#but I think this is an experience that will help him grow up?

[writingsfromhome]

Unspoken Signals

A/N: reaaaallly tried to get this out for v-day. It’s been a while, I’m a bit rusty, but this is a quick fic w Harry and you as coworkers and a casual something else. Hope you enjoy 🫶🏼

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“Well this is different,” I comment.

Before me sits a dozen children and they’re all very quiet. It’s music to my ears after the last hour.

“I didn’t know kids could even do yoga.”

“You didn’t know kids could stretch?” I raise a brow.

“The meditating part,” Harry clarifies. “I didn’t know they could quiet their minds and their demon mouths.”

I laugh softly and turn back to the kids. A couple are starting to get restless, peeking one eye open or scratching their noses—picking them more like. But it’s nice for the few minutes.

Both Harry and I worked at an art museum that had recently lost some of its funding and had decided to open up revenue streams by introducing “kids fun weekends”. So despite having zero training in early education, staff at the museum found ourselves having to look after children and host workshops from time to time.

So far we’d been volun-told to help with a crafts day, a movie night, wellness day, and an upcoming museum sleepover.

And I was so not being paid enough to deal with hyperactive children.

“Why do kids even need a wellness workshop?” Harry continues to whisper back to me. “They’ve got stressful jobs or something? Bloody put me on one and let me go home.”

“Anyone can experience stress Har,” I roll my eyes. Harry was one of those people who didn’t care about being politically correct when he spoke. Which led to a lot of bickering between us that most of our coworkers had gotten used to.

“The stress of any of these kids does not bloody compare to the stress of an adult.”

“Don’t be such an ageist,” I reply.

“Ageist? What the fuck,” he swears. “Do you just put a word in front of -ist and create a new prejudice?”

I gasp and hold his shoulder, “prejudice? Where did you learn such a large word?”

“Now you’re just being a word-ist,” Harry says smugly.

I snort despite myself, “And you’ve always been a prick.”

“Piss off,” Harry whispers. “This is unfair.”

We stand in silence, forced to do our job of keeping watch over the kids. But as they grow more agitated and so does Harry, I realize I really didn’t want to be here either.

“Well have you seen the new fake-Monet collection?” I ask.

It wasn’t actually fake-Monet. It was a local artist we were hosting in our community gallery that showcased…local artists. The first piece we ever saw hung up looked like a Monet so we took to calling him that.

“No. Not after that first forgery.”

“Wanna ditch this and check it out?”

“Fuck yes.” Harry’s eyes finally draw some life to them.

We leave our two other coworkers to deal with freshly-meditated children and sneak away.

The art museum wasn’t a large building; the ground floor was taken up by the open lobby, offices, the gift shop, and some of the more permanent exhibits. The second floor had revolving galleries and the community gallery sat on the third floor.

“D’you think anyone’s actually going to buy the guy’s fakes?” Harry asks.

“Probably,” I jam the button for the lift. “I saw a couple more pieces and they were beautiful.”

“You find any piece of art beautiful.”

“Well they are! It’s easy to find beauty in a lot of things if you’re not a prick.”

The lift arrives and the doors open; the reflection inside show a tall curly-haired annoyed bloke. Walking in with him is a shorter girl, rolling her eyes.

“I’m not a prick.” He looks down at me. “I just have standards.”

Suddenly in the enclosed space of the lift we’re gravitating towards each other like we tended to do. I smile up at him sweetly and he tsks and pushes me away by my chin; a conversation taking place with just our eyes.

The thing with Harry and me—because it was just a thing we didn’t label, was simple: we liked being around each other (despite being able to get on each other’s nerves).

We kinda just orbited each other and we were comfortable with it; some days he would follow me home and we’d hang out, get dinner, sleep together, and other nights I’d show up at his and we’d fold right into one another.

It was fun, and it felt cool not to label it. It felt very adult, like Harry and I were mature enough to appreciate the other in every aspect without being possessive enough to need to label it. Like somehow we were proving just how secure we were by doing it like this.

“You just like being judgemental,” I say and as the doors open onto the third floor I turn to walk out. “Because you’re an idiot.”

Outside stand at older couple who’ve definitely heard the last bit. I apologize and pray they don’t complain to anyone about the staff.

“Very unprofessional,” Harry goads as he laughs. “Do you harass all the elderly at the museum.”

“Shut up!” I shove him against the wall and he stumbles down.

“Oi!” He calls out as I walk away. “Oi! Help me up!”

“Help yourself!” I finally turn. He’s sprawled on the ground like this was his bedroom—because I’d seen the inside of his bedroom I would know. But he stays for so long I hurry back, not wanting anyone to walk past and get us in trouble for laying in the middle of the hall.

“I knew you’d come,” he smiles sweetly, his large hand in the air ready for me to grip.

“C’mon—“

I see it coming too late and he’s already trapped me in. He pulls me forward and I stumble into him, nearly catching myself on the wall. Nearly. I tumble into him instead.

“Grow up!” I scramble off of him as quick as I could. Because the one unspoken rule in this thing between us was staying nothing but platonic coworkers at work.

And that was the other thing about us—this unlabelled situation we were in. That as casual as we appeared there was a lot of orchestrating going on behind the scenes in order to be this nonchalant.

For example, only touching outside of work, not asking about dates the other went out on the weekend before, like saying you’re funny and where’ve you been when it’s been a while so as not to say I really like you and I want to be around you more and when you’re not around I miss you more than an unlabelled half should. Like getting drunk when I spot him at a club with another girl so I can continue to convince myself I really didn’t care all that much.

It was just Harry. At most we were just friends.

“This is me grown up,” Harry catches up to me. He can sense I’m annoyed and maybe he’s crossed a line so he lingers slightly behind.

I ignore him as I push the glass door into the gallery. This was one of my favourite spaces because of the large windows and views of the garden below planted by friends of the museum.

But mostly I loved it because it was a revolving door of local artists and it reminded me that everyone had a story to tell. And every story was beautiful.

“Don’t cry this time,” Harry whispers to me as he walks down the gallery to the far end.

“It was one time,” I mumble. That I actually cried. Usually I just teared up.

I couldn’t help it though, there was so much meaning and time put into these pieces. So much love and grief and every emotions on the spectrum. And I felt it all.

I decide I’d stop calling the artist fake-Monet because with a few more paintings I began to recognize his own signature style. He paints about personal community and finding it in public spaces—pockets around London.

“Hey look at this one,” Harry says when I’m a few pieces away. I walk over.

It’s unmistakably Hampstead Heath, the park a half hour walk from here and 15 from Harry’s place. It’s where we spent a lazy summer day a month or so ago. We were both free on the Saturday, our calendars opening up. I met Harry at his and we’d trekked through the hazy city to feel the cool breeze of the sturdy trees and the splash of the water. Despite the stickiness, we’d tucked into each other and pretended the shade was enough to keep us cool—enough to be so close. We read our book, took a summer nap, ate our picnic, and chatted about the rest of our lives. Passerbys would see two friends, or maybe two something-mores.

It’s only when the sun slinked down towards the horizon did we pack up. We walked back to his flat, took a shower together. We had dinner with his friends. It had been such a beautiful day I had ached with it because I knew how temporary it was.

But how perfect it had been. It had felt bigger than us.

Harry pointing it out toes that line again; he remembered it too, as something to reference. As something to compare to the beautiful richness of the tapestry before us—lavenders and lilacs, pinks and blues, sage, and dusty hues.

“Beautiful,” I murmur. We’re standing shoulder to shoulder now, I can’t tell who’s leaning on who.

“It…actually is.” Harry says in a hushed voice back. “I’m sorry fake-Monet that I doubted you.”

I look up at him in surprise, Harry rarely changed his mind. “Actually?”

“Yeah.” He looks down at me. “I think I get it.”

The expression in his eyes as he says this, as they fill with meaning, I have to look away. But the painting doesn’t help. It’s too full of my own meaning. Our meaning.

But there was no our.

“Wow.” I straighten up and move closer. “Look at that blending. And the details those are actually people.”

“They’ve all got their own shadow too.” Harry moves closer towards me again. He points it out.

“I’m gonna go look for shadows in the others.” I chirp just so I can get away. So I can keep denying.

A few hours later, the day is giving to nightfall. I badge out with Harry and we walk down the steps towards the iron gates.

“See you tomorrow?” I ask.

“I’m not in tomorrow.” He reminds me.

“Oh yeah your parents are in town?”

“Yep,” he fidgets with his phone and we stand in silence for a beat.

“Well I should-“ I say just as he asks, “Would you want to-“

We pause, awkward laugh. We were never awkward.

“You first,” I urge, wanting to know what he was going to ask.

“No it’s nothing. I should go. Got to clean my flat before my parents see how I live.”

“Don’t forget to hide the rolling papers from your bedside,” I tease. “And the magazines under the bed.”

“Oi I haven’t got magazines under the bed,” he smiles. His dimples make a handsome appearance. “They’re loud and proud on the coffee table now.”

“Except you haven’t got a coffee table.”

“If you know so much about my flat how about you come home with me and help me clean it? You can stay over.”

Come home with me. Casual, so casual.

But I know how calculated it had to be. I’d been there. Somehow I knew this is what he’d been trying to ask in the first place.

“What time are your parents getting in?” I ask.

“They’re early birds. Probably after 8.”

“8? Holy hell.” I swear.

“They want to do breakfast and then take me to visit my grandparents.”

“Right. Yeah well, imagine I’m still not out by the time they show up. That’d be so awkward. And there’s no way in hell I’m getting up before 8.”

His cheeks take on a slight blush. “They’ve…it wouldn’t be the first time they came over to a girl in my bed YN. I’m not 16.”

“I know. But…still awkward.”

“So?”

“I…don’t want them to get the wrong idea. We’ll see each other the day after. You’re working then right?”

My heart squeezes a bit at his crushed look before it’s swapped for happy, for easygoing. “Yep. Can’t get rid of me that quick.”

We part ways, I go mine with a heavy heart.

***

“So,” I check in with Harry at lunch the day he’s back. It had been a hectic day yesterday with a new group of kids and a new workshop to facilitate. Plus someone was quitting after being yelled at and Harry had missed it all so I wanted to update him. “How was your day off.”

“Shite,” he says. We walk a few streets over to a Pret. “Mum and dad wouldn’t stop whinging about my future and about settling down like I’m a fucking balding man in my 50s losing all prospects. I’m only 25!”

“Yeah total bummer having a day off for that,” I comment even though I have a hard time getting my next breath in. I can’t imagine my own parents caring that much about my life to spend a whole day with me talking about it. And what if I had stayed the night and accidentally bumped into them—would they have approved?

Should I even care?

“Then my nan basically told them to piss off but they started filling her head with it and then she’s asking me about any girls I’ve taken on dates lately. Started giving me relationship advice!”

“What was that?” I tease. “Take her on a walk and buy her some flowers? Go star gazing? Movie for 2 quid?”

Harry glances at me and his seriousness throws me off balance a little.

“What?”

He opens his mouth, then shrugs and closes it. “Nothing.”

“Sorry did I offend you?” I try to think of why he might be reacting this way.

“No, she actually did say some pretty old-fashioned shite. But I can take it from her. It’s my parents that drive me nuts.”

“Well I wish you were at work. Want to hear what happened?”

So I change the subject and we talk about what he missed. He’s more subdued today and I don’t read into it. He wasn’t mine to read into, I have to remind myself.

We talk about the gallery sleepover in two weeks, whether we were actually going to come in our PJs. When we get back to work we’re on different floors and I try not to miss him again.

***

“I actually brought mine—the appropriate pair.” My coworker jokes. We’re in the staff kitchen making an afternoon tea. Tonight was the gallery sleepover and I was not looking forward to it. But because I was working it I had the day off tomorrow and at least that was something to look forward to.

“I just brought a ratty tee. I don’t think I’m sleeping anyway.” I say.

“I hate that we got picked for this,” she continues. “I actually don’t even like kids. Why do you think I have none?”

“Well tonight will just be birth-control.”

“Trust me I don’t need it.” She cackles and walks away. My phone buzzes with a text.

Harry: Might be late tonight. cover for me if anyone asks?

Y: ur not even working the day how are u gonna be late?

Harry: got a thing. Just cover pls?

Y: obv

I wonder what was going on with him.

We hadn’t had a lot of opportunities to hang out the last week and work had been too busy to properly catch up. Plus our manager had been putting us on conflicting projects so I really had been missing Harry.

Even though Harry and I were friends there was something about distance and fondness that was proving true lately. And I hated it. So I’d gone on a string of dates this week. Hence my busyness.

I’d gone out on a date a week ago and even though I ended up going back to his place all I wanted to do was text Harry. Ask him if he was up, what he was doing. I’d forced myself to shut my phone so I wouldn’t be tempted.

After we close the doors to the public that evening we begin setting up for the kids’ sleepover. It’s so hectic nobody notices Harry’s late but he slides right in helping me string the lights in our biggest gallery. We work on the projectors next, I yap to him for 10 minutes straight and he barely replies. He’d been quiet since he got here.

And for the next few hours Harry and I entertain and help children have fun, we put on a fancy puppet show loosely based on famous artists—art projections included.

We sneak away to the kitchen after we take our bow for a tea break.

“Wouldn’t happen to have a flask on ya?” Harry sighs as he strains his tea bag.

“God I wish,” I stare into the dark abyss of my earl gray. That performance had really taken it out of me. “Who d’you think’s most likely to have something stashed away?”

“Well,” Harry yawns like he hadn’t slept all week and points to an upper cabinet. “Behind the cleaning stuff.”

“What?!” I gasp. “Seriously?”

“Well last time I saw it was last Christmas. Probably got some alcoholics here. I dunno if the stash is still there.”

“Well this is naughty,” I find a couple travel-sized liquor bottles like the kind you get on planes. I take one so that somebody else can have the delight of the other.

Harry sticks his mug out and I empty half the bottle, doing the same to mine.

“Make sure it’s covered,” he advises when I throw it in the bin. I shake it around until I can’t see it.

“Much better,” I cheers my mug to his. He catches my eye and it feels like we’re co-conspirators again. I pass a smile that’s only half-returned. “So what’s the deal with you?”

“Hm?” He doesn’t look up from his drink.

“I’ve barely seen you all week. And you’re late tonight. And you look haggard as hell.”

He shrugs, “I’ve been helping one of my mates out with moving out of his girlfriend’s. They broke up. He’s a mess so…”

“Oh.” I wasn’t expecting that. “That’s kind of you.”

“You sound surprised.”

“Do I?” I widen my eyes.

“Piss off.”

He cracks with a smile—a full Harry smile and I feel my heart beaming just to soak it in.

“Are you doing anything tomorrow?” I ask tentatively. I knew he had the day off too.

“Uhm,” cagey Harry returns. “Maybe. I’m not too sure right now.”

“Ah okay.”

We sip in silence that threatens to smother us. I get up as quickly as I can without wasting my precious drink.

“I’m gonna head back out.”

“Alright.”

I head back to the star-lit room where sleeping bags are laid out like mismatched brick throughout the floor. Some kids are cozied within, others sit on top. They’re all engrossed in the “bedtime story” being told by a local author.

It’s sweet, I think. This would become a core memory for a lot of these kids, drinking in the whole night through all their senses. I wish I had more memories like this. Maybe then I wouldn’t be so fragile all the time.

Adults staying overnight got their own gallery blankets and I drag one over to the far end, enough for any kid who needed assistance could find me but far away that I could be on my phone and not distract them.

Some time later another body joins me with his own blanket.

“Sorry,” Harry says as he sits.

“For what?” I play pretend. Just like these kids were doing tonight. What could you possibly be saying sorry for? What could I possibly feel entitled to you for? We’re just friends.

“For being weird earlier. I…well I have to tell you something and I’m being weird instead.”

My heart begins to thump in my chest.

“Tell me what?”

“So I’ve um…I’ve got a-“ Harry clears his throat. I glance up at him and he’s looking out towards the ceiling. “I have a girlfriend. I know we…we’re not…”

“Jeez Har,” even though ever atom inside of me is keeling over with something I can’t exactly examine yet, I play the joker. The friend. “If this is you telling me you’re getting serious with someone that’s all you have to say.”

“Really?” He turns to me and on the shiny hardwood floor so does half his body. I ignore how his knees feel pressing into mine. “You’re…okay?”

His voice is anything but casual.

“Yeah! It’s not like we’re a thing.”

Even still, I can’t say it. I die a little more.

“Yeah well I wasn’t expecting it. She’s the daughter of someone my dad knows? Pretty sure they orchestrated it but we went on a couple dates and then she asked…well she wanted to be exclusive I…”

“Well that’s good. For you.”

“Yeah?”

“Yep.”

“Thank god,” the air whooshes out of his lungs.

“I feel like I should be offended. You thought I was going to be mad or something?”

“No not mad…” he trails off. I look at his reaction and find him looking at me already. Even though it’s dark I can still see his eyes and they feel like they’re reading everything on my face. In a hushed tone he repeats himself, “not mad.”

I shrug, biting my lip hard to feel something other than the emotions threatening to overwhelm me. Emotions I never thought would surface this strongly.

“I’m good. Actually I’m not good. I think that bottle we found was rubbish I’ve got to go toilet—“ I use his knee to pull myself up. “Save my spot.”

I walk away without sparing a glance back because my act is crumbling. I’m crumbling. And I don’t understand it.

If you asked me two weeks ago I would have gone on how fun it was to be with Harry but how the idea of being with him seriously would be weird. Would throw off our balance. But now I want to puke my guts in the toilet at the idea of having to let him go. Because he’s the one who moved on.

And as hard as I try tears still escape my lashline and make trails down my cheeks as I study myself in the brightly lit mirror. How could I be mad when we were just casual? How could I hate him if all he did was look for something serious. Someone serious.

Suddenly what had felt fun and mature feels childish and disposable.

I was disposable fun.

“Get it the fuck together,” I tell myself. “You’ve got nothing to cry over. You could get yourself a boyfriend too. He’s not your soulmate or something jeez.”

I blow my nose and give myself another pep talk before exiting the toilets back to where Harry waits for me.

“You alright?” He asks. A loaded question.

“Yeah. Regret doing this for the whole night though.”

“You could sleep. I’ll take first shift.”

“I’ll get in trouble.”

“Who gives a shit,” Harry tugs me so that I fall against his shoulder and it’s the worst thing in the world.

I don’t curl my arm through his like I might’ve before. Or cozy into his chest. I stay there like a stiff robot until sleep takes me. Even then it’s not long enough.

—1 month later—

I’m heading home after an uneventful day, ready to sink into bed and turn my brain off. These days my brain talked too much and I really wish there was an on/off switch for it.

“Um hiya?” A soft voice says as I exit the turnstile in the lobby. I turn towards the voice and it belongs to a sweet looking girl about my age with harsh features softened by a layered bob. On me it would look ridiculous but she looks like she was born to rock the style she was in.

“Hi,” the rule of thumb was even though you were clocked out if you exited from the lobby in work clothes and somebody stopped you, you had to help them. I’d forgotten to tuck my badge away today damnit.

“I’m waiting for someone? He hasn’t been answering his texts I was just wondering if-“

“You could ask reception?” I point to the desk behind her. “They can page who you need.”

“They weren’t really helpful,” she shrugs. “I’m assuming you work with him? Harry?”

It’s the last name I’m expecting from her lips. I nearly stumble back trying to take her in again with the new knowledge of who she might be.

“H-Harry?”

I’d heard her the first time. I’m just trying to grasp at a second to collect myself.

This must be his girlfriend. The one who wanted to be exclusive. And I hated that I’d liked her in our two minute interaction.

He hadn’t spoken much about her since he told me a month ago but since half of our relationship before her was being intimate, we barely talked and when we did it was mostly just work and the relationship felt really fragile and rough.

I could see what Harry saw in her—she was attractive. And not pushy; she let Joey at reception push her around which was hard to do. And she was meeting Harry here, at work. It must be getting serious.

All these thoughts race through my mind in a millisecond.

“Oh! Harry yeah,” I nod when she confirms. “Of course I know him. I think he was in a meeting might be why…I can go back in and check if you-“

“Oh no! Sorry I’m not trying to be a bother. You’re probably going home I just wanted to make sure he was still in?”

“Yeah! Yeah he’s in. I’ll tell Joey—reception, to page him if he’s out. He’s nicer than he seems.”

“That’d be perf,” she beams. I die a little more, unsure why I was helping her this much. Unsure why it bothered me this much.

Ever since Harry had ended the thing we didn’t have, my life had felt haunted. The ghosts of every emotion I killed in the moments we’d been together began to surface and they were torture. Biggest of all was regret and shame. Regret over what could have been if I’d just admitted how deeply I felt months ago. Shame because I wasn’t supposed to feel this way for Harry. Because he obviously didn’t feel the same way, he never would, and it would be embarrassing to ever admit it.

Our actual relationship had gone like this after that night—avoidance -> awkward small talk -> light bantering -> finally, being able to talk semi-normally again.

We stopped hanging out outside of work however, so every day I got to see him was a day I was excited to go into work. My friends told me I had to do something about it—confess and see what he says, or move on.

And I’d tried to move on. But every guy I tried to date didn’t hold a candle to the flame that warmed my heart; to the idiot I had the misfortune of falling for after we ended things.

Or maybe I was just the idiot.

And here I was self-sabotaging by helping his girlfriend. There was definitely something wrong with me.

“Elsie!”

Both our heads turn to the voice.

“There he is,” I say but she’s already squeezing my arm and walking towards him. Harry doesn’t realize I’m standing there and I watch him smile at her in a way that sends a spike to my heart. Then he notices me.

“Oh YN,” his eyelids flutter a few times too many. “Uh-“

“YN god sorry I didn’t even get your name,” Elsie turns back to me. “YN was helping me.”

“Yeah? Thanks,” Harry looks visibly relieved and flashes me a grin. I raise my brows and smile back.

Home. I had to get home.

“Well I figured Har already had a hard time finding a girlfriend, I didn’t want him to lose her so quickly. This isn’t even a very big place.”

Harry’s expression is unreadable but Elsie laughs.

“Very funny,” Harry responds.

“I know.” I gear myself up to say bye. “Well I’ll see you tomorrow, let you get to wherever you’re going. It was nice-“

“Well we’re just hanging out with some friends,” Elsie says.

“YN knows a few of them,” Harry says. I watch his eyes bug a little as he realizes he’s stepped onto a minefield and watch him back away smoothly. “Some of the younger crew go out for drinks sometimes.”

“Ah,” Elsie says as Harry wraps his arm around her shoulder from behind. He was laying it on thick but I don’t think Elsie noticed his hiccup. “Well why doesn’t she come!? YN you should join us! One more friend!”

“Oh I don’t think she wants to-“

“I was honestly just gonna go ho-“

I stop talking the same time Harry does.

“No you should!” Elsie says. “Don’t listen to Harry.”

I catch his eye and they’re saying please don’t.

Don’t tell me what to do, mine say.

Don’t be stubborn.

Challenge accepted.

“Ok! Maybe one drink.” I say as Harry huffs. It felt dangerous, having a non-verbal conversation in front of his girlfriend.

I was an idiot, I confirm. An idiot making bad decisions.

“Yay! Let’s go.” Elsie takes Harry’s hand and drags him to the front door. I nearly laugh at his face as he’s dragged past me—he was mad.

And it comes out a couple hours later. By then I’d had more than a single drink, have befriended most of the people I don’t know at the table and have caught up with those I do know. Harry had been mostly attached by the hip to Elsie and I tried not to stare daggers at it.

They’re an interesting couple, you can tell Harry is distracted most of the night and she tries to accommodate by being around and talking to him. He leaves a hand on her at all times but she doesn’t wrap herself around him the way I used to. Maybe she wasn’t touchy.

Maybe I was being obsessive.

So I distract myself with everyone, with drink, with a particularly cute boy who introduced himself as Elsie’s uni friend. Who happened to be brother’s with Harry’s old flatmate. Small worlds.

“YN,” Harry tugs my sleeve as Grant and I talk—if you can call heavy flirting just talking.

“What?!” I snap after the tugging gets aggressive.

“I need to talk,” He points to himself and then me, “to you.”

I could see he was well past tipsy. It wasn’t often Harry drank to this point so I follow him to find out what was going on.

I follow him to a patio table that had just been vacated, empty glasses littering the surface. An untouched shot sits in the middle. The tableau tells a story—art was everywhere.

“What?” I ask.

“What’re you doing?”

“What am I?” I laugh. “What are you doing? I think you’ve had a few drinks too many mate.”

“You’ve got drinks,” he replies.

“Yeah…” I look back at the half finished drink I left at the bar. “I did have more than I thought. I feel like I drink a lot more when there’s a lot of people around? Otherwise I’m just nursing my drink-“

“Why did you decide to come out tonight? When you’ve met my girlfriend.”

Girlfriend.

“When I’ve…what?! Your girlfriend invited me no thanks to you.”

“Yeah but you never come out anymore. And suddenly you want to come out when Elsie asks?”

“What d’you mean I never come out anymore?”

Harry sighs. “You stopped hanging out.”

“Yeah because you got a girlfriend? You stopped inviting me out!”

“No what? No! You’re always…it’s an open invitation I don’t need to specifically invite you out I-“

“So why did you invite me specifically before?” I call him out, feeling more sober than I was a few minutes ago. “You stopped inviting me. We stopped hanging out. And so I stopped inviting you when I went out cuz I thought you had a girl and I didn’t want to make it complicated I-“

My voice catches on an unfiltered emotion and I want to die. I feel heat creep up my cheeks as I try to swallow it down and hope Harry doesn’t notice. Fuck!

“Anyway your girlfriend invited me so I came! It’s not a big deal.”

“I didn’t…” Harry scratches his nose and looks uncomfortable. “I didn’t mean to stop. I…it was complicated and I-“

“It’s fine. Whatever Har.”

“It’s not,” his brows come together. “Obviously s’not. I’m sorry? I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you feel…”

I almost laugh at what he’s said and how it sounds: I didn’t mean to make you feel. Well, neither did I.

“Yeah whatever. I’m not mad about it.”

“Sorry.” He says instead.

“Thanks,” I clear my throat for good measure, not wanting to be too emotional. I want to tell him I missed him but I don’t think it would be appropriate.

“I thought-“ he breaks off with a laugh. “Nevermind.”

“What?” I push him lightly. “You know I hate when people don’t finish their thought. It’s going to drive me crazy—what?”

“No this one you won’t like. Nevermind.”

“Tell meee,” I poke his shoulder until he slaps my hand away.

“Stop that! I hate when you do that!”

“I know.” I say smugly. “So?”

“It’s stupid. I thought you came here to annoy me or something. And then you’re practically sitting in Grant’s lap…”

He’s right. I wouldn’t like it.

“Hold on,” I bring my hand down on the table. “You thought I was flirting with Grant to annoy you? Why would I-what!?”

“Like I said,” he doesn’t make eye contact. “It was stupid. Nevermind!”

“No it’s not nevermind. You don’t drive what decisions I make in my love life.” Lie. “Got that?”

“Jeez you can’t get angry after forcing me to say!”

“I can!”

“Can you quit bitching I don’t have time for this.”

“I’ll be as big of a bitch as I want to be.” I cross my arms.

“Unfortunately, I know.”

“That’s a completely stupid thought to have-“

“Surely not all your thoughts are winners. That’s why you don’t say all of them.” Harry says, then laughs. “Actually you do. And I always have the displeasure of hearing all of them.”

My jaw drops. “It’s like you’re purposely saying the stupidest shit right now. Like you want to be a prick.”

“C’mon you little shite,” Harry tugs my arm until they uncross. “I’m joking, remember jokes?”

I want to say something snippy, tell him off, but as my arms fall away his hand slides down until the tips of our fingers brush. It makes me feel touch-starved, like I’d been isolated in the woods for the last two months growing crazy for human touch.

Harry senses the shift and his smile dies down, his throat bobbing up and down.

How was it that Harry, out of every man I’ve ever met and continue to meet, has this effect on me? How can one touch quiet my mind so completely while pushing my heart into overdrive.

Why, I want to ask the universe. Why was it this man in front of me that made me feel so intensely?

“YN,” he says.

I should pull away. I should because his fingers creep further now pressing into my palm. I want them to slide higher until they’re tangled in my hair, pulling me closer. I wanted him closer.

“I missed you,” it comes stumbling out. And the shock of it pulls me out of whatever trance I just found myself in.

I pull my hand away and Harry straightens up, his gaze clearing too.

“Sorry.” My heart is in my throat now. “Sorry. I didn’t—that was inappropriate. I’m gonna go back now…”

“Wait,” he calls out as I head back to Grant knowing my heart wasn’t in it anymore. That I was going home.

“Hm?” I try to blink away the shame as I turn back towards him.

“D-do you…regret anything?”

I raise a brow and he flushes. I was making this torture for both of us but I wanted him to ask.

Stupidly, I wanted him to know.

“Between us. I know we never…we’re just friends. But did you ever regret…us?”

I shake my head. “No. No. Never. It was some of the best times.”

It’s like I’ve said the wrong thing. His face falls and I decide I had to go. Had to. I was afraid what else might be spilled out between us.

I don’t even remember what I tell Grant, just that I grab any of my belongings that I can spot, ask him to throw his number into my phone, and hightail it out. And I nearly make it to the tube when a warm hand grips my arm.

“Get off—oh!” I nearly whack Harry with my purse but he ducks anyway. “What the fuck Har!?”

“Sorry. Sorry sorry!” He lets me go and I miss his warmth. “I didn’t realize!”

“Yeah! You can’t just grab a woman at night like that!”

“Obviously! I wasn’t thinking! I was just trying to get to you-“

“Why?”

“Bloody hell you know why YN!”

I stare at him. His face doesn’t hide a single thought, a single emotion. It’s vulnerable, and terrifying.

“Don’t take the piss.” He grabs my arms and gives me a shake. “You know. You know.”

“I-don’t do this. Har, you have a girlfriend. I don’t want to be that girl ok?”

“Why?”

“Why? Because that’s awful and-“

“No! Why didn’t you say anything when we were together? Any time we were together? When I told you I had a girlfriend? Why were you always so…cool?”

“Me? Cool?” I laugh. “There’s nothing cool about me Har.”

“Well you’re hard to fucking read then! I dunno! I was always leaving hints and signals that I actually liked you. And you always ignored them!”

“Hints? Signals?” I gape. “When the—what the hell do you call hints?!”

“I…I wanted you to meet my fucking parents for god’s sake. Did you really never-“

“If I’m hard to read so are you mate,” I lean against the closest thing—a mailbox. My legs are jelly. “Was that when you vaguely suggested I wake up in your bed while your parents were down?!”

“Fine well I bought you chocolates that one time, I’ve even got some of your tees in my room! I-I tried to plan romantic dates for us—Hampstead! I tried to tell you-“

“What?” I’m not asking him anything. I’m just questioning everything; everything I avoided and played off had meaning. Of course it did. Everything had meaning, but I’d just thrown our dictionary out the window so it would mean nothing. Because I was afraid.

“Really?!” Harry sighs. He crouches down and runs his hands through his hair. “Am I that bad? I thought I was making it so clear but you always brushed it off. I felt like an idiot for falling for you when it was just s’pose to be casual. I thought I was being a bloody simp.”

I inch down to where he crouches.

“You fell for me?” I whisper.

When he looks at me it’s with eyes that look like broken seaglass. With a mouth curved down so low that I want to kiss into a smile. Into a laugh.

He cups my face, his thumb brushing my cheek. I give in to the sigh and his lips lift ever so slightly.

“How could I not?”

“I thought I drove you crazy?” I grasp his hand. “I thought I was just a fun distraction I-“

“I never said the second part.” He interrupts.

“You sure?”

“You were reading the wrong hints.”

I laugh and so does he. It almost turns into tears.

He stands and extends a hand that I take, his warm palm covering mine.

“Now’s when you return the confession,” he says without letting go. “So?”

“What? I’m not hiding any confessions!”

“Liar,” he tugs me close. “Your heart’s racing.”

“That’s from getting up so quickly.”

“You’re full of shite.”

We’re smiling so hard I’m sure we look like crazy people on the street.

But he had a girlfriend. Oh god. A sweet girl I’d just met today.

His expression grows confused as mine must turn to worry. I untangle myself.

“Harry…”

“I know.” He finally clues in.

“We can’t-“

“I know.”

We stare at each other for a heartbeat.

“I’m gonna go. Or else…”

“Just like that?” He asks.

“How else is it supposed to be?” I demand. “We can’t do this Har. And please…if you like her…respect her at all—don’t break up with her just to be with me. I wouldn’t be able to stomach it.”

“Then I’m just lying to her.”

“I…” I shrug. “I dunno. I just don’t want to be the reason for her heartbreak okay?”

“You’re being a sensitive snowflake. Breaking up with her is the right thi-“

“You can’t call people snowflakes-

“I can if that’s what they’re being-“

“I’m going home.” I tell him. It’s the last thing I want to do.

He opens his mouth with whatever quick retort he always had. But he must think twice about it. His face draws into a frown.

“Sort yourself out.” I instruct him. “Just sort it out. And then one day soon we can see…y’know.”

I half turn away, but can’t bear to leave without touching him one last time. Who knows when the next time will be. I flit to him so I can press my lips against the warmth of his cheek, so intoxicating. Like an addict only sniffing the alcohol in their cup. And when I feel his body loosening, about to hold my own, I flit away and rush into the tube without a glance back.

I don’t register anything on the ride home. I’m too shocked to even cry about it.

I wash the day away, the scent of him and the look on his face when he realizes we each had been trying to hold out own glaring neon signs to each other.

It’s late when there’s a knock on my door. I figure it’s my roommate forgetting her keys, and since I’d been laying on my bed in my towel after my shower too numb to sort myself out I end up opening the door basically naked.

It’s Harry.

His eyes roam over my terryclothed figure with a smile.

“What—what are you doing here!?” I grab the edge of my towel to keep it in place.

“Were you expecting someone else?” He asks.

“No-stop!” I push my hand into his chest as he crosses through the doorway. “Why are you here?”

His eyebrows draw together, hurt. “I…I didn’t think I was that drunk—we did just admit our feelings to each other a few hours ago right?”

“Yes but!” I put my hand down because his heart is beating fast under my hand and I don’t want to feel it a second longer. “You were also supposed to sort yourself out and-“

“Can you just let me in?”

I stare at him.

He stares back.

“Fine!” I give up and move aside. He closes the door behind him. That’s when I notice his hands. “What’s that?”

“For you.” He holds a bouquet up. “I know they’re shitty. I couldn’t find much at this time of night-“

“No hold on, I don’t understand.”

“We’ve wasted enough time throwing out shitty hints that apparently neither of us could read. We should never be detectives.”

I stay still, waiting for an explanation. Any bloody explanation as to why he’s here and not with his girlfriend!

“I went back to Elise. She knew something was wrong right away. I tried to deny it. She asked if something was going on between us-“

“God seriously Har! I said not to-“

“Did you want me to go back and pretend to be in love with her when I just had a fucking bomb go off in my life!? I know you don’t want to be that girl YN but I don’t want to be that shitty guy who stays with someone because he feels bad! What does that make me?”

I can picture Elise’s face in my mind. Oh god.

“She wasn’t mad-“

“You wish.” I snort.

“No she wasn’t. Well she was at first because she thought I was with you and her at the same time. I explained. I apologized. She got it. She…turns out she was still hung up over her ex. That she really liked me but she was mostly doing it to get her parents off her back. Because they never like who she dates. Which wasn’t a great thing to hear but…I’m pretty sure I saw her catching a cab as I was leaving. Maybe she went back to her ex.”

I’m dumbfounded with his retelling of what happened after I’d left.

“She’s okay. Are we?” He asks when I don’t reply.

The bouquet looks rough, like it was maybe clutched too hard and the flowers are nearing the end of their life. I imagine Harry rifling through a flower stand to find something for me. Coming here because he couldn’t wait.

I was kidding myself. I couldn’t wait either.

“Okay.”

“Okay??” He asks but he’s closing the distance because he’s reading me. He already knows me.

“Fine.” I say as he loops his arms around my waist. I stretch my arms up around his shoulders, clasping them at his neck. Something throbs deep in my chest. I missed him.

“I missed you,” he says. Always reading my mind.

“I didn’t know I could.” I say to him. His eyes are filled with a raw emotion that mirrors whatever’s aching in my chest.

“You’re like something from the gallery,” he cups my face. “Beautiful and original, breathtaking and you pass by it every opportunity you get just to get another glimpse. It makes you realize what you’ve been missing your whole life.”

“Aw Har,” my voice wobbles. If this was Harry when he was direct and not giving shitty hints I don’t know how I was going to survive us.

“What?” He whispers.

“You’ve got a soft side. You’re not actually a prick.”

His dimples make an appearance as he smiles. “I told you. I’ve just got standards don’t I.”

I wanted all of him—god how did I fool myself this whole time. I wanted all of him. He was just so lovely. “I think you’re going to ruin me,” I whisper back. His grin disappears and he tugs me ever closer.

“You’ve already ruined me.” He says. “I can’t look at any piece of art without thinking of you. I can’t go a day without wondering about you.”

“Is that healthy?” I murmur. My heart drums.

“Who the fuck cares about healthy?” He laughs.

We gaze at each other, the blood rushes through my body at high speeds.

“Mutual ruin?” I ask.

He responds with a kiss so passionate that I forget how to breath. I’m sure my towel was being held up by our bodies at this point.

“Mutual ruin. Or you can just ruin me.” His lips brush against my ear, feather down my neck. “I’m madly in love with you YN. There’s nobody but you.”

I don’t know whether to laugh from giddiness or cry from how my heart overflows.

“Har, I think I get the hint.” I say instead. He laughs.

“Fucking finally.”

💟💟💟💟

[redfoxwritesstuff]

A Misdemeanor Of The Heart: Chapter 36 (Human Alastor x Married Reader)

CW: Kisses, Trains, Public indecency, jerking off, fem receiving oral, fingering AN: Happy Valentines day! I ask that anyone who doesn't have a Valentine be mine today <3 I don't have much to offer except Alastor making a show of himself this chapter

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He was well and truly addicted to you. Alastor wasn’t sure how he’d survive, now that he’d gotten a taste of what having you to himself would be like. As you gasped in his arms, he couldn’t help but remember how you looked, hair tussled and sleepy eyes as your hand wrapped around him in the peaceful glow of the morning’s light. 

That was what he wanted to relive, not for the physical or sexual pleasure of it alone, but for everything it was. The comfort. The ease. The love. 

Alastor didn’t know when he would next get to feel you in his arms and that bothered him. It bothered him a lot more than he expected. Every time he blinked, he could see you walking away from him, rejoining your husband’s side, a premonition of a moment that had yet to happen. 

The thought of leaving you stained with his seed fluttered across his mind as you shifted in his lap, brushing against where he was failing to control his physical responses. The image of you walking into your home, wearing his dress and with his seed seeping from between your legs, marking who you really belonged to had him twitching to life. There was no deep breathing or controlled thoughts that could stop it. 

“Alastor?” You asked, turning to look at him. 

You made a show of running your eyes down his chest, toward his lap. You knew he was struggling to maintain his control. What you didn’t know was how hard it had been for him to do so since he had gotten to experience the feeling of your lips wrapped around him or the way you eagerly sought pleasure in pleasing him. 

“You seem to be… um…” You struggled, unsure what to say as your boldness failed you. 

“Excited again?” Alastor offers nuzzling into your neck. “I got caught up thinking about you again.” 

“Thinking about me?” Your eyes flicked between his lap and his eyes as you leaned back.

“Thinking about you.” He leaned forward, arms tightening around your back to allow him to hide in your neck, placing soft kisses against the skin he could find. He wasn’t sure he was ready for you to know how you could override his control, even in such tame moments as this. 

“How so?” Your head fell back as his lips explored your neck, teeth grazing softly against the skin. 

“Thinking about how you looked last night,” Alastor said, as you felt him throb in his pants. Strong muscles bunched and twitched as you ran your hand down his chest, feeling him under his shirt. “How good you looked on your knees, fingers-” he gasped as you shifted toward his knees, allowing you the space to palm him in his trowsers, “bringing you to completion.” 

“Like this?” You asked innocently as you slipped down from his lap, falling to your knees between his and looking up at him. It felt powerful to be on your knees in front of him. It felt powerful to be dirty for him, to act on desire and inspire it within him. 

“What are you doing?” Alastor asked as you reached up, trembling hands working his belt free. His hands were warm, wrapped around your wrists and running along your forearms but not stopping you. 

“I want to,” you said simply. “I want to see if I remember the way your face looked as I.. as I tasted you correctly.” 

You pulled his cock from the confines of his pants. He was firm and hard in your hands, but not to the same extent as he had been that morning or the night prior. It didn’t stop you from licking up the length of him, running your tongue over his head and then wrapping your lips around him with more confidence than you had the night prior.

You felt him twitch, growing harder as you took him deeper with each slow swirling bob of your head. You didn’t get many in before Alastor pulled you off, dragging you up his body to kiss you hard. 

“You can’t,” he said, voice strained, as heavy and naked as his cock standing tall in his lap. “Your lips will be swollen. I don’t want it to raise questions, not today at least.” 

“But I-” Alastor kissed you as he worked his way off the bench. 

“I think I should demonstrate the view you gave me instead.” Alastor said as he settled on his knees, running the hem of your dress higher with every caress of his hands. 

“What are you…” Your voice trailed off as his fingers caressed your hips under the fabric of your dress. 

“Lift,” he said simply.

Without thought or hesitation, you lifted your hips for him. He shoved the skirt of your dress high, letting it bunch around your waist. Long fingers wrapped around the hem of your panties and then he was pulling them down your thighs.

Soft kisses peppered your stocking clad leg as he lifted one foot out of the ring of your panties and then the other. It occurred to you that you were sitting, sex exposed in a train cabin. Anyone could slide the door open and walk in. 

Alastor took his glasses from his face, folding the arms down before setting them on the bench. The action stole a groan from you, though you couldn’t explain what it was about him doing it while his manhood stood tall in his lap and he sat between your knees. 

He leaned forward, spreading your legs wider with palms on your inner thighs, and then you could feel his breath wash over you. Soft lips kissed a path over your inner thighs, each kiss drawing closer, causing your breath came quicker. 

“You’re so wet for me already.” Alastor said, lips so close to your core that you swore you could feel the vibration of his voice. “I shouldn’t be surprised, I saw your slick on your panties.” 

Shame and something else burned through you as you tried to close your legs. It wasn’t possible;, he held them open easily as he delved in, licking a greedy path up your slit. 

“Will you be good and keep yourself open for me?” Alastor asked after running his tongue over your clit. “I want to give you the same show you gave me.” 

“What do you-” your back arched and your tongue died as a long finger easily delved into your weeping opening. 

“Eyes on me,” Alastor said, curling his finger as he worked it in and out, but otherwise not moving until your eyes met his. “Good,” Alastor said, making a show of running his other hand over his thigh. Long fingers wrapped around his length. “Watch as I show you how much pleasure it gives me to taste you. Keep those eyes on me.” 

Before you could protest or do anything more than flush, Alastor’s tongue was running around the finger working into you, then up your slit. He flicked and sucked at it like a man starved as your eyes struggled to stay locked on him. 

The sensations seemed to surround you as your field of vision narrowed. It was hard to see anything beyond Alastor. You could be back in the villa. You could be on the beach. You could be in Alastor’s home. 

You could be anywhere because all you could see was Alastor between your legs, mouth working through your slit. He had positioned himself in a way that surely had to be a little awkward, but ensured you could just see his hand working in his lap.

Each pass of his hand over his length had you mesmerized. You were absorbed in the feeling of his mouth on you, his fingers, two and then three in you and the way his hand flexed and gripped, working his length in a way that showed practiced familiarity with what he liked. 

You moaned softly as fingers curled, harshly hitting something inside you that had your hips rocking against him. The sound spurred something in him as his own hips flexed against his hand. 

Fingers inside you flexed and spread and twisted as the sound of slick smacking filled the private car. You were gasping for air and struggling to keep your eyes opened as he spoke reminders against your core to keep your eyes on him. 

Fluttering around him, under him, you tried to keep focused on him. The way his hand moved over the cock made you want nothing more than to touch him. 

“Please,” you whispered.

“Close,” he answered as he drove you closer and closer. Hips flexed and his knuckles were white as his grip tightened around his shaft.

You moaned loudly, shamelessly, as you clutched around his fingers, walls fluttering as you struggled to figure out what to do with your hands. Alastor’s fingers ripped from your quivering core as his tongue and mouth replaced it, slipping into you and drinking from you as if there were some magic cure within you. 

His wet fingers weaved through yours as your hands gripped your thighs. Cold slick traced a path back to your clit as his fingers held yours, working over the bundle of nerves together. 

His back and shoulders jumped as his hips bucked up into his hand, deep moans reverberating against your core as he continued to drink from your convulsing opening. 

Eyes on him, you reminded yourself as you watched his hand bob along his swollen shaft. You forced yourself to watch the way you together stroked your clit, prolonging the high running through your veins as his tongue worked in and out of you. 

His mouth was open, wide as his eyes locked on yours. The whole of his body rocked as he worked his tongue worked in and out of your core, soft ‘ah’s that were a cross between a whine and a moan falling from his open mouth as his hand worked faster along his shaft.

Then his body shuddered, hips jerking and tongue running up your slit and into your combined fingers as his head fell back and wetness exploded up. His seed painted your legs, splattering up and hitting your thighs and his arms. Searing hot seed landed on your slick covered core only for Alastor to greedily lick it up. 

“That,” Alastor said as he licked his lips, ignoring the mess on him and you both, “Is the show you gave me.” 

He was right, you decided, gasping breaths filling your lungs. It was one hell of a show. 

Tears gathered in your eyes as the train began to squeal and slow. In the palm of your hand was the ring you never wanted to put on again. Alastor’s arms wrapped around you. 

“I want to throw it out the window.” You whispered, feeling shattered inside. 

Alastor plucked the ring from your palm, holding it between his index and thumb to examine it. He hummed in disapproval as he shifted it in his hand, holding it from the exterior and looking through the near circular band. 

It had been well crafted and of the style of the time, now several years old. Laurence must have purchased it for you before he had run out of money. Would he force you to sell it if money ran dry enough?

A frown tugged at the corners of his mouth as questions he hadn’t dared ask crossed his mind. What had the early days of your marriage been like? Had Laurence courted you sweetly, or had it been arranged? You were so nieve, unaware of your body’s needs and reactions, to a point that Alastor struggled to imagine a moment of sweetness. 

Was it because of how inexperienced you and your husband may have been early on? Or had it always been bad?

Alastor hoped for the second and surely that was what was true. Young bumbling fools figured out how to touch eachother in the heat of passion. Surely you would have too if there had ever been passion between you and your husband. 

“Alastor?” Oh, how timid your voice was. That brought a smile to his face, timid, and yet he had been blessed to see little sparks of fire in you as he healed your heart. 

He looked forward to seeing how those flashes of bright flame would grow, though in the back of his head, warning bells went off at the idea. If you were more bold, would you be a safe partner? Would you not question his hunts or the things he brought back? Would you not discover what monster he was? That would surely spell ruin for him. 

What if you were the same as he? Surely that could be the case- you were sinning with him repeatedly. Hell, you spent the weekend with him in sin. Would you be able to be pushed just a little further? Could you accept just a little more?

Alastor shifted, his arm falling from around your waist so he could fish his pocket knife out. It was a small folding pocket knife, a solid utility blade, but not nearly one of his preferred tools. He wished he had his hunting knife. That would have had a poetic to use the blade he hoped to run across Laurence’s neck for this task. 

“Al?” 

Alastor ignored you as he gripped the ring between his fingers, taking the blade to the inside band, free from any blemish beyond natural wear. He pinched the tip of the blade between his thumb and forefinger before setting quickly to the task at hand. 

You watched as he carved into the inside of the band slowly, each tiny movement of the knife’s tip sure and smoothe. In a matter of moments, he folded the knife and tucked it away. 

“I’m sorry, Cher.” Alastor said as he wrapped you up in his arms again, holding the ring out so you both could admire his work. On the inside of the band, tiny but ever so neat, were your initials and his. Not your married surname either, your maiden. How he knew what it started with, you hadn’t a clue, but he did. 

Your hand was small in his as he took it. It was a farce, a parody of all that the ring stood for as Alastor slowly pushed it higher and higher up your finger, but it was marked with a secret token of his love. “One day, it’ll be my ring I’m placing here. Until then, it’ll bear the mark of our love, hidden.” 

Your voice locked in your throat at the admission. Never had either of you talked about what came after you were magically freed from your marriage. Words struggled to find their way out of your mouth, instead dying in your throat every time you tried. 

“Would you?” The words finally came out. 

“I would,” Alastor said simply, “If you’d have me.” 

“I’m scared.” You felt like a broken record player saying it as the train slowed to a screeching halt, jostling you in his arms. “I’m scared to hope.” 

Dread weighed heavy in your stomach as you stood, jostled back and forth as the train pulled forward, lining up with the platform. Alastor’s eyes burned into you, somewhere in the distance from where he stood, watching over you. There wasn’t much he could do if someone braved touching you, but he would at least ensure you knew you were far from alone.

The train was packed, bodies sandwiched together as people returned from their weekend holidays. The tickets had been cheap and because of that, it was hardly a surprise that many didn’t have seats; yourself included. 

Alastor couldn’t wait for the train doors to roll open. The smell was overwhelming, overpowering the soft scent of you that clung to him. He hoped to have the scent follow him home, but the way the others rubbed against him, he was sure all that would cling to him when he got off the car was the scent of sweat. 

And the child’s vomit less than five feet away from him.

But this was what you did for love, was it not? When you were in love, you put yourself in uncomfortable situations. You suffered through less than idea accommodations. You delt with the fact that the vomit was spreading closer as people had no choice but to step in it. 

Thank the God above he didn’t believe in, Alastor thought as the train car doors opened. It took everything in him to wait to exit until he saw you disappear beyond the doors. He had to give you time, so that it didn’t look like you were traveling anything resembling together. 

Alastor made his way to the doors, slipping out with the last few people right before they closed. Keeping his head down, hat pulled down over his hair, he scanned the crowd of people, all going this way and that until his eyes found you. 

You were making your way to the man you, unfortunately, still called your husband. Laurence greeted you with a smile as he wrapped you up in a hug, while Alastor clenched his jaw. Laurence cupped your cheek and tilted your head up to recieve a chaste kiss on lips that belonged to Alastor. 

Something inside him twisted, painfully so. It felt like it could snap. Oh, Alastor did not like how that felt at all. Hands balled into fists as he watched, rage twisting a knife in his gut. 

Your husband needed to die, Alastor thought as his eyes followed you. 

Your bag was heavy, not terribly so, but heavy enough. If Laurence cared about you at all, he’d offer to take your bag. Would you let him though? Or would you hold tight to your bag with little notes of sin hidden in the bottom?

Alastor knew he should have taken them, burned them when he found them, but there was no way he could do that without you knowing he was poking around your things. Would you have realized it was him or would you think your husband had found them? It wasn’t worth the stress it would cause you or the potential distrust it could cause between you. 

He would have to find another way to bring it up, though he couldn’t deny the fact that it pleased him you kept them. The words he had written you had touched you enough that you kept them. What scandalous sentimental tokens of what he meant to you. 

Would you be as touched to find the stack locked away in the desk he spent countless hours sitting behind, writing scripts? 

Alastor pushed the thoughts away as he slowly trailed through the crowd. He should have been leaving already, making his way to where his car was parked but instead he watched you and your husband.

The knife in his pocket was too small to do any real damage. That didn’t stop Alastor’s fingers from wrapping around it. The nail of his thumb settled in the grove, pulling the blade just slightly up and out of where it nestled into the handle before letting it slip back into place. 

He repeated the action again and again, fiddling with the blade as he watched you and your husband walk out of the station. As Alastor slipped out of the doors behind you, he thought about how satisfying it would be to plunge the small blade into Laurence’s back. 

It wouldn’t be as satisfying as it would be with his hunting knife, but it would hurt. Laurence deserved to hurt, Alastor thought, leaning on a pillar, watching you and Laurence crossed into the parking lot.

While you stored your bag away in the back, Alastor watched the disapproving look on Laurence’s face while his mouth moved. What was he saying? Was he questioning the dress? Had Alastor left a mark inadvertently? He was sure he hadn’t, but there was always a chance. 

He had taken risks; he realized as he watched you fold into the car. More risks than he should have. You were driving him crazy. He knew he needed to stop. Put you down. Walk away. You would be his downfall or he would be yours. 

He should walk away, but all he could think of was how much he wanted to see the small pocket knife through his neck, find the large arteries and rip them into bits. 

Alastor stepped out of sight as the car pulled around. He listened to the engine as Laurance took you away from him. Would your husband hurt you tonight? Would he take you to the marriage bed and use you tonight? 

Sharp stinging cut through Alastor’s attention. With a hiss, he pulled his hand from his pocket, letting the knife go. Bright red blood smeared against the side of his thumb where the sharp blade had slipped into the pad. It stung as he pulled the digit into his mouth, letting the coppery taste wash over his tongue. 

Pulling the now clean thumb from his mouth, he ensured the bleeding stopped before returning his attention to you. It had been a careless mistake, a cute resulting from a sloppy lack of attention. It wasn’t something he would repeat; he told himself as the car taking you away from him pulled out of the parking lot. 

The muscle under his jaw jumped as he checked the time on his wristwatch. It was too early to go back home. Alastor decided to swing by Mimzy’s instead. The speakeasy wouldn’t be open yet. It was far too early in the day for that, but she was probably there, seeing to something or another. 

He could kill time, have some drinks. Maybe that would calm his nerves. 

Join us at VoxTek for a Vox themed Hazbin Discord where we talk Vox, Hazbin, writing, reading, art and who knows what else. You may even catch some exclusive sneak peeks at upcoming fics from some of your favorite writers including the first page of the next chapter of MisD a day early!!

[razorblade180-heated]

Loving Obedience

[It’s Smut. Look away. Back door stuff. Happy Valentine’s Day]

Today is the day. Jaune wanted to pretend he wasn’t excited, but today was the day! Well, potentially. Thanks to a very interesting holiday gift, the groundwork for an even crazier Valentine’s Day with Ruby has been established.

“Someone looks happy today.” Weiss said, noticing the slight pep in his step as he walked with her down the hall to their apartment with their leftovers in hand. “I doubt a seafood bowl made you this fat and happy.”

“You underestimate my love of lobster. It’s as strong as your passion for cocktail shrimp.”

“Ha! Nothing is as strong as that.”

“Not even our love?”

Her cheeks turned pinkish. Weiss playfully rolled her eyes at his words. “Spare me the cheesy comments. I just ate.”

“Probably more than Ruby would’ve.”

“Hey! Uncalled for!” Weiss huffed. “This is not how you treat someone on a date.” She turned her head in faux outrage but quickly cracked a grin when she felt Jaune’s arms pull her into a hug.

“I’m soooorrry, my lovely Snow Angel.”

“Hmph! I guess the meal is worth a warning.” Weiss kissed his cheek then slipped out of his grasp. “Come on. Let’s get these leftovers to Ruby.”

“I’m still surprised she didn’t want to join us.”

“Are you though?” Apparently she had something she wanted to prepare for. Wouldn’t tell me what, but obviously it’s for you.” Weiss looked over her shoulder to see the boy’s face growing red. “You two are a couple of beasts.”

“Pfft, and you’re not?”

“I may have certain desires but I pale in comparison to you both!” She stated, knowing her argument was flimsy.

“So you aren’t curious at all about what’s happening?”

“I- well…that’s a different story altogether. Ruby isn’t the type to be secretive or embarrassed easily with this type of thing. That alone is hard to ignore.”

“Ah, so you are interested?”

“So!? That’s not the point! Regardless, I will give you both space. Unlike a certain someone, I don’t have a tendency to peek.” Just the memory of Ruby entering her room made her face burn.

“Hehe, honestly I don’t think Ruby would hate that. But I definitely wouldn’t mimic her boldness by coming if I were you. She’s really putting herself out there.

Okay now Weiss was super curious! What could they be experimenting with!? She already knew about the collar situation. Does the well go deeper?

Jaune couldn’t help but hold in a chuckle as Weiss walked into the apartment with a thousand thoughts. Their home looked mostly changed, except for the new trail of petals that lead to his room.

“Y’know, you’re quite lucky. How many people get these kinds of Valentines?”

Jaune put the leftovers on the counter. “You say that as if you’re the one who treated me to lunch or surprised you with shrimp cocktail.”

“Touché. I’ll give you that.” Weiss walked up and kissed his cheek again. “Well, if you’re not unbelievably tired when you’re done spending time with Ruby, I can reveal my gift. And before your thoughts go crazy, it’s an actual store bought item.”

“Aw, you didn’t have to, but thanks.”

“Ruby helped me when we both went to breakfast. I fear you too might make me fat.”

“We’d have more of you to hug.”

“Blegh!” Weiss grinned, gently pushing him towards the hall. “Go spend time with your girlfriend. I need a break from your corny comebacks. I’ll put the food away.

“Byyye! Love you too.”

Weiss watched Jaune step into his room, barely catching his eyes widening before he went in and closed the door. The young lady let out a deep sigh. “She didn’t tell me I had to leave the apartment, but if they get loud…” Weiss grumbled, wrestling with her inner demons and doing mental gymnastics. Her body hunched over and deflated. How could her mind go to such perverted places so quickly? “Maybe I am as bad as those two?”

xxxxxx

Jaune considered himself a fairly rational and reasonable person. He always tried to take in information and move with a sense of purpose and idea of what to do. This wasn’t the first time his room had been rose tinted with nice smelling candles and his girlfriend waiting patiently in lingerie for his return. However, it was the first Ruby sat right in the middle of his bed wearing absolutely nothing but a red collar, a headband with black dog ears, and most surprisingly, a long matching tail to which he couldn’t see the end of as it curved behind her. This was a lot to process and frankly, left little room for reason.

Ruby’s face was flushed beyond belief. Normally, she was rather confident when it came to lingerie and putting the moves on both her partners. This was different though; in every sense of the word. Blending both of their kinks with the added curiosity of taking a more submissive attitude had her well outside of her area of expertise.

“W-Welcome home. I uh…I’ve been prepping for today.”

“I can see that.” Jaune was still a little in disbelief. “When I mentioned anal a month ago, I was expecting a butt plug. This though, you never cease to surprise me.”

“Well, it is Valentine’s Day. Go big or go home, right?” She gave an awkward smile. Her eyes watched him approach the edge of the bed and gently reach out to hold the side of her face with his warm touch that never failed to put her at ease.

Those very fingers trailed down her neck and hooked under the collar, tugging her forward slowly until her face rested on the imprint of his restrained erection. His fingers continued their journey down to her left nipple and gave her body a sudden rush as he climbed down on her nipple. How cruel, immediately attacking her weakest spot like this.

“Ngh~”

“To think I’d get such a cute mutt for Valentine’s Day. You ready for obedience training?”

“Yessss.”

“Then show me how loyal you are.”

Ruby pressed her lips against Jaune’s crotch, slowly peppering it with kisses as her hands unbuttoned his jeans. She slipped the zipper between her teeth then pulled down until his heat and scent intensified. Jaune helped her out from fishing out his cock out over his waistband and resting it on her face unexpectedly. He was taking her request to switch roles rather seriously. He no doubt had gotten some decent experience from Weiss. Ruby felt like she was in good hands but also shocked to see her lovable dork so calm.

She stuck her tongue immediately, dragging it up slowly from the base to around the tip before slipping it properly into her mouth. She felt her cheeks burn as she kept eye contact; the way his gaze watched her jaw fall to swallow his girth made her hips ache. Ruby slowly worked her head down and back up, keeping her tongue engaged the whole time as she got a good taste of her man.

Jaune brought his hand back up to her face as wet and intoxicating warmth lathered his shaft. “Good girl. Just like that.”

Ruby’s ears were burning. How many times was she going to hear that today? She had to close her, focusing on the task at hand. Ruby used both of hers to grab the base of the shaft to suck harder.

“No hands.”

And just like that, she dropped them. His hips pressed forward the moment she did. Just like she practiced, she focused on breathing through her nose as Jaune went down her throat just enough to make her gasp. Ruby slowly moved her head back, still concentrating on breathing, before sliding his dick back down her throat.

“There ya go. Don’t force it.” He said calmly, letting her do most of the moving. Ruby brought her hands up again but to hold his steady as she continued her work.

She could feel tears well up from the initial thrust, but she quickly became accustomed to the feeling. Gods, how did Weiss do this so effortlessly. Seven throbbing and heavy inches kept her mouth wide open and had a taste that was dizzying to the point she didn’t notice her pace had increased. Her lips closed around his shaft completely. Breathing control and tongue. It’s all her mind could focus on as her mouth watered and throat opened with each push. Grunts and gasps left her body and Fingers twirled her hair into something to grip. Ruby dared not open her eyes; she didn’t even think to do so. All that mattered was her mouth sucking his cock. Yeah, she could see why Weiss does this. The feeling of fullness finally left her lips and air flooded in. Ruby gradually opened her eyes, her mind still dazed. Jaune was staring down at her with a redder face than he had before. Sometime during the experience he had removed his shirt as well.

“How was I?” She genuinely asked, his erection still in front of her face.

“Wonderful. Someone’s been clearly asking for tips.” He huffed.

“It’s still hard to put in practice though. Still…” Ruby kissed around the shaft and began stroking Jaune with her left hand. “I have my reliable methods.”

“Mngh, Ain’t that the truth?” He smiled. “But I didn’t stop you because it wasn’t getting me there. You don’t like cum in your mouth.”

“I’ve prepped my ass for you today. If you want me to swallow, I’ll drink it all.” She cooed. Her heart fluttered again. “I am your gift today. Use me how you want.”

“Heh. You’re my gift every day.” Jaune pressed her shoulders until Ruby fell on her back. “And I know better than to misuse gifts in my care.”

His hands grabbed her knees and separated them, revealing every part of her glory. Soaked, pink lips drooled down her legs and onto the black base of the tail she wore. Jaune used only his middle finger to trace in between Ruby’s petals and coat it in nectar.

“So ready and wanting, and yet it won’t be used.” He pushed his finger in without hesitation.

“Aaaagh!” Ruby’s Bach arched from the jolt of pleasure. His knuckles bent and moved side to side, kneading her flesh like a massage. Ruby couldn’t even collect her thoughts before the warmth of his tongue captured her clit. Her voice cracked. “AAAGH!”

Jaune did as he pleased, holding her hips down with his left arm as he slurped up her desire. Any attempt to move only made him drag his dinner back. “Don’t you dare run from it~”

Ruby tried so hard to stay still but it felt so impossible! Her hands clawed at the sheets for strength while her lips bumbled through curses and babble til her toes curled.

“I…I’m…!” She felt herself nearing the edge, then pulled back again before she could fall off. “Huh?” Her eyes looked down to see the man’s tongue leave her. His calm and calculated gaze told her everything she needed to know. He wasn’t letting her cum that easily.

“Something wrong?”

“N-No.” her voice trembled, still riled up. His fingers barely grazed her butt and ever so slightly tugged on the tail. “Nngh, please, don’t stare.” Ruby covered her eyes.

“I’ve seen you naked countless times and now you’re getting shy?” Jaune pushed the tail in just to watch her body jolt.

“It’s different this time!”

“It is, isn’t it?” Jaune finally got on the bed, resting on his knees as he put Ruby’s legs on each side of him. He pinched the base of the tail with a steady grip. “I’m gonna pull this out slowly, okay?” The girl’s arm slowly came down and gave him a nod.

With measured strength, Jaune gently pulled on the tail, causing him to learn something unexpected. Jaune had thought the end of the tail would be a simple metal plug. What he got was the reveal of two big black beads getting dragged out of Ruby’s ass and leaving it gaping as she took a deep breath. A dark shade of red washed over his face and reasoning dwindled further.

“You weren’t kidding when you said you’ve been preparing. Where’d you find this?” He asked, slightly breaking character.

“I’ve been talking to Blake.” Ruby whined, still reeling from the stimulation of everything really.

It’s always Blake. Oh what Jaune wouldn’t give to be a fly on the wall for that conversation. Even she had to be shocked for her own leader to ask about not only a butt plug, but a tail one at that.

Jaune briefly got up, removing his pants properly and grabbing lube from his nightstand before returning to Ruby. “If you need to call a quits, say the name of your scythe.”

Admittedly she had never thought about needing a safe word. In truth, though her heart raced, her body felt like fire that wanted to burn hotter. She wanted as Jaune laid his cock on her pussy. His hips rocked forward devilishly, sliding his length through her lips to coat it further in depravity as he poured some lube on it. Ruby bit her lip as his tip brushed by her clit. If only it would slide in properly.

“Can you please-”

“Nope.” Jaune said abruptly, watching her chest rise and fall. He lubed his middle and ring finger. “This is all the fun your pussy gets. There’s other things I want to play with.”

The two fingers slid inside her ass. Ruby gasped for air at the sudden pressure. It wasn’t as bad as the tail, but Jaune’s fingers rubbed the inside that kept her legs moving.

“You okay?”

“It…It’s weird, but okay.” She gasped between breaths. His fingers left again for more lube before massaging around the entrance. Ruby took another look at Jaune’s erection. The way it remained rigid and imposing; was it really going to fit? Has it always been this…big? The tip slowly disappeared from sight as his hips pulled back. She quickly felt its presence poking her back door.

Ruby shut her eyes again and tried her best to relax, her hands already gripping the sheets for support. Cautiously, she felt the head of Jaune’s cock push inside. So far so good, until the slow push quickly quickly brought her his swollen shaft.

“Uuunnnngh!” Ruby felt her lungs squeezing the air out. “H-Hold on!”

Jaune stopped his advances to give her time to breathe. “Take your time. In and out; breathe just like that.”

“It feels weird!”

“Want me to stop?”

“No, I just..agh.” Ruby exhaled, losing her thoughts. “How much more?”

“Not much more. You’re almost done.” He lied a little. She was halfway down. Jaune put his right hand on her boob and massaged it; meanwhile his left tenderly rubbed Ruby’s clit, giving her pleasure as her body adjusted.

“Aaah! Nngh, Jaune. Keep moving.” Her words reached him. Ruby felt him push again as she fought her body to lesson inch by inch.

After an eternity, Ruby felt his skin press against the back of her legs. At last she felt the base as the rest twitched inside with a violent heat. That same heat began gradually escaping her body before pressing forward back into the depths; Ruby’s bottom lip threatened to bleed as she bit it harder with each passing stroke.

Jaune swallowed his grunts and took in the girl’s messy appearance while her body gripped him in immense tightness.

“You okay?”

“It feels so weird!” Ruby panted, still catching her breath. “But…it’s not hurting.” Her hands gripped Jaune’s forearms.

He must’ve taken it as a sign. His hips moved faster, churning her insides in a way that rubbed her stomach yet mocked her pussy. It’s as if he was playing with it from the outside, and she didn’t hate it. Did it show on her face? Maybe it ran down her legs. Whatever the case, Jaune pulled his hips back and thrusted deep, bottoming her out.

“AH! Too hard!” She whimpered.

“Sorry.”

“It’s okay.” Ruby opened her eyes halfway to witness the man causing her such crazy sensation sweat as he looked at her with a deep hunger. He must be holding back so much for her sake. “Y-You can go faster though, if you want. I can take it.”

Dangerous words for sure. What was a display of subservience led to Jaune leaning down and claiming her tongue. Ruby’s arms instinctively wrapped around his broad back. Just like before, she let her jaw hang open and fell victim to Jaune’s lips. Deep, husky grunts escaped both of them as he rutted her faster. Ruby dug her nails into his skin to stay sane while her tongue was conquered. Every separation was for pockets of air and followed wet smacking that competed with his cock pumping into her. This was so much of everything. Ruby didn’t know if she wanted more or was dying for a break. This growing feeling was like hunger itself, yet she was full while being completely empty.

“Oh, oh gods…” Ruby cried out. How could someone feel so hot and cold at the same time? Jaune’s teeth found her neck. “AH! FUCK~”

“You’re doing such a good job for me. You feel so good! You sound like you’re made for this.”

Her cheeks burned. “Noooo! I’m not!”

“Then why are you moaning?” Jaune bit her neck hard.”

“AAAAH! JAUNE! AAAGH!” She was on the edge again, but it terrified her; made her ears red with embarrassment as she tried to endure. “No! Waaait!”

Jaune leaned into her ear. He could feel her crumbling. “Do it. Where is it? Where’s my cock?”

“…My ass.”

“Louder.” He bit her again.

“MY ASS!” She whaled, her head getting fuzzy again. “Your fucking my ass!”

“You gonna cum from it!?”

“YES!”

“Good girl. Don’t hold anything back! Keep climbing. Keep clinging on until three…two…” he found her nipple for good measure. “One.”

Jaune pinched it hard and gave Ruby another bite.

“GAAAAAAH!” Ruby screamed like a horror movie character. Her vision nearly disappeared as the orgasm wrecked her body. A rush of her nectar came flowing from between her trembling legs and ruined Jaune’s sheets.

The man himself got off of her so she could breathe, and he could watch her shake and pant like a dog. Jaune pulled his cock out to see her squirm further.

“You okay?” He said with a mixture of pride and disbelief.

Ruby let his question hang in the air for a few seconds before finding the composer to speak. “H- Fuck…”

It’s not often Jaune gets her swearing. “I’ll take that as a yes.” He said, wiping his cock down with wipes. “Need a minute?”

Ruby looked at his body. He hadn’t cum yet. Jaune was still rigid and waiting. Her mind wasn’t sure how to handle that. His teasing had left her ripe for the picking. He put the wipes down and slid a finger in her ass again.

“H-Hey.” Her voice quivered. “Mercy~”

“You don’t look like you’re ready to call a quits.” He slid in another to keep her in pieces.

Ruby helplessly watched as Jaunty played with her ass. She wasn’t sure if it could handle another beating, but he was right on the money about her body wanting more. That annoying hunger was still there. She wasn’t full, and he knew that.

“Pl-Please.” Ruby’s entire body was flushed. “Please fuck me properly.”

“I thought I was pretty clear that’s not the hole I was interested in today.” He mocked, pumping his fingers faster. “Maybe more training is in order?”

Ruby couldn’t stop herself from whimpering. His thumb brushed past her interest, but just barely. “Jaune, please! I’ll be a good girl!”

“Beg.”

“I’LL DO ANYTHING!” She blurted out, desperate for him. “You’ve marked my body. Torn my ass apart; please mark my womb.”

Jaune watched her fingers struggle to stay in place. She didn’t dare touch herself. Ruby simply endured, waiting for his every word. He took a look at her headband before looking her in the eyes. “Take it like a good girl would want it.”

Her eyes flickered. Even in this state, she understood. Ruby turned around and got on all fours, arching her back and resting on her forearms. Jaune didn’t ask but she looked over her shoulder and swayed her hips slowly, not caring how she looked for a second. The embarrassment didn’t matter; Ruby wanted him.

“Please, let me cum on your cock.”

It was amazing how she pushed his buttons. Jaune placed his left hand on her back and ran up to her nape. His fingers settled into damp strands of red before pushing her head against the mattress and gripping tightly.

Ruby didn’t utter a word, feeling his cock glide over her ass, then finally dipping lower to be swallowed by her aching walls. Her teeth bit into the sheets as Jaune gave her exactly what she wanted. A deep and rough pounding.

“NNNNGHHAAA! MMMNGH!”

“What do you say!?”

“Thank you. THANK YOOUUU~!” Ruby felt his right hand grip her waist, pulling it into his thrusts. Each stroke sounded like puddles in the rain. Ruby could literally feel her body grip him, coating his cock until it dripped white.

“He’s gonna get me hooked on this!” Ruby could hardly scream anymore with how out of breath she was. The best she could do was gasp and grunt each time he filled her. Both of her legs felt like lead while her hips were made of jelly. With her strength gone and her wits lost, all there was to focus on was how her nipples grazed the sheets beneath her, and the heat drilling into her. The sound of puddles grew louder.

Jaune could feel her body relax, the tension in her muscles disappear while her walls let him strike deep into her core. He got a little bolder, rubbing his thumb around the rim of her ass before easily sinking it in. A blissful sigh blessed his ears. At this point, Ruby was simply gonna take him.

“Where do you want it?” He groaned, reaching his limit.”

“I don’t care. Just let me feel it.”

“Someone’s been cumming all alone, hasn’t she?”

“S-rry” her body trembled, feeling her womb get kissed. Her voice was shakier. Almost as if she was trying not to cry. “So good. You feel so good~ Fuck, I’m close again.”

“Hold it.”

“But-”

“Hold it.” He said firmly, speeding up his thrusts. “I’m close too.”

Beads of sweat rolled down Ruby’s face. Sharp breaths of air flare her nostrils as she concentrates on holding back her orgasm. Would he be upset if she just- no, she didn’t want to disappoint him. Not now of all times. Not when he’s given her what she wanted. She had to listen. Wanted to listen. Her ears were burning to hear his praise again; to feel him let go and mark her body in any way he desired. He wasn’t gonna pull out. Ruby could tell how he ached and throbbed constantly inside; how he dared to entertain her womb’s entrance by prodding it so obviously. It opened for him. How could it not? This collar, this position! How could her body not want anything more than him to…

“Breed me like a bitch in heat~”

Ruby didn’t know if Jaune heard her filthy request, but all the same, a rush of his hot load poured into her body and broke the floodgates keeping her resilience. Ruby’s pussy gripped and squeezed him obsessively while her mind wandered. Her hips kept his cock buried inside, swaying left and right to make him pull her waist against him as he groaned like a beast.

Finally, Jaune pried himself away from her, pulling out and letting her hips fall onto the bed. Even he couldn’t believe the sight in front of him.

“You’re so perfect.” He uttered in disbelief.

“I love you too.” Ruby let out the single chuckle she could. She didn’t make an effort to budge. She honestly could’ve passed out in peace right where she was; that was until the mattress sunk by her face.

The silvered eye girl glanced upward to see the very thing responsible for her state hovering by her lips. Even half flaccid, it commanded her attention as it dripped with a mix of their arousal. Ruby didn’t hesitate to wrap her lips around Jaune, slowly using her tongue to clean the mess she made as the potent taste of the man poured down her throat while his fingers played with her hair. One time; she just wanted to hear him say those magic words one more time. Ruby looked up at him. Tired, dazed, wanting, yet willing all the same.

Jaune smiled softly. “That’s my girl.”

Ruby felt a warmth in her cheeks again. She took extra care to swallow him whole until her nose touched his waist while he continued his praise. It would appear his earlier reservations had faded. That was fine by her. If Jaune asked for it, she’d taste every drop.

xxxxxx

It wasn’t long after clearing him that Ruby did pass out, her body completely spent. Jaune managed to put her under the covers and replace the comforter with another; thank goodness it was the only casualty. He’d wash it later. For now, Jaune put on black boxers and quietly left his own room. The young man only took several steps before walking into Weiss’s without so much as a knock.

The girl immediately jumped, her face flushed ear to ear and hair a little frazzled. She sat on top of her bed with her knees together, hands cradled in each other.

“Y-Yes?” Weiss stuttered. He didn’t say a word, only getting closer until he was within arms reach. Jaune held her by her shoulders and gradually pushed her down with ease.

His hands rubbed the underside of her thighs before pulling them apart to reveal soaked, flushed red lips. Weiss covered her face but it hid no shame.

Jaune moved between her legs to keep them open while he removed her hands to see her eyes. “How long were you watching?”

“…Since the tail was removed.” Her eyes were glued to the cock he pulled out. Once was never enough for him, and he was clearly going easy on Ruby because of her inexperience. To make things worse, it glowed with his aura. He knew exactly what she wanted, or rather, where she wanted it.

“How many times did you cum?”

“Twice.”

“How long did you watch?”

“Until you came inside of her.”

“Naughty, naughty. Looks like someone’s sex drive is higher than she says she is.”

Weiss pouted, hating the reality of that. “You two were so loud. Anyone would-” Jaune slowly raised his cock away from her ass.

“Was that an excuse?”

“No sir.” She said seamlessly. His fingers tugged on the top of her dress, slipping a sleeve down to reveal that she removed her bra long ago. The blonde leaned over her and kissed her neck. The tension he put against her pulse made her heart bound. No doubt he felt every beat as his palm massaged her right tit. “Jaune~”

“Give me a reason.”

“I can take it. You know I can.” A raspiness invaded her lungs. The heat of Jaune’s body receded until it was completely gone.

Jaune sat on the bed and waited for Weiss to sit up. “I’m a bit tired, so if there’s something you want, you’re gonna have to get it.” He had to push her a little. “Or I could leave?”

How cruel of him. Was this the price of snooping, Ruby simply riling him up. Weiss moved towards Jaune, straddling the man. If this was her punishment, then she’d swallow her pride and accept it. Weiss needed an itch only he could scratch.

Carefully, Weiss raised her hips then lowered herself onto Jaune until he was deep inside of her ass. It was like electricity ran up her spine and made her head heavy. Weiss wrapped her arms around Jaune’s shoulders, hid her face in the crook of his neck, then rocked her hips. Jaune was kind enough to grab her waist for stability. She wanted to go slow. Gods, she wished she could go slow; to keep some sense of dignity. Unfortunately, seeing how he treated Ruby had made it difficult to keep composure. Weiss sat completely in his lap and grinded roughly, chasing her desires to the point they slipped through her lips.

“Ah~ aghn~” Weiss looked him in the eyes. “Please move.”

“Can’t do it alone?” He smirked.

She really created her own monster. “You know it’s better when you help.” Weiss hid her face again. It was a good thing she knew he wanted her, and how to push the right buttons. “Please…” Weiss shut her eyes and spoke her most humbling desire. “Daddy~”

“…Don’t wake Ruby up.”

Weiss felt his fingers run down her rear and squeeze. The knight’s strength pulled her in and raised her body up, only to drag it back down. Weiss fought a guttural grunt by biting his neck and holding on as he used her for both their benefits. Jaune made sure her weight came down on his cock each and every slam to the point the echo might drown out her voice. She didn’t dare test it. Despite her pussy making a pond out of his lap.

“Getting close again?” Jaune grunted. A burn in his forearms threatened his rhythm with each passing second.

“Yeah. Just…a little mor-” Suddenly, all weight shifted forward and Weiss yelled out of shock. “Aah!”

Her back hit the mattress While Jaune remained in her arms. Before she could let go to check if he was okay, a strong thrust knocked the air out her lungs and kept her mouth open. Again and again, his cock found a new spot to strike in this position without remorse. Voiceless cries squeaked out of her throat each time his weight sunk into her. Weiss’s legs wrapped around his lower back while tears welled up behind closed eyes. She really didn’t want to hurt him. It never felt okay for her to leave actual marks, but with nothing else to hold, her nails threatened to break the skin on his back.

Jaune listened to the strained cries of a pampered heiress as her body massaged his length. He put all the strength he could muster into making Weiss melt with bliss as he reached his end. Even someone with his stamina still had his limits. He couldn’t even warn her before letting loose another load. He could feel her body clench the second he began filling her. Finally, her voice returned as her lungs gained breath for distorted moans.

“Uuungh! Aaaaghn~!” Her orgasm tickled her brain and dosed Jaune’s legs.

Despite the fact it was very much possible Ruby had somehow figured out or assumed Weiss’s more intimate kinks, Weiss just might have to thank the girl. Jaune had put on his best performance to date!

“Can we go one more round?” She asked, wanting to live in the moment.

“Mmmm…”

“Jaune?” Weiss raised her head up from his neck. His hold on her body loosened while his weight became heavier. Weiss poked the boy’s face a few times before getting light snoring. “…Hehe.” She couldn’t even be shocked. It’s been a busy day. Weiss kissed the top of his head and let him lay precisely where he was. “You’re lucky I love you.”

xxxxx

A couple hours flew by in an instant. Ruby emerged from the boy’s room in one of his massive shirts feeling sore and in desperate need of water. The speedy girl took one careful step at a time down the hallway to the kitchen. To her surprise, Weiss was there eating her leftovers she left on their countertop. Ruby shuffled past her slowly, grabbing a cup and filling it with water. For once, Ruby was okay with utter silence. It was only when Weiss casually handed over a restaurant container that Ruby felt obligated to speak.

“Th-Thanks.” She opened it and began eating.

“Yeeeep.” Weiss rested her head in her arms. “Nice hickies.”

Ruby inhaled slowly, trying not to turn the same shade of red as the marks she was given. “Things got a little intense.”

“The amazing Ruby Rose, bashful after sex. Never thought I’d see the day.”

“Don’t get used to it.” Ruby huffed, fighting off the recent memories. Right now she was unsure if she was entirely sore or yearning for more. “Letting him take the lead was fun, but not a new lifestyle. I can see why you’re crazy about it though.”

“Careful. It sounds like you might want me to top you.”

“Ha, you’d have to fight me for it. Knowing your preferences, you’d lose on purpose.”

“Hardy har. Can’t believe I got you leftovers.”

“I love you too.” Ruby puts her head on top of Weiss. “Is he knocked out?”

“Yep.”

“Was it your doing?”

“Me? Who was the one screaming so loud the neighbors probably heard? If anything it was a team effort.” Weiss lightly jabbed Ruby.

“Ugh. Fair point. My bad. So uhh, what parts did you hear exactly?” Ruby was getting warmer by the second.

Weiss slid her way from under the girl, catching Ruby’s head before it hit the counter. “Nothing worth repeating.” Weiss kissed the girl’s forehead then walked off. A small token of goodwill, considering she couldn’t resist peeking.

Ruby wanted to scream inside. Weiss definitely heard everything but spared her the conversation. It was probably for the better. After all, today happened because she saw what Jaune and Weiss got up to!

Ruby remained mentally and physically drained in the kitchen while Weiss casually laid down on the couch and listened to music. She’ll come clean eventually. Not right now though. This was much funnier. At this rate, they will all probably end up sleeping together again. Weiss let out a shallow sigh and smiled from the absurdity of it all. If Ruby asked, she wouldn’t be opposed.

“I really am as bad as those two.”

[reverie-starlight]

happy valentine's day!! please be kind to me. this is my first time writing for baji, so I'm still figuring out characterization!! sorry if he's a bit ooc :'). not edited.

fem!reader, no physical descriptions. reader has a dog, baji is down bad and sucks at flirting, you find it endearing. this got kind of long. fluff, first dates. TR MANGA ENDING SPOILERS!!!

the front door swings open, and a little bell (part of a defective cat toy that they couldn’t sell- kazutora’s idea) signals that a new customer has walked in.

baji almost can’t believe his eyes when he looks up from his textbook. he barely has enough time to compose himself before you glance at him, but he manages, and gives you a quick smile and a nod. he’s worried that if he speaks, he’ll stumble over his words and make a fool out of himself.

you’re gorgeous.

absolutely stunning, actually, and he can’t picture this interaction going very well for him if past experiences are anything to go by.

you’ve been in here before, he’s exchanged a few words with you when he’s had to ring you up, but that’s about it. even then, he had stumbled through grabbing your change from the register and wishing you a nice day.

usually chifuyu or kazutora are the ones to help you find what you need, but one of them is on lunch and the other isn’t scheduled to come in until later.

he silently curses them both for leaving him alone now of all times, but he knows his frustration is misplaced.

he’s just nervous because you’re here, and you look like that, and he’s not sure he’ll be able to get through this without revealing his massive crush on you.

maybe him working alone right now is a blessing in disguise- he doesn’t have to deal with his friends’ teasing about his new ‘girlfriend’.

he doesn’t even know your name, but he’d sure as hell like to.

he lets you look around for a minute while he gathers up the courage to ask you if you need help finding anything.

when you go down aisle four, he takes in a deep breath and mentally hypes himself up.

c’mon keisuke, this is pathetic. you used to fight off loads of guys at once, you can talk to the pretty girl.

as soon as he breaks out of his thoughts and moves to find you, he blinks once and you’re suddenly right in front of him.

he thinks he'd actually rather be back in a ten versus one right about now.

“hi,” you say, sporting a sheepish grin. “could you help me find the leashes and collars?”

his mind goes blank and he's unable to form any words, letting the silence linger long enough for it to deemed incredibly uncomfortable.

“uh…” you adjust your grip on the strap of your bag apprehensively. “I checked aisle four, ‘cause that’s where they usually are, but I couldn’t find them…” you shift on your feet, clearly not sure how to take his reaction to your question.

this snaps him out of it immediately and he nods. “right, we’re movin' stuff around to make room for some new inventory,” he finally responds.

your smile is bright and reassuring, like you somehow know he’s having a tough time forming full sentences. “oh, well that explains it!”

he swallows the last of his nerves and nods, finding himself smiling with you. “yeah,” he regains use of his body and leads you down aisle seven. “the leashes and collars should be down here now… what kind were ya looking for?”

“anything fit for medium dogs. adjustable, so she can grow into it.”

he nods again, checking the different styles and brands, thinking for a moment. “hmm… what breed?”

“a husky,” you reply, and he likes the way your eyes shine with excitement. “so something that’s good for dogs that pull, ideally.”

he hums and forces himself to break eye contact so that he doesn’t lose track of what he’s doing. "a puppy?"

"yeah, finally old enough to start taking her on walks but she's already a handful."

“cute," he chuckles. "if you’re trying to limit pulling, why don’t you try the gentle leader instead of a heavy duty collar?”

you tilt your head and he worries for a second that you’ll be able to hear his heart pounding against his chest with the brief silence. “I think I’ve heard of that, but how does it work?”

“it’s meant to go around their snout and tug on them when they get ahead of themselves. it doesn't hurt 'em though, just turns their head to the side."

you hum and he almost spaces out again watching you inspect the box he hands you. he thinks he'd very much like to have you pay that much attention to him one day.

then you smile up at him and say "alright, I'll take it!"

"great, I'll check you out- wait not like that, I mean ring you up-" his face burns as he stumbles over his words and you giggle a bit, following him back over to the cash register.

"thanks for your help... baji," you say, leaning over a bit to read his nametag and hand him some cash.

"no problem," he puts your items in the bag, wondering if he should finally ask for your name too.

then something interesting happens.

he watches as you fiddle with your bags, seemingly taking your time getting your things together. your eyes flicker up to meet his briefly and his heart does something funny in his chest as he allows himself to hope he's picking up the right vibe from you.

finally you seem to come to a conclusion and shake your head slightly and smile at him once more before finally leaving with a murmured, "see ya."

the hope deflates as the bell rings and you walk out of XJ Land. next time, keisuke, he thinks to himself, and opens up his abandoned animal science textbook now that the shop is empty again.

a few minutes later, chifuyu comes back from his break and nods at baji, holding up a bag of takeout. "I got us some lunch from that place down the-"

the bell rings one more time and chifuyu jumps out of the way to avoid being knocked out by the door you flung open.

baji raises an eyebrow, his heart doing something funny in his chest as you march up to him, a determined look on your face.

"hey... would you like to go out with me sometime?"

one week later you're sitting on the floor of your room trying to figure out what on earth to wear for your date with baji keisuke (you learned his full name when he put his number in your phone and set up his contact info).

after you had barged back into the pet shop and slammed your palms on the counter to ask him out, you've texted a fair bit back and forth trying to figure out a good day for both of you.

during your conversations, you learned that aside from working at XJ Land, he's also studying to become a vet and that's why he usually has a textbook with him in the shop. he's funny, very thoughtful as well, which is a nice surprise. you've had your eye on him for a while. every time you'd go into the shop to grab something, you'd do everything you could to talk to him, but someone else always managed to help you out before you had a chance.

so when you walked by that day and noticed he was working alone? you knew you had to make your move (...even if it took you a minute to build up the courage to do so).

he even offered to plan the date and pick you up, which you agreed to right away once you had set a date (friday- today), but left you with no hints on how to dress.

something keeps drawing you to him- you're not sure if it's his hair or the set of fangs that poke through when he smiles, but you're certain that you can't just let him pass by you and stay curious forever.

you finally land on an outfit that you believe would work for any occasion and spend whatever time you had left dealing with the finishing touches before you hear a knock on your door.

right on time.

you open up to see your date holding flowers and sporting a warm smile.

"hi," he greets you, holding out the bouquet. the tag attatched to it has your name scrawled in slightly messy handwriting, but it's legible all the same. his handwriting, perhaps?

"these are beautiful," you say, taking them and admiring them. you hold the door open a bit wider and welcome him in. "I'm just going to put these in some water before we go."

he nods and shuts the door behind him as you walk to the kitchen to find some sort of makeshift vase to put the bouquet into. you hear your dog rustle around in her crate and shush her a little, trying to soothe her. "it's okay, I'll be back in a few hours."

once you're done with the flowers and you've slipped the puppy a treat through the bars, you head back out to the front entrance and smile at him. "you look very nice, by the way," you say, admiring his black leather jacket and button down shirt.

it seems like you dressed appropriately after all.

"thanks," he says, "you um. you definitely outshine me," his delivery is a bit awkward and he looks like he regrets it as soon as he closes his mouth.

you giggle and put your coat on. "thank you, baji."

"uh, I haven't seen your dog around, I remember ya mentioned she's still a puppy... will she be okay?" he asks as you lock your door and start heading towards the elevator.

your heart warms at the thought of him remembering that. "that's sweet of you to ask. she's still too young to be left alone for more than an hour, but my friend is stopping by later to spend time with her while I'm gone."

you make casual conversation about how his most recent exam went among other things until you make it outside. you let him lead the way to his ride and come to a stop in front of his... motorcycle?

"you ride a motorcycle?" you ask, in awe of the way he pulls out a helmet and hands it to you.

"mhm, I've been ridin' since I was a teenager. you're in good hands, don't worry."

like you were in doubt.

"have you ever ridden before?" he tilts his head and helps you onto the back of the bike.

"no, but I've always wanted to."

he grins and you can't help but smile back when his fangs pop out again. he helps you fasten the helmet and then gets settled, starting up the bike. "hold on to me, we don't want ya falling off."

so you do, letting yourself get impossibly close to him as you ride off into the night, both secretly hoping that this will be the start of something incredible.

had to cut it off kinda abruptly, but hope you enjoyed!! trust that there will be a lottt more baji in the coming months, I adore him :(( this feels a bit choppy, even to me, but I'll get better at writing him, I swear.

thank you @softshuji for helping me out with some of the finer details, I so so soooo appreciate it !!! <3

@emmyrosee hehe here it issss

[mantas-ray]

VALENTINE’S DAY FT. JAYCE TALIS

includes! jayce’s love language + valentine’s day themes

tags. gn!reader, fluff, cheesy & cliché asf. this was supposed to be 3 love languages but jayce is filled w so much love i had to do all. obvi there will be some he’s more inclined to, but i think he does all to some capacity

a/n. i’m sorry this is late jayce nd i were trying for a baby (he’s the one getting pregnant btw) but for real school has been hell and i’ve been lacking motivation lately

GIFT GIVING

Jayce loves giving gifts, especially to those he loves. Whether it’s birthdays, anniversaries or holidays, he’s sure to get his loved ones a thoughtful present.

It’s no different on Valentine’s Day. Every year, he gets his mother and Caitlyn their favourite flowers with a handwritten note attached because Valentine’s Day is about showing appreciation to those he loves — not just romantically. He also gives Viktor a gift, maybe a collection of caffeinated teas.

He goes all out with you, though. Jayce occasionally gives you flowers, so he steps up his game. That doesn’t mean he won’t give you your favourite flowers, because he 100% will. In addition to a huge bouquet, he gifts you a little black box with something he made inside.

Jayce will be in his forge days before, creating a trinket for you. It could be a bracelet, necklace, or ring. Jayce would make you an engagement ring with your initials engraved on the inside of its band when that time comes around, but for now, he’d settle for a simple promise ring. He doesn’t often gift you things he’s created in his forge because he doesn’t want it to lose its novelty.

Though Jayce may claim getting him a gift is unnecessary, it’s a lie. He gets ecstatic when you return the favour. If you give him any jewellery, he won’t take it off. Have you seen how attached he is to the hex crystal on his leather wristband? It’s because it’s held significance to his life, and so have you.

He’d want to be buried with any jewellery you’ve gotten him — rings, bracelet, a locket with a picture of your face — he’s cherishing it. The only way to show his appreciation of the piece, and by extension, you, is to wear it every day until he can’t anymore.

ACTS OF SERVICES (no vday mention but u win some u lose some)

Living with Jayce can be monotonous, but being a Councilor or being with a Councilor is not the average experience, so the monotony is comforting.

Simple chores such as taking out the trash or cleaning up your shared home provide normalcy in his life that the role of a Councilor didn’t fulfil. Don’t get him wrong, he’s grateful for his seat on the Council, but some days Jayce would rather be stuck in his lab working out kinks in an invention or maybe preparing a meal to surprise you when you’re home from work or school instead of being in an office.

I’ve seen people headcanon Jayce as a terrible cook. It is funny, but I personally think Jayce spent a lot of time in the kitchen with his mom growing up, and food is a love language for him. He seems like a guy who eats good. (Have you seen how huge he is??)

His mother would cut apples and bring them to him when he was preoccupied with studying or research. Jayce does the same for you.

When you’re overworking yourself, hunched over your desk, one spelling error away from a mental breakdown, Jayce will knock on the door and offer you fresh fruit or a simple meal. Jayce would love to be home helping around, but he’s rarely there, so he tries to help in the little ways he can.

It’s a nonverbal reminder to take care of yourself because Jayce loves you and doesn’t want you to stress yourself out. It is hypocritical, considering he returns home late most days because he’s usually worrying about political business.

He doesn’t mind when you return the gesture, of course. There will be days he’s overworked and needs you to care for him.

QUALITY TIME & PHYSICAL TOUCH

These go hand in hand with Jayce. If he’s spending time with you, he’s touching you in some sort of way. He’s like a newborn baby — Jayce needs skin-to-skin contact. He wakes up earlier just to experience you cuddled up next to him, and he has to kiss you before work each morning. You’re not conscious half the time, but you feel his lips on your forehead.

Normally, he attempts to make any excuse to see you throughout the day to spend an extra couple of hours with you. You’re at the academy as a scholar or professor? He’s dropping by after your class to gift you a sweet treat — a kiss or, if you’re lucky, some sort of pastry — and chat you up.

His hand subconsciously itch to touch you when you’re conversing. He doesn’t know where to put them, though. Jayce contemplates resting them on your hip, but they just brush against you until you take the hint and intertwine your fingers with his.

If you work elsewhere, Jayce is taking his lunchtime to bother you during yours. He buys you lunch and asks how your day is so far, attempting to spend as much time as possible with you since you both have busy schedules.

Jayce would take you out to a fancy dinner for Valentine’s Day if you’d like, but enjoying each other’s company after another tiring day of work is what he’d prefer most.

He loves cooking and enjoys every component of dinner with you, including preparing, eating, and washing the dishes.

Music fills the room, and Jayce hums to the tune while he prepares the ingredients. You don’t even have to cook — you could be his taste tester, ensuring he’s added enough seasoning. You’re both enjoying each other’s presence, not talking much.

Jayce gets his recipes from his mom. He definitely asked her which dish would impress you the most, and he followed the written instructions on the piece of paper. When you compliment the meal, he tells his mom how much you appreciate it when he visits her later.

As boring as it seems, he loves doing the dishes with you. It’s another excuse to spend more time with you, even if it’s mundane. He washes the plates; you dry them. It’s repetitive, but he adores the close proximity, your shoulders bumping together as he passes you another plate for you to dry.

However, his favourite part of Valentine’s Day is taking a bath with you. Sure, it’s cliché, but Jayce is a lover boy. It’s not often he gets you like this, so let him have it.

Jayce can barely fit in the bathtub, his knees peeking out the warm water as he bends his knees, suds clinging to his bare skin, but he doesn’t care. It can go either way: your back pressed to Jayce’s chest, his chin resting on top of your damp hair or Jayce’s back is pressed to your chest, his head resting on the crook of your neck.

He doesn’t mind either way. Once your bare skin is sticking to his, Jayce is at peace. The added scent of fragrant candles and the gentle light they cast on your dewy skin increased the intimacy of the scenario. There’s something about cleaning each other’s body, cleansing the other of the day’s burden that sends Jayce’s heart beating erratically.

Additionally, Jayce gives you an amateur massage before bed. He’s oddly good at it. Jayce is strong, and his hands are skilled, but it’s downright orgasmic when his thumb digs into your back, working out the knots.

He expects you to repay him for his efforts. Maybe not by a massage, but you’re going to have to make it up to him somehow. I’m sure you’ll get creative.

WORDS OF AFFIRMATION

Jayce is very vocal about his love with you. He tells you he loves you any chance he gets. Between kisses, before work, while you’re asleep — he wants you to know how much he loves you. He needs you to know you mean the world to him.

It’s not just ‘I love you’s he tells you. Jayce loves complimenting you, even when you think you look like shit. 

“You look beautiful, sweetheart,” he says after you’ve woken up from your well-deserved nap. You have bags under your eyes, your hair’s dishevelled, and your eyes are barely open, but Jayce truthfully thinks you’re gorgeous no matter how much you think you look a mess.

He also makes it known how proud he is of you. Again, you don’t need to do anything revolutionary; maybe you finished a book, yet Jayce lets it be known how proud he is of you.

Jayce talks about you to other people. I’m sure Caitlyn is sick of hearing how amazing you are, and his mother is elated her son found someone who loves him so dearly. It’s all she wants for her sweet boy.

[senkuideas4all]

I’m sure you guys know about the movie “Flipped,”right? Or at least the concept of PersonA openly expressing their affections for PersonB, only to get shut down every time, and personB soon developing feelings once personA no longer likes them/isn’t as affectionate as they once were.

…

This troupe + Senku has so much potential—

PersonA should be someone who’s known Senku for an extremely long time, I think—maybe a neighbor or kindergarten classmate. He’s not someone who can be enticed by romance easily (or at all if we’re looking at a canonical standpoint. Thankfully this is fanfiction) so he’ll need a LOT of time and exposure for said person to grow on him.

I imagine Byakuya patiently waiting by the door for his son, only for Senku to come home after his first day of kindergarten with an irritable scowl on his face and another kid clinging onto him. Please, he was crying tears of joy once he found out that his stern son actually made a friend. His first friend!

PersonA probably squeezed their way in into every experiment and reading session. There was a day when Senku went home on his own (which he thought was suspicious and lonesome without a certain person clinging onto him and annoying him) and was greeted by a grinning Byakuya (which he also found suspicious). All the skepticism soon made sense once he entered his room and found the very person who wasn’t there to bother him a few minutes ago. Surprised and huffing out, he slams the door shut and makes his way towards his father who was startled by the noise.

As his son rambled on and on about what PersonA could possibly be doing in his room without his knowledge, Byakuya couldn’t help but grin even wider than he ever did when he noticed his son’s relieved expression. It probably wasn’t obvious to anybody else but him at the time, but the child was clearly disappointed upon his return home.

Senku doesn’t know it yet and won’t know about it until years and years later, but the child upstairs was worth tens of billions and meant so much more than his son could possibly imagine. He just hopes his son won’t take them for granted.

I envision Senku labelling PersonA as an annoying and persistent hinderance (with a few other quirks that he’s noticed over the years) but would still treat fairly…somewhat well. Someone who he occasionally pays special care and attention to only because “my old man likes them a lot and would give me an earful and take my equipment away if he hears I don’t treat them good enough.”

Maybe he can reminisce about PersonA during and after the petrifaction since in all his years of knowing that ‘bothersome’ person, this was probably the furthest and longest time they’ve been apart. Now that he’s given the space that he’d always wanted, he starts to wonder if it was always this quiet. When was the last time he had such a thick, deafening silence? He never really noticed it in the first few years he’s been in the darkness of the petrification—he was too busy counting every passing second and thinking of what could’ve possibly lead to this situation to have such thoughts.

He’d always fantasize about complete, utter silence to ‘focus better’, but was soon disappointed that it wasn’t as great as he’d expected. It wasn’t until 3,700 years of counting that he finally broke out of the stone. As he’s roasting his dinner one night, his mind drifts off. Now that he thinks about it, he never once thought of PersonA within the first month he escaped that stone prison. Survival was the priority, but to not think about the person who’s been with you the most in your entire life was…strange? He picked up the skewer and stares at his meal. They used to always insist on making his meals. Ever since Byakuya left Japan, they’d constantly check up on him to make sure he’s eating anything aside from ramen…or just eating anything at all.

Who knew doing all this on his own could be so different? He used to believe that his life would still flow the way it did whether or not they were there by his side, but now, even eating felt odd without a certain someone talking and filling in the silence.

—————

I actually spewed all that up?Unfortunately, that’s all I could put together with my dwindling energy. I can’t decide on whether or not Senku’s realization of his feelings will actually occur pre-pertification/post-petrification/no-petrification au. I did mention about post-petrification(albeit sloppily)but that’s only because I don’t have much interesting or unique scenarios for the other two. I’ll leave that to the other writers out there. I’m so disappointed with my post-petrification word vomit so don’t let that part hinder your own ideas about the troupe.I might also request this to any willing author if I find one. If you do, do me a favor and request for a Flipped-inspired fic? I want to read their take on the troupe <3.

[starry-bi-sky]

I'm in A Mood™ (stressed) so im going back to my roots of melting two character together into one person. So bruce wayne!danny fenton. Danny Fenton who, for eight years, grew up in a beautiful gothic manor with his mom and dad under the name "Bruce Wayne". Playing piano with his mother, running around the manor with his father.

Then when he's eight it's ripped away from him. There's blood on his hands and pearls pooling at his feet, and both his parents are dead in front of him.

And he gets shipped off to distant relatives "the Fentons" shortly after, Alfred close on his heels because someone needs to take care of him, someone that knows him. Bruce goes to the Fentons for the safety of anonymity. Gotham's press wants to sink its teeth into him.

Danny misses his city even if it took everything from him. There are shadows in his eyes and he's pale as a sheet even beside his distant cousins, and they change his name to "Danny Fenton' because nobody should know that their newest child was illustrious orphan Bruce Wayne.

They call him Bruce behind closed doors. Danny prefers it that way, he clings onto the name -- the one his parents gave him -- like a lifeline. He makes friends with Sam and Tucker. Tucker takes one look at the willowy, morbid little boy standing in the corner like a shade, ghosts in his eyes, and drags him out into the sunlight, and takes him over to Sam.

When Danny is twelve, he's still not over it -- and he's a little obsessed with the Fentons' research, with the morbid. He has books upon books on death, murder, detective work. Anything he can get his hands on. And stars. He loves stars.

Alfred owns the apartment next to them and comes over regularly. Danny clings to him.

When Danny is twelve, he's still quiet, meek, a shy little thing prone to being bullied. Freaky little Fenton with the night in his eyes and too-cold skin even before he put one foot in the grave. in a sleepover in his room with Sam and Tucker, he tells them the truth. They're his friends, he trusts them.

"My name is Bruce." he murmurs, voice quiet as the breeze, always quiet. he's staring at his star-covered sheets.

"Like Bruce Wayne?" Tucker asks, a joking tone in his voice.

Danny smiles a little, lamb-like with insecurity. "I am Bruce Wayne." And he takes them down to the lab, disrupting Maddie and Jack, to prove it. Sam tells them of her own wealth then shortly after. They start calling Danny "Bruce" in private too -- its trust. Thats what it is. It's trust.

Sam goes to media functions and comes back with aching feet and complaints on her tongue -- and Danny soaks it up all like a sponge, splayed across a beanbag chair with Tucker in her room. He's not envious of her, he used to go to events with his parents and they kept him safe from the ugly of Gotham's Elite. For the most part. He's had comments made at him, he doesn't miss them.

Alfred returns to the manor semi-regularly, Danny goes with him. he wanders the hallways and helps Alfred clean, the last thing either of them want is for their home to fall into disrepair. He brings Jazz with him next time, then Tucker, then Sam. They all help him clean, and he shows them his room. The one across from his parents', it feels strange.

When Danny dies when he's fourteen, the first adult he tells is Alfred. He and Jazz go over to his house more often than they stay in the Fentonworks building. At least at Alfred's, the food doesn't come to life. Alfred sits at the kitchen table and weeps when Danny tells him, Jazz is upstairs, and its just the two of them.

Danny's ghost form wears pearls around his wrist and the gloves look stained with some kind of black substance. He looks like a child who died in a lab accident, but he also looks like a child who has shadows dripping off his shoulders, curling at his feet, hanging from his eyes.

because amorphous blob batman has my heart always and danny/bruce will not escape it even in death even if that IS the only reason im giving him Mild BatBlob Vibes...so far

when they go to the manor, alfred helps danny make a pile of stones between Martha and Thomas' graves, nobody but the two of them (and sam and tucker) will know what it means. (not even bruce's children later down the line, not for a long, long time)

danny dives into ghost fighting on shaky feet and not half as witty as he once was in one world. he's skittish, skittering between blasts from shadow to shadow and clumsily making his way through each battle. but helping people lights a fire in him. he still has shadows dripping off his feet but there's a purpose in his eyes.

and god help him, he's going to help people.

[puppppppppy]

Atla live action 😐

[sysig]

You learn to live with it, learn to love it if you can (Patreon)

[puhpandas]

Take Me Home 1, 2

(to see new chapters release, sub on ao3 :))

(3227 words)

When Cassie wakes for the second time, it's not with a pounding head and limbs as heavy as iron. No. This time, her awareness of the world rolls in smoothly, and all she feels when she wakes fully is faint buzzing throughout her body.

She revels in it; the fact that theres no pain. She doesn't think too hard about why, she just shifts, moving to stretch her limbs, but hisses when going to move her arm sends a wave of soreness pain up her arm.

She grits her teeth, yelping and suddenly re-entering the world fully when the pain throws her into alertness.

Her eyes shoot open, and she moves to sit up in bed, heart racing when all she can remember is last being in the dark, dingy, falling apart Pizzaplex, but she calms when all she can see is someone's bedroom.

"...Huh?" She mumbles, her mind still not having fully caught up to her yet. She glances around the room, painted a pale blue, with furniture tucked against the neighboring walls and flowing curtains covering most of the sunlight filtering through the window, a light breeze ruffling them.

Movement catches her attention in the corner of her eye, and she glances over just in time for Gregory to snort awake, eyes trailing across her, not really seeing her, until they blow wide in recognition.

"Cassie!" Gregory exclaims, rushing to stand up from the position he was in where he had been sitting in a chair, laying his head in his arms, hunched over on the bed. "You're finally awake!"

Cassie feels her heart warm when she realizes that Gregory had been waiting for her to wake up by her bedside, never leaving her prescence. Long enough for him to fall asleep. Her heart slows to a normal rate when she sets eyes on him, immediately feeling at ease, and she breaths a deep breath, shifting to sit up more and allowing Gregory to help her when he rushes over.

She hisses when the movement jostles her leg and arm, and she finally takes a good look at them, realizing that at some point, in her sleep, her cardigan had been taken off, leaving her in her button-up, and her shoes and socks had been discarded, leaving her in her dark purple tights and shorts.

Gregory notices her staring at her foot, which is propped up on a pillow, peeking out from under the thick comforter, with some sort of makeshift splint made from cloth wrapped around the ankle.

"We had to improvise." He informs her, that lopsided grin Cassie'd always see in her dreams and on her homemade missing posters stretched on his face. "Ness cant exactly take the chance of getting involved with authority."

Cassie furrows her brows, her mind still kind of foggy from her -what she guesses- long sleep. "Ness?"

Gregory perks up. "Oh. It's a nickname we use for Vanessa a lot. Y'know, that blonde girl that was with us in the pizzeria?"

Cassie nods in recognition, remembering her blonde ponytail with rainbow streaks. "Yeah, um... how exactly did--"

She gets cut off when the door clicks open, and speak of the devil. "Oh, you're awake." Vanessa peeks her head in the room, a smile on her face when she sees Cassie sitting up and awake. "We were just making dinner, and I wanted to see if you were up."

"Um..." Cassie trails off. "Dinner?" She settles on.

Gregory senses her uncertainty, and settles a hand on her shoulder. "Vanessa's makin' chicken alfredo. And since you're awake, now you can finally eat."

Her stomach rumbles as if on queue, and her cheeks redden. Gregory has no problem laughing at her. "How long has it been?"

Cassie tries to think. "A few hours before you came and got me, since I ran to the Pizzaplex as soon as I got the message. So... that plus however long I slept for."

"Eighteen hours." Vanessa supplies helpfully.

Cassies eyebrows shoot up to her hairline. "Eighteen hours?!" She exclaims.

Gregory laughs, and Vanessa just looks at her with a crooked smile that reminds her of Gregory's. "Yup. You were exhausted physically and emotionally, and were injured, kiddo. The fact that you slept for so long checks out."

Gregory giggles. "Remember when we first got back, you slept for twenty-one."

Vanessa rolls her eyes. "I think I had a perfectly good reason to sleep the whole day away. Unlike you." She points two fingers from her eyes to Gregory. "Its not my fault you have the same amount of energy as a hyperactive dog."

"You mentioned a dog! So is the dog talk working?" Gregory asks, smugly. "Come on, Ness. Just concede. Its only a matter of time before you cave."

Cassie just watches, unsure of what to do when Gregory and Vanessa talk. Theres a grin on Gregory's face, not one she's used to. Not like the mischievous, pointed ones when Gregory was brewing something up, or the slight, hopeful ones, when Cassie would talk about when they got older, and she and Gregory could work towards getting a car and finally being able to give Gregory a life where he doesnt have to worry, and they can just live. Just a few more years, they'd always say.

This one is easy. Its gentle, with no kind of edge to be detected, and it looks so right on his face. It doesn't look forced, it doesnt look rare. Cassie can tell just by looking that Gregory has smiled like this often, and hes been allowed to be used to it. To smile without the quirk of worry.

It warms Cassies heart, to see that theres been change. But it also hurts.

Because he'd been away for so long, and although Cassie is so, so glad to have him back, she can't help but wonder why he never reached out to her. If he'd been able to smile so easily like this, while she couldn't muster one at times, too empty from his absence.

"I can barely take care of you and Freddy, kid." Vanessa points out, and Cassie is thrown back into reality. "And now I got another destroyed animatronic to fix and another kid. Not even mentioning a dog."

Cassie gasps, big and sudden at Vanessa's words. "Roxy!" She exclaims, and she winces when her voice rasps, and her dry throat burns from dehydration. "Roxy! Where is she? Is--Is she okay?!"

When Cassie starts to shift, arms moving to roll the comforter off of herself and somehow leave the bed, Gregory and Vanessa both rush to gently push her back down.

"Its okay, Cassie." Gregory says in that soft voice of his where it feels like it's only reserved for Cassie. "Shes in parts and service. While you were asleep, we wanted to fix her up a little, so we took turns watching you and fixing Roxy up."

Cassie feels the tension melt off of her body when she hears that Roxy is here, and has been fixed a little, but she still furrows her brows in confusion at 'parts and service', because are they not in a house right now?

Cassie can see Vanessa roll her eyes and go to explain. "He means that shes in one of the spare rooms we use to work on animatronics." Vanessa tells her. "We used it to build Freddy a body, and once Freddy started calling it parts and service, Gregory jumped on it, and it just stuck."

Cassie nods slowly, taking in the influx of information that she cant fully sort through right now. "So thats why Freddy didnt have a head."

"Do you want to see her?" Gregory asks. "Roxy, I mean. I'm suprised she hasnt barged in here already. I had to fight her to get her to trust me and Ness enough to work on her and watch you."

Cassie smiles, but it doesn't quite reach her eyes. Because Roxy is so worried about her, and Cassie is happy that she cares, but shes upset that Roxy and Gregory are so hostile towards eachother. "Yeah. Um. I would like to see her."

Gregory nods, and smiles. "Kay. She wont look the exact same, since I tried my best to restore her some, but at least she isnt about to fall apart."

Vanessa leaves the room with a curse, and Cassie ignores the slight burning smell coming from outside the door. "...Okay. Just... when you get her, can we have some alone time?"

Gregory nods, halfway out the door. "Okay. Sure. I'll be right back, okay?"

"Okay." She says, and then Gregory is gone.

Cassie breathes deep, playing with the frayed edges of the comforter when theres nothing else to do. She can hear the clattering of kitchen utensils from further in the house, and hushed voices.

The silence stretches further in her room, and when Gregory doesnt return, not right away, Cassie can feel her chest tighten, and something grip her lungs.

She breathes harshly through her nose, and notices how her hands begin to shake slightly.

Something grabs at her chest, something akin to panic, feeling like a giant hand and squeezing.

Gregory. Is all she can think about. He said he'd be right back. Where is he? He shouldn't have been gone this long, right?

Have I lost him again?

She squeezes her eyes shut, trying really hard to keep still, to keep calm, but her brain is jumbled, like its tied itself in knots, and all she can think about is how Gregory isn't here with her.

She has half the mind to get up, to tear through the house to search for him, to make sure she hasnt lost him again, that she wont have to look for him again. But one look at her ankle thats wrapped in cloth and she knows it isnt possible.

She makes a pitiful noise, breaths huffing out of her mouth now, short and heavy, and Gregory hasnt come back yet, and she cant do a thing about it.

It's only when Gregory pops his head back through the door, nudging it open with a creak that Cassie is ripped away from her thoughts and actually realizes how much shes panicking.

Gregory steps inside, a smile on his face, mouth open ready to speak, but it drops right off as soon as he sees Cassie.

Cassie cant find it in her to speak when Gregory rushes over to her, asking if shes okay. Her brain feels like its fogged over, or like its signal is blocked, and she cant think enough to respond to his questions.

All she can do is reach out to him when relief overwhelms her, enough for tears to slip past her lashes, and Gregory pauses in his rapid fire questions, seeming to understand something.

"I'm here, Cassie." He tells her, getting on the bed with her. He let's her wrap her arms around him and squeeze him as much as she needs when she moves to. "I'm not leaving again, okay? I'll be here with you. Nothings going to take me away from you. You arent going to lose me."

Cassie relishes in the reassurance. It reaches past all of the fog into some part of her brain, and it's like hosing down a wildfire. Her breathing slows down as she soaks up the feeling of Gregory right here, with her, and not going anywhere.

The panic that gripped her heart loosens some, and shes finally able to breathe, breathing deep breaths when Gregory does too.

"Sorry." She says after a moment, wiping at her eyes. "I dont... I dont know why that happened. I, um..."

"Separation anxiety." Gregory says, and Cassie startles. When shes finally able to unfuse herself with Gregory enough to look at his face, he has a knowing, serious expression on his face. "I had my rodeo with it, too... me and Freddy didnt have too good of a time with it."

Cassie furrows her brows, and it feels like she has ten thousand more questions added to the pile to ask, but Gregory stops her before she can speak.

"I'll tell you another time, okay?" He says, gesturing to the door where Roxy stands, waiting patiently for someone who was, when she last checked, willing to rip apart the guy Cassie just hugged to death. "Just... I promise I'll help you with it, okay? I dont think I'll be too different from you, after trying to reach you all night, and also..."

His eyes glaze over some, looking like a thousand different memories are playing over them, but he shakes it off, offering one more smile. "Itll be fine, okay? I'm gonna go make you a plate, cuz I think dinners ready, and you can talk to Roxy. Sound good?"

Cassie doesnt know what's wrong with her, because she almost tears up again at Gregory's words, because hes being so kind, and so understanding. She shouldn't be surpised, she guesses, Gregory had always found a way to catch her off guard with kindness when she'd been so used to being brushed off or disliked.

She nods, smiling back ag him, and he offers a thumbs up, moving past Roxy and shutting the door behind him.

It's only now that Cassies able to fully pay attention to Roxy, and she gasps, almost not recognizing her.

Before, she hadn't had anything resembling a face. Just her endoskeleton skull exposed due to broken casing. But now, she somehow has her face casing back. The colors are a little off, and it looks dusty and unused, but she looks like herself. Her last remaining strands of hair are fuller now, some new strands added. They've been shifted, too, styled to look adjacent to her old style, just shorter.

Her body isnt much different, one of her arms has its forearms back, a bright, clean purple compared to her filthy leg warmers, and she has her other foot back, just a larger size and different color.

But the most prominent change are definitely the eyeballs, glowing blue LED's, stuck securely in their sockets.

Cassie laughs disbelievingly, joyously, putting her hands up to her mouth with a wide smile.

"Roxy!" She exclaims. "You have eyes again!"

It's only now, when Roxy laughs along with her, that Cassie realizes her voice box has been replaced, too. Cassie laughs even more when Roxys voice filters through, sounding happy, instead of angry, no warbling or static to be found.

Roxy heads to her bedside, and shes walking much more surely, now. Not like her long, wide strides, always careful to not collide with something. She sways from side to side, ever confident in her looks.

"How do I look?" Roxy asks, fluttering her eyelashes now that she has some again and fluffing her new hairdo up with her hand. "The brat gave me a makeover."

Cassie giggles. "You look beautiful, Roxy."

"I know." Roxy says, but then turns her attention towards Cassie. "How are you doing, Speed racer?" Roxy asks, voice soft. "That elevator couldnt have felt good."

Cassie shakes her head, gesturing to her splinted arm and ankle. "Nope, but... Gregory and Vanessa fixed me up pretty good. I'm not hurting that much."

"I'm glad." Roxy smiles, because she can now.

It's just Cassie and Roxy, now. And like with Gregory, everything she'd been feeling, all the thoughts she'd been having all bubble up to the surface, and now that everyones here, and safe, she just wants to get it all out.

So Cassie furrows her brows, and goes to tell Roxy I'm sorry, I didnt want to, I shut you down and you still saved me, why? But before she can, the door clicks back open, and Gregory steps inside her room, balancing two plates on his hands.

"Dinners ready." He tells her, smiling, and Cassie doesn't know why shes suprised when after Gregory hands her her own plate, he crawls up on the bed with her.

So she doesnt voice it. She just smiles, a big, wide one, but still small and soft.

Vanessa walks inside the room with her own plate, and Freddy, looking everything like the home-built animatronic he is, follows behind her, extra pillows and blankets in his arms.

"I was thinking we have a movie night." Vanessa says, sitting in the same chair Gregory was when she first woke up. "Better than you having to sit in here bored, right, kid?"

Cassie nods, and her mouth waters when she catches a whiff of the chicken alfredo sitting in her lap.

Gregory snatches the remote from Vanessa, holding it away from her arms when she tries to take it back. The TV in front of them that she just now notices is in the room comes to life, Disney+ appearing on screen.

Gregory hands the remote to Cassie when Vanessa finally gives up, and shes able to pick the movie, putting on a happy, animated movie, where all the characters have their happy endings and nothing bad really ever happens.

The chicken alfredo was delicious, and they sat in her makeshift room, pillows and blankets built up like jenga around her to make her as comfortable as possible for hours, laughing together.

Cassies cheeks hurt by the end, and although shes so thrilled after hanging out with Gregory again, just having fun together like they used to, she cant help but notice that Roxy was really quiet the whole time. Really quiet.

Cassie doesnt think shes very good at reading animatronics yet, not like Vanessa and Gregory seem to be able to with Freddy, but Cassie cant help but feel like Roxy wasnt really able to relax this whole time, and shes surrounded with people she feels unsafe with.

By the end of it all, when the suns long set and Cassie feels tiredness drag her eyelids down, she cant rest, even when Vanessa's retired to her room, Gregory's left, and Roxy and Freddy went to parts and service.

She feels the same panic as earlier grip her heart. It's not like a panic attack; she's had a few of those, it's more like any chance of relaxation has left her body, and all that's left is feeling tense, on edge, and like something bad is going to happen. Like Gregory isnt going to be there when she wakes up.

But she needn't have worried, because it isnt too long until Gregory re-enters her room, wearing pajamas and Roxy and Freddy plushies clutched in one hand, with a night light in the other.

"This helped me and Freddy when it'd get bad, too." Gregory explains, tucking the Roxy plushie into her own arm as he lays down with her, clicking the night light shaped like Sundrop on. "That way, you can see me if you get scared that I'm gone."

Cassie can't put into words how grateful she is, or how glad she is that Gregory's back, and that she finally has him again, so she just doesn't, even though she wants to. Instead, she just clicks the lamp off, and when she lays down, wraps her arms around his middle.

Once Gregory is pressed up against her, with her forehead against his collarbone, and she can feel his slow, calm breaths, she feels relaxed. She finally feels herself slip into dreamland, and has no nightmares.

2nd ao3 link

[awayintheend]

dot dot

[crumbleclub]

Actually. Actually.

A Michael who flip-flops between avoiding any action that could conceivably be construed as obedience, and one who's noticably more suggestible than could possibly be healthy.

"Look at me, say okay, and do the task." It was drilled into his head.

Michael fights it until he has no energy left to do so.

[arolesbianism]

I may be failing my plan to not make any isat aus. So there's this guy her name is Euphrasie right. What if I took her and combined what could be 3 separate au concepts into one. And in the process forced myself to go back and reread a bunch of shit to make sure I know how to maximally fuck over this sad wet puppy of a woman

[skrunksthatwunk]

i love ichiban so much. like in general but like. he's so neurodivergent. so so much i haven't been able to let go of it since i started playing. he's still filtering everything through dragon quest after 18 fucking years in jail without touching it and his loved ones realize and adapt to this bc they're cool so theyre like,, okay,, lemme put it like this. so you got a debuff from your one night stand. it's gonorrhea. and he's like okay i understand. that blows but im ready to hear my treatment options. and then he'd handle it like a well adjusted adult. he just processes it in a roundabout kinda way. he's just like me fr. and he's fully hallucinating gamer shit in the middle of street fights and his friends (who he met 2 days ago) are like lol ok cool cat that's wild. keep hitting them idc. my stats are going up? that's actually really cool ty for telling me i love you forever. i would die for you. and they're right for it. like they just accept him as-is with little fanfare because that's just ichi. they get on his level conversationally and it's not some awful horrific burden to talk about a thing he likes. and he hallucinates and he's not portrayed as some scary monster or unsettling pitiable thing. he's a cool guy and he's got all these nd traits and i think a lotta ppl probably need to see that. it feels very humanizing to me idk. he's a deeply kind and intelligent and loyal and dependable and wonderful man. one of the game protagonists ever maybe THE game protagonist ever and he's always in fucking situations constantly, as is the case with every rgg protag. anyway i love him. i know a lotta ppl look at him and go oh adhd for sure bc he's bouncy or whatever. and while i question that impulse i see you,, but that is NOT all okay. my man has some comorbidities. he's at a quaint little buffet of the dsm-5. something is UP with him and he's doing marvelously and everybody loves him and I love him too. yeag

[ahalliance]

“scar couldn’t see, it’s not his fault — it’s my fault for letting him go” im sooo normal 😐😐 so incredibly normal

[nat-without-a-g]

I went haha if paeden was in season 2 things would have gone sooo different and my brain replied how different and now I’m making a Paeden’s homonculus body is allowed to grow up and he joins DADDIES au.