#but now that is postponed at least for a little. if i stay like this i think i will anyway but for now i hope i'll keep feeling better

[sprolden]

life update ive actually been feeling a lot better lately <3 will be heading back to my parents' place again tomorrow but i've been at my own place since friday which is the longest i've managed that since the summer :) still not back to normal but slowly getting there it seems thank gawd

[toxic3mmy]

prompt: you wake up in a girl’s body and fuck your best friend

okay soooo, i got this idea from an ao3 one shot i read the other day and well, this came outta it

it may not be everyones cup of tea but i always loved gay fics where one guy magically turned into a woman??

IDK

ALSO IM REALLY DEPRESSED SO I LIED ABT GETTING TO UR REQUESTS DONT HATE MEEEE MY BOOBIES <3

warnings: SMUTTTT, mentions of witchcraft and body switching

you and quackity were best friends from a very young age. you and him were inseparable, as if you were one person.

the two of you went through school together. everything changed when his youtube career took off and he changed his focus to that which of course you didn’t mind. you thought it was so awesome the way he was passionate about this.

the two of you were so close that living together through college eventually turned into living together as adults. now, you were working at a law firm as an intern while alex pursued his online career.

truthfully, you were in love with your best friend. you had been from a very young age, it was only natural for you to fall so hard for him.

on a drunken night, you decided to come clean. you told him how much he meant to you. you confessed that you were in love with him.

he smiled sadly and hugged you close

“i wish you were a girl”

those were his drunken words and the two of you never spoke about it again

but within your friend group, everyone liked to tease the two of you as if you were gay together. of course you would enjoy every single interaction like this, hell you two were even dared to kiss once!

it was too easy to fall for your best friend

—

you had gone to visit your family in mexico for a few days and finally you were home. you walked into your shared home as quickly and quietly as possible so that you didn’t wake alex up.

your trip was great. you got to catch up with family and spend some quality time together.

while there, you confessed to your favorite and closest cousin about your feelings for alexis. she was very accepting of your sexuality and even encouraged you to go for it.

you filled her in on what happened when you did confess to alex and her eyes lit up with a devious look. she had an idea and although you were a bit skeptical, you agreed.

you knew she was learning the traditions of brujeria in your family and you were really interested in it. but what she wanted to do was crazy. she wanted to try something new and of course you agreed, not expecting anything to come of it because of how impossible it seemed.

so the two of you spent the last day of your trip together so that she could work on it. and well, you went home that same night.

the next day, you woke up like any normal day. you sluggishly walked to the bathroom and relieved yourself. you felt a warmth trickling down your legs and you were speeachless

“aw shit” you murmured to yourself as you knelt down to clean the floor of your piss

you couldn’t believe it worked

you looked at yourself in the mirror and loved what you saw. your face was a bit more round, your hair reached your ass now, and you had a great rack. you were ecstatic, practically gawking over yourself

and then the fear set in when alex knocked on your door saying that breakfast was ready

“uh… im not feeling well! go ahead and eat without me, thanks” you said, trying your hardest to deepen your voice

“are you sure? whats wrong? your voice sounds weird, are you sick?” he asked worriedly

“i think it’s a virus or something, don’t worry”

“i wanted to have a little day with you since you’re back from mexico… i guess we could postpone it until you feel better”

“thanks” you said quickly, hoping he would go already

“are you… going to stay in there all day? i mean, at least let me in so i can take care of you” he sighed, resting his head against the door

“n-no! im fine, really!”

“c’mon y/n, let me in so i can at least make sure you don’t die in there” he laughed

there was absolutely no way to hide this

“okay but… please don’t freak out” you said as you quickly started to look for a t shirt to put on

all you had on were loose boxers but they felt weird. you didn’t have any bras, obviously, and so you had no choice but to wear a tight fitting white wife beater

“i wont” alexis said softly

“close your eyes”

he obliged and you carefully unlocked the door, leading him into the bedroom

“before you open your eyes, i think i need to—“

he opened his eyes and his mouth dropped

“um… what…?”

“please let me explain!”

“okay, who are you… i get it if you wanted an autograph or a picture but what the hell?? why are you in my house right now?”

“what?… alexis! i’m not some crazed fan that broke in! it’s me.. it’s y/n..” you exclaimed

“no you’re not, what the fuck are you talking about! look, i don’t believe in hitting women but if you don’t leave my goddamn house in three seconds, you’re toast buddy!” he yelped and picked up the nearest weapon like thing which just so happened to be a lamp

you blinked at his attempt at being tough and burst out laughing uncontrollably

“lady! i am so serious! what the hell is wrong with you? oh my god… you escaped a mental hospital and you’re using my house as a hideout aren’t you?!”

you couldn’t stop laughing at him, this was just way too hilarious!

“okay i am dialing 911–“

“wait! please… just listen to me okay? i didn’t expect for this to happen… but it’s me. it’s y/n”

“you really are a nut, aren’t you?”

“i can prove it! look… it’s the matching tattoo we got when we were 18” you pulled your t shirt down to show the tattoo littered on your collarbone

he put down the lamp and sat on your bed. he didn’t know what to think. he nervously ran his hand through his hair

“oh god… how did this—?”

“i—i” you stuttered, trying to figure out if you should tell him the truth

“i swear you didn’t have tits the last time i saw you… and your face looks so… different” he softly held your chin in his hand, studying your newly feminine features

“brujeria” you blurted out, cheeks flushed with his touch on your face igniting a fire inside your chest

“w-what?”

“i… my family does brujeria and i tried this new thing and i swear i didn’t expect it to work! ive heard of it working but ive never seen it for myself and well…”

“so… you did this to yourself?”

you nodded, almost feeling shame

“but why?”

“i had a talk with my cousin in mexico and well… you told me you wished that i were a girl…. and i thought maybe things could be easier this way, better, even. i really didn’t think it would happen…”

“so…” alexis cleared his throat, “you’re um, fully a female now?” his face turned red in an instant and you couldn’t help but laugh

“yeah, i mean, i went to use the bathroom and that’s when i noticed…”

“no way…”

“yeah..”

“and so… why are you practically naked?” he laughed nervously, wiping his sweaty palms on his pants

“dude! look at these fucking tits! i don’t own any bras and god they’re already giving me back pain.. i need to get dressed so i can go back and see my cousin or see a doctor! i can’t stay like this—”

he stayed quiet for a while before saying breathlessly,

“i don’t want you to go”

“i… i have to go… i have to fix this” you said quietly as you began to rummage through your drawers to find suitable underwear since you obviously didn’t own any panties. you changed into boxer briefs and shrugged. it would have to do

alex quietly stood from where he was sitting and he stood behind you, looking down at you with a look on his face that you’ve never seen before

“god.. you’re so tall” you whispered as you stopped what you were doing and looked up at him

“you’re so fucking short, it’s really cute” he smiled before grabbing you and throwing you over his shoulder

“hey! what the hell! put me down!” you squirmed in his arms and that earned a harsh smack to your boxer clad ass

he took you to his bedroom and practically threw you onto his bed. he stared at you with the same look as before, his eyes filled with lust, as he threw his beanie to the ground and took off his t shirt. he threw his shirt somewhere behind him before slowly making his way to you.

you were sat up with your knees to your chest against the wall

“u-uhm.. why um.. why are we here? i told you i have to go!! i have to fix this shit” you rambled nervously, earning a deep chuckle from alexis

“shh, just let me admire you..” he was now next to you on the bed as he carefully tucked your hair behind your ear

“what are we doing alex?” your whisper dissipated into the thick tense air surrounding the two of you

alexis didn’t respond, instead he gently grabbed the hem of your t shirt and pulled it off of your body. your new set of tits were now on display, your nipples perking up instantly as your best friend trailed his fingertips along your chest. you hiss at the sensation of his cold hands and you feel something beginning to build up inside, just beneath your bellybutton

“o-okay…i get it, it get it. this is about that stupid thing we talked about! look, it was funny back then but right now it’s not okay, i need to see my cousin or a fucking doctor!”

“you mean that thing about how if one of us woke up as a chick then we’d fuck?” he laughed, now trailing his fingers underneath your chin

“y-yeah but it was hypothetical! i didn’t think we’d ever actually be in this situation i mean, it’s just not normal!”

“so, do you want me to stop?” he murmured against your neck, leaving tiny butterfly kisses there

“i-i don’t know okay? but it doesn’t help when you’re touching me and you have your lips on me and god damn i forgot how sexy you looked without a shirt on…”

“you think this is easy for me? feel what you do to me, baby girl” he guided your hand to his clothed dick and your eyes went wide with how hard he was

“oh my god… stop it! fucking shit dude! you can’t just have me touching your dick! a-and now im fucking leaking or something, i don’t know! it’s all warm and wet down here! i don’t know what to do!” you complained, almost whining, not realizing that what you needed was him inside of you

“yeah? i bet your tight little cunt is soaked, isn’t it?” he asked, almost hovering above you

you couldn’t respond, you were too overwhelmed with so many emotions at once

alexis began to lean into you more and more and god it was getting harder to resist him as his strong cologne infiltrated your little brain

finally, his lips were on yours. he kissed you so gently, as if at any moment you could break. you pulled him closer to you and wrapped your arms around his toned back, melting into him

one of his hands balanced him above you while his other hand began to play with your perky tits. you were grinding into him as he rolled your sensitive nipple in between his thumb and forefinger

“o-oh my god! that feels amazing..” you bucked into him more, rubbing your cunt against his leg. you were so frustrated and begging silently for any kind of friction

“slow down princesa, there’s no rush. i promise ill take care of you, okay?” he said in a sweet voice that only turned you on even more

you nodded and your eyebrows furrowed together as his mouth was now attached to one of your boobs, the other was pinching at your already sensitive nipple. you let out soft whimpers as he pawed at your chest delightfully

“g-god… this feels so wrong but so fucking good” you said breathlessly, earning a little laugh from the boy above you

his lips kissed and sucked a trail lower and lower until he reached your boxers. he licked his lips and hooked his fingers under the waistband, sliding them down your legs. you were trembling as he kissed down the front of your pussy. finally, he ran his tongue flat against what you now knew was your clit. your hands instantly buried themselves in his soft hair, pulling it in the process

“you okay?” he asked, pausing for a second. you nodded furiously and he got back to work instantly

his tongue ran circles around the bundle of nerves that were now throbbing. you bucked your hips further into his face without even noticing

suddenly, you felt a finger at your entrance. it stung ever so slightly and immediately turned into pleasure as he curved it upwards. he pumped his finger into you and continued lapping at your swollen bud. the second he added another finger, tears were rolling down your face

“just like that! oh fuck..” you cursed, back arching as you reached up and clung onto his bedsheets

alex was basically making out with your clit now. his two long fingers were curved perfectly inside of you. you were bouncing on his fingers at this point. it all felt so so good

“you taste so good y/n” alex said as he came up for air momentarily

your hands came down and were now shoving his face in between your trembling thighs. his tongue moved even faster now, syncing with his fingers that were plunging into you.

you were restless, squirming and writhing as the sound of your moans and your wetness filled the room. you felt yourself chasing your climax. your thighs clamped shut, forcing alex to stay right there and not move an inch.

as your walls clenched around your best friend’s fingers, alex was being completely engulfed in your sweet pussy. his fingers curved up one more time inside of you and your body paused completely.

you saw stars and felt yourself leaking cum out onto his fingers. you caught your breath and closed your eyes. after a few moments, alex broke the silence

“so… was i any good?” alex asked, wiping your juices from his chin, a shit eating grin on his lips

“shut your mouth and take off your pants” you rolled your eyes

alexis laughed loudly and obliged, gaking off the remaining clothes he had on. you instantly sat up on your knees, your attention completely on him

you took over, pushing his pants and underwear down in one swift motion. his erection sprang free, and you stared at it with a mix of fascination and hunger. He watched your gaze, feeling a surge of pride and desire that made him ache even more

“holy shit! dude, your dick is huge!” you said in awe, almost drooling

“open up princess” he smiled and pumped himself gently

you opened your mouth gingerly. as he lay his tip on your tongue, your hand wrapped around the base of his cock. your other hand cupped his balls, grabbing at them

“you… you sure you haven’t sucked a dick before? you’re doing this so well” he grunted

“believe it or not, your dick is the first to ever touch these lips” you laughed and took him into your mouth almost entirely

alexis whimpered, one of his hands pushing the back of your head onto him further

of course you choked but alex was still enjoying this and you were definitely taking in every little whiny sound he made

you sucked his tip gently, and looked up at him through your doe eyes with your pupils blown completely, your lips wet and swollen, hair a mess, and alex almost came at the sight

“lay down” he said gently but firmly

you did as he told you and alex propped your legs up as if he were going to eat your pussy a second time. instead, he slipped himself in between your legs and hovered over you

carefully, he entered you, savoring the tightness that surrounded him. you gasped, your eyes fluttering shut as you adjusted to the sensation of his thickness stretching you. he waited, giving you a moment to breathe, before he began to move.

alex was in pure bliss, loving how warm and tight your cunt was. he completely forgot that this was your first time doing this, involuntarily speeding up before immediately stopping as you made a sound of pain

“okay look i respect you, you have game dude but jesus christ you need to fucking chill ! i’ve never done this shit before… at least not with a pussy” you tried to laugh off the sting

“i am so sorry y/n, you just feel so fucking good around me. i didn’t mean to hurt you, princesa” he spoke with a worried expression on his face

“sit back, okay?” you said suddenly and alex laid down, watching you crawl into his lap. a smirk made its way onto his face as he realized what you were doing

you straddled him, slowly taking him into you as you sat all the way down on his lap. you still felt some pain but it wasn’t as bad. you slowly lifted yourself up and slid back down again, your hand on his belly as he watched you intently

you gasped as his fingers pressed against your clit, sending waves of pleasure crashing through you. your hips picked up the pace, seeking more, and he eagerly gave it, his movements growing more deliberate with every moan that escaped your lips.

“take it like a good girl… “ alexis groaned as his head fell back in pleasure

you continued to move, his cock hitting you at the perfect angle inside and the pressure of his digits on your clit motivating you to go faster

“that’s it, princess” alexis praised as he watched you bounce up and down

his free hand found your breasts, kneading them as you rode him, your breaths growing more ragged with every thrust

“oh god, you’re so fucking deep! a-alex!” you moaned as you rode his cock

your pace was slowing down as you were growing tired. alex sat up and held you close. your arms rested around his neck and you kissed him passionately as he thrusted into you while you sat on his lap

“say my name again baby, say it” he kissed you on the mouth roughly as his hands held your hips in place and he fucked into you faster now

“alex! fuck… i’ve wanted your cock inside of me for so fucking long, i need more, please!” you pleaded

your eyes locked onto his, teeth biting down on your lower lip as you felt another orgasm building. your walls tightened around him, and you could see the effect it was having on him, his jaw clenching and his eyes darkening with lust. you leaned forward, your breasts brushing against his chest, and whispered into his ear, "I'm going to cum on your big fucking cock”

your movements grew erratic as alex pushed you back slightly, giving you a new angle for him to fuck you senselessly in. the two of you made a sort of ‘v’ shape in this new position as you leaned away from one another and your sex met his in perfect rhythm

your nails dug into his hands that were on your hips, leaving half-moons that would surely bruise. he didn't care, the pain only added to his pleasure, heightening every sensation

the sight was too much for him. your fucked out expression begging for more, your supple tits bouncing as your hips crashed together. he lost control, his orgasm ripping through him like a storm. he filled you with his warmth, his hips jerking as he emptied himself into you.

you came immediately after he did, loving the way you felt his thick cock twitch inside of you

you stopped moving and collapsed onto his chest, your breathing ragged and your heart pounding like a drum in her ears. alexis wrapped his arms around you, holding you close as your breathing gradually returned to normal

“you okay?” he asked, he felt your body trembling again

“yeah, just hold me okay?” you nuzzled into his chest

“okay” he said, pressing a sweet kiss to your temple

[strawberryshortcake0413]

Last Hope chapter 4

Hello everyone :D i have finally decided to upload a chapter i postponed for weeks. Hope yall enjoy it, lmk your thoughts and reactions

Characters:yandere Leon S Kennedy (older version) x reader

Disclaimer: This fanfic contains dark-themed topics, such as kidnapping, depression, suicidal thoughts, non-consent, unwanted pregnancy,etc

Warning: yandere Leon Kennedy, kidnapping, non-consent, depressed reader, manipulation, Stockholm syndrome, unwanted pregnancy, emotional & mental abuse

Chapter1 Chapter2 Chapter3

God. 

You were crazy. You were confused and blind. You didn't know whether it was love or hate. 

Hating your kidnapper seems to be the logical explanation most people would come up with. But again, most of those people had not been kidnapped, nor was Leon S Kennedy the one who did it. 

A few days ago, you had played with his nerves more than ever.

You took a small knife from the kitchen when he allowed you to watch him cook. Trying to be sneaky was harder than it sounds. 

You have been his good girl for a whole month, yet trying to steal a knife to kill him. 

Little did you know, Leon had already noticed your little trick, sneakily putting it in your sleeve while you kissed him.

He was happy that you were showing affection without any fuss at first. But when he saw your true intentions, he was furious. 

That same night you tried to stab him when he was sleeping. Or pretending to be asleep, waiting for the right moment to give you what you were itching for.

To say the least, you got your punishment.

Even though you got him mad a couple times during the months you lived in the isolated house, it was never this bad. It never went as far as Leon refusing to acknowledge you or tamper you like his usual self. 

Humans are social creatures. Communication was the key to survival starting from the ice age to the modern world. People need love, someone to laugh and talk to. Without these, life was darker than the pitch of hell. This what you felt like was happening to you. Leon was the only being you talked, communicated, snuggled in for a long time. 

Now he was trying his hardest ignoring and giving you silent treatment. Thinking more about this situation, it was half funny, half painful. 

If you start from the funny part, he was childish. The one who made sure to comment about how stable and mature for a family was now acting like a spoiled, mad 5 year old. 

At the same time, you realized you were truly alone. Here, in this prison of a house, you at least had someone to give a shit about you at least a bit, even if it was toxic. But thinking about your past life, you had nobody for you.

Hell, if you made a bet with a stranger your mom would stab you from the back if she wanted to have your boyfriend in her bed, it was not a lie you would lose a few bucks. 

You are alone in this miserable life with no one except a mentally ill old man. You were sure he had an addiction problem before by the looks of his face. It's easy to tell when you grew up with one. And worked to help those people, sacrificing everything that had the curse to be yours. 

Guilt was filling the room, almost drowning you till you can’t breathe. Even if he was shit, he still cared for you. Were you this pathetic to try to crawl back in the arms of someone you attempted to murder? Yes, you were. But who cares? Who cares as long as he forgives you? You are just going to pretend everything is fine till everything is not and the cycle starts all over.

You felt even shittier when the memory of you holding the knife and sitting on his lap when he was asleep, ready to slice his throat. If your childhood self saw you like that, she would think you’re a monster. 

But in the end, you were one. That’s why you have no one good enough that is willingly to stay with you. 

You had willingly pushed away someone that actually cared for you without even thinking. How stupid are you to try to do that? You cared and craved the attention that came with him. You were just not used to love that you immediately persuaded it as poison.

He locked you in the same room with no food and water for 3 days. No matter how much you pleaded, he wouldn't budge in. 

“Leon… Daddy… Please…” you begged again. You had already lost count of your whining and were begging for him to let you out. 

“I'm sorry. I won't do it again. Please?” 

Leon signed hearing your whining repeatedly in the morning before he even had his first cup of coffee. Work was already harder these past few days, your whining made it even more irritating. 

Hell. He should even add a little bit of vodka in his coffee since destiny decided to play with him again. 

Leon had already decided the love of his life bumped into him at the hospital, but he was starting to realize it was an illusion his heart made to bear with the pain of real life struggles.

Leon was starting to see the truth that you will never be someone he wanted. All he ever dreamed of was the perfect american dream where he had a beautiful wife and a few kids running around his house. If the Raccoon city event never happened, he wouldn’t even have looked your way. 

You were rude, wild, inconsiderate, and lacked motherly instincts. Leon was not even sure if you thought like a normal person. He was not blind to your personality. When he was carefully selecting you as his future wife and the mother of his kids, he noticed quite a lot of details. 

The way you responded to children crying, someone immature, or confused people asking for help or getting unlucky in life, he took notes of how you stare at them and how you respond with your body language.

He knew you were not a good person. He knew you wouldn’t be a good, caring mother. 

Despite the fact he refused to acknowledge your real self, he had hoped someday you will grow to love him and want to have children of your own. Little did he know, he felt angry at himself for giving you too much hope. 

In his own delusion, Leon thought you completely had given up the thought to escape and run away. Never in a million years, he would have imagined you holding a knife and almost killing him. 

Now, he didn’t even know if you were the right choice to go with for the rest of his life. 

But listening to your pleas, apologizing, and regrets pulled a string in his heart he hadn’t acknowledged since he was twenty something. 

Maybe you realized you were nothing without him. You didn’t have the basic needs of a human if he didn’t bother to notice you. You should be grateful. You should be grateful he takes care of you better than he takes care of himself. You should be grateful he chose to save you from your miserable little life before him.

But hearing your cries changed his already made up mind. It was something he would only do for you. Something he hoped that would change your mind about starting a family. 

Leon stared down at you with a cold glare as you whined pathetically before crawling and hugging his legs as you sobbed like you’re at your father's funeral. 

As much as he loves his parents, only one memory is engraved on his mind from his childhood. He remembers that day, clearer than water. Holding a bare white rose while people stared at the big hole in the ground as his parents were put to peaceful sleep forever without anyone interrupting them again. 

Standing there alone and confused why his parents would never come back. What did his parents do to be killed like that? Still to this day, Leon doesn’t have any idea why his parents were targeted out of all the people in the world.

His main goal is to never let any of his children go through that pain. Not in a single day he had a moment of lasting peace. Why would he not deserve a little dose of happiness others knew the taste more than once? 

You were his last hope. Last hope for a new beginning. To something he can’t have again.

“I’m sorry. Please. Daddy. I love you. Please, forgive me” you cried, sniffing your runny nose while kissing his legs. As much as you would have loved to make comments about his hairy long legs, you were not in the right position to be sarcastic.

“If you try to pull that shit again, your “daddy, i love you” is not going to work again.” he muttered before grabbing your wrists, pulling you up.

“See what happens when you disobey me?” Leon eyed your tired figure from the lack of food, shower and him.  

“I won’t do it again. I promise.” you muttered, hugging him hesitantly. It was a strange feeling for you. Even before you were forced to show affection, you never felt genuine enough to hug a person before. Sometimes rare visitors would hug you, it only gave you ick.

Something about it made me want to cry, while something else was making you angry at Leon. Where did his promise of taking care of you no matter what went when he was mad? Were you just a little toy for him to abandon when life gives him something sour? Is he someone that would abandon you at your lowest just like everyone else?

Walking into the kitchen you were greeted with a vegetable soup with a slice of bread, poured in the plastic bowl he bought for you specifically. 

“Eat well.” Leon muttered as he sat next, watching you devour the food. 

“Slower. It's not good for the body”

After a few minutes of eating, he brought you into the bedroom, showering you carefully before helping you put on a fresh set of pajamas.

“Sleep” Leon muttered as he laid beside, kissing your temple. 

Warm, soft blanket made you feel like a newborn being swaddled in its mothers tight embrace. After spending 3 nights on the cold flooring of the house, the bed felt like heaven.

Not to mention the fact, after a while Leon would occasionally rub your clit through your pants or give your nipple a hard pinch enough to awaken something in your belly.

As much as he missed you, Leon quickly learned you were even worse than him somehow. The way you begged for another round at 2 am at night proved everything he needed to know. 

“My baby missed me so much. Huh?” the older man smirked, feeling you clench as his pace increased. Your hands went back to the bed sheets while you babbled nonsense.  

“You see how much I love you?” Leon muttered as he stared at your dilated eyes.

As you nodded, he felt a satisfaction he hadn’t experienced in a while. Soon he felt himself finish inside you. 

“Promise me. Promise me that you would love me forever” 

You took a long shaky breath, brain foggy from the your body was being warmed by his warm cum. 

“I will… I will as long as you do” you said as Leon captured your lips in a passionate long kiss. Spit connecting you two still as he pulled away. “Sweet dreams baby”

Next chapter start: Leon grinned to himself as he started connecting all the clues God left for him. Your moody, bratty behavior, sweet cravings, morning sickness. He was trying to tell Leon his dreams are coming soon. 

Now that he knew you were with a healthy child, he was never going to let you go. If he had to fight for the sake of his child, he wouldn’t hesitate even if it’s you. After all, a child was more important than your temporary stupidity. 

[ssruis]

Rui is so funny because he’s like “yeah my childhood was so long ago and tbh I’m over all of that and it didnt impact me at all :)” And then all of his actions regarding wxs in the early days are colored by his childhood in that he kept expecting rejection. Him socializing now is the same thing. Curtain call? His actions are explained by his childhood. To this day he is still hiding parts of himself from wxs (“selfish” actions in ohe, arkland offer, etc). And Every Single Time he realizes that yes his childhood is still affecting him he’s like “odd. I thought I was over that. Anyways!”

I’m incompatible with people and they’ll reject me anyways so why bother trying to make friends -> ok well now I have friends but surely they’ll leave me too. -> ok they won’t leave me but they’re a special case everyone else is still gonna reject me -> ok my peers have come around on me but I’m still gonna find rejection somewhere. Surely it will happen again. (Believes this is a normal and healthy thought process)

1. Every time he takes one step towards healing or processing things he’s like “yeah I’ve completed the process and now I’m done being affected by my childhood” and then when he is again behaving in a way that shows he’s not actually over it he’s like “huh. I guess I wasn’t totally over it. But this time I’m for realsies over it (he is wrong).” Rinse and repeat.

“I have friends now so I’m over it -> my friends have affirmed they won’t leave me for being Too Much. So now I’m over it -> my peers have started to come around on me so now I’m completely over it -> my friends actually care about me as a person? Crazy. Well now I’m actually over it for real this time. -> there are others who want to be my friend? How novel. This time I’m for sure over it. -> etc etc”

2. Wonder Halloween showed him that his friends won’t reject him for his passion in shows but him being passionate and caring about having friends and staying with them is such a new thing for him (caring about something other than his goals? To this degree? To the point where it even surpasses his love for shows? he never saw this as a possibility) that like. Subconsciously (at least) he’s viewing that passion for his friends as Too Much. They didn’t leave him for shows yeah but surely they’ll reject him for the heinous crime of Loving His Friends Too Much (he is Fucking Stupid). Better reel it in because if they know how much he cares they’re gonna leave. “I’m being selfish because I care so much and clearly this is abnormal and wrong” said by the guy experiencing friendship emotions for the first time in his life (he does not understand these emotions. so something must be wrong with him)

Tsukasa/emu/nene: we love you and love performing together and the thought of separating one day is heart wrenching and we want to postpone that as long as possible

Rui: I am feeling the exact same way. but my feelings are wrong. & I will be getting a bad grade in friendship.

Hence the constant “ok we’re getting a little too vulnerable time to start up the jokes and japes again. I can’t let my friends who love me so so much know that I care about them a lot”

[bloodlust-1]

༻ 3 Nights ༺ part 6

Gortash x fem Tav — mini series Explicit 18+

Summary: Gortash invites Tav to stay 3 days at his palace for the sake of an alliance. Reluctantly, she compromises for peace and it becomes an experience they won’t forget.

Part one -> here <-

Tav and her companions made their way to the lower city, the weight of recent events heavy on her mind. She had just helped Astarion in killing Cazador, a task that had taken its toll on both of them. It ached her heart to see Astarion so depressed in the days following the encounter. Despite her own inner turmoil, she had prioritized aiding her companions over fulfilling her treaty with Gortash by postponing killing Orin. However, Tav was aware that the time has come to prioritize Orin’s death, today.

As Tav walked with her group, engaging about their next target, Gale suddenly interrupted with a sense of urgency. “Tav, you’re going to want to see this,” he said, his voice tinged with concern. As he extended the Gazette, the newspaper’s headline caught Tav’s attention. “It’s not good,” Gale added gravely.

Tav scrunched her eyebrows in confusion as she read the front headline of the newspaper: “Adventurers or Absolutists? All you need to know.”

She crumpled the paper between her fingers, she irritated my whispered to herself, “No, no, no, no…” She looked up at her friends with a mixture of disbelief and annoyance, “Who would write something like this? Those damn journalists, always peeking their noses into things they don’t understand!”

"Shit. that damn Gazzette... well at least the paper didn't mention what we looked like. But we don't have enough time before they do." Karlach added as she peeked over Tav's shoulder, frowning at the text.

"Damn it." She ripped off the first page, folding up the paper and stuffed it into her pocket. "For as much as I would love this fix this now, we need to get going. I bet Orin has something to do with this." Tav started to walk ahead of everyone.

“Wait, where are we going?” Gale chimed in, running from the back to accompany Tav’s side.

“To the sewers, we’re killing her today.” Tav held her head high, her vision blurring red with anger. The injustice of it all had reached a boiling point, and she could no longer tolerate the slanderous rumors that spread like wildfire.

"Oh, what fun!" A small giggle left Astarion's lips. "But please, do watch where you step. It smells vile down there." Despite the evident disgust on his face, there was a slight hint of excitement in his eyes.

In the city, the wait has finally come to an end. The bloodshed in the name of Bhaal would no longer taunt the people. What started as a rather tedious quest turned into a ritual with pure malice, culminating in the lifeless body of Orin in its inhuman form - a sight straight out of the hells. Killing Orin was no easy task; it required everything they had to take her down. Tav, witnessing the evil firsthand, realized that Orin was even more twisted than Gortash. Finally fulfilling Gortash’s request to rid the world of Orin, Tav now prepared to pay him a visit. But first, she sought healing from Halsin after nearly exhausting all her strength in the battle against Orin.

~

“Thank you, Halsin.” Tav calmly spoke to him as his hands glowed in pure magic, his hands cleansed her body of any pain. Only leaving behind the small cuts and bruises.

“I really hate seeing you like this. You should not be the one covered in bruises.” He had a sadness in his eyes. No woman should be bruised to this extent.

“Well you know we really haven’t gotten much of a choice lately. I’m just glad we have someone like you here with us.”

Halsin’s gentle touch and intense gaze had a calming effect on Tav, relaxing her body and mind. The silence between them was noticable, and Tav couldn’t help but feel a little nervous under his watchful eye. Tav found herself drawn to Halsin’s intelligence and the way he made her feel like he was always looking out for her well-being. Not to mention how handsome she found him.

However, there was something about Halsin that didn’t quite click for Tav. Perhaps it was his almost fatherly demeanor, or the fact that he was always so sweet and caring. Whatever it was, it made her feel like she had to be careful around him, like she was constantly on edge. Tav was able to be as raunchy as she wanted around Gortash, which made her feel more comfortable to voice her feelings around him. Even if it was mostly banter.

Despite that, he was pleasant eye candy. Her eyes matched with his for a moment before embarrassingly averting her gaze away. Halsin chuckled to himself from the flush of her cheeks. “All done then.”

Halsin instinctively withdrew his hands and took a subtle step backward, his eyes lingering on her figure as he assessed her. “You’re truly beautiful,” he murmured softly, his voice carrying a tenderness that was unmistakable. He always worried about her health and it always felt nice to be valued by him so dearly. He did make her nervous everytime something flirtatious left his mouth.

“Thanks so much again. I’ve got to clear some things up, I’ll be heading out for now.” She looked at him with grateful eyes, giving Halsins hand a slight squeeze in return with a smile. He returned her gratitude, “Do you want me to come with you?”

“Oh no, it’s okay Halsin, really. You’ve done enough. Rest.” Tav patted his hand before grabbing her bag. She opened it to reveal Orin's twisted red knife, its blade covered in old dried blood and adorn with a nether stone. Tav ripped out the stone and handed it to Halsin, “Take this and keep it safe while I’m gone.”

Halsin took the stone and simply nodded to her favor. Tav was grateful to have such loyalty. Her eyes wandered to his biceps before shaking herself out of that naughty head space, “thank you.”

“You have a sparkle in your eyes as of lately. Though— I know it isn’t for me. Who is giving you such a spark in those eyes?”

Tav’s voice quivered as she spoke, “I— Halsin, there’s nobody…” Her words trailed off, leaving an awkward silence in the air. Shit. Tav felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment, wondering if Halsin had caught on to something. Frantically searching for an excuse, she stammered, “Maybe it’s because of everyone’s company that I’m so grateful for.”

“Perhaps.” He once again smiled with knowing eyes at Tav before walking back towards his tent.

There was still daylight outside, and Tav had plenty of time to visit Gortash, even though it had been a week since she properly visited him. He had been popping up unannounced to talk to her whenever he caught her alone throughout the city. Tav was sure he wanted to speak with her, especially after Orin’s death.

Tav dressed down in a loose-fitting brown blouse and paired it with fitted pants to create a balanced look. Her hair fell loose, falling just below her hips. With her traveling bag in hand, she started her small journey to the palace, determined to prove to Gortash that Orin was no longer a threat and that their deal could finally be fulfilled. She had, after all, taken care of Orin, ensuring all business between them.

Upon entering into the palace Tav immediately called out for him. Yet, no response. Tav scoped the halls of the palace and called out a servant, “Hey, do you know where Gortash is?”

The servant, startled, responded, “O-oh, lady Tav! It’s you… He’s in his chambers.”

Tav thanked the woman before heading to his room. She’d never been in his chambers and it felt a bit too personal. As she approached the door, her heart quickened with anticipation. Should she simply open the door and enter, announce herself, or linger outside until he noticed her presence? The array of choices overwhelmed her momentarily, but Tav ultimately keep a high head and opened the door. She called out his name before hearing thunking noises hit the floor.

“Who dares to barge—“ Gortash stormed out of the bathroom, his body drenched from head to toe, a towel slung low on his hips. Water droplets rolled off his black locks and plopped onto his collarbones, leaving behind a trail of glistening beads. His eyes blazed with irritation as he confronted Tav, who stood frozen in the doorway, her mouth agape in disbelief.

She caught a glimpse of the trail of hair that ran from his chest down to his groin and disappeared into the tucked towel. As her eyes followed the path, she instantly averted her gaze. Turning around, she focused on the door, trying to distract herself from what she had just seen. “Fuck! You don't have to come stomping out half naked!“ Tav’s cheeks turned a deep shade of red as she felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her. She could feel the heat rising from her neck to her face, making her feel like she was melting in her boots.

“My favorite assassin, how have you been?” Gortash completely disregarded the fact that he barely clothed. His demeanor was nonchalant and pleased to see Tav at this moment. It was a surprise, but not an unwelcome one. Instead of walking away to cover himself, he walked over to Tav’s turned back. “I was waiting for you to come tell me good news. So—“

Tav took a deep breath before answering, "Orin, she's dead." With a steady hand, she retrieved the blade from her bag and turned back to face Gortash, the weapon glinting in the light. His eyes flickered momentarily to the knife before returning to her face, his gaze piercing and intense. Tav felt a shiver run down her spine as she took in the deep scar on his chin, her mind racing with the desire to trace its path with her fingertips.

Gortash’s expression softened as he accepted the knife from Tav, there's a glint of satisfaction in his eyes. He casually discarded the weapon, letting it clatter to the floor without a second thought. His attention then shifted to Tav’s clothing. The blouse was far too big for her, and it masked her femine figure turing all her delicate curves into a shapless jumble. Not even the color suited her in the best way possible. Gortash thought he'd rather see her in a bra than the ugly shirt. He spoked up with a sense of cockiness, "I hate this color on you. Actually— the entire shirt is not flattering, really."

Tav’s mouth fell open in a mix of shock and offense. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “I came here to tell you the greatest news you'll ever hear in your pathetic life, and all you can do is criticize my clothes? How classy of you,” she scoffed, her tone dripping with disbelief. Tav rolled her eyes in frustration. It seemed like he always found a way to ruin any moment of connection and attraction. “And for gods sake, put some damn clothes on…”

"The dagger— It's a lovely souvenier, dear." Gortash added as he dug into his drawers for clothes and sloppily dressed himself despite judging Tav for her unflattering blouse. "It's good that you came, I want to hear all about that fight." The shift in his demeanor caught Tav off guard – was he truly intrigued by her battle with Orin? It was an unexpected moment of connection amidst their otherwise mundane interactions.

"oh, sure..."

~

As they walked, Gortash led Tav to the back of the palace, where a vast and stunning garden awaited them. The garden was adorned with an array of bushes, flowers, and lush greenery, creating a picturesque scene that left Tav breathless with awe. Gortash, observed her reaction, tilted his head, and stared in approval by her response. It was a moment he could speak with her out of the stone walls, one that he knew he would never share with anyone else.

“You are a force to be reckoned with,” Gortash remarked with confidence as he looked at Tav. “I am glad that you are on my side.” His words carried a sense of trust and appreciation, hinting at the possibility of a newfound understanding between them. Tav had just completed an exceptionally important task for Gortash, and it seemed that this act had solidified a bond of trust between them. Perhaps she wouldn’t betray him after all.

"You're welcome. It was a pleasure killing her." Tav admittingly let the dark thought slip her lips. The weight of her words hit her, and she widened her eyes in realization of what she had just admitted. Instantly, she flashed an embarrassed smile at Gortash, acknowledging the sudden darkness of her confession. “She gave me one hell of a hard time… she almost killed me, to be honest,” Tav confessed with a tinge of sadness in her voice. She lowered her tone as she continued, “She turned into this— monster. It was like something straight out of the hells.”

Tav had to grapple with the impact of the horrific encounter with Orin. The weight of her words lingered in the air, painting a vivid picture of the intensity and trauma Tav had to endure. Tav felt a bit defeated in the moment, this fight took a lot of her mentally and physically.

In the midst of a tense atmosphere, Gortash chuckled at Tav's grave confession, "Am I rubbing off on you, little hero?" His words injected a small sense of light into the heavy air, although he could discern the challenge in her eyes. Seeking to reassure her, Gortash offered his support, "If there is ever a problem, you can come to me. After all, we are allies now, offically." A tinge of his voice felt cocky and playful at the end.

Tav smiled slightly and nodded her head to his offer. She felt like he was actually being genuine for once and it was a good palette cleanser to what she was used to.

They walked down a carved out stone path into the garden side by side. They were silent for the most part admiring the scenray and company. Tav bite down on her lower lip as many thoughts flowed into her head. Mostly that she now felt insecure in the baggy blouse she wore that he clearly hated so much. It felt strange to suddenly care about what he thought of her appearance.

A fleeting image of Tav’s face crossed his mind as they walked in silence. Gortash was captivated by the delicate features that seemed out of place in the harsh world he ruled. Gortash peered over his shoulder to peek at her. He found himself admiring how silky her hair was and how it curled at the end.

Gortash’s thoughts of Tav were a dangerous indulgence, one that made him vulnerable in a way he couldn’t afford. Yet, he couldn’t deny the allure of Tav’s beauty, a beauty that seemed to defy the darkness that surrounded them. Even in the brown top that consumed her natural curves, Tav was like forbidden fruit in their small bond.

But in rare moments of vulnerability, Gortash found himself lost in thoughts of Tav’s face, her silky hair, and the longing that stirred within him.

During their time apart, he watched over Tav with a keen eye, particularly noticing the stares of her companion. These stares were not just casual glances, but rather intense, lingering looks that seemed to bore into her very being. Jealousy crept under his skin like a slow-burning fire, fueled by the memories of that wizards lustful stares.

Gortash’s voice erupted abrasively from his thoughts, catching Tav's attention. The question that followed was rather random, laced with a hint of jealousy that lingered in the air. "Whose that pathetic wizard in the group? He's always staring at you."

Tav tilted her head up questionably as she stopped in her tracks, “He’s my friend. And what does it matter with you anyways?” She crossed her arms with curiosity.

In a flat, lifeless tone, Gortash elaborated his jealous statement, “Because he thinks he stands a chance with you.”

Tav was taken aback by the harshness of his jealousy. She couldn’t help but mock his behavior, “Maybe he does? He’s intelligent, sweet, and far from a homicidal maniac.” Tav playfully teased him, “What? Do you really think you stand a chance?”

Gortash let out a small, evil chuckle as he grabbed Tav’s wrist and pulled her body closer to his. His hands firmly grasped the top of her hips, closing the gap between them. With a menacing expression, he brought his face dangerously close to hers and whispered in a mean tone, “Do I not?”

Tav's eyes widdened from his advances in surprise and then responded flusteredly with a firm “No.” She shook her head in denial softly.

His index fingers traced sensually around her hips. “That’s hard to believe when your face is like this. Such big eyes that plead,” he said, gazing into her widened glossy eyes. His tone was filled with domination.

Tav could feel his gaze drilling into her, could feel the heat of his body radiating towards her. She closed her eyes, her heart racing as she waited for him to make his move.

And then, without warning, he leaned in. His lips brushed against hers lightly, then finding a sweet spot. Tav's pulse raced as she felt a rush of excitement. Kissing so openly during daylight. But Gortash’s gentle touch was reassuring, and she found herself melting into his tighten embrace.

Their lips moved together, soft and dominating, their tongues exploring each other’s mouths. They gasped for air between heated kisses. Tav felt a rush of emotions, her heart pounded in her chest as she wrapped her arms around Gortash’s neck, deepening the kiss. The world around them melted away, leaving only the two of them, locked in a passionate kiss.

As they kissed, Gortash’s grip on her tightened, pulling her closer to him. Tav felt a surge of desire, her body responding with goosebumps from his touch. Her knees grew shakey, and a growing heat tickled her body. Gortash held any additional weight that Tav lost in her legs.

His hands slipped down to her thighs, scooping her thighs up to wrap around his slender waist. Tav’s hands lovingly caressed the sides of his stubbled face, as their lips hungerly devouring the bitterness away. Tav finally traced the pad of her thumb over the deep scar on his chin.

Gortash held her body close, propping her against the nearest pillar. His hand gripped her neck, firmly holding her jaw. He pressed his hips against hers eagerly, causing Tav to let out a soft whimper of surprise. “N-Not here, not now,” she whispered.

“Isn’t this what you want— To surrender to me? " He huskily asked between the kisses. he whispered, his voice filled with desire. His intense gaze locked with hers as he spoke. Gortash's brown eyes fell into a half opened state.

Tav giggled softly against his lips, her eyes sparkling with mischief. The look on her face was a sight to behold, a mix of playfulness and determination that made Gortash’s heart race. She couldn’t give in so easily to have him devour her so shamelessly in his garden, not when there was still so much to explore and discover.

Tav teased him in a whisper, breaking free from his hold and taking a step back. “I never surrender, you should know that,” she said, her voice firm and seductive. Her feet touched the ground once more, and she stared flirtatiously up at Gortash, her eyes daring him to try and catch her. “I would rather watch you squirm for it.”

Tav blushed through out the teasing smiles. She reached into her pocket and unfolded the ripped newspaper article, "I expect you to fix this however."

“Mmm, tempting.” Gortash clicked his tongue in the lost of her warmth. His eyes fixated on the news clipping, he took it softly from her hands.

"Thank you— Enver." Tav smiled confidentalty at him, her hands were clasped behind her back as she began to walk backward, then turned around completely to leave the palace. Tav enjoyed keeping him on his toes. She noticed how easily he aimed to please her, and she was keenly aware of the power of her desirability over him.

To Be Continued ~

Any Thoughts? Comment 👇🏼 I love to engage!

Shout out to the ones who’ve been following this story! You guys give me so much inspiration to keep the updates coming🫶🏼 hope you enjoyed gortash kisses, mwuah.

Next part here

[mindfulstudyquest]

starve your ego, find your peace

these are my personal thoughts, an outburst. if you want to share your opinion in the comments, i welcome it, but please be kind. if you just want to insult, go elsewhere. if you're not interested, don't read <3 i remind you that english is not my first language, so there may be a few mistakes.

ego, what an interesting word. it is a latin lemma which literally means "I", it indicates

the self, especially with a sense of self-importance.

(psychology, freudian) the most central part of the mind, which mediates with one's surroundings.

a person's self-esteem and opinion of themselves.

in a society like ours, we fight against our ego every day, the anxiety of constantly being in the spotlight, the overwhelming thought of having all eyes on us.

the idea we have of ourselves is the strongest chain that prevents us from freeing ourselves from this mental cage. both positively and negatively. if you have a distorted idea of yourself and low self-esteem, you will never be able to become your higher-self, to take that extra step that allows you to transform your daydreams into a solid reality, if you think you are unintelligent, you will tend to take this truth for granted. "i'm not smart enough for this" and you'll give up your dreams of a higher education, or of getting all A's on your finals, or of having a great and fulfilling job.

but sometimes we think too highly of ourselves too. i always joke that i make study plans like i'm a genius who studies 200 pages in a day, but the truth is, i'm not joking at all.

many of you will recognize themselves in the stereotype of the burned-out gifted kid, especially when you move to a higher level of education (from middle school to high school, or from high school to university) and at that moment all certainty of your acclaimed intelligence collapses. you are no longer in the pond with the small fish, now you are in the big tank with the big fish, relating to a much bigger world (at least in italy, the difference between high school and university is abysmal) and your brain will do everything to maintain an accurate simulacrum of your self-image.

in fact, your brain spends less energy processing two pieces of information that agrees rather than disagreeing information and since our biology is based on self-preservation, your mind will do everything to preserve its rightness. when i started university i was incredibly afraid of taking my first exam, why? because i didn't want to find out that i wasn't good enough for a more advanced education, that i wasn't the straight A's student i thought i was.

but waiting for the fear to go away will lead to you staying in the same place forever, because the fear only goes away if you face what you are afraid of, and yes, being afraid of exams may seem silly, but i'm sure many people who follow this blog will understand what it means to identify so much with your grades and to crave academic validation more than anything else.

so i did it, even though i was scared, i had to have the certainty that this was the right place for me, i studied hard, and i definitely rocked my exams. but then the spring exam session arrived, and the fear returned. tired and burned-out from the winter session i had little or no desire to study, so when the exam date approached, i was afraid of not achieving the same results as just two months before, so i postponed, i procrastinated, until the day before, i knew i had to study otherwise i wouldn't pass the exam, yet my brain continued to do everything to protect itself, to protect that completely crazy idea of myself that i could study the entire program in two days (i wish). i don't even have social media (tumblr and pinterest excluded), which is why i found every excuse possible not to study. i didn't want to sit at my desk and realize that i wasn't going to pass that exam, that i should have studied harder, try harder.

that is until i realized that it wasn't laziness or procrastination that was stopping me, or rather, procrastination was just a symptom of a bigger cause: a distorted image of myself. understanding this in my first year of university will perhaps change my next academic years, or perhaps not. i don't know how many of you have drawn these things or reached these conclusions, i just hope that you soon understand that you are not lazy, nor procrastinators, you are just humans who are afraid of failure like all other humans.

the problem arises now, how to change this image? i don't know yet, honestly, but i won't let it stop me from living my life.

uptade in the end i was so fucking lucky and got a 30/30 on my exam yesterday, but still at the cost of a lot of sanity, sleep and unjustified stress.

[rainintheevening]

🍁🍁Comfy-vember 🍁🍁

Day 9: Scars

Grant Ward & Phil Coulson, Agents of SHIELD, Saving Grant Ward AU, aftermath of torture, non-sexulalized bathing/washing, the author does not recommend postponing medical care for a shower

---------

The first thing Grant demanded was a shower.

"It's been three weeks, okay? You don't want me in your medbay like this."

Simmons stood with her arms crossed over her chest, frowning down at him where he sat on the Quinjet, which had just touched down in the Playground's hanger. "Just because Trip splinted your leg and I gave you some anesthetic, doesn't mean it isn't serious. You need to get the bone set, and I'm worried about infection. Never mind your shoulder—heaven only knows what those x-rays are going to look like."

Phil stayed seated, feeling Grant's weight leaning into him, though it was less than it had been before. Before Garrett, before HYDRA, before he'd been on the run. There was no denying Grant was a mess—greasy hair grown too long and falling in his eyes, ragged jacket and jeans bearing mud and tree sap smears, a fading black eye, and that nasty red scar in front of one ear that ran down to his neck. But he was here! He was safe, he was home, he was back where he belonged. Phil's kid was home again, and the joy of that overwhelmed any grief or fear for now.

"Medbay is built for messes, man." Trip grinned down at his old buddy. "Think about how many people puke in there."

"I'm with Ward," Fitz put in, hovering over Jemma's shoulder. "He should- um- er–"

"Shower." Jemma's whisper was barely audible.

"–shower if he wa-would like to."

"Thank you, Fitz." Grant opened his eyes to smile at the younger agent. "I'm taking a shower," he said again to Simmons. "I'll get back to you in an hour. In the medbay."

Phil knew that tone, and smiled up at the agents clustered in front of them, now including May; Skye lingered warily in the cockpit. It hit him suddenly that they were all here. Grant, May, Fitzsimmons, Skye, Trip. The whole team, reunited.

But he shook off the warm surge of emotion. Grant had to be cared for. "You're not budging him, guys, sorry."

"And what if you fall and break something else?" Simmons argued. "Splitting your skull open in the shower isn't exactly unheard of, and you're not exactly stable."

Grant sighed, sitting straighter so he could turn his head to look at Phil. "Dad?"

That tired little murmur had Phil swallowing hard, nodding before he answered: "Of course. Don't worry," to Simmons. "I'll go with him."

Grant shifted his weight to stand, and Phil moved quickly, ducking under the good right arm, as he levered himself up on the good left leg.

"At least let us get you a stretcher or a wheelchair." Simmons's hands fluttered out in a helpless gesture.

Stiffly, Grant patted her arm with his free hand, made more awkward by the damaged shoulder. "Thank you for your concern, Jemma. But I'm walking in there."

"He's not unconscious," Trip shrugged, moving to Grant's other side, but Fitz had beat him to it.

"Alright, we've got you," Fitz said, his arm joining Coulson's around Grant's waist.

Grant's smile was soft, and he nudged his chin against the curly hair at his shoulder. "Thanks, Leo."

The pure love and hero worship in Fitz's answering look would have melted anyone's heart.

By the time they made it to the bottom of the ramp, though, Phil was wishing Grant had taken Jemma's offer. Even with the local anesthetic in his leg, and the age of his shoulder wound, he moved slow and painful, only the hiss of his breathing betraying what must have been agony. He'd lost enough weight that Phil could have comfortably carried him, but he doubted Grant would agree to that with such an entourage.

That thought was cemented when the second set of heavy doors slid open to the main hall, and instantly a wave of applause washed over them.

Dozens of agents of all ranks and duties lined both sides of the hall, clapping and cheering as Grant stood frozen. Out of the corner of his eye, Phil saw him go first white, then red under the dirt and sweat.

"They're all the ones you saved," came May's calm voice behind them. "At Rabbit's Run and Carlton Place and Foxhole. They know what you did for them."

Most of them were hostages released in the wake of Grant's silent but deadly run on the HYDRA ranks. He'd assassinated almost a hundred HYDRA agents and operatives in the US and Europe, all in the span of two months, and while carrying a bullet in his shoulder. Not even Natasha could match that, Phil thought, pride welling in his chest.

As they came down into the hall, Agent Morse stepped forward, a genuine smile tugging at her lips.

"Baby Bird." Grant nodded at her.

"Baby Hawk." She grinned. "Welcome back."

Phil wanted to chuckle at the normalcy of their friendly banter, but he could feel Grant's arm trembling around his neck, Grant using all his strength to stand tall in front of the crowd.

"I suppose I have you to blame for this circus."

"Nah, it was Mack's idea."

"Mack." Grant smiled faintly over toward the big man. "Now if you'll excuse me, Birdy, I need a shower."

"And then medical attention," Simmons piped up rather crossly.

"Yeah, that's obvious." Concern creased Bobbi's forehead as she took in his current state. "Well, I certainly won't stand in your way." She stepped back into the line of agents on the left.

"Showers are down two levels with the bunks," Phil said softly, as they stepped forward again. "We'll take the elevator. Straight ahead, then to the right."

Grant did not reply, he was exerting every effort to limp as strongly and steadily as possible down that hall. Some of the agents they passed stood to attention and saluted, some just nodded or tapped a fist over their heart.

What a contrast to the outrage and anger that had gripped the surviving SHIELD members after they saw the footage from the Treehouse massacre—Grant Ward following John Garrett as obediently as a leashed dog. Phil, had been one of his only defenders, along with Fitzsimmons. Even when Grant had betrayed Providence, Phil had clung to his belief that his kid was just playing the game, keeping his cover by giving information that may or may not result in deaths. It was a far better idea than the alternative.

And Phil's belief had been vindicated.

Just Phil, Grant, Fitz, and Trip stepped into the elevator, and the second the doors closed, Grant sagged heavily into Phil, almost falling.

"Steady, steady!" Fitz exclaimed, then froze as his frantic tug on Grant's injured arm elicited a deep groan from him.

"Just– gimme a minute," Grant squeezed out.

"It's okay, Fitz," Phil said, hooking his fingers under Grant's belt to support him better.

It was... different sticking with an injured member of his team this far. Usually by now he'd stepped back, taking the team leader's long view, taking stock and planning what to do next, while other more qualified people did their jobs. Especially now that he was Director Coulson, and not just another agent. But this was Grant, this was his son. Grant trusted him like no one else. And Phil was more than grateful to have this time with Grant, after so long.

"I wanna sleep for a week," Grant whispered, somewhere around Phil's collar.

"That can be arranged." Trip looked both concerned and amused. "Are you sure you're up to this, man?"

Grant did not lift his head from Phil's shoulder, even as the elevator halted, and Phil barely caught his whisper: "I just want to get him off me."

Phil stiffened, and Grant straightened hastily, shaking his head. "No, no! That's not what I– I just–" He made a frustrated sound. "I smell like HYDRA," he said at last.

"You smell like shit," Trip said dryly.

"Exactly."

Phil had been blocking it out best he could, but in the narrow space of the elevator, it was impossible not to notice the reek of sweat and blood and something rotten that clung to Grant. Phil did not blame him at all for wanting that shower.

It took them another ten minutes to reach the men's showers; a long narrow space, with benches along one wall facing a row of shower heads, half enclosed, half not.

Fitz was sent for a chair, while Trip helped Phil remove the splint from Grant's leg and cut the bottom of his pant leg off so it could be put back on over bare skin.

"Are you sure you don't want me to-?" Trip held up a hand against Grant's glare. "Nah, it's okay, man. I'll leave you two to it." He glanced at Phil. "Want me and Fitz to stand guard outside?"

"One of you at least, if you wouldn't mind." He was about to ask if Trip could fetch something clean for Grant to wear, when Fitz came in, carrying the chair, and a handful of clothes.

"Agent May brought these." He held out the clothing: Grant's old Seahawks sweatshirt, a SHIELD-issue t-shirt and underwear, and a pair of flannels Phil didn't recognize. "Agent MacKenzie, er, gave the trousers."

Phil smiled, noting how Fitz's transitions from a word he couldn't remember to one he did were getting smoother. "Tell them both thanks."

"Clearing out now, sir." Trip patted Fitz's shoulder in a way that served to steer him back toward the door. "Holler if you need anything."

The clank of the door shutting echoed in the sparsely outfitted room, and then there was silence, except for a pipe gurgling, and the harsh sound of Grant's breathing.

Phil knelt beside him, involuntarily reaching to push back the shaggy hair from his forehead. They'd laid him flat on the floor for stability while they moved the splint around, but Phil couldn't help thinking he looked nearly dead, stretched out like that.

Grant opened his eyes, squinted up at him.

"You ready?" Phil asked softly.

"Think the granola bars are kicking in." Grant sighed, sat up carefully. "Let's get this over with."

They started with peeling off Grant's jacket, and two button-down shirts. "Haven't worn a t-shirt since Anchorage," he muttered, letting his left arm fall back into his lap.

Phil nodded silently. He remembered the shock of Grant's body hitting his, in time with the crack of Garrett's gun. That bullet had ended up in Grant's shoulder, rather than Phil's brain.

He frowned at Grant's torso, counting three puckered spots of skin, obvious gunshot scars. "Where'd you get those?"

Grant had already started to shiver slightly, and sat forward instead of back against the cold cinderblock wall. He took a moment to reply. "Garrett. On the Bus. Trying to get Fitzsimmons."

Phil was kneeling in front of him where he sat on the bench, so he could look up into Grant's face. There was a distance in Grant's gaze he understood, but didn't like. "Jemma was sure you were dead. She said you got shot at least six times. Fitz was heartbroken."

A spark in the dark brown eyes, a twitch of the lips. "He's a good kid. Leo the lion, bravest of them all."

"But Garrett kept you alive."

A nod, and Grant looked away.

Phil took a deep breath, quelling the anger and sadness that welled in him, and reached slowly to cup Grant's cheek, press his fingers to sweat-sticky too-warm skin.

"I'm glad you're alive."

A glance at him, before Grant's eyes welled up, and he covered them with one hand. Phil's heart cracked a little; four hours since rescue and this was the first time he’d seen tears from from Grant.

Grant slid his hand over on top of Phil's, now hiding his face behind both of them, but he gripped Phil's fingers painfully tight. He said nothing, but a few deep breaths later, he let go, sat straighter, rubbed his eyes.

"Okay, let's move."

They had to cut the waistbands of his jeans and underwear above the injured leg to get those off anywhere close to comfortably, and then Phil turned on the water, giving it time to warm. Grant would need that; Phil hated hearing the little teeth chatters and quick breaths behind him as he collected the company-issue soap and shampoo from a shelf, along with washcloths and a clean towel. Koenig deserved a raise for keeping this place so well-stocked, Phil thought.

At last he helped Grant gently to his feet, and half-carried him into the now-steaming shower, lowering him to sit in the chair Fitz had brought.

A little gasp escaped Grant as the warm water hit him, before he relaxed, tilted his head back to let it wash over his face. Phil moved back to the curtained entrance, awkward and uncertain now. He'd set the soap and things within Grant's reach, but it wouldn't be easy for him to wash himself in his current state. He decided to wait for Grant to ask before he tried to help any further.

He had a sudden sharp recollection of being a child in the bathroom doorway, watching his mother help his father bathe, near the end when the cancer had robbed him of his strength. It was the same mixture of embarrassment, helplessness, and love that filled Phil now.

Sweat beaded on his brow, and he became aware of his heavy jacket and boots, and the water splashing on the cement floor. He left the coat, socks, and boots on the bench, along with his watch, rolling up his sleeves as he walked back to the shower stall.

That was when Phil finally saw the bullet scar clearly, stark on Grant's flushed skin. A dent the size of a quarter in his left shoulder, red and purple lines radiating outward in a strange sort of shatter pattern.

In the narrow space, Grant's back was only an arm's length away, but Phil hesitated to touch him, afraid to startle him. He'd carried that wound for two months– How had he ever survived? How had he kept going? Kept spying and shooting and moving.

"Coulson," Grant was saying. "Dad!"

He blinked, shook his head, cleared his throat. "Yes?"

Grant had his head down, turned, but not quite looking back at him. His hand holding the shampoo bottle was trembling. "Can you-?"

"Of course."

Water droplets pattered against his arms, darkened his sleeves as he worked a lather into Grant's hair, careful and awkward at first, before settling down to the job. He could feel Grant relaxing under his hands, and bit back a smile.

"Feeling better?" he murmured, as soapy grey water slid down the drain.

Grant's only reply was a grunt.

"Just don't fall asleep," Phil warned. "You can do that when they knock you out in the med bay."

"Won't need to knock me out," Grant mumbled.

No, they probably wouldn't, Phil thought. At this rate, he'd be carrying Grant down to the med bay.

"Anything else I can do?" he asked aloud, dropping his right hand to Grant's shoulder.

Grant said nothing, just held up a washcloth, and Phil silently took it.

He eased back a step, as Grant leaned forward, and was thinking of how gentle he'd have to be when he paused, staring at Grant's back.

The bullet hole wasn't the only scar there. There were other, older lines, cuts, burns that almost looked like finger prints, and... was that-?

"Grant. What is this?" He could barely hear his own whisper over the running water.

"What-?" Grant started, before he froze under Phil's touch.

Phil's stomach churned as he traced the raised flesh, the hollow-eyed skull and the eight curling tentacles. Bile rose in his throat, hot and scalding, but he swallowed it back. "Who did this to you?" He hated how his voice broke, how tears burned behind his eyes.

"Sorry, Garrett's already dead."

With a curse, Phil turned away, slammed a fist into the metal wall, but Grant's flinch yanked him back from the anger better than the pain in his knuckles did.

A deep breath, before he found a word. "Why?"

Grant seemed to shrink under his gaze, curling under the weight of that awful brand. But his words came as steadily as they would in any debriefing. "He said I was his. After I– I tried to escape. They tortured me, but he wouldn't let me die. And then he had me branded. To make sure everyone knew which master to send the mutt back to.

"Did you know?" He sat straighter, as if the bitter words gave him strength, glanced over his shoulder up at Phil. "Did he tell you he came to recruit me? In juvie? He got to the detention centre ten minutes after we left. He wanted me for HYDRA. But you beat him to it." A rusty laugh. "The way he harped on that, you would have thought you'd done it on purpose." He sighed, and his voice dropped to a whisper. "After- after I broke, after I shot Firenze... he said he won. He said he got me in the end."

The warmth on Phil's cheeks was not water; it stung in his eyes, burned in his throat. Words, where were they? What was he supposed to say?

I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. We should have searched harder, we should have found you, I should have saved you. But when he opened his mouth, no sound came.

Blinking away tears, he looked down to where his hands rested on Grant's shoulders, water pattering over his fingers and dripping steadily down from his wrists... washing over those scars. On the right, the brand of HYDRA. On the left, the shattered mark earned from saving Coulson. He wished suddenly that the brand could have been on the left, could have been punched through by that bullet. Because which one had been Grant's choice?

"He didn't."

It came out in a croak, and Phil cleared his throat.

"He didn't get you in the end. You were willing to die to save me. The whole time he thought he had you, you were waiting to turn it back on him. He might have had your hands tied, but he didn't have you."

Grant sat quite still in front of him, head bowed, and suddenly Phil needed to see his face, to make sure Grant understood the truth. He ignored how water soaked his shirt as he stepped around to turn the shower off, and in the ringing hush, sank into a crouch in front of Grant.

Naked, dripping, hungry, exhausted, scarred, and in pain—this was Grant Ward at his most vulnerable. Phil only hoped he could get it right, could say and be whatever it was Grant needed most right now.

"Grant," he murmured.

A sniff, a shaky exhale, a hand rubbed across his face, but Grant did not look up.

Phil shifted to one knee, reaching up to cup the back of Grant's neck, rest their heads together. "You did what you had to do to survive."

Grant shook his head, drew back. When he looked up, his eyes were red-rimmed and wet. "You taught me a long time ago there was more to life than survival."

"I trust your judgement on the cost. You're a good man, Grant. Making the hard choices doesn't change that."

Tears brimmed over, and he turned his face away again.

"You stayed alive," Phil whispered. "And I'm grateful."

A shudder under Phil's hand, and then a sob broke out, Grant shaking his head hard. "But I didn't! I didn't try to survive! He wouldn't let me die."

How could his heart hurt anymore? Phil wondered. Not that he could really pretend surprise. Torture could push people in all kinds of directions. But he needed to keep Grant talking, dig out whatever was festering in his heart.

"What do you mean?" he whispered.

"This scar," Grant gulped, lifted a shaking hand to the pink line running down from in front of his right ear to under his jaw. "That wasn't Garrett. That was me."

And now he was sobbing, slumping forward against Phil's chest. As gently as he could, Phil wrapped an arm over Grant's back, their positions making it awkward to offer more physical comfort.

He wished he had a towel to wrap around Grant's shoulders, knowing the chill would get to him sooner or later. Cool water was dripping down inside his collar, and the hard floor was hurting his knee, but Grant had a fistful of his shirt, and Phil would not have pulled away for the world. He pressed his cheek against wet hair, and closed his eyes.

"What happened, Grant? Talk to me. This is our debriefing. Just us. Talk to me."

"He told me they were dead," Grant choked out. "Fitzsimmons. But he kept me alive. Tortured me. No food. No water. Alone. In the dark. For weeks." A last sob shuddered through him, and he subsided to ragged breathing. He was collecting himself, trying to explain coherently. "Garrett wanted to break me. I tried to escape, but–" a deep shaky inhale "–they caught me. Beat me. When I woke up... he branded me. And I..." His voice caught, and he shook his head, shivered.

"I'm sorry, Dad, I'm so sorry."

That tearful whisper tore at Phil's heart, and a couple warm drops slipped down his own cheeks.

"For what?" Even though he knew the answer.

"I was supposed to die bravely. But I couldn't. I wanted it to end! I just wanted... it to stop, so I tried. I stole a knife, went for the carotid. When I woke up... Garrett said I wouldn't get away that easy.

"I gave in, Dad." Another round of sobs threatened, but he fought them back. "I wasn't trying to be a double agent, I just... wanted to eat every day. I wanted to wake up and not hurt. I don't even remember the Treehouse. Because he was right. I was no better than a dog."

"Grant Douglas Ward." His voice came out too loud, and he tried to soften it with a hand on Grant's cheek. "Look at me." He stared into bloodshot brown eyes, gripped Grant's face gently. "Sometimes heroes have to start by saving their own lives. And yours is worth it." A thumb stroked deliberately down the knife's old path. "So thank you. Thank you for surviving. I'm proud of you, son."

More tears, but quieter now, both of them worn and chilled.

Phil leaned in to press a warm kiss to Grant's forehead. "Come on," he murmured. "We better finish up and get you in some dry clothes."

"Okay."

As he stood though, Grant caught his hand, squeezed it. "I love you, Dad." His tiny tired smile was like the sun breaking through clouds.

It took a moment before Phil could answer.

"I love you, son."

He tried to move quickly, cleaning Grant's back, and helping him wash around the splint. The little gasps from Grant at any movement of his leg, told him the anesthetic had run his course, and his kid belonged in the med bay ten minutes ago.

But at the same time there seemed to be something lighter in Grant's eyes, in his air, and Phil was certain their conversation had been a good thing. What was that saying? The truth will set you free, but first it will make you miserable? Well, they'd gotten some of the misery out of the way.

Getting Grant dry and dressed was an arduous process, but at last he sat on the bench, clad in the borrowed flannels and Phil's jacket, preferable because of its zipper. Phil discarded his soaked button down, and took the t-shirt and sweater. May had forgotten socks, so he gave Grant his own, kneeling in front of him to gently ease on one and then the other, at least as far as it could go on the wounded leg.

As Phil hastily laced his boots, he glanced sideways at Grant's pale face, and closed eyes, the way he slumped back against the wall, still shivering.

"I'm carrying you." Not a question, a decision.

"You always carry me."

The words were barely audible, and he wondered if Grant had meant to say that aloud. But he clearly meant for Phil to hear him as he was set gently on the elevator floor, Fitz and Trip fussing around his leg. As Phil made to stand, Grant caught his sleeve, spoke soft but steady. "I'm glad I'm alive too."

Phil could only nod and smile.

Grant was asleep on his shoulder by the time the elevator stopped.

[abbysbitch]

Piedmont | Ellie Williams (pt.1)

part one

a/n: i hope you guys enjoy, I seriously wasn't even expecting like 10 people to see the announce post but 200 notes? are you kidding? thank you all so much *kisses every one of your foreheads* i hope this lives up to the anticipation, i feel like i didn't do it justice but i dont wanna postpone anymore so have at it

cw: pet names (babe, baby, pretty girl, pretty thing, princess) the TINIEST smidge of a blood kink(reader bites her lip too hard), edging, fingering, cum eating(kinda?) slight angst, making out, prob more that i missed

wc: 4.1K

tags! @acecardly @dani-ellaed1 @sevignyes @nil-eena (if i missed you its because i couldn't find your handle when typing them in)

Ellies always hated you, for arguably no reason.

 It’s pathetic really, seems like since the day you guys have met she’s had it out for you- whether it be throwing snarky comments at you or just being an ass in general, it’s always been a competition between the two of you. It’s been years since you've had a somewhat civil conversation with her. 

Ellie was just an outright dick to you. Since the time you guys were sent on a mission over a year ago (just the two of you, which Ellie bitched about to Tommy for approximately an hour), she was just awful towards you.

You tried so hard to get her to like you but nothing seemed to work. During socials you’ve tried countless times to get her to engage in even a card game between you, Dina and Jesse and shes always declined. You’d go up and try to start a conversation one time and - to say the least when you went home you cried out of pure frustration.

You didn’t hate Ellie, just hated the way she hated you, for fucks sake you had a crush on her that you couldn’t seem to rid. But who could blame you when she had those gorgeous green eyes and auburn hair that just seemed to frame her face so perfectly when she put it up to get it out of the way. And her tattoo- you’re sure she's caught you staring before. Staring because of how bad you wanted her fingers inside you.

Especially with the way that she carried herself. Careless, and always with such a serious look on her face. Her sarcasm entertained you; of course only from afar. 

And god she was just so beautiful.

It hurt, knowing you couldn’t have done anything for her to like you. Not even just a little. Not even just enough to be acquaintances. You would’ve been at least happy with that.

So it seems like just your luck when Tommy asks another favor of you. And just your luck when he invites Ellie to ‘tag along’.

The air was cold, and the bone chilling tension between you two even colder. 

It was now around 6pm, and you had gone to the stables to tack up and get ready. Though you weren’t supposed to go out until 7, Ellie had already beat you there. Attempting to break said tension, you shakily start with “Make sure you tie her-”

“I know how to tack a fucking horse.”

Ouch

Obviously it didn’t help anything with the tension and unbeknownst to you it was going to stay that way for a while even as you left the gates of Jackson into the harsh winter of the outside.

You and Ellie keep on the path, looking for anything that was asked of Tommy to bring back. It’s only been 30 minutes of absolute silence and you’re starting to get mad with her stubbornness.What did you do to make her hate you so much? Nobody else seems to have a problem with you, so why does she? To be fair it didn’t matter before, but now that the two of you are in the middle of fucking nowhere and she’s not saying a word, it’s really getting to you.

Not being able to stand it any longer you decide to say something.

“What is your problem with me, Ellie?”

She turns to look at you for just a moment and then gazes back to the path in front of her. God, you just wanted to curl up and die of embarrassment. Of course she wasn’t going to say anything, because she didn’t care enough to have this conversation with you. 

Staying silent was the hard part of it all. So desperately did you just want to scream at her for everything she's been to you. She makes you feel like a fucking burden and, duh, it doesn’t feel good. At all.

So many more minutes pass by without a word. The air’s even colder by now, your watch showing the time as half past nine. Goosebumps have spread across your skin and your legs are shaking. Shivering was an understatement. It’s pitch black, making you even more on edge now than you were starting this little assignment. You decide to go off the path in search of a cabin you’ve been in before. For some reason this out of everything else causes Ellie to speak up.

“Where the fuck are you going?” You immediately notice her tones changed completely from the beginning. It was rougher and she sounded like she was genuinely going to snap at you.

“A cabin.” You state flatly.

She looks at you for only a second and then reverts her gaze back to the trail in front of her. You can tell she wanted to say more but kept her mouth shut for your sake, so you indulge.

“It’s getting cold and I want to warm up a little. If you don’t want to follow me, suit yourself, but it’s not on me if Tommy gets all mad.”

She scoffs as she follows you through the overgrown brush that covers the trail, taking interest in the way you pick at the greenery along the way. Why were you so intent on taking all the leaves off the different trees? She wasn’t just looking at you now, she was staring. 

And she couldn’t stop.

She watched the way you rode ahead and shook your hair to get it out of your face, watched the way you would drink out of your bottle, watched the way you’d rub your hands together to get rid of the cramps in them. She kept watching- no, staring at you.

You’d be lying if you said you couldn’t feel the eyes on the back of your head. It honestly concerned you. What was she planning to do? Hurt you? Worse? Every bad thought ran through your head within the span of just ten seconds. You were in the middle of nowhere, it was the middle of the night and you’re with someone that absolutely despises you. What couldn’t go wrong? It’d be a perfect place to hide remotely anything, and your mind went to the worst possible option of that being you.

Not feeling the need to mention anything you keep on the trail. At this point you see the cabin a little bit ahead of where you were. You let out a sigh of relief and kept on. As you reach the cabin, you both stall the horses in the small barn nearby and head inside.

“This is an absolute shithole, are you kidding?” Ellie starts, “what is this going to do for us from the cold?” She scoffs as she follows you around the house, surveying it like you two are spending the night there or something, which is far from true.

“Listen, it’ll work for a while and then we can get back out. Can you stop bitching for once and just chill out?” You were getting irritated at this point and she's pushing your limits. Egging you on, wanting to know how much you can really take.

“I’m the one bitching? We wouldn’t even be here if you weren’t such a pussy about the damn cold!”

“Like I said before, chill the fuck out Ellie.” You try to deescalate the situation.

“I’m pretty fucking chill, I just don’t get why we had to stop here, are we not wasting time?” At this point you realize she just likes to argue for fun.

“If you’re so worried about wasting time then go on your own and do this shit! I never asked for you to come with me in the first place!” You are so close to absolutely breaking. You’re so frustrated with her and her shit you could just cry.

“I never volunteered!” She just kept pushing and pushing you, god you hated her so much in this moment.

“Do you know how fucking irritating you are? Ever since I came to fucking jackson you’ve had it out for me for absolutely no reason at all! What the fuck have I ever done to you? Wanna explain or are you just going to keep treating me like shit?” You had finally broke.

You could tell Ellie wasn’t expecting that. She looked taken aback. Good, you hope it got to her like she got to you this whole time.

“Yeah, stay the fuck silent.” Now you’re the one pushing.

She stares idly tracing her tattoo, the tension clearly eating her up alive. She's at a loss for words right now- her mind is blank as she just looks at you. Not saying a single word for what feels like minutes when she finally decides to sigh. She stands up and walks towards you, still silent. You move backwards and she doesn’t let up as you eventually hit the wall with a gasp and she cages you between her arms. “What’re you-” you try, but with the way she was staring into your eyes, with a different look than normal, you found your words to be stuck in your throat. When were her arms so…big? It never hit you how tall she truly was, but now with her towering over you and her so close? As much as you’d want to think of her like that again, right now just wasn’t the time. 

Jesus, she groans. And it goes straight to your cunt but you know it shouldn’t.

“I guess I’m upset at the fact I’ve always wanted you and couldn’t have you. Do you know how frustrating it is seeing you make friends so easy? Flirting with Jesse so effortlessly? This whole time I’ve wanted you and you couldn’t have cared less. Never batting a single eye at me. I’ve wanted you since you stepped foot through those gates and its making me fucking crazy.” 

“Ellie i-” you try but are immediately cut off by her going,

“I know that’s not what you wanna hear but if I’m being honest I needed to tell you or else the guilt was going to eat me alive. I’m sor-” She shakily breathed out before she was cut off- by you. 

Closing the gap at her confession, you captured her lips in an aggressive kiss, making her whine on impact. Using your shaky hands you cup her face, trying to find a way to stabilize yourself and she catches on, slotting her leg right between yours. The sound of your mouths moving was erotic and her actions even more so. She bit at your bottom lip, silently asking you for access, letting out a breathy moan that was followed suit by her licking the same area. Her mouth was absolute bliss and every lick into it had you wanting more. More of her, her noises and her hands as they traveled slowly up and down your sides.

You pull back to catch your breath and she whines at the loss of contact. You stay for a moment, just listening and watching as her chest heaves up and down. Everything in the room is far too hot for your liking and you fix it the only way you know how.

“Take this off, now.” You motion her shirt up and off her figure. Fuck how cold it is outside, you need to feel her bare skin on yours- and god the sight was beautiful. Her toned abs felt so good under your touch, and her arms were veiny in the right spots, it was so unbelievably hot.

As she holds you tight against the wall- bodies directly pressed against each other, you do the same- grabbing the hem of your own shirt and lifting it above and off you. Sliding your hands up her stomach, you lightly yelp as she takes her own on your hips and forces you down on her thigh. Gasping at the contact, you chase after her lips like she did prior, and she groans. Now you’re desperate to hear it again, and again. You crave it.

She takes your hips and moves you across her thigh even harder now, almost as if she's desperate for you. Chasing your high rather than hers, but still for her pleasure. Grabbing at her shoulders as you take it into your own hands, you start grinding on her. God, her thighs were so hard and toned it was giving you just the right amount of friction. Leaning your head back she takes the opportunity to litter kisses and bites all over the exposed skin. You swear you’re in heaven and you’ve barely even started.

“Jesus baby, I can feel how wet you are through my fucking pants. And I haven't even touched you .” she spoke against your neck. Making a mental note at the nickname. You were biting your lip so hard you thought you tasted blood, and the fact turned you on soooo much more. 

Ellie kept her assault on your neck, but this time she trailed her hands along your body, stopping at your bra and sighing an, 'is this okay’? Taking your far too fast nod as a yes, she snakes her hands behind your back, snapping the bra off and slowly taking it off you. She threw it to the side and suddenly started to grope you, squeezing your tits and slightly grazing over your nipples as you jumped at her aggressiveness. She was giving you so much but it still wasn’t enough.

“Fuck, you’re so hot.” she says as she starts on your breasts, sucking and biting at the flesh, leaving the area all sensitive and purple, and leaving you even more desperate.

Her threatening gaze stayed on you the whole time she played with your mounds, sending a wave of hot heat straight down to your cunt. The fact she had this effect on you was concerning you, but you were too entranced by her right now to notice any of it.

“Ellie,” you whine after her as she continues the assault on you, moving back up to your collarbone and jawline. She was staring at you like you were her prey, and she was the predator. 

“Hm?” she taunts against your ear and just hearing her voice alone made you so wet. God, the hold she had on you was crazy, and you’d barely even started. Even though she was the one that confessed to you just moments prior it seemed as though she was almost in charge of the situation regardless of you pouncing on her.

She had you grinding on her thigh even faster and harder now, pressing you into the fabric so you could get off, even if it was turning you on even more, it still wasn’t enough, you wanted her inside you, so bad. You needed it.

“I- …need more” You manage to say throughout moans and whimpers. Although she had just started, you think she’s already made you dumb. Off her thigh.

And that’s exactly what she wanted from you. To be so fucked out all you could say was her name over and over again, like a mantra coming from your lips, but she didn’t think it’d be so fucking easy nor did she think it’d happen so fast.

“Tell me what you need, baby,”  She says, spit dripping down your throat from how much she was sucking on you. Licking it up she brings her head to look at you.

At the words, you pulled her hands from your body and pushed further and further down until reaching the waistline of your pants.

“You’re gonna have to use your words, sweet thing.” She said as she swoops back down between your breasts. You could feel her smirking against your chest and god, she was going to be the death of you.

Being too desperate to be embarrassed you utter, “Ellie just fuck me, please” You were so needy and just needed the smallest amount more from her to teeter you over the edge and straight to your orgasm. “Atta girl.”

 She breaks past your waistband and ventures her hand further down until she reaches the part of you that wanted her the most. You gasp at the contact as she starts rubbing close circles on your clit, turning you into putty. Grabbing at her shoulders, you press your lips against hers once again and this time you’re the one licking into her mouth with a different kind of neediness behind it. She notices your legs wobbling and removes her hand from her spot in your pants and grabs your hips to gently move you over onto the couch nearby. Whimpering as your hips chase her hand she chuckles into you, pushing you down lightly.

Panting and trying to catch your breath you start, “Why haven’t you told me sooner Els, we could’ve done this so long ago.” Ellie just stares at you from her place straddling you, watching the way you look into her eyes and watching as your chest rises and falls from the heavy breathing.

“Why does it matter when I have you right here and now, falling apart in front of me?” she says with a smirk and your scoff doesn’t last long before she's on you again, kissing you with more passion than before. The kiss was softer, and wasn’t as rough with you as before. She moved against you so sensually and slowly and it was driving you crazy. "I've wanted this for so fucking long" she spoke against your lips before she slot her hot tongue into your mouth and moaned when she felt your own swirling around it. 

With your mouths still connected, she slides her hands down to your hips, grabbing for just a second before she moves down into your pants, slowly sliding them off and leaving them to pool at your ankles. With your panties still on the air hits where you were wet, chilling you for just a second before she breaks away from your mouth with a trail of spit connecting you together.

“You remember that one summer where you, Dina and I went down to the river and swam together for hours,” She started at the same time as her mouth attached to your pulse point.

“Yeah- fuck, why?” you asked between sighs and whimpers. Your brain’s so dumb right now, you barely even recall the situation she’s asking you about.

“That flimsy pink bikini you wore- fuck. You don’t even know how bad I wanted to devour you right then and there,” she kept on, drawing even louder moans from you at her words.

“The first time I saw you in something like that and, shit, I thought you were the hottest girl I’ve ever seen,”

“And now I have you in front of me like this, even more exposed. God, fuck I’ve wanted this for so long.”

Every single thing she said had you wanting her even more, although you couldn’t even say a thing because of how hard she was sucking at every inch of your body. She starts working her way from the base of your neck down to the valley between your breasts sprinkling kisses and bites all over. (and probably hickeys, you were too stupid only off her words to notice.) 

“God, you’re so fuckin’ pretty.” As you whine at the words you cover up your exposed breasts with your arms, so overstimulated with the way she’s speaking and touching and kissing you. You’re so drunk off her touch, her voice, so drunk off of her.

“Don't hide from me,” and with that she takes your wrists and pins them just above your head onto the armrest. “I wanna see all of you.” she finishes as she licks down from your neck to your breasts letting out a groan when she looks back up at you with that gaze, your doe eyes meeting hers and she smirks- she fucking smirks.

As she gets closer to where you want- need her most, she starts kissing at the inner parts of your thighs. Biting and leaving marks that are sure to be there for the next couple days reminding you of the things that took place (as if you’d want to forget).

Still soaked from being edged just moments ago, and now even more so with her actions, you plead with her to give you what you want.

“Ellie please, need you s’bad.” You’re whimpering for her touch, where you need her the most.

“Patience princess.” God, you feel like you’re going to die, what makes her take so much pleasure in teasing you and making you wait for more?

She licks your cunt through your panties, eliciting a moan she has to hear again. She bites at the fabric and slowly slides your panties down off your hips and leaves them to gather with your pants as she slides a finger straight through your slit, sighing when she feels and hears just how wet you are, and just from her.

“All this just f’me, babe?” she sighs into your thigh where her head was resting as she thumbed your clit lazily, loving the sounds you and your pussy made. 

Continuing to toy with your heat, she starts picking up the pace little at a time, leaving you a whining mess underneath her.

“More please el-” You start but are then cut off as she slips two fingers inside you, scissoring them making you groan lowly.

“I don’t think I caught you, what was that baby?” Babbling nonsense as she hits a particular spot inside you that has you moaning so loudly you take your arm and try to muffle your own sounds with it, biting down so hard you know you’re gonna bruise in the morning.

You can’t handle her teasing but at the same time it feels so good that you bite back whatever you were gonna say in response to any of it. Her fingers plunging in and out of you felt like ecstasy, and you were fucking hooked.

The sounds your cunt was making were obscene and absolutely disgusting. You were so wet and you can’t recall a time someone had ever made you feel this good. Ever. Your slick was leaving onto her forearm and soaking her fingers, slowly making its way onto her tattoo, which you couldn’t peel your eyes off of. The way her arms flexed while she was finger-fucking you was almost hotter than the way she was gazing up at you from her position between your legs.

You were so close on the edge now- riding the wave of white hot pleasure as she thrusts into you harder. And she could tell. Tell how close you were from how hard you clenched on your fingers, your muffled noises coming from above her and the amount of wetness that had already dripped down onto the couch just from her fingering you alone.

Taking your arm away from you she starts, “you’re clenchin’ so hard around me, you gonna come all on my fingers pretty?”

“Mhm, uh-huh” with nothing but incoherent words coming out of your mouth you try to warn, “‘m gonna cum ellie, f-fuck don’t- don’t stop.”

“Cmon baby, cum all over my fingers,”

And as if it were literally on command you cum so hard you swear you see stars, white hot flashes of your climax taking over leaving you loud and breathless, and Ellie loves all of it. “shit, good girl, good fucking girl.”

 She keeps on with fucking you with her fingers, letting you ride out your high as much as you possibly can. Moments later, she takes them out slowly, earning a drawn out whine from you as she kisses the inside of your thighs once again.

 She takes her fingers that were previously inside you just moments ago into her mouth, sucking and swirling her tongue around them. Although you had just come, you could’ve again just at the sight.

She comes back up to your collarbone and licks a long stripe up to your neck, whispering into it praises as she nips at the skin that is your earlobe.

“God you’re so pretty when you're under me like that,” She says to you- capturing her lips on yours once again. The kiss being messier than ever, feeling her tongue slide into your mouth just to take yours and suck on it-a mix of drool and teeth turning you on even more. Pushing her back onto the couch so you were the one on top of her now, you grab at her hips and start grinding down on her thigh once again. You taste yourself on her tongue and she pulls away just as fast as she had gotten up to kiss you and abruptly goes, 

“Wanna feel you on my tongue, fuck i need it, come sit on my face.”

━────༺༻──━───༺༻────

[circyexistforcontent]

Sagau with a mitsuri like god?

SAGAU: WITH A LOVING GOD READER

❀ synopsis: the god of teyvat is finally looking for a consort, and Zhongli just so happens to be the chosen candidate. What will be Xiao's response to this epiphany?

❀ notes: I wanna make headcanons about demon slayer soon, probably once I am done watching the swordsmith village arc. Also this is a bit rushed because I just want to post something before I study for days on end with exams coming by. pls, this is Xiao and Zhongli centered because I'm making my way to Liyue BABY-

❀ pronouns: they/them

Stories about your strength and benevolence have been shared all around Teyvat. How you have fought countless outer gods and purified multiple worlds from corruption were shared with kids and studied by historians to understand more about your past. But of course, you acolytes are the ones who know just how deep your love runs for your people.

One of them was Xiao. Xiao was one of your followers who got to know you personally, ever since you manage to defeat the tyrant who took control of him. He swore loyalty to you and stood by your side ever since. Small talk was common, and though you have to initiate and carry out the conversation, it was still pleasant.

He makes sure to check that the food you were consuming was safe and not poisoned (as if poison would affect you in any way), and he pressures the cooks to ensure you are only served the best gourmet food. Most of your acolytes know how protective Xiao can be for you so they stay out of your way as much as possible, only communicating with you through gifts and letters that are present in your shrine.

Only a selected few acolytes that can talk to you are the archons. Mostly because Xiao knows he can't defeat them even if he tried, and he wouldn't be a fool to try and intimidate them. He respects the Geo Archon, he can tell he was a very devoted follower of yours and he respects his values. His least favored archon was the Anemo God, though it's more of indifference than dislike.

While he does enjoy the bard's musical talent, all he has ever done is push you away from your work and distract you with little escapades. He has confronted Venti about it multiple times and all he did was shrug off the commotion and skip away.

May Celestia help anyone daring to approach you after you made an announcement that you are finding a consort. They have to go past Xiao first if they want to go to you. He would be supportive of Zhongli being your consort, but something felt off when he proposed the idea to Xiao. He isn't very educated in the ways of feelings, but he can sometimes tell when the emotions are good or bad.

He knows Zhongli is more than worthy to be standing beside you. He should be proud that his Master has found someone like Zhongli, but...why does his heart tell him otherwise? He does his best to shove it down when he watches him hand you a bouquet of qingxins, every time you hold his hand and kiss his face, every time you feed each other Xiangling's latest dish. He doesn't understand, why isn't he happy for the both of you?

Is the problem in him? Why is he like this? He projects his anger towards hilichurl camps before he is left alone to reflect on his feelings. He usually feels like this when he senses something bad is going to happen...is it because the Geo Archon is hiding something? Was something going to happen on the day of the wedding?

Yes, that must be it. The wedding is going to be sabotaged. Or! Or! The wedding must be a scheme to put you in danger. He needs to find a way to postpone the wedding date to find out whats causing him to feel uneasy.

So now it's mostly just him trying to convince you that you don't need to rush the wedding process, while you just sit there for hours straight waiting for him to finish.

[shiorimakibawrites]

Will You Be Mine?

Words: 732 Rating: 18+ Pairing: Matt Murdock x Fem! Reader Summary: You've been nervous since Matt said he had something important to ask you. Warnings: Anxious thoughts, tooth-rotting fluff, referenced p in v sex, referenced unprotected sex Tags: @loves0phelia, @nowheredreamer, @bellaxgiornata, @yarrystyleeza, @mattmurdocks6thscaleapartment, @theradioactivespidergwen (hope you feel better mandy!) Links: General Masterlist Matt Murdock / Daredevil Masterlist Also posted to A03.

Just a little one-shot that appeared while I was trying to write the next chapter for Alley Cat. Hope you all enjoy.

Will You Be Mine?

As you exited the elevator and headed toward your apartment, you tried not to let your anxiety get the better of you. Matt had told you he had something important to ask you when you came home. Something that made your normally confident boyfriend sound nervous. While you wanted to believe it was something positive, the Negative Nancy in your head couldn’t shut up about all the terrible possibilities.

Maybe Matt wanted to break up with you. That he had found someone else. Someone who was just as model gorgeous as he is, a person who would never get any whispered comments like ‘how in the world didshe manage to land him’ at parties. Or maybe someone could fight side-by-side with Daredevil instead of waiting at home and fretting. Or maybe someone was both prettier and a lot more badass. Someone like Elektra. Or Natasha.

Or maybe someone who wanted to be a housewife. Not that there was anything wrong with that choice. If being a housewife made someone happy and fulfilled, you were all for it. You just didn’t think that you would be. You had worked hard on your degree and enjoyed your work. You liked cooking and didn’t mind cleaning but doing nothing else all day sounded frightfully dull.

Through there were parts that didn’t sound awful. You liked the idea of being Mrs. Murdock. You may or may not practiced writing your name that way. Just to see how it looked. You might have an entire Pinterest board dedicated to your hypothetical wedding. Or considered what might be engraved into your wedding rings, something that Matt could ran his fingers over every day and know that he was loved . . .Or idly pictured a little face (or two) with Matt’s beautiful hazel eyes.

You really, really hoped that Matt wasn’t about to turn those sweet dreams into bitter ashes.

Logically you knew that he (probably) wasn’t. That you were worrying about nothing. You lived together. He loved you. You had woken up this morning to him pressing soft kisses to your neck, whispering ‘I love you’ as his big, warm hands gently caressed your body. The sex that followed could only be called making love. You had sobbed with pleasure when he had slowly filled your eager cunt with his cock. His thrusts had been gentle, as unhurried as the fingers rubbing circles on your clit. You had let out a keening cry on your third (or was it your fourth?) orgasm. Matt had been quieter but let out a deep moan when he came inside you.

You hadn’t wanted to leave the bed. It was supposed to be your day off. Matt had promised nothing short of literal world-ending disaster was calling him away today. You could stay in bed and have as much mind-blowing sex with your boyfriend as you wished. You had been contemplating rolling Matt over and slowly riding him until he was the one sobbing when your phone rang.

It was your frantic co-worker. There had been an accident. Her husband and at least one of her kids had been badly hurt. Of course you agreed to cover the rest of her shift and to get there as soon as possible. It was a little disappointing to postpone your plans (as nebulous as they were) but needs must. You could always ride Matt tomorrow. Turning him into a moaning mess sounded like a terrific Valentine’s Day present.

Now, after that call during your break, you feared that the only thing you were getting for Valentine's Day was a broken heart. You gripped the doorknob and tried to brace yourself. You opened the door and let out a surprised gasp.

The apartment was festooned with lit candles and rose petals. The table was set with something that smelled delicious along with two glasses waiting for their wine. And standing a few feet in front of you was Matt dressed in jeans with a cream cable-knit sweater that looked sinfully soft. His dark glasses had been left off so you could see the love, the hope, and the fear shining in his eyes as he went down on one knee.

You brought your hands up to your mouth as your eyes began to fill with tears. Was he . . .

“Sweetheart,” he said, holding up a little box with a ring inside it. “Will you marry me?”

[hwaightme]

Yeosang who would rather stay alone in his hotel room to call you and hear your voice as he tries to sleep while the boys go live because he is homesick and only your voice can calm him and make him feel close to home 🥲💔

respectfully my heart is genuinely hurting because this reminded me of how yeo slept until quite late on a number of occasions... so imagine this is because he would call late into the night :(( to talk about nothing and everything... your voice being his clarity and his soothing, healing balm. a salvation in the midst of busy schedules and a chaotic day-to-day. you are the calm in the middle of the storm, a safe place.

songs:

everything everywhere always - elijah woods

when i c u - pomme

missing you today - public

we love yeo oh he is so sweet... thank you lovely <3 more thoughts below (506 wc.):

he knows that he is supposed to go live today. he knows that, at the end of the day, this is also his job, and he has to do it regardless of how he is feeling. but as the time ticks on and he feels nowhere closer to home, his mind is almost always elsewhere, and it has gotten to the point where he drifts off in conversation, is entirely absent while sat in the styling chair, and even the astonishingly bright skies appear dull.

thankfully, it does not take much convincing to get himself a late night free. misty-eyed and yearning for his home, yeosang simply has to smile and whisper "i'm tired," to voice the million thoughts spinning around in his head, and have a couple of his fellow members to take over, and an all-group live can be postponed until tomorrow. he feels like he has grown wings. soaring to his hotel room, he speeds through his routines and flops onto the bed to grab at his phone that has been charging on the nightstand.

as soon as he unlocks his phone, yeosang is met with a picture of you - a new one you must have sent a couple of hours ago while he was being interviewed. it was your suggestion to download the little widget that allows you both to send each other messages and photos that complete the homescreen with another piece of home. it was a suggestion that yeosang thanks the universe for.

one message. your response. another. your sweet words. a blissful grin settles on his beautiful features. his hand moves instinctively to the call button, and soon enough, there you are, home. who knew 'hello' could be so magical, and pixels on a screen so dear and so infinitely reassuring and full of love? yeosang waves to you, a little shy due to his sheer delight that he can finally spend some time with you, even though you are miles apart.

you sing praises, applaud him for his phenomenal achievements, cheerfully go over all the kindness you have seen and how much pride you feel, while yeosang melts into the pillows thinking that now, all of this is worth it. with you. he asks about what you have been up to, humming, nodding away as you transition from one topic to the next. when you least expect it, he asks one question, another, or amuses you with hilarious associations, be it to a trend or a song, or an inside joke.

he is happy with where he is, with what he has overcome and where he got you, but he is all the more happy that he can share this with you, and that no matter what, his heart is always home, in your loving arms. he imagines your embrace as he drifts off to you humming one of his favourite ballads. at least for a little bit, the time until he would be a metre, instead of a call, away from you, feels much shorter than before.

[iceclew]

(sorry for horrible grammar - it's 2 am, and I don't know why I am even adding this lol)

"...So the greatest vampire of the millennial is granting us a visit... quite the honor I say...?"

The grim look on his face was replaced with a fake mocking smile - very intentionally showing of the gleaming pair of fangs.

"Get out of my way, Hoshina. You know I am not dealing with second-hand scum like your kind. I have matters to settle with your master. So stay down on your rug and don't waste my time.."

Hoshina giggled, as his guest took a few steps forward, eyes locked on the gateway behind him. The candles in the floor shimmered lightly, shifting their colours to a cold blue for a blink of an eye, unnaturally bright for their size.

Narumi Gen was a more than capable vampire. An exceptional talent in his ranks. Many praising him to be the best of his kind. To his suprise even he hadn't been able to recognize the other presence around.

Only when the "rug" started moving ever so slightly, slowly revealing more and more teeth on a light gray skull, his attention was drawn back again.

"Impressive, right?" Hoshina emptied the rest of his glass and kept his eyes locked on their intruder while a beast of remarkable size seemed to unfold behind him.

"...debatable. But...interesting, I'll admit..." Narumi frowned. "Well at least that explains the rumors about most your... recent "activities" in the regions villages.....former villages that is... Apparently your pet cannot only be discreet but also... very effective.."

Meanwhile two bright blue eyes glared at the intruder, fixing his every move, seemingly ready to strike on command.

Hoshina let out a light-hearted little laugh. "Nah come on, that's unfair Narumi." He gently scratched the skull of the monsterous creature next to him, as if to emphasize the comment about his pet. "Actually he's a very gentle soul, you know?"

Blue eyes still glaring.

"U-huh...friendly like a puppy... One might as well adopt him..." Narumi deadpanned.

"Of course he's friendly, silly!" Another giggle. "I'll take good care of him, there's no need for your concern."

Hoshina's way of sweet chattering was regularly getting on his nerves. Just as always Narumi began to lose his patience. "A pity." Narumi groaned as he stroke back his bangs to reveal his as well, brightly glowing pair of eyes now piercing back at them. "I was hoping we could get to know each other properly, you know?"

With noticable echo over the halls the gate behind them opened.

"I suggest we postpone that offer of yours for now. It is not our intention to disturb your appointment."

With the empty wine glass Hoshina made a last inviting gesture.

"After you, Narumi."

-----------

Halloween is one our toes, guys!! 👻💀

*running after my dogs with white sheets* Let's play ghost dogs, guys! Let the trend never die!!!

Time to revive the Vamp AU! <3

No text version, description + "warm candle-light" version below

I came up with several outline ideas.. and while I was drawing I was very eager to record all my work with the timelaps feature in CSP.. except for when I didn't anymore...... I am very shhhmmmart!!! (థ౪థ)... so now sorry no WIP timelaps...

<- it was basically just a lightning/shading try-out...and then I ended up keeping it, cause *mad scientist laughing* THAT IS WHAT I DO, I DO MADNESS HERE!!! ( ◣∀◢)ψ But I am sucha simp for magenta/blue colour palettes... and it was more comfortable to look at. But the warmer look has its own appeal to it aswell..... I can't decide...

[thesamoanqueen]

Red Marks

Raiting: 18+

Warnings: SMUT; Oral; Cumming kink (a bit…).

A/N: Im still thinking about that 2K23 promo, so… here, for yall, Roman and his sassiness.

The room was empty, anonymous, one of many in the building. What attracted him was the view, but not the one beyond the large windows.

- What with this face? - he asked amused, as Y/N locked the door and dragged him by the arm, her gaze concentrated and that sparkle in her eyes that he had learned to adore.

She had gone there with another crew, but it didn't last long and Roman was more than happy about it. He never got tired of having her close and with that skirt wrapping her hips, who could blame him? Even if he wasn't the one who couldn't resist, it was pretty clear by now.

- What face? Dont know what ya talkin about, sit down. - she snorted a bit, pushing him towards one of the chairs that had been arranged around the table.

She had had a face for sure and throughout his filming. She had stood near monitors, watching the recordings, occasionally chatting with the technicians about shots and cuts, but he had seen her. The eyes that ran over him, lip that occasionally curled up, nail that ended up for a second between teeth, curls twisted on a finger…

- So bossy – he laughed, letting himself fall without the slightest resistance and she froze for a moment in front of him, her expression thoughtful and her legs that seemed to never end up on those heels.

- Too much? I can fix it.

It was amazing how easily she could go from shoving him into a room to that innocent-girl look, but as good as she was and she absolutely really was, they both knew this was an act. She liked to leave him in control, Roman was aware of it and he felt responsible for that privilege, but those weren't the occasions in which she was truly vulnerable. She could kneel between his legs for the rest of their days, barefoot and with her head resting on his boner and if she had only asked, whispered, he would grant her anything.

- We can put it off for a few hours – he proposed, stroking her soft hair on one shoulder.

He wasn't going to stay there for the night, but he had a room for the day in one of the city hotels and however exciting their encounters torn from the chaotic routines were, with Y/N he always preferred to have a bed and a good amount of time to devote her. But she almost never agreed and as expected, Roman saw her lift the head from his thigh, her expression less innocent.

- Postpone a head to the Head of the table, under a table? Nope – she flicked her tongue quickly, reaching for the waistband of the suit they'd provided him to shoot that promotional video.

- Its a bad abused jokes ya know - he laughed a little as Y/N worked her way into his dark underwear, nails scratching the fabric above his boner.

He wasn't ready yet, not completely at least, but his breathing suddenly became deeper and slower at that simple touch. His eyes fixed hopelessly on her and on the expression with which she stared at her own hands, exploring from the elastic band to the raised seams under which Roman was continuing to harden. He felt scratching along the prominent veins, as if there was a precise map of his body in her mind and her fingers grabbing it to come up, the friction of the tissue to stimulate him.

- Let's abuse something else then – she replied with a slight grin, tilting her head a little to look at him and Roman grabbed her face in a rush, slowly passing his fingertip over her soft cheek.

He gladly would have done it and the idea excited him more than necessary, but he didn't know how practical it was. They would have to get out of that office sooner or later and she couldn't walk around with her makeup dripping everywhere, although it would have been nice to see. Just as was his cock in her hands and the hungry expression with which Y/N seemed to aim at it every time. He felt the change in temperature and the warm breath on his tip as she stimulated him enough that he hardened completely, one hand cradling his full weight and the other reaching under his still-closed black shirt. Her strokes on his lower abs made it itch right there, but they were a comforting counterpoint to the teeth with which she was holding the now taut skin.

- Easy with those teeth – he blew in an already low voice, seeing her give up immediately.

- I can't help... you look a little bit too hot with this on – she admitted, pulling the edge of his suit a little, but Roman had his eyes elsewhere.

On her full lips, dyed a bright red that day and on the kiss she had placed on his cock, right where she had bitten earlier. One and then a second, climbing towards the tip.

- Someone is on a mood today? – he asked rhetorically, receiving just a moan in reply, flesh stretched between her thin fingers - … show me how much you like it, babygirl. Gimme a proof. - he pushed her, stroking the nape of her neck uncovered by the hair, resting on his thigh and Y/N didn't wait any longer for a first taste.

The wetness of her tongue right against the tip sent a jolt all over his body and Roman growled softly in approval, hearing her hiss in amusement at that reaction. Her hands hadn't stopped squeezing it and pulling it slowly along its entire length, her nails scratching every time they reached the base, rubbing the skin where it was rougher and darker. He had the impression that she was maneuvering him with a precise goal and when between licks and kisses, the first drops of precum gushed from his tip, Y/N took it into her mouth quickly.

- F-fuck, that way yes – he grunted, his hard-on sliding against her soft tongue for an half.

He loved being inside her, any part of her. She was always soft, warm and in some absurd way welcoming, Roman would gladly sink in her and never to come out again and for once Y/N seemed in the mood to oblige. Her head pulled back, tracing a glossy streak of saliva across his dry skin, but when the only part of his cock still in her mouth was the tip, Roman felt her suck as if she wanted to pull away his soul. Her cheeks tucked in a little and he tightened her grip on the back of her neck, a low growl welling up from his belly as she smacked her lips with a loud pop and sucked him back in. One inch at a time, deeper and deeper, with more demand, and he found himself leaning his head back against the seat, the heat mounting and the blood pumping. Her hand held him now without even squeezing, letting her mouth anchor him to hers, fingers stroking his swollen sac at the base. He felt her closer to him, her body working its way between his legs and lifting a little to swallow him better, deeper than before and when he finally felt her throat against his tip he reopened his eyes.

- Good girl… take it- all of it like a pro, yes – he gasped breathlessly, pushing a little against her, while Y/N meowed around his hot flesh making it vibrate.

She wasn't letting go of him for a second, her expression at least as heated as Romans, but it wasn't that that had caught his attention and the instant his mind, clouded by the mounting climax, finally realized, an almost animal growl escaped his chest.

- Y/N…- he called her softly, his eyes on the marks she was leaving on him.

His cock was now a mess of spit and cum, but there was more on his skin. Her lipstick was resistant to food and drink and quick kisses, but no one must have tested it for that sort of thing and it had marked a reddish streak and blotches on his skin where she had stung. It was an obscene sight that Roman didn't remember ever experiencing before and that along with the smirk Y/N was giving him, had just brought out the worst in him.

- What? – he heard her ask with false indifference, tucking a strand behind her ear to get back to her work again and Roman pushed her down firmly, while being careful not to hurt her.

- I cannot ruin you here, but we gonna do this my way now – he warned her, before moving his hips and making a first stroke inside her throat.

Y/N coughed around him, but it was only a physical reflex and when Roman finally felt her throat relax, her flat tongue cushioning him and hands stroking him for reassurance, his hips moved again and this time without stop. Slow and compelling, he started fucking her throat, pounding stroke after stroke on her bottom, groans increasing and Y/N moaning between his legs. His eyes were unable to move from his cock and observe the marks she had imprinted on him, as he moved in and out of her lips that were slowly losing the lipstick color. For long minutes he continued tirelessly, until the heat started to get too much and he pulled her back, standing up and holding out his hand for her to stand as well.

- Ro… - Y/N complained, accepting anyway, but he quickly shook his head.

- Bend on the table, fast. - he ordered, giving her a loud slap on her round, beautiful ass that made her jump.

- And I was the boss – she joked, bending anyway and letting him lift her skirt.

- Im your Daddy not your boss, ya know that – he replied just as quickly, rubbing his fingers on her lingerie to check that she was ready for him.

He wasn't that kind of man, they'd raised him better than that and that was one of the reasons why he didn't like finish, quickly into her mouth without giving her anything back. That and developing a form of obsession with cumming inside her.

He felt Y/N's hand stroke his beard, as he leaned over her back and her “I know” chuckled a bit, choked as he entered her without any warning, pressing her into the surface of the office table. The show she had subjected him to must have had a lot of effect on her too, she was soaked and already throbbing at the first stroke, a sign that she couldn't be far from her climax either. And that was okay, because Roman was sure he couldn't go on as he would have liked and he had no desire to hear someone knocking on the door to interrupt and ask questions.

- Ahn! Ro!

- Dont hold back babygirl, c-cmon

With long, rough thrusts, he lifted her up by her hips, feet barely touching the floor even with her heels on, and he began to pound her, feeling his belly burn down and his nuts taut. He should have taken off her lingerie that was scratching him with each thrust, lowering his trousers better, but he hadn't wanted to waste a second and at that point the only foresight he was having was to keep his arm under her belly to avoid crushing her on the table. It was fine though, anything was fine as long as they were together and his gaze fell once again on his cock crawling between her folds, spreading her wide.

- Take me, take. Me.

- J-jesus…! Ro!

Her moods were covering the lipstick traces like a patina and that sight was enough to make him pick up the pace again, immediately feeling her pulse in a vice as he quickly found her sweet spot to speed things along. He was at his limit, he needed to empty himself, but he just had to hold on a little longer. Merciless Roman kept pounding where her walls were softest, fingers squeezing on her hips and when Y/N finally did it, stifling her hot moan against the table, Roman let go, throbbing inside her without stop pushing. His body was shaken by an intense and sudden wave that seemed to drain his energy and for a long moment he remained inside her, flesh writhing between her juices. Only when his mind regained lucidity he pulled away, seeing her immediately straighten up and try to put back what was no longer right. He silently followed suit, taking the opportunity to smooth his breathing again, but his hands stopped as they lifted the black underwear, still seeing the lipstick marks on him like a proprietary mark.

Her mark.

- I'll have to put it back… - he heard her said, hands perming up the unkempt curls on one side and then tucking his red tie back into place.

- Im not sorry - he laughed softly, letting her also take care of the suit collar, while he arranged underwear and pants and heard her, imitate him.

- Me too, looks good on you.

Tag squad: @sunnyfleur23 @racerchix21 @alyanarossi @wickedsunfire @romanreignsdefencesquad @romanstheory @thiccc-rider-mcintyre @keybladeofsteel @iovereigns @msbigredmachine @nayys-world @gobbersworld @utika151209 @cumxxslutt @civildawn @romanmydaddy @triscillal @papireigns-05 @helensanders92 @ichdrachenfrau @darqchilddaydreamz @meggylynnloves @unfriendly--blvck--hottie @nicolewoo @niknakbucks92 @wrestlezaynia @reignsx @reigns-central-blog @kianaleani @daguenoire @extra-11 @thedonsfactory @snowpanda18 @brattyfics @wanna-be-dominated @kitanasposts @namjoonspinkytoenail @tribalchiefdaily @2baddies2furious @vebner37 @raeluvshammett @depressedneedingrevenge @cyberdejos2 @thewarlordsworld

[shinjisdone]

𝒯𝒾𝒸𝓀𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒮𝓅𝓇𝒾𝓃𝑔𝓈

(A Yandere Pinocchio X fem!Reader fic from Lies of P)

Pɑɾt 1; Sluɱbeɾ

capitolo uno

capitolo due

capitolo tre

capitolo quattro

capitolo cinque

capitolo sei

capitolo sette

capitolo otto: is here

capitolo nove

Capitolo dieci

Pɑɾt 2; Awɑƙeƞiƞƍ

It was a privilege to share the same blood as Giuseppe Geppetto. To be his family, his niece and take part in the marvelous worlds of puppets. The privilege to learn from him as his apprentice. The privilege to care for the things he cares for and to have the things he cares for, care deeply for you.

Tag list:

@greeknerd007 , @mitsureigen , @kame11a , @thirdblogsacharm , @sarah22447 , @blueberryhitosh1 , @written1nthest4rs , @huicitawrites

TW in general: Yandere behaviour, creepy and still puppet, dubious intentions and relationships

[TW for this one specifically include: Hurting an injury, threatening tension, creepy puppets, advice that could almost be seen as a threat, grief, slightest meltdown and crying]

The clouds were thick and heavy - if only they wouldn't deter you with their gray color and the fog they brought with them, you could at least watch the city's lights from your window.

Not even imagining them as cotton candy ceased your boredom. They were just too grey, too ugly. Not an ounce of sweetness.

Laying down on your bed, you adjusted the book with one hand. Even with the thick blanket and the pillow supporting your head and shoulders, staying still like this for so long felt uncomfortable. The pages tardily turned as the hours passed.

On the first day, you mainly slept through your exhaustion.

You'd often hear your uncle rummaging through the workshop. He'd stalk from one room to the next, shift a few things, opening and closing creaking doors. You occupied yourself with cleaning your humble room, though it dragged on. Perhaps you should get yourself a few fancy furniture like Uncle yourself. Your arrival had been a few months ago.

On the second day, you took care of small chores you've neglected throughout your project.

The raindrops on your window slowly dried up. You postponed to wipe the glass clean since the constant drizzle would stain them but feeling optimistic that the sun would pop up, you spent the morning wiping the windows. You did hear on the radio that the weather was supposed to get better in the coming days.

You were very well aware that you were supposed to rest. Yet testing out your injured hand to clean the windows, you felt some cautious hope that you could continue with your routine with the smallest of pains. Pretending to work with one thumb less wouldn't be the death of you.

Geppetto restocked the tea you so liked. Fresh leaves with a hot kettle next to your little table did wonders to brighten your mood even though you somewhat struggled to hold the wrench with four fingers. Once again, a round of footsteps were heard, louder this time, as the older man passed by you. Swiftly turning his gaze to you, he stopped abruptly, documents in his hand and melon hat always on his head whenever he was ready to leave the workshop again. "Are you sure that is a good idea, my dear?" He sipped on his cold coffee as he intently watched you.

You shot him a smile over your shoulder, sitting with your back turned to him. "I won't work the entire day. Just going to do some...time blocks every now and again." You closed the small opening on the upper part of the chest, before going in for the heart. The cables were still a mess. "Besides, I just think it'd be a shame to leave them like this, all alone. I've been tinkering on them for, what, one and a half months? And so inconsistently, too."

All this time they've been brushed aside. If the butler brothers had a human heart, it sure would have been long broken.

Geppetto sighed. "It is admirable that you are so diligent despite your injury. Many would just push their work away. But you - you are always as busy as a bee." He chuckled, "Take the defective arms to the work room. It'll be more comfortable to work there."

"But you use that room mostly, Uncle." The man took one last sip and waved his hand. He gave you a grin. "No matter. Take the room, I'll be gone and busy at the Workshop Union mostly anyway with a few colleagues. Feel free to take as much time as you want and leave the limbs there, it will not bother me." You couldn't hide your grin. "Thank you, Uncle. The butlers will be up and at 'em in no time!"

Geppetto only nodded and smiled before leaving again.

On the third, fourth and fifth day, you were tinkering away, the butlers limbs on an table.

On the sixth day, oil ran out. The elbows shrieked like an braying animal when bending, so they were left on the table, lights out, until the Workshop Union would be stocked up again. Your room was a sight for sore eyes, clean and tidy, compared to the working room downstairs. Blinking, the light from your window blinded you briefly.

That's right. It was finally sunny in Krat.

Looking back down, you finished the doll's hair. You used to braid and style it when young and it was nostalgic to do it once again and especially productive with a clear goal in mind.

Though you used to talk to your doll, Aurorie obviously never answered. Yet your experiment - which you'd still best keep a secret - intriguied you. You were far from able to make puppets really take in information and construct an reply based on that. Training them to listen and act upon basic orders was something you grew familiar with quite early in your life thanks to Geppetto, but that was as far as your knowledge went.

Now you knew how to make them repeat your words like a cockatoo.

Slowly, fingers stopped gliding down the blonde locks and you turned her around. Her eyes met yours as if she was contemplating things on her own as well, staring into your soul. Knowing what it meant when you held her like this, when you looked at her like this. She always smiled at you.

Wood screeched and a door was burst open. Rushing down the stairs, your eyes lit up when you saw the front door crack. Laughter errupted from the other side as their shadows casted by the light outside grew bigger.

You braked aburptly with a hitched breath. Scanning the emerging figures, you saw one, two, three and four men coming in. There never was more than your uncle.

As if he had read your mind, he noticed you with a grin. Quickly, you hid the doll behind your back.

With a wave of his hand the rest were welcomed in. He closed the door as some chatted along and took off their coats. One gentleman followed his gaze and approached you with a big smile of his own.

"You must be the apprentice." His hand was reached out and ready for your own, gait big and assured. His voice was deep but friendly, in an condescending way. You first glanced down at his gloved hand before looking back at his face and accepting the greeting. Geppetto followed quickly.

"Ah, that is my niece. She is training under me, yes". The man peeked from behind the other gentleman's larger frame. With a noise of acknowledgement, his attention would turn back to Geppetto and then to you. "Ah, so that's what it is! You mentioned that you had an apprentice but I wouldn't have guessed that it would be another Geppetto!" He laughed heartily. Geppetto replied with his own chuckles.

His handshake was long and crushing. You kept your cries to yourself and feigned a polite smile.

Dark mustache and beard were thick but kept neatly. His cylinder of quality material, even under the dim light and his grin that of an business man. A long scar flowed down his forehead down to his blind eye.

The only green one flickered to the bandaged hand he was shaking.

He glanced back to exchange looks with your uncle.

"I am Simon Manus, head leader of the Alchemists. A pleasure." He nodded before finally letting go of your hand. You mimicked and tugged yours behind your back. "A pleasure to meet you as well, Sir Manus. I...did not know we were getting visitors." "Oh, this is spontaneous," He waved his hand with a carefree tone, "We would have liked to spend this fair day not with work but well, it always waits and piles up. We only wished to speak with your uncle and couldn't quite find a better place for a conference. I hope this doesn't disturb your training."

You politely shook your head. "Not at all. Today has been an day off, anyway." Manus found another reason to laugh. "There is never a day off for those of the Monad Charity House! They keep all their youngsters as busy as bees!"

You grimaced at his booming bellowing. That was a name you had not heard in a long while.

The other man stepped forward, putting a foot between you and Manus. "Oh, but she learns under me under my roof. I wouldn't let a dear family member study it all with other peers when it is more effective to be taught by me personally." "Really?" The gentleman spun his head from him back to you, mouth that of an gaping fish out of water. "You must be lucky, miss, to learn under the great Guiseppe Geppetto! To even be his niece, how blessed you are! But please, do not turn out to be a workaholic like him!" Laughter again.

In turn, you courteously offered a bleak smile, nodding along.

"Now then," Taking a sharp breath, Geppetto came in between the two of you and gesutred to the hallway to the right. "Time is of essence and there is much to discuss. Shall we?" Manus nodded vigourisly, taking off his cylinder and followed along. Shooting you a glance, he curtly bowed. "It was nice to meet you, Geppetto's niece. As his apprentice and successor, I expect brilliant things from you."

Without another utter, the men left in a line like well-behaved children - but your good hand still clung to your doll. "Oh, uh, Uncle...!" You hesitantly sprung a step forward but the man in question held out his palm to you with an acute look. "Not today, my dear. Why don't you enjoy your day off and explore the rest of Krat? The circus re-opened with a brand new parade puppet and the weather is rarely this lovely." He watched you slowly shrink and finally give in with a nod. Gaze softening, he turned around and led the rest further into his domain.

On the seventh day, you stood alone and the Alchemists of Krat were invited into your workshop.

For a few minutes you stood there by the window, contemplating with a thick coat in your arms. The chirps of birds nor the chatting of people was a familiar tune here. Though Krat thrived on the puppets, none of them could brighten the sky like they do the people's moods. Aurorie sat on the corner of the bed, watching as you picked out one outfit after another - at last deciding on one you seldomly were able to wear here but were very much fond of - and almost ready to leave.

It felt nostalgic as well in a way. Visits to Krat were frequent but short in the past and for a child it always felt like exploring a new part of the city. It would change drastrically everytime you saw it, so this place was full of adventures, full of fairytales.

Your nose wrinkled as you grabbed the dark gloves on the table and put them gingerly on. They were too big.

Just as your hand hovered above the handle, you whipped your head back to the dim hallway echoing in whispers. The jolly laughter was but a short memory in your mind and the more you pondered on it, the more you remembered their hollow smiles. The sunlight outside was much more inviting.

"...To the right you can view the grand bridges connecting the buildings of our beloved city. Each day puppets check on its stability and status, making sure we all stay safe while entertaining us with their banter."

Eyes followed the upbeat voice halling from the moving train, even as the sight had already been ingrained into your mind. As the disembodied voice of another puppet promised, there were a bunch, hanging and sitting on the bridges with tools in their hands and fitting, dappered safety helmets on their tin heads. They waved and the awing passangers waved back.

You sat still with one hand on top of your other.

"Please note that - Now stopping at Krat Central Station. I repeat: Now stopping at Krat Central Station. Please mind your step - and don't forget to pay a visit to our newly opened circus! Now the colors pop brighter and are brought alive by our newest member, the Parade Master! Known for his mirthful smile as his dances-"

You were quick to get off before the next reprise. The trains got awfully full during the afternoon but it was worth the hassle. You surely wouldn't walk and lose your way. Dusting yourself off and adjusting your outfit, you walked up the stairs to Cersani Alley. That's as far as you knew your location would be since the rest of the place was full of signs, cuttboards of merry puppets ready to serve and posters about the oh so great circus and their parades. Besides, looking around the bumbling crowd, the families, their fancy attire, the balloons floating in the clear blue sky - a smile graced your face knowing all you had to do was follow the herd. Knowing that this is a bright, joyous day and that you were able to live in every day, that Krat could be your reality. Surrounded by the beauty of puppets. Perhaps you were blessed.

The crowd followed along nicely. Children would yell out and play, giggling in delight when handed out balloons in various shapes and little hats to wear. The parents were pranked with harmless jokes and the esteemed ladies bowed to and blown comedic kisses. Feigning bashful mirth, everyone continued on as the puppets waved them farewell.

You nodded and bowed to one you passed by, it did the same.

There it was, the thump, the stupid, cheesy grin. You had to bite your lip at this awfully childish behaviour you were dying to show - or, best, hoping to hide. An adult your age cannot act this silly, goodness, especially if people knew that you weren't even an local! How embarrassing it would be.

Not a local, that's how it felt as you marveled at the scenes before you. You have been here for months, tinkered on puppets almost identical as the ones greeting you yet it all felt so surreal to not sit behind the workbench but be part of the easily amazed citizens. It felt simple and light. You played with your fingers.

Blessed you were. The atmosphere and technology cannot compare to anything else you've ever seen or ever been to - Krat is an exception, the center of the new world it seemed. Yet there you were, hiding in your room and musing over a small toy that any other child in Krat would have long replaced with a better, bigger and aware puppet.

They flow as light as a breeze into the crowd, become one with the citizens. They are more home to this place than anyone as if this was their core and their very heart. Like flowers they bloomed from it, their vines thicker and stronger than anyone else's here, where they can smile and radiate instant happiness, bow and dance more elegantly than any aristrocrat and have man-made faces that seem more human than that of their creators. Their suits and attire never wrinkling, never littered with splotches as they wave about their limbs fulfilling the next order, eyes - as if they could really see from those, the public did not know where the vision was really located - trained on the target in question and ears - as if that is were the microphones were - perked up and ready to listen with a smile so bright and a strength so mighty they can pierce flesh-

"Oh!" Breath hitched in your throat, feeling your ankle twist and lose your balance until a gust of wind hit you in the face, a force not only getting you back on your feet but dragging you to the side of the street. You stumbled, vision hazy for a single moment, hands patting your shoulders.

"You alright, miss?" Inhaling sharply you whipped your head to a snout facing you. You took the close sight all in and a weight fell off your heart when you recognized long, flappy ears and a wide, dark snout with round, holes for eyes as green ones did the same in observing you. Their heavy boot took a step back and tilted their head to take a better look at you through the mask. "Hey, miss." In turn to their deep voice, you let out a breathy sigh, corners of your mouth crinkling up. "Yeah. Thank you." Simultaniously, you stepped back, holding your smile as your eyes mustered the man up and down. His person was heavily armed with pouches, a blade to the side of his hip and a pistol on the other. The coat, a murky dark brown and splotched, hung on his shoulders but with the tall and broad statue of his, shifting one weight on his left as he crossed his arms, he did not seem to mind the heavy material. You were sure if you wore it, it would drag you down to the ground.

A small scarf was around his neck, just as dark as his lightly hairy donkey mask. It blendid in quite well.

"Can't believe how people just lose sight on their way to a parade, and one just made of puppets out of all things." He talked with a grunt, sigh filled with disgust. "You're on your way there too, right?"

You looked back to his masked face and tried to hold eye contact through the small holes. "Ah, yeah. The crowd is pretty big so I thought if I just followed I'd get to the plaza." "The wave still pushed you around. Hm, I can accompany you to it if you wanna. Gotta take guard there anyway and you're sure to get there easily without tumbling down anywhere with a Stalker with ya."

"Er-" You briefly looked around the moving lines and congegrated circles marching on and disappearing into the alleys and plaza. A small noise escaped your throat, your hand covered the other in reflex. Your smile was too hesitant to truly shine to him. "...If you don't mind."

"Sure." Quickly he patted down at his pouches in a rythmatic manner, hand going to the sword and pistol first. Adjusting at last, the Stalker tilted his head and waved you after him. Just before you could follow closely, he offered his hand. "Stay behind or else people will think I'm arresting ya. Wouldn't want to be treated like a criminal at the parade, wouldchu?" Ah, uh," Your smile didn't reach your eyes no matter how much you tried to force it and you shook your head. "No."

Time seemed slower as you glimpsed between his mask and outstretched palm, breath stuck in your throat. However, just a moment later you meekly offered the same hand he did. "Oh," He lightly let out before taking your good hand. "We use the same one."

He wanted to become a Stalker too.

The wave was like a calm sea as you sailed through it with the Stalker as your captain. Instinctively you watched his dark ears peek up above the colorful heads of the crowd as he swiftly passed by each of them. He was sure in every step he took with his body tilting and swinging from side to side whenever he was just a hair's touch away from bumping into anyone. In just a few minutes, you jogged up the long and grande staircase of the street, as the commotion and music got louder and louder. Standing in your toes while trying to keep up with the donkey, you could make out puppet twins in matching outfits leading on the parade together with another pair juggling and giving away flowers. They've already come a long way, people marching with them with an appropiate distance to still esteem their performance, and you pointed at farther away to the big spring located at the plaza. Banners and flying hot ballons with their red and greens were seen far away, a stark contrast to the blue sky, and invited more. The Stalker swallowed down his sigh at your big grin and led you to it. Once he could find the best spot for you to enjoy and view at, he gave you a final pat on the shoulder before excusing himself. You thanked him.

"I'll be nearby though if trouble comes along. Just holler if you need help." You eagerly nodded. "Thank you again."

With a last wave of his hand, he disappeared into the crowd. Turning back, you waited for the next group to pass by like an excited child. The chatting of the people slowly ceased before an echo of an heavy thumb made them abruptly stop their prattling. Around the corner a huge, metal leg playfully showed itself going up and down, up and down, before roughly taking another step. Squeals of children followed each stomp and soon, one by one, an arm shot out and waved at the waiting audience. Loud cheers rung in your ears as you clapped as well as the biggest and newest member of the circus danced its way towards the plaza. A small duo of trumpet players on each side accompanied it.

A round of rallies full of hurrahs greeted the dancing puppet. "Parade Master! Parade Master!" was sung, especially loud by the children. The puppet with its big and burly form was built with something of three to four meters in mind, you reckoned, if the incredibly and comically long, black cylinder was not screwed on its metal head. Its shape reminded you of chimneys illustrated in fairy tale books and probably designed to have the kids get a kick out of it. The rectangular limbs moved freely, legs stomping in rythm to an made-up swing and its arms rotating 360 degrees, begging for people's laughter. While the majority of its body was metal painted to look like an magnificent coat, the upper part of it did seem like real cloth to you. While you applauded, your face soured in scrutiny with squinted eyes at the performing puppet. While it ushered people to sit on its shoulders to carry it around - with great awe as the response from the citizens including you, you couldn't deny it - the back of its 'coat' did have a long train divided into three parts floating about everytime it showcased its skills. It partly must be real cloth.

The face was oval accompanied with a big grin that showed a row of straight, white teeth. It's big nose was painted a lovely light red to give him the slightest resemblences to an sweet, unclely neighbor, especially with the receding hair line, as it shared sweets from a basket. The mustache and side hair were cables most likely connected to its system and curled around to give the illusion of facial hair. How quaint, you found it.

What a sweet and brightening puppet. All to bring joy to Krat.

"I can show you the world, shining, shimmering, splending..."

Its singing was jolly as well. The rest of the crowd around you quickly caught on to the classic song and started to sing along. You couldnt help but let a giggle escape you and held no shame on joining in the puppet and the people. The Parade Master led the song with dramatic flair as if talking to each audience member who heard his voice, wanted or not. Singing to the stars, pointing to the sky and clenching claws to its non-existent heart. Bowing with a deep kneel, low enough to make the men on its shoulders yelp, before twirling around, several ballons in its claws and giving them away. Your wide eyes were hung on its movements no matter how ridiculous they may seemed, no matter how many people laughed at the antics or how gauche it got. It was fascinating to watch it feign tumbling only to get back up with vigor as everyone sang.

"I can open your eyes, take you wonder by wonder,"

Absent-mindedly you sang along as one of the trumpet players did. Its tin fingers snapped in rythm, clanking rather as it spun into your direction. Catching your figure, it bent its knees and offered an open palm with its head tilted. Its everlasting grin bore itself into your memory.

"Tell me, princess, when did you last let your heart decide?"

As its companions did the same, people joined - and it wanted to take you to the stage of the plaza you feared. Eyes went on to the only one not taking the invitation and once again, the puppet shifted closer. Tin fingers begged for yours. Frozen in place, you could only stare at its open metal hand.

"Over, sideways and under...on a magic carpet ride..."

Breath hitched, its eyeing your hand as it goes behind your back and with a trembling motion, you let a coin fall on its palm.

You swore its grin widened and it clutched onto the money in an blink of an eye.

"A whole new world!"

"A new fantastic point of view!"

It recoiled its arm suddenly and with the other one it offered a ballon. It let it go but with ease you caught it, twirling it around your fingers. You stepped back as it searched for another dancing partner.

"No one to tell us 'No',"

"Or where to go,"

"Or say we're only dreaming!"

You stepped further and further back, the chanting of the people growing monotone in your mind as you held onto the balloon. The Parade Master, as lovely as its movements were, was not something you could admire for so long. Your shoes' clicks loud enough for you to focus on as your gaze never left the puppet performance. The dancing enchanting but the actors-

"You really alright?" A yelp escaped you with a few people turning puzzled at the shrieking sound. You covered your mouth and hid from their gaze, face hot and flushed. Widened eyes stared at the perpatrator, who only looked down at you with confused, narrowed gaze. "Yer really out of place here. You wanna leave to a more quiet place?"

You looked to your left and right with a stutter. As the cheers and music grew louder, you managed to nod. With a wave of his hand, the Stalker walked forward and you, back hunched and small, tailed after him. Balloon floating above the heads of the mob, it grew smaller and smaller until it vanished from the plaza all together.

The rythm was off. Your eyes glimpsed at the muddy boots in front of you, the casual gait, the sword at the hip. All you were armed with was your wallet and a balloon tied around your wrist. Your fingers massaged your other hand.

"...You wanna sit down and catch a breather?" "Huh?" Head snapped up to the donkey mask with its snout tilted in your direction. He repeated himself. "You looked uncomfortable there."

"Oh, no." You tried to smile as you waved your good hand. "No...I just wasn't at a festival for so long now. I guess the huge parade took me off guard." You licked your lips. "I like parades and big, bumbling places and puppets but maybe I've just bitten more off than I could chew." You dryly chuckled. His eyes still stayed on your shrunken form, tilted even further before he briskly stared back on the road. The man chose an quieter alleyway with only a few late families and children fresh from school rushing by you. They skipped in their step, hollering a name and some pointing at your balloon in hopes they'll get one too from a puppet.

The Stalker hummed. "And all that to show off a new, chunky puppet." He outstretched his arms and dramatically waved them, "Happy Charlie!" His voice oozing with mockery as the laughing children ran past you. With a scoff, he let his arms fall. "What a terrible joke."

"You don't like the parade?" Carefully, you leaned your head to peek into his eyes to somewhat understand this pettiness, a skip in your step to catch up. "I don't like any of these puppet's play!" Turning to you he shot his arm to point back at the commotion lowly resonating, "Everyone is way too calm, too carefree! They keep forgetting that they are interacting with machines and not human minds!" Another scoff escaped him through the nosetrills of his mask and he focused on the road again. In a mumble he let out; "Just last week someone was hurt by a puppet."

Swiftly, his snout turned back into your direction at the sound of a sharp inhale. Through the small holes he stole a glance at the clenched jaw and the way you quickly tried to keep up with him again.

You licked your lips. "...What?"

"They tried to not have it publish it," The Stalker said, "It'd be an uproar if one of their beloved puppets were to harm a person, even if it was accidental, but it sure as hell would be good wake-up call for Krat. I know the truth - the higher-ups just wanna keep their vests nice and clean." The man kept on looking at you for an reaction, shaking his head at all the foolishness that the entirety of the city is committing in his eyes. "There's no way someone at the Workshop Union is not going to make a mistake, they're just human themselves. But to hide such a grande mistake even though someone got hurt, now that's unacceptable."

"I, uhm..." Unwittngly, you were looking around for an distraction as your mind went blank if ideas and responses, taking a small distance from the man. "Puppets have been manufactured here for decades. The safety data has been updated consistently through the years and each factory of the Workshop Union makes sure to follow them religiously." You spewed out as if it was a spell, "Surely somewhere something went wrong but it'd be odd if something so...severe happened after decades of perfection."

Again, he shot you a look but focused back on the road, turning the corner of the alley with you. "You sure know a lot about that, miss. You like the puppets?" Licking your lips, you needed to take a deep breath. Even now mustering a smile was difficult but you hoped this one was convincing enough for the Stalker. "I very much do. I have ever since...I was a kid." "Hm, stupid question." Loosening his mask slightly, he scratched part of his neck that was itching to peek out. "You went all the way here for this parade. Everyone likes 'em." He whispered.

The air felt heavy after that. Often you'd find yourself distracting yourself with the beauty of the young sunset as its rays sneaked between the buildings, between the bridges where the puppet workers were still checking them. Their movements the same rigid ones when you last admired them on the train. Their lengthy, wide figures were like shadows in the light orange glow with only the sound of metal coming in contact with metal being heard faintly.

"It's," You were still staring their silhouttes, "It's good to scrutinize such important work, you're not doing anything wrong. But maybe..." Slowly your head lowered, a sudden weight seeming to pull you down in a way that felt too familiar, and your voice lowered as well - like an apologetic child. A hand went up and wiped your nose after a discreet sniffle. "...Well, maybe things aren't as bad as they seem."

No one passed by you anymore. If these streets weren't familiar from the darkest depths of your mind you might have felt an surge of panic but this Stalker, armed with a blade an an donkey mask, was the most harmless person you've met today so far.

"You a puppet maker, miss?" Suddenly you sprung up, eyes now full and big as you finally rose from your shrunken form. You blinked rapidly, wiping your nose for the last time before looking at him curiously. "...I am in training. But have only started a few months ago." The man hummed, followed by a small 'That explains it' and tried to speak in an more upbeat tone. "It's just that ya seem old enough to have long graduated and I've never seen you in the Monad House." "Oh," You let out, cleared your throat, and tried to speak much more cheerful as well, "I, ah, am not from here. I came to Krat to start my training actually in the...Workshop Union, so I never attended the Monad Charity House. I, I have heard it's a great school though and that almost all of Krat's puppet makers graduated from there."

"Yer not from here? Well, you certainly have to have a talent then." A small chuckle escaped you. You looked back down to the ground.

"Yeah...I've been told that, too."

"Uhm, I'm sure you must be a talented Stalker too, then, if you guarded the entire plaza all by yourself." With a smile and a nod, you attempted to throw the compliment back. In return, the donkey laughed curtly. "My comrades left me there for 'a new experience' since I usually hang around the Alchemists looking out for their stuff. Never had to deal with a puppet there before." With a quick turn and move, he grabbed his pistol and spun it around, before quickly stashing it back to his hip.

"I did graduate with flying colors and became this spectacle of an Stalker today."

You couldn't help but soften your look. Eyes crinkled at the words and a more genuine feign of an smile graced your lips. He'd spun his toy sword around like that as well but often had it slip out of his grasp as he did so.

"Hey, now, listen. I'm sure I've dampened your mood. But I am serious and I know the truth." As the light had finally turned red and hit Krat, the both of you stopped at a crossroads. Left, the Central Station. Right, the Workshop Union and the Alchemists. Lifting his head high, the donkey decided to stop this pretending and spoke sternly once again. "You should know it too, since you are a puppet maker, or will be one. The Workshop Union isn't as pretty and diligent as they make themselves out to be and people are suffering because of it. If you wanna become a good and honorable puppet maker, make sure to be better than what we got now 'cause they are a bunch of liars."

Your eyes flickered from his form to the ground below. Dainty flowers snaked out of the crevices, tainted in red by the setting sun. The image of the man with the scar and your uncle behind him flashed in your mind.

"...I'll keep it in mind."

The Stalker nodded along and his gaze followed yours. He pointed to the left. "The trains leave in a few minutes, you'd have to wait for the next one in an hour to get to the Workshop Union. I can tag along if you want me to." You stared at the direction he pointed you, where people congegrated and the sun hit them. It'd be best to hurry but your head turned to the right.

"I think I'll take a short walk before that. Squeezing in there with the rest of the people would be too much." The man shrugged and scratched his head. "Whatever floats your boat. It was nice talking to you, I would've lost my minds with these overjoyed lot. Stay safe on your way home." With a final wave over his shoulder, he turned his heel and went back from where you came from. His ears swayed back and forth as he slowly vanished in the red light.

Your farewell was much quieter. With a long, withdrawn and almost painful sigh you let your arm fall and stood at the crossroads. The high whistling of the train called out the people like a herd, passing by you as they made their way downstairs to the station. Droning of chit-chats consuming and devouring the street. The people clad in gloomy red. The last call for the train of the automatic puppet voice rang through, your eyes drooped and hollow as they stared holes into the air. Pushing you with enough might that you had, you turned around and dragged yourself through crowd and onto the right.

The people less merry and less loud, the crevice now bricks with small stone fences and the red now blue.

The Monad Charity House was not touched upon like all the other buildings but it was clear that it was still taken care of. The marine blue that were the walls and the lovely white that clad the windows and roof. You wondered if somewhere there they had added or renovated rooms through the years but you couldn't know, you rarely went inside. Never was even allowed to stay the night for an sleepover. The fences made small and eyepleasing were only meant for the flowerbeds on the front to give it that trustworthy look parents needed when letting their children attend here. Roses, sunflowers, dhalias and daffodils bloomed healthily, taken care of by the children themselves. Whether they wanted to or not. It was good publicity.

Ambling into the yard, the fences quickly grew to broad walls. The evening approached. Children with homes were eating their dinners at this time and those who had not that, were at the parade, extending their time outside school and their many rules as much as they could. You knew that very well.

You also knew you'd see the old swing again. The playground grew larger and seemed to pop up a new device to play with each time you visited. You'd love to go here even when it was a school, even when it wasn't your school. Yours did not have the grande walls or the beautiful flowers, the chic uniforms or the big playground or any sophisticated classes. You used to imagine what it'd be like to go here.

Back there, next to the wall, was still this old, grimy tree. You visited once again here, one day and this tree, as big as it was, its crown one day just bent over the wall's edges. It was once joked about that it did not grow up but grew shy and is now hiding from the students.

Other students also used it as an 'escape route' and climb over the wall to skip class.

Tenderly you touched it. Your balloon was high enough to hit the extended, naked branches but you barely noticed, as the moist of the wood stuck on your fingers. Your shoulders went up to your ears and your face grimaced but you kept on gliding your hand on the coarse surface until a finger felt a bump. Croutching down, you held up the hems of your outfit to not get in contact with the grime and ever so carefully shifted to the side and pressing yourself against the wall. Your eyes went up and down the side of the tree trunk and the words etched into there by a stolen pocket knife.

'I am thiiiis taller!'

Two stripes were cut in with one a bit higher than the other with the mockery written on there. Looking farther up, there it was as you expected.

'I am taller than the both of you!'

You couldn't help smiling to yourself at the third stripe towering over the other two. The strongest mocked the least.

The tree had grown its branches. Their leaves all on the other side, you wondered if the crown could already graze the street. Wondering if it was hiding its beauty for it looked naked from within the walls.

Getting up you made your way to the swing as you used to. No more, however, did you let your bottom fall onto the seat but carefully sat down as to test out the waters. Your clothes are probably dirty by now. The swing held on quite well however, and so you felt free enough to carelessly rock about. It's squeaking was ear-piercing, which was new, but you kept on swinging anyway.

To your right, your gaze trailed up the blue rail.

'Girls are stupid'

The scribble of an angry face was the cherry on top.

Your face scrunched up with a glare, eyes narrow and misty despite the flash of anger you felt. Your hand gripped on the rope fiercly, but quickly let it go to wipe your stray tears. Facade broken, you lowered your head down to your lap and hissed at the accidental pressure you put on your stitched thumb.

"You're stupid, Carlo..." You sobbed into your lap.

How he stuck out his tongue at you while spinning with his toy sword. Taunting you for having been short even when you surpassed him just a year later. Romeo would put him in his place, reminding him how lucky he was that he even had a cousin, only for him to turn his mockery from your height to your gender. Now you knew how petty and infantile it all was, but it hurt nevertheless. He had that sad look in his eye when Uncle would bring you to him during the holidays and leave you two alone on the same day. You warned him over climbing the wall to skip class, how he'll be in trouble and Uncle will be mad. He called you a coward and Romeo urged you to come along. Carlo used to be so nice to you, played with you with the toys Uncle used to whittle, pretended to be great whales in the ocean when Krat was filled with rain puddles, would push you on the swing high enough to be taller than any wall or tree while your laughter rung but over the years he'd gotten sadder and angrier, all at you - until you stopped visiting when you grew older, busy with your graduation and he with his.

'Well, maybe things aren't as bad as they seem.'

You still wonder if he even read your letter to him instead of throwing it away.

"You're a stupid, stupid, liar..."

[weird-an]

Hopper can't quite put his finger on the point when his life became this weird, but that doesn't change the fact that his car's trunk is filled with Eggos right now and he's kinda scared to drive home right now.

He has been reciting the speech on how he doesn't want El to sleep over at the Wheeler's so soon many times already, practicing also an explanation that involved condoms and a few bananas he bought at the supermarket. He is bracing himself for one of the most uncomfortable moments in his life, when he sees a hitchhiker at the side of the road.

A quick detour won't hurt, he finds. Maybe El decides to go to bed early, he hopes.

The hitchhiker is Billy Hargrove. His flashy car that doesn't seem to be able to go slower than 30 over the speed limit is parked at the side.

Billy's charming smile falls off his face when he sees who is driving.

"Chief," he says flatly.

"Car troubles?" Jim squints his eyes. Is the kid drunk? At least he doesn't seem to have gotten into a fight.

"Obviously," Billy huffs, gesturing at the trees around him. He looks young like this. Lost.

"Get in," Jim grumbles, thinking about how many times he has found the kid drunk and busted up, never really thinking of him as the child he still kinda is. "I can drive you home."

"Just drive me to the ...park," Billy says, fiddling with his necklace. "It's shorter."

"It's no trouble," Hopper insists.

Billy doesn't move, chews on his bottom lip and glares at Jim. Like El when he's missing something obvious.

"You can stay on the couch," Jim offers instead - more on a whim, than anything. "I can call your parents."

"Don't bother." Billy slides on the passenger's seat, gaze fixed on Jim like it's a trap, like he's in danger.

Jim might get an idea of why the kid is so fucked up all the time. It sits in his stomach heavy and cold.

Uncomfortable silences stretches between them. Billy sits as far away from Jim as possible.

Suddenly, Billy snorts. He holds up a banana and the brochure Jim got on the menstrual cycle. "What the fuck?"

"I have to... have the Talk with my daughter," Jim mumbles. The kid has the audacity to snicker.

Jim grins. "You can help me with it."

Billy pales. Jim laughs. It's just a joke. He'll postpone it and practice his lines for the conversation a little longer - a great excuse.

[thenovelartist]

Clipped Confidence - Honkai: Star Rail fanfiction

Back on the DanStelle train that I don't see myself leaving any time soon.

“What are you doing?”

It was a valid question, in Stelle’s opinion. Yet Dan Heng looked speechless as he stared at her.

Waiting for an answer, Stelle leaned against the bathroom door frame, her need to use to the bathroom slightly postponed for the moment as she stared at the man with scissors in one hand and a lock of his hair in the other. It had been a few days since they’d left the Loufu, and Dan Heng had transformed back into his more human appearance since then… for the most part. His hair, oddly enough, had stayed long.

Stelle had thought he liked it that way and that’s why it had stayed. But considering the scene before her, that clearly wasn’t the case.

With a sigh, Dan Heng slowly set down the scissors down on the bathroom counter. “I’m… deliberating,” he carefully answered.

Stelle gave a slow nod as she fought for words. “Which begs the question of how long you were standing there.”

“Longer than I should have been,” Dan Heng responded, snatching the scissors and preparing to walk past her. “Sorry, it was not my intention to—.”

Before he could leave, Stelle shot her arm out to slam her hand against the other side of the door jam, effectively trapping him in the bathroom. “Wait.”

He froze, his eyes wide as he looked at her.

Oh, she supposed his eyes were a little more aqua than before, as well. Not the dull almost-gray she was used to before he had transformed. The striking color captivated her more than she would ever care to admit. Her heart always skipped a beat in her chest when those eyes landed on her, but she was sure it was because of the dragon inside him.

At least that was what she told herself.

She swallowed. Now was not the time to go speechless on him. “I’d thought… er, so you don’t like your long hair?”

Wow, her ability to speak was outstanding.

Dan Heng paused, his lips pursed. “It’s not that I don’t like it, per se.”

“Sooo…”

He shook his head. “It’s unimportant. I should leave if you need to use the bathroom.”

“I do, actually—”

“Then—”

“—but!” she cut in. “I also asked a question you still hadn’t answered.”

Dan Heng looked hesitant, and several seconds passed before he sighed in surrender. “I’m just… not used to this. This long hair, I mean.”

“And you don’t think you can get used to it?”

“I don’t know.”

“Then you want to cut it?”

Taking a step back, he turned back to the mirror, staring hard at his reflection once again. “I was thinking about it.”

For some reason, those words held an unfinished air about them, and Dan Heng didn’t seem to want to finish it any time soon.

With a sigh, Stelle patted his shoulder. “This is going to be a long conversation, isn’t it?”

Dan Heng just quirked a brow at her.

“Look, I want to listen—really, I do—but I’m not sure how long my bladder can hold out.”

At that, Dan Heng finally smirked. “Then I should let you go. That is if you’ll let me go.”

“I’ll hunt you down to talk after?”

He sighed. “I’ll be in my room.”

“Perfect.” Having finally gotten an invitation, she moved out of his way, allowing him to leave the bathroom. “You better have a real answer for me when I get out,” she warned him as he walked past her.

A grimace twisted his lips but disappeared so quickly she thought she’d imagined it. “I’ll do my best.”

It wasn’t exactly the response she wanted to hear, but her bladder reminded her that it didn’t really matter. She had something slightly more pressing than Dan Heng’s hair to worry about for the next thirty seconds.

~~~

Dan Heng dropped the scissors he held, ones he’d picked up more times than he cared to count in the last three days, onto his desk as he entered his room. He didn’t really know why it was so hard to make this decision. Normally, he was decisive when it came to things like this, yet he found himself floundering this time around. Worst part was that he knew exactly why he hesitated, yet despite that, he couldn’t reason himself into a decision.

And that was immensely frustrating.

Maybe running into Stelle was for the better. Maybe if faced with a force of nature that would demand a decision from him, he could finally make it.

Or maybe being faced with this particular force of nature was the worst-case scenario.

The door to his room suddenly opened, and he turned to see Stelle walking in. “Okay, I’m here. So…” She clapped her hands together, then pointed her fingertips towards him, “I got a deal for you.”

Dan Heng quirked a brow, already not liking where this was going. “What kind of deal?”

“You can either start from the beginning and tell me everything so I can help you make a decision, or I can just let you off the hook and you just have to answer my question from before: do you want to cut your hair or not.”

“I would hardly call that a deal,” he said with a sigh, already feeling tired.

“I would say it is since I was the one greeted with someone wielding scissors in the bathroom.”

“You say that as though you were in danger.”

“I was in danger of peeing my pants in surprise.”

“I… did not need to hear that.”

“And yet, that’s not even the worst thing I’ve ever said.”

Sadly, she was correct.

“So, stop stalling,” she said, walking up to him and putting her hands on her hips in a way that proved she was here to stay. “What’s your answer?”

Dan Heng sighed. “I… don’t know.”

“Then you can start from the beginning,” she said. “What even brought this on? If the length was bugging you, then you’re decisive enough to just cut it. Well, knowing you, you might have had someone help you so it didn’t look terrible.”

He hated that she knew him so well to know that. He also hated how much he loved having someone who knew him so well to know that. Finally, he hated that because she knew him well enough to know that, she would not be appeased with anything other than the truth.

Meaning he had to find the courage to put his worries into words.

“I hate that this long hair reminds others of my past life.”

Her eyes widened, clearly not expecting him to cut straight to the truth. “Then, cut it,” she said. “Why the hesitation?”

“Don’t you like it?”

Her brow knit together in confusion as her head tilted.

He sighed. “Since my return, March, Welt, Himeko… they’ve all mentioned that they like my hair like this. And… I wouldn’t…”

I wouldn’t want to disappoint them.

He didn’t want to complete that sentence because he knew how foolish it would sound. The fact his friends had vocalized their approval should not make him waver like this, yet that same approval meant more to him than he’d ever realized. So no matter how irrational he knew it to be, some part of him deep down didn’t want to disappoint them by changing his appearance. They’d accepted his dragon-esque appearance so easily, so readily. March was always commenting how cool he looked. Himeko commented how lovely his hair was. Welt himself hadn’t made a comment as much as accepting him so readily there was almost no hesitation.

But that was enough to make him hesitate. He didn’t want to lose this approval they’d given him. He reveled in it, found safety in it. Disappointing them after they accepted him would crush him.

“Nevermind,” he finally finished, pulling himself from his thoughts.

“No, you were definitely going to say something.” With that, Stelle leaned even closer into his personal space. “What’s up?”

Despite her eyes being round and imploring, there was something sharp in those golden irises of hers. Determination.

He looked away, his heart doing more flips in his chest the longer he held her gaze. “Do you prefer this?” he asked instead.

“Huh?”

“Don’t you prefer me with long hair, too?”

Forcing himself to meet her gaze once again, he found her looking at him with no small amount of surprise, her mouth slightly ajar as she processed his words.

And Dan Heng waited with a shocking amount of nervousness for her answer.

But what he didn’t expect was the way the surprise in her expression softened. “I prefer you home.”

His brow knit together in confusion. “Huh?”

She then snatched a lock of his long hair, twisting it between her fingers while an amused smile crept across her lips. “Did you think we liked you better this way? Is that why you hesitated?”

When she said it like that, lightly with almost a teasing lit to her tone, he felt so foolish that his face flushed with embarrassment.

“Pfft.”

Great, and now she was laughing at him.

“If that’s the case,” she began, snatching the scissors from his desk and snapping them together a couple times mid-air. “Then off it comes.”

Surprised, his eyes glanced to the scissors she was waving around far too flippantly for his liking before looking at the smug smile she wore. “You… prefer my short hair?”

She scoffed, thankfully aiming the scissors at the floor as she stepped even closer. “What I prefer is you here with us,” she said, her voice quiet since she was so close. “That’s what we all prefer. Whether your hair is long or short doesn’t matter.”

His face somehow grew hotter.

“And another thing,” she continued. “We weren’t commenting about your hair because we liked it better. We were trying to let you know how happy we were that you were back home, no matter how you looked.”

Despite feeling more like a fool with every passing second, Dan Heng smiled. “Truthfully?”

“I swear.”

Those two little words somehow lifted a weight off his heart.

“So!”

And in the blink of an eye, she slipped around him, pulling his hair into a ponytail before hanging her arm holding the scissors over his shoulder. “Am I cutting your hair or not?”

“Now hold on a minute—”

“Nope! No more minutes. I know you’ve made your decision already. You don’t hesitate when it comes down to it. So, what’ll it be?”

He sighed, hating that she was spot on. “Do you even know how to cut hair?”

“No, but I can look up a tutorial. It can’t be that hard, right?”

“Stelle…”

“Trust me, will you?”

Well, he did, but maybe not in this case…

“Wow,” she deadpanned. “Your silence speaks volumes.”

“I-it’s not that I don’t trust you.”

She sighed dramatically, but it was likely for effect rather than her actual feelings. “Can you trust me more than March, at least?”

“…Possibly.”

“Gee, what a vote of confidence.” She snapped the scissors open and closed in the empty air a couple more times. “So answer my question.”

Her persistence proved she wasn’t going to give him an out. His only course of action was to heave a sigh.

Behind him, she chuckled.

“I…” He swallowed. “I don’t want to look like Dan Feng.”

“Well then…” The scissors suddenly disappeared from his sight. “Say good bye.”

“Huh?”

And next thing he knew, she began hacking away at his hair.

Somehow, the surprise gave way to amusement. As a certain fiery stellaron girl continued to strain the scissors to chop off his hair, an errant chuckle escaped him. He knew it would look terrible. Logically speaking, he should have insisted they trust someone else to cut his hair. But he also knew that the girl behind him right now was more concerned with him than his looks.

And he simply couldn’t be mad at that.

“Done!” Suddenly, she flipped around him, waving his chopped off hair in her hand while she shot him a grin bright as the sun. “Alright, handsome, we should go fix the rest of it in the bathroom so we don’t make a mess in your room. Because I’m sure I’d never hear the end of it otherwise.”

Despite the warmth that flushed through him at that one little nickname that he specifically decided not to acknowledge, his own lips still held a small smile.

“And for the record,” she said, shooting him a heart-stopping smile as she walked out the door. “I like you with your short hair, anyway.”

And then she disappeared from sight.

It took him far too long to move, to follow after her, only to spy her already on her phone, likely making good on her word to look up a tutorial.

“Are you just saying that?”

She glanced up at him right as he caught up to her. “Saying what?”

“That you like my hair short after I already made a decision.”

A glimmer in her eye told him he was likely on the right track, and yet that somehow didn’t matter to him. “I guess we’ll never know.”

For some reason, the grin that she paired with those words made that answer perfectly fine with him.