#bloo smut

[thatdamnmutt-exe]

Fill The Void • Bloo

Plot:

After ‘Fill The Void’ by The Weeknd dropped, it gave Bloo an idea of doing something similar. His partner is a bit about the idea at first but agrees nevertheless. So while in the studio, Bloo makes sure to get enough moans in his new song. (The music is the only good thing we got from ‘The Idol’)

Pairing:

Kim Hyeon-ung / Daniel (Bloo) x Masc!Reader (Name: Jasper)

Warnings:

Trans Masc Reader, Pre-Bottom Surgery, Semi-Public Sex?, Reader is trans masc with a vjay, Fingering, Hickeys, Choking, Edging, Moaning into a mic, Daddy Kink (we all know this), and Cocky Bloo

Song:

Fill The Void • The Weeknd

“I choose you to fill my void, yeah.”

————————————————————————

Daniel sat back as he listened to his demo, finally having some inspiration for a new song after the newest Weeknd song. As the beat faded out, he rubbed his eyes, trying to ignore his tiredness. There was something missing, well, more like someone, Daniel thought.

He reached for his phone, pulling up his boyfriend's contact. ———— Loverboy <3: baby, can you come by the studio? i need you for something.

Babyboy <3: do you want me to bring you anything while on my way down?

Loverboy <3: Just that phat ass baby~

Babyboy <3: you're such a loser. but i'm on my way. I love you <3

————

It wasn’t long before Jasper had reached Daniel’s studio. He walked into his boyfriend’s studio, iced coffee in tow as he wrapped his arms around Daniel from behind.

“I missed you…” Jasper whispered in Daniel’s ear, earning a hearty chuckle from his lover. Jasper kissed Daniel’s forehead before sitting in the chair next to him. “So what did you need me for?”

“First of all baby, are you supposed to be drinking coffee this late at night?” Daniel asked, an amused look on his face. Jasper flipped him off as he took a long sip from the creamy drink.

Daniel smiled, “Anyways, you may hate me for what I’m about to ask you help with.” He let out a nervous chuckle. “You know the new The Weeknd song? Fill the Void?”

Memories of him and Daniel flashed through his mind at the mention of the song. His cheeks turned a light pink as he looked away for a moment. “How could I? It’s been your favorite song to rail me to recently.”

Daniel made a face, basically saying ‘you’re right’. “That’s not the point. I wanted to make a song with a similar sound… but I’m missing the more… sensual sounds, if you know what I mean?”

Jasper’s face went a deep red as he caught on to what Daniel was asking of him. The thought of him making those noises into a microphone made him embarrassed. He was never good at making the noises on command, only really when Daniel and him were doing things.

“I can’t make them on my own though?”

“Who says you’ll have to make them on your own?”

The studio was silent as Jasper’s face and neck were now completely red. Daniel leaned back in his chair, absolutely loving how shy his boyfriend was right now. A cocky smile shown on his face as he waited for his lover’s response.

“…As long as I don’t sound bad.” Jasper said after finally calming his mind and heart rate. Daniel’s cocky smile turned into an excited one. He stood up and pulled Jasper into the recording room.

Jasper had a good singing voice and could easily be a singer if he wanted, but he enjoyed the quiet life and supporting his lover.

“Okay baby, this is your part to sing”, Daniel started while moving to stand behind Jasper. The younger calmed himself and tried to remain focused as he waited for his part to song.

Daniel’s hands ran up and down his body, slowly reaching under Jasper’s shirt, exploring the soft skin as Jasper struggled not to mess up his part.

As the verse continued, Daniel moved his hands down Jasper's pants, snaking under his boxers. He moved one arm to wrap around Jasper, keeping him steady as his fingers moved in circles right on his clit, earning a sudden quiet moan from the other.

Jasper finished his verse, allowing an instrumental to play, his moans mixing with the beat. Daniel’s free hand moved up to wrap around Jasper’s throat, squeezing it a bit as his fingers worked faster.

“Just like that baby, those are the noises we want to hear.” Daniel praised, a cocky smile never leaving his lips as his verse approached.

Daniel’s hands never stopped what they were doing as he finished his part perfectly. Jasper’s thighs closed tightly as his legs buckled slightly. He was reaching his climax, Daniel knew this and pulled his fingers away.

A pathetic whine was heard by only Daniel, he only chuckled lightly as he moved his head to start leaving hickeys along Jasper’s skin.

Jasper’s final part was coming up, causing Daniel’s hand to release the grip it had around his throat. He just managed to catch his breath before he sang his part with his normal sound.

Daniel let Jasper be for some of his verse before moving his fingers again, his eyes rolling as he feels how wet Jasper is by now. His fingers circled the smaller's clit, slowly moving closer to slipping inside of him.

Jasper's singing voice grew more desperate and breathy as he tried to control his moans, failing as Daniel's fingers rubbed right against that special, spongy spot. Jasper's voice stopped as his head fell back against Daniel's shoulder, a load moan following as he came hard on his fingers.

The sight was enough to distract Daniel from their recording session as he drove his fingers faster, allowing Jasper to rid out his high. His free hand reaching up to grasp his cheeks, forcing his neck to the side as he bites down on the younger's neck.

"Daddy!" Jasper said with a strained, whiney voice as legs shook and his pussy throbbed from overstimulation while Daniel's fingers continued. "Too much!"

Daniel's eyes rolled back, his cock throbbed heavily in his pants from how turned on that moan got him. The way Daniel could have his boy so weak in the knees from just from his fingers, it did more than fill his ego.

The idol's thoughts quickly forgot about the song, as he couldn't hold back the overwhelming urge to ruin the boy in his arms. Daniel took both of Jasper's hands and put them above his head as he pinned the younger, chest first, against the studio glass window.

"Fuck baby... you sounds so damn good, you're doing so damn good. My good boy." Daniel's free hand desperately undid Jasper's sweatpants ties before pulling them down as low as he could.

"Daddy please, I want to feel so bad." Daniel could barely contain himself as he quickly undid his jeans and boxers, allowing his cock to spring free, hitting right against Jasper's sensitive clit. "Mmm, daddy, fuck me already!"

Jasper was jerked forward against the glass as Daniel shoved himself fully inside of him, a low growl escaped Daniel as Jasper's walls clenched tightly around him. He stood still for a moment, trying not to cum already.

"Fuck baby, you were made to take me. The way you cling around me, sucking me in for more." Daniel whispered against Jasper's ear, leaving deep kisses along his neck, "You're all mine, you belong to me. Just like that baby, keep taking me like the good boy you are."

Jasper's body shook as Daniel sensually thrusted in and out of him, savoring every small noise that fell out of his boy's mouth. Daniel's thrusts moved faster as his free hand found Jasper's swollen clit, rubbing it in circles.

Words were unable to form in Jasper's mind as his body ascended to cloud 9, quickly reaching his climax. "Cum... please? Daddy- please, cum?" His words jumbled as higher pitched moans left his mouth while trying not to cum.

Chuckling against Jasper's neck, Daniel speeds up his rhythm, watching Jasper's face contort from pleasure. "Such a good fuckin' boy, come on baby, cum for daddy." With permission, Jasper feels himself come undone around Daniel's dick. His slick running down the back of his thighs and on to Daniel's, almost causing Daniel to slip out.

Soon, after a few more thrusts, Daniel reaches his end, releasing himself deep inside of his lover. Their juices ran down their legs as Daniel pulled out, admiring his work. "Your pussy looks so good when it's covered in my cum." He chuckles and lightly spanks Jasper's sensitive clit, making the other squeak.

"Asshole, don't do that." Jasper pouts as he wobbled while trying to stand. He leaned back against the wall, letting Daniel gather things to clean them up.

————————————————————————

"I speak my voice and I choose you to fill the void."

[bloos-bloo]

I'M SO SORRY BLOO

BAHAHAHHAHA- NO- IT WAS THE FUNNIEST SHIT TO READ-

IM LOOKING BACK AT IT AND YEAH- I SEE IT- YOU REMINDED ME OF THE SMUT ART OF SANS WITH THE GLOWING BODY- BAKEBDKDBDKDBDJDB UNLOCKED A REPRESSED MEMORY THERE

[chrollogy]

help a girl out … neuvillette with two cocks yes or no❕

[mamirhodessxox]

JIMMY IS BACK THEY FUCKING BROUGHT JIMMY BACK HOLY SHIT

[margotw10bis]

The Place Before the Darkness.JJK TEASER

husband!Jungkook x female reader

Genre: angst; fluff; smut; attempt of a thriller

Words: ?

Synopsis: It was love at first sight with your husband but when you find a secret phone in Jungkook's office, everything shatters as you suspect him to have an affair. However, maybe he has deeper secrets...

Warnings: none for the teaser

4 Years Ago

You've decided to relax at the hotel while the others went scuba diving.The bar of the hotel is great, just like the rest of the facilities, especially to forget how awfully lonely you are while your friend is getting married.

Yet, the relaxing time you were expecting is fading away when a man takes the seat next to yours at the bar. Your breath hitches because damn! He looks good. You are not sure you’ve ever seen a man this handsome. He is tall and his black hair is shining. He looks casual with his Hawaiian shirt and his shorts.

You’re having a hard time not staring at him but what can you say? It’s not easy taking your eyes off of him. He is attractive, too attractive.

"No scuba diving?" He asks you

You are surprised — it’s an understatement — because how the hell does he know that?! But you can’t say anything when you meet his eyes. They are so black, it’s intimidating but there is a sparkle of playfulness in them. This man is a paradox: all seems mysterious and comfortable at the same time; cold and warm; distant and kind. However, a weird feeling embraces you, just like you’ve known him all your life. Is it… love at first sight? You’ve read about it, you’ve seen it in movies but experiencing it… Wow, it’s an all other level. 

"I saw you and your group of friends yesterday at the restaurant, and this morning, I spotted them heading to the boats" He explains — your shock must have been well visible 

"You have a great memory to remember so much about strangers" You joke 

“Selective memory in fact”  He corrects with a oh-so-charming smile and you literally feel your heart melt and your cheeks burn “And I’m particularly attentive to beautiful women"

This sentence could make you ill-at-ease, it’s such a playboy thing. But the way he is sipping on his fresh beer so casually and his eyes… So honest.

"Can I invite you for diner?" He asks and you have to pinch your arm to make sure you are not dreaming 

.𖥔 ݁ ˖

“Can I call you back?” You ask through the phone but actually don’t wait for any answer and just hang up

You were searching some documents for the assurance in your husband’s office when you found it. A phone. At first, you tried to look for some rational explanations of why your husband would hide a phone in his desk.

The latest text, from yesterday, was an address. A hotel address. It was an appointment for tomorrow. Your heart sunk as you went through the convo: over and over again, the same hotel room with different dates and hours. For four months. 

So this is it. Your husband is cheating on you. You can’t stop your crying because the pain in your chest is just unbearable. You thought that Jungkook was the love of your life when you married him three years ago. And even now, with your broken heart, you still believe he is. You haven’t thought about living without him, it can’t be possible. 

When you hear the front door and your husband asking if you’re home, your sobbing gets lourder and  you have to put your hand on your mouth to mutter it. The steps you know so well — just like you thought you knew your husband so well — are getting closer and closer. When he pushed the door, he didn’t think he would find you crying in his leather chair. The biggest tears he has seen since he knows you.

“What’s going on?" He hastily asks you, panicked that you might be hurt 

And you are indeed. You are feeling so much pain that you wonder how your heart hasn’t stop beating of how squeezed it has become. 

Once again, your husband frowns but only a second. Because his big does eyes widen at the sight of his secret device in your shaky hand. All his blood is drained from his face, making his skin look pale. He gulps but his throat feels as dry as a desert. 

“Y/N, I swear, it’s not what you think” He starts but his voice is already broken 

“So you don’t go to those rendezvous in that hotel?” You ask

Your voice has some hope in it, like you still think there is a tiny chance that your husband is not cheating on you. But a single glance at him and at his guilty face is enough to definitely break this hope.

[glasvera]

Dead Man Walking

Moon Knight x Fem!Vampire!Reader

Description: Sequel to Blooded Moon! When you're on the run, cursed to be a vampire and chased by the superheroes that want to save the city, Moon Knight finds you first. Maybe saving you isn't his best idea, but he'll be damned if he leaves you behind when you're this terrified. Being easy on the eyes also helps.

Warnings/Disclaimers: SMUT (18+ only, Minors DNI!!!!), cursing, angst, blood, blood-sucking, pretty vivid descriptions of the taste (I mean, it's a vampire reader, so what'd you expect?), hurt and comfort, tearing off clothes, shower sex, fucking against the wall, doggy style, fluff and smut

A/N: Oh hey, it me <3 Been working on this one for a while! Hopefully it's a good blend of freaky with sprinkles of comfort... reader did just drink blood for the first time, after all. Title was inspired by the song of the same name (by Grant) because I listened to it at least a dozen times while writing this LOL

Word Count: 3.7k

Blood trickles from the fresh puncture wounds in his neck. Your inhibitions begin to leave you when you dive in, lapping that liquid vitality, groaning with each swallow. You don't bite again, at least not yet, but you do suck, coaxing forth just a bit more blood from his veins that you gulp down eagerly. His hips buck up into you and he lets out a low moan, fingertips delving beneath the waistband of your pants and squeezing the bare skin of your hips.

You drink in the sweet tang of his blood, the salt of his sweat. He tastes divine, and the sounds you draw from his lips leave your thighs quivering with want. It isn't long before your hips meet his in their movements, undulating and grinding against him with hot exhales of breath fanning across his neck.

Impatient hands get to work, first at his red-stained cloak, quickly followed by his pauldrons, chest plate, and his bracers and gloves. Soon he's left in just his undershirt from the chest up, the fabric clinging to every curve and muscle of his delicious frame, and your hands roam across the expanse of dark grey fabric. He shudders under your touch but doesn't remain idle as he splays his hands across your bare back before pushing your shirt up. Goosebumps litter your skin in the wake of his movements.

“Mind if I…?” he murmurs, his voice rumbling just next to your ear. A flash of your tongue cleans the drop of blood that dared to attempt an escape from your lips before you smile, baring your sharp fangs. He curses under his breath. “That… shouldn’t be as hot it is.”

A dark chuckle thrums in your chest as you raise your arms above your head and help him divest you of your shirt. 

“Shit.” His eyes roam hungrily over the skin exposed to him. It’s smooth and cool like polished marble. Lips, red and sticky with blood, press searing, messy kisses along your clavicle. When his bare hands find your breasts, you gasp at just how hot he feels.

You hadn’t really considered that you were cold until now. It was your new normal. Now, with feverish palms molding and squeezing your tits and a tongue like lava savoring the expanse of your neck… surely you were going to burst into flames. It eats you alive. You need more. You need to consume, to be consumed.

Fingernails sharpen into claws before you’re tearing apart the barrier keeping you from his chest. Marc’s eyes widen, but he makes no move to stop you, shrugging off the remaining shreds of fabric as they scatter to the floor. Locking your thighs tighter around his hips, you push him down to lie on his back, smiling coyly. You drink in the veritable feast of a man beneath you. Fingertips spread through coarse, thick hair as you brace yourself against his heaving chest. Thin, angry lines criss-cross his skin, beading with red rivulets, the aftermath of your hastiness. You catch one of them on the pad of your index finger before bringing it to your lips and darting your tongue out to taste it.

But then a wave of realization washes over you. This… this isn’t you. Blood crazed, seductive, feral. It felt like someone else had taken over you.

He sees the hesitation in your eyes, the way you stiffen atop him. A gentle, albeit searing, touch grazes your cheek. “Hey… you doin’ okay?”

Your eyes snap back down to meet his, greeting that chocolate gaze with a red-tinted, frenzied glance. Breath shudders forth from your chest. “I am… I…”

Your eyelids shut tight and you hold your head in your hands. Guilt shrouds over you like a thunderous cloud. You should be asking him that question. You owed him so much, and all you’ve done is take and take and take…

The hand at your cheek presses firmer, cupping your jaw while his thumb brushes soothingly over your cheekbone. “We don’t have to do this.”

“No, I want to, I just--give me a moment.” Peeking through barely open slits, you can see the concern etched upon the lines of his face. Despite the flush that decorates it, the desire that blackens his irises, there is a patience there that, whether or not you felt deserving of it, you had grown accustomed to.

Though he does give you a few moments of silence, he eventually speaks up. “I’m fine, if that’s what you’re worried about. Khonshu sure as hell isn’t happy about it, but I don’t need him butting in on this sort of thing anyway.”

It doesn’t quell the shame, the fear of the possibility that gnaws at your conscience. “...What if you turn?” you ask meekly.

He gazes up at you softly now, a pitying exhale breathing through his lips. “Pretty sure it has to be intentional. I’ll be fine,” he reassures you. It’s not like you could argue with him; after all, only one of you had long-term experience with these sorts of things. You had only just turned a month or so ago. “Besides, I don’t think Khonshu would let me go that easily.”

A sudden twinge and a wince as he turns his head away in pain confirms that, at least.

“Yeah…” he scoffs with a cock of his head, “I’ll be fine.”

You give him a tiny, sympathetic smile. “I’m sorry.” When he gives you a curious look, you add, “For complicating things, I mean. With Khonshu, Iron Man, all of it.” You lean into the hand that lingers at your cheek before letting out a long, drawn out sigh. “I can’t imagine that drinking your blood will help the situation, either.”

“Stop that.”

You blink in surprise as the pad of his thumb tugs at your lip, swiping away the blood beginning to crust there. “What…?”

He sits back upright, holding your head between his palms. His touch still feels almost feverish to you, but there’s gentleness, comfort, and in this position, you can’t help but stare into his eyes and find the sincerity behind his gaze.

“You’re questioning if you’re worth the time, the effort. You don’t get to decide that.”

Your heart might as well be trapped in his fist with the way it clenches in your chest.

“I--”

“Stand up,” he commands.

Your body freezes for a moment, tender muscles only just revitalized feeling sore with the sudden tension. But he’s raising a brow, reaching down and pushing at your hips, and you don’t have time to think when you’re too busy collecting your bearings and keeping your balance. Were your legs really this wobbly before? You stagger to your feet like a newborn fawn.

“Let’s get you washed up,” he adds sternly, pointing with a nod of his head in the direction of his sleeping quarters. When you hesitate, he stands and sighs with a slump of his shoulders. “C’mon. You trust me, don’t you?”

What did trust have to do with it? Other than you being around him at all as a blood sucking vampire, or as someone who up until recently was a complete stranger, or how another member of his team wanted you wiped off the face of the earth, or--

“Hey. Snap out of it.” Despite his tone, his hand takes yours gingerly. Your eyes snap towards his, surprised to find him gazing warmly at you through cocoa irises. “We can explore whatever the fuck just happened later, but you clearly need a minute, and we both could stand to have a little less blood caked on us.”

-----

You remember how the faucet on your apartment’s shower used to squeak when turned. Of course, being in the Baxter building, the plumbing had no such problems here. Only the hiss of warm water sounds before the streams begin to drum against the porcelain floor.

It’s funny… only a few minutes prior, you were practically ripping each other’s clothes off. Now it’s an awkward fumble, grunts and oofs punctuated with occasional apologies, stumbling against the wall with pants legs tangled around your ankles. You bump your nose against his knee at one point and your eyes begin to water even as you snort out a laugh at your clumsiness.

“You know,” you start with an airy chortle, “I always thought being a vampire would lend a bit more grace to the afflicted.”

The water is almost too hot when you step into it, but there's comfort in the steam that coalesces about your body. Marc joins you soon after, and you can tell he's trying to give you space if you need it…

…even if his arousal still occasionally nudges your thigh or butt.

Who could blame the man when sanguine perfection stands before him?

You hear him grunt with discomfort as the water washes over his fresh cuts and bruises. Regardless, it isn't long before lavender hits your nostrils and you feel strong, firm hands at your shoulders.

“S'pose it's like piloting a new body,” he replies as he massages the soap into your tender skin. A contented hum rumbles in your throat and your head lolls lazily to one side. “You, uh… changed a bit once you tasted my blood.”

“Don't remind me,” you groan.

“No, not like that,” he chuckles. “I mean physically. You got stronger. Your… you seemed to perk up a bit.” His voice wavers. Did he sound embarrassed?

“I… what?”

Soap lathered hands make their way down your back. His thumbs press outside the ridges of your spine, mapping every dip and curve. Your cheek presses against the cool tile wall as his fingertips work miracles into your aching muscles, melting you like butter. Your back arches with the pleasant side benefit of pushing your ass out towards him, and you can feel him freeze for a fraction of a second, but he quickly recovers. 

“Pretty sure it was mainly the muscles, and it's nothing dramatic, but ah…” his touch dips lower, leaning forward with his forehead pressed between your shoulder blades. Now his hands are at your hips and you feel the hesitation in his tensed fingers. “Seems like you got a bit of a lift in certain areas.”

Oh. You peek down at your chest, and it does seem a bit more shapely, but you had been a bit too distracted to notice earlier. Blood sucking, kissing, and all that.

“I guess it makes sense. Vampires in the stories are always supposed to be alluring, right?” you reason with a chuckle, though a smirk does tug at your lips. “How'd you notice the difference?”

“I, well… you see--” he stammers, and you feel his body stiffen.

“I'm teasing, Marc,” you reassure him with a lilting giggle. He relaxes only slightly, and you can't help but roll your eyes. “I… like knowing you look at me like that. Like this.” You turn in his hold, pressing your back to the tile and taking his hands in yours. He drinks in your nude form hungrily, openly, eyeing the curve of your breasts, the dip of your waist, the fill of your hips. It sparks something in your chest before a warming flame flickers in your belly.

“I like you.”

His eyes flicker down to your lips, no longer painted red with his blood now that the water has washed it away. There’s that hesitation again, even if his eyes are halfway through fucking you already. Something holds him back. You lace your fingers together before bringing your joined hands above your head, forcing him to lean towards you to keep his balance. Water beads and drips from his messy brown locks onto your face, but you barely even notice it. All you can focus on is the way his gaze bores into you, eyes darkened with lust yet softened by tenderness. This was different from before, when everything had happened so fast. Taut strings of building tension had snapped, pooling desires had overflowed.

But this?

You study his rugged features, dropping one hand to press your fingertips and drag them languidly along the scratchy stubble of his jawline. Cupping his face, you can trace the pad of your thumb along his cheekbone while his eyes flutter closed. In this moment, you have all the time in the world.

“Well… good thing I like you, too,” he responds gruffly, untangling your fingers to brace himself against the wall. He leans over you properly, caging you with his palms flat on either side of your head, pinching his inner lip between his canines.

You let out a shuddery breath as your eyes devour every delicious detail of him, openly ogling every muscle. Your fingertips fall to his chest again, gentler this time, but still raking through that coarse chest hair and following it across his stomach as it trails all the way down, down…

You draw your index finger teasingly down his shaft. A sharp intake of breath hisses through his teeth as his brow knits together, and his cock twitches expectantly in response to your touch.

“I can tell.”

There's barely enough time for that cheeky smirk to spread across your face before he dives in, groaning and slanting his mouth over yours. Salt, sweat, the lingering taste of his blood accented by the somewhat metallic tang of the shower water, is all spoon fed to your palette when his tongue parts the seam of your lips. You gasp delightedly at his eagerness and wrap your fingers around him properly. In response, one hand shoots down to your thigh and digs into the plush flesh, hiking your leg up and pushing you firmly against the cold tile.

It's a mess of teeth and tongue, wet and warmth, hunger and affection. Your tongues dance, caress, fight, but he relents when you suck on the appendage, letting out a breathy groan and rutting into your hand.

Gently, avoiding breaking the skin, you kiss and suck, grazing your fangs across his skin as your lips trail along his jaw towards your prize. He surrenders willingly, almost excitedly, tilting his head to expose his neck to you. The animal in you begs you to bite down, to take in more of that liquid vitality, but you have to prove yourself worthy of his trust, worthy of his affection, worthy of this.

“You…” Another pleasured exhale interrupts him. “You don’t have to be gentle.” It’s so sincere it makes your chest ache, your lips trembling as they hover over his pulse point.

“Let me be,” you plead softly as your breath fans across his neck. “Let me prove that I can.”

His head turns and presses an awkward kiss to the soaked strands of your hair. “Alright. Can’t promise I will be, though.”

You snort out a sudden laugh at that before echoing his own sentiment. “You certainly don’t have to be gentle with me.”

It seems to spur him to action once more. Reaching down to replace your hand with his own, he strokes his cock and lines it up with your entrance. You’re more than ready, practically dripping even without the water that cascades down your bodies. Despite all of his talk, his reassurances, his patience, you can tell it’s all beginning to wear thin as his breathing grows more and more ragged when the tip nudges past your labia.

Your knee is practically pressed to your chest, folding you in half as he holds your perfect legs wide open. It takes effort, conscious thought, to breathe as you hug your arms around his shoulder and bury your face into his neck, but you’re rewarded with the delicious drag of his cockhead as it slides into you.

“Fuck…”

A single curse shouldn’t be so attractive, but the way his voice goes gravelly, breathy, the way he digs his fingers into your thigh just to keep himself composed, all because of you? You could live off of this high.

True to his word, it doesn’t take long before he’s snapping his hips against yours, fucking you into the tiles. You would be surprised, no, impressed by his stamina despite your earlier drink if it weren’t for the fact that you were preoccupied spilling moan after moan into the crook of his neck. He slides in and out of you so easily, curves just right, that you can’t help but wonder if his cock was somehow made for you. Every nerve ending is set alight with pleasure, the searing heat of his body branding you as you hold on for dear life and dig your nails into his back.

“M-Marc! Oh fuck-” you breathe into his skin. You taste the salty tang of his sweat against your lips as he pistons in and out of you in a heated frenzy.

Your moans are music to his ears. He cups your ass in his other hand before lifting you up completely, wrapping your legs around his waist and pushing you against the wall. His pace never falters, and the slight change in angle leaves you keening out high-pitched cries and seeing stars. The muscles of your core tense as that wonderful pleasure starts to build. His hips clap against yours, and his pubic bone grinds deliciously against your clit with every thrust. 

“That’s it--fuck, feels so good… shit…” he praises, grunting with effort when your velvety walls clench around him. “Perfect… so fucking perfect--”

You whine as a tingling sensation sparks across your body and spreads to your extremities. No one has ever fucked you so well, so thoroughly, and your heightened vampiric senses only seem to multiply the sensations tenfold. You feel every inch of him with every thrust, feel the way he fucks into you like his life depends on it, feel the press of his fingers as they squeeze into your flesh.

“Right there, yes!” you whimper, throwing your head back against the wall when he angles his thrusts ever so slightly to the side. You’re so close, so fucking close, your moans growing airier, whinier, desperate.

And then he’s setting you back down onto your feet, and you can’t believe he would have the audacity when you were this fucking close--!

But he’s breathing heavily, his heart racing, when that gruff voice commands, “Turn around.”

That alone almost makes up for it, sending shivers down your spine that morph into pleasured shudders that warm you to your core.

He pulls out of you and you’re quick to comply, turning and bracing your hands against the same wall that had been kind enough to support you so far. It’s mere seconds before his hands find your ass, cupping it possessively. Your back arches and you press impatiently against his achingly hard cock, still slick with your juices, peering over your shoulder and biting your lip. Your fang just barely pricks the plump flesh and draws forth a bead of blood that you instinctively lap up even if it’s your own.

“F-Fuck… needed this view.” His voice is like silk and gravel, breathless, airy, and rough. He wastes no more time in reentering you.

Oh gods.

If you thought he was perfect before, if you thought there was no way he could feel even better, you were criminally mistaken. It’s too sinful to be heaven and yet it’s pure euphoria as he fucks you hard and fast, the curve of his length dragging perfectly and hitting that spongy spot that leaves you whimpering and babbling for more. One hand darts between your legs and feverishly your fingertips circle your clit, timing it with his thrusts. Your ass and tits bounce with the force of his fucking, and he leans over you to capture one of your breasts in his hand as he pinches and squeezes at your supple skin. Hot breath puffs against your back.

“Can feel… you squeezing me… shit, come on--” he grunts.

All you can give in response are gasps and lilting cries as your moans grow higher and higher in pitch. Your cheek is smashed against the wall and your jaw hangs slack, drooling with pleasure. His cock hammers into you, fingers tug and twist at your nipple, and your own work desperately at your bud as you chase the wave that crests higher and higher within you. The closer you get, the more your moans sound like pleas for release. He doesn’t relent, even as his breathing grows more and more labored, the effort leaving his body even hotter against the permanent chill of your vampiric skin.

“Yes, yes, fu--hah… mm--mmh--fuck!” Your throat is hoarse from moaning and leaves your voice wispy and airy as you crest closer, closer, chasing the wave and riding it further and further--

It crashes, and you crash with it, slamming into you with a flurry of fiery, euphoric explosions as you spasm and convulse, crying out with your orgasm as your core tightens and your pussy grips his cock like a vice.

“Shit!” he curses, leaning back and gripping your hips with both hands as he slams into you, chasing his own release. You shudder as he fucks you through the aftershocks. Faster. Faster. It’s almost bruising, but you’re made of tougher stuff than most. Gargled moans bubble in your throat.

He finally stills in you with a guttural groan, emptying his load deep into you as he pants for breath. His grip on you finally loosens before he slumps forward, catching himself on the wall as the shower fills the silence with the gentle hiss of water. Your head is filled with a pleasant buzz, your mind hazy as you try to stagger yourself upright. 

Before you can stand up fully, however, Marc’s arms wrap tightly around your waist as he hugs you to him. It’s a complete turnaround from how rough he had been just moments ago. Tender, loving, even. The hug turns into a sway, guiding the two of you back and forth softly. He buries his nose into the crook of your neck.

“You good?” he murmurs. His lips press gentle kisses along your shoulder.

Affection swells in your chest and you nuzzle into him with your cheek. How could you put it into words suitable enough? For the first time since your transformation, you felt whole again, accepted, trusted, cared for.

“I feel wonderful,” you beam, wrapping your arms around his. It’s good that you’re turned away from him in the shower, because you feel the happy tears prickling at the corners of your eyes.

For the first time in months, in the arms of the man that saved your life in more ways than he could imagine, you were more than good. You were home.

[catsteeth]

Hii, I love your writings❤️ Can you write Podrick Payne and the fem reader? The reader is a Jon's twin sister, the Queen in the North. And Podrick has been in love with her for years, from the moment he first saw her. The reader is aware of the situation from the beginning, and when they meet again in the North at the end of the road, she notices once again how Podrick looks at her, but the only difference is that he is not a child anymore.☆

Growing Pains🍎

A/N: Thank you sm angel baby! Now this is what I AM TALKING ABOUT!!! Girl hell yes I can… I love this concept but I am going to take some liberties with the timelines and when Podrick is introduced in the story but let's all just sit back and have fun. You didn’t specify if you wanted smut but girls just wanna have fun so I did it anyway (there will be a cut off so you know when it's coming if you wanna stop reading beforehand) Hope you enjoy it and thank you for the request!! CW: SMUT MDNI, fuff, pining, mention of prostitution, mention of alcohol, fingering, grinding,

You had a hard go of it in life. 

Being the bastard of Ned Stark and the twin of Jon Snow. Having the last name of Snow swayed every person's opinion of you. Except for one, Podrick. A squire of little influence. When he and his Lord Tyrion visited the North with the rest of the Lannister and Baratheon family, he found himself enamored with you.

At first he thought it was because of your fair beauty. Your skin had a glow to it, your eyes as well. 

As the Stark family lined up to greet the royal family you and Jon were standing behind them. An embarrassment to the family but an open embarrassment nonetheless.

As you stood there, you studied all the knights and kings guard that stood before you and your family. You thought some of them were handsome but none captured your interest really. 

That was until your brother Jon nudged you. 

“It would seem you’ve an admirer, dear sister.” He teased as you looked and saw a shorter boy with short brown hair. He was certainly a squire. As your eyes met his he looked away 

nervously. 

You looked back to Jon, “Merely a boy, Jon.” 

“Aye, as you are merely a girl.” He said with a smirk. You nudged him harder and gave him a cold and hard scowl, making him struggle to hold in laughter.

As Lord Tyrion descended from his carriage he stood beside Podrick while he waited for Robert and Nedd to be done with their reunion. However when he looked behind Nedd he noticed Nedd’s bastards giggling like children until Lady Catelyn shot them a glare that shut them up quickly.

However he also noticed how Podricks gaze was fixated on you. His face reveals how pathetically enamored he was with you. Tyrion chuckled to himself and then tugged on Podrick’s sleeve a few times until his attention returned to his Lord. 

“Yes, my Lord?” Podrick asked, 

“You are appointed to serve me, not Ned Stark's bastard daughter.” Tyrion said to Podrick in a teasingly scornful tone. “Is that who that is?” He asked his eyes to stay put on you.

Tyrion nodded, “(Y/N) Snow…” Tyrion spoke your name and to Podrick it sounded like poetry. He looked back over to you as Podrick mouthed your name back to himself. “A beautiful girl,” Tyrion said matter of factly. 

“Yes, yes she is.” Podrick nodded, still unable to tear his gaze away from you. 

“You know what they say about Northern girls?” Tyrion smirked as he looked up at Podrick, 

Podricks gaze finally looked back to Tyrion with a confused look, “No?” 

“Perhaps you’ll find out.” He said with a raised brow, making Podrick swallow hard.

꒰ ୨୧ ─

Later that night during the feast you and Jon were turned away from the dining hall. It would be an insult to the royal family if you two were sitting in their field of vision. Gods forbid they were to see a bastard while they ate a meal that your family prepared for them. 

You were content to go to your chambers and wait out the feast before you’d sneak into the kitchen and eat whatever was left. But the plum tree had recently bloomed and it was too tempting for you to wait until the feast was over. 

Normally you’d convince Bran to climb the tree to pick you some but you were alone. So you did the next best thing, convince the next man you saw.

“Hello, kind ser. Could I trouble you for just a moment.” You said to a shadowed form nearby that was approaching. As it got closer you noticed it was the boy that was staring at you from the courtyard beside Lord Tyrion. 

“Yes, yes, my Lady, no trouble at all.” He said, stammering nervously as he walked closer toward you.

“I recognize you… I saw you today. You’re not a Northerner.” You said with narrow eyes.

“N-no, my Lady I am a squire to Lord Tyrion Lannister.”  He spoke softly and sweetly, but again, nervously.

“Huh, not a Ser then.” You furrowed your brows, examining the boy in front of you. Unsure if you could trust him or not. 

He shook his head, “And you’re (Y/N)... Daughter of Nedd Stark.” He was careful not to use the last name of Snow.

“I am.” You said strongly. 

“W-why are you not at the feast my lady?” 

“Lady Catelyn thought it might insult the royal family for me and my brother to be seated in their midst.” You explained 

“Why would she think that?” He asked genuinely, couldn’t understand you being hidden from anyone. 

“I am.. unsightly.” You tried to find the right word,

“I don’t think that is the word to describe you-” 

“A bastard… to put it simply.” You turned your mind back to the task at hand, unwilling to discuss the matter further. You looked up at the plums ripe on the tree behind you. “But nonetheless a bastard gets hungry just the same as anyone else.” You looked back at Podrick hoping he would get the hint. “Can't reach it though.” 

“Yes of course,” He said quickly as soon as he understood what it was you needed from him. 

You giggled to yourself as you watched him struggle to climb the tree. Just as he was about to pick the best one, his foot slipped and he fell out of the tree, with tons of plums following him. “Oof!” He grunted as he hit the ground and was covered in plums.

“Oh!” You shouted as you ran up to him. You couldn’t help but laugh as you kneeled beside him, “I am sorry, I do not mean to laugh!” You covered your mouth trying to conceal your amusement, 

He looked up at you with stars in his eyes, that could have been the fall but he was sure that you looked like you were made by the Gods themselves. “That’s alright,” He said softly with a dimwitted smile on his face. 

You kissed his cheek as a token of your appreciation, when you did he thought he might die. “I thank you.” You said as you grabbed a plum from his lap, making him blush, 

“Of-Of course my Lady,” He stammered,

You bit into the juicy plum, “I’m no Lady.” You stood and walked away. 

However, that wouldn’t be the last time the two of you crossed paths. 

꒰ ୨୧ ─ ・┈ ꒱꒱

When Jon left for the nights watch and was to leave for Kings Landing with your sisters, Lady Catelyn made it clear she wanted you gone. So you went with your sisters, however in KingsLanding you worked as a handmaiden. 

But this did just give Podrick more of an opportunity to fawn over you. 

When given the chance, the two of you enjoyed each other's company. 

On one occasion you and Podrick got drunk off of his Lord Tyrion’s wine when you were alone. You threw cherries across a room while Podrick attempted to catch them in his mouth. 

Tyrion walked in when he heard the commotion and drunk laughter from the hallway. He could see the love in the drunk Podricks eyes clear as day. 

He felt slightly responsible for Podrick and offered him a gift of experience. He took Podrick to a pleasure house where he said  “If you’re going to take that bastard girl's maidenhead, you might as well know how to do it well.” 

“We are only friends, my Lord.” He stammered nervously,

“Unlikely it will stay that way.” He said as he left him alone with the three women.

That wouldn’t happen in Kings Landing however. After the execution of your father you traveled North to your Brother Jon.

꒰ ୨୧ ─ ・┈ ・ ─ ・┈ ─ ・┈ ─ ・┈ ꒱꒱

Years later however, after a long and hard battle, figuratively and literally, you were an adored and respected figure in the North. So much so that you were named Queen. 

When you caught word that Podrick was on the grounds of Winterfell you felt an unexplainable urge to meet with him again. 

You saw him sparring with a man on the training grounds. You watched as this once frail and inexperienced boy fought with honor and precision. It made you feel a tightening in your stomach. You felt yourself losing your trail of thought as you watched him, until he noticed you.

“(Y/N)” He said with wide eyes, and then bam! His sparring opponent knocked him down while he was off guard, “Oof!” He tapped out, “Enough for today.” He hopped off the ground and ran over towards you, smiling, 

You smiled back, “You look different. Well, but different.” 

“You look the same.” He said catching his breath

You narrowed your eyes slightly as you smirked, “I’ll take that as a compliment,” He nodded, “It is.” His smile was almost contagious. 

“Who taught you?” You asked, trying to distract from the compliment. “Brienne of Tarth, I’ve come into her service after Lord Tyrion.”

“An improvement.” You nodded, “You fight well.” 

He bowed his head slightly “Thank you, your Grace.” 

“No need for such formality.” You waved your hand in dismissal, 

“Your Grace-” Someone of little interest to you at that moment spoke. Rushing you off to your regal duties. 

You couldn’t say your goodbyes before being rushed off. Just like last time. 

The rest of the day you spent thinking of him. Of how different things were now, how different you and he were, how much a man he’d grown into. 

It was only until that night when you had the opportunity to speak to him once more.

꒰ ୨୧ ─ 

As Tyrion, Jaime, and Brienne finished a drinking game, Tormund came in an attempt to court Brienne but of course was unsuccessful. As he faced the rest of the table in a defeated sorrowful look, Podrick smiled at him. 

As the Giant man left the table, Podrick looked back and noticed you. Once he saw you, his smile grew into a bigger and genuine one. 

“Walk with me?” You asked and he of course nodded. Leaving the table in haste, making Tyrion smirk.

The two of you walked around the grounds, that now with everyone in the tavern was empty.

As you walked around, he noticed the very same plum tree that he fell from all those years ago. The tree hadn’t bloomed yet but, he thought back on that memory so often he couldn’t have been mistaken. 

“Last time we were here you were here because you weren’t allowed in the dining hall. Now you own it.” He smiled at you, proud of your accomplishments. 

“And you were in the dirt covered in-” You said teasingly with a mischievous smile.

“Plums.” He said matter of factly

“You remember?” You asked genuinely surprised.

“Of course I do, I remember how you laughed at me.” He said teasingly as he chuckled.

“I apologized!” You giggled, 

“It’s alright, I liked hearing you laugh. And seeing you smile.” He smiled at you in a way that caused a heat to spread throughout your whole body.

“You’ve grown.” You couldn’t believe how much more bold and confident he had become.

“You’ve grown as well.” 

“People tend to do that.” You teased, 

“That’s true, and yet after all that time I couldn’t ever get you out of my head.” He thought about his journey and how often he missed you, “On our journey we always heard murmuring about you. The things you were doing. The wars you and your brother won. The triumphs and lows of it all.” He looked down trying to contain himself, “I thought of you often.”  

You felt a heat rush over your cheeks, “You were always a considerate friend.” You rationalized,  and paused for a moment before you looked over at him, “I thought of you often…” you smiled “As well.” 

“May I ask you something, and truly I don’t mean to offend-”

You raised an eyebrow. “Well this sounds interesting, go on.” You said smiling, 

“What of any… suitors?” He asked awkwardly,

You huffed a laugh and then shook your head, “No.” You looked over at Podrick who was already looking at you with a dumbfounded look, “What?” You giggled. “I apologize, I just find it hard to believe that.” 

“Well I’d not lie.” You smirked, 

“No, of course not. It’s just that you are…” He looked at you, “Mesmerizing.” He studied you for a moment, and then felt content to do what he had been meaning to do for so long, “You’ve always been mesmerizing.” He took your hand,

“What?” Your eyes narrowed as he kneeled in front of you.

“Ever since I saw you, I’ve never been able to release myself from this feeling. The way your hair shines, the way your eyes glow.” He looked up at you, at how beautiful you looked under that plum tree, in the moonlight. “Ever since you kissed me, even though it was just-” He reminisced on the memory for a moment, “A peck on the cheek,” He shook his head, “I couldn’t feel satisfaction from anything else. And what's worse is that- I don’t want to, I don’t want to feel satisfaction from anything but the satisfaction you bring to me. And ever since I have been back here the feeling is so much worse.” His grip on your hand tightened as he searched your eyes for a hint of your own emotions.

You shook your head, “I’m sorry.” You said, not sorry for not feeling the same but for not understanding your own emotions.

“I-” He looked down, confident he was defeated, “Forgive me.” 

“No,” You shook your head again, “Forgive me.” You held his face in your hands,

“For what?” He asked, his brows furrowed in confusion, and concern that he’d just ruined whatever relationship you two had had for good. 

“For ignoring my own feelings for you.” You held his face closer to your own, “I’ve been doing it for so long…” Your eyes were filled with a pining that you didn’t know you had, “Far too long” He leaned in even further, your eyes drooping slowly but not losing contact with him. Your noses brushing against one another. Your lips finally meet softly, hardly even touching. his hand came to cup your jaw as yours carcassed the back of his head. As you closed your eyes your lips parted slightly allowing him to kiss you deeper. 

nothing had ever felt so right. You knew then that you were born for him and he was born for you. 

♥️

he gripped your waist, pressing you closer to his own body. He walked you back into the tree so he could lean into you even more. 

“Gods” You whimpered into his lips, “You’ve gotten strong-“ your hands gripped at the muscles of his arms over his chainmail. 

“Is this alright,” He asked to which you nodded and continued to kiss his lips. 

The kiss somewhat restrained at first was now unhinged and desperate. His tongue met yours and you did not fight it, no you welcomed it. 

His hand traveled down your jaw to your breast, gripping at it through your bodice with hunger. He groaned into your mouth but soon enough he couldn’t restrain himself and his mouth traveled from your lips to your neck, to your breasts. They’d been a weakness of his for too long. “Gods” He groaned

“Tell me to stop and I will,“ His hand traveled up your inner thigh. His fingers, now rougher than they were before, stopped just before they reached your silk small clothes. His eyes looked into yours waiting for your que.

You looked at him, you ran your hand through his hair once more. His eyes met yours, desperate and hungry, no starving. You nodded at him, which made him smile and breathe a sigh of relief as his face returned to your breasts and his fingers began to run up and down the sensitive slit of your clothed cunt.

“Mmphm,” You moaned into his ear as his lips traveled over your cleavage.

His middle finger pressed against your hot damp entrance while his thumb moved in circles around your sensitive clit. 

Your fingers dug into his shoulders as you whimpered from the pleasure. A pleasure so new. You’d used your own fingers or relieved yourself on a pillow before but this was different, a different game entirely.  

You felt him grinding his arousal on your thigh as he moved your small clothes away, pushing one finger inside of you, slowly. “Ah!” You jolted towards him, grabbing ahold of his back pressing him closer to you. 

He inserted another finger, pressing them deeper and deeper until they met your maiden head. His eyes found yours, and once again you nodded. 

He kissed you deeply as he sunk his fingers into you. You gripped onto his hair and moaned out. As you moaned he bit your bottom lip. You held onto him tighter as the pain flashed across your body but was replaced by pleasure. “Are you alright?” you nodded, unable to find the words when he was pumping him fingers in and out you, “You did so well,” His eyes filled with love and adornment for you. But soon his lips returned to your neck and your breasts.

“Podrick,” You said breathlessly, “Pod?” You had to pull his face away from your breasts, though his lips wants to immediately latch onto yours, “I can’t,” You whined, 

He pulled his fingers out of you and your hand away immediately, 

“Not here,” You shook your head still trying to catch your breath, 

“You’re the Queen, you can do what you please.” He said, half serious, wanting to rid you of your skirts and prove his love and himself there and now. 

You giggled holding his face as he restrained himself for kissing you, “I want you to bed me in my chambers. Not here.” 

“As you wish it, my Queen.” He smiled at you, and kissed you once more before rushing you off to your chambers.

[m00nchildwrites]

pairings: female!reader (first person) x Xavier

tags: romance, eventual smut, based on storyline of game but diverges, little angst and feelings, resolved feelings, fluff, hurt/comfort, injury, these two need to just kiss already, use of her/she/you depend on the pov at the time, reader/MC/you is expressed as female and during smut times will use female-at-birth anatomy terms- she/her, first person when written from "your" pov- use of I/my/mine, referred to as y/n, will have nsfw content mdni- please read with caution, will be tagged, my smut gets ...vivid. Will have content from part of story line, myth cards, and other cards [possibly...probably].

{ch list: 1, 2 , 3, 4, 5 (here), 6}

Chapter 5: Lumiere

When I arrived in Azure Square, the scope of the situation fully sank in. There was devastation everywhere. It looked post-apocalyptic. The skyscrapers' bottom floors all had their glass blown out like from an explosion, likely the same metaflux explosion that was on set earlier that morning. Broken hologram signs were hanging or scattered on the ground below. Taxis and cars were wrecked, crushed, or on fire. It had all fallen into ruin. People ran around screaming as hordes of Wanderers attacked anything and everything that moved. Otto-bots were smashed to pieces. Explosions shook the ground. It was like when the Deepspace Tunnel first appeared when I was a child. This level of destruction had not taken place in the city since that time.

The chaotic metaflux was spreading like wildfire outwards as though it was being created and pushed further to encompass more territory. It was so thick in the air; it nearly distorted it like heat waves off of pavement in the height of summer. Hunters were already there when I arrived. More and more of my colleagues poured into the square, fighting desperately to contain the horde and their destruction. Others ushered the trapped civilians to safety. 

I immediately got to work. My guns smoked from the amount of firing. I covered countless civilians as they ran, reuniting crying children with mothers and moving so many others to safety. On and on it went, yet it seemed that as quickly as we put them down, more poured in, as though they were just endlessly respawning. Hunters began falling around me one by one, and I could feel myself growing weaker. The continued and constant use of my evol over such a period of time was draining my energy. 

After a particularly nasty fight, my vision blurred and I stumbled, catching myself on an overturned taxi and ducking behind it to catch my breath. I squeezed my eyes shut trying to recombobulate myself. My ears were ringing. But the sounds of battle seemed further away and fewer. 

Perhaps we had made a dent afterall… or maybe the Wanderers were chasing my teammates down elsewhere. I had to pull it together and see for myself. I shook my head in a feeble attempt to shake the blurriness out of my sight. My heart was pounding from the exertion. My body was burning too, from cuts, burns, bruises, and gashes. My uniform would have to be replaced.

I tsked. My head falling back against the metal of the ruined taxi. It was beginning to look like I wouldn’t make it out of here. Like none of us still here would. Surely more teams were on their way. But, would they make it? And where were these Wanderers coming from? No. My uniform was the last thing I needed to worry about. 

I reloaded my guns and, breath returned, stood from my cover and threw myself back into battle. In the distance, I saw a Hunter, a familiar figure, someone that I had worked with before- gone on that team building trip with- collapse. I rushed over- or tried- but a massive Wanderer blocked my path, forcing me to fight it. I tried to get a glimpse of the Hunter, Steve perhaps, to check on them, but by the time I finally defeated the hulking Wanderer, my energy was dangerously low. Steve was no longer on the ground. Someone else must have gotten to them. My vision swimmed.

I knew I had heavy blood loss from all my cuts and gashes. No doubt, that was not helping my light headedness and blurred vision. But it was my heart that hurt the most. With intense pain. My vitals were flashing orange on my watch: “Warning! Hunter, your energy is low! Warning! Hunter, your heart rate is irregular. Please seek out a safe-”

Beep.

“No shit,” I clicked my tongue, shutting off the annoying AI warning voice. I pushed onwards ignoring the warnings to find a safe place or to seek out medical care. People’s lives were in danger. I didn’t have that luxury.

An explosion made me duck as a burning car finally blew up. Today had quickly become a very bad, no good day. I huffed, standing from cover and firing more shots at a Wanderer. It screeched as it disintegrated into metaflux. One more down. Several dozens or more to go. I grit my teeth and pushed on through the pain.

“Y/N! Are you alright?” 

I heard Captain Jenna over my comms. No doubt my vitals were going crazy at HQ. “Captain…” My voice felt weird, garbled to my own ears. That couldn’t be good, surely. 

“It’s likely another Metaflux explosion will…. occur at your… location….Retreat. I repeat…” 

The signal cut in and out. I squinted, pressing the comm to my ear, straining to hear, “Captain? Captain? Can you repeat that?”

“You can’t…. Fighting…. Numbers too…Retreat…”

“Captain?” I hissed at the failed signal as it cut out. I needed to get somewhere where I could get through to HQ. Someone might need help. Using my watch's guidance, I mapped out the best way out. 

I was about to head out when I heard a young girl crying. “Help!” 

My head spun around searching for the crying. There is another child?! 

“Help us!” a woman’s voice called out as well.

There are still people here trapped! I couldn’t just leave them to die. I reloaded and began searching the square trying to stay covered as much as I could until I found them. My vision swam off and on, almost like the world was tilting. Maybe I damaged my inner ear? 

Finally, through smoke and dust, I saw an arm waving from the collapsed cafe at the edge of the Square. I sent the coordinates to any nearby Hunters and HQ, calling for backup to help me dig them out. They were okay, but blocked by the fallen entrance. But in the end, danger found me first.

My watch sensed them first. Three alerts popped up in quick succession as three Wanderers appeared. “Threat level: S.” Figures.

“Get back!” I yelled into the collapsed cafe, “Take cover at the back of the cafe. Can you do that?” I yelled orders to them desperately.

“Yes,” the woman called back, “There is a storage room.”

“Hide in there until backup arrives! I am going to lure them away!” I turned back to the Wanderers and jumped and yelled, waving my arms, “Hey! Hey you giant, stupid, big ugly lugs! Look at me! I’m over here!”

The three loud roars of rage signaled that they got the message.

“Oh shit,” I took off running, three giants pounding the ground in pursuit. Good. They took the bait. Unfortunately, the bait was me. 

As I ran, I felt my belt for how many bullets and clips I had left. My equipment was low. Too low. And my stamina and energy wouldn’t last much longer, but maybe if I could just draw them far enough away from the civilians in the cafe and keep these three busy until help arrived… maybe then the civilians would be safe. Maybe I’d even manage to take one down with me.

I spotted a clearing in the square. It was all the way on the opposite side, far from the civilians. The perfect place for a last stand. 

As I pushed my legs to run faster, I thought of Grandma and Caleb. Maybe I will be seeing them soon? I thought of my teammates and Tara; I hoped they were okay.

I thought of Sylus and his annoying habit of calling me kitten; I’d never admit it but he was growing on me. I’d miss his terrible singing and how he always had my back, no questions asked. I’d even miss his damn gothic chicken.

I thought of Zayne, my childhood and dearest friend currently; he would be devastated and so very mad I didn’t play it safe. I’d miss our meetups for sweets and his sarcastic dry humor and getting him to crack a smile as I sang loudly to songs in the car.

I thought of Rafayel; he would be so heartbroken to lose his favorite bodyguard and adventure buddy. I’d miss his antics and our beach walks and Reddie and trying to guess the song he was humming as he painted until he finally gave up and we’d dance around his studio singing whatever pop tune came to our heads.

Inevitably, as I spun to a stop, guns aimed at the three massive S-class Wanderers coming for me, I thought of Xavier. Of how sweet and peaceful he looked as I last saw him, curled up and sleeping, silver-blonde hair tousled in his sleep. He was gorgeous, painfully so. And I never told him. Never told him what I felt. How my heart skipped and then raced just for him. How his smile was brighter than the sunrise and made me want to spout poetry and listen to love songs. How his gentle touches made heat and longing fill my very being. I thought about how worried he got over me, how protective he was. How he seemed to naturally guard me from harm not because he thought me incapable, but because it was natural, instinctual. I thought of how his face would crumple when he learned that I hadn’t made it this time. Because I wouldn’t. I thought about him and I realized-

I love him.

“Xavier…” a tear slipped down my cheek as I took aim and fired, “I’m sorry.”

 A roar filled my ears and my head whipped sideways. When did that Wanderer get over there?!

And then darkness and pain.

My mind seemed to flicker to the past. A memory. All those years ago to before when I was a child. The smell of smoke was the same. The screams and roars of Wanderers. 

I clutched my gun and fired towards the Wanderers I knew were around me, hovering nearby, waiting to pounce again. The pain-filled roar of one told me I hit one. They were going to crush me. This was it. My mind played out the nightmare from my past like an overlay on top of the present. It was so similar, but different. This time, I wouldn’t make it, would I?

Dazzling light suddenly surged through the dark haze of my failed vision and in my memory. A shockwave of light blasted through the area. The Wanderers had no place to hide. They dissipate into metaflux dust leaving only the echo of their shrill screeches in the air. Even the distant sounds of fighting stopped.

Just how big was that blast of light? My mind felt woozy as my vision came through as dark shadows and shapes. Another slash of light slashed through the darkness of my vision. Golden light filled the air and poured down like rain, washing away filth. I could hear the pops and screeches of more Wanderers further away.

I blinked trying to focus. I struggled, trying to sit up. I saw a beam of light flashing through the golden speckles of light dancing in the air like fireflies. It is headed towards me like a meteor. Space and time itself appeared to distort around the radiant light. I should likely feel worried. The intense beam was headed for me, but I felt only serenity. My arms gave out and I fell backwards. As I fell, my memory flashed back through my mind– my memory of the past event like this one– suddenly it came through clear and vivid.

Arms caught me; Hands cradled my head just before it hit the concrete. I heard voices exclaiming surprise and shock. People no doubt were drawn out by the spectacle of light that sent the Wanderers away. But all I could see was him.

Dazed, I looked up into the face of the one who caught me and held me embraced into their chest. Something about him was familiar. His energy or perhaps his scent? I blinked away the haze, trying to focus. I saw silvery blonde hair… I think?

“Xa-Xavier?” my voice is barely a whisper.

The figure didn’t answer but merely wiped at blood on my face and at the corner of my mouth. Wishful thinking. He isn’t here. Through my blurry vision, all I could see was a warm gaze, profound as a lake but deep and intense with urgency. Then, I saw it. The mask.

“You!” I gasped.

He swept me off my feet as he carried me up into his arms, then we were in the air. The wind blowing past my face. In my exhaustion, my vision started to blur and darken at the edges again. 

“Close your eyes if you're tired,” a soft and warm voice drifted to me through the haze. He cradled my head to his neck as more flashes of radiant light rain down from his blade. I heard cheering from below as the last of the Wanderers were cleared and metaflux fluctuations righted. A glowing moon signalling the user. Lumiere. He had returned, and like 14 years ago, he saved me again.

Sharpness cut through the haze and I gasped in pain. The arm around me tightened. I leaned back to reassure him, but my voice caught in my throat. The pain had cleared my vision. The face before me was crystal clear.

“Xavier?” The pain hit again and I clenched my eyes shut with a hiss. My words cut off and stuck in my throat in exchange for a groan of pain. 

“Sleep,” he spoke, cradling my head back into his neck, “Don’t force yourself to stay awake.” His gloved hand brushed over my eyes, and they closed, heavy, as I relaxed in his arms, my guard relinquished at last. And I slipped into a world of sweet darkness.

-

I came to sometime later. The moon was in the sky. 

“Does it hurt?”

I turned my head and saw Xavier bandaging my hand. 

“I did some first aid,” he continued softly, concern sitting heavy on his brow. “The roads are still a wreck right now. I will take you to the hospital for a thorough examination later when I can get through.”

I turned my head the other way towards the sounds of people talking and crying. They sounded far but close at the same time. It was then I realized that we were on a rooftop. Down below, Azure Square was reduced to ruble. Rescue workers ran around searching for who needed immediate help. People were looking for loved ones. It was a mess. Camera crews and journalists had also arrived, trying to get the latest updates.

Xavier’s small huff of a laugh drew my attention back. His grin was tiny as he looked at me softly in amusement, “Don’t worry. The people in the cafe are safe.” 

My brows smoothed. He knew me so well. I had been wondering about them.

“And there aren’t any other casualties,” his face fell slightly, his hand brushed away a strand of hair from my face, “You’re the only one who is severely injured.”

I studied his face. The contours of it etched into my heart, but now that I am seeing them again, they seem shrouded in unfamiliar shadows. Secrets.

“Why are you here?” I asked at last.

He looked down, away from my gaze, “Who else were you expecting to see?” He deflected my question as he busied himself with my wounds again.

I was tired. Tired of the secrets. I pressed, likely for the first time, I truly pressed, “But how did you get here?” The image of him curled up asleep in that pod flashed in my mind. “Are you okay now?”

“I slept well, so I am fully recovered.”

“How? You practically shut down in the no-hunt zone… Then there was that pod and those syringes-”

He sighed, “You’re the one who needs to be cared for right now.” He gently pushed my shoulder, forcing me to lay back again.

I obeyed with a huff and then winced in pain.

He tsked, a small sigh leaving his mouth as he worried over the bandages he had placed over various wounds. My side seemed to worry him in particular.

I felt the urge to explain how I got so bad, “It was urgent. I had to–”

“I only know that if I had been even a second later, I would’ve lost you. Forever.” Though his tone was flat.

“...No,” I tried to relieve that heaviness that settled on his shoulders, “that’s not- Don’t underestimate me. I’ve always been lucky.” I gently took his hand in mine, “14 years ago, Lumiere saved my life. And this time…” I looked into Xavier’s eyes. “Lumiere saved me again. I must be the luckiest person alive.”

His eyes studied my face, his expression calm aside from the storm of emotions swirling in his gaze. “You might just feel lucky…” he spoke, as his hand reached out to brush dirt from my face, gently, fingers lingering, “But for me, it’s a wonderful blessing.” 

The sounds of the news screens below reach our ears. Lumiere is declared the savior of the day's events and the one who vanquished the Wanderers. It is also suggested that he was the one who cleared up the odd anomaly from a few days ago with the apocalyptic storm. 

I glanced over to Xavier to see his brow furrowed and his mouth turned down. I hated seeing him troubled. And the news wasn’t exactly a good thing. I remembered the wanted posters in the Nest. Lumiere- Xavier could be in danger if anyone found out.

I reached out and placed my hand on his arm, “I am sure that news of Lumiere’s return will be all anyone talks about in the morning.” I smiled at him teasingly. He was lost in thought for a moment, then suddenly scooped me up into his lap. I squeaked in alarm and scrambled to wrap my arms around his neck, “Xavier, what the hell?”

He chuckled, holding me to his chest. “We should hurry.”

I blinked, “Why?”

“We need to get to the hospital. Otherwise, everyone will be rushing over after dawn to catch a glimpse of Lumiere.” He hesitated, glancing down at me, “Your doctor…”

“Dr. Zayne?”

He nodded, “You trust him?”

“I’ve known him since we were children.”

“But you trust him.”

“With my life… quite literally,” I grinned, but he wasn’t in the mood for jokes. Xavier’s tense expression didn’t shift as he held my gaze before looking down to the fray below us. His eyes were troubled, and I realized what he was getting at. I held his face between my palms, “Hey, look at me.” I smiled softly as his blue-blue gaze fell back on mine, “Zayne is a good person. He wouldn’t put anyone at risk.”

He frowned, lower lip pouting slightly, “Zayne?”

“Doctor Zayne,” I squished his cheeks slightly grinning at his pout, “but I would never want you to feel uncomfortable. If you can get me close enough, somewhere secret and hidden nearby, I can make it into the hospital myself.”

His pout fell into a flat look, “You’re wheezing.”

“What?”

He leaned his cheek slightly more into my palms, “Your breathing has a slight wheeze to it. I’m not letting you walk anywhere.”

“Xavier, Lumiere is wanted. You can’t be see-”

He shook his head resolutely, “You likely have a broken rib pressing into your lung. Your heart is also erratic.”

“The heart part is nothing.” His gaze darkened deeper into worry at that, but I waved it off trying to ease his stress, “I’m used to that. And I can breathe fine, see?” I tried to take a deep breath and gasped as a sharp pain tore through my rib cage and chest, “F-fuck!” 

Xavier’s eyes went wide, frantic. He called my name, standing. His arms tightened around me, “If you trust your doctor… then I will too.”

“Wha-”

“I will never leave you all alone. Ever,” His voice was soft but firm, leaving no room for debate. Pressing me closer, his lips brushed my forehead, “You might get dizzy. Hold on tight.”

I pressed my face into his neck and let my eyes close, taking in his scent. For a while back there, in the fighting, I was sure that I would never see him again. My arms tightened around him slightly at the thought. Now, though, he had come and saved me. My masked hero, Lumiere. My knight, my prince charming, Xavier. 

I smiled into his neck. Xavier, Thank you. Before I could react, the world around me started to spin again, “Ugh.” 

His chuckle reached my ear, raising goose bumps along my arms as his breath tickled at my ear, “I warned you.”

“Menace,” I hissed, earning another chuckle. 

The world stabilized and we were in a familiar office. I blinked, lifting my head from Xavier’s neck. My bewildered eyes met equally bewildered green eyes from his spot behind his desk. He appeared to have stopped in his movements to collect something. His hair was slightly a mess, showing how busy the hospital was with the attack. He looked frazzled, or as frazzled as Zayne ever looked.

Zayne looked from me to Xavier who still held me. His sharp, analytical eyes taking in Xavier’s clothing and widening just barely as recognition hit him. His eyes narrowed as he looked over my form. His hands clenched at his sides, the temperature dropping in the room as he made to step forward.

Xavier’s voice level but firm cut through the tension, “You are her doctor, yes? Dr. Zayne, correct?”

Zayne gave a slight nod. He looked to me, uncertain, seeking a question with his eyes. When I smiled slightly and waved my fingers in the air, the tension drained out of his stance and he sighed, sounding over my antics already. I couldn’t help but chuckle quietly. “And you are her partner, the Hunter…” He looked Xavier up and down, “or should I call you Lumi-”

“Xavier is his name.” My voice cut in, drawing two pairs of eyes. “Just Xavier, Dr. Zayne,” I repeated. The message clear. This knowledge wouldn’t leave this room. 

Zayne gave a slight shake of his head as he pinched the bridge of his nose, “Very well.” Zayne appeared not entirely happy with the situation. 

Xavier looked down at me with his brows raised, from surprise or what, I wasn’t certain. I gave his shoulder a small squeeze in an awkward hug, I was, afterall, still being held in his arms. It was sort of hard to hug him like this, but my reassurance worked because his face softened as he looked at me.

Zayne let out a sigh and moved to us, “I can take it from here… Xavier. Let me see her.” He reached out to take from Xavier’s arms, who took a half step back. Zayne rose a singular black brow.

I huffed, “Guys, I can walk.”

“Not on my watch.” “I think not.”

I frowned at both of them as they frowned at each other.

“I’m not leaving her,” Xavier declared.

“Xavier…” I sighed, annoyance at the lack of independence leaving me and concern for Xavier taking its place, “You can’t be seen. Lumiere buzz is everywhere and you very obviously,” I flicked his earring, “Are wearing his clothes.”

“No one has ever connected the dots before,” he argued even as he relaxed his hold slightly. I knew I was getting through to him.

“Yes, well, people are stupid,” I scoffed.

“Y/N,” Zayne chidded.

“What! It is true! What is this? A Superman movie? Take off the mask and POOF where’d Lumiere go?” I squeezed Xavier’s face between my palms and turned it towards Zayne, “Look at him and tell me it is not obvious!”

Zayne did in fact eye Xavier before tilting his head slightly and begrudgingly admitting, “Point made.”

I turned back to Xavier’s face, “See?”

Xavier’s eyes wavered. Something deep in those pools of azure rippled with some unknown fear and pain, “I can’t lose you. Not again.” 

The breath in my chest froze as he pinned me with those eyes. I felt the strangest sense of panic, desperation, and longing fill my chest; my arms tightened around his neck slightly, as though afraid if I didn’t hold on, he’d slip away into the stars and be gone from me forever.

“I think,” Zayne’s voice made me jolt suddenly pulling from that odd magnetic pull I had felt, “It would be best for all parties if I took it from here.” He looked to Xavier, who looked solemn. Zayne seemed to regard him differently than he had mere moments before. “Unless, of course, you wish to have all of the hospital and soon the media aware that Lumiere is here and just who he brought… single handedly… personally.” His eyes flicked to me pointedly.

Zayne was right, of course. If anyone found out that the legendary hero Lumiere had brought a woman to the hospital himself, the media would be in a frenzy spinning love stories, and I would be the target for their attention. I knew from Rafayel how much of a nightmare that could be. 

And Xavier knew it too from the way his shoulders slumped as his eyes averted briefly before fixing onto Zayne firmly. His eyes narrowed as he tilted his chin up briefly. His tone was firm, a slight sharp edge to it, “Do you want to get that under control then, Doctor?”

Zayne’s eyes fell to his hands where crystalline shapes had creeped up from his wrists. He looked slightly surprised and chagrined about it. As he shook them slightly, tiny snowflakes fell to the ground, the ice of his evol receding.

“Really, guys,” I interrupted, “I can walk.”

“You have a punctured lung,” Xavier stated matter-of-factly. “And you’ve lost a lot of blood. You’ll likely need an infusion.”

Zayne tsked, sweeping in, clearly over my ‘nonsense’ as he called my stubbornness, and gently took me from Xavier’s arms. The crystals were gone, but in their place, he looked absolutely unamused, “How did you manage this?”

I opened my mouth to retort that it was my job when Xavier spoke up.

“She was holding down the Square… single handedly.”

Zayne’s gaze fell to me sharply as mine snapped to Xavier, “Traitor.”

Xavier’s mouth twitched in an almost smile. My eyes narrowed. He looked to Zayne, “You will take care of her until I get back.”

Zayne looked at him as though he was dim, “I will look after her regardless of your return.”

I frowned, Zayne was being even more blunt than usual.

Xavier ignored it and looked back to me, “I will take care of everything. Just recover. I will be here when you get out.”

“What?” He had that look on him, the one he wore on missions, “Xavier? What are you-”

Zayne let out a tired sounding sigh and made for the door, “I trust you can find your way out?” He said to Xavier, but the flash of light behind us signaled Xavier’s exit.

Prying my eyes from the spot Xavier had just left from, I opened my mouth to insist on walking again, but he cut me off as he kicked the door to his office open.

“You have any other interesting friends I should be aware of?”

I scoffed, my head lulling as the tiredness and dizziness set back in as the adrenaline drained out of me. If you only knew. 

“Nurse!” I heard him call out as he began calling out orders to his team. But I had slipped back into the black of unconsciousness. My final thought was on Xavier, and how I had gotten my wish to see him again after all. And I got to see my childhood hero as well. My partner- neighbor- crush was secretly a superhero.

What an odd day.

-

I woke up to the annoyingly familiar sounds of medical machinery beeping. My vision was blurry as I blinked my eyes open, pulling my face from the sterile smelling pillow it was stuck to. My mouth felt like cotton. I smacked slightly trying to get moisture back in. My vision cleared and all I saw was red.

Well, red roses. Lots of red roses in crystal vases with black satin ribbons tied around them dotted around my room on every surface available. Or at least, every surface not filled with bouquets of fire lilies mixed with exotic looking purple, blue and pink flowers sprinkled with white baby’s breath. Those sat in crystal vases of their own. I blinked, sitting up and grabbing a card from each. I opened the red envelope first.

(Translated: Kitten, A little birdy told me that you had gone and gotten yourself  injured playing hero. We really need to have a talk about you and your martyr complex. It is vexing. Be a good kitten and be  patient. Allow yourself to heal. I am a call away if you need me. As for the ones responsible for your injury-  I am on it. Yours Truly, S)

I scoffed out a small laugh, shaking my head as I set the card down and looked at all the roses. I had no doubt before who they came from, but now I knew for sure. His line about the ones responsible made me pause. Did Sylus know who the ones were that were causing those suped-up Wanderers to appear? What was he going to do about it? I made a note to message him when I found my phone.

With a sigh, I moved onto the purple envelope. It had a slightly iridescent sheen to it, making hints of blues and pink shine out in the light. I smiled softly, fingers tracing the shell shaped wax seal. I knew who wrote this one, even before unfolding the expensive feeling paper. The looping hand of the calligraphy inside fit the man who wrote it.

(Translated: Miss Bodyguard, The sunset has lost its magic. The fishes of the reef are complaining so loudly that I am losing sleep– their friend that walked the beaches hasn’t been by and won't be for a while! I had to tell them the news to get them to give me a moment's peace. My inspiration is all dried up like a desert. How could you get so injured like this and leave me all alone to my own defenses? How shall I survive being apart from you? I will shrivel up and die of loneliness like a starfish stranded all alone in too small a tide pool. Will you take responsibility? Who will help me find the perfect shell for my collection? I started a new one, ya know? Got a whole new crystal vase for it and everything. So… you have to get better soon and help me find more shells to keep it company, yeah? You’ve really got to learn to not face things on your own, yeah? These hands aren’t just for painting. You have me, ya know? I’ve heard whispers. Rumors. I do have connections, ya know? I know who let all of those monsters out– the ones that hurt you. The ones responsible will learn- The sea never forgets those that cast offenses against its own. Eternally Yours, Rafayel)

I frowned. What did he mean ‘These hands aren’t just for painting’? Sure, I knew that there was more to Rafayel than most realized; he did have connections to the Nest, but I couldn’t help the worry that filled my heart at his words. His words about the sea never forgetting sounded especially concerning. What in the world was that fish planning?

I needed to get out of here. I needed to get to the bottom of this mess before more people I cared about got hurt. I sat up and began peeling the tape of an I.V. off my arm.

“I highly recommend that you stop doing that.”

My head whipped to the otherside of the bed, the side not filled with flowers by the door. There in a chair looking suspiciously like he had been dozing shortly before now sat Zayne. I eyed the empty coffee cups on the bed tray next to us both and fixed him with an accusatory look, “Have you been here all day? You have to have been busy with the disaster. Go take a break. I will be fine.”

He grunted noncommittally as he stood, reaching for the stethoscope around his neck. He pressed it over my heart, green eyes narrowed with focus as he watched the monitor. It seemed he didn’t trust it to report completely; his shoe tapped on the tile of the hospital room floor along with my pulse as he counted. Satisfied, he finally met my gaze, “Mhm,” he nodded slightly, “And all that night until this morning. Your… partner was quite clear about you being left alone.” His eyes went to the tape I had begun to peel, one brow raising as he fished tape from the pocket of his white coat and fixed it. He looked at me pointedly, “It seems he knows you nearly as well as I do.”

I sat back a bit dazed, “All night and this morning…? How long have I been out?”

Zayne looked at his watch, “Well, the hunter-”

“Xavier.”

“-brought you in at around 7:47pm last night. Roughly… 1.25 hrs after the Square incident was ended-”

“By him.”

“So, that would mean you’ve been here getting the care you needed for about 41.55 hours or 1.73 days, give or take a few minutes.”

“What?” My brain hurt and I could tell he was ticked, whether it was at me or Xavier, that I didn’t know. “Zayne, talk to me like I’m dumb. How long have I been here?”

“You’re not dumb.”

“Let’s pretend I am,” I rubbed a hand over my face, “I have been here for over a day?”

“Almost 42 hours.”

“42-” I stopped and eyed him fiddling with the way my IV laid. My eyes narrowed, “You’ve been here the whole time?”

“Yes.”

“Wh- Why!?” No wonder he was tissy, “You need rest too! You have to take better care of yourself.”

The glare he leveled at me was almost icy but definitely put out. He picked up my chart and flipped through it: 

“Your rib wasn’t broken, but two were cracked. You likely coughed up blood due to the nasty bite to your tongue, which we found during examination. Your CT scan showed a mild concussion. I concluded that your main injuries were likely from a blunt and heavy force trauma hitting you from the right- something akin to but not exactly like a small compact car colliding with your person- causing the cracked ribs. You had whiplash of the neck to match this idea and a bump on the back of your head as well, likely from the impact and the subsequent landing of your skull to the concrete. You also had a slight sprain of your right ankle and wrist. Your heart was also in tachycardia and very nearly gave the whole heart team on call a very busy night indeed.”

My jaw snapped shut with an audible click and I plopped back on my bed. Pain radiated from my side and I winced, hand going over it to feel bandages.

Zayne clicked his tongue. He set the chart back down and set about fixing the pillow behind my head. He continued, though his tone was less harsh, softer, more worried. I felt awful for how scared he must've been,  “You had to have a total of 24 stitches. Try not to twist they are on your left side. Your Hunter friend, Xavier, was it?” I nodded. “He was correct. You did need an infusion...Two, in fact. One gash hit your intercostal arteries and another cut through a majority of your lumbar arteries branching below your ribs. It is a lot of blood flow, but... " He leaned back, seemingly satisfied with the pillow. His jaw ticked as he added, "Thankfully, no major artery was hit or you would have bled out during the 1.25 hrs that he delayed your care.”

“He didn’t delay my care on purpose,” I sighed feeling tired. Tired of his prickling mood, tired because I knew he was just worried and that made me feel like shit, tired from the emotions of the day before, and tired from the meds I was surely on. “I passed out, but I woke up. He had stopped the bleeding. And I honestly did not feel so bad.”

“I’m sure his… secret identity needing to remain a secret had nothing to do with it,” Zayne’s eye leveled with mine. 

I shook my head, “No. Not at all. It wasn’t until I started trying to move around that we both realized it was worse than we thought, and he immediately insisted on bringing me here, whether he was seen or not. It was me that had to convince him to be careful, otherwise he would’ve teleported us right in the middle of the Emergency Department or the OR itself.” I chuckled a bit at the thought of the nurses exclaiming as Lumiere appeared in a flash of light. I thought back to those last moments when I thought I was about to die. My voice shook slightly, “He saved my life, Zayne. I really thought I was going to die down there at the end.”

Zayne’s hand fell over mine on my blanket. He gave it a small squeeze, “If that is true... then I suppose, I owe him my thanks.”

I chuckled softly, “Whatever for? Saving your most difficult patient?”

“Hn,” he shook his head slightly, “For saving my childhood friend. My... dearest friend.”

I smiled at him at that, giving his hand a squeeze, “We’ve known each other a long time, huh?”

His mouth twitched in a near smile, as though he knew something I didn't. He glanced to the side and chuckled, “It almost feels like eternity.”

I grinned, chuckling softly as well. Curious, I asked, “Hey Zayne?”

“Hm?” He looked back. His expression back to the softer Zayne I usually knew when it was just us.

“What made you want to become a doctor?”

“My father.” His eyes darted to the side however.

“Zaaayne,” I whined playfully and wiggled his hand still in mine, “No, really. Why a heart doctor? Come on. It’s just me. I won't judge you or think it's lame. I promise.”

He sighed, “Very well… Once, when I was over playing with Caleb, I heard your Grandmother talking.” He paused, eyeing me hesitantly before continuing. “You had been sick. Very sick for a while. It was not too long after she brought you home. I’m not sure if you remember.”

“I do.” I had been terribly sick then. So much so that many of my memories were lost.

He nodded, “Well, I heard then that it was your heart making you sick. Then you got better… and I got to know you. But sometimes… sometimes you’d get sick again. Never that bad but bad. Your Grandma always tried to look brave in front of Caleb and me, but we knew. It was then that I decided.”

My eyes widened, “You became a Cardiac Surgeon because of me?”

“Of course,” the green of his eyes looked intense and vivid as he stared back, “I wanted to be the one to save you. Of course I did, for you.”

“Zayne…” I trailed off. I didn’t know what to say. What could you say to something like that?

He tore his eyes away from mine and looked around the room. “Is it really so surprising? You have a way of making me care for you.” His eyes were soft and warm as they met mine again, “It is my honor to be able to help you in this way. If I could do it over, I would do the same.”

My eyes watered and I leaned up, throwing my arms around his neck, "Well that's not lame at all! That's so impossibly sweet."

“Careful,” He said but hugged me gently back. His ears were red.

“You are amazing, Zayne, you know that? I am so, so glad that we reconnected. I wish we never lost touch at all.”

His arms tightened just slightly, “I feel the same.”

I pulled back and couldn’t help the warm smile on my face, “You are such a good friend.”

He blinked a moment and at first I thought I had said something wrong, but then he smiled back, “I will always be here for you. As long as it makes you happy.”

I grinned, “It does.”

He feigned a sigh, “It is settled then. You are stuck with me.”

“Darn it,” I teased.

He chuckled, before looking more serious, “I do have a request.”

“What is it?”

“I… I know it is your job. I understand what it is to have a career that can push you. But I must insist that you not push yourself so far. You were the only hunter to sustain this level and amount of injuries. Everyone else pulled back and allowed a replacement to go in.”

I had to look away from his searching green eyes. The pain in them made a cloud of guilt swell in my gut.

“Why do you have to take such unnecessary risks?” He leaned his elbows on the edge of the bed, “Please. Help me understand.”

“I had planned to find a safe place to go.” My mind replayed the scene. “Captain Jenna was trying to tell me something, but the signal was bad. I was heading out but then I heard them…”

“Who?”

“A Mother and child. They were trapped behind the entrance of a cafe that collapsed.” I shook my head, “I knew I needed help and sent word but then these three huge Wanderers just appeared, almost like out of thin air.”

Zayne brows furrowed, “They didn’t give off a metaflux surge?”

“They did, but it was almost instantaneous with their appearance.”

“That seems… unnatural.”

“I think… it was…” my eyes met his, “I have not made my report yet though. There will have to be an investigation…”

“But you think something or someone caused this?”

“... Yes, I do.”

He sighed, leaning back in his chair and rubbed his face. “I guess… it is a good thing then.”

“Huh?”

“That Lumiere is back. Or at least, that he came back for this. For you.”

"I don't think it was just for me," face heating, I looked into my lap deep in thought.

Zayne hummed, "Perhaps."

I thought about the odd Wanderers in the Square then earlier on set. And about those guys cornering Xavier in that alley. I frowned. What was going on?

“Promise me that you won't do anything rash,” He caught my gaze, “Let the proper channels do their work. We’ve…both of us…have already lost. Let’s not add to that list.”

My chest panged at that. It was true. Zayne lost Caleb, just as I had. I nodded, “Yeah, okay.”

He smiled a soft smile at that then stood, glancing at his watch, “Well, I suppose I should get started on your paperwork.”

My eyes lit up, “I’m going home!?”

He tutted, “You will be after 8 tonight.” I groaned at that and he shook his head, brow raised, “I only agreed to that because your partner assured me that you would not so much as lift a finger for the next two to three weeks if I released you to his care.”

“You… What?” I blinked, “Two to three weeks!”

“Cracked ribs, Y/N. You Association will determine the exact length, but I have submitted my suggestions as your Doctor,” he reminded me, “Now then, he will be here after 8. Since you are being released I figured that it wouldn’t be too bad if I brought you something to eat.”

“You mean I don’t have to eat hospital food!” I laughed at his huff, “Even you have to admit it is awful.”

“The choices can be… limited.”

I scoffed, “The food tastes like cardboard or salt cakes and there is no in-between.”

That earned a chuckle. He was trying not to grin as he suggested, “Your favorite from the nearby cafe?”

“YES.”

A snort.

I grinned, “You just snorted.”

“... You’re high. It’s the meds.”

“Zayne!”

“Oh look, I’m being paged…”

“Zayne! You are off duty! You’re not even wearing a badge!” I laughed at his retreating figure, “Wait, Zayne! Come back I wont tease you about it! Snorting when you laugh is cute!”

“Just for that, no dessert.”

“You’re evil.”

“Just petty.”

“Zayne!”

This one took me a WHILE. I think it is the longest chapter so far and I almost chopped it in half AGAIN (originally this was part of chapter 4!)

The guys letters gave me trouble. I couldn't figure out how to include their handwriting and really wanted to. IDK how the heck to do code in tumblr, so I just made the letters into images and included translations for those that have a hard time with loopy fonts or that use accommodations. If you still had an issue, let me know and I will help you out by sending the letter text in a different way or something. I want to be inclusive and am open to tips!

I personally loved this chapter. I loved adding more intimate moments between Xavier and "Us". I let "Y/N" have more of a voice and I think I am having more fun with this than I even was before. Hopefully, you all are liking how she is coming across.

This chapter was also a bit of a love letter to Zayne. While he is not my main now, he was way I started playing and will always have a special place in my heart just for him. I hope he wasn't too ooc. Poor Zayne was *stressed* and suspicious for a lot of this. Still, I am comfortable (I think) with how it came out in the end.

Let me know what you all thought of this one! Did you like Sylus and Rafayel's letters? Anything you didn't like? Give me the DEETS.

Tag list:

@xxfaithlynxx @moonsavior @2kyute2poot @yournextdoorhousewitch @sapphoslostkid @ivohex @cherimoyatea @sandy2848582 @adorezhi @animecrazy76

As always, thank you for your support and for reading! Please comment to be added to the list!

[y0urm4m]

No time to die ch.1

Warnings: smoking, swearing, arranged marriage, alcohol consumption, weapons, blood, arguing, possible smut, fighting.(This includes all parts!!)

Summary: What will happen when two strangers with awful backstories are forced into an arranged marriage but one is seeking revenge.

┏━━━ 🀥 ━━━┓

There I sat cross legged, on my father’s plush leather couch in his office. Cigarette in hand. His little ‘body guards’ standing by the door. “So why did you call me in here?” I asked, exhaling the smoke. “Would you put that stupid thing out, you know I don’t like it when you do that.” He sighed, motioning towards the cigarette. I rolled my eyes, putting it out in his ashtray. “You’re a bit hypocritical, I’m not a little girl any more.” I said, crossing my arms. “Anyways, I called you in here as we need to have a serious conversation.” He said, nodding at the men letting them leave. I never really cared about getting to know their names as it would be different men by next week. “Carry on.” I replied, completely uninterested. “Well you know how much danger you can be in once you turn twenty-one and I couldn’t let that happen, so the last time I was in a meeting I had a chat with a few people and sorted something out.” He explained, sipping on his whiskey. “I don’t get your point.” I snorted, raising my eyebrow slightly. “My point is, you’ll be getting married next week as we needed it to be as soon as possible,” He responded, smiling. “I’ve met him and you would both be a perfect match.” He added, re-filling his glass.

There was no way he was forcing me to get married to a man I’d never met in my life.

“Wait, that’s unfair. I’ve never even met him and we’re getting married in a week.” I explained, standing up to walk out. “Don’t be like that y/n, you know I’m only trying to protect you.” He remarked also arising from his seat. “If you really wanted to protect me you wouldn’t have done any of the things you’ve done and mom would still be here!” I shouted, opening his office door. As the door opened I saw my dad give the men a look and with that the two of them were gripping onto my wrists. “Get off of me.” I screamed, kicking my legs slightly. “I’m sorry sweetheart, everything I’ve ever done has been for you.” He sighed emphasising the ‘for you’. “You haven’t done shit for me, if I was ever in danger it would be because of you,” I disagreed, my face shining with disgust. “I. Fucking. Hate. You.” I spat, and with that I felt myself being dragged to my bedroom, the door being slammed shut behind me.

How could he do this to me, after everything he has put me through these past 13 years. I was forced to grow up, because of him. My mom died, because of him.

Flash back:

I was awoken to a loud crashing noise from downstairs, I slowly slid out of my bed, tiptoeing down the creaky steps. There my mother stood screaming in my father’s face. “I told you to not bring that shit in my house.” She shouted, pushing him back. “I never wanted to but I had to for yours and y/n safety!” He shouted back, looking behind him. I was just to far up the stairs to the point where I couldn’t see who he was looking at.

The next thing I knew, there my mom was, her limp body on the floor. Pools of blood surround her. “Mom!” I screamed, running down the stairs hugging her lifeless body. “Y/n?!” My dad gasped, pulling me away from her. “Daddy what did you do to mom?” I asked, my breathing patterns speeding up rapidly. “Nothing baby, don’t worry about it. Go back upstairs please, I’ll be up in a second.” He told me, ushering me up the stairs.

End of flash back:

That was the last I saw of my mom, he told me she went to live with my aunt and obviously with my youthful and young mind I wouldn’t have understood until recently.

I sighed, sliding down the side of my door. How could he do this especially behind my back, I was supposed to be ‘his little princess’ although I know for a fact I wasn’t, the only reason I’m still alive is because I’m ‘blood’.

Which was one of the biggest lies I’d ever heard. Blood only ever makes you related. Trust, love and loyalty makes you family.

— I stayed in my room for the rest of the day, not even leaving to eat. I felt sick to my stomach just thinking about yesterday and all the events that had occurred, but I just have to get through all this. I was brought out of thought by someone knocking on my door. “Y/n?” My dad called out through the door. “What do you want?” I asked, sitting up from where I laid. “You’ll be meeting some of the your fiancé’s family today.” He said softly, my eyes widened. “I don’t even know his name.” I shouted back, standing up and heading straight for my bedroom door. “You’ll soon find out, now get ready.” He told me, leaving me confused as he walked down the hallway back to his office.

I rushed over to my closet, picking out the most presentable but comfortable clothes I could, shoving them on.

I just had to get married and make my dad happy.

“You can do this.” I whispered to myself as I walked out of my room towards where my dad stood. He was on the phone, as per usual. “I’m ready, I’ll be downstairs.” I whispered in his ear, heading towards the stairs. He turned to look at me nodding as I walked downstairs. 

I was immediately greeted by one of my fathers ‘big bad bodyguards’, who was pointing towards the car. I slid into the backseat, patiently waiting for my dad to make his way to the car. After roughly 15 minutes he had finally got into the car. The car immediately started, as we made our way to the restaurant. “Put your foot on it Darren, we’re going to be late.” My dad told the man driving us, he almost immediately sped up swerving through traffic.

I stared out the window, looking at all the shops and buildings we passed. “Where are we actually going?” I asked, looking slightly at my dad. “Just a restaurant, we’re almost there anyways.” He replied, looking down at his phone. I rolled my eyes, his phone was practically glued to his hand you’d think he was a teenage girl by the way he doesn’t leave the house without it.

As we continued passing people, buildings and other cars, two people caught my eye. It was a man and a little girl. They were walking down the street eating ice cream, they both looked so happy.

Why couldn’t me and my dad have that bond together?

— We slowly approached a small restaurant, which was filled with people; mainly middle aged men and women. “Come on then we’re already late as it is.” My dad said, patting my shoulder as he got out of the car. I slid out the car door, walking next to him as we entered the restaurant. “Can I know his name now?” I asked, looking at my dad. “I guess so,” He sighed. “His name is Chris and I expect you to show him and his family the most utter respect, okay.” He smiled, as I nodded.

“Good afternoon, have you guys got a reservation?” The waiter asked, looking down at the paper placed in front of them. “Yes, yes we have. The last name should be sturniolo.” He replied, looking at his watch. “Great, everyone else is already here so follow me and I’ll grab you guys some more menus.” The waiter said, leading us over to the table.

As we made our way to the table I was greeted with, 5 people. 3 in which all looked very similar in age and looks. An older lady immediately stood up walking towards me. “You must be y/n, I’ve heard so much about you.” She said, kissing my cheeks. I smiled, as the others greeted me and my dad. One boy in particular kept his gaze on mine. “If you couldn’t tell we’re triplets,” One of the boys said. “I’m Nick.” He added, bumping the one who sat on his left’s shoulder. “Oh uh I’m Matt.” The other chimed in, smiling. “And that’s Chris, anyways feel free to sit down.” Nick said, pointing towards a chair. I sat on the chair, looking at my dad who was already deep into a conversation. “So why don’t you tell us more about yourself.” The lady said, sipping from her drink. I bit my cheek slightly, looking at Chris and back down. “Why don’t I start, I’m Nick, I’m 20, I’m a triplet obviously and I really enjoy photography!” He said, smiling at me. “Uh well, I’m y/n and I.” I started speaking, when my dad ;who was now staring holes into my face, caught my attention.

“Why don’t we talk about the wedding.” My dad said abruptly changing the subject as he turned to look at Chris. “Right yes the wedding, aren’t you excited!” Nick said, giddily. “She is indeed, we’ve been discussing it a lot recently.” My dad butted in before I could begin to speak. I sighed, looking down at the water in front of me. “Chris are you happy?” Matt asked, nudging his brother’s shoulder. “What- oh- uh yes I am and it’s been wonderful meeting my wife to be.” He said, fake smiling. I could tell by the rest of his body language that he wasn’t genuinely happy or interested in the current conversation. “Well i was hoping we could go shopping and look at dresses tomorrow, but only if you’d like to.” The lady asked, grinning at me. “I’m sure she’d love to. Wouldn’t you?” My dad replied, looking at me. I nodded my head. “Yes, of course I would.” Just then my dad’s phone started ringing, who looked down at who was calling. “I’m sorry this is important, I’ll be back in a second.” He said, walking outside of the restaurant. “So what kind of dresses do you plan on looking at,” Nick asked. “Oh before you say, we wouldn’t want to spoil anything for Chris you’ll just have to tell us tomorrow.” He added, smiling at Chris who’s attention was now on his phone.

I sat talking with them and eating the food we had ordered whilst I waited patiently for my dad to return from his ‘important call’. “y/n!” Someone beckoned out to me, I turned to look. It was my dad and he wasn’t happy. “We need to leave now, something happened it’s important.” He told me, as I shot up grabbing my stuff. “It was nice meeting you all, I’ll see you tomorrow.” I said waving as I left the restaurant. “What was that about?” I asked, frowning at my dad. “Nothing, don’t worry about it. We just urgently need to get home,” He replied, getting back into the car as I also slid into the car. “Oh Nick asked me to give you his number by the way.” “Okay, I’ll message him now.” I replied, pulling out my phone.

Hi my dad said you wanted me to have your number

Yes I wanted to talk about what time your going wedding shopping tomorrow

I honestly don’t know but i’d love if you’d come with me

I was hoping you’d ask me that

I giggled earning a frown from my dad. “What are you giggling about?” He asked, looking at my phone. “I was just talking to Nick about tomorrow.” I replied, looking back down at my phone. “Oh right, well I’ll get Darren to drop and pick you up tomorrow.” He said, Darren nodding in response as he focused on driving us home.

— We finally made it home, my dad heading straight to his office whereas I headed straight to my room to message Nick.

Me and Nick ended up talking for hours on end about anything and everything. It was as if we’d known each other for years. The connection me and Nick already had was all my 8 year old self would have dreamed for after all I’d never had a best friend because my dad had insisted for me to get homeschooled meaning I never got the chance to meet people.

Maybe this whole ‘arranged marriage’ wasn’t going to be so bad after all. I just had to get to know Chris and Matt more.

┗━━━ 🀥 ━━━┛

A/N: how we feeling about this so far, took me forever to write even though it’s short but this is just the start!!

Tag list: @junnniiieee07 @patscorner @mattyb4dominicans @watercolorskyy @brooklynn0103 @imwetforyourmom

[rikiflowers]

glitter

you're sparkling and he wants to paint the sight into his memory forever.

warnings: smut with feelings and angst <3

wordcount: 4492

i listened to 'i'm the one' by bloo on repeat while writing

Ichigo Kurosaki endures a lot before he brings up something that bothers him. Most of the time he makes it out inside himself and then at some point the feeling is buried deep inside him. Speaking openly about his feelings? Difficult for him, but it has always worked well so far until now.  The stressed and overtired college student feels his nerves slowly running out. The reason for this is simple: you.

When his problem with you began, Ichigo himself didn't know exactly. Maybe it had always been there and slowly dug itself from his subconscious into his consciousness. Couldn't it have stayed there, he wonders as he sits at the table and stares at your back, his eyes glued to your ass for far too long, which is barely covered because you're just bending down to dig the beer out of the bottom compartment. "We definitely need another fridge just for all the beer... with a lock so that you keep your hands off my bottles," you complain to yourself, while the clatter of bottles against each other is not nearly as loud as your complaining. God, Ichigo feels the need to push you onto the kitchen table and elicit something from you other than just your whining. Ichigo just grumbles, and sips his (your) beer while he examines the beautiful curves on your body. The orange-haired man doesn't like stress. No loud grumbling and no one to reprimand him. But you, as his roommate, has a special status.

"You just got home... Can you perhaps sit down first?"

"May I put away the shopping first, Ichigo? Unlike others here, I make sure that there is something edible in the fridge." Your tone is irritable. He concludes that you've had a bad day (Ichigo is clearly an empath to notice this).

"You're just pretending I'm never going shopping... How exhausting," he murmurs more to himself, but louder than intended, which is why you turn around and look at him furiously. Immediately he recognizes the tears that almost escape your eyes. "Fuck you Ichigo."

"I didn't mean it that way," he explains clumsily, as he has never seen you cry before. This is a premiere that Ichigo did not want to experience. His heart contracts uncomfortably at the sight. "I'm sorry..." A bit overwhelmed by the situation, he tries to comfort you. He comes towards you, but you take a step back, the tears already running. Fuck. Otherwise, you always have a counter-slogan in store that you throw at him. You suddenly seem much too small, almost fragile, and Ichigo feels the need to hug you. But you don't let him, running into your room and slam the door behind you. His heart literally slips into his pants as he reviews this short scene. Did he do anything differently than usual? Fuck. He has no clue. Would you like him to knock on your door? Otherwise, you are more and more on your own. Maybe it would make it worse if he imposed himself on you. His head hurts when he thinks about the possibility that he somehow messed up, without really knowing what he did.

…

"Dude... Why are you in such a bad mood?" Renji's question brings Ichigo back to the present. The loud bass booms in his ears, while next to him a woman runs her fingers over his thigh. He forgot her name, which didn't interest him in the first place. The redhead next to him has put his arm around a beautiful woman while he looks at him questioningly. "I'm just not in the mood, Renji..."  Ichigo pulls the woman's hand away and mumbles only a short 'Sorry'. The woman does not take this very well, gets up, and struts away. He doesn’t care. "Your roommate, huh?"

The orange-haired man looks at him in surprise. "How do you know that?"

"Ichigo... every blind person sees that you want her and not just for a quick fuck," says the older one bored. "Out of respect for you, I didn't try anything with her."

"What a true friend you are," grumbles the younger one, taking the next sip of his whiskey. "But if you want to share her with me... I have absolutely nothing against it"

"To do this, I first have to dare to take the first step"

Renji's gaze wanders behind Ichigo and widens slightly. "I think today is your lucky day"

"Why?"

"I just saw her on the back of the dance floor," Renji replies with a grin. Faster than his brain can process, Ichigo’s body jumps up, almost dragging the table with it. He lets Renji sit alone, who will be busy with something better anyway. His absence won't hurt him too much. He has to come to you. He can't stand being ignored by you. With a racing heart, he makes his way through the crowd to you. He accidentally bumps into people, and apologizes quickly without giving it another thought. The alcohol in his system makes him take off, he is so excited to see you here.

And indeed. There you are on the dance floor, moving weightlessly to the music he doesn't like, but through your dancing he would hear it all the time, just for you to dance to it. His heart jumps as he bridges the distance to you. You have your eyes closed while your girlfriend sees him and grimaces briefly and taps you. You look at her questioningly before she points at him. You’re seeing him now, your face glittering because of your make-up and the strobe light mixing together. You seem like angels to him right now. Your eyes get big. "Ichigo?"

"Hi...", he replies a bit overwhelmed. He stands in front of you and can't get a word out, even though he wants to say so much. What has changed so suddenly? Why does he hesitate when he hasn't minced his words with you? Maybe the heavy palpitations in his chest remind him how much he actually likes you and he never really wanted to admit it to himself.

"Your roommate?" your girlfriend says disparagingly. Ichigo doesn't like the sound at all, but you don't care about your girlfriend. You take care of him. Far too much. "Can we talk?"

"I want to dance-"

"Then dance with me," he adds immediately. He is not so easily rebuffed. The orange-haired man has made a decision. You look at him with your shining eyes, seem to be looking for a retreat from his side. Ichigo looks down at you and holds out his hand to you. It seems like an eternity passes when you reach for it. His hand tingles as he clasps yours tightly and he is sure that if it wasn't so dark, you would have been able to see his glowing ears. You signal to your girlfriend that you are going with him and he turns to you questioningly. "We're here with her boyfriend. I was the fifth wheel on the car until just now," you laugh embarrassed. The alcohol apparently makes you talk to him so normally, because earlier you ran into your room in tears. This sight still lies heavy in his heart.

"Is everything okay with you?"

His question is drowned out by the loud music, so you just answer him with a 'huh?' and pull him down to you by the neck. The sudden contact of your hand causes him to tingle violently. Your lips brush against his cheek, which almost makes him lose his composure.

"I asked if you're okay?"

"Why shouldn't it?" Your eyes. Ichigo literally loses himself in them. Have they always glowed so strongly? Had he been blind all the last few years and now sees for the first time?

"Are you sure?" You just shrug your shoulders. "Didn't you want to dance with me?" Your body leans against his upper body, deliberately distracting you. It works.

"Yes, that's what I wanted...", he breathes out. He puts his arm around you, shielding you from the people around you who might get too close to you. Your fingers claw into his biceps, holding on to the orange-haired man as he pulls you towards him. Your body presses against his, and you enjoy its closeness, which you have always wanted so painfully. You don't want to think about it now but enjoy what's in front of you right now. Your arms wrap around Ichigo's shoulders as he puts his hands on your hip and guides you. He doesn't need to guide you, because you move with him to the rhythm of the music as if by yourself. It's been a long time since you've danced with him, so you want to enjoy this moment between you.

You can hardly take your eyes off him. The light makes his hair shimmer, while his lips shine seductively. It's an ordeal and you wonder if he might feel the same way. Has he ever thought about you the way you think about him?

At this moment, the closeness to you is not close enough for you. You want more. So much more. The alcohol goes completely to your head at this moment as you claw your fingers into the hairs on the back of his neck and pull him towards you. Ichigo's hands automatically move to your cheeks, and the heat is immediately transferred to you. Apparently, he expected you to draw him to you. "Ichigo...", you whisper his name. Your lips open slightly, want to ask him; finally want to bridge this agonizing distance. The orange-haired man beats you to it. "Please..."

At the same time, lips crash into each other that should have been found long ago. As if kissing him was the last piece of the puzzle, your nerve endings explode. In the mass of the celebrating crowd he will go down with you. teeth to teeth; your affection presses between his lips while he comes towards you. Desperately, you cling to each other as you devour each other mercilessly. Your head is screaming to have your fingers on every little spot of its body, but you're just content with its hair, which you're allowed to touch with your fingertips. You are in heaven. Ichigo bites your lower lip lightly, which makes you groan, only to be swallowed by him with his kisses. Breathless, you separate from each other when you have been accidentally bumped into by someone. You look at each other with glazed eyes. His hand is still on your hip.

"I-"

You both want to talk at once. A smile creeps onto your lips, which Ichigo reciprocates.

"To me or to you?" grins the orange-haired man and you playfully slap him on the arm. "We can still decide that on the spot."

You leave the club together, of course not without telling your friend quickly, even though she is probably busy with her boyfriend. The cool air hits your bare skin so that all the hairs immediately stand up. Ichigo is quick to notice this, puts on his leather jacket, which smells far too much like him. How can you not fall upon him at once? "Thank you..."

He smiles at you. That damn smile. You get dizzy in a good way. "I called us an Uber. It’s on its way..." Ichigo pushes you close to him and gives you even more warmth. But it triggers much more in you. You're wet. Unspeakably damp. Your thighs rub against each other, which doesn't escape the orange-haired guy either. He has to hold back his excitement about it. It all happened for him as if in a frenzy. He can hardly believe that he is now really on his way home with you to push you into the mattress and elicit the most beautiful sounds from you.

Reality hits you in one fell swoop. You're about to sleep with him. Years of suppressed feelings soon reach their climax and it is up to him whether he wants to go further than that. You get scared. What if it's going to be a mistake? What if everything falls apart after that?

"Hey... Look at me."

You raise your gaze, look into his warm eyes. "What are you thinking about?" He must have seen your look, otherwise he wouldn't ask so worriedly.

"I'm afraid of what happens afterward," you confess honestly, which makes him nod in understanding. "What happens after that is up to you. No stress... We don't have to if you decide otherwise..."

You interrupt him and press a gentle kiss on his cheek. "I want it." You feel Ichigo's hand on your cheek and as you pull away from him, you see the warm smile on the orange-haired man's lips. You recognize the glitter on his cheek, stroking the particles. "You’re glittering," you laugh brightly, while Ichigo just grins. It doesn't bother him that you gave him some of your glitter. If it were up to him, you could cover him with all your glitter. The main thing is that it's yours. A strange thought that is not so strange for him.

"Give me more of it," he demands, reaching for your face to press it against his. You giggle as Ichigo's cheeks are pressed against your sparkling cheeks one by one.

When he is done with his work, he stands proudly next to you. "And?"

"Beautiful... Glitter looks a little too good on you" And you mean it. The light of the street lamp shines on his face, which makes the particles shine. Edward Cullen would be jealous if he could see Ichigo now.

"our Uber is here," Ichigo interrupts your train of thought as you walk towards the arriving car. The orange-haired man holds you by the hand so that you can sit carefully in it. His body presses itself next to you. You lean up to him while you block out the fact that the orange-haired man is involved in a conversation with the Uber driver. Your head rests on his shoulder, causing Ichigo to flinch briefly as your hair tickles his neck. His arm immediately wraps around your shoulders and moves you slightly closer to him. His smell swings around your nose, making it even worse for you not to imagine the most indecent pictures. In addition, his fingers stroke the bare skin of your waist absentmindedly, drawing circles so that you get goosebumps. Your body leans further into it so that it looks down at you and smiles softly at you, unperturbed as you feel everything gather in the middle. Doesn't he notice how aroused you are right now?

The Uber ride drags on agonizingly slowly until you finally recognize your apartment complex and thank God for your perseverance. Ichigo insists on paying for the ride when you reach for your wallet and you let him.  You feel the tingling on your skin as he gently reaches for your hand and clasps it tightly with his. You smile at him while you are once again speechless about the fact that he lights up in the light of the street lamps. You follow him like a moth follows the light, even if you burn yourself for good.

"Are you tired?"

"Do I look tired?" you reply questioningly as he has to let go of your hand for a moment to dig the key out of his pocket. "It's been a long night for you and I don't want you to get overtired-"

"Ichigo... I want to sleep with you. Forgotten?"

Your question makes the older one pause. "I've forgotten how direct you can be." You can see the red glow on his cheeks as he unlocks the door.

"Do you know it any other way?" You grin cheekily at him when you hear a mock sigh in response. In the hallway, you are suddenly pressed against the nearest wall. Ichigo presses his hip against yours, so you can feel his dick all too clearly against your clothed pussy. A gasp escapes you, swallowed by Ichigo's lips. Your hands reach into his neck, pulling him even closer to you. God, how much you've always wanted this. All the years you've been longing for him.

"Fuck, Ichigo... we have to go upstairs," you mumble against his lips as he reaches under your butt with his hand and lifts you onto his arms. "I hope we don't fall down the stairs now because you misjudged your strength"

"You're just a flyweight to me," he just replies, kissing your chin as he carries you up the stairs. You giggle to yourself while the orange-haired man shows zero struggle. Hot.

Once at the top, he finally lets you down. Together you literally rush into the apartment and fall into each other's arms. The door slams shut and your arms wrap around his body. Like a starving woman, you devour his lips, your tongue enters his mouth, which he opens so willingly. Ichigo growls into your mouth, his tongue pressing against yours. "Ichigo... Bed," you breathe against his lips. He nods willingly, grabs you by the wrist and literally pulls you with him into his room. You're rarely in his room and you've never sat on his bed. With ease you let him press you onto the mattress. He stands in front of you, looks down at you with his beautiful brown eyes. "Am I dreaming?"

You grin at his question. "I hope we both aren't dreaming," you reply as you watch Ichigo undress. "Do you know how long I've wanted to do this?"

"How long?" he replies roughly.

"Ever since I've known you... all the time you brought women into our apartment" Ichigo groans when you're finally honest. "Why didn't you ever say anything?"

You just shrug your shoulders, pulling the annoying top over your shoulders and now sit in front of him in a bra. Ichigo kneels in front of you, and helps you take off your skirt. His fingers stroke your thighs before he takes your leg, giving it tender kisses. "I always thought you only saw me as a friend. I had to distract myself with all these women because I knew you were next door and I couldn't have you..."

Your heart beats faster as you watch him cover your legs with kisses and finally drop the piece of cloth to the floor. "The thought of how jealous you were makes me happier than it should..." whispers the orange-haired man, grabbing the flesh of your thighs and pulling you towards him all at once. Then I don't even want to know how you felt when I brought someone with me."

He groans annoyed. "Don't remind me of that idiot... I was beyond jealous because he wasn't good enough for you."

"And you're better?"

He grins, grasps your pussy with his hand. You hiss in surprise. "You'll see that on your own"

And he will be right. His fingers push the piece of fabric to the side and press into your wetness. A gasp escapes you as he sinks another finger into you. "Fuck... You're so wet"

You only agree with him cautiously, as his fingers hit the exact point that sends lightning through your body. "Ichigo..." you exclaim as he runs his thumbs over your clitoris, starting to grin as he hits exactly the right points with you. I want to lick you... May I?"

"Oh god, please" He laughs brightly because you answered him way too quickly and euphorically. The orange-haired man bends your legs and pushes you back again. But you lean on your elbow because you want to watch. He grins, continuing his action. Finally he pulls down your panties and throws them to your skirt. Ichigo bends down, kisses your vulva before he spreads your lips and dips his tongue directly into it. The muscle hits every corner of your pussy. You reach into his soft hair, pushing him even deeper, which hardly seems to bother him. He literally slurps you out, buzzes against your pussy so that this tingling sensation travels directly to your clitoris. "Ichigo... so good...", you blurt out between high-pitched moans, which spurs him on to suck on your bundle of nerves. Reflexively, your body tries to close your legs, but Ichigo grabs your thighs, holding them in place. You rub your pussy against his face, which makes Ichigo moan against your wetness. He inserts one finger into you for support, before the second follows to bring you over the threshold. God, it seems like the first time a man has put so much effort into making you come. Your fingers are literally pulling on his hair, looking for a balancing regulation, as Ichigo's head between your legs literally makes you lose the ground under your feet.

Tirelessly, his fingers thrust into you, rubbing over the spongy point. Your orgasm suddenly sloshes over you like a raging torrent. Everything in you clenches around his fingers as you come with his name on your lips. Ichigo holds your trembling leg firmly in his hand as he continues to slowly move his fingers inside you to guide you through your climax. When you turn your gaze back to him, you see him literally piercing you with his gaze. Apparently, he was watching you the whole time.

Breathless, you pull him towards you, and see his half grin as he pulls his fingers out of you. Ichigo supports himself next to you and grabs your cheek. Your breath is still irregular as you look at it with lustful eyes. Your hand reaches for his hand before you bring it to your lips and kiss the back of his hand. Ichigo doesn't let you out of his sight. You bring his fingers, which were just inside you, to your lips. You put them in your mouth and suck on them, tasting yourself. You hear a deep moan from the orange-haired man's lips, and feel his fingers twitch in your mouth as your tongue dances around the long fingers.

Ichigo grabs the back of your head, pulls you towards him with it. "Are you trying to drive me mad for good?" You grin against his lips before you kiss him passionately, straining his lower lip between your teeth. Ichigo growls, his fingers grabbing your ass. "I need to feel you, baby..." he whispers against your maltreated lips. You nod, reach for his dick in his boxer shorts. You can hardly embrace it, it is so big. No wonder why the women kept the whole house awake with their moans. Now you can experience it for yourself. "If you don't stop, I'll come in your hand...", he manages to exert himself, carefully pulls out your hand; Forehead to forehead as your breaths blend. "I have to feel you..."

"How could I say no?" you whisper back. "How do you want me?"

"On your back. I have to see your eyes when you come back."

"Kinky..." you smile, but his gaze is suddenly strangely serious.

"That's what happens when you're in love..."

Before you can answer properly, he pushes you down on the mattress. Your mind races as you look up at him. Ichigo shouldn't have said that. His lips were quicker to spit out the words than his head could have registered. "Ichigo... I dare you, if you back down now. We can talk about that afterward," you assure him, lasciviously spreading your legs to invite him. "Come here"

Ichigo doesn't need to be told twice. That's how long he's dreamed of it. If it falls apart after that, then at least he knows that it won't work out. He only wants to live in the feeling once.

And so he turns off his brain as you wrap your legs around his waist and he slowly sinks into you with a fluid movement. He can penetrate with ease because you are incredibly moist, which he clearly feels in you. It demands all his self-control not to lose himself completely. "Ichigo...", you moan stretched out as you feel him inside you. Your fingers claw into his shoulder as he growls your name against the crook of your neck. Ichigo's face tenses as he starts to move inside you. You press your lips back to his. Teeth crash into each other as you explore your oral cavities slowly and lasciviously. Ichigo's thrusts are deep and sharp, pressing you against the headboard again and again, which the orange-haired man prevents with his hand on your head. "You feel so good..." , he groans, snapping your pussy apart with his harsh thrusts. He nearly pulls himself out completely to thrust long strokes into you, making you a mess under him. “I always wanted you…so pretty under me”

You just answer with whimpers, attacking his neck with wet kisses.

It bubbles many sweet things against your lips that you swallow again and again. Sweat covers your body as you thrust your hips against his in rhythm. "Fuck... I don't last long... I'm sorry"

"It's okay... I want you to come," you breathe panting, literally scratching his back. "You're killing me..."  His fingers wander between your legs, stroke your clit. With skillful movements, he manages to bring you to a second orgasm in such a short time. "Look at me," he snaps at and just at that moment you manage to look at him when the climax breaks over you and you just manage to keep your eyes open before Ichigo pulls out of you and he squirts his warm orgasm onto your belly. Breathless, you look at each other, completely overwhelmed by the effects of orgasm.

"Oh fuck wait..." he mumbles as he realizes that his cum is running down you. He rummages around in his closet drawer while you try to process what just happened. You have finally slept together. It happened.

Ichigo pulls a few tissues out of the package he just fished out and begins to gently wipe your belly. A gentle gesture that will make butterflies flutter in your stomach. "Ichigo..."

"Yes?"

When he's done, he puts it on the cupboard next to it. "Was that serious earlier?"

Embarrassed, he looks at the crumpled bed linen. "Yes... Does that change anything now?" His voice trembles as he asks this. It makes your heart beat faster.

"Yes, our relationship status."

"Huh?"

You laugh. He looks at you like an embarrassed deer. "Do we want to continue to be just friends and roommates or upgrade to boyfriend and girlfriend?" you continue, waiting for his answer.

A happy smile adorns his lips, which perfectly match his shining eyes. "I'd rather take the second one...", he replies, moves closer to you and lovingly brushes the sweaty strands of hair out of your face. There's glitter all over my bed..." he whispers against your lips while you just grin crookedly, give him a butterfly kiss on the nose. "Then you should look at yourself in the mirror right away..."

[bloos-bloo]

I'm not one to write NSFW fics- but I did want to try it- Sozura fans rejoice :D

YOUNGINS STAY AWAY FROM THIS ONE- (I can't really stop you though- but please respect my boundaries ;v;)

[brightstar2000]

What are your favourite TSAMS fanfictions to read?

There are multiple i do like to read, but some of them are honestly rare to come across. I like to read different takes on Eclipse redemptions and some ship ones with Eclipse/Sun or fics that just have them as tolerant of eachother or friends, but the issue i have is it's rare to find ship ones without smut somewhere in it. Won't go into detail but i have ptsd from a long time of sexual abuse. That's why i avoid the ones with smut because i'm worried about it possibly triggering something and it makes me uncomfortable in general. But it also upsets me because my options are very limited. (Won't tell writers what they can or can't write though. It's their stories, not mine)

I also like a good bit of the family oriented ones. Some of the ones i like to read are "Lightning Scars" by Morriganfey, and i also like the Karma's Bitter series by SinisterShepherd. Other fics i like include TheDemonSurfer's fics, especially the ones they have with Eclipse and Sun. I also like the series of tiny Eclipse and Sun by Bloo (22FluffyTheSpider123 on Ao3)

Some other ones that interested me that were not typically what I would have looked into were The Obiedience Protocol by CosmicKinglet (VioletVince on Ao3), and The Monster I've Become by TheAlphaVoid, but i enjoyed these. (be careful with TOP cuz it has hypnosis in it and i did have to stop reading a few times during hypnosis scenes to not fall into a trance myself. Yes, it works, so be careful with that one at those parts.)

There are several others as well that I like, but i won't name off all of them. These are some good reads if you want to find them in my opinion.

[threerattsinatrenchcoat]

1, 21 and 29 for the end of year asks!

Sorry for the delay! And thank you for the ask ❤️

1 - fav fic I wrote

Really glad you asked because I can give the real answer (I Will Bury You in Diamonds, the fic I never shut up about) and a spare that I also adore:

Embers that Never Go Out - sad little grief fic about Arabella learning magic, set post game.

21 - most memorable comment review

Oh, like, all of them. I actually save comments (like have screenshots) and reread them all the time. I recently got one from Libri on I'll Write to You in Flowers that was about as long as the fic itself that I've been going over and over, and I've always enjoyed ones that quote lines or are steam of consciousness or that are from writers I also enjoy. (Tumblrs tags are freaking out with too many names so sorry but) aviatorasharak, graysparrow, unmoderated_zhent, topofthelighthouse, deepdustsea, bee, lolliputian , silverstrike and soncasong are a few names that I can think of, but I'm so grateful for this community.

Oh, and whenever anyone recommends one of my fics I have to go jogging or dancing from excitement. I know luvwich and vera have lately, so thank you.

However, the question asked for one, so I'll say, @bloobluebloo who left comments on my first fic (Shadows of the Lost)that intrigued me, convinced me to keep publishing my stuff (even though that fic was very esoteric), greatly informed my own style of leaving long-ass and detailed comments, and bloo was one of the first people I ever reached out to on Tumblr to be like, "hi". Every time I worry about writing something too silly I think about "Zelda forcing Ganondorf to attend a class with children? That is so freaking amusing I literally burst into laughter" and damnit, if that isn't too silly than nothing is

29. Shortest fic I've read

Okay I was going to say "In the Hideout" which is Shadowheart/Nocturne smut fic by Topofthelighthouse for the Tolna's Vault Smut Challenge, which clocks in at 622

But then I remembered "queens on the throne", at 599 words, where am empress dethrones her husband but keeps one of his concubines, determined to romance her.

Link to the asks if anyone wants to join

[yourstrulybrittney]

𝓐𝓵𝓵 𝓣𝓸𝓸 𝓦𝓮𝓵𝓵~

(𝓖𝓸𝓳𝓸’𝓼 𝓥𝓮𝓻𝓼𝓲𝓸𝓷)

Au! Actor!Gojo x Singer!R

_____________________

Why did you lie to him? Pushing back your feelings for your costar is for the best right?

Fluff! Smut! Angst! Fake-dating! Enemies to lovers! Drug use! She fell first he fell harder!

Previous chapter

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𝓒𝓱4-𝒲𝒽𝑜 𝒹𝑜 𝐼 𝒽𝒶𝓋𝑒 𝓉𝑜 𝓈𝓅𝑒𝒶𝓀 𝓉𝑜 , 𝒜𝒷𝑜𝓊𝓉 𝒾𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓎 𝒸𝒶𝓃 𝓇𝑒𝒹𝑜.. 𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝓅𝓇𝑜𝓅𝒽𝑒𝒸𝓎?..

𝓖𝓸𝓳𝓸’𝓼 𝓟𝓞𝓥

Gojo found himself at your apartment complex. Parked near the entrance. Gojo was confused on what he was feeling, Anger? Jealousy? Sadness? But what made him feel this way about you? Was it your beauty..? You were one of the prettiest girl he’s seen, but it wasn’t that. It was just the way you were. The way you treated him, the way you made him feel safe, wanted, and perhaps the way you made him feel loved…

How could you love someone like him, he didn’t even know how love felt.. You wouldn’t love him, how could he deserve your love. Or could you just want to use him? Gojo leaned over to the glove box in his car. Pulling out a bottle of pills, reading “morphine.” Taking 4 of the small but somewhat strong blue pills. Chopping them up with a card.. inhaling the powder. His head now resting on the steering wheel. “Why did he need your validation so bad?” Pinching his skin on his arm, a little bit of blood spilling out.. maybe he took too many pills.. he thought. As his eyes closed.

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You didn’t immediately head home after leaving Gojo. You actually didn’t have anything to do, you weren’t ready to call your dad back and Sarori wouldn’t be home until later. You went to go pick up some groceries. You didn’t really need anything just.. something to get your mind off Gojo..

It didn’t help, not even picking up a tasty coffee. He just didn’t want to leave your mind. You sighed, walking out of your car towards your apartment complex entrance. Seeing a familiar figure, inside a car. He had white soft hair, somewhat pale skin. Were you thinking about Gojo so much to the point you started hallucinating him?!. You peaked over noticing he looked passed out, and he was even bleeding.

Gojo or not. You couldn’t just leave someone like that. You knocked on the driver side window. You really couldn’t see anything the window were tinted. You kept knocking and he wouldn’t answer. You checked to see if his door was open. And it was. This was an invasion of privacy, but he could be seriously hurt. He looked exactly like Gojo him body wise. His aroma was the same too. You started nudging him. Asking him if he was okay. Finally hearing some somewhat steady breathing. His head slowly turning towards you. “Princess?” He mumbled

“Satoru-.” “What’s wrong are you okay?” You said observing him, his eyes were red, his hair messy, and some blood on his arm. He didn’t know what to say, slowly trying to get up, wobbling. You reached over grabbing onto him. He put his head onto your chest. You let him keep it there. Messaging the back of his head. “Should we go to a hospital, Satoru?” “No I’m fine, Its just a headache.” Gojo mumbled. You knew it wasn’t that. “Do you want to go up to my apartment? I could-.” “Thought you’d never ask.” Teased Gojo cutting you off. You gently slapped the back of his head with hand you were using to message him. You helped him up, making your way up to your apartment.

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Entering your apartment telling him to go sit on your couch. Going to the kitchen grabbing a glass of water, a soft wet rag, and painkillers. Walking back to him, sitting next to him. Handing him the water. The glass shook in his hand, some water even spilled out. Gojo looked towards the painkillers. Wondering why your weren’t hanging them to him.

“You’re high aren’t you?” You said clutching onto the painkillers and the rag , looking away from his eyes. He could tell from your voice, that he couldn’t deny it, you would know the truth. You tossed the painkillers to the side. Knowing the answer by his silence. “Yuji and Sarori didn’t really have an argument did they?” He countered. You looked towards Gojo, than looked away. You couldn’t deny it, he knew the truth.

“Itadori called me, he said Sarori and him have been together this whole time.” “Why did you lie to me Y/N?” He said, his tone more hurt than frustrated. He grabbed your chin making you face him. You didn’t know what say. You backed up, walking off to the kitchen. Coming out with two glasses and a champagne bottle. You sat back down pouring the liquid. Handing him a glass, looking at him. “I don’t know why I lied, but-.” You paused sighing. “But I do know I’m sorry Satoru.” You said.

“Now why are you high?” You said, sipping on champagne. He chugged the champagne in his glass. Breaking eye contact, going to pour himself some more. “That’s none of your business.” He answered. You sighed. “Okay then, Gojo.” “Here’s a question that is my business. What were you doing here?” You countered. “I wanted to know why you lied to me, I asked you already, so now I think I should go.” He said slowly getting up, still wobbly. You pulled him back. “You can’t drive like that Gojo.” “I can handle myself Y/N.” What you were about to do was going to hurt your pride, but your morals would thank you. You yanked him with all you force. He was now onto of you. “Please Gojo-. Please Satoru.” You said. He couldn’t move, it felt like his was paralyzed. He wanted nothing more than to stay with you. He just laid on your shoulder, he was still hurt, but cheering up with your warmth.

“I got high because of you princess.” He said, looking up towards you. “Huh, but I didn’t tell you to get high?” You said teased acting confused. “No well I mean, I got high because I had these weird thoughts of why you lied to me.” He said hesitantly. Your started softly wiping the blood away with the rag. “What weird thoughts?” you asked. He sat up a little. “Well-.” He started but stopped. You place a hand on his shoulder, rubbing it. “It’s fine Satoru, you don’t have to answer.” You assured him. He grabbed the hand you placed on his shoulder, moving it up to his cheek. At the moment Gojo felt something he’s never felt before, but he couldn’t tell what? He just found himself leaning forward. Closer and closer. You found yourself doing the same. Until his lips were just an inch away.

“This is why I lied to you,” you muttered. He just looked confused. “We shouldn’t do this.” You said looking away biting your lip. He used two finger to pull you to look towards him. “Why not?” He said pouting. You couldn’t look at him in his eyes, knowing if you did you would give in. Gojo felt his heart ache.

When the door swung open. Two figures appeared. Gojo stayed in the same spot. But you sat upright. “Gojo?” Both Sarori and Yuji said at the same time. You just sat there in silence. Gojo looked at you one last time. Once your watery eyes met contact with his, you looked away. Gojo got up. “Itadori can you take me to my house?” Asked Gojo to Itadori. “Yeah, sure.” Answered Itadori. “I’ll wait in the car.” He said in a low tone going off. You looked as he exited. Then Itadori said his goodbyes and left.

Sarori came running towards you. “What happened Y/N?” Asked Sarori. As you let some tears escape. “What did that imbecile do to you?” She asked. You just wiped your tears getting up. “No it was my fault.” You said walking away.

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The next week Gojo called off work sick. Any chance you saw Itadori you asked him about Gojo. You also noticed how in love Itadori and Sarori seemed, you were obviously happy for them. Yet would also wonder if you could have that. But not with anyone, with Satoru..

You let the water from the shower stream down your body. While you were lost in your thoughts. You came to the conclusion that you and Gojo almost had that, maybe even already had that. Well.. until you blew it. You wanted to help Gojo, but ended up hurting him. You didn’t know how someone could hurt someone as amiable as him. And after learning about what has happened to him before. You just wanted care for him, you want to reconcile him. You didn’t know if you could do it. But you really wanted to try. You made a promise to yourself that day. You’d give it a try.

_____________________

The next month went by quickly. Gojo wasn’t rude but he wasn’t the way he was before. Him not showing his usual bubbly attitude hurt more than him being mean.

_____________________

𝓖𝓸𝓳𝓸’𝓼 𝓟𝓞𝓥

Knock Knock

Gojo got up from the couch of his apartment, wondering who it could be? He opened the door. “Big brother Gojo!” Exclaimed the black hair girl. “Riko?” She came barging into the apartment, a nanny behind her. She hugged Gojo. “Hey riko. To what do I owe the suprise to?” Gojo hugged back. He signaled for the to come in. But they declined.

“Can’t stay for too long, got a bunch of business to handle.” Riko said with big grin on her face. “Business? Like what?” Gojo asked, confused. Riko punched his shoulder. “Like birthday planning, I’m finally becoming a teen.” She said. “Finally becoming a teen. Thats a big deal.” Teased Gojo. “Mhm yep. So you have to attend.” “I don’t think I’m going to be able to make it riko.” Said Gojo. He probably could make it, he just didn’t want to see his dad. “You promised me last year you would come to this birthday party this year, after you ditched me last year. You can’t break a promise.” Countered Riko. Gojo just stood in silence.

“I’m taking that as a yes.” Said Riko with a big smile on her face. “Anyways is it true that your costar is Y/N L/N?” She asked. “Yeah.” Said Gojo in a low tone, he was still sad, but he missed you. “Gojo? Is it also true that you two actually seeing eachother.. romantically?” She asked. Gojo just smirked and rolled his eyes. He couldn’t say the truth, that it would be fake, rafter all Riko did have a loose tongue, she would definitely let the truth slip. “NO WAY!” exclaimed Riko. “Is she actually really nice in person like everyone says! What’s her favorite thing! How can she sing so beautifully!.” Said Riko fan girling over you. “Please Satoru, can I please meet her, I won’t ask for anything more pretty please. You don’t have to get me a birthday gift, just let me meet her!” Exclaimed Riko. Gojo just stood there in silence.

Riko pulled out to birthday invitations. “One for you, I’m expecting you there. No excuses!” She exclaimed. “And one for Y/N, pleasee Satoru. It would make me so happy to meet her.” She said in a soft tone. Satoru nodded. Taking both of the invitations. Riko and her nanny said her goodbyes and left. This encounter made him realize he missed you a lot more than he thought. He now promised he’d win you over .

_____________________

Knock Knock

You were looking around your vanity. You lost your necklace. But you didn’t lose hope of finding it, just thought you misplaced it. You ask Gojo to meet you in your dressing room. After work, you wanted to exchange schedules with him. Because the director urged you to start the Pr for the movie. You started getting “deju vu” when you heard the knocks.

“Come in.” “You wanted to see me?” Spoke Gojo’s coming in. Leaning against the door. “Mhm.” You said getting up. “What were you looking for?” He spoke in a cold tone. You pouted at his tone. He was still bothered with you, you thought. “I lost a necklace.” You answered. He just gave you a confused look. But deep down the necklace you lost, was in his possession.

“Um well, I just wanted to exchange schedules. So we can see when we are free to go out together.” You spoke a little flustered. “Okay I’ll get my manger to send it to you.” He spoke in a low tone. Turning to leave. But he felt a force pulling his wrist, stopping him. “Satoru I still want be friends. I’m sorry about what happened.” You spoke in a soft tone. He look back at you. He also still wanted to be friends with you, he missed you alot. “I mean it, I’m sorry, what will it take for you to forgive me.” You asked. “Not much.” He replied. Placing a hand on you cheek. “But you could do me this one favor.” You nodded. “Next week, come with me to visit family. It’ll be my sister’s birthday, she’s a big fan. It’ll mean alot to her.” Gojo said handing you an invitation. You took it from his hand, and took a quick glance at it. “Sure I’ll go.” You said, with a smile creepin’ up your lips. He took out his phone. “Take out your phone, let’s exchange numbers.” You agreed handing him your phone. Putting your contact. He gave you pack your phone. Scanning over the information. His contact name was “Satoru<3” . But before you could say something, he was leaving. Only turning around to wink. You smiled at him.

You felt butterflies. This time you wouldn’t mess things up, you and Satoru both thought.

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Ch5 Preview || Gojo found him self feeling Euphoria with you. And for you? I think it won’t hurt to try something with Gojo. It’s not like you can resist either way. You both wont mess things up this time. Right? (Upcoming chapter will have smut)

A/N || This chapter is a little cliche :’). Anyways- . Next chapter will be happy one. Also sorry for the wait superrr busy with school right now. (Schools not done, but I am 😭..)

Please Repost and @ me . Like and follow so I know you’re liking the series! Feedback Too Very appreciated !

Love yall! 💋

Taglist (names in bold can’t be tagged) || @sakui1 @sanriosatoru @gh0ulkz @faeryminnyx @atsuu123

Next chapter!

(Pending)

[jazlynriddle]

Welcome to your life - Pt 3:

It's My Own Design Ch 1:

Summary:

Ominis fought to control his expression, to keep his hands from trembling. Five years. Five years since he'd seen his parents, and this. This was the reason they'd given him the honour of their time? This was the reason they'd sought him out at Hogwarts?

The bitterness welling up within him was thick enough to gag on.

New year, new allies, new responsibilities, new avenues of revenue, and new aspects of their own Ancient Magic to explore. As the Keeper and their partners enter their last year at Hogwarts, it remains to be seen if the new school year will bring with it new problems or adversaries, but they are confident in the strength of their relationship with Sebastian and Ominis. The three of them would endure, no matter what befell them.

And if they were wrong?

What a joke, they would suffer no alternative.

Warnings: Sebastian x MC x Ominis! Drug Addiction! Spoilers! Slow-burn corruption! Dark content! Fucked up 1800s orphanages! MC has no love for Anne or Solomon! Dubious happy ending (it's happy for MC, Seb and Ominis at least).

You can also read on AO3! (chapter specific warnings below)

Notes:

Whoo! Part Three here we go! This prologuey chapter is a, pretty short but hopefully good, opening into the third major arc, and our kids’ last year at Hogwarts! Part One and Two were mostly character building and establishing dynamics. This part Three, is where I'll begin setting up more plot-heavy things for the intense fourth and final major arc. That last arc is gonna be crazy =D (Also, first smut scene is Chapter 4 and it's rather BDSM flavoured)

I will, however, be changing my upload schedule to once every two weeks, because as much as I love writing this, once a week is starting to chafe, especially since I've been writing longer and longer chapters x’)

I've literally been spending every free moment writing, and I miss actually playing games, I haven't even had time to play Tears of the Kingdom despite having it since it launched- TvT

Plus, my beta and beloved boyfriend has been running himself ragged trying to keep up with my pace and I feel really bad about that, so I wanna give him more breathing room-

So, the next upload will be the same day, same time, every second Sat noon PST, just like, skipping one weekend upload. Basically alternating my upload day, hope you don't mind! ><

Now, without further ado, let the curtains rise on our Third Act!

A soft pop echoed through the Elves’ Quarters, as Tibsy appeared in the doorway, just a few metres away from the small wooden desk that Tynx was seated at, logging the resources spent for the day in his report journal.

“Tibsy, how's Master's guests?” Tynx greeted without turning around as the young elf made her way through the room's lower floor, dwarfed by the two large trays of empty cutlery in her arms.

Her small shoes tapped softly against the brown brick floor of the lower half of the room, shuffling past the ladder that led up to the upper portion where their small beds were placed, with curtains that they could draw around the beds for a semblance of privacy. She carefully weaved her way through the space between two small, comfortable beige armchairs and a quaint wooden tea-table, past two cabinets placed against the wall, also made from wood, as well as Tynx's desk, and into the elves’ small sized kitchen.

She then bypassed the short cast iron wood stove, that was placed against the wall and used for cooking as well as warming, along with a long stone counter in the middle of the room that was used both for preparing ingredients as well as serving as their dining table. Before passing another three wood cabinets, one containing kitchen tools, another for storing seasonings, herbs, and spices, and the third for raw ingredients, as well as several wooden barrels of grains and such.

Finally, she stopped by the sink and set down the two trays in the sink with a sigh.

“Tibsy is seeing Brown-hair still coughing blood.” Tibsy replied after a moment, snapping her fingers, and making the soapy sponge begin scrubbing the dirty dishes. “But he is eating the foods Tibsy is bringing him.”

“That's good, Sir Ominis did say he'd continue coughing for a while because he isn't healing the boy regularly.” Tynx nodded absently, rifling through his desk drawer, and withdrawing a sheet of parchment.

He'd been recording the boy's recovery progress over the last month, for the Master's partner, and he quickly jotted down Tibsy's report as she shuffled over to his desk.

“What is it, Tibsy?” Tynx asked after a moment, seeing her shift nervously as she stood silently beside him. “Did one of them try to hurt you again?”

“...no, Tibsy is-” She wrung her hands anxiously. “Tibsy is... being not sure how to feel.”

Tynx set down his quill and turned to sit sideways in his chair, facing her. “About what?”

“Master's guests... lady guest was hurt a lot, and Tibsy knows Black-hair's fingers was being cut for trying to hurt Tibsy... but..." Tibsy trailed off, pausing for a few moments, before continuing. “Is it really okay for Master to be hurting peoples?”

Tynx sighed, now that he thought about it, he supposed it should have been expected. Tibsy's old master was a kindly old lady, she wasn't used to seeing injured humans.

“Tibsy.” Tynx began, raising his hands. “My old master cut off three of my fingers with his carving knife. One for leaving a crease in his shirt, another because his tea was too hot and the third for giving his daughter food while he was punishing her.”

Tynx lowered his hands to his lap solemnly. “Our master is not a nice person, but they are nice to us, they take care of us, and they defend us. They don't hurt us, and they don't make us hurt others. Anything else Master does is not for us to judge.”

Tibsy stared at the gaps between his remaining fingers with wide eyes for a few moments, before nodding silently.

“If it helps, I think these people are Master's guests because they all hurt Master before.” Tynx added and Tibsy's eyes widened. “I don't know if it will always be like that, but we should just be glad it's not us in there.”

“Our master gave us an actual space in their home to live in, rather than something temporary, like an expansion charmed barrel. They gave us the money and freedom to design and decorate our living space to our size and comfort, even before building their own.” Tynx smiled wryly and Tibsy's eyes skimmed over their warm and comfortable home.

He placed a hand on her shoulder. “Our life here is good, better than with most masters, try to focus on that.”

“...okay.” Tibsy nodded firmly.

Tynx smiled, relieved that she understood, it would hurt if their Master killed her for doing something stupid like trying to free a guest. Their Master was a good master, but not a nice or kind person and he knew from their eyes that they wouldn't hesitate to execute their servants for disloyalty or betrayal.

“Good.” Tynx glanced at the clock on his desk. “Now, you should probably go feed Master's snakes, we'll need to welcome them back from school in a few hours.”

“Oh, yes! Tibsy will go catch small fishys for snakeys!” Tibsy's expression brightened and Tynx nodded approvingly as she bounced to the side, grabbed a bucket from under the sink and popped away.

The young elf did seem to like the job of caring for their Master's pets. Perhaps he'd take over duties directly involving the Master's guests to make things easier for her. Tynx thought to himself as he returned to writing his report, he would need to finish logging everything before their master returned to Feldcroft in the evening.

At least he could report that the foundations were ready to be built upon as they'd hoped. Anything that kept their Master happy and satisfied with them was good.

“Gotcha!” Tibsy exclaimed, snapping her fingers, and levitating a small flopping fish from the clear lake water.

With a swish of her fingers, the fish floated through the air, and was dropped into her water filled bucket. Or, at least that was supposed to happen, but as the fish flailed and thrashed violently, its tail hit the rim of the bucket and the fish propelled itself to the side, landing on the floor outside the bucket instead.

“Oh no, fishy! You're supposed to go into the bucket!” Tibsy shuffled over quickly, trying to scoop the fish from the floor with her hands.

The fish, however, was having none of that, and struggled relentlessly to flop to freedom. Tibsy pursued the slippery thing for a few minutes, grabbing for it repeatedly, until finally she managed to catch the small fish securely in her hands.

“There!” Tibsy gave an exasperated sigh, eyeing the fish critically. “Why'd fishy have to struggle so much?”

As she heard her own words, Tibsy paused. Of course, because the fishy didn't want to die. She stared at the thrashing fish. After all, she was about to feed it to Master's pets. The weight of her own actions, the weekly chore that she hadn't put much thought into before, was suddenly feeling uncomfortable in her hands.

“But... if fishy doesn’t die, Master's snakeys will die.” Tibsy bit her lip, thinking of the cute two-headed snake that she had been taking care of for the last few months.

The funny way they wiggled around and the greeting hisses they'd give her when she visited them in her free time. Sir Ominis was very nice and helped her talk with them a few times and she thought the twins were really sweet, she couldn't imagine making them starve for a fish she didn't know.

If Tibsy could speak with this fishy, maybe Tibsy might choose the fishy over the snakeys.

But that wasn't the case now, was it?

It was the snakes that she cared about more. And so, she would sacrifice the fish for the snakes, consigning the fish to a painful death.

Tibsy dropped the fish into the bucket solemnly. Such a simple yet heavy action, now that she was thinking about it.

As Tibsy collected the bucket and apparated back to the castle's greenhouses, she wondered if her master faced similar decisions.

She wondered if their guests were fishes.

“Welcome home, Master.”

Tibsy followed Tynx's bow, as the Keeper and their partners entered the Feldcroft cottage.

“Tynx, Tibsy.” The Master's voice was even as always, their expression stoic as ever, and Tibsy found herself scrutinising their face as she and Tynx straightened from their bow. “Your report?”

Tibsy stood silently behind Tynx as he began to give his usual report, watching the Keeper curiously, while their partners began to unpack their luggage. The Keeper's expression didn't change as Tynx spoke, summarising the elves’ progress with the castle and the condition of their guests, before handing the Keeper several pages from his journal, which they tucked away in their pocket.

“The two of you can begin preparations for building the castle. Sebastian and I will join you tomorrow to begin work on it if the weather is favourable.” The Keeper instructed, before surprising Tibsy with a small smile. “Well done, both of you.”

“Thank you, Master.” Tynx replied smoothly, bowing once again and Tibsy hastened to follow.

“T- thank yous, Master!” She squeaked, dropping into a bow as well, the Master's words making her feel warm inside.

She was a little surprised that the Keeper had praised her as well, considering that they normally spent more time instructing and discussing with Tynx, since Tynx was more capable, and did all the planning while she just did her best to follow instructions and not break something again. It did mean that she sometimes felt a little lost though.

“Oh, and Tynx, about the bulbs, how much did we get for those?" The Keeper's attention quickly returned to him.

Tynx checked his notes for a moment before replying. “Just enough to cover the cost of the list of tools you specified. The owner of Slug and Jigger's Apothecary paid a total of..."

“Tibsy.” She blinked as the master's blind partner approached her from the side.

“Yes, Sir Ominis?” Tibsy asked, turning to him at attention.

Ominis gave her a kind smile. “I wanted to ask how the girls are doing.”

“Oh, Sir Ominis’ snakeys are doing good! Tibsy fed them a small fishy before coming to greet masters!” She nodded eagerly. “Snakeys have a little bump of food inside now!”

“Thank you, Tibsy.” Ominis smiled, and Tibsy was surprised when he reached a hand forward and petted her softly on the head. “For taking care of them for us.”

His hand was big, warm, and gentle, and Tibsy felt that warmth inside again. Tynx was right, life was good here, with masters that were nice to her and made her feel happy.

All she had to do was follow instructions.

Notes:

The elves in Hogwarts apparently live in barrels with expansion charms on them, I think it's kinda cool and also kinda oof. House elves are apparently preserved food. I feel like Tynx who was disposable with his last master, would value having a real physical space that says “hey, I don't plan on getting rid of you in a disposable expanded garbage bag”.

I also wanted to touch on how, despite me pushing for the whole “hey, Ominis, if you want to change something and have the power to, but tell yourself that you're helpless so you don’t feel guilty for not taking the risk, that's just being wilfully ignorant. I understand that you were genuinely helpless when younger so it's very very understandable to have this issue but you gotta at least try, now that you're not helpless and alone anymore”, which he has been doing, even in the original game, going after Sebastian in the catacombs, even though he gave up halfway, and I love him for trying even though it was hard.

Despite that stance, I also think that, if a person is (or was) genuinely helpless and powerless to change something, if they can’t escape their circumstances, they shouldn't feel shame or guilt, they should just focus on being as happy as possible, recovering and coping.

I hate victim blaming and often people underestimate the sheer amount of strength required to cling to some semblance of sanity under abuse. Victims of abuse are victims because of that strength. Sick freaks target these strong people because the fuckers know these victims won't break under their fist.

So, in Tibsy's situation, where she physically cannot disobey orders due to binding magic, where she can potentially be killed for disloyalty, I believe that she should not feel bad for what the Keeper is doing.

[andydrysdalerogers]

Cross-Checked ~ Chapter Eight

Andy Barber x OFC Leighton "Leia" Andrews

Summary:

Andy Barber is having the best year of his life. His game is on point. It’s gets to play with his best friend and his fiancé just... dumped him?!. 

Reeling from a sudden change in status, Andy decides it’s time to just focus on hockey. Until his best friend's sister comes out with news that rock the entire organizations world., 

Andy has always carried a torch for the untouchable Leighton but in her hour of need, is now the time to shoot and score or risk getting cross - checked again? 

Warnings: Cheating (but not by the MCs); slow burn; friends to lovers eventually; SMUT!; pregnancy; jealousy; handsome goalies, evil exes...

A/N: The tag list is open!

I do NOT give permission for my work to be translated or reposted on here or any other site, even if you give me credit. DO NOT REPOST MY FICS. Reblogs, comments, likes, and feedback ALWAYS appreciated

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Previous: Chapter Seven ~ A Little Boston Magic ~ Andy/Leia

Series Masterlist // Main Masterlist

Chapter Eight ~ Nothing But Lies ~ Andy/Leia

Andy 

I feel like I have been here before.  

I’m pretty sure I’ve been here before.  

The pain in my back is getting worse the longer I stay in this position. I finally pry my eyes open and am blinded with pain. Why is my room so bright? And why am I so uncomfortable? I blinked a couple of times and realized, I’m on my couch.  I slowly sat up. What the fuck happened?  My mind runs throught the previous night. I remembered watching Leia and Jeremy and then heading to the Red Line. I frowned as I remember Stella being there but then, nothing really.  

“Oh, you’re wake.”  

I snapped my head up (which was a terrible mistake) and saw Leia coming down the stairs, fully dressed. Oh shit, there was a game today.  I scrambled for my phone before Leia stopped me.  

“Its ok Andy, its only eight. Practice is at ten. I’m going to make some coffee.”  

I sat back with my head on the cushions. Fuck, being hung over for the second time in three months is not a good look for a captain of an NHL team. I took a moment to breathe before Leia came back in with two mugs. “Thanks,” I muttered.  

“Wanna talk about it?” She took a sip, looking at me.  

“I’m fine.” I took a sip and avoided her gaze.  

“Ok, why are you getting drunk the night before a game? That isn’t like you, Andy.” The look on her face was breaking me. But how can I tell her?  How can I tell her that her new boyfriend is a tool bag and I’m so in love with her, it kills me to see her with her.  What do I say? How do I tell her about what I overheard in the locker room a couple of weeks ago.  

Two weeks ago... 

“That is such a sweet shot you took on Ullmark,” Luke said, laughing as he and Andy walked down to the locker room.  

“It’s all in the wrist,” I replied with the pretend flick of the wrist.  “Are we heading to the bar after?” 

“Yeah, Cubby said she’s be our designated tonight after the game.” Luke high-fived me when they heard laughing coming from the locker room. They were about to burst in when they heard Swayman’s voice.  

“Dude, she had a thing for me.  When I was talking with her on the plane, she was playing hard to get. But I know, she’s into me. I’m gonna ask her out.”  

“You really want to ask out the assistant captain’s sister?” Andy could hear it was Ullmark. “Is that wise?” 

“Why not? You heard Andrews.  He gave his blessing.”  

“That’s because he doesn’t know your reputation.”  

“He knows.  I’ve been with him at the bars and stuff. He was just as bad before he met Miranda.” He heard him chuckle. “I just want a taste. She is sexy as hell and I can feel like she is a devil in the sheets.”  

“You better make sure that Barber and Andrews don’t hear you talk like that about her.”  

“What is Barber going to do? He’ll ruin his friendship with her which is ok by me. I just want a piece of her. Fuck her and leave her. Make it look a mutual thing so there’s no bad blood. Trust me, I’ve done this before and I’ll do it again.” 

It took everything in Andy to restrain Luke.  

It took everything inside of Andy not to tell Leia. 

Present 

I lied.  

“Fiona called and she was trying to convince me we should make another go at it. I told her to fuck off but it messed with my head. Got to drinking to numb the feeling.”  

I lied big time.  

“Oh Andy,” Leia came to sit next to me and held my hand.  “I’m sorry I wasn’t here for you.” She leaned over my shoulder. “She is the worst.”  

I never wanted the feeling of her body pressed against mine to ever stop. “Yeah, I know. I’m not even sure why I answered the call.” I am a complete asshole for lying to her but the truth would hurt her more and I can’t do it. 

“Well, I’ll be home tonight after the game. You don’t fly out until tomorrow so we can relax tonight, ok?” She gave me her smile, the one I go weak over.  

“It sounds like a plan, Princess.”  

I have to remind myself that he is my teammate and I can’t fuck with that. It would screw everyone else and I can’t do that.  

But boy, do I want to.  

Practice went as practice goes but my head was not in it. Warm ups for the game are the same and I know everyone can see it.  Its obvious, especially when Swayman looks at me with concern. “You ok, Cap?” 

“I’m fine,” I mumble, lacing up my skates. “Leia told me what happened.  Thanks for helping her.”  

“It’s no problem.” He frowns. “But everything’s ok?” 

“Fiona called.” Yep, maintaining that lie. “It just got to me. I just want to skate.” I pushed past him and start taking laps on the ice. I know Luke knows the lie because Leia told him. But I can’t face him. I can’t face anyone. My heart is broken right now and I just can’t do it.  

The game is a tire fire right from the start.  

I can’t focus. I just see Leia and Jeremy and the happiness on her face and it makes me sloppy. So sloppy that coach has to bench me in the third period, probably for safety reasons. I sat there, watching the game, knowing that if we lost this, it would be my fault. Luckily, Luke was able to take control of the team and pull out the win.  

I was sitting in my stall, trying hard not to show emotion. I just wanted to go home and cuddle with Leia. I just wanted to be with my girl.  

Fuck.  

She's not mine.  

I’m still totally fucked.  

Leia 

15 Weeks 

The last few weeks with Jeremy had been amazing. He is such a gentleman. We had the road trip right after for ten days and Jeremy made it a point to sit across the aisle from me so we could talk. He would carry my bag when we got off and made sure that Stella and I are safely in our rooms. In the mornings, he would bring me a tea, make sure my gloves were on and then hang out if he was done for the day.  

We would go out every couple of days, some days I just can’t from how tired I was. I still hadn’t told him about the baby.  I spoke with management and they agreed to modify my duties but it was up to me on who I told.  I love the Bruins.  

The only thorn in my side is Andy.  He’s been distance since my first date with Jeremy. Not just distant but angry even a little hostile.  I’ve noticed that sometimes he is sharp at practice with his teammates, especially Jeremy. Its so unlike him.  I decided to text Luke to see if he knew anything.  

Leia: Do you know what’s wrong with Andy  Luke: No  Leia: You are so helpful  Luke: Seriously, I’ve asked and he says nothing  Luke: You know Fiona called  Leia: its still from that?  Luke: I guess so  Leia: I guess I’ll talk to him to see what’s up 

I frown at my phone. Its near 8 pm and Andy still isn’t home. Its weird for him not to come home after all of his meetings and stuff but lately he’s been coming home later and later. Sometimes, especially on days when I got out with Jeremy, I won’t see him until the next day.  I decided to cancel plans with Jeremy and head home.  I sit in the living room, reading when I hear his car pull up. He walks in. “Oh, hey.” 

“Hey Andy. How was your day?” My voice is super sugary sweet and Andy narrowed his eyes at me.  

“What’s going on? Why are you talking to me in your ‘I’m pregnant and don’t feel good so can you help me’ voice?” Andy crossed his arms over his chest. Normally I would find this very attractive, because he’s still in a dress shirt and slacks, and fuck, focus Leia! 

“Just realizing that I haven’t seen you around much.” I smiled softer at him. “I missed hanging out with you.” Andy snorted and went to grab a beer. He had been drinking a little more than usual. “What? Don’t you miss hanging out with me?” 

“Of course, I miss hanging out with you.  I didn’t realize that you and Swayman were not serious and that you would be home more often.” He took a long pull.  

“Jeremy and I are fine. What is the matter with you?” My tone was sharp.  

“Me? I’m not the problem. I’m giving you space to grow in your relationship.” He raised his hands and move towards the stairs. “I’m going to bed.”  

“You can’t do this Andy.  We live together, we’re roommates...” 

“Yes, Leighton, we’re roommates. Doesn’t mean I have to share everything with you or acknowledge your relationship.” I could feel the tears forming in my eyes.  “Oh, here we go, the crying.”  

“You’re being such an asshole right now Andrew.  You are not like my best friend right now.” I wiped at my eyes furiously.  

His face turned angry. “A best friend? You want me to be a best friend to you. Fine! Jeremy is not this great guy you think he is. He’s a douchebag and a womanizer. He’s going to hurt you and you’re just planning your entire future with him and your kid.”  

“You’re just jealous because I’m finding happiness with him. I’m moving on unlike you!” 

“That’s rich, moving on. You’re not going to move on with Swayman.”  

“That’s not your decision!” 

“I’m not deciding anything. Its facts; you’re not going to find what you are looking for with him.”  

“Stay out of my life Andrew. I’m happy and that’s all that should matter.”  

“He’s going to hurt you and I’ll be left to pick up the pieces again. Just like your high school boyfriend and just like Bret.  You can’t even see what’s right in front of you. You keep choosing fuckboys when you could have something better.  I don’t know why I would think you would look at the bigger picture with Swayman. He’s a fuckboy hockey player just trying to sleep with you so he can say I fucked my teammates sister. You are just a warm body to him and you’re too stupid to see it.” His words vibrate against the walls and his face falls with realization. “Leia...” 

My heart cracks at his words, his mean and awful words.  “Fuck you! I fucking hate you!” 

I ran past him up the stairs and slammed the door, locking it behind me. I slide down to the floor and sobbed. I’ve never had a real fight with Andy but he’s so wrong. Jeremy and I are just starting. Things are different this time and I know it.   

I woke up the next morning, my eyes sore and raw from crying. Its still early but I can’t face Andy again. I got up to shower, using the hot water to loosen my muscles. As I’m drying my hair, I stand in front of the mirror and gasp.  

Between my hips is now a distinct bump. I grab my phone and check my pregnancy tracker. 15 weeks, one day. My bump popped and now there is no way to hide this. I can get away with it while I’m out because of jackets and scarfs but at work I tend to wear leggings and sweaters. I run my hand over my belly as I stare in the mirror.  Hi baby, I croon softly.  I move to open the door to tell Andy but I stop.  

He lost the right. 

I sneak out the house and head to the coffee shop for my morning tea and muffin. I work on my notes for work when my phone chimes.  

Jeremy: Morning beautiful  Leia: morning handsome  Jeremy: so since we bailed on dinner last night, can we try again tonight  Leia: I would love to 

I smile as I think about the date with Jeremy. And then my smile falls. I don’t know how I can hide my condition.  I have to tell him about the pregnancy. But maybe I should wait.  

Perfect. 

Andy isn’t home when I get there so I take advantage of it and start getting ready. I put on a fit and flare type dress with stockings and booties. My nice coat and scarf will hide my secret until I’m ready to talk to Jeremy.  He’s prompt like always and we head out.  

I’m nervous because this is like date four and every romance book has told me that by now, the man is hoping to get lucky.  And I would, I totally would follow this except I feel so uncomfortable in my body.  Having Andy and Stella tell me all the time that I look gorgeous is just getting to my head. What if he is grossed out about my body? What if he finds me repulsive? My mind is spiraling.  

“Everything ok Leia?” Jeremy smiled at me as he placed his big hand on my thigh. His finger are long and I can feel the warmth, strength and roughness in them.  A hard working man.  

“Yeah, just upset about Andy is all. He’s still being closed off and that’s unusual for him.” There was no way I would tell him what Andy said.  That would be just asking for an argument.  “He’s never been so distant before,” I say before smiling.  “But, I’m going to let it go because I’m excited for our date.”  

“Good.  I was thinking of just going to Lou’s for pizza and North Park has those Christmas lights up. Could be really pretty. “His fingers are dancing over my skin and it feels so good and distracting.  

“Sounds like the perfect night.” God, I am falling hard for this man.  

After pizza, he drove us to the park for the festival of lights. As we are climbing out, Jeremy hands me a soft ball.  I look at him curiously. “Because I know you forgot them.” I open the bundle and its a pair of mittens. I blush because I did forget and I look down.  Jeremy touches my chin to lift my head. I look into his eyes and all I see is kindness.  “Its ok, beautiful. Its our thing.”  

Our thing.  

Swoon.  

As we walk around, all the twinkling lights are setting a mood of romance. An aphrodisiac of scents fills the air from the food stalls. Jeremy gets some hot ciders to keep our hands warm as walk trough. “Ok, Halloween or Christmas?” he asks. 

“Christmas. I don’t like to be scared.” I shudder at the thought. “Plus why does it involve so many spiders and clowns. Spiders are poisonous and they are creepy.  Clowns... well, clowns eat people and just no.” I take a breath and look at Jeremy’s face. His face is surprised and unmoving.  “What?” 

“That is the most passionate speech I have ever heard about Halloween.” He burst out laughing. I huff with mock indignation and cross my arms, hip jutted while he is bent, hands on knees trying to calm himself. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” he says wiping his eyes. “Sweetheart, are you afraid of spiders and clowns?” 

“It’s not funny.” I pouted at him and begin to walk away.  

“Sweetheart!” Jeremy chases after me and pulls me to him. “I’m sorry,” he says with puppy eyes.  

I can’t be mad at this man. “It’s ok,” I say softly.  

“Let me make it up to you.” He smiles. “Let’s go back to my place, I’ll start a fire, some hot cocoa, we can cuddle on the couch.” He kisses me softly. “What do you say beautiful?” 

Shit. He’ll try to touch me and he’ll know. He’ll know and I’m not ready.  I’m not ready for this bubble to burst. “I would love to but I have a six am call with a club in England. I need to be up early and presentable, at least, from the waist up.” I smile.  “But that sounds amazing. Maybe another night?” 

“Of course, sweetheart. I like that you are working to conquer the world.” He kisses my cheek and whispers, “maybe one night I can dominate you and take you to places you never knew existed.”  

I blush as he gives me a sexy smirk. Refusing this man is hard.  

And I don’t know how much longer i will be able to delay it.  

Its been a week since Jeremy has asked me to go home with him and I know now my time is up.  My baby belly is growing and I don’t want to lie to him.  I ask him to lunch and he said he would meet me at a cafe near the house. I bundle up as the falls weather has now turned to the colder side.  It also helps with the bump hiding mission.  I’m putting on my coat when Andy walks by.  “Going out?” 

“Yep.”  

“Princess...” he face falls at the lack of energy in my voice but I don’t want to hear it.  

“Nope.” I walked out the door and drove to the cafe.  Jeremy is sitting there in a hoodie and jeans, his black peacoat over the chair.  He looks like a goddamm snack.  “Hey!” 

“Hey sweetheart!” He gets up to kiss me on the cheek. “Its cold today.”  

“Yeah, winter is coming,” I say with a giggle.  

“Nice,” he smiles.  We order and chat but the more I chat the more i start to get nervous. I mean, how do you tell the man you are seeing that you are pregnant with another man’s baby? Now he can tell something is wrong because he asked me something and I completely spaced. “I’m sorry, what?” 

“Leia, you are a thousand miles away. What’s going on?” 

I take a breath and hope for the best. “I need to tell you something.”  

“Okay,” he says slowly.  “You can tell me anything.”  

“So, I’ve been dealing with some life altering news for a few weeks now and I didn’t know if I should tell you earlier because I hadn’t finished making some decisions.”  

He frowns. “Is everything ok? Are you sick?”  

“No, not sick. Just... pregnant.”  

Swear I feel like a pin could drop and I could hear it. Jeremy’s face froze and I know, this is the end. Finally, he says, “you’re pregnant?” 

I nod slowly. “Yeah, I didn’t know if I was keeping it or what I was going to do but I decided that I wanted the baby.  I’m sixteen weeks pregnant. I told management last week but I needed to wrap my head around it and I needed to tell you because I know you want more with me and I just couldn’t while lying.”  He still sitting there, not moving a muscle. “Say something, please.” 

“Wow.” I blink, not sure what he is going to say.  “I mean, wow, that’s big news.” He takes a long sip of his drink as I try to blink back tears.  

“I understand if you don’t want to keep seeing me...” 

“No, that’s not it, sweetheart.” He takes my hand.  “I just need a moment to process this.” He smiles. “You’re gonna be a mom.”  

“Yeah. Its big but I’m determined to give my baby the best life.”  

He smiles. “Anything I can do to help, ok? Just let me know.”  He cups my cheek. “I believe in you, sweetheart.”  

Its exactly what I needed.  

NEXT

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