#anyways now i have to shower and prepare for the office tomorrow (ugh.)

[terrainofheartfelt]

nothing like writing some absolute filth to combat the sunday scaries

[millenialfanfictionaddiction]

Please Me: Oikawa's Oasis Part 3

⚠️This Fic is 18+, Minors DNI⚠️

Welcome to week 4 of the Please Me Series!  A collaboration with @axoxtxhxh! This weeks theme is Virginity Loss featuring Oikawa and Goshiki!  This weeks fics are broken into 3 parts! Parts 1 and 2 are linked in the master list below! Please check out Joey’s fic, Guiding Goshiki!  I will also link it in the Please Me master list!  

Warnings: swearing, slight angst, fluffy ending, virginity loss, kissing, male oral receiving, thigh riding, masturbation,  locker room sex, shower sex, unprotected sex, creampie, guided female masturbation, sub! oikawa, fem dom reader, petnames, one hell of a safeword 

Word Count: 5,000

Staring at the wall, you heard your alarm sound the following morning as you slowly arose from your bed.  You hadn’t slept at all since you had arrived home last night.  You couldn’t shake the feeling of shame and guilt for running away from Torū.

You’re feelings were valid, you knew that. But you knew it wasn’t right to run away from him like you did. You should have talked to him.  In a way, you probably made him feel more self conscious then you had your first time.  

You sighed as you got up to shower and head to the gym. You knew you needed to talk with Torū.  You needed to explain to him that none of this was his fault.  

Locking your door, you headed to the gym as you mentally prepared yourself for the conversation that would follow.  You wanted to tell him about how you were afraid you would ruin his first time.  How your first time failed miserably and that you didn’t want him to regret anything.  

Torū had become very special to you as both a teammate and a friend. You didn’t want to make his time with the team awkward in anyway.  You knew the conversation would be a difficult one but you had to do it.  

Arriving at gym you saw several of the other players nursing hangovers and you began setting up for the days practice.  You yawned as you went to the bench, to grab your notes as the teams captain approached.

“You must have really worn Torū out YN” he said nudging your side as you looked at him confused “he texted me this morning telling me he was too ‘worn out’ to come to practice” he said throwing up air quotes “I’m actually surprised you’re here today.”

Hearing the Torū wasn’t coming to practice hit your like a ton of bricks, the feeling guilty washing over you as you felt the urge to cry.  You turned away from the captain as he watched you walk away in silence, going to fill the teams water bottles.  

Stepping from the gym, you felt the tears flow as the guilt and shame of your actions washed over you. How could you act so immature?  How could you just run away?  

You cried as you went to fill the teams water bottles. God I probably made him feel so insecure. I’m such an idiot you thought to yourself as you tried to calm down enough to finish your task and excuse yourself to your office.  You could camp out there the rest of the practice, telling the coach you had some work to catch up on.  At least then you could cry in peace.

Torū groaned as he woke up from his small nap. He hadn’t been able to sleep because of what had transpired between YN and himself.  He felt so shamed, so inadequate.  These were feelings he didn’t often have, causing chaos in his mind as he jolted hearing the sudden ring of his phone.

He answered the FaceTime call to a smiling Iwaizumi as he tried to bring a smile to his glum face.

“Shittykawa what’s the matter with you?  I didn’t expect you to pick up. Don’t you have practice? Iwaizumi says as Oikawa just stared at him.

Iwaizumi was confused. He had known Oikawa for many years and this was the first time he had ever seen the former high school captain so gloomy. Even losing their 3rd year volleyball tournament hadn’t made the captain as sad as he was now.

“I messed up Hajime” Torū said as Iwaizumi reeled back.  Oikawa never used his full name.

“What happened? Are you ok?” He said as Torū tried to hold his composure in. His emotions were all over the place, he had never felt so vulnerable, so destroyed “Hey Torū, are you ok?”

That did it. Iwaizumi saying his name caused Torū to cry like he had never cried before. He wasn’t even embarrassed, not one bit. He didn’t have time to feel embarrassed. He felt too ashamed.

“Hajime” Torū said finally calming down “she- YN doesn’t want me.”

Iwaizumi was stunned.  Never had this ever happened. A girl didn’t want the Torū Oikawa?  What kind of alternative dimension was he living in?

Iwaizumi watched as his friend wiped his face with his palms, trying to figure out what to say.

“Uhh- well umm what happened” he managed to muster up as he tried hard to still comprehend the previous statement made by his friend.

“Last night, I went out with the team.  Things with YN got heated.  We came back to my place.  Everything was going so well.  Then I told her I was a virgin and she freaked out and ran” he said as he looked down, unable to make eye contact with his friend.

Iwaizumi couldn’t help but chuckle to himself and try as he might, he was unable to hold a straight face.  He laughed loudly as Torū’s head whipped up into view, sending glares at him.

“Dude, I'm sorry” he laughed “but please tell me that you just didn’t say ‘YN I’m a virgin’ and expect her to be like ready to rip your v-card from your grasp.”

Iwaizumi laughed loudly as Torū just continued to stare at his friend “I don’t think it’s very funny Iwa-chan” he said he  scuffed at his friends laughter.

“Boy, you really are lame shittykawa” he said chuckling “are you sure you really are good with women?  I mean I don’t blame her one bit!  Taking a guy’s virginity would suck!  I mean men really don’t know shit about pleasuring women so what’s in it for her?”

Torū thought hard while his friend talked. Maybe he had approached it wrong to begin with. Not that he thinks about it, his method of delivery was a bit hasty.  

“Dude, I think you need to just talk to her You don’t really know why she turned you down.  I mean it sounds like she likes you from the way things went last night. Maybe you just made her nervous.”

Torū knew his friend was right. You had never given him any indication that you didn’t like him and he knew that, last night you felt something just like he did.

Torū looked at his friend as he smiled “you’re right Iwa-chan I’ll talk to her tomorrow.” Iwaizumi laughed as he watched the light stream back into his friend’s face.  

“Good luck idiotkawa” he said hanging up as Torū laid his phone down.  It was getting late, well after practice had ended. He knew he should try and get to the gym to practice some before tomorrow. He gathered his gear as he made his way to the gym, hoping someone was still there so he could practice.

You had managed to avoid the team for the entire practice. The coach had bought your excuse and you stayed cooped up in your small office until after practice.  

You signed as you stood up from your chair, tired from sulking and crying the entire afternoon.  You grabbed your bag and locked the office door.  Thankfully it was Friday and you could spend the weekend sleeping.  You were exhausted but yet somehow found the strength to cry for hours on end.  

You approached the gym doors as the all too familiar sounds of volleyball slamming into the floor radiated into your ears.  You checked your phone, nothing that it was 7pm and well past practice time.  You approached the gym doors as you quietly peaked in to see a sweating Torū setting up a serve, smashing it straight into the net  

“UGH DAMMIT” he said shouting as he prepared the throw another one up, once again managing to net the ball.  He leaned over, placing his hands on his knees and he grabbed his towel and headed to the locker rooms.  He had only been practicing for an hour but he was just unable to get into it.  

You watched as he made his way into the locker rooms, following to the doors as you slowly opened them, hearing him shout from inside.

“Torū,you idiot!” he shouted as you winced at his words.  You felt awful. You knew he was like this because of what had transpired between the two of you the previous night.  

You walked in the doors, standing for a moment as you see Oikawa sitting on the bench, a towel placed over his head and his elbows rested on his knees.

You knew you had to say something.  You couldn’t let him think any of this was his fault.  This was all your doing and it was time you owned up to it  

“Hey Torū” you said softly as the locker room door closed behind you and Torū’s head snapped up to meet yours. He looked at you as you walked over to him, sitting directly in across from him on the other bench.

“We need to talk” you said as he put his head down, trying not to cry again.

“It’s ok YN.  There’s nothing to talk about” he said he went to stand up, stopping when you grabbed his forearm.

“No Torū” you said as you sniffles lightly “I need to apologize.”

Torū was confused as he sag back done the bench, removing the towel from his head.  He stared at you questioningly.  What were you apologizing for?

You played with your fingers for a moment as you tried hard to muster up the courage to talk.  You knew what you wanted to say, rather what you needed to say.  

“Torū, I’m sorry I ran out on you.  I shouldn’t have done that.  I- I just got really nervous” you say, still looking down at the floor as you took a deep breath and tried hard not to cry.

“When you told me you were a virgin, it made me nervous.  I remember my first time all too well and I- well I just don’t want your first time to be like mine was” you speak as Torū looks at you, still confused.

The whole time the issue hadn’t been that he was a virgin, it had been that you wanted him to have a good experience?  He was shocked.  Here he though the issue was him, when in reality the issue was your own self doubts. He listened as you continued to talk.

“My first time wasn’t good Torū.  I didn’t know what I was doing and I thought I had feelings for the guy but like he didn’t have feelings for me.  And I really like you Torū and I just don’t want you to regret anything.  The fact that you trusted me with something so special made me nervous and scares” you said as your eyes went up to meet Torū.  

He looked at you, staring into your eyes as he tried hard to comprehend everything you had just said. He felt awful that your first experience wasn’t good but he also knew his feelings for you were valid and now he knew you had feelings for him too. He continued to stare as he worked his way thought the issues in his mind.  

You frowned as you took his silence as a bad sign, sighing as you stood up.  

“Thanks for letting me explain myself Torū.  You are so amazing and you deserve someone special” you said as you went to leave the locker rooms.

Torū snapped from his thoughts as he quickly grabbed your hand, pulling you back into his as he placed a light kiss on your lips. He smiled as you looked at him, very confused as to what had just happened.

Torū put his forehead on yours as you smiled softly.  

“YN, you don’t get it.  I want you to be my first because of how I feel about you” he said as he looked at you softly. You had become an oasis for him. An escape from reality and daily life. You had loved volleyball as much as him and you had always been genuine with him.  

You smiled as you grabbed his neck, kissing him softly again as he pulled your body flush against his as he deepened the kiss.  He placed his hands on your soft waist as he moved his hand up and down your back as you grabbed at his hair pulling him in closer to you.

You break from the kiss, staring at each other as your lips hovered over his.  Your body hearing up as you could feel his erection forming against your thigh.  You kissed his chin to his neck as he pulled your pelvis in closer, grinding where he could, trying hard to gather any amount of friction to ease his aching cock.

He backed away from him as he watched in confusion as you approached the locker room door.

Not again he thought as he heard the lock click, watching you stroll back to him, pulling him back into a full embrace.  He needed you and bad.  He couldn’t stand this pain in his cock anymore. He needed relief and the only medicine was you.

You push him back to the bench as he sits down looking up at you as you smirk down at him.

“Torū do you really want this?” You said as he groans, looking up at your gorgeous figure.  

He nodded frantically as you took his chin in your hand “I need a verbal response Torū” you said as his eyes widened.

“Yes- yes YN I want this” he said as you step back, removing your shirt and leggings, watching him ogle at your nearly naked form.  

“Ok Torū, I want you to pick a safe word just incase things get to be too much for you” you said as he gawked at you in your bra and panties. He was having a hard time concentrating on the task at hand with you standing tall in front of him.

“Torū!” you repeated as you snapped your fingers in front of his eyes, trying to get his attention turned back.

“Oh shit- yeah a safe word, umm how about ‘Kageyama’?” He said as you stared strangely at the word.

“I’ve never heard of ‘Kageyama’?  What does that mean?” You said as he stood up from his spot approaching you as he grabbed at your scantily clad hips.

“Don’t worry about it. It’s just something will definitely snap me out of the mood” he said as you chuckled lightly embracing Torū in a heated kiss.  

Your tongue licked his lips lightly as he granted you access, opening his mouth to your wet muscle as you massaged your tongue against his, pulling light groans from his pretty head.

You tugged on his shirt as he lifted his arms up, letting you pull the shirt from his body as your fingers and palms run up his sculpted chest.  

Your fingers graze lightly over his nipples as he shutters and groans.  His body was so reactive to every touch, every movement. The fact that you were about to engage in intercourse with the setter still made you a bit nervous but you tried hard to cast the self doubt aside, wanting to make the experience memorable for both you and Torū.

As if on queue, Torū looked at you sweetly as he brushed the tip of your nose with his. “you know YN, we could just count this as your virginity loss too.  I mean clearly you are as nervous as I am” he said chuckling as you laughed loudly throwing your head back.  

“That’s a good idea Torū but I am experienced in pleasuring a partner” you said as you push him down to the bench “just be a good boy for me and let me take the lead, ok?”

Torū gulped as he eyes widened at as your form sunk to your knees in front of him.  This was really happening and in the team locker room.  Not an ideal place to lose your virginity but he was not about to interrupt you.

“Umm YN” he said as he looked at you , kneeling before him with your hands placed on your plush thighs “don’t you umm, don’t you want me to make you feel good too?”  

You chuckled lightly as you reached up pulling him into a heated kiss as he gently rubbed his hands along your soft arms.

“How about I show you what I like while I make you feel good, then you can try?” You say as he nods quickly watching your hands go to his gym shorts, pulling his erection free as he shifts his hips upwards, helping you to remove his pesky shorts.

Your eyes widen at his size as you think about all the possible ways his cock will pleasure your wet cunt.  You felt your core heat up as you looked up to Torū.  

He was completely blissed out. Lost in translation between here and fantasy.  He’s eyes sparkled with excitement as you tested the waters, lightly kicking the tips of his hard cock.

Groaning he threw his head back in pleasure as you smirked to yourself, going in for another lick.  Your tongue laying more and more on his stiffened cock as he writhed in pleasure under your control.

Your body headed as you watched his abs contract in the moment, his mouth hanging open as his tongue lolled out in ecstasy.  He watched as your fingers traced lightly from his legs to your own, peering down at your chest as your fingers danced lightly over your clothed clit.

“Fuck YN” he moaned as he tried his hardest not to come from the sensation of your tongue on his cock.

Taking one final lick, you stand up as you slowly remove your panties from your body, revealing your cunt to him as he stares at the wetness coating your inner thighs.  

“Did you- did I” he said staring at you as you laugh, pushing him back on the hard bench, placing one leg on each side as you rub your clit with your fingers.

“Yes Torū you made me this wet” you say as you widen his legs on the bench, his cock standing tall as you bend down, grinding your cunt on his lower thigh.  

“Holy shit-” he groans as you moan throwing your head back as his leg rubs your clit perfect.  He grabs his cock as he slowly begins to stroke himself, trying hard to concentrate on your moments and pleasure as he feels the wetness pool on his legs.  

You lean over, placing two of your wet fingers in his mouth as he sucks violently, causing you to grind faster and harder.  Your orgasm builds as moans and groans fill the air

 Your body heats up rapidly as the cord in your stomach tightens. Your pace quickens as does Torū’s as you feel the cord begin to loosen.

“Oh fuck Torū” you moan as Toru groans deeply, letting go of his aching cock to watch as you tip over the edge.  

“Come on baby, come for me” he says as the pet name tips you over the edge, your cunt pulsing on his thigh as he watches your face contort into pleasure.  

“That was so hot YN” he says he has gently caressed your arm and leg as his cock aches painfully beside you.

“We are just getting started Torū” you say as you adjust yourself over his pelvis, pushing his cock between your wet folds as your grind back and forth, trying hard to ensure your good and ready to take his cock.

“Fuck YN- I, I’m not going to last long” you say as you shush him, halting your movements.

“Hey its OK.  I already came so now we need you to come. How do you want to come Torū?” You say as he bites his lower lip, watching your pussy settle above his cock.

“Please YN- please put it in. I need to be inside of you princess” he squeaks out as you smirk at his request. You knew he wouldn’t last long inside of you.  One thing you prided yourself on sexually was your ability to ride a cock and boy was Torū in for a treat.  

You line his cock up with your wet cunt, slowly bending your knees down as you impaled yourself in his cock.

The stretch was delicious as Torū’s mouth fell open as he groaned and panted beneath you.  You knew he could feel the tightness you felt as you waited for him to adjust to being inside of you.

Torū’s hands flew to your hips as he tried his hardest to remain calm.  Your cunt was so tight and so warm around his cock. The pleasure was unimaginable.  All he wanted was to feel the release.

“Torū are you ok?” You said as you steadied your hands on his chest watching to make sure the man below you was still coherent.

“It’s so tight YN, please” he moaned as his hands went to your hips and you ground a little down on him as his core shuttered, causing his dick to jolt inside you.

“I’m going to go slow ok” you said as he nodded.  Your feet planted firmly on the ground, you pushed lightly on his chest as you propelled your hips up and down, impaling yourself on his cock over and cover again.  

The pace was agonizing for Torū as whimper and moans fell from his mouth.  You could feel your orgasm building and you knew Torū couldn’t hold on much longer.  You needed to go faster.

“Torū” you groan from above him as you continue your leisurely pace “I’m close can I go-”

“GOD PLEASE BABY FUCK ME” he shouts as your hips speed up, jerking his cock as you felt the familiar knot began to unwind “fuck YN I can’t hold out-”

“Almost baby” you moan as you feel the cord snap inside your stomach as your cunt pulses on Toru's cock causing him to groan and grunt.

“FUCK FUCK FUCK-” he shouts as his hips still into you, painting your walls white as he grips your hips firmly, whimpering below you as he tried his hardest to come down from his high.

He felt absolutely spectacular, like his body was floating on air.  He couldn’t believe how amazing his first time had been. He never imagined it would happen the way it did but he wasn’t complaining.  His body and mind were in complete bliss.

Coming down from your high, you laugh as you look at Torū’s blissed out state.  He smiles at you as he opens his eyes slowly caressing your cheek.  

“That was amazing YN” he said, breath shaking as he came down from his high, breathing steadily.

Your chest filled with pride as you felt sheer happiness fluid your body.  You had redeemed yourself and you had made Torū’s first time amazing.

Standing up slowly, Torū watched as his cum leaked down your thigh as you stood in front of him.  His eyes traced your form as he felt his cock jolt to life again, ready for another round.

Standing up, he quickly grabbed you in a bridal carry, running towards the shower as your screamed and laughed as he set you down, turning the water on and pressing your body against the shower wall.

“eww Torū, this wall is gross” you groan as his lips attach to your neck as you feel his erection growing against your pelvis.

“It’s fine YN, I’ll clean you up afterwards” he says as he kisses you deeply, pulling your body against his as he pulls you under the warm water.  

You break the kiss as you smile softly up at his tall form, water cascading down his body as you feel his hardened chest under your hands.

“I need you” he says as you smirk at him, turning around to face the wall.  You grind your ass into his already hard member as he grabs your hips, pulling you firmly into him.

“Then fuck me Torū” you say as you peer over your shoulders, watching Torū’s face fill with excitement as he lines up his cock with your still damp cunt, slowly pushing in as he slowly sinks deep into your hole.

“fuck YN- your pussy is just amazing” he says as he slowly pulls his cock back out, moving at a snails pace in and out of you.

“Torū” you moan as you mouth falls open  “give me your hand” you say as Torū’s hand appears in front of you as you place it between your legs on your hardened clit.  Torū moans when his fingers hit your clit as you rotate his wrist, showing him exactly how you like to be pleasured.  You let go of his hand as he continues to rub tiny fast circles into your clit as you propel yourself faster onto his cock, meeting his thrusts half way.

The air feels with the smell of sex and the sound of skin slapping as your ass meets his hips over and over.  

“Fuck baby” he groans

“I know Torū, just a little more” you squeak out as he picks up his speed, meeting your ass fast and harshly as his fingers speed up on your clit.

“TORŪ FUCK-” You scream as his hips still on your ass as he presses hard, his head falling to your shoulder as he tries to gain control of his breathing.

“Ahhh fucking hell- FUCK” he shouts as he chest heaves in relief as you both come down from your highs as he releases you and you turn to face him, kissing him softly as he grabs you, pulling you into a tight embrace.  

“Thank you YN” he says whispering into your neck as you smile softly.

After cleaning up and getting dressed, Torū helps you clean up the gym as you get ready to leave for the night.  Locking the gym doors, Torū grabs your hand as he pulls you along with him.

“Torū” you say laughing as the brunette pulls you hastily out of the building “my apartment is the other way!”

“Who said the night was over YN-chan?  I need to practice pleasuring you” he smirks as you gulp, following behind him quickly.

You sure were in for a long night ahead.

taglist: @chaotic-nick @yep-seeyalaterbranflakes @serostapesweat @lovelyzabrak-meadow​

[thorne93]

The Stars Made Us (Part 12)

Prompt: In this world, you’re one of the “lucky” ones who got a soulmate, but what if the universe gives you more than you bargained for?

(Prompt challenge – You live in a world where your soulmate can write on their skin and you will get the writing on your own and vice versa. Where they can wash away the ink on their own skin, however, the writing is forever scarred onto your skin until you meet face to face)

Word Count: 2671

Warnings: angst and language throughout

Notes: This was supposed to be for @sorryimacrapwriter​​​​  and their challenge like a year ago, I think? I still loved the prompt though and have been working on this story for quite some time. This aesthetic was made by @dontshootmespence​​​​, thank you so much! Beta’d by @like-a-bag-of-potatoes​​​​, couldn’t have done it without you, as well as @carryonmyswansong​​​​ and @arrow-guy​​​​ and @mrs-dragneel-stark-solo​​​​

Also, I’ve never really liked the whole soulmate AU thing idea, but this felt so right and it was amazing to write. I hope y’all love it too!!

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

“Y/N,” Charles started but you just glared at him before holding a finger up to silence him. Once you got it ordered you stuffed your phone back in your purse. 

“Y/N, please, I didn’t mean to slip up about the move,” he tried again. 

“We’ll talk about this when we aren’t on my parents front yard,” you responded with a calmed anger. 

Pretty soon, an uber was there to pick you up and take you to your home. You didn’t look at Charles once and you wondered if he was reading your mind. He promised he never would, but you two hadn’t argued like this before. 

Your luggage was set down and you were well prepared to just start boxing up what you could when Charles spoke again. 

“Please talk to me. You said we would talk about it later,” he begged. 

You slammed the books that you’d pulled off your shelf on the table. “I asked you to do one thing! One thing! They were already upset. We could’ve salvaged it. But you had to open your big mouth.” 

“It wasn’t on purpose! Besides, maybe if you had told your parents where you were and that we were coming it wouldn’t have been such a bomb to drop on them,” he countered.

“This is somehow my fault now?”

“No it’s not your fa--”

“It’s somehow my fault that you decided to throw the world’s biggest pity party and completely eradicate me from your life.” 

“I didn’t eradicate you, I thought about you every day,” he argued through clenched teeth.

“What a nice sentiment,” you hissed. “Did me a lot of good while I worried day and night if you were dead or alive!” 

Charles put his fingertips on his head before taking a deep breath. “Fine. You’re right. This isn’t your fault. Not alone anyway. I should’ve never cut you out the way I did, and you should’ve told your parents where you were and that we’d sorted our troubles out. Otherwise I look like the bad guy who fooled their daughter into loving him.” 

You wanted to argue. You were so mad. At Charles for what he did, for what he said, and at your parents for not just listening to you. Why didn’t they just trust you? You sighed internally. Because they didn’t know him like you did. Sure, you could explain all of his powers, all of the troubles he faced, all of the loss he’s had but couldn’t they just trust you? Charles didn’t need to be exposed and exploited like that just so your parents would understand he’d never do anything like that again. 

But you knew that he was right. Maybe if you’d called a month ago and explained everything, or at least told them he had a really rough year, they’d be more supportive of this. But as it stood, they only saw a man that hurt you deeply, and that you were perhaps too young or too love struck to see that he was really a charlatan, someone not to be trusted. Someone who would hurt you again. 

Like your dad said, this wasn’t some silly high school break up. You’d put all romance on hold, saving everything for Charles, the day you’d finally meet. He was your boyfriend, your longstanding love. So when he stopped responding, it was almost as bad as a divorce. A once integral part of your day had disappeared without a trace and no way for you to know why or how it had happened. 

But now he had no way to close you out. It would all be different now. If only you could make them understand. 

With that, hot tears streamed down your face and Charles rushed to envelope you in his arms. “There, there. It’ll all be alright,” he assured. 

You started to pull away. “I have packing to do,” you said through the lump in your throat. 

He tugged you back against him. “No, you don’t. You have to meet with your landlord and the realtor tomorrow. I’ll get this all boxed up for you while you’re gone. But right now you’re upset. I am sorry for what I said, truly. It was a stupid mistake. As far as your parents, we’ll get them to come around. You’re they’re only daughter. They love you and they’ll understand in time that things happen in relationships.” 

“You sure?” you asked, pressing your face into his shoulder.

“I’m positive,” he insisted, rubbing your back. “Why don’t you give me a grand tour to take your mind off things?” 

You nodded, stepping away to wipe your nose and face. “Well, this is the kitchen,” you said, walking into the open area behind the counter. “Not much to see except a mixer. I’ve got a truck load of pots, pans, molds, and baking supplies though,” you said as you walked to the pantry. When you opened the doors you heard Charles gasp. 

“That is a hell of a lot of kitchen utensils. I’m not sure we’ve got the room.” 

You smiled. “I’ll make room.” 

“This is your...office, I suppose?” he asked, gesturing to the dining area. The dining area was actually just a small breakfast table next to a large built in book case. The table was littered with books and notebooks. “I took you to be a lot more organized than this,” he tsked. 

“Oh, well excuse me for not having maids,” you retorted, making a sour face. 

He laughed. “Touchy, touchy. And the bedroom?” 

“Are you trying to be clever?” you asked with a cocked brow.

“No, but if it’s working, I’m certainly happy to be of service.” 

You rolled your eyes. “It’s not. Let me show you the bathroom. I redid it myself,” you boasted, taking his hand and leading him all around. You showed him every room, and he often asked about unique items you had. You showed up your patio and yard, sharing times you’d sat out there for hours sending him text messages. Every room, every foot was a memory soaked in Charles’s presence, whether he knew it or not. 

By the end of the evening, you two had fallen asleep in each other’s arms on top of the blankets in your room -- soon to be your old room.  

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

You stirred when the sun hit your eyes. You forgot to draw the shades closed last night. When you began to move, it woke Charles who groaned in the most adorable way. 

“Good morning,” you greeted in a warm voice. 

“Mmm, morning.” He rolled and kissed your head. “You ready for your day?” 

“I will be after six more hours of sleep,” you moaned, rolling into him. How magically blissful it was to wake up next to him.

He chuckled. “I guess we should start the day,” he suggested, reluctance in his voice. 

“You’re right.” And so the two of you got up, you grabbed a shower and Charles got dressed. While you were getting ready, you went over the plan for the day. “Okay, so I’m going to meet with the realtor, then I have to go meet my landlord -- shoot that reminds me I need to grab some boxes to box up my office. I’ll have to run and do that too.”

“And while you’re gone, I’ll box up the house,” he noted. 

“Thanks.”

“Any preference? Would you like all fragile things in one box, or how do you like it?” 

“However you think is best. I think I'd prefer to keep all the stuff organized by room.” 

“I’ll try my best,” he offered and you smiled at him in the mirror as you curled your hair and he began to brush his teeth. 

Once you two were all ready, you began your day. Charles started in the room you had the least amount of stuff in - the dining room. It was a dining table and a small chest filled with recipe books. You met with your landlord first for the office. You gave him the date you’d be gone and you two revised the lease agreement. Your lease wasn’t up for another few months but because you’d been a great tenant, he decided to let you close the agreement for the end of the month. 

After that, your stop was the realtor’s and she said she needed to come see your home. 

When you got home, Charles had only gotten one room completely packed and had started on the living room. 

“Ugh,” you groaned. “I really need to go through all this stuff. I’d hate to pack it, just to find out I need to throw it away when it gets there.” 

“We can always go through everything together,” he suggested.

“Actually, we need to clean. The realtor is coming over to give me a loose appraisal,” you sighed. “Guess we should order pizza and get started. I’ll start throwing stuff out tomorrow,” you conceded.

Charles nodded and you two began cleaning the kitchen like crazy. 

The night drug on, and around 11 pm, you finally called it quits. You’d scrubbed, brushed, dusted, mopped two rooms. The rest would have to wait until the morning. 

So it did. 

The next morning, you spent all day cleaning until the realtor arrived at 5, did a thorough walkthrough, showed you comparable homes in the area, then discussed how she worked. Once you agreed on a list price and her commission, she said she’d get the papers to you tomorrow. At that point, you began to go through old files in your office and books. You were surprised at how much you actually threw away. 

The next day, the realtor and your landlord had their paperwork ready to be signed. You headed into the city to sign the documents and box up your office. 

Shortly after you left though, Charles had a thought. He ordered an uber and took it all the way to your parents house.

When he arrived, he wasn’t entirely sure what he’d say. He had planned part of it, he’d been thinking about what to say ever since your parents had shown their disapproval. He’d practiced several speeches, gone over many mock conversations in his head, but now that he stood on the doorstep, he wasn’t sure anything he said would be right, or if he should even be here. 

He wondered that too -- if he was overstepping a boundary, talking to your parents when you hadn’t asked him to, but he knew how close you were to them and he didn’t want to see that end just because the two of you were in love. He felt he had a duty to try and mend things, make them understand if he could.

He took a deep breath and knocked on the door. When they answered, they weren’t overly hateful or cruel, but they weren’t exactly thrilled either. 

“Charles?” your mother, Tracy, greeted. “Where’s Y/N?” she asked, poking her head out a bit to peer around. 

“She’s not here, Mrs. Y/L/N, it’s just me. I was wondering if we could talk?” he inquired. He desperately wanted to use his powers but invading your parents privacy like that to gain an edge in this dispute felt wrong on many levels. No, he needed to fight this battle fair and square. 

Tracy eyed him up and down curiously before glancing to her husband, Frank. He bobbed his head side to side, falling into submission. She nodded and opened the door wider and stepped back to let Charles in. 

“So where is Y/N?” Frank asked, crossing his arms. 

“She’s signing papers. Putting the house up for sale and releasing her office.” 

“Ah,” Frank said, nodding his head in disbelief. “So why are you here?”

“If I may,” he offered, gesturing to the living room. The two of them nodded before leading him to the sitting area. He sat on the chair and they sat adjacent to him on the couch. “I...love your daughter. I know what I did was...awful. To be honest, I haven’t forgiven myself for how I treated her. She didn’t deserve that, at all.”

“No, she didn’t,” Frank agreed quickly and harshly. 

“I lost a dear friend. A girl I grew up with. She’s really like a sister to me, she was raised with me, my parents took her in when she had nowhere to go. She and I had an argument, a rather nasty fight, and she left with another man I called friend. I haven’t heard from them in over a year. On top of that, I started a school for special children, at my home. I completely renovated it to function as a school and boarding home. Only, after a semester I was met with so many threats and opposition, I had to close down the school, for the safe and sake of the children.”

Your parents shifted uncomfortably as they listened.

“On top of this, I was paralyzed. The friend that took my sister away… he accidentally shot me in the back, and left me paralyzed. I was only able to cope with the pain through a strong drug a very dear friend of mine created -- he’s a scientist, you see. He’s an engineer, a biochemist, he can do anything. He created a serum that helped me to walk and not feel pain, but my other… motor functions weren’t as good, my mind would be a bit foggy. So I could either be in pain, but have mental clarity, or numb it, as best I could. I chose to numb it, to numb out everything I’d lost. I have other friends who were lost to tragic accidents. I’m not asking you to give me an excuse. I don’t deserve one. Y/N deserved the truth. I should’ve told her that I was in a dark place and that it would be best if we didn’t talk. Honestly, sometimes I think if I’d just reached out to her, she would have saved me from myself, but I didn’t. I reclused into myself. I was a very, very depressed person and didn’t want to bring her down with me. I supposed that when I got better, I’d contact her and tell her everything… but I never got better. As time went on and I didn’t hear from my sister or my friend, I just got worse. I sunk into a hole that was...very hard to get out of.” 

“That’s all very sad,” Tracy offered, “but you hurt our daughter very deeply.”

“I know,” he agreed softly. “I just want you to know it wasn’t intentional.” 

“Intentional or not,” Frank began, “she reached out several times. She showed us she did, and you couldn’t even send her a message back.” 

All he could do was shrug. “As I said, I was in a dark place. However, I was also in a place to do it. She didn’t know my name, who I was, or how to contact me other than by text or email. It was easy to keep her away, to keep her at bay. But now, she knows me, I know her, and I can’t imagine life without her. I will do everything I can to make her as happy as she can possibly be,” he vowed. 

Tracy and Frank glanced at each other. 

“I don’t want Y/N to get hurt, but as long as she’ll have me, I’ll be there for her, by her side. It’s where I belong. The universe put us together for a reason,” he pleaded. 

However, they remained silent. Steadfast in their opposition of the relationship. 

“Just… something to think about. I’ll leave you to it. I’m sorry to interrupt your day,” he softly apologized as he stood. Tracy nodded and stood to show him to the door while Frank seemed to stare into nothingness. 

Charles had no idea if his words had any affect on them. He could have probed their mind but he felt that violated too much of their privacy. He wanted to do this the honorable way.

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

Forever Tag:

@essie1876​​​​​

@magpiegirl80​​​​​

@letsgetfuckingsuperwholocked​​​​​

@iamwarrenspeace

@marvel-imagines-yes-please​​​​​

@superwholocked527

@missinstantgratification​​​​​

@thejemersoninferno​​​​​

@rda1989​​​​​

@munlis​​​​​

@thefridgeismybestie​​​​​

@bubblyanarocks3​​​​​

@igiveupicantthinkofausername​​​​​

@kaliforniacoastalteens​​​​​

@feelmyroarrrr​​​​​

@kaeling

@friendlyneighbourhoodweirdo​​​​​

@damalseer​​​​​

@heyitscam99​​​​

@yknott81​​​​

@sorryimacrapwriter​​​​​

@glitterquadricorn​​​​​

@xxqueenofisolationxx

@little-dis-kaalista-pythonissama

@bittersweetunicorm​​​​​

@alyssaj23​​​​​

@sea040561​​​​​

@princess76179​​​​​

@thisismysecrethappyplace​​​​​

@sarahp879​​​​​

@malfoysqueen14​​​​​

@ellallheart​​​​​

@breezy1415​​​​​

@marvelmayo​​​​​

@lyniboy​​​​​

@paintballkid711​​​​

Charles Xavier

@bohemianrhapsody86​​​​

@lenawiinchester​​​​​​

TSMU

@tilltheendwilliwrite​​​​​

[mochilici0us]

One New Message | jjk (1)

➳ 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: angst, thriller, stalker!au

➳ 𝘀𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀:Skye realizes she has to deal with a ruthless stalker when the messages she’s constantly receiving are getting more and more threatening. A stalker that makes her recall memories of the past she swore she would never rake up again

➳ 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁: 2,5k

prologue, part one, part two, part three, part four

January 2013

''Skye we're leaving in an hour. Please start getting ready'' I had already drifted off when my mother's voice outside the door ruined my sweet sleep. The clock next to my bed says 8 o clock. As it seems, no matter how much I tried to get away with tonight’s dinner my mother is not having it . I ignore her and just slump into my warm bed again.

''Skye I'm talking to you. Get up.'' this time she enters the room and agressively pulls the bedspread. Her voice never fails to get on my nerves.

''What happened?'' I rub my eyes pretending to be clueless

She grins humorlessly “You’re coming to the dinner whether you want it or not. I won’t tolerate your stubbornness again” her long thin arms are now crossed in front of her chest, the whole body posture appears quite aggressive.

“Again?” It’s my turn to laugh. As if she’s less stubborn....

The cocky smile falls from her face revealing a disturbed woman. She chokes back her reply and changes the subject

''I left your dress inside your closet. It's kind of tight you better fit into it'' she chuckles

''I'm not fat mum” I hiss in annoyance

''I didn't say you're fat'' she raises her hands defensively

''Whatever'' I quit trying, an argument with my mum is always lost. My hands make their way to my rumbling stomach and rub it softly ''Mum... Can you please tell Ruby to fetch me a snack? I haven't eaten since five''

''No. We're going for dinner anyway'' she denies shaking her head, her soft blonde curls moving from side to side

''But I'm hungry''

''Sounds like your problem''

Very mature answer from a 47-year-old woman. And they act like I’m the stubborn one in this family. Her words hurt me, I swallow my tears and speak my mind openly, I can’t always behave kind as my parents expect me to

''I'm going to pass out for fuck's sake''

''Watch your mouth!'' she shouts ''This dinner is important to your father, to us, we have to look flawless. I've put so much effort into finding the ideal dress for you. It would be very unfortunate if your stomach seemed bloated or even worse if you didn't fit into it.” She shoots me a threatening look “To conclude, no food till the dinner, get ready please''

After finishing her monologue she leaves my bedroom hurriedly, she has to finish her preparations as well. I'm used to her insults, I always feel hurt whatsoever but it's nothing I can't cope with. What annoys me the most right now is my poor stomach that's begging for some food.

''Hey Skye'' I hear a small voice realizing it's Ruby

''Hey'' my eyes flash when I lower my gaze and see what she's holding

''I overheard your conversation with mrs Westbrook, looks like it's your lucky day'' she smiles and hands me the bowl filled with milk and cereal

“It's light but enough to satisfy your hunger I guess''

''You're an angel'' I whisper and dive into my cereal. They taste better than I thought, when you’re hungry everything tastes better. Indeed Ruby an angel. She always appears right when I need her.

''I have to go now, your parents are probably looking for me''

''Please stay'' I extend my hand and grab her upper arm.

''I wish I could... We'll catch up tomorrow morning''  she pats my hair sympathetically and excuses herself.

Ruby is 8 years older than me. I'm sure you're wondering why a 26-year-old young girl works as a maid instead of exploring the world and living her dreams. Well let's say that life didn't go easy on her as many unfortunate events took place and forced her to leave her dreams behind and work hard. She's been working for us for 3 years and because of her young age and amazing, bubbly character we grew closer to the point I consider her as a best friend. And these small gestures make me love her even more.

8:10. I devour the rest of my cereal and run straight towards the bathroom to take a quick shower. We've got a long night ahead of us...

Present

''What do you mean they didn't agree?'' I question dryly, my eyebrows raised in blatant disbelief

The man across my desk gulps “No matter how much we tried to convice them they clarified they're not interested in cooperation''

''We need this cooperation. If we gain their shareholders trust so that they invest in our company too the success is guaranteed.'' I tap my nails against the table attempting to collect myself.

''I know. What are we doing now?''

''I'm not sure. Just tell Taehyung to get his ass over here right now''

He chuckles ''Do you need a coffee?''

''Right now I need a few tranquilizers with whiskey'' I rub my forehead exhausted

''That's easier to find than your weird coffee. Dairy free coconut milk creamer?''

I crack a smile ''You know that I'm lactose intolerant. I'm not a weird person''

''So what about your odd stevia sweetener instead of sugar?'' he remarks quickly crossing his arms across the chest

''I'm on a diet. Women have to take care of their body, you understand don't you?'' I bat my eyelashes innocently

''Yes but decaf cappucino? For God's sake Skye''

''Hoseok it's time to go now'' I act serious but hardly keep my laughter

''You have no idea how the barista looks at me every time I say all these shits you drink'' The desperate look on his face makes the situation even funnier

''You have no idea how your mother's gonna look at you when you announce you got fired''

''It's time to leave, I have so many errands to run'' he gets up pretending to study his wrist watch ''See you Skye''

''That wasn't smooth Hoseok. Let Taehyung know I want to meet him''

''Okay boss'' he gives a salute and finally exits my office.

I lean back on my chair and gently rub my temples. Last night I had nightmares that didn't leave me to rest.

It sounds weird but I've noticed that I have warning dreams, I found that out when I was 20 years old. I usually don't have dreams but when I do, they are always giving me signs.

Attempting to quench my curiosity I did a little research in order to interpret them and found something called precognitive dreaming but I'm not sure if this is what I have because I still haven't figured whether my dreams can predict the future or they just convey a subconscious message. What I know for sure is whenever I have a bad dream something unfortunate happens whereas whenever I have good dreams luck seems to be on my side. It's been so long since I last had a blissful dream, so many years... I don't believe in dreams however, I'm a business woman that depends on actual evidences and not on my sixth sense or whatever.

But last night you had a nightmare and today we didn't make the important deal with Kim Enterprises, the voice inside my head comments.

''You wanted to see me'' Taehyung interrupts my stupid thoughts

''Maybe I wouldn't dislike you that much if you knocked the door''

''Maybe you would have someone to screw with if you weren't so annoying'' he laughs and takes a seat

''You're laughing? I'm glad because after our conversation you won't''

''I suppose you're referring to the deal with Kim Enterprises right?''

''What happened Taehyung?'' I ask seriously this time

''They are not interested. I tried hard to make them agree but they weren't having it'' he grabs a pen and fiddles with it

''They weren't content with our terms?''

''No, no Skye we both know our offer is very tempting and they really appreciated that. However, they are planning a launch of a brand new product which they developed on their own that's why they're busy and not capable of following our terms''

I nod noncommittally and bite my lower lip deep in thoughts ''What kind of product?'' I finally ask Taehyung

''They didn't say. They made clear though that it's gonna be a revolutionary tool. I suspect it's a cellphone with the new mobile operating system they created last year.''

''You suspect? Based on what?''

''Let's say that some information leaked, you know how these things work. We're not 100% sure though''

''And they declined our offer? They declined an offer from a marketing company like ours? We could have increased sales dramatically. Stupid people.'' I hiss and take a sip of my strawberry infused water, the cool liquid soothing my throat

''We shouldn't push them more, we put a future cooperation at risk''

'' I know.'' I hide my face with my hands

''Hey, don't let this bring you down. We had so many beneficial projects and cooperations this year, we don't need Kim that much''

''It's just... forget it'' I shake my head and Taehyung leans forward and captures my hand.

''What?'' he mutters softly

''I don't wanna fail''

''You didn't fail sweetheart. It's something we both want so much but unfortunately things  don't work out every time. Let's focus on the rest of our responsibilities'' he massages my fingers and wrist softly, with care and smiles.

''Ok''I simply reply

''You look tired''

''I didn't sleep at night. And your massage doesn't help, it makes me more sleepy'' I lean back and close my eyes

''You didn't sleep well huh?'' I'm sure he's smirking

''Taehyung shut up''

''No answer. That's suspicious''

''With Grace sleeping in the room next to mine your assumption is invalid. Sorry''

''Hm...Ok. What time are you picking her up from school?''

''In 3 hours''

''Go home, I'm taking over for you'' he stops massaging for a moment''Ugh don't stop'' I plead. A breathy laugh escapes his lips and he starts rubbing again

''I have to come back and pick her up so there's no point to leave'' Grace's school is a block away from the company so it's convenient to pick her up once I finish my work.

''I'm picking her up don't worry, you need to rest''

''You don't have to drive that much, don't worry I can stay''

''You're dead on your feet. Go home please'' he insists

''Are you sure?''

''Yes'' he places a small kiss on my hand and stands up

“Can you drive?''

''Gosh, Taehyung what has gotten into you? Don't be so kind because I may grow fond of you and that's disgusting'' I sing playfully

''I promise I'll start knocking the door from now on. Is this reason strong enough for you to like me?''

''Do it and I'll think about it. Give me my coat'' I smirk

He looks at me and hands me my pink coat, the familiar, boxy smile never leaving his lips.

''See you in 3 hours'' I greet him patting his back

''See you'' he greets me back. Once I step away he stays still, hesitantly yet intensely checking out my back figure until I reach the mirror covered elevator.

Stupid men...

''See you next week girls. Take care'' the ballet teacher says and the small ballerinas slowly make their way to the changing room. There walks the familiar tiny figure, some strands of hair fluttering in the wind although she has a sleek bun secured with a pink scrunchie matching her tutu.

She raises her eyes and when we make eye contact she waves excitedly and whispers something about me in her friend's ear. She's so proud of me, always raving about me in front of her friends and teachers. That's the main reason I always behave so well when she's present, my priority as her role model is to make sure I have a good influence on her.

A few minutes after she appears holding her bright fuchsia backpack.Pink is her favourite colour.

''Hey Skye''

''Hey sweetheart, did you have fun?''

''Yeah but I got tired, my feet hurt''

''Aw, don't worry tomorrow you'll be fine'' I zip her puffer jacket and bid her ballet teacher goodbye as we exit the studio.

''Have you been watching me dancing? I couldn't see you from the ballroom'' she asks while we're walking towards my car

''I watched the entire show''

She simply hums trying to conceal her surprise but I can see her cheeks getting flushed

''Get in darling, it's cold'' I suggest and unlock the car. She sits in the back seat, fastens her seatbelt and waits patienly for the next step.

''Here you are'' I hand her her favourite chocolate cookies along with an orange juice, it’s a part of her post work out routine. She cheers and dives into her snack right away.

It's 7pm, dark sky but the car lights illuminate the busy road

''Skye...''

''Yes sweetheart'' I check the mirror as soon as I hear her voice

''Today we're having a Looney Tunes marathon, you didn't forget did you?''

''Of course not'' I shake my head ''Maybe I have some pizza waiting for you''

''Really?''

''Only if you take your vitamins of course'' I offer and finally turn left into the familiar street. We're almost home.

''No...they taste terrible''

''They don't, they're really tasty in fact'' my eyes land on the mirror to take a look at the road behind

''If I have to do it for pizza, I will.” She nods with a pout on her lips

“You should get me a different flavor, I hate mango”

''I thought mango was your favourite fruit''

''I like it only in my shampoo''

''Okay then'' my gaze travels back in the mirror just to see what I've been afraid of. This car. This red car that has been following us for the last 5 minutes.

''Skye I'm talking to you''

''What?''I reply thinking of what I should do now

''Tomorrow our teacher said we must wear sport clothes because we're playing volley''

''Ok''

''My baby pink set is washed isn't it?''

''Yes''

''Don't lie I saw it in the dirty laundry this morning''

''Grace can you please stop talking for a second?'' She doesn't answer but I'm sure she's pouting annoyed. My house is a kilometre ahead and the red vehicle is still two cars behind.

My heart beats so fast but I can't panic now that my sister is here. I stop in the closest parking lot and wait. Grace examines the place and I'm sure she's dying to ask why we stopped but she doesn't speak.

My heart stops when the red car passes by me but instead of stopping as I thought it would, it keeps moving with the same speed. I stay and watch till it disappears.

Once I realize everything is ok I blink hard, gulping for a breath.Well, I probably have misunderstood things.

My mind is running wild, why would someone follow me? I'm such a scaredy-cat...I start my car and drive back home.

Maybe I should stop watching Criminal Minds...

[canaryatlaw]

alright. today was kinda hectic and stressful so not really the best. woke up at 6, made it to work and all that. It’s my clinic day, and we have an “immersion” project this week where students from a law school that’s on spring break will come and volunteer for the whole week. and obviously like, there isn’t time for them to observe so they just get thrown into it, and so today was had 8 volunteers which is a lot, especially when none of them have any actual experience with this so you gotta guide them through all of it. initially there was a lot of stress assigning people to cases and making sure we had enough volunteers to cover, at one point we definitely had one too many but I ended up having to reject one anyway so it worked out alright. from there it was just a lot of people running back and forth all day and having to give specific instructions, and of course my computer’s usb ports decided to crap out on me and no longer work which is like, a very crucial function for us because the volunteers fill out the paperwork on their laptops and then transfer it to us on usb drives, so that was a whole deal too. and then there was just like, the worst luck with getting judges, by some miracle all of the orders got granted, but they definitely did some weird stuff marking up the paperwork and just like making decisions that are not actually based in the law. and then I had a phone call with an opposing counsel about an argument for a motion that’s coming up and admittedly I was probably somewhat too candid in my reaction (it’s just that he has a really stupid ass argument that contradicts how the law has been interpreted in every other case in this courthouse, but sure try to argue that) and then he just like totally flipped out and started yelling at me about how rude and disrespectful I was being and was just like “well if you want to be rude then I guess that’s how we’ll play this” and hung up and I was just like.....what the fuck just happened?? and of course because I have no control over my emotions my body promptly decided that I needed to start crying which god I hate so much that I’m twenty fucking seven and can’t control my body’s need to start crying in situations where I very much would not like to be crying anymore than I could when I was fucking four years old and feeling the way. I just, UGH. it wasn’t too bad though, my supervisor (who I share an office with) came in and I told her and she was comforting and that helped me feel a bit better, and then the volunteers came back down and I had to pretend like I wasn’t just crying and I may have been like “oh it’s allergies” once or twice because I just didn’t want to get into it. what I really hate though is like, this was objectively not really a big deal, but I can’t get my mind off of it for the rest of the day and it’s driving me up the wall, and I’m just so peeved at myself for doing that and peeved about how it played out and just concerned about what’s going to happen from here. And I know it’s all probably gonna be fine and not be a huge deal, but like, my desire to have everybody like me is going into overdrive and just flipping out at the possibility that someone’s thinking badly of me, and that’s really what this all comes down to and god I just hate it all so much!! ugh. sigh. anyway. A few more work things before we move on, one of the awful judges (albeit the less awful of the two) is apparently going to be on the bench in one of the courtrooms for the rest of the week because that judge is out, which I was initially like WELL FUCK about because I’m supposed to have a hearing in front of that judge tomorrow, and he’s such a hardass and can be a giant pain on the bench and I just don’t know how that would go. but when I told my supervisor she said he probably won’t actually have the hearing and just reschedule it, because that’s what he usually does apparently. and like, I would be glad to not have to do it in front of him, but at the same time I’m annoyed at the prospect of the case getting stretched out any further because we���ve already had several hearing dates set where it hadn’t gone and like, I was determined to get it done tomorrow but these are just circumstances beyond my control, so there’s not much I can do there. I guess we’ll see what happens. My coworker sent out an email asking if someone could switch clinic days with her for theirs next week because on Thursday which is her clinic day she has this continuous terrible case that has been an ongoing hearing for literally months now. and like, obviously Thursday all the volunteers are still going to be here so it’s still going to be chaotic, but like, looking at the options, it was either going to have to be me or my work buddy to take it, and he has clinic tomorrow so if he did take it he’d have it two days in a row which is a lot (which I know because I’ve done it a lot) and he can sometimes get frazzled when there’s too much stuff going on and I just don’t think that would be a good idea for him. so as draining as today was, I volunteered to take the Thursday clinic day as well because it was really the right thing to do. Hopefully at least the volunteers will have somewhat of a better idea of what they’re doing by then so it’ll be a bit less stressful. I hope, at least. sigh. anyway. I was able to leave work at like 5:20, so not bad for a clinic day. headed home, got some food and my laptop and turned on the tv. Caught tonight’s episode of The Resident, then watched last week’s Black Lightning, then finished up the child abuse doc I was watching on netflix, and finally ended it with an episode of Gotham before showering and starting to get ready for bed, and now I’m here. well, this was a long one, clearly I had a lot ot get off my chest. hopefully tomorrow will be a better day, I’m still kind of unsure about what’s going to happen with the hearing so we’re going to prepare as if we definitely are going to hearing, so I guess we’ll see how that works out, it shouldn’t be too bad since we’ve actually prepped for other hearing dates in the past so it’s nothing too new. I’m just concerned that if the hearing does go the judge might make a very callous decision and end up further traumatizing my client, who’s already been going through a lot, so I really hope that doesn’t happen, either with it not going forward or just the judge being good. alright, that’s all I got. It’s like 12:15 am, I can sleep till 6:30 am tomorrow because I don’t have any morning court, but I should still definitely be getting to sleep, so that’s what I will be doing now. Goodnight babes. Love you lots.

[hymn2000]

Chiquitita - MCU AU fanfic - C20

Story summary: Something strange is happening. Someone from space has made their way to Earth, armed with a strange weapon. Targeting teenagers, their ray gun, when fired, turns the victim into a toddler. The Avengers set out to stop this, and find a way to reverse the effects. However, they don’t all come out of the battle unscathed.

Previous chapters: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

Part of my Frostiron and Spiderson series.

Warnings/themes: de-aging, family stuff, corporal punishment (early chapters only), mental health stuff, hurt/comfort, hospital/medical stuff

Chapter 20 - Work

-

Loki walked into the lab and found Tony sorting through his tools with little Peter balanced on his hip.

“Please tell me that soldering iron isn’t on”

“No, no, it’s not even plugged in” Tony said. “Hey, could you take the baby for a minute?”

Loki took Peter from him. “Hello, little one”

“Hi daddy” Peter yawned. “I’m all worn out”

Loki laughed slightly. “Have you been a busy boy today?”

“He’s been the busiest” Tony said. “We went food shopping, and then we went to the park, and then we’ve spent all afternoon sorting out and tidying up down here. Very busy indeed!”

“I don’t think you can call it ‘all afternoon’ when it’s only three o’ clock” Loki said.

“Coming from the person who says five o’ clock is the evening”

Loki shook his head. “Do you want to go and have a little sleep, chick?”

Peter nodded. Loki gave him a little squeeze.

“Oh, Loki?” Tony said. “Today makes six weeks”

Loki looked at Peter and gave him a little kiss on the cheek. “I know”

-

Tony sat down with Loki after tea the next evening. Peter was playing on the rug with his baby doll, changing its outfits and ‘feeding’ it with one of his own plastic spoons. 

“This has been a really long six weeks, hasn’t it?”

“Yes” Loki said. “Being back at work makes it feel like it has been even longer”

“We’ve got a bit more of a routine going on now. We’re doing ok, aren’t we?”

Loki nodded. “Li said she was proud of us. She said we were doing brilliantly with him”

“My press manager keeps emailing me. There’s two magazines in particular who keep getting in touch, and a magazine show keep pestering him for interviews with us about this. One of them wants us to get together with some of the other kids Kindsprengen hit. I keep telling him to tell them no, but apparently they’re very persistent”

“Just keep telling them no. We don’t want our little boy under the spotlight any more than he already is”

Tony looked at Peter. He had his baby doll cradled in his arms now, and was very slowly reading a Mr Men book to it.

“He’s done really well with his reading, hasn’t he?”

“That week after my crash gave me a lot of time to sit down with him” Loki said. “He’s a clever thing; he picked it up quite quickly. He’s still very rocky, but, well, he’s done very well”

“How’s he doing with his writing?”

“He’ll write his name at the bottom of his pictures, but that’s about it” Loki said. “I don’t think he likes it very much. He enjoys reading, because he gets to find a story, and that’s exciting for him. He doesn’t find writing very exciting”

“Well, I guess that makes sense” Tony said. “I think we need to go and do something else with him. I know he loves the park, but I’m getting a bit sick of it”

“Yes, me too. He enjoyed swimming, so we could go again”

“Is there a space museum near here? He’d probably enjoy that” Tony said.

“We’ll have to look into it. I wouldn’t mind going to the pool again. I know we’ve got plenty to do with him here, but it’s nice to get out and about sometimes”

“Like you said; we’ll look into it. Maybe we could at least convince him to go on the playground at the park. He’d enjoy it if he gave it a chance. Big Peter’s always loved the swings”

They were both quiet for a minute or two, watching the toddler. The cuckoo clock sounded the hour, and Tony sighed.

“He needs a bath tonight”

“I’ll do it” Loki said. “You need to prepare for your visit to the office tomorrow”

“I might take the kid with me. Get him out of the house, show him off a bit”

“That’s up to you” Loki said, standing up. “Peter, darling? It’s bath time”

“Oh” 

“Oh indeed. Come along now. Put baby in the cot”

Peter obediently put his baby doll in its little cot, tucking it in carefully. He rocked the cot gently.

“Will baby be ok?”

“Of course. I think they’re asleep already” Loki said. “Now come on; bath time”

-

Tony stood in the doorway and watched Loki drying Peter and powdering him and zipping him into his teddy bear onesie. 

“I just had another email from my press manager”

Loki looked up. “Oh?”

“Oh indeed. It was from this company. I’ve never heard of them before, but they say that if Peter is a toddler, we should consider sending him to nursery or taking him to toddler groups. Something to do with it being important and the best way to enrich him”

“Tell them to mind their own business” Loki said, putting Peter’s hood up and tickling him under the chin to make him laugh. 

“I might. I haven’t replied yet. I just started thinking about Peter’s friends. I know Liz sent the box, and then she wrote that letter after we sent her a box, but none of his other friends have really done anything, have they?”

“Quite a few of them texted his phone. Fact checking, I think” Loki said. “But I turned the handset off pretty quickly. Flo texts me sometimes, checking how he is. She says she wants to visit but I’m not sure if she should”

“I think we should talk about that” Tony said. “It might be weird for her. It’s weird for us, and the other Avengers. But they all saw it happen, so...”

“Clint said he’s going to pop in next time he’s away from home. Steve keeps offering to babysit, too”

“Have you heard anything from Thor since he went back to space?”

Loki shook his head, taking the bottle of baby powder from Peter and putting it up high, out of his reach. Tony sighed.

“He needs to stay in touch better” he said. “...Do you think Carol is gonna put in an appearance at some point?”

“I hope so” Loki sighed. “Peter asked for her the other day. I miss her too... I love her, and I know she loves us, but I also know that we’re not her first priority. She has everything she’s doing on other worlds, and then of course she’s got Maria and the girl”

“Monica” Tony said. “You can’t blame her for putting her family first”

“I don’t” Loki said. “I just miss her. And you know how close her and big Peter are”

“That lady is away for months at a time all the time” Tony said. “I think everyone in her life is used to that. Even big Peter”

“I need to put Peter to bed” Loki said, changing the subject.

“Loki...”

Loki picked Peter up, much to the little boys dismay.

“Hey! Daddy, put me down! I’m busy!”

“It’s bedtime”

“I don’t want to go to bed! I want daddy!”

Loki sighed. Tony came over and took Peter from him, cuddling him close, breathing in deeply.

“Um, Tony?”

“Hm?”

“You appear to be inhaling our son again”

“Hm? Oh” Tony laughed slightly. “Yeah, it’s just the best. Y’know when people are just out of the bath or shower and they’re all nice and clean and you can smell the soap on their skin? Ugh, it’s just such a good thing”

Loki just shook his head. “Are you putting him to bed?”

“Can do. Are you at the hospital again tomorrow?”

“They’ve asked me to do an extra shift, but I haven’t decided yet”

“Is Jo Jo working tomorrow?”

Loki nodded.

“I think you should go in” Tony said. “I’ll take Peter to the office with me, and look after him afterwards. Ring them up. Let them know you’ll be in”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah, definitely” Tony said, setting Peter down on the bed and giving him his rocket. “I can ask Happy to pick you up in the morning?”

“I’ll just get a taxi” Loki said. “I need the thinking space while I’m bikeless”

“I still don’t think you should get another one”

“I know, but we also both know that the crash wasn’t my fault. I’ll look into it properly some other time. We’re both a bit busy to go motorbike shopping right now”

“Can I have a motorbike?” Peter asked.

“Certainly not!” Tony said. “You can have a good nights sleep instead. Head on pillow, please”

Loki smiled slightly, watching them. Tony was always so good with him, despite what he might sometimes think. Sure, they didn’t have experience with toddlers before any of this had happened - but then, they hadn’t had experience with teenagers before big Peter had come into their lives either. So maybe it wasn’t so different after all.

-

Peter wrinkled his nose at the new-carpet smell in the office building. He held onto Tony’s hand, his rocket under his free arm. He didn’t like it here. It was all weird and busy and he didn’t like all these strange people pinching his cheeks and ruffling his hair. 

Tony was perfectly happy. He knew a lot of people who worked in this office, and some of them he even considered friends. They didn’t see each other very much, and even though the visit was supposed to be strictly business-related, it was good to have the opportunity for a bit of a catch up. Plus, he liked it when people fussed over Peter. People generally fussed over big Peter anyway, so this kind of fuss was a bit different - but not in a bad way. Tony was proud of his son, even the toddler. 

Peter got bored very quickly. He didn’t want to be in this office. He wanted to be at home playing with his toys, or at the park watching the ducks swimming round the pond. He liked those ducks, even the one with the broken beak and the one with only one leg. He’d much rather be with them than with his dads workforce. It was so boring, and he felt like they’d been there for hours. Days, even.

“Still, it’s a shame he ended up in the firing line”

“Yeah, it’s not ideal” Tony said. “Still, we’re getting used to having a toddler about”

“He’s a cute little kid” 

“Yeah, he is” Tony looked down at Peter, who scowled up at him. “What’s that face for?”

“This is boring”

Tony and the other man laughed, and continued their conversation. Peter tried to be good, but it was hard work. Plus, he was starting to feel funny, and uncomfortable. 

“Oh oh, I think someone needs the toilet” the man said, nodding towards Peter.

Tony looked down at Peter, who was squirming and pressing his legs together.

“Why didn’t you say, kiddo?” Tony raised an eyebrow at the man. “I’ll talk to you in a bit. Better get this one sorted before he has an accident all over your new carpets”

-

Peter was very nearly asleep by the time they left the office. He cuddled against Tony’s chest, looking cross. Tony laughed at him as he strapped him into his car seat.

“Now there’s a face! You look just like your daddy” he grinned.

Peter didn’t smile back. 

“Do you wanna go and see daddy?”

Peter looked up at him, and then looked away. Tony sighed and ruffled the boys hair gently.

“Yeah, let’s go and see daddy”

-

Jo Jo laughed and kissed Loki hard on the cheek. 

“You know you love me really”

“Not when you pull this kind of thing!” Loki said. 

“Hey, winning a bet is not me pulling any kind of thing. Don’t be a sore loser” he stuck his tongue out at him. “Right, pay up. Where’s your locker key?”

Loki scowled and handed the key over. Jo Jo took it.

“Ooh, new keyring?”

“Not exactly. The toddler broke the other one last night, and I didn’t have time to fix it”

“Gutting, absolutely gutting” Jo Jo said, shoving the key in the lock and opening Loki’s locker, surveying the contents. “Hmm, let’s see, let’s see... Lokes, your locker is pitiful. I’ve never seen it so empty”

“In my defence, I have been off for a good few weeks for varying reasons”

“Yeah yeah, I guess so” Jo Jo said. “Hmm... Right, I’m having this”

He held up a can of cherry flavoured energy drink.

“You bastard, those are my favourites!”

“Exactly, that’s why I chose it!” he grinned, shutting Loki’s locker and handing the key back.

“Bastard, like I said” Loki said, putting his key back in his locker. 

Jo Jo gasped, holding a hand over his chest. “You wound me”

Loki rolled his eyes.

“You know you love me really” Jo Jo said, sidling up to him. “Come on; give us a kiss”

Loki sighed, but gave him a quick peck on the cheek anyway. Jo Jo grinned triumphantly.

“I’m a god-whisperer, that’s what I am”

“A what?”

“A god-whisperer, yknow, like a horse whisperer, but for gods... You’ve never heard of a horse whisperer?”

“No, I don’t believe I have”

There was a knock on the staff room door frame.

“Oh hey, Mary”

“Are you planning on doing any work today, Jo Jo?”

Jo Jo shrugged. “I’m entitled to a break”

Mary rolled her eyes. “Whatever. Loki, there’s someone here to see you”

Loki quirked an eyebrow and followed her out into the hallway. 

“Hey Loki”

Loki’s mouth fell open when he saw Tony stood there with little Peter in his arms.

“It’s you! What are you doing here?!” 

“Thought we’d drop in and surprise you” Tony smiled.

Loki couldn’t think of what to say, so he just laughed. 

“Aww, you’ve gone all giddy” Jo Jo said, stood at his side.

“I didn’t expect to see them! Hey, little boy, come here” Loki said, taking Peter and giving him a big cuddle. “Aww, you’re so squeezy, baby! Oh, I’ve got to show him off. Come on baby; I’m gonna introduce you to a few people”

Tony laughed and shook his head fondly as Loki wandered off with Peter. 

“I’ve never known a man look so good in scrubs” he said.

“Hey, what about me?” Jo Jo said, preening. 

Tony gave him an amused look. “Hey, is that one of Loki’s energy drinks?”

“Ha ha, yeah. He lost a bet”

“Oh. What bet?”

“He said he was quicker at taking bloods than I am, so we got one of the others to time us individually, and I was three seconds quicker. So, energy drink” he grinned. “His locker needs stocking. You’d better remind him, cos there’s only so many instant pasta pots I’m willing to sacrifice, even to someone like him”

“You’re rubbish at hiding your feelings, you know”

“Oh, I don’t need to hide them” Jo Jo said. “I told him outright as soon as I realised anyway”

“Really? Wow. What did he say?”

“He said he wasn’t surprised. He said he was, of course, an irresistible deity, so it was only natural that I fancied him”

Tony laughed. “Good god, whatever am I married to? He’s so...”

“Brilliant? Funny? Absolutely insane? He’s flippin’ hilarious, that’s what he is. He’s so dramatic sometimes too. But he’s real good at keeping patients calm here, including the littlies”

“He’s great. He’s been so good with toddler Peter”

“Jo Jo!” Mary reappeared. “You’re due in theatre in twenty minutes”

“What? No, that surgery isn’t until three!”

“It’s been pulled forward. Go and get scrubbed in”

“Someone could’ve told me” he shook his head, and looked at Tony. “Scrub Nurse Johanssen is in high demand today. See you later!”

-

Tony finally tracked Loki down introducing little Peter to Doctor Shefska, who smiled at Tony when he approached.

“He really does look like you, you know” he said. “Have you considered a DNA test?”

“Doc, please. Literally every single DNA testing company has asked me the same thing”

“They keep offering us free tests” Loki said.

“They’re idiots” Tony said. “I adopted him, so he’s my son regardless. The resemblance is just coincidental”

“There’s only one way to be sure”

Tony smiled grimly and chose not to reply. Dr Shefska tickled Peter under the chin. 

“He’s a cute little thing. I hear Thor is sourcing a reversal for this”

“He’s trying” Loki said. “We haven’t had many updates, so it’s not something we can put a time stamp on”

“Well, however long it takes, I’m sure there’s going to be a big wave of relief when it’s sorted. How many children were affected again?”

“Twenty seven, including Peter” Loki said. “It doesn’t sound like a lot, but that’s a full class, isn’t it?”

“It is indeed. It must be strange and difficult, especially for you”

“Why especially for us?” Tony said.

“You never knew the boy the first time round, when he was originally a toddler. I wouldn’t mind betting most, if not all of the other parents knew them from birth, so they already had an idea of what they were like and how to look after them as a toddler”

“Well, I suppose so” Loki said before Tony could respond. “But I think we’re doing well regardless of that fact”

“Oh, certainly. He looks incredibly healthy and happy, more so than the teenager”

“Hey, that’s not really fair” Tony said. “He’s got PTSD, and there’s nothing we can do about that, not exactly! This kid hasn’t been through the trauma, so of course he’s gonna look healthier and happier!”

“Tony, it’s ok” Loki said. 

“No, it’s not ok! We’re good parents to normal Peter too!”

“He never said we weren’t”

“He insinuated it!”

“No, he didn’t” Loki said, looking at Dr Shefska. “Did you?”

“No, I didn’t. I fear I worded that statement wrong. I never meant to cause any offence, or make it come across as a judgement. I apologise”

Tony nodded, and took Peter from Loki, giving him a cuddle.

“He’s a very quiet child, isn’t he?”

Loki nodded. “Yes, especially compared to big Peter. Big Peter’s always so loud at home. He’s always got a lot to say. But little Peter...”

“He’s fine. You do get quiet children” Tony said, kissing the boy on the cheek. “I think he’s tired right now, anyway. I think I’m gonna take him home”

“I’ll take my leave of you. I’m due elsewhere” Dr Shefska said.

“Bye” Tony said. He gave Peter a squeeze. “Time to go, baby”

“Oh Tony, let me hold him a little longer” Loki took Peter back from him, giving him a kiss. “I’m not going to want to go back to work now”

Peter looked up at him. “Why?”

“Because I’ve seen you, and now I just want to go home with you”

“Oh. You’re coming home?”

“I’ll be back later, darling”

Tony’s phone started ringing, and he stepped aside for a few minutes to answer it. He finished the call and took Peter from Loki.

“Say goodbye to daddy now, darling. We’ve got somewhere to be”

“Oh” Loki said, taking Peter’s hand. “Where are you going?” 

“Don’t you have work to be doing?”

“Don’t get snappy at me! It’s not my fault tha-”

He was interrupted by an alarm sounding, and people shouting for the crash trolley.

"That’s a crash. I’ve got to go”

Tony quickly turned and left. He didn’t want Peter to hear that kind of incident going off, and he didn’t want to hear it either.

-

Peter scowled at Tony when he was put back into his car seat.

“What’s that face for?” 

Peter didn’t say anything. Tony sighed and shut the door. He was stressed out all of a sudden. He just had one more commitment, and then he could go home. He just needed to get through a few more hours. Just a few. He could do that.

-

No he couldn’t. He thought he could, but Peter couldn’t, so neither could he. Peter was ok for a little bit. He sat on Tony’s lap in the meeting, playing with his rocket quite happily, but it didn’t last long. He started squirming and whining, and then he started interrupting, telling Tony he was bored and asking when they could go home. He didn’t take kindly to be shushed, either. 

Pepper leant over to him. “Do you want me to take him for a bit?”

Tony nodded, and handed Peter over. Peter went quiet for a little longer. He liked Pepper, and she gave him her little notebook and pencil so he could draw. He spent a while scribbling, and could have continued quite happily had his stomach not reminded him that it was way past lunch time already. 

“Daddy?” he said.

Tony glanced at him for half a second, but he didn’t pause in his statement. Peter whined, and looked up at Pepper. 

“Daddy’s busy”

“Yes, he is” Pepper said gently. 

Peter went quiet for a moment, looking round the room at everyone. He didn’t want to be in this meeting. He wanted to go home, and more importantly, he wanted something to eat. His tummy was starting to hurt. He started whimpering. Pepper shushed him and cuddled him close, but it didn’t help much. 

“Daddy!”

“Not now, Peter” Tony sighed, going back to the meeting. 

Peter squirmed in Pepper’s lap, and dropped his rocket on the floor. The man beside Pepper picked it up and tried to give it back to him, but he wouldn’t take it.

“What’s up, little guy?” 

Peter ignored him. Pepper took the rocket from the man and held Peter a little tighter.

“Shh, darling” Pepper sighed, wondering if she should abandon the meeting and take Peter outside.

Peter started squirming more. His tummy was really starting to hurt, and he soon started crying properly.

“DADDY!” he howled. “DADDY, I’M HUNGRY! MY TUMMY HURTS!!”

Tony closed his eyes for a moment and then stood up. 

“This is going to have to wait. I’ll send an email out later” he said.

He took Peter and his rocket from Pepper.

“Mr Stark, we really need your input here. You can’t just abandon the meeting half way through” one man said.

“Is that so? Just watch me” 

He grabbed his briefcase, and swept out of the boardroom.

-

Pepper caught up to Tony at his car.

“Tony!”

Tony stopped, turning to her. “Don’t start; you know I couldn’t stay in there”

“Of course I know that. I’m not that unreasonable” Pepper said. “I just wanted to check how you were. We haven’t had a chance to talk properly for a couple of weeks now”

Tony strapped Peter into his car seat and closed the door, muffling the boys cries. 

“He’s not happy today”

“I can see that. Is he just hungry?”

Tony shrugged. “I don’t know. He’s been a bit funny all day. I think he’s a bit bored. I don’t think he liked the office visit much. He’s just fed up”

“What about you? Are you fed up?”

“Yes” Tony said, and then sighed. “No. I don’t know. A bit, I think. It’s been six weeks, Pep. It feels like so much longer. It kinda feels like it could go on forever”

“I’m coming round tonight”

“What? Oh Pep, Loki’s at work, I’ve been out today, the kids being funny... It just doesn’t sound like a great idea”

“I’d be acting funny too if I hadn’t had my lunch by 3pm” Pepper said, glancing at her watch. “I’ll see you at six”

*

[joelyjo]

Fic - Everything in its Place

Author: joelyjo

Rating: Strong R (sex and birth)

Summary: Scully is determined that the new baby will be born at home. Will it be peace and calm and everything in its place? Or will it be drama-filled all over again?

Author’s Notes: Written for the Nursery Files Labour (Sorry, I can’t bring myself to miss out the U) Day challenge, although it’s a bit late because I’m a bit rubbish at deadlines. Any feedback is very welcome. I’m fairly new to the fandom on tumblr, if not to writing, and eager for anything, be it positive or negative! Thanks, all.

 Tagging: @marinafrenzy and @today-in-fic

 William came into the world like a storm. When Scully thinks back to that night in Democrat Hot Springs, all she remembers is the white-hot pain and the burn of anxiety. She’d never felt more alone in a room full of people. Never been so terrified.

This time, she is adamant. It will be a peaceful birth. It will be at home and she will have Mulder with her through every contraction and every push. She tells her doctor all this and he listens, calmly and patiently.

“It’s lovely that you have such a clearly outlined birth plan, Dana. But you must remember that babies come when they are ready and things rarely go to plan. Be prepared for your plan to get shot all to hell.”

Scully sees Mulder looking from the doctor to her and back again and can read his thoughts like an open book. He does not fancy this doctor’s chances at appealing to Scully’s sense of reason and logic. “Mulder,” she says, pre-empting his interjection. “You know this is what I want.”

“Oh, I know it, Scully.” He glances again at the doctor, their gazes conspiratorial. She knows they will speak when he can get her out of earshot. Well, let them plot, she thinks. She will have this baby at home and everything will be in its place.

Six weeks before her due date, she begins to nest. The house is cleaned from top to bottom. She gets down on her knees and scrubs things that haven’t been scrubbed in decades, turns out cupboards and drawers, vacuums until she breaks the vacuum. Mulder tries to help, but most of the time his efforts end in him failing to meet her exacting standards and giving up before they come to blows over the right way to fold tiny onesies and stack diapers.

Her mood is alternately calm and zen then raging like a hurricane. She can’t sleep properly, can’t get comfortable in any position… and, just when she thinks things are at their nadir, they have a heatwave. July sun pounds down on the house and every room is hotter than hell. She curses Mulder for not fixing the AC and casts him from the house to find an engineer, but every engineer in the state is booked up for weeks. So instead she basks in front of a desk fan, takes to wandering the house in her underwear. Mulder stares and spends the week trying to hide a series of persistent erections. She is almost ready to climb into the refrigerator when the heat breaks in a massive thunderstorm that lasts most of the night.

In the morning, he brings her coffee and rye toast in bed and she feels like a different woman. She realises why when she stands naked before the bedroom mirror and sees that the baby has dropped. Mulder comes from behind her and wraps his arms around her, his big hands cupping the massive watermelon of her abdomen. “I can breathe again, Mulder,” she tells him, almost dizzy with the rush of oxygen. He smiles and kisses her neck.

“Not long now,” he murmurs and she smiles back at him. She is ready.

But nothing happens. Days pass and her due date approaches. Her bad mood returns and Mulder does his best to keep out of her way. Even that is not enough, though, and one day she follows him into work, waddling down to the basement to complain about the mess and try to take over his latest investigation. Skinner finds them arguing an hour later and nothing can hide the expression that passes across his face when his eyes fall on her swollen belly.

“Agent Scully, what are you doing here?”  His voice is full of concern, but there’s just enough chastisement to make her blood boil. She rounds on him.

“This is my office. I can be in it if I wish… sir.”

Skinner glances at Mulder and the two men share a beleaguered look. Scully’s fury mounts. She is standing behind the desk, her hands on her hips, and she knows she is more intimidating than an angry bull.

It takes them two hours to convince her to go home.

Two days later, the midwife comes to the house. Her name is Joy and she is a sweet, middle-aged Hispanic lady with amazing hair and a no-nonsense manner. She wastes no time at all in scoping out the house, sizing up where to place the birthing pool, the foetal monitor, the weighing scales, the gas cylinders. Scully is heartened by her professionalism and tells Mulder how pleased she is that they found the extra $500 for a nurse-midwife. “It’s not that I’m expecting anything to go wrong,” she tells Joy. “I’m a medical doctor myself and I’ve done this in somewhere with no electricity and no running water.” She leaves out the bit about being surrounded by alien witnesses. Joy may appear no-nonsense, but that detail is likely to send her packing. “But I am glad you are going to be here.”

“It’s nice that you’re happy and feel secure, Miss Scully,” Joy replies. “But I want you to remember that birth is a funny old game. It happens when it happens and how it happens can be anybody’s guess. Be prepared to find yourself back in the hospital because I won’t allow anything to happen that puts you or your baby at risk.”

Mulder nods in the background.

That evening, they fire up the grill and Mulder cooks steak and spicy vegetable kebabs. Afterwards, they sit together on the porch swing in the gathering darkness and watch the night insects crowding around the lamps. Mulder cradles her belly, rubbing gentle circles over the taut skin and Scully finds herself softening with his touches. “I’m sorry if I’ve not been very easy to live with these last few weeks,” she confesses.

Behind her, Mulder chuffs out a laugh. “I think I preferred being dead.”

She scowls at him and bats his bicep with her hand. “I’m huge, my feet are so swollen I can barely get my shoes on, my whole body aches, I want to pee constantly, I can’t get comfortable, I can’t sleep but I’m so tired. It’s enough to put anyone in a bad mood.”

“Yeah,” says Mulder ruefully. “I guess I never thought about it before. I didn’t really pay attention last time – there were other things on my mind.”

“I know.”

She twists and leans up to kiss him. He is warm and there is the lingering taste of spices on his breath. “I love you,” she says against his mouth. He doesn’t reply, but he takes her face in his hands and kisses her thoroughly and she hears him anyway.

Three days later, she wakes with backache and an odd feeling in her abdomen. It’s not pain, as such, but a kind of tightness. She goes to the calendar and crosses off the previous day, a habit she got into around 30 weeks and mulls the sensation over. Her due date is tomorrow. The day after Labor Day. She can’t remember clearly feeling anything similar before, but then, she muses, everything happened so fast towards the end that, like Mulder, she didn’t notice much of anything with any focus.

She showers and dresses while he goes out for a run, setting some coffee to brew when she thinks he’s been gone about his usual time. Taking her own mug of green tea out onto the porch, she unfolds one of the loungers and is dozing in the sunshine when he bounds up the porch steps, sweaty and breathing hard. He greets  her with a kiss and a cheerful, “Enjoying the holiday weekend, Scully?”

She opens one eye and regards him critically. “Ugh. Go shower and then we’ll talk. There’s coffee in the pot.”  

He nods, grins and withdraws upstairs. A moment later she hears the water start in the bathroom, then some time later, he returns in chino shorts and a tank, hair wet and with the scent of shower gel on his skin. He hoists himself up and perches on the porch rail with the kind of nimbleness that makes Scully ache with jealousy. Sitting there with his tanned, muscular limbs on show he looks all of twenty-five instead of fifty-something. “It’s Labor Day, the weather’s great,” he says. “What shall we do?”

“Have a baby?” she suggests.

“Well, yeah, there is that,” he agrees with a grin. “But what if baby’s not playing ball?”

Scully sighs. She is done with being pregnant, done to the point that any activity other than giving birth seems an unattractive option.

“I know you’re sick of this, Scully,” he says.

She makes a face. “No kidding, Mulder.”

“Yeah… No kidding. But is it better to be sick of it stuck indoors sniping at each other or sick of it outside in the sunshine with a chance of being distracted?”

Considering his suggestion, she thinks that she could quite easily hunker down here on the lounger for the rest of the day, but she can see the look in his eyes and knows that if she chooses that, he might just go anyway, without her, and that she absolutely does not want. “Okay,” she agrees.

“A walk and an ice-cream at Burke Lake?”

The idea surprises her with how good it sounds. “Yeah… Okay. You’re going to have to help me tie my shoes though.”

The lake is glorious in the early September sunshine and after she manoeuvres herself out of the car, she has to stand a moment, flexing the muscles in her back and admiring the expanse of twinkling water. Scully wonders briefly why he chose here, of all the places he could’ve picked, but can’t put her finger on a reason why. The place is sort of familiar and she figures she must have visited before with her family or maybe with Daniel or Jack – it’s the kind of place you might come with a romantic partner. He comes to stand behind her and looks out at the lake too. “Gorgeous, isn’t it?” She nods. “You up for a short walk, then?”

There are other people here, but it is not as busy as she imagined it would be, so they set off on one of the flat, easy trails along the lakeside. She feels huge and ungainly and walks so slowly she is sure Mulder must be frustrated, but he seems content to fall into pace beside her. She reaches for his hand and he takes it, interlocking their fingers and then smiling down at her, his eyes obscured by sunglasses. “Okay?” he asks.

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

They walk for a mile or so, then she has to stop. Her back is still aching and although she had thought the exercise might have helped it, it doesn’t seem to have had that effect. She perches on a boulder and rolls her shoulders, stretching herself out. Mulder leaves her alone and jogs down to edge of the river to skim stones across the gently lapping surface. “Hey,” she shouts after a few moments. “You promised me ice-cream!”

He turns and grins up at her. “I sure did, Scully. You want to head back?”

“I want ice-cream.”

On the way back to the car, Scully spots a picnic area and a kiosk selling snacks and ice cream and instructs Mulder to make good on his offer. While he goes to fulfil his duty, she wanders vaguely amongst the empty wooden tables then beyond through the parkland. She finds a shady spot beneath a tree and eases herself down onto the grass, feeling a little like a camel trying to get its awkward limbs folded in just the right way. Mulder returns with two enormous cones of ice-cream drizzled in strawberry sauce and drops down beside her. They sit and eat in silence for a while, then Mulder pauses and frowns. “You are sure about this home birth thing, aren’t you?”

She blinks and turns to him. She had guessed this was coming, in fact, she’s surprised he hasn’t said something already. It’s felt like he’s been holding back since Joy visited. “It’s just… If I’d had to place a bet on where you’d want to have this baby, it wouldn’t have been our lounge.”

She is half a breath away from snapping at him, tired and defensive as she is, then stops herself. Instead, she takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. “Mulder, when William was born, I was surrounded by aliens, in a place I’d never seen before, with nobody I loved nearby. It was the most frightening experience of my life.” Mulder’s face is still, but his eyes are locked on hers. “I don’t know why I’ve been given this second chance, why we’ve been given this, but I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure that things are as far removed from that first experience as I can make them. So I don’t want a roomful of people, and a strange hospital suite. I want home…” She reaches out to take his hand in hers. “And us.”

“Even if it’s dangerous?”

“There’s no reason to think that it will be dangerous,” she assures. “I’m fit and healthy, all the scans have shown the baby is fit and healthy too. We have Joy. We’re not hundreds of miles from civilisation with an alien threat hanging over us. I’ve done this before.”

He stares at her for a long time, then starts to nod. She smiles as she realises he is acquiescing to her wishes and squeezes his hand. He returns the gesture and then places his hand on her belly, palm flat, and holds it there. Scully watches him, remembering another time when he touched her in the same way, when she lay in a hospital bed and neither of them was sure about anything. “Home,” he says, and his voice is rough with emotion. “Us.” He leans in to kiss her, softly at first, then with a growing passion.

Breaking away, she looks around them. It is quiet but still a public place, and she can hear the distant sounds of children whooping and yelling down by the lake, the hum of a motorboat. The sun glints off faraway car windows. She hunkers closer to him and presses her mouth to his neck. “You know,” she murmurs against his skin, “they say that one of the most reliable ways to bring on labour is to have sex.”

Mulder pulls back and regards her amusedly. “Here?” She arches her brows. “My, my, Dana Scully, what has got into you? I’m not objecting, but…” Her hand closes around his crotch and his breathing hitches. “But… wow. You must really be sick of this.”

“You have no idea, Mulder,” she tells him and kisses him again. Desperation has made her bolder than she’s ever been and right now, she couldn’t care less if her priest spotted her across the parking lot.

“I’ll warn you now, Scully, I’ve had several fantasies about this.”

He bites her lip and watches, looking somewhat punch-drunk, as she straddles him, the fabric of her dress stretching and rucking up so her knees are revealed.  “Tell me about them,” she commands, and grinds down on him. Mulder’s answering groan is like fire coursing in her blood. Sex has been the last thing on her mind for months but suddenly she is consumed with aching desire. She wants him and she wants him bad.

Mulder rubs his hands up and down her thighs. “You really want to know?”

“I do,” she replies. She is rocking herself against his leg now, and she can see him through his shorts, hard like a bar. Her hands are on his button. It is crazy that she’s contemplating fucking him right here, in a public park, but her entire body seems to be humming with need for him.  

“I’ll be honest, Scully,” he says, breaking her train of thought. “Doing it outside hasn’t been in that many fantasies of mine. But…” He glances around them, listening dog-like a moment. “Making love to you somewhere where we might get caught… Now we’re talking. That one has always been high on my list.”

She’s hot now and can feel herself throbbing with eagerness. She slides his zipper down and reaches in to feel him, stroking hard from root to tip. His eyes flutter closed a moment. “Have we ever been caught?” she asks. “In these fantasies of yours?” He lifts himself and she undresses him so that he’s free. A moment later and her hand is on his cock, skin to skin, and she revels in the way his face changes. She is pretty sure she could ask him to deny that aliens exist in this moment and he’d lurch to his feet and shout it as loud as his lungs could make him.

“I did once imagine that Skinner caught us,” he says, his words made breathless by what she’s doing to him. “But all I could see after that was his face and it kind of ruined it for me. So, no, let’s say not.” He thrusts into her hand. “Is there anybody about?”

“Not a soul,” she tells him with a smile and eases up his body. His hands reach and pull aside her panties so he can push inside her. “Now shut up and fuck me, Mulder.”

And he does.

Later, they lie curled up together in the haze of orgasmic bliss, alternately kissing and dozing. He strokes her belly and teases for more until she has to push him away because her back is driving her mad now. He pouts a little, but relents and uses the rejection to rise to his feet, button himself back up and stretch. “Why here, Mulder?” she asks him as he holds out his hand and pulls her to standing. “It’s lovely, but there were lots of other places we could have gone – fireworks displays, outdoor parties, concerts…”

They start to walk back towards his car.  

“You don’t remember, Scully?”

“Remember what?”

“Long time ago… eighteen years ago, actually. I came here on a lead. There’d been a bigfoot sighting in the woods on the other side of the lake – it was a load of bull, but it was something to do on a Saturday afternoon. And you called me and we talked about stuff. We made arrangements to go for dinner that evening.” He looks down at her, his smile years away and drifting on the recollections of memory. “And when we finished up talking, just before you hung up, you told me you loved me.”

She can’t help the grin that breaks on her face. “So I’ve never even been here before?”

“Well, no, I guess not.”

A laugh burbles out of her. Mulder looks wounded.

“It’s not that funny. It’s a special place to me.”

“Oh Mulder,” she giggles, “that is so perfectly you.”

“The hazards of a eidetic memory…” He holds out his hand and she takes it. “Come on, let’s go home. We can pick up a pizza on the way back.”

They take a detour into DC to get her favourite pizza and while they’re waiting for their order, watch as a fireworks display over the Potomac kicks off. He suggests taking the pizza and going to listen to the National Symphony Orchestra on the West Lawn but she’s been before and so has he and all she really wants now is to get home, take off her too-tight sneakers, put on her pyjamas and feast on garlic stuffed crust double pepperoni and mushroom pizza.

So he takes her home and juggles the pizza in one hand as he offers the other to her to help her out of the car. The light is failing now and after he dumps the pizza on the coffee table, he goes around flicking lamps on while she climbs wearily upstairs to dress for bed.

She’s at the top of the stairs in her pyjamas when she feels a popping sensation in her abdomen and seconds later, fluid pours down her legs and onto the floor. Scully starts and takes a step backwards, gasping involuntarily as she observes the puddle she is now standing in. “Mulder!” she shouts.

“Yeah?” he calls back from the kitchen.

“I need some help here.”

He appears at the bottom of the stairs, beer bottle in hand and frowns up at her. “What’s the matter?”

“Um… I need a cloth, I think.” She looks down at the pool on the floor. She feels a bit dislocated, like she’s hovering above her body and watching rather than actually being here.  

“Oh,” he says, realising. “Okay, um. Yeah.”

Mulder makes a move to go up the stairs, then seems to remember he has a beer bottle in his hand and goes back down, darts into the kitchen and returns with a roll of kitchen towel. Working with an obvious sense of panic, he mops up the pool of fluid then looks up at her. “Are you okay?”

“Mm… Yeah?” She frowns as her abdomen tightens in a clear and obvious contraction. “Ohhh, I think this is it, Mulder.”

“Yeah, yeah, of course it is. I, er… I’ll call Joy. Can you get downstairs okay?”

She nods and, gripping the bannister, she descends slowly. Another contraction hits as she takes the final step and she balks, groaning. Things are happening faster than before, she thinks. That was just about thirty seconds between contractions. She’s about to open her mouth and explain this to Mulder, when he appears in front of her, pale-faced. “Scully, I’m making my panic face. Joy’s not answering. Her phone is going to answer machine. I’ve, I’ve left a message, but I don’t know what else to do. Do you want me to call an ambulance?”

“No!” she barks and Mulder flinches. She does not want an ambulance, because ambulances take you to only one place, the ER, and there is no way she is having this baby on a gurney in the ER. “No,” she repeats, steadier. “Keep trying Joy. She’s maybe out at some kind of party and can’t hear her phone.” Drawing in a deep breath and feeling her uterus relax, she adds, “We’ve got time. This isn’t happening right away.”

Mulder nods. He looks a little lost, which strikes her as vaguely amusing. A man who has faced mutants and alien bounty hunters and serial killers is overcome by the prospect of the birth of his own child. She reaches out a hand and pats his arm in what she hopes is a comforting gesture. “It’s going to be fine, Mulder. We got this.”

“Hm, yeah, you got this, Scully. Me? I’m not so sure. I’ve never delivered a baby before.”

“You won’t have to. Joy will answer her phone soon.”

Her belly tightens again and this time she has to close her eyes with the strength of it. How long was that apart, she thinks. “Mulder, you’ve got to time the contractions. I need to know how far apart they are.”

“Okay. Okay, I can do that.” He pulls up his sleeve and glances at his watch.

“And we need to fill the pool with water.”

Thirty minutes later and the pool is inflated and filling with water. Mulder, happy to have some distraction to keep him busy, is standing over it in a slightly proprietorial manner, watching the water rising up the sides. “You going straight in, Scully?” he asks, turning to see her in the grip of another contraction. She nods, breathing too hard to reply. She’s been walking about the lounge and kitchen, stopping only when contractions hit. Sweat is pearling on her brow and she reaches up a hand to wipe it away. She’s naked but for one of his t-shirts, her hair scraped back in a scruffy ponytail. It’s undignified, for sure, but right now, she couldn’t care less.

She climbs over the side of the pool and sinks down in the water, the t-shirt darkening. It’s warm and soothing and when the next contraction grips her, it feels a little less like she’s being held by a vice. “Have you tried Joy again?” she asks.

“Still the same.”

Scully closes her eyes and wills calm to embrace her. It’s all right, everything is fine, she can do this. Mulder can do this. She does her best not to see the anxiety behind his eyes. “We need to think of what to do if she doesn’t answer.”

Mulder takes a deep breath. “It’s pretty clear what needs to be done, isn’t it? Either I help you, or we call an ambulance. And since you seem quite against the latter option, I guess it’s you and me, Scully.”

She hums her way through another contraction, shifting position in the pool. “It’s not going to be long, Mulder.”

And it isn’t.

Forty minutes later, the contractions are unrelenting and she’s feeling an intense need to push; Mulder is behind her, hands on her shoulders, his voice in her ear, coaxing, urging, breathing with her.

It’s coming.

She can feel it in her very centre.

She shouts his name, gets up on her knees and holds his arms, vice-like, desperate. He’s still as a rock. She leans forward, presses her forehead to his, breathes his air. “Push, Scully,” he tells her. “Come on, you’re doing this. Push.”  

Behind them, the door clicks and in walks Joy, but neither of them notice. With one last, tremendous effort, the baby is born and Scully looks down to see the water blooming pink and twists around. Joy lifts the tiny body from the water and the air is instantly filled with that beautiful sound of a newborn cry. “Here you go, Mama, take your baby.”

Scully brings the squawking, bluish child to her chest and laughs deliriously, her eyes filling with sudden tears. “Oh my God, Mulder, look…”

She looks up at him and the wonder on his face is worth every hardship she’s ever endured. “She’s beautiful,” he whispers. He kisses the top of her head, then with his thumb, strokes the wet, dark hair on the baby’s forehead.

“What you going to call her?” Joy asks from the side-lines.

Their eyes lock. “Ellen,” replies Mulder. “Ellen Margaret.”

“Ellen Margaret Mulder,” Joy repeats. “Born on Labor Day 2018.”

“Kid’s already got a sense of the apt.”

“I’m so sorry I wasn’t here earlier,” explains Joy, reaching into her bag. “I was at the concert on the West Lawn. It was just by chance that I checked my phone and realised I’d put the ringer on silent. What an ass I am!” She stands with hands on hips beside the pool, smiling down at them. “But look at the three of you! What a bit of teamwork! You going to cut the cord, Dad? Then you can hold her if you like, while I sort Mom out.”

Mulder looks at Scully and smiles. “Yeah,” he says. “I’d like that.” She can tell he’s nervous and that he’s thinking back to that time in her apartment all those years ago, when he first held William, only to have to run and leave him mere days later. For his sake, she wants him to hold this child and never have to let go. She wants it too, but for Mulder, even more.

Joy clamps the cord, waits a moment, then instructs him to cut. “There we go,” she says. “Good job, guys. You’re an independent being now, Miss Ellen. You go on to your Daddy now while we get your Mama all cleaned up.”

Leaning down and taking the naked baby, Mulder wraps her in a soft muslin blanket. He cuddles her into his body and Scully thinks that her heart might explode from the look on his face. She’s seen this scene in her head over and over, in a thousand dreams and daytime fantasies. Sometimes the baby is William, other times she’s been unsure whether the baby is even hers. But every time, it’s been the smile on his lips that has remained with her, long after the rest of the vision has gone. And so she watches, and takes it all in… the silence in the room, the tick of the ancient clock in Mulder’s study, the creak of the floors as he waltzes aimlessly about the lounge, the softness of the light and the gentle sounds of a newborn baby, the murmur of his voice as he breathes words of love in her tiny ear, and as she watches, the undimming smile on Mulder’s face.      

 The End.

[nabi-gore]

Miss right - Part 12

Description: After losing her mother in a horrible car accident, Hani had to make sure to get by on her own. Without a home or a job a long gone friend appears right before eyes when she needs it the most and a turn of events take place when she finds herself working for one of Koreas biggest fashion chains EcoFashion. But what happens when a big secret comes out and her hot and very intriguing boss Mr. Kim owes her a favor?

Pairing: Kim Namjoon X Ahn Hani

Words: 2197

Hani’s POV:

I was really tired as I walked into the apartment. My back and feet hurt and I just wanted to take a hot shower and go to sleep. I didn't have the strength to eat anything, not the least, to cook it. But as I made my way to my room I felt the smell of bacon. I followed the delicious smell that led me to the kitchen. Mr. Kim was standing by the oven. He hadn't seen me yet. I was so tired that I didn't think about how rude it was to stare at someone like that. I was about to turn away when he suddenly looked up at me.

"Oh, you're home" he said and that woke me up a little. Home?

"Uh, yes, I will not bother you. I'll withdraw" I said bowing but before I could turn I was stopped.

"Miss Ahn, wait" I looked up. "Uhm, I want to discuss something with you"

"Yes?"

"Let's sit down to eat first" he said and I looked down at the table who was already set for two. Oh. I took off my jacket and sat down. He served the food which looked delicious and it was. As soon as I took the first bite it was like it melted in my mouth. I hadn't been able to eat the whole day because of Yuri being sick. After being silent for a few minutes I looked up at Mr. Kim who looked to be in deep thoughts.

"What did do you want to talk to me about Mr. Kim?" I asked making him look up.

"I... uh... Could we stop calling each other so formally?" he asked. My eyebrows rose.

"So formally? But you are my boss sir"

"I know but since we've been living together for some time now it feels weird. You can call me by my first name, Namjoon."

"Oh... okay... Namjoon"

"Good. I'll call you Hani" he said giving me a light smile.

"Could I ask you something?" I asked.

"Go ahead."

"Why this sudden change?"

"To be honest, I have a favor to ask. Please listen through the whole plan before saying anything" I nodded. What could he want from me? Two minutes later I sat with an open mouth. What?

"It's just for a couple of months. Just until my father leaves for Japan."

"So I am supposed to be... dating you...?"

"Yes, we don't have to, just say that we do" I looked down thinking about it.

"I don't know..."

"You can think about it till tomorrow, see it as paying me back for staying here" I nodded.

It was time to head home and I had just put my jacket on when I saw Mr... I mean Namjoon closing in. He smiled.

"So? Do you have an answer?"

"Yes... I guess it's only fair if I do it, right?"

"Great. Then, shall we go?" he said and offered me his arm. My mouth was formed into an oh, and I quickly put my arm around it. We walked out to the elevator. The few people who were there at that hour looked at us with big eyes. It was like their eyes were about to fall out. I felt a little embarrassed but Namjoon didn't seem to care at all. We went down with the elevator and as soon as we stepped outside his mother was waiting at the entrance. She lit up as she saw us.

"Hani, honey! How are you?"

"Oh, I am fine thank you, how are you?"

"I am so happy" she answered and walked up to link arms with me before dragging me with her to Namjoon’s car. I looked back at him but turned to his mother as fast. "Why didn't you tell me you were seeing my son?"

"Oh, that... I..." I couldn't think of any explanation. "Well-" Mr. Hwang opened the car door for us and we sat down.

"Anyway, you have to meet Namjoon’s sister. She is dying to meet you. After finding out how much Namjoon liked you she was thrilled. Namjoon isn't the type to like someone so easily you know."

"I see" I smiled at her and Namjoon sat down beside his mother on the other side. We drove away and stopped outside a beautiful gate and it opened. The mansion inside was incredible. It looked like the ones from the movies. So big and majestic. I looked at it with big eyes. I had never seen anything so beautiful in my life. The garden was amazingly arranged with flowers everywhere I looked. The car stopped by the entrance to the house and Namjoon opened the door to let out his mother. She turned to me before exiting. 

"You must come over for dinner some day dear" she said.

"It would be an honor" I said wholeheartedly. She gave me a smile and exited. She kissed Namjoon on the cheek before pinching it.

"I will see you the day after tomorrow" she said to him and he nodded before she walked away and in to the house. Namjoon sat back down in the car and we drove away. 

Namjoon’s POV:

I was looking through some paper work in my office room. I sighed scratching my head before leaning back on my chair. I had been doing the paperwork for like three hours straight. I needed a break. I looked at the time, 9:17 pm. I rose up and walked to the kitchen when I heard weird sounds. I looked out to the living room and followed the sniffling sound to her room. I was a little taken aback. Was she crying? Maybe I shouldn't disturb. But even so, I would feel like an ass if I didn't. I knocked softly on her door three times. The sniffling stopped. I heard her clear her throat.

"Yes?"

"Everything alright?" I asked and crossed my arms leaning towards the door.

"Yes"

"Are you crying?"

"No"

"Please open the door Hani" I asked her and waited. A few seconds later the door opened slowly. Her face slowly turning more red. She didn't look me in the eyes, just down at her feet. My eyes furrowed as I couldn't look at her clearly.

"Do you need anything Mr. Kim?"

"Why are you crying?"

"I'm sorry Mr. Kim. I didn't want you to see me like this"

"Didn't we agree to talk to each other informally?"

"Oh, yes... Namjoon..." she said and looked up quickly before looking down again. Her eyes were red and puffy. "It's silly. I shouldn't be crying anymore"

"Why are you crying?" she closed her eyes shut and took a deep breath.

"My friend... my friend. She... died. A few weeks ago" I was silent for a while before speaking again.

"It's okay. You're mourning" She nodded and looked down on her hands. She slowly started crying again.

"Sorry" I looked up while taking her in my arms. Her body felt really stiff. Maybe she didn't want to be touched. But she started crying even harder and softened a bit. After a while she stopped and I let go of her. She dried her eyes quickly and looked up at me.

"I'm sorry. You must have been busy and I interrupted you"

"No, I needed a break"

"And what a break" she smiled. I smiled and nodded. "I'll let you go back to work" I nodded again and stepped back a few steps. She looked up at me with a small smile. "Thank you" she said before closing the door.

Hani’s POV:

What an embarrassment, I thought as I sat down on the bed. I put my hands over my face still feeling warm by his touch. A strange feeling was appearing. It stung in my chest somehow but in the same time it felt like my body vibrated. I really missed Ehbyun but I would have to learn to live without her now. I had to accept it. I let out a breath and laid down falling asleep at once.

The morning after I walked into the bathroom to wash my face. I looked terrible. Ugh. I put some make up on to hide my swollen face and walked out to the kitchen. Namjoon hadn't woken up yet it seemed. It was really quiet. I stepped into the kitchen and thought I could prepare something for him for when he woke up. I started preparing and setting the table. He had really nice plates and cutlery so it wasn't that hard to make it look nice. As I set the omelette on the table I heard someone clearing their throat.

"Good morning" I said and stepped back towards the oven.

"Morning, I must have overslept" he said looking down on the table.

"I made some omelette for you. I hope I didn't step over the line by that"

"No. I usually don't eat breakfast but I'm really hungry right now" he said and sat down. I sat in front of him and looked at him as he took the first bite. His mouth turned into a smile and he looked up at me. I rose my eyebrows as in signaling him to speak. "It's good" I smiled. Thank God!, I thought.

As we ate up and got ready we got in the car and Mr. Hwang drove away.

"Did you have a good sleep?" Mr. Hwang asked as usual.

"Yes" Namjoon answered. Mr. Hwang then looked at me.

"Yes, thank you" He gave me a smile and looked back on the road in front of him. We arrived at the usual spot where I always got out of the car. "Thank you for the ride Mr. Hwang, have a good day" Mr. Hwang smiled and nodded.

"You too miss Ahn"

"I told you to call me Hani"

"Oh yes, will do miss Hani" I chuckled and shook my head. I closed the door and they drove away. I took a deep breath of the cold air and started walking. It was really sunny even though it blew cold. Well, winter was on its way.

Namjoon’s POV:

A few hours later I sat in my office reading the costs of the last runway we'd had. The numbers looked really good but it was far from perfect. It wasn't the highest score yet. We still had a long way to go. The office phone rang and I picked it up hearing miss Lee's voice. 

"Mr. Kim, there is a special guest waiting for you here. Can I send them in?"

"Of course." I hung up and heard the door open. A small figure looked inside smiling. Her pink coat dangling around her and her hair swaying like always. 

"Uncle Joonie!" I stood up with a smile.

"Hey!" she rushed into my embrace and I lifted her up, spinning her around. My sister walked in, looking tired.

"Joon" Nayeon said walking in and sitting down. Her stomach had gotten even bigger with the new member to the family inside.

"Hi Nayeon, what are you doing here?"

"Nothing much, just stopping by. I'm exhausted. Sorry if we disturbed you. Joon Na wanted to see you. We haven't seen you in a long time"

"Yes, I've been very busy lately" I said and smiled at Joon Na.

"Uncle Joonie I've made this for you!" she said and gave me a painting. She always gave me something she had made when we met. "It's you!" The painting was mostly of a pink color.

"Please watch her while I go to the rest room" Nayeon asked and I nodded.

"Wow, it's really good, does it look like me?" I asked and put it next to my face.

"Yes!" she chuckled.

"You're so good!" I said smiling. Someone knocked on the door and it opened. Hani walked in.

"I'm sorry to interrupt. Miss Lee went to lunch and I wanted to ask if I could clean" she said fast. Her eyes stopped at Joon Na. "Oh, hi there" she smiled.

"Hi" Joon Na said and hid behind me.

"Please, come back in half an hour" I answered.

"Oh, okay"

"I made this" Joon Na said and showed Hani the painting. Her mouth dropped a little and she smiled.

"Wow, it's really good! Are you an artist?" Joon Na chuckled. Her big smile showed that she was missing her front tooth. She had always been cute but like that she was even cuter.

"No silly."

"Oh, well, maybe you should be because..." Hani said and looked up at me. She quickly stood up and apologized before returning to the door.

"Bye"Joon Na said and waved. Hani waved back, smiling before closing the door. I noticed my mouth was open and I closed it, clearing my throat.

"Joon Na, tell me, how is school going?"

"Good, I can write all of the alphabet by myself now"

"Wow, that's a good girl" I said stroking her hair.

"Can we play with the water guns like we did the last time uncle Joonie?"

"Uh, no, not now Joon Na"

"Please uncle Joonie! Please! Please!" I thought about it.

"Hmm. I think I have an idea"

Hani’s POV:

Miss Lee walked up to me as I was scrubbing the floor. A smile appeared on her face when she saw me.

"Miss Ahn, Mr. Kim wanted to see you" she said.

"Oh, okay" But I had just come from his office. I thought maybe he wanted me to clean now. I followed miss Lee back towards his office and she sat down by her desk while I knocked on the door. I opened the door even though I didn't hear anyone answering. As I stuck my head in I felt a few drops of water on my face. I looked up over my head confused before taking a better look around me.

"Joon Na, get her!" Namjoon called and little Joon Na stepped up from behind the desk. My eyebrows rose when I saw what she was holding. A water gun? She suddenly started shooting at me but missed. Then I saw Namjoon stepping out from behind the shelf and started shooting at me too. I tried to stop the water with my hands. I got soaked. I stepped back and made the door close. He suddenly stopped and just looked smiling. I was confused. Joon Na stood right in front of me and shot me on my stomach.

"Hey!" I called smiling and tried to catch her but she ran away and I ran after her. Joon Na laughed with all of her heart it seemed. Namjoon chuckled as he aimed for me. The door opened and a woman walked in.

"Namjoon, for the love of God. Not in here" she said and rolled her eyes. Who was that?

"Oh come on Nayeon. It's just for fun"

"Oh yes. Father will be so thrilled" she then looked at me and smiled. "Who is this?"

"Ah, I'm sorry" I said and tried to dry my hand on my wet clothes. It was useless. "I'm Ahn Hani, nice to meet you. Sorry, I'm wet" Nayeon chuckled. 

"Oh so you are the girl that's been on my mothers mind so much lately"

"Uh..." she chuckled again.

"She hasn't stopped talking about you once. Would you mind joining us for dinner on Friday at six?" Oh, she was his sister.

"Oh..." I began not knowing what to respond. Namjoon walked up to us. He took a hold of my hand and I looked up at him by my side.

"We will be there" he said smiling.

"Great" his sister said and nodded. Little Joon Na jumped up to us.

"I need to fill up my water gun" she said all troubled.

"I'm sorry honey, we have to go now. Uncle Joonie has to work and so does miss Ahn"

"Please call me Hani" I said making her look up at me with a smile. She nodded. After bidding good bye they left us alone in the office. Namjoon let go of my hand.

"Wait five minutes, then return to your job" he said and walked to his desk. I nodded and stood still as I looked around in the room. Namjoon looked through some papers and signed a few of them. He looked really concentrated and dedicated. I admired him for putting so much effort into things. Today I had even seen a new side of him while he played with his niece. It was so cute. 

"What are you looking at?" he suddenly said then looked up.

"Uhm, I... I was just..." What was I doing? I looked down on my wristwatch. "I have to go now, excuse me" I bowed before exiting the room. I let out a breath I had been holding in and continued back to where I was.

"Miss Ahn" someone called and I stopped looking towards the person calling for me. My mouth dropped a little upon seeing who it was.

"Mr. Seokwoo, hello"

"Why are your clothes so wet?"

"Oh, uhm there was an accident... with the water dispenser."

"How are things going for you?" he asked changing the subject, with a smile.

"G... good. I'm sorry, I have to return to-"

"I was wondering, did you quit from your other job? I haven't seen you around there"

"Oh, yes. I wanted to dedicate all my time here instead"

"Excellent choice. Then I will see you more often. Mr. Kim and I will work together for a while"

"I see. I'm glad to hear that"

"Yes, well... I will see you around then" I nodded and bowed and he continued his way towards Namjoon’s office. I wondered how much time it was left for Namjoon and me to play this game. How many would have to know out about the “dating”?

[sunshinechii-scenarios]

Hi Neighbor

Hello! I'm back with another scenario finally after another round of just posting moodboards! I also did include a pet cat in here so if you're a dog person I'm sorry! I love cats kskxnsozjs but people see me as a dog person sad sad. W.E I love them both ♡

✿ Seventeen The8 x Gender Neutral Reader ✿ Fluff ✿ 1.7k words ✿ Not Requested ✿ Chii

PSA: If you requested something please give us 2-3 weeks! We’re both in school and busy with personal things! I don’t wanna sound annoying but be patient! Thank you! I make make a wip post where I’ll update the wips I’m working on if that helps!

I made the following divider so please don’t take it or use in your own posts, thank you .- Chii 

          There was an absolutely wonderful opening for the Friday night shift at work and with rent coming up, you knew you needed the extra cash. It was always a normal occurrence that Friday has the least amount of workers, next to the weekend. You picked up the black marker and wrote your name on the whiteboard inside the employee office. Marking your name down, you made up a plan in your head to prepare yourself for working two shifts within 24 hours. Gathering your things, you checked the time on your phone that had been locked up. 7:34 pm, you still had time to eat a quick meal and sleep before you dealt with an afternoon and night shift back to back. You luckily had four breaks in those two shifts but it was hard to take naps with noise constantly around you.

“Bye, Y/N. See you tomorrow!” Said one of the older workers there, you waved them a goodbye before walking out of the building. As your shoes crunched against the fallen leaves and the wind hit your skin, you walked to your stop. You fished out a pair of earbuds and plugged them into your phone as you waited for the bus.

          On the 15 minute ride home, your plan started to come together. You would order some delivery and pay with your debit card over the phone to save the trouble of paying with cash. You would take a shower within the 45 minute window it usually took for your delivery to come and eat before sleeping by 10 AM. You turned the white corridor lined with dark doors to stop in front of the one you called home. You felt up your pockets for your keys. Finally feeling the jagged edge of metal against your fingers you pulled it out, the jingling sound was the only other sound besides the voices you could hear from next door. You recently got a new neighbor, the old one had moved due to work relocation. It was such a shame, you two had been close and it was hard to adjust to a new neighbor, Minghao is his name if you weren't mistaken. You barely said anything to him since he moved in last week. A few greetings here and there were exchanged between the two of you. You only knew his name because of mail being accidentally put into your box day after day. You thought back to a few days ago, around two days after he moved in. He caught you while coming home in your work attire, that day you had been especially tired and it showed in your appearance. 

It only consisted of him saying “hey neighbor,” before he walked into his apartment and his three friends followed. You were worried about the noise factor but to your pleasant surprise you could hear him tell them to quiet down every time they got loud. You enter your home but not before stealing a glance over to Minghao’s door, hearing muffled voices.

‘Maybe he has friends over again,’ you thought to yourself before pushing the dark door in. You felt a fluffy tail around your ankles as soon as you stepped through the door.

“Hey, Cece.” You bent down to pet the white and gray cat on the ground. She started to walk off to god knows where while you took off your coat and shoes. You called in your order and paid, finally being able to enjoy a hot shower after a long day. You took your time under the hot water, letting it relax your tense muscles. The steam filled the tile bathroom and you looked down to your hands, red due to the hot water. You heard a female voice that interrupt your thoughts through the walls. The walls were thin but not that thin, it took a lot to hear someone talking from another apartment. You got out of the shower after that, you had been in there way too long anyway. Your noticed your prune like fingers while you changed into a fresh change of clothes. The doorbell rang just when you exited the steamy bathroom and prepared the cash tip.

          You thanked the delivery man and gave him a tip and sat down at your coffee table. Opening the bag, you took out it's contents. You saw Cece making her way towards you. Getting up, you lifted her into the couch and she turned a few times before getting comfortable. Came that time of the night to look for a show to watch while you ate. Although, once you did it was nearly impossible to enjoy your T.V show in peace. The voices next door got louder and louder. You wanted to shut them out and ignore it as white noise but you could make out every word they were shouting. Disregarding your damp hair and your cat meowing for you to not leave again, your hand turned the handle to your front door. You slipped on a pair of slide on slippers and walked the short distance to Minghao’s door. You took a deep breath before knocking, what were you going to say? Stop yelling? Regardless, you knocked and waited for him to answer. To your surprise the door opened quickly, you saw the angry looking girl behind Minghao. You assumed this was the loud female voice you heard while trying to relax in the shower. She looked angry and was red in the face, you saw tears streaming down her face with bits of mascara. You blinked rapidly and tore your eyes away from her, not wanting to make awkward eye contact.

Looking at Minghao, you began to speak, “hey, I’m-mh?!”

‘Hey, I'm your neighbor from next door. I know you just moved in and all but I have a night shift in 4 hours and I would appreciate if you kept the noise down,’ is what you wanted to say if it wasn't for his lips pressing against yours but you weren't complaining. They felt smooth and plush, unlike your own that was dry from not applying lip balm after coming out of the shower. You saw no point in it, you were going to eat right after but in this moment you wish you did. He held onto your body as you practically melted. You have never been kissed like this before with your luck in men. They didn't kiss you like Minghao did. They wouldn’t be able to kiss you like Minghao did. He pulled away, staring into your eyes before leaning towards your ear.

“I know this looks bad but play along and I'll explain everything later.” His breath tickled your neck and caused your cheeks to flush.

“U-uh sure…” You could barely say anything since you were still in shock from the kiss. He interlocked your fingers together and stepped away so you could see the girl in your sight again. She was just as shocked as you were.

“This is the girl you keep saying doesn't exist.” Minghao said while motioning over to you.

“So you’re the one, huh?” Her voice was just as loud as before but it was slightly brittle.

“Uh,” you felt Minghao’s fingers tighten around your hand, “yea! We’ve been seeing each other.” You saw the anger in her eyes and felt scared, like she was about to attack you. She start to walk towards you but Minghao let your hand go and stood in front of you.

“I think it's time for you to go.” Minghao said calmly, trying to be the bigger person in this situation.

“This isn't over!” She screamed louder than before.

“Yes it is.”

“Ugh!” The girl stomped out of his apartment but not before slamming his front door so loud that you heard your cat meow from the wall.

“I should be expecting a call from the landlord in a day shouldn't I?” Minghao crouched down and rubbed the back of his neck.

“Most likely.” You crouched down to be eye level with him. He pick up a fallen pillow and threw it back in the couch.

“About before, I'm sorry.” He looked at you apologetically.

“It’s fine, a nasty ex?” You said.

“Now she is.” He said blandly.

“Oh, I'm sorry.” You said quickly after, not really knowing to comfort him but he didn't seem to mind that he just broke up with his girlfriend.

“It’s alright, we got into our 9th argument this week and I expected this to come.” He got up and started to fix up the rest of apartment.

“Do you want help cleaning up?” You asked him, figuring it would be weird to just leave after that and you wanted to speed up the process so you didn't have to hear cluttering while in bed.

“That would be amazing, thank you…” His voice trailed off.

“Y/N, I live next door.” You pointed to the left wall of his apartment.

“Ah, you always bring my mail over to me.” He nodded his head at remembering your morning attire and half awake face when you would drop off the said mail.

“So,” you paused before continuing to pick up the Chinese fashion magazines,” do you always kiss your new neighbors?” You said after you put them on his coffee table.

“Why? Want it to happen again?” He turned to you to saw your face flush a deeper red. He tried to hold back a smile.

“How about I take you in a date first? We’ll see if everything plays out well and I'll kiss you again.”

“Date? Wait! My take out! Ah, it's probably room temperature by now.” You suddenly remembered your food and sighed, you didn't want to use the microwave since it was half your age, a ‘goodbye present’ from your parents.

“I’m sorry about that, you could use my microwave if you want to. It's brand new.” He offered up his kitchen to your use and pat the top of the microwave.

“You just saved me from my old rickety microwave.” You sighed happily.

“You saved me from my ex, it's the least I can do.”

You spend the next hour continuing to help Minghao with his apartment and ate at his place also. You introduced him to your ragdoll cat and Cece loved him, so did you. Maybe love is a strong word but you are definitely attracted to him now. Usually you kiss after two people get together but a change up in the order makes it interesting.

“I still have my night shift….”

I HAD THIS WIP FOR 5 DAYS AND THATS THE QUICKEST i’VE EVER FINISHED, MODIFIED AND EDITED ANYTHING. I like this little prompt so I worked with it and it’s not bad! :o Until next time!

Please don’t claim this as your own and please don’t do anything with it without my permission. If you don’t want it happening to you, don’t do it to others.

[the-fox-knows]

Passing of Time

Prelude to Change (1)

Everyone has their thing. That specific detail of their life that defines more than just their personality and their likes and dislikes. It is something that resonates within them, giving a sort of meaning that only they alone can understand. It is something that has always been around, but with the rise of pop culture it has become bountiful as well as instantaneous. What I speak of are stories.

Stories have been something that have been in existence since the dawn of time; influencing and inspiring those that it touches. For some it is charging the Black Gates of Mordor with Members of the Fellowship; or travelling through space and time in a curious blue box; or perhaps sipping tea with stiff upper lips in the company of the Dowager Countess Grantham.

For me, it is sharing the walks of Elizabeth Bennet and experiencing all the changeable emotions that carry her through the book until the very end when she and Mr. Darcy come together in blissful union. All expectations of happiness and love fulfilled.

The only problem with that is it has altered my perception of reality, thus ruining my love life. When men like Mr. Darcy, Knightley, and Tilney are lingering in my mind it’s hard to not compare them to men of my general acquaintance. Especially those who are brave enough to ask me out. Not to say I'm a particular catch, in fact I’m quite the reverse as I am the proud owner of a reputation that precedes me. While I may not be as extreme as Jane Hayes from Austenland nor guilty of having hallucinations of the back of my shower being a doorway leading to the Bennet’s household, I am known to be a most . . . enthusiastic fan of the Austen era. To summate the meaning of my dedication to the long dead authoress and her equally inanimate heroes the blokes that do take me to the pub around the corner are not quick to repeat the offer in any way, shape, or form. 

I don't consider it much of a loss. I have my hopes for men more romantic then the sole aim to get me to the nearest ale house and then, well...

Though, I suppose I'm not being fair. There was one who was different from the others. But it was finished with my mistake.

Mum worries though; she's always been one for grandchildren and as I’m her only child all her hopes rest on my reproductive organs. Every now and then, when I visit, she'll bring out my old cot for a 'dusting' as she tells me of the new couples that are filling the flats around hers. I usually keep my thoughts to myself at these points in time. At least she's not like Mrs. Bennet. She doesn't arrange blind dates for me or push me to get close to my GP or some of the other things that would be the norm of a modern day Mrs. B. My mum let's me do things in my own time, though she does like to give me little reminders of the ticking clock.

I can't help remind myself of that same ticking clock, but I'm stubborn and have high expectations. What woman doesn't after a generous dollop of Jane Austen. In all fairness, it's that lady’s fault.

I reckon I should properly introduce myself seeing as I'm rambling to strangers about the goings on of my personal life. You should at least have a name. It's Sophie Devon, named after my great-aunt on my dad's side. I've never met her, but I'm told that I have similar features to her so I guess inheriting her name is fitting. I'm a 23, almost 24, year old Londoner with a life not unlike thousands of others; not even my obsession of Austen is unique, though when not with like minded people it can sometimes feel like I am the only one who appreciates the lady’s writings in this modern age. And since it is rare that I am with like minded people I feel myself clinging to my dreams and imaginings stronger and stronger.

When I am forced to detach myself from my telly, filled of Mr. Darcy glowering at all he sees, I can be found working my days in an office — HR to be exact — and what more can I say on that subject other than - Agh! I complain but it's not all bad. My mate, Jules, works just a few desks down within talking distance and is my polar opposite. She has no qualms with men in general, pubs round the corner, or the ... 

But you know what they say about opposites and attraction.

The day was Friday and when I had woken that morning nothing suggested itself to me of a mystical nature. Everything was as it had been everyday before and, to my mind, it would continue in that fashion.

It was December and the annul office Christmas party was that night. It was a thing of mild excitement. I avoided it, but some around the office have assured me that it has improved since the last time I attended.

"Sophe, you going to the office party tonight?" Jules asked across a few drooping heads.

My computer screen showed me that I shouldn't, that I should prepare myself for a long night and wake up tomorrow with the workload considerably lighter and my weekend freer.

"Are you going?" I looked up. She shrugged and spun lazily in her chair. Our co-workers were in varying states of attention. Slack hands holding up nodding heads and drooping eyes only staying open by the sprightly voice of Jules. Friday's were never fast around here.

"I was thinking of it. Dan will be there." She mentioned the name with something of playfulness in her voice.

"Dan is always at those things. It's not surprising," I said, bringing my eyes back to the lit screen. Jules, however, had caught the scent and was intent on pursuing it.

"He said he'd look out for you. Maybe save you a dance."

I gave her a look which she only laughed at. "Fine. Don't dance with Dan. Break his heart some more."

"Keep your voice down, would you," I whispered, darting my eyes around to make sure that no one was paying too much attention to our conversation. I really wished Jules understood the concept of 'there's a time and a place.' Unfortunately for me, she was yet to make that discovery.

"Please, they're all half dead anyway," she motioned widely with an arm.

"Yes, but it's the other half that you have to watch out for," came the quiet voice of Jonny. He sat in the corner of the wide office space and was one of the few who was still diligently working. He paused his typing fingers to look over at us with a smirk. Jules was highly amused by this and let out a crowing laugh as she spun in a full circle, sitting slouched in her chair. I too, found myself smiling.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

"So, is it a yes or a no?"The glass doors of the building opened for us and we were hit with a cold blast of air. Winter was well on its way and people all around were bundled snugly. I had my own scarf wrapped tightly around my neck while my hat was pulled low over my ears. I groaned in answer to her question.

"Oh, come on, Sophe. If it's because I teased you about Dan, I'm sorry. But don't let it stop you coming and having a good time."

I stopped and had to give her an arch look. "An office party? A good time?"

"Hey, for you that would be living it up." She hooked her arm through mine and forced me to keep walking.

"Why the sudden urge to go to this Party? You've never been this keen before."

Jules was capable of many things; running every morning before work, applying make-up flawlessly in under five minutes, fooling co-workers into covering for her while she slipped off to treat herself for a longer lunch break. The one thing she was not able to do was lie to me and she knew it.

"Look, I'm worried for you."

I sighed but she went on more strongly. "Ever since you and Dan split you've become more of a recluse."

"I have not," I interrupted. Now it was her turn to give me a look, though it smoothed quickly into one of sympathy.

"I understand. You were never easy to please with all your 'Austen Standards,' and then Dan happens and you began acting like a regular human being.”

I snorted.

"But it’s been six months. That's half a year," She implored.

"I am aware of the amount of time that six months elapses," I mumbled.

"So don't you think it's time to start testing the waters again?"

I didn't answer her straight away and after a huffy sigh, she didn't push for a response. We got onto the tube and remained silent, each contemplating our own matters. She had probably dropped the argument thinking it hopeless. I, on the other hand, was repeating her words through my mind. Everything she said was true. Dan had been great and I had relinquished (somewhat) my grip-hold on Pride and Prejudice and the implacable gentleman that was Fitzwilliam Darcy.

But then I had screwed it up and let my own obsession cloud my judgement. Trying to change someone, especially when that person doesn't need changing, is always a mistake. A horrible mistake.

Jules and I got off the tube and walked the few yards it was to the flat we shared. The jingle of my keys alerted Jax to our presence and, as per usual, we walked in to see him siting right in front of the door, swishing his fluffy white tail.

"Hi Jax," I greeted. The dainty cat ran over and arched his back, happy to accept the petting. Jules walked past and dumped her purse on the chair nearest the front door; her clacking pumps leading her to the small kitchen. 

She and Jax had never seen eye to eye. I had found him sheltering under the flap of a damp cardboard box in the pouring rain looking very forlorn. He had clearly been underfed and had no tags so I had no apprehensions in tucking him under the safety of my raincoat and bringing him back home.

Two years later he's my shadow and sleeps gratefully on the edge of my pillow.

"And how have you been today?" I cooed in a voice I knew annoyed my flatmate. He nuzzled his head against my hand and let out a loud purr.

"Yes. Let's get you some dinner." 

I unwrapped my scarf and doffed my hat, adding it to the pile on the chair; my handbag acting as the cherry on top before I followed Jules to the kitchen. Jax trailed behind, rumbling like a little motor.

"Ugh. Does he have to walk all over the worktop?" she asked, distastefully eyeing the white fluff that had jumped up and was pacing beside the sink.

"Come on, Jax. Down." I clapped my hands and motioned for him to jump to the floor. He did as he was told and began twining in an out of my legs.

"You should really teach him not to do that," Jules said, scooting out of the kitchen. "You'll trip over him." 

A second later the telly was on and I heard the tune to EastEnders fill the flat.

"I won't trip over you, will I?" I smiled. He only pawed at my leg, entreating me to hurry with his food. I grabbed a can from the cupboard, popped the lid, and served the cat food in Jax's personal bowl.

"I'm going to take a shower," I called out to Jules. She mindlessly waved her hand in acknowledgement.

After a weeks work of the same routine - point A to point B and back to point A - it was nice to just sit a moment with my eyes closed, lying on my bed.

The weekends to me always presented possibilities. My time spent during the week always seemed so formal, so laid out with a lack of possibilities of alterations. My job was a senseless one. It was automatic with a ready made solution to any problem that may arise. There was no testing my abilities nor a need for my brain to think past the boundaries of the four walls of the office. I wanted something different - only I didn't know what it was yet. But it was out there, just like my Mr. Darcy. Patience is all that is required.

With one thought leading to another in a hazy circle of remembering all that had happened that week and what I needed to do to prepare for the next, I opened my eyes and stared up at the ceiling. Jax came up a moment later, joining me as he fit himself in the nook of my shoulder and neck. Idly, I stroked his fur.

‘Perhaps I should go to the party,’ the thought snuck its way into my considerations. It wouldn't hurt and if Jules was entering the realms of being 'worried' then it would be a step closer to putting her anxieties to rest. And if Dan does come and ask for a dance (though, I'd wager it was only Jules saying that) then I'll deal with it in the mature way that I know I'm capable of. After all, I work in bloody HR. I have ready material in dealing with other humans.

With my mind made up, I discarded my clothes and stepped into the shower. The warm water soothed my chilled skin and once I had lathered my body with soap I stood under the spout letting the streams of water run down my shoulders and back. It was numbingly pleasant to just stand there and feel the hot steam build in the room creating a faux sauna that I hoped would seep to the rest of the flat.

When I had finally finished I could hear Jules rummaging around both our cupboards, no doubt searching for something to wear. "You can wear my blue top if you want," I called as I squirmed into my robe and switched on the hairdryer, blasting the warm air into my face. The sooner I warmed up, the better.

"The one with the sweetheart neck?"

"Yeah."

I ruffled my medium length hair, aiming the warm air at the nape of my neck, sending a jolt of gooseflesh down my arms.

"What do you think?" Jules appeared at the door holding up a pair of slim black trousers and the blue sweetheart neck-lined blouse.

"Nice."

"Oh," She slumped her arms, frowning.

"More than nice," I amended, shouting over the droll of the machine in my hand. "The blue will really bring out your eyes."

Said eyes lit up as she examined her outfit. I examined her with furrowed brows.

"You're really putting an effort into tonight," I commented nonchalantly. My hair was becoming relatively dry so I turned the hairdryer off and put it away.

"Well, you know, it's good to make an appearance to show..." she looked up for a second but immediately brought her gaze back down to the clothes as I watched, amused, as she struggled for the word that could possibly explain why she was so eager for an office party.

"...togetherness," she came up with at last.

I turned away, trying my best to hide the grin that was widening fast. "Togetherness," I repeated. From the corner of my eye I saw Jules shift uncomfortably. She was on the verge. Just a second longer.

"Oh, shut up. It's Henry, alright," she blurted.

Sweet victory.

"Henry Ellis from I.T.?"

"Yeah," she came in and sat on the closed lid of the toilet.

"He's been helping me with my computer, as you know, and I don't know. I hadn't really looked at him before - he's not re-"

"Really your type," I finished for her.

"But he's been very sweet," she continued, "and I was hoping that tonight - "

"Tonight you might have the chance to see what he shaves with tomorrow?" I interrupted again.

"No," she said immediately. Then she cringed a little. "Well, maybe a bit. But I don't want it to be just one night. I -" she hesitated.

"Yes?" I stopped my flossing and stared at Jules's reflection in the mirror. She looked up, shrugging her shoulders.

"I want to know him."

I didn't answer at first. I wasn't at a loss of words, but I knew Jules and I knew her temperament. If I gave her a sweet sappy line she'd huff to cover up her moment of vulnerability. Strange ways does the mind work. So I waited for her to follow up.

"That's one of the reasons I wanted you to come tonight."

I tossed the floss into the rubbish bin, slid my tongue smoothly over my clean teeth, and turned to face my uncomfortable friend on the toilet.

"Not to worry, dear one," I playfully patted her head, "I'm coming with you." I then pranced out, leaving her on the throne and went to search for something decent to wear.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

My memory of the last office party was a pathetic one. Half the people were drunk and the other half were on their way there. The dancing had been non-existent unless you counted bodies loosely pressed together moving in a lazy circle, looking more like two forms just trying to keep each other propped up. The food had been passable but the music was the playlist of a fifteen year old hormonal teenager.

That was three years ago. Presently, I had to admit that improvements had been made. There was a tolerable amount of alcohol but not enough to get the entire gathering inebriated; actual couples were dancing in rhythm to the music, which was, thankfully, pleasant to the ears. The only thing that remained the same was the food. But still everyone had something in their mouths; eating mainly because it was there rather than anything else.

Jules, never a timid one, and bolstered by my accompanying her, had succeeded in getting Henry to ask her to dance. Though he seemed very willing. She winked at me with a flirtatious smile spreading winningly across her face as they passed by me. I rolled my eyes and turned away. Best not to encourage any bad behaviour on her part.

Night stood guard at the windows; dark, yet brilliantly illuminated by the added lights of the season, providing its glow even to us who were on the seventh floor. Pedestrians, cars, double-deckers, and all the rest of the multitudes that made up London’s lifeblood looked incredibly small from this height.  

As of yet, I'd seen no hint of Dan. I nearly convinced myself that I wasn't looking for him, but by the time the doors leading to the hall opened for the tenth time and my head spun around to see who it was coming in, I knew that, despite my best efforts, I was anticipating him.

My plastic cup was in need of refilling so I slowly took my time to the punch table. There was only one other person there handling the ladle but they were quick with filling up their cup and walking away. I stepped forward and reached for the handle when my hand collided with someone else's.

"Oh, sorry. I didn't see - " I looked up to be met with a grinning Dan. He was the same as ever; great hair, charming smile, big blue eyes and all it did was remind me of how stupid I had been.

"Hi Dan," I attempted calm, therefore it was unwise of me to reach for the ladle again. You would think that I'd be used to seeing him as we work in the same building, but our offices are on different floors so our paths rarely crossed. With neither of us seeking each other out as we used to, we could go a good month before we caught sight of each other.

"Hey Sophe," he gently pulled the ladle from my clumsy grip and poured out the punch into my waiting cup. He then did the same for himself.

"How are you?" he asked, not looking at me.

"I'm good. You?"

"Oh, you know. I'm always fine." He deposited the ladle and took a sip of the warm liquid.

"I see Jules is still making her conquests." He motioned with his cup towards the pair now with their arms completely wrapped around each other. I couldn't help but laugh, feeling much lighter as I did so.

"Yes, well, she claims her intentions are entirely honourable. I guess we'll just have to take her word for it."

"Ooh, always a dangerous thing to do," he said. Setting down his cup, he extended his open hand to me. I looked at it blankly.

"Care to?" he asked. I raised my eyes to his - thinking. He watched the wheels turning just beyond the barrier of flesh and bone, waiting with a slow smile touching just the side of his lips. Steeling myself, I hastily placed my cup beside his and accepted his hand.

He led us to the side of the dancing, no doubt remembering my shyness in the area of 'movin' and groovin'. The song currently playing came to an end and was succeeded by a much slower one. I gulped inconspicuously as I felt his hand come round my waist while his other held my right hand in a firm hold. We swayed slightly, moving in an easy circle. I kept my attention on the dancers, too nervous to look up into Dan's face. I knew he had his eyes on me, I could feel it and it just brought back old emotions and feelings that stung with a prevalence that brought a guilty flavour to my mouth.

The hand on my waist tugged me just a tad closer and I put my hands softly on his chest; finally looking up at him.

"I'm sorry, but I can't. I'm just...not ready yet." All my HR training left me to deal with my personal life. Suppose fair's fair when I never liked the job anyway.

He dropped his hold on me and nodded once, an accepting expression appeared on his face that wasn't quite a grin, but he tried nevertheless. Step by step I retreated, continuing to apologize.

"I'll see you around," I finished weakly. He let out a good-humoured bark and shook his head.

"You won't. But it was nice to see you tonight, Soph."

I smiled. "You too."

I slipped behind some dancers and went in search of Jules. I found her and Henry sitting closely together at a table in the corner. They were oblivious to the rest of the room and were completely unaware of my presence standing not a foot away.

"Ahem," I dramatically cleared my throat.

"Sophe," Jules tore her attention away from Henry, an apparently difficult task to accomplish.

"I think I'm going to go home," I told her. That gained a larger portion of her attention."

"What? Why?"

"Headache," I lied. "I'll see you later." I saw that she was of two minds; she clearly wanted to get the truth from me, but neither did she want to let Henry slip away.

"Alright, see you later then," she decided, though her eyes told me that she'd be asking later. I nodded, bid the pair goodnight, and then began the trek home.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Jax was cuddled up snugly in my arms, purring contentedly. I couldn't say I shared his ease of mind. Though I did have a remedy for it. 

Pride & Prejudice was loading within the antique chambers of our dated television; a mug of hot cocoa was held comfortably in both my hands, and my favorite red blanket was draped over my knees. The expansive sofa was as comfy as ever.

"Ahh," I sighed, already relaxing as the first notes of the 1995 theme of the mini-series played out of the telly. Time past and I was on the third episode, wishing that I could enter that world and escape from all things modern; jobs; relationships; food (well, some food), when my bladder made itself known. Jax was none to pleased at having to depart from his warm spot, but he didn't have much say in the matter.

I slid down the cramped hall in my socks and consequently nearly lost my balance. With my duty done, I washed up and was just walking back into the sitting room when I unexpectedly tripped over something and came tumbling to the floor. My head painfully grazed the side of the wall and I saw stars momentarily. When my vision cleared I looked to see what it was that had tripped me.

"Jax!" I exclaimed. An ironic laugh escaped my lips as I thought back to Jules's earlier comment just this day.

"Our flatmate may have some hidden powers Jax. Unless it's only that you can understand us and thought it would be a good idea to prove her right."

I scooped him up, bringing ourselves back to the sofa. My head spun suddenly, though, and I had to shut my eyes as I dropped down on the cushions. Jax squirmed out of my arms and went somewhere behind me. I lowered my head into my hands and grumbled out Jax's name in a very accusatory tone. My only response was a loud purr.

"Well this won't do." 

I opened my eyes and cautiously made my way to the kitchen in search of some paracetamol. Finding my target, I turned the cold tap on and filled a glass to the brim. Popping the tablet into my mouth, I had the water chase it down.

Meanwhile, I noticed the suspect lounging luxuriously on my red blanket, grooming himself with gusto, utterly unaware of my glaring eyes. I turned the telly off, yanked the blanket from under him and stumbled to my room, catching the shocked growl. I smirked.

My bed welcomed me while my pillow enveloped my spinning head in soft comfort. The edge of my mattress dipped slightly, announcing the disgruntled presence of Jax. Though a bit miffed, he still curled himself up by my head.

"Night, night Jax," I murmured.

Sleep claimed me swiftly, yet my dreams were turbulent with shifting images of Jules, Dan, Henry, Pride & Prejudice, and a shadowy version of Mr. Darcy made up entirely of animate sentences — everything that had been swirling in my subconscious for the past twenty-four hours. The strangest part came when I appeared to be in a dark, circular tunnel moving fast. I could see nothing distinguishable to prove this, although there was a whip-like wind rushing into and past my face. The speed almost became overwhelming and I felt myself starting to waken.

But suddenly there was a light coming from the other end of the tunnel. I watched as it seemed that this light and myself would collide, though I was surprisingly calm about it. The light grew closer and from its glow I saw a figure flying towards me. It was a young woman, probably near to my own age, with rich brown hair and shining eyes. I didn't notice much else as she and I were about to crash. We both saw the other and looks of astonishment passed our features before all went black and my sleep continued undisturbed.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The sun streamed into my room, sprawling across my bed and shining strongly onto my closed eyelids. I lifted my arm to cover my face and rolled on my side reaching for Jax.

"Jax?" 

I moved my hand around with my eyes still shut. When I couldn't feel him, I opened my eyes and looked around.

I was struck immediately by the foreign room I was currently lying in. The furniture were all antiques, though to my untrained eyes, the pieces were in wonderful condition. There was a wash stand in the corner and an ewer sitting beside it. A small writing desk was positioned near a display of windows and the bed that I lay stunned in was a four poster with sheets and covers that were definitely not mine.

I blinked. Then blinked again. I rubbed my eyes and another wave of shock hit me. Instead of the loose jumper and baggy trousers I wore to bed, I was presently dressed in a nightgown with flared cuffs.

"What?!" I breathed.

There was no sign of my red blanket nor Jax. But one thing at a time. Gingerly, I uncovered my legs and swung them out of the bed. Crumpled slippers lay waiting to be worn so I complied and stood shakily on my feet. My head felt better in regards to the fall last night, but with my new surroundings an all new sort of dizziness was coming over me.

'Maybe I'm still dreaming,' I thought. I pinched myself. 

"Ow!" 

Not dreaming then.

I rubbed the sore skin on my arm as I warily walked over to the writing desk. There were a couple of quills, a spare nib and an ink stand, but no papers. Pulling open the drawers I found a trove of letters. Before I scanned any of them my attention was caught by the view provided outside the window.

The city was gone. Buildings, lights, noise - vanished and replaced with the quiet calm of the country.

"What the -?" My voice scratched but I ignored it. Before allowing myself to freak out fully I picked up a letter, unsent by the look of its creaseless body,on the very top. It was addressed to a ‘Dear aunt’ but it was the signature at the bottom that numbed my fingers and had me seriously questioning my sanity.

Your loving niece

~Elizabeth Bennet

"Elizabeth Bennet?" I whispered. The letter fell from my hand with a quiet shuffle as I spun around to observe the room anew. Quaint, simple, elegant, things generally acquainted with the heroine. Atop the wash stand there was a mirror and I tripped over to it.

I thought I might scream. Not only was the city gone - I was gone. This face that stared at me in the reflection was not my own. The brown hair, the big brown eyes belonged to somebody else. The curving lips and pert nose were the expressions of another person entirely.

"What?!"

Hands that were not mine obeyed my thoughts and brought the limbs up to clasp the face of the stranger's, pulling it in every direction.

"What the hell is happening?" I said a tad louder. The hands grasped the throat and the big brown eyes widened. It wasn't even my voice!

I stumbled back until the back of my knees met the curve of the bed and I sat down, or, should I say the body sat down.

I was scared. I was scared of where I was. I was scared to leave the room. I didn't know what may be out there, so I deliberated. I thought of last night and a torrent of memories flooded back of all the strange dreams I had had. 

That tunnel with that girl. 

It was her! 

That was Elizabeth Bennet?!

"That means," I said aloud, marveling at the strange tone that emitted from me, "I'm in Elizabeth Bennet's body!"

Once spoken my mind reeled and I had no choice but to fall back and pass out.

[flatsuke]

are requests still open? :D I would like to request for a Keisuke Shijo fluff/nsfw (*´꒳`*) he's from Liar! Office deception(: he's such a babe but there's currently no fanfic for him yet coz.. he's pretty new? If you haven't played the game yet, then I would like to request for a eisuke/ota fluff(*´꒳`*). Thank you! You're an amazing writer(: all the best💜

Hi anon! Unfortunately, I haven’t played Liar yet, so I chose to write some Eisuke fluff instead (I hope you don’t mind). Thank you for the compliment and I hope you like this ^^!

Title: tête-à-tête

Summary: Eisuke can’t keep his eyes to himself, while she makes a mistake that’d seemingly jeopardize her. It doesn’t.

Genre:  Fluff, Romance

Pairing:  MC/Eisuke

a/n: this fic is based on this post i made a while back lmao. i’m kinda proud of turning a shitpost into an actual fic :’) also, eisuke and mc are dorks.

@maidofstars @2bedroom-baddestbidderlove @bolt8826

@ada254 (THANK YOU FOR YOUR IDEAS IN THE TAGS!!)

“This is a pain,” Luke said, moping. “I came all the wayhere only to find out MC isn’t here yet.”

“You do know that you’re required to be here for auctionmeetings, right?” Eisuke sipped his coffee, not even bothering to hide hisdispleasure at his own tasteless brew.

“There’s no point in being here if I don’t get to see hermagnificent collarbones today…”

“Aaand there he goes again,” Ota commented.

True enough, the penthouse wasn’t as lively as it ought tobe with MC absent. Eisuke could feel his mood quickly dampening at the taste ofcoffee that wasn’t hers. He had half a mind to page her just to salvage histaste buds, but he had to restrain himself. She worked herself to the boneyesterday, and was feeling a bit guilty.

“Well, collarbones aside, MC really is cute, huh?” Babaadded.

Eisuke felt a stinging pain in his mouth, only to realize hebit his tongue at Baba’s statement.

“Aw, come on, guys. Don’t look at me like that. Are yousaying you all seriously haven’tthought that at least once?”

The room grew a bit silent at the thief’s retort, and Eisukefound himself musing on it. Baba wasn’t wrong in the least. She was very easy on the eyes, what with the wayshe smiled at him and carried herself around him. She wore the maid’s uniformalmost every single day, but he wasn’t a fool not to see that she was hidingsomething special underneath all that. He’d be a blind idiot to thinkotherwise—not that he’d ever admit it out loud, though.

“I guess she has nice legs,” Mamoru said, taking anotherdrag.

The thought of MC diligently cleaning the room, clad in herfitted, work-prescribed stockings conjured not-so-innocent images in Eisuke’smind.

“Oh, so you’ve got a thing for legs now, Mamo?” Ota teasedback.

“Shut up. You see ‘em just as much as I do.”

Her bending down,looking for something underneath a couch, her rear facing me—

“Boss?”

Baba’s voice shook Eisuke from hisdefinitely-not-work-related trance, and Eisuke had to hide his irritation, lestthe others have an inkling of his definitely-not-work-related thoughts.

“You’re oddly quiet today,” Baba noted, the smile neverleaving his face.

“Unlike some people, I have better things to think about.” Says the man thinking about her bent over.

“Really, Eisuke? We all know you think she’s cute, so don’tbother hiding it,” Ota added smugly.

“Whatever.” Like hellI’m telling you that.

Not long after, they heard a soft knock from the door, andsure enough, she had arrived for the day’s cleaning. The others stared at heras if they had seen a ghost, but she could only look back at them curiously.

Talk about bad timing—

“Uh, is there something going on?” she asked tentatively.

“Nothing you should concern yourself with, MC!” Babachirped. “Don’t worry your pretty little mind about us.”

“Okay…” She didn’t look convinced, but she started cleaninganyway.

Try as he might, Eisuke couldn’t keep his eyes off her evenif he wanted to. Either Baba’s comment got to him, or he was starting to losehis wits.

Either way, he had to admit, there was one thing thatbothered him about Baba’s comment.

She’s definitely morethan just cute.

That night, Eisuke plopped down on his bed. It had been along day full of meetings that seemed to drone on and on, and he wanted nothingmore than to just sleep his troubles away. He unbuttoned the topmost buttons ofhis shirt before letting out a sigh.

This bed’s way too bigfor just one person.

Not that he wanted a smaller bed, but lately, he wasstarting to feel something every timehe saw the cold, empty side of his bed.

Without warning, the image of MC, immaculately sprawled on his bed, dressed in nothing but his shirt, appeared in his mind. Ashiver went down his spine before he begrudgingly realized that he should not be thinking those sorts of thingsabout his employee, of all people. Ugh, Baba’s rubbing off on me.

His phone buzzed next to him, and he scowled at the sound.Whoever the hell wanted to disturb him at this ungodly hour was about to get apiece of his mind. He was about to send the interloper a scathing reply when hesaw MC’s name on the screen.

Strange. He couldn’t remember the last time she texted himfor anything. Most of the time, their form of communication consisted of himpaging her, or the occasional call from him. She never initiated contact, asfar as he could recall. If he was being completely honest, it disheartened him.

Curious, he opened her message only to be met with asurprise.

“Holy shit. Holy fuckingshit.”

The “message” she had sent him wasn’t a work-related text oran innocent greeting. No, her message was the farthest thing from innocent—it was a picture of her in front ofher bathroom mirror, wearing nothing but lacy lingerie that left nothing to theimagination.

He had to refresh the message twice just to make sure itreally was her, and not some fantasy conjured by his overworked mind. No matterhow much he re-opened it, all he could see was her, clad in a lacy black bikiniset he never would’ve thought she’d dare to wear. Who knew that under her maid’suniform and her quiet countenance was a stunning body and an even bolderspirit? Mamoru may have called her a kid all the time, but the cop was a blindfool as far as Eisuke was concerned.

The real stinger was the caption that came with the photo:

[Do I look good inthis :) ?]

Good god, she’s goingto be the death of me.

Why the hell would she send him this? It feltout-of-character for someone as shy as she was, but he couldn’t find himself disappointedat the situation. In fact, if he had to say, he was almost…ecstatic, even. If this was her way coming on to him, then Eisuke wasn’tcomplaining anytime soon.

Nevertheless, he was still her boss. The rational side ofhim urged him to delete the photo and erase everything from his memory.

But, goddamn it, you’vewaited so long for an opportunity, and it looks like she made the first move.

That was also true. God knows how many lonely nights he’dspend with only his right hand as company and images of her lost in the throesof pleasure. He’d die before saying it out loud, but nothing save for her her seemed to excite him anymore. Thecompany of other women did nothing to rouse his blood, but even her mostmundane gesture sent him into a spiral of dwindling self-control.

He stared at the photo one last time. Maybe this was hisreward for months of sleeping alone. If there was a god out there, then damn,maybe he’d start praying if this was what faith got him.

Tomorrow, he’d confront her about it. For now, he desperatelyneeded a cold—no—freezing shower torelieve him of the uncomfortable tightness in his pants.

I’m seriously going tolose my mind.

Impatient as he was, Eisuke couldn’t wait for the next dayto come. He paged MC up to his office as soon as soon as he arrived thatmorning. If he was anxious or excited, he couldn’t tell at this point; all hewanted was to see MC as soon as possible. He even prepared some wine for themto hopefully get the message across.

He heard her knock on the door and beckoned her to come in. Eisukeschooled his most neutral expression while she looked adorably flustered,fiddling with the hem of her uniform.

“MC, you know why I called you in here, right?” he askedher, pouring some wine to appear casual.

She gulped before answering him.

“Is it because I accidentally sent you my nudes…?”

…What?

He froze and stopped pouring the moment he processed herwords.

“…Accidentally?” Thewords were ringing in his head as she nodded back at him. Suddenly, he wantednothing more than the ground to swallow him up and erase this memory from existence.

For a while, they both remained in painful silence. Theawkwardness was so palpable that Eisuke wondered if she wanted to hide in ahole as much as he did. Her unabashed blush seemed to indicate it.

But wait a minute, he thought. If she sent him the pictureby mistake, then that meant someone elsewas meant to receive it. As far as he could remember, she wasn’t dating anyoneat the moment.

Or was she? Shecould very well be dating one of the other auction managers right now and hewould be none the wiser.

He felt a pang of white-hot fury at the thought of one ofthem raking their eyes all over her, pressing their lips on her smooth skin,savoring the cries from her lips and—

“Mr. Ichinomiya,” she said, looking away from him. “Just…pleaseforget this ever happened. It was a complete accident, and I swear this’llnever happen again—“

“Who did you mean to send it to?”

“E—excuse me?”

“Just answer the question.” For my peace of mind.

She was still blushing, but she forced herself to speakanyway.

“…Look, I don’t know why youhave to know, but my friend gave me some lingerie as a birthday present, andshe wanted me to send her a picture to show that it fit me. Your name justhappened to be next to hers on my contact list, so…”

Eisuke inwardly let out a sigh of relief. If it had beensome cretin, god knows what he would’ve done.

“Sir, I really think you should just delete the photo andpretend this never happened.”

True, he probably should. If he were a good boss and apolite gentleman, he’d delete the photo to save them both the potential trouble(not to mention awkwardness) in the future. Then they could both resume theirlives as if nothing happened.

The only problem was he was neither of those things.

“How about this instead?” Eisuke suggested. “It’d be unfairto you if you were the only one in a compromising position. I’ll be sure toreturn the favor, then we’ll be even. Deal?”

“I really don’t understand…”

“You’ll see soon enough.” Eisuke took a long sip of his wine,easing his earlier tension.

“By the way, you didn’t look half-bad.”

If she was blushing a while ago, then she was positivelybeet red now.

“Oh, um, thank you…”

She left his office after giving a hurried bow, and Eisukecould only smirk at how his plan would come to fruition very soon.

That night, MC plopped on her own bed, dead tired from theday’s events. Today was absolutely mortifying,to say the least. She really hadn’t meant to send him the godforsaken photo,and she thought she had sealed her doom the moment she realized she sent it to Mr. Ichinomiya, of all people.

God, I really thoughtI was gonna die back there.

But the look on his face when she told him it was an accident—itwas the same look he’d always have whenever he drank someone else’s coffee. Itwas the look he had whenever he’d try to pet an animal, only to have it claw athim in retaliation.

It was, dare she say it, disappointment.

Come on. Like he’d bedisappointed by something like that.

And yet, the look on his face when she told him the picturewas meant for a friend—it was undeniably relief.

She didn’t know what to believe anymore, and there was afluttering in her stomach she couldn’t shake off. It only grew worse when sheremembered his earlier compliment.

Get it together, MC!He’s your boss, for crying out loud.

Her phone buzzed, and she picked it up only to see that Mr.Ichinomiya sent her a text.

After what happened, she could only feel apprehension atwhat was to come. Surely, he was going to fire her after today. God, now she neededto look for a new job, too. Great.

Shakily, her finger swiped the phone screen to open themessage.

“…What is this?”

The room suddenly became very warm, and all the blood rushedto her cheeks the moment the screen changed.

It wasn’t a brief text, but rather, a picture of himself. Hewas standing in front of his own bathroom mirror wearing only his blackboxer-briefs, giving her a delicious, unadulterated view of his lean, chiseledbuild. She had to gulp at the distinct V-line that ran down his hips and into…that place.

There was a caption that came along with the photo, and MChad to blink twice to make sure she wasn’t seeing things:

[Now we’re even. Belatedhappy birthday ;)]

Facing him tomorrow was going to be one hell of a task.

[nightwingswing]

“Stalker”(Jonathan crane x reader x Jason Todd) Jason Todd ending.

Hello my little wiings!

Here it is ! Jay’s ending to the “Stalker” series! Tomorrow will be published Jonathan’s ending (with smut)

Im also working in a continuation to the “Sibling war”(waverider crew x reader) story and bew Batfam imagines and hc and also a  Riddler imagine! so if you have any other propt for any villain or any character of Dc send me a message anytime!

Thank you to everyone who supported this story and the wonderful anon who suggested two ending for this story! 

tags: @hamsterforlive @princessquinn33 @plethora-of-things

If you want to be tagged message me any time!

Part1 Part2 Jay’s ending (here!)  jon’s ending  [Sequel!]

Enjoy!

“Well birdie…looks like you are about to lose hahahahaha!!! This gives me so many memories! Ahh! To bad the big bad bat won’t come! ☹ But anyway…im sure you came for your little princess??? Ohhh you did hahahahaha!! The little robin is alone again!! Poor youuu! Too bad she doesn’t love you anyway!! Hahahahahaha” The joker laughed, over the blodies body of Red hood.

“ Fuck …you” Jason said.

“Good night!” The joker prepared for the last strike.

“BAM!”

Jason Todd Ending

Jason fired his gun, hitting the joker in the middle of his forehead.

The joker let escape a mad laugh before falling on the ground. A sick smile in his cold face as a little trail of blood escaped from the hole.

Jason kicked his body away and broke the door, seeing your sleeping face. He immediately calmed down, but his anger incremented as he saw The scarecrow sitting next to you.

“You fucker…” Jason seethed as Crane waked up.

“You…we thought I killed you….To bad, you’ll die soon.” Crane grabbed a knife and attacked Jason. Jason shoot him once. Crane attacked him, injuring his good arm making the gun fall on the ground. Todd kicked him on his knees making him fall, he kicked the knife away and hit cranes face repeatedly making him bleed trough his nose.

“that’s for (y/N)! that’s for all the civilians you killed! , This is for the children you experimented on, this is for my family and THIS IS FOR (y/n) AGAIN!!!!” After a extra strong punch Crane’s head hit the ground violently and got knocked out.  Jason spited blood on the ground before running to you and disconnecting the blood transfuses and the machines.

“Oh god, (y/n) …wake up please! I can’t lose you! I can’t lose anyone else! Please!” Jason teared his domino mask off and hold your face in his bloodstained ones. He kissed you sweetly over and over again.

“(Y/N) PLEASE! PLEASE! Wake up don’t leave me…. You are my everything…my best friend…my lover…my soulmate…The only I trust enough with my feelings…I can’t lose anyone else! “he kissed your lips softly as his desperate hot tears fell on your cold cheeks. “(y/n) …..”

“J-Jay….” You opened your eyes softly, your mouth dry and voice raspy from the screaming. “Jay..” Jason smiled at you as he hugged you hard.

“(y/n)…oh god….you’re okay…everything is going to be ok…” Jason’s breath felt hot in the skin of your neck as his hug felt comfortable and heavenly.

“Jay….im sorry…I shouldn’t have….i shouldn’t have come!” You sobbed on Todd’s chest as he tried to calm you.

“Shhhh, it’s okay….we took care of it…Gotham’s safe again…” Jason carried you bridal style out of the facility, as he went out Kory and Roy entered the labs.

“Everyone has reunited?” Jay asked.

“Yes, everyone is waiting outside. The rest of the league joined in the last fight.” Roy answered.

“Take care of Crane, if I see his face I shot him.” Jason started walking away holding you close. “ oh, and the body of the joker is rooting in the entrance!”

“What.” Roy said.

“Does that mean I can blast the crow of scares? he hurt my friend!” Kori said.

“uh…maybe a bit, yeah a bit” Roy said as they walked to the lab.

///*\\\

Jason got out of the labs to see his allies, friends, and …ugh…family.

“Jason! How is she??” Dick ran to him to see if you needed medical attention.

“She’s okay…”

“My god! Jay your hands! You face! “ Dick said.

“Not my blood”

“Who is it. “ Batman, who had recently joined their fight said.

“Crane’s…and joker’s”.

“The joker was here?” Superman asked as Roy came out of  the lab with Crane’s unconscious body and Kori with joker’s bloodied, cold corpse whose she let fall from her flying position to the ground in a loud splash.

“He’s dead btw.” Jason said nonchalant as he passed them to let you in   Roy’s car. “Now take Crane out of my sight before I shot him ten times.”

"What? JASON!" Batman yelled. Jason let you in the passenger seat and drive home where he showered you, dressed you in your pajama and prepared your favorite to eat. Late that night Jason cuddled you apologizing for not acting before…for letting you get hurt. You tried to smile at him and cuddled him.

“It’s not your fault…” Jason hugged you and hide his face in your neck, smelling your calming scent.

“I love you, (y/n).” Jason kissed your lips sweetly before falling asleep.

///*\\\

It’s been 4 months since what the press called “The Darkest months” . All the hero community united to put Gotham back to its feet.

“Starfire, Hawkgirl please put this in that roof”

“ Okay!” Kori smiled as she and Chayara flied the roof of a house to its place. Superman flied over them melting the joints with his X ray vision. The lanterns set away and got rid of the debris while Aquaman took care of  putting out the fires and of re-construing the port of Gotham.

Batman and the Batclan, helped GCPD with the civilians. Wonder Woman with the Flash helped to put back together Gotham’s memorials. For the first time all the heroes helped in putting back the destroyed city, and for the months it took no villain, mobster or petty thief tried anything.

Jason had finally eliminated all the residual chemicals Scarecrow put in your system, with patience, love and caution Jason sewed back together your psychologic and physical health ,like you once did for him all those years ago. Bruce had months of not talking to Jason, angry at the fact that he had killed, on the other hand, Jason felt his revenge had been finished and now fought for what was right. You and Jason fell in love all over again after that adventure and Jason was very decided to not letting you go.

He had finally found someone he could trust with his life, someone he could be weak with , someone who would love him with his faults …Someone he could form a family with.

Tonight was the 8th anniversary of you first meeting and also of your first date. Jason put a blindfold on you and conduced you to the same secret place he showed you those years ago, this place was only yours…There he had set an small table with two chairs and a candle.

“Jay…?” A wide smiled took over your face as you looked at you romantic-that -acts-like-he’s-so-tough boyfriend and kissed him. He helped you sit and put the first dish he prepared for you when you two moved together.

After eating he smiled at you with his bad boy charm and gave you his helmet. You, confused took it , he told you to look inside. You got a little red velvet box and as you opened it Jason got on one of his knees. You realized when you saw the simple ring inside and tears started falling of your eyes.

“(Y/n) (l/n) I know im not the easier man to get along, nor the best boyfriend heck not even the best vigilante. But I love you, you make me a better man, you feel like I belong, you are my home. Since I meet you I knew there was something in you…something that told me that you were different. You would make me the happiest man on earth if you accepted this mess for a husband.” As Jason ended you had put the ring on your finger and tackled him, kissing his lips over and over again.

“I DO!, I do I do I do!!” You smiled at him as he kissed you passionately.

“Thank you.”

///*\\

It was a small wedding in that same roof. Just your family, Roy, Kori and jay’s family. He looked handsome with his black leather jacket, clean white shirt and black pants. You, on the other hand looked positively angelic in your medium length white dress with a red bow, your (h/c) hair free and natural and bouquet of red roses on your hand.

Jason smiled when he looked at you, you here the most beautiful view he had ever seen. He took your hand between his and kissed your nose.

Roy, officed the wedding for you as Tim was Jason’s best (or maybe bat?) man and  Kori was your (how she called it ) Maid of brides. Lian with her cute red hood dress you had made for her carried the rings for you two.

After the ceremony Alfred with the help of the Batboys (and Bruce) prepared the dinner, and after Roy got a bit drunk with Dick and Babs had to put them in time out you and Jay came back to your home sweet home where you made love all night long.

Sinking in each others warm until the end of time.

The end.

Bonus!

Meanwhile in one of the darkest cells of Arkham and middle aged man grabed his head between his hands and talked to himself smiling crazily as h lived in his own world.

“Yes, of course my beautiful (y/n)! of course I’m happy we have Sam! You want another?? No problem my beautiful wife! Get out that pesky dress of you and let me make love to you!!!”

Suddenly a loud explosion and the man hit the wall violently as the wall of his prison blew up. When the smoke cleared the man eyes looked at his way to freedom, an evil smile made his way to his soft face.

“I’m coming, my love!” Yelled Jonathan Crane as he ran away of Arkham asylum.

Jason Todd’s ending -  (Here)

Jonathan Crane’s ending ( here)

[jhaenyiu]

TsukiUta Fanfic: "Will You Be Mine?" [Shimotsuki Shun x OC x Mutsuki Hajime]

There she was, fidgeting her fingers in nervousness, as she looked at the two males kneeling down at her. And as she was about to open her mouth to speak, they simultaneously cut her off. "Will you be mine?" ~ "Yes, sir! I'll do my best!" the girl bowed, putting her long lavender hair with white highlights in a slight mess. "You may go now," the president of the Tsukino Productions said, dismissing the young girl, as she went out of the president's office and jumped in celebration. "Yes! Hinokawa Yui got the job!" she celebrated, raising her fists in the air. "Mm? If it isn't Hinokawa-san," she turned from where she heard the voice to see the white-haired Procella leader. "Shimotsuki-san! Good afternoon!" she greeted as she bowed down. "You look so happy. What happened?" "I was--" "Haha, I was just kidding. I know thay you've been assigned as the leader in the production team for the Full Moon Festival. Congratulations!" he answered, leaving the girl in front of him, shocked. "How did you know?" "Hajime, the director and I were talkong about it. Well, good luck!" Shimotsuki Shun told her as he waved walking away, his figure disappearing. Feeling ecstatic, Hinokawa Yui, the current leader for the Production Team of the Full Moon Festival, happily walked back to her office to pick up some papers before going to the arena where the Full Moon Festival will be held. "Ow--" as she was about to fall, she felt two hands supporting her arms. "Are you okay?" she flinched as she heard a deep familiar voice. "I-I'm okay, Mutsuki-san!" she stuttered as she stood up straight with the help of Gravi's leader. "Be careful next time," she only nodded in response as Mutsuki Hajime, started to walk away. "Congratulations on the job, by the way," he added making the girl blush from the greeting. ~ "Cheers to Hinokawa-san!" a bubbly voice beamed as they all toasted, as the sound of their glasses colliding, echoed throughout the room. "Like I said, Kakeru, you don't need to celebrate! And neither should any of you!" Yui said as she pinched the blond boy's ears and looked at Koi, Rui, Iku, You, Yoru, Arata and Aoi. "It's fine, it's fine, Hinokawa-san! You've always been there for us ever since both Gravi and Procella started. So, this celebration for your assignment at the Full Moon Festival is okay!" Aoi said reassuringly, as the female just sighed in exasperation. "Besides, it's not as if we're drinking alcohol. This is juice!" You yelled as he drank from his glass. "He's secretly wishing there would be a legit alcoholic drink here, though," Yoru commented making the rest of the group giggle. "Well, if you say so," Yui said as she drank from her glass, then coughed afterwards. "I thought you said no alcohol?!" the lavender-haired girl screamed in shock. "Ah, sorry we're late," they all turned to see Kai and Haru, removing their shoes to join the party. "And sorry, because I told them to make you drink, Yui," Kai said as he sat down besides her. "You should be thankful, Yui-san. You is itching to drink alcohol," Koi told her. "But he has to make an appearance for a live show tomorrow morning," she continued as she drank. "She complained when she drank alcohol, but she's enjoying it now," Iku remarked as he poured more juice to his bottle. "Where's Shun?" Rui asked. "Also, Hajime-san is not here," Arata added. "Shun has an interview," Kai answered Rui. "Hajime has a shooting for a new advertisement," Haru replied. "Don't mind them, let's get this party started!" You cheered. "It already started though," Aoi commented. ~ "Ugh," the production leader groaned as she tried to shift to her side but for some reason, she couldn't. Yui tried once more to face her right, but she felt arms over her. waist stopping her. Feeling defeated, she just sighed and let it go. Wait, she thought. Wasn't I drinking with Kai and Haru? As she opened her eyes, her vision was attracted by white hair to her left and purple hair to her right. "Shimotsuki-san?! Mutsuki-san?!" she screamed as she immediately covered her mouth, realizing they were still asleep. She observed the two males to see Hajime facing the edge of the bed as Shun was apparently hugging the girl's waist. "Shh, I'm sleeping," Shun softly said, sending chills to Yui's back. Due to the commotion, Hajime started to move. Scared of waking up the Gravi leader, Yui softly rubbed Hajime's hair as he seemed to have calmed down. "Oh my goodness, what am I going to do?" she told herself as she leaned her head on her hands. As she was thinking on what to do, she saw Hajime stood up and the edge of her eyes. "Hinokawa-san, what are you doing here?" he asked her as he stood up, where the purple-eyed girl stood up, following him. "I'm sorry Mutsuki-san! Even I don't know what's going on!" she apologized, bowing down. "It must've been Shun's doing, then," Hajime concluded as he gave a glare to the white-haired idol. "I'm really sorry," she apologized once more. "It's alright. Sit down for a while, I'm just gonna go change my shirt and let's eat breakfast." "Okay," was her only reply as she sat down on the edge of the bed, looking at her hands to not see the bare torso of the purple-haired leader. "Come on, Hinokawa-san. Look up. Hajime has really good back muscles, you know?" she winced when she heard a very bewitching voice on her right ear. "I'm done. Let's go--Ah, Shun, you're awake," Hajime stated as he blandly looked over the both of them. "To be awoken with the sight of beautiful lavender locks and amazing back muscles, is truly a blessing for me," he stated as he leaned his hands on the bed besides Yui. "Stop the nonsense. Let's go," Hajime declared leaving the two with no choice, but to follow him. As they arrived in the kitchen, the rest of the members of both idol groups were present. "Eh?" "Ahre, ahre?" Were the reactions they got from them. "G-good morning!" Yui greeted as she bowed down, feeling the awkwardness as 10 pairs of eyes were on him. "Now, now, everyone. Stop staring at her. She's getting embarrassed," Shun said, defending the girl as he held her shoulders. "Anyway, come eat breakfast, Shun-san, Hajime-san, Yui-san," Yoru invited them as they all sat down. "Yui-san, would you like to sit on my lap?" You jokingly asked as he received an immediate smack in the head from Kai. "Sit here, Yui," Haru ushered the girl at the edge of the table, setting in between Shun and Hajime. "Hmmm? Mm," they heard mumbling from the other end to see the blond idol framing his hands into two L's enclosing the three at the other edge within his hands. "This love triangle is not bad," Kakeru concluded with a triumphant face. "Eh? Who are you talking about?" Yui questioned as she turned her head to left and right. "I an amazed by how dense, Yui-san is, sometimes. Of course I'm talking about Hajime-san, you and Shun-san!" Kakeru whined as he went back to his seat. "Kakeru, we're in the table. Use your etiquette," the said boy immediately behaved when he heard their leader's voice. "Understood." "Don't be such a killjoy, Hajime. Kakeru is young, let him have fun!" the White Demon King ended with a loud chuckle as he started to eat the breakfast prepared by Yoru and Aoi. "Mm! This is delicious!" the production leader exclaimed as she took a bite from her food. "Thank you!" both of the cooks from each group thanked. "Next time, could you cook for us, Hinokawa-san?" Shun jokingly told as Yui just coughed in response. "Yeah! Yui-san's cooking is the best!" Koi praised, raising his utensils. "Eh? You cook? I never tried it before," You commented. "I-it's not that amazing--" "She made a really delicious cake without flour," Rui added, touching his chin as he thought. "Rui!" "What?! No flour?! That's shocking," Arata said with his straight face unchanged. "So she should, right?" "YES!" ~ Hinokawa Yui's PoV Many weeks have passed and the Full Moon Festival is having a big progress. The joint song is finished, their dances are polished, everything is perfect! "Yui--" "Ah! Ah, it's you, Haru. What is it?" I asked the male in glasses as he approached me with piles of paper in hand. "Why were you so surprised?" "N-nothing. I was just shocked," I replied to him as he took s seat besides me. "I was here with instructions for you for the Full Moon Festival but, you seem like you need help. What happened?" "Umm," I trailed off, not knowing what to say, and whether I should say it or not. "Come on, Yui. We've been together in this busoness for so long already. Tell me," he said in a persuading voice, as I had no choice but to spill. ~flashback~ I was at the event grounds, monitoring how's the preparation for the event. While I was at the backstage, checking the rooms, I saw a room that was occupied. "Hello? Is anybody here?" I asked. "I'm inside. Taking a shower," was what I heard. This sounds like Hajime. "Eh? Is that so?" I said as I looked around. "Hinokawa? Is that you?" "Yes, it's me, Mutsuki-san," I replied. As I was about to tell him that I was about to leave, I saw a crumpled paper on the table. 'Do you like Yui? Yes or No' 'To: Hajime From: Procella' This sounds like something Shun would do--wait, he answered-- "Hinokawa?" I heard a voice call me as I flinched to see a barely dry Shimotsuki Hajime with only towel around his waist. "Ah--I'm not supposed to be here! If you'll excuse me please!" I bowed in apology as I ran out of the door. ~end of flashback~ "So that's what happened," Haru commented as he fixed his glasses. "The thing is, I saw the Yes being encircled, Haru! He likes me! How? When? Where? Why?" I bombarded him with questions. "Don't ask me that sort of stuff. Go talk to him yourself." "Eh? No. But the thing is--" "Haru--Eh? Yui?" Kai came in the door. "Kai!" I wailed like a hungry baby. "Umm, Yayoi Haru-san? You're being called to the stage for a Gravi practice," a staff came in after knocking in. "See you later. And do what you think is best, Yui!" he yelled before running off. "So? What's up with you?" Kai asked me as I just exasperatedly sighed. "Is it about Shun?" "Kind of?" "Tell me." "You sound like a gossip girl, but okay." ~flashback~ I was running away from that room, to avoid more interactions with Mutsuki-san. My heart can't take it anymore. And as I was running, I was suddenlt pulled into a small alley that's hidden throught the hallways, where green pair of orbs welcomed me. "Hello, my little rabbit," he teasingly whispered. "Hello, Shimotsuki-san!" I replied, tense covering my entire body. "Why were you running?" he questioned as he leaned on the wall, increasing the gap between us in this small alley, "Uhm--that's because--I can't tell you," I sighed as I looked down. "Mm," I only heard him say. Then, I felt his hands lift my cheeks up as he leaned his hands on the wall, trapping me in his arms. "Don't go to anyone else but me, okay?" I could only nod in response as he let go of me and walked ahead of me. ~end of flashback~ "So that's why you're all awkward now and extra self-conscious!" Kai concluded as Haru came in the room. ~ I told Kai my story with Hajime and Haru about Shun. "Well, I can't blame them. Yui is really pretty and dependable, so . . ." Kai started. "It can't be helped, right?" Haru continued. "Anyway, we only have 3 days, until the Full Moon Festival. Forget about those for now, okay?" "Okay." ~ "Tsuki no Uta!" they all sang together and danced more. As the song ended their fans screamed hysterically. "As we end this event, I want to take time to give everyone my gratitude," Hajime started, slowly calming down the crowd. "Thank you to all of you who came all the way here just to watch our performance," he bowed as the rest of the members on the stage bowed down as well. "And of course, we want to give thanks to the people behind the scenes. To the cameramen, to the music coordinators, event managers and staff, thank you!" Shun added. "But, there's one more special person." "And we would like to call her up to the stage," and at the edge of the stage I saw Kai and Haru lead the rest of the group to the back stage. "Please come up, Hinokawa Yui," they both simultaneously said, as the spotlight turned to me. "What?!" then, I felt two hands push my back where I saw Haru and Kai smirking at me. "Hinokawa, thank you. For being there from the start and never leaving Gravi even though we've caused you a lot of trouble," Mustuki-san stated as he held my right hand. "Yui, even though I tease you a lot, and bully you a lot, you put up with my randomness, and stayed patient. Thank you, for everything," Shimotsuki-san held my left hand tightly. "Shun and I have talked about this," the Gravi leader started. "And we decided to leave everything to you," the white-haired man continued. I fidgeted my hands in nervouseness as both of them kneeled in front of me, as they simultaneously ask; "Will you be mine?"

[sunlightdances]

Pairing: Dean x Female Reader Rating: M for language. Warnings: Dirty talk, barely any smut. A/N: Just something fun since I’m alone in the office today and didn’t feel like doing anything. PSA: I’m a terrible employee. I got the idea of a haunted zoo from this article.

“Don’t move.” You tell Dean, carefully tiptoeing towards him. His breathing is shallow, and you fixate on his shoulder. 

“I swear to fuckin’ God, kid–”

“Stop talking.” You hiss. “Do you want to die?” In retrospect, taking a case at the city zoo was probably a bad idea, but what were you supposed to do? As soon as you heard ghost animals, you jumped at the trip. Dean, however, wasn’t so sure.

“If you don’t get this fuckin’ thing off me, I’m going to freak.”

You snort. “A little late for that, don’t you think?” You get closer, trying to figure out how the hell you’re going to get this poison frog off Dean’s shoulder.

The ghost animals turned out to be real, as was their ghostly zookeeper, and the struggle ended in the reptile house, with a few broken glass panes. Of course Dean was here for this. The guy wasn’t keen on reptiles in the first place, and you’re pretty sure he’s two seconds away from losing it and shooting the damn thing.

“Let me–” you get closer, “Let me find a stick or something.”

“That sounds like the worst plan.” Dean shifts on his feet, clearly uncomfortable. “Just shoot it.”

“And get the poison everywhere? No thanks. Plus, this frog didn’t do anything to you. Don’t be so cold-hearted, Dean.” You pause, snapping your fingers as you grin at him. “Or should I say, cold-blooded?”

He rolls his eyes. “Jesus Christ.”

“We’re in the reptile house. I couldn’t help it.” 

“Okay, that’s great, I’ll be sure to applaud you later. Just– get this fuckin’ thing off me so we can find Sam and get out of here.” 

You find a fake branch in one of the broken enclosures, and you inch towards Dean again. “Why do they even have poison frogs at a zoo?”

“For science.” Dean says, like you’re asking a dumb question. 

Much to your relief, the frog practically leaps at the branch before you even get to Dean, and you let out what you’ll deny later is a yelp before you hurriedly put the little guy back where he belongs. “Okay.” You sound a little breathless. “Let’s get the hell out of here before you make another friend.”

You and Dean hurry outside and meet up with Sam towards the zoo entrance, and you know if you don’t get out of there soon, the cops are going to show up. The alarm in the reptile house started going off as soon as the glass broke, and you really don’t want to spend time explaining your way out of that one.

Back at the hotel, you call dibs on the first shower, and to their credit, the boys only grumble a little. It’s been a long few days working this case and you’re tempted to stay in the shower a bit and– well, relieve some tension. You’ll use all the hot water though, and you don’t feel like having an argument about it with Sam or Dean later.

When you get back out to the main room, Dean escapes into the bathroom after you, squeezing by you in the small hallway, making you shut your eyes in frustration. You’re– okay, you’re a little hard up for it, but it’s not your fault.

You travel with two very extremely attractive dudes on the regular, both of whom do nothing to curb their own desires - they just go out and find a nice girl and go to her place. 

You don’t have as much luck. Not for a lack of trying, though. It’s just– you’ve never liked one-night stands. Nothing wrong with ‘em, but you just don’t think you’ve got the emotional bandwidth, as Charlie would say, to deal with that. You’re too quick to get a crush on someone.

So, you deal with it the best you can, but some days it’s harder than others. It doesn’t help that the longer you hunt with the Winchesters, the more affectionate they become. Sam is more shoulder squeezes and arms around your shoulders. It’s Dean– Dean’s the one who’s always gives you hugs, and flirts with you (the guy doesn’t have an off switch, apparently), and gives you these looks sometimes that make you flush.

You’re not sure if he’s doing it on purpose, so in the meantime, you just suffer.

Later, you’re asleep when you hear the door, and you’re instantly upright, scrambling for the knife under your pillow. 

“Relax.” Dean’s voice is deep in your ear.

“Sorry–” Sam says sheepishly, “Go back to sleep.” 

“Where are you going?” You ask, groggy. Turning to Dean, “Where is he going?” 

Dean chuckles. “He’s got a date.” 

“It’s late!” 

Now Sam laughs too. “Calm down. You were only asleep an hour. It’s eleven. I’m going to have a drink with that marine biologist.” He waggles his eyebrows. “Don’t wait up.” 

You groan and flop back down, pulling the blanket over your head as Dean laughs. “Ugh. Shut up.” 

“I mean, at least you’re prepared for anything?” He says, teasing.

“Why are you in this bed?” You ask, grumpy. You hate being woken up. You feel like you slept for hours.

He gets quiet. “You were– you were kinda thrashing, a little. Thought you were having a nightmare. Didn’t want you to punch yourself in the face.” He tries to lighten his tone at the end, but you frown anyway.

“I don’t remember it.”

He shrugs. “No worries. Just wanted to make sure you’re okay.” 

You roll over, facing him. “Thanks.” You prop your head up on one hand. “Why aren’t you out with the– what was she?”

“Angela worked in the butterfly exhibit.” He says, indignantly.

You snort. “Yes. Right.” 

He shrugs. “Didn’t feel like going out.” He drops his hand and it brushes your thigh, just barely. You suppress a shiver.

You sit up, leaning back on the headboard beside Dean. He flips the TV on, and you sit there in a comfortable silence until he shifts, too close to you to be casual. You side-eye him.

The small clench of his jaw is the only clue that he realizes you’re on to him. “You, uh–” He stops himself, then seems to decide he wants to go on. “Am I crazy or were you getting off in the shower?”

Your jaw drops. “What?” You blurt. “I–”

“Don’t answer that.” He holds his hand up. “Sorry. I– I shouldn’t ask you that. None of my business.” 

You’re staring at him now. “Why would you even–”

“I just thought I heard–” He hangs his head, clearly embarrassed. “Nothing. Never mind. I’m a huge asshole. I’m really sorry.” 

Your cheeks are flushed, but you almost want to laugh. Nothing about this hunt has been normal, so why not throw this conversation into the mix? “What if I was?”

His head snaps up to look at you. “Excuse me?”

“Why are you so curious? Maybe I was.” 

Dean’s eyes go dark. “Is that right.”

You feel an ache start to build in the pit of your stomach. “Maybe.”

“Maybe isn’t a great answer, kid.” He says. His voice sounds dangerous.

He slides a little closer, and must see how eager you are, because he starts touching you immediately. His hand slides up your thigh, and you shiver. “You need help?” He asks, a low rasp.

“Dean–”

“You want me to stop, I’ll stop. But if you want to get off, I can help you do that too.”

You whimper as his mouth hovers over your ear, and jaw. “Want to touch you.” You manage to get out, and he groans softly.

“Want that too.” He tells you. “Been wanting to touch you. For weeks, months.” His hands slide up, up, up, until they dip under the hem of your sleep shorts.

Your hands find purchase on his broad shoulders, and you relish in the way he shudders slightly. “Dean, if you don’t kiss me in the next two seconds…”

His mouth slants over yours before you can finish your sentence. You gasp into his mouth, and your hands frame his face as you hold him to you in hopes that he never, ever stops kidding you.

“Jesus.” He says, his mouth sliding down over your jaw and your neck, sucking a mark into the hollow of your throat. You whimper again, and he ruts his hips against you in reaction. He pulls back and his hands slide down where you’re warm and aching for him. “Goddamn, kid.” He mumbles. “The zoo really got you worked up, huh?”

“Shut up,” you say, breathlessly, almost keening as he presses his fingers against you. 

Neither of you talk for much longer, not until he gets both of your clothes off, and then– Dean’s inside of you, and he lets out a groan, and starts talking again. You’re starting to think the dirty talk is as much as thing for him as it is for you.

“You feel so goddamn good.” He whispers as he sets a steady pace. “Fuck.”

“If you stop, I’ll shoot you.” You warn when his pace falters, and he grins.

“Just making sure you’re– shit.” He swallows hard. “Just making sure you’re feeling good.”

You smile up at him. “Never better. Now shut up and fuck me, Dean.” 

His eyes darken even more, and he picks up the pace, until you’re practically writhing underneath him. He tells you how much he’s thought of this, how many times he’s pictured you spread out underneath him, and you whimper.

“C’mon.” He whispers. “C’mon, sweetheart. Let go. I want to see you. I want to watch your face when you come for me.”

You arch your back as your orgasm overtakes you, and Dean’s face looks strained as he struggles not to close his eyes. “That’s it, baby. That’s it. Fuck, yes.”

He says your name on a low moan when he comes, and you hold him close to you as you both ride out the aftershocks. A few minutes later, he lets out a breathless chuckle. “That was… unexpected.” He kisses your collarbones. “Good, though. Really good.”

You grin back at him, unable to tear your gaze away from his sparkling eyes. “Yeah. Good.”

“You gonna freak out? Try to bail on us tomorrow?” Dean looks at you with a surprisingly vulnerable look on his face. 

“Nah.” You say, casual. “Too much work to change my identity and all that.” You wink at him.

“God.” He snorts. “You’re such a brat. I almost can’t believe that I–” He stops himself, and your heart starts pounding. “Can’t believe that I actually like you.”

It’s not an admission of love, but it’s enough. Dean doesn’t do emotions. The way he’s looking at you, though– it makes you want to do some cartwheels or some shit.

“Hey.” He says, getting your attention. “I do, though. Like you.”

You smile softly. “Same, Dean.”

You drift off to sleep in his arms, and in the morning, he holds your hand as you walk out to the Impala to load your stuff in the back, only letting go when he goes to the front desk to check out while you wait for Sam. He looks over his shoulder at you twice on his way there, and you think that if this is how it’s gonna be from here on out, you could get used to this.

[pwettypwita]

Karaoke, Is Kara-OK? | Karamel Fanfiction #4 (Part 6)

Hi guys! So here it is the 7 days awaited of new chapter Karamel Fanfiction from KIKO Series. As I’ve told you before, this is a long one - probably the longest on my history of writing.. I hope it didn’t bore the hell out of you, and I hope you enjoy your reading ;) I’m open for any ideas, critics, and definitely waiting for your comments. And I just want to say thank you soooo so much for staying with me and reading my fanfic through this whole fantastic ride. Your excitements and support are giving me fire to keep writing. You guys are the best!! And a quick hello to @iminyourhandskara, thanks for making sure that I’m still alive and still writing. lol. xx Happy reading!

—––•—––

Kara, Is Kara-OK? Part 6

#np : Nick Jonas - Jealous | Labrinth - Beneath Your Beautiful feat. Emeli Sande

Waking up the next morning first thing Kara do was cursing, What the hell happened last night? She wasn’t in a state of still-drunk though she could feel this sour taste in her mouth. The taste made her cringe. She checked her phone, it’s 6:30am. The sun light sweeped the room, throwing shades of the window frames along the floorboard. After such a long night she had, she wished she could just lay on bed all day today. But it’s Thursday morning, she needs to work and she got works to do. So she got up, brushed her teeth, freshen up her face, and then walked to wherever this delicious smell of fresh pancakes come from.

“Morning sis! How’s your sleep?” Alex greeted Kara as she walked to the kitchen.

“I’ve had better sleep”, she slumped to the stool and placed her head on the table.

“Aw.. Are you still drunk, feeling dizzy?”

“Hey I never get drunk”

“Denying proves you did. I don’t understand how it’s still in your system. You have a fast metabolism.” Kara shrugged, agreeing Alex. “Eat your pancakes” Alex gave her a plate of pancakes. She then handed her the syrup, a bowl of chocolate chips, and a glass of warm milk. She’s reaching and drinking the milk first.

“I think that drink was a little bit too strong for me”, Kara said as she’s drinking her milk, she wiped the white liquidy foam on the corner of her mouth.

“What were you drinking anyway?” Alex took a seat next to Kara while eating her pancakes.

“Conner..” she paused a brief second, saying his name burst butterflies in her stomach. She poured the chocolate then took a piece of her pancake. “..he bought me the drink. I think I had too much”

“Yeah you told me. Shots and red drink?”

“Yes. I didn’t know what it was though. But it tasted better than the rum I’ve once tasted. But now, the after taste, blehh” Kara made a cringe on her face.

“Well if you’re still feeling it, and want me to check you over at the DEO…”

“No, it’s fine. I’m fine” Kara assured Alex. She took another bite of pancake.

“Alright.. So.. Have you texted Mon El?”

Kara almost drop her fork when she heard his name. Now that Alex mentioned it, she just realized that after Mon El left her apartment last night, she haven’t texted or called him. A rush of guilt came to her.

“N-no, I haven’t”, Kara answered looking down at her plate, playing with her chocolate chips before she took another bite.

“Why?”

“Beeeecausee……”

“Because?”

“…Conner texted me.”

“You guys exhanged numbers?”

“Possibly. He texted me. That means we exchanged number right?”

“What did he say?”

Ugh, question much. “He asked me.. for… a lunch”, she exclaimed. The pancake is half gone. She better eat her pancake and finish her breakfast ASAP before Alex gave her thirty questions.

“What….”, Alex gave her a confused look. Her brows furrowed. “I thought you like Mon El” Kara gave her the look.

“What? You kissed him last night. And you still haven’t told me what happened by the way.. What did you say to Conner?”, Alex asked curiously.

“I haven’t text him back.” Kara answer straightly with a mouth full of Alex’s delicious chocolate chips pancake.

“Do you want to go?”

“Umm… maybe?… not?”

“You’re not answering the question.”

“I don’t know Alex”, Kara answered in fury.

“I think you know that you need to talk to Mon El first though” Alex pointed her fork on Kara.

“I will…”

Kara took the last bite of her pancake then finished her milk. “I need to go to my office. I’m going to shower. Thanks for the pancake sis”

“My pleasure. Tell me the full story later?”

“Yes. Later” Or never.. Kara mouthed silently.

———

View hours later…

Morning has been easy on Kara, but something bothered her mind. After her morning peep talk with Alex, she couldn’t stop checking and staring at her phone. She still haven’t texted or called Mon El, she knows she needed to, she had to, but she didn’t know what to say - what’s the right thing to say. After what happened last night he’s the one thing she’s been thinking about. Just thinking about Mon El alone took five minutes of her time. Thankfully - her job as a reporter didn’t gave her much of a work so it won’t cause any problem, yet.

At the team meeting earlier, Snapper gave her orders to do a cover and an interview with NCPD about Alien Fight Club a.ka Roulette. She already covered that story before, cited and sourced from Supergirl, only this time Snapper needs more infos from NCPD. She got about 48 hours to cover that story and gave her boss a draft by tomorrow, sure she could spend a couple minutes of that to get a coffee.

Kara was heading out CatCo building, walking down the sidewalk to Noonan’s to grab a coffee as she hears her name called.

“Kara?”

She turned her head expectantly. A tall short hair guy with a familiar face and beautiful hazel brown eyes approached her.

“Conner? Hi”

He stopped, staring at Kara from about two feet away on the sidewalk, and she stared back. He looked dapper, with a button down white shirt, khaki chino pants, a pair of navy boat shoes, and matching navy blazer. Dang, he looks good. Oh God, why is he here? Oh God, I haven’t texted him back!

“It’s you! Wow, what a coincidence” He exclaimed, happily. To his presence, Kara couldn’t help but feel a little discomfort, awkwardness. Why do I feel awkward?

“Do you work here?” He asked.

“I do, well, not here - here.. I work at CatCo”

“No way. My office is just a block away”

“Really?”

“Yeah.. That tall building”, Conner pointed his finger to the blue glass tall building, a couple buildings away from CatCo. His office is just a block away, they probably had bumped into each other before, what a coincidence.

“Are you going somewhere?”, he asked her.

“Ah yes, Noonan’s. I need to grab my morning coffee, that I missed earlier..” She checked her watch, it reads 10am, not so morning.

“Noonan’s? No way. Me too!” He exclaimed. There was a moment of awkward silence, Conner scratched his head, “I’ve heard their sticky buns are the most favorite”

“They are my favorite!” Kara said excitedly. As if in disbelief, Conner responded, “Really? I think I have to try this famous sticky buns”

“You should! Well.. Do you want to come?”, she asked politely. Out of nowhere, she asked him to join her.

“I don’t want to come between you and your morning coffee.. I can come later”

“What no, don’t be silly. It’s fine. Since you mentioned it, I’m now craving for that sticky buns. You should try, we can share”, she offered. She almost bite her lips to control her reaction. Whaaatt I’m asking him to what now?

“Oh Kara, you’re irresistable. I mean now I can’t resist that offer”, Conner smirked. “Sticky buns. Please..” Conner gestured his hand for Kara to lead the way. She took a deep breath and step forward, Conner walking on her side.

I must have lost my mind, what am I doing?

—–—-

Meanwhile at the DEO…

“Winn! Have you seen Kara?” Mon El greeted his new-friended friend. He just finished his morning routine; weight lifting, sprinting, bag punching, those kind of things. He got sweats all over his face. He wiped it with a towel, and placed his elbow on the black glass table next to Winn’s.

“No. She hasn’t checked in yet. It’s 10 am, she’s at CatCo I’m sure..” Winn explained tapping his keyboard.

“Alright. Thanks” Mon El was about to go but Winn started a conversation.

“Hey how was last night?”, he turned his chair facing Mon El.

“How was what?”

“Y'know what” Winn referred to the talk he insisted Mon El to have with Kara. Which did not happen. What actually happened might only worsen the situation.

“It was.., actually I’m looking for her to talk about it”

“Talk about what?”, Winn furrowed his brows.

“Why so many questions”

“It’s called a conversation. Why no answer?”

“Because I don’t have answers, yet.” Mon El sighed. He didn’t know what or why, but he sensed something. Winn’s kinda off and tensed.

“Kara was obviously drunk last night, I’m just being a concerned friend”, Winn said as he gives Mon El this certain look, narrowed eyes.

What’s that supposed to mean? Didn’t he trust Kara with me? Am I that low of a person? Mon El thought himself. He sighed. He wasn’t in the mood to talk about what happened last night. Not to Winn. He really needs to go, to find Kara, to talk to her, that’s what he needs to do now, ASAP.

“And I - obviously - need to go. Now. Thanks Winn” and with that Mon El walked out the conversation. Winn clenched his jaw.

“If she’s not there, try Noonan’s” Winn added.

Noonan’s? That coffee and sticky buns place Kara took me before? The bribery coffee place? Noted. Just think about bribery coffee curved a smile on his face. With that Mon El took off and take a shower. He’d better freshen up and prepare himself for what’s coming.

———-

Thirty minutes later…

Mon El was walking down the sidewalk, enjoying the morning sunlight and breezy weather. It was a perfect balance. The sun gave him warmth, the wind helped him and his mind to cool down. The yellow sun is way better than the red sun he once exposed to at Daxam. He started to like living here, on earth. Not only for the yellow sun or the superhuman abilities he now has, but Kara. He’s thankful for her existence in his life. She’s his ray of sunshine. Though their relationship, friendship, whatever people labelled or called it, wasn’t the easy one, but the way she made him feels certain things; she gave him spirits, she gave him hope, she lighten up his life, he likes that. He likes her. Everytime he thinks of her, a smile escape from his face.

Last night though, it wasn’t what he’d like to be; flew off in the middle of something and left it unfinished. Which was the main reason why he was walking down the sidewalk to CatCo office, to see Kara and clear things between them.

As he enjoying his walk, something stopped him on his track. He heard this familiar laugh from a far. His superabilities of hearing can be super sensitive sometimes. And like a radar pointed to a source, he knew who the source of this laugh was, it was Kara’s.

He stopped at his track, turned his head to the left to see the sign board above his head read “Noonan’s”. He walked closer to the glass wall, peeking inside. And that’s when he saw a beautiful girl with beautiful hair sitting inside. Although he saw it only from behind, he recognized her. It’s Kara. She was sitting, talking, laughing, the only thing caught Mon El’s eye was that she wasn’t sitting, talking, and laughing alone, she was with another guy. Who is he? That’s definitely not James. He looked closer, to a distance where the clear transparent thick wall slightly pressed to his nose. Conner?! He yelled in his head.

There was a sudden burning rage inside of him to see Kara sitting there with Conner. There were a twirling waves in his stomach, fire in his chest, an out of rhythm heart beats. He almost lost his control. His fists clenched on his side. With that, he walked into the cafe.

He was only ten step away to reach Kara’s table before turning his body around and decided to take an empty seat couple tables away from her. He tried his best not to barge in to their conversation and punching that Conner guy and tell him to stay away from his girl, but as he rethink that glorious thought, he realized that could only make him look bad - worse even, and that’s not what he needs right now. So he sat there, just a fair distance to spy and listen to their conversation from a far. Thanks to superhearing.

Kara and Conner were having a brunch at Noonan’s. Not a brunch - brunch, their brunch consisted of coffees and sticky buns only. From what Mon El heard, it was the first time Conner tries the sticky buns, and he liked it. He clenched his jaws, tighter and tighter as the conversation goes. He didn’t know how long Kara and Conner have been sitting there, but it looked like they’re enjoying each other company.

“I thought it was overrated, but it was really good”, Conner said as he munching the last bite if his sticky buns. They didn’t share though because Kara would love to have the sticky buns to herself.

“It is! This is one of my favorite comfort food. I’m glad you like it”, Kara said proudly.

“I think it’s mine as well. Thanks to you”, he said as he wiped the sugar glaze left on his lips with a napkin. Kara smiled sheepishly. She took the last bite of her sticky buns.

Mon El was there the whole five minutes conversation. He could only sneered everytime Conner open his mouth. His order just came, a hot latte with pumpkin syrup and cinnamon powder. A coffee drink Kara introduced him when they were buying the bribery coffee that one time. He took a sip right away, as the waiter place the sugar jar and condiment. He focused his sight to the friendly couple.

“You’ve got something on your..”, Conner pointed his finger to Kara’s lips. Kara tried to wipe it but couldn’t get it right. “Here, let me”, he got up from his chair a little bit, gave him enough space to move his right hand wiping the glaze from the corner of her lips with his thumb and suck it.

Mon El jaws dropped, he spilled - choked his latte. The waiter gasped, “Oh gosh, is everything okay?” She asked Mon El, handing him a napkin. Mon El nodded in response, and swallowed the hot liquid. He quickly took the napkin and wipe his mouth with it. “Is something wrong with the latte? I could get you ano”, the waiter asked him politely, apologetically, but Mon El cutted her. “No, it’s fine. I’m fine. Thank you” He wiped his corner lips once again and smile politely to the waiter. The waiter smiled at him and walking to another customer.

What the hell was that?? Mon El clenched the napkin in his hand. Kara looked surprised by Conner’s gesture. They both giggled nervously left Mon El feeling sick in his stomach.

“I’m sorry”, he heard Conner said.

“No, I’m sorry. I’m a messy eater when it comes to sticky buns”, Kara said nervously as she wiping her mouth with a napkin. She avoided eye contact with Conner, instead she’s playing her fork. Then a ring on someone’s cellphone heard, it was Conner’s.

“Ugh. It’s my boss, he’s such a pain in the ass sometime.” Conner said as he checking his phone. “I’m sorry Kara, I really want to stay but I have to go”, Conner fixed his eyes on Kara, he then reached for his wallet.

“Please, it’s on me”, Kara waved her hand, a gesture to stop Conner to reach his wallet as she reached for hers. “No, please, I insist”, he placed couple of ten bucks on the bill.

“In return.. Can you please turn your notification on so you won’t missed my next text? Like I promise, next stop will be salsa and tacco”, he said playfully. What he said makes Kara’s cheeks flushed. He stood up and Kara followed, he reached for his blazer and held it on his hand. Mon El on the other hand could feel his face turned hot red, not because he’s excited or something similar, but because he’s angry. His muscles tightened, stiffened. He asked her for another meeting? Wasn’t this enough. A bile started to form in his throat, ready to throw it up for the next move or whatever Conner’s going to make.

“See you soon?”, Conner said. Oh can you please just go, Mon El snikered.

“Yes. Thank you for the treat, you don’t have to”

“Nah. It’s my pleasure, don’t be a stranger” He said as he open his hand - not in a hand shake open hand, it was an invitation for a hug.

“Thank you again..”, Kara said as she came to his embrace. Conner smiled and held her tight.

What.. A hug? Really? A facial expression mixed of hurt and anger plastered on Mon El’s face. He sat still, his fists at his sides and his anger almost taking over him.

Mon El was there. He was there but Kara didn’t notice. He was there watching the whole thing but Kara didn’t notice. He was there, and he could hear Kara’s heartbeat in a distance. It went off - it wasn’t a regular heartbeat she got there, it was a quick tap dance quick foot incoherent oh-my-god-it-was-undescribeable heartbeat she got there. Was she feeling excited about the hug? The thought gave Mon El a stomach churn. He felt sick and angry all of a sudden. He couldn’t take it any longer. How could she kissed one guy last night and be with another the next day?

The friendly hug only happened for a brief second. But Mon El just couldn’t take it any longer. He got up, left his ten bucks on the table, and walked to Kara’s table. As if on cue, Conner was walking out the table as well. They met as the walked. They made eye contact and Conner smiled politely to him. But Mon El ignored him, and just keep walking straight to Kara. He stopped for a second, and from the corner of his eyes, he saw Conner walked out the glass door and turn left.

He kept walking. Kara was smiling when he came to her, he could see that even from the back. He was just two steps away from her, but he stopped his walking. He was thinking about what he’s going to say to Kara. What would he say to her? Would he say that she shouldn’t hug Conner? Would he say that she couldn’t do that? That she shouldn’t be with Conner but with him instead? That she can’t have a coffee and buns with other guy? That she can’t spend her time with other guy she wants? That she can’t have a good time, a laugh, and be happy with other guy?

He had these questions inside his head that made him rethink his decision. And he decided to back out. It came to his realization that she’s not his to keep. She’s not his to have. The truth speaks for itself, she’s not his. She deserves to be happy, and it’s her decision to make not his. She deserves to be happy, even if it’s not with him. It was a hard pill to swallow, but he did.

As if Kara could feel his presence, she turned her head to his direction. Mon El was about to turned and walked out from Noonan’s, but Kara caught him. She met his eyes.

“Mon El?”, Kara called him. She looks surprised.

He looked at her and gave her a side smile. He didn’t, he couldn’t think about anything else. Just like the way he ended last night, he did it again, he walked away.

——

Back at The DEO…/p>

Mon El just walked oustide the elevator. Fists on his side, tried to hold and contain his feelings; anger, disappointment, sadness, all inside of him. He was walking, fast pace, to the second floor of the DEO office. He was going to the training room, to find a punching bag and punch it hard, before he heard someone called his name.

“Mon El?” It was Alex. She was walking towards him.

“Alex.” He turned and greeted Alex. His face was hard and cold as a stone.

“Hey, have you met Kara?”

“I have actually. At Noonan’s. She was with that guy Conner”

Alex face was concerned but turned to a gasp shocked in a millisecond when Mon El mentioned Conner.

“What? She was with Conner?”

“Yup. I’m sorry but I really need to go Alex.” Mon El clenched his fists, hard. Alex noticed it. He didn’t really want to talk to Alex with this unsettling storm inside of him. He was about to flew off to the stairs but Alex called him.

“Mon El wait”, Alex called again trying to hold him. “Are you okay?”, she asked him with this concern look on her face.

“I will be. I am. Alex I am sorry but I really need to go”

“Winn told me you were out to see Kara” To hear her name mentioned once again, he just lost it.

“You know what Alex, Kara is free as a bird. She’s single, she can go with whoever she wants and do whatever she wants” Mon El blurted. He couldn’t control it, he just lost it.

“Don’t be like that”

“I, I’m sorry Alex, I don’t mean to talk about your sister like that”

“No no, not about Kara. I mean don’t talk like that about your own feelings towards her”. Mon El sighed, Alex really got him. “You like her, don’t you?” His body and expression soften. It’s just about 12 hours of a day, but it was already working on his nerve. Just hours ago, she kissed him. Now, she’s hugging and probably kissed someone else. How could she do something like that?

“You tell me”, he hissed. “She’s out of my league, Alex”

“Why’d you say that?”

“Cause she’s perfect..” And not just the look. But everything. Everything about her is perfect. She is perfect for him.

“She’s not. She perfects the imperfection, Mon El. She’s beaten, shattered, broken.. Just like you..”

And suddenly Mon El feels like a dick. He’s been a dick. He’s a coward. He’s selfish. He wanted her for himself. He only thinks about himself. The anger he felt before now dissipate and change into guilt. How could he only thinks about himself?

“..She’s probably just confused after what happened last night” Alex continued

“Oh God I’m sorry for last night. I didn’t,” a sudden guilt rushed through him as he remembered about that awkward moment. I am such a dick, he cursed himself.

“No it was okay. I talked to her earlier this morning, but she didn’t tell me anything”

“Well neither can I”, he smiled shyly.

“I understand. You guys had to talk first and figure this thing out together. I’m just here waiting patiently for my fifty bucks”

It took a moment for Mon El to processed what Alex implies before he could understand what she’s talking about.

“You have a bet on us?” Alex smirked. “Wh, what if you lose? I don’t have fifty bucks to pay you, I barely have a penny”

“I won’t. And you make sure that I won’t”

Both smiled. Alex did a great job to lighten his mood. “Sorry I read you wrong”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”, Alex furrowed her brows.

“I thought you were gonna be hard on me with this”

“Oh don’t provoke me. If you messed this up, I’ll introduce you to my mighty index finger and make sure you regret it”, she lifted her index finger on pointed to him. He laughed groggily. “Yes, ma'am” He took a deep breath before he could say it.

“Thanks, Alex” He smiled heartily.

“For what?”

“Just.. Thanks”, Mon El smiled. Alex nodded her head and mirrored Mon El’s smile. She then went to the operation room and watching the screen intently.

Mon El walked upstairs. Although Alex calmed him down, he still couldn’t settle this storm inside him. He needs an output. He thought it would be better and best to work on his strength, a.ka punching bags. So he walked to this super training room, and stopped on his track as he passed by the medical bay. The memory flooding his mind to where he and Kara first kissed.

He remembered it. He remembered everything. He kissed her and he did it consciously. He did it, but he played it coy because of his insecurities and other things only he knows. His mind wondered to the what ifs; what if he talked about the kiss first and not about the missile, what if he told her that she really is and always look beautiful even with all the weight of this world on her shoulder, what if he told her that he remembered the kiss and he would like to kiss her more - maybe with that, she wouldn’t be with Conner.

The thought of Conner only fueled his anger. The anger that once dissipate when Alex talked to him, the anger that he kept inside after seeing Kara with Conner, the anger that just gone when he saw Kara smiling.. He walked faster and faster to the training room and torn his tshirt as he goes.

Mon El’s been on the training room for almost an hour. He got sweats all over his body. Without him knowing, Kara came to DEO and looking for him. Kara was standing at the observation room above training room, and she watched him training by himself from the wide glass window. She’s been there for couple minutes maybe five, watching him weight training then punching - a special made of steel - punching bag. He was looking intense, and when he threw a punch, it wasn’t just a regular punch, it was an angry punch.

He didn’t realize Kara was up there watching him intently. She wanted to talk, she needed to talk to him now, although she could sense it that Mon El wasn’t in the mood to talk and it might not be the best time for them to talk. But she’s coming to him anyway.

[1upmushrooms]

“Fazbears: 1985″: The Stupid Ass Thieves Guild.

“Monday. Monday, Monday, Monday.” Porter muttered as he laid stretched out in his bed. 

The old strategy of staying up late in a gambit to exhaust himself to sleep was causing several problems he didn’t need at the moment. This new idea was only one out of several tricks he’d been trying in order to finally fall asleep naturally. Thankfully, this strategy seemed to work wonders. 

“Monday...mon....mmmzz.” Porter slurred, his mind finally being put into sleep mode as Saturday night began turning into Sunday morning.

When he finally woke back up, it certainly wasn’t by choice. Indeed it was instead due to noisy neighbors caroling to each house...well, each house besides his.

“Fuckin’ people singing in the morning.” He muttered, thankful that they skipped his house.

Getting out of bed, Porter begun what he now defined as his morning ritual. The steps were fairly normal.

Step One. He’d do a good ten minute exercise routine of his choice, some days it’d be a jog in place, other days it’d be pull ups, it all depended on his mood really.

Step Two. He’d have his clothes laid out on his bed and then enter the bathroom for a brief shower.

Step Three. He’d put on his clothes, as neatly as he possibly could. Back in Chicago, people he knew would often claim that the one way to figure out he was stressed out would be if he didn’t have enough patience to straighten out his attire.

Step four. He’d make sure no one was watching him, yes even when he was alone, and he’d crouch under his bed to pull out a heavy box titled “Nostalgic Shit”. Upon opening the box, Porter would find about at least $5,134.00′s worth of bills in there. Fazbear’s pay was ok when it came strictly to paying bills, but he still needed something for food, gasoline, emergencies, etc. To make sure not even a single dollar was missing, Porter would count every bill, twice. 

Step Five. He’d then write the number down in a book that was also in the box. If he needed to take money out, Porter would subtract his withdrawal and then write the remaining amount in the book. Once all that was done, Porter would put everything back in the box, close it, and shove it back under his bed.

Final Step. He’d prepare a small breakfast, the most common being an egg and a cup of coffee, and then finally he’d do another exercise routine of his choice.

As the routine was being performed the phone rang, more than once. Porter didn’t pay attention to the total number of rings, hell he didn’t even realize it was ringing at first, but he was sure someone had tried calling him three times. At least that was his estimate.

Porter sat down in his chair and, after finishing his last drop of coffee, picked up the receiver. 

“This is Porter.” He greeted, sitting the mug on an obligatory desk coaster.

“Hello AGGH,” Scott groaned, “Ugh, hello hello! You, errg, you there Porter?”

“What happened to you?” Porter asked, a bit surprised to hear Scott in pain. 

 “Fazbear’s got robbed the other night and uh, I was the, ow, unlucky guard who got hit.”

“Did you try to hit them?”

“I didn’t get the chance I mean, agh, they-they ganged up on me before I even knew they were in the building. I didn’t even hear them crash in.”

“They?”

“I mean, it was one person but I didn’t-couldn’t tell if it was a guy or a girl because they were uh, dressed up in black and all.”

“How hard did they hurt you?” 

“I’m not too damaged, I think. I, the reason I called was because Francis put me on night shift again and, I, I, I wanted to know if you can take my place. I’m really not fit-”

“No problem.” 

“R-really? No problem at all?”

“Yeah.” Porter before getting suspicious, “Why did you think I’d say no?”

“I, I was scared you’d say something, like, ‘No way am I coming in on my day off to do this stupid thing’ or something similar.” 

“Oh.” He said, “Right.”

Scott had a point, that sounded almost exactly like something he’d say, if there were a few curse words peppered in of course. 

“If you don’t mind me asking uh, wh-why are you so cool with filling in for me? I mean uh, no offence, you don’t really seem like the guy who’d do nice stuff like that for nothing.”

“I have my reasons.”

For starters, Porter had actually grown fond of Scott since they first met so he was far more willing to do him an occasional favor than say, Jake or any of the new guys. However, the sheer awkwardness that reveal would inevitably cause convinced him to go with reason B.

“For example, have there been robberies going on before I joined this place?” He asked.

“Y-yeah. At least two from like, I think, months apart.” Scott said reluctantly.

“You remember anything unique about them?”

“Not really uh, well...oh wow.” Scott realized, “I just now remembered. The other robbers were like, really good lock pickers. Like, they’d manage to pick it with no effort and they’d creak it open as noiseless as possible.”

“I’m starting to think these robberies are all connected.” Porter said, “Either it’s the same guy or...waittaminute.”

“What?”

“The guy I caught.” Porter said, “He said something about being told by someone that it was easy to steal cash from Fazbear’s. I think someone’s sending these guys to the pizzeria. My thief just slid by me and immediately headed for the manager’s office, which ended badly for him. Your thief quickly took you out first before getting the cash.”

“That’s interesting.” Scott admitted, “But it all still sounds like, coincidental man.” 

“Did your thief have a gun on you?” 

“Um yeah, they-”

“Mine didn’t.”

“...Ok, that’s a bit weird I’ll give you that but come on.”

“Even if we accept that it can’t be a group doing this, aren’t you open to the idea that it’s one guy who’s obviously learned from his past mistakes?”

“Yeah.” Scott admitted, “This has been the weirdest conversation I’ve had so far in my life.”

“Well then you clearly didn’t have the talk with your parents.” Porter snarked, “But seriously, I think it’d be best if I fill in for you after all. I have a feeling that our ‘friend’ will show up tonight and you really don’t sound like you can handle another night of that right now.”

“Thanks Porter. Alright, I’ll tell Fr-”

“Don’t bother. Let it be a surprise.”

“I can’t do that.”

“That’s what he does.”

“Because he’s a manager, not some security guard.”

“Well, find Jessie and tell her then.” Porter snapped, “However, I don’t want you telling either of them what we’ve been talking about.” 

“Why not?” 

“...Well, what if it turns out you’re right?” Porter lied, “Wouldn’t want to look stupid would we?”

“Umm, I guess?”

“Ok.” Porter said, “Just tell Jessie that I’m filling in for you tonight and if a thief comes around, well they’ll get a surprise of their own.”

“Sounds like a plan! Tell me what happened tomorrow will you?”

“If anything happened, I’ll be sure to do that.” 

Soon they said their farewells and Porter was back to silently sitting in his chair, wondering just what in the hell he had gotten himself into and lamenting that it was all too familiar to a guy like him.

--------

When Porter strolled up to Fazbears at 11:50 PM, he was unsure as to who he wanted to see exit the building, Jessie or Francis. He relaxed himself a little when he saw an olive skinned hand open the door.

“Hey there!” Jessie greeted happily as she exited the pizzeria.

“Jessica.” Porter greeted with a little wave. 

 “Well, it’s all ready for ya.” She said as Porter walked through door, “Hope you don’t get into too much trouble, heh.”

Porter gave a nod as he headed into the security office and signed in. He didn’t even notice that she was outside the security office door.

“Hey, Porter.” 

He had just put on his security belt when he turned around to face her.

“I really appreciate you coming in tonight.” She said, “Scott really needed to heal and I was afraid Francis-”

“It’s not a big deal.” Porter said, “I did what anyone would do.”

“No.” Jessie said seriously, “No one here would anyway. You were quite literally the last person he turned to.”

That was a bit unexpected, though maybe not entirely shocking.

“The last? I knew Jake turned you down but what about Andy?”

“Was ‘sick’.”

“Morris?”

“Had to take care of his children.”

“Not even Tristan?”

“Didn’t even have to ask him. Just by the way he greeted me I knew that guy was drunk off his ass.”

“Fuck.” Porter cursed in disbelief.

“I know.” Jessie said, “And to think I hired those guys so situations like tonight would be easier to take care of. That’s why I was so grateful you offered to take Scott’s place. Seriously, thank you so much.”

Porter stood there for a few seconds and then gave a thumbs up.

“As long as I’m getting paid.” Porter said, sitting down in front of the monitors. “Just curious, was Francis ok with me filling in for Scott?”

“He doesn’t know.” Jessie said with a smirk.

“Oh my.” Porter said, “When will you tell him?”

“I’ll let that fucker find out for himself.” She said deviously, “See you tomorrow Porter, and thanks again!”

Porter waved goodbye as Jessie exited the place and locked the door behind her, leaving Porter the only one there.

“Let the waiting game begin.” 

For about two hours Porter sat at his post, watching the monitors for anything even seemingly out of the ordinary. Part of him hoped there wouldn’t be a visit from the stupid ass thieve’s guild. The other part couldn’t wait to deal with this asswipe. 

Sure enough, as the clock turned to 2:00 AM Porter heard the familiar barely audible sound of the door creaking open. He immediately rose from the chair and silently leaned next to the door of the office. 

“Go who’s back fuckface?” A gruff voice snarled as he barged into the room.

His smug face contorted into confusion as he saw no one at all. That face of confusion then contorted into one of terror as Porter grabbed the thief by the neck and slammed him up against the lockers.

“Expecting someone else?” Porter asked, loosening his grip just a little so the thug could breathe easier.

“Yo-You-You weren’t su-su...” He sputtered frantically.

“I’m the fill in guy for the last one you beat the shit out of.” 

Just by the shape of this man, Porter could tell it was a different guy. He was much bigger and taller than the pipsqueak he dealt with last time. Not that being big meant this guy was good at his job.

“Quick question.” Porter said, “Did someone tell you this place was easy to steal from?”

“Yeah.” The man said darkly with a smirk, “His name was ‘Fuck U. Prick’.”

“Ha ha.” Porter said with a very flat delivery. 

Just then a balled up fist got plunged into the thief’s stomach, causing him to gasp for air.

“It’s ok that you got confused. I probably didn’t ask you the right question.” Porter said, “How bout this? I know that someone’s been ordering people like you to rob this place. Tell me why.”

“I just heard that this was an easy way to grab cash from simple word of mouth buddy.” The man said, “And your paranoid ass ain’t gonna change the facts.”

For five straight seconds Porter stared blankly at the thief as he removed his hand, and then gave him a quick knee to the groin. Once the thief doubled over, Porter then grabbed the guy by the head and repeatedly slammed it against the lockers. 

“STOP STOP!” The thief pleaded, “I’LL TALK I SWEAR TO GOD JUST PLEASE FUCKING STOP!”

Within a few seconds, Porter’s hand was now back on the man’s throat and he was propped back up at the locker. Before he talked, Porter noticed something had dropped out of the thief’s pocket. It was a silver door key that matched the one given to the Fazbear staff. How convenient. 

“Some guy contacted me on Friday, telling me that there was a shitload of money here waiting for me to grab on Saturday night.” The thief said dejectedly, “He told me to take out that one guard and I’d be able to get all the money in the manager’s safe. That’s all.”

“Why’d you come back if that was all?”

“The guy on the phone said that it’d be easy to rob on Sunday too. A total cake walk he said, since it’d be the same guy guarding.” The thief explained, “I mean let’s be honest, that pussy was probably gonna be even easier to deal with since I roughed him up the first time.”

Just then Porter had a sudden urge to snap this guy’s neck right then and there. Fortunately, common sense convinced him to do otherwise. 

“The guy didn’t give his name did he?” Porter asked, already knowing the answer.

“What do you think?” The man grunted, “You didn’t really assume he’d be that stupid did you?”

“Weren’t you even a little suspicious about this guy who claimed that a pizzeria was loaded with cash and easy to steal?”

“I can’t afford to be suspicious.” The thief said viciously, “I’m always having to pull these kinds of jobs for cash. Heh, this is the only time I got caught to-”

“Listen up.” Porter warned, “When you’re down at the station tonight, you use your phone call to get in touch with your contact. Tell him that he better not send anymore of you assholes here, or else I’m gonna start treating you guys a whole lot nastier. Ok?” 

The thief nodded in defeat as Porter threw him to the floor. He then picked up the phone as the thief moaned in pain.

-------

“Some luck you have.” Jessie said shakily, watching the police escort the thief out of the building. 

Porter had told her everything at this point, from the theory he had, to the thief’s story, to even the silver key the thief had. It would’ve been somewhat hard to believe, had she not heard the thief admit everything to the police. 

“You must’ve at least been worried this guy would get the jump over you or something.” She added.

“I was a security guard back in Chicago for a while remember? I’ve dealt with worse.” Porter said, “I tried not to wreck too much stuff this time around.”

That caused Jessie to laugh as she turned to Porter.

“A few more dents on an already dented locker is much better than a broken chair, I’ll give you that.” She said, “Now I’m even happier that you filled in. I can’t, I can’t even imagine what would’ve happened had Scott been working here.”

“It was still unprofessional for Scott to have someone else fill in without telling me.”

Neither of them really wanted to deal with Francis tonight, Jessie especially. But Porter reminded her that he was still the manager and that he deserved to know. Granted, that wasn’t the reason Porter wanted Francis over here but still...

“I’m sorry sweetheart.” Jessie said sarcastically, “You clearly haven’t been told what just happened here so I’ll fill you in. We nearly got robbed by the same guy who robbed us last time, the same robber who already beat the shit out of Scott, and instead of thanking Porter for being here to stop another robbery you’re taking the piss out of Scott for not telling you?!”

“I deserve to be told who’s filling in for who.” Francis snapped, “And you should’ve informed me.” 

“Like you informed me about the malfunctioning camera’s right?”

That shut Francis up for a while as he angrily muttered to himself. Jessie  headed to the door as Porter followed her.

“I can’t promise anything.” Porter said, “But I think these guys are gonna stop hitting us for a long time.”

“You really are a godsend, Porter.” Jessie said with a smile before leaving the pizzeria. 

For the first time in a while, Porter looked almost flattered. It didn’t last though as he quickly walked back into the security office where Francis was pacing around.

“And you!” Francis said pointedly, “Why didn’t you tell either of us this idea you had today?! We could’ve used that information to he-”

“I don’t trust managers. Not when it comes to situations like these.”

“Is that so?” He asked with a scoff as he continued to pace.

“Do you remember that bar and grille in Kansas City my Dad used to own?”

“Ha, which one?” 

“Fair enough. It was called like, the ‘Shallow Swallow’ or something equally stupid. Anyway, a while back there was this shady ass manager named Rick who realized ‘Hey, the building for this bar has been sought after by some really rich fuckers. If I can sell the place, we’d be swimming in green rivers.’”

“Rick was a bit of a dumbass wasn’t he?” Francis asked.

“Dumb or not he tried his hardest to fuck shit up so the bar would have to be sold. Didn’t work out well for him.”

“Your father sure made an example out of him.” Francis said with a laugh, “What’s your point, Porter?”

“I dunno, the way you’ve been running things around here so far....it’s almost like you want this place to shut down.”

Francis screeched to a halt as he turned to face Porter. Just then a thin smile was on his lips.

“The thing about friendly threats Porter,” He said, “Is that they only work with you’re sporting a grin.”

Just then he walked straight up to Porter’s face with an icy stare.

“This isn’t your Father’s business. This is mine, and I’ll do whatever I want with it.”

“It just became my Dad’s business when I got on board.” Porter reminded him, “He wouldn’t be too happy if I lost my job because of you-”.

His little speech was cut off by Francis’ howl of laughter.

“If you think your Daddy’s gonna send his pals over to beat me up because of your job, you really don’t know your Dad the way I do.” 

“Ok, call him up. You’re so confident that he’ll take this well, pick up the phone and tell him.”

Just then, Francis’ shit eating grin faded and an angry scowl took its place. 

“The thing about bluffs Francis,” Porter said, “Is that they only work when you don’t immediately back down the first time someone calls them.”

“Fine.” He said bitterly, “I got the message, alright? There won’t be anymore robberies around here. But don’t you ever get confrontational with me again, you got it?”

“Fair enough.” Porter said as he walked towards the monitors.

Francis then walked towards the door before stopping.

“One more thing, no more of this ‘Francis’ shit.” He demanded, “From now on, you refer to me as ‘Mr. Afton’.”