#august smart lock
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hometechtips · 2 years ago
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Unlock the Future: Top Smart Locks for Enhanced Home Security and Convenience
🔒 Ready to upgrade your home security? Discover the top 5 smart locks for a safer and more convenient lifestyle! 🏠✨ #SmartLocks #HomeSecurity #SmartHome #KeylessEntry #HomeAutomation #SmartLiving #Hometechtips #SafetyFirst #FutureTech
Introduction:August Wi-Fi Smart LockSchlage Encode Smart Wi-Fi DeadboltYale Assure Lock SLKwikset Halo Wi-Fi Smart LockUltraloq U-Bolt ProConclusion: Introduction: Smart locks are revolutionizing the way we secure our homes, providing not only enhanced security but also unparalleled convenience. In this post, we’ll explore some of the top smart locks on the market, their unique features, and…
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postnutperfection · 2 months ago
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What’s frustrating about the whole Perverts title issue is that it really boils down to people sticking their noses where it doesn’t belong. If everyone minded their damn business on the internet this wouldn’t even have to be a conversation. Its ok to be a lukewarm fan of someone, but I think TikTok has made it feel like you either have to stan someone and be a keyboard warrior in their defense 24/7 or you can’t like them at all. The whole “debate” gets to a point where it feels like im talking to a wall! Even if you didn’t listen to the rest of the album, you have to scroll to find Strangers! Did you not see the literal song titled August Underground on the way there! Hard Times is about CSA! Strangers is literally about her getting eaten! She literally gets cannibalized! I feel that maybe perchance the whole concept of Preacher’s Daughter should be more shocking then an album called PERVERTS
and I know, i knowwww, this has something to do with those motherfuckers on booktok romanticizing every sick and abusive asshole thats somewhat conventionally attractive. I’m sorry but correct me if im wrong but Strangers (at least to me) is not a love song. While Ethel may have loved him and while she may not feel hatred or resentment towards him lets be honest he did not eat her because he loved her, he did it because he is a bad person who does bad things and took advantage of a girl who has known nothing other than abuse. He groomed her and moved her across the country only to drug her and pimp her out and then when he was bored of her he killed and ate her.
I’m just so sick and fucking tired of these stupid ass motherfuckers thinking that they have the media literacy of Jesus H. Christ himself and that think they’re sooo fucking smart when in reality all you have done is taken a BEAUTIFUL and HEARTBREAKING piece of ARTWORK and watered it down for mass consumption. All you’ve done is slapped a pretty little label on it and put it on a shelf to sell to the masses and now the meaning and intention behind it will wither away. Don’t get me wrong, I love TikTok, I think it’s a great place to learn and share and create and find new interests but it gets to a point where it feels like its just a giant cesspool of braindead people talking about how a wood flooring is so “ethel cain lana del rey coquette naturecore maximalist anti-millennial grey girl boss power move”
I know this probably ended up being a incoherent ramble that says a lot and nothing at the same time but I really just had to get it off my chest because holy fuck you guys lets use our brains! hellooo lets lock the fuck in and really do our best to have some sort of competent level media literacy
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bueckersbitch · 12 days ago
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Grace and Grit
chapter three: like him
𐙚 grace and grit masterlist
𐙚 characters: hopkins!paige x oc
𐙚 warnings: underage drinking
𐙚 word count: 2.4k
𐙚 authors note: hiii lovies, here’s a little lore chapter, family is brought up hence the “like him” naming of the chapter… savor the fluff bc it starts going downhill from here… this is all fiction!! enjoy!
𐙚 taglist: @lupinqs @sierrale8ne @thaatdigitaldiary @pboogerswbb
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A long practice leaves Blaire tired, her toes aching from her constricting pointe shoes, body aching from conditioning and fine tuning multiple numbers. Slowing to a stop at the gate of her neighborhood, as she waits she thinks about senior year, approaching in a couple of hours, dreading her rigorous schedule she had absentmindedly planned out during the end of her junior year. She drives through the gate, pulling up to her house, Blaire wasn’t ignorant to the fact that she was blessed, her dad being away had its downsides, him being absent, of course, but where there’s downsides, there’s always upsides. The upsides being more materialistic, her giant house on the lake, nestled into a private gated community, pine trees decorating the long driveway that leads to the towering dark wooden double doors.
Blaire turns into her driveway, halting her car to a stop outside of the Briar’s garage, a display case, essentially, with full glass windows showcasing three cars, orange, blue, and red. All sports cars that her dad had taken a liking to, purchasing them immediately as they were released. Wait, red car. Red car? No, that couldn’t have been right, the McLaren was gifted to Blaire’s sister, Parker, as a gift when she graduated high school, the color being a slight jab from her father to Parker, since Blaire’s dad had attended Harvard, while Parker would be attending Yale. Rivalry of the two schools being the main topic of thanksgiving dinners the last three years. That’s besides the point, Blaire couldnt help but wonder what Parker was doing here, in August. Blaire stares at the license plate, “PRKER” held by a rhinestone studded license plate holder. Quickly, Blaire steps out of her car and shuts the door, disregarding her dance duffel and holding the door handle to lock the car, swiftly walking to the doors that usually led to an empty house. Making quick work of the door code, she pushes her thumb down before stepping into the large entryway, low and behold, the overhead light was on, and her tall older sister, clad in a simple loveshackfancy mini dress, awaited her, seated legs crossed on the kitchen island chair, light brown hair slightly curled, long black nails wrapping around a glass of champagne.
Finally, the door shuts behind Blaire, grabbing Parker's attention, her green eyes darting to the root of the noise, smiling, she sets her glass and phone down. “Well look who it is, I’ve been waiting forever. I think the plant on this kitchen island knows more about my past year than you do.” Blaire rolls her eyes at that, making way to her older sister, wrapping her arms around her, Blaire regains her thoughts, Blaire and Parker only saw each other during Thanksgiving, and Christmas, Parker kept her promise of getting out of Minnesota, and staying out. She resided in Connecticut now, there was no need for her to visit the isolated state of Minnesota anymore, which provoked Blaire, “Why are you here Parks? Thought the next time I’d see you was during Thanksgiving” Parker pulls away from Blaire, holding her forearms, “My internship had me go to Milwaukee to figure out some logistics of the upcoming year. I thought it wouldn’t hurt to see you, Baby B” Baby B. Despite only being four years apart, Parker made sure to hold the fact that she was older than Blaire over her head. Every. Chance. She. Got. It didn’t take long until it got old, Parker was smart, graduating valedictorian of her class, a perfect ACT score, and getting accepted to multiple ivy’s, she was only four years older, but Blaire felt like an embarrassment beside her, reminders of the obvious difference in intelligence, plus the added age gap between them only separated Blaire from Parker more. Not to mention their contrasting features, Parker had light brown hair, green eyes, and stood at a height of 5 '10, while Blaire, had hair that toed the line of black, dark brown eyes, and stood at an average 5' 6. Blaire was happy to see her sister nonetheless, the house being eerily quiet again after her dad left in May for Dubai, work calling him away, the widespread house was nice, but it reminded Blaire of the loneliness that accompanied her when her family was away. “I’m glad you’re here Parks, especially since senior year starts tomorrow” Parker slouches at that, “Oh God, senior year. Have fun with that” Look on her face making it obvious there was something she was wanting Blaire to poke at, “What? Why do you have that look on your face?” Parker smirks to herself, “Oh, you know, all the parties, senior bonfire, homecoming afterparty, find your drink, prom afterparty, not to mention all the ones that come with every holiday you could think of” Blaire feels relief at this, “Oh, well, you know me. I won’t be able to make it to any of those anyway, senior season of dance means no distractions.” Parker chokes on her champagne at this, making Blaire step back, startled. “You’ve got to be kidding me right? No way you’re letting dance rob you of your senior year.” Blaire challenges her gaze, countering with, “You did it with studying. How is it any different?” Parker giggles at that, “The difference is that I balanced everything, you just didn’t know about my social life because I would sneak out to go to parties, I quite literally conditioned Dad so he wouldn’t be as mad at you when you would sneak out and you don't even take advantage of it” Parker shaking her head saying this, lips tucked into a tight line as she does so. Blaire thinks, no way her older sister, the girl who only studied her life away, was telling her this right now, her mind finding a new perspective, if Parker could balance everything, Blaire could too. Parker pats the seat next to her, before getting up and walking over to the champagne glasses, tugging a similar one to hers from the rack before pouring a glass, shoving it to Blaire. “We have a lot to talk about. About my life, about yours, and trust me, you’re going to want a drink for this.”
-
Blaire’s mouth is wide open, jaw dropped and eyes wide, “He cheated on you? At a nude party?” Parker laughs, the incomprehensible situation getting the best of her, “Yes bro! That’s what I’m saying, like damn I couldn’t see him for one week and he was already out fucking other bitches” Blaire blinks a couple of times before she responds, “Im sorry Parks, but at least you don’t have to deal with that anymore.” Parker nods, a clear, “Yeah, dodged a bullet with that one” coming from her. Parker was confident, in her looks, her intelligence, her capability, that’s the reason why shit like that didn’t matter to her, because at the end of the day, she was successful, not the guy she was dating. “Sooooo, any lucky people for you? Who am I kidding, probably not” Parker prods at her little sister, Blaire shooting her a pointed glare, sharply saying, “I’ll have you know that there actually is someone, and she’s great.” Parker sits up straight at this, “Ohhhhh reallllyyyy, who’s the lucky girl?” Blaire blushes, the mere thought of Paige overcoming her senses, body retreating into herself, a quiet murmur of “Her name is Paige Bueckers, she plays basketball.” Leaving her. Parker is fully turned towards Blaire now, every sentence her little sister saying connecting the dots in her brain, “Holy shit! Paige Bueckers?” Parker questions further, leaving Blaire to say, “You know her?” Parker pffts at that, “Of course I do! Everyone’s talking about ‘The basketball beast out of Hopkins, Minnesota’” Parker’s finger quotes around the summary of who Paige was make Blaire’s eyebrow raise, “Why the finger quotes?” With every word Blaire manages to sneak out, Parker becomes more and more astonished. “B, it’s quite literally what they’re calling her on every article, everywhere I turn it’s all about this amazing number one recruit from this town I tried so hard to escape from.” Blaire rolls her eyes, “And if you wanted to escape so badly, why do you know all the towns business.” Parker’s hand slams against the counter, playfully of course, “Baby B!!! Is it so wrong to want to stalk my opps once in a while? You further prove my point by the way, about wasting your time in highschool, you don’t even know about the girl you’re talking to! God how could you not? I feel like this town literally screams her name at this point.” Blaire smiles, thinking about the person that Paige Bueckers is, leaving such a mark on people, to the point where the ‘Town screams her name’ As her older sister said. Almost on queue, the starlite snapchat notification sounds from the dark haired girl's phone. Now it’s Parker’s turn to raise an eyebrow, “Right on the universe's timing, huh?”
-
Paige sighs, retreating to the comfort of her room, after greeting her dad and baby brother, Drew, downstairs. Opening her door, she’s met with the familiarity of it all, golden awards lining the shelves, medals hanging from the walls, SZA posters sloppily hung up above her bed. She reaches for her dresser, holding the light remote to her LED’s in her hand before turning them on to a blue color. She flops onto her bed, messy hair sprawling out on the purple bedding, staring up at the ceiling fan which is spinning counter-clockwise, she can’t help but glance at the clock, 11:30. Blaire should’ve responded by now, having been out of dance for thirty minutes, Paige reaches into her blue nike tech pocket, pulling her phone from it, hands comically large in comparison to it, swiping up and finding Blaire in her Snapchat, pinned at the top, of course. She holds her gaze on the soft “blaire 💝🩰” Wondering if she should double text her, she didn’t want to look desperate, obviously, but she also couldn’t help but wonder what was keeping her pretty dancer away from her for so long. She opts to texting her, what’s a relationship built on miscommunication, right? Okay, no. They were not ‘anything’ God she hated that. She was a lover, whether it be shown through her caring nature for others, her family, or even her love for the game. Paige Bueckers is a lover.
Soon enough, but not soon enough for Paige, Blaire responds. Paige immediately swipes into the chat, the background being a comforting photo of the two of their hands laced together. A cute photo Blaire didn’t know Paige even took on their night out. Paige takes in the message: you won’t believe what just happened. Paige falters. Something bad? Is that why Blaire was away for so long? Paige couldn’t get too caught up with her own thoughts though, because as soon as she finished her thought, the next message of, my sister’s back in town popped up shortly after. A weight being lifted off of Paige’s shoulders, grateful it wasn’t the worst thing she had thought of. u had me worried there, thought u were in danger or smth. Chat bubbles pop up from Blaire, well, if my sister’s in town, I may as well be. Paige laughs to herself at Blaire’s dramatics, it being something she admired. Blaire put up a front, for sure. But even her hard exterior showed her emotions, her dramatics being the top way for her to express her true self. Paige found herself breaking through that shell of Blaire, though. Responding with an ok but i’ll be ur knight in shining armor 😇 Blaire replies, ur funny bueckers. Paige smiles, hearting the message, then locking her phone. Making her way to her bathroom, she sets her towel down on the ledge next to the toilet, placing her plaid pj pants and plain black t-shirt on top. She turns on the hot shower, waiting for it to warm up a bit, knowing Blaire all too well, she decides to snap a mirror photo of her in her nike tech, the Hopkins blue bringing out her equally blue eyes, turning her head slightly towards her phone, showing off her jawline. Sending the photo to Blaire, she’s immediately met with the blaire 💝🩰saved your snap in chat notification, followed by a message of paigeeeee you know what youre doing and a photo of Blaire in a matching pj set, light pink mini shorts with a simple tank top to match. Paige matches Blaire’s energy, saving the photo and responding with yeah? so do u. She cherished these small flirtatious moments between them, setting her phone down, hopping into the now hot shower, taking her hair out of her ponytail, letting the day wash away. Paige pondered about Blaire’s family life for a little, of course, she knew that Blaire’s dad was the type of father who was “Present but absent” In the way where he was never home. Sure, some people would long for having a house to themselves all the time, but Paige couldn’t help but feel bad for her. Paige grew up with her mom away, in Montana, but it was different, because she had her Dad, Stepmom, and Drew. All of them being her biggest supporters through everything. USA basketball wins, gatorade player of the year, moving up the ranks, all of it. While they were there for the highs of her life, they were also there for the lows, bad games, injuries, her and her long term girlfriends split, and the worst of all, losing her best friend to cancer. She couldn’t imagine going through the most pivotal and personality shaping moments without someone there to lean on, so she had a lot of respect for Blaire, for putting up with the world. She found her resilient, and independent, something she found herself lacking. She turns the shower knob off, stepping out of the shower and into her warm towel, drying off, then pulling on her pj’s, Paige unlocks her phone, a message from Blaire, thirty minutes ago, okkk i really need to go to sleep a separate message right after the first saying, ill see u at school tmr :) Paige easily finds herself typing out, see u tmr pretty girl Tomorrow, they went back to the harsh reality that shaped their futures, senior year. One last year before their lives changed forever.
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sparkshock · 26 days ago
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Age order of the Nublar Six
Okay. So like, I know people have their headcanons and shit, but I want to know if there is any ACTUAL confirmed age order besides what we already know. Like, I know Darius is the youngest, followed by Brooklynn, then Ben & Sammy, and finally Yaz & Kenji. But I scoured the interwebs and I couldn’t find anything confirming who was the oldest. I’ve seen some people say Yaz, some people say Kenji. Is there a definite answer or are we going based on headcanon?
If that’s the case, lemme cook here. This is all based on my own observations with my own headcanons sprinkled in. Feel free to disagree or call me out if canon contradicts anything.
Yaz: Oldest.
Born April 13, 2000.
10th grade/Sophomore in high school.
She drives the van in S1, indicating that she also has her learner's permit. Unlike Kenji, she seems to have a better grasp on driving, which means she's likely been doing it longer.
I headcanon that Yaz is from Seattle, Washington. The legal age to get a learner's permit in Washington is 15, which checks out.
She's always felt like the oldest to me, just based on how she acts. Obviously her maturity doesn't directly correlate with her age, but I think there is usually some overlap with that.
Kenji: Second oldest.
Born October 19th, 2000.
10th grade/Sophomore in high school. He is technically supposed to be a freshman due to cut-off dates, but his dad paid to have him move up a grade to be around people who would “be a better influence” on him.
He mentions that his dad locked the penthouse because he failed algebra, which is typically a course taken in freshman year, and Kenji doesn’t seem like the type of guy to take advanced classes.
I headcanon that Kenji is from Miami, Florida (based purely on the fact that my beta-reader said "he looks like a creature from Miami"). The legal age to get a learner's permit in Miami is 15.
Kenji has his learner's permit, but isn't comfortable behind the wheel, indicating that he hasn't been driving for very long.
(he kind of acts like a freshman. no shade but some of y'all are annoying as fuck. love kenji tho <3)
Sammy: Upper middle.
Born March 29, 2001.
9th grade/Freshman in high school.
She gives big sister vibes, so I feel like she would be next up.
Ben: Lower middle.
Born August 26, 2001.
9th grade/Freshman in high school.
He would be one of the youngest in his grade due to cutoff dates.
It just feels right to me.
Brooklynn: Second Youngest.
Born May 17, 2002.
8th grade.
She is taught by 100% online tudors so it’s hard to determine where she falls on the education scale, but I would assume she learns at an accelerated rate.
Darius: Youngest.
Born January 4th, 2003.
8th grade.
I think he turned 13 pretty early on.
He’s one year ahead in school, so although he SHOULD be in 7th grade, he’s actually in 8th grade. This could have happened for numerous reasons, but I'm just gonna say he was smart and skipped a grade because the school recommended it.
Obviously, a lot of this is just shit I made up, so feel free to disagree. Or, if you like any of these headcanons and want to use them in your own work, go right ahead! No need to credit me. This is how I’m gonna do it in my fic lol. But I’d love to hear other people’s opinions/analyses!
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flyintheworldofbooks · 10 months ago
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Sims 4 CC recs
This is my master list with my current cc's
Outfits:
By Aretha - pretty (&) savage collection 💗✨🦋
By aharris00britney - AxA 2020 | 90+ CAS Items | Public Release
By BlueCraving - Sporty Collection
By BlueCraving - Wedding Collection
By Oydis - Smart & Casual 💄 / Also has other packs with hair colors
By Oydis - The Little Black Dress 👠
By RIMINGS - Lazy Sunday / PJs / Also has a lot of good outfits
By Sunberry - Ribbon top long dress & Pearl Heart
By VIKAI X GREENLLAMAS - SOGUE
By Black Lily - Evenings With You Dress
By Caiocc - Lily: A 10 items set
By Caiocc - CxS Love Myself. - The Collection (9 items)
By clumsyalien - «mixtape» cc pack
By clumsyalien - «ambience» cc pack
By Daisy Pixels - 🔔 Antonia & Diana 🔔
By Miiko - Corset crop-top
By Rusty - Autumn City II
By Rusty - Basic VI
By Rusty - Princess of XIII
By Serenity - Hazelnut Set (12 items)
By Serenity - SxC Love Myself. - The Collection (7 items)
By Serenity - Aurora Set (13 items)
By Serenity - Bloom Set (10 items)
By Serenity - Nuage Set (13 items)
By Serenity - Sour Candy, a 6 item set.
By Serenity - Amethyst Set (6 items)
By Trillyke - Skyline Sweater and Jumper
By Trillyke - Silver Light Jeans
By Trillyke - Bad Chemical Jacket
Swimsuits:
By Caiocc - Ipanema: A 9 items set
By Trillyke - 🌞Hello Summer! Collection 🌞
Men:
By Black Lily - Miles Top
By Rusty - Mellow IV
Shoes:
By Jius-Sims - Shoe Collections
By Madlen - Shoe Collection
Accessories:
By clumsyalien - «euphoria» cc pack
By Miiko - High knit socks
By Pralinesims - PARADOX Glasses
By Pralinesims - DUNE Glasses
By Pralinesims - DOMINO Glasses
By Pralinesims - AGONY Ear Piercing Collection
By Pralinesims - THUNDERSTRUCK Ear Piercing Collection
Hair:
By Sheabuttyr - hannah hair
By Simcelebrity00 - Lexi Hairstyle
By sweetaday - Sasa Hair
By clumsyalien - «sweet & sour» hairs
By Marso - lock and lease
By Marso - kauban cc dump
By Miiko - Emma hair version 2
By Miiko - Anya hair (two lengths)
Skin/Makeup:
By Miiko - Rhea skin set
By Miiko - Body-kit No.2
By Pralinesims - BELLINI Makeup Collection
By Pralinesims - WATERDROP Maxis-Match Eyes
By Pralinesims - ESCAPISM Eye Trio
By Serenity - Anise Lipgloss (11 colors)
Kids:
By Sunberry - Cottagecore Collection👗👗
By Daisy Pixels - 💐☀️ Sunny Skies ☀️💐
By Miiko - 3D eyelashes + Makoto hair (children)
Toddlers:
By Daisy Pixels - Tilly and Pua 🌞💐 🌻 🌼 🌹 🌸
By Miiko - 3D eyelashes for toddlers & infants
Stuff:
By Aira - .˚₊┈୨ The Artist in Me🪞୧┈₊˚.
By RusticSims - CAREYES LIV& DIN - AUGUST SET- TIER PRO (15 TEXTURE)
By Felixandre - THE LIVIN' RUM
By Sixam CC - Boho-Bath Botanical Retreat
By Aira - Study in Style Set…………🐻
By Push Pixels - Urban outdoor
By Syboubou - Clarisse office set
By Miiko - Harmony furniture set
Edit: erased one of the kid's CCs as I don't like the textures and how it fits the sims in general - will probably add more CCs to this in the future!
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monstrous-fusion · 6 months ago
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🚂 Engie - Spirit Tracks
"Zelda told me that strength isn't always the muscle. It's the will, it's the drive to fight and protect the ones you love. I want to be strong but...I'm not."
he/they | Masc Non-Binary Bisexual | 15 years old (August 8th)
(mainly speaks and signs occasionally.)
Our engineer is a bright young fellow. He's quite the boy scout type--smart, kind and...perhaps a little naïve. He's passionate about his work as a train conductor, and a real prodigy of an engineer having been one since he was 12 years old. Despite his knowledge in engineering, he's also quite knowledgeable about first aid! You'll never see him without the morphine and bandages in his back satchel. Or his gun, actually.
Unfortunately, his skills do not extend very far into fighting. In fact, he detests sword fights. He's shy and not at all people smart, but incredibly stubborn. Once he gets his mind set on something, he's locked in. Well, if he's able to get his mind set on something. In spite of his incredibly poor swordsmanship, he feels a crippling responsibility to his kingdom, one made extremely hard to fill when in reality he just. Can't protect it.
Oh yes, and he can see ghosts too. Not that he'd let anyone know about that.
Interesting Facts -
Certified Royal Engineer and casual herpetology (study of reptiles) enjoyer
Engie lost his fingers at 9 years old when he wanted to prove to Alfonzo that he could be a really good engineer right now! As it turns out, he was wrong.
As mentioned before, he has mediocre fighting skills across the board. He's not very quick to get into a fight, and he finds himself rather lucky that he was able to get through adventure the way he did. They firmly believe they would have died without Zelda's help.
He still volunteers at the Rabbitland Rescue, but he also rescues injured reptiles he finds as well!
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darkficsyouneveraskedfor · 11 months ago
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Black Light 13
Warnings: noncon, namecalling, violence, other dark elements. Proceed with caution.
Note: Thank you for waiting! Please let me know what you think as it helps me a lot with ideas and I love interacting with you all.
Part of The Club AU
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You don't go home. He might be big and scary but you're a grown woman. He made sure of that, didn't he? So you disappear into the shadows and lurk, watching the girls in their shimmering dresses and the men in their open collars line up for entry.
August stands on one side of the doors, Lee the other, and they go about their work. They stop pairs and groups to check cards and wave them inside, pointing others back onto the street. One man refuses and receives a violent shake from your man. You almost giggle as you peer around the chipped brick.
It slows down to only a few ambitious clubbers here and there. It must get boring just standing outside and staring at the street. No wonder he's so moody. The only thing exciting in his life is his own emotion. You can't judge, you don't have much going on either. You haven't even got a summer job. Wait, that's a brilliant idea.
You calm yourself. Tonight, you have another mission. You just have to be patient.
You smile and nearly bounce in place. Oh, you are excited. It will have to wait of course, but it's always nice to have a purpose.
You yawn as your phone jitters. You turn away to hide the glow and check the notifications. It's Hottie. Her ID makes your stomach churn. For some reason, the idea of seeing her again makes you nauseous. Almost as if she did, she'd see right through you. She's so smart and tough, and you... you let him follow you and then...
Oh but it's such a special moment, you just want to bask in the afterglow just a little longer.
-
It's early. Or late, depending on your point of view. Time has always been a conundrum to you. A line with no end.
You watch as the club empties out, last call ending with a deafening silence. The absence of the blaring music is louder than its thumping bass. You linger, rubbing your eyes, yawning once more.
You back up as girls teeter past drunkenly in their heels. You can't see the front doors but you know he won't leave right away. He has to make sure everyone's out. You wait until the coast is clear and go to peek out once more.
Your mind wanders, as it often does, and you think of that day when he came to get that couch. You remember his truck... Hmmmm.
You creep across the street like a cat. You stay close to the wall as you approach the club and dip around to the lot. There aren't many cars there. You turn on your phone light and squint; you think that's the right plate. It is the only truck in the lot.
You shut off the light and put your phone away. You hug your scrapbook under one arm and step up on the large tire. You haul yourself up and flip over the top, landing heavily as the book falls out of your grasp. You retrieve it as you gasp for breath and drag yourself into the corner. He won't check back here, besides it's too dark.
You lay folded against the metal and try not to fall asleep. It's tempting as it's nearly three in the morning. You hear a door clatter open and shut, voices tossed back and forth. A deeper voice met by a sheepish murmur. You hold your breath until they fade away and the door opens again.
Footsteps and nothing else. Boots mulching on the stray bits of gravel across the pavement. The truck chirps as it unlocks and shifts as the driver side door swings out. Oh, it's him!
You lock up and fight the urge to jump out and holler 'surprise'. In due time.
He turns the engine over and reverses out with a sharp veer. You're jostled by the movement as he puts his foots down on the pedal. Oh god, he's an aggressive driver.
You're wide awake as he takes corners with no caution. He is consistent. You latch onto your scrap book, not wanting it to slide around and give you away. The cool night blows over you and sends a shiver up your spine.
Finally, he slows, coming to a halt after another jolting veer. You wait and listen as he gets out, grumbling in that cute way he does. You sit up and edge over to the other side. You watch his shadow and push yourself back as he passes.
As he turns between the next row of cars, you scramble to hope out of the truck bed and use the bumper to lower yourself down. You run after him, puffing as he walks steadily towards the apartment building. You're caught off guard as he turns and catches you by the throat. You squeak and drop the scrap book, clasping onto his thick wrist.
"Ach, Poo-kie," you croak out, "it's just me--"
He grunts and squeezes tighter before relenting, instead grasping the front of your shirt, "what are you doing?"
"Um, duh, I came to see you. My boyfriend--"
"Stop," he hisses, shaking you. "You're really starting to get on my nerves."
"Hey, don't be so rude," you hit his chest, "I came all the way out here in the middle of the night--"
"How did you get here? How do you know where I live?" He snarls.
You're silent. The truth might not help your case.
"Lucky guess?"
"Goddamn it, what--" he rasps, "you are insane. You are going to get yourself hurt, little girl. I told you, we only fucked."
"Well..." you bat your lashes, sliding your touch down his forearm, "we can do it again..."
"Huh?" He recoils, letting you go as you stagger on your feet.
"Yeah!" You clap your hands, "maybe this time it won't hurt that bad."
He's quiet, only letting out a deep exhale.
"You need to forget what happened--"
"How can I?" You counter, "it was my first. You're my first." Your voice grits as a swell of heat flows up from your stomach, "I won't forget."
"I'm telling you to go--"
"You said you love me," you pout.
"You made me--"
"And you made me do... do that thing," you accuse right back, "you don't just get to walk away."
Silence, again. He rolls his shoulders and crosses his arms, his silhouette looming even larger.
"You should," he growls, "walk away before this gets messy."
"I'm not going to," you say, lip trembling.
He shakes his head and drops his arms. He steps closer and reaches for your shoulders, gripping tightly as he leans in.
"You don't learn easy, do you?" he sneers and lets a hand snake up to the back of his neck. He twists you around, pinching meanly as he marches you ahead of him. "I'll fucking teach you.”
138 notes · View notes
bluelocksource · 1 year ago
Text
Karasu Tabito’s trivia (source: twt & Egoist Bible 1 & 2).
"You'll receive a delicious attack, you average guys."
☆ Character's colour: Dark blue.
☆ Weapons:
Keep (keep the ball from opponent), feint technique, and handwork (using hand or arm to block the opponent / to keep the distance from the opponent / to secure the play area). (EB1) Analytical skills and handwork. (EB2)
☆ Nicknames: ‘Assassin’ and ‘Analyst’.
☆ Birthday: 15th August. (Obon festival)
☆ Current age: 18 (3rd year of high school)
☆ Zodiac: Leo.
☆ Birthplace: Osaka Prefecture.
☆ Family: Grandmother. Mother. Father. Older sister. Himself.
☆ Current height: 183 cm.
☆ Dominant foot: Right foot.
☆ Blood type: A.
☆ Starts playing football: At age 4.
☆ Team before joining BLUE LOCK: Bambi Osaka Youth (same team as Hiori) .
☆ Motto: "Never lose your intelligence and your curiosity!"
☆ Favorite food/drink: Kelp tea (kombucha). “It calms me.”
☆ Disliked food: Salmon roe. “The texture and fishy smell are unusual. It’s like eating a monster cells.”
☆ Favorite animal: Hawks. “I heard it has good sense in hunting." “Those sharp eyes and claws are marvelous.”
☆ Favorite season: Autumn. "I like the feeling of solitude."
☆ Favorite football player: Ruud van Nistelrooy.
☆ Favorite song: “FLY” by GRAPEVINE.
☆ Favorite manga: GANTZ “The Osaka version. It’s just too awesome.”
☆ Favorite movie: “It’s a foreign movie, ‘Westworld’.”
☆ Favorite TV show: Documental (a comedy documentary program)
☆ Ideal type: Smart and strong woman.
☆ Hobby: Observing, analyzing, and assessing people.
☆ Fixation: Voice/way of speaking. "I feel unusually aroused whenever I sense intelligence from the way a person speaks."
☆ Mushroom shoots vs Bamboo shoots: “Bamboo shoots. It’s pretty common but honestly, bamboo shoots.”
☆ What goes best with rice : Kimchi. “It’s good no matter how many times you eat it.”
☆ What makes him happy: To be left alone. “I want to live as I please, die as I please.”
☆ What makes him upset: Surprise presents. “It’s impossible to be happy in a forced atmosphere. I kind of feel bad.”
☆ What he thinks his strength is: Rational, calm, and determined.
☆ What he thinks his weakness is: He can't be kind to ordinary people. “I need to fix that.”
☆ Favorite/Best subject: Modern literature, Chemistry, and World History.
☆ Dislike/weak subject: Swimming. “I’m scared of water.”
☆ What made him cry recently: “Not gonna tell ya, idiot.”
☆ Usual sleeping time: 6.5 hours.
☆ Place he washes first when taking a bath: Hair. “My hair's too stiff from all the hair wax.”
☆ Number of chocolates received from previous Valentine: 6. “They’re definitely messing with me. I keep receiving bonbon whiskey.” (bonbon whiskey: chocolate confectionary that contains whiskey.)
☆ At what age he experiences first love: At age 8. “Marisa was the cutest girl in class. And then there’s ordinary me...”
☆ The first time he got confessed to: “Marisa confessed to me on elementary school graduation day ceremony. But since I’ll be playing soccer at a faraway middle school, I turned her down. Something like that. Nothing out of ordinary."
☆ What will he do if received 100 million yen: Invest in index funds.
☆ At what age he stops receiving presents from Santa: "Around 10 years old. I stopped because I want to be considerate of my parents."
☆ What was his last wish from Santa: PS4 & Winning Eleven.
☆ What will he do during his last day on Earth: “To be with someone important to me. If such a day comes, it’s being ordinary good enough for me.”
☆ Favorite historical figure: "Zhuge Liang. The strongest strategist in history. I really like him."
☆ If he hadn't encountered soccer, what will he be doing: "I’d want to be a management consultant. I want to help ordinary people become extraordinary."
☆ If he could only take one thing to a deserted island, what would it be:  "I wouldn’t need anything. Surviving there would be great. The greatest ability of humans is "adaptation" to their environment."
☆ If he had a time machine, would he go to the past or the future: The past. "I want to know the truths of the struggles and glories of those who came before me and use that as my nourishment."
Last updated: 1/11/2024
* The crossed words are the changes made from twitter’s answer to the answer from Egoist Bible.
note: i want to apologize in advance for any mistake made in the translation!
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babydollmarauders · 2 years ago
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AUGUST — QUINN HUGHES
quinn hughes x fem!reader
PART TWO CAN BE FOUND HERE.
summary: in which y/n has been in love with quinn for years and now they engage in a summer situationship.
specific lyrics: “i can see us lost in the memory, august slipped away into a moment in time. 'cause it was never mine. and I can see us twisted in bedsheets, august sipped away like a bottle of wine. 'cause you were never mine.” and “your back beneath the sun, wishin' i could write my name on it. will you call when you're back at school? i remember thinkin' i had you.” and “wanting was enough. for me, it was enough. to live for the hope of it all, cancel plans just in case you'd call.”
warnings: innuendos, talk of sexual happenings but no actual NSFW content.
notes: this takes place when Quinn was attending UMich. inspired by August by Taylor Swift! reader is 18.
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**JULY 30TH, 2018**
my cheek pressed against the cool glass, i sit in the bay window of my bedroom at my families lake house, watching for the neighbors to arrive. we’ve been coming here every summer since i was fourteen, and for just as long, i’ve had a crush on the eldest son of the family next door.
the Hughes family was comprised of three boys and their parents, Jim and Ellen.
there was the youngest, Luke. fourteen years old and the sweetest kid you could ever meet. generally the victim of teasing from his older brothers, but he doesn’t let it get to him.
then there’s Jack, the middle child. seventeen years old and my best friend. surprisingly smart, kind, and always there for me when needed, metaphorically of course since we don’t actually live near each other.
and lastly, Quinn, the oldest. nineteen, more on the introverted side, attractive, and my summer crush for the last four years.
Jack and i keep in touch over the school year, telling each other any and everything that happens in our lives, and he informed me that they would be arriving today, but he didn’t say what time. so, here i sit, looking out my window, sight locked on the driveway of the house next door.
“y/n! lunch!” my mother’s voice drifts up to my room from the bottom of the stairs. ignoring her yell, i stay planted in my seat. “y/n, c’mon! i know you’re watching for Jack but you can still eat!”
i heave out a sigh, standing to my feet and rushing down the stairs. i grip my lunch plate in my hands and start back towards the stairs.
“you can’t even stay down and eat with us?” my mom questions. i look over to her, standing with her hands on her hips and her brows raised.
“i don’t wanna miss their arrival, mama.” i whine and she rolls her eyes and shoos me off. i dart up the stairs, shouting out, over my shoulder- “love you, mama!”
i take my seat back at my bay window and look back to the driveway again, keeping myself busy by eating bites of my sandwich as i watch. no more than 5 minutes after i finish my sandwich and chips, i see a car pulling into the neighboring driveway. opening my window, i watch as my best friend steps out of the vehicle, followed by his younger brother. my heart deflates slightly when i notice the absence of the oldest Hughes, but i cover up my disappointment quickly when Jack looks over at me leaning out my window.
“hey hockey-head!” i yell.
“my personal cheerleader!” he calls back. “you gonna come give me my hug? or do i have to come up there and get it myself?”
with that, i pull back into my room and spin around, running down the stairs.
“they here?” my father correctly assumes as i zoom past him in the living room.
“yep!” i scream, opening the front door. i stumble down the front porch steps, catching myself on the last step, and making eye contact with Jack. he holds his arms open and i run across my yard, launching myself into his arms, wrapping my legs around his waist and my arms around his neck. one of his arms winds around my waist and his other hand splays under my backside, holding me up. the touch is innocent between two best friends, but i hear Luke fake a gag behind us.
“i missed you.” i mumble, my lips ghosting the shell of his ear.
“i missed you too. i’m sorry i couldn’t make it to your graduation.” he whispers back.
“it’s okay, i know you had a hockey game. just don’t forget me when you become a hotshot, first-overall nhl player.” i joke as he lowers me down to my feet.
“never. who else is gonna keep me humbled and remind me that i’m ‘an average white boy’?” he chuckles as he uses my own words from last week.
“that’s true. you’ll need me in order to keep your ego in check.” i shrug before twisting to face Luke. “hi, sweet baby.”
i reach up, holding his face in my hands. he rolls his eyes at my words but it just eggs me on more. i pull him down to my chest, cradling his head to my collarbone.
“my little baby.” i coo and pout. “you’ve grown so much since i last saw you.”
“y/n/n, i’m almost fifteen, not five.” his words are muffled in my chest. “can we have a regular hug now?”
i let out a long dramatic sigh and release him from my hold. he pulls back, giving me a shy smile before hugging me to his chest.
“good to see you, moosey.”
“good to see you too, y/n/n.” he lets me go and i look at Jack once we part.
“where’s Quinn?” i ask. Quinn and i aren’t nearly as close as i am with his brothers, him usually sticking with the friends he brings to the lake house, but it’s not unusual for me to wonder his whereabouts.
“he’s coming sometime in the next few days. he went to a friends house for a couple weeks.” Jack answers. he smirks and speaks again- “but that just means you get extra time with the cooler Hughes brothers.”
“you think you’re cool?” i tease. “yeah, this is why you need me. you’re already thinking delusionally!”
“what does it say about you that you hang out with people you don’t think are cool?” Jack argues, raising a brow.
“hold on, i never said Luke isn’t cool!” i joke, crossing my arms across my chest and shifting my weight to one leg. “i only implied you are uncool.”
“oh, you’re gonna get it!” it’s the only warning i get before he leaps, trying to get ahold of me. i sprint around the yard, circling the car before halting behind Ellen Hughes, who was on her way out to grab another suitcase to bring in the house.
“well, hello dear.” she laughs as i take hold of her shoulders, using her as a human shield against her middle son.
“hi El!” i chat. “save me!”
“Jack, you guys have been back together for 5 minutes and you’re already attacking the poor girl?” she chides. “leave her alone.”
“yeah, Rowdy, leave me alone!” i hit back. “you’re so mean to me.”
“you called me uncool!” he rebuts. Ellen sighs and shakes her head at our childishness.
“just call a truce and go down to the lake.” she tells us. Jack and i eye each other warily as i snake a hand around Ellen for a peace handshake. Jack shakes my hand, making me smile and step out from behind his mother.
“meet at the lake in twenty?” Jack asks. i nod and take off back to my house to get changed.
this is gonna be the best summer. i can feel it.
**AUGUST 2ND, 2018**
i wake to the sunshine streaming in through my bedroom windows and my blanket falling to the floor. my back cracks with the movement of me stretching my limbs across my bed and my mouth opens wide in a yawn. i swing my feet over the side of my bed and smile. it’s been three days since Jack and Luke arrived, and according to Jack, Quinn is arriving today. i’m assuming he’ll get here in the evening, so i choose to waste time by going for a morning swim.
i strip out of my pajamas, grabbing a simple navy blue bikini from my dresser and getting changed into it. i grab a towel out of the linen closet on my way downstairs and grab a granola bar from the kitchen.
“i’m going out for a swim.” i inform my parents, who sit at the dining table. they nod, assuring me that they heard me, and go back to their discussion. i leave out the back door, walking down to the lakeside, enjoying the hot summer sun. i spot someone laying out on the shore, and grin in assumption that it’s my best friend. but when i get closer, i spot the dark brown hair and slightly paler skin and freeze in my spot. i stand in place, admiring the boy laid out with his back facing the sun. Quinn.
i stand there for a few minutes, just watching how the sun makes him glow and thinking about how much i want to be his. to be able to lay next to him and trace my name on his back as he soaks up the sun, to lay kisses across it as he hides a smile. how badly i long to be his. he stirs and i avert my gaze, continuing my walk to the shoreline.
“well hey stranger.” i hear called towards me, i look back over to see Quinn sitting up now, smiling my way. “you just gonna walk right past without saying hello? haven’t seen you in a year!”
my face heats up and i desperately hope he thinks it’s just consequences of the summer sun.
“hey, Quinn.” i say back. “long time no see! how’s UMich treating you?”
“eh, it’s been good. i can’t complain. what about you? you just graduated, right? you know what school you’re going to yet?” he rests his arms on his knees as he speaks, and with this position, my eyes are able to trail his chest, leading down to his hard earned hockey abs and the happy trail that disappears underneath his swimming trunks. “y/n?”
oh my god he just caught me ogling him. shit, what did he ask again? school?
“uh, yeah. yeah, i’m taking a gap year and then heading up to The University of British Columbia.” i finally respond.
“oh. that sounds cool!” he nods. “i was kinda selfishly hoping you’d be coming to UMich with me.”
what the fuck does that mean? does he like me? am i reading too much into that? oh my god.
“i thought about it.” i let out a weak chuckle before i tease- “but i don’t know if you could handle so much of me.”
Quinn lowers his sunglasses, letting it be known that his eyes are scanning my figure, and it’s then i remember that i’m wearing a bikini. suddenly feeling self conscious, i fold my arms in front of my chest, my towel pressing against my body.
“i think i could handle a lot more of you than you think.” a lazy smirk rests on his lips and i’m starting to need this swim more than ever.
that was an innuendo, right? that was definitely an innuendo?
i let out an awkward laugh in response.
“well, i’ll let you get back to your swim. i’ll catch you later.” he says, rising to his feet. ���don’t be a stranger, y/n/n.”
i watch him walk away, back towards his house, as i contemplate his words.
i’ll catch you later.
i shake my head clear of thoughts and drop my towel on the ground before running into the body of water in front of me. i let the water tickle my skin before completely diving under. staying down for a few seconds, i imagine the lake water washing away all my wandering thoughts.
i was just reading into things. it’s what i do best. wanting him is enough for me, i don’t need him.
**
my morning swim did nothing for me in the long run. his words still play on a repeat inside my head.
i could handle a lot more of you than you think.
i’ll catch you later.
it’s currently eight o’clock in the evening and i’m leaving for a bonfire at the Hughes house. i walk out the door and cross my backyard and into the Hughes’, making straight for the blazing fire with guys circled around it. as well as Quinn arriving today, Jack had some of his friends from the USNTDP get here too, which makes me doubly outnumbered and entirely out of my territory.
“there she is! our queen!” i recognize the voice as Trevor Zegras, ever the funny guy, he and i met last summer when he came with Jack. the rest of the boys look up and watch me approach as Trevor makes a show of kneeling on the ground and bowing to me.
“get up loser.” i laugh, rolling my eyes and scanning the group. my sight is drawn to where Quinn sits quietly in an adirondack chair.
“i thought you liked me on my knees.” Trevor smirks at his own dirty joke and i lightly kick his shoulder with my foot, making him fall backwards and land on the ground with a thud. the rest of the guys cackle in laughter from both his joke and him falling, but with my sights still set on Quinn, i watch curiously as his jaw clenches and his hands turn into fists for a split second before he relaxes again.
what’s that about?
“i like men on their knees. you’re a boy.” my response earns more hysterics from the group, the guys taking the chance to rag on Trevor for his failed flirtations.
“one more year baby. you can wait for me, can’t you?” Trevor wiggles his eyebrows suggestively as he sits back down into his chair, and i notice there aren’t any more chairs for me to sit in.
“sorry Z, i don’t do younger guys. or you. at any age.” he holds a hand to his heart, acting wounded by my words.
“my heart. it’s broken! how will i ever fill the empty space you’ve left?” he whines.
“i’m sure you’ll find some puck bunny to fill it. or more so, for you to fill.” he smirks at my response and shrugs his shoulders cockily.
“what can i say? ladies love me.” he replies before another guy pulls him into a conversation. with the attention off of me, i scan the chairs. i guess i could sit in Jack’s lap. it wouldn’t be the first time. i shrug and go to walk over to my best friend, but a hand on my wrist pulls me back. i look back to Quinn, his fingers spark on my skin.
“here, you can sit with me.” he pulls me towards him, patting his thighs with his free hand. i glance toward Jack but he’s not paying any attention, his focus lasered in on his friend Alex as he speaks wildly, his hands flying around in excitement. i look back over at Quinn, who waits patiently for me to sit.
when will i ever get this chance again?
i gingerly sit down on his lap, and my face heats up, turning scarlet as he releases my wrist in favor of winding his arm around my waist, his hand laying atop my thigh.
“so, you and Trevor, huh?” he questions lowly, his voice quiet enough that only i can hear. i let out a chuckle.
“definitely not. he’s just messing around.” my hand comes up to play with the silver necklace draped on my collar bone.
“good.” he replies. his cryptic response makes my brows furrow.
good? GOOD?! what does that even mean?!
“why? you jealous?” i tease. harmless banter such as this has always been innocent with me and the two older Hughes boys.
“and what if i was?” his words make my hand freeze in place. oh my god is he actually flirting with me or am i imagining it? “what would you do to reassure me that i don’t need to worry about him?”
his tone is low, voice laced with fascination. and in an effort to not ruin the moment, i blurt out the first thing that pops in my head.
“i think the real question is what would you do to me?” i can hear the seduction in my voice, the innuendo that just slipped past my lips, and regret is my immediate reaction. his eyes flicker between my own and my lips, but before i can apologize, he leans over, his lips ghosting the shell of my ear, and speaks once more.
“be careful of what you’re saying. i have a wild imagination and a pretty girl sitting on my dick, you might end up with a situation you might not be willing to take care of.” his breath fans across my neck, sending a shiver down my spine.
“who says i wouldn’t be willing?” my words are barely audible past the rushing in my ears, but i know he heard them when he leans back with a smirk on his face and lust in his eyes.
**AUGUST 23RD, 2018**
it’s that night that we started whatever we’re doing now. that night that i spent twisted in his bedsheets, drunk on him. that night that he whispered dirty talk in my ear as he brought me over the edge of pleasure multiple times. that he spent an hour with his head delved between my thighs, and then another hour with our bodies flush against each other as he brought us both to release.
since then, we’ve repeated that night seven times. i guess i could describe our relationship as a ‘situationship’. we hide behind closed doors, never talking about our feelings, never letting others see the ways we touch. i never even know when that night will repeat. my only indication being when he calls to ask me to sneak in. we only have a week left before we part for another year, and logically i know i should bring up how i feel before this ends, but i can’t help but fear that they may be one sided. that this situation is just a convenience thing for him. so i keep my feelings buried in a lockbox, not to be let out any time soon.
my phone buzzes in my lap as i sit in my bay window, and i turn it over to check the text i received. my heart deflates a little when i see it isn’t Quinn, but instead his brother.
From: Rowdy 💙
you still coming to the movies with me and the guys tonight? mom said Luke’s gotta come with us but don’t worry, he won’t ruin the night for us.
To: Rowdy 💙
i’m sorry, i’m not feeling great. rain check?
also, be nice to Moosey! he just wants to spend time with his big brother!
From: Rowdy 💙
okay, hope you feel better! let me know if you need anything, i can make a stop at the store on my way back.
Jack's response makes guilt settle in my stomach. how messed up is it of me to cancel plans with my best friend, in hopes that his older brother will call me for a hook up?
i'm horrible.
-
687 notes · View notes
randyortonofficial · 5 months ago
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title: you can't lie (when your eyes are talking for you) [ click here for ao3 version ] pairing: roman reigns/cody rhodes with past rolleigns and past candy word count: 5824 important tags: hurt/comfort, anal sex, blowjobs description: After Roman interferes in the main event, thus allowing Cody to retain his title, Cody has a lot of questions. When he arrives to his tour bus after the press conference, Roman is there to answer any questions he might have.
August 3rd, 2024
Cody’s eyes widen as Roman cages him against the wall. Big, tattooed arms pinning him at either sides and the heat of his massive body radiating against Cody’s, so much smaller in comparison.
Roman looks Cody up and down before allowing his gaze to flicker into Cody’s eyes. “I’ll meet you at your tour bus after the press conference,” he murmurs just inches away from his lips.
And just like that, he’s leaving as quick as he came.
Cody blinks a few times and watches Roman continue down the hall. He didn’t even have a chance to ask Roman what for, or try to protest, and at this point, Roman is disappearing down the other hall.
Even throughout the press conference, Cody’s mind still played the events of his match with Solo over and over. Not even events, plural, but rather one singular event in Roman returning just to save him.
That’s what Cody thought at first, but once the adrenaline of it all wore off, he knew it was just a coincidence he was saved. Roman was only trying to get one over on Solo and come after him for trying to drag his name through the mud ever since he left, but then if that was truly the case, why did Roman look at him the way he did before he turned to head to the back?
He had stared Cody down with those dark brown eyes and even winked at him. Are those the actions of a man who is solely serving his own needs?
Cody isn’t surprised to see Roman leaning against the entrance to his tour bus. Roman had told him he’d be there, after all, but he’s keeping his guard up. Ever since Cody won the Royal Rumble, he hasn’t fully trusted Roman, and that tryst they had was just that - a fun night solely to get off with no intentions of more. Roman’s hot and so is he.
It was a no brainer for them to fuck. Not anymore, however.
Cody hitches the title higher on his shoulder as he looks Roman over. “Have you been waiting long?”
Roman shakes his head. “Nah, just a few minutes.”
Cody nods and presses his lips together before looking over the area. He doesn’t want people to see them entering a tour bus together, just for the sake of him not wanting to hear rumors and the annoyance of having to disprove them. When you’re the champion, everyone is looking for a reason to take you down and Cody is being extra careful to stay vigilant.
Of course, if he really was being careful, he wouldn’t have easily walked into two Bloodline beatings in a row. Just blame it on the macho need to prove himself and show how strong he is.
“We’re good, man.” Roman nods his head to the door. “C’mon.”
“Making yourself at home already,” Cody mumbles loud enough for Roman to hear on the way to his bus.
“They’re all the same,” Roman tells him as he watches Cody open the door. “Figured you’d want things to speed along. I know you don’t wanna deal with me anymore than you have to.”
Cody frowns a little. “I wouldn’t say that,” he argues quietly. “You first, by the way.”
“Think I’m gonna stab you in the back?”
“I wouldn’t put it past you.”
Roman huffs a chuckle and nods. “Smart. Alright.”
And Roman goes first then, Cody following close behind.
“It’s not that I don’t wanna deal with you, per say,” Cody begins as he locks the door behind him. “I just don’t know what we'd talk about.”
“Oh, I bet you do.”
“Oh yeah?”
“You’re wondering why I did what I did out there.” Roman smiles up at Cody as he easily plops down onto the couch of his bus, a muscular arm resting across the back. “I know you haven’t stopped thinking about it since it happened.”
A grin hangs at the corner of Cody’s lips. He raises his eyebrows in acknowledgement and sets his title on the table across before sitting next to Roman, though he puts a bit of space between them. “Maybe so,” he admits. “Like, I know why you did it, but for some reason, I feel like there’s more-”
“And why do you think I did it?”
“Why else? To get back at Solo for trying to take your place as the Tribal Chief. By the way,” Cody chuckles, “he absolutely fucking sucks. Like, big time.”
Roman chuckles. “Yeah, he really does, don’t he? Like a little boy trying to act like his daddy.”
Heat rises to Cody’s cheeks as he looks out the window blinds, fingers fiddling with the sleeves of his zipped hoodie. “Yeah,” he murmurs. “That’s uh, that’s an apt comparison.”
“But what makes you so confident I did it just for that?”
“That’s it though, I’m not so confident.”
“Then why else did you think I did it?”
“Because… because…” Cody takes a deep breath and lets out a sigh as he shrugs. “I don’t know, to save me? I know it sounds silly, but-”
“Does it?”
“Yeah, I fucking stole your title at the biggest stage of them all,” Cody scoffs and rolls his eyes before looking over to Roman. “Not just that, but the 40th anniversary of the biggest stage of them all, and it was a world record title reign. It’d take me a long time to get over that.”
“That’s what makes us different, bro. Wasn’t a thing to me at all.”
Cody raises his eyebrows. “It wasn’t a thing to you at all? Why do I doubt that?”
“Don’t get me wrong, I was - I was definitely all up in my head about it, but it wasn’t you I was that upset about. You proved yourself to me, Cody, you beat me. I was - I was mad at everyone else. Mad at myself for letting it happen, like, I was so close to beating you, man. I really was, I could’ve had it and then…” Roman blinks and bites at his lip before looking down to his lap. His hand curls into a fist and he twists and turns it before dropping it into his lap. “Fucking Seth,” he says quietly. “He just - he got to me. After all of this time,” he chuckles bitterly, “and he still got to me. He banked on the fact that I would ignore you and go after him and…” Roman sticks his tongue out before slowly letting it roll across his bottom lip, and Cody’s eyes follow the action before he quickly reminds himself what the vibe of the conversation is.
This isn’t the time for that, and that door is closed. It’s not, as he would say, apropos.
The silence hangs heavy between them but surprisingly, it’s not uncomfortable. Cody can only look at Roman and try to get a read on what he’s feeling. He wonders if anyone else has seen him like this, almost vulnerable and even admitting to his failures. The Roman that everyone else gets to see doesn’t admit to mistakes. Nothing he does is wrong and he’s always the victim. There’s still shades of it here when he says he was mad at everyone else, but then he goes on to say he’s mainly mad at himself.
Cody proved himself to Roman. Those were the words that came direct out of Roman’s mouth, and he doesn’t think Roman has ever said that about anyone.
“I loved him,” Roman breathes out. He still hasn’t looked up at Cody. “I… I would have done anything for him. God, I did everything for him - everything he asked, everything he wanted, everything I did, all of it, I did it for Seth. Always him, and I wanted to do that, because I loved him. And he…” He intakes a sharp breath and closes his eyes. “He was everything to me and we did everything together, we went to bed together a-and woke up together, traveled the world, rode together, made love together, all of that, and for what?” Roman scoffs and shakes his head as he opens his eyes. “So he could sell me out and go be Hunter’s fucking lap dog? And look where that got him!” he laughs. “Cause Hunter sold out his ass too! So he sold me out for fucking nothing and…” Roman blinks and looks up to Cody, who has nothing but sympathy playing out across his face.
Cody is frowning heavily, eyebrows furrowed in concern and blue eyes twinkling with the need to take all that pain away. It’s in his nature to want to make people feel better, even his greatest enemies. He has sympathy, sometimes too much of it, and his heart aches heavily to hear this confident man like Roman Reigns absolutely lose it over someone like Seth Rollins.
And he and Seth have made up. They’re friends now, and Seth has changed, but Cody knows all too well how complicated relationships can be.
Relationships bring out the best and worst in people. You’ll do and say things you never thought you would. The absolute depths of humanity on every side of the spectrum comes out in relationships, and every single one will change a person. Nobody leaves a relationship the same way they entered.
  Roman presses his lips together and swallows heavily. His eyes dart around before he proceeds to look out the window blinds too. “Look, uh,” he clears his throat, “I let my need for revenge… take over. It felt fucking good in the moment though.” He whistles and shakes his head. “Felt like the best fucking thing in the world but after I lost the title and I was sitting all alone in my bus, I was thinking about shit, shit I didn’t even wanna think about and… I’ve been letting him run my life this whole time.” He shakes his head. “I’ve made everything about him without even knowing. And… there was a whole lot of shit I had to sit on, and I’m still sitting on it but I wouldn’t have got there without you.”
He looks back to Cody then but their eye contact isn’t long as Roman’s gaze dips to Cody’s lips. It’s only for a second, but Cody catches it, and that’s when the aura of the tour bus really begins to shift.
  “I’m not asking for vulnerability here, Roman,” Cody tells him. “I’m just asking to be pounded into your bed. You don’t need to tell me your life story, don’t need to tell me all about the intricacies of what makes you who you are, don’t even need to keep talking to me afterwards. You can fuck me and we can go back down our own paths and act like this never happened.”
  That was what Cody told Roman the last, and only, time they fucked, immediately after the Royal Rumble 2023 press conference, but maybe he should have pushed Roman into being vulnerable with him. Probably would have done Roman some good, because it seems like he has years of shit to unload. Has to be hell keeping all that inside all this time, and for what? Just to show everyone he's this confident manly man that doesn't have emotions or feelings? That no one can ever hurt him? That's an act that gets old fast, and it's not an act that's sustainable.
  Cody swallows and quirks a weird grin before chuckling and shaking his head. “You - it wasn’t because of me. I mean - yeah, m-maybe I like, help inspired it-”
“You’re the only one that’s ever been real to me,” Roman tells him. “You’ve never lied to me. Everyone else has, they’ve always sucked up to me, but you didn’t.”
Cody’s upturned lips fall into a pressed line then. “Come on,” he almost whispers, “you can’t give me that much credit-”
“I wanted to save you tonight,” Roman admits to him with firm conviction. “You’re right, I did wanna put Solo in his place, but I wanted to save the one person that hadn’t done me dirty like everyone else did. I owed you that, especially after the shit I pulled on you.”
Cody snorts. “So you admit you were doing me dirty?”
“Wanted to keep my place at the top,” Roman tells him. “I was gonna do everything it took to stay there.”
“As someone who was aligned with Randy Orton for awhile,” Cody sighs and looks up at the ceiling as the memories pour through, “I understand that. Once you’re on top, you don’t wanna lose that place. It’s intoxicating to have that power of being number one, and I understand how that power gets to people, and how that power can…” Cody bites at his lip before looking down to his own lap. “Well, I get how that power can change someone. For the best, but… for the worst,” he sighs.
Randy hadn’t betrayed him quite the same way Seth did, In actuality, it was Cody, but that was after almost 2 years of verbal abuse and physical attacks. Their relationship was explosive, but with that came a lot of passion and what they had was the most intense experience of Cody’s life.
That said, he doesn’t want that again. He and Randy came a long way since then. They’ve seen each other at their best and worst and he’s glad they’re to a point they can actually count on each other.
Randy may turn on him one day. In fact, Cody is expecting it, but in the meantime, he’s trying to enjoy the friendship as much as he can.
“I don’t hold any hard feelings against you, Roman.” Cody looks back to Roman. “I never did. For me, it’s always just been business… except for the time it wasn’t.” He winks, knowing that Roman will understand.
The smirk that spreads across Roman’s lips definitely prove that.
“Yeah, uh… that was a fun time, wasn’t it?” Roman hums and lets his dark eyes go over Cody’s outfit, his tights and ring boots with a shirt and jacket. “You know something?”
“What’s that?”
“I guess you do owe me a little.”
Cody swipes his tongue across his lip before raising his eyebrows. “Oh, is that so?”
Roman stands up with a sigh. “Yeah, why don’t we uh, discuss it in your bedroom?”
As Cody unzips his jacket, he replies with, “yeah. Why don’t we?”
And after shedding the jacket off, he’s following Roman to the back of the bus where the bedroom is.
The moment that door is closed, Roman is pushing Cody up against it, hand gripping his shoulder and other gripping his chin, to smash his lips against his.
Considering how the last time went, Cody was expecting to be pushed down onto the bed so they could go at it quickly, but he has a sneaking suspicion that this is going to go a little bit different.
Maybe a lot a bit different. Who knows, but Cody certainly wants to find out.
  Cody is instantly moaning at the strength of Roman’s mouth, and he’s clinging to Roman’s biceps for purchase. He’s always loved to be dominated, he did their first time and he does now. Roman’s fingers are digging into his chin, not painfully but definitely with applied pressure, and his tongue pilfers Cody’s mouth with a desperate yearning to explore and Cody just lets him. He lets Roman take whatever he wants because he wants to see how much of him Roman wants.
A soft breath exhales out of Roman’s nose to hit Cody’s upper lip before he lets go of his chin entirely to instead frame one side of his face. His thumb is brushing back and forth against Cody’s jawline as he tilts his head, pulling away just enough to bite at Cody’s lip and drag it out with his teeth before licking up his chin and back into his mouth, the obscenity of it causing Cody to moan out again and Roman is groaning out at the noise of approval.
The hand Roman has on Cody’s shoulder moves down over his chest, fingers curling the fabric tight between his fingers. Cody’s hands drag up those big biceps and up Roman’s neck to hold his face in his hands, and he’s sucking Roman’s lips with his before sliding his tongue along the bottom to savor his taste - so sweet, and he detects a hint of alcohol, just the faintness of beer - and after locking the taste in his mind, their lips meld once more.
Their kiss is strong and passionate, ignited by a burning flame that Cody hasn’t felt in a long, long time. To say Roman is an amazing kisser is an understatement, because he’s kissing Cody like he’s done it for years, but after hearing everything he’s spilled about Seth, it makes sense that he’s amazing. Roman is a man with a lot of passion, and he’s probably been holding that in for a long time. That passion was transferred to the protection of his belt but now he no longer has that and with nowhere else for the passion to go, it makes sense for it to spill out right now.
Thank fuck Cody is the willing recipient.
Their lips are slow to drag apart, neither of them wanting to end it but knowing they have to or it’s all they’re gonna do. They’re panting hotly against each other’s lips as they lid their eyes open to drink upon each other’s hungry gaze, the unspoken agreement shared between them that this is only the start to, what most likely, be a long night.
“You know what I didn’t get to do last time?” Cody murmurs against Roman’s lips. “That I really wanted to do?”
“What’s that?”
“I really wanted to get my mouth on you,” he admits in a low tone. “And just choke on you.”
“Shit,” Roman groans and brings his hand up to gently push down at Cody’s head. “Say less and get down there then.”
And Cody does, sinking onto his knees before the bigger man but not without stealing one more kiss. His hands run down Roman’s body along the way to his belt, which he’s quickly undoing and slipping through the loops to drop to the ground. The button is undone next, followed by the zipper, and then he’s grabbing his pants, along with his briefs, to pull them down enough for that thick cock to present itself right in front of his face.
Natural instincts from long ago take over as Cody whines before leaning forward to immediately lick all the way up Roman’s length to take him in all the way. He’s not wasting anytime sucking him off, eagerly moving down and up, his fingers gripping at the open flaps of Roman’s pants as he happily sucks away.
“Damn, baby,” Roman chuckles through a moan as he rests a hand on the back of Cody’s head. “You really fucking love this shit, huh?”
The moan Cody gives around his length is all the answer Roman needs, and the extra vibration causes him to moan out in pleasure.
“Fuck, your mouth is amazing,” he sighs and lulls his head back just to savor in the moment. A few moments later, he’s humming and dropping his head forward, eyes lidding open to watch Cody work his magic. “You look like you were made for this. So fucking pretty, you’re sucking me so damn good, baby…”
His pretty pink lips are stretched wide around him, cheeks hollowed out and eyelashes looking so heavy until Cody is opening his eyes to stare right up at Roman, with the brightest blue eyes he’s ever seen. It’s mesmerizing, honestly, such an innocent looking color on such a filthy man like him, but filthy in the best way, filthy in a way that Roman is currently benefiting from.
Cody pulls off to suckle at the head, letting his tongue trail all over it inside his mouth and dip into the slit before letting go to trail a stripe down Roman’s shaft. It licks all the way down and then he’s breathing him in deeply to inhale his manly musk, let it fill his senses before his lips rub back up. As he does so, he lets the spit build back up in his mouth and after mouthing his way back to the tip, his tongue rolls out for the spot to drop off onto Roman’s length.
“God, that’s so hot,” Roman breathes out.
Cody’s gaze flickers up to Roman with a moan before cutting the tether of spit with his tongue, and Roman is groaning as he harshly tugs Cody back by his hair.
“You’re gonna make me come if you keep doing that,” he warns.
“Wouldn’t be so bad,” Cody tells him. “You don’t wanna make a mess over my pretty face? You don’t wanna cover me in you?”
Roman takes a deep breath and looks up to the ceiling in thought to mull over the image. Biting hard at his lip, he looks down to Cody and says, “don’t tempt me. Get your ass on that bed.”
With a grin, Cody tells him, “can do.”
  It’s not without undressing first, though he goes slow so Roman has time to appreciate his body. He can feel Roman’s gaze burning with each inch of him that’s shown and even as he climbs onto the bed. He’s settling himself on his elbows and knees before looking back at Roman over his shoulder. “Like last time?”
Roman’s tongue pokes around the inside of his cheek as he continues to look Cody over. While the back of him is certainly nice, it’s something they’ve done before. He shakes his head and says, “nah. Roll onto your back.”
After Cody rolls onto his back, he sees Roman removing his boots, pants, and briefs, though the shirt stays on. He wants Roman to take it off, after all, Cody’s already seen him shirtless in the ring, but there has to be a reason Roman is keeping that on specifically, so Cody doesn’t say a word.
The bed dips with Roman’s weight as he stalks up towards Cody. Strong hands force Cody’s legs apart so Roman can get in between and Cody has to bite back the moan that wants to push past his lips at the sight of his massive body between his legs.
Like, yeah, he’s so much bigger now, but men like Roman always make him feel like that starry eyed twink all over again.
Roman’s voice breaks him out of his trance when he asks, “you keep lube anywhere in here?”
“Oh, um…” Cody looks over to his nightstand. “Should be a bottle in there.” As Roman reaches to grab it from within, Cody chuckles. “I didn' remember this last time.”
“Last time was different,” Roman tells him as he sets the lube down on top.
“How so?”
Roman rolls his lips back between his teeth while he settles himself on his stomach between Cody’s legs. “Just is.”
Cody would argue, but Roman’s skillful fucking tongue is lapping at his hole like a delicacy and it tears any thought out of Cody’s head as he whines out loud and throws his head back.
Roman’s wrapping his arms around Cody’s thighs, hands clutching tight at them as he opens Cody up - and properly this time, unlike the last. He’s really taking his time, sticking his tongue inside and moving it around all over where he can. He’s sucking at his hole, tracing the rim with his tongue and running it up the seam of his balls before spitting on his hole and sticking his tongue back inside.
Cody is trying hard to lay flat but it’s not working all that well. Nor is he keeping his noises in check, because he’s whining and keening and thrashing his body all over the place to the point Roman has to tighten his grip (because somehow, it could get tighter) to keep him firmly on the bed and fuck, is that so hot. Fuck, Roman is so strong and Cody doesn’t wanna fight back, doesn’t wanna overpower him, he wants to just lay here and let Roman do whatever he wants.
And now that he’s the undisputed champion, he kind of can.
Roman is adding a finger, after a point. And another, and another after that, and each one pulls a louder moan out of Cody each time. He’s still tonguing Cody open with all those fingers too, and he didn’t fucking do this before. He just ate Cody out then shoved himself inside and that was it, but this, this is…
Fuck, is he getting Roman at his best right now? And he thought their last tryst was great, but this is already better and Roman hasn’t even got his dick in him yet.
Oh shit, Roman hasn’t even got his dick in him yet, how the fuck is Cody going to react when that happens?
When Cody has been thoroughly opened up and broken down, Roman is sitting up between his knees with a rather triumphant grin. He knows he did well, and he knows he’s going to keep doing well too. Kind of reminds Cody of someone else in his life, but that door is closed forever. It was an agreement he and Randy made a few years ago, an agreement for the best.
Roman pops the cap of the lube to drizzle it along his length. He’s stroking his cock to fully apply it before easily pulling Cody forward by his thighs, lubed up cock bobbing down against Cody’s. “You think you can take me or-”
“Yes, fuck yes, I can take you, fucking give it to me already,” Cody whines out and doesn’t even care for how it sounds.
“You gonna keep up that begging for me when I get inside you, baby?”
“I’ll do whatever the fuck you want when you get inside me, so please.”
A hum rises from low in Roman’s throat as he uses an arm to push both of Cody’s legs back from behind his knees. “I got you, sweetheart. Stay real still and be a good boy for me.”
Good boy is all it takes to settle Cody once and for all. He relaxes totally and stares at Roman with a renewed softness in his eyes before his gaze dips to watch Roman line himself up. The head of Roman’s cock smacks against Cody’s hole a few times before he pushes inside.
And it’s slow when he pushes in, but he’s determined to give Cody every single inch and he feels it.
Cody’s eyes are fluttering shut in pure bliss as a long, drawn out moan slips past his lips to enter the warmly lit room. His head is rolling over to the side, hand coming up to grab tightly at the pillow and other hand dragging through the sheets to keep himself grounded with how many of his senses are lighting up.
It’s so much in the best way and he hasn’t had that kind of overwhelming sensation in awhile. Fuck, probably not since the last time they fucked.
“Theeere we go,” Roman shushes as he bottoms out inside. “Just like that, baby, doing so good. Look so good like this bent in half underneath me, and I’m gonna give it to you so good too, you just wait.”
“Don’t wanna,” Cody whimpers and opens his eyes just enough to send Roman a pleading look. “Please, Roman, give it to me, I can take it, I swear I can-”
“Oh, I know you can,” Roman chuckles and throws Cody’s legs over his shoulders so he can lean in real close. “Just relax and lemme take care of you tonight, alright?”
Cody’s eyes fall back shut as their lips meet again, much softer than the last. While their lips move against each other, Roman begins with slow thrust, but each one packs a punch. He pulls out slow, just to slam back in, and Cody is moaning into his mouth each time it happens. Cody feels it so deep, literally, as the inches drag along his tight, inner walls. Roman is really taking his time with him and ensuring Cody feels good, unlike the last time - fucking for the sake of it, to size each other up in a way that would benefit the both of them.
Their tongues swirl around each other before their lips meet again, still in that soft, but passionate manner. Cody’s hands come up to thread through Roman’s luxurious black locks, and Roman has his hands planted firmly on either side of Cody. His thrusts are steadily beginning to speed up and their kissing is becoming quicker, hell, sometimes they stop kissing just to chase each other’s lips, get each other desperate before allowing them to meet again, up until the point where Roman’s thrusts get so fast that Cody can’t even concentrate on kissing.
“Oh fuck me, you feel so good,” Cody moans out. “Fuck, give it all to me.”
“Yeah, you want more?” Roman asks with a grin as he tilts his head to kiss Cody’s ankle. “You gonna be a good boy and take everything I give you?”
“Even if it hurts, fuck yes, Roman, yes, I’ll be a good boy and take everything you give me.”
“Hey, you asked for it.”
Yup, Cody certainly did, and he is so glad for it when Roman does, indeed, give him exactly what he asked for.
It’s hot, fast, and intense. Nothing better than to get fucked stupid and not think of a damn thing beyond letting himself get wrecked. Cody’s had so much responsibility to uphold lately with being the top guy that it feels good to let someone else take the reins. He’s always enjoyed it even before he had the responsibilities, but now it’s like a need for someone else to take charge, a burning need that’s been increasingly harder to satiate.
  Roman is grunting, breathing heavy as he pounds into Cody with every iota of strength he has. The bed is shaking, rocking against the wall and Cody’s mouth hangs open as he cries out with each thrust, moans becoming higher pitched, body writhing, and he’s practically sobbing with how good it feels, but Roman can barely contain himself either with the slew of curses he’s spouting off.
“Fucking - fuck, god damn, Cody, so fucking tight around me. You know I couldn’t stop thinking about this last time we did it? I hated it, hated thinking about it because I didn’t want to, I didn’t wanna like it, but you were good, you were amazing and you better keep fucking coming back for this dick, you understand?”
“Yes, Roman, I-I’ll keep coming back, keep letting you fuck me and use me, I promise,” he gasps. “Whatever you want, j-just keep fucking me good like this, keep making me feel good, please-”
Cody’s cut off when Roman kisses him again, but it doesn’t go for long. It’s a hard kiss that only lasts a few seconds before Roman pulls away with a loud groan, teeth gritting together as his thrusts begin to lose their rhythm. Cody’s legs drop from his shoulders and Roman wraps an arm tightly around them to keep them both pressed against his chest, other hand pressing down hard on the bed to anchor himself.
“Take it,” Roman breathes out. “Be a good boy and take my come, alright?”
Cody is so far gone that he doesn’t even realize it when he moans out, “yes, daddy, give it to me!”
That name, that fucking name is all it takes for Roman to finish inside him with a primal moan as he throws his head back with pleasure. The feeling of being pumped full with hot come sends bouts of pleasure through Cody’s body and he’s immediately slipping a hand down to quickly start jerking himself off, moans bubbling up his throat as his climax nears in and then it happens and he’s finishing all over himself with a loud cry as his body shakes, his extremities heating up as he pleasure crashes through him in constant, overwhelming waves.
And by the end of it, Cody is a shell of a man. He can’t stop whimpering because he can still feel the pleasure, long after it subsides, and his body is buzzing. His ears are ringing and he feels like he’s floating.
Maybe he really is floating. Maybe he’s floating off high into the clouds to the heavens above. Maybe he was fucked so good he died.
Okay, he isn’t dead, but fuck, this would have been a lovely way to go.
  Roman lets out a shaky breath as he runs a hand back through his hair. He stares down at Cody, still whimpering, and his eyes continue down until he sees the mess on Cody’s stomach.
“Wait here,” Roman tells him.
Cody is groaning out in frustration as Roman pulls out, hand reaching down to feel at his ass in an attempt to replicate the full feeling. He knows it’s futile, but placebo and what have you.
Roman comes back momentarily with a wet, warm rag to help clean Cody’s abs. He even wipes his thighs before setting the rag aside on the nightstand with the lube. Afterwards, he sits up and looks back to his clothes, sans the shirt, lying on the floor.
He places his hands on his hips and bites at his lip. “I uh, guess I should probably head out-”
“No.”
Roman looks back at Cody’s protest and then looks down when he notices a hand clutching - weakly - at his wrist. He raises an eyebrow and looks up to Cody. “You want me to stay?” he asks.
Cody swallows heavily before letting out a gasp of air. “I mean - you don’t - you don’t have to like, stay for hours but if you wanna stick around for a bit, you can.”
“Nah, it’s cool.” Roman grins. “I can stay for a bit. Or… a lot a bit. Whatever you want.”
Cody manages a grin. “Yeah?”
Roman shrugs and climbs up to the headboard of the bed. “Yeah, I don’t got any place to be.” He rests an arm over his chest and then closes his eyes. “I’d rather be in bed with a pretty blonde than sleep by myself anyways.”
Cody’s grin grows wider as he looks over to Roman. He bites at his lip just so his happiness isn’t that obvious, and pulls himself up to properly lay his head on the pillow. “Yeah, I’d rather be in bed with a super hot, super strong Samoan than sleep by myself.”
Roman huffs a chuckle through his nose. “Looks like our desires are mutual.”
He’s right - and maybe a few other things could be mutual too.
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witchersmistress · 8 months ago
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Rescuing Ann
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Hello my beautiful darlings! I've been slacking and letting Ann and August fight amongst themselves. But I got them to work together. I'm not 100% certain how I feel about this so don't be surprised if I
Trigger Warnings: blood, violence, assault, smart ass remarks, chasing, fighting, stolen movie quotes clearly labeled
Word count: 2K
August”s POV
The broken glass crunched under my feet as I walked back into the building. My phone started to vibrate, pulling it out of my pocket and I answered it quickly “ Yes?” “ Sir, we have confirmation that Julian is going to be attacked today, by a group of men called the De Santis brothers. My blood ran cold. Charles, Brandon and Levi. They were absolutely ruthless men, who played twisted games in order to compete with their father.
“Sir, are you still there?” my second in command, Jace asked me. Releasing the breath I was holding “ Yes I'm still here, get a team ready, I'm going after her.” disconnecting from the call, I left the party and climbed into the black sedan that was waiting for me. Shooting a text off to an old number that I prayed was still active, hoping I wasn't too late to save her.
Ann’s pov
His chilling threat still clung to my skin, “You will pay for making me look stupid” he was on his third glass of whiskey as the driver pulled into a long driveway. Taking in a deep breath as i observed the house, it looked warm and inviting but the man who lived here was anything but, i know i was expected to go home with him but i’ll be damned if that fool thinks that he will be able to touch me, i’ll die before i let that happen. Stepping out the car I followed Julian inside, the front door locking behind me and trapping me inside. “Second bedroom on the right, go upstairs now” he spat at me as he made his way towards his  liquor cabinet. Taking off my heels I jogged up the stairs and into that bedroom shutting behind me. Leaning my head back I took in a few deep breaths before peeling myself off the door and out of this damn dress. Sliding my arms out of the straps, I began to tug the dress over my head. I'll be damned if I ask Julian to help me. Tossing the dress to the floor in a mess of cabernet tulle, I moved over to the full length mirror and stared at my reflection. My strappy lingerie clung to my curves, dark hair falling down my back, I looked and felt like a Goddess and the only man that I wanted worshiping at my altar was August. I wonder if I hold as much power over him as he does me. I let my glance linger for a few moments longer, before stripping out of those and climbing into a hot shower.
In comfy black pjs I was about to settle into bed for the evening when the door flung open to reveal Julian, standing my ground I waited for him to say something. “ You embarrassed me tonight, you know that, by letting the Walker hold on to you like a little lost puppy. It's pathetic really, but do you know how that made me look, that my wife-to-be  is a wanton whore for an American CIA agent?!?!” he is practically foaming at the mouth. “I’d rather be his whore than your wife” Did i just quote the Titanic at him yes i did. I turned around to walk away from him, but he reached out and grabbed my still damp hair and pulled me back to him. Scream and clawing at the hand that held my hair, he spoke is a dark tone “ If you want to act like a whore that is how i am going to treat you do you understand me” the hand that was holding my hair lowered, i turned my head and bit him like a rabid dog “ You fucking bitch”  he snarled as  punched me in the gut and i stumbled back into the frame of the canopy bed, landing against it with a heavy and my head with a sickening crack. My vision was fuzzy for a few moments but I got my bearings and stood on shaky legs, ready to face him.
“ I could do this all day” I taunted him, yes I quoted Captain America, leave me alone. Wrapping a hand towel around the bite on his hand, he just smirked. “ You think you're funny?” I cocked my head “ I think I’m adorable”  he sneered and lunged at me, skirting around him so he crashed into the bed, I tripped and landed on my ass, such a clumsy thing. This felt like a sick and twisted game of cat and mouse, but I'd be dead if this kitty cat caught me. Staggering into the hallway, I braced myself as Julian came charging out, and grabbed my waist. I whipped my head back crashing straight into his nose with a satisfying crunch and it began to gush like a fountain. With a sharp jab to his gut he stumbled back and towards the stairs, he grabbed my shirt and pulled me with him as we went down the stairs. Breathing hurt, moving hurt, everything fucking hurts. Shoving Julian off me, I struggled to my feet. When the patio doors burst open and three men dressed in black and came charging in with guns pointed. Julian sprung up from the floor and wrapped an arm around my throat “ Who the fuck are you?” he hissed at the men.
One of them laughed like an absolute lunatic. “ Wow I knew you were dumb but I didn't expect you to be that stupid. We are here for you dumbass” one of the other goonies moved at the speed of lightning and rushed at him. He threw me to the side to protect himself, stumbling on my feet. I bolted for the patio door when I was snatched by the third goon. “Easy poppet, we wouldn't want to hurt you know would we?” he sneered, his breath reeking of whiskey and cigarettes. I audibly gag as he continues to breathe on me as he secured my hands behind my back with zip ties.i could feel them biting into my skin, the big goon laughed as i attempted to rub my wrist together to relieve the pain “ What's wrong? Cant handle a little bondage?” he wiggled his eyebrows at me, disgusting pig. I spit in his face and he was pissed, he punched me in the stomach with full force, doubling over in pain he grabbed my head and slammed it off the counter. Fuck now i really was seeing stars, i could feel warm liquid pouring down my face  “ Charles” one of the shadows snapped “ Leave her be, she has no part of this” i laughed out loud, i clearly was losing my mind as Charles pushed me into a chair “ Charles, you fucking name is Charles? Jesus, you must have been such a mama’s boy eh Charlie boy” i cackled and threw my head back with laughter. If I was going to die tonight might as well have the last laugh. Charles was seething “ You better watch your fucking mouth or i’ll make you sorry you ever opened it” he walked towards, his keeper and Julian. One day I am going to learn to shut my goddamn mouth but today is not the day.
Snorting loudly as my vision became blurry and my head began to spin. “ With an attitude like that, you must have to tie up all your girls to get attention. Even then you probably have a hard time satisfying them with that tic tac in your pants you call a penis. Oh sweet baby jesus, i did it, his control snapped “ Charles no” julians goon screamed as he spun around and came right for me, tackling me to the ground, my head met the ground with a snap and the chair broke under our combined weight as he reared back and clocked me in the face, spitting the blood at him, i smiled as my eyes crossed. Well I clearly was on death’s door as I heard more voices and I vaguely saw the blue eyes of my savior, August. He grabbed my face and talked to me. “Ann dont you dare, keep your eyes open. Look at me” he growled, I forced my eyes open for the last time. I smiled at him as blood dripped from my mouth “ Déjame ir” Let me go. Uttering my last goodbye as he drifted further and further away from my vision, his voice blending in with the white noise in my head, I closed my eyes for the last time. 
Unknown POV
He called me and made me promise that she wouldn't get hurt. I was a fool to make a promise. I thought I could keep her safe. I raced back into the formal dining room but I was too late. Charles had her laid out flat on the floor and he was beating her. I whistled at my other guy who dropped Julian’s unconscious ass like a sack of potatoes and raced over to help me pull Charles off of her. “ Charles no, we need her alive” he was foaming at the mouth and he was struggling to get out of our hold. He was so desperate to get to her, to finish what we started as she was on her side choking on blood. Charles grunted and went limp in our arms, I looked over my shoulder and saw him. The person who begged me to protect her, someone I was equal parts terrified and proud to call my brother, August Walker. He ran to her and tried to get her to stay awake, but as she slipped away into the night, he looked back at me, his eyes full of murder. I may have been his brother but I was most certain that I wasn't going to survive the night.
August’s pov
pushing passed Levi and Brandon, knowing I'd deal with them later, I scooped you into my arms and took off.
*a few hours later*
Pretty sure I've worn a groove into the floor waiting to hear from the surgeon. They rushed you into immediate surgery upon our arrival and that was several hours ago. Sitting down, I hung my head. Already tormenting myself if you didn't make it. “Hey” a voice started me, looking up to see Levi holding out a cup of coffee to me. I smiled softly and took it from him. He sat besides, bouncing his leg impatiently. “August,” he began but I cut him off. “Don't,” I said, “ I will deal with him accordingly.” He nodded as he looked down at his cup of coffee.
“Mr. Walker?” A petite nurse called. Standing up I walked over to her. “ They just finished up the surgery, if you would follow me” I glanced back at Levi and he nodded as I walked with the nurse. She pointed to your room, and I thanked her. I expected to walk in and see you awake and talking but you weren't. You were still hooked up to machines. A tube was breathing for you. I wanted to scream, I wanted to rage. The surgeon rambled on about what they did and your prospective recovery. Walking over and grabbing your hand. Your hand was warm in mine, I squeezed it but there was no response. “ How long until she wakes up?” I asked him as I watched that machine breathe for you.
Clearing his throat “ I’m sorry Mr. Walker” he started i stared daggers at him waiting for him to continue “ She went through a long surgery and we almost lost her. Her brain has severely swollen so we placed her in a medically induced coma to help heal her brain '' I don't know if there was a disconnect in my brain but I wasn't clearly understanding. Levi stood in the doorway with a heavy sigh he just looked at you “ In plain terms Doc” he muttered and the dr turned towards him and nodded “ Mr. Walker, i'm not sure if she will ever wake up” my knees buckled from the weight, she may never wake up..
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lostuntothisworld · 1 month ago
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Lilamoth's Rogue's gallery, a (very) rough draft fanfic premise
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I've been having so much fun coming up with oc’s for my crack theory that Lilamoth is collecting siblings (and they’re all Luka’s exes lmao). And yes, Lilamoth has successfully stolen 2/3 of their identities...
All three characters are sentimonsters, and their amoks are reconfigured Miraculous in the form of locking bracelets that cannot be removed, stolen long ago from the Native American Miracle Box, courtesy of Colt Fathom’s American weapons manufacturer and Tsurugi Industries.
All of the animals their Miraculous are based off of are known to attack and kill domestic cats… Make of that as you will :)
Due to Gabemoth making the Wish in a previous universe, the entire show of Miraculous is a 15 year time loop. All three children were once previous holders of the Ladybug Miraculous, and due to various reasons, failed to stop Gabemoth from making his Wish. With every Wish he made, the Ladybug holder was turned into a sentimonster in their subsequent Wish.
You can see how this all bodes for our Maribug…
Continued under the cut:
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Marina Verdi
Birthday: August 18, 2000 Chinese zodiac: Dragon Sun sign: Leo Decan: third/Aries (Mars) Moon sign: Aries Rising sign: Capricorn
First up we have Marina Verdi. She’s the girl who Lilamoth disguised herself as in the season 5 finale. Just like the disguise, she has a black bob haircut, ocean blue eyes, and wears a pair of glasses. She is half Chinese, and half Italian (like a certain polka-dotted hero…). In fact, she is actually the biological older sister of Marinette.
The Dupain-Chengs fell on hard times in their young marriage, due to Tom’s father disowning him because he married a Chinese woman. They were solicited by Tsurugi Industries to join an experimental fertility treatment for a sum of money. If the couple adopted out the subsequent child to an employee of Tsurugi Industries, they’d receive an additional lump sum of cash. The couple were eager to find out why they were having issues conceiving, so they made the decision to join the trial. Little did they know that Sabine would be implanted with a sentimonster embryo.
Sabine had an uneventful pregnancy, and delivered a healthy baby girl 9 months later. The baby was swiftly adopted by Mrs. Verdi, a single woman, and high ranking employee of Tsurugi Industries.
The child was named Marina, and her girlhood was a standard upper middle class one. She never met her biological parents, due to a waver the couple signed. Tom and Sabine invested the money they received from having her in a bakery located in a fashionable part of Paris. The bakery is still very successful, and considered one of the best in Paris.
Marina’s hobbies are video games, EDM, and computers. She loves school, learning, and is extremely smart, but is kind of snotty about it. She’s a bit of a lone wolf and has a sour disposition.
She has a gorgeous singing voice and was the original vocalist of Kitty Section before she and Luka broke up due to her being a jerk. Marina is cis and bisexual. She is currently in a devoted relationship with Shone. Shone is less of a pushover than Luka was, so it is a far less unbalanced relationship than the one she had with Luka. It also helps that they are much more compatible, and Marina is completely smitten with her girlfriend. They help each other be better people. Marina considers Shone her better half, and often calls Shone “her little bird” or “her quail” (French: “Mon petite oiseau”, and “Ma caille”—“ça caille” (short for the French word for coagulating) is slang for “it’s freezing”!)
Marina always attends Shone’s ballet and figure skating practice, and often writes music for her to dance or skate with.
Marina has a younger adoptive brother… Wayhem. There’s a reason we haven’t learned his last name yet. Wayhem is the biological younger brother of Lilamoth. It’s a long story… Marina and Wayhem don’t get along very well, as they are both headstrong and complete opposites. It doesn’t help that Wayhem insists on practicing his saxophone while Marina is trying to study.
Marina and Kagami form a friendship based off of quick witted banter and their love to throw shade, but Kagami sometimes thinks Marina goes too far. Shone is just happy Marina finally has a friend. Lilamoth is happy she has another Avenue of exploiting them all. Later on in the series, Marina also develops a surprising friendship with Nino due to their shared love of EDM.
Marina wields the Miraculous of the Coyote, and her theme color is a deep reddish gray color. I have yet to decide what her weapon is, but it’ll probably be some sort of pole weapon, like a scythe. Based off of several Native American myths where the coyote stole fire (or the sun) from the gods to give to humans, Her powers should be elemental and fire based. In some Native American folklore, coyotes are seen as beings of creation, and wildfires are often beneficial to the environment and help facilitate new growth. There’s probably some meta about how her biological father creates his livelihood with fire while baking. Fire also compliments Shone’s ice powers, which is just icing on the cake—pun intended.
Marina’s villain name is Cania.
Of the three, Marina has the second-most trouble coming to terms with being a sentimonster and being under Lilamoth’s and Tsurugi Industry’s thumbs. Despite her element, fire, she closes herself off and acts coldly to cope.
Marina’s civilian outfit is a black leather jacket, pink T-shirt, gray blue skinny jeans, and a pair of brown heeled leather lace up boots. Marina’s civilian outfit is inspired by Marinette’s pre-series 7th grade outfit she wears in her class photo in Reflekta and the episode Derision.
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Shone Bianca
Birthday: January 28, 2001 Chinese zodiac: Snake Sun sign: Aquarius Decan: first/Aquarius (Uranus) Moon sign: Pisces Rising sign: Libra
Shone Bianca is a strikingly elegant and beautiful girl. She has black blonde hair, which is usually pulled back in a bun, rich gray eyes, and fair skin. She is half Italian, and half German.
Her mother, Mrs. Bianca is an upper management employee of Audrey Bourgeois’ fashion empire. Mrs. Bianca married a rich corporate lawyer, and through her husband’s employer (either Tsurugi Industries or Colt’s warlord company. I haven’t decided which one yet), used a surrogate to have their eldest daughter Annalise.
Annalise can do nothing wrong in her parents’ eyes. She has excellent grades, is a talented ballet dancer, and has many friends. She’s currently working on a business degree at a prestigious university, which is fully sponsored by a scholarship through either Colt’s war empire or Tsurigi Industries. 
After a few years of raising young Annelise, Mr. And Mrs. Bianca decided to hire another surrogate for another baby. Little did they know, they actually hired someone to carry a sentimonster child. It was a fraught pregnancy with many health scares. Shone was born a premature sickly newborn and it put strain on the couple. In a chaotic series of events, it came out that Mr. Bianca had a mistress (Lilamoth’s biological mother… it’s a long story).
The couple separated. Mrs. Bianca blamed infant Shone for her failed marriage, and hired a revolving door of Nannies to take care of the child, all while doting immense amount of attention and care on Annelise.
Mrs. Bianca quickly hired another surrogate. This new baby would be her comeback baby. The surrogate had a boy, and Mrs. Bianca was over the moon. She named her darling baby boy Louis.
Annelise and Louis grew up close and were coddled by Mrs. Bianca, while Shone was ignored and ridiculed by her mother. Although her siblings are never outwardly cruel to Shone, she still feels like an outsider in her own family.
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The two character models I've chosen to be Annelise and Louis, courtesy of the episode "Qilin"
Like her older sister, Shone is an accomplished ballerina. She takes ballet from Aurélie Dupoint, and is in Chloe's class.
Although she loves ballet, Shone uses ballet as a means to cross train for her true passion: figure skating. She takes skating lessons from Philippe, and dreams of one day going to the Winter Olympics. Philippe insists she is ready, but Shone is still unsure.
Shone is close friends with Blonde Runner Girl with Prosthetic Legs, and Adrien. She was actually in a semi-successful relationship with Luka for a short time being, but due to her comphet, and both of their conflicting baggages, there were too many issues. They broke up messily, but it was for the best. Luka wishes nothing but the best for Shone.
Shone met Marina and realized she is a lesbian, and is much happier in her own skin. Shone supports Adrien with his own comphet, and is the first person he ever comes out as gay with.
Shone wields the miraculous of the Falcon. Her costume is white, and gray, with a tiny amount of gold. She “wears” gold pointe shoes to suggest the yellow feet of gyrfalcons, the bird her kwami and costume is based off of. I think her power should be elemental, and ice based, which mirrors Cania’s fire powers. Her weapon is a rope dart, that is sort of fashioned like a yo-yo.
Shone’s villain name is Odette.
Of the three, Shone has the most troubles coming to terms with being a sentimonster, and her life general, being under Lilamoth’s, and Tsurugi Industry’s thumbs. Despite her element, ice, she lashes out hotly in anger, and is impulsive to cope.
Shone’s civilian outfit is based off of PV Bridget, and Marinette’s season 6 outfit. She wears blue denim shorts with white lace trim, tights, a white blouse with pearl buttons, black jacket with white cuffs, and ballet flats. Shone's civilian outfit is this:
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Jean Duparc
Birthday: July 7, 2000 Chinese zodiac: Dragon Sun sign: Cancer Decan: Second/Scorpio (Pluto) Moon sign: Virgo Rising sign: Aquarius
Last up we have Jean Duparc. He is Lilamoth’s biological older twin brother. (It’s a long story…) His birth name is Mio DeAngelo, but his social worker insisted he change it to something more “French” in order to more appeal to potential adopters, as it is difficult enough to adopt out an 10 year old Romani child who was born in Tokyo, Japan (it’s a long story…) and was held back in school. (He started school late due to the issues with his home life making it difficult to attend, and he was held back in 7th grade, as he was having issues with his dyslexia.) Dispite all this, he enjoys learning, even if it’s more difficult for him than other children.)
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Jean in Marinette's 7th grade class during the flashback in Derision, and then Jean in Ms. Mendeleiv's 7th grade class in Reflekta
Odile Duparc recently dopted him, and Jean is quite fond of her. She is a bit of a scatterbrained mother, and has big dreams. It seems more like Jean is the parent at times, but the two are close.
Jean is a kind, sweet, but shy boy. He’s a bit has trouble forming bonds with people, due to his tumultuous young childhood. He briefly met Luka in a youth group home before he was adopted. The pair formed a friendship, and once got in trouble for sneaking out and going dumpster diving. They lost contact due to the fact that Luka’s mysterious father paid a prestigious lawyer to return Luka and Juleka back to their mother. (Luka and Juleka were taken away from Anarka unjustly, due to racism against their Romani heritage.)
Jean and Luka met by chance a few years later, and were in a sweet but short relationship. Luka doesn’t know why Jean broke it off, but respects his decision, even if it hurts. He wishes nothing but the best for Jean.
Jean is the holder of the Raccoon Miraculous and his weapon is a comically oversized kendama, which he uses as a giant hammer and battering ram. He is the heavy hitter of the trio. Not sure what his power should be, but probably some sort of variation of Uproar, as raccoons are known to be chaotic. Maybe when he activates his power, it causes and “event” that he has to figure out how to work in his favor, a bit like manipulating fate, to compliment the Ladybug’s lucky charm, as opposed to the Monkey’s power to disrupt powers.
Jean’s villain name is Hermes.
Unlike Marina and Shone, Jean quickly comes to terms with being a sentimonster. He also knows the kind of person his twin, Lilamoth is, and what to expect from her. His life has never been easy, so he’s used to being used and manipulated, but he still has issues with being Tsurugi Industry’s pawn, and does his best to protect Marina and Shone from the brunt of it.
In the previous universe where he was Ladybug, his Chat Noir was Felix, and they were deeply in love.
Unfortunately, their Miraculouses required a kiss to remove. And on top of that, they had to contend with secret identities.
During their finale battle between the pair and the Miracularized villains, the lovers shared their first and final kiss and traded Miraculous in order to best hide from the millions of scanners locked on their position.
They find and confront Gabemoth.
But Gabemoth has the upper hand and casts Voyage. He sends the new Cat holder to the surface of the sun.
Felix yo-yos a brace, and grabs Jean’s outstretched hand. But the gravitational pull was too great.
Jean’s hand slips from Felix’s.
Gabemoth Clouts Felix’s chest, launching the child across the crypt, and closes the portal
All that there is left of of Jean is the Black Cat ring clutched in Felix’s fingers.
Felix starts to stir. He has to combine the Ladybug and the Black cat to defeat Gabriel.
Gabemoth sends out an akuma to the ring.
“Tikki! Pla—AUGH!” The boy crumples to the ground.
It was child’s play after that. Gabemoth makes his Wish.
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maccreadysbaby · 10 months ago
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A Hundred Ways to Become a Wayne
batfamily + oc insert
tw: none
wanna read more? here’s the table of contents!
want to read the first fic in the hundred days series so you understand what’s going on here? here it is!
yikes you guys… things are happening
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part nineteen
❝ TAKING THE LEAD ❞
MONDAY — AUGUST 10 — 8:51AM
GRAY STORM-CLOUDS GRACED ALL OF GOTHAM WITH THEIR PRESENCE, SPITTING SMALL SPATS OF RAINDROPS ON THE UNSUSPECTING STUDENTS OF GOTHAM ACADEMY. 
Bentley was squeezing through the doors of the Academy with Duke nearby, his uniform peppered with little polka-dot raindrops. Damian wasn’t with them, but had instead opted for practically sprinting inside just to avoid their conversation. Bentley would usually say he wished he was happier, but he kept reminding himself that he wasn’t supposed to care about that anymore — he cared about winning. 
He’d been trying his best to look at everything through the Puppeteer lens. Seeing his family members for what he could use them for instead of who they were, what information he could weasel out of them if he played his cards right. How he could use them to catapult himself forward, how he could win the race by feeding off of their speed. 
He’d been doing okay, so far — separating himself and his emotions from the interactions he had. It was something he hadn’t been able to do the first time around because he was so overwhelmed by the way the Waynes made him feel. Like an actual person instead of a tool or punching bag. He’d spoken to Dick a lot, sliding on a mask that made him look normal, pretending to be normal — and Dick hadn’t suspected a thing. Bruce either, though he hadn’t spoken to him all that much. Mostly because he had a knack for seeing right through Bentley, and he didn’t want to chance it. 
He didn’t really want to chance it with Tim, either, he was way too smart. Or Jason. He was the one who was suspicious of Bentley first, back when he was working for his father. Or Damian… he’d probably kill him.
So, really, Dick was the only one it had worked on so far. But that was a start!
Right now, though, on a rainy Monday morning at eight-forty-five, he needed to focus on the part of the plan at hand; School. Asten. Dr. Keene’s Brazilian interrogation.
“Have a good day, Bentley,” Duke called with a small wave as he split off in the opposite direction, his dark eyes shining under the hall lights. Bentley merely smiled in return, waving back.
He squeezed and pushed through students that were all dressed just like him, blazers and ties and dress bottoms galore, up the left stairs and down the left hallway. The light in the building was a bit dimmer from the rain, and it was colder, too, with the temperature drop outside.
“‘Sup, ginger,” Asten floated out of one of the bathrooms near Dr. Keene’s at the same time Bentley passed it, ruffling his red hair and messing it all up. His uniform was neat, if not rained on, and his blue hair had been tamed into the same weird fringe he always wore it in. Nico trailed out behind him like a puppy, staring at the hardwood beneath their feet. He looked… dull. Like a Dick Grayson who’d lost his shimmer.
“Hey,” Bentley replied. Asten settled to his right, resting an elbow on the each of his small friends’ shoulders as they walked down the hallway. “Hey, Nico.” Bentley continued.
“Hey,” Came his muted response. He’d been quieter ever since the Secret Keeper attack and other-dimension incident, and Bentley felt bad for him. Granted, Asten and Nico were the only two Bentley was allowing himself to feel anything for anymore. He felt bad for a lot, actually, and sad and angry and a whole slew of other things he kept locked up behind the patented Puppeteer door. Nico smiled at him, tense and fake, and Bentley frowned.
“Todryk, twelve o’clock,” Asten suddenly muttered. Bentley looked straight ahead, and sure enough, Jesse Todryk with his dumb looking perm and girly earrings was standing in the middle of the hallway chatting with his friends. He seemed to have recovered fine from Asten’s book assault, all but the giant purplish bruise on his right temple that ventured down toward his eye. Nico seemed to shiver where he stood.
“What do we do?” The blonde whispered, bringing his arms up around himself like it would hide him from the bully’s vision. “I don’t want him to see us. He’ll go ham after what you did to him.”
Bentley cringed. He hadn’t been around Jesse all that much, but he’d heard and experienced enough that beating them up as retaliation sounded very, very likely.
Asten shoved his hands in his pants pockets, green eyes settling on Todryk and the couple of boys around him. “Just keep walking like a normal person. Maybe they won’t see us.”
“Your hair is blue!” Nico shot back, throwing his hands up. “Of course he’ll see us!”
Bentley stayed quiet, his eyes trained on the face of Jesse Todryk. He looked… Bentley wasn’t sure. Distressed? Upset? His features were all scrunched up and he was moving his hands around a lot, and by the looks of it, he may have even been crying sometime in the distant past. It was… weird. 
When his father got upset, that just made the beatings worse, even if it wasn’t Bentley’s fault. Was Jesse the same way? He glanced around the hallway. Dr. Keene’s room was only a mere ten feet past Jesse and his group. They were almost there, almost home-free. 
He’d be lying if he said he didn’t, maybe just a little bit want to hold on to something — like Asten’s jacket, like he had in the car — but the Puppeteer wouldn’t do that. The Puppeteer wasn’t scared of Jesse Todryk. That would be pathetic.
But Bentley was.
He cringed. He was back to living a double life, and he could already tell it was going to be just as exhausting as the first time. When did he need to turn it on and off? He needed to be the Puppeteer at home, but Asten and Nico knew the plan, so maybe he could just be Bentley at school?
He was so busy thinking about all of that that he didn’t even realize it when they walked straight past Jesse and turned into Dr. Keene’s with no issues.
“What the heck?” Nico whispered, glancing between his two friends as they walked into the room. Bentley looked over at him, taking in his shocked features. “He looked at us and didn’t do anything.”
“Maybe I finally knocked some sense into him,” Asten commented as they took the their seats. The room was dull, thanks to the storm clouds outside, and Dr. Keene wasn’t in there yet. The chalk board had a big drawing of the sky on it.
His mind quickly reverted back to the bully in the hallway. What could make Jesse Todryk upset like that?
Bentley hung his backpack on the back of his chair and pulled out his binder, sitting quietly, glancing at the other students around the room. Everyone seemed to be whispering a lot more than normal today.
“Oh my God,” Asten suddenly started, glancing up from his phone, his green irises met Bentley’s before they traveled over to Nico’s. “Jesse’s sister went missing yesterday.”
“Mandy Todryk?” Nico gasped, leaning so far over his desk he was practically folded in half. “No way!”
Bentley blinked. He hadn’t even thought about Jesse having siblings. Or feelings.
“Yes way!” Asten replied, glancing between them and his phone. He was typing rapidly, kind of like he was texting someone.
Nico leaned over toward Bentley. “She’s like, the most popular cheerleader in the school. Everyone’s probably freaking out,” He explained, looking back over at Asten. “How do you know?”
“I asked Tyler,” Asten replied, sliding his phone across the table for Nico and Bentley to read. The contact name said Tyler Todryk, and the messeges were short. Asten’s said: Everything good? Jesse is acting weird. And Tyler’s reply was: Mandy went missing yesterday.
Bentley guessed, since Tyler’s last name was Todryk, too, that it was Jesse’s brother. How many siblings did he have? And why did Asten talk to one of them? 
“He tutored me when I moved here — he’s a senior this year,” Asten said, because apparently Bentley’s confusion had been openly displayed on his face. The bell rang, marking the start of their nine-in-the-morning-class, but the trio didn’t really hear it.
“I bet they miss her,” Nico started, glancing down at his binder. Some strange emotion flicked across his face. “I… can’t imagine being separated from your family like that.”
Bentley had a sneaking suspicion that, by the way Nico’s gaze fell, he could imagine it. (Probably more so, because Mandy Todryk wasn’t in another universe.)
Asten snickered despite the grim mood that had overtaken their table, brushing a hand through his blue hair. “Yeah, I’m sure they miss her, and so does every male athlete in the school. I bet she never spent a single night by herse- ow!”
Bentley flinched when when Nico’s pencil hit Asten square in the face, bouncing off onto his desk. “Don’t talk about her like that, she’s missing.” He grumbled.
“But it’s true,” Asten shot back, grabbing the pencil and tossing it back. It clacked on Nico’s desk and rolled into his lap. “Everyone knows she couldn’t keep her-“ Bentley flinched, again, when the pencil hit Asten in the forehead. “-Ow! Stop it!”
“That’s a rumor, and it’s rude,” Nico muttered, glaring as Asten tossed the pencil back.
A rumor. A lie that changes the way people think about something. A lie that spreads like wildfire and taints everyone and everything until no one knows the truth anymore.
A rumor might be useful in slowing Bruce down.
Asten rolled his eyes, glancing down at his phone and rubbing his forehead with one hand. “Tyler said she never came home from tutoring.” He continued.
“Who was she tutoring on a Sunday?” Nico questioned. He sat up farther in his seat, like he was trying to look at Asten’s phone.
“Dunno,”
“Ask!”
“I’m not just going to keep asking him about his missing sister! That’s, like, torture,” Asten replied, and Nico huffed.
Bentley said nothing, gazing out the window as Asten and Nico bickered quietly. Dr. Keene’s windows faced right off the front of the building, so he could see the puddle-littered drop-off line and parking lot Bruce had parked in on the first day. There were only two cars sitting in it now, two cars that made Bentley do a double take.
“Guys, look,” He ordered, pointing out the window. Nico and Asten both silenced and turned on a dime, following his finger with their eyes.
A tense silence passed as all three boys stared at the police cruisers outside.
“What’re they doing here?” Asten wondered aloud, glancing around the room quickly. Bentley could already see Nico attempting to shrink away into nothing.
“We’re so going to get arrested!” He half-squeaked, sinking down in his chair as if it would keep the police from seeing him. 
Both Asten and Bentley blinked at him, blankly.
“Nico Rockefeller, what have you ever done in your short goodie-two-shoe life that would have the police hunting you down at school?”
Bentley picked up on the way Nico averted his gaze when Asten said Rockefeller.
“I… I don’t know!” He spluttered, cringing, like not knowing what crimes he’d committed (spoiler alert, there weren’t any.) made it all the worse. His blue eyes flicked around the room warily. “Where’s Dr. Keene?!”
Bentley glanced around their classroom. Their teacher’s  desk was, indeed, empty, and the man was nowhere to be seen even though the bell had already rang. Dr. Keene had never been late for class before. Bentley wondered if teachers got in trouble for it, too. Maybe he was getting a late note.
Asten, too, glanced around. “Dr. Keene won’t be able to save you if the police are hunting you down, which they’re not.”
“How do you know?” 
Asten shook his head and rolled his eyes in tandem, looking back down at his phone. Nico’s eyes flicked between him and Bentley.
“How do you know?” He pressed.
Bentley tapped his fingertips on his desk. Asten’s eyes met his, and he rolled them with a sigh. “You’re not getting arrested, Nico.”
Bentley stayed quiet. Batman worked with the police, which meant if the police figured anything out, Batman would know it, too. And Bentley would not.
“We have to beat the superheroes and the police if we want to get the Secret Keeper first.” He said, changing the subject entirely. Asten, though, took it in his stride. He didn’t even look up when he replied:
“They probably already know a ton. I don’t know a good way to throw them off,”
They don’t know anything, Bentley nearly said, but then he realized he shouldn’t know that. So he tapped his fingers on his desk instead, breathing in deeply. “I do.”
Both Asten and Nico glanced up at him, the former narrowing his eyes slightly.
“How?” They asked in unison, glaring at each other afterwards.
“Rumors,” Bentley replied, folding his arms on his desk. “We throw them off the Secret Keeper’s trail by leading them the wrong way.”
Asten got a smirk on his face, his green eyes glimmering under the fluorescent lights. “Thats insane, and brilliant.”
“And illegal,” Nico butted in, glancing between the pair with wide, blue eyes, his expression edging on absolutely appalled. He threw a hand out to the side. “We’ll go to prison for the rest of our lives if we prank call the police.”
“If we don’t, they’ll get to her first,” Asten muttered.
Nico stared at him like he’d just kicked a puppy. “This is their job, not ours! Let them get to her first!”
“No!” Bentley and Asten whisper-yelled in tandem. For a quiet moment, all three boys just looked at one another — Nico, terrified, Asten, determined, and Bentley, desperate.
This was his one chance to prove he belonged in Wayne Manor. His onechance to prove to Damian that he wasn’t just there thanks to pity, that he could bring something to the table all by himself like everyone else had. That he deserved to be loved by them. That he deserved to be loved at all.
“Why? Why can’t you just run when somethings scary? You always have to go after it and get yourself in trouble and now you’re dragging him into it!” Nico muttered, urgently but soft. It was directed at Asten, and he flicked a hand toward Bentley, who was being, quote-on-quote, dragged into it.
“I’m not!” Bentley argued, crossing his arms lightly. “I have my own reason to do this.” Don’t undermine me fighting for my family was more of what he meant, but of course, he couldn’t say that.
“Is it because you’re insane? Because right now, that’s exactly what both of you are,” Nico shot back, crossing his arms and mirroring Bentley’s position. “You’re not police, you’re not superheroes, you’re kids. Kids that’re going to end up getting in trouble or hurt or killed.”
“No one said you have to do it with us,” Asten said simply, crossing his arms, too, so that they were all three in the same position. “It’s fine if you’re too scared.”
“I’m… I’m not!” Nico spluttered again, throwing his hands out and then reeling them back in. “I just… why… why do this when we already have police and superheroes? It makes no sense.”
That grim storm was swirling in the back of Asten’s eyes again. “Revenge.”
Nico huffed. “Revenge isn’t always the answer, y’know. Fighting someone after they fight you is just going to get you more fought.”
Asten placed his hands on the desk with a thwack, rising from his chair and grabbing his bag. “Not if I kill them.”
And then he walked off.
“Where are you going?” Nico called over his shoulder as Asten moved toward the door.
“It’s been ten minutes and Dr. Keene isn’t here. We can legally leave,” Was his response, before he disappeared into the hall.
“That’s a myth,” Nico’s voice floated out the door behind him.
Bentley and Nico sat in silence. He felt kind of bad — Nico was already dealing with a truth bomb being dropped on his head, and now, he was being peer pressured into doing something that scared him.
“Are you really going to lie to the police? Just to try and fight a supervillain that can kill you?” Nico questioned, turning and glancing over at Bentley with his big, puppy-like eyes. 
Bentley breathed in and out. He was doing it for his family. For himself.
“It’s really okay if you don’t want to help,” He said reassuringly, genuinely, his brown eyes meeting Nico’s blue ones. “But yes. I want to.”
Nico sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair and resting his forehead on his desk. “I swear, one day, Asten’s going to get me killed.”
Bentley said nothing. Doubts swirled around in his head, things like was it really worth it? Was the risk worth belonging?
It always came back to a yes.
“But I suppose… if you two are going to be running around doing illegal things… you’ll need someone to keep you from dying. And I seem to be the only one bothered to care about that part,” Nico sighed, sitting up again.
Bentley nodded slightly. 
“Asten, he’s all reckless-bad-kid with zero self preservation, and he’s been that way since I met him. Heck, the first time I saw him was because he broke into my house,” Nico explained, flicking his hand, and Bentley blinked. That was not how he expected their best-friend story to begin. “He’s going to get hurt or arrested or killed one day. For real. And I’m afraid we’re all going to go down with him.”
Bentley kept tapping his fingertips on his desk. “Better than him going down alone.”
Nico said nothing to that, staring out the window at the police cruisers in the parking lot.
And then Asten ran back in.
Like, actually ran, slamming himself in his desk with a wham, not even wasting time putting his bag down before he whispered: “You guys.” With a look so urgent on his face Bentley sat up a little straighter.
“What?!” Nico questioned, glancing behind him as though there would be a cop waiting.
“Dr. Keene’s getting interrogated by the police,” He whispered. Bentley exhaled sharply. “They’re in an empty classroom two doors down — I saw them.”
Bentley and Nico shared a knowing glance, and Asten’s phone dinged. They watched as he pulled it out and stared at the screen like there was a dead body on it.
“What is it?” Nico pushed. Asten dropped his phone down on the desk so they could see it.
In the text thread with Tyler Todryk, Asten’s last message was: who was she tutoring?
Nico squeaked when he read Tyler’s response, and Bentley took a deep breath, eyes flicking up to Asten, who was staring at them blankly.
She wasn’t tutoring anyone, she was being tutored by Dr. Keene. At the Areopagus.
dedicated to @sassenashsworld 💚
tag list! (If you want me to remove or add you, ask in comments!)
@fleur-alise @sarcopterygiian @cademygod
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bradshawssugarbaby · 11 months ago
Note
— put my name at the top of your list with August walker pls ❤️
anything for my favourite little mustache sporting criminal (i can fix him) ❤
warnings: mentions of alcohol, August being a manwhore, mentions of hookups
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"I'm not talking to him."
"Why? He's hot, he seems like he'd be down for one night of fun."
"Oh no, I'm not falling into that trap."
You shook your head as you sipped your cocktail, the fruity beverage coating your lip as you took a drink. You sighed at your friend's relentless efforts to help you move on from your ex. You knew she meant well, but, you just weren't looking to be disappointed again. However, the tall, dark and handsome stranger that caught your eye at the bar, nursing a whiskey on the rocks could be just the right kind of disappointment for you.
He raised the highball glass to his lips, taking a sip of the amber liquid as it sloshed around the ice cubes in his glass. He emptied its contents and set the glass down on the bar before raising his hand, gesturing to the bartender to order another one. You noticed his piercing blue stare as his eyes drifted across the room. His smart dress shirt and dark-washed jeans were tight and fitted just right, hugging the curves of his biceps tightly, the denim pants pulled taut against his ass, threatening to split wide open if he were to do any sudden, exaggerated leg movements.
"If you don't go talk to him, I might," your friend urged, grinning as she pressed her straw to her lips, locking her gaze on the handsome stranger as she seductively sipped her drink, trying to get a reaction out of him.
The stranger gave a hint of a smirk before turning away to look elsewhere. Admittedly, even from where you stood, you could tell he was at least a decade older than you. At nearly 30, you weren't really put off by the idea of dating someone older - it intrigued you, actually, but part of you still had a sense of taboo to it, dating someone who was at least 40 seemed forbidden in a way, and yet, the more you thought about it, half-heartedly listening to your friend ramble on about how attractive the man was, the more you wanted it. You finished the remnants of your drink, setting the glass down on the table. You took a deep breath and strutted up to the bar, nodding your head confidently as you slid your way in alongside him at the bartop.
He turned to face you, raising an eyebrow in curiosity as he watched you lean up against the counter. A devilish smirk appeared on his lips, his blue eyes taking in every inch of you, his tongue flicking out ever so slightly against his bottom lip. You tossed your hair back over your shoulder, pretending not to notice him as you ordered yourself another drink. When the bartender returned, you reached to pay for the drink before being cut off by the stranger's outstretched arm, his large hand making the little black credit card look like it was meant for a doll.
"It's on me," he husked, nodding his head.
"Thanks."
A polite, innocent smile crept onto your face as you looked at him. He outstretched his hand again, this time extended towards you, offering for a handshake. You slipped your hand into his, biting your lip as his hand enveloped yours. He introduced himself, and you exchanged pleasantries. You could tell August wasn't much of a flirt, but, he was a conversationalist, which was something you could work with.
"You probably have a long list of women dying to sleep with you, don't you?" You teased, smirking from behind the glass you held to your lips as you sipped your drink.
"Long and distinguished. But the list of women I'd actually sleep with is much shorter."
"Is that so?"
"It's maybe five names. Four are celebrities."
"Who's the fifth?"
"I'm looking at her."
"Well," you bit your lip seductively, raising an eyebrow in disbelief at his forward approach, "Put my name at the top of your list."
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whump-and-other-misfortunes · 11 months ago
Text
Bambi and the King Pt 2
Pt 1
cw fantasy whump, captivity, nonhuman whumpee, defiant whumpee, royalty, bargaining
Cassian was surprised to find the nymph sitting in a chair in the study where he was being kept. He waited patiently, fixing Cassian with an icy stare as he entered the room. 
“I won’t lie,” the king said, “I didn’t expect you to calm down so quickly. You seemed quite...vicious when we last spoke.” 
August held up his wrists, still locked in the gold chains, and glared at him pointedly. “Not much I can do with these on. Figured there might be a smarter way to go about this than my original plan.” 
“Which was?” 
“To kill you first, and then try to get these off,” August replied, flashing him a charming smile. “But I realized escaping your guards might prove difficult.” 
Cassian laughed, amused by how feisty the little creature was. “Smart choice, Bambi. It’d be a shame if they had to cut off that pretty head of yours.” 
August crossed one long leg over the other, looking unbothered. “Let’s cut to the chase, shall we, Cassian? What do you want from me?” 
“That’s King Cassian, if you don’t mind,” he corrected, sauntering forward until he was standing right in front of the nymph’s chair. “Or you may call me Your Majesty, or Your Highness.”
“Do you expect me to grovel, too, Cassian?” August demanded. “You are not my king. If you recall, that’s the whole reason we’re here. So, let me ask you again—what do you want from me? Why did you not simply have me imprisoned?” 
“You want to know the truth?” Cassian asked. He was slightly unnerved by the nymph’s change in demeanor—surely, he had something up his sleeve. But Cassian had never been the type to play it safe. “I’m intrigued. It's not every day a pretty thing like you is brought to my court. And I'm still quite curious as to why you were trespassing in my kingdom.” 
Those big doe eyes stared up at him, seeming to consider how much August could dare to trust him. “If I tell you...would you consider helping me?” 
“What would I get out of it?” Cassian drawled, raising an eyebrow in question. 
August stood from the chair, delicate and graceful as a fawn. “Forgive me if I’m wrong, but you seem rather bored, Your Majesty. Like you’ve been itching for something to interrupt the monotony of your royal duties. Come on a little adventure with me, and pretend like you don’t have a silver spoon waiting for you back at the palace.” 
Cassian reached up and ran his fingers through soft auburn hair, ignoring the way August tensed at his touch. “And in exchange, I give you your freedom?” 
“Exactly.” 
A grin tugged at Cassian’s lips. “You’ve got yourself a deal, Bambi.” 
taglist: @morning-star-whump, @alivenova, @tobiaslut, @leviiio, @torture-themed 
tysm everyone for the positive response to pt 1! i'm really excited to continue this
pt 3
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thegigilwriter · 8 months ago
Text
10 | “Danger & Star, Rooster & Angel” — Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw x Female Mitchell OC
Summary: 26-year-old Lucy Asa Mitchell did not know what was in store for her when she first bumped into Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw. After an instant mutual connection followed by a sweet whirlwind romance that swept both their feet, Lucy found herself being immersed deeper into Bradley’s world of the Navy, F-14s, and deployments. What she didn’t expect was finding was the answer to an elusive part of her past — the identity of her long-lost father.
Masterlist
Keywords/Warnings: Romance, Drama, serious burns
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10 | The Hard Deck 🍺
August 13, 2023
Penny
It was a bustling Friday night and Penny was wiping down the counter, when from the corner of her eye, Rooster had entered the vicinity clad in his usual Hawaiian shirt and swoon-evoking grin. She had anticipated the usual hollers that indicated his entrance, but what she didnʼt expect was the small woman whom his large hand was on the curve of her waist. She was beautiful: with smiling eyes, transcending wavy locks of mahogany hair, a glowing olive complexion, and a pleasant laugh. She had donned on a cute lacy eggshell-colored top, dark wash denim shorts, and knee high cowboy boots. Penny was amused as Rooster kissed her cheek in front of all his friends and held her hand.
She watched as this exuberant stranger light up the faces in front of her as they conversed. When Phoenix entered a few minutes later, she embraced this new girl so warmly, one would have thought they were friends for years. Penny slipped out her phone from her pocket and began texting her beau.
To: Pete ♥
Come down here, thereʼs something you might wanna see.
“So Lucy, what do you do?ˮ Javy ‘Coyoteʼ Machado asked her, learning on his billard pole. Bradley had gone to get their drinks from Penny, and Lucy was left in their company.
“Iʼm a marine biologist,ˮ she replied. “I work at Umi.ˮ
“That pretty building up the coast?ˮ Mickey ‘Fanboyʼ Garcia followed up, after a strike.
“The very one,ˮ Lucy smiled.
“Heard itʼs exclusive,ˮ Reuben ‘Paybackʼ Fitch remarked. “One of my friends applied there — real smart guy — he got denied though.ˮ
“It is competitive,ˮ Lucy hummed.
“Sheʼs being humble. Itʼs like the Top Gun of marine research centers,ˮ Nat chimed in, as she cupped Lucyʼs shoulder. “That makes Angel here one of us.ˮ
Lucy blushed.
“Thatʼs a pretty callsign,ˮ Javy smirked. “Did Rooster give you that?ˮ
“Rooster did what now?ˮ Jake had entered the conversation smoothly, meeting eyes with Lucy and throwing a wink in her direction.
“Itʼs you,ˮ Lucy narrowed her eyes.
“Well if it isnʼt my sendoff proxy,ˮ Jake smirked, popping a toothpick in his mouth. “Now what brings you here?ˮ
“You two know each other?ˮ Phoenix looked between them quizzically.
“Iʼd like to know that too actually,ˮ Bradley stepped in handing Lucy a beer and surrounding her shoulders with his arm.
“Hangman,ˮ he acknowledged. “You look... good.ˮ
“I am good Rooster, Iʼm very good, ˮ Jake chuckled, his gaze alternating between him and Lucy. “And it seems that so are you.ˮ
“Lucy here was kind enough to send me off the last time we met, Rooster thatʼs all…ˮ Jake chuckled. “Isnʼt that right darlinʼ?ˮ
“I take it you two know each other quite well?ˮ Lucy looked to Bradley.
“Hangman?ˮ Bradley took a swig of his beer. “He and I go way back.ˮ
“Lucy Mitchell, if youʼll allow me this one request, I am absolutely dying to know how you got into such good graces with his rascal that he lets you drive his Bronco,ˮ Jake drawled. “I swear, I have never seen a man so desperate for the end of a deployment like he was.ˮ
“Got lucky I guess,ˮ Lucy shrugged. “One day I was bumping into him by the docks, and here we are now.ˮ
“Such a sweet gal you have Bradshaw,ˮ Jake remarked. “Didnʼt think they were your type.ˮ
Phoenix suddenly looked alarmed, eyes darting quickly between Bradley and Jake as they stared each other down. To her surprise, Lucy was the one who spoke first.
“I like to think that Bradley doesnʼt have a ‘typeʼ per se, but with me? I think heʼs finally set some standards,ˮ Lucy said coolly. “Maybe you can use some so you wouldnʼt need a proxy sendoff next time?ˮ
Reuben spit out his beer in mid-chug, Javy guffawed, and Mickey was just rubbing it into Jake like salt into a wound. Nat was straight up laughing like a lunatic and Bradley was astounded — proud, but astounded.
“Best of luck to you Bradshaw,ˮ Jake sighed. “Sheʼs sweet and spicy.ˮ
“Have I ever told you, that youʼre amazing?ˮ Bradley whispered to the shell of her ear.
“Youʼve implied that several times, but Iʼd like to be rewarded.ˮ Lucy grinned cheekily.
“Whatever you want, baby.ˮ He replied to her quietly.
The night treaded on and Bradley and Nat eventually joined in the game of billiards. Bob, arriving a little later than expected, was later in deep conversation with Lucy about her the nature of her work and her research. Later, Jake challenged Lucy to a game of darts and he found that he had finally met his match — their competitive bout ending in a stalemate. Bradley watched Lucy among his friends as they laughed about something that Reuben had said. He smiled, just observing how well she adjusted into his kind of people. She looked right being with them. Being with her felt right.
“Your friends are really fun,ˮ she told him as he wrapped an arm around her waist. “Thank you for bringing me here.ˮ
“Iʼm just glad you enjoyed yourself Angel,ˮ Bradley replied as he kissed her forehead sweetly. “Iʼm so happy you feel comfortable around my friends. Theyʼre good people...ˮ
“I mean… Jakeʼa kind of an asshole sometimes,ˮ he quickly added as Lucy giggled. “But youʼll get used to him.ˮ
“I donʼt know... I think heʼs just lonely,ˮ Lucy smiled. “I think he just needs someone, like I am to you.ˮ
“Only God can help him with that now,ˮ Bradley chuckled.
“Hey, do you want some water?ˮ She asked him. “Youʼre hitting it pretty hard... unless you want me to drive?ˮ
“Letʼs get one thing right Angel,ˮ Bradley grunted. “Youʼre my passenger princess as long as Iʼm here, okay?ˮ
“Okay,ˮ Lucy giggled.
“And yes,ˮ he said. “I would really like some water, thank you baby.ˮ
Lucy made a beeline for the bar and behind it, she asked the pretty woman with crow lines and a magnetic stare for Bradleyʼs glass of water and another bottle of beer for her. As the bartender set off to complete her request, Lucy felt someone occupy the empty seat she stood next to.
“Never seen you around here before,ˮ the stranger uttered, taking a sip from her glass. “Got a name?ˮ
As Lucy turned to reply, she beheld this beautiful woman with long jet-black hair curled like a princess with strikingly green eyes. Her makeup was flawless, her perfume confidently exuding, and her nails well-maintained. Even in khakis, one could guess that she must have a perfect body — one that even models envy.
“Lucy,ˮ she told her, still gaping at her ethereal appearance.
“Aisling Akerman,ˮ the woman nodded, eyes grazing Lucy from head-to-toe. “But my callsignʼs Nova.ˮ
“Itʼs nice to meet you Nova,ˮ Lucy smiled and thanked the bartender wordlessly as she set down her beer and water. Aisling eyed them before her gaze settled on Lucy.
“You came here with a boyfriend, Lucy?ˮ Aisling asked her.
“Yes,ˮ she replied. “Heʼs a pilot too. Uh... callsign... Rooster?ˮ
“Good olʼ Rooster,ˮ Aisling chuckled as she swirled the contents her glass around. “You know, if you hadnʼt mentioned him by name, I would have never known...ˮ
Lucy looked at her perplexedly. It didnʼt take too long until the gears clicked and a light bulb took its shine. From afar, Nat nudged Bradley as he was about to take his turn, forcing him to avert towards the direction Nat had pointed to him. Jake followed suit, and his eyes widened slightly. Bradley was just about to approach the bar counter until Jake stopped him with a hand on his shoulder.
“What the hell, Hangman?ˮ Bradley hissed.
“Thatʼs Nova, ainʼt it?ˮ Jake clarified. “Give them a minute... I have a really good feeling about this.ˮ
“Hangman,ˮ Bradley enunciated as patiently as he could. “I am not putting Lucy in harmʼs way for your entertainment. If you donʼt step aside right now I will not hesitate to beat the living shi—“
“Oh would you just calm down?!ˮ Jake hissed back. “Have some faith in your girl, Rooster. Sheʼs got some fight in her... I can tell...ˮ
“Girl to girl Lucy, youʼre not exactly Bradleyʼs type,ˮ Aisling drank again. “Take it from me, heʼll just fuck around with you for a while until he dumps you for the next hot piece of ass. Itʼll be good for a while — I mean they call him Rooster for a reason, if you catch my drift? But youʼre a nice little girl, youʼre cute, and Iʼm sure youʼd make a nice little wife someday. But not with this one babe — this oneʼs for the bad girls... besides donʼt you think heʼs a little out of your league?ˮ
“Nova, is it?ˮ Lucy chuckled, staring out into the crowd with a smile. “You know I find it quite ingenious that aviatorsʼ callsigns are a subtle reference to their own temperaments. So I can only wonder to what yours alludes to — is it the unprecedented brightness of a newborn star or its inevitable death into the dark abscesses of cold space?ˮ
Lucy looked straight into her eyes.
“I know women like you,ˮ Lucy told her softly. “You draw men in and lavish in their attention. But when it becomes too much, you cast them out and disappear — and when you decide that you need them you simply do it all over again just because you can. So donʼt be mistaken Nova, I donʼt fear women like you, I pity you — because behind that bold red lip, that smoky eye, and all your extensions is a little girl whoʼs too afraid to know what real love could look like for herself. And between you and me, I donʼt think Iʼm that little girl.ˮ
Aisling stared right back at her, dumbstruck. She blinked her eyes rapidly and swallowed deeply before setting her drink down slowly. Their eyes met briefly before Aisling casted her gaze down in defeat and sliding off her seat and heading towards the exit.
“No fucking way...ˮ Mickey gaped at the slumped shell of Aisling ‘Novaʼ Akerman leaving the Hard deck.
“For the first time in history ladies and gentlemen,ˮ Javy announced comically. “The Nova has been contained.ˮ
“Would you look at that,ˮ Nat sighed with crossed arms. “Roosterʼs scot-free.ˮ
“The lucky son-of-a-bitch,ˮ Jake laughed.
Bradley was simply without words as he watched Penny come up to Lucy from behind the bar.
“That,ˮ Penny chuckled. “Is the most well-articulated comeback I have ever heard in this vicinity. Whatʼs your name, kid?ˮ
“Lucy,ˮ she told the bartender.
“Iʼm Penny,ˮ she replied. Just then, Lucy got a glance of the sign that hung over the bar that had said: ‘Disrespect a lady, the navy, or put your cellphone on my bar you buy a round.ʼ
“Looks like a roundʼs on me, huh?ˮ Lucy said to her. “I seem to have violated two out of three of your terms.ˮ
“Donʼt worry about it,ˮ Penny dismissed. “That one had a long time coming, trust me. And donʼt you dare start feeling bad about it now...ˮ
“Itʼs the default setting I guess,ˮ she shrugged.
“Well un-default it,ˮ Penny said to her. “You can be nice and a badass at the same time. Just own it.ˮ
Lucy smiled.
“And about the things she said back there,ˮ Penny began to say. “Roosterʼs a good guy, and believe it or not... Iʼve never seen him introduce a girl to his friends.ˮ
“I know,ˮ she nodded. “Thank you. I just... I harbor a very... intense disdain towards people who use other people for their own gain, you know?ˮ
“You have just done me the biggest favor,ˮ Penny shook her head, chuckling.
“Whatʼs that? Surely there are worser guests than Nova?ˮ
“No,ˮ Penny sighed. “But as his godmother of sorts youʼve put my mind at ease.ˮ
Lucy looked to Bradley from across the bar and he smiled upon meeting her gaze.
“Go to him,ˮ she gestured with her chin. “Your tabʼs on me tonight, Lucy. Welcome to the Hard Deck.ˮ
Lucy thanked Penny before heading over towards Bradley and the others with his water and her bottle of beer. Bradley secured an arm around her once more, kissing the top of her head.
“Hey Lucy,ˮ Mickey called out. “My ex Aubrey lives just a couple of blocks down the street. You mind talking to her for me?ˮ
A round of laughs resounded.
“Jesus Luce,ˮ Nat remarked. “What the hell did you say to her? Iʼve never seen that girl walking the walk of shame, much less runninʼ out of here with her tail between her legs!ˮ
“I told you Rooster,ˮ Jake mused. “You could learn a thing or two from your girl.ˮ
“Youʼre just full of surprises tonight, arenʼt you.ˮ Bradley teased her.
“Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandusˮ Lucy whispered.
“What does that mean?” He asked her.
“Never tickle a sleeping dragon,” she giggled.
Bradley chuckled, marveling at this new side of his girlfriend— the smart-mouthed, impulsive, and fiery persona veiled beneath her angelic appearances.
“Yeah?ˮ He replied. “Well right now Iʼve got an itching to do something Iʼve been thinking of for a long time...ˮ
“So do it, Rooster.ˮ Lucy whispered impishly. Striking a chord with her seductively irresistible gaze and the mention of his callsign, Bradley led Lucy towards the piano on the other side of the Hard Deck, pulling the plug on the jukebox secretly along the way. He sat down, fiddling with the piano keys before pulling her towards a seat on his lap. Nat, Javy, Reuben, Mickey, Bob, and even Jake followed a few moments later as a crowd began to gather around them— knowing exactly what was about to go down.
“You shake my nerves and you rattle my brain Too much love drives a man insane
You broke my will
But what a thrill
Goodness gracious, great balls of fire!“
“I laughed at love 'coz I thought it was funny
You came along and you moved me, honey I've changed my mind
This love is fine
Goodness gracious, great balls of fire!ˮ
“Kiss me, babbbyy!ˮ
Lucy placed a quick kiss on Bradleyʼs cheek and he shivered animatedly as she half-laughed and half-sang along.
“Mmmmh, it feels good!
Hold me, baby —
Well, I'm off to love you like a lover should.ˮ
Bradley, not missing a beat nor key, met his loverʼs eyes as they passionately sung together, with their heads banging and their eyes smiling to the heavens.
“Oh! You're fine, so kind
Got to tell this world that you're mine, mine, mine, mine!
I chew my nails and then I twiddle my thumbs
I'm real nervous, but it sure is fun
Come on, baby
You drive me crazy
Goodness gracious, great balls of fire!ˮ
As Bradley played the solo with practiced perfection and with Lucy as his muse, a new straggler stumbled into the bar still donned in his flight suit with unruly hair and basked in sweat. Even so, Penny had come right around the bar and gave him a kiss on the cheek and treaded her fingers through his locks.
“Hey lover,ˮ he smiled at her.
“Mav,ˮ Penny sighed. “You operate what is arguably the fastest thing on the planet, when do you think youʼll ever be on time?ˮ
“But weʼve got all this time babe,ˮ Pete grinned boyishly, setting his hands on her waist. “Whatʼs a few minutes here on the ground?ˮ
“Alright, alright.ˮ Penny conceded as they walked behind the counter and offered him a bottle after unsealing the cap.
“If my memory serves me right, there was something you wanted to show me?ˮ Pete whispered. Penny gestured towards Bradley and the roaring crowd. It took a while, but what Pete eventually saw made his eyes widen slightly and a smile tighten his lips.
“Is that... a girl on Roosterʼs lap?ˮ
Penny nodded enthusiastically.
“Has he... ever done that before?ˮ Pete asked her once more.
“No,ˮ Penny shook her head. “I think heʼs quite serious about this one. Sheʼs a nice kid. And oh! You know Nova, right?ˮ
“Come on babe,ˮ Pete looked at her. “I donʼt forget everything...ˮ
“I literally found your toothbrush in your coffee mug this morning, but thatʼs besides the point,ˮ Penny wrinkled her nose. “Lucy here sent her out the door crying. Crying, babe.ˮ
“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?ˮ
“Iʼm telling you Pete, this girl — sheʼs a keeper...ˮ
Pete and Penny watched as Bradley concluded ‘Great Balls of Fireʼ with an astounding round of applause and hearty cheers just like he did every time. Except at the end of, he had a girl on his lap to kiss. As the crowd dissipated from its high and returned to its simmering presence, Pete and Penny surged forward towards the couple and met them by the piano bench. Lucy was still snug on Bradleyʼs thigh when he looked over his shoulder to meet someone.
“Hey, Mav!ˮ She heard Bradley say.
“Rooster!ˮ A man had replied. Bradley led Lucy unto her feet as they stood to face another stranger of the night. Lucy straightened her blouse and when she had finally turned to introduce herself... she stopped— a blank expression eclipsing her visage.
His hazel eyes.
The shape of his smile.
The broadness of his shoulders. Even the way he stood.
It can’t be… Ford?
On the other side of the conversation, Penny was dumbfounded as she tugged at Peteʼs flight suit — shaking him awake from some sort of temporary possession. In Pete Mitchellʼs eyes there was something so utterly fond and familiar about the girl in front of him. He suddenly felt the humidity on his back, whiffed a sea breeze, and heard the vocalizations of a song far into his memory. It had been a long time since he had uttered that name, and still, it came naturally from his tongue as it did all those years ago...
“Tala?ˮ He croaked, staring at Lucy.
Bradley and Penny were visibly confused by their wordless interaction, eyes darting between Pete and Lucy as they seemed to exchange an odd conversation of sorts.
“N-No,ˮ Lucy finally replied after feeling as if she was just hit by a train. “Iʼm Lucy —“
“Iʼm sorry,ˮ Pete sighed. “You just really looked like someone I used to kn—“
“Tala? Tala Adlawan?ˮ
Pete stopped and slowly nodded at her words. Lucy paused staring at him in disbelief.
“Thatʼs my mom,ˮ she said quietly. “Do you know... her?ˮ
“From a really long time ago,ˮ Pete breathed out.
“Angel,ˮ Bradley said to her. “This is Maverick — my godfather. He was my dadʼs best friend. Mav, this is Lucy, my girlfriend — but it seems that youʼre already.... acquainted?ˮ
“Pete youʼre staring,ˮ Penny chuckled.
“Iʼm sorry,ˮ Pete laughed lightly, looking back at Lucy. “Itʼs just so uncanny. You look exactly like her...ˮ
“Who is Tala, babe?ˮ Penny asked him.
“An...old friend,ˮ Pete said. “I met her back at Atsugi back in ‘96.ˮ
Lucyʼs eyes widened slightly, a sudden itch occupying her hands.
“Well you guys should come over for dinner!ˮ Penny suggested. “Weʼd love to get to know you a little more, Lucy. Bradleyʼs never officially introduced a girl to us, you just have to come!ˮ
“I would love to,ˮ Lucy smiled. The night at the Hard Deck concluded on that note as Lucy and Penny exchanged numbers and Rooster bid farewell to a still awestruck Maverick.
Just as Lucy was headed towards the parking lot, Bradley pulled her with him to the beach. They left footprints on the sand as they walked beneath the light of the moon and the distant outdoor lamps of the Hard Deck. They settled in a peaceful spot on the sand, not too near or far from the water and overlooking the horizon. Lucy was caged between his thighs and embraced in his arms. He kissed her cheek.
“Youʼre a little quiet,ˮ Bradley remarked. “Are you okay?ˮ
“Y-Yeah,ˮ Lucy smiled at him reassuringly as she grazed his cheek. “Iʼm more than okay Bradley, thank you.ˮ
“Mav seemed to have caught you by surprise back there,ˮ Bradley chuckled.
“You have no idea,ˮ Lucy sighed.
It was all too uncanny.
Could it really just be a coincidence?
A beat.
“Tala,ˮ Bradley repeated. “Your mom has a pretty name. Does it mean something?ˮ
“Tala is the name of a goddess in Filipino mythology,ˮ Lucy recalled. “She governs the stars.ˮ
“Huh,ˮ he mused. “Your mom is named after a star goddess and yours happens to mean ‘light.ʼ So, the star goddess and her light. One canʼt exist without the other — very poetic.ˮ
“Iʼve never seen it that way,ˮ she replied. “Iʼve always seen it from a perspective that... I can never... possibly measure up to a goddess — the one who creates the light.ˮ
“Hey, look at me.ˮ She met his kind, honeyed eyes and beheld his seriously handsome face with soft curls.
“On our first date, you told me that you were a poet,ˮ Bradley said. “But Angel, you have no idea how much of a star you are.ˮ
Lucy swallowed, tears beginning to balance on the line of her eyes.
“Donʼt you see how much gravity over people you have? How bright and beautiful you are? Iʼm the poet now Angel, and you are the sun.ˮ
“Bradley,ˮ Lucy whispered as he pressed his lips against hers. She loved how solid he was beneath her fingers — she could feel the strength reserved in his muscles and the warmth beneath his skin. She loved his coarse locks, the indents of his scars, and even the smell of his sweat. If she could be physically absorbed into this man, she would. They broke apart for air, lips numb and eyes glistening.
“This whole night...ˮ Lucy laughed. “Is just so... crazy...ˮ
“Crazy good?ˮ Bradley chuckled as he held her face in his big hands.
“Crazy good,ˮ she repeated.
“Itʼs a bit crazy too you know,ˮ he says. “That Mav happens to know your mom.ˮ
“Maverick is his call sign, right? Whatʼs his real name?ˮ
“Pete Mitchell.ˮ
Lucy was in her pajamas and her hair was wrapped in a towel as she dug a weathered, old box from her closet and set it by the floor of her bed. She swept the dust on the lid with a damp towel and opened the container. From it, she retrieved an old leather jacket, a couple of band shirts, some polaroids, a walkman, and some keys. Lucy jingled them fondly, before tucking it away expertly in her palm. She also fished some old journals and a bunch of old music compositions. At the very bottom of the box she, found a red biscuit tin with Chinese labeling. After popping it open with a bread knife because of all the rust that had accumulated in its rim, Lucy flipped through some old letters that she had read some years ago and finally saw what she had been looking for. It was a pair of aviators and on its side, a subtle inscription of the initials P.M.
She skimmed through the letters once more.
Dear Danger,
Love, Star
I miss you.
I love you.
Iʼm pregnant.
RETURN SENDER
Dear Star,
Love, Danger
...meet again.
new mission...
In love with you.
Miss you like crazy.
And just when Lucyʼs head was spinning from all these revelations, a patch fell on her lap — slipping after she had untucked a fold from another old letter. She had not seen it the last time she opened the tin box. It was as if it chose to reveal itself only in this moment. It was navy blue-colored rectangle, embroidered with bright red thread. It depicted wings with an anchor, and beneath it, something had been inscribed:
PETE MITCHELL
“MAVERICKˮ
Well— cat’s out of the bag 👀 Looks like we have a series of interesting events ahead of us, dear readers. The story is just beginning! See you at 11 | Dinner at Penny’s!
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