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gemini-sensei · 1 year ago

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Private Session | Demetri Alexopoulos x Chubby!Reader

Kinktober Day 22: Gloryhole

@sensei-venus thank you for this idea. I hope you like it.

CW: monstercock!Demetri, anonymous sex, unprotected sex, loss of virginity, rough sex, Reader is a sex worker, implied multiple rounds, cervix poking.

He couldn't believe he was doing this, but at the same time, Demetri Alexopoulos was tired of being a virgin. So it wasn't surprising that he found himself at one of these places.

It was dark, keeping the anonymity of clients and workers, which he was thankful for. He didn't want to risk the chance of running into someone he knew, so the darkness was welcome for once. He wasn't going to go out of his way and drive out of town for this. One night to lose his virginity was all he needed, not an unnecessary road trip. Why waste gas when he can use that money for a private room.

One of which he was being led to.

The owner - who also acted as receptionist - stopped in front of a door and used her key card to open it. "You paid for the deluxe package, meaning you get the room all night, so do as you like, but nothing violent. Not saying you can't be rough but don't beat her up. I'll kick you out and ban you if I find out if do. You gotta respect my girls, got it?"

Demetri nodded, understanding and knowing the rules. He'd read through them on the website thoroughly. He also remembered seeing the gigantic bodyguards in the lobby. "Got it."

She nodded and let the door swing open. "Here you are."

He nodded in thanks, throat a little dry, and walked inside, shutting the door behind him. It wasn't a large room, only big enough for two or three people to occupy, with a little couch tucked in the corner and a mini fridge beside it. The main attraction of the room was on the wall opposite the couch, a hole with the lower half of a woman's curvy body stuck through it. Her legs were held up by the ankles with straps affixed to the wall and her naked, fat, wet pussy was on display for him to see. Demetri already felt himself getting hard at the sight, forgetting his earlier shame for picking this option.

He made quick work of getting undressed, kicking off his shoes and undoing his jeans. They dropped to the floor with his boxers and he tossed them onto the couch. It was better that way, otherwise he'd be torturing himself and he didn't have to. Not tonight.

Walking up to the pair of legs, he had one hand wrapped around his cock and used the other to grab her thick thigh. He kneaded her soft, doughy fat, watching the way it squished under his hand and spilled between his fingers. She moaned and he realized he could hear her through the wall.

He accidentally let out an, "Oh shit."

Reader giggled on the other side of the wall, holding her hands over her stomach. She was supposed to be as quiet as possible, moaning and other sounds of pleasure being the exception. However, she couldn't help thinking the guy on the other side of the wall sounded kind of cute. His movements were slow and exploratory, making her think this must be his first time at one of these businesses.

Demetri continued to explore her body, at least what was exposed to him, and his hands wandered her thighs. He slid his hands up and down the underside of her thighs, giving them nice squeezes and pinches. Then he led hand down to her pussy and ran a finger through her folds. She was so glistening wet, it was gorgeous. His touch made her shiver and he bit his lip as he watched her react. Then he used two fingers to pull her folds apart so he could see her needy cunt.

His cock throbbed between his legs, in great need of attention. A fat glob of pre cum dribbled from the slit and fell to the floor. He'd done a little research before coming there, so he slid two fingers into her tight cunt and started fucking her open.

"I'm already prepped for you," Reader said from the other side.

He chuckled nervously. "Oh, trust me, you're gonna need more prep."

She moaned instead of arguing, deciding to trust him. She only hoped he hadn't brought some monster of a dildo to try shoving up her hole. She gasped as she felt a third finger enter her. "Okay..."

Demetri fingered her until he could fit four fingers in her tight, clenching cunt. He watched the way she stretched around his digits, chewing on his lower lip as he used his other hand to squeeze the base of his cock, edging himself in anticipation for the main event. He only removed his fingers when he thought she was ready and used the wetness to prep his cock. He rubbed as much of it as he could over the tip and length of his dick.

Then he rubbed the tip along her folds before pushing into her. It popped in and she gasped, feeling how big it was. She could only imagine what was to come. He was thick with a knobby, fat tip. He pushed into her and it dragged along her walls as he stretched her open despite the extra prep he'd given her. She didn't need to worry about it being fake because she felt the way it pulsed between her tight, velvet walls. It was warm and heavy and she'd never taken anything like it before. She had to grab hold of the table's edges just to keep her wits about her.

He met resistance halfway through, looking down at her folds that were so prettily stretched around his thick shaft. He groaned at the sight and started pulling out, just to rut back into her with short thrusts. It was wishful thinking if he thought he could bottom out in this fat, tight, pretty cunt, so he went right for fucking it. He didn't want to waste time dilly-dallying, despite having booked the room for the entire night. He just wanted to get the whole losing-his-virginity thing out of the way.

His rutting hips were inexperienced and his movements were sloppy. He held onto Reader's thighs as he fucked her wet, gushing pussy. His fingers dug into the fat and pinched her on accident as he was hardly able to think about what his hands were doing. His mind was too hazy to focus on anything other than fucking the cunt in front of him.

She moaned so pretty as she took his big monster of a cock. She knew she wasn't taking the whole thing because she had yet to feel his hips meet her ass. Her nails clawed at the table, doing little to whittle at the cool metal. All she could really do was throw her head back and moan and whine in pleasure as she took the biggest cock she'd ever felt.

Demetri kept at it, thrusts becoming a little erratic as he got lost in the whole experience. His cock throbbed, telling him that he wasn't going to last very long, but it was hard to pay attention to when it felt so good. Then, to his surprise, he bottomed out and he felt his hips knock into her ass.

He stuttered in his thrusts before stopping, pressing his narrow hips into the fat of her ass and looking down. He panted hard as he felt the tightness of her walls wrapped tightly around his whole length, his cock head pressed against the deepest part of her. She came on his cock, her little cervix was kissing his tip and making his head dizzy.

"Holy shit," he muttered, resting his head on the wall as he watched the place where they met.

Her hips and thighs shook as she came with a wailing cry of pleasure, hot liquid squirting from her hole and making a mess of him. It wet his shirt and he bunched it up, putting it in his mouth to suck the hot juices out of. She tasted divine and he couldn't help moaning.

Reader could feel the tip of his cock pressed against her poor cervix. It had her moaning and crying out as she came around him, sure that she was making a mess of him as her juices ran down her ass and pooled on the end of the table under her. "Oh god! Oh my god!"

Before she was done, Demetri pulled his hips back and slammed into her. She shook with the power behind his thrust, screaming happily as he continued with the rough treatment. She held onto the table, throwing her head back as his cock slammed into her cervix like a battering ram.

He kept his head down so he could watch her spasming pussy gush around him, moaning into his shirttail as he listened to her pleasured cries. It was so much better than he ever thought it could be. He had to have the best pussy in the whole world taking the entirety of his monster cock, and she loved it. This was the best feeling in the world, he was sure of it.

Before he knew it, he was coming. He pressed into her sore, fucked out pussy and loading her up. His heavy balls drew up and he filled her cute little cunt with hot ropes of cum. He bit his lip, swallowing his groans so he could listen to her whines and whimpers from the other side of the wall.

With each throb of his cock, a new heavy rope of his cum was deposited in her warm, used cunt. Pressed tightly against her cervix, she was sure every drop was going straight into her womb. Her legs shook with sensitivity and need and she couldn't help reaching through the hole in the wall to rub at her clit. In seconds, she made herself come so she could drink up every drop of cum from his balls greedily. Her eyes rolled up as she thought about how full she was going to be, already feeling heavy with his load and cock stuffing her.

She had no idea that as she came around his cock, milking him for every ounce, Demetri's eyes were rolling up as well. He couldn't hold in his contentment, groaning lowly as she spasmed around him again. It felt so good as she sucked the end of orgasm out of him, leaving him huffing and puffing in his half of the little room he shared with her.

He didn't realize he'd closed his eyes until he opened them. His orgasm had been so blinding that he'd almost forgotten where he was. When he looked down, he saw her hands searching for something. He took it gently and she squeezed his hand before pulling it through the hole, placing it on her pudgy stomach, which was soft with fat but a little tight under that. He was confused, still coming back to reality after his high.

"You filled me to the fucking brim," Reader giggled from the other side of the wall. She felt how bloated she was just from one of his orgasms, selfishly wanting more. His big fat cock had to come with some fat hanging balls and her mouth watered at the mere idea of them. She wanted them in her mouth. "Feel it?"

"Fuck, I do," he groaned, groping her belly through the wall. This wasn't in the rules anywhere, but he was sure they weren't supposed to be talking like this. They definitely shouldn't be touching each other like this. He'd paid for an anonymous session after all, but this was too amazing to pass up. "I did all that?"

She pressed her hand down on her belly and cum gushed from between the tight seal of his half-hard cock wrapped up in tight pussy. He felt how it cascaded down the base of his cock to his balls. He groaned, held falling back as it made his cock twitch. His mind began racing with ideas.

He was only brought out of fantasy land when Reader giggled. "We've got all night, you know..."

The suggestion in her voice made him shiver with lust. He never knew he could be so overcome with the emotion, but he wasn't complaining about it now.

She grabbed his hand and squeezed it. "What do you say, Big Boy?"

He answered her by nearly pulling all the way out just to thrust back into, bottoming out in her cum-filled pussy. She squealed and moaned, legs shaking as they hung in the air, pinned to the wall. He didn't have to say another word as they got to work.

#demetri alexopoulos smut #demetri alexopoulos x chubby reader #demetri alexopoulos x reader #demetri alexopoulos #cobra kai smut #cobra kai #cobra kai headcanons #cobra kai x reader #cobra kai x chubby reader #cobra kai x plus size reader #chubby reader #plus size reader #gemini sensei #kinktober

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storms-path · 1 month ago

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Bonus Write!

So, after FFXIV Write month, I had a particular urge to write a particular story over the past couple of days. Trouble was, it was a little spicy and I genuinely didn't know whether or not I wanted to share it here or not. But hey, why not, right? So here, let me throw this moden AU story about my lizard and Lyse at you while I run screaming into the woods.

Update: This is a whole thing now! Welcome to the first chapter of WHEELS OF THUNDER - EORZEAN GRAND PRIX! I'll be posting updates here but the main fic is on AO3, go check it out.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/59489872

Chapter 1: Prize

First things first, thought Arashi as she strode through the empty corridor. Get this damn suit peeled off. Secondly, she continued as her nose wrinkled, get myself in the shower. The rush of adrenaline was wearing off, this far from the track. All that remained was the stale smell of sweat and the faintly lingering euphoria of victory. Which was very much drowned out by the sweat.

Another race down, and this time she’d finally outmanoeuvred the damn prince of the road and secured first place. She’d wanted so badly to wipe the smug look off his face, but his loss only seemed to have spurred him on further. The Galvuses were mad bastards, every one. But they were, unfortunately, very good at building and driving racecars. And Zenos, it seemed, had been quite eager to smash his father’s old record. Until she’d overtaken him at the final turn. Until he’d smiled at her in that unsettling way, like she’d fulfilled some long-forgotten dream of his. Creep.

Arashi checked her pockets for the keycard, then swiped it across the door handle. Once. Twice. A third time with a curse for good measure. That did the trick. The door swung open easily, into Arashi’s hotel room. Well, Arashi’s and her friend’s room, following that unfortunate mixup with the bookings. Can’t believe Cid would forget to book enough rooms for everyone. Her chief mechanic was typically more put-together than that, but she supposed seeing his old flame in the Galvus pit crew had shaken him somewhat. Still, Arashi didn’t mind sharing. Not with her, anyway.

Arashi nudged the door shut with her tail, stretching and yawning as exhaustion hit her all at once. That was the trouble with racing. You could go as fast as you wanted, tear around corners at heart-pounding speed, but the toll of it all would be waiting at the finish line all the same. Arashi padded out of the hall and into the bedroom, where her suitcase lay half-open on the floor. Another bag had joined it, nestled directly at its side, several articles of clothing hanging halfway out of it. Guess she needed to unpack a few more things.

As the quiet settled in, Arashi picked up the gentle hiss of the shower from the bathroom. Taking a rain-check on getting the race washed off, then. “I’m back, Lyse!” she called in the direction of the bathroom door, then flopped onto the bed. Wriggled around in a vain attempt to get comfortable. Tried not to imagine her friend naked in the shower. Failed miserably. She’s a friend. Just a friend. Nothing more. Obviously.

Except, of course, for the fact that they had kissed last night. Yes, a bottle of wine had been involved, and yes, they had gone no further than that, but still. It had happened. And Arashi had, instead of actually confronting that fact, screamed a little (quietly, given the time), apologised repeatedly (not necessary, Lyse had advised her), and slept on the sofa for the night. Lyse hadn’t been there when she’d woken up in the morning, but she’d at least been willing to cheer her on during the race itself. Only to vanish again by the time Arashi had made it back to her garage.

Arashi had considered calling Sanda and asking for her advice, but she didn’t feel like being called an idiot. Not by someone else, at least. Her own inner thoughts were more than happy to echo the sentiment. Not helped by the rest of her thoughts, which were merrily replaying memories and fondly created fantasies instead. Arashi groaned, snatching a pillow and slapping it over her head. We’ll talk about it properly. Once she’s out of the shower. And once I don’t smell of brake fluid and sweat.

Arashi almost didn’t hear the hiss of the shower suddenly cease. The silence it brought with it was enough to make her heart skip a beat, however. Calm down, you silly woman. All well and good saying that. A damned sight harder to actually do it. Her heart was thundering harder than it had on that fateful final lap. Arashi was thankful that her pillow was still covering her face. It made it easier to (quietly) scream into without being overheard.

The bathroom door gently clicked open. “So I heard you won today,” came Lyse’s voice from the other side of it. “Sorry I couldn’t be there to congratulate you in person, but I had to get back here and prepare your prize.” Arashi pulled the pillow from over her head, sitting up with an expression of confusion. She’d already received her bonus for winning, and she certainly hadn’t heard of any other prize. Surely Cid would have mentioned something.

Focus! Open up that conversation instead of getting distracted! Arashi shook the digression out of her system and stood up, making to meet Lyse halfway. “Before that, we should really ta…” The door opened fully. The words abruptly died on Arashi’s lips. Her mind screeched to a halt. Oh. Oh, by the kami...

If Lyse had stepped out entirely naked, Arashi probably would have been able to react a little more coherently. She had not. Instead, Lyse had chosen a crimson jacket to cover herself… up to her collar and her elbows, anyway. The rest of her was not nearly so covered. Instead, a tiny red leather bikini covered her breasts, held on by bare strips which looked to be fighting for their lives against the tension. Curiously, the fabric had zips attached at the bottom, leading halfway up the leather triangles. Two more straps curled around Lyse’s sides and gently muscled stomach, deep black against pale skin and linked to one another through a tiny cross strap across her belly button. The straps converged again around her crotch, forming the rough approximation of panties which only accentuated her toned, powerful thighs. Below that, there was nothing. Lyse was blushing redder than Arashi had ever seen, but her smile promised so much more.

“Like I said, I had to prepare your prize. So, here I am!” Lyse did a little pose to emphasise the point. “For the rest of the evening, I’m all yours.”

“Bu… Buh… I… Yu…” Words weren’t coming out right. Arashi’s mind was reeling, her thoughts racing, her body torn between shock and a sudden, great need to do… Well, all sorts of things. Signals crossed and crashed and produced nothing worthwhile. So Arashi did the only thing she could think of that made sense. With a swift motion, she grabbed the pillow from the bed and slammed it back over her face.

Lyse was taken aback, to say the least. “Is everything alright?” Concern and worry mingled in her voice. Arashi didn’t quite trust herself to speak. Lyse continued. “I’m sorry! I thought from last night that you felt the same way, but then you kept apologising and I had to get up early so we couldn’t talk it out, and Yda keeps saying I should just do something daring instead of waiting for you to make the first move, then she sent me this outfit and told me to show it to you when you won, and now I’ve gone and screwed everything up and you probably hate me and I’m so, so sorry and I’ll go and you’ll never have to see me again an-”

Arashi held up a hand to stop the clearly babbling Lyse. “I… I need a moment to not speak gibberish. You are very pretty. Sorry.” Well done there, you moron. Just a master of words.

“You… think I’m pretty? Oh thank goodness, I was afraid when I saw myself in the mirror I’d just look ridiculous!” Lyse laughed in nervous relief. “Only… why are you holding up the pillow like that?”

Because if I look at you for too long I’m going to lose any semblance of sense. “Helps me focus better.” Arashi replied. “On… everything.” She took a deep breath, heart hammering. “I do like you. A lot. And I want to pursue a relationship with you. I just… didn’t expect to go so far so quickly. I… We… I mean, we haven’t even properly kissed yet! I just worry we’ll go too far too fast an-”

She didn’t hear the footsteps as Lyse padded closer. But she did feel Lyse snatch the pillow and throw it back onto the bed. She was close now, barely an inch away from Arashi’s face, reminding her that she was just slightly smaller than her bikini-clad companion. Blue eyes met blue eyes as the pillow flew away. “If it’s a kiss you want, I can do that. I mean, if that’s really what you want. Obviously I don’t want to force anything if you’re uncom-”

Lyse didn’t get to say much more than that as the last of Arashi’s good sense fled the scene. She closed the relatively little distance in an instant, her lips finding Lyse’s easily and her arms sliding around her back and chest. Lyse was more than happy to return the favour, the warmth of her body suddenly that much more persistent in Arashi’s mind. She couldn’t say how long they stayed like that, only that they broke away a little short of breath afterwards.

“Better?” Lyse asked with a surprisingly shy smile.

“Better,” Arashi breathed. Though she was now very, very aware of her need to take a shower. Or perhaps it was simply the suit.“I should probably-”

This time it was Lyse’s turn to interrupt with another kiss. It turned out she didn’t give much of a damn about the state of Arashi’s suit, other than that it was covering the rest of her. Lyse’s slender fingers set to work fixing that, apparently practised at peeling away the layers and straps and zips to get to the prize beneath it all. At some point the pair broke off the kiss long enough to tumble onto the bed, only to return to their new favourite activity for a while longer.

Finally, Arashi pulled away once more, now significantly more breathless and a good deal more focused on her girlfriend’s (girlfriend’s? Girlfriend’s) body. This is really happening, right? I’m not dreaming? By the kami, if I’m dreaming let me stay asleep. Something on her face must have sent the wrong signal, though, as Lyse interrupted her so-far-successful attempt at rendering Arashi naked. She drew back from Arashi so that she was sitting up, looking down at her. “Are you sure this is okay?” she asked, several steps too late at this point but making a valiant effort. “I want this, don’t get me wrong, but I don’t just want you for your body. I want to make this last. I…” Lyse was blushing again. “Gods, this is so embarrassing all of a sudden. I’m sorry, I should…”

“Lyse, whatever you do, don’t you dare stop now,” Arashi growled. Rational thought had gone out of the window a while ago. To emphasise her point, she wriggled out of the remains of her suit, then her underwear. She noted with some satisfaction that Lyse’s blush only grew redder at the sight. “Once we’re done, I’m going to take a good, hot shower and we’ll talk properly. But for now…”

Arashi tugged at the valiant strap holding Lyse’s bra together and used it to pull the blonde back down against her. She hadn’t expected it to suddenly snap, but Lyse didn’t complain outside of a yelp of surprise. “I want you. You want me. Let’s do something about that, yes?”

Lyse didn’t need any more encouragement than that.

#ff14 #ffxiv #final fantasy xiv #final fantasy 14 #arashi washi #lyse hext #au: wheels of thunder #this was supposed to be a one-shot but then my brain started coming up with so many ideas for the world #some of which i touch on in this one #so i'll probably get back to it in time #after i go back to another au that i've had in my mind for a bit #anyway bon apetit i guess???

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a-small-batch-of-dragons · 11 months ago

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Ice Cream Apologies

Read on Ao3

Warnings: none

Pairings: chris redfield/ethan winters, mia winters/ethan winters

Word Count: 2951

Fuck, she's her father's daughter. Every day, he looks at her and he can't stop fucking seeing Ethan. In how she holds herself with her shoulders just a little hunched, how her mouth twists the same way his did when he wants to call bullshit but is too polite to say it. How she smiles and the corners of her eyes crinkle up like she just can't help it. Even how she fights—she holds a gun the same way he did, she picks her targets the way he did, she even reloads the way he did. "That's the fucking problem, Redfield," he grumbles to himself as he turns onto the bridge. *** A look at Chris's perspective after his fight with Rose, and a memory that he's never quite figured out what to do with.

"No skin broken, no risk of direct contamination."

Chris nods. The doctor takes a cotton swab and runs it over the bite mark. He takes three more samples before Chris scoffs. "Isn't that a bit excessive?"

"We've never seen what the saliva alone can do. Risk of contamination through the blood is possible, but the saliva itself might have properties that—"

"Fine, fine," he interrupts, "just—hurry it up."

The doctor gives him a look but moves slightly faster. After all of the samples are taken—six in total—he wipes down Chris's arm like he's a kid getting a flu shot again and tells him he's good to go.

"We'll monitor it closely for the next few days, at least until we're sure—"

"You said it didn't even break the skin. What's the point in monitoring it? You've got the samples and it's not like Rose is quarantined."

"It's just a safety precaution."

He scoffs again. "Safety precaution. Right."

He leaves the doctor without another word, shrugging on his jacket and reaching for his phone. Odds are he won't have been delayed heavily enough to miss the next briefing with the rest of the squad, but with how many fucking samples they had to take, it's not worth risking that he—

"Sir."

Chris looks up to see a team of armed agents heading towards him. He frowns, discreetly tucking his phone in his back pocket. "Yes?"

"Detail is set up on a four-shift rotation, first team goes live in five," reports the agent in front, "reports are set to come in at—"

"Whoa, wait, detail for what?"

The agent frowns. "For the bioweapon."

Irritation flares. "She's a kid, she doesn't need a detail right now. She's in the compound, she's in her room, she knows to tell someone when she's going somewhere and Paul's on shift."

"Sir, with respect, the bioweapon—"

"Her name is Rose."

The agent makes a face like he smells something. Chris can smell something, it's bullshit, and this guy reeks of it. "Rose attacked you and possibly infected you. Our orders are—"

"You get your orders from me." He steps forward and tries not to grin at how quickly the armed agents skitter. "And I'm ordering you to disband this detail. It's not necessary. Rose is fine. I've got it under control."

The agent glances at Chris's arm before he makes another face and mutters: "Yes, sir."

Chris glares at them until they all slink off down the hall. Then he makes sure no one else is about to ambush him as he goes to the car and storms to the garage. He shuts the door a little harder than necessary and sighs, scrubbing a hand over his face. After a moment, he pulls out his phone and makes a call.

"Hub 7."

"Is Rose still in her room?"

Keyboard clicks from the other side. "Yes, she is."

He picks at a stain on the steering wheel. "Is she…okay?"

"She's staring at the wall with those lights on it, but she seems fine. Why, did something—?"

"Thanks."

He shuts the phone off and sits in silence. He glances down at the sleeve-covered bitemark. He can still feel the weight of her when he'd thrown her off him—light, still so light, still so young—and the ringing echo of the guns trained on her the second she hit the ground.

He starts the car and pulls out onto the road, driving out of the main bay of the compound. He taps his thumb against the steering wheel. He rubs his temples.

Shit.

"Fucking doc," he mutters under his breath, "she's just a kid. She's still just a fucking kid."

He hadn't expected her to bite him. He'd expected her to get angry, sure, hell, that's what he'd been doing, but the bite was…surprising. And then she'd looked at him with the guns pointed right at her and she'd looked so—so—

A horn blares and he slams on the brakes just in time to avoid running into the car in front of him. He waves a bit sheepishly as the other driver yells through the windows and gives himself a shake.

No use thinking about it anymore. It was over. Rose was fine, safe in her room, and he's…

He sighs, taking advantage of the red light. Rubbing his temples with one hand, he looks over and checks his phone. No missed calls, no nothing from the rest of the squad, and nothing from Rose. Not that he particularly expected anything, she's probably still royally pissed at him. Not that he can blame her.

He'd been too harsh today. He'd known the second she'd refused to tap out once he'd pinned her that he'd fucked up. And then she was halfway across the room on her hands and knees and he was fine and she'd looked so hurt. So confused. That fucking expression is still burned into his head. He'd wanted to—shit, he didn't know. Fix it. Make her stop looking at him like that, even though he knew exactly what had put it there.

Knew exactly why he'd put it there.

The road starts to open up and there's less and less of a risk of accidentally running into someone, so he takes one hand off the wheel. It's still a bad idea to let his thoughts run away from him, but he can't stop seeing Rose's confused, hurt face and he can't stop thinking about how much it reminds him of her father.

Fuck, she's her father's daughter.

Every day, he looks at her and he can't stop fucking seeing Ethan. In how she holds herself with her shoulders just a little hunched, how her mouth twists the same way his did when he wants to call bullshit but is too polite to say it. How she smiles and the corners of her eyes crinkle up like she just can't help it. Even how she fights—she holds a gun the same way he did, she picks her targets the way he did, she even reloads the way he did.

"That's the fucking problem, Redfield," he grumbles to himself as he turns onto the bridge.

He'd made the same mistake with Ethan, too. He'd trained so many recruits into soldiers that it had become rote. You knock them down, you tell them what they did wrong, they get back up and try again. They were supposed to be soldiers, damnit, that's how it had to work. They got frustrated, they got angry, they got in his face and yelled at him or they stormed off, but they always did it. They buckled down and trained and they made it. Mia was like that. Mia knew what he expected of her and she had the same grit that pulled her through three years in that hellhole in Louisiana. But with Ethan…

He'd made Ethan cry.

Chris is pretty sure that his emotionally compromised state was an open secret amongst the higher-ups at BSAA. Ethan Winters was not supposed to be personally trained by Chris Redfield, not for the amount of time that he was and certainly not to the degree he was. The man could shoot like a fucking sniper with barely any input on Chris's part—he's still not entirely sure how the fuck that happened when Ethan admitted he'd never so much as gone paintballing before Dulvey—but everything else…

Safe to say if Ethan was a normal recruit, he'd have washed out long ago.

But he'd been so fucking earnest, trying over and over with a smile and a self-deprecating laugh when he couldn't get something. Like they were playing, not doing military training. And he couldn't help himself, he wasn't acting like he was training Ethan to survive either. Saying shit like it's okay, you'll get it next time instead of barking orders, or let's try this instead, you're getting the hang of it instead of making Ethan buckle down until he got it right just once. And when a year had passed and Ethan's progress was slim enough to make a few of his squad turn their heads, the higher-ups had done some buckling down of their own.

He was given a week to get his shit together, or the Winters family would be transferred to someone else for training.

Mia didn't so much as blink when he started getting tougher on her and for a moment, for a moment, he thought it might be fine. If Mia could do it, then so could Ethan. But Mia was an agent of a bioterrorist organization masquerading as a person doing a babysitting job when the ship crashed in Louisiana. Ethan was a systems engineer who was just trying to bring his wife home.

He'd shown up for training that day and smiled at Chris. Called him 'buddy.' Like they were friends getting together for coffee. He'd looked baffled when Chris snapped that he was late, even though he wasn't, and to get his ass onto the mats.

"You said we were doing gear checks today—"

"That's an order, Winters."

And Ethan had looked at him for a moment before he shrugged and went to the locker room. He'd come out, smiling again, and taken a starting position on the mat. "Are we going to—whoa!"

Chris had laid him out before he could finish his sentence. "Don't let your guard down like that. Get up. Again."

"Can't let me say hello?" But he'd gotten up. "Am I just supposed to—hey!"

"I said," Chris had growled, not stopping, "don't let your guard down."

"My guard wasn't up in the first place, I—ah!"

"Focus."

Ethan had tried. He'd put his hands up and tried to defend himself. But he was slow. Sloppy. Not like someone who Chris Redfield had personally trained for a year should be. Chris knocked him down again and turned his back.

"Not even gonna give me a hand up?"

"I shouldn't even be giving you this long to get up. Save your breath."

They'd gone like that for half an hour. Ethan didn't land so much as a hit on him. Every time he hit the mats he grunted like he was in pain. He shouldn't have been in pain, he should've been used to what it felt like to be knocked down so he could get back up. But he wasn't. Because Chris hadn't trained him right. So he'd barked at Ethan to get up, come on, hit me, and Ethan got up again and again and he never hit Chris once.

He could tell Ethan was getting frustrated. So he baited him, trying to draw it out. He knew how to deal with that frustration, knew if he could get it to anger, Ethan might actually stand a chance.

Then he started talking.

"What the hell got into you today?" he'd said as he picked himself up, a hand to his side. "You get bad news, or something?"

"Shut up and fight, Winters."

"Really," he panted as they kept sparring—well, as Ethan kept failing to hit him and failing to dodge— "is there something wrong? Is the squad—?"

He'd knocked him down to try and get him to shut up but oh no, not Ethan Winters.

"Is it those people Mia used to work for?" He was slower getting up. "Or something with the clean-up?"

"You're not worrying about the right thing," and he'd gone again. Faster. Harder. Ethan couldn't fucking talk if he was too busy trying not to let Chris beat him up.

It worked. For a moment. Then he'd knocked Ethan prone again and he'd just stayed there, panting.

"Get up."

"What's wrong, Chris?" Ethan had asked, his voice suddenly soft and gentle. "Something's bothering you, I can tell, let me help."

And he couldn't, he couldn't tell him, and so he'd growled and wrenched Ethan off the floor and thrown him to his feet, stalking after him. "I said get up."

"Chris, please, just talk to me—"

"Shut up, Winters."

"—I'm your friend, let me help—"

"Shut up." He'd grabbed Ethan's shirt and pulled him close. "We are not friends. I am your commanding officer. You do not ask what is wrong with me, you shut up and you follow orders. You are sloppy, you are unfocused, and you are not good enough. So get that fucking head of yours in the game or I'm done with you, do you understand?"

He'd thrown him back and given him three seconds to get into a defensive position before he was on him again.

They fought.

Ethan didn't say anything. His jaw set. Something burned behind his eyes.

A punch missed Chris's shoulder.

Chris growled and wheeled around—

—and punched Ethan right in the face.

They'd frozen like that, in the middle of the mats, Chris's hand still drawn back, Ethan still on his feet, staring at Chris. Their breaths had rung out harshly in the empty room, each hitting like thunder against Chris's ears.

Some part of him had known, logically, that everyone's eyes water when they get hit in the face. It's like a reflexive reaction, impact equals watering.

But Ethan was crying.

And he was still staring at Chris like a fucking wounded puppy, so hurt and shocked and confused and upset, with tears streaming down his face and his mouth halfway open. And Chris—

Chris hadn't known what the fuck to do.

The part of him he'd been pushing to the front of his brain snapped at him to get himself together, to tell Ethan to cut that shit out and focus. The part that had been screaming since he got that notice from the higher-ups screamed again, yelled at him to fix this, you asshole, he's fucking crying. He'd stood there dumbly, staring at Ethan crying silently, until he'd heard the click of the door opening and turned sharply on his heel.

He'd barked at the other agents to get out, they were busy, but he'd left Ethan alone on the mats and out of earshot. When the doors had closed and he was alone again he still had no idea what to do. On autopilot, he'd gone to fetch their water bottles and gone back, only to stop before he walked back out into the room.

He'd stared at Ethan, crouched down under the bright training lights. He could hear the muffled sobs. He could see the way the man's shoulders kept shaking, the way he wiped furiously at his face. He saw the way he slumped down, the way he curled up, defeated.

He'd looked down at the water bottles, and left Ethan's just outside the door.

It wasn't until later, much later, after Ethan was dead and Mia could bear to be in the same room with him for more than five minutes that he realized just how badly he'd fucked up that day. They'd gotten drunk off of Ethan's favorite wine and Mia had confessed how awful it felt when Ethan started having nightmares. He'd known what happened from the files, and from the bits Ethan had shared with him during their downtime, but his heart had just about fallen out of his fucking chest when Mia drunkenly told him that he just kept coming back.

"Eveline made me stab him," she'd cried, "she made me cut—cut off his hand with a chainsaw and he just—he still came back."

Chris's drunk brain had formed the conclusion his sober one hadn't been brave enough to. He'd been trying to get Ethan to see him as Jack Baker, even Eveline, someone he could get mad at and stay mad at. But he'd never been the bad guy, not to Ethan. He'd been…he'd been…

Okay, his drunk brain hadn't been that brave.

But you were, it hissed at him, he cared about you enough to let you hurt him like that. And he still came back.

He tries not to admit to himself how often he wishes he could've done that whole day over. Sat Ethan down and explained to him what was going on—because no one ever told him anything, not really—or even afterwards, instead of leaving the water bottle and fleeing like a coward, gone over to him. Taken a towel and wrapped it around him like a blanket, said he was sorry, that he didn't mean it, not any of it, wiped his tears and let him cry, offered to let him punch Chris in the face for being such an asshole.

Ethan wouldn't have, not at that point. He might've laughed, maybe, and said Chris owed him a drink. The first time Chris managed to psych himself up enough to go to Ethan's grave, he'd drained an entire bottle of wine.

He gives himself a good shake.

Ethan's dead, he reminds himself, focus on Rose.

Rose…Rose who was so very much her father's daughter. If he'd made her cry today, he wouldn't have fucked that up twice. No, he'd have told all the idiots with guns to fuck off and run right over, let her rage and scream at him—bite him again if she wanted to. He'd hold her, if she let him, because she was still just a kid and she didn't deserve that.

He'd tell her, he decided. When he got back, he'd explain why he was such an asshole. And—well, he couldn't take her out for a drink, but he could take her out for ice cream.

She was still young enough to like ice cream, right?

As he pulls up to where the rest of the squad is waiting, he swears he can hear Ethan laugh,

Everyone likes ice cream, Chris, you're never too old for ice cream.

#resident evil #resident evil 7 #resident evil biohazard #resident evil village #resident evil 8 #chris redfield #ethan winters #rosemary winters #fic #dragonbabbles

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davishater · 11 months ago

Text

Guys, I am so sorry.... This post might just break Tumblr.... If you see my post and your Tumblr breaks, I apologize IMMENSELY! I have just written a Winter Moriarty X Reader that is 5,284 words..... Please forgive me..... 🙏 At the end, there is a part where Winter and the reader watch TV. I got that idea from @kawasemy I hope that I have been able to feed my fellow, starving, Winter simps. Again, please forgive me for everything and read the tags for more humor. Also, masterlist link in the beginning, cause it's too long to scroll....

Masterlist

Winter shoves her pale hands into her pockets and watches the sky, as the heavens shed their tears on the city of London. She was never fond of the constant rainy weather, but it's where she's lived her entire life, so all she can do is accept the gloomy weather. At least, it was gloomy until she met a certain someone.

Winter exits the store she's in and runs towards a canopy in the park across the street. She watches her only friend jump in the puddles on the basketball court the rain created. Her laughter reaching Winter's cold ears, even from that distance.

"Y/n!"

Winter calls out to her friend and she waves with a bright smile on her face. Winter weakly waves back, but quickly returns her hand to her warmer pockets.

Y/n moved here for school, from a dry climate in America. They met in a cafe, when the clumsy girl tripped and dropped her books and computer on Winter, also spilling her coffee on her in the process. The coffee had also gotten all over Y/n's computer. Winter felt bad for what happened, and even though she doesn't make it a habit to help everyone who crosses her path, she offered to fix the girls computer. Y/n's outgoing personality had pushed the unwanted friendship onto her, but after sometime, Winter couldn't bother to avoid the strange girl. She finally accepted the friendship; the first one she's had since her younger sister died.

Winter calls out to her friend again and she comes running. She stands underneath the canopy with Winter and laughs from all the fun she was having.

"You've been out here forever, aren't you done?"

Winter slightly shivers as she shoves her hands deeper into her pockets.

"What? You're such a party pooper! Why don't you come join me? You'll have more fun."

Y/n pulls on Winter's arm.

"Hard pass. You know I'm not a fan of the rain."

"And yet, you're out here with me."

Winter goes quiet at her comment and looks back out at the rain. She then speaks up to divert from the topic.

"I can't believe you forgot your umbrella."

"Well, I didn't think it was going to rain." She replies.

"Y/n, it's London. It always rains here."

"Well, it's been sprinkling lately, so I didn't think it'd come down this hard..."

"Never trust the weather here." Winter advises.

She turns back to Y/n, wipes some wet hair off of her face and brushes it behind her ear.

"Did they look at your motorcycle?" Y/n asks, brushing the rest of her hair back with her fingers.

"Yeah, just some minor issues. I can pick it up tomorrow afternoon."

"That's good, it wasn't as bad as we thought."

Winter nods and shivers again.

"If we don't dry you off, you'll catch a cold." Winter says a little concerned.

"Nah, I'm sure I'll be fine!"

"What?" Winter smirks. "Cause 'idiots don't catch colds?'"

"What!? No!"

Y/n huffs and dramatically folds her arms across her chest. Winter chuckles at how naturally expressive she is. She's been surrounded for so long by people hiding their true feelings, it's refreshing seeing someone that's so easy to read.

"It's not that funny..." Y/n continues pouting.

Winter ignores her and grabs the back of her shoulders, pushing her towards the main road.

"Come on, let's get you something warm to drink."

Winter and Y/n walk alongside the sidewalk towards the cafe that's nearby. A truck drives by and Winter tries to shield Y/n from the large splash from the truck running over the puddle, but it drenched Winter and still got on Y/n.

"Oh my gosh, Winter! Are you ok?"

Winter sputters to try and get the muddy taste out of her mouth, but fails, and wipes the excess water from off her face with her hand.

"I'm fine. What about you?"

"I'm good, but most of the water got on you! Uhg, you're more soaked than I am! Man, what a jerk!" Y/n shouts, sounding annoyed.

Winter looks at her a little questioningly.

"It happens. Come on, let's head inside."

"Are they even gonna let us inside with how wet you are?"

"Yeah. It's normal to see people drenched walking into places to get dried off from the rain."

"I see."

The girls walk into the cafe and a hostess immediately runs up to them with two towels.

"I saw what happened through the window. Are you two alright?"

"Yeah." Winter replies, plainly.

She takes the towels and places one on her shoulders and the other on Y/n's head.

"Could we use your restroom to clean ourselves up?" Y/n asked the hostess.

"Of course! Follow me."

They followed the hostess to the restrooms meant for paying customers and unlocked the door for the drenched girls. They walk inside and Winter starts rubbing the towel over Y/n's head. She swats Winter's hand away and dries off her own hair.

"I'm fine, just take care of yourself."

Winter takes a step back and stares at Y/n out of the corner of her eye. She then goes to the sink and starts washing her mouth out from the dirt taste she had since earlier. Winter wipes her mouth on the towel around her shoulders and then slowly puts it over her head and starts drying off her hair. She glances at her friend again and sees the small pout on her face.

"Are you upset with me?" Winter asks quietly.

"What? Of course not! Why would you think that?"

"You're not you're usual happy self..."

"Oh... No, I'm upset with that truck driver... There's no way he didn't see us or the puddle! He should've slowed down! Driving through puddles like that can ruin your car and it gets people wet! It was so unnecessary and if I could, I'd definitely yell at him about it! I swear, some people are just so inconsiderate!"

"He really got you that upset?"

Winter looks a little surprised.

"Of course! Now there's a possibility of you getting sick! Oh, I swear, if you do, I'm going to hunt him down and give him a piece of my mind!"

Winter accidentally lets a chuckle escape her lips and she's shocked from her own reaction.

"What? I'm serious you know!"

"I know."

"Then why'd you laugh?"

"Well... I don't know myself... I guess, it's cause I'm seeing a new side of you. I don't think I've ever seen you get mad before. I almost thought you weren't capable of that kind of emotion."

"Huh? Well of course I get mad! That's a normal human reaction, so I wouldn't be a normal human otherwise."

"Oh, my bad! I didn't realize you were capable of being normal." Winter mocked.

"What? Hey! I can be normal!"

"I'd bet my life you can't be normal about anything."

"Now that's just mean!"

Y/n pouts and Winter chuckles again. She stares at Winter's face and sees black streaks running down her cheeks from her eyes.

"Oh dear, your makeup is running."

She grabs some toilet paper and wipes off the black streaks from Winter's cheeks. Winter stares into her eyes as she does so.

"I could've done that, you know."

"And I could've handled getting drenched, so we're even now."

Winter looks away and continues rubbing the towel over her head. She then frantically pulls out her wallet and phone from her pockets. The few bills and business cards she had in her wallet were far from saving and just made the wallet look like a mess. She puts her wallet on the sink and then tries turning on her phone, but it refuses to respond. Winter cusses underneath her breath.

"That bad?" Y/n asks.

"Well, I can't contact anyone, which isn't that big a deal, but I don't have access to money either."

"Oh... Yeah that's pretty bad."

"How's your phone?"

"Well, let's see."

She pulls out her phone, which has a heavy duty case on it, and tries turning it on.

"Oh yay! My phone works!"

"I bet the case is what saved it."

Y/n chuckles, a little embarrassed.

"Yeah, I tend to drop my phone often... I guess my clumsy nature helped us a little there?"

Winter smirks and shakes her head.

"Well we at least still have access to my money, if there's anything we need." Y/n says, hopeful.

"No, save your money. Use that for your school needs."

"But I want to help out, too."

"You don't have to worry about that."

"Ok, then have you figured out how we're going to get back to my apartment without using money? We came kinda far and it's too far to walk in the rain without an umbrella."

Winter goes silent and looks away. She takes off her leather jacket and hoodie and tosses them to the floor. She then starts pulling on her t-shirt that's sticking to her body and rings out some of the water. Y/n sighs and looks around the bathroom. She then grabs Winter's hand and leads her to the hand dryer.

"Come on, we can at least dry you off a little, while we come up with a plan."

Y/n turns on the hand dryer and it blows in Winter's face. She closes her eyes and winces from the sudden intensity. Winter takes the towel from off her head and shakes her head as the warm wind blows her hair dry. She then lifts up her shirt a little, showing her stomach and waist. Winter looks up and notices Y/n staring.

"Is there a problem?" Winter asks.

"Oh... No, it's nothing."

Y/n turns her head away and Winter notices her cheeks are slightly pinker than before. Winter pulls her friend closer to her as she looks surprised from the sudden notion.

"Dry yourself off with the hand dryer, too. I don't want you getting sick, either."

Y/n complies and starts to try and dry her clothes while they're still on. The feeling of her clothes slowly drying on her made them feel icky. She scrunches her nose from the feeling and feels awkward drying herself off with a small hand dryer and Winter standing closely next to her. She knows it was her idea, but didn't realize how awkward, or embarrassing, this situation would be. Lifting your arm up to dry your armpit, while someone you care about is standing so close to you, isn't the ideal situation...

"This isn't working. We'd be able to dry our clothes better if we took them off." Winter suggested, sounding a little annoyed.

She starts lifting her shirt even higher to take it off, but Y/n stops her.

"Wait, wait, wait!"

"What?"

"Well... I uh- I'm not exactly comfortable with that..."

"Oh..."

Winter put her shirt down, then picks both her jackets off the floor and starts ringing out the water in the sink.

"So? What should we do now?" Y/n asks.

"Well, this little hand dryer isn't going to be enough to dry us off. We're going to have to change into different clothes in order to get warmer."

"Well then, at least let me buy us some warm drinks as we come up with a plan."

Winter sighs and gives into the girls protests.

"Fine, but that's it! Nothing else."

"Deal."

Winter collects her things and they leave the bathroom and sit at one of the small tables next to the window. A waitress comes over and takes their orders. Y/n stares out the window as they sit in silence until their drinks come.

Once the waitress gives them their drinks, Y/n thanks her and drinks from her cup. Winter immediately puts her hands on her cup and keeps them there. Every so often, she sips from the mug.

"I swear, how does someone not bring an umbrella along when it's raining?" Winter mocks a second time.

"Hey! You don't have one, either!"

Winter sighs.

"Ok, that's fair."

"There's a hotel across the street there."

Y/n points out the building and Winter follows the direction she's pointing in.

"Why would we go to a hotel?"

"Well, we can shower, and they have a washing machine, and we can stay there until the weather lightens up. The forecast also says tomorrow won't have as much rain as today."

"And who's money are we going to use to stay there?"

Y/n goes silent and pouts again.

"I told you, you need to save your money for school. I'm sure the fees take up the majority of your allowance anyways."

"You don't know that." She says, still pouting.

"Ok, then how much do you usually have left after you've paid the fees?"

Y/n blows a bubble in her cheeks and pouts more.

"That's... None of your business."

"Which means it's not much."

She whines and turns her attention outside again as Winter shakes her head. After sometime, her friend starts chuckling.

"What's so funny?"

"No, sorry. I just realized, it's kind of like we're on a date and you're the guy who wants to pay for everything just to make a good impression."

Winter becomes flustered and rests her chin on her hand to hide her embarrassment and slightly pink cheeks. She looks out the window as she speaks quietly.

"O-oh, uh... Does it?"

Y/n sees through Winter's failed composure and continues chuckling.

"I'm sorry, maybe that was too much for me to say."

"No, you did nothing wrong."

Winter puts both her hands back on her cup and stares out the window, watching the rain fall as Y/n looks at her. She then turns her attention outside as well. After some time, Winter speaks up.

"If you let me pay you back, I'll let you use your money to at least pay for a taxi."

"Yes!"

Y/n's face brightens up.

"Let me use your phone to call a taxi." Winter says, putting her hand out.

"Why can't you use your phone?"

Winter's shoulders fall and she frowns at her friend.

"Oh right, I forgot."

Y/n pulls out her phone and gives it to Winter as she rolls her eyes and shakes her head, as she dials the number to order a taxi. After a few minutes of Winter talking on the phone and growing more annoyed, she scoffs and hangs up the phone.

"They're all gonna be busy for a while."

"Well should we wait until one is available? Or take the trains or bus?"

"Rather not be in a crowded place if I don't have to."

Winter replied, with her fist pushing into her cheek, and the way she spoke sounded silly. Y/n giggled and Winter paid her no mind.

"I remember you don't like crowds. If only your motorcycle could be ready in a few hours."

"We can't do anything about that. Why don't we just start walking? There's a small store around the corner from here. We can buy an umbrella there and dry off at your place."

"If you're ok with that."

"There's nothing else we can do and it won't be good if either of us get sick. Gotta do what we gotta do to get dried off as quickly as possible."

"Yeah, you got a point."

The two girls finish their drinks and Y/n goes up to the counter and pays. Winter holds both of her jackets and waits by the entrance. They walk out together and quickly head to the general store around the corner. Y/n grabs one umbrella, pays for it and then heads back to Winter, who's again waiting by the entrance.

"Give it to me."

Y/n gives the umbrella to Winter as they walk outside. She opens it up and holds it over both of their heads as they start walking towards her friends house.

"Why don't you let me walk on the outside of the road this time?"

"No, you stay on that side." Winter says, bluntly.

"But what if a car comes by and splashes you again?"

"I'm more aware of my surroundings, so I can move us out of the way faster if that happens."

"What about earlier? You didn't move out of the way then."

Winter sighs.

"I shielded you, didn't I?"

Y/n goes quiet and looks down at her feet as she walks. Winter notices her silence and mentally scolds herself for not being good at relaying exactly what she wants to say.

"Besides, I'd be more comfortable if I was the one next to the road." Winter continues.

"Alright fine. Guess I can't really say anything if that's the reason."

Winter pats her head and they continue walking down the street towards Y/n's apartment.

"What if you let me hold the umbrella?" Y/n ask after a minute of silence.

"No, I'll hold the umbrella."

"Well, I want to help with something, too."

"You've done enough."

Y/n huffs while Winter stares at her and sighs.

"You really want to do something more?"

"Obviously..."

"Here."

Winter hands her jackets over to her sulking friend.

"This helps me."

Y/n smiles a goofy grin and giggles contently as she holds Winter's jackets close to her. Winter looks away and scratches her cheek. Y/n looks up at her and swears she saw a light pink color dust Winter's cheeks, but it was too dark outside for her to tell. They walk in silence for a few minutes.

"So, what do you want to do once we get back to my place?" Y/n asks.

"I just want to get warm, I don't care about anything else."

Y/n hums in response.

"Are you gonna stay the night then?"

"No." Winter replies, furrowing her brow at her friend.

"How come?"

"I'm not going to intrude on you."

"But you won't be! Besides, how are you going to get home without your motorcycle?"

"I'll manage."

"What if I force you to stay?"

"Well, then I wouldn't have a choice now, would I?"

A wide grin is placed on Y/n's face and she hugs Winter's arm as they walk.

"Then I guess that's what I'm going to have to do! I'm forcing you to stay over!"

Y/n giggles with excitement and starts skipping.

"You're that happy to force me to stay over?"

"Of course! It means we get to hangout longer!"

Winter stares at Y/n.

"You're weird."

Y/n giggles again.

Winter looks out at the street, watches the cars drive by and the people traveling to their destinations. She sees the many different expressions and judges their thoughts accordingly. Some enjoy the rain, some aren't fond of the weather and some just accepts this as a part of their life. Winter remembers that she doesn't like the rain, but finds she doesn't mind the gloomy weather at this moment. She feels a shiver come on, but the feeling immediately goes away, and her body starts to warm up without the need to shiver.

She listens to her friend hum the chorus over and over from a popular song in London right now. It's a song Winter isn't fond of, but she finds herself fighting the urge to hum along to the stupid song. She hears splashing at her feet, along with the pitter patter of rain echoing all around her, and looks down. Y/n has continued to jump in each puddle they come across again today, but Winter pays her no mind. Her friend grips her arm, for support, as she jumps in ever puddle. Winter doesn't mind it when the water splashes up onto her shoes, or even the bottom of her pants. In fact, she finds it more comical, than anything.

"If you keep skipping like that, you're going to slip and fall."

"No I won't, cause you'll catch me!"

"Will I?"

"Mh hm!"

Winter stays silent and after a few seconds, she starts moving her body weight downwards. Y/n doesn't notice until she jumps in another puddle and her grip on Winter's arm becomes unstable, from her change in posture, causing her to slip. Y/n shrieks and Winter holds her up with her arm to keep her from falling to the ground. She smacks Winter's shoulder annoyed as she spots a small smile creep up on Winter's lips.

"You did that on purpose!" Y/n yells annoyed.

"Maybe that'll teach you to be more careful." Winter says, chuckling.

"You're so mean, betraying my trust like that!"

"Well, I never told you to trust me."

"I know, but I wanted to trust you."

"I don't know why."

"Well, obviously cause you're such a good person... Somewhere."

Winter chuckles again at the "somewhere" part.

Winter stops walking and pulls her friend back, before she walks out from underneath the umbrella.

"Where are you going?" Winter asks.

"Huh? What do you mean? Aren't we going to my apartment?"

"Yeah, it's right here."

"What?"

Y/n turns her head and sees they're standing right next to her apartment building.

"Oh, yeah, you're right! Wow, I thought we would have to walk further."

"Well, we have been walking for a while." Winter replied.

"Have we? I never noticed. I guess I was having so much fun with you, time had gone by much faster. Do you ever get that?"

Winter hesitates to speak, but decided to just say what's on her mind.

"Yeah. I wasn't expecting the walk to go by that quickly, either. I almost walked past your apartment building, too."

"You and I are just so silly, huh?" Y/n giggles.

"No, being with you just lowers my IQ."

"What!? You can't say that! That's so mean!"

Y/n hits Winter's shoulder again. She chuckles as she watches her friends reaction.

"Come on, let's head inside and dry off. I'm so done with being cold and wet."

"Ok, let's go!"

Y/n holds onto Winter's arm again and they walk to the front entrance. When they get to the door, Winter closes the umbrella and continues to walk up to her friends small apartment. When the girls walk in the entryway, Y/n shuts the door behind them. They both sigh loudly, in unison, and then look at each other chuckling.

"Why don't you take a shower first?" Y/n suggests.

"I can't do that. You go take the first one."

"I don't have the energy to argue with you. Give me your clothes to wash and hop in the shower, right now." Y/n says sternly.

"O-ok." Winter says a little surprised.

She starts lifting her shirt up and Y/n stares at the curves in her sides and back. Winter's pale skin, how curvy she is, the placement of her veins and the thickness of her spine, Y/n takes a mental note of all of it. She even becomes jealous of the few droplets of water sliding down her back and disappearing in the fabric of her jeans. She wishes her fingers could feel Winter's skin, just like the rain that soaked her today.

Y/n realizes she's staring and the kind of thoughts she's having, so she immediately covers her eyes with her hands. She hears the sounds of Winter stripping down and the wet fabric pulling away from her skin. Y/n feels a tap on her arm, and while keeping her eyes closed, she holds out her arms and Winter lays her clothes over her arms.

"I'll get you a towel and a change of clothes as soon as I start the laundry." Y/n says.

"K."

She hears Winter's bare feet walk across the floor towards the bathroom. When Y/n hears the door shut, she opens her eyes and sighs. She then goes to her laundry room, shoves Winter's clothes into the washing machine and strips down to put her own clothes in as well. After starting the machine, she grabs two towels and wraps herself in one. She goes to her kitchen and fills her kettle with water and puts it on the stove. Then, goes to her room and grabs some comfy clothes for Winter before knocking on the bathroom door.

"Winter, I'm coming in!"

"That's fine."

Y/n walks in the bathroom.

"I'm putting a towel and some clean clothes here on the counter. I'm also boiling some water, so you can come and make a hot drink for yourself while I shower."

"Alright."

"Is there anything else you need?"

"I'm probably fine. I'm almost done in here."

"Ok, I'll give you privacy, then."

Y/n leaves the bathroom and starts collecting clothes for her to change into once she's finished with her shower. She sits on her bed as she waits for Winter to finish up. Winter exits the bathroom and heads towards the kitchen with a towel wrapped around her shoulders and Y/n goes in the bathroom to shower.

When Y/n gets out of the bathroom, she's dressed in comfy clothes and heads towards the kitchen and living room area. She spots the back of Winter's head, tilted slightly to the side. She makes herself some tea and heads to the couch.

As she comes around the corner, she starts laughing. She spots Winter, curled up on the far end of the couch, mouth slightly a gaped, bowl of cereal in her hands resting in between her knees and chest, and one of Y/n's thin blankets wrapped around her legs. Winter breathes in deeply and sits up straight, rubbing her eyes. She starts to continue eating.

"Did you fall asleep?" Y/n asks, still laughing.

She's never had the opportunity to see Winter in such a vulnerable state.

"No... At least... Not completely..." Winter says quietly.

Y/n sets her cup down on the coffee table and takes the damp towel from around Winter's shoulders and puts it in the laundry. She comes back and relaxes on the opposite side of the couch.

"Did you want to sleep?"

"No, I'm fine."

"You sure? I don't mind if you do. We had a long day, after all."

Winter takes a few bites of her cereal before answering.

"Maybe."

She finishes up her cereal and then puts the bowl on the coffee table in front of her. She motions Y/n to move closer to her. Instead, Y/n picks up the bowl and takes it to the sink. Winter starts to untangle herself from the blanket to try and get up.

"That's not what I meant for you to do. I was going to take care of it later."

"I know, just stay there. Now you don't have to worry about it later."

Winter leans back on the couch when she sees Y/n coming back.

"Where's your phone?" Y/n asks.

Winter pulls out her phone, that had fallen in-between her and the couch cushion, and shows it to Y/n. She dramatically snatches it from Winter's grasp and Winter looks surprised as she watches her friend walk back to the kitchen.

"What are you-"

Y/n pulls out a bowl and a bag of rice. She then takes Winter's phone out of its case and places it in a bowl. She pours the rice over the phone, making sure it's completely surrounded by rice.

"And now we wait."

"Are you performing some kind of voodoo over there?"

"Um... No? Putting your phone in rice can actually get the water out and fix your phone. At least, it's supposed to do that. Doesn't always work, though."

"You don't have to do that. I can always get a new phone."

"But then you'll lose the silly messages I've sent you! I know if it was me, I'd be sad if that happened. This way, we can say we did all we could to fix your phone."

Y/n goes back over to the couch, picks up her and Winter's cup of tea, which was also on the coffee table, and brings the two cups with her as she sits next to Winter. She gives Winter her cup and Winter moved the blanket so it's covering Y/n as well.

"You don't have to do things for me. I'm capable of doing them myself." Winter says, a little irritated.

"Oh, don't be like that. You always help me out, so I wanna help you, too. Besides, if I didn't try to help fix your phone, I'd feel somewhat responsible that it broke."

Winter purses her lips together and then takes a sip of her tea.

"Thanks." She says quietly.

Y/n smiles wide. Winter then picks up the TV remote next to her and tosses it into Y/n's lap.

"Why don't you turn on that show you like?"

Y/n thinks for a bit.

"The baking one?"

"Yeah."

"Well, why don't we watch what you want to watch?"

"Cause I don't care. Just turn it on."

"Ok, ok." Y/n chuckles.

She turns on the TV and starts playing The Great British Bake Off.

"These people are so stupid."

Y/n laughs at Winter's comment.

"That's why I like it."

"Oh, that's right, they're your people."

Y/n looks at Winter confused.

"But I'm American?"

"No, it's cause you're not the smartest person."

"Wha-! You are so mean to me, and for what?"

"Are you saying you're smarter than these people?"

"Obviously."

Winter looks at Y/n questioningly and sips from her mug.

"You think these people are smart enough to stick a wet phone in rice to fix it?"

Winter starts laughing as she sips from her mug and almost chokes on her tea.

"Please, do not die on me, I would literally cry."

"You don't want a crime scene here?"

"No! I do not!"

Winter giggles and buries her forehead into Y/n's shoulder.

"What in the world is wrong with you?" Y/n laughs.

"I don't know. I never stay awake when I'm this tired!"

"Then sleep! I literally do not mind!"

"No."

Winter starts giggling again.

"Oh my gosh."

Y/n shakes her head.

"Uhg! Why am I like this!?" Winter leans her head back and whines.

"I like this side of you. It's fun watching you act in a way you usually don't."

Winter buries her face into Y/n's lap and groans. Y/n giggles and runs her fingers through Winter's hair.

"That's nice."

"You like it when I run my fingers through your hair?"

"Mmh."

Winter reaches over and puts her cup on the coffee table and then points at it.

"Stay."

Winter then rolls over and points up at Y/n as she giggles.

"Ok, I'll make sure the cup stays." Y/n says as if she's talking to a child.

Winter's arm falls onto Y/n's lap, next to her head and then positions her legs so they're hanging over the side of the couch. Y/n fixes the blanket so it covers Winter and continues playing with her hair.

Winter stares into Y/n's face curiously.

"It's a shame that you don't know how pretty you are..."

Y/n immediately stops playing with Winter's hair and feels her cheeks heat up. She watches as Winter starts to relax down and her eyes fight to stay open. Y/n recomposes herself and turns off the TV, then continues to play with Winter's hair to help her fall asleep. Her breathing slows and her finger wraps around the hem of Y/n's shirt. She smiles and watches Winter for a while, before she starts falling asleep herself. One hand entangled in Winter's hair, other hand resting on the cup at her side. She couldn't have asked for a better day.

Later, Winter wakes up and crouches on the bathroom floor, cursing herself for acting the way she did before she fell asleep. She decided to pretend as if she never acted all 'cute' like that and swears to force herself to never act that way again for as long as she lives. She'll never speak a word of that moment to anyone and hopes Y/n will forget all about it. Although, Y/n will probably only want to talk about that one moment as soon as she wakes up....

#I'm so sorry for the length 💀#i just kept writing and it wouldn't stop #might come back and edit a little more later #it was only supposed to be a little more than 2000 #then 4000 #the end product is now more than 5000 #again I'm so sorry #i hope all y'all Winter simps can be fed by this 🙏#definitely self indulgent here #so glad it didn't come off as cringey #I've been told I'm good at writing dialogue lololol #bruh my writing app says it takes between 22 and 42 minutes to read #guys i am extremely sorry for the length i have no idea why it's so long #my friend asked me what the plot was and i literally didn't know how to explain 💀#lolol uhhhhh this is so long tumblr keeps lagging 💀#what do i even name this story when i don't even know how to explain the plot #guess I'm naming it I'm Terribly Sorry 💀 cause y'all know i am #was writing almost the entire day and now I'm pooped #10am to sometime after midnight man that's a lot of hours #in order to finish this story today i literally lived off of half a pack of peanut butter Oreos #and two english muffins covered in cream cheese #guys was my sacrifice worth it #did i give yall the story of a life time #is it really that good of a story #anyways sorry again for the length uhhhh lololol #idk why Winter's personality changed at the end there but it did #kinda cute though not gonna lie #maybe I'll write a bonus part where Winter just acts like that cause of how tired she is #ron kamonohashi deranged detective #winter moriarty

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imaginationofomi · 2 months ago

Text

Come Together

Nineteen

The drinking started early on Thanksgiving. No surprise to Nayeli with her Aunt Carolyn in the house. Quite a few people on the Windham side of the family were heavy drinkers, and holidays only served as excuses to go overboard.

"It's a celebration!" her uncle Dennis would shout when someone questioned why he was double fisting cups of Jameson on the rocks. The counter in her mother's coastal kitchen was lined with bottles, though one in particular was specifically for the rum cake Nayeli was pressed to bake.

Dessert had been her job since she was a preteen, but she often stuck to the same treat unless something else was requested. Her rum cake was reserved for Christmas, but she would make an exception because of who asked for it; Crystal, her favorite cousin.

She left twelve years prior to study abroad in Sweden and never returned home from Europe, living in several different countries before settling in Spain. The family, including her parents, hadn't seen her in person for about four years, so Nayeli was more than excited to have her childhood road dog back for a few days.

Seated on the one of the three maroon couches in the living room with her cousins Essence and Amber, Nayeli's eyes were on the TV playing The Blind Side, her baby cousin, Luna, running into her knees to get her attention.

"What is it, chickadee?" Nayeli lifted Luna up and set her down by her hip.

"I wanna play outside." the three year old said, wriggling down from the couch and returning to her previous task of running into Nayeli's knees.

"Diesel, Sidney, and Bleu are in the back. Put your jacket on before you go out."

"But I want you to catch me on the slide."

"Okay, come on. Just a few times though." All of the chefs were taking turns in the kitchen so it didn't get overcrowded, and her time was coming. Nayeli swiped Luna's jacket from the closet in the front and helped her put it on, zipping her up so she was snug and warm against the dropping temperature. Luna latched onto her fingers, and she let the little girl pull her through her childhood home and into the backyard she grew up running around in.

It seemed so much bigger when she was younger, but there was a decent amount of space. Some spots of grass were dead, their few days of rain not doing much to cure it. When Diesel was born, Bonnie attempted to turn the yard into a mini park for him and her future grands. There was a red, yellow and blue plastic playground climber for the smaller kids on one side of the yard, a larger wood, metal, green plastic and black rubber one for the bigger kids on the other, both complete with at least one slide, and a lonely swing hanging from the California White Oak tree.

The men of her family filled the patio, seated around two pushed together card tables with drinks, half eaten plates of fruit and chips with dip and eyes trained on the projector that hung down the side of the patio. Seahawks up three against the 49ers, San Francisco could tie the game with a field goal, but at 4th and inches, their coach decided to go for the first down.

Nayeli took Luna to the smaller climber, helping her up to the top and waiting at the bottom for her to slide down. One time would never be enough for the energy of a three year old. Little squeals of joy brought a smile to Nayeli's face as she picked up and tossed Luna into the air.

"Again, again!" Luna yelled, climbing to the top of the apparatus as quick as her legs would go. It took her a bit longer without help, but she made it all on her own, clapping when she slid to the bottom and Nayeli tossed her into the air for the second time.

"Throw me next!" Bleu said, abandoning his older cousins on the rubber chain bridge and running toward Nayeli and Luna.

"I don't know if I'm going to be able to get you up as high. You're a little bigger than Luna." Nayeli tried anyway, letting out an 'oof' when Bleu landed on her chest and knocked some of the air out of her lungs, "You're getting too big, and I'm getting too old for this," she joked, tossing him up one more time and switching back to Luna.

"TiTi Ellie, look! I can jump off!" Diesel called out, pumping his legs to get himself as high as the swing would let him.

"Careful!" Children were fearless, and the earth was hard, nothing to cushion the blow if he slammed into it when he landed. That was one benefit of the piles of wood chips under the swings at the park. When he reached his highest point, Diesel pushed himself off of the seat, screaming happily as he soared through the air and landed on both feet. Nayeli's shoulders relaxed, and she released the breath she was holding, "God, give me strength," she whispered.

"I wanna jump off, too!"

"Me too!" Luna was an absolute no. She was so small that Nayeli knew for a fact she would hurt herself no matter which way she landed.

"That's for the big kids," she said, telling Bleu no as well. He was a year older and not much bigger than Luna, though boys were rougher, "Why don't we play freeze tag instead?"

"Can I play?" Bleu pulled on her sweater, and Sidney hopped off the swing as fast as she hopped on, purple and white beads at the ends of her braids clicking as she ran over and asked to join, too.

"Absolutely! We just have to pick who's gonna be it first. Which one of you is the fastest?"

"Me!" Diesel and Bleu started waving their hands. Sidney scoffed at them.

"I'll dust both of you," Diesel said with a wide grin.

"Make sure your shoes are tied," Sidney said back.

"Looks like we're having a good old fashioned foot race. Go line up at the wall. Luna, you can come with me," Nayeli told them, walking to the other side of the yard and leaning against the salmon pink cement blocks, "Last one that touches my hand is it. Ready, set, go!" The kids took off, Sidney neck and neck with Diesel, but he had longer legs and therefore the upper hand. He reached Nayeli first, smacking her left palm and taunting his cousins, "Alright, Bleu. You're it this time. You have three minutes to try to freeze everybody. The tree will be the safe spot, but you can't stay there more than ten seconds. No hitting, you guys. When you tag somebody, keep it nice. Any fighting and we stop. Got it?"

"Got it!"

"Okay.......EVERYBODY RUN AND HIDE!" She yelled and watched them scatter, setting a timer on her phone and running to pick Luna up before Bleu could catch her.

"That's cheating!"

"Faster, Ellie, faster!" Luna squealed excitedly, bouncing on Nayeli's hip as they zoomed around the yard. Sprinting to the tree, she set Luna down and followed the allotted ten seconds to catch her breath before they were gone again.

Bleu caught Diesel as he tried to run back to the bridge and tried to snag Sidney, but she was too quick and unfroze Diesel, jumping down from the top step to get away from her little cousin. Round one ended with Bleu being unsuccessful, but she switched who was it anyway to keep it somewhat fair.

"Nye, your turn in the kitchen!" Essence stood at the back door, saving Nayeli from more unwanted exercise.

"I'll come back and play later," she told the kids, delegating the timer to Luna and Bleu's dad, Tyson, before she walked inside. Carolyn was in the kitchen filling her fourth glass of the afternoon with alcohol that was supposed to be for the cake, "Easy on the rum, Auntie. I need some of it for dessert."

"Pour it out now 'cause this shit is good," Carolyn said and took a long swig from her cup.

"Or you could switch to coffee." The fragrance wafting off of her was strong enough to make Nayeli want to hide all matches and lighters, lest one spontaneously combust and blow the whole house to bits.

"Don't tell me how to live."

She sighed at her mom's sister and let it go. The family tried to talk her into getting help before, but as Carolyn loved to point out, it was hypocritical to pull her card when everyone had their own vice; whiskey, vodka, tequila, cigarettes. Other peoples' hardships made her feel justified.

"Put the damn bottle down," Leticia swore, snatching it out of Carolyn's hand as she tried to refill her glass even though it wasn't empty yet, "Have you eaten anything since you've been here?"

"Your uppity ass gon get enough that shit. I been drinking longer than you been alive." Carolyn tried and failed to snatch the bottle back.

"AKA you should've stopped by now. You come over here ever year and act a fucking fool. Nobody wants to babysit you, but somebody always has to because you act like it's a crime to be sober."

"Shit, it is! The world is fucked up, and this is how I get through."

"Please do me a favor and take this conversation outside. I just want some peace and quiet," Nayeli said politely, rummaging through her mother's cabinets for the bundt pan, measuring cups and a rubber spatula.

"......always acting like you better than somebody," Carolyn grumbled under her breath, stumbling back into the living room with her drink sloshing around in her cup.

"She's going to die with a bottle in her hand," Leti huffed.

"God forbid."

"Why? It's obviously how she wants to go."

"Just leave her be. We've been trying to dry her out for years. It's not going to happen."

"Then she needs to stay her drunk ass at home."

"Who pissed in your cheerios?" Nayeli asked, confusedly looking up at Leticia. She was being abnormally aggressive for an unknown reason and had been since she got there.

"No one. I'm exhausted."

"Take a nap......or take a sip because you're on edge, and I don't like it."

"I'm not you. We can't all be sunshine and rainbows 24/7."

"Ugh, go away. You'll make my cake taste bad with that attitude. Shoo." She turned her back and reached into the cloth bag of ingredients she'd brought from home, measuring out and dumping the dry ones into the mixing bowl and heading to the other side of the counter for the room temperature eggs, milk, butter, and vegetable oil. Phone chiming and vibrating, she paused what she was doing and answered the video call, propping her phone up against the bread holder, "Hello Handsome!"

"Send help," Ezra said, amusement in his eyes while he pretended to frown.

"Why do you need help?"

"These two." Flipping the camera to the back, he showed her Brandy and Trinity slow dancing, an unopened bottle of wine between them being used as a microphone. They took turns singing loud and off key lines from the song on the TV, "They make me sick."

"It looks like they're having fun to me. You must be sad I'm not there to dance and sing with you," she joked, completely missing the way Leticia rolled her eyes and left the kitchen.

"You right."

"Gotta stop being a hater, babe."

"Is that Nayeli? I wanna talk to her!" Tatiana's voice came through the speaker.

"I just got her on the phone. Can I have a minute?"

"No."

"Hi Princess!"

"Daddy, gimme the phone so I can see her." She was so demanding for such a little thing. Nayeli laughed quietly and moved her mom's electric mixer so she could comfortably reach the controls. The camera flipped again, and the center of Tati's face filled her screen, "Hi! Guess what?"

"What?"

"I showed everybody my picture at school yesterday and told them about how you taught me how to grow stuff and Miss Talbot says when we come back from Thanksgiving break, I get to help the class start growing plants in cups! We're gonna put them in the windows so they can get sun until we put them outside."

"How cool! What are you going to grow in your cup?"

"I wanna grow strawberries so I always have a snack."

"Smart cookie. They're easy to grow, too."

"Can you come help us when we start?"

"I don't see why not. Just make sure it's okay with your teacher and tell me what day," Nayeli said, cracking the eggs into the bowl with one hand.

"I will ask her when I go back to school. Are you coming over to eat with us?" Tatiana asked and climbed onto the couch.

"Not today, but I'll be there on Sunday."

"That's so far. Can you come tomorrow?"

"I'm going to see the other side of my family tomorrow."

"What about Saturday?"

"Tati, don't bug her. She said Sunday," Ezra interjected firmly.

"But I wanna see her before then."

"What did I say?"

"Sunday," Tati said quietly, her face turning into an adorable pout that made Nayeli feel bad. She started to tell them that they could come to her house after she was done working on Saturday, but she'd be going against her own rules. Ezra made a parenting decision, and she had to respect it.

"Hey Pretty Girl. Happy Thanksgiving. Where's your cup?" Brandy asked, sticking her head into the frame.

"Happy Thanksgiving. I'm baking right now. I'll pour something once the cake is in the oven."

"I want some! What kind is it?"

"Rum cake."

"Nah, she don't need any rum cake. Lightweight over here never been able to hold her liquor," Ezra said.

"Stop acting like you somebody daddy."

"I am."

"Tatiana's, not mine! My father's name is Phillip Jamal Jackson."

Nayeli laughed at them, stirring in the rum and vanilla extract, "What do you want me to bring on Sunday?" she asked.

"Just your people."

"Don't speak for me! I need some white chocolate macadamia nut cookies and a sock it to me cake, please," Brandy said.

"Gluttony is a sin," Ezra reminded her with a smirk.

"So is premarital sex. We all going down."

Nayeli was sad that she wasn't with them because five minutes into the phone conversation, she was thoroughly entertained. Brandy and Ezra cracked on each other a lot. She was sure Rakim got in on the fun too, although they weren't as well acquainted. She hoped to get to know him a little better when she got there on Sunday.

"Why is everybody huddled around the phone? Y'all on the Tickety Tok again? Oh, hi sweetie!" Carmen added her face to the picture, smiling and waving at her.

"Hi Miss Carmen! Happy Thanksgiving."

"Same to you. I see they got you in the kitchen over there."

"Just for dessert. No one had me over a hot stove all day this year." Nayeli couldn't say the same for the year prior or the year before that. Luck found her that time around.

"Can y'all not hi-jack my conversation, please? She'll be here in a few days," Ezra sucked his teeth and complained.

"You'll be trying to hold her hostage then, too. Hush. Are you having fun with your family?" Carmen asked her.

"I am. I was out in the back with my little cousins and my nephew not too long ago. I got a week's worth of cardio in running behind them."

"I know it. They'll wear you out if you let them. You got to hurry up and take this one off my hands. 37, big as a house and still working my nerves. I'm ready for him to be someone else's responsibility."

"Baby, what did Tati say that one time? An elephant never forgets?"

"Yes, that's right," Nayeli giggled at the memory. That was the day she learned his name, the day that started them on the path that they were on. Hard to believe that was almost three months ago. It felt like forever went by while also feeling like time barely passed at all.

"I'mma remember you said that next time you ask me for something," Ezra told his mom, removing himself from the circle of women and walking into a separate room. Nayeli greased the bundt pan and started to pour the batter into it.

"Don't look so glum," she said.

"I'll be cool when I can eat."

"I hear that. I skipped lunch, and now I'm regretting it because my uncles destroyed the snacks before halftime. Who do you have money on today?"

"Cowboys. We don't know another squad in this house."

That game didn't start for another two hours, and she was quick to roll her eyes, "Please don't make me hate your team more than I already do."

"You hate us 'cause you ain't us."

"That is what you love to think, and that is why everyone hates you. Cowboys fans are arrogant and obnoxious about a team that hasn't seen a Super Bowl since 1995." It was her family's fault. Most of the men were diehard fans, and it was beyond annoying. They went to war for a damn team like they all played or were personally related.

"Ouch. I didn't deserve that stray. You think I'm arrogant and obnoxious?"

"Obnoxious? No. Arrogant?.....You flirt with the line sometimes, but I enjoy it," she said and grinned at him, opening the oven to check if it was hot enough. The appliance was fickle and liked to pick and choose when it would actually work. She turned it off, reset the temperature, and closed the door to let the heat fill the cavern.

"Can I come see you tonight?" Ezra asked.

"That depends. What do I get if I say yes?"

"Long d-"

"Boy, don't you finish that sentence in front of me!" Heat rose to Nayeli's cheeks, for the comment that Ezra never got to finish making and the fact that they were caught.

"Sorry, Miss Carmen!"

"I don't blame you, Sweetie. It's this one that acts like he has no sense." Carmen flicked the top of Ezra's ear.

"I can't say what I want in my house now?"

"You can say whatever your heart desires when I'm not in the room."

"I left and you followed me in here."

"You're getting a little reckless at the mouth. Don't act brand new because your girlfriend is on the phone. You ain't too old yet. I followed you to ask you something. Lord, ya momma gettin old. Oh! I need you to run to the store."

"For what?"

"Here's a list." She handed over a piece of yellow lined paper and left them to themselves. Ezra let out a long sigh, walking to the back stairs and up to his room to grab a pair of shoes and his wallet.

"I really hate grocery shopping on holidays," he said.

"If it's not too much farther than where you're about to drive, try the Vons on Cherry Street. It's usually empty because it's a smaller store and people think you can't find anything in there, but you can find pretty much anything once you get used to the layout. Produce is right next to the deli near the front. Pay attention to the signs because the aisles are halved."

"Thanks, I'll do that."

"Who's that in there on the phone?"

The voice of the Frick to her Frack made Nayeli light up. She screeched and threw her arms around her cousin's slender neck, "Crystal!" The women bounced with each other, squeezing like their lives depended on it and tears coming to their eyes.

"I need to come back more often," Crystal said and kissed Nayeli's cheek.

"Yes, you do! Crystal, Ezra. Babe, this is my favorite cousin, and this might be the only time you see her for a while. She lives in Spain." With no plans to move back any time soon, if ever. She loved European life. Nayeli pulled her closer to the phone, and Crystal gave her a look.

"Did you just call him babe?" The man she saw on the screen was not a man that she was familiar with.

"Yeah, he's my boyfriend."

"Boyfriend?"

"Hey, how you doin'?" Ezra said and waved.

"I'm happy to see my Baby Love. Everyone else too, but really just her. You?"

"Tryna switch places with you."

"You can come over later," Nayeli said, tempted to tell him to bring Tati with him because she asked to see her first and it seemed unfair to leave her behind. But they did need time to themselves.

"That means I can't," Crystal frowned.

"Why?"

"You're not about to kick me out after a couple of hours for some dick. I'll come another day when we can hang out for real."

"Nayeli!" Bonnie yelled her name just before she walked into the kitchen with her Christmas gifted Michael Kors purse and car keys in hand.

"Ma'am."

"I'm leaving to get your grandparents. Don't let these fools burn my house down while I'm gone." And by fools, she meant her sister and youngest brother, "Is that EJ?" she asked, walking up and leaning around Crystal to see the phone.

"Yeah."

"Hi Hon. How are you?"

"Hungry. You coming on Sunday?"

"Sunday?" Bonnie's eyebrows lifted, and she looked to her baby.

"I haven't told her yet. I was waiting until everyone got here," Nayeli explained.

"My bad."

"It wasn't a secret. I just didn't want to repeat myself more than once"

"What's on Sunday?"

"Ezra wants the family to come over." Crystal and Bonnie looked at each other, the latter turning to Nayeli with questions in her eyes.

"Oh.......yes, I'll be there," Bonnie said, but the expression on her face when she excused herself and left the kitchen let Nayeli know that there was much to discuss. That was precisely why she wanted to wait in the first place. Nayeli was sure that her grandparents would have the same questions, and she didn't feel like answering everything twice.

Ezra wanted his trip to be quick and promised to text her when he made it back to the house. With the cake in the oven and an hour on the timer, she poured herself a cocktail. Crystal sat at the small kitchen table with half a glass of red wine, crossing her legs at the knee and fanning out the long skirt of her Bohemian ensemble.

"Now you know better. I moved to another country, not another planet! Here I was thinking I would have to play nice with the botfly for the evening and you got a whole new man!"

"Ew," Nayeli laughed, "You and your weird bugs. It's been a while since we've had a long conversation. I wasn't trying to talk about it too much when it happened, but I really didn't want to do it over the phone." The nine hour time difference and their work schedules made it difficult anyway. They could never quite catch each other unless one stayed up super late or woke up extra early.

"I'm here now, so pour the tea. Where'd you meet? How long have you guys been together? Why does he want the family over? And what the hell happened to Jalen?"

"Jalen wasted my time. Our relationship was getting harder, we were bickering about a bunch of different things, but the straw that broke the camel's back was him admitting that he never planned on marrying me, and he only admitted it once I finally woke the hell up and called him out about it. There was no future, so I walked."

"Good fucking job because that is one wedding I definitely would've got my ass up at and said I DO when the pastor asked for objections."

"Yes, yes, I know. Y'all thought he was a piece of shit the whole time."

"Not thought. We were correct. Now tell me about this Ezra man. He fine, I know that much!" Crystal lifted her glass and tilted it in Nayeli's direction in salute.

"Yes, he is. I've known him almost three months? If you ask Max, she'll probably tell you we've been together the whole time, but it's really just been like the last month or so that we've been hanging out heavy, and we made it official a couple of days ago. We met towards the end of my relationship with Jalen, like not even a block away from the bakery. I catered the desserts for his daughter's birthday party a few weeks later, and really it just went from there," Nayeli shrugged and sat in the other empty chair at the table.

"When did he meet Auntie Bonnie?"

"My birthday."

"He's a good dude?"

"As far as I can tell, one of the best."

"Oh! Oh! Okay, okay. He must be good if you're talking like that and bringing him home already."

"He is, but I didn't necessarily "bring him home". We were kind of thrown into each other's families. I met his parents and sisters and brother the day of his daughter's birthday party. He met Maxine and Leti when we were out one night. He met my dad at church, and my mom and Stella on Tuesday because I forgot everyone was coming over for cake and ice cream. None of it has been planned." But she wouldn't change anything about the way that it happened.

"Wait, I'm just realizing you said he has a daughter. That's wild."

"Not really. I think most of the people in our age group have kids at this point." In addition to a failed marriage or two under their belts. But it was becoming more common for people to hold off on tying themselves together legally.

"Yeah, but there are still a lot without. I'd be trying to find one if I thought any of them were worth a damn. I hope for your sake he got a baby momma that isn't Hell on two feet."

"Hmmm." Forever the elephant in the room.

"What?"

"I try not to do too much because she is the mother of his child, but let's just say neither of us got lucky on that front."

"Damn. Do you think they're still fucking?"

"If I did, I wouldn't be with him." Brittany, she was not. Any signs of infidelity, and Nayeli would be on the first thing smoking to Singleville. Cheating was an absolute deal breaker for her, whether it was a one night stand, a kiss or a full blown affair. The act showed a lack of tact and respect, and she was done dealing with men that didn't respect her.

"How can you be sure he's not? Some of these women act crazy because their baby daddy is still laying pipe and telling them they can work shit out."

"He doesn't even like talking to her."

"They all say that. I don't talk to her unless it's about the kids, she keeps the kids from me because I don't wanna be with her, she spends the money I give her for my daughter on bull, you got a new nigga, why you asking me for shit? Let him pay for your nails." Crystal deepened her voice and rolled her eyes so hard it hurt. She'd dealt with her fair share of fuckboys, in the States and abroad. They never varied from the script, even in a different language.

"Considering he takes care of his daughter full time, I've yet to hear any of that," Nayeli said.

"What? Color me shocked. Have you met her?"

"His daughter or her mom?"

"Both."

"Yeah, I met his daughter the second time I saw him. I didn't know his name then, though. I met her mom at the birthday party, and if genies existed, one of her three wishes would be to send me six feet under. They don't get along at all."

"You're real confident saying that. There must be more to the story."

"There is, but it's not my story to tell. I will say this. If you ever see my name in a headline for something violent, she's who I hit." And it would likely be over Tatiana. She needed to be the adult of the two and not allow Savannah to pull her down to her level, but Nayeli would fight the devil for Tati, and that was just that. Satan, Savannah, it was all the same.

"She has to be horrible if you're talking about hitting her. I've never known you to be violent."

"I don't want to be, either, but that bitch.....sorry, let me gather myself." She took a long breath and closed her eyes, sipping her lemonade and vodka.

"Go ahead and call her a bitch. You don't need to be nice. She probably never used your name a day in her life. Fuck being the bigger person."

"It's really not even about that. I don't care how she feels about me. I care about Tatiana and how her mother's bullshit will affect her down the line." It was already starting to, and what she witnessed the day of the barbecue was enough to make her permanently worrisome.

"Awwww, you step-momma already?" Crystal teased lightheartedly.

"No, but I love that little girl. She's so sweet and innocent. She doesn't deserve what she's in the middle of right now. No child does."

"Love?" Nayeli was looking at the timer above the oven, and Crystal was looking at her. She'd clearly missed a lot more than she thought, "Well if it's that serious, I don't wear taffeta, mermaid gowns or puff sleeves." Because there was an obvious wedding in the near future that they all had to get ready for.

☼☼☼

Nayeli enjoyed peace and quiet, particularly with a full stomach. She was smart, leaving her mother's house before the itis kicked in and forced her stay longer than she wanted. At the first sign of opportunity for freedom, she bid her family goodbye and chased dusk home with a promise of prepping a guest room for Crystal to stay for one of the weeks she was in town.

Alone with her thoughts, Nayeli took a long shower and rubbed body oil into her damp skin, leaving her hair to sit wildly on her head and dressing in a loose t-shirt that covered her half of her spandex shorts.

She had Usher's Tiny Desk concert pulled up on her TV, sipping on a glass of moscato as she rocked to the tunes of her childhood and adolescence. The doorbell rang, and she padded slowly to the front, welcoming her man with open arms.

His fingers slid eagerly over her skin as he backed her into the house and kicked the door shut. They bumped into each other, legs knocking and limbs tangling as they moved around with their eyes closed. They flopped onto the couch together, mouths suctioned to each other and tongues wrestling until Nayeli gave up control. Her shoulders subtly shook with laughter when he made her straddle his legs.

"Down, boy," she quipped, lips still touching his. Exhaling with a content sigh, the wine plus his hands caressing her sides and back underneath her shirt started to loosen her up. The last time they were alone in her home, their time was disturbed, and she'd been tense because of it, hoping they wouldn't have a repeat because she didn't need anything making her overthink, "How was your dinner?"

"It was Thanksgiving. I don't really get hyped over it anymore."

"Not even to see your family?"

"As much as they go back and forth, my parents might as well live here. I've been trying to convince them to move permanently, but my mom doesn't wanna leave LA. Having Rakim and my grandparents out here is cool. Trin's always cool. Brandy, I can take or leave."

"Don't talk about my friend like that," Nayeli said and poked him in the chest. Ezra grabbed her hand and bit her finger, "It taste like chicken?"

"Like cinnamon sugar." He kissed her palm, his head rolling back when she caressed the top of it and moved back to massage the spot under his occipital bone, "What's the word on your folks for Sunday?"

"Big Momma's excited to see you. PawPaw's not a man of many words, so don't take him being quiet personally. He had a stroke some years back, and he never fully recovered. I'll talk to Nana and Poppy tomorrow, but I'm sure they'll be on board. Mom and dad will be there for sure. Max, Stella and Diesel, yes. Leti, yeah and I think she's bringing her boyfriend. That's not a guarantee, though. I really don't know about the twins."

"Have you spent any more time with them?" he asked.

"Jax's been coming by the bakery at least once a week. Jacob came with him once. I don't think he likes me too much."

"Why you say that?"

"I don't know. He's still giving me short answers when I talk to him. I'm trying not to get too worked up about it. They're my blood, but we don't really know each other. I can't expect to be as close to them as I am to Max and Leti when I just met them."

"He'll come around." Ezra's hands were beneath her shirt again, settling on her hips and gripping the thin material of her bottoms. They were riding up, exposing the scar on her thigh, and he slid his hands to back, giving her soft rump a good squeeze, "Why you got these little ass shorts on?" he asked and tugged on the cloth.

"I want to be comfortable in my home, and this is the closest I could get. I walk around naked when no one's here," she answered, teeth sinking into her bottom lip when he started to pull her forward. Titillated and nervous, she placed her hands on his shoulders and wiled her heart to slow back down before it got too fast.

"Be free. Don't let me stop you."

"I bet you'd like that." Shifting off of his thighs, the tightness forming in her chest began to ease. There was a tug of war going on inside of her, and her homegrown goods were the prize. The problem was both ends of the rope were being tugged on with equal force, and she didn't have time to sit with her thoughts so she could make a decision.

Nayeli put some space between them, getting up to refill her glass and grabbing a drink for him. The final five minutes of the Tiny Desk concert were playing. She sang along softly to Confessions, letting Ezra rest his hand on her inner thigh, and she laid her head on his shoulder. It was hard to get comfortable with his muscles bunched up, "You're tense," she said and put her hand on top of his.

"I need sleep." It was starting to get late, and he'd gotten up early that morning. His brain wouldn't rest which was one of the reasons he asked to see her. Nayeli's presence calmed him, but with everything on his plate, it was barely enough to make a difference.

"We can pick this up another day. Get some rest." She sat up to let him move, but he wrapped both arms around her instead, pulling her back into his lap. Holding her comforted him.

"I ain't say I wanted to leave." He nuzzled his face against hers, kissing the apple of her cheek.

"Did you plan a sleepover without me?"

"Nah, I'm just not ready to go yet." Every person in his house had something to say to him, and because it wasn't anything he hadn't heard before or said himself, he didn't want to hear it. He just wanted his frustration to be permanently eliminated, but he'd have to wait a few weeks for that.

"I don't want you to pass out behind the wheel, so if you need to stay, it's alright," she said.

"Is that an invitation?"

"Only if you tell me what's actually bothering you because I know you're not just tired." With everyday that passed, they became more in tune with each other. Ezra always picked up on her emotions first, but she was getting better at recognizing the deflections he used when he didn't want to burden her.

He looked down at her, meeting her patient expression with one of discontent, "Savannah showed up today." While they were at the dinner table no less. He ignored her for a while, but the calls kept coming. He got continuous security alerts that she was fucking with system, likely just to get on his nerves because he had every intention of leaving her out there until she got tired. Finally, when she turned on the waterworks, he met her at the gate without letting her inside.....and without telling her that her headassery sent the cops their way to escort her off the property.

"I'm not surprised."

"Neither was I until she apologized."

"She apologized?" Nayeli's eyes widened. She didn't expect to hear that. Savannah didn't appear to have a genuinely apologetic bone in her body, but what the hell did she know?

"For trying to take Tati out of school without telling me." He deserved more than an apology for that. So did Tatiana.

"Do you believe her?"

"Fuck no. The next court date's in a few weeks. She's hoping that it'll stop me from airing her out." There was no way he'd make that decision. His daughter had suffered enough. Everything he planned to make known was for her benefit because being around her mother wasn't good for her.

"How's Princess doing with all of this?"

"The same. She doesn't want to be bothered with it."

"Are you going to have her testify at the hearing?"

"I don't wanna put her through that kind of stress."

"I understand. It's a lot on an adult, let alone the toll that would take on a child. A judge isn't likely to blindly take your word for how she feels, though. Just what's on paper, but I guess that also depends on the judge."

"So I make her do it or just let them decide based on the stuff I got?"

"There are other options."

"What are they?"

"A therapist or a mediator, someone that can remain impartial. You can do some family sessions until she's comfortable solo and have the therapist testify instead, or get permission to record the sessions and have them played during the hearing. A neutral third party is probably your best bet anyway so everyone knows she wasn't coerced into saying anything," Nayeli said and wracked her brain for another solution in case that one fell through for any reason. She had Tatiana's best interest at heart, and getting her to a place of stability and emotional fulfillment was all that mattered.

"I think I'll do that. I don't want to traumatize her more."

"Either way, she's already feeling some things that'll require counseling. It's better to get her started sooner rather than later. Let's just hope the judge will see Savannah for who she is and rule appropriately." Nayeli didn't like that she'd settled into a negative mindset. She always gave people the benefit of the doubt, but Savannah kept showing that she was incapable of being an adult and stepping up to the plate. She wondered if the woman suffered from an undiagnosed personality disorder. It might provide more of an explanation, but whatever the case was, she wasn't in a position to meet the needs of her child.

"Yeah. I don't wanna talk about it anymore. I feel like every time I see you, it's some shit with her, and I just wanna be with you."

"You share a beautiful little girl, so I expect to hear about her on occasion, but I get it. I won't bring her up again." That didn't mean she wouldn't be a topic of conversation. Nayeli knew that she was right when she said her presence would make Savannah show her face more. The thing she was wrong about were the actions that followed. What she thought would make Savannah want to be better only had her out for blood. She wasn't conscious enough to see that her behavior was detrimental to everyone involved, and if she acted that crazy, Nayeli had a feeling some other people would too, "I have a question," she said, letting the ads roll until Babyface's Tiny Desk concert started.

"I have an answer."

"A while back you said you were dating casually."

"That's not a question."

"Did you tie up all your loose ends or do I have to worry about someone trying to come to me as a woman because she thinks you're still involved?"

"You don't have anything to worry about."

"Are you sure?"

"I took care of it on my end."

"That is....not very reassuring." It wasn't that she didn't believe him. He was forthcoming whenever she had a question, but he ghosted Renée which meant he wasn't above cutting off communication without an explanation. Some people didn't accept that, so what exactly did he mean when he said he took care of it on his end? Did he block them? Tell them he had a girlfriend? Would the answer even change the outcome? Who else did she have to worry about trying to turn his head back or push her out of the way because they thought they still had a shot?

"I don't know what you wanna hear. I made it known that I'm not single. Beyond that, I can't control what women do. Why even bring it up? We haven't had a problem."

"Yet, and all this crap we've had to deal with already makes me nervous. Us being together clearly pisses people off, and if all your women get the same treatment, I just know at least one of them is going to come for me because I took her spot. Point is, I don't want to have to fight a bunch of bitches behind you, so let me know now."

"Nayeli, it's not that deep."

"How is it not?"

"I'm not planning trips and cashing out on a woman I got no interest in being with for real. It is what it is, and that's where I leave it. I haven't been in a relationship in years, so there wasn't a spot to take. I'm gonna marry you," Ezra said definitively, causing her heart to rise to her throat. She tried to swallow but found it difficult and painful. A knot formed in her stomach.

His statement shouldn't have surprised her. He basically said the same thing when they were on their way to Santa Barbara, but hearing the word come out of his mouth, it almost made it too real for her. Her head started to spin, so she closed her eyes.

"You mean that?" she asked quietly.

"We can drive to Vegas right now if you think I'm lying. I got a jeweler out there that owes me a favor, and we can get rings as soon as we get into the city. We'll have the big wedding in your church when we get back."

She blinked up at him, shocked that the second location was a part of his plan, "You remember where I want to have my wedding?"

"Our wedding, and yeah I remember, so we going or what? I just filled my tank." He stood up and held her bridal style, walking around the couch and looking around for her shoes. She grinned and squeezed his neck.

"It sounds great in theory, but you're going to do this the right way. You conned me out of a cute relationship proposal, so I want theatrics going forward. Confetti canons, sparklers, strobe lights, a big ass cake, the whole nine yards. I want to feel it!" she joked, and just like that, her apprehension evaporated because how could she doubt him when he was literally willing to marry her on the spot? She felt crazy, but in a good way.

"You will, and I'm serious, Nayeli. I need you to know that," he said, staring into her eyes so she knew that he wasn't fucking around, "I'm serious about you, about us, about our future. That farm you want? I'm going to get it for you, and we're going to grow old there with our kids and grandkids and whoever else wants to be there. Because all my life, I was searching for a feeling. I made a lot of mistakes trying to chase it, and all of them led me here, to you. You give me the feeling I've been looking for, and I'd be a fool not to give you everything you've ever wanted out of life in return."

She kissed him hard, exploring every crevice of his mouth with her tongue while she thanked God for finally sending the man that she prayed for so many years ago. The time she thought she wasted wasn't a waste at all. It was preparation, learning what she did and didn't deserve, what she did and didn't want, what she would and would not tolerate. All of the lessons that broke her heart prepared her to accept nothing less than she deserved, and Ezra was going to give it all to her.

"You don't know how happy I am to hear that. I don't think my heart could take it if you turned out to be con artist."

"Lucky for you, my momma whooped my ass every time I lied, and now I got PTSD," he chuckled and kissed her again, "Does it scare you?"

"Does what scare me?"

"Hearing me say that I'm going to marry you."

"Why would that scare me?"

"Because every time I try to tell you what you should already know, you look like you might throw up or pass out. I see when you're nervous and overthinking, and I just wanna make sure you're good and you don't feel like I'm tryna get one over on you or pressure you." By the rest of the world's standards, they were moving at light speed, but it was okay with him. He spent years learning, and he knew enough to know what didn't serve him. Nayeli was everything that he could possibly imagine and so much more.

"All my life, I've dreamt of having what my grandparents have. They've been together over forty years, maternal and paternal. They may have bent, but they never broke. They are the example to follow. Being afraid of this means being afraid of something I've always wanted. That would be silly, wouldn't it?" she said, tilting her head a little to the side.

"Yeah."

"But I do understand why you asked. I think if you were anyone else, I would be terrified and maybe a little creeped out, but let's be real. We knew where this was going. Even when I didn't know, I still knew." God was working with them and for them. His plan was coming to fruition. All they had to do was buckle up and enjoy the ride.

"Alright, I feel like I can breathe now," he exhaled loudly, walking back around the couch and holding her close as he sat down. He pecked her lips over and over, relieved that she didn't call him a psycho and tell him to get the hell out of her house. It was the confirmation he needed, the answer to the question he had for weeks. She loved him, and thank God she did.

"I had your chest tight?" she ragged on him, a wide grin deepening her dimples.

"A little."

"You never have to worry. I'm all yours." Kissing his lips, she caressed his neck, "Let's go to bed."

#black fiction #black love #black literature #polyamory #romantic fiction

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tigorrrr · 9 months ago

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𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗻-𝗗𝗲𝗲𝗽 || 𝗔 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲

Tw: abuse, eating disorder, (mentioned) Shang Tsung

"Hello dear, are you alright?"

Madam Bo tapped the remaining ash from her cigarette before finishing the paper stick completely. She peered closely with her eldery, but still healthy, eyes at the young woman she decided to question that night before she would disappear forever, leaving Miss Bo regret her choice on her death bed.

The woman, poorly dressed for the rainy weather they were having for a few days and her already pearly skin looking too pale, looked up at the old woman like deer staring into headlights with her lavender orbs that had specs of blue and barely noticeable red hue framed by wet, white lashes. Frightened, not oblivious to its gruesome fate but unable to move like any other hind.

Mustering a little smile with trembling, paint-less lips that began to turn a blue hue on the snow-white skin was such an eyesore for a pretty face like hers.

"Y-yes, ma'am. I will be alright."

But Madam Bo didn't buy such a bold lie. "I've been watching you. Sitting here for hours, not getting onto any buss, under-dressed. I may be old but I am not blind."

The albino woman didn't expect such fierce sassiness of the old lady.

"Ah~" she huffed out a feminine, pathetic chuckle. "Observation of a hawk."

Madam Bo didn't pay any mind to the compliment, normally she would express how flattered she is but something feels wrong here and she won't rest until it's solved. "Are you running from something?" she asked, eyeing the hefty bag by the woman's feet. "Responsibilities?"

All that the woman ever wanted was to have someone listen to her troubles and not turn it down like a minor problem of a should-have-known-better, young woman. She was burned many time for hoping.

The woman only shook her head.

Madam Bo tilted her head with intrigue but worry creased her wrinkly forehead, snapping out of her hand her finished smoke. "Running from someone?"

The woman didn't bother to lie this time and nodded her head with defeat at the puddled road in front of her.

A shred of empathy embedded into Madam Bo's hardened heart, knowing if she'd leave the woman now the sense of taking responsibility of her fate to take the right turn would not let her sleep for the next week.

"Well then, come on into my bar or you'll catch a nasty cold. A warm meal is something you need right about now." Madam Bo announced her final verdict and the young woman looked at her with unsureness. "What is your name?"

"...... Diya... Diya... Tsung."

"Call me Madam Bo, dear. Now-"

"I-I don't..." Diya choked a little, throat tight and teeth chattered although the cold barely bothered her. "I don't have any money to pay you for your services."

Madam Bo stared at her for a minute as if bored by her troubling situatiom. "That's all? Girl, you are too young and pretty to worry your pretty head. We can do some fair arrangements later but you will eat a proper meal tonight."

Diya found herself unable to turn down Madam Bo's order. Always the submissive. But she didn't feel threatened in the least by Madam's presence.

Madam Bo waited for her to pick up her bag and be by her side before walking them to the front door. Although the business was booming, the owner of this bar will have just her break a few minutes longer. A reliable bouncer, Geras, let the women in without much as a glance and no one dared to open their mouths when the cut in the line because they know how the owner of this bar looks like.

Diya was hesitant to cross the doorstep at first but the whipping thunder from close above her made her jump right inside. She never felt good about storms while being outside. Even when inside it can be difficult if she doesn't have her headphones charged.

The bar was vibrant and lovely inside, still keeping honest-to-detail traditional Chinese architecture style. It may have looked small from the outside but it was quite big inside, but that should have been expected from this big city. The lower floor and first floor - from which you can see to the floor below by looking over a fenced center hole - is for entertaining clients, in the second floor is where Madam Bo's office is. Diya was in awe of the atmosphere.

Dancers at the stage, on the ground floor, on their poles did their elegant and alluring acrobatics accompanied by lights and music in pretty costumes that expose just the right amount of flesh.

Diya's heartbeat spiked at the sight.

She always dreamed of having the confidence of a woman that knew her place and boundaries. For being in her early twenties she still feels like a girl that can barely lift a finger without her husband.

Madam Bo's dancers radiated that self-assurance in everything they are and what they are doing. Diya would like that too.

While in her naive little dream land that she hadn't had the will to let go off even after the wedding vows, Madam Bo lead them to the back stage on the lower foor. Having a husband like Shang was only a cruel and tiring reality, dreams were her only escapism.

"Ladies!" Madam Bo yipped as soon as she entered the room with a security keycard, everyone in the long hallway gave her devoted attention. "Please, someone, go get Alexa from her break and tell her to bring Lotus Root and Pork soup for our guest."

"Yes, Madam." a woman, older a few years than Diya, pushed herself from the wall and as she walked by she eyed the state Diya is in.

She is a mess. She knows as much but appearance wasn't on her to-do list while she was packing her stuff in a hurry.

Madam Bo invited Diya inside one of the rooms at the far back of the hallway as soon as she hit the light switch, it was empty with just an empty vanity and a closet in the corner but kept considerably clean.

"Here you go, sweetie. You can stay here for tonight. Alexa will help you find some blankets to sleep on after your dinner."

Diya looked around. She didn't know what to make of it and she was hesitant to even give her hopes up but she was immensely grateful either way. She bit down on her trembling lip before facing the eldery woman, giving her a deep bow to show her gratitude.

"I can't thank you enough, Madam Bo!!" Diya nearly hiccuped with her sob stuck in her throat but she held it in, squeezed her eyes tight and just hoped her body language expressed enough of her feelings.

Madam Bo waved her wrist, holding her own chuckle at the youth's theatrics. "Don't mention it. Settle in and we'll talk in the morning, alright?"

As soon as she straightened, Diya could only nod and stare at her feet, her white cheeks turning a hue of soft red. Madam Bo left without another word to her but she immediately began to give orders to her employees as soon as the door closed behind her. Diya put her bag by the vanity's wooden leg and sat down with exhaustion on a chair she had to pull from below the desk.

Her own reflection in the mirror startled her before frowning at herself. Diya didn't sleep for a day and now the bags under her eyes made her look almost like a junkie.... Not far from the truth for whatever she had recieved from her husband has been spiked and it resulted by going into rehab when they were half-a-year in their marriage, many of times she felt absurd for accusing him and he gaslighted her that she must have eaten something bad, now she can't turn her head away from the truth she had discovered.

Diya burried her face into her hands with a broken sigh. Will this attempt be even fruitful? Where will she go? Nowhere is safe. Will Madam Bo let her stay a little longer if she'd swear to work for her as long as she can?

Will Shang look for her? Make her return? He had made her give up her attempts at leaving many of times. He's a manipulative lier that makes good on his promises - what if he hurts Madam Bo or her employees? She'd be more than eager to give Diya to him then, for sure.

Knock. Knock.

Whirling in her chair to face the door, Diya expected only the worse when the door knob moved and the door began to open.

But a woman with blond hair tied into a messy, high ponytail entered with a food tray that carried the promised soup. A frown pinched her forehead skin at the guest's perched body and her fright-filled, wide eyes.

"What? You look at me as if I were a murderer." she scoffed and waltzed right up to Diya whose shoulders rose up with hopes that the floor would swallow her up other than her embarrassement.

"I-I'm sorry! Umh, are you... Are you Alexa?"

"Alexa Koroveshi." was her curt answer as she set down the soup on the desk.

Diya stared at the steaming bowl of delicious broth and pork meat. She was starved but her eating disorder and ruined stomach told her she is anything but hungry. But she will also feel bad if she'd turn down the dinner they prepared and served for her.

"And you are...?"

Immediately facing Alexa's impatience grounded her from her invading thoughts. "H... Huh? Pardon?"

Alexa rolled her eyes at the ceiling for a hot second. "I don't know your name."

"O-oh!! I'm— the name's Diya." she quickly offered her palm. Alexa stared at it before giving it one, firm shake. "I... Thank you for the soup, miss Koroveshi. I don't wish to be a bother-"

"Yeah, well, too late." the blonde shrugged and placed her silver tray under her armpit. "Eat. I'll go find something for you to sleep on."

"... Thank you..."

Alexa waved off the almost silent gratitude as she walked off, leaving her all alone in the room much to Diya's dislike.

She can't tell for how long she sat there and stared at her dinner, her brain very against the idea while her stomach was more than eager to recieve substenance even though it was still healing.

Diya gingerly picked the spoon from the bowl and brought the hot broth to her dry lips. As the half-a-spoonfull entered her mouth and swirled around her taste buds she expected her gagging reflect to command her to spit it out. It didn't. Her throat only lightly tightened and her body gladly invited the delicious food while her eyes finally released salty tears that had build up over the past year.

It took her back to her childhood with her adoptive brothers, they used to eat delicious soups made by her adoptive mother at dinner together. Those were the happier years of her life before she met Shang at 12th grade in High school back in China.

From that moment Diya knew her own soul won't allow her to leave this place and Madam Bo. Her safe place now her sanctuary and she'd like to do anything in her power to help with it's growth if Madam is to allow it.

#Skin-Deep AU #Diya #Madam Bo #Alexa belongs to InfinitNei💕

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jazztag · 1 year ago

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ftm!SW Whump #3

Plot: A policemen (25) finds a young criminal (22) in his own garage in a cold October night. He's been tailing him for days, but instead of taking him into police custody, he decides to let him stay for the night. He eventually turns into his Caregiver. TW: Periods :( Part 2 here!

Next thing I knew, he was on the road by night, exactly where everyone, including myself, has told him not to be, searching for clients. He approached my car without noticing it was me inside. He looked through the window with that shy and kind of kinky smile, and upon recognizing me he turned left and tried running away. And I "meant "trying" because he was obviously lumping his left leg as usual. I exited the car and within three steps I was grabbing him by his hoodie. I was about to say the usual "You're under arrest" bullshit, but suddenly he was on his knees and panting a lot, so I ended up asking if something was, in fact, wrong. Oh, of course, he was bleeding. It was that time of the month, already.

He looked to be incredibly in pain. That "fleeing" attempt just made his belly ache more. Again, I just felt pity for that poor thing. I could not imagine the pain he was being thrown into. I heard it was the most dysphoric time of the month, too.

I sighted and right then and now I decided to take him to the station. There would be pads and painkillers. I couldn't leave him in there, without a roof and rummaging around there on the cold streets. I picked himm up in my arms, and he got startled. I tried not to move him around too much while carring him to the car. He was incredibly small in frame under all these layers of clothing. Almost weightless. He grabbed at my collar shirt, while cooing softly, feeling my warmth. For this one, I let him do. I usually feel awkward when he clings onto me like that... I feel like it's something sexual he tends to do. It doesn't feel quite right. I don't know.

I let him fall onto the passenger's seat. He stirred away and I carefully check there isn't much of a stain in there. I don't even care about the car's seat, at this point. I am just wondering if there will be pants his size back at the station. He looks ashamed of himself. I seat next to him and I buckle him up. I look at him for some seconds, absentminded.

I then take my thick coat and I cover him with it. I instantly feel regret because now it will smell like the cheap cologne of his clients and weed, but the way he holds and clutches onto it makes me regret even thinking about it. He needs warmth right now, more than anything.

At the station and upon entering, everyone gets alerted by the sight of him. He has awoken, and he is practically dragging his feet behind me. He's handcuffed and visibly in pain I don't need to ask before someone opens a cell for the two of us. I uncuff him when he is laying down, still clutching his torso.

"Let me check" I told him, and I inspect, hesitating a little, the inside of his pants.

I frown at his perverted smile, turning the situation upside down into a sexual one even in his state. I be can't help it and I pull up his pants a little too rough. He let's out a hiss of pain, breaking that shameless smile. I stand up. I didn't see any stain of blood.

"I'm going to go get you some painkillers" I say aloud. He just hisses again, mad at my careless movements. Good thing he noticed. I'm not going to go soft on him just because he is on his period. At least I don't want him to think so.

I tell my partner to keep an eye on him while handcuffing his wrist to the near wall. She hesitates at Just. I leave them, she asking him how is he feeling.

After ten minutes I return with two painkillers, a glass of water and a blanket. I find him hugging a pillow -- probably brought by her. While he gulps down the medicine, I approach her. I back down my walls and I finally decide to ask: "How can I... make him feel more comfortable while "this"" I point at him, clutched on the bed and finishing his water. She smiles at me, understanding my question exactly as it is.

"Keep him warm and well hydrated. Just let him rest and don't ask him to move around a lot." She looks back at our prisoner and shrugs: "He will be fine, don't worry" I'm not, I tell myself.

I don't know how dysphoria works, and even tho he deserves to pay for all the troubles he is always causing, shaming him for it is just unacceptable. The moment I leave him to rest in his new cell I start hearing bad commentaries coming from some people in the office. Apparently boys can't have periods. I recognize it, finally. I worry for him, a lot.

#whump #period whump #writing prompt

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starvingtongue · 1 year ago

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During and after the events of X-2, Dona unintentionally becomes a bit of a leader figure in Kilika and maybe 'mini-mevyn' of Kilika's sub-division of the Youth League. She doesn't ask for it, and for the most part, she doesn't necessarily want it either. She'd be more than happy to completely settle down with Barthello, after the two of them reuniting and making up, and never have to deal with the politics of New Yevon vs the Youth League ever again.

I'm also headcanoning here, much like with my headcanons for Paine, that the Youth League never dissolved for Dona either, post X-2. Instead, Nooj tends to base himself at the main camp in Mushroom Rock Road, and subsequently so do Elma and Lucil. Those that want to move to the base at Kilika can do so, but Nooj makes it clear that there's no pressure to move.

We see throughout the events of X-2 that Dona becomes more and more involved with outright leading things or helping to lead things in Kilika. I think her more outspoken nature and ability to tell Yevon when to shove it means she becomes the unwitting voice of the people much of the time. Examples include:

She's seen trying to get the monks at the temple in Chapter 1 to give up the 'awesome sphere', her history as a former summoner probably gives her some leeway with the monks & people might push her to speak with them initially. Other members of the League might see her as someone that the temple might be more lenient with, might divulge their secrets with, or admit that they've been hiding something. We (the player) know that's not going to happen, Dona probably knows it too.

She's leading a group of people blocking off the rest of Kilika port if you give the sphere to the New Yevon or the Youth League. While she says there's no rest of the weary, it doesn't seem like she turned down the role of keeping things in relative order or from warning people away from the island for a while

She's the one that gets the guards to stand down from the gate to the temple after Yuna's concert in the Thunder Plains. The guard complains about not having orders, Dona gives him one, he backs down, and the villagers can see their families.

Literally from her own mouth: "From the moment Nooj disappeared, everyone's been running around in circles. Just look at them. No one knows what to do without someone barking orders at them. They've already started looking for a new leader. In fact, they even asked me. Figured a former summoner would make a perfect leader for the town." [When asked why she doesn't.] "Too busy looking after myself, dear. Of course I'll do what I can to keep things from getting too far out of hand, but…" Again, it seems like even though she said no, the leadership thing partially got placed on her shoulders anyway and she figured Nooj would come back to pick up the mantal eventually. Her naturally more outspoken nature (even if it can be a bit rude sometimes) & her position as a former summoner can mean that the masses look towards her for help and support in times of crisis. I think this might be why she unintentionally becomes the leader of the sub-division of the Youth League that's stationed in Kilika, or at the very least a leader figure in Kilika.

Now when I say unintentionally, I don't think it was ever her goal to become any sort of leadership authority after the events of X. As I've said before, I think she'd be very comfortable with settling down with Barthello and living out the rest of her days as relaxed and as comfortably as she can. There were probably times on Kilika, after she joined the Youth League and while Nooj wasn't around, that people came and asked her for advice on what to do. Her common response was always something along the lines that she didn't know and for them to go ask Nooj. Over time however, especially with the above examples during the events of X-2, the leadership position naturally just fell onto her shoulders anyway. She'll vehemontly deny that she's in any sort of authority position on Kilika, she says it's to keep things running so nothing gets too far out of hand, but she's also not stupid. She knows what she means to the people of Kilika. She'll take on the responsibility if it comes to it, but she doesn't willingly seek it out.

After the events of X-2, and more so a few months down the line, she finds herself spending more time at the new Youth League base in Kilika. It's mostly paperwork, sorting out some debates on sphere locations, putting an end to some silly debate that's gotten out of control within the village. She won't admit she enjoys it, but if you ask Barthello, he knows as well as anyone else that she does. It keeps her entertained, it keeps the village running smoothly, keeps the Youth League in line when Nooj isn't around.

People know not to come to her house asking for advice. They'd get an earful from Dona and well muscled Barthello in their face. They know to come to the Youth League base or catch her around town if she doesn't look too busy. Many people find she's more than willing to help, despite the blunter comments she sometimes makes. Eventually, I think she'd learn to accept whatever responsibility has been shoved upon her shoulders, albeit begrudingly.

#dona { 🎆 } headcanon

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pinkcandyclouds · 10 months ago

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needless to say, bennett had not been prepared for the zombie apocalypse. he still couldn't believe what he was seeing, that this wasn't a dream. his day had been boring and normal for the most part. going through bug reports, a few back and forth emails with his boss about their institutional license (like that was his job), some tetris here and there, two servings of butter chicken from his favorite indian place (one for lunch and the other to save for tomorrow's dinner).

the commotion started right as he got off of work. preparing to take a short nap before going out for some much-needed groceries, he'd flopped onto the couch and closed his eyes. except the noise from his upstairs neighbors was too constant and too annoying to get to sleep. the noise was hard to describe, and he had no idea what they were up to. something akin to if tough meat and bones were being pushed through a meat grinder, or at least what he assumed that would sound like. he gave it a couple of minutes to give them time to knock it off. no such luck. he yelled for them to cut it out. another minute, no such luck. he huffed, stood up and pulled the broom from out of the closet and beat on his ceiling. a few seconds later a bloodcurdling scream came from the apartment. the hairs on his neck raised. bennett rushed upstairs, ready to bang on the door only to find it was slightly ajar already. there was no forgetting what he saw inside. two of his neighbors - the husband and wife - were now in multiple pieces across the floor. their teenage daughter, her eyes bloodshot and skin now a deathly gray, kneeled in the corner chewing on some part of one of her parents' bodies. bennett didn't want to know which part. she glanced up when she heard him come into the room. within a second she was attempting to jump and lunge at him. it was pure instinct that got him to rush out of the apartment and shut the door behind him. he bounded down the stairs back to his own apartment, bolting the door shut and falling against it. okay, he could think of what to do. it was going to be okay. there were things in place to deal with this sort of thing. he nodded to himself, getting his phone out and dialing 911. except no one picked up. ten minutes of calling, again and again, without any luck. something was wrong.

bennett had the lucky idea to prepare a small suitcase quickly. he didn't think too hard as he threw everything into his suitcase and backpack that he would need for a couple days on the road. surely it wouldn't be necessary, but he was better safe than sorry. he went down the few flights of stairs, following behind another neighbor who was frantically speaking to someone on their phone to stay put and wait for them. when he got outside, he was dumbfounded by the chaos. people running, yelling over each other, trying to get to somewhere safe. the shock was so overwhelming he couldn't do anything but stand there for a moment until he was almost shoved to the ground by a passerby. now in survival mode, bennett rushed the his car, throwing the suitcase and backpack in the backseat and getting into the driver's seat. he heard a voice, this one clearer than all the other shouting. turning his head, he saw a women running towards him, waving her arms and telling him not to leave. he had to make a split second decision. one that he would likely regret.

"shit," he murmured under his breath. what was he doing? "get in," he called, not looking back to see if she was sliding into the passenger's seat as he turned on the ignition.

muse: leticia villalobos-ortiz. ( a thirty year old fitness instructor and hopeless romantic ). open to: all genders. connection: strangers, or could be acquaintances. setting: in the midst of a zombie outbreak, leticia loses her family and, in the fray, encounters your muse getting into a car and asks for their help. triggers: death mention, gore, apocalyptic themes, murder of a parent ( in leticia’s history ).

it had been a mundane evening. teaching classes at iron fitness, a cancelled tinder date, and a large hibiscus tea from starbucks had made up the bulk of it. there’d been no time to catch the news, save whatever weird trend was blowing up her feed with what must’ve been some spooky prank. she’d come home from teaching yoga to find her cousins slaughtered. the culprit? not some wild animal, but something darker. a neighbor, near-possessed and feral, had strewn family photos and keepsakes hither and yon throughout the house and that was not to mention what he’d done to the bodies of her family members.

it wasn’t like anyone could be prepared for this, but leticia–milagrita–could not have ever been prepared. she ran to her bedroom, gym bag in hand, sliding past the neighbor (whose name she would never know). the din of his fists made her door shake heavily even with the lock. unable to hear much else over her own breath, which gripped her chest tightly with a cold she’d not known, she could not help but stare at the door. even as the wood began to splinter. it was the luck of hearing sirens outside that broke her from the trance and she shoved a few items into her bag with her sweaty gym clothes before slipping out of the sliding glass doors that led to the unfenced and modest backyard.

cars drove erratically on the streets and she tried to wave a few down unsuccessfully. at least she could be grateful for a runner’s endurance. the neighbor hadn’t followed her out of the window, but another person–their polo shirt streaked in blood–soon picked up the pace after her in his stead. what had seemed to be a fairly chaotic, but normal evening was rapidly devolving into chaos. ahead of her, she spotted another person moving purposefully towards a car and she picked up her pace to catch up to them. “please, please, please.” leticia shouted, waving her arms, unsure if the other person could hear her, so out of breath as she was. the small pack on her shoulder bounced uncomfortably as she ran. “wait, please don’t leave me out here!”

#bennett {threads}#hope this works! idk what possessed me to make it this long #don't match length

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triptuckers · 2 years ago

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a ride - rooster

Request: nope Pairing: bradley "rooster" bradshaw x reader Summary: you didn't think you'd be this sore after a night of having a few drinks Warnings: swearing, mentions of alcohol, making out Word count: 1k A/N: rewatching top gun as we speak. readers call sign is sunny

you had always loved going out for drinks with the rest of the team. after a long day at base, it felt good to blow off some steam and have fun. last night was no different.

as always, it had been a lot of fun, but you all went home early. you had to be back at base the following day. rooster had offered you a ride home, since he arrived later and didn’t have many drinks. so, you got into his ford, deciding you’d pick up your car later. besides, you still had your motorcycle to get to base.

relationships between team members were strictly off limits, as the navy needed their pilots alert and clearheaded.

but no matter how hard you tried, you and rooster couldn’t seem to stay away from each other. you’d been sneaking around ever since.

it was no surprise when rooster dropped you off, he went in with you. neither of you had gotten much sleep that night.

it would have been suspicious if you arrived together or just minutes apart, so you stayed in bed while rooster got ready.

after pressing quick kisses to your cheeks, nose and lips, making you giggle, rooster leaves your house. you listen to the sound of his car disappearing in the distance before getting up as well.

immediately, you groan as you notice a sore feeling in your legs.

yeah, well, that was bound to happen after what you did last night.

you hope a hot shower would help.

indeed having the hot water run over your body felt good. but as soon as you got out and dried off, the dull ache in your legs returned. this was going to be a very long day.

nevertheless, you left the bathroom in your flight suit, grabbing a quick breakfast from the kitchen. you smiled at the post-it note rooster had left behind, empty except for a simple heart.

you tuck it in one of your pockets and grab your car keys. you head to the garage. but when you reach it, you notice your car isn’t there.

‘fuck.’ you mutter.

you forgot that you had left it at the bar last night, figuring it would be okay to take your motorcycle today. that was before you knew what rooster was going to do to you.

you loved your motorcycle. but you didn’t love it as much as you used to when your legs were aching this bad. alas, you didn’t really have another option.

after going back to the house to get the right keys and your helmet, you take a breath before swinging one of your legs over the motorcycle.

instantly you wince at the movement.

‘fuck this.’ you mutter as you back out of the garage and onto the road.

you’re the last to arrive at base, you see everyone else is doing a few laps. god, you hated whoever came up with the idea that it was good to warm up. you sat in a tiny space. there wasn’t much running involved.

still, you have no choice but to join the rest of the team. but you’re taking it slow.

phoenix takes notice of this, and slows down to run next to you.

‘hey.’ she says. ‘you okay? something wrong?’

‘oh nothing, i’m fine.’ you say. ‘just went for a ride last night and my legs are still a bit sore.’

behind you, you hear someone make a choking sound, muffled by a cough. seconds later, rooster overtakes you and phoenix.

‘where’d you go?’ asks phoenix.

‘my usual ride, though i took a detour so it was longer.’

‘did you at least have fun? it was pretty cold last night.’

‘yeah, i had fun. the view was really great.’

you try to hide your smirk when you see roosters ears and neck turn red. you loved to get him all worked up.

you spend the rest of your time running talking with phoenix, who preferred to match your pace over racing hangman.

when at last it’s over, everyone splits up and goes their own way on the break.

you’re headed to your usual spot, where you have a view of almost the entire base. it’s your favorite view. well, second favorite.

you don’t even manage to get there.

about halfway there, someone grabs a hold of your arm and pulls you in an empty classroom.

‘what the fuck.’ you exclaim, ready to knee whoever it is in the gut. but then you see who it is, and you don’t mind in the slightest.

rooster’s neck is still a bit red as he pulls you further into the room. you smirk at the fact you got him all hot and bothered like that. you loved that you made him feel like that.

‘nice ride?’ he says, pulling you closer to his body.

you look up at him and smile mischievously. ‘well, was any of it a lie?’ you say.

‘i should hope not.’ he says.

you chuckle, which turns into a squeal when rooster suddenly pulls you flush against him. with widened eyes you press your hand to your mouth, afraid someone might have heard the sound.

when the hallway stays quiet, rooster grins and leans down to kiss you. the feel of his lips on yours takes you back to the night before. it’s true you hadn’t lied, it had indeed been a good ride with a great view.

you’re interrupted by a low whistle.

you instantly push away from rooster and look at the door. in the door opening, which had been closed moments before, is hangman.

“nice ride you got there, sunny.” he says.

“hangman i swear to-“ “can’t wait to see what the rest thinks of your ride.”

your eyes widen as hangman leaves the room, already shouting for the others.

after one quick glance at rooster, you both take off after hangman.

A/N: If you want to request something, make sure to read my house rulesHere’s the list of characters I write for. Everything that I have written can be found on my masterlist. Please don’t repost my work, as I spend much time and effort on it!! Thank you for reading! Much love, Max/Marit

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especially-obsessed · 3 years ago

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Stormy Weather

Summary: You should've had enough time to go back to the Chateau and go home. Both of them noticed how anxious you were. And JJ insisted you stay

Pairing: JJ Maybank x reader

Warnings: Fluff, fluff, and fluff (:

Word Count: 3.4k

A/N: Just pretend I posted this on time bc I'm like three minutes off

Hurricane Agatha. Who would've thought she'd be coming in today? John B had rushed straight back to the Chateau knowing that at least someone would be there. And he found you and Pope, sitting on the porch chatting about school. He pulled the van around quickly pelting the two of you in dust. He quickly jumped out of the van and almost ran to you and Pope on the steps. John B spoke quickly and waved his hands around while he talked. You couldn't understand anything that he had said other than 'hurricane' and 'surge'.

Pope sighed and got up from where he was seated next to you. John B walked towards the Twinkie after Pope, almost too excited to go surfing. He jumped into the driver's seat and turned his head to talk to you, only just then realizing you hadn’t followed them. He looked over at you still sitting on the steps. He honked the horn and you looked up, seeing both of the boys staring at you from the van. They didn’t realize that you were practically frozen to the steps by fear.

"You comin'?" John B called. You decided to push your anxiety down and join the boys anyway. Agatha couldn't be that close to the island yet.

"Have you talked to Kie yet?" You asked, slamming the side door shut and taking a seat. John B nodded his head as he pulled out onto the road.

"Yeah. She's stuck boarding up the restaurant with her parents. Oh, and I have no clue where JJ is," he added. He glanced at you in the mirror with a smirk, but you didn't notice. You were focused on the dark clouds sitting at the edge of the horizon, black and purple in color.

You arrived at the beach and the wind had started to pick up, whipping you to the side when you stepped out of the van. You could feel the sting of the water falling as it started to get heavier. You absentmindedly searched the beach for JJ hoping that he was already here, but to no avail.

You watched John B and Pope rush over the small wind shadow dunes and you tried your best to keep up with them.

"It's a double overhead out there, bro." John B says excitedly, looking back at you. He shifts his board under his arm.

"Double overhead?" Pope questions.

The three of you stop at the sight of the small and seemingly unfitting "beach closed sign" warning of the hurricane. You chuckle slightly at the irony of it. You look over to John B and Pope who are looking out at the massive waves slamming into the shore.

"Those aren't surfable waves," Pope voices his concern.

You decide to yet again push down the growing anxiety in your gut and start running towards the water with your board.

John B laughs and playfully smacks Pope on the chest. "Unsurfable? Says who?" He asks, running after you before Pope can say anything else.

You're already out in the water, feeling the waves beneath you and finding your balance on the board. You use your arms to wade yourself further out. The sound of the wind and the angry water around you is almost deafening. But of course, you can hear John B’s laughter as he paddles behind you. You grip your board tightly in anticipation of the wave approaching. You glance back at John B and can’t help but smile at the goofy grin on his face as he attempts to stand up and fails miserably as the very large wave slams him off of his board. His head quickly pops up out of the water and he looks around for a moment. Pope shouts something inaudible behind you, but you were focusing on something else. You watched the almost black sea slowly rise up and down as you sat on your board, bringing you with it on the choppy waves. You’ve never seen the water like this. It only added to the deep pit in your stomach.

Out in the distance, there was a large wave picking up. The crest of the wave started foaming up as you started to approach it. Preparing yourself, you mounted up on the surfboard and, surprisingly, didn’t slip. You kept one hand on the back of the surfboard (which was loaded with Billabong and Quiksilver stickers). And, five seconds later, you slipped off of the board and wiped out, tumbling into the water. The cool crisp water invades the surface of your skin. You blew water out through your nose as you swam up towards the surface of the water. You instantly reached out and grasped your board, taking in a big gulp of water as you tried to breathe. You coughed for a moment, trying to clear the water in your lungs, then pulled yourself back up onto the surfboard.

Safely back on your board, you glanced around looking for John B and Pope. You caught a glimpse of Pope sliding across a wave away from you and successfully staying on his board. The already harsh waves were getting worse, and you couldn’t help feeling like a buoy out at sea, suddenly feeling sympathy for them as well. You wiped at the water on your face and saw John B sitting on his board as well. He brushed his hair out of his eyes and looked out at the horizon. You looked in the direction he was staring. In the distance, just as far as the rain would let you see, there was a ship practically heading straight into the storm. Why the hell are they taking a ship out in this? As if you could hear each other's thoughts, you and John B looked at each other at the same time. You both shrugged your shoulders, unsure of what to make of the situation.

“Guys, these aren’t surfable anymore!” Pope shouted from behind you. John B nodded and waved to him. You glanced back towards where you had spotted the boat, but it was already gone.

“C’mon y/n, let's head in!” John B shouted to you. You nodded and waded your way back towards the shore until your feet could touch the sandy ocean floor.

Pope was already back at the van by the time you and John B came over the small sand dunes. John B put your boards on top of the van and secured them tightly so they wouldn’t blow off of going down the road.

“You coming back with us Pope?” John B asked. Pope shook his head and his shirt over his head.

“I’m going to head home, help my dad with any last-minute preparations. It’s not that far. He’ll be worried if I’m not back anyway.” John B nodded and turned to you with a look that said don’t even think about it.

“I think I should head home, too,” you stated weakly. Pope slipped on his shoes and looked up at you.

“Really? I’d say your chances of making it there on foot are not good. It’s farther away than the Chateau is from here,” Pope stated. “I’ll catch you guys later!” He said as he ran down the road towards his house. You turned to look at John B, anxiety starting to bubble back up into your throat.

“I need to go home,” you said flatly, which caught his attention. He gave you a soft smile and opened the van door for you.

“Hop in, the storm won’t be that bad. We’ll get there in time,” he said, hopping into the driver’s seat and waiting for you. You reached into the back of the van and grabbed a pair of your shorts and slipped them on before getting into the passenger seat. You subconsciously played with the string on the shorts as John B headed towards his house. He looked over and could see the worry on your face and watched as your fingers aimlessly fiddled with the string.

“Hey,” he started in a calm tone. “We’re almost there. It’ll be okay, y/n,” he said. You didn’t miss the hidden meaning in his words. It’ll be okay. You glanced over at him and gave him the best smile you could manage at the moment. You could already tell how strong the wind was, doing its best to push over the van as the two of you made your way down the debris-covered road. It did not look like this when you had left earlier. A sudden wave of nausea took over you as you neared the chateau, the trees around it looked like they were ready to come out of the ground.

You and John B both leaped out of the van and bolted for the door as quickly as you could. The rain pelted you and it was as if you had just stepped out of the ocean again. Goosebumps shot across your entire body and the two of you burst through the door into the warm room. Once inside, you noticed an all too calm JJ sitting on the couch, and a quick second of ease fell over you. JJ smiled at you as you walked past him towards the bathroom.

“You guys get caught in the storm?” he asked. He waited for a response from you and got nervous when you didn’t say anything. JJ looked up at John B with a confused look. John B just frowned and shook his head as you walked back towards them. JJ stood up opening his mouth to say something to you but you walked right by him. He quickly closed his mouth and moved towards John B who was leaning up against the wall.

You felt like your heart was about to be out of your chest. A panic attack that had been bubbling up all day was about to spill over. You no longer paid any attention to the boys. You were going to ask John B to leave but decided against it. You could always just walk out, regardless of how dramatic that would be. Your window for leaving was shrinking the more you thought about this. You paced back and forth for a moment before sitting on the couch, attention focused on anything but the windows.

“Is she okay, man?” JJ asked quietly.

“I think it’s the storm. She’s been off since I picked her and Pope up,” John B answered. The two watched you for a moment as you sat on the couch. Your leg was bouncing up and down and your fingers were still playing with the string on your shorts. JJ wanted to hug you and tell you everything was going to be okay, but he knew that you would probably punch him right then and there. John B felt just as bad. He knew you wanted to go home. He figured it would be safer for you to come back with him and stay here. “Should I drive her home? Or let her drive herself?” John B asked, rethinking his decision. JJ looked at him with a hint of anger on his face. “You’re joking, right? There’s no way she can go now,” he said sternly. He was worried about you and couldn’t bear the thought of you leaving now and getting hurt.

“Okay, okay. So what do we do?” John B asked. JJ glanced back at you, his chest tightening at the worry on your face. He rubbed his face with his hands and threw them out to his sides.

“I’ll see what I can-” JJ started.

“I need to go home,” you stated with a shaky voice. You stood up and started walking down the hall but JJ stepped in front of you.

“No way, y/n. It’s way too dangerous right now!” He said. You tried to move around him, but he stepped to the side with you.

“He’s right,” John B piped up. You quickly turned on your heel to face him.

“Seriously JB? You let Pope go home, why can’t I?” You asked with an accusing tone. He instantly threw his hands up in the air.

“Pope’s house was a lot closer when we were at the beach!” he blurted out. You took a step towards him, fists clenched, but JJ stepped between the two of you.

“Hey, hey, hey. Look at me,” he said. You stubbornly looked past him, focusing on something else. “Damnit y/n look at me!” he said again, looking directly into your eyes. You looked at him, really looked at him, holding direct eye contact. Your body instantly relaxed. You looked into his ocean blue eyes and instantly felt heat rising to your cheeks. JJ smirked slightly. “Listen, you can’t leave right now. It’s too dangerous and it’s not letting up any time soon. If something were to happen to you after you left . . .” he stopped mid-sentence, unable to finish his thought. “Please, just stay here, with us. With me,” He spoke with pleading eyes.

You nodded in response and walked away from him, sitting yourself down at the same spot on the couch. JJ let out a breath he didn’t realize he had been holding in and ran his hand through his hair. He looked over at John B who had a goofy grin on his face.

“What?” JJ asked defensively. John B just shook his head.

“I’m gonna go make sure the house is all set before this gets any worse,” He said, grinning at what JJ had just said to you. He patted JJ on the chest before walking away. JJ took a deep breath and made his way over to you. He gently sat down next to you on the couch, watching the storm outside. The trees were blowing around, bending in ways he didn’t even think were possible. He looked over to you and watched your worried features. He didn’t know what to do. You had been there for him every single time he needed you. Every single night he showed up at your house after an altercation with his father. And now, when you were visibly distraught, he had no clue how to help. The two of you sat in silence for what felt like an eternity as JJ wracked his brain for ways to help you.

The wind was now blowing the rain into the windows and the thunder was almost deafening. Or your heart was beating that loud. You couldn’t tell anymore. You felt like there was a weight inside your chest, not allowing you to breathe. You hated storms. Wind, thunder, rain. All of it. And it wasn't the end of the world to be stuck with John B and JJ at the Chateau. You've slept over there many times. It was just during a friggin hurricane that set you on edge.

“Y/n,” JJ spoke softly. You looked over at him. Feeling tears starting to form in your eyes. JJ quickly scooted closer to you and wrapped an arm around you, pulling your quivering body into his. His warm body was encompassing you, making you feel safe. Your head was tucked underneath him resting on his chest. You could feel his chest rising up and down with every breath, helping you regulate your own breathing.

“It’s okay sweetheart. I promise. Nothing’s gonna happen to you,” he whispered, gently kissing the top of your head.

JJ looked up as John B walked back into the room. He gave a thumbs-up asking if you were okay and JJ nodded. John B smiled and made his way back to his bedroom.

Your entire body jumped as a sudden gust of wind slammed into the house and thunder rumbled, the noises combining to make a loud steady rumble that shook everything around you. And to be honest with himself, JJ was starting to get slightly worried as well. He gently pulled you out of his grasp and looked at you.

He could see by the expression on your face that you were almost completely engulfed in fear; petrified. He adjusted slightly and moved his arm under your legs, his other still wrapped around you moved lower. In one swift movement, he stood up and scooped you up with him. “Close your eyes sweetheart,” he whispered to you. You tightened your grasp around him and buried your face into the crook of his neck.

JJ walked you to the spare room at the back of the house and kicked the door shut behind him. He walked you over to the bed and set you down on the bed, unclasping your arms from around his neck. He walked over to the other side of the room and started rummaging around looking for an extra blanket for you. You instantly noticed the lack of touch and looked over at him with pleading eyes. You physically recoiled, pulling your knees up and wrapping your arms around them. You watched the back of JJ as he searched through the dresser and then under the bed before pulling out what looked like the softest blanket in the world. He made eye contact with you and you couldn’t help but blush.

You felt extremely childish like this. Who is still scared of storms at this age? You let out a dry laugh as JJ sat down next to you. He wrapped an arm around your shoulders and you instantly leaned into his touch. He unfolded the blanket and laid it across the two of you.

“I’m sorry,” you mumbled. He looked down at you with a confused look.

“For what?” He had no idea what you were talking about. And right now he didn’t care. All he was worried about was making sure you were okay. That, and being close to you. But that was just a bonus. You glanced up at him and felt tears prick at your eyes.

“I don’t know why I’m like this. But storms just . . .” you couldn’t finish your sentence as your throat tightened. “I appreciate you so much, but I’m okay. I can crash on the couch tonight.” You said, trying to pry yourself away from him. But JJ tightened his arm ever so slightly around you and you didn’t fight him at all.

“That’s crap and you know it. You’re scared, I can see it on your face. Just stay here. Please.” He said, urgency seeping through his voice. You only nodded and buried your face into his chest. JJ slowly guided the two of you back so you were both lying down on the bed, his body surrounding yours calming your fears.

The wind outside was still beating against the house and every now and again you could hear it creak and make odd noises that it doesn’t normally make. There was a bright flash of lightning and a loud clap of thunder making you jump. JJ shushed you and started humming, trying to distract you. You opened your eyes to look at him when the lights flickered, before shutting off completely. The entire room went black before being lit up by the continuous string of lightning outside.

“It’s okay. I’m right here,” he said. “It’s okay.” You only nodded in response.

He held you in his arms, twirling your hair between his fingers, using his other to rub gentle circles across your skin. Your head was resting on his arm and you watched the features of his face every time the room was lit up. The shape of his jaw. You no longer felt your heart pounding in your chest and your breathing was back to normal. You felt the rise and fall of his chest as he breathed. The sound of his breath as he inhaled and exhaled. The feeling of his arms holding you, keeping you close to his body.

You forget about your surroundings and finally feel the day's events wearing down on your body. You take a deep breath and sigh, before rolling over onto your other side. JJ instantly pulls you back to him, pressing his toned stomach against your back. But you were already half asleep and didn’t notice.

JJ noticed right away when you had fallen asleep. Your entire body relaxed and your breathing was steady. He was instantly relieved that you were able to get some rest. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

JJ gently placed a gentle kiss on the top of your head.

“I love you, y/n,” He whispered, before drifting off to sleep with you in his arms.

Tags!! @pogueslandia @milkiane @bjrmaybank

A/N: Thank you so much for reading. I enjoyed writing this so much! This is unedited so please ignore any typos or stupid grammatical errors.

Likes, reblogs, and follows are greatly appreciated! Reblogs and comments let me know I should keep on doing what I’m doing! (:

Please check out this post for useful resources on mental health and various hotlines

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middleearthpixie · 2 years ago

Text

Good Trouble ~ Chapter Ten

Durin’s Garage AU - Good Trouble ~ Part 11

Modern Spin on The Hobbit

Summary: When your car breaks down, there is only one garage in town - Durin’s Garage and Engine Repairs. And sometimes, they do more than just tune your engine, check your oil, and top off your fluids…

Everyone in town knows Durin’s Garage and Engine Repairs is THE place to go when your car needs work, and everyone knows that Dwalin Fundinson is to be avoided outside of the garage. He’s an ace mechanic, but trouble otherwise.

You and Dwalin attend the opening at the Sternhagen, and Honda Mom almost comes between you…

Pairing: Modern!Dwalin x fem!reader

Warning: None

Word Count: 4,048

Tag List: @tschrist1 @i-did-not-mean-to @lathalea @linasofia @fizzyxcustard @legolasbadass @kibleedibleedoo @xxbyimm @arrthurpendragon @exhausted-humxn-being @rachel1959 @laurfilijames @sketch-and-write-lover @sherala007 @enchantzz @knitastically @notlostgnome @myselfandfantasy @ggfamert @medusas-hairband @guardianofrivendell @jotink78 @ruthoakenshield @frosticenow @the-eternal-sunflower

You looked up as the door to Dwalin’s apartment opened and he walked in. “Is everything okay?”

He nodded, rubbing his eyes with one hand as he strode in. “Everything’s fine. Thorin sent me out on a call about a Jeep here in need of a jump.”

“What?”

“Honda mom.” He moved over to the sofa, tossed his keys on the table, and sank onto it with a sigh of contentment. “She won’t leave me alone.”

“What?” You moved over to the coffee table, sinking onto the edge of it.

One hand covering his eyes, he nodded. “Yeah. She burned out her rear brakes and when she came in to go over the estimate I worked up, she wanted to know what cologne I was wearing and was I sure I didn't want to go to her fucking opening tonight and that she’d make it worth my while if I did, so Thorin made up a bullshit call for me to go out on to get away from her. And here I am. I just wish I could stay here.”

Your stomach did an odd flutter. “Make it worth your while?”

He nodded. “Yeah, but don’t get mad, love. I told her no. I told her when I picked her up, when she asked me the first time if I wanted to go with her, that I was seeing someone.”

You couldn’t resist teasing him. He really was clueless when it came to what he thought women thought when they looked at him. “And you think women are afraid of you.”

His hand slid from his face and when he looked up at you, sympathy surged through you. He really did look exhausted. His eyes were heavy-lidded, and there were dark smudges ringing them. He looked as if he could easily sleep for a week. “She’s a pest. I should take ye to this opening, let her see ye for herself, then she’d probably leave me alone.”

You smiled, shaking your head. “Poor Dwalin. Drowning in women, it would seem.”

That earned you a tired smirk and a dry, “Yeah. Poor me.” He turned toward you. “Do ye want to go to the Sternhagen?”

“What’s the exhibit?”

“Fuck if I know. I have to deal with this woman at least once more. Maybe if she sees what I’ve got, she’ll realize I am not fucking it up for anything.”

Your heart skipped beat at the low growl in his voice, the seriousness in his eyes. Still, you smiled as you said, “But she said she’d make it worth your while.”

“Yeah, she did.” He nodded. “For all the good it did. I don’t care. Still not interested.” His eyes closed and he let out a low, rumbling sigh. “I wish I could just stay right here.”

“Thorin’s expecting you back, though, isn’t he?”

He nodded. “Yeah. I have to order parts for this van and get a few other things taken care of. Good thing is, Junior finally got his CDL, so I’m not the only one who’ll have to go out on run. And I plan on pulling rank if any calls come in today. I’d probably drive right off the fucking road, I’m so tired.”

“Who is Junior?”

“Today, it’s Fíli. Thorin’s older nephew.” He opened his eyes and looked over at you. “I should get back to the shop. She’s got to be gone by now.”

You sighed softly. “Do you really want to go to this exhibit at the Sternhagen?”

A sleepy grin came to his lips. “It could be fun. I like art. I just don’t like women hitting on me.”

“Since when? I thought you all lived for that?”

“Yeah, when we’re single.” With a grunt, he pushed up, swinging his legs over to plant his feet on the floor. He rubbed his eyes with one hand. “I don’t remember the last time I was so fucking tired.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Dinna be sorry,” he looked up at you and grinned, “because it was worth it and I’d do it again tonight if ye wanted.”

“I think maybe tonight we should both just sleep.”

“Thank God,” he growled, letting his head fall back once more.

You couldn't help but laugh. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone sound more relieved before and I’m pretty sure I’ve never seen a guy be so relieved to get out of sex.”

“Mesmel, much I really do like having sex with ye, I’m dead on my feet and, not for nothing, but my cock’s a little sore as well. Neither one of us has seen this much action in months. Maybe years. Maybe ever.” He turned his head in your direction. “Would ye think me a pussy if I said I just wanted to lay with you in my arms?”

“Not at all.” You shifted from the table to the sofa, curling up against him, and tucked your head in the curve of his shoulder and chest, smiling as his arm draped about you. “I think that sounds like a nice way to spend a quiet evening after being social at an art gallery.”

A sly grin lifted the corners of his mouth. “Yer staking yer claim, aren’t ye?”

“Damn straight I am.”

“Don’t worry,” he told you, giving you a gentle squeeze, “she doesn’t stand a chance against ye.”

You smiled, draping your arm about his stomach to give him a gentle squeeze. A soft sigh wafted across the top of your head, followed by a gentle kiss pressed into it. His phone buzzed then, and he swore softly, then untangled himself to stand. “I’ve been summoned. It must be safe.”

“What time is this exhibit?”

“Fuck if I know.” He drew you up alongside him.

“I’ll find out and if you want to go…”

He grinned. “Ye’ll be more than happy to go with me?”

“I’ll be more than happy to go with you.”

***

You found out the opening began at seven and spent the rest of your afternoon trying to find the right outfit to wear—sexy enough so Honda Mom knew she didn't stand a chance, but not so sexy that she thought you were obviously a whore. A fine line, because you had the feeling Dwalin wouldn’t complain either way.

Finally, you settled on a wraparound dress in navy silk jersey. Your hair—thank god—behaved. You had a clean pair of thigh highs and you didn't put a run in them as you skimmed first one, than the other, up to your thighs and clipped them in place. They were black silk, cool and lush as you ran your hand along your left calf before easing your four-inch heels on. It was suppose to snow later, but you didn't care. They were your favorite shoes, they were sexy as fuck, and although you were fairly secure in Dwalin’s feeling for you (how many guys told you they loved you, and seemingly meant it, within days of being in a relationship with you?) that didn't mean you didn't want him lusting over you at every turn. Besides, you had no idea how hot Honda Mom was, so…

“Mesmel, can ye help me wi—” Dwalin came into the bedroom, frowning down at the purple on purple tie he had draped about his neck. He caught sight of you and stopped in the doorway, then let out a low whistle, a slow smile creeping over his face as his gaze slid up from your feet to your face. “Damn, woman… I thought I cleaned up nice.”

“You do clean up nicely.” You stood and walked over to him, laying a hand against his chest. He’d chosen a light gray silk gabardine suit to wear, with a lavender shirt and the purple tie and matching pocket square and you almost wished you hadn’t promised him you wouldn’t hold him to sex that night, because he looked good enough to eat. He didn't look at all stiff or uncomfortable in the suit, either, but perfectly at home.

“Thank ye,” he said softly. “I don’t want to embarrass ye, ye know.”

“Not possible.”

“Can ye help with this? My fingers don’t wish to behave and the knot looks wrong no matter how I tie it.”

“I can, absolutely.” You carefully knotted the sleek tie and smoothed it down over his chest. “It’s not too tight, is it?”

“It’s fine, mesmel,” he said with a smile. “Thank ye.”

“Of course.” You looked over at the clock. “We should think about going. It’s almost seven. You don’t want to disappoint Honda Mom.”

He rolled his eyes. “Honda Mom can kiss my ass.”

“Uh, I think she might be angling for that, you know.”

He grinned. “Not going to happen. Not tonight. Not tomorrow night. Not ever.”

“Good answer.”

“I thought it would be. Are ye sure ye still want to go?” He let his gaze wander over you slowly and you’d swear you could actually feel the heat from it as he did. “Because remember what I said about just wanting to cuddle tonight? Forget I ever said it.”

“We both need a night off,” you told him softly, tucking your arm through his. “Remember, you were afraid you’d drive off the road before?”

“Yeah, but I’ve got a second wind now and I want to see ye in those shoes, the garter belt I know you’re wearing, and nothing else.”

“And you can, any time you wish,” you told him softly, giving his arm a squeeze. “But not tonight.”

“Damn. I was afraid ye’d say that.”

The Sternhagen Art Gallery was right smack in the middle of the arts block of Davenport Street. It was closed to motor vehicle traffic and the art gallery was tucked between a tattoo studio (you wondered if Dwalin had gotten any ink there) and an arcade that specialized in video games from the last quarter of the previous century. There was also a photography studio, a gourmet bake shop, several antique shops, and an Indian restaurant tucked along the thoroughfare.

You didn't miss the way heads swirled in your direction as you and Dwalin stepped into the brightly light gallery. It specialized in modern art, which you neither knew nor liked, and to you, all of the pieces looked like they’d been done by someone’s three year old amidst a temper tantrum.

But, all around you, others oohed and ahhhed over the art. Of course, those oohs and ahhs went quiet as they looked up and saw Dwalin. You didn't miss the eyes that widened as they took in the ink across the top of his bald head, or the tattoos on his hands. You bit back a smile, wondering if those eyes would pop clean from their sockets if they saw the tattoo on his cock.

To his credit, he didn’t scowl. Didn’t glower. But instead, he offered up something of a smile as he pointed to a white square of canvas with angry red, orange, and yellow splashes of paint covering it and said, “Evening. That’s an interesting piece.”

“It symbolizes life and death,” a man in a charcoal gray suit replied, gesturing toward the painting with his champagne flute.

“Really? Looks more like anger and hatred to me,” Dwalin said with a shrug. “And I’m pretty sure the artist said as much when he was interviewed by the New York Times.”

You twisted toward him. “You’ve heard of Pierre Edmonds?”

Dwalin nodded. “I’ve heard of him. He lives over in West Windsor. Broke down here once and I towed him back to the shop. Nice guy, but not a big believe in hygiene. It took me the rest of the afternoon to get his funk out of my cab.”

“You’re a truck driver?” Charcoal Suit said, lifting the flute to his lips.

“I’m a mechanic who drives a tow truck.” He smiled as a woman bearing a tray laden with champagne approached them. “Thank ye, love,” he said, snagging two flutes, one of which he passed to you.

“Do you know of any of his other work?” Charcoal asked.

Dwalin took a swallow of champagne and nodded. “Aye, I know a bit of it. He smelled odd, but he was nice enough and we got to talking on our way back to the shop. I was curious, so I looked him up. I have a book of his works on my bookshelves. I prefer his earlier work, to be honest. Before his wife left, when he was still happy.”

“Really? I found those works tedious.”

You looked from Charcoal to Dwalin, who shrugged and said, “I prefer tranquility over fury. I’ve seen enough fury to last me a lifetime.”

“On the roadside? Here?”

“No.” Dwalin’s smile faded as he met Charcoal’s smug grin. “When I was in the service. I’ll take happiness, thank ye very much.”

Charcoal looked back at the painting in question. “I understand that. I did two tours in the Middle East—Iraq and Afghanistan. What was the name of that book? I think I might like to see it.”

“It’s just called Edmonds. Amazon has it for about thirty bucks.”

“Thanks. Tell me what do you—”

“Dwalin!” The hairs along the back of your neck prickled to life at the velvety purr of a woman’s voice coming from behind you. “I was hoping you’d come! How are you?”

Dwalin met your gaze and winked, easing his free arm about your waist as he stepped closer to you. “I’m fine, thank ye.”

Honda Mom came around and her smile faded as her gaze alit on you. “Oh, hello there. I’m Heather McCallum. Welcome to the Sternhagen.”

“Thank you.” You managed to smile. “And thank you for the invitation.”

“Of course.” Heather looked from you to Dwalin and back. “I had no idea you knew about Edmonds, Dwalin. What is your favorite piece of his?”

Dwalin’s fingers pressed gently against you as he said, “My favorite? Probably Lightning. It’s chaotic, but there’s plenty of truth in it.”

You sipped your champagne, which was light and dry, and realized that you had absolutely no idea what the fuck he was talking about. You preferred Monet to just about anything, and as he and Heather went on about this piece and that, you felt your eyes glaze over.

Finally, Dwalin said, “I’m being rude to my lady. I’m sorry, mesmel.”

You looked up at him. “It’s fine. I learned all about Pierre Edmonds.”

He winced. “Ye want to look around a bit?”

“Who is the opening for?” You directed this at Heather.

She smiled. “It’s for me, actually. I do a bit of painting myself and since I know the owner, he thought he’d give me a showing.”

With that, she tucked her arm through Dwalin’s free one and said, “I’d love you to meet him. He’s a big fan of Edmonds as well.”

“Thanks, but I—”

She tugged. “It won’t take but a minute and your girlfriend will understand,” Heather’s blue eyes weren’t nearly as warm as her smile, almost challenging you to protest.

Dwalin looked over at you. “Come with us.”

“No, that’s okay. I’ll just look around.” You forced a smile to your lips as Heather’s phony-ass smile grew genuine and triumphant as she managed to pull Dwalin away from you and they disappeared around the corner.

“So, you don’t care for Edmonds?”

You turned at the sound of Charcoal’s voice and shook your head. “Not really, no. And I know I’m not supposed to say that, but I’m not a big fan on modern art. It all looks like preschool finger-painting to me.”

He grinned. “Yeah, I’m not crazy about it either.” He glanced at your empty champagne flute. “Can I get you another?”

You started to say no, but then heard Dwalin laugh at something Heather said, and your no became a smile as you said, “I’d love one, thank you.”

Charcoal Suit’s name was Derek. He was a stockbroker with a gift for storytelling and you had no idea how long Dwalin had been gone for, only that it was enough time for you to sip your way through three flutes of champagne and you could no longer feel the tip of your nose. You had no idea where Heather dragged Dwalin off to, and at that moment, you were too irritated to care.

“So, you’re with that guy? The one with all the tats?”

You nodded. “I am, yeah.”

“So, why is he all the way across the room with her instead of making sure no one else waltzes off with you?” Derek asked with a slow smile. “If I were him, you wouldn’t be out of my sight for a moment.”

A slight shiver rippled down your spine. Why did some guys think that was a romantic thing to say? To you, it sounded more possessive than anything else, and in your experience, that was exactly what it meant as well. It wasn’t romantic. It was suffocating.

“I’m not glued to him.”

“Still,” Derek’s dark eyes seemed to darken further, “pretty woman like you…? I bet you know how to get into all kinds of trouble, don’t you?”

You swallowed hard, the champagne making you feel as if your head was wrapped in layers of cotton. “I don’t think so, actually.”

“We should find out.”

“No,” you shook your head and stepped back, “we shouldn’t. I came here with Dwalin and I am leaving here with him and thank you for the conversation, but I should be getting back to him.”

“Why? He didn't think twice about leaving you right here.”

“He likes this art. He gets it. I don’t and I don’t and—”

“I’ll be more than happy to explain it to you.”

“Am I interrupting?”

Your entire body clenched at the low, menacing growl that was Dwalin’s voice as he came up behind you. “Oh, so you remembered you brought me?” you asked without turning around.

“Did I forget?”

“You tell me. I’ve been standing over here for the last forty minutes while you were off admiring Baby’s First Painting or whatever the mess was called.”

“You know, I can see her home, if you’d rather stay here,” Derek broke in smoothly.

“See her home? She lives wi’ me, Junior,” Dwalin growled, the fingers on her hips biting into her. “So if it’s all the same ta ye? I’ll see her home.”

“You know what?” You pulled away from him. “Neither one of you needs to see me home. I’m more than capable of seeing myself home.”

With that, you strode off, setting your champagne flute on the base of an iron and marble blob that someone passed off as a sculpture, and without looking back, you left the gallery and stepped out into the freezing cold night.

You made it to the end of the block before you twisted your ankle and as you hobbled to the lamppost to lean against it, Dwalin strode toward you. “What the deuce are ye doing?”

Tears of pain stung your eyes, your ankle throbbing hotly, swelling against the satiny ankle strap. “What do you care? Honda Mom seemed to have a firm grip on you.”

“Honda Mom has a—do ye even hear yerself?”

“Do I—are you fucking kidding me?” You slammed both hands into his chest to knock him back two steps. “She dragged you off and left me there with Derek the Stockbroker for company and I swear, if we’d been in a bar, he’d have roofied my fucking drink! Meanwhile, you and Honda Mom were getting all cozy talking about Edmonds’ jizz-art with the fucking owner of that place.”

He just stared at you. “Jizz art?”

“That’s what those paintings remind me of. Like if a crime scene unit black-lights a motel room and all you see are cum stains everywhere. That’s not how I wanted to spend tonight. You just left me standing there like a jerk, Dwalin. And now, I’m buzzed, I’m upset, and my ankle might be broken.”

“Yer ankle?”

“I twisted it in these stupid fuck-me shoes.”

Without hesitation, he hitched up his trouser legs and crouched to lift your foot, cradling your sore ankle in his gentle hands. “Can ye move it?”

You slowly rotated it to the left, to the right, flexed and pointed, all the while trying to ignore the heat from his hands sinking into your chilled skin. “I can, yeah.”

“Can ye put weight on it?”

“You saw me standing here, didn't you?”

He looked up then, the fire gone from his pale eyes. “It’s not broken, then.”

“Good. Something went my way tonight.”

“Ye could’ve joined us.”

“I’d rather take my chances with Derek the Stockbroker.” You sighed softly, a dull headache taking root behind your eyes to remind you of why you usually avoided champagne. “You just left me there, Dwalin.”

“I’m sorry, mesmel,” he replied softly as he straightened up. “It was not my intention.”

“And do you really like this kind of art?”

He thought about it for a moment, then nodded. “Yeah, actually. I do. I find it interesting how artists think. How they see things. And I kinda like it when guys like Derek the Stockbroker try to pull that superiority shit on me and I can put them right the fuck back in their place.”

“Did you really have that jizz guy in your truck?”

“I really had that jizz guy in my truck.” He closed the space between you, easing an arm about your waist to draw you flush against him. “And he really did smell like ass. And I’m sorry, amrâlimê. I was a dick to leave ye to fend off Derek the Stockbroker.”

As he spoke, he leaned in and nuzzled you, adding, “Ye want me to go let him know how much I appreciate his hitting on ye?”

Your eyes closed of their own volition at the soft caress of his lips along the side of your neck. “No, but can we just go home?”

“Can ye walk to my car or ye want to wait here?”

“I can walk.” You smiled up at him. “But I might need you to keep an arm around me, just for support.”

He winked and slid his arm about your was it once more. “As ye wish.”

The room was cool and dark and you were cozy, snuggling closer to Dwalin, your head on his chest, your arm about his waist, your fingers slipping through the soft dark hair across his belly. “Dwalin?”

“Yeah?”

“Are you going to be working on Honda Mom’s van?”

“Probably. Unless I get called out of the shop, anyway. Why?”

“Ugh.”

“Ugh?”

You heard the smile in his voice. “You know what I mean.”

“Ye’ve nothing to worry about,” he murmured sleepily, his fingers stroking lightly along her arm. “She’s not even close to being as hot as ye, ye know.”

“Oh, but if she was?”

“Well, that’s a different story.”

“Dwalin?”

“Yeah?”

“You’re an ass.”

His laugh floated into the darkness and he tightened his arm about you. “I love ye, mesmel. She does nothing for me and her kid is weird.”

“Her kid?”

“Yeah. She has a daughter. And said daughter apparently tries to fix mom up with every man they cross paths with. She thinks I should marry Honda Mom so I can buy her Christmas presents because as stepdaughter is almost as good as a biological one.”

You shook your head. “How old is this kid?”

“Six, I think? Anyway, she was weird. Most kids are weird.”

“You don’t like kids?”

“I like some just fine. Thorin’s daughter, for one. She’s five and not nearly as weird as Honda Mom’s sprog.”

“Sprog?”

“Yeah.” He gave you another squeeze. “They make me uncomfortable. With the exception of Bella.”

“Bella?”

“Thorin’s wee one.” He kissed the top of your head. “Ye’ll meet her one of these days.”

You smiled, snuggling closer. “Sprog.”

“Go to sleep, mesmel. It’s late and we both have to work tomorrow.”

You sighed softly, letting your eyes close as his fingers moved lightly along your arm, slowing and a few minutes later, you drifted off to the sound of Dwalin’s soft snores.

#The Hobbit #Dwalin #Dwalin Fundinson #Hobbit Fic #Hobbit Fanfic #Fan fiction #The Hobbit fan fiction #AU #Dwalin Fic #Is it hot in here?#Dwalin x reader #Dwalin short fic #modern au #garage au #stay tuned #more to come

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rubysunnday · 3 years ago

Text

don't surrender, 'cause we can win

hii, congrats on reaching 3.3k! can i request mal x reader w the prompt: 13) "Go back to sleep. I'm not going anywhere, ok?"

A/N: this has been in the drafts for fucking ages so I just gave in and posted it

It was swelteringly hot. The heavy woollen, army issued uniforms of the First Army didn't help. Y/N had stripped down to just her khaki coloured shirt - which so obviously showed the sweat - and black trousers that clung to her sweaty legs. Her rucksack was creating a patch of sweat on her back and felt heavier than usual.

Well, to be honest, every limb on her body felt heavier than usual. The heat was tiring her out more than usual and each step felt like she was walking through mud.

"You good?"

Y/N nodded, unable to speak. Mal chuckled and held out a flask of water. She snatched it up and took a long drink, almost draining it dry.

"Slow down, you'll make yourself sick," Mal said, taking the flask back as Y/N inhaled dramatically as she swallowed the water.

"I am so thirsty and so hot and when are we stopping?" Y/N panted, scuffing her feet along the floor, unable to physically pick them up.

"Another two miles or so," Mal replied, laughing loudly when Y/N groaned and threw her head back.

"I signed up to draw maps, Mal. Not to walk for miles on end like a lunatic," Y/N moaned.

"Here," Mal reached over and took Y/N's backpack from her shoulders, slinging it over his own back with no complaint. "That better?"

"My back can breathe at least," Y/N said, lifting the back of her shirt up and flapping it in the wind. "Why is it so hot?"

"Heat wave," Mal replied, a fond smile on his face as Y/N wiped the sweat off her face with the corner of her shirt. "Come on, before we get left behind."

Y/N looked up and groaned. The rest of their group were getting further away with each second and had almost reached the border. at the top of the hill.

"I'll carry your backpack, come on," Mal said, shrugging it onto his shoulder with little effort.

"You're already carrying like five bags -"

"It's fine, Y/N. Now, move it before we get lost."

Mal chuckled as Y/N grumbled but resumed walking, shuffling and scuffing her feet along the ground.

The border between Ravka and Shu Han was nearly impossible to see. A short mountain range acted as a mark but to anyone who didn't know and who simply travelled the road, they would easily end up in the Shu Han's territory.

"Right, cartographer's chip chop!" Captain White yelled. "We have a few minutes but we need to be fast!"

Y/N looked around. She frowned as she didn't recognise the area they were standing in - it looked completely different to what she vaguely remembered.

"Mal," Y/N said, walking over to him, "are we still in Ravka?"

Mal looked around. "Yeah, I'm pretty sure. Why?"

"Just... doesn't look familiar," Y/N replied. "My gut instinct is telling me to run away."

"Captain White wouldn't bring us into Shu Han - he knows what he's doing," Mal said, attempting to reassure her. "I'll keep watch, go doodle."

Y/N rolled her eyes at him but picked up her drawing kit and walked off, joining the other cartographers as they found a decent spot and got settled down to draw.

She worked quickly, sketching down the landscape and making note of the important landmarks that could be used for navigation. The charcoal smudged across the parchment as she worked, her hands quickly becoming stained with the stuff.

After a while, Y/N rolled the map up and put it back in the tube, dusting the charcoal off her hands on her trousers. She could finish the rest later on - she'd gotten the important things down.

Y/N stood up, stretching her joints. It was still hot and her shirt was clinging to her skin. She moved out from the rock she'd been sat behind and stood in the wind, letting the hot air attempt to cool her down.

A few rocks scattered down the side of a cliff to Y/N's right and she looked up, squinting against the sun to see what it was. She yelped as someone tackled her and pushed her down and behind the rock she'd just gotten up from.

"Ssh," Mal said, putting a hand over her mouth as she squeaked, hitting him.

Y/N stilled, falling silent. Mal slowly removed his hand and the two crouched behind the rock. Y/N was incredibly confused but one look at Mal's face told her that something was wrong.

"AMBUSH!"

Bullets began firing and people yelling. Y/N could see soldiers falling all around them and the cartographers trying to hide and shield themselves behind rocks.

"Shit," Mal hissed, looking up and round. He looked back at Y/N. "You were right, we are in Shu Han."

"What, but Captain White -"

"Has run off and, I suspect, been paid off by the Shu Han. This was his idea," Mal muttered.

Bullets whizzed over head and Mal pulled his rifle out and fired back, using the rock as a shield.

"Mal, what do we do?"

Mal didn't reply, too focused on covering Y/N and the other cartographers around.

"Mal. What do we do?"

"Run," Mal said. "Run for the border and do not stop."

Y/N put a hand on his arm. "What about you?"

Mal turned to face her. He winked. "I'll be fine." He turned back, taking his gun and reloading it. "Ready?"

Y/N nodded, moving into a crouch and bracing herself.

"Now."

Y/N burst into a sprint as Mal fired back at the soldiers attacking them. She could see the border - it was swarming with injured and surviving members of the First Army.

It took seconds but felt like forever until she was over the border and hiding behind more rocks. Y/N fell back against the craggy structure, panting hard, covered in sweat.

She looked over at her fellow cartographers. "Is there anyone else?"

"I've no idea, I just ran."

Y/N lean around the rock, looking back at where they had been. The ground was littered with bodies and blood and Y/N frantically searched those on the floor for any sign of Mal.

"You good."

"Sweet Saints, Mal," Y/N yelled, falling back. "Don't do that."

Mal chuckled, jumping down from the rock above, landing next to her. "Sorry. Everyone good?"

There was a mumbled agreement from those coherent enough to listen.

"What do we do now?" Y/N asked, perching on a rock.

"Wait a bit and then head back to camp," Mal replied, resting his rifle against the rock.

He pulled out a flask of water and took a big gulp. Without even asking, he handed it to Y/N who took it and greedily gulped down the cold liquid.

"Come on," Mal said, standing up and slinging his rifle over his shoulder again. "On your feet, soldier."

Y/N laughed and held out a hand to Mal. He took it and pulled her to her feet with a tug.

"I knew coming with you would equal chaos," Y/N said, smiling at him.

"I think that's your fault, personally," Mal replied, winking at her.

Y/N watched him walk off and smiled to herself, ducking her head so no one saw. She exhaled sharply and forced herself to focus, shaking her head. Y/N pulled her trousers up and rearranged her shirt. Her hand came away and she frowned, seeing a red stain on her sleeve. Y/N pulled at the fabric, inspecting it closer, and followed the staining down to her side. It was sticky and wet with blood.

She pulled it away from her skin and hissed as a hot flash of pain shot through her body. Y/N stared at her hand - stained with wet blood. Her thumb rubbed against her index finger and the blood moved with it. And as it did, the dots finally connected in her brain.

"Mal," Y/N called, still staring at her hand with a confused frown.

"Yeah, what's up?"

Y/N looked up at him, her eyes still confused. Mal looked back at her, his eyes moving to her hand. As Mal realised what was happening, his face morphing into one of panic, Y/N vaguely felt her body falling backwards.

Mal sprinted forward, trying to catch her before she fell back and hit the rocks. But he just wasn't fast enough and could only watch as Y/N's head smacked the sharp edge of a rock - her entire body going limp as she crumpled into the sand.

The medical tent was eerily quiet. The moans of the injured had faded into the silence of night. Mal sat in the far corner, a small oil lamp flickering next to him, as he watched.

It'd been four days. She had still to wake up.

Mal sighed, shifting in his seat. He stretched his legs out and closed his eyes attempting a nap.

Y/N suddenly realised she was awake. It was a weird sensation. Going from the bliss of oblivion to being aware of everything around her. She shifted under the blankets and groaned softly.

The person sat next to her blinked awake and leaned forward, taking her hand in his. She couldn't understand what he was saying - her brain was still lagging behind everything else.

"Go back to sleep. I'm not going anywhere, ok?"

Y/N nodded, her brain tiredly registering the words. She had no idea who the person was, or why they were there, but their presence was comforting and that was all that mattered to her.

#shadow and bone #shadow and bone imagine #shadow and bone x reader #mal oretsev #mal oretsev x reader #mal oretsev imagine #shadow and bone fic

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