#because they finished the final boss and immediately went “oh what's that blue message on the floor” and got the wrong ending

[bramblebrine-art]

rook, mock shadowbound of the black moon.

he postures his own utter helplessness as reserved neutrality, but is unable to fool even himself.

[baroquebucky]

symphony

in which bucky realizes the light you’ve brought into his life

word count: 2.3k of pure fluff

masterlist

a/n: hi bffs !! hope u all enjoy this fluff as reparations for the amount of angst I’ve been writing <333 let me know what you guys think !! inspired by this song :] sorry for any typos !!

Life felt monotonous for bucky. Everyday he would wake up, go for a walk, sometimes go out for dinner with his neighbor other times he would just stay in. Then he would go to therapy, suffer there for a while before coming back and doing nothing. Throughout the week he would go to the compound or the gym and train to get his mind off things.

“I just feel like I’m stuck in a loop and i can’t get out of it, it’s like a boring song that everyone’s playing on repreat” bucky grumbled, sam nodded, listening to bucky as he vented.

“i think you need something new in your life, something to spice it up” Sam spoke gently, thinking for a bit before a smile appeared on his face, “i know just the thing!” He cheered.

“how is coffee gonna help me” bucky huffed, sam just rolled his eyes, dragging the super soldier along to his favorite coffee shop.

“no trust me, this coffee is amazing, they have all these other drinks too and the person who always takes my order is amazing” Sam cheered, a smile on his face as he rounded the corner and saw you through the glass.

“that’s them!” He smiled, turning to look at bucky, he stopped in his tracks.

“you aren’t trying to set me up on a date right now, right?” Bucky looked at Sam wide eyed and he rolled his eyes, shaking his head and grabbing Buckys wrist.

“if this was a date i would’ve made you dress better” Sam shot back, bucky frowned looking down at his clothes. What was so wrong with his clothes?

“this is my favorite jacket” bucky pouted and Sam rolled his eyes, as the door opened a small chime went off.

“good evening sam!” You called out, a bright smile on your face as you finished taking someone’s order. Sam and Bucky stood in line, waiting only a couple minutes before you helped them.

“your usual?” you beamed and Sam smiled, you wrote it down quickly, turning to bucky with a smile, “what can i get for you?” Bucky blushed a bit, avoiding eye contact with you and glancing at the menu.

“i- well uh i don’t know actually” bucky hesitated, sam cringed at his friend, elbowing him slightly.

“what do you recommend?” he asked quickly, and you turned to look down at the menu as if you didn’t have it memorized.

“hmm, well i really the special we have right now, if you’re not into sweet then i recommend that one” you pointed out with your pen a smile still on your face.

“whatever your favorite is” He spoke, heart beating in his chest as the words tumbled out. You felt your face heat up at his words, nodding quickly. Bucky paid and went to go sit next to Sam, ears red and face hot.

Sam simply chuckled at him, waiting patiently for you to call out their order numbers. Bucky kept glancing up, stealing glances at you and marveling at how pretty you were. The way you moved so easily and kept a smile on your face anytime someone looked your way.

Buckys heart sunk a bit. He wished he could be like that, all smiles and rainbows, like the way he used to be. He thought about how brooding he was and the way sam always commented on the way he stared too much. He tore his eyes away from you and focused on the decoration in the cafe.

“57 and 58!” You called out, setting the drinks on the counter looking out for Sam and bucky, smiling when you saw the two men getting up and walking towards you.

“thank you y/n!” Sam smiled and you nodded, eyes moving to bucky, he gave you a tight lipped smile before walking out. “that wasn’t so bad was it” Sam smirked and bucky rolled his eyes, taking a sip of his drink.

“oh wow this is really good” bucky mumbled, drinking some more and furrowing his brows, sam smiled at him, nodding in agreement.

The two men returned a couple times every week, you smiling at them and saying hello, giving bucky a new drink to try every time he came. The two of you stealing glances anytime you looked over while making the drink, heart rate spiking when your eyes met.

Bucky was giddy to see you, wondering what you would give him today. Sam frowned when your coworker greeted them instead of you.

“wheres y/n?” Sam asked, you coworker frowned at the mention of you before replying.

“oh they quit, our boss kept giving them shit” she sighed, “between you and i, they only stayed this long because you guys kept coming back” she smiled, her eyes moving to bucky, “specially you.”

As the two men were leaving your coworker called out for them, handing them a piece of paper. “she told me to give you guys this, have a good day!”

They looked at each other before unrolling the paper, you handwriting on it along with your phone number.

“text me when you want bird boy” Sam read, laughing a little, he turned to bucky, craning his neck to read his, “what’s your say” Bucky had a bashful smile on his face.

“oh just to text them whenever” bucky cleared his throat, shoving the piece of paper in his pocket.

i really hope we can hang out properly soon :) the paper read, scribbled under was a list of drinks you wanted him to try. Buckys heart fluttered at the action, the whole time he was with Sam you were the only thing he was thinking about.

When he finally got back to his apartment bucky texted you, heart racing as he sent the text.

hi it’s bucky, i got your note let me know when you’re free :-)

Your heart jumped at the message, the biggest smile on your face as you read the text over again, giggling as you replied.

hi buck!! I’m free this weekend actually :]

The two of you made plans quickly, excited for a proper date and not just stealing glances and making small talk when he ordered his drink or picked it up from the counter.

When Saturday evening came bucky was frantic, texting sam and asking what clothes he should wear, recalling the time he made fun of his clothes before he met you the first time.

You were nervous as you got ready, hands shaking slightly as you changed into some nice clothing. You checked yourself out in the mirror and smiled, fixing your hair a bit.

The doorbell rang and you jumped, heart racing as you walked to the door, opening it with a smile.

Bucky stood there with roses in his hands, a bright smile on his face. He chocked on his breath a little as he took you in, it was the first time he’d seen you out of uniform and god you were perfect.

“oh thank you!” You blushed, smiling as you took the flowers from him, “come in I’ll just put these in water” you smiled, letting him in and quickly moving to put the flowers in a vase.

Your apartment was so comforting, bucky felt like he was safe there, he felt so at peace despite his heart racing in his chest.

“ready?” You asked and bucky smiled, he could hear the way your heart raced after you not so secretly checked him out. He was wearing a dark blue t shirt and a leather jacket along with some black pants.

“so where are we going?” You questioned and bucky smiled, turning to look at you nervously before focusing on the road again.

“is the fair okay? I know there’s one in town and I’ve been wanting to go but-” he rambled and you cut him off excitedly.

“i love the fair! I’m really good at those shooting games y’know” you bragged and bucky smiled, excited to see how skilled you were. “however i will not compete against you” you added quickly, making bucky frown.

“too scared I’ll beat you doll?” Bucky smirked and your heart raced at the nickname, your comeback dying on your lips. Bucky smiled as you sat there with your mouth open, looking away quickly before changing the subject.

As the two of you arrived bucky immediately knew he made the right choice, the way you had the widest smile on your face as you pointed everything out to him, eyes wide as you saw the giant dinosaur plush.

“you have a metal arm dont you?” You whispered and bucky smiled, nodding his head. “would it be, i don’t know, immoral for you to use it to get that dinosaur plush?” You blushed, giggling as bucky gasped at you.

“i cant believe you!” He teased and you frowned, bucky smiled at you, taking your hand in his and walking towards the game. He handed the man the tickets to play and held the heavy ball in his hands.

“you just have to knock all three cups over” the man spoke and bucky nodded, placing the ball in his right hand before throwing it, easily knocking the cups down.

“yay!” You cheered, running next to bucky and hugging him, the man handed you the giant plush and you smiled, staring at bucky with starry eyes.

“didn’t even use your metal arms sergeant” you teased and Buckys heart lurched at the titles. His heart was in frenzy as you smirked up at him.

“I’m a super soldier doll” he smiled at your face turned into one of realization, nodding your head.

“right, i forgot about that” you mumbled, struggling to keep the dinosaur plush from touching the ground, bucky smiled at you before he took it from your hands, easily tucking it under his arm.

“thanks” you blushed and bucky nodded, a smile on his face as he replied.

“cant have my best girl struggling on our first date can we” you blushed at his words, looking at him with a bright smile.

“first? as in more to come?” You questioned, a smile on your face as you stopped in your tracks, the lights from some ride illuminating your face in reds and pinks. Bucky nodded, suddenly his confidence was sizzling away.

“I mean unless you don’t want to that’s fine too i just- i mean” bucky rambled and you watched him struggle for a bit, biting your bottom lip before stopping him.

“I’d love to go on more dates” you spoke up, bucky smiled at you, letting out a small breath, “now let’s go to the Ferris wheel!” You easily slipping your hand in his.

Everything felt so easy with bucky, it never felt forced. The two of you constantly texting and calling when you weren’t together and grabbing dinner and going on dates more and more often. It was only a matter of time before bucky asked you out, everything falling into place for the two of you.

The two of you were in bed, you were cuddled up into his side as you watched a documentary on some lions. Bucky ran his fingers through your hair and you sighed, relaxing into his touch. It had been almost two years since the two of you went on your first date, but to bucky it felt like yesterday.

“you know i love you, right doll” he spoke suddenly and you looked at him, confused before nodding.

“i love you too loverboy” you replied, sitting up and kissing his cheek.

“don’t know where I’d be without you” he spoke softly, his blue eyes meeting yours, he smiled softly. “I used to think i was broken and no one would want me” he mumbled and you frowned, letting him continue.

“the only reason sam took me to that cafe was because i was stuck in this loop and i was going crazy” he laughed softly, “i thought i was never gonna get out of this funk but then” he stopped.

You looked at him, confused as he smiled at you, peppering kissing all over your face before caressing your cheek and kissing your forehead.

“then what?” You whispered, a smile on your face when you realized what he was going to say.

“then you came along” he replied, smiling at the way you wiggled to face him.

“you took me and you made me into a better person, you made my life so much better and now it’s like there’s a symphony playing anytime in with you” he spoke, a smile on his face when you reached your hand out and ran your fingers through his hair. You stopped your hand at the nape of his neck, pushing him towards you and crashing your lips onto his.

It was sloppy and passionate, but it was sweet. The two of you smiling into the kiss before giving him one last peck and pulling away.

“oh lovebug, that songs always been inside you, just needed a little tuning to get it right” you replied, taking him into your arms as he laid down on your chest.

For once, bucky was grateful sam had forced him to go out, he was grateful that you were working that day and you recommend him a drink. He was grateful that you went to the fair with him and you liked him enough to go on another date.

Bucky no longer wished to be like you, he didn’t long for the person he was in the 40s. He didn’t wish he could change into someone else anymore.

He didn’t because he was more himself than he had ever been. He was happy and he was at peace, he was who he had always wanted to become. He didn’t feel like he was stuck in the shadows in a constant loop.

Bucky smiled as you placed a gentle kiss on top of his head, mumbling a soft ‘i love you.’

Bucky felt happy, he felt at home and he felt in love. He was finally at peace with his life now that you were in it. You helped him become who he was, pushed him to be better and to change into who he wanted to be.

[bluewhale52]

Little Black Book: Your Kindred Spirit

Summary: There are a few names in your Little Black Book, and these seven hold a special place in your heart. Now that you are closing that chapter in your life, you reminisce the time and experience you have had with your seven favourite men, especially with Jeon Jungkook, your kindred spirit.

Pairing: Jeon Jungkook x Reader

Rating: Explicit. NO MINORS ALLOWED.

Genre: nonidol!au, strangers to lovers, friends with benefits, a bit of angst

WC: 6.1k (my largest so far! 😱)

Warning: talk about loneliness, oral sex by the pool, fingering, penetrative sex, protected sex, multiple orgasm, edging, sex on a chair, Herman Miller chair kink because Hybe got them chairs for their employees while I’m sitting on one from Ikea

A/N : trying some character development this time round, especially since I’m running out of ideas of ways OC can have hot sexy times with her men (3 more to go!). I like being able to explore OC’s backstory and personality more here, and I hope you as readers feel a bit more intimate too with the characters in this LBB universe. As always, likes, reblogs and comments are much appreciated. Enjoy 💜

Series Masterlist: Little Black Book

You got off the plane, still annoyed. Five hours earlier, you had arrived in your office in Seoul, only to be ceremoniously sent off  to Jeju with the order of getting Jeon Jungkook to sign a bunch of papers as well as not returning to Seoul until Monday. You protested, only to have Seokjin, your new unbearable boss, told you that you had not taken any days off in two years and he’d be damned if those days were going to be borne by the firm again.

“It’s all paid for. Flights and hotel. Now go, I don’t want to see your face for the rest of the week.” Seokjin ordered as he pushed you into the elevator. ” But call me on Saturday, hmm?” He added in a whisper. You rolled your eyes as the doors closed.

Five hours later, you arrived in Jeju, and at the first intake of fresh air, you inwardly thanked Seokjin for forcing you to go on a vacation. Maybe, after you were all done with the Jeon Jungkook business, you’d go shopping and get yourself a new lingerie set for your Saturday night fun with Seokjin, as a thank you. MAYBE.

As you entered the arrival hall, you were surprised to find a man in full chauffeur uniform holding up your name. You bowed to him, and he swiftly took your luggage.

“Mr Jeon sent me to pick you up.” He simply stated. “He’s waiting for you at his suite.” You nodded and followed him.

The suite turned out to be a mega luxurious penthouse by the beach. Spacious, modern, floor to ceiling windows with that breathtaking view, and…. an infinity pool on the balcony? You had to stop yourself from gawking too much.

You were asked to wait by the living room as the driver went to the pool and patiently waited for Jungkook to finish his lap before informing him of your arrival. The driver then made his way back to you, to inform you that he would check you in at the hotel. He then bowed and quietly left. You tilted your head and wondered how he could even know which hotel your firm had booked for you, but you let it go- the rich definitely had their own ways.

You turned to find Jungkook getting out of the water, and you swallowed, hard. The many times you had met him, he had always worn something baggy. Never in a hundred years you would have thought that THAT body was hidden underneath all those loose clothing. Thick shoulders, even thicker pecs, and washboard abs. Then those thighs- dear God- sculpted and oh so visible with his wet boardshorts splattered tightly on his skin.

You cleared your throat, then bowed to him. Get a grip, he’s your client, you reminded yourself. “Good afternoon, Jungkook-ssi.”

He bowed back in return. “Hi __________ -ssi.” He sounded shy. “Hope your flight was good?”

“Smooth flight.” As smooth as that skin across your chest. “I’m here for you to sign the papers?”

You sat yourself down by the coffee table and took out a folder. “I’m sure Seokjin-ssi has told you about the settlement? We just need you to sign here, here and here and I’ll send them back to the office to get everything going.”

You went into your work-mode immediately. It was safe, and you knew what you were doing. You in work-mode would not be thirsting over your own client. Jungkook lingered by the door however, water still dripping from his gorgeous body.

“Um, do you need me to get you a towel?” You asked gingerly. Jungkook broke into a small smile and shook his head.

“Sorry, I was distracted.” He went off to grab a towel himself, and you breathed a sigh of relief when he came back, his upper body covered by the terry cloth. “Where do I sign?”

You directed Jungkook, explaining along the way the process of the settlement, what he should expect and what your firm would continue doing on his behalf.

“As agreed, we will not disclose the settlement amount to the media or the public, but this large sum should set off some gossip in the industry, so you’d be rest assured anyone would think twice before mooching off your AI software again.” You grabbed the corner of Jungkook’s towel and dabbed at some dollops of water on the coffee table, worried they could stain the legal documents.

“Ah, sorry, I guess my hair is still wet.” Jungkook said sheepishly. You plastered a professional smile, and resisted tucking his curly hair behind his ear.

“OK, all done, just give me a minute to scan and email these back to the office.”

You moved to scan the documents with your phone and promptly sent them to Seokjin. Jungkook left your side and you heard a splash. Jungkook was back in the pool, but he stayed by the side, head resting on his folded hands, watching you.

You gave him another forced smile. “I’m just waiting for Seokjin-ssi to confirm everything is good. Then I’ll be going.”

“Eager to start your vacation?”  He pushed his hair back off his forehead, and laughed at your reaction. “Seokjin told me you would stay here for a few days before going back to Seoul.”

“Ah yes, I was forced to go on holiday.”

“Good thing I asked for you to come here then.” You saw the corner of his mouth lifted into what you thought was a very sexy smirk.

“You asked for me?” Your phone vibrated indicating an incoming email, tearing your gaze from Jungkook and denying him the chance to answer. The email was from Seokjin, who simply replied with a thumbs up emoji. “Ah, I’ve got confirmation all is good. So I’ll get going now then.”

“Stay.”

You froze. “Excuse me?”

Jungkook still had his eyes firmly on you. The shyness you saw earlier was all gone. “Your holiday has officially started. Have a swim with me.”

You laughed out loud at his request. “I don’t have my swimsuit with me, and your driver has taken my suitcase to the hotel.”

“So?” Jungkook smirked.

“Jungkook-ssi, I’m not going to swim with you in my underwear.” You know you needed to leave, but the temptation was getting too large to ignore.

“Just Jungkook, please.” He licked his lips. “And, you don’t need any attire to swim here. It’s very private.”

“Jungkook-ssi, are you trying to see me naked?”

“And if I am?”

You looked at your phone again. No follow up emails, no calls, no messages. Work had stopped for you. However, Jungkook was your client, a very valuable one at that. This couldn’t be good. But as he said, your vacation had started. Well, you only live once, you told yourself.

“If I’m swimming naked, so are you. It’s only fair.”

Jungkook shuffled in the water. Then his board shorts landed with a loud splat at the poolside. “It’s only fair.”

An hour or so later, you sighed as you spotted tints of orange streaking across the sky. You had to give it to Jungkook for this place- from where you were sitting at the pool, you got a mesmerising view of the sun setting, blood orange angry against the cool blue of the horizon. What a sight.

You sighed again, as Jungkook’s tongue glided against your folds. HIs tongue felt so smooth against your throbbing sex, and a flick of his tongue released a deep moan from you. You threw your head back, your body leaning back supported by your elbows, and you spread your legs even wider for him.

The flicking of his tongue went faster, no doubt encouraged by your moans and the start of your thighs shaking. You gasped for air as your climax was nearing. One of your hands shot out and grabbed Jungkook by his hair, pressing his head firmer against your sex as you rode his mouth. His big doe eyes opened up and met yours immediately, and you cursed- how could anyone who looked so innocent could be so sinful?

You ground your core harder against his mouth, and his tongue went to overdrive, determined to have you come before the sun set. He opened his mouth and stuck his tongue out, the pink tip flicking your nub determinedly, his eyes never leaving yours. Your tightened core finally snapped, and screaming his name, you came, just as the sun set at Jeju Island. What a sight.

~~~

You raised an eyebrow when Jungkook ordered another bowl of ramen. It had been a couple of months since your Jeju fling, and you were surprised when Jungkook suddenly turned up at your office, inviting you out to dinner. Your first instinct was to reject him- you did not like fraternising with clients- but his big doe eyes did you in.

“So,” you cleared your throat, “how long have you been back in Seoul?”

Jungkook slurped his noodles. “A couple of days.”

“Oh, are you here for work?”

He shook his head. “I was bored in Jeju.”

“Well, I hope you’ll get to have some fun here.”

He nodded again, eyes still downcast, focused on his bowl. You let silence sit between you; he seemed to still be very hungry, and you did not want to interrupt him eating. He stole glances at you timidly, as if he had something to say but did not have the bravery to say it out loud.

It amazed you how Jungkook could have such a duality. The person in front of you was painfully shy, nothing like the flirtatious sex god that left you trembling throughout your vacation in Jeju. You watched him eat, and his demeanour suddenly threw you back to your university days, when you isolated and buried yourself in books, sacrificing social life for those top graduating spots in law school. You recognised loneliness, having gone through it yourself. Your heart softened even further for Jungkook. When he finally finished his meal, he wiped his mouth and smiled apologetically at you.

“You must be busy,” he said, mistaking your quietness for impatience, “I’m sorry I disturbed you and forced you to accompany me here.”

You shook your head. “I should be thanking you for getting me out of the office. I need to stop being such a workaholic. Probably because I don’t have much of a social life, I just bury myself in work.” You offered an opening to Jungkook to open up.

“I guess we’re in the same boat.” He admitted sheepishly. “It’s not that I don’t have friends, I just… have some trust issue.”

“I would be too if I were in your shoes.” You knew enough of his history from handling his settlement case. He made it big at such a young age and the media elevated him to be the next big tech superstar, which only sent sharks sniffing around him. The case you had helped Seokjin handle, the one that sent you to Jeju to conclude it, involved names of people Jungkook thought he could trust.

“What do you do for fun?” He asked.

“Uh well… I don’t have many hobbies, really.” You were a bit thrown aback by his question, “Some weekends I just pick a random line on the subway and ride it to the end and back. If I see something interesting, I stop and check it out. It’s a habit from law school, it helps me de-stress.”

“That sounds really interesting. Do you do that by yourself? Or with friends?”

“Most of the time I go by myself. I like being alone. I mean, five days out of a week I have to continually talk to and interact with people. My subway time is my time for myself, I guess.”

He nodded at your answer. “I understand what you mean. I like being alone too, especially after big meetings and promotional stuff.”

You smiled at him. “Sounds like we’re pretty similar.”

“Yeah,” he nodded, “do you play games?”

“Computer games? Not really, no.” You laughed as Jungkook scrunched his nose lightly. “Just Maple Story, I guess.”

“Do you want to go to the arcade with me? There’s one just around the block.” He blurted it out quickly, as if he had been waiting for the perfect time to ask. You cleared your throat. You were happy enough to accompany him for dinner, sometimes clients expected that, but going to the arcade? It felt very personal.

“Jungkook-ssi,” you started.

“Just Jungkook, please.” He reminded you.

You took a deep breath. “Jungkook, please don’t take this the wrong way, but I don’t think I can hang out with you, like that.”

“I’m sorry,” he said softly, “I just thought, you know, we had fun and got along well in Jeju, so…” He shrugged his shoulder and looked down at his hands under the table.

“Well, we agreed what happened in Jeju stays there. And if you want to do it again, I’m for it, but we’ll have to lay down some ground rules.”

His brows furrowed. “I don’t want sex.” He sounded insulted. “I just want… your company. Not in that way. Just, you know, spend time together. With you. Because, I just think we’ll get along well. That’s all.”

You blinked at his confession, and you raked your brain to come up with a response that would not insult him any further. However before you could think of anything, he asked, “Are you not allowed to date your client?”

“Um, is the arcade supposed to be a date?”

“It could be if you want it.”

You rubbed your neck. This was going worse than you had thought. “I’m allowed to date whoever I want. I just… don’t do dating or relationships.”

“Because you’re a workaholic?”

That went straight to your heart. “Maybe,” you answered slowly, “though I think it’s more because I’m selfish. I like my free time for myself. I like not having to compromise on anything. I like making decisions by myself without having to worry about the other person’s feelings.”

“Don’t you get lonely?”

“I do sometimes, but I like being alone so loneliness is sometimes welcome.”

“And when it’s not?” He leaned forward.

“I call some…. friends.” You blushed a little. “And we spend time together, and that’s good enough for me.”

You inhaled deeply. It was odd saying it out loud, and you felt a little twang in your chest. You were reminded of the times when you returned to your empty, dark apartment after your rendezvous with one of your ‘friends’ from your little black book. Most times you were just happy to go to sleep or do whatever else it was you did at home, but there were the rare times when you wish your living room was not so sparse or your bed so cold. You had to admit it to yourself, you did feel lonely.

“Can… can I be your friend?” Jungkook asked, his voice so soft you struggled to hear it. “I do like spending time with you, and I trust you. And we had fun. And I’m not expecting Jeju all over again, it’s just… I don’t know, I just trust you.”

Your heart ached for him. He sounded so lost and so small. Perhaps two lonely people could find some comfort in each other.

“I’d love to be your friend, Jungkook.” You answered, and he gave you a relief smile in return. “Now, I need to clarify my definition of friends, just so we’re clear from the start.”

~~~

You realised Jungkook had liked too much your definition of ‘friends’, and although you had warned him repeatedly that there would be no feelings involved and no sleep overs, you suspected he had developed a crush on you. When he was teaching you to play League of Legends, he liked you sitting on his lap. When you were cooking ramen for him, he liked to stand behind you,rubbing the hem of your top. When you were getting dressed after your session with him, he would, without fail, tell you how much he liked the particular office wear you had on, which made you think that the man very likely had a business suit kink. You regularly reminded him- and yourself- that this arrangement was strictly of no strings attached, but you had to admit, it was nice to have him do all those things to you.

You also realised that Mondays were good to spend with Jungkook. The time spent with him not only chased away your Monday rage and put you in a good mood for the rest of the week. Especially when his chiseled chest was pressed tightly against your back, and his hips snapping wildly behind you, so determined to have your moans and wails travel through your apartment walls to your neighbours’. You threw your head back against his shoulder, and his hand snaked down to rub your clit as his mouth descended on your neck.

“Come on, cum for me again, pretty girl.”

You gasped for air at his hoarse voice, and you closed your eyes tightly as he pulled your second orgasm out of you, keeping his pace fast and steady as you rode it out. You panted heavily as you came down, your back felt slick with sweat against his chest. He pulled out and let you collapse onto your bed, the pure linen sheet felt so good and cool against your heated skin.

Jungkook gingerly flipped you over so you lay on your back. Caging you with his thick thighs, he leaned down and suckled on your tits, moaning against them as your fingers weaved themselves between his silky locks. His mouth left your breasts, and he straightened himself up while grabbing your ankles up and resting your legs on his chest. You shook your head.

“Kook, give me a minute.”

He chuckled. “Did I tire you out already? I remember you having better stamina than this in Jeju.”

“I was on vacation.” You hissed between your teeth.

He grabbed his cock and pushed it in you again. You arched your back when his swollen head penetrated you. “Just enjoy it, then. I’ll do all the work.” He winked. “Two more, pretty girl.”

Damned him and his competitive streak. He had sheepishly asked you if perhaps he could make you cum four times, to break his record in Jeju of three in one night. You were too excited to agree, but you were paying the price now- your whole body felt too sensitive. You wondered if you could wake up for work the next day.

He soon bottomed out in you, and he started to slowly pump himself in your hole, allowing you to recover before he sent you falling over the cliff again. He kissed your ankle, trailing his sinful mouth down towards your calf. You moaned at the sensation, and he, sensing you were more relaxed, picked up his rhythm .

You hands shot up above you to grab the edge of your bed, holding on for dear life when he began to fuck you faster. All you could hear now was the smacking of his skin against yours, and his low guttural groans when you clenched yourself around his cock. He held onto your ankles tightly, and his eyes watched your breasts bouncing in time with the movement of his hips.

“So good, feel so good, Kook.” You breathed out.

“Yeah?” He licked his lips. He pulled out until only his head was nestled in you, and he smirked as your hips writhed, wanting his length back in you. He slammed himself back in you, making you shout in pleasure.

“You like that, pretty girl?” He repeated the movement, and you screamed his name. He went a bit faster, encouraged by the slick that continued to lubricate his cock, and the tightening of your pussy walls every time he slammed into you. He suddenly leaned down towards you, bringing your legs with him, and you moaned loudly at the new depth his cock was reaching in you.

“You OK?” He asked, when he saw your face scrunching up.

“Yeah, yeah,” you hissed, “it’s just so deep. Ah, Kook, fuck me hard, I’m close.”

Jungkook was only too happy to oblige. Pounding his cock into you almost animalistically, he sucked on your ear, knowing it was your extremely sensitive spot. Your legs were soon flailing around his shoulders, and your body jerked and shuddered as your third orgasm hit you like a truck. He continued fucking you through it, but you felt his hips stuttering and he immediately pulled himself out of you.

“Fuck, I almost came.” He panted, but his finger immediately zeroed in on your clit, rubbing little circles on it, prolonging your orgasm. You squirmed under his hand, whimpering as your sex pulsated against nothing. When over-sensitivity came, you weakly pushed his hand away.

“Water.” You requested weakly.

Jungkook kissed your tummy before getting up. “Don’t fall asleep, we still have one more.”

You grabbed a pillow and half heartedly threw it at him. He caught it easily and giggled as he made his way to your kitchen. You lay back on your bed, trying to still your trembling body. It was good to be friends with Jungkook.

~~~

Jungkook’s place in Seoul was a far cry from his opulent penthouse in Jeju. The postal code was prestigious, but the apartment was modest, and in your opinion, more representative of Jungkook. He had entrusted you with the entry code to his door, so you made your way in straight from work after a particularly hellish Monday. You found him in his office slash gaming room, and you squealed when you saw him by his desk.

“You got a Herman Miller office chair?” You slid your hands over the chair, resisting the urge to hug it. “Do you know how much I want a Herman Miller chair? I sit on my ass eight hours a day, Jungkook! This baby would cure my sore back.”

Jungkook looked at you amusingly while you oohed and aahed over the chair he was sitting on. “Do you want to sit here?”

“No, no, no!” You stopped him from getting up. “I can’t. I told myself I would only sit on a Herman Miller office hair if it was mine and only mine.” You smacked his shoulder when he started laughing. “It’s my fantasy, OK! Yeah, my fantasy is to have this in my office.” You rubbed the back of the chair lovingly.

“Why don’t you just get one?”

“Jungkook, it’s $1,000 at least. I’m not spending that kind of money.”

“Well, get your boss to get it for you.”

You guffawed. “He complained about how much we spent on coffee pods, I’m sure he’d buy me a Herman Miller chair.”

“Well,” he rubbed his chin, “I can buy it for you.”

“Jungkook, as much as I want to say yes, I’m going to say no, because one, I wouldn’t even know how to report it to HR, and two, I can’t make you spend that much money for me!”

“Well we’re friends, aren’t we? Can’t I buy a gift for my friend?” Jungkook was spinning in his chair, wiggling his eyebrows. “Let me buy it for you. Just say it’s a gift from an anonymous client?”

“You’re ridiculous.” You grabbed the arms of the chairs to stop him spinning.

“And you’re hot.” He blurted out, and immediately blushed. You felt heat rising to your cheeks too. Shy guy was slowly making way to flirty sex god.

“It’s just a basic blouse and a skirt.”

He cupped your ass. “Yeah, but this skirt really makes your ass look amazing.” He moved his hands to your chest. “And your breasts look so tempting.”

You bit your lower lip as he massaged your tits and let out a shriek when you heard fabric tearing. Sex god Jungkook arrived, and he had just ripped your blouse.

“Jungkook! That blouse cost-”

You lost your voice as Jungkook pushed the cups of your bra down roughly to gain access to your nipples. You mewled when his lips closed in on one of your perky nubs, while his fingers tugged the other.  Losing your footing, you fell forward, and his free hand wrapped around your waist, pulling you on top of him.

“I’ll buy you another one.” He released your nipples and helped you hike your skirt so you could straddle him.

“Damn it.” You said breathlessly. You felt your juices soaking your panties, and more leaked out when your sex rested atop his hardening member. “How many times are you going to make me cum tonight?”

He hummed against your breasts as his hands roamed over your stocking-covered legs. He kissed and licked your breasts, before enveloping your nipple back in his mouth. You arched your back, pressing your chest closer to him.

“Maybe just once,” he said between sucks, big doe eyes looking up to you, “but I promise it’s going to be a good one.”

Your body went rigid when his large hand cupped you, his finger sliding along the slit over your pantyhose and underwear. His mouth went back to attacking your breasts, and you could do nothing but surrender to his ministrations. Very quickly, he made you a breathless mess on his lap. He chuckled at your expression, and his hands sneaked up underneath your skirt, looking for the waistband of your pantyhose. He tugged at it harshly, and before you knew it, he had torn yet another piece of your clothing.

“Jeon Jungkook!” you chastised him. “For fu-”

“I’ll take you shopping. Just relax now.” He cut you off by pulling your panties aside so he could insert a finger in. You gasped at the intrusion, and your inner walls immediately clenched around his digit. His mouth left your breasts and he was watching you. You returned his stare, your eyes focused on his face while you enjoyed the way his finger was gliding in and out. Your eyes fluttered when he inserted a second one. You grabbed onto his shoulders, and his free hand guided you to move up a little, simply so he could pump his fingers faster and harder.

“Fuck, you’re dripping.” He pushed a third finger in and you squealed. “Look at me, pretty girl.”

You forced yourself to keep your eyes open, to look at his face. How could someone looking so sweet and innocent could be pulling out moans and screams so easily. Your pussy felt deliciously stretched and he was drawing your orgasm out quickly. Your walls were pulsating erratically around his fingers, and suddenly it felt empty, the orgasm you were chasing disappeared instantly.

“Jungkook, what the-”

He smirked as he looked at his soaked fingers. You tilted your head as your heart beats returned to normal. “Are you trying to edge me?”

He laughed when you smacked his shoulder. “Hold on.” He rolled you both to a set of drawers by his desk. He pulled out a condom, placed the packet between his teeth, then shuffled to pull his sweats down. You swallowed when his cock- hard, angry and red- sprung free. He ripped the foil to get the condom out and rolled it down his dick. Your pussy was clenching hungrily, eager to take in his member.

Jungkook’s hands returned to your skirt, bunching it up around your waist. He smiled at your ripped pantyhose, then with one hand, he tugged your panties aside while his other hand held his cock. You lowered yourself onto him, you kept sinking down on him, letting out a satisfied moan as he filled you in so fully. Your torn blouse was agape, your bra pushed down to reveal your nipples, and that was where his eyes were focused on as you started to ride him, swirling your hips as you went up and down on his cock. You rode him with all your might, eager to chase and get your orgasm before he could stop you. Your clit was rubbing against his lower abdomen, and your body was heated once again. Your pace quickened, your breaths became more shallow, and you were getting close, so close.

However, Jungkook’s hands grabbed your hips and held you above his lap, snapping you out of your near-delirium. He blew at the sweat that had broken out in the valley of your breasts.

“Not yet, pretty girl.” He cooed, and you whined in protest as he pulled out.

He directed you to turn your body around, so that your back was to his chest now, and he pushed his cock into you again. He held your body down, not allowing you to move, making your pussy cockwarming him. He rolled the chair, positioning it just in front of the set of computer monitors. All the screens were black, and you could clearly see your reflections on them. He helped you shift your legs to make you more comfortable while also keeping them spread as wide as possible.

He kissed your shoulder and your neck, while his hips started to move, slowly pumping his cock in and out of you. His strong hands were still holding you motionless, and you gripped the arms of the chair, content to surrender your body to him. His cock moved faster, and your body soon tensed again. Sensing your orgasm nearing, he slammed his cock up to bury it in you. You writhed, silently begging him to move, but he kept you still, away from your climax.

“Fuck, Jungkook, please.” You felt like you wanted to cry.

“No, not yet. I don’t want this to be over so soon.” He sounded like he wanted to cry too. “If I let you cum, will you stay the night?”

You elbowed him weakly. “You shouldn’t blackmail an attorney, Jungkook-ah.”

His chest rumbled against your back as he laughed. “You always cum and leave.”

You wriggled your hips and he moaned. “Let me cum now and I’ll stay for a bit.”

That seemed to be good enough for him. He kissed your shoulder before wrapping his hands around your body tight, pressing you against his chest, as he pistoned his cock fast and hard. The movements took your breath away, your head lolled against his as you both watched yourselves on the dark computer screens. Needing to feel more of him, your hand released the arm of the chair and to reach the back of his neck. He kissed the inside of your upper arm, which made you squeal and clench around him further. He cursed at the discovery of a new erogenous zone on you, and he nipped and licked at your skin as his cock continued to pound you.

You felt your orgasm nearing, and your free hand moved down to rub your clit. One of his hands moved downwards too, pulling the hood back to give you full access to your sensitive spot.

“Rub it good, pretty girl, while my cock ruins your pussy.” He whispered gruffly in your ear. You mewled at his dirty talk, and your finger started to move eratically, certain he would not deny your climax this time. You pressed on your clit and rubbed it hard, causing your pussy walls to tighten around his shaft. You closed your eyes when the edge was finally within reach, your body shook and your hand faltered. Jungkook pushed it away to rub your clit himself while you were finally coming, screaming his name. You felt as if you were drowning in pleasure, you gasped for air and you felt a drop of tear escape down your cheek.  

Jungkook’s grip on your body became tighter, you were sure he was going to leave marks, which you normally chastised your lovers for, but this time you could barely even care. He slammed his cock into you one last time when your orgasm was ending, emptying himself into the rubber.

You both sat on the chair, recovering from the one mind blowing orgasm. Your pants made way to soft breathing. Your ripped blouse felt sticky from the sweat, and you winced as you tried to straighten your legs while he was still inside you. Content of not moving any further, you leaned back against his hard chest, and you let him hug you and nuzzle your hair. You would stay a little while, you decided, as promised. He was worth spending a bit more time with.

“This chair is worth every cent,” Jungkook broke the silence, “it didn’t even creak once.”

You burst out laughing, and you ended up laughing so much that your stomach hurt.

~~~

Today

“Jeon Jungkook!”  You hiss into the phone. “I am going to kill you.”

You groan as he laughs at the other end. You look at the $2000 dollar chair with a big red bow in your office. You have shooed everyone away from your office, including Seokjin who complained that he should get one too since he was the one who got THAT big settlement for that ‘ungrateful brat’.

“You need to get an even better chair for Seokjin, you know. Or we will never hear the end of his whining.”

“He’s treated me to a few meals. I guess it’s only fair I pay him back.”

You make sure your office door is closed before you move to the chair to sniff it. It smells new and promising- you know the moment you sit on it, you will never have a backache ever again, your days will be brighter and you will rise up to the top. Herman Miller will unlock all your potentials.

“Sit on it and take a selca,” Jungkook suggests, “and send it to your boyfriend.”

“Why do I need to show him?” You protest, but you untie the red bow and sit on the chair anyway.

“So you know,” he clears his throat, “you guys can do fun stuff on it.” He drawls as his shyness takes over. You feel your cheeks heated too at the memory.

“Hey,” his voice takes a serious turn and you straighten up, “I don’t think I ever thank you.”

You furrow your eyebrows. “I think I’m the one who should thank you? For this amazing chair?”

“I want to thank you for being my friend,” his voice is so soft, but you can hear his emotions clearly, “it means a lot to me.”

You press your fingers to your lips, holding back a threatening sob. “Jungkook, it means a lot to me too that you’re my friend. And please don’t start crying; if you cry, I will cry.”

Jungkook lets out a gentle laugh. “If you cry, I’ll cry, so you don’t start too.”

“We are truly hopeless. But Jungkook, is this what the chair is for? Because you don’t need to-“

“No, no,” he cuts in, “it’s a just-because present. You’ve been going on and on about the chair since... you know when, and I don’t know, when I saw the latest model I just wanted to get it for you.”

“You are too generous, you know that? Don’t let anyone take advantage of your generosity.”

He laughs again. “You’re generous too. You always make time for me, even now when you don’t have to anymore.”

“We’re kindred spirits, aren’t we? Of course I’ll always make time for you. Even my boyfriend makes time for you!” You glance at the clock in your office. “Isn’t it almost time for your pilates class?”

“Yes, your man is signalling me to hang up now.” Jungkook chuckles. “Thank you for letting me be his friend too. He’s been great for my state of mind. All the pilates and the bonsai classes he lets me tag along, I’m feeling much happier these days.”

You hum as you settle more comfortably in your new chair. “I’m happy to hear that, and it means a lot to me you both get along so well. Hey, let’s do dinner this weekend? Let’s crash Seokjin’s place and make him cook for us. It’s been a while since the four of us hung out together.”

“Sounds like a plan. I have to go now, don’t forget to send that selca!”

You giggle as he hangs up. You spin once in the chair, your body and spirit feels a million times better already. You raise your phone up and move it around to get the best angle. Once you have gotten a picture you are happy with, you send it off to your boyfriend.

You [19:02] : I got a present! Come over after your class and let’s take a ride on it 😉 You [19:02] : PS: Don’t change. I like you all sweaty 😋

You smile smugly at your naughty messages, then you realise something. You immediately text Jungkook.

You [19:03] : Kook- is there a warranty on the chair? Just in case we break it.

Published 11042021

[writersblog20]

Everybody has a hard time, from time to time

Tom Hiddleston x Freader

Warnings: reader being drunk, little bit of anxiety but disguised as nervousness.Angst but not too much. Language. And feeling worthless. Readers boss gaslighting her but it’s not much. age-gap reader is 25. Implied smut sort of? But also not really

Words: 3470

Summary: The reader meets Tom Hiddleston and he asked her out on a date. But on the date she gets a call from her extremely drunken best friend….

A/N: I just went with it and I don’t even know what it turned out hahaha I'm also sorry for the spelling mistakes and stuff

Everybody has a hard time from time to time

Y/N was walking down the streets. Headphones in and 4 coffees on a tray. She sighed and started walking faster back to her stupid job. Her boss gave her a really hard time but lately it had gotten worse. She tried to calm down and take a minute but balancing lunch and coffee was definitely not on her resume. She was so lost in her thought that she got back to it until her butt hit the pavement pretty hard.

Everything went so fast and she felt the very hot coffee on her chest soaking her blouse. “Fuck!” she cursed out. “oh my god I’m so sorry” the man said who was kneeling besides her now trying to help her. “it’s fine. Just going to get fired now. but honestly it’s fine” you said in anger.

You looked up and to your surprise you saw it was your favorite actor Tom Hiddleston. Worry filled his pool blue eyes. you wanted to freak out but honestly you were more freaking out about your boss right now. “God I really am sorry ma’am. Let me pay for some new coffee!” he told you kindly. You carefully tried to dry your blouse. Tom got a dry sweater from his bag.

“please take it, god I’m so sorry” He told you with actual more worry in his eyes. “is there anything I can do for you? I can walk with you to your boss to explain what happened” he told you a little panicked. You chuckled at the sweet gesture and started to feel sorry for him because how bad he felt.

“It’s okay. I doubt that would change much.” He nodded. “are you hurt?” he asked you helping you up. “eh no I’m fine I think.” You told him. “I’m really sorry please take my jumper. I know it isn’t much but at least it’s dry” he told you and almost shove it in your hands. “thank you!” you told him and he looked a little more relaxed that he at least could do something for you.

“well I should go now.” you told him. “I do need that jumper back” he told you with a grin and you started to feel flustered. “right I’m sorry I….” he cut you off before you could finish that sentence. “I ehm never really do this but how about you give it back on our date? If you would gladly accept of course. My treat for what happened.” You were starstruck but you thought he wanted to take you on a date out of pity. “ you don’t have to do that Tom, you don’t have to take me on a date because you feel bad. Gives off the wrong signals.” You told him while cleaning your pants from the dirt on the ground.

“I’m eh Tom” he told you. You chuckled “yeah I know. Big fan” you said still chuckling and he giggled a little. He waited for you to say your name but you were lost in thoughts again. “oh I’m sorry I’m Y/N” he giggled and gently took your hand and placed a kiss on the top of it. “it’s really nice to meet you. And again I’m very sorry how we met” he said scratching his head. “it’s not all your fault. I was very lost in thought so I should've looked where i was walking” you told him.

“I want to take you out on a date because you are magnificently beautiful and now I have more of a reason to make it up to you. That’s why I want to take you out.” He told you with a gentle smile. “oh ehm well then I would love to go on a date with you” you told him flustered feeling extremely dumb at the moment. “Are you free this Saturday evening?” he asked you. “yeah absolutely” you told him. he gave you his phone and you put your number in it. “I’ll text you.” He said with a wink. “okay” was all you could say. You stood there for a minute before going back.

On your way you changed into Tom’s jumper and got new coffee and lunch. You made your way back to your job. You obvious got shit from your boss and you told her what happened but she wasn’t taking it. “you are absolutely worthless! You can’t even get some fucking coffee! I don’t even know why I hired you in the first place. You can go and you don’t have to come back” she told you

It made you furies. There was no way she would take you back and honestly you wouldn’t even want that. “That’s fine cause I wanted to quit either way. You are one horrible person and treat people like shit but honestly you are the biggest piece of shit in this whole building. Probably even in this whole city. So I don’t mind. Bye!!!” you told her and she looked dumbfounded by your sudden outburst.

You walked out of the building with your head up high and a big smile on your face. You really felt more alive at this moment. You got back home and that’s when it hit you that you still had to pay your rent. You started cursing and kicked a chair. You called one of your friends and he came right away to you. “Girl! You got some bad bitch energy! How you stood up against her… I mean damn. That and you have a date with The hot Tom Fucking Hiddleston! Girl you’re so lucky!” he told you while shaking a cocktail for you both.

You chuckled “I’m not gonna drink right now” you told him. “Girl you have better plans? You just got fired and you have nowhere to be right now so just take that drink and live a little! You’re 25 for god’s sake!” You chuckled again and took the drink from him. “you know what you should do? Sell your art! Finish that book that you were writing! I mean I’ve seen your work and it’s absolutely amazing! And since I’m in the art business I might be able to help you out in that and give you an exposition! ” He told you. “let me think about it okay?” you told him a little sad.

“babe you’ve got to stop being scared! You are absolutely amazing on every front! Everyone can see that except for you. So please let me do this for you” He told you. “I just don’t want to get my hopes up and be declined like almost always. I don’t feel good enough and I don’t think I can take another rejection again” you told him honestly.

“it’s life babes…. There will be times where you’re still going to get rejected but don’t let that bring you down. You have to keep fighting for it. And your art is worth fighting for. Believe me! I’m your most honest friend and I’m telling you this from the bottom of my heart. You are good enough! Hell you are more than that! You just have to believe in yourself!” you smiled at his kindness and thought about it. “you know what? Fuck it! Let’s do it!” you told him feeling strong! “yes queen! that’s my girl! Bad bitch energy!” you giggled and got immensely drunk to celebrate it.

~time skip~

The week got by pretty quick and as Luke told you, you got accepted and they were more excited to give you an exposition. You started to search for jobs that you would actually like and started writing again. Life was going good again and you felt so strong and confident until you had the date which would be tomorrow.

You were so nervous. Tom didn’t text you yet and you didn’t have his phone number so it was hard to get in touch with him. Anxiety got the best of you. What if he forgot? What if he forgot about you or changed his mind? Just when your mind got into overdrive you heard your phone pinged. You quickly got it and saw an unknown number. You felt your heart pound in your chest. You opened the text.

“Hello Love, It’s Tom. Are you still up for tomorrow? I’m sorry I didn’t get in touch sooner, it was a chaotic week.” It felt like you could breathe again and texted him back immediately. “Hey Tom, Yes I’m still up for tomorrow. Can’t wait!” You send the message and immediately thought you should texted him a different message. Your phone went off again. But this time he called you. You drowned your wine for some confident.

“Hey Tom.” You said a little nervous. He chuckled. “hello darling” your heart skipped a beat at the nickname and you felt butterflies I mean it was Tom Hiddleston for god’s sake! “I’ll pick you up around 5. Is that okay?” he asked you. “eh yeah of course sure! I ehm am looking forward to it!” you told him honestly. “me too darling” he told you with a chuckle. You both said your goodbyes and you put your phone down.

You tried to watch a movie to get your mind of off your anxiety. When the movie was over you tried to go to bed but you kept staring at your ceiling. I’m not like the other girls he dated. You thought to yourself. But then tried to set it straight by saying maybe that’s the point but then other thoughts consumed you. You tried to fight all the thought by positives one until the early hours of the morning. You finally fell asleep around 5 AM.

Once you woke up you got very excited. It was already 2 in the afternoon since you slept so crappy. You texted your Luke but got no response. You figured he was still asleep. You picked your clothes and 5 PM got around faster then you thought it would. You heard your doorbell and opened up. There he was standing Tom Hiddleston. Alongside with some flowers. No other date had given you flowers. He checked you out with his lips slightly parted. He chuckled: “wow you look amazing!” he said with a small blush creeping up on his cheeks. You giggled. “you too mister Hiddleston” you said boldly which made him chuckle again. He really did look great. He wore a small blouse and a blue blazer over it and jeans. “oh eh these are for you” he told you. You could tell he was nervous as hell which made you feel a little bit more at peace knowing that you weren’t the only one.

“come inside. I’m just going to put these in some water.” You told him and he followed you inside. He loved your apartment. It gave off such a warm cozy vibe. It felt like home. He looked at your art work on the wall. “I adore your apartment.” He told you which made you smile. “thank you” you told him kindly. “I’m ready to go” you told him with a chuckle. You got your coat of the hanger. “Here let me, please.” He told you and got the coat out of your hands and helped you in your coat. It made you flustered and swoon. God you were already falling head over heels for this men.

You both walked into a restaurant but it wasn’t a fancy one but more cozy. You loved it. You talked for hours and both drank some red wine. You both hit it off so well and you were absolutely smitten. And he was too if not more. You both were so much on one line it was amazing. You knew you would never find this again and it kind of scared you. You told him about your boss since he asked if you got trouble that day you first met him and you told the story until you got a call from Luke.

You frowned a little. He knew you were on a date and he would never interrupt you unless it was an emergency. “everything okay?” Tom asked you. “Yeah I just have to take this. I am so sorry!” He chuckled it’s fine” he told you reassuring. You nodded and walked off to the bathroom and picked up. “Luke? What’s wrong?” you asked when you heard him sobbing on the phone. You could tell he was absolutely smashed. “Can you please come to my place? I really need you right now. you can even take Tom with you but please” He begged you with an obvious slur. You felt your heart break for him. You sighed. “alright I’m on my way. Can you hang on?” you asked him. “yeah” he told you still crying. “Thank you so much Y/N I’m so sorry” he told you. “I know it’s okay. I’m on my way okay?”

You hang up the phone and went back to Tom. “everything alright?” he asked you and you felt so guilty. “I eh my friend he needs me right now. he is absolutely smashed and crying and I don’t know what is wrong but he asked me to come to him.” Tom looked at the table “I’m so sorry! I had a lovely time and I would love to do this some time again! If you still want to of course…” You said the last part a little softer. He smiled at you. “I eh could go with you if you’d like and if it’s okay with your friend.” Tom told you. “Are you sure? You really don’t have to” you told him. “I’m going to be honest with you. I really like you and I don’t want this evening to stop…. So if that means taking care of your drunken friend to be with you, I will. But I understand if you feel different.” This time Tom said the last part a little softer. You chuckled and felt your body filling up with love. “I really like you too Tom and in that case… Let’s go” you chuckled. He looked a little surprised but happy.

Tom paid the bill even when you tried to intervene but he wasn’t having it. “next time you can pay” he told you with a wink. You were flustered. He helped you to get your coat on and you both made your way. You slightly touched his hand and put yours in his. He looked a little surprised down at you. “I eh is this okay?” you asked him a little nervous. “it is, love.” You looked down a little with a smile. His thumb caressing the back of your hand softly. “I’m really sorry about this.” You told him honestly. “really it’s okay. I totally understand!” he told you truthfully.

You got to Luke’s house and you used your keys. “Luke? It’s me, where are you?” you asked him. you heard Abba blasting through the speakers. You immediately turned it down a bit. Empty bottles were laying everywhere. “Y/N?” Luke called out to you. You followed the sound and saw him laying by the toilet. You took of your coat and walked over to him and sat him down by the toilet. “What happened?” you asked him. he sniffled a little. “Cooper broke up with me and even over a text message” you looked at him a little sad for him. you went with your hands through his hair. Tom stood behind you but Luke didn’t notice yet. Luke started to laugh. Great mood swings you thought. Tom gave you a glass of water and you smiled a little at him. You gave the water to Luke. He looked up and saw Tom. Tom waved at him a little. “oh he’s so cute and hot!” he told you like Tom wouldn’t hear it. You started to laugh. You looked at Tom and he chuckled.

“I’m sorry I ruined your date” he looked at you and Tom. “we’ll there’s going to be a second so don’t worry too much about it” you told him and you looked at Tom who winked at you. Luke started to throw up and you both looked away. You softly touched Luke’s back to let him know you weren’t going anywhere. “you okay?” you asked after he was done. “yeah I think I can get up now.” he told you. “okay good let’s get you upstairs then.” You helped Luke up which was a challenge on its own. “here let me” Tom said and took Luke over from you. He put Luke’s arm over his shoulders and helped him upstairs. Luke started to stare at Tom.

“Luke…. You’re staring.” You told him. “I know.” Luke told you serious and furrowed his eyebrows at Tom. “Look. I’m thankful you help me but you better take care of my best friend alright! She’s an angel and don’t you dare to hurt her!” he slurred at Tom while you were already in Luke’s bedroom. “I’m not planning on it mate. I promise.” He told Luke. He narrowed his eyebrows. “yeah I believe that. Finally a good guy Y/N!” he yelled happy at you. You flustered again. You mouthed: “I’m sorry” at Tom and he just gave you a reassuring smile. You both put Luke into bed. You put an extra pillow under his head for the nausea. You put down a bucket and a glass of water beside him.

“please stay the night. I don’t want to be alone and your boyfriend can stay too” you were both flustered at the last part Luke said. “I’ll stay don’t worry. But you need some sleep now.” Luke nodded and turned around. “I love you” Luke told you sleepy. “I love you too” you told him and closed the door and leaned against it. “I’m really sorry about this. Normally it doesn’t happen” you told Tom a little embarrassed. He put a hand on your cheek “it’s okay love. Really we all have moments like this” you nodded. “well I need a drink now…. You want one?” you asked and chuckled. “yeah sounds good” he said and chuckled as well.

You both went downstairs and took out the empty bottles and after that made you both a drink. You sat down on the couch and Tom next to you. You both talked into the late hours and started to get drunk. You were leaning against Tom by now. you looked up at him and he looked down at you with love and adoration in his eyes. “please stay tonight.” You kind of asked him. “only if you want me to” he told you. “yeah I do. But just to clarify I never took a guy back home (or well my friends house) to stay the night” You told him with a chuckle. He laughed as well. When it got silence you just stared at each other.

His face ,slowly, started to get closer to you giving you enough time to pull away but instead you softly put your lips on his. His hand caressing your cheek and your hand in his hair slightly pulling at it as the kiss started to get heated. He pulled you on his lap, both of your legs on either side of him. His hands going under your shirt and stayed on your back. He slowly got up and laid you down on the couch with your legs around his waist. You broke from the kiss and put your hand on his chest. “Tom…. I don’t want to do it on the first date and definitely not here” you chuckled which made him giggle as well. “totally understandable!” He told you.

“I can go I you want me to” he told you. “no, please stay.” He gave you a warm smile that made your heart melt. You made some space so Tom could lay down as well. You laid your head on his chest and he went with his hands through your hair. Well this was definitely not the perfect date…. But luckily it was with the perfect guy.

[izzyaro]

Yet another Clyde and Emily thing, because the idea would not leave me alone. It got quite a bit longer than expected.

It was meant to be a quiet evening out.

It was the end of a tough mission. They’d made the profile, caught the UnSubs, and saved a lot of lives. They definitely deserved a break. The locals had recommended a nice little pub, which turned out to be lively and half full of students, and Clyde had offered to get the first round. Sean had gone outside to call his wife, Jeremy was chatting up a young lady on the table next to them, and Emily and Tsia found a quiet corner where no one was paying attention to them.

“We needed this,” said Emily with a sigh. 

Her muscles ached from hours of being on the alert, and she couldn’t help a moan when Tsia rubbed gentle circles into her shoulders. “Oh, that feels good.”

Tsia’s answering grin was wicked. “Later I’ll show you what else I can do with my hands.”

Emily shivered. Tsia glanced round, and leaned in for a quick kiss. Emily’s eyes fluttered shut, but as Tsia drew back there was a sudden commotion from behind them. Both of them spun round, and Tsia sat bolt upright.

“What the hell is he doing?”

Clyde stood by the bar, but he wasn’t collecting their drinks. He had a yelling skinhead in a wristlock, and the ice cold fury on his face was enough to have Emily lurching to her feet.

“Clyde!” 

Clyde didn’t so much as glance at her. His whole attention was on the young man he had pinned. Emily swore and started to shoving her way through the crowd, but the bartender was already there, a frown on his face.

“Sir, let go of him-”

“I’ll let go,” Clyde growled, “when he tells me what he put in this girl’s drink.”

The mood changed in an instant. A young woman standing nearby went pale. The bartender immediately zeroed in on the now-silent skinhead. “What’s this?”

The man glared, and Clyde spoke up, blue eyes sparking with barely-controlled rage. “He dropped a tablet in that drink a she looked away. I’d be surprised if it was the only one.”

“Fuck off,” the skinhead snarled, only to yelp as Clyde tightened his grip. “Oi, you’re breaking my arm!”

“Then stop moving,” Clyde snapped back.

The skinhead swore, and Emily finally managed to push through to them. “Clyde! I think he’s got the message.”

Clyde finally looked up, and Emily had to suppress a flinch at the expression on his face. It took all her years of training to keep her voice steady, “He’s not going anywhere.”

Clyde held her gaze for a long moment, then finally shoved the man away from him. The skinhead lurched up, swearing like a sailor, but Tsia planted herself in his path.

“Take one more step, and I’ll show you what a broken arm really feels like.”

“What is going on here?”

Emily had never been so glad to hear Sean’s voice. Their boss took in the situation, Clyde shaking with anger and the gawping crowd, and set his jaw. “Clyde, get some air.”

Clyde glared at him for a moment, then jerked his head in a nod. The crowds parted for him without a word, and Sean took a deep breath. 

“I trust someone’s called the police?”

“I did,” said another bartender, holding up her mobile. She was glaring at the skinhead. “I saw it too. We don’t tolerate that here.”

Emily let out a long breath. She hadn’t doubted Clyde, but another witness was always helpful. She crossed over to the trembling young woman.

“Are you all right?”

The girl’s eyes shifted from her spiked drink to Emily. “I…He would have…”

Her shivering intensified. Emily wrapped an arm around her. “I know, but you’re okay. You’re safe now, I promise.”

The girl gave a strangled sob, and Emily pulled her into a proper hug and let her cry. Tsia caught her eye, eyes flashing with anger and sympathy, and Emily rubbed gentle circles into the girl’s back.

“It’s okay. It will all be okay.”

After a long minute, the girl gave a shuddering sob and drew back. “How…How do I know he didn’t do it earlier?”

Emily’s stomach lurched, but the bartender who had called the police was already there, “An ambulance is on the way too. I didn’t see anything, but it’s better safe than sorry.” She bit her lip. “I’m so sorry this happened.”

The girl sniffed. She was silent for a moment, hands fiddling with a loose thread from her shirt, before she looked back at Emily. “That other man, the one who stopped him, is he your friend?”

“Clyde?” Emily asked. “Yeah, he is.”

“Will you thank him for me? Please?”

“Sure,” said Emily gently.

She glanced round, but though she could see Jeremy and Sean talking with the newly-arrived police, there was no sign of Clyde. Alarm spiked through her chest, and the bartender coughed. “I can stay with her, if you want to find him?”

Emily glanced at the girl, who sniffed and nodded. “I’ll be right outside if you need anything, okay?”

Both of them nodded, and Emily caught Tsia’s eye. Her girlfriend hesitated, then sighed. “You’ll get more out of him by yourself,” she murmured. “I’ll follow in a few minutes.”

Emily squeezed her hand, grateful for her understanding, and headed out of the pub. 

The November wind bit at her cheeks, and she pulled the sleeves of her sweater down to cover her hands as she squinted round. She ignored the skinhead being guided into the waiting police cars, instead scanning the passersby. There were a fair few spectators, but there was no sign of Clyde.

Emily bit her lip. Clyde could take care of himself, but the only time she had seen him that furious was when Tsia had been attacked by a particularly stupid racist. She had never seen him lose control of himself like that before, and it had scared her.

Now, she was becoming increasingly scared for him.

There was only an unbroken line of shops to the left, but there was an alleyway round the other side, and instinct had Emily moving towards it. 

The only light came from the streetlight on the other side of the road, but it was enough. Emily let out a shaky breath, and made her way past a pair of bins to crouch in front of her friend.

“There are nicer places to get some air, you know.”

She was expecting a reply, even a sharp one, but Clyde said nothing. His knees were drawn up to his chest, and he continued to stare blankly at the opposite wall, and Emily’s stomach twisted.

“Clyde? Can you hear me?”

Clyde blinked, but the shudders running through his body had intensified, and Emily bit her lip. She touched his arm, and when he blinked again she gripped his hands.

“Clyde, listen to me. You are safe. I’m here. There’s no danger.”

Clyde’s breathing hitched. He squeezed his eyes shut, breath coming in ragged gasps, and when Emily shifted her grip she found his pulse fast and thready under her fingers.

“Damn it,” she whispered.

It had been a while since he had a panic attack, and she didn’t want to think about what might have triggered it, but she couldn’t stand by and let her friend suffer.

“Clyde, look at me.”

Clyde’s jaw clenched, but Emily kept talking, “Clyde, I’m here. You know me. You know I won’t let anyone touch you. Look at me, Clyde.”

Clyde finally blinked up at her, eyes wide with panic, and Emily squeezed his hands. “Good. That’s really good. Now, I need you to list every Queen album in order for me, all right?”

For a moment she thought Clyde was too far gone to hear her, but then he sucked in a shuddering breath. His lips moved silently, too quietly for Emily to hear, but she could feel his shivering easing a little, and when he finished he no longer felt like he would fly apart. Emily managed a smile.

“Good. That’s really good. Now do every song that appears on ‘A Night at the Opera’.”

Clyde swallowed. “‘Death on Two Legs’,” he rasped. “‘Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon. I’m in Love with My Car. You’re My Best Friend'…”

He went through both sides of the record, and then did it backwards, and when he finally sagged back against the wall his shivering had eased so much it was almost unnoticeable. Emily sat back on her heels.

“Are you all right?”

Clyde nodded. His face was very pale, and he didn’t meet her eyes. “I’m sorry,” he whispered.

“You don’t have anything to apologise for,” said Emily firmly. 

Clyde didn’t look convinced, but he also didn’t seem like he had the energy to argue. Emily kept hold of his hands. She didn’t want to pry, but she couldn’t leave this alone.

“The girl at the bar told me to say thank you.”

If she wasn’t watching so closely she would have missed his flinch. It took him a moment to reply, “I did what anyone would have.”

Emily eyed him. Clyde was the most private person she had ever met, but she did know him. The last time she had seen him like this had been when a bad case had triggered memories from Bosnia. If this was something similar…

“Go on and ask.”

Startled, Emily blinked up. Clyde still wasn’t looking at her, and his shaking had worsened again. “Clyde-”

“I know you won’t let it go. Just ask so we can go back to pretending everything is fine.”

Emily chewed on her lip for a second, but he was right. She couldn’t not ask. Not if there was any chance that she might be able to help.

She still had to take a deep breath first.

“What happened?”

Clyde was quiet for so long that she began to think he had changed his mind, but just when she was on the verge of suggesting they head back to the hotel he took a deep breath.

“I was in my first year of uni.” 

His voice was so quiet she had to strain to hear it, and then it was all she could do to keep herself steady. Clyde continued, eyes fixed on the floor, “First week actually. Went out with my new classmates. I had one drink.” He squeezed his eyes shut. “I remember nothing of the rest of the night.”

Bile rose in Emily’s mouth. She had to swallow hard before she could speak, “Did you report it?”

Clyde gave a weak huff. “You think anyone would have believed a student was forced to take drugs? Back then?” He shook his head. “And…Cambridge wasn’t exactly accepting.”

It took a moment for Emily’s brain to process that, and then she could only stare at him. “You…Clyde…” She stopped, and tried again. “Did they…?”

“I don’t know,” Clyde whispered. He scrubbed his hands over his face, and finally looked her in the eye. “I had bruises and I hurt, but I don’t know what happened, Emily. I don’t know.”

His voice was rising and the panic was threading back into his voice, and Emily threw caution to the wind and pulled him for a hug. Clyde sagged against, trembling like a leaf, and Emily hugged him tight.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I’m so sorry.”

Clyde made an incoherent noise in the back of his throat, and Emily caught the nape of his neck. “It’s okay. I’ve got you.”

She brushed her fingers through his hair, and felt him slowly relax against her. Tears burned at her eyes, and she blinked them away before they could fall. Clyde needed her right now.

“What do you need?”

Clyde gave a brittle laugh. “The ability to travel back in time and tell my younger self not to be a bloody idiot?”

Emily flinched. “You cannot blame yourself for that!”

“Of course I can,” Clyde muttered. “I was stupid.”

Emily drew back to look him in the eye. She could tolerate a lot of things, but she couldn’t listen to that. She was opening her mouth to argue when she had a better idea.

“Was that girl in there stupid?”

“What?” Clyde demanded. “Of course not.” Then his eyes narrowed. “That’s different.”

“How?” Emily asked, and somehow she managed to keep her voice calm. “She’s roughly the same age you were. She hasn’t had any training, just like you hadn’t. What makes her situation so different from yours?”

Clyde opened his mouth, then closed it again and looked away. Emily sighed. That wasn’t a battle she was going to win any time soon.

“Okay,” she said. “Is there anything I can do for you right now?”

Clyde met her eyes for a split-second before ducking his head again. “You’re already doing it.”

A flicker of warmth pierced through the shock and fear, and Emily took both his hands in hers. “I’m not going anywhere.”

The corner of Clyde’s mouth twitched into a weak smile. Emily chewed on her lip, then glanced up as a shadow fell across them.

“There you are,” Tsia said. “I was beginning to think you’d gotten lost…”

Her voice trailed off as she took in the scene, and her eyes hardened. She crouched next to Clyde. “I really will go and break his arm, if you want.”

Clyde choked out a startled laugh, but shook his head. “I appreciate the offer, but he’ll get what’s coming to him.” His amusement faded as quickly as it had come. “Is that girl all right?”

“She’s fine,” Tsia assured him. “She’s on her way to the hospital, but she wasn’t showing any symptoms.”

“Good,” said Clyde quietly.

Tsia quirked an eyebrow at Emily, who grimaced. She squeezed Clyde’s hands. “How about we get back to the hotel?”

Tsia nodded, but Clyde frowned. “I need to give a statement.”

“Tomorrow,” said Tsia. “There was a room full of witnesses,” she continued, when Clyde’s frown deepened. “Yours can wait ’til you’re not about to pass out.”

It was a mark of how rough he was feeling that Clyde didn’t even try to protest. He accepted the hand up Tsia offered him, and rubbed a hand over his face. “I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “I’ll be fine.”

Emily glanced at Tsia, and saw her own concern mirrored on her girlfriend’s face, but she just nodded. “Okay, but if you ever want to talk-”

“I know,” said Clyde. He managed a faint smile. “Thank you, Emily.”

“Any time,” said Emily softly.

He was still pale and shaky. Emily couldn’t help pulling him into another hug, and Clyde clung to her like a lifeline. There was so much she wanted to say, but she had to swallow down the lump in her throat first.

“You know, that girl is safe because of you,” she said softly. Clyde stiffened, but Emily kept talking, “That guy won’t be hurting anyone else, because of you.”

“She’s right,” said Tsia. Emily smelled her perfume as she drew closer. “That girl will be okay.” She paused, and added more softly, “You will be too.”

Clyde was silent for a minute, then gently disentangled himself from them. He turned aside, and when he looked back his eyes were clear.

“Thank you,” he repeated.

Emily shook her head, and Tsia elbowed him very gently. “Stop that. We’ve got you.”

Clyde looked at the two of them, and for the first time in what seemed like hours a small but completely genuine smile touched his lips. “Yes,” he said quietly. “I believe you do.”

“Finally,” said Tsia, but her expression was very fond and very soft as she looked at him. She wrapped her arm around Emily’s waist, and held out her free hand to Clyde. “Let’s get back. You look like you could sleep for a week.”

Clyde gave a faint huff, but he took her hand and something in Emily’s chest settled. They would be okay. She would make sure of it. 

[laketaj24]

The Rules IV: Triggered

Author’s Note: Thank you all soo much for your input!!! It helped me out more than you know! This was fun as hell to write and I hope you’re down for a ride! It’s about to go down. There are two songs that really hit the nail on the head for this part, they are linked below! Happy Reading my people!

Pairing: CEO!Henry Cavill X Reader

Warning: Angst. SMUT. DRAMA.

Want to catch up! Click HERE

Song Inspirations: Jhene Aiko: Triggered (First Part) Jhene Aiko: P*SSY Fairy

If your heart slowed anymore, you’d collapse. But it wasn’t just the lethargic beat of your heart that slowed down. The kiss. The fucking kiss was being replayed in your head over and over, the way she cupped him, the way his lips touched hers and he deepened it. You feel the bile rise at the helm of your throat and you step back.

“Excuse me.” You whispered to a bewildered Alex, “I need to leave.”

He noticed. You could tell by the way he looked back to Henry and then you. His tall frame went from relaxed to apathetic. “Is it him?” He gave a wave in Henry’s direction and then stepped closer to you. “Y/N?”

“I can’t talk about this right now.” You attempted to push your way through the crowd and caught an opening into the gala hall. Alex was on your feet, his long strides made it easy for him to catch you. “Hey, I can’t talk about it right now.”

Your mind raced, he took a month away from you, was it because the entire time he had her? Were you some fucking mistress, side-chick, side bitch… Homewrecker? Inwardly you taunted yourself with the unceasing line of insults to yourself. Fuck! Fuck.

“Look.” Alex cleared his throat and stepped closer to you. His presence kept you from bolting into the nearest room and destroying everything in it. You were grateful for that, maybe. “He is not worth you not enjoying this night. Do you know how beautiful you are right now? Every eye in the building was with you when we arrived. Make him mad, but don’t let him win. He did nothing to deserve a win apparently.”

The pep talk worked and more and more you were starting to understand why Alex was a friend you didn't want to lose regardless of what happened. The first dance is casual, you fight tears watching the woman touch his hand, laid her hand on his chest and laugh like he was a comedian. He wasn't that damn funny. You stay for an hour, it was required to stay an hour, you have done only what was expected of you and nothing more. Alex took you home, the car ride is silent besides the occasional murmur of a curse word under your breath.

Home is what you craved more than anything, once the door was closed and Alex's driver left you released a scream that scared you, followed by a sob as you felt your heart literally break. What a fucking feeling? Grief for someone who didn't deserve it. You didn't drink to solve your problems, so alcohol was a no. Sleep was the obvious answer.  The dress felt like it burned your skin, you were certain it didn't, but the fact that it came from him made it poison. He was poison, that you willingly chugged down like a vintage wine and now the repercussions had finally made their grand entrance. And fuck them.

Why were you looking them up, they were a known couple, known to everyone but you? You typed in his name and nothing but her appeared Billionaire Henry Cavill and Olivia Tate grace the Emmy's with their presence. Will this playboy finally settle down? Olivia Tate has HC's heart around her finger. You were sick again. You throw the phone on the couch and screenshot the picture of him kissing her. Is this the future Mrs. Cavill?

You changed clothes, slipping the crop top and leggings on. You knew it wasn't the end of the night. And you were right, sleep does not come. He sends you seven messages, each of which you stared at trying to formulate a response, but they didn't merit one, until the last one.

Henry: I've been looking for you for an hour. Where are you?

Henry: You left without a word? Are you mad or something?

Henry: A response would be nice.

Henry: Y/N

Henry: Y/N. I'll find you later.

Henry: Be there in ten.

Y/N: Drive safe. Are you bringing the wife with you?

You hit send of the picture you'd saved.

Henry: Wow.

The wait for him to arrive only infuriates you more, your mother had always said your temper was like a wildfire, once it sparked it would consume everything to the ground. You knew she was right; Henry even knew your temper needed to be managed, but no one fucking managed you. This included Henry. He didn't knock. He never did really, he entered with his perfectly tailored suit and an eye roll. And the lamp crashed behind him. He ducks, but his face is shocked.

"What the fuck was that?" he hissed.

"My fucking two-hundred-dollar lamp." You picked up the shoes and hurled them across the room next and he ducked as if he knew they were coming and charged towards you. You moved from his grasp. "You have been with her for a year!" It roared out of you and then the tears followed. "Why did you even come over here? Did you think I would be okay with it? Do you think I want to be your whore? Come when you say, fuck when you say and then you go home to her. Don't touch me!!"

"You're not going to let me explain, are you?"

"Oh, for fuck's sake! Explain Henry, tell me what lie did you conjure up, while headed here. She's just a friend. I wasn't with her." you shake your head and Henry folds his arms across his chest. "Is she the reason you wouldn't let me kiss you?"

"Are you finishing acting like-."

"Say it!" You cut him off and step closer to him. You wanted to hit something, but his face was too pretty for that shit, and despite your anger, your mother raised you better than that, "Like what Henry? Get out."

"Y/N."

"I said get the fuck out!"

His jaw clenched and he pushed his hands through his thick mane of brown curls, ending the polished look he had earlier. "I'll call you later."

"Oh, no the fuck you won't." You opened the door to Alex standing there with his eyes on Henry. Why was he back? "He was just leaving." You explained to Alex. "Bye."

Alex stepped aside and held up the brown bag, you could smell the Chinese and noticed the wine bottle. "We didn't get to eat." He explained. The smug grin on his face sealed the night, he was a good guy.

You smiled and watched Henry stare at him before looking back at you. He shook his head, "Goodnight."

"Fuck you." You whispered.

In the past hearing, people say they were numb sounded foolish, of course, they felt. A human cannot simply shut it all off, but you were wrong. So wrong, it was easier to go numb than to feel. It started with work, your time invested in the company allotted you vacation three fucking weeks, paid and free.

The first week you spent with Alex, not fucking his brains out like a part of you wanted to but being a friend. He allowed you to talk, you told him everything and he listened with no judgment and that made it easier. Tia was around too, she spent the night with you when she could, in between hair appointments and makeup slots. Her career was changing fast, you were happy for her even if you barely showed it at times.

The second week you shut them both out. You told them you were out of town, but you were in your apartment with food and tear-soaked pillows. His phone calls had stopped, but you feared it was only because you changed the number. Work could contact you via email if they needed to, but no one even called you during the first two weeks. The marketing strategy you left would do well, you knew it. And besides your certainty in your program, you didn’t care what Cavill Industries did at the moment.

The third week, everything went numb, there were no more tears to cry. Every inkling of him that existed was gone, including the $6000 dollar dress. You burned it and at that final act, the night was gone from your mind. He’d broken the rules. You’d both set them and when he kissed her, he disqualified himself.

The first day back to work your anxiety had you in its grip. Every phone call and opening of your door you dreaded. But he didn’t come. He wasn’t even in the building, according to your boss and that eased everything. You could work with him not being anywhere near you, and that made you apply to the other firms that had once been interested in you. You got two calls immediately. Matheus Corporate wanted to hire you without an interview and after the offer they sent, you were taking it. You typed out your resignation letter and turned it into HR. It was the right choice.

It was a month before you saw him again, and the Cavill you saw briefly in the lobby looked nothing like the one you had grown accustomed to. His hair was wild, and he had a beard, an actual beard. His slate-blue eyes were tired as were his movements. Just seeing him triggered you, the horrid memories of that night flooded your head and the pain resurfaced. Being numb would not be possible around him. You knew it. You hid in the stairwell like an idiot and avoided him. Nine more days of work here and you would be clear.

“Look, the way I see it, we are friends now.” Alex kicked his feet up on your desk and looked to you for affirmation.

You gave it to him nodding your head and chugging down your third bottle of water. “Yes, we’re friends. So, when I call you up at midnight and you’re with your little girlfriend cuddling and things you still have to make an appearance.”

“Girlfriend?” He scoffed.

“You heard me.” You pointed at him.

“I’m hoping one day the little girlfriend, I am cuddling will be you.” He smiled. “There is no rush and no expectation for it. But I didn’t want you to leave this place, oblivious to the fact that I really like you.”

Your heart warmed and you smiled. “Nine days to go and your boldness is out the bag.”

He shrugged. “Did I get brownie points?”

“A whole cake.” You said. You were back to work an hour later, singing under your breath when the door opened.

“I told him to wait outside.” Your assistant said, trying to beat Henry in the office. She turned to you. “Ms. YLN, Mr. Cavill is here to see you.” But he was already in front of your desk.

“Get out.” He said to her.

“Whatever you have to say to me, she can hear.” For some reason, you knew if the door closed you would succumb to him, “Speak.”

“You are not leaving.” His voice was not composed, just wavering and near weak. “Y/N.”

“Gianna, you can go.” You exhaled. What the hell had happened to him? She left the room and the space that once seemed huge started to shrink. Henry walked towards you and you held your hand up when he reached your desk. “What?”

“You changed your number.”

“What did you expect?”

“For you to give me a chance to explain,” His eyes plead with yours for the opportunity. “Can I have that please?”

“You don’t owe me an explanation, I was never yours, right?”

“You’re still mine.” The slight possessiveness came back to his voice.  

It made you weak for a moment, your hitched breath took over the silence. “Hurry up, Henry.”

“She is my girlfriend.” He said.

The words punch at a wound you were certain was nearly healed. You hoped he was going to say that he left her, the pathetically infatuated part of you wanted him to say, she dumped him. But he just reaffirmed what you already knew. Olivia Tate was the official girlfriend of Henry Cavill. “Thanks?” You swallowed. “Why are you here?”

“I don’t want her to be, I want you.”

“You are making no sense and I don’t want to hear it. I don’t want to throw things at you here. I just wanted to leave all this in the past. Go be with her.”

“Y/N.” He said your name as if he was fighting for breath. “There are some things you do not understand about me. Things I would rather not talk about, but I don’t want her.”

“Then leave her! Damn it.” You bit out. “You are a grown man. You can make decisions on your own. If you didn’t want her then end it. End it now.”

“I can’t talk here.”

“Where else are you gonna talk?” You laughed. “My place? Hell no.”

“Mine.” He shook his head. “I’ll send a car for you after work. Don’t make them work Y/N. Just come.” He looked at you. “Please.”

“Fine.”

 You didn’t fight his orders on meeting him, curiosity reared its ugly head and you were gone. His home was at the edge of town, the driveway curved up a hill and lead to the glass estate. It was incredible. Had you been here on better circumstances, you would have enjoyed the view. You stepped out and the door opened. Henry had shed the suit for a black shirt and black sweats that hung at his waist somehow accenting his frame. Fuck. Were you even going to be strong enough to say no to this god? One last fuck? Just to say goodbye fuck, it wouldn’t be frowned upon.

You argued with yourself and walked into the home, the décor was much like his office dark brown woods with a modern sense. You stood in the foyer and looked at him. The closer to the door you were, the more likely you were to say no to him without hesitation.

“I can’t shut you out of my mind.” He confessed. He had shaved, but his hair was still tucked behind his ears, longer than normal.

“Just tell me.”

“I met Olivia in college.” He sighed. “We used to date off and on, but it was never more than sex. Never.”

“That’s all it is with us.” You interrupted. “Hence the reason I don’t need this talk.”

“Then why’d you come?” Henry stared. “I have been infatuated with you for months and when I finally got the opportunity to be with you, I jumped at it.”

“Don’t feed me bullshit.” You held your hand up.

“Who do you think hired you?”

“Why can’t you just leave her?” You asked.

“She knows things about me that can ruin me.” he stopped talking. “Liv is talented at getting the things she wants. If I leave her, she’ll spill it.”

“Oh, get the fuck out of here!” You laugh. “You expect me to believe this Lifetime movie shit? You got a girlfriend and you want me too. Admit it.”

“I don’t want her.” He shook his head. “I want you.”

“You can say it until you’re blue in the face. If you don’t show me, how in the fuck am I supposed to believe that this… isn’t just a way for you to get what you want.”

Henry sunk to his knees. “I’ll beg you.”

“Dogs beg.” You spat.

“Anything.” He rasped.

“Do you know how bad I hurt? I didn’t work for weeks. I didn’t care for weeks. We’ve been together a month. Do you think my behavior was normal? Do you think yours is normal? No. We are bad for one another and I just…”

How did he get up so fast? You moved back and he was on you, his steps heavy and determined. He caged you against the wall and then you realized, his face was wet with tears.

“You have to believe me.” He whispered and the fear clawed through him. “Please.”

There was an urge pushing you to leave this place, nothing good can come from him. But his face was pained, you’d never seen this part of him. You cupped his face affectionately and your lips graze his cheek. It feels as if he shutters and then you just do it. You hesitantly kiss him. Your lips touch his and the energy that passes through you ignites a groan.

“Please.” The plea is accompanied by him responding to the kiss, tenderly. He leaned into you, his body blanketing to you and taking whatever breath you thought you had left. But you were sure that he took your breath away without a kiss. His brow furrowed as he deepened it pushing your head against the door. He wrapped his arms around you, swaddling you in his muscles while somehow it wasn’t the muscles that you felt. For the first time, he was being himself with you. He allowed you to feel what you didn’t even know was there.

He pulled back from you and he moved as if he was dizzy. The breath he had stolen from you had made it's way back to you and you inhaled. There was more than a desire that flickered between the two of you.

“I’ve wanted to do that for so long.”

His eyes flashed with a little hope. “Same.” Henry didn’t wait for permission he just scooped you up from the floor and kissed you again, this time it hurt. The hurt is so fucking good.

“I want,” the words were caught in your throat. Was this right or were you spiraling? “I want you, here. Right here.” He lowered you both down on the steps so that you were straddling him, you didn’t care for his comfort. You wanted him to feel you. “You remember the rules?” You whispered. Your tongue licks his lips and then dives in and he’s taken back, gripping your ass that is winding on his dick. You can feel him through the sweats. “Hmm…”

“I could never forget.”

“Don’t cum unless I say.” You smiled before kissing him again. You bucked your hips on and his eyes widened the lust pushing through. “You hear me, sir?” Your voice was low and filled with lust. “I want to fuck you right here.” He grew harder, flinching against you. “I want you to moan my name when you cum…”

Henry’s hands were in your hair, pulling you back so he could see your eyes. “I’ll do whatever the fuck you want me to, just fuck me.” He begged.

“Did you miss me?”

“Always.” He groaned lowering his head to your breast. He sprung the from the blouse and ripped it in two. “Always.”

You wanted to believe him, but the lingering hurt from the past month. “If you lie to me again,” You unsheathed him from his sweats and stroked your hand down the length of his cock. You swiped the precum that oozed from the tip down and pumped again. “Missing me is all you’ll know how to do, sir.”

“Fuck,” He jumped in your hand and sucked air in through his teeth.

“Understand?”

“I-,” He moaned when you increased your speed. “Oh fuck.”

“Yeah,” You were so turned on by the way you were making him feel. You now understood why he wanted to be in control of everything in the bed. It was sexy as fuck to watch what you could do to someone. You could watch them unravel, put them back together and do it again.

Henry pushed the pen skirt up and easily ripped the panties. He tossed them behind you and his fingers were in you. Prodding and working, you fucking missed him, even though you shouldn’t have. “Y/N.” He moaned. “I’m almost there.” He panted.

You stopped stroking him and began to ride his fingers, lifting yourself from them and then back on until the next time Henry pushed his cock in. He was fighting every urge he had to allow you some control in this thing. He threw his head back when he was fully inside of you and stilled.

But you wanted to fuck him. You wanted to ride him slow and draw out every fucking moment you could with him. So, if you regretted being here in the morning, the walk of shame wouldn’t have too much shame. Your walls sealed around him and he gripped your hips trying to stop you from fucking him, but you continued. Your rhythm was wild, you used his shoulders like an anchor and smiled down at him. His face was red and misted with sweat. His curls were soaked, and he was mesmerized. Your tits bounced in front of him and your eyes were rolling. “Y/N.” He warned and you felt his cock grow harder and then he growled, shuddering in your breast as if he had waited forever to cum inside of you.

“Seems you broke a rule.” You laughed and continued to fuck him. He made sounds that only made you wetter for him and the man was part machine. He had to be as his cock grew back rigid and he was still shuttering from coming the time before.

Henry licked his fingers and slapped them onto your clit before he pulled you towards him. His fingers knew how to work your pussy. Moving in circles and then another slap before he started back again, and you were about to cum. You didn’t want to. You shook your head and Henry looked up at you, “I won’t last another time. I ca-,” Your pussy shook around his and your thighs locked down as the pleasure surged through your body. “Shit!” He yelled before slamming into you and spilling his cum again. “Y/N.” He rasped.

The floor wasn’t a bad place to lay for the time being. Henry was wrapped around your naked body and there was no need for cover. He kept you warm enough.

“Was she the reason you didn’t kiss me?”

He exhaled. “She,” he paused. “I never know when she will decide to come back into my life.” He admits. “And up until you, it was easier not kissing, that way when it ended… there were no emotions in it. It was just fucking. I can’t do that with you, okay? A single glance from you could make my heart stop, a kiss would have shattered me.” Henry admitted.

It was quiet for a while. Just deep breaths and kisses all down your body. “Let’s go to bed.” You said finally. “My boss would be mad as hell if I missed tomorrow.”

“I’m throwing you resignation away, and if you’re having problems out of Mike… I’ll fire his ass.” He stood up and reached his hand out to you. “Come on, the bed is the proper place to make sure you’re so tired work isn’t an option.”

  His bed was comfortable, the sheets were so soft you were tempted to ask where he got them. You slept peacefully entangled in the muscled mass that is Henry. But it was not a complaint to make, being without him for so long made you grateful you could listen to him breathe and feel his heart against your back.

“Thank God.” The unfamiliar voice came from the bottom of the bed.

Your eyes narrowed as the bright sun made its way through the windows. The blonde hair was the first take away, it was Olivia. You scrambled from under Henry’s body. “Henry!” If she wanted a fight, you were ready to fight her, you’d just prefer to not be naked while doing it.

Henry groaned and once he caught sight of her he jolted up from the bed. “Olivia. You’re not supposed to be here.”

“Don’t be rude. I was just saying thank God.” Olivia leaned over his legs and looked at you. “I hated watching him mope around here. He looked like a puppy, sad because his bitch went away.”

“Bitch? I beg your pardon, Henry if you don’t get this woman.” Henry gave an admonished look to Olivia and gripped your hand. It didn’t comfort you. It just pissed you off. You snatched your hand away from him. “Who the fuck do you think you are?” One more foul word from her and you’d fight naked.

“Excuse my manners, darling. I’m Olivia and I am so glad you are here. It seems we have some rules to introduce.” She pushed up from the bed and left the room. “Chop, chop Henry, dear. Bring your bitch, I have a plane to catch.”

[tamakiamajikistentacles]

Disappearance 2: The Sighting {Katsuki Bakugo}

A/N: Please be sure to reblog, comment, review, and like if you enjoy! Feedback is what keeps me motivated! Thank you all so much for your support with this story so far, I hope you continue to enjoy it!

Disappearance Masterlist

He dreamt of Chiasa often.

On bad nights his mind created terrible scenarios about who she was with and where she was and what was happening to her. Other better nights let him fantasize about finding her and bringing her back to his agency with a smug grin as he reunited with the love of his life.

Most nights, though, his dreams were memories. Soft around the edges and sometimes fuzzy in detail, but as real as he could remember.

That night he had a dream about finding their first apartment for just themselves. It was going to be a far cry from sharing a townhome with Kaminari and Jiro, mostly because it wasn’t going to be as cluttered and full of ridiculous pranks but also because it would finally be theirs.

He could vividly remember coming home from one of the early meetings with the Hero Public Safety Commission about starting his own agency and seeing her in the sitting room practically vibrating with excitement. She’d pulled him down beside her and all but shoved her tablet into his face to look at what she’d found, declaring that their search was over.

And it had been. The building had twenty-four security and desk staff, keycard resident entry, and was in a safer neighborhood with a low crime rate. He could see it was a short walk to the nearest train station and if he got the approval for his agency and secured the building he wanted, it wouldn’t be a long commute at all. Two bedrooms was well within their budget and would allow her to have a dedicated office space for her work from home position instead of her current setup at the foot of their bed.

He didn’t realize he’d been grinning until she poked his cheek and asked an impatient, “Well?”

“Let’s apply.”

She let out a happy squeal as she threw her arms around his shoulders, kissing his face repeatedly as he tried to keep a hold on her tablet. Her grip only seemed to grow tighter the more he weakly fought her embrace.

“Katsuki, this is going to be amazing!” she laughed, kissing his temple one final time as she pulled back slightly to cuddle against him. This time he didn’t fight the embrace, instead wrapping an arm around her to keep her close.

He’d scoffed. “’Course it’ll be amazing. It’s you and me.”

“You and me,” she agreed with a smile.

He could hear her saying those words as clear as day in his memories. It had started as a joke about the first time they’d gone out alone without friends; he’d asked her if she wanted to go to a new mochi shop and she immediately went to text the rest of their friends before he stopped her, grunting, “You and me.”

After some time it just became theirs. Three words with just as much weight as I love you. It was a simple way to say more important things—“I’m here for you” and “We’re in this together” and “The two of us cannot be broken.”

It was a part of how their bond became as strong as it did, and he missed hearing it in person.

Cool, early September air was left behind as the door to his agency closed behind him. He wasn’t thrilled with the weather beginning to take a turn towards lower temperatures, knowing his quirk took longer to build up its power. As much as he hated being called a “slow starter” in the winter it wasn’t entirely untrue.

Hikari greeted him with a curt good morning as he passed her desk and slid a few papers his way without looking up. He grabbed them and in their place set down a travel mug of peppermint tea and a small blue bento, his own low mornin’ barely audible.

Making his way to his office he looked over the patrol routes for the day and the notations about the current goings-on of the areas. It was fairly run-of-the-mill with little suspected villain activity, a perfect time to allow some of the newer sidekicks and interns to tag along with his people for the day.

Surprisingly this was one of the things he enjoyed about running his own agency. Planning and strategizing were some of his strong suits despite how much he did enjoy blasting headfirst into battle when he could. But as the man in charge he liked being control of where his people were posted a lot too.

He had already decided who would be taking which patrol by the time everyone was gathered in the large conference room in their hero costumes, some more bleary-eyed than others. Mugs of coffee and tea billowed steam above the table and Kirishima’s branded shaker bottle stood taller than all of them.

Kaminari yawned lazily and Sero elbowed him in the ribs at the stern glare of their boss.

“Three sectors, little activity save for the corner tea shop on route 2B,” he started as everyone turned their eyes towards him. “Cellophane and Pinky, you two are taking the sidekicks to sector 1. Route A to Cellophane, B to Pinky. Choose your sidekicks and report it before you leave.”

The two heroes fist bumped and shot grins and thumbs up towards the sidekicks across the table from them. They were the best to get collaboration on the brain when it came to the newer recruits.

“Sector 2 goes to Red Riot and Chargebolt. Red, you’re on route A with the two interns and Chargebolt you’re taking route B so make sure that shitty shop isn’t getting worse.”

He knew that Kirishima was the perfect option for guiding the wide-eyed interns through some of their first tastes of the hero life. Plus, he was the best defense if trouble arose and backup would take time.

“I’m taking sector 3 myself. Questions?” When no one responded, he concluded, “Alright, get out there.”

Kaminari shot a smile to everyone he came across on his patrol. Chargebolt was a well-liked figure and regarded very highly as a personable hero when spotted in public. He was proud to have cultivated that good will with the people and was oftentimes the one who handled the media for the Dynamight agency alongside Kirishima, Red Riot’s popularity one of the only heroes higher than himself.

Quieter times to stop and chat with his fans were always his favorite but days like this that required more vigilance he did what he could with smiles and waves to those he saw. Even if there was only suspected villain activity at the tiny tea shop across from the mall he had to keep a close eye on it.

He tried to spend as much time as he could with the shop in view while still patrolling the rest of the route. Nothing of note caught his attention all morning and well into the afternoon.

Then the afterschool crowd and post workday crowds filled the area. He began to see a few suspicious characters that he reported back to the agency when he had a chance, but none of them gave any other indication of wrongdoing. He preferred to be thorough, though, just like Bakugo liked.

Half a dozen notes later, as the sun was low in the sky, he started to plan his evening once he got home. Jiro had the day off which meant she would spend most of it in the studio and bring home their favorite takeout. She was always in a great mood after a day in the studio too, and he loved seeing her so happy.

The tinkling bell of the tea shop’s door opening brought him from his thoughts and his gaze fell on a scraggly-haired brunette stepping into the evening air. From where he was down the street, he could see her pull the hand of a small boy to come stand by her on the sidewalk. Dark, matted hair sat atop his head and he scratched at the arm the woman held.

The closer he got the more he noticed about them—the woman’s ill-fitting dress and oversized sweater in much warmer contrast to the boy’s too short jeans and short sleeved tshirt. The boy shook from the cold and he quickened his pace, everything in him ready to shrug off his jacket and wrap the child in it while giving a few choice words to the mother.

As he approached he saw the woman’s eyes darting furiously as she hurriedly crossed towards one of the mall’s department store entrances, the boy shuffling along beside her as he went from scratching his arm to scratching his neck. Her grip on his arm looked tighter than it should be, and she walked quickly with no regard for if he could keep up with her longer strides.

Kaminari took in as many details as possibly as he began crossing too before stopping dead in his tracks in the crosswalk when the woman turned and said something to the boy. Her profile fit all of his observations in place and he tried to make himself move forward to confirm what he thought he was seeing.

By the time his body started to cooperate the duo had disappeared into the crowded department store and he was left at the door with only startled suspicions and half-formed what if scenarios in his mind. He had to tell someone, someone other than Bakugo who would surely fly off the handle on him for losing sight of the woman.

As he went to radio Kirishima, his comm came on with an incoming message from the redhead instead—“Charge, rendezvous in twenty at our starting point to head back to the agency?”

“Yeah,” he confirmed breathlessly. “Yeah, I’ll see you there.”

Kirishima nudged him in the side, concerned for his usually loud blonde friend who had barely said a word on their journey back to the agency. “Are you okay, man? You’re never this quiet.”

Kaminari chewed the inside of his cheek as he pulled on his street clothes. With a sigh he ruffled his hair with his hand before rubbing his face.

“I saw something weird on my route at the tea shop.”

“Oh damn, what happened? Did you let Bakugo know yet? You know he needs those villain updates as soon as possible.”

He waved his hands to stop the questions. “No, I didn’t tell him yet but it wasn’t… I don’t know if it was villains.”

The redhead’s eyebrows knitted together. “Then what was so weird?”

“Right before you radioed me near the end of patrol I was finishing notes on some shady people around the shop when this lady and kid stepped out. They both looked, I don’t know, greasy? And she was dressed warm while the little boy she was with was shivering in just a tshirt.”

“That’s not exactly our kind of suspicious, dude, but we can—"

“But the fact that she looked like Chiasa is suspicious!”

Kirishima froze, whispering, “What?”

He nodded. “She looked like Chiasa with longer hair.”

“With… with a kid?”

“Yeah, little dark-haired kid that kept scratching at his arms and neck. I felt so bad for the little guy, he looked so cold—”

“Kaminari, focus!” Kirishima said harshly, cutting off his rambling. “We need to tell Bakugo. Even if it’s not her, he needs this lead. He has to see it through. On the off chance it is actually her… I don’t even know how he could react.”

“Plus she has a lot of explaining to do about where she’s been,” Kaminari sighed. “It’s been so long.”

Kirishima nodded sadly. “It has, but we need to let Bakugo lead on this. Whether or not it was really her and will get him closer to finding her, I don’t know. But he needs to do this. It’s the only way for him to move forward.”

Closing their lockers, they gathered their bags and made their way to their small shared office. The day being fairly quiet aside from the two brunettes being sighted allowed them to finish their patrol reports quickly and send them to Bakugo for his review.

They knew he waited until all reports were received to begin looking them over and they had never been more grateful for Mina’s inability to focus, knowing for a fact that she was always the last person to submit her reports. Passing her still in costume talking animatedly to the sidekicks about their day let them know that this time wasn’t going to be any different. It allowed them to speak with Bakugo before he had to read the information and hopefully let them do damage control too.

Hikari was just leaving his office as they came to the doorway, a tired smile on her lips as she shuffled the papers in her hands.

Kaminari knocked on the doorframe as she passed them to head back to her desk and without looking up was called in by their friend and boss.

“What?” he grunted, continuing to loosen his gauntlets to set them aside. Unlike the rest of them he preferred to write his reports before changing completely.

Kaminari cleared his throat awkwardly, feeling Kirishima’s hand on his shoulder for support. As long as he’d known Bakugo and been on the receiving end of his temper and explosions, this had to be one of the most nerve-wracking conversations he was going to start.

“I’ve got some news from my patrol today.”

Red eyes snapped up to meet his. “Villains at the tea shop? What happened? Was it in your report? You never called for backup and I know we didn’t have anyone detained in any of our sectors.”

He spoke quickly, his shoulders tensing with each word as he prepared himself to don his gauntlets once again to find whoever was stirring up trouble in his agency’s territory.

“No, no, it was just an observation but I wanted to tell you about it in person—”

“Then spit it out!”

“I think… I think it’s possible that I saw Chiasa come out of the tea shop with a little dark-haired boy. I’m not one-hundred percent sure if it was her but it sure as hell looked like her.”

Bakugo stood rigid behind his desk. Over four years of not a single clue as to where she was or if she was safe and now she reappeared right in his agency’s backyard. If it was her.

He would pull all the surveillance he could find in the area based on Kaminari’s report and go through it with a fine-toothed comb. He would know if it were her. There was no one he knew better.

If he decided it was her then their patrol routes were about to get a shakeup and he was about to get answers years in the making. But that was for him to know, at least for now.

“I’ll review your report. Send Hikari back on your way out and I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said evenly.

The two other heroes exchanged surprised looks, expecting a much bigger reaction than a few long moments of silence. They watched him sit down and start his computer, his body language tense but not to the level they had anticipated.

“You don’t want to—”

“I’ll see you both tomorrow,” he repeated, eyes flicking up to see their stunned faces. He watched them blankly until they seemed to take the hint ad turned to leave.

He sat alone typing his report after making his request to Hikari to go through the proper channels for the surveillance footage he wanted and warning her that he would likely need more after reviewing Kaminari’s report. She didn’t seem to mind, letting him know that she would tell him as soon as the requested film came in.

So until then he sat in his office allowing himself to grasp onto this small straw of hope, holding tight to the first real evidence he’d had in years that he might be able to use to bring her home.

A/N: Please be sure to reblog, comment, review, and like if you enjoy! Feedback is what keeps me motivated!

Disappearance Masterlist

[xmxisxforxmaybe]

Elliot, Just a Tech

Summary: Plagued by not having Admin rights on your work computer, you contact the IT department expecting to talk to your usual guy. However, you are greeted by someone new.

A/N: Consider this post-show

WC: 2596

Warnings: None

You looked over the icons on your desktop for the eleventh time, dragging the old version of Adobe into the trash for the tenth time, and growling with frustration as the error message appeared for what felt like the hundredth time.

Please enter an Administrator’s Username and Password.

After the great email phishing scam the month prior, the IT department had been directed to revoke all employee’s Admin rights to their computers. It wasn’t your fault your colleagues were too dumb to realize that you should not click on email that has been flagged as spam, even if it is a version of your boss’s name: Mattthew Whitman has scheduled a meeting with you at 9 pm!

As if Matthew spelled with three ts wasn’t enough to deter someone, scheduling a meeting at 9 at night should have been, not to mention the exclamation point to top it all off—no one ever enthusiastically scheduled a meeting. Ever.

Alas, no less than 13 people had opened the email, severely compromising the integrity of the network.

You needed to get rid of the old version of Adobe in order for your network’s cloud to allow the download of the updated version, so you were left with no choice but to submit a ticket to the IT department.

You and Matt, no relation to Mattthew your boss, had had several Zoom sessions since the start of the quarantine, mostly thanks to your need to actually get some work done. With so many more people on your network, the IT department was doing the best it could to make sure everyone was achieving basic functionality.

Opening a new work order, you quickly filled in your information and snapped a screen shot of the error message. In less than a minute, you had an email inviting you to a Zoom session.

“Matt’s really on it today,” you said while opening the link and waiting for him to start the session.

You had just glanced away to check your To-Do list when someone opened the Zoom session and you paused, staring at the downturned face of someone who was definitely not Matt.

“Hi,” you greeted awkwardly.

“Hi,” he answered, still not looking into the camera.

“Where’s Matt?”

The stranger looked into the camera, clearly caught off-guard.

“Uh, he’s off today.”

“So they finally unchained him from his desk—good for him!”

The stranger’s eyes widened a little in amusement, but he didn’t smile which caused your grin to quickly fade.

“Are you . . .” the stranger trailed off as he glanced at his other desktop monitor. “Y/N?”

“I am. And you are?”

“Elliot.”

“Are you the new Supervisor they were hiring for last week?”

“Nope. Just a Tech.”

“All right. Well, hi, Elliot, just a Tech. I’m in dire need of installing an update, which I cannot do because my colleagues are dumbasses.”

This time Elliot did smile, and you found yourself reaching up to fix the wild bun on the top of your head, wishing you had actually taken some time out not to look like a troll who had crawled out from under its bridge.

“I see that you can’t install Adobe’s update without administrative permission.”

“Yup. That’s my issue, I think.”

“I want to try something first,” Elliot said, concentrating on the task at hand as he looked away from the camera and to his other monitor.

“Can you locate your system preferences? You can find it by clicking on the appl-“

“Done. What do you want me to go into?”

Elliot looked back into the camera, then gave you a series of steps which you quickly followed.

“I am only semi-illiterate when it comes to technology,” you said, trying again to get him to smile and this time it worked.

Elliot adjusted his headset and lowered his eyes as he grinned. “You wouldn’t believe the things I’ve had to explain over the past few days.”

“Oh, I would absolutely believe them. I’ve talked three people in my department off a ledge just by explaining the magical powers of “Command + Z.”

Elliot chuckled, and the sound of his laughter filtering through the mic on his headset made you want to stay on the call as long as you could stretch it out.

“It looks like the program is not responding. I’ll need to take remote control of your desktop.”

“Have at it.”

You watched as Elliot worked, waiting for your mouse to start moving across the screen, but nothing happened.

“Uh, do you have any error messages on your end?”

“Nope.”

“Let me try one more thing,” Elliot mumbled, his eyes narrowed in concentration.

You sat quietly, letting him work, which gave you an excuse to just look at him and the more you looked at him, the more attractive you realized he was.

Elliot had a stylish haircut, although it looked like his fade had grown in quite a bit thanks to the lockdown. Tufts of straight black hair stood up on either side of his headset and you wondered if they’d be stiff or soft to the touch. His eyes were large, clearly the most enticing of the features of his face, except for his angular jaw that made you softly smile in appreciation of its masculinity. Elliot may consider himself “just a Tech,” but he was a damn good looking one.

“Do you have a girlfriend?” you blurted out, forgetting all of your manners thanks to the lack of social interaction.

Elliot fumbled as he was typing and looked into the camera, his lips parted.

“Oh, lord. That came out . . . blunt. I asked because Matt’s been loving working from home. His wife just had a baby and even though he’s chained up in his home office at all hours of the day he still gets to spend time with the people he cares about. Which is what I was trying to ask you—if you were enjoying working from home.” You finished with an awkward laugh, and a barrage of mental curses to yourself.

Elliot’s lip turned up with a quirk. “My sister stops by to bring supplies, but I live alone.”

“Oh—well, that’s nice you have someone to interact with. I still see my sister, too.”

“I like this. Not having to interact with people.”

“The only downside is the verbal vomit you spew when talking to someone new because you no longer understand social protocol.”

Elliot laughed again, that same breathy little chuckle that upgraded from drawing your attention to making you shift in your chair.

“I’ve never been particularly adept at social protocol. Hence . . . just a Tech.”

You laughed and Elliot must have liked the sound because he stopped to watch you, his eyes flicking over your face through the camera.

“You need to update the Zoom app for me to take over your desktop. I don’t know why yours seems to have this glitch, but are you ready for the steps?”

You grabbed your pen and a fresh post-it. “Lay it on me, Tech.”

Elliot smirked, then listed the steps. “I’m going to close the call, but as soon as you’ve completed the steps, click on our Zoom link again.”

“Got it!”

Your eyes connected and lingered for just a moment before Elliot closed out the call.

You missed him immediately.

“Oh, Matt. If I had known Zoom calls could be like this, I’d have dumped you long ago.”

You shook your head to clear it and began to go through the steps Elliot had listed for you. You wanted to get this right to prove to him that you weren’t incompetent.

Having successfully, and quickly, completed all of the steps on your Post-it, you reinitiated the Zoom meeting.

“You’re quick.”

“I’m sure you’re much, much faster,” you said.

“I can only go as fast as the web connection, unfortunately,” Elliot replied, staring into his other monitor again.

“Let’s try this again—remember the steps to give me remote access?”

“I think so . . .” you said, trailing off as you began to click.

You paused, then your mouse began to move without you.

“Excellent job,” Elliot praised and you knew you wanted him to praise you again . . . preferably away from a computer, maybe in a bedroom—

“All right. So I need to delete, reinstall, and wait for an error message that’s been popping up making this a little harder for people to do themselves.”

You watched Elliot control your computer, and once he got to a point where the app was updating, he paused and turned back to the camera.

“About that girlfriend thing you asked me earlier. Are you seeing . . . anyone?”

“I was . . . about six months ago. By the time I was ready to get back on the horse, the plague struck.”

Elliot chuckled. “Not exactly the best time to start dating.”

“No,” you said softly laughing, too. “I agree with you, about the whole nice not seeing people thing, though. For me, it’s more about setting my own schedule. I get so much more done without constant interruptions just to chat.”

“Kinda like we are now?”

“Hey! We are waiting on a signal to go to space and come back. It’s only polite to give it some time so it doesn’t feel like it’s being watched—like a watched pot never boils kinda thing.”

Elliot smiled, his eyes meeting yours and lingering as you smiled back.

A new box popped up breaking your eye contact and Elliot went back to work.

“Fixed. You shouldn’t have to worry about the next update. We’ve been reporting this glitch regularly so the developers should have it fixed by then.”

“Thanks, Elliot. I really appreciate it.”

“It’s my job,” he said with a slight shrug.

“Well, enjoy the rest of your afternoon,” you said, wishing you had a reason to stay connected.

“Yeah.” Elliot replied, looking at you again with those hypnotic, grey-blue eyes. If they could impress you through a screen, imagine what they looked like in person. “You too.”

You smiled at each other and when neither of you closed the call, you both laughed, Elliot looking a little shy and you looking a little embarrassed.

“I’ll close it. Don’t forget to fill in your survey so big brother knows I did my job.”

“Five-star service, all the way!”

Elliot chuckled again, and you shivered this time, the sound of his voice working its way through your entire body, filling you with a pleasant warmth.

“Bye,” he said, tucking his bottom lip between his teeth as he ended the meeting.

When the session closed out, you began to think of ways to break your computer so you needed to talk to him again, but before you could pull a purposefully dumbass move like downloading a virus, a sticky note popped up on your desktop.

212 555 0179

Probably breaking work protocol, but text me sometime if you want.

~Elliot, just a Tech

“Oh my god!” you gasped, glancing up at your camera to make sure you really were disconnected, unable to shake that feeling like someone was watching you. You reached for your packet of stickers and placed a fresh one over the camera of your computer—better paranoid than sorry!

“Should I text him now? Is that desperate? Or is it mean to make him wait? Fuck, fuck, fuck,” you said, pacing around your small office space.

“Just a simple hello,” you decided. “First, gotta find my phone.”

After walking through your apartment, you found your phone in the kitchen, unsurprisingly because snacking had become your favorite hobby since the lockdown began. It was a blessing and curse to be able to eat whenever you wanted.

You took your cell back to your computer and smiled again at Elliot’s virtual Post-it note and typed in his number and contact information.

Hi, Elliot ☺️

Hi, Y/N. I hope your emoji means I didn’t creep you out

That’s what this one 😱 is for

Lol. Got it. I don’t really do the emoji thing. They kinda confuse me

Well then! Maybe that’s why we met? You know all the real techy stuff, and I know all the silly techy stuff. I can teach you to emoji like a boss 😎

Sunglasses = boss? Shades? Because bosses are shady?

🤣more like the shades mean you’re just too cool to care. Like a boss attitude. But actually 🤔that’s a really great analysis!

See? Confusing 👽

Confusing as in no one knows what’s really “out there” huh? Wow. I like your way of emojiying (new word, just go with it)

Lol really?

I do!

Can I ask you something?

Sure

Which emoji makes you think of me?

👀🦋💬🧸🧨 😰📱😃  

You stared at Elliot’s text, a goofy grin on your face as you tried to puzzle out his emoji story. The eyes, okay, but the rest was sort of a mystery.

Lol! I need to do this in pieces so you can tell me if I’m right or wrong

Ok

So, you saw me and thought I was nice? Pretty? Delicate?

Lol pretty

Ok. Thanks, btw. We talked and then, oh boy, this is tough. An exploding bear? Talking to me made you feel like you were going to die? This is not good.

🤣 Poor choice of the firecracker, clearly, but take them as two separate things. What do you associate with a teddy bear?

Um, childhood . . . safety? Protection?

Close! Warm, safe. You seem like a warm, safe person to talk to.

I am grinning like an idiot right now. You are so sweet. But on to the firecracker? Wait! Like sassy? Like I have a firecracker personality?

Yes! You’re funny in a forward, witty way. I guess the “She’s a real firecracker” thing might be a bit outdated.

I LOVE IT. I gotta keep going now. This part is easy, I think. Sooo even though you felt nervous, you took a chance and left me your cell, and now you know it was a good choice because you made me happy.

Almost—when you texted, it made ME happy. Hence 😃 and I have big eyes so I used the big eye happy face.

I.am.dying. That’s the cutest thing anyone has ever done over a text in the history of the world!

Lol. Is there a dramatic emoji because I don’t think anything I’ve ever done is that great.

This WAS great. I’m serious

Do you wanna maybe have dinner over Zoom? God how lame is that?

You respect the quarantine—not lame at all. I’d love to!

They let me unchain myself around 6. I’ll send you a link at 7?

Perfect! But what are we going to order? Shouldn’t we order from the same place to make it more authentic?

Do you like Chinese?

Who doesn’t?

You looked at the location Elliot sent and laughed with the irony that it was your favorite take-out spot.

How did you know that was my favorite take-out spot?

Lucky guess 🤷🏽‍♂️

Well, lucky Elliot who is just a Tech. I’ll “see” you at 7. If we order the same dinner, I’ll consider it a sign that we are meant to take over the world together by eliminating one dumbass’s access to a computer at a time 🦸‍♀️🦸‍♂️

Lol except that would leave me out of a job

We will find you something more meaningful, I promise

Make me a list 😃

You got it! Can’t wait for 7 ☺️

Me either

* * * * *

Tags: @ramimedley @clumsybookworm18 @r-ahh-mi @aboutthatmelancholystorm​ @alottanothing​ @sherlollydramoine​ @txmel​ @diasimar​ @hah0106​ @flipper-kisses​ @rami-malek-trash​ @ramisgirl512​ @dancing-disco-deacy​ @just-a-queen-bee​ @eightiesriot​

Maybe a Part II? 

[temilyrights]

the case of us (chapter eleven)

Jack Sloane x Reader

A/N: Okay, we’re finally here. The last chapter. It's been a wild ride! Thank you all for joining me on this journey. I’m linking the dresses Jack and Reader wear later on in this chapter. My description doesn’t do Jack’s dress nearly enough justice. (Thank you for all your suggestions and this isn’t really what any of the colours you suggested but I saw it and fell in love). Also @x-multifandom-trash-x​ I may have added an adaptation of the text thing you tagged me in....Also, gotta thank @sassystrongsexysloane​ for being my sounding bored and motivating me to write aha. Wow, so this really is the end. Really thank you guys for reading/commenting/liking. I'm honestly kind of sad it's over. I hope you're happy with how I decided to end it. It took me forever to decide how to do it because I just kept adding more ahah. Anyway, I’ll shut up now and as always, feedback is welcome and very much appreciated :)

Jack | Reader (just pretend there’s a slit in reader’s dress)

Read on AO3

Chapter Ten

You sat on the cold autopsy table watching Jimmy pace back and forth, hair sticking up in different directions due to how many times he’d run his hands through it. “This was going to be the celebration we never had! But if I can’t make it or you guys can’t-” 

Jumping off the table you grab Jimmy’s arms halting his steps. “There’s no way you won’t be there and it’s still two days away Jimmy, I’m sure the case will be wrapped up by then.” 

Jimmy and Breena were throwing an anniversary party, they’d sent out invitations months ago but this was your third day working the case for SecNav and it didn’t seem like it would be wrapping up anytime soon so Jimmy was beginning to freak out. He wanted you all there and you wanted to be there. It was just the reality of that happening was lowering by the day. 

“You think so?” 

“I do. I don’t care if we wrap the case 10 minutes before the party begins, I’ll make sure everyone is there.” At your earnest expression, Jimmy relaxes slightly, and you drop your arms from him. 

“Thank you.” 

“Not a problem.” You smirk. “Now, I need to go get a book from Jack. I’ll see you later.” You exchange goodbye’s before you quickly make your way to the elevator, probably too giddy at the thought of seeing her. 

Since the evening at her house, you hadn’t really seen her even during office hours. This case was a hard one. Gibbs had you all working pretty much constantly. The only free time you got consisted of you heading home to catch a few hours of sleep, shower and maybe eat before you’d be heading back to the office. So, apart from one coffee break that you’d managed to catch together and a couple of times over the last few days she’d appear to drop off evals or watch an interrogation you hadn’t seen her. 

And it sounded pathetic, but you missed her. 

Jack’s sitting at her desk when you enter, a bright smile lights up her face when she sees you and it has you relaxing for the first time in days. “Hey.” 

“And to what do I owe this honour?” She grins, dropping her pen and turning her chair to face you. 

“Do you happen to own a copy of Hollin’s Criminal Behaviour?” 

“Yeah, on the bookshelf. For the case?” 

You hum, making your way over and start to scan the shelves for your target. “I remember reading it in college, it had a reference to a case that could help with this.” You shrug frowning. “Thought it was worth a look, that’s if I can find it-”

You suck in a sharp breath as Jack comes up behind you, fingers brushing your waist as the whole of her front pushes into your back and she leans over grabbing the book from the shelf. “This the one you looking for?” Her voice tickles your skin and you have to resist the urge to squeeze your thighs together, her voice sounding like pure sex. You swallow, nodding your head wordlessly as you take the book from her and try to control the blush rising up your cheeks. 

Jack steps back, a devilish smirk on her face as she makes her way back towards her desk as if she wasn’t aware of the effect she was having on you. “You’re a cruel woman, Jacqueline Sloane.” Jack laughs as she leans over her desk with a wiggle to her hips that has your eyes zeroing in on her ass before trailing down her legs to her heeled feet. She’s wearing a tight black pencil skirt with a zip down the back that was demanding your attention along with a champagne satin blouse. “Very cruel.”

Jack turns around humming, as you approach. “Is this where I’m supposed to pretend to be sorry?” Rolling your eyes, you drop the book onto the coffee table and then pull Jack into you. She wraps an arm around your waist pulling you in closer and arches a brow. You cup her cheek, a smile spreading across your face as you just take her in. 

“Hi.” 

“Hi” Jack’s expression softens. “Shouldn’t you be getting back to work?” 

“Yeah, probably but I’m really quite happy here at the moment.”

“Oh, well, I can’t argue with that.” 

You hum, your eyes moving to focus on Jack’s lips which are smirking devilishly and god, you really wanted to kiss her. “I think we should pick up where we left off the other night.” 

Jack’s nose scrunches up. “Really? In my office?” 

You shrug, stepping forward, prompting Jack backwards until her bottom hits the desk. “Why not? Plenty of fantasies involving this place.” 

Jack pushes your shoulder, as she huffs a laugh. “Behave.”

“Where’s the fun in that, Jacqueline?” 

Jack’s eyes darken, her gaze flicking to your lips and then back to your eyes.  “I like when you call me Jacqueline.”

“That’s good to know.” You brush your thumb over Jack’s lip, a smirk blossoming on your face when you hear her suck in a sharp breath. “...Jacqueline.” 

“Y/N,” Jack warns. 

“Yes?” 

“Step. Back.” You pout but don’t move, and Jack rolls her eyes playfully. “I don’t want the first, well second, time I kiss you to be in my office when we’re both tired and also half concentrated on a case where someone could interrupt us at any second.” Good to know you weren’t the only one thinking about that kiss still...it’d been the main contender in your dreams (day and night) since it happened. How Jack felt in your arms, the feeling of her lips and the way she’d gripped your hair. You swallow roughly. 

“One, I didn’t know you were such a romantic,” You get a jab in your side for that, causing you to release a yelp and step back. “and two, you bringing up that kiss isn’t exactly motivating me not to kiss you.” 

“Pick the book up and get the hell out of my office.” 

“Bossy.” You mutter and then immediately duck seconds before a lollipop flies over your head. “Hey!”

Jack walks around her desk, falling into her chair with a smug smile on her face that has you rolling your eyes. 

“Fine. I get the message. I’m going.” Smiling you make your way to her office door. You pause before opening it though, turning back to see Jack shamelessly checking you out, you arch a brow. “Enjoying yourself?” 

“Immensely.”

You chuckle. “Oh, hey, you’re still coming to Jimmy’s anniversary party, right?” 

Jack nods. “If the case is wrapped up.”

“Ok, cool.” You swing on your heels, chewing your lip as you wonder if you should ask the question you’ve been toying around in your head for the last day. Jack’s watching you closely and it makes your chicken out. “I’ll meet you there I guess.” 

Jack smirks. “Or you could pick me up?”

Your cheeks flush pink as a smile takes over your face “Or yeah, I could do that.”

“Good, now go do your job.” 

“Yes, boss.” You were pretty sure if you hadn’t moved and shut the door behind you another lollipop would have been flung at you. 

----

The case is finally wrapped up Saturday afternoon and you’re practically dead on your feet by the time you finish your report and hand it into Gibbs. He takes one look at you and the rest of the team, all in similar states of drowsiness and huffs. “Alright, go home and get some shut-eye.” 

“Oh, thank god.” Nick sighs from his desk, perking up for the first time that day. You quickly grab your bag and switch off your computer.

“See you all at six!” You shout back to the team as you make your way to the elevator receiving a variety of groans and grins in response. 

You manage a couple of hours of sleep when you get home and wake up feeling semi-human and start to get ready for the evening. Your dress for the night was gorgeous. It was a midnight blue colour and you may have picked it out with Jack in mind. It was a silk midi halter neck dress that flatters your figure. The criss-cross spaghetti straps held the back of your dress together, showing off your back all the way down to your waist but your favourite part of the dress was the slit that went up above your knee. You paired the dress with a pale gold clutch and strappy heels, you keep your hair down styling it nicely and applied your makeup, spending way too much time trying to get the perfect wing with your eyeliner.  

Your heart’s thumping in your chest when you pull up outside Jack’s house. You shoot her a text informing her you were here and then get out the car and lean against it as you wait for her. 

Your jaw nearly hits the floor when she exits. She looked like a literal goddess in her dress. It was a black chiffon material that was covered in metallic purple leaves and golden birds. It was a wrap dress with a flowy skirt and billowy sleeves with a deep plunging v neck that showed you ample cleavage while still looking completely sophisticated. She’d paired it with a simple pair of nude heels and a matching bag. Her hair was straight for a change and you could feel yourself heating up at the sight, her smirk devilish as she approached. 

“You look...gorgeous.” You swallow roughly and the second she steps in reach you pull her flush against you. Jack wraps her arms around your neck, clutch still in her hands as she laughs softly. 

“I’m glad you like it, cost me an arm and a leg.” 

“Definitely worth it.” You hum, your eyes dropping to her cleavage then up to her mouth and then back to her eyes which are filled with amusement. 

“You look stunning too. I like you in blue.” Your cheeks heat up as one of Jack’s hands moves from your neck to trail down your back, stopping and teasing at the waist of your dress. 

“Jack.” You warn, fingers digging into the soft material on her hips. Jack smiles smugly and you move to cup her cheek pulling her in closer to you.

“Nuh-uh.” Jack stops you, pulling her head back as you pout. “You’ll ruin my lipstick.” 

“Seriously?!” You moan, mouth hanging open as Jack steps back and with a smug smirk walks around you opens the passenger’s side of the car and slips in. You tip your head back groaning. She was actually going to kill you. 

----

Because of how busy the case had been, you’d spent the whole week in professional work mode, meaning people (well, Ellie) didn’t have the opportunity to question what had happened between you and Jack. No one could really work out how the two of you were either because whenever Jack appeared she was in work mode as well. She’d shoot you a few smirks or smiles and you think Ellie noticed a couple of times, but it wasn’t enough to form a conclusion of what had happened. 

Jack and you had never clarified what the two of you were and to be honest, you weren’t in any rush to have that conversation. You knew you liked Jack and that she liked you too so that was enough, however that didn’t help you with tonight. Part of you wanted to scream from the rooftops that the woman of your dreams was into you but a bigger part of you wanted to keep this between the two of you, at least for now. 

“Jack?” You ask, switching off the engine of the car as you look from the venue and towards her. She hums, as she sorts through her clutch. You don’t respond and Jack looks over to you with a frown. 

“Everything okay?” 

“Yeah. I just...Tonight. Can we keep us on the down-low, it’s not that I don’t want-” 

Jack reaches out and squeezes your hand, halting your words. “I’d like that. I could really do with at least a few weeks without Torres’ comments and the looks from the rest of the team. Plus, it makes it more fun if people don’t know.” 

You breathe a sigh of relief, squeezing Jack’s hand with a soft smile. “Thank you.” 

Jimmy’s outdone himself. The venue is beautiful. A decent sized room filled with round tables, a dance floor and a bar already surrounded by guests. You spot Ellie and Nick standing at the bar and wave at them. Ellie waves back and signals her head to the side of the room where the rest of the team were. Gibbs, Ducky, Vance, Kasie, and Tim and Delilah. 

Jack laughs from beside you when she sees Gibbs. He looks widely uncomfortable and you know this is his literal idea of hell. A room full of people, half of who he doesn’t know but who he’ll probably end up having to socialise with while also wearing a suit, which looked brand new so probably wasn’t that comfortable. “Enjoying yourself, cowboy?” Jack teases when you reach the group. 

Gibbs grunts causing the rest of the group to start laughing. Everyone falls into conversation. Jack and Vance walk away from the group, presumingly to get drinks and you talk with Delilah. This was her first night away from the twins for a while and you could tell she was enjoying it. You want to say hello to Jimmy but every time you see him he’s already talking to someone while looking a little frazzled, so you decide to wait for later. 

It’s not long before it’s time for food. You make your way over to the table the team had claimed as their own. Jack’s sitting down already, a free seat on one side of her that she signals to. You grin and make your way over but before you get close enough Ducky takes the chair. 

“Sorry.” Jack mouths, disappointment clear and you shrug, trying to hide your pout. There’s a seat free in between Nick and Kasie so you take that one. Jack was basically opposite you, so it wasn’t too bad. 

Food is served, conversation is had and after dessert plates are cleared away Jimmy rises from his chair. He’s sitting a few tables away from you all, he clinks his glasses a little hard causing it to smash in his hands. Nick sniggers from next to you and both you and Ellie elbow him in the side at exactly the same time. “Hey!” Nick whines as the rest of the table laugh, Jack looking at you with a playful roll of the eyes and smirk.

Jimmy clears his throat. “Okay, let’s try that again. Breena and I want to thank you all for coming. This party has been a long time coming, and I’d like to thank Y/N for keeping me calm throughout the week as I freaked out on more than one occasion that this was going to be a repeat of what happened with our wedding all those years ago.” Jimmy nods towards you with a smile, and you lift a glass up at him and smile, your cheeks heat up as everyone turns to look at you. You see Tim and Gibbs exchange a look as they remember the day years before. It’s weird to think that the team was completely different now and that there was an ocean of people you’d never had the opportunity to meet. It makes you sad on occasion but then you look at Jack, as you do now, and you decide it doesn’t matter. 

“So, I asked you all here today to celebrate Breena and I. We met around this time 10 years ago and she brought a light into my life I didn’t even realise I was missing. It hasn’t always been easy, sometimes it’s been damn right difficult, but I wouldn’t ever change any of it. Getting to love you, Breena has been one of the greatest honours of my life, along with being Victoria’s father.” Your eyes flick from Jimmy and towards Jack. She’s watching Jimmy with a soft smile on her face and your heartbeat begins to pick up. “With the job I do, it gets difficult to see the good in the world, sometimes the bad just seems like too much, that no matter what I do there’s always going to be something evil lurking around the corner. And maybe that’s true, but it’s also true that coming home to you, no matter my day, will never fail to lift my mood because just being near you or hearing your voice fills me with a sense of calm and belonging. Our love isn’t perfect because we aren’t perfect but it’s real. It makes me a better man and a better father. It has kept me strong and helped me to grow into the person I am today, and every day I come home and see you I’m reminded of how lucky I am that you walked into my life and decided I was worthy of your love. So, I want to thank you Brenna, and Victoria, for being my home, for being my world.” 

“Wow, Jimmy’s got skills,” Nick mutters from next to you but you don’t acknowledge it, can’t. Your eyes remain fixed on the side of Jack’s head as you think about how the thing between the two of you could easily become love...You wonder if it already is because you look at her and you feel that sense of calm and belonging. You’d had feelings for Jack long before you admitted them to yourself and yes, she could set your body on fire with just a look but she could also make your chest swell with something words couldn’t describe, and that’s what love is right? Indescribable. 

Jack turns her head and looks at you, her eyes are misty, and your emotions must be all over your face because Jack sucks in a breath. Her eyes soften with a smile just for you, and yep, you’re a goner. 

----

Jack disappears once people start to make their way to the dance floor. You search the whole room for her and eventually find her standing outside on the patio. Her arms are wrapped around her waist as she looks up at the sky. You can still hear the music sounding from the hall as you make your way to stand beside her, pausing only to place your drinks on a table. Jack doesn’t move but you know she knows you’re here. “Everything okay?” You ask quietly, lightly bumping your shoulder against hers as you look up to the sky. It’s a clear night and the stars shine brightly down on you. 

“Yeah, just…” Jack blows out a breath and she doesn’t need to use any more words because you get it. 

“Yeah, me too.” Jack smiles and lightly bumps her shoulder back against yours. A song you recognise starts sounding from the hall, and you grin. “Come with me.” 

You tug at her arm, prompting her to drop her arms from her waist and you tangle one of your hands with hers and drag her down the side of the building. “Y/N, where are we-” 

“Ssh.” You whisper and know Jack has rolled her eyes without even turning to look at her. You look around the space, stopping when you reach a slightly secluded area. It’s dark enough that people wouldn’t immediately notice the two of you if they came outside, but still close enough that you can hear the music, even if it’s slightly muffled. You turn back to look at Jack, who’s watching you with an amused smile. “Dance with me?”

Jack grins and tugs you close. Your hands remain clasped together as she holds you against her and you both move to the song. You move your free hand to fiddle with the ends of Jack’s hair. You loved her beachy waves but her with straight hair just did something to you. “You look beautiful tonight.” You say as Jack spins you out. 

“I know,” Jack smirks, and you roll your eyes and spin yourself back into her. She grasps your other hand and you sway, your back pushed into her front as she holds you close. Jack sighs as she rests her head on your shoulder. Your eyes fall shut as you bask in the moment. It still felt a little surreal, that this was your new reality. That you could touch and hold her like this without fear of rejection.

“Thank you.” The words escape your lips in a breathy whisper. 

Jack hums, “For what?” 

“For everything. For being you.” Jack smiles into your shoulder, placing a soft kiss against the exposed skin. She drops one of your hands and you turn back around to face her, cupping her cheek and lightly brushing a thumb over her open lips before meeting her eyes. “Can I kiss you yet?” It’s not a whine but it’s almost one and Jack smirks but instead of answering moves her hand to the back of your neck and pulls you in. 

And oh, god, it’s better than the first time. The kiss is tantalizingly soft and slow and full of things that it was way too early to say. She pulls away all too quickly with a light nip to your lip that has you wanting to pull her right back to you. “Was it worth the wait?” Jack’s face is full of smug satisfaction so you assume your eyes are slightly glazed. 

“You’re the romantic, you tell me.” 

“You think you're cute, huh?” Jack rolls her eyes, lightly poking you in the side causing you to laugh. 

“Oh, I’m damn right adorable.” 

Jack snorts. “You wish.” Laughter sounds from the hall drawing both of your attention, Jack sighs and steps away. “We should go back inside.” 

You pout. As much as it was the right thing to do no part of you wanted to return to a hall full of people and not stay right here in Jack’s arms. “5 more minutes.” 

Jack tugs your hand. “Come on, It’s Jim-”

“Make me.” Jack freezes, swallowing roughly as her eyes darken in the moonlight. You bite your lip, preening at Jack and that’s all it takes for her to pull you back in flush against her. She leans in, her mouth coming to hover by your ear. 

“Fine, but you might moan a little.” and oh. That definitely wasn’t fair. Jack captures your lips in a kiss that has your toe’s curling. Your hand cups her jaw, the other wrapped around her waist to keep her close while Jack’s hand finds its way to your hair. She walks you backwards until you hit the wall. 

“Not motivating me to go inside.” You say in between kisses. Jack makes a noise of frustration every time you pull your mouth away from hers. 

“Shut up.” Her lips slam back into yours and your tongues fight for dominance. Jack pushes you further into the wall, her hand moving to tease at the slit of your dress and you moan, thighs squeezing together. Jack smirks against your mouth and takes control of the kiss. You don’t try to fight it, your hand skims down her back and palms her ass causing Jack to groan into your mouth. In retaliation, Jack’s hand sneaks further up the slit in your dress, shifting it upwards as her fingers tease the top of your thigh and you wiggle against her, your body already aching for her touch. You nibble her lip when she just smirks. 

“Really?” You say breathlessly. “You made me wait to kiss you but your fine with basically fucking me against a wall?” 

Jack laughs. “No, just getting you worked up as punishment.” 

Your eyes close and your head tips back when Jack runs her nails down from where they rest on your thigh. “It’s working.” Jack kisses up your neck, making her way to your earlobe which she roughly tugs before instantly soothing it with a swipe of her tongue. 

“Good.” 

“Jacqueline.” You whine, bringing her mouth back to meet yours as Jack’s hand squeezes your thigh and she releases a breathy moan. 

Someone loudly clears their throat and you jump in Jack’s arms, yanking your mouth away from her and looking towards none other than Leon Vance. Your face turns scarlet as you quickly fix your dress while Jack just steps back with a smug smile and turns to look at her friend. 

“Can I help you, Leon?” You know she’s friends with the director, but you have no idea how she’s not at least slightly embarrassed. Vance rolls his eyes, shaking his head as he chuckles and looks between the two of you.

“Really, Jack?” Jack’s entire body tenses up, her face morphing into a scowl. Leon’s eyes widen as Jack’s body shifts to stand slightly in front of you, protecting you. 

“Yes. What’s the problem?” 

“That’s not what I meant. I meant that if you’re going to” Vance’s face scrunches up slightly “do that...at least do it somewhere private.” 

“It was private until you turned up.” You mutter but obviously not quietly enough as Vance releases an unimpressed snort as Jack laughs. Your face heats up all over again and you groan, dropping your head onto Jack’s shoulder as you die from embarrassment. 

“Anyway, I’ll leave you to it. Just go somewhere private before Victoria, or even Jimmy, comes across you and you scar them for life.” You smother a laugh into Jack’s shoulder as you imagine the look of horror on Jimmy’s face. Jack must do the same as she chuckles. With one last shake of the head, Vance turns around. “Nice to know some office gossip does ring true though.” 

Your head snaps up from Jack’s shoulder. “What office gossip?” Both of you shout at the same time but Vance doesn’t answer just continues walking and makes his way back into the hall. Jack and you turn to each other and break out into laughter.

“Do you think it’s late enough that we can leave?” 

Jack arches a brow “Got somewhere to be?” You grin but don’t respond so Jack looks at her watch and shrugs. “Kind of early but if we’re apologetic we’d probably be fine.”

Pulling Jack in by the fabric of her dress as your hand comes up to swipe at the underside of her breast and you breathe against her lips “Take me home Jack.” She growls, capturing your mouth in a searing kiss that has you whimpering. You slow it down into soft kisses, both of you eventually separating as you take ragged breaths. 

The lipstick Jack had been trying to protect at the beginning of the night was now basically non-existent, most of what is left is smudged around her lips and with a chuckle, you reach out and wipe it away. “You need to get a kiss-proof lipstick.” 

Jack smirks. “It looks better on you anyway.” Your eyes widen as you wipe a thumb over your own lips surprised to see the muted pink of Jack’s lipstick covering your thumb. “Here, let me.” Jack wipes at your mouth, getting rid of the rest before placing a soft peck against your lips. “Ready to go?” 

“More than.” 

You drop each other’s hands, keeping a suitable distance between you as you make your way back into the hall. You feign tiredness as an excuse, and no one really questions it especially after the case this week. You pull Jimmy and Breena into hugs, congratulating them and apologising for ducking out early. Vance gives you both a pointed look but doesn’t say anything, although his smirk says enough if Gibbs’ eye roll is anything to go by. Delilah looks absolutely gleeful and it prompts you to check your dress is in place and run a hand through your hair to check you were presentable as there wasn’t a reason she should be this knowing. You watch as she leans over and whispers in Tim’s ear. Tim splutters on his drink head flying up to look between you and Jack, his ears turning bright pink. 

You look to Jack, who’s watching you with an affectionate smile and you feel your chest warm as you breathe deeply. She tilts her head towards the door and you nod, both of you saying one final goodnight to the team before making your way out of the hall. 

“Do you think anyone doesn’t know about us?” You ask, looking at Jack over the top of your car. 

She huffs. “Not with the way you were making goo-goo eyes at me the whole night.” 

Your jaw drops open, as you make a noise in outrage trying to dampen the blush rising up your cheeks. “It’s not like you were any better!” 

Jack shrugs as she fails to suppress her smile. “Probably not.” 

Life isn’t perfect. You’d accepted that a long time ago, but as you drive to your apartment listening to Jack hum along to the music playing from the radio as she flicks through her phone, it felt pretty damn close. It didn’t matter that you had a mountain of chores waiting for you at home, or that both of you were a little jaded, or that at any moment you could be called into work. All that mattered was that she was next to you.

“Will you stop looking at me and focus on the road? I don’t really fancy ending our evening with a trip to Bethesda.” 

And even if she didn’t know it, she already had your heart. 

[clansayeed]

Bound by Destiny II, part 1 ― Chapter 12: The Return

PAIRING: Kamilah Sayeed x MC (Nadya Al Jamil) RATING: Mature

⥼ MASTERLIST ⥽

⥼ Bound by Destiny II, part 1 ⥽

While struggling with nightmares of lives she’s never lived, a shadow from the past looming over her city, and the proposed idea that her life may just be a little bit too weird to handle alone, Nadya makes sure to tell herself that everything is perfect just the way it is. If only. When the self-proclaimed King of Vampires (and Maker of her sometimes-girlfriend and always-boss, can’t forget that little tidbit) Gaius Augustine returns intent on claiming Manhattan as the throne that was promised, she and her friends find themselves forced into the task of saving the world. But with millennia-old vampires and an Order of hunters on their heels as well as allies hiding catastrophic secrets at their backs… it won’t be an easy task. Too bad destiny didn’t exactly ask for her input.

Bound by Destiny II and the rest of the Oblivion Bound series is an ongoing dramatic retelling project of the Bloodbound series and spin-off, Nightbound. Find out more [HERE].

*Let me know if you would like to be added to the Destiny II tag list!

⥼ Chapter Summary ⥽

The gang returns to New York with a well-earned victory under their belts. But that means Nadya has to face Kamilah, and she isn't quite sure she knows how to feel just yet.

[READ IT ON AO3]

Nadya leans on the rail with a wistful sigh. Takes a moment and just… lets herself enjoy the peace of being at peace. No memories haunting her behind her eyelids, no immediate danger… at least none she can see right in front of her.

No, the only thing in front of her is New Orleans. The French Quarter spread out for blocks around her in vibrant colors going pale against the purpling sky. It’ll be dawn soon.

Did she sigh already? Well… no harm in another one.

Taylor’s learned his lesson in sneaking up on her. Why else would he knock on the door leading up to the roof instead of taking advantage of one final attempt to startle her silly?

He clicks his tongue with a wry look. “Careful now, that sigh right there, that’s trouble. Means you’re falling in love with this place and you won’t ever wanna leave.”

Nadya can’t help it that she laughs.

“Are you trying to sound like Garrus?” It sounds like something the fae would say, actually.

“No, and frankly you don’t want to hear my Garrus impersonation,” he hesitates; waits for Nadya’s little go-ahead of a nod before joining her overlooking the city as it begins to put itself to sleep, “it’s not very good. My Ivy on the other hand…”

Their laughter is soft and polite. They wouldn’t dare jostle the world below.

“I mean, when I went off to college I had dreams of road trips on spring break, summers spent with one program or another. New Orleans was always on my list.”

“And did she live up to the hype?”

Now how exactly is Nadya supposed to answer that honestly? “Well college-aged me probably wouldn’t have been hanging around the Graveyard Shift, that’s all I’ll say.”

“Nadya, babe, you have got to stop being a hard mood,” Taylor places a hand to his chest, “my little empath heart just can’t take much more of it.”

She shoves him (gently) and their laugh is a little less awkward the second time around. Probably because he is, indeed, an empath. And he gets exactly what she’s feeling right now.

Longing — exhaustion — trepidation — to name a few.

He nudges her shoulder with his own. “You’ll have to come back when everything’s fixed on your end; see the city for real, you know? Not just all the bad things.”

Not like she goes searching for the bad things, thanks. They just kind of… happen dangerously close in her proximity. “I’d like that. Lil’ too, for sure.”

“Oh, for sure. Though I have a feeling her and Ivy together might be a bit more trouble than Nik’ll want to deal with.”

And on that Nadya can most certainly agree. Not that she does so with words. Strangely she doesn’t feel much like talking right now. Not-so-strangely, Taylor doesn’t either. So they lean in mutual silence and watch the streets below. People going through the motions; living their lives.

Lives far less strange than theirs.

The blue of the dawn is just starting to bleed orange when he finally speaks again.

“You’re not used to winning the day, are you?” She isn’t surprised in the least to look and see that strange iridescence back in his irises.

“I don’t have enough coffee in me to answer a question like that,” which — that’s her answer; but Taylor definitely isn’t taking it, “I mean… back when all this stuff started; we won then, I think. Adrian was exonerated and Jax joined the Council and Vega wasn’t trying to kill me anymore —”

Taylor holds up a finger. “Wait — like the missing Senator, that Vega?”

“You knew him?”

“Uh, Vee and our friend Kristin lived up there together. Wait a second—he was a vam— no… that’s not the point. Sorry, please continue.”

God, is that how I look to other people, Nadya wonders; but it’s humbling to see somehow.

“Anyway… I thought everything turned out for the better, and for a while it was better. But now that I think about it…” Gaius, Jameson, the Trinity; all of them lurking just on the other side of the two-way glass. Waiting for the time to strike and take her happiness away; to pluck memories from her she never asked for all in pursuit of some epic fantasy-level world conquering.

If the fight wasn’t over, did that still count as a victory?

“And you’re left wondering if this is the same deal. If you’ve really won, or if there’s more stuff—worse stuff—just out of sight.” Taylor finishes for her. Still a little weird and possibly more akin to mind-reading than the half-fae originally led her to believe, but for the moment she’s glad to not have to say it.

“Yeah, exactly.”

His hand comes to rest over Nadya’s on the railing. He’s warmer than he should be and the sun’s got nothing to do with it. Likely his weirdness is helped by touch, too. Which Taylor all but confirms aloud when a sudden but not unwelcome ease relaxes the tension she didn’t know she’d gathered in her shoulders.

“I can’t offer any answers, and I don’t think I’d want to. With my luck I’d be wrong and you’d hate me forever.” He’s joking but Nadya still rolls her eyes and shakes her head for it.

“But I can say that no matter what happens? You’ll always have friends here to call up if needed.”

What is she supposed to say to something so sincere? “Same to you, Taylor, same to you.”

A sleek black car with tinted windows pulls around the corner and onto their lonely street to park right in front of the bar.

Looks like their ride is here.

Kamilah isn’t waiting for them when the plane pulls into the nice and shady hangar. Nadya tells herself she isn’t surprised by this… but she’s trying not to tell herself mostly-truths lately either. Luckily she’s still too exhausted (and she’s pretty sure she only got about half an hour’s nap in the entire time they were in New Orleans) to make much of a fuss about it.

In fact, Nadya barely remembers sending a text off before she and Lily both are being ushered into the back seat of one of Adrian’s company cars.

[TEXT]: back in NY and miss you like crazy. can we plz talk?? [TEXT]: its nadia

And its the most dreamless, dead-to-the-world-est sleep she knew she needed but didn’t know how to get. Staying awake for near-days and going through every emotion under the sun and also dealing with a high-stakes pursuit weren’t exactly on her list of viable solutions to her sleeping troubles.

Ergo the point of all this — no one is allowed to think her anything less than totally justified when Nadya wakes up in her own bed, in her own bedroom, sometime well after sunset and thinks for even the smallest second that everything was just a dream. She knows logically that it wasn’t… but still.

Totally justified.

When her eyes adjust to the lack of light Nadya realizes she’s not alone. There’s a figure sitting on the edge of her bed nearest the window, away from the door. Giving her the chance to escape if she needs it; making sure she doesn’t feel trapped.

Only one person would do that.

She fumbles for her glasses on the nightstand but leaves her bedside lamp untouched. Can’t shake the feeling like if she does turn the lights on then Kamilah will vanish. This is better for them both.

“Hi.”

Something moves near her head; Nadya leans back to see the woman pulling her fingertips away from where they had been combing through her hair gently. She wants it back so much she aches from the loss of them.

“Hello,” replies Kamilah; sounding awfully breathless for a woman who doesn’t need to breathe, “did you rest well? You… seemed to need it.”

Probably not what she meant to ask judging by the way the neon signs from across the street illuminate her in postmodern beauty. It’s okay though — Nadya isn’t sure she has the courage yet to say what really needs saying.

“When did you get here…?”

“Shortly after your return. Oh, Lily wished for you to know she’s left for the evening. She didn’t leave a message as to why.”

So it’s just been Nadya and Kamilah in the apartment for at least the daylight hours. Alone; together. And not talking about their problems.

When Nadya sits up (in part to look at Kamilah better, in part to make sure she doesn’t fall back asleep on accident) the bed dips as Kamilah shifts back; makes to stand and leave her with all this twin-sized budget bed kit to herself. And because she can’t stand a thought so terrible Nadya reaches out and stops her with a hand on her arm.

“Kamilah.”

A long pause — then; “Yes, Nadya?”

“Why are you here?”

“You messaged me,” so Nadya of course fumbles for her phone and finds it charging under her pillow, “though I suppose I should have realized you were exhausted beyond recognition.”

“Why’s that?”

“You spelled your own name wrong.”

Upon further inspection yes, yes she did. “Glad you weren’t expecting some other disaster you’re dating also named Nadia…” That she chooses not to dwell on the fact that she may have very well used that word for the first time in the middle of their first fight is actually self-care.

Or — she doesn’t until Kamilah’s been quiet for an awfully long time.

“Uhm — I take that back, actually — what I meant was…”

“I won’t disagree.”

Only Kamilah Sayeed could look so perfect framed in the flickering lights of a discount electronics shop.

“But you’re my disaster.”

Nadya kisses her because every other time it’s been Kamilah who takes the lead, takes charge, takes her. This isn’t some attempt to switch that dynamic either (in fact Nadya’s very happy with it just the way it is) but what else is she supposed to do seeing all these vulnerable parts of such an invulnerable woman one right after the other?

But — no, she can’t fall into this. Fall into her. Not without talking. But holy mother of crap she doesn’t wanna do anything but moan at the lips soft on her cheeks, her chin, her throat…

“Kamilah.”

Nadya only has to say her name once. They both know how this works. That doesn’t mean she doesn’t feel the hesitance; the resistance before they part and she all but forces them to meet eye-to-eye. Nor does it mean that she doesn’t take just the tiniest bit of happiness from it.

When Nadya starts pulling away Kamilah holds on just a little bit tighter. Only for a moment; then its gone.

“We can’t not —” — talk about this.

“I know; I agree.”

And she’s got a whole speech planned out in bullet points; not even fully seated and she’s already buzzing to jump right into it. Until—

“I was uncertain and without control. I fell back on old habits to bring my life to a heel — but those were the wrong choices to make. They nearly cost me… something very important.”

Kamilah’s hand falls open on top of the bedspread and Nadya takes it for the offering it is. Their fingers slot together familiar and like nothing’s changed but this is different. This is talking about it; this is… this is Kamilah apologizing. “They nearly cost me you, Nadya.”

Now is not the time to go all red in the face and flustered. Nadya’s willpower is astounding frankly. “There was never a second where I doubted that you cared. Not about what I was going through, or what it was doing to… to everything in my life. But I think there was a part of me that didn’t want to tell you because I didn’t want to believe that you and… and the you I saw were —” — were the same person.

Kamilah’s thumb strokes along her knuckles slow and rhythmic. “My thoughts are the same. I am not fragments of a woman; a queen, different than a soldier, different than a killer, different than who I am today. I am all of those things and more. And perhaps still there are parts of myself I have not yet come to know.”

Nadya chances a look up while she listens, but it’s the words Kamilah doesn’t say that catch her by surprise. The ones about who that person she doesn’t know could be. And—god she hopes she’s not reading too much into this—who she could be that person with.

“I think I get it now.”

“And what would that be?”

She squeezes their hands until it hurts because she knows it’s probably the weight of a feather to someone like Kamilah.

“We were scared of the same thing and for the same reasons; you… and your past. But I wanted to know more. I—I wanted to talk about it, without thinking of how hard bringing up all of those bad memories might be for you.”

Kamilah purses her lips and offers a slow nod. “Insightful; and perhaps I was so insistent on trying to keep that knowledge from you that I did not stop to consider what… I was saying in withholding it.”

Now the question is… where do they go from here?

“So we work on that — we try and… understand what the other is doing when she…”

“Makes a mistake she instantly regrets?”

Nadya smiles, but it’s strained. “That’s half of the things I do anyway though.”

“You know my meaning in the context of this, Nadya.”

“Yeah, but that’s not my only problem.” Which isn’t the best word she could use but at the moment she’s not focusing so much on word choice as actual feelings. And Nadya… feels a problem. There’s a breath of a second where it feels like Kamilah might start to pull away, but it passes.

She thinks better of it. She tries to understand.

“You are amazing, Kamilah. You are this… super gorgeous, super smart, super old—in a good way I swear—and super experienced vampire. But it’s not a smart thing for us to—to ignore that.”

“I wasn’t under the impression we had been.”

This is more painful to admit than Nadya thought it was gonna be. There’s no turning back now though; no ‘Restart from Checkpoint’ or save to load.

And this is so so important. Nadya wants to follow through, and not just for the sake of them. She deserves it for herself. “Maybe you haven’t — but I have. I thought that was the only way we were gonna make this work. Only, if I ignore that then I’m ignoring the fact that you are always going to have a power over me. A physical one. You lashed out and…”

“And I could have hurt you.” That Kamilah’s hand tightens with hers is the literal definition of ironic but she knows it comes from a good place; the same place all that honesty was walled up inside now pouring out.

“Nadya, please tell me you know I would never have hurt you. I don’t think I could.”

“That’s not the point. The point is you were angry, and your first reaction was to try and scare me into running away.”

See, this is Nadya’s problem. There’s a reason her life is so organized — without all her colored pens and sticky notes and multiple tabs that always end up in the strangest places, she’s a literal human mess. Prone to rambling and impulsive actions that aren’t always good for her health; physical and emotional both.

She didn’t organize this part of her talk with Kamilah. She didn’t even know this part existed. And now it’s out there in the world without a label tacked on and… and…

“And I don’t think that’s something I’m quite… over, yet.”

Nadya trusts Kamilah still; she doesn’t flinch away when the woman’s free hand comes up to her cheek — thumbs away a tear she didn’t know was falling. She can separate the then from the now.

But at the end of the day her trust and the way she had felt betrayed that night… they weren’t mutually exclusive.

She turns her face into the lingering palm. When she exhales her breath rattles in her lungs.

“I miss you.”

Kamilah’s hand betrays her composed silence; the barest tremor. “I’m here, Nadya.”

Nadya who doesn’t want to pull back, never wanted to pull back… but what is she saying to herself if she doesn’t?

“I miss you,” she repeats, “and I still care about you — I don’t really see that changing any time soon. And I’ll forgive you, really—I will. I just need some time.”

I know there are no promises you’ll be there when I’m ready, or if you won’t have moved on, or if you can’t forgive me for not forgiving you, or for not understanding you, or for making you feel this way. But I feel this way too.

And in all the things she wants to say but doesn’t, Nadya’s left still and heartbroken. Completely by her own design.

The bed dips and Nadya lets her eyes flutter closed as Kamilah’s lips press to her forehead. Not so much a kiss as a touch; something sincere and solid and so so sad.

Kamilah commits the warmth and life of her to memory. Nadya dares to hope that some day they’ll have all of this again.

She has to. If anything deserves hope right now it’s them.

Finally — too soon, too damned soon — a whisper tickles at her hairline.

“I’ll be here.”

When she opens her eyes Nadya is alone.

Jax has a really good point; if the heat from Adrian’s industrial-grade blowtorch hadn’t been enough to melt the gold, then they probably didn’t need to worry about his sword scratching the stupid thing up in any way that didn’t lend to opening it.

Everyone still backs up a few paces for good measure. They’ve all seen him in action — and the man needs a wide berth.

Nadya closes her eyes and braces herself but she still isn’t prepared for the hollow screeching clang every time the sharpened steel collides with the surface of the Amulet. One—two—three.

He stops after three. Judging by the enraged determination in his eye though he’d keep going given the opportunity.

Lily throws her hands up before crossing out ‘ASSAULT BY KATANA’ on the transparent eraser board. “I’m calling it. This thing is a horcrux.”

“A what?” asks Adrian, but Nadya just gives him the now familiar “I’ll explain it later” wave-off. Because unless pop culture references were the secret puzzle to opening the Amulet of Nero they weren’t that important in the moment.

She pushes her glasses up and unsuccessfully stifles a yawn with the back of her hand. Brings her focus back to their list of attempts to crack open (literally) the case… all of which have failed miserably.

‘METALWORKING HAMMER’ ‘REGULAR HAMMER’ ‘BLOWTORCH’ ‘ASKING IT NICELY’ (Nadya’s idea) ‘OPEN SESAME’ (Maricruz’s idea) ‘ASSAULT BY KATANA’

Off to the left Lily’s circled ‘MISSING KEY??’ over and over in the corner and while they had all agreed to try and hold out on just not having found the right amount of physical force they might as well face it.

They’re running out of options.

Adrian clears his throat and stares hard enough at Nadya that the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. “Ahem, Nadya, could you…?”

“Oh — yes — sorry guys, my bad.”

When she pulls the cover back over the Amulet the difference is immediate. The tension leaves her friends’ shoulders; they sit a little less restless and their eyes are a little less bordering-vampish.

Nadya wasn’t the only one who had been content to write off the strange aura that had come over the vampires in Isadora de la Rosa’s booth as nothing more than trepidation for the inevitable. Now, however, they have to face the facts.

There’s something in the Amulet that draws vampires to it. Cadence had said so himself — when he talked about generations of vampire influence. It’s not enough to incite a war (about which Nadya was admittedly worried, and with good reason given their track record) but covering it was a noticeable benefit to rational thinking.

They only have one thing going for them right now; if they can’t open it then no one else can, either. Hopefully that includes the Trinity. Maybe it even includes Gaius. Who knows? They certainly don’t.

There are too many unknowns — and they’re starting to take a toll on everyone in one form or another.

Adrian begins to gather up the dozens of data graphs spread out in front of him. “With that, I think we’ve come to a natural stopping point for the evening.” And nobody disagrees.

While Nadya carefully wraps the Amulet back up to return it to the R&D vault, Lily leans on her elbows and watches.

“I take it we still haven’t heard from Cadence? What about calling up Izzy?”

If only she had good news to give. “Nope; and I already did. She definitely remembers feeling that weird magnetism to it before it was repossessed by Persephone but nothing beyond that that she knew of. Actually,” she throws a look over to Adrian, “she suggested one thing; witch-fire? Something like that.”

He seems hesitant to mull the idea over. But they were desperate enough to let Jax hit it repeatedly, so…

“I’ll look into a few contacts. That kind of magic should only be used sparingly and in dire cases.”

“Would this count?”

A beat. “Probably. We would have to run it by the Council, though.” Which kind of nulls even the idea. Since everyone had agreed not to tell the rest of the Council yet. Not only because of the Amulet’s potential.

Lester, Priya, the Baron — Nadya likes to try and see the best in people as much as possible but they don’t make it easy on her. None of them are certain who would, if it came down to it, side against Gaius for a second time.

Nothing is unlikely anymore.

Wow, their shortest-lived idea yet.

Nadya nods towards the vault for Lily to follow. “As for the other thing — Kathy’s starting to get worried. I guess he left town a day after we did.” Which the Nighthunter had admitted wasn’t off-brand for Cadence. But the museum had let slip (which Nadya knows means ‘been bullied into admitting’) that he had been granted a leave of absence; very off-brand.

“The one thing he’s always had is that damn museum. No identity, no Izzy, and we both know I’m a recent development. He was a manic mess the first time that kind of dissociation happened.” The Nighthunter had kept her cool better than Nadya would have in her situation. But that didn’t mean she wasn’t worried ill.

“What if it’s worse this time,” even through the phone she couldn’t hide her concern; her fear, “what if he hurts himself? What if he hurts someone else?”

Hopefully they find him soon. But she’s met that strange group of people; the regulars at the Graveyard Shift. If anyone has the ability (and sheer force of stubborn will, to be honest) to find Cadence it’s them.

“I mean, if I went Jekyll and Hyde around a chick as crazy as that Trinity woman, I’d probably want to get away for my own health too.”

Lily’s comment doesn’t sit well with her; luckily at her admonishing look she at least looks apologetic. “You know what I mean.”

“I also know a little bit of what he’s going through.”

There’s an “ahem” behind them as Nadya spins the wheel on the vault. Adrian definitely has the look of someone who knows he shouldn’t have been eavesdropping but was anyway.

“Speaking of.”

Only… she’d rather not speak of it until it becomes a problem. “It’s fine,” she replies, and waves it off. That was what they’d agreed on for the time being, right? And there haven’t been any problems.

Turns out feeling the weight of relationship-burdened depression the moment you walk through your front door lends to a pretty heavy sleeping pattern. Like Nadya’s body doesn’t want her to do anything but try to get through the next day, and the next, and maybe… just maybe the one after that.

Adrian doesn’t seem immediately convinced. “Promise?”

“Pinky promise.” Which — he still doesn’t really get the concept but the verbal agreement is enough.

Once the lab is fully shut down they manage to pile together into the elevator. Jax thumbs at his phone, blows the hair out of his eyes just a little too close to Nadya’s ear for her liking. She swats him away because personal bubble.

“What’s the matter?”

“Eh, Espinoza wants —” But he catches himself with a look in Lily’s direction. “— something. She wants something. And I gotta… go get it.”

Nadya and Adrian just shake their heads and laugh at him while Lily pretends with absolutely no tact whatsoever not to know what he’s talking about. She even sticks her fingers in her ears like that’ll somehow stop her super vampire hearing.

Jax, somehow with even less tact, like negative tact, takes it as permission to lean and murmur on Nadya’s free side. “Apparently Lula got into the cake. So…”

“Weren’t there three?” Adrian hisses, surprised.

“You’ll get it when you meet her.”

Nadya reaches around and pats Jax’s chest awkwardly. “Good luck with that. Maybe try putting them in the passenger seat this time.”

“Shut up.”

“Just saying… third time’s the charm you know.”

When she gives Lily a nod in ‘all clear’ everyone knows she heard everything. But she’s just excited to know Maricruz is going as all-out as she possibly can, so who would be so heartless as to spoil the whole thing by just admitting the obvious?

Adrian lets them all off on the ground level and offers Nadya one last chance to go home early. “What do you pay her for if you keep giving her chances to not work?” And Jax raises a good point — too good of a point. She maybe shoves him in front of her with all her might, and he maybe stumbles. The world may never know. “Just saying — let me know next time there’s an opening.”

“I’ll be up in a sec. I just have to stake him first.”

She and Lily wave until the doors close. Yes, they live together and see each other every day. Yes, they recently defied death in New Orleans together. But its rare now that Nadya and Lily get a chance to unwind like they used to. So whenever it comes along they’re both there to indulge greedy and giggling.

“Mari’s really going all out with this party, huh?”

It’s a valiant effort but Lily doesn’t look so much humbly embarrassed as expectantly excited. “I think I’m in love, Nadi’,” she jumps the next few steps like hopscotch, “she was fully ready to get a bouncy castle.”

“How are they going to fit a bouncy castle in the Shadow Den?”

“Oh I didn’t say I let her. But she was planning on it, and isn’t that what true love is all about?”

Nadya tries not to falter. Key word being tries. And around anyone else she might do everything in her power not to draw attention to it but this is Lily. Who found her huddled up in bed hours after Kamilah’s farewell and called to cancel her own date to stay with her; to be there for her and give her all the hugs she desperately needed but didn’t know how to ask for.

She doesn’t need to pretend around that kind of love and friendship.

But before Nadya can apologize Lily starts up an air drum solo in front of her while they walk. “And winner for Most Insensitive Best Friend Ever is — drum roll…”

“You’re fine, Lil’.”

“I’m gushing about my life while you’re… not so hot.”

Nope, Nadya won’t have it. “You’re gonna gush because you have every right to gush, okay? You’ve been a vampire for a whole year. That’s super important. You survived Turning, became the digital fanged crusader, and it’s ten times more cool because you did it all without a brand. Jax and Adrian can’t say that. Heck… even Kamilah can’t.

“So if you want a Turning party, you’re gonna get a Turning party. I’m not the only one who thinks you’re worth celebrating.” They lace their fingers and Nadya squeezes. “Plus if Jax shows up with the third set of cakes to a canceled party I think he might flip his lid.”

Lily gives a dramatic little sniffle — pretends to wipe a nonexistent tear from her eye. “Please tell me you just memorized all that.”

“Why?”

“Because it’ll be the speech to end all speeches.”

Together they play-shove all the way through the Raines Building atrium. Right before the revolving door Lily spins her around, takes both of their hands together and swings them gently.

“Do you want me to uninvite her? She probably doesn’t even care.”

“No — and even if we broke up, like, badly I wouldn’t want that. I’m just not that kind of person.”

“True, you’d probably invite them to Christmas dinner or something.”

She rolls her eyes at that and ignores it for her own sanity. “And for the record — as someone with experience in decoding Kamilah-isms, I think you surprised her. She admires strength, and Lily… you’re the strongest person I know.”

When they hug, like always, their glasses get jostled in the middle and the following laughter lightens both of their hearts. Lily makes her promise to add that last line to her speech (which inadvertently is a promise to write a speech, she’s guessing) and only when she’s out the doors and around the corner of the block does Nadya head back up to the office.

Adrian is leaning in his open doorway when she exits the elevator — Nadya slows her steps for a hesitant second before coming to realize he’s just having another one of his pensive moods. He’s been having them a lot lately. More and more since they returned from New Orleans.

This one looks different though. He’s not staring into space — he’s staring at her.

“What?” She finally yields, glancing at her boss over her shoulder while the computer boots up slow as a snail. “What’s that face for?”

Nadya nearly convinces herself he isn’t going to answer.

“It’s good to see you smiling, that’s all.” He leans out and squeezes her shoulder; something soft and friendly and so sweet her teeth ache from it. Before Adrian can pull away Nadya makes sure to return the gesture.

“It’s good to smile,” which is far more bleak than she would like, “you know something?”

Adrian pauses mid-step. “Hm?”

“It’s even better to mean it.”

[lynn-does-stuff]

More than Friends

A Kustard Oneshot

—————

“You suck at this game.”

“Shut up! It’s only because my hands are tired!”

“Tell that to your ever growing list of losses.”

“Shut up!”

Fell began laughing at his best friend’s pout. This only caused Classic to huff and turn away and pout even more. Which also caused Fell to laugh even harder. Which ended up in a chain reaction of Classic growing more and more upset before he did the only thing appropriate for the situation. As Fell was laughing so hard that tears were starting to form, Classic reached behind them and grabbed one of the pillows from his bed. He then proceeded to smack him with the puffy object.

That shut him up.

“Oh it’s on.” Fell said in a low voice. He quickly stood up on the bed and dropped the game controller on the floor, grabbing the other pillow. They ended up participating in a full on pillow war, each of them being smacked and then immediately hitting the other. They were jumping on the bed as they tried to dodge the other’s attacks, which caused them both to be uneasy with their footing and and stumble a few times, which caused even more laughs between the two of them. All the while the sounds of large guffaws and a forgotten video game theme filled the room.

Eventually, the two of them crashed to the bed, still a mess of laughter. They could barely breathe, for they had worked up quite the sweat, something they found they had been doing more often due to their strong friendship.

The two lay there for a bit, trying to catch their breath and staring at the ceiling. It was almost peaceful, just two best friends hanging out and having a good time.

Suddenly, the tranquility of it all was interrupted as Fell’s phone dinged, signifying a text message. Groaning, he sat up and looked at his phone, then groaned some more and flopped back down on the bed.

Classic sat up and smirked at his companion’s behavior. “Oh? What’s gotten the grumpy cat upset now?”

Fell just groaned again. “Boss texted me. Wanted me to come home. Here for too long I guess.”

“Aww, well I guess you should get going then.” Classic sighed, only now starting to calm down from their earlier squabble.

“Yeah, guess so.” Fell stood up and started to grab his things. He walked over to Classic’s nightstand and grabbed his red turtleneck, slipping it over his dark gray tee shirt. He then grabbed his jacket and slipped that on as well before heading to the door. Classic got up and stretched before following him out of his bedroom.

When they reached the front door, Classic stood in the doorway, waving Fell off. They called out their farewells to each other before Classic almost closed the door. However, before he could, Fell called back again.

“Oh yeah! And next time, I want an opponent!”

“Hey!”

Fell started laughing again as he continued to walk home. Classic shut the door then shivered, for he was still wearing just a light gray tee shirt after all. He had taken off his jacket when they were playing games in his room earlier because it was so hot in there.

Hot... Fell was hot..

Classic kind of wished it was so hot in his room that Fell would have been forced to take off his tee shirt as well, revealing his rib cage to Classic’s eyes.

Classic’s eyes went wide as he realized what he was thinking, a light blue blush dusted across his face. He bit his lower lip as he tried to shake the thought from his mind. The worst thing is that these thoughts have occurred many times before.

Classic and Fell were best friends. When the Multiverse event happened and all of the incode characters were able to become outcodes, they immediately hit it off. Classic had been a little surprised at the appearance of his edgy self, but he was a carefree monster, so he didn't shove him away like Fell thought he would. Ever since, the two have been nearly inseparable. They did almost everything together, like talking about their timelines, playing video games, and even sharing all of their deepest secrets.

Classic smiled at that. Almost all of them. There was no way Fell would be allowed to know his secret. No way in hell would he reveal his true feelings for his best friend. He didn't want to ruin their friendship, Classic wasn't sure what he would do if Fell left him. They relied on each other, and they needed each other.

So, he shoved the dream deep down into the abyss of his soul before collecting himself. They had left their earlier game running after all. Classic smiled to himself.

If he could beat his feelings, he could beat Fell at that stupid game.

***

A few days had passed and Fell still hadn't asked to come over again. They still texted every night to check in with each other and chat, but apparently Fell's brother was working him to death and couldn't get away. So, Classic spent those days lying in his room, avoiding all work possible. He was starting to get a little bored though. All he had been doing was texting Fell and playing that game. He was over it, the bosses were easy to beat, he'd almost mastered the characters, and that theme song was stuck in his head and now it was just annoying.

Classic sighed. He didn't want to do anything, but at the same time he was done with the nothing. So, he sat up and got on his phone and started texting Fell again.

Classic smiled to himself and stood up off the bed. He slipped on his jacket over his gray tee shirt and left his room. He slowly trudged down the stairs, hands in pockets, when a loud voice filled the room.

"SANS! THERE YOU ARE! YOU FINALLY LEFT YOUR ROOM! ARE YOU FINALLY GOING TO YOUR SENTRY STATION?"

Classic looked up to see his brother in the kitchen. He bit his lower lip as he thought of an excuse. However, he was known to come up with ways out of sticky situations like these.

"Nah, I'm too lazy. Plus, I'd just sleep all day. Don't wanna steal the credit from your work and all."

Papyrus seemed a little struck back at that before grinning. "OF COURSE! I AM THE ONLY ONE WHO DOES ANY WORK AT ALL, SO I SHOULD GET THE CREDIT! MAYBE THEN I'LL BE IN THE ROYAL GUARD!"

Classic laughed as he strolled on into the kitchen. He walked over to the fridge and took a bottle of ketchup out of it, taking a nice, long drink of the tangy substance. He loved that taste, the tangy goodness as it slid down your throat was amazing, and it went with just about everything. And while it was good with other things, it was amazing just on its own. Nothing else to hide some of it's flavor away.

Papyrus just sighed at his brother's shenanigans. He truly didn't understand his obsession over it. He honestly hated the condiment himself. It was too tangy for his liking, nothing like the spaghetti sauce he used. But wait.. wasn't that made from tomatoes? And isn't ketchup as well? Then why don't they taste the same? Also, if you can put tomatoes in the form of ketchup on a hotdog, can you put tomatoes but in the form of sauce on it? And what about spaghetti? Was that why people made a face when they ate it? Was it because he was supposed to put ketchup on it?

Papyrus sat there, pondering to himself as Classic finished his bottle of ketchup. As he went to throw the bottle away, he saw his brother standing still for once, dead set on whatever it was that was going on in his mind. He chuckled a bit before leaving the puzzled Papyrus behind.

Classic closed the door behind him and breathed in the cold Snowdin air. He shivered slightly as he began walking. How much he wished he had Fell right next to him, holding his hand to warm him up, or maybe even wrapping an arm around his shoulder as they walked.

Classic's eyes widened as he realized what his thoughts had drifted to, blushing furiously. He stopped dead in his tracks at the thought and tried to shake it from his mind. Suddenly he realized he needed to teleport to the surface to go to the movies, silently cursing himself for not realizing it sooner and sparing him from these thoughts.

He brought up his hand and snapped, a sudden tingling feeling erupting all over his body. He felt light, yet heavy at the same time as a faint blue swirl of magic encircled him before he vanished. When he appeared again he felt the tingling feeling disappear as he stumbled slightly, slowly recovering from such a long distance travel. He looked up, suddenly realizing where he was as his eyes widened.

No matter how many times he sees it, the surface will always marvel him. The vibrant colors painted the sky, something that was impossible to witness while they were still underground. There was an infinite amount of space and plenty of room for all of the monsters and humans to live together peacefully.

In his daze Classic failed to hear the oncoming footsteps behind him. Suddenly a hand fell onto his shoulder making him tense up and his eye flare dimly.

“Hey.”

Classic relaxed and let his eye flare go out. Fell had just arrived and stared at the sun with him, hand still on shoulder. Classic relaxed even more at the realization that this is exactly what couples would do. Go out, watch the sun, see a movie, hang at the house, just like couples would do on a date. Wait, was this a date? No, it was merely a hang out, just two friends going to see a movie and play video games, that's all it was and would ever be.

Classic sighed unhappily and leaned his head to the side. He closed his eyes, not truly caring what hard surface his head was on.

"Uh, Classic? You gonna stop falling asleep with your head against mine so we can go see the movie?"

Classic's eyes shot open and he moved away from Fell faster than he's ever moved before, even when he was fighting the human. Because of this, Fell stumbled forward a bit before catching himself and looking to the side.

"Well, uh, let's go see the movie then." Fell turned away and started to walk into the building. Classic recomposed himself and followed close behind, but a question kept boggling his mind.

Was that the tiniest hint of blush on his face?

***

Classic and Fell walked out of the movie theatre, a bit dazed. When they went to buy their tickets, the cashier told them there was only one movie that wasn't sold out for their showtime, so they had decided to take it anyway, not caring what it was. Unfortunately, not only was it a horror movie, but it was also a romance movie. He never got scared during the scary parts, in fact, he and Fell both were laughing at a few of the events in the movie. However, anytime anything romantic happened, Classic's face became a dark blue as he imagined himself and Fell in place of the characters. He had glanced over at Fell and quickly jerked his head in the other direction when they had made eye contact. And all he while Classic couldn't get the fact that Fell was blushing just as bad as him out of his mind.

"It's just because of the movie," he had thought. "He just can't take the romance parts, that's all."

But when they stepped outside, their shoulders bumped, causing Classic to stumble forward a bit before losing his footing. His eyes went wide as he realized his skull could get cracked by the sudden impact of the cement sidewalk and immediately shut them tight, preparing for the impact, when two arms suddenly wrapped around his waist, hoisting him up and setting him back on his feet. Sweating, Classic glances back at the wide eyed Fell whom was still holding onto him. He felt a light, jittery feeling in him, almost as if there were butterflies not just flying around in his nonexistent stomach, but also slamming against his rib cage and his soul even, begging him to make a move.

He stared longingly into his eyes, now realizing how close their faces were. He could feel the other's hot breath as he took in all the features about Fell. His sharp, protective eyes, his loving smile, the crack on the top of his skull that made him look even stronger, it was too much for Classic to handle. He didn't hesitate to close the gap between them, kissing him passionately. Fell's eyes widened in surprise before closing and practically melting into the kiss. He pulled Classic into a better position and tightened his grip around his waist as Classic brought his arms up around the other's neck. When they finally broke away, the two stared lovingly into each other's eyes, blush still very much present. Suddenly Fell turned away.

"I had no idea you liked me like that.." he said, a bit of guilt in his voice. "If I knew, I would've shared my feelings such a long time ago."

Classic was ecstatic. Here he was, his wish finally coming true. He was with the love of his life, hearing that he likes him back and has for a long time. He was practically bouncing up and down because of his joy, rivaling that of Swap!Sans, also known as Blue. He breathed in, happiness still gleaming in his eye lights.

“I guess you could say we’re more than just friends.”

—————

Hhhhhhhh sorry about the weird spacing, I swear my phone is on crack right now-

[itsomgitsgreenblogging]

Labor of Love Chapter 6 (END): A Critical Role Fanfic

And so we come to the end! This chapter is a bit shorter, most due to being a wrap up chapter and a proper ending. And we're getting Critical Role tomorrow!!!!! It's an exciting time for everyone really. I would just like to say, thank you to every single person who reviewed and supported this fic. Just know that I love you all, and hope that your next bite of dessert is as sweet as how you've all been to me and I'm happy to have been a source of something light and cute in a strange time. <3

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Preview:

It was the morning of the ceremony, and Essek was stressed. Of course there wasn’t much in the world that was more stressful then having an event with Leylas Kryn herself. She demanded as close to perfection that every person could understandably achieve and then some, that was just her style. Essek respected that of course, she was still the most powerful woman in Xhorhas for that very reason. But it didn’t make any of this very enjoyable. In fact, Essek was counting down the minutes until it would be socially acceptable to throw back at least two shots of something hard that burned all the way to his belly. 

And also when he might steal a kiss from a certain Zemnian wizard, but that was neither here nor there. 

“Who do I need to kill?” Nedna demanded hotly as she grabbed at her phone and tapped at her screen impatiently as if that would make whatever message she was hoping to come through come faster. “The flowers were supposed to be delivered a half-an-hour ago for the wedding party.” 

“Oh please,” Essek scoffed as he tapped on the screen of his tome-pad and showed her the delivery app from his account. On the screen it showed the location of the delivery just one street over from the venue itself, before he minimized it. “As if you have the stomach for murder. Leave that up to the professionals.” 

Nedna scoffed but seemed content to pout and not whine. Essek was thankful, because he hated when people whined at him. It was part of the reason why he was so good at solving problems. Essek sighed as his shoe tapped a rhythm, the only one that he could think of at the moment was Sweet Caroline, which made Essek think of Caleb and the Mighty Nein and he knew he couldn’t have been thinking about them but- 

“What are you nervous about?” Nedna asked breaking his concentration and causing him to lose the beat.

“What do you mean?” Essek asked, incredulously. 

“You’re fidgeting,” Nedna pointed out. “You don’t fidget. You don’t get nervous.” 

 “Contrary to popular belief, I do have emotions,” Essek said with a roll of his eyes as he checked his phone for what must have been the thousandth time that day, discreetly he hoped. “In fact, I’m waiting to hear from my date.” 

“Your date?” Nedna asked, eyebrows raised and jaw slack with surprise. 

“Am I not allowed to have one?” Essek inquired haughtily, turning up his nose at her like the blue-blood he was. 

“You didn’t add anyone to the list,” Nedna said, now sitting up at attention. Essek could see her calculating it out in her head and coming up with the wrong answers, so he figured it would be prudent to nip this in the bud before she could go blather on to the Kryns...or Luxon forbid his mother.  

“I don’t need to add someone to the list if they are already on the list, correct?” Essek scoffed impatiently. “Or did I need to put an asterisk and highlight it in red to signify the importance to my love life?” 

“Do you always have to be patronizing?” 

“When people ask me stupid questions? Yes, I do.” 

“Luxon help whoever is in a relationship with you,” Nedna said with a snort. 

“Well, it certainly helps that I actually enjoy their company and they enjoy mine. That’s the way functional relationships work, you ought to try it sometime,” Essek said as finally he got a message from Jester. It read, after a disgusting amount of emojis, that they had finished the cake and were in the process of getting it ready for transport. It would be at the reception on time. Essek could help the sigh of relief that escaped from the gridlock of his teeth. 

“Ha ha, funny,” Nedna said irritated, bringing him unceremoniously back to reality. Essek was about to open his mouth and tell Nedna where she could put her attitude and her cheap looking pumps that she probably wasted a fortune on, when the door opened. Waccoh looked in and gave them both a pinched look of annoyance. 

“It’s time,” a junior assistant said, “Leylas said she needs you two.”  

Essek immediately stood up and dawned his coat once again. In the mirror he quickly checked his tie and was out the door with Nedna on his heels. They got to the room where Leylas was sitting with her bridal party. She was dressed in her wedding finery. The bodice of the extravagant gown was designed to catch the light and glitter as if plated by the stars themselves before draping into beautiful gauzy layers that shimmered as she stood. She wore a beautiful crown encrusted with crystals and designed in geometric shapes that were reminiscent of shards of glass or frosted ice, as her designer fixed the veil. 

“Quana asked for it,” Leylas said, looking a bit thoughtful as her fingers slid along the material of the veil. “I told her that I was much too old for it...but I suppose she was feeling nostalgic.” 

“You look beautiful,” Essek said simply, finding enough breath in his lungs to give her a coherent answer. Leylas was beautiful the way nature was beautiful, totally overwhelming in its majesty and power. Even someone like him could only hope to appreciate it. 

“Thank you,” Leylas said. “Tell me, is everything on time?” 

“The guests are being directed to their proper seats in the cathedral as we speak,” Nedna said, opening up her tome-pad and showing Leylas the livestream of the event. “I was told Quana’s party arrived and are now waiting in the upper floors for the signals. I finally got confirmation that the flowers have arrived and Quana’s party has received them. They will be given to you all before your appearance.” 

“Perfect, and the reception preparations?” 

“All a go, the cake will be delivered, the band is already there and is doing warm ups, and the corrections to the decorations you wished for have been taken care of,” Essek reported. 

“Good, then there is no need to delay,” she said looking to the bridal party gathered in the room. Her makeup artist and designer joined Essek and Nedna as her bridal party exited the room following Leylas like she was the sun and the rest of them were the planets in her orbit. 

“I can’t believe you always work with her,” her designer said, looking slightly faint. Essek realized he was looking at him and Nedna as he made that statement. He was a well dressed half-orc, an up and coming designer who had won Leylas’ attention with his design proposal. Essek could understand why this was intimidating for him, after all, his life was probably going to change after today. He was going to become a household name in Xhorhas. “She’s so intimidating.”

“She has high standards,” Essek said with a shrug. “There is no problem unless you meet them. In that way, she is a very fair boss.” 

“Essek’s the only person in the history of the entire world who has never let down the Kryns,” the makeup artist said with a shrug. “And I can say that because I’ve been doing Leylas’ makeup for the past five years and I know that for a fact.” 

“It’s because I also have extremely high standards for myself,” Essek said, motioning them to follow. “I’m very rarely satisfied with things as they are. That’s what it takes to work for the Kryns.” 

“And also the lack of a social life,” Nedna said. 

“I have more of a social life then you thought I did even an hour ago. That’s another thing, never be too boring. Leylas likes people that surprise her...in the good subtle way. She doesn’t like real surprises, she’s very particular about that,” Essek said as they waited for the Kryn party to get into their limousine. Their own car was pulling up after, and Essek opened the door and allowed the others to get in first. “Has anyone heard from Waccoh about the broadcast by the way? Is that working according to plan? It won’t glitch out or anything right?”

“As far as we can tell,” Nedna said. 

“Good, then there’s nothing to do but stay the course,” Essek said, catching a glimpse of his cellphone.

Good luck with everything today, I’m thinking about you. 

Essek smiled, even just imagining Caleb’s voice could do that to him. That was a simply marvelous thing. 

Same to you. Essek responded before slipping his phone in his pocket and preparing for the battle ahead. 

________________

The ceremony hall was dark, except for the lights that showed around the altar and illuminated the clerics of the Luxon and the royal couple. Essek watched, with breath caught in his lungs at the wonder of it all. As Quana pressed a kiss to Leylas’ lips with the promise of forever dancing over her tongue, Essek wondered what that might be like…wondered at what the taste of their love was like. Even after all this time, was it still the same? 

Based on the way Leylas’ tears shimmered, Essek thought it just might be the case.  

________________

The reception was being held at the Lucid Bastion itself, the castle where the nobility once lived. It was a grand affair, and as such everything was washed with the white and silver of the wedding colors. Guests were handed their goodie bags upon arrival and milled about at the cocktail bars as wait staff in crisp white shirts handed them drinks named ridiculous things like White Blossom, or Mint Twilights. Essek confirmed with the staff that everything was going smoothly, and spoke to a few guests to assure their time was going well before he went to mind other equally important business. 

Essek moved into the reception area, and that was when he saw the cake in full glory. It was of course different then Essek had seen since it before. It was six hexagonal tiers tall, with each tier having a separate intricate design. Flowers fell in cascading tiers of frothy, silk organza ruffled and powdery with delicate blooms. Smattering of embellishments and the catching of edible crystal shards in hidden spots, delicate marzipan birds, and other gems that left something for the eye to catch at every sweep of it’s magnificent form. This all followed the brush of silver that perfectly drew the gaze to each new pleasure accordingly. At the top was the sculpture of both Leylas and Quana looking much and love and very weirdly adorable in their tiny form courtesy of Jester Lavorre.  

“Essek,” Caleb called with a small wave, and Essek tore his eyes away to see him. They were all dressed in tan slacks and white chef’s shirts with the Xhorhaus emblem on the side. It was a good choice for the formal affair, and the light colors really brought out the color of Caleb’s blue eyes. 

“Oh Caleb, it’s beautiful,” Essek told him somewhat breathlessly as Caleb crossed the room. 

“Just wait until they dim the lights for the first dance,” Caleb said proudly. “That’s when the really fun bits start.” 

“Are you talking about funny bits with Essek,” Jester asked as she settled down a tray of desserts for the dessert spread. There were slices of pies with jewel-colored fruit fillings, cookies and macarons in pastels, jellies and puddings and parfaits in glasses, their famous cupcakes with their swirls and sprinkles and glammed up with shimmer-dust. Yasha was placing decorative flowers and vases that had been handed off to her artfully between the display of treats in the most delicate and thoughtful fashion. By each dessert platter there was a little holder of cards, embellished with Xhorhaus Bakery very professionally upon the laminate that Veth was triple checking and double checking before seeming satisfied. 

Essek picked up one of the cards, and smiled. 

“We got those done last week,” Beauregard said as she wheeled out another tray with more desserts. 

“Good for you all,” Essek told them, very pleased as he slid one of the cards into his wallet. Who knew when he was going to need to give it out. “I am so very happy for you, truly.” 

“Do you think the boss will like it?” Fjord asked nervously as Caduceus placed a hand on his shoulder. Essek could understand the nerves, after all the camera crews and the guests would be coming in soon enough. If Essek had learned anything about life from working where he did, it was that any event with Leylas Kryn was bound to be overwhelming in more ways than one. 

“I can say from knowing Leylas Kryn as well as I do, that she’ll be extremely pleased,” Essek promised them all. “This is exactly what she asked for and far more, you have all completely outdone yourselves.”

“Thank you so much, for the opportunity,” Caleb said, reaching to clasp Essek’s hand. 

“No thanks required, you have already done more than enough,” Essek promised them all. Essek was about to say more when Nedna came over, holding her tome-pad. 

“The guests are set to arrive in ten minutes, after which there will be the dinner. At the end of the dinner you will be signalled to begin serving the desserts,” Nedna said without lifting her gaze to even look at them. Essek couldn’t help but bristle. He really couldn’t believe her rudeness...but at the same time he also couldn’t blame her. He would like to think he would always look into the eyes of those who were working with him, that was part of the reason he was successful. Essek did wonder if there had ever been a moment where he had been so nonchalant and found himself glad to be changed even in such a small insignificant way. “As requested the lights will be dimmed as you do so to help emphasize the enchantments on the cake and-oh! Here’s the photographer.” 

Nedna motioned over the photographer who had an expensive looking camera hanging by his neck. 

“I’d like to get a few shots of the cake as well as all of you before everyone comes in,” the photographer said, holding up his camera. 

“Of course,” Caleb said. “Would you like us to be out of the picture at first?” 

The photographer took a few shots of the cake from different angles. Jester did her best to both art direct and distract to Essek’s enjoyment and Nedna’s chagrin. After that, the photographer showed Nedna the photos as well as the Mighty Nein and Essek. Though Essek was sure that a photo couldn’t really capture the beauty of the cake, it was a well composed shot. With Essek’s final nod, the photographer gave a sigh of relief. They all knew this all would, of course, be shown to Leylas before it made it anywhere near the press release. But Essek had always had a good eye for what his employer would like. 

“It looks good,” the photographer said before looking back at the Mighty Nein. “If you guys would like, you should get into the next picture. We can figure out a caption and include it in the media press release as well.” 

“You have to make sure to get my good side,” Veth said, striking a pose, causing Beauregard to give her a playful push. 

“I’m fairly certain that’s his job,” Fjord pointed out with a fond exasperated shake of his head. “Where would you like us?” 

The photographer arranged them so that Yasha, Beauregard, Jester, and Caleb were on one side while Nott, Fjord, and Caduceus were on the other. They were about to take the picture when Jester began waving at Essek. As he was in the midst of this, Essek could see a few of the early arrivals filtering into the room. 

“Come on, Essek! Join us!” Jester said, moving over to the other side and wildly gesticulating at the place where she had been next to Caleb. 

“I’m not sure that’s appropriate,” Essek began to say as Jester placed her hands on her hips and gave him a chiding look. 

“Oh come on, Essek! You helped us so much with the cake!” Jester said. 

“You are one of the team,” Beauregard said with a smile and a shrug. 

“You are basically part of the Mighty Nein just through association,” Veth said. 

“You helped them with the cake?” Nedna asked with a scoff and with a smirk. “You? What? Was it running late?” 

“Yes, I helped my boyfriend with the cake his business made,” Essek snapped at Nedna as he marched himself over to where the Mighty Nein was standing in front of the cake and took his place besides Caleb. “Bite me, Nedna.” 

Nedna couldn’t have looked more shocked then if Essek had slapped her right in her face. Essek took serious enjoyment from watching her gap like a fish as he stood proudly next to Caleb, who placed his arm around his shoulders and smiled brilliantly at him. The photographer took a few pictures, before calling Essek forward. Essek looked at the picture appraisingly. Everyone in the Mighty Nein was looking proud, though, they would have to pick a picture where Caleb wasn’t looking at him. Though it was sweet, he didn’t think that Leylas would particularly want that picture in her press release. 

“Very good,” Essek said. “You’ll want to send either the fourth or the fifth picture to Leylas. Could I give you my details to send the first picture to me? I would love to have it. I’ll be happy to pay for the picture as well.” 

“Of course, I would be happy-” 

“Essek.” 

Essek took a deep breath, channeling the void and smiling his greatest work-mode-activated smile as he turned to face his mother and his very apologetic looking brother who looked like this train wreck was the absolute last thing that he wanted to be dealing with at this exact moment. His mother, dressed in a chic black dress with stilettos that probably could kill a man, tapped out an impatient rhythm as Essek stood before her...as if he were wasting her time merely by existing. Nedna was looking excited to witness the epic scolding that Essek was probably in store for. 

“Hello, Mother,” Essek said with his sweetest and most obliging smile. “How are you enjoying the Vow Renewal so far?”

“I see there is someone you haven’t introduced me to yet? Hm?” Deirta said, her voice eerily calm...the way stepping on a lake two degrees from splintering and sending you down to the depths where you would probably become an Essek-popsicle. 

“Ah! Deirta, there you are!” A voice suddenly cut the tension like a knife. It was Quana, dressed in her gorgeous white suit that had both Beauregard and Yasha choking at the sight. Even as someone who didn’t find women attractive beyond just aesthetics, Quana really packed a punch that had even Essek momentarily questioning himself (though the desire to actually see Quana naked was nonexistent). Deirta, unable to refuse the hug from Quana was helpless but to accept it and the friendly joyful kiss on the cheek. “I haven’t seen you yet all day, how did you like the Vow Renewal Ceremony?”

“Of course it was beautiful, just to be expected but-”

“And Essek, absolutely wonderful job with everything. Really Deirta, you ought to be so proud of your son. He is just a shining example of what the Xhorhassian Institute is capable of,” Quana said with a knowing glint to her eyes. “And Caleb, it's so wonderful to see you again. The cake looks absolutely stunning, I know I speak for both me and my wife when I say I can’t wait for the grand finale. Really Essek, your boyfriend is so talented! You’ll absolutely be the talk of Rosohna with this. In fact, I’ve already heard the ambassador to Marquet’s wife asking about a cake!”

“Ah, ja, thank you so much Mrs. Kryn. I can’t explain how much that means to us,” Caleb said, putting an arm around Essek’s waist. Essek tried to act natural and not like he was two breaths away from passing out from the prolonged exposure to Caleb’s body. “And yes, I did speak to the ambassador’s wife. I am glad she has expressed such interest, and I would be happy to speak to her.” 

“You know, Deirta, she’s the one planning on helping out with the trade deal. She’ll be beyond herself with joy to know that he’s Essek’s boyfriend, especially if that means she gets ahead in the lines of people already lined up.”  

“Oh, really?” Deirta asked, sounding absolutely tickled pink by this new and very profitable connection that she had suddenly made. “Do you think you would be able to introduce me?” 

“Oh it would be my pleasure,” Quana said, holding out her arm to Deirta who took it. “Just don’t tell my wife, she may get jealous.” 

“Oh you two never change,” Deirta said with a joking swat before looking over at Essek and Caleb. “It was lovely to meet you Caleb. We’ll have to do family brunch some time, when things settle down a bit.” 

“Of course,” Caleb said with a very understanding nod, and like that Deirta flounced off to terrorize someone else, Nedna skulked off having not been given the show she clearly had scripted in her own head. This left Verin behind with them. He had watched all of this unfold before him quietly, but just as Essek began to worry about his reaction he gave Essek a weak smile as he approached them. 

“Sorry,” Verin said, sounding like he was apologizing for more than just this interaction. “Though...it will be nice for mother to worry herself about another relationship...besides mine of course.” 

“Oh please she won’t be worried about my relationship, we both know which one of us has the better judgement,” Essek said, smiling up at Caleb and meeting his loving gaze. “Don’t be jealous.” 

“You are a brave man, Mr. Widogast,” Verin said with a roll of his side. “If I had to take Essek’s shit on a regular basis, I would have flung myself out of the nearest window years ago.” 

“I am a very lucky man,” Caleb said, pressing a kiss to Essek’s temple that had Essek smiling like a dopey love sick fool. Essek shook out of it and gave his chest an appreciative pat. “It is nice to meet you though.”

“Likewise. We’ll have to talk some other time, when things aren’t so busy.” 

“Thank you, Verin,” Essek told him honestly, reaching and grabbing his arm and looking him in the eye. Verin was momentarily startled, clearly, since Essek couldn’t recall a moment when he had initiated contact like this with his brother. “Really.” 

“Hey now, don’t get sappy on me,” Verin told him, reaching out, giving Essek a short but heartfelt hug, before pulling away and smiling at him. “We’re Theylss kids, it’s what we do. Besides, we still need to survive the evening.” 

With a final parting wave, he made his way to the table where he was assigned and joined his girlfriend. Essek watched him go, and made sure to make a mental note to buy him something nice for his birthday for a change. He didn’t think that a card and a check was going to cut it this year, all things considered. 

“You guys are official!” Veth screeched, rushing them and sounding breathless. “When? How? What?”

“Congratulations,” Caduceus said, smiling a wide and warm smile. 

“Oh it was super obvious that they were,” Jester said waving at Veth. “It’s not like we didn’t see them smooching the other day.” 

“Smooching is one thing, being together is another!” Veth argued. Essek attempted to grapple with that new information. It had to have been when Essek had dropped Caleb off after that stressful night of desperation baking. Essek felt his ears warm through with the realization that they had had an audience. 

“Well congrats on finally seeing what’s been written all over your faces for like months now,” Beauregard said, giving Caleb an appreciative slap on the back. Caleb gave her a smile that they shared as he reached out and gave her hair a teasing ruffle. 

“It is a wonderful thing,” Yasha said, quietly...softly, and with a sweet small personal smile. 

“I’m happy for you two,” Fjord promised. “It is a wonderful thing, Yasha is right.” 

“Thank you all,” Caleb said, with a glisten to his eyes which couldn’t have just been the light. “But before we really celebrate, we’ve got to make sure this goes off without a hitch.” 

“Caleb is right in that respect,” Fjord said. “Everyone, man your battle stations. We’ve got work to do.” 

“Aye, aye captain!” The rest of the Mighty Nein said with a mock salute. 

“I wish you all the best of luck,” Essek said before pressing up on his toes and giving Caleb the shortest and softest kiss he had ever given in his whole life. “You’ll be brilliant.”

“I wish I had your confidence,” Caleb said, eyes butter-soft blue. 

“I don’t have to be confident. I just know,” Essek said. “I’ll see you all after the fact.” 

With that and a parting wave, Essek made it over to his assigned seat. It was off to the side of the Kryn’s, just in case they were going to need anything. Photographers and videographers were stationed then,  and Quana had disappeared to the back. It was then when the guests had finally filtered into their seats when the announcer announced Leylas and Quana, who appeared to a raucous applause from everyone. Leylas had changed her dress to something more form fitting, but made almost completely out of shimmering jewels that fractured light as she moved with Quana to the head of the table. 

Dinner itself was of a bespoke design, small little dishes of designer appeal that were meant to be consumed in a bite or two before the next round appeared. Essek tasted no flavor, but ate only to bide his time and to look busy. Essek tried not to keep catching Caleb’s gaze from across the room, but it seemed like Caleb himself was an opposite charge pulling Essek’s eyes forward. Eventually though, glasses were refilled with an expensive wine and the lights were dimmed. 

“We hope that our next dish surprises and delights from the Xhorhaus Bakery in Rosohna,” the announcer said. 

Caleb moved his hand in a somatic gesture with the cake knife. With a final flick of his fingers, it was almost like sparks caught dry brush. A glimmer filled the air, like the soft light of dappled trees in autumn, or the filling pool of a hearth, or a cascade of light coming in from a cave mouth. Sugar flowers opened up like they were craning for the sun, light caught in the crystals and scattered them out, marzipan birds nestled between roots flew before settling on other lays, and most impressively those same firefly sparks that moved about the room settled on the candles at every table and lit them with a warm glow. 

When the glow settled into a pleasant mirage, heat casting illusions from a dancing candle flame, there was a mighty clap of applause. Essek could help his smile as all of the Mighty Nein took a short bow before the lights were turned up just a smidge and they began to hand out slices of cakes and other desserts along with the other servers. 

“I hope you enjoy,” Caleb said, settling down a slice for both Quana and Leylas. Leylas said something to Caleb that made him smile, but it was soft enough that Essek couldn’t parse it out. Then he came over to Essek’s table with the rest of the planning team, settling down a piece for every and then pausing in front of Essek. “Let me know how you like it.” 

Essek didn’t wait before taking a bite. 

The cake itself was tender and its crumbs disappeared in the mouth with the heady taste of brown sugar and almond and vanilla, then cut through with a deep tart black currant syrup that was soaked into the bottom cake while immediately lightened by layer of soft plum jam that fluttered against the mouth like moth wings. And then of course there was the vanilla frosting that was so light and smooth and heavenly that Essek wondered if that was what eating a cloud would be like. As he ate, he was warmed through, bundled up by a fire and held against arms that carried with them the scent of clean wood fires and summer days. And there was the hint of lemon, the hint of sunlight, a hint of Caleb, a hint of the love that gave to Essek until he was bursting at the seams. 

“I love it,” Essek told him, with a smile. 

________________________

Later, when the entire room was dancing and laughing, Essek found himself sitting beside Caleb. His hand was in Caleb’s, while Caleb ran his fingers along the divots of Essek’s knuckles like he was attempting to memorize him by touch alone. Essek did nothing to discourage him, and simply leaned just a bit closer. 

“I like my job,” Essek said as he watched Quana dip Leylas and plant a kiss to her. Leylas squawked indignantly, but based the pleased purple flush to her skin, she didn’t seem to mind. “But I’m beginning to think, perhaps, my days off are a little too idle. I always need to be busy.” 

“Really?” Caleb asked curiously, as Veth and Beauregard were flipping a coin. When it landed Beauregard swore as Veth swiped her drink and took it herself. Yasha and Jester watched this and laughed. Fjord clapped Caduceus on the back and both of them laughed at a joke that had obviously been told at someone’s expense. 

“Is there still an opening available for a barista or has the position been filled?” Essek asked Caleb curiously.  

“I may have to move a few interviews around, but as long as your recommendations are good I don’t see why we can’t make it work,” Caleb chuckled, slinging his arm around Essek, and Essek pulled in close against him.  “I may take up your offer, Mr. Theylss, if you are so inclined.” 

“You better be careful,” Essek joked. “Remember what I said, you give me an in and you’ll be only a partner soon.” 

“Only a partner?” Caleb asked in return. “I don’t think there’s anything I would like more. A baking’s a labor of love, and I can hardly only imagine what will happen when we stuff more love in that place.” 

“We might take over the world,” Essek pointed out with a laugh. 

“With our friends? Absolutely. Let’s! But you will have to tell me what flavors you think everything should be.”

“Lemon,” Essek laughed as Caleb grinned at him in return. And so the dancing went on and the evening turned to night, but Essek was held safely in the arms of a man that he loved. Essek couldn’t believe that there would ever be anything sweeter than that.

[another-sonic-blog]

Stages: Amy’s Day

Stages: Intimate Friends Pt. 4: Amy’s Day (Chapter 17)

Synopsis so far: After Maria left Shadow, Amy finally came to the realization that she has stronger feelings than she expected for the black and red one. However, Shadow doesn’t seem to have the same feelings for her. After sharing an intimate moment together, Shadow is afraid that Amy might leave him as well. He avoids her but after almost losing Mia (a young hedgehog girl that reminds Shadow of the old Amy) in a mission, he has come to the realization that he can’t imagine his life without his best friend, Amy.

What would happen to the couple? Let’s find out. 

2k 400

Previous: https://another-sonic-blog.tumblr.com/post/190952362000/stages-shadows-day

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Amy was at her new job. She was accepted as a sewer assistant, the pay was better than on her previous job. However, it was way more exhausting.

Her hands had stitches in them and even when she was wearing her globes she could she red coming out from her open wounds.

Amy kept using her sewing machine, she was fixing an old G.U.N. jacket. A black wolf had come by and dropped it. She couldn't avoid it, her mind went directly towards Shadow.

It has been three weeks since they have talked. No text messages, no meetings, nothing.

Amy had tried. She had gone to G.U.N. headquarters but Shadow denied to see her, saying that 'he was too busy at the moment.' She texted him, but no answer.

She even saw him on the street from her way back home and waved at him.

But he only pretended not to see her and walked the other way.

She stopped trying after that and focused on her new job.

Amy paid attention to the old black jacket. It wasn't like the other G.U.N jackets she had seen before. This one looked old, the leather was worn and it was bigger in the shoulder area. This jacket wasn't made for Mobians but humans. Nowadays, it was strange to see humans around, but there were some. Most of them were for here for political reasons.

Main example, G.U.N's top Commander.

Amy's mind began to drift towards Shadow again. What was he doing? Was he alright? Was he eating well?

Amy sighed, maybe it was better this way.

She wanted to stop loving him, and maybe the best way to do that is to have a break.

A lot was going around outside. Music, people laughing and parade carts going by the Main Street of Central City.

Of course, there were a lot of people. Princess Sally of Acorn Kingdom was here for the Star Festival.

Amy really admired her. The Princess led a revolution when she was only 15 and has led her kingdom to greatness since then. Even Sonic had admitted to having a crush on the young princess a long time ago, although he had only met her once.

Amy really wished she could see her. However, her job was tying her down. Not like she minds too much.

Ms. Lucy, her boss was kind. She had arthritis and due to it, she stopped sewing. She could only design clothes and Amy will make them. Ms. Lucy was an old grey rabbit, blue eyes and small. Really adorable. She owned the sewing store that focused on clothing reparations but the shop was also known for her clothing designs.  

Amy looked outside the store's window, hoping that someone way or another she could be able to see beyond the people who were blocking her sight.

She paid attention to the jacket again as she finished giving the final touches.

A beautiful jacket indeed.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Amy stood up quickly from her seat. She recognized that sound anywhere. Gunshots.

People began to panic. It was only three shots and that was all it took. Ms. Lucy wasn't in the shop for the day and Amy had the responsibility to look after it.

Amy put all of her things away. Dresses, sewing machines, treats, and everything at a high cost.

BOOM!

BOOM!

BOOM!

For a moment, Amy had forgotten where she was. She opened her eyes and it was all dust and falling boulders. Amy could the outside of the shop now. Half of the store was completely destroyed. The bomb was a strong one and Amy flew to the wall, her back impacting on it. The moment she fell down, she had passed out.

She was lucky, she didn't break anything but she definitely had wounds and scratches. Amy had dust all over her and her clothes were teared up but she didn't care at the moment. She slowly stood up, her right ankle failing her.

She had probably sprained it.

Amy cough up multiple times before finally being able to get out to Main Street.

She got to work. Amy tried to help as much as she could. People were still panicking. They were running and kids were crying. She helped them find their mothers. Amy used her hammer to destroyed some boulders to free people that were trapped in the buildings that were bombed.

She coughs up again, this time stronger and louder. Her lungs could only take so much.

After making sure that there weren't more people in trouble, she went back to the sewing shop.

She entered the half-destroyed building and looked for the client's clothes that they left for repair. Amy looked behind the counter, the clothes were dirty and some of them were torn apart.

Ah, more work.

Amy grabbed as many garments as she could. She was about to walk out when suddenly, boulders fell from the top of the building. Although she wasn't as hurt as she expected to be. She was trapped. Rocks surrender her and normally she would be able to use her strength to move them. However, she was extremely weak now. She was wounded and it was a tight space and Amy began to panic.

She was getting out of breath, she felt her muscles tense and she couldn't see anything.

Everything was dark.

And she began to scream.

"Is this how I am going to die?"

She thought, and she begged for help until her last breath.

.

Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.

Amy slowly opened her eyes. She recognized the smell.

Hospital smell.

It was dark outside and Amy looked to her right side. An oxygen tank next to her and a small standing screen showing her heartbeats.

Oh, Chaos, how much is this going to cost?

"Finally awake sleepy head?"

Amy turned her left and there was her hero.

Sonic the Hedgehog.

"You saved me?" She asked, giving him a weak smile.

"Of course, who else?" Sonic smiled, he was seating on a chair next to Amy's bed. Amy immediately knew that there was something that Sonic was hiding from her. He was holding his hands, fingers intertwined and he tapped his right foot impatiently.

"Just tell me what it is already," said Amy.  

Sonic hesitated, he knew Amy was strong. However, he also knew that what he was about to tell Amy was something that might break her.

But it will be worse if she finds out in another way.

"To start ... no one was in the building, so there were no casualties." Sonic added, "I am so sorry Amy ..."

Sonic made a pause, still doubting himself. Amy at watching that there was no reaction coming from him, spoke up.

"What happened? You are scaring me just tell me."

"The Resistance ...There was a fire ... and it burned down."

.

Sonic thought Amy had taken the news very well. However, he should have known better than to keep an eye on her the moment she asked him to bring her a glass of water.

When he came back with it, she was gone.

And now, he was running to the Resistance's HQ. He got there fast and was surprised to see how quickly Amy got there as well.

There was nothing left of the Resistance. Only ashes, black dark ashes.

And the pink one in the middle of them.

Sonic was never a big fan of the Resistance. However, he appreciated and admired every member who was or is a part of it. Only a few things reminded. a few furniture and walls that luckily reminded.

He kept the details for himself. He didn't want to tell Amy that this wasn't an accident. Amy was always precautions and something like 'leaving the stove on' type of accident didn't exist for her.

Someone did this. Someone who was able to get inside the Resistance without the alarms going on. A smart person who fooled the few agents that were inside and one way or another made them get out of the building.

Did Amy had enemies? And if she did ... why attack now?

Sonic walked up to her. No word could describe his feelings at the moment. His heartaches and it was difficult for him to breathe. Sonic bent down as he touched Amy's shoulder but she immediately shrugs him off.

Sonic tried again.

"It's not safe here ... we should -"

Amy turned her head and looked at him. She was still covered in dust from the bombing, her hair a mess, her eyes red from crying.

Strong winds were coming from all sides making the ashes revolve around them.

"Stop pretending that you care ... just leave."

Hurt, pain, disappointment, anger, sorrow, regret. So many feelings but one overtook Sonic.

Helplessness.

"Amy ... I do care."

"YOU FUCKING LEFT ME! YOU AND TAILS, KNUCKLES AND CREAM! EVERYONE WANTED TO ME TO LEAVE THIS PLACE, TO GIVE UP ON IT! YOU MUST BE HAPPY THAT IT'S FINALLY GONE!" Amy turned her whole body as she pointed at Sonic with her finger. Accusing him as if all of this was his fault. Tears rolled down her eyes, remembering how every one of her friends left.

Sonic quickly grabbed her hand. Letting his feelings show, just for a moment.

"YES! I FUCKING AM, AMY! I HATE THIS PLACE SO MUCH BECAUSE IT REMINDED ME OF THE PEOPLE I COULDN'T SAVE! OF THE PEOPLE WHO DEPENDED ON ME AND I FAILED! IT'S FUCKING TORTURE FOR ME!"

They stood quiet for a few seconds, green eyes intensely looking at each other. Amy was so entranced in her world that she had forgotten how much Sonic and her friends had gone through.

Sonic was tortured for six months but she was sure that that didn't compare to the deaths he caused due to his absence.

Of course, Amy will never think like that ... but Sonic will think the worse of himself.

The Resistance was a place of many good memories and ... terrible ones. Members of the Resistance died there, and must of them had a big appreciation for Sonic. He was there for each of them but it wasn't enough.

And for each one of them ... Sonic blamed himself and more.

"Don't you think ... don't you think it tortures me too? That's why I want the Resistance so much." Amy whispered as her voice broke. " ... Because that way their memory will keep on. It's the only way to prove ... that they didn't die in vain."

Sonic expression softens, he knew that perfectly well and her feelings were valid. He grabbed her hand softly this time, caressing it.

"They died so people could have a better future ... If you are happy, they didn't die in vain."

Sonic saw Amy's face turn into grief. She cried disconsolately and Sonic hugged her, giving her comfort.

"It's time to move on ..." He whispered.

A few minutes passed, and Sonic watched Amy let out her feelings.

He knew that it wasn't the right moment. But his heart was telling him otherwise. He didn't need a response, he just needed to put it out, so his heart and soul can be at ease.

"I love you."

Sonic said and it came out almost like a whisper.

However, Amy heart every single letter of it.

"You don't have to say anything. I can wait. But I just wanted to let you know." said Sonic.

Sonic still held her tight, afraid that if he lets go, she would lose her.

But he knew that he had lost her a long time ago.

"I know that you like Shadow ... love him even." Sonic felt Amy tense up by that but he moved her away just a little to be able to make eye contact.

"Sonic, I-" Amy began but he interrupted her.

"You don't have to say anything. The way you look at him ... It was the same way you used to look at me." Sonic added with a sour smile. "It hurts actually, hehe."

"I am sorry ... believe me, I don't want to love him." Amy held his face with her hands as if pleading for forgiveness. "I want my heart to stop but I can't. I would do anything ... anything to love you again."

"Then ... use me."

Amy gulped, as she slowly puts her hands away from his face but Sonic was quick to grab her left hand and place it back on his cheek, missing her touch.

"I don't care if you use me to forget Shadow," said Sonic. "I messed up a lot with you ... and if you give me the honor to be with you ... I will try my best every day to make you fall in love with me again."

There were many things Amy was unsure of. But there was one thing she knew for sure.

Sonic was here now ... and Shadow wasn't.

"Even if it hurts you?" Amy asked.

"Yes," Sonic responded.

"Even if I decide to keep on loving him?"

"Yes."

"Even if I can't love you anymore?"

"Even if you can't love me anymore. Even if you decide to be with someone else." Sonic softly kissed her hand and looked at her in the eyes. "Because I know that I am not worthy of you ... I'll be happy as long as you are happy."

The moonlight shone in Amy's green emerald eyes and Sonic got lost in them again. Her crying made her nose and cheeks have a red tint, making her almost look ethereal.

She was a fallen angel in Sonic's eyes. With all of her imperfections, with all of her quirks ... Sonic loved each one of them.

"If you do that much then ..." Amy took a deep breath and sighed. "I promise that I will try my best to love again."

Sonic smiled, his heart was warm. That was more than what he could ask for.

And in the ashes of destruction, a new love was blooming.

Sonic gave her a small kiss on her forehead, letting his feelings be known.

"And I promise to keep on loving you no matter what."

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

A/N: It's 3:21 AM. Sonic and Amy are together now, how will Shadow react to the news? Who is this villain? We will find out next year. Goodbye.

Next: https://another-sonic-blog.tumblr.com/post/611417758901714944/stages-what-is-it

[werejusttouchingeachother]

Baby, Touch Me

Summary: It has been months since you saw your boyfriend Mark due to his busy schedule and when you finally fly over to see him, he decides to tease you a bit and goes overboard — Mark as himself, boyfriend!Mark

Genre: smut (M... or R? idk man, you decide, it’s pure filth anyway)

Words: 6315, yeah you read that right, this went on forever cause I got carried away and I’m sorrynotsorry

Pairing: Mark x Reader

Warnings: a hella lot of teasing and foreplay, slight dirty talk and pure smut

Music Rec: 

Your eyes fluttered open and you squinted in confusion at the darkness, knowing that you’d fallen asleep when the sun was still high in the sky. Your hand reached out blindly for the phone on the bedside table and you narrowed your eyes to read the time.

6:17

“Shit,” you hissed, sitting up and scrolling through your notifications to check if Mark had replied to your earlier messages.

Spring break had officially began at your university three days ago and the original plan was to leave for home as soon as it started but after Mark had told you that’d he finish his schedule and finally head home to rest after tonight’s wind-up party, you proposed flying over to attend the party together and spend a week together actually touring the city (since you know he hadn’t had much time because of the comeback, back-to-back concerts and interviews) before flying back home together.

Mark had immediately jumped at the idea and it was then you knew that you weren’t the only one missing him after so many months of not seeing each other.

You sat up in your hotel bed now, knowing that you were running late since you had to shower, dress up for the party and then catch a cab to the hotel where the boys were staying.

You thought of the last time that you’d seen Mark as you stood in the shower, cold water running over you. It had definitely been about four months and as great as it was to text and call him, it was never enough. You’d been craving to hold him and be held by him and it was probably this yearning that made you fly all the way out here to see Mark rather than go home and wait for him there.

All the fancam videos from the recent concerts that were floating around certainly weren’t helping you miss him any less.

You dried your hair hurriedly, pulling on the new black lace underwear that you’d purchased just for tonight. You stood in front of the wide floor-to-ceiling mirror opposite the bed as you slipped on the crimson coloured velvet off-shoulder dress that clung to your body like a second skin, accentuating every curve and pronouncing it more. The second that you’d seen it on the mannequin at the store, it had reminded you of Mark during Regular era, in the velvet suit of the same colour and you knew how much he had loved that outfit so you were sure that this would be a pleasant surprise.

You quickly finish your makeup with a lipstick that was the same colour as your dress, your hair pulled to a side to show off your neck and adjusted the sleeves off your shoulders.

Mark isn’t going to know what hit him and you were going to make sure of it.

Taking a deep breath, you grabbed your purse and your phone from the table where it was charging and headed out of the room. You caught a cab and fidgeted during the whole ride impatiently, anxious to see him.

Right when you were around the block that lead to his hotel, your phone vibrated in your hand and you glanced down to see Mark’s message:

Where you at, babe?

The endearment made you grin despite how often he’s said it because of the fact that you could see him say it, hear it leave those lips in less than five minutes.

Three minutes, you quickly texted back as the cab pulled up to the entrance of the hotel. I’ll be right there.

You quickly got into the hotel and once you let reception know who you were and that they were expecting you, you headed straight for the lobby and made your way to their room.

You stopped once you reached the door with the number that Mark had texted you, feeling your nerves creep up on you as your stomach fluttered. You glanced at your phone screen and fixed your makeup, hesitating for a bit as you wondered whether you should text Mark to come outside so you could have a few minutes alone because you knew all the boys would be inside.

Before you could even act on it, you heard the lock jiggle and then Mark was opening the door, saying, “Why are you just stand—?”

He stops as he sees you, both your eyes widening at the sight of each other.

Mark Lee was in front of you and he was wearing a suit.

You stare at him in awe, wondering if he’s always looked this good or if your brain decided to create illusions since you hadn’t seen hum in so long.

He clears his throat, blinking a few times as he stutters, “Y/N. You… You look b—”

“Y/N!”

Your arm is suddenly grabbed as the boys pull you inside and they crowd you in a long group hug and you don’t even know whose arms are around you, your eyes still fixated on Mark who got interrupted, Mark who is still staring at you as he leans against the closed door now.

You force yourself to look away as the boys pull back and you smile at them, murmuring greetings as your eyes involuntarily slip back to Mark again and that’s when you realise:

He hasn’t touched you.

Almost as if he realises the same, he steps forward in your direction and you turn to him, lifting your arm to reach out for him but strong arms suddenly grip your forearms from behind, yanking you back slightly.

Johnny’s teasing voice is close to your ear as he says, “No kissing, guys, you know how much time Sooyong Eonnie spent on your makeup, Mark and Y/N, if you get that red lipstick of yours anywhere on him, I’m pretty sure she’ll kill you.”

You hold back your protests, knowing he was right but you were aching to touch Mark and it’s been so long since you’ve been this close to him, it was frustrating to have to hold back even now.

“It’s been so long, Hyung,” Mark smiled, rolling his eyes and you could tell even he was annoyed as he joked, “I’m sure she won’t be too mad if I hug my girlfriend after almost five months of not seeing her.”

He doesn’t even wait for a response as his hand grabs yours and yanks you forward, his arms immediately wrapping around your waist and holding you tightly to him. You raise your head slightly so that you won’t press your face to his clothes and skin, worried about getting your makeup on him as Johnny warned but Mark doesn’t seem to care as he buries his head in your hair and you can hear him inhale deeply. Your arms are around his neck as you practically melt in his grip, fitting snugly into his body and you can feel his chin on your shoulder as he keeps his head in your hair. You almost sag in relief at his grip that was tight enough to hurt but you don’t mind the pain because despite being pressed up against him as much as possible, you still wanted more.

Mark pulls away slightly, his hands still firm around you and you turned your head to meet his gaze, both of your eyes dropping to each other’s mouths at the same time.

God, I want to just…

“All right, guys, Taeyong is finally done, let’s go,” you hear SooYong’s voice as she claps her hands in order to hurry everyone out.

Mark’s shoulders deflate slightly at the same time that you let out a frustrated sigh, your breath hitting exactly on his mouth since your faces were that close to each other and he gives you a close-lipped smile as if to say, ‘I’m frustrated too,’ before quickly pressing a soft kiss to your forehead and then you feel the cool air around you replace the warmth as he lets go of you, stepping back. He reaches for your hand immediately and holding it tightly in his, you watch him as he yells at the boys to hurry up before you both walk out, hand-in-hand to the cars waiting for all of you.

***

As soon as you enter the party hall, you try to break away from Mark’s hold and step away to get some air, knowing that you wouldn’t get what you wanted—at least, not now anyway. Mark seemed almost unaffected as he casually held your hand again and talked to everyone coolly.

If you thought all the months away from him had been hell, the car ride on the way here had certainly proved you wrong: pressed up against Mark, you’d been giving him all kind of signals and signs to do something, anything, and when he’d seemed oblivious, you’d grown tired and put your hand on his thigh. Not a second later, he’d taken that hand in his own, holding it lightly.

Now you were just annoyed as you watched him goof around with the guys, beginning to think you were the only one feeling so frustrated and ready to jump him so when he let go of your hand to pick up a drink, you muttered that you’d be right back and quickly stepped away, going to the other side of the large room.

It had been almost half an hour now since you left his side but he seemed to remain unbothered that you hadn’t returned—even if he was, he certainly hadn’t done anything about it or approached you.

You stood near the free drinks table and Doyoung who was standing beside you suddenly nudged your hip with his elbow, jerking his head toward the right as he said, “What do you think about Taeyong’s new hair?”

You looked in the direction of Taeyong and cocked your head as you watched him laugh, observing the strands of black hair with thin streaks of blue falling in his eyes as he shook his head.

“He pulls it off, as always,” you commented, sipping the champagne in your glass. “His superior look will always be the Boss red and Cherry Bomb pink, though.”

“Oh, definitely,” Doyoung nodded, agreeing. “Punk and pastel colours definitely suit him.”

“You should try them too, you know,” you teased. “I miss the Cherry Bomb blueberry look.”    

Doyoung laughed and began talking about his favourite hair colours and cuts. You nodded, listening as your eyes drifted to Taeyong again who was now laughing with Mark.

Your eyes froze on him as you almost immediately tuned Doyoung out, captivated by the sight.

You had only seen Mark in the dim lights of the hotel room and even in the car, you’d tried not to look at him too much in fear of doing something beyond your control while in close proximity with the other members and managers.

But right now, Mark was standing right where the grand yellow chandelier lights were hitting him perfectly, casting a soft glow over his chiselled face and the light filtering through his freshly dyed jet-black hair. You could see the slight shimmery dark-gold accent on his eyelids and one glance was enough for you to know immediately that it was Haechan’s work and not Soyoung’s and you couldn’t help but wonder if she knew about his improvisation.

Regardless, you wanted to hug Haechan for it cause Mark looked ethereal.

Doyoung was still talking beside you—something about concepts now—and almost as if Mark could feel your eyes on him, he looked up and locked his gaze with yours.

Your breath slightly hitches as your grip tightens around the neck of the glass, watching closely as he slowly lifts the champagne flute to his lips and sips. He lowers the glass, tongue tracing his lower lip too sensually and definitely cause you’re watching. You’re watching him with parted lips now, breath heavy and eyes slightly wide.

Mark gives you that infamous small smirk and then winks.

Fuck it.

“Doyoung, I’ll be right back,” you interrupt Doyoung who is still talking without glancing at him as you quickly finish the drink in your hand. You don’t wait for a response as you slam the glass down on the counter and stride towards Mark with determination.

Fuck staying away just cause I’m not getting what I want, you think. I’m horny enough that I’ll take what I can get at this point.

You wrap your hand around Mark’s arm as soon as you reach his side and Mark, Taeyong and Johnny all stop talking as they see you.

“Where have you been, Y/N?” Taeyong asks and you answer that you were just getting a drink as Mark starts to ask something about the concert at Houston.

Johnny laughs and they began talking about the incident. You gaze up at Mark, your fingers clenched around his bicep, feeling the smooth material of the black blazer although you’d rather have it off, along with everything underneath it.

The boys get excited as they realise that they can’t recall the name of some amazing food that they had ordered in and Taeyong runs to search for Jaehyun who was the one to suggest the place.

Mark’s eyes drop to you the second that he leaves and that’s when you realise that you’re completely pressed yourself up against his side and that you were staring up at him like a starstruck idiot.

Mark runs his eyes over your face and down your body against his as he raises an eyebrow and asks slowly, “You okay? Something wrong?”

You shake your head and take a soft breath, stepping away slightly to regain some composure. Mark lowers the glass that he’d been holding on the table and grips your hand that was around his arm tightly in his right hand, his left hand resting on the small of your back. You freeze as that hand drops dangerously lower and before you can even process it, he’s cupping your ass to press you up against his front as he lowers his head to your ear.

The wall is behind you and no one can see where his hands are or what he’s even doing and if they did see you, it would only appear as if he was talking into your ear to be heard over the noise.

The hair on the back of your neck rose as you feel his warm breath on your ear, smelling the sweet champagne on it as his husky voice says,

“Y/N.”

You blink up at him, waiting and slowly feel the annoyance wash over you as he pulls his head back and you realise he has nothing else to say—he was doing it on purpose, to tease you, to rile you up.

You let out a heavy frustrated breath as you put your hand on his chest to push him back so you that you could breathe. “I have to go to the restroom,” you grumble as you start to stomp away from him and head for the other end of the hall where the restrooms were.

Mark watches you with a small smirk and when you’re surely out of earshot, Johnny comments wryly, “You know, you should probably go check on her in that restroom before she takes care of herself and leaves you cold at the hotel tonight.”

Mark’s wide eyes dart to Johnny as he questions, “Wait, what, you’ve noticed?”

He rolls his eyes, snorting as he says, “Everyone has noticed, dumbass! The sexual tension between you two is thick enough to be cut with a knife. Why do you think Taeyong left in the first place?”

“Why haven’t you left then?” Mark retorted.

“Cause I’m bored at this party and I want to know how much longer you’re going to keep teasing her by acting all cold.”

“Not longer,” Mark replies immediately, looking in the direction of where you’d disappeared. “I’m as weak as she is.”

“No, you’re weaker,” Johnny chortles. “Cause if you don’t fuck her soon, she’s mad enough that she won’t come to you and will just leave the party to go back to her hotel and take care of herself, like I said. But you will go to her.”

Mark was shaking his head. “She’s not allowed to touch herself. She knows that. I’m the only one allowed to make her cum, unless I say otherwise.”

When there was no response, Mark turns to see Johnny gawking at him with wide eyes, speechless at what he said.

“Why do you think the tension is so thick?” Mark laughed. “It’s the built-up frustration of months.”

“Well, what the fuck are you waiting for then?” Johnny demands, jerking his head towards the direction of the restroom.

Mark shakes his head again. “I need to catch her in the act. That way, I get to punish her.” He smirked up at Johnny. “That’s better, isn’t it? I’m a genius.”

Johnny rolled his eyes again as he glanced at the watch on his wrist. “If you don’t go soon, I think she’s going to get there without you and leave you with blue balls at our hotel, genius.”

Mark curses as he starts walking quickly to the restrooms.

***

You stare at your reflection in the mirror, your cheeks flushed almost the same colour as your lipstick and dress.

“Fucking asshole,” you mutter under your breath as you fan your face with your hand, trying to cool yourself down. You were considering heading straight for the airport and flying back home, just to show your boyfriend how petty you could be.

Only Mark Lee would want to tease and play hard-to-get after almost five months of a dry spell.

The door to the restroom opened and you glanced up at the mirror to see Mark walking in behind you.

“Hey,” he said, his eyes running over your entire frame. “You okay? You’ve been here a while.”

You glare at him in the reflection, even though he’s just staring at your back now, especially your ass.

“I’m fantastic, Mark,” you spat out sarcastically.

The hint of a smirk ghosts his face as he takes your shoulder and gently tugs you around to face him.

“Hey,” Marks says, his voice low. “I didn’t get to tell you earlier but you look gorgeous. I love this dress on you so much, it’s so red and so perfect and so… tight.”

His eyes are no where close to your face as he breathes the last word and you stare at him in disbelief before finally giving in to your screaming desires. You grab the lapels of his coat and yank him to you, pressing your lips to his in a feverish kiss.

Your grip on his collar is fierce as you spin him around and force him backward until he is pressed against the marble counters, kissing him desperately. Mark’s eyes are wide, definitely never having seen you be so dominative before but he quickly regains control as he pushes himself off the counter, wrestling his tongue into your mouth.

“Why the fuck haven’t you touched me all night?” you muttered breathlessly in between kisses.

“So that you’d touch yourself,” Mark replied, his hands roaming your back before finally settling on cupping your ass as he says, “I’m surprised that you haven’t already.”

“I thought I wasn’t supposed to,” you glare at him, kissing him fiercer in annoyance at his response and knowing that it hurt when he groaned, his hand squeezing your cheek tighter.

“Exactly,” he breathes, his other hand coming up to grip the back of your neck firmly and hold you in place so you could look at him when he says, “I want to punish you.”

You moaned at the delicious word, immediately taking effect on your body as you almost collapse in his arms. He quickly spins you both around so that you were pressed up against the counter for support now as you grip his hair tightly, letting Mark leave hungry wet kisses all over your bare neck.

“God, Mark,” you moaned. “I’ve been waiting for so long.”

“Yeah, you weren’t subtle,” he smirked, sucking a bruise into your neck. “Everyone noticed, it’s like you were in heat.”

He lifts his head to press his lips now tainted the same red as yours to your mouth, his one hand pulling the top of your dress down enough so he can take off your lace bra. He pinches your nipple with one hand while the other wanders down, cupping your heat through your dress and you part your legs involuntarily to give him easier access.

Mark moans loudly into your mouth as he feels how wet you already are. “You’re so desperate for me.”

“I am,” you begged. “Please touch me, baby, touch me.”

“I am touching you,” he replies, nibbling your earlobe.

“More,” you moan, the despair in your voice clear to even your own ears. “I want more.”

You feel his lips stop kissing you and he pulls back to look at you. You’re leaning back against the counter in an uncomfortable position and from the way that Mark looks at you, you can tell how needy you must look with your swollen lips, messy hair and throat that’s slowly blooming with purple bruises.

Mark’s eyes cloud over as his hand tightens over your clothed core. He reluctantly pulls it out from between your thighs and mutters, “Let’s go.”

“What?” You blink away the lusty haze to look at him, confused. “Go? Really?” You pause. “What about the party?”

“I don’t give a fuck,” Mark retorted. “Johnny Hyung will cover for me with whatever excuse he thinks is best, he owes me for the last time he snuck out of practice with Ten anyway.”

You grin breathlessly at him, pressing a quick kiss to his lips. “Okay, let’s go.”

You hastily fix your dress and pat down your hair as best as you can, wiping off the lipstick that is completely smudged now all over your jaw and neck. Mark only washes off the dark lipstick too, not bothering about his finger-fucked hair as he walks out of the restroom impatiently, hand tightly gripping yours. You watch as he nods at Johnny who rolls his eyes when he sees the pair of you and when he gives a slight shake of his head in refusal to cover for you, Mark stops walking to loudly mouth, “Ten” at him, making Johnny’s eyes grow wide.

You can hear Johnny’s exasperated sigh even from across the room and you grin as he flips Mark off before nodding tiredly and that’s all it takes for Mark to quickly drag you to the doors that lead out of the hotel to the parking lot.

He shoves you into one of their cars, hands immediately roaming your body and touching as much of your skin that is exposed. You realise how right he was about you definitely being a bitch in heat as you’re already panting and moaning with just his hands on you.

You breathlessly rattle out Mark’s hotel address to the driver and Mark cuts you off quickly with a, “No. Give your hotel.”

“What?” You shook your head. “Someone could see you.”

He stretches over the seat to reach into the back and pulls out a bag in which there were trench coats, face masks and sunglasses.

And that’s when you realise this is a company car. It’s SM’s van, of course they’d have the disguises for any emergencies.

And if this didn’t count as an emergency, you don’t know what did.

Mark looks up to meet your eyes, not glancing at the driver as he says the name of your hotel, “Hotel Sapphire. And drive fast.”

As the car starts, he presses the button on the side to pull up the dark screen that shields the driver from seeing you two in the back as Mark resumes groping you, his hands running up the length of your legs.

“I love how this sticks to you, it’s so sexy,” he comments as he pushes the material up your thighs and sides, bunching it up around your waist to get to where he wants.

You’re already a moaning mess as you feel the cool air of the car’s air conditioning wrap around your thighs, a relief and a trigger at the same time. Mark’s hands feel hot against your skin, raising goosebumps in their wake as they trail up your thighs. His one hand is fondling your covered breast and you help him tug the dress down, writhing in his arms.

You’re splayed over the backseat with Mark lying on top of you as his mouth immediately goes to your bare nipple, sucking and biting harshly and his hand moves in between your thighs. You moan as you feel his hand push aside the lace fabric covering your pussy and you lift your ass so that he can pull the panty down easier, which he does at an animalistic pace before his fingers find your centre again, two digits pushing in without warning.

You arch your back off the seat, eyes closing as you feel him scissor and stretch you out, your walls already dripping with arousal as you twitch beneath him. Cool air hits your wet breast as you feel him pull away and you open your eyes to see him watching your face as he keeps moving his finger around inside you, teasingly avoiding your clit.

“Mark,” you groaned, desperate as you buck your hips up into his fingers, needing any friction you could get. “Mark, please.”

You could see his eyes darken with lust at your plea even in the unlit car. He leaned forward and kissed you fiercely, smirking against your mouth as the pads of his fingers finally found your clit, making you arch further into him. He circled your clit quickly, not letting you adjust to his fingers or pace and you were already clenching around his hand, whining against his mouth.

You moved your hand from its firm grip on his forearm and wrapped it around his shoulders as you pulled away from the kiss, throwing your head back as he fingered you faster. You can feel Mark’s eyes on you as you gasp heavily, feeling his other hand hold your knee firmly to keep your thighs spread as his fingers worked you into your high.

The knot in your stomach grew tighter and you knew you were close as you started shaking, holding on to Mark tightly as if you would fall off the very edge that he was bringing you closer to.

Your moans grew louder as you felt your walls clenching and Mark’s finger suddenly slowed, one finger extracting and rubbing over your slit lazily.

You raised your head from the seat, eyes shooting wide open to look at Mark only to notice that he was smirking.

“You—” you cut yourself off as he pulled out his hand completely and licked the glistening liquid off of it.

“We’re here,” he replied, blinking innocently as he removed his fingers from his lips with an audible ‘pop’ sound and looked around, the car slowing to a complete stop as you saw the familiar lights of your hotel building through the window.

Again. He’d edged you on purpose and timed it perfectly so that he had an excuse.

You pulled up your dress over your chest and opened the lock, kicking the door open in frustration. You stepped out on shaky legs, needing the support of the car to stand as you grip on to your purse tightly. You adjusted your skirt the best you could, tugging it down your legs as you felt smothered by the tight dress suddenly, just wanting to rip it off your body.

Mark stepped out from the opposite side, wearing a black trench coat that looked suspiciously like Johnny’s from the way it almost drowned his smaller frame, a bucket hat pulled over his hair and down low to cover his face that was concealed beneath a mask.

The car pulls away from between you two and you glare at Mark who you know well enough to know that he is doing that annoying smirk behind the mask. His eyes are teasing little crescents as he chuckles when you huff and move to stride past him into the hotel, his hand reaching out to grab your own and stopping you.

You both make your way quickly into the hotel, Mark in tow as you check in hastily at the reception and head for the elevators, stepping in right as it opens and pressing the 12th button. You swivel around and watch as Mark quickly jabs the button to close the doors when you spot a man heading for your elevator.

You roll your eyes as the doors close, ready to tell Mark off but the words freeze in your mouth as he pulls off the face mask and turns to you, dropping to his knee in front of you. A loud gasp escapes your throat as he grabs your thigh, throwing your leg over his shoulder and you watch as his head disappears under the velvet of your dress. Your hands shoot out to grab the steel rail behind you, fingers tightening around the cylindrical bar as you lean your head back. Your eyes fall on the reflection of the shiny mirrored walls of the elevator and you can see the back of Mark’s head as he buries it in your throbbing heat, the sight turning you on more.

You moan loudly, throwing his stupid bucket hat across the elevator floor, fingers going to grip his hair tightly as you finally feel his tongue on your clit. He tongues you frantically, lapping up all your wetness and you can hear him sucking and licking, the noise sounding like heaven to your ears as it echoes in the elevator.

It doesn’t take you long to unravel under Mark’s merciless tongue, especially after all the teasing that he’d been doing tonight—your orgasm comes crashing over you, making your eyes roll back in your head as you almost grow dizzy with the arousal. Mark doesn’t slow down or let up as he continues licking around your walls, collecting all of your cum. You squirm as you feel his tongue flick your sore clit and you see your eyes widen in the reflection opposite you as you feel the elevator slow its ascent.

You yank on his head and Mark stands up right as the elevator dings, meeting your wide eyes and smirking as he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. The doors open and you see a trio of guys whose eyebrows raise in unison at the sight of you two.

You pull down your skirt the best that you can but Mark remains unbothered, snatching the hat from the floor and pulling it over his head while taking your hand. Your legs are unstable, a fact that Mark picks up on quickly as he wraps his arm around your waist and practically hauls you out of the elevator. You let him manhandle you as he drags you to your room quickly away from the three guys who were definitely snickering at you two now.

Mark quickly finds the key card in your purse and swipes it over the lock, pushing you into the room when he gets the door open. You turn to face him as he enters, kicking the door shut behind him as his hands come to grab you again. You’re quicker this time, pushing into him with the same force that you had in the bathroom earlier as you slam him against the door. Your lips find his and his arms wind around your waist tightly.

“Stop trying to take control,” he mutters against your lips, thrusting his tongue into your mouth to make his point clearer.

“Take control then,” you taunted, fingers gripping the small hairs at the back of his neck tightly enough to hurt.

Mark let out a low moan at the pain as he bit your lower lip at your bratty comment. He pushed you from him long enough to grab the hem of your dress and pull it down at the speed of light. You blinked, momentarily taken aback at the lack of underwear and Mark caught the expression on your face.

“Bra is at the restroom of that party and your underwear is on the floor of the car,” he explained, standing up from pulling off the dress off your legs.

“Those were new,” you stated, narrowing your eyes at him.

“I really don’t give a fuck, babe,” Mark replied wryly, as he pulled you to him and started kissing you again. Your hands quickly worked his coat off of his arms and your fingers flew at lightning speed to unbutton the white shirt that had been on him for far too long now.  

You ran your hands down his bare chest once you finally got it off, both of you moaning into each other’s mouths at the sensation of skin-on-skin, finally, after so many months.

“Say it again,” he muttered into your mouth, his voice husky as his hands fondled your bare breasts.

“What?” You panted, grinding up against the bulge in his pants desperately.

“The restroom, when I was touching you.”

You immediately know what he means and arch further into him, grinding into him harder as you say with all the desperation that you feel, “Touch me more. I want more, I need more. Please, baby, touch me.”

Mark groans loudly, pulling away for a second to look at you. “God, that is the hottest thing, Y/N.”

He takes off his pants and boxers, grabbing your hand as he steps away from the pile of your clothes. He pulls you further inside your room, turning you around to face the wide floor-to-ceiling mirror opposite your bed. You watch with bated breath as he grabs the dressing chair and drags it to the front of you, pulling your one leg up so that you could rest your foot on it.

“God,” you breathe, leaning back against his bare chest as you stare at his face in the reflection, his eyes focused only on you as his fingers find your clit again.

“Is this it?” he grunts in your ear, one arm in your hair to hold your head back so that he could watch you in the mirror as you fuck his hand. “Is this what you wanted, you impatient slut?”

“Fuck, daddy,” the word leaves your mouth in a breathy moan before you can stop it and you know it turns on Mark so you continue, “More, I want more, please, I want you inside me.”

He fingers you rapidly, edging you over again until you’re a quivering mess. You’re thankful for the support of the chair as you know you wouldn’t be able to stand without it. Mark pulls out his hand as soon as he feels you clenching and you watch him in the mirror as he coats his erection that is already spilling precum with your wetness that was dripping off his hand.

He doesn’t wait as he slips it inside your slit easily with the way that its spread open, thanks to your raised leg. You lean forward, gripping the top rail of the chair tightly as you feel him fill you up deliciously. You’re moaning at the sensation that you’d missed so much, both of you realising that you had gotten tighter from the months you’d been apart as he feels the resistance.

Mark slowly thrusts into you, letting you adjust to him and as soon as you do, he doesn’t wait to hammer into you. Hands tight on your hips, he holds you in place as he fucks you into oblivion. The position that you were in let him reach the spot that sparked your orgasm much faster and his hands find your breasts that are bouncing with the force of every thrust.

“M-Mark,” you whine, your eyes tearing up from the arousal and stimulations that he was giving you. You could feel your head spinning again at how good this was, at how you were feeling pain that shifted into intense pleasure, at how good Mark was giving it to you.

“Cum with me, baby,” he whispers hoarsely into your ear, thrusting harder and rougher as you feel him reaching his high too. The air is hot and heavy around the two of you, filled with the filthy sounds of your skin slapping and a chorus of moans. His hand drops to between your thighs again and just a brush of his fingers over your sore clit is enough to have you cumming all over his hand again. It triggers his own orgasm as you feel his cum fill you up inside your pussy in thick spurts that along with yours are too much that it overflows and spills out of you, dripping down your thighs.

Your voice is hoarse as you let out a final whimper. You lean forward on your outstretched arm that was gripping the chair for support, your body slick with sweat as Mark collapses against your back too, his arms around you in a loose backhug.

Both of your heavy breathing and pants are all that you can hear as you try to regain your composure and suddenly, you feel soft familiar lips press against the nape of your neck in a gentle kiss, the gesture already relaying what Mark couldn’t say since he was so bad at words.

You smile and lean back into Mark, your hand coming to wrap around his own that was on your stomach.

“I missed you too, Mark.”

[sergeanttpoliteness]

➹embroidered hearts➹(ps4 peter parker x reader)

Requested by anon➝  hi! idk if you’re taking requests right now, but if you are, do you think you could write something for ps4 peter parker? maybe like a friends to lovers thing. thanks!

You just... really liked to disappear, huh? To vanish, slip from his fingers. Except that this time Peter found you, caught you before you left once again, which may have just been exactly what you needed.

word count: 2.7k

a/n: holy wowowow, this isn’t a false alarm, y’all-- i actually posted! i’m sososo happy i finally did, and i’m really sorry about how long it took me to do so. school drained all my motivation but exams just finished this friday so i decided to get this done once and for all. i’m shocked that i finally liked something i wrote this month, it’s progress (’: anyway, here’s something for 1 pretty boy whom i love very much, i hope the nonnie who requested it likes it! (: also i had a terrible allergy while editing this so if there are any mistakes pls know that it’s hard to write while sneezing every five seconds. hope this week is great for you bc u deserve it, ok, ily that’s it adios (last thing lol, expect some noir stuff next and that beter sequel eye emoji)

Twenty minutes. Twenty minutes since you told him you were going to the bathroom with a wavering smile, and you were nowhere to be seen. Peter set his empty glass of water on the table for the third time— God, he experienced a déjà vu that left him stumped and everything, and as he watched the crystal liquid stream from the pitcher, he could also sense his bladder protesting against all the suffering he kept putting it through. Nonetheless, he simply thanked the waiter for the refill, or else he was sure that if he didn’t continue drowning himself, the disquiet abounding in his system as a result of your unknown whereabouts would strangle him with its unnerving claws. Perhaps the entrance dish bombarded your stomach (if so, then he hoped you were alright), or the toilet devoured you and swallowed you down the drain. Two-year-old him never trusted the porcelain seat, after all (it... was an actual fear of his, actually). However, past all those justifications and silly fears, he knew something wasn’t right, for there existed no chance you’d simply vanish just like that after the anxiety for tonight nearly eroding you alive, and you wouldn’t surrender an opportunity for a promotion... right?

He scanned the party room, through the many dresses and tuxedos either standing by still or swaying together, awkwardness raining over and staining his skin when he recalled he was the last remaining person in the table after everyone else retired to chat with other fancy people. He surely didn’t fit in that category, neither was he acquainted with anyone — he wasn’t even invited, for crying out loud, rather you were the reason for his attendance; still, you weren’t there. He considered possibly checking the bathroom to make sure you seriously hadn’t died, because you weren’t answering any of his calls and... oh, no.

Your boss walked on stage and tapped the microphone, a muffled thud reverberating through the speakers. “Good evening, everyone! I’m glad the night’s been such a lovely one, I hope you’re all having a great time.” The man — Peter couldn’t remember his name, honestly — spoke, a charismatic grin that paraded his astonishing dental care on his face. Though no alluring smile impeded Peter from panicking further or his limbs from driving him out of his chair and into the tight space in between a cluster of intimidating guests, looking identical to a little kid who couldn’t find his parents at the supermarket.

“Where are you, Y/N?” He muttered to himself, a question he’d reiterated in his head far too often for the past seven months. A haze of amazement and disbelief encompassed his brain when you called him to ask to come as his date— all he could do was blink, his throat clogged up and his heart so unbelieving as if you died and had risen from your tomb, but you might as well have and he wouldn’t have even known, because it’s what it seemed following such a tediously long time of dead silence, of not seeing that lopsided grin of yours, of nothing. It should’ve pushed him away, if anything, although how could it? How could his stunned little heart let you go after you’d embroidered yourself into it, sewn the threads, a perennial string that led back to you, the first day you met? And yet you still gripped it closely, unwilling to detach as he desperately dialed your number again, his stomach diving faster down to the Earth’s core whilst your boss’ speech went on and a high-pitched beep rang in his ear. ‘The person you have called is unavailable right now...’ Not a good sign. No, most definitely not.

“However, I’d like to invite on stage a person who we appreciate greatly in the company,” ‘The person you have called is un—’ Peter hung up, over that goddamn message that always appears to torment him, and grimaced as your boss studied the crowd with proud eyes. “Please, a big round of applause for Y/N Y/L/N!”

The room exploded with sophisticated cheering, but it declined gracelessly, the clapping stuttering, fully ceasing when the moments dragged on and no one entered the spotlight. The leader squinted, visibly distressed, brows perplexed as he leaned closer to the lady beside him. “Y/N... did make it tonight, correct?” He whispered too loudly, gossip escalating in the audience. Peter bit his lip, stepping back closer to the exit door until a rough hand clutched his sleeve. 

“Hey, you’re Y/L/N’s boyfriend, right?” An older man with fuming blue eyes and a bald spot questioned, spit flying but thankfully not anywhere near Peter who sputtered, chest warming up when his tongue failed him, became tangled in his mouth.

“Wha... n-no, we’re just friends—”

 “I don’t care. Listen, if that idiot is not here right now then I’m gonna be in deep shit.”

Peter’s brows furrowed with anger, “Hey, shut up, man— Y/N’s not an idiot.” He snapped, but the guy barely flinched and rolled his eyes as he let go of the taller young man. 

“Just do something!” He hissed, equally as bitter and prodding his chest before disappearing into the crowd.

Peter opened the double doors and sped down the hallway straight to the bathrooms with a sour mood; however, before he knocked, a figure outside the window captivated him and calmed his hammering heartbeat. It... couldn’t be you. Why would you be out there? He surveyed the area, and when he saw no sign of another person or any security cameras, he unfastened the window’s lock and slid it open.

Could he have gone outside like a normal human being? Yeah, sure, except that— first — where’s the fun in that, and second, he didn’t want to walk all the way to the other side of the building— it was an emergency, or at least that’s the excuse he’d use if anyone caught him as he landed softly on the grass. It was indeed you, he realized, sat on a bench, observing nothing in particular unless the building under construction across the street held any trace of beauty in your eyes. He stopped a few feet away from you, mouth twitching. “Is this seat taken?”

You almost jumped into space and out of orbit, your neck whipping around, large frightened eyes gradually lightening when they took him in. There it was. That lopsided grin, unchanging from when you were a sophomore in college apart from the darker under eye circles. And there was his own shy smile, too, accompanied by the blush that stained his face, like red wine spilled over a tablecloth. “Yes, actually, by my imaginary friend Pedro.” You patted the area beside you, on the supposed Pedro’s knee, and he sneaked his hands inside his blazer’s pockets, feigning disapproval.

“You exchanged me for a Pedro?”

“He’s a nice guy.” You giggled as he sat down next to you, your stare fixed on your lap. “Let me guess: I messed up the night and that’s why you’re looking for me.” You said, playfulness faltering and insecurity peeking its head in, and he noticed how it sculpted your expression and body language with its discouragement. 

“Not exactly, no. I was still going to look for you, but a jerk who called you an idiot really needed me to do so.” He grumbled, irritation returning as a combo along with remembrance of the incident. You didn’t reach, though; you solely raised your eyebrows, unruffled, your friend more afflicted albeit he wasn’t the one who was called an idiot. 

“A short guy that kinda looks like an odd mix between John Stamos and Danny Devito?” You queried. Peter rebuilt the man’s appearance in his head, and you had to laugh at his raw shock when he recognized the accuracy of your comparison. He... really did look like that, seriously, it’s the most bizarre combination you could think of. “Yeah, that’s Jonathan. We’re not exactly best pals.”

“I kinda figured that out, Stavito didn’t look so happy.” A smile flourished on his countenance as quickly as a match is set alight after you cackled, your hand flying up to your mouth to mute your laughter.

“Stavito? Man, now he’s gonna hate me even more because I’m never gonna stop using that one.” You shook your head, rubbing your crinkled eyes. He hummed, loosening his tie, wearing a crooked grin that you fathomed meant incoming pain for you—

“He’s gonna stab-ito you!”

Jesus Christ. You let out a drawn-out breath and picked up your legs, expression similar to a parent seeing their kid’s report card. “I hate you. This friendship’s on hold until further notice.”

“It was a great pun!”

“Was not.” You objected, although both of your bodies shook with hilarity. He looked at you, the moon painting silver strokes on your tranquil frame, the delight in him for just being by your side too much that his stare lingered; though not for long, for your attention strayed up to him and his eyes immediately shifted down to his hands, his leg restless, bustling.

“Why are you out here? We could’ve left if that’s what you wanted.” He said, brows knitted. You changed to a cross-legged position, rolling your lips.

“I originally was just going to take a five-minute stroll, but once I sat down here, I just couldn’t go back inside.” You confessed, shrugging. Gloom reemerged, drooping the corners of your lips, striking a spike of ice in your gut— the frost trickled up and down your body, goosebumps of sorrow growing over your skin. “I’m sorry I’m such a terrible friend. Jonathan’s right: I am an idiot.” You whispered.

He held in his breath, blank on what to say. “Why would you think that?”

You snorted, expression unamused. “They’re facts, Pete. Good friends don’t just… fall off the face of Earth without a warning.”

“I’m… sure you had your reasons.”

“They weren’t good reasons, though. I should’ve at least told you something. But I bet it was nice to get a break from me, huh?” You joked, hurt and self-doubt seeping through your voice.

He frowned, immediately denying with his head. “Why would I want to get a break from you? Y/N, we don’t even get to see each other that much. If anything, I…” He halted, gulping. “I-I want to see you more.” He admitted quietly.

Your bewilderment was dim but still present as you ran your hand up and down your arm. “You’re dumb. You could spend your time with people who are actually great but you want to spend it with me.”

“Yeah, well, if I am dumb so what? I still wouldn’t change my mind.” He argued, a line in between his brows. You sighed, sliding down the metal seat, your eyes shut as you tilted your head back. 

“Peter, stop, you don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I do, though. I mean, yeah, it… it hurt a bit,” Peter raised one shoulder, aware that it hurt more than just ‘a bit’. “I thought you decided to break contact, but it’s okay, really.”

“Give yourself some love, it’s not okay that I hurt you like that.” You momentarily put your hand on his, repentance etched on your features. “You didn’t deserve that.”

“We’re talking again, though, that’s all that matters.” He brushed you off, raising up to his feet. The guilt still held you, played with you like a doll, but the reassuring quirk of the corner of his mouth somewhat relieved it. “We should go back inside, don’t want you catching a cold or Stavito getting fired.”

“He’s not gonna get fired, he’s just way too over dramatic.” You grunted, showing your clear distaste for the John Stamos and Danny Devito love child. Peter lent out his hand but you blinked at it, chuckling uncomfortably. “Don’t you rather stay out a bit more? The sky looks great tonight— I can see a few more stars than usual.” You pointed at the dark blanket of nebulae and astral bodies. He glanced up, close to dropping to the ground to inspect the night sky until he heard the stifled music from the party.

“We can stargaze once the event’s over.” He promised, gesturing with his head to the building. It was then when he distinguished the dread in your eyes.

“...Are you sure you don’t want to do it now? What if it gets too cloudy?”

He narrowed his eyes. “Is everything alright? Why don’t you want to go back in there?”

You tried to utter another excuse, but you couldn’t. The ire at yourself made your hands tremble, set your mouth in a hard line as you were incapable of looking right at him, the humiliation far too much.

“I hate my job.”

Peter sat back down, staring at you, his expression sad. “You know, I spent the entirety of high school and started college with this idea of what I wanted my future to be like. But now that I did it, now that I’m actually there, I’m so… bored with everything. I don’t know what to do. Like, what am I supposed to do now? Go to work and what else? Because if that’s all there is to my life, I don’t know why I should even bother with it.”

“Don’t say that.”

“Peter what am I doing?” You scoffed, scowling. “Look at me: what the hell am I bringing to the world? You’ve got FEAST, and just got that job with Otto Octavius— you’re… so amazing and will do so many great things. The world needs you. I need you. We all do.” You mumbled, voice breaking.

His sight gravitated down to your lonely hand that rested so near to his, that had the string running from his heart encircled around its ring finger, beckoning him closer. His fingers reached out slowly, hesitantly, with great fear. But he wound up grazing your hand, and then he fully wrapped his own around it— around the artist that sewed a handiwork of untouchable adoration into him. “But what if I...” He began, struggling to come clean. “What if I...” He saw your anticipating gaze.

“I need you, too.” He whispered.

Your view averted down to your linked hands and then up at the boy unknowing that he, just like you had to him, had tailored a piece of himself in you long ago. You hugged him. Crumbled, snuggled deep into him, allowing yourself to accept that hand reaching out to you, to surrender to comfort. He hugged you back with as much gentleness and warmth, his chin on top of your head. “You should give yourself some love, too.” He murmured and you let out air through your nose, agreeing with him. “You’ll find your way because you’re incredible, alright? I just wish you could see that.”

Seven months weren’t eons, Peter acknowledged, but perhaps they could be; perhaps they were enough to view everything differently, past that veil that cloaked his eyes, past the doubt and uncertainty, because there was something distinctive in your familiar smile when you pulled away. Something unusual as you sat straight, your eyes drifting sideways to him. “I guess we can help each other with that self-love thing.” You suggested.

He got the hint in your voice, and all of a sudden, he figured out what that something was; but he didn’t want to accept the truth that crashed against him when he realized that it wasn’t new. No, it’d been there all along.

He could try to believe.

“Maybe we could, uh, we could go out for dinner some… some time. Get started with some good food, y’know…” His tone was quiet and he couldn’t have resembled better a nervous teenage boy asking his crush to dance on prom night as he wrinkled his nose in embarrassment.

You faked a cynical expression, despite already knowing the answer in your soul. “Some time?”

“Or never, if that’s what you prefer.” He laughed tensely, his eyes growing wide when he turned his head and cursed at himself internally. You smiled to yourself, moving a strand of hair out of your face.

“How about tonight?”

“Tonight? Like…” He checked his wristband, only to remember it wasn’t a watch. “...tonight? What about the event—”

“Forget the event,” You stood up, and now you were the one stretching out your hand to him. “C’mon, let’s look for some restaurants because why not, am I right?”

Peter clutched your hand, the contentment a welcomed compensation for all those months of not seeing you.

“Yeah, why not?”

[you-got-skamed]

Make Me Feel - Roger Taylor x Reader

Summary: You meet Roger at the store you work at, sparks fly and he invites you to the Queen concert that night. Alcohol, a certain blonde drummer and relentless flirting, what could go wrong?

Warnings: Smut

A/N: This is my first time publishing something I wrote but my love for Roger Taylor is bigger than the fear of putting my writing out there. I hope you enjoy this little prompt and please don’t hesitate to send me messages if you want to talk about the fic or just Queen in general :)

After today’s shift you were definitely going to quit your job. Screw the money, screw the fact that you needed to pay rent, screw every stupid customer that walked through the doors of the clothing store you worked at. Not only did your boss call you in on your first free day in weeks, no. On top of that two of your colleagues called in sick so you had to man the store by yourself with only one person at the register. Now after possibly the most stressful shift you ever had it was nearly closing time and your patience for dealing with customers was damn near gone.

“Oh, cheer up Y/N! We only got an hour left and then we’re both free from this hellhole, mate,” Marc, your favourite colleague, called after you while you were angrily cleaning up the mess that the last couple of people had left behind.

Usually, you really loved working at the small boutique. As far as jobs go, it was pretty chill and the group of people you worked with were great. Mostly students just like you. Looking at the clock again, you noted that there were only 45 minutes left until you were allowed to close the store and not a single customer was in sight, so you started to hum along to the radio that was playing in the background while you folded clothes and rearranged a couple of displays.

“Marc, would you mind getting me the new shirts that arrived today? I think they’re on the shelves all the way at the back,”you yelled towards the front without looking up while diligently trying to get as much work done as possible.

Just for once you wanted to leave on time and not have to stay longer because some dumbass customer came in 5 minutes before closing time and made a giant mess. Marc only grunted in affirmation and went downstairs to the small room the shop used as storage. Already thinking about the paper for one of your literature classes, which you had to finish writing tonight, you didn’t notice the door opening and a couple of people filing in. When you finally turned around you couldn’t help the annoyed expression that crossed over your face before you caught yourself and started smiling. “Hey, Welcome to Bold. How can I help you guys?” you cheerily asked in your fake retail voice.

The group of men that just came in curiously looked around the store. One of them emerged towards you. “We’re just looking around, darling,” he sauntered past you but then turned back around. “Actually, I changed my mind. We’re looking for outfits for tonight! Something flashy and glam. Considering your store is called Bold I assume you have things like that.” 

He had a big smile on his face and even though you desperately wanted to be mad at him because there was no way this would be done before closing time, you couldn’t. He was way too charming for that. First, you scrutinized the men to get an idea of their style. Then you nodded to yourself and got to work. It was actually pretty fun to dress them which made up for the fact that you would get home later than usual. They introduced themselves as a local band that had an impromptu gig tonight but no fitting clothes.

Freddie, the lead singer, picked out a lowcut silver shirt with black skinny jeans, both technically out of the women’s department but he pulled them off better than any woman you had seen them on. Both Deaky and Brian went for something stylish but not nearly as risky as Freddie. Then you turned your focus towards Roger, the drummer of the band, and truly something to look at if you were completely honest. The other boys were currently ringing up their purchases with Marc, chatting with him and seemingly getting along pretty well.

Going up to Roger who was currently browsing through the men’s section, you cleared your throat and interrupted him. “So, pretty boy, what do you want?” His blue eyes shot up at you and a small smile formed on his lips.

He leaned a bit closer to you. “I don’t know! What do you think will look good on me, love?”

It was like your brain went blank. Was he flirting with you? “Oh, I think most things here will suit you,” you answered without thinking and laughed softly. What the fuck? Were you flirting back? What was this man doing to you?

Roger simply smiled at you and held up his hands in surrender. “Just pick something. I’m sure it will look fantastic.”

Thinking about it, you actually had the perfect jacket for him. It was black with silver applications all over it. You handed it to him. “What do you think?”

His eyes lit up and he quickly tried it on over the shirt he was currently wearing. “I love it. It’s beautiful,” he murmured. Already turning around, you reached for a simple black T-Shirt. “I would wear something like that under it.”

Roger just smirked. “Don’t worry, love. I already own the perfect thing to go under that jacket.”

You raised your eyebrows but didn’t want to ask further. “Great, then let’s ring you up, so I can finally go home,” you said enthusiastically and made Roger follow you to the register where his friends were waiting for him.

“You found something, darling?” Freddie inquired and curiously looked at the jacket in Roger’s hand. “Oh, that is nice. I might steal that from you.”

“I might too actually!” added Deaky. “Nice job, Y/N.”

You blushed slightly. The whole group was just so kind and seemed to be fun to be around. Now your day didn’t seem so insufferable after all. After Roger had paid, the group already turned to leave but Freddie hung back as if he had forgotten something.

“Oh, wait. How rude of me. Y/N, you should totally come to our gig tonight! We’ll put you on the guest list as a thank you for helping us and an apology for coming in so close to the end of your shift.”

Surprised you blinked. “You really don’t have to! It’s nice of you but it is my job after all and despite that I have a paper to finish.”

Freddie stopped your protests with a wave of his hand. “Darling, it’s a Saturday night. Do you really want to sit in your room studying or do you want to listen to great music and get a couple of drinks on us?”

A smile creeped on your face. “Alright, I’ll be there.”

Roger handed you a flyer. “Everything you need to know is on there. Don’t be late, love,” he winked at you.

If you were able to focus on anything else despite his gaze on you, you would have seen Brian and Deaky looking at each other and rolling their eyes. But you were too busy staring at Roger’s beautiful face. How was it fair that he went through life looking like that? It should be illegal to be that attractive. After they left, you regretted accepting their invitation for a minute. You were tired, you had other stuff to do and you were broke. But due to exams you hadn’t been out in a while and it couldn’t hurt to finally socialize a bit and get out of your apartment at least for tonight. And the prospect of seeing a certain blonde drummer again made you want to go even more. Tonight should be fun.

 Just two hours later you were standing in front a bar on the other side of town. For the first time in weeks, you had taken time to get ready and you were feeling pretty good about yourself. You were wearing a red velvet slip dress with a plunging neckline, your favourite pair of heels and an oversized denim jacket on top of it.

Other than work you hadn’t really left the house since exams started and wearing something else than sweatpants felt really good. Confidently, you went past the line, ignored all the stares and went up to the bouncer.

“Yeah?” he asked, eyeing you up and down.

“My name is Y/N. I should be on the guest list,” you said, ignoring his suggestive stare, pulling the jacket closer and hugging your body. Christ, it was freezing outside.

The doorman quickly checked his list and let you in. As soon as the door closed behind you a rush of warm air hit your face. It was so crowded in here that pushing past all the people that tried to get towards the front of the stage proved to be difficult. Realizing that it was futile trying to find one of the band members in this chaos you decided to head to the bar first and get yourself a drink. Even though that was equally as difficult, using your elbows you managed to catch a spot at the bar and leaned on the counter to tell the barkeeper your order over all the noise. All of a sudden, a warm hand was on your lower back. Immediately you turned around, relieved to see that it was Roger.

He smiled at you. “Y/N, you made it.” Just as the bouncer, he eyed you up and down, but his gaze made you feel something completely different. “You look fantastic,” he leaned closer and whispered in your ear, making run shivers down your spine. His hand never left your lower back and you felt a tingling sensation.

In disbelief at how many people were still pushing into the bar, you looked around. “I’m not trying to be mean, but I didn’t realize that you guys were that big of a deal.”

Roger’s answer was interrupted by the barkeeper putting your drink down in front of you and you started to dig in your purse for money. “She’s with the band. Everything she orders is on us,” Roger said to the barkeeper who just nodded and left to serve another customer.

Sighing you grabbed your Gin & Tonic. “I should say thank you, but then again Freddie promised me a free drink. Still, thank you for enabling me to get drunk tonight.” Roger laughed and you started to look around for his bandmates.

Again, he leaned in closer than necessary and screamed into your ear. “Listen, let’s go backstage! The show starts in 20 minutes and I still need to get changed. Oh, and you’ll have a way better view from the side of stage without getting groped by strangers.”

You just nodded as he took your hand and dragged you through the crowd. Unlike for you, people actually parted to let Roger through. Some people, especially girls, were giving you nasty stares but you payed no mind to that. You were too busy being overwhelmed by everything. Before you realized Roger had manoeuvred you toward the stage entrance and finally you were able to walk without being pushed around and all the noise from inside the bar was dulled as the heavy stage door closed behind you. Both of you went to the band’s dressing room where Brian, Freddie and Deaky were hanging out, already in their stage outfits.

Brian was the first to notice you. “Y/N, hello,” he said absentmindedly while plucking his guitar, playing a couple of chords. Deaky was in conversation with someone but he smiled at you and gave you a tiny wave.

Freddie was sitting in front of a mirror trying to smooth down the shirt he was wearing. “Hey Freddie.” You said putting your glass down and shrugging out of your jacket to put it somewhere in the dressing room. In the mirror you could see Roger’s reaction to the big jacket coming off and revealing the tight dress you were wearing. Your eyes met and you raised one eyebrow. Freddie turned towards you and broke the moment between you and the drummer.

“Y/N, darling, you look stunning.” He frantically looked for something on the table in front of him and noticed Roger’s stunned expression. “Roger, I know she is gorgeous, but you need to get changed. She will look just as pretty after the show. Then you’re free to do whatever,” he teased and made Rog blush. The drummer turned around and disappeared into one of the changing rooms.

“Can you help me with this, Y/N?” Freddie dangled his eyeliner between his fingers. You sat down on the bench next to him and plucked the pencil out of his hands.

“Sure, close your eyes.” As careful as possible you drew a sharp line with a tiny wing at the end. Not wanting to mess it up took a lot longer than you imagined but when you were finally finished, and Freddie looked at himself, the big smile he gave you was worth it.

After one of the people swarming in and out of the room informed everyone that the show was supposed to start in 5 minutes, Roger finally came back. And what you saw took your breath away.

The black jacket looked amazing on him but what was even more amazing was the fact that he wasn’t wearing a shirt underneath. He was bare-chested with just some necklaces around his neck. Now it was your turn to look stunned.

“Like what you see, love?” Roger smirked and sauntered towards you. You should say something. Something sarcastic, something witty, anything. The only thing that came out was a quiet “yes” when he stood right in front of you.

His eyes were focused on you and he licked his lips. Your breathing quickened and you would have kissed him right then and there if there hadn’t been so many people around. Again, it was Freddie who brought you back to reality.

“Alright boys, show starts now.”

Together you walked towards the stage, Roger brushing against you every chance he got, making your skin tingle. When it was time for the boys to finally walk out, you wished them luck and stood at the side with some other friends of the band.

They started to play, and you were immediately in awe. Now you weren’t surprised anymore at the amount of people here. Freddie was an amazing performer and his voice gave you goose bumps. Their songs were so catchy and just like everybody else you danced along. Despite the fact that the whole band had such a magnetic presence on stage, your gaze kept on wandering back to Roger.

The way he played his drums, with such vigour and passion, did things to you. He caught you staring and held your gaze. Suddenly you felt hot and you weren’t sure if it was the effect of the alcohol.

Sooner than you liked their set was over and the boys were leaving the stage after a roaring applause from the crowd. As soon as Roger jumped down from the platform his drum set was standing on, his heavy gaze settled on you. And you were right there with him. He didn’t even bother saying anything to his bandmates. Just as before, he took your hand and dragged you along with him into the changing room he came out of earlier.

“Roger, wha…” You couldn’t even finish your sentence before his lips were crushed against yours and his hand was buried in your hair to angle the kiss better.

Nothing about this was soft. Roger was all teeth and tongue and rough edges, and you basked in every minute of his lips gliding against yours. This was like nothing you experienced before. Fire was running through your veins with every stroke of Roger’s tongue against yours. Eagerly you slipped the jacket of his shoulders and peppered kisses down his neck and the front of his chest. You could feel his chest heaving against your lips.

Putting one hand on the back of your neck, Roger pulled your face up again to kiss you. The other hand wandered down to grab your ass, but it didn’t linger there. Slowly he pushed up your dress and reached between your legs. You gasped when he pushed one finger inside you.

“Christ, you’re so wet for me, love,” he moaned in between kissing you.

All control was lost when he started pulling back out and pushing back in in a steady rhythm. You clung to his shoulders because you were pretty sure your knees would collapse otherwise. As if he had read your mind, Roger put one hand around your waist to hold you up while he kept on pumping his finger into you.

Loudly you moaned, your head falling back against the wall behind you. “Roger, Jesus fucking Christ,” you swore when he picked up the pace. He chuckled.

“Roger is enough, Y/N.” Unable to give a coherent sarcastic answer, you just opened your eyes and glared at him. But then he curled his finger inside you and you’re back to being completely lost in the sensations.

“Rog, I need you.”

Lazily he kept on fingering you. “What do you need? Use your words, love.”

That little shit had the audacity to tease you. Fuck, you could barely think straight. Your breathing was labored.

“I need you inside me. Now,” you whispered sounding nothing like your normal shy self.

Immediately he pulled away from you and started to unbuckle his pants. Looking around you spotted a counter which you quickly hopped on after losing your underwear. You caught Roger’s eyes when you opened your legs as an invitation to him. Both of you knew that this was going to be quick.

He pumped his cock a couple of times before stepping up to you and lining himself up with your entrance. Quickly he looked up at you, searching your face for any reservations you might have. Blue eyes stared into yours. You answered him in kindness by simply kissing him feverishly. Just as you pulled back, Roger pushed into you in one swift motion. You heard him curse but you were too lost in the feeling of him filling you up to even realize.

A broken moan left your lips. His forehead leaned against yours as he kept on fucking you with a fast pace. Not caring who heard you, your moans kept on getting louder and louder which only seemed to spur Roger on.

“That’s it. Come for me, love,” he said huskily and reached in between your legs again.

With that touch you exploded, screaming his name and Roger wasn’t far behind, your orgasm sending him over the edge.

For a short while you just stood there, both breathing heavily. Then Roger slowly moved away from you and discarded the condom while you tried to make yourself look less fucked in the literal sense of the word.

The comb in your bag fixed your messy hair but there was nothing you could do against the growing hickey on your neck and the fact that your lips looked swollen. At least your make-up was fine.

Roger watched as you pulled your dress back down and put your hair in a ponytail. He came up to you while you looked at yourself in the mirror. Softly he pressed a kiss against the back of your neck.

“They’re all going to know that we did it,” you murmured feeling self-conscious.

Roger smirked. “Well, as loud as you screamed my name everyone in that bar should know.” Then his face became serious. “If you worry about the guys, they’re not going to say anything. And for everyone else. Good! I’m glad they know.”

Finally, you were finished, and you turned back around. “You don’t mind? You’re pretty damn proud of yourself, aren’t you, Roger Taylor?” you asked laughing and putting your hands around his neck.

The smug look on his face was answer enough. Roger put his arm around your waist and pressed a kiss against your face.

“Let’s go and enjoy the rest of this night. I promised you a drink, didn’t I?” You laughed and followed him.

Leaving the house tonight might have been the best decision of your life.