"easy, little baby" he mumbled.
you were never too good at listening when it came to something you wanted. even after years of being with him, the girth of his cock never got any easier to handle. so the tight soppy hole was almost burning in pain when you shifted down a little too quick.
"what did i just say?" simon breathed out softly when he heard your yelp. giving your hip a gentle swat to let you know that was a bad move. then moving to rub the bridge of his nose, his mind was pounding from all the paperwork he had done today, but there were at least two more documents that needed his attention at the moment.
the last thing he wanted to worry about was his precious girl getting hurt because she's too sensitive and dumb to know her own limits.
that entire time he was reading over the words and analyzing the numbers as best he could, your cunt was squeezing him in. fucking yourself on the first four inches of his cock while the wet and sticky slick leaked down the rest of his shaft - coloring his already dark suit pants an even darker cashmere stain.
fragile and delicate nails grabbing at his shirt, your face nuzzled up against him while letting out soft pants. simon sighs out, grabbing your hips and easing you down on the rest of him. heavy fingers digging into the little bit of fat there and helping you bounce up and down softly.
once you eased up to his thick eight and a half inches, his hands released their hold and let you do the rest of the work. his eyes going back to the mind numbing paperwork.
simon could never and would never get enough of your sweet little mewls and purrs as you let your fingers dig into his button up and rock back and forth in his lap. not moving up and down, but instead rutting on his cock. like you didnt even want to think of letting some of him slip out. it was cozy almost, knowing he was right there.
the sweet sounds just got too much for him. it wasn't his fault, not really. but he did feel a little bad when he picked you up off his cock and slammed your back down on his desk. crinkling some of his papers in the process.
but every man has a limit of what they can take and endure. you were his vice. simons warm hands holding you down forcefully on his desk while pistoning in and out. groaning at the way his ears started to ring from the over abundance of pure euphoria.
"pussy's always so warm"
shoving that thick cock into you so hard it made a cute little bump form at the bottom of your tummy. eyes that couldnât leave the sight of his and his stuck exactly on the way you were leaking around him and onto his desk . simons eyebrows curved pathetically and desperately as he drank in that view.
your legs bouncing back with each one of his eager thrusts. âah-!â leaving your lips like unheard prayers with glossed over eyes struggling to stay steady.
"you wanted this though, didnât you baby? you wanted daddy to get you all tired out before bed?"
and of course he kept going until you had creamed out around him two or three times. making sure his little baby was all snuggled up and tuckered out before he took you back to bed where you would stay this time.
#.đĽ Ý {elora}#âđ {đŞ˝}#ŕšŕŁ â´ď¸ {đ}#simon riley#simon ghost riley#ŕšŕŁ â´ď¸ { s.r. }#ghost riley#ghost#simon riley x f!reader#simon riley x female reader#ghost x female reader#simon ghost riley x f!reader#ghost x reader#simon riley x reader#simon ghost x female reader#simon ghost riley x reader#simon riley smut#simon ghost riley x female reader#simon ghost riley headcanons#simon ghost riley fluff#simon ghost riley smut#ghost smut#ghost riley smut#simon riley headcanons#simon riley cod#ghost imagine#simon ghost#ghost mw2#ghost cod#simon riley x you
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Not saying âI love youâ back to the Squid game men.
How will they react if you donât say it back? In what scenario would they not say it back to you?
Pairing: The Recruiter, Thanos, Nam-gyu, Dae-ho, Gi-hun, In-ho x gn!reader
Summary: Them not saying âI love youâ, their reaction to you not saying âI love youâ
Genre: fluff, a lil bit of angst sprinkled on top
If youâre interested, hereâs more fluff! Calling the Squid Game men some weird petnames and their reaction to it!
(Pre-Squid game)
Ëâ§âââşËł
Gong Yoo // The Recruiter // The Salesman

âĄâ Him not saying I love youâŚ
It barely ever happens, really. He adores everything about you, from your face, voice, body and the ground you walk on; that man is ready to worship you like a devoted follower would to the most merciful goddess. Therefor he would always be aware of how to make your day a little better, even if itâs just a small âI love youâ or a gentle kiss here and there.
The first thing you hear from him in the morning is a groggy voice mumbling a small âGood morning love...â into your ear while warm kisses were trailed down your back.
While standing in the kitchen and searching the fridge for any signs of a tasty breakfast, a small âI love you, Iâll be back later!â would echo slightly through the apartment as the front door closed.
Once, he did forget to say his usual I love you on the way out. He thought about how he possibly could forget? Youâre probably overthinking everything now and think what you mightâve done wrong or do to offend him. You didnât, though! He was just too caught up in perfecting his appearance because his damn hair refused to obey and submit to his meticulous styling.
The poor man was almost scared to come home. As some sort of peace offering, he bought some of your favorite take-out food alongside some dessert, flowers and a new bracelet he thought you might like. Anything to try and make you know that he does really love you.
âApologies, it completely slipped my mind. It will never happen again my sunshine. I love you.â
Ëâ§âââşËł
âĄâ You not saying I love you backâŚ
His face may be neutral and his expressions calculated but his features soften up immensely when you show even an ounce of affection. His smirk shifts into a dreamy smile, the crinkles around his mouth shifting and becoming bigger, his eyes twinkling just a little. He just canât suppress when you even look at him.
Your kisses and words energise him, gift him life, so whenever you donât give him that little boost of dopamine, he gets visibly more tense in a way.
The silence that followed after his usual âI love you my darling, Iâll be back later!â was almost eerie to him. He stuck his head back into the kitchen to check if you even heard him. You glanced back at him for a moment and gave your husband a dismissive head nod. So you did hear him?
Silently, he left the apartment and went on with his usual day during that time of the year. For some reason, today he is especially looking forward to slap his elders for loosing a damn childrenâs game. His face remained neutral and had his usual smirk on his face, but deep inside, heâs offended, confused, worried, stressed; all the negative emotions someone can feel after their spouse doesnât reincorporate ones affection.
Do you want a divorce? Because hell no, heâd never let you go no matter how hard you
But once he got a little text message on his phone that read a simple: âNeed cuddles in bed later pls. Got some snacks too. Love you.â, all of his worries washed away in an instant. You probably were still too sleepy to answer this morning.
A smile spread over his face as he thought about slipping into your arms tonight. Isnât it ridiculous how he melt like putty in your hands?
âYou forgot something this morning and it did worry me a lot. But it doesnât matter, itâs silly anyway.â
Thanos // Su-bong // Player 230

âĄâ Him not saying I love youâŚ
Itâs actually quite rare to hear Thanos say âI love youâ word for word. He still feels awkward committing himself to the relationship you have and those three magic words feel so heavy on his tongue, so heâll rephrase them to suit his level of comfort. âLove yaâ, âThanos loves youâ and âMe tooâ are his ways to dodge the action to reincorporate those sweets words you shower him with.
Thanos only really says âI love youâ if you two are alone, sober and you holding him in your arms. To be cradled by someone he admires, cares and loves so much makes him want to cry for some reason, but he suppresses those emotions and instead buries his face in your shoulder as your hand soothingly runs up and down his back.
Those are the times you hear a small âI love youâŚâ being mumbled against your warm skin.
So quiet itâs almost unnoticeable, yet it was there. You know Su-bong needs time to get used to everything, so youâll settle with a small audio message-rap in reply to your usual âI love youâ text message.
âBack to the kitty âcause she kinda pretty, I canât stop looking at her ti- ti- ti-face.. Anyways, thinking of you babygirl. Iloveyatoo.â (You barely caught him saying this the way how quietly he mumbled it into the mic)
Ëâ§âââşËł
âĄâ You not saying I love you backâŚ
Itâs fine. Itâs cool. You donât have to reassure him every day that you love him, itâs totally fine. You still love him like you did the day before.
It causes a deep panic inside of Thanos when you donât give him his usual âI love youâ text in the morning after he had woken up. He kept checking his phone like a madman, while he was brushing his teeth, peeking his arm and head out of the shower in the middle of shampooing, staring at his text messages while microwaving himself an convenience store meal. Nothing.
Not wanting to reach out first and appear clingy, he decided to write you like he is not having a full blown eternal panic attack. A small voice message here, a picture of his food there, a selfie from the bottom to show off his double chin, anything really.
You replied like normal but still, his eyes searched for the three key words. I. Love. You.
Thanos doesnât want to admit to himself or to anyone for that matter that your calls, texts, hell, you coming over is like the most addictive drug to him. And he had his share of all kinds of colourful drugs.
His foot was nervously tapping the ground while his finger kept ringing your poor doorbell until you were forced to answer. He gave you a close look up and down, his lips formed into a pout of sorts.
âYou okay? You didnât text me you love me this morning. Itâs totally cool and all but like⌠do you want to break up with me or something?â
Nam-gyu // Player 124

âĄâ Him not saying I love youâŚ
Similar to Thanos, at first, Nam-gyu barely ever told you how much he loved you, liked you even. He just assumed you already knew and his actions were enough. A small side hug there and ruffling your hair here had to be enough for the rest of the week anyway.
He is guarded, afraid of commitment and to be frank in belief that youâre using him for the longest of time. Maybe youâre just âdatingâ him to get access to high-end drugs, all kinds of clubs or whatever else reason there is there to date him but for love.
You had to say those three magic words first for him to get comfortable with the thought that you are actually just want to date and love him. It came to him in the middle of a night shift at a random club he was supposed to promote. A moment of enlightenment.
Nam-gyu hid in a bathroom stall with his phone and ignored whatever the couple was doing next door, writing you a whole paragraph about what he was thinking, feeling, before deleting everything again because he thought heâd come off as some kind of pussy if heâd sent that.
His first time telling you how much he loved you was at your place. A casual evening watching some random movie you picked out while being arms deep in a bag of chips and dressed like a homeless person, Nam-gyu was staring up at you as if you were the most beautiful person in the universe even during this ungraceful moment of yours, admiring you in silence until finallyâŚ
âI love you.â
Ëâ§âââşËł
âĄâ You not saying I love youâŚ
Did he fuck up again? Do or say something wrong? Donât you love him anymore? Was there someone else?? His thoughts go ballistic as he stared at the screen of his phone with a deadpan-expression, trying to shake the crippling fear and nervousness off while looking nonchalant.
Nam-gyuâs finger kept hovering over the call button to check on you in case something happened because there could be a whole other person talking to him by how there were no affirmations at all.
He doesnât want to appear clingy or too attached to you as that may scare you off or even disgust you, so Nam-gyuâs casually mention that one time you didnât say âI love youâ while fidgeting with his ring, trying to appear indifferent about it while intensely watching your facial expression shift to try and detect if youâre lying about your reasoning or not.
Your boyfriend is afraid to not be good enough, too much, too little. Your little affirmations give him reassurance, every day a little more until heâs full convinced that you do really, really love him.
âHey, uhhh. Did you forget anything today?⌠No? You sure? Mkay.â
Dae-ho // Player 388

âĄâ Him not saying I love youâŚ
Never happens. Either he is dead and not able to reply to you or already said it multiple times throughout the day. Dae-ho has separation anxiety and gets nervous when he doesnât have you in line of his sight or not around him in general, thatâs why he always tells you how much he loves you whenever he can.
Off to the bathroom? I love you. Bringing the trash out? I love you. Getting dressed? Youâre gorgeous and I love you. You could be simply existing and Dae-ho would bury his face in your neck and mumble a soft I love you into your warm skin, his lips planting a soft kiss here and there.
Dae-ho is just a little scared about saying his usual affirmation in front of his family, mostly his father. Heâs a very affectionate and physical man but he still wants to look like the tough-marine-son his dad wants to see.
His sisters know better though, they see how their brotherâs eyes twinkle in delight when you help his mom out in the kitchen with the dinner.
He does make it up to you after coming home though. Your boyfriend will stuff the leftovers his mom gave him into the microwave and usher to you made yourself comfortable on the couch while he makes some preparations to completely pamper you for the rest of the evening.
Sometimes Dae-hoâll even try to flirt a little but heâs still a little awkward in that department.
âHey, do you want some snacks with that? A drink? O-Or am I enough of a snackâŚ?â
Ëâ§âââşËł
âĄâ You not saying I love youâŚ
Every time Dae-ho tells you that he loves you, you always reply with equal enthusiasm. How could you not? That golden retriever of a man gets that almost childish smile of his whenever you kiss his cheek or just tell him that he looks handsome today.
Once, you tested how heâd react when you donât give him his hourly dose of dopamine by deflecting or ignoring his touches.
As his arms securely snaked around your waist and gently pulled you against his torso, you paid him no mind and continued to stir the ramen in the food container. He watched the noodles move in circles and gave your waist a gentle poke, trying to pull your attention to him. Dae-hoâs eyes slowly dimmed and the edges of his smile turned downwards.
The silence made him seriously nervous. You could feel his rapidly increasing heartbeat drum against your back.
âHey⌠is everything okay? Did I do something wrong? Iâm sorry. Can you talk to me?âŚâ
Gi-hun // Player 456 (post s1)



âĄâ Him not saying I love youâŚ
Gi-hun always reassures you of his love, even during arguments. He wants you to know that he cherishes and loves you for the rest of his life and that you are his everything. Whenever he doesnât say I love you, something mustâve happened.
He has been missing for a whole week and you had no idea where your boyfriend went. Gi-hun didnât leave a note, a voice mail, no nothing!
And after he returned and suddenly began giving you expensive gifts, the same boyfriend that used to ask you for money to get himself an convenience store dinner, now began buying you new headphones, bracelet and whatever else you even eyed.
It was nice, sure, but you were more worried about his mental state. He was paranoid and quiet, kept checking his whole body for some kind of tracker and barely ever spoke what was on his mind. Gi-hun began having panic attacks and you were barely able to leave his side because of how terrified he was to leave you alone.
He barely touched you, gave you kisses or affection. He changed after whatever happened during that week he went missing.
While running your fingers through his hair, trying to make him fall asleep after being awake for two days straight, he sleepily stared up at you through his dyed-red hair. His voice was quiet, broken almost.
âIâm sorry. Please⌠know that I love you. I love you so much.. Donât leave me, please⌠please...â
Ëâ§âââşËł
âĄâ You not saying I love you backâŚ
Your boyfriend called out to you but you didnât quite hear what he said, so you replied with an âyeah!â and just hoped that thatâs an appropriate response to whatever he tried to tell or ask you. It wasnât.
Gi-hun stood there for a couple of moments, waiting on your reply to yelling âI love you!â across the whole apartment. When nothing came, he didnât call out to you again. You were probably busy with something or donât want him with your right now, he gets that.
Later though, thoughts of self-doubt began to cook up inside his mind. As he bit all his nails to shreds he overthought about how you had enough of him now. Maybe you are falling out of love now after how the death games fucked up his mind and body. Youâre surely fed up with his paranoia and secretive behaviour, how much he has been obsession over finding a weird salesman. Surely.
The metallic taste that spread inside his mouth after biting the skin surrounding his nails began to open and bleed finally pulled Gi-hun out of his self-destructive thoughts that continued to circle like a toy train. Picking up his throwaway phone and choosing the one contact he saved on every single burner phone he had as âReason to smile â¤ď¸â and pressing the call button.
âGi-hun? Whatâs wrong?â Your voice forced a small smile to form on his face. He hesitated
âHey. Just wanted to ask if I should bring some take out home tonight. Thatâs all.â
In-ho // The Frontman // Player 001

âĄâ Him not saying I love youâŚ
Itâs purely just to tease you. When bored, In-ho will make you his greatest entertainment.
He likes making you annoyed and flustered, so heâll intentionally ignore you just to make you react and pout at him adorably while he was trying so hard to keep his stone cold face and not break into a shit-eating grin and maybe even pull on your cheek to make you whine even more.
In-ho adores your whole being and cherishes all of your affections, so heâll let himself get showered in them any tome he can.
Expect you to he cuddled up on his lap while he was leaning back in the leather chair, mumbling a complaint about how you covered his whole face in kisses but managed to miss the bridge of his nose. He will not allow you to move off his lap until you covered his whole face in kisses again as compensation for that mistake of yours.
So, In-hoâll intentionally not give you affection so you pay even more attention to him. He is like a cat in that way weirdly enough.
Once you finally break his facade, the flood gates will open and you will be showered, bathed, drowned in his affection, physical and verbal.
âFine. Iâll say it just because youâve been so good to me today. I love you, my dearest, lovely darling.â
Ëâ§âââşËł
âĄâ You not saying I love you backâŚ
In-ho has a dedicated frequency on his walkie-talkie for you, so he can call in and ask you to come to his office for a kiss that cannot wait, to inform you that he is in the bedroom and retiring for the day or just to tell you that he loves you randomly throughout the day.
Of course, youâd always reply back with your own gadget, but to pay back his infinite teasing he has done to you, you decided to ignore him the way he sometimes does to you. Payback.
Your husband called into your frequency. âDove, are you free right now? Come to my office, I miss you.â and so your game begins. You simply ignored his request and continued getting comfortable in your bed and all the sheets surrounding you, grinning to yourself as you awaited the next time In-ho calls in again, for which you donât have to wait long for.
âDarling, I am waiting. Do you want me to send someone to pick you up?â Your grin widened as you heard how impatient he was slowly getting with the lack of your response. âI can see you in the bedroom.â That one caught you off guard. Did he install cameras in your shared bedroom??
Almost on cue, your bedroom door opened, revealing the masked Frontman. His shoulders were tense and you could feel his intense state through the mask. You stared back, not expecting how quickly your husband would cave in and visit you himself. Innocently, you batted your lashes at him.
In-ho slipped his mask off and carelessly tossed it on the nightstand. âWhy are you ignoring me? Are you upset or just moody?â Unimpressed, you silently glared at him. He gave you an equally uninterested look and leaned down to your face to give you a small peck on your cheek. âNot enough. More.â
A chuckle escaped his lips as his lips cracked into a smile.
âDemanding, arenât we? Fine. As you wish.â
đ
Authorâs note. Thank you for reading <3
Watch me announce that Iâm going to post In-hoâs yandere profile and proceed to get hit with the most ungodly group-assignment in Chemistry. Anyways, take this as an apology! Had to write a little fluff for them since the only thing Iâm finding is smut đđ Iâm not complaining but this fluff prompt came to me like a truck during a class of mine. It was originally inspired by this post and I made a similar one before for the Demon Slayer hashira. Check it out if youâre interested!!
Anyways, make sure to EAT, SLEEP and DRINK enough!!
Take care of yourselves <33
#đ house of vry đ #đ squid gameđ #recruiter x reader#salesman x reader#salesman x you#salesman x yn#squid game x y/n#squid game x reader#gong yoo x reader#thanos x reader#thanos x y/n#thanos x you#su bong x reader#player 230 x reader#player 230#nam gyu x reader#nam gyu#nam gyu x you#gi hun x reader#gi hun squid game#gi hun#player 456#player 456 x reader#in ho x reader#frontman x reader#frontman x you#the frontman x reader#the frontman#player 001#young il x reader
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Yandere Bisexual Best Friend
Male Yandere x Fem Reader He just wants what's best for you. If he has to tell a few white lies now and again, then so be it.
When you first saw him, he had his tongue down your boyfriend's throat.
It sure as hell would not have been the start of a friendship, except...
He was the one who ran after you when you stormed out of the club, mascara and eyeshadow running in silvery streaks down your cheeks.
He was the one who hugged you and apologised and said your boyfriend was a piece of shit for doing that to you.
He was the one who got you home safe, cleaned off your makeup and left aspirin on your bedside table.
In your half haze of alcohol and tears, you clung to him and nuzzled into his neck and told him you were so grateful, that he was such a nice guy.
It wouldn't have been the start to a friendship and maybe it shouldn't have been. But you called him the next morning.
You apologised for being such a mess, stuttering just a little at the deep gruffness of his morning voice. He laughed and told you not to worry about, that you should've seen what a fool he made of himself when his boyfriend cheated.
You weren't sure how, but a phone call turned into lunch together. Both of you just a little tipsy from bottomless mimosas, his arm tossed across the back of your chair as he sketched out the horror of his last situationship.
"So you're gay?"
You should have noticed it then - the way he narrowed his eyes just a little, the way he let his fingers graze your bare shoulder, the way he seemed to take just a second too long to answer.
"Yeah. I'm into guys."
That was the first lie he told you. Not entirely untrue. He was into guys.
He was just into girls too. And he was especially into you.
He could have been honest with you, he could have told the truth. But you were still reeling from your boyfriend's betrayal, too guarded and hurt to let another man into you life.
And he so desperately wanted to be a part of your life.
The next time you asked him to hang out, you were so at ease. You hugged him when you saw him, your tits squished against his chest. You held his hand and dragged him along behind you. You fell asleep with your head on his shoulder.
He smoothed your hair away from your face and any idea of telling the truth crumbled.
He told himself he just wanted to be your friend. Lord knows you needed one after such a nasty break up. But anyone who looked at you together could tell friendship was the last thing on his mind.
He took you to watch his favourite band performing live and hoisted you up on his shoulder for the encore, his hands inching further and further up your thighs.
He took you to his favourite club and bought you drink after drink until you danced with him, your arms thrown back around his neck and your ass grinding into his crotch. It was only the pulsing neon lights that kept you from seeing his hard on.
He invited you over for a movie night and pretended to lose the AC remote, just so he could share a blanket with you and keep his arm around your waist.
And the longer it went on, the worse it got. You were cute and clever and funny. You could yap together for hours about fashion and music and video games. You brought him little presents every time you came over - small packets of his favourite sweets, a new flavour of ice cream, his go-to Starbucks order.
Could you blame him for wanting you?
He started calling you his wifey, even in front of his friends. Would crack jokes about getting married if either of you couldn't find a guy by next year. And you went along with it. Ran your hands up his chest and fluttered your eyelashes at him and called him your strong, handsome fiancĂŠ - oblivious to the way it made his heart race.
When he walked in on you changing, he kept his face deadpan and told you red was definitely not your colour, even as you scrambled to cover up and spluttered at him to get out.
"Why? You aren't exactly my type babe."
Another lie. Not even remotely true this time.
And soon you got used to him walking in on you. Started asking him for fashion advice while you were in just your underwear and heels. Started asking him to tie your bikini tops and unzip your dresses. You didn't notice him always slipping away afterwards, one hand shoved deep in his pocket. You didn't notice the way his hair was always slightly messed up when he got back, his cheeks just a little flushed.
And if there were ever any warning bells - any subconscious instincts that told you he touched you too much, hugged you for too long - they were drowned out by his parade of boyfriends and flings. Why would he be into you when he could be dating a ripped surfer or hooking up with his personal trainer?
You never realised you were the reason his relationships were always so short lived. He couldn't fall for any of them the way he fell for you. They were all just quick fucks to get the frustration out of his system.
He could have continued just like that - fucking a new guy every weekend and getting brunch with you right after.
But then you went and met someone.
He froze when you told him, his smile a rictus, hand clenched so tight around his wine glass that he was lucky it didn't shatter.
He gritted his teeth and managed to choke out a congratulations. You beamed at him, flushed pretty with young love. You squeezed his hand and said it was only a matter of time before he found his love too.
He had to excuse himself after that. Had to splash cold water on his face and fight down the urge to scream. God, why was he so fucking stupid? He should have made a move on you ages ago, back when you first met. If you rejected him then, at least it wouldn't hurt as bad as it did now.
He somehow managed to make his way back to the table and smile at you like you hadn't just clawed his insides to shreds.
"So when can I meet the lucky guy?"
When you got up to wash your hands he slipped your phone out of your bag. He scrolled through your gallery, over analysing every pic of your new boyfriend. Cute, but you could do so much better. And he wasn't even that much taller than you. God, are you really gonna date this loser?
You kissed him on his cheek when he left and he spent the entire walk home rubbing the spot and thinking up ways to get rid of this new... disruption.
Later that afternoon you called him up and asked if he'd like to come to a bar with you and meet your new man. And just like that, the wild ideas in his head clicked into place.
"Sure wifey, I'd love to come."
He showed up late and spilled a drink down your dress before you even finished saying hello. And while you rushed off to try and get red wine out of satin, he scanned the bar for your new boyfriend.
And when he finally found the bastard, he turned on all his pretty boy charm. Bought him a drink and slung an arm across the back of his chair and pretended not to hear when he said he had a girlfriend. Managed to get the guy flushed and stuttering even after he claimed to not be into men.
When he pulled your boyfriend into a kiss, the fucker had the nerve to actually kiss him back.
He was careful with his timing - going in for a second kiss as soon as he saw the flash of your dress through the crowd.
He pulled away just as you reached the table and looked up at you with oblivious innocence.
"What's wrong baby? Why do you look so shocked?"
Your boyfriend shoved him off and stood up to grab you, to claim he didn't kiss someone else, the guy just came onto him swear to God. But the damage was already done.
Who would you believe was at fault? Your best friend who didn't even know what your new boyfriend looked like? Or the asshole kissing someone else while you were gone?
You threw your drink in your boyfriend's face and called him a filthy liar. When you grabbed your best friend's arm and dragged him away, he struggled to hide his smile.
He took you back to his apartment and popped open a bottle. Poured you a drink and kissed your forehead and let his hand settle on your lower back.
"Men ain't shit baby. We're all just manipulative assholes deep down."
He let you drown your sorrows in the bottle and then pulled you onto his lap when you were too drunk to object.
"I'm the only man you need in your life, yeah?"
You sniffled, too drunk and hurt and dizzy to notice his hands moving to your bare thighs.
"Yeah."
"C'mon, say it. Say I'm the only man you need."
"You're the only man I need."
His fingers slipped under the hem of your dress and he pressed his lips against your skin, teeth oh so close to your jugular.
"And I'll take care of you. So just sit still and I'll make it all better."
#Not sure about this one chat#Might delete later#Yandere#yandere imagines#yandere x reader#yandere drabbles#yandere scenarios#reader insert#x reader#yandere oc#Yandere best friend#Fem reader
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WAS IT 'CASUAL' WHEN...? â TWST 1ST YEARS
Headcanons on the 'casual' things you do with him that made him wish that there was something more between you.
CW đ sfw, gn!reader, reader is implied to fit in Deuce's clothes in his part, pining
CHARAS đ Ace Trappola, Deuce Spade, Jack Howl, Epel Felmier, and Sebek Zigvolt
AN đ mostly* edited now đđ
ACE TRAPPOLA â you slept in the same bed?
Ramshackle isn't exactly known for having the best facilities or furniture, and that is a fact Ace has to make peace with whenever he gets kicked out by Riddle. It's always a little too chilly at night and the floors still creak beneath his feet. Even with a makeover, half of the beds are broken and that stiff couch downstairs is your next best bet at getting some semblance of sleep.
You insisted you really didn't mind sharing a bed at all and Ace took you up on your offer. In his words, "if you say so then!" Just create an invisible partition down the middle and the two of you should be fine. Sure, yeah, that'll be infinitely more comfortable than the couch, and Ace absolutely agrees. He repeats the thought to himself over and over againâ this is supposedly the better alternative, isn't it?
Yeah, totally. He tries to convince himself that it's really not a big deal for him to be inches away from you at night and feel your warmth spreading through the sheets. God, you'd think he's a weirdo if you woke up and caught him staring right now, but he could always twist it into a dumb joke about your sleeping face looking like an ogre. Consequently, he would have to watch your face twist in annoyance and pretend he wasn't watching every rise and fall of your chest. He would rather lose his magic entirely than admit the ugly truth and make himself vulnerable to you.
Ace does realize he's being embarrassingly sappy and romantic, and he's disgusted at himself for these thoughts, but he can't help it. He can't change the fact your lips look so soft and your eyelashes are so pretty. This is freaking him out so much more than it should. Does this really mean nothing to you? Do really only see him as a friend? Fine, then the two of you are just friends sharing a bed then!
It's really nothing! Ace was the one who joked about it months ago, after all. But things (and his feelings) have changed and he cannot ignore that. Back then it wouldn't have been such a big deal, but now it is and he cannot calm his heart down no matter how hard he tries.
You're right there. It's not the first time he had to share a bed with someone but it's different now because it's you. He did the math and the two of you are only 10 inches apart. Ace almost reaches for you in his weakest moment until he remembers that the two of you are supposedly just two friends sharing a bed. You're doing him a favor by sheltering him for the night, that's all.
Ace retracts his hand right away at the very last second. He might have as well taken the goddamn couch (lest either of you wake up in each other's arms).
DEUCE SPADE â he lent his clothes?
You came here with next to nothing. You had exactly one change of clothes and pocket lint for change, so Deuce, being the righteous and honorable student that he is, decided to lend you some of his clothes for the meantime. It's what a good friend would do! It's a temporary arrangement that would last only until Crowley spares enough change for you to buy another set of uniforms.
But this arrangement drags on for so long even when you have a functional closet and multiple sets of better-fitting clothes. Deuce never really noticed until recently that a third of your (albeit very limited) wardrobe actually belongs to him. But whenever you tug on his sleeves for his latest sweater, he doesn't have the heart to tell you no.
When he went home during break, his mom even noticed that certain sweaters and shirts had gone missing. "I left them at the college," he tells her as to not worry her. It's technically the truthâ it's back with you in the college (and you're probably wearing them right now; the mental image is enough to fluster him all of the sudden when it never did before). He has to get them back eventually since those clothes are his. He's sure you wouldn't mind? Right?
Simply asking for them back is the difficult part for Deuce. You're there in front of him wearing one of his older shirts that fit snugly around your figure and he's at a loss for words. It's worn down and outright hideous as hell but the very first thought that comes to mind is that you look good in it.
Ah, yeah. You walk around campus on non-school days wearing his clothes 1/3rd of the time and nobody else knows that those jackets and shirts and sweaters and button-ups are all his. You make even the ugliest ones look good, or maybe it's because you're the wearer and you always looked good to him? Do his eyes need to be checked...? Deuce is tortured by these thoughts while merrily go about your day. You're laughing at something stupid that Grim said and he can't hear anything else. There's a fight in the courtyard but he can't see anything else. There's a midterm tomorrow but he can't think of anything else. You're too distracting.
When you finally do remember to return a shirt or two, Deuce tells you there's really no need to return them. He insists that they're better off with you, but you laugh and remind him that you're no longer the same pathetic charity case you were at the start of the year.
The truth is, your scent still lingers on recently returned shirts. It's the closest he'll get to being skin-to-skin with you, and Deuce is supposed to ignore that but he cannot. Or maybe he's the only one making this weird for the two of you because it doesn't seem to bother you in the slightest (and he's bothered by that).
But when Deuce looks at the recently returned shirts in his hands, he hopes he has a chance. He hopes you think of him as much as he thinks of you. He hopes the odds of him not actually liking you after all make your guts churn and set butterflies in your chest at the same time. He hopes he isn't the only one yearning for used shirts, lingering scents, and ghost touches. But at the same time, you've only ever asked these kinds of favors from him... Deuce doesn't want to assume anything, but a blush creeps upon his cheeks all the same and he continues to hope for more.
JACK HOWL â you played with his ears and tail?
Beastmen weren't a thing back in your world, so seeing them regularly made you morbidly curious about their animalistic features. Jack was easily the best candidate to satisfy your intrusive thoughts because just who else could you ask about this? Leona wasn't exactly an option and Ruggie might rope you into some scheme of his. And Jack owed you a favor, after all, so this is what you decided to ask of him.
Jack's ears twitchedâ did he hear you correctly? His face scrunches up in confusion because you barely knew each other for you to be asking something like this. How could you ask something so personal from him? It's in your innocently eager expression that he realizes what's going on... you just didn't know. Fine, it should mean nothing to you and thus he agrees to let you pet his tail and ears for five seconds. Maximum.
It's supposed to be a one time thing but he finds him involuntarily offering up his tail whenever you look him like that. He's not even sure how it got to this point. After all, there are romantic connotations of having your tail petted by someone else and... nevermind. Ruggie and Leona have started simultaneously teasing him over it the very moment they caught wind of this peculiar arrangement. It doesn't help that Jack's tail is particularly sensitive and reactive, but he keeps a straight face no matter how much it embarrasses him.
Jack doesn't understand why you're so fascinated by his tail and ears because there are so many others just like him. However, he supposes it's not an entirely terrible feeling, though, to have your fingers absentmindedly rake across his tail and hair as the two of you study. It's relaxing, even, but he won't tell you that. Jack will never tell you that it gives him goosebumps all over and makes him shiver whenever you play with his tail. Or that he's begun wondering what it would be like to have your hands elsewhere, or for him to touch you in similar ways in return.
He doesn't understand why he craves your company but doesn't question it either. All he knows is that your hands are so soft and gentle and that he likes the way the corner of your eyes crinkle when you smile in satisfaction. And when you hum a soft tune as the gap between the two of you closes, he wonders if he's the only one feeling this tension.
"Again?" Jack huffs. The pretext of this being a silly favor has been long forgotten. He should probably tell you soon that you shouldn't be doing this, but you just look so pleased with yourself when the two of settle down in a lesser-known corner of the library. The routine persists, the cycle continues. Hours later, the both of you have gone through multiple bags of chips, two movies on his laptop, and his tail is now comfortably curled around your abdomen as you read a book and he tends to his beloved cactus.
Again? Jack silently asks himself whenever he sees your face in a crowd. Could the two of you spend hours in a comfortable silence while the unsaid implications haunt him? He's started to ask himselfâ were you just playing dumb at this point or just plain stupid? Or what if you had known all along and the two of you were just dancing around it?
EPEL FELMIER â you kissed him?
Epel eventually learns to use the way others perceive him to his advantage; there's strength in appearing to be weak and striking when the iron is hot. Still, he couldn't help but wish to be seen for his talents and strength instead of his beauty at the first glance. The first assumption everyone makes of him, for god's sake, is that he's a fragile little thing from a rich family, and, quite frankly, he's sick of it.
So he's secretly delighted when none of his charms worked on you and you yank him by the ear for even attempting. A few curse words and rough shoves later, both of you are on the floor, grappling and wrestling against each other. The two of you are laughing so hard and swearing so loudly that you'll probably wake up the rest of Pomefiore at this rate, but neither of you care. It's just the two of you right now grasping at each other like your life depended on it.
It's a nice change of pace to be openly exchanging insults instead of restraining himself. He enjoys the comfortable rhythm the two of you shareâ from all the brawls and the bantering and the hugs and to the kisses on the cheek. Yes, kisses. They started as simple thank you's after a few favors here and there, and just one of them is enough to make a mess out of Epel for weeks. Better yet, you only seem to be showering him with more and more of your attention and he relishes in it.
Ah, things are finally working out for him! He found someone he could confide in and he's sure that there's a spark between the two of you. By the end of the year, he might have someone to bring home and brag about to his relativesâ
All the momentum halts when he sees you across the hall granting the rest of your friends the same levels of affection. From all the brawls to the bantering to the hugs and the kisses, none of those were ever solely his to take delight upon. It doesn't matter that he opened up to you about all his fears and insecurities because he was never special. You were just the kind of person who got along and felt comfortable with everyone around you, but Epel hates that he has no one to blame but himself. He willingly walked your warmth but it was never his to take.
It finally dawns upon him that you have never seen him in a romantic light and that was why you were so comfortable around him. In retrospect, the bond you two shared was more sibling-like than anythingâ and believe him when he says he's incredibly grateful that the two of you were that close âbut it doesn't make it hurt any less to know that your affections never carried any romantic intentions after he had pinned for you for so long.
Even when he takes a step back, you're cruel in a roundabout way by continuing to be so kind and loving towards him. How was Epel supposed to make sense of your relationship after realizing he misunderstood you...?
And he also hates to admit this, but his self-confidence takes a huge blow from this. Epel genuinely thought he could be loved for who he was based on the time you spent together. It gnaws at him and eats him alive to finally know the truth, and sometimes he wishes he never found out at all.
SEBEK ZIGVOLT â you wrote him love letters?
So, Sebek asked (demanded) to be penpals...
It's all because Lilia told him it would be a good exercise of diplomacy, he insisted. As the young master's bodyguard, he will have to be as courteous as possible even in unpleasant company. He also rationalized, admittedly partly because of you, that forging bonds with magicless humans may be a worthwhile endeavor after all! It's all rather suspicious (and you suspect his real intentions have something to do with your friendship with Malleus), but Sebek has never been one to lie about his intentions. If anything, the popular opinion was that he's a little too honest and should learn a thing or two about holding back.
There's something very unconventional in sending handwritten letters in this day and age of modern technology, but also something very romantic and fantasticalâ much like the many fictional knights he had read about. It helps a lot that he's not directly confronted by the fact you are very much a magicless human who shouldn't be in NRC whenever he spills out his heart's contents unto multiple pages. It was a way for him to release his frustrations, celebrate his achievements, and talk about the dull, little things thats happened in his day-to-day life to someone who listened.
And listen you did. Turns out, when you're not subjected to his 1000 decibel shouting, Sebek is a rather earnest guy who worked hard and acknowledged others who also worked equally as hard no matter their disposition. To say the least, you understand why Lilia found it so entertaining to tease him.
It completely flies over his head that you had been flirting with him for months through these letters. Your everyday interactions with each other had been completely normal, so how was he supposed to notice?! It takes multiple rereads and many late-night discussions with the other Diasomnia dormers to decode and understand all the double entendres and hidden 'i love you's' in each and every letter. It was so needlessly difficult, but Lilia laughs in his face and pats him at the back for a job well-done.
"There's no way," he thinks to himself late at night and finds himself doubting Lilia's claims for once. But when Sebek steals a glance in your direction and you smile back in return, he's never felt weaker in his knees. You're absolutely and undeniably magic-less... but somehow you had casted a spell that made his chest tighten and shut him up. He hadn't even realized how much time he was spending with you and thinking about you when he wasn't.
Except nothing has changed in-person. You're acting like you hadn't meticulously hidden your affections for him in those letters, and he was starting to seriously doubt all of it. Yeah, were you event smart enough to pull off all that? As some magic-less human?
Actually... Sebek realizes that you are capable of outsmarting him after getting to know you much better through those letters. He's never been one to deny where credit it was due. Now, Sebek's just deeply ashamed that he failed to accurately assess your character before making judgements based on superficial traits. He knows better than anyone that you're witty, charming, brave, kind, beautiful, ambitiousâ
Oh no.
Oh no.
Sebek simply explodes on the spot once he realizes that he had been oblivious to his own feelings for you too. He had thoroughly examined every aspect of this conundrum except from within. Quite embarrassing from an esteemed knight of the prince of nocturnal fae to be this slow, really.
#twisted wonderland#twst#twisted wonderland x reader#twst x reader#ace trappola x reader#deuce spade x reader#jack howl x reader#epel felmier x reader#sebek zigvolt x reader#ace trapola#deuce spade#jack howl#epel felmier#sebek zigvolt#i hope my favorite isn't too obvious el oh el
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Shameless
Tags: dad!Toji x fem!reader, modern!au, nsfw, mdni, breeding kink, he calls himself daddy
Synopsis: Youâre Tojiâs live-in nanny. He wants to breed you, and he successfully does so.
An: This is my story on ao3!! You can read it here. If youâre feeling extra nice, a kudos would be cool too.
Being a single dad was hard. Toji learned quickly after his wife's death that he in fact couldn't do this alone. The way little Megumi's big eyes looked up to him for direction... him of all people. He was not cut out for this. Megumi's mom was a wonderful mother: sweet, nurturing, and patient. Toji really didn't know if he was any of those things.
Luckily, her life insurance provided Toji with a relatively comfortable life combined with his job in construction of course. Construction might be his vice. He got away from home for 12 hours a day, and he worked so hard that his brain was mush by the time he was home. Not that he didn't love his son, he did, but every time he looked at Megumi he saw his sweet late wife. He also saw his short comings as a father.
Babysitters quit on him regularly. It was always the same excuse. "Megumi's an angel, but I can't be here 7 days a week. I have a life too." It was incredibly annoying. They'd stay for Megumi but left due to another one of his shortcomings.
Another one quit. That would be the third one this month. "Listen Mr. Fushiguro, I know a friend. She does this sort of thing on a different level. Have you ever considered having a live-in nanny?"
That stupid girl's question enlightened Toji. He had completely forgotten that live-in nannies still existed. After getting her friend's number and paying her what he owed her for her time, Toji relaxed on the couch with little Megumi tucked into his side. The three-year-old was happily babbling next to him, enamored by Toji's phone that was in his hand.
Toji looked at the number dialed into his phone, and he sighed. He was tired of making cold calls to potential babysitters like he was some desperate whore, but maybe, maybe this would be different. He wouldn't mind having a live-in nanny. His house wouldn't mind it either. Toji would be able to finally breathe. No more coming home from 12 hour shifts to pop something to eat in the microwave and wash the dishes. He wouldn't even have to see this so-called nanny often. He could pick up more hours at work with all of his new freedom of not having to worry about pissing off the babysitter.
*** *** ***
Either way, that's how you ended up in Toji's house. For the past three months you had taken care of Megumi, cleaned and deep cleaned his entire house, cooked him plenty of dinners from scratch, and even did his laundry the exact way he preferred. His house has never looked better, and Megumi had never looked so happy.
Despite being here for three months, you barely saw Toji. He seemed to avoid you like the plague and only answer with one-worded answers, which was fine. This was your job, not your actual family. There was no need for extensive communications. Though, you had gushed to your friend plenty over text about how hot "Mr. Fushiguro" was. He was conventionally attractive, yes. But you also always had a thing for the brooding types, and dammit, Toji was brooding. There was also something to be said about how he came home in the evenings. A black wifebeater clinging to his skin from a long day of working out in the sun. His jeans would be dirty from the work he was doing. His skin glistening from a thin sheen of sweat. His hair was always a mess. Goddammit. It was enough to make you feel fertile.
It was early in the morning, Toji was getting ready to go to work. Megumi had woken up, crying for his papa not to leave him. He's going through an extra clingy phase. He's usually okay once Toji's gone.
"Papa!" Megumi cried as Toji entered the living room. You had Megumi in your lap, rocking him with a sleepy look on your face. His tears were wetting your shirt, but you didn't seem to mind.
"He'll be back tonight, Gumi." You shooshed him and continued to try to rock him and pat his back.
Toji's face was unreadable. He was never one to get all upset over Megumi's crying, but hearing his son cry out for him tugged on his heartstrings extra this morning. Then, there was you. You were a godsend to Toji's life. Getting a live-in nanny was one of the best decisions he had ever made. Above that, you were excellent with Megumi. You were sweet... nurturing... patient. He hated how seeing you with his son made him feel. It almost felt like maybe 2 kids wouldn't be that big of a deal. Maybe 3. One on each of your legs and another one swelling in your belly. God. He was disgusted in himself for thinking like that.
"I love you, kiddo." Toji said quickly as he leaned down, giving Megumi's forehead a quick peck. The toddler made grabby hands for him. It was almost enough to make him stay home. Almost. Toji's eyes met yours as he was still leaned over. His face was close to yours. The tension between them were palpable. The moment felt like eternity between them.
Then, a black credit card was in view. "I need new work gloves. Get the extra thick rubber ones, will ya? Also, get whatever you and the kid want. I'll be back late tonight." He handed you the card and sauntered out of the house despite Megumi's pleas for him to stay. You looked at the Amex black card and blinked a couple of times. Only the top earners in the world had cards like this. Toji was just an average blue collar dad... It made you wonder how he got a card like this.
You still spent that shit though.
*** *** ***
Toji looked at his phone on the jobsite. No one dared to tell him to put it away. Toji was the best most competent worker out on the field. He could work circles around supervisors and project managers alike, and he was damn smart. He didn't need a pencil and paper or a calculator to make quick conversions in his head. So, most people stayed out of his way.
He smirked and chuckled at the notifications rolling in from his bank. 78.97 at Target. 21.25 at McDonald's. 43.52 at Barnes and Noble. 9.24 at Starbucks. He was happy you and Megumi were getting to have a little shopping spree.
You were also great at keeping him updated. You sent him lots of pictures and videos of Megumi. He cherished each one of them, immediately getting some of them printed and hung up in his house. There was even a picture of you and Megumi proudly displayed in the living room. In his mind, you were an integral part of the family. The "family" simply would not function if it weren't for you.
A fond smile spread across his face as he opened his messages. A picture of Megumi's little hands trying to fit into his new gloves that she had bought him. Great. She got the right ones. "I think he wants to be just like daddy :)", the message read.
Oh.
Oh.
The twitch that just occurred in his pants should be punishable in a court of law. In no way should he have gotten turned on by that. You were just being nice. It was a normal thing for people to refer to him as "daddy" in that context. It never affected him in the way it was right now.
So anyways, that's how he ended up in the port-a-potty busting a load all over a picture of you that he had on his phone. After the shock of his orgasm that came quicker than ever, he looked down, disappointed in himself. He wasn't some horny teenage boy anymore. This was just downright deplorable. Begrudgingly, he wiped his phone clean from his sins. Post-nut clarity swirled his brain. He couldn't believe he just did that.
He called your number. He had to make things right.
"Hello? Is everything okay?" You immediately asked. After living with Toji for some time now, you learned that he doesn't just call people. He will absolutely decline a call to just text and ask what's up.
"Everything is fine." He replied, trying to hide his amusement. It was cute that you seemed so worried for him. "Are you still in town?"
"Yeah, Megumi and I are about to leave Starbucks and head home. Why? What's up?" You responded back to him. He could hear Megumi happily singing a song in the background.
"You know you spent 152 dollars today?" Toji asked as he popped his back up against the port-a-potty door. He had a lazy smirk on his face.
"Oh- crap. I'm sorry. You can take whatever you see fit out of my pay-" He interrupted your nonsense quickly.
"Do you think I'm poor?" His voice was amused, not angry like you expected it to be.
"What-? No.. no, sir. I was just-"
"I told you to get whatever you and the kid want. Don't come back home until your certain that you can't carry the amount of stuff you bought in one trip." He said quickly. His stomach was already coiling from how you called him sir. He grimaced as he felt another twitch. I just took care of you dammit.
"Oh... oh, okay? Are you su-" Click. He hung up on you. One too many dumb questions. You looked at Megumi as he strapped into the backseat of your car. He looked intrigued by the conversation even though you knew he realistically had no idea what was just said. "Daddy said we have to go to the toy store." You grinned at him. He was smiling and clapping over the word "toy".
234.22 at Toys-R-Us. 122.56 at Lego. 208.38 at Aerie. 88.21 at Ulta Beauty. Another 94.48 at Barnes and Noble.
The way Toji grinned each time he felt that familiar vibration of his phone go off, meaning another notification from his bank was off-putting. Workers on the jobsite never seen him so happy. It was his penance for being such a horny freaky fuck.
*** *** ***
It was later that same evening. Megumi was in the living room surrounded by toys and crafting materials. He was currently drawing all sorts of "shadow animals" as he called them. You would of course look and nod your head, congratulating him on each terribly drawn animal. You acted like that was the best damn wolf-bear-owl hybrid you ever saw.
You were in the kitchen cooking chicken and dumplings. The clock on the stove read seven p.m. You didn't expect to see Toji at all this evening. He said he was working late this morning. Usually, that meant he was dragging his feet in through the door until well past ten p.m.
Still, you made him a serving of chicken and dumpling soup. You always did. Even when he worked late, you would put him a helping of dinner in the microwave to keep warm. You never knew, but he was always delighted by that. He ate the dinners each time.
A key jingling in the door handle caught your attention while you were getting Megumi settled at the dining room table. Three-year-olds were so hard to manage: too small to eat by themselves but too big to be locked in a high chair.
Toji stepped into the living room with a small grunt. He smirked as he looked around at his destroyed living room. Toys, crayons, and pieces of "artwork" were strewn all about the place. He glanced up towards you and Megumi in the kitchen. He took note of how your face was flushed and surprised.
"Papa!" Megumi happily shouted before the little bastard ran from your grasp to go hug on Toji's legs. His dad smiled as he looked down at Megumi, and he used his hand to mess up Megumi's hair affectionately.
"Go eat your food, kiddo." Toji said warmly to his son. Megumi happily obliged and ran right back to his seat right next to you, and you fed him a spoonful of the soup.
"You're home early." You stated the obvious.
Toji would never tell you, but he left early because he missed you two.
"Don't sound too happy to see me." He remarked in a sarcastic tone.
"What-? No, I just.. would've cleaned up more had I known you would be home so soon..." You responded. Megumi was sitting beside you whining for another bite of food. You snapped out of your surprise, and you fed him another bite of chicken and dumplings.
"Why? I don't give a damn what this place looks like." Toji said with a small nonchalant shrug. He walked through the living room, carefully stepping over the toys. Before you had become his nanny, this was how his house normally looked: messy, lived in. "I've got a bowl of dinner in the microwave. My kid's happy and fed. I couldn't care less what that living room looks like."
Your heart fluttered at the sentiment. Toji was easy to please. He really just wanted what was best for his kid, and that was you. "I like making sure you have nothing to worry about." You replied. He looked at you with an unreadable expression. It looked like he might've wanted to say something, but he had backed out last minute. He hummed and walked towards his bedroom to shower the dirt, sweat, and grime from the day.
While Toji showered, you had finished feeding Megumi and yourself. You allowed Megumi to have about an hour of TV time before bed. He really enjoyed old X-Men cartoons. You turned them on for him and parked him on the couch, wrapped up in a blanket.
You hummed softly as you worked in the kitchen. You packed meal prep containers of soup for Toji to take for lunch for the next couple of days. Then, you were washing dishes in front of the sink.
*** *** ***
"I like making sure you have nothing to worry about." Your words repeated in Toji's head over and over like a mantra. He hadn't felt so... cared for in a long, long time. It made his heart feel full, which was an unfamiliar feeling for him. A less unfamiliar feeling was his dick standing fully erect and at attention. He groaned quietly as he leaned his head back in the shower.
Something had to be in the air recently. He was a grown man with desires, sure. But this was a new record for him. Ever since you started being a live-in nanny for him, the boners were a daily thing. Hell, twice or three times a day sometimes. He's tried everything... Well, okay, maybe not everything, but he's tried cold showers and staying away from you. Neither of those things work to soothe him.
His hand was gliding up and down his length for the second time today. He was facing the shower wall with his arm propped up on it, supporting his head. Damn you for making him feel like a slave to his desires. You wanted to make sure he had nothing to worry about? Then, you should be the one in here fixing this damn mess, not him. He pitifully rutted into his hand, imaging he's plunging deep into you. Imagining the multiple ways he'd fuck the hell out of you is the only thing that soothes the ache, but this time he didn't see an end in sight.
He gritted his teeth together, and he balled up his fist, rearing back before stopping himself. He's not a teenager anymore. He can't punch walls. He took a deep breath and turned the shower off. No, this won't do. He needs to fix this at the source.
After quickly drying off and getting dressed, he walked back into the kitchen. His eyes scanned over the house. Megumi was enthralled by the TV, and you were washing dishes. Perfect.
He slowly approached you from behind. He could tell you didn't hear him as you were still softly humming. Usually, you would stop humming if he entered the kitchen. He never understood why. The sounds of your melancholic hums were beautiful and soothing to him.
He was directly behind you, and his hands gently cupped your hips. You immediately flinched and made a soft scream that was quickly silenced by one of his hands. "Shh, we don't want to disturb the little brat, do we?" Toji said into your ear. His warm breath ghosted over the shell of your ear, making you shiver.
Toji's eyes flicked over towards the living room. Megumi hadn't moved an inch. Perfect.
Toji slowly released your mouth. To his delight, you didn't make a sound. He could hear how your breath was slightly labored from him scaring you. A small chuckle rose from his throat. His hands went back to your hips, and he pressed himself against your voluptuous ass. A hum of approval escaped him. He could see your hands gripping the countertops.
"Nod your head. You like this? Want me to keep pressing myself against you?" Toji whispered into your ear. You took your bottom lip between your teeth, and you nodded your head eagerly, giving him consent.
"Dirty fucking girl." His voice was like a growl in your ear as he started to move his hips, dragging his length up and down along you. You could feel each inch of his length beckoning for you. "I knew you'd take whatever I gave you, but this? Letting me grind against you like a pathetic teenager while my son is in the living room? You're such a fucking slut." His hands were digging into your hips as he continued his controlled motions.
"Mnn.. fuck.." You softly whimpered out. Thank god the X-Men were currently in a loud fight scene.
You slightly frowned as you suddenly didn't feel Toji behind you anymore. You were about to turn around and ask what he was doing, but his fingers curling into the waistband of your leggings told you everything you needed to know. "Toji-" You managed to whisper out. No way could you two do this while Megumi was in the next room over.
"Shut up." Toji interrupted you. He had taken his throbbing length out of his sleeping pants, and he had a look of concentration on his face as he angled himself right at your entrance. "You have no fucking idea how long I've needed this. So just be a good girl, shut up, and take what I give you."
Direct orders from your boss. Who were you to deny the man who just spoiled you all day today?
It was a tight fit. Toji wasn't a gentleman. He didn't prep you with his fingers or mouth. This wasn't love making. It was hardly fucking. This was fulfilling a need.
"God... fuck. I didn't expect you to be that tight." He growled into your neck as he held your hips still against him. It felt like he was splitting you apart. You couldn't even respond to him.
He noticed how tightly you were gripping the counter and how you weren't responding to him. Your knuckles were turning white. He almost felt guilty. His hand came around the front of you, and he gently rubbed the swollen bundle of nerves. "Shhh... You can take it. I know you can." He whispered into your ear as it was taking every last shred of self-restraint not to fuck you into oblivion right on this counter. He slowly pulled back until just his tip was inside, and he pushed all the way back in. "That's it. There's my good girl." He praised in your ear. It was not lost on him that he felt you get wetter with each praise.
He hesitated, but he said it anyway, "You wanna be a good girl for daddy, don't you?" He whispered into your ear. That phrase made you tremble in his arms and nod your head. He slowly pulled back out and pushed right back in, taking you slowly. "That's right... hngh, fuck." He moaned into your ear. "You want to be fucked by daddy. You want to take his cock like a good girl. Take it." His hips started to move with more conviction.
You were already so out of it. This was like a dirty fantasy come true. You couldn't help but check the TV a few times to make sure X-Men was still playing. You were still worried that Megumi might run in here for whatever reason and see you bent over in front of his dad. You knew it was unlikely. Megumi could watch that TV like a zombie all day if you let him. Besides, you would be able to hear the small pitter-patter of his footsteps.
"Stop looking at the fucking TV. Trust me." Toji growled into your ear as he forced your hips down onto him roughly. A noiseless gasp escaped you. He wasn't small, and he knew that. He was using it to his advantage.
"Fuck." He groaned quietly as he rubbed you with a bit more fervor. You could already feel that familiar warm feeling coiling in your stomach. "I'm going to fuck a baby into you. You were fucking made for this. Made for raising my kids and taking my fucking load." He was spewing nonsense into your ear, but in the moment, you couldn't help but nod and moan. "You were made for me." He proclaimed as his hips continued harshly snapping into your backside. Somehow the sounds were masked.
"You want that, don't you?" He asked as he bit down on your neck then lapped at the bite mark with his tongue.
"Yes, daddy!" You quietly exclaimed. His thrusts only increased in power. Your eyes started to cross, getting lost in pleasure.
"Fuck. You're gonna look so perfect pregnant with my baby. I won't let you have a break. As soon as one comes out; I'm puttin' another one in you." He continued on yapping about how many kids he was going to pump into you. "I'll breed you again and again." His thrusts were heavy and brutal. You couldn't take it anymore.
He moaned as he felt you clenching around him, finishing all over his cock. It was enough to drive him overboard. He pumped you full of cum until you were sure some of it was seeping out.
There was a peaceful moment of dizzy highness for you two. Toji panted against your back. For the first time in while, he's felt satisfied. A soft amused laugh escaped him as he heard the iconic X-Men episode coming to an end. He swiftly pulled out of you, and he tried to ignore that little whimper of protest you let out. He tucked himself back into his pants, and he pulled your leggings and panties back up for you since you were still a trembling mess over the counter.
"Alright Kiddo, c'mon. Time for bed." Toji said as he sauntered off into the living room as if he didn't just rearrange your guts. He put Megumi to bed that night, and he cleaned up the living room for you, allowing for you to recover in his bed for round two. He was much more of a gentleman for round two.
*** *** ***
"Hey... I know I ain't been to see you in a while. I'm sorry." Toji said as he sat down on the grassy ground. "I was letting life pass me by for too damn long." He said as he took a wet washcloth and began to wash up his late wife's gravestone. "I'm doing better now, so don't worry about me."
"Megumi's growing like a weed. I'm sorry I didn't bring him to see you... I just don't know how to explain it to him." Toji's voice was full of guilt as he dragged the wet washcloth against the stone. "He's a good kid though. He looks just like you, damn bastard." He softly laughed, knowing his wife would've struck him over the side of the head for calling Megumi a damn bastard.
"Listen... I met a girl." He leaned his head over the gravestone. It had been close to three months since you and Toji started sleeping together. There wasn't a formal label to your relationship, but it didn't feel necessary. You two both knew you were sleeping exclusively with each other. "I think you'd like her, or maybe you wouldn't since she's fucking your husband. But either way... I-" He choked up a bit as he held onto the cold stone. "I feel so fucking guilty... I know you're not coming home anytime soon, but I just... I need your blessing. If you can somehow hear me, please... I never asked you for anything until I asked you to marry me. Now, I'm asking... please somehow show me you approve of this."
"She's good for me... She takes good care of Megumi. He's so damn attached to her somedays." Toji softly laughed as he remembered how a few nights ago Megumi crawled into bed with you and him because he had a nightmare. Instead of taking to Toji like he normally does, he crawled into your arms. Toji had never felt so damn proud and slighted at the same time.
"I should get going. Give me a sign though.. Something that tells me you approve." He finished his visit with his wife, and he went home.
*** *** ***
That night at dinner, Megumi sped into the kitchen with an action figure in his hand. He was pretending to be Batman. "Gumi, I've told you three times. Stop running." You said as you gave the small child a look. Toji smirked as he knew that look good and well. It was the look a mom gave as a warning. Megumi was on his last warning.
"I'm sorry, mama." Megumi apologized, causing for both you and Toji to freeze right in your tracks. Megumi had never called you mama before. He always said your name.
Your heart swelled in your chest. It was a feeling of affection and guilt. "Oh no... baby.." You said softly as you took his hand. You lead him into the living room, and you crouched down, showing him a picture of his mom to him. "That's mama." You gently corrected him.
Toji watched the scene like a hawk from the dinner table. His heart was pounding in his chest. He had never been shy about telling Megumi who his mom was, but he hadn't exactly been forthcoming about how his mom passed away when he was a small baby.
Megumi pointed at the picture. "Mama." He said quietly. You nodded and patted his head.
"That's right." You praised affectionately. He then turned his attention to you. and he poked your chest with his tiny finger.
"Mama." He said, pointing at you.
"No-"
"It's alright." Toji spoke up from his seat at the dinner table.
"I don't want him to be confused..." You replied as you slowly stood back up, looking at Toji.
"He doesn't sound confused to me." He retorted with a small grin. You turned your attention back to Megumi, and Toji looked up towards the ceiling. "Thank you." He muttered so quietly before kissing the necklace that hung around his neck. He had his wife's blessing. This proved it.
After finishing his dinner, Toji joined you two in the living room. You and Megumi were curled up on each side of his while watching that old X-Men cartoon. Suddenly, Megumi rose from the couch. You and Toji watched him with a hint of confusion.
"What is he doing?" You softly asked Toji as Megumi bent over, and he looked between his legs at both you and Toji.
"I have no fucking id-" He was about to respond, but then, it hit him. "Get up." He said as he stood up from the couch. He quickly grabbed his phone, keys, and wallet like a madman.
"What? What? Is something wrong?" You asked as you had never seen Toji move this fast. You quickly got up too.
"Nothing's wrong. Come on. We're going to the store." He grunted as he swooped Megumi into his arms.
You were confused and in denial when Toji bought a pregnancy test and made you take it. Now, both of you were waiting outside of the bathroom for the five minutes to be over. "This is crazy, Toji. I'm not pregnant."
"It's an old wives' tale. When babies do that, it's supposed to mean their looking for their sibling." Toji said with a nonchalant shrug as if what he said was matter-of-fact. "My mother told me that's how she knew she was pregnant with me."
The timer went off on his phone, and both of you fought to get into the bathroom first. He eventually overpowered you and snatched the pregnancy test off the counter quickly. "Oh." He said quietly. The room went still.
Suddenly, your heart was racing. "What is it? Is it negative?" You asked a hint of disappointment hit you. You didn't know why, but a small part of you hoped for it to be positive.
"Oh, you're fucking getting it tonight." Toji smirked as he turned the pregnancy test over. Two pink lines were clear as day on the test. You're pregnant.
Tags: @lemonlimecrystal-blog @theuniversesnepobaby
#jjk#jjk fanfic#fanfic#jujutsu kaisen#drabble#jjk suggestive#jjk smut#toji x you#toji smut#jjk toji#toji fushiguro#toji x reader#jujustsu kaisen x reader
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You know what hits me hard? When 5 to 6 year old children, all the way in Southeast Asia, knows about what's happening in Palestine right now. That children their age is getting bombed, that they're starving to death, that they're getting shot at, and sniped in the head. Because, just this past 2 or so months, I heard some of the little ones in the Kindergarten classes I'm TAing in as an Intern talk about it. Hell, one of the little boys downright said he didn't like Israel, because Israel is bad, because they do scary things. Another was questioning whether Palestine was bad too, because, "why else would they shooting at them?". A little girl in one of my classes doesn't want to finish her food at all, because she wants to save at least half her meat and rice for kids in Palestine, because she heard that, they don't have food. And that's just the ones I remember. Namely the inciting cases before their classmates slowly follow suit. The littles are fricking SCARED. We had to sit these kids down, and tell them that the topic is too mature for them at the moment, that they shouldn't even be concerned because they're KINDERGARTNERS, they're not even old enough to properly understand. The one teacher I was TAing for had to make a class announcement saying that. What gets me is, these are 5 to 6 year olds, the youngest I've worked with in this specific age group is 4. 5 years old on average, and they've already been exposed to the worst horrors genocide has to offer through the news and snippets of conversation among adults and hell, considering how many of them say they like to play games on Mama's phone, or their IPad, even from fricking social media. And the fact that, these literal babies, from all the way in Cambodia, has more empathy in their entire body and soul, than full grown fricking adults have in the nail of their pinky finger, gets me. FFS we as adults could LEARN from them I feel sometimes. I honestly don't know what to feel about it anymore. On the one hand, this is the next generation I'm working with. And if the next generation's default response to a tragedy such as Palestine, is what I've seen come up on occasion so far? Perhaps there's some bloody hope for this world after all. At least in this country. Especially since a majority of them already come from families who survived a genocide. These are the 3rd - 4th generation descendants of those who survived the Khmer Rouge. They've got grandparents at home, who no doubt are more than intimately familiar with what Palestine is going through right now. And it shows.
But on the other, it makes my heart sink because these are CHILDREN, these are LITTLE KIDS, they should be playing with their toys and watching cartoons and talking to their friends about everything from Spiderman to Speakerman to Kuromi and her friends, and be worried about whether or not they can go to playground that day, guranteed they're well behaved, or if Mama remembered to pack in their costume for swimming lessons that week. NOT JUST MY KIDS. But the little ones in Palestine too. They deserve better. They all deserve, so much better. Hell, it's come to the point that whenever I look at my kiddos right now, whether they'd be working in class, playing, doing something as mundane as eating lunch or getting ready for their nap. I think of the children their age in Palestine that didn't even get the chance to survive. I think of the ones whose memories from this age, is nothing but absolute horror and pain, rather than what has slowly become my normal, who never got to experience what my littles do on a daily basis right now.
Children shouldn't even be concerned about "War", about a Genocide. The last thing that should be on a 5 year old's mind, is pain, and suffering, and the worst horrors imaginable ever to be inflicted on a human being. ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S INFLICTED, ON OTHER CHILDREN THEIR AGE. And for that alone, the world has failed them. Especially the kids in Palestine who didn't ask for any of this. They just wanted to carry on with life as kids do, the same way as my littles do on a daily basis no doubt, learning, playing, chatting with friends over their favourite cartoons and characters, worrying about whether they'd get to go to the playground or not that day.
I apologize for talking about this on this blog. I know my blog tends to be lighter in feel, a lot more unhinged and light hearted typically. I mean, I'm just a fricking nerd who likes to draw and write, and lurk about her favourite fandoms to consume and support what is shared among other nerds who also like to draw and write. But I couldn't stop thinking about it. About contemplating it, especially since I'll be back on a roll tomorrow, working with my kiddos again after not seeing them for 5 days straight because of Holidays. And, I just had to talk about it. This is something I felt I couldn't keep to myself this time, I don't think my soul'd be able to carry it. I had to talk about it.
FREE PALESTINE. Our children deserve better.
#free palestine#gaza#palestine#rafah#israel#current events#gaza strip#human rights#childrens rights#save the children#cease fire in gaza#cease fire now#cease fire permanently#palestinian genocide#support gaza#pray for palestine#ceasfire now
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LAYING IT ALL ON THE LINE...

ęŠ masterlist ęŠ update blog ęŠ inbox ęŠ taglist ęŠ ao3 ęŠ

・ęŠÂ°â§âľ PAIR: Joel Miller x fem!reader
・ęŠÂ°â§âľ WC: 4.1k
・ęŠÂ°â§âľ CONTAINS: 18+ SMUT MDNI, post-outbreak, hurt/comfort, joel's pov, general violence, minor character injury, jackson!joel, when he picks an unnecessary fight with you because that's all he knows, mentioned age gap, joel miller as a sad old man, joel miller experiences feelings, oral sex (f!receiving), p in v, clothed sex, unprotected sex, erectile dysfunction? we don't know what that means in this house because that old man can fuck like he's twenty AND his knees are made of steel (but only sometimes), porn w/o plot, no use of y/n.
・ęŠÂ°â§âľ @retrosabers SAYS: thinking about you almost dying on patrol and joel is FUMING, unable to convey just how worried and anxious it makes him. the only way he can even remotely conceptualize his feelings is through a very PASSIONATE rawdogging âĄ
・ęŠÂ°â§âľ NAT'S NOTE: everyone say thank you sid for this absolutely luxurious prompt...i'm waiting. i had so much fun with this! i love love love a good semi-angsty, emotionally constipated man having to come to terms with his buried slash repressed feelings in the gritty wake of a near-death experience, like that's my shit. hope y'all love it!
dividers by @cafekitsune & @saradika-graphics!
joel miller realizes that love isnât just a four letter wordâŚ
"Southeast perimeterâs clear. Heading west by the river bed."
âWow, youâre finally gonna stop gettinâ us lost out here, sunshine?â
âLost? Please, you cried when I found that shortcut through the cedar thicket.â
Joel listens to you and Tommy bicker over the radio, a forgotten cup of coffee going cold at his side. That's all he can do when you're out thereâpatrolling in the snow with a few others. He's not proud of how he just sits by like some anxious house wife, listening to the static between check-ins, but he can't make himself focus on anything other than the way your bright voice filters in and out.
He tries not to hover. Tries not to keep the handheld clutched like it's a goddamn lifeline. But he does, eyes glued to the thing like it might crack open and spill you out if he stares hard enough.
Joel's really not even supposed to be listening in like this. Maria's chewed him out more times than he can count each time she catches him hunched over an old radio that he's never bothered turning in, says it'll do him more harm than good worrying over it.
Besides, these channels aren't meant for civilians sitting on their asses at home. He knows that, because that's exactly what he is nowâcivilian adjacent. Half-retired.
Tommy jokes about it every once in a while, the way Joel's slowed down, the way his joints complain louder than they used to. A while back, he might've laughed too. Now, every little twinge of pain feels like a reminder of what he used to be.
Joel used to be the one they all looked to out on patrol. He could track better, shoot cleaner, navigate faster than most of the younger guys. That's not the case these days. His patrolling has slowed down over the past few years. He only goes out a few times every couple of months, if even that.Â
He tells himself itâs by choice.
Itâs not, not at all. Heâs tired. His knees ache after long rides. His busted shoulder canât handle the cold without locking up. Jacksonâs got a whole rotation now, young joints, faster reflexes, eyes that donât blur when the wind hits just right. So he doesnât go out much anymore. Not unless the group is short. Not unless they really need him.
It makes sense. He knows it makes sense.
That doesnât make it feel right. You out there, miles away in knee-deep snow with a rifle strapped to your back while heâs stuck here. Not out there. Not beside you.
Joel knows you can handle yourselfâhell, youâve proven that a dozen times over. Youâre younger. Strong. Fast. Smart as a whip. You can shoot the cap off a beer bottle and you handle a knife better than most people your age.Â
Knowing all that still doesnât quiet the feeling of unease that eats away at him each time you strap on your gear and kiss him goodbye with a, See you later, Miller. Strolling out the door like itâs casual. Like itâs nothing.
Thereâs a kind of helpless fury in it. A sick twist in his gut every time he watches you ride out. Like heâs some retired goddamn hunting dog. Trusted to guard the porch, but not sharp enough to run with the pack anymore.
Joel adjusts the volume dial on the radio like itâll make your voice stay longer.
Tommyâs laugh cuts through the speaker. âDidnât cry. I got snow in my eye.â
âIn July? Sure.â
It comes in grainy and light, full of that same teasing bite you always give Tommyâenough to make Joelâs jaw tighten with a quiet, helpless kind of fondness. He almost smiles, but it doesnât reach past the tight pull in his chest. Youâre still picking your way through territory where any tree line might be hiding something.
Joel shifts in his seat, elbows on the table, jaw clenched tight. He tells himself youâre fine. You always are. You have to be.
The channel goes still for a few beats. Then, a crack of static. Some muffled shuffling. Andâ
âWaitâsomethingâs moving in the trees. Left side, just past the ridge.â
Your voice. Sharper now. Less teasing and pointedly quiet.
âCopy,â Tommy replies, suddenly serious. âKeep eyes onââ
A burst of noise. A flurry of panicked voices overlapping and shouts. The unmistakable sound of gunfire.
Then nothing.
Dead air.
Joelâs heart drops to his boots. âTommy?â he barks into the receiver. âCome in. What the hellâs happening out there?â
When thereâs no answer, Joel shoots to his feet. The chair scrapes across the floor harshly as he crosses the room in two large strides, fumbling for his jacket. âTommy? Goddammit, someone answer me!â
Nothing.
Joelâs heart thuds violently against his ribcage as he stares at the little black box in his hand like itâs an omen. He feels it rush in all at onceâpanic, guilt, helpless rage curling cold and mean in his chest. His ears are ringing so loud he doesnât hear the slam of the door behind him as he tears out of the house and into the cold air.Â
Something happened. The group was compromised. You were compromised.
And heâs not there.
He shouldâve been there.
Joel doesnât remember the sprint to the stables. Doesnât remember shouting at Maria when she tried to stop him at the gate. Doesnât remember half the ride out. All he knows is that his hands wonât stop shaking around the reins and the bile in his throat tastes like ashâa sick, gnawing pit growing in his gut.
When he finds the group what feels like hours later, just as the sun starts to rise behind the ridgelineâyouâre nowhere to be found. His eyes scan the way everyoneâs spread out, some with minor injuries and the others patching them up.Â
No sign of you.
Tommy plants himself in front of Joel just as he hauls himself off his horse. He doesnât even feel the way his knees jolt as his feet hit the ground.Â
âWhere the hell is she?â he rasps, voice so rough it sounds like itâs been dragged through gravel. âWhere, Tommy?â
Tommyâs hands are out in front of him like Joelâs a wild animal about to snap. Heâs got blood on his hands, but no signs of stab wounds or bullet holes anywhere on him. Itâs not his blood. Joelâs stomach turns viciously at the sight, at the thought of whose it might be.
âSheâs fine,â Tommy says, eyes wide and placating. âTook a hit, it grazed her side. She wouldnât fuckinâ stay down.â
Joel knows he wonât feel any relief until he sees you, alive and breathing with his own eyes. âWhere.â
Tommy steps aside just before Joel nearly shoves past him, nodding his head toward a rock outcrop a ways away from everyone else.
Youâre sitting closest to the makeshift fire, Jesse crouched beside you to clean the gash along your side. Youâre bundled in someone elseâs coat, hair mussed and blood soaked through your undershirt and spattered across your cheeks.
Visibly shaken. Color drained. Bloody. Alive.
Joelâs throat locks up when your eyes meet his. You give him the smallest, tired smileâlike you're trying to reassure him. That look. That stupid, brave little tilt of your mouth like everything's okay even when you're the one bleeding through Tommy's jacket.
It makes something in his chest crack wide open.
âJoel?â
He doesnât speak.
Doesnât know what to say.
Doesnât trust himself for it to be anything good.
Joel takes three shaky steps towards you before his knees give out.Â
He drops hard into the snow. He doesnât catch himself, doesnât try. Just falls forward like a penitent man bowing at the altar of a God he doesnât believe in. His breath comes in short, ragged bursts, eyes locked onto the red seeping through your shirt like it's the only color in the whole damn world.
Thereâs a beat where nobody moves. Jesse freezes, half-done wrapping gauze, and youâre just sitting there, wide-eyed and shaking like a leaf, lips parted like youâre trying to say somethingâbut Joelâs already reaching for you.
He's on you in the next breath. Not rough, not like usual, not with that greedy, hungry touch he normally has after you come back from patrol. His hands are trembling when they find your face, tilting your chin up gently, his fingers brushing away wet blood and dirt.
Tommy glances away. Jesse too, both men busying themselves with helping the others. It feels too private, even out here in the open.
âGoddammit,â he chokes. âGodâbabyââ
His voice breaks on the last word. Breaks, something sharp and gutted and boyish, nothing like the hardened man who's grown to guard his emotions like theyâre classified. Your hands hover uncertainty over his shoulders, the side of his face. Youâre worried. He can see it plain as day, written in the wavering line of your mouth.
âHeyâhey, Iâm okay,â you say, voice low and urgent. âIâm fine. Look at me, Joel, Iâm fine. It justâit just grazed me, okay? Iâm fine.â
Youâre not fine.
Youâre too pale. Youâre stone-cold. Your blood is still tacky on your shirt, drying beneath his body's warmth.
Joel presses his forehead to yours and exhales like heâs been kept underwater, and you were the surface heâd been clawing to.
You whisper his name again, quieter this time, and he shushes you. âDonâtâdonât talk, justâlet meââ His fingers press to the pulse point at your wrist like he still needs proof. âLet me feel you.â
You donât say anything else.
You just hold him.
And Joel doesnât cry. He canât. Something wonât let him, but he stays there in the snow for a long time, holding you like a man who thought heâd never get the chance to again.
The ride back to Jackson is quiet.
You fell asleep half-way through, head lolling back against Joelâs shoulder as you both sat in the saddle, your body loose with exhaustion and the emergency pain meds Jesse had in his pack. Tommy rides ahead, checking the trail, but Joel barely looks up. He just holds the reins with one hand and holds you tighter with the other.
Youâre taken to the infirmary the second everyone files through the gates. Joel sits by your bedside in stormy silence, hands curled into fists and resting on his knees, the only thing keeping him together.
You talk to the nurse on duty. You even joke with her, cracked voice and tired eyes like itâs all part of the routine. Like getting shot is just another part of the job. And Joel sits there while someone else wraps you in new bandages and checks your vitals.
It makes his blood boil.
All he can think about is the way your voice cut out on the radio. The way he didnât know if you were dead or bleeding out in some field, alone. And now youâre laughing. Now youâre telling the nurse, âIâm fine really, just sore.â And it makes him want to tear the whole fucking clinic apart.
Joel doesnât say a word until you're cleared to leave.Â
Not on the short walk back to your house. Not when youâre walking through the door, cleaned up. Patched. Your shirtâs gone, replaced by his coat and a thermal blanket around your shoulders.
Not when you nudge his arm gently like youâre testing the waters. Not when you say his name soft, like it might keep him calm before youâre heading towards the bedroom.
It doesnât.
The moment the door shuts behind him, Joel erupts.
âYou got a fuckinâ death wish?â
You freeze in your spot halfway across the room, turning to face him.
Joel doesnât move. Just stands there, fists clenched at his sides. His voice is low, shaking with barely concealed rage. âYou gonna tell me why you thought playinâ saviour was worth bleedinâ out in the snow?â
You donât say anything for a few beats, eyebrows drawn together in a hard frown as you look at him. âWhat was I supposed to do, Joel? Jesse was pinned, Tommy wouldâve taken the hit. I didnât have a choice.â
âYou always have a choice!â Joel grates, stepping towards you. âYou couldâve picked you. You couldâve stayed the fuck down like Tommy told you to.â
âI was trying to keep your brother from getting shot in the head,â you snap, the tension finally striking a flint. âI made a judgment call.â
âYou made a stupid call,â he spits, voice loud and blistering. âYou donât get to do that.â
âI didnât have a choice,â you repeat, your body growing stiff and tense.
âYou shoulda fuckinâ stayed down.â Joel growls. He doesnât even look at you when he says itâjust rips his flannel off, tosses it hard at the wall.
You donât flinch. Donât even look away from him as his shirt falls and crumples into a heap on the floor. âWhat?â
âYou heard me,â he snaps, turning to look at you again. His eyes are dark, fiery. âJesus, youâdo you even fuckinâ think sometimes? You were hit. You knew you were hit, and you kept goinâ. You didnât stop, didnât stay down like you were told.â
He steps closer, eyes boring into yours, face twisted with something too furious to be rational. âYou fuckinâ chose to be a goddamn hero, huh? Run into gunfire like it ainât a fuckinâ death sentence? That it?â
He can see the second your expression changes, your own anger rearing its ugly head now, bitter and hot. âDonât do that. Donât make this about me being reckless when you know I was just trying to keep people alive. I did what I had to do.â
âNo!â he snaps, pointing a finger at you, furious and stricken all at once. âWhat you had to do was come home. Thatâs it. Thatâs all.â
You blink at him, breath caught in your throat.
Joel canât stop, all the emotions heâs been dealt over the past three hours finally boiling over and spilling through his lips before he can think twice about what heâs saying.
âYou couldâve died,â he growls, pacing now, hands dragging through his hair roughly like heâs trying to rip the anger out of himself. âTwo fuckinâ inches to the left and that bullet wouldâve torn straight through your gut. You think youâdâve made it to town in time for that? Huh?â
âThatâs not fair.â
âNo,â he snarls, spinning on you, voice cracking. âItâs not fuckinâ fair. Nothinâ about this is. You go out there, and I sit at home waitinâ to see if todayâs the day I lose you. That the last thing I heard is your voice cuttinâ out in the middle of a fuckinâ ambush. Thatâs what I got to live with now. Thatâs what I saw every time I closed my eyes on that ride back.â
You stand there, lost for words. âI didnât mean for any of this to happen.â
âI know you didnât,â Joel says, suddenly quieter, throat thick. He swallows hard, looking down, shaking his head like heâs trying to get a grip. âBut I still almost lost you. And I donâtâfuckâI donât know what the hell Iâd do if that everââ
His voice cuts off, ragged. Then heâs in front of you again, cupping your face with both hands. âYouâre not allowed to do that to me again,â he whispers fiercely. âYouâre not allowed to scare me like that.â
âJoelâŚâ You lean into him, slow. Cautious.
Joel meets you halfway.
His mouth is on yours in a heartbeatâhot and bruising and pathetically desperate. His big hands frame your face, thumbs dragging down your cheekbones as he licks a wet stripe over the plush seam of your lips.
You gasp into his mouth when he pushes the blanket off your shoulders, when his palms skate down your sides to grip your hips hard. Not too rough, not yet, but heâs holding you because he needs you rooted. Anchored. Here.
Joel kisses you like heâs still furious at you, like he hates how much he needs you, like heâs punishing you for making him feel so afraid. Itâs not soft, all teeth and tongue as he devours you, stealing the breath from your lungs.
When he pulls back, his mouth is wet with your spit, lips pink and swollen. âNeed to taste you,â he mutters. âNeed to feel you.â
Joel sinks to his knees before you can respond, breath huffing harshly against your stomach. His fingers tug your zipper down with frantic urgency, hooking his thumbs in your waistband to peel your pants down your legs in one swift motion.
Thereâs no teasing. No smugness. Just a heavy, sharp hunger carved into his face like stone as he pulls your panties to the side, exposing you to his greedy eyes. His hands slide under your thighs, lifting one over his shoulder as he brings his mouth to you like a man possessed.
The first drag of his tongue is slow. Reverent. Hot and wet as he parts the slick seam of your cunt with deliberate strokes that make your spine arch. He groans like your taste knocks the wind out of him, and then he latches on like heâs got a point to proveâto himself or you, heâs not sure. All he knows is that worshipping you is the only penance that could soothe the panic still clawing at his insides.
âJoel.â Your hands tangle in his hair, chin falling to your chest as you gaze down at him.
He sucks your clit into his mouth, tongue relentless, nose pressed deep against you. You whimper, twisting his hair in your grip, hips twitchingâJoel doesnât let you go anywhere. Heâs got you trapped, your body pinned with his mouth buried between your thighs like he plans to die there.
Itâs filthy, obsceneâthe way he devours you. Lips slick, beard growing damper with each swirl of his tongue, eyes half-lidded but still trained on your own.
Your eyes are glassy, pupils blown wide and black as spilled ink. Thereâs sweat beaded on your brow, lips parted and swollen as you let out small huffs of air.
Your thighs are trembling. You're soaked, arching against him, whimpering his name with tears welling in your eyes. And stillâstillâhe wonât let up. He needs this. Needs to make you fall apart. Needs to prove to himself youâre alive by the way your body sings under his touch.
Joel canât stop. Not until your thighs shake and youâre moaning that youâre gonna come, gonna come, Joel, pleaseâ
And you do. You fall apart on his tongue with a broken sob, legs clenching tight around his ears, hips grinding down into his mouth in weak twitches and shudders. He growls and holds you still, licking you through every last tremor until your body goes limp and threatens to sink to the floor.
Joel doesnât let you fallâhe lowers you down gently, like youâre made of spun glass, even as his hands skirt over the hem of your shirt. When he pulls it up, revealing the bandages wound tight around your side, he pauses. His gaze lingers on the wound. Jaw clenched. Something soft and wrecked flickers in his eyes.
Your hand comes up to cup the side of his face, your thumb running over the scar across his temple so gently it has his heart throbbing in his chest. âIâm okay,â you whisper. âStill here.â
Joel takes your wrist in his hand, lowering it down enough to press it hard over his heart. âYou feel that?â he breaths. âThat hasnât stopped hammerinâ since I heard your voice cut out.â
You nod slowly. Your fingers curl into his shirt. âIâm sorry.â
Joel squeezes your wrist, turning his head to press a soft kiss to your forearm.
He climbs up over you, chest to chestâthe jut of his cock where it tents the denim of his jeans grinds over the sensitive span of your cunt as he settles himself between your legs. Heâs thick, heavy even through all the layers.Â
Joelâs free hand snakes down his body, making quick work of his belt. He rips his zipper down, freeing his cock from the confines of his soaked boxers and letting it slap up against his stomach.
You moan at the sight of itâhard, straining, the tip a dusty red and wet with pre-come. Your legs widen unconsciously, thighs twitching on either side of Joelâs hips.
Joel takes himself in his hand, fist tight over the base of his cock as he runs himself through your puffy cunt, slicking the skin of his cock with your wetness. âGonna fuck you,â he breathes, lining himself up between your legs. âGonna feel you around me, baby, need it so damn bad.â
Joel slides in with one long, smooth stroke, your slick making it easy, and the groan he lets out sounds like pain. Like relief. Like he might lose his mind from the heat of you. Your breath hitches at the stretch, head lolling back against the hardwood as your nails dig into his shoulders.
âMine,â he grits through his teeth, forehead pressed to yours, his hips grinding deeper as you cling to him. âYouâre mine, baby. Alwaysâalways mine.â
You nod, panting, eyes glassy. âAll yours,â you whisper. âOnly yours, Joel.â
And then he moves.
Hard.
Desperate.
Unrelenting.
He fucks you like youâre the only thing tethering him to earth, like if he stops, heâll unravel entirely. One arm hooks under your knee, pushing you open, deeper than before. His hips slap against yours, raw and hopelessly, but itâs not about getting off.
Itâs about feeling you.
Every squeeze, every tremble, every gasp that leaves your mouth when he hits that perfect spot.Â
Joelâs never felt like this before.
So angry.
So scared.
So in love.
He fucks you like heâs trying to imprint himself inside your body. His thrusts stitch you back to him, sealing you inside his chest so you can never leave. A mess of skin-on-skin and heat and slick as the two of you meet again and again and again.
âCouldâve lost you,â he growls against your throat. âFuck, honey, I couldâveâJesusââ
You wrap your arms around him. âYou didnât,â you whisper. âIâm here, JoelâIâm yoursââ
He groans, hips stuttering, thrusts turning frantic. He can tell heâs close, that heâs been close since he sank to his knees in front of you.
âSay it again,â he pants, slamming into you with a low, wrecked noise. âSay youâre mine.â
âIâm yours,â you gasp. âAlways yoursâfuck, Joelââ
You wrap your arms tighter around him, pulling him closer. Your nails dig into his skin through the thin layer of his undershirt, legs locking around his waist to keep him pressed against you like youâre scared heâll let go.
Joel doesnât let go. Heâd never let go. Not even when you moan his name like a prayer, not even when your nails rake down his back, not even when you gasp out a warning, your voice thin and needy. âJoel, Iâgonnaââ
âI know, baby. I got you.â His hand snakes down between you, finding your clit and rubbing quick circles over it, desperate to feel you come. âWanna feel you. Need toâfuckâneed to feel you, sweetheart. Please.â
You shatter in his arms with a broken sob, clenching hard around him as your body jerks, overwhelmed and too raw to hide it. Joel feels you pulse around his cock, the tight warmth of your cunt milking him.
Itâs too much, and heâs coming with a groan that sounds like itâs been clawed from his chest. He buries himself to the hilt, hips jerking with every pulse, breath catching in your ear. âFuck, fuckââ he pants, voice hoarse, ââlove you, I love you, I thought I lost you, baby, I canâtâŚâ
Youâre both trembling when it ends.
Joel holds you there for a long time, forehead resting against yours, still buried deep inside you. He still wonât let you go. Not yet.
Eventually, when heâs calmed, he pulls back just enough to look at you.
You expect that same look from earlierârage, fear, guiltâbut itâs not there. Just love. Just deep, aching relief.
âI canât lose you,â he says quietly. âI wouldnât survive it.â
You reach up, trace the curve of his brow, the edge of his jaw. âYou wonât have to,â you whisper.
Joel kisses you again. Softer this time. Sweeter. A delicate press of lips against lips. His fingers stroke your cheek, pulling back enough for his eyes to trace along your face. He follows the line of your brows, the shape of your nose, the soft curve of your lips.
He canât feel anything other than love.
Gentle. Solid. Steady.
Itâs only love.

mini nat's note: everyone please send good vibes for my hell sent ch*m final on monday...i literally need all the luck i can get. thank you so much for reading! mwah.

#â đŻđ˘đľđ˘đđŞđ˘ đ¸đłđŞđľđŚđ´ âĄ#áŻâ
đ§đđ'đŹ đŠđđŤđŹđ¨đ§đđĽ đŁđ¨đđĽ đŚđ˘đĽđĽđđŤ!#natalia canât write anything under 1.000 words#this is...#i know the joel tumblrinas will match my freak#match my freak goddammit!#match it!#love you mwah#joel miller x reader#joel miller x you#joel miller x female reader#joel miller x y/n#joel miller fanfiction#joel miller fanfic#joel miller fic#joel miller smut#tlou x reader#tlou smut#the last of us smut#pedro pascal x you#pedro pascal x reader#pedro pascal smut
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hehehehheheheee pretty birb bf
winged bf who pick you up into their arms, gently cradling you as if you were made of glass and the finest jewelry as they tell you to âhang onâ before unfurling their wings and taking off into the sky
winged bf who show you the beauty of flying, holding you securely in his arms as you take in the way how the world below you looks so small and beautiful. who only has a gentle smile on their faces as you point out the big apartments and parks where you go to for a picnic date. who only has eyes on you as you admire the twinkling lights of the world under you
winged bf who wrap their wing around you whenever you shiver, even if it was one of those annoying sudden ghost bump things you get out of the blue. heâs still worried, let him worry for you in peaceđ
winged bf who plucks a feather out of their wing, gently tucking the soft feather into your hair, or on your jacket â wherever you want. he wants you to carry a piece of him to remind you by even though you regularly steal his clothes
winged bf who allows you to be only person to touch his wings, to care for them, to brush them, to just⌠well, touch them to your heartâs content really. he doesnât care if you put the tip of his long feather ends over your lips, mimicking a mustache, he doesnât care if you want to use it as a blanket, he doesnât care if you wanna use the ends like a cat toy in front of his face. heâll indulge in your silly shenanigans
winged bf who sheds at least once a year, filling your shared home with the old feathers. who is either smug about it or is apologetic as he helps you broom the excessive fallen feathers. at this point you could probably make a plushie or some sort of art project from the amount of feathers that he shed. to which he objects, saying these are all old and weakened feathers, offering his wing for you to pluck feathers from if you really wanna make an art project
winged bf who hides the two of you under his wing when cuddling in bed, the added layer of his own extra limb making the scene feel more intimate than it is. as if the entire world is blocked out, just a meager existence passing by as you two enjoy this moment of comfort as his wing becomes a curtain to give you two privacy
winged bf who sometimes gets too sexually frustrated and pent up with your curious hands constantly touching the place where his wing is connected to his back, the skin and muscles there are sensitive, making him jump in his seat whenever you do it to tease him
winged bf who knows that it isnât your fault. you probably donât know, you donât have a wing after all, so you donât know what it means when someone touches your wing. who only calms your worries with a forehead kiss, usually handling his problems himself
winged bf who lets out a whine into his hand, muffling the embarrassing noise as your hand wraps tighter around his cock. he was way too sensitive than usual and it was all because of your wandering hand on his wings. he probably should have explained it all to you but right now, he found his words escaping him, mind melting into a muddled mess as he finds his hands clawing at your own in desperation
winged bf who mumbles out a weak protest of being âs-sensitive! aaah⌠f-feels too senââĄď¸ sensitive! y-your haaanddâĄď¸â as his legs start to shake, staring through teary eyes as you coax out yet another climax out of him. his tip an angry cherry red from the continued torture of your hand, his slit weeping precum over and over again despite having just came, getting hard in your hand embarrassingly fast
winged bf who gets tortured by your loving hands for who knows how many times. his eyes are getting blurry and breathing started to hurt. even more, his dick was stinging, twitching every time your tight fist comes up to the tip, letting go briefly as if to taunt him, touching the dripping slit with the tip of your finger and making him whine loudly before fucking his cock into your hand again and again. this was just pure torture, he wanted to escape and run away but you were whispering such nice words to his ears. calling him your good boy, your angel, how you loved being with your beloved like this⌠could he really ever refuse you?
winged bf who gets more and more twitchy in your gentle hold as your hand picks up speed, the filthy wet noise of his earlier cum being used as a lube filling the room alongside his loud moans. who begs for you to not to touch his wing as it flutters around, dropping a feather or two onto the floor due to moving around so much. who only lets out a pathetic whimper of a âcuzâ ahh haamghâ! [n-name], please! please donâtââĄď¸ d-donât touch them...? theyâre sensitive too aanh haagh mfghâĽď¸!!â when you ask him why
winged bf who felt like his skin was on fire. everything felt too much but felt too little at the same time, his cock painfully hard again in your hold the moment you ran the tip of your finger over the bane of it. his muscles were getting tense, a strange sense of feeling coiling around in his stomach as you kiss the place where his wing and back connects, shifting around frantically with a chirp or a preen falling from his swollen lips
winged bf who weakly paws at your hand around his dick, wanting to push it away but chasing right after it with his hips as the strange feeling in his stomach just continues to grow worse. it didnât felt like his usual orgasm, the way he would just fall apart in your hands. it felt more intense and that scared him. who cries out through loud whines and bitten back sobs that âf-feels weird!! aanhh haah [n-name]â! it mngghâĄď¸ feels weird! my c-cock feels unnck haah ahh amhh weirdâĽď¸âĽď¸!!â
winged bf who throws his head back into your shoulder, hands covering his beet red face as a scream tears through his lips, muscles tightening, body going taut in your arms when you gently bit into the base of his wing, your other hand keeping his wing in place so it wouldnât flutter and knock you away as he fucking squirts into his stomach, painting his muscles and your hand white. who lets out soft chirps and noises, legs twitching and hands struggle to decide whether to hold onto you or to muffle his embarrassing noises
winged bf who only lets out weak noises and chirps when you try to communicate with him, asking him if he was doing alright and if your angel was with you right now after that overstimulating experience. who immediately hides within his wings the moment a sliver of sobriety hits him, too humiliated to even look you in the face because what was that? and why did he felt⌠so good?
winged bf who gives you a weak glare that you know isnât exactly serious, pouting at you and complaining about how you messed up his mind and stuff. who lean into your touch as you push his hair away from him, getting to see the still reddened face and the few tear stains on his cheeks. who grumbles about how you have too much power over him when you chuckle, leaning in to plant a kiss to his pouting lips. who chase after you with a demand for a proper kiss this time
⨠sephiroth, genesis, angeal, hawks, xiao, venti, angel devil, vash, knives, sunday, simeon, raphael + anyone you can think of!
#nobu.writes#sub character#sub hsr#sub genshin#sub genshin impact#sub chainsaw man#sub trigun#sub bnha#sub mha#sephiroth x reader#genesis x reader#angeal x reader#hawks x reader#xiao x reader#venti x reader#angel devil x reader#vash x reader#knives x reader#millions knives x reader#sunday x reader#tw overstim#tw monsterfucking#trigun x reader#dom reader#gender neutral reader#obey me x reader#sub obey me#nobu.brainrots#sub final fantasy
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ËËâš when the time is right
⤠summary: Rafe found out that you were secretly from him taking tests, not even realizing how much you struggled in silence about not being able to get pregnant
⤠w/c: 3.7k
⤠warnings: struggles with getting pregnant, insecurities, smut, oral sex, unprotected p in v, Rafe is literally the BEST
masterlist
Your vision got blurry when you looked at another negative pregnancy test, feeling nauseous and extremely tired from all of it.Â
You and Rafe, after getting married almost a year ago, both decided that you wanted to have children, and you tried to do everything to make it happen. You consulted the doctor, you both stayed healthy, and your sex life was so good, but no matter how hard you tried, it was all for nothing.Â
It became an unhealthy obsession of yours to buy these damn tests secretly from Rafe, hoping that one time youâll see two lines, but always ending up throwing it in the trash can or hiding it in your drawer. You felt so bad, guilty, knowing that your husband did everything for you to give you the best life you couldâve ever asked for, yet you were unable to give him one thing that he wished for so badly.Â
Rafe was perfect in every aspect of your relationships, even better than when you two were just dating. He was so loving, so caring, so protective of you, not missing a single day without saying how much he loved you. Family and love were the only things that he ever wished for, wanting to have someone always by his side and someone who he couldâve shower with all of the love and affection that he desperately needed to give away, as it was not the option during his childhood.Â
He told you how much he wanted to have a baby, to raise him or her with you and be the best dad everâthe one that he had never had. And you wanted to give it to him, wanted to be happy with the love of your life. But the more you tried, the more frustrated you got, constantly seeing negative results, and hating yourself and your body for not being able to do it.Â
Of course Rafe didnât know any of itâyou simply hid all of the possible evidence of your doings, thinking that he might change his mind and that heâll get colder to you once he realizes that thereâs something wrong.Â
When you heard the front door getting closed and Rafeâs voice calling your name, you mindlessly shoved the test into the less-used drawer under some kind of napkin that was stored there. You looked in the mirror, wiping away a few stray tears and making yourself smile, even if it felt like you were empty inside.Â
Rafe embraced you in his arms before you were even able to step into the living room, pulling you flush against his chest and burying his face into your neck.Â
âHey, sweetheart.â You felt the rumble of his voice on your skin, closing your eyes to relish the moment and throwing your hands around his neck. Rafe held you in his arms for a few long moments, running his hands up and down your back and mumbling some sweet things about missing you and the way he couldnât wait to get home, but you couldnât seem to focus, just distantly nodding your head.Â
âWhatâs wrong?â He pulled away, instantly seeing your sad, empty eyes. He had always been so good at reading you, so you couldnât help but laugh at the way he got concerned, placing a hand on your cheek and studying your face with a worried look.Â
âNothing. Itâs nothing, Ray. Iâm okay.â You leaned into his touch, giving him your best smile.Â
He looked at you for a few moments without saying anything, and it was all you needed to know that he did not believe you even for a second. He took a deep breath, then took a hold of your face with both hands before capturing your lips in a slow, gentle kiss.Â
âI know that youâre not, but I wonât push you. Take your time, you know I'm here for you, baby, yeah?" He pecked your lips once again, and you nodded your head, feeling a sudden lump in your throat. âNow⌠Iâm starving and I can smell something from the kitchen.âÂ
âI made your favorite pasta.â You smiled softly, twirling his slightly grown-out hair around your finger.Â
âI fucking love you, you know that, baby?â You could barely register what was happening when Rafeâs hands manhandled you and threw you over his shoulder. With a possessive hand on your ass, he went towards the kitchen, finally making you forget about your worries even for some time. âThe best wife in the world.â
Freshly showered and sitting in your bed, you were mindlessly scrolling through your phone, while Rafe was doing whatever in your shared bathroom. There were some noises of him rummaging through the cabinets, cussing and mumbling something about the new razor that he had bought recently and now couldnât find.Â
It all continued for a few minutes until he suddenly went silent, and it was the moment when your stomach dropped.Â
He found the tests. You knew that he did.Â
He stood in the bathroom, eyes wide from shock, as he held in the palm of his hand a bunch of white and blue sticks, which surely were yours. He felt uneasy either from every single one of them being negative or from the fact that you did it secretly from him and so regularly.Â
With your phone long forgotten on the bedside table, you jumped out of bed, only to bump into Rafeâs chest at the bathroomâs entrance. Your eyes instantly fell to his hand, seeing a handful of pregnancy tests, then looking up at his frowning face. The look in his eyes made you want to vanish away, just simply disappear from the face of earth, as your own eyes suddenly filled with tears.Â
âHow long have you been doing this, Y/N?â Your lower lip wobbled as you tried to not break down, hands shaking with tension, while you fidgeted with your wedding ring. âI asked you a question.â There was no anger or treat in Rafeâs voice, but it still sent shivers down your spineâyou knew that he was disappointed or upset, and you hated that you went behind his back to do that. Not that you worried about him being actually mad, but the feeling of guilt and shame was eating you alive.Â
âI-I donât know.â You whispered.
âYou donât know?â He raised his brows, still holding all of the tests in between you two. âThereâs like twenty of them. All negative, yeah? Why are you taking it so often, and why didnât you tell me?â The frustration in his voice was like a knife to your heart, and with a sob of his name, you completely broke down.Â
You cried the way Rafe had never seen before, taking him aback for a moment. You hid your face behind your hands, sobbing loudly and trembling from head to toe. He made a quick move to lay all the rest on the nearby table before protectively wrapping his hands around your form and holding you as close as possible.Â
With one hand on your lower back while another stroked your hair, Rafe rocked your body from side to side. You couldnât seem to stop crying, soaking his shirt with your tears and gripping it with your hands for dear life. All the frustration and tears you werenât able to fully let out were now just spilling non-stop, and Rafe tried to control himself even if your full of pain cries were quite literally killing him.Â
âIâI want to have a baby. I want to give it to you. I r-really do!â You almost whimpered in desperation, cutting Rafeâs heart open with the amount of pain in your voice. âI donât know whatâs wrong with me, with my body. Iâm sorry, Rafe. I want it so bad.â You tugged at the back of his shirt, burying your face deeper in his neck and seemingly struggling to even breathe normally.Â
âSh-h, calm down. Listen to my voice.â Holding you steady against his body, Rafe lowered his head to your ear to make sure that you would be able to focus on him. âJust breathe, itâs okay. Youâre okay. Câmon just in and out.â He inhaled and exhaled, making sure that you followed his command before repeating it a few more times. âYeah, just like that, sweetheart. Now sit down for me.â He pushed you back towards the bed, and you obediently followed him.Â
You sat at the edge of the bed, with Rafe kneeling in between your legs. He caressed your face, planting a loving kiss on your forehead, before sliding his hands down and capturing your own in his hold. You looked down at your interlaced fingers, unable to look up at your husband, ashamed and embarrassed, but still feeling his burning gaze on you. Some tears still slid down your cheeks, as you were seemingly unable to fully calm down.Â
âHow long?â He asked in a steady, calm voice.Â
âSince we decided that we want to have a child? Iâve been doing them from time to time, but⌠recently it kinda got worse.â You shrugged, still looking down. Rafe took a deep breath, shaking his head in disbelief, and you felt your heart sinking.Â
âIt messes with your head, Y/N. Do you understand that?â He squeezed your hand, rubbing circles against your knuckles. âI thought that we decided that itâs going to happen when the time is right, huh? Show me your pretty eyes, sweetheart.â
âThatâs the problemâitâs never the right time!â You finally looked up at Rafe, locking your eyes with his blue ones. There was no judgement or anger whatsoever, making you feel slightly weird about the whole situation, as you were constantly convincing yourself that Rafe would be mad when he found out. âItâs been like five months since I got off the pills, since we decided that we both want it, and nothing, Ray! Nothing! My stupid body just doesnât work the way it should.â You sobbed again.Â
Rafe cupped your face, wiping away the remains of your tears. His eyes softened while looking at you. âStop saying it. Stop worrying yourself out and stop blaming your body, Y/N. You cannot control things like this, and if it didn't happen, then itâs not the right time yet, okay? It doesnât mean that somethingâs wrong with you or your body.â His voice was surprisingly steady and firm, and you looked at him almost in awe, drinking in every word coming from your husbandâs mouth. Rafeâs support meant everything to you, and even if you were worried before that, now he finally managed to calm a little part of you. âYouâre perfect. Youâre the way you should be. Youâre mine, and I donât want you to even doubt how much you mean to me.âÂ
Rafe didnât look away from you for a second, making sure that you understood everything that he was saying. âI was afraid to disappoint you. That youâll be mad, because I know how much you want it too.â
âWhat I want the most is for you to be healthy, happy, and safe, sweetheart. Seeing you like this breaks my heart.â He dryly chuckled. âAnd what I need is for you to not be so hard on yourself.â
âIâll try.âÂ
A soft smile finally touched your lips when he slightly moved up to give your forehead another lingering kiss before moving down to your temple, then cheek, and then lips. âThatâs my girl.â Rafe mumbled against your mouth and slowly deepened the kiss, making your worries fade away. Feeling his hands moving down to your waist and bringing you closer to the edge of the bed while you steadied yourself by laying your hands on his shoulders.Â
âRayâŚâ
âLet me show you how much you mean to me. How much I love you.â He murmured against your lips, hands sliding under your nightgown and knuckles brushing against your tender skin. You shivered under his touch, eyes fluttering and brain barely able to form a response. It was always like that with Rafeâit was as if his presence and touch alone could make all of your worries and insecurities go away. He had a way of making you feel on cloud nine, both physically and emotionally, and at moments like this, when he quite literally praised and worshiped you, you wondered how you could ever think any less of him.Â
He tilted his head slightly, peppering the side of your neck and your clevage with open-mouthed kisses, inhaling your sweet scent, while his hands were wandering down your body and pushing your legs further from each other. Rate leaned back for a moment, his eyes drinking your blissful face expression in as if you were the most breathtaking sight he'd ever seen. "You're everything to me." He said, his voice thick with emotion. "Do you know that?"
You nodded, tears pricking at the corners of your eyes, overwhelmed by the intensity of his love. "I do." You whispered. "I feel it, Rafe. Always."Â
He softly pushed your body back until you were enveloped in a bunch of blankets and pillows scattered around. He looked you up and down, feeling his heart racing at the thought of making you feel good, reminding you how much you meant to him because you were quite literally the most important thing in his life. Rafe for a second thought that, maybe, it was his fault that you started to spiral into that darkness of stress and worries of not being enough or broken. With constantly being busy at work, he couldnât pick up the cues earlier and notice your struggles.Â
Kissing down your body, dragging your nightgown up, and exposing your naked body to his hungry gaze, Rafe made sure to give you everything that he had and make you feel the way he felt about you. Rafeâs lips hovered over your stomach, brushing feather-light kisses against your soft skin as his hands caressed your sides. His touch was tender as his lips paused against your stomach, and he closed his eyes, his breath warm against you.
âWeâre going to have a baby, sweetheart.â He murmured, his voice filled with quiet determination and love. âWhen the time is right, I know it. And youâre going to be the most amazing mother.â He pressed another kiss to your stomach, lingering there for a moment and making sure that the words sank in for you. âIâll do everything in my power to give you the best and help you out, yeah? Youâre not alone in this.â
Tears streamed silently down your cheeks as you reached out to run your fingers through his hair, your chest swelling with emotion at the raw devotion in his words and actions as you nodded to him. âRafeâŚâ You whispered, your voice trembling. âI love you so much.â
He looked up at you, his blue eyes glistening with emotion. âI love you more.â He said simply, his lips curling into a small, reassuring smile. He kissed your stomach one last time before his gaze darkened with desire, his hands sliding further down your thighs as he lowered himself between your legs.
You gasped when he suddenly just pulled your underwear down your legs and, not letting you process his further actions, placed your thighs on his shoulders before connecting his mouth with your dripping core.Â
Rafe ate you like a man starved, alternating soft licks with sucking on your clit and almost bringing you to the edge. In a few minutes, you were a trembling mess, squeezing your legs around his head and mumbling something incoherent.
âR-Rafe.â You whimpered, your voice breaking as you felt the tension in your core building rapidly. âIâmâoh my GodâIâm so close.â
He smirked against you, sucking your swollen clit harder and pushing the tips of his fingers against your entrance just to tease you. His lips curling into a grin that you could feel even through the haze of your pleasure. âI know, sweetheart.â He said, his voice low and gravelly. âLet go for me. Iâve got you.â
His words tipped you over the edge, and you cried out, reaching for his hair, tugging, as your body trembled while waves of ecstasy crashed over you. Rafe didnât let up, his mouth continuing to work you through your orgasm, drawing out every last bit of pleasure until you were left breathless and boneless beneath him.
Finally, he pulled back, his lips and chin glistening with your release, and his eyes locked onto yours with a mix of satisfaction and adoration.
His body was on top of yours in an instant, pushing you down into the mattress with his comforting weight. Placing a hand on the side of your neck, gently tracing your jawline with his thumb, and then pulling you closer for a kiss.Â
You didnât even notice the moment when he slipped inside of you, too lost in the aftershocks of your previous orgasm. He hissed at the way you clenched around him, instinctively wrapping your legs and arms around him and pushing his cock deeper into you.Â
It was not the type of sex that you two usually had. Rafe was mumbling praises next to your ear with each thrust of his hips into you, and you were simply drowning in him, his love, and the ecstasy that it had all brought you. It was slower, deeper, and more intimate on every level.Â
Rafe made sure to hit that sweet spot inside of you with every move, seeing your teary eyes rolling back in your head and your mouth slightly opening from pleasure. He never stopped, exploring your body with his hands, pinching your nipples, sliding down your stomach and causing goosebumps to raise all over your skin, and then ever-so-slightly brushing your puffy clit, until you desperately cried out his name.Â
By the time Rafe was done with you, when your body was all tingly and exhausted from that sweet torture, you were laying face to face on your sides, with him still buried deep inside of you. Your leg was thrown over his hip, your shared release slowly dripping down and probably ruining the sheets, but neither of you seemed to care.Â
Your eyes were barely focused, but your heart was full, and a soft smile was placed on your face. Rafe, slightly flushed and sheepish, was slowly caressing your cheek, looking at you as if you were the most precious thing in the world.
You smiled softly, your eyelids fluttering closed for a moment, letting the peaceful silence settle around you. The warmth of his body against yours felt like home, grounding you like nothing else ever could. There was no need to say anything else, because it felt like your bodies, your eyes, and your souls had already said everything that was needed.Â
A few weeks later, as you sat in your bathroom with trembling hands, you stared at the pregnancy test on the counter. You'd been late, but you had tried to push it out of your mind, remembering your promise to Rafe to stop stressing out and overthinking.
Though this time, it felt different. Something inside of you was telling you that you were right.
And now, as the two lines were staring back at you, you were filled with a mix of shock, disbelief, and overwhelming joy.
Your heart raced in your chest as tears welled up in your eyes. Slowly, you walked out of the bathroom, holding a test in your shaking hands, finding Rafe sitting on the edge of the bed, his back to you as he scrolled through his phone.
"Rafe." You whispered, your voice shaky, and he turned to face you instantly, sensing something was different.
âWhatâs going on?â Instantly he was beside you, hands on your upper arms, as his eyes were searching yours for an answer.Â
Silently, you held out the pregnancy test to him, your hand trembling as you did. His gaze dropped to the test, and for a moment, everything stood still, heavy silence filling your bedroom.
Rafeâs eyes widened, and his breath caught in his throat. "Is this...?" He whispered, his voice barely audible.Â
You nodded, tears spilling down your cheeks now, as you stared up at him. "We're going to have a baby, Rafe."
He stood frozen for a beat, his hands tightening on your forearms as he let the moment sink in, watching tears running down your cheeks. Then, without a word, he pulled you into him, his arms enveloping you tightly as if he never wanted to let go. You melted into his embrace, feeling his heart racing against yours.Â
You both erupted into laughter, the sound of pure joy filling the room, echoing off the walls as Rafe pulled back slightly to look at you, his face lit with disbelief and happiness. He wiped away the tears from your cheeks, laughing through his own, his voice thick with emotion.
âI canât believe it.â He said, his words trembling slightly. âWeâre going to be parents. Told you that it's gonna happen when the time is right, didnât I?â
You nodded with a smile, still holding the test between your fingers as the reality of it all settled in. âYou did. Now itâs really happening.â
He kissed you, slow and deep, as if he were trying to savor every second of this moment, making you throw your hands around his neck and give in to the moment. When he pulled away, his forehead rested against yours, both of you breathing heavily as you shared the same smile filled with love and excitement.
âI love you so much.â He murmured, his hands resting on your waist as he held you close.Â
You brushed the tip of your nose against his, looking up at your husband through your wet eyelashes. The look of pure adoration in his eyes made you want to giggle like a damn teenager, so instead you tightened your hands around his neck to be even closer. âI love you more.âÂ
#rafe cameron x reader#rafe cameron x you#rafe x reader#rafe cameron fanfiction#rafe cameron imagine#rafe imagine#rafe cameron#rafe x you#rafe cameron x female reader#rafe cameron x y/n#rafe outer banks#rafe fanfiction#rafe smut#rafe fic#rafe cameron x smut#rafe cameron fluff#rafe cameron smut
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⸝ SOUVENIR - park jongseong
SYNOPSIS ⸝ getting into your dream school, far away from the place you are forced to call home, in a romantic place like Paris has always been your dream. Even more dreamy is your fathers best friend, Park Jonseong, who just so happens to be a well-off lawyer in the heart of France.
PAIRING ⸝ dads best friend!jay x fem!reader
GENRE ⸝ strangers to lovers, smut, angst?, fluff
TAGS ⸝ power imbalance, age gap (jay is 38, reader is 20), daddy issues, multiple mentions of parental death, rich lawyer!jay :3, descriptions of France/Paris/New York that might be inaccurate, making out/kissing, f!ngering, slapping, dacryphilia, unprotected s3x, 4nal, plot with p0rn, lmk if I missed something!
FEATURING ⸝ enha hyung line + jungwon, aespa (-winter..), (briefly) riize's anton
WC ⸝ 17.5k
PLAYLIST ⸝ souvenir by selena gomez, paris by sabrina carpenter, je me souviens de tout by tayc, sad girl by lana del ray, dear god by tate mcrae gibson girl by ethel cain
MDNI. This is a work meant for entertainment purposes only. References to places are imaginary and not meant to deprecate their image.
Thereâs one thing about people who weren't born rich- theyâll tell you about it.Â
Inherently, not bad. The right situation sometimes requires those exact words that make every head turn. For Park Jongseong, it made a great sob story. Especially the stories of Hewes Street and his mothers tragic passing.Â
He was raised by his single, overbearing father who worked as a French teacher in a low income high-school. Their apartment in Brooklyn, New York was falling apart day by day. Sometimes, heâd even have to skip brushing his teeth because today might be the day their old, rusty pipes explode right in his face.Â
His mother passed away shortly after he was born, leaving his dad crushed. In a way, he was the only tangible evidence of her existence. Pictures, videos, letters- none of that mattered when at the end of the day, his son was the only piece of his wife that was left on this cruel earth.Â
At 15, Jay got a job at a restaurant near his school. Thatâs where he met your father.Â
At first he was envious of him. Not because of the stupid reasons most people his age back then fought over- but because your father wasn't working at that restaurant to survive the next month, but because he was forced to by his parents for misbehaving.Â
For him, it was just another month, another day. For Jay, it was all he worried about. Winter, summer, spring, autumn-all the same for someone who doesn't need to think about how theyâll heat up the apartment enough to get by and not freeze to death.Â
Eventually, they got close. Really close.Â
Your father would help him sneak out leftover food. He thought it was gross at first, and it wasn't hard to make that deduction, judging by his expressions and remarks. Jay knew it, and honestly all he could do was sigh. Soon enough, the boy understood that it wasn't really a choice for his friend, but an attempt to get himself and his dad through the day.Â
3 years later, Jay got a scholarship from one of the best universities in France. This was his chance, his lemon that heâd squeeze every last drop out of. And so he did, even managing to stay in touch with your dad through it all.Â
Life in a foreign country was fucking hard. Being treated like an idiot and broke scholar, was even fucking harder. Thank God the older people who employed him later on had a soft heart for those who didn't grow up in the land of prosperity.
He was already three months into his new life when you were born. Jay never got to meet his bestfriends little girl. Well, until today. 20 years later.Â
Jay remembers it so vividly- the phone call from his dearest friend, who could barely get those two words past his lips- âSheâs deadâ. The love of his life, the mother of his two precious children was gone. And even though Jayâs mom was no longer here, he didn't really know what they felt, because he wasn't old enough to remember his own. He didn't know what to say, how to comfort him.Â
That was 10 years ago. Today, itâs your father who's getting married again. Now, heâs finally back to see how everything has changed, even when it didn't seem that long ago when he left.Â
âŚ
Itâs never too late to find love again, but Jesus Christ, why did the woman have to be only 7 years older than you? You really hated your father for moving on because to you, your mother was still here. You could feel her, and maybe if you reached out far enough, at the perfect moment, maybe then you could touch her too.Â
Lee Ann was your fathers optometrist. He was her first long term patient after she finished school. They dated for 2 years before he finally asked her to marry him. She loves your father, she really does. And even if you wanted to deny it, you simply cannot.Â
âHe forgot all about momâ your younger brother, Jungwon, sighs, twirling the wine glass that you sneakily passed him in his hand.Â
A weak smile forces itself upon your lips as you grab onto his hand âItâs not like that, Wonnieâ he nodded his head, scoffing under his breath âAs long as weâre here, heâll never forget her. And sheâd want him to be happy, you know thatâ you added, and he just hummed in approval, the sound forced.Â
âI canât wait to move outâ he says, his eyes lighting up just a bit at the mention.Â
Itâs been a year since you moved out of your fatherâs house. The decision was a hard one to make- leaving your brother in a home that only reminded him of the mother he barely got to know terrified you. But when your best friends, Ningning and Sunghoon, offered to move in with them, you knew it was for the best.Â
âI told you you can stay with usâ he shook his head at the words, a small laugh escaping his parted lips.Â
âNingning hates meâ you chuckled, remembering how the two would always bicker whenever your brother visited.Â
âShe doesn't hate you. And even if, Sunghoon loves you, so who cares?â you remind him, and he smiles.Â
Park Sunghoon, your best friend, ex-boyfriend, your little brothers âolder brotherâ- heâs been there. Jungwon absolutely adored him, and so did you.
You two met in high-school after he moved to New York in his sophomore year. He was absolutely terrified, growing up in a small village in Wisconsin where the kids weren't even comparable to the ones he encountered on his first day in New York. It didn't take him long to blend in though. Now, he is studying Fine Arts at Juilliard.Â
âThere you are! Iâve been looking everywhere for you twoâ a voice beams from behind you, and it doesn't take you long to figure out itâs your drunken father. You can hear Jungwon sigh, before turning around.Â
He stands there, a half empty champagne glass in hand. Next to him, a tall, sharp featured man stands, smiling brightly as he looks at both you and Jungwon. You don't recognize him.Â
âThis is Jongseong, do you remember him? He flew in all the way from Paris to be here today for me! Isnât that incredible?â your father beamed excitedly. It almost made you think itâs his friend who he was more happy about on this day, than his now wife.Â
The man looked at you, sticking out his hand to greet you âItâs great to finally meet you two. Iâve heard only good thingsâ he waits for you to return the gesture, and after a moment of silence and intense staring, you finally do.Â
Jay thinks you really do look like your mother. Heâs only seen the occasional picture that his friend would post on Facebook, but he never saw the resemblance. Well, until now.Â
The softness in your features, the color of your lips, the mole he swears your mother had too- he feels his chest heavy uneasily as his eyes just can't seem to leave you.Â
âNice to meet you, Sirâ you nod, releasing his hand. No wedding band, you note.Â
He smiles with a chuckle before shaking his head âJust call me Jayâ he corrects and reluctantly, you mumble an âAlrightâ.Â
Jungwonâs gaze switches back and forth from Jay to his father âCanât believe you're actually his friendâ the jab seems to make your father laugh, and it confuses the both of you.Â
âThatâs harshâ he chuckles awkwardly, forcing a smile on his face as he doesn't seem to understand the sudden hostility âYour dad has always been good to meâÂ
Jungwon just nods, unamused. He doesn't seem to believe that the man that has never been a good father to him could possibly be a good friend to anyone.Â
âParis, huh? I heard the women are the prettiest over there, right?â Jungwon asks, and Jayâs expression seems to change at the switch of topic.Â
He looks at you for a brief moment before answering the question âI guess, yes, you can say that. Haven't found one thoughâ he smiles, and it doesn't look like heâs saddened by the fact.Â
Jay takes his job very seriously. Working hard is the reason he has what he does now, not taking shortcuts. It took reading between the lines and actually making a fucking name for himself to get here.Â
He remembers his first years at university- heâd get out of class and not for a moment would he close his book. In the crowded metro, heâd revise and revise, and even when he got off, the disgusting smell of piss marinating in the underground, he still kept studying.Â
âI heard you want to study abroad in Paris, hm?â his head turns as he asks you. His eyes move up your figure as he awaits your answer.Â
It takes you a moment to reply âAh, yeah- yes. I applied for a scholarship last monthâ he nods.Â
Jayâs hand lands on your shoulder, slowly moving down your back âIâll keep my fingers crossed for youâ he smiles. You watch his hand on your skin, only looking away as he retorts it back to his side âAnd if you have any questions, don't be scared to askâÂ
You honestly didn't care what life was like in Paris. You already knew it wasn't nice. Especially as a woman- something heâd probably never tell you anyway. Nonetheless, you mouth a âThank youâ and bow appreciatively.Â
âI still don't get this whole âParis Phenomenonâ, she can't barely speaks French! You should talk her out of it, Jongâ your father comments.Â
Youâve heard his disapproval many times- from the moment you found the school, to last month when you applied. Maybe he was embarrassing you, but you can't expect the old fashioned man to understand the simple concept of studying abroad.Â
âI don't think thatâs a problem, eh? Iâm assuming itâs an international programâ he looks down at you with a comforting smile. Your father seems taken-aback by the defense on his friendsâ side.Â
You nod in agreement, and your father seems to give up on his attempts to talk you out of it yet again.Â
Aunt Lu walks up to your father, eloping him in a hug, spilling applause at how beautiful the newlywed couple is and so on. Noticing Jungwon, she cups his cheeks, and with a sweet tone praises him for God knows what.Â
Jay once again turns to you, and leaning down whispers âDonât mind him, yeah? Iâm rooting for youâ a small smirk tugs at the corner of his lips.Â
Your head turns to look at him, the proximity of his face thrilling. With widened eyes and parted lips you nod, even attempting a smile. He chuckles at the reaction, moving away from you and joining your father and aunt.Â
The older woman beckons them to join her at another table, smiling brightly âLeoni wants to play you a piece, come!â (Leoni, your cousin who cut off your braid when you were barely 5 years old. Fucking bitch)Â
Before parting, Jay bids you two a quick farewell, your father leaving with him.Â
âIf you want him, at least donât make it so obviousâ Jungwon snorted, his eyes following the two men, as he pressed his lips together to prevent himself from laughing out loud.Â
âThatâs gross. Youâre gross, Wonâ you shake your head. Â
âŚÂ
Early in the morning, Sunghoon kicks your door open, toothbrush in his mouth as he throws mail on your bed âItâs from IFA. Open itâ he stands in your doorway, waiting for your next action.Â
You look down at the envelope studying everything- your name, the address. âMaybe I should do it with my dad?â
He removes the brush from his mouth âAre you seriously gonna make me wait? Jeez, womanâ he tries to be serious, but a chuckle escapes him as he walks out of the room, and into the living room.Â
You didn't know if Jay had already gone back or not. Your father had scheduled his honeymoon two weeks after the actual ceremony for reasons you weren't quite sure of (maybe because of his friend, you note).Â
You still think about the look on his face when he spoke to you, a hint of something inexplicably kind in his voice. His figure, the faint outline of his chiseled body on the light blue dress shirt. The slicked back blond hair, the pathway of veins on his arms- itâs all you can think about, really.Â
And it doesnât necessarily make you feel good about yourself either. What the fuck are you doing thinking about a middle aged man in ways that are far too perverse for comfort, truly? But you can't help it- itâs almost as if it comes naturally. Especially at night, when you feel the loneliest.Â
You place the letter next to your bag, dialing your fathers number.Â
âŚ
He holds the letter in his hand as you continue to usher him to open it âJust do it Dad, I told you already that I want you to do it!â he sighs again, and starts ripping the envelope open.Â
Jay turned out to be staying for the two weeks that led up to the honeymoon. Your room, turned guest bedroom was where he was staying.Â
Today he looked even better, if thatâs even possible. Comfortable attire is definitely his look, you note.Â
Taking out the letter, your father reads through the content, his eyes soon landing on the bold, âACCEPTEDâ. His expression doesn't seem to change, a whirlwind of thoughts passing through his head. He knows that you won't change your mind. He knows youâll leave as soon as he tells you.Â
âSo? What does it say?â Jay perks, setting down his coffee mug, and scooting closer to your father. He smiles as he looks down at the paper. It brings him back to when he was in a similar position, asking your father to open the acceptance letter for him too.Â
âDid I get in?â you ask, your hands going up and down your thighs as you await the answer.Â
âWhat do you think it says?â Jay tilts his head, a smirk on his lips as he teases you. You bite down on your bottom lip anxiously and shrug.Â
âAcceptedâ your father finally speaks, as he looks up from the letter. He doesn't seem as excited as you are at the words. You try to hold back, but the wide smile involuntarily appears on your face.Â
âItâs great news, reallyâ Jay beams, grabbing the letter from your father to pass it to you as the man still seems to be in disbelief.Â
You look at it yourself and it feels unreal. A scholarship thatâll cover all three years of tuition- it almost feels like you don't deserve it.Â
âWhat; what now? Are you actually going to go?â your father speaks up, his tone surprisingly stern.Â
Your smile drops as you fold the paper, placing it back onto the coffee table âOf courseâ you manage to utter, your voice unsure.Â
Jayâs face twists in confusion as he looks back and forth between you and his friend. You canât seem to understand your fatherâs reaction either.Â
âYeah? And where will you stay? How will you pay for the living cost in a country like France? Have you thought about these things, or did you just stupidly apply out of curiosity?â he rambles, and his friends' presence doesn't seem to hold him back.Â
You scoff âIâll get a job. Ever heard of that one?â he doesn't seem to enjoy your attitude, his jaw clenching in annoyance.Â
âYou think a job at a cafĂŠ or restaurant will pay for that? That would be nice, wouldn't it?â he sneers.Â
Jay sits up straight, reaching out to grab your fathers shoulder, an attempt to calm him down âShe could stay with meâ he suggests.Â
Thereâs a puzzled look on your face as you take in his words. Does he actually mean it? Or is he just trying to save himself from a fight between you and your father?Â
âDonât be silly, Jongâ he chuckles, shaking his head in bewilderment.Â
He looks at you for a sign of discomfort. He canât seem to find any âIâm serious. Itâs the most I can do to repay you for what you did for me before I leftâÂ
Jay remembers that day very well. He was at the restaurant when his father called him. âThey cut off our power and water. Iâm so sorry, Jayâ he tried to calm his dad down as the man kept repeating endless sorryâs. He was two weeks away from his paycheck- Jay couldn't do anything. He was helpless.Â
Your father witnessed the situation unfold, he saw how panicked Jay was, as he hurried to grab his wallet. With a bit of reluctance, he walked up to him after he ended the call âStay at my place, Jong. SeriouslyâÂ
âI donât knowâ your father mutters, rubbing his temples.Â
âWould you like that?â Jay turns to you, letting the man next to him consider the proposition.Â
Itâs confusing to you how with no second thought he invited you inside his home. Itâs so effortless and it doesn't seem forced- itâs almost like he wants you there. Almost like he wants to take care of you, give you a good environment to study in, and have you close.Â
âYou could stay until you find a stable job. Or longer. I donât mindâ he adds after your silence.Â
You take a deep breath and nod âIf itâs okay with you, of courseâ
âIâm the one offering, sweetheartâ he chuckles.Â
Your father leans back on the couch, exhaling slowly âI know youâll go anyway. And Itâs not like I want you to end up homeless on the streets of ParisâÂ
____Â
Shortly after, Jay returned to France.Â
You spent most of your time with Ningning, Sunghoon and your brother during the rest of summer. You didn't know how long itâd take for you to see them again and that killed you.Â
You and Jay exchanged a few messages during this period- heâd confirm if the packages with your belongings had arrived or send pictures of the room heâd begun renovating for you.Â
You told him he didn't have to, feeling a little flustered by his kindness. Yet every time, heâd tell you itâs nothing. âIâve been meaning to renovate it anyway.â he messaged you after you said it really didn't matter to you how the room looked.Â
You wondered where his effortless helpfulness came from. Of course, you were his best friend's daughter at the end of the day, and thatâs a good enough reason. That still didn't keep you from feeling like a stranger to him. Because well, you were.Â
He knew about your existence while you weren't really even aware of his. You could never tell your father's friends apart, so that made Jay just another piece of his endless stories. And at times like these, you regret not listening. Maybe then youâd at least have a vision, idea of the man youâll be living with for at least the next 6 months. Apart from being fucking hot, there was nothing that accompanied.Â
âStill donât understand why you chose Paris. Isnât Parsons equally good?â Sunghoon asks, his hands folding your clothes as he helps you pack the last of your belongings.Â
You chuckle âYouâre only saying that because Niki goes there. And that girl youâve been hooking up withâ he looks at you with mock offense.Â
New York had good fashion schools. Great, even. But you were too young to not go and explore the world. Staying in one place, never trying out new things sounded like a nightmare.Â
âThatâs a lie. Itâs a good school, seriouslyâ he defends and you nod, because there was no denying it âIt doesn't matter though. Paris will be fucking dope. You better send us postcards with the Eiffel Tower on itâÂ
Ningning, Sunghoon and Jungwon see you off at the airport. All the way there, your little brother and Ningning argue, the younger one beating her to the passenger seat. Itâs endearing, even if normally you wouldn't enjoy listening to it. Your father, too busy with yet another vacation, doesn't get to be there for your departure. Maybe youâd feel disappointed- the difference is that it isn't the first time, and it surely isn't the last time.Â
âVisit me, mmh?â you mutter into Jungwonâs sweater as he hugs you tightly. You can feel him nod âOkayâÂ
___
Jay, who was always a clean person, seems to be even cleaner over the past week. He ferociously scrubs at the bathroom tiles, cleaning in between every crevice as if youâd even notice his hard work. He washed his windows on Monday, but on Friday, the day before your arrival, he feels a sudden urge to do it again. And the amount of money heâd spent on accessories and other decorations for his apartment that was already beautiful before that- heâd rather not say.Â
Jay had texted you early in the morning âWork today. Left the keys in the lobby under your nameâÂ
A hint of disappointment flashes across your face as you read his message. You donât really know what causes the reaction- perhaps the letdown, as you were undeniably excited to see him again (who knows why, really?).Â
You take the RER B train, the ride excruciatingly long as you wonder just how large the city must be. Navigating New York suddenly seemed so easy, as you try to figure out how exactly you should get to the apartment itself.Â
At the reception, with the help of your broken French and a translator, you managed to convey to the old man that worked there that you were indeed the one Park Jongseong left his keys for.Â
Jay lived on Rue Vaneau, close to Les Invalides, in a sunny corner apartment with east and south exposure. It had an impressive ceiling height, all the old elements on it and on the walls have been beautifully preserved. There was an entrance gallery, a dining kitchen, 3 bedrooms, one bathroom and a laundry room right next to it.Â
Shelves with stacked up books were absolutely everywhere, and you use the opportunity of his absence to sort through them, see what the man does in his free time. You're shocked at how well he takes care of his plants- they all seemed so healthy.Â
And the room he prepared for you was beyond perfect. He left it perfectly clean prior to your arrival, making sure you would be comfortable putting away all your things. The boxes you sent out through the entirety of summer sat in the corner of the room, along with fresh, new sheets heâd bought for you.Â
In a way, this is exactly how you imagined him to live.Â
It still felt extremely odd to be in his space all alone. This wasn't yours, yet here you were, unlocking the door, stepping inside and walking around. You knew he wanted this, or at least didn't mind it- that didn't stop you from feeling like an intruder though. You wonder how long itâll take you to actually shake this feeling off and feel comfortable in your new home.Â
For the rest of that day you unpack, and unpack, and after a short break- unpack some more. Jungwon calls you right after he wakes up, begging for a tour which you decide not to give him. âWon, I feel weird even being here. Iâd feel even fucking weirder showing you around. Shit, like some stalkerâ he sighs at the response, and instead, asks for the view out your window and you gladly provide him with it.Â
At around 7PM you received a message from Jay âIâll be there in 20. Got some dinnerâ. Honestly you didn't know what made you happier- the prospect of his awaited return or some real, warm food.Â
Jay went through his morning routine thinking about you. He sat at his desk at the firm and thought about you. And on the ride back to his place, he thinks only about you. He doesn't quite figure out why, but heâs aware of the fact that he probably shouldn't.Â
What shall he greet you with? Definitely not the Chinese in his backseat. But heâs far too exhausted to actually make something. And maybe he should feel guilty, but he hopes you won't mind.Â
Stepping into his apartment, he finds it awfully quiet. Yet he still can feel someone's presence. A velvety smell lingers in the air, and he recognizes it. His hand pauses at your door- he thinks about the things he should say, or maybe not say. Eventually he knocks, and it doesn't take long for your voice to welcome him in.Â
âHeyâ he cringes as the phrase comes out awfully unnatural.Â
You look up from your position on the floor (previously, consumed with sorting through your memorabilia), a small, little bit awkward, smile finding its way on your face âHeyâÂ
He leans against the doorway, scanning the room to see all the shelves and spaces suddenly filled with your belongings âHow was your flight?â He thinks it's the right thing to ask.
You swallow, before speaking again âIt was alright. Slept through half of it, honestlyâ you nod, and he chuckles reciprocating the action.Â
âHungry?â he asks, and you spot the plastic bag hanging on his finger. Normally, youâd feel bad about someone buying you something, but under these circumstances, you feel relieved.Â
You nod, and stand up, following him to the kitchen.Â
âI should've treated you to a nicer meal today. Iâm sorryâ he apologizes, and sets the takeout box in front of you. Handing you the utensils, he sits across from you.Â
âItâs more than enough, donât worryâ you smile.Â
âI hope you find everything okay in the room. Didn't really know what you likeâ he starts, and you shake your head.Â
He asked his female coworkers for advice but instantly regretted it when they started interrogating him. Itâs a hard thing to explain- the idea of his best friend's daughter that's nearly 20 years younger, moving in with him.Â
âItâs perfect, Jay. You didn't have to, seriouslyâ you say, and he feels his heart skip a beat at the sound of his name falling from your lips âThank you. I donât know how I would've managed without your helpâ you add.Â
He can still sense the awkwardness in your movements and tone as you refer to him. He wonders when thatâll change. Soon, he hopes. Very soon, actually.Â
âIâm sure you could do it. Youâre a smart girl. And Iâm also sure youâll find your way around here soon enoughâ the reassurement warms your heart, as you thank him again.Â
You are smart, and you would manage to survive on your own in Paris. But heâs secretly satisfied with the fact that you didn't.
Maybe this minimizes the chances of you finding random hookups or getting black-out drunk on the weekends. He tells himself heâs only doing this to protect you, and shield you from the dangerous men that walk the streets of this city. But he knows itâs not entirely true.Â
Jay is certainly infatuated by you, and it feels really fucking wrong. But he canât stop it, no.Â
_____
Paris has never been louder. The air is filled with chatter, distant traffic and the inevitable end of summer.Â
Jay didn't really plan on spending his day off walking around the city with you, but somehow, heâs here.Â
To him, it was just Paris. He used to be like you and he remembers it well. The euphoria kept diminishing year by year leading him right to where he is now- wasting away his life in courtrooms and bars. But at least people knew his name.Â
The city doesn't amuse him anymore- heâs been here, seen it all. But the flicker in your eyes and happiness that radiates off of every one of your words makes him feel it again. Heâs back to the day where everything felt new to him.Â
Early in the morning, two days after your arrival you told him youâd go out, explore the streets. You had to. Even Sunghoon had begun making fun of you âYouâve been in fucking Paris for the past two days and haven't even seen the Eiffel Tower yet. And you know, the longer you delay it, the longer itâll take for our postcards to arriveâ you smiled, and with a small sigh, told him youâd do it the next day.Â
 âWait hereâ Jay said when you entered the living room.
He walked right into his bedroom, closing the door as you stood there with confusion painting your face. After a moment he came back, fully dressed, looking really fucking good âIâll go with youâÂ
âI can manageâ you said politely, feeling the tiniest bit of guilt. The man in front of you worked tirelessly everyday, and instead of regenerating on his day off, heâs forced to pointlessly walk around with you.Â
âYouâre a kid,â he chuckles, leaning against the wall.Â
âYou say that too muchâ you retort, walking over to where he's at, slipping on your shoes.Â
âBecause itâs trueâ he watches you with his arms crossed, waiting.Â
You huff, shaking your head âI think itâs because you donât want to see me as anything elseâÂ
You didn't mean anything by it. Just a simple nudge at his superiority complex perhaps. But still, he seems to stiffen up at the words.Â
Jay pretends he doesn't hear them, he acts as if they had never been said because itâs better that way, heâs sure.Â
That day you actually spent time with him. Dinner was always the same- forced conversations that always ended with his infamous âIâm tiredâ. Shortly after, heâd be off to bed and you were alone, again.Â
Of course you didn't expect him to become anyone to you. Being allowed to live in his apartment was enough. Anything else went beyond any kind of favor, and you were aware of it.Â
Yet you still attempted to be in his space. Too in his space sometimes.Â
You stop at a bookstore. Itâs independent and most likely onÂ
the verge of bankruptcy. The dusty wooden bookshelves, and faint smell of old paper seems to bother you, as he looks like heâs in heaven.Â
âHaven't you already read like all of theseâ you complain watching him flip through the books.Â
He chuckles, handing you the red, silky hardback âThatâs the sad thing about life. Iâll never get to read them allâÂ
âWish thatâs what my problems sounded likeâ you mutter, and he pushes off the shelf, stepping closer and reaching past you to grab another dusty book.Â
âYou're really judgmental. As expected for a fashion design studentâ he comments, and you nudge him with your elbow. He should move away, but he lets you.Â
Jay keeps flipping through the pages, ignoring the way you huff in annoyance at his remark.Â
âWhat does that even mean?â you ask, and his lips twitch, as a smile threatens to spread across his face.Â
âI think you already knowâ you leave it there, pressing your back against the shelves, ostentatiously and playfully crossing your arms with an irritated exhale.Â
Walking along the Seine at nightfall is awfully romantic, yet he still does it. For you.Â
You stop at the edge, leaning against the low, stone wall âThe water's really dirtyâ you say, and he just hums in agreement. You turn around, now facing him âDid you always want to live here?â your tone doesn't really make it sound like you're actually curious.Â
He shrugs, moving closer. His body falls onto the wall, right next to you âNoâ itâs short and you can tell he isn't lying.Â
It confuses you. This has always been your dream, and seeing the city only verified those desires âBut you do now?âÂ
You almost need the confirmation, awfully scared to experience regret. At the end of the day, you two aren't much different.Â
âItâs a city like any other. The longer you're here, you realize itâs nothing specialâ you scoff, looking up at him.Â
His gaze is on the pavement, but as soon as he feels your eyes on him, he looks up.Â
âYouâre like really depressing and unromanticâÂ
He tilts his head, humming âI think youâve watched too many French romance filmsâ you nudge him with your body, and he chuckles softly at the interaction. He stays still, watching you.Â
âI just think itâs a waste to be here and not fall in love at least onceâ you reply, and he finds it humorous in a way.Â
Jay has been here for most of his life, and never married. Somewhere in his twenties, right after finishing university, heâd use his degree to pick up girls. He cringes thinking about it now- how the only two things he had going on for himself was fucking everything in plain sight and a degree that he hadnât even put to use yet.Â
But as soon as he found a job, it stopped. He prided himself in his professionalism and control. Thatâs probably why heâs single and not even close to being not-single.Â
âSounds like a nightmareâ his tone is mocking, and in response, you roll your eyes.Â
âWhy?â His gaze is steady and firm. A little knowing.Â
He sighs âI think you just donât really leave the same afterâÂ
You hold his gaze like you want to say something more. Like you know something he won't admit.Â
Itâs late when you return home. The morning buzz falls, replaced by the intense Parisian nightlife. He didn't expect to be out so long- maybe 3, 4 hours. Still, he let himself be dragged around for the whole day.Â
He should go to bed, he really should. Instead, heâs with you, on his balcony, drinking fucking wine. But he was the one who brought it out, he was the one to initiate this. Heâs just trying to get to know you better, he tells himself. Â
âYouâre not even 21â yet he still hands you the glass.Â
You laugh softly, looking around âWeâre in Europeâ he puts his hands up in defeat, his back pressed against the wall.Â
Youâre sitting on the railing, legs swinging slightly as the city spreads out before your eyes. He watches you, and it almost looks like you're memorizing it, afraid that soon thatâs all itâs gonna be- a memory, a souvenir for your mind.Â
âYouâll fallâ his voice sounds a little lazy, but cautious.Â
âWould you catch me?â you smile, tilting your head in a curious manner.Â
Do you always have to be so teasing? Or are you just being yourself and heâs slowly spiraling into insanity. Thatâs a stretch, certainly, but Jay still hates the way he lets you.Â
The wind lifts your hair, the lights make your skin glow and your body is positioned in such a welcoming way. You look so young, so fearless and most importantly- fucking tempting. Jay looks away before he lets himself think any further.Â
Heâs a grown man and you haven't even started university. You're his best friend's daughter with whom he is temporarily living. Thatâs all it is and thatâs all itâll ever be. Â
âYou sound confidentâ he retorts, and you smile, sipping the drink in your hand. He does the same.Â
Itâs only been two days. Where did it come from?Â
âBecause I know you like having me aroundâ you grin, and he shakes his head with a soft chuckle.Â
Oh you have no fucking idea. It kills him, and at the same time, makes him feel alive. Thatâs pure tragedy.Â
âYouâre putting words in my mouthâ he mutters, lifting the glass to his lips. Heâs trying not to look at you, he really is.Â
You smile, and jump off the railing setting the drink down on a glass table.Â
âAnd maybe thatâs because you never say what you actually want toâ you answer, passing by him and entering the apartment again. Itâs so quiet, Jay almost thinks he imagined it, misheard it.Â
Your fingers brush past his, and he feels it. He feels it even after youâre gone.Â
He knows exactly what you meant and it should scare him. But it doesn't. Because the truth was, Jay wanted you to say it so he could be the one to prove you wrong.Â
_____
Itâs Sunday. And you're fucking stressed.Â
The week that led up to the beginning of the semester had been fun enough to make you second guess going to school all together. Seeing the picture perfect city with your own two eyes was a blessing you never expected to experience.Â
Youâre on his couch, flipping through one of the aged books that could be found on his shelf.Â
French. Complicated. Too serious. But at least you could pretend you understand, or even care for the piece of literature.Â
Jay sits at the kitchen counter, typing away at his laptop. And honestly, he doesn't know why. Just five steps away is his office, perfectly designed to accommodate all his needs. Yet he chooses the hard, uncomfortable stool at the kitchen island.Â
âJayâ you start, eyes still on the book that has caused you to become more bored than you were before opening it âWhat kind of lawyer are you? Like, what do actually doâ your voice is casual, as you steal a glance at him.Â
He fixes his glasses but doesn't look away. âCorporateâ itâs fast, and automatic, almost like heâs heard the question millions of times in his life. Probably because he has.Â
âBoringâ you comment, expecting something more scandalous.Â
âPays the bills. Thatâs enoughâ his voice is even.Â
You turn on your side, stretching out your legs. He watches. He watches you, comfortable in his space. Almost too comfortable.Â
âSorry to disappointâ he adds, putting his focus back on the unanswered mails in his inbox. But he knows youâre right there, and it bothers him. Not in a bad way- and that feels oddly unsettling.Â
âHave you never considered something dirtier? Riskier?â you muse, tilting your head.Â
It was just curiosity. You weren't doing it on purpose.Â
Were you?Â
âDirtier?â he mutters to himself, before glancing away one more time âI donât take risks. Itâs idioticâ the explanation is accompanied by his firm tone.Â
âNever?â his eyes gloss over the work he hasn't finished yet. He still closes his laptop though. Jay walks over to the couch, sitting down close to you, but not too close.Â
A hum of disagreement slips past his lips âNeverâ he leans back on the couch, exhaling deeply as he looks at the time.Â
âI think you like control too muchâ you know that you shouldnât comment on his decisions or life, but it comes naturally as you canât stop the words from coming out.Â
He chuckles, looking over at you, watching the way your body spreads out on the brown leather couch âAnd I think you talk too muchâÂ
Still, something inside him tenses. Jay knows youâre right, but at the same time, it pisses him off because- you have no idea.Â
You laugh softly, shaking your head as you set down the book on his coffee table. Jacques PrĂŠvert. Opened right on the poem he knows by heart.Â
âBĂŞte comme les regrets, tendre comme le souvenirâ - Foolish as regrets, tender as memory. Jay always liked the line. More than the poem itself, actually. When he first read it, he didn't quite understand. He still doesn't, not when he never experienced that fragile love, beautiful as day and cold as marble.Â
His father had given him the book right before he moved out. Jay never really comes back to it- written in French, by a French author, it still reeks of the life he desires to forget. The life that he hasn't lived for the past 20 years- yet it always comes back to him in the most unexpected moments.Â
He remembers the day when his father called him and sounded oddly unfamiliar. Jay had just turned 30- which was such a strange age to be, since you are far from being old but not young enough to be considered youthful.Â
âIâm not one to get sickâ his dad had said it like it was a mistake, a glitch that never should've occurred in the first place. And it was partially true- he can't recall his father ever coming down with a flu or even sore throat. Later, he was diagnosed with bacterial pneumonia.Â
His father despised any form of sickness and anything that was associated with it. So he didn't want to get treated. And for him, that was fatal- the infection triggered a chain reaction throughout his body causing sepsis to arise.Â
And just like that, New York became a stranger to him, a place where he thought only bad things were destined to happen.Â
He thinks that he wasn't meant to be born there. Just like the pneumonia had been a mistake, his birth there must've been too.Â
âYouâre just like all of my dads old friends, I swearâ It's playful, harmless. But Jay stills at the jab, his gaze freezing on you.Â
âOld?â he raises an eyebrow, and there's a smirk that tugs at the corner of your lips.Â
âOlderâ you correct, too deliberately.Â
Itâs almost like you're mocking him, testing his ignorance. Itâs like you want to see if heâll correct you. He doesn't.Â
He knows you're not the stubborn kid his friend used to complain about. But he also knows how much older heâs gotten since then. It also seems to terrify him, because the fact doesn't stop him, not at all.Â
Jay knows heâs the one who brought you here, and maybe he could blame it on the slip of his tongue, or perhaps the need to fulfil an obligation towards his friend, but that wouldnât be necessarily true.Â
He sullied his life with his own hands, and he knew how much harder it was only going to get to not dirty yours too.Â
âYou should get some sleep,â he mutters, standing up and collecting all the dirty dishes, dropping them in the sink.Â
âIâm tired,â he added lazily, like always.Â
It was his little way of ending a conversation when it became too much. His escape goat when he knew that he was close to letting go. And recently, heâs been dangerously close.Â
You know there's nothing more you can say, so instead, you just nod, and without another word, walk off to your room.Â
Your father has called a couple times since you arrived and every time, Jay sounds distant, keeping the conversations short, leaving out any details. He just canât be friendly, pretend like everythings the same when itâs so painfully not. Jay can't be nice and enthusiastic when all he wants is to fuck his bestfriends daughter.Â
Will it ever end? Maybe if he gave in, ruined them both. Maybe then.Â
____
Cooking or baking was his escape whenever the stress became a bit too intense, and well, currently, he was really fucking stressed.Â
Jay knew itâd be this way, and thinking otherwise would only prove him to be much dumber than he thought he was. But still, he hoped. He hoped that maybe the language barrier would be hard enough to conquer. He hoped that you werenât the greatest at making new friends (thatâs just beyond dumb. It even shocked him-that he has the capacity to think so stupidly).Â
You started attending the academy a week ago. And of course you were the type of person that people naturally gravitated towards. Of course all the students spoke perfect English, itâs an international programme for fucks sake.Â
So today, instead of staying home with him, youâre out. Out, where he canât see you or find you. Waiting for you on nights like this turns out to be torturous- he canât call or text because he simply shouldn't care. But he does.Â
Itâs past midnight and he should've gone to sleep hours ago. Instead, his fingers wrap around a knife as he makes a dish he doesn't even want.Â
Growing up, cooking or baking was a luxury. He couldn't even bother to think about things like expensive clothes or tropical vacations.
At the restaurant is where he learned most of his skills. He was a server, but during slower days, heâd always peek around the kitchen.Â
One of the chefs, a fat Italian man named Dante, had actually taken a liking to the young waiter. So every chance he got, heâd call Jay over and let him in on the secrets of his world.Â
He hears you before he sees you- a stupid, youthful giggle and your hands latching onto the walls. Your heels clink against his wooden floor, falling as you kick them off your feet.Â
He looks at you, takes you in. Hair tousled, a hole in your lacy tights, lipstick smudged (either by yourself or a stranger) and the strap of your dress hanging off your shoulder. It was like a transitional phase- physically, in his apartment, mentally, still part of the night.Â
âYouâre late,â he muttered, chopping up a cucumber. At your laugh, he presses harder, the knife digging into the cutting board.Â
âI have a curfew? Didn't knowâ you grin, stepping forward until your elbows are propped up on the kitchen counter.Â
His jaw tightens âWhere were you?â The question sounds firm, and his expression is slowly starting to give away the jealousy boiling inside him.Â
Your scent and presence is too intense. Youâre almost too in his kitchen, too in his apartment and too in his head.Â
âOutâ its chaste, and you donât even bother to look him in the eyes, only focused on his movements, making him feel like a fucking stranger in his own home.Â
âWith who?â God, he sounds like he cares. And maybe itâs a good thing, but not with you, certainly not with you.Â
He sees you reaching out for the bottle of water, and passes it to you. Why wonât you just say it? Fuck, just tell him.Â
âEvan? Maybe that's his nameâ you laugh, screwing the cap back on. Was this funny to you? You were doing it on purpose, heâs certain now. Trying to elicit a reaction from him- trying to see just how far heâd go if you pushed the right buttons.Â
With a low chuckle, he mutters âEvanâ. Jay repeats the name like itâs a fucking joke. You furrow your eyebrows at his reaction.Â
âHeâs a good guyâ you insist and he muses, obviously not believing any word you say.Â
âIâm sure he is,â Jay nods slowly. He turns his body to face you. Youâre still there, with that shit eating grin he wishes he could just fuck off of you.Â
âYou think I canât handle myself? Or maybe Iâm too naive, hm?â you roll your eyes. Heâs acting awfully familiar, and finally you realize those two years between him and your father don't really make a difference. Theyâre the exact same- overbearing and just way too interested for their own good.Â
Yet still, it doesn't bother you. The opposite even- you want to say more, you donât want to stop. You want him to care for you so badly, wash away the night from your body. All you truly need is his attention and the look on his face is telling you that youâve got him right where you want him.Â
After years of your own father not caring or showcasing the slightest hint of emotion towards you, itâs become somewhat of a desire to have someone that would.Â
âThatâs ridiculousâ he smiles, peeling himself off the counter âI just think those French boys you like so much, they talk a big game, you know?â heâs inching closer, prying the bottle from your grip âBut they donât necessarily know what to do with a woman once they have herâÂ
Swallowing, you straighten your posture âAnd you do?âÂ
Jay doesn't say anything at first, watching the way you become impatient with every passing second of his silence. He takes a long, slow sip of water before putting it down on the counter in front of you.Â
Reaching out, he turns off the stove âEat it before it goes coldâ he smirks slightly, walking off.Â
____Â
âMaybe tomorrow? Iâm really tired todayâ Jungwon mutters, his voice muffled by the blue sheets wrapped around his body. With a small sigh, and understanding smile you nod, ushering him to get some sleep.Â
It was a usual occurrence by now- his tired voice would pick up the phone and barely five minutes into the call, heâd either be fast asleep or too drowsy to continue. And you tried to understand, you really did. It was Jungwonâs senior year in high-school, and you knew better than anyone how fucking frustrating it is to notoriously have the word âcollegeâ thrown around you. That just didnât stop you from feeling lonely.Â
In recent weeks, Jay has picked up way too many cases than he probably should have. He needed an escape. He physically needed the restraint of his own job since staying at his apartment has become way too dangerous. And with you already aware of the things he doesnât want to admit, it only gets harder.Â
Sunghoon got a role in a play called âThe Seventh Doorâ, as a vampire detective named Nathan. Thatâs been his whole life for the past two weeks- and rightfully so. No doubt you were proud of him, even saddened by the fact that you wouldnât get to see him perform it. But the offer just made Sunghoon another person you couldnât call, at least for now.Â
Ningning, casted in a movie adaptation of âLetters I Never Sentâ (or Letters I Shouldâve Sent? You never read the book, truthfully) was currently in Australia for the shoot. Her busy schedule and time difference had made it nearly impossible to talk.Â
To say you were proud of them was an understatement. Witnessing your best friends become the version of themselves they worked so hard to be was something so beautiful, no words could possibly describe it. And you felt beyond ungrateful whenever the thought of their success was the idea of something you lacked- especially when luck was already on your side the moment you got accepted into the academy. It was simply grueling to be aware of the fact that thereâs still so much to be done before you yourself can boast about these sorts of accomplishments.Â
And on nights like these, where there is no one to call or confide in, you find yourself standing bare-foot, and disheveled in front of his door.Â
The bright blue clock on his night stand reads 2:03 AM. It taunts him as he rolls and turns in his bed, unable to sleep. The presence of another, becomes too heavy on nights where he wants to see you, but knows he canât. Heâs never known this feeling, never known the weakness heâs bound to experience now. Jay hates it- wanting the same person thatâs the cause of his personal inferno.Â
He tries to ignore the first knock for the exact same reason heâs turning over on his side. Jay doesnât hope youâll walk away, he needs you to walk away. But by the time your fist hits his door again, he knows you wonât.Â
Switching on the lamp, he sits up on his bed. A small, yet still audible âCome inâ passes by his lips. It doesnât sound hesitant- more like heâs finally succumbed to the inevitable.Â
Your fingers linger on the doorknob for a second longer before ultimately turning it, revealing his scruffy state illuminated by the yellow light of his night lamp. The black tank top doesnât leave much to the imagination, his muscles flexing as he runs his hand over his face.Â
You look too small, too human. His chest heaves uneasily, his throat itches to say something, welcome you into his embrace, touch you.Â
âCan I?â you ask, and for the first time in a while your tone isnât mocking, or snarky. He doesnât know what to say.Â
âI donât think thatâs a good ideaâ he means it. It isnât. None of this was ever a good idea.Â
Jay knows this is you asking for something- something he should never give you. But he wants to. God, he really wants to.Â
âI donât careâ you murmur, glossy eyes staring over his figure. He shivers at the words.Â
Watching you run a hand down your arm, he realizes he might have no choiceÂ
Each step you take towards him erases the image of your father from his mind. Every movement that brings you closer makes him forget about the inescapable numbers that separate you. It becomes a confirmation of his burning fucking need to have you close, feel the warmth of your skin on his.Â
The mattress sinks slightly as you sit next to him. Your knee brushes against his- seemingly tiny, innocent. But itâs not. Not when he can feel it even after it's gone.Â
âWhatâs wrong?â he asks, his voice unsure and rough.Â
You look down, fingers toying with the bracelets around your wrist âCouldnât sleepâ it almost sounds like a question, like youâre just as clueless as he is.Â
âAnd you thought my bed would fix that?â he tilts his head, eyes watching you intently. It doesnât come off the way he planned it to, but you donât seem to notice, or even care.Â
âMay as wellâ itâs quiet, and before he can say anything else, tell you to leave, or do something he might regret, you speak again âI miss homeâ . It rolls off your tongue so fast, almost automatic. He can tell just how much it costs you to admit it.
He nods, pursing his lips together.Â
When his best friend's parents' company went bankrupt, he didnât know what it felt like. When your mother died, he had no idea how to help your father. More so, when your dad was getting married again, and asked Jay for advice, he realized just how much he doesnât know. But this time, he knows exactly how you feel.Â
Jay was so alone when he first came here. He only managed to squeeze in one phone call with his father every week, not to even mention his friends, whom he had close to no contact with. The loneliness drowned him, and for the last 20 years it still has. Heâs surrounded with people every day, yet still feels like the only one.
And in those moments he understands how little he knows about the world, and has to offer. How insignificant his story actually is, and how stupid he was to think it can actually serve him any purpose. His parents died- devastating- but at the end of the day, everyoneâs parents eventually will. Heâs not special. Heâs not the odd one out either.Â
Maybe thatâs why heâs become so crazy about his best friend's daughter- because it all changed when you came into his life. And it gets harder to deny that whenever he remembers he forgot about it all.Â
âJungwon?â he questions, and you exhale at the mention.Â
A small confirmation slips past your lips âWonnie, my friends, everythingâ at first he doesnât know what exactly he could do to help you. He knows what you feel, but canât think of any remedy- probably because he never had one himself.Â
So he just stays quiet. He knows how exhausting it is to be in a city that doesnât feel like yours- and he just hopes you know that. He hopes that his presence is enough to provide at least a temporary cure to what youâre feeling.Â
You move closer, and he feels his body stiffen up at the sudden contact. His eyes dart down to your figure, watching the way your head slowly, and tentatively falls to his shoulder. Jay exhales sharply, one hand on the small of your back, steadying, supporting. Itâs instinct. He doesnât think about it.Â
Until he does. Until he feels you inch closer with every passing second. Until he feels your breath on his chest, the texture of your skin under his fingertips, the faint smell of your bodywash in the air around him. And if you think itâs nothing, he canât bear the fact that itâs everything to him. Â
He watches you covered in his sheets, your head flat on his pillow, staring up at his ceiling. You climbed in with no hesitation- like itâs completely normal. Like you actually shouldâve done it or even belonged in his space from the start.Â
For a while itâs quiet- only faint breaths console the brooding silence. The bedroom is dark, the city's brightness being the only source of light. He can still feel you pressed against his chest. And when your leg brushes against his under the white sheets, his hands shake.Â
You move, your body now facing him. Looking up at him, you mutter out âJay?âÂ
He doesnât look, only a faint hum in answer âMhm?âÂ
âDo you ever feel it too?â his jaw tightens, and his lips twitch. His eyes are closed, but he hears it- your figure slightly sitting up, moving closer to him.Â
He knows it's not fucking loneliness you're asking him about. You're talking about this.Â
It's not about right or wrong anymore. Itâs about how fucking noticeable his want has become- how much it has begun to kill him. Youâve become severely undeniable and heâs just so helpless against the feeling.Â
The air shifts as you await his response- anything, even a barely audible word or missable movement.Â
âYou should go to sleepâ he swallows.Â
His entire body goes stiff as your small hand softly lands atop of his stomach. Itâs light, and he wants so badly to say pure- but he possibly canât, not when it moves up, the pace menacingly slow. Jay places his hand on yours, the look on his face stern âWe canât do thisâ itâs hushed, and almost sounds like he doesnât want to say it, but rather has to.Â
âBut youâre not stopping meâ it rings in his ears as your touch moves further up- passing his chest, his collarbone, up to his throat. He lets you.Â
This is exactly where he should pull away, exactly where he should remind himself about those many things that actually separate you- but he canât. Jay forgot all about it the moment he heard you knocking on his door.Â
âYou wanted this, huh?â he breathes out, heart pounding in his chest as the proximity proves too much for him to bear. The way you lean in closer only serves as a confirmation to his question.Â
Jay meets you halfway, lips brushing, barely anything at all- but he feels it everywhere. Itâs so soft, so fleeting and itâs more than he ever expected to have. Itâs too much.Â
He doesnât hesitate to pull you onto his lap, fingers digging into your waist, his other hand holding onto the side of your face.Â
The small gasp that escapes your lips is swallowed by his mouth. Deep, and devouring.Â
________Â
On the couch, he checks his inbox eyes completely glued to the screen of his phone. He feels like the time itâs taking you to get ready is enough for him to get unready and ready again. At least 5 times.Â
Before the night you came to him, the night he let go, he gifted you a spare ticket to a play, âSomewhere Between You & Meâ which his friend had kindly invited him to.Â
Jake was one of the lawyers at his workplace. He was 7 years younger than him, being Jayâs associate when he first arrived at the firm. Just a year ago, he became a junior partner. Between balancing work life, and his wife (whom he got married to just 5 months ago) he still managed to find time for his true passion- theater. Jay made fun of him for it of course, yet still, heâd watch his friend on stage every time.Â
âSomewhere Between You & Meâ was one of his bigger projects. Tonight was the premiere and Jakeâs hard work would finally pay off as it recently turns out, tickets sold out almost immediately. Itâs also his last- because as it turns out, his wife is pregnant.Â
Tonight is also another day where Jay is unsure of how long he can hold up his disinterested facade. Definitely not long, definitely not when you look way too fucking good in that small black dress.Â
âChangeâ he voices sternly after looking at you for a moment. Give him another second, and that knowing grin would be right back on your face- you knew him too well by now.Â
It was just a kiss- all he can ever allow himself to do, all he will ever have. And he hopes soon the feeling of your lips on his finally vanishes from his mind.Â
âWhy?â looking down at yourself, you tilt your head in confusion.Â
He scoffs âBecause I said soâ itâs quick, and he still doesn't dare to look your way.Â
You are way too beautiful today- and it taunts him. The slit rides too high, the sides cling onto your curves with such effortless elegance and it just mocks him- itâs like you know this is the day heâs gonna lose. Lose it all.Â
âThatâs not a good enough reasonâ you huff, finding his attitude humorous. Humorous, meaning obvious. He may not be looking, trying so pathetically hard to hide it, but you already see what he hasn't admitted. You know damn too well what he thinks about at night, what heâs doing while the shower runs a little too long.Â
âFineâ he sighs and stands up, throwing on his overcoat. Considering the traffic, limited parking space and weather conditions- he should leave 10 minutes ago. âI hope you plan on putting something on topâ his eyes are locked on the window as you slide into your heels.Â
âItâs fucking Novemeber, Jay. Of course I amâ you retort, with a snarky grin.Â
âOne more wordâ his patience has seemed to run dry- still, you donât seem to care, only finding it amusing.Â
Ever since that night, you have purposefully been lingering around him longer than necessary. Wearing little to no clothes, 'accidentallyâ touching him. And of course, he notices.
Jay is hyper aware of every single one of your actions- and to be completely honest, each time heâs a shot away from bending your frail little body over his knee and slapping the shit out of your ass.Â
Trying to get work done in his home office is practically impossible- it always ends the same.Â
âWhat are you doing?â youâd ask him, your voice sultry. And to make it even fucking better, the only thing that seperates him from your sweet pussy is a black thong and the oversized shirt thats (barely) covering it.Â
And even when he managed to tell you âItâd be better if you leaveâ, you just fucking wouldn't. Not now, not ever.Â
Instead, your hands would land onto his shoulders, massaging the tense muscles. The touch goes straight to his cock, and he really prays you donât notice. Itâs stupid- obviously you do.Â
You slip your arm through his as the two of you enter the beauty of one of the Parisian theaters. He exchanges a few words with one of the workers, a polite smile on his face. You barely understand anything, of course.Â
The private balcony Jake had acquired for Jay was way too perfect- secluded, away from wandering eyes. Itâs almost like every possible thing has aligned just right for you to break him.Â
Jake, completely unaware, got these seats for him strictly based on the flawless view of the stage. Jay isn't looking at it, not for a moment.Â
Your legs are crossed as you watch the story unveil. The slit in your dress shifts just enough to expose the bare skin of your thigh, and he feels like a Victorian man seeing a woman's ankle. Fuck, heâs a lost cause, truly.Â
Jay exhales, slowly, adjusting his sleeves, trying, forcing himself to look forward. Spotting Jakeâs giddy face, he wonders if the man knows just how much heâs fucked him over with the private seats. His lack of attention to the play makes up for it though.Â
You can feel his wandering eyes on you, on your body. Your hand lands on his thigh âYouâre not paying attention, Jayâ you say his name like itâs fucking funny, like you know just how much it will affect him.Â
âAnd youâre pushing your luckâ he whispers back, swallowing as your touch moves up higher.Â
âAm I?â you breathe out.Â
His hand catches your wrist in a firm, unwavering grip. He yanks you closer, his lips next to your ear âCarefulâ
You donât move away, only further shortening the distance that separates you from him âYou brought me hereâ the words ring in his ear as you press a slow kiss to his jawline âYou know what would happenâ lips slide down his neck, as teeth lightly nip the birthmark on his skin.Â
He guides your hand closer to his crotch, pressing it firmly against his fucking obvious hard on âDid I?â he muses, his grip on your wrist loosening.Â
Oh he did. He knew it would end like this- it was just the matter of when and where exactly. Here, in the car, in the foyer, kitchen, living room, your bed or his. But of course he wouldn't want to admit that to you, or better, himself even.Â
You look around, and there is a sense of hesitance in your eyes. Everyones so focused, nobody would even notice if your hand just slipped underneath his pants.Â
Jay wants to take you so fucking deep you won't even remember your own name. So hard youâll end up forgetting anything before him.Â
He removes your hand from his body, standing up slowly, smoothing down his pants. He moves around to stand behind you, and leans down, his fingers pressing against your neck âSo spoiled. Things wonât happen for you that easilyâÂ
You feel his lips press against your skin in a fleeting moment before he leaves. Itâs a promise of something forbidden, a claim heâs now placed on you that cannot be taken back.
______
For winter break, your father and Ann had asked if you wanted to come back, and spend Christmas in New York. They were willing to purchase the tickets, and it came to you as something rather surprising. Â
You knew it was Annâs idea- it couldn't have been your dadâs, it never was. She would never become a motherly figure to you considering she wasn't much older, but that didn't mean her caring attitude for both you and Jungwon went unnoticed.Â
Without much thought, you agreed, almost instantly calling Sunghoon and Jungwon to announce the news.Â
Your brother was beyond thrilled to see his big sister, complaining how hard itâs been without you by his side âI always hear them, talking, yelling- you know how loud they get, right? But still it feels so lonely. I miss youâ he said, voice hushed.Â
Guilt was something that arose only when you confronted Jay about it. Of course you felt bad- his kindness spread beyond any stupid favour he had towards your father. He welcomed you into his home, letting you freely live in the confines of his space, and even allowing your obviously flirty and borderline sexual behavior towards him.Â
âOkayâ he replied, lifting his gaze from a file he was currently working through.Â
It was one of those clients where he was forced to rely primarily on research, and he hated those the most. The frenzied pace that came with cases his managing partner rushed him through were his favorite- probably because it gave him little to no time to think about everything else in his life.Â
He came home at midnight, sometimes a little later and all he had energy for was a shower and falling into bed. So even on his days off, he tries to surround himself with as many things as he can.Â
Right now, you couldn't tell if he was mad, or maybe even relieved to have you gone for the next two weeks. On another thought, reading into his behavior is what continues to make you feel insane- so itâd be better not to.Â
âWill you be fine?â he chuckles at your question, finding the answer almost obvious.Â
Heâs been fine his whole life, and truly, if only you knew how not fine he would be, youâd probably laugh at him.Â
âIt really doesn't affect me, you know?â he affirms, taking off his glasses and leaning back in his chair, not even masking the way his eyes wander over your body.Â
You sit down on the desk in front of him, looking down at the file âLiarâ itâs barely audible, but Jay hears you. He hears you very well.Â
He scoffs softly, shaking his head âI really hate lying, you know?â The firm tone in his voice almost makes it sound true.Â
You prop yourself on one hand, tilting your head and quirking an eyebrow at his statement. Itâs humorous in a way- how he desperately tries to pretend in front of you that nothing significant happened.Â
âYet you keep lying to yourselfâ you say it like it's obvious. Jay doesn't seem to enjoy the reminder of his stupidity and failed oblivion.Â
âWhat about?â he questions, but already knows the answer. Itâs almost like he just wants to hear you say it, test if you actually know what he thinks about every night.Â
âAbout the things you want to do to meâ the words come out so easily, like youâve known far too long, maybe even before he did. Heâs stunned, even though he expected it.Â
The next morning, he drove you to the airport, the car ride terrifyingly silent. The radio in his car had been broken for sometime now and heâs been meaning to get it fixed, but the time heâs spent without it, naturalized it.Â
So many things have become weirdly, almost unsettlingly natural that he craves so badly to remember what it was like before. He finds himself wondering how he possibly survived all this time- how did the loneliness not drown out every possible part of him until he was nothing but flesh and bones.Â
You look out the window, tapping your fingers against your thigh. The silence is so foreign and you wonder where it comes from.Â
Did you go too far? Did you finally break him? Could you have possibly said too much? But if he despised the art of lying so much, then how could the truth make him so uncomfortable?Â
âHave a good Christmasâ he said with a stoic expression, pulling out your small suitcase from his trunk.Â
Jay stands there, waiting for you to say something thatâll let him leave, set him free. But you don't. You don't move either, just look around- at him, his car, the airport, the other cars and people- some kissing, hugging, crying or even smiling. Christmas seemed to be such a happy but equally miserable time.
He hates that this will happen again. He knows that soon enough, heâll have to say goodbye and it won't be temporary. Itâs just two weeks- 14 fucking days. Youâre still there, only an inch of separation between you, but he's already missing you.Â
It comes to him only when heâs leaned down, pressing you tightly against his warm body. He hopes you can't feel how fast his heart is beating and how his hands shake when they hold onto your waist and shoulder. At first it seemed like your body stiffened, and he thought you might push him away. But you didn't, soon enough melting into his touch.Â
It seems so overly dramatic, but to you, it means the world.Â
With a small smile he ushers you to go with a swify motion of his hand, and you nod, descending into the airport. He watches you, and even after you're out of his sight, he stands there, perhaps hoping youâll run back out. It takes him 4 more minutes to get back into his car and go off to the firm.Â
Jay spends Christmas Eve with his friends from the firm (and their wifeâs). He and Anton- another fellow senior partner- seem to be the only men at the table without a wife or child. And just that same thing seems to be the topic of discussion tonight.Â
As they help Jake and his wife, ValĂŠrie, gather the dishes and clear the table, she turns to him, and asks politely âWhere is that woman I saw you with?â he almost missed it over the sound of constant clatter and the running tap.Â
He furrowed his eyebrows, looking at her with a mix of confusion and curiosity âWhat woman?â Anton seems to wonder the same thing as he places his interest back on the conversation at hand.Â
Jake turns off the tap, taking the plates into his hands and drying them one by one. He joins in on the conversation, his expression one of slight excitement âThe one you took to see the playâ he confirmed what Jay had already been thinking about. âI wanted to come and greet you two, but you disappeared before I even got the chanceâ he adds, saddened.Â
Jay exhales. He doesn't know what to tell them when they soon start asking for specifics- he could lie, and itâd probably make him feel good too, but there's no way they hadn't noticed how young you are. Heâd look like such a creep, wouldn't he?Â
âIs she not your girlfriend?â ValĂŠrie flips the question, making it easier to answer in a way. He feels just that small bit of relief.Â
Jay swallows at the words. The implication makes him feel terrible- he lives in a world where conformity is encouraged and what heâs doing isn't normal or even accepted in the slightest by the masses.Â
He shakes his head, avoiding eye contact. âNoâ itâs so quick he hopes they won't say anything else, and perhaps move onto the next topic.Â
She smiles at him downwardly âThatâs misfortunateâÂ
Oh, ValĂŠrie. Isn't it?Â
After dinner with your family (and Sunghoon) you return to your room. You note how uncomfortably cold it seems to be in the house- how much more unfamiliar this place now felt to you. It no longer had the life you tried so badly to persevere.Â
From the small cracks in your door, you hear Jungwon bickering with Sunghoon about a football match. The latter seems to be taking great pleasure in frustrating your little brother and you find it quite adorable how easily Jungwon gets bothered by things like this.Â
Itâs 12 and the atmosphere doesn't seem to be dying down as your father gets everyone started with another bottle of wine.Â
Itâs 7 in Paris. You wonder what he could possibly be up to- working himself away in his office, drinking with friends or maybe worse, on a date with someone. Your finger hovers over his contact number and it feels incredibly infantile. It takes you back to highschool- sleepovers with your friend where youâd play truth or dare, the challenge being calling the boy you like. In a way, it feels exactly the same this time, the difference being, Jay is a grown man and not some horny, sweaty teenage boy. And you, youâre not 15 anymore.Â
He wouldn't mind, would he? Your only goal is checking if heâs doing alright, if heâs happy. There's barely any harm in that. But before you get to formulate a reasonable enough motive for your call, his voice sounds through the phone's speaker.Â
âHello?â He sounds surprised, a gratifying sense of tiredness lacing his tone. You exhale, before speaking âHiâ itâs quiet and uncertain, as if you hope the volume will make it less significant.Â
âAre you okay?â he asks, a twinge of worry in his voice.Â
He was back at his apartment with Jake when he saw you call. His friend had left with him, as his wife had promised her brother, Ezra, to stop by before the day ended (and Jake, well, he wasnât quite fond of him). They lolled about, discussing Jakeâs next play, The Night We Almost Met (Valerie had convinced him to not quit "Pregnancy is not a disease, Jake") the professional negligence lawsuit heâs working on, a case Jay is working on between a fast-growing software development firm and a cloud storage provider, and more importantly- Jayâs secretive love life.Â
He stood from the comfort of his sofa, pointing to his phone âI have to take thisâ he said quickly to his friend who just nodded, a state of sleep overcoming him at a rapid pace.Â
âMmmâ the sound of confirmation seemed to make his heart steady a bit- he wonders why he was even stressed in the first place. Perhaps itâs because sometimes he worries youâll decide to leave for good, youâll finally realize that this place was never meant for you and Parsons was the better choice âWhere are you?â you add questioningly, and he takes a moment to reply.Â
âHomeâ he makes it sound like a dual effort, and it makes you smile slightly. Like the home he means is not only his, but yours too. And in a way, itâs true- Jay has suddenly realized just how terrifyingly awful the silence is whenever he comes back to the apartment after a long day. He realizes just how much he needs you to fill the void in his heart- one created by the love he never received âWas Christmas nice?â His tone is confusingly soft, something you donât even recall from the day that you came to him.Â
âIt was nice; it really wasâ you answer, and he hums in response, the sound ushering you to continue âI missed Jungwon. And Sunghoon. New York in general, I think thoughâ you say, and he bites back his tongue before he says something stupid (because truly, how could anyone miss New York? Then again, he does realize heâs probably the only one with such an incessant problem towards the city).Â
Thereâs a brief moment where neither you or him say anything, the time filled with unspoken thoughts and words that linger at the tip of your tongues. There are so many things he wishes he could tell you at the moment- how much he wants to kiss you, how much he misses having you around, talking to you. And how fucking much he wants to make the filthiest and most impure form of love to you. But he assumes it's probably better to let you live on without the knowledge. For now, at least.Â
You hesitate, but before you know it, the words, almost involuntarily, slip past your lips âI miss youâ.Â
Thereâs another pause, as he repeats it over and over again in his head. The knot in his stomach grows tenfold as he fully grasps the feeling at hand- how much it has actually taken over his life, and how he doesnât mind it- not at all.Â
Jay realizes that there is no fulfilling answer to his situation other than giving in, and that in itself, never really was an illicit or morally wrong answer. He knows that he would hate himself so much more if he never tried, rather than if he let himself follow his desires and it resulted in failure. He was ready to take that risk, as long as youâd still have him.Â
Through his drunken memories, he remembers when he first saw you, saying things he later cringed at and regretted. He recalls the exact thought process he had when you came to your home on Hester St., trudging towards your father with the letter in hand. It was obvious to him, and he didnât even bother giving himself the day to think about it- right there and then he knew so well that heâd be the one to house you, and take care of you.Â
You bothered him so much, when he was cooking or working or reading, yet he never even thought to get mad at you. Jay wanted you to do it, sometimes even putting himself out there just so you could torture him a little more.Â
âI miss you too, sweetheartâ Â
_____Â
A week later, you were back in France.
You had insisted on getting back home by yourself. At one point, he was practically begging to take you, but you prevailed âI have to pick something up from Karinaâsâ you told (Karina was your class partner turned friend, whom you were currently working on a collection with) He sighed, eventually accepting the reasoning.Â
He sits in the courtroom, and curses himself because today, heâs truly a terrible lawyer. One that he himself would have hated just months ago. All he thinks about is you, unconsciously counting down the hours until he can go back home to you. He feels so childlike at that moment, but he can allow it, just this once, he thinks.Â
Luck doesnât seem to be on his side that day- as soon as he steps out of the hall, his phone buzzes with a call from the managing partner, Nicholas Allard, who informs him of a partner's dinner later in the evening âYou better be there, Park. Especially since youâre eyeing name partnerâ the sternness in his voice makes Jay huff. âIâm notâ
Nicholas always says that, and it inexplicably irritates him, because he truly isnât. Jay was fully satisfied with being senior partner, furthermore, staying senior partner. Nothing would change if his name appeared on the wall- heâd be stuck with the same pretentious clients, and maybe even become pretentious himself. He didnât want that.Â
All the way through dinner he begs for it to finally end. Anton apparently had helped Nicholas choose the restaurant- Purâ on Rue de la Paix- and he laughs at his friendsâ desperation. He had been the one actually hoping to get his last name slapped right next to Nicholasâ. Everyone had noticed by now, and secretly made fun of the man for itâThe Russian hooker I slept with last Saturday is nothing compared to the way heâs riding Allards dick. Maybe he should take her placeâ They were out for lunch, absent-mindedly cracking jokes about their friend.Â
You were working with Karina at her apartment. She lived on Rue Erard, near Reuilly-Diderot station. It was further away from the city centre, but she didnât mind. Karina shared the space with a Japanese student, Aeri, who studied science at the European International University. They got along, she said, but it seemed like they lived in two completely different worlds sometimes. And you understood that.Â
It was hard for you to have actual conversations with Jay at first. He was so engulfed in a world you had no actual grasp of. And he never cared for the arts of fashion that you loved so dearly. For you, he was too serious at times, and to him, you were too carefree.Â
âAre you seeing someone?â she asked you, waxing a pair of pants you had sewn together. You shook your head, although it felt somehow wrong. It felt untrue even when it, unfortunately, was very much true. You wanted to say yes because a part of you had already begun to accept a reality that wasnât quite veracious. A confirmation in the form of that short, simple and breathy âyesâ would help you go on with the zeal needed.Â
By the time you got home, Jay was already there. He almost jumped when he heard the keys unlock the sturdy door. It opened with a creak and you softly glanced inside before opening it fully. He marks his book, slipping off his glasses and lying it all down on his coffee table. He trembles with desire, his leg twitching as the moment heâs woken up thinking about, has finally been handed to him.Â
He clears his throat slightly, and itâs like a hand that heâs extending out for you, asking you to come with him. You drop your suitcase and bag to the floor, opening the glass door that separates the foyer from the rest of the apartment. He can almost grab onto the change that spreads through the air between you. Jay feels it with his bare hands as you sit down next to him, the silence acting as a welcoming gesture. It says enough for the two of you to know youâve missed the other.Â
âTired?â he asks, and thereâs a hint of guilt in his expression as he regrets not just forcing you to take his offer in the form of a ride home. But he knows youâre too stubborn anyway.Â
You nod, and sigh softly. He doesnât hesitate to open his arms, inviting you into his comforting embrace. You accept, almost too hurriedly. The action makes him chuckle. Jay wraps his arms around your figure, your back pressing against his chest. Your head leans back as you look up at him with a small smile.Â
âDid you have fun in New York?â he asks, his hand moving up and down your arm in a soothing manner. He stops at your fingers, interlacing them with his own. You squeeze tightly and nod.Â
âYeah. Dad asked about you, a lot. You should call himâ your response makes him tense up. He feels sick.Â
Jay has been avoiding your fathers phone calls, or making them as short as possible. The frequency of his avoidance has increased substantially, especially since the night you slept in his room.Thereâs a prevailing guilt ridiculing him everytime he sees his best friend call- your father trusted him with you, and he probably never doubted that same trust. So easily, Jay broke it, never once thinking about the consequences, not when he was making out with you in his bed or touching himself to the image of you.Â
He swallows, and nods, knowing he wonât be able to anytime soon, especially not after today âI willâ he falsely assures âHow is Jungwon?â he rushes away from the topic of your dad, and you donât seem to notice, smiling at the mention of your little brother.Â
You play with his fingers âFine, I think. Heâs really impressed by you, yâknow? God, maybe heâll go to law school himself. Thatâd be goodâ you go on, and he laughs softly, nodding in acceptance. He feels a sense of pride at your words, but heâd never admit it.Â
He hums softly in response, unsure of what he should say. Heâs never been good with compliments. He just assumes you know heâs grateful, especially it being your brother whom he knew you cherished very dearly âDo you need anything?â he asks, and even though itâs almost midnight, heâs ready to get you anything you want, even if that request entails him going to the other end of the city. It really is serious for him.Â
You shake your head, guiding his hand onto your stomach. He knows exactly what you're suggesting. And this time, heâs far from opposed.Â
âYou sure?â he whispers, his fingers moving against your skin as you let go of his hand. The softness of his fingertips causes your body to tremble slightly âAre you sure you don't need anything?â he asks again, his voice sultry.Â
Jay eyes you intently, watching the way you fight back the words. You know that it was a matter of slightly parting your lips and heâd be made fully aware of exactly the thing you need. And heâd enjoy it too much, you knew that. Even in such an exposing position, you still wanted to hold onto that small piece of power you owned.Â
He unties the strings of your sweatpants, the movement slow and teasing. He toys with it, toys with you. Youâre so much smaller against him, so weak and delicate. You embody a cleanliness he can no longer have, and heâs tried so hard not to take that away from you- but he can no longer fight it.Â
His hand comes dangerously close to the band of your underwear, threatening to slip past it. Thereâs a small whine that slips off your tongue as he continues to stay close, but nowhere near where you actually need him.Â
And Jay wants to rip the fabric away, feel on his own skin just how much you want him too, but he finds the sight of you so restrained and at his mercy heavily amusing. You move in his embrace, desperately trying to create some sort of friction, but he quickly stills you âStop moving. You want this, donât you?â and when you nod, he squeezes your hip tighter.Â
He traces the lace of your panties, chuckling as he watches you spread your legs wider for him. Unconsciously, but still, it makes even him impatient âTell me what you want me to doâ his voice is low, breath hot on your skin. His lips leave open-mouthed kisses along the vein on your neck âAnd Iâll do itâ Â
Your words come out in ragged breaths âI want you to touch meâ thereâs a small smile that spreads on his lips sas he hears you speak.Â
Jay moves the loose strands of hair from your ear, his lips barely touching the reddened skin âHere?â he whispers, pressing his fingers into your clothed cunt, feeling the moisture wet his touch. He watches you nod repeatedly, moving your hips forward, trying to prolong the feeling. He laughs, allowing it for just a moment longer.Â
âJesusâ he mutters, watching you slowly depricate yourself in his arms âSo fucking greedy, acting like a bitch in heatâ he laughs, rubbing his hand against you, moving back and forth, spreading your lips apart and fucking his fingers into your covered hole. He knows heâll have to give in soon, the depth going as far as the stretch of the material allows it.Â
Jay is honestly surprised by the person youâve morphed into. You had so much to say before, but now, it seems like youâve shied away from your snarky comments. You seem scared- scared that heâll stop, leave you when youâre just steps away from the pinnacle of that moment. He likes how compliant you are, and wonders just how far he can push this newly discovered obedience âSo, so impatient⌠Donât you wanna show me how good you can be for me?âÂ
âI do; I doâ you repeated after he stopped any and all movement, his other hand holding you down, preventing you from just doing it yourself âThen fucking do itâ he groaned.Â
He slowly, but surely pulled the fabric away, hissing as his fingertips were met with your raw, pulsing flesh. Your chest rises and falls unevenly, the sequence of sounds continuing as he picks up his pace, each time going further, and further, until two of his digits are fully plunged into your sopping cunt. He takes on a slow tempo, savouring every sound- your legs rubbing against the leather of the couch, the wet slosh of his fingers reentering you, your body trembling in his grasp alongside the ruffle of his shirt, and ultimately, the sweet noises that escape your throat.Â
Eventually, he adds a third digit, watching you wince slightly at the intrusion. He smiles, watching you take so proudly and wholly whatever he gives you âGood⌠youâre so good to meâ the praise sounds through the room, and echoes through the canyons of your heart, as the strong feeling begins to overcome your senses with an intensity youâve never known before âSuch a sweet girl⌠Who has touched you like this before? Tell meâÂ
Through a daze, you manage to mutter out a response, signifying to him that there was only one person before him. He nods, a smile decorating his lips, as he finds the answer more than satisfying âYou really are cleanâ the years of keeping yourself in check suddenly seem to have paid off.Â
Heâs impressed with how youâve managed to sustain the drive he couldnât even contain for longer than a week at your age. But then again, who would he be if he had saved himself longer?Â
âCan I..?â you start, embarrassed to say the words. But Jay knows exactly what you mean, and after a moment he nods. Your body slumps against his, tired and ready, as you focus strictly on what heâs giving you.Â
And even after you come all over his bony fingers, he doesn't stop, the speed increasing as if he wants to, and likes to watch you cry out with a fatigued expression, face twisting from the overstimulation âJust a little moreâ he mumbled the words a couple times, kissing your shoulder.Â
Eventually Jay pulls out, smearing the release that paints his fingers all over your inner thighs âYou look so pretty like thisâ he speaks, watching you breathe heavily, with half-lidded eyes that are barely able to stay open.Â
He gently cleans you up, kissing you on the forehead as he rises back to his feet. He leads you to your bedroom, lying your frail body down in the cold bed. Before he can leave, you speak out to him softly âStayâÂ
And so he does.Â
____
3 years ago, for his 35th birthday, he bought land in Cassis, located in the southern part of France. Jake had been the one to convince him to do so, since Jay wasnât the greatest when it came to spending such large sums of money. He never acquired the habit, most likely because he wasnât even aware of the things he could possibly buy with the unexpectedly large amounts of money he earned every month.Â
He had initially imagined living there when he retired- quiet and harmonious (since he certainly wasnât planning on going back to New York). The months passed, he even received approval to build his dream house on the land, yet still, it was left abandoned as he occupied his mind with everything but actual construction.Â
Valerie, who worked as an architect, made sketches for him which he honestly loved. The plans portrayed a one story, beautiful mediterranean estate with a large terrace and impressive garden. He could see himself in such a place- blissfully unaware of the horrors that unveil themselves around the world. Disinterested and free.Â
Two months ago he had decided to call Valerie, and announce to her his willingness to begin construction. At first she didnât believe him- âJay, we both know you donâtâ- and when he had finally convinced her it was real this time, she referred him to one of the construction companies she and Jake had hired when they were helping her parents build their home.Â
Last month, assembly began- Jay had gone down to the property two times since, one time alone, one time with you. âThis roomâ he points to a space on the drawing that faces a landscape of mesmerizing limestone cliffs and vast pools of aquamarine water âYou could make those pretty things here. All dayâ he smiles softly, referring to the dresses you always made sure to show him before handing the projects in at the academy.Â
Youâd model for him, as heâd lean back on the couch, giving you instructions âFrom the backâ thereâd be a pause, a mischievous grin on his face âBend down a little for meâ heâd say, and of course, with a proud face youâd comply. He knew what he was doing and you knew why you were doing it. Because it would always end the same- heâd hold you down on his lap, watching the pretty faces youâd make while his cock fills you completely.Â
But again, would it really be yours? He had said it so plainly, so much that it even seemed plausible. It imitated a normalcy that was never yours to begin with, and no matter how hard you tried to convince yourself, it never would be.Â
Last week, the construction manager contacted him, and made him aware of the unstable soil in some areas. It would require additional foundation work to ensure structural stability- that entailed a supplementary plan and extra costs.Â
The whole process began to get irrationally stressful for him as the build just kept on encountering problems, all while he was promised a smooth and fast completion.Â
And he doesnât blame Jake, Valerie, or even the company he hired. He blames himself, for his stupidity, for believing that he could have nice things in life. This has to be something telling him that the nice apartment, luxurious car and plump pay check was enough, all he can get.Â
He keeps the door to his study slightly ajar. There's two piles of paperwork on the desk and both look terribly gruesome and tiring. He doesn't feel like thinking today- not about the house, not about his work, and not about what heâll eat for dinner. But he chose this life- he can't complain when everythings heâs ever done was for this exact moment.Â
With a sigh, and almost childlike tug of the lawsuit thatâs been sitting on his desk for a good two weeks now, he begins to go through it. His head is propped up on his fist, eyes lazily scanning the words.Â
Jay keeps looking over to the papers, plans, magazines on his table- he thinks about Valerie's call where she excitedly asked him about fucking kitchen tiles. To his surprise, he found it oddly entertaining and domestic. Jay Park, a well-known Parisian lawyer, prefers quarry tiles over marble. Revolutionary, truly.Â
His door creaks open, and he looks up, seeing your head peeking inside of his office. He smiles softly, and nods- his way of telling you to come in.Â
You close the door upon entering, and take a look around. Nothing ever changes inside here- itâs always messy in an organized way. Thereâs a woody and musky smell in the air, something that only stays in this same office.Â
âCome hereâ he motions you to his lap, eventually closing the file and dropping it into his drawer, for later, of course. Well, he already knows heâll probably pass it on to one of the associates, who'll see it rather as a blessing than a burden.Â
âEverything alright?â you ask, watching his face, illuminated only by the yellow lighting of his small lamp. Jay slips off his glasses, tossing them lightly onto the desk. He sighs, and reluctantly, nods âDoesn't seem like itâ you add after his confirmation.
âSweetheart, donât worry about meâ his hand caresses your bare thigh, his touch barely anything. It was so light you could mistake it for something that it surely wasn't.Â
Your fingers toy with the material of his shirt, undoing two more buttons. His tan skin glistens under the dim lighting, and you notice the mole on his collarbone. You hum softly, hand moving up to his shoulder âTell me the truthâ you plead, and he looks down, trying to somehow put into words the things that suddenly don't seem so troublesome or serious.Â
âThe house, you know, it won't be done soonâ he tells, and his expression doesn't change âYou shouldn't worry about it. Iâll get it figured outâ he adds before you can answer. You wait for a moment, holding your breath, but eventually nod, understandingly.Â
Jay doesn't share much of his thoughts, not ever, so you know that even if this is only half of his worries, he would never tell you the rest. He cherished your peace over any selfish act of âgetting something off his chestâ. He didn't believe in that and never would.Â
âI want to help youâ you say, hand under his shirt, tracing the outline of his muscles. You run your thumb over his nipples, and he hisses at the sensation. Heâs been touched, but never like this. He especially feels that touch go straight to his already hardening cock.Â
âYou do? Then bend over, pretty girlâ Jay doesnât feel like wasting any time. He knows he doesnât need foreplay or any other form of preparation- you were ready before he even touched you. You came to him for the sole reason of getting fucked, and thatâs exactly what heâs going to do.Â
With a satisfied grin, you lean your elbows on his desk, turning your head to watch him unbuckle his belt. With a swift motion, the leather piece falls open, and he doesnât even bother to remove it. He grabs your face, harshly pressing his lips onto your mouth, licking inside it, pushing his tongue against yours, past it, and as far down your throat as it will go. His hands tug at your shorts, yanking them off along with your underwear. The material pools at your knees, and he pulls away from the kiss, eyeing your half naked form.Â
He plays with the plump skin, groping it, squeezing, slapping it until the spot turns red. He commits to memory how each action elicits a different reaction from you. When he strikes you again, a tear rolls down your cheek and he feels like he could come on the spot, untouched âSuch a sweet little thing you are. I could watch you all the timeâ he coos, pressing a kiss to the side of your mouth.Â
With one hand, he pries off his boxers, while the other caresses your sensitive ass. His fully erected, and leaking shaft springs out, slapping against his lower abdomen. He bites his lower lip at the feeling âFuckâ he groans, jerking himself off, spreading the precum that puddles at his tip along his entire length.Â
You tug at his arm, whining impatiently âJay..â he chuckles at your eagerness, finding the willingness almost equally as arousing as your pretty face and body.Â
Youâve become fully dependent on him- he was your sole provider for everything- a roof over your head, a ride to the academy in the morning, a warm meal, and since he didnât want you to work, all the money you had was his. And maybe it should bother you, the fact that nothing is truly yours, but it doesnât. Jay is equivalent to your survival, and youâd make it a great priority to repay him for that.Â
As he thrusts into you, his cock intruding your tight ass at a ferocious pace, the phone rings.Â
Through blurred vision, you recognize it. A picture of Jay and your father (presumably taken right before Jayâs departure 20 years ago) stares back at you. His name flashes across the screen, ridiculing you. Jay peels the phone off the table, his thumb hovering over the green button.Â
âJ-Jay⌠donâtâ you mutter, and at that, he cruelly tugs at your hair, causing your head to jerk back, teary eyes staring at his serious expression âQuiet. You donât want him to hear you, do you?âÂ
You nod, and his finger presses the answer button. Your teeth bite down on your swollen lip, trying to encapsulate any forbidden sound.Â
A beaming voice finally speaks âJong! I thought youâd never pick up..âÂ
Jay laughs in such a natural, unbothered way, as if heâs not doing anything wrong, as if your father should have known this would happen. Because, he truly should have. âLifeâs hecticâ he answers, his best friend act almost too believable.Â
But how could he ever consider himself a good friend again? After this? He stopped being your fathers friend from the moment you stepped into his apartment, and he shouldâve realized it quicker.Â
âHow is she?â your dad asks, and the kindness in his voice is almost insufferable. Jay presses his palm flat on your back, his speed increasing substantially, tone unchanging though.Â
âReally good. I take care of her well, I thinkâ he answers, and feels himself getting closer. Your father, blissfully unaware, seems to be delighted at his friend's words, thanking him over and over again for his kindness.Â
You and Jay never had anything in common to begin with. Being a lawyer was his whole life, helping greedy, rich bastards become even richer was the only thing that really defined him. And you were the artistic soul he could never find himself understanding. You were impractical in your work, and he- he relied on a firm law that bent under no circumstances.Â
Yet still, you managed to have one similarity after all- you were a terrible daughter and he; he was a terrible, terrible friend.Â
But Jay does take good care of you. He really does take great care of you. All the time. And well, if your father were to find out just how well, youâll still be a living memory of him that Jay will hold onto.
His sweet, little souvenir.Â
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#enhypen x reader#enhypen#enhypen imagines#jay x reader#enhypen fluff#enhypen jay#enhypen smut#enhypen scenarios#jay smut#jay fluff#jongseong x reader#jongseong smut#park jongseong
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A bunch of cuties in love | A.H.
Pairing: Aaron Hotchner x fem!reader
Content warning: fluff, nicknames (i think that's about it?)
Word Count: 2.2K
Summary: Running late to a meeting with Strauss, Hotch leaves Jack with his favorite person - you. The scene that greets him when he comes back leads to some realizations.Â
Request: Hotch request: BAU!Reader is Jackâs favorite and always spends the day with them when heâs brought along to the office. They have a cute bonding moment that Hotch secretly watches. Cue the âoh god Iâm in love with them arenât Iâ
A/N: itâs been two months today since I made this blog, and itâs been wild, itâs been fun, and itâs been a little teary. thank you for the love and support! Please enjoy this cute little hotch piece, I had a blast writing it! Thank you to the anon who requested this, and Iâd love to hear what you think! Also, I miss old Disneyđ
masterlist
9:23.
On the days you werenât working on a case, and the only thing you really needed to catch up on was paperwork, your usual start time was 8:30. Yet almost an hour had gone by and he wasnât in his office like he usually would be.
With a punctual Unit Chief like Aaron Hotchner, it was a shock, and a little nerve-wracking that he was late.Â
Youâd lie if you didnât say you were getting a little worried, taking into account the last and only time heâd been late - Foyet attacking him in his own home, leaving him with long-lasting trauma, scars, and without his family.Â
You'd never forget that day, and every day after where he was left to suffer, laying the blame on himself. No matter how many times you said it, how many times Rossi patted him on the back, reminding him it wasn't his fault, you knew a part of him still didn't believe it.
And the part of you that cared about him, maybe a little more than you should, didn't have the heart to watch him do this to himself - the silent guilt, the long empty looks.Â
Youâve known him awhile, seen him through many of his ups, and just as many as his downs. Youâd seen him laugh in glee and beam with happiness, youâd seen him lose it in anger and anguish and youâd seen him cry in heartbreak.Â
So much of your life spent beside him, so many memories linked with him, and your team. And much of it you knew was friendly love - your love for Emily and Spencer, JJ and Morgan, Penelope and Rossi. But the love you felt for him was just a tiny bit different, deeper, not the friendly kind.Â
Youâd only recently started to understand what you were really feeling for him, as recent as the last few weeks. Still new and a little unexplainable at times, you were learning to balance that, within your friendship.
You didnât think you wanted to pursue anything, right now. It had been a little over two years since heâd lost Haley, since heâd needed to start navigating his life as a single dad, a widower.Â
You could still see the pain in his eyes, fresh as the day it had happened. You knew he was managing, but it was still apparent, that it was hitting them both hard.
And Jack? He was a little ray of sunshine in the otherwise gruesome life all of you led - the same could be said about Henry. But Henry was Reid's favorite, as his godfather, you knew the bond between them was unbreakable.Â
But Jack? You were his favorite, and he was yours.Â
He was your little buddy, your partner in all things art, cartoons, and Disney shows. He was your little helper during all things baking - you'd babysat once and he'd requested chocolate chip, peanut butter cookies and you'd been more than happy to help him make them.
He was a natural baker and a little taster.Â
Your love for the little cutie ran as deep as your feelings for his dad.
At the end of the day though, you were a friend, a shoulder both could use to lean on and rely on. You were comfortable in your role within their little family and weren't looking to make any changes then.
9:28.
You were playing with your watch, already having decided youâd be giving him a call if he didn't arrive by 9:30.
Worry was making your hands sweat, and just as you went to wipe them on your pants, the door to the bullpen opened, and in walked a very frantic Hotch - his tie was a little crooked, shirt a little wrinkled, and Jack - a little backpack on his back, and a curious look paired with a timid smile.
Aaron's eyes searched the bullpen, as did Jack's, the little Hotchner noticing you seconds before his father did. You stood up, watching as the blond pulled away from his dad, and on a little run, made his way towards you.Â
âCutiee.â He called out, using the nickname you called him, to address you too. You leaned down when he was a few steps away, accepting his hug, his little arms wrapping around your neck.Â
âHi, cutie.â You greeted him, a wide smile on your face. Hotch had made his way over to you by then, giving you a barely-there smile, but his eyes shone.
âYou're late.â You started, pulling to your full height.
âYeah, Jessica was called on an emergency at the last minute, and Liah is away on a hiking trip, so here we are.â Liah was Hotch's neighbor, she looked after Jack for a few hours when Hotch couldn't stay with him, or Jess was busy.
He looked at his watch, running a hand through his hair, messing it up a little.
âI have a meeting with StraussâŚwell, right now. Can you please watch him until I get done?âÂ
âGo, don't make her wait. We'll be okay and we're going to have fun. Right, Jack?â You watched him nod at both you and his dad before Hotch exhaled.
âYou're a lifesaver. Be good for Y/N, okay buddy.â Another nod from Jack, and he was on his way to Strauss's office.
ââOkay Jack, let's see if Aunt Penelope can download a few episodes of âThe Suite Lifeâ for us, and then we'll go color and draw for a while. Does that sound good to you?âÂ
âVery good. Can I also have orange juice?â He asked, taking your hand in his small, soft one, fingers wrapping around your own.
âLet's go see if we have any.â You walked towards the small communal kitchen space, checking the fridge and then you checked the pantryâŚand, âBingo. Let's go see the lair.â You led him to Penelope's office.
âKnock, knock, may us mortals enter?â You joked, making your little partner giggle.Â
âUs?â Her voice rang from the other side of the door.
âI have sir Hotchner with me. The smaller one.â
âHey,â Jack said in outrage
âMy favorite Hotchner.â You added.
Penelope pulled the door open, beaming at both of you, before she made space for you to enter.Â
âJack, my love, hi,â She raised her hand, letting him give her a high five. Even though she was affectionate, Jack wasnât as much, especially after Haley. He only hugged a few people now - Jess, his dad, and surprisingly, you.Â
It really showed how comfortable he was with you.
âWhat brings you to my tech cave?â She asked. You raised your brows at him, prompting him to do the talking.Â
âCan you, please, download a few episodes of Zack and Cody for us?â His voice rang with its usual child calm and sweetness, fingers intertwined in front of him.Â
Penelope's smile softened even more, âSure thing, sweetie,â Her eyes turned towards you then, âYour tablet?â
âYes, please.â You knew it was a work tablet, but no one had to know.
âAny requests?â She asked the little guy.
âYou pick.â
âOkay-dokey. Should have it in about 10 minutes, my loves.â
âThank you, Aunt Penelope.â
âThanks Pen.â You gave her air kisses before you led Jack out and towards his father's office.Â
His day had started rocky, hell, the whole night had gone that way.Â
Jack had woken up from a nightmare - twice at that. After the second time, heâd asked Aaron to sleep in his bed, too scared and sad to stay in his room.
Heâd snoozed his alarm, just once, and had a hard time waking his son up too. Heâd had 20 minutes to get himself ready, but Jessica had called 10 minutes before she was supposed to arrive - apologizing because sheâd been called on an emergency at work.Â
Aaron had to rearrange his whole morning then, already aware heâd be late for work. Heâd had to get Jack and his backpack ready and cook him breakfast. All of that, and be in the office before his 9:30 meeting with Strauss.Â
Breakfast and preparing Jack for a day at the BAU, heâd done successfully. Arriving on time had been a little tricky, with barely 2 minutes to spare.Â
But when heâd walked into the bullpen, Jack spotting you just seconds before he did, and heâd watched your smile grow, heâd known all would be okay.Â
Watching you with Jack always brought a warm feeling within him, like he was watching something sacred. You were always patient and kind, always interested in listening to him talk, even though he was a quiet kid, who appreciated quality time more.Â
You gave him that too, and a lot of it - you watched cartoons and shows with him. Colored and drew, baked cookies, and played with him whenever he wanted. Any time spent with Jack was about what he wanted, what he liked doing, and above all, making him comfortable.Â
Even if it meant cleaning flour off your kitchen floor and whatever had gotten in the drawers too.Â
He appreciated, even loved the bond you had with his son, every smile, every hug, and every minute you spend with him. He loved hearing about you from Jack - what youâd done together, what youâd told him, the stories, the jokes, the conversations.Â
Hearing his son proclaim you as his favorite person in the BAU had made his heart soar. Taking into account all the time you spent with him, it wasnât really a surprise. He bonded hard, but once he did, he never went back.
He was much like Aaron himself in that regard. His trust had to be earned, as did his friendship, and it required hard work. Jack was much the same. And youâd successfully earned both of theirs with your beautiful and caring personality.Â
He exhaled a breath, checking his watch, step fast, and briefcase in hand.Â
11:18.
His meeting with Strauss had run longer than heâd anticipated - over an hour and a half. Diplomacy, politics, budgets, and cuts, theyâd run through countless things, half of that meeting already fully blacked out from his memory.Â
He was tired - every meeting with Strauss left him drained. Worried, about Jack and his state of mind after last night. All he wanted to do was get to his office and check up on his son.Â
Walking into the bullpen for the second time that day, he quickly made his way towards his office, only to stop short at the window. The blinds were open, having forgotten to close them last night, so he had a clear and full view of his office.
You were sat on the couch close to the armrest, Jack cuddled against you, cheek squished against your collarbone, face almost buried in your neck.Â
Your work tablet sat propped on the coffee table, and your arm wrapped around his small body, keeping him close. His eyes were almost closed, your thumb running soothingly on his back.Â
He watched, mesmerized by the scene. He felt himself soften, all of him. His face, the furrow in his brow, and the tight set of his lips. His whole body, his heart, suddenly at peace.Â
For months he'd observed the kindness you showed everyone - the families of victims, heartbroken by the injustice of life. Passersby, people you might never see again. Your team, especially, your work family. Jack, and even Aaron himself.Â
And as he watched you with his son, the one person left in this world who truly loved him, no matter his rights or wrongs - he couldn't help but feel himself unravel.Â
Every little thought he'd had about you, every feeling he might have somehow suppressed in order to protect himself and his child, they all attacked him, in seconds.Â
Because the truth was, you earned his trust, his friendship, and somehow along the way, you'd won his heart as well.
Right at that moment, his heart pounded in need, in adoration, in pure, clear love. Love he hadn't allowed himself to feel since Haley. Love, he'd frankly hadn't felt in years, ever since heâd put his signature down on the dotted line.Â
He wanted to get home to see this. He wanted to see you put Jack to bed, and kiss his forehead with a whispered âgood nightâ.
He wanted to stroke your cheek tenderly, pull you into a kiss that made you melt, and stroke a fire within you like no one else could.Â
He wanted to tell you he loved you - in the car, as he drove you to work. In the kitchen during breakfast and dinner. In his office, a few stolen moments as you worked. And under the sheets, while you made love.Â
And even through the fear that gripped him in a vice, of rejection, separation, and even trust - he still wanted to love you, as if he was loving someone for the first time again.Â
âEverything okay, Aaron?â David asked, passing on the way to his office.Â
Aaron barely spared him a glance, nodding his head a little, âYeah, it's okay.â
He pushed the door to his office open and walked in, greeted by his new favorite sight, and his two favorite people.Â
Comments and reblogs are greatly appreciated!
#aaron hotchner x fem!reader#hotch x reader#aaron hotchner fluff#aaron hotchner x reader#aaron hotchner fanfic#aaron hotchner fanfiction#aaron hotchner one shot#aaron hotchner imagine#aaron hotchner x you#hotch x you#hotchner x reader#criminal minds fluff#criminal minds fanfic#aaron hotchner request
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text message. l Joel Miller
a/n : a while ago i got a message from anon asking me to write something for joel. i managed to do it today. sorry you had to wait so long. i hope you like it.
warnings : pre-outbreak Joel, some angst, misunderstanding, age difference (about 10 years), suspected pregnancy, argument, Sarah and Tommy mentioned, lots of uncertainty and fear
[Joel Miller masterlist] [my masterlist]
He shouldn't have done that. It was crossing all boundaries, violating your privacy and trust, but he couldn't help himself. When your phone made a series of strange noises that indicated a message had been received and you were in the bathroom at a gas station, Joel reached for it and looked at the screen. A cold chill ran down his spine a second later.
"Two weeks late? Did you take a test? You should see a doctor. What did Joel say?"
A heavy stone landed squarely in his stomach, and he felt his head spin. âFuck!â he groaned almost silently, shaking his hand as he placed the phone back where youâd left it.
He immediately guessed what you and your friend could have been talking about, he had no doubts. If you were pregnant, that complicated everything.
Joel Miller wasn't entirely sure if he should do it, but when he met you on one of his bar crawls with his younger brother Tommy, he felt like fate had finally favored him. He was almost thirty-six, had a teenage daughter, worked hard, and couldn't remember the last time he'd met a woman. You, on the other hand, were simply beautiful, talkative, with a charming smile on your lips. You were also almost ten years younger than him.
It didn't bother him as much on your first date, or your second, or when you kissed on the couch, or after the first time you had sex. Joel felt younger and happier with you, and everyone around him noticed the change in him.
He fell in love like a stupid teenager, and you didn't make it any easier for him. It was only after a few months that he started to wonder. Maybe dating you wasn't so wise? Maybe you were really too young for him?
When you would visit him at work, bringing him lunch or something, guys would often make fun of him. Joel wasn't as immune to this as he thought. His insecurities grew, and worries about whether he was doing the right thing also grew in his mind too.
And now this. Pregnancy. When Sarah was born, he was too young, and now he felt too old to be playing in diapers. What if you, too, disappeared, like Sarah's mother? Would he be able to cope? What if no woman saw the possibility of a permanent relationship with him, and when the baby came, she simply ran away?
"Hey. Is everything okay?"
He didn't even notice that you had returned and were already sitting next to him. He nodded uncertainly and cleared his throat.
"Yeah. Tommy called, something at the construction site." he lied, quickly starting the engine.
"Do you want to go there?"
"What? No, I don't have to." Joel replied, "Sarah has a game today."
He didn't say anything else the entire ride home, and then to the game you went to with them. He seemed strangely distant, but you were certain he was constantly thinking about work. Even when you suggested ice cream afterward, Joel showed almost no interest.
You dropped Sarah off at a friend's for a sleepover and you were sure that you and Joel would go to his place, but when he suddenly said, "I'll drop you home." You already knew something was wrong.
âDid I do something wrong?â you asked as he pulled the truck up in front of your apartment. Once again, you spent the entire ride in silence, which wasnât normal.
He shook his head. "No, everything's fine."
âJoel? Look at me, please.â He did it reluctantly, but eventually your eyes met. âYouâve been out of sorts all day. Whatâs wrong?â
"I've had a lot on my mind lately and..."
"Please, don't lie to me." You interrupted him. You weren't mad, he saw concern on your face. "Did something happen?"
âIâŚâ he began, but the words were hard to get out of his throat. He felt your warm hand on his forearm and it broke him. âAre you pregnant?â
"W-What?" you blurted out, completely surprised.
"I saw, quite by accident, a message from your friend. You're two weeks late. Something about a test and a doctor. I need to know."
You looked at him with slightly parted lips, a small wrinkle appeared between your eyebrows. You couldn't gather your thoughts in your head, but Joel clearly couldn't stop himself from talking.
âI think about it all the time. Youâre still young, you have plans,â he said, and you felt every word hit you harder. âI know we should be more careful. This whole thing between us is still new and uncertain. Youâre so young, I shouldnât have⌠Fuck. I fucked it up.â
"What the hell are you talking about, Miller?" you gasped, completely stunned by his words "What do you mean - too young? I..."
"Look at us. I have a teenage daughter, and you're at the beginning of your career. You can leave this town anytime you want, because there's nothing keeping you here. But what if you're pregnant? That complicates things like hell and..."
"Stop it!" you raised your hand in warning "You're talking nonsense! I knew how old you were from the beginning, I knew about Sarah and it didn't bother me."
Joel rolled his eyes. "Now you say that."
âOh! And youâre a know-it-all!â you snorted angrily. âSo I think itâs safe to say you took advantage of a young and fresh pussy.â
Joel gave you a stern look, but you didn't even blink. You were ready to fight him if he wanted to. You were aware of his fears and insecurities, but you thought that by this point you had already shown him how much you cared about him. Age was just a number to you, and ten years didn't make much difference when you weren't a teenager anymore.
"I never thought of you that way." he replied, clenching his grip on the steering wheel, his knuckles turning slightly white.
"I feel different now." you replied, shrugging. "Because you're acting like you're just looking for an excuse to break up with me. Because you read some message on my phone? Please! That's pathetic!"
âPathetic?!â Joel raised his voice. How could you be so indifferent to how your life might change? No one in their right mind would decide to have a child so soon. But of course, you were still young, the romantic vision of a family still lingered in your mind, and you didnât realize how much it would affect you.
Joel wanted to say something else, but you suddenly grabbed your things and got out of the car slamming the door. He quickly got out after you.
"Did you take the test? When are you seeing the doctor?" he asked, catching you before the door.
"Leave me alone." you hissed, ripping your arm out of his grip. "You have no idea what you're talking about."
"I think I do."
You looked at him in a way Joel had never experienced before. Your warm gaze turned hard and angry, your mouth a thin line, and your entire body took on a defensive stance. You had never argued like this before.
"Fine." you finally said. "I'll tell you. I have an appointment on Monday. Are you happy?"
"I'll go with you."
âDonât be ridiculous, this doesnât concern you at all,â you laughed nervously. âAnd it definitely doesnât concern you now.â
Joel looked at you in surprise. So he's already screwed everything up? He's already erased those few really good months?
âIâm not pregnant,â you said, crossing your arms over your chest. âMy last checkup showed I had ovarian cysts. They caused my periods to be irregular, and now my period is a few weeks late. The doctor said I should see him if that happens.â
"Cysts?" Joel repeated.
"Yes! I didn't tell you anything because I didn't see the need." you replied "I'm not pregnant, Joel. And you... You, fucked up."
You turned around and disappeared through the door before he had a chance to say anything.
Joel had all night to think about what had happened. All night without sleep, when he kept seeing your angry face in his mind, when he kept repeating your words and feeling worse by the moment. He picked up the phone several times to call you, but he kept giving up, terrified you wouldn't pick up.
What would he have done if you hadn't picked up? Would that have meant the end for both of you? He couldn't believe that his own fears and insecurities had led him to attack you so suddenly. He could have done it differently, he could have waited for you to say something. Instead, he had cornered you and forced you to admit to something that was clearly your own personal issue, one that you wanted to resolve on your own.
He knew nothing about women's health issues. When Sarah got her first period, he managed with the help of a nice store employee, and then his daughter took over. For Joel, a missed period meant pregnancy, and that meant panic and everything he had experienced before.
No, he didn't want to make excuses for his behavior. He had screwed up. He felt like you were disappointed in him and he had no idea what to do about it.
It was still early when he showed up at your place. You opened the door, sleepy, with ruffled hair, in one of those oversized t-shirts you slept in.
"Joel?" you mumbled hoarsely, rubbing your face, "Did something happen? Something with Sarah?"
He shook his head. "No. I had to see you. I had to... Fuck." He scratched the back of his neck, nervously shifting from foot to foot, "Can we talk? I, I need to know that I didn't completely fuck this up."
You looked at him for a moment in silence, as if you were considering his words in your head. It was a really long few seconds, but you finally pulled away, allowing Joel to step inside. The apartment was bathed in morning sunlight, and Joel's eyes immediately went to the few framed photos of him and Sarah that you had at your place. Another needle stabbed him in the heart.
"So?" you asked, folding your arms over your chest. "I'm listening."
"I don't know where to start." he mumbled completely sincerely.
"I suggest you start from the beginning."
"I'm sorry, darling. I'm sorry for everything I said. I'm a fucking idiot."
You tilted your head. "Good start."
Joel took a deep breath. He wanted to do it right, he wanted to take advantage of the chance he was given. Maybe it was the last one he had.
"I know now that I should have been honest with you from the beginning. You're the most amazing woman I've ever met, and I still can't believe you chose me. I kept thinking we weren't right for each other, that we were too different."
âAre you still thinking about age?â
He nodded. "Yeah. See, you're young, and I..."
You rolled your eyes and cursed loudly. âIf youâre going to give me this age difference bullshit, maybe just leave. Jesus! Thatâs not twenty or fifty. Joel, Iâm an adult, I work, I pay taxes. I get to decide who Iâm with?â
âYou think so now.â
âI thought so from the beginning! When I met you, the first thing I thought was that you have gorgeous eyes and really broad shoulders. I felt good with you, I liked you, and I think youâre really sexy. It has nothing to do with your age.â You took a deep breath and put your hands on your hips, like you were trying to explain something really obvious. âSarah is amazing, I love spending time with her. I love you, even though sometimes you drive me crazy, and yesterday you really pissed me off. I didnât tell you about the doctor because there was nothing to talk about. But if you had any suspicions, you should have come to me instead of getting even more upset. I felt like you were just looking for a reason to break up with me.â
âItâs not like that.â Joel took a step toward you. âWhen Sarahâs mother left us, I was left to fend for myself. Yes, there was Tommy and my mother to help us, but single parenting is no easy feat. I was certain you would disappear, too. Not only would you leave me with a child, but you would simply conclude that I was somehow flawed, that I wasnât cut out to be with you. I guess I preferred sabotaging us rather than simply facing my fears.â
You looked at him, trying to understand his words. His face, eyes, and body language told you he wasn't lying. Joel was full of uncertainty and doubt, but you thought you were past that stage. You told him many times that you loved him, you didn't belittle his needs, and you always helped him with Sarah or around the house. And yet he felt all of this?
âIâm trying to understand you, Joel, I really am.â You finally said, sighing softly. âBut I canât be the only one in this relationship fighting for us. I feel like no matter what I say or do, youâll find a reason why we canât be together. Do you even love me?â
âOh, baby,â he groaned, moving closer and taking your face in his hands. âYou have no idea how much I love you. And that scares me. Iâm always afraid youâll find all my flaws.â
"You have a lot of them. I do too. But does it matter when we're happy together?"
No, it didn't matter. The fear of losing you showed Joel what really mattered to him. He cared about you more than he could admit. He saw how perfectly you fit into his family, always trying to help everyone and make everyone happy. He didn't think he'd ever feel the same way about anyone again.Â
"I'm sorry, baby. I don't know what I could do to fix this." He whispered, you felt tears welling up in your eyes at how much he was going through. "But I don't want to end what we have. I love you, I'm sure of that."
"You think so now." You replied, parroting his words.
He smiled slightly. âIâve known this for a long time, and I think the knowledge scared me. The fear that youâd disappear and Iâd be left alone with this feeling. I donât want you to disappear. I want to stay, permanently.â
"I want to stay too, Joel. Don't push me away ever again."
"Never again, baby."
He kissed you, softly and tenderly, as if he was afraid he still might. But when you kissed him back, Joel felt an unimaginable sense of relief. He had you in his arms again, all the dark thoughts swirling in his head dissipated and he felt happiness fill him. Your arms wrapped around his waist, pulling him closer to you, letting him kiss you like there was no tomorrow.
You could get through this, together. By being more honest, by giving each other a chance at happiness and love, by supporting each other. Joel knew he would do anything to deserve you, and you couldn't imagine not giving him another chance.
âIâll go to the doctor with you on Monday if you want,â he said as you poured him a fresh cup of coffee and sat down next to him at the table.
âIf you want. I could use some support,â you replied, resting your head on his shoulder.
He kissed the top of your head and smiled. He would give you anything, and you never asked for much. You just wanted him to love you, and Joel wanted that too.
ââââ
Thank you for your time.
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