#and they have taken me over for the last five days to bust this shit out and ive still got more waiting to be released

[demons-i-get]

Anyone else ever just-

*makes an au that started out as a really vague idea*

*au starts to form more clearly as you write out the vague idea*

*you think the au is full of sillys*

*au is actually characters experiencing The Horrors with a few sillys thrown in for flavor*

*you are left to stare at your document in horror as you realize the monster that your silly little vague idea has become*

[not-a-space-alien]

K&J x MMSS 4: Valen & Jim Part 5

Part five of the fourth crossover with @whumpsday!

K&J masterlist

MMSS masterlist

K&J x MMSS crossover masterlist

To be added to the taglist, contact @whumpsday

Warnings for this chapter: Eating disorder talk

In this chapter:

It’s night when Jim wakes, and he's still cuddled up with Valen. The vampire looks so peaceful like this. Jim feels a pang in his heart when he remembers that Valen's going home tonight, all the way back to vampire territory.

He feels a little selfish for it– he has to admit, part of it is that he feels so much safer with Valen here to protect him. No vampire would snatch a human out of another vampire’s arms, not when there are easier humans to abduct. But also… Valen is kind, and pleasant to be with, and that’s something Jim’s been starved of for a long, long time.

Well, they can still keep in touch. Maybe Valen will visit.

As he feels Valen stirring, he murmurs, “How you feeling? Burns a little better?"

Valen stretches and rubs his eyes, delighted to find that when he blinks them open, he can see. The shapes are still a bit fuzzy though, and the room has a haze, so apparently he's only most of the way there. His skin feels almost completely better, though.

"I'm doing wonderful, Jim. I'll be better in no time." He rolls over. "Although I do think I still have a little ways to go remaining, unless you’ve suddenly developed a propensity for being a beige blob."

"Looks like I gotta keep taking care of you, then," he says with a smile and a nudge, getting out of bed. "Let me know whenever you get hungry. I felt like shit after not eating or drinking for 2 days, so I bet you'd feel the same. Don't want you to go through that. Just, uh, not the neck."

The last thing Jim wants is to be fed from, but he’d rather it be him than Liz. Besides, he’s used to it. He’s done it every night for years. It shouldn’t be a big deal.

"Oh, thank you," Valen says. Now he's trying not to think too hard about feeding. "I'm not hungry just yet. Maybe later. Thank you for thinking of it." Change the subject, don't think about it, you can wait and feed at home. "You'll probably be wanting to get medical care today, yes?"

"It's not super urgent. I'll call to make an appointment when it's day, since they're closed by now. Why?" Jim asks. "I know I gotta hand in that jar of ticks."

"Oh, yes." Valen is completely disoriented about when things will be open, and what time of day everyone is going to be active. "I just worry for you, that's all."

"You're sweet. I'm not going to the ER, I'll be fine." Jim shrugs. "Speaking of which, you need anything? A second round of burn cream?"

"I think I'm doing fine. Thank you. Just some more time. Depending on what time it is, I'm not sure if I'll be able to get all the way home before sunrise, and I'd prefer not to be out during the day." He thinks it's probably going to be a while before he works up the confidence again to go outside during the day. "So perhaps I'll stay the night and the day, and then leave at next sunset." 

"Sounds peachy." Jim hesitates. The fact that it's night and Kane might be looking for him makes him nervous, but Valen is here. Valen can protect him. Even if he does get taken back, Valen can probably find a way to bust him out again. The thought calms his jumpy nerves. "Um, do you wanna come downstairs while I get breakfast? I'm..." he starts mumbling, "I feel safer when you're there. But, but if you don't wanna, that's cool too, obviously."

Valen brightens. "Yes, that sounds lovely. Are Liz and Laken still home?" It's been a while since he's been among a group of people he was so desperately interested in getting to know better. He doesn't have any friends who know and accept the real him, and he knows some of these people are queer. He's desperate for genuine connection.

And of course Jim would feel safer with Valen around. Valen had been the only thing in the five years Jim was in vampire territory that had ever been able to ward off being hurt by his captors. It makes him feel warm and protective, and strangely loathe to leave Jim alone despite knowing he's probably perfectly safe now, across the border.

"I dunno. I just met Laken when you did, but Liz told me they're her hunting partner while I was eating yesterday." Jim groans. "I can't believe she's a hunter now. That's so unsafe. Fuck Kane for kidnapping me when he did.” His voice gets more timid, spooked by his own insult. “If he could have at least waited until Liz was more stable…"

"Yes, I do worry for her in that line of work." Valen also worries for himself, just a little. "But now that you're here, perhaps we can convince her to change careers."

"Yeah… Well, I'd assume Laken would go back to their own place? There's no way Liz bailed when I just got back, she's definitely home. Feel free to grab anything you like out of the closet if you want, lemme know if your eyes are still shot and you need help. I'm staying in pajamas."

Valen smiles. "I'll also stay in pajamas. Why not?" He gets up out of bed and pads forward, slowly and holding his hand out, exaggerating his inability to see. "I do think I'll take your hand to help get down the stairs, though."

"Of course, man. I've gotcha." He intertwines his arm with Valen's, helping him down the stairs.

"Hey!" Liz calls excitedly from where she is in the living room, ecstatic to have Jim home. "How'd you sleep? I can't believe you're really home!”

"Slept good," Jim confirms with a thumbs-up. "Me either."

“And hey, looking better, Valen."

Valen also gives a thumbs up. "Feeling a lot better! Thank you, ma’am!”

Liz laughs. "Noooo, don't make me a ma'am, I'm only twenty!"

"Valen's staying the night and day, his eyes are still shot," Jim explains.

She looks to where their arms are intertwined. "Uh huh. I see that. Well, you're welcome anytime, for as long as you want. You brought my brother home.”

That warms Valen’s heart. “Ah, thank you… So, so what's on the agenda for tonight?"

“Um, I dunno, didn't have any specific plans. Definitely not going out. I could make-"

"Have you actually learned to cook in the last 5 years?" Jim asks, eyebrows raised.

"...Kinda."

"I'll handle the making. I missed cooking for you." Jim baps her on the head and goes into the kitchen. He glances back nervously to make sure he can still see Valen, the nighttime putting him on-edge.

"Don't feel self-conscious about it, I don't know how to cook, either," Valen says with a laugh. "I'm not sure I know what to do with myself if we don't have something going on. I'm not good at being idle. And I can't read for a while, unfortunately. Are there any chores that require heavy lifting I can do for you while I'm here? It'd be most efficient, since it's easier for me."

"Yeah, you can help me clean up the other bedroom if you want?" Liz suggests. "It's got a queen. Just so you know."

Valen tries to hide his excitement. "Okay, sure! You'll have to give me directions." He leans into the kitchen. "Jim, I'm going upstairs to help Liz move things. Is that all right?"

"Um, y-yeah." Jim stammers, not entirely alright but not wanting to admit it. "I'll make something quick and bring it up."

Liz, oblivious, takes Valen's hand. "Back up we go, then!"

"O-okay," says Valen, unsure of if he should point out Jim's discomfort and stay downstairs. Since Jim seems to have already made a plan to come up, Valen just lets himself be pulled along.

He can see well enough to get up the stairs without much issue, but he still likes holding Liz's hand. He likes Liz. She's tough, and a woman, and she doesn't seem to care what men think of her. If he'd been presented with the two siblings without knowing anything about either of them, he probably would have actually gravitated towards Liz more than Jim. He wants Liz to like him, but she already seems to like him for bringing her brother back. This is good, he likes interpersonal relationships where the other party feels like they owe him instead of the other way around. Then he can graciously assure them not to worry about paying him back, instead of worrying himself.

They reach the bedroom. The bed is covered in stacks of boxes and other crap, as is a good portion of the rest of the room. Valen eyes the blobs that must be the boxes. He hefts one up. To his horror, he finds that his limbs feel just a bit weaker than they usually do. It's been well over 24 hours since he's fed at this point, and he's starting to get quite hungry. He hates the idea of leaving, though, almost as much as he hates the idea of feeding here in front of either of them. Just wait for a bit, you've gone much longer without eating than this before. Neither of them will notice, they won't think much of it. You're still plenty strong. "Where should I put this?" He wants to say ma'am, but Liz already expressed her negative feelings about that.

Liz also grabs a box off the bed, moving it to stack onto the boxes on the floor. "I figure we can just clear off the bed so it's usable. I gotta go through everything, probably with Jim, and decide what to keep. Then we can grab some sheets and a blanket."

"Easy enough!" He makes quick work of moving the boxes, almost feeling like he's obligated to use his massively superior strength to get done as much as he can. He can't very well go through the boxes for them though. He wonders what's in the boxes, but he politely declines from asking, figuring he can puzzle it out later indirectly from Jim and Liz talking to each other.

Jim comes up with two plates soon enough, handing one to Liz. "Here ya go, mushroom omelet. Oh, that reminds me, I wanted to ask." He turns to Valen. "Why were you collecting mushrooms in the middle of the day anyway? That's how he found me. I was mid-escape and he was like, foraging."

"Oh," he says, blushing fiercely. Why was this so embarrassing to talk about? Probably because everyone told him it was stupid, and he wasn't convinced it would work. "Well, I'm trained in the sciences, and I was collecting them to use in a pet project of mine. There don't seem to be many around, though. They may not thrive at the latitude I was searching."

"Well, if you ever wanna forage in human territory, give me a heads-up ahead of time and I'll make sure hunters in the area know you're chill." Liz says. "You're obviously not gonna take anyone. You did the opposite."

Valen's heart warms at Liz's offer. He has friends, he has friends who like who he really is and help him with things he actually wants to do. "Thank you."

"Ooh, science. What's the pet project?" Jim asks between bites. 

Valen turns to Jim. "Um, well it isn't very far along, but, but, this is a peculiar species of mushroom that produces a substance remarkably similar in structure to hemoglobin. I was thinking that if I could distill it down, I could use it to make an artificial blood substitute to use for feeding." 

"Dude. You have to keep working on that," Liz says, extremely interested. "If you can get something like that working, it could save lives."

"Kane would never go for mushroom blood. He's all about prestige." Jim rolls his eyes. "It sounds super cool, though."

"That's the one that took you?" Liz asks.

"Yeah. Should've heard him when he came knocking at Valen's place. Had a temper tantrum when Valen sent him packing. Oh hey, speaking of blood, you've gotta be hungry." Jim points out. He's not exactly stoked about being fed from, but… it's not Kane this time.

Valen would be gentle, he knows it.

Valen is about to start explaining about how the nobility wouldn't ever accept it, but that it could potentially reduce the impact of the large-scale horror of the blood farms, when the pivot into talking about him feeding sends his anxiety spiking. He hasn't struggled with disordered eating for a while, not since he'd gotten more in control of his own diet, but all the shame and guilt are resurfacing. He can't feed from either of them. They're his friends, he can't see them as food. What if he starts seeing them as food before people? What if he can't go back to blood packs? He doesn't trust himself, it could go wrong in so many ways, especially with Jim.

"That's all right," Valen says. "I'm not hungry." Unfortunately, it's pretty obvious he's lying with the way it comes out, and he cringes.

"Hey." Jim sets his plate down and goes to squeeze Valen's hand. "You fed me. I'm gonna feed you. You're not going hungry in my house. What's wrong?"

Valen bites his lip and shakes his head. "I can't, I-I've never fed directly from a human before. I can't put a name and face to my food."

Jim's spent so long being told he's food, not a person. Valen telling him he doesn't want to make him food because he's a person… he doesn’t know what to make of that. He feels warm inside. "I appreciate that. A lot. How about I get you a cup or bowl or something, 'kay?"

"I-I suppose that would be fine. Just, just maybe do it in a different room, if you don't mind?" He is really freaked out by the possibility of becoming a monster like Kane if he isn't careful. It was one thing to know some human somewhere out there got paid a nice sum to have their blood drawn, which was then made available to his demographic generally. It was entirely different to know someone was right here in front of him and was going to be bleeding and hurting for him specifically. 

He was already one of those people who had trouble accepting help, accepting someone else's flesh and blood is even worse...not to mention it makes him feel like he owes someone else, bodily, which he hates hates hates. He tries not to cry. He would almost rather just go hungry. But Jim had said it so kindly and understandingly.

Jim doesn't like the idea of being in a different room from Valen, but he guesses he'll have to get used to it soon, since Valen's going home tomorrow. He doesn't know how he'll cope being alone at night, without him. Vulnerable.

Valen's reluctance makes him feel safer, though. This isn't like with Kane, taking what he wants with no regard to how Jim feels. Valen treats him like a person. There's no pressure.

"Sure, yeah. Liz, can you supervise?" He definitely can't do this alone.

"Course."

They go downstairs. As Valen waits, the smell of blood wafts up: soon followed by the undeniable sound of crying.

So Jim has overestimated his ability to handle this, after all.

Valen also starts crying, but he's afraid to go downstairs to Jim. He probably doesn't want to be near a vampire like this, vulnerable and bleeding and scared. Valen hates himself so, so much. He wishes he could eat anything else. He wishes he were dead.

A little bit later, the humans come up with a mug of blood, both with bandages on their arms. Jim's still teary, but he relaxes a little when he sees Valen: unbeknownst to Valen, for whom faces are still fuzzy.

Jim hands him the mug. "Order up. Hey, you okay?" he asks, his own voice a little trembly.

Valen takes the mug miserably. He feels sick at the thought of drinking it, knowing how much distress it'd caused Jim to get it for him. "Thank you for doing that for me," he says hollowly. "I'm sorry it distressed you."

"It's mostly mine," Liz says, patting Jim on the back. "Took over when it got a little much. Don't worry about it."

"Yeah. Plus, it was my choice. Our choice. You didn't force me or anything. I just, I just got bad memories. And I got scared. I'm okay now. Don't beat yourself up about needing to eat," Jim adds.

Despite Jim's words, tears spill over in Valen's eyes. "How-how can I not?" he cries. "When my entire existence is predicated on making others suffer? No matter how hard I try, I'll never be anything other than a creature of blood. Someone will always have to bleed and be in pain as long as I'm alive."

"Hey, that's not true." Jim gives him a hug. "You saved me from having to bleed and be in pain for the rest of my life. You drink that ethical stuff from the shop. I doubt people who sell their blood are really suffering. I've donated blood and plasma before... everything, and it was a piece of cake. Plus, you're working on your mushrooms. You're a really good person, Valen. You're good."

Valen puts the mug on the end table nearby so he can hold Jim, but he's having a meltdown now, probably because he's hungry on top of all the stress. "I-I haven't always been this way, Jim, I drank the blood of blood farm victims for decades before this. I'm s-so ashamed that, that what it took for me to realize was-" He gives a wail and pulls away from Jim. "I married into the family that owns and operates the blood farms, Jim, and I did nothing for the longest time to try and stop it."

He folds in himself, arms above his head, crying so hard he can barely speak. "What does it matter that I saved one human when thousands of them are ground up by the cogs of my society every day? Nothing any of us can do can ever make up for the oceans of blood we've all spilled. I'm a monster, Jim. I deserve to die. We all deserve to die."

"Liz, give us a minute?" Jim says.

"Sure, yeah. But that stuff's not true, Valen." She leaves them.

Jim directs Valen to sit on the bed, arm around him. "It matters that you saved one human to me, okay? To be Kane's... you get treated like nothing. Less. Food, or a punching bag for him to take his shit out on. Without you, I'd either have died of dehydration out there, or I'd spend the rest of my life as his, with crushed ankles to boot. You took me away from all that. You let me be a person again. You didn't have to do that. You could've turned me in for cash, you could've kept me and made me yours, but you didn't. Sure, I’m only one human. But–but it's my entire life. You gave it back to me. Your husband's a piece of shit. You're not him, you're literally trying to divorce him. A lot of vampires are monsters–so are a lot of humans–but not you. Never you."

Valen hiccups, feeling so small next to Jim now. "I just did what any decent person would have done." He takes a moment to let what he just said sink in, then he sniffles and wipes his face. "Thank you, Jim. I'm, I'm sorry you tried to do something nice for me and just got a meltdown in return. Hearing you say all that does make me feel better. Can I..." He extends his hand towards the end table, just a little bit. "Can I maybe drink it now? I c-can't imagine being this hungry is helping my emotional stability at all."

Jim grabs the mug and hands it to him. "Knock yourself out. It's not your fault, I just... got spooked. I feel a little better now, though. It's better when I'm with you."

"I'm glad. I'm glad my being here makes things better, not worse." He sips the mug, trying not to make the connection to who the blood came out of.

[nopeferatu]

Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to at least five other writers. Let’s spread the self-love❤



OOF...well, since most of my favorite pieces of writing are eternal wips, I guess I'll just post the snippets here, haha. Please bear in mind that nearly all of them are over a year old, and none of them are very good—I do draw more than I write, after all. But I do dabble here and there and so yeah! This is some of that!

5. Untitled WIP

This is suuuper old, one of the first things I wrote after watching the movie again in early 2022 and falling deep down the rabbit hole. It's actually not that great and is pretty sad in it's entirety, so I tried to grab the better chunk, haha. Try, if you can, to mind the first person pov—I know better now.

It's been years and I still really miss you, Jack. All I known in life is the feeling a missing you. You think I'd get used to the feeling, what with all them months and miles between us in the before times, but this missing you runs so much deeper than these tired bones have ever known before.

Yanno how you said your Mama believed in the Pentecost? She ever tell you 'bout that Bible story, how God made Adam and Eve? It goes like this—the Lord took a big pile a sand and breathed into it to make Adam, then he took Adam's rib and from it, went on to make Eve.

Was thinking on it the other day and figured, what if that's how God made the two a us? What if he breathed life into a pile a horse shit, then when I came up, took my rib, put it in a rodeo fuck up and sent the two a us out to the world, pair a deuces trying to fnd their way? I always thought maybe this hurt was emptiness, where my heart went missing after you were gone 'cause you'd taken it like you took my shirt. Now I'm thinking, what if the pain's from that ol' rib coming back after you died to settle in where it don't belong no more? Tryna rearrange all my insides that gone without for so long, and my body's rejecting it like a horse rejecting rider 'cause it knows it don't belong to me no more, never did, neither.

Then again, maybe it's just busted up in there. Maybe it has been since the summer a '63, and I just ain't taken notice 'til you went on and met your maker.

Maybe this ol' heart's just broken.

Know I shouldn't be asking shit from you considering all the ways I took and didn't give you nothing but hurts in return, but I’m asking as a man who never asked for nothing from you, neither—you wait for me, Jack Twist, just a little longer. Used to say that I couldn't wait to see you again, but you helped give me a second shot, try and fix up what I didn’t think I could hardly stand no more. Now I know I can bid my time here a while longer, being a daddy and granddaddy, living out some a the life that you didn't get to have.

So you wait for me… even if it's just so I can tell you how God damn sorry I am for it all.

I love ya, little darlin'. Reckon I always have, reckon I always will. You enjoy them whiskey rivers, but make sure to save the last round for me.

4. Want

This snippet is also super old, and once again, forgive me for the first person pov. Ik a lot of ppl don't typically like it in fiction and I've also kind of grown unfond of it. I was young! I was dumb! I've learned I've learned I've learned!!!

As I'm crying and coughing up the blood from my lungs into my mouth, the second thought comes to mind: just how bad I want for Ennis to come find me, come and save me from what I know's coming next. But he weren't there. Never was, never would be. The tears came down harder 'cause a that one.

The very last impossible thing I wanted was something I dreamed of for a long time. Even though most everything I craved was outta reach, I always thought I could get it, somehow, some way if I tried hard enough. But from the very start I'd known this want was impossible, and yet sometimes I wanted it more than I wanted life itself.

Dying alone on the side a that hot Texas highway, all I wanted was to be nineteen again, close enough to touch the Heavens on Brokeback Mountain.

I thought I could hear Ennis hollering for me back at camp, and I smiled. I'm comin', cowboy.

Then I closed my eyes, and would never want for nothing again.

3. Untitled WIP

I really hope to finish this one, someday. I really like playing around with the other potential bad end of BBM, where Jack ditches Ennis for Randall after May 1983 because his hope and patience has run dry.

"Name's Randall. Educated type of fella, went to college, got him a job as foreman of the ranch down a ways from my place." Jack takes a deep breath, sighs it out. "Tells me he loves me more times 'n even Lureen's said it," he stays quiet a moment, kicks at the loose pebbles on the ground. "Tell you what—feels good to hear it, too. Man's gotta know he's loved ever now 'n' again, Ennis."

Ennis thinks of cold mountain nights filled with the bleating of sheep and illegal elk, of dozens of jobs taken and abandoned, of divorce; thinks of four years of missing and bruising kisses, of sixteen years of hands worshiping at the temple of a bull rider's broken body, and of every cold night in between filled with dreams about bright blue eyes and the warmth of a perfect smile. He thinks of the last twenty years he spent dropping everything at the siren call of a postcard, and for the first time in his life Ennis thinks about love; wonders what it might be, if not that.

But Ennis doesn't say so, just clenches his trembling fist even tighter into itself.

2. Five Boys that Jack Twist Had Liked (and One More Whom He Had Loved)

This one is another old one that I reaally hope to finish one day. I have a about 3 1/2 of the 6 part written, I just...need to find the gumption to get through the rest.

4. Andrew Peterson

Andrew had been one of his daddy's ranch hands, a boy who would've been two grades above him if Jack hadn't dropped out of high school his sophomore year. He had just graduated, was one of the lucky few whose parents didn't value his contribution to the family finances over his education, and was hired on for the summer in the hopes of making a little cash before heading out of their dead-end town and into the real world. It was a plan that Jack, at sixteen, had already been well acquainted with.

It wasn't often that the Twist Ranch hired hands around his age to help out around the place, and Jack, always the friendly type and more than just a little lonely, had been eager to make a new acquaintance. Andrew hadn't seemed to mind when Jack started taking his chores alongside him, appearing glad for the company, himself. They shared easy smiles and private jokes, becoming such good friends in such a short time that his Mama would tease about one of them losing their very shadow if the other wasn't around.

Just like with Stephen before him, Jack had been drawn to Andrew like a moth to a flame. He never understood what there was in a boy that drew his eye to them in a way that none of the fillies who flirted around with him ever did, until Andrew, after a tiring day mending the old fence posts that corralled the bulls in and about two months worth of dropping frustrated gestures and signals, had said, "Fuck it," pulled Jack out to his Daddy's feed barn and into a scalding kiss that left Jack weak in the knees.

Andrew hadn't been his first kiss—that honor had gone to lil' Miss Sharon King back in the first grade. Seeing as how Jack was well regarded amongst the ladies as a 'pretty boy', there'd been plenty of kisses after that, too. Andrew had, however, been the first kiss that finally had him understanding what all the fuss was about.

As if to slide it on home, later that summer he even made sure to be Jack's first fuck, rounding out on all the bases that left Jack with a whirlwind of questions about himself and even more feelings bursting inside than his young heart ever thought it could handle.

"Been savin' to go to school in Denver," Andrew started, breaking the silence one night out in the feed barn. They sat passing a cigarette and some of his daddy's stolen whiskey between them, riding out the residual high of a midnight roll in the literal hay. It had been dark out, and with only the full moon and the hot red cherry at the end of the cigarette bathing them in their glow, the two were effectively shielded from the scathing eyes of the light. "'m leavin' in a few months, splittin' before fall comes." His gaze was fixed somewhere on the black horizon, watching something that went unseen to Jack.

Jack felt his stomach sink like the stones he used to skip in the creek way out past his house.

"Denver? Ain't that a might bit far for some schoolin'?" He tried to laugh, but it came out sounding choked and strange. Instead, he looked down into the whiskey bottle in his hand and took a swig from it, willing its sweet burn to help him maintain an air of indifference. "What they got down there, anyway?"

Truth be told he didn't blame Andrew for wanting to go—he had been itching to leave Lightning Flat in the rearview, himself. Still, he was unsure that he wanted the conversation to continue. He didn't want to think about his new companion leaving so soon after this something between them had begun. Nevertheless, curiosity—slightly embittered—took hold and ultimately won out.

Andrew took a long drag out of the cigarette. Its hot cherry burned a bright, fiery red before dulling once more to an ashy gleam. "A chance for fellas like us," he finally breathed. The smoky tendrils made their escape past his lips, taking his words with them.

"Oh," Jack muttered after a beat of silence. He wasn't quite sure he understood, nor wanted to understand, what Andrew was getting at, but tried hard not to let his disappointment seep out into his tone regardless.

It hadn't worked. In a moment, Andrew smashed the lit butt out against the wall, leaving them cloaked in darkness once more before leaning over to kiss him sweetly. It had knocked the breath out of Jack, just like their kisses were wont to do.

"Maybe someday you can come pay me a visit. I dunno, it might just be a sweet life down there, yanno?" Andrew's smile, only barely visible under the glow of the full moon above, was easy and inviting.

For once all motormouth Jack could do was smile back before eager hands, warm like the end of the cigarette and the whiskey settled deep in his belly, were on him again, ready to reignite the fire that set Jack aglow.

That summer, Andrew had pressed red-hot marks into his flesh that would soon fade on the outside but sear into Jack's soul for a lifetime, forever branding him as the different sort of boy he had been both warned about and accused of being in the entirety of his short life.

Looking back, he realized he'd known what Andrew had meant all along. At sixteen years old Jack knew what queer was, and finally understood, with no room for doubt in his mind, that it was him. He reckoned that weren't nobody's business but his own, though.

After that summer, Jack never did see Andrew again.

Twenty-four years later, tucked cozy warm into his Colorado bed, Andrew would awake from a dream about blue eyes and wonder, not for the first time, what had ever happened to the kid who'd been his that one short summer before making the move that forever changed his life. Looking beside himself, into the handsome face that had laid dreaming beside him every night the past fifteen years, Andrew would smile and hope that, wherever Jack Twist was in the world, he had gotten out of Wyoming and been lucky enough to make his own bit of bliss out of the hard hand he'd been dealt.

1. Clipped

Summary: Tomorrow may tell another story, but for tonight, this man—with his baby blue eyes, sleepy, self-conscious grumbles, and beautiful clipped dick—was his, all his, and that was enough. It had to be enough.

Aaand here's a fic I've actually posted! Lol! Fun fact: this was actually the very first fic I wrote following watching bbm again in January 2022, and it remains like. The only thing I'm actually super duper proud of. It isn't even that good, but I'm just proud that I actually finished something for once lol.

Thanks for the ask, @alifeasvivid! :D

[izzy-b-hands]

Still can't sleep (and I actually want to, but it just. Isn't happening yet) so I'm mulling over edizzy thoughts/fic ideas, but one in particular is sticking hard rn, like-

I sort of want to do a kind of. I don't know the right word for it right this minute, but essentially it breaks down just how close they were/are and how intertwined they are like

In a modern au it would be someone making them do what my old therapist said she sometimes had couples do when they came to her for couples therapy. Not necessarily the first thing, but sometimes among the first things, to help crack the shell open. Have them sit and list all the little things they know abt each other, and the things they find silly to remember abt the other or the endearing things/quirks/habits (that maybe have turned to fond or less fond irritation versus endearment even.) Just write it down, and take a minute or two to reflect on the trust and vulnerability required to learn some of those things abt another person, and remember why you let yourself be that trusting and vulnerable, and ask yourself if you still want/feel that sort of connection or not. One answer isn't better than the other, and it's couple dependent on which answer is the better one for them as unique individuals in a relationship unique to them.

In canon time period I'm not totally sure how I'd intro it, so that might wind up more of a 'izzy talking to jim and they wind up discussing these things he knows abt ed, meanwhile stede is doing the same thing with ed, later jim goes to stede like "dude holy shit those two HAVE to talk" and stede's just "yeah they do but i don't know what arts and crafts project to sit them down with so that they might open up enough to go over stuff. Please tell me you have craft ideas" and we end up with some eventual edizzy discussion/also maybe shared art project bc i do like the idea of that mirroring the s1 flag project' thing?

I just. Have so many little ideas for the things ed and izzy know abt each other.

Roach bemoans (in a fondly frustrated for Izzy way, not a because of Izzy way) giving Izzy massages to help him heal post gunshot wound and to just. relax for five fucking minutes. Ed's sat there in the galley snacking, thinking abt how he knows exactly which knots in Izzy's back are worst to work out, but he also knows exactly how to do that. But to tell Roach what to do for that would be an incredibly intimate and vulnerable thing both for him and Izzy and it feels warm and like home but it aches at the same time. When did he last do that for Izzy? He can't remember. He wishes he did.

Stede is fussing over trying to put together better lunches for Ed when he goes fishing with Fang (bc Roach is already making lunch for everyone else by then and has asked Stede to help out by making sure Ed's separate more easily transportable lunch is taken care of) and just. mildly losing his mind bc he can't keep sending jars of marmalade and little else (even if Ed ultimately doesn't mind that too much.) Izzy sits in the overstuffed chair in Ed and Stede's quarters and bites his tongue bc he has an entire fucking multi-course meals menu for Ed that he's memorised without even trying to over the years. But he'd feel like an ass just busting that out; Stede should have the chance to learn these things abt Ed as their relationship progresses. That was part of what made it special for Izzy and Ed, after all. They know each other's safe foods and favourite over expensive treats that they used to only have when they could steal them, and he can't shut off the flow of memories even when Stede asks him why he's tearing up during a discussion abt food.

There's so much. So many little niches. They know which parts of each other's bodies have the worst pains and aches and creaks, some from old poorly healed injuries, others from age and overuse and the way sailing and their work can be so incredibly physical some days. They know just as well how to make the other come undone underneath their hands and fingertips. Be mindful of Ed's knee and back, Izzy should take it slower when his neck and back ache (and now his leg and torso too.) If you kiss directly at the base of the back of Ed's neck while fucking him from behind, leaned over him with him on his hands and knees on the bed, he'll almost always wind up coming untouched. Holding Izzy's hands up over his head while riding him and gently teasing him to let go will at least 8 times out of 10 result in him being instantly undone and an adorably blushy mess abt it.

He could tell you exactly the sort of blankets and quilts Ed prefers between the warmer and colder months, down to designs and the sort of materials used to fill and cover them.

He knows exactly how Izzy likes his clothing to fit, even if he can't ever fucking convince Izzy to buy much of anything new, and he has fucking tried!!

On that note, they can recite each other's current measurements, blood type, allergies, phobias, and more without having to think abt it. it's as easy as breathing or being asked something abt themselves.

Only towards the end of the fic, both modern au and canon time period, do either of them pause and go

"...oh. what happened to us?" with fearful and confused tears in their eyes because it wasn't always like this. Maybe it could be more like it used to be, again. Maybe they can't entirely undo what was done to them or to each other, but they can love and care and look out for each other.

And this time, sitting sobbing and vulnerable they can let themselves admit they never stopped, the love was so interwoven in it all too that they stopped noticing it. They let it become background noise versus a pronounced and acknowledged sound special to them both (and to those who have or might share them, like Jack and Stede.) And that on its own isn't necessarily bad, being comfortable with each other and letting the love sit as it will isn't bad. But everything else going on, their own past unaddressed traumas, and the outside stresses of their lives and trying to survive turned it into something unhealthy and hurtful.

it hurts horribly to lay it all out like that. Feels like being flayed open while alive.

But the next few days after sees them able to talk again, really talk, like they used to. They can be close again and occupy that very particular space in each other's lives, while letting each other have more (ed has stede and in my mind for this fic izzy has at least three or more crew members that have been taking it slow but are absolutely down bad for him)

It's not exactly what they had before. It never will be, it can't be. And they both come to terms with that.

But it's better than what things had become, and they have time and space now to keep working on it.

[thegreatobsesso]

Edited this morning 💖

Hi! I am alive and well, distracted but in a kind of manic, fun way, but I’ve not been working on writing or on tumblr much and I miss it and I wanna get back because it’s really really good for me. 🥰 So here’s a scene of Callie and Simon having a disagreement over how to solve a problem ;D

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--

Callie POV

“That was the moment, huh?” she demanded, and it came out in a low voice she didn’t recognize. “Where you finally decided to start acting like my handler?”

“Yes,” he confirmed flatly. “I’m supposed to stop you if I sense you have dangerous intentions. I’m trying to tell you-”

“You humiliated me,” she bit out, the floodgates flying open, “you spineless piece of shit, and for what? For these monsters? To give them free reign inside our castle?”

“This is bigger than you,” he said, and his voice was cold in a way she hadn’t heard since he captured her, since right before he read her mind. “And you can’t make it go away with brute force-”

“I can sure as hell try, it’s better than rolling out the red carpet for them, and you know what?” She laughed then, giddy with a sudden sense of purpose. “I think I just might.”

That earned his full attention. “Don’t make me do it again.”

“You won’t be able to. You caught me by surprise out there. This time I’m ready.”

Round two, she thought wildly, clamping down on the bridge and letting Peter’s power roil up inside her, violent and strong as the sea. He’s an obstacle. Get him.

“Lyonall fought back,” he said, and she didn’t want to hear him speak, she was so ready to fight, so angry-

“Five people are dead,” he said in the same cold, even voice that sounded nothing like him. “One of them was a student. They’re finished. All the kids are being taken away, most of the staff are going to prison.”

His forehead creased a fraction, and she saw Bennett again. “These people here now, they’re nothing. They’re no one. If we drag them out kicking and screaming or kill them, they’ll just shut us down or at the very least, send ten times more where they came from.”

Her unused magic surged uselessly around her hands, pulsing, aching. She wanted to let it go. A dead kid? Lyonall gone, just like that? Mighty, dangerous, unstoppable Lyonall?

“She’s got mind magic,” Callie stumbled. “Something nasty, something… she made me feel so…”

“Bad?” Bennett smirked without a trace of humor. “Camilla’s not even a magician, she’s just a deeply unpleasant person. An institutional bully. I’m not even worried about her, specifically.”

“But this is, this is an attack, on us,” she choked. “We have to fight.”

Bennett reached out and took her hands, his touch snuffing out the last of her crackling energy. “We will,” he assured her, dripping with relentless sincerity. “I promise, I promise you we will.”

This couldn’t be happening. He moved his thumb over the back of her hand, tethering her to the room again. “They’re at the other five schools already, or they will be by the end of the day, but they’re not allowed to do anything yet. They’re setting up, settling in. We have time.”

She couldn’t catch her breath, even with Bennett’s help as he stood there bringing her down, moments after she was ready to bust his face open. “How,” she stammered. “How did this happen?”

They needed votes to do this - maybe she, she didn’t watch the news or understand how things like this worked but she damn well knew that. How did enough people agree that it was okay to let kids be subjected to the same treatment as criminals?

She needed an answer, but she could also see in his eyes that he didn’t have one and that terrified her. He was Bennett. He should be able to fix anything.

When had she become so sure of that?

“Listen to me,” he practically begged her. “I don’t wanna have to control you, Callie. I want you on my side. I need you on my side, but there’s a right way and a wrong way to do this. Please, trust me.”

She sniffled. “I assume the right way takes forever, doesn’t it?” she asked him, and his shoulders dropped a fraction in relief. “And it’s probably complicated and subtle, and nothing that’ll make me feel any better by the time I go to sleep tonight.”

“All those things,” he said.

She frowned, blinking back tears. “I hate the right way.”

[biaswreckingfics]

Blurred Lines: Part 11

Pairing: Kim Sunwoo x Female Reader

Genre: Roommate AU, Acquaintances to Lovers AU, Fuckboy AU

Word Count: 6k

Warnings: swearing

Previous Chapter

Eric dramatically drops down onto the couch. His sweaty body halfway draping over Sophia as he takes a moment to catch his breath. Sophia grimaces at the wet clothes touching her skin but pats his arm lovingly anyway. Hyunjae plops down on the floor in front of you and leans back against the couch. His body equally sweaty.

Sunwoo walks out of his bedroom with a cardboard box in his hands, giving the guys an unamused look as he sees the two of them taking a break. "Really?"

"How have you accumulated even more shit than you had before?" Eric complains.

"I don't have that much more stuff," Sunwoo rolls his eyes.

"It's taken an entire extra load this time," Sangyeon walks back into your apartment with a deadpan expression. Clearly annoyed he got roped into helping Sunwoo move again. 

Sunwoo looks at the older man with an apologetic expression. "Okay. I have a little more stuff, but it's because I had more room here."

You listen to the boys bicker for a moment as you take in your, once again, trashed living room. Only this time, instead of feeling apprehensive and nervous, you just feel sad. It's official. Sunwoo is moving out. His background checks cleared the other day, and he signed the lease today. You're back to living on your own for a while.

"You guys are acting like you carried 500-pound boxes around," Kevin says in amusement as he chomps on a piece of pizza in the chair next to you.

Below you, you see Hyunjae's head whip toward Kevin, followed by a finger pointing in his direction. "Don't think I didn't notice you carried one box down, Moon."

Kevin shoves the rest of his pizza in his mouth and looks away innocently, causing Hyunjae to snort, "That's what I thought."

Sunwoo sets the box he's holding down before carefully sitting on it. He glances around the room, taking everything in with a thoughtful expression. Then, his eyes meet yours.

"I'm gonna really miss being here and seeing you every day."

Heat immediately creeps up your neck and warms your face. When the rest of the room zeroes in on you or looks between the two of you, you feel like you're going to burst into flames. "Me too."

The last few days, ever since Sunwoo talked to the apartment lady, the two of you have been hanging out at home together. You've been watching movies, playing games, and just… talking. Talking about everything under the sun. Your thoughts and fears, dreams and goals, past relationships, and how you've changed. You've talked about everything - except for your feelings for each other.

You have an inkling that Sunwoo might share the same feelings that you do. There were moments when he let small things slip through, but you didn't want to ruin your last moments as roommates, so you didn't push the issue. There'll be time for the two of you to have that discussion later. For now, you're happy to let your bond as friends continue to grow instead.

Laughter pulls you from your thoughts, and you glance around the room to find the rest of the guys teasing you and Sunwoo. 

"You can still hang out with each other."

"Yeah, you're moving five minutes away," Eric laughs with Hyunjae.

"He's gonna miss her," Hyunjae mockingly gives Eric big puppy eyes, causing you to slap the back of his head. He looks back at you like a wounded puppy before scooting out of reach and starting all over again.

Kevin joins in from the corner. "You must be a great roommate. Can I move in now?"

"Yeah, what'd you do? Sangyeon asks. "Cook for him?"

"Draw him a bath?" Hyunjae busts out laughing before he and Eric go on a tangent.

Sunwoo does his signature fake laugh as they tease both of you, but he eventually ends up kicking Hyunjae to get him to stop. You roll your eyes at the words, but you can't help but laugh at their antics. Plus, it's fun to watch them tease Sunwoo. Even if you’re collateral damage.

"You can always have sleepovers," Kevin suggests while wiggling his eyebrows.

You throw a couch pillow at Kevin, but Eric loves the idea. "Sleepovers! We should have a giant sleepover party!"

"Yeah… I don't think that's what Kevin meant," Hyunjae looks at Eric like he's dumb. 

"I know what he meant," Eric rolls his eyes, "but doesn't a sleepover with all of us sound fun?"

"It sounds like pure hell," Sunwoo comments, causing you to laugh.

A prideful expression crosses his features when he hears you laugh. You look away bashfully until Eric's idea of cramming all of them into your apartment reaches your ears.

"I hate to burst your bubble, but there's no way all of you are sleeping over here."

Eric's face falls, and he gives you a sad look, which irritatingly enough makes you want to take back your words.

"It's not that I don't think it sounds fun," you amend. "There's literally not enough room."

The room falls silent in disappointment before Sangyeon suggests, "We could go somewhere? Rent cabins for a week or something when the semester is over?"

"Oh. My. God," Eric sits up excitedly. "We have to do that! That'd be so fun!"

You and Sophia share a glance before she shrugs. "That actually does sound nice."

"We could invite the rest of the guys and their girlfriends too. Make a whole thing out of it," Kevin suggests.

You all share looks of excitement and anticipation before Hyunjae asks, "So, are we actually doing this?"

That's all it takes before everyone starts throwing out ideas, Sunwoo's boxes long forgotten. You think of places you can go, things you can do, and plan on making it a huge end-of-the-school-year trip. Though there's still another month of school left, it now gives you something to look forward to.

By the end of it, 15 of you are planning to go, including Sangyeon and Younghoon's girlfriends. Sangyeon searched for rental cabins while Hyunjae and Eric texted the rest of their friends to see if they were in. You and Sophia were in charge of coming up with things to do while there, and Sunwoo and Kevin were forced to figure out all the other small details in the meantime.

Once Sangyeon gets the okay from the rest of you on a set of cabins he found along a quiet lake, he calls the owner to make a reservation. The rest of you sit quietly in excitement as you watch him talk things through on the phone. 

"Okay! Thank you so much!" Sangyeon says, wrapping up the call. "Can't wait to see you either."

He hangs up the phone and looks down at it with a questioning expression on his features before looking up at the rest of you. "Was that a weird thing to say?"

"Who cares? Are we good to go?" Eric asks impatiently.

A giant smile overtakes Sangyeon's face. "We're booked for a week after finals!"

The group cheers excitedly, but Sangyeon immediately hushes them. "Hang on. Hang on. Let me tell you the details... Alright, we're renting three cabins. They each have two bedrooms and a couch. So, that means five to a cabin, and we will be taking turns with the couches."

"Personally, I think the couples should get the beds," Eric comments, causing Hyunjae to roll his eyes.

"Gee. I wonder why."

Sangyeon nods. "That makes the most sense. Three rooms for the couples, and then the rest of you can pair up to split the other three rooms and the couches."

"I'll take a couch," you find yourself offering.

It makes sense to you. You don't really want to share a bed with anyone. Maybe, you'd share a bed with Kevin or even Sunwoo if you had to, but you'd feel less pressured if you didn't have to worry about that. If you slept next to Sunwoo, you had a feeling you'd be too nervous to actually go to sleep and would toss and turn all night instead.

You feel someone's stare burning a hole into your head, and you glance around the room until you find the culprit. Sunwoo is staring at you, clearly lost in thought, until he feels your own stare on him, and he looks away. What? Is he bummed that you offered to sleep on the couch? Did he want to share a room with you? You shove the thoughts aside and begin mentally preparing to spend a week in total chaos.

—-------------------------------------

"Ah, ah. Get in the back with your girlfriend," Sunwoo stops Eric as he opens the passenger side door of Sunwoo's vehicle.

"But we're bros," Eric pouts, throwing a playful glare your way. "Why does she get the front seat?"

"Because she's nicer to look at than you are," Sunwoo comments as he shoves the rest of the luggage into the trunk.

You smirk as you take the passenger door from Eric and wave for him to go to the backseat with Sophia. He rolls his eyes before moving to the back door and throwing it open. You crawl into the familiar passenger seat and shut the door. A zap of excitement zooms through you, and you glance into the backseat to find Sophia. A contagious smile is on her face, and soon even Eric is smiling, clearly over his assigned seating. 

Sunwoo slams the trunk closed just as Sangyeon's car pulls up alongside you. He rolls the window down, and you glance in the back to see Jacob and Kevin waving. You wave back as Sangyeon asks, "Are you ready to go?"

Sunwoo comes to a stop by the driver's side door and leans over the roof of the car. "We're all set. Has anyone else left yet?"

"The others were meeting up at Chanhee and Changmin's place and taking off from there. They'll probably arrive right after us."

"Then, let's freaking go!" Eric yells excitedly from the back.

Sangyeon grins as Sunwoo climbs into the car and starts the engine. The excitement is palpable in the air. Sangyeon pulls ahead, and Sunwoo gets out onto the road behind him. You feel like you can bounce in your seat from giddiness. You've been counting down the days to this trip, and it's finally here! You were beginning to think it'd never come.

"What are we going to do when we get there? Go swimming? Make food? Start a fire?" Eric begins planning.

"Check-in would be my guess," Sophia responds drily.

You laugh, wondering how long Eric's been like this as the trip approached. Eric's always high energy, but you don't know if you've ever seen him this excited.

"Don't be lame," he responds.

"So, how have you been?" Sunwoo asks you as the two in the back fall into conversation.

You've only seen Sunwoo a handful of times since he moved out, and it was always in a group setting. You've actually seen everyone only a handful of times because you had all been so busy and stressed out with finals. Being in his presence now only reminds you of how drawn you are to him. Not that you could really forget, but you're suddenly reminded of how strong his allure is.

"I'm just glad the year is over, and we get a break.”

"Me too. Finals were freaking rough," he agrees. "I'm sad we weren't able to hang out a lot, though."

"Well, we have an entire week to make up for that."

A mischievous grin spreads across his face. "That we do."

Noticing the silence in the backseat, you turn around to see Eric and Sophia not so subtly listening in on your conversation. Before you can say anything, Eric asks, "Did you two ever make out?"

Your eyes widen while Sophia smacks him, and he turns and looks at her incredulously. "Why are you hitting me? You want to know too!"

You immediately turn back around in your seat, feeling your face flush. Glancing over at Sunwoo, you see a smirk on his face, but you certainly don't expect him to say his next words. 

"Unfortunately, not yet."

For a second, you forget how to breathe and Sunwoo definitely notices. He laughs before reaching over and patting your thigh a couple of times. When he leaves his hand splayed out on your bare skin, you can't decide if your lightheadedness is from his actions or a lack of oxygen... Both. Definitely both. Also… bless you for deciding to wear shorts today.

The warmth of his hand spreads throughout your body when Eric says something about now knowing the perfect dare. Sunwoo jokingly replies about now having to choose dare when it's Eric's turn. Your heart pounds so hard in your chest that you almost question if you're having a heart attack.

Thankfully, the rest of the ride doesn't involve teasing you. Sunwoo eventually removes his hand from your thigh so you can think. If it wasn't obvious what you're in for this weekend before, it most certainly is now. Not to mention, there's more to Sunwoo's flirting than his normal "make a girl squeal" that he usually has going on. There's something in the way he watches you that confirms he has feelings for you. You had a hunch before, but now you're almost positive.

"Oh my god, there's the sign!" Eric yells, making your ears ring. Normally, you'd be annoyed, but you're too excited. It's finally happening! Your fun week-long getaway has arrived!

Sangyeon puts on his blinker and turns into a copse of trees, Sunwoo soon following behind. The gravel drive is hilly, and with the trees surrounding you, it feels like you've been transported to another world. It certainly isn't like the urban streets you're used to.

A cluster of wood cabins comes into view, and a grin breaks out on your face. The lake is visible behind the cabins, and the sun glitters off of the calm water. You couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day.

Sangyeon parks his car in front of the office, and when Sunwoo parks next to him, you all get out and inhale a big whiff of fresh air. While Sangyeon and his girlfriend head into the office, the rest of you talk excitedly about your upcoming week of fun. Eric and Kevin take off in-between two cabins to look at the lake, while Jacob and Sunwoo come up with everyone's first move. You and Sophia walk up to what appears to be an empty cabin and peek in through the windows to get a hint of your accommodations. When you turn back around, you see Sunwoo leaning against his car, watching you with a light smile on his face. You smile back and move to go stand by him when two other cars pull down the drive.

You can hear the excited chatter through their open windows as the rest of your friends arrive. Hyunjae leans out the window and lets out a "woo-hoo" that's immediately cut off when Changmin turns around and smacks him. The noise draws the attention of the rest of your friends, and they all wander to the parking lot.

Sangyeon and his girlfriend walk out of the office, dangling three sets of keys in their hands. Thankfully, someone planned ahead on who'd be sharing cabins, and Sangyeon hands the other two sets of keys to those he deems responsible. Keeping the keys for his cabin himself, he turns and hands Jacob one set. He then scans the crowd, skipping Sunwoo and Eric - much to their dismay - to hand Haknyeon the third set.

Once the keys are claimed, Sangyeon has about two seconds to point in the general direction of their cabins before the crowd takes off running. Their vehicles long forgotten. Even though it's pretty clear who's sleeping where, they still run to fight for the best rooms. The only ones left standing are the four girls - you, Sophia, Sangyeon’s and Younghoon's girlfriends - and Sangyeon himself.

He turns to his girlfriend and gives her a kiss on the cheek. "Brace yourself, love. It's going to be a long week."

"Okay, dad," Sophia snorts before turning to you. "First mission of the trip: Get Sangyeon drunk off his ass."

You smirk and look back at him. "Sounds good to me."

The rest of your group moves to follow the noise coming from one side of the property. As you get to the three cabins, you see you're on the far end of the rental place. Whether that's because the owner wanted to tuck you away or they figured it'd be nice to be on the edge didn't matter. It gave you your own small, private beach, and it's awesome.

You make a mental note to explore outside before following Sophia into your cabin. The inside is cute and cozy, with tacky little trinkets and decorations scattered throughout. The wooden walls make the space feel warm and small and give off the "You're in the middle of nowhere" vibes. Sophia finds Eric in one of the rooms, and you move to inspect the couch. It's brown and looks worn, but it's long enough to do the trick, so you set your bags down on the cushions.

A TV rests pushed into the corner, but unless it rains, it'll be of no use to you. A small, circular table sits right next to the little kitchenette and in front of a patio door that leads out to the back deck. You move to take a look out the sliding glass door, and a smile spreads across your face. 

The lake shines, taking up most of the view, and you see a couple of small boats tied up to a dock in between two of the cabins. To the right is a private beach and much to your childish delight, a small park in the sand. The bonfire pit sits toward the edge of the beach with nice wooden chairs just waiting to be claimed.

"Do you want to stick your stuff in my room?" Sunwoo's voice reaches your ears, and you turn to face him. "That way it won't be out in the open for everyone to see."

"Thank you. That'd be great."

He grabs your bags without another word, and you follow him to the room he and Haknyeon are sharing. He places your stuff against the wall next to his and faces you. "Feel free to come in here whenever."

Before you can say anything back to him, Eric fills up the doorway. "They're grilling behind Jacob's cabin if you're hungry."

He turns around and makes a beeline for the back door. Sophia follows after him, shooting a "you two are standing in his bedroom in a soon-to-be empty cabin" look. Exasperatedly, you roll your eyes and look back at Sunwoo, who's smirking in Sophia's direction. Obviously, you aren't the only one who caught her message.

He looks at you and raises his brows like he's saying, "your move". Nervousness overwhelms your system, and you quickly leave his bedroom, squeaking, "Let's go eat!"

Sunwoo's laugh follows you out of the cabin.

A few hours later, after everyone had a filling dinner and exhausted themselves from playing in the lake or screwing around on the playground, you all gather around the bonfire pit that someone started amid the chaos. Alcohol is getting passed around, as well as items to make smores, and you find yourself dropping onto one of the wooden chairs with a happy smile on your face.

The lake laps quietly on the shore to your right, and you turn your head to see the sun setting behind the trees on the other side of the lake. Today has been absolutely perfect, and the night is just getting started.

The sound of someone sitting next to you catches your attention, and you turn to see who it is. The delicious smell of his cologne hits you before his striking face comes into focus. You smile at Sunwoo as he holds out a plastic cup for you to take.

"I have no idea how this tastes, but Eric made them, so assume there's a shit ton of alcohol in it."

You laugh as you take the cup and watch Sunwoo bring his own cup to his plump lips. It only takes a second for him to grimace at the taste, but he continues to drink it for a few more gulps before he pulls it away.

"Jesus christ," he says, blinking a few times. "If you want a different drink, just say the word. I will not be offended."

You take a tiny sip from the cup and jerk back when the taste hits your tongue. "Oh my god, it tastes like straight rubbing alcohol."

Sunwoo reaches over and takes the cup from your hand, dumping them both out in the sand behind you. When he looks back at you, he says, "Our secret, okay?"

Once you nod, he gets up and goes over to the picnic table that's all set up with alcohol. You watch him make you a new drink, pushing away Eric when he tries to come help. Then, he comes back over to you.

"Okay. Let's try this again." He hands you the cup. "Now, I will be offended if you don't like this because this is my special blend."

"What's so special about it?" You bring the drink up to your nose and smell it, feeling pleased when a fruity aroma reaches you.

He gives you a cheeky grin. "It's made by me."

You huff out a laugh before letting the contents of the cup slide into your mouth. A burst of fruitiness fills your senses, and only a hint of alcohol is there. Sunwoo waits patiently for you to decide if you like it. You nod and then give him a thumbs up.

"This is really good. Thank you."

"Once again, your taste is impeccable."

Your brows furrow as you question, "When was the first time it was impeccable?"

"When you said you liked me," he smirks.

Thankful that it's getting dark and it's harder to see your facial expressions, you bring the cup to your lips and take a big long swig of it. Once you feel you've got a hold of yourself, you look back at Sunwoo and ask, "So, how's having your own place?"

His lips pull down. "It's not bad. I have room for all of my stuff, but it's quiet…"

"Yeah, I know what you mean."

"I miss living with you. I had a lot of fun at your place. It was nice to hang out every day."

You're stunned by the sudden confession, but you find yourself agreeing. "It's certainly not the same without you there. I don't know what to do with myself half the time."

He smiles into his cup. "I'm free this summer. We can go back to our old ways of hanging out on your couch."

You laugh. "Does that sound appealing?"

"Of course, it does," he looks up at you with an intense stare.

"Okay…" You quietly respond.

"Sunwoo!" Someone yells from across the fire, pulling his attention. 

You take the moment to admire him while he's not paying attention. The fire reflects off his face, making him appear even more gorgeous than he normally does. If that's even possible. He looks ethereal, like a God.

It also hits you how much you've missed him. Having these small, simple conversations with him brought you a lot of joy, and you're so happy to be in this moment. To be near him. You find you don't want to go that long without seeing him again.

Sunwoo turns back to you. "Do you want to make some smores?"

"Sure," you nod, causing him to get up and grab the ingredients for you.

He comes back and hands you a metal pole to hold while he pushes a marshmallow onto the tip. He pushes one onto his own, and then you both place the white puff balls into the flames in front of you. The two of you discuss the antics of the others, how drunk everyone is getting, and everything else you can think of, which is probably how you burn three marshmallows to a crisp.

Once you whack the charred goo into the fire pit, Sunwoo takes your pole from you, shoving another marshmallow on the end. "Let me make it this time."

You can't help but laugh at yourself and laugh even louder when Jacob pouts that you're wasting all the "gooey goodness".

"How do you like it?" Sunwoo asks, causing you to raise your brows.

"How do I like what?" You mischievously respond.

Sunwoo's head whips back toward you with a parted mouth. When he sees your amused look, he says, "Your smores, you little shit."

A laugh is ripped from you, and you feel emboldened thanks to the alcohol in your system. "However you give it to me, Sunwoo."

You hear him mutter under his breath. "Jesus christ."

A couple of the guys try to get his attention, but he tells them that he's busy as he fixes your smore for you. He smushes the graham cracker pieces together and blows on it before facing you.

"Come here."

You lean over the arm of your chair and start to reach for the smore, but Sunwoo pulls it away from you.

"Uh uh. You can't be trusted to not somehow mess it up."

When you open your mouth to protest, Sunwoo pushes the smore lightly against your lips. You hold his stare as you take a bite of the sweet treat, but your eyes fall closed as the flavor explodes in your mouth.

You hum as you swallow. "Wow, that's good."

"Yeah, it is." Sunwoo's voice comes out a bit choked, and you open your eyes to look at him. He clears his throat and hands you the rest of your smore so he can assemble his own.

You turn to face the fire again and take a moment to survey the group. The rest of them are getting progressively drunk. Some are sitting in the seats around the fire, some are pushing each other on the swings at the playground, and a couple have disappeared for the night.

"I'm really glad we did this," you decide to say, and Sunwoo agrees.

"I'm happy we could all make it."

Changmin stumbles up to Sunwoo and starts pulling on his arm. "Come here. I want to show you something."

"Later," Sunwoo replies, pulling his arm away.

Changmin's brows furrow as he tries to figure out why he's being denied, but then his eyes travel up to you, and a drunk understanding seems to enter them. He leans down to whisper to Sunwoo, but he might as well have been shouting because you can hear him clear as day. "Are you having a date with your girlfriend?"

Your heart thumps loudly in your chest as Changmin makes eye contact with you. Butterflies erupt in your stomach when he continues on. "You're right. She's very pretty."

"Okay!" Sunwoo's voice raises. You try to decide if there's an edge of panic in it or if he's just trying to do damage control. "Why don't you show Chanhee whatever it is?"

Changmin pouts. "I already did."

"Juyeon, then!" Sunwoo suggests, seeing an opportunity as the older man walks by.

Changmin sighs. "Fine…"

When he turns away, Sunwoo eyes you from his peripheral vision before turning to fully face you. He bites his lip for a moment as he tries to figure out what to say after that. However, you decide it's time to mess with him some more.

"So, you think I'm pretty?"

He meets your stare, and you notice his eyes twinkling, much like the stars above you. "I think you're beautiful."

"Oh…" you let slip out. You always expected Sunwoo to tease you, and time and time again, he manages to surprise you. The fact that he called you beautiful is barely registering yet. You clear your throat. "And was that before or after I became your girlfriend?"

His lips quiver as he fights a smile. "Oh, definitely before. I've been bragging about you since day one."

A giddy feeling flows through your body. His stare is so intense - so caressing - that you have to look away. You face the fire and watch the logs snap and pop. Flames dance before your eyes as you debate where to go with this conversation. 

Both of you are tipsy, at the very least. If you're going to discuss potential relationships, you'd prefer you both be one hundred percent present. You don't want a single misunderstanding, but that doesn't mean you can't talk about other things.

"What are you looking for in your next relationship?"

He looks slightly surprised by the question but leans back to give it some thought.

"I want to be able to have that trust with someone again. That feeling of knowing your person will always have your back and your best interests at heart," he starts. "A sense of security, I guess… I want to feel so loved… like I'm someone's everything, but I don't want to be their entire world. I want them to be their own person. I want to root for them as much as they root for me." He faces you. "Does that sound stupid?"

You swallow, noticing how dry your throat has gone. "Not at all."

"I don't know," he turns away again, looking down at his cup. "A part of me is afraid. The one relationship I really gave my all to slapped me in the face. I'd like to have a relationship like that again, but with a better outcome. I don't want to feel worthless again."

You were going to stay quiet and let him talk, but you couldn't let that statement pass without a rebuttal. "Sunwoo, you're so far from worthless. It's not even funny. You're brave and kind. You push people to try things because you know they can handle it. You pay attention to the things most people think don't even matter, and you stick up for the people you care about without a second thought. You're an amazing friend, and I know you'll be an amazing partner to anyone worthy enough to be with you."

It takes a minute or so before he finally looks up at you again. "Thank you."

"I'm only telling you the truth," you shrug.

He hums. "What about you? What are you looking for?"

You take a deep breath and let yourself become hypnotized by the fire. For some reason, you feel like you could spill all of your secrets here, and both the fire and Sunwoo would harbor them until the end.

"I want someone who makes me feel valid and important. Someone who will let me explore a new hobby every single day even if they think it's stupid. Someone who will cheer me on instead of bringing me down and make me prove my worth all of the time," you admit. "I don't want to feel small and insignificant. I want to feel loved and cherished, and safe. To be fair, I think that's all anyone wants."

"I'll cheers to that," Sunwoo holds his cup up, and you lightly knock yours against it.

The two of you stay silent for a little bit. Both of you are lost in your own worlds, but you don't want this deep conversation to end. You want to tell Sunwoo even more stuff that'd be hard for you to say normally.

"You're really easy to talk to," you tell him. "I don't feel like you judge me at all."

"I don't," he says, leaning his head back against the chair. "People have done nothing but judge me for years. They think I'm a dick or a whore, an asshole, and I don't want to make people feel that way."

You glance over at him. "I don't think you're a dick or an asshole. There was a time I thought you were a whore, though."

He looks at you in amusement, and you bring your hand up, pinching your thumb and forefinger close together. "Just like a tiny bit of a whore."

He laughs, and you smile. He knows how you felt about him, and you've apologized multiple times, so you feel like you can joke about it now. Plus, there's nothing better than Sunwoo's laugh, and that's all you want to hear.

"I've been wanting to thank you for quite some time," he admits.

"For what?"

"For taking the time to get to know me. The real me," he sighs. "You didn't care about my reputation, and you didn't try to get in my pants like every other girl that spends time with me. You just looked at me like I was another guy and learned who I am as a person. That meant a lot to me."

You give him a small smile. "You know, I really didn't want you to move in with me at the beginning, but now, I wouldn't have had it any other way. I'm so happy I had the chance to get to know you and that you're in my life now."

He searches your face like he's working up the nerve to say something, but then his eyes dart past you. You turn to see Jacob quietly walking up to you. He gives you both a tired smile before saying, "I'm going to bed. Can you guys put the fire out when you're done?"

"Sure," Sunwoo nods to him while you look around the bonfire. Not a single soul is outside with you. Everyone else has gone inside and probably passed out. You pull out your phone and tap the screen to check the time.

"Wow, I didn't realize how late it already was."

"I don't know how we missed everyone going inside."

"Good conversation," you smile as he stands up.

He looks around for a stick and finds the one Sangyeon was using to stoke the fire. "That it was. Are you still good, or are you ready for bed?"

As much as you'd like to stay up and talk to Sunwoo until the sun comes up, exhaustion hits you. That, paired with the knowledge that the rest of the guys will probably wake you up with their loudness tells you that you should go to sleep.

"Bedtime."

Sunwoo nods in agreement and begins breaking the fire down. You head to the lake, discarding what’s left in your cup as you go and fill it up with lake water before joining him at the fire and dumping it on the flames. The wood sizzles, fading to red embers, and when Sunwoo decides it's okay enough to leave for the night, the two of you walk to your cabin.

"Do you have enough blankets and pillows?" He asks as the two of you step onto the back deck.

"Yeah, I'll be fine," you slow down when you notice he's come to a stop.

When you turn to face him, he lets out a quiet, "Okay".

The two of you silently stare at each other. Your eyes both searching the others. Then, he glances down to your lips, and his gaze stays there. Your mouth parts and you try to inhale air because it suddenly feels like you can't breathe. Is he going to kiss you? Right now?

Your stomach swirls with nerves until Sunwoo closes his eyes. It looks like it pains him to do so, but he does it. When he opens them again, the look of desire that was taking over his face is pushed down, hidden wherever he usually keeps it. His eyes come back up to yours, and he gives you a sweet smile, though it does little to lessen the disappointment you feel.

"Goodnight."

Tagging: @wooya1224 @lilyujin @brie02 @itbtoblikethatsometimes @internetmemeofficial @timedoesntliketolisten @jungkooksworld18 @ja-jjangmyeon @noempathyy @sunwoosclouds @sanghak-enthusiast @simpforsunwoo @en-boyz @lavayeon @rindomo @kunxcii @love-svt @winterbeartaehyungbestboy @ilovechanhee @jisungsleftcheek @sunwoahkim @allorysayshi @thethreekims @dontflailmenow @sunwoossunflowers @flwrtbz @cloudsficrecs @dearestbutlost @cowboyjaehyun

[closetedbumblebee]

White Wedding (Addison Montgomery x Female Reader)

Weddings are supposed to be full of love, happiness and gratitude. A wonderful celebration of two souls coming together as one. Today was one of those days. Callie and Arizona were finally and officially tying the knot.

It was supposed to be a happy celebration all round; all the happy couples loved up, attending the wedding together. Meredith and Derek, Christina and Teddy, Owen and Amelia, Richard and Catherine, among others showed their support for the sweetest couple who were currently reciting their vows.

You sat alone in the third row from the front, extremely proud of your friends. You were smiling from ear to ear as they each walked down the aisle. You knew their story like the back of your hand, and couldn’t contain the happiness you felt when Callie and Arizona finally came through for the other, especially after the accident. They had come so far.

You felt a pang of sadness, taking a look around the room at all the couples. You wished your girlfriend, Addison was here with you, but she had to fly back to LA after Sofia’s delivery. You barely spent enough time together as it is, both of you living in separate cities, leading separate lives. You did, however have a relatively strong and healthy relationship, taking the time to have long phone calls, FaceTime, and send as many text messages as you could. You tried to sneak weekends away  to LA, also. 

But, things felt strained for the last few months, and you both felt the need to remedy that. 

The last time you and Addison saw each other was during her stay, which was 4 days long. You hadn’t seen each other for five weeks, and you could tell the strain was getting to you. But, you both pushed those feelings down to focus on your friends. After all, you were both doctors.

When you did catch up, you and Addison had a slight argument the night before she was set to jet out of Seattle. You sort of made up, but you hadn’t really spoken since, just the odd text and call here and there.

You reminisced… 

“Honey, I really want to stay longer, but I can’t. I’ve got patients to get back to and-“, Addison said sadly.

“We’ve barely seen each other for weeks on end, and when we do, you suddenly have to rush off again. I get that you have a new life now and I respect that. Of course I do, but where the fuck do we fit in?! When you took the job in LA, we promised we’d make each other a priority regardless of whatever happened. You only fly back to Seattle when Richard needs you. I’m busting my butt every other week, rearranging schedules, going out of my way to see you. Because guess what, Addison? I love you! Clearly you don’t love me enough, otherwise you’d be making some sacrifices” you snapped.

Addison was taken aback. You had never seen her look so sad and upset. You just missed her so much, and wanted to be with her. You instantly felt guilty for snapping because you didn’t mean to go that far and before she could say anything, you jumped in again.

“Shit. Baby, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that. I just miss you so much. You know that. I’m so so sorry”, you said, equally sad as you reached for her hand.

“We’ll, I’m not going to say that didn’t hurt, because it did. But I understand. I guess it was deserved. I’m sorry too, sweetheart. I’m gonna do better, I promise”, she said.

You held each other tight, “I love you”, you said in unison.

Addison was about to say something else when - 

Her watch beeped, reminding of her flight and you drove her back to the airport where you shared one last kiss.

It wasn’t the way you wanted to make up, but it was a start.

Upon arriving back in LA, she texted immediately.

‘I’m back. I won’t say back home, because it isn’t home. Never has, never will be. My home is with you. FaceTime with me tomorrow? I love you baby xxxxx’, she texted

“Me too, my love. I most certainly will. I’m so sorry again. I love you too xxxx”, you replied.

Things improved between the two of you over the next four weeks, before she told you she couldn’t attend the wedding…

“I’m sorry, sweetheart. I really wanted to be there, but I just can’t get away”, she said, evidentially disappointed.

“Oh…okay. It’s fine. I can try and film it for you. It’s not going to be the same without you. I love you”. You were sad, but you didn’t want to push her.

……………..

Drawing you from your thoughts, you noticed the last of the guests arriving before the brides made their voyage down the aisle.

“Excuse me, beautiful, is this seat taken?”, you heard a voice say.

You thought you were dreaming. It couldn’t be. You looked up, to see a familiar, beautiful face smiling sweetly at you.

“Addison?!”, you shrieked

You both started crying as she pulled you up into her arms, holding you tightly.

“Surprise”, she whispered huskily into your ear.

“What are you doing here?! I thought you couldn’t come”, you cried.

“I couldn’t bear being away from you anymore”, she said, smiling through tears.

You kissed her with everything you had, before she pulled back.

“I mean it. I’m miserable in LA. I can’t stand it there. So, I’m coming home - for good”, she said.

You didn’t exactly comprehend what she said at first, but then gasped in delight, wrapping her up in your arms. Looking around, your friends were watching you both, all clearly happy for you.

You and Addison still had a lot to talk about, but right now, you put it to the side when Callie and Arizona appeared….

Everyone cried during the vow exchange, and you and Addison shared sweet, knowing looks, never letting go of each other’s hands.

…………..

At the reception, everyone gathered around Arizona and Callie as they had their first dance as a married couple.

Addison wrapped her arms around you from behind and rested her chin on your shoulder as you watched the happy couple. You hugged her arms, and she reached around to peck you on the lips. You two couldn’t get enough of each other.

When it came time for other couples to join the dance floor, you and Addison wasted no time walking hand in hand to the floor. At this point, everyone was in their own worlds, all content and happy, buzzing from the day’s events, while you and Addison were completely wrapped up in your own little bubble.

“So….”, she said, arms wrapped around your waist, holding you close as you swayed to Shania Twain’s ‘You’ve Got a Way’.

“So…”, you repeated.

She jumped right into it. 

“I’ve missed you, my love. I really have. You are everything to me. I’m so sorry for making you feel otherwise. I shouldn’t have been neglecting us”, she said softly, her eyes not leaving yours.

“Addie, hey… No, please. I’m sorry - I had no right to go off at you. I should’ve been more understanding. You uprooted your life and that’s a huge deal; because you’re a big deal, babe. I thought about what I said to you that night, and it was completely unfair, way out of line, in fact.. I was just projecting my feelings onto you. I was so scared that by you moving would have jeopardised our relationship without thinking about anything else. It was me, I was selfish”, you said, sheepishly.

“In other words, you thought I’d cheat on you. That’s it, isn’t it?”, she asked.

You felt tears in your eyes. Blinking them back, you smiled sadly and nodded.

“Come on now, you know I would never, ever, do that to you”, she said.

“I know. I…know. I just should've been more supportive of you. I know what this opportunity meant to you”, you said, your tone apologetic.

“It’s not all on you, okay. I realised I was working longer hours, and I turned my back on us because I was so overwhelmed with all of it, and avoided you, because I think deep down, I was scared too. I was afraid of hurting you, and was terrified the long distance wouldn't work at first. So, I can see how you must’ve felt that way”, Addison said, gently touching your face.

You looked into her eyes, to see the tears shimmering like white diamonds.

“Baby…”, you said.

“Being away from you, not being able to see you, or hold you, or kiss you, made me realise that you, that what we have, is worth more to me than any job. So I told Naomi I quit, called Richard, and he offered me a new job”, Addison smiled.

“Oh, Addie, that’s great!”, you said gleefully.

“Yes, yes it is. But, the best part is that I am now Grey Sloan’s Chief of Neo-Natal Surgery. I’m officially the boss now, baby. You know what that means. This is going to be so good for us!”, Addie said.

You were crying softly and gently touched her face. You knew what this meant; Addison being in charge of her own specialty, back on home soil meant everything to her. She was determined to fight for her relationship with you, so being the boss meant she could make her own rules and schedule. But, not only that, she deserved that title; worked hard for it her whole life; and you were determined to fight to the ends of the earth for her. 

It hit you then that she was really back.

“You’re home?!”, you asked, almost in shock.

“Mm-hmm. I’m home, baby”, she beamed.

“No more messing around, no more arguments. This is it - you and me. No more turning back. I want to fight for us”, she continued.

“I want to fight for us too”, you said back.

You smiled brightly at each other, feeling more connected and more in love than ever.

She was just about to kiss you when you heard the clinking of champagne glasses, as Callie’s father, Mr Torres called for a toast.

“Thank you everyone for coming to celebrate my beautiful daughter, Calliope and her wonderful new wife, Arizona on their special day today. These two have gone through hell and back to be together. I have never felt prouder of my little girl, than I do today. I look around the room, and see it filled with such love. It’s a really beautiful thing. Real, true love is a once in a lifetime feeling, so if you’ve found it, hold onto it with both hands and never let it go, because it’s one crazy ride. Ladies, I congratulate you both on overcoming your obstacles and finding your way to each other. I love you both so much, my dear daughters. To Callie and Arizona!”, Mr Torres exclaimed, full of pride.

“To Callie and Arizona!”, everyone said.

The newlyweds kissed, before turning their attention to the wedding cake.

You and Addison watched the whole exchange, extremely proud of your friends, grateful to be a part of their special, historic day; however, deep down, you both pictured this day of your own, in your not so distant future.

Addison and you shared a look, and you both just knew. This was the path you wanted to take.

“Forever and always, Addie”, you said, winking at her.

“Forever and always, Y/N”, she repeated, clutching your hand, bringing it to her lips.

[wheeler-beretta-harwood]

The Bet (Eddie Kingston x Reader)

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

warning: cursing, mildly suggestive

Meh, I don't know if I am happy with this or not...I will have to re-work this I guess

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

"Yo, Y/N, move that ass! We are already late!" Eddie yelled back at you while you were trying to pull your suitcase along with his two bags.

As soon as he had proposed the bet, you knew you should have said no. But he just knew how to push your buttons and get you to agree. And of course, he was able to eat more churros than you, but that was the whole point. He didn't want you to stand a chance, so an eating competition it had to be.

That is how you found yourself in the current position. You lost a bet against your good friend Eddie Kingston and now had to play his personal butler for a week. So far, you had washed his car twice, mowed his lawn, and cooked for him on five different occasions. Right now, you carried his bags to the venue.

Today was day three. Oh Lord, have mercy.

He let out another dirty laugh before slamming the back door in your face. Sometimes you wondered why you were friends.

"You may have won that bet, Edward, but if I were you, I wouldn't push my luck. In case you didn't noti-" right then, you tripped over one of the bags and harshly landed on the concrete floor while also banging your head on the wall. For a wrestler, you apparently had pretty bad reflexes.

"Holy crap, Y/N. Are you okay? That bump looked nasty." You opened your eyes to see Eddie hovering over you before he placed a hand on your cheek cupping your face. You were taken by surprise by his tender touch and soft look in his eyes. "Come on, let me help you up, shorty." He gently grabbed you by your elbow and helped you pull you to your feet. You were a little unstable, so he wrapped your arm around his neck before checking if your head was busted or bruised. "I'm fine, Eddie, thanks," you stated but your tumbling didn't help prove your point. Eddie was not having it. "Bullshit, Y/N. You're clearly hurt. Come on, let me help ya." With these words he lifted you up bridal style which made you drop the last bag you'd been holding on to. You squeeled a bit and couldn't supress the giggle that left your mouth. You loved Eddie's soft side, but he rarely let it show when you were around. With you, it was mostly fun and games, shits and giggles. Like you were one of the guys. But this right now felt different, and it left your stomach in a knot. You probably shouldn't feel that way, not with Eddie.

As you internally debated with yourself, your body had already made its own decision: it liked what was happening right now, and your head rested comfortably against his shoulder. Maybe the throbbing pain in your head was all worth it...

"Yeah, she hit her head pretty bad. Do you think she has a concussion?" You heard your friend ask someone. You opened your eyes and realized you were in the medical room, and Doc Sampson was standing next to Eddie. His face was serious, it almost look like he was in pain. You must have passed out on the way here, you concluded. Eager to hear what was said, you pretended to be knocked out for a few more seconds.

"She has a light concussion, yes. It's better for her to not wrestle the next week. But she will be fine, Eddie. No need to panic, she's tough, you know that." The doctor said as he lightly padded his back.

"Ya, but you know, I just can't stand seeing her hurt. I know I'm a pain in the ass to her most of the time, but I just want her to be fine. Healthy and happy."

You felt your lips curve into a small smile and decided it was time to 'wake up'.

"Eddie?" You asked groggily.

"I'm here, shorty."

"Can you come a little closer? I don't feel like getting up just yet."

You felt him move closer to the stretcher you were on, but not close enough.

"Closer." You whispered.

As he leaned down to your, faces only inches apart, you looked straight into his eyes. "You're really cute when you're worried about me."

"For fuck's sake, Y/N. I thought you had something important to say!"

"Oh, Edward. Actually, I do have something important to say." You brought your hand to his face, running your fingers over his beard. "I want you to be healthy and happy, too." Your fingers were now trailing over his lips, you were mezmerized with his face at that moment.

And before you knew it, Eddie pressed his lips against yours, finally giving in to what he wanted for the last few months. It was a short kiss, but it felt perfect to you. As you slowly lifted yourself from the stretcher, Eddie put his arms around your back and smiled at you which you returned.

Then you remembered the bet. "Eddie, for all that's holy to you, please don't make me do shitty stuff for the rest of the week."

"Don't worry, shorty, I can think of better things for you to do now." He laughed , suggestively wiggling his eyebrows while you were playfully rolling your eyes at him. Of course, you've already come up with ideas yourself...

[ragingbookdragon]

And I Will Still Be Here Stargazing

Batsis x Batfamily Story

Word Count: 1.6K Warnings: Explicit Language

Author's Note: I shouldn't be allowed to make new stories when I've already got WIP's to do. Oh well, HERE'S ANOTHER STORY! -Thorne

**********************************************************************

She glanced through the telescope once more, scanning the expanse of the night sky before her. Giddiness ran through her at the thought of seeing the supposed comet coming back around. Apparently, it was one that hadn’t been seen in two hundred years. It’d taken almost two whole days to convince her dad to let her go out on her own in the field three miles out of town.

Of course, that convincing came with a massive surprise—not—of taking a tracker with her just in case—being the only non-vigilante in her family did make her vulnerable to trouble, but most of their enemies wanted nothing to do with her, so she figured she was alright.

Pulling away from the scope, she felt her phone buzz in her pocket, and she sighed as she answered it, putting it to her ear. “Dad, I already told you, I’m fine.”

You weren’t answering your brothers’ texts. They were worried.

“Oh, for the love of—dad, I’m twenty-one. I shouldn’t have to check in every five freakin’ minutes.”

We worry about you, (Y/N).

“I know,” she griped. “C’mon, one night where I can actually be treated like I have a functioning brain inside my skull. Let me have it.” She glanced up again, seeing something streak across the sky. “Oh, there it is!” (Y/N) grinned. “I gotta go dad! I love you!”

Wait, (Y/N)—

Hanging up, she stowed the phone in her pocket before looking into the glass. “Oh wow,” she breathed. “It’s so beautiful…and big.” (Y/N) hummed and pulled back slightly. “Really, really big. Almost like it’s…coming to earth.”

She took a step back when she realized that was exactly what was happening. The comet, or whatever it was, was barreling towards the field near her and she gasped, taking another step back. Her foot slipped in the mud, and she fell, but the thought of being obliterated made her scramble to her feet and run as fast as she could away from it and while she wasn’t sure she’d outrun the devastation, she was going to try.

That being said, whatever it was, hit the ground with a thundering explosion, sending dirt and gravel flying, along with her and she screamed as she was thrown to the ground. (Y/N) covered her head, crying in pain as debris scraped her arms and legs, but she stayed still until the world calmed around her.

When it did, she peeked through her arms and gaped at the destruction around her. Trees had been blown from their roots and in the middle of where her telescope had once been, was something smoking inside a hollowed dip in the ground, dirt and rocks thrown away.

(Y/N) shakily got to her feet and crept closer, terrified that she was going to find some horror movie come alive. Alien and Predator stuck in the back of her mind and part of her wanted to flee. The other part—and curse her Wayne curiosity—wanted to know what it was.

“Hello?” she whispered as she neared the rim of the crater, peering in. A groan sounded and she gasped, pulling away before she took another glance and she saw a woman. At least it looked like a woman.

Her body was unlike anything familiar to (Y/N), in the form of an average woman, but she had no skin. Instead, her body looked like the night sky, swirling pools of stars and dark matter, and her hair was long and white, shimmering like glitter. Her hips and wrists were plated with some type of metal, gold and inlaid with what looked like diamonds.

(Y/N) slid down the side of the crater against her better judgement, nearing the woman carefully. “Hello?” she called again. “Are you alright?” The woman groaned and rolled onto her back, eyes opening at her. She gasped at the white eyes, like stars.

“Help,” she weakly moaned.

Hurrying over, she knelt beside the woman. “Hey, it’s okay. You’re okay.” She reached out to touch the woman but stilled when she felt the warmth radiating off her body.

“Please…help me,” she begged. “They’re…coming.”

(Y/N) shook her head and took the woman’s hand; it made her skin tingle. “Who’s coming?”

“The Insentients,” the woman said. “They’re coming in a years’ time.”

“I…I don’t understand,” she replied. “What are Insentients?”

“Terrible creatures that destroy life.” The woman grasped her hand. “I am Astra, Queen of the Stars. And you must help me.” (Y/N) couldn’t believe a thing she was hearing, simply gaping at her. “I have battled the Insentients for billions of years, but I am at my end.” She squeezed tightly, reaching up to cup (Y/N)’s cheek, white eyes widening. “You must take my place as queen and protect the life of this galaxy.”

She couldn’t even form words, mouth opening and closing like a fish and all she could muster was, “I’m sorry? What?”

Astra coughed and something splattered on (Y/N)’s clothes before fading from sight. “Please, you must do this or life as you know it will cease in one year. Take my place.”

“But I’m—I’m not some alien queen! I’m a human!” She spluttered. “What do I even do?!”

The queen sighed tiredly. “Child, nothing will stop the Insentients unless you help. They will destroy all in their path.”

(Y/N) shook her head and happened to glance towards the sky. “The stars,” she breathed. “They’re so…dull.”

“My life is fading…so they are too.” Astra whispered. “They will die.”

“What?!” she shouted. “But the sun?! It’ll go out!”

“Yes.” The queen murmured.

Bewildered, she asked, “What can I do?”

Astra gazed at her. “Take my power. Be reborn as the Queen of the Stars.”

“How do I?” She questioned and Astra took (Y/N)’s hands, placing them on her chest.

“Grasp my heart.”

“Grasp your what?” she repeated.

“My heart.” The woman’s chest opened, and she stared in surprise as a small, but brilliant light came into view. “Bring it to your own.”

“I better not die,” (Y/N) deadpanned as she cupped the light carefully. Her fingers tingled like she was being shocked, and she swallowed thickly as she brought it up to her chest, just above her heart. “What now?” she asked, and Astra’s form began to fade, starting at her feet.

“Your body will absorb all that I am…all that I…have been.” She smiled. “Place it within your chest.”

“That’s not possible.” (Y/N) retorted, though she moved her hands against her chest. “My body can’t just absorb—holy shit it’s working,” she blurted, and she went still as her something jolted her spine, all the way up her spinal cord to her brain.

Her jaw went slack as he eyes widened, head tipping back to stare at the sky above her. Memories flashed across her vision, faster than she could keep track of and then her mind felt like it was imploding. She let out a strangled gasp and tipped backwards, fatigue overcoming her. The last thing she remembered was Astra’s eyes and her smile before she disappeared from sight and (Y/N) descended into darkness.

***

When she came to, all she could think about was the pounding headache in her skull and the lack of memory the night before. (Y/N) sat up and looked around. The sun was high in the sky and her telescope was sitting neatly where it had been. She blinked, feeling as though she’d forgotten something important. When she couldn’t remember, she shrugged and got to her feet, beginning to take the scope apart and put it away.

(Y/N) rolled the sleeping bag up and put it in the tote, carrying both back towards the side of the road. Her butler should’ve been around to pick her up but when she didn’t see him, she frowned. Huh…I thought Alfie was coming to pick me up? Blinking in confusion, she patted her pocket for her phone and pulled it out, though her eyes went wide when she saw the shattered screen and burnt phone.

“What the hell?” she questioned. “What happened to my phone?” It looked like it’d been blown up. Now she was really confused. What the hell happened last night? (Y/N) sighed heavily and shoved the phone in her pocket. “I guess I’m walking then.” She grunted and heaved the telescope and sleeping bag over her shoulders, starting back towards the city in the distance.

***

GCPD was the first important building she came upon and as tired as she was, she knew they’d let her use one of their phones to call home. (Y/N) lethargically wandered into the department, stopping near the counter.

“Excuse me, can I use your phone?”

The man at the counter looked up and suddenly shot to his feet. “(Y/N) Wayne!” he shouted, and she blinked.

“Uh…yeah, that’s me?”

He rubbed his eyes. “Holy shit, you’re here.” Gesturing to her, he added “Wait right there! Don’t move!”

“Wait, but I—” the man sprinted off and she sighed. “Great. Probably going to get everyone so we can do pictures.”

Next thing she knew, Commissioner Gordon was running into the entry way. “Miss Wayne!”

(Y/N) looked at him. “Yes sir. That’s me.” She pointed to the phone at the desk. “I was wondering if I could use the phone to call home? Mine’s…busted.”

He reached out, grasping her arms. “Are you hurt? We should get you checked out immediately.”

“I’m fine?” she answered confusedly. “What’s going on? Why is everyone panicking?”

Gordon gaped at her. “You don’t know what’s going on?” she shook her head. “(Y/N), you’ve been missing for an entire week.”

[seriesxwriting]

I’m gonna end up in prison anyway.

JJ maybank x you! <3

JJ is upset about jhon B being in prison and takes it out on you… but JJ soon realises he’s in the wrong and apologises confessing his love for you at the same time <3.

Warnings- kissing and swearing. I think that’s it.

Also just wanna say that I know all my writing has been outer banks characters but more characters are coming soon I promise. I’m just obsessed with this show at the moment :)

“JJ your an idiot!” I yelled at him once he’d climbed in to the speeding car explaining what he had tried to do. “well I’m going to end up in jail anyway so who fucking cares” JJ ran his fingers through his blonde hair avoiding eye contact with me sitting tight in the seat next to him.

“I fucking care JJ” I mimicked him in a calmer tone.

He looked at me still panting from the run “you alright?” Pope eyed his best in the mirror from the front seat. “Just a shit day” he inhaled and exhaled loudly turning his whole body away from me and staring out the window.

What the fuck was he thinking trying to bust jhon B out with that plan! We needed to prove his innocents not go on the run again.

Ki drove us back to where we were staying in silence. Her and pope went off in to the night talking about some random stuff, giggling some might say flirting. “y/n” he called out when I was walking away from the car minding my own business “what”.

JJ came around to my side climbing out of the white suit he was dressed in tying it around his torso.

“You still mad?”

“I’m not even mad JJ I’m -just worried” I stuttered trying to think of the right words so I would give him any clues to how I really felt about the boy.

“John B is in prison! I needed to do something It’s him you should be worried about” “I am! But I’m worried about you as well your acting like an idiot your not going to prison JJ so stop blaming all your shit on that, it’s not down to you we’re all doing everything we can to free him but your choices there down to you! So watch them”

“None of you are doing anything” he scoffed, I went closer to take his hand in mine. “why do you think your going to prison?” I whispered looking up at his beautiful eyes holding his hand in to my stomach.

“Because I am! Im going to end up in prison anyway so what’s the point” he shouted pulling away from me looking up at the sky with the roll of his eyes.

“well I’m not gonna let you!”

“You can’t do anything about it y/n were all fucked! ki just got kicked out of her parents house Pope hasn’t been home for days! My dad is a dick head- so is Sara’s and you, I don’t even know what your doing here you could go back home to you warm fluffy bed any time you wanted… John B is already in prison it’s just a matter of time before we’re ALL in there too” he shouted at me with tears in his eyes.

I wanted to hug him because he was in pain but he’d hurt me.

“FUCK YOU! I’m a pogue”

“are you? Do you want to be in prison with us” JJ asked me calmly with a hint of a smile.

I pushed him on the chest and he stumbled back a bit looking at my face knowing he’d hurt me.

“your upset …about John B I know, but you don’t have to be such an asshole! If you wanna fuck your life up and go prison be my guest JJ… but you won’t see the others in there, don’t say I didn’t try to help you because that’s all I’ve EVER tried to do” I shouted with a tear sliding out my dolled up eyes. Side looking him before turning my back with attitude and leaving JJ stood there. Alone.

I couldn’t believe I was actually in love with that ass, he’d never spoken to me like that how I knew he was just hurt.

But I wasn’t going to take that it’s not acceptable, no one should be spoke to like that and if he wanted me to forgive him he was gonna have to work for it. I went to sleep soon after that, on the beat up sofa with scrappy blankets feeling empty inside, though I didn’t get much sleep overall.

I tossed and turned for what felt like hours, playing back the conversation in my head overthinking it. finally getting to sleep around five am.

“Don’t tell me how to wax my bored!” Is what I woke up to.

My head was clanging from lack of sleep and the sun glaring down at me through the dusty window.

“Boys, SHUT UP” I sailed out to them, not being in the mood to be awake yet “sorry y/n! JJ is just being an idiot”

“what else is new?” I wondered to pope coming out into the straight heat blocking the sun with my hand.

Kiara and pope laugh at me while JJ stood there looking guilty underneath his sunglasses. His face showed that he regretted what happened last night but I really wasn’t interested at the moment. He’d pissed me off.

“Don’t you think he’s using to much wax?” Pope pointed at the bored in JJ’s hands.

“don’t tell me how to wax my bored! Jeez”

JJ lifted up his sparkling sunglasses up on to his head in anger at pope.

“I’m just saying…” “guys seriously stop it!” Kiara looked up giving them daggers clearly getting annoyed. “Remember when y/n suggested you shut up, listen to it!”

“wait shhh.. do you hear that?” JJ rotated his head and eyes away from me peering in to the distance of the road “is that…” I trailed off listening out. Jhon b swerved around the corner in his van with a huge smile on his face. The feeling in the air changed immediately.

“JHON B?!” Kiara jumped over the sofa throwing her magazine on the floor running towards him excitedly flopping in to his arms

The boys followed jumping in to a happy group hug I didn’t Wanna disturb. Though it did put a smile on my face.

“what the hell bro?” JJ slapped John B on the back with a beautiful smile fixed on his face. It was nice to see him genuinely smile.

“They let me go” he smiled shrugging while everyone took a step back.

“Come here” jhon B laughed putting his arms out to me, I’d stayed in the dorm frame the whole time just watching. I bounced over and we met in the middle hugging tightly. “Ugh it’s so good to have you back” I whispered softly

“but they just let you go?” Pope questioned confused.

“Sure did- charges were dropped, wheres Sarah?” He looked around and then at me.

“She didn’t come back last night” JJ sighed so I didn’t have to answer “she went to meet wheezie and didn’t come back” he explained again in more detail when John B looked at me for answers again.

Suddenly out the corner off our eyes we saw a speedboat heading to us, with topper and Sara. The confused ,but happy to be reunited, pogues all ran towards it but gently my wrist was grabbed. Stopping me from following.

“can I talk to you?” JJ asked with a sad soft face pointed to the floor,

“maybe if you actually look me in the eyes for once” I told him while folding my arms defensively so I’d get out of his grasp.

“I’m- sorry I’m so sorry y/n, I shouldn’t have spoken to you like that you didn’t deserve to hear that, it came from a place of anger and worry and sadness it wasn’t meant for you”

“That’s what I said to you JJ, I also said I was here for you but you can’t push me away like that” I attacked him with guilt “I know that…” “but theres a reason” JJ fixed his top setting it straight and looked dead into my eye.

This time he took my hand…myy heart beat quickened as I grew more nervous thinking about all the possible things he could say.

“Uh… okay, I really like you..y/n” JJ confessed with a smirk.

“W-what?” My words didn’t know how to come out and my body insisted on making me look like an idiot. I forgot got how to control my body, my mouth was open in shock with What the boy had just said.

“me?”

“Yes, you” JJ’s laughed filled my ears flicking his blonde hair out his eyes . “I said all that’s shit to you yesterday because I know I’ll never be good enough for you… and that hurts so I fucked things up.. but I don’t wanna fuck this up”

“You didn’t fuck anything up, I like you too” I told him softly snaking my hands up to his face holding it so he was looking at me. It was all such a rush.

“but you need to work on your eye contact because you have such pretty eyes” I smiled against his soft lips before kissing him.

Our tongues entered each others mouths and my hand held on to his blonde hair for support. We both pulled away out of breath and burning with the excitement of young love. leaning out foreheads on each other’s.

“Fucking hell y/n, I’d thought out every possibility about how this would go but none of them where like that” he breathed quietly, giggling holding my waist and bringing me closer to his body.

“I promise I won’t ever shout at you again”

“I can deal with the shouting JJ ,it’s the part where you put your self down! That hurts me because I believe in you”.

He looked taken back, “no one- has ever spoke to me like you have” he whispered in realisation, “well then you better fucking listen to what I have to say huh” I raised my eye brow chewing on my bottom lip

JJ nodded his head grinning down before pulling me in to a hug.

“thank you” he whispered in my ear. “For what?” I looked at him funny “for not giving up on me” “no I like you too much” I shrugged looking at the floor to distract my smile.

“I promise I won’t ever give up on you” I told him seriously.

JJ beamed and leant in for another kiss warming my heart and securing me in his strong arms.

[crazy56u]

Whelp, the show got an extension. We’re one step closer to them outright renewing it for Season 2. Here’s hoping. Onward to tonight.

(As a reminder, I wrote this in real time as the episode was airing, keep that in mind once you reach a certain part.)

Welcome back to the 80s, Ben, you’re now a lady getting hit on by a drunk guy. Maybe don’t drink.

“You know what they say about good dancers.” They’re worse when drunk?

Ben is now just speedrunning Sam’s life.

Mace, a tacer, handcuffs, all the party essentials.

This week on Quantum Leap: We take “What Price Gloria”, “8 1/2 Months” and “A Hunting We Will Go” and just fucking blend the shit outta them.

FUCK YEAH, BALLROOM BLITZ

“How dare you not tell me you were a bounty hunter when I was hitting on you, fuck off!”

It still feels weird that the first four episodes have taken place over the course of, like, a week for the Project side of things.

“OK, I don’t get it.” Well, we’re five minutes in, Addison, wait for the other shoe to drop.

Huh, something bad was happening inside: the stupidest way to do a proposal.

“I need more time.” “YES, SHE SAID NOT YET, LET’S PARTY!”

Ben is fucking crushing this “Any% Marriage Proposal Ruin” speedrun.

“I proposed to you, you said no, and now you want to go back to work?” “Look, if you say yes, I might say yes, you ever think about that?”

...isn’t panyhose still a thing in 2022?

I love how it’s been like, what, a day or so since they found out Janis is indirectly DDOSing Ziggy, and they still haven’t reset the passwords.

Magic, she’s making her own Project, sorry you don’t know yet.

Okay, so Magic has secret files he doesn’t want the others to know about, does that mean he knows Sam leapt into him before?

“Okay, look, I know we’re working, but did I fuck up last night? Did I not propose right?”

Why does this motel look like the one from My Name is Earl?

Plot twist: Ben is remembering Addison, but because of his fucking amnesia, he is really creating problems where none exist.

“Hi, I’m your downstairs neighbor, totally not a time traveller moonlighting as a bounty hunter!”

“Okay, I’ll get my things, totally won’t be fleeing.”

Ben, you’d get $23 just for looking the other way, that’s a bargain in 1981.

How many fucking proposals are in this episode?

Uh oh, the Leather Jacket Mob!

“You’re gonna scratch my floors!” ...wait, is this a motel, or is it an apartment complex, I think I missed something.

Thank god for the convenient dumpsters.

Damn, a drug trade twist 18 minutes into the episode, this show has some major potential.

Which is worse: Getting busted on parking tickets, or pulling a Capone and getting busted on tax fraud?

This time travel project, brought to you by Apple.

Okay, I believe Ben was seeing Janis six months prior, but I still think that flashback Ben had was with Addison.

...is... ...is this the same alley from the first episode?

“Look, I know I’m handcuffed to the wall right now, but I wanna help out this relationship bullshit.”

As punishment for bringing up soulmates, you get handcuffed further down the alley.

All according to plan.

MAN this show doesn’t know subtlety.

“Are you okay?” “(lying) Yeah, I’m fine.” “(pissed) WHAT DO YOU THINK?”

A Starbucks truck?! WHAT THE FUCK

Okay, but I love this: “Look, Ian, I know Janis is currently DDOSing Ziggy, and Ben and Addison are having relationship shit right now in 1981, but I wanna have coffee in the park, and I’m Ernie fucking Hudson, so we’re doing this.”

...

I AM FUCKING VINDICATED!

VINDICATED!

FUCKING

VINDICATION!

...huh. So, in the original history, all of Tom’s platoon died during Operation Lazerus? ...and all it took to fix that was Al doing two more years in Vietnam, and a reporter exploding.

And now we learn how to pick a lock. This is an educational show.

...well, there’s the plot twist.

I swear to God if than gunshot was blanks, and she just popped a squib.

“Like a fiddle. (sunglasses) YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH-

“Okay, so after getting shot at multiple times, I’m starting to realize this proposal thing probably ain’t happening.”

Ben, don’t be too upset, you crushed that speedrun.

Also, it was blurry, but I am 100% convinced that was Addison’s face in the flashback, so DOUBLE VINDICATION

And Sad Dad comes in in the clutch.

Also, just now realizing the marriage footage the keep showing is of Princess Diana.

And now we have a ghost talking about how to be a ghost.

“Hey, look, I know I implied I was leaving, but... nah.”

...she’s behind them, isn’t she...

“What about Illinois?” What about Illinois?

I fucking love this show’s soundtrack.

This is the slowest chase scene, and totally at odds against Blondie.

Jake has the shittiest fucking luck, man...

“Oh God, shut the fuck up and stop ruining this hostage scene...”

“Get a room already.” “Noted. (tazes a briefcase)”

So, 8 minutes left, what other fun surprises are we going to have?

“I just had coffee with Magic, either this series ends with Ben coming home, or we burn the world down.”

$5 even Eva and Jake get married, sucker’s bet.

“Come on, don’t you want to know about Eva and Jake-” “Oh my God, are we engaged?!”

Well, Ben, you finally remembered you were supposed to marry Addison before you leapt, as your reward, you get to do Back to the Future Part III!

Ben, you have the shittiest luck. “Welcome to Cowboy Times, you leapt into the middle of more relationship BS!”

Is this the fucking Westworld set?

Final thoughts: I fucking vindicated up and down the block, I am now praying for that renewal order.

[padfoot-and-prongsie]

Is That My Bra? || Fred Weasley

Character: Fred Weasley

Word Count: 1.9k

Requested: No

Summary: Things get heated when Fred steals your favorite bra from your room

Warnings: Swearing

Disclaimer: Gif isn't mine, credit to whoever created it

A/N: This is my first piece of writing here, please let me know what you think! I hope y'all like it :)

PLEASE DO NOT COPY OR STEAL MY WORK. REBLOGS ARE JUST FINE :)

George walked back to the small circle of Lee and Fred, a triumphant look on his face. Proudly he lifted up his left pant leg, showing his now clean shaven leg.

“Done,” George declared, causing Lee and Fred to both fall back in laughter.

“Nice job Georgie,” Fred said, after composing himself. “You wait until Angelina sees that.”

George grinned. “They’re only going to make her fancy me more.”

Lee snorted at George’s comment, finding the shaven legs more horrifying than attractive. “Get on with it George, it’s your turn.”

George looked between the two of them, before he landed on Fred. “Freddie my boy, dare or dare?”

The three had originally been playing truth or dare, but after nobody picking truth for seven rounds, they had changed the name to dare or dare. For the last forty-five minutes, the three of them had been sent on a wide range of tasks, from streaking through the charms corridor (Lee got a weeks worth of detention for that) to making a dirty comment in the ear of an unsuspecting Hufflepuff.

Fred pretended to think. “Hmm, I think I’ll go with dare.”

George looked around the common room, trying to come with a suitable dare for his brother.

His eyes landed on you, who was just making your way down the stairs from the girls dormitories. Angelina Johnson and Alicia Spinnet, were with you, and the three of you were laughing at a joke Alicia had said.

You turned, feeling someone’s eyes on you and sent George a look. He waved back wildly, and you raised an eyebrow, waving back to him.

You followed the girls out of the common room, heading towards the kitchens for an evening snack.

George turned back to the two boys with a wide grin on his face. “I dare you Fred to steal Y/N’s bra.”

Lee busted out laughing once more as Fred turned to George. “Easy,” he replied confidently, getting up from the circle.

A smirk played on his lips as he made his way towards the stairs up to the girls dormitories. He was only six steps up when the stairs flattened out, producing a slide that sent Fred tumbling back down into the common room.

George bent over laughing at his brother, who was now splayed across the floor and had attracted the attention of the few people present in the room.

“Jackass,” Fred muttered, picking himself up. “You knew that was going to happen.”

“I didn’t, I swear,” George defended between laughs.

Fred continued to glower, not buying it. “Give me a new dare, I can’t do this one.”

George’s laughter faded, his expression turning to one of thought as he tried to find a way around the stairs.

“We could go get your broom,” Lee suggested.

Fred nodded. “That could-” He let out a small yelp as he felt his feet leave the ground.

Looking down, he saw that he was now hovering six inches in the air and his brother was pointing his wand at home in concentration.

Lee let out a whoop of excitement as George lifted him up the steps.

Fred now stood at the top of the stairs, rubbing his head from where George had “accidently” bumped him into the wall.

“Go get the bra!” George yelled, causing a third year to fix the three with a horrified expression.

Fred walked down the narrow hallway, trying to locate your dormitory. After finding the right one, he pushed open the door, pausing for a moment to take in the sheer amount of clothes that littered the floor. He found your bed easily by the large Holyhead Harpies blanket that was stretched across the top. He himself had given it to you for your birthday last year.

Fred’s eyes landed on your trunk and a large smirk filled his face. Resting on top was a set of clothes, and beneath the shirt he could see the straps of a lacie red bra.

Fred slid down the stairs not three minutes later, sitting back down in the circle and triumphantly showing the boys your bra.

George applauded loudly, but immediately stopped when he caught sight of you coming back though the portrait hole with Alicia and Angelina, all three of you balancing numerous sweet treats in your arms.

“Shit,” George hissed, “it’s Y/N.”

Fred’s eyes widened and he quickly shoved your bra into his book bag that laid beside him, filled with the homework he had yet to do.

You walk past without a second glance though, heading up to your dorm.

~

The following morning you stood in your dorm, running late for breakfast as you hastily flipped through the clothes in your trunk.

“Are you okay?” Alicia asked, already dressed for the day.

“Yeah,” you replied absently, again rechecking all your clothes. “I just can’t seem to find my bra. Did one of you two take it? It’s the red one.”

Angelina snorted. “You know red’s not my color,” she stated, leaning over your shoulder to look in your trunk. “Just wear something else.”

You pursed your lips. “I picked this one out because it goes with my top for the party tonight, I have to find it!”

“You mean the top you’re going to wear for Fred?” Angelina asked, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively.

You rolled your eyes. “No you daft doxie!” You exclaimed, giving your best friend a playful shove. “You and I both know that’s a load of horse crap.”

Angelina only winked back, causing you to shove her again.

Annoyed at your bad luck, you glared at your clothes once more. You knew you had set it out just last night so you could find it the next morning. Now where had it gone?

After three more searches through your trunk, which only seemed to make it messier and more difficult to look through, you settled for a black sports bra instead, not your favorite but it would have to do.

~

After morning classes you found yourself running late to lunch after going back up to your dorm to grab the transfiguration essay you had forgotten to put in your bag that morning. Hustling down the stairs, your stomach grumbled, reminding you that you had missed breakfast.

Your pace quickened, rounding the corner into the charms corridor where you immediately crashed into an unsuspecting student.

“Shit,” you said, as you rather ungracefully stumbled back. Losing your footing, you landed on the floor painfully.

“Damn I’m sorry Y/N,” someone said, and you looked up to see Fred sprawled across the floor across from you, his twin not too far away, trying to hide his snickers.

“Don’t-”

You had barely started speaking when your eyes landed on Fred’s bag, which had slid across the floor in the impact. Your attention was drawn to the red lacie strap which was peeking out from inside.

The twins followed your gaze, Fred’s face turning into one of surprise as he had completely forgotten that he hadn’t taken your bra out of his bag last night, whilst George doubled over in a silent laughter.

“Is that my bra?” you asked bluntly, turning to stare at Fred.

“I best be going,” George said, giving you two a little waive, “have fun with that brother.”

You turned to Fred again. “Is that my bra?” you repeated.

Fred’s look of shock twisted into a smirk. “Quite possibly love.”

“How- What-” you struggled to find the right words. Finally you resorted to just saying. “You took that from my room.”

Fred nodded. “Yup, sounds about right.”

You turned to look at your bra once more, and Fred, sensing what you were going to do, dove for it just as you did. He was far closer, reaching it first though you landed on top of him just seconds later, your hand trying to grip the undergarment.

“Give it to me,” you hissed, as he held it behind his head and out of your reach.

Fred looked up at you, from where he was positioned underneath, his smirk only widening. “You know I hadn’t pegged you as a top, Y/N,” he said cheekily. “We might have some control issues later.”

You glared down at him, but he only winked back.

“Shut the hell up and give me the damn bra,” you snapped, lunging forward.

Fred firmly placed his free hand on your waist, holding you back.

“You’ll need to do better than that L/N,” he taunted.

You were now royally pissed off and desperately wanted to hex that smirk right off his face. You look back to where your bag had fallen several yards back, judging how fast you could reach your wand.

“Don’t bother love,” Fred said, reading your thoughts. “I won’t let you get that far.” He squeezed your hips for good measure.

“Now do tell me,” he asked lazily, his hand that was on your waist beginning to slide up your shirt. “Why is this particular bra so important?”

You slapped his hand, but that only seemed to provoke him more as his thumb was now beginning to trace circles on your stomach. Quickly, you glanced down the hall to make sure it was empty, thank Merlin it was lunch. You and Fred were still in a rather compromising position, something he seemed to indicate wouldn’t change anytime soon. Normally you would have been rather content with this too, but currently you were far too focused on retrieving your stolen bra and the redhead beneath you wasn’t doing anything to lessen your annoyance.

“I need it for the party tonight,” you finally grumbled.

Fred pretended to think. “That is a rather convincing argument, you should have started with that earlier. I as much as the next guy would be quite curious of this outfit.”

You flushed red, picturing the rather see through top in your head.

Fred smirked at your discomfort, his hand rising up your back. With no warning, he pulled you down, causing you to let out a gasp when your face reached a mere few inches from his.

“I am very curious of this outfit,” he repeated, his lips brushing yours as he spoke.

You felt your heart rate quicken. His warm breath hit your face and you struggled not to sigh. You’re still angry at him, you tried to remind yourself.

Fred’s hand that was slithering up your back had now reached your bra and he let out a huff of annoyance. “Damn, sports bra, you’re killing me L/N.”

This time you were the one who smirked. “I would have been wearing that bra if you hadn’t taken it.”

“Now where would we be if I had done that?” Fred asked quietly, before pressing his lips against yours.

Almost instantly you kissed him back, your mouths moving together in sync. You felt Fred smirk against your mouth before he flipped you, causing you to let out a small yelp as you found yourself now looking up at him.

“I’m always on top,” he whispered huskily, crashing his mouth against yours once more.

Your hands tangled themselves into his hair, pulling him closer to you. His landed on your body, dropping your now forgotten bra on the floor. They traced your skin, running up your stomach and, despite Fred’s complaints, still managing to get beneath your bra.

“Fred,” you muttered against his mouth. “Can I have my bra back?”

“Only if I get to be the one to take it off you tonight.”

[lady-o-ren]

My Dearest Disaster

Claire's on her knees, banging her head against the door of her flat, muttering, "Bloody. Fucking. Hell" with each bruising thump.

Her key has broken in the lock.

And there's only one person who can hear and help her at 1 AM.

Jamie Fraser, her neighbor, opens his door. Red hair thoroughly disheveled, wearing a rumpled grey shirt and plaid sleep trousers.

Their eyes meet. Both ringed with fatigue. And a long miserable groan leaves both their lips.

They've been here before.

He debates leaving her there in the hallway, just shutting his door and climbing back to bed. But something he's yet to figure out keeps him rooted where he stands. Makes him rake his hands over his face and through his hair.

"What is it this time, Sassenach?"

Claire hesitates to answer but she's got nowhere to go. It's late and every friend of hers is either too far away, or shagging Tom Christie (damn you Geillie!).

She sighs. "My key. It broke in the lock."

She holds two pieces out for him to see and her neighbor mutters beneath his breath, "Fer fucks sake. . ." Before going back inside.

He comes back with a pair of pliers and cocks his scruffy chin at her.

"Ye ken the rule. 6 ft from me. Always and more."

Claire rolls her eyes.

"Honestly, Fraser."

Jamie promptly turns back into his flat.

"Fine!" She agrees, and leans against the opposite wall, hands behind her back, lips pursed.

Satisfied, Jamie gets on his knees in front of her door and begins to fiddle with the lock, eyes squinting in the harsh overhead light .

"How can a wee lass like you break a key in three places. It's like it's welded in there."

"I didn't plan on breaking it," she argues back, puffing at a curl wandering towards her mouth.

He looks over his shoulder, eyes dark and narrowed.

"No, ye're just a walking bad omen," he says and it's all Claire can do to not whack him over his big ginger head.

She hadn't always felt this way though. And neither had he.

Back when Claire first moved in, she thought Jamie Fraser had been sent to her from a dream. He was tall and terribly handsome, with warm-hearted eyes of brightest sky blue, and a boyish smile that made her stomach do flips. Her heart to thrum and race.

He'd offered to help carry her boxes inside, seeing her struggle to balance their weight. She of course said yes, wishing she had at least brushed her hair or had worn a clean shirt. Could stop smiling like an idiot.

But one step towards her and he was on the ground, gripping his ankle having tripped over nothing but the air. Claire had tried to help him up, had tried to asses his injury. . .

But that made matters only worse and Jamie ended up in the hospital with not only a sprained ankle but a busted wrist too.

Feeling guilty, Claire had asked him over for dinner. Offered to cook whatever he liked or order his favorite takeout. He had agreed on the condition she'd stop her apologizing.

It was just a fluke what happened to him, he assured her. She wasn't to blame. And he'd be the one bringing her his favorite curry.

So there amid the boxes, Jamie sat at her kitchen table, ankle wrapped, his wrist in a brace . . . and a bright red scratch on his cheek from her kitten Adso. Only five months old and wicked to the bone.

But still he had taken it in stride and joked with her until she set their plates with curry hot and steaming. . .

And the second the fork touched his tongue it had swollen like a slug and he was back at the hospital.

Twice in one day.

Both wondered what the hell was going on.

But disaster hadn't stopped there.

Anytime they were in the same flat lift it would break down on the spot and Jamie would end up covered in hives, a prayer for mercy on his lips.

If they met in the stairwell trying to avoid one another (which they had by unspoken agreement), Jamie would inevitably trip or slip and end up bruised or broken or sprained.

And now a year in of knowing one another, he didn't even need to be looking at Claire to know she was near, like a rash he could feel her presence and try to run but it was always too late.

He feels that itch now along his neck in warning.

His heart pulsing just thinking about her just behind him.

But at last Jamie pulls out the last piece of the key with a triumphant, "HA!" And tosses the broken piece her way.

Claire says thank you as he gets up to leave and means it. Truly. He can hear it in her voice. Soft as when she first spoke to him and said, Hullo.

Jamie then sees her scrubs for the first time beneath her long coat and realizes she's only just come home from a shift at the hospital. She was a nurse wasn't she? He tries to remember, feeling a spike of guilt for speaking so harshly with her.

"Of course, Sassenach. Just make sure to lock yer door tonight, aye?"

She scoffs at being treated like a child but holds her tongue, at least this once. He's trying to be kind. Thoughtful too. She can hear it in his voice. Almost like when he first spoke to her and said Hello.

"I will," she says, and they shuffle away from one another in a practiced dance.

Jamie waits for her to go into her flat first, waits to hear the metal clank, locking into place and sighs.

There was once a time he thought Claire Beauchamp to be the best thing to come into his life.

Why did it have to go wrong?

Why did he always have to risk life and limb around her?

With that last thought, gaze lingering on her door, Jamie turns around to go back into his flat but knocks his face into his closed door instead.

Breaking his nose.

"Bloody Fecking Hell!"

//

A/N: I wrote this drabble like 2 yrs ago as a modern version of my first fic. I think the idea was that Laoghaire cursed Jamie to never be with his true love or face certain death (so anytime he's near Claire). So it's not Claire that's cursed but Jamie.

Also I'm shit with naming things. If you gotta better title hit me with it.

[hermankopusortizorsumshite]

Grady's Homecoming

“Grady! You always talk about bein’ fucked. Fuckin’ all ‘ese German women, you got a woman waitin’ for you?” Bible’s voice crackles through the headset.

Grady’s mind travels to you. You were at home in Arkansas, probably keeping the farm afloat while he fought for your safety. He played the ladies’ man role well these days, because he never wanted anyone to know about you; to hurt you.

“Grady Paul Travis! Git over here!” you shouted as you chased him through the yard. He remembered this memory well; you chasing him around with a wooden spoon in your hand.

“That’s a mighty fine pie, ma’am!” He shouted to egg you on, begging you to keep chasing him. His path lead you through the yard, over a couple fences into muddy, sloppy pens and finally into the barn where he hid from you.

“Grady, hunny, come on out. I ain’t gonna hurt ya.” You called, looking over the hay bales. He had watched you creep through that barn with that spoon at the ready. When he finally could land, he dropped from the hay loft and rolled you into a straw bale. You screeched and smacked his back with that wooden spoon, but he just roared with laughter.

“You make the best pecan pies, my beautiful lady. You also make the best wife.” He smiled, kissed your cheek with a loving smile.

“Yer damn right I do, Grady Paul Travis. You had to stick your grubby little paws into my pie.” You had hissed, letting him pepper your face with kisses as he rolled to keep you from being stabbed with straw. “Hunny? I love you.” You drawled, putting down the spoon on the bench and laying across his body fully.

“I love you too, baby.” He cooed, kissing your face and hugging you against him as his lips got lost with yours on a grand adventure that lead to his dirty, oil covered hands sliding up into your work gown and massaging your breasts. You careened into him and gripped his curls tight in your fists.

“Grady! Grady get down! Jesus christ!” Bible’s voice brings back from his daydream and he ducks hard into the tank.

“Grady are you with us now?” Don shouts, grabbing his coat collar.

“Ye-yeah. Yeah sorry.” He coughs, tears almost spilling over his cheeks.

“Grady, you okay buddy?” Norman calls, looking up at the Coon-Ass with a sad, sorry look in his eyes.

“Yeah, I’m fine, dammit.” He barks, scrubbing away the tears.

Once they get into the crossroads, Grady and Norman head into the building near there and search for parts.

“Grady, listen. Whatever happened back there--” he grabs Norman around the neck and drives him against the wall.

“Nothing happened.” He spits through his clenched teeth. Raising his hands up, Grady lets go and heads to keep looking. “I do got a lady back home. I try not to think about her because she fucks me up. But yeah, she’s my world. I’m sorry you lost your German girl back there, I really am. If I could 'a saved her I woulda. But I couldn’t.” He offers, toeing at the dirt.

“Thanks Grady.” He huffs, deflating the breath he’d been holding.

“Don’t thanks me. I ain’t do nothin’.” He shakes his head as he turns and starts out the door.

After the dust and blood settled, troops came to the Fury team’s rescue. Not single Fury member was dead, wounded, yes. But dead? No. It was a miracle and Bible babbled about it the whole way back as the troopers told them they were heroes. Grady didn’t care to feel like a hero, he hurt and he was ready to see his lady. It’d been a long four years, a few letters, but a long time since he’d seen your face.

“You guys are gettin’ patched up and sent home. You can’t fight in the shape you’re in.” The man had said. Tears filled Grady’s eyes then, as he knew he’d get to see you.

“A broke wing and pure heart, Mister Ass, you get to go home and find you some American ass, aye?” Don cheers, and Grady just nods, giving a wave to him.

“I’mma go home an’ kiss my woman hard and fuck ‘er hard too.” The three men from the Fury, Don, Bible, and Gordo, all looked to Grady with wide eyes.

“Your woman?” Bible asks, looking to his best friend with shock.

“Yeah. I’m a taken man, Boyd.” He chuckles, patting the man on the knee.

“So all this talk about fuckin’ these German women, and you never fucked one did ya?” He asks, punching him in the shoulder. Grady only shakes his head.

The men board the air carrier that flew them into the depths hell and they all hoop and holler as they lift into the air.

“They say the war’s all but done anymore. You boys did a hell of a job out there.” The pilot talks over the intercom as they fly over open water.

“I can’t wait to take a fuckin’ shower.”

“I can’t wait to sleep in a bed.”

“I can’t wait to find me a woman.”

“I can’t wait to see my woman.”

Each man had a different dream, but all the same, they all were excited to go home.

“Wardaddy, Gordo, Coon-Ass, War Machine, I never wanna hear those names again.” Bible cheers as the plane gets close to landing. Women, children, and even men waited cheering as the plane dropped to the ground. The five Fury survivors of war hug tightly, and go their separate ways.

“Grady Paul Travis? Have you seen him? He’s tall, busted up crooked nose, cute, dumb smile, have you seen him? They told me he’d be on this flight.” Bible’s head whips around and his eyes lock with Grady’s as the woman shoves a photo into Bible’s face. He’s sees Bible’s finger point to him and he ducks, his heart racing. He hadn’t seen you in four years, he didn’t even think you’d be here, but he heard you calling for him. When you come around the corner where Bible had pointed you, you don’t see anyone you recognize until you see the man of your dreams rise to his feet above the crowd and you give a screech, letting into a dead run through the crowd, across the lot and springing into his arms.

“Even with a busted wing, he caught her.” Don chuckles to the crew, watching on for a moment as Mister Ass himself sinks to the ground holding this petite little woman against his big, blocky frame like she was the last ass he’d ever see.

“Wow, crazy huh?” Gordo states, his hispanic accent poking through. “Mister Ass had a girlfriend this whole time. They watch a moment longer as she slides a ring from her neck onto his finger.

“I’ll be damned. Mister Ass is a married man.” Bible laughs.

No closer as you got in the door, Grady was driving you into the couch, tugging off your dress as fast as he could.

“I promise, slow later, baby. But fast now.” He grunts, shimmying from his pants. Grabbing his throbbing cock, he gives you a sweet smile and you nod, nails digging into his shoulders as you wiggle your hips closer to him. He slides into you and and rams in deep.

“Grady!” You shriek, nails digging harder into his shoulders as he fucks you hard against the sofa.

“Yes baby. I love you. I love you. I love you. I mis’d ya so much. Shit baby, yes.” He grunts, feeling himself twitch inside you as your walls constrict around his cock.

“Grady. Grady, yes. Please.. I’m so close. C’mon baby.” You encourage, ramming your hips up to meet his in sloppy thrusts. He leans down, hugging you tight against him as his thrusts get sloppier.

“I love you.” He sobs, cumming as you roll your hips into his once more, orgasming blissfully in his cock. He grabs you tight, holding you against him as he sobs hard against you. “I’m so sorry, baby. I’ll never leave you again.” He assures, his cock still in you as his arms grip tight against you so hard you gasp for breath. You love every minute of him holding you, pressing infinite kisses to your bare skin as he holds you.

“I love you too, Grady. I love you, baby. I love you.” You whisper, gripping his arms.

[sunjaesol]

clandestine meetings and longing stares

juke secret dating au | title: illicit affairs // taylor swift | a middle of the night scribble

When twelve year old Julie Molina got a stern talk from her father that she wasn't allowed to date until college, the tween had no qualms with it. The only boy she's ever liked had been Sokka from Avatar and that was it. Real boys didn't interest her. 

Until she turned sixteen and caught sight of Luke Patterson. 

In the years between, she had small crushes here and there. Lance, Nick, Noah. None, however, competed with storm that erupted in her stomach each time Luke smiled at her - her heart in a constant frenzy. 

It was the beginning of junior year when he randomly sat next to her in music class and brought out all the bravado. It shouldn't have been cute. Julie should've rolled her eyes, dismissed his cute smirk, but she simply couldn't. The shimmering green of his eyes and the nice laugh was too alluring, too attractive. Soon enough, Julie was crushing on him hard. Which was fortunate, since he very much liked her as well, something he never hid from her. 

("Watch out, Julie," he joked during one of their first conversations. "The charm is gonna make you get a crush on me!") 

Luke kissed her two weeks after, chastely and secretly under the bleachers. Her infatuated mind forgot in that moment how she wasn't even allowed to look at a guy and eagerly kissed him back. It had been her first kiss and wow - what a perfect one at that. 

A beat later, she realised her mistake and told him about her dad's stupid rule. His face had crashed for all of ten seconds when a mischievous grin crawled on his lips (an expression that would get her into serious trouble one day) and said: "Why tell him?" 

Had it been any other boy, she would've shaken her head and regret kissing him. But this was Luke. She really liked Luke. The idea of not being with him, of not seeing where this could go, was a greater fear than her father's disappointment. In response, she snatched him back into a kiss he all too hungrily went along with. 

Rule #1: Don't date! Broken, busted, thrown out the window with a smile. 

It started off easy. At school, no one had to worry. She sat with him at lunch and let herself be coaxed under the bleachers and snuggled into his embrace at the end of the day. On the parking lot, she could pretend she was simply saying goodbye to her boyfriend and not going home to lie in her dad's face about why she was so overly chipper all of a sudden. 

(Luke made her so ridiculously happy it was unfair. Each time he surprised her with a hug, her feet lifted from the ground; each time they kissed, his thumbs grazed her cheeks like she was a precious gem; each time she came up with a clever lyric, he gave her the toothiest grin and called her all the cute nicknames he could think of. Boss, baby, babe, Lyric Queen.) 

God, she was complete mush for this boy. Sometimes she wondered if she was doing enough, not quite matching his overt display of affection, but she knew she must be doing something right if he never stopped smiling when she talked. That his eyes held a certain softness, timidness, reserved for her only. 

They outgrew school quickly. Both wanted to go on dates without raising suspicion, Luke wanted to come over and just be with her without causing havoc. 

"Why does the rule exist anyway?", he asked at the end of a cool December day. 

Julie toyed with the lapels of his red shacket. "It's dumb. I mean, I get it, but it's dumb." Sighing, she explained his reasoning. "He wants me to fully focus on school so that I can get into a good college. Once I secured that, then I'm allowed to have fun."

Luke frowned. "I- I guess I kind of get it."

Her eyes rolled teasingly. "You don't even want to go to college." 

"Correction: I wanna go to frat parties and have the college experience-" 

"Without the classes part," she deadpanned. His face fell flat, a giggle of her own following. 

His frown returned, a look she hated seeing. "You don't think he'll… I don't know, let go of that rule when he sees we're good?" His calloused hands slipped from her waist to softly cradle her face. Julie sighed, leaning into the touch. Resisting Luke and everything he did was hard. A smile twitched on his lips. "Would be pretty dope to come through the front door and kiss my girlfriend."

Her heart clenched at his confession. It would be amazing, but it sounded so unbelievable that it could easily be taken as a joke. Dad would go absolutely insane if she pulled something like that. Hey dad! Don't mind me as I jump into the arms of my boyfriend and he kisses me like a heartthrob from the movies! 

She should've known Luke would try something. His impulsivity was an admirable trait, she found, though the pebbles hitting her window past midnight have her such a fright that she cursed for a beat how one track minded he could be. Until she caught sight of him. Eyes twinkling in the moonlight, a wide smile, his casual stance. He pointed at her and she nodded, grabbing her phone to text him there was a ladder by the garage. 

Quiet like a ghost and quick like a fox, Luke snuck into her room, feet falling onto the floor with a soft thud. 

Butterflies raged in her stomach. Her secret boyfriend was here, in her room, right now, with her father sleeping just down the hall. 

"What're you doing here?", she whispered, already breathless from having him near. 

His nose scrunched up. "Trying to be romantic. Should I have called you first?" 

She shook her head. "It's fine. Maybe next time. It's-" Her arms slung around his shoulders, heart hammering a mile a minute. Her pyjamas were nothing special, an oversized pullover and sweatshorts, but it felt oddly intimate to be so cozy together. His own faded t-shirt was from a zoo in Oregon and his sweatpants softer than any of the ones she owned. Julie almost asked to borrow them, if it wasn't for his lips to swallow the words with a warm kiss. 

Her fingers slipped into his hair. Yeah. This was better than talking. 

It soon became routine. Every other week, Luke would text her a moon emoji and then climb into her room around midnight. They'd kiss and cuddle, Luke often leaving by five am and then making a whole show at school as if he hadn't seen her. Julie thought it was cute. If she could, she'd return the favour and go to his place, but Luke assured her she did not want that and, consequently, her father would just know. Unfortunately, she didn't have Luke's agility like some parkour champ. 

"Trust me, Jules, I don't mind," he told her at lunch while stealing a cherry tomato. "I like sneaking in."

Alex shot him a look. "You like feeling like the main character of a movie, that's what."

"You brainwashed me with romcoms, so it's your fault, dude,' Luke retorted, grinning when the blonde flipped him off. 

They got cocky though. Julie knew her dad would be gone during the day for a photography gig in Santa Monica, all the way on the other side of Los Angeles. It was the perfect excuse to get Luke over. Excited, Julie opened the front door for him with a flourish and did a silly courtesy. 

"Your first time using my door," she teased. "Must feel special."

His cocky nod made her roll her eyes. "Super special," he replied gravely, playing along. "She's been begging for me."

Her expression turned sour. "I haven't been begging for you." 

His smirk widened, tugging on a curl as he slipped past her. "Was I talking about you?" 

He didn't, but he did start making out with her the second they were in the safety of her bedroom, so she knew there wasn't much competition. 

That afternoon, they successfully avoided her dad's wrath and felt arrogantly confident about it. It made them daring. Pushing the limits, how far could they go, how blatant could they be before he knew? It was almost a game, the thrill part of the insane attraction she felt each time he snuck in. 

His strong arms were wrapped around her as she straddled his waist, kissing him. Every touch was languid and intentional, a searing passion that rippled her skin and left her mind empty. Kissing Luke always put her in a dreamy, blissful haze. Her fingers clawed at his shirt and he shrugged it off in one fluid motion, pulling her back in. His skin was warm, hers to explore. Julie grinned into the kiss. His fingers toyed with the hem of her top.  

"Julie?" 

They froze. Her dad. Other side of the door. Shit. Shit, shit, shit. As quietly as possible, the girl hoisted herself from his lap and motioned at her closet. 

"Julie?" The door handle began to shake. 

Her voice squeaked. "Just a second!" Luke tiptoes into her closet, Julie kicking his shirt under her bed as she ran to the door. Her flushed cheeks would be a dead giveaway had her father ever doubt her trust. Fortunately, Julie Molina was in the eyes of her family a perfect good girl. 

(The guy hiding in her closet would whisper something else in her ear.)

"Why is your door locked?" Dad frowned. "You never lock your door."

Julie shrugged, innocence leaking from her tone. "I can't have some privacy?" 

"Of course, Julie," he said, though his lips were pressed into a thin smile. This clearly wasn't the last time they'd talk about it. "I'm going to the store. Do you need something?" 

"No, thanks," she rushed. "Anything else?" 

"Uh, no. Don't lock yourself in, hm?" It was said as a joke, his brows lifted, but both she and her father knew he meant it. No more locking doors. Shit. 

When the front door fell shut and the car rumbled into the street, Luke reappeared with a careful smile. 

Julie sighed. "That… was close. Maybe we should stop hanging out right after school. I didn't even hear him coming up the stairs."

"Damn, Jules!” Peppering two kisses on her forehead, it did little to relief her stress. “Now that's an ego booster."

"I'm serious!" She huffed. "I hate this. I hate the rule and I hate that I'm making you put up with it."

"Hey, hey," he soothed. "It's shitty, yeah, but you're not making me do anything." Nodding at her lips, he added: "Your smile is already…" 

The smile bloomed on its own accord when he trailed off, edging closer. "What?" 

That little shake of his head almost made her kiss him, but she wanted to know what he was going to say, why his lips were parted in that wonderstruck expression. When nothing came, a curious hum rumbled in her throat as she placed her chin on his chest. 

He relented, tapping a finger against her cheek. “Your smile is already making me do dumb stuff.”

Oh, God. If he was going to continue saying things like that, she might actually fall in love with him. Back when Julie and Flynn were still obsessed with those relationship quizzes in magazines, she always claimed she’d like guys that weren’t so smooth with their words. She thought it meant they were players. But Luke never half-assed anything. 

Her head tilted, amused. “Do you always have words ready?”

“Zero words, Jules,” he quipped. “Ever.”

Yeah, she might actually love him. 

Public dates became a thing after that conversation. She simply couldn’t let him get away because of some rule, even if he claimed he wouldn’t. Eats & Beats was a cute, little café in the heart of Los Feliz with live music and amazing lattes; it was also their regular spot. They’d settle themselves into a booth, share a baked good (“If we’re trying the carrot cake now, we’re doing the pastel de nata next week.” “Deal.”) and talk for hours. Sometimes, when either was tinkering on a song, they’d work on it together.

One leg overlapped his, his fingers drawing pictures on her knee. The booth with the suede red couches and the scratching of a star in the wood was their safe haven.  

“Mh, no,” she swallowed the piece of muffin. “That’s such an ugly word, don’t use that.”

He grinned, shoulders nudging as a tease. “Drencher not doing it for you?”

A laugh bubbled up, kissing his cheek. “Just use ‘rain’, you dork!”

“Dork?”, he mocked, getting in her face. 

“Yeah.” Her nose brushed his. “Dork.” 

“You are a dork.”

“That’s the best you’ve got, Patterson?”

Luke smirked, eyes flicking across her frame. “Want me to show you my best, Molina?”

She pushed his face away, a blush creeping up her cheekbones. They haven’t done it yet, but whenever he got like this, she felt her entire skin heat up at the mere idea. A part of her wanted to take that step, but she felt bad doing it if her dad or tía didn’t know. Knowing that they wouldn’t support her for as long as the rule existed, made her settle with that heat for a little longer. Her leg slipped from his and turned back to his songbook. 

“So-”

“Julie?”

The couple looked up, once more paralysed as her dad’s familiar voice called her name. Why was he literally everywhere?! His tall figure stood in front of their booth, his hat shrouding the grimace on his face as his scrutinising eyes flitted between them. Oh, God. Did he know? Did he see? How much did he see? Did he see Luke checking her out? Mortification didn’t even come close to what she felt. 

“Dad!” Her pressed smile hopefully looked relaxed to him. Her dad had moments of obliviousness; she might be able to save this. “What- hi, I didn’t know you had a booking here.”

His suspicion didn’t waver. “Yeah, honey, for the Rodriguez’ - I told you last night. Was just getting, ah, coffee.” He nodded at Luke. “Who’s this?”

My boyfriend. The one I’m falling for. The boy I’ve been hiding for months. “This is Luke, he’s one of my classmates.” The way his arm tensed at the label made her ache, but she had to truck on. “We’re working on a song.”

If he didn’t believe her, she just hurt her boyfriend for no reason. It did the trick though. Her father’s face mellowed, noticing the scribbles in the tattered book. “You’re working on a song?”

“Yeah. It’s really getting along.” Her finger tapped against his thigh. “Right, Luke?”

He perked up, a cough following as he straightened his attitude. This really was not the way she wanted them to meet. “Uh, yeah.” His hand stuck out. “Hi, mister Molina.”

Dad shook it with a smile, fully relaxed now. “Ray. Nice to meet you.” The barista called out his name. “See you at home, Julie. Don’t stay out long, yeah?”

Her smile twitched and crashed the second he turned around, grabbed his coffee and closed the glass door. She groaned, dropping her head on his shoulder. “I’m so sorry.”

“I gotta be honest,” he whispered. “That hurt.”

“I’m sorry.”

Luke sighed. “I was okay being a secret before, but…”

She coaxed his jaw, needing him to look at her. “It’ll hurt more if I tell him and forces me to break up with you.”

For a moment, silence sunk onto the table, wedging itself like thick smoke between her and Luke. He seemed pensive, the green of his eyes peering. Suddenly, they lit up. “But wait, aren’t you getting your results? Early admission?”

She sagged in her seat, pouting. “If UCLA wants me.”

“They will,” he smiled. His arms wrapped around her. “Of course, they will. And if you get in, he can’t be mad that you’re dating me, right?”

Hope tinged her chest. She hasn’t considered that. She’s been so focused on Luke and trying to keep it hidden, that everything college-related went over her head. The letters and essays and interviews happened before she and Luke got serious, so with her being on that pink cloud ever since, school stress has been locked away. Why bother mulling over UCLA when she could be having fun with Luke? 

If she locked in UCLA… then Luke might be right. And if not UCLA, then she’d hear of USC and NYU next year. (If they were even still together by the time those letters got in the mail.) 

“You might’ve found the loophole,” she teased, hoping to lift the tension. And then she uttered out her biggest fear: “But if you haven’t… will you stay?”

His kiss answered her, soft and sweet and with a hint of blueberry muffin. A grin bloomed on her lips, burrowing her face in his shoulder. She felt it. That overflowing, unbridled adoration overwhelming her all at once. Julie loved him. It was April fourteenth and it only took her six months but Julie loved Luke. They stayed in the booth until they had to go home.

Her phone was mocking her. Luke and her were in her car, stagnant, as both stared at the white screen. Every few minutes, she refreshed it, yet no email came. Gah! Couldn’t colleges just send the email when they said they would? What was taking so long? Did that mean she didn’t get in? Was this a bad sign? It helped having Luke there, easing the rising stress that clenched her ribcage, but she wouldn’t be fully okay until that freaking email come through. 

As if sensing her thoughts, he drummed against the dashboard. “It’s gonna be cool. You look great in blue and gold, you gotta get in.”

She giggled, nerves lacing her tone. “Imagine if that’s how you got in. You’d get into USC then.”

“Are you saying I look hot in red?”, he teased. 

“You know you- oh my God!” She lurched for her phone as a new email pinged in, heartbeat stuttering in her ears. Frozen, her thumb hovered over the fated email. This would change everything - for better or for worse. She knew she should focus on the fact that it would determine where she’d go to college, but all she could think about was Luke, Luke, Luke. Was it selfish to care more about junior prom then UCLA? At this very moment, she thought it was completely justified. 

She shook her head. “I can’t. I can’t do it. You open it.”

His brows raised. “You sure?”

“Yeah-” She stuffed the phone in his hand and put her trembling ones on her lap. “-do it for me.”

Luke took a deep breath. Julie shut her eyes. Please. Please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please accept her. Please let her be with Luke.

Ten seconds passed. His voice gave nothing away. “Julie?”

“Just rip the band-aid off,” she choked out.   

A familiar, calloused hand softly grabbed hers. Her eyes cracked open. Luke had the biggest smile on his face and it made her heart pop out of her chest. She bit down on her lip, fighting off a grin. “Don’t play with me.”

“I’m not,” he sang, reaching across the console to show her phone. You got accepted! blinked in bold, black letters. “You’re UCLA bound, baby!”

Euphoria burst out. Julie squealed, throwing her arms around his neck and pulled him in for a searing kiss. She got in! She fucking got into college! A great one at that! Another Molina was going for gold! 

And it might even get her to date Luke without secrecy. God, she hoped this was enough. She wanted to do everything with him. All the time, the entire time. Flynn has called them clingy, but Julie just wanted to get rid of the anxiety of her dad finding out. To finally relax and be fully with him.

Her head tilted, bashful. “Is it crazy to say that I might be in love with you?”

He dropped her phone in the cupholder and peppered another kiss on her mouth. “No. That’s good.” His thumb traced her bottom lip, eyes glittering with adoration. “Cause I’m pretty sure I’m in love with you too.”

She pecked his thumb, giddy. “Fuck it. Let’s tell my dad right now. About UCLA and you.”

He smiled. “You sure?”

“One hundred percent.”

Storming inside the house, the couple made a beeline to her dad’s office, his hand in hers. 

“Dad!”, she called out, door slamming open. Her startled father perked up in his seat, his wide eyes going from Julie to Luke right behind her. “I got into UCLA!”

Ray sprung up, cheering. “Mija-!”

“And I’m dating Luke!”, she yelled after. “And that’s okay, cause I got in, so you don’t have to worry about the rule anymore! So... ” She put her foot down, awkwardness creeping in her tone. “Yeah!”

Flabbergasted, dad faltered and let the cheers die in his throat. Luke came to stand next to her, squeezing her hand. Slowly, he nodded. “Ah… so that time in Eats & Beats-”

“A date,” she admitted. “And I’m sorry I went behind your back, papa, but I… really care about Luke. And we figured that if I got in, you’d stop enforcing the dating rule.”

His grap became even tighter. “I, uh, really care about her too,” Luke mustered. “Sorry that we kept it a secret.”

Ray sighed, propping his head in his hands and scrubbing the confusion away with his palms. The pair shot each other a look. He wasn’t mad, she deduced, so that was a good sign at least. Finally, dad moved again and gave her a tight hug. Her confidence grew, hugging him back and withholding a cry of victory. 

He pulled back, crossing his arms with a hint of amusement. “Well… the rule clearly didn’t work, but you seem happy and you- you did actually get in, right?”

She laughed, nodding, and showed the confirmation email. His smile grew. “Then I guess,” he trailed, “you’re allowed. To date. But no funny business!”

Julie quickly nodded, grabbing back onto Luke’s arm and jostling him in excitement. Luke bounced on his heels, trying to temper it but failing miserably. She thanked her dad, promised him they’d celebrate her acceptance later tonight and rushed back out with Luke. Dad yelled something about establishing new rules, but both gleefully ignored it. Once in her bedroom, he snatched her into a tight embrace, kissing her full on the lips. Julie whooped against his mouth and danced between his arms. This might be the best day of her life! Luke was her real real real boyfriend!

“You heard your dad, Jules,” he teased. “No funny business.”

She pouted, faux-peeved. “You won’t get to climb through my window again.”

“Won’t have to hide in cars anymore.”

“Won’t have to say you’re just my classmate.”

Luke dragged them onto her bed, laying side by side. “I can take you to junior prom.”

She kissed him with a giggle. “You’re taking me to prom?”

“Hell yeah, I am!”, he bellowed, drumming his fingers against her hips. “Let your dad take pictures of us and everything.”

She scrunched her nose. “Let’s maybe not push him just yet.”

“Yeah,” he exhaled, humming in agreement. “You’re probably right.”

Luke did that her to junior prom, to homecoming, to senior prom, called her hot in blue and gold and vetoed no when she begged him for a bright, blue velour couch for their first apartment. When someone asked her father what it was like, seeing his daughter find the one at sixteen, he had to admit with embarrassment red on his cheeks that it all flew under his radar.

That it all started with sneaky bleacher kisses and a hopeful heart. 

@blush-and-books @ourstarscollided @sophiphi @bluefirewrites​ @willexx​ @unsaid-emily​

[jeon-kookie-dough]

Caught in the Game - Chapter 01

After growing up in the midst of Toman and a rather wild time in college, you are now working for a popular fashion magazine. You were aware of your boss's gang past - Kokonoi Hajime's name having been well-known during your school time - but after you bumped into an old friend at work the other day, one coincidence follows the next and you find your past catching up to you...

pairings: Koko x reader, Chifuyu x reader genre: angst, gang!au rating: m for violence & slowburn smut word count: 2,536 next>

The subway was much stuffier than usual. Bodies pressed into each other at every curvature, the sweat mingling on the sticky handlebars. And it is only the morning, for fuck’s sake.

The way from my house, which is located kind of in the outskirts of Tokyo, to Chiyoda where my office was located, felt like a lifetime this hot morning. Between trying to avoid creeps in the subway and standing in the longest queue in front of my favorite coffee shop for what seemed like hours, I was trying to supersede immense tiredness.

As of November, of the year prior I was working for one of the bigger fashion magazines in the country and the deadline for my latest article was already scratching at the front door. More like clawing, actually.

Up until starting up this job, I was used to living a half-assed life. School came easy to me, despite having been caught up in some…situations. College was a blur of alcohol and parties and I just barely graduated. After college I held myself above water with various part-time jobs, having been kicked out from home at barely 18 and landed my current job by chance. This upcoming article was more than important to me, thus stressing myself, and crying my fucking eyes raw from frustration, since it was the first time having my work printed in an actual magazine instead of just publishing online.

The second I stepped foot into Marunouchi Park Building, I sighed of relief and thanked who ever invented ACs. I entered the elevator, pushed the button for the 23rd floor and leaned back against the cool metal wall of the cabin. Just as the doors were about to close, somebody sprinted into the otherwise empty cabin. The person was male and of average height, balancing a couple garment bags and shoe boxes in his arms. I wasn’t really surprised that he was going to exit on the same floor, as the other offices in this building were mostly financial firms.

Not minding the other person, I let him leave the elevator before me, clocked in and greeted my colleagues with a friendly nod. I took a while, but in the past eight months, people seemed to have accepted that I was far from a morning person, so they learned to appreciate my curt nods. Only because I bring coffee. At least that’s my hypothesis.

“Good morning, sunshine!”

My eyeballs immediately rolled to the back. Hearing my boss’ voice in the morning was like nails on a chalkboard. I rolled back with my chair, peaking around my cubical. The bright sunlight illuminated the office through the glass front, reflecting in the angled door to the chief editor’s single office. His figure leaned in the door, arms crossed and hand holding out expectantly.

“S’up, Koko?” I mumble. I knew exactly what he had his hand stuck out for, but I wouldn’t give him the gratification he wanted. That rich fuck, I thought. Bet he snorts his coke with 10k yen bills but can’t even get his own fucking coffee.

“Think my hand is missing an iced Americano this morning. Care to explain?” His slender frame circled around the cubicle wall, now towering above my sitting person. My office was usually occupied by five people in total. Inui always being late and the other three on vacation left me as the only victim. I rolled my eyes at him. “Dunno”, I retorted, opting for my most innocent look. “Think I might have dropped it. You can have a sip of my Cappuccino, but I’m afraid I spat in it.”

Kokonoi Hajime was a peculiar person. He stood at 5’9” and his black locks braided away from the left side of his face was his signature look. He cared a lot about his staff being dressed well, as he himself only own designer suits from Italy. Despite enjoying the power he had over his staff, he also was very liberal in the way we communicated with another at the office. I had never met him before taking the job, but I had certainly heard of Kokonoi way before.

Koko was only a year or two older than I was and back in middle and high school he had a reputation. He lived one school district away from me, but the stories about him were also told at my school. Stories of a financial prodigy that hid behind his wannabe gangster friends that, most of the time, resorted to violence.

“You have a foul mouth”, he snickered, grabbing my cup and taking a sip anyway. “Somebody ever told you that?” I hummed in response, counting my coffee lost, and turned on my laptop. “I have a meeting in five minutes, so please take my calls, will you? Inui is useless, as always.” I nod silently, still grieving the loss of my coffee. Koko’s gaze rested on Inui’s empty desk, then on me. “How’s that big article of yours coming along?”

I knew he meant no harm with that question, but my elevated stress levels along with the acid, that always seems to wing in his voice, made me snap. “Fuck off, alright? I’m working on it.”

The chief editor raised his hands in defense and backed away from my desk, a smile playing about his lips. “The meeting’s until noon. Tell Inui to take my phone when his drags his lazy ass here.”

Inui arrived at 10:30, offering a coffee and a doughnut as a peace offering. I told him to screw off and, finally, concentrated on my article. It was almost done, but I needed it to be perfect before handing it to Kokonoi for proof-reading. I couldn’t afford messing this up if I ever intended of becoming a regular in the print.

I was so emersed in my work that I never saw the visitor arrive or leave. At lunch, all that occupied my mind was my hunger. I didn’t really have a lot of money left, thanks to the fucking chief for having me dress in expensive clothes so he quote unquote didn’t have to claw his eyes out at the sight of me, so a snack from the vending machine it was.

With food just in sight, my feet may have become a little too eager and I stumbled a crashed face first into someone walking by, having them fall onto the marble floor with me. I cussed under my breath and tried to get onto my feet, when there was already a hand outstretched to help me.

“You okay?” I averted my eyes immediately, embarrassment written on my face. “Uh, yeah, I’m alright, I guess. Er, I think you dropped something.” I dove right back down, picking up the visitor laminate. It read ‘Visitor for KOKONOI Hajime. Name-‘

My gaze darted up immediately, meeting a pair of silver eyes staring right back at me. “Mitsuya fucking Takashi?” I whispered in sheer disbelief. My opposite grinned, squeezing his eyes shut doing so. “It’s been a long time, huh, (Y/N)?”

I found myself accompanying Mitsuya to a Korean restaurant down the street for lunch. His treat, he said. The sun was merciless, and he scolded me for not carrying an umbrella with me. “It’s bad for your skin, you know?” I grunted, looking up at him. “Like I care.”

My high school graduation ceremony had been the last time I had seen Mitsuya. Up until then, we had almost been inseparable, having lived in the same shitty apartment complex, visiting the same middle school and him only being one year older. Back then, a lot of things happened. We never really had a fall out, at one point things just changed.

At the restaurant, we slid into a booth and a young waitress came to our table to take our order. Her eyes revealed that she found my companion attractive, but as per usual, he was oblivious. A couple minutes passed, and we were handed our drinks.

“Alcohol at this hour?” His eyebrow shot up in worry, vanishing behind his silver hair. He changed it up a bit since then, leaving his shaved sides in his natural black hair color, his top hair raked with black strands in the otherwise light hair. “Thought you had given up on that.”

I stirred my vodka soda with the glass straw, the ice chinking against the glass. “Yeah, I had.”

Mitsuya didn’t dig any further and leaned back into the cushioned bench instead. “So, a fashion magazine, huh? I thought you always wanted to become a sugar baby, what happened?” At his question I emptied half my drink in one gulp, disregarding the straw completely. “Turns out I’m not really cut for sucking wrinkly dick.” To that, Mitsuya busted out laughing. “You achieved just what you always dreamed of. How does that feel?” I asked quietly.

He stayed silent for a while and I watched him gnawing at the inside of his cheek, clearly thinking about how to choose his next words. “A lot of time has passed, you know?” His voice was dull as he finally spoke. “And a lot happened in between. I guess it was either getting my life under control or…” His voice trailed off, but I knew exactly what he left hanging in the air. Prison. Or even worse, death. “For my sisters’ sake, I chose to get my life together.”

I nodded, fumbling with the glass straw, one burning question on the tip of my tongue. How are the others? Is everyone still alive? I was too afraid of the answer, so I pushed the thought way back.

“Tell me about you, though”, Mitsuya smiled and leaned forward, folding his hands and propping his chin on them. “Working for Koko now, huh? How’s that been?” I groaned quietly and let my head hang. “He’s a fucking pain in the ass. Making me buy all this expensive shit so I’ve got nothing left in the bank. If I knew beforehand who the chief editor was, I would have never taken that job.” Mitsuya chuckled and flicked my forehead. Just like he always used to.

“I know what you mean” he mused. “I never thought I’d see his face again after-“ My eyes shot up at the tone in his voice. I never knew they had met before. Back then, I would have feared for his life. Everyone was young and stupid back then; delinquents with nothing but fist fights on their minds. But the folks Koko had surrounded himself with were more on the actual criminal side.

“What? Mitsuya, you never told me!” Even I was surprised at the pure horror in my voice. “Why didn’t you say something?” Mitsuya shrugged. “Nothing bad ever happened. It was just a surprise to see him in a position like this, that’s all.”

After lunch, which was fucking delicious, dare I add, Mitsuya and I exchanged numbers before going our separate ways.

The rest of the day I couldn’t concentrate on anything anymore. Before I headed home, I met Kokonoi’s gaze through his glass door and it gave me the shivers. Like he was watching me. Like he knew something. Creep. This weird feeling followed me all the way home and I caught myself looking back at every turn, at every red light. For some reason the conversation I have had with my old friend had me nervous. Nervous for him, for me, for everyone. What if Koko’s the same old thug, but with a lot more money and influence?

At home I opened a bottle of white wine, dunked the cap in the bin and sat at my desk, ready to catch up on the time I wasted at the office being worried. With a little liquid confidence, of course. Cheers!

I had approximately gotten about three hours of sleep. My body felt like it had gotten run over by a truck, my brain felt like soup. The only silver lining was, that I had, hallelujah!, finished my article – and my favorite co-worker Natsuki returning from her vacation. She had been working at the magazine already when I had started and showed me around.

Only a few days after I had started working, Atsushi Sendo had been transferred from another internal office to ours. There had been a lot of rumors occurring around his transfer, sexual harassment among them, but in the end, he had only royally fucked up his latest pitch and, as a punishment, had been put under Koko’s supervision, since he’s known to be the meanest editor. He ended up liking to work with us so much that he just stayed. The three of us ended up becoming the bane of Koko’s existence.

I stepped one foot into the office, yawning and pulling an Inui, I can’t believe that I arrived even after him, before I heard Natsuki already picking a fight with the chief editor. I silently put her coffee next to her cup of tea, handed another one to Inui and sat down at my own desk.

“With all due respect, Kokonoi, but you can’t expect me to not freak out when I come back after three weeks and find myarticle published under your name!” I leaned back into my chair, eyes closed, and head thrown back, and listened to the bickering in the chief editor’s office. A few minutes later, Natsuki threw the door into the lock behind her, the heel of her shoes dangerously echoing in the otherwise silent room.

It only took a moment before my sleepy body jumped awake when it got hit by a paper ball. My eyes ripped open just to find her eyes lingering over the wall between our cubicles. “Thanks for the coffee”, she said, raising the cup in a silent toast. I did the same, somewhat straightening up my spine in the seat. “Glad you’re back”, I yawned. “Old scrooge was unbearable.”

“Was?”, Natsuki barked under her breath. “He’s the spawn of hell! Remind me to never take anything from him again. He’s the kind of person to always expect something in return and I don’t even want to think about what he would expect.” I grunted in my chair and sipped on my black coffee, leaving a red lip print on the paper.

“Money” Kokonoi, who unbeknownst to any of us had left his office, answered Natsuki whilst keeping his sly eyes on my. “I don’t take anything but cash. (Y/L/N), where’s your article. Deadline’s today.” Natsuki’s and my eyes met over the screen. Our boss rarely called us by our names, much less our family names - he prefers shit like darling or sweetheart. Why the fuck am I still working here?! – so we knew something was up. And maybe I have a hint.

“Check your mails. I submitted it at, like, 3.” “A.m.?” Natsuki mouthed in disbelief, but I kept my eyes fixed on Kokonoi. He beckoned me with a finger to follow me. “Come in my office for a minute, would you, sweetheart.” There he was again. The egotistical, chauvinistic asshole. The chair hit the screen behind me as I rolled back a little more forceful than intended, but I followed him, anyway.