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somejazzinthemorning · 1 year

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tightrope. 07

Pairing: Carlos Sainz x Original Female Character Warnings: Foul language; Word Count: ~11.6K Previous chapter: 06.

The run had completely exhausted me. Steep hills were clearly not my strong point, but I couldn't say the effort wasn't worth it. The line of the horizon fused with whatever lines we’d woven for ourselves, which had divided the two parallel lives we lived away from each other’s gaze.

Although having him around was challenging, I felt lighter. Experiencing the person he had become, mature and adult, but still so him, made me proud and sad in the same measure. Nonetheless, that talk and confrontation were needed. I needed that, to see and listen to that other side of him and learn to trust it. That other side, the version of him that took shape in these last years. Sainz.

It was Sainz that I couldn’t trust. Not Carlos, not Chili as we used to call him. Sainz. The night before, during the match, I had seen a fraction of Carlos when he put his hand on my thigh and made sure I was comfortable with the guests, a fraction of Chili when he got me a beer without me asking, and then a lot of Sainz each time the people around us tried, forcefully and some times even embarrassingly, to get his attention.

It didn’t matter the glimmers of hope that having him around brought me, there was still a barrier. The fall was too big to risk and the rope was held too high. And yet, having him back seemed to offer a glimpse of stability in a life that had become increasingly unsteady.

Rio was leaving, the unpredictability of my career was taking a toll on me and everything else seemed to be constantly shifting. In the midst of all that chaos, the possibility of Carlos staying around was like an anchor that kept me from being swept away.

The fear of getting hurt again was still there, lurking beneath the surface, but for better or for worse, Carlos Sainz had once again become a fixture in my life, and I couldn't help but wonder what the future held for us.

That afternoon, after lunch, I fell asleep near the pool, and my feet dipped in the water.

I woke up to the sound of two loud motors, a distinct sharp noise. They were not cars or jetskis. I sat up and looked around, half of me still battling laziness and sleepiness, another part of me completely annoyed by being woken up by that sound.

Marjorie, who I gathered had been asleep in one of the loungers, grunted while getting up. “What the actual f—” and then her tone shifted, “Hi babe!”

I looked behind me; my brother was standing on the terrace, at the top of the stairs.

“We got two bikes!” Rio proudly announced.

“You got what?” Her ginger hair fell in waves on her back.

“Two bikes, for me and Chili.” He pointed with his thumb to the path leading to the front of the house. “Let’s go for a ride.”

“Weren’t you two supposed to go to the market?”

“Evita, come oooon. We couldn’t let the opportunity escape.” I looked at Marjorie, confused and she was looking at me too, with sleepy eyes and frowned brown. “Andiamo, ragazze!”

Marjorie motioned with her head and I got up from the sponge mattress I’d laid down on the grass. The fabric was hot to the touch. I dragged it to one of the loungers before turning back to my brother who impatiently waited.

“Where did you even find the bikes?” I asked him.

“We rented them.”

I looked up, my hands on the straps of my sandals. Carlos appeared behind Rio, holding what seemed to be two pairs of leather gloves and a white helmet. He passed one of the pairs to my brother and instantly, a childish grin took his features; his eyes glistening like a little kid on a Christmas morning.

“Nice,” he said under his breath.

I made my way up the stairs fixing the creases on my dress, tight but fresh, crocheted in summery clothes. Marjorie and I had spent the early hours of the afternoon on the sea, and then laid down for a nap near the pool, in the shadow of the trees in the garden. My hair, in a braid, was still a bit wet, falling over my shoulder.

“Are you even allowed to ride a bike during summer break?”

Rio looked down at me, and then at Carlos and me again. “Help me here, mate,” he extended his hand to the Spaniard and while Carlos helped him with the strap, he said: “It’s just a bike ride. We need to get his back tomorrow.”

Marjorie turned to the guys and called out, "Carlos?”

I looked over to see my sister-in-law motioning towards me, silently asking for his confirmation. "It's just a ride to the market and back," he reassured me, "relax, just a stroll." I let out a defeated sigh and glanced over to Marjorie, who simply shrugged in response. "The bikes are in front," he informed us.

As I walked towards the front of the house, I saw the bikes and three more helmets parked in the shadow next to Carlos' car. Carlos himself was already getting on his bike, putting on his leather gloves and white helmet, his hair slightly dishevelled but somehow still looking impeccable. Damn him and his hair. He then donned his Ray-Bans.

A couple of steps away, Rio had already started his engine.

Carlos extended the last helmet to me. "Come on. It'll be fun.”

I took the helmet and then his hand, hopping on the bike behind him. A rush of excitement ran through me, though it was tempered with a tinge of nervousness. He placed his right hand on my thigh, the warmth of his skin seeping through mine. He turned his head back to me. "Ready?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be.”

The wind blew through my hair as we rode along the narrow path leading to the main road. I held onto Carlos' waist tightly, feeling the muscles under his shirt tense as we swerved around sharp corners. I let my arms wrap around his waist, my hands meeting each other on his abdomen. We rode in silence for a few minutes, the only sounds being the hum of the engine and the rush of air in my ears. The scent of the sea melded with the smells of oil and rubber, as well as Carlos' cologne. The notes of sandalwood grew more intense with the heat and the sweat.

It didn’t take us long to arrive at the familiar market, planted near a small village bathed by the Mediterranean. Rio and Marjorie had already parked their bike and were waiting for us. Carlos parked next to them.

"Not that bad, huh?" my brother's voice roared over the sound of the engine, approaching us to help me dismount. "Drama queen."

“Not bad.”

“I could get used to this, actually,” Carlos said.

I snorted, undoing the straps of my helmet. “Nah, you couldn’t.”

Carlos took off his helmet, running his fingers through his hair, and I couldn't help but notice the way the sunlight caught the highlights in his hair. “Why not?”

“I think this is the first time I’ve seen you ride a bike.”

“And?” He extended his hand and took my helmet out of my hands.

“If it was not for Rio, you wouldn’t rent it, in the first place. Let alone buy one.”

“Did you hear this?” He asked my brother.

“And she’s right.”

As Carlos chuckled, he reached into his pocket, tucking his gloves away as we strolled towards the bustling market. The sound of waves crashing against the shore grew louder with each step, and the sweet scent of ripe fruit tickled my senses, making my stomach growl in anticipation.

The market was bustling with locals and tourists alike, the stalls selling everything from fruit, to fresh seafood and handmade crafts. The air was thick with the mingling of scents and languages, creating an atmosphere that was full of the Mediterranean's enchanting charm that I missed so dearly.

As we wandered, Rio and Carlos drifted ahead. Meanwhile, Marjorie and I lingered at each stall, taking in the sights and sounds, chatting with the sellers, and breathing in the fragrant aromas. Our organic net bags were already heavy when we found the guy—Rio on his phone, and Carlos hunched over one of the stalls. Marjorie stopped next to Rio, and I walked over to the stall, sneaking in being Carlos.

“Oh, the sign says they’re the sweetest in the market,” I said. Carlos turned to me, holding a small bunch of grapes. I motioned to another stall not too far away, “they all say the same.”

The Spaniard raised the bunch of grapes to the level of his eyes. “They look pretty good to me.”

“But are they the sweetest?” I replied, my tone teasing.

He plucked a grape from the bunch, his grin wide and eyebrows raised playfully. "Let's find out."

A Spanish song that I didn’t know was playing on the radio set over a crate of fruit, and a tired, melancholy whistling could be heard accompanying the melody. I looked around. With his eyes on a newspaper, an old man was sitting on a wooden bench; a coffee stain on the sleeve of his shirt rolled up to his elbows.

“You can’t eat the grapes…” I whispered, my eyes drifting from the old man to the handsome, way younger Spaniard in front of me. Carlos teased me, opening his mouth. I frowned.

“You eat it, then,” he held it out to me. I shook my head. “He won’t go after a lady. Come on.”

I hesitated for a moment, but the whistling continued, and the man seemed too distracted with the news to pay attention to two tourists in his stall. Carlos’ eyes flickered with something I couldn’t quite understand, his expression becoming sterner as I leaned him, grabbed the grape from his pinch and popped it in my mouth.

It burst with flavour, the sweetness tingling on my tongue, making me close my eyes in pleasure. Carlos' grin widened, and he plucked another grape, offering it to me again.

"You know what, the sign might be actually telling the truth.”

“Should I have this one?”

“Hm, hm,” I nodded, reaching for another one, from the small bunch he was holding. He, too, reached for another grape. My eyes drifted from his portrait to his slender fingers, taking their time picking one of the half dozen left in the saturated red bunch.

But instead of hearing a pleasurable hum coming from his lips, the old man’s voice permeated the moment. He was now hobbling over to the stall, eyes flashing with annoyance.

“¡Que cosa! Look at the sign!” The old man harrumphed, pointing to another sign. “No eating before paying!”

“Oh, no, I—”

“Lo siento, señor,” Carlos turned around, interrupting me. “We’re just…”

The old man's eyes widened, and he took both hands to his head. "Ay! Carlos Sainz!" he exclaimed, rushing over to us in fast, unsteady steps. Carlos looked at me, his embarrassment resembled in his shaky grin.

Carlos chuckled, "Yes, that's me."

"My grandson loves you!" The old man beamed, gesturing to a small frame next to the radio, a small boy was smiling in the picture and then shook Carlos’ hand vigorously. "He always wants to watch you on TV. And your father! Your father is a legend." The man looked around. “Is he around by any chance?”

“No, no,” Carlos pointed at me, and then at the couple waiting for us not too far away. “Just the four of us, for today. And let me apologize for the grapes, we’re going to pay for them.”

The old man just waved his hand dismissively, "No, no, it's okay. Keep them!” His voice softened, noticing Carlos wouldn’t accept to take the fruit. “It’s my offer. Please, take them. And take this, too." He then reached behind the stall and pulled out a small basket. His hand, wrinkly and hairy, hovered on top of the fruit. “Do you like figs?”

The bright colours caught my attention. The smell, the colours, the music coming from the radio, so slow and light, stretching through the air. It felt like being trapped in a living painting.

“Eva,” I heard Carlos. I hadn't noticed he was looking at me before. “Do you like figs?” And then, motioned to the old man, waiting for my reply.

“I’m sorry. I do, I love figs.”

The old man's grin widened. “Come close, try one.”

The old man opened it up for me. I took a bite. Soft and juicy, with a delicate sweetness that was almost addictive. As I bit on it, the juice ran down my fingers, creating a thin, sweet, shiny film around my lips and fingers. I couldn't resist licking them, savouring the sweet nectar and the way it clung to my skin. I couldn't help but feel a little self-conscious under Carlos' intense gaze. His eyes bore into me, fixated on the way my lips wrapped around my thumb. It was like he was watching my every move, studying my every expression, trying to decipher my thoughts.

I couldn't help but feel a little flustered under his gaze, but at the same time, I couldn't deny the thrill that ran through me. There was something about the way he looked at me. Intense and magnetic, that sent shivers down my spine.

Carlos cleared his throat, breaking me out of my reverie, and turned to the stall once again.

"Yeah. We will take some figs.”

Wednesday was slow.

Heart beating fast, but reality danced around us at a slow pace.

What can one do when reality tastes like figs and smells like the sea and sandalwood?

It was not just the figs and the sea air, and the cologne. It was not just the Mediterranean light or the aura that so easily takes us over. It was the way he looked at me. The adoring gaze, that I knew from before, but was now tainted by a thin layer of lust, tick enough to cloud my senses and drive me into spirals.

Thursday passed in a breeze; I only saw him for dinner, as he spent all day golfing with the boys. And then came Friday.

Like some other days, we were at home. We spent the day alternating between basking in the sun on the yacht, driving around in jetskis or diving into the crystal-clear water. Easy.

It was easier when we were at home.

The trees and the sea shielded us from reality and for a time we could simply live without worrying about curious eyes or unwelcomed lenses. I liked that. To be locked away from the world in a reality moulded to us, for us.

On top of that, seeing my friends talk in the garden, or joke around in the yacht, wearing swimsuits with a beer in hand, and walking around barefoot not worrying about anything else but the moment, reminded me of the little family we once were. I loved our bubble, where no one was famous and no friendships had been torn apart by distance.

Like I did every day, I texted a photo to my mom — Rio laid in a hammock, with the sea as the background, but this time she texted me back saying she should have accepted Reye’s invitation to spend a few days there. I said she should have, it would have been nice for them.

And then I read the messages Lin and Nicola had left in our group chat, avoiding all the questions about Carlos, because there were a lot of them. And finally, I called Amanda, trying to assure her I was in fact enjoying the vacation and was not locked in the office. I think I spent half an hour talking to her, filling her up on the events of the recent days before my brother interrupted me.

“C’mon. Volleyball,” Rio stood between me and the sun, putting a shadow over me and shielding my skin from the warm kiss of the sun. “Carlos wants to play. Vamos.”

Amanda said goodbye in a hurry, probably after listening to Rio’s voice. I left my phone on the side and sat up on the lounger, facing Rio that was already standing in his blue swimming trunks with an orange and yellow volleyball under his arm.

“And what do I have to do with that?”

“We’re uneven.”

“Well, stay with me and Carlos plays in your place.”

In response to my suggestion, my brother just shrugged and looked behind him at Guillermo, Blanca’s boyfriend, helping Carlos assemble the net. My attention was grabbed by Marjorie, running down the stairs with her ginger hair arranged in a messy french braid and wearing a long shirt over her black swimsuit.

“Eva! C’mon, lass,” she screamed, joining Carlos and Guillermo next to the net.

“Volleyball isn’t played with teams of four!” I screamed back, making Rio sigh again, this time threatening to throw the ball in my direction. I just put both my hands in front of my face, in an instinct to protect myself. “Tell me I’m wrong.”

“DiMaggio versus Sainz,” Carlos screamed from the other side of the garden. The net was set and he was standing next to Marjorie.

“Ah, you traitor,” Blanca interjected, joining her boyfriend on the other side of the net. Ana and Rodrigo joined them too.

Rio looked back at me, his eyebrow raised in a defiant expression and the victorious look of someone who knows that had won a battle. He knew I couldn’t say no, especially now that everybody was ready and waiting for me, and there was an actual challenge. As I went past him, I took the ball from his hands, hearing in response a couple of Italian curse words and a strident laugh from Marjorie.

Carlos, on the other side of the net, smiled at me. “See?” he asked Marjorie. “All it takes is adding a bit of competition and she changes her mind.”

“I won’t forget you’re the enemy, Sainz,” I threw the ball at him. “You serve.”

That didn’t take the smile away from his face. Marjorie ran to her position in front of her husband and I went to her side. I looked at Carlos as he spun the ball in his hands and threw it in the air.

The following moments rolled in slow motion. His arms extended over his head and his hair moved graciously with his jump. With the sound of the impact of his hand on the synthetic leather of the ball, a wave crashed over me. My eyes ventured along the lines of his body; it was inevitable to not admire the way his arms contracted or the way his movement revealed a patch of paler skin, covered with a light brown fuzz, just above the waistband of his shorts.

The lines, the sumptuously curved outlines of him. His body seemed to be sculpted with the sole purpose of making me desire him.

I turned my head to the other side of the net, my eyes following the ball, fully committed to the game, but I couldn’t forget Carlos was there, always two steps away from me. I tried to dodge him every time we got too close, always looking back to be sure I wouldn’t have to feel his sweaty skin against mine.

Every cell of my body buzzed just from that idea.

I wanted it more than I cared to admit.

Even to myself.

In the intervals between points, Marjorie and Rio would kiss or hug each other. In the meantime, Carlos would approach me with a smile and an open hand for a high-five and our eyes would lock. No words, nothing. Just a casual glance and I would feel myself melting inside. Everything else faded in comparison. The conversations, the laughs, the screams and the insults. Each time his eyes landed on me, everything went silent. And I realised a big part of why I enjoyed that little bubble was because Carlos was with me in it and, for the first time in a while, none of us was trying to burst it.

“Last one,” Blanca was the one to call it and, although we had a pretty good advantage, I knew we wanted that last point on our side. “We need to leave in two hours.”

Rodrigo took the ball in his hand and I moved to my place. I could see Blanca on the other side of the net, her hair tied in a messy ponytail. In a couple of seconds, her face became a blur and the screams and the laughs came back in a rush.

“Eva!” Marjorie screamed my name and I knew I was the only one who could reach the ball. I ran to the net, ready to block their move and all of a sudden, a strong grip on both sides of my waist.

Arms extended over my head, hands ready to take the impact and my mind desperately trying to ignore his strong firm hands. The ball fell on the floor on the other side and, quicker than that, I felt my feet on the ground and my back going against Carlos’ chest. Instantly, his arms wrapped around my body, stopping me from falling.

I turned around, my eyes locked with his. My eyes refused to let go of his, my body was unresponsive to anything but the warmth of his embrace. I looked down, at my hands on his chest. I could feel his heartbeat on my digits. His sweat on my palms. Jesus.

I knew he felt it too.

“Good team effort,” he whispered.

Rio screamed victory, I took a step back. The bubble burst.

Carlos turned his back, not before winking at me, and then walked to Marjorie and Rio and I, still trying to recollect myself and drift back to reality, went back to my sun lounger, where my phone and water bottle rested in the shadow. I sat down, had a sip of the water and looked at the group, each individual following their own path. Guillermo and Carlos stayed there to take down the net, I went inside.

The skin of my palms tingled.

Even under the cold brush of the water, I could feel the beating of his heart on my digits and the fire his touch had ignited on my skin. I was down bad, horrendously bad. Not even a cold shower could bring me back on my feet.

Carlos had made his point straight, with words and gestures both.

The brush of his fingers on my arm during the flight. The touch under the table. His piercing gaze. The grip on my waist that afternoon. That was his way of showing it. He would not cross any line, but he was not going to back down.

And I hoped, God, I really hoped, I was reading it right.

I promised myself to make an effort to understand that whatever lines we’d drawn for ourselves weren’t eternal. They were just as ephemeral as every moment we chose to share with each other and so, they were capable of being erased and forgotten.

Dropping my barriers and welcoming the idea of trusting him again wouldn’t be as difficult as forcing him back out once again, now that he’d settled himself under a comfortable light in my mind. He was going back to being Carlos again. The boy next door and my brother’s best friend. Not the cocky, egoistic and overly busy Ferrari driver.

I left the room after being called twice by Rio, the first of all of us to get ready. He’d sit on my bed for a while, waiting for me to get ready and complain about my make-up and the dress I’d chosen. Rio was just like my dad—a fan of simplicity. He even made me spin in front of him, in the dusty pink backless dress, to make sure it wasn’t too revealing for the occasion.

We stopped as soon as we reached the entrance hall, where a portion of the group had already gathered. Guillermo and Rodrigo were already waiting outside, having a casual conversation by the car which keys were already in Blanca's hand. The keys to the other car, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio that Carlos had been driving over the last few days, still remained in the decorative bowl on the console.

“You haven’t decided on the ride, yet?” Rio sounded annoyed, a short sight leaving his lips before sitting next to his wife on the sage chaise lounge in front of the console.

“What’s the deal? Why isn’t Carlos driving?” I asked.

“They are eighteen again,” Marjorie mumbled, slightly irritated.

“We deserve a proper boys’ night,” my brother corrected her, his arm wrapping around Marjorie’s shoulders and giving her a small kiss on the cheek. “Where’s he, anyway?”

“On the phone,” Blanca replied. “We’re late. Do you want to call a cab?”

“No need, I can drive,” I said, walking to the console and taking the keys. “It’s fine.”

My brother and Marjorie followed Ana and Blanca outside, their silhouettes disappearing against the sunlight cast on the driveway. Before entering the car, the older shouted. “The car’s parked in the garage!”

With them outside, Carlos’ voice was clear, echoing in the space. It was easy to find him.

“We need to leave,” his eyes met mine the second I walked through the archway that led to the kitchen. He was putting his phone in the pocket of his dark jeans, standing near a window. “We’re already late.”

“Okay, let’s go, then,” he walked to me, extending his hand in my direction.

“We agreed I was going to drive,” I closed my hand around the keys and he stopped in front of me.

He frowned. “I don’t care. I’m driving.”

I took a deep breath and looked at him before speaking. Bad choice. He had his usual smile on his lips, a sweet smile that in the blink of an eye became a smirk full of meaning. I narrowed my eyes, my grip on the keys getting stronger.

“I do. I’m driving.”

Carlos took a step forward, getting closer to me. I had to raise my head a bit more to maintain eye contact. Annoying bastard. I rolled my eyes at his attempt to make himself look intimidating, or whatever it was he was trying to do.

“Drop it.” He glanced at my hand. “You know I don’t like being driven around, especially in my own car.”

“I’m holding the keys. Unless you take them from me, I’ll be driving.” Carlos didn’t move an inch. “We can stay here until you get tired.”

"Is that a challenge?"

"Try me."

Joder. He relaxed his eyebrows and his smirk grew bigger. The next thing I knew, the air around us was being charged with electricity as his hazel eyes locked onto mine like he was trying to read my soul. God damn you. His sweet, tender gaze had turned into something darker, something so much deeper.

He took another step and, once again, he was dangerously close. This time I wouldn’t mind if he erased all the lines and barriers and dropped all my shields himself. His thumb rubbed the back of my hand. My eyes couldn’t leave his face. I was petrified at the moment, drifting away from all the negative feelings and diving into him. He leaned in and, for a second that seemed to last an eternity, I thought he was going to kiss me.

But he didn’t.

And I had opened my hand, just enough for him to take the key from my hand before I was able to understand what had just happened.

“Don’t worry. I won’t do it,” Carlos’ lips were brushing against my ear. My eyes were open wide, looking into the void. “Learn the lesson the first time.”

He left the kitchen. I just shook my head, my mind completely bereft of everything but the electricity his little move had filled my body with. I took a deep breath and resigned to the fact he had taken the best of me. I would’ve found that funny if I wasn’t completely flustered. Fucking idiot.

We had been invited to a party by one of Carlos’ friends.

There was a small group waiting for us, from which I recognized a fair share of faces from that night. From the way the group welcomed Carlos, one would think the party had been thrown for him or by him. The host had even reserved him a parking spot on the driveway. Blanca had no such luck; she parked outside, on the road.

The house was not too far away from Costa del Pins and, just like the Sainzes’, it was located on a hillside and offered a nice view of the serene sea, still clear blue and dancing with ease against the rocks. From the driveway, standing next to my brother and Marjorie, I admired the house. My gaze continuously shifted from the building to Carlos, whose attention resided on a blonde girl, Mila, to who we were introduced the night of the match. They seemed to get along well.

For a second, I regretted leaving so early that night.

Just minutes before he had been so close to me that I felt inebriated by his perfume, almost dizzy just from experiencing him so close, and now there he was, walking alongside this girl with too much make-up and a sad sense of fashion.

Jealously doesn’t look pretty on me.

And I was not even sure why I was jealous.

As we walked across the stone path that lead us to the terrace at the back of the house, the music got louder and the voices and laughter became more clear. Rio and Marjorie were too busy with each other, as usual, and Blanca and Ana were talking about something I couldn’t find interest in simply because my eyes couldn’t leave the man walking ahead of us and the blonde on his side.

“Sainz!” The German accent that shouted out was strong. It stole Carlos’ attention and, consecutively, mine. I remembered that face from the night before and quickly realized that the German rally driver a.k.a. The Guy, was our host for the night. “You came, ’migo!”

Of course, Carlos pulled him for a hug, like they hadn't seen each other in forever. Suddenly, everything he did made me angry. Every drop of resentment was coming back. I was jealous and although I was doing everything to look like I wasn’t, I didn’t bother to convince myself otherwise.

“You already know them, no?” Carlos pointed to us. Rio hugged him as well and Marjorie did the same with her usual enthusiasm. Blanca and Ana were more simple – a polite kiss on the cheek was more than enough. Their boyfriends opted for a handshake.

When I approached him, the guy had a smile on his face. His eyes sparkled when I smiled at him too. I kissed his cheeks, once on each side. “I’m Eva.”

“DiMaggio, I remember,” he completed. “If Sainz didn’t steal all of our attention yesterday, I’d have more things to recall about you.”

“He likes the attention,” I think my eyes drifted to the girl for a second. “You’ll get used to it.”

His name hadn’t yet come to my mind. I couldn’t remember much from last night, not even who was the team Real had played against because, as the German said, Carlos had been the only thing I cared to pay attention to.

The guy only chuckled at my comment and patted Sainz on the back. “Call for me if you need anything. I’ll be around.” Then, he turned back to me. “You don’t need to call, I’ll have an eye on you at all times.”

That was a surprise, I’ll admit. The words drew a small laugh and a nod on my part. “I’ll remember that.”

When the guy turned around, Marjorie came up to me. Her ginger hair was tied in a high ponytail that fell over her bare shoulder. She looked at me with a big smile.

“Uwe’s into you!” Uwe. That was his name. Too unusual for me to simply remember. “Be sure to have some fun today.”

“He’s too… German?” I pondered, watching him disappear in the crowd; his shirt, with an awful pattern, disappeared with him.

“He’s quite a character, I know…” she paused. “But you probably won’t see him again, ever.”

That was a good argument, I’ll give her that, but it also reminded me of a certain Italian driver, whose presence had been lingering on my mind since the morning I’d left Imola. I tried not to think about him, which was not that hard considering that Carlos monopolized my attention the last few days, but I couldn’t help thinking about why he didn’t say anything about that poor spectacle in my hotel room.

I knew I would see Pulcini again and it didn’t stop me from anything.

On the other hand, I was pretty drunk that night and tonight I couldn’t even drink half as much. Also, Carlos was right there. If the mere memory of him had made me leave Andreas in a bathroom stall, I couldn’t tell what his presence would provoke. But, to be honest, if the blonde didn’t leave his side, I would probably sleep with Uwe just out of spite.

As I said, jealousy doesn’t look pretty on me.

“This may sound terrible, but I don’t remember all the names from last night. Could you reintroduce me to your friends?” Oh, her voice was annoying. My gaze drifted to her and then to him. Rio, standing next to Carlos was the first to step closer and introduce himself. Carlos made her a favour by introducing the rest of us. “I’m Mila, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” she said in return.

I couldn't do more than just smile before excusing myself and leaving the group. Marjorie walked by my side, accompanying me to the bar on the right side where the guests were talking and swinging to the music.

Everybody seemed to know everybody. During the short walk, Blanca and Ana stopped multiple times to hug a few friends and introduce me and Marjorie to the ones we didn’t yet get to know. The good looks and the expensive perfumes were abundant. It actually seemed like it was the ideal night to have some fun.

An hour had already passed while we sat on the couches near the bar and my feet were already complaining. It surprised me how easy it was to get lost in the small talk, especially when the people around turned out to be more interesting than I thought. I accepted two flutes of champagne. That was plenty to get just loose enough to enjoy the party without getting drunk.

Every time my eyes met Carlos, he was always surrounded by a different small crowd, but the blonde girl was always there, right at his right side. Each time I laid my eyes on them it was a reminder of his status and the rumours that often appeared connected to his name all around social media. They’d gotten worse after Carlos signed for Ferrari and because we hardly saw each other since then, and I refused to say his name or talk about him with his sisters or my brother, there was no way of knowing if those rumours were real or just fabricated lies the fans made to entertain themselves.

Either way, Mia, Mila, or whatever her name was, didn’t leave his side. There was no way of denying that she really wanted his attention all for herself and, unlike the photos that occasionally appeared online, this time I could see them crystal clear. No blur or too much grain.

“Those meetings you’ve been having…” Blanca captured my attention, “work or race-related?”

“Normal work, nothing exciting,” I let her know. Marjorie and Blanca seemed appeased with the answer too. “I’m trying to not worry about racing, just for one week.”

“You deserve a real break,” the younger of the Sainzes took a sip of her drink. “And that includes tonight. I don’t wanna talk about work, especially when we know Eva is having a hard time.”

“No, it’s fine,” I said, my back hitting the soft fabric of the couch. “I haven’t asked you yet,” my attention drifted to Marjorie, looking at me with a confused look on her face. “How are you handling all of this?”

“Oh,” a pause, then a sip. Then, she let the cup meet the mate black coaster placed on the table and played with the napkin at its side. “Not bad.”

I narrowed my eyes. “That means it’s not going well.”

“It’s not bad,” she repeated herself. “These last days have been amazing, I feel like I’m rediscovering my husband. At the same time, it feels like a goodbye, you know?”

Ana and Blanca shared a look. I think they felt displaced. They barely knew Marjorie and the last days didn’t give them enough time to understand the dynamics of her marriage with my brother.

“I mean,” she continued and quickly stopped again, almost like she was analysing what to say, or how to say it. I felt her eyes drifting to the man standing a few feet ahead, leaning to the railing on the other side of the terrace and accompanied by a blonde who was still laughing too much at his words and I quickly understood where the conversation was leading. “Look what the distance did to you and Carlos.”

“Carlos and I were never married. Not even— Don’t go there.”

“Nevertheless,” she kept going, “I have two kids at home and Fabrizio wants to move to Italy. We’re talking about it, but it seems wise to move. At the same time, I see what all of this did to you two and you were not even married,” she rebated my point with the same argument. “It’s hard enough when he travels two weekends in the same month. How am I supposed to deal with having him home for only two weeks a month, if I get those two weeks?”

Fair point.

“We’re married. I’ll miss him, as a husband,” she sighed. “And the babies... you know.”

I blinked, no words left to be spoken. I knew. I didn’t miss Carlos as a husband, nor as a boyfriend, but I’d missed him. In the beginning, those phone calls and facetime sessions made the feeling grow, but the love I felt for him grew at the same rate as the longing. I’d missed him as much as I’d loved him. So I couldn’t picture what the future would be like for Marjorie.

“I don’t know if it helps,” Blanca said, “but our father wasn’t around either. He spent a lot of time away. That didn’t make us love him less.”

Marjorie shrugged. “The only thing I know is that I will never ask him not to go. I know it’s difficult for him too, although it doesn’t look like it.”

A smile tugged the corner of her lips and her eyes travelled across the crowd. My brother was talking and laughing with two guys I recognized from the match the night before. Marjorie looked at him with a warm smile on her lips.

“Trust is important,” I said, “and you both trust and love each other so much it makes me nauseous. You will be fine.”

Trust is important. Trust was everything stopping me from acting, even though my body was ready to betray me and fall into Carlos’ trap. No matter how much I desired Carlos, I couldn’t trust him and that meant we would fall from the tightrope the second I surrendered my body and soul to his arms and warm lips.

“What’s hardest to trust?” Marjorie said, looking at her man, who was now winking at her. She smiled at him, and then turned to me, again. “Him or the people around him?”

She was talking about Rio, and whatever could happen during race weekends, or the eventuality of him moving alone to Italy, but that hit a little close to home.

“Him,” I said. “People won’t do anything he doesn’t let them do. He won’t do anything he doesn’t want to do.”

The blonde, Mila, was touching him. Small pats on his arm to pull his attention back to her, another small pat on his chest while he spoke and she leaned her head back, laughing at whatever he was saying. Another embarrassing show; quite pathetic.

“That’s true,” Ana added. “But you don’t seem like a couple with problems in that regard,” she continued, her hand reaching for the cup filled with white sangria. “Rio is and always was a nice guy, you know it better than us.”

Marjorie was not uncertain about how faithful her husband was; she was scared of the void he would leave behind. The unanswered calls. The postponed encounters. The empty space at dinners and birthday parties. I promised her that I would sleep at hers one or two nights each week to keep her feet warm; she knew I wasn’t joking.

After this conversation reached its natural end, I dragged her to the dance floor. On top of her wearing heels, she complained about not having enough rhythm to dance, or even enough balance. I told her to get another drink, with the excuse that the right amount of alcohol would give her the rhythm she needed. Marjorie found her rhythm and new confidence at the bottom of her fourth drink and I found myself to be less patient than I thought. In need of both resting my feet and taking a break from Marjorie, who was too playful and talkative after those four drinks, I led the group to the couches where the boys were sitting.

Carlos’ blonde had disappeared. Another one had resurged on his side, this time a man—the host.

After almost forcing Marjorie to sit next to Rio and take a break, I went to the bar. One of the two silver foxes serving drinks stopped what he was doing to pay attention to my request. Virgin Mojito, I asked. My insides were asking for more alcohol, especially before my amazing idea of getting my friends drunk, but I knew my limits.

“Quite a character, no?” I didn’t need to look to my right to understand who said these words. I would recognize his voice and accent anywhere.

“You and Marjorie are spending too much time together; she said the same thing.” Carlos put down his tumbler on the counter; the bartender replaced it with another, this one with a thick line of a brownish liquid around a large ice cube. “How many of those did you have?”

“Not enough.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Why do you care?”

I raised an eyebrow. “I don’t wanna drag you from the car to your bed. Marjorie is giving me enough trouble already.”

“Don’t worry about it, Blanca can take me home,” he deadpanned and then, with two sips, Carlos drank the whole thing. I abstained from making any comment. “Don’t look at me like that. I can get drunk once in a while.”

“Where’s your blonde? Did she leave you hanging and now you’re mad about it?” He scowled at me. “Am I wrong? Sorry, my mistake,” I huffed sarcastically. Carlos didn’t say anything. I was getting more annoyed with each second he ignored me. “Can you please stop ignoring my presence? I’m right here.”

“Where she is, is not of your business.”

I tilted my head. “Are you a grumpy drunk? I was hoping for something different.” Carlos looked around, his hand going to his hair and sorting it out. The wind was messing with his hair, but somehow, he still looked handsome. “Or are you just mad?”

“I’m annoyed.”

“Why’s that?” Carlos turned to me, eyes piercing through mine. He bit his lip and then shook his head.

“Go enjoy the party. Our host had a lot of questions about you,” he finally responded. My gaze looked for Uwe, sitting with another group, his rebellious blonde hair falling in front of his eyes. The man didn’t seem to stop in one place for more than two minutes. “I’m sure he doesn’t want to stay a stranger.”

Reverse psychology or what?

“Maybe I will,” I responded offhandedly and took a sip of my drink that I didn’t notice was waiting for me on the counter, drops of condensation staining the coaster of a deeper black. “Enjoy Mia.”

“Mila,” he corrected me, to which I just grinned. He knew I knew her name.

Leaving the bar behind, my feet starting to ache on the heels and my eyes already tired from the strong lights that had replaced the pastel dusky tones of the sunset, I found myself in a dilemma, contemplating what game Carlos was playing.

Marjorie sat on Rio’s lap to give me her place on the couch. She was just another level of clingy when she was drunk and my brother didn’t seem to mind. His hands were around her, holding her close to him. Compared to the other two couples in the group, they were more carefree. The Sainzes were not big fans of PDA.

“I hope that one has alcohol on it,” the enthusiastic and accent-filled voice of our host erupted in our surroundings a few beats later, interrupting a boring conversation about how Rodrigo could improve his golfing skills.

The German driver leaned against the back of the couch in front of me, behind Ana. “Oh, it doesn’t,” I replied. “I’m behaving tonight.”

“Too bad,” the guy winked and Marjorie patted Rio’s shoulder. My brother dragged himself to the end of the couch and moved slightly to the side, creating a little spot for Uwe to sit. He put his beer on the table, next to the fancy glasses filled with drinks of all colours. “Your friend there told me you’re a driver too,” he signalled to Carlos with his head. “In which category?”

“For the last year, I’ve been driving in the Ferrari Challenge. I’m looking at endurance for next year,” his eyes widened and his smile grew a bit more. “I made my debut in WEC last year when a driver got COVID. That was good.”

“That’s interesting,” he said.

Marjorie leaned into me, trying to whisper something to Uwe, but failed and her words came out loud and excited. “She won the championship last week!”

“Ja?! Sainz forgot to mention that,” he looked at me, impressed. Men usually didn’t get this excited when told about my driving skills and just from his reaction, the German scored some points in his favour.

“The first woman to do so!” Marjorie added and I rolled my eyes.

“Marjorie—” I stopped her, but the guy interrupted me.

“What? If the fruit won’t sell itself…” Marjorie said in her defence and the guy nodded in agreement. “Take her dancing, Uwe. She needs some fun.”

I was surprised by her tenacity in ensuring I have some fun tonight. The tall blonde German took my hand and walked in front of me, gently dragging me to the dance floor. My eyes dropped to the floor to be sure my heels would not fail me. When I looked back up to find him, I noticed the height difference. Too German, indeed.

As soon as we approached the small crowd around the DJ, he pulled me close by my waist. His grip was firm and confident and his posture changed the second his fingers found my skin, as if he enjoyed my delicate size and weight. The crowd surrounded us when he stopped, the bodies of the guest shielding us from the eyes of those scattered around the terrace. His hand drifted to my bare back. He felt warm and gentle.

“I hope you enjoy the music,” he whispered as I drowned in his cologne when he leaned against me, so close to my ear I could feel the brush of his lips against the sensitive skin. He smelled of pine and bay – fresh, crisp and masculine. “I’m hoping for some reggaeton.”

I laughed and he grinned back at me. “It’s a better fit for dancing, that’s for sure.” The rhythm of the current music was not bad, but not suited for the contact I knew he was hoping for. He hadn’t let go of me. His warm touch on my lower back kept reminding me of Marjorie’s words. “I hope you get lucky.”

He chucked. “That’s up to you.”

“Don’t step out of line,” I got on my tip-toes and, on the way to his ear, I could feel his breath against my cheek.

The music carried us away, not reggaeton yet, but it had just the pace we needed to dance and explore each other a bit more.

I didn’t feel anything whenever his lips got closer to my skin, not even in anticipation to feel them end all the need for touch and attention. Thinking about it, I didn’t even remember the last time I got laid and that was worrying, to say the least. Even though Uwe was there, making sure I knew he was available, he was not Carlos; in fact, he was Carlos’ polar opposite. Attractive, nonetheless. Blonde, tall, strong. Nice accent. Nice hands. Long, warm fingers. I could go on, I could make a list of this man’s wonders and I knew he would not make me feel half as good as Sainz could.

He bit my earlobe. Hands conducting my waist. I moved a few inches away, the corner of my lips curling into a smile. He tightened the grip around my waist, both his hands holding me close.

“Behave,” I said playfully.

“You can walk away if you want to,” he let go of me and I shook my head in disapproval. His hands met my waist again. The music changed and I chuckled at the familiar sound and so did the crowd, as they quickly started singing. “Dance with me, DiMaggio,” he commanded.

We danced, slowly and easily. I didn’t even know where we were standing, as the music and his touch clouded my mind with nothing but this moment. His fingers kissed my skin in an adoring way, the lyrics to the songs escaping his lips with a funny accent he tried to fight. It made me laugh and correct him on his Spanish more than once.

He turned me around, my back to his chest, his hands on my waist, his touch warm, firm and strong, pushing me to him. The shirt was so thin that his body heat seeped through the fabric and reached the exposed skin of my back. I could feel his strong hands everywhere as we danced some more until the set ended. As the music changed to a more upbeat one, I turned back to him.

During the movement I caught a glimpse of him, alone. A beer in his hand and nothing but the dark sky around him.

“Another drink?” The German’s voice snapped me back to the moment.

My eyes seemed too hard to move, I was stuck there, on him. But then a slimmer silhouette appeared at his side, with blonde hair and a big smile.

I smiled. “No, thanks. I told you. I’m behaving.”

“Hope that’s only regarding the alcohol,” he murmured and he licked his lips.

“Let’s see,” I said as my eyes dropped to his lips and then to the medallion hidden under the fabric of his shirt. “What does it say?”

He noticed what my gaze has fallen upon and he followed it by dropping his forehead closer to mine. “Das Blaue vom Himmel versprechen,” he answered. I turned it around with the help of my fingers.

“The blue of the sky?” I asked, not letting go of the amulet.

“Promise the blue of the sky. It’s a saying. There’s a certain ring to it.” I nodded at the explanation and out of nowhere, his lips crashed against mine.

Harsh and wet. Brutal and aggressive. Ocean and tequila.

Tasted so wrong. So wrong.

Wrong in way too many ways.

The moment awakened the memories of an Italian guy left alone in a bathroom stall and the reasons that had made me leave. He was not Carlos. They were not Carlos. Carlos. My eyes drifted to him, his eyes piercing through the crowd to find mine. Even with his friend’s lips on the skin of my neck and his arms firmly grabbing my ass, I couldn’t find the strength to break the eye contact.

It felt like an out-of-body experience. I could feel every cell of my body reject the man touching me, yet I was locked in a man standing not too far away, not moving, but getting more distant each second.

My look, a shout for help.

His made me burn. No emotion, just a blank expression.

Surprisingly, Uwe didn’t seem to be bothered by the glances Sainz cast in our direction; in fact, I wasn’t even sure if he was aware of them. His attention was focused on me. His hands, his lips, his eyes. Unfortunately for him, I couldn’t reciprocate the devotion.

Every time his eyes dropped to another part of me other than my face, my eyes would go back to the Spaniard on the other side of the crowd, leaning against the fence of the terrace. Alone. He’s alone.

The cast of Carlos' gaze was making me dizzy. Even worse, making me feel guilty. Guilty. His eyes were half-lidded, his hair mussed and his clothes dishevelled. He looked drunk. He was drunk.

And he started walking towards us.

“Eva,” his voice resonated, hoarse and deep as always. The only difference was that his lips were barely moving. “I would like to go home.”

“Already? But we’re all having so much fun, ‘migo,” the German exclaimed. Carlos was unfazed. Uwe’s words seemed to enter one ear and escape from the other, as Carlos didn’t even look at him. I was unsure if he had even listened to his friend. His gaze was focused on me.

“Eva.”

“Don’t worry, pal, I can take her home,” Uwe offered, his hand falling on Carlos’ shoulder. The Spaniard moved just enough to make the blonde retract his hand.

“Eva, I need you to take me home,” Carlos insisted. I sent an apologetic look to Uwe, whose confused eyes drifted from me to Carlos, repeatedly. I looked over the crowd, my eyes trying to find Blanca. He grabbed my hand. “Take me home.”

For fuck’s sake.

The man was drunk and acting like a fool and yet my body reacted to that gesture, electricity sparkling from the point of contact. I looked at him, directly into his eyes. They were dark, the black of his eyes dripping into the hazel iris. He tensed his jaw.

I turned back to Uwe. My hand on Carlos’. The German nodded at my words and took a step back to let me through the crowd.

“Not what I expected when told you to enjoy the party.”

“Sorry?”

“This,” he motioned to Uwe. I dropped his hand.

“You think I was?”

“Looked like it.”

A frown instantly took over my face, confusion growing inside. I walked to my brother, who was probably as drunk as Carlos, and his girlfriend, who was leaning against the handrail. Rio’s eyes followed Carlos and not me. His lips curled into a smile watching him trying to reach me.

“Land him a hand, ‘Vita. He’s fucked up.”

Of course, I didn’t. My steps led me to Marjorie and I stood next to her, waiting for Carlos to slowly make his way through the crowd. I dared to look down, at the foam the waves created when they kissed the cliff and followed the trails of white foam. The music made it impossible to hear the claps of the waves.

“You’re so wasted, bro!” Rio hailed Carlos when he finished his unstable walk and finally reached us. “Where’s blondie?”

“You should worry about your wife,” Carlos responded and my eyes drifted to Marjorie, frowning at the Spaniard’s comment.

Rio and Marjorie walked in front of us. He was holding her by the waist, saying things in her ear I was sure I didn’t want to listen to. I didn’t try to match my pace to Carlos’, but he made an effort to catch mine. We had to wait for him in the car.

“Could you please stop?”

Carlos had opened and closed his window three times in the last ten minutes. “It’s hot,” was the excuse he gave when he lowered the glass for the first time. And for why he had closed it a short moment after, he only offered a measly “It’s messing my hair”. After those first times, he repeated the words two times, each time after the annoying noise of the mechanism.

“I’m hot,” he said for the fourth time, the glass going down and the cold night air filling the car. I could feel my skin being taken by goosebumps as the cold air touched my skin.

“I’ll leave you on the side of the road if you close it one more time,” I threatened him.

Marjorie and Rio had fallen asleep five minutes into the drive home and Carlos had sat in silence next to me, watching me drive. My ear drums were still suffering from the loud music of the party, so I was quite enjoying the silence.

“Oh, please don’t,” he said, his voice mildly sarcastic and his eyes avoiding mine. I could see his pupils dilate as he looked at me.

“Just shut up, please,” my eyes didn’t leave the road, which was only lit by the headlights and the street lamps, except to look up at the dark velvety stripes painted in the night sky. “You don’t even look like yourself when you’re drunk,” I mumbled.

“You’re sober and I can say the same.”

“Why?”

“You kissed.” There was a slight pause but I refused to look at the man whose arm, resting on the console, almost touched mine. “You didn’t let me kiss you.”

You didn’t let me kiss you.

I blinked, trying to understand if the words were real and not a fabrication of my tired mind. Does he think I wanted that kiss? I kept my eyes on the road, my grip firm on the steering wheel. I couldn’t think of anything to say.

“D’you like it?” he continued, “Him? The kiss?”

“You’re drunk. We will talk tomorrow,” was all I said. This was not the time or place to talk about anything remotely related to all the feelings and emotions I wanted to repress.

“I’m not that drunk, Eva,” he sighed. A long breath escaped me, not knowing exactly what to do or say to amend the situation.

Again, the imabalance. If on one side I was pissed at him for dragging me out of the party like he owned me and had some kind of sick power over me, I was also thankful to know he still cared. Also, not only he cared but he was jealous of Uwe.

Is this insanity taking over?

You didn’t let me kiss you. Another man's kiss would never make me descend into a weeks-long spiral. I wanted to tell him that. I wanted him to know that I’d been craving him, desiring him, dreaming about him each night since our dinner weeks before.

“You flee my touch. You act like I’m a pervert,” he kept going.

What? I glanced at him from under my lashes, trying to gauge his expression. His stubble framed his face, giving him a vulnerable look that made my heart dance in my chest. The wind was making his hair messier; the untamed dark strands made him look even more vulnerable, yet his words cut deeper than ever. How could he look so fragile and yet sting me out like this?

“I don’t—”

“You do. And now that guy? That guy? D’you really think I don’t notice how you step away from me every time I touch you? Every fucking time, Eva.”

“It’s not like that.” Carlos looked over the window. I peeked in the rearview mirror, hoping I would find Marjorie and Rio still sleeping. They were. “We’ll talk tomorrow.”

“No.” Just no.

But he didn’t speak. For a couple of minutes, silence reigned in the car and a battle happened inside me. So many thoughts and guilt. Resentment and desire in the same measure.

“Tell me what’s it like then.”

“I don’t want to,” I sounded like my two-year-old nieces, for fuck’s sake. I turned into the gate of the residential area.

In the five minutes it took me to drive from the entrance to the residence, Marjorie and Rio woke up and complained two times about how cold the car was. Two times each. I didn’t say a word until I parked the car in the driveway, leaving enough space for Blanca’s.

“You should use the garage,” Carlos complained, dragging himself out of the car. His hand over his abdomen and a funny expression on his face.

“And you should drink less.”

Before I could reach the house, whose door my brother had opened, I heard his room’s door close. They were in a rush. Behind me, Carlos walked slowly. Not that drunk, he said. The man could barely walk in a straight line or have his eyes completely open.

I stood by the door, on the inside of the house and waited for him to go past me so I could lock the door. As he did, he turned to me. One of his hands travelled to the cold skin of my waist, the other to my face, his index finger caressing my cheek.

Warmth and delicacy. He could barely stand straight but his touch was delicate and soft against my skin. Seconds of pure bliss. I felt a silent sigh leaving me and, without realizing it, I took a step back. Like a marionette cut from its strings, my back hit the door frame.

I immediately condemned my body for doing so. He shook his head. “See?”

He left me standing there, my blood rushing inside my veins. The sad look in his eyes and the memory of this touch remained in my mind until I saw his body disappear being a wall. Then I placed my hand on the place he’d touched me, trying to bring back the comfort of his touch. I could feel the leftover warmth on my skin.

I didn’t move until I heard his steps reach the top of the stairs, making sure he would make it upstairs safe. When the sound stopped, probably indicating he had reached his bedroom, I turned away. I walked to the kitchen, searching for a water bottle and a large bowl and then I made my way upstairs.

Upstairs was dark and silent. Rio and Marjorie’s door was closed and even though Carlos had left his open, I couldn’t hear anything. Before walking to his room to check if he was okay and to leave the water and the bowl next to his bed, I left my heels and wallet in my room.

I knocked. Didn’t hear anything. The door was ajar and the silence hurt my ears, still buzzing from the loud music at the party. I peeked inside; an orange hue was talking over the room, coming from the lamps on the bedside tables. Carlos was nowhere to be seen.

When I was about to call his name, I saw a stream of light coming from the bathroom, casting a white line on the dark rug in front of the door, but the silence continued.

I left the bottle and the bowl on the nightstand, where his phone was charging and his wallet was left open, and then turned around to the door from where the light was coming. I couldn’t see much more than the image of his back through the small gap. Although I felt like I was invading his privacy, as I actually was, I let myself enjoy that moment of intimacy.

He was still wearing his jeans. And socks. Green socks.

I would have killed to see him like this.

I heard the splash of the water hitting the porcelain of the sink. My image was reflected in the mirror when he bent down to wash his face and even though I tried to escape his gaze, his reflexes were faster than mine. He turned to me.

“I left water and a bowl on your bedside table,” I said. “Just in case.”

Carlos used a towel to dry his hands and face and walked past me, turning off the bathroom light on his way. Darkness fell into the room, the glow from the lights too low to light up the whole space. He became nothing but shades.

“I’m not a child,” I heard him undo the zipper of his jeans and take them off under the orangy glow. I drifted my gaze to the well-lit water bottle and, made myself read the label, fighting the urge to look at him. “You can go now.”

“You have no right to be mad at me.”

“Now you want to talk,” he deadpanned. The ruffle of the comforter and then a muted thud, his body meeting the bed. “I want to sleep.”

“Have some water first,” mentally, I complimented the choice of low brightness on the lamps. I really didn’t want to see his reaction to my words – his grunt was enough to know he was annoyed. I grabbed the bottle and extended my arm towards him.

He turned to me and the light reached his face faster than my eyes did. The beams outlined his features: the nose, the lips, the full eyelashes and gave a new sparkle to his eyes. Under the warm tones, he looked peaceful and somewhat delicate, and that wasn’t a word I would naturally use for him.

“I’m not a child,” he repeated his words from before and didn’t take the bottle from my hands.

“Yet you’re behaving like one.”

“Go to bed, Eva.”

“I don’t want you to choke to death on your own vomit.”

His eyes widened, a snort coming from his mouth before his words. “I won’t.”

“You can’t be sure,” I replied and I moved the bottle in front of his face. “Just a sip.”

“Eva,” a sigh and then my hand got lighter. He took the bottle from my hand and I took a step back. It didn’t take long until I heard a satisfied sigh.

“Try to not die,” and with these parting words, I walked away from the bed.

“Eva,” he called my name again and each time he was taking more time with it. Perhaps he was tired, or the alcohol was slowing him down, but my name sounded like music.

The accent. The v on his lips sounded like a b. Soft and tender.

And just like that, I couldn’t resist turning back to look at him. He was a striking silhouette under that stupid orange dim light; shirtless, his head against the headboard and his hair falling on his forehead and at that moment, I understood it was too late to fight the feelings.

“Can we talk tomorrow? You need sleep.”

“When?”

I shrugged. “Any time will do.”

“Eva,” he had his eyes almost closed, his face down on the pillow; my name sounded like a siren call. I wanted to dive in and meet him in bed. “Don’t see him again.”

His soft whisper cut through the silence like thunder.

I got close, just so I could turn off the lights and let him rest, but as I did so, my eyes caught the sight of his tired face. The line of his perfect lashes, the hair ruffled against the pillow, the light kissing his face, making him even more beautiful.

My fingers lingered over the light switch, postponing the gesture that would make him disappear in the dark. I stood next to him for a couple of minutes, staring adoringly at his face and appreciating the tranquillity of his sleep. It didn’t feel wrong, not even for a second.

He had ruined me the moment he brushed his lips against mine and reopened the door where all the what-ifs were stored and left to be forgotten. He set them free and they twirled around me, poking me with all the scenarios I’d made so much effort to forget.

But perhaps I shouldn't forget them. Perhaps I belonged here, at his side, not afraid to look at him and adore his face. Without the weight of the world and its expectations, I could just be here, tracing the lines between the light and the shadows with my eyes, be free to admit I wanted to kiss him right where the light touched him. How much I envied that orange dim light that staked a claim on him before I could.

With a click, all of it vanished into the dark.

I don't even know what to say. First of all, THANK YOU for reading and leaving messages and comments. I can't tell you how much I value every single word you write me. also: virtually hugging all of you sainz girlies. it was tough, today. still hurts. I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Let me know what you think. See you around, Bru 🩷

#Tightrope #carlos sainz x you #carlos sainz x reader #carlos sainz smut #carlos sainz imagine #carlos sainz fanfic #f1 x you #f1 x reader #f1 imagine #f1 one shot #fanf1ction #f1 fanfic #driver x you #f1 driver x you #f1 driver x reader #driver x reader #carlos sainz fluff #carlos sainz jr #carlos sainz angst

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snowyballlz · 1 year

Text

|| Carl Grimes x reader

summary: Theres always been tension between you and carl. the two of you had to go on a run together but the run ended up you two trapped in a cabin together what will happen?

You had just gotten out of your house and ready to go on a run with your best friend. you walk over towards enid and smile “you ready?”

Enid turns over towards you and fakes a cough “actually i’m feeling a bit sick so i don’t think i can go with you today” she looks away “but you can go with carl” she smiles

you scoff as you begin to walk away from her “no way in hell am i going with him” you roll your eyes. enid runs up to you, “well you cant drive and everyone else is doing things and he’s the only one free that can drive”

you’d always been scared of driving ever since when you first ever tried to and it didn’t exactly go well. you had swerved right into a walker crashing the car

“please y/n” enid pleaded “we need supplies, and just because i cant come doesn’t mean you need to cancel the whole run because you don’t like someone”

“fine” you scoff as you walk over towards carl and tap him on the shoulder. “cmon were going on a run” you say as you drop your bag at his feet and start walking towards a car

carl picks up the bag, eying you as you walked over towards the car he rolls his eyes and slowly followed you towards the car hoping into the drivers seat and turning the engine on

“so where are we going?” carl questions. you roll your eyes and pull out the map giving him directions “rick thinks that there should be lots of medical supplies here” you point to the map

“alright this should be it” you look down at the map then back up at the building before you hop out of the car, “okay in and then out no talking lets get this done quickly”

as you were scavenging through the shelves looking for medical supplies a walker comes up to you “shit” you say as you try to hold it back trying to get your knife out of your pocket. “fuck” you look down to notice you dropped your knife, the next thing you know you hear a bang and the walker drops in front of you making you see eye to eye with carl

“i had it you didn’t need to do that” you mumbled brushing past him continuing to look for more supplies. “why do you hate me so much?” carl says. you turn to look at him and scoff “I’m not one to like people”, carl rolls his eyes and begins to grab items off the shelves

sometime had passed and you both were on the way home “SHIT!!” you hear carl say as he slams on the breaks “theres a herd coming our way” carl quickly reverses the car. “we passed a cabin not to far before maybe we can seek shelter there until the herd passes?” he says

“fine” you roll your eyes. you both quickly get out of the car and run into a field where not to far away was a cabin

you both quickly barricaded the doors and windows because the walkers had followed you while you were both making a run for it. “guess were stuck here for the night” you groan as you sit on the floor

“i guess we are” carl shrugs. “don’t talk to me or even come near me” you walk off looking around the cabin seeing what was useful in the place

there was a bedroom with a double bed which you quickly claimed as your own you flopped onto the bed and tried to get to sleep hoping this would pass soon

it was a little bit later and you woke up to a sleeping carl next to you “what the fuck i told you not to come near me” you quickly sat up

“this is the only bed and no way i am sleeping on the hard wooden floor or the couch covered in bugs” he rolled over to face the wall

“fine don’t touch me don’t talk to me don’t even make a noise or i will kick you off this bed” you laid back down

some time had past and it had gotten freezing you began to shiver unknowingly waking up carl “are you cold?” he laughed

“so what if i am just shut up and go to sleep” you said in a monotone voice. but before you knew it you felt an arm wrap around your waist pulling you in

“what the fuck carl go away” you tried to pull away “your cold this will warm you up i’m also cold so deal with it, at least with our bodies together it’ll generate heat and we wont freeze to death”

you turn over to face him “why do you care about me even after being such a bitch towards you?”

“why are such a bitch towards me?” he says in return. you lay on your back and think about it “i don’t know why carl i think it’s because i’m scared if i get close to you something will happen, I’ve never been good with boys around my age and all of a sudden you pop up”

carl props himself up into his elbow and looks down at you “what do you mean your scared to get close to me?” his brow furrowed

“i think” you paused “i think since the day you arrived i kinda got a crush on you” you mumbled looking into his eyes

“you? y/n having a crush on me? carl” he smiled “shut up” you rolled over to face the wall but before you knew it carl grabbed your face with his free hand to make you look at him then pressed his soft lips against yours

your eyes widen at the sudden pressure on your lips, you slowly close your eyes kissing him back. he pulled away and looked at you “i like you too y/n”

you bit your lip looking up to him and slightly smile you nuzzle your head into the crevice of his neck and he wraps his arm around your body.

loll this is probably really bad please tell me what you think of it because i’m genuinely curious on what i can do to fix my errors and stuffs- anyway hope you enjoyed:) this is my first oneshot on here and yeah😭

#carl grimes x reader #twd x reader #twd #twd carl #twd carl grimes #the walking dead #the walking dead carl grimes #fluff #fanfic #fanfiction #carl grimes

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zeroseuniverse · 1 year

Text

Payback

Word count: 600

Summary: In which his son pranking every woman that comes near him doesn't impress his wife at all

Pairing: Jungkook x fem reader

Honestly? It was planned. Not that anybody knew except him and his son, but I mean come on how dumb can people be, “I’ll punish him accordingly.” Yea no He took his son out for ice cream. He didn’t like women approaching him just as much as his son, so everytime he noticed his son sneaking a fake insect into the food of his female workers when they tried getting too close, he kept quiet, only sending the boy the faintest grin, and as the women ran screaming and his secretary, the mother of his son came in with a questioning look, the identical bunny grins dripped with innocence, she’d simply sigh and shake her head walking back out of the office with muttered curses.

It was almost routine, however today was different, Jungkook sat in his seat listening to the proposal as his wife moved around the room sorting out some files, and his son laid on the floor coloring, After the proposal wrapped up, Jungkook turned to his papers with a slight smirk as he felt the business woman approach him.

He could also feel his son’s narrowed gaze and his wife’s stilling figure across the room, “So have you eaten lunch?”

“I haven’t.” He hummed, waiting for his son to step in like he always did, but he only heard utter silence, making him feel a bit uneasy.

“How about we go get some together?”

“Ah you know I can’t, My son is here.” He stuttered a bit, looking at the little boy for help, but the boy simply hummed and continued coloring.

“Oh go ahead sir, I’ll watch him while you have lunch.” His wife challenged, having been the one behind her son’s sudden quietness.

“W-what is happening?” He stuttered looking scared at his family, but they simply shrugged, his wife reaching down to lift their son up and walking with him out of the room calling a simple, “Have fun” over their shoulders.

–

He was exasperated, his son stopped helping him out of these situations and now he’s been stuck on multiple dates with women he wanted nothing to do with, because he was too intimidated to say no.

“Okay stop whatever plan you’re doing!” He called out to his wife and son at dinner at the end of the week, the two simply smiling innocently at the man, “And stop the smiling, that's our thing!” He whined pointing at his son.

“Why did you turn my son against me?” Jungkook asked, looking at his wife offended, but his wife simply chuckled.

“I didn’t honey, you need to learn to say no.” She hummed, bringing her fork up to her mouth.

“Why couldn’t you just step in? Aren’t you the jealous type? Where’d that energy go?” He asked frantically, but it only amused the other two more.

“Oh honey, give me actual competition and maybe I’ll be jealous.”

“Why are you doing this to me?”

“So you’ll grow a backbone, and stop mortifying our business partners with you guys’ pranks.” She said, giving the two a pointed look, only earning two pouts in return, “I’m not changing my mind.” She hummed, giving her boys a wink before standing to take her dishes to the sink.

That night, Jungkook woke up to his wife dressed in all white standing above him with her hair dripping over her face and her makeup making her hardly recognizable, the scream Jungkook let out? Yea China heard it. And maybe pranking random women wasn’t as fun as he thought, because his first prank on his wife? That was exhilarating.

#bts fic #bts fanfic #bts fluff #bts x reader #bts imagines #jungkook imagines #jeon jungkook imagines #jungkook x reader

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yourlocaltrashcan657 · 7 months

Text

Mental Hospital AU! Yandere! Attack on Titan x Female Reader

Chapter 16- Break In

How on earth did it happen? Her whole leg was bleeding to the point it hurt crazy. Y/N hissed as Krista poured a liquid to help heal her wound.

”Y/N this is a pretty bad cut.. are you sure you are okay to go out tonight?” Krista asked.

”I’m alright.. god this is such bad timing too!” Y/N said whilst looking at her leg. “I need to make sure we all get home safely too-“

”Get your ass down right now.” Ymir said whilst sitting her back down. “I’ll take care of these two and you know I will.”

”But-“

”Don’t worry! We’ll get you a bottle of wine for you!” Sasha said. “I’m sure Eyebrows won’t mind if it’s just the three of us.”

”One of us should stay to help Y/N though! I feel like it’s rude if we don’t.” Krista said.

”N-no no it fine. You guys can go out without me. I promise that I won’t move around as much.” Y/N muttered.

”Your cut should heal by tomorrow if you actually listen to me. Don’t move.” Ymir ordered.

“Fine. Don’t worry about me, okay?” Y/N asked.

“It’s going to be so hard when I see you like this, Y/N!” Krista said unhappily. “I’ll try to think less about it.”

”Same. If you need us, give a call.” Sasha insisted.

Y/N sat with her leg laid upon a footrest and watched as her friends waved goodbye. Looking around the room, she grabbed her phone and texted Erwin about the incident.

”Okay.. all I have to do is make sure I don’t move.” Y/N said to herself as she sat still and began scrolling through her phone.

A loud thump woke her up as Y/N sat up from her sleeping position and and opened her eyes to meet the same grey eyes she saw that afternoon.

Opening her mouth to scream or call for help, Levi had covered it with his cold, bloody hand.

”I’ll let go if you don’t scream. Got it?” Levi asked.

Y/N could only nod quickly and watch as he slid his hand off. Levi backed up a bit but still towered over her. He looked at her leg and saw it covered.

”What happened to it?” Levi bluntly asked.

”I cut myself..” Y/N said.

He continued to look at her leg until he looked back at her scared face.

“I just wanted to talk with you about something.” Levi explained

“Seriously?! You could’ve told me the next time I saw you!” Y/N whisper yelled. “You’re going to be sent back and I’ll be in so much trouble!”

”I know. Unless you be quiet.” Levi suggested.

”I’ll get fired and even worse, be sent to jail. For what? For keeping a mentally unstable patient in my apartment!” Y/N said.

”I didn’t think this out okay!” Levi yelled angrily before sighing. “Listen, you left the door open and I used a filthy fork from the canteen to break free from my handcuffs.”

“What?!” Y/N asked in shock.

”I got your address from the files on the computers that weren’t turned off and left.” Levi continued. “It said which room you lived at so I came here and now I’m here.” Levi said whilst crossing his arms.

”Talk then.” Y/N shakily said.

”I’m not going to kill you.” Levi said explained.

”Are you fucking serious?!” Y/N whisper screamed.

”What? What happened?” Levi asked confused.

”You broke out just to tell me you won’t kill me!?” Y/N asked. “I already knew that you wouldn’t! How are you going to get back now?!”

”I’m not going back to that shitty place.” Levi said. “I just escaped, I won’t do that.”

”If you don’t then I’ll be in jail!” Y/N said before rubbing her temples. “Sasha, Krista and Ymir will also get in trouble..”

There was silence as the two just looked away from each other. It was either Levi’s Freedom or Y/N’s Safety.

”Fine. I’ll go back.” Levi said before walking to the door.

”What?” Y/N said as she looked up and saw Levi near the door. “How can I trust you?”

”Don’t worry Y/N. I’ll make sure you see me tomorrow.” Levi said before smirking at her and leaving.

Y/N sat there looking at the ground in absolute fear. She was going to jail sooner or later. But she’d be safe if she told Erwin or some higher up.. then again, Levi promised he’d get back.

What would happen..?

#christa lenz #sasha braus #yandere aot #yandere aot x reader #yandere bertolt #yandere connie springer #yandere erwin #yandere erwin smith #yandere jean kirstein #yandere jean #yandere eren yeager #yandere x reader #aot x reader #attack on titan x reader #yandere reiner #yandere eren #yandere levi #yandere #yandere armin

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aussiepineapple1st · 1 year

Text

What is Happening to Me (Part 5)

Leon x F!Reader

Words: 2,213

Contains: fluff, sleepy boy, blood, slight angst, cuteness.

Part 1 | Previous | Next

Nothing much really happened while Claire was staying with you in your home until Leon returned from this job, whatever that meant. You would try and do your best to help Claire with the cooking and cleaning, but you were only able to do a small amount before she could see you starting to overwork yourself. She wanted you to not feel useless and help a little bit, knowing Leon would be telling you not to do anything when he was back. You felt hollow after not seeing Leon for 2 days now. This man had been by your side since you had woken from your accident, you couldn't remember anything before then and now not seeing him? Not even a text! It was starting to eat away at you, as if something was missing.

You figured it wasn't the best thing, and you should get used to being alone without him. However it just felt... Weird, even to the point of anxiety. You hoped he was alright, as something in the deep depths of your mind was telling you he'll be alright, he always is. And those subconscious thoughts only made you worry even more, what did you mean by, he'll be fine, or he always is?

Claire had received a text from him to let her and you know he would be home that night, and not to wait up for him. So Claire packed up her work she had brought, you figured she was some kind of journalist. She then left the house to you once it had gotten dark, and Leon would be home in a few hours. Making sure you were going to be alright, you assure her you were fine and she leaves you to rest up. Watching her drive off in her car you felt your body become heavy soon after, figuring you should just go up to bed and sleep, Leon should be home by the time you woke anyway. Getting ready for bed, you brush your teeth and wash your face to freshen up. Laying in bed with the lamp on, from his side, like you had every night he hasn't been here. Normally you would have fallen asleep by now, but you felt the anticipation in your entire body, waiting very impatiently for Leon to come home. You did manage to doze off for an hour until the front door clicked. Your eyes shooting open and you hear keys gently being placed near the front door. That was him, Leon was home!

Sitting up with a small wince you hoist yourself over the edge of the bed and make your way down the stairs quietly, you heard a heavy flop onto the lounge as you started heading down the wooden stairs. You had studied where every single creak and groan on the stairs were and had memorised their positions while Claire had been here, she would fall asleep on the lounge after working hard. So you put it into practice once again. The lights were off in the house, the only light was from the lamp in the loft, making downstairs dim. You slowly make your way to the form laying face up on the lounge, a towel having been laid under him first. A stench of iron filled your nose as you saw Leon laying with his left arm draped over his eyes, his other hand resting on his stomach. He was covered in something but was hard to see in the dim light, silently walking beside him as not to wake him if he had already fallen asleep. You get a better look, your eyes adjusting to the dim light.

Blood. Leon was COVERED in BLOOD! "What the h-" Was all you got out before you found your wrist had been grabbed, pulled down to your knees and a gun pressed against the bottom of your chin angling your head up slightly. Your cry of pain had suddenly reminded Leon that he was in his home, and you were back from the hospital. "(Y/N)!!" He says with worry in his voice, realising what he had just done. Letting you go and pulling his gun away from your chin, he leaps up from the lounge and rushes to turn the lights on, causing both of you to squint. He sees your crouched over body kneeling beside the lounge, one arm on the seat to support your body, the other held tight against your side. Jogging around to you he kneels, taking your hand that was supporting you and lifts you up to sit on the lounge. Pulling the dirty towel to the side so you don't sit on it. Your face distorted from the intense shooting pain running through your entire left side.

"Damn this.. blasted wound! How did I even get it!?" You asked as tears had unintentionally started to fall from your eyes from the pain.

"I'm so sorry, I forgot I wasn't alone here. I'm tired and-" He stops looking under your hand and seeing blood starting to seep through your PJ shirt. "Shit!" He says standing up and looking around, getting his bearings then hurrying into the bathroom to grab the first aid kit. You watch him run back, and kneel down in front of you. He gently lays you against the back of the lounge, essentially just laying on your back with how wide the seat was. He then lifts your top and sees the dressing covered in blood and seeping through, his eyes wince in pain just by looking at it, brows furrowed tight as he pulls on gloves quickly. Leon pulls up the padding and removes it, pressing a gauze to your wound, cleaning it of the fresh blood so he can see what had opened. The only thing you could do was watch him as he worked on getting your wound to stop bleeding, it had only opened up slightly, not as bad as it looked. It was just wanting to bleed a lot. His eyes were focused, dark rings under his eyes, darker than normal. You could tell they were heavy with how swollen, and yet at the same time, how sunken they were. He was absolutely covered in blood and you couldn't tell if it was all of his blood or someone else's, but he had bruises on his cheek bone, and a cut above his right brow.

You reach your left hand up and gently touch his bruised right cheek causing him to look up at you, his brows raising and his expression telling you just how sorry he was. "Leon.. I'm not bleeding out, please relax." You say to him as he looks to his hands covered in your blood but had seemed to stopped the bleeding, using surgery grade glue and placing a strip of healing tape on it. The tape would fall off when the wound is healed enough. "I'm really sorry, I should have been more mindful that you were here." He apologised again.

You shake your head. "No, I'm sorry I shouldn't have snuck up on you, I just didn't want to wake you, but when I saw you all covered in blood I just..." You pause looking over his body as the stench hit your nose again, making it scrunch up. "What happened to you? What is our job? I found a badge with my name on the card and we have weapons everywhere and you don't come home in days and when you do you're all covered in blood and bruised and cuts and-" You forget to breathe as you started to get emotional. Tears starting to actually fall from your eyes along with the automatic ones your body had let fall with the initial pain. You were suddenly sat up and pulled into a hug by Leon, making sure not to move you too fast, but fast enough to stop you from talking. You just lean into his messy shoulder. Your arms wrapping around his back as you return the hug, adding your tears to the mix of fluids on his clothing.

"I'm sorry I've been secretive. I was hoping, maybe I could keep you from the truth a little longer, but... I know I can't keep your from it." Leon tries to explain his reasoning for the silence. "Claire told me you keep having more and more nightmares, and I don't think telling you the truth will help them, but it might make your subconscious realise it doesn't have to keep showing you. It doesn't have to try and keep you alive if you know you aren't in danger here at home."

"Leon, What do you mean?" You ask pulling away with a sniff as you wipe your eyes free of tears. Leon continues to patch you up after wiping over it with an alcohol wipe and sticks another pad over your wound.

"What I mean is... You hate watching horror movies. You work with me as a DSO Agent for a top secret elite force. Members are hand picked by the President himself and we eliminate any Viral, or Parasitic infected being before it spreads. Or before too many casualties occur." He explains removing the gloves covered in your blood, placing them on the bloodied towel to the side. He gently rests a hand on your side to help with pressure on the wound just wanting to make sure it stops bleeding for good.

"So... My dreams? They aren't from movies or made up in my head?" What the actual hell was he trying to say? There is now way zombies and those creatures exist, right?

"They are memories, not just dreams." He says looking down at your hands in your lap. He wanted to reach out and hold them, but understood if you thought he was either absolutely crazy, or some deranged person. You could see him looking at your hands and you open them up, reaching them out for him to take them. Looking up into your eyes, Leon searched your face for what emotion you were showing. He saw an understanding and sympathetic look, your (E/C) eyes staring deep into his soul and he felt his heart flutter.

"I understand now, why you wanted to keep the truth from me.. But if I know what is happening to me, then maybe I can try and remember more? Remember us?" You say reaching down to take his hands. He holds yours tight and pulls them both to his lips, kissing your knuckles gently. "But right now you really need a shower and some sleep." You smile pulling your hands from his and patting the top of his head before trying your best to stand up. "Actually... on Second thought, I might stay right here for tonight..." You say with a sheepish look on your face. And there is was again, that look of guilt and apology on his face. "Just let me shower and I'll carry you up to bed. I don't want you sleeping on the lounge."

"I'll be fine here, really." You assure as he helps you lay down.

"Nope, not happening. I want to sleep in my bed tonight, and I'm not sleeping alone again..." He says walking off with the first aid, towel and gloves towards the bathroom. You just let out a sigh and stare up at the tall ceiling, your eyes becoming heavy, and now that you knew Leon was home you felt at peace. Falling fast asleep as you listened to the shower.

The next thing you know, you are slightly woken up as your body was hovering, the smell of Leon's shampoo, conditioner and body wash was filling your nose as he carried you upstairs to the loft. You feel your body gently being laid down, your eyes opening as he tucks a strand of hair behind your ear. "Sorry, didn't mean to wake you." He said quietly, his hair damp and slightly dripping onto his shoulders as he pulls the blanket up over you. He then walks around the bottom of the bed and slides into his side of the bed with a long winded sigh, his body aching from his recent mission. He rolled over to face you, leaving the lamp on for your nightmares, having it behind him made it not as bright. Even though right now he could sleep under the bright sun batting down on him, he was that tired.

"Leon?"

"Mm?" He hums, one eye opening to look up at you as he had tucked himself deep in the blanket.

"Will you tell me what your job was in the morning?" You asked hoping he would comply, now that you knew the truth. You still hadn't seen these zombies and creatures, so you were still in denial, but that was also a river in Egypt, and that... That was real, so maybe this was as well.

"Yeah... Sure." He said looking up to you for a moment, seeing the smile pull at your lips, it was contagious. A smile creeping onto his own lips as he closed his eyes and fell asleep almost instantly. Both of you sleep together, peacefully, not nightmares from either of you as you felt safest beside each other.

Part 1 | Previous | Next

Tag List🏷️: @phoenix666stuff

#blood #cute #fanfic #fic #fluff #leon kennedy #leon s kennedy #leon x f!reader #leon x fem reader #leon x fem!reader #leon x female reader #leon x reader #resident evil #slight angst #what is happening to me #wihtm

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verxn · 2 years

Text

Sick day

Description: you’ve been keeping quiet about you being sick with a little cold you’ve caught because you didn’t want Tom to stop everything he was doing just to take care of you, that is until he still finds you in bed.

Pairing: Tom holland x black fem reader

Note: just another shitty writing :-(

Tom woke up and looked around the room, everything seem a bit…off, usually y/n magenta silk bonnet would be on the dresser next to the scarf she puts on before bed, her clothes would be thrown on the end of the bed and there would be 3 pairs of shoes since she can’t seem to decide what to wear.

Tom looked to the side, to see his wife sleeping peacefully, her beautiful dark skin shined because the light shined through the curtains. Her hair was wrapped up or so she thought, her box braids slipped out of the bonnet and scarf. Y/n started to cough in her sleep, it went from small coughs to being awoken up from coughing.

“Hey honey, you okay?” Tom said to his wife while running to her side. She nodded still coughing, she then pointed to the little trash can across the room “hand me that” she said in between the coughs

Tom got up and put the trash in front of his wife as spit in the trash. “Yuck” y/n said putting the trash to the side of the bed “y/n are you sick?” Tom asked rubbing her back “yeah but I’ll be fine in no time, you can continue your work, no need to worry” she said with a weak smile

“I don’t think that’s a good idea, you can barely move” he said with a concerned look painted on his face, she frowned because she knew this would happen. “I’ll be right back” Tom said while grabbing his phone and walking out of the bedroom.

Y/n sighed and laid back down in bed, before she knew it she was gone, Tom walked back in and saw her sleeping quietly. He tucked her in and tried to at least put her braids back in the bonnet so they won’t get messed up.

He kissed y/n’s forehead and exited out the room to make some soup for her.

When he was finished he brought the hot bowl of soup and some crackers to her, placing it on the nightstand beside the bed, he tapped her. “Honey wake up, I made soup” he said softly

Y/n sat up groggily and sighed, she rubbed her eyes tiredly and looked at the soup. She grabbed the bowl and started to eat some, she ate half the soup and some crackers.

Then proceeded to lay back down, her husband looked at her while she drifted back to sleep, tom placed the damn near empty soup bowl back on the nightstand and sat down at the end of the bed watching over y/n as she slept peacefully.

This song was kinda my inspo….it was literally playing when I was writing this🧍🏾

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mygalaxypoetry · 2 years

Text

Sagau with the Creator but... Pt.6

Bennet and Razor slept while you looked at the sky with amazement. So many beautiful stars shining bright, two of them shining brighter than the rest.

It was your first time seeing the stars, since you've been comfy and cozy in your home.

'Very pretty... I wonder how the Traveler is doing right now...'

You smiled and slowly got up from your spot, making sure that your first two alocytes don't wake up.

One of the big anemo slimes came up to you and you looked at them back.

"Guard them for me, will you? I want to try something out with my new power and I don't want them getting hurt in the process" you said.

It gave you a nod and went up beside them.

You started walking of to your first boss, the Cryo Regisvine.

You looked down in a familiar hole and found the ice plant you've always gone to see if your characters make good damage.

You smiled jumped down, letting the explosion catch your fall. It leaves started to shake and was woken up thanks to your explosion.

Though, once it landed its eyes on you (if it even has eyes) it seemed hesitant to attack you.

You gave it a competitive smirk, "Come on, show me what you've got! Just because I'm the Creator, it doesn't mean that you can't attack me!" You said.

"Besides, I've beaten you plenty of times! If anything, you should've gotten stronger by now!" It perked up when you said that, giving itself a little encouragement

"Let's just make this fight a training one. I won't let you dissapear after this but the next time I come in, you better have gotten stronger or at least more strategic..." You said with a smile.

It gotten its vines ready and you went for the first move.

Safe to say: You'll definitely have a good night sleep after that fight.

Flying from one end to another, combining One for All and the explosion made some VERY good damage.

At one point, it even made a cryo barrier, which you were impressed by it. Though it was melted away thanks to your explosion.

Of course you came out victorious, but that doesn't mean you came out scratch-free.

You looked back at the low-hp cryo flower and decided end the training round.

"Very impressive, especially that cryo barrier. A note or two, try to cooperate with some hydro abyss mages. That'll definitely make it much more difficult" you said, getting rustling leaves as an answer. It was happy :))

"But since your near Mondstat, that means that adventurers would try to fight you. I may like a good fight, but I don't want anybody to have difficulties so... just keep those notes only for me, no one else" you told it and it gave you a viney thumbs up.

You left the cave and went back to your two alocytes, thanking the anemo slime and went to sleep once you've laid your head.

----

Bennett was the first to wake up, with Razor getting up a bit later.

They had the best sleep after a long time! Usually Bennett's bad luck would affect him even when he's sleeping, but woke up with no bruises whatsoever!

Razor sleeps on the stoney ground so he'd also have a hard time getting some sleep.

They looked over to their creator and...

They had bruises on their arm and legs.

°-° . . .

Bennett gently shook you awake, having a concerned face about your current state. "Your Grace? Your Highness?! Please wake up!" He said.

You blinked a few times and yawned, stretching your arms a bit. "Ahhh... Morning already? Good morning to you guys.." you said and looked at them, being greeted with soon-to-cry faces.

"Uhm... are you guys okay?" You asked.

Bennett immediately grabbed your hand. "Your Grace, are you okay?! Your hands- and your legs!! They have bruises, burns and-!... ice?" He looked at your legs, some ice being attached to it.

"Put Bennett hand on cold spot! He a pyro user, so it will warm up!" Razor said and placed Bennett's hand on one of your cold spots.

"Oh yeah..." you tried to come up with an excuse, but decided to tell the truth.

"I couldn't sleep last night... so I thought it would be a good idea to fight a cryo Regisvine" you said, and was greeted with 'about-to-cry' faces.

"B-b-but it was easy! Sure I got harmed but I beat that plant fair and square! I got stronger thanks to it!" You said, waving your hands a bit.

They calmed down after that and you decided to make some breakfast.

While you were eating a delicious hash brown made by Razor (he insisted he made his specialty), you started to wonder what you should do next.

When it comes to PLAYING Genshin, you'd always have some kind of goal or quest to achieve, but now your inside the game itself.

You were really on your own for the time being.

. . .

Eh, might as well wander to the other countries for a bit. :D

#genshin impact sagau #genshin sagau #sagau #creator au #genshin impact #self aware genshin #genshin impact x reader #gender neutral character #my hero academia

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thatesqcrush · 1 year

Text

Fall From Grace, Pt. 10.5

Bryan Kneef x reader. Part of the Fall From Grace series. NSFW for graphic smut, obscene language (right under the cut). Y'all already know the drill. Proceed at your own risk.

AN: Story crosses over with Suits. Yeah, that other lawyer show. Also feats. some of the language of the pilot from Suits when Mike & Bryan meet (where in the show Mike shows off his eidetic memory to Harvey).

AN3: This fic was very much inspired by Vampire & Bad Idea, Right? by Olivia Rodrigo. See if you can spot the lyrics.

WC: 4K

The sun poured into the bedroom. You groaned, trying to block out the light. The sounds of the city coming to life filled the air stirring you awake. The buzz of your phone alarm filled the room and you rolled over with a groan to shut it off. It was ten to 6. Despite the end of summer drawing near, it was still bright out. Clocks wouldn’t change for another month.

You blinked a few times before recalling that you weren’t alone. You looked over to the side where Bryan was asleep on his stomach. You smiled and it was in that moment that Bryan himself woke up.

“Hey.” He had a bit of a frog in his throat. He cleared his throat and repeated himself. “Good morning.”

“You know, I'm really glad that you came. And told me how you felt,” you replied, your voice quiet, but wistful. “I’ve really missed you.” You laid on your side, noting to yourself how adorable Bryan looked with his hair all mussed up from sleeping. He started to go gray in his temples, just smatterings of salt intermixed with pepper. It skyrocketed his handsomeness. You could pinch yourself over the fact that despite everything, it was you that he wanted.

Bryan reached over, a single finger tracing your cheek. “I’ve really missed you too.” He propped himself up on his elbow.

“Which begs the question, what if I hadn’t been so… forgiving?”

“Oh, I don't know,” Bryan hummed. “All that unresolved sexual tension? It was kind of fun.”

You let out a giggle as you nodded. “It was, wasn't it?”

Bryan wrapped a large hand behind your neck and pulled you in for a kiss, soft and tender. It quickly deepened and became more needy and passionate. You let out a moan as Bryan’s very talented hands began to venture further south. He rucked your negligee up, exposing your tits.

You pulled back and sat straight up, pulling off the lavender satin negligee you changed into at some point in the middle of the night.

Bryan palmed your tits, enjoying the weight of them in his hands. His thumbs ghosted your nipples, already rock hard due to the combination of cool air and arousal. You could feel how hard he was beneath you. You ran your hands through your hair, pushing it back and off your face.

“Wanna throat fuck me til I cry?”

Bryan’s normally tranquil green eyes darkened, his pupils blown wide with arousal, and he gave you a lascivious grin. You let out a yelp as he flipped you over, so you were on your back.

Bryan flattened his hand along your body, over the swell of your breasts, down your sternum and across your stomach. Your skin goosebumped under his touch.

Bryan took your thighs in his hands, and gently spread them apart. He grabbed your calves and positioned them so that your legs draped over his shoulders. He placed open wet kisses along your inner thighs. The wiry hair of his beard was rough against your skin, burning in a delicious way. You shivered involuntarily as his breath hovered over your folds.

Bryan gave a small chuckle against your legs and you propped yourself onto your elbows. “What’s so funny?”

Bryan met your gaze. “Getting used to you with a full bush. All the other times that we fucked, you were bare or you had just a landing strip.”

You arched your brow. “Are you fucking serious right now? I haven’t had time to take care of that.” You paused for a beat before continuing. “And it’s not like I had a steady stream of suitors beating down my door.”

“Shame for them,” Bryan murmured. His thumbs dragged up your lips and pulled them apart, exposing the pink of your flesh, already so wet for him. He leaned forward and inhaled your scent before pulling back slightly to spit. Bryan used the pad of his index finger to stroke along the seam of your folds to your clit, spreading and mixing your wetness with his spit.

You collapse onto the bed and closed your eyes as Bryan dove into your folds. His tongue performed in ways you didn’t think was humanly possible. His tongue was warm and wet, and you could hear the obscene sound of wetness in the room. Your pussy juices drip, coating his beard as Bryan continued his onslaught, devouring you hungrily.

He flattened his tongue and licked the whole length of you, tasting you. He kept at it, licking you with big, broad strokes, before trapping your swollen, sensitive clit between his lips. At first he focused on your clit with his tongue before moving onto scraping it just ever slightly with his teeth. Your hips jerked from the intensity, and he laid a heavy arm over you, keeping you in place.

“You taste so good,” Bryan murmured in between breaths. “Fucking soaked— dripping for me. Best fucking pussy.”

Bryan resumed his oral ministrations, his tongue massaging furiously, before moving his mouth lower again, letting his tongue dip inside you slightly. Your hips undulated against his mouth as he fucked you with his tongue.

You whimpered above him, gripping the sheets as Bryan slid two thick fingers inside you. It may have been months since the two of you were together but he still remembered how to work you, hitting you exactly where you needed him to. His thumb rubbed your clit and you felt the all too familiar coil in your lower belly begin to tighten.

“Bry… oh fuck! Gonna come!”

Bryan increased the pace of his fingers. “Give it to me sweetheart. Soak my face.” His mouth returned to your clit, torturing and abusing it in the best way.

You reached down and gripped his hair tightly, keeping him in place. Bryan grunted in response.

You find yourself holding your breath, stiffening as the coil snapped, careening you through orgasmic bliss. Bryan you through your climax, groaning as you soaked his face and fingers. You let out a deep guttural groan of his name.

Bryan’s fingers kept a steady rhythm inside you. His thumb ghosted your clit and you jerked in response, oversensitive.

You tried to move, but Bryan pinned you tightly against bed. “One more sweetheart, can you be a good girl and come for daddy again?”

Bryan crooked his fingers, finding that one spot that all your prior relationships could never find. Your legs start to tremble, abdominal muscles tensing. The pressure is intense, more so than before. His fingers fuck you with such a rapid rhythm and before you know it, your body arches as you come again, this time in a big wet gush all over his face and fingers. “Good girl, my good fucking girl.” His voice is low and gruff, adding another layer of intensity.

As you come down, Bryan cleaned you up with his tongue softly, languidly. He released your clit with a big wet squelch and made his way back up your body. You are trembling in the aftershocks of it all.

“What a way to wake up,” you sighed contentedly. Bryan kissed you and you tasted yourself on his lips. Your breath is running ragged, your chest heaving. You stretched in place before rolling onto your knees. “It’s your turn.”

You took a pillow and threw it onto the ground. Bryan grinned and settled himself on the edge of the bed. His cock was red and angry. Cum weeper from the head dripping down a meaty vein.

Your mouth watered at the sight and your cunt clenched around nothing, already aching and desperate for more. You longed to taste the salt of his essence, feeling the weight of his big cock on your tongue. You looked up at him from under your lashes.

“Like I said earlier, throat fuck me til I cry.”

Bryan twisted a hand into your hair and tugged, forcing you to look at him.

“Is that what you want? Gonna let me fuck your face til you cry?”

You nodded and let out a whimper. “Please.”

Bryan released his grip and took his cock in his hand. He tapped the head of his cock against your lips. “Open up sweetheart. This cock isn’t gonna suck itself.”

You smiled at him before opening your mouth wide.

***

Eventually you managed to pry yourself away from bed and Bryan, to get ready for work. Bryan planned to work from your apartment, but not before checking out of his hotel room and having his belongings brought over.

You sat on the edge of the bed, pulling up your thigh high stockings. Bryan was in the shower and it took everything in you to not join him.

You had decided on the mint green lingerie set - the same one you wore back when you were in the Hamptons, complete with garters. You chose a pencil skirt and silk sleeveless blouse. You finished doing your hair and makeup as Bryan emerged from the shower. You couldn’t help but gape as he sauntered in completely nude, peacocking for all to see.

“Jesus Christ.”

Bryan preened. “You sure I can’t tempt you to take the day?”

You looked at him and then at your watch. “I really, really want to… but I have a bunch of time sensitive stuff to get out. I’ll leave early though - I’ll text you on my way out.”

Bryan walked over to you and kissed you deeply, effectively ruining your lipstick. You were breathless when the kiss broke. “I’ll see you later.”

“Bye babe,” you murmured. You turned and Bryan gave your ass a smack. You giggled and turned to look at him. You blew a kiss towards him before you shut the door behind you with a quiet click.

Later that workday, you found yourself in Rachel’s office personally dropping off some files so that you could spill to her and get her advice.

“But, God, Rach when I look at him, my brain goes, "’ahhhh’, like I can’t hear my thoughts like blah-blah-blah. And yes I know he’s my ex, but can’t two people reconnect?”

“The next thing you’ll say is he’s just a friend. That’s the biggest lie you have ever said.”

You scoffed and rolled your eyes. “I—

“So he tripped and fell into your bed?” Rachel asked in disbelief as she took a sip of her coffee. “When I last texted you, you said you were asleep.”

You swallowed your own iced coffee and let out a snort. “I just never said where or in whose sheets.”

Rachel sighed. “Do you not recall what led you to leaving Chicago? He broke your heart. And now you’re getting back together after just one date? He needs to prove himself.”

“I— he— yes, everyone told me he was bad, bad news. God, I hate the way I called them crazy too. With him - I see the parties and the diamonds when I close my eyes. And it’s not like I did not try the NYC dating scene which was a bust. And I am sure I’ve seen much hotter men, but I can’t remember when.”

Rachel’s eyes narrowed. “You’re my friend - I love you. I cannot stand to see you get hurt again. The four of us should go out to dinner. He hasn’t gone back to Chicago yet has he?”

You shook your head. “No, he leaves at the end of the week. He was originally going to boomerang back to Chicago after the depo but he wants to spend more time with me–”

“In bed,” Rachel cut off.

“Well, yeah. I mean why not? I certainly am not complaining,” you laughed. You leaned back in your chair and crossed your arms.

Rachel sighed once more, this time not as irritated as before. “I just don’t want to see you hurt again.”

“I appreciate it, Rach, really I do. I owe it to me - to this relationship to give it a real second try. I truly love him.”

“It sounds like your mind is made up. But again, let’s have dinner with the four of us. See if the great Bryan Kneef can charm Mike and I as much as he has charmed the pants off you.”

—

You returned to your apartment with the day’s mail in tow. “Knock knock… Bryan? I’m home.”

Bryan looked up from your couch where he had just been furiously typing. “Sweetheart - welcome home.”

To Bryan you were a sight for sore eyes. He had been working on a brief that was causing him more grief the longer he plugged away at it. But there you were, blurred eyeliner and messy bun, even a run in your stocking. In that moment, he never found you more beautiful.

“Change of plans,” you replied tiredly. “We are going to have dinner with Mike and Rach. Figured STK would be good for us all.”

Bryan groaned. “I was hoping we could order in, stay in bed. Make good on my limited time here.”

You dropped your purse onto the couch and climbed onto Bryan’s lap. You wrapped your arms around him and pressed a kiss to his lips. Bryan’s arms wrapped around you and pulled you closer to him. You trailed your fingers along his chest and picked off a piece of imaginary lint. “I know,” you replied quietly. “I just want the people I love to get to know the man I love.”

Bryan grabbed your hand and kissed the top of it. “Besides,” you continued as you moved to nuzzle his neck, “didn’t you agree that all of the unresolved sexual tension was fun? Just think of dinner as such and we’ll be so keyed up after that–”

Bryan reached up to cup the back of your head, gently steering you against his mouth. He slanted his mouth against yours. His tongue licked hotly into your mouth, tasting you. His hands moved around from your hips to the swell of your ass, grabbing and squeezing. Arousal shot through you and suddenly the idea of waiting seemed to be stupid. You tried to do the mental math of possibly a quickie and getting ready and out the door on time.

Bryan apparently read your mind. “You know,” he husked, as his lips skimmed the slope of your neck, “we don’t even need to change out of these clothes. It would be so easy to just push your panties to the side and slide my cock right in.”

You squirmed, biting your lip. “I guess I can fix my hair and make-up in the cab,” you reasoned.

Bryan chuckled darkly. “Then turn around and lift that skirt and show me daddy what he wants. Show me that pretty pussy.”

You brushed your lips against his and then climbed off his lap and turned around. You had a feeling he would be pleased with what you wore underneath. You rucked your skirt over your thighs, revealing your stocking and garters.

“Is this the same set you wore when we were in the Hamptons?”

You turned your face to Bryan, your brow arched. “Yes, good memory but that’s not the takeaway I wanted.”

Bryan let out a small chuckle. “I suppose not.” He stood and undid the zipper of his pants and pulled out his cock, already painfully hard and throbbing.

You stood in front of him, your back to him and bent forward ever so slightly. Bryan took the opportunity to lay a hard slap on your ass, enjoying how your skin rippled and bloomed in response.

You let out a moan as he cupped you. Bryan smirked at the feel of how slick and ready you were for him even while still wearing panties. Panties that were absolutely ruined. His fingers trace along the lines of your panties. Your core throbbed and pulsed with need. Bryan hooks his fingers into the sides and pulls them down, dragging the ruined fabric down your thighs. There you were, the pink of your most feminine parts on display. “You’re fucking soaked,” Bryan muttered. “Look at you. That perfect pussy needing more.”

You shivered in need and anticipation. He sunk two fingers inside your warm, wet heat which greedily sucked him in. You let out a moan as he alternated twisting and scissoring his fingers.

His thumb ghosted your clit and you found yourself rocking rhythmically on his hand. Your desire and need to come grew stoked easily to flame as you were already keyed up from the morning. He crooked his fingers forward and stroked upwards. You jerked and gasped at the sensation, at the feel of the spot that only he knew. Your breath heaved as pleasure coursed through you. You were so close to coming when Bryan removed his hand. He tapped his hand against your cunt, delivering small but deliberate spanks. You jerked once more, and Bryan had to grip your hip to keep you steady.

Bryan used your slick that he gathered on his fingers as lubricant as he continued to pump his cock.

You turned around to fully face him and nodded. “My pussy is always ready for you, always hungry.”

“Let me see.”

You bent at the waist again, jutting your hips to his face. It was evident to Bryan how your pussylips were swollen, glistening with your juices.

“Yeah? That pussy is hungry? And what does that pussy of yours need?” Bryan asked. His eyes followed yours which were zeroed in on his cock.

“Your big cock,” you whimpered as you hovered over his lap.

“Then let me help with that,” Bryan offered. You pushed your panties to the side and sunk onto his thick length. Bryan let out a grunt while you let out a sigh of content. The feel of his cock inside of you is nothing short of incredible. The way he splits you in half once fully seated and how your cunt flutters to accommodate his length, well the burn is delicious. The burning stretch eventually settled into complete fullness as if your bodies were made just for one another, a missing piece to a puzzle.

Bryan shoved his fingers into your mouth and you can taste yourself on them. Your eyes shuttered close as you sucked on them.

You released his fingers and Bryan used the same hand to slap your ass again. You wrapped your arms around his neck and began to grind against him. The pace, despite it being a quickie, is slow and romantic. Bryan is big, thick and hard, filling you up perfectly.

“Is this how you liked to get fucked?” Bryan grunted. You whined, unable to formulate the words. The steady drag of his cock along your cunt has rendered you speechless. “Good girl, take it. Take this cock.”

You whined as you buried your face into the crook of his neck. You take the opportunity to scrape your teeth along his skin. The action made Bryan’s toes curl and he held you tightly as he fucked you harder and deeper. Your cream dripped down his cock. You allowed yourself to get lost in the pleasure. “Don’t worry darling,” Bryan promised in between punctuated thrusts that caused you to sob and whimper with need. “I’ll take care of you. Don’t I always do?”

You manage to eke out a yes as your cunt fluttered around his cock. Your clit rubbed against the fabric of the clothes you are both wearing. You are at the precipice. You ground yourself harder to get that friction you need and your mouth goes slack as you come, soaking his cock with your release.

“Take what you need, take it,” Bryan grunted, his teeth gnashing together. He kept his pace and you kissed him hungrily as you came down from your high. “Come for me Bry,” you manage in between sloppy, wet kisses. “Fill me up. I need it, mark me, this pussy is yours.”

Your words sent Bryan over and he let out a stream of grunts and growls as he pinned your hips down to his as he released his spend into you in thick white stripes.

You both sit there, catching your breath. Bryan tilts your chin and kisses you once more. “Here’s the part where I make a corny joke about happy hour,” he replied with a smirk.

You laughed. “Or I can be cheesy and say every hour with you is happy hour.” You peppered kisses all over his face.

Bryan slanted his face just right to catch your lips. He kissed you softly and slowly. You sagged against him, just enjoying the feel of his body against yours. When the kids finally broke, he pushed some hair off of your face. His green eyes sparkled as he met your gaze.

“Every hour with you is happy hour. I love you.”

Your heart swelled to the point where you thought it would burst. “I love you too.”

—

You both managed to get out the door on time. You hailed a cab which came easily, much to your surprise given the time. Bryan spent his time watching the city go by as you shook your hair to give it volume and tried very carefully during the bumpy taxi ride to re-touch your lipstick. Dinner that evening at STK was the Bryan Kneef show, charming and showboating for hours over alcohol and various decadent dishes.

“So your lovely wife tells me you have an eidetic memory,” Bryan remarked to Mike as he wiped his mouth.

“What if I told you I consume knowledge like no one you’ve ever met before.”

Bryan arched a brow. “Prove it.”

“Pick a topic - anything.”

Bryan furrowed his brow, thinking. “Stock option backdating.” The waiter came by and brought Bryan another drink. Bryan took a sip and then continued, “Although backdating options is legal, violations arose related to disclosures under RIC section 409A.”

Mike smirked. “You forgot about Sarbanes-Oxley.”

Bryan gave a half smile and crinkled his eyes. “The statute of limitations render Sarbanes-Oxley moot post 2007.”

Rachel and you have each other knowing glances.

“Well not if you can find actions to cover up the violation in the Sixth Circuit May 2008.”

Bryan smiled. “That’s impressive.”

“Once I read something, I understand it. And once I understand it, I never forget it.”

“Shit, I should have you all come out to Chicago.” The table laughed.

Rachel turned to you and mouthed ‘I love him.’

You gave her a look, which read ‘told you so.’

“As much as I do enjoy the Windy City, I’m a New Yorker through and through. I’m glad to see you happy,” Mike chimed in, turning towards you. “You deserve it. Bryan, you’re a lucky man.”

Bryan reached over and grabbed your hand. “I am very lucky,” he agreed. “A gorgeous woman who actually likes to keep my company and swallows my cock with such genuine want? That’s true love.”

“Bryan!” you half-shrieked as Rachel and Mike spat out their drinks.

Then just when you thought it couldn’t get worse, Mike retorted similarly with respect to Rachel. Rachel dropped her head in defeat, her cheeks turning bright red. “Oh my god, this is not happening.”

Bryan ultimately settled the bill. The two of you bid adieu to Mike and Rachel as their taxi arrived. You turned to Bryan. “So now what counselor?”

“The night is young. We can go for a nightcap, or…”

You smirked. You pressed your body against his and kissed the corner of his mouth. His beard tickled your skin. Your voice was a whisper that only he could hear.

“Or.”

FIN.

#bryan kneef smut #bryan kneef and f! reader #bryan kneef and reader #the good fight fanfic #brian kneef x reader #bryan kneef x reader #bryan kneef #bryan kneef imagine #bryan kneef fanfic #bryan kneef x you

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scarletsaphire · 1 year

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Paulina has been feeling rather under the weather since after the school dance, but its nothing that some rest, relaxation, and an expensive trip to the chiropractor can't fix. Right?

---

For Phantasy Phest day 3 Wings/Scales @phantasycentral

The first few days after the school dance, Paulina was... dazed. That was the best way to put it. It felt like she was watching herself go through the motions of the day. It wasn't like possession; her body still do what she wanted it to do, still acted and spoke like she did. If she had been fully in control of herself, she probably wouldn't have done much different. Maybe a few extra comments about Manson's absolutely hideous "new" necklace (it already looked rusty and bent weird, so there was no way in hell it was actually new) but overall, nothing would really change.

Paulina came back to herself sometime on the third day after the dance. It would have been disorienting, to go from so distant and weird back to normal suddenly, but with the ache in her back, it was even worse. It started relatively minor; somewhere just below the normal aches and pains of period cramps, just between her shoulders. With just a few seconds of batting her eyelashes, her daddy had booked a private appointment with a chiropractor, and had called the school to let them know she was sick.

She could have gotten through the school day just fine, but she wasn't one to look a free day off school in the mouth, or whatever that saying was. It would have been a nice day; the chiropractor appointment wasn't until later in the day, so she was planning on going back to sleep until noon, redoing her nail polish, and doing a nice extensive skin care routine. She'd barely been able to sleep an extra thirty minutes before the pain between her shoulders woke her back up. By that point, the pain had progressed from the dull, annoying ache to a near stabbing pain. Much more annoying, much more painful, but still manageable. Paulina busted out the heating pad and herbal tea, and settled in for an uncomfortable day.

By the time her chiropractor appointment rolled around, Paulina was only keeping tears of pain from falling through sheer power of will and determination to not ruin her mascara. She couldn't get herself to sit up straight on the car ride there, the bumping of the car seat against her burning shoulder blades so painful she'd nearly bit clean through her tongue. The chauffer had shot her a few worried glances through the back mirror, but one angry glare reminded him of his place.

Paulina left the chiropractor's wishing she had never come. The man's first, gentle touch had her yelping in pain and him humming in confusion and consideration. "You have some nasty knots in your back," he had said, probing at the sorest spot even as Paulina flinched at the contact. "I normally only see this type of thing in older people with very stressful jobs. Has anything happened lately that might have caused this? Any stress at school?"

"I didn't realize my father was paying you to ask me about my day," Paulina grumbled. "Are you going to fix my back or not?"

"Of course," he'd said. "I just thought that-"

"You aren't getting paid to think," she snapped. "Just make it stop hurting!"

He hadn't spoken the rest of the appointment, instead trying to massage Paulina's back in a way that didn't make her vision cloud with pain. He failed. Paulina ended up walking back to the car hunched over and her hair covering her face. She'd ran out of willpower somewhere during the appointment, and her mascara had run, just like she knew it would.

As soon as she got back home, Paulina headed straight to her room. She placed the heating pad, the only thing that had offered any kind of relief all day, on her back, and laid face down into her mattress. It helped, at least a little bit.

Paulina passed the weekend in almost the same position, only moving to eat, use the bathroom, or turn up the heat on the heating pad. She'd passed the temperature she normally had it at the first night, and had maxed it early on Sunday morning. Despite the fact that it was burning hot, the pain was far much worse when it was lower.

Paulina was frankly exhausted by the time Monday rolled back around, but she couldn't miss school today. Not only would it be bad for her image if people thought she could get like, properly sick, and besides all that, there was cheer practice that evening. She couldn't just miss that if she wanted to be a flyer this year. Her back still hurt like hell by the time she was getting in the car to go to school, but it was manageable. Frankly, it was nothing compared to what it had been over the weekend. So Paulina grit her teeth, applied some pink sparkly lip gloss, and made her way into Casper High with a beaming smile on her face.

She'd managed to make it to third period, flying on the concerned wishes of her friends and followers, all saying that they were so happy she was back and cursing whatever illness befell her on Friday. She might've been able to make it longer, if the school hadn't shook with what the student body was beginning to recognize as the tell tale signs of a ghost attack. In their mad rush to evacuate the school, someone had bumped Paulina right in the shoulder blades, right between where the pain was most severe, and she'd collapsed to her knees.

"Polly? Come on Polly we need to go!" Star had called the moment she saw Paulina fall, but she was rushed away in the stampeding crowd. Paulina couldn't straighten, couldn't even move. All she could do was curl further in on herself and squeeze her eyes against the searing hot pain throbbing through her back. Every beat of footsteps sent another pulse of pain through her. She grabbed at her hair, pulling on it, trying to shift her focus to a smaller pain. All her tugging did is end up with handfuls of her hair in her fists, and a stinging sensation to accompany the rest of her pain.

Paulina didn't notice when the crowd dispersed; the pulses of pain continued, only getting worse and worse in severity. She also didn't notice the person saying her name until she felt the hand on her shoulder, causing her to shudder in pain. "Paulina!" A voice accompanied the hand. Paulina cracked her eye open, but everything was blurry. She could vaguely make out black and purple, but it wasn't clear. "Paulina now is not the time to be a drama queen. You need to move."

The hand wrapped around Paulina's arm and tugged on her, pulling her out of the fetal position. Whoever it was must have torn her shirt; a loud ripping noise echoed through the hallway. Paulina would have been angry, if the cool air hitting or skin wasn't so refreshing. It didn't get rid of the pain entirely, but it did get rid of at least some of it. "Oh shit. Ok. Didn't expect that," the voice said. "Ok, um. Cool, I can handle this. I'm just gonna..." The hand left her arm, before wrapping around her waist. "One, two, and lift!"

With a soft grunt, Paulina was lifted off of the ground. It definitely wasn't the cleanest job; Paulina could hear her (Paulina's head was clear enough to tell that whoever it was was a girl. Maybe Star came back for her?) labored breathing, and Paulina's...something was dragging along the floor. It wasn't her feet; she'd wrapped those around this person's waist not long after being lifted. It wouldn't make sense for it to be her hands, with how she was being carried. It was an odd feeling; she couldn't remember ever experiencing anything like this. It was nice, whatever it was, and every brush against the cold linoleum sent pleasant chills into her spine that helped lessen the pain more and more.

Paulina was dumped on the floor, and the whatever it was that had been dragging was pinched beneath her. She yelped, and shifted the appendage out from under her.

"Ok, so those are definitely yours and not just like. Glued to you or whatever. Good to know." Now that the pain in her back was fading, Paulina's brain was able to work at least a little bit more. Whoever this was definitely wasn't Star; Star could lift her, of course, she needed to for cheer, but Star didn't talk like this person. "Can you hear me, or have the clouds you're always walking in blocking your ears?"

Paulina sent a quiet prayer that she had heard that wrong. Anyone but her. Anyone but her. Anyone but... Paulina opened her eyes. Sam was crouched next to her, the standard look of disdain mixed with something that Paulina might have thought was concern, if it wasn't Sam. Paulina closed her eyes, groaned, and leaned her head against the wall.

"I feel like I should be mad about that," Sam said. "But if the roles were reversed, I'd probably do the same thing."

"Just go away, goth freak," Paulina said.

"Nope. Not gonna happen," Sam said. "Not with whatever all this is going on."

"Why, you trying to get blackmail or something Manson?" Paulina sneered. "Newsflash, but no one is going to believe you over me."

"I think you're the one who needs a newsflash."

"And what does Miss Small, Dark, and Gloomy have to tell the gossip queen of Casper High?"

"You have wings." Sam delivered the line without a hint of a joke in her voice, which would have been concerning, if Sam wasn't always so monotone all the time.

"Oh ha ha," Paulina replied, opening her eyes just to glare at Sam. "You really think I'm going to believe a lie as obvious as that one? Puh-lease."

Sam didn't answer. Instead she grabbed next to Paulina, hand brushing against sensitive not quiet skin, and pulling the appendage up into Paulina's line of sight. It was, in fact a wing; a thin membrane stretched across a boney frame. It was a soft, warm pink color, almost a peach; and it shimmered in the fluorescent lights of the room. It looked fake. Paulina wanted to believe it was fake. But she could feel Sam's hand against it, could feel how it stretched from how Sam was pulling it.

Paulina opened her mouth, trying to figure out some kind of retort, or at least some kind of reply, but coming up short. "I guess Miss Small Dark and Gloomy can tell you something you don't know." Paulina tore her eyes from her wing to look Sam in the eye. She was smirking.

"Of course you're enjoying this," Paulina said. She went to grab the wing away, but before her hand could reach it, it had pulled itself away, responding to her thought. "My life is over!" She couldn't keep the hysterics out of her voice. Why should she? She was a freak now. Even more of a freak than Manson and her weirdo friends. Paulina thought she could have a little hysterics. As a treat.

"Oh come on, its not that big of a deal. You're still alive, which is more than some of my friends can say."

Paulina burst into tears. "I don't want to be one of you weirdos!"

"Whoever said that you'd be welcome with us?" Sam asked, crossing her arms. Paulina cried harder. Sam uncrossed her arms, to hover them around Paulina. She didn't seem certain of what to do. That was fair. Paulina also didn't know what to do.

"It's ok, I'm sure we can fix this!" Sam settled on eventually.

"Who is this we?" Paulina said.

"You know what that's a very good question!" Sam said. "It's uh-"

Whatever she was going to say was lost under the sound of someone else's echoing voice coming from the wall. "Hope you're in here Sam, because I got hit something nasty. I think I can see the sandwich I had for lunch."

"Um, we're busy!" Sam called, but she was too late. The ghost boy had turned around the corner.

"I thought we agreed this was my bleed out bathroom!" he said. He was proving his point; the cut across his stomach was bleeding a concerning amount, and there was a pool of bright green ectoplasm pooling under his feet.

"Where else was I supposed to take her? She grew wings, Danny! Wings!" Sam grabbed Paulina's wing to prove her point.

"Hey!" Paulina shouted. "Don't just grab me like that!" She tore the wing back out of Sam's hands.

"You do make a fair point," ghost boy said. "But can you stitch me up first, and then we can deal with the wings?" He offered Paulina a far too familiar, sheepish grin. "Sorry, but I'm starting to see stars, and not in the good way."

"Fine, sit down." Sam reached into her backpack and pulled out a (medkit?). Ghost boy sat down on the tile floors of the bathroom, leaning backwards for Sam to get easier access to his wound.

Paulina narrowed her eyes at the two, wheels turning in her head. The two were comfortable with each other, which was weird enough, but especially since it wasn't just the comfort of necessity. They had talked like friends. And hadn't the ghost boy come in looking for Sam? She even knew his name! Danny.

The alarm bells went off, and she nearly hit herself in the head. She didn't blame herself for not seeing it earlier; she did try very hard to look at the losers as little as possible, but it was clear as day. Sure, their hair color and eye color were different, but everything else? It would be impossible to miss. Danny Fenton, Sam Manson's best friend since 4th grade, was bleeding ectoplasm on the bathroom floor.

She should say something. Paulina knew that she should. She didn't. If Fenton was the ghost boy, then this "we" Sam was talking about was the two of them, and maybe the techy nerd too. Maybe they could help her get rid of these things; she wasn't about to risk it by revealing that she knew.

#danny phantom #danny phantom fanfiction #danny fenton #sam manson #paulina sanchez #phantasy phest 2023

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hoshi-tachimiya · 2 years

Text

༊*·˚ Tsumugi Aoba x Reader

Prompt: Accidentally swapped belongings. Word Count: 617. Warning: N/A. Notes: SFW. Gender neutral reader. Established relationship. Reader wears glasses.

Nap time should be over.

As per your request, and to prevent either of you from napping – or, to be precise, collapsing – on the floor again, you and Tsumugi went to take a nap on the couch. While Tsumugi wouldn't mind much, you certainly would want to avoid invoking Natsume's wrath (and his bitter medicine) as much as possible.

You were planning it to be a short nap, yet there you were – still dozing, laid on your boyfriend's lap, having fallen from his shoulder. Tsumugi had been awake for a while, but you don't expect him to have the heart to wake you up, do you? Not when you had been exerting yourself, managing the new, in-training idols and helping him to make sure the finances are still in check.

That aside, Tsumugi didn't seem to be doing quite well either. It started from a faint yet unpleasant feeling which developed a familiar dizziness, not long after he woke up. Thanks to you, he had been having his meal on time recently, so when the slight nausea came in, he couldn't think of a reason of why he would be feeling unwell in the first place. All this time, the lack of sleep never really affected him, maybe it's because of the short nap? But if he didn't return to his work, there would be even less time to rest later…

(Leo ever had complained about how it's a shame that you two never really had the chance to go on a date, only for Natsume to bit back that both of you are always on a date – in the office, that is.)

Tsumugi let out a sigh and rubbed his temples. The few minutes he spent on the papers in his hands were in vain due to him trying to focus but to no avail. His attention diverted to your woken form, shifting slightly before slowly sitting up. You rubbed your eyes and yawned, still half-awake. "Good morning," your beloved greeted with a smile.

"Good morning," you greeted back half-jokingly, "I didn't actually sleep until morning, did I?"

Tsumugi showed you the clock in his lit phone screen and you wailed silently. It's already past the time you were planning to wake up, around 15 minutes or so.

You stretched a bit and reached out to grab your glasses on the table, still struggling to gather your life force while Tsumugi went back to inspect some papers. You were about to wear your glasses, but your hands stopped midway, right when the temple tips barely touched your cheekbones. You squinted.

"Tsumugi," he turned his head at the sound of your soft voice, "I think you're wearing my glasses."

He blinked once, twice, before taking off his – correction, your glasses to inspect the little corner inside the frame, near the hinge. Tsumugi's glasses and yours are very much alike, you can't tell the difference without looking at them closely.

"Ah," so that's why. You handed over each other's glasses, "Thank you, [y/n]-chan. I didn't realize, and I was starting to get dizzy from wearing the wrong glasses…"

"Should I get a new pair with different frame?" You rested your hands along with your glasses on your lap.

"No– you don't need to, I'll be more careful next time."

"…actually." You closed your eyes again, leaning back on his shoulder. The temptation to fall back to sleep is irresistible, to the point that you're impressed with yourself for getting such a brilliant idea, "Give me your prescriptions, I'll get an exact same as yours. That way, it wouldn't matter even if we switched glasses again…

Now, can you please pinch my cheeks so I can be fully awake?"

You didn’t actually expect him to do it, you just really needed to wake up and return to your duties. But Tsumugi knew better – he set down the papers in his hand and took off his glasses as he shifted in his seat to face you. Your lids remained closed even when he tucked your hair behind your ear and cupped your cheeks.

Only when you felt at the softness of his lips on yours, grazing ever so slightly, your eyes shot open. Heat rushed into your cheeks due to the proximity of his face – close, too close for your poor heart to not leap out of your chest.

The kiss lasted only for a mere second, but enough to turn you into a blushing mess by the time he pulled away. You stared at his eyes – the tender, viridescent hues have always been so pretty – with mouth agape, question marks flying and bouncing around your head. “That's– that’s not what I asked–”

You didn’t know what you were blabbering, what you were retorting for, or why were you stuttering in the first place. Tsumugi chuckled at the sight of you, ruffling your hair gentle enough to not make a mess as you tried to clear your head. You slumped in response, relenting to his touch.

“You’re so adorable, [y/n]-chan.”

Well, at least you’re fully awake now.

#🧁: sweet #📜: palace scriptures #ensemble stars #enstars #ensemble stars fluff #enstars fluff #ensemble stars x reader #enstars x reader #tsumugi aoba x reader #aoba tsumugi x reader

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jaybleu25 · 9 months

Text

23rd of December

alright

its me

jay here

so last year in 2022, i had a bit of a medical scare. it started off as a normal day; a few days before that i just got onto winter break (it was my senior year of high school at the time, just finished midterms). i was chilling in my room, minding my business, when all of a sudden i started feeling pain near my stomach. and i was like "oh, it's probably just that time of the month or something"

but then an hour passed. and another hour. and with every hour the pain just. got worse. like it just went from tolerable to feeling like i was being stabbed. it got to the point where i couldn't handle it any more, and i just laid on the floor for a while. then it got too much, and i called my parents to tell them.

after about 30 minutes, we all collectively decided it would be best to go to the hospital since the pain was really bad. i was crying at this point. mainly from the pain, but also because i was terrified since this was the first time i myself have ever had to be admitted to the hospital. so we get there, i get a quick check up at the front desk, and i'm taken to the er.

which, can i just say, was nothing like how i was imagining it. with how media portrays it and stuff, i thought it was the room where you actually got surgeries and stuff done or whatever. but no, that's a separate room. the emergency room is just a normal doctor's room but way nicer (and also has a stretcher for the patient to lay in).

it was pretty late at night at this point; no clue when it was, but i think we got there around 10 or 11 pm at night. i was there for a good few hours. they hooked me up to an iv, which i would argue was actually the most painful part of my time there (i also have a big fear of sharp things so that added onto the pain of them putting something in my arm wasn't great). but after a while it actually helped with the pain a lot. i could barely feel it after a while.

so after a good few hours, doctors or nurses (i can't recall) come in and take me to get an ultrasound done. during my stay there, i'd been kinda taking naps to help calm myself down, and also because i just didn't have my phone with me so i couldn't play games or anything to pass the time. by the time it got to midnight, my brother left the hospital since he was bored (gonna talk about that point later). but basically, there i was in a different room getting an ultrasound done, which was another thing that surprised me since i only thought ultrasounds were for people who were pregnant. the more you know i guess

after that was done, i got brought back to the room i was staying in and took another nap. woke up a little while later to hear the news,

"looks like appendicitis".

so then the doctors/nurses tell me and my family that i'll likely have to get surgery. main reason? well, as a bit of a tl;dr, if you have appendicitis and you leave it untreated, it could cause the appendix to basically explode itself, spreading harmful things into the body and eventually likely killing the person who has it.

this is when i began to worry that i might die.

but the doctors/nurses then told me that before the surgery, i could get a CAT(?) scan done to make proper sure that i actually had appendicitis. of course, me being terrified of having to get surgery done, chose the scan. so i got taken to get scanned, get brought back to my room, doctors/nurses come back in a little while later and basically confirm,

"yep, it's appendicitis".

so now there i was in the process of getting ready for surgery. my first ever surgery. i then got rolled down in my stretcher to the recovery room where i was told to "get ready", which basically consisted of me changing into a hospital gown, washing my mouth out with some weird mouth rinse (tasted gross fyi, would not recommend), and washing myself down with wipes. then after that, i went back on my stretcher. and before they took me to go to the proper surgery room, one of the nurses came up to me, and she said something that i will never forget: "Would you like to say goodbye to your parents?" um. no??????? i don't??????? like she could've worded it so much better. i know she meant "do you want to say goodbye before you go in for surgery" as in i'll probably see them again, but the way it was worded made it sound like that was the last time i'd ever see them.

that was when i fully believed that was it.

that was when i fully believed i was going to die.

it didn't help that there were a lot of stereotypes surrounding surgery in media, with it being terrifying and such and how some people wake up mid surgery and are forced to watch it happen. thinking of that, i was terrified. especially with the thought that i was probably going to die.

so i said goodbye to my parents, and i told them i loved them, and the nurses started rolling me towards the surgery room. we went down a really long hallway, and only half of the lights were working. looked like something out of a horror movie. and the entire way down the hallway, i was thinking a lot.

"i never got to say goodbye to my friends" "i never got to say goodbye to my brother" "i never got to tell them i loved them" "i'm never going to be able to go to university" "i'm never going to become a teacher" "i'm never going to meet my online best friend" "i'm never going to see my family again" "i'm going to die" "this is it" "if this is what God wanted for me, then so be it; he knows what he's doing" i was sort of trying to come to terms with the fact that i was going to die. but nobody's ever truly ready for that. but while i was still scared, i knew i'd be at peace soon.

i think the nurses could tell i was scared, because once we started getting closer to the surgery room, they started saying casual conversation.

"it's pretty snowy outside," one said.

"yeah, it was snowing on the way here" i responded.

"looks like we'll be getting snow this Christmas," the other said.

"yeah," i responded.

then we got to the outside of the room. the doors were closed, and one of the nurses pressed a big button on the wall that opened them. they rolled me into the room, and they carried me off the stretcher and onto the surgery table. they then explained to me that i'd be under anesthesia, so i wouldn't be awake for the surgery. i was nervous of what would go down, but i went along with everything.

they put the anesthesia mask over my mouth and nose.

i took a deep breath.

i blinked.

i was in the recovery room.

it was morning, Christmas Eve. the 24th of december. it was bright outside with all the snow.

i was laying in my stretcher, kind of confused on what was going on. that was it? was that my surgery? is it over with?

it was around 8 in the morning. i laid there for a good 10-20 minutes in silence, just thinking, trying to figure out what was going on.

i was alive.

after a little while, one of the nurses who were nearby noticed i was awake, and she came over to help take care of me. she brought me back my normal clothes, and i got changed, and she helped me get into a wheelchair. i could barely stand. it hurt to stand. it hurt to move.

i was half awake at the time, but i thanked her for her help, and she rolled me down to the lobby where my parents were waiting. i got helped into our car out of my wheelchair, said goodbye to the nurse, and we were on our way back home.

getting home, i got helped to the couch, where i proceeded to lay there for an entire week. i could barely move. all i could eat was yogurt for a while since i could only eat soft things. i stayed on that couch for a while, only getting up when i needed to use the bathroom (which i rarely did since it hurt to sit up and walk around). my cats often kept me company, laying on top of me on the blanket and keeping me warm.

luckily for me, since i was on winter break, i had the entire week to recover. granted, i wasn't fully recovered by the time the week was over, but by that point i could at least walk a little.

the next week, i had to go back to school. but i could barely walk still. because of that, the day i came back, me and my mom (she helped walk me there) went to the front office, and i was able to use the wheelchair they had there. so for that entire week while i was at school, i was in a wheelchair. there was nothing wrong with my legs, it was just whenever i put pressure on my stomach (whenever i sat up from laying down, standing, etc) it hurt a lot.

i still remember when i got to my first class that day. the school resource officer helped roll me there, and the moment i got into the classroom, everyone was surprised. they all looked at me.

"WHAT?!" they all exclaimed.

i couldn't help but laugh. i found it hilarious.

as of this being posted, it's officially been a year since i had to go to the hospital. my scars have (mostly) healed. it doesn't hurt anymore. i can walk around perfectly fine. i've fully recovered. well, aside from me now having to deal with the fact that i get sick more easily now that my appendix is gone. that's the only downside.

the appendix is actually more useful than you think.

#tw pain #tw surgery #medical story yippee!!#tw vent #tw mention of death

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reverie-verse · 2 years

Text

Peter Parker x Reader- Falling Into His World Pt. 3

Here are the other parts Part 1 Part 2 Prompt: Reader quite literally falls into his world. She is his favorite character from his book and he is a favorite character from hers. She’s not sure how it happened. He’s not sure how to help but he still tries. After all, he is New York’s friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. On the other hand she’s from California and not from his world.

*Gwen is in this chapter.

*Y/B/N = Your/Best Friends/Name

College Peter Parker & College Reader

Could be read for any Peter of your choosing.

Ayyyeee I hope y’all enjoy this one becaauusseee it took forever to do. 😭

———————————————————————————————————

“You must be Y/n, Peter has spoken quite a lot about you.” Gwen still holds a generous smile with kindness etched in her eyes. Peters gaze move from hers to around the room then back to you. You chuckled turning your beautifully colored eyes back to Gwen.

“ I can only hope they are good things, considering I’m not from around here.”

Gwen giggles “ I promise you they are all good things. Though I’d have to say It’s quite intriguing to see you standing here in person. Can you tell me a little bit about what happened?” she ushered you both into the living room of her apartment.

You sat down on the couch and your best friend made it to her snack stash. Peter walked toward the window looking down upon the city. “ Well uh I came home from work Y/B/N had gone out with some friends. I stayed home and cleaned up a bit and then I went into my room. I was tired so I laid down and listened to some music and I ended up here”

“ That's it? Do you remember anything else? What were you thinking about?” Looking at Gwen she must’ve come from her lab. Her lab coat was still on her hair slicked back into its blonde ponytail. Her skirt pencils shoes in the form of heels. You held your breath in and just for a second you felt…well you felt like you were a test subject. As if you were being questioned on if a certain serum worked. You shoved those feelings and thoughts aside. You needed a way home and you need answers as to why or how you got here.

“ Uh no not really it all kind of happened so fast.” You replied looking down at your hand to avoid any eye contact. Deep down you knew you were dreaming about Peter, you didn’t want anyone to know that.

Gwen looked at you as she squatted down next to you “I need to know every detail. I can’t help you if you’re holding back on information”

Well there goes that plan. You sighed at this point your best friend had found a bag of chips eating them. Peter had looked away from the window towards you. His damn eyes always found you. You could feel them burning holes through you as you whispered “ I dreamt about Peter” Gwen nodded taking in the information.

“ You dreamt about Peter, you woke up in his world” Gwen repeats as she stands up and begins to pace in front of you deep in thought the more you spoke.

“ Yes and then when we went to sleep last night we woke up Y/B/N was here and there was an open portal” You told her in hopes she might pick up on something you don’t. “Y/B/N was able to walk through but it shut before we could even walk near it”

Peter finally spoke “ We think it might be a one way door between dimensions. It’s somehow being accessed while she’s around”

Gwen nods “ I can see the possibility but I think you’re wrong. I think it’s Y/n who’s opening the portal”

“ Me?!” You looked at her like she grew two heads. You stood up from the couch. Your best friend had made it to the bar stool that was under the counter. She happened to have been enjoying the entertainment.

“ Yes!” Gwen smiled. “Here’s why, The portal seems to only open when you are asleep. Each time it’s sent you back and forth to the places you love the most. From what it sounds like. You ended up in Peter's world and you ended up with your best friend joining you. The question is how do we get you to open it while you're awake.-“

“ Now hold on we don’t know that for sure I mean come on it could be anything right?” You bargained with her refusing to believe that you could hold that type of power let alone any power.

Gwen shook her head “ I think it’s you. The only way I know for sure is if we test it.”

“ Test?” You shook your own head now it was your turn to begin pacing. “ I-I- don’t know about this. What if we are wrong? Then what?” Peter walked over to you moving past Gwen. You were nervous and becoming more anxious. Peter stood in between you and Gwen blocking your view. It was almost like you shrinked in size. Almost like you were shrinking into yourself. The stress and the anxiety hit you completely.

Peter's heart cared for you, he wanted to comfort you. He created a barrier between you and what was about to become your future.“ It’s okay, we can figure this out together. I promise I’ll be right here.”

Your face was smashed into his chest “ Yeah expect when you go and save the city” His arms wrapped around you tightly holding you there. You melted into his touch, you were sure he felt it.

“ If I don’t protect the city, who will?” He chuckled as he continued to hold you, your warmth gave him a charge. He felt connected with you.

“ Me” You replied half jokingly.

Peter sighed “ The only way you can do that is by checking to see if it is you. I could use a sidekick”

You pulled away slightly to glare at him. “ I am not a side kick. Matter of fact I hope I do get powers cuz I’ll kick your ass” You playfully warned him as he held you, your hands rested against his chest. You looked at Gwen nodding your head telling her that you would do it. Gwen gives you a hopeful smile.

Y/B/N had walked over to Gwen during the moment of Peter'sand Y/N’s intense moment of romanticism.

Gwen leaned to the side to whisper to Y/B/N. “You see what I’m seeing right?”

Y/B/N smirks “ Oh yeah this has been going on all morning long”

“ Seriously?” Gwen questions as she looks at her.

“Seriously” She replies with a smile.

“ No I meant the-“ Gwen starts

“ The romance-“ Y/B/N finishes her sentence

“ No the spider tingle” Gwen says as Y/B/N awkwardly shoves another chip in her mouth.

Peter's head turned toward the window, he could hear something, or feel something the rest of you couldn’t. You knew what that meant. You sighed “ Go save the world Spider-Man I’ll be here testing.” Peter turned to look at you as you slid your hands down his chest reaching behind you to unclasp his hands so that you could leave his sweet embrace. Peter managed to still grab a hold of one hand. In that same moment his hand slipped from yours slowly and gently. His one final touch before he makes his way towards the window to climb out of it. He stops for a second or two half way in and Halfway out he offers you a soft smile and a wink. He only allows you to admire for a glimpse then he’s gone.

An audible “awwwee” could be heard, you felt the heat of exposure and embarrassment from the intimate moment crawl on your skin. Though you held a small smile for that interaction boy did you both have each other’s hearts and yes everyone knew that. You turned to look at Gwen and Y/B/N grabbing a pillow and throwing it at them “ Let’s go get that testing done” the three of you walked to her laboratory.

You had laid down on a medical bed your hair pulled back into two French braids. You wore a sports bra and sweats. These allowed for Gwen to attach monitor wires to your head and chest. She says that it was meant to keep an eye on your heart and a way to monitor your brain activity. Of course you thought she was insane and your best friend just happened to be so invested she followed Gwen around asking her questions about everything under the sun. You began to become frustrated you’ve been at this for hours and nothing was happening. You couldn’t fall asleep and it didn’t help that you had two people watching you attempt to sleep.

You turned your head to look at Gwen and Y/B/N “You both are making it extremely hard to sleep”

Gwen grimaces “ I know but this is the best we can do”

You sighed “ Can we at least turn the lights off?”

Gwen grimaced again “ I can’t dim the lights either with how dark they already are.”

“ Alright, Alright, Alright” You mumbled.

Y/B/N had made a face signaling that she had an idea.

You raised your eyebrows “ Oooh no”

Y/B/N smiled ” Listen it happened with Peter and me too. You thought about us and a portal created because we were important”

“I-I don’t know-“

Gwen nodded, snapping her fingers “ No she’s right, you opened those portals by making a connection. Try connecting with a memory of your favorite place or favorite restaurant or something from your world that connects you to ours”

“ Peter” Your best friend whispers only for you and Gwen to look at her as if she grew two heads. You sighed nodding one more time before getting comfortable again.

“Okay here it goes” you say you shut your eyes allowing your body and mind to slow down. You took a few deep breaths allowing your mind to wander. As it drifted you found yourself looking for Peter. Your mind searched and wandered until it found him. It was a simple memory the moment you two shared as you held hands, your memory shifts showing you the last few seconds before he left to save the city. Or the moment when you first saw him when he had taken off his mask as you both realized you met each other’s fictional character. The one they connected with and bonded with. Sometimes people find themselves loving.

Gwen gasped as a portal began to open before her eyes and Y/B/N’s. The portal in the shape of a circle, a white glow is visible around the ring. On the rims of the ring were vibration ripples. Almost as if it were water and someone had skipped rocks along the shore into the deeper end. It was beautiful up until it was ruined by Peter. The three of you were positioned behind him so he was not able to see you. Gwen and Y/B/N had stood in front of the medical bed blocking his view. Peter standing in the middle of an alleyway, between where you three were and on otherside where about five other men stood.

He was in a sense trapped. Peter had turned around sensing that the three of you were in the portal. He panicked “ What-what are you doing? You’re not supposed to be here!” He waves his hands around trying to somehow make all of you disappear. Gwen peeked over her shoulder to check up on you in the medical bed but you were gone. Gwen’s eyes widened, Y/B/N had caught on her eyes widening as well.

She gulps and whispers to Gwen “ Where is Y/N?”

Gwen turns back to look at Y/B/N “ I don’t know she was right there”She whispers.

Peter magically heard the two whispers back and forth “Are you kidding me?! You lost her?!!” He whispered and yelled. The three of them began to argue, forgetting that he was in the middle of working on some street crime.

You, had found yourself in a position unlike anything before. You drifted. You weren’t where your friends were, you weren’t exactly where Peter was either. On either side of you was a portal. One connecting you to Gwen’s apartment and her homemade lab. The other being the alley way Peter stood in. Screams echoed into the emptiness of the space between you and both portals. Around you was nothing but empty dark space and the only illumination you had were from the two portals. Though with little time each portal began to close. You run from one side attempting to reach at least a portal in time to cross it, you don’t. You huffed turning around determined to make it to the other side hopefully making it across. You book it to the portal only for you to bounce off of it like a basketball hitting the backboard. You flew a few paces back before finally hitting the ground.

When colliding with a cold floor your back aches in pain and groans. You tried to sit up watching the last little light coming from the portal disappear. You sat there in the dark. There was nothing there to comfort you, you felt lost, stuck and afraid. You could however hear screams echo off in the distance. Where the hell were you? Your breathing picks up. The screams are getting closer yet it’s still a fairly good distance away. It was useless to look around because you couldn’t see a damn thing. You stood up from your seated position on the ground. You needed to get out of here and there was no way for you to do it when you couldn’t sleep. How could you sleep? It was cold, dark, and eerie.

You decided to stand up and walk. What’s the worst that could happen? You huffed you knew anything could happen. You're in the dark unable to see a damn thing, the creepy screams sending you on edge. Something was trapped in here with you. You could panic or you could search for a way out. That sounds like a better plan than staying in one area. You had no idea where you were going or what you’d run into. As you walked you tried to not curl in on yourself. Anxiety filled every part of you mixed with a pinch of fear from the dark abyss.

You thought back to what Gwen and Y/B/N had said.

“Y/B/N smiled ‘Listen it happened with Peter and me too. You thought about us and a portal created because we were important’

Gwen nodded, snapping her fingers ‘No she’s right, you opened those portals by making a connection. Try connecting with a memory of your favorite place or favorite restaurant or something from your world that connects you to ours’”

They were onto something if not you wouldn’t be trapped between Gwen’s apartment and the alleyway Peter stood in. The screams had finally reached you. As it hit your ear drums vibrating through your body, you could tell it may be a few feet away. You freeze in your spot, your breathing becoming faster. The screams lowered to an ugly “rrrraaahhh” sound it could almost pass as a zombie. You could feel it’s breath on your skin. You shut your eyes feeling as though you could not escape. You left your friends to fight by themselves though you wanted to save them. Yet here you were in a place you put yourself through only to die. At least Peter could save your friends and maybe this was your fate all along. Oh Peter what would he say? What would you say? All these thoughts and emotions connected you to them. You felt every emotion, every thought and dream. Their faces flashed before your eyes.

You saw a flickering of a white light. Opening in your eyes you looked down at your hands. A beautiful white current of light dances across your fingers for a second. In that same second a skeletal figure roared as it charged at you. You yell “ Shit!” You pivot on your feet running the opposite direction. Unfortunately for you the Skeleton flew it had no feet, only the power of flight. You start slamming your hands together attempting to gain that spark back. “ Come on, come on, come onnn”. Your hands sparked a few times but not enough to do much with it. You tried to bring forth the memories you locked into your brain. Your hands began to tingle again, as you ran faster. A portal began to open as the skeleton tried to reach you, extending a hand out to grab you. In the same second you opened a portal running through it closing it just as fast as it opened trapping the skeleton inside. You took a chance to catch your breath. A mix of voices could be heard off in the distance. Some guy recognized and the others you didn’t. You walk towards them.

“ We didn’t mean to lose her!” Y/B/N whispered yelled back.

“ I’m sure she’s here somewhere-“ Gwen whispered

“ You both-“ His attention was caught by the group of men inching their way forward toward Peter's group.

They whistled at the group chuckling darkly; this was their chance to take all Spider-Man down. At least that’s what their boss wanted. Peters instincts kicking in he shuts the conversation down. He tells the girls to stay back as he crouches into his Spider position. He had three things on his mind. First making sure Gwen and Y/B/N were out of his way and safe. Two he would need to take down these men before he could search for you. The last thing he needed to do was get you back safe and sound. At least this was his agenda.

One of the five men called out to him “Ay Spider-Man whatcha got there?”

“ It looks like fresh jewels and riches ” Another man replies.

Spider- Man shakes his head “ Oh no those are off limits. Hasn’t anyone told you finders keepers-”

“Losers Weepers.” Your voice echoes off the walls as you stand behind the evil men. The men turned around towards the sound of you. Your appearance frightened them though they made sure to keep it concealed to a point. Your eyes white and glowing resembling the out ring of the portal.

Gwen smiled “ She’s here”

Y/B/N sharing the same proud smile “ That’s my girl”

One member of the group had held his breath for a moment before releasing a belly laugh as he cracked a joke“ Spidey’s got himself a tiny glowing sidekick”

The other members laughed alongside him.

You cocked your head to the side “Hmmm I wouldn’t say sidekick but I’m guessing that’s what you are. Someone’s bitch”

“ What did you just say?!” A man yelled as he took a step forward. The laughing ceased to exist but what replaced it; anger and annoyance.

“I said. You. Are. Someone’s. Bitch”

All of the five mens attention left Spider-Man and the two girls. They had no interest only in the girl standing in front of them. The group began walking towards you, you began walking towards them. The pace escalated, turning into a full sprint. Your hands unbeknownst to you, had held a sort of spark, a hue if you will. A current danced between your fingers a snowy white. The man that hand reached you first swung his fist. With ease and grace, you ducked under his arm. Using your own hand you slammed it on his chest with so much force that with the guidance of the spark, aided you as you pushed him to the floor. Underneath him a portal opens letting him fall through. Spider-Man flipped over the group of men shooting his webs to capture the man who was falling into the portal. He pulled on his string pulling the man up, webbing him to the building.

You continued your fight. You battled the other men taking them down. Two of them charge for you at the same time one right behind the other. You use the first man as a means to hold your weight. You wrap an arm around the first man, you lift your legs kicking the man behind him into another portal. Spider-Man swoops in pulling him out and webbing him next to his friend. The man you were still holding you slammed him on the ground though this time you didn’t put him through a portal. You let Peter get to him instead, off in the distance you could hear the two fight.

The last man stood alone while his friends stuck to each other and to a wall. Spider-Man and swung himself across the alley way landing right next to you. You both looked at the man who squeaked and started to run. Spider-Man wasn’t about to let that happen. He shot webs as if he was boxing, catching the man’s feet. He fell on the ground. Spider-Man attached the webbing to the other men as he turned to look at you.

“Do you mind giving the fellow task force a gift?” He asked.

“Sure I mean it’s not like everyday they can get a big bonus like this” With a flick of your wrist a portal opens. Peter with such fluency he pulled on the group of men throwing them in front of the police station. He dusted his hands off as if dirt was on them. Turning his back on the portal you closed.

“ Did you see that?!” You jumped with joy. “ We did that!”

“ You’re lucky you didn’t get hurt!” Peter retorted as he walked over to you.

“ Oh come onnnn that was amazing!” You replied still happy you both kicked some ass. The portal to Gwen’s apartment stayed open, with Gwen and Y/B/N inside. The two looked at each realizing this was an awkward time.

“ Come on?! Y/N you could’ve gotten hurt-“ Peter had finally made it to you. He stood so close that you would almost be touching chest to chest. The only thing keeping you apart was that little gap placed between you both.

“ I told you when I first met you that I could take care of myself” you whispered.

“ What if something happened”

“ But it didn’t. Shoootttt Imma have to start calling you my sidekick” You chuckled still so happy that not even his moment of worry could get past you. It’s not that you were arrogant or egotistical. You had seen so much damage in your life and fought so many times that it didn’t affect you the way it should. You were okay with that. However it would take you a while to get used to anyone caring that you could possibly get hurt.

Peter sighed, shaking his head, the mask still on his face. His hands on his hips now. He wanted nothing more than to wrap you up in his arms. He knew you could take care of yourself. What he was worried about was the other men but everytime you seem to pull him in the direction of your favor. I guess you could say that was a good thing. “ You sure about that?”

“ Oh yeah. I don’t know what to tell you, bug boy.” You smiled.

“Bug Boy is it? I see and uh what do you plan on calling yourself since you’re not my sidekick?” He questioned.

“ I haven’t gotten that far yet but I’ll uh I’ll get back to you on that, partner” You chuckled as the two of you turned to walk back to the portal.

“ Oh so now I’m your partner”

“ Well I guess since I did all the work”

“ You definitely did not do all the work”

“ I beg to differ-“The portal began to close as the two of you walked into it. It was as if the two of you were an old married couple who have been together for so long that the conversation like this only seemed natural. It flowed, you flowed with him, he flowed with you. It was a motion with the ocean, a ride with the tide. It was easy as pie. It felt right. Peter pulled off his mask looking at you as the two of you continued to bicker. Y/B/N shared a knowing look with Gwen. Something clicked for them both, they knew something that you both didn’t quite yet pick up on. Or maybe you have and you both haven’t decided on saying a thing.

“ Peter forget what I said we should be partners”

“ Y/N you haven’t picked a name yet and you want to be partners after you just said you didn’t”

“ Welllll”

“ No”

“ Oh come on”

“ You took all the credit I don’t know if I wanna share my bad guys with you”

“ Now you’re just being stingy”

“ How?”

“ Okay I won’t say that I did all the work. I’ll say we did half and half “

“ Because we did”

“ Ugh okay finnnneeee.” The two of you laughed knowing damn well at this point you both had been messing around way too much.

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