#been thinking about what to get with the steam cards i got for my birthday

[agentravensong]

tumblrinas. i've watched playthroughs of the first three ace attorney games (rtgame) and enjoyed them. should i get the games and play them for myself?

[fairytsuk1]

cupid's arrow | (s)

apart of the meet cute: gone wrong series, click here for more!

pairing: izuku midoriya x reader

words: 8.3k

prompt: "getting set up by their lovely grandmas, who always go to the same café and gush about their grandkids"

warnings: teasing game, public sex, quickie, protected sex, tit play, praise kink, missionary position, soft dom!midoriya

The retirement home was an amalgamation of both good and evil. It had the finest foods for delicate denture havers and was home to some of life’s more depressing thought processes. You preferred being able to drive over the speed limit as the city air lashed at your face; being young and carefree was much more appealing. However, this couldn’t be your reality anymore as you knew your grandmother needed you more than ever. Things were about to change. You’d be moving onto bigger steps in your life! Finding a partner, making a home together, advancing in your career…

Before leaving for the retirement home, you hoped you’d be walking out of there glimmering with adjusting to adulthood. No games or silly adventures, a part of you lit up at the idea of this summer excursion changing your life. You really, really hoped it would.

You smooth your tennis skirt over your thighs, ankles crossing and a warm smile gracing your features when your grandmother waltz in with house slippers and an old tea set. The smell of earthy leaves wafts into your nose, and you already know she’s made two steaming cups of green tea before she pours it.

“Nana, you know you don’t have to make anything when I visit,” you’d figured she’d stop making cookies past your twelfth birthday, but she clearly planned to wave you off every single time.

Snarkily, your grandmother rolls her eyes and takes a slurping sip of her tea.

“It’s not about that. It’s about keeping ancient traditions! We’re family, and that means grandmothers make their grandchildren tea!”

She nods, pleased with herself, and her eyes are closed as she savors the grass notes, the feeling of toastiness, and the mild sweetness. Your eyebrows twitch, and you miss how she does the same once she’s placed her cup back down.

“Mhm, it’s very good, did you taste the grass?” you swallow and nod, “yes, me too. So… Have you found a boyfriend yet?”

You’re in the process of drinking more tea but her comment startles you; the cup is hastily set back on the coffee table and leaving a liquid trail in its wake. Practically spitting out your tea, you’re quick to wipe your mouth with a napkin and set the record straight.

“Huh?! Where is that coming from? …I don’t, but why are you asking, nana?”

She’s got this unreadable look on her face. Then, she’s giving you this cheeky grin and sighing wistfully as if thinking of a past lover. You’re curling your fingers into your palms, nearly shaking in anticipation as her hands rub together sneakily.

“It’s my friend’s grandson! You know me. Always talking, but if I were you, I’d snatch him right up! He’s strong, and he’s got bright green eyes! They’d compliment yours so well,” and she’s scooting forward in her seat, “you will like him! He’s a very nice boy.”

Nana’s been gossiping again. You’re relieved she wasn’t trying to reconnect you and former lovers (an activity that had proven to be unsuccessful, twice.) Still, the idea of her pitching you to random strangers like an ATM card makes your face twist in an attempt to tell her how you really feel.

“I-I don’t know, nana. I’m not even sure if I’m looking for anything right now,” and you were right. 

A relationship seemed like a huge step, and this was supposed to be your summer “boss up” phase. To be honest, you weren’t sure if you had trust in your grandma’s romantic instincts for matchmaking either. A wrinkled hand covers yours, and your nana is beaming with her body leaned towards you.

“Tell you what, he will be here for breakfast tomorrow morning. You don’t have to do much, but you should see him in person! Get to know him a little.”

You let the offer hang in the air for a moment before shrugging.

“...I guess I can do that. I don’t want this to become an everyday thing, though! I came here to spend time with you, nana. Not with some guy!”

Nana had already returned to sipping her tea and nodded before licking her lips.

“Of course, dear. However, if you like this Midoriya as much as I think you will, you’ll end up regretting saying that!”

You take a sip, and two pairs of eyebrows raise. You doubted it. This “Midoriya” person was probably some nerdy guy that didn’t know how to talk to girls. It didn’t matter anyways, so on that fateful day you brushed mascara on thick lashes and made sure your lips looked as plump as ever in your pink lip gloss. You weren’t trying to impress anyone, not at all!

Something in your gut had just told you to make an effort, but it was hard to tell whether this gut feeling was good or bad.

The situation had proven that you needed to take a long hard look at yourself in the mirror. He wasn’t ugly, no. He was anything but. He was so handsome that as you and your grandmother circled the table to sit, your foot caught on the leg of the table. Practically every brain cell had been focused on the promise of muscles under his white button-up plus the extra show of solid, veiny forearms. He was hot.

“This is my friend, Kotoe! And this is her grandson, Izuku Midoriya! He’s the one I brought up to you last night,” and for the first time, you’re aware of how red Midoriya looks; maybe he was thinking the same things about you.

Kotoe grins widely, and the wave crashes on you and Midoriya because the embarrassment of the situation keeps getting worse. First, the table. Then, he’s watching you as you settle yourself across from him. This feels more like you’re being judged than trying to link up with someone.

“You remember her, right? I showed you that picture of her at that one band performance.”

Your pride is fatally wounded, but you’re even more aghast that one of the cutest boys you’ve ever seen is actually seeing you for the second time. The idea that Midoriya’s first impression was of you with braces and frizzy hair left you feeling like you could melt into your seat effortlessly.

Nana guiltily peruses the menu, but you know there’s no one else that has that picture. You’d tried to erase every copy of it but… she had her ways.

“Nana.”

She grins sheepishly while fluffing her curls, “it’s not my fault your mother only sends me photos when she feels like it. You look cute in the photo!”

If you didn’t stop her now, maybe nothing could. Along with this setting not seeming like the right time to discuss the ins and outs of your family relationships, you turn to Midoriya and smile warmly. 

“Right. Well, Midoriya, it’s nice to meet you. You’re lucky you were spared from the dreaded band photo. I’m jealous,” with a hair flip for good measure.

She’s so cute, he thinks.

“If only you could have the same fate.”

It’s so boyish, so ridiculous, and it makes your heart-beat rabbit fast because it’s not fair that his voice is gentle yet had an edge to it. His smile and even the licking of lips were uncalled for. He was charming you way too easily. How long had you two been sitting here again? 

He’s tuning you like a fiddle to his chosen song, and you play beautifully. You need fresh air, so your cup of water is gulped down to curb the romantic-tension fever rising inside you. 

Your grandmother and Kotoe fall into conversation like it’s natural. Midoriya keeps taking tentative glances at you but looking away before something productive happens, so you begin to copy him; now you just feel like you’re in the hall of mirrors.

“So, Midoriya… Do you go to university?”

“I-I do! I’m an archaeology major with a minor in history! It’s a lot of nerdy stuff, but it’s more interesting than calculus!”

His eyes sparkle at the topic, and the passion leaking through his words is evident. It’s cute, and your cheeks lift without thinking about it. He’s infectious, and in a bad way.

The type of infection where every glance feels like slow motion, and your brain skips ahead to when his mouth is on yours, and his hands are tugging, pulling, squeezing…

“That’s really cool! I’ve never heard of someone majoring in something like that! I’m doing public administration; it’s like political science but not really.”

Midoriya can’t wait to dig his hands into you and bury his cock deep inside you, but he can’t think about that right now. He mentally files away the memories of your shy looks so he can wrap a fist around himself in the shower later as he thinks of ruining your tight little pussy.

“No, yeah, that’s brave stuff to do! That can be in any sector, right? Public, private, and all of that.”

Both brains come to rest on the same wavelength as the same thought swirls in and out of two opposite gender heads.

I wanna fuck you.

“Yeah! Yeah, it can be,” your legs cross to lessen the pulsing between your legs.

“I kind of get it! History is so broad that it throws people off a bit,” Midoriya presses a palm to his aching cock as discreetly as possible.

The two of you try to avoid letting your need spill over past inappropriate boundaries. You both don’t realize that notion was abandoned the second first eye contact was made. Lunch passes by quickly, and you’re thankful. That was a bit too tense, and your male counterpart seems to be exhausted from the mental energy of ignoring something so potent. So heady.

“That nasty little Annie is going to supervise my cycling class, so I’m going to the pool today! You should come with me; you’ll never believe what she did the other day when I was struggling with my nightgown….”

Kotoe leads your four person group to the elevators, but your nana tells her she likes to walk after breakfast, so you mourn the loss of Midoriya as nonchalantly as possible. A big ego was annoying, and he didn’t need to know that you were dying to see under his pants. Honestly, even just getting to talk alone would be nice. 

“Well, Kotoe, I’ll meet you back at the pool after my nap.”

Your grandmother silently gives you a look that tells you everything you need to know about the pool situation.

Get your swimsuit!

It’s not too hot out that when you take a step the ground pierces your foot with its heat. The sun is shining just enough to cast a warm, soft glow on honeyed skin; it’s making you look too good, you feared. What if Midoriya was a nervous guy? Your ego shoots to the sky as you secure your jewelry and make your way to the pool with your nana.

Midoriya thought he might’ve had you beat, that maybe he’d get the edge in the game you two were playing where you’d feel more flushed than him. He certainly played a good hand, muscles rippling in black swim shorts highlighting his lean body. Freckles dotted his skin, and he felt embarrassed at ogling himself in the mirror.

“Kotoeee! I love your bathing suit; where’d you get the damn thing?!”

Nana runs off quickly, having debriefed you in the elevator that she intended to leave you and Midoriya “to it.” You’d vehemently denied the allegations of something like this happening, but there was a decent chance with how you and him were looking at each other that her suspicions were correct.

Your stuff is set by the chatty old ladies, and Midoriya takes the time to sidle up close to you. Squinting at him, he really does look good up close.

“Hi.”

“Hey. Do you want to swim with me?”

“What are we, five?”

He laughs lightly, shrugging and rubbing at the nape of his neck.

“Well, it’s not like there’s anything else to do! Not here, anyways,” and you feel your cheek twitch with the urge to smile.

He’s… saucy. And maybe you like it, a lot.

“If you say it like that, you can admit that no other girls wanna swim with you,” and he scoffs playfully at you before standing up, “but sure, I’ll hop in for a bit.”

The two of you make your way to the water. Midoriya gets in first, and he extends an arm to help you in like a proper gentleman.

“Are you always this kind?”

“I’m just on my best behavior,” and he grins like a shark.

Water swishes around you two, droplets hiding each other’s best features like a love potion. The grannies are still talking, and there are splashes from other patrons using the facility. Nothing can happen now, even if you want to jump his bones badly.

“I think the class starts soon, the water weights one?”

“What even is that class? What’s the point?”

Midoriya circles like you’re dancing, so you bat your eyes lashes and take a thumb to your lip. It makes him laugh, and you suddenly feel yourself dropping the act.

“No, no, I like it! And it’s, uhm, they lift weights to strengthen their bones! But it’s easier on their joints. My Obaasan also likes getting some fresh air,” he flicks his hair back, and the water rolls down his skin seamlessly, “maybe we could do something on our own.”

Raunchy daydreams smack you in the face; he could fuck you here. He could bend you over the water edge, eat your pussy and make you cream right in the pool chair just feet away! Maybe he’s sucking on your clit, pulling on your nipple, or maybe he’d rock his cock deep into you just because you begged for it!

“Yeah,” his eyes trace the soft edges of your curves, and you feel so high on feeling desired, “where could we go?”

Your question is interrupted with a loud, unfortunate, shrieky exclaim of, “Midoriya!” that shakes both you and the man in question enough to cause ripples in the water. Two heads turn towards the pair of grannies, now suited up in swimsuits that go to their knobby knees, plus bulky goggles.

“Go check for some floaties in the back room, please! I might really need them this time!”

Midoriya doesn’t even make a face but nods in understanding before turning guiltily to you, “...I guess I’ll be right back?”

This seems like a set-up. Back room? For floaties? Midoriya doesn’t seem to have picked up that this is the moment, but you have.

“Well, why don’t I just come with you?”

The grandmothers have gone back to their own personal conversation (gossiping), so you assume it’s okay. Midoriya gives a tentative look to Kotoe, before looking you back in your eyes and nodding. Ah, now he gets it.

You both are giddy as soaking wet bodies slip out of the pool easily and pad like excited puppies down to the deserted storage closet. Midoriya lets you duck in first, flip-flops clacking against the pavement as you flick on the dim lights and wait for the show to begin. Then, the green-haired boy eagerly locks the door and turns to look at you with lustful eyes.

“So!”

“You know, this is extremely typical, right?”

He grows closer as if wanting to slowly overpower you with every step. You remain firm in your pink flip-flops.

“Even if it is typical, I can’t help but feel lucky,” and he oozes attractiveness.

“Oh, yeah?”

“Yeah. How often do you get to kiss a pretty girl?”

Maybe it’s the sparkle in his eyes or how he bounces on the balls of his feet. 

“Mmph!—”

The two of you crash into each other, your hands flying to tangle in his unique tresses, and you can almost hear the “SMOOCH!” sound as the two of you have your first heated kiss; breaking the ice-cold layer of tension. The kiss was groundbreaking, earth-shattering, and your foreheads dipped and pressed together as you heaved for breaths.

Your first kiss with him.

It’s practically perfect, and it's ending could be considered admirable because it was so cliche. Someone had called out towards the storage closet, and the two of you ran out of there like the guilty criminals you were. The thrill kept you moving like a wild animal. You loved it; the two of you loved it.

That memory didn’t leave you, not when you parted ways or thought about keeping your lips as they were so you wouldn’t forget that you’d kissed him. Maybe you were too into a fling, a fleeting romance, but having someone you could call yours felt fulfilling. Whatever happened to moving on with life?

No, you’d changed your mind. Who cared about doing career things in an old folks home? You could do that any time, good dick doesn’t always come around.

Adrenaline was still thrumming in your veins as you kept going about your day as if the feeling of his soft lips on yours wasn’t being replayed every ten seconds; it was so perfectly taboo and hot. You wondered if he was thinking the same things, maybe taking a hand and palming his half-chub in his swim shorts because he just couldn’t hold back and wait anymore.

The two of you shared looks for the rest of the swim class as you leisurely tanned your golden skin while Midoriya lounged around (fetching equipment as needed.) His new “job” grew quickly on you, the ability to get an eyeful of strained muscles and bulging thighs that jogged ’round and ’round the pool like a carousel felt like a reward.

Your grandmother draws you close with a hand motion, bony fingers clasped to the ledge as you draw closer, “oh good, you heard me! Could you bring me my bag? I left it in the locker room!”

“Sure thing, I’ll only be a sec!”

Quickly, you head towards the women’s locker room and spot the flowered print pool bag. You snatch it up and make your way back, feet slowing their speed, when you see an unfamiliar face sticking out like a sore thumb.

She was pretty, blonde, with a thin neck that made you envy her allure from where you stood. Not only that, but definitely flirting with a resting Midoriya.

“Here, nana…”

“Thank you! What are you looking at—” your grandmother makes the same frowning expression as you, “oh, right. She’s getting in between you and your future husband, you know! She just waltzed on over like she owned the place, and he fell for it, hook, line, and sinker! Don’t tell Kotoe, but you ought to…”

Her rambling goes muffled and indiscernible, and you feel your hand clench at your side. You stormed over to the spot without even considering the consequences and grinned widely. She gives you a skeptical eye before batting curled lashes towards Midoriya.

“So, what were you saying about working out together?”

Nervous green eyes flick to yours, gauging your level of emotion from the deep recesses of your eyes. Midoriya can’t see anything. In fact, it’s more like you’re looking through him as he sputters his way through an excuse of being “really busy, so maybe we should wait till we make actual plans!”

He was good, and maybe it was the fact he was the first attractive boy you’d seen in the several weeks of being with your grandmother. Maybe it was the fact you hadn’t been properly fucked in a minute, so you were a loose screw about to make everything fall apart.

‘I see,” and you shrug at him, “we should wait till we make actual plans too! You know, just so we can be sure.”

Then, you prissily walk off, determined to not seem shaken by the seeming turn of events being that IZUKU MIDORIYA was a man-whore, one hundred percent. He just wanted to rile you up, and two could most certainly play at that game. You’d just have to show him what he was missing out on, all because he wasn’t too sure he wanted you. You’d make him sure.

He’d kissed you for god’s sake! You fumed alone in the elevator, grumbling things no one would ever hear.

The plan had worked spectacularly. There was no way Midoriya was actually going to go for the blonde that seemed eager to be alone with him now that the swimming class was over. Sure, he’d smooth-talked her, but it was all for you. He could tell that there was something you were hiding from him in all your shy looks and glossy lips.

“Was that your girlfriend? She looked rude,” Ayaka grinned wildly, “she’s not right?”

“It doesn’t really matter what she is,” and he stands gingerly, all shy and nervous, “I-I have to go now!”

Ayaka tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, and her arms push her breasts up obscenely.

“You really gotta go?”

The awkwardness is back, and it seemed that the boy could only be flirty when it came to you. Now, he was a fish out of water flopping around on the deck.

“Yup! I’ll see you later, or whatever!”

He’d finally figured it out, aside from the awkwardness of forcing jealousy within you. You were a brat! He couldn’t wait to see how this developed, the greedy part of him hoping you’d make another move because he wanted to see you again. Badly.

“...Bye!”

You didn’t leave his mind, and he wondered what the two of you could do together. Did you like ice cream? Games? Yeah, sometimes he thought with his dick but other times… Well, you were the exact type of girl he’d love to take out.

He had no idea that as part of your newly created plan… you planned to kiss Hitoshi Shinsou right in front of him.

-

Shinsou was calm, collected, and rarely ever smiled. You hadn’t been lying when you’d said that boys like Midoriya were few and far between, so you’d already recognized potential suitors (meaning you’d told your best friends, in ranked form, the cutest boys at the UA Retirement Home.)

You’d decided Shinsou was one of the cuter ones considering you didn’t see him all the time. His face was pleasant to look at whenever you saw him working his shift, and he was plopped at the desk today with no one around… it seemed like today would be the day.

You and Midoriya hadn’t spoken in two days since you last saw him potentially entertaining the advances of some blonde girl. You weren’t stupid, after the heat of the moment and going over the situation one more time, it was clear. He wanted to tease you, make you feel the fire burning inside you grow hotter and hotter.

“Hey, Shinsou!” 

It was time to get him back in a major way. You push your torso an inch or two across the desk to smile at the purple-haired boy and let your head fall to the side. It was unclear whether or not it was actually having an effect, but you trekked along.

“Morning, what are you doing here?”

He already looks closed off, and you’re hoping he doesn’t hate you by the end of this.

“I just wanted to say hi! A girl can’t just hang out by the front desk?”

“No, actually,” his finger taps a sticker on the glass barrier between you, an obnoxious sticker reading “NO LOITERING” sitting there to mock you, “there is. See?”

…

“Oh! Well, I mean, well,” you look around frantically, the heat of embarrassment crippling you to where you stood.

“Look, if you just tell me, then maybe I can–” and the two of you are yelping as you push past the swinging door that separates Shinsou from other residents, “what the hell?! What are you doing?”

It suddenly feels like a huge mistake, and if you could swallow your anxieties, maybe this would’ve gone over easier. The position you two are in now, it feels warm. Steamy. His eye bags are less prominent when he’s slouched beneath you in his desk chair. Slender legs manspreading, and you could easily settle yourself on top of him if you felt like getting it on from behind the front desk.

“I just wanted… to see what it all looks like from behind here! Very, very nice. Did your boss get you that mug?”

“You need to leave,” and he sighs, but every action is gentle as he takes your arm, “what’s making you act so weird?”

Had anyone else been watching, they would have assumed the two of you were up to pure shenanigans. Midoriya yawns, eyes sleepy from his daytime nap as he trods towards the eating hall to peruse the options.

Midoriya hoped you weren’t genuinely upset about anything. Considering your demeanor and attitude, it seemed like something you would’ve liked, would’ve wanted. Maybe he went too far; it agonized him to think about it.

“Please, Shinsou! Don’t kick me out,” you’re grappling with his limbs, and you try to stand firmly, “you can’t treat a guest like this! I’ll make a scene!”

“You caused the scene!” 

The commotion is growing louder, making the green-haired boy’s head tilt because the voices sound too familiar. His feet turn right, heading towards the hall's entrance, and it’s unmistakable that you had been the feminine voice whining. 

“I know, but I had to do something!”

“Do what?”

Midoriya barely rounds the corner when you bend over, ass sticking up in the air, and plant a firm kiss on Shinsou’s lips. He doesn’t move but lets a soft groan slip as your hands trace the tops of his shoulders.

You’re crazy, he realizes. Just from watching you kiss Shinsou, he assumes he’s probably crazy, too, because it does nothing but make his cock throb. The two of you pull away, and you’re wiping your lips with the back of your hand. He wishes he could spy on what you were saying to him, using all your best tantalizing moves to keep Shinsou in a partial state of shock; you’re taking small steps back past the swinging door and nodding reassuringly.

“I’ll see you later, yeah?”

“Y-Yeah. I’ll see you…?”

“Uh-huh! Bye!”

Midoriya had ducked behind a wall, but your footsteps were growing closer and closer. Then, you’re a blur past him, but he can make out your face. It’s the face of sadism, of one that grins while you walk past him because you know that he knows you have the taste of Shinsou on your tongue and that you’re the one who gave him the bulge in his sweatpants. 

He quickly grabs onto your arm, stopping you in your tracks.

“Yes?”

“You know what you’re doing, right? Do you really wanna play this game?”

“What game?”

This will end with him fucking the shit out of you, and you know it. Midoriya feels his heart swell with dominance, pulling you closer so your hand can cup his cock in his shorts. He manually curls your fingers around his length, small puffs of air coming out of him as you submissively run your palm over the salacious hardness under his sweatpants. 

“I like when you touch me like that! Reminds me that even though you might go and kiss other guys….”

His hand brushes against your hip, thumb dipping just under your shorts and panties to feel the forbidden skin you hid from him.

“I just know that under these panties, you’re soaking.”

You feel relief that he doesn’t try to check because you know your hole is dripping and staining your cute pair of panties.

“I…”

Midoriya shushes you, an adorable smile on display as he firmly squeezes your ass cheek. He grunts as you put more pressure on his dick before taking your hand and squeezing it.

“Don’t talk. I just want you to think, cutie,” and he gets impossibly closer.

“Do you really think you’ll win?”

You don’t think you’ll win at all, and that’s the fun in it.

Midoriya sighs, feeling your hand stroke him over the fabric before breathing out and pulling away. He kisses your cheek, pointedly avoiding your lips.

“I’ll see you later.”

You’re left as shocked as Shinsou was.

-

“Have you noticed how often the kids have been hanging out together? I knew it, Kotoe. I knew they’d hit it off,” your grandmother smirks cockily, “where are they now, anyways?”

It had been true that you and Midoriya had been spending as much time as possible together since the Shinsou incident. It’s been a day since anything had happened, but you’d already shown your hand with tight workout shorts that cupped your ass perfectly that afternoon. You’d given your soon-to-be fling an eyeful, bending over with a sway in the hips so he could see the soft, tender flesh jiggle as you sweat all over yourself.

Even just your body seemed obscene, Midoriya couldn’t stop his eyes from tracking your hand towel as it dried in between the valley of your tits (that he wished so badly he could suck on) or when you took a heaving breath while wiping the sweat off from your forehead. Midoriya felt like a pervert; images of painting you in thick ropes of cum kept him hot-blooded.

“Oops, be careful!”

Midoriya wanted to push you, though. To really test your limits as far as teasing went. He’d tried all his best tips and tricks that he knew, but he wanted more. You saw it all, the thumb brushing his lip being the first strike of many. A hand on your thigh that every so often grew so close to your cunt before pulling away and giving you a wry shrug, “I just like having something to hold!”

Things like that.

“You look really good with cream on your face,” he hummed nonchalantly over a cup of hot chocolate.

“Huh?!”

He doesn’t even have the shame to pretend that he didn’t say what he said.

“I said, if you wanted cream on your face so bad, you should’ve just asked me instead.”

He’s even cocky enough to embellish a little. By dinnertime, you can’t stop wondering what his lips would feel like as he ate you like a man starved, slurping at your folds and tonguing you deep because he wanted to give you everything plus more.

Maybe he’d be willing to go a little further! If you could find somewhere private, maybe he’d cave to your soft eyes and alluring words. While your grandmothers choose what to eat at the bar, you’re busying yourself with tugging on Midoriya’s shirt sleeve.

“So…”

“So?”

“Um, do you wanna,” you didn’t start out too strong, but then he’s leaning in a microinch more and licking his lips, “wanna… find somewhere more private?”

The two of you aren’t being very inconspicuous, and your lips are parting for ones that don’t reach yours. A light laugh is heard beside you as your eyes flutter open. You frown.

“Private? Why would we do that?”

“Midoriya. C’mon,” you give a quick look at your surroundings and hope the elderly really are deaf, “we’ve been doing this, but what about a break? You know, I could help with what’s going on with you….”

He’ll give you one thing, you’re trying really hard. You look great, and he’s noticed the infrequent squeezing of your thighs. You’re probably dripping right now, all because he touched you a little and murmured about how much he wants you. 

“Baby,” and he pecks the knuckles of your hands, “it’s just not gonna happen, yet. You can be patient, right?”

Maybe you’ll explode, turn into flames and die of spontaneous combustion. This is torturous. Blasphemous.

“...But I don’t want to wait anymore!”

Then, a firm hand holds your face in his cheeks. Anyone could see you two, but Midoriya has the gall to grab your face and squeeze just a little. You’re mush, and you’re looking at him with starry eyes as he squishes your cheeks.

“Don’t make me have to really punish you,” and while he doesn’t sound threatening, you have half a mind to take him seriously.

Your face is released, and you almost want to grind down in your seat. Adjusting yourself, you pop a tater-tot in your mouth to try and distract yourself from your need. To your utter annoyance, the boy next to you elbows you.

“Besides, you already know that when we do fuck, you'll get everything you want, right? I haven’t forgotten about that kiss, I’m going to prove to you I’m better than him!”

He eats a piece of broccoli like it’s nothing, and you have to fight to hide your grin over your predicament. Midoriya gives you one last look. He fears the feelings inside him. Maybe he likes you like that. He settles to focus on his broccoli.

-

This game the two of you had been playing was getting rough. Time seemed to fly by, and suddenly you were looking at only a couple weeks left to stay with your grandmother. In turn, this meant that after these few weeks… what you and Midoriya had would cease to exist. You tried not to think about it.

Neither of you brought it up, but aside from every sexual advance, it seemed like the elephant in the room followed you wherever you went. Midoriya had started pulling your chair out for you, started to buy you gifts, and you suspected his soft touches were his biggest tell. Midoriya didn’t seem like the type to fight feelings, and you didn’t know how to feel about it.

Not because you didn’t like him, of course. You just didn’t know how to feel because you couldn’t fight these feelings if you tried.

“Do you wanna call me Izuku?”

“Huh?! Well, well, are you sure?”

“Yeah! We’re, um, we’re close, you know? So I don’t mind! I’d prefer it, coming from you,” it’s funny because the two of you are physically close too, essentially cuddling.

After familiarizing yourself with the entire facility, the two of you managed to find the ideal spots to hang out for some alone time! It was like walking a tightrope, was it going to be you who fell first when you sidled up real close to him? Or was it going to be him when he reached an arm around to comfortably hug your shoulder?

“Well, that does make sense! Okay, Izuku,” you wiggle your shoulders and say it so sweetly that he almost kisses you, “I like it! It suits you, at least when I’m saying it.”

You ham it up, stroking his cheek and murmuring his name like you’re a cheesy romance movie lead. He’s giggling as your hand brushes his sides to tickle him.

“Hey, come on! I told you something personal and now you’re going to tickle me?!”

“Of course I am! Don’t you know who I am?!”

It’s a blur, Izuku’s laughing and you’re telling him about the “tickle monster” that’d just appeared. Once coming down from the gusto of play fighting, something’s changed.

The two of you are stunned when you realize what has happened. Maybe it was Izuku’s fault for flying backwards or yours for following him diligently with wandering hands. The two of you seem to just fit, hips slotted against his own as you look down at him. You’d landed nearly perfectly in his lap, bated breath as both of you took in what it all meant.

“Oh, I know who you are.”

It’s tense.

“The tickle monster is going away, but you better be careful,” you say in a near whisper.

…It’s so tense.

“What do I have to be scared of? You’re just a brat.”

Your heart is beating, and this is too considering you’re chest to chest. Every touch, laugh, and first kiss replays in your memory like a flashback. The smell of anticipation hangs in the air, and you smile because this is finally it.

And he beats you to the chase, lips puckered as he finally kisses you with the passion of the first one after leaving you wanting for too long. He tastes like peppermint, and it’s so hot. Gasping breaths are taken; hormones at an all-time high because you can’t get enough of him now that you know he’s yours.

“Fuck,” he pants, “we can’t do it here.”

You’re still trying to mouth at his jaw, desperate to continue planting heated bursts of love across every inch of his skin. His hands come to your waist, and you’re frowning cutely as if your favorite toy was taken.

“If we’re quiet, no one’s even gonna come….”

Izuku’s nervous. He’s been waiting for so long. Hell, he has the most beautiful girl sitting pretty in his lap, eager to get naked, and yet he’s still hesitating. Your manicured nail tilts his head away from the double doors and back to your panting face.

“We don’t have to,” you say calmly, but you suddenly feel so vulnerable.

Suddenly Izuku realizes you’re about to slip from his grasp like melted butter. It all makes sense. 

“No. I’ll fuck you here! We just…need to be quiet, okay?”

“Okay!”

Both mouths go back to sliding against each other, and your teeth tug his lip just so see the redness bloom under the thin skin. All you can hear are the slick sounds of the two of you making out, and your hips start tilting into Izuku’s bulge before you can try to contain yourself.

“We should…” he seems to contemplate your position, “hm. Get on your back, baby.”

Honestly, the couch isn’t the greatest. The narrowness makes you nervous, but the strong arm that nearly lifts you onto your back gives you starry eyes; you can’t complain. One of Izuku’s legs supports him from the floor and for some reason, it all feels so intimate. The way you offer a shy smile and how he pecks your nose so sweetly you almost don’t hear it.

He holds himself up above you, and you can actually see his freckles up close now. He has so many, and each one is wonderful.

Then, his head dives down into the curve of your neck with the swiftness of a cheetah. His teeth graze your pulse point, your back arching and breath hitching as he suckles until a tender purple bruise appears.

“Izuku!”

His cock throbs at how you moan his name.

“Shh! I don’t want to have to keep you quiet, right? Ah…”

His hips grind into yours easily with a fervor that only comes from days of teasing and sexual repression. 

“Want you to take off my shirt, ‘zuku,” you mumble weakly, arms already winding around his neck for support as he dry humps you like a fuckdoll.

“Mhm, I will, I will! Just wanna feel you for a second; you’re so fucking warm.”

You’re soaking through your panties. He’s found a good angle, the two of you whimpering together as he mimics fucking you deep and slow. If he was inside you, you’re sure he’d be balls deep with your legs over his shoulders.

But there was no time, and you’re bringing him back to your lips with a twist. If you didn’t reign him in, you were sure the two of you would cum in your pants, and that wasn’t enough. His hand is brought to your chest, squeezing over the fabric so you can squeal in between his tongue that licks into your mouth.

“Play with my tits, only wanna feel you on me,” you can’t even stop talking when his hand travels under your soft cardigan to tug the cups of your bra down, “want you to be the only one that touches me like this.”

He’s transfixed, rough palm skirting over your nipple in a way that makes you shudder.

“You’re so sensitive…”

Your leg is pushed to the floor as Midoriya flips your skirt up.

“I knew it. You’re soaking from me. You’re telling me all these things, but,” and your chest is spilling out from your bra cups as he fully exposes you, “I knew I was yours the minute I saw you.”

If you weren’t in the process of tugging the boy’s mouth closer to your tit, you might’ve picked up on the near-love confession he’d murmured into the fat of your breasts. It’s so heady, so exhilarating knowing someone could walk in on your sticky thighs spread while Izuku gropes your chest.

“Mmph, Izuku! I need more.”

“I know, and we need to hurry this along too…”

It’s a regret he’s forced to pull away from your upper half. Markings dot areas all over your chest and he shudders with empathetic pleasure, knowing you’ll be walking around with skin he defiled is so deeply arousing. You’ll walk around after he stretches you with his pulsing cock, dragging you back onto him like you were made for it. No one would know a thing, and it makes Midoriya tug his belt off with a sense of urgency.

You watch carefully as his thick fingers make quick work on his belt. You can’t help yourself from letting a wandering hand stroke your soaked pussy, adding the slightest amount of pressure on your clit with slow, deliberate circles. His eyes catch yours and then your trembling hand. You feel caught, hand pausing while you turn cherry red.

“No, no. Why’d you stop? Keep going.”

He unbuttons his jeans, but his hands go to palm himself instead of sliding the zipper down like you want.

“Izuku?”

“Get yourself all wet for me, pretty. I wanna see how you touch yourself.”

It’s maybe one of the hottest things you’ve ever heard, and it’s even more attractive when a strong hand drags your hand down to your swollen cunt.

“Are you that bad at being good? You heard me.”

His voice has the same bite it always does. Friendly but in no doubt in charge. Your body temperature rises, and it’s almost embarrassing to get yourself off knowing he’s watching you like a hawk.

He even laughs when your hips jolt, “you can rub harder than that.”

“Why don’t you try?!”

The words don’t come out half as strong as you’d like. Rather, you sound pathetic because his groans are spurring your fingers to pull your panties to the side and actually touch yourself for real. The tips of your fingers are slick, and lewd sounds are echoing as you pump a finger into your gummy walls.

“I’m sure you’re just as good. I mean, you had every day to practice! Shit,” he sighs and dips a hand under his jeans, “wish I had time to use my mouth on you. I bet you taste so good, too.”

You spread your lips to expose your dripping hole, clenching around nothing and leaving a syrupy trail of wetness on your fingers. Izuku trembles, hand gripping the base of his cock as you nearly weep for him.

“I want you to fill me, Izuku. My fingers aren’t enough; I need you here,” and you lay a hand on your lower stomach, “wanna feel you here.”

After begging so cutely and winding yourself up so much that you’re nearly grinding onto the couch cushion, you hope it works. You even move to cup your breast for good measure.

“Don’t you wanna see how good I’d squeeze you?”

It hangs in the air for a moment before Midoriya nods hastily.

“Okay. Yes, okay!”

He digs through his wallet, pulling out a foil square and pushing his boxers down to alleviate the pressure bearing down at him. Sharp teeth rip the foil apart while you take mental notes on the boy before you.

It’s certainly not a disappointment! The mushroom head leaks precum like a fountain. Beading at the slit and eventually bubbling over, it’s so enticing that you’re willing to take him into your mouth just for one second.

Instead, you grab the condom with your hand, and both of you work together to roll it on. He hisses at the contact of your hand gripping his so you can’t help but give a tug just to hear him gasp.

“You’ll make me cum if you do that! Don’t,” he chuckles, swatting your hand away.

“Are you even gonna last more than a minute?”

“Will you?”

The two of you giggle as you maneuver yourself, spreading slick thighs and Izuku splaying your lower half against his. He hisses when his cock slides through your dripping folds, “I’m gonna love this pussy.”

“C’mon,” you whine impatiently, “you’re being unfair–”

He’d had enough of your needy voice, and Izuku could feel all his self-control melt away like snow. First, he pushes the tip in just to keep you quiet (and it works, just as he imagined.) 

“Ngh! Ah, wait! Wait, wait…” you’re suddenly about to topple off the edge of pure pleasure if not for Izuku holding your hand in his.

“I-I can’t! Baby, I need to be inside you. You can take it, right?”

He’s pushing his thick dick further in you, and your breath skips in your throat because he’s stretching you so good and making such sinful noises.

“There ‘ya go! There… fuck, fuck, fuck!”

Izuku has to force himself to think of other things, to not think of your drooling pussy taking him in like he belonged there. To not think of how you kept wiggling for more; you couldn’t get enough of feeling him hit that spongy spot that felt so good inside you. He hasn’t even started thrusting yet, just huffing expletives in your ear as he forces himself to not shoot his load too early.

You already look fucked out, looking at him like he hung the moon and stars in the sky for you. You’re looking at him like you love him, and he snaps his hips forward so hard you jerk upwards against the cushions. Soft hands fly to cover your mouth, and you look so pathetic trying to keep quiet as he carves a space inside you for him and only him.

  Quiet little “ah, ah, ah!” come out of you in bursts, utterly helpless to the fact that you must stay silent while Izuku pounds you into the worn couch of your grandmother’s retirement home. It’s debauched. It’s so fucking hot.

“I’ve wanted you since the beginning, hah. I was waiting for the right time,” he rambles, but his gaze is stuck on the way he slides way deep into you just to feel his heaviness drag against your folds till it’s just the tip. Again and again, and he’s nearly salivating with the froth you cream on his base, “and you look so pretty and I wanna do more, I–”

You realize he needs to shut up while trying to regain your own bearings. You’re still being vigorously fucked, and you can hardly get a word in with how he punches his cock just deep enough the graze your womb.

It makes you cry out because it hurts so fucking good, and Midoriya is quick shush you like a baby.

“Izu–oh, fuck! Izuku! Izu,” your hand cups his cheek to bring his lips against yours, effectively keeping him quiet.

The natural body weight of Izuku’s body excites your nerves so much that you feel on fire.

“‘M not gonna last long,” he gives a stuttering whisper and sneaks a hand between your bodies, balls slapping lewdly against your ass as he drills into you, “wanna get you off though, hm? Gotta make my pretty girl cum, right?”

He has no idea if he’s just muttering bullshit at this point, but it seems to work considering your increase in volume (something he can’t be bothered to fix.) Izuku wipes his hand on his shirt and rubs slow, small circles on your clit. It’s so methodical. It’s so targeted that you clench harder and harder.

“‘M gonna cum–gonna cream all over you,” your folds flutter so enticingly around him.

“You’re such a good girl, ngh! Cum around my cock; you deserve it..!”

You cum with a wail, no doubt soaking Izuku as he hunkers down onto you and grinds messily into you.

“W-Wish I could fill you up!! You’re so–so perfect.”

“Cum with me, ‘zuku,” you whisper as you comb your fingers through the sweaty hair stuck to his forehead.

Izuku muffles his groan into the crook of your neck, spilling his load in the rubber and sighing as the euphoria washes over him. The two of you take a moment to catch your breath, and you cringe at how the back of your shirt is stuck with sweat from your unexpected tryst. The boy on top of you can barely hold himself up, shaky hands tugging the condom off and tucking himself back into his jeans.

“Oh no!”

There’s a clear wet spot on his jeans, no doubt from barely undressing and thus spilling remnants of your cum together. Part of you wishes you could lick it off, and you have to shut your legs to keep your oversensitive clit from throbbing.

“Oh! That’s… okay. Um, is there a trash can near?...”

It makes you want to laugh at how he looks so boyish now in the post-coital glow. Adjusting your panties, after much deliberation of taking them off since they were soaked, you sit back and rest a hand on Izuku’s knee.

“I think there’s one right outside the main exit,” and then you’re leaning forward to kiss his nose, “...do you wanna go on a date?”

“You can’t say that while I’m still holding the condom that I just fucked you with!”

The two of you laugh before he softly kisses your shiny lips, “but okay.”

By next summer, your grandmothers are wondering how many kids the two of you will have.

[oneforthemunny]

Hello :)

My birthday is coming up (New Year’s Eve). Was wondering if you can write a lil blurb about what cowboy!eddie treats me to!

i've been saving this one for you ;) was going to post on your birthday, but i'll be honest, i will probably be out of town and didn't want to miss it so here you go!!! an early birthday present for you with cowboy!eddie <3

“Goddammit!” Eddie hissed over the sizzling of pans, kitchen thick with steam and smoke from the cluttering of pans in front of him. 

You set your bags down, the crinkling plastic of each of the birthday bags from your lunch in town with your girls. The roads had cleared off, thankfully, and the Christmas crowd dwindled down enough for the lot of you to have a nice birthday lunch. 

Eddie had insisted you go, shooed you out of the house with a kiss and his debit card to cover your meal. You’d been suspicious, of course you knew he was planning something, but an elaborate… Birthday cake? Maybe? You couldn’t tell with all the pots and pans. 

Eddie angrily grabbed the phone off the wall, jabbing in the numbers on the pad. “Buckley, you fuckin’ said this was gonna be easy… No, it’s not fuckin’ easy! This raspberry shit doesn’t even look right, it’s brown… Food coloring? Why the fuck would I buy food coloring?.. Y’gotta be shittin’ me, right now. I told you she wanted pink fuckin’ cake and you told me to get raspberries and they don’t even make the damn thing pink. Are you out of your goddamn mind-” Eddie turned, mid-frustrated rant to see you standing there. 

His jaw unhinged, eyes wide, rounded like he’d been caught red handed- and he quite literally was, the raspberries stained his calloused hands a blushing shade of red. 

“Baby,” Eddie squeaked, shoving the phone back on the hook. “You-You’re back early. Are you back early? That was quick.” He rambled, side stepping in front of the simmering pans, the cake cooling on the rack, sink piled with batter filled pans. 

“We got our food pretty quick. It wasn’t too busy.” You hummed, setting the bags on the kitchen table. “What have you been up to?” Your lips curled at the edges, teetering on a smile. 

Eddie swallowed, throat bobbing as his heart raced. “I-I, uh, well, I was tryna make somethin’ for the neighbors-” 

“-The neighbors?” 

“Yeah, the, uh, the Jeffersons. For Christmas. A-A late Christmas thing.” Eddie fumbled through his words. 

You lifted a brow, looking at the mess in the kitchen behind him. “The Jeffersons are out of town until January eighth.” You met his widened gaze. 

“Oh,” Eddie’s cheeks hollowed. “Uh, are they?” 

“They asked us to get their mail for them, Ed.” You tilted your head to the side. “What are you up to, Munson?” 

Eddie’s lips rolled, twitching before he huffed, shoulders slumping in defeat. “Fuck, alright, you got me. I-I was tryna make you a birthday cake.” He stepped to the side, revealing the mess fully. “I asked your Mama while we were visiting what kinda cake you liked, and she said she used to always make you a pink one when you were little, and-and I went to the store and of course they don’t have anything pink, so I called Robin and she told me to use raspberries, but that,” Eddie scoffed, lifting the still smoking, simmering pan. “Turned brown, so it didn’t work.” 

Your chest swelled, lips pressing together to keep your own emotions in. Eddie hesitated, clutching the pan anxiously. “I-I just wanted to make it special, y’know? You-You said you liked it when your Mama would make homemade cakes, and I… I, honest, baby, didn’t think it was gonna be this hard. I’m sorry I laughed at you that one time you burnt that pie because this shit is hard.” 

You giggled at his words, stepping closer to him, looking inside the pan of melted raspberries. “That’s- This is really sweet, Ed.” You whispered, eyes shining when they met him. “You don’t have to do this, baby.” 

“No,” Eddie pointed at you playfully, shaking his head, boots stomping against the wood when he dumped the pot into the sink. “You want a pink cake, and I’m making you one. I just- I wanted it to be done by the time you got home so I could surprise you, but…” Eddie waved at the mess around him. 

You laughed. “I’m very surprised, Ed.” 

“Yeah,” Eddie’s tongue rolled on his dimpled cheek. “‘M sure you are. Just gimme a couple minutes. I think I got some red food coloring up here.” He turned, flinging open the spice cabinet. 

You moved to the sink, starting the stream so you could help him clean. Eddie’s head whipped around, curls flying. “What’s the matter with you? Sit down.” He shook his head, batting your hands away from the faucet. “I got it, birthday girl. Take a seat, alright?” He nodded firmly towards the small kitchen table. 

“Show me what you got, alright?” Eddie hummed, tongue poked out in concentration. “Tell me about lunch. Did that one friend of yours, the one that’s engaged, is she still..?” 

“...Miserable with her fiance?” You snorted lightly. “Yeah, she told us today not to pick out our bridesmaid dresses because she didn’t even want to get married.” 

“Christ,” Eddie muttered, shaking his head lightly. “Hope you don’t feel that way about me, darlin’.” 

“Never.” You grin, chin propped on your hand. “Bet her man never made her a cake.” You wink at him, proud at the way he blushes.

Later, when he'd deemed the cake to be finished, covered in sloppy pink icing, he sang to you as he carried the cake in, candles placed at the top. You beamed, a love drunk, gooey gaze on his bright smile.

"Blow 'em out, baby. Make a wish. Wish for somethin' good." Eddie grinned, sinking into the chair next to you.

You closed your eyes, lightly blowing each of the candles out. Eddie grinned, knife sinking into the cake.

It was hardly edible, the cake, somewhere between tasting like sugared Playdough and crumbling. You stomached it through tiny giggles, Eddie's exasperated huffs.

"Tastes like shit."

"No, it's not bad." You swallowed the bite thickly, hiding your grimace. "It's really not bad."

"You're lyin'." Eddie wagged a finger at you. He stood, snagging his keys and wallet off the counter. "Let's go."

"Go where?" You stood, gulping down the water at the table, trying to wash the taste out of your mouth.

"C'mon, I'll take you to get ice cream." He nodded, a hand falling gently on your back. "Not gonna subject you to eatin' that shit. Not even sure it's edible."

Eddie snuck in a candle, stuck it right in your ice cream cone, fishing out his lighter to light it in the middle of the ice cream parlor. "I won't sing unless you want me to."

"That's alright." You giggle, shaking your head, blowing the candle out for him. Eddie grinned, snatching the candle out carefully, placing it on the napkin in front of him. "Cheers, to my best girl, happy birthday."

You blushed, touching your cone to his. The two of you ate your ice cream, light hearted chatter and people watching. "This is a lot better than the cake." You laugh. "No offense, Ed."

"Yeah," Eddie snorted. "Don't know how people do that. There's so many fuckin' rules. I'll leave it to the people who actually know what they're doin' next year."

[quitealotofsodapop]

Soooooo.... what if Wukong didn't always have stage fright? What if he ONLY started being afraid of large crowds watching him....

AFTER his rampage through Heaven and he was sentenced to death, trigrams furnace, lots of stabbing, and when nothing else worked 500 years under a mountain by a LARGE CROWD of angry gods.

Mac is more than a bit surprised to learn yhe boisterous, bold Monkey King was more than a little traumatized by the whole experience and maybe he needs some hugs....😈

Ooo thats a spicy idea >:3

My hc is that Wukong is good at bluffing and improvising - but the second there's a "script" to follow or something is expected of him, he just freezes. He can drunkenly retell his Havoc in Heaven to the Brotherhood with perfect comedic timing, but if he's asked to make a speech infront of his own army he stumbles. He'll def improv a troop raising call no problem, just don't expect him to keep any decorum.

And oh gosh, imagine that the modern stage reminds Wukong so much of the "trial" he endured in the Celestial Realm after the Havoc.

Hundreds of people he can barely see, many that want to hurt/kill him, reduced to his birthday suit (think the "you flicked too damn hard!" scene in Thor Love and Thunder), the location of his sworn siblings unknown, Mac's no where to be seen, and he just heard Lao Tzu say something about a furnace??

Wukong had the attention of All of Heaven on him. He never wants to endure that again.

At least with armies of angry soldiers, he can physically fight back and repel them. When his "audience" has him restrained or expected to remain calm, Wukong starts to panic. He feels like an chained animal. I'm surprised that he didn't have a more negative reaction during the talent show in Lantern City.

Macaque of course always knew Wukong was bad at scripted speeches, so he had been the one to whisper lines into his ears/hold up cue cards for him back in the day. Macque had always been the better actor. Just another way they were like Sun and Moon together.

But the first time he sees the great Sun Wukong get swarmed by paparazzi in the aftermath of a rough fight, and the king freezes and can't even speak? Mac jumps in and whisks him away via shadow portal.

Macaque: "You never used to lock-up like that... not even when I dragged you into my plays for the little monkeys." Wukong, slowly calming down: "I... it's just all the eyes on me... It reminds me of the trial... All those face just... watching me and talking about me like I'm some sort of animal..." Macaque, flooded with regret and remembering what Wukong said under the mountain: "Oh..." (a hug occurs) Macaque: "I'm... sorry I couldn't come to your rescue back then." Wukong, trying to deflect with humor: "Hey lets be fair - I doubt you could have taken on the entire Celestial justice system by yourself. A lot of what I said back then was cus my brain just got finished steaming." Macaque: "I could have tried." Wukong: "Then we would have shared that furnace. And we'd be two idiots chained beneath the mountain together." Macaque, small smile forming: "You speak as though that would be so terrible." Wukong, forgot how much natural rizz Mac has: "ah." (//∇//)

The two monkeys later find a simple solution to the problem. Lots of Wukong clones, all doing advertisments and public appearances. Small downside is now a few hair clones will hum advert jingles and get too ethusiastic at the mic.

Macaque: "...tell me, why were you using a cardboard Wukong if you could make temporary clones of yourself?" Wukong: "Sentimental value."

[thessalian]

Thess vs Budgeting

I'm not exactly bad with numbers; it just takes me a little while to do the working out of these things. Which I guess is good for my love of D&D, and is also good for budgeting. Because dear gods do I need budgeting. Because, much as I hate to do it, I need to replace Gilmore.

Gilmore is my PC, by the way. My combination gift for Christmas 2018 / birthday 2019. So ... yeah, there are issues. I'm running i5 and i7 is minimum requirement for Silent Hill 2 (or at least, some sites say that but I'm going with what's on Steam, since I figure they'd know). Also ... well, the big issue is that Microsoft is going to stop supporting Win10 in October 2025, and Gilmore won't run Win11. So I need a PC that runs Win11.

Please note that I do not want to run Win11. However, I also do not want to be faced with a massive security issue next year. Plus, let's face it, this machine is over five years old - or, more to the point, I got it five years ago and it wasn't exactly the gold standard then. That's a lot for a computer.

What all of this has meant is that I've had to run the numbers. All of the numbers. With variables that I had to sort out midway through everything. So it's basically kind of algebra. Ish. If you squint.

So here's been my thought process and search terms of late:

Can I just replace the CPU? No, because my motherboard won't support a new CPU.

Can I just replace the motherboard and CPU? Well, at that point, you might as well replace the whole fucking computer because the price isn't that different.

Do I need to worry about a graphics card? No, because I got a new one of those fairly recently and it's way better than the CPU/motherboard that are at least five years old.

Will a custom-built PC tower save me any money whatsoever? ...Not really, no.

Can I plug a graphics card into a machine with integrated graphics? After a little bit of searching, it seems yes. They've all got extra PCIe slots, and the graphics chip just won't do anything if a graphics card is plugged into one, so ... cool.

Can I plug a graphics card into a mini-PC? Apparently you can with some, because they have extra PCIe ports, but it's finding the room in the case that's the problem. Unless I want to Macguyver a solution to the whole thing, probably not, no.

Why the fuck are Intel chips so much more expensive than Ryzen chips? No fucking idea, but the reviews don't seem to show that much difference, so I'll take the budget version.

When do I need this by? Can it wait until Christmas? I mean, I don't really want to play Silent Hill 2, or to potentially try Veilguard, running on the minimum in terms of processing power - if it'll even work on an i5 chip, which is doubtful. So before October would be ideal. Also I really don't want to ask for another combination Christmas / birthday gift from the parentals again this year. I just did that last year, plus my stepfather gets very pernickety about computer stuff since he used to be an IS manager and somehow thinks he still knows more about what I need or want than I do.

So that's the various bits of instinctive maths I've done to get the base information - what I actually need. Then I had to go hunting through the options. Eventually, I found a thing that is suitable to my needs when hunting through the list of places that refurbish computers. The options on Amazon were cheap but ... rubbish, frankly, and eventually I found a nice little refurb place that was able to sell me what I needed at a ... mostly good price. Not as glorious as Gilmore looks-wise, but what do I need that for, honestly? Best part is that this one comes with a DVD drive. I can just watch my DVDs on my new computer! Whose name has not come to me yet but will. Anyway, doesn't completely break the budget but is going to have me being veeeeeeeeery careful this month.

Maybe it's about time to break out the Baldur's Gate 3 perfumes. For a very small client list, mind you. I don't have the spoons for anything as big as Scent of a Warden got for awhile.

Not sure what to do with Gilmore. I mean, beyond gutting for parts. Not that there are many, honestly - I crammed in a few myself, but Gilmore is one of those machines designed for looks and not exactly for ease in upgrades. Thankfully the new box is apparently designed to be upgraded, partly because it was built and refurbished from spare parts in the first place. As for the Shiny Case ... well, there are recycling spots that can deal with that. I don't think a very old i5 chipset machine will particularly go on eBay, after all.

So ... yeah, budgeting. I'd feel bad for upgrading just for two games, but I'm not, really - I'm upgrading as a security measure too. Believe me, I'd be happy to stick with my Win10 machine. I don't want Win11. Everything I have heard about Win11 is awful. But I guess there isn't an option at this point. Assholes. Cramming their ad-riddled, AI-driven bullshit into my machine.

[eating-the-inedible]

Confession: Buckle up, this may be a long one.

I've had the same fictional character appearing in my dreams from time to time for the past 5 years.

It all started when I saw a piece of fanart back in my days on DeviantArt around...2017-2018. I thought the character looked cool, but didn't check out what the series he was from was. I did, however, come to the conclusion, just by his vibes alone, that I would like him if I got into whatever he was from.

A while later, that image basically forgotten by now, I tuned into a stream where an artist I follow was doing a poster design for something. In the middle of the poster design...it was him again. I remembered the picture I saw on DA and my interest had been sparked again. Turns out he wasn't from an anime, as I had first assumed, but instead, a Japanese video game.

I then found out the games were on Steam and ended up getting the first two. However, this character was from the 2nd game, so I had to wait until I was finished with the first game to really figure out what he was like, and if my initial reaction would end up being true.

During the time it took me to finish the first game, I had found someone who made some meme videos using the character sprites from the series. There were a few I watched with that specific character in it, so I finally saw what he actually looks like in game.

And then, it started.

Not long after I began to have dreams about this guy. He rarely ever spoke to me, mainly just following me and listening to (or putting up with) me rambling to him about who-knows-what.

I eventually got to the 2nd game and found out...I was right about thinking I would like him. Very right. He ended up being my favorite character in the series.

During my first play-through of the game, something weird happened. After talking with him, I had to talk with someone else to progress the plot, however, not long into that conversation with the other character, the game crashed. Then, I got a notification from Steam.

You have 1 new item in your inventory.

I opened Steam to check it out. It was a card. It was a card with that character I like on it. This is the 2nd one I had gotten. I usually don't keep duplicates, but in this case, I wanted to keep it.

Anyway, I still continued to have dreams about him. Most of the dreams, he was silent and never really acknowledged me much. Though, there were a few where he would talk to me some, and there were even some where we were friends. There were also two specific occasions in dreams where he smiled at me, which I remember very fondly.

At some point throughout all this, I ended up getting a crush on him, which I still have to this day. My guess is, it happened sometime after I finished the game, though I don't exactly remember.

So, my confession? I ended up getting into a game series entirely because I saw a guy I thought looked interesting, and I ended up getting a crush in him. I also ended up having him haunt my dreams for 5 years. That should be it, right?

No.

Not too long before, I began to see the number 107 all over the place. It started with an order ticket number at McDonald's as well as a license plate in the parking lot and ended up being a number I'd see a lot on the clock. But it turned into much, much more. In a very weird way.

I began to notice a lot of things I like were connected to 107 in some way. The release date of my favorite anime, the birthday of one of my friends, the amount of pages in a comic I had been following...

There had to be some connection to this guy with that number as well, right?

Well, I began to look around, see if there was anything and...nothing. I didn't find anything...until one day.

I was sitting in my living room, alone, thinking, and a crazy idea popped into my head: Birthday.

So, I opened a calendar picture in MS Paint, circled my birthday and the birthday of this character. I then counted the amount of days inbetween our birthdays (not counting the days themselves).

107 days.

I had found it. And it had driven me MAD. I feel like Charlie from the Pepe Silvia meme. I feel like I have enough material to make a conspiracy about SOMETHING but I don't know WHAT.

And your question, that I bet you've had since the beginning of this ramble, "Who is this character?"

His name is Gundham Tanaka from the murder mystery series Danganronpa. This man single-handedly pulled me into a series I both love and hate as well as kick-off my slow decent into madness over a single number that I can't just call a coincidence anymore after THAT. I love this man, and that is not an understatement. I hope he shows up again in another one of my dreams soon. It's been a while.

I hope you enjoyed this relatively normal ramble that slowly got more and more whack as it went on.

this is absolutely wonderful

i love this

thank you so much for taking the time to send this!

[imagineanime2022]

Budget

Mammon X GN!Reader

Word Count: 1164

Requested: @your-next-daydream

Request: Saw the thing where you said you would enjoy getting more requests for individual character. Could I request a reader that is like very kinda rich and they help Mammon fix his debts and then like blow money on him? Like I'm always seeing the brothers yelling at him when even I know there is easy ways to fix that. Especially with the power Lucifer holds and his smartness he could help him budget and stuff. But yeah Mammon might not be my favorite but I relate to him as a second born who's disrespected but is usually there for everyone else in a standoffish way.

When you were first brought to Devildom, you noticed the way that the brothers treated the second born and while you could see where their frustration steamed from, you knew that there was an easy way to help him, it was going to take time but you were willing to stick with it especially when you spent so much time with him. You had built up a small fortune while working in Devildom, the pay was good and you had no bills so everything that you made was yours. You could see that Mammon cared about his brothers a lot and would often do anything for them even if he grumbled the whole time but they never did that in return.

This week had been a bad one for Mammon, you could see him deflating as the week went on so you went out to grab a watch he mentioned wanting a couple of days ago, you walked to his room hoping that he was in there, when you opened the door you saw him lying on his bed, his face was mushed into his pillow as he scrolled through his phone, it was the cutest that he had ever seen him look but you could still tell that there was something wrong. “Hey Mammon!” You called as you closed the door behind you walking towards the bed where he was laying, he just groaned and pressed his face into his pillow. “What happened?” “Nothing.” He answered. “Then where did the great Mammon go?” You asked, settling on the bed and laying so that you were facing him, he grumbled something that you couldn’t hear so you tapped the back of his head gently until he looking at you and then opened your arms, he shuffled over to your open arms “will things be better if I said that I had a present for you?” You asked. “Ha?” He asked. “I’ve got you something.” You said reaching over for the little box that you put on the nightstand next to you. “Here.” “What’s this?” He asked. “Open it.” You urged him. He unwrapped the small present, his eyes widened as his eyes locked on the watch. “Ya got this for me!?” Mammon asked, you had never seen him move so fast as he got up and turned to look at you. “Yeah…” You answered “has no one got you a present before?” “Well…” He shrugged as he looked away from you and you took his face turning it to look at him. “Well.” You urged him to keep talking. “Not really.” He answered as he pulled away from you “unless it’s ma birthday. Ya know because they're usually yellin’ at me for somethin’.” “About your money?” You asked. “Mmm.” He hummed. “I can help you with that if you want.” You suggested. “Doesn’t matter Lucifer took goldie anyway.” Mammon mumbled as he took the watch out of the box. “Let me talk to him but you have to promise that you’ll be on board with everything that I suggest.” You said “Although she is the reason for a lot of your problems.” “Ha? How d’ya figure that?” He asked. “Well she’s a credit card, you're spending money that you don’t have, what we need to do is change the nature of Goldie.” You explained crossing your legs in front of you. “Ha?” He asked. “Look what we need to do is change Goldie from a credit card to a debit card and lastly we’ll need to get you a job to get some constant money coming in.” You explained “the rest of the plan will have to be sorted after we’ve sorted the job thing.” “Ya really think this will work?” He asked. “Mmm.” You hummed. “Trust me I’ve been doing it the whole time that I’ve been here and I’m doing just fine.” You smiled, showing him the DDD with your banking app on it. “Woah! Yer rich.” His eyes widened and you shook your head. “Not rich, good with money. So you want to try my way?” You asked. “Sure what do I have to lose?” he asked.

You knocked on Lucifer’s office door “come in.” Came the faint call on the other side. “Lucifer, are you busy?” You asked. “Always.” He mumbled as he continued to look through paperwork. “Alright, different question… How’s your mood right now?” You asked closing the door, he looked up at you with an eyebrow raised and you decided to just go for it. “I need you to give Mammon Goldie back.” “Excuse me?” He asked. “Look I have a plan-” “I know you think that you have a plan and it’s going to work for everyone but Mammon has no intention of following it.” Lucifer mumbled. “How would you know?” You asked. “How about you just give him a chance?” “(Y/N)-” “Lucifer, who is this going to hurt apart from him?” You asked, Lucifer gritted his teeth before reaching into his desk drawer and handing you the gold card, you took it “thanks.”

The next few days were filled with you setting up new accounts, direct debits and getting him a job to get started with everything, the first month was difficult and you found yourself having to cheer him on a lot more and than usual but nothing will compare to the day that he walked into the bedroom excitement written on his face. “(Y/N)!” Mammon called as he walked into your bedroom. “Hello.” You smiled as you looked at him. “What’s got you so excited?” “Look!” He held the letter out to you, it was the credit card company, it informed him that he was finished paying off the debt. You smiled, throwing the letter to the side and jumping at him and wrapping your arms and legs around him, it was lucky that at some point you had switched places and he fell back onto your bed. “I’m so proud of you!” You cheered as you leaned down pressing a kiss to his forehead, he smiled looking away from your cheeks bright red. “Couldn’t have done it without ma human.” He shrugged, linking your hands together shyly. “Come on, this is cause for celebration.” Using your linked hands you pulled him up. “Where are we goin’?” He asked. “Well I remember you saying something about a jacket that you wanted, what better way to celebrate then shopping and dinner on my card?” You asked. “Yer sure?” He asked. “Don’t worry one day you’ll be just like me.” You winked as you pulled him out behind you. Neither of you noticed Lucifer who had been listening since he heard his brother call for you, he never thought that you were going to be able to do what so many others had failed to but he couldn’t be happier that you had. Though his pride would never let him say it so instead he silently praised his younger brother and thanked you.

Request Here!!

[ajwinter-is-a-nerd]

Lawlight Fanfiction - Bonus Content

Here is an Omegaverse Lawlight Fan Fiction One Shot that I wrote and liked far more than I expected:

Trigger warnings are on the A03 summary. Please be aware that 'Love and Loss' discusses dark elements and makes sexual references that may make some readers uncomfortable.

I liked it so much that I left it open to see if anyone was interested in the continuation of the story.

Since 'Save Our Souls' is still in progress, I debated on the fence for a bit, but then ! I read @eleonoraw's lovely comment that encouraged me to share more on that fic.

I went through and grabbed my drafts - so there's about a chapter and a half of continuation [slight steam] - and some of the prequel. At this point, with all my WIPs, I'll never say anything is off the table to get reanimated, because apparently I have no self control.

It's a bit messy since it's pulled from a collection of drafts, but if it's something you like/are interested in - let me know what you think! I would love to hear what more people think about this one.

Love and Loss - Light Moves In

Light’s face contorted with disgust at the tower of pink icing before him. It was hard to believe there was any form of cake under that thick coat. 

“Eat it. You’re too thin.” L pushed the sweet closer to him. 

“You’re one to talk.” Light’s mouth turned lower, his nose accordioning in on itself. 

“I’m always thin. Doctor says we need to get your weight up.” L’s pupils dilated before diving into his own cupcake. 

“By increasing healthy calories, L. Not pink garbage.” Light stuck his tongue out, the sweet cream melting. “Ugh! How do you eat this?” 

Smirking, L took another diving bite into his cupcake, a dab of icing left on his nose. “Do you know what your pheromone smells like?” 

Light’s eyes widened in horror. “I’ve been told it’s similar to vanilla.” 

L’s laugh was coated with another bite of icing. “That’s putting it lightly. Your pheromones are like a birthday cake with thick vanilla icing coated on top.” 

“That’s disgusting.” Light cringed at the description. 

“Mmm…” L licked the last of his icing off. 

Sighing, Light took a single bite of his cupcake. It was so sweet it nearly tasted sour. “Nope. Nope.” Light pushed the cupcake towards L, who happily accepted it. “Do you have any real food?” 

“Just order in, I’ll pay for it.” L stuffed far too much of the cupcake than he should have into his mouth, pink icing clinging to his hair. 

Feigning a heave, Light opened up his phone. As much as he’d deny it, he enjoyed being able to show exaggerated reactions. To play around again. He’d worn a serious face for so long, it was nice to break out of his mold. “How about sushi?” 

“I don’t give a fuck.” L peeled away the paper from his dessert. 

“Give me your card. I’m ordering the most expensive sushi available.” Light held out his hand. 

Without complaint, L handed over his matte black card. 

“And a bottle of champagne.” Light attempted to get some sort of rise out of him. 

“Order glasses if you’re picky. Or else you’re drinking it out of a mug.” L tried to lick the icing off his face, but most of it was too spread out. 

“You’re a heathen.” Light muttered as he punched in their order. 

While they waited for food, L brought Light’s bag up to his loft room. 

“Don’t you have a guest room?” Light soured at the thick black curtains over the windows. 

“No.” L pointed towards the walk in closet. “Plus, I think you’ll like that.” 

It wasn’t fair that someone who was content to wear a white crew neck and jeans every day had a closet the size of a studio apartment. Intrigued, Light checked the sizes on some of the suits. Fortunately, L liked to wear clothes on the bigger size, meaning most of the nicer outfits would fit Light.

“Told you so.” L’s steps were soft, but his voice got louder as he approached. “We can always throw this all out and fill it with clothes for you.” L wrapped his arms around Light’s waist, his lips brushing against where his neck and shoulder met.

Light wasn’t sure if the moan that escaped his lips was because of the offering of clothes or L’s touch. Either way, the room was growing on him. 

A spill of whiskey orange flooded the room, making each kiss against Light’s skin feel even better. 

“Fuck…” L nipped at Light’s skin in the midst of kisses. “You smell so good.” L pushed at Light’s lower stomach, pulling them closer together. 

Their symmetry in height was proving to be quite convenient, Light thought, as L grinded against him. 

DING DONG! 

“Shit.” Light mumbled, breaking out of L’s hold. 

“Nooo….” L whined, following after Light. 

“I’m hungry.” Light pushed L away from him, heading to the stairs. 

L whined the entire way down and continued through dinner. 

“I’m going to cut your dick right off.” Light seethed as he packed up their leftovers. 

“Liiiiggghhhhtttt…” L made a (not so) convincing argument. 

“We haven’t even agreed if we’re going to have that type of relationship.” Light huffed, shutting the fridge door. 

“We’re sharing a bed.” L stated in such a monotone manner, it was as if his voice rolled its eyes. 

“Which I didn’t want to do.” 

“Liar. Remember that I can smell you, right?” 

“You’re infuriating! You just expected sex on the first night?” 

The widening of L’s eyes and slightly parted lips indicated that, yes, that was exactly what he’d expected. 

“Sleep on the couch.” Light spun on his heel.

“You can’t make me sleep on my own couch.” L puffed his chest. 

“Fucking try me. I’ll make your life a living hell.” Light stomped upstairs.

“I’m at least sleeping on the couch in the loft.” L shouted towards Light’s back.

“I don’t care. As long as it’s not in the same bed.” 

“Prude.”

“Fucking asshole.” Light snapped, wishing there was a door he could slam. 

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

Warm water cascaded down Light’s skin as he hummed to himself, the scent of sandalwood steaming in the shower. It was slightly disappointing to know that the ‘manly’ scent would be overwritten by pink vanilla garbage. What an unfortunate scent of pheromones. 

“What are you singing?” L’s low voice rumbled over the shower.

“Ah!” Light cried, losing his footing and crashing to the ground. Before he could open his mouth, a shampoo bottle slid and slammed on his head. Growling, Light stared up at L through the glass, water pouring over his face. 

L’s lips tugged in a half smirk, his finger pulling against his lips. He sat crouched on top of the toilet, his eyes fixated on Light’s splayed body. 

“Get out.” Light gritted through his teeth. 

Pretending not to hear him, L batted his eyelashes.

“How do you ever expect to get laid if you keep being so creepy?” Light scoffed, pushing himself off the shower floor.

“There is only one bathroom, Light.” 

“And? Can you wait a minute?” Light dipped his head under the water again, rinsing out his conditioner. 

“Not particularly. I would like it if you hurried up.” 

“You could have said that from the other side of the door.” Light switched the water to cold, doing a final rinse of his body. 

“I’m not quite used to that yet.” 

“You didn’t need to stare at me like Golem, L. Basic human decency, you know?” 

As Light opened up the shower door, L was quick on his feet, offering Light a fresh towel. 

“Thank you.” Light muttered, surprised at the act of kindness. 

“Please, get out now.” L pushed at Light. 

Snickering, Light dead weighted L until he was on the other side of the threshold, the door slammed behind him. It was refreshing seeing signs that L was uncomfortable. 

Their set up had made it seem as if L was in total control, it was incredibly infuriating. L had always been particular over his space, his environment constantly controlled chaos, and Light being there messed with it all. 

-

L’s hair dripped onto his white crew neck as he crouched on a spinning stool at the kitchen island. 

“L, pay attention.” Watari’s gruff voice warned. 

“You’re like a child.” Light shook his head. 

“A child that you’re in love with.” L stopped mid spin to face Light before breaking back into a spiral.

“Not in love with. Fated pair. Different.” Light corrected him.

“Both of you!” Watari slammed on the counter. 

“Sorry, Watari.” They both bowed their heads, like the scolded children they were. 

“Like I was saying,” the perplexed doctor held up a foil pack of pills. “This is heat suppressant. This is a heat inducer. These are yours, L. The rut suppressants and inducers. I would recommend trying to bond as soon as possible. It will steady out both of your pheromones the quickest. Otherwise, you two will still have to be extremely careful. Particularly you, Light.” 

Light clenched the edge of the counter at his name. 

“You nearly died, Light. However you guys make it work, you’ll have to be close to L. Fated pairs usually have some form of chemistry. I would consider at the very least being intimate. Have you two tried getting together yet?” 

Watari coughed in discomfort. “I’ll - um - I’ll wait outside.” 

“Probably for the best.” Light agreed with a tinge of sass. 

“Did you hear that, Light?” L unfurled his feet from the stool. “Even the doctor says we should have sex.” 

“Look at what you’ve done.” Light motioned to L with a sigh. 

“Until you two decide to bond or until your pheromones balance, you honestly should be intimate. Sexual intercourse will be the best choice, however, generally closeness and skin to skin contact should also help.” 

Humming happily, L rested his cheek against Light’s thigh. 

“Thanks for the tip doc.” Light smirked sarcastically, opening his legs to let L’s head drop. 

“Heeey! I almost fell!” 

“Good luck, you two.” The doctor set the meds on the counter before pulling his bag over his shoulder. 

“I’m gonna need it.” Light whispered, only loud enough for L to hear. 

Sighing, L slid off the stool and dug into the fridge. It was fascinating seeing a morose look on L’s face while he dug into a cupcake. 

“L, how do you so easily slip into the - the touchy feely stuff?” Light gulped, the idea of not being perfect at anything suffocating. 

Pausing, L peered up from his mountain of icing. His eyebrows pressed closer together, the contrast of the pink icing against his gray eyes stirred Light’s stomach. 

“Well first,” L’s pupils visibly dilated. “When you look at me, you piss your scent all over like an untrained dog.” 

“I do not.” Light twitched away, insulted. 

“You can lie with your mouth all you want. But until you get better at this -,” L spun his finger around the room, “you can’t fool me. I know you think I’m cute.” L ended his sentence with a wink. 

“Okay, sure. Pheromones.” Light sighed, slightly ceding. “But you let out pheromones too. I might be attracted to those, but… that doesn’t mean I immediately want to jump your bones. So you just listen with your dick and suddenly it all comes so easily to you?” 

Setting down his cupcake, L shook his head. “Light… it’s always been you.” He picked at the paper, evading Light’s gaze.

“Well yeah, there’s history-,”

“No.” L shook his head. “When I was at the hospital, they told me my symptoms might be correlated with a fated pair. The first thing I did was ask Beyond to get in touch with you.” 

Clicking his jaw, it was Light’s turn to evade L’s gaze. 

“A lot of shit has happened, Light. And it’s been a long ass time. But I never forgot you. When you left… it felt like a piece of me left with you.” L’s voice started to crack, but Light couldn’t bear to meet his gaze. “And now- they tell me that - th-that the only way to keep you alive is for me to be beside you. And fuck, I don’t ever want to go through that again. I have a reason, an excuse, to hold the person I’ve loved since before I knew what my second gender would be. It’s easy… for me to be touchy… because I never wanted to let you go in the first place.”

“You corny fuck.” Light snorted, teary ember eyes meeting glistening silver. 

“Appreciate it when you can.” L’s voice rasped, the black of his pupil taking over his iris. 

Light smirked knowingly; even though L’s pheromones were dancing with his in the room, he was better at feigning a calm facade. 

“You were always such an ass.” L forgot about the cupcake, striding around the island to return to Light’s side. 

“Which you, apparently, loved. So, logically, I should continue to be abrasive for you to adore me.” Light opened his posture to invite L in. 

Groaning, L slid in between Light’s knees, his hands running along the outside of his thighs. His nose immediately ran along the crease of Light’s neck, their chests pressing against each other. Tightening his fingers around L’s hips, Light tugged him closer. 

“Mmm… fuck…” L ran his fingers under Light’s shirt. 

“Shit…” Light’s head dropped back, his skin electrifying under L’s touch. “Too much…” Light pushed at the hips that bruised under his grip.

L growled, trying to latch onto Light, his fingernails cutting into his skin. 

“L. Enough.” Light tilted forward and bit L’s collarbone. 

Rapidly inhaling, L blinked back to consciousness. “Sorry…” L nose dove into Light’s chest. 

“One step at a time.” Light snickered, running his fingers through L’s hair. 

“Okay…” L’s body limped in Light’s hold, their pheromones relaxing in sync. 

-

“L! Stop jerking off!” Light pulled a pillow over his face, trying to drown out the pheromones leaking under the crack of the bathroom door. The fog only thickened. “L! Fucking stop!”

With a wave of pheromones, Light sighed in relief that it was finally over, his sanity holding on by a thread.

“Fuck…” L panted from the other side of the door. “I love it when you yell at me.” 

“Pervert!” 

“Careful,” the sound of L’s zipper echoed, “you might get me going again.” 

Snorting, Light threw the pillow at the bathroom door. 

Love and Loss - The 'Before'

This one was the most completed section of 'The Before'. I have a few different versions, but this one seemed the best.

You may see that Light is given a different sent (continuity isn't quite as important when you have several drafts with an undecided direction). What is important is the fact that apparently I always want Light to smell so pretty ;'D

“So… what are your intentions with my brother?” Beyond snickered, his feet up in the air and his head dangling off the seat of the couch. 

“Shut-up.” Light rolled his eyes, palming his forehead.

“Are you guys going to finally tell each other you like each other or are you going to keep avoiding being adults and talking about it?” Beyond’s silver eyes sparkled. 

“It will happen… when… it will… ugh…” Light started to stagger. The entire room was blurring and spinning around him. 

“Are you okay, Light?” Beyond was afraid to move. He’d been silently grateful that Light was excluding himself, the initial stages of his rut starting to prickle at his stomach. 

Before Light could respond, he collapsed towards the floor. 

“Shit!” Beyond bit his lip. Every instinct in his body was screaming at him to protect the Omega. Panicking, Beyond pulled out his phone, trying to reach a teacher. 

“What are you doing?” Light’s voice rasped as he dragged himself across the floor.

“Light - you’re- fuck.” Beyond covered his nose, the warm smell of decadent spice crawling across his skin. “Have you gone into heat before?” His words were muffled by his sweatshirt. 

“No, but you- you can’t tell - them.” Light weakly batted away Beyond’s cellphone, sending it clattering to the floor. 

“Stop.” Beyond jumped up and ran to the opposite side of the room. 

Their eyes locked as Beyond’s scent hit Light. Soft caramel eyes turned to ember as they narrowed at Beyond, whose eyes responded in blood red. 

“I’m - rut-,” Beyond struggled, arousal starting to overtake his body. He’d managed it before. Light was always around him and L. He’d become accustomed to controlling himself, even at its most difficult. But he’d never smelled Light in heat before. 

“What’s … happen…ing?” Light struggled to breath, daggers slicing up his throat as his legs turned to jelly.

“Light, I - ugh - can’t - don’t.” Beyond was reduced to monosyllables, his skin burning. 

“Beyond?” Light whined, pulling at the collar of his shirt. It felt as if it weighed a hundred pounds. 

Light had been warned about an Omega’s heat, but he’d never been taught much more than that. He always assumed he’d manage it as he did all of his masking. He’d separate himself and manage it from the comfort of his room. He hadn’t expected a reaction on levels of torture.

Beyond’s symptoms, though different in some ways, mimicked the pained desperation that threatened to overtake Light. His heart kept telling him to take away Light’s pain. 

“I - I can’t think… straight…” Beyond slid to the floor, his head in between his knees.

“Beyond!” Light shrieked, the material of his clothes burning on his skin. Tearing his shirt off, he was surprised that his skin was free of marks, he’d expected that his chest would be covered in raw flesh. The burn only spread, searing every last centimeter of Light’s skin.

Shaking, Beyond let go of the hold he’d been struggling with from his own pheromones. 

The warm scent of fresh grass temporarily cooled Light’s wounds, causing him to sob in relief. 

Struggling to breathe himself, Beyond removed his own shirt. He kept trying to think while he was still able to, but the calming effect of his pheromones was only temporary. 

“HELP! MAKE IT STOP! PLEASE! MAKE IT STOP!” Light shrieked, the flame surrounding his skin once again. 

“SHUT UP!” Beyond’s voice shook the chandelier. 

He’d never seen Light look weak. Light was tougher than any Alpha he’d ever met. But now, sobbing on the floor with matted hair, shirtless, and his pants half jimmied off, he was a wounded animal. 

Light’s sobs soaked the carpet below him. “I do-on’t n-n-n-know what t-t-t do…” his strength wavered, his eyes clouding from discomfort. 

“There’s only… there’s only one way to fix it. I - I caaaaa…” Another shot of Light’s pheromones filled the room, demanding attention. “Light… we… ahh…” his words were lost again as he crawled closer to the scent.

He used to get pumpkin spice lattes specifically to mock Light, whose scent was similar, but there was nothing to compare to the way it overtook him. To the sweetness that warmed his chest and the spice that pulled him closer. 

Gently, Beyond ran the back of his fingers against Light’s forehead. Eagerly, Light nuzzled back. For a moment, the pain subsided.

“Th-that helps…” Light kept pushing into Beyond’s touch. Wherever Beyond touched, the searing pain subsided. More accurately, it morphed into a desire for more, but at least it was more manageable than searing skin. 

A low growl emanated from Beyond’s throat as he kept softly running his hands along Light’s body. He could see the relief in Light’s eyes, which only made it harder for him.

“Light… oh fuck…” Beyond’s head spun as he leaned closer into Light.

Light started moaning under Beyond’s touch. One finger against his forehead felt like it could send him over the edge. “Beyond… please…” Light gasped, losing complete control over his rational thought.

-

L clenched his fists as the group started their return. The jealousy that coursed through his veins that Beyond and Light were spending the day together confirmed what he already knew. When he got back, he was finally going to tell Light his feelings. He didn’t want to hide it anymore. 

“Hey, isn’t that your dad?” A student pulled L out of his fog. 

Furrowing his brows, he recognized the black tinted Mercedes. Watari leaned against the car’s hood, watching L step closer. Giving L a directive nod towards the car, Watari stepped forward to speak with the teachers. 

What happened? If Beyond hurt Light I’ll kill him! 

L sprinted towards the car and threw the door open. The scent emanating from the car threatened to knock him out. 

“Shut the door you idiot!” Beyond barked as his offensive stench brutally attacked L. 

Pulling his collar up over his nose, he slid into the car, slamming the door shut behind him. Light’s thick smell spiraled through the air. 

Light trembled in Beyond’s arms, both of them in disheveled states. Beyond’s eyes burned red, still instinctively protective over the Omega in his arms. 

Crushed, L bit his lip and stared out the car window. Watari’s face shone red as he shouted at the timid teacher. He wanted to see anything besides the raw mark that marred the delicate skin along Light’s neck.

-

They tried to go back to normal. Both Light and Beyond agreed that it was what neither of them wanted. They knew that, as long as they stayed away from each other during their next heat/rut, the mark on Light’s neck would fade. 

But their tight knit friendship was cracked. They’d sit to play video games with each other, but L couldn’t sit beside the mark that poked out of Light’s collar. Furthermore, Beyond suddenly felt tied to Light. Even though they’d both made it clear to him that they wanted nothing to do with each other romantically, they still suffered from the bond they’d placed on one another.

Knowing that in 8 moves Light would win, L stepped up from the chess board. “I’ll be back.” 

Clicking the door behind him, L pulled himself into a ball and released his sobs. He’d feel better after a few minutes. It was starting to become his routine. 

Feeling slightly rejuvenated, L stepped out of the bathroom to find that Light had abandoned their chess game and was sitting on the floor mirroring Beyond’s cross legged position. 

“Seriously? Give up already?” L grumbled, stomping over towards the board. 

Squeezing foundation onto a sponge, Light responded with confidence. “I would have won in seven moves anyway.” 

“Eight. Eight moves.” L growled, trying to ignore the gentle manner in which Light covered the mark on B’s neck. 

“I would have got you in seven.” Light grinned, his honey brown eyes sparkling towards L. 

It was harder to appreciate such a beauty when Beyond’s eyes flecked with red towards his direction.

“There.” Light smiled at his handiwork. “Does that make it better?” 

Sighing, L reset the board.

“L? What do you think?” Light pointed towards the covered mark.

“What’s the point in covering it?” L scowled, clenching the piece in his palm.

Wounded, Light nodded. He would hold onto hope that it would get better once the mark was gone. Maybe then they’d be able to fix things. Maybe one day he could finally tell L how he felt.

-

“STOP POKING IT!” Light slapped away Beyond’s hand. 

L grunted across the table; he’d been distancing himself more and more. 

“Your next heat cycle should have started already.” Beyond poked at the sensitive mark once again. Beyond’s rut had already passed, his mark nearly non-existent, yet Light’s appeared fresh as ever. 

L froze, his eyes slowly lifting up towards Light. His skin was slightly flush and he’d constantly smelt slighter danker than usual. He’d assumed it was because B had tarnished his scent, or because his feelings were guarded, but he hadn’t even considered a third possibility. 

“Stop touching me.” Light swatted Beyond away again. 

Pulling up his phone, L began some basic research. ‘How does an omega know they’re pregnant?’

Dizziness or fatigue

Nausea

A change in scent to repel other Alphas that becomes more attractive to the mate

Late heat cycle

Prolonged unbonded mark 

Weight gain 

Cravings 

Headaches

Mood swings and irritation

“I’m going to break your finger if you can’t keep it to yourself.” Light growled in warning. 

“B.” L leaned his stomach against the table. 

Both the boys were shocked to hear L’s voice, for once in a tone that wasn’t laced with rage. 

“Has Light’s scent changed?” L tilted his head.

Coughing, B covered his mouth, attempting to hide his nervous reaction. “Uh - yeah - a bit.” The crimson shade of B’s cheeks told L that the change had been for the better instead of for the worse.

-

L poked at his strawberry shortcake, watching it tremble from the tip of his fork. Light usually berated him if he’d finished the entire cake before he got a bite, so he was trying to be good. Impulse control was not something L was well practiced in, and once he started, he knew he wouldn’t be able to stop.

“Maybe you’re too sweet for Light, hmm?” L poked at the cake again. “Maybe we’re doing him a favor I eat all the cake…” Tapping the iced prongs against his bottom lip he considered his own argument. “He is complaining about the baby weight…” 

BANG! The door slammed open, drywall littering onto the ground from where the door knob had pierced it. 

Startled, L jabbed himself in the mouth with his fork, not hard enough to draw blood. Flipping around, he turned to see who had made such an obnoxious entry. 

Beyond’s face was pale, his eyes burning red. His pants were blended into growls as he scanned the room. 

“Where is he?” Beyond demanded, his voice coarser than ever. 

“In the bathroom?” He was a pregnant Omega, they peed a lot. 

The answer lit a fire under Beyond, who broke into a sprint towards the bathroom. 

Woefully eyeing the cake, L stood to his feet to ensure Beyond didn’t do anything stupid. He was acting as if he was in a rage induced rut… but his pheromones didn’t match that of a rut. Instead of wanting to keel over and vomit, L found himself fighting the urge to run from him. 

Knocking was an understatement as the door rattled under Beyond’s fist. “LIGHT!” 

“Maybe he’s pooping?” L gulped, Beyond’s pheromone suffocating him. 

Stepping back, Beyond kicked the door in two, shards of wood scattering across the floor. 

“Jesus! What-,” Before L could finish his sentence the scent of iron permeated the room. 

Swallowing his heart, L stumbled backwards. Tripping over his feet, he fell on his butt, frozen in stupor. 

Red stepped through the threshold before Beyond did. 

Gagging on the concoction of blood and Beyond’s protective pheromones, L trembled on the floor. L’s head fuzzed as his fingers turned to pins and needles. 

Blood dripped from Beyond’s hands under Light’s limp body. 

“Get Watari.” Beyond snarled in L’s direction. “NOW!” 

Switching back to life, L jumped to his feet. As he ran past, he tried to ignore the way that Light’s eyes twitched against his battle with consciousness.

-

Beyond hung his head at Light’s bedside, rubbing his own tears off his face. “I’m sorry, Light.”

Light’s hand twitched under the tape of the IV. He didn’t want to hear platitudes or pity. He just wanted the pain to go away. Logically, it made the best decision for him and his future. His heart still hadn’t caught up to that, his soul knew he’d lost his child. 

He wanted to hate Beyond, he wanted to hate everyone. But he was only left with the pain of his own heart being ripped from his body.

“Light…” Beyond started to release a pheromone to relax him, a warming scent of cloves filled the room. 

“PUT THAT SHIT AWAY!” Light yelled, tears and spit jumping off his face. “Just leave.” 

“Light…” Beyond’s lip shook, he wanted to help, but despite the fading mark on Light’s neck, he knew that he was never truly meant to be his mate. 

“Beyond.” L called from the doorway. “Watari’s here.” 

Hearing L’s voice, Light degraded to sobs, turning away from both of them. L’s scent trickled through the room, easily flowing past Beyond’s.

Light gripped his chest as he let the calming scent of orange smoked whiskey surround him. 

“L… I should stay. I can’t… I can’t leave him like this.” Beyond dropped his head, his twin brother's scent taking dominance over the room.  

“I DON’T WANT YOU HERE!” Light shouted, still unable to look either of them in the eye. Mumbling under tears, he added, “Both of you, just leave.” 

Beyond’s chest bounced as he sniffled. He’d never meant for it to happen. Light was always so strong, most people didn’t even know he was an Omega. They never meant for it to happen. He certainly never wanted this for Light. Ceding, Beyond stepped away from the hospital bed towards L. 

A tinge of spite shot down Beyond’s back at the tears beading in L’s eyes. Part of him wanted to shout, to say he hadn’t lost anything like Beyond had. But that wasn’t true. Beyond had taken what L loved most.

Beyond had taken Light. 

[returntosaturn271995]

Wednesday, September 27th, 2023: Long Roads

"So that’s how you grow mental toughness. One task at time, believing that you can change and evolve, taking failures and notes to growth and not to heart. 

The person I’m most proud of as I lay here in bed, not bullying myself, but helping myself inch forward: is who I was as my lowest. Debating suicide, hiding under much rougher covers. That girl, so sensitive and hurt, knew enough to get help and keep trying with a map she hadn’t created yet and with no light to walk towards. She pulled herself up with no promises that things would get easier. 

That takes fucking grit. And I can practice on it more. I can get better at it. I put my hand on my heart and feel it beating: it’s never stopped since day one. Neither have I. I have gotten myself here."

One year ago today, my life was going to get a little worse and then much better. This was my first floor. I like to think I'm on the third floor right now. New job, higher salary, new housemate, new friends, new running habit, new yoga habit, new home decor and deep cleaning, new medicine, and new wardrobe. I had just started meditating and literally never cooked.

These are all huge upgrades that happened the way everything does: slowly and then all at once. I had to lose things to replace them with better things. They were lessons I was lucky to learn and a sign that sometimes the universe really is working in your favor even on your shittiest days. You just have to be friends with yourself first.

I thought of a year ago as a low, but even then I was striving and starting to improve: after all, I had been lower. I can't remember the last time I had suicidal thoughts and they used to play in my mind like a soundtrack at a party I was desperate to leave.

Now I have a map to reference and light to see. Things did get easier and then easier still.

In comparison to before, today was downright cheerful. Makenna and I went shopping for a card and bag at Pangea Outpost for Hannah's birthday present. We (well, I), picked a David from Schitt's Creek-themed card where he talks about crying a little and popping a pill. The bag is an obnoxious bright pink and covered in stars. I also got an orchid and sea salt candle for myself because we all deserve a little treat. My room has been smelling amazing because I switched out the Pura pods to Capri by Volcano and some mango-esque scent.

It's the little things. Like dusting my shutters and drinking from a fat coffee mug, that makes me feel like my corner of the universe is more airy and bright than it's ever been.

Afterward, we stopped by Sprouts and picked up some Ollipop Colas because Hannah is obsessed with them. Then I finished up work for the day, accidentally showing up to a meeting while wearing my "Gay for Soccer" ballcap for a good 15 seconds before whipping it off.

I redownloaded Daily Yoga and am dedicating 20 minutes tonight to stretching my calves before attempting another 5 K tomorrow. No shin splints this time. Also carbo-loading with homemade smoked gouda cheeseburgers with caramelized onion and roasted delicata squash.

I showered deeply and stood in the steam, breathing into my stomach and praying to no one in particular that some of the rough plaster I've been covering myself with to say safe is cracking off and away. Strong and vulnerable instead of brittle and shielded.

Is there something worthy, strange, and ethereal underneath my skin that makes all of this worth it? Unerasible and deeper than addiction and bad self-esteem. When I'm serene, and the tasks of the day have been crossed off their lists, there's a golden flutter of something like purpose.

An intuition that good things are coming, the best things yet to arrive. It's what got me through in the pit and it's what is pushing me forward still.

[prettybutter-flyy]

Lessons from my cacoon #1

My healing does not take place in a vaccuum. As much as i want it to...

I got in an arguement w... actually most of my friends yesterday. See, my 24th birthday is coming up and as much as i despite capitalism, it kinda popped off on "the giftgiving for birthdays" thing (not christmas just birthdays, if i was born to consume, then you can celebrate my life with a gift just for being born). And i do want to say that i have NEVER said, "you MUST give me gifts" i get that sometimes you dont have the money or dont know what to get them or maybe you arent close, whatever.

But in all my life, i felt bad abt ppl splurging on me. And i have always been shy to ask for things or favors or freaking love in general. And that is something i wanted to unpack.

So i sent my birthday wishlist to my family and my friends. Unashamed. And im still unashamed despite the argument.

The fight was about how in the last couple years not everyone has been getting gifts, some ppl are getting nothing so we should just not do gifts this year.

Now i get it, that sucks to not get gifts on your birthday from ppl that you think love you! Totally understandable. And they said it had happened two years in a row (the covid years mind you) so they assumed we werent doing gifts anymore.

I was... well mainly angry. I was upset that they didnt take into account my financial situation compared to theirs, or covid or the fact that this conversation was SUPPOSED to be about me but somehow we are planning a birthday party for EVERYONE now (they planned a new holiday: birthday day, which is exactly what it sounds like)

I was so upset i had to blow off steam atbthe gym. I worked out for 90 minutes. Thats the longest and hardest ive ever worked out in my life! And i know im gonna be sore tomorrow.

But after some actual reflection i realized a couple things:

Im actually pretty proud that my friend spoke her mind. Id been preaching that to them for a while now. I wished it could have been brought up around THEIR birthdays but we do have a solution now to the problem bc they spoke up. However i respond can not discourage that!

I knew their feelings are justified in feeling hurt, and that my feelings are justified that the conversation could have been brought up at different time. Both can be true for sure. But NONE OF US ARE PERFECT! Im not perfect and my friend isnt perfect and the rest of our friends arent perfect. And i cant expect perfect interactions or perfectly timed confrontations or a gift every year. And life isnt perfect. We make mistakes and go broke and hurt each others feelings and frustrate each other.

And lastly and most importantly, i realized that like, even tho i wasnt the only person who didnt get these ppl gifts, i still did not get them gifts. My financial and mental issues are unimportant here! Handmade gifts are awesome! Despite finally having a decent job and finally clawing my way out if the depths of my mental hell all that is internal. I loved my friends then and i love them now and yet, even then, i didnt... idk make them cards, i didnt do what i could at the time. I was wrapped in myself and my insecurities and just... didnt think of them.

And so those points in history have already happened, and have been processed, and suddenly im healing and coming up and all i can do is make up for it. Bc those experiences dont exist in a vaccuum.

Of course im not at the pinnacle of my healing journey so i still have some pretty toxic mental gymnastics flipping around my brain. But by the time their birthdays rolls around it should be done.

I feel like i only barely made sense here :/

My point is everyone who let their mental health affect their behavior and is coming out of that will probrably have to go on an apology tour.

And my point is also if you have a fixable problem, be sure to point it out. Ppl may not even realize its an issue.

[raineydays411]

My Father's daughter pt1

Summary: After the disastrous gala, you get an unexpected visit from your “mother”and her family. 

A/n: Hello so I feel like the mom character should have a name, so from here on out, your mother's name is Christine. Also i hope y’all like this one cause i feel like it’s going kinda slow.

Growing up was rough. 

Because your mother decided that you and Tony weren’t worth the effort, you had to mature pretty quickly. You’re father had fallen into this deep depression, where he can barely take care of himself. You had to make sure that your father woke up on time for meetings, made sure he ate, drank water, and inevitably had to make sure that he didn’t choke on his own vomit when he got shitfaced. 

Needless to say, you were very mature for nine years old.

But then, a light in the form of Virginia Potts came into your lives. She saw the way you had taken on the role of Tonys caregiver, and was heartbroken. At first she thought it was just pure negligence from Tonys end, but as she spent more time with the both of you, she realized that Tony loved you more than anything in this world. So she stuck around. 

At first you were weary of her. Not really trusting towards older woman, or motherly figures as you were scorned once. But she never gave up. Not on you or your father. No, she stayed even when you would run away on under her watch. She stayed even when you would try and steal your fathers cars for a quick joy ride through Manhattan. And she stayed when you broke down after your mother had people come pick up all her belongings from the Tower, not bothering to come herself and say goodbye. 

She didn’t leave. She held you as you screamed and sobbed as the men packed away everything she owned. She held you even when you squirmed and scratched at her arms to get away. And she held you as you gave up and silently cried then eventually fell asleep, tightly clutching her midsection. 

That's when you started to come around. You stopped running away whenever your father would leave you with her, wouldn’t talk back when she asked you to pick up a mess, and you even helped her out when some creep intern decided to put the moves on her during a company meeting. 

It wasn’t until your father went missing when you truly saw her as someone you could trust. It was the worst three months of your life.  Another parent gone suddenly from your life. You were relocated to mansion in Malibu, a big empty place where the halls echoed as you walked through them. ANd you had thought that Pepper was going to stay back in New York, she wasn’t your assistant after all. You were shocked to see her at the airport, suitcase in tow with a determined look.

Seeing the look of surprise on your face she stated,

“ I’m not going to let you do this alone.” ,then grabbed your hand to lead you through terminal.

You were grateful that she only acknowledged your tears when you were in the privacy of the private jet. She rubbed your back as you let the tears run down your face. The whole three months that you were in her care, your perspective changed.

She asked about your day, made sure you ate, tucked you in and held you whenever you had nightmares. With in that three month period, Pepper showed you what it was like to have a mother again. And she never let you down. 

Then your dad came home, and your family was complete. You were ecstatic when they started dating and even more so when your father announced that they were going to get engaged.

And even though it took years, you finally trusted Pepper enough to see her as your mother. You were happy. 

Which is why you were extra pissed when you came home from your mother-daughter day and saw your biological mother with Bruce Wayne in the common room. They were sitting on the couch and were getting glared at by the Avengers that were home from missions,(Natasha, Steve, and Sam). 

“Dad, what’s going on?” You ask, looking past the hopeful and curious gazes from the couch. 

“Kid, I think you better sit down.” Tony said through slightly clenched teeth. His face was grim, as he looked past you and made eye contact with Pepper. They had a silent conversation with their eyes, and she nodded. She squeezed your shoulders and took your bags, then with a quick glare she had the rest of the room cleared except for the four of you. 

You took a seat across from your mother, Christine and Bruce. She sent a smile your way and was met with a blank look, “ Dad, what’s going on?”

He sighs and makes his way over to were you were seated, “I don’t know, Christine, maybe you should explain.” 

His tone indicated that he knew why she was here, but wanted her to sound stupid. Pepper came over and sat on the t other side of you. 

Christine glanced at the Pepper and cleared her throat, “Perhaps should be kept between family?”

You scoffed, “ Considering that Pep has been around longer than you ever have been, you have no right to decide who’s family to me and whos not.” 

You see Pepper sit up straighter with pride and mother slump. 

You sigh, “ What are you doing here?” 

She looks at Bruce, who you honestly forgot was still there, “ Y/n...I want you to come home with us.” 

A silence filled the room. You felt Pepper tense up at the words and saw your dads and clench into a fist. 

You however just stared in utter disbelief. 

“What.” 

“I know it's far fetched.” Your mother starts, ignoring your scoff, “ But i really do think it would benefit you to come to Gotham with us, and get to know your siblings!” 

You were seething. 

“My siblings? You mean the family that you left us for.”

“Y/n that’s not-”

“No, You think that you can just waltz into my home, after nine years of absolutely no contact, no birthday cards, not even a text to let me know that you were alive, and expect me to what? Just welcome you into open arms? Leave MY family and go live with you?? Really?”  You say with a scoff.

“Y/n there is a ot of factors you are not considering” Bruce chimes in for the first time.

You turn your glare onto him, “ And what you’re just okay with the fact that your wife has a whole other child who she just fucking abandoned?

“Language.” Your father mutters causing you to roll your eyes. 

“Well, I can’t say this didn’t come as a shock.” Bruce states, “ But, I also know that I love my wife, and that I would welcome you to our home.”

Your throat was hurting with the amount if times you’ve scoffed, “ And I appreciate that, really, but I would never leave my family. Especially not for her.”

Christine's eyes start to tear up, “ Y/n please, a girl needs her mother.”

Those words triggered the anger inside you. Your blood boiled and you can tell that she knew she messed up. 

“Oh? Is that right? What about when I was six and I waited for you to come and take me to that mother's day dance, only you never showed up and I went with my nanny. Or when I was eight and you promised that you would take me to get my ears pierced but then you got a phone call and left so dad took me?” 

You saw the tears run down her face as Bruce looked like he was thinking about something.

“Oh and what about when I was nine. I was nine and you promised to take me to the park. You remember that? Cause I do.” 

Tony tenses next to you, knowing what you were about to say.

“Y/n I can never apologize enough but-” You cut her off

“I was NINE and your promised to take me to the park” You continue, “ But you left. And this time you didn’t come back.” You finish and lean forward, “ Tell me, why the HELL would you think that I would want to come live with you and your fucking family?”

The room was once again engulfed in a tense silence. The only sounds were the sniffling of your mother. 

“You’re my baby girl...my petal. I love you and always have...” She starts, “ My biggest regret is leaving you that day and you have to know that Y/n.”

You feel tears start to rise, a knot in your throat. 

Peppers hand squeezes yours and you calm down and say

“Then you’re gonna have to learn to live with it.” 

Then you stand up and walk right out of the room. Leaving the adults and marching straight to the training rooms to let out some steam. 

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

Back in the common room, a tense silence weighed on the adults. It seemed like no one knew exactly what to say, or they didn’t want to speak up.

Only when Tony cleared his throat did Christine speak up again.

“I didn’t come to cause any trouble.” she said quietly.

“What did you think would happen?”Tony says crossing his arms, “Surely you didn’t expect her to leave with you?”

“No Tony I didn’t. I just thought she would’ve considered it. I am still her mother.”

Pepper snorted, causing the attention to turn to her.

Christine's eyes narrowed, “ And who exactly are you to my daughter?”

Tony tensed, knowing not to mess with Pepper especially when it came to you. He sat back and waited for mamma bear to come out.

Pepper sent a glare her way, “ Me? I’m just the woman who has been raising her for the past nine years.”

Before Christine can get another word on Pepper continued on,

“ I don’t know who you think you are, but you have put Y/n and Tony through a lot of turmoil throughout the years. And now you think you can come in here and demand forgiveness from them?? That’s not happening.”

Bruce started to speak up, “I understand the pain you're family must have gone through, and I am sorry about my...unknowing participation, but Christine is willing to work on her relationship with her daughter.”

Now Tony started speaking, “why? Why now? Y/n is practically an adult, she doesn’t need you anymore. Not like she did before.”

“I’m her mother.” Christine said stubbornly, “ She’ll always need her mother.”

“And she has one. Just not you.” Pepper said standing from her spot, “ I think it’s time for you two to leave. I have to go comfort MY daughter.”

And with that Pepper made her way to the door where you disappeared, knowing exactly where you are. But before she left, she turned and said

“It was lovely to meet you Mrs. Wayne”

and left, leaving Tony to show them to the elevator.

[m4tthewmurd0ck]

𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐩 𝐄𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐬 ~ (𝐓𝐨𝐦 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝) 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐱 (𝐅𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐞) 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫!

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫: 【 𝐅𝐈𝐕𝐄 】

word count: 2.4k

【 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 】

     SHOWERS WERE ALWAYS THERAPEUTIC. If you were in a good mood, you’d put on your shower playlist and this was usually followed up with a concert for the various bottles of products in the shower. And if you were sad, or just in a bad mood, you’d stand under the hot water in silence, letting the hot water and steam calm you down.

Tonight definitely called for a silent shower.

20 minutes later, you exited the bathroom, feeling a tiiiny bit better as you tried to towel-dry your hair as much as possible. You spent a good 5 minutes trying to decide what to wear, but then realized you were really overthinking it. Finally, you settled on sweatpants, a plain white shirt, and a flannel. When you looked at the clock, you decided that you should text Peter to see if he was still awake before you went and knocked on his door.

In less than a minute he responded letting you know that he was, so you grabbed your phone, and keys, and headed over. Before you even knocked, the door opened.

“Hey,” Peter smiled, stepping aside so you could enter his apartment.

You looked around at all of the random bags and boxes of what you could only assume held furniture and other decor. “Umm… I’m a little afraid to ask, but how’s decorating going so far?”

“Oh shut up it’s not that bad,” he laughed, glancing around the room. “Okay… maybe it is that bad. BUT I didn’t exactly know where to start and I went out and bought a ton of stuff.”

“Why didn’t you order online? I’m pretty sure some companies even come do assembly if it’s bigger pieces of furniture.”

Peter nearly blurted out the truth right then. And he wanted to, so badly. It would’ve been nice to have someone who knew the full truth, but he couldn’t. What would he even say?

Well I can’t do online shopping because I have no bank cards. And I can’t get new bank cards because the whole world forgot I existed so I’m terrified they’d think I was impersonating someone when I showed them my ID! I have all this cash because I always withdrew every so often to build up some sort of emergency stash and whenever I got money for my birthday I added it to that pile instead of depositing it so that’s what I’m living off of right now. I’m just lucky I’ve been doing that so long. OH and I’m Spider-Man by the way, and that Mysterio guy is actually—

Yeah, right. You’d probably think he was insane.

“Oh— I didn’t really think about that actually. I was just eager to finally have this place looking halfway decent that I went out and just got stuff from whatever furniture stores I came across first.”

“Well that’s fun,” you walked around what you guessed was half living room, half kitchen. Technically he was renting a studio apartment so it was all one giant room, but still. You didn’t think about how much smaller his unit was until you were actually in it. Your apartment had the kitchen, bedroom, and living room all separate at least. Granted each one wasn’t exactly super spacious, but you were grateful for the walls. “Are you getting a TV?”

“Yeah, that’s getting delivered in like a week. I have no idea where I’m gonna put it though.”

“Hmm,” you walked closer to the bed. “Well you could put it opposite the bed, that way it doesn’t take up too much room and it’s just against the wall. Plus you can watch TV while in bed. Unless you don’t like doing that, then maybe across from the kitchen in what I’m guessing is the living room. That way you can watch while you’re cooking, maybe even put a little table close by?”

“Yeah that’s a good idea, the kitchen, I think.” Peter walked over to the big box that’ll eventually become the TV stand, and drags it over to where you suggested. He had to pretend it was a bit of a struggle, not wanting to alarm you if he lifted the box with ease since it was supposed to be heavy. When you offered to help, he declined, saying it wasn’t that bad.

“Also, sorry, you can tell me if I’m being pushy. I just used to be into interior design a while back so I love projects like this.”

Peter immediately shakes his head. “No you’re not being pushy at all. If I’m being honest most of this stuff was bought at the recommendations of the sales people, and I have no clue where to put… most of it, actually.”

He went on to explain that this wasn’t actually everything. The bed he was currently using was a lot older and dirtier than he’d like and even with sheets, he sort of hated it. So eventually he was going to put together the new bed frame currently in it’s box in the corner, and use the new mattress.

“We can do that right now!” You looked at all of the boxes until you found the one that was labeled ‘bed frame’ that was conveniently right underneath the new mattress.

The next couple of hours was spent disassembling the old frame, putting together the new one and putting the fitted sheets + sheets + covers on top, then setting up the rest of the bedroom / living room / kitchen, decorating each ‘room’ a little more.

Once again, Peter was extremely grateful for this new friendship. Yes, he now considered himself friends with MJ and Ned again since he saw them often and they always talked at least a little. But that was different. With you, he didn’t have to try so hard. He didn’t have to worry about saying the wrong thing, or remember to not bring up old memories. And he knew he thought about that a lot, but he couldn’t help it.

“You okay?” You asked. You had run back to your apartment saying you had a small house plant that would be cute on the TV stand until the TV actually arrived, and Peter was so caught up in his thoughts that he hadn’t noticed you come back.

“Yeah, sorry, just zoning out I guess.”

The 2 of you stepped back, finally admiring all the work.

“I think we did good,” you smiled as you held your hand out for a high-five.

Peter happily obliged, saying that you were a lifesaver and he owed you big time.

“Nope. Since you refused to let me do anything else besides give you that Delmar’s gift card, consider this payment for saving my ass and helping me study.”

After putting the pieces for the old bed frame next to the old mattress, with Peter saying he’d just take that to a dumpster tomorrow, you both finally collapsed on the couch.

“So,” Peter sat up after a few minutes, unsure of how he wanted to say. “I know I’ve already asked, but I just want to make sure. Are you sure you’re okay? After… that guy, and all that?”

You sighed, simply giving him a small shrug. “I just hope that I don’t run into that guy again.”

Peter refrained from saying that he’d make sure that guy didn’t bother you ever again.

“I think it just got to me so much after the fact, because I just thought of what would happen if I had told my parents.”

“Oh, you haven’t told them?”

“Both dead,” you almost laughed at how stunned Peter looked. You really needed to work on the delivery for that particular piece of information. “An accident that happened just before the blip, so they weren’t part of the population that came back. Sorry, didn’t mean to make things so depressing. I pretty much only have my uncle, and really he’s just more of a guardian. We aren’t close at all. It’s been a while since I’ve mentioned my parents to… anyone, really.”

Peter felt sad, hearing you. He knew better than most, especially now, what it felt like to have no one. “Hey, my parents are dead and the two people that raised me, plus this— this guy that was like another dad to me, they’re all gone too. So I can’t judge anyones life stories. But I know we aren’t that close, so I just want to say that I get it. And if you ever miss them and want to talk, or vent about anything else, I’m here.”

“Thank you Peter, really. If you ever want to vent or talk, I’m here too.”

His secret was on the tip of his tongue. I’m Spider-Man.

Trying to get rid of some of the sadness, you were both glad when the topic changed to other random life things. Peter found out that your favorite / best subject in school was English, and you both wished that you knew each other when high school first started because coincidentally, your best subject was his worst tone. And your worst one (anything science related) was his best.

You talked briefly about what your lives were like before the blip, and you surprised even yourself with how open you were to talking about what it was like for you during the 5 years that everyone was gone.

“I used to not be able to talk about it at all. But then I started going to this group therapy thing, we’d all sit in a circle on those hard metal chairs and basically just talk about life, so it got a lot easier. It was strange. Knowing that even if the blip didn’t happen, my parents would still be gone. And then the man who was supposed to become my guardian blipped, so I was taken in by a friend of his.”

“That’s good that you had someone to take you in still.”

“Yeah. It’s also insane to think that if I’d blipped too, right now I’d only be twelve or thirteen. I still don’t know the math on that. School was hectic too. I felt like the universe was out to get me because I only had a small group of friends, and what are the odds that every last one of them were gone?”

“I can’t imagine losing everyone and being stuck here,” Peter wondered what would’ve happened if he was left behind when May, Ned, and MJ blipped. Before, outside of Spider-Man, the 3 of them had been pretty much his only sense of normalcy.

You shrugged, “I can’t imagine it being the opposite. Being gone for five whole years and then coming back with basically the whole world different. As much as I used to wish that I was gone too, I can’t imagine what that must’ve been like.”

“One of the upsides was that for me at least, it didn’t feel like anywhere near five years. In fact when someone first told me that’s how long we’d been gone, I thought they were just… making it up, or something. Like there’s no way it had been that long, right? But they weren’t lying.”

“The beginning was the hardest, for me at least,” you admitted. “I only left my room if I absolutely had to. I missed so much school I thought I’d have to repeat a grade. But given the circumstances, those of us left behind were given time off and then the option to do everything online. I only physically went back to school starting my sophomore year of high school.”

“Did you have new friends though, that you could talk to?”

“My own age, no. But like I mentioned, my parents died and then the man who would’ve taken me in, he blipped. So I was taken in by a friend of his. We sort of talked, but not really. And then I went to that therapy that I mentioned. I don’t know if it could technically be classified as that, because I don’t think anyone in the group was a licensed therapist, but we’d meet and sit in a circle, it was a good opportunity to get everything off of our chests because we were all in the same boat. Towards the end there were hardly any of us left. Like less than ten people including myself. But I kept going.”

Peter smiled, “that’s good. Do you still talk to any of them now?”

“Not really. I was sort of close with one person, we’d usually talk after meetings and stuff too but not so much now. I actually go see him every once in a while though, but it’s not nearly as often. It’s only since everyone came back that I’ve really been trying to pick my life back up and be somewhat normal.

Which is difficult when you can do what I can do, you thought to yourself.

I wish I knew how to do that, I don’t know what I’m going to do with my life. Do I even want to keep being Spider-Man? Peter though to himself, nearly saying it all out loud.

You glanced at the time on your phone. “Holy shit. I didn’t realize we’d been sitting here talking so long, it’s already almost two in the morning. I better get back to my apartment. I’m off tomorrow and as tempting as it sounds, I don’t want to sleep all day.

Peter hated ending what was the best night he’d had in a long time on such a sad note, and you did too. But neither of you knew what to say to make the conversation go on a little longer.

“Okay, thanks for helping me decorate, and for talking to me.”

“Anytime Peter,” you smiled, grabbing your keys out of your pocket. “Oh before I forget I meant to give you back your notebook. I took photos of some pages to eventually write out myself. But I know you’re getting your GED and I wasn’t sure if you needed the notes back right away. I’ll be right back.”

Peter walked you to his door and stood outside, waiting while you got the book.

“Sorry,” you handed it over. “I know you had a bookmark in it but it slipped out so I just put it in a random page.”

“Oh it’s fine, don’t worry about it. Goodnight.”

“Night Peter,” you smiled and waved to each other before heading back to your separate apartments.

such an awkward place to leave the chapter but i didn’t want to have it be too long.

all character tags: @jaywalkingape

series tags: @silverwindptv, @edgycatx, @lnmp89

if you’d like to be tagged when i post for this story, let me know via my ask or messages! simply mention the title, or character name if you’d like to be tagged in everything written for them :)

[ncitygirls]

yours - jaemin x f reader

fluff, smut, bffs2lovers, 3k

before joining you to your cousin’s wedding, jaemin had made a big deal about not being properly invited. as always, mark kept true to his habit of innocently causing trouble when it suited him. ‘i’m like family! where’s my invite!’ but it was hard to fault mark, because of course jaemin had been invited. somehow, his parents neglected to inform him that your cousin had rightfully assumed jaemin would know he was included in the na family’s invite. you said nothing though. especially when jaemin had briefly explained the reason for his displeasure. ‘we deserve our own invite, y/n. one for us together.’ which made no sense at all, because you’re just friends. you’re not together. however you had no idea you were alone in thinking that.

you see, jaemin was more acquainted with your family than some of your own relatives. he was invited to christmases, weddings, birthdays. basically any and all occasions your family saw fit to celebrate, jaemin was in attendance. yet surprisingly, even after having grown up alongside you and mark, a few of your more distant cousins were more than happy to express their displeasure with his more forward placed seat. because, like you keep reminding everybody: jaemin is just your best friend. but apparently, best friends didn’t reserve the rights to things you gave to jaemin. not in your extended family’s eyes. not that yours and mark’s family cared.

yet in the end, like most things regarding you, jaemin knew his attendance tonight had been a mistake. but not because of the petty feud his presence birthed in the lee lineage. oh no. it’s because, unlike most nights jaemin spends in your company - with your hair strewn about, mascara permanently smudged, and a lazy grin etched on - tonight, you were his least favourite kind of y/n. the one where he can’t help but follow you with his eyes, watch the placement of your feet, enjoy the shrill tone of your cackle. throughout the night, jaemin had found himself warmed by the way you drag your balled up fist over your made up eye, how you sing along to songs you don’t know the words to, how you wobble in your heels before you cling to him.

jaemin makes the mistake of enjoying you a bit too much. how you scowl as your relatives chat shit a bit too loud for you liking, how you make a scene of conspicuously covering his ears, unaware of how unbothered he is. how you try so hard to make him happy, in the smallest and largest of ways. so he drags you into a dance when you move to walk over, ready to rip your own blood a new one. “i’m gonna kill ‘em.”

“no,” he states simply, one of his hands slipping from your hand to your waist. “dance with me.”

“who do they think they are!” your voice adopts an unsettling shrillness that he can’t help but chuckle at. it even throws his head back. “why are you so happy? you should be mad!”

“because i don’t care,” he shrugs, tightening his hold on you slightly. “i’m here- you’re here. why would i not be happy?”

“you’re such a fucking leo.”

he still doesn’t know what that means, but he laughs anyway, happy that your deduction seemed to satisfy you. you eventually calm down, a peace settling over you as he spins you lazily around the dance floor. there’s some early 2000s track playing, one definitely unfitting for the way he’s swaying you. but you pay it no mind, speaking softly as he presses his cheek to the crown of your head.

“when do you wanna head up?” up, meaning the hotel room your relatives are also wound up about. it was intended for the bridal party and far travelled guests, neither of which they are. and neither of which you are. but you were your cousin’s favourite. and so was he. so naturally, you two had one reserved. even your parents had opted to stay at a cottage a couple roads over. “i think the boys are all gone already.”

he notes the guilt tainting your tone, knowing how drained jaemin grew from both physical and social interactions of any kind. so you knew well what his answer would be. “when you’re ready.”

“okay,” slipping out of his hold, you drag him over to the newly married couple. you exchange brief goodnights and grateful tidings before he excuses himself to find the jacket of his tuxedo. the search doesn’t take long, his eyes landing on the black coat a few seconds after parting. he does give himself a breather though, his knees cracking as the seat holding his jacket readily carries his weight. he doesn’t dare shut his eyes, knowing full well he’ll fall victim to his fatigue. so instead, he let’s them follow the one thing that always occupies his mind, that can keep him up all night. he finds you far quicker than he did his coat, the pink satin of your dress falling half way down your calf as you skipped over to bid some other guests farewell. he sighs happily, glad you never force him into such tedious pleasantries. you learnt a long time ago that while impossibly affectionate, jaemin’s social clock ticked a few hours faster than any one else’s. so by your timing, it had probably expired a little after the vows. it took a little bit of getting used to, but it also meant for quicker farewells and a speedier exit.

it’s only now jaemin realises this was a mistake. because before he ever gets his breather, less from you, but all the feelings that come from being with you, you’re at his side. he’s learned how not to cease up at your touch anymore. instead, linking his fingers with yours when they rest gently on his shoulder. when he peeks up at you, his eyes blinded less by the party lighting and more by your tired smile, he knows not to sigh, forcing down his body’s natural response to your attention. but when you tug at his hands, bringing him to stand, whispering a-

“let’s go home, yeah?”

he knows this isn’t a mistake. this is torture.

it’s how you pour him a tall, ice cold glass of domesticity with every meal. your hand wrapped in his as you lead him through the hotel. you slip out of your heels somewhere between the lobby and the elevator, grinning up at him as he takes them from you. jaemin even curses himself, his body responding to your needs unthinkingly. he tries to calm his beating heart by counting the floors, his eyes following the analog dial as you lean against his shoulder, fiddling with his cuffs.

“do you want them off?” you ask softly, barely a touch louder than the elevator music. he nods, though your gel nails are already picking at the gold, removing them with ease. “gimme the other one.” he inhales deeply, cursing whoever gave you to him. well, not really. you weren’t really his. but god did you act like it.

your hands slip into his pocket for the room key before slipping back into his hand. he just follows you out, caught in a happy daze as you take him ‘home’. you struggle a bit with the key card, trying it every which way before he leans into you, wrapping his arm around you as he reaches for the card. “the arrow’s pointing this way,” his thumb nail presses on the black arrow indicating the direction you have to push it. he doesn’t see you roll your eyes, but he guesses you do. so he presses his lips to your temple in apology. “you’ll get it next time.”

“piss off,” you laugh, pushing the door open when it clicks. he throws the heels and jacket on a chair by the door before collapsing onto the adjacent couch, his body ready to succumb to his dire need for rest. he can just about hear you rustling through the bags in the bathroom, your feet padding around on the linoleum. when it muffles slightly, he figures out immediately what you’ve returned for when you stop between his thighs. “thank you,” you sigh, his fingers already pinching at the zip on your dress. it sits low at the base of your spine, the back of the dress leaving you completely exposed. he’d taken to placing his hand there all night, his fingers gliding up and down the skin whenever he got the chance. when it’s down, his eyes linger on your hips, the top of your panties peeking out before you slap his knee.

“what?”

“the necklace,” your back is still turned, hair blocking his view. “please?” you add, hand smoothing over the skin of his knee.

“come here,” he pulls you down to sit between his thighs, his legs parting to make space for you. you land with a huff, quickly realising you haven’t sat down all night. jaemin realises this too, your neck craning a bit further to the side than necessary as he tucks your hair over your shoulder. “you okay?”

“mhm,” you hum, squeezing his thigh. “just a bit sleepy.”

“a bit?” he laughs, a little breathless as he gathers the chain he got you one christmas. “i think you’ve earned a good sleep.” he surmises, hands squeezing your shoulders gently. “but you know you were a guest today, right? not the planner?”

“yeah?” turning onto your knees, you glare down at him. “someone had to sort my uncle out, he was steaming!”

“yes, true,” he laughs. “just make sure you’re not doing that at my wedding.”

you feign surprise at that, “i’m invited to your wedding?”

“of course,” his hands squeeze yours earnestly before he whispers, “can’t have my wedding without the bride, can i-”

“fuck off!” his cackles chase you out the room. while you wash up, he makes quick work of his tux, throwing his slacks over the back of the couch, his thumbs slowly unhooking each of his buttons. a true man of leisure, he’s in all but his socks and draws when you return. “all done!” you sing, throwing the dress down as you reappear in an oversized t-shirt. he recognises it almost immediately from uni. it’s his soccer team’s jersey. it has his number on the back.

“finally,” he whines, pushing you aside as he makes his way inside, quickly locking the door to avoid your attacks. he goes to reach for his wash bag just to find the reason he did already waiting unpacked. in a small cup on the side is his toothbrush, resting sweetly beside yours. he ignores the hygienic implications of this and skips right to the romantic. because, while jaemin thinks and often dreams of placing your first name with his last, and while he spends most of his free time with you, and while he would take any number of bullets for you, he still can’t for the life of him figure you out. even after he bombards you with affection, praise, teasing, flirting, kisses. you’re still just you. making him just him.

and that’s fine, if that’s what you want. but he’s not sure he truly knows what it is you want. and this gets him thinking about the little things. how his hand is seldom empty in your presence. how you never think of him second, always first. how you want to be with him always. moments like now, when he returns to find you hanging his tux on its hanger, encasing it in its protective sleeve. his arms slip around your waist, pulling you flush against him. and you melt instantly, resting in his embrace. “thanks,” he mumbles, lips pressing gently to your shoulder.

“‘is okay,” you hum, hanging it over the back of the door before resting your hands over his. see, hands never empty when you’re near. he sways you back and forth, his heart beating gently into your back as you lean into him. “did you have fun?” you ask, squeezing at his forearms, “i know we probably stayed later than you’d like-”

“it was great.” see, always putting him first. “did you want to stay longer?”

“not without you.” see, how you want to be with him always. he wonders how you don’t see it. how you don’t see you’re killing him. “come on,” you mumble, shutting off the light as you blindly drag him to bed. jaemin has an annoying habit of following you in, his body shuffling in after yours, rather than separating and meeting in the middle. it doesn’t allow you much room, by the time you reach your side, he’s encased you in his arms, legs, even his head, his chin slotting itself in the crook of your neck. “nana?”

“hm?”

“i’m sorry about today,” the apology doesn’t shock him, but rather your disappointment. “you’re more like family to mark and i than they ever were. tonight was just proof of that.”

“it’s okay,” he squeezes you a touch harder, trying to decipher whether your words harm or soothe the growing hole in his heart. “i can’t say i don’t see where they’re coming from.”

“what d’you mean?”

“i dunno,” he starts, thinking as his lips press to the back of your neck. “i guess i’d be confused by us too,” he mutters against your skin.

“how so?” you press, turning in his hold, gazing up at him. his eyes are more than used to the dark now as he gazes back down at you. you’re tucked right up to him, the covers strewn over your lower halves. he rests his temple on his palm, elbow pressed into the mattress as you fiddle with his fingers. “what’s confusing?”

he shrugs as best he can, watching his hand in yours. “i dunno,” he repeats, grinning when you huff. “i just- i think it’s hard for people to get that i’m your friend,” he tries, “just your friend.”

“what else would you be?” what else? what else?!

“i dunno,” he repeats for the third time, though he knows exactly what you’d be. but you don’t need to know that. not when you seemed so happy, so satisfied with how things are already. and that’s what’s most important to him. your happiness. and jaemin couldn’t exactly say he wasn’t happy with how things are either, he just knows there could be more to you both, more to this. more to him than being your best friend. but maybe it’s for another night. like he tells himself every time you push a topic you’re not remotely ready to breach. “let’s forget it-”

“no,” he flinches, just preparing to settle down for sleep. “am i missing something? if i am, just tell me.”

“i-” he drops his forehead to yours then. he’s so close, your eyes have to cross just for you to see him. it’s only when he rises you see a change in him. a nervous jaemin isn’t one you’re use to. it’s one that you would rather never see, it truly worries you. especially as he agrees, a small “okay,” leaving him before he kisses the tip of your nose, his lips barely puckered as they meet the skin. he grins as he does, his teeth gleaming in the moonlit room, his eyes open just wide enough to see you. his lips drop to your cheek, warming as your skin does. he hovers there as your hand tightens on his arm, clinging to him. he daren’t move, afraid the slightest jolt will wake him, drag him right out of this sleepless dream. when your grip loosens, he drops his head until he’s right by your mouth, his lips daringly puckering before he presses them to the corner of your lips. he stills as yours do too, your soft lips, now embalmed in his memory, pressing there ever so gently before he rises once more. he waits a second, watching the smallest of shivers rack through you before he dips again, lips falling to your neck. he smiles against your skin, overjoyed as you subtly crane your neck. his teeth drag over your skin as he journeys down the column of your neck, your hands gripping onto him a touch harder when he stops.

his fingers glide along the skin of your side, thumb pressing into the dip of your waist. he stops short of your chest, locked mid motion as he watches you breathe. there is no haste in his movements. no need to rush anything. no need to hurry. all there is, is a beat. a steady one in his chest. one that holds him here, one where he can’t move, can’t bring himself to test the waters you’ve just dared he enter. not even as the pads of your fingers glide along the warm skin of his neck, nails dragging through his nape, silently daring him to move. he pants over your chest, a lazy grin pulling at his mouth as you ask him again-

“what else would you be, jaem?”

he moves unthinkingly. as his dampened lips meet the hardened nub through your t-shirt, sucking on you through the aged material. his rolls his teeth gently, his fingers at your side finding your neglected nipple as you whine out for him. he feels himself slipping into delirium, caught somewhere between a dream and reality, unsure where exactly he’d rather be. he decides it doesn’t matter, not when you’re there. here. with him. letting him touch you in ways he never really thought possible. ways jaemin only ever imagined, only ever let himself surrender to in the dead of night. in the solitude of his own shameful company. he never thought of this. not really.

he had hoped, maybe even prayed, but never truly believed he’d have you whimpering for him. your fingers falling in the gaps between his own, pressing his open palm harder against your thinly veiled heat, your hips rolling against it. jaemin never thought he’d hear your whines, the sound cutting through him like knives, like ice shooting through his veins. he never thought you’d want him. not like this.

“jaem,” he’s with you in seconds, his spit slick lips an inch above yours. he watches patiently as you grind up against his hand, feeling his fingers prod at your desperate heat.

“you wanna know what else i could be?”

you nod. “please.”

“i could be yours.”

[ragingbookdragon]

I'm Only A Crack In This Castle Of Glass (Hardly Anything Else I Need To Be) PT. 2

Batfamily x Batsis Story!

Word Count: 2.7K Warnings: Explicit Language and Angst!

Author's Note: It's amazing how much one can write when they've got a story to tell, eh? Enjoy! -Thorne

Set Three Years After PT. 1:

Life for her revolved around work in the A.M. and community college in the P.M. If she wasn’t brewing cappuccinos and baking apple turnovers, she was writing research papers and taking physics exams. It was hectic and it was hard, much harder than anything she’d done, but it was her life, and she was going to make the best of it. The money she’d taken from her savings account had only lasted her long enough to get a decent one bedroom one bathroom apartment in a small complex and the rest went towards tuition. The coffee shop two blocks from her building had fortunately been looking for a new hire when she arrived, and she took the chance where it was, not going to look the gift horse in its mouth.

The life she lived now was a complete 180 from her old one. Back then, she didn’t have to work (though she did at a high-end department store in the mall—her father got her the job but at least she had one) and there wasn’t anything she couldn’t get with a swipe of a credit card. Now she was on a budget that consisted of five and ten tips and the last time she actually bought a new pair of shoes over a hundred dollars had been last year when she needed them for an interview, and even then, it cost her a limb.

Everything was so different, but she didn’t want to go back, preferring to be on her own and away from Gotham. From the newspapers and media, her family had convinced the world that she’d taken a few years to go overseas and spend time in Europe. A mental reprieve, they’d called it. Partially true if she was honest, but she wasn’t going to open her mouth about it lest they learned where she was. She didn’t go through all that trouble to be found within three years.

“Melisandre.”

Maybe I should move again?

“Melisandre?”

Moving would take a long time but it would be effective.

“Melisandre!”

Someone grabbed her arm over the counter, and she jerked with a start, eyes widening as she finally realized someone was standing in front of her.

“Barry?” she asked, and he smiled.

“Finally,” he snorted. “I’ve been calling your name for like ten minutes now.”

She felt a flush creep along her cheeks, and she smiled apologetically. “Sorry, I was thinking about something. Usual?” she murmured, marking a disposable coffee cup with a marker.

Barry nodded with understanding and handed her a credit card. “I hear you. How’s studying going for that physics exam?” His blue eyes darted to the science book she had sprawled over the counter.

“It’s going,” she muttered and turned, starting to mix together his latte. “I still can’t get the thermodynamic laws down. They’re a bit confusing.”

“Yeah, it’ll take a while. You know if you need my help, all you gotta do is ask, right?”

Shrugging, she glanced at him as she poured. “You’re a busy man, Barry. I can’t have you trying to help me while trying to solve cases too.”

Barry chuckled and accepted the freshly poured latte. “I’m an excellent multitasker, Melisandre. Besides, you don’t have to worry about it messing with my work.” She opened her mouth to retort but he cut her off. “Seriously, shoot me an email about whatever questions you’ve got, and I’ll take a look at ‘em, okay?”

Her eyes narrowed warily, and she inquired, “You’re sure it won’t interfere? I’d hate for you to get in trouble for working on non-work-related things.”

“I promise, Melisandre,” he smiled and accepted a bag of apple turnovers too. He couldn’t help but pull one out and bite into it, letting out a delighted noise. “God, what do you put in these things? They’re phenomenal.”

She giggled and winked as he handed her a twenty. “A baker never reveals her secret, but if you really want to know, I use a little vanilla extract.”

Barry shook his head with a chuckle and started making his way to the door. “See you later, Melisandre!”

Waving at him, she called, “Bye Barry! Take care!”

Just as he opened the door, he stopped and spun around, suddenly asking, “Hey, what are you doing tomorrow?”

Blinking, she glanced at the physics book then back to him. “Well, I was going to be studying for the exam…why?”

“My nephew is in town and I wanted to introduce him to you. I’ve already mentioned you a bunch of times and he wants to meet you.”

Her face pinched. “Barry Allen, what did you tell that poor boy?”

He stuck his tongue out at her. “That there’s a lonely college student who has no friends but has the greatest baking abilities in the world.”

“I cannot believe you told him I had no friends! Why!”

“You don’t.”

“Well, yeah! But still! You don’t just tell someone that! It makes me seem like there’s something wrong with me!”

Barry waved a hand. “Relax. Wally’s the least jerky person you’ll meet.” He smiled. “You’ll like him.”

She frowned. “I still don’t think this is a good idea, Barry.”

“Why not?”

“Well, he’s here to see you and your wife, not come meet the person who feeds your apple turnover addiction.”

The blonde’s cheeks turned a dark shade of crimson and he spluttered, “It is not an addiction!” he spun around and marched through the door. “I’ll send him over tomorrow! Bye!”

And he left before she could even say a word.

***

It had to be hieroglyphics. It was either that or some ancient cuneiform he’d recently taken up interest in, because there was no way whatever he’d written on the paper was English.

She cocked her head to the side, muttering, “Jesus Christ, Barry, did you write this on a caffeine bender? Your writing is like chicken scratch.” She tipped her head to the other side trying to decipher it when someone leaned over her shoulder.

“Which problem do you need help on?” they asked, and she pointed to the sheet.

“I have no idea what that says.” She turned and saw a red-haired stranger. “If you think you can, be my guest.”

He took it and read over it a moment, green eyes scanning over the page then he said, “Let’s see, he wrote first, ‘The third law of thermodynamics states that the entropy of a system at absolute zero is a well-defined constant. This is because a system at zero temperature exists in its ground state, so that its entropy is determined only by the degeneracy of the ground state.’”

Pausing, he scanned it again and added, “Then he marked a note beside it and wrote, ‘In simplistic terms, if an object reaches the absolute zero temp. of (0 K = -273.15C = -459.67°F), its atoms will stop moving. In other words, at absolute zero, the entropy of a perfectly crystalline substance is zero.’”

Glancing at her, he smiled. “Make sense now?”

She huffed and nodded, taking the sheet back. “Yeah, thanks. I don’t even know how you managed to get all that from his writing.”

He nodded. “Yeah, Barry’s handwriting is deplorable.”

Her eyes went wide, and she immediately questioned, “How did you?”

Sticking a hand out, he greeted, “Wally West. I’m Barry’s nephew.”

Shaking his hand, she couldn’t help but laugh. “I can’t believe he actually told you to come up here and meet me.” A smile came across her lips. “I’m Melisandre Hale.”

“That’s a pretty name, Melisandre.”

“Thank you,” she grinned and waved him to one of the bar-stools on the adjacent side of the counter. “Have a seat and I’ll get you something to eat and drink.” As she slid behind the counter, she inquired, “Anything specific?”

Wally stared at the bored, offhandedly mentioning, “Barry said something about apple turnovers that could make you cry with joy, so I’ve gotta have one of those.” His evergreen eyes met hers. “Maybe two if I’m being honest.”

She grunted, but a grin crossed her lips, nevertheless. “Barry exaggerates a lot, Wally. They’re good, but they’re not mind-blowingly good.”

“Then I guess that leaves me to be the judge,” he countered with a smirk. “What should I drink?”

She thought for a moment then offered, “Have any judgments about drinking before five o’clock?”

He let out a startled laugh and shook his head. “It’s five o’clock somewhere.”

With a grin, she turned and started working her magic and a moment later, she was sliding a plate with two iced apple turnovers over along with a clear steaming mug of dark coffee with cream on top. She leaned her hip on the counter and watched him pick up one of the apple turnovers and take a bite.

Immediately his eyes went wide, and he exclaimed, “Holy shit.” He gaped at her. “This is delicious, Melisandre!”

Despite herself, her cheeks warmed, and she gave him an easy smile. “Thanks, Wally.” She nodded to the crystal mug. “Try the Irish coffee.”

He did so and tossed his head back, letting out an exaggerated groan that had her laughing until her stomach hurt. Wally was on his second turnover and he looked at her.

“You’ve gotta open up a bakery or something, Melisandre. Your pastries are awesome.”

She huffed and took the plate from him as he finished the last bite. “Let me get through college first and then I’ll wonder how to rack up enough to open a shop.”

“What are you studying?”

Pausing, she tossed a quick glance at him. “There’s no specification right now. I’m just doing general studies to get all the basics out of the way.” She put the dish in the sink and started rinsing it. “I’m at the four-C right now.” His brows pulled together, and she added, “Central City Community College.”

He snapped his fingers. “Right! It’s been a while since I went to the four-C.”

Her eyes found his and she curiously asked, “Did you go there?”

“Yeah, a few years back.”

“You don’t look that much older than I am. How old are you, Wally?”

He sipped his coffee and set it down as he replied, “I turned twenty-eight a month ago.”

“Happy belated birthday,” she smiled, and he gave her one in return.

“Thanks. How about you?”

“I turned twenty-one a few months ago.”

“Hmm, happy belated birthday to you as well.” He grinned, quipping, “How’s it feel to finally be able to legally do all the things you were doing before you turned twenty-one?”

She shot him a look. “Shame on you, Wally West, for assuming I was doing illegal things.” He chuckled and she shrugged. “But to answer your question, it feels great, so thanks.”

Wally snorted at that. “My best friend and I got absolutely hammered on our twenty-firsts and swore to never drink hard liquor again after we woke up in the bathroom in our underwear after passing out on the floor.”

A shudder passed over her at her own memory of waking up beside the toilet after her birthday celebration with a bottle of white rum. She cocked a hand up with her water bottle in it. “Here, here,” she toasted and took a sip as Wally raised his coffee and drank too.

She glanced at him. “Are you in school, or are you done?”

“I finished a while ago. I work out of a tower with a group of friends in Manhattan.”

For a moment, her eyes drifted to the simple pair of jeans and graphic shirt he was wearing. She lived in the upper area of Gotham and she knew what uptown Manhattan was like, and it wasn’t jeans and t-shirts.

Evidently, he did too because he scowled, “I have suits and ties, thank you very much.”

She snorted and took the empty mug from him. “I didn’t say anything, Wally.”

“You made a face.”

“Is a face a ground to be hostile?” she grinned. “I was just wondering what type of business in Manhattan ran on flash t-shirts and skinny jeans.” She eyed him. “Tech?”

He shrugged. “It’s…a bit of everything if I’m being honest.” It sounded like he didn’t exactly want to say, and she let it be, rinsing out his cup before setting it to dry.

A buzz sounded and she felt for her phone when he said, “That’s mine.” Wally pulled his phone out, read the message, and stood up. “I’ve gotta go, Melisandre.”

She nodded and took the twenty-dollar bill he handed her, waving her off when she tried to hand back the change. As he started towards the door, she called, “Wally?”

He turned on his heel and waited and she felt foolish for saying it, but she admitted with warmth in her cheeks, “It’s been a while since I had any semblance of a friend…so thanks for this afternoon.”

Wally gave her a pearly white grin. “Barry said you’d say something like that,” he chuckled as she scowled and he added sincerely, “Can never have too many friends, Melisandre…and I hope you’ll become a great one of mine. So far, you already are.”

She smiled, “Same here, Wally.” The bell signaled his exit and she let out a heavy sigh as her heart warmed in her chest at the feeling of a newfound friendship.

***

She was dead on her feet when she finally got through her front door and into her living room, practically collapsing onto the couch. Though it wasn’t far from the truth as she flopped down and toed off her shoes, heaving a long and winded sigh as she stared at the dark ceiling. She wanted to turn on the lamp on the table beside her, but she didn’t want to move. Hell, she barely wanted to get up and take a shower, so she didn’t go to bed sweaty.

Just a moment. She thought. Just a moment to close my eyes and I’ll get up and go shower.

Of course, the second the shut them, she was opening them to her phone telling her it was two A.M. She groaned and picked herself off the couch to shuffle into her bedroom, and when she got there, she peeled off the clothes from her body and let them fall, not caring about the hamper just a foot away. She’d do it tomorrow after class.

The shower was quick, and she crawled into bed a few minutes later, glancing out the window at the stars that were still in the night sky. Even if she tried to avoid thinking about it, she couldn’t, and her mind drifted to when she was a young girl and would stare out the window in her bedroom back in Gotham, watching the spotlight come alive and paint the silhouette of the bat symbol against the night sky.

She missed them. She missed them a lot. Missed eating meals at a full table and the laughter in the manor. Hell, she even missed being ignored, because at least then she could see familiar faces every day. Now, it was wake up, go to work, go to class, then come home. And the process repeated every morning. She was alone in a city where she didn’t know anyone except for one forensic scientist and his wife, going to a college that didn’t even have her real identity. She’d not even said the name “(Y/N) Wayne” out loud for fear that someone with super hearing would hear her and tell her father, instead going by “Melisandre Hale”, a twenty-one-year-old born and raised Central City citizen going to community college. It pained her to admit, that with her decision to grant herself the freedom she desired, it came with a heavy price, and that was the loneliness. And it was worse compared to what it was like back then.

Sighing, she rolled over and pulled the covers up over her head, hoping that when she shut her eyes, she’d stop thinking about what she left behind. Unfortunately, the universe and her mind were never kind, and as she drifted to sleep, she saw the pained faces of her family.

[some-kindofgnome]

meet me in the afterglow

After college graduation, you took an all-summer backpacking trip around Europe with your best friend. Now you've got one last night together before coming home as lovers.

characters: eijirou kirishima x f!reader

wc: 2.4k

tags: smut (18+ please!), aged-up characters, quirkless au, implied friends-to-lovers, fluff, mentions of drinking/the sliiiiightest bit of tipsiness, swedish condoms, no beta we die like that bottle of wine

notes: @the-moons-raes and I discussed travelling with BNHA boys at some length a lil while ago, so I wrote this sweet lil scene for her! Consider it a (very) belated birthday present my dear. 💖 xoxoo

MASTERLIST

The sky’s faded from powder-blue to apricot by the time you stumble together into the bedroom.

“Oh my god,” you giggle. You’ve been grinning all night, so hard it’s starting to hurt your wine-warmed cheeks. But this is the happiest you’ve been in a very long time.

“That was,” Eijirou starts, “one of the- no, the best meal I’ve ever had.”

“We should’ve ordered another bottle of that wine,” you muse. He’s got his hands on your hips and you twist in his grip, curling your fingers around his palms. His face has gone pink, but his eyes are sparkling and you’ve already decided you want to preserve this feeling for the rest of your life.

“I don’t think you need anything else to drink tonight,” he teases smoothly, pulling you close with his fingertips digging into the gauzy fabric of your dress. He leans down and pushes his lips against yours, the last tartness of the strawberry gelato you finished on the boardwalk still lingering in the tender flick of his tongue.

Tonight falls at the tail end of a long backpacking trip across Europe that you’ve been wanting to take for as long as you can remember. You’d never planned to take anybody with you at all, let alone the man you’d wind up falling for.

But Eiji’s always been pretty good at defying your expectations.

The rest of the summer hasn’t been this glamorous. You’d spent most nights shacked up in rickety little hostel beds, bunking together in rooms of six or camping out in the backseat of a tiny rental car. But the sleepless nights and sore backs and restricted luggage hadn’t changed a thing. You’ve been in heaven all summer long.

To celebrate your last couple of nights in this hemisphere, you checked into one of Naples’ top-rated hotels. It’s still not the most luxurious room on the market, but compared to the military-issue bunk beds you’ve been sleeping on for the past eight weeks, it might as well be paradise.

Especially now, given the changed nature of your relationship.

You got on the plane together two months ago nursing a deep, intense crush on your best friend. You’ve been close with Eijirou since your first year in college together, when he was assigned to the dorm room beside yours. And for as long as you’d known him, you assumed you’d be loving him from a distance.

But somewhere between Brussels and Berlin, the line between friend and lover started to blur. Since then, it’s been completely erased.

“Come on,” you protest, flinging your arms around his neck and clasping them together behind his head. “I can hardly feel a thing.”

He ran out of hair gel two weeks ago and he’s been wearing his hair down ever since, tied into a loose little ponytail at the nape of his neck. The dark roots of his natural colour are starting to show at his crown after going nearly two months without so much as a haircut.

To you, he’s never looked sweeter.

“That’s my point,” he insists, descending into tipsy, cheerful laughter. “You’re so drunk y’can’t feel a thing. C’mere, it’s time to get you to bed.”

His euphoric grin twists around the edges with mischief as he stoops, sweeping you off your feet with a quiet little grunt of effort. You burst out laughing, letting one arm drop around his neck as your head falls back in deepening mirth.

“Take me to bed,” you swoon, dropping purposely limp in his arms. You haven’t been able to do any of this since that night in Athens a couple of weeks ago where you miraculously had an entire hostel bunkroom to yourselves.

Even then, those cots didn’t make it easy.

Tonight you’ve got a king bed all to yourselves, which Kirishima plants you on before crossing to the window and throwing it open. The night air is velvety and sweet, rolling in like heady steam and waking your senses as you watch him ditch his shoes and crawl across the plush bedspread to settle down beside you.

“You are insanely beautiful,” he croons, propping one head on his arm and smoothing his fingers affectionately down your temple. “I can’t believe I get to tell you that.”

He leans in to kiss you after that, tasting you carefully as his hand drifts from your cheek to your neck to your side. He’s a careful kisser, tasting of the last hints of that sweet summer wine that’s filled both your heads.

Picking up on your eagerness, he breaks from your lips to push attentive little kisses down the side of your neck. But as he reaches the hem of the floaty little dress you wear, he pauses and finds your eye.

“Can I?”

He’s already sliding one palm down over the curve of your hip, but it pauses at your thigh, and the earnest little quirk in his brow is so cute you can’t help but giggle.

“Do you really need to ask?” you quip.

He hums thoughtfully against your skin, already mouthing at your collarbone. “Just making sure.”

There are oversized buttons lining the center front of your dress, and he takes his time popping open every single one. He opens the dress far enough that he could have easily pulled it down over your hips, but he doesn’t stop there. Instead, you get to watch as he works open the last button with quiet, deep concentration, and when he finally does, he pushes the folds open around your body with a loving little triumphant smile.

“There’s my girl,” he croons as he crawls atop you once more, shedding his sweaty t-shirt in the process. You’re chest-to-chest when he catches your lips again, and his skin is still a little warm from the afternoon you’d spent at the beach before dinner.

He kisses you long and low and slow, giving you plenty of time to let your thighs fall open around the slope of his hips. Eiji presses naturally forward, pushing the ridge of his pelvis and the stiff denim of his shorts against your flimsy underwear. He huffs quietly into your mouth, and as you shift and squirm beneath him you can feel his cock stirring against you.

“Eiji,” you whimper, turning your face sharply to one side. “Don’t make me wait.”

In the absence of your mouth, he noses attentively down the column of your throat. His eyelashes flutter at your jaw and you feel it when he purses his lips and swallows hard.

“Okay,” he rasps. “Okay, I gotcha.” He rears back, sitting up on his haunches to unbutton his shorts. Before he gets up to shed them, he rests a hand on the plane of your belly, smiling so innocently down at you it shouldn’t make you throb.

But it does.

“Ready for me already, pretty girl?” Eiji muses, and you have to bite your lip hard to keep from rolling over and screaming into your pillow as loudly as possible.

“Been ready for you since the beach,” you tease back, and it works, since his ears are turning red as he slips out of bed. He hooks his thumbs into the waistband of his undershorts and shucks both garments in one smooth motion, hunching over to let them drop to the floor while he steps unceremoniously out of them.

His cock’s half-hard already, sitting full and heavy between his thighs and swelling self-consciously under your gaze. He’s exactly as big as you always sort of knew he was. He’s not shy about it, either. He can’t afford to be.

But he doesn’t know how beautiful he is, sunburned and sweating in the fading golden-hour light of your last sunset in Italy. You want to pet the soft little bristle of dark hair that dusts his chest, follow the taper of it all the way down to that perfect trail that always used to disappear under his shorts.

Not anymore. You get to see him at his most vulnerable now.

And you will not misuse that trust.

“Come here,” you purr, pushing yourself onto your elbows so he can see the desire burning in your gaze for him.

He leans instinctively toward you, hands twitching by his sides. He snaps out of a little reverie with a hard blink, stooping in front of his shorts and fishing out his slim little travel wallet.

“Hang on.”

He flips through the creased euros and museum tickets, carding out a wrapped condom. He climbs back onto the bed and passes it to you with a shy little grin.

“I know you like to do the honours.”

The condom comes from a packet you bought in the wee hours at some twenty-four hour roadside convenience store before bedding down in a rented car together. The instructions are in Swedish, but you know what you’re doing.

By the time you get the condom unwrapped, Eiji’s on his knees in front of you and his cock is fully hard out of sheer anticipation. You reach between his thighs and wrap your fingers around his warm flesh, making him shudder. And you drop one sweet, warm kiss to his mouth before you focus.

He rolls his hips quietly into your touch as you handle the job with delicate precision, unrolling the condom all the way to his base.

“Ready?” He asks you, but you’re already laying back against the pillows and thumbing off your underwear, slick and aching for him.

“Get over here before I start without you,” you tease, and he is powerless to resist you. He anchors himself on his knees, hooking each of your legs over one of his powerful thighs. He reaches for you and his cock sweeps the inside of your thigh as it bobs between you. You’ve been wanting this from the moment you saw this room, the perfect ending to a life-changing trip.

Eiji sinks lower, letting the barrel of his chest rise and fall with a deep, steadying breath. He reaches between you to line himself up with you, casting his eyes up to yours when he feels you.

“Ready?” He repeats himself, and this time the humor’s gone. You nod quietly against the pillow and reach for his free hand, lacing your fingers together tightly.

You squeeze hard as he starts to slot himself inside you. He stretches you deeply, especially without any preparation. But he knows how to keep you comfortable, moving slowly and smoothly. He braces a hand on your belly as he bottoms out, but he does not pause there. Instead, he starts to ease into a lazy rhythm, sweeping his thumb between your folds to find the swelling nub of your clit.

“Fuck,” you whine, and he flinches a little inside you.

“God,” he gasps, bending over to press his forehead- sticky with sweat- into yours. “Tell me I’m not dreaming, yeah?”

You reach up and lightly pinch his chest with your free hand, and he grins above you.

“You’re good,” you confirm, hearing the breathlessness echo in your own voice.

“I’m not gonna last long like this,” he brushes. You shake your head.

“Don’t care. Just fuck me.”

His brow lifts against yours. After a chuckle of disbelief, he sits up.

“Aye aye, captain.”

He squeezes your fingers tightly and begins to thrust.

He does not hold back with you, keeping the pad of his thumb winding tight circles into your clit as he fucks you with eager diligence. You revel in the slap of your bodies, the fact that you can spread out and make noise, moan for him like you’ve always wanted to. Finally alone together for real. No stolen moments of privacy here. You can take as much as you want.

“Eiji,” you beg, beginning to clench around him as you feel the first twinges of your climax approaching.

“I’ve got you, baby,” he huffs, borderline incoherent as the flush spreads down his neck and chest. “Let go for me, I gotcha.”

In a dozen thrusts he’s got you falling, letting high whimpers escape your throat as your pussy clenches and flutters around his thick shaft. He rubs you diligently through your climax, fucking you steadily until you whine and paw his hand away, overstimulated and sensitive.

“I’m there,” he promises. “I’m there, I’m there, I’m….. f-fuck!” His jaw falls slack as he throws his head back, thrusting headlong into a tight climax that has him trembling against you. His hips go still, but you can feel the way his cock twitches inside your spent walls as he fills the condom.

When he’s finished he stays there for a moment, shoulders dropping while the rest of his body goes slack. He reaches up, scraping sweaty strands of hair off his forehead before he grins sleepily down at you.

“Did you…” He starts, eyes turning inquisitive. Someday he’ll be able to tell, but for now you’re just glad he’s asking.

“Yeah,” you hum, eyes bright despite the weight setting quickly into your limbs. It’s worth it for the pride that surges visibly through him, and he pulls out of you with a triumphant grin spreading his lips.

“Good,” he gushes, slipping quietly away to dispose of the condom. He’s hardly gone for a handful of seconds, and when he comes back he crawls eagerly up to your side and pulls you into his arms, curling his body attentively around yours.

“This is nice,” you confess, drifting pleasantly in the wine-and-sex-induced fog that rests heavy in your brain.

“Hmm?” Eiji’s already half-asleep above you, eyelids drooping as the light fades from the window beside the bed.

“This,” you prompt again. “Not having to get dressed again right away. We should do this more often.”

“I sure hope we do,” he enthuses. “When we get back, I’m not letting you unpack until we consummate our relationship on the right hemisphere.”

That was the longest you’d gone around him without laughing in a while. Even half-asleep, though, his wisecracks are enough to make you snort.

“Deal,” you hum, letting your eyes fall shut as the world bleeds out of focus around you. It’s not even eight o’clock and you’re sure you’ll have him again before nightfall. But for now, you’re more than happy to bask in the afterglow with the one person in the world you never thought you’d make it there with.

[shepherds-of-haven]

I hope you’re having a great day Lena! I was just wondering if we could have any fluff facts about the shepherds as a whole! Like fun tidbits of how they interact with each other, what some of them do if they have the same day off, does anyone host weekly game nights?? I hope that makes sense! Reading the recent short story on Patreon I love seeing how the characters interact with one another and now I need moreeeeeee🙏

Ooh, great question! I’m feeling curiously tapped dry at the moment, so I’ll probably have to reblog this as more ideas come to me; I’m so happy you’re enjoying the short story, btw!! 💖

Some group dynamic headcanons:

Many of them steal clothes from each other. Briony wears a cute sweater of Shery's (she asked), Ayla gets cold so she just takes one of Red's jackets from a chair (she didn't ask), Chase gives Tallys his scarf one day and Riel corders Trouble a pair of gloves from a fashion line he favors because his old ones are holey and they get into an argument about it... This leads to some recruits mistakenly thinking that the captains are all involved in some sort of mass relationship because they keep walking out of each other's rooms wearing each other's clothes. (The recruits believe a lot of really dumb stuff, if you couldn't tell. They LOVE gossip. It's like a competitive sport in the compound)

There is a weekly card game night, initiated and organized first by Chase, but it grows bigger over time, with snacks, cakes, drinks, and new games being procured! I'd actually say it's more like every ten-fourteen days or so than on any set weekday, and is typically proposed by anyone who senses that they or others need to blow off some steam. They all tend to meet in a private common room and either just chill and play some card games and casually drink and listen to music, or they get LOUD and raucous and play more risque non-card games (like Question or Command/Truth or Dare). The loud nights are more like once a month or bi-monthly, though! They take place in the captains' lounge so dumb recruits don't get to join! It's rare that they're in there all doing the same thing, though: maybe half will be at the table playing card games while others will be broken up into smaller groups, say arm-wrestling in the corner or playing chess at the smaller table or reading, but they're all there! Game nights are almost never held unless everyone is there, which is extraordinarily difficult to schedule, but they all make an effort to make it happen--even those who first had to be dragged into it, like Blade or Riel!

Speaking of chess games, Red and Riel have a standing game where they complete at least four more moves every night that they're around and able to meet up after dinner. Planning their next move helps them both break up the monotony of the day, and it's something they enjoy immensely. However, whenever he gets called away on a mission, Red gets sick with worry that Riel's been cooking up all sorts of schemes while he's been gone, so sometimes on the road he has, like, a schematic that he doodles on trying to anticipate Riel's next move, and it's very nerdy and ramps up in joking Anxiety. Riel, graciously, goes easier on him on nights after he comes back from long trips, though he denies it

Similarly, Blade and Trouble have a standing training session once a week where they just beat the crap out of each other. This is generally where they do the majority of their talking

Briony and Ayla first had an agreement that they would get the other one up if they overslept (Briony tends to be the one who oversleeps while Ayla is better about being up at dawn, but Ayla is really grouchy if she went to bed late and Briony is the only one who can handle her), which morphed into doing runs and sparring together at dawn and having breakfast frequently!

The girls have a standing spa night once a month where they all get together in a room (usually Shery’s) and basically do sleepover stuff and relax and chat and catch up for a few hours. This also sometimes involves showing each other new outfits that they bought that month! Sometimes there are even group baths in the big common bath, but these are rarer because Shery is shy and Tallys doesn’t like sitting in hot water getting pruny

Chase and Trouble drag Red and Halek to go drinking with them around once a month; sometimes Blade is persuaded to go if Trouble can get the drop on him and punch him hard enough to wind him. It’s complicated

Riel and Shery, of course, have tea together once a week! You’re not allowed if you can’t bring a chill vibe (Riel’s rules). Tallys, Lavinet, Halek, and Red are occasional visitors; Briony is allowed on a good day. Blade would be allowed but he has 0 interest

Similarly, Lavinet hosts a weekly brunch, either in a courtyard or at some restaurant in town! Typically it’s a girl thing and Ayla, Briony, and Shery are the most consistent attendees, but Chase has snuck his way in there often, and Riel, Halek, or Red pop up occasionally!

Tallys and Halek cook together! It’s not all that often and doesn’t seem to have any set way of materializing--it just happens somehow--but they both very much enjoy it! Sometimes they cook dinner for the whole group and have a little dinner party that they both secretly get excited for! Sometimes Shery bakes the dessert!

Riel noticed that Tallys has a little garden that she spends time weeding, so he sends gardening tools or special seeds when he thinks she needs them and she leaves baskets of vegetables or vases of flowers in his office. All of this is done without exchanging a word

Chase sporadically teaches Briony acrobatics and things like tightrope walking, just randomly whenever they’re both idle. She teaches him how to gut people with bare fists and also sometimes they paint! 

Caine caught Red grazing in the pantry late one night and now it’s like a Thing where they pass each other in the kitchen and Red sort of just looks the other way re: Caine’s bedtime and what on earth he’s doing up so late and Caine doesn’t tell anybody that Red is just absent-mindedly eating a loaf of bread at 2 AM because he was too busy working to remember to eat dinner. It’ll be like, “there’s some turkey leftover from dinner in the cold box” “oh hey, Caine. thanks. ...so, what’s the news from the midnight watch tonight?” “i’m going to go hunt ghosts on the seventh floor with my friends!” “...okay! have fun!”

Lavinet has a monthly shopping trip where she updates her wardrobe, and it is very common for others to accompany her around the city and just shop while they drop! Common partners are Shery, Briony, Riel, Chase, and once memorably Blade, who didn’t know what he was in for!

Trouble and Ayla are wildly competitive and keep arm-wrestling each other for money; this becomes a bi-weekly sporting event that is eagerly attended and bet upon by third parties

There was ONE group karaoke night. ONE. Most of them got so blackout drunk that they swore to never do it again. Even now, several of them go green whenever they hear a popular bar song (“Don’t Piss Where You Plant Your Flowers”) being sung, especially badly

The game of "telephone" gets really bad in their group. It's like, Shery will say to Briony that she's worried because she thought Riel looked a bit peaky and feverish. Briony will say in passing to Trouble that Riel is getting sick and Shery is worried. Trouble will say to Tallys that Shery is worried sick because Riel is bedridden. Tallys will be mixing herbs and Chase will ask what for and Tallys will reply that Riel is sick, but because she's mixing herbs, Chase will surmise that the sickness must be quite advanced, and will later say, "Damn, have you seen Riel? Seems like he's really sick." Red will interpret this as "I have seen Riel for myself and have determined that he's extremely ill." At least four people will bust into Riel's room, expecting him to be on the verge of death, despite the fact that they saw Riel that morning. Riel will be fine and very annoyed at the intrusion.

They rarely go out as a group to bars and establishments outside of the compound (too chaotic as well as risky, for one thing, and also, recruits don't need to see their superiors like hanging out of bushes and dancing on tabletops drunk out of their minds, and also, "Mages can't drink" (lol)), but when they do deem it a worthy occasion (Trouble's birthday, say), the girls are very punctual when getting ready, and the boys are almost always extremely late due to various shenanigans (Chase forgot that he put a booby trap on Red’s door, covering Red with flour, or a cat somehow slips into Trouble’s room and steals, like, a detonator or an important key, and they have to go chasing it across the city). This has led to the girls coming late on purpose in order to even out their arrival, but mysteriously, this has only led to even later start times, meaning they often don’t get started until like 10 or 11 PM when the most well-intentioned souls meant to be in bed by midnight... that never happens, either!

One such night once led to them ending up on a ridge in the Sun’s Embrace, like a mile outside of the city, in order to watch the sun rise together, because hiking in the dark while blasted out of their minds sounded like a really good idea. They all made it, and the dawn was spectacular, but the moment was ruined when Tallys said softly, “It’s the beginning of a beautiful new day--” punctuated by Trouble abruptly throwing up in a bush and Riel just flat-out passing out