#and sky even in her drunken state is like nope nope nope this is an intervention™ and sleeps in the middle

[zorosangell]

⛥ﾟ・。 protector: chapter twenty-four

synopsis: " you were supposed to stay a crewmate, just another back to watch, " he tightened his hold, " i didn't even notice the change until i woke up one day and realized i'd take a bullet for you "

cw: violence, gore, fighting, mature themes, profanity, MAJOR/MINOR ANIME SPOILERS, follows the plot of the anime, slowww burn.

a/n: reposting from another account

You were royally pissed, but mostly embarrassed, that you were out for the near entirety of the final fight, only waking up right when God, or Eneru, as you learned, was defeated.

Still, for the near entire time you were down for the count, Zoro kept you attached to his hip, not letting you out of his sight.

Even for the celebratory party.

The Shandorians and the Skypieans were beyond grateful for the crew's help, and wanted to give thanks by offering a boatload of gold.

However, the lot of you had already slipped away, settling for your own stolen treasures instead.

And after the crew said their goodbyes to Conis and Pagaya, you set sail for the Blue Sea.

But being part of the Strawhat crew meant never getting a moment's rest.

Because only after escaping a marine base, running into a navy admiral, witnessing a frog getting hit by a train, and meeting a drunken grandma and her granddaughter, did you all finally reach your destination.

Water Seven.

Home to the best shipwrights in the world.

"You've been at that for two days straight. I think it's time for you to rest," Zoro sighed as he walked out on deck, annoyed that you were still conjuring things and forcing yourself to hover.

"Nope," you denied, a bead of sweat rolling down your temple as you formed a scimitar and made it disappear, "Can't have... a situation like Skypiea... happen again... I have to get stronger."

The information you once knew about your powers was getting less and less reliable with each level up.

It was getting too inconsistent, and in order to force your power into becoming reliable, you would have to train harder than ever before.

"According to Chopper, you got cut so deep your organs were almost exposed," he stated, seriously, as he took a seat against the taffrail banisters, "I think that warrants you a little slack."

You scoffed, "I was dead weight when yo—the crew... needed me most. I don't deserve slack."

You quickly glanced over to him, checking to see if he noticed your slip up.

He hadn't.

'That was a close.'

The swordsman groaned, rolling his eyes and grabbing your ankle, roughly pulling you down to sit.

"Ow! The hell was that fo—?!" "Be quiet and take a nap," he hushed, propping up his swords in his lap and shutting his eyes, "You keep overexerting yourself like that and you'll be too exhausted to do anything. And then you'll really be dead weight."

"But, I—" "Sleep."

"Zoro, I—" "Sleep," he ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"Fine..." you huffed, flopping onto your side and shutting your eyes.

"Not here! I meant go up to your bed or—" But he was interrupted by your snores, as you were already dead asleep.

"...something."

He sighed, letting the back of his head rest on the rail as he looked up at the sky.

His relationship with you was changing faster than ever before.

Faster than he could even comprehend.

The more time he spent around you, the more hyper-aware he became to everything about you.

Like your frequent tunnel vision.

You would be so laser focused on one thing, or one idea, that you'd completely block out everything else, making it hard for you to see the bigger picture.

And with any other person, it would begin to annoy him, even frustrate him.

But with you?

He gained an odd sense of patience and understanding, for reasons unknown.

In fact, he was beginning to realize that you brought out many emotions within him, some he didn't even know existed.

It was odd, uncharted territory for the swordsman.

And something he would need to mull on in order to form a rational response.

He turned to glance at you, thoughtlessly checking to see if you were cold.

But you looked content, features soft and a small string of drool leaving your mouth.

He cracked a smile.

It was actually pretty adorable.

'It's decent weather. She'll be fine.'

The others were ashore, taking care of a couple errands, and probably wouldn't be back for a while.

'A nap actually doesn't sound too bad right now.'

The swordsman shut his eyes, taking a deep breath before letting his shoulders sink, allowing himself to drift into sleep.

Of course, until an enemy boarded the ship.

Their leader, who was clad in a  suspendered bowling ball with a pink star on it, swung his sword at Zoro.

But the swordsman blocked it with ease, opening his eyes with a sharp glare.

"Pity, I was hoping that we could kill you in your sleep," the man smirked.

"You got a lot of nerve," Zoro spat, pushing the man away blade to blade, making a loud shing,  "Who are you?"

"You don't know who we are?! Really?" the leader grinned, "'Cause we sure know you, Pirate Hunter!"

He turned to you, brows flattening.

"Not so much her, whoever she is."

'Huh?'

"Babies stop crying when they hear our name! A collection of bounty hunters!" the man raised his sword proudly, "We are the Franky Family!"

'Bounty hunters...'

"I think we'll be taking that sixty-million bounty you've got on your head. When we're done with you, we'll wait inside that cabin of yours and ambush the rest of your crew when they get back! We're gonna be rollin' in the dough in no time!"

The group charged, all heading straight for the swordsman.

"It's my lucky day!"

He swung for an attack, but Zoro stopped it with one move, smirking.

"Lucky, eh? We'll see about that, now won't we?" the swordsman swung over his other sword, using its hilt to punch the man clear across the deck.

"Two-Sword style..." Zoro held both his swords vertically, before slashing them in a checkered formation, "Rhino Cycle!"

The rest of the men were sent flying off the ship, crashing far away into the water below.

Zoro turned to check on you, only to see that you were still fast asleep, a peaceful look on your face as if nothing happened.

'Unbelievable...'

"Back to sleep," he grumbled to himself, sitting back down and closing his eyes.

"What? Is that true?" Sanji asked, wide eyed as you, he, and Chopper listened to Zoro's report.

They had just returned from their errands, and were already met with bad news.

"Well, that's what the shipwright said," the swordsman sighed, resting his hands behind his head.

While you were asleep, some square nosed guy came onto the Merry and did an assessment of her damages.

And it turns out her keel was beyond repair, making the ship itself about as useful as a hunk of scrap.

"It can't be fixed? Even if we have money?" you asked, shocked.

The Merry was an important member of the Strawhat crew.

She'd gotten you all through thick and thin, and was a special gift from a friend.

There was no way you could just get rid of her.

"Then... Then what's going to happen to the Merry?" Chopper added, his voice shaky and sad.

"Beats me," Zoro shrugged, "Honestly, it really just depends on how Luffy and the others react after hearing the assessment."

'Usopp...'

You had almost forgotten about him.

If anyone was going to get upset over this news, it would be him.

He loved the Merry more than anyone.

"Either way, I'm sure they'll get it sorted out while they're at the shipyard."

"It just seems so extreme! I mean, look at her," Sanji ran a hand through his hair, "Same old Merry that she's always been. We've traveled together all the way from the East Blue to this place! Why now?"

"You just answered your own question," Zoro stated, looking up at the cook, "Human beings become stronger hardship after hardship. But ships are different. Their wounds just pile up."

Silence fell after his words, everyone a little bit in denial.

You all knew his words were true, but it was just so hard to accept.

"I'm more concerned about what Usopp is gonna say when he hears about all of this..." you sighed, looking down at the deck.

"I don't wanna leave her! I love the Merry!" Chopper cried.

"I know, we all do. But her wounds are too deep," Zoro turned to him, "There's nothing we can do."

"The Merry's in trouble and Robin's still missing," Sanji stated, walking up to the figurehead, "I'm worried about both of them."

"Hey! Everyone!" Nami called.

You and Chopper quickly got up, joining Sanji by the rail to see Nami walking over.

"Look! It's Nami, and she's alone," Chopper noticed.

"Hmm? That's weird. I wonder what happened to Luffy and Usopp," Sanji, rubbed his chin, concerned, "Hi, Nami! Is everything all right?"

Everything was, in fact, not all right.

When she came aboard, she explained everything that happened.

Usopp had split from the group before the news about Merry was revealed, and while he was gone, the Franky Family kicked his ass and stole the money.

Nami found him bloody in the street and came back to the ship as soon as possible.

You, Zoro, Sanji, and Chopper went back into town to see if Usopp was where Nami had left, but he was gone, patches of dried blood leading away from the spot.

You ran into Luffy not long after that, and you all stormed the Franky Family's hideout together.

Only to find Usopp lying on the ground outside, beaten to a bloody pulp.

Luffy's face hardened, the five of you looking down at the sniper.

"Is he breathing, Chopper?"

"He's unconscious, but yes, he's breathing," the doctor assured, clearly upset at the state of his close friend, "He'll live. I can save him."

Luffy nodded, lowering his hat to shade his eyes.

"You wait out here for us. 'Kay, Usopp?"

Sanji lit a cigarette, and Zoro tied up his bandana, clearly angry.

Chopper lowered his hat as well, and you tied up your hair, taking out your earrings.

"We're gonna go level that stupid house to the ground."

The walk to the house felt like years, and the shared anger between the five of you was so palpable, that none of you dared speak and set it off.

'Those bastards are gonna pay.'

As you all reached the door, a very large man exited out of it, stopping when he saw you.

Luffy wound up his arm, letting it stretch, before punching the man straight in the face, sending him flying through the door and back inside.

"What was that?! What happened?!"

The dust settle to reveal the five of you standing in the large doorway, clearly upset.

"Who the hell are those guys?!"

"You jerks! You got a death wish?"

"I recognize them," one hunter exclaimed, fearful, "It's that pirate! Strawhat Luffy!"

The rest of them looked terrified, but one giant stepped forward with a cocky laugh.

"So you came here to get your money back, did ya? Bad move," he smirked, "Just take a look around. Do you really think the five of you are enough to handle all of us?"

He laughed, heartily.

"But since your here, we might as well take those big bounties you've got on your heads."

"He's the captain of the long-nosed weakling we took care of earlier!"

The others began to join in on the chuckles, making your blood boil.

"With that pitiful excuse for a pirate on his crew, he can't possibly be that strong."

The giant took another large step forward, staring you all down.

"Let's go! C'mon, shrimp!"

Luffy looked up at him, a dangerous glare in his eye as he wound up both his arms.

"Gum-Gum..." he started, punching the air around the giant at lightning speed before slamming one monster hit on the giant's armor, shattering it, "Canon!"

The man went flying, and the other bounty hunters shouted in fear.

"HE PUNCHED A HOLE RIGHT THROUGH IT!"

"Okay, guys! Fire the cannons!"

About seven canons all went careening straight into the air, and you flew up to greet them.

"Angelic..." You conjured up a mace, and hit them back like baseballs, "Shower!"

The crashed into the back walls of the house, completely destroying them.

"Impossible!"

Zoro quickly ran in after you, slicing up all of their cannons.

"Two Sword style: Kara Suma... Raven Hunt!"

"Holy crap!"

"These guys are seriously bad news!"

"Let's get out of here! Everybody run for the back door!"

They all turned around and booked it for the exit, but Sanji jumped over them, landing on a man's face.

"You guys started this fight. It's kind of pathetic to run from it like cowards," he glared, "Party Table... Kick Course!"

He swirled his legs, knocking out every hunter within a couple feet's radius before ax kicking one in the neck.

"The windows! Get to the windows!"

"Rumble!" Chopper exclaimed, tossing one of his Rumble balls in his mouth, "Horn-Point!"

He charged, chasing all of them down and using his horns to toss them into walls.

"Roseo Colonnade!"

"Wait! W-W-Wait, you guys!" One of the last few standing blubbered, "It's the money, right? You just want the money back? The two-hundred million berries the long-nosed guy had? Is that it?"

Luffy's eye twitched at the groveling.

It was pissing him off.

"I'm sorry to be the one to tell you but that pile of money isn't here anymore! Franky, the family boss, took all of it and went on a shopping spree! And since he's buying something on the black market, we don't have any idea where he might be or even how to find him!"

He panted, taking a deep breath.

"So, no matter how much of a rampage you go on, that 200 million won't be coming back! So why don't you and your-" 

Luffy didn't even let him finish the sentence, dropping him without a second thought.

"ZAMBAI!"

"Shut up. That's enough out of you," Sanji spat, brows furrowed, "This has nothing to do with the money."

"Damn straight. It's too late for that," Zoro agreed.

"You screwed up the second you laid a finger on one of our crew. There's no taking that back," you glared.

Luffy turned to look one of them dead in the eye, more serious than you've ever seen.

"Not even your bones will be left when we're done."

"Should we go after Franky?" Sanji asked, taking a seat on a large piece of scrap.

"And start looking where?" Zoro cocked a brow, tying his bandana back on his arm.

The five of you stood in the leveled remains of the Franky house, the place now just a pile of splintered wood.

Every single one of their hunters was out cold, strewn all over the makeshift battle field.

"It looks like these idiots really didn't know where he took the money," you sighed, furling your wings, "And even if we did find him, and he did spend the money, then there's no getting it back."

"Then what now?" Zoro crossed his arms, "Even if we wait around for him, he might not be back for quite a while."

You and Sanji gave each other an unsure look, not having the slightest on where to go from there.

"Okay! The first aid treatment is all done!" Chopper called, standing up from his spot next to Usopp, "We'll need to take him back on a stretcher, so I could use some help over here!"

Zoro nodded, turning towards the ship, "Well, hanging around here won't do us any good. Let's head back to the ship for now. We can strategize later."

"Yeah," Sanji agreed, "We left Nami there all by herself, and Robin's still missing. The ship's still a problem, too."

"Hey, Luffy!" you called to the boy, who was standing on a tall fixture not too far away.

"I've made a decision," he stated, facing towards the open ocean.

You paused, a little confused.

"Huh?"

"About the ship... It's time to part ways with the Merry. We'll say goodbye to her here."

[jimlingss]

Worshipers of the Spring

Part of the Worshipers Series

➜ Words: 9.5k

➜ Genres: 55% Angst, 40% Fluff, 5% Smut, God!AU

➜ Summary: The God of Wine is carefree and indulgent. Unlike many others who depend on pride and dignity, he does not care that he is not a powerful god. But when he stumbles upon a forest in the mortal realm, he discovers what desperation and anguish means.

The flowers bloom on command.   With one simple flick of the wrist, they bud and blossom, spilling over in an abundance of petals and flourishing in the living forest. The trees breathe, dancing together to the melody of the chickadee birds perched in their branches. It’s a hidden place that not many but brave souls or wandering children come across — a place where fields are verdant, hills grow and water bends.   And in this serene meadow, you are screaming.   If not from anger then out of sheer boredom.

The God of Wine waltzes into the grand hall.   As he stands with his feet rooted in the ground, chin high in the air and back straight, he runs his hand through his honey hair and then catches sight of a nymph dressed in loose robes barely hanging off of her shoulders. He smirks, the corner of his plump lips tugging with a sense of superiority and her eyes widen.   He winks and she nearly swoons to her knees.   “Jimin.”   The interaction is unfortunately cut short by a playfully stern voice, one where he can already envision the pout on the god’s face. It is only confirmed when he turns to find the God of Sun quickly skedaddling towards him, white and gold clothing swaying with him, and his glorious presence is enough to make the nymph scatter away with her cheeks blushing.   “You take all the fun away.”   “No, I am merely making sure that no one copulates on my floor.”   “Do you take me for some wild animal?” Jimin feigns offence and then bursts out laughing when Seokjin gives him an extended stare. “I can promise you that it would be extra fun to indulge in our lustful pleasures together, Seokjin. You, your concubines, and I.”   “You’ll know I’ll agree to that proposition the day the sun rises in the west instead of east, Jimin.” Seokjin fishes a red envelope out of his sleeve and hands it to him, the emblem of Heaven sealing it from being opened. “I need you to give this to Hansol.”   The God of Wine takes it with curiosity, wondering what Seokjin desires from the God of Mountains. “Isn’t he residing in the mortal realm?”   “He is.”   “I’m not your messenger boy, you know,” Jimin whines, realizing that he was called for yet another lousy task. “I’m supposed to be supplying wine to the gods, answering prayers of fertility, and throwing extravagant parties! Not reduced to delivering your letters like some measly servant.”   “I know, but you’re the only one I can trust, or at least the only one who I know won’t pry into my matters and try to open that and spread unnecessary gossip.” There is a held silence, and then the god of all gods relents. “The anniversary of the war is coming. It’ll mark one century of peace kept, I’ll let you host a celebration, alright?”   The corner of Jimin’s mouth pulls, the taste of victory sweet on his tongue. “That sounds more like it.”   //   There are many gods that despise mortals — it’s no secret when all they seem to do is beg, destroy, get greedy and beg some more. But the hatred has lessened greatly after the war, even when it was caused by a mortal. It’s true that the anger and resentment of the mortals forged the destruction, but it followed centuries of the gods being unforgiving and punishing. It was the consequences of them abandoning the humans for pride and contempt.    So while customs and habits have changed to ensure peace, the better part of Heaven still had their distaste for humans and the mortal realm. There were the strange ones who sympathized and adored mortals, but for Jimin, he was quite neutral.   At best, he found them amusing. Thus, he takes his time to enjoy the realm he seldom arrives at. Or at least those are his intentions until he descends and finds himself in an unfamiliar forest.    The God of Wine wanders for a moment, trying to find an exit, but it is strange. Even when the place is seemingly friendly, the sunlight cascading through the canopy of the trees and illuminating the shades of green into brighter hues, he cannot leave no matter what direction he takes. The trees seem to trap him inside.   Jimin is about to vanish away to free himself, but then as a breeze brushes through his hair, he halts.   The god catches sight of something. Or rather, someone.   Through the warm wind, peace blossoms flutter down from the tree like rain. It entwines with your hair, seemingly wrapping your entire frame with the soft colour. The petals decorate your crown, getting caught in your light pink silks adorned on your body, hugging you. The aroma of the flowers surround him, not pungent but rather faint, like a whiff of fresh perfume passing by.   “Stop that,” you scold while the loveliest of giggles befalls your lips and your nose scrunches as a petal falls onto your cheek until you brush it away. “It’s getting all over my dress and it tickles!”   You are the most beautiful person Jimin has ever had the privilege of laying his eyes on.   The God of Win’s breath hitches. He struggles to find the power of speech and then it uncharacteristically stutters out of him. “W-Who are you?”   Your neck snaps around at the sound of his sweet and soft voice. His honey hair is swept back, body adorned with luxurious black robes that are embroidered with gold swirls. Your gaze meets one anothers and it instantly goes quiet, the sound of the wind whistling between you two.   Jimin doesn’t notice the way the flowers around him bloom.   “Who are you?” The question is given back to him. “I don’t give my name to strangers.”   The corner of the god’s mouth quirks. “Well I’m not a stranger anymore.”   “You are until you give me your name,” you presumptuously state with your soft-spoken voice and the God of Wine grins, giving into your stubbornness.   “Jimin. My name is Jimin.”   “My name is Y/N.” A smile itches onto your face. “It’s nice to make your acquaintance.”   You catch a blossom within your hand, one that hasn’t bloomed into its full potential and he watches as you flourish it within your palm. The petals open up, pale pink that matches the shade of the sky during the first blush of dawn. Jimin is frozen in his spot as you close the distance, stepping across the forest floor to approach.   “I haven’t had someone stumble here for quite some time.” You extend your arm and he takes the flower you’re offering him, not sure what to do with it. But then you smile, quirking your head to one side. “Would you like to accompany me for a little while? I’ll make it worthwhile.”   Jimin smirks. “And if it isn’t worthwhile, then what shall you compensate me with?”   There seems to be a long moment where you genuinely contemplate, but after a beat, you huff out and have the audacity to grab his hand abruptly, tugging him along. “Just come see.”   Jimin nearly bursts out laughing. If you knew that he was the God of Wine who resided in Heaven, you’d probably get on your knees and bow — but your ignorance is endearing. For once, it’s enjoyable to be treated without caution or fear.   He follows you into a small meadow clearing where the tall trees surround and protect the area. The grass is a vivid hue of verdant, the lights soft with flower beds around. It’s clear that this is your home and that you’ve naively invited him into it. You have no sense of caution at all, unaware that he’s known for lust, that he embodies the entire idea of it. You’re merely humming underneath your breath, an infectious smile placed on your features.   Jimin wonders who exactly you are.   “I haven’t had a guest in so long,” you sing-song. “Come sit!”   You show him to a measly tree stump and he stares at you in indignation while you look at him blankly and then he’s giving in yet again. Jimin swishes his robes behind him and sits, thighs spread as he claims the spot like it’s a throne.   He eyes you as you waltz to several baskets under a nearby tree, tearing objects out. “It must’ve been a very long stroll to come to my forest. You must be hungry, right? Do you like nuts and berries?”   “I’m actually not hungry.”   Yet, you still come over with two wooden bowls that are filled with nuts, fruit and berries.   You place it on the pathetic stump in front of him, a small table of sorts, and you plop down across from him, smiling wide. Your elbows are propped on your knees, cheeks rested on your fists and you intently stare at him like he’s a new toy. “I insist.”   Jimin holds his sigh in his nose and takes a berry into his mouth. He nods at the taste.   If possible, you become even more enthused. “Like it?”   “It’s nice.”   “Yay!” You cheer and Jimin scoffs lightly with a smile. The things he does for fair maidens…   If Seokjin knew this was what he was doing in the mortal realm instead of running his errands, he might smite him. But in your presence, it might just be worth it. “I’m sorry there’s nothing to drink. I need to go to the stream again to collect freshwater…”   Jimin cocks a brow. It’s an opportunity to impress and he steals it while he still has the chance. “Well that’s not a problem,” he declares with a smirk and flicks his wrist.    At once your bowl fills with deep ruby wine.   You’re visibly taken aback, perplexed, and your expression quickly turns into a pout. You eye him. “You’re….not a human, are you?”   “Nope.” He playfully smiles, shaking his head. “I am the God of Wine. God of Fertility and Celebration, Jimin. Pleasure and drunkenness are in my domain, lust and bliss are bound to my will. Heaven knows no name but mine.” Jimin leans in, eyes connected with yours. You’re still surprised and a wolfish grin spreads across his face. “You aren’t a forest nymph, are you?”   “No.” Your head quirks and the corner of your own lip curls. In spite of knowing he is a god, you don’t appear to be anxious or reverential — and that fact is entertaining.   “What are you, girl?”   You hum as if contemplating to tell him. Jimin sits on the edge of the seat. But then—   “It’s a secret.”   The God of Wine scoffs. Though he must say, he likes the game you’re playing. Of all of his lifetimes, the females that have wanted him have given themselves to him easily. If he was not slapped by goddesses, then he had them in his lap. It’s not that he minds that it’s effortless, but you make him intrigued. He wonders how he can shed your coyness.   “You seem like a creature of many secrets.”   “I am, Jimin.”    Suddenly, the collar of his robes grabbed in both your fists and he’s pulled forward. Soft lips meet his. The god’s sound of surprise is muffled but he welcomes it. His eyes droop to become half-lidded and he tilts his head to deepen the kiss, dominating your tender point of contact.   It’s a velvet texture and Jimin can’t resist slipping his tongue into your mouth, drawing out those delicious whimpers of yours. It’s sweet, almost like what he imagines roses and tulips to taste like.   The bowls are soon knocked over, the wine dripping off the wooden stump and you push yourselves forward until the two of you are colliding onto the grass. Jimin rolls on top of you, pinning you to the soft meadow floor.    And when you both break apart to gasp for air between your swollen lips, Jimin realizes he was wrong.    You’re beautiful, but even more beautiful like this.   “Are you not fearful that I am a god?”   “Should I be?” you ask, shamelessly staring at his mouth and still grabbing onto his clothing with a tightening grip. Your hair pools around you, eyes glistening in the sunlight, your smile warm. Jimin considers that the best painting and sculpture in Heaven doesn’t even contend with you.   “You should.” He smirks. “I would hate to break someone as fragile as you.”   “Hmm, I’m afraid you’ve sorely underestimated me.”   “Oh?” Jimin’s shit eating grin expands. “I’ve had many servants, nymphs and goddesses cry for me before, Y/N.”   “And you assume I’ll be one of them too?” Your lashes flutter and he smiles, brushing a strand of your hair away from your face. “If this is a competition, then I’ve made plenty of mortals cry before too. Who knows, you might be the next one.”   The God of Wine laughs candidly and seals your lips once more in a searing kiss.   Your arms wrap around his neck and you pull him closer until he can feel your chest against his. His hand snakes up your leg, silk robes rolling up with it. Jimin knows it now — you’re a temptress. All you’ve done is play with him and tempt him, and he doesn’t know anything other than your name.   One moment he’s speaking to you and the next, he has you underneath him in this empty meadow. You are talented, he has to admit. To get a god like him crumbling so easily…   He is a master of lust but also one of self-control, though he was quickly losing it.   The thought has him pulling away before his desires overcomes his dignity.   “Where are you going?” It’s difficult when you look at him that way, rounded eyes and pouting as he comes to stand. You sound urgent too and it’s sweet. “Are you leaving?!”   “I’m glad you enjoyed my company, but trust me, pet.” Jimin leans down to tap your nose. “It’s better to miss me than to be bored.”   You scramble upwards, eyes glossy. “Won’t you stay a while longer?”   The god has an urge to kiss you, to hold you and bury himself inside while having you crying his name, but he shakes his head. “I’ll come back.” Jimin’s too smitten with you after all. “I promise.”   //   The envelope still sits in Jimin’s pocket, but before he goes to deliver it, he lingers in the nearby town. The God of Wine approaches a cluster of people at the marketplace and doesn’t hesitate to intrude into their conversation to ask about the girl in the forest. No one knows what he’s talking about, confused at who he is and what he’s inquiring about.   But before the god turns away without answers, a lady enamoured with his looks stops him.   “There are children myths. No one grown believes them, but they say there is a girl of flowers in the forest who makes the green grass grow. And a lot of young men who wander there don’t often return.”   The rumour has him perplexed and befuddled, coming up with more questions than answers. And before the woman can ask where he has come from, she looks back and he has vanished.   //   Jimin returns within three days' time, unable to break his promise or refuse his desires.   He descends to the forest, finding the familiar peach blossom tree and taking refuge beneath it while he waits for you. The God of Wine stays patient — surprisingly finding that he wouldn’t mind waiting years if he needed to see you. It all just adds to the anticipation after all.   Luckily for Jimin, he doesn’t need to wait more than a few minutes. He finds you wandering the forest while humming, a basket of flowers swinging from your wrist. And the moment your eyes connect with his, a smile plasters on your features, the basket drops to the ground and you’re running over.   The god laughs, worried that you’ll trip but you manage and even throw yourself around him.   “You’re back!”   He returns your embrace, arms wrapped around your shoulders. “I said I would be. You missed me, huh?”   “It’s not like I have anyone else to miss,” you say, pulling away from him and while he doesn’t know exactly what you mean, he’s distracted when you point to the bottle in his left hand. “What’s this?”   “It’s a gift for you.” Jimin smirks at your surprised delight and when you take it, he pompously crosses his arms across his chest. “The best wine in the entire universe created by yours truly. You should treasure it! It’s not often that others can receive gifts from the gods.”   “I...love it.” You’re ecstatic, studying the bottle intently as a grin expanding into your cheeks like you’ve never received a present from anyone before. And your genuine reaction only makes Jimin’s heart soften even more. You’re too naive, too innocent for him. It’s dangerous.    Jimin’s endearment for you makes him want to treasure you.    He knows he won’t be able to throw you away so easily — and he doesn’t want to.    “It’s only fair if I give you a gift too, right?” You smile tenderly, handing the bottle back to him for a moment.    Before he can protest and tell you that it’s unnecessary, you approach the tree and press your palms against the truck. As if you’re calling onto the universe or speaking to nature itself, suddenly the peach blossoms begin to bloom and fall. A warm breeze sweeps over the meadow, entwining into your hair and your dress. His breath becomes caught in his throat, head tilting towards the sky and he watches the way the pink petals dance in the air, enveloping him in a ticklish embrace.   Soon the God of Wine is being consumed by a whirlwind of blossoms. A storm of flowers raining down from the sky. It’s beautiful — especially with the way you cheekily grin at him, obviously enjoying how impressed he is by your powers. And it’s at this moment, as Jimin is encompassed by flower petals bursting forth, caught in the middle of this rain, that he finds himself unequivocally captivated by you.   “What do you think?” you ask of him when you’re done, arms behind your back as you tilt your head, lashes fluttering. There are still flowers drifting in the air, sweeping in the horizon downwards.    Jimin gazes at you and then he tugs you in by your waist. He presses his mouth against the delicate petals of your lips. He can feel you smile against him and that only serves for him to deepen the kiss.   His half lidded eyes soak in your sheepish expression and the God of Wine’s palm lifts to cradle your cheek. You’re letting him have his way with you and he’s unable to resist temptation any longer. Jimin’s fingers gently trail down to the collar of your robes and he slips them off your shoulder. The silks cascade down.   You’re a sorceress that has trapped him — who has completely enchanted him.   The two of you collapse back onto the forest floor, on top of the bed of fallen flowers. You pull him in, arms encircling his neck while murmuring his name through swollen lips that gasp for air. Your hands interlace together and Jimin eagerly parts your thighs with your timid permission, allowing him to slot himself where your heat is.    He kisses you again, plush lips against your neck, between your breasts and down to where you’re wet. As Jimin’s mouth wraps around your bud, broken sobs of his name are drawn out of your heaving chest. He relishes in the noises and the way your fingers sink into the hair at the nape of his neck to pull.   The God of Wine feeds off of the lust swelling between the pair of you and soon, you’re both trapped in his thick haze, intoxicated off of one another’s bodies. Jimin is drunk when he lifts himself to kiss you again. He is giddy when you urgently pull at his own clothes until he’s bare like you are. And he’s dizzy when he nudges the head of his cock to the pink lips of your heat.   Your legs wrap around his waist when he finally pushes in, groaning your name while you cry out, writhing beneath him. He brushes a strand of hair away from your sweaty forehead, finding you utterly captivating. You’re beautiful when you’re beneath him, surrounded by a bed of flowers, calling out his name like it’s the only thing you know.    It makes the God of Wine selfish — holding a desire to keep you here forever. To keep you by his side for eternity.   “Feel good?”   “Y-yeah.” You nod shyly, teeth sinking into your pink lips.   Jimin looks down to where you’re connected, where he continuously thrusts in and out of your weeping center. It’s mindless, where he succumbs to his own self-created atmosphere of pleasure, but when he looks up at you again, your eyes are fluttering at him. You have the sweetest smile spread into your face, hands grabbing at his arms.   He’s corrupting you in the middle of the forest floor and you don’t even seem to mind.   It makes his hips stutter and your breath catches in your throat. “J-Jimin.”   “I love you.” The confession spills out of him unintentionally.    They are words of affection that were always too great for the dignity and pride that he carried on his shoulders. Yet now it tumbles out without thought, without any consideration for the consequences or your inevitable rejection. But even when it's an accident, even when he fears the emotions swelling in the pit of his stomach, the God of Wine doesn’t mean it any less.   “Ji-min.” You’re gazing into his eyes before you’re cumming around him. He picks up pace and leans down to kiss you quiet, allowing the smallest of muffled whimpers to spill over. And then soon after, his pelvis hits against yours and he’s cumming deep into you, ropes painting your walls white, leaving himself inside your core until you’re dripping past.   When the pair of you are done and spent, Jimin holds you close. His lips lay against your forehead, arms wrapped around your torso as he dreams. “Let me bring you to Heaven.”    He doesn’t care who you are anymore. He just wants you by his side. “I can show you my home. You can have whatever you want. I’ll take care of you.”   Suddenly, his side becomes cold.   You’ve pulled away from him, body looming over his as you sorrowfully stare into his eyes. “I can’t, Jimin. I can’t leave this place,” you murmur with the scrunch of your brows.   He sits up with you. “Why not?”   “An….an angry god has trapped here.” Your forehead leans in to press against his. “I have to stay in this forest.”   The God of Wine pulls away, hands wrapping around your shoulders. His eyes darken and his tone lowers to resonate all around the meadow. “Who? What god?”   You shake your head. “I don’t know.”   Your anguish only serves as his own heartbreak.   //   The God of Wine has never been so bewildered and distressed. He is used to easing other gods, allowing them to become tranquil under the cloak of pleasure and drunkenness. In the realm of the gods, Jimin is fun-loving, carefree, irresponsible as opposed to many of their disciplined and imperious personalities. He enjoys throwing extravagant parties and celebrations, making wine to get divine beings under his intoxication, even when he is aware they are all trivial affairs that don’t affect the universe.    Jimin knows he is not a powerful god, but it has never bothered him. Until now.   Now, he yearns for you. Now, he has been overcome with such a strong emotion that his incapabilities bring forth frustration. Now, he is troubled instead of jovial.    It doesn’t make sense. There is no reason a god should ever punish you.   You are genuine, demure, kind hearted. You wouldn’t even hurt a flower or butterfly, much less anything else.    He does not know the reason as to why you have been trapped. He does not know who has punished you so. And he does not know who you are.   “Jimin.” His name booms from an individual with the scent of the sea wafting off his dark blue robes. His arms are placed behind his back as he walks with his lips tight in a line. And he approaches him in front of the palace of the Sun, below the hundred steps and on the cobblestone path “I was looking for you.”   The God of Wine brings his attention away from his thoughts and grins at the God of the Sea in all his glory. “The Great Jungkook looking for me? That doesn’t happen every decade! I am honoured.”   Jungkook is unamused. “I heard you were throwing a celebration to mark a century of peace.”   Jimin hums, stroking his chin thoughtfully. “Perhaps.”   “I can assume then that you will not extend an invitation to anyone unnecessary.”   Jimin smirks, aware of the ongoing conflict between him and the Goddess of Sky. “Perhaps,” he playfully answers.   Jungkook’s eyes narrow. “It would be wise of you to tread carefully.”   He hums. “Perhaps.”   “Jimin.”   The God of Wine laughs. “Last I checked, Seokjin has given me full permission to do as I please, so I will. I don’t get to throw celebrations like this every century and you have to come whether you like it or not. But fear not, there will be plenty of opportunity for you to indulge yourself, so if you want to release some of your tension….”   Jungkook huffs, slapping Jimin’s hands away when he comes to squeeze at his shoulder and wrinkles his luxurious clothing. “I don’t know why I even bother.”   The God of Sea turns away, stomping and while Jimin smiles, it falls after a moment.    “Jungkook.”   “What?”   All traces of his mischief and lightheartedness have dissipated. What remains is a state of solemnness and urgency. “Do you know of anyone who lives in the mortal realm’s forests?” The two of them look at one another after Jungkook turns. “Someone who can make flowers bloom.”   The Great God of Water furrows his brows. “I don’t. Why?”   “No reason,” he murmurs.   It is difficult to find the answers to the numerous questions he has.    Jimin doesn’t want to ask Seokjin himself, certain that the god would never respond seriously and might just give him riddles that would make his mind want to melt. And inquiring from the Goddess of Wisdom, Yena, herself would simply arouse her curiosity.    Rumours would spread and he doesn’t want to risk putting you in danger if you were indeed a mortal. After all, relations between gods and mortals are looked down upon. It’s disgraceful. And the last thing that Jimin wants is for you to have to suffer the consequences, of having to face the council and have other gods meddle with your affairs. He would never be able to keep you right by his side as he desires…   The God of Wine finds himself seeking refuge to one of the most ancient gods — one that he knows would never chatter about his predicaments to others.   Jimin slams down the door of the cold palace, causing the God of the Moon to jolt where he’s asleep on his grand bed, blindfold on and blanket tucked to his chin. It’s too easy to disrupt him or to come and go as he pleases, especially when there’s not a single servant around to stop him from making such a rude entrance.   “You must be asking for death,” Yoongi mutters out of the corner of his mouth, voice husky and thick with slumber. He raises to slip off his blindfold and glares. One of the most composed gods in the universe is glowering at him with the intensity of death itself. “It is midday, Jimin.”   “Was just checking to see if you were lonely.” Jimin grins, waltzing in casually.   “I was asleep.” The God of Moon is nocturnal, sleeping during the day to lift the moon during the night. But in spite of his rest being disrupted, he sighs and loses tension in his form. The wise god knows it must be of importance to be suddenly awakened. “What do you want from me?”   “I want to give you an invitation to a party. I don’t have it on me now, but I just wanted to tell you that you’re invited.”   It goes quiet.   Yoongi stares, cat-like eyes in the colour of obsidian and he repeats himself. “What do you want from me?”   “Well, now that you say it like that, I feel kind of guilty for coming at such an inconvenient time…” Jimin lingers and then clears his throat. “I was wondering if you knew of someone who lives in a forest in the mortal realm.”   “There are many forest nymphs like that—”   The God of Wine shakes his head. “Someone who can make flowers bloom. Someone who can turn buds into full flowers and make it rain petals.” His fists clench in his lap as he remembers you and your heartbroken expression. “I keep thinking about it and...I can’t come up with a proper name for them.”   It is silent once more.    “Why?”   Jimin shrugs, feigning a smile. “Curious, that’s all.”   “I don’t know of such a person. I’ve never heard such tales.” Yoongi falls back down onto his bed and rolls over so his expression isn’t seen. He tugs his covers up over his shoulders and the God of Wine scoffs. But before he can leave, his calm voice calls out to him— “Spare yourself. Don’t wander where you shouldn’t, Jimin.”   “You know who she is?” Jimin halts at the darkened doorway. “Yoongi.”   There aren’t any answers.   Jimin leaves a bottle of wine on the God of Moon’s table anyhow as compensation for waking him so rudely. He knows full well that Yoongi won’t say any more than what he already has.   But that doesn’t stop Jimin’s frustration from swelling, feeling powerless when he is trying to find the answers to what he so desperately wants to know but having nowhere to turn.   Once outside, he turns to search the sky that’s painted over in a shade of bright azure without a cloud in sight. The rays are almost blinding, and with the reminder of Jungkook’s apprehension, Jimin goes to find a friend he has known well — a lonely goddess who lives on a lower part of Heaven. It’s a peaceful place without prying eyes, but with two servants who constantly fret over her.   The Goddess of the Sky greets him with her customary hug, eccentric as she is energetic. And the pair of them sit together on the patio of the garden house with a small table in between. They share drinks like they’ve done occasionally through the decades while silently sharing their sorrows.    Today, Jimin enjoys how the goddess has decorated the place with flowers blooming from their boxes as a slight breeze brushing through the leaves of the trees. The atmosphere reminds him of you and suddenly, the wine tastes bitter on his lips.   He calls the Goddess of Sky’s name.   “Hmm?”   “Do you know of anyone who has been trapped in the mortal realm’s forest?” He thinks of you and his heart aches. “Someone who lives in the meadow. Someone beautiful and kind who collects flowers in baskets, who makes petals rain from the sky, who makes flowers bloom.” Jimin speaks your name in a soft whisper like it is a prayer. “Do you know anyone like that?”   The Goddess of Sky’s head quirks and she doesn’t wonder why he asks. “There is only one goddess who can make flowers bloom.”   //   Jimin doesn’t care for keeping his promises.    Perhaps it is because he is fickle like many gods, or tricky. He has always liked to find loopholes after all and twist things the way he wanted them to be. Promises, after all, are merely words that hold little consequences.   But with you, Jimin has always kept his word.   He has no desire to lose your trust, for you to wait for him and be disappointed. Everything he has said to you has been his vow. It has been the oath of a god.   So he visits you again, descending down to the forest, patiently awaiting underneath the peach blossom tree as he studies the trees that breathe and whisper his name, allowing you to know that he is here. And soon enough, you are humming and hopping down the path.   When his gaze meets yours, the biggest smile spreads into your cheeks, one infectious enough to make him laugh too. Then you’re running and he opens his arms, stumbling back as you leap into his embrace.   “I missed you so much!   “I said I would return, didn’t I?”   He is a fool, no less than a mortal man himself. He’s fallen in love with you without even knowing who you are.    Your arms wrap around his neck and you lean up to press a kiss against his smile. It makes Jimin’s grin widen while he tries to kiss you back and after a moment, as the flowers dance through the warm breeze, you take his hand. “Come on.”   Just for this second, he savours your warmth and softness of your hand.   But like all moments, they never last as long as one would like.   The two of you make it to the clearing, to your home. “Are you hungry? Thirsty? Would you like anything?”    “No.” Jimin pulls you back before you can run towards your baskets and he gazes at your features with softened eyes. “Actually, there’s something that I want to talk to you about, Y/N.”   “Oh?” You loll your head to your shoulder, pout at your lips. “What is it?”   The God of Wine braces himself. He squeezes your fingers that are laced together with his own. He inhales a breath, filling his lungs with the fresh air and his senses with the scent of the fertile soil around him. He listens to the rustle of the leaves, watching the way the wind tangles through your hair and silk clothing.   Jimin wants to bottle this moment to keep by his side, but he can’t. He can’t plead ignorance to what he knows now, can’t turn a blind eye like he wants.   “I know who you are.” The words befall his lips in a murmur. His gaze locks with yours. Jimin calls your true name— “Goddess of the Spring.”   The wind whistles around him.   But the trees remain still. The verdant grass does not move. The flowers no longer sway.   The forest is at a standstill, frozen in time.   You are the Goddess of Birth, the Goddess of Flowers. You are the controller of the vernal equinox, of fertility of vegetation and of budding florals. You are the Goddess of Spring.   And you were in the council of fifteen before being exiled and banished from Heaven for your participation in the Great War — for fighting against Seokjin and the other gods. You’ve been forgotten and now trapped here as a punishment, forced to live amongst the mortals that you despise the most and forced to watch your beautiful creations die when the seasons end into the cold and frost.   Jimin knows how much you hate humans; how much you detest them for tricking you, taking advantage of Spring and killing everything that you love. He knows how you often lure humans here to kill them — that underneath this forest floor is a layer of blood and bones — that you were probably going to kill him too until he revealed that he was a god. And he knows how you haven’t been reborn since that time, since over a hundred years ago and you’re still holding onto your resentments of the past.    “I’m right, aren’t I?”   Like a faint spot on his mind, Jimin can faintly recall you.   He remembers seeing you over a century ago, walking down the paths of Heaven, giggling with the other goddesses, always with flowers in your hair. He can barely remember the way his eyes used to stray towards you, not thinking much but merely how beautiful you are….   Your hand lets go of his.   You stumble back.   “It wasn’t my fault.”   Jimin remains still, staring into your eyes. The wind whistles around him as if calling his name.   “I was tricked,” you murmur and shake your head wildly. “I don’t deserve to be here. I...I’ve been by myself for so long.” Tears fill your eyes, droplets hanging off your lashes and you gaze at him. “Don’t leave me...don’t leave me….you...can’t leave…”   He doesn’t notice the way the branches grow, twisting towards him until they’ve wrapped around his wrists and ankles. Jimin sharply inhales, fighting against the pulling binds and trying to break them apart. But the thorny vines from the rose bushes grow, capturing his limbs. “Y/N! I won’t leave!”   “You lie to me!” You shriek and the tornado of petals surrounds him in a storm. “Everyone lies to me!”   “I haven’t,” the God of Wine spits while struggling against the shackles that hold him up.   Jimin knows — you were manipulating him, trying to use him for escape, using him to find a way to leave. And even though it hurts, he didn’t care for a second when he found out.   “I’ve given you everything you wanted!” you scream and the forests darken, creeping towards him. “I let you abandon me twice! Leave me here waiting for you to return! And now that you know….you’re going to leave me here forever!”   The thorns sink into his skin, branches tightening around his flesh.    Jimin gives up. He stops fighting. Instead, he chooses to gaze into your eyes tenderly.    “I love you.”   “Liar!” you cry out, sobbing as a great tremor breaks through you, tears rushing down your cheeks and the flowers around you begin to wither away.   “I don’t care who you are. I don’t care what you’ve done,” he says, heart aching as he watches you succumb to your derangement, having been trapped in this one place for a hundred years by your lonesome. “I want to be with you, I want you by my side.”   “All the gods have ever done was lie to me.” You shake your head and crumble to the ground. Your hands lift to cover your ears as if you don’t want to hear his sweet words any longer for fear of being deceived. “All they’ve done is taken advantage of me, trapping me from one place to the next!”   Jimin’s unable to escape and you’ve broken down in front of him.   He stares at you while he becomes enveloped in branches and vines, much like how you’ve killed other young men. But he is not a mere mortal.   A haze erupts from the God of Wine. It’s a smothering spell that sweeps across the meadow, making it hard to think. And it creates an intoxicating atmosphere of pleasure as if you had bathed in wine. It steals your sobriety, making you drunk and incapable of thought.   Through the gaps between the branches, Jimin can see tension leave you. He can see the way your form softens, your hands dropping from cupping your ears and the forest lights again. The grass and leaves become verdant, flowers standing upright, the animals peeking out from their hiding places.    He’s impaired your wrath, made you inebriate from your anguish of isolation and imprisonment.   And he frees himself from the vines and branches.   “J-Jimin…?” you call out to him gently, words slurring and eyes narrowed as if you cannot see.   He thickens the haze, keeping you in place — into yet another prison — cloaking you away from reality.   “I will come back. I’ll figure out a way to free you, I promise.” With the God of Wine’s oath made, he vanishes.   //   The palace of the Sun has always been the grandest of all of Heaven. It faces west so that when the sun rises, it lifts behind the towers and illuminates the hundred marble steps leading up to it. It is deserving that the place Seokjin resides in is the most impressive — after all, he is the ruler of all rulers, the god of all gods, and somehow manages to keep the peace between the most prideful and self-interested deities. It is a task that most would be unable to do.   But on this occasion, Jimin cannot muster forth his respect or come quietly into the palace as he often does.   “Your Highness!” There is a sea of servants chasing after him, the God of Sun’s advisors floundering at his feet as he marches through the corridor, ripping open every door. “Please!”   “Where is he?!”   “Who dares make such a ruckus in my home?!” There is a booming voice that resonates across the sky and when Jimin whirls over, he finds Seokjin staring down at the yellow room from his place on the upper terrace. His many servants jolt and lower their heads immediately, moving aside as he walks down the stairs, glorious robes brushing against the tiled floor.   Seokjin sighs, anger quickly fading at discovering the God of Wine. “Is there something wrong, Jimin?”   “You trapped her there, didn’t you?” he asks, brows furrowed and expression crumpled in sorrow.   The God of Sun inhales a deep breath and turns to where his servants are. He waves them off with his hand and they deepen their bow before scattering away. Once alone, Seokjin returns his attention onto the god. “You’re going to have to be more specific than that if you want me to know what you’re talking about.”   “The Goddess of Spring.” Jimin speaks your name, looking up at Seokjin for an explanation.   It goes silent and Seokjin places his arms behind his back, slowly walking towards the open arch window of the room where the silhouettes of temples and homes in Heaven can be seen. Jimin follows him, eyes pinned on his profile.   “How long have you been seeing her?”   “So it’s true.” Jimin doesn’t answer, knowing that Seokjin's question is the confirmation he needed. “You trapped her in that forest.”   “She is intelligent, Jimin. More than what she seems. She knows how to influence others,” the God of Sun murmurs and twists to look at him. The two gods’ eyes connect to one another’s. “But yes, it’s true. She fought against us in the Great War, caused chaos and devastation of Heaven and the mortal realm. But she showed me sincere remorse and because I pitied her, I gave her what she wanted. She wanted to be in her forest and in the mortal realm.”   “You trapped her,” Jimin argues.    Your biggest desire was granted to the greatest extreme.   You were brought to the human realm and forced to watch everything you love constantly live and die when the seasons end. Never to return to Heaven — never to leave the forest.   “It is her punishment,” Seokjin clarifies. “And she was treated with the most leniency.”   Jimin shakes his head, throat becoming clogged with grief for you. “How long do you intend to keep her there?”   “More than a century.” The bright sunlight casts on his face, causing his skin to glow. “Perhaps indefinitely.”   “Let her go,” he whispers, pleading.   “Jimin.”   “Free her.” The God of Wine pushes all dignity aside to beg. “Her isolation is driving her to madness and because she hasn’t been reborn, she is still holding onto resentments of the past. Her anger can’t fade.”   “Good,” Seokjin says, turning away from him. “She is our enemy, Jimin. This is supposed to be her punishment.”   “For more than a hundred years?”   “You do not remember what destruction she has caused.” The God of the Sun sighs. “Many gods wanted worse for her. And she has been exiled from Heaven. I cannot risk conflict when peace is still fragile.”   Seokjin snaps his neck around when Jimin suddenly drops. He looks down, finding the God of Wine on his knees. “She won’t hurt anyone anymore. I will swear to it.”   “How can you assure that?”   Jimin lifts his chin, gaze unwavering. “Allow her to be reborn with me. I will watch over her. We will start anew together.”   “You love her,” Seokjin mutters and exhales steadily. He shakes his head in disapproval. “Get up, Jimin. No god should get on their knees, not for another and not for me. She has manipulated your emotions into feeling this way. Your mind will clear with time.”   “It won’t,” he says with such certainty. And for a God like him to have such conviction, the God of the Sun is surprised. “Please, Seokjin. Give her a chance. If not for her, then for me.”   “I never took you for such a fool, Jimin. Get up before someone sees you.” On his command, Jimin wobbles upwards. “You must trust that my judgment is not wrong. I will free her someday but not now. Collect yourself and if you know what is good for you, then you will not see her anymore.”   Before the God of Wine can part his lips and make counters, beg and plead on his knees once again, the God of Sun has already strode away with his arms behind his back and his shoulders square, unwilling. Jimin is left staring at the god’s backside until it fades away from his sight.   And against Seokjin’s advice, he goes to see you again.   He can’t leave you behind. He won’t.    No matter what anyone says, no matter if you are using him and tricking his emotions to your advantage, he won’t abandon you. As foolish as it may be, his affections for you are unconditional.   Jimin steps through the thick haze, coughing at the atmosphere he had created and put in place. It is smoldering and suffocating, making it difficult to think. But because it is his own power, he is able to tread through it, past the trees of the forest and into the familiar clearing.   There he finds you, slumped on the ground where he had left you, muttering to yourself.   “Y/N?”   “J-Jimin?” Your eyes narrow, unable to see him and your words slur as if intoxicated. The force of pleasure has rendered you incapable of much thought or movement. “You’re back?”    He lowers himself down, tears threatened at his lashes as his gaze sets upon you. Jimin reaches out and embraces your body, your head against his chest. “I’m here.”   “I...I can’t feel...my hands,” you blubber, panic leaking into your voice with the shreds of your sanity fleeting. “Help...he..lp.”   He has imprisoned you — to keep you from your anger, to keep you from hurting him and yourself. The God of Wine has done the one thing he swore to liberate you from. “I’m sorry. I...I’m sorry.”   Jimin is powerless.   He cannot free you from this forest. He can’t free you from your isolation and madness.   “I’m sorry.” He holds you against him as you drunkenly sob into his shoulder.   The meadow is serene, but when you begin to scream, he wraps his arms around you tighter.

The celebration marking a hundred years of peace is planned and thrown successfully with all the gods invited to commemorate. Jimin is diligent, more so than usual, having personally handed out each invitation and ensuring that Seokjin would be satisfied — he is, but never brings up the Goddess of Spring again in spite of how hard Jimin earnestly tries.   Time passes as Jimin continues to throw parties and celebrations, drinking wine with the gods above, expediting the pleasure that they can indulge in. But it’s not the same.    And the God of Wine never stops seeing you.   Each time he has a moment to spare, each time Spring begins and ends, he comes to be with you, cradling you in his arms and soothing your maddening worries.    “’m cold.”   You’re shivering against him, placed lifelessly in his lap with your forehead pressed to his cheek while his arms are secure around your shoulders. Winter has come and claimed all you have known and love. The branches of the trees are enveloped in frost, icicles hanging where petals once were. The meadow is blanketed in white, frigid snow making all that was living hiding away.   Your forest has turned into a frozen void, an eerie silence lingering where the violent blizzard was — it took all that you had created and nurtured over the year.   “I know.” Jimin pulls you closer.   “Everything’s dying…” you murmur, surrounded in the grave of once was. The flowers have withered and tears slip down your cheeks. The droplets aren’t of sorrow but anger and the God of Wine thicken the intoxicating haze to try to ease your mind.   “It’s okay…” He does what he can to console you over the loss, but he knows it does little.    Jimin is helpless and incapable.    But if he were stronger, if only his powers meant more…   You’re lulled to sleep in his embrace, breathing steadying. Jimin sighs, breath creating a cold cloud from his parted lips. And after a quiet moment, he hears the crunch of snow — it’s not made by an animal, but footsteps of another.    Jimin turns to discover the God of Sun walking through the field of snow, slow and cautious with his arms behind his back as his golden and white robes sweep against the ground.   “You never listened well, did you, Jimin.” Seokjin offers a soft smile and his fond eyes stray to you for a moment. It’s been a long time since he’s seen you. “Don’t let her wake up. If she sees me, she might just die in a fit of rage and make it worse for the both of us...”   “How did you know I was here?”   “I was looking for you and heard you didn’t return to Heaven. I knew there was no other place that you could be. I knew you ignored my warnings and continued to see her.”   “Are you going to take her away from me?” Jimin asks, fear and wariness rising in his voice.   But Seokjin calmly shakes his head.   “I’m going to stay with her, whether that means in Heaven or here,” Jimin declares while his arms around you become rigid, in case he’s torn apart from you.   “I know.” He nods. “I’ve never considered you so loyal and devoted, but it suits you well, Jimin. I am glad there are gods like you.”   Jimin sets you down on the blanket and you stir for a second before falling back into your slumber, chest rising and falling in a state of ignorant bliss. He gazes at you for a moment and then comes to face the God of Sun, trusting him enough that he won’t rip the two of you apart.   “You can’t protect her forever, even in this haze you’ve created,” he sighs and waves his hand around as if dispelling away a cloud. Seokjin is the only god unaffected by Jimin’s abilities. Yet he has never belittled his tricks and even now smiles.    Jimin doesn’t need to ask why he’s here. Seokjin tells him, “You can say I’ve had a change of heart. I’ve been thinking of what you’ve told me. I wouldn’t be a good ruler if I didn’t have mercy and compassion, right?”   The implication of his words sinks into Jimin and his breath catches into his throat.    “You’re….going to free her?”   “Justice has been served,” Seokjin says, looking around the forest, able to see how well it’s been taken care of even in the middle of the coldest season. “It’s not good to live in the past either. But I have conditions—”   The God of Wine is eager. “What conditions?”   “I will release her from her imprisonment and you both will be reborn as children for a fresh start.” Seokjin’s voice booms across the forest, resonating all around them as if he was making an oath. “A new lifetime if she can agree to put the past behind her. But you must watch over her, Jimin. It won’t be easy. Most of the gods won’t be happy about this arrangement. It will be an uphill battle to gain acceptance. So, you must guide and protect her. If the Goddess of Spring ever steps out of line or causes bloodshed or strife in Heaven, the fault will be both of yours to bear.” He pauses and the corner of his plush lips quirk, eyes lit with mirth. “Do you agree to this deal?”   Jimin answers through an embrace.   The God of Wine leaps up to hug the God of the Sun, causing the latter to stumble back and burst out into laughter, patting the former’s back awkwardly. “Alright, alright. Don’t forget who we are.”   “Thank you, Seokjin. Thank you…”   “I know.” He pulls him apart and grins. “But if it were not because I trust you, I would not so easily agree.”   The God of Sun’s hand falls on his shoulder, touch feather-light but squeezing comfortingly. He has an approving expression, mind put at ease knowing that you have someone like Jimin by your side. And it’s at this moment that Jimin knows his efforts were not futile. What he could not achieve with his powers, he countervailed with sincerity and truth.    No longer are you the trapped goddess punished for past wrongdoings.   You are the Goddess of Spring, companion of the God of Wine.

“Jimin!”   A squeaky giggle streams from your chest and he whirls around sulking. You pout at him, getting impatient with how long he’s taking. The sun wasn’t going to be up forever and you still wanted to play. “C’mon, slowpoke. What are you waiting for?”   “I’m coming, I’m coming,” he whines and runs to you, leaving the third jug of wine unfinished from brewing. He’s still not very fast at making it, but he knows he’ll learn. There’s still plenty of time.   Your hand opens, catching his and you laugh as your fingers interlace.   Heaven is noisier than it used to be.   The grandiose paradise of temples and homes of gods, etched with precious marble and gold, now has two rascals making mischief together. As headache-inducing as the pair of you are to the many gods that reside here, you’re still endearing as you are troublemakers. And with how you’ve filled every crevice of Heaven with beautiful flowers and Jimin supplies them wine, no god is ever angry for long—    Except that time you transformed Jungkook’s head of hair into a bed of moss; Jimin couldn’t help you much there. But he won’t ever let anyone bully you...unless it’s himself, of course.   “Are you sure this is okay?” you ask, quirking your head to one side as you watch him climb the fence into Seokjin’s garden.   “It’s okay.” Jimin gives a cheesy grin. “I know a secret hideout!”   Jimin still knows his way around Heaven, recalling vaguely from his past life where everything is. But for you, everything seems new and unfamiliar. It’s been a long time since you’ve been back to Heaven, Jimin knows, although he really enjoys the way you gander around with wide eyes as if you can’t believe this is your home now.   “Come on!”   Without hesitation, you take your best friend’s hand and he helps pull you to the other side.   The garden is wide and vast, verdant grass tall and luscious. The bushes and ground are full of buds placed perfectly in rows, petals nervously peeking out, still yet to fully open. Jimin’s been thinking about it for some time now, but he’s sure this is a place you would really love.   He looks around with a proud smile.   “What do you think?”   When there’s no answer, Jimin twirls around.   At the same time, a breeze brushes through his hair and he halts.   Your palms are pressed flush against the truck of the tree in the center of the garden. And as if you are calling onto the very soul of the tree, through the warm wind, peace blossoms begin to flutter down the tree like rain.   It entwines with your hair, seemingly wrapping your entire frame with the soft colour. The petals decorate your crown, getting caught in your light pink silks adorned on your body, hugging you. The aroma of the flowers surround him, not pungent but rather faint, like a whiff of fresh perfume passing by.   Giggles befall your lips, nose scrunching as the petals fall onto your cheeks, tickling you.    And Jimin smiles. His previous lifetime wasn’t wrong — you are indeed the most beautiful being he has ever seen or laid witness to.   “Like it?” you ask with a grin.    The flower rain was a gift and one he will always cherish.   Jimin smiles as he gazes at you. “I love it.”   And the flowers around him bloom.

[xxisxxisxxis]

Gateway Drug | Part Fifty-Nine

Words: 4.4K

Warning(s): Explicit language, minor sexual situations, mentions of drug abuse

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Sharise and I watch as Adriana demonstrates basic pole dancing techniques in the empty strip joint.

Sharise, me, Duff, Steven and Steven's lady friend/dancer, Adriana, all came into Adriana's place of work during closed hours, with the permission of her boss, being that this is the club the "Girls Girls, Girls" video is being filmed in and I decided I'd join Sharise in it.

Of course Sharise and I aren't gonna be doing Cirque du Soleil on a pole in the video, it's just an excuse to get out of the house and good off for a few hours.

"Okay, going upside down." She states. "Stand to whatever side of the pole is most comfortable, and whatever side you stand on, place the opposite foot close to the base of the pole." she tells us. "So, I'm standing to the left of the pole, so my right foot is gonna be near the base of the pole, and my right hand is gonna hold the pole at shoulder height, and you'll want to hold the pole close to you so it's a tighter spin."

"Ooo." Steven comments to add interest, sipping his beer.

"Now, your other hand, will hold the pole higher up, like this." Her left hand holds the pole higher up. "Then you kick the leg that's furthest from the pole, up." Her left leg kicks up. "While acting like you're trying to pull the pole downward." She's upside down in half a second. "Then the leg you kicked up wraps around the front of the pole, and the leg you kept closest to the pole, goes behind. And when you slide down," she slowly starts making her way to the floor, "keep your chin tucked so you don't fall and break your neck." She reaches the floor and is smoothly laid onto her back before she stands up.

"Okay, Viv, you try." Steven nudges at me.

"Yeah, Viv." Sharise echos, smiling at me.

"Oh, dear." I mumble, getting up from my chair, Duff, Steven and Sharise clapping as I get up on stage, standing to the left of the pole.

"Okay, so, right foot." I put it at the base of the pole. "Left foot here, right hand here, left hand here..." I say to myself.

"Now, kick." She tells me and I do so.

Obviously I'm not as graceful, looking like an upside down koala clinging to a tree for dear life, my eyes squeezed closed, a sound between a laugh and a shriek coming out of me.

"Be sexy, Viv." Stevie suggests.

I open my eyes, seeing his right side up figure sitting at the table with Duff and Sharise.

"I don't think I can get down." I admit, my legs keeping on the pole but curling closer and closer into me as my fear of falling on my head grows.

Duff and Steven sarcastically cheer, and I feel the sprinkling of cash fall over me before turning my head to glare at them.

"Here." Adriana helps me down, chuckling at them poking fun at me while Sharise thinks it's pretty funny, too.

"Nice job, babe." Stevie states sarcastically and I raise a brow.

"You get up here and do it, then." I reply and he scoffs.

"Oh, I will." He stands up, sashaying to the stage seductively and I hold back my laughter as Adriana raises her brows. "Okay, get down, lemme have my moment to shine." He nudges Adriana and I off stage and we go to sit at the table with Sharise and Duff.

Steven, the natural performer and entertainer he is, starts completely winging it--giving us a hot but very questionable strip tease.

I wrinkle my nose when he gets his shirt off and starts coming down from the stage, walking towards me.

His incredibly hairy chest grows closer and closer and I already know his motivations before he can get to me.

I try to get out of dodge, but Duff is a traitor and holds at my wrist so I can't get away.

I feel Steven's arms wrap around me, his itchy fur against my back and I squeal as Duff, Sharise and Adriana continue to laugh their asses off.

Nikki could barely get the hair on his chest to grow, and when it finally did, he was proud. I had never seen that much hair until I saw Steven with his shirt off.

He had enough hair on his chest and his stomach to make sweaters...when he was naked (which I discovered tended to happen when he got very drunk) I never looked long enough to try to find his prick in the thick of his pubes.

He's just a hairy, hairy, man.

I'm finally calming down and elbowing Steven, gently, getting him off of me in time to look at him, seeing Nikki leaning against the bar in the corner, looking oh so unamused.

"H-Hey." I say to him, really pushing Stevie away.

I don't want him to face Nikki's wrath incase Sikki decides to make an appearance and say something smart about us having fun together without his supervision.

He had gotten upset with me over staying the night with Duff, and I had finally shut him up with:

"You're angry because you know how you treat me, and you know the day I decide I'm done with your bullshit I can walk away from you and have every reason to do so! And I'll be even more inclined to walk away if there's someone that treats me better, and there is! You know there is and you can't stand the thought of it but you don't want to change, either, so I don't know what to tell you other than I'm here with you and I'm not going anywhere. But I'm getting tired, Nikki. Okay? I'm getting tired."

He didn't have a word to say to that. He just stormed out and slammed the door, and found Vanity.

"Hi!" Vanity's soft but perky voice echoes and I notice she's behind the bar, stealing liquor to hand Nikki a bottle of Jack.

Duff and Steven exchange looks before Steven's letting out a "hi!" in his own enthusiastic way.

She's sliding back across the bar to step to us, hugging me tightly to her.

"How are you?" I ask her, Nikki walking over to us.

"Fine, until Nikki started in on me f--"

"So, what're you guys doing tonight?" Nikki interrupts her and she rolls her eyes.

"Baby, I'm talking." She whines.

"Baby?" I ask and I swear I hear Duff nearly choke on his beer.

"Yeah, 'baby'. Ya know...just a cute little pet name I give some of my friends." She explains.

"Well, can you not call him that?" I ask her politely.

Her brows arch and her smile twitches.

"Sure." She finally lets out and everyone seems to let out a breath of relief, probably imagining the two of us getting into a spat over something so stupid.

"Duff, Steven, I was thinking we meet up with T-Bone tonight. Heather's outta town and he wanted to invite you guys and Slash over." He explains.

"Cool." Steven shrugs, but Duff hesitantly looks at me.

Nikki follows his line of sight and cuts his eyes for a moment.

"The fuck you looking at her for? Do you need her permission or something?" He suddenly snaps and Duff looks at him.

"I can't tonight, man. Thanks though." Duff replies coolly, finishing his beer, standing up.

"Girls, I was actually thinking of a girls night." Vanity tells Sharise and I, pulling our attention away from Nikki scowling at Duff as the tall blonde mumbles walks away, mumbling about going to the restroom.

Me and Sharise exchange looks before we're cautiously testing the waters.

"I can't. I'm gonna be with Sky." Sharise puts in.

"Oh, well, us then." Vanity beams at me.

"Actually, now that I think about it, I think you two can come with Steven and Slash and me to Tommy's." Nikki suggests.

Oh, he was saving his ass. He always played it off, but I now know anytime Vanity and I were together without him their to moderate what was being said on her part, he was a nervous wreck, always waiting for Vanity to mess up in a drunken rant or cracked out haze and let it slip she and Nikki were an item.

I still think back on how absolutely stupid I was.

All the signs, red flags, warnings, everything, were right in my face.

The biggest one being...

"When did you get that?" I ask Nikki as we head to his bike to go to the Seventh Veil.

It's a Roman numeral "V", and I keep trying to figure out what significance the number "5" has to him.

"While I was out last night." He replies.

"I leave you, Tommy, Slash and Stevie and Vanity alone and you get a tattoo?" I ask with a chuckle.

I didn't go to Tommy's last night because I was too tired to go party it up with him. We got home last night before Nikki went to his house and I climbed in bed and passed out.

"Yeah. Are you surprised though?" He asks me and I look at him and grin, shaking my head a little bit.

"Nope." I reply.

Once we get to the club, we're met by a plethora of girls, and Vince and Tommy looking like they're in absolute heaven.

I actually take the time to introduce myself to the girls, learning their names and trying to get along with them.

That's pretty easy to do because even though they look intimidating, they're nice.

Would I trust them alone in a room with my husband? No.

Are they sweet girls, though? Yes.

Wayne gives us an hour to get ready, even though they're basically already ready, and change into what we're going to wear in the video.

Ross wants to take promotional shots of the guys with the group of pretty women before it gets dark out.

So, while Sharise and I get ready, the band and the dancers are hitting the street to take pictures.

My favorite of those photos has to be of Nikki surrounded by them all hugged up and close to him and he's just eating up the attention. Of course he had to put on for the camera, but maybe if I would have gone, I would have been able to see exactly how comfortable he was touching on other women.

I finish my makeup as Sharise starts changing into her lingerie and I follow suit, raising a brow at the set she picked bought for me.

"Isn't that cute?" She asks me, nodding to the articles in my hands and I look at her.

"It's uh...revealing."

"As lingerie typically is, Viv." She replies with a small chuckle.

"Yeah, but...?" I hold up the thong for emphasis.

"What about it?"

"My ass is gonna be out. And one wrong move and my pussy is gonna be out there with it." I state.

"No, it won't, you don't have anything to worry about."

I let out a breath, hesitating to put it on and she frowns at me a little bit.

"Vivian, are you alright?"

"Yeah." I state.

"Are you gonna finish getting ready before the guys get back?"

I just nervously glance at her.

"Okay." She says, finishing putting her heels on. "What's up with you, huh?"

"I don't know if I want to do this." I admit.

"Why not?" She asks me and I raise a brow.

"I'm just--I don't know. I'm just not..." I motion my hands around my body and she looks confused before it clicks and she's suddenly looking like she doesn't believe me.

"Tell me it isn't because you don't think you look good?"

I don't answer and she let's out a breath, smiling at me.

"Vivian, you are a gorgeous girl. There's no need to think you aren't. I promise." She assures me and I inhale and exhale before nodding. "Good. Now get changed and c'mon so we can get this over with and the guys can stop badgering us about it, alright?"

"Alright." I smile, taking my clothes off to slip into the brand new lingerie.

I was weirding myself out because I had never had confidence issues, but something about 1987 just made everything plummet.

The only brightside was that I was beginning to be weaned off my antidepressant.

I wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing, but I found out in 1988 that it wasn't necessarily good.

Being surrounded by all those women, very pretty, very fit, very sexy women, just made me feel like a fish out of water.

I guess when you're raised to believe showing the bottom of your thigh is a sin, you can feel like you're in a completely different universe that you don't belong in when you're faced with the responsibility of prancing around in your underwear for men, and the world, to see.

I was always happy when I felt like Nikki was proud to have me as a wife, but he just wanted me in that video to show off what he got to bed down anytime he wanted it.

"Girls, we're starting in five!" Wayne yells on the other side of the dressing room door as Tommy and Nikki step in, grinning at all the half naked, gorgeous women in here.

I straighten my crucifix, before my eyes hone in on the faint scar on my thigh that's just a little visible through the stockings, and doubt sprigs in my mind that other people might be able to see it.

I fucking hate the damn thing and it's quickly becoming the current bane of my existence.

"Girls, c'mon." Tommy playfully puts in, grinning, motioning them to the door.

They giggle softly, smiling at him as they step to the door, Tommy playfully patting all of them on the ass as they walk by, causing me to roll my eyes when it's my turn.

He just smiles down at me, folding his hands behind his back, innocently.

"We'll be there in a second." Nikki tells him.

"K." Tommy replies, tucking a dancer under his arm, shutting the door behind him.

I turn away from Nikki, facing the mirrors, pretending to make any last adjustments to my hair and makeup as he leans against the closed door.

He looks gone as shit, but when doesn't he, anymore?

After what seems like hours, he's stepping towards me, his hand reaching around my front, tugging the tie of my short, silk robe, his fingertips brushing up my stomach as he watches me in the mirror.

He pushes the robe off my shoulder, exposing my bare skin, pulling my curled hair to my other shoulder before pressing hot kisses to the previously revealed one, leaning his weight against my back, pulling my ass against his groin, causing me to let out a sigh and allowing myself a few seconds of bliss before remembering he's been mean the past few days...and said some fucked up shit when I told him where I had stayed that night he ditched me in town.

"Nikki," I start, his tongue and teeth traveling to my neck while his other hand slides down my highcut, dark-green, sequined, thong and finely meshed fishnet stockings. "Nikki, stop." I let out and he huffs out a breath, getting off of me, rolling his eyes.

"The fuck is wrong, now, Viv?"

"Okay, you can't just scream shit to me like you did earlier and then pretend everything is fine without addressing it."

"I can't even remember what the fuck I say to you half the time so I'm sorry if you're ridiculously needy and constantly need to be reassured we're 'okay' after every fucking disagreement. We're okay. Does that make you feel better?"

"No, because it's bullshit. We're not."

I notice him staring at my body, readjusting himself. "Are you even listening to me?"

"Of course."

"Then what did I say?"

"...Okay, I was more focused on your body language..." He says. "...which was telling me you're pissed off over absolutely nothing." He smirks and I cut my eyes at him. "Okay, okay, truce: I'll apologize for whatever you think I did wrong, if you just give me two minutes."

"Two minutes to what?" I furrow my brows.

He grins like the Cheshire Cat.

A minute later I'm gasping for breath, arching my back as Nikki flicks his tongue between my legs, my thong and stockings on the floor as my legs rest over his shoulders.

"Sixx and Sixx and a half, you ready?!" Wayne calls, knocking on the door.

"Almost, man, I'm finishing up on my dinner!" Nikki replies, winking at me.

"What does that have to do with Viv?!"

A loud moan falls from my lips when he suddenly shoves two fingers into me, and my face heats up at the sound of Wayne groaning in disgust and frustration because we're running behind.

"Just hurry the fuck up!" He orders, walking away.

Nikki goes back to what he was doing before we were interrupted, and I'm coming within a few more seconds.

Once I get as cleaned up as I can get, I'm pulling my stockings and panties back on before dropping my robe.

"Woah, woah, woah!" Nikki stops me before I can walk out. "That's what you're wearing out there?"

"Yeah? You saw it a second ago, didn't you?"

"The robe was kinda covering this up." He motions to my matching dark green, sequined bra that goes with my bottoms, my boobs nearly spilling out of it because it's designed to push them up.

"Okay, and?"

He turns me around, a weird look on his face as he looks over me.

"I don't like it." He finally says.

My confidence plummets and I look down at myself and up at him again.

"W-What? What do you mean?" I self-consciously try to cover myself up with my arms.

"It's just...slutty." He shrugs.

"Nikki, you don't mind when I dress up like this at home."

"That's different. That's for me."

I realize I look perfectly fine, he's just pissy I'm gonna be in the video that he begged me for weeks to be in, but I'm actually dressing the part instead of trying to keep it as modest as I can.

My self-consciousness evaporates and I raise a brow.

"It's called being more fun." I say, echoing what he told me the other night. "You wanted me in the video, Nikki, and now I'm in it. If you don't appreciate that, there are plenty of people out there that are going to." I slip my heels back on and he rolls his jaw. "C'mon, before Wayne kills us." I kiss his cheek and slip out the door, hearing a loud crash behind me due to Sikki throwing a few things around in the room out of anger.

He just thought he wanted to show me off, apparently once he realized the consequences of his actions of pressuring me for weeks to do the video, he despised the idea.

And Wayne, being completely all-in, just kept adding fuel to that fire.

"Alright, I need shots of you," Wayne tells Natalie, a blonde with the long hair pulled back into a ponytail, "you," he points to Pam, another blonde, but she has huge, fake boobs, that are barely being contained in her white bikini, "annnnd," he takes a moment, pressing his lips together as he examines the group of us, "Vivian. You're up to bat."

"I'm what?" I ask.

"She's what?" Nikki echoes me.

"Um, I thought I was just gonna be in the background." I add.

"Nikki said he wanted you front and center in some of the frames."

"I did?" Nikki snaps.

"You sure did." Wayne brushes him off, nodding at me. "Viv, c'mon, stage, center pole, now."

Vince is so obnoxiously pleased with this turn of events.

"I can't pole dance." I state to Wayne.

"Thought you used to dance?"

"Ballet. Not stripping." I reply.

"Oh." He furrows his brows before shrugging. "Well, just give a pole spin or something simple that I can catch in a handful of fps."

The look of utter anger on my husband's face from where he, Tommy, Vince and Mick were sitting in front of the stage, when I rested my back against the pole, facing them, and slid down in to a split...he probably wanted to murder me and Wayne at that moment.

I got a sick sense of satisfaction from it.

Before Wayne can yell "cut", Nikki's hand wraps around my ankle, suddenly, and he's snatching me to him.

I try not to scream at the pain of my joints popping in my hip.

His grip is hard, biting into me, and his pinpointed eyes are mocking me, despite his smirk disguising his anger, but the camera is still rolling so I make myself smile and laugh it off as if he's joking incase Wayne decides to keep the footage in.

Nikki's also decently aware of this possibility and instead of screaming at me like I know he wants to do, he kisses me.

He did keep it in, and it honestly looks merely harmless in the video. It just looks like we're goofing off.

He hauls me off stage, throwing me over his shoulder, his hand coming down on my ass one good time, sending a stinging heat throughout me that I actually yelp out "OW" in response to.

Once he sets me down, his hand is gently rubbing over my aching hip and I wince.

"I'm sorry, I really didn't mean to do that." He admits in my ear.

I don't acknowledge it, hearing Wayne give orders to Natalie and Pam.

Once they're done with specific shots, he's replaying the "Girls, Girls, Girls" and telling the guys to "just go for it" so he can get the candid shots he wants.

Shots that include Vince offering Sharise money he's holding between his teeth as she gets handsy with him, grinning widely at him, looking absolutely perfect as she always manages to do so effortlessly. Another one includes him scooping her up in his arms, about to carry her out with her laughing.

A shot that I know won't make the censored version of the video is Nikki using his arm to clear off a table with a few business men at it, tossing me onto it with little warning, before biting between my legs, causing me to get red with embarrassment as he gives a second nip to my thigh, my stomach my chest and finally, my smile-adorned lips.

As the night goes on, Wayne captures everything he needs, including moving all of us girls back into the dressing room with Nikki and Tommy "helping" us get ready for the stage while Mick plays his guitar in one of the chairs in front of the vanity with girls touching up their makeup and outfits all around him.

Once Wayne's finished inside, he and the guys head outside to film them riding their motorcycles down the street and catcalling pretty girls. Sharise and I don't necessarily want to see that, so we hang back at the Seventh Veil and get changed.

"I think we all did good." Natalie pipes, grinning.

"Me too." Missy, the shorthaired brunette, adds. "So..." she starts, glancing at me as I pull my jeans on. "...You and Nikki have been together for how long?"

"Umm, married almost four years, we've been together for six, though." I explain and she nods.

"I was just wondering. It's hard to tell with a lot of these rock guys, ya know? I mean, some of them think if they aren't with their wife or their girlfriend, they have permission to mess with other girls." She says. "Some guys are with their wives or girlfriends and still do that, though."

"I'd kill him." I scoff out.

"Oh, me too." Sharise echoes.

"So, like, how do you get them to stay faithful, then?" Natalie asks us smoothly, her shaped brows furrowing slightly.

It seems like such an easy answer, but the more I dwell on it, the harder it is to find words...or an explanation.

"Well, um," I start, letting out a breath. "You do the best you can do. And if that isn't good enough then that's basically saying you aren't good enough, and you don't wanna be with someone who thinks that way about you anyway."

"So if you found out he was cheating or has cheated, you'd leave? Just like that?" Missy asks next.

"I've never thought of it. I don't know what I'd do, really. Except cry."

"No, no, no." Pam states, pointing at me. "You key the bikes and bust all the windows and tires from the cars, you destroy the record collections, you vandalize the house, and you get the fuck outta dodge." She says. "At least that's what I'd do."

"And that's why you've never been married." Missy adds, the two of them chuckling.

"I'd stay." Natalie pipes and we all look at her. "What? I know my worth, but with that much money, your financial security is guaranteed."

"Until the band becomes washed up and can't make a buck off a show anymore, sweetie." Pam replies. "Never settle for someone because you feel financially secure. That's how all these people end up killing themselves. They're so miserable but surrounded by all the money in the world. Money doesn't mean happiness."

"No, but a designer handbag every week does." Natalie suggests.

"Ha ha." Pam sarcastically lets out, rolling her eyes. "What about you, Viv? Love or financial security?"

"I'd gladly go back to living in that shitty apartment he had when the guys were broke as hell, starting out, if it meant getting rid of all the complicated shit and just loving each other." I say truthfully.

No amount of money would have been able to make me cover my eyes and knowingly allow him to do what he had been doing to me.

But you would have thought that was the case considering how much he got away with right under my nose.

I just had so much faith in him, I believed in him more than I believed in God.

That was one mistake of many.

[breakingsomething]

"the weapon" could have ended differently and here's how

trigger warnings: murder, blood, suicidal ideation, alcohol and hallucinations

he's still staring at the spot where he'd been two hours later.

anti has gone through the five stages of grief at least three times in those hours, in no particular order and with no rhyme or reason. all he can really do is hug himself and stare, just stare, just stare. his chest is tight and his head hurts and gods, he's absolutely going to be sick. this has to be a nightmare. it has to be.

three hours ago, both dapper and kitten had been under his control. now they're both gone and anti can't do shit. anti is hurting. and anti can't do shit.

he is, for the first time in a while, completely alone.

he keeps replaying the last few moments before they'd left. dapper's eyes narrowing, ice frosting over his pupils. stepping back into kitten's arms. disappearing, running, footsteps echoing, anti crying out after them. don't go, don't go, his mind screams. please, not you too. please not you too.

it takes a long time for him to gather the strength to stand.

when he eventually does, he keeps hold of the wall behind him, staggering away from the train station, stumbling back towards the shopping centre. it's closed. he walks right by it. there's a far too brightly lit convenience store on the other side of the street, and he doesn't bother to look at the road before he limps across, barely keeping his balance. street lights flickers as he passes. shadows grow harsher and soften again once he's gone.

the lights are so unbelievably bright. he winces as he steps inside, throwing up a hand to shield his eyes. as he does, his eyes land on the camera screen facing the cash register. anti looks like a drunken zombie. good. it's not like he gives a shit. he doesn't even bother to flash the cashier a smile like he normally would to secure the illusion of politeness before marching to the shelves and grabbing the first bottle of alcohol he sees that appeals to him. it clinks again his bracelet in his hands. when the man behind the counter sees him, his smile freezes, forced onto his face, eyes slightly wider and body tense. anti fucking loves it.

"sir," the cashier says, choosing his words carefully from the slow hesitation of his tone. "are you alright?"

anti hasn't spoken since dapper and kitten left. he's sure the last words he managed were "don't you dare fucking leave me." he clears his throat now and speaks in a hoarse voice, stopping halfway through to cough. "doing fantastic, pal. why, is there a problem?"

the cashier looks even more panicked now. "you're - bleeding," he states, faltering slightly. "your nose and your… eyes? and your - your eyes are, uh… do you have contacts in?"

anti blinks with fully black scleras, giggling slightly hysterically. "nope," he says, popping his cracked lips and baring white fangs. "can you ring up my fucking drink, please?"

"are you drunk?" the cashier blurts out, his dark eyes wild with fear. anti could drink that instead, the panic, the terror, the awareness, the knowing. "sir, i'm afraid i can't let you buy this if -"

the next thing the man knows, there is a knife in his throat.

anti doesn't pay for the drink. the cameras glitch on his way out.

he goes back to the station and walks along the tracks. it's late enough that there will be no other trains coming for hours. at one point he collapses and lays across the ground, gasping in pain as the weak remains of his own magic sting underneath his skin. he spent so much energy keeping the magician under control that he can barely see straight. honestly, he's surprised it took this long for marvin to break free.

the stars can barely be seen with all the light pollution, but he knows what's up there. ursa major, ursa minor, cassiopeia, draco. he wishes he could see them.

he doesn't fall asleep. he gets up and calls a taxi. the woman in the driver's seat is too nice and keeps accidentally calling him "allen." he has to restrain himself from stabbing her.

"so what are you doing out so late, allen?" she asks, glancing at him in the rear view mirror. she's wearing a ridiculous blue hat over white blonde hair that looks like bleached hay. anti winces as she tries to make eye contact with him. "have you not got anyone else to drive you home? not safe to be drinking alone this time of year at this time in the morning, pet. you could be hurt."

he would have laughed if a sob hadn't threatened to catch in his throat. "i had a train to get. my brother fucking… left me."

"oh, that's unfortunate," she says, unfazed, tone dripping with genuine sympathy. "did he have your tickets, aye?"

he shakes his head blearily, stomach rolling. "mm-mm. he just left. he's not allowed to leave me, he's not. he's not. i don't know what to do now."

she sighs quietly, clicking her tongue. "i take it you had a fight or something? well, one thing i can tell ye', pet, is that drinking willn't help. i had that problem myself, and it was awful. you look to still be young, allen. don't hurt yourself like that."

anti laughs, high pitched and angry. "i could kill you. i could fucking kill you."

she still isn't fazed. "so could anyone, dearie. you're not special."

anti holds his knife in his pocket, flicking it open and closed again. by the time the taxi stops, he has cut himself maybe five or so times. he hadn't even meant it. the ten pound note he hands her as he steps out is slick with blood. she looks disgusted, and he finally sees fear in her brown eyes when she looks up. good. good. let someone fear him. let someone go home shaking and expect a monster in every shadowed corner. he laughs at her and walks away. foolish fucking old bat. don't be kind in a world that wants you dead. maybe this will be a lesson to her.

he had almost hoped they'd be home, waiting for him as a surprise. they're not. the house is cold because he left the living room and kitchen windows open and every second of quiet is somehow amplified like it's coming through a speaker, like someone is making all his mistakes louder and louder, laughing, laughing, laughing at him. he stands in the doorway and listens to the dead silence. it feels fake. it feels like the leadup to a jumpscare in a movie. it feels expectant. it feels like it's waiting. it feels like he should know what comes next but it's not in the script. it feels like it's smiling.

"don't," he says hoarsely, wiping away the blood that trails from his lips with his sleeve. "laugh at me."

"it's your own fault," says jack. he's standing at the end of the hallway, facing away from him, bathed in red light that spills down the wooden flooring to touch anti's boots. "you drove them away."

"i didn't," anti pleads. "i didn't. i never did. your fault, for making me like this."

"i made you to be a friend," jack says cooly. his voice is too loud. "you couldn't even do that right. don't blame me for yourself."

anti laughs, pausing to cough loudly. "you never cared. i didn't matter until i was tearing out innocent people's hearts. caught your attention, did i? oh, finally, someone notices something, whether it's to yell at me or not."

"you're not making sense," jack says. he hasn't yet moved. still hasn't looked at anti. "you didn't start killing for attention. you were scared. still are."

"oh, please," anti spits, clutching his own shaking arms to his chest, hugging himself. "you wouldn't care whatever the reason was. i spent bloody years debating killing myself just to see how many days it'd take you to realize i wasn't there. i was a game to you."

"that's right," jack says. he turns, finally, and his face is smooth and empty, flat skin like an unpainted porcelain doll. "and what a fun game you were."

anti wakes up on the hallway floor.

the bottle is smashed, the stench of alcohol thick in the air, soaking his legs and chest. blood still on his hand, blood in his mouth. he's hit his head off the floor.

dapper is still gone.

he doesn't move til morning, just to use the bathroom and drink water so he stops passing out. and even then, dapper is still gone. dapper is - dapper is still fucking gone.

he throws his mug against the wall as hard as he can and screams. the glass shatters on impacts and ricochets across the room. anti doesn't care. anti wails and digs his nails into his arms until his lungs give out and he crumples to the floor next to the fridge. he wants to break everything. the anger is overflowing and burning, burning, his blood feels like pounding fire and he has to move his hands or he'll tear something apart, he'll break everything, everything, he'll act on every violent thought running through his brain and gods, he just wants to hurt. he's tired. lightning cracks against his brain and the silence is fucking deafening so he screams louder to fill it.

dapper is gone. marvin took him away.

anti spends the day looking for them. he finds nothing.

at night, he stares at the blank grayish sky and imagines stars, mouthing words and pointing with bloodstained fingers.

[lunasilvermorny]

Future AU - Rowan and Luna in 2020 (Part 1)

Writing about Luna and Rowan was always my favorite part of the headcanon and now that I quit (at least for now) the game, I no longer have any reason to hold myself back from thinking about Future AU scenarios for these two.

(I didn’t mean to make Rowan such a snack, but... it is what it is.)

The year is 2020 (thank you title for revealing it already), it’s around February-March, Luna is 46 and Rowan is 47.

Hope you’ll like it!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Doctor Silver, there’s someone here to see you.”

Luna thanked the nurse and went toward the oddly dressed man. He was two meters tall with a top hat that added at least 10 cm to his height, he wore a Hawaiian shirt with a yellow cardigan on top, baggy three quarter pants with black tights underneath and flowery pink shoes.

He straightened up his glasses and gave her a warm smile when he saw her heading his way.

“Hello there-“

“What are you doing here?” she dragged him to the side and gave him an annoyed look.

“Careful, my back.” He said and rubbed the muscles of his lower back.

“And what, in the name of god, are you wearing?” she ignored him and gestured at the unfitting combination of clothes.

“What, no good?” he was surprised. “My students told me top hats are all the rage.”

“Rowan.” She tried to remain calm. “Why are you here, mate?”

“This is a nice hospital-“

“Rowan.” She frowned.

“I’m glad to see you too, Rowan.” He did a bad imitation of her voice. “It’s been so long, how are you doing?”

“I’m working.” Luna reminded him.

“But you were taking a little tea break, weren’t you?”

“I had a three minutes break!” she said defensively. “I’ve been on call for 38 hours now, I think I deserve a bloody break.”

“38 hours?” he raised an eyebrow. “Aren’t you the chief physician?”

“We’re short on stuff these days.” She said. “So I took the load off my colleagues, since I can manage with little to no sleep.”

“Are you sure?” he looked at the bags under her eyes.

She nodded – “I’m fine.”

“Well, since you’re fine and also on a break,“ he gave her a teasing smile when she sighed. “How about a chat?”

“Aren’t you supposed to be at Hogwarts? It’s the middle of the school year.”

“Yes, but it’s also Saturday.”

“It is?” she looked exhausted when she checked her watch. “But I’ve been here since Tuesday.”

“Wow, you are tired, aren’t you?” he gave her a concerned look. “I don’t think I have ever seen you tired before.”

“What do you want, Rowan?!” she snapped at him, then immediately added- “Sorry about that.”

“I was wondering, this whole COVID-19-“

“Oh my god.” Luna rubbed her temples. “Are you seriously still hung up on that?”

“It’s just that you never explained exactly what it is and-“

“Rowan, read the fucking paper! This can’t be the only reason you’re here.”

“Well,” he gave her a guilty look. “There might be something else. You see-“

But before he finished the sentence, Luna was called back to the ER.

“I have to go, we’ll talk about it later.” She said and hurried down the corridor without saying goodbye.

“When? When are you done?” he called after her, but she disappeared behind the ER doors. “Yep, let’s talk later, shall we?” he murmured to himself and sat back on the bench next to the reception.

--

Luna looked out of the window; it was pitch black. She considered the possibility of sleeping in the on-call room again, but knew that if she stayed here, she wouldn’t be able to leave in the morning and she mustn’t neglect her duties as a healer. She took her car keys out of her pocket while exiting the ER, saying good night to the night-shift nurse and head toward the exit, when her eyes landed on her old friend, boringly staring at an old magazine, barely awake.

“What are you still doing here?” she said and automatically checked her watch. “Were you waiting here this whole time?”

“No, I went to the loo once or twice.” He said with a tired voice and let out a long yawn.

“Come on.” She helped him stand up and they both got out of the building into the parking lot. They walked slowly, but neither of them complained. They were too tired at this point to care.

When they got to Oliver Jr., her green 2006 Ford Fiesta, Rowan said – “We’re not really taking this muggle piece of junk, are we?”

“You can apparate if you want.” She said and got into the car, but Rowan followed her. She put on the safety belt and reminded him to do the same.

“Why? What could this piece of leather possibly do if we got into a truly dangerous situation?”

“I don’t want to be fined.” She said as she started the engine. “I couldn’t care less about their ridiculous rules.”

“Didn’t you have a repellent spell against muggles?”

“That was before I started living amongst them.” She said, making sure the mirrors are in check, but it was just an excuse to stall until her brain wakes up enough for her concentrate on driving. “My deal with the Ministry prohibits me from using any type of magic near muggles.”

“Nothing at all?”

“Nope.” She yawned one last time before she pressed her foot against the gas pedal and started driving. “I even had to get a driving license.”

“That is absurd.” Rowan shook his head. “What wizard in his right mind would agree to this?”

“The kind that wanted to be a doctor.” She wasn’t offended by what he said, she knew him well enough to know that he had no ill intention behind his words. “Now shut up, I’m trying to concentrate.”

“Since when?” he raised an eyebrow.

“Since I became the person that have to tend to the injured in these kind of accidents.”

“Wow, you’re taking this muggle stuff really seriously.” He almost sounded impressed.

“You might say that.” She gave him a tired smile and then looked back at the road. “So how have you been, Professor hot-shot? Your students are doing all right?”

“They are, thank you.” He said with pride. “I don’t want to take all the credit, but most of my students were basically illiterate before they entered to my classroom. Now, my 5th year students are at least an ‘E’ level, freshly ready for the OWLs.”

“You sound more like a mother than a teacher.” She teased.

“Well, you know how I am.” He nodded. “I have this brilliant student, she reminds me of you, doesn’t even have to put an effort, everything comes so easily to her and yet she still does her best. She said it’s because she wants to make me proud. My heart nearly melted.”

“Does she protect you from the bullies as well?” Luna chuckled.

“Don’t even let me start with these rotten apples.” He scrunched his nose. “Always thinking they’re the funniest, don’t care if they lose house point. Nasty little things.”

Luna stopped at a red light behind a large car with loud music blasting out of its windows.

“There is another student-“ but Luna wasn’t paying attention anymore. She saw the car started to move slowly toward the cross road, even though the light was still red.

“Hey.” She called then pressed the car horn, but whoever was in the car probably didn’t hear her. They were still moving in a slow enough pace, but if they keep going, someone might get hurt. “Hey!” she pressed the horn again, but to no avail. She opened the car door and ran toward the other car, knocking on the window to draw the driver’s attention.

Then, with a swift move, she pulled out her wand and brought the car to a stop.

Rowan looked confused. She said she wasn’t supposed to use magic, but it all became clear when Luna opened the door and an unconscious driver fell over her. Rowan hurried out of the car to assist her.

“Can you hear me, sir?” she said loudly when Rowan reached her. She pinched the Trapezius muscle near his neck, that caused the man to jerk and let out a loud grunt, then he slowly opened his eyes.

“Can I do anything to help?” Rowan asked, but Luna shook her head and got back to the muggle, that reeked of liquor.

Luna was about to check his pupils, when the man turned to the side and vomited violently. She used that opportunity to pull out a small device, that wasn’t familiar to Rowan, from her pocket and pressed it to her ear.

“I have to take care of it,” she said to Rowan, the device still pressed to her ear by her shoulder. “Can you get my car out of the way?” she threw her keys at him and went back to the barely conscious and very drunk driver.

Rowan somehow managed to move her car to the side of the road and waited, while Luna kept tending to the man. He knew it would’ve taken a fraction of the time if she only used magic, but since he’s a muggle, her hands were tied. He always knew she had patience, but he still found it impressive.

She helped the man into the backseat of his car, entered the driver’s seat and headed back toward the hospital.

Almost half an hour later, an owl appeared in the sky and just before it landed on the road, it changed form into Luna. She gave Rowan a frustrated look when she got inside the car, obviously in an even worst mood than before. She started the engine and let out a deep sigh before she went back to driving.

They drove in silence until they got out of the city and into the highway, when Luna finally said- “This drunken fucker, I hope he’ll choke on his own damn vomit.” Rowan remained silence while she kept ranting. “Can you believe that arsehole? Getting behind the wheel in his state. Almost as if he wanted to die or he was stupid enough to think that Jesus would drive for him.”

Rowan started to doze off and before he noticed, they already arrived at her house. Luna woke him up and they both slowly headed toward the small cottage. Rowan was too tired to comment on her new house, and after she quickly made the bed for him in the guest room, he collapsed on the bed and fell asleep almost immediately.

Luna went up the stairs, trying her best not to wake Mark up, and got into her bedroom.

Finally, she can sleep.

Twenty minutes later, her alarm went off. She barely managed to get out of bed into the shower and put on clean clothes, before she opened the window and flew out in her owl form to her shift in the wizards' hospital.

--

She got back home around 7 p.m. and was surprised to discover Rowan was still there, casually taking to Mark, who was in the midst of preparing supper.

“What are you still doing here?” she said while she picked an apple and took a bite out of it. “I thought you’d be back at Hogwarts by now, isn’t it a school-night?”

Rowan gave her an irritated look. “I came to see you for a reason, remember?”

“I know, mate, but I have a shift at the muggles’ hospital in an hour and I can really use some sleep.”

“Come on, mum.” Said Mark. “He told me he was waiting almost two days to have a proper chat with you. Can’t you give him five minutes?”

“Thank you, Mark.” Said Rowan. “If only I had this kind of influence on her. She always takes my time for granted-“

“I’m too tired for this.” She said and threw the remains of the apple in the bin. “Give me half an hour, alright?” but she left the room immediately after, not letting him a chance to say anything.

“So you’re staying for supper, then.” Mark gestured at the pots on the cooker.

“Seems like it.” Rowan shrugged.

[sabine-leo]

Wingman

Author: @sabine-leo

ONESHOT

Pairing : Tom Hiddleston / OFC (You)  - with Benedict Cumberbatch

Wordcount: 3047

Warnings: Slight drunkenness 

Genre: Fluff / Humour 

Summary: Ben & Tom are having a fun night out. There is only one question Ben can´t get Tom to answer without drinks. WHY hasn´t he asked you out yet?

Note: I have a thing for those two... Comments and reblogs are ALWAYS appreciated! Hope you have fun reading this piece of nonsense! 

„There you are! I was looking for you! I´ve got another drink with your name on it!”

Tom turned half way to smile at one of his best friends as the door behind him fell shut again and kept the deep bass and rhythmic music inside the venue. The terrace he stood on lay in darkness, the garden just a shadow under the dark blue night sky. Turning fully to lean against the heavy stone balustrade he took the drink out of Benedict’s hand and grinned a little.

“Had to take a breather. I am starting to feel all the drinks which had my name on them.”

Benedict laughed a deep rumble of a laugh. “You, my friend are out of practice!”

Tom snickered as Ben held up his own glass and said “Cheers!”

After a sip Ben looked at Tom and a hiccup escaped his lips, which made Tom grin broadly.

Making a somewhat hilarious face Ben said. “To be frank…I think I am out of practice too.”

 Benedict leaned against the stone next to Tom and lankily threw his arm around his friends’ shoulders. “Tonight, we celebrate. Tonight, we have fun…”

Ben looked into Toms eyes. 

“…and tomorrow we will probably have a bad headache!”

They both snorted and downed the rest of the liquid inside their glasses.

Benedict took the empty glass out of Toms hand and shook his head as if he wanted to clear it.

“You want a Thomas, a William or a Tom next?”

Tom groaned. “Which name do I have to say to get a water?”

Benedict laughed. “They all include water…And I don´t think you want me to call you…” He looked like he was thinking hard for a second. “…Penelope…for the rest of the night!”

Opening the door to get back inside Ben grinned and looked into Toms eyes.

“Or should I call you (Y/N)?!”

 Tom huffed and kicked himself off of the balustrade. “I take a Tom!”

Benedict bowed. “That´s the spirit! But talking about (Y/N)…What´s it with the both of you?”

“I might need another drink for that!” Tom grinned with a little blush but kept his silence for now.

A little while later in a separated seating area Ben watched Tom with a tad dopey expression on his face. “Seeriouuslyy…Why don´t you ask her out?” He motioned with his hands in the air.

“All that dancing around each other makes me woozy!”

Tom snorted and rubbed his face. “We are not dancing around…I was jus…just…”

Ben interrupted with a grin “To damn shy to speak up! You are a tall, handsome…chicken! That´s what you are!” Tom grunted and pointed at Ben. “…jus…taking it slow. THAT`S what I wanted to say.”

“Slow as a snail? Or a Turtle?...” Ben thought really hard. “…Is there another, even slower animal?”

Tom put down his empty glass with a hard thud.

“Am no chicken!”

“Ohhhh you are!” Ben grinned.

“Nope!” Tom popped the p.

“Prove it!”

Tom looked incredulous at his friend. “What? How? Now?”

“3 excellent questions Williammmm. I might just have the answers.”

Ben held up his fist and opened up a finger with each word he spoke.

“ProveIt!” His thumb came up as he spoke the 2 words as one.

“Phone!” His index finger flipped open.

“YES!” His middle finger joined in on his equation.

Tom rolled his eyes what made him a bit dizzy.  

“I have one word as answer for you…and one finger.”

He flipped Ben of with his middle finger adding the word “NO!”

 Benedict groaned in exasperation about his obstinate friend but Tom stood abruptly.

“There is noooo way I am doing this over a phone…”

Ben stood up himself as Tom got into motion. “Where are we going?”

“We are going to ask (Y/N) out! Well, I will… but you´ll come with me!”

 It did not occur to any of those two that it might be a little late in the night for that…. They have had some Ben, Benedict, Tom, Thomas and Williams too much for that.

 Coming home from dinner with 2 of your girlfriends a little later than usual you stayed up a bit longer to enjoy the warm summer breeze on your balcony before heading into bed. It still was so warm that you left open the window to get at least a bit of cooler air inside your warm flat later in the night. The open window let to you hearing a commotion outside at 2 in the morning. Still in a dazed state of waking up slowly you could not think straight at first.

 “Ring the bell!” Said one deep voice.

“Noo…” said another a bit higher pitched as if annoyed.

“Told you…chicken!”

“Would you stop the chicken talk. I am no chicken!”

“Then what are you waiting for?” Asked the deep voice with a hint of amusement in it.

“Are you planning on serenading under the balcony?” It added.

“Stop talking for a moment and let me think!”

Now a deep chuckle sounded through the summer air.

“I think we had at least 4 drinks too much to THINK!”

Now both voices were laughing.

 You sat up in bed and rubbed your eyes. Those voices seemed familiar. Not bothering to turn the lights on you walked to the window and peeked outside. You strained your eyes as you saw two figures in the shadows. One was sitting on the grass in front of your flat and the other was pacing, a little unsteady, from left to right.

 “Oh oh oh ohhhh, throw a rock against her window and quote Romeo and Juliet!!”

The one on the grass was getting onto his knees, holding out his arms and pointing at the balcony.

“Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon…”

A chuckle escaped you, you were pretty sure that this was Benedict and the tall, lean shadow striding towards him looked like Tom.

“Are you mad?” Yep, that was Tom.

“Why? You would not call her; you are not going to riiiiing her bell…what else is left then serenade!?”  

Tom pushed against Bens shoulders. Benedict lost his balance and fell backwards into the grass.

“I will not quote Romeo and Juliet!” Tom started to laugh as Ben lay there like a turtle on its back.

“I might have asked that before but WHY?” Ben tried to get into a comfortable position.

“Juliet was 13, Romeo 16 their love lasted 3 days and 6 people got killed!”

“Oh…that slipped my mind!” Ben sounded surprised but started to laugh and grabbed Toms leg, tugged hard.

 Tom fell like a chopped tree and after an “Uuumph!” They both started to laugh like maniacs, laying in the grass before your home. You could not hold back your own laughter as you opened the balcony door and stepped out in your oversized sleeping shirt and short pants.

“Having fun down there?” You asked with a grin on your face.

 Tom scrambled back to his feet with a lot less elegance than he normally sported. Ben just snorted and sat up. “NOW we are getting to the fun part!”

Tom stood under your balcony and looked up, swaying. “Did…did we wake you?”

Ben chuckled. “Well…DUH…its almost 3 in the morning William!”

Toms eyes got big. He turned to Ben and said.

“Shit! I think we might not have thought that through at all”

 Ben managed to hold back his laugh for almost 2 seconds before bursting and making Tom giggle as well. Hiding your own laugh, you stood there and watched to grown, tall, normally eloquent and intelligent renowned actors struggle to keep it together. As if Tom suddenly remembered where he was, he turned back to you and gulped.

“I…” he started and grinned again. “I…I´m SO sorry!”

“For what?” Ben cut in. “For not calling, ringing her bell, waking her up or because you are to much of a chicken to ask her out?”

“Would you shut it! Please!” Tom hissed and smiled back up at you.

“Probably all of that!” He said and took a deep breath.

“(Y/N)…” Tom began but Ben could not keep quiet.

“This whole under the balcony thingy is overrated if you ask me.” He now stood next to Tom and continued. “I mean, the permanent looking up makes me feel funny.”

Toms brows furrowed as Ben braced himself to give Tom a bunk-up.

“Up you go! Look into her eyes not at her damn balcony!”

 Tom shrugged and before you could say that this probably was not a very good idea Ben had Tom half way up already. “Oh my god!” You shrieked as Tom clutched to the handrail and stood on Bens shoulders. “Hi!” Tom grinned and aimed one of his megawatt smiles at you.

“GET UP THERE NOW!” Ben huffed from below.

“Oh, yes….of course!”

Tom hefted himself up and somewhat managed to get over the rail, landing on his butt.

 This must be a weird dream; this could not be happening for real. Laughingly you held out a hand for Tom and he took it to get up onto his feet. His hair was dishevelled, his glasses sat a little askew on his nose and his shirt had grass stains and dirt on it. But his smile was handsome as always.

“Hi…” he said again and did not let go of your hand.

“Hey Thomas!” You grinned and looked into his blazing blue eyes.

“How can I help you?” You asked with a little laugh.

 “You can help me by opening that door! I need to pee!” Ben said a bit to loud from down below.

You started to chuckle but Tom groaned and let his head fall back.

“How am I going to ask her out when you interrupt every time?” He stage-whispered down the balcony. Oh boy! Tom wanted to ask you out? Well, taking their state into account he probably would not have any knowledge of it come morning.

“(Y/N), Darling…” Tom started anew.

“Door! PEE!” Came a deep rumble again.

“Let me open the door real quick!” You said to a devastated looking Tom who just nodded.

 Tom followed you inside and got rid of his shoes beforehand. Ben tiptoed on the spot as you buzzed open the door and squeezed himself into your home, beelining it to the bathroom. “THANKS!” He yelled. Turning after closing the door you nearly crashed into Toms broad chest. “Woah!”

He chuckled and grabbed your waist to keep you close.

“Hi!” He grinned again. “I said that already, didn´t I?”

“2 times!” You laughed and stroked down his chest.

“3 times a charm!” He grinned lopsided and watched you intensely.

 The bathroom door opened and Ben came out hiccupping.

“You two sort that out! I am taking a nap!” And off he went into your bedroom.

Tom took your hand and tugged you into your livingroom.

“Sort that out, right. Where was I?” He talked to himself.

“Maybe you know after you had a good sleep?” You tried to give him an out.

Tom looked at you and shook his head. “Nooo, I…I really should have asked you a while ago…”

He smiled and took your hands into his but nothing came out of his mouth.

 “Oh god, I am a chicken!” He said in horror and let go of your hands.

It took everything you had not to laugh just now. They both were clearly drunk but also very adorable at the same time. You liked Tom, a lot. And the both of you casually hung out with shared friends every now and then. You texted and shared a laugh in between meeting, but never, till now had Tom tried to take the next step. The two of you taking it slow and building a friendship first.

“Why don´t you go and take a look how Ben is doing?” You said lovingly and hugged him once.

“You are not a chicken, Thomas. You climbed up my balcony…” You grinned up to him and he chuckled softly. “I did…” Slowly you let go of him and he went into your bedroom.

“Ben?!” He whispered a bit to loud before you heard your bed give a groan as he probably fell onto it.

 Good thing that you had a very comfy sofa that was big enough for you to sleep on…

 Some minutes later you tiptoed into the bedroom to get a spare blanket and a pillow out of the closet. You had to clutch a hand to your mouth to keep from laughing as you saw the two men laying face down in your bed, facing each other and snoring softly. Shaking your head, you took the stuff you needed and got comfortable on the sofa.

 Somewhere around 9 you sat with a hot cup of tea in your livingroom as you heard a healthy

“WHAT THE HELL?!” coming out of the bedroom.

“Stop spooning me Hiddleston! Where am I?”

A sleepy rumble “What? Ben?” You heard scrambling. “OH MY GOODNESS!”

Chuckling into your tea you watched the corridor with a grin on your face but the men were not yet ready to emerge. “Is this?” Ben whispered.

“(Y/N´S) place…bedroom to be exact….” Tom sounded horrified.

“What did we do??” He asked Ben silently.  

 “Oh, nothing much! You had a discussion about Romeo and Juliet while laying in the grass, Tom climbed up my balcony standing on your shoulders Ben and then the both of you fell asleep in my bed!” You said loudly from where you were sitting. Enjoying the horrified silence with a grin on your face.

 Two minutes later a shamefaced Tom came into the livingroom, looking sheepish and regretful.

“I don´t know what to say!” He started and looked at you.

You laughed and shook your head.

“You don´t have to say anything. It was like a surreal play I got to watch last night.”

Ben came into the livingroom looking equally apologizing.

“I´m so sorry (Y/N)… Please don´t be cross with us!”

“How could I… you have been adorably silly in your drunken state. I don´t think that happens very often with you both being level-headed all the time.”

Ben grinned and hugged you nonetheless in request for forgiveness. Tom followed suit and held on to you a bit longer. Taking a deep breath to start talking he looked at you but Ben, again, interrupted and grabbed him by the waistband of his trousers and said. 

“Time to do the walk of shame Thomas!”

“But!” Tom wanted to argue. “Nope, NOW…we have stolen enough time and sleep from (Y/N) as it is!”

The both of them were gone before you could say something. They left you standing there, shaking your head and pinching yourself to wake up from this nonsense of a dream.

 Outside Tom looked flabbergasted at Ben. “Why did you do that? I just wanted to ask her out!”

Ben looked at Tom with a drawn eyebrow.

“Really?” he started. “Now? Looking like that? After sleeping in HER bed, drunk, spooning me and with grass stains all over your clothes? NOW you wanted to ask her out?”

Tom gulped and looked down on himself.

“I stand before you corrected.” Ben said. “You are no chicken. You´ve got delusional big balls when you think that THAT was the correct time to ask her out on a date! OR you are still drunk!”

Tom went white as a sheet while Ben spoke and shot him a shocked glance.

“Thank you for stopping me!” He rasped.

Ben snorted and nodded to keep walking. “Let´s go home. I need a shower! And an Advil!”

 The day went by as if nothing had happened. You still thought you had imagined all of it but the dirt and the grass stains in your bed told a different story. Getting everything into the washer you went out to get some groceries and enjoyed an otherwise quiet day. At about 7 in the evening you heard a thud against your balcony window. Getting up to see if a bird hat hit the glass, you opened the door and looked around. A laugh escaped you as you saw Tom standing under your balcony and grinning up to you. “Hi!” He said and smiled. “Hi Thomas!” You laughed and leaned a bit over the rail.

“I do have a question that I have to get out before it burns me alive!” he said rather dramatic.

“Do speak, Thomas! I don´t want you to go up in flames!”

Tom chuckled and held up a single (Your favourite flower).

“Would you go on a date with me, (Y/N)…or 2 or 8?!” He shot a lovely and sexy smirk your way.

“Why don´t you come in and I give you my answer eye to eye!” You said with a grin and wanted to go inside to open the door for him.

“Alright, coming!” Tom said and took a start-up to leap up and grab the rail of your balcony. He hefted himself up and elegantly jumped over the rail to stand before you.

“That went better than yesterday!” He grinned and tilted his head.

“You wanted to be eye to eye…here I am. What´s your answer, darling?”

Tom took hold of your hands and smiled hopeful and sweet.

“Yes…” you said with a soft giggle. Tom started to grin bright like the sun and tugged you against his chest into a hug. “Are you kicking me out now or can I tempt you to order in and watch a movie together?” He asked with a longing gaze into your eyes. “As long as this will not count as our first date!” You teased and looked up into his baby blues. Tom chuckled and put a strand of hair behind your ear. “No, it does not count as such. Our first date will be quite romantic!”

Smiling you answered. “Oh, even more romantic than you leaping up my balcony to ask me out?”

Tom chuckled. “Oh yes! But when you put it like that…there is one thing missing right now!”

“Oh? What is missing?” You asked softly as Toms gaze got all intense and zeroed in on your lips.

“This…” he rasped and closed the distance between the both of you to seal your lips with his.

  Tags: @archy3001 @itscalledfandomsweetielookitup @faeriedelalune-blog @amazinggraces-world @tanishahka @coniumalces  @emomemelordess @devilbat @usedtobegoodfriend96 @drakesfiance @confessionsofastrugglingteen  @inlovewithfreyamikaelson @heart-shaped-hell @theoneanna  @marikochi @xxxeatyourh3artoutxxx @awkwardfangirl2014 @rainbowsinthestorm  @anchored-in-high-tide @nonsensicalobsessions @witchbitch-stuff

[raysofcrosby]

WHISKEY

"𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦." – 𝙅𝙖𝙣𝙖 𝙆𝙧𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙧, 𝙒𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙠𝙚𝙮

𝘨𝘪𝘧 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘵 (x)

𝘳𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥: yes | no

𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨(𝘴): swearing, mentions of the unholy trifecta– drugs, alcohol and sex, and obvi some angst

𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵: 4,651

𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺: whiskey by jana kramer

𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘦: lmao another angsty one bc i’m just an angsty person i guess :)

“Okay Y/N you’ve got this, it’s okay.” You spoke to your reflection in the body mirror, pressing your skirt down and checking over your outfit and makeup to make sure they were both up to par. 

The music from downstairs was so loud, you could barely hear your own thoughts. Your nose scrunched as the smell of weed carried through the air vents of the house, engulfing seemingly every room in its own fumes. Jamie was definitely going to have a hard time explaining to mom tomorrow when she came to visit, why his furniture smelled of the substance she’d preached all four of her children not to touch as they were growing up. But knowing Jamie, this wasn’t the first time the recognizable smell had been smoked in or around his house, so he definitely had a way to mask it before anyone ever noticed. Most likely a cleaning solution he’d mastered over the years of he and Jordie throwing their epic summer parties.

And that was a pretty big emphasis on epic. The parties they threw at their summer house on the lake were notorious throughout both friend groups. Attendants often consisted of hometown friends, their friends from the league– even some of your hometown and college friends– if they were in town for a visit. And you can confirm from experience of that past parties you attended¬– once they finally allowed you too– that their parties were out of this world, practically legendary…though you’ve never smoked any of the so-called, “amazing” weed.

Nope, you were the ‘other Benn.’ The ‘good one’ or better known as Y/N, Jordie and Jamie’s ‘younger, shy and quiet’, non-hockey playing little sister. Jenny at least got the pleasantries of having the ‘big sister’ title when it came to you and your siblings– but nope, you got stuck with being known as the ‘non-hockey playing’ one. At least you did until the moment you turned 18 and went off to college in the States. That was when you formed your own image and simply became, Y/N. But of course, every summer once you came back home, the little sister image returned– and that alone was one of the main reasons why your two older brothers refused you entry into their summer parties. But once you turned 19, you stood your ground and they begrudgingly let you and your friends attend. It’s more thanks to the little thing called blackmail that you held over their heads, threatening to tell mom some deep dark secret of theirs if they didn’t let you in. But the two dummies never asked what it was, so unbeknownst to them…you had no dirt to tell.

Those first few parties, you, out of habit, kind of kept to yourself, not mingling much amongst your brothers and their friends. You provided your own booze, hung out in your own little sections of the house and the pool– only mingling amongst the ‘older crowd’ when it came time for food and dancing. Not that Jamie or Jordie even seemed to mind. It was a lot less stressful on them when they didn’t have to worry about one of their buddies or teammates hitting on their little sister, so they loved the fact that you isolated yourself. 

But two summers ago, Bethany, your college best friend, pulled you out of your ‘little sister’ shell. She’d come to visit before, but that was the first summer she stayed with you the entire time. And with her help, you became more outspoken among the boys you’d known practically your entire life, you let loose on the dance floor…and you even had a little small summer fling with a friend of both Jamie and Jordie– but of course, they went into big brother mode and squashed it. You and Mike joke about it still, but Jamie and Jordie still get a little butthurt about it. They didn’t like how their friends were…taking romantic interests on their little sister.

Which is why you never told them about your feelings towards one of Jamie’s best friends, Tyler Seguin.

You’d met Tyler officially, the summer before last, which was also the summer after our short-lived romance with Mike took place. You didn’t think much of him beside the fact that he resembled a good quarter of every professional hockey player you’d come across and gave off three of the traits a guy you’d hate could possess:

He was cocky.

Practically self-absorbed.

And he never tried to hide the fact that he was a big-time player.

He was just a small blip on your radar of Hockey bros that always graced the Benn boys’ summer parties with their presence. It wasn’t until last summer though, when you two kissed after he “accidentally” dropped the card in a heated and drunken game of suck n’ blow…that you realized you had feelings for him. And it wasn’t until later that weekend when you two fell asleep in the bed of his rental truck that was parked further down the road on the edge of the lake and beneath the open night sky, that you realized you liked him.

A lot.

That was last summer though. You and Tyler hadn’t talked since the lake date if you could even call it that, and a lot has changed. You have…well, at least you think you have. You were another year older, one year closer to finishing up your Master's degree and you had even had a nice little string of hookups at school. Well, if you could call two different guys you’d met out on the town– a string of hook-ups. None of that really mattered though because school was out, you were back home, staying with Jamie and Bethany at his lake house and it was the beginning of a new summer.

The summer after a wild Stanley Cup playoffs for Jamie and his team, most likely to ensure a wild party or two. The summer before your last year of Graduate school, and of course, the summer you promised yourself (and Bethany) that you would have nothing to do with Tyler Seguin.

The door to your designated bedroom opened, causing you to jump in fright. “Jesus Jamie, it’s called knocking. Practice it sometime.” You said, removing your hand from your chest as he walked in and sat on the edge of your bed– red solo cup in hand.

“I did, Y/N.” He laughed, bringing the brim of the cup to his lips, pausing before he went to take a swig. “Multiple times.”

“Oh, I couldn’t hear you I guess.”

He just nodded and took another sip. “So the party started–“

“I can smell that.”

A smirk grew onto his face. “If you know, then why haven’t I seen you mingling with the guests? You don’t have to be shy anymore Y/N, they all know you and don’t totally hate you. Even Bethany is down there.”

“I’ll grace them with my presence soon–“

“Sooner or later you’re gonna come around and you’ll be sorry!” He started to belt out as he stood up off of your bed and stumbled over to you, drunkenly throwing his arm over your shoulder. “When you figure out that I was always everything that you needed– Come on, SING WITH ME Y/N!” He smiled, swaying you back and forth, singing the song you’d blast in his car after your boyfriend of a year had broken up with you three summers back.

You reached up and took his cup out of his hand, holding it away from him. “I think you’ve had enough, so I’ll take this.”

He removed his arm and stuck out his bottom lip, slouching forward. “Meanie, but I guess I’ll just get another one downstairs. I’m a grown man, Y/N. I know where the alcohol is.” He perked up and kissed your cheek. “I better see you down there soon Y/N or I’m telling Mom and Dad that they’ve raised a major buzzkill.”

You waved him off and closed the door behind him, walking back towards the dresser and picking up his cup. You sniffed it, unable to figure out what he was drinking, so you just shrugged your shoulders and took a quick sip, finding out why Jamie was so gone, so soon.

He was drinking whiskey.

You heard your door open again and groaned. “Jamie, I said I’d be down in a–“ You turned around and felt all of the air leave your body.

“Well, I’m not Chubbs and this isn’t the bathroom…but hey Y/N.” Tyler laughed, sending chills down your spine as he brought his cup to his lips.

“H-Hey, Tyler,” you replied, trying to hide your nerves. His eyes lingered on yours for a few moments before moving down your body and back up. “How are y-you?”

He smiled, nodding his head before taking a sip. “I’ve got to pee, I’ll see you later.” He turned and walked back out into the hallway. You sighed in relief, but Tyler peeked back in and flashed you another smile and licking his lips. “You look really good, Y/N.” He said, soon disappearing back into the hall.

Once the door shut behind him, you let out the breath you’d been holding and slumped down onto your bed. God, you didn’t think it’d be this hard to try and refrain from jumping his bones. I mean, you guys had only kissed once and it was a drunken kiss. How the hell were you already so deep in his charms? Though, I guess cuddling did really play a huge factor in how hard you fell for him. Stupid Tyler with his stupid magic cuddles. You groaned and stood yourself up, walking towards your dresser and reaching for Jamie’s cup, chugging the remaining whiskey and ignoring the burning sensation as it traveled down your throat– leaving you craving more. You left your room, wasting no time to get to the kitchen and started searching through the cabinet, grabbing a new bottle of fireball and placing it on the counter. 

“Hey Y/N!” Jamie Oleksiak smiled, walking in and looking sober as ever….he must have just gotten here.

“Hey Big Rig,” you mumbled, placing a cup in front of him and waving your hands towards the alcohol covered counter, suggesting he make whatever he wanted.

“I’ll have what you’re having,” he smiled, scooting his cup towards you. You unscrewed the cap off of the bottle of fireball and poured it into your cup, not stopping until it was one suggested line near the brim. “On second thought…” He reached for his cup and grabbed an already opened can of coke and the bottle of captain. “I think I’ll make my own.” He eyed your 70 proof whiskey filled cup. “You be careful, alright?”

Ignoring his warning, you took a long swig, barely feeling the burning sensation as it numbed your insides- instead, feeling a familiar warmth from a certain someone’s touch…instantly drawing you to take another long sip. You were going to need more than this to survive the night…especially since Tyler was here.

A few hours and many drinks later, the party was still going strong and miraculously, so were you. You hadn’t seen nor bumped into Tyler since he walked into your bedroom, so the need to consume more whiskey had died down a tad. Mainly because between you and Bethany, the bottle was near empty. Spending more time with a good mix of both brother’s teammates and going to college over the years had taught you a lot of things, the most important one being: how to control your alcohol.

You were outside sitting on the edge of the patio, watching everyone else swim in the pool and mingling by the lake with one another, particularly watching a group of people pass around a joint, Big Rig being one of them. “Pass it.”

He opened his bloodshot eyes and shook his head. “No way, your b-brothers would kill me.” He said, smoke leaving his mouth.

“They’re not in charge of me,” You insisted, holding out your hand.

You could see the internal struggle going on in his eyes before he sighed and passed the tiny joint from his fingers to yours. You looked at it, pondering whether it was you wanting to smoke or the alcohol influencing you to. “Y/N what the hell?” You turned around and saw Jordie standing there, shirtless and soaking wet. “Jamie dude, what the fuck? She’s not smoking this!” He said, taking the joint out of your hands and handing it to him.

“I tried man, she wouldn’t listen!” Big Rig explained, passing the joint onto someone else.

Before you could even begin to come up with a reply to your brother, he grabbed you by your elbow and dragged you through the crowd of peers and back into the house. “Jordie, what the hell?” You shouted, pulling your elbow out of his grasp.

“Listen, there’s one thing Jamie and I promised ourselves when we finally agreed to let you come to these parties and that was to take care of you. You’re already way past drunk, I’m not letting you get high. God knows what’ll happen to you.” He said, opening the fridge and grabbing two bottles of water. “Here, you’re done. Drink this.” He twisted the cap off of one of them and slid it over to you.

“You can’t tell me what t-to do! I’m 24 fucking years old for God’s sake.” You mumbled, crossing your arms over your chest and not touching the water.

“Why are you acting like this? Is it because you saw Tyler?” You looked over at Jordie and opened your mouth to reply with something smart, but you couldn’t speak. “I know it was, because Max saw you in the kitchen, coming downstairs and start to down fireball like it was fucking water. And don’t even lie, because Big Rig backed him up.” He took a sip of water and shook his head at you. “Tyler is trouble Y/N. Don’t get caught in his web, because as soon as you do, you won’t be able to get out.”

You grabbed your bottle of water and turned on your heels, walking out of the kitchen and leaving him with no reply. You didn’t want to stand there anymore and get a lecture from your older brother when you were supposed to be letting loose and having fun. You walked outside and climbed back onto your ledge, peering out at the people who hadn’t had their drinking privileges taken away from them. You felt someone bump into your back, pushing you off of the ledge and towards the grass– landing on your face. “Fuck,” you groaned, your face throbbing.

“Holy shit, Y/N are you okay?” A pair of hands slid underneath your arms and helped you off of the ground. “Whoa, okay come one, let’s get you inside.”

You opened your eyes and saw that Tyler was practically carrying you into the house…where Jordie was. “No!” You said, pulling yourself out of his arms and almost stumbling again.

“Y/N you fell, we need to see if you’re okay.” He replied, grabbing your wrist and taking you with him into the house, where Jordie was probably waiting to be the party pooper of all party poopers. “Come on, it’s crowded down here. We’ll just go upstairs.”

Your stomach twisted into knots when you looked down as saw that Tyler was no longer holding your wrist, but instead had his fingers intertwined with yours as he led you upstairs. You didn’t say a word as he passed by each of the doors and turned into your room. “Tyler, why are we here?”

“You have a bathroom connected to your room, don’t you?” He let go of your hand and walked into the bathroom that connected to your room. He turned on the sink only to turn it off moments later, then coming back into your room with a wet washcloth in his hands. 

He held it up and went to put it on your face, but you jumped back. “Y/N you have dirt all over your face, come on.” He laughed, grabbing your hand and pulling you closer to him. He pressed the washcloth to your cheek and rubbed it softly, his eyes switching from yours to your lips. When you noticed the movement in his eyes, your breathing hitched and he took notice. “Okay, dirt’s gone,” he smiled.

Neither of you moved from where you stood. A corner of his lips turned up, a smirk that seemed to be daring you to make the first move…but your body couldn’t muster up enough courage. Tyler sucked in his lips and nodded. “Get some rest, Y/N, you look pretty tired.” He turned around and took a single step as your body seemed to unfreeze from its imprisonment.

“Tyler!” He turned around and you stepped towards him, pressing your lips against his. “I love you.” You whispered, pulling away with your lips dangerously close to his.

In an instant, Tyler was kissing you again, his hands finding their way up the back of your shirt, sending chills down your spine from his sudden touch. You cradled his face, taking full dominance of Tyler until he pulled away. He grabbed your hand and pushed you onto your bed, standing at the end with a smile on his face as he took off his shirt. You got the memo and took off your shirt, leaning back onto your elbows and raising a single eyebrow, telling Sam that he had the next move.

He smiled and hovered over you, placing his lips onto yours again, this time taking the dominance and not letting up. His lips moved down the side of your neck and the moment he found your weak spot, you let out a muffled moan. Cocky bastard, you thought as you felt his lips pull into a smile against your skin. 

Your hands fumbled for his belt buckle and as soon as you undid it, you used your legs to push his cargo shorts down to his ankles. Tyler pulled away and stepped out of his shorts, tossing them off to the side and rested on his knees, gazing down at you. “This…” h said, his fingertips slowly dancing across your skin and down the hem of your skirt, sliding two fingers underneath the waistband. “Needs to come off.” He slid you out of your skirt and tossed it somewhere next to his pants before attacking your lips again.

Everything started to feel like a blur as the two of you kept kissing. You weren’t sure if it was the alcohol or the sexual tension between you and Tyler finally being acknowledged, that made you feel like you were flying too close to the sun– it’s warmth engulfing your entire body. But you were sure of one thing, and that was that you never wanted this moment to end. With his hands roaming across your body, his touch sending shocks of warmth and comfort throughout you. His lips soft and sweet, tasting like the cinnamon of your favorite whiskey as he kissed your passionately…the way his raspy voice sounded when he told you that he loved you during the moment that you two were riding out your high’s– right before he finished and laid beside you, pulling you into his side and kissing your forehead as he rubbed little circles on your hip. And when he said it again… “I love you,  Y/N.” Right then and there, you were sure that you never wanted to leave this state of warmth with Tyler.

Your head rocked to the side slowly as you opened your eyes to see the sun peeking its way through the blinds in your room. You sighed and smiled, closing your eyes again as the events from late last night replayed in your mind. “Good morning, Ty–“ You rolled over, expecting to see a still sleeping Tyler by your side, but the moment your hand made contact with your bed sheet, your eyes opened again and you sat up with your bed sheet held against you to see Tyler, nor his clothes…anywhere in your room. The hurt began to set in when you realized that the noise you heard shortly after falling asleep, wasn’t just a part of your dream…it was Tyler leaving your room. Leaving you in your bed, naked, like you had meant nothing, like what you did meant nothing…and what you said, meant nothing. And maybe it hadn’t, at least not to him, anyway. 

You got out of bed and walked over to your drawers, keeping the sheet around you and grabbed yourself a pair of underwear and a bra. Dropping the blanket, you put them both on and grabbed a pair of pajama shorts and one of Jamie’s old Stars shirts, getting dressed before tossing your hair up into a bun and walking out of your room and down the stairs. When you stepped into the kitchen, you notice that most of the evidence from the party had been cleaned up and three figures were sitting on the couch in the living room watching TV. You didn’t bother to talk to them, so you grabbed yourself a bowl and the box of apple jacks, along with the milk and made yourself breakfast.

“Good morning, Y/N.” You looked up and saw Jordie walking into the kitchen and going to grab himself a bowl. “How’d you sleep?”

You took a bite of your cereal. “Uh, pretty good,” you gulped, looking at him and hoping to God that he didn’t know anything. “Why?”

He unscrewed the cap of the Tylenol bottle and grabbed two pills, handing them over to you before pouring himself a bowl of cereal. “No reason.”

“Morning!” Jamie said, coming into the kitchen as well, already eating a bowl of cereal as Bethany followed behind him.

“Morning,” you replied, your mouth full of cereal.

“Such a caveman.” Bethany laughed, taking a bite of the banana she was holding. “Are your guys’ parents still coming over for dinner?”

“Nope, mom called and said they’ll be over tomorrow for brunch instead,” Jamie sighed, stretching his arms up into the air. “So we can go on the lake today.”

“Sweet, are you guys coming with?” Jordie asked, looking at Bethany and me.

“It’s up to your sister. I go where she goes, best friends never travel alone.”

“Who’s all going?” You asked, twirling your spoon around your bowl and watching the few remaining pieces of apple jacks spin around.

“Most of the team are leaving this morning that I know of,” Jamie said, chewing onto his cereal. “But Jordie and I, Mike, Katie, Domi, Big Rig, Tyler–“

“Nah, I think I’ll stay here. Not feeling too hot from last night. But Bethany, you can go.” You said, getting up and walking your bowl over to the sink and leaving it there. “You guys have fun, though.” You headed towards the stairs and were about to walk up, but you turned around and walked back to Jordie, wrapping your arms around his waist and hugging him tightly. “I love you. Even when I’m stubborn and a pain in the ass, you always look out for me and I’m glad you’re my older brother.”

Jordie stood there awkwardly at first, unsure as to why you were hugging him, but then he relaxed and hugged you back, swaying you back and forth. “Love you too Y/N.”

You pulled away and walked towards Jamie, sliding your arms onto his shoulders and kissing his cheek. “You too Chubbs, I’m glad you’re my older brother.”

Before he could say anything and Bethany could stop you, you smiled at the three of them and headed back towards the stairs, walking up them and back into your room, closing the door behind you. You stood there for a few seconds and saw the almost empty bottle of fireball still sitting on your dresser from last night. You picked it up and unscrewed the cap, tilting the bottle back as you pressed your lips to the brim and tasted the last few drops before throwing it into the trash. It took a few seconds before the drops of whiskey hit your throat, filling up your body with the smallest hint of warmth that was so similar to what you felt when you were with Tyler.

“If only you would listen to yourself kid,” You mumbled to yourself, staring at your bed as your mind replayed the moment you first met Tyler, the day you realized he was no good and of course, the times that Jamie, Jordie, and Bethany had subtly warned you against him.

A knock from your door caught your attention and Bethany opened it, walking in soon after. She eyed the bottle of fireball and raised her eyebrows. “Not feeling too hot, huh?”

Your throat felt dry as you stared at your best friend, caught in the reminiscing of your night with Tyler and feeling guilty for caving into his spell. “I had sex with Tyler.” Your hand slapped over your mouth as soon as the confession left your lips.

Bethany sighed as she closed the door behind her and took the bottle out of your hands. “I know.”

“Y-You know?” You felt your skin grow cold as the endless possibilities ran through your mind. Could people hear you two? Did she walk in and you hadn’t noticed? Did someone else walk into the room when you had Tyler had fallen asleep?

“Jamie and I were coming upstairs to um…” A soft blush came across her cheeks. You knew that she and Big Rig had gotten along pretty well since he came over last summer…but you didn’t know that they were hooking up. “But we saw him sneaking out of your room.”

You leaned onto your dresser and groaned. “I’m such an idiot. You guys warned me and I didn’t listen.” Your hands fell to your sides as you looked at your bed. “He told me he loved me and whether it was a ‘thanks for making me cum’ love or what– the fucker said it…and then left me alone like it was nothing.”

Bethany walked over to you and gave you a hug, her embrace tight as she comforted you. “Maybe one day his dick will fall off from all the sex he has.”

You wanted to laugh, you truly did. But you couldn’t, not naturally. So you forced out a fake laugh and pulled away, plastering on a big smile. “Maybe.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to come to the lake with us today? Or that you want me to go? I’d love nothing more than you sit in with you and watch chick flicks all day.”

You shook your head and smiled, waving her off. “No, go have fun with my brothers and Big Rig. I’ll be okay.”

She held your hand and squeezed it as she opened the door and turned back to you. “Love you.”

“Love you too.”

The moment she closed the door behind her, you headed over to your bathroom and walked in, turning on the light and closing the door. You turned towards the shower and put the dial all the way to hot as the water came down. As you turned back towards the counter, you saw a gray crumpled up shirt sitting on our sink. You didn’t recognize it as either Jamie’s or Jordie’s and it wasn’t exactly something Bethany would wear. You turned it around and saw bold white letters spell out Tyler’s last name across the shoulder blades. You could smell his cologne as if it was radiating off of it and a small smile played on the corner of your lips, filling you with warmth as you pictured Tyler.

“Now you’re addicted to him like whiskey,” you muttered, holding his shirt in your hands. “Idiot.”

[eddie-boii]

Never Let You Go (part 6/14)

Fic info: Both Eddie and Stan live because I do what I want. Multichapter.

Rating: Teen and up (may change). Language.

Pairings: Reddie, Benverly.

Ao3 link: here

Summary: The Losers prepare for a wedding. Ben’s bachelor party. 

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14

*

“Beer?”

Eddie accepted the bottle Ben handed to him and quickly checked the ingredients and alcohol percentage as Ben handed out the rest to the others.

“Thanks, man, but I think I’m gonna cut back on the alcohol intake,” said Richie, and Eddie looked over at him in surprise; Richie was never usually one to decline alcohol no matter how much Eddie pestered him about the state of his liver.

“We’ve got lemonade?” Ben offered.

“That’ll do.”

Richie accepted the glass and leaned back in the deck chair, eyes closed contentedly, his long legs stretched out in front of him and the beams of sunlight that filtered through the wooden planks from the balcony above lighting up strands of his dark hair in streams of gold. Eddie caught himself staring and looked away quickly, accidentally making direct eye contact with Stanley who just rolled his eyes. Eddie scowled at him in return.

Ben’s bachelor party was far more subdued than Bev’s; just the guys hanging out on the back porch of Ben’s frankly massive house, watching fall leaves drift down onto the garden, their warm hues lighting up in the glow from the afternoon sun. Warmth still lingered from summer but it wasn’t sweltering, and the Losers - minus Bev - were able to lounge around in light jackets while Ben grilled burgers and hotdogs on the barbecue, the smell of charcoal mingling pleasantly with the sweet scent of the fall air.

“You know shoes were invented for a reason,” said Eddie, grimacing as Ben accidentally dropped a scolding hot sausage onto his bare foot for the second time.

“If you say that again, I’m feeding you the floor hotdogs,” said Ben. “Shoes are restrictive.”

“Also protective.”

“Those floor hotdogs sure have a lot of germs on them, Eddie. You know this is where Ember does her morning piddles.”

Eddie nearly gagged. “And you’re walking barefoot there?!”

“I pressure wash it.” Ben lifted his foot and tried to stick it in Eddie’s face. “My feet are super clean. Here, smell them.”

“I’m not sniffing your fucking foot.”

“Lick it, Eds,” said Richie. “Once in a lifetime opportunity.”

“You are both fucking disgusting,” said Eddie, shoving Ben’s foot out of the way which threw him off balance and straight into Mike’s lap.

“Christ, man, are you sure you lost weight?” Mike groaned. “I think you just broke both my legs.”

“He replaced it all with muscle,” said Stanley, leaning forward to squeeze Ben’s bicep.

“Ooh, if he gets a squeeze,” said Richie, leaning forward too.

“Nope, nope, nope, we are not doing this again,” said Ben, extracting himself from Mike’s lap. “I have burgers to cook and bicep-squeezing privileges are for Bev’s hands alone.”

“Lucky lady,” said Richie with a wink, and Eddie tried not to let his jealousy show.

“So, guys, is anyone going to tell me what actually happened last night?” said Ben. “Bev refuses to say anything.”

Eddie sank down in his chair a little, hiding his face behind the beer bottle so no one could see how red it had gotten. Richie, on the other hand, didn’t seem at all ashamed.

“Let’s see, we got drunk, hired a stripper-”

“A stripper?” Ben squawked.

“Not as hot as you, don’t worry,” said Richie, winking again. “Got more drunk, played some party games, Eddie apparently decided to fuck off and clean my house-”

“It was fucking disgusting,” Eddie protested.

“He’s always been like that,” Bill snorted. “R-remember when we all had that sleepover at mine when we were like twelve and ss-stole my mom’s chardonnay and he ended up downstairs doing laundry?”

“Oh shit, that’s right!” cried Stan, grinning gleefully. “And your mom’s face when she came home and we were all throwing up but she didn’t even get mad coz the house was so clean!”

“Drunken housemaid, that’s our Eds,” said Richie, grinning over at Eddie fondly.

“Don’t call me Eds,” Eddie grumbled, sinking lower in his chair.

“So what happened after?” said Ben, smiling warmly at his friends’ stories as he piled burgers and hotdogs into buns and passed them out on paper plates.

“Then Richie got super friendly,” said Mike.

“I cannot be held responsible for what I did when drunk!” Richie protested, mouth full of burger. God help him, Eddie even found him cute with food spilling out of his mouth.

“What did he do?” said Ben, grinning already in anticipation.

“Only tried to make out with literally everyone there,” said Stanley.

“Did he now?” said Ben, grinning even harder. “I hope you’re not trying to steal my fiance.”

“She wasn’t into it,” Richie pouted. “But if you’re feeling left out, Benny-boy…”

Richie lunged towards Ben who managed to block him just in time, holding him away with ease and laughing as Richie made kissy noises and grabby hands at him.

“Ok, ok, you can kiss my cheek,” said Ben when Richie didn’t relent. Ben turned his cheek towards him and Richie leaned in but grabbed his face at the last minute and smashed their mouths together.

“Success!” cried Richie, pulling back and raising his hands in victory while Ben wiped his mouth and tried to stop laughing. “I have now made out with every Loser!”

“You d-d-didn’t use tongue with him, it doesn’t count,” said Bill.

“Don’t you dare,” said Ben, holding his hands out in front of him defensively when Richie looked like he was about to try again. “We’ll say it counts.”

Richie held up his hands in surrender and finally sat back down. “Whatever you say, Benny-boo.”

“You know how fucking revolting that is right?” said Eddie. “You know how many diseases pass via saliva? You could get mono, you know?”

“What’s the matter, Eddie-spaghetti, are you jealous?” said Richie, turning to grin at him obnoxiously.

“No, I’m not fucking jealous,” said Eddie which was a huge fucking lie.

“You know you’re still my number one guy, Eddie Bear,” Richie cooed, pinching Eddie’s cheek until Eddie swatted his hand away. “Well, right after your mom.”

“I hate you.”

“If that’s what you wanna call it,” coughed Stan and Eddie glared at him.

By the time everyone had eaten enough food to last them the whole winter, the sun was dipping low in the sky and the air had gained a chill more reminiscent of fall, so the Losers packed up the deck chairs and headed indoors to lounge on the stylish but comfortable couches and snoop through Ben’s things.

“Holy shit, you have all my shows on DVD?” said Richie from where he was sat cross-legged on the floor, eying up Ben’s impressive film collection as Ember snoozed in his lap, something that Eddie found revoltingly cute. “Didn’t know you were such a fan.”

“They’re Bev’s, actually,” said Ben. “From back before we all remembered. She said she never actually watched them but bought them all anyway coz she just liked having them.”

“Huh, that’s so weird,” said Richie, smiling slightly as he brushed his fingers over the plastic covers of the selection.

“I’ve seen them all,” said Eddie before thinking, and Richie looked sharply up at him, eyes wide.

“You have?” he said, his mouth splitting into a very egotistical grin

“Fucking hated them,” said Eddie, which wiped the grin straight off Richie’s face. “Your jokes never felt right. Guess subconsciously I just knew they didn’t sound like yours.”

“But you still watched them all?” commented Stanley.

Eddie shot him a look to tell him to shut his mouth, then shrugged. “I don’t know, I guess some part of me just…”

“Missed me?” Richie finished, that shit-eating grin back on his face.

“Yeah, whatever, dickwad,” said Eddie. “Myra fucking hated you, for the record.”

Richie gasped dramatically. “How could she? The love of my life!”

“I thought Eddie’s mm-mom was the love of your life,” said Bill.

“Same thing.”

Eddie threw a cushion at him and Richie batted it away before it hit the dog.

“You know, I went to one of your shh-sh-shows once,” said Bill as if only just remembering. “Friend of mine d-dragged me to it.”

“Did you at least like it, Big Bill?” said Richie as he put on his most exaggerated puppy dog face.

“As much as you liked the endings of my books,” said Bill, and Richie pouted, affronted. “Nothing beats real Rich’s jokes,” Bill added, which seemed to cheer Richie up.

“Don’t inflate his ego,” said Stanley, rolling his eyes. “He’ll never shut up now.”

“You know you love me, Stan-the-man.”

“So you read Bill’s books?” Ben asked Richie. “Before we remembered?”

“Oh yeah. Got the whole set back home,” said Richie.

“I went to a signing once,” said Stanley, and Bill looked over at him in surprise. “It was like your first book and I had no idea who you were, but you were in town so I went. Had no idea why, but-”

“Part of you knew,” finished Mike. “I went to one of those book signings too.”

It was Mike’s turn to be stared at.

“Yy-you did?” said Bill.

“Couldn’t stay long or I’d start forgetting, but yeah, man,” said Mike. “You were in Maine and I couldn’t resist.”

“But I wouldn’t have-” said Bill. “I didn’t recognise you.”

“No,” said Mike. “But it’s fine, man. You all remember now, that’s what matters.”

“But you could remember the whole time,” said Ben.

“That really must have sucked, man,” said Richie.

Mike shrugged, looking a little self-conscious. “I mean… Yeah. At first, when you’d just moved out and you never replied to any of my letters, I thought… I thought maybe you just didn’t wanna talk to me anymore.”

“Shit, man,” said Bill, reaching out to squeeze Mike’s hand. “You know we would never…”

“Yeah, I know,” said Mike. “I know you guys aren’t like that. That’s when I figured it had to have something to do with It.”

“You were still all alone,” Eddie said, almost a whisper. He couldn’t imagine what it would be like if he remembered the Losers while they couldn’t remember him, if they were out there living their lives while he was stuck at home with his mother, never responding to messages or calls. If he saw them in person only to be met with irrecognition, their eyes passing over him blankly as though he were just another stranger. And, god, if Richie ever looked at him like that...

“It wasn’t so bad,” said Mike, smiling at them all in a clear attempt to be reassuring. “I kept track of you, watched your careers grow. I was so proud of you all… I’m glad I can tell you that now. I love you guys.”

“You better shut up before Richie starts crying,” said Stanley who seemed to be the one actually close to tears. He smiled at Mike. “Love you too, man.”

“Yeah, thanks for dragging us all back to that shithole,” said Richie, “or we wouldn’t be here now.”

“I wouldn’t be getting married,” said Ben.

“I wouldn’t be divorced,” said Eddie. “That’s a good thing,” he added when Mike looked concerned.

“You mm-made me have to go back to speech therapy,” said Bill teasingly before nudging Mike with his shoulder and squeezing his hand again. “But it’s all worth it.”

“Gay,” said Richie.

“Aaand you ruined the moment,” said Eddie.

“Glad I could be of service.”

“God, how did we survive without each other?” said Ben. 

“Barely,” said Stan quietly, tugging down his sleeves a little.

The others fell silent for a time until Richie, being Richie, decided to lighten the mood.

“I’m thinking of getting a dog!” he said a little too brightly as he scratched Ember behind the ears. He grinned up at Eddie. “A little pomeranian called Penny. What do you think, Eds?”

“I am terminating our friendship effective immediately,” said Eddie, and just like that, the shadow that had fallen over them was lifted.

Ben lit a fire in the hearth and they all lounged around it, basking in the warm glow as they fell back into easy conversation. Ember migrated to Eddie’s lap which he was very smug about until Richie squeezed up next to him to be able to pet the dog, but Eddie was secretly quite content with a dog on his lap and Richie at his side, like something out of one of his more domestic fantasies.

Bill told ghost stories somehow scarier than their experience with Pennywise, and Stan calmed them all down afterwards by rambling about types of birds, which everyone paid rapt attention to because Stan talking about his favourite thing, his face lit up and hands waving around excitedly, was a joy to watch even if no one else cared all that much about the topic. 

Later on, Ben showed them all an old photo album he’d found at his parents’ house of them all as kids, and Mike pointed to the odd picture and excitedly reminded them all about the time they all dressed as each other for Halloween, or the time Richie got suspended for filling a kid’s locker with shaving foam for picking on Eddie, or the time they all went as each other’s dates to Homecoming and tried to dance all together in one chaotic circle.

The fire was warm, and the beer seeped into Eddie’s limbs and made him drowsy, his eyes slipping shut as he listened to Richie and Stanley argue over who had the better homecoming outfit. The next thing he knew, he was waking up in the middle of the night half-draped across Richie with his face buried in his chest, Ember curled up in the small space between them, Mike leaning against his shoulder with Ben against his, and Bill propped up against his legs with Stan’s head in his lap, all fast asleep. He’d fallen asleep with his phone in his hand, and when he checked it, he found a text from Bev who must have come home while they were all sleeping, for it showed a picture of them all cuddled up to one another fast asleep on the couch. He would have been annoyed, but he had to admit it was kind of cute.

[11:25pm] Queen B: [image.jpg]

[11:25pm] Queen B: My boys <333

Eddie smiled slightly and saved the photo to his camera roll, then let his head fall back against Richie’s warm chest, not really caring that the fabric of his shirt scratched his cheek or that no one had brushed their teeth. This was a night for the Losers.

*

Previous Next

[afxckingdaydream]

I Stopped Sleeping For This *Frat!L.H.*

A/N: @talkfastmari requested a frat!luke fic, I’m sorry it took forever *like, months lmao*! I’ve also never been to any type of party and I’ve never drank so I wouldn’t know any of the stuff about partying/drinking. I’m honestly not a fan of this fic, I feel like I could’ve done better. Kinda disappointed in myself for this one ngl.

Word Count: 2,224

Synopsis: You end up going to a frat party and meet a certain someone.

"Y/n!" My roommate, Jane, shouted as she barged into my room. "Get your ass up, we have somewhere to go!" She tore the blankets off my bare legs and turned my bedroom light on. 

"Dude," The corners of my eyes wrinkled from squinting due to the light, I cover my face with a pillow and let out a muffled, "it's 12 AM. Could we get arrested for whatever you're up to? Cause I'm not down."

Jane huffs and rolls her eyes out of annoyannce, "We're going to a frat party that's on campus. You never know if you could meet a special someone!” She ended with a sing songy voice, “Are you coming or what?" She takes off my pillow that's been on my eyes and tosses it onto the soft shaggy rug. 

"Do I have a choice?" I look at her with my eyes furrowed and sit up against the headboard, while putting the blankets back on my legs. 

Jane turns on her heels towards my doorway and replies with a blunt, "Nope!"

--

As we walked down the street, a couple blocks from our dorm, we could hear the music blaring from the fraternity’s speakers. The air reeked of cigarettes and liquor. It only got worse as we got closer. My nose and eyebrows crinkled from the intense smell that was cancer in a stick and liver problems in a bottle. 

I look over to Jane and I see her grinning with glee, she’s in her element. I for one, am not, I’ve never been a party person. This whole situation I’m in is sort of cliché; the outgoing, extraverted, partier friend forces the silent, introverted, reserved friend into going to a party that people get drunk at and have sex in other people’s rooms, not having a care in the fucking world. 

“My feet are already hurting from walking in these heels and its only been 10 minutes.” Jane explains as she stops to take them off. I take a pause in my stride to wait on her for a couple seconds.

“Why’d you wear those anyways? It’s not like we’re on the way to a club.” I chuckle and once she’s done, I continue walking. 

“Well unlike you, I’m actually trying to get with someone tonight. Maybe potentially date that someone, potentially marry that someone, and potentially have kids with that someone.” She gives a breathy laugh and we both head towards to the walkway that leads to the already open double doors of the white fraternity house. The shouting and music were almost deafening as we strolled to the backyard.

All the sudden I see a drunken frat brother on the roof of the white, modern house jumping off into the pool, screaming, “Geronimo!” and then just slightly making it to the pool and almost onto the concrete. A collective gasp could be heard around yard and back porch with a pause afterwards. “I’m good!” The frat brother shouts as everyone cheers and whistles. 

I sigh and run my hands through my hair, “It’s not a party ‘til someone almost fucking dies…” I mutter to myself with my arms crossed uncomfortably. 

“What the fuck, you guys!” I look behind me to see an ocean eyed man with shaggy golden hair wearing a Nirvana muscle tee with some swimming trunks, “I swear, I’m the backbone of this damn household!” He scolded some of his frat brothers in frustration. 

I giggle and he looks over at me, “I don’t need your judgement.” He says with a brow and smirked.

“Oh, I’m not judging at all! I too think it’s chaotic. A friend dragged me here, and I stopped sleeping for this. This isn’t exactly my scene, you know?” I rock back and forth on my heels and look up through my lashes, waiting for an answer.

“It’s actually not mine either,” He chuckles, “I would much rather have the whole place quiet and organized. What’s your name?” He asks.

“Y/n, yours?” Damn, he sure is gorgeous. 

He tucks his hair back behind his ears. My cheeks flush with a slight pink tint and I look down at my shoes. “My name is Luke. Luke Hemmings.”

“Well nice to meet you, Luke. Do you wanna sit and chat? Believe it or not, I don’t know anybody here besides my roommate, and you seem pretty rad.” I give him a shy smile and glance over to two lawn chairs facing each other beside the pool.

“Oh yeah, sure. Let’s go to the front porch though. It’s kinda hard to hear over here anyways.” He takes his hand in mine and leads me through the house filled with drunken people. His hand is warm and comforting, it made me feel at ease in the ocean of drunkards.

“Y/n!” I stop in my tracks and look behind me, it was a wasted Jane sitting on the couch with her feet lying on the ottoman, “Where are you going, girl?!” She then saw Luke holding my hand, she gasped and quickly got up to whisper in my ear, “Who’s that? How long have you known him? Omg! Are you guys dating and you haven’t told—” 

I cut her babbling off and explain to her, “Woah! Slow your roll! We literally just met, so chill. We’re just gonna go on the front porch to talk, it’s no biggie.” I take a strand of her blonde locks and put them behind her ear. “How many drinks have you had?” I question her empathetically.  

“Just 2 beers is all.” She said whilst looking at me straight in the eyes, nonchalantly like it was nothing. 

“It’s crazy how much of a lightweight you are. You’re really drunk right now, and I don’t think you’re even gonna remember this.” I let go of Luke’s hand to take Jane’s and lead her back to the couch to sit her down while Luke follows me. 

“I’m not drunk, you’re just blurry.” She stated nonchalantly, sitting down on the leather couch. 

I giggle and then sigh at the plastered girl, “Okay, whatever you say…” I lie her down and take Luke’s hand again. He leads me through the crowd. We finally got to the front porch and I see some white rocking chairs. I go over to one of them and sit, Luke takes the other.

“She’s something, huh?” he asked, looking over at me laughing.

“Yeah, definitely. I don’t know what I’m gonna do with her.” I grin at him. Just sitting with him and chatting was a nice change of scenery from the noise booming in the house or just sitting on my bed studying for hours on end.

I gaze at the night sky and stare at it. The moon and all the stars are so breathtaking. 

Out of the blue Luke chimes, “You’re adorable, ‘ya know?”

I look over at him and his grin and giggle, “Oh stop!” I retorted.

His eyes widened, “No seriously, I mean it! I mean, look at you! When you were staring at the stars it was adorable how fascinated you were. You’re just a beautiful as them.” He gives me a soft smile while looking me in the eyes. A faint shade of pink flushes my cheeks and I look away. 

“You’re too sweet…” I said softly, and then I noticed that I know absolutely nothing about him. I look up at him and ask, “Hey… are you passionate about anything? Like, what do you like to do?” 

His eyes twinkled and he spoke a tad fast out of excitement, “Oh yea definitely! Music is very important to me. I play some guitar; I sing a little. Me and my mates are thinking about starting a band!” The way he spoke was so passionate and energetic. 

“Really? That’s so cool! You guys should definitely start a band! You think of any band names yet?” I ask in interest.

“We’re thinking something along the lines of  ‘3 Minutes of Spring’. We’re still working out all the stuff that goes along with being a band.” He smiles widely. 

I started thinking about what a good name for their band would be… and then I had an epiphany! “Oh! What do you think of the name ‘5 Seconds of Summer’…?” Hm. It has a nice ring to it. I’m a genius, just saying…

Luke thinks about the name for a couple seconds, his eyebrows furrowed, and puts his hands on his mouth covering it as comes to the conclusion of, “Yes! That’s it! That’s so much better than all of the names we were thinking. I’ll make sure to ask the guys if they like the name. I’m sure they’ll love it though.” He expressed and smiles gently at me. His smile could light up a room. Pearly white and shiny.  He looks of innocence and as if there’s nothing wrong in the world. His curly tresses get in the way of his sparkling eyes and he swoops it back into place. “So,” he starts, relieving the awkward tension I made from not saying anything, “are you in a sorority here? I think I’d remember you if you were. You don’t seem like the sorority type.” He cocks his head to the side whilst asking the question.

“Nope, I just live in a dorm with that girl you saw that was drunk. It’s only a couple blocks away from here. Nothing special.” I shrug my shoulders. 

There was a sudden silence that was weirdly comfortable. All of the commotion seemed to fade away when he was there. I’ve known him for only an hour and we’re acting as if we’d known each other for forever. 

“You know… we could go over to your dorm...” Once he realized that it sounded like he wanted to get in my pants, he quickly refrained and swatted his hands back and forth, “N-not to do anything! Just to hang out without all the people!”

“No, I understand what you’re saying,” I give out a breathy laugh, “but I would have to take Jane back with us. I can’t leave her here with people we barely know. Not everyone is nice like you and someone could take advantage of her. I’d feel like if that were to happen, it’d be my fault. I feel like we should leave anyways. She’s had one too many.” I shrug my shoulders and look down whilst getting up from my chair. “You coming?” 

Luke gets up from his chair and takes my hand in his, “Let’s go.” He says with a smirk. 

As we’re walking into the foyer, I see a frat dude with a drink in his hand, harassing Jane, who’s almost passed out and slurring her words to him. “Get off of m-me.” She pushed the man off.

“C’mon babyyy! Just come with meeee! Let’s go to my room upstairs!” he whines and tries to pick her up by the waist. 

I shoved the man off of her onto the floor as my blood boils with anger and frustration, “What the fuck do you think you’re doing, jackass? Do you know what ‘no’ means?” I shouted.

Suddenly the music stopped and everyone at the party stared, but honestly at this moment in time, I couldn’t give less of a shit. I looked at everyone then gave the man a dirty look, “Answer me!” I pulled the collar of his shirt.

“Woah! You’re crazy, lady!” He yanked my hands off of him and his sneakers make a squeak sounds against the wooden floors as he raced away from us. I rolled my eyes.

“C’mon Jane, let’s go home.” I say with a pout on my features. I pick her up by her arm and help her up. I look back at Luke “Are you coming with us, Luke? Or are you staying here?”

“Um, I guess I’m coming with you guys.” He gets on the other side of Jane and helps you help her up. 

On the way out the door, a frat bro taps Luke on the shoulder and asks quizzically, “You’re going with her? She just attacked one of our bros and you’re just gonna not say or do anything? You’re just gonna betray us like that? Go with the enemy?” The bro furrows his brows and Luke turns around to face him.

Luke stares in the guy’s eyes for a second and says, “Yea, and what about it?”

We both walked out of the house with Jane in our arms and went to my dorm. 

--

I put Jane to bed and wiped her make up off.  Turning towards the doorway, I see Luke and I walk to him.

“Well I guess you can leave now that we got home safely. I had a really good time tonight.” I get on my tippy toes and kiss him on the cheek. 

“I’m glad I could get to know you a little bit tonight. Maybe we could go on a date at some point…?” He smirked that little smirk of his and lick his lips whilst looking at mine.

“I would love to… The coffee shop in the center of the campus at 2pm tomorrow?”

“Definitely,” he glances at my lips once more and then his places his on mine. “see you there.”

“See you…” Then he walks away.

My blush is definitely noticeable. 

[dayaray]

Who: @switchjasper, @maliafahey, @kylapawter, and @dayaray

What: Malia and Jasper get drunk and climb trees escape their issues. Jasper’s arm gets broke and he has to go to the hospital. Awkwardness ensues when Kyla and Daya both show up.

Where: Manor Park / Hospital

When: Sunday evening, 3/22/20

Warnings: physical and emotional ouchies

Jasper

The first time Malia told Jasper that climbing trees was freeing, he was skeptical. Insanely so, really. But after the entire mess of his life exploded and broke him, it turned out to be one of the things that actually helped. Aside from the copious amounts of alcohol. And Kyla. He wobbled on the tree branch, swinging his legs and holding on to it on either side of him. His head spun, but it was good. A good spin. Not the bad spin that he was growing used to. His heart felt lighter when he was like this-- when his brain couldn’t form enough coherent thoughts to make his chest ache with longing. 

That steady ache in his back hadn’t gone away, though. Like a throbbing. Not a psychosomatic feeling like his heartache, but an actual ache that made him roll his shoulders much more often. And ask Kyla to rub icy hot on his shoulder blades after a shower. Kyla. She was good. Good friend. Like Malia. But Malia had her own share of problems, like him. He swayed on the branch. She was speaking, but he heard nothing but the sounds. No words, cotton in his ears.

“Feels good, you know?” His grin was lazy and not quite all there. “Just.. up here, away from fucking.. everything. With you. You’re good. I’m good. This tree is our lifeline.”

Malia

Malia was in the midst of one of her rambles. Truth be told, she wasn't even entirely sure she knew what she was saying. It was all a blur, fogged by the many, many shots she'd downed earlier that night with no question of if that was a good idea. She was just trying to fill the void of the night, relieve the silence in the air. She let out a huff of a laugh when Jasper's words made it to her addled brain. Whatever he was saying, it sure sounded interesting. It was too bad she didn't catch much of anything until This tree is our lifeline. 

"Lifeline, huh? We gotta...hm..we gotta be close to death to need a lifeline, don't we?" Immediately, she grimaced and hurriedly covered her tracks as her morbid words settled in. Before he could response-- "NOPE. Nope, we're not-- nope, nevermind-- this is-- this is totally just-- yeah." She needed to go higher. Needed more air. So she started to hoist herself up another branch on limbs that didn't feel like hers. It was weird, being this drunk and not doing anything, not fucking anyone, just being. She almost slipped, but she recovered easily, being so practiced and familiar with climbing.

"Hey erm--" She took a deep breath, looking up at the sky. "Did I ever tell you 'bout what happened with Ainsley?"

Jasper

Jasper watched her climb, laughing and about to start his own ramble about drowning, but then realized that maybe his metaphor was wrong. When had he even written last? Was that a thing he did anymore? Probably not. Her words floated to him and he tilted his head to watch her climb and her foot slide-- He might have panicked if he weren’t drunk. Instead, he joined her. Going up higher to match her, and he understood why. The higher up they were, the freer he felt. Her got it. It was cosmic. Metaphysical. Beautiful. He was drunk.

“Ainsley?” He closed his eyes, swaying almost with the breeze, and tried to remember. “Mmm, Just that you liked her, I think.” His grip on the branch loosened and he turned his gaze towards the surrounding area instead of up at the sky, the vast endlessness of it making him dizzy. The city was beautiful when it wasn’t trying to hurt him. “What’s up?”

Malia

Malia shrugged, as if that answered his question. And it took her a long moment of thinking to put her thoughts together before she finally spoke again. When she did, her tone shifted considerably. No longer was it whimsical, chaotic, and just overwhelmingly Malia. It was sad.  Defeated. "Dunno, we did a scene and she uh-- " So much for having her thoughts together. She wished she could just telepathically tell him, show him-- draw him a damn diagram. Anything but say it out loud. It was uncomfortable, but certainly much easier when she was intoxicated. "It just didn't feel right. Felt real weird."

For a second, she could have swore it was raining-- but nope. She was crying. Malia hurriedly brushed them away, only for more to fall and her voice to quiver even more. "Like she wasn't all the way there-- like she....she didn't like me as much as I like her. 'Cause if she did- I wouldn't..we wouldn't have..it just wasn't right. I feel like I disappointed her or somethin' and we haven't talked much--" It came out all at once and she had to stop herself, suddenly out of breath. "I-- " She needed to change the subject again. "So have you heard from Daya?"

Jasper

Oh. It was serious. His attention snapped to her immediately, through the haze. Out of instinct, he climbed higher, to be right next to her. Might have been the mistake that sealed his fate, that, but he didn’t care. His best friend was crying. And he felt the hurt rolling off of her in waves. His arms wrapped around her, even with his balance off-center. It was a too-tight hug and he understood it. It was the same ache he felt every single day. She deserved better than to have to feel that, whatever was going on. Malia needed happiness too.

So Jasper, at a loss for words, let himself ramble his thoughts out. “Whatever it is-- whatever that.. that-- that happened, it’s.. she’s--” He didn’t know her, though. Not really. “It’s gonna be okay. It’ll.. you guys-- you’re gonna figure it out and maybe it’s awkward.. and uh, maybe she.. Hm. Maybe she’s just bad at scenes? Cause I was. Am? Was. Maybe it’s that. And she’s just like.. embarrassed or something?” It was bad reassurance, but it was him trying to see sense of a weird situation. Maybe make her laugh and then it all punched him in the gut as soon as she said her name.

“Oh.” His voice was quiet. “No, we don’t talk anymore.”

Malia

Malia welcomed Jasper's embrace, turning her face to the side to wipe her tears on her shirt so she didn't get them on him when she rested her head against his shoulder. As he rambled, she let out a chuckle, crying through the sadness. Jasper was ridiculous. And her best friend. And maybe he was right. Maybe it wasn't Malia's fault-- maybe she didn't disappoint her and maybe it was just-- that one night. Maybe.  It was enough to stop the pressure behind her eyes, but not enough to ease the hurt of rejection thudding in her chest, dulling everything.  

As it turned out, changing the subject to Daya was not the right move. Wobbling slightly, she part an arm around him as best she could, knowing she'd said the wrong thing. A selfish part of her remembered the nights she'd infiltrated their home--- Daya's home-- and that selfish part of her wanted her found family to work it out somehow. She shook her head at herself, mumbling, "Sorry."-- an apology for both her thoughts and for bringing Daya up.

A beat and a sniffle later. "Think uhh.....D'ya think if I showed up at Ainsley's buck naked, it'd fix it?"

Jasper

The laugh was what he was looking for, and it really was just a bandaid on a bullet hole, but it was the best thing he could do right now while words didn’t seem to want to work. They’d be okay, though. They had to be. If it wasn’t going to work out with her and Ainsley, she’d be okay. But maybe it really was just.. something else that had nothing to do with Malia. He hoped. For her. He’d never seen her cry before and that hurt nearly as much as his own pain throbbing in his chest. Instead of answering her apology, he just squeezed her tightly to him-- his trademark bear hugs and kissed the top of her head. “I love you, you chaotic fuck. It’s gonna be okay.” But he found himself laughing out loud at her suggestion, “No, absolutely do not do that, okay? Nooope.”

He pulled back and went to situate himself to look at her better and that’s when the mistake really was made. Jasper made the move to set his hand on the branch to support himself and misjudged, toppling over the branch. All in all, it was a second-- but he felt like he was spinning out again. There was a loud crunch and snap that he thought was a branch breaking on his way down, until he felt the white hot pain through his arm and looked down to see it sitting at an odd angle. “...Oh.”

Malia

Malia offered a somber grin, taking in his comfort. Jasper, in general, was a calming presence. Much different from her usual chaotic bunch of friends and she loved him all the more for it. "I love you too, dude. And aight, aight, noted, I'm not gonna do it." She laughed, echoing his and once again, feeling lighter. Then suddenly Jasper wasn't wrapped around her anymore and was...falling, instead? She blinked a few times and it felt like everything was happening in slow motion.

She had to catch him. Or stop him. Or help him. Or something. As expected, in her drunken state, she was not capable of such a thing. Even if she were sober, there was still no way she'd be able to catch a falling grown man.  As she lurched forward, panic immediately set in and quicker than she anticipated, she managed to catch herself on a branch, only scraping and cutting her legs and arms on her hurried way down. She heard a loud snap emanate from Jasper's body and was reminded of the sound she heard back when she broke her ankle. Malia dropped to the floor next to him, hands in the air, randomly motioning as she was unsure what to do or say. "Oh? Um-- Oh?! Is it-- Are you okay?!" Obviously not.

Jasper

It took about a second for the pain to start, and a second longer for his body to actually register the pain. In a flash, Malia was down next to him, gesturing wildly and all he could do was shake his head rapidly, eyes wide and flashing in fear and pain. And then his brain returned to his body from god knows where and he lurched forward, nausea roiling in his gut from the alcohol, fall, and the waves of pain. Rolling over, he clutched his arm and just.. puked. Everything up and rolled back over, groaning and clenching his teeth--- trying not to scream.

“Call-- Text. I don’t know. Hospital. Fuck.”

Malia

Malia immediately recoiled, her face screwing up at the all too familiar stench of vomit. Some nights it was her own vomit on the floor of some random club bathroom or a stranger's bedroom floor and other times it was whoever's she was with. She felt sick as it splattered against her a little, bringing out a gag. "Oh-- Fuck, dude. I-- Okay." She grimaced, reaching into her bra to pull her phone out to.....text the hospital? Yes. Text the hospital.

She tried looking for hospital in her contacts but she couldn't find it, so she settled for clicking the all button at the top, typing out a sloppy message. "Okay-- Let's.. I-- can you get up? We can-- I can help you uh..get to the street or somethin', c'mon. I texted the wee woo wagon, it's gonna be okay."

Jasper

He blinked, a little blearily as he tried to get up on his knees. With one hand. The slightest bit of pressure on his other arm made his stomach roil again and an involuntary hiss leak through clenched teeth. Fuck. He barely registered the phone vibrating in his pocket. Texted the...?

His eyes rolled back in his head a little and he successfully made it to two feet, although stumbling a bit and leaning on Malia-- who was also a lot less solid at the moment. "Street, let's get to the street. Yes." The words were slurred both because of the alcohol and because of the pain. It made his back throb harder too, for some reason, and he lurched forward again-- This time able to swallow some of the bile that rose up.

"How long?"

Malia

Malia (gently) threw an arm around him when he made it to his two feet, feeling herself sway slightly, but managing to catch herself. She needed to focus. Use all those useless braincells to help him. "Um-- " She pulled her phone back out with her other arm, viewing Lex's text. "Soon, the doctor called the people to help." It took them a while to make it to the street, but they made it, nonetheless.  

It felt like forever but the distinct sounds of sirens coming their way, despite the busy and loud nature of New Eden. In hindsight, she probably could have just as easily flashed her boobs and flagged a cab down but in her current mindset, that was out of the question. Soon, they were loaded up and on their way to the hospital.

Jasper

He nodded in response, and refused to speak anymore, lest he spew all over again. But the sirens, usually an annoyance from all over the city, were now a comfort. Loading into the back, he didn't miss the silent yikes on the woman's face as she tended to him.

The ride wasn't long, not with the sirens and the swerving, but god did it make him sick as the stretcher was pulled down out of the truck and into hospital proper. Vaguely he wondered if he'd even be able to get pain medicine-- then a jostle hit his arm and he cried out, finally. "Fuck! Jesus fuck."

Malia

Malia kept her eyes on either her phone or on Jasper. She wasn't even sure why she kept going on her phone, there were just so many questions from basically everyone they knew. Why were they texting her so much? Why was she so popular tonight, specifically? ...Her nudes must have got out again, she surmised. "It's gonna be okay, dude, we're gonna fix you up-- the- they-" The women gave her a look and Malia snapped her mouth shut.

Oh....she texted everyone. Whoops. She grimaced, Maybe she should just....not mention that to Jasper, considering who all was on her phone. As they approached the hospital and she was rushed out so they could get him down and into the hospital and into an ER room safely without her in the way, she made sure to stay as close as possibly to him, despite the other person requesting to check her out. Simple scrapes, probably bruises from the scenes she'd participated in the previous days. No big deal, she needed to focus on Jasper.

Jasper

Getting to the room was a huge relief, even if he felt like he was just constantly going to hurl. But Malia was there and that was a relief in itself. Probably more than having the room at this point, really. He lolled his head over to her as they started to look over his arm, that he had really refused to look at. He didn't even know if it had broken skin or not. Would he have to have surgery? Would he get something to numb the pain?

Probably not. "I'm glad you're here." But the nurse was moving around and getting his IV set up, so it was hard to concentrate on her for very long. He paused for a long moment. "Did you tell Kyla?" His new friend. Almost as good to him as Malia was. Or equally. Yeah, equal.

Malia

As the doctors checked Malia's scrapes while she tried to swat them away, suddenly she found her hands full of a cup of ice water and some...pills? She took them, without questioning. She couldn't hear what the doctors were saying, really, she was just flitting between her phone and Jasper. "Uhhhhhh- yeah, I'm glad 'm here too. I'm sorry I took you tree climbin' and you--" She gestured to his arm, an uncomfortable look twisting the edges of her lips. "- you ended up like this. And yeah, I told her, she's runnin' . Think she might lose her job, though, so might have to find a sugar daddy or momma for her."

Kyla

Kyla's chest ached as she ran through the doors to the ER, having jogged over from her job. She doubted that anyone was going to try and break in to the shitty bargain clothing store she'd been hired to guard overnight, and if they had a problem with it, then they can go fucking sit out there themselves. A nurse tried to calm her, and all Kyla could do was repeat Malia and Jasper's names until someone finally ushered her into a room.

Kyla immediately descended on them both, pulling up short just before she touched them, out of fear of hurting them. "You're both idiots," she grumbled as she flopped into a chair. "This is what you get for going tree climbin' without me. Karma." But her nervous energy began to dissipate, now that she could see that both of them were there and relatively unscathed.

Daya

Daya barely remembered the car ride over, unsure exactly what it was that Lex had said. She didn't even know why she was going. As they pulled up, Daya stared up at the hospital as it loomed over her. Was she allowed in? Did Jasper even want her there? Suddenly she felt foolish and wondered whether this was just another mistake she was making. But Lex carefully urged her out of the car and through the doors, leading them to the room they'd been placed in.

Her eyes landed on him first, instinctively searching him out for injuries. His arm looked grotesque and painful, and she'd taken two steps into the room before realizing that they were not alone. Malia was there, which she had expected, but then there was another girl slouched in a chair and Daya felt a punch to the gut. Of course she would be there. Why wouldn't she be? They were dating or fucking or whatever it was. A green monster roiled in Daya's stomach before she shoved it away. Back in the box, back where it was safe. Looking back at Jasper, she cleared her throat in the suddenly deafening silence. "Are.. are you okay?"

Jasper

Jasper's immediate reaction to seeing Kyla walk in, chest heaving, was to grin. There she was. "It was my fault." But his words were slurred heavily, whatever was in his IV already mixing with the alcohol. Whew. "I was having a bad brain day-- Life." He laughed at his own joke, before the curtain parted again and in walked Daya. He felt sick again. Suddenly. The laugh faded immediately and he looked first to Malia, and then back to Daya.

Fuck. Fuck that ache, it was back. It was completely silent in the room until she spoke again, and it took everything in him not to yell at her to get the fuck away, not because he was angry at her ( he was ), but because it hurt too much to see her when he could barely think on his own.

Sucking in a deep breath, he just stared, then laid back down fully. "No."

Malia

Malia was about to say something between the laughs filling the room at Jasper and Kyla's banter. And then Jasper's demeanor suddenly sobered. Her own gaze followed where his was directed for the moment and immediately a quiet "Nope." flew out of her mouth and she brought her knees up to her chest, sinking into the chair. "'m not here. Ignore me, thanks." She put her hand up to her face, shielding herself from the....Uncomfortable feeling in the air.

Daya

It was like all of the oxygen in the room had been sucked away and Daya took a second to remember how to breathe again. The response came and Daya let out a mournful sound, inadvertent as even Malia turned her back on her. "O-okay," she whispered, her hands shaking. "I-" She what? She thought she could swoop in and he would accept her back with open arms? She couldn't even touch them. They didn't know what was wrong with her. "If you ne- well, you've got it taken care of, I guess," she choked out. Another shuddering breath exhaled from her lungs and Daya turned. She couldn't look at this

Jasper

The worst part about this was literally that he wished he could stand to watch Daya leave, but he knew that the moment he told her to go, she would. And that would be that. Just imagining that was too much for him to handle. Instead, he licked his lips and sat up a little, as best he could. “There’s another chair.” He nodded over to it on the other side. Technically it was for the doctor, but he imagined he’d figure out what the hell was happening with that soon enough. Probably surgery, considering how grotesque it looked, even as it was set in place for the moment.

Glancing to Kyla, he wished she was closer. Not because she provided him comfort in place of Daya, but that she’d been the one who’d helped him get out of his head the most. Malia was a comfort. Kyla was provided the distraction and the thing to pull him out of the darkness. He gestured her over and waited to see if Daya would stay. “Fuck, alright, Kyla and Daya. You’re introduced.”

Daya

Daya had barely taken two steps before Jasper's voice interrupted her again, offering her a chair in the room. Her eyes glanced around, wondering if this was a trap. Malia still wouldn't look at her, and Kyla shifted awkwardly in her seat. "I.." Lex was already gone, and so was her hope of a ride home. If she left now, then it would seem pointless. "Okay," she said finally, walking the few steps to sit in the chair. She remained stiff, eyes looking down in her lap while she waited. 

Kyla

Kyla felt like she was in a soap opera, and she shifted closer to Jasper as he introduced them both. "Hey," she greeted the other woman, trying to be as friendly as possible. Daya didn't seem as interested in making small talk, though she could hardly blame her. But the girl at least gave a stilted nod and Kyla took that as a win. Instead turning her attention to Jasper, she reached out to grasp his uninjured hand. "Look at me, both of you, and repeat after me. I am an absolute dumbass."

Jasper watched, because really, what could he do or say? She made this choice, and she was the one who did this to them. He would have been fine with it all-- fine with the V, fine with the.. distance, if it meant having her. Because it was her damn choice to take it, not his. And despite his devotion to her, she made the choice for him. He couldn’t stop looking at her, either. Even after everything, he still thought she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. Even looking like she’d lost weight and hadn’t slept in weeks. The anger flared again for a brief moment, but was quickly diminished when Kyla took charge and brought him right back out of it again.

The hurt in his face softened and he laughed, with a wince, but did as he was told. “I’m a dumbass. Malia is a dumbass. You’re a dumbass.” His grip tightened in hers, thankful for the distraction and something to hold onto. “We were being careful, and we needed it. Cause things. You know? And you were working so you couldn’t be captain of the dumbass brigade this time.”

Kyla

The atmosphere was awkward but Kyla was determined to break through. Even as Daya sat, she kept her focus on Jasper. After all, he was the reason they had gathered here. While she had nothing personal against the girl, she did reserve the right to think she was an absolute moron for letting a guy like Jasper go. It was messy in a way that made Kyla itch under the skin, but he was worth it. "You weren't bein' careful, dumbass. You're in the hospital." Her voice was exasperated but laced with fondness as she squeezed his hand gently. "Yeah, well I'm here now, so as captain of the dumbass brigade, it's now law that you gotta stay in this bed until the doctor person says so, okay?" 

Daya

The loud scrape of a chair startled her and Daya froze as eyes were drawn to her. "S-sorry, I shouldn't.. I'm gonna go," she stuttered. It was too much, too painful to see someone else take over her role as taking care of Jasper. Even if she had been the one to push him away, being forced to sit in a room and watch was the cruelest torture imaginable. "I'm glad you're okay."

Jasper

“I was trying to be careful.” He murmured, “And I’m not going anywhere. Heard something about surgery.” He shrugged and winced with a hiss. Not great. Not good at all. And then the scrape of the chair happened and he watched Daya stand. Go to leave. And his face darkened. Of course. Just-- He looked to Kyla and pulled his hand away gently so he could prop himself up more and then held his hand back, not to grab just yet. If she was being jealous, then it was stupid and ridiculous.

He hadn’t realized he’d started to speak out loud yet, or that the tone of his voice was much more angry than he’d anticipated. Angry hurt. With tears in his eyes. “You’re not allowed to be jealous, Daya. She’s a friend, for fuck’s sake, and you made your choice.” He licked dry lips with a dry tongue and barreled on, no stuttering or wavering his voice despite the slight slur. “It’s stupid. If anything, I should be the one kicking you out. But I’m not.”

Jasper wanted to get up be tall, confident in his decision to let it out here and now. Instead his hand was shaking and when he blinked, the tears fell. “You broke me, and you can’t act like me going and getting drunk and hurt and finding comfort in someone else is the worst thing I’ve ever done. The worst thing I ever did was trust you not to let me fall, Daya. You did this. This is your fault.” And he sucked in a sharp breath and shook his head. There was a brief moment of pause. “Wait-- no, no. I’m sorry, that’s.. That was too far.”

Another pause. “I wanted you to stay. That’s all I’ve ever wanted. But if you want to walk away from me again, then go.” He finally flopped down again, breathing heavily and closing his eyes. The next words out of his mouth were quieter and strained. “Break me again. Doesn’t fucking matter anymore.”

Kyla

Kyla frowned when Jasper mentioned surgery. She'd somehow managed to go over 20 years without needing any major hospitalization other than the time she had her appendix taken out. Fortunately, the Kingstons were still pretending they wanted to keep her at that point, so she had a pretty cushy experience. But things were a lot different now, and she couldn't put a name to the sudden lump that sank in the pit of her stomach. She was about to reply when Daya ran for the door, and her eyes widened even further when Jasper told her off.

She couldn't blame him. The guy was very much still in love with her, and Kyla had eyes. She could see that Daya still had feelings for him too, and she honestly didn't see what was the big deal. But considering that even Malia, her loudest and most talkative friend, was remaining silent in the face of this, gave her the hint that maybe she should stay out of it. Even if she did have some choice words for Daya. Those could wait.

Daya

Daya faltered as Jasper's voice rang out through the room, slurred but strong. Confident and sure of himself. It hit her like a ton of bricks, his words reopening every wound that she had spent the last 3 weeks ignoring. But he was right. And he should say it. 'This is your fault.' Her breath seized in her lungs and she shook her head as he began to apologize. No, he shouldn't apologize for standing up for himself. This is exactly what Daya had wanted. To help him find his voice. But never in a million years did she think this was how she would do it.  

Was that all she would ever be? The stepping stone to help people find their footing. To be present during the transition, only to be left behind once the transformation was complete? Maybe that was unfair but nothing about this was fair, and she felt like she was suffocating. Her voice was hoarse and low as she spoke. "No. You're right. This was my fault. I'm sorry I broke you."

Jasper

Kyla’s silence and Daya still facing away from him was too much. Malia was hiding from the situation, curled up in the chair. And he was-- alone in this. Metaphorically speaking. So he just stared at Daya’s back and waited for her to walk away. When she didn’t, and instead reiterated the worst of his outburst, he just let out a breath. Exasperation. A sigh. It was-- god, it was just stupid, wasn’t it? Why didn’t the universe allow him to be happy in any sense of the word? The moment he finally feels like he can begin to find another source of happiness, it’s torn from him. And the only person who ever loved him back just dashed him against the rocks and left him to drown. Wasn’t he allowed to be angry about that? Hurt?

He didn’t think so. Sniffling, he just turned his head and closed his eyes. Fuck this life. He wanted the next one and all of the heartbreak that he was destined to get there, too. But hell, at least he’d have something nice before it all. “Okay.” What else could he say, really? Her back was still turned, his friends still silent and there was nothing more to say. Nothing short of begging her to take him back, which he wouldn’t do and she wouldn’t even if he did. Jasper spent his time pining after people who wanted nothing to do with him, and he was done with it. “I’m sure Malia will text you updates.” Since you don’t want me to. He bit off his words, so as to not fan the flame.

Daya

It felt like a switch the emotions bled away, and the cursed mutation that had further ruined her life finally kicked in. The pain and guilt and suffocating anxiety slipped through the cracks. The only good thing that they had given to her thus far. It should have hurt more when Jasper simply agreed again that it was her fault, but it was blunted by the drugs that had caused changes in her brain. He would probably think it was from the V. Maybe that was still for the best.

But she didn't leave. Instead, Daya perched herself in a chair, a little further away. Out of their friendly circle. She knew it probably wouldn't help but sitting there and forcing them to include her would be worse. For everyone. All Daya needed was to make sure that he was alive. When she had gotten the text from Malia, horrific images flew through her mind of a bloody Jasper, bruises and cuts adorning his face. Lifeless eyes. The nightmares had gotten worse since he'd left, and now they led her here. Full circle all the way back to the hospital where they had first acknowledged that there was something between them. And now, she was the one who wasn't allowed to hold his hand.

[shantaeshitpostcentral]

MORE DUMB SKY HEADCANONS TIME what if she completely loses the Mature™ persona when she's alone like,, she'll be singing the H2O theme tune at the top of her lungs in the shower and drawing her birdsona and making bird noises and re-enacting that scene from Shrek the Third with Snow White and the birds and putting her heart and soul into every dumb thing she does like she used to when she was a kid and when Shantae gives her those lectures abt how she misses the old Sky bc she used to be so passionate and she shouldn't be a afraid to ~be herself~ no matter how ~cringe~ it is and blah blah blah Sky will be like "no I absolutely refuse that's ridiculous I am a young Adult™ now that's just not me anymore" but she has Wrench with her as always and he sees ALL and he just gives her this disapproving look but he doesn't make a big deal out of it bc he knows how important Sky's Mature Pride™ is to her Bonus: imagine how she'd react if she was caught BONUS bonus: now imagine her face if ROTTYTOPS of all people caught Sky being her old self like,, Sky's singing the H2O theme tune and Rotty joins in and Sky's just suddenly overwhelmed by this whirlwind of shame (she was just caught singing the H2O theme tune passionately by someone she doesn't even like), confliction (but Rotty did the embarrassing thing WITH her so it can't be that bad amd it WAS kinda fun) and anger (how DARE Rottytops even EXIST in her general vicinity let alone see her doing something embarrassing and JOIN IN she can't have fun with ROTTYTOPS they're SWORN ENEMIES™) and while Sky is just there trying to figure out wtf to think, feel, say and do, Rotty is just holds Sky's hands in hers and her eyes are all lit up and she's running on the spot and talking at a million miles an hour like "OHMYGODOHMYGOD I REMEMBER H2O YOU JUST BROUGHT BACK A MEMORY FROM MY CHILDHOOD I THOUGHT THEY WERE ALL GONE FOREVER DO YOU KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS THIS IS HUGE OMGOMGOMGOMGOMG THANK YOU SOSO MUCH I LOVE YOU YOU'RE THE BEST" and Sky's offended expression just kinda eases up a little when she realises that yes, this is huge and she takes a deep breath and is like "ok but... Rottytops?? DON'T SPEAK OF THIS TO ANYONE EVER. deal?" and Rotty's like "yea ok sure" and then goes home like "ABNER holy F U C K" but her bros don't blab to anyone else and the atmosphere when Sky and Rotty are in the same room is just Slightly Less Tense so it's cool

[the-blind-assassin-12]

You Again

A/N: counting down the smooches. Here’s 18, another Ryan kiss to cap off your Saturday. Not connected to Passing Through, this one stands alone, just like the cheese.

Word Count: 2,183

Prompt: from @breanime

You sat on your couch, knees pulled up to your chest, the heavy orange and green crocheted blanket that was normally draped over the back cushion wrapped around you as rain lashed at the windows and wind howled down your chimney. The channels changed on the television as you mindlessly flipped through them. You weren’t sure what, if anything you were looking for. Something to take your mind off of the fact that your friends were out right now, probably having a great time laughing, drinking and enjoying a local band or musician at Candy’s. It was your friend Kate’s birthday, and normally you’d be there dancing in front of the stage area, swaying your hips freely with a beer in your hand and not a care in your head. But when you’d heard that Dave was going to be there, with her, you decided against it. Nope, don’t need to see that display, no thank you. You frowned as you settled on a baking competition show.

It had been almost a year since he’d ended your 4 year relationship, confessing to you that he’d spent the last year and a half cheating on you with a woman named Madison that he’d met at the gym. It was beyond you as to why he’d waited so damn long to tell you, or why he thought your anniversary was the right time to break the news, but you’d never felt so dumbstruck or betrayed in your life. That night stuck with you even after you’d cried all your tears and thrown out all his sweatshirts and broken the glass in the framed photo on your bedside table as you tossed it forcefully into the dumpster one night in a drunken rage as your roommate Amy cheered and clapped, shouting an enthusiastic “Fuck youuuuuu Dave!”.

Most of your friends were on your side of the rift, but Kate’s boyfriend and your ex had been friends since highschool, so there was no way that he wouldn’t be invited to her party. That fact had been confirmed by Amy after she’d run into Kate at the coffee shop a few days back, Amy telling you with a roll of her eyes that not only was he invited, but that he was bringing Maddie with him. You’d sent Kate a text that same day, apologizing and promising that you’d have some kind of make-up celebration afterwards. She responded saying that she completely understood, and that she was sorry about the whole situation. You’d told her not to worry, that you’d be fine. And for the most part, you were. Enough time had passed that you had stopped missing Dave, stopped feeling down on yourself. You’d even started to dissect the details of your relationship, finding that things that you had brushed off or swept under the rug weren’t as small as you had convinced yourself that they were at the time. For the most part, barring random bouts of self pity and greeting card holidays, you had moved on completely. But that didn’t mean you were ready to share the same space with the man who’d stomped on your heart, or the woman who he’d chosen over you.

You sighed as the baker on your screen sprinkled little heart shaped decorations on perfectly frosted pale pink cupcakes. It hadn’t helped matters that in the past few months your sister had gotten engaged, while you had yet to go on a date post-Dave. Not that you hadn’t been asked out. You definitely had. By more than a few guys, actually. Most had been easy to turn down due to their personalities or lack thereof. But they weren’t who you were thinking of right now. Thunder clapped right outside your window, a bolt of lighting splitting the sky right on top of the boom.

You dropped the remote as the show panned to one of the other competitors, their hands deftly squeezing a piping bag full of rich, dark chocolate. The baker flourished his wrist so that the cocoa ribbons formed musical notes, filling a whole tray with bass and treble clefts before popping it into the blast freezer in a hurry. A hurry. Just the way Ryan Brenner had moved into and out of your life. “Oh, come on.” You meant for the comment to be contained in your brain, but you heard it out loud in the empty house, and you threw your head back against the couch with a huff as your memory took over the reins.

You’d been out at Candy’s with Amy; she’d dragged you out after you’d wasted six of your precious vacation days calling out of work to wallow in your pajamas after what she’d come to call “the event”. After downing a few rounds of shots, each one toasting another thing Amy “always hated about Dave”, she’d suggested that you both switch to beers and head over to the music stage, where a guitarist was setting up to play. Shit, you remember thinking in your heartbroken, inebriated state, he’s...something.

And that was before you’d heard him sing. Before you’d seen him play. To hear him, to see him- it was synonymous with feeling him and knowing him, and it was at once comforting and unsettling. How much of this is him, and how much is the booze? Amy had gone back to the bar for another beer, but you’d waved her off, entranced by the performance in front of you. She was just happy to see something other than tears or vacancy in your eyes, so she mouthed a “be right back” and vanished into the crowd that had gathered to hear the music while you stayed planted where you were, enthralled by the way his quiet nature somehow transported you somewhere else. He’d spent the majority of his set with his eyes closed or focused on the strings that his long fingers were plucking, but a few times you felt them land on you, and you were sure that your heart had stopped in your chest, changing the way that it beat as it restarted.

Even after the last notes had evaporated into the stale, beer scented air, and he’d spent a few minutes talking to a few patrons that had gathered, you couldn’t move or take your eyes off of him- off of the way he held his guitar, or the way he looked down when he smiled upon accepting a compliment. You noticed his eyes flicking your way every now and then, and you told yourself to move, to turn and walk towards the bar where Amy had been chatting with an attractive stranger, but the enigmatic energy that he brought to the room had you rooted. Even as he set his guitar down and brushed his hands- the fingers marked with thin black lines- against his jeans, taking a few long strides towards you, you were unable to move. Well, guess this is happening. As he got closer you could smell crisp fall air and crunchy brown leaves, coffee and cigarettes overpowering the peanut and beer aroma that Candy’s could trademark if they wanted to. “Hi, I’m Ryan,” he said, chocolate eyes shining as they looked directly into yours, a sheepish smile climbing his cheeks above the patchy beard that claimed his jaw.

“Hi,” you managed, telling him your name. “You’re...you play really well, Ryan.” You smiled, and it felt like dusting off an old box in the attic.

He looked down at his shoes, whole head swinging towards the floor before scooping up to gift you with a sheepish grin. “Well, thanks, I… I just like connecting with people when I play, you know?”

Oh fuck. He felt it too? Your whole face, your neck and your ears flushed a vibrant red as you realized that this interesting, talented, borderline otherworldly individual was telling you that he’d felt the same spark from you that you’d felt from him. You wanted to reply with something smart or memorable. But you’d just let out a burst of laughter that sounded foriegn to you. Oh, come. On.

Instead of scaring him off though, it had only made his grin widened, a flash of white teeth and a slip of his tongue as it came out to wet his lips. “Can I…” he nodded towards the bar where Amy was staring at the two of you, her jaw nearly dropped to the sticky floor. “Wanna grab a drink?”

“Sure, Ryan,” you somehow answered. Why?

You’d spent the next hour or so talking to Ryan, hearing about his travels, about the things that inspired him and the places he’d been. But when the conversation turned to you, you had to be honest with him. You’d told him that you’d only just gotten out of a long term relationship, that it had ended messily, and that while you very much enjoyed talking to him and hearing him play- and looking at him and seeing the way he felt the music, and being in the same space as him- that you wouldn’t feel right carrying anything past the current conversation. He’d hung his head again, this time less sheepishly and with what you thought looked like disappointment, but he’d raised it again with that brilliant smile. “Well,” he’d said, “I’m gettin’ ready to head outta town tomorrow, but I’m set to be back in the area ‘bout a year from now...maybe I’ll see you again and things’ll be different.”

You blinked and you were back on your couch, the baker with the candy hearts being dismissed from the show on the screen. A year from now. Your phone on the arm of the sofa caught your attention, lighting up with a text from Amy. YOU NEED TO GET HERE NOW. Oh...come on.

You grabbed your phone, your heart in your throat. What do you mean, A??? Why?

He’s here. Playing again. That guy. YOUR GUITAR GUY.

You stood so rapidly that the blanket fell from your shoulders in sync with the flashing lightning outside. Ryan? He’s...he said he’d be back but… your heart was thumping the same way it had when you’d been rooted in front of him on the small stage at Candy’s, and you realized that even though you were a skeptic at heart, you couldn’t dismiss the serendipity staring you in the face. Fuck these cupcakes, and fuck Dave and Madison. You responded that you’d be there soon, clicking the power button on the remote and rushing to your bedroom to change, hands raking through your hair in lieu of a brush. Twenty minutes later, you were dressed in jeans, tall black boots and a maroon sweater, your hair pulled into a braid. Ten minutes after that you were walking purposefully towards the front door of the bar, pulling it open and welcoming that familiar divey scent into your nostrils. You were vaguely aware of Dave standing by the bar, a frown on his face as he saw you, Madison draped over him like a feather boa. You smirked, walking straight to the stage, slipping Amy a discreet high five as you passed her. His voice filled your ears as you got closer, and you found the same spot you’d stood in roughly 365 days ago, the first time his music had infiltrated your heart and mind. Within a few seconds of your feet finding the same beer soaked boards, his eyes opened on you and you saw the recognition flicker like a flame. Hi, Ryan.

You’d watched a few more songs, and this time he didn’t make time to talk to anyone before heading over to you. “You again,” he said, a smile on his face and in his voice.

“Me again,” you said, holding your arms out to show off your wet hair and soaked sweater- it was still raining hard when you’d walked in, the weather nor your ex doing anything to dampen your spirits. “Can I get you a drink, Ryan?”

He shook his head, soft brown hair peeking out from under his ball cap.

“No?” you asked with a tilt to your head.

“Are things...different now?” he asked quietly.

You bit your bottom lip, eyes on his as you nodded. They sure are.

Before your head had come back to neutral, he’d taken a step closer. “Can we skip the drink this time?”

You nodded again, slowly, looking up at him through your eyelashes. Again, before the nod was even done, he’d taken another step, this time placing his hands on your waist to pull you closer as his lips found yours. You involuntarily whimpered as his kiss melted on your lips, just like the baker’s chocolate on that dumb show you’d been watching, sweet and smooth, pure and delicious, full of longing and missing and need for the connection that you’d shared a full twelve months prior. When you finally parted, he brushed his nose against yours. “Can we do that again?”

You laughed against his lips, one hand coming to rest on his bearded cheek. “You bet we can, Ryan.”

@something-tofightfor @its-my-little-dumpster-fire @suchatinyinfinity @agent-bossypants @lexxierave @thesumofmychoices @songtoyou @ymariejp @breanime @gollyderek

[madrut16]

Day 16: Flying High

A/N: Another new pairing and MC to debut! I've been brainstorming the backstory and qualities of Zelenia (my Nightbound MC) and I’m still figuring out exactly what I want her to be like. My warm-up to Nik and hers by default as been kind of slow too because I didn’t do many of the diamond scenes in the beginning but, I kind of like the slow burn it created and now I love them so enjoy. If you want to be easily notified when I write for Nik x MC, you know the drill, let me know under this fic and I will add you to the list!

Also, kind of related, I’ve been brainstorming in my head the plot for a potential crossover fic series with Bloodbound where they have to team up to defeat the order and save mankind and creature kind. It’s still a very casual idea for now bc I tend to have them and for many not to stick but, if people want it and I have enough inspiration when I do try to write it, I’ll make sure that I actually follow through for once. 

Day 16: Uncertainty for @choicesjulychallenge by @kinda-iconic 

(sorry these are so late, life and changing my mind are to blame)

Book/Pairing: Nightbound (Nik x MC)

Rating: PG

Summary: Zelenia gets Nik to conquer one of his biggest fears when shares her favorite hobby with him. 

"Rookie, no."

Zelenia had never seen Nik so frightened before. She remembered his uneasiness of heights when they were in Lamrian but, she didn't think it was this bad.

That is until he confessed during a drunken game of Two Truth's and a Lie with their friends that he'd never been on an airplane before. The idea of being strapped into something that has meant the death of many unnerved him. From that moment, Zelenia, whose reaction to flying was the exact opposite, resolved that this was something she had to fix.

Seeing him slowly coming out of his skin behind her, a teasing smile graced her lips.

"Oh come on Nik, this will be fun. The pilot is very experienced," she commented knowingly giving his shoulder a light squeeze.

He shook his head adamantly at her, eyes full moon wide. "Zelenia no. You know all about why I haven't flown before." He strained to make sure the word fear or it's synonym didn't come out.

She placed her hands on her hips. "That's exactly why you should do it, Nik. Facing your fears is a good thing! And you're completely safe. I wouldn't insist on doing this if I didn't think so." He folded his arms, still not quite ready to budge. With a sigh, she pulled her lips down in a dramatic fake pout. "Please. You trust me, don't you?"

He rolled his eyes at her extreme gesture but she didn't back down. Finally, he let out a defeated groan. "Ugh, fine. But only cause I'm tired of Katy giving me crap about it."

A giant smile that was stunningly real grew on her face and she grabbed onto him excitedly. "I knew I'd be able to coax you into it. Now, follow me. The plane should be over here somewhere."

Before he could answer, she took off down the tarmac of the small airport, leaving him struggling to catch up. They finally stopped in front of a white and blue Cessna that looked like it could seat maybe four people at most.

Zelenia's eyes lit up and she breathed in happily. "It's just like I left it. I was worried that it would get damaged in the transport but, there’s not even a paint chip."

His roaming gaze took in the scene in confusion. "Wait, where's the pilot?"

A snicker escaped her lips, amused that he hadn't figured it out yet. "Nik, you're looking at her."

"You?" He gaped at her in disbelief.

She nodded. "I have the license and everything. My mother finally transported this baby from Wyoming and it arrived a few days ago. I know it's small but, it's surprisingly comfy."

She climbed up into the cockpit in less than a minute and looked back at him with a grin. "You joining me or are you just gonna keep looking at me like that?"

This broke Nik out of his fear laced trance. "Oh, sorry. Just trying to keep from having a damn heart attack. How long have you been doing this exactly?"

Zelenia shrugged as she helped him inside and he begrudgingly strapped himself into one of the seats. "Since I was 17. As soon as I was old enough I started flying lessons and got a private license. And then starting the second year of my bachelor’s I received even more training. You’re in good hands Nik, I promise.”

She used the words carefully, that recent part of her past a mix of emotions tainted by the last year of it and she was just starting to feel okay. Still, it was something she wasn’t quite ready to discuss yet. 

Shaking the memories from her mind, she closed the plane doors and fastened herself in before going through all of the pre-flight procedures. When she was finished, she turned to Nik who was visibly trembling, his eyes darting everywhere in the small space. 

“Ready?” she asked, getting permission from Air Traffic Control to start the engines.

He responded with a grumble, trying to cover up the anxiety he felt. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”

Taking that as a yes, she deftly wheeled the Cessna down the tarmac and onto the correct runway. Once she got the all-clear, the plane rapidly picked up speed causing Nik behind her to grip the seat tightly. After a couple of minutes, the plane lifted off the ground. 

Nik continued to have a death grip on the seat back as his stomach climbed into his throat. “Holy Jesus!”

“Sorry, you get used to that eventually,” Zelenia said sheepishly while keeping her concentration on the controls.

No other words were exchanged as she continued to keep the plane steady the aircraft as it climbed higher in the sky. Eventually, they reached cruising altitude and she finally flattened it out. 

“How are you doing back there?” she asked after a beat, having to shout over the noise from the engine and propellers. 

“Well, I can still hear my heart beating out of my chest like a jackhammer,” he replied. But...”

Zelenia raised a hopeful eyebrow. “But...”

Nik let out a long sigh and his lips ever so slightly began to tilt upwards. “This actually isn’t that bad. I could get used to this.” He visibly began to relax too, his personality slowly coming back up to the surface. 

A victorious grin spread on her face. “Yes! I told you, Ryder. You should really listen to me more often you know. I tend to have amazing ideas.”

He responded with a scoff. “Um, that’s debatable, you have a track record of doing some idiotic things. Punching a ghost?”

“Hey, it worked didn’t it?” she countered. “At least the second time anyway.”  

Nik raised his eyebrows doubtfully. “Still not standard technique Rookie. But, we can agree to disagree on that,” he said before his gaze wandered to the scenery below. “Now this is a sweet view.”

“I know right? You can see everything from up here,” she agreed. 

The bird’s eye perspective they had was simply breathtaking, the image of the emerald green bayou intersecting with lines of shimmering blue. 

This state of tranquility was interrupted when Nik posed a question. “So, let me get this straight, you own this?”

“I do,” Zelenia confirmed. “She was given to me as a high school graduation present from my grandparents. My mom finally sent it from the house in Wyoming a couple of weeks ago and it arrived Monday.”

“She? Got a name for it too?” A throaty laugh erupted from his lips. 

Looking back at him for a split second, she scowled at him before returning her attention to the front. “You say that like it’s a bad thing. And yes, her name is Amelia.”

“Of course it is.”

Zelenia immediately exclaimed, “Hey, she is an icon! It’s because of women like her and Bessy Coleman that I can do this.”

“I know who Amelia Earheart is Zelenia,” he quipped. “Just because I was homeschooled by Elijah doesn’t mean I’m dumb.”

“Didn’t say you were,” she stated. 

After a minute, he suddenly became a touch more serious. “Well, thanks for dragging me out here Rookie. You were right, this was...surprisingly fun. I mean, I’m definitely not cured yet but, I wouldn’t say no to doing this again.”

Her smile returned. “No problem Nik. It’s actually a new experience for me too actually.”

“Hmm? How come?”

She shrugged, biting her lip as her thoughts turned inward like they typically did. “I almost always do this alone, up here, it’s kind of like my little refuge. Ever since I could do so, I’ve used this to escape from the pressure of people, the world. It’s the first place I felt like I belonged and getting my license was the first time, maybe even the only time my mother actually expressed that she was proud of me for something.”

“Zelenia...”

She shook her head. “That’s a topic for another day. My point is, sharing this with someone, with you. It...it means a lot.”

“Glad to know I’m not alone in this.”

Then, a mischevious smirk grew on her face. “Does this mean that I’ll get to show off my stunts someday?”

He shot that down in an instant. “Nope, not a chance Rookie.”

She stuck her tongue out at him. “Fine, Ryder. You can just watch from on the ground then.”

She sighed blissfully, truly carefree for the first time in ages as they continued to get lost in their own little world up in the sky. 

[writing-realityawayfromreality]

DMed part 3

*Because it was asked for and also because it is Hockey day in America today. Enjoy!*

You grabbed your keys and headed out the door. The address that Carter had sent you was literally down the road so you just decided to walk. It was a nice night for once minus the cold chill that would occur once and awhile. Arriving at the apartment complex you thought about if you really wanted to go to this party. Already inside you headed to the elevators. 

It didn’t take you long to locate the apartment considering the whole floor was silent but the one place that had music blaring. You were so glad that you weren’t living in the same place because you wouldn’t be able to handle the loudness. Pulling out your phone you sent Carter a message. 

“Hey, I’m here...” you hit send locking your phone. Not even a second later Carter was opening the door. “Hey y/n! come on in.” He said 

He grabbed your hand and pulled you inside. There was a bunch of people. Some of them were players and their girlfriends, some of them were single players talking to some random girls. Carter lead you into the kitchen grabbing two cups and then heading towards the balcony. You couldn’t believe that you were here with Carter at a party, his party? 

“this is for you...” Carter said handing you the red solo cup, you took it looking at him knowing that he is not 21 and neither were you. He just smiled, it’s not like you haven’t drank before and they were hockey players for crying out loud no one is going to call the cops on them. Taking a big gulp you turned looking out over the city. 

“This is Nolan’s place, doesn’t it have such a nice view.” Carter asked looking at the tall building that were lighting the nights sky. “As nice as Philadelphia could be.” you said laughing. You were about to take another drink only to have someone bump into you causing to spill the remains of your drink all over you. Turing around you came face to face with non other than Travis Konecny.

“Jesus Tk.” Carter said looking around for something to wipe up the mess. “Sorry Hartsy, I think i had a little too much to drink.” Travis said “But your aren’t going to stop any time soon...” Carter responded. “Nope, not when your the over time goal scorer.” Travis said headed back into the apartment. “I’m so sorry, Travis can be a little...” “Its okay Carter, I walked anyways so it’s not like theres a chance i’ll get pulled over.” You said trying to dry off your red dress. “Well, I live just a floor above so if you want we can head up and i’ll get you a sweatshirt or something?” Carter said standing up waiting for you to follow. “Sure, thanks Carter.” You said following. 

You both were trying to move your way through the bodies in Nolan’s apartment. You were almost to the door when you heard a voice yelling over the music. “THERE YOU GO ROMEO.” Neither of you had to turn your heads to know that it was a drunken Nolan standing not to far away from you both watching you leave. 

“The guys get a little, obnoxious when they are drunk. I’m sorry.” Carter said while walking towards the elevator. “Id would expect nothing less. It’s really okay Carter.” You said following him to the elevator. Once inside Carter’s apartment he headed straight for the bedroom looking for clothes for you to change into. You walked towards the big window at the back of his apartment, it overlooked the same things that Nolans but the view was still breath taking. 

“it’s not much but at least you won’t smell like beer and you’ll be warm.” Carter said handing you one of his sweatshirts and a pair of his sweatpants. “Thank you, where’s your bathroom?” You asked. “You can just change in my room.” He gestured towards his room with the light still on. It didn’t take you long to get changed. You actually set your dress on his bed looking at where the beer had spilled, you could see the darkness of where it was still wet. 

You turned off the light to his room and walked over to where he was on the couch. “Thank you again Carter.” You said. “I’m really sorry about your dress, you looked so pretty, the brown complimented your hair so nicely.” He said. you were about to say thank you but you stop, Brown? You thought to yourself. “You mean red?” you asked carter. “Oh shit, well regardless you still looked beautiful whether or not i could see the color.” Carter said getting up from the couch. You walked him walk to the fridge grabbing out two waters and heading back towards you. “I’m red-green color blind.” Carter said. “So you couldn’t even see your World juniors jersey?” “Nope.” Carter said laughing. 

“So, tell me about yourself y/n” Carter stated after taking a sip from the water bottle. “Well, I’ve lived kind of everywhere. the past few years I’ve been here in Philly because of school. You know I just got into the nursing program. I work at the coffee shop, go to class, my last class actually before  nursing one’s start. I also work at the local hospital in the PED’s station. I also help to coach the girls lacrosse, indoor and out for this season. Who knows what next season will bring.” You said out of breath. 

“Wow, busy bee you are. What about your family?” Carter questioned. “I have two sisters and two brothers,  two nephews a niece and another niece on the way. They still live back in California, my parents live in Canada right now, the kinda have two houses, one in California and one in canada.” you said looking at the ground. “What do they do?” “They are both doctors, my one sister is a dentist, the other is a producer she owns her own club in L.A. and both of my brother are lawyers.” 

“You make my life sound boring.” Carter said laughing. “Oh stop, you’re a national hockey player, the future of the Philadelphia Flyers for crying out loud.” you said laughing along with him. “So what about you?” You said finally taking a drink from your water. “Well, i play hockey... I’ve wanted to be on the NHL since I was like 5. My parents are back in Canada along with my younger sister. I played for the WHL for the slivertips for a while, um played in the world juniors twice and won gold once. And now I’m here in V’s old apartment.” He said 

“See, your life isn’t boring, I would give anything to be able to have played Ice hockey.” you said. “But you’ve played lacrosse, that’s still really cool.” Carter said bumping your shoulder. “Yeah but nothing like Ice Hockey, my family has watched it since i was little. It’s just something that my dad and I had bonded over, my siblings watched it but never had the appeal to them that it does to me. in fact my dad would probably be shitting himself if he knewI was hanging out with you.” You said laughing. 

“well, how about you invite your family and a few of your friends if you want to a game, i’ll get you a box seat and then maybe you and your dad or whoever can come down and meet some of the guys. I know that Travis and Nolan wouldn’t mind hanging out for a bit afterwards.” Carter said smiling. 

“I couldn’t ask you to do that carter...” “I want to, think of it as a... gift to you for getting into the nursing program.” “Okay, fine. But only if its okay with everyone.” “It’s fine.” carter said. you looked at the time it was almost 2 in the morning, you hadn’t noticed you’ve been talking for hours. “I’ve got to be going, i have work and studying and coaching to do...” “I’ll walk you home.” You grabbed your dress and were about to walk into carter’s room to get changed but Carter stopped you. “Just keep them. i’ve got tons.” He said. 

 It was a short walk home  but you enjoyed every minute you got to spend with carter. You told him he didn’t need to walk you to your door but he insisted. “Message me when you get home?” you asked turning to face carter after unlocking your door. “I will, thanks for coming out tonight.” “Thank you for inviting me.” Carter grabbed your hand, looking at you and then your hand he placed a small kiss onto it. He looked back up again at you with a smile “Goodnight y/n.” “Goodnight Carter.” 

You couldn’t stop thinking about him. you went into the bathroom to take off your makeup and to put your hair up. You were in the middle of brushing your teeth when your phone went off. “I’m back home, thank you again for coming to the party. Sorry about Travis and the whole dress thing...” 

“Don’t worry about it, i’ll just send you the dry cleaning bill.” you said sending a winking face along with it. 

“Deal.” 

“I was just kidding Carter, don’t worry about it really.” 

“I’ll make it up to you some way some how.” Carter sent back 

“You’ve already done enough to make up for a life time. Now get some sleep romeo.” you said 

“Alright, goodnight coffee girl.” he sent back.

You were honestly glad that you had sent that reaction to his story, carter is probably one of the best things that has happened to you and you couldn’t wait to see him play in person. 

[prongsno]

It’s the Unmistakable (1/2)

Lily finds that being stuck in a bathroom at a party isn't always a bad thing. Read on AO3, 6581 words

There’s someone puking when Lily runs into the toilets. She’s desperately trying not to cry, her hands are shaking as she kicks open one of the stalls. The toilet lid is already down, and she wills herself not to think about what’s most likely underneath the seat as she plops onto it and rests her head in her hands.

The doors open again, supposedly a friend of the girl whose face is currently in one of the sinks. There’s a rather sympathetic sigh, followed shortly by a ‘ oh Miranda ’. A retch, giggles, the sound of them taking a selfie and then there’s the scuffle of high heels against the marble flooring.

The two of them leave, the doors open and the deafening sound of the bass, mixed with drunken screams and shouts, set Lily’s teeth on edge. The doors close and there’s silence once more, apart from the heavy buzz of the broken air conditioning and the dull echo of the party from behind the toilet’s thin walls.

Lily hates crying. But she can’t help it at a time like this, all she wants is to get out of this hell-hole.

She picks out her phone from her bag and calls her number one on speed dial, but it’s not Mary MacDonald who answers.

“Mary’s phone. James speaking.”

“You’re not Mary,” is the first thing Lily says with a sniffle. She lifts her legs to her chest, leans back against the wall and closes her eyes.

“Nope, thank God. She’s currently um… er, occupied - shall we say - with my flatmate. Did you need her?”

Lily hiccups and that seems to release an avalanche of emotions all at once. She lets out a laugh, and after five seconds there are tears running down her cheeks.

“Wait are you - are you crying?” The poor stranger named James sounds very shocked and concerned.

She breaks off some toilet paper and blows her nose. “No.”

“You’re a terrible liar.”

 She can hear the smile in his voice, the soft like honey kind of tone that makes you feel all warm, happy and fuzzy inside. She even smiles herself, forgetting her huge mess even if it’s only for a few seconds. His voice is the nicest voice she’s heard all day.

He shuffles, maybe moves the phone closer to his ear because there’s a rustling sound, and when he breathes out it sounds like he’s right next to her.

She can’t help the little goosebumps that appear on her arms, the shiver that goes up her spine and the little butterflies that annoyingly flutter about all the way from her toes to her fingertips.

“Are you okay?”

What an odd question, especially after the night she’s had. She’s about to answer, the words and what on earth she’s going to say still jumbling about in her head, when he curses and speaks again.

“I’m sorry, that was really-” Another curse word, then silence. “Of course you’re not.” He lets out a sigh. “Er, Mary and Sirius have been gone for - God knows how long. But if you just give me a sec I’ll hand you over right now to her. I’ll bloody break down Sirius’ door if I have to.”

That’s what he seems to do, a few minutes later. There’s a knock, then his voice shouting ‘I’m coming in’ before a door kicks open. A shriek, two shrieks. Three shrieks, James screaming about ‘INDECENCY’ and ‘YOU DIDN’T EVEN LOCK THE DOOR’ and, lastly, ‘I’M LITERALLY A DOOR AWAY AND YOU’RE DOING THAT ’.

“Is that my phone?” Lily hears Mary ask, after the whole commotion has died down. Mary’s still laughing slightly as she takes the phone.

“It said ‘Flower’ as the caller ID.” James says. His voice rings out, still soft, still special and getting under her skin. “She’s crying.” She can’t help but smile at the tone of his voice, it’s remarkable how soothing it is listening to him.

“Lils, are you okay? What happened?”

At the sound of her friend’s voice, Lily can’t help but start crying again. “Er, can you - can you come and pick me up? Please.”

“Of course- ”

“Martin and I broke up.”

She’s seeing stars, her head hurts and her tongue is burning in her throat. She closes her eyes again and tries to count calmly to ten.

“Oh Lily, I’m sorry… but were you two even going out properly?”

“Well we definitely aren’t now, I saw him making out with Stacey.”

“He didn’t-”

“Yeah and so I mean - he was the one who brought me to this damned party and I thought he really liked me-”

“God, what a dick-”

“And I was kind of spying on them and twisted my ankle and fell into the pool-”

She feels so… stupid , crying about it. But it was really embarrassing and the entire party witnessed her humiliating ordeal. All she wants right now is her best friend.

“Say no more,” Mary says, slamming her free hand onto what must be a table because there’s a big SMACK sound. “We’re coming, right now - okay?”

“I’ll get a spare jacket-” There’s a scrape of a chair, someone running and a door closing with a bang.

Lily sniffs again and pulls at more tissue, now dabbing at her eyes and nose. “We?”

Mary lets out a shaky breath, and Lily can almost see the little hand-movement her best friend does when she’s nervous, twisting a lock of hair around her fingers and biting on her bottom lip.

“I’m so sorry Lils... but I’m at Sirius’s, and he only has that motorbike. James is the only one with a car right now-”

“Oh,” She blows her nose and dabs at her eyes again.

Mascara drips onto the tissue and, from what she can gather by squinting at the small reflection of herself in the toilet dispenser, she has mascara-coloured tear streaks running all down her face. “They don’t mind coming?”

“On the contrary, Lily- ” Sirius’s voice shouts down the phone. “ James and I would love to give that Martin guy a piece of our mind.”

“He’s already left.”

“Then we’ll happily hunt him down and-” Sirius begins.

“Or - we’ll be so quiet you won’t even notice we’re there,” James cuts in. The butterflies are back. “We’ll give you and Mary time to talk and we won’t be in your way - at all.”

His entire being is like sunshine; sunshine that breaks out from the clouds just after it’s been dull and rainy. The sky gets that little bit brighter, you feel your heart being uplifted and you want to just stare and wait for the sun to come back because it feels like home.

“I don’t mind at all-”

“Lily,” Mary says. There’s a symphony of car doors slamming together in unison, the rustle of engine and then the crackle of the radio tuning in. “We’re in the car, okay? I’ll stay on the whole time and let you know when we’re there.”

“Okay,”

“It’s like a twenty minute drive, but James says he doesn’t mind getting a speeding ticket. We’ll be there in fifteen minutes, ish.”

“Good, because I really need to get out of these clothes. I stink of wee.”

There’s a few seconds pause, and then Mary whispers, as politely as she can. “You have urine on you?”

Lily regrets it instantly. “It’s not mine!”

“Oh my God - Lily, that doesn’t make it sound any better.” Mary lets out a sigh , then laughs.

“Don’t laugh-”

“I’m sorry, Lils but that’s both hilarious and gross. Is it okay if I give James your address too? Or do you want to come back with us.”

All she can think about is getting away. But, for some reason, James’s voice echoes back into her mind. The softness, the homely, happy feeling. “I really don’t want to be alone right now. Can you ask if it’s okay if I-”

Lily can hear the smile in Mary’s voice. “James says you’re most welcome to stay. And that he was going to kick Sirius and I out if we left you alone.”

The door opens, and the roar of the party sinks into the room. There’s small footsteps, and the door shuts.

“Lily?” Mary calls out a little hesitantly.

She attempts to kick at her door, but her legs are too short and so she ends up falling off the toilet, smashing onto the floor on her bottom and practically inhaling a dirty piece of used tissue.

“Here,” she grumbles, waving her hand under the half open door. She doesn’t even have the energy to stand right now.

“James and Sirius are outside,” Mary says with a small sigh as she helps Lily stand to her feet. “Can you manage?”

“If I walk really, really slowly.”

Mary’s slightly smaller than her, but manages to wrap her arms around Lily’s shoulders and assists her to the mirror.

“I look horrific.” Lily says with a grimace, patting her cheeks in horror when she sees her reflection.

“You look like you’ve had fifty shots, Lils.” For a second Mary looks like one of those teachers who have just marked your homework and have that disappointed look on their face. Then her expression softens, the hand on her hip falls and she just looks heartbroken at the state of her best friend.

“Come here.” Mary pulls Lily onto the side cabinet, hoisting her up and shuffles in between her legs. She grabs tissues and wets them slightly under the hot tap before grabbing Lily’s face with her spare hand.

“You’re really pretty Mary,”

“I know. Now be still.”

“That kinda hurts, y’know.”

Mary’s scrunches up her face in concentration. “Do you want to look like a panda? Hold still, I’m almost done.”

Two minutes later Lily wobbles out of the toilets, hanging onto Mary like a monkey. Sirius is waiting outside, leaning on the wall all modelesque in his timberland boots and double denim attire. He looks up, gives Lily a once over and then grins.

“Will you be alright to the car?” he asks.

“Crystal clear,” she says with a nod. “But I’m just going to-” She leans onto the wall, kicks off her shoes and then, sighing happily, mutters out “that’s better”.

Sirius lets out a laugh, and wafts the air around him slightly with his hand. “Evans,” he says with a grin. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you quite so drunk.”

“Neither have I,” Mary says with a slight roll of her eyes. “You just had to go and get absolutely wasted at the party I wasn’t going to, didn’t you?”

Lily’s too busy nodding to notice when they finally set off walking, but she soon realises when she’s tripping over Mary’s feet and tumbling to the floor like jelly.

“I mean - who has their party at an event hall? We’re not in high school anymore!”

Mary and Sirius try their hardest not to laugh, but when Lily starts snorting the three of them are a giddy mess. It takes an awful amount of effort before they eventually exit the front door and walk down the entrance gardens.

She can hear the car before she sees it; the roar of a very, very old engine and Don’t Worry Baby by The Beach Boys practically oozing out of old, worn speakers.

She’s lost in the music of the song, her mind fuzzy and heavy. She hears the sound of car doors opening, a hand on her shoulder guiding her into the car, the fastening of seat belts, car doors closing.

“We ready to go?” asks the voice of someone.

A soft voice. Kind, sweet and delicate, like honey she has on toast in the mornings. She’s heard it before, she’s sure of it. She can’t remember where, but it’s a nice voice.

It’s his voice. Despite the fuzziness in her eyes, she turns straight to it like a moth to a flame. Like trying to find light in a room of darkness. But then she sees it. He’s staring at her from the rear-view mirror.

Bright hazel eyes glance her way, hair that sticks up like candy floss gone wrong, like a cloud that’s turned inside out. It’s wild - and yet it’s so, so unequivocally him . It’s him, it’s what makes him him . And Lily wouldn’t have it any other way.

He gives her a small smile and then the car sets off.

“Do you want some water?” Mary asks, she reaches over to turn down Lily’s window and is already passing her a bottle of water before even getting an answer.

The water’s gone in half a second. “I’m never drinking again,” she says after glugging it down.

“Not without me, anyhow.” Sirius laughs, turning slightly from his seat in the front to give her a wink. Then he gives her a salute and tosses her a small bundle that falls into her lap.

“Crackers,” Mary says, helping her unfold the beeswax wraps (that Sirius was most adamant about buying, claiming that if he wanted to save the world he might as well start somewhere) to produce three delicious Jacob’s crackers.

Once the crackers are finished, and now she’s got a bit of food and non alcoholic drink in her system, the events of the night slowly begin to sink in.

“I’m never dating again,” her voice is barely a whisper, face covered with her fingers as she tries to hide from view.

Mary lets out a scoff. “Not everyone is like that jerk. You never know, maybe the right one was in front of you all along.”

A generic saying, full of cliche.

And yet, as she reaches out her hand to itch the top of her head, her eyes stray forward.

Those hazel eyes meet hers once more, and James must have not expected it to happen in the least, because his beautiful, bright eyes widen, his luscious cheeks redden and he mutters out a swear word as he swerves the car, running through a red light.

“Nice one, mate.”

She can still see his red cheeks from the mirror, the way his jaw clenches as he gives Sirius a glare. “Shut up, I didn’t even notice it. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Who am I? Your driving instructor?”

“The backseat driver.”

“Very funny.”

She must have dozed off at some point, no doubt drooling on Mary’s shoulder, because someone starts shaking her shoulder, calling out her name.  She wakes instantly, eyes opening to find James’s face directly in front of her.

“Crap, sorry.” He pulls back, left hand shooting up to mess with his hair. “You’re a really deep sleeper.”

He’s got a jacket in his right hand, and he awkwardly shoves it towards her. When she takes it, mumbling a timid and sleepy thank you, his hands goes straight into his jean pockets and he looks incredibly unsure of what on earth he’s supposed to do now.

He rocks up and down on his toes for a second before speaking. “Mary’s just gone to get you some clothes,” he says, jerking his hand to the set of small but smart looking apartments in front of them. “She’s been here so much lately she’s practically moved in.”

“She’s really happy with Sirius.”

Her seat belt is already unbuckled, so she swings her legs and wobbles out of the car as smoothly as she can. James has to reach out and balance her, hands holding onto her elbows like she’s a grandma and he’s her walking stick (which, to be honest, she wouldn’t mind him being).

“I’m fine,” she says, refusing to meet his eyes.

All he does is smile as he locks the car, and then they walk side by side towards the flat. His keys jingle in his hand and when he opens the door they find Mary and Sirius acting very suspicious near the front door.

Sirius’s neck is tinged pink, and Mary shoves his hand away from hers.

Their backs straighten and Mary pulls an arm behind her back. She’s speaking in an instant, like she’s been practicing the line for years.

“I don’t have anything you could wear for bed, Lils,” she says, looking incredibly sad. “Sorry. Maybe, um, James has something? I’m sure he wouldn’t mind.”

At this, Sirius and Mary turn instantaneously to James. “Right, James?”

“Uh, I probably do?” He says with a slight shrug as he kicks off his shoes, the scruffiest pair of converse she’s ever seen.

“Oh,” Lily clears her throat, and puts down her shoes right next to his. They’re a little crooked, not straight enough, so she bends down to straighten them properly. “It’s okay,” she says to the linen carpeted floor.

“No it’s okay. It’s fine. I think I have something,” she hears him say, he’s already speeding off through one of the doors down the hallway.

When he’s gone Lily lets out a huff and gives Mary a glare. “I can just sleep in this,” she hisses, and tries to stand up, but in the end tumbles back to the floor and has to pull herself up with the help of the wall and shoe rack.

Mary tuts as she watches, and folds her arms against her chest. “Didn’t you say you got urine all over you?” she asks rather smugly, giving Lily a glare that is eagerly returned.

Sirius watches them both with a grin and, after a few seconds, places his hands on Mary’s shoulders and whispers something in her ear. There’s a hint of a grin on her face, that disappears almost as quickly as it comes. She shoots Sirius a nod and he places the softest of kisses on her hand before dropping it.

“We can put your clothes in the wash, Lils.” Sirius raises his voice, just as James emerges from his room with an old football shirt.

“This is the only thing I could find,” he says with a blush, passing it to her with shaky hands. “Sorry.”

The shirt is soft in her hands and there’s a sweet, clean and fresh scent of lemons and peony blossom that swirls around the air, making her dizzy.

“That’s your lucky number,” Sirius raises an eyebrow, eyes drawn in amazement and shock at the number seven on the red and gold shirt.

“It wasn’t that lucky,” James makes a shrug.

“You got scouted-”

James lets out a wild laugh, and scratches the back of his neck awkwardly. “That was just luck-” He gives Sirius a glare, a ‘ shut up and stop talking or so help me ’ glare.

“Didn’t you just say there wasn’t any luck?” Sirius grins, giving his now deeply blushing friend a little wink.

“Shut up,” James says with a scowl.

And, just like that, an awkward silence fills the air. Lily can’t look up, because every time she does her eyes are drawn to James like they’re both magnets and he’s pulling her in.

Mary drums her fingers against the wall and bounces on her tiptoes for a few moments. “Tea?”

Everyone murmurs out a hasty ‘yes’ and Mary pushes Lily towards the bathroom.

“I love you and all,” she says as she pushes, “but you stink like a rat’s arse right now.”

James clears his throat, his cough sounding an awful lot like a laugh. “I’ll just go and pop the kettle on.”

“And I’ll just go and,” Sirius points towards the kitchen, twirls his fingers around in the air and scrunches up his lips. “And, uh, clean some cups.”

He runs out of the room and shuts the kitchen door behind him with a click.

“Do I really stink that much?” Lily’s face is still hot, and she places her hands on her cheeks and bangs her head against the wall once then another two times.

James thinks she smells like a rat’s arse, isn’t that great?

All Mary does is watch, looking very amused and happy with herself from the opposite side of the wall. “You know,” she says with a drawl, pretending to suddenly look at her nails in fascination, “this all could have happened weeks ago.”

“What?”

Mary grins and points towards the kitchen. “You know, James Potter staring at you with loving eyes. You getting butterflies from his dashing smile.” She even has the cheek to flutter her eyes, bringing one hand to fan at her face whilst the other rests against her heart.

“There are no butterflies. And definitely no lovey eyes.”

Mary’s smile is so wide, it looks like her face is going to erupt. “You are such a bad liar, you do know that right?” She laughs and opens the door to the bathroom, turns on the light and leans against the wall.

“There’s clean towels in the cupboard, and you can use my stuff if you want.” Then, she lowers her voice to a whisper. “And, just so you know, remember that time I said Sirius had a friend who was obsessed with Doctor Who?”

“Yeah?”

Mary stares at her, rolls her eyes and then makes an exaggerated circle in the air and shoves her arms towards the closed kitchen door.

“Wait - that was James?” Lily blinks.

“Yes . You moron.”

“But you said he was a nerd-”

“He knows morse code ,” Mary says. “Fluently, might I add. He learnt it for fun. ”

“No, I distinctly remember you saying that if he were cake he would be the victoria sponge because you said, and I quote, he had the sweetness of strawberries but not enough tart and cream. What the hell does that even mean?”

“I stand by that-”

Lily lets out a groan. “What did you expect me to say? I thought you were trying to pair me up with a greasy, pokemon collecting nerd who thinks he’s a vampire.”

“But I knew victoria sponge is your favourite,” Mary gasps, appalled. “I also said he did as many sports as he has fingers.” As she says this she thrusts her two hands in Lily’s face, wiggling her fingers frantically. “I said he was nerd, a sports nerd who knows all the lines of Doctor Who. I also said you two would really hit it off. I said that he would be good for you.”

“I thought you were joking.”

Mary throws her hands in the air. “Why would I do that? You were both too darn stubborn to ever meet. Sirius and I have been trying to get you both to meet for freaking ages. Idiots, the pair of you.”

There’s a ginger cat sat in front of the bathroom door once she’s finished. She opens the door and then boom, there it is, staring at her with these giant eyes, its tail swishing about on the carpet and watching her like a hawk.

Her hair is dripping wet, so she’s draped one of Mary’s towels around her shoulders to try and catch some of the droplets. All she’s wearing is James’s flipping football shirt, he’s so tall that the shirt finishes around her mid-thigh and she desperately tries to not make her mind wander. You know - when was the last time he wore it? How long for? What he did after wearing it, or before?

The cat cocks its head slightly to the side and swishes its tail once more, slowly. It’s like it knows exactly what she’s thinking.

“Hello?” she says. “And who might you be?”

The cat looks at her, and then lets out a meow.

Instantly there’s the sound of a chair scraping in the kitchen, frantic footsteps and the door banging open to reveal James holding what looks a cat’s bowl in his hands.

The cat stands up at once, trots up to him and begins purring and twirling around his legs. James crouches down to tickle the cat between its ears, and then must realise he can still hear the sound of the bathroom fan churning away, because he glances sideways towards her and jumps.

“Um,” he stares at her for a quick second and then reverts back to the cat who’s impatiently pushing its head under his left hand. “Sorry, I - uh - didn’t realise you were... finished.”

The cat bumps its head against his hand, clearly perturbed by the lack of attention it’s suddenly getting. James clears his throat, coughs and cracks his knuckles before petting the cat again.

“Thanks for the shirt,” she can’t think of anything else to say, and she is thankful (in more ways than he can surely imagine), so she just gives him a smile as she turns off the light and shuts the door.

Damn this awkwardness; he must think she’s some crazy, weird drunk who can’t make normal conversation. She’s actually quite charismatic - just, for some reason her tongue is tied and she can’t think straight for the life of her.

“Oh - no problem.” James stands and picks up the cat, cradling it in his arms like a baby. It doesn’t look happy in the slightest, but sits grumpily and content as James gives it a kiss on the head.

“This is Algernon,” James says once Lily decides to bite the bullet, takes a step forward and gives the cat in his arms a little pet.

“He’s adorable,” she says as she gives him another tickle, right behind the ears and under his chin. Algernon purrs loudly and closes his eyes - clearly enjoying the pampering session. “How old is he?” she asks, and then makes the mistake of turning her head and looking up at James.

Their eyes meet, and she didn’t realise they were this close; so close they’re almost shoulder to shoulder.

James gives her a small smile as he answers, “He’s almost five now. His birthday is on Bonfire Night.”

She can hear him swallow, and can hear the little intake of breath he takes as he clears his throat. He’s everywhere but it’s not a claustrophobic kind of feeling, it’s more overwhelming and exhilarating. Happy.

She can feel goosebumps creeping up her arms, and lets her gaze fall back to Algernon. She gives him another tickle. “Nice, he gets a party every year huh?”

“Most of the time he’s hidden under my or Sirius’s bed because he hates all the fireworks,” he laughs. “But he gets special birthday food which he greatly enjoys.”

Algernon decides he’s had enough now, he jerks a bit and drops to the floor gracefully. The six foot odd fall doesn’t seem to shock him at all, he runs towards the kitchen door and sits there for a moment before opening it by swatting his paw at the door madly until it pushes open.

“Are you having tea or what?” Comes the questioning voice of Mary MacDonald through the crack of the kitchen door.

James lets out a laugh and he follows after Algernon without delay, but all Lily can do is stare after him, perplexed.

Her day hasn’t exactly been the greatest, and meeting this strange and alluring James has only made everything even more confusing. Lily can feel the little wheels in her mind, turning and frantically moving to try and figure everything out.

James seems to have a hold of her already, somehow.

There’s a storm going on outside. The wind rattles against the windows, the trees sway violently, looking skeletal lit up by the dim street lights.

The walls of the flat are thin, so every crash of thunder sounds like what Lily imagines Gordon Ramsay does when he sees raw food being served. It’s loud, the floor and walls seem to shake and Algernon clearly doesn’t seem to like it either. The poor cat’s tail shoots up at the next batch of lightning and rumbling thunder and lets out a wild yowl before scattering off, no doubt to hide underneath Sirius’s bed which seems to be the best hiding place in the flat (much to Sirius’s annoyance).

The four of them, still sat at the table, still holding onto their now cold and empty mugs of nothingness, don’t say anything for a while until Sirius stands up from his chair (Mary follows his every move, not even trying to hide the fact that she takes a good, long and hard stare at her boyfriend’s bottom, which Lily supposes is quite nice, if she has to admit it) and picks up the remote from the coffee table.

“How about that rematch, Mary?” he asks, giving the girl in a question a teasing smirk as he flips the remote in his hand. “I bet you a hundred quid that I beat you this time.”

Mary lets out a laugh as she swings her legs off her chair. “Do you even have a hundred quid, Sirius?” she asks.

The boy in questions shrugs. “Maybe?” he grins as he turns on the Xbox One and takes out a pristine looking Soulcalibur V.

“Mary’s the unbeatable champion at that,” Lily says, pointing at the disk. She remembers the endless rematches all too well, Mary was merciless and violent at that game and became quite the formidable challenger.

“He knows,” Mary smiles. “It was a bit of a shock, right?”

“I was only being a gentleman.”

“She completely floored you, mate.” James laughs, he scrapes back his chair and starts loading the dirty crockery into the dishwasher. Lily slides a glance over to him and, when she realises his bottom is in the air, perfectly rounded, grabbable and hench, she chokes and moves her gaze back to the TV as quickly and as casually as she can manage.

Sirius has already spotted her and gives her a knowing look, wiggling his eyebrows and grinning at her maniacally. It’s only when he realises that the game has already started, and that Mary is already ripping him a new one, that he stops.

He lets out a gasp and starts frantically pressing buttons. “I thought you loved me!”

“Raphael loves no one!” Mary shoots up to her feet, gazing at the screen in so much intent that her tongue sticks out and she swerves her body this way and that as she punches, stabs, strangles and punctures Sirius.

Sirius is a fumbling mess, cusses and swears fly out every single time he’s hit (which is a lot) and every now and then he lets out a frustrated groan and throws back his head.

It’s not really surprising when Mary wins all three battles.

“My swordplay is peerless!” she says, mimicking her character without a second delay. Sirius groans in defeat, all the while muttering out “Kinky,” and “That’s what she said.”

“Lily?” he asks after five seconds of silence. He raises his head, and leans over onto Mary’s shoulder to shoot Lily an inquisitive glance. “Are you up for a battle?”

“I think I’m worse than you,”

“Ouch. Do you need some ointment for that burn, Sirius?”

She’s almost forgotten that James is there, radiating and oozing out sexiness and all things lush and wonderful, teasing and tantalising her with everything and anything that he does. She lets out a little jump when he speaks, and turns her head slightly to see what he’s doing.

He’s leaning on the counter, holding what has to be his fourth mug of steaming, hot tea in his hands.

“Har bloody har.” Comes Sirius’s deadpan voice.

“I didn’t mean it like that,” she exclaims, cheeks flushed as James gives her a wink.

“Well,” Sirius says as he clears his throat and holds out the controller for her. “Shall we put you to the test?”

“I told you,” Lily says five minutes later, when Sirius is shocked and elated to see he has finally won a battle.

“You weren’t wrong,” Sirius tells her, falling back onto the sofa in surprise. “You really are terrible.”

“I wasn’t expecting to you be so shockingly bad,” James adds with a nod. “Here I thought you’d be some secret and talented gaming champion.”

“Lily’s talents lie elsewhere,” Mary says, nose deep in her phone and scrolling through Instagram. “I think we can add shockingly bad at Soulcalibur to the list, though. That was definitely an achievement.”

James grins, and runs a hand through his hair, spiking up the edges and ruffling the soft little curls. “Shall we see what’s on TV?”

There’s hardly any space for the four of them on the small, cat hair covered sofa, but somehow they manage. Lily eventually finds herself squished in the middle by a James and Mary sandwich, which isn’t too bad since it means she can accidentally touch James and pretty much get away with it.

Their elbows knock, arms touch and legs bump on more than one occasion, and each time they touch (even it’s just a little, tiny thing) she gets excited, and jumpy butterflies that make her stomach do somersault after somersault are in every crevice of her entire being.

Algernon eventually comes running into the room, and makes himself comfortable on James’s lap. It’s not long before the cat is snoring away, and the room slowly falls silent.

The TV is playing a marathon of Friends episodes, and the only inclination that the four of them are awake is the slow motion of Sirius’s hand softly running through Mary’s hair, Mary snuggling closer to Sirius, and James’s slight rotation of his feet and wiggle of his toes.

The thunderstorm finally passes over, and all that remains is a gentle pattering of rain against the windows. Lily actually feels safe, comfortable, happy.

She sneaks a quick glance at James, whose arm has gradually dropped throughout the hour and is now dangling dangerously close to her own. His eyes are tiredly blinking as he stares, transfixed, at the TV screen and his other hand, that is so close to hers she could just reach out and hold it, is absently stroking Algernon’s head.

He must feel her gaze, because he moves his head to look at her and gives her a tired, sweet smile.

“You okay?” he asks, already half asleep. His words are soft and hazy, full of drowsiness and soft, sweet breaths. She looks at him, and can feel her heart erupting inside of her chest.

“Yeah,” she says, and rests her head onto his shoulder. He lets out a happy kind of sigh, and there’s no mistaking the small movement of his head so he’s resting against her too.

It’s difficult not to smile, it’s so hard. And so she smiles the biggest smile her small mouth can manage, her cheeks positively ache but who the heck cares? Cloud nine isn’t high enough - she feels like she’s on cloud infinity , right here with him.

“I’m okay.”

And for once, she’s not lying.

She falls asleep with her head next to his, to the sound of Phoebe singing Smelly Cat, accompanied by the slight rainfall from outdoors. She can’t wait to wake up, for a new day to begin because she finally feels like she belongs.

Here, next to him.

She dreams of kisses, and candy canes and, for some strange reason, the world’s highest slide that is so tall it reaches up into the skies, to the very gates of Heaven.

But then she wakes up, groggy and bleary eyed and has to yawn for two minutes straight before she can think clearly and sit up.

She remembers last night, all the bad things but the good too. James’s face can’t escape her mind, and so she turns, wanting to see a sleepy James who’s painted golden from the morning sun.

But he’s gone, and all that’s left is his blanket that he covered their legs with when they said it was getting cold. The blanket’s now around her shoulders, and she brushes it off her and places it neatly onto the empty space where James should be.

Mary’s up and making coffee. She’s yawning endlessly as she hums out a tune and turns around to say morning.

“Where’s…” Lily holds her breath. It’s not possible that she dreamed up James - is it? He was perfect, exactly what her mind would create just to torment her into thinking he was real. She itches her nose and scratches her head, and tries to not sound too obvious. “Where’s uh, everyone?” she asks finally.

“Sirius is showering. And everyone else has, I think, gone to work.”

“Oh.”

Some toast pops up, and Mary shuffles towards the plate cabinet slowly. She’s wearing slippers that are far too big for her, they look like boats on her small size four feet, and, based from the image of a sausage dog that’s wearing sunglasses and the words ‘HOT DOG’ underneath, Lily assumes they’re Sirius’s.

“Apparently you two were snuggling like two lovebirds when his boss rang him up. He was supposed to start at nine and it was, like, twenty past.”

“Oh.”

“I think he really likes you, Lils.”

“Yeah?”

Mary gives her that look, and passes her a plate with buttered toast and a cup of coffee. “Of course he does Lily, come on.”

“He’s just left! Without even saying anything, or like leaving a message. He’s basically just done the walk of shame, sneaking out of the flat regretting everything.”

“Leaving for work is a little different-”

“I thought we had a, God - I don’t know,” Lily sighs, staring miserably at her toast before giving it a big bite. “A connection. I could feel something-”

“Like a kind of hot, pleasant feeling down in your-”

“No.” She picks up the closest thing to her, a fork, and throws it at Mary. “But he just felt - felt different. I guess.”

“I’m sorry, Lils. I really am. But I also don’t think you have a reason to be worried. I mean, James isn’t that kind of guy. He’s probably counting down the hours until he can see you again.” Then Mary lets out a gasp and clicks her fingers. “He’s exactly the kind of guy who’s probably written you some soppy love letter with his number on it. I bet you a toffee crisp.”

The two girls stare at each other for a long moment, and then jump up and run out of the kitchen.

“What’s going on?” Sirius asks, giving them both an amused stare. He’s just sorting out the post, and chucks a few of the useless pamphlets into the paper bin before standing up.

“We’re checking to see if James left Lily a love note before leaving for work,” Mary says with a giggle.

“One hundred percent. I can guarantee it.” Sirius gives Lily a wink. “He put it right…” He looks around the small hallway, and scratches his head. “Oh crap.”

“You’ve lost it?!” Mary gasps, appalled.

“Well, Mary my dear, define lost-”

“You can’t find it.” Mary says sharply, and crosses her arms against her chest.

“I never actually saw where he put it. I just know he did it. Because he gave me this love struck smile and wouldn’t stop crooning on about eyes as fresh as pickles and something about your hair,” he gives Lily a half shrug, and scratches his hair as he thinks deeply.

“So you’ve lost it.”

This isn’t how it was supposed to happen. It was supposed to be fate. Waking up next to each other and starting the first day of their whole lives together. Not this. Not a maybe love letter, and a maybe phone number, and the absence of James.

She didn’t want mess. She was tired of mess.

Maybe it wasn’t meant to be, simple as that.

[staytheb]

Got It

Pairing: TBZ’s Kevin x OC [Serena] Genre: college!au, slice of life, slight fluff Word Count: 3,372 Summary: Serena’s sleep is disturbed constantly due to her friends informing her that Kevin won’t stop talking about her and that she needs to come get him. First thing first, they’re not even together. Second of all, Kevin’s drunk so it isn’t her responsibility to take care of him.

Warning: swear words. college life of drinking and parties. i guess.

i mean the college scene varies person to person so it’s not that big of a mentioned, but thought i’ll put it in the warning just in case. lol other then that, the title so far for The Boyz have been hard and i wouldn’t find out what it would be until i’m doing writing. so yeah, the title to me fits and not in any way related to their song, but who knows. lol so yeah, happy reading and kthxbai, Admin Lia~

Serena stirred awake upon hearing and feeling the vibration of her mobile phone before it actually started to ring with sound. She groaned as her hand quickly moved to where she last saw her device above her head and took a hold of it to silence the call. Serena didn't bother to check the caller ID as she rose up in bed to look around her surrounding first and saw that it was night now. She had fallen asleep a few hours ago having stayed up all night last night to the morning hours before getting off work once classes were done.

Serena checked her phone once again and saw that it was a missed call from an unknown number, but dismissed it to check the time instead. It was almost eleven and she glanced across the room and saw that her roommate was also sound asleep. Serena figured that Melanie would have gone to the Theta Beta Zeta party since her boyfriend was a member and that she was also good friends with some of the members, but assumed she had classes or work early in the morning. Serena forgot what her roommate's schedule was like since she barely kept up with her own having set up many alarm clocks and reminders.

Her mobile device vibrated again, but a different number popped up that she actually recognized along with the displayed image. She debated if she wanted to answer it or not and decided not to and silenced the call leaving it to go to miss call instead. Serena figured that if it was important her friend could leave her a voicemail or a text message since he should know that she didn't like talking on the phone.

Besides, she assumed they were drunken calls since he should be having fun with his brothers of T-B-Z due to the party. She decided to go back to sleep and hoped that no one else would bother her until late afternoon. Unfortunately she didn't get the chance for her head to hit her pillow when Younghoon called her again and she tiredly answered his call a bit annoyed.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Serena. What are yo-wait. Were you sleeping?" He asked over the phone.

"I was. What do you want?"

"Why are you sleeping right now? You're usually up at this hour and don't go to sleep until like four in the morning."

"Does it really matter, Younghoon?"

She settled onto her back with an arm draped over her forehead.

"What do you want?

"Well," Younghoon stalled unsure how to go about the topic, "It's about Kevin."

"What about him?"

There was silence between them, but Serena could hear the loud music and people talking in the background. It must be some party.

"Could you come get him?" Younghoon asked a moment later.

"Why? Doesn't he live with you guys?"

"He does, but he won't stop asking for you."

"Are you sure he's not asking for Beyonce instead?"

"I'm sure he isn't."

"Uh huh and so?"

"Could you like come and get him to shut up or something?"

"No and why should I? Just let him sober it out."

"It's because you're a nice person, Serena."

"That's actually a partial lie, Younghoon. I'm not a nice person at all. I'm an evil person who hates everyone. Goodbye."

Serena ended the call and tossed her phone to the side and rolled onto her side to return to her slumber. Her cellular phone rang again a few minutes later and she reached out to mute it. It rang again a moment later and Serena reached out without looking at the caller ID and answered in an annoyed tone.

"What, Kim Younghoon?"

"It's actually Changmin." Changmin corrected her with a chuckle before speaking again. "Could you please come get Kevin? He's being really annoying and clingy."

Serena turned to her other side while leaving the phone placed her other ear as her hands were folded against her chest.

"Who allowed him to drink in the first place? Also, why should I be the one to come and get him? Just lock him in one of the rooms until he's sober."

"He drank himself and it's because he keeps calling out your name. He keeps talking about you."

"I don't know why he would. Anyways, just take away the alcohol and give him water and crackers. He should sober up in no time."

"But-"

Serena interrupted Changmin.

"I'm sorry, Changmin, but he's not my problem to take care of. He's your fellow frat bro so you or the others should take care of him."

"But Serena, please." Changmin pleaded over the phone.

"No."

"Please?"

"Nope. Sorry."

"Just come and get your fuckin' boyfriend, Serena." Another voice said as Serena grabbed the phone to sit up upon the words the other male had said.

"Whoa, Jaehyun. What the fuck? He's not boyfriend."

"Well, he might as well be since he won't stop talking about you for the past hour and that he tried calling you, but you wouldn't pick up his calls."

"I don't have his number saved."

"Well then saved it and talk to him. He's a whiny drunk."

"Sucks for you then."

"Serena, please. Just help us out."

"No. I'm sure this isn't the first time he's been drunk and acting this way. You've dealt with him before so now you can continue to deal with him. Bye!"

Serena hung up, put her phone on 'do not disturb' mode, placed it under her pillow, and hope that would just settle everything. Even though she was comfortable under her covers with eyes close, but she just couldn't fall back asleep. She knew she wouldn't be able to sleep again, but she was definitely sure trying to tell her brain to do so anyways. Serena then heard something land on her bed and popped up her head to see what it was. It was one of Melanie's small pillow. She glanced over to see her roommate with her light on her bedside table on glaring at her with the phone up to her left ear.

"What?" Serena asked unsure of what was going on.

"Sunwoo said go get Kevin or he's gonna dump Kevin in front of our building in ten minutes." Melanie informed her roommate before hanging up on her boyfriend.

"You're not serious, right?"

"I have no clue. That's what Sunwoo told me."

"That gotta be joking about that."

"Who knows."

The pair dismissed it as Melanie turned off her night lamp while Serena stared up at her ceiling wondering if it was true. There was no way that they'll leave one of their drunk members in front of their sorority house, right?

Serena instantly jerked awake upon hearing the pounding on the bedroom door about twenty minutes later while Melanie still slept soundly not bothered at all. Serena rushed out of bed as she made her way to the door wondering who could be knocking at this time since most of the girls went to the Theta Beta Zeta party. When she opened the door she was greeted by the Delta Beta vice-president, Ahn Yein. Before she could greet her Yein held up a hand with a tired look.

"You need to tell your Romeo to chill, Rina." Yein told her before rubbing at her eyes to remove the sleep. "He's throwing pebbles at our side of the house and I'm not the only one who's annoyed by him to which why I came to you. Also I just got back from the party as I have an early class to attend to. Plus, we don't need Miss Park investigating Delta Beta and Theta Beta Zeta on why your boyfriend is disturbing our night."

Serena let out a groan before clarifying herself. "He's not my boyfriend, Yein. Why do people keep thinking I have one?"

"Because you guys have been hanging out more than as just friends lately and you're just oblivious to how Kevin actually feels about you."

"You're joking, right?"

"Would I be standing here complaining to you if I was joking?"

"No, you wouldn't."

"Of course. Now go get Kevin or I'm telling Sooyoung to make you in charge of the SNS accounts or Yoomin to help with the new pledges starting tomorrow." Yein threatened as Serena groaned before giving in.

"Okay, okay. Please go back to your restful sleeping, Vice-President."

"Good. If not, then I'll make sure you have breakfast duties for two months."

"Please don't."

"Good night, Serena."

"Good night, Yein."

Serena bid her friend a good night as she turned around to grab her red hoodie to throw over her t-shirt despite wearing track shorts as well. Her legs could bear the cool night and she knew she wouldn't be outside for that long anyways while slipping into some light pink flip flops. She later picked up her phone and keys while slipping them into the pocket of her hoodie before leaving her room to take care of Kevin. She just hoped that he would have sobered up by now. After dealing with him she would then give the other T-B-Z boys a piece of her mind later today about leaving their member around campus for others to deal with.

Serena found Kevin passed out against the wall on the side of the house that Yein had mentioned he was throwing rocks at her windows and others earlier. She let out a sigh while shaking her head as she moved to kneel besides the male and gave him a once over at his current state.

"I can't believe they actually left you here in your drunken state." She mumbled before glancing at his face and wondered what to do. "I can't leave you like this."

Not wanting to wake up a drunken Kevin or trying to carry him with her less than par strength, Serena decided to sit by him and let him sleep it off for a few minutes before trying to wake him up and checking his actual status. Serena stared up at the night sky and remembered that it would be a cool night. Letting out a breath she pulled off her hoodie and draped part of it over Kevin's sleeping form and herself. It wouldn't completely keep them warm, but it was better than nothing. Serena pulled her phone from her pocket, turned down the brightness, put it on night mode, and began playing on it until she fell asleep unexpectedly some time after.

Kevin stirred awake with a slight headache throbbing against his temples. He went to ease the pain with his right hand, but felt a weight on his arm preventing him from doing so. He sleepily glanced to see what it was and saw a head sleeping on his shoulder thanks to the campus' lights still being on. Kevin was confused on why he was in this situation and even more confused on why he was sleeping outside in the first place. He glanced down at the red hoodie that looked a little familiar before resting his head against the wall while closing his eyes to recall the events from earlier.

He let out a low groan as bits and pieces started coming together despite the small headache. He opened his eyes to the twilight morning sky knowing that the sun would start rising in a few more hours. Kevin glanced at the building behind him and across from him and recognized where he was located. Just to make sure that this was surely happening right now, Kevin tentatively leaned forward to see the face of the person sleeping on his shoulder. He unconsciously held his breath upon seeing Serena's sleeping face.

Kevin let out a slow breath as he couldn't believe that this was really happening and knew that he shouldn't have drank anything last night. He knew that the party was going to be a banger with how things were going and the good vibes he was feeling. Kevin just didn't think it would actually lead him to his current predicament, but then again, everybody was telling him he was obvious with his feelings and that Serena was completely oblivious to it all. Kevin let out a deep sigh as he rested his head against the wall again before glancing at the top of Serena's head. He wondered what she would think of him now.

Serena stirred awake a few seconds later and this made Kevin instantly freeze with only his eyes shifting left to right in a slightly panicked state. In her awakening state, Serena lifted herself in to an upright position while stretching her arms above her. Unknowingly, her left fist met with Kevin's face to which he was slow to realize what was happening and he let out a sound that alerted her of his presence. Serena whipped her head to her left and saw Kevin caressing his left cheek from where she had punched him a few seconds ago. Everything came back to her and she glared at him even though she was still making sure if he was alright.

"How's your face and your memory?" Serena asked him in a firm tone.

Kevin still rubbed at his cheek, but replied to her question. "They're both fine. Although I have a slight headache."

"Good and I'm sure you do. Anyways, do you think you can make it back to your house without falling over?"

Serena stood up while taking back her hoodie and slipping it back on along with placing her dead phone into the pocket. Kevin felt sad upon the lost warmth that she had provided while glancing up at her.

"I dunno. I've never been that drunk before and so sitting right here feels a lot more stable."

Serena glanced down at Kevin with a tilt of her head.

"Why did you drink so much?"

"What do you mean?"

"Why did you get drunk?"

"Because I was drinking a lot."

Kevin grinned up at her as Serena rolled her eyes while lightly kicking at his leg.

"Why did you drink so much that you were calling out my name and asking for me?"

"Oh, that."

"Mmhmm."

Kevin looked down at his lap and began playing with his fingers instead of answering her question even though he wasn't even sure how to answer Serena because he, himself, was unaware of what he had said in his drunken state. Serena squatted down to be at eye-level with him with a small smile gracing her face.

"Do you really like me that much to ask for me when you're drunk instead of Beyonce, but act all shy now that you're sober again?"

Kevin slightly glanced at her with a soft smile before glancing back down at his fingers playing with them again while giving her a vague answer.

"Maybe."

Serena bit the insides of her cheeks while debating on what to say and actually coming to terms with how she may feel for Kevin as she thought about it.

"Y'know, Kevin, even though I was oblivious to your feelings for me despite what the others have said to me these past few months, but I didn't think you actually liked me like that since I thought it was more of a friendly gesture and assumed you were just being comfortable around me." She admitted.

Kevin's attention turned to her in surprised as Serena averted her eyes to stare at the concrete floor instead.

"If I told you that I had feelings for you and also liked you back, what would you do?"

"I would, uh, well, um-"

Kevin went speechless as his mind totally blanked out and he didn't know what he would do or how to even answer her. He would mumbled incoherent words one by one after the other as Serena glanced back up at him and watched how his face contorted in several expression trying to figure out the right words to say to her. Serena couldn't help but laugh at his expressions which broke Kevin away from his little panicked moment. He became shy and sheepish while glancing back down at his fingers with a slight pout forming upon his face a second later.

"Hey, don't pout. It's not a bad thing." Serena explained before letting out a small laugh afterwards. "It's kinda cute though."

"Yeah, tell me that when the girl I like just laughs in my face about my speechlessness." Kevin mutters as his pout deepens.

"I mean, that's a good thing isn't it? You just confessed to me."

"Yeah, but that's now how I wanted to confess to you."

"And I'm sure you didn't want me to find out how much you like me and wanted to talk to me when you're drunk, too, right?"

Kevin was about to respond, but ended up closing his mouth instead. Serena chuckled at his reaction while standing back up.

"Anyways, the sun's about to rise in an hour or something like that, I have no clue as my phone died, but let's go back to bed and talk later like in the afternoon."

"I don't want to. I'm comfortable right here."

Kevin refused while turning his head away from her like a child although a second later he turned his head back to face her.

"Why not join me?"

"I wanna go back to sleep. I actually like my comfy bed more than the concrete floor and brick wall. Also, I need to charge my phone before my evening class later today. Plus, I don't need Miss Park to catch us outside the Delta Beta sorority house wondering why you and I are literally sleeping against it, Kevin."

"You sure do have a lot of excuses for somebody who just confessed they like me a while ago in not wanting to hang out with me, Serena."

"Then I take it back, Kevin Moon. I don't like you."

Serena turned to walk away, but Kevin reached out to take a hold of her hand while also partially colliding against the concrete floor. This didn't stop him from talking though.

"No, don't take it back. Wait, please."

Serena glanced back and almost laughed out loud at his current position, but repressed herself from doing so.

"Are you okay?" Serena asked as she crouched down while swaying their held hands back and forth.

Kevin propped his other hand up so that he could rest his chin on to his left palm while shooting her a cute look.

"Now I am."

"Eww, so cringey. Didn't know you were like this, too."

Serena made a face as Kevin laughed before picking himself up and bringing Serena to stand upright alongside him as well.

"May I walk you to your house's door, Serena?" Kevin asked.

Serena gave him a once over before asking him something else instead. "Shouldn't I be walking you to your house's door due to your current balance status instead?"

Kevin scoffed.

"I'm fine, Serena."

"Are you sure, Kevin?"

"Yes, c'mon."

Kevin tugged her in the direction of Delta Beta's front door while glancing over his shoulder at her before facing forward again.

"I know you were joking about the whole taking back that you like me part."

"Oh yeah? Then why did you panicked just now and almost kissed the concrete floor instead?"

"Because I just wanted to that cute thing."

"Mmhmm, sure."

"Either way, Serena, we both know we like one another now and so let's date."

"Can we discuss all of that later today. I really wanna sleep. Or better yet, can we discuss that this upcoming Saturday. I'm totally free. You can have all of my free time and attention then."

Serena reasoned as the duo arrived at the front door of her sorority house. Kevin looked at her with a wide grin. Serena had an uneasy feeling upon seeing his smile.

"Okay, Serena. Saturday will just be me and you spending it together with no interruptions."

"All day together, together?"

"Mmhmm. You can't take it back as you have already given me your free time and attention."

"Fine, but just don't go around throwing pebbles at my window though to wake me up."

Kevin let out a laugh with a nod.

"Got it."