#but seriously they wouldn’t have stopped if the angst didn’t kick in

[lickmycoffeecup]

Uh. Yeah.

“John,” Arthur sighs.

Arthur’s head falls gently back against the wall. His head turning to allow better access. John hums, smiling against his neck. He continues to kiss, grazing his teeth over sensitive skin. His lips brushing the scar across Arthur’s neck. Arthur’s breath hitches in his chest. John’s breath huffs hot, and fast against just under Arthur’s jaw. His arm snakes around Arthur’s lower back, pulling his closer. Pushing his thigh between Arthur’s legs.

John’s lips move higher. Arthur’s breath shivers as they shift against one another. So close, and still not close enough. Arthur’s nails dig into John’s neck with one hand, while the other makes lines down John’s back. Both wished his shirt wasn’t in the way. John’s free hand slips under the hem of Arthur’s shirt, just above his belt, and Arthur can’t stop his hips from moving. Chasing John’s pressure against him.

“Turn around,” John growls.

Arthur can’t stop his breath from coming out in short pants. This is one of the few times Arthur relishes being told what to do. The ambiguous sense of control, Arthur at his most vulnerable, making his heart beat with excitement, instead of panic. John nuzzles into his neck, briefly. Just a small beat of making sure his command was what Arthur wanted. Arthur nodded, fast little movements that sends a flutter of heat into both their bellies.

The loss of pressure as they disentangle themselves enough for Arthur to do as he was told, makes Arthur whimper. Low in his chest, just the smallest whine. Making John fight pushing him back against the wall. The chill on Arthur’s neck gives him goosebumps. Everywhere feels too hot, too tight, and too far from John. But it doesn’t last long.

Arthur twists, turning his back to John. Placing his hands firmly on the wall. Planting his feet. His palms barely find firm ground, and large warm hands are on his hips. A broad, warm chest is pressed into his back. The return of lips, and a hot breath on his neck, as John’s whole body is pushed against him. Arthur can’t help the smile edging at his lips, he sighs as John’s broad frame envelops him again.

John’s hips roll against him. Arthur tries to push back into him, but John’s hands remain firm at his hips.

“So eager,” John murmurs against Arthur’s torn ear.

“Ass,” Arthur hisses.

“Such a mouth,” John smiles.

Arthur gasps as teeth sink into his neck. He braces himself against the wall. Fresh waves of heat radiate out from the bite. Arthur’s thighs shiver, and his legs seem to spread against his will as John pulls Arthur’s hips back against him. Giving Arthur exactly what he wanted. Arthur’s eyes close slowly as the warmth from the pain settles in his crotch. Wetness staining his pants. His breathing is heavy, shuddering in his chest. He reaches back, and runs fingers through John’s hair, as John releases his neck. Kissing the bite, leaving behind slightly pink, bloody lip stains.

“Arthur,” John breathed.

Peppering the swollen mark with sweet nothings. His fingers pushed against Arthur’s stomach. Inching slowly down, under the waistband of Arthur’s pants. Arthur is smiling, so content, as the hand creeps further down. His eyelids flutter.

“Parker,” Arthur sighs.

All at once, they’re both frozen.

Everything stops.

John pulls away with a harshness that makes both of them sting in the most sensitive areas. Stepping back. John is breathing hard for all the wrong reasons.

Arthur whips around. Strands of short dirty blond hair whip out, and cling to his forehead. His hand is covering his mouth. Eyes wet with the start of tears. No longer warm, and content. Everything feels cold. He stares blindly in John’s general direction.

“I—-,” Arthur can barely manage.

“I’m sorry,” there’s barely any sound to his voice, as his hand hovers just over his mouth.

Before John can say anything, Arthur is moving to his room. Heavy, quick steps on the hardwood floor. He runs into a table in his haste. The lamp sitting on the table starts spinning, and barely stays upright with the momentum as he makes it to his room. He grabs his door, and flings it shut, but it hits wrong on the frame with a heavy smack, and bounces slowly back open. The sound of wood rattling fades quickly.

John stands at the far end of the room. Breathing heavy as the light wobbles over him, and the walls. Finally the lamp comes to a rest, settling nearly at the edge of it’s table.

He tries to settle his breathing, his heart pounding in his ears.

Everything is silent.

Except for the soft sound of sobs coming from Arthur’s room.

John isn’t sure how long he stands there. His body feels chilled, and numb. The slow fading of his excitement just leaving him shaky, and covered in a cold sweat. His feet start to hurt as he remains rooted in his spot.

Arthur’s room is silent, and dark.

Finally, John lets out a shaky breath he didn’t realize he had been holding for far too long.

The motion, the deep exhale, and slow inhale, finally breaks John of his stupor. His eyes focus on Arthur’s darkened doorway. He takes slow, careful steps across the room. Trying to be quiet, but the creak of hardwood boards betrayed his every foot fall. He stops at the table, looking down at the lamp. He reaches down, straightening the table. Correcting what had been tipped out of balance as he pushes the lamp back to the center of the table’s flat surface. He reaches under the shade, and pulls on the metal beaded chain. The lamp turns off with a solid click.

John feels bolder in the dark. Less pressure to be quiet, and he takes the final few steps to enter Arthur’s room.

His eyes adjust slowly.

Soft blue light spills in from the windows. In the far corner of the room, the reflection on the floor helps highlight the shape of a person. But Arthur is still in the shadows. Sat on the floor, his knees pulled up to the chest. His head is down. He makes no movement, or registers that he knows John is in the room.

John walks over to him. Unsure of what he’s even doing. What he hopes to accomplish by closing the distance between them so soon. He stops a few steps from Arthur. Who still doesn’t move.

He leans down, and reaches out, but stops. Finger tips maybe an inch from Arthur’s hair. John pulls his hand away slowly.

With a sigh, John turns, and pushes his back against the wall. He sinks down onto the floor next to the Arthur. He stretches his feet out into the light coming from the window. Feeling like he made a mistake coming in here. But it felt just as wrong to be so far apart. John couldn’t stand the idea of still standing there, staring into Arthur’s room. Or even worse, retreating to his own room.

Their shoulders were only a few inches from touching.

But John didn’t want to make this worse.

It was bad enough it had all been doomed from the start.

John sighs, low, and deep, he really meant it as he said a low, “I’m sorry.”

The seconds turn into a minute. Then more seconds turn into more minutes.

John nearly jumps when suddenly Arthur shifts. Moving to drop his head onto John’s shoulder.

He makes no move to touch Arthur any further. He stays perfectly still.

“Me too,” Arthur whispers softly.

After another minute, John slowly lowers his head. Resting it lightly against Arthur’s.

They don’t speak the rest of the night. They stay there, long after their position grows uncomfortable. And even longer after limbs go numb. Eventually they move closer. Wrapping their arms around one another. Lacing fingers together. Letting the silence speak for them.

They had come so far. Worked so hard to get here.

But there was the ever present feeling they always had more work to do.

[jungkookstatts]

Not in the Way You Think

[Summary]: You've been after your best friend for ages. But how are you supposed to know that he's after you too if he insists on being a bachelor until his dying breath?

[Theme]: ChildHoodFriendsToLovers!AU, NonIdol!AU, VirginReader!AU, BachelorJK!Au, Fuck-Boy JK, Virgin Reader

[Rating]: 18+, explicit content, dry humping, protected sex, fluff, somewhat angst, many many years of pining, making out, oral. Soft dom/Dom JK, sub Reader, virgin things, mention of alcohol and a pen

[Word Count]: 6,043

[A/N]: Hi. I've resurrected. For now. Enjoy! Also, if anyone knows what's going on with my materialist -- sos!!

[Materialist]

“Sorry, but there’s no fucking way,” your best friend scoffs against the lip of his dab pen. He was about to take a hit, but was abruptly stopped before you told him something completely unbelievable to his ears.

“Jungkook, I’m serious,” you whine.

God, this is so embarrassing. You fiddle with the rims of your hoodie's sleeve, examining it in shame. You can’t dare to look at the face of your best friend on the other side of the couch. His words already make you feel embarrassed enough, you can’t imagine what looking at his face would do.

“Y/n,” he starts again, that disbelieving smirk proving to adorn his features. “You’re 24 years old. What the fuck.”

“24-year-olds can be virgins, too, Jungkook,” you roll your eyes. “Not everyone strives to have over 30 bodies on their ‘fucked list’ by this age.”

You feel so embarrassed. Of all people, you thought your best friend wouldn’t shame you like this. It’s already embarrassing enough to be at this age and to not have tried anything sexual with anyone before. You’re inexperienced. You know that. But the conversation originally didn’t start this way. What was once a talk about which flavored soju was better than the other, turned into a ridiculing conversation about your lame sex life. The last thing you need is his bantering about how shocking it is to hear everything you haven’t done yet.

“57,” he corrects you with yet another smirk. This time, there’s a tease in his eye, obviously waiting for your reaction on his body count number. 

“Whatever,” you roll your eyes. “Forget it.” 

You try to grab the remote on the coffee table, but Jungkook takes it before you can. 

“Wait, now,” he laughs when you smack his arm. “I’m not done asking about this yet.” 

“Jungkook!” you whine. “I’m seriously so embarrassed. I don’t want to talk about it with you anymore.”

“Have you ever kissed anyone?!” He raises his pierced eyebrow. “What about Taehyung? And Soobin? Aren’t those guys your ex’s? You had to have done something with them, Y/n, c’mon.” 

“Yes!” you blush harshly. “Of course I’ve kissed people before. I’ve just never…done anything dirty with them.” 

“Not even like a hand job or anything?” he raises his other eyebrow.

“Jungkook, please stop reacting like that. You’re making me feel worse,” you tuck your hair behind your ear. 

It’s no news that Jungkook is not only your childhood best friend but he’s also been a notorious fuck-boy since about 5 years ago when the two of you moved to a different city to attend the same college. He has always told you that he was going to spend his university life being a bachelor, making it a goal of his to see how many girls he could get underneath him by the age of 25. He's gathered quite a lot. Except now, he’s more knowledgeable than you for once, and you’re not taking the news so well.

“Okay, I’m sorry,” he apologizes. But his words prove to be carried with no remorse. “Not even oral?” 

“Jungkook!” you kick his knee. “Seriously. I continued this conversation with you because I thought you’d be nicer about it. You’re obviously the experienced one here. But clearly, you’re not experienced enough to know that not everyone is constantly looking for which sexual activity to try on the next stranger.” 

You’ve been his #1 ear to all of his stories for years now, no matter how repetitive they can be…or how much they secretly punch you in the gut every time he tells you a new one.

The two of you couldn’t be more opposite. He’s sporty and social, you’re quiet and mellow. He’s into the music and business world, whereas you’re into radiology and all-things-hospital. He’d rather spend his free time partying and making himself feel good in any way that he can, whereas you’d spend your free time wrapped in a book or having coffee over a new podcast about aliens.

But no matter your differences, the grunge boy that you grew up with sitting on the opposite side of the couch, making fun of you and laughing at the sheer difference in how the two of you chose to live out your college years, will always be your best friend. He might remain a crush or even your first love, but nothing can change the fact that the two of you click like two peas in a pod. You couldn’t trade anything for that, even your secrets about what you feel for him. 

“Woah, hey,” he chuckles. “Sorry. I’m just–wow. It’s just shocking to me, I don’t know. Especially for you.” 

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” you scrunch your eyebrows together. 

“Well, I mean,” he laughs awkwardly, putting his pen on the table. “It’s no secret you were the girl every guy was trying to get into their bed all throughout college…and high school.” 

“Tch,” you shake your head. “As if, Kook. Don’t try to make up for ridiculing me about my sex life by covering it up with fake scenarios.”

“I’m serious, Y/n. Just as serious as you are about this,” he says. “You thought that Soobin, the university's #1 crush–a guy even more wanted than me–would agree to go out with you and date you if you weren’t the hottest chick in the school?” 

“Yeah, well, that was short-lived,” you scoff, remembering the events of your break up. “He didn’t really want me. Or well, he did, but not like how I thought.”

“This is why I’m shocked,” he explains further. “Literally every man that I knew talked about you. I don’t know how their efforts could have gone unnoticed by you. But I guess you were too in your head to notice. You had the hottest man in the school, but not even that was enough to even make you think about doing anything with him?” 

As much as that information flatters you, it doesn’t satisfy you at all. Truthfully, Jungkook could talk about any man in the world that might want you. But if that category doesn’t include him, the thought doesn’t arouse you at all. 

Your own brain can’t even wrap itself around why you were so hung up on him. Why would you possibly want a guy like Jungkook to want you. He’s careless and reckless. He doesn’t give things a second thought and pushes all your buttons at the worst times. He’s foolish and irresponsible – a walking stick screaming ‘bad news’.

But at the same time, he is oh-so gentle. He’s kind and sweet, considerate and respectful. His touch makes you jolt, and his voice relieves your headaches in an instant. You feel safe when he is there, and absolutely terrified when he is not. He’s strong and capable, but also sentimental at heart. 

You don’t think you could find anyone else like him in the world. No one like your Jungkook. 

No wonder your past relationships didn’t work out for you. Taehyung you broke up with out of frustration. It was with him that you realized that Jungkook was too in your head to be dating anyone fairly. And just when you thought you were over Jungkook being your ideal man, Soobin walked into your life. But since he broke up with you over your own inexperience, you haven’t been able to stop thinking about how maybe you waited too long. No one wants someone who has no idea what they’re doing in the bedroom at the age of 24. Most of society at this age is dating to marry. You’re still dating for the experience. 

“It’s not that I didn’t think about doing anything with him,” you respond. “I just–I don’t know. I couldn’t. It didn’t feel right. He wasn’t–I don’t know. We just weren’t a good match. The same goes for Taehyung and everyone else before him and Soobin.”

Your best friend is quiet for a moment, trying to wrap his head around everything that you’re saying.

“But it’s all irrelevant now,” you continue. “We’re graduated, and there’s nothing I can do about previous male efforts towards getting me in their sheets. It’s just–there’s something wrong with me.” 

“Clearly,” Jungkook agrees. “Sex is like–life. You truly don’t know until you try. Do you even masturbate?” 

“Jungkook,” you sigh quietly, as a disappointed palm presses against your forehead. “You weren’t supposed to agree to that.” 

“Well, do you?” 

“Of course, I masturbate.” 

“And that hasn’t persuaded you at all? Don’t you imagine what it would feel like to have something other than your fingers or some toy getting you off?” 

“That’s so graphic,” you scowl. 

“Well, do you?” 

You roll your eyes. 

“I do, don’t get me wrong,” you agree. “I don’t know. I guess I’m just too hung up on a scenario that’s not possible–at least not for me.”

“You’re pined after by millions, Y/n,” he sits up straight on the couch, his legs folding against the cushions to get a better look at you. “Any scenario is possible in your world. Especially related to sex. You could get any man that you wanted to if you just broke down a wall or two and went after them.” 

“That’s not–never mind,” you give up. You’re too embarrassed to admit anything. You also don’t really want to. Risking your friendship with Jungkook isn’t worth letting out a secret like this. You’d lose him forever, and you can’t risk that. “No one wants a 24-year-old virgin,” you begin again, trying to move on from your previous words. “Unless they’re a crazy perv, or one of those dudes who thinks that only ‘marriageable girls’ should be virgins until they tie the knot. And, well, those guys are just…weird.” 

Jungkook laughs at your words and a small smile forms on your lips from the sound of his laugh. 

“Y/n, what are you saying?” he exclaims amidst his laughter. “Look at you! You haven't lost a cent of your desirability in all the years I’ve known you. Any guy would want you.”

“But not you,” 

“Huh?” 

Fuck. 

Fuck fuck fuck. Why did you just say that?! 

The thought slipped past your lips without a second thought. There’s heat in your cheeks, and you can’t bear to look at Jungkook’s face. You might have fucked everything up now. Just over a thought you didn’t think twice about. Your brain must have been done suppressing it, but now you have to sit here and wait for the consequences of letting it all go. 

“Sorry,” you clear your throat. “C-Can you give me the remote? I’d like to drop this and finish this show.” 

“Nuh-uh,” he laughs in disbelief. His rough hand gently wraps around your wrist, forcing you to look at him again. “What did you just say?” 

“Jungkook, please,” you cry. There’s fear in your voice. You’re so scared of losing him, you can’t even think properly. All you want to do is pretend like nothing happened. Like this whole conversation didn’t happen and you were back to talking about flavored soju. The thought of losing your best friend floods your mind, and you beg him with your eyes to stop. But he’s unrelenting. 

Jungkook scoffs at the look in your eye, his grip loosening on your wrist before sliding it off completely. 

“Y/n, you are so oblivious, it actually gets on my nerves more than anything in this world sometimes,” he says. 

You feel your heart sink to your stomach. 

“I didn’t think I’d actually have to tell you this because I thought it was obvious how I feel about you,” he laughs to himself. “I don’t know how long you’ve noticed, or if you’ve even noticed at all, but I’ve had a crush on you since freshman year of high school, Y/n. And it’s only grown since then. So don’t think for a second that I wouldn’t want you.” 

Words fail to leave your lips. You’ve had so much shock and embarrassment during your time spent with him tonight. But nothing could have prepared you for this. 

“Jungkook, none of this is making sense,” you stop him. As much as your heart leaps at his confession, a part of you is still completely misunderstanding something. “You mean to tell me that you’ve had a crush on me for how long? And yet in the meantime, you’ve made it your mission to be with every woman on campus? How in the world do you expect me to think you had feelings for me when every Saturday morning you tell me about whose pussy you were up the night before? How was I supposed to know?”

There’s a bit of anger in your voice. All these years of getting your heart shattered over his countless stories about girls that weren’t you. About how he kissed Emily on Friday night and then fucked her best friend, Rachel, in the ass a few hours later. About how he went all the way home one weekend just to fuck your high school calculus teacher. Or about the countless times you’ve walked into your shared apartment with him, only to look down and see an extra pair of girly high-heels sitting by the door next to his shoes. Or the many pairs of unfamiliar panties you’ve found in the wash. Or the smell of strong perfume constantly stained on his side of the couch. 

“How in the world did I expect you to think I had feelings for you?” he reiterated your questions irritably. “Y/n, I asked you to be my date to prom! Hell, don’t even try to cut out the fact that we almost kissed when we graduated high school. I hung out with you every day after school in both high school and college. Fuck, half the reason I came to this university was to be by your side. We even have an apartment together!” 

“You’re my best friend, Jungkook!” you explain. 

“You don’t have to remind me,” he runs his hands through his hair in frustration. “I gave up trying to make us anything more than friends a while ago. Fuck, every time I lay with a girl it’s the biggest reminder of all that we’ll only be friends.” 

“Fuck you, Jungkook,” you cry. A tear falls down your cheek from his words. God, you’re so frustrated and angry and annoyed and so relieved. You don’t know which emotion to put first. “Fuck you. You shattered me into pieces. You call me oblivious when I’ve spent years loving you. But you’ve been too busy telling me about who you’re going to fuck next to notice." 

Jungkook breathes heavily, anger leaving his nostrils. His eyes are foreign to yours. You’ve never seen so much emotion in them at once. 

And then suddenly he’s on your side of the couch, hovering over you, holding your jaw in his big, tattooed palm. His lips sear against yours kissing you with passion you’ve never felt before. 

It’s second nature to hold his face in your hands. His ears slip between your middle and index finger; the cool metal of his earrings touches your skin gently. 

You moan into him when you glide your right hand into his locks, pressing him tighter against your body. Jungkook grunts at the feeling of your hand in his hair. Never in a million years did he think he'd feel you like this. No matter how many times he’s imagined it before, no matter how many times he’s pretended it was you instead of the stranger beneath him, the feeling of imagining you is nothing compared to the feeling of actually having you right there in his arms. 

You can feel him lay his weight heavier on you the more you kiss him. It prompts you to wrap your legs around his waist, pulling him tighter against your body. 

Jungkook’s lips detach from yours slowly, his thumb lightly pressing against your bottom lip as he pulls away. 

“I’m sorry,” he kisses you again slowly. It’s wet and soft, but you don’t mind. It’s him, and he feels right. “I guess we gave each other too many mixed signals.” 

You kiss him back, holding his chin between your index finger and thumb. 

“Are my signals clear now?” you ask him gently. 

“If you’re telling me that you want me…more than just friends,” he presses his nose against yours. “Then they’re clear as day.” 

You smile against his lips when he indulges on you again. Jungkook kisses you slowly and softly for another few minutes. It’s much different from the kissing you did a few minutes ago. This time, he’s gentle, and so are you. Your hands find purchase at the base of his scalp again, and you smile as he moans at the feeling. This is a whole new learning curve for you, and you’re finally going through lessons you’ve restricted yourself from accessing for a very long time. It feels so good. It feels amazing to have him in your arms like this. 

But still, somehow there’s something missing. There’s a pit in your stomach, a wetness in between your thighs that begs you to rub up against him. And so you do, but you’re stopped with a firm hand on your hip from the man above you. You suddenly feel embarrassed again. 

"Y/n,” he pants against your lips. He looks down at your conjoined hips. A part of him feels embarrassed at the sight–he doesn’t think he’s been more hard in his life. But he respects you more than to indulge in his own fantasy right now. “You’re still a virgin,” he reminds you. 

“I know,” you exhale. “But I want you, Kook. I want you to be the one to take it.” 

“Y/n,” he coos, swiping his thumb across your cheek. “I think you should think about it. I’m not the most romantic person in bed. I also don’t think I’m cut out to be your first. I don’t deserve you like that.” 

“Don’t say that Jungkook,” you scrunch your eyebrows together. “You say that as if I haven’t been imagining you in the same way that you imagine me. You say that as if I haven’t been waiting for 10 years to kiss you like this. I want you. I’ve wanted you for so long, and I think this moment is why I haven’t been able to indulge in sex with anyone else. I feel right with you.” 

You watch his eyes dart from your eyes to your lips. He’s lazy with his decision on which to focus on right now. His heart is so overwhelmed, he doesn't know which feature of yours to honor first. 

“What are you doing to me,” he laughs at himself. You smile back at him, and he swears nothing has ever been more right than how it is at this moment. 

“Will you take me, Jungkook?” you ask him again, much softer this time. It sounds strange coming from your mouth. You’ve never asked anyone to do that for you. The only person you’ve wanted, or have imagined, taking it away from you has been Jungkook. And here he is above you. 

“Fuck,” he whispers. Your words send all the blood straight to his cock, as if it didn’t have enough blood in it already. “If that’s what you want.” 

“It’s what I want,” you confirm with him. “I want you.” 

“God, I want you, too,” he says, kissing you passionately yet again. This time, he scoops you into his arms, sitting you up on his lap. You straddle him perfectly, your thighs hugging his, and your core pressed temptingly against his own. 

Jungkook moans at the feeling, his hands finding purchase on your hips before slowly grinding them against his own. 

Your hands fall from his jaw to his shoulder, the feeling of his clothed dick against your pussy is much more shocking than you thought it would be. Never in a million years did you think such a strange action would feel so good. 

“Kook,” you whine against his lips. 

He breathes lightly against yours, trying to keep his composure as you make yourself feel good on his thighs. 

“Can I touch you?” he asks gently. His hands remain on your hips until you nod, giving him permission to explore your body in whichever way he would like to first. 

He watches your face as he slides his hands up to your waist. His fingers make their way under your silk pajama shirt, causing you to jolt at the feeling of his skin against yours. It puts a desire in your heart that you’ve never felt before. You’ve never wanted to explore anyone else like this. 

“C-Can I touch you?” You ask him this time. 

Jungkook laughs a little at you asking for his permission. In a way, he’s not really used to that. He finds it endearing that even though he’s fucked a lot of girls in his lifetime, the fact doesn’t take away that he’s still worthy of asking something like that to you. The other part of him laughs as if he’d ever say no to you. 

“Please,” he gives you permission. 

With that, you look at the fabric of his shirt leaning against his collarbone. His typical black shirt covers just enough to make you curious. 

But your eyes move to your own hands, which are delicately mimicking his actions, except they start by pushing up his shirt from the bottom. Your fingertips feel his abs underneath them. They’re defined, and you hate to admit that they make you really nervous. 

Your eyes flick to his, and they read your mind like a book. 

With one motion, he takes his hands off your waist and pulls his shirt off, revealing all his glory to you in one quick second. 

You take a deep breath, and he chuckles a little. But his laughs stop the minute you touch him again. They slide up his abs, your fingertips feeling his honey skin underneath you. They slide to his arm, covered in ink. They’re a perfect representation of him, and you haven’t told him enough how much you love them. They’re passionate and edgy, handsome and strong, but gentle and honest all at the same time. 

You almost get lost in his ink when he slides his fingers further up your shirt. 

Your breath stops in your throat when he grazes his fingers on the underside of your boob. You’re not wearing a bra, and the fact only excites Jungkook more. 

But he wants to be patient with you, even though he knows that the two of you want this so badly. 

“Can I?” he asks again. 

“Yes,” you give him permission in a whisper. 

With that, he slides the silk fabric up and over your shoulder, his breath stopping in his throat when he sees you. 

“Fuck Y/n,” he breathes out. He looks to you for permission again to touch you, and you nod with a small smile on your face. 

Jungkook gently cups the underside of your breasts, his body leaning forward as he does so. His lips wrap around your nipple and you gasp when he twirls his tongue around your sensitive bud. 

The sensation prompts you to press your hips deeper against his, eliciting the sweetest sound from his throat. His black jeans frustrate him, the barrier is too thick between you and him. 

He sucks on you harder before popping off and transferring his torture to your other nipple. Your pussy feels like it’s almost gushing arousal from his mouth alone. A raspy moan leaves your mouth as he gently bites on your bud, prompting you to tug at his hair. 

“K-Kook,” you moan. “Please,” you beg. 

Jungkook pops off your nipple, his mouth trailing kisses up to your neck. His hands slide up your back, holding you close against his chest as he kisses and sucks on the sweetest parts of your neck. You know he’s learning you, and you’re 100% willing to let him continue. 

“I want you inside of me,” you pant against his ear. “Please, Kook. I want you.” 

Jungkook pulls away, resting his hands on your waist again. 

He looks at you with more seriousness now, although his lips are red and swollen and his skin is starting to shimmer with the slightest bit of sweat. 

“Are you sure?” He asks you again.

“Yes,” you hold his cheek. 

“Okay,” he smiles. 

With that, he stands up with you wrapped around his waist. You know where you’re going, and you giggle against his neck at the fact that this is reality. You’re in his arms, your skin against his, and he’s on his way to make you feel closer to him than you ever have before. This is the only man that you’d let do this to you, you’ve realized. And the relief that it is finally happening makes you giddy and so so happy on the inside. You can’t help but hold him closer. 

Jungkook gently lays you on his sheets. They smell like him, and you feel warm inside when he tops off the scent with himself hovering over you. 

“Have you…you know,” he gulps. “Used anything before?” 

“Like a dildo?” you clarify. 

“Yeah,” he kisses your neck again. He’s completely overwhelmed with you. He can’t stop kissing you, and he doesn't want to stop anytime soon. The urge to mark you as his own–to show every man that you belong to him–is so strong. He can’t help being so proud that this has finally happened. That you’re with him, and that this is the start of something new between the two of you. 

“Other than my fingers,” you sigh. “No, not really.” 

Suddenly, Jungkook stands up, uncomfortably fiddling with the zipper of his jeans. What you said made his dick hurt with arousal. His jeans are too tight on him now, and he wants to feel all of your skin against his. 

You watch him take off his jeans, feeling overwhelmed by the look of his cock springing free underneath his gray Calvin’s. 

“S-Sorry,” he apologizes for the change in pace. “They were getting tight.” 

“I can see why,” you exhale. 

You feel taken aback by Jungkook’s size. It’s still clothed by his boxers, and he already looks like he’s going to rip you open. No wonder he is in such high demand. 

“I’ll prep you,” he promises. “N’ go slow.” 

You watch him give himself a few pumps over his boxers, closing his eyes from the feeling of releasing a little bit of tension. He smiles when his eyes land on your face, your eyes completely fixated on his dick. 

“Something caught your eye?” he laughs at the expression on your face. 

“Shut up,” you smile. 

Your breath stills when he hooks his fingers around the rim of your pants, asking your eyes for permission before he continues. You allow him, and soon you’re left in just a pair of boy shorts with a huge stain soaking at your core. The sight has Jungkook immediately leaning himself on his elbows against the mattress to get a better look. 

“Fuck,” he whispers, sliding his hands on the underside of your thigh. He pushes your legs up, examining you for the first time. “You’re soaked, Y/n.” 

“S-Shut up,” you shy. “Do something already.” 

Jungkook laughs at your embarrassment, hooking his fingers underneath the waistband of your underwear and sliding it up and off your body. 

“As you wish,” he whispers against your core. You don’t even have time to react before his mouth gently envelopes your clit. He sucks on it as you squirm beneath him, the intensity of his pleasure feeling like it’s going to be a lot to handle. 

You slide your fingers into his hair when he plays at your entrance. It’s so wet, and he can’t control himself from sliding his finger in, knuckles deep, as you moan from his actions. 

Your responses only fuel his fire, causing him to lap you up even more, to slip another finger in and curl it up into your g-spot. He can feel you tense, and he knows you’re close. He wants you to get there, but you stop him before he has the chance to. 

“Want you, Kook,” you whine. “I wanna cum with you.” 

“You wanna cum with me?” he restated your statement as a question. 

You nod feverishly against his pillows, your eyes coming to lock with his. 

“I want you inside of me when you make me feel good,” you explain. “That’s how I want it.” 

Jungkook gulps. Fuck, if that wasn’t the hottest thing he’s ever heard. 

“If that’s how you want it,” he smiles. 

With a swift motion, he gets up to take off his boxers, his dick slapping against his abdomen as he does so. 

It's almost comical how quickly he reaches for a condom in his nightstand drawer, slipping it on while his eyes stay right on yours. They tell you he’s been longing for you for so long. That this moment was one that he always dreamt of, but never thought would become a reality. You can only hope that yours convey the same. 

Jungkook hovers over you again, his tip lining up with your entrance. 

“Are you sure you want this? I can stop right now if you want me to,” he asks you again. There’s a worry in his eyes, as if he doesn’t think he’s the right one to take this from you. 

“I want you, Koo. I’ve never wanted anything more in my life. Please take me,” you plea. 

You watch that man above you gulp before he kisses the tip of your nose. He rests his elbows on the sides of your head, trapping you underneath him. With a kiss, you feel the burn of being stretched suddenly flood your system. He pushes in slowly, your back arching into him as he struggles to find a normal breathing pace. 

It hurts, but he goes slow. He’s aware of your discomfort, and he wants you to say something before he continues. 

“S’ this okay?” he asks you. 

When you look down, you realize he’s only half way, and your head tilts back against sheets. He’s so big, you don’t know what to do with yourself. 

“Mmhm,” you grip his shoulders. “You can move, Kook.” 

Jungkook pulls out, and then goes back in quicker and deeper this time. The feeling causes you to dig your nails into the skin of his back, the pain and pleasure bringing you to a high you’ve never felt before. 

“Ahh- Y/n,” Jungkook moans on top of you. His head falls into the crook of your neck as he keeps a steady and slow pace. “You feel so good,” he pants against your skin. 

“F-Faster, Kook,” you beg, wrapping your legs around his waist. 

“Mm,” he hums, happily obliging to your request. 

Jungkook speeds up the pace, his hips slapping against yours lewdly. There's so much liquid shared between the two of you, but neither of you care. It feels too good to stop. 

“M’ feel good, baby?” He asks you, hovering his lips above yours. “This what you wanted?” 

“Y-Yes,” you cry, trying to ignore the butterflies in your stomach from the name he called you.

Jungkook suddenly takes your hips in his hands firmly. Sitting on the back of his heels, his body towers over you before ramming his hips into yours again. The action causes you to tilt your head back, feeling fuller than you were just a minute ago in this new position. 

“Yeah?” He licks his lips. His face looks demonic–like an actual sex demon is on top of you right now. “This is what you wanted, huh? You wanted to be fucked by this fat cock so bad, didn’t you, hm?” 

Jungkooks fingers grip your hips tighter, slamming them against his own even harder than he did before. You can feel him against your cervix, hitting your g-spot with every exit and entrance of his cock in your pussy. 

“Wanted you so bad, Koo,” you cry. 

You feel your toes start to curl, and a part of you feels scared that you might cum too quickly. You want this to last longer. 

“Yeah?” He bites his lip. Hearing you say that makes his head go fuzzy. The girl he’s wanted for so long, the girl he thought he could never have, is finally his. And he’s a part of something that is so special to you, he feels honored and overwhelmed all at the same time. “You gonna cum for me, baby? Gonna cum on my dick?” 

“K-Kook,” you whine. “S-Say you wanted me, too. S-Say–” 

“Fuck, Y/n, I wanted you so bad,” he grunts at the thought. He feels angry for the time he’s lost due to thinking one thing when it was actually the other. He could have been with you like this every night. He could have been loving you and holding your hand, and kissing you all day long had he just grown a pair and done it earlier. He should have kissed you at graduation all that time ago. Or maybe even earlier at prom. He’s wanted you all along. And thinking about how he felt when you got together with Taehyung and Soobin made him feel a jealousy he’s never felt before. He can only imagine what he’s done to you. The fact that he had someone new every night to talk to you about makes his heart hurt with the fact that telling you those things might have shattered your heart into dust just as you dating someone else did to his own. 

“I wanted you then, and I want you now, and I want you after,” he continues. “I don’t want to let you go ever again.” 

Your back arches from his words, your neck falling back from the pleasure and the pain all at once. 

“Koo,” you grab onto his wrist. “I think I’m gonna cum.” 

“Yeah?” He bites his lip again. His hair falls in front of his face as he watches your breasts move with his dick inside of you. “Cum for me baby, I’m not that far behind.” 

Jungkook falls on top of you again. But this time, he brings your legs up over his shoulders, pushing into you even further than before. You’re starting to think he has an endless cock. Every new position he puts you in, you feel another inch inside of you. 

You feel a white heat wash over you, and somehow you see stars as he continuously moves his dick in you harshly. 

“A-Ahh,” you hear him moan. “You’re so tight–m’ gonna cum,” he tells you against your ear. “S’ that–that alright?” 

He holds out until you let him, nodding into his cheek, too blissed out from your orgasm to form a worded response. 

His thrusts get sloppy after you give him permission. The last few of them are hard and deep before you feel his dick pulse inside of you. A stream of sweet moans and your name falls from his lips as he releases inside of you. Out of all the music in the world, this is the sweetest sound you’ve ever heard. 

After a few moments to catch a breath, he pulls out, not wanting any of his cum to leak out of the condom as he begins to soften from his post-sex glory. Jungkook kisses you gently, moving your hair off your sweaty face. He kisses your cheek and your forehead before tucking your hair behind your ear. 

“You okay?” he asks you gently. 

You laugh at his question. Hell, you were more than okay. Your best friend, first love, and current love, just took your virginity. Although you know you have a lot to experience in the sexual world, you whole-heartedly believe that it cannot get any better than this. 

“Yes, are you?” you ask him back. 

Jungkook laughs in the same way that you laughed at him. 

“Is it safe to say that you’re my girlfriend now?” he asks. 

“Only if the feeling is mutual.” 

-----

[End. Do not copy. Original work of @jungkookstatts, 2023 ]

[rimunagenius]

It Was Doomed From The Start

ʚ pairing: Kate Martin x Roommate!reader

ʚ word count: 3.1k words

ʚ warnings: RPF!! , stalking, harassment, angst, self reflection (this topic scares me…don’t judge), fluff ofc bc it’s Kate

ʚ rimunagenius speaks: i know the title looks scary, but i promise, it’s nothing bad with Kate and reader. I wouldn’t write angst for them for this story not yet atleast I also wanted to introduce what Kate has reader under in her phone and i’ve also been thinking about adding one shots about how Kate and reader came up with the nicknames for eachother or little one shots of them before or during the events written about in the series (stuff that didn’t make it to the fic)…if i do they’ll be on the series masterlist but let me know if you’d like to see that!! anyways…here’s the long awaited part three!

Part 3

| Series Masterlist |

"C'mon, it's time to get up, sleeping beauty." There was no beauty in how you were currently knocked out in Kate's bed. Your hair is all over your face and pillow; with parts sticking up due to the lack of hairstyle before going to sleep.

You had your mouth slightly open, quietly breathing through it. You needed this sleep. You usually slept way more appealing but this—this was your well-needed catch up on weeks' worth of rest. "Y/n...y/n. C'mon. We have to get ready." Kate leaned over the bed, a hand on your hip, softly attempting to shake you awake. A string of muffled and incoherent curse words left your mouth as you pulled the comforter over your head.

Curling in on yourself to make yourself small and generate more heat. It was a pretty cold morning in Iowa City. "I don't wanna." You whined under the blanket. Eliciting a small giggle from the blonde, she crawled into the bed, almost spooning you before speaking to you softly.

"Well we have to, sunshine. We have classes, and if you still want to eat breakfast, I suggest you get up now." She flipped the comforter off your head, rubbing her hand up and down your arm. "C'mon, let's go." She gave your arm light taps before she then gripped it and started to pull you out of her bed.

"We should not have stayed up so late last night. It's your fault. I blame you.” You pointed in her face, your hair everywhere and eyes closed, preventing her from taking you seriously. “You kept doing that thing you do with your mouth." You mumbled as you now were standing right infront of your roommate, eyes looking up at her, your mascara under your eyes.

"Sorry I was having a good time. From what I remember you didn't want me to stop." She looked at you, wiping some of the mascara fall out away, giving you a bright smile before walking you towards the bathroom.

"Kate, we were drinking and you know that trick is only funny when we're both under the influence. If you would've stopped messing around, we could've finished both movies at a decent hour. I literally fell asleep in your bed and halfway through the movie." You say as you look at her through the mirror, narrowing your eyes before cleaning your mascara and whatever makeup you had on.

She raised her arms in defense, "I mean, what can I say? I'm the life of the party, baby." She said before placing herself on the counter. "Oh, and I already made waffles and yours are on the counter." She sat and watched your do your whole routine, her legs swinging a little every now and then.

"Yes?" You looked at her as you placed a refreshed coat of mascara on your lashes. You could see her staring. She's been doing that a lot lately. It made you feel warm inside and you wouldn’t lie and say you haven’t been doing it more recently also.

"Nothing. Just watching you." She smiled softly as she watched you do your makeup. A small blush casting over both your cheeks. You both knew what it was.

"Okay, creep." You side eyed her before giving her your best smile, just to prove you were being playful.

"Haha. Funny." Kate mocked you, lightly kicking her foot against the side of your thigh.

"Kate? Can you do me a favor?" You looked at your best friend, her blue eyes immediately meeting yours. She nodded her head quickly, eyes trained in yours immediately trying to read your face for anything wrong.

"Yeah, of course. Is everything okay?" She picked up on your nervous look. You sighed, looking down.

"Nick’s still weirding me out, so I wanted to know if you could walk back here to come get me after your class and take me to my next one? I just don't want to be on campus alone with him being around." You looked nervous, almost as if you had a feeling she'd say no. Of course Kate didn't, though. You still haven’t told her about not even going to report him in the first place.

"Yeah, for sure. I can do that. I'll see you in a bit, yeah?"

"Yeah. Okay, thank you. It's just for this class and my next two and then Hannah can take me to practice later." You watched Kate's face soften.

"Y/n, you know i'd take you to every class. It's not an inconvenience. Whatever you need, I got you." She hugged you before saying a small goodbye and watched you walk inside your class while she waited outside.

You went inside and sat down, your phone pinging with a new message.

bear <3

be safe, ily.❤️

sunshine☀️💕

ilym😘

'bear <3 loved "ilym😘"' 

The class went smoothly, you walked outside to see Kate standing, waiting for you. She must have left class sooner to be here on time to not make you wait. God, you were so grateful for this girl.

She walked you to every class before you had anatomy. So far, Nick hasn't spotted you, and you felt a wave of relief wash over you. You didn’t want to put it past him to find you, but for right now, you were taking the win. As you finally made it to anatomy, Juliana had been waiting outside.

You and Kate had been laughing about something she said when you looked over and saw Juliana watching you both, a smile on her face. "Oh, Kate. This is my friend Juliana, the one who's helping me with the girlfriend thing." You introduced your two friends, them shaking one another's hands.

"Hi, I'm Kate. Nice to meet you." Kate greeted, a friendly smile on her face.

"Oh, I know who your are. Y/n has said so many great things about you. You're almost all she talks about in here." Your face immediately grew red. You hadn't realized you talked about Kate so much. Did you really?

Kate looked down at you and smiled. A small blush rising to her cheeks. "Does she now?" She asked teasingly.

"Yeah, she's always going on about how such a great friend you are. How good you are to her. Makes me jealous." She jokingly added, before chatting Kate up some more. You didn't know what it was but something about Juliana being overly excited about talking to Kate, Kate being engaged in the conversation, was something that made a pit grow in your stomach.

You had no idea why two of your friends talking gave you a sense of jealously. It was frankly ridiculous. Shaking the totally absurd assumptions of this otherwise normal interaction out of your head, you looked down at your phone. A new notification from a random account on instagram.

The picture less profile, what seemed to be a randomly generated username had sent you a message. Clicking the message, you immediately felt a ball in your throat form. Suddenly your knees felt like they would give up and the world would swallow you whole from right where you were standing.

maybe you should make her leave…

this won’t be good for you.

she’s not good for you.

make her leave.

it won’t be good for her either.

You looked around, trying to find who had sent it. They had to have been talking about Kate. You knew who it was, just thing to find him to justify that you weren’t absolutely going crazy and imagining this whole thing.

“Hey, you okay?” Kate looked at you, her eyes scanning every inch of your flushed face, her worry growing by the second.

“Yeah, I’m totally fine. I’m just going to walk into class.” You swalllowed before you looked around once more, suddenly seeing him. Lurking at a nearby a table, hat on, just staring right at you. He was sitting a healthy distance away, but watching your every move. Watching Kate. You couldn’t take this.

You hadn’t realized you had been staring, Kate followed your stare and saw him too. Juliana wrapping her arm around your shoulder, kissing the top of your head. You instantly regretted not being able to sell that you were unbothered, due to Kate starting to walk over to Nick.

“Kate! Don’t. I don’t need you talking to him.” You grabbed her arm, and pleaded with her.

“He’s obviously making you very uncomfortable. I thought you told someone about him already. What did he even say?” You did not have the heart to tell her that you let this man harass you for weeks just because you didn’t want to have any conflict. It wasn’t the best decision but it saved a lot of people trouble and you didn’t want to be inconvenience with this stupid thing. You could handle it. You could handle him.

“Kate, I was going to I swear. But I just forgot. You going up to him and telling him off isn’t going to make it better. Trust me. I do not want him to harass or hurt you too. ” You were getting super overwhelmed. Your eyes burning, your vision going blurry, eyes watering.

“Hey, it’s okay.” Juliana said, rubbing her arms up and down your arms. She didn’t have the first clue of what to do other than report this. She just didn’t want to do it without your permission. It was wrong, but it wasn’t her place.

“Hey, can you give us a moment?” Kate asked her. Juliana nodded and walked inside the class but not without staring Nick down before doing so.

“Hey, look. I’m sorry. I didn’t meant to get all riled up over this. But you do need to tell someone, baby.” Her face dropped and immediately started turning red. She should’ve caught herself. It just slipped. You hadn’t noticed because you were avoiding looking anywhere and seeing him.

You hadn’t picked up on the name. Trying to focus on what she was actually saying instead of thinking of all the ways Nick could harm Kate. What did he mean by ‘it won’t be good for her either’ ? All you could think about was her safety.

“I’m sorry, what?” You looked up at Kate, your brows furrowing. Suddenly feeling the biggest migraine come on.

Kate’s face relaxed, sighing before grabbing your face. “I was just saying that we should go report him, and i’ll take you home. I’ll tell coach we caught something and don’t want to get the team sick. We—I just need to get you out of here. Okay? Can you do that for me?” Her eyes stared into yours, wordlessly pleading with you to choose your safety over thinking you’re a burden to someone else.

You nodded, looking behind her to see that Nick had left. He was gone. That’s when you felt a hand grab yours, fingers interlocking. Kate. Immediately you felt more relaxed, more safe. At home. No one could hurt you when you were with the people you loved and cared for. Who cared for you. The team, your friends, were your home. Kate was your home. Your anchor.

Nothing could hurt you, and you were going to do it together. Sending a quick text to Juliana, letting her know the situation, you and Kate started walking to the deans office. Kate sat with you, held your hand, and made sure you were comfortable while telling the dean everything Nick had done to you and said he’d do over the course of the two and a half years you had been here.

It was extensive. It started off so small that you didn’t notice that he slowly integrated into your life. He was obsessed with you. Stalking you. You didn’t realize until it was too late—til it got bad. You and Kate had found out he was a transfer, changing his whole major and career plan to follow yours. He had been to 6 different universities in the last 3 years due to ‘personal’ issues.

Turns out every formal complaint had been waived and disproven. You weren’t the only woman he’s done this to. It was crazy to think that of the many women, the countless evidence of severe mental disorders and psychotic behavior and harassment, he was still allowed into many other universities, was able to appeal the accusations and allowed to leave it behind him.

Kate was in better words, fuming. Her and the dean had gone at it, you trying to mediate before the dean resulted to benching her for her last season. You guys had been in the deans office for about 2 hours. Leaving just in time to send a text to Coach Bluder that you’d both be in absence at practice today.

You two had been walking, still hand in hand, back to your guys’ apartment. “Kate are you sure you want to miss practice today?” You looked at her, eyes still a little bloodshot from the crying you had done. “I can totally just go home alone and say I just didn’t feel good. I’m not on the team, you are.” She still looked upset and very irritated at the situation. She hasn’t said much since you both left. The second you spoke, her face softened. You tended to do that a lot; you changed her mood. Her mood affects yours and yours hers. And only you two could fix it for the other.

“And leave you alone? On campus where a crazy guy is stalking you and making you feel uncomfortable and unsafe? No way. I’d miss as many practices as you needed me to.” She smiled at you, squeezing your hand, before letting it go, and settling for wrapping her arm around your shoulders.

“Thank you, Kate. Seriously. I don’t know what I did to deserve you.” You leaned your head on her, arriving at your apartment.

“Of course. Anything for my favorite girl.” She kissed the top of your head, smiling to herself. She was grateful to have you in her life, she needed you just as much, probably more, than you needed her.

You both helped and healed things in eachother more over the last two and a half years of knowing eachother than anyone had for you both in your guys’ entire lives. “You didn’t do anything to deserve me, you know? Anyone would be lucky to have someone like you. Someone as kind, beautiful, smart, loving, caring, and gorgeous as you. Oh, did i mention you were pretty?” Kate laughed, her cheeks growing pinker by the second.

“Okay, Kate.” You laughed as she unlocked the front door, letting you walk in first. “Thank you. I appreciate you, and I feel the absolute same about you. Any girl who gets you, is the luckiest girl alive.” You smiled at her as you sat the on the couch, her in the kitchen grabbing you both water.

She smiled at you, before you turned to turn the TV on. When you looked away, her smile faltered. You looked at the tv, thinking about what she said. What you had said. You both cared for eachother so deeply. You couldn’t possibly be catching feelings for Kate. Was what you said too obvious…? You had known her for a long time, she was your best friend. That could ruin everything.

Could it? I mean, Kate thought about it over and over, watching your from the kitchen. The way your lips curled slightly when you watched the same reruns of your favorite shows. The way you always sat in the same spot on the couch, next to hers, leaving the perfect amount of room for her but also not enough so that you guys would be touching.

It was hard for the both of you to think this way about the person you have shared a space with for so long. Your roommate. Your best friend. You both needed to figure this out. But it was hard. You couldn’t possibly harbour feelings for the one person you both told yourself not to when this arrangement came to be.

Maybe that should’ve been the first sign. The sign that this living situation was doomed from the moment it was thought into existence; it was doomed from the start. How could you possibly set that boundary, silently in your guys’ head, that you guys couldn’t catch feelings. It would only have meant that you both could’ve seen this coming. I mean, neither one of you turned a blind eye to the other being attractive. Let alone, being eachothers type.

Kate brought you both the waters. Setting them down on the coffee table infront of you. Sitting down in her spot, next to you. You leaned your head on her shoulder almost instantly. Whether you had feelings for her or not, the comfort Kate had brought you was something you couldn’t describe. The need to have the feeling of Kate next to you seemingly growing worse with the feelings.

The familiarity was something you haven’t known since back home. So you essentially chased the feeling whenever you could have it. “Thank you for being there for me, Kate. I mean, truly. I already said it, but thank you.” Snuggling a little closer, bring one knee to your chest.

“Anytime, you know that. I’d do anything for you,” Her voice grew quieter at the end of her sentence. She meant it. “Besides, you’d be completely lost without me, sunshine. You need me.” She smiled when you landed a soft playful smack across her chest. She reached her arm over your shoulders, making you more comfortable.

“You’re right, I do.” You laughed before turning your attention to the TV. You both watched TV the rest of the night, deciding that you’d worry about the Nick thing more tomorrow. The dean telling you that it’d be handled very soon and quickly as possible. So, it was tomorrows problem.

As you both watched TV, you both thought over the fact you may be inlove with your best friend. It may be real and you’d both have to find a way to either move on or deal with it.

And fast.

[dilemmaontwolegs]

The Perfect Life || CL16 {2}

Summary: Charles finally gets to see the person his brother was proud to call his best friend, and in doing so realises he has some amendments to make. Warnings: angst, swearing, sarcasm WC: 2.4k

One || Two || Three

It was foolish to think the Leclerc’s would just leave you alone. It wasn’t so much of a surprise that Arthur stopped your door from closing but you did frown when his brother followed him inside your humble abode. 

It was dim inside, with only shafts of starlight coming in from the missing tiles above. You walked blindly through the sparse furniture to the fuse box and pulled the lever down, flooding the room with flickering fluorescent light. “Not quite up to your standard?” you challenged Charles with a daring arch of your brow. 

Arthur detoured to the small alcove that was once the factory staff room kitchen and grabbed two beers from the fridge that whined loudly to maintain its temperature. You immediately pressed your bottle to your cheek and moaned as the cold seeped into the bruised skin. Letting the makeshift ice pack do its job, you dropped onto the couch, avoiding the wayward springs that jutted out and tried to snag your clothes, and watched Charles walk around the cavernous room.

“This place is a dump,” he stated. He inspected the bed that consisted of a mattress thrown over pallets that had been abandoned inside the factory before eying up the punching bag that hung from the open rafters. 

“If you’re only staying to insult me, just go.” The exhaustion in your voice came from deep inside your soul and even Charles paused at the sound. 

You hated how he turned his inspection on to you instead. His eyes followed the length of your legs and you tucked your knees up under the hoodie, but then he finally noticed you had been barefoot the entire night. 

“Pack your shit, let’s go.”

You closed your eyes and tipped your head onto Arthur’s shoulder. “I liked him more when he ignored me.”

“I’m not going to tell you again,” Charles growled as he swiped your beer bottle from your face. 

“Charles, have you ever been beaten unconscious?”

“No.”

“Unless you want to find out how it feels, give me my fucking beer back.” You didn’t even open your eyes to see if the threat was taken seriously but then the cold touch of the bottle in your palm was an answer enough. “Thank you.”

“You can’t stay here,” he said calmly. “Pack your things, or I can buy whatever you need in Monaco.”

“I am not marrying you.” The beer was cheap and left a bitter aftertaste but you used it to smother the hot anger that was quickly starting to bubble in your gut. “Twenty minutes ago you would have let me risk being mugged while I walked home and probably asked for popcorn too while you watched.”

The old recliner you found at a secondhand store squeaked under Charles’ weight as he took a seat and said, “I don’t like popcorn.” You cracked an eye open to see amusement gracing on his face. “I also picked you up, didn’t I?”

“Wow, pick a girl up once and expect her to marry you.” 

Arthur snorted a laugh. “I offered first.”

“Maybe you two can fight it out for my hand.” Sarcasm dripped from your lips as you tipped your head to Charles. “I wouldn’t mind seeing you land on your ass again.”

“It was a cheap shot.”

“Are you gonna let him disrespect you like that?” you asked as you nudged your friend. 

“I’m not hitting him again,” Arthur grumbled. “It really hurt.”

“Oh, so not out of concern for me, thanks little brother.”

“She did warn you to shut up but you had to keep running your mouth.” Arthur looked at his brother’s lip but it wasn’t all that swollen thankfully. “Please don’t tell ma.”

“I can do your makeup,” you offered to Charles with a smirk. “I’m actually pretty good at covering up bruises now.”

Charles' eyes turned down and he shook his head as he felt guilty for how he had treated you over the years. 

“I don’t want your fucking pity,” you snapped. “Stop looking like someone kicked your puppy.”

An awkward silence grew until you growled in the back of your throat and rose from the couch. “Tur, can you lock up when you leave?”

“Where are you going?”

You made your way to the ‘bedroom’ and pulled on a pair of riding leathers, not bothering with the jacket since you were comfortable and warm in the hoodie. “Home. I have to get ready for a charity brunch in Marseille.” 

Charles watched curiously as you unlocked a thick padlock to what he thought was just a storage locker. Those green eyes widened when you swung your leg over the seat of the sleek Honda motorbike and grabbed your helmet that hung on the handlebars. 

“You let her ride that?” 

Arthur shrugged and finished his beer. “One: I’m not her keeper. Two: she has a licence. And three: you’re an idiot if you think anyone has a say in what she does.”

“You’re her friend, you should stop her from getting herself killed.”

“I am right here,” you reminded him. “I love the vote of confidence you have in me, by the way, really endearing.”

Whatever he was about to say was silenced when you clicked the remote for the roller door, kicked the bike stand back and turned the ignition on. The roar of the engine was deafening in the space and you slapped the shade down on your helmet before shooting out of your sanctuary. 

“We have a lot to talk about,” Charles warned his brother. 

Arthur nodded as he got up and dropped his empty bottle into the recycling bin. “Yeah, I figured that. Let me just lock up real quick then we can go.”

Charles watched as Arthur walked around the room like it was a routine chore he was used to doing. He hit the button on the wall to close the roller door before checking the windows were locked. He turned the phone charger off beside her bed and slipped the cash he had in his wallet under her pillow. 

“She won’t accept it otherwise,” he said over her shoulder. “She doesn’t want charity, Cha. Your plan isn’t going to work unless you change your approach.”

“What do you mean?”

“Offering to buy her things. She won’t take it. Everything here was earned the hard way, independently.”

Arthur could see Charles was absorbing the information and already a plan was forming in his mind. 

—

“You look beautiful.”

The stem of the champagne flute in your fingers was nearly snapped when Charles startled you and you turned to find him in a tailored suit, the jacket left unbuttoned. “What are you doing here?”

“There aren’t that many charity events in Marseille today. I thought I would make an appearance, it’s good for the image.”

“What a humble philanthropist you are,” you said with a roll of your eyes while he scanned your face for any sign of the bruising from the night before. “Told you I was good.”

“You could be a professional.” 

A waiter passed by and you swapped your empty flute for a full one while Charles grabbed one of his own. Already you could see the inquisitive looks cast in your direction and knew they would only grow the longer Charles spoke to you. Not wanting to be the focus of the gossip mill you took a step away from him, ready to make your escape.

“I have a proposal.”

“Christ, not this again.” You stepped toe to toe with him so as not to be overheard when you hissed. “I’m not marrying you.”

“Not that kind of proposal,” he chuckled. “Arthur tells me you are quite good at fighting.”

You narrowed your eyes at him, wondering where he was going with it, but nodded confidently. “I am.”

“I have a team of security, but they struggle with the female fans when they get a bit too aggressive.”

“You think having a woman throw them down is more…polite?”

He winced and shook his head but it wasn’t very convincing. “I hope it doesn’t come to that but the guys aren’t very comfortable with the idea.”

“You do realise my father is never going to let me leave Nice to work for you, right? That would not fit the image of his social standing.”

“I know. Now before you shut it down completely, just hear me out.” He paused and you immediately knew you were going to regret even listening to him. “You work for me, secretly, but we tell your father we are engaged.”

“No, no, absolutely not,” you hissed. “Argh, you said this wasn’t a proposal.”

“It’s not, well, it’s a fake one so there’s no suspicion why you are always with me. No one will know you work for me, but I’ll pay you well. You can have new bank accounts in your name that your father can’t access. When you have saved up enough money to live on your own then we can break off the engagement and you will have your freedom.”

“I-”

“Don’t give me an answer now, just think about it, okay?”

You turned on your heel and left the stately rooftop garden. The sun was suddenly too warm and the laughter of conversation seemed to mock you personally as you passed by. It would only be a matter of minutes before your father’s assistant came looking for you but you would take every second of freedom that could. 

You got exactly 97 seconds before the bathroom door swung open and Veronica sighed. “You don’t have a scheduled bathroom break until 11.”

“Too much bubbly,” you lied as you tossed the damp hand towel into the basket. It hadn’t even helped to cool your burning neck so you mentally pulled yourself back together and followed the wretched human back out to the event.

Veronica clasped her personalised diary full of notes behind her back as she nodded her head to a portly man ahead. “Mr Henri Cartier, two sons, wife - Charisse, $3 billion profit.”

You plastered a smile back on your face and approached with all the confidence that your father had trained you to fake. “Mr Cartier, how lovely to see you again. How is Charisse? It is a shame she can’t be here today.”

You zoned out as he started to recall how his wife had flown to London in their Lear as their sons had an important polo match. Cambridge versus Oxford, naturally. It obviously wasn’t important enough since he would rather be shaking hands with this lot instead of watching the game. “…the King himself will be there.”

“Ah, but this is France, we have no King,” you teased. “We take care of our own people. Now, a little birdy told me your business had a remarkable turnover this quarter. I hope to see a reflection of that in your donation.”

The Forbes billionaire laughed haughtily. “Of course, my dear. What else would I do with all the excess?”

You opened your mouth to list off all the other purchases he would rather spend his money on but a slick voice eased into the conversation.

“How many superyachts can one man own?” your father asked. “I’ll tell you, Henri, it’s the same thing I say when my wife makes her famous cannoli - there’s always room for one more.”

The two men laughed way harder than the joke called for, but the real joke was the fact that your mother had never stepped foot in a kitchen. 

“It’s a wonder your charity survives with that advice,” you said as you took a step back and let them pick out the shortcomings of their children, and your entire generation, together. You pretended that you didn’t hear them and let the passive blank face fall into place until a hand took yours and pulled you away.

Veronica’s hand lifted to alert your father to your absence but you took the rescue that Charles offered and trailed behind him, losing sight of the assistant in the crowd.

“Well that was uncomfortable to watch,” he murmured in your ear. It concerned Charles at how quickly you had fallen into the charismatic charade he was accustomed to as he watched. He had hated how comfortable you were at these events, and how you charmed everyone you spoke to. He never realised it was all an act, and that the real person behind the whimsical smile was an intelligent, and abused, woman. “I don’t think I have heard so many variations for the word ‘useless’,” he continued.

Charles was right, your father had used them all in his complaints about you. Henri’s response about his children was equally cold, ‘but at least you only have the one weed in your garden.’

“I’m convinced he reads the thesaurus to find new insults for me.”

“That’s so messed up.” This time he didn’t aim the words at you and you weren’t sure how you felt about that. It was easier to think of him as the asshole you had come to know for the last decade.

“Welcome to my life.”

Charles slowed his pace for you down the stairs but you were used to moving deftly in high heels and raced ahead, tugging his hand to hurry up. A smile grew on his face until you reached the last step that exited the venue and breathed in the salty breeze blowing in from the sea across the street.

“My offer still stands,” he said as the valet quickly brought his car around and he took a step off the curb. “You’re not scared, are you?”

Charles smirked as your eyes narrowed and you took a step closer. “Why are you suddenly so interested in helping me?”

The valet opened the passenger door for you and Charles faced you from over the roof of the black sports car. “Get in and find out.”

Your eyes traced the white and red stripe that ran along the car before looking back at the entrance. The choices weren’t overly appetising but you sighed and ducked down into the low seat, tucking the tail of the gown in before the valet closed the door.

“Don’t make me regret this, Leclerc.”

Part Three.

[navybrat817]

Where Did the Time Go?

Pairing: Best Friend!Bucky Barnes x Female Reader Summary: You decide not to drink during game night, which leads to an interesting conversation with Bucky. Word Count: 1.6k Warnings: Light angst, tension, friends reconnecting, unrequited feelings (or so you think), slight feels (it's me), Bucky Barnes (yep, he's a warning) Previous Part of AU: We'll Always be Friends A/N: More Dreamboat and Butterfly from my Reconnect AU! ❤️ Beta read by @whisperlullaby, but any and all mistakes are my own. Please follow @navybrat817-sideblog for new fics and notifications. Comments, reblogs, feedback are loved and appreciated!

You weren’t sure what exactly happened between dinner and now, but you decided that the fun game night wouldn’t include drinking. You hadn’t touched a drop of alcohol since your meal. Even then, you were pretty sure you didn’t have much. Sharon brought out a bottle of wine before everyone finished eating and you took a sip of your glass out of obligation. If she noticed you didn’t finish your glass, she didn’t say anything, which you appreciated.

But you should’ve known that Bucky would catch on.

“Not drinking tonight, huh?” He asked as he took a seat beside you on the couch. Steve and Sam set up a game table and were already a couple of drinks in. So were Sharon and Natasha. You weren’t worried about them though. They could hold their liquor.

But can I hold my tongue if I drink? Or am I using that as an excuse?

“Not tonight,” you replied, holding up your cup of water. “Sticking with water.”

“You’re acting like we need a designated driver when we’re not going anywhere,” he joked, throwing his arm around behind the cushion, the same way he had at the dinner table. “Afraid I’ll kick your ass in Mario Kart if you get a little tipsy?” He asked, grinning when you smiled. “We can have a tournament? Just the two of us?”

“Hey, one of us might need to go on a liquor or snack run. You never know,” you said, setting your water on the table before you sank into the couch. “And it isn’t exactly a tournament if only two people are playing, is it?”

“It can be. We make our own rules,” he smiled as he moved a little closer. “Remember the time we had a tournament? We went to that shady looking liquor store after Sam spilled the last bottle of rum. The guy behind the counter had a bunch of clown masks.”

You laughed a little. How could you forget? “Yes! We had to open the living room window so we could breathe. And the cashier was actually a sweet guy, but you glued yourself to my side before that because you were certain the guy had bad intentions,” you said. Bucky and his protective streak made you feel important.

Until you weren’t.

Bucky must’ve noticed the change in your demeanor since he stopped chuckling. “Seriously though. Are you okay? Are you not feeling well?”

“I feel fine. I just don’t need to drink tonight,” you said, touched that he showed concern for you before a weird expression crossed his face. “What? Do I have something in my teeth?”

“No. You’re, um,” he tapped a finger on his knee as he tried to find the words. “There isn’t a specific reason you aren’t, is there? You're not…” he trailed off, but his eyes drifted long enough to your torso to fill in the blank.

You never understood the expression about eyes widening to the size of saucers until you experienced it just then. “Are you asking if I’m pregnant?” You whispered, careful not to speak any louder than that. The last thing you needed was the group questioning why Bucky asked such a question. “If so, the answer is NO.”

The sigh of relief Bucky let out, you weren’t sure what to make of it. “Sorry. I'm sorry. You don’t owe me an explanation for why you aren’t drinking. I just. I don't know why my mind went there.”

You couldn’t exactly tell him you're worried about getting plastered and revealing how you felt about him. Drunk confessions worked for some, but you didn’t think the odds were in your favor. “I still can’t believe you asked that,” you half teased, pointing at your stomach. “Not to mention, I haven’t been laid in ages. So, unless it happens via immaculate conception, that’s never going to be the case.”

The odd expression was back on Bucky’s face. What was his deal? “When was the last time you went on a date?” He asked with more interest than you expected.

“Months ago. Minimum,” you said, looking up at the ceiling as you tried to recall the exact day. “His name was Nick. We went on a few dates and he was nice enough, but he ended up getting serious with someone else. Haven’t gone on another date since.”

The clench in Bucky’s jaw almost made you smile. He had no reason to look so upset on your behalf. “I’m sorry. It’s his loss.”

“Don’t be. I’m kind of used to it,” you said with a nonchalant shrug.

“What the hell does that mean?” He asked, facing you on the couch and blocking the view of your friends at the table. “What exactly are you used to?”

Why does he sound upset? It's not like I’m not his girl.

“It means I’m used to guys not picking me,” you said honestly. As much as it hurt to think that way, saying it didn’t hurt as badly. “Think about it, Bucky. In all the time you’ve known me, when have guys ever flocked to me? When have you ever seen a guy take a chance on me when Natasha and Sharon were there? They haven’t and that’s just the way it is.”

“That’s bullshit. You’re perfect. And maybe people do see you, but you don’t see them,” he argued, quickly closing his mouth when he saw your expression. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean-”

“No, I think that’s exactly what you meant,” you said, sitting up to put some distance between the two of you as hurt filled his eyes. “I see just fine, thanks, but please enlighten me. Who saw me? Who did I overlook? I’d love an example.”

There was no reason to get so defensive, but did he understand how you felt? People gravitated toward Bucky and your friends. They always had. You, on the other hand, were on the outside of the house looking in. It was tiring to be the one knocking on the door.

“What about your old friend, TJ? You’re telling me he didn’t see you?” He asked, a hint of bitterness in his voice. It wasn’t a tone you heard from him before. It didn't suit him.

“TJ?” You asked, confusion written all over your face that you couldn’t fake if you tried. “TJ Hammond? My old family friend? Um, no, he definitely doesn’t see me.”

Not even close.

“He stayed at your place after Steve’s party,” he said, running a hand through his hair as he avoided your gaze. “Bet he couldn’t wait to see you. Probably went over the second you got back from the trip.”

Wait, is he jealous? What the hell?

You laughed a little, unable to help yourself when he raised an eyebrow. “Yeah, he did stay at my place for a bit after Steve’s birthday bash a couple of years ago. He had an issue with his boyfriend.”

Bucky did a double take, which would’ve been humorous if not for the stricken look on his face. “Boyfriend?”

“Yeah. The guy he dated at the time was a HUGE asshole and they had a falling out. His parents refused to let him go back home, so he stayed with me. And I couldn’t kick him out. He needed a friend,” you said, your brows pinching when you recalled how TJ cried on your sofa. It was a heartbreaking sight. “He has a new boyfriend now who treats him well and he couldn’t be happier. And I couldn’t be happier for him.”

Bucky blinked a few times. “So, you two. You never…?”

“TJ and I? No. Never dated, hooked up, anything,” you smiled with a shake of your head. “We adore each other, but in a brother and sister kind of way. I mean, we’ve known each other since we were in diapers. Even if I did find him attractive, nothing ever would’ve happened. You, Steve, Sam, you guys are much more his type.”

Bucky didn’t say anything, his face a bit pale. You worried for a second that he was going to get sick. “I thought you two hooked up,” he said more to himself than to you.

Where the hell did he get that impression?

“No, we didn't and we never will,” you said again before something he said dawned on you. “Wait, how did you know he stayed at my place? He asked me not to tell anyone where he was and I respected his wishes.”

Going through the dates again in your head, it wasn’t long after TJ stayed with you that Bucky brought Dot around as his new girlfriend. You knew you lost your chance to admit your feelings because he had someone by his side. Someone who wasn’t you.

“Come with me,” Bucky said, taking your hand and pulling you up from the couch before you had a chance to argue. It was hard to keep up with his long strides and he didn’t look back when Steve called after the two of you.

“What’s going on?” You asked as he pulled you outside and slammed the door. You watched as he took a few breaths, like he was trying to steady himself. “Talk to me, please.”

“I wasted two years,” he whispered, tilting his head to look at the sky. “Two fucking years.”

What is he talking about?

“I don’t understand,” you said.

“I made a huge mistake and I regret it,” he said, squeezing your hand as he faced you. “And I can't go the rest of this week without telling you. I wasted enough time.”

“Tell me what? Bucky, what did you do?”

And can we come back from it?

That literary edging. I'm sorry! Love and thanks for reading! ❤️

Masterlist ⚓ Bucky Barnes Masterlist ⚓ Ko-Fi

[haechoxo]

[10:35 am]

haechan's apartment was a mess. empty takeout containers littered the coffee table, clothes were strewn across the floor, and the air was thick with the scent of stale beer. he hadn’t expected any visitors, let alone you.

he had spent the morning trying to shake off the anxiety from his late-night confession, his mind replaying every word he had said to you. he was expecting a phone call, dreading and hoping for it all at once. when a knock echoed through the cluttered apartment, his heart leaped into his throat.

he stumbled to the door, tripping over a pair of sneakers on his way. swinging it open, he was met with the sight of you standing there, looking as unsure as he felt.

“i—” you started, then faltered, your rehearsed words suddenly elusive. “i said i’d call, but i thought... maybe we should talk in person.”

he stepped aside, motioning for you to come in. “uh, yeah, yeah. come in. sorry about the mess.”

you walked into his apartment, glancing around. it was a mess–but it was so very haechan. he looked at you, clearly embarrassed, scratching the back of his head and blushing furiously.

“i, um, wasn’t expecting company,” he admitted, trying to tidy up a bit.

“n-no, it’s okay, i didn’t give you a warning…” you were just as shy as him right now. “i think i’ve seen worse anyway.” you giggle, easing the tension a bit.

“can i get you something?” he asked, his voice awkward and hesitant. “water, coffee?”

you shook your head, mumbling a soft ‘no thanks’, as you took a seat on the couch.

haechan sat down across from you, the silence between you heavy. you took a deep breath, finally getting to the point, “i thought about what you said last night.”

he perks up in his seat a bit, eyes flickering with hope, “y-yeah?”

“i… i want to make it clear first, we can’t just—forget any of it happened,” he deflates, “the hookups, the dates that weren’t dates, our fights too.”

“r-right…” he hopes you can’t see that he’s about to cry again.

“but, we were friends before all of that. you were my best friend… a-and i don’t want to lose that either.”

“i don’t want to lose you either i–” he sighs, frustrated with himself, “i let things get so far out of hand, i won’t ever stop making it up to you for as long as you let me, y/n.”

your cheeks tinge with a blush at his words, “yeah you were stupid,” he genuinely laughs at this, “but i probably shouldn’t have agreed to your ‘proposal’ the first time it happened, i told myself it would be a one time thing, but then one turned into two, and two turned into three years. i agreed because i trusted you, because i liked you.”

haechan’s eyes widen, “liked?”

“well—i still do, i mean why else would we be here, but that’s besides the point!” you quickly try to avert the topic from your silly schoolgirl crush.

“if you’re serious about me, as you say, i can forgive you. if we start over.”

“start over?” seriously, how dense can he be.

“no more hookups, hyuck.” you deadpanned

“oh! right, of course, so… you mean, we can go out on a real date, for real?” you’d laugh at how endearing it sounded if he wasn’t so serious.

some things don’t change.

“well—no.”

“oh.”

“i wanna just… go back to being friends—for now.” you stated softly.

“yeah… yeah that makes sense.” he looks like a kicked puppy, you could almost laugh.

“it’s not forever, hyuck,” a breathy laugh leaves your lips, “just until things are back to normal, when we– heal? i guess, from what happened these past few weeks.”

he nods, “so… just friends?”

“just friends.”

haechan looks visibly relieved, content with the current status of your relationship with him, he wouldn’t mind you keeping him at arms length, so long as you were keeping him at all.

“so... can you tell renjun to unblock me on twitter now?”

sigh.

previous - next

a/n ; APOLOGIES FOR THE LATE UPDATE💔,, i was unfortunately busy yesterday and couldnt stay locked up in my room 😔 and writing a “reconciliation” type of scene was so much more difficult than the angst… like this was a genuine challenge for me… BUT… only one more chapter after this…😰 im thinking of all the little bonus text chapters and silly blurbs i can make but only if u guys would wanna see those so lmk!! ik this isnt the best, i feel like i am better suited for angst, but lmk what u think! advice is always appreciated! xoxo jelly

[sometimesanalice]

Like I Can (Part 1)

Summary: After yet another bad date and tired of swiping on apps, the Dagger Squad steps in to help you out by setting you up on a series of blind dates. Much to Rooster’s dismay.

Warnings: fuff, slight angst. Minors DNI

Length: 3.2K

Pairing: Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw X Female Reader

Part 2

(We’re kicking of Valentine’s Day a bit early❣️ Enjoy!)

“I’m all for growing the sport, but Brady buying an MLP team is ruining the integrity of the league. He may be the GOAT of football, but he has nothing on Ben John’s world-class pickleball game,” your date Max passionately states from his spot across from you at the Italian place he had recommended.

Or was his name Mac?

He’d already told you all about the CRBN paddle drama. At this point, you wouldn’t be surprised if he had already prepared a PowerPoint presentation on the topic complete with transitions and color-coded charts. He seems the type.

And he had yet to ask you a single question about yourself all evening.

You can tell he is gearing up for the next part of his rant, when your phone lights up on the table, the ringer on higher than you realized.

“Oh! I’m sorry, I thought I had this on silent. It’s my mom, I should probably take this,” you apologize to him, your phone already halfway raised to your ear.

“Hey, kid, how’s it going?”

“Hi Mom, I’m with someone right now. Is everything ok?” You let a little worry tinge the tone of your voice.

“Seriously?” Rooster drolly rasps on the other end of the line, “Are we actually doing this?”

“Oh no! Is she alright?” You wouldn’t consider yourself actress, but you think you’re really selling the performance with the way you widen your eyes and how you make your voice go a little tighter and higher.

“Yup, seems like we’re really doing this. What’s it this time, kid? Did grandma slip on a banana peel and then get run over by a reindeer?” You can practically feel his eyes rolling as he begrudgingly goes along with you.

“Oh my goodness, that sounds serious! How would that even happen?” you ask, shaking your head in in faux shock determined to really sell the act.

“Is everything ok?” Max-Mac whispers to you from across the table. 

His profile didn’t raise any red flags when you’d swiped on him. If anything, he’d seemed a bit more of the beige flag type. Your chats had been fine, he seemed fine, so why not meet up for a date?

What you didn’t realize until it was too late was that “Sports Enthusiast” actually translated to “Pickleball Fanatic”.

“Hold on, Mom,” you hear Rooster scoff as you pull the phone away from your ear. “I’m so sorry, there’s been a family emergency. It’s my grandmother. I really need to go,” you announce to Mac-Max grabbing your purse from the back of the chair. “Thank you so much for understanding. And good luck at your pickleball tournament!” you call back to him as you hustle towards the front door.

“I take it you’ve made your escape?” You can hear the humor in his voice, your antics are nothing new to him.

“Oh my god, was that seriously only thirty minutes? He wouldn’t stop talking about pickleball, Rooster. Anytime I tried to change the subject, he found a way to circle right back to it!” You tell him as you attempt to dig your keys out from where they were buried in your bag. “And then, he pulled up the leg of his jeans and said, I kid you not: ‘Don’t worry, this isn’t an ankle monitor, I’m just wearing my ankle weights.’ Who does that?”

“Just come to the Hard Deck. You should have canceled like I told you to in the first place. Bob and Coyote got back the other day, so everyone’s here. Well, almost everyone,” he says pointedly. “We’re more fun anyways. And Hangman has been harassing me about you, something about your fluke of a win?”

You’d kicked Jake’s ass the last time you played darts with him. Although in his defense, he had been pretty drunk that night and it was a less than fair game since Phoenix would distract him while Fanboy moved your darts on the board.

You wouldn’t be challenging him to a rematch anytime soon. Not unless the odds were in your favor, it was better to keep him on his toes and his ego in check.

Thankful for the princess parking you managed to snag when you first arrived, you unlock your car and toss your bag into the passenger seat before climbing in. Breathing out a sigh of relief to be done with Mac-Max once inside.

“You back in your car yet?” Rooster asked. He was such a worrier, but you can’t say it bothered you. You liked knowing he cared.

“Yeah, just got in.”

“Ok good, see you in a few. Drive safe, kid.”

Thirty minutes later Natasha was sliding a cold, frothy pint in front of you with a sympathetic look.

It wasn’t too busy at the Hard Deck yet, but it was still early in the evening. You knew it would pick up soon, and before long Penny would be ringing her bell on some rowdy unsuspecting customer.

“Ankle weights?” She asked, trying and failing to keep from laughing at your expense.

“Seriously, Rooster?” you shoot a glare in his direction, “Where’s the loyalty?”

“What? She was right there when I called you. A request that was your idea, if you remember,” he said as he walked up to you, squeezing your shoulder before sliding his arm around you in greeting. “Plus, it’s not like you don’t already tell Phoenix about all your escapades. You really know how to pick ‘em, kid.”

You’ve known Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw since before you had braces back when you were still wearing your hair in two braids. Your moms had been on the school PTA together at the time and had hit it off immediately.

He hadn’t been too happy about being forced to hang out with the kid who was couple years younger than him, especially one who was so clearly enamored with the cute older boy. While you’d outgrown that phase, for the most part, somethings stuck- like the nickname. 

And over the years you’d formed your own bond outside of the forced proximity of your mothers’ friendship.

He’d taught you how to throw a punch, the different ways to pitch a baseball, and to drive a stick shift. You’d taught him how to whistle with his fingers, to play Nerts, and to tie a tie (after asking your dad to teach you).

The give and take was easy with him, you both showed up for the other.

You were there the night he drunkenly fell through the glass patio door at Jason Cameron’s homecoming party. As one of the only sober people there since he wouldn’t let you drink, or let anyone else give you alcohol for that matter, you were the one to take him to the ER. “Don’t worry, kid,” he had slurred, pressing the Washington High t-shirt that you’d found in your trunk to his face to stop the bleeding, “Looks s’worse than it feels.” And you were the one to stay with him as he was stitched up. The evidence of that night still unmistakable on his face.

He was there for you when your parents had sat you down and told you they were getting a divorce. A hurricane of angst and grief, you hadn’t left your room for anything other than school for over a week when he’d let himself in your room one afternoon. Rubbing small circles on your back as he’d let you cry for a bit, he didn’t even tease you about the stains you’d left behind on his shirt. And then he’d herded you into his crappy car and drove you to the slightly sketchy amusement park an hour away with the Tilt-A-Whirl and the giant corndogs. And when he’d told you “It’s going to be ok, kid” on the ride back home, you believed him.

You had been there for him when his mom passed, and all during that dark period after when he was set on self-destruction after his fallout with Maverick. While he had tried to push everyone away, you were always the type to hold on tightly to the people that mattered.

And then life had sent you on different directions. First when he went to college and then when you did. Next for him the Navy, and then you with your own career, both of you always in motion. You two shared a connection the way people with a long history do, the kind where you could go months without talking but knowing the other person is always right there if you need them. Your camaraderie sustained by texts, email, and the occasional FaceTime.

A long-distance friendship for over a decade.

So when your boss had approached you about a promotion that was dependent on you relocating to the West Coast, you thanked whatever kismet in the universe had you packing for San Diego where he was permanently stationed.

The break up with your boyfriend at the time was entirely too amicable considering how long you had been together. He was nice, the sex was nice, your life together was nice. You had all but signed the paperwork for your promotion when you told him, but he didn’t see himself as a west-coaster and you couldn’t envision yourself as anything but. Whether you had stayed together all that time out of convenience or complacency, you still couldn’t say.

It was easy to fall back into the comfort of your friendship with Rooster. Although the lanky teen you had known was replaced with a mustache sporting well-built man courtesy of the Navy. One that had left you feeling confusingly flustered on more than one occasion, and forced to cycle through your mental highlight reel of embarrassing teen Rooster moments to keep from your mind from wandering.

He’d helped you find your apartment, taught you about avoiding the 15 Northbound, and showed you where the best place in town to get tacos was. The transition was made easy with him by your side as he introduced you to his team members who quickly folded you into their group as one of their own.

That was a little over a year ago. You liked this new life of yours in San Diego.

And while the dating pool of men you could swipe through was much larger, well, some things never changed.

“You don’t get it, Rooster. You’re surrounded by absurdly hot Naval eye candy all day,” you complained gesturing to Natasha, she raised her beer to you as thanks in response. “While you’re getting women throwing themselves at you because of the gold wings, I’m fighting for my life on these stupid apps where all the men on there are posing with fish. It’s brutal!”

You’d need to officially call things off with Max-Mac later, thinking to yourself how glad you were that you never gave him your real number, and instead signing up for a Google voice number. You were just not cut out for the competitive pickleball lifestyle.

“Bradshaw, why don’t you set her up? It’s not like we don’t know enough people who would be better options than these fish men,” Natasha asked, like it was the most logical thing in the world, raising an eyebrow at him.

“Yeah, Bradshaw. Tell Nat your super logical reasons for leaving your longtime friend to fend for herself.” You knew where this was heading, so you took a long swig of the beer Phoenix had brought you.

“Seriously, not this again.” His arm that was around you was removed in favor for pinching the bridge of his nose and looking up to the ceiling like it would spare him from the conversation.

“You started it, now tell her.”

“I need another damn drink if we’re going to do this,” Rooster mumbled.

“Me too,” chimed Natasha, clearly reveling in his misery.

“Make that three. I need to catch up.” You hadn’t even stuck around long enough to get a drink at the restaurant, and now you were ready to let loose a bit.

He grunts out some unintelligible thing and then stalks off to the bar shaking his head.

“I’m an upstanding citizen, I pay my taxes, I make a mean peanut butter brownie, and I always drive him around when the Bronco is in the shop for a tune up. It’s literally the least he could do,” you say to Phoenix as you watch him chat with Penny as she works to grab the fresh bottles.

“Oh, so this is thing,” Natasha says decidedly when she eyes the six beers he’s carrying back to the table, three bottles held by the neck in each of his large hands. His classic Hawaiian shirt fluttering with every step, your eyes briefly drifting down to his defined waist.

“Sure is,” you confirm, drawing out the word. Downing the rest of the beer from your pint glass before reaching for one of the new bottles Rooster was divvying out amongst your trio, “I’ve never asked him for anything-”

“That is a boldfaced lie. And you know it,” he cuts in, as he hands you a granola bar from his pocket, that he must have snagged from Penny. “You definitely asked me to set you up with Kyle Cooke from my baseball team in high school. I didn’t do it then, and I’m not doing it now,” he declared, pointing at you with an accusatory finger to further drive the statement home.

“Reasons being?” Natasha wheedled, a mischievous smirk on her face. You could tell she was eating this up, there were two things Natasha Trace loved most in this world: juicy gossip and giving Rooster a hard time.  

Ever the showman, he dramatically lifts up a finger, “First of all, everyone I know is an asshole.”

“I am offended on Bob’s behalf,” you countered, unwrapping the bar and taking a bite, annoyed. Hangman might fit the description, but certainly not Bob.

“Two,” he continues on, raising a second finger, and ignoring you completely as if you hadn’t just made a very valid point, “Let’s say I set you with a friend and then you end up hating them. Then you’ll judge me for being friends with them, we’ll argue, and eventually we won’t be friends anymore. Or even worse, I set you up with someone, you hit it off and date for a while. What happens when you break up? I’m left having to pick sides and walk on eggshells around you guys about the other person.”

“God, you’re such a overthinker. That all sounds totally rational, you drama queen,” you look to Phoenix for agreement, but she’s busy typing out a text message on her phone.

“And three, it’s messy as fuck. And I don’t need to hear about your trophy of a one-night stand.”

Now it’s your turn to roll your eyes, “That was one time! It wasn’t a trophy it was a gold medal.”

“Wait, what?” Confusion coloring Natasha’s features. 

“One time this guy gave me one of those plastic gold medal things on a lanyard, kind of like the ones they give out at kids soccer games, after we hooked up. I mean, kicked him out right away, but I did keep the medal. It was a good confidence boost,” you shrug.  It wasn’t exactly a high point moment for you.

After that encounter you’d definitely started scrutinizing every profile a bit harder before swiping right, or at least you thought you had been. In your defense, at least Max-Mac’s profile didn’t have a fish photo, but the bar was still clearly on the ground.

“I knew you when you wore those shirts with that big mouthed monkey on them. And that’s the kind of shit I don’t need to know about. I don’t wanna be involved. Not gonna happen, kid,” his declaration resolute.

“Well, that sure is something, Bradshaw,” Natasha states, giving him a curious look.

“What are y’all over here discussing so intently,” Hangman questions as he saddles up to your little group, tucking his phone into his pocket. 

“We were just getting into the finer details of the kid’s dating life and how I am going to fix it by setting her up with this great guy I know,” she pronounces, looking all too pleased with herself. A truly self-satisfied grin gracing her face.

Natasha Trace was probably the most bad ass person you’ve ever met, so the idea of her setting you up with someone had you sitting up straighter on the stool you were seated on, “Really?”

“Who?” Rooster demands, frowning at her.

“Yeah, I mean Bradshaw clearly has his convictions, and I respect that. However, I’m an excellent wing-woman. Seriously, I don’t know why I haven’t thought about introducing you guys before. You two would be perfect together.”

Hangman never one to miss an opportunity to rile up Rooster is quick to jump in, “Just because you fly in a two-seater doesn’t make you a good wing-woman, Phoenix. However, now that you mention it, I have a buddy who might knock your socks off. Unless you’d rather just knock boots, I’m sure he’d be up for whatever you wanted,” he shooting you a wink. “I think I’ll toss my name in the ring here too. After all, I’m very good.”

“You want to make it a bet, Bagman?” Her accent always got a little more pronounced when she went toe to toe with him.

“What’re you thinkin’, Darlin’?” he drawls suggestively with a sharp smile. That ever-present toothpick being rolled in his mouth from side to side.

“You guys are not going to be making bets around the kid’s love life,” Rooster snaps.

“The big dogs are talking, Bradshaw,” Hangman taunts as he waves him off.  

“$50 entry? The dates happen here and at the end the kid picks which date was the best. Winner takes all?” You can see the competitive gleam in her eye.

“Alright, alright. Works for me, Phoenix. I can’t wait to take your money.”

“The hell you are,” Rooster barks, still trying to regain control of the quickly spiraling situation.

Well, this had certainly taken a turn.

You find yourself reaching for your third beer of the night.

And you’re even more surprised when Hangman hollers for the rest of the team to join, and before you know it your dating life takes centerstage as the subject of the bet between the group of competitive naval aviators. Many of the others deciding to join in, never ones to shy away from a bit of rivalry.  

“What do you say? You up for it?” Natasha asks, wanting to make sure you were still on board now that her original offer had taken on a life of its own.

You look over and see Rooster looking at you like you’d be crazy to get involved in their kind of chaos. You know he can already tell what your answer will be.

“Why not?” you agree cheerily as he groans into his beer.

At least you would be spared from swiping for a while. It’s what you deserve, you are an upstanding citizen after all.

Get ready for some dates! Part 2

Written as part of @roosterforme’s #Love Is In The Air TGM Fic Challenge! 

Song Inspiration Sam Smith’s “Like I Can”.

Thank you Jordan (@gretagerwigsmuse) for letting me bounce ideas off of you!

Edit: I’ve started a tag list for Part 2! Just let me know if you’d like to be added!

[nvrsaidiwasinurcloset]

Ethan Landry x Reader second chance trope?? They can be at a party since there obviously still in the same friend group w the group and they take there anger they’ve been keeping in out on eachother by sex. But after the get back tg obvi xxx🩷

I wanted to post this last night but my melatonin kicked in and the words I was typing made zero sense haha. I hope you like it!

New Perspective - Ethan Landry x Fem!Reader

This contains SMUT - Minors DNI

Summary: After your breakup with Ethan, you run into him at a party after avoiding him for months.

Contains: Mentions of a break-up, angst, underage drinking, Oral - F!Recieving, p in v sex

A/N: I hope y'all like it:) There's a ton of dialog lmao

When Ethan broke up with you, you were devastated. It was his first relationship, and he didn’t know how to work through the rough patches. He always seemed to say the wrong thing at the wrong time, and that really put a strain on things. He thought that he made you unhappy, and regardless of how much he loved you, he couldn’t put you through it anymore.

Since that night, you’ve only been around him a few times. It sucked that you had the same friend group, because you didn’t have time to grieve the loss of the relationship. You eventually became distant from your friends, not wanting to see him. He was always with Chad, and Tara always wanted Chad around. The only ones you still see on a regular basis are Mindy and Anika, and even though they’re cool with Ethan, they still were loyal to you.

When Mindy showed up to your dorm and started to beg you to come out to a party, it was the last thing you felt like doing.

“Come on, you need to get out and do something. This whole ‘moping in your room’ thing isn’t like you,” she said, flopping onto your bed.

“You know Ethan will probably be there…I’m not ready to see him,” you sighed, laying down beside her.

“Maybe it wouldn’t be the worst thing for you to see him. Maybe you could try to be friends like you were before you started dating,” Mindy suggested, “We all miss you…Ethan does, too.”

You scoffed at her words, “I highly doubt that.”

“No, seriously. He’s always asking me how you’re doing.”

You sat up and got off your bed. “Fine, I’ll go. But if it’s too hard for me to be around him, I probably won’t stay long,” you said, a smile forming on Mindy’s face.

“Yes! We’re going to have so much fun,” she looked over your appearance, “Okay, get out of the sweatpants and let’s go!”

You stopped by Anika’s dorm on the way to pick her up. She was beaming the second she saw you.

“Ahhh I’m so excited you’re going to the party!” she squealed. You giggled at her enthusiasm.

“I told Mindy that I might not stay long,” you said, as you started the walk to the frat house.

“Even if we only get you for a little bit, that’s all that matters.”

The bass from the music in the house was so loud that the sidewalk was vibrating as you walked up to the door. When you made it inside, the three of you went to the kitchen to get a drink.

“Whoa, I don’t think you need that much,” Mindy said, as you added vodka to your cup.

“I’m not going to chug it, I’m just going to sip it,” you laughed, adding some juice.

“Hey!” you heard Tara yell as she wrapped an arm around you. “I’m so happy you came.”

“How much have you had to drink?” you asked with a smile, the slight slur in her speech hinting that she’s probably had enough.

“Not that much, Chad cut me off,” she said, as he walked up beside her.

“Yeah, she gets feisty when she drinks to much,” Chad joked, as Tara nudged him. “It’s great to see you.”

“It’s nice to see you guys, too,” you said, as you looked behind him. A familiar set of brown eyes connected with yours.

Your breath hitched in your throat as he smiled, the simple action making you want to take a sip of your drink.

You turned to Mindy, “I don’t know if I’m ready for this.”

“Yes, you are. You don’t have to talk to him if you don’t want to,” she said, leading you away from him to the living room.

As you leaned against the wall with Mindy and Anika, one of the guys you recognized from your writing class came up to you.

“Hey, you want to dance?” he asked, his hand reaching out to take yours. You looked over to Mindy, her eyes encouraging you.

“Fuck it, sure,” you said, grabbing his hand.

He led you to the middle of the floor, his hands going to your waist. You didn’t even know his name; you didn’t really care. You just needed to have fun.

Ethan searched for you, wanting to talk. He saw Mindy and Anika on the other side of the room.

“Did she leave?” Ethan asked Mindy as he walked up to her.

“No, not really,” she said, as he looked in the direction she was.

His heart dropped as he watched you dance with another guy’s hands on you. He felt sick to his stomach, wishing those hands were his.

“Who’s that?” he asked, as Anika smirked.

“Why, you jealous?” she asked, as Ethan’s cheeks started to turn pink. It wasn’t obvious in the poorly lit house, which he was thankful for.

“No, I want her to be happy,” he sighed, looking back over to you.

You swayed to the music, one of your hands on his shoulder as the other held your drink. His hands kept moving, running over the curve of your ass as he pulled you closer.

“Keep your hands on my hips,” your voice was playful but stern.

“I like them where they are,” he mumbled, as his hands squeezed you.

Ethan was watching the whole interaction, fury building inside him as he watched the guy’s hands roam. He couldn’t take it anymore.

“Seriously, stop,” you said, as his body was pulled away from yours.

“Don’t touch her like that,” Ethan snapped, as the guy raised his hands.

“Sorry dude, I thought you broke up with her.”

“He did,” you said before turning to Ethan, “I can take care of myself.”

“What, I’m just supposed to be okay with another guy’s hands on you?” Ethan questioned, his eyes pleading with yours. You looked over to Mindy, a smirk on her face after watching Ethan stick up for you.

“Let’s go talk.”

You took his hand in yours and led him to one of the few vacant bedrooms upstairs, locking the door after you walked in. Your heart was pounding, but you needed to have a conversation, and didn’t want to be interrupted.

You both sat down on the edge of the bed, as you started to get mad. You’ve held in so many emotions since the breakup, and anger seemed to be the one threatening to escape.

“You do know you can’t get upset when you’re the one that gave up on us, right?” you asked, as he looked over at you.

“I didn’t want to give up, but you weren’t happy,” he sighed, looking back down to his lap.

“I was happy with you. Every relationship has their issues…you just didn’t want to work through them.”

“You didn’t make it easy, though,” he looked back up, “I think it’s best that we did break up. All we did was argue the last month we were together.”

“How can you say that’s what was best when you weren’t okay with someone else’s hands on me?” you snapped, “You can’t just not want to be with me, but not want anyone else to have me either. That’s just selfish.”

“You’re the one that’s selfish…your emotions seemed to be the only ones that mattered.”

“What the fuck, Ethan? I tried so hard to make you happy, too!” you were starting to get frustrated when you stood up, “This was a mistake. I was hoping we could at least be friends, but I don’t think that’ll work. At least not right now”

You started to open the door when Ethan pushed it shut. When you turned to face him, you could tell he was mad that you wanted to walk away.

“We’re done, remember?” you snapped, before he pushed you against the door.

“No, we aren’t.”

He leaned in, his lips connecting to yours. The kiss was needy, and very aggressive. You were whimpering, the intensity making your core throb. His tongue slipped in your mouth as one of your hands went to his hair. You felt his hands go to your hips, before going to your ass. He started to lift you, your legs instinctively wrapping around his waist as he carried you over to the bed.

He pulled his shirt off after laying you down, his hands going to the hem of yours.

“Wait, do you think I’m just going to let you fuck me?” you laughed, sitting up. “I’m not going to be the girl that you dumped but you still hook up with.”

“Why are you making things so complicated?” he snapped, as your jaw dropped. “Seriously, babe. I think this is the best way for us to get the aggression out.”

His eyes were full of lust, but you saw love there, too. You weren’t sure what this meant, but you were desperate to find out. You slipped your shirt over your head and reached behind you to unhook your bra. He bit his lip as he looked at the newly exposed skin.

“You’re so beautiful,” he said, not wanting to move closer until you gave him the okay to do so.

“I thought we were getting the aggression out,” you smirked, “Come here.”

He kissed you again as his hand ran up your side. You started to giggle at the tickling sensation, until his hand made it to your breast and squeezed it. You moaned into the kiss, as his hands kept roaming your body.

He trailed kisses along your jaw and neck, gently nibbling your flesh. He smirked against you as you gasped at the feeling.

“Stop teasing me,” you whined, as he lifted his head to look at you.

“What? You don’t want me to take my time?” his tone was cocky as he watched you squirm underneath of him.

“Please don’t,” you said, as he leaned down to take one of your nipples in his mouth. His hand roamed lower as he fumbled with the button to your jeans. You reached down, unbuttoning them and shimmying them down your hips.

“Someone’s impatient,” he mumbled, sucking your other nipple into his mouth.

“Mhm,” you whimpered as he started to rub you over your panties. “Those need to go, too.”

You tried to reach down and pull them off yourself before he stopped you.

“I think I still remember how to do this,” he joked, sliding them along with your jeans the rest of the way down your legs. His lips moved further down, his eyes watching your face when he was almost where you wanted him. Your eyes started to flutter shut as your breathing got heavier in anticipation. “I want your eyes on mine, baby.”

When your eyes connected, he flicked his tongue across your clit. His tongue quickly sped up, the whimpers flooding out of your mouth getting louder. He slowed down every time your eyes started to close.

“Please don’t stop,” you whined, your hands going to his hair.

“I said to keep your eyes on mine.”

Your eyes met his again, making his mouth move faster against you. Your fingers started to gently tug on his hair, as he slipped one of his fingers inside you.

“Oh fuck,” you moaned, as he curved it just right. When he added a second one, your eyes started to shut. As hard as you tried to fight it, you couldn’t.

“You don’t want to listen, do you?” he asked, sliding his fingers out of you. You whined at the loss of contact. “I want you on all fours, baby.”

You got into the position on the bed as he slid his jeans down.

“Fuck, I don’t have a condom,” he said, his hands running over your ass. “I’m sorry, babe.”

“I thought you always kept a spare one in your wallet?” you questioned, your mind starting to wander. “Unless you used it on someone else.”

“Seriously? Is that what you think?” he asked, grabbing his phone. “Hang on, I’ll see if Chad has one.”

 “I’m on birth control. As long as you pull out, we’ll be fine,” you sighed, “but really, where did your extra condom go, Ethan?”

He lined up with your dripping entrance, gasping when he pushed the tip in.

“Stop accusing me of something you know didn’t happen,” he said, gripping your hips as he slid the rest of the way in.

“Fuck,” you whimpered at the fullness, “Did you want to see other people? Is that why you really dumped me?”

His hips started to move faster, your words pissing him off.

“I never replaced it after we fucked in my car when you went home with me for Christmas,” he mumbled, watching his cock slide in and out of your pussy. “You’re so fucking tight.”

He loved the way your ass moved when he pounded into you, feeling like he could come at the sight when your hips moved back to meet his thrusts.

Your face was pressed against the bed as one of your hands went to your clit. You rubbed fast circles as he repeatedly hit that spot inside of you.

“Ethan,” you whined, your orgasm quickly building. “I’m close.”

“Who does this pussy belong to?” he asked, his hips not slowing as you got closer and closer to falling over the edge. It was hard to form words as your hips started to jolt. “Tell me or I’ll stop.”

“It’s yours, Ethan,” you said, your face in the sheets as you tried to muffle your moans. He smiled as you said exactly what he wanted to hear.

“Don’t try to hide those pretty sounds, baby. No one can hear you over the music,” he groaned out, “I wanna hear you.”

You turned your head, the moans pouring out of your mouth getting louder and louder as your orgasm hit. His hips kept moving as he fucked you though it, your shaky hand still rubbing at your clit.

“I love it when you squeeze my cock like that,” he moaned, “I’m gonna cum, baby.”

He pulled out after a few more thrusts, shooting his cum all over your ass and lower back. You fully relaxed on the bed, drained of all your energy. Ethan caught his breath before he started to look around the room.

“Uh…I just need to find something to get this off of you,” he laughed, before noticing a box of tissues. He walked over to the dresser to grab them and saw a picture of the guy you were dancing with earlier in the night, “I think I just fucked you in your boyfriend’s bed.”

“Shut up, I don’t even know his name,” you laughed, as he cleaned his cum off you.

You slid off the bed onto your feet and grabbed your panties, slipping them back on. Ethan’s arms wrapped around you as he leaned in to kiss you.

“Do you really think I would break up with you for someone else?” he asked, “You know I love you too much to even think about anyone else, right?”

“I know you do, I was just trying to push your buttons,” you smiled, your lips pecking his.

“Can we try this again?” he asked against your lips.

You nudged him away a little, smirking at him. “Didn’t you just say we were meant to break up?”

“I think it needed to happen for us to see what we really wanted. I want to be with you,” he said, his hands reaching to grab yours, “If you’ll give me another chance.”

“As long as you promise me you’ll try to work through things with me whenever we have problems, then yes,” you smiled, as he stepped closer to kiss you again.

“I promise.”

As you walked back down to the party with Ethan, you noticed Chad and Tara at the bottom of the stairs. They were talking before Chad glanced up and saw the two of you.

“Are you guys good now?” he yelled, a blush creeping up on your cheeks as Ethan nodded. “Fuck yes. The gang is back together.”

You giggled as you made it to the bottom, Chad high-fiving Ethan to congratulate him.

“I knew you two could be friends again,” Tara said, as you looked up to Ethan.

“We’re not just friends,” Ethan smiled as he leaned down to kiss you. “I love you.”

“I love you, too,” you mumbled against his lips.

[cultofdixon]

They need me more

Daryl Dixon • She/Her Pronouns • It’s the start of a new chapter, with the communities and with you and Daryl. But some people thought you not pulling your weight matters more than the health of yourself and your baby • ANGST/SFW • TW: Pregnancy / Over-Exhaustion

Requested by: Anon

It was late at night when Daryl drove home to Alexandria after being at the Sanctuary for a week. Ever since the news, he’s agreed to watching that shithole every other week instead of living there entirely.

Because he knows she would want to be there with him and her safety matters more. So they compromised.

As the archer did his best to be quiet as he enters the house, it didn’t matter because his wife was in the kitchen making tea. Daryl sets his crossbow and bag down by the door before walking over to her, carefully wrapping his arms around her from behind.

“Should be in bed”

“Couldn’t sleep.” Y/N smiles warmly in the dim lighting as she turns the stove off after hearing the whistle. “Knew my man would be coming home in the morning. Didn’t think at this hour but the excitement kept more than just me up” she was about to grab the tea pot when Daryl pulled away from her quick enough to do it for her. “So since you are home you’re not going to let me lift a finger? Seriously?”

“Seriously. Especially somethin’ this hot” Daryl scoffs pouring her a cup as she drops her teabag in while he got himself a cup ready. “You should be in bed”

“Tell your daughter to stop kicking me in the ribs then. She just knew you’d be back soon” She smiles listening to her husband’s amused chuckle watching him set the tea pot back on the stove using his now free hand to rest on her belly. “We missed you”

“Mm. I missed y’all more” Daryl smiles moving his hand to follow her kicks until they stopped as he kisses his partner before taking her cup. “We can drink these in bed”

“Read my mind”

The morning came and Y/N stretched out a bit groaning to herself when she rolled onto her back. She felt the empty space beside her, frowning when she felt no partner beside her. As she finally got up and out of bed after a bit of struggle, she found the note on her nightstand saying that he was helping Rick with fence repair in the south side and that he’d be home later.

“That man never rests” Y/N laughs lightly to such before getting ready for the day.

She’s been spending most of the morning on the porch swing reading one of the two baby books Maggie has gifted her with her tea. Expecting it to simply be that until she felt the need to move or Daryl would come home.

Instead a newer Alexandrian named Evan walked passed carrying one of the many boxes for the pantry after their trade in from Oceanside. He glances over to Y/N seeing that she was doing nothing, to his standards, and approached.

“Hey, Y/N right?”

Y/N quickly looks up from her book, nodding with a smile.

“You think you can do inventory for the pantry? Rick wants us to keep numbers down and I’ve got a lot to unpack from the truck”

“Oh, but I was actually—“

“Please—-What’s more important than helping your community?”

My baby? Y/N thought for a moment as his words stung for a moment which lead to her questioning such instead of being clear to herself. “Okay. Just let me grab my jacket”

A couple hours went by and Daryl returned home to no one. It was still light out so he wouldn’t be too surprised if she took a walk around the community but he still worried. He decided to see if the pantry had any peanut butter from what her cravings were last since they didn’t have any.

To his surprise, Y/N was sitting on a stool writing down the numbers of everything she had put away.

“What are you doing, sunshine?” Daryl whispers bringing himself behind her leaning over to see the notebook for the pantry records. “You should be home”

“This needed to be done”

“There’s plenty of other people that could’ve done that. Who asked you to do this?”

“It doesn’t matter if all I did was sit and count everything. I didn’t move very much…don’t you worry now” Y/N laughs softly even if Daryl gained a suspicion that she was hiding something, which she was but her feelings were the ones she kept to herself mostly in the moment.

Daryl frowns wishing she would tell him more, but she was only going to be stubborn. So the man pulled up a stool beside her and helped her with the remaining numbers…relaxing when she leaned against him.

“Rick”

“Daryl? The hell you doing over here this early?” Rick questions as he sets Judith down so she could run to Daryl hugging his leg until the man picked her up. “Is Y/N up or somethin’?”

“No, but I’m curious about somethin’ regarding my wife” Daryl sighs setting Judith on the counter while Rick hands her her water cup. “She’s been exhausted lately”

“Like most pregnant people?”

“Nah like. She can’t get up exhausted and she ain’t even that far into the 3rd trimester”

“Well, since I can guess where this might be going? I only ask her to watch Judith if Michonne and I have somethin’ to do together. I don’t know who else would ask her since most of the newbies know you and are afraid of you” Rick shrugs being handed his daughter’s cup from her. “If she’s not telling you it’s because of what somebody said and what her mind did with such”

Daryl frowns not knowing exactly what he has to do to get her to talk to him. He watches Judith and Rick interact for a moment, how caring the man was to his daughter so he thought to go in that direction.

The archer came home in the early afternoon after setting up snares in a few spots around Alexandria, heading upstairs to find his wife sitting up in bed exhausted even after a nap.

“You okay?”

“Yeah, she just kicked me really hard is all…” Y/N sighs wiping away the stray tear from such as Daryl brought himself to sit with her resting his hand on her belly. “I thought you’d be out a little longer”

“The snares were easy to put up” He states watching her gaze focus on his hand rubbing circles on her swollen belly. “Y/N, I know you’re over-working yourself”

“I’m not?” Lie

“Sweetheart…You’re doin’ somethin’ instead of taking it easy”

“What else am I supposed to do? You won’t let me work on the nursery and I can get restless in here sometimes”

“Yea can do shit yeah. But I’m talkin’ all the repairing and big change type shit happening in the community. Everyone knows your pregnant and that you should be takin’ it easy”

“Daryl…”

“Y/N. It’s your body and in the end, do whatever yea want. But that’s my baby too and I care about the both of you a fuckton. If somebody is making yea feel bad and tryin’ to get yea to do all these extra tasks, come and get me. I’ll tear the bitch a new one”

“Can’t have you picking fights, Dar” Y/N laughs a little resting her hand over his as her expression falls once more. “You’ll be around tomorrow right?”

“Want me to ditch my run and spend time with yea? Doubt anybody would notice”

“Carol would! And one of us should at least be useful around here”

Daryl rolls his eyes a second, keeping his hand on her belly worrying slightly to what might happen within the walls while he’s gone.

“Why me?”

“Because I trust yea to radio me”

“And not Rick or Michonne or Rosita or literally anybody else?” Aaron questions walking with his friend through Alexandria the following morning. “Plus I have shit to do around here. Like securing the waterline for the gardens”

“I’m just asking yea to tell me if you see her outside our place.”

“But that could be for any reason”

“If she looks like she’s doin’ something she shouldn’t. Then radio me” Daryl scoffs. “I don’t want her overworking herself. Especially given how hot it is”

“Okay that I can do, but still. Only if I see her” Aaron sternly states before going to get started on his work while Daryl steps outside the gates to be greeted with Carol and Jerry.

He did exactly what was asked of him. Even if for the most part he’s caught glimpses of Y/N, but she would mainly talk to people or walk around. Nothing too crazy. She even spent time with him at least once during the time Daryl was gone, but only for a few minutes. Aaron asked her if she had to do anything and she said no, but when he went to check on her after checking on his daughter she looked even more exhausted since the last time he saw her.

“Daryl?”

Daryl frowns pulling off to the side a moment on his bike to answer the static as Carol noticed him pull off before doing the same in the car they’ve got. “What happened?”

“She wanted me to radio you.”

“…You got caught didn’t you?”

“Im sorry! I saw her pace from the corner of my eye or at least what looked like it when I was helping Eugene solder some pipes. So I went to check on her and she smacked me! Not hard but enough to get me to tell her why I’ve been having my eye on her all day”

Daryl sighs pinching the bridge of his nose as he didn’t know how to respond to such besides apologize. He put his radio back on his belt about to get his bike started against when Carol honked for his attention.

“We don’t need an escort back home”

“I’d feel better knowing y’all got back safe”

“We’ll radio you then! Or whoever gets the radio after you return” Jerry reassures with Carol nodding in agreement.

With that they split their ways as Daryl watches the gates open the second he got close, making it a clear shot to go back to their place. Then he noticed Y/N sat on the porch steps looking as if she was going to pass out. It didn’t get better when he got off his bike approaching her, noticing how red she was and the discomfort written on her expression.

“Y/N—-“

“I’m so exhausted” She sobbed holding her belly as Daryl crouched in front of her gently wiping away the tears. “I’ve been running around all day and Aaron was fucking watching me and I would’ve just stayed inside if this stupid guy’s words didn’t get to me”

“What? Who said what—“ Daryl pulled out of the conversation with his wife to hear the foot steps approaching and her name being called out.

“I’ve got another thing for yea to—-“ Evan stops talking when he locked eyes with Daryl and turned to see Y/N’s situation.

Oh he fucked up

“You’ve been asking my goddamn wife to do all these goddamn tasks and chores JUST SO YOU WOULDNT HAVE TO DO’EM?!” Daryl snaps as he rose to his feet getting up in the poor guy’s face. He guessed the reason, since Y/N thought he was just guilting her to do work around the place since she lives her to. But what Daryl said was the real reason. He didn’t want to do his work and saw an opportunity. Granted…he picked the wrong person.

“I-I-I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have—“

“You’re right. You shouldn’t fucking have” Daryl grabbed the guy by the collar about to throw him with the amount of anger building in him.

“Dar…stop”

“WHY DID YEA DO IT?!” He snaps again as he heard his name called out once more but it was followed with a small gasp. The archer practically tossed the guy onto his ass before changing his demeanor and checking his wife noticing the tears fall more. “Come on, I’m takin’ yea to Siddiq whether you like it or not”

Bed rest. Fucking bed rest. Y/N was put on it in hopes her stress will go down to help her blood pressure and to get much needed fluids. Since she didn’t think twice about her needs when her mind was against her.

Once she got comfortable, Daryl opened the windows once it was late so the cool night air could come through. He also filled her canteen whenever she emptied it, but the most recent time he came back to their bedroom with a filled bottle he noticed her tearing up and avoiding eye contact.

“Sunshine, what’s wrong?” He asks in almost a whisper bringing himself to her side kneeling beside it. “Is it the baby? Are you in pain?”

“No…I’m just. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry” She pouts wiping away her tears, feeling his hand gently cup her cheek as his thumb wipes away the tears. “I could’ve really ruined things…the baby, she could’ve—-“

“Stop. You stopped and you’re relaxing. Taking it easy from now on”

“Yeah, but forced bed rest to start…and I will be alone for most of it anyway”

“The fuck that’s supposed to mean?” Daryl scoffs with a half smile seeing the confusion grow on her face as he brought his hand to take hers. “If yea think I’m leavin’ yea after this shit. Then you’re wrong”

“You…You’re gonna…but what about—-“

“Fuck the Sanctuary. Rick can find somebody else” The archer states squeezing her hand gently. “My family needs me”

[impuls1veworm]

BETRAYAL.

˚₊ ⋆ ☠︎︎ ⋆ ₊˚ prompt: ‘always the fool with the slowest heart’

— Sanzu, Mikey, Izana, Hanma, Ran, Kisaki, and Shion.

PT. 2 — RESOLUTION?

You don’t understand what you did to deserve this; what deed you did that was so terrible that the universe thought this a fit punishment. You were humiliated, so utterly embarrassed to believe these people, your boyfriend’s friends, were truly your friends as well. You mentally kicked yourself for getting too comfortable, for thinking you were accepted among them.

One of the members had gripped your jaw in a vice grip, forcing you to look at him as he peered at you down his nose, you had a grip on his wrist trying to pull him off you, but to no avail. As he continued to degrade you, your eyes shifted to your boyfriend, who watched the scene. Your eyes silently pleaded with your boyfriend to get his associate to stop, but he didn’t make a move to help you. Instead, he continued to watch the scene, looking unimpressed with the whole situation.

You began to cry when the man who had a grip on your face dug the tips of his fingers into the fat of your cheeks, shaking your head to get your attention back on him. You could feel the bruises forming under his calloused fingers, but he wouldn’t let you go. Your mind began to drift back to when you and your boyfriend got together 4 years ago. He warned you that if you crossed one of his friends that he wouldn’t step in to help you.

You had laughed it off in the moment, not taking him seriously, because who lets their significant other get mistreated? But as he sat there, not making an attempt to call the spectacle off, the truth in his warning finally set in. This wasn’t a fairytale; you weren’t in some corny ‘found family’ story. You were a nobody surrounded by dangerous men; men who held only mild indifference towards you.

Finally, the man let you go, using the grip he had on you to shove you away. You stumbled back, reaching a shaky hand up to rub your jaw. You didn’t waste a moment and hurried to leave.

Your boyfriend called out for you, but you didn’t bother to even glance back.

A/N: I can't lie. Realistically, I can't see any of your boyfriend's gang member friends caring about you, but I'm still a sucker for fics where they do have love for you. Anyway, I just wanted to indulge in some angst and my own headcanons.

[hoe4sports]

“I don’t know how to live without you.”

Caroline Graham Hansen x reader

A/N: light angst

You were woken up by your girlfriend who was tossing and turning in the bed. “Caz, you okay?” You mumbled half asleep as you tapped your watch to make sure that you hadn’t overslept. “Mm” she said in a huffed way leaving you confused. Caroline was normally one to take her sleep very seriously as nothing was gonna ruin her recovery. Caroline lived, eat, trained and slept for football. And lately she hadn’t felt successful as before.

It had all started back during the women’s World Cup with the drama around the Norwegian coach and rumours of her not treating the girls right. She had on multiple occasions taken girls like Ada and Caroline out of the starting roster leaving everyone confused. Caroline had gotten enough and spoke up about the situation causing a huge press mess. She was forced to apologise infront of media, and you could tell in her eyes that she hated every second of it. That was when she said that she was gonna have a break from the Norwegian national squad. Weeks later, she had begun preforming poorly in Barca games only scoring 1 goal in 8 games which was nothing like her. This had all gotten to her and during the stress of the last few months you had often found her tossing and turning at night causing her beautiful eyes to be dark and puffy in the mornings. You felt close to falling asleep again when she tossed again.

“Caroline? What’s on your mind?”

“Nothing, go to sleep skatt»

“Caroline?”

“I said that it’s nothing, I’m just not tired”

“Mm”

“What? It’s true! I just sometimes cannot sleep.”

She snapped as she walked to the bathroom and locked the door behind her. You had gotten so little sleep over the last few months between being awake with her and watching her while she slept to make sure the world wouldn’t come crashing down on her. All of this caused you to fall asleep. You brutally woke up an hour later to her being back in bed, silently sniffling under the blanket. You scooted into her and held her tight. It seemed to ease whatever was on her mind. She laid there until she suddenly opened her mouth.

“Would you still love me if I didn’t play football? If I quit Barcelona? If I quit the national team? If I just wanted to give up everything and move back to Norway?”

You felt confused as she had never mentioned moving back to Norway before. She had religiously stated that it only felt right to her to be in Barcelona so you felt taken by a shock. You couldn’t stutter out an answer as you were trying to make your brain function.

“Be honest. I just can’t do it anymore. I’m not scoring. I’m not winning. I’m getting no recognition. I’m getting shit all day long from coaches, media and fans. God, I really am letting everyone down. How is that even possible to let that many people down at the same time? I shouldn’t be all-“

“Caroline” you yelled. “Stop baby, what’s going on?”

She turned around to look at me as she buried herself into the crock of my neck. “I’m a disappointment to everyone. The coaches, the team, the staff, the fans; I haven’t even been paying attention to you. I can’t remember when I last did a load of laundry, or vacuumed or made dinner or got groceries or go-“

“Baby, I take care of these things and of you because you have a lot going on at the moment. You are in the height of your career, flying so high everyday, inspiring little Norwegian girls to play football.” You reassured here as you rubbed her back.

“No, but the thing is. The fans stopped loving me, then the team, then the coach and you. I can’t lose everything all at once. I don’t know how to do it without you.” She sniffled.

“Kjæresten min, I love you for your silly side that very few people get to see, for the way you always push me to be better person, for how serious you take your work, for living for your passion, for you. Not for how many leather circles you can kick in a net.” You said as you tried to reassure her even more.

“But the fans? The coaches? Everyone just hates me. What if you realise how horrible I am and you start hating me. God skatt, I don’t know how to live without you.” she rambled on and on about how everyone hated her.

“Okay, baby, listen; I’m not going anywhere. You are not going anywhere. Tomorrow, we will find a psychologist and book an appointment. We can go in and talk to the team doctor to get you some time off. You need to see that there is a world where you don’t run around after footballs all day. One day, that world will be your new normal. And you know what? That world dosent suck. It has flowers, colors, animals, exciting food, fun experiences, new people and so many places to see.” You said as she nodded slowly realising that she was caught up in her own mind.

“And when that time comes, Caroline - I’m gonna be here right with you holding your hand as we navigate through it together.”

She yawned as you kissed her forehead shoving her face into your boobs as she was falling asleep. The most beautiful girl that you had ever seen had finally let herself rest. You adjusted slightly so you could lay down comfortably without feeling like your neck was gonna fall of your head while still keeping her close facing your chest.

“Im gonna marry you one day, trust me.” She murmured as she started snoring leaving you shocked.

She had never spoken about marriage or commitment to anything but football in a positive way before; and you were just praying that she would come around.

[justmeinadaze]

We're A Family Part 11 (Steddie X You)

A/N: Enjoy the fluff...because the angst is coming soon *evil cackles*

Warnings: Steddie related smut and fluff, nothing too dramatic here. Just feels.

Word Count: 3181

You grinned as you sat on the back porch watching Dylan kick a ball around with his sister. Aurora was a few months shy of 3 and you felt like time was flying by. The more she grew the more she took on Eddie’s features. Her hair was wavy just like his and she preferred like her father to have it long. Every time she laughed, she cackled like he did which always made you laugh harder. 

She was definitely a daddy’s girl, always becoming excited when Steve or Eddie walked in the door. Of course, she didn’t understand that her parental situation was much different than the other children but she did grasp that they were both her dad. Ro seemed to come up with her own system of getting their attention if she wanted one more than the other. 

You three figured out that when she called for daddy, or “Da-ee” as she pronounced it, she was referring to Eddie. When she wanted Steve, she would say dada or dad. Dylan’s name she always struggled with but seemed to settle on Din for the time being. 

Things were going a lot smoother at home now that Steve had finally graduated. A few months ago, he started teaching social studies at Hawkins Middle school right down the street from the high school you worked at. Since he was so close, you two were able to have lunch together and your son was able to catch a ride with him since he was going there as well. 

The day he started sixth grade you felt like you wanted to curl up in bed and cry all day. 

“Mom! Calm down. It’s just middle school. I’m not going off to college yet.”

“Yet! Stop growing! I hate it. I feel old.”

He laughs as he gives you a big hug and you kiss the top of his head. 

You loved knowing that Steve would be able to keep an eye on him but he promised Dylan he wouldn’t embarrass him. 

“You don’t have to talk to me or anything if you don’t want to. I’ll just sob at my desk after you walk by.”

“Dad! Seriously! Oh my god. Why are you guys acting like things are going to be any different?”

Scott, the owner of the mechanic shop, DID pass it to Eddie and true to his word was able to be home a lot more. With his new income level, he had started setting money side for different things that made you fall for him even more. 

“Ok, so this is for Dylan and this one is for Ro.” He slides some papers across the table for you and Steve to look at. “Every month these accounts will take a certain amount until they graduate high school. They can use these funds for college or whatever they want to do.”

You and the other man exchange a look as you beam at each other. 

“What?”

“Nothing. Just…all of our children are growing up!”, Steve teases as Eddie sticks out his tongue.

“Daddy!”, Ro shouts as she waddles towards the porch. 

“Hey, sweetheart.” Eddie lifts her into his arms, giving her a hug as he comes to sit beside you. “Baby.”, he grins giving you a kiss. “What are you three doing out here?”

“Din ball.”

“You’re playing ball with Dylan? You wild animal.” She giggles as he kisses her cheek before placing her back on her feet so she can continuing having fun. “What about you, mama?”

“Oh, you know. Just drinkin’ booze waiting for my rockstar and professor to come home.”

“Well shit, Y/N. You’re going to be waiting awhile then because neither of the men you love are there yet.” You smile as you lean into him and he wraps his arm around you. “Steve and I have a surprise for you tomorrow night.”

“Please, no.”, you playfully whine. “Every time we have a surprise, I always end up crying or pregnant!”

“Don’t worry, baby. You’ll love this one. I promise.”

###############

Since Kierra had a date, Robin was babysitter tonight, donning a huge smile as Steve invited her in. 

“Hey Robin!”

“Hey, kid. You ready for me to kick your butt at video games tonight?”

“Pfft, like that will ever happen.”, he grins as he throws his backpack over his shoulders. 

“Here. Give this mommy.”, Steve whispers to Ro who takes a box from him and runs to your side. 

“Mommy! Dada…” She hands you the gift and turns to point at her father.

“Hm. Is this from dada?” Aurora claps at your understanding and nods. 

“Well, from dad and daddy.”, he winks.

“Do you want to help me open it?” The toddler giggles as you both tear into the present. 

“Dress!”, she exclaims as you lift the beautiful green garment up to inspect it. “Purty.”

“Guys… you didn’t have to—”

“We know.”, Eddie chuckles. “Go put it on, princess.”

You kiss and hug the kids before running upstairs to change and do your hair. It had been a while since the three of you went out anywhere especially anywhere in a date like setting. As you descended back to them, your breath catches when you find both men dressed up as well in black suits. 

“Oh wow. You two look amazing.”

“Us? Goddamn that dress looks beautiful on you.”, Eddie grins as he takes your hand. 

“Did I miss something? An important date or did YOU miss something.”

“No, honey.”, Steve laughs. “We wanted to do something special for our anniversary.”

“That’s next weekend though.”

“That is correct, sweetheart. But Dylan has a game Saturday afternoon and Ro has that birthday party she was invited to. With this being our 5-year mark of us getting married, we didn’t think it would be fitting to just celebrate at home.”

You beam at them as you link your arm through theirs. 

##############

They took you to an expensive restaurant just outside of Hawkins, insisting you get whatever you wanted and chuckling when they saw the apprehensive look on your face. 

“On day you’re going to understand you DO deserve all this. I don’t know what we have to do but we will figure it out.”, Steve grins. 

“I just…it’s too much…and I feel like I don’t do enough of this stuff for you guys!”

“Sweetheart, you married us, took our last names, and gave us two beautiful kids. I think you’ve done more than enough.”

“Aw, Eddie. That was disgustingly cute.”

He laughs as he playfully grabs your cheeks and pulls you in for a kiss. As the meal progress and the wine flows you three take the opportunity to really talk about things that you feel like you haven’t been able to due to your busy lives. 

“How are the kids treating you, Mr. Harrington? Is it better than dealing with customers at Family Video?”, Eddie asks.

“Eh. I deal with a different set of customers.”, he laughs. “I love teaching. Seriously, the kids are great but some of these parents, man. Fucking hell. One mom wouldn’t return my calls about her daughter struggling until the report card was sent home. She yelled at me saying I didn’t try to notify her enough.”

“Sounds about right.”, you grin. “I’ve gotten a few of those.”

Steve clears his throat as he brings the wine glass to his lips. “Ironically, it’s the same girl our son has a crush on.”

“No! Steven Harrington are you serious?! How do you know he likes her?”

“Are you kidding? He sits with her at lunch, walks her to her classes, and I overheard him offer to help her study.”

“Ha-ha! Kid has game.”, Eddie says with a huge smile. “Now all he has to do is play the guitar for her and she’ll be totally smitten.”

“Oh my god.”, you cringe. “My baby is growing up too fast.”

“Definitely come a long way from the little boy who knocked on our door and called us ‘Mister’.”

You grin at the memory. You had no idea how much that one interaction would change your life forever.

“What about you, Munson?”

“I, unfortunately, have nothing as exciting as you, sir. Work wise anyway.”

“What do you mean? Is your mom bugging you again?”, you ask him.

“Uh, not exactly. I actually wanted to tell you guys about this but…”, he sighs. “My dad has been sending me letters.”

“What?”, you and Steve say at the same time. 

“Yeah, I haven’t opened them mostly because I already know what he wants and there’s nothing he can say that would make me want to testify on his behalf. Wayne went over there last year and commanded he leave me and my family alone. Seems only my mother listened.”

“Eddie, baby.” You scoot your chair closer as you intertwine your fingers with his.  “Maybe…maybe we can go down there and talk to him.”

“Hey, no. No. Promise me you won’t go down there, Y/N.” His fingers lifted your chin to face. “Promise me.”

“I promise, Eddie.”

The man releases a heavy breath as he kisses your forehead. “What about you, babe? Still nothing from your mother?”

You shake your head. “And that’s fine. I’m more upset with how I explain to Aurora why her grandma doesn’t like us but… It was hard even talking with Dylan about it. Half of the family he grew up with doesn’t talk to him anymore.”

“He hasn’t mentioned Charlie at all. Not to me anyway.”, Steve sighed. 

“Me either.”, Eddie followed. “I’m kind of surprised Charlie hasn’t tried to call or anything. He just kind of gave up.”

“My son told me what happened when you went to pick him up after he took him. I genuinely believe that him calling you dad shook something inside of him and now he thinks Dylan doesn’t want to have anything to do with him which isn’t true. I don’t know.”, you shake your head. “I haven’t found the courage to tell him Vivian is pregnant. I feel like Charlie should tell him… I don’t want him to feel like he’s being replaced.”

“Never a dull moment in the Munson-Harrington household.”, Steve replies holding up his glass of wine. 

#################

The three of you giggle drunkenly as you stumble into the child free house. 

“Oh my god, it’s so quiet. I love it.”, you slur as you sit at the bottom of the stairs. 

“It is pleasant but it feels weird.” Eddie leans forward, placing feathery kisses along your neck.

Steve crawls past you two on his hands up the stairs and into the bedroom. You and the metalhead grin when you find him on the floor on his back. 

“I’m fine! I just need a little break.”

After tossing your shoes to the side, you grab a pillow and place it under his head as you fall beside him, curling up to his chest. Eddie comes down with you, covering you with his suit jacket before placing his head on your tummy and closing his eyes. 

****

Your eyes startle open as Steve’s watch beeps at 7am, reaching over to quickly quiet the device. Both boys were still knocked out so you carefully tried to reach above you to grab your purse so you could look at your phone to make sure Robin hadn’t tried to call you guys but you misjudged how far it was, spilling its contents on to Steve.

“Jesus Christ.” 

“Baby, oh my god. Are you ok?”, you giggle as he groggily smiled. “I’m so sorry. I was trying to get my phone.”

Eddie’s arm suddenly moved to search his pockets before producing it in his hand. “You asked me to hold it for you.”

You thanked him as you snapped it open and scrolled through your messages. 

“Dylan still beat Robin at video games and Aurora threw a tantrum because she wanted to stay up late with Viki.”

Steve rubbed his eyes before taking your phone to look at the pictures she had sent. 

“Seems like she’s going to be a night owl like Eddie.”

“That’s my girl.”, the metalhead laughs. He pulls himself up into a sitting position as you do the same, leaning against the bed. 

“Well, we still have four hours before we need to pick them up. What ever could we do in that amount of time?”

You smile as Steve’s arm grabs your own lifting you on to his lap. “I’m sure we can figure something out.” His lips connect to yours as you slide your tongue along his own. As your hips grind against his, his fingers delicately trail down your shoulders bringing the straps of your dress along with them. 

You moan as he licks down your chest to your tits, open mouth kissing your nipple as his tongue plays with the bud. Turning your head towards Eddie, you reach for him and he scoots closer to encapsulate your lips with his own. 

As you crawl over to him, Steve brings your dress down your legs and tosses it above him onto the bed. Eddie’s strong arms hold you to him as you rub yourself against his pant covered groin. 

“Fuck…I still think you two are so sexy in suits like this.”

“Yeah? You want to make yourself cum while we’re still wearing them?”

His palms slid down to your ass as he guides your movements. A stuttered breath left Steve’s lips and you both turned to find him stroking his cock as his lust filled eyes watch you intently. 

“There you go, sweetheart. Cum on my lap.”

You whimper as you cling to his neck, pressing your lips to his so he can swallow your moans as you cum. 

“Come here, honey.” Steve reaches for you, helping you to your feet before placing his hands on your ass, guiding you forward as his head dips between your legs. 

His tongue eagerly glides between your folds as you run your hands through his hair. Eddie leans over the boy’s lap, taking him into his mouth, and bobbing around him just the way he knows Steve likes. 

His moans vibrate against your clit, driving you crazy. “Yes, baby. Just like that. Your mouth feels so good.” 

You mewled at the sounds of the metalhead gagging behind you as he took the man as far into his throat as he could. 

“Fuck me.”, Steve groaned as his head tipped back. “Stop. Stop, stop, stop. I’m going to fucking cum if you keep doing that.”

Eddie wipes his mouth as he moves out of the way, allow you to descend on to Steve’s cock. The man brushes your hair from your face with his hands as you grind and bounce against him. 

“I love you, Y/N. Still fucking beautiful—mmm—God…” His lips passionately kissed yours as your hands roamed his chest, absently unbuttoning his shirt so you could feel his warm skin. Steve’s arms wrapped around your back, lifting you up and placing you on the floor underneath him. 

Hastily, he removed his suit jacket with his shirt, tossing it to the side as he thrust his hips against yours, placing his palms on either side of you for leverage. Eddie tenderly reaches for his face, bringing his lips to his own. 

Your pussy clenches at the sight, reaching your fingers between you two to rub your clit. Your free had reaches up to caress the metalhead’s cheek and he turns into it, gently kissing your fingers before leaning down to kiss your lips as well. 

“Fuck…I’m…Steve…baby, please.”, you beg. His chest falls to yours and your arms wrap around his shoulders as he roughly rolls his hips into yours. You whimper his name repeatedly in his ear as you come undone around him.

“Yes, honey. Oh my god.”, he mewls as his breath and pants warm your skin. He chases his high till a few moments later you feel his hips sputter, clinging your legs tighter to him, as he pumps his spend deep into your body. 

As soon as he pulled out of you, you watched with hooded eyes as Eddie fully slid his pants off and took the other boys place between your legs. You both moaned as he guided his dick into your entrance, watching himself as he slowly pumped his cock in and out to the tip.

His hands grasped your thighs, opening them as wide as they would allow as he smirked up at you. “Princess, I could watch myself disappear inside of you all day. Fuck… you feel so fucking good gripping me.”

Eddie’s strokes were precise, pushing himself deep into your cunt making your toes curl. Steve leaned towards the other man, placing gentle kisses down his chest, along his stomach, to your bundle of nerves. You moaned as his tongue flicked rapidly against your nub while the metalhead ran his fingers through his hair and pressed him harder against you. 

“Yes! Fuck! Don’t…don’t stop.”

Eddie’s pace picked up as Steve continued to play with your clit, his mouth making obscene smacking sounds that made your eyes roll even as you tried to watch them. Your body began to shake as you came, screaming Eddie’s name till your orgasm stopped coursing through you. 

You lazily tugged on the man’s head, silently begging him to stop. His lips detached from you long enough to find your own. You hummed at the taste of yourself as the other boy hovered over you both as his hips smacked against yours. 

“I love hearing you cum, sweetheart. Mmm—one of my favorite fucking sounds.” Eddie’s rhythm faltered as he came inside of you.

Both men continued to kiss along your neck until the metalhead gradually pulled out of you and fell to your side. 

“Do you want to take a bath?”, Steve whispered, chuckling as you aggressively shook your head. 

“Tired. Cuddle.”

“And food, dude. I’m kind of hung over but also kind of hungry.”

“Excuse me. I am not the fucking butler. I will take care of the lady and you can go get us some food.”

You and Eddie laughed as the boy crawled towards the door before rising to his feet and heading downstairs. 

Steve lifted you onto the bed, disappearing into the bathroom, and returning with a rag as he cleaned you. 

“Thank you…for tonight. I had a lot of fun.”

“I’m glad you enjoyed it, honey. It was nice for it to just be us three.”

You nod as the other boy reappears with leftovers from dinner. “It was nice. I mean the kids are great but hot damn are they exhausting sometimes.”

“And clingy.”, you add. “I hope you know I’m very proud of you both and love you so much.”

They grin as they kiss your cheeks at the same time.

“We love you to, babe.”

“Here’s hoping we don’t kill each other in the next five years so we can do this again.”, Eddie raises his cup of water, flinching when you smack his arm. “What?! What did I do?”

###########

@adequate-superstar @kalinaselennespeaks @alienthings

@steddieloverrr @manda-panda-monium @decadentwombatmiracle

@katie-tibo @marsupiooo @local-stoner-bitch @steamystrangerfics

@lunatictardis @adaydreamaway08 @hazydespair

@actuallyspencerreid @moviefreak1205

@waylandmorgernsternherondal-blog @kik51199 @strngrlytn

@idkidknemore @damon-loves-pie @k-k0129

@micheledawn1975 @eddie86baby

@justmeandmymeanderingthoughts @3rriberri @sashaphantomhive

@chelebelletx @big-ope-vibes @munsonzzgf @munsonmoonshine86

[hannahbarberra162]

Struck Twice By Lightning, Chapter 5

On Ao3

A little bit of angst towards the end.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After a hearty dinner and introducing yourself to newer crew members over some tea, it was time for bed. You were tired, it had been a long day. You went to Shanks’s cabin, changed into your pjs, and laid down in the bed. You sighed contentedly. Shanks was right, his bed was amazingly comfortable. Coming in behind you was the man himself. He took off Gryphon and his cloak and tried to faceplant on the bed. You moved your leg upwards to kick him if he moved any closer.

“No way. You’re not sleeping here. Go to the couch.”

“But it's so small!” Shanks whined. “I can’t fit on that thing. Can’t we share the bed?”

“No. If your couch sucks, go somewhere else.”

Shanks put on his kicked puppy routine. He ever so slowly meandered over to the couch, dragging his feet all the while. He would sigh loudly and look at you with his big brown eyes. He slowly removed his shirt (which wasn’t buttoned anyway) and pretended to have difficulty doing it with one arm. He laid down on the couch and sighed again. You wouldn’t have been surprised if he started crying crocodile tears. 

“Good night, sweetie.”

But it wasn’t a good night.

Because Shanks wasn’t going to let you sleep while he was uncomfortable. He tossed. He turned. He moaned. He groaned. He sighed. He stretched. He got up to get water. He sat back down. He went to look at the moon. He moved to his chair. He got back on the couch. He hummed. 

You had two pillows over your head, trying to block out the noise. It was impossible to sleep when you had to hear him griping and grousing over sleeping on a couch. You threw the pillows off your head.

“Shanks, can you STOP?!” you yelled at him.

“Stop being uncomfortable on this couch? No, I can’t.” Shanks replied petulantly.

Now it was your turn to groan. 

“Fine.” It was all he needed to hear. Shanks got up immediately and almost dove into the bed. He laid down on his back, and put his arm behind his head.

“Ah, I feel sleepy already,” Shanks said contentedly. “And see, you know I won’t touch you because you’re sleeping on my left side. No arm.” He wiggled his stump. 

You didn’t say anything for a while. It felt surreal to be back in Shanks’s bed, next to him, like all those years ago. You looked up at the same ceiling you had in your younger days, thinking about what led you to this moment, and the man next to you. He looked the same, but older and more rugged looking. You couldn’t deny that he was just as attractive as he’d always been, maybe even more now. But physical attraction wasn’t a reason behind your breakup.

“Sorry about your arm. I read about it in the papers. Sounds painful.” You were being sincere, and he replied in kind.

“Mm. It is painful sometimes. Mostly OK. Wait, they wrote about it in the newspaper?” He lifted his head to look at you.

“Ah, no. I read it in your wanted poster description when it was updated.”

“You read my wanted posters?” 

You felt your face get hot. “Don’t take it too seriously. I read everyone’s posters.”

“Didn’t know you cared so much,” Shanks said lightly.

You didn’t reply. You were embarrassed at having accidentally revealed so much. You could take his teasing, his moodiness, and his silliness, those were easy to deflect and ignore. But you couldn’t bear the thought of being emotionally vulnerable to him. That door had been shut, and it was for the best to remain that way. 

“Good night, Shanks.”

“Good night, ladybug.”

……his last comment upset you. Ladybug was his true nickname for you. All the other silly pet names were just a joke, but ladybug was one that he reserved for use only in private. It was a nickname that used to feel so romantic and intimate. But that wasn’t you anymore. You weren’t going to be jerked around and led on by someone you’d dumped ages ago. Your feelings mattered, and you weren’t going to get hurt again.

“Why am I here Shanks?” you asked angrily.

“It’s the most comforta-”

“No, stop. Why am I here on the ship? Why won’t you let me go ?” you were almost crying from frustration. Shanks looked up at the ceiling.

“I can’t. I’ve tried.”

“I left ten years ago!” 

“And I’ve missed you every day since.”

[infernalodie]

𝐀𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐦 (𝐏𝐭.𝟐) || 𝐆𝐰𝐞𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐲

“𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘮𝘦 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘮𝘦 𝘔𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘴𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘚𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘚𝘰 𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦“

Inspo: Sleep Token - Ascensionism Dominic Fike - 4x4

Pairing: Gwen Stacy x Black!Fem!reader

Summary: The sunset was on the bound...

Warnings: Angst. That’s it.

Part One

Words: 2981

“Miguel, we need to take this seriously!” Gwen followed behind the man, Hobie and Jessica in tow. All three of them share the same kind of anxiety revolving around your disappearance top priority. Along with the fact that across the spider-verse, there have been people plucked out which has been causing more trouble for Miguel than he thought he had before.

“And I told you before that we can’t just act blindly. Y/n hacked the watch and we can’t track her,” he reminded, stopping at the terminal Spider-Byte was working at. The screen displays multiple scenes of news outlets across the infinite universes covering the fact that many villains had simply up and vanished. Which in itself was creating problems that needed to be solved, fast. “If you and Hobie had done a better job apprehending her, then this wouldn’t have become my problem-”

“She did it because you told her she wasn’t allowed to save her sister, Miguel!” Gwen exclaimed, silencing the man. “What did you expect to happen?”

Gwen had played that night over and over the past few nights. Waking up in a feverish sweat, trying to piece together how things could’ve been done differently. But she knew the answer was simply, “I should’ve been there.” And she couldn’t change the past, but it didn’t change the pain that she felt knowing that things could’ve been different. That and maybe, somehow, saving your sister would’ve caused a revelation for not only herself but Miguel.

But what hurt just as much was her telling Miles the news. She’d been forced to see him crack. Left only knowing that she was the cause of the disaster and she wouldn’t be able to fix it.

“I trusted you to handle it,” Miguel barked. “You were reckless, foolish!”

“That’s rich coming from the man who wouldn’t go and deal with it himself,” Hobie commented. “You are the reason all of this is happening. You gave her hope by telling her when it would happen. So, don’t go tryin’ to pass the blame on one of us, mate.”

The sudden blaring of alarms grabbed the team’s attention. Their eyes flickering to the door and spotting many people running and yelling. “What the-” Hobie froze as the ground shook with a loud crash heard far beyond the doorway. “That can’t be good.”

“Byte, put the facility on lockdown!” Miguel ordered, sprinting in the direction of the commotion. “The rest of you, with me!”

They followed, sprinting toward the door and stopping just outside the entrance to see the chaos in full effect. Many of the Spider-Men were fighting, but their force was matched with villains from all different universes. Much like Miguel had been seeing for the past few weeks. It had become full chaos and there was no telling the full-scale disruption of the multiverse that could occur the longer this kept on.

Plucking a villain out of a universe was one thing. But if a Spider-Man was to die from a separate one? There was no telling what could possibly happen.

But at the center, Gwen could see you. You were hanging from a web in the distance without your mask. A smirk on your lips as you watched onwards.

“I got Y/n!” She announced without so much as a warning, swinging forward. Leaving the other three to deal with any villain they could pick off.

Moving through the sky, dodging, punching, and kicking to get to you, Gwen kept a cautious eye on you. Doing her best to watch your movements as she dealt with Doctor Octavius before moving on to an Electro.

But as when she went through each villain with a certain finesse, her sense flared up. Causing her to turn and was kicked into the air. Her body met the concrete wall that ripped the air from her lungs. Barely able to catch her breath before her throat was grasped and she was tossed into the gym facility in the headquarters. It was silent and dark beside the glow of certain lights along the floor or walls.

She was quick to get to her feet, battle ready. Again, her sense flared and put her into action. Spinning on her heel and catching your wrists. Nails baring, ready to slice into her flesh and paralyze her.

A sickly-sweet smile pulled across your lips, eyes wide and crazy. “Long time no see, Gwen. Miss me, sweets?”

The look in your eyes wasn’t normal. Not by a long shot. There was something in them that was close to unhinged. Like all former switches that made your eyes shine had been turned off, revealing a darker side of you to her. And she didn’t know if she should be scared or hopeful that she could use this against you.

Gwen groaned, sweeping your feet out from under you and using her grip on your wrist to perform a hip toss, forcing your body to the ground. She straddled your waist with your hands pinned on either side of your head. “Y/n, stop this!”

Planting your feet on her chest, you kicked her away, sending her colliding into a beam. Flying to the floor, panting with a sharp erupt of pain followed up the lower part of her back. Rising to rest on her knees, finding you standing on your feet. “This could ruin everything, Y/n. Do you not realize the untrackable amount of problems you’ve just caused?” She spat. “The multiverse could collapse because of you!”

All you could do was laugh.

“You wanna take the moral high ground now? Fine. But I will not stand by and act like you all have a higher understanding of what you believe to be the truth,” you exclaimed, pacing side to side. “You sat by and let my world fall apart!

But it’s not too late to change that.” Gwen frowned, shifting back slightly as you approached her. “You allow the chains to bind you to rules that were never yours in the first place.” You crouched down in front of the girl, hands cupping her cheeks as you whispered, “Break free, Gwen. We can show them the truth. It could be beautiful.”

And there was a brief pause of compilation written on Gwen’s face. Lips parted and eyes relaxed as she weighed the options. The negatives and positives. She was fated to see the path you’ve been down and feel the pain you felt at this moment. And she had to decide if she would submit to algorithms Miguel had discovered or take a chance.

But she wasn’t given enough time to mull over it because she heard you gasp sharply, eyes widening in shock. Gwen watched for a few moments until she caught sight of Miguel approaching from behind. “She’s good, Y/n.” You coughed, blood dripping from your lips as you fell onto your side and let out hoarse breaths. But Miguel shed no sliver of emotion. A simple look in his eyes with a shrug as he said, “Thanks for the offer though.”

Gwen stood to her feet, holding her side with her gaze focused on you. Watching you exhale shakily, resting in a suto fetal position. Hand pressed to the ground as you tried to sit up. But the stab wound in your side prevented sudden movements that could affect the area.

“We need to contain this problem as soon as possible. Every single person in this building needs to help.” As Miguel continued to bark out orders, Gwen’s gaze was unwavering on your trembling figure. Finding your eyes lifting to hers, face tensed in pain as you tried to find your bearings.

She couldn’t understand it. How could you go from one extreme to another? The easiest answer was that you were angry. Anyone would think and do irrational things if their emotions were wildfire like yours. But Gwen knew that you were beyond reasoning or understanding. Because one thing she absolutely was certain about it was this…

Amelie wouldn’t want this from you.

“We’re going to be choked up for the next few hours, Miguel,” Peter B Parker spoke up, cradling Mayday in his arms. “It would be great to know if you have some sort of invention that could speed this up.”

“Miguel isn’t capable of that. And don’t expect much from him. He’s prone to leave people disappointed,” Gwen stated, turning from you and shoving a shoulder into Miguel as she walked past.

“She was a danger to everyone, Gwen. And as far as this goes, you should be thanking me that I saved your life,” Miguel spat at the young teen. “She was going to kill you and everyone in this facility if I didn’t stop her.”

A shaky and unnerving chuckle echoed in the training hall. It gaged everyone’s attention, turning to find you smiling, spitting blood onto the pristine floor. Nose twitching as you pursed your lips, jaw clenching as you exhaled heavily. Forcing yourself to your feet, growling, “You…”

You staggered, knees buckling beneath you where you placed a bloody hand to catch yourself. Strangling a groan as you clenched your jaw. Lifting your gaze to find the core four. The four that had been there to give you the news of your story. A dilemma that they knew you wouldn’t stand for, even if there had been nothing you could’ve done. And the pitiful look in their eyes made you sick. They didn’t say they were sorry, but you could see in their eyes. But they were too late. “You stand there, y-you, judging me, acting all high and mighty from your ivory tower. But you all are one bad day from being in my shoes. You just can’t see it yet.”

They didn’t move. Not a single person. All in their own collective headspaces, mulling over your words. But Miguel, he straightened his stance. Appearing bigger than he truly was as he said, “You have put everyone and everything at risk, Y/n-”

“You know nothing! You don’t know what it takes to wear this suit! You are nothing, Miguel!” You yelled, waving your hand with a pained grunt as you forced out, “Everyone knows it.”

The room was painfully silent with Miguel’s expression unchanging by your words. But you knew that in some way, your words struck him. He was a fragile human. And it only took a few buttons for you to press to finally receive the reaction you wanted so desperately from him.

And that’s when you smiled up at him, whispering, “Even your daughter knew it.”

His nose twitched and his teeth bared, anger being ripped from deep within his chest and put on display for everyone to see. He charged at you with his only intent being to pull your head off. But the other three were quick to stop him, restraining him quickly.

But you still laughed in amusement, stepping to your feet that wobbled beneath your weight. “I see I struck a nerve.” You sniffled, waving a hand toward Peter. “If you had to lose your daughter, would you listen to what Miguel had to tell you? That you had to allow her to be taken from you?”

His silence that followed answered your question. Making you let out a short laugh. “None of you understand the pain. But you will,” you whispered. “It’s just a matter of if you’ll allow him to dictate your choices.”

They all stood amongst one another silently as Jessica took the initiative to put the cuffs on your wrists. Forcing you to walk down the platforms that lead to the G.H.M. and left to look upon the chaos of your decisions had caused. Spider-Men were injured and the villains were all restrained. And you believed they got what they wanted. Hurting and attacking a thousand or more Spider-Men for them was like a birthday gift. But with how quickly it ended, you got no closer. All you wanted was to hurt Miguel and destroy everything he built.

But all this did was end with you being stabbed in the back and tossed in a holographic cage with blood dripping, pooling around you. A needle plunged into the side of your neck, forcing your muscles to relax. Your eyelids were heavy with exhaustion as you stared at the open space in front of you.

Voices around you seemed to hollow out. Their figures morphed into melodies that further numbed your mind. All of it became meaningless the longer the drugs swam deeper and further into your bloodstream.

It took the tapping of a finger against the shield surrounding you to extract you from your thoughts. Tired eyes flickering to your left, finding Gwen crouched with soft eyes directed toward you.

“I’m sorry for what happened to Amelie, Y/n. If I was there, maybe we wouldn’t be here,” Gwen stated. But with your eyes flickering away from hers that was beginning to cloud up with tears, she moved closer to the cage wall. Her eyes squinted as she shook her head, muttering, “But you know this isn’t what she would’ve wanted, right? She saw you as a protector, not a destroyer.” Your nose began to burn, lips wobbling as you clenched your hands into tight fists. “And despite what she saw when you put on that suit, she saw her sister.”

You stayed silent for a few moments. Lips pursing faintly, parting to exhale shakily. And there was hesitance in meeting her gaze. Finding the pain in her eyes too much to bear and take accountability for. Because you didn’t regret what you did. But god dammit did her crystalized eyes hurt you knowing that you were the cause of her sadness. “You… Y-You ever wonder-” You coughed up blood, droplets wetting the back of your hand that dropped to your stomach. Slowing your breathing as you said, “Before the p-powers: would you go back? Go back to your childhood and just be young and unaware of everything?”

Gwen bowed her head, sniffling as you chuckled softly, glancing over at her. “I think I might have to find a way to get rid of these powers, you know?” Smiling through the tears, you shook your head. “I don’t deserve them after all of this.”

Your curled legs swayed slightly, the drugs slowly easing your mind from the pain. Or it could’ve been the blood loss that was slowly fracturing your attention span. The heaviness of your eyelids growing. The formulation of words drifted in brief pauses as you smiled at the girl, whimpering out gratefully, “I don’t have a chain on me, Gwen.”

The way you said it, the relief in your words, it pained her. And stroking your neck, as if a metal collar had been irritating the skin, made her realize how trapped you must’ve felt with all this knowledge. Because she knew the moment you found out about your canon event, a noose had been placed around your neck. It tightened each day that drew closer to your cataclysmic moment. But now, you seemed glad that it was over and that you went out how you wanted to.

And seeing her tears slide down her cheeks made you smile. “Hey.” Gwen sniffled, nodding, seeing your lips quiver as you said, “I’m free from all of this–my way. Not Miguel’s. Not theirs. Mine. And there isn’t a damn thing they can do about it now.”

Licking your lips, you stared off into open space. Eyes layered with deliriousness that mounted with each moment. Then, Gwen saw your lips curl slightly, tears brimming as a soft chortle slipped past your lips. “Amelie.”

Gwen felt her face twist, bowing her head–hearing you painfully crawl across the box and press your hand to the holographic wall blocking you from freedom. “Oh, I missed you so much, kiddo.”

“Can you finally come with me?” Amelie wept, pressing her hand to the wall where yours was.

Smiling, you nodded as a sob racked your body. Sniffling harshly, forcing yourself to swallow the lump stuck in your throat. “I think so, sweetheart,” you whispered. “We get to run off into the sunset. Just like I promised you.”

“Gwen.” You called for her, finding her shaking her head, wiping fearlessly at her eyes. “Hey, baby.” The pet name finally forced her to meet your broken gaze. Seeing your body glitch, yet, your expression still held a proud look despite the tears streaming down your cheeks. “Amelie forgives you.”

She let out a sob, covering her mouth as she nodded in understanding. “That’s good. I’m thankful,” she forced out. “I wish you had more time with her.”

“I will, Gwen. You will too when the time comes. We’ll be back together.” Reaching for her, sadly, your hand met the cage wall. Fingers curled slightly, hoping to break through it and feel her touch one more time. “And I forgive you.” Her face twisted again, tilting her head slightly, wiping her eyes frantically as you continued. “My soul mate. My best friend.”

Gwen was sobbing, pressing hers over yours. It made you smile. Vision beginning to blur with your thoughts slowly drifting and strength in your body dissipating. It was nice. The freedom that came with it. No worries in sight. Merely the warm touch of Amelie’s hand on your shoulder. Her eyes were bright with happiness and tears of relief. And the choice between another day or ascensionism. Ascension to a place where you knew was the only outcome. Somewhere you belonged.

And Gwen watched as your eyes stared at her softly, able to whisper out. “We will be waiting for you at the sunset.” Your bloodied hand fell with your body slumping against the wall. Leaving Gwen to sob, pleas falling from quivering lips.

And the sun fell with the darkness of night taking its place.

[ghostaholics]

Ok let’s get into some angst flufflish steamy shit like ghost is ALWAYS cutting the reader of any mission he’s not in and the reader literally storms inside his office raging she’s probably in her pj and asking him why tf r u doing that and of course ghost won’t admit it and it becomes physical (I mean physical fighting ) and shit but guess what….she can’t sleep then she goes to ghosts room at night to continue fighting like it’s literally 2 am bitch😭I need help I’m a sucker for dickhead-ghost

They wouldn’t necessarily get into a physical altercation unless it was in a controlled setting like sparring against each other (as the sex is the physical thing between them that acts as an outlet for their emotions when they don’t want to talk), but I do enjoy the idea of everything else mentioned; probably happens later on in their relationship.

I think she starts to notice after a certain point – sure, maybe Price didn’t include her on some missions, no big deal; a loss, in her opinion, but there’ll be others. More opportunities for her to go on an ops with him means being halfway across the world from Ghost (thank god and distance makes the heart grow fonder anyways). Until she does realize that the only ones she’s being going on have specifically been where Ghost is around – puts two and two together, essentially.

The thought is eating away at her – time at 2300, she needs answers immediately, and books it over to his room, except… he’s not there. So now she’s angrily blazing a warpath to the only other place he might be at this hour. Ghost is in his office working on some final reports and when she pounds her fist on the foot – she’s trying to be this infuriated, irate thing but he can’t take her seriously when she’s wearing her pajamas and a pair of fuzzy slippers (is this the same person who he saw slit a man’s throat yesterday), and he just offers her a tired, “Yeah, you need something?”

And she’s about to get into it, calls him out on the whole mission stuff until he firmly puts a stop to her tirade and says, “I’m backlogged on stuff that needs to be submitted tonight. If you want to have this discussion, it’ll wait ‘til after I’m done. Come back later.”

Which she of course, takes as a challenge and waltzes right past him, takes up a stack of reports in her arms and angrily gets to work on them while sending daggers his way every so often – literally helping him speed up the process, she’s just that petty. But there’s too much to get through and by the time they’re done, the fight’s kind of left her, she’s drained physically and emotionally and she’s not sure she can realistically give him the verbal arse-kicking he deserves.

However, she does need some peace of mind before she leaves, so she pleads – now equally tired as him – to tell her why he’s been doing this to her.

And Simon pauses, gives it a brief moment of thought and knows that she’s going to probably hate him for his answer but follows through anyways: “Because I don’t trust anybody else to look after you better than I can.”

[bueris]

not going home club (hiori yo)

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angst, hiori parent bashing, 1.9k words

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Music blasted in his ears, as loud as he could stand it, heavy bass and raggedly screamed lyrics drowning out his roommates conversation. God, guys his age could be so fucking loud and for what? To be stupid? Yeah, he was being salty but when wasn’t he, he just made sure no one else saw it.

Hiori remembered the sentence that made the headphones get brought out, it wasn’t even a full one…

“When I go home-” and that’s all he heard before he decided to tap out of the conversation. His headphones were in his hands and turned on before he really recognised what he was doing, getting frustrated with the way they refused to pair with his phone. They did eventually though, thank fucking god for that, and metal was playing through them soon after.

Sure, he felt slightly guilty for getting pissed over some small and insignificant comment his friend said. But he didn’t do anything, didn’t yell or get pissy so maybe he shouldn’t beat himself up so damn much. Still, though, he felt silly for getting so worked up for something so small but hey, he had his reasons.

The thought of going home felt physically repulsive, like he wanted to rip out from his skin and get as far away from the thought as possible. Whenever the thought crossed his mind it felt like his whole brain came to a full stop, like it hit a brick wall that prevented him from continuing along those tracks. 

Of course he didn’t want to go back, he had no plan to, actually. His parents didn’t give a fuck about him, Yo, the child they had, no they only gave a fuck about what he could do, pressing him into their shitty mould to coping with being second rate halfwits who couldn’t succeed with their own lives. Seriously, Yo’d seen those American pageant videos online, you know the one, dozens of little kids forced into the stupidest, most invasive procedures to live out the half baked dreams of their mothers who only wanted to live through them by dressing them up like they were a doll and not a person.

He related to those kids so fucking much it hurt, yeah he liked doing football now but in no way did that mean that he forgave his parents for being like that. The way waking up felt pointless and empty because the day would be filled with doing shit you had no fucking say in built up over years and crushed him with its void-like weight, soul sucking and soul crushing.

Sometimes he feels like he’d betrayed himself, his young self, the one who hurt his ankle and realised his parents didn’t really love him in the same few minutes, the one that desperately tried to be good so they’d keep loving him and more importantly each other, by learning to enjoy football in his own way. That petulant child kicked him on the inside, cleat covered foot driving its too-firm outsole into the backs of him eyes, reminding him of everything that drove him insane.

Yo didn’t really feel guilt about the resentment he harboured for his parents, no, he couldn’t. They really were exceptionally stupid, emotional creatures that were so desperate for the centre of the limelight that they just had to make a whole new person about it? He felt angry on behalf of his younger self too, how dare they do something so fucking selfish? How dare they play with him like he didn’t have his own personhood? How fucking dare they.

Ever since the incident on the stairs he’d doubted every ‘kind’ action they made, doubted the sincerity in them, doubted their motivations. It always felt forced but now he knew it absolutely was, there only just to fulfil his basic needs so he wouldn’t have a breakdown mid match or something, or god forbid, end up in therapy when he could be practising.

God it made him feel mental, how long could someone go without genuine human contact without losing it? He found out, sixteen years. Sixteen years and he still clung on. And he was mad he was clinging on, because he shouldn’t have to fucking cling to the edges of his stability with often-forced politeness, he deserved better.

And that’s why he would never go back home, when Blue Lock was over and he’d ultimately failed because being a striker wasn’t even his goal anymore he’d leave for Tokyo instead of home the second he was left unattended and disappear into the grey jungle and make it alone no matter what. Going home was the same as being stuffed back into a display home, and on top of that he’d have to deal with his parents coping with his failure.

The thought brought a smile to his face, actually, wouldn’t it be so fucking funny to watch their faces fall when his foot crossed the threshold? To watch as half of their lives crumbled into nothing with his very presence, to try and wrap their tiny minds around the fact they’d never get the spotlight they wanted. It was a gleeful feeling, to imagine they’d be crushed with hopelessness, folding under the weight of disappointment the same way he did when he realised he was only worth as much as his football was to them.

Often though, the anger and its accompanying vengeful joy shattered into pained fragments, stabbing and poking at him with an overwhelming sense of loss. If only his parents actually loved him, if only they could look at him and truly see him, witness his truth that strayed from the path they set out and still cradle him in their arms with love and sweet words.

It ached, that longing, constantly. Sometimes it was ignorable but most of the time he could tell it was there, looming over his head like the worst, most decrepit kind of shadow. An all consuming void that soaked up genuine praise like a parched sponge, but never felt full, never satiated. Sometimes he just craved to be held like he should’ve as a child.

Other times, that being most, the waves of anger intersected with the waves of sadness and they dulled each other out like opposite colours being mixed together, red and blue forced to co-exist in the childhood shaped hole in his mind. They cancelled out, filling the base of his being, the root of his psyche with a nothing colour that felt like it could block out the sun. That nothing feeling was so normal, it was everyday, it felt so weird because it was like walking around half deaf. The numbness didn’t feel like much, because he didn’t feel like much and he hadn’t for a very long time, the only breaks from it were filled with ugly feelings he’d rather ignore.

He felt tired a lot of the time, a consequence of the numbness sometimes and a result of his anger burning too bright at others. The tiredness after a bout of anger felt so bone deep, probably because it was, he had nowhere to put it and it dug through the fibres of his muscles and into his bone marrow and from the blood they produced the tiredness spread and filled him. Yo wished his anger could go somewhere, disappear off of his head like steam from water when he put his head on the pillow to finally sleep, he really wished it could.

Blue Lock felt like a monumental chore at first, playing along until he got far enough for his parents to not disown him instantly then quit and disappear. Oh, he wished he could disappear, pack his life into a bag or two and vanish from the face of the earth. Not only that, no, he wanted it to hurt. He wanted it to hurt his family, to watch them mourn the idea of their missing son, the tears they’d shed over their hopes dissolving in front of them as an intangible spectator. He wanted it to hurt him, to feel the guilt and the horrible impending doom of no longer existing as he stuffed clothes into bags until there was nothing left but the mementos that tied him to his parents that he would leave behind forever to collect dust in his empty room that was never really home.

It was a stupid childish fantasy, and a tragedy that he could only imagine half-genuine tears of half-genuine care being shed over him when he wasn’t there. But he could, if he wanted to, disappear into the city and never come back, be swallowed by its crowded streets never to be seen again.

It would be awful, the life of a teen runaway would never be easy, especially in the city. He’d considered the countryside too, miles of forest to hide in and less people to catch him. It would be easier to physically do too, to hop off the bus taking him back home, wait for it to leave and walk in the direct opposite of his house. But he wanted to live properly, live freely in society when he was of age and no longer required to be in his parent’s ‘care’, and he could only do that with a good job. Safe to say, he’d been planning this for a while, since he was a child.

God isn’t that awful? A childish plan that lasted so long it evolved, and all because two people decided to be selfish.

Yo sighed, the paper in front of him wasn’t getting any fuller, what a waste.

He wondered if his parents would’ve been happier if they hadn’t had him. Maybe they would’ve divorced and found something healthier to do with their time than reminisce, maybe his mother would’ve gone somewhere with her life instead of ending up as a miserable stay at home mother, maybe his father wouldn’t be so distant with her. Maybe, just maybe they would’ve moved on from their early peak and been happy.

And so, he felt guilty for existing sometimes, without him they could’ve moved on, had a happy life untethered by accomplishments they didn’t quite get, maybe even had a child they could love right. He kicked himself a little every time a ‘what if’ burrowed its way into his brain, that would never happen and thinking like that is useless because he’ll end up killing himself, and he intends to live long enough to abandon them.

Still, he rewatched the U-20 match sometimes, telling himself over and over that it was for the game play, but only focusing on the interviews at the end. With the glossy eyes of a child he’d watch them, watch as his peers spoke of their families, watch as their families spoke of his peers. There were highlights and social media posts that captured them embracing, the high emotions and the tears and the tight grip they had on one another that spoke of immense pride in them. 

Oh, he wanted that, he wanted it dearly because when they did it, it meant something, it was more than some self-congratulatory act. He wanted it, and he mourned all the times he never got it everyday.

And so, no matter what he’d leave them. No more watching himself from someone else’s perspective, no more living for anyone else, from the moment he stepped foot outside his parents property he’d become a member of the world’s loneliest club. The not going home club.

Yo gave up with the paper in front of him, putting the pencil down and taking his headphones off. The chatter had died down, everyone focusing on their work. Next to him, Isagi shuffled closer, their legs brushing. It was a small act but it fit a lot of worth into it, not going home meant finding a new one. He wouldn’t be alone.

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thanks for reading ily <3