#but ON THE OTHER HAND like...the TENSION...the LONGING...the MUTUAL PAIN AND HURT...of them having to work together

[flowerandblood]

The Price of Pride (8/?)

[ canon • Aemond x Royce • female ]

[ warnings: kissing, fingering, mutual masturbation, targcest stuff, smut, the angst, sexual tension, imprisonment, abuse of power, manipulation, violence, some kind of sexual harassment ]

[ description: Prince Aemond finds a solution to the disproportion in the number of dragons between Dragonstone and King's Landing: he decides to find dragon blood and, like his half-sister, train dragon riders. He takes as his target the daughter of Daemon Targaryen and Rhea Royce, whom he abducts and imprisons in the Red Keep. Slow burn, darkish, insolent, arrogant Aemond. I have combined several requests here: (dragon blood female & prisoner female). ]

* English is not my first language. Please, do not repost. Enjoy! *

Next chapters: Masterlist

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"You are pathetic, like all your kin. Thank the gods you don't make me warm your bed, but your child asks about you and I don't know what to answer. That her father would rather spend time with whores in King's Landing than with his own daughter?" She heard her mother's hiss as if from afar, seeing darkness all around her, recognising in the vague outline of objects that she was standing in the corridor, by the door of her chamber.

How old could she have been then?

Had it really happened, or was it just a dream?

For some reason, her head hurt a lot.

"The Red Keep is no place for a little girl. Should I take her there to watch the lords around my brother fucking kill each other for power, let them marry her off to the first better rich old fool?"

"Would you rather she live without a father? Will you flee from that duty too?"

A long, uncomfortable silence ensued, which after a while was broken by the bitter, disappointed voice of her father.

"She resembles you too much."

She opened her eyes, feeling that the light was blinding her. She muttered, twisting on the soft bed, hearing someone's conversation fall silent a moment later.

"My Lady?"

She glanced sideways at the figure of the Maester leaning over her, his hand touching her head.

"Thank the gods, the fever has subsided. How do you feel?"

She swallowed hard, trying to remember what had happened and where she was, confused and frightened, feeling like her skull was about to explode from the pain.

And then she remembered.

His full lips pressed against hers, his hand between her thighs.

And a dim memory of what followed, the blow and her fall, his voice in the darkness, his hot breath on her face, the outline of his jaw in the candlelight, his sticky, hot kiss.

Sleep, little sister.

Your brother will stay by your side.

She sighed, tired and resigned, recognising that this was surely just a dream, her desire for someone to be there for her, to care and look after her.

She wondered if Lady Floris felt satisfaction now.

She knew she had partially earned it – despite knowing her cousin was betrothed, she did not push him away when his lips pressed against hers and his hand went under the fabric of her robe.

She acknowledged with surprise that she did not resent her.

"My head hurts a lot." She confessed at last, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye.

The Maester nodded in understanding, handing her some herbal infusion in a cup.

"Drink this, my Lady. It will soothe the pain. You should spend the day resting." He said.

They both shuddered as the door to her chamber opened: her cousin stepped inside dressed in an emerald tunic, his hair slightly damp, as if he had just taken a bath, tied back with a black ribbon.

"Leave us alone." He ordered, looking at her calmly with a gaze from which, for some reason, her heart beat harder.

"Your Highness." Said the Maester and bowed, disappearing after a moment behind the door.

Prince Aemond approached her lazily and surprised her as he sat on the bed beside her, leaning towards her, his hand touching her forehead as if he was checking something.

"Throughout the night, your body burned with fever. Thankfully, it's waned." He murmured, saying it more to himself than to her, sliding his fingers down her face, brushing his thumb against her cheek.

She felt a pleasant warmth in her lower abdomen as she realised that what she felt was not a dream.

He had really stayed with her.

She swallowed quietly, unable to look away from his gaze, her hand involuntarily touching his wrist.

"Will your betrothed forgive you?" She mumbled out, the guilt she felt like a needle stuck in her heart.

She didn't know this girl, but she had taken something from her.

She blinked as her cousin grinned broadly, a glint of madness in his gaze from which her heart pounded harder in her chest, the space between her thighs pulsed greedily around nothing.

"She is no longer my concern." He whispered, forming the letter o out of his mouth as if he were mocking, amused by the situation.

She looked at him for a moment and shook her head, not understanding what he was trying to say.

"What do you mean?"

"I have broken our betrothal. Just moments ago, at a meeting of the Small Council, I introduced to the assembled guard who was assigned to you, and whom Floris dismissed. No one else walked down the corridor, as they would have been spotted by the other guards. Her jealousy was a danger to the Crown. What if she thought she should also attack my sister, Helaena, fearing that I might also cohabit with her? My brother agreed with me that she could not remain in the Red Keep and left it at dawn today." He hummed, clearly pleased with himself, trailing his fingertips along her neck – his words made her eyes widen in disbelief.

He had simply sent her away.

Had this been his plan all along?

Had he kissed her then, in the library, hoping Floris would see it and do something ill-considered?

She didn't know why she felt an unpleasant stab of disappointment and regret, her eyebrows arching in sadness as she lowered her eyes, trying not to cry.

"What's that look? Hm?" He asked, catching her gently by the chin, lifting her face towards him so that she looked at him again.

"I admire how thoughtful everything you do is. Every step, every detail. Every gesture and sound." She whispered, feeling an uncomfortable tightness in her throat, fighting not to show him weakness.

"You think I planned this." He concluded, cocking his head to the side. "I wish I had. But you must believe me, dōna hāedar, that it was merely a matter of coincidence."

Dōna hāedar.

Sweet little sister.

"Lord Baratheon will not leave it like that. He will break the alliance." She whispered, and he snorted, leaning towards her, sinking his hand into her hair.

"So I'll take Vhagar and explain the situation to him. Mmm, I could take you with me – you would present to him the injustice that has befallen you at the hands of his daughter, and then you would warm my bed in one of the chambers in Storm's End." He said lightly, as if he thought that, indeed, this was a great plan with a guarantee of success.

"You would force him to listen to what you are doing to me." She sighed as she felt his thumb run over her lips, parting them, sinking his finger into their fleshy, moist structure.

She shuddered as his hand slid down to the material of her nightgown, untying it, a moan of surprise stuck in her throat as he spread it open, exposing her bare breasts.

"– I am a free man now, hāedar –" He gasped, leaning lower – her hands clenched into fists on either side of her head as the tip of his pink, wet tongue ran lazily over her hard, puffy nipple. "– and as your big brother, I have precedence in your bed –"

She threw her head back with an innocent, girlish moan as his lips clamped around her nipple, sucking on it gently as if he were a baby – her hands in some involuntary reflex entwined in his long white hair, pressing his face against her breast, feeling the shudders and pulsations surging through her cunt each time his tongue rolled around the sensitive spot.

"– ah –" She gasped, involuntarily rocking her hips, feeling this kind of sensation for the first time in her life – she didn't understand what purpose it was supposed to serve and she felt exposed, but on the other hand what he was doing was wonderfully pleasurable and exciting, her body responding to his caresses eagerly.

She bit her lower lip, trying to hold back her smile of satisfaction when his hand, clenched earlier on her breast, slid down her stomach lower, pulling impatiently at the material of her nightgown, searching blindly for the warmth between her thighs.

They both moaned, and her fingers pressed his face tighter to her body as his fingertips dug into her dripping folds, swollen with desire – her legs bent at the knees spread involuntarily, shamelessly asking for more.

He released her breast from between his lust-swollen lips and looked at her as if he had completely lost his mind, his gaze dark and shining as he lay down next to her on his side, guiding her hand to the twitching bulge in his breeches exactly as he had the evening before.

She didn't know why she was so willing, why when his forehead pressed against hers and their lips found each other in a passionate, loud kiss, filled with their sigh of delight, her fingers undid the buckles of his tunic and untied the material of his breeches, reaching fearlessly for what lay beneath them.

He closed his eyes and sighed, his body shuddering as he felt the gentle touch of her smooth hand on his erection, hot with desire, throbbing all over under her fingers. His free hand in some subconscious, helpless reflex sank into her hair, his lips melting with hers in a sweet caress seemed to seek reassurance that this would remain their secret.

The tips of their tongues licked against each other with their grunts of delight as his hand sunk into her leaking, silky cunt, circling around her small, delicate pearl while hers trailed over his throbbing manhood, teasing it.

He was hard as a rock.

"– squeeze it –" He breathed out into her mouth between one click of their wet lips and the next, taking his hand from between her thighs for a moment, clearly wanting to show her what he meant.

She opened her eyelids with difficulty, dulled by the sensations and his slick tongue sliding between their kisses down her throat, peering curiously at what she was touching. He stopped the caress for a moment, their faces pressed together, their gazes directed downwards.

"– here – right here – just like that, all the way to the top –" He whispered in a voice trembling with desire.

A quiet, helpless groan broke from his lips, enveloping her in the warmth of his breath as she obeyed him, clasping her fingers at the very base of his long, pink cock, squeezing it to the very tip of it, thick and smooth, dripping with his own wetness.

"– how is it possible for something like this to fit inside a woman? –" She mumbled and heard him smile, his hand returned back between her thighs, running warningly over her leaking slit.

"– I'll show it to you myself – one day –" He murmured, his lower lip running over hers in a gesture inviting her to another kiss, which she accepted with unprecedented eagerness, letting his hand sink into her hair to pull her closer, refusing to let her escape his starved mouth.

"– harder –" He demanded in a voice hoarse with desire between their loud, passionate kisses, and she smiled involuntarily under her breath – her hand, in accordance with his desire, clamped tighter on his root, causing him to let out a surprised, boyish moan from his throat.

Her heart fluttered harder in her chest at the thought that she didn't know he was capable of making such sounds.

So innocent.

Now, in this moment, he was helpless, vulnerable to hurt.

He craved.

And she couldn't waste this chance.

The space between her thighs was delighted with her plan, feeling his fingers circling around her swollen bud with cruel precision, their breaths heavy as their tips pushed against her entrance, opening her on their thickness.

"– lēkia –" She breathed out, a startled, sweet moan of euphoria bursting from her lips directly into his throat as his fingers forced their way deep inside her, only to slide out and repeat it all over again.

He sighed as she squeezed his swollen erection tighter in response – their hands found a shared rhythm, their hips rolling back and forth at the same time, their lips melting into hot kisses filled with excitement and impatience.

"– don't stop – mmm –" He purred into her lips, panting hard along with her, shivers of wondrous delight shaking her body again and again each time his fingertips hit the sweet spot deep inside her, from which she felt the tickle in her lips and nipples.

"– I – o-oh, gods –" She whimpered, feeling her inevitable peak approaching, his hand from her hair slid lower to her breasts, clamping down on it as if he himself was trying to hold back the inevitable.

"– go on – come on my fingers –" He exhaled, and those words were enough to make her body shake with a sweet shudder, from which a startled, innocent moan escaped her throat – she felt his fingers stop moving inside her, wanting only to feel her fleshy walls pulsing around their length, sucking them inside her.

"– hāedar –" He whispered and gasped all over with a sigh of relief when, after her next sure squeeze, his pearly, sticky release spilled over the snow-white material of her nightgown.

They lay like this, panting heavily, welted and sweaty with emotion, pressing their foreheads against each other, his hand lingering on her bare breast and deep inside her womanhood while her fingers stroked gently his throbbing, quivering manhood.

Despite what they had done, and that it was certainly a sin, there was also something innocent about it – their desires were pure and sincere, devoid of subtext, seeking only the release of tension, closeness and security.

When she opened her eyes she saw that his gaze was fixed on her chest, his lips slightly parted in a deep, uneven breath.

She thought he longed to do what he had always done with his lover – to sink his face between her plump breasts and allow himself to be embraced by her – but he knew that she knew his secret and that if he did so, he would expose himself to ridicule and confirm his brother's words.

She lifted her free hand and gently placed it on his, inviting him to sink his fingertips deeper into the soft structure of her bosom – he sighed when he looked at her, as if he didn't know what he thought of it himself, and after a moment he leaned down and nestled his face into the crook of her neck.

His hand remained on her breast – encourage by her gesture, he played with it between his fingers as her arms embraced and cuddled him into her, and he didn't push her away or say a word.

Looking down at her fingers sticky with his spend, her other hand combing lazily through his long white hair, she thought she had tamed not one dragon, but two.

They were both silent – there was something safe about that. It seemed to her that they both knew that whoever spoke first would show weakness – not of flesh but of character – and neither of them could afford to do so.

Desire was like thirst or hunger, obvious and needing no explanation, indicative of nothing more in fact it was.

It didn't need feelings.

"Criston Cole is gathering our army. He and my uncle will soon march for Harrenhal." He hummed, enveloping her neck with his warm breath, his hands closed over her breasts and her womanhood moved, stroking both places, making her shiver.

He shared his knowledge with her because he was proud of himself and felt a sense of satisfaction – he sought confirmation of his genius, her praise and understanding, her gaze of admiration that he so desperately desired.

Or was it a test?

Was he telling her this because he wanted to see if she contacted her father?

They both shifted position, lying on their sides, looking straight into each other's eyes – there was something in his gaze and grin that filled her with anxiety.

"Daemon is expecting our answer. What he doesn't know, however, is that Cole will actually head off to a different location."

She blinked, looking at him confused.

"Why?" She asked and sighed as he gently took her hand in his, looking at her in simultaneous concentration and excitement, as if he was delighted that she had asked about it.

She thought in disbelief that he was acting like a little boy.

He confided in her.

"– your smooth hand is Dragonstone –" He said, placing her hand on the bed and pointed with a circular motion of his finger to the sheet around it. "– all around it is the sea –"

"– this –" He murmured, his other hand sinking lazily into the skin of her exposed, bare breast, making her involuntarily clench her thighs. "– is King's Landing – and this –"

He whispered, slowly running his knuckles down her smooth stomach, a quiet sigh escaped her lips as his fingertips sank gently into the fleshy, moist folds of her soft womanhood.

"– this, dōna hāedar, is Harrenhal – everyone desires it, for it is the fortress that opens the way to the North – moreover, it is currently besieged by your father –" He gasped, teasing her throbbing slit with his fingers, causing her lips to part in a ragged breath, feeling the pleasant tingle of pleasure run down her spine.

She felt with shame that her nipples had hardened, pointy and sensitive, her little cunt all swollen from the waves of tickling ecstasy into which his words and touch had brought her.

"– this –" He continued, sliding his fingers, wet with her moisture up her thigh and knee. "– this is Winterfell – and with it the whole of the North –"

"– however, there is another important, inconspicuous place –" He said contentedly, returning his hands to her palm, his fingers running over her wrist. "– here is Rook's Rest – a small fortress that allows my sister-whore to cross to the continent – however, if you cut it off –"

He said and made a movement with the side of his hand across her wrist, as if he were cutting it off with a dagger.

Her heart thumped harder in her chest as she suddenly comprehended.

"– you want to cut her off from the land –" She muttered and he hummed, cocking his head, his lips curved in expression as if her words gave him satisfaction and tickled his ego.

"– does your brother know about this? –" She asked, and his expression changed – his jaw clenched in displeasure, his iris turned black, his brow straightened.

Her question frustrated him and destroyed his pleasant vision, she thought as he took his hands from her warm body.

"– Aegon did not devote his life to the art of war or the complexities of warfare – he preferred to drink and play with his whores –" He said with a wide smile that, if it were not for the look in his eyes, she might have considered joyful.

She knew, however, that he was furious.

She raised herself up on her elbows, letting the material of her nightgown slide even lower, exposing her shoulders and stomach.

"– don't do it – tell him –" She muttered, and he stood up, infuriated, and immediately tied the material of his breeches, displeased with the direction this discussion had taken.

"– I don't recall asking you for your opinion – it was a mistake to introduce a woman into these complicated, masculine matters –" He said coldly in a tone that suggested that one more ill-chosen word on her part and he would lose patience despite everything that had happened between them.

She, however, knew that what he was doing would sooner or later lead to a catastrophe of which she too would become a victim.

She had no intention of dying because of his pride.

"– your brother sees you as a threat – he is disturbed by your behaviour and is tense in your presence –" She said, looking at him pleadingly.

He, to her surprise snorted and laughed, looking down at her, a wide grin on his face.

"– he's afraid of me –" He said in a way as if it was his great achievement for which she should praise and kiss him.

She shook her head feeling that her face expressed terror.

"– yes, he's afraid of you – and that's not good information neither for you nor for me – gods, you can't let him stop trusting you – you're balancing on a thin line and forgetting that it doesn't matter if he fits the role or not, he's the King –" She said in a breaking voice, feeling her heart pounding like mad in her chest.

He stood over her with his lips slightly parted, breathing loudly, as if he was boiling inside, not knowing what to make of her words.

His gaze fled lower for a moment, to her breasts, as if her bared flesh and the memory of the pleasure they had given each other distracted him, and then back to her face.

He was silent.

He hesitated.

This was her chance.

"– I beg you to tell him – in the solitude of the chamber, so that no words are said in public – so that he cannot accuse you of plotting behind his back –" She whispered, shifting towards him on her hands, settling herself finally in front of him on her knees, looking up at him pleadingly.

He swallowed hard and clenched his hands into fists, as if struggling to restrain himself from touching her – her gaze fled down to the material of his breeches, under which his manhood pulsed.

"– this fool will demand Harrenhal – he won't understand – he wants great fortresses and great victories, not realising that war is composed of cunning and guile –" He said quietly, looking her straight in the face, his lips parted as if he was thirsty and she was a fleshy, wet fruit.

"– so let's convince him together – I know how to speak to him – he enjoys me and my honesty – he'll feel he's making important decisions, even though they've long since been made for him –" She said, breathing hard as he did, feeling how much she was risking by conversing with him so directly.

She saw something sinister flash in his eye, his tongue running over his lower lip.

"– do you let him touch you? –"

She blinked and snorted in disbelief, shaking her head as if she wasn't sure if he had really asked about it.

"– no – his tongue doesn't burst in between my lips and his hand doesn't seek the heat between my thighs –" She said and they both fell silent, panting quietly, as if something in her words aroused both her and him.

They shuddered and pulled away from each other as they heard someone's footsteps outside the door – her hands immediately covered her shoulders and breasts with her nightgown, while he quickly buckled his tunic.

When a quiet knock sounded she glanced at him and only spoke up when he looked as if nothing had happened between them.

She thought with amusement that because of their elation, his hair didn't look as perfect as usual.

"Come." She called out, and a servant came in with a tray, saying that she had brought the morning meal for her as prescribed by the Maester.

Her cousin left without a word, letting her eat in peace, and she exhaled heavily, spreading a piece of bread with berry confiture, thinking she was treading on thin ice.

She was neither his lover, nor his sister, nor his servant, but a chaos of his desires and needs.

Gods, have mercy on me, she thought.

To her surprise, as she was being examined by the Maester, who was looking at a large lump on her head, the King walked into her room.

Aegon seemed pleased that she was alive and looked healthy.

"– ah, you're awake, cousin – great news – Baratheon's whore is on her way back to her home – my brother never liked to have his toys destroyed – and I will not allow any of my family to be harmed in this fortress again –" He said lightly, walking over to the table, taking one of the jars that contained the herbs brought by the medics – he shook it, raised his eyebrows in disapproval and set it down.

She did not reply, deciding that silence in such a situation was safer.

"– he was never able to hide his jealousy or his displeasure, you know – he was forever walking around with his mouth curved in disgust, proud and vain, with his nose in his big books, as if they would make his other eye grow back –" He muttered, pacing around her bed, looking around the room.

"– you're a dragon rider and my cousin, and he gave you such a small chamber – it's inappropriate – I'll assign you another, better one, with a view of the sea – Lady Floris slept in it before, but I think she won't haunt you in your dreams – you'll be content –" He said, looking at her, and she nodded and smiled involuntarily.

"– that's it – that's the spirit – I like it – you should see Sunfyre – have you ever been in Dragon's Pit? –" He asked, as if hundreds of thoughts were going through his mind at once, and he was unable to focus on any.

"– no, my King –" She replied softly and hissed as the Maester touched a spot on the back of her head that was all sore and swollen.

"– forgive me, my Lady –" He whispered, and she nodded.

Aegon didn't seem to see this and simply went on.

"– we will travel there this afternoon, by carriage, so as not to strain you –" He said and seeing that the Maester wanted to state with certainty that this was not a good idea he raised his hand in the air, showing him not to interrupt mid-sentence. "– the fresh air will certainly do her good, and we won't spend much time there –"

Whether she wanted to or not, she had to go.

She didn't do so reluctantly, though, for indeed, she wanted to see the other dragons and the great cave they lived in.

However, as soon as the carriage doors closed behind them she realised what the true purpose of this journey was.

"I want Daemon to answer for the death of my son and I need you to help me convince my brother that I should set off to fight with him. He doesn't agree and every time he does it, he humiliates me in the eyes of the Small Council." He said with regret and frustration, from which she swallowed hard.

Oh gods.

She looked down at her hands, feeling the panic rising within her, standing between them as if between two walls that were moving closer and closer, finally colliding with each other and crushing her at the same time.

"The King must remain in King's Landing. Without you there is no point in all this." She said, looking at him expectantly.

She clenched her hands on her knees when she saw that his jaw clamped shut in rage, his eyes red from tears as his fist hit the carriage wall with all its force.

"– he's my son – you don't understand it – you're not a mother – my children are my biggest pride – they are sweet, good and kind, and now – now my son is locked in a cold stone sarcophagus underground and he's probably scared –" He mumbled out, burying his face in his hands, as if he believed that a decapitated child could wake up.

Despite the absurdity of his words, her throat tightened in sympathy, tears of sadness gathered under her eyelids as she looked at his huddled, distraught figure.

"– he's not suffering anymore – he's in a place where no one can hurt him again –" She muttered, and he sobbed loudly, as if he was only now allowing himself to truly grieve.

She swallowed hard when he reached out his arm to her, placing his elbow on his knee.

"– can you hold my hand? –" He gasped, choking on his own tears, and she felt a single, heavy tear run down her cheek.

Her hand grasped his, and his fingers tightened on hers as he cried and cried and cried.

Some part of her felt the need to embrace him and comfort him, she feared, however, that he might take this as an invitation to something else, something she did not want.

She didn't desire him that way, and his brother's fury would be immense.

So she held his hand in hers until they reached Dragon's Pit.

Sunfyre looked like a dragon straight out of fairy tales told to children – slender, long, shining as if he were made of pure gold he looked proud and towering. She smiled when she saw that the beast had pressed its head against its master's chest, and Aegon kissed its scales as if his dragon was also his child.

Something moved her at that sight, at his genuine joy and laughter.

She realised with horror that his younger brother had never smiled.

Not really.

The journey back to the Red Keep passed as she listened to his stories about their father.

"My father, and your uncle mostly forgot about having more than one child. The fucking cunt of Dragonstone was his favourite. His heiress to the throne even though he had a first-born son, for whom, after all, he had opened the womb of his first, beloved wife. Apparently he did so against her pleas, and her cries were heard throughout the fortress. And yet, my mother and my grandfather say that I should follow his example. That he was a wonderful, merciful king." He said, looking at her with a smile full of amusement, however, there was something else in his gaze: pain and fatigue.

He had not slept well for many months and only found comfort in wine.

"And your sister-wife? What is she like?" She asked, though she did not know why.

Aegon fell silent and the amusement disappeared from his face – he stared blankly out of the carriage window for a moment, as if musing.

"Her person is an eternal mystery to me. I don't usually understand what she says. But she is gentle and kind. She does not humiliate me, although she, of all our family, has the most reason to despise me." He said finally.

She swallowed silently, thinking that there was something childlike and innocent in his words, sincere and helpless, a cry of despair and a plea for help that no one answered.

She wondered if he and his brother knew how much alike they were.

She wanted to say it and had it on the tip of her tongue, but after a moment she realised that her cousin would kill her if he found out that she had described his weaknesses to his brother.

She had to balance the two of them so that they both loved her.

In some way.

When they returned to the fortress she immediately headed to her chamber, dreaming only of a warm bath.

As she stepped into her small room she reached into the back of her gown, grabbing the ties of her bodice, and opened her mouth, wanting to call out to a servant to help her.

"Where have you been?"

She looked back, terrified, clutching at the heart that had stopped in her throat hearing his cold voice – she saw his silhouette sitting on one of the chairs like a statue, his face stony and blank, his gaze dark.

Exactly as it had been when she had first seen him.

"With the King." She replied truthfully, reaching her fingers trembling with anxiety into the back of her gown again, pulling at the thin, bright ribbon, causing the whole dress to loosen.

She saw his lips tighten in fury, his nostrils twitching in a deep breath as if he was trying to control himself and not lash out at her.

"For what reason?" He asked further, tilting his head in curiosity, his wide grin indicating that he was on the verge of exploding.

"He wanted to show me Dragon's Pit and Sunfyre." She said without lowering her gaze, knowing that she could not show him fear.

She jumped up and took a step back, terrified when he suddenly burst from his chair with such fury that she only had time to snort for air and he was already at her side, grabbing her aggressively at the waist, slamming her body against the bedpost.

She sighed, resisting him passively as his free hand lifted the material of her skirt with a sharp movement, her hand gripped his wrist as his fingers sank into her womanhood and pushed against her slit, causing her discomfort and pain.

"– no – it hurts when I'm not prepared –" She exhaled, looking him straight in the eye.

They both breathed hard as something like satisfaction flashed across his face, the corner of his mouth twitching in a smirk full of contentment at the realisation that she wasn't wet.

That she didn't desire his brother.

He took his hand away and let her go, taking a step back and looking at her for a moment in silence.

"Mmm. I have come to you with another matter. From now on, our lessons will be held in my chamber. I wish to ensure that no one will…disturb us." He hummed softly, suddenly completely calm and pleased, the fingers of his hands rubbing against each other as if he was excited by the vision.

She sighed quietly, leaning the back of her head against the wooden column, feeling her cunt pulsate all over at the subtext she heard clearly in his words.

"So that no one disturbs my education, as I understand it?" She asked quietly, his gaze fixed on her hot and filled with something combining lust and madness.

"Indeed. What I wish to teach you requires much concentration and the privacy of the chamber." He said, and she felt her lips part wide in a thirsty sigh.

The corner of her cousin's mouth twitched in a grin, as if he remembered something, and then he moved towards the door, glancing at her over his shoulder with an expression from which a shiver ran along her spine.

"Wear the same robe as the last time. And let your hair down."

[oimitocat]

TAKE ME UP | OS

park sunghoon x gn!reader

non idol au + 7 minutes in heaven + exes to situationship + angst + light fluff + college au + oral sex (giving) + blow job + implied unrequited love (hehe)

a/n; technically could be read as male reader

sunghoon didn’t want you. he made it very clear that he didn’t want to have you, just desire you. the words he had said that day “we’re better at wanting each other than having each other” rang through your head for weeks. it made sense, how he’s only want you to show off, to have fun but never to actually have soft moments with.

it was always you yearning for gentle love. you weren’t exactly all soft, you were like a current of water— calm and steady but overflowing and aggressive when pushed …but he was fire. consuming and evaporating. he drained you.

at some point you agreed. you two are better as anything but lovers. as much as it hurt.

he’s always around. you have mutual friends. it’s… painful. you always yearn for what could’ve, but you wish desperately to move on just like he has. you wish it didn’t bother you despite how little you think of him. still… your heart naturally yearns.

“seven what?” you ask as you take a sip of your drink.

“seven minutes in heaven!” ni-ki exclaims, grinning sadistically.

“what’s that?” you ask, genuinely.

sunoo and jay turn to you. “you being for real?”

“yes,” you raise a brow, “okay, call me stupid then.”

“no one is calling you stupid,” jay defends.

“i am,” ni-ki snorts. you narrow your eyes at him, “seven minutes in heaven is basically whoever is paired has to be in a room or closet for seven minutes or however long and do some freaky stuff.”

you blink, “oh.”

“let’s go play!” ni-ki shouts to the people that attended the party.

it was a total of 12 people. the bottle spun. cheers. boos. if anyone wanted to skip, they had to take a shot of lemon juice. you weren’t certain if you’d skip or anything, depended on who you were paired with. still, you wondered — what if you were paired with sunghoon?

the boy is clearly having fun with jay, who’s next to him. they chat between themselves, they laugh. why does it bother you? is it because clearly you’re not even worth acknowledging? not even a glance? you feel so alone.

“sunghoon aaandd…. y/n!”

you blink out of your thoughts, snapping your head towards ni-ki. “i’ll take the lemon shot.”

“what?” everyone gasps, disappointed and shocked.

sunghoon huffs, “what? you’re not over me? scared you’ll spill out your feelings?”

“you’re not worth my time,” you say as casual as possible and take the shot.

it’s bitter. sour. you make a face but you won’t show them you’re affected. sunghoon is saying something. you don’t know what. it’s not worth it. you mean nothing to him. so… why do you keep making him something for yourself? heesung is next to you, he puts a hand over yours while everyone continues the game.

“you good?” he asks softly, covered by the shouts of enthusiasm from everyone when the next pair is chosen.

you shrug, “i guess i am. i just like to keep clinging onto things that stopped having meaning long ago.”

heesung’s eyes soften, “y/n… if you want to leave i’ll leave with you.”

“for what? i’m not… upset.” you look around, unsure what to stare at. everyone looks happy. “i just… i don’t know.”

“you wish things were different?”

you shake your head, “i wish i was different. why do i feel like….”

“like you’re not moving on?” his thumb rubs over your knuckles. you nod. “everyone goes through it differently.”

you look at him.

“don’t feel bad because he’s indifferent and you can’t do the same. that just shows you’re real with your process…“ he stares at you lovingly, “y/n-“

“y/n anddddddd,” ni-ki spins the bottle again, “sunghoon again!”

everyone is quiet. this is awkward. again? heesung’s fingers twitch over your hand.

“lemon shot?” ni-ki offers, shifting his sight between you and sunghoon.

“i’m down,” you say.

sunghoon doesn’t smirk. his expression is neutral. “me too.”

still, the tension doesn’t dissipate from the atmosphere. jay and heesung glance at each other. you take your hand out from under heesung’s and pat his hand with tender appreciation. heesung watches as you stand and go to the room with sunghoon. ni-ki had stated before hand that there’s no closet big enough for two people. a room had to do.

sunghoon walks into the room first, you follow suit. the door isn’t even closed behind you fully when he slams you into it. the lock clicking, your eyes strain on sunghoon’a glaring eyes.

“the hell-“ your mouth is suddenly attacked him his lips.

he’s kissing you. you almost push him off, but your body goes lax as he opens his mouth and starts to makeout with you. your can’t help it, he’s always been your guilty pleasure. you pant when he pulls away, his warm, moist breath on your lips.

“that it? nothing more in mind?” you ask, challenging despite how frantic your heart is beating inside your chest.

he grins, “i have a couple of ideas….” he said, glancing down at your lips again.

you hum back, his cockiness giving you an idea. you kneel down in front of him, bringing you eye level with his crotch, “let’s see what you can take for the remaining five minutes.”

“one way to find out.” he said, immediately excited at the sight of you on your knees in front of him. you reached up and unbuttoned his pants, shimmying them down slightly, “y/n are you really..?” he asked, suddenly there’s doubt in his eyes.

“backing out on me?” you ask, snickering at him. you palmed him through his boxers and he let out a low groan, his head falling back against the door with a thud.

you smirked and reached into his boxers, wrapping your hand around his dick and pulling it out. you kitten licked the tip and his hips twitch. he lets out a soft whine.

“quiet. or do you want them to hear how whiney you get for me?" you warned.

you hardly gave him a chance to think about it before taking him into your mouth, he let out a low moan for a second before he remembered what you said and held it back. you sank down as far as you could, slightly gagging as he hit the back of your throat, the sensation making his dick twitch in your mouth. still, you’re a trooper, it doesn’t faze you after a second.

you took your time sucking him off, keeping your actions slow and teasing. he bucks his hips up into your mouth and you bring a hand up to his hips, pushing him back into the door and holding him in place. he whines, pushing up against your hand. you pull back and he falls out of your mouth.

he whines out of frustration, “y/n- please i was so close. felt good-“

“cum when i tap your hip, not before. not after.”

he whines, not liking the order but still, he nods.

"that’s better." you say before guiding him back into your mouth.

you go back to your slow pace, trying to keep him from getting to the edge too quickly. his hips twitch, hinting at how close he was. you lap at the underside of his dick, his breath hitches. you hear footsteps coming from the hall, your time is almost up. yet you bob your head, you move your tongue and he can’t keep his noises to himself. they knock on the door — you tap — he cums in you mouth with a gasp.

“uh, time’s up,�� someone says, you pull off of sunghoon.

he’s slump against the door, breathing uneven. you tuck him on lazily, coming up and being at eye level again. you grin, “the only one that spilled anything here was you baby,” you peck his lips, taking in his hot, heavy breaths.

he grabs you by the back of your head and kisses you again.

“guys-?”

“i’m sorry-“ sunghoon pants between kisses, “gives us a minute!”

“uh- sure?” and then there’s giggles from the living room.

“another minute?” you question, eyeing sunghoon with that tenderness you wish you didn’t have for him.

sunghoon nods, breathing normal now. “i just… i need one more minute with you. even if it’s the last.”

you close your eyes and your head falls forward into his neck. “don’t.”

“y/n…”

“you broke up with me. you left me.” you whisper, scared to break down into tears at the memory.

“i know,” he whispers, “i’m sorry… i just… feel so undeserving of you.”

“me too…”

you stay there in his embrace. he doesn’t want to let go…. neither do you. just one more minute… you two allow yourselves to love just one more minute…

[corriganatheart]

hey could you write some fwb with jude plss make it long ofc if it’s possible <33 loved your writing

Jude was doing everything he could not to look your way, but it was hard, especially when your face was all flushed and your laughing was the only sound he could hear despite the stadium being filled with hundreds of fans. When you told him that you were attending his game, he acted cool about it, like he didn’t care, but deep down, he was delighted and excited to show off. That was all until he saw your plus one or, as Marco whispered in his ear, “your date,” before the little snake ran off laughing.

It was annoying, really, because he had many “plans” for the both of you after the game. Sure the plan might have something to do with you getting bent over in the locker room or getting finger on your way back to his place, but it all came crashing down when he spotted your plus one. You have started becoming close to a particular person from another team, and he wasn’t fond of that. You said he was your best friend, but Jude started as your friend too before the sexual tension became too much, and you both devoured one another during a drunk night at a party. After that, things got a little awkward, but you both couldn’t deny your attraction to one another. So you guys agreed on having sex with no strings attached. The rules were pretty simple, don’t catch feelings. He doesn’t remember who came up with that rule because now he looked stupid. Instead of focusing on the game, his mind was elsewhere, and although it didn’t cost the team any goals, it cost his pride.

Jude can’t deny that he was slowly getting attached to you. He met you through Trent, a friend of yours, and from the beginning, he knew he was in trouble. You caught his attention from day one, whether because he wanted to be friends or was curious about you; either way, he was fond of you. But Trent warned him not to do anything stupid because you were a good friend and he didn’t want to see you in pain, but who said Jude was going to hurt you? Sure he had broken hearts and hook up with plenty of girls, but that didn’t mean he was a jerk. If you wanted to hook up, he would’ve dragged you into Trent’s room right then and there, and if you didn’t want to, he would’ve accepted that too. Sex was always mutual with him, and he never returned to the same girl until you.

“Bellingham! Get your mind in the game!” Marius shouted in front of him before he glanced over at you and shook his head. Jude embarrassedly looked away after you finally made eye contact with him. No one knows of your sexual relationship with him; they just thought you were friends, and some thought you were Trent’s girlfriend, but that was debunked after you constantly showed up to Jude’s games without Trent. The older players, mainly Marius and Marco, can sense the tension between you two, but it was hard to conclude that you guys were hooking up since you would shamelessly get trapped in the other player's flirtatious advances. In the beginning, Jude didn’t mind because you did agree to see other people as long as you guys didn’t have sex with them to avoid complications, but Jude doesn’t remember the last time he was caught up with another girl. You have become the only girl in his life.

After scoring a goal, Jude runs around the stadium, waving to his fans until his eyes find you again. You were smiling and clapping your hands for him. Only for him, and he waved at you. Jude was going to mouth something until your friend slid his phone to you, and your attention diverted to the bright screen. He frowned and went back on the field with one of his teammates patting his back.

After the game, you wait for Jude outside of the locker room. Your friend has already left and insisted that you go with him, but you wanted to congratulate Jude on his win personally. It has been seven months since you started your secret hook-up relationship with Jude, and although you didn’t want to admit it, you began to like him beyond the sexual attraction. Jude was a sweet guy, to begin with, and you have always liked him, but Trent had warned you about his fuckboy ways, so you avoided his advances. But things changed after a game night at Trent’s place, where everyone got too drunk, and you went home with Jude. Absolutely no one knows about the arrangement, not even Trent. He has been a brother figure to you for a long time, and if he finds out that you are sleeping around with his best friend, he will murder Jude. That is why when you attend one of Jude’s games, you try to bring along someone, particularly a boy, to avoid any misunderstandings.

“Hey!” You happily said, causing Jude to turn around. He was in the middle of changing his shirt when you walked into the locker room after everyone left. “Hey,” Jude smirked and walked over to you, and leaned in for a kiss. “Congrats on the game,” you said, your arms now wrapped around his neck. Jude smiled and decided it was ok to leave his shirt off. “You didn’t seem to be invested in the game, though,” he frowned. You rolled your eyes and pinched the side of his face. “I was, but then my mind was focusing on something else,” you said. Jude stared at your smile; by now, he knew your body language more than anyone. People might think that smile is innocent and sweet, but he knew it had a different meaning. “Oh yeah? What were you thinking?” He asked, his hands now placed on your hips. “I was thinking about how hot Jude Bellingham is and the many things I would let him do to me,” you whispered, just in case someone was outside, although by now, they should all be gone. Jude smirked and pecked your lips one more time before leaning close to your ears and whispering, “wanna know a secret?” You lift an eyebrow waiting for him to continue. “I would absolutely do unimaginable things to you within a heartbeat.”

The sexual tension between you and Jude was always high, but something about this time was different. In the locker room, he absolutely devoured you, making sure you couldn’t stand by the time he was finished. After that, he carried you to his car and didn’t hesitate to touch you on the way to his house, saying dirty things that were way beyond this world. And when you guys got to his house, he wasted no time and carried you to his room and ripe all your clothes off. Jude was always rough, but today he was more rough than usual and more talkative than usual. He made sure you responded to all his demands and would stop moving his hip if you didn't. It was like he was reminding you of who you belong to, even though you guys aren’t together.

Sex with Jude has always been incredible, he was a pleaser, not a taker, but he enjoys it when you dominate him and loves it when you risk it all for him. He can also be very gentle sometimes. Like when he found out you failed an exam, he made it up to you by buying you food and watching movies until things got heated. Jude was also a sucker for cuddling after sex. It was weird because a fuckboy would never want to cuddle after sex, so when you first ask him about that, he shrugs and says he has never gone back to a girl, neither less cuddled with one. And casually says that you were the first girl he has ever been with more than once, and although it shouldn’t have, that made your heart skip a beat.

Like usual, you are wrapped around his sweaty body, listening to his breathing. Jude was exhausted from the game and the celebration sex. But he didn’t want to fall asleep because the last time he did, you left his house, and when he woke up, you posted on your Instagram story of you at the club with Trent and some other dudes. And what made it worse was that Trent is his best friend, and he should be telling these things to him, but Trent would murder him if he brought up this again.

“Stay,” Jude murmured when he felt you shift a little. You look up at his face, and his eyes are closed; his breathing is stable, and his face looks relaxed. You smile and trace his jaws; what a perfect face he has. “My friend’s birthday Is tonight. He expects me to be there,” you whispered. You feel Jude’s body tense up, and he tightens his arms around you, pulling you closer to him. “The friend you brought along?” He asked, his eyes remaining closed but the relaxed expression noticeably being replaced with a mix of anger and sadness. “Yes, Jude,” you said and pecked his tensed jawline. Jude didn’t say anything; the only noise coming from the room was his breathing and your own.

“You never spend the night here,” he mumbles. It was more for himself than for you; it was a gentle reminder of what this was. “Trent shows up to your place unannounced all the time; we can’t risk it,” you say and wrap your arms around his waist. “Would it be such a bad idea to tell him?” He asked. Your eyes widened, and you looked at Jude in shock; he was talking nonsense. “You know Trent will kill you, especially since this is a casual sex arrangement. I don’t want your friendship to be ruined because of me,” you said, trying to put some sense into him. Jude didn't respond; he let go of you, and immediately you wanted his arm back around your waist. As much as you wanted to stay with him, it would only complicate things. From the start, he agreed that this was just friend-with-benefits arrangement, and there was no further than that. Even if he was to let his guard down, you couldn't let yours down. Jude's friendship with Trent was at risk, and you didn't want to be the cause of that. Gosh, you are such a bad friend to both of them.

"Jude," you called out to him after putting your clothes back on. He was still in bed, naked and pretending to be asleep. "I'm leaving," you said. It was weird; you could've just left without letting him know; it has always been like that, but you've become so accustomed to staying a little longer after the sex that letting him know that you are leaving became a natural thing. Do people even do that after a hookup? "I'll see you at the same time in a couple of days?" you asked, even though it has become everyday. After a long pause, Jude finally acknowledges your words. "Sure," he bluntly said without opening his eyes.

"Yo, this party is wild!" your friend automatically said as soon as you stepped into the club. "Yeah, crazy wild," you said while looking around the pack place with several celebrities in sight. Is that Neymar with a couple of the other Brazilian football players? "Is Trent coming?" you yelled through the loud music. Your friend rolled his eyes and pointed to the upstairs of the club. "Already got his tongue in some girl," he shrugged. You just nodded, not really feeling the music or the environment. You don't know why your stomach felt uneasy after leaving Jude's place. If he had asked you to stay again, you probably would. As much as you don't want to admit it, that man has so much effect on you, and he doesn't even know it. He could keep you hidden from the world forever, and you'll be ok with that. He could call you a fuck buddy forever, and you'll be glad. He could wake you up at 3 in the morning just for a quickie, and you'll enjoy it to the fullest; but knowing the fact that he has so much control over you only scares you more. You guys never discuss it, but when would this arrangement end? Eventually, Jude would find someone, maybe one of the numerous models in his DMS, and you'll eventually have to move on with your life, but you guys have never discussed it. And you weren't looking forward to that day.

"Helllloooo Y/N!" your friend's loud scream took you back to reality. Right. You were in a club, not between the sheets with Jude. "I asked if you are going to sleep with that guy other there," your friend shouted, and your gaze followed his. Your eyes landed on a pair of brown eyes, which were barely noticeable, but the light he was under gave him all the justice he deserved. He was extremely handsome, sipping a glass of alcohol while staring at you. His braids were tied back, and after noticing you staring back, he shot you an enchanting smile that you eventually recognized. You have seen many fan edits of this man on TikTok, mainly because he always smiles before scoring a goal. Rafael Leão was his name; he plays alongside Christiano Ronaldo in the Portugees team and is one of the upcoming youngsters, Jude's rival.

You awkwardly shifted your gaze away from his after Jude once again, made his way into your mind. Gosh, you would usually be drunk by now, but why did you think about a guy you promised not to fall for yet stupidly did. If Trent found out, he would've cockily said, "I told you so," while comforting you through the rejection. "Oh, by the way, one of my victoria's secret model friends is very into Jude, and she wants his number," your friend said casually. You looked at him in shock; he was playing a wingman for his friend? And a victoria's secret model at that? How can you compete with that? You huffed and pushed your way to the bar. Some people called you names, but you didn't care; you just wanted to drown yourself in alcohol. "About the number," your friend said while typing on his phone, probably that high fashion girl. "Why can't she just message him on Instagram?" you bitterly said while telling the bartender what you wanted. Your friend looks up from his phone and stares at you before giving you a confused look. "Yeah, about that," he said, sounding slightly puzzled. "She did several times and even asked him that in person, but he rejected her and said he was already seeing someone." Your friend waited for you to respond, like a confirmation, but you just looked at him in shock. Jude was seeing someone? Could he mean you? There was no way he would've rejected someone like her for you, but again he also didn't hide his Instagram DMS and rejected or blocked them in front of you. Gosh, your mind was going crazy with this new information.

"Are you spoken for?" the husky voice that suddenly invaded your thoughts caused you to jump a little in the stool. You turned away from your friend to see Rafael standing before you. One of his hands is in the pocket of his jeans, while the other is holding the cup now filled with a different color of alcohol from before. "Excuse me?" you asked, still shocked that this guy was standing before you. Just recently, you have seen his face everywhere on TikTok, but now he was actually chatting with you, maybe trying to flirt. "Is this your boyfriend?" he asked while staring at your friend, who was obviously shaking from the glare that Rafael was throwing at him. "no-no boyfriend here," he mumbled and sent you a good luck look before staggering back into the crowd. The bartender had already placed your drink on the counter and was making drinks for other customers by the time you remembered the drink you ordered. You didn't hesitate to start drinking it, might need it more than ever.

"I didn't mean to scare you," Rafael said while sitting beside you. You realize the music wasn't as loud anymore, and you could hear him just fine, or maybe it was because he was so close to you. "I-ahum. It's fine," you mumbled. Rafael shot you that famous smile of his, and you realize it might actually be genuine. "I saw you walking in; you looked, and correct me if I am wrong. Out of place?" He asked. His question caught you off guard. Did you really look that unimpressed by the party? I mean, anyone would do anything to come to this party, but you were noticeably annoyed to be here. "It's my friend's party," you shrugged. Rafael hummed and continued to examine you, and maybe he was judging you or checking you out; you can't really tell. "What about you?" you asked; he didn't seem to enjoy this too much either. Instead of dancing with the girls gawking at him, he was openly chatting with a random girl that was only known to be friends with famous soccer players. You waited for him to say something like, "I needed an easy hookup," or "I wouldn't have met you if I didn't come," but instead, he said, "my girlfriend dragged me here." You nearly saw your life flash before your eyes. This man has a girlfriend, but he was over here wondering if you were spoken for? Oh gosh, you can only hear the news tomorrow. Girl caught trying to seduce Rafael Leão even though he has a girlfriend. You can already see the number of hate comments about how you don't deserve to be best friends with Trent or Jude; not like there weren't comments like that already.

"Tsh," your horrified face must've amused Rafael because he was chuckling under his palm, trying his best not to tip over the stool. What was so funny? "You could've seen your face," he said and continued to laugh. Yup, he was drunk. "What's so funny?" you scruffed, causing him to enjoy himself more. "Were you joking?" you asked, wanting him to say yes. "porra não!" he exclaimed. "I do have a girlfriend, but she is upstairs getting fuck by her ex," he said. You blinked and blinked again. No, don't tell me. "Yeah, it's who you are thinking of," he shrugged like it was nothing. "Are you trying to get revenge or what?" you cross your arms. Rafael stares at you like an idiot, causing you to loosen your arm. "No. I was genuinely interested in you."

Ping

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You groan from the sound of notifications. Your eyes open, close, and heavily open again. And when you try to sit up, your body lumps back onto the cozy bed.

Ping

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Ping

"For fuck sake," you mumbled and forced yourself to reach for your phone through the headaches and muscle aches. "Who the hell," you grumble while opening your text message; it was from your friends, Trent, and other family members. Your eyes search for Jude's but was only left disappointed after realizing he hasn't texted you since you left his place. You open Trent's message next, which was so long that you thought it would never end. You scan through the sentence, still half asleep. It was about the party and how he hooked up with a girl, and suddenly the text became violet and the word fucking Rafael and boyfriend in one sentence got your attention. You immediately rose from your bed, forgetting that you have a hungover, and clicked on the attachment Trent sent. It was an article and a picture of you and Rafael at the party. They had to choose the most intimate photo, only Rafael leaning into your ear while you laughed. It was a casual conversation, yet they made it seem like this wasn't the first time you had spoken. And to add to the mix, the article mentions you being a long-time friend of Jude Bellingham and you were betraying him by dating his rival. That was nonsense; Jude never said anything about Rafael being his rival; it was the internet's doing.

You immediately wanted to disappear as you hid your face in the pillow. This was all a big misunderstanding. You never went home with Rafael; he did make sure to call you an uber and threaten to murder the guy if anything happened to you. He also tried to get your number, but you declined and said you already have someone. Your drunk self also talks about your complicated love life, and Rafael voluntarily gives advance, and that was why you guys were whispering and laughing, and at the end of the night, he wanted to be friends.

You wanted to kill yourself, but it seemed like that wasn't an option when the loud knocking on your door caught you off guard. You groan and hurry to open the door after the knock gets louder and more aggressive. "Fuck I'm coming!" you yelled and swung the door open only regretting it after seeing Trent's angry face. He barged into your house, and you wanted nothing more than to hide away. He looks pissed, extremely pissed, while his arms are crossed, glaring daggers at you. Shit.

"Care to explain?" he asked. You bite your lower lips and look away, seemly embarrassed. "Really, Y/N? out of everyone, it had to be Rafael Leão? Fuck, I wouldn't even care if it was Richarlison or Bellingham, but it was that dude. The guy that everyone keeps comparing to Jude and me. The guy I nearly fought once, and I was given a red card because of him!" You were following Trent's every move and were watching him like a hawk. He looked displeased and disappointed, but who was he to judge? He was helping someone cheat yesterday. "Trent, you are not one to judge!" you yelled while pointing the finger at him. He was taken aback but was waiting for your next words. "You were the one fucking his girlfriend, and she was your ex at that!"Trent's eyes widened, and you wanted to frame his reaction; finally, you got him.

You watch as his face goes from shock to a confused look like he doesn't remember a thing. Of course, typically Trent. "Really, Trent?" you asked? Now you are the one with a disappointed look. "Well, how the fuck am I supposed to know it was her?" he exclaimed with his hands dramatically on his chest. "You don't know who you fuck?" you asked; the least he can do is at least remember her face. "And by the way, I didn't do anything with Rafael. He wanted to chat, and then we parted ways," you bluntly said. This causes Trent to sigh in relief. "Thank goodness because I almost regretted saying yes to Jude," he mumbled. You raise an eyebrow, frowning at what he just said. "What are you talking about?" you asked.

Jude stares at the screen in his hand; it is filled with a news article about you and Rafael at the party. His brother had texted him this morning and asked if it was true, but he didn't know what to say because he didn't know. Morning practice was also chaotic because he wasn't focused. His teammates were irritated by that but paid no attention after Marius whispered something. He was jealous; of course, he was; why wouldn't he? You literally ditched him after sex for this party and ended up getting cozy with someone everyone claims to be his rival. It also didn't seem like this was your first time getting cozy with him, but this was the tabloid's doing; he knows you better than that.

Jude ignores your incoming call again; this must've been the 10th time this morning. It was hurting him to not answer your calls, but it was also hurting him to hear what you have to say. Was it to break up the arrangement with him because you found someone? Was it to tell him about the fun times you had? Or maybe it was a slight chance of you finally explaining a questionable action to him. He feels guilty that he was dwelling over this, especially since you guys aren't nothing more than sex partners. There was literally no reason for him to be jealous or sad over this, but he was letting his feelings get the best of him. Getting rid of you was harder than he thought, but it made it worse to think that he was also replaceable and there were other soccer players into you. Wanting to be in his position. Jude groans at the thought of that and angrily shuts off his phone.

Jude's shoulder slumps while reading Trent's numerous messages about talking with you this morning, how it was all a big misunderstanding, and so forth. He didn't need Trent's confirmation that this was all a misunderstanding, yet he was still bitter. The jealous reaction hadn't left his chest yet, and he was still ignoring your calls and messages. You guys weren't anything but fuck buddies, so what was even the point of getting upset? You had the right to go fuck around with anyone, and so did he. Jude scrolls through his Instagram dm, and fresh messages from many girls pop up; he angrily pressed on one of them and was angrily texting them, and at the last moment, an image of you flash through his eyes, and he pauses. Why was he hesitating? He used to do this always, setting up times to meet with a girl to relieve his stress. So why was he hesitating to send the message?

Oh. That's right, you have been the only girl on his mind ever since you smiled at him for the first time.

"What's going on, mate?" Marius's voice causes him to look up. He thought he was the only one left in the locker room, but Marius must've sensed something. "Still about the news? You know how the tabloids work." Jude sighs, puts his phone down, and continues putting on his socks. "If you love that girl, just ask her out," Marius said casually. Jude stops in the middle of rolling his socks up and stares at the older man. "Love?" he asked, dumbfounded by the word. "Yeah. I mean, you are wrapped around her fingers," Marius said while grabbing some stuff out of his locker. Jude doesn't say anything to the man; he has never thought of love because the feeling is so indifferent. That is something out of his vocabulary. "I-I don't th-" Jude paused and looked at the amused man looking down at him. He was enjoying confusing Jude. "Come on, Jude. You guys aren't slick. I know you guys have been doing the deeds for a while now, and I assume that was the arrangement since she brings people to the game," he shrugged before putting a hand on Jude's shoulder. "But you, my man, has caught feelings and doesn't know what to do with it. I understand that can be confusing, and that's fine, but you are in love, mate. But you both are too dumb to admit that to one another."

You frown at the image displayed In front of you. It was a picture of the famous model talking to Jude and touching his muscles. This was posted by a news outlet a couple of minutes ago, so it wasn’t that long, meaning he might still be out there. Your heart dropped, remembering that you hadn’t seen Jude for over a week now, and after he ignored your calls for so many days, you decided to give it a rest. He would tell you when he was ready to talk.

The caption says that the model was out for dinner with a couple of friends and bumped into Jude and his friends and joined them. It seems that way from the look of Jude’s bored face in the photo, yet you still felt sad. Was this how he felt when he saw the picture of you and Rafael? If that was the case, you don’t blame him for ignoring you. It has only been a week, but so many things happened in that little time. For example, Rafael’s snake ass decided to follow you on Instagram, causing more speculation, and he texted you saying it was to help you. Trent wasn’t too happy about that but was still embarrassed about what happened at the party, so he didn’t go as livid as the first time. Speaking of Trent, you still can’t believe what he told you that morning. He has known of your relationship with Jude for a while because Jude asked him to allow you to be his. Trent wasn’t happy about it but agreed after Jude begged on his knees. Trent never said if Jude’s action was because he wanted to continue the friends-with-benefits arrangement or because he really wanted to be with you. It was complicated because you don’t remember Jude ever being serious with someone, and the last relationship you had turned out to be a failure causing you to lose interest in a serious relationship. But if you were given this chance, you don’t think you’ll ever say no to him.

You were in the middle of brushing your when Trent decided to call you; you rolled your eyes when you heard him out of breath, and it was definitely not from playing soccer. “Seriously, Trent?” You asked and listened to some muffling followed by the door slamming. “What? I’m on vacation right now. Can’t I get dirty a little?” He asked. You huffed and tied your hair up in a messy bun, it was past midnight, and you really didn’t want to hear about which girl he was fucking. “Oh, by the way, I saw the pictures. Don’t let it get to you. That’s not his type,” he said, and you hear the sound of a car unlocking. You rolled your eyes and went into the kitchen to grab a glass of water. “Trent did you just leave a girl alone?” You asked. Trent took a while to answer, but you could hear the yes from the other side. “You fucking idiot, I told you to stop treating girls like trash!” You scream through the phone. You hear him clear his throat on the other side before he casually says, “they know what they were getting into. It’s either sex or no me.” You frowned and were about to give him a sister talk when you heard your doorbell ring. The line was quiet, and so were you. “Aren’t you suppose to be out of town?” You asked. “I am Y/N,” you hear him say. You gulped and started making your way toward the door while listening to Trent speak nonsense about girls and how he would only have dated a girl if they had these aspects. You slowly open the door and nearly scream when you see who is standing in front of you.

Jude was still dressed in the same outfit as he wore in the picture, and both of his hands were in his pockets while he was staring you down. He smells like alcohol but looks sober enough to be here, ready to talk. Jude took you in from head to toe, and when his eyes went back to yours, they softened, and you were trying not to lunge at him and apologized. Jude then adverts his eyes to your phone, which is still placed over your ear, and then he looks back at you, demanding an explanation. Your eyes widened, forgetting that Trent was still on the phone, completely oblivious about what was happening. “Hey Trent Ahum-,” you didn’t get to finish because you heard the panic in Trent’s voice. “I-I didn’t describe you! They just have similar aspects to you! There is no way-noway I would like you more than a friend. Hahah you must be crazy to think I like you,” you were taken aback by what he said. What was he even blabbering about this whole time? Oh, right, he was talking about the type of girls, he would be serious with. “Hey Trent, Jude is here; I’ll talk to you later, ok?” The other line remains silent, so you decide to hang up; you’ll catch up with Trent some other day.

“Hey,” you said and smiled at him. Jude continues to look over your face before glancing at your lips and then back to your eyes. “Nothing happened between that girl and me. She just bumped into us, and she knew one of my friends, but there was nothing else.” You slowly nod and gesture to him to come In, but he shakes his head. You felt a sting in your chest. “I wasn’t ignoring you; I just needed time to think about what to say to you and how to do this properly.” He continues to say. You sighed and shook your head, “Jude, I should be the one apologizing. No-“ this boy did not want you to say another word because he completely ignored you and continued with what he was saying. “I haven’t reach out to you because Marius’s crazy ass told me that I might be in love with you and I didn’t know how to react to that because we made it clear that we are friends with benefit yet I was still jealous when those pictures of you and Rafael was surfacing but I was too scare to let you know in case you wanted to break things off and I would go crazy without you and I hate myself for agreeing that we were never going to be anything but fuck buddies because my stupid ass caught feelings not knowing how you would feel and this is all new to me yet I want it to be with you, and I needed to think things through on how I’ll break the news to you,” Jude was out of breath by the time he reached the end, and you were too stunned speak. He did not pause once to catch a breath. “Jude what news are you talking about?” You hesitantly asked.

Jude stared at you for at least a few minutes before he sighed and turned his head to the side before nervously looking back at you again. “I’m in love with you, Y/N,” he said.

For the next couple of minutes It felt like time went by slowly. You guys were staring at one another as if nothing else mattered and that you’ll both disappear if one of you moved or blinked. Jude still has his hands in his pocket, and your hands are still on your side. The sound of a television playing in your bedroom can be heard in the background, and the sound of drunk teenagers driving past can be heard behind Jude’s back. Your mind went back to that night when you made a promise to Jude that you won’t catch feelings, and you can’t remember him saying the same thing. It must’ve been you who only imagined that he had the same idea as you. You swore he said something down the line similar to that, maybe it was Sure. I’ll comply with your request, although it’ll be hard. You smile up at him, and his eyes soften, shoulders finally relaxing, and hands finally out of his pocket. You didn’t hesitate to wrap your arms around his neck and lift your toes. He placed his hands on your hips like where they belonged…where they’ve always belonged. “I love you too, Jude,” you whispered.

Bonus

“Seriously baby?” Jude huffed, causing you to pinch his cheeks. You’ve just posted on your Instagram story of him sleeping earlier today, and he didn’t like how he looked, but you thought he looked so cute. “What? This is the cutest thing on earth!” You exclaimed, causing him to roll his eyes and wrap his arms over your shoulders. “The boys are going to tease me again,” he groans and lays his head back on the couch. You chuckle and give him a quick peck on the lips before going back on your phone again. “Look, babe Rafael is trending on Twitter for scoring in the Switzerland game,” you said and showed him a video of Rafael scoring and his teammates jumping on top of him. Jude frowns and pulls you closer to him. “I can’t believe the little ass followed me on Instagram and said that he helped us get together,” Jude groans as he pulls out his phone. You chuckled when you saw the text exchange between him and Rafael going from topics about you to soccer tips. “We’ll if it wasn’t for him, you probably won’t realize your desire for me,” you teased. Jude nods in agreement and places a a soft kiss on your forehead. “I know, baby and Trent is to thank, too,” he laughed. You nod and look back down at your phone but not paying attention to the screen. Trent… he hasn’t hung out with you and Jude since you made your relationship public. He did send a congratulations text, but after that, he made his presence rare in both of your lives.

“You hear me, baby?” Jude’s question brought you out of your thoughts. You raise an eyebrow, and Jude chuckles, “I said let’s make a baby,” he smirked. You blinked. And blinked again. “Jude Bellingham! You pervert!”

[iheartkiri]

draco malfoy is an idiot. (1)

                        ✧˖°ʚ🍓ɞ♡

You stood in the library, your movements sharp and angry as you slammed books back onto the shelves. It had been a month since your blowout with Draco, and the feelings from that night still rained heavy on your mind. Clearly, it had been a mutual sentiment as the tension between you and Draco whenever you two unfortunately ran into each other was thick enough to cut. 

Your childhood friends, Blaise Zabini and Theodore Nott, noticing your mood, exchanged concerned glances with each other.

"What's up with you, Y/N?" Blaise cautiously asked, his eyes darting between you and the bookshelves. "You've been pissed off for weeks. Did something go down with you and Draco?" 

You spun around, your eyes flashing with a mix of hurt and anger. "Oh that jerk?" you snapped, your voice dripping with bitterness. "I can't believe I ever considered that loser my friend."

Theodore frowned, his eyes filled with confusion. "What did he say that got you so riled up? We know Draco can be an ass sometimes, but a month of you guys not speaking is a bit much."

You clenched your fists, the hurt and anger bubbling inside you. "You know what he did? He called me sensitive and said I couldn't take a joke," you said, your voice shaking. "He made me feel like my feelings didn't even matter to him, like I was overreacting. He didn't even try to see where I was coming from."

Blaise's eyebrows furrowed, his expression turning serious. “Dang that's a low blow, even for Draco. We know he can be a jerk, but a month of you guys not talking is a little excessive. What exactly happened during that fight?"

You took a shaky breath, the memories of that painful day flooding your mind. "It started as off as a stupid joke, but then he took it too far. I tried to tell him how he was in the wrong, but he brushed me off. He didn't care that he was hurting my feelings."

Theodore placed a comforting hand on your shoulder, his eyes soft with understanding. "I get why you're angry, Y/N. Draco can be thoughtless. But a month is a long time. Maybe he's realized his mistake and is too stubborn to admit it."

You shook your head, your eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I'm not ready to forgive him, Theo. Not yet. He really messed up, and I need him to understand how much his words hurt. I won't be the one to cave."

Blaise stepped closer, his voice gentle and understanding. "We get it, Y/N. Draco can be an arrogant jerk sometimes. But we also know he cares about you. Maybe he's too proud to admit he was wrong, but we can try to talk to him, see if he'll apologize."

You scoffed, your anger simmering just below the surface. "Don't bother, Blaise. I don't want anything to do with him anymore. If he's waiting for my apology he can wait all he wants. Besides, he must be 'so sorry' himself to let a month pass by." You added sarcastically, rolling your eyes.

Theodore squeezed your shoulder, his eyes filled with determination. "Y/N, we just want to help. We know you and Draco go way back, and we can see you guys really care about each other. We're worried, and we want to fix this."

 You shook your head, your eyes flashing with a mix of hurt and stubbornness. "There's nothing between us Theo. Not anymore. And even if there was, it doesn't change the fact that he hurt me. I'm not ready to forgive him."

Blaise and Theodore shared a worried glance, their faces grim. "We won't push you, Y/N," Blaise said, his voice gentle. "But we're concerned. We know you and Draco have a very....close relationship. We just want to see you happy again."

You sighed, your shoulders slumping in defeat. "I appreciate it, guys. I know you're trying to help. But Draco and I are done, and that's final."

As you turned away from them, your eyes landed on the books you had angrily shelved, their spines crooked and out of place. It was a reflection of the chaos inside you—a chaos that idiot Draco had caused and seemed to have no intention of fixing anytime soon.

Blaise and Theodore exchanged a meaningful glance, their faces filled with concern. "We'll give it one more shot," Theodore said, his voice unwavering. "We'll talk to him, try to talk some sense into that rascal."

You shook your head, a bitter smile on your lips. You knew there was no way they could possibly make Draco Malfoy apologize.  "Good luck with that. Draco's too stubborn for his own good. And even if he is sorry, he won't admit it. He's too proud for that."

Blaise placed a hand on your shoulder, his eyes filled with sympathy. "We'll see, Y/N. We know how to get through to him. And if he truly cares, he'll find a way to make things right."

And as you continued to shelve books, your anger slowly fading into sadness, you knew that Blaise and Theodore would do their best to mend the rift between you and Draco. But deep down, you weren't ready to forgive him, not yet. The hurt was still too raw, and the silence between you stretched on.

-

[bythepen98]

Zutara ❤

This was honestly supposed to be a quick one but I got too invested bc this is my first fa of this ship :')

Context:

Consider this an au where Aang never had a crush on Katara and the tension instead revolved around her and Zuko throughout the series. A spark at first sight so to speak. Fate would step in several times where they'd somehow end up separating from their groups and find each other in the same vicinity. They're both temperamental, so they'd naturally start fighting and exchanging barbs but would always hold back from truly hurting each other. There was disdain but also slight curiosity there. However, it would mostly go ignored, spitefully so in Katara's end after the catacombs debacle, until Zuko realises that he messed up and goes back to fix things.

Note: He never paired back up with Mai during this period bc my boy may have been in denial but he knew enough not to lead anyone on just for the sake of normalcy, especially when he was feeling all types of conflicted. On that note, he still got pushed to spend some together with Jin back in Ba Sing Se but firmly and point blank told her that it was not a date --

bc all he could think about were fiery blue eyes

--but didn't mind going together as friends.

He would definitely be more awkward around Katara once he joins the team and Katara would be just as vicious bc the betrayal, while painful in canon, would probably be more devastating here since personal unresolved feelings (that have been building up since their many accidental meet ups) are involved. He'd still do his best to help her out while also trying not to be an eyesore by watching longingly from a distance. The rest of the Gaang just finds this a bit sad but also hilarious.

Like canon, things get better after Zuko and Katara went on their lifechanging bonding trip to find Kya's killer but instead of the one sided awkward/hostility, they were now both awkward and would shyly but somehow seamlessly move as a unit while they worked around the site, especially when it came time to make meals for everyone.

Fleeting touches, eyes locking for a few seconds before looking away, sitting in closer proximity around the campfire, Zuko silently placing flowers in places where Katara would easily find it and Katara reciprocating by making little snacks and giving it to him every now and then, particularly after his training sessions with Aang. If they sometimes held hands while they sat in silence after a long, hard day, then that's no one's business but their own.

Idk. I feel like it's a good kind of irony that they're both so passionate people who used to fight each other on sight but have this slow and sweet exploratory type of romance that would mostly go unacknowledged (out loud, though both knew the feeling was mutual) until after the war. Fits the vibe I had for them while drawing this so it was fun.

[mistress-of-vos]

It's their turn! 💛❤️✨

(Extra context of the meme below (mini fic?)!!!)

After the events of Red Robin, Babs and Luke inform Jean-Paul of the issues and problems going on among the bats. During a mission, Bruce got hurt again and has been benched, meaning the situation of "Dick covering for Batman" is once again back in town. This creates a lot of tension among Dick, Damian, Tim, Jason and Bruce, making it almost impossible for them to work together.

Having their hands full with actual city saving, Luke and Babs called JP to ask him to go back and help for a while. Luke does apologize for it, since he knows JP is way happier in Europe and working on his own. It's not that JP doesn't like Gotham, but he grew tired of Bruce and Dick treating him like trash, so he left months after Jason had that - violent encounter with Tim on Titans Tower.

Jean-Paul admits that was part of the problem too; he didn't like it that Bruce seemed so at peace with Tim getting hurt. And Tim... Tim allowed Bruce to ignore his pain. That was maddening, btw, and Jean-Paul had snapped a few times against Tim, screaming that he shouldn't let Bruce walk over him.

Whatever. Jean-Paul had left. He went to Europe and traveled, getting rid of the order of st. Dumas by himself alone, and then getting rid of other groups equally awful and cruel. It was a tiring, slow job. He traveled a lot, and from time to time visited Brian in Spain to chat, but mostly he focused on ending the cycle of violence that he had been raised into. Eventually he did, and just months later, Luke and Babs call.

Being back in Gotham is - weird. It has been years, and Jean-Paul feels uncomfortable around Jason and Damian. His dislike towards Dick hasn't lowered, and it has stayed as a mutual feeling, although JP can't help to feel a bit of pity for Dick when he sees how tired and old Dick looks once he takes off the Batman cowl. But hey, didn't Dick argue that JP wasn't worthy? Then perhaps he should carry the weight of the mantle he insisted JP tainted.

Mostly, JP doesn't like being back at Gotham. Until he sees Tim.

Tim, who has - grown into such a smart, beautiful and sassy young man. Tim, who wears eyeliner, mascara and red lipstick. Tim, with acrilic nails as sharp as Catwoman's. Tim, with a perfume even more hypnotizing than Poison Ivy. Tim, lethal and beautiful. Tim, that makes JP's knees tremble as if he's a teenage virgin boy.

And it gets worse when they start working together. Huge news! Ofc JP had been called back because Tim refused to work with the bats anymore, and it's JP's duty to work with him and push him back to Babs (she does understand that Tim doesn't want to be close to the others, but she worries about Tim being alone, and doesn't want him going out without any support). And doing that is hell, because JP falls hard and deep for Tim.

JP is sure that he was completely whipped by the end of the third week working together. Maybe even sooner.

That's how Luke learns about it, since JP is awful at hiding his crushes. And Luke has the nerve to laugh, telling JP to ask Tim out as if Tim wasn't way out of JP's league! Does Luke enjoy seeing him suffering? JP thinks he will go crazy if he has to hear one more phrase about taking risks...

And yet JP follows Luke's advice: He asks Tim out.

He asks Tim out in a chat. A grupal chat. With Luke on it. And maybe he's hugging his cat George all the time while waiting for Tim to reply.

Against all logic, Tim says yes, and then texts JP on their private chat (the one that's supposed to be used for cases only), saying just one sentence:

"You're adorable, Jean-Paul."

For the record, the first date goes great. JP manages to get to third base, and Tim smirks smugly while murmuring "Puppy" on JP's ear, nails holding his long blonde hair to keep him in place: At Tim's mercy.

[krisslegacy]

the scientist

ao3 link

characters - bucky barnes x original female character

summary - james buchanan barnes is a man out of his time, lost in the darkness that hydra left in him.

frejaina heladottir swims in darkness, but the chains of hydra destroyed 200 years of her strength.

after the events of Captain America: The Winter Soldier, bucky and jaina stay in hiding across europe. it's a lonely existence, broken and battered by hydra. but they can't avoid the traumas they share- their souls have been linked since the 1950s. under the weight of their isolation, they are the only ones who can heal each other.

word count - 1,008

warnings and tags - hurt/comfort, slow burn, unresolved emotional tension, mutual pining,ptsd, thoughts of past abuse, trauma

authors note- hi! frejaina, or jaina, can also be read as a reader self insert. shes technically an OC

jaina is the daughter of hela (thor ragnarok), and an unidentified soul of the underworld with the x-gene, which makes her a half-god mutant. her abilities from hela consist of necromancy and soul magic, while her mutant genes allow her to bend shadows, teleport through them, and assume a horrifying spectral-shadow form. she kind of has history with the x-men in the 1990s-2000s but falls back into the clutches of hydra but i won't get into that.

enjoy!

Toledo was quieter than he expected.

And the wind was warmer too. It filtered through the curtains of the safehouse to bring a comfort he didn’t expect. But it was welcome.

He liked this, he liked the open air of the countryside. It reminded him of a time he couldn’t remember, but a time he felt. A salty breeze and open sky. Sunlight. Distant honking of a bustling cityscape. Blonde hair and blue eyes.

He could think about these things now, for as long as he wanted. No one could stop him. Not the beast that held him hostage for so long, the creeping tentacles that stole his mind and twisted it into something else. But the fear was still close, and it didn’t feel right to be free. It felt… fake. Like a sick joke.

He inhaled. Exhaled.

His bionic arm felt much heavier nowadays, it was almost painful. A mind numbing, thrumming sensation that never left him long enough to know peace. It was a constant reminder of the past, the silver glint of chains that bound him. His fist clenched at the thought.

“Солдат.”

Not even blinking, the Winter Soldier responded. “певица.”

“It feels so… natural. For us, doesn’t it?”

The Shadow Singer was there when he turned around, half blended into the darkness that permeated the safehouse. Her eyes, evergreen, studied him with the same intensity they always had. But now, they weren’t poisonous. They were soft, calm, sad.

“I think they will always have a hold on us,” she said softly, moving towards the moonlight that he bathed in. “No matter how much we hide.”

They never stood closer than two feet to each other, were never allowed to. Even now, when nothing held them back, the memory of their muscles restricted them.

Absent-mindedly, she rubbed her hand against the scar at her neck. He can still remember the clasp around it, the sickly red swell it left when she’d finally pried it off. The tears that followed. He had never seen her cry before and it felt like something he shouldn’t have seen. That was natural, though, was it not?

He wouldn’t know. Nothing was natural for him anymore.

“You’ll have that scar forever,” he finally said, voice parched and rough like gravel. He hadn’t spoken in days.

The singer dropped her hand. “It’ll show what I’ve survived then. Same with your arm.”

Again, the weight of his arm caved, and he hunched slightly. There were times when he’d wake up from the sharp sensation of a cold burn, blood in his mouth. He saw round glasses and lab coats, harsh lights, mountains, snow.

He truly didn’t remember anything, then. Maybe the man on the bridge was right. What was his name again? Steven? Steve? Steve.

Steve. Perhaps he’d known him in another life, like he’d said.

That would be nice. It would be nice to know that somewhere in time, he had someone to count on.

The Shadow Singer was his mission partner. A fellow agent. A warrior. She would have his back, he would have hers. That was the way it had always worked for… how long? He would have to ask and find out.

“How long do you think it’s been?” Bucky said.

“Since what?”

He didn’t even know what he was going to ask. There had been a time before Hydra, but it felt impossible to imagine.

Her eyes shifted to the floor again, the creaky wooden boards that ran parallel to her. “I remember the day they found you. I watched them put you into cryostasis. A lot. It was always fascinating to me how the human body simply endured.”

A siren wailed miles away.

“You watched me.”

“Always.”

He nearly shuddered. Her green eyes burned into his retina.

Perhaps she knew more about him than he knew about himself. He never recalled… anything. Any feeling, any desire was absent to him, a void of limitless nothingness. He just remembered the cold and the pain and the lighting that danced across his bones. It gave him nothing. It gave him no incentive for help. Why? Why had he been so pathetic, like a dog, to sit there and take what they threw at him? Why could he have never stood up for himself?

He didn’t even realize how hard his metal fist was clenched before he felt feather-light touch against it.

His hand flew away from hers in a heartbeat. He didn’t want touch, he didn’t-

Immediately she retreated back into the safety of the darkness, shadows enveloping her into a tight hug before she all but vanished from his sight. The whole apartment was dark, yet the Shadow Singer found comfort in it.

Within a blink of an eye she sat on the small green couch. Arm crossed and chest curved inwards, she was suddenly not the monstrous otherworldly-creature he remembered. Now she seemed just as afraid and cold and cautious as he felt.

“What do we call each other now?” Her voice was quiet, but it carried the weight of a hundred years of servitude.

She was asking him. For an answer. For permission, a command. Something thick grew in his throat and he couldn’t swallow it. It wasn’t his place.

The man on the bridge- Steve- he called him Bucky. It had clicked like a missing puzzle piece in a larger equation. It felt right to him, to choose that instead of Soldat. He didn’t want to be a soldier anymore, he wanted to stop fighting.

The Shadow Singer sat up. “Do you remember your name?”

He thinks so. Yes. “Bucky.”

The word tasted like sugar on his tongue, rolled off smoothly. The stones of the past began to lift off of him.

“Do you have a name?” Bucky said slowly.

She nodded. “Frejaina. Jaina.”

In the years they’d worked together, never had they known their names, never had they used them. Bucky wanted to frown. He did.

Bucky and Jaina. The Shadow Singer and the Winter Soldier.

That’s who they would be now.

thanks for reading! hopefully this will be a series.

dividers by cafekitsune

[thedustybunny]

Chamomile Kisses - Chapter 8

Viktor arcane x Fem!Reader

The unexpected collision left them both in an awkward tangle, their bodies pressed together on the floor of Viktor's lab. The pain that radiated through his leg was evident in the lines of discomfort etched onto his face. (Y/n) winced as she quickly pushed herself up, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She moved off him, her apology tumbling out.

"I'm so sorry, Viktor," she muttered, her voice a mix of genuine concern and chagrin. "Are you okay?"

Viktor's gaze remained fixed on the ceiling for a moment, his jaw clenched as he endured the pain. He finally shifted his gaze to meet hers, his usual steely expression marred by a flicker of vulnerability. "I'll be fine," he responded curtly, his words betraying the discomfort he felt.

She extended her hand towards him, offering to help him up once again. He hesitated for a moment, then took her hand with a begrudging acknowledgment of her assistance. With their combined effort, he managed to get back on his feet, albeit with a noticeable stiffness in his movements.

Standing there, the tension between them was palpable, the aftermath of their unexpected collision hanging in the air like a heavy cloud. (Y/n) bit her lip, uncertainty flickering in her eyes as she looked at him. For the first time, she saw past his sharp exterior and caught a glimpse of his vulnerability. It was a fleeting moment, but it left an impression on her.

"I didn't mean to hurt you," she admitted softly, her voice laced with sincerity. "I may not like you, Viktor, but I don't wish you harm."

His expression remained guarded, his eyes flickering with a mixture of emotions she couldn't quite decipher. "Believe it or not, I don't wish you harm either," he finally responded, his words surprising her.

As they exchanged a rare moment of honesty, a sudden realization struck them both - they were trapped. The self-locking mechanism of the lab's door had activated, leaving them confined within the confines of Viktor's workspace. Panic briefly flitted across (Y/n)'s features, but she quickly composed herself.

"We're... stuck," she stated, her voice tinged with a hint of resignation.

Viktor's gaze turned towards the door, his jaw tightening as he processed the situation. He gave a curt nod, his pride preventing him from revealing any hint of concern. "Seems that way," he acknowledged, his tone clipped.

They exchanged a glance, the tension between them temporarily forgotten as the reality of their predicament settled in. The air between them felt charged once again, this time with a mixture of frustration and reluctant cooperation.

As the minutes ticked by, (Y/n) leaned against a nearby worktable, while Viktor perched himself on a stool, his cane resting beside him. Their conversation had shifted from bickering to an uneasy silence, the walls of their differences momentarily crumbling in the face of their shared confinement.

The events of the evening had taken an unforeseen turn, leaving them both vulnerable in more ways than one. As they waited for rescue, (Y/n) couldn't help but reflect on the complexities of their relationship, wondering if perhaps there was more to Viktor than met the eye. A glimmer of mutual understanding began to emerge, shattering the walls of animosity that had long stood between them.

The tense silence was eventually broken by a snide remark from (Y/n), her voice laced with a mix of annoyance and curiosity. "So, trapped in your own lab, huh? Not quite how you envisioned your day, I'm sure."

Viktor shot her a withering glare, his lips curling into a derisive smirk. "At least I don't have to rely on others to get me out of this situation," he retorted, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

(Y/n) rolled her eyes, suppressing a sigh. "Oh, please, spare me the dramatics. I've gotten myself out of tougher spots than this."

The conversation had quickly devolved into their usual snarky banter, a familiar dynamic that seemed to be their default mode of interaction. (Y/n) couldn't help but be intrigued by how easily they fell into this pattern, even in their current predicament.

But as the minutes stretched on, the tension between them began to wane, and a flicker of curiosity prompted (Y/n) to ask a question that had been nagging at her. "So, about this self-locking mechanism... Why do you need it?"

Viktor sighed, leaning back against the wall, his gaze distant. "This room we're in," he gestured around them, "is a storage chamber for the hex crystals. It's equipped with a unique self-locking mechanism to ensure their security. When I entered earlier to work on the crystals alone, the door locked behind me."

(Y/n) raised an eyebrow, genuinely intrigued by this piece of information. "Hex crystals, huh? What are they?"

Viktor's eyes flickered with a mixture of pride and frustration as he explained, "They're a breakthrough in energy generation. Priceless, and potentially revolutionary. They have the potential to reshape the world as we know it."

The revelation left (Y/n) slightly taken aback, her curiosity piqued even further. Before she could respond, the conversation lapsed into silence once again, the weight of their confined space becoming increasingly palpable.

(Y/n) rummaged through her bag, finally pulling out a small stash of snacks she had packed. As she opened a packet, her gaze flickered to Viktor, who was watching her with a mix of skepticism and indifference. She hesitated for a moment before tossing a snack his way.

He caught it deftly, examining it with a raised eyebrow. "What, trying to bribe me with food now?" he quipped, his tone biting.

(Y/n) rolled her eyes, her voice devoid of any genuine malice. "No, just offering some sustenance. I doubt either of us wants to starve in here."

Viktor grumbled under his breath, but after a moment of contemplation, he finally took a bite of the offered snack. (Y/n) nodded in approval, then retrieved a bottle of water from her bag, taking a sip, then offering it to him.

Viktor's brows furrowed as he hesitated, clearly conflicted. He seemed to be grappling with the idea of sharing the same water bottle with her, a notion that likely clashed with his usual sense of personal space and boundaries. After a moment of inner struggle, he reached out and took the water bottle from her, muttering a reluctant "Thanks."

(Y/n) offered a small, wry smile, glad that he had finally relented. As he took a sip, their eyes briefly met, a fleeting moment of connection amidst their conflicting personalities. The silence in the room seemed less suffocating, replaced by a subtle sense of companionship born out of their shared circumstances.

As the hours dragged on, the cold within the confined space grew more pronounced. (Y/n)'s coat provided some protection, but she still shivered, her teeth occasionally chattering. She glanced over at Viktor, who was dressed in his usual attire – a tailored white jacket over a burgundy shirt, paired with dark trousers and polished shoes. The contrast between his attire and the cold environment was stark.

The biting cold of the night persisted, settling deep into their bones and making the cramped space feel even more unbearable. Hours stretched on, and (Y/n) couldn't help but notice Viktor's trembling form. His usually composed demeanor had given way to visible discomfort, accentuated by his lack of protection against the chill. Time seemed to drag its feet, and as one hour gave way to the next, the temperature dropped, intensifying their shared misery.

Glancing over at Viktor, (Y/n) couldn't deny the pang of empathy that tugged at her heart. The circumstances had created an unexpected sense of equality between them, however fleeting it might be.

As the cold became increasingly insufferable, she saw Viktor inching closer to her. The space that initially separated them had diminished, and now he was nearly pressed up against her. It was a silent acknowledgment of the shared need for warmth in this dire situation. Despite her lingering feelings of resentment, (Y/n) knew she had a slight advantage in terms of protection from the cold.

Summoning a small reserve of courage, she decided to bridge the gap even further. "You know, there's no point freezing to death here," she remarked, her voice laced with an attempt at nonchalance.

Viktor shot her a sidelong glance, his expression a mix of surprise and skepticism. "And what do you suggest?" he retorted, the bite in his tone suggesting he was ready for an argument.

"This," she replied, scooting closer until their shoulders touched. The sudden contact seemed to catch him off guard, his reaction a combination of startled irritation.

"You've got to be kidding me," Viktor muttered, but there was a hint of reluctant agreement in his voice.

"We're stuck in here together, Viktor. Might as well make it somewhat bearable," (Y/n) reasoned, trying to mask her own discomfort.

Their bickering continued for a moment, but the cold air soon extinguished the energy for argument. An unspoken understanding hung in the air – the frigid temperature had a way of humbling even the most stubborn of individuals.

After a moment, Viktor's huff of annoyance subsided, and he shifted slightly closer. "Fine, but don't expect me to enjoy this," he grumbled.

"Wouldn't dream of it," (Y/n) replied, a small, almost imperceptible smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

And so, amidst their differences and the harsh circumstances, they found themselves pressed together, sharing body heat in a fragile truce against the cold.

The bone-chilling cold proved to be an unrelenting adversary, testing their endurance and resolve to the limit. Despite their close proximity, it wasn't enough to ward off the frigid air that seemed to seep into every corner of their confined space. (Y/n) knew a way to make this ordeal more bearable, but pride and lingering resentment held her back from making the suggestion.

As another hour passed, exhaustion began to set in, compounded by the numbing cold. (Y/n)'s longing for sleep grew stronger, yet she was acutely aware that sleep in these conditions was impossible. They continued to huddle together, shivering in the darkness.

The desperation for relief pushed her to speak up, her voice a mixture of fatigue and vulnerability. "Viktor," she began, her words almost a whisper amidst the cold, "Could you, just for today, put your hate for me aside?"

Her unexpected plea caught him off guard, rendering him momentarily speechless. He stammered, trying to find the right words to respond to her unprecedented request. "I, uh..."

"Please," she pressed, her tone earnest, "Just for today. Can you try not to hate me?"

The air seemed to thicken with tension as his internal struggle played out on his features. His response was abrupt, yet surprising. "I don't hate... you," he admitted, his voice laced with an unexpected vulnerability.

The admission caught her off guard, her surprise evident in her widened eyes and slightly parted lips. She was about to speak, but he swiftly interjected, his words an attempt to clarify. "I just hate what you do."

The declaration hung heavy in the air, a stark reminder of the gulf that still separated them. (Y/n) felt a mixture of conflicting emotions – relief at his slight concession, yet a pang of frustration that their differences continued to cast a shadow over any potential understanding.

The weight of their conversation settled between them, adding another layer of complexity to their already tangled dynamic. The cold, however, was an immediate concern that required action. Her question, soft yet loaded, hung in the air between them, making him contemplate the unfamiliar territory he was stepping into. After a beat, he gave a reluctant nod. "Fine." Swallowing her pride, (Y/n) shifted slightly, her movements slow and deliberate.

As she stood and removed her coat, a shiver ran through him, leaving him feeling exposed and cold in her absence. He watched, a mixture of curiosity and apprehension in his eyes, as she returned and settled herself in front of him, snugly nestled between his legs. The coat draped over them both, providing a cocoon of warmth that seemed to envelop them.

A strangled gasp escaped his lips, a reflexive response to the suddenness of her action. He was taken aback, his heart racing, and he struggled to find his words amidst the jumble of his thoughts. The proximity was both unsettling and strangely comforting, an intimacy he hadn't experienced in a long time.

The softness of her scarf being draped around them added another layer of insulation, and as her arms wrapped around him, he felt a mixture of vulnerability and a strange sense of connection. He remained rigid, unsure of how to navigate this uncharted territory. The warmth emanating from her, the gentle rhythm of her breathing against his chest, it all felt foreign yet oddly soothing.

As (Y/n) settled against him, the shared warmth between them was palpable, a stark contrast to the relentless cold that had been their constant companion. Looking down at her, he found himself caught off guard by the proximity they now shared.

Time seemed to blur as they sat in their shared cocoon, the silence punctuated only by the sound of their breathing and the occasional creaking of the building settling around them. Despite his initial unease, a sense of calm began to settle over Viktor. He found himself gradually relaxing, allowing his stiff posture to soften as he tentatively draped an arm around her, his hand settling hesitantly on her shoulder.

The touch was almost tentative, a silent acknowledgment of the fragile connection they were forging. In the midst of the cold and darkness, something unexpected was happening – a thawing of barriers and a flicker of understanding that neither of them could have foreseen.

As time passed, Viktor gave way to a gradual relaxation. His arms hesitated before finding their way around her, drawing her close to him. He pressed his chin to the top of her head, his nuzzling an instinctive response to the enveloping warmth that grew stronger with every passing moment. The cold that had once seeped into their bones was now replaced by the shared comfort of their closeness, and neither of them shivered any longer.

Viktor's rational mind battled against the unexpected warmth that was starting to spread within him. He frowned at his own vulnerability, at the way her presence was affecting him more than he would have liked. But his arms remained around her, a silent admission that he had let his guard down, if only slightly.

Amidst the stillness, a soft and barely audible snore reached his ears. He looked down to see her peaceful expression as she slept in his arms, her vulnerability laid bare in slumber. The sight tugged at something deep within him, a mixture of emotions he struggled to untangle. Did he really hate her as much as he claimed? The question echoed in his mind, casting doubt on the conviction he had held onto for so long.

A slight twitch from her in her sleep prompted him to hold her just a bit tighter, his grip protective despite his internal struggle. He couldn't deny the unexpected comfort he found in holding her close, nor could he ignore the unsettling thought that perhaps his feelings towards her were more complex than mere disdain.

Viktor's thoughts circled, warring within him as he continued to cradle her in his arms. He was torn between the convictions of his mind and the emotions that were beginning to seep into his heart. But even as he battled against this internal conflict, fatigue weighed heavily on him, pulling him into the embrace of sleep.

Soon, his own breathing evened out, and he found himself succumbing to slumber. The warmth of her smaller frame nestled into his own provided an unexpected comfort, and as the night deepened, the boundaries that had once separated them blurred even further. In the stillness of the lab, they slept on, entwined in each other's embrace, both grappling with the unspoken tension that had begun to shift and change between them.

[sikkkko]

Blurred Lines. ⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚

Chapter 07: the first talk. ( 🖊️ )

where : yizhuo yn and park sunghoon were not only a couple, but the bestest of friends, an inseparable pair; both deeply in love with each other. a love as intense as their personalities. despite their deep connection, they were young and ambitious, and the pressures of life pulled them apart. the couple mutually decided to break up, hoping to carve out their futures separately. ¿what happens when they inevitably end up in the same friend group again? ¿will they fight for the once strong bond or will they continue their lives separately?

Masterlist Previous Next

the cold evening breeze hit yn as she stepped out of the unconventional movie theater at jay’s house, her heart pounding with anticipation. she spotted sunghoon waiting by the kitchen, his hands stuffed in his pockets, head lowered as if in deep thought. his silhouette under the dim kitchen light, he seemed almost surreal, like a mirage she couldn’t quite believe was there.

she hesitated for a moment, her mind racing back to the texts they’d just exchanged. the words felt heavy, yet strangely comforting. sunghoon had always been a man of few words, but when he did speak, his honesty was raw, almost brutal. she appreciated that about him, even when it hurt.

he looked up as he heard her approach, their eyes locking for the first time in what felt like forever. yn’s breath caught in her throat. "hey," she greeted softly, offering a small, tentative smile.

"hey," he replied, his voice a low murmur. there was a long pause, each of them seemingly lost in their own thoughts.

"i didn’t mean to interrupt your night," sunghoon finally said, breaking the silence. "i just... i couldn’t wait any longer."

"i’m glad you reached out," yn admitted, feeling the tension between them ebb slightly. "honestly why i came to korea, needed to talk to you. been waiting for this."

sunghoon nodded, the corners of his lips twitching into a sad smile. "i know. and it’s my fault for pushing you away."

sighed, glancing down at the pavement. "it wasn’t just you. I played my part too. i mean i disappeared, i get why you would be upset."

he took a step closer, the proximity making yn’s heart race. "yeah. but still, i could’ve handled things better. i should’ve handled things better."

she could see the remorse in his eyes, the way he carried the weight of their past on his shoulders. it was clear that he had spent countless nights reflecting on everything that had happened, just as she had.

"why did you push me away, hoon?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. not one notice of the way she just called him hoon, this time right at his face.

sunghoon looked down, his expression conflicted. "i just, i thought... i thought it would be easier for both of us. you were moving on with your life, doing amazing things, and i didn’t want to hold you back. but i was wrong. all I did was hurt you, and hurt myself in the process." yn felt a pang of sadness in her chest, hearing the pain in his voice. she wanted to reach out, to hold him and tell him that it was okay, but she knew that they needed to have this conversation first.

"i was hurt, sunghoon. really hurt," she confessed, her voice trembling. "but I never stopped caring about you. i just didn’t know how to reach you anymore. after our breakup i lost sense of control over myself and life in general. i needed an escape and when you were that for me it was hard to look for one elsewhere. my parents thought it would be a good idea to go back to china, forget all about everything and move on. but i couldn’t. i didn’t want to, but i thought it was for the best, the best way to set you free. “

he nodded, taking a deep breath as if to steady himself. "i didn’t know. and I’m so sorry for that. i was too wrapped up in my own fears and insecurities to see how much you were hurting too. but we’re here now, and I want to make things right."

there was a sincerity in his voice that yn hadn’t heard in a long time. it was as if the walls he had built around himself were finally crumbling, revealing the vulnerable, caring person underneath.

"how do we move forward from this?" yn asked, her voice laced with uncertainty. "we’ve been through so much, and I don’t want to pretend that everything is okay when it’s not.”

sunghoon took another step closer, closing the distance between them. he reached out, gently taking her hand in his. the warmth of his touch sent a wave of emotions crashing over her, and she had to fight back tears.

"i don’t have all the answers, ynnie," he said softly, his thumb brushing over her knuckles. "but i know that i don’t want to lose you again. i don’t want to lose us. i’m willing to put in the work, to be better, if you’ll give me the chance."

yn looked up at him, searching his eyes for any hint of doubt, but all she saw was determination and sincerity. she could feel the walls around her own heart beginning to crumble, the hurt and anger she had been holding onto slowly dissipating.

"what about yunjin? she asked, afraid of the answer she was about to hear.

he took a deep breath, and nodded. "i don’t know anything about her, she was just someone i thought would get me through this heartache through pleasure. but since you’ve been gone life itself has no sense of meaning, purpose or pleasure."

they stood there for a moment, the silence between them no longer filled with tension, but with a sense of mutual understanding. It was as if the weight of their past was finally beginning to lift, allowing them to see the possibilities of what could be.

Taglist: @onlyhyunjin @iren3luvv @velvetkisscs @hoonatic @mitchii @do-you-remember-summer-127

[eeldritchblast]

(Belated) WIP Wednesday

Tagged by @razrogue ❤️ - here's a snippet of my Marin x Wyll x Karlach Avernus fic I'm very slowly working on!

Wyll was the type of person that you could easily tell when he was having a nightmare. Even Marin, who was notoriously bad at reading people, could see how pained his face was. Marin wondered what exactly bothered his sleeping self so much that he would look as hurt as he did, but didn’t have to wonder very long; she knew Wyll well enough by now to know it was Mizora. It was always Mizora. The cambion hunted them for sport for months now, sending her many minions after them, and on at least two occasions, bothered to show up herself. They had been lucky thus far, but Wyll couldn’t escape her in his dreams. Not when she still had a hold on him and his whereabouts, as long as he had his sending stone eye. According to Wyll, removing it was impossible, at least for the time being. The same magic that kept it lubricated also kept it firmly in place, and Mizora in contact with him anytime she pleased. “I hate seeing him like that, but I don’t want to wake him,” Karlach quietly voiced Marin’s own thoughts too. The tall tiefling woman looked even taller when she stretched out, her bones cracking in relief from laying on the hard ground. She was supposed to be sleeping as well, as it was Marin’s turn on watch. “He needs the sleep.” “So do you,” Marin said. “Nah,” Karlach waved it off, and admittedly, she was probably handling Avernus the best of the three of them—physically, at least. With her infernal engine heart pumping well and good, she barely got tired at all. Marin on the other hand, as a water genasi, felt like the dry, hot air was constantly sucking away her life. It made being intimate with Karlach a little more difficult, because she just didn’t have the energy to keep up. But Karlach was as patient as she was capable of being. Wyll stirred, and for a moment Marin cursed them for talking too loud, but he still did not wake. Marin watched Karlach slowly shuffle herself closer to him, and wipe at his forehead. Even in his sleep, somehow the touch was soothing to Wyll, as his jaw and fists unclenched. “He loves you, you know,” Marin whispered. “I know,” Karlach nodded with a soft smile, then looked up to meet Marin’s face. “He loves you, too.” The feeling was mutual. Marin thought back to the night she and Wyll danced together; the tension that hung in the air when their lips were so close to meeting. She wanted to kiss him so badly…

[solomons-poison]

my mind is going in circles right now

okok whats ur opinion on ex hubby sol and mephisto

i always type sol btw because it’s awkward writing his full name (dk whyy)

with mephisto there would be angst potential, maybe he let his pride get in his way and ended up hurting you along with his pride, he doesnt rlly believe in ‘divorce’ so he’ll try to act like nothing is wrong but inside of him its killing him, hes in denial, disbelief of himself and the whole situation

with sol i cant rlly imagine divorcing him (maybe bc im biased with him) but for the sake of this, there would be so much angst potential like so much, the first human in a very very long time he had deeply loved until it was all shattered by his own hands

jskajskaakao

Ohhhhhhh yes ex-husband angst, it just hurts so good.... (Sol is under the cut, this just got very long lol; also unintentionally wrote this as reader suggesting the divorce, cause both guys seem like ride-or-die with their partners to me and I cant see them bringing it up without good cause...)

Divorcing Mephisto would absolutely be so dramatic and very painful. He's either going to explode on you, yelling and gesturing wildly and maybe even making baseless accusations against you (that he will 100% regret later and you'll never forget what he said). Or he'll suddenly get unnaturally quiet/ignore or avoid you. Even if you need to get documents signed or need to talk about how to break up assets, etc, he avoids you at all costs. The only thing that might turn him around is if people start rumors about you or your relationship (or lack thereof), because he still cares about you and doesn't want your name slandered like that by others.

He'll definitely be in denial for a while, and hurt you that way by saying things like "you don't mean it/want this", "just give it some time and you'll see you're wrong". He absolutely won't listen to you until you have to get a third party involved that he can't ignore, like Diavolo. It is a super messy affair...

There would be so much tension between you two, and if the divorce is for anything other than falling out of love, I can bet there'd be a lot of instances of angry sudden makeout sessions or breakup sex tbh. If you're not careful, you might get stuck in a cycle of hookups/dating again and then sudden breakup.

—

Now, divorcing Solomon... He definitely isn't explosive like Mephisto would be. I can see him being very quiet about the whole ordeal, but the pain and sadness is so evident in his eyes. His smiles afterwards are all strained and forced. Cause you know that you were the light in his life, the color in his world that he had initially lost after becoming immortal.

I think initially, you two would come to an understanding about the divorce, it would be a mutual agreement with little argument or fights. But he will ask for some time to think about things beforehand (meaning time for you to think about it too). And don't get him wrong, he is absolutely upset about the whole ordeal. But it's not your fault that you feel the way you do, you have a right to be happy and he wants to support that. But it's definitely painful to him.

I think even after becoming a full fledged sorcerer, you two would still have a kind of mentor-student relationship since he's so knowledgeable about spells and magic. So during/after the divorce, he may want to stop teaching you because being in close quarters with you is too much to stand. As much as he wants to be by your side, it's so bad for his own mental health and he'll put distance between you two.

—

Like I said, these are kind of focused on reader wanting the divorce, for whatever reasons, just cause I can't really see either Mephisto or Solomon ever wanting to divorce, they'd try everything to make things right again. But if you have thoughts about it going the other way, I'm very interested. Sorry for the word vomit, I've been really into the ex-husband angst vibe recently and it's so bad for me lol

[clairelsonao3]

📖 WIP (Re)Intro and Masterlist: Good Slaves Never Break the Rules

Genre(s): M/F Romance, Slavery Whump, Alt-History

Target WC: ~200K?

Rated: M for mature. NSFW. Only intended for those 18 and older.

Summary

Louisa Phillips, daughter of a once-rich family in an alternate version of our world where slavery is an institution, is scrambling to save her university scholarship before she’s thrown out on the street. The only one who can help her is the nameless golden-haired slave downstairs, who, despite his surprising knowledge of organic chemistry, is stuck scrubbing toilets and building fences for her father.

Amid intense study sessions and long nights full of secrets, his wounded amber eyes, rippling whip-scarred body, and infuriating boldness draw her in like a lightning rod. But she’s forbidden from even being touched by him — as if there's any way she can stop at a touch.

The boy may have been whipped and beaten a thousand times, but it didn't stop him from pulling the strings to get here, find his missing sister, and take his revenge on those who stole her away. And though the last thing he needs is an attachment, if he has to use his master’s spoiled daughter to get that revenge, fine.

Except — damn — Louisa’s far from spoiled. She has a heart, and she’s learning to be brave. But as the two of them continue to collide, the only question is when they'll ignite their world — and whether they can help each other pick up the pieces when they do.

General CWs (these are NOT exhaustive): Institutionalized slavery, physical abuse/whump (the majority guy whump -- unfortunately for him! -- and a comparatively small amount of lady whump, with both male and female whumpers), consensual smut including light dom/sub, sexual assault of a male by a female, dehumanization, forced to watch, attempted rape/noncon and references to rape/noncon; references to underage sex, child sex abuse, and underage sex trafficking/exploitation; references to past kidnapping and murder; addiction and mental health issues.)

NO ABUSE/NONCON IS BETWEEN THE MCs. This is not that type of story. In fact, I like to think of this as a slavefic that has much more in common with mainstream romance than it does with most slavefics you might have come across. (In other words, it's a slavefic for people who think they don't like slavefic.)

Other tropes and elements, major and minor: Mutual pining, strangers to lovers, forbidden/secret love, touch her and die, forced proximity, medium burn, sexual tension, flirtatious banter, physical and emotional hurt/comfort, angst, LGBTQ+ rep, found family, fluff, dark and light humor, light academia, scientific and literary themes and discussions, plot twists, mystery/thriller elements, and a guaranteed happily ever after.

The tags on Ao3 go into much further detail so please read them before diving in, as well as the notes before the story and any chapter-specific CWs, which should give you a very good idea of what to expect.

Vibes

Cages, whips, and shackles vs. fuzzy pink pillows, perfume, and jewelry boxes

"How dare you talk to me that way."

Oops, turns out Daddy's newest investment property is actually a person — a really attractive person

Stealing glances and forbidden touch

Light academia in the desert

Power dynamics shifted and played out in the bedroom

Discovering new aspects of sexuality

Cactuses, mountains, palo verde, hummingbirds

Rocket science and chemistry labs

Gambits and speed chess

Shelves full of hardcover classical literature

"I don't need your help."

Eyes opened to the cruelty of the world

Red brick campus buildings among palm trees

"I'm not going anywhere."

"I wish you could see yourself the way I see you."

Desert wildflowers pressed into chemistry textbooks

Short, sharp shocks of pain

"I know what you want."

Burned, bruised, and bloodied hands

"How can we ever have a future?"

Learning to trust, confessing traumatic memories and showing scars

"You plan, I execute."

Forced to choose between everything you ever wanted and the person you love

Series

This is the first in a planned romance series, tentatively titled NEVER BROKEN, set in the same universe and starring different but connected characters.

Masterlist

At least until it's complete, the main story will remain exclusively on Ao3, but starting in October 2023 (and coinciding with my first Whumptober), I started cross-posting some selected GSNBTR bonus content on Tumblr, featuring the two MCs seen through the POVs of secondary characters and new characters.

These stories can also stand alone as they require no knowledge of the main work.

Aveline

A slave girl wistfully recalls an afternoon she spent with her master's son.

From the Moment I Could Talk, I Was Ordered to Listen (Whumptober Day 26)

A renowned professor of chemical physics visits a discount slave auction, looking for something very specific. But what he finds there is not quite what he had in mind.

With a Guarantee of Company (Whumptober Day 30)

A slave girl is caught in a compromising position with her master's daughter's crush and is forced to pay the price for it.

Tag

GSNBTR for responses to tag games, answered asks, teasers, art, and other miscellaneous content related to the story and its characters. Someday I hope I'll get around to cataloguing it all here.

[thebestfriendstoloverstrope]

i had a big ole inspiration strike in the shower and thought, what if S5 took the interruption trope that the stranger writers love so much for byler but made it vecna? ok bc let's say vecna's watching will (bc he is) and he will definitely try to thwart any character progression will could potentially make that would enable will to grow stronger (and more capable of defeating vecna)... and let's also say that ever since the big rift opened up, micro-fissures in the ground keep opening up randomly, which means you always have to be on your guard bc you never know when a mini rift will open up and make you fall into the upside down...

and let's say mike and will finally (after many episodes of mutual pining and building tension) have their Love Confession moment, and it's building up to it, and after a long conversation of them skirting around the point, will finally finds the courage to softly tell mike, "i think, for me... it's always been you" (with HEAVY romantic implications), and mike looks at him both with so much soft surprise but also so much hope, and mike steps closer to will, placing his hand on his cheek, and begins to say something back, but he doesn't make it past will's name because, SUDDENLY, they both startle as the ground begins to split apart beneath them, and their hands find each other's and they FRANTICALLY try to run away but then a vine lashes out of the upside down and winds itself around will's ankle, yanking him out of mike's grip and dragging him across asphalt into the rift, and mike nearly fell as will got pulled away for him so he's scrambling to get back on his feet, screaming "WILL!" and running after him, trying to grab him, as will cries out to mike and reaches out for mike's hands, but mike's fingertips barely graze will's before will disappears into the upside down, and we get a shot of mike from below as he screams will's name into where he disappeared into the gate

and THEN let's say, an episode later, will is facing off vecna in the upside down, but he isn't succeeding, and vecna's got him suspended in the air as the vines slither up will's body, wrapping themselves around him as they aim to shove themselves down will's throat again, and will is struggling so hard but this feels like this is it and tears are escaping out of tightly shut eyes and it HURTS and he's been in so much pain for so long, and maybe this is the end, and then!

THEN!

out of nowhere, vecna gets blasted away, and the impact breaks his concentration, so the vines release their hold on will and will falls, landing on his side with a gasp, and his eyes fly open to see mike, molotov cocktail in his hand, fury in his eyes, and mike mutters "eat shit, asshole" as he throws another cocktail at vecna. and it won't be enough, will knows that, but all he can think about is that mike is here, and god, does he love him, and as soon as the cocktail leaves mike's hand his gaze flies to will, and mike starts running straight at him, and will stumbles to his feet, and he lets out a "mike," but he can't get any further than that because mike's reached him and he's kissing him. he's got both hands cupped tenderly around will's jaw and he's pulling will's face closer to his and mike's kissing him. and it's all will can do to sob against mike's beautiful lips and bury his own hands into mike's hair, tugging him impossibly closer. and they kiss. they kiss, and they kiss, and will cries, and they kiss some more, and then, too soon, mike's pulling away, leaning his forehead against will's. will fights to catch his breath as mike asks, "you ok?" in the tone of voice he saves for will alone, thumbing away at the tear streaks down will's face, and will just breathes out a laugh. "never better," he replies, and mike laughs too, affectionately brushing his nose against will's.

they breathe the same air for a moment, basking in their finally actualized love, when mike blurts out, "me too", like he's finishing a conversation, and will just blinks at him, confused. "it's always been you for me, too." mike smiles down at him so fondly, and will feels himself tearing up again, his newfound joy so at odds with the hopelessness he felt moments before, and it swells up in him like the dawn breaking, and he doesn't know if he has the space within him to keep this happiness contained. "always has been, and always will," mike confesses into the space between him, and will laughs wetly, cheeks hurting at how big he's beaming, before lifting his face back up to kiss mike again. mike grins against will's lips, then kisses him more and more and more.

will never wants him to stop.

[mylittleredgirl]

🚀 dear space swap creator 🚀

thank you for whatever you will make for me! i hope you're excited about whatever we matched on.

i'm pretty easily delighted and like being surprised by things i did not consider, so you are welcome to take my suggestions and prompts as random inspiration or pitch them entirely in favor of whatever you want to create!

this letter is just a rewrite of my requests, but with the general likes/dislikes broken out in bullet points to be more legible.

anonymous asks are on for this account, so feel free to ask questions if you want! (& i forgot to write this in my main request, but in case anyone else is here from the exchange, treats are always loved!)

general things i love:

happy or hopeful endings

episode-related fic

pining (especially respectful no-i’m-definitely-NOT-jealous pining)

hurt/comfort (especially oh-my-god-you're-not-dead)

friendship & family fic

canon divergence

complications

5-times fic

anywhere in/post canon is fine but i do have a special love of early-season things in just about every show

all ratings welcome

i tend to really love all canon characters, so feel free to include friends and relations in the fic that aren't directly part of my requests

kinks enjoyed:

soft dom/sub (bondage & praise yes, pain & shaming no)

aliens made them do it (or equivalent)

overindulgence (food, drinks, whatevs)

masturbation (mutual, pining, voyeuristic, whatevs)

body image/weight gain/aging/body worship

i’ve never said no to a quality blow job or hand job fic

sweet i-love-you sex works for me too i'm not picky

general things i do NOT love:

permanent character death

hurt no comfort

crossovers except within the extended canon universe (crossovers between star trek series are welcome)

historical or supernatural AUs (no pride-and-prejudice or zombies)

supernatural elements are actually fine (like telepathy, psychic powers, soulmate stuff, etc) but i specifically want to avoid zombies & vampires

bashing of canon past relationships or other characters (if a character loved somebody else in canon, thumbs down to the "i never really loved them" trope). except sam carter's collection of terrible exes in stargate, i can live with that.

-

fandoms requested:

-

stargate atlantis

i'm equally fine with fic set in seasons 1-3, fics where "that just didn't happen," and AUs where elizabeth gets rescued! in rescue AUs i'm fine with "came back wrong" or suffering along the way as long as at her core she's elizabeth and it ends in a hopeful or happy way :)

some prompt ideas/things i think about in this fandom:

john and the challenge of giving/receiving affection or Having A Feeling in general

elizabeth should get to go off-world more

a little surprise telepathy/alien bonding rituals/interesting reactions to alien booze could do everyone some good

i’m always here for fix-it, hurt/comfort, and recovery fics.

-

stargate sg-1

mini!otp (clone sam/jack): i love them with some understandable existential angst, the tension between what they have lost and this new life they have, navigating a relationship when they spent so long NOT being in a relationship…

some ideas/things i think about with them:

i love the "this used to be normal but now it feels different" kind of injury or hurt/comfort trope for those two.

high school era is great, but i’m also really curious about what happens to them later -- how is it to be 20 or 25, when they were cloned at 15? at what point does this life feel like their own? are they still connected with the SGC? do they want to be?

pairing-specific DNWs: clone sam & jack changing their first names. i usually prefer fics where just sam & jack have been cloned, rather than it becoming an entire high-school AU.

classic sam/jack:

i loveeee episode-related fic (canon compliant or canon divergent!). i'm currently obsessed with "desperate measures" so i always prompt that one, but any episode is great, particularly seasons 1-8 since i haven't gotten to 9-10 yet!

piniiiiing especially if they mutually have to acknowledge it by the end

this pairing is always good for amtdi

pairing-specific DNWs: unexpected pregnancy or babyfic

-

star trek: picard

soji & kestra or soji & elnor

soji asha my beloved!!

i would love for her to heal, and i especially love "nepenthe" and how the troi-riker home would be such a perfect place for her to heal! and kestra, deanna, and will have their own things they're healing from, so i love the idea of this little family and was excited to see this tag in the tagset.

i have never really thought about soji & elnor's relationship, but it's a cool idea! for a big-idea kind of fic, what if they hadn't been left behind (effectively) in season two? for a smaller-idea kind of fic, what if they helped each other choose their next path in between seasons one and two? (either the direction they ultimately went in canon, or divergence of your choice…)

-

star trek: voyager

b'elanna/kes is a rarepair delight! with voyager i love everyone and am happy for any kind of canon divergence that keeps the family together (so if you choose to write kes staying into s4 and beyond, that's fine!)

kes has no preconceptions about klingons, so how does that affect how b'elanna sees herself?

anything at all to do with kes's powers

i've been thinking about kes aging, and how b'elanna's abandonment issues might bump up against a friendship or relationship with someone who she will probably outlive by quite a while...

i'm deeply convinced that the kes we see in "fury" is from a mirror universe (maybe not THE mirror universe, but maybe!) so that's an idea, but i would also be very happy to ignore "fury" entirely because it hurts me.

-

star trek: enterprise

i'm so shocked and delighted to see hoshi and travis show up in the tagset! i used to love them back in the day and genuinely thought i was the only one. they are SO SWEET in the tiny moments they have alone together, and would love to see anything you have to offer for them as friends or lovers or anything in between. some ideas off the top of my head:

something to do with her time recovering from her experience on the xindi weapon

five times hoshi and travis were alone (and/or in command) on the bridge

they should get to save the day once in a while, don't you think?

trip/t'pol prompt ideas:

t'pol lets trip help her in her ongoing recovery

how is it for them to be either on vulcan or on earth as a couple for the first time?

TELEPATH SEX TELEPATH SEX

trip survives his injuries in these are the voyages and that brings them back together

---

thank you again! i hope something in here inspires you (or inspires you to ignore it and do your own thing). see you on the flip side!

[brooksidecounseling1]

Overcoming Challenges Together: Couples Therapy in Provo

Relationships, while deeply rewarding, come with their own set of challenges. Life transitions, differing communication styles, stress, and emotional needs can sometimes create distance between partners. When left unaddressed, these issues can grow into significant obstacles that threaten the stability of a relationship. Fortunately, couples therapy offers a pathway to overcome these challenges, strengthen your bond, and ensure a healthy, lasting connection.

In Provo, couples facing a variety of difficulties turn to therapy to help them rebuild, repair, and reinvest in their relationships. At Brookside Counseling, we believe in the power of partnership and provide couples with the tools they need to navigate life's inevitable challenges together. In this post, we’ll explore the common struggles couples face, how therapy can help, and the long-term benefits of working through challenges with the support of a professional therapist.

Common Challenges Couples Face

Whether you've been together for years or are still in the early stages of your relationship, the road ahead can be filled with challenges. While some struggles may be temporary, others can become deeply ingrained if not properly addressed. Recognizing common challenges is an important first step toward understanding how therapy can support your relationship.

1. Communication Issues

One of the most frequent challenges in relationships is poor communication. Couples often struggle with expressing their thoughts, feelings, and needs in a way that their partner can hear and understand. Misunderstandings and assumptions can escalate tensions, leading to frustration, arguments, or emotional distance.

Many couples find themselves caught in unhealthy communication patterns, such as:

Stonewalling: Withdrawing from the conversation or emotionally shutting down.

Defensiveness: Responding to criticism by protecting oneself instead of listening.

Criticism: Using blame or accusations instead of discussing the issue at hand.

Contempt: Showing disrespect or disdain for one’s partner, often through sarcasm, mocking, or eye-rolling.

Improving communication is a key focus of Couples Therapy Provo, as it creates a foundation of mutual respect and understanding.

2. Trust Issues and Infidelity

Trust is a cornerstone of any healthy relationship, but when it’s broken, it can be incredibly difficult to rebuild. Trust issues can stem from infidelity, dishonesty, or broken promises. The emotional toll of betrayal can lead to anxiety, insecurity, and suspicion. Many couples who experience infidelity or a breach of trust feel like they’re stuck in a cycle of hurt and resentment.

Couples therapy provides a structured and safe space for partners to work through the pain, rebuild trust, and start fresh. While the healing process takes time, it’s possible to emerge from such challenges with a stronger, more resilient bond.

3. Emotional Distance

Over time, couples can grow apart emotionally, especially when they’re overwhelmed by daily stressors such as work, family obligations, or raising children. Emotional intimacy can suffer when partners no longer share their thoughts, feelings, or desires with each other. This lack of connection can lead to feelings of loneliness, frustration, and dissatisfaction within the relationship.

Therapy can help couples rediscover their emotional connection, deepen their bond, and reconnect on a deeper, more vulnerable level. Couples learn to express their needs and feelings, create more quality time together, and foster empathy and compassion.

4. Conflict Resolution Problems

Every couple will experience conflict, but how these conflicts are handled can make or break a relationship. Some couples have difficulty resolving disagreements constructively, which can result in escalating arguments or unresolved tension. Without healthy conflict resolution skills, issues can snowball, leading to long-term resentment.

In Couples Therapy Provo, you’ll learn how to approach disagreements in a healthy way. Therapists guide couples through techniques like:

Active listening: Ensuring both partners feel heard without judgment.

Compromise: Finding solutions that both partners can agree on.

De-escalation techniques: Keeping the conversation calm and respectful, even in heated moments.

Effective conflict resolution helps couples navigate the inevitable disagreements in relationships while maintaining mutual respect.

5. Life Transitions and External Stress

Major life changes, such as having children, moving to a new city, or career changes, can put immense strain on a relationship. These transitions can lead to stress, emotional exhaustion, and shifts in priorities, which sometimes create tension or feelings of imbalance between partners.

Therapy provides a safe space for couples to process life changes and find strategies for adapting to these transitions together. It also helps couples manage stress, avoid becoming overwhelmed, and support each other as they navigate new circumstances.

How Couples Therapy Can Help

Couples therapy offers numerous advantages when it comes to overcoming relationship challenges. Working with a trained therapist can help you identify underlying issues, improve communication, and develop healthier patterns of interaction. Here are some key ways therapy can support couples through difficult times:

1. Developing Healthy Communication Skills

One of the primary goals of Couples Therapy Provo is to improve communication. A skilled therapist will help you learn how to communicate openly and effectively without resorting to blame or defensiveness. You'll learn how to listen actively, express yourself clearly, and show empathy for your partner’s perspective.

By fostering healthy communication, couples therapy can prevent minor disagreements from escalating into major conflicts and help partners feel truly heard and understood.

2. Building Conflict Resolution Tools

Couples therapy equips partners with the skills needed to navigate conflicts in a productive way. Instead of avoiding arguments or letting them spiral out of control, therapy teaches couples how to approach disagreements in a way that promotes understanding and resolution.

Techniques like active listening, reflective responses, and assertiveness training can help couples stay calm and respectful, even during difficult conversations. Therapy also encourages finding win-win solutions that satisfy both partners’ needs.

3. Rebuilding Trust and Forgiveness

Trust issues, whether stemming from infidelity or other breaches, can create deep emotional wounds. Therapy provides a neutral space where both partners can process the pain, rebuild trust, and work toward forgiveness. A therapist helps each person understand their role in rebuilding trust, learn how to express their needs moving forward, and gradually restore confidence in each other.

Rebuilding trust is a gradual process, but therapy helps partners create a plan for healing and moving forward together.

4. Strengthening Emotional Intimacy

Emotional intimacy is essential for a strong and lasting connection. Through therapy, couples can learn how to express their feelings more openly, share vulnerabilities, and understand each other’s emotional needs. By fostering empathy and compassion, couples therapy helps partners reconnect and rebuild the closeness that may have been lost.

As emotional intimacy deepens, couples find that their physical connection improves as well. When partners feel truly seen and heard on an emotional level, the relationship becomes more satisfying overall.

5. Addressing Underlying Issues

Sometimes, relationship challenges are a symptom of deeper, unresolved issues. These could include childhood trauma, unresolved grief, or past relationship experiences that continue to influence how you relate to your partner. A therapist can help identify these underlying factors and work with you to address them in a healthy way.

By addressing root causes, couples can break free from destructive patterns and build a stronger, healthier relationship.

Therapy Options in Provo: Finding the Right Approach

When seeking couples therapy in Provo, it’s important to find an approach that fits your needs. At Brookside Counseling, we offer various evidence-based therapy methods to help you and your partner overcome challenges and grow together. Some of the approaches we use include:

Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT): Focuses on the emotional bond between partners and works to repair negative cycles that affect closeness and connection.

The Gottman Method: Based on research, this method helps couples improve communication, resolve conflict, and strengthen their friendship and intimacy.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Helps couples identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviors that may be affecting their relationship.

Solution-Focused Therapy: Focuses on finding practical solutions to specific problems, rather than delving deeply into past issues.

No matter what therapy approach you choose, our therapists at Brookside Counseling will work with you to tailor the experience to your unique relationship challenges.

Conclusion

Overcoming challenges together is a key component of a successful relationship. Whether you're struggling with communication, trust issues, emotional distance, or external stressors, couples therapy in Provo can provide the tools, support, and guidance needed to repair and strengthen your relationship. At Brookside Counseling, we’re committed to helping couples in Provo work through their difficulties and build a healthier, more fulfilling connection.

If you're ready to take the next step in overcoming challenges with your partner, contact us today to schedule an appointment. Together, we can work toward creating a relationship that stands the test of time.

[bloo-the-dragon]

Had an idea so i went and wrote a quick lil snippet for this draw!

@thedemonscrawler pspspsps >:3

~~~

It was going to be a beautiful day.

The sun was beginning to appear on the horizon, the clouds above becoming alight with a lovely mix of oranges reds and pinks. And Ruin watched it, golden rays akin to his own peeking up and over the distant mountains. The air was mostly still, apart from a soft breeze that rustled the tall trees surrounding the building of the plex and the road that led down to the city some miles away, the tall buildings peeking up between the early morning mist.

Yes. It was going to be a beautiful day. A pity he may not live long enough to see it through. But Ruin made his choice, and he had made his peace.

The deed was done. The moment he had pushed the button he felt as though a great weight had been lifted from his mind. But a heavier one settled deeply on his heart. Or whatever equivalent he had of it. Metaphors and all that.

He knew it would not be long til they came looking for him. Moon, Eclipse, Lunar, Sun perhaps. Not just them either. Any who would survive also. But that was ok. Ruin had completed his goal, his purpose. There was nothing left for him now. If his new purpose was to become a target for anothers revenge he would accept that. He could not say he was not deserving afterall.

Ruin did not expect forgiveness, nor did he truly wish for it. There wasn't anything he wanted anymore. He had nothing left to live for. To long for.

And yet… As the sunlight peeked ever higher and cast Ruin's body in its golden glow, the warmth seeped into his casing, driving out the chill the night had brought.

His hands grip at his arms, suddenly craving for a comfort he had so foolishly allowed himself to partake in. A cruel selfish want that he knew he could never recieve again.

Ruin wished he could regret having asked for it back then. Wished he could forget the warmth, the comfort it brought, easing tension that had built up over the long years of his turmulous life.

He knew there would be repercussion to his actions, some pain to endure. Ruin hadn't expeced it to happen so soon already. For it to hurt so much already. To be frank he thought he had been well prepared for it. But he hadn't calculated for this.

A small sad chuckle escaped his voice box, glitched and broken. The duel toned animatronic rubbed his arms as the breeze picked up a little and risked driving away the fragile warmth of the still rising sun.

To think that comfort came from one so cold too. The irony did not alude him. But Eclipse could give what he could not ask from anyone else. A mutual agreement between them, an understanding that they were both outcasts both untrusting of each other but also untrusted by everyone else.

Eclipse was certainly not very good in the hugging department though. He was uncertain, clumsy and awkward with his arm placement. But it was more than what Ruin could have ever asked for, ever needed. The clumsy awkward way Eclipse held him was an endearment he did not know he would grow to become so fond of.

And each time, with each hug for a moment, a very brief fleeting moment… Ruin would feel peace. True peace. Safety and warmth. Allowed to have a moment to just… forget. Everything. Held in the arms of another, and just allow himself to be lost in that for a temporary time.

It was meant to only be a one time thing. A single moment because everything had simply become too much between Moon scraping and clawing through his head digging around like a farmer looking for golden eggs in a goose, and Ruin being so close to achieving his goal that was suddenly very close to coming into jeopardy all because of the lunar animatronic's aggressive paranoia.

Ruin couldn't blame him though. He was right afterall. But it still hurt, was still immensely stressful and very invasive. He wouldn't wish that on anyone, not even his worst enemy. It was a cruel thing to pluck through ones mind as one might a book, digging for the secrets.

It had taken every ounce of self control Ruin had to not have a complete breakdown during the process. If he had he could have very easily let slip his plans and he would have died before having a chance to complete them.

Another sad glitchy chuckle and Ruin clung to himself tighter, trying to focus desperately on the warmth of the sun still shining upon his frame. His thoughts had wondered but only small time had passed outside. Perks of hyper fast thinking processors.

He couldn't help it. He missed it. He craved the comfort again. He had allowed himself to indulge in that comfort and now he could not be rid of the want for it. He would never be able to ask for it again. In fact his and Eclipse's next meeting could very well be the dark orange animatronic slowly tearing him apart. If Moon didn't get to him first.

He didn't want to think about that right now. So Ruin shut his eyes, focused on the warmth, soaking it up as much as possible. This would be the final time he would be able to afterall.

For a brief moment he imagined he was back again, being held in a warm secure, albeit clumsy embrace. A final hug. A final farewell. The ghostly feeling of arms wrapping around him from behind, a head crowned with orange rays pressing against the back of his own. Ruin dared not open his eyes. He knew it was an illusion. But he wanted to pretend. Just for a moment, that he was not alone.

He was good at pretending afterall.

It was going to be a beautiful day.

Lil gift for @thedemonscrawler inspired by their sams fic Beggars Can't be Choosers (butters i'm dying /pos)

(Speedpaint under cut)