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Finding Perfect Eyebrow Waxing Near Me: The Brow Fixx Has You Covered!
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In beauty and self-care, few things can make as significant an impact as perfectly groomed eyebrows. Whether looking to shape, tame, or add definition to your brows, eyebrow waxing is a popular and effective method. If you're searching for "eyebrow waxing near me," look no further than The Brow Fixx. We're your local destination for eyebrow perfection; in this article, we'll explain why.
What Sets The Brow Fixx Apart?
Expertise and Experience When it comes to something as precise as eyebrow waxing, experience matters. At The Brow Fixx, our skilled estheticians have years of experience and training in eyebrow shaping and waxing. We understand that each client's face is unique, and we take the time to assess your features to create a tailored brow shape that complements your face perfectly.
High-Quality Products The key to a successful eyebrow waxing experience is using the right products. The Brow Fixx uses only the highest quality waxing products that are gentle on your skin but tough on unwanted hair. Our waxes are specially formulated to minimize discomfort while effectively removing hair, leaving your skin smooth and refreshed.
Hygiene and Cleanliness Your safety and well-being are our top priorities. The Brow Fixx adheres to strict hygiene and cleanliness standards to ensure a safe and comfortable experience for all our clients. We use disposable applicators and maintain a clean and sanitized environment to minimize the risk of infection and allergies.
Personalized Consultation At The Brow Fixx, we believe in open communication with our clients. Before we start the waxing process, we take the time to sit down with you and discuss your preferences and concerns. Whether you're looking for a bold, dramatic arch or a natural, soft look, we'll work with you to achieve your desired outcome.
The Benefits of Eyebrow Waxing Eyebrow waxing offers several advantages over other hair removal methods, such as threading or plucking. Here are some reasons why you should consider eyebrow waxing at The Brow Fixx:
Precision Waxing allows for precise shaping and definition of your eyebrows. Our skilled estheticians can create the perfect arch and shape that enhances your natural beauty.
Long-Lasting Results Unlike other methods that require frequent maintenance, eyebrow waxing provides long-lasting results. You can enjoy beautifully groomed brows for several weeks before needing another session.
Reduced Pain Our high-quality wax and expert technique minimize discomfort during the waxing process. You'll experience a quick, relatively painless procedure that leaves you with smooth, hair-free skin.
Faster Than Other Methods Eyebrow waxing is a quick and efficient way to remove unwanted hair. You can achieve the brows you've always wanted in just a few minutes.
Convenience Matters: "Eyebrow Waxing Near Me" When searching for "eyebrow waxing near me," convenience is vital. The Brow Fixx understands the importance of accessibility. We offer multiple locations in your area, making finding a nearby salon that fits your schedule easy. Our flexible hours accommodate busy lifestyles, ensuring you can get your brows done when it's most convenient.
Your Brow Journey Starts Here At The Brow Fixx, we believe perfectly groomed eyebrows are the cornerstone of a confident and beautiful look. When you search for "eyebrow waxing near me," you're not just looking for a service; you're seeking an experience that leaves you feeling fabulous.
Our commitment to expertise, high-quality products, hygiene, and personalized service sets us apart as the premier destination for eyebrow waxing. We invite you to experience the difference at The Brow Fixx. Contact us today to schedule your eyebrow waxing appointment and discover the transformation that perfectly groomed brows can bring to your look.
In conclusion, The Brow Fixx is your go-to destination when searching for "eyebrow waxing near me." With our expert estheticians, high-quality products, and commitment to your satisfaction, you can always trust us to deliver exceptional results. Say goodbye to unruly brows and hello to eyebrow perfection – The Brow Fixx has got you covered!
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Brow Lamination in Ghatkopar, India | Victress Beauty Lounge
Victress Beauty Lounge offers top-notch Brow Lamination services in Ghatkopar, Mumbai. Their expert artists can transform your brows with a specialized 2-step process, creating a polished, natural-looking finish. Enjoy affordable Brow Lamination prices and achieve the perfect brows you've always wanted.
To Know More Visit Brow Lamination
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Master Brow Lamination: Professional Online Course
Our Professional Brow Lamination Course Online offers comprehensive training to enhance your skills in brow lamination. With access to our entire library of 450+ courses, your all staff members can benefit from our engaging learning materials, which are compatible with all major browsers and devices. Our course range is diverse, ranging from 10-minute micro-learning video lessons to 40-hour full courses. The CPD approved learning material enables you to earn credits while learning, and we regularly add new course material to keep you updated. Our 24-hour customer support and dedicated account managers ensure a seamless learning experience. Enroll in our Professional Brow Lamination Course Online to become an expert in the beauty industry.Here is the course link:https://lead-academy.org/course/brow-lift-brow-lamination
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The Ultimate Guide to Brow Lamination: Find the Best Near You
Beauty trends come and go, but there's one that has stood the test of time and continues to gain popularity - brow lamination. It's the secret to achieving perfectly groomed and fuller-looking eyebrows that can make a significant impact on your overall appearance. If you're ready to enhance your natural beauty and boost your confidence through the art of brow lamination, you've come to the right place. In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the world of brow lamination, explaining what it is, why it's so popular, and how to find the best brow lamination services near you.
Understanding Brow Lamination
Brow lamination is a semi-permanent beauty treatment designed to transform and enhance your natural eyebrows. This innovative procedure involves a multi-step process:
Lifting: The technician gently lifts your brow hairs, setting them in an upward direction. This initial step helps open up your eye area and creates a more youthful appearance.
Setting: After the hairs are lifted, a setting solution is applied to lock them in place. This ensures that the brows maintain the desired shape and style.
Tinting: Depending on your preference, the process may also include tinting to add depth and definition to your brows.
The result? Beautifully groomed and fuller-looking brows that appear well-defined and perfectly in place. The effects of brow lamination typically last between four to six weeks, making it an excellent choice for those who want to enjoy stunning brows without the hassle of daily maintenance.
Why Brow Lamination Is So Popular
The popularity of brow lamination can be attributed to several compelling reasons:
Natural Beauty Enhancement: Brow lamination enhances your existing eyebrows, giving them a thicker and fuller appearance without the need for makeup. This natural look is highly sought after in the beauty industry.
Time-Saving: Say goodbye to the daily brow makeup routine. With laminated brows, your eyebrows are effortlessly groomed, saving you precious time in the morning.
Versatility: Laminated brows can be styled in various ways, allowing you to achieve the look you desire, whether it's a natural, feathered appearance or a more defined and sleek style.
Confidence Boost: When you look in the mirror and see your perfectly groomed brows, it's hard not to feel a surge of confidence. Well-defined brows can significantly impact your overall self-esteem.
Low Maintenance: After your brow lamination, minimal maintenance is required, making it a convenient option for busy individuals.
Finding the Best Brow Lamination Services Near You
Now that you're excited about the potential of brow lamination near me, you're probably wondering how to find the best services in your area. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you in your quest:
Ask for Recommendations: Start by reaching out to friends, family, or colleagues who have had brow lamination done. Personal recommendations can provide valuable insights into the quality of services and customer satisfaction.
Online Reviews: Use online platforms like Google, Yelp, or beauty-specific websites to read reviews of local brow lamination services. Real customer feedback can give you a sense of what to expect.
Social Media: Instagram and Facebook are excellent platforms for beauty professionals to showcase their work. Search for local salons or beauty artists in your area to view before-and-after photos and gather inspiration.
Consultation: It's a wise idea to book a consultation with a few local providers. This gives you an opportunity to discuss your goals, ask questions, and gauge their expertise and professionalism.
Certifications and Licensing: Ensure that the professionals you're considering are certified and licensed in brow lamination. This guarantees they have received the necessary training and possess the expertise to provide safe and effective services.
By following these steps, you can feel confident in your choice and trust that you're on your way to experiencing the transformative power of brow lamination.
Conclusion
Brow lamination is more than just a beauty trend; it's a game-changer that can enhance your natural beauty and boost your self-confidence. Perfectly groomed brows can make you feel and look your best, with minimal daily effort. Now that you have the ultimate guide to brow lamination and know how to find the best services near you, it's time to embrace this beauty trend and step into a world of confidence and stunning brows. Whether you're looking for a natural, feathered look or a defined style, brow lamination is the secret to enhancing your everyday beauty effortlessly.
Original Content: https://medium.com/@vancitybeautypro/the-ultimate-guide-to-brow-lamination-find-the-best-near-you-9f92e7ad677f
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Brow Lamination: The Secret to Perfectly Styled Brows
Introduction In the quest for flawless and perfectly styled eyebrows, beauty enthusiasts have embraced a game-changing technique known as Brow Lamination. This innovative procedure has taken the beauty industry by storm, offering a revolutionary solution to tame unruly brows and create stunning, natural-looking arches. If you’re wondering what Brow Lamination is all about, how it works, and…
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Best Eyebrow Waxing in Baltimore MD at Drip'n Wax & Spa
Achieve perfectly shaped eyebrows with professional eyebrow waxing services. Drip'n Wax & Spa offers complete eyebrow waxing in Baltimore, MD including eyebrow shaping, threading, tinting, lashes, brow lamination, lash lift and more. Book your appointment today.
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Get the Best Lash and Brow Booster in Albuquerque.
Want to get shiny, smooth brows that can enhance your facial features? At Whipped Brow Bar, we offer safe, comfortable, and durable brow lamination near me in Albuquerque using vegan-friendly formulas. Our service is free from skin irritations and allergies. Please visit our site for more info.
Call us at (505) 796-5599
For more details: https://whippedbrowbar.com/contact-us
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Services We Offer
We take you to the place where glamour and confidence follow you just by enhancing your natural beauty features. For More information Visit our website.https://thebeautystore.biz/
#aesthetic treatments near me beauty salon waxing hairloss treatment anti aging chemicalpeel mesotherapy slimming specialist brow lamination#skin treatment
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The Brow Fixx
Discover The Brow Fixx in Los Angeles: Your destination for top-notch brow & lash treatments. From threading to waxing, brow lamination, lash lifts, and tinting, our expert team is here to craft your perfect look. Schedule today!
Visit Our Website
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Brow Lamination Near Me - Victress Beauty Lounge
Victress Beauty Lounge’s Brow Lamination service is a two-step process. The first one is where apply a specialized cream over your natural brows to separate the strand bonds. Post that, we apply another solution to strengthen the strands and form bonds to keep your brows
Eyebrows can turn a glam appeal to fab or drab. plucking too much or inappropriate shaping can impact the arch of our brows and facial aesthetics. Brow Lamination Services are dominating the vogue industry and so far have grabbed numerous positive responses through our quality services. Brow Lamination is a process of restructuring brows and setting them into the desired shape giving the arch a more defined look and improving the symmetry.
Eyebrow trends have enjoyed ebbs and flow in the past and now the new beauty regimen of Brow Lamination is dominant on social media feeds. The Brow Lamination is a microblading alternative that has served the gaps of thinning, overplucking, unruliness, and more. The noninvasive treatment is temporary, effective, and affordable. If you are skeptical of microblading or looking for fancy and bit dramatic brow arches, dive in for Brow Lamination Near Me at Victress Beauty Lounge.
Brow Lamination Near Me
At Victress Beauty Lounge we have the best and up-and-coming treatments when visiting a salon offering brow lamination treatment. Brow Lamination treatment that gives correctly placed brows a fixed uniform shape that may last up to 2 months – think of it as a perm for eyebrows. It can improve brow forms, elevate brow hairs, and reduce everyday brow care.
At Victress Beauty Lounge, we focus on giving care, right treatment and customer satisfaction. We provide our customers with the best brow and lash-redefining services. We help you create full, fluffy rows in one simple appointment by realigning the directional hair growth and enhancing the brow shape. You would be surprised with gorgeous and visible results instantly.
Get Your Free Consultation
How Does Our Brow Lamination Process Work?
Victress Beauty Lounge’s Brow Lamination service is a two-step process. The first one is where you apply a specialized cream over your natural brows to separate the strand bonds. Post that, we apply another solution to strengthen the strands and form bonds to keep your brows in the desired shape. With this position, your eyebrows are set for a good 7-8 weeks in a specific pattern and position.
To read full blog- Brow Lamination Near Me - Victress Beauty Lounge
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A Demonic Plus One
Mammon x reader
~At long last, your mail arrives in the Devildom. Along with it, some exciting news from an old friend that brings you and a date to the human world.
W.C. 1.9k
You have just made yourself a cup of tea in the kitchen of the House of Lamination when a weak tapping on the front door catches your attention.
A visitor?
You think that a house guest is unlikely since everyone is home, and no one mentioned any last-minute dinner guests in your group chat. Not to mention, Mammon is cooking dinner tonight, so it's not like random demons are beating down the door to taste the Avatar of Greeds cooking.
You set your still steaming cup on the tabletop and approach the front door with caution; you are in the Devildom, after all.
You twist the massive door knob and pull to see an exhausted-looking Little D Number 2 hunched over on your porch. He leans against a large cloth bag that he must've hauled all the way up the large stone steps. Your eyes widen in shock as you feel impressed with the little dude; the bag is nearly double its size.
When his bright, shadowy gaze meets yours, his pointed teeth take the form of a large smile. "Mc," it pants, struggling to catch its breath. "I have some mail for you from the human world," it says with a shadowy smile.
"Mail?" you ask, your brows shooting upward. Come to think of it, you rarely get mail. You thought that the postal system was limited to just the human world. "I still get that?"
"You sure do," it beams. Apparently, Papa was supposed to give you the code to your enchanted P.O. box but never got around to it. So it's been slowly filling up with mail for the last year or so without anyone realizing it."
"Oh dear," you murmur, wondering briefly if you paid off your last credit card bill before you were unexpectedly whisked away to the Devildom.
"Yeah, Barbatos was really mad when he found out about it. Don't tell him I told you this, but he was sulking all morning, mumbling to himself about how he should've never trusted Papa with such an important job."
"He puts far too much pressure on himself," you say softly; guilty thoughts begin to plague your mind as you imagine Barbatos, the perfectionist, burdening himself with the weight of this minor inconvenience. "Thank you for bringing me this; please tell Barbatos not to worry so much."
"Will do; I'm sure that if it's coming from you, he will listen," he says, shucking the cloth bag off his little shoulder.
"Would you like to come inside for some tea before you go?" you ask gently, thinking of your own cup alone in the other room.
"Thank you for the offer, but I have to get back to the palace." he declines your offer hesitantly and scampers away, his little golden horns glittering under the light of the street lamps until he disappears into the darkness, leaving you with so much freaking mail.
You sling the bag over your shoulder and head off to your room, passing Mammon in the kitchen, who is on cooking duty. He eyes your bag with curiosity and turns away from the vegetables he had been cutting.
"What ya got there, Mc?" he asks.
"Lots of mail," you laugh, shooting him a teasing grin. "I guess someone forgot to tell me about a P.O. box or something when I first moved here."
He pales and casts his eyes to the ground. "I dunno who would do that to' ya, but whoever did it probably forgot and didn't mean anythin by it."
"Well then, I guess all is forgiven." you laugh, walking across the threshold of your bedroom doorway and over to your bed, where you dump the contents of your bag onto the comforter. Paper hits fabric with a thwack and you dig through the pile as Mammon curiously peeks just beyond your doorframe. Apparently, junk mail can still find its way to hell. So can the magazine subscriptions you forgot about. The pile, although initially intimidating, turns out to be fairly easy to sort through.
Nearing the end of the pile, a bright purple envelope catches your eye. There are no other envelopes that size or color, so you find yourself drawn to it. You tear it open and see that it is a wedding invitation for one of your closest friends in the human world.
Back when you last saw her, she was head over heels for her new boyfriend, who seemed to absolutely adore her.
Apparently their relationship has only gotten stronger than that day because now it looks like they are getting married.
Your heart drops to your stomach as you scan the invite for the wedding date.
Did you miss it?
Finally, you will find it in tiny golden font on the back of the invite. The wedding is in a few months, and there is still plenty of time for you to send in an RSVP. Additionally, you have the opportunity to bring a date with you as a plus one.
"That letter is different lookin'," Mammon says, peeking over your shoulder. You have no idea how long he has been standing there.
"It's an invitation. One of my friends is getting married." You smile, showing him the invitation with a smile. "And it looks like I will be able to make it.
"And what's that thing right there?" His tan fingers touch the golden font of the box you can fill out for your plus one.
"That just means I can bring a guest as a date," you explain, watching in fascination as the Demon's eyes brighten at the mention of you needing a date.
"Well, since ya seem to need one, how about ya take The Great Mammon to the weddin. After all, I am yer first. I should be the first to go with you."
"That is some logic you have there Mammon," you smile. "I guess you should clear your calendar for three months from now."
"R-really?" he asks, his cheeks turning bright pink. "Y-ya mean it?"
You nod, "I would love it if you came with me."
He laughs. "Well then, if ya want me to go so badly, I guess I'll go with ya." his tsundere mannerisms bring a smile to your face until a thin wisp of smoke wafts under your nose.
Someone forgot about the dinner they were cooking.
-
After months of anticipation, today is the day. Your stomach still feels uneasy from the portal Diavolo conjured up for you, but you made it to the wedding venue. Looking around, you see at least one hundred guests, and you know exactly zero of them.
This is actually kinda nice because if you kept running into people you knew, you would have to awkwardly explain the details about your mysterious disappearance.
Mammon, looking rather snazzy in his suit, is very interested in the large table of presents for the Bride and Groom.
"Mc, check out all those gifts," he smiles, taking a sip of one of the signature cocktails from the open bar, "maybe we should get married. We'd make a killin'."
"Is that a proposal?" you humm, gently placing your hand on his arm and toying playfully with the golden rings that adorn his fingers.
He shudders under your tender touch, and you see his cheeks turn a deep crimson. "I was just sayin' that I wouldn't be the worst idea I ever had."
The soft chime of a bell prevents you from teasing your Demon anymore. You look up and see a very stressed man holding a clipboard like it's his lifeline. He must be the coordinator.
"All guests are now invited to take their seats; the ceremony will begin shortly," he says before scurrying away.
"I guess we should find our seats," you say to the Demon, pulling him away from the gifts before he gets a bit too curious about their contents and tries to dig around.
You walk through the venue's vibrant grounds to the pristine rows of white chairs. A few people are already sitting and talking amongst themselves as classical piano music sails through the air.
"Dang, is there gonna be a sacrifice or something up there?" Mammon asks, gesturing over to the elegant wooden archway at the end of the aisle. As you take your seats just behind the rows reserved for family. As the rest of the guests follow behind you.
"No Mammon," you say in a hushed whisper, worried that his strange questions with garner some unwanted attention from the other wedding guests. "that's where the wedding ceremony will be taking place."
"Ohh, that makes sense," he nods just as the music begins to play.
An elderly officiant hobbles down the aisle, escorted by someone who looks vaguely familiar. You recognize him from the wedding invite as the groom. The poor guy looks absolutely nervous but there is an eagerness in his disposition that makes you smile.
Although you have been a bit preoccupied this last year or so, you still care greatly for your friends and want them to live a life full of happiness. You can tell just by looking at him that your friend has found their person.
"Mc, are they getting married?" Mammon whispers, leaning in close to you. "The lady looks like his granny."
"Because she is his Grandmother, Mammon." you whisper back. "She is just conducting the ceremony."
"Ohhh, I see," he says, although you reckon he doesn't really know what's going on at all, but he is having a good time all the same.
"Oi, mc?" he whispers as a little boy who looks to be no older than three years old walks up the aisle with little legs. "How old is that kid? Are ya sure he is old enough to be getting married?"
His question makes you dangerously close to bursting out laughing in the middle of the ceremony. And you have to cover your mouth to contain the outburst. "No Mammon, that's the ring bearer." you explain softly, "their job is to carry the rings down the aisle and give them to the groom for the ceremony."
He sighs in relief, "Good, I thought I was gonna have ta step in there for a second."
You shush him quietly as the music changes and the bride, your childhood friend, takes her first step down the aisle.
You never thought you would be that person who cries at weddings, but when you see your friend looking absolutely stunning in her wedding dress, it brings a tear to your eye.
~
Mammon doesn't really get why everyone is making such a big deal about the girl in white walking down the aisle, but he assumes that she must be the bride everyone is talking about.
She just seems like a normal human.
All of a sudden, he hears the faint sound of a sniffle coming from your seat.
Are you upset about something?
His eyes widen in concern, and his head snaps to look at you worriedly and see that your eyes are brimming with tears. He has no idea why you are crying, but he is overcome by an almost primal urge to comfort you. He reaches across your lap to grab your hand. You take his hand almost immediately and give it a squeeze.
He knows that you're okay, but he refuses to let go of your hand.
How can he when there is so much love in the air?
Tagging: @sleepyyshroom, @i-need-to-go-like-mangogo, @starbby, @sarah22447, @completelyshatteredbrokenmschf , @ourfinalisation, @anjodedesgostoeerros, @isaacdaknight @qardasngan
#obey me nightbringer#obey me#obey me x reader#obey me mammon#obey me mammon x reader#mammon x reader#Mammon fluff#obey me fluff#the great mammon#x reader
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Bad Man
Steve Harrington x Fem Reader
Summary: Steve is always asking you the same question. Do you think you’ll ever give him a different answer?
A/N: hm. This one got away from me. Went in too many directions and I had a hard time settling with it. Hope you guys enjoy it all the same ❤️
Warnings: Cheating (reader has a bf), Sex, Mentions of driving drunk, Two drunk people having sex, Fingering, Unprotected Sex
NSFW 18+ No Minors
Oh and I won’t ask a single question
A question about who you’re supposed to be
I already know the answer
And the answer
Is you’re right here with me - Bad Man; Fightmaster
“When are you gonna let me take you out?” He asks, leaned over the partition of his register to smile at you. He props his chin on a folded up arm and lets the other one dangle free, his watch clacking against the wood.
“Take me out? Like on a date?”
“No.” He scoffs. “Like a hitman. Of course on a date.” He rolls his eyes, warm hazel full of mirth at his own joke. “C’mon. I know this cute little place over near Marion. Cozy, dim.” He tilts his head and watches you from under his lashes. “Perfect for a date.”
You sigh. You laugh too but the sigh is the precedent you need to set. “I’m sure it is.”
“I mean I know we’re playing this whole game of hard to get, but just admit it.” A customer comes up to his register with a baby on her hip and a handful of formula. “You’ve been got.” He winks at you before turning around to turn on his customer voice. An octave higher and a bigger grin, the lascivious one he’d been giving you gone while he coos at the infant. You bite your tongue though, holding your retort back for later. You know he’s going to corner you in the break room after you both clock out, his shoulder pressed into the row of lockers to ask you again.
“When are you gonna let me take you out?”
It’s his weekly question for you always asked with a grin and short laugh like he knows the answer is going to be different than last week. You tidy up your register and flip aimlessly through your stack of laminated grocery codes and pretend to not look up at the back of his head. He’s been out in the sun recently, lighter brown streaks shot through the darker. His fingers that run through the shaggy locks have a golden hue to them, the moles that pepper his skin dark in contrast to the glow. Broad shoulders flex under his polo and that laugh, as fake as it is, makes you smile to yourself.
So no you aren’t staring and no he isn’t taking you anywhere. A glance down at your watch tells you there’s approximately 47 minutes before you’re off. 47 minutes before you have to let him down again like he doesn’t already know.
The locker door swings shut and you laugh, something from the back of your throat. His smile is bright in the corner of your vision, teeth white and straight behind pink lips.
“What’s so funny?”
“Nothing, I just think I’m getting my psychic visions under control finally.”
“Hm.” His brow furrows before he pushes himself off the lockers. “I’ve got a friend who’s good at that, I can give you her number.”
You can’t be mad at him but you are tired. “What do you want Steve?”
“You know what I’m gonna ask.”
“And you know what I’m gonna say.”
That smile drops off his face. Shoulders relaxed while he shoves his hands into his coat pockets and he scuffs a shoe against the linoleum floor. “Can you tell me something?” He scratches at his eyebrow and squints past you.
“What?” You wonder what else he needs to know about your uneventful life.
“What does he do for you?”
“What?” You ask again and aggressively blink at him while you clutch your bag to your hip.
“What does he do for you? Like, ever.” He asks it so plainly like it isn’t some direct invasion into your life. You want to snap at him and tell him to mind his own business but you stop. It isn’t his fault that he doesn’t think this is out of line, who else do you tell first thing every work day when your boyfriend has fucked up again?
“He…he’s my boyfriend, Steve. He does a lot for me.” You yank on your bag to finalize your lame reason. “I don’t have to tell you everything he does for me.”
“No, but I don’t think you’ve ever said one positive thing about him.”
“He has so many-” You cut yourself off because you can’t even lie about that. He doesn’t have so many positives. He might have two and it’s that he’s never raised his voice at you and he doesn’t get on to you when you forget to pay the water bill on time again. Steve looks at you expectantly but you just huff at him.
“I’m not going on a date with you.” You’ve never said it like that before, so plainly. To his credit Steve doesn’t flinch, just nods his head deeply and swings his keys around his finger while avoiding your gaze.
“Understood.”
The routine of every closing shift with Steve goes the same. He shows up five minutes before he has to clock in to find you reading your last chapter in your book. He’ll compare lunches with you and you’ll talk about your leftovers and he’ll ask.
“Oh, did you make dinner again?”
Steve won’t put any feeling into that question. A simple tilt of his head, a comment about how it sounds delicious. A joke about how you should invite him and Robin to dinner some night because neither of them can cook more than mac and cheese without fear of burning something.
You’ll both head up to the front office to find your night manager and Steve will bump elbows with you on every other step. He’ll talk about the game that was on the night before and you’ll nod along. Rich, your boyfriend, also watched the game but it wasn’t as interesting as when Steve tells you. You’ll tamp that thought down though before it grows legs and runs away with your better judgement. He’ll ask about your night and when you don’t have anything to say?
“What’d you and Rich get up to then?”
The usual. He watched TV and yelled at the Packers for loosing again and you made dinner after being on your feet all day, unlike him and his office job.
“You know,” you’ll say “he’s home a full four hours before me and still didn’t take the chicken out of the freezer.”
Steve will nod and frown while he counts his till before turning on his light for the customers.
“Every night?”
“Every night! And he didn’t wash my sweater again. I swear I’m speaking friggin’ Greek some nights.”
Steve will sigh and huff along with you. He’ll bitch about his date the previous weekend, how she wasn’t interested in hearing about his hiking trip with Robin. How it seemed that it was more a pity date than anything.
“You and Rich got any plans this weekend?”
Of course not. You can’t remember the last time he took you out on a date, much less even went with you to the grocery store. Another slip up in your tales to Steve when you derail and tell him this. Barely a date night in the past year and every time you’ve brought it up it’s met with a sigh. With a hand wave and a promise for next month, when things calm down at work. When he isn’t so tired.
“What’s he working so hard for?”
You wouldn’t know if you even cared to ask. It’s in these conversations where you realize a few things. Every day gives you a new insight and Steve more fodder for his never ending question.
You like working Saturday’s with Steve because Robin usually shows up at closing and he’ll invite you out for a drink. She’s funny and he plays off of her well and by the end of the night you’ve usually forgotten that you’re probably showing up to an empty apartment.
“I’m not leaving until I see you walk in.” Robin chirps, her seat pulled too far up into the steering wheel. She’s the soberest out of the three of you and you roll your eyes at her with a giggle. “I know Rich is there but-”
“No he’s not.” Steve cuts in from the backseat. You see him shake his head in the rear view and Robin gives you an open look.
“Oh don’t get all weird with me, he’s just out with his own friends.”
“He doesn’t invite you out too?” Steve mumbles from the dark.
“Steve.” Robin warns over her shoulder.
“No, it’s okay. They get together earlier than I get off work.” You play with the zipper of your jacket and don’t make eye contact. “I don’t really like his friends anyways.”
“He should get new friends then.”
“Steve.” Robin turns her head sharply to stare into the dark backseat where her roommate sits in the shadows. There’s a silent game of chicken happening between them, something tense and unsaid and you unlock your door to try and cut the rising emotions.
“Thanks for the ride, I appreciate it.”
“Let me walk you-”
“I’m okay, thank you though.” You smile through the headrests at Steve and his insistence, his eyes glassy in the light from the street lamps. You stumble only a little on your way out of the car and once you make it to your door, darkened window greeting you like normal, you can hear the muffled volume of Steve and Robin arguing before she drives them both home.
Steve hasn’t asked you for a date in over a month. He still keeps close to you during working hours but he doesn’t hang in the break room. On Saturday he doesn’t ask you out with him and Robin and he doesn’t ask if you have any plans that weekend.
“Is Robin picking you up?” You ask timidly from inside your locker where you have your head buried, pretending to look for your wallet.
“Hm? Oh, yeah. We’re going to a friends house for a game night.” He waits for you by the door, still intent on walking you to your car. You’re waiting for him to do the courteous thing and ask if you have plans but when he stays silent you bring them up anyways.
“I actually have plans this weekend.”
“No shit?” He sounds surprised but you think you weren’t supposed to see the eye roll.
“Yeah, Rich is taking me to that little place in Marion.” You give him a big grin. “He said he heard good things, wanted to take me somewhere nice.” Deep down you want him to be jealous. You want Steve to feel a little bad for shit talking your boyfriend, even if you agreed with him. You know you shouldn’t have brought it up in the first place, none of his fuck ups or passive attitude, but maybe this could make up for it. Maybe you could show Steve you didn’t have that poor of taste.
Steve nods and bites his bottom lip. You wait for him to open his mouth to say something snippy but he lets the conversation die. He waits for you still, to walk you to your car, but when he gets you to your door he tells you to try the vodka sauce at this little restaurant and leaves you with a small wave while he hunches into the car.
Dinner is…fine.
It’s fine! Rich definitely took you to dinner and he did hold the door open for you and yeah the sauce was amazing and so what you had a brief ten minute interlude of quite between you and your boyfriend where you thought, briefly, about Steve sitting across from you and explaining the different types of pasta that his friend Eddie was learning in his culinary classes.
Then later during the quiet drive home when Rich had turned the radio over to some game he’d missed for your date you’d maybe had let your mind wander again, a wide palm that would rest on your knee and squeeze. Fingers that drift inwards with a promise for a continuation, conversation that makes you fawn and giggle and-
Steve pops up behind you while you shove your purse into your locker. “So, how was dinner?”
“It was fine!” Maybe a bit too snappy with the way he pulls his head back but you flash him a smile.
“Fine?”
“Yeah.”
He leans a shoulder on the lockers beside you, a curious look on his face. “Just fine?”
You swallow when the hand that scratches at his chin brushes your arm on the way down. “Yes Steve. It was…nice.”
“Oh now it’s nice.”
Your sigh is loud and full of exasperation. “What do you want?”
“I wanted to know how your dinner went.” He’s picking on you. That easy grin tells you everything.
“No, you want to know if he messed up somehow.”
“Maybe.”
“He was fine.”
“Oh then I could definitely do it better.”
That makes you pause. Your eyes flick between his trying to decipher his angle while you try to ignore how you can feel the heat coming off of him standing this close. “Excuse me?” It comes out quieter than you meant.
“If I take you out it isn’t gonna just be ‘fine’.” He scoffs.
“If?”
“It’s just a matter of time now.” He slides forward along the locker doors, face closer to yours, enough to feel the edge of his breath he huffs through his nose. “How many more ‘just fine’ dates do you want?” There’s a shift in his demeanor. A squaring of shoulders when he crosses his arms, his gaze softer as he looks down his nose at you.
“Steve, I-” You jump when the break room door opens and he just stands up straight to tug his shirt down before he raises an eyebrow and walks around you to head to work.
“You free tonight?” He asks you during lunch, half his sandwich shoved in his mouth.
“For what?”
“Drinks.”
“You don’t have another game night?” You try to ask it playfully but it comes off a little snooty. All throughout your date you’d caught yourself drifting and wishing you were at that stupid little hole in the wall with Robin and Steve. Once you’d realized how the night was gonna go all you could think about was Steve buying you another round, another cheep beer or the nickel shot of the night. How he’d circle his arm around to place the drink in front of you, careful to wrap himself around your back for a moment.
“Nope.” He pops the word for emphasis and gives you a dopey grin. “All free for you.”
It makes you bashful but what does he do that doesn’t? When you’re finished with your food he wordlessly grabs his trash and yours, even your empty tupperware to rinse it out.
“You don’t have to do that Steve, I have hands.”
“I’m being nice.” He hands you back the dried container. “It’s just a dish.”
But that’s the thing, isn’t it? It isn’t just a dish. His arm brushes yours on your walk back to your registers and you barely keep up with his story about the art gallery with Robin from a few days ago. Lost in the little moments of things he does for you just at work, like walking you to your car. Rinsing your dish out for you and grabbing extra stacks of bags when he’s grabbing his own. Small, minute little things that he just does without you having to ask. It’s a strange concept to you, not having to ask for the small things.
“You aren’t listening are you?” He smiles at you again without irritation or an eye roll. Another thing you haven’t had the privilege of in a long time with Rich.
“I’m not, I’m sorry.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll hold you hostage later and explain what Robin told me about the Haitian art.” He hooks an arm around your shoulders to pull you in. “All it’ll cost you is a single round.”
“Deal.”
Robin is nowhere to be found after work. The parking lot holds just a handful of cars, yours included, and no maroon beemer in sight.
“Are we meeting her there?”
“Uh, no.”
You pause with your key in the driver door. Turned away from him so you don’t have to look at him when you ask. “So just us then?”
“Mhm.”
What you should do is tell him no. Give him a ride home and then head back to your place where you can make a single serving of something and then fade away in front of the TV until your boyfriend calls you from his trip entirely too late and wakes you up.
Instead, “This isn’t a date, okay?” You get in your car and unlock the passenger side for him.
“Sure.”
“I mean it Steve.”
“That’s why you’re buying the first round.” He’s all wide grins and quiet giggles that turn infectious while you navigate to the bar. He finally has your attention so he finishes his art gallery spiel and you have to ask, it’s something that’s been burning in your back pocket forever.
“So when you go on all these dates, is Robin upset or…”
“We’re not together.” Steve sighs and shakes his head. “It really isn’t like that, we’re just friends.”
“Yeah but you two get along so well.”
“It’s…complicated.” He isn’t cutting you off but it’s the answer he’s giving you right now. “Not between us though, we really are just friends.” He points out the street you’re supposed to turn on and you have to make a quick right. “You got nothing to worry about.”
“I’m not worried.” You shoot him a glare as you park, the sudden silence when you turn off the car deafening. “First round on me, right?”
You open a tab when you get there, hellbent on paying your own way to prove to yourself that you aren’t trying to turn this into a date. It’s two friends hanging out, that’s it, and Rich wouldn’t care anyways because you’re allowed to have friends.
You buy your friend Steve a beer and he tells you about his parents retiring to Florida and you talk about your mom’s new boyfriend. Your empty barely hits the table and Steve has a cold can waiting, sliding it across the table at you.
He talks about his friends Nancy and Johnathan getting married and you vaguely mention that Rich is out of town for his brother’s bachelor party. Two shots get set down in front of you and the conversation gets louder with the music and the crowd.
You forget the lines you drew for yourself and reach a hand over to tap Steve’s leg while you’re trying to remember the next part of your story. His nose is red from the cheap whiskey but his cheeks flush when you have to use him for support when you stand, hot palm pressed into the thick of his thigh.
Steve listens to you talk about the drawing class your taking and when you think your starting to bore him he waves you off with a laugh.
“What would give you that idea?”
“I don’t know, Rich kind of drifts if it isn’t about him.” You’ve got enough liquor in your system to start bypassing your filter and you tell it like it is. “He doesn’t give a shit about my ‘stupid little class’.”
“His words or yours?” Steve asks over the rim of his beer. You just shoot him a look and take your shot with a grimace. “Well, keep going. I want to hear more about it.”
The night goes by quicker than expected and suddenly you’re drunk. You realize this while standing in the single stall bathroom while you hold yourself up over the sink to stare at your reflection.
“Get it together.” You make yourself chuckle. “Seriously, what’s going on with your mascara?” You swipe your still wet hands under your lashes to wipe away the black fallout. A moment of embarrassment when you think about Steve seeing you like that but he’d been laughing too, and the bar was dark.
“It doesn’t matter.” You point at your reflection. “He laughed at your jokes.” Your smile is florescent in this dingy bathroom for only a moment when you remember those lines you laid so carefully and then so quickly crossed. The corners of your mouth fall and you sway when you stand up too fast. You shouldn’t be here. You shouldn’t be drunk. You shouldn’t be here and drunk with only Steve.
Almost as if he’s heard your thoughts he’s knocking at the door rapid fire while a muffled voice tells him that’s the ladies room. “I know, I’m looking for my lady.” He laughs and the girl laughs and you start laughing and god you can’t keep a thought in your head now after what, 6 shots? 3 beers? You open the door and Steve greets you with a surprised face and an arm around your middle.
“See, I found her!”
“Steve,” you giggle against his shoulder while he walks you to the bar so he can pay the tab you were supposed to be picking up, “I shouldn’t drive.”
“Then I’ll drive.” He looks down his shoulder at you with hazy eyes.
“I don’t think you should drive either.” You’re slurring makes him laugh and under his right arm he reaches his left hand through to grab your fingers pulling at his coat.
“A cab then.”
“You’re so smart, you know that?” You stare at him in awe before laughing again, your fingers flexing in his grip and staying put.
Steve blushes doubly so with the alcohol and your words going to one of his heads. He whips his head to the bartender waiting for her pen back and he smiles brightly at her. “One cab please.”
You both fall into the bar top giggling while this poor bartender rolls her eyes and drops the phone in front of Steve so he can call for his own chariot.
He follows you right into the back seat and falls directly onto your side when your shoe catches on the rubber mat that lines the floorboards. The driver looks back at the two of you caught in laughter and sighs, waiting for one of you to give him an address. When you try to give Steve’s first he tuts and gives the driver yours instead, “That way I know you got back safe.” His breath tinged with cheap beer brushes your cheek, his nose almost pressing in if only you’d turn your head a little more.
“Yeah okay.” Instead you just look at him from the corner of your eye while your heart beats a hundred miles an hour. Steve adjusts as best he can, his limbs heavy with liquor so he just huffs into his corner of the bench seat, halfassed clipping his seat belt on.
“I mean it. Rich isn’t there.” Air quotes around your boyfriend’s name and a deep mocking frown accompany it.
“Steve.”
“What? You said he was gone.” He rolls his eyes but closes his mouth when he sees you getting that little notch between your brows. He drops his hand off his lap and inches it over the seat till he’s reaching out to poke your leg once. Twice when you don’t react and then hesitantly he hooks his pinky out for yours draped over your thigh.
God his hand is warm. You can feel it through your jeans where the side of it rests against you. He hooks his pinky and you don’t move a single digit on your hand for fear of turning this into something it shouldn’t be. You feel sober suddenly when it hits you where you are and with who.
“Hey.” He tugs your hand till it falls onto the seat and he can grab it. You don’t fight it, not when his voice has that gravel to it from speaking all day. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.”
Steve starts to let your hand go but he’s taking that warmth with him and you finally latch on to him, holding his hand down against your leg. You lean over to lay your head on his shoulder and stare out the windshield. It’s foggy out, the mist collecting on the glass to starburst the streetlights and you stay pressed against him.
The cab comes to a stop in front of your building and before anyone can say anything you finally look up at Steve. A tug on his hand and a quiet question only for him. “You wanna come up?”
The stairs try to trip you but Steve is there with a balancing hand at your hip. When you fumble with your keys he holds out his palm for them and you hope he can’t see the nerves rolling off of you. Your apartment is dark just like you expected but for the first time ever it seems to hold a promise in it, something in the shadows that doesn’t feel so sad. Behind you Steve closes the door and cuts off the light streaming in from the hallway and a switch is flicked inside you.
He’s right there when you turn around to grab the front of his coat and press your lips to his. No startled noise just his hands coming up to cradle your head. You cling to the front of him and he tries to sooth you with thumbs rubbing gently across your cheekbones.
None of this matters in the dark and you need him, need him to understand that. You turn into a flurry of movement trying to get him out of his layers. He laughs and breaks the kiss while you push at the lapels of his coat and tear at the buttons on his polo. You’ve spent months staring at the back of him, his broad shoulders and sun kissed skin. The moles that dot his neck and the chestnut hair that he’s always futzing with.
He’s running those big hands down your neck and over your shoulders.
“We don’t have to rush.” His voice cuts through the quiet hum of the appliances and runs down your spine with its deep timber. “No one else is here.”
He dips his head to kiss you again but the fervor is gone, replaced instead by a slow build of want. He pulls your bottom lip between his teeth to gently bite and you melt into his chest. Hands lay limp against him while he begins your undoing with his kisses. They trail off to your cheek and to your ear and when he’s at your jaw his jacket falls from his shoulders.
He works at your clothes methodically the same way his mouth works at your neck and when you try to tug him towards your bedroom he pauses.
“We don’t have to go in there.” He gives you a soft look, almost pitying. “The couch is just as good.” A small smile against your small frown.
“I want to.” You pull and he steps with you. “It’s my bed anyways.”
Your back hits the bed and he follows you down with laughter and roaming hands. They pull at his own clothes and yours till you finally can touch all that warm skin of his, fingertips tracing between moles on his chest inbetween sloppy kisses.
You can’t remember the last time you felt want like this. Everywhere his fingers drag feels like live wires under your skin. They dance along your collar bones and behind your knees, sensitive skin graced with featherlight touch.
“Please.” You pant while he kisses along your jaw.
“Please what?” He drags his touch up the inside of your thigh and grazes your mound, dancing around where you want him most.
“Please touch me.” Your voice wobbles with emotion, unshed tears stuck behind your lashes. The nerves of the night settle deep into your bones, deep enough you think you might shake apart with them. Long fingers split you open, a slow drag upwards till he hits that ache that you’ve been ignoring all night. Uneven circles drawn while he pants against the side of your neck, open mouthed kiss pressed into your pulse.
Deft fingers pull your pleasure forward quick, a practiced hand between your legs that rivals your own. He hasn’t come up for air since he planted his face against you, tongue and teeth working in tandem against the sensitive spot under your ear while those long fingers dip lower. You can feel his smile like a tattoo on the front of your throat when he sinks one finger in, and then two, his moan singing along with your gasp. Quickly the pads of his fingers find that spot and your knees snap together around his wrist.
“Right there?” It’s all breath in his ask, your nod vigorous. “Come on.” He grits and keeps his pace up while you spiral when he presses the heel of his palm down. “Come on baby, let go.” Teeth scrape against your neck and help to send you over the edge while you grind down on his hand firmly to chase the tails of your pleasure.
Aimless kisses help bring you back to focus along with Steve’s hands gripping you to slide you down the bed. Hooked in the bend of your hips he jerks you to him, thighs hitting his and his cock is there against you suddenly. Hot and heavy between your thighs when he leans down over you to catch your lips in a deep kiss. Short rolls of his hips make him catch on your overly sensitive clit to make your legs shake just a little more.
“Do you know how much I’ve thought about this?” He says against your mouth, sloppy and desperate as he ruts against your heat. “I think about you all the time.”
“Yeah?” You sound just as desperate, rolling hips meeting his own so he can keep nudging your clit. The tip of his cock edges lower but too slow, especially now with him staring wide eyed at you and panting.
“When you went to Marion I-fuck” He looses his composure when you sneak a hand between your bodies to help guide him, fingers wrapped around the thick length. “-I thought about crashing your date.”
You choke on your ‘what?’ when he finally sinks in and the size of him makes you gasp. He pauses for a moment when his eyes slip shut and you hold him between your thighs. When he doesn’t move you shift to get his attention and those blown out eyes find yours in the dark. Hands planted beside your head to cage you in and all you want to look at is his open expression. The grin he wears so well flashed at you while he rocks himself deeper.
“I know it’s crazy.” He half laughs as he starts a deliberate pace. “You make me feel crazy.” Every thrust is a punch of pleasure against that spot he’d found earlier. Precise and slow he drags this out so he can watch your face fall slack.
“I’m sorry.” You sob when he drives in deep and makes your eyes roll.
“No, no it’s me. You’re just-“ he hisses at your nails dragging behind his neck and up into his hair to grab fistfuls, pulling him down closer.
He takes the opportunity to kiss along your collar and mumble against your chest, slurred words only for your ears. Small bites along the swell of your breast and his long fingers rolling a nipple between his knuckles to make your breath hitch. He calls you beautiful and perfect and if you weren’t heading fast into your second orgasm you might cry from the attention.
Everything is big and hot in here. Louder and quieter at the same time. Steve holds onto you while he fucks you, hands gripping and lips searching. No marks but he lets his teeth nip at bared skin before he moves on, letting his fingers press into soft fat at the backs of your thighs and chest. You haven’t felt this kind of passion in a long time, the never ending want for more. You need him deeper, you need him to cover you completely. You want him to suck marks into your skin so you can see them in the morning and know this wasn’t you letting your fantasies get out of control again.
A faltering in his movement before he speeds up, hot breath fanning over your cheek where he kisses wetly up and down and to your ear, his quiet moans making your toes curl. It’s the deep, halting groan that pours out of him when he comes that has you clenching. He grips at you to hold you in place while you shake under him and he talks you down off your precipice. Mumbled praise and reminders of your beauty while sweat begins to cool. He doesn’t let his full weight fall on you but he does lay over your chest, skin sticking and sliding as his hand searches for yours to hook fingers together.
Beside your head you can hear him taking breath, readying to say something and you have a moment of doubt suddenly. He’s told you too much and not enough and maybe your brain is staring to catch up to your actions.
“I’m not drunk enough to say something stupid, but I need you to know something.” He uses his free hand to prop himself to hover over you, his grin skewed over his flushed cheeks. “I really like you.” A stray hair gets pushed out of your rapidly narrowing vision. His look is too soft and his wandering hand too light. It makes you shed a few tears that he seems to catch in the dim light.
“Steve…don’t…” You try to bury your face in the pillows but he’s quick to turn you back to face him.
“Don’t what? Tell you?” His grip on your chin is firm but his fingers don’t press in. He holds you still while his bloodshot eyes flick back and forth over your own. “I don’t…if you want me to leave I can do that.” It’s not a threat but it makes your heart seize regardless. “I’m just not gonna come in here and pretend like this is a one off or something.”
Knees still pressed to his hips holding him close, legs locked behind his knees where he kneels, you slide your hands up his sides for more points of contact. He’s real under your palms. Breathing and hot and sweating and telling you how he feels. The two orgasms barely hold a candle to the blossoming feeling in your stomach when he stares down at you with care.
“Steve-“
“Do you want me to stay?”
“I don’t think-“
“Yes or no.” He sits back with his arms spread wide. “I can go right now and we can pretend this didn’t happen.” He looks hurt when he says that but he holds your teary gaze. “I’ll get my shifts moved so you don’t even have to see me at work.”
You reach for him again, need him under your hands to ground you in the moment. “Don’t do that.” Face pushed into his shoulder sloppily when you rush up to meet him in the middle of your bed.
“If it makes it easier-“
“I don’t want it easier.” You hush. “I want you to stay.” A gentle tug at him to follow you back to the pillows. “Please.”
He falls easily with you, gets his arms around your shoulders to roll you into his embrace. “Okay.” Fingers over your scalp and down your neck to sooth your heavy breathing. “I’m not going anywhere.”
He smells like the bar and his soap and the remnants of cologne that cling to his jacket. Scruff from a full day rubs against your forehead while you get comfortable against his chest and presses a kiss to the top of your head. Your bedroom is quieter than normal with his heartbeat under your ear and his breathing above you, a steady hum that calms you down. You begin drifting off when the liquor catches up to your satiated brain and your fingers loose some of their grip on his sides.
You think he’s still asleep with how quiet the room is but his voice is a deep rumble in the morning after. “Robin is going to kill me.”
You can hear the rub of his palms over his face and through his hair, that deep groan when he rolls either away or towards you, you’re not sure.
You find your own voice then, creaky and worn from yelling laughter at him all night through cheap whiskey shots. “I thought it wasn’t like that.”
“It isn’t.” His long fingers creep over your shoulder to pull gently. “She told me to leave you alone.” When you don’t unwind from yourself he uses you for leverage and rolls into your back, arm snaking around your waist. “And I told her I would.” A chaste kiss pressed to the back of your neck that makes you shiver, nothing chaste in the way it makes your chest flutter. “Obviously I lied, and she’s not fond of me lying to her.”
You turn your head slowly to look at him over your shoulder, mainly trying to prevent a wave of nausea but also to hold off the inevitable guilt hanging over you from dropping like a guillotine. In the late morning rainy light he’s even more handsome, bed-warm and rumpled. His hair sticks up on one side where it was pressed into your pillow, same pillow leaving lines on his cheek. He looks soft and out of focus and warm.
You expect that guilt to bubble up and spill out of your mouth in a wail but it doesn’t exist; there is no guillotine here.
You shuffle onto your back so you can look at him more intently, so you can stare at the green flecks in his brown eyes that roam over your face. “If anyone is gonna be in trouble, I think it’s me.” Barely a wobble to your words. He slides his hand up your stomach, fingers coming to rest in the valley between your breast. No rabbit heart under his palm. No gasping breaths to steady yourself under his gaze. You’ve made your bed and you would really like to lie in it, consequences be damned.
“It was fun.”
“It was.” You blink at him slowly. Rain patters against the glass and the clock in the kitchen ticks down the rest of your day. He tucks his other arm up under his head to look at you better before he sighs.
“I can go. If it’s easier.” Repeats himself from last night but your answer hasn’t changed. You frown lightly but don’t answer and he seems to take that as his sign to get up.
“No.” You reach out for his arm before he can set his feet on the floor. “I don’t want you to go.”
He laughs through his nose before settling in an upright position. “You don’t seem convinced.” A thumb to his nose twice while he stares at a spot at the foot of your bed.
“I’m thinking.” You sit up next to him and lean into his back facing you. Cheek resting on the back of his shoulder you stare at the moles that dot his skin and run a finger between them.
“About?”
“Breakfast.”
His laugh is louder than you expect but it’s nice to hear. “Hungover?”
A dry kiss where your cheek was resting before you scoot to your side of the bed in search of your underwear. “Something like that.”
Quiet shuffling while you two get dressed, Steve wincing at the smell of the bar stuck in his shirt that he shoves over his head. When he passes you to go look for his wallet he stops to lean down for a kiss. Unhurried and soft it leaves you with that same deep want from last night, especially when he hides a grin as he turns away. Bashful like you two weren’t just drunkenly fooling around until the early morning hours.
“There’s a place just do-“
Shrill ringing cuts you off on your way to the front door and you both stop to stare at the phone hanging in the kitchen. Steve looks suddenly adrift in your apartment, unsure while probably Rich tries to call you at too early a time. You let it go until it stops and the silence sits between you until Steve clears his throat.
“You still wanna get breakfast?” Quiet now that reality has stuck its nose back in. He shifts his weight from one hip to the other and you reach over for him, hands sliding under his jacket for a loose hug.
Your smile might be sad and the turn of his chin down at you shows the shadow of doubt on his mind but you wanted this. He did too and the aftermath of your shared night sits around you. The chair out of place from running into it, your shoes kicked in front of the tv and your bed just out of sight with its sheets melting onto the floor.
Guilt doesn’t exist here. Not when Steve told you all his secrets last night. Not now with the memory of gentle kisses and burning touch still searing your skin. You’ll face the consequences tomorrow when your normal comes back into town but for now, “Yeah, I do.”
#Steve Harrington#Steve Harrington Fic#Steve Harrington Fluff#Steve Harrington Smut#Steve Harrington x Reader#My Work#My Fic
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Jealousy, Jealousy
Pieces of My Heart - Chapter 6 Stray Kids OT8 x reader, Soulmate AU
Masterlist | Next Part
A couple of fans could be spotted on the streets near the venue, even hours before the concert, mostly milling about in small groups with beautiful outfits, and sharing cool self-made merch.
It made you smile.
The inside of the venue, on the other hand, was chaotic. None of the boys you arrived with seemed bothered by the hustle and bustle, all of them walking with purpose down the halls, and you followed behind while trying hard not to bump into any of the workers that swerved around you with different equipment.
The boys all greeted a man as they passed, except for Chris. Reaching behind to grab your hand, he pulled you up to greet the man, and you gave a small bow as he introduced you in Korean.
The two talked quickly about something, the man giving you a once over with critical eyes, before the man (who you've now identified as a manager) handed over a lanyard with a large slip of laminated paper. Backstage pass was written in large letters across the slip.
"Here, keep this with you while you're back here. He's going to get you your tickets for the concert later."
"But I already have tickets?"
"These are floor tickets, closer to the stage," He explained.
You hummed. "Does he … know?"
Chris laughed. "Yeah, he knows. He's the first person I told after my parents. If you're going to be around for a while, it's important for the company to know what's going on."
"Do you think they'll release a statement?" You asked, and his grip on your arm tightened as you turned a corner. "I mean, you all found your soulmate. Wouldn't ... wouldn't that be something they should share?"
"I don't know. It's not something we have to worry about for now."
You and Chris finally arrived at a calmer area, the sound of the boy's laughter echoing down the halls. The room you walked into looked like a combination of a waiting room and a salon, with Jisung and Hyunjin sprawled across a couch watching a video and Seungmin sitting across from them on his own phone. You moved to join them, but Chris's hold on your arm stopped you.
You looked back, Chris slowly pulling you away from the doorway and to the side. His brows were furrowed.
"Hey, what's up?"
Chris let out a deep sigh. "We need to talk about what happened. In the car."
"We really don't," You offered, giving him a tight smile.
"No, we do. I get that our situation isn't ideal, me being able to feel your feelings," Chris let out an awkward laugh. "I get it's a bit uncomfortable, having me in the back of your mind whenever you feel something. But you don't have to worry about being affectionate with the other boys, I really don't mind."
You blinked. "What?"
"Your emotions dont bother me, I mean. And we don't have to talk about them, you dont have to worry about, umm, you know-"
"Oh my god."
"I don't … you don't need to worry about it, actually you don't have to think about it at all. I won't ever bring it up, so if things ever get a little bit heated-"
"Oh my god! Chris, shut up!"
"I'm just saying, you don't need to feel embarrassed."
You pressed your hands up against your face with a groan. "Chris, I wasn't embarrassed because of that. I was embarrassed because we were in a car with your driver, and the others were right there, and it wasn't the time or the place. Not because you could feel me …ugh."
"Oh."
"I mean, if anything, knowing that you were right there actually made things worse. Because I liked it. I really liked it."
"Oh!"
"I just-" You peeked at him from in between your fingers. Chris' face was turning red, mouth parted in surprise. "You really don't mind, feeling me get, erm … excited?"
He coughed. "Uhm, no. Not really. It's kind of a turn on if I'm being honest."
"Oh."
Chris let out a giggle, pulling your hands away from your face. "You're right, though. Hyunjin definitely needed to slow things down. Sometimes he gets a little overexcited, so if you ever need to slow things down, for any of the boys, don't be afraid to say something."
"Yeah, right." You shook your head, giving him a shy smile. "So, if that's all you wanted to talk about…"
"Oh, right. Yeah."
Chris let you go, and you awkwardly shuffled back over to the doorway. Seungmin looked up as you entered, and he raised his eyebrows.
"What have you two been up to?"
"N-nothing!"
Thankfully, neither Hyunjin nor Jisung seemed to notice your flushed states nor the implications behind Seungmin's words, too busy laughing at the video they were watching. You gave Seungmin a look and bypassed him to sit next to Hyunjin, leaning over his shoulder.
"What are you watching?"
Hyunjin tilted the phone so you could see better. "Ah, Hyung! Watch this video!"
"It's a TikTok a Stay made about Channie-Hyung. They made him a wolf!" Jisung exclaimed.
"What!?"
o0o0o
The other boys arrived not long after the laughter settled down, and they started getting ready for their soundcheck. You managed to watch from backstage as they went through a few songs, including your favorites, the sound of the lucky fans screams drowning out your own cheers. The boys had offered to let you watch from the crowd instead of backstage, but you knew that they wouldn't have been able to keep their eyes off you, and you didn't need that kind of attention right now.
If they weren't going to announce finding their soulmate yet, then they needed to be careful.
Even now, you could tell Felix was getting a little overwhelmed from the new colors he could see. You would catch him staring at bright objects, like the apples at breakfast, or watching videos of their old music videos and commenting on everyone's hair colors with awe.
Even now, you can see the way he stares at his fans, the way his eyes are drawn to their signs and the colorful outfits they wear. You decide to bring it up shortly after the soundcheck, as the boys are resting back in their waiting room.
"Do you have a favorite color yet?"
Felix looked up from his phone with a smile as you joined him on the couch, immediately holding up an arm so you could cuddle up to him.
"Oh, I don't know. They're all so pretty, and vibrant, and just so … colorful!"
You giggled. "Yes, the colors are indeed colorful."
"Shut up, you know what I mean."
Felix leaned back, eyes flickering around in thought, before turning his head towards you. Your faces were close enough that you could count the freckles on his face, and you bit your lip to keep from smiling as his gaze fell down to your lips.
"So, no favorite color?" You teased, watching as his eyes darted back up to meet your eyes.
"Hmmm, It's a hard choice. I think I love the color of your eyes the most, though."
"Awww, that's so sweet. But I think you've been spending too much time with Chan."
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?!" Chris yelled from his own spot across the room.
"Stop eavesdropping!" You yelled back.
"If you want privacy, you should get a room!"
"Yes, please," Jisung grumbled.
You stuck your tongue out at the rest of the boys, pulling Felix's head against your chest. "Don't listen to them, sweetie. They're just jealous."
Felix took the opportunity to snuggle up against you, eyes drifting shut as you ran your fingers through his hair. He let out a little sigh of content. You pretended not to notice Jeongin snapping a picture of you two with a grin on his face, and decidedly ignored the messages the group chat received shortly after.
"Hyunjin invited me to this museum in Seoul, for when the tour is over," Felix whispered a few minutes later, his voice deeper than before.
"Oh?"
"Hmm, he says I'd really like all the colors. It's a modern art museum."
You hummed. "That sounds like a great idea."
Felix lifted his head slightly to meet your eyes. "Would you want to come?"
Your first instinct was to say yes. You would love to go to a museum with Felix, to watch him experience art for what would feel like the first time. You wanted to go on a date with the two dancers, to enjoy a little outing together. The words were on the tip of your tongue.
But then you thought about it.
For this to happen, you would need to be with them in Seoul. In all the excitement, all the hype, you had forgotten that the day after tomorrow you had a flight scheduled to take you back home. You had obligations, people who you had yet to inform, plans you had made, a life you couldn't just pick up and leave behind. And it seemed as if the boys had made an assumption that you would be joining them. It made sense after all.
8 of them, one of you. It would be easier for you to go with them. They had their jobs, their own families, a tour they needed to finish.
Felix seemed to pick up on your hesitation. "It's okay if you don't want to."
You wanted to reassure him, tell him you would, but you weren't ready to have that conversation just yet. So you just gave him a smile.
"I'll think about it."
o0o0o
When the boys started getting ready, some disappearing to get changed and others sat down for hair and makeup, you decided to take the opportunity to clear your head.
You also used the free time as a chance to call your family, telling them the good news. You were surprised it hadn't been your first thought, but between everything that had happened yesterday and early that morning, it hadn't crossed your mind. Your phone call lasted long enough that you did an entire lap around the stadium, making it back to the waiting room to find it empty except for Jisung, who was scrolling on his phone.
You skipped over to his side, throwing yourself onto the couch next to him with a sigh.
"Hey, watcha doing?"
Jisung didn't look up from his phone, giving you a short shrug.
You frowned. "Jisung?"
"Yeah?"
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine."
You gave him an unconvincing look. "Okay, sure. You finished up already?"
"Still need to do hair, but the stylist Noona's are busy with the others."
"Right. I guess everyone else is probably still getting ready."
Jisung let out a huff. "Probably."
You stared at him for a few seconds, watching the way he scrolled through his phone seemingly unfocused, the subtle scrunch in his nose and the way he was biting the inside of his cheeks. You reached out to brush back his hair, but he tilted his head away from you.
You dropped your hand loudly against the back of the couch. "Okay, what's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong," Jisung said.
"Then why won't you even look at me?"
Jisung dropped his phone and turned to look at you, his jaw clenched and eyes wide. "Happy?"
"Ok, seriously? What is going on with you?"
"Nothing! Why do you suddenly care about what's going on with me anyways?"
"What are you-" Suddenly it clicked. "You have got to be kidding me. Are you jealous right now?"
"No!"
The way his entire body tensed, his eyes dropping and face twisting defensively, you knew you were right. You ran your hand over your face with a groan.
"Jisung."
"It's not jealousy, it's just … not fair," He mumbled, "You seem to get real cozy with everyone else. Sleeping with Lee Know, cuddling with Felix, practically making out with Hyunjin in the car."
"Hey, it’s not like those were planned out or anything. And I'm not ignoring you, you have every right to ask for affection too," You told him.
"I know," Jisung shook his head. "Maybe Binnie had a point. I guess I just wasn't expecting having to share my soulmate with others."
"And you're allowed to be upset about it," I reassured him. "But taking it out on me or the others isn't going to help anyone. if you're feeling left out, you should say something."
"I know."
This time, when you reached out to him, Jisung let you. You pulled him into a hug, and he buried his face into the crook of your neck. You rubbed circles against his back. Jisung's body shook as he let out a deep breath, his body slumping against yours as the tension finally left.
He pulled back after a few seconds, his eyes a little red. He looked like he wanted to say something, but his eyes kept darting down to the seat uncertainly.
You ducked down to meet his gaze. "Jisung, sweetie? If there's something you want to say, you can just say it."
"Can I kiss you?"
"Oh." You smiled softly. "Yeah. You can kiss me."
When Jisung pressed his lips against yours, you expected it to be awkward, or rushed. But it wasn't. It was slow and warm, your heartbeat loud in your ears. You kissed him back just as softly, noses brushing against each other.
It felt right.
When you pulled away for air, Jisung followed, a soft whine leaving his throat. You couldn't help but laugh, and then gasp as your back hit the seat of the couch and Jisung pressed against you from above. His kisses turned heated, one hand gripping your waist as the other gently gripping your jaw to tilt your head back, allowing him to muffle the moan that escaped you. He smiled against your lips, and you pushed him back by the shoulder.
"Jesus, Jisung. Where did that come from?"
"Sorry," He apologized, although judging from the smile on his face, he wasn't actually that sorry.
He gave you own last peck on the lips, and then he pressed another kiss to your forehead before finally pulling back.
“Thank you.”
You gave him a dazed smile. “I think I should be the one thanking you.”
Jisung just laughed.
#stray kids x reader#skz x reader#stray kids x you#skz x you#chan x reader#chan x you#bangchan x reader#bangchan x you#changbin x reader#changbin x you#lee minho x reader#lee minho x you#minho x reader#minho x you#hyunjin x reader#hyunjin x you#han x you#han x reader#jisung x reader#jisung x you#felix x you#felix x reader#seungmin x you#seungmin x reader#in x you#in x reader#jeongin x reader#jeongin x you#stray kids fanfic#pieces of my heart
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Slimav and itch 👀
Hey hey! Sorry for the delay, the writing muse was not having it for the past couple of days. My writing gets a bit away from the ask a bit, but I hope you enjoy this anyway!
This prompt comes from the comfortable intimacy tag. Prompt: (itch) sender assists receiver with an itch they can't reach.
PS - I could be tempted to continue this story if anyone is interested. Slimav is always a fun time . . .
Maverick twisted in his chair, face creased with concentration as his hands scrabbled around trying to reach a spot on his back.
Slider raised a condescending brow. “What’s got your panties in a bunch, shortstack?”
“Goddamn mosquitos,” Maverick fumed back sharply. “Goose and I were on the court after sunset last night and the stupid things were everywhere.”
“Hmm.” Slider watched as the furious contorting continued. “And I assume you weren’t wearing your shirt during the game?”
“Of course not! Gotta keep this California tan somehow.”
“You look like a dog with fleas.”
Maverick’s expression went nuclear. “You’re so hilarious, Sli.” His face was an alarming shade of puce as he left the chair with a huff.
Maverick headed for the partial wall near the small kitchen as Slider laughed. He turned around and wedged his back against the sharp corner, rubbing against it like a bear on a tree.
“Come on, that’s just pathetic,” Slider sighed. He crossed the room in four long strides and grabbed Maverick’s arm.
“What the hell, that was working!” Maverick groused.
Slider rolled his eyes as he spun Maverick around and pulled up the back of his shirt. The tanned skin beneath was riddled with small red marks. He whistled through his teeth.
“Yeah, that does look rough.”
Maverick started to respond, heat coloring his tone, but Slider didn’t wait for a reply before running his big, hot hands up Maverick’s spine. He dug in with his fingernails, scratching firmly. Maverick hissed and shuddered, jumping as broad fingers dug in to his waist.
“That hurts! And Goose said not to scratch, it’ll just make the spots worse.”
“Trust Mother Goose to have an opinion but not offer to help,” Slider snorted. “But that does make sense. You’ll just get redder if I keep this up.”
“But it’s still itchy!”
Slider’s hands didn’t leave Maverick’s skin. He lingered, pressing against the curves of his spine and alone the muscles of his shoulders. The mosquito bites were still irritating, but the long, sweeping touches both soothed and inflamed Maverick in another way.
“C’mon, I have another idea,” Slider said after a pause. “Lose the shirt and get in the kitchen.”
“You having ideas is dangerous.”
“Now who’s full of jokes?” Slider grabbed a clean dish towel and opened the freezer, rummaging around and cracking several ice cubes out of the tray.
Maverick hesitated. He toyed with the hem of his shirt and considered his options. On the one hand, he could see that icing the bites could reduce the swelling and the itch. On the other hand, he didn’t really trust himself to be half naked in the same room as Slider. And that’s before he considers what it’ll be like for Slider to touch him more.
But Slider gestured impatiently with his handful of ice, so Maverick pulled the shirt over his head and faced away, his gaze level to the cheap laminate countertop. He jumped at the first touch of cold.
“Settle down,” Slider grumbled. “If you keep flinching so much, this is gonna take forever.”
Maverick swallowed hard. Slider’s hands roamed over his back familiarly as the first bite cooled down. He had to admit – the cold did sooth the itch. Slider stepped closer, a wall of warmth along Maverick’s back. He plucked one of the cubes out of the towel and pressed it against a bite low on his shoulder blade. Maverick hissed at the surprise.
Slider chuffed a laugh, warm air rushing through Maverick’s hair. “Easy, now.”
“You could have warned me.”
“Mmm, but what’s the fun in that?”
Maverick had no answer. Slider shifted the towel to another bite and the cooled skin trembled when exposed to the kitchen air. Maverick breathed carefully through an open mouth as Slider put the uncovered ice cube on a bite up by the nape of his neck. Slider’s thumb balanced on the side of his neck, making his pulse flutter.
“That should be most of them,” Maverick rasped an interminable time later.
“Are you sure?” Slider accompanied the question with a lazy glide of his hand down Maverick’s spine, the cooled tips of his fingers lighting up every inch of skin he touched.
“Yeah.” Maverick needed Slider to stop touching him. He needed him to never stop . . . “I think the ice did all it’s gonna do for me.” The cubes were melting. Water trailed down his skin, making him shiver as it streamed down toward the waistband of his pants.
Slider grabbed Maverick’s hips and spun him around. Maverick’s head dropped back, startled, to make eye contact. “I-I can do the front.”
“Of course you can.” Slider bit back a smile, but lines deepened around his sparkling eyes.
Wet and cold trailed over Maverick’s pecs. There was a bite on his sternum that got covered first. He shifted as Slider’s hand moved once the inflamed spot was cold, the motion making the ice land on his nipple. Gasping, he pushed up into Slider’s arm to move him away.
“Where are you going with that?”
“Wherever I want?” Now Slider had to be messing with him. He glided the loose cube down the centerline of his midsection and watched as it trailed into the coarse hair above his bellybutton.
“What if I want you to do what you want?” Maverick had to clear his throat twice before the words came out. Slider’s eyes snapped back up to stare into his face, blown dark with want.
Maverick reached out and cupped the side of Slider’s face, reveling in how the rasp of his stubble felt against his fingertips. Then he traced the bridge of his nose down to his grinning mouth. From there it was easy to sway closer and close the distance between their lips.
Slider deepened the kiss with a soft growl. He tipped Maverick’s chin up to improve the angle of attack, their noses bumping as they worked to set a give and take. His strong hands clutched at Maverick’s waist and drew their bodies in closer, pressing the growing warmth of their arousal together.
The sound of a key turning in the lock interrupted them. Flushing, Maverick threw himself off the countertop and raced to retrieve his shirt as Ice walked in to the living room.
“Maverick? Why aren’t you wearing a shirt?”
“Mosquito bites. Ice helps.” He got caught with one arm in the head hole. Ice snorted and helped get him sorted out.
“Slider, next time you want to flirt with your boytoy, make sure I’m not going to walk in. This could have been very embarrassing for all of us.” Ice glared at his RIO, but he fought back a smile.
Maverick spluttered, but Slider cut in before he could reply. “Sure thing, Ice. We wouldn’t want to scar you for life.”
Slider winked at Maverick as he turned to dump the ice in the sink. Confused and feeling very caught out, Maverick darted away from Slider to the relative safety of the couch. Ice’s mirth diffused a lot of the tension in the room, but interest still simmered low in his belly. Maybe next time (was he really going to consider that there could be a next time???), Ice wouldn’t show up, and he’d see how far things would go
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idk sa smth
this is actually (part of) one of the two side stories i had planned following this fic so there's a little bit of context. is it necessary? idk but i thought i'd mention it
-
coby recognizes the flower shop boy's voice in a shock, in a rush, in something that simmers low in his gut and makes his head shoot up to identify the source.
he immediately sours.
it is sabo, he finds. but he's not alone. he's curled up in a corner booth with that boy coby had last seen him leave with. they look to be in some sort of casual conversation, yet sabo's voice is loud enough to rise above the chatter of the crowd.
he's leaned back against whatever-his-name-is' shoulder, gesturing with both hands and glancing every so often over to make sure the guy is paying attention. coby feels a zap shoot through him when a hand curves tighter around sabo's hip. sabo adjusts slightly, sliding one propped-up knee further along the edge of the table. he turns his head to look, and his lips stop moving, and the guy laughs and his eyes crinkle.
sabo looks put-off by this, and even further by his companion's response -he even rolls his eyes. but it's not enough to close the distance. in fact, they're pushed further together when more people crowd the table to fill the booth's empty space. sabo leans further into whats-it, both curled legs now resting against the tabletop's side. he swats out at one of the girls closest and the hand not attached to his waist rises to grab at his chin, swing him to face the other way.
coby is far enough, but he can still see the shift in sabo's expression, how the annoyance bleeds out with one soft look.
when he looks down he finds he's bent crescent shapes into the laminating of the menus.
unfortunately (fortunately?) the table is his. while he's collecting drink orders sabo recognizes him, but he doesn't say anything.
he's not the only one that recognizes coby. coby's not exactly brave, but he's not timid either. he does his best to keep a neutral look while being on the receiving end of a dull glare. his pen remains poised above a pad of paper.
"ace," sabo mutters, stabbing into his sternum with an elbow. ace grunts at this, raising his free hand to rub at the spot over his shirt, and casts sabo a pretty perturbed glance that the blond is good at returning. but it does the trick, snapping him out of it enough to order, still looking at coby oddly but not quite as coldly.
it's more smug, he determines, when ace's arm curls tighter around sabo's middle, pulling him closer despite chance of further injury.
coby pretends not to notice. he finishes taking drink orders and spins on his heel.
"what was that about?" sabo asks, behind him.
"don't worry about it," ace responds, loud enough for coby to overhead, even as he's walking away.
-
"it's fucking cold in here," sabo complains. he has his arms curled around his front, shivering in his thin long-sleeve, and his third drink pushed further back on the table to signify he was done for the night.
ace raises one brow. "what, i'm not warm enough?"
sabo looks back at him with a look that's a mix of frustration and disgust. "you're not helping," he mutters, shivering.
"what do you want me to do?" he gestures down his torso with his free hand, to the plain tee he was sporting. "i don't exactly have any clothes to offer."
"so useless," sabo grunts, turning away. he says it as a joke but ace has had a little too much to drink. both brows jump up at the words.
"ha-hey!" sabo startles when ace wraps him into a hug, then tugs until sabo is nearly in his lap. "ace!" he says, words hissing from his barely-opened mouth.
"any better?" he wanders closer, lips musing near sabo's collar. "this is what you had in mind, right?"
sabo flushes, the skin on his neck turning bright red as ace's guess hits home. ace hides his grin higher, at the junction where sabo's hair met flesh. sabo tilts his head to look back and ace stays stationary, his lips sliding until they press more against sabo's throat.
"sure, i guess," sabo starts, voice low –voice just for ace to hear. "but i didn't want you to pull me on top of you."
ace shrugs. "not quite there yet. but i can–"
sabo stops him before he can be slid any further up. his brows tilt down in open disapproval. "what is with you tonight?"
"'s nothing," ace answers, looking up to meet sabo's eyes. his gaze flicks out before he quite gets there, spying a familiar head of pink not far from them. he squeezes and sabo's breath hitches. "kiss me," he murmurs, before sabo can swat at him.
sabo huffs, but he bends forward to indulge ace nonetheless. it's nothing amazing –nothing like he wanted– but coming from sabo it works, for now.
it does its job, in the end. the kid is nowhere in sight.
sabo relaxes fully against him, breathing out a long sigh. his nose meets the meat of ace's shoulder before his head comes down fully.
ace, no longer so distracted, raises a hand to run through sabo's hair. sabo shudders. "still cold?" he questions.
"not from that," sabo muffles into his shirt, nestling further in. ace breathes out a laugh at the blunt admittance, his hand stilling, fingers fully tangled in sabo's blond strands.
"are you ready to go?"
sabo's head bobs and ace sacrifices a just little headspace to figuring out how to get sabo out the door touching as much skin as he can get away with.
-
coby cannot stand ace.
it's not for anything other than pure jealousy, which is how he knows its stupid. ace has been flaunting his relationship with sabo all night, but it's never been in a trophy-bearing sort of way. and it's never been unwanted, that he could tell.
really, that's what makes it so frustrating. he's nice to sabo. everything he's done within coby's line of sight has been reciprocated by the blond. it didn't seem, on the surface, like ace did anything out of malice. he simply caught sabo up in a tender moment while coby was present. multiple times. almost exclusively, from what he could tell, but that could just be his bias.
coby hates ace, but it's more than that. coby hates the way he can't hate ace, actually. not with the way sabo looks upon him. not in the gentle way sabo holds and grabs and latches on, so unlike what coby has observed in the flower shop, where it seems at times that sabo is barely restraining himself, movements taut and vying for something to do with more force.
ace nuzzles into the column of sabo's throat and coby purses his lips and forces himself to turn away, for his own sanity. he doesn't miss when they leave, escaping the table and leaving their tab to a friend. they don't pay attention to coby at all, but coby can't help that it's for him –the way ace pulls sabo into his side, breathes soft words far too close to his face. sabo rolls his eyes but his shoulders are shaking in laughter.
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