#but she turned out surprisingly well!!!!!!

[zyafics]

GIRL VERSUS CAT | Rafe Cameron

LOOKBOOK | MAIN MASTERLIST (Blurb)

Pairing – Rafe x Mermaid!Female Reader

Summary — When you come back to Tannyhill and find a cat.

Word Count — 0.8K

Content — fluff, protective!Rafe, Wheezie has a little attitude, and you are clingy (literally).

Coming back to Tannyhill should be smooth. Gone for a couple of days, it shouldn’t have changed much, especially given that your absence was almost obsolete in the grand scheme of things.

You hadn’t expected the cat.

An additional member of the family, Wheezie decided she wanted to adopt a cat a couple of days prior. It was going relatively well—well-trained, ultimately welcoming, and somewhat needy at times, but that’s normal. In fact, it adores every single member of the household.

Except you.

Upon entry, following behind Rafe, the cat immediately tracks you. Its ears raise at the sound of your footsteps, the smell of your scent, as if it knows—it knows what you truly are—and instantly meows. A few steps in, it jumps off the cushioned seat and races towards you with charged vigor.

Your eyes widen at the fast-approaching predator, and without a second thought, leap onto Rafe's back, climbing him like a tree.

“What is that? What is that?” You ask breathlessly, fear trembling in your voice as your legs wrap around Rafe’s torso, raising you off the ground. It came in a blink of an eye as the devious creature arrived at the foot of Rafe’s feet, blinking up at you while hissing viciously.

Rafe finds amusement in this situation. He hadn’t expected this reaction from Wheezie’s cat—which has been so docile and sedentary—but he remembers, to be fair, you are his favorite meal.

“It’s a cat,” Rafe explains with a low voice. “You haven’t seen one before?”

It hisses again, so loud, it makes you jump, letting out a little yelp as you climb higher on Rafe’s taunt body, shaking your head to his question.

“It’s not going to hurt you,”

“It’s trying to eat me,” you whimper in his ears, locking your arms around his chest to keep your body off the ground. But truly, gravity is a persistent enemy, and you’re slipping, slipping further and further down until the cat sees you in view and leaps upwards, trying to claw its way toward you.

Another shriek escapes you, and you climb further. Rafe realizes that while you—surprisingly—managed the ability of a natural climber, his hand slips under one of your thighs, anchoring you to him.

“Get it away, get it away, get it away,” you beg Rafe, soft and frantic voice swimming in his ear as labored breaths fan against the crook of his neck. Wheezie’s cat continues to claw towards you—subtly scratching at Rafe’s calves—but not enough to reach.

You still don’t trust it.

“Say please,” Rafe teases, stretching out the moment longer than necessary, enjoying the way you’re dependent on him.

“Please,” you beg, your bottom lip juts out in a natural pout, in a way that Rafe can no longer deny you.

With a sigh, Rafe turns to his little sister who's watching the scene unfold with mild suspicion.

“Can you take your cat somewhere else?” Rafe asks, his tone gentler in comparison to the way he speaks to Sarah.

“We were here first,” Wheezie frowns.

You let out another squeal; the cat had managed to jump and swing its paw, nearly missing your toes. You squeeze your arms tighter around Rafe’s neck, to the point of choking him.

Rafe grits his teeth, subduing the instinctual panic, before glaring at his younger sister. “Wheezie,” he warns.

The youngest Cameron sighs, slipping off the cushioned couch, and approaches the pair before scooping the cat in her arms, subduing her pet with gentle pats and head rubs. It doesn’t, however, subdue its hisses, and now almost to your level, it meets your eyes with a hostile glare.

You shrink, hiding yourself behind Rafe’s broad shoulders.

“They say pets are the best judge in character,” Wheezie comments, her hands stroking her pet who’s in a stare-off with you. She bumps her elbow against Rafe’s arm, lowering her voice a few octaves. “She might have a secret.”

Once she's out of earshot, Rafe mutters. “Yeah, she’s half fuckin’ fish."

Now, with the threat of the demon gone, you should release and find the ground. But you remain, clambered around his body, skin meeting skin, arms around his neck, and chin brushing the broad of his shoulders.

“Thank you,” you whisper gently, breathing leveling out, as he feels the gratitude submerge beneath his skin.

Rafe turns his head slightly, enough to meet your appreciative gaze. But he can’t help but notice the sparkle in your eyes; the way you look at him, as if he’s your protector, savior, and purpose all wrapped up in one.

His heart thumps a little louder.

“Yeah, don’t worry about it,” he murmurs. “You plannin’ on staying like this?”

Smiling demurely, you ask, “Can I?”

Rafe rolls his eyes, feigning annoyance, but truthfully, he’ll do nearly anything you ask of him with that smile. With a motion of his arm, he grabs your waist and pulls you into a bridal carry. A lithe laugh escapes you at the swift change in position, but once secured in his arms, Rafe cast one last look at your carefree expression and resumes the walk back to his bedroom.

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[fudgeez]

When the Nerd Takes Charge - Karina x Fem reader

Synopsis: Quiet bookworm Y/N, tired of being underestimated, clashes with queen bee Karina at a party. Karina's attempt to humiliate Y/N backfires when Y/N reveals a hidden seductive side, leaving Karina both shocked and captivated. The encounter sparks an unexpected obsession in Karina, dramatically shifting their dynamic.

Warnings: 18+ smut | men dni

(masterlist)

The bass thrummed through Y/N's chest, a dull vibration against her ribs, but it did little to drown out the anxious buzz in her head. Winter's parties were always a sensory overload, a kaleidoscope of flashing lights and shouting voices, a world away from the quiet corners of the library she usually inhabited. She clutched her beer bottle, the condensation cold against her palm, and tried to blend into the shadows.

Winter had insisted she come, promising it would be "fun," introducing her to Liz, Rei, and Mina. They'd been chatting, a comfortable bubble of familiarity in the chaos, but then, one by one, they'd vanished, pulled into the swirling mass of bodies, leaving Y/N alone.

Then, she saw them. Karina, a vision in a sleek, black dress, her laughter sharp and bright, cutting through the noise like a shard of glass. Her entourage, a pack of equally polished girls, trailed behind her, their eyes glittering with amusement. Y/N shrank back, hoping to become invisible.

"Well, well, well," Karina's voice, laced with a playful malice, echoed through the small space.

"If it isn't Winter's little bookworm. What are you doing hiding over here? Trying to decipher the meaning of life in a beer bottle?"

"Just... enjoying the music," Y/N mumbled, taking a nervous sip of her drink, not because of Karina’s presence, but because of socializing.

"Enjoying the music?" one of Karina's friends, a girl with bright pink hair, chimed in. "Or just trying to figure out how to invite people to your book club org?"

Karina's eyes, dark and knowing, narrowed. She leaned closer, the scent of her expensive perfume filling Y/N's nostrils.

"You know, Y/N," she purred, her voice low and dangerous, "I've always wondered... what's it like to be so... innocent?" She emphasized the word, drawing it out, her eyes flicking to Y/N's outfit, a polo and a pair of pants, and then back to her flushed face.

"Still a virgin?" one of the friends asked, laughing.

Y/N opened her mouth to speak, but the words caught in her throat.

"Seriously," Karina continued, her voice dripping with mock sympathy. "You're always so quiet, so... reserved. It's almost cute." She paused, a cruel smile playing on her lips.

"Almost, but pity you know no one wants to make out with you."

"Leave her alone, Karina," a voice cut through the tension. Winter, her brow furrowed, pushed her way through the crowd. "Y/N's my friend."

"Oh, come on, Winter," Karina scoffed, waving a manicured hand dismissively.

"We're just having a little chat. Aren't we, Y/N?" She turned back to Y/N, her eyes glittering with a predatory amusement.

"Or are you too busy cataloging the literary symbolism of spilled beer to participate in a real conversation?"

Y/N's fingers tightened around the neck of her beer bottle. The urge to shrink away, to disappear, was almost overwhelming. But something in Karina's taunting gaze, the way she seemed to relish Y/N's discomfort, sparked a flicker of defiance.

"A real conversation?" Y/N echoed, her voice surprisingly steady. "Is that what you call it? Because it sounds more like a poorly written character assassination."

A ripple of surprised laughter went through Karina's entourage. Karina's eyes narrowed, the amusement replaced by a flash of something sharper.

"Oh, so the bookworm has claws," she purred, her voice laced with a dangerous undertone. "I'm impressed. Though I suspect they're more like paper cuts."

"Maybe," Y/N replied, meeting Karina's gaze directly, "but paper cuts can be surprisingly painful, especially when you least expect them."

"And what exactly are you implying, Y/N?" Karina challenged, her voice low.

Before Y/N could respond, Winter stepped between them, placing a hand on Y/N's arm. "Karina, just drop it. Y/N's not in the mood for your games."

"Games?" Karina raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. "I'm simply trying to understand Y/N's... unique perspective. It's not every day you meet someone who prefers the company of fictional characters to real people." She gestured around the crowded room.

"Especially at a party like this."

"Maybe I prefer the company of characters who don't judge me for what I wear or who I choose to talk to," Y/N said, looking directly at Karina."Or who doesn't assume I'm a virgin just because I don't feel the need to broadcast my personal life."

A tense silence fell over the group. Karina's friends exchanged uneasy glances. Winter looked at Y/N with a mixture of surprise and admiration. Karina, however, simply smirked.

"Touché," she said, her voice dripping with a newfound respect. "But don't think this is over, bookworm. The night is still young." She turned to her friends, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Come on, girls. Let's find some real entertainment."

"You didn't?" Winter stared at Y/N, her mouth slightly agape, a mixture of disbelief and awe in her eyes. Y/N simply shook her head, a small, almost sheepish smile playing on her lips. "It's because of the alcohol," Y/N explained, gesturing vaguely with her beer bottle. "It loosened my tongue, I guess."

Winter's eyes widened further. "Loosened your tongue? You practically turned into a verbal ninja! I've never seen you stand up to Karina like that."

She paused, then added, a hint of concern in her voice, "Are you okay? You seem…different."

Y/N shrugged, taking another sip of her beer. "I'm fine. Just…tired of being underestimated, I suppose." She glanced around the room, the swirling mass of bodies and flashing lights suddenly seeming less intimidating. "And maybe a little tired of being alone in corners."

"Well, you're definitely not alone now," Winter said, giving her a reassuring smile. "And if Karina tries anything else, I'll be right there."

"Thanks," Y/N said, a genuine warmth spreading through her. "But I think I can handle her now." She paused, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Besides, I have some new material for my next book club meeting. 'How to verbally disarm a mean girl with the power of literary references.' "

Winter burst out laughing. "That's perfect! You should totally do that." She paused, then her eyes lit up. "Hey, you know what? Let's ditch this corner and actually enjoy the party. Liz, Rei, and Mina are probably still out there, somewhere…making out, as Karina so eloquently put it." She made a face, then grabbed Y/N's arm.

"Come on, let's find them. And maybe some better music."

As they navigated through the crowd, Y/N felt a sense of lightness she hadn't experienced in a long time. The alcohol, combined with the adrenaline of her confrontation with Karina, had given her a newfound confidence. She found herself actually enjoying the energy of the party, the laughter and music no longer feeling like a threat, but rather a vibrant backdrop to her own newfound boldness.

Meanwhile,

"Look who it is," said the pink-haired girl from Karina's group, her eyes fixed on Y/N. "The bookworm's trying to blend in with the cool kids."

Another girl from the group, with dark, heavily lined eyes, snickered. "Yeah, like she even knows how to dance. She probably thinks a 'club mix' is a literary analysis of a social gathering."

Karina, who had been lingering nearby, turned her attention to the scene. A slow, predatory smile spread across her face.

"Well, well, well," she drawled, her voice carrying over the music. "It seems our little bookworm is trying to break out of her shell. How…adorable."

"Karina," the pink-haired girl continued, her voice rising with a hint of urgency. "She totally dissed you back there. In front of everyone. We can’t let her get away with that. She’s a loser.”

The dark-eyed girl added, "Yeah, she thinks she's so clever. We have to teach her a lesson. Show her who's really in charge. We should test if she's really a virgin."

Karina's smile widened, a glint of something dangerous in her eyes. "You're right," she said, her voice low and smooth.

"We can't have our little bookworm thinking she can challenge the queen, can we?" She paused, her gaze locking onto Y/N, who was now laughing and dancing with Winter, a beer in her hand. "Let's give her a little…demonstration."

She turned to her friends. "I have an idea.” 

Karina never expected her plan for Y/N to backfire like this. She couldn't tell if it was good karma or bad.

"You know, Karina, I've been dying to teach you a lesson. You're such a bitch, acting like some kind of angel," Y/N said in a raspy voice, kissing Karina's neck. Her hand slid beneath Karina's dress, sending shivers down her spine.

"Don't tease me," Karina said, but Y/N just laughed, slowly unzipping Karina's dress and effortlessly unclasping her bra strap. Karina gasped as Y/N cupped her breast.

Y/N's touch was both gentle and demanding, her fingers tracing the curve of Karina's breast, sending a jolt of electricity through her body. Karina's breath hitched, a soft moan escaping her lips. She had always been the one in control, the one who dictated the terms, but now, she found herself at the mercy of Y/N's touch, her carefully constructed facade crumbling. How? Karina thought, a flicker of confusion mixing with the rising desire. How does this…this bookworm know exactly what to do?

"You like that, Karina?" Y/N whispered, her voice a low growl against Karina's ear. "Do you like knowing someone else is in charge?"

Karina's eyes fluttered closed, a wave of heat washing over her. She couldn't deny the thrill, the forbidden pleasure of surrendering control. "Yes," she breathed, her voice barely audible.

It shouldn't feel this good, a voice in her head whispered, especially not from her.

Y/N's lips trailed down Karina's neck, leaving a trail of fire in their wake. Her hand moved lower, slipping beneath the waistband of Karina's skirt, her fingers tracing the delicate curve of her hip. Karina gasped, her body arching involuntarily. This isn't possible, Karina's mind raced, she’s too…experienced.

"You're so beautiful, Karina," Y/N murmured, her voice thick with desire. "So powerful. But even queens have their weaknesses, don't they?"

With a swift, practiced movement, Y/N unhooked Karina's skirt, letting it pool at her feet. Karina stood before her, clad only in her lingerie, her body trembling with a mixture of fear and anticipation.

Y/N's eyes raked over her, a predatory gleam in their depths. Where did she learn this? Karina wondered, her thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and arousal. This isn’t the awkward, innocent girl I thought she was.

"Now," Y/N whispered, her voice laced with a dangerous promise, "let's see how far you're willing to go." Karina's mind was a chaotic mess.

The girl she’d always dismissed as a quiet, unassuming nerd was now commanding her attention, her body, with a confidence that both terrified and thrilled her. The contrast was jarring, and it made the encounter even more intoxicating.

Karina's breath hitched as Y/N's gaze lingered on her exposed skin. How can she look at me like that? she thought, a strange mix of vulnerability and excitement coursing through her. Y/N's eyes, usually hidden behind a veil of quiet observation, now burned with an intensity that made Karina's knees weak.

"You're so tense," she murmured, her voice a low, soothing hum. "Relax, Karina. Let go."

Y/N leaned in, her lips brushing against Karina's ear. "Tell me, Karina," she whispered, her voice laced with a playful challenge. "Are you still so sure I'm a virgin?"

Karina's mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. She wanted to deny it, to reclaim her power, but the words caught in her throat. The evidence was undeniable. Y/N's touch, her confidence, her knowledge of Karina's body – it all spoke of experience, of a hidden depth that Karina had never suspected.

"I…I don't understand," Karina stammered, her voice barely a whisper.

Y/N chuckled, a low, throaty sound that sent a shiver down Karina's spine. "Maybe," she whispered, her lips trailing down Karina's neck, "you're not supposed to."

She nipped gently at Karina's skin, eliciting a soft moan. "Just feel, Karina," she murmured. "Just let go."

 Y/N's lips crashed down on hers, a hungry, demanding kiss that sent a wave of heat through Karina's body. The world outside the room faded away, leaving only the two of them, locked in a dance of desire and discovery. The kiss deepened, Y/N's tongue exploring the depths of Karina's mouth, eliciting a soft moan.

Karina's hands, initially hesitant, now gripped Y/N's shoulders, pulling her closer, desperate for more. The taste of Y/N, the feel of her skin against hers, the raw, undeniable power radiating from her – it was all so overwhelming, so intoxicating.

"You taste so good, Karina," she murmured, her voice thick with desire. She moved lower, her lips tracing the curve of Karina's breast, her tongue swirling around the sensitive peak. Karina's body trembled, her hands gripping the sheets, her nails digging into the soft fabric. A wave of pleasure washed over her, so intense it almost brought tears to her eyes. 

"Please, Y/N," Karina pleaded, her voice trembling as Y/N teased her clit with her fingers. Y/N couldn't help but tease Karina, enjoying the sight of the notorious mean girl begging for her touch. "And what's the magic word, Karina?" Y/N whispered, her voice laced with amusement. Karina's cheeks flushed crimson, a mixture of shame and raw desire warring within her. She had never begged for anything in her life, let alone for pleasure.

But Y/N's touch, the way she expertly teased and tormented her, had stripped away her carefully constructed defenses, leaving her raw and exposed.

"Please," she whispered again, her voice thick with desperation. "Please, Y/N, I need this."

Y/N's lips curled into a playful smirk. "That's better," she murmured, her fingers continuing their tantalizing dance. "But you're still missing something."

Karina's breath hitched, her body trembling with anticipation. "What?" she breathed, her voice barely audible.

"Say my name," Y/N whispered, her voice a low, seductive growl.

"Beg for me, Karina."

A wave of heat washed over Karina, her pride battling with the overwhelming need for release. She had always been the one in control, the one who demanded obedience. But now, she found herself on her knees, begging for the very thing she had always denied herself.

"Y…Y/N," she stammered, her voice trembling. "Please, Y/N, please…I need you."

Y/N's eyes darkened, a predatory gleam in their depths. "Good girl," she murmured, her voice laced with a dark satisfaction. "Now, let's see how much you really want it."

With a sudden, decisive movement, Y/N increased the pressure, her fingers moving with a practiced rhythm that sent a wave of pleasure crashing over Karina.

Karina cried out, her body arching off the bed, her nails digging into the sheets. The world around her dissolved, leaving only the sensation of Y/N's touch, the raw, unadulterated pleasure that threatened to consume her.

Karina's body shuddered, a series of tremors wracking her frame as she reached the peak of her climax. A strangled cry escaped her lips, a mixture of pleasure and disbelief. She had never experienced anything so intense, so raw, so utterly consuming.

Y/N's fingers continued their rhythmic dance, milking every last drop of pleasure from Karina's trembling body. She watched, her eyes dark and knowing, as Karina's body convulsed, her breath coming in ragged gasps.

As the aftershocks subsided, Karina lay limp, her body still humming with the afterglow of her orgasm. Her mind was a blank slate, her thoughts a jumbled mess of sensation and surprise. She had never imagined that she, the untouchable Karina, could be reduced to such a state of blissful surrender.

Y/N leaned in, her lips brushing against Karina's ear. "Was that good, Karina?" she whispered, her voice a low, seductive murmur.

Karina could only nod, her voice lost somewhere in the haze of her pleasure. She turned her head, her eyes meeting Y/N's. A flicker of something akin to awe crossed her face.

"How…?" she breathed, her voice barely audible.

Y/N chuckled, a low, throaty sound that sent a shiver down Karina's spine. "Let's just say," she murmured, her eyes twinkling with amusement, "I have a few hidden talents."

She paused, her gaze lingering on Karina's flushed face. "And," she added, her voice laced with a playful challenge, "I'm just getting started."

 A strange thought began to form in the back of Karina's mind. This wasn't just a one-time thing, a fleeting moment of weakness.

This…this was something else.

The way Y/N's touch had ignited her body, the way she had surrendered so completely, it was unlike anything she had ever experienced.

A dangerous, thrilling thought crept into her mind: This nerd…this is my new obsession.

[prettygirl-gabi]

Title: Styled for You

Pairing: Paige Bueckers x Reader

Rating: General Audience

Fandom: UConn Women’s Basketball

Summary: good thing you can do hair…professionally at that

Being a hairstylist while juggling college was already hectic enough, but somehow, I always found myself in the most unexpected situations. Today was no different.

I’d barely stepped out of my last class when my phone buzzed with an urgent text from Tasha, one of my mentors in the beauty industry.

Tasha: Hey girl, are you free right now? GQ is doing a shoot in Storrs, and their hairstylist had a family emergency. They need someone ASAP.

I frowned, pausing in the middle of campus.

Me: GQ?? As in, the magazine??

Tasha: Yes, girl! I gave them your name. They need someone who can handle working with athletes, and I told them you were perfect. Can you make it?

My heart pounded. This was huge. I’d done hair for some UConn athletes before, mostly for local shoots and sponsorship deals, but this was next level.

Me: Yeah, I can make it. Send me the details!

Within minutes, I had the location and a contact to check in with. I ran back to my apartment, grabbed my kit, and drove to the the main set up spot.

When I arrived at the Gample, everything was a whirlwind of movement. Crew members bustled around, cameras were set up, and racks of designer clothes lined the walls.

A woman with a clipboard and headset greeted me. “You’re the replacement hairstylist?”

I nodded. “Yeah, I’m Y/N. Tasha sent me.”

“Perfect. We’re shooting an athlete today. She’s in the dressing room. I’ll take you to her.”

I followed her through the studio, weaving past makeup artists and assistants. The dressing room door was slightly open, and I could hear a familiar voice inside.

The woman knocked lightly before pushing the door open. “Paige, your hairstylist is here.”

I froze in my tracks. Paige Bueckers.

UConn’s golden girl, superstar athlete, and—unbeknownst to me—my client for the day.

She turned, and when her eyes landed on me, a slow smile spread across her face. “Oh, this just got a whole lot better.”

I blinked. “Paige?”

“Hey, Y/N,” she said, leaning back in her chair. “Didn’t expect to see you here.”

“Trust me, neither did I,” I admitted, setting my kit down. “You’re my client?”

She nodded. “Yup. They asked if I had any hairstylist recommendations, and I told them about you. Then, I called Tasha and told her to tell you”

I stared at her. “Wait… you recommended me?”

Paige shrugged, like it was no big deal. “Yeah. You did my hair for that Madison Reed shoot a while back, and it was fire. Figured GQ should get the best.”

I felt my face heat up. “Paige… this is huge. You didn’t have to do that.”

She grinned. “I wanted to.”

Something about the way she said it made my stomach flip. But I pushed that aside, focusing on the job.

“Well, thanks for looking out. Now, let’s get you styled.”

Paige had a few outfit changes, and the stylist wanted a sleek, but natural look. I settled on a smooth, laid-back wave look that complemented her features.

As I worked, Paige was surprisingly chatty.

“So, do you like doing this? The whole hairstyling thing?” she asked.

I gently combed through her hair. “Yeah, I love it. It started as a hobby, but I realized I could make a career out of it. Plus, I like making people feel good about themselves.”

Paige smirked. “Well, you’re really good at it.”

“Thanks,” I murmured, focusing on curling a section near her face.

A few moments passed before she spoke again. “What about basketball? You a fan?”

I chuckled. “I go to UConn, Paige. It’s kinda impossible not to be a fan.”

“True, true,” she said. “But you got a favorite player?”

I arched a brow. “Why? You fishing for compliments?”

Paige laughed. “Maybe.”

I pretended to think. “I don’t know… Paige Bueckers is alright, I guess.”

She gasped dramatically. “Just alright?”

I grinned. “Yeah, she’s okay. I mean, I guess she can hoop or whatever.”

Paige shook her head, amusement dancing in her blue eyes. “Wow. Tough crowd.”

I laughed, finishing the last curl before running my fingers through her hair to give it that effortless look.

“Alright, you’re done. What do you think?” I turned her toward the mirror.

Paige studied herself, then nodded approvingly. “Damn, you really snapped. Again.”

I smiled. “Glad you like it.”

As I started packing up, she glanced over at the clothing rack. “Hey, real quick—help me pick an outfit?”

I raised a brow. “That’s not really my department.”

“I trust your opinion,” she said, standing up and moving toward the rack. “Here, tell me which one’s better.”

She held up two options: one was a tailored tan creamn-ish suit with a crisp white shirt, and the other was a more casual but still stylish yet simple blue and orange striped cropped sweater like shirt with shorts.

I tapped my chin. “Depends on what vibe you’re going for.”

Paige gave me a look. “Okay, but if I was trying to impress someone…”

I stilled, my fingers tightening around my comb. “Impress who?”

She smirked. “Hypothetically?”

I swallowed, suddenly feeling warm. “Yeah… hypothetically.”

She tilted her head, watching me. “Someone who appreciates good style. And maybe good conversation.”

Something about the way she was looking at me made my heart race. I pointed to the suit. “That one. It’s clean, classic, and confident.”

Paige grinned. “Good choice. Guess I’ll wear it, then.”

As she grabbed the suit and headed toward the dressing room, she paused in the doorway. “Hey, Y/N?”

“Yeah?”

She leaned against the frame, eyes flickering over me. “We should hang out sometime. Outside of you doing my hair.”

I blinked. “Like… hang out, hang out?”

She chuckled. “Yeah, like that.”

I bit my lip, trying to ignore the way my stomach flipped again. “I’ll think about it.”

Paige smirked. “Do that.” Then she disappeared into the dressing room.

I exhaled, realizing my hands were shaking slightly.

Working this gig was one thing. But catching the attention of Paige Bueckers?

Yeah. I definitely needed to think about that.

By the time the shoot wrapped, I was exhausted but buzzing with energy. Watching Paige in front of the camera had been mesmerizing—she carried herself with this effortless cool that made it clear why she was a star.

I was packing up my kit when she walked back into the dressing room, grinning. “Guess what?”

I glanced up. “What?”

“They’re letting me keep some of the clothes.” She held up an orange, cargo-style jacket, the one she’d worn for a few shots. “And I’m giving this to you.”

I blinked. “Me?”

“Yeah.” She tossed it at me playfully, and I caught it against my chest. “Call it a thank you for coming through last minute and making me look good.”

I scoffed, holding it up. “You already look good. My styling was just a bonus.”

Paige smirked. “Still. I want you to have it.”

I ran my fingers over the material, feeling oddly sentimental. “This is GQ-level clothing, Paige. You sure?”

She nodded. “Positive. Plus, it looks better on you anyway.”

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t help the warmth spreading through me. “Thanks.”

She grinned. “Now, what are you doing for the rest of the night?”

I sighed, stretching. “Probably crashing. Today was unexpected.”

Paige hummed in thought. “Wanna hit Target first? Late-night snack run?”

I raised a brow. “You trying to procrastinate your athlete bedtime?”

She grinned. “Maybe. But I also just wanna hang out.”

I hesitated for half a second before shrugging. “Alright, but you’re not dragging me into the candy aisle for thirty minutes.”

Paige gasped. “Why would you assume I’d do that?”

“Because you did last time I saw you at Walgreens,” I deadpanned.

She laughed, grabbing her keys. “Okay, fair. Let’s go.”

Target at 10:45 PM should be illegal.

Between the eerie quiet and the fluorescent lighting, it felt like we were sneaking around. Paige, of course, treated it like a personal playground, tossing snacks into the cart like she was on a game show.

“Do you actually need all of this?” I asked, watching her throw in another bag of chips.

She grinned. “Absolutely.”

I snorted, shaking my head. “You’re ridiculous.”

“You love it, though,” she shot back.

I tried not to react to that, instead pushing the cart toward the refrigerated section. “Let’s just get our stuff and go before security starts side-eyeing us.”

By the time we left, we had way more snacks than necessary.

My dorm was quiet when we got back, my roommate conveniently out of town for the weekend. Paige flopped onto my bed like she owned the place, kicking her shoes off and stealing a pack of Oreos from the bag.

“You’re just gonna make yourself comfortable, huh?” I teased, setting the orange jacket on my desk.

Paige grinned. “Absolutely. Your bed is comfy as hell.”

I rolled my eyes but let it slide, grabbing my own snack before sitting beside her.

We ended up talking about everything and nothing.

Paige told me about practice, the stress of balancing school and basketball, and her love-hate relationship with social media. I told her about my classes, crazy clients, and the occasional bridezilla from the weddings I worked on.

At some point, the conversation slowed, leaving us in a comfortable silence. I was scrolling through my phone when Paige spoke.

“You know I meant it, right?”

I glanced at her. “Meant what?”

“That I wanted to hang out. Not just tonight.”

I swallowed. “Oh.”

She sat up, turning to face me fully. “I, uh… I kinda have a crush on you.”

I felt my heart stutter. “Paige—”

She rubbed the back of her neck, looking uncharacteristically nervous. “I’ve had one for a while, actually. Since the first time you did my hair. But I didn’t know how to say anything.”

My stomach flipped. “You… like me?”

Paige gave me a sheepish smile. “Yeah.”

I stared at her, my mind racing. I hadn’t let myself think too much about the way she made me feel, always chalking it up to admiration or friendship. But now, sitting here, it was undeniable.

I liked her too.

I took a breath, gathering my courage. “I like you too, Paige.”

Her eyes widened slightly. “For real?”

I laughed. “Yes, for real. I just… didn’t think you’d feel the same.”

She let out a breath, grinning. “Well, damn. I was nervous for nothing.”

I smiled, feeling warmth spread through me. “Guess so.”

Paige hesitated, then reached for my hand, intertwining our fingers. “So… does this mean I get to take you on a proper date?”

I squeezed her hand, my heart racing. “I’d like that.”

Her grin widened. “Good. ‘Cause I’ve been waiting for an excuse.”

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t fight the smile on my face.

This night had taken the most unexpected turn.

And honestly?

I wouldn’t have it any other way.

---

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                 -Thank You For Reading!🩵🩶

                             -prettygirl-gabi🎀✨️

[iamnotoriginalphil]

That Italicized Oh Feeling (Olivia Benson x f!Reader)

Synopsis: Once Babs points it out to her, Liv has a hard time denying what's staring her right in the face. Why does she seem to have all the symptoms of a crush around you?

Words: 5.9k

Warnings: Normal SVU cases, swearing, jealousy, alcohol

Olivia wouldn’t have even thought about it if Babs hadn’t said anything. If Elliot hadn’t fed into it. If you hadn’t laughed in that way of yours, your eyes sparkling with mirth at the whole thing. It would have been so easy to continue on and never investigate any of those things about herself. She could have lived in blissful ignorance.

But your existence wouldn’t let her.

Keep mentioning you

“You can just ask her, you know?”

Olivia’s mouth snapped shut.

“Ask who?” she asked.

Your name made her still. Elliot was looking at her with that expectant gaze that made her shift her weight from foot to foot.

“Why would I ask her?” she asked.

“You keep bringing her up,” he replied.

She blinked, mouth snapping shut. Any argument was gone from her lips. She hadn’t thought she was bringing you up that often. It wasn’t even a conscious thought. But maybe she had.

Shaking her head, she turned away from him.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, El,” she said.

“You’re usually much more convincing,” he called after her retreating back.

Keep thinking about you

After a long day at work, Olivia knew that sinking down onto her couch with a large glass of wine might not be the cure to her thoughts, but it didn’t hurt. Her head fell back, a long sigh parting her lips before she took a long drink from her wine. Some cases ate at her more than others.

With her eyes closed, the image of you from that day flashed through her mind. The way she saw your heart break right there in front of her. Lips parting, eyebrows drawing together, eyes widening. The soft light hitting the tears gathering along your lower lids.

It was stupid how beautiful you were even when upset.

She took another long drink from her wine before standing up. Food was a good idea if she planned on drinking at the rate she was. Her mind flitted away from the task, wondering what you were eating tonight, if you were eating tonight, if you needed a drink as much as she did.

Placing the order for takeout, she sunk down again, cradling the glass in both hands, forearms resting against her thighs. Staring into the dark red liquid, she swirled it, trying to read what was to come in the future like it was tea leaves.

You’d done so well that day, fighting for the kids she hadn’t be able to be there for. Finding you in the precinct with a group of them, keeping them distracted and entertained as they waited for the parents to come find them, she’d let herself watch you. Even now she could see you. All soft smiles and patience, sweet voice and twinkling eyes. That image was burned in her head.

The knock on the door broke her form the replay of your actions that day. Standing, she opened the door, offering money to the delivery man before taking the food back inside. Sitting, she unpacked it, knowing she’d ordered more than she needed. But clutched in her hands was your favourite and she couldn’t even remember ordering it.

She ate the entire thing, working out why you loved it so much. It was almost like having you there with her. It was a surprisingly comforting thought.

Trying to impress you

Olivia wasn’t one to spend a lot of time in the gym. She’d done enough to always get through the physicals she had to, but it wasn’t her preferred hobby. That was, until she’d found out you liked to go down there when you were especially frustrated with a case to try and work it out of your system.

You were on the treadmill, steady pace as you glared. She could practically hear the gears turning in your head. Doing her best to act as if she wasn’t paying attention to you, she walked past, heading to the weight station.

She was strong. She knew she was. She wanted you to know it too.

Warming up, she glanced over her shoulder to find your head titled as you watched her. She shot you a small smile before she turned away, pretending to focus on her own workout.

She couldn’t understand the burning desire to show off in front of you. But she was willing to indulge it, if only to take the edge off so she could focus on the case too.

Taking her place at the bench press, she lay down. She focused on the weight in her hands, muscles working. It was easy to ignore your presence, even if she wanted to know if you were watching.

“Shouldn’t you have someone spotting you?”

She heaved the bar back onto the stand before sitting up. You were standing by her, sweat slicked skin and bright eyes, staring down at her.

“I’m fine,” she said, wiping the back of her hand over her forehead.

“Really? Because with weights like this you could do some serious damage,” you said, finger running along the bar her fingers has so recently been curled around.

“I can handle it,” she said.

“And as impressive as that is, I’ll just be wracked with guilt if I saw this and did nothing and you had an accident,” you said.

“You think I don’t have this?” she asked, a scoff of a question.

“Maybe.” You shrugged, “or maybe I just wanted an excuse to get a closer seat to the show.”

Heat spread over her skin. She lay back down, not having a smart remark, having gotten essentially what she wanted. You were completely focused on her as she showed off her strength. There was something addictive about doing it under your watchful gaze.

Gazing at you

Your head tipped back, the laugh on your lips light and airy. Your hair caught the morning light, shining like something out of a dream. Your lips were curled up in a delighted smile, all soft edges and sweet curves.

Olivia felt her heart constrict just looking at you, chin resting in the palm of her hand, pen clutched loosely in the other. She’d been watching long enough to know she was procrastinating her paperwork. You were a nice distraction.

You shook your hair back from your face. Leaning over, her eyes caught on the way the neckline of your shirt dipped. Shadows and light played over your skin and she found herself hypnotised. She couldn’t look away.

You were so beautiful.

Someone passed between you and her, breaking her gaze. Shaking her head, she looked back down at her report. It was hardly as captivating as you were.

A movement in her periphery, her eyes darted back up, finding you as you turned towards her. Your gaze landed on her and she watched as your lips pulled up on one side. She should have been embarrassed, being caught watching you. She would have.

But your eyes swept over her and she found herself preening. Leaning back, she offered more of herself to your gaze. She didn’t even think about it. She wanted you looking at her the way she looked at you.

A blaze of heat went through her.

Your smirk only made it worse. Turning away from her, she let the disappointment fade away, eyes lingering on you. There was no reason you should be so captivating, but she was finding it hard to look away.

She always seemed to find it hard to look away from you.

Seeking you out

Olivia was staring at the board, the faces of the victims staring back at her. Arms crossed over her chest, her lips pursed. Elliot was at his desk, watching her with that heavy gaze that always made her skin itch, like he could see more than she wanted him to.

You had taken the morning off. Something about an appointment you couldn’t get out of. Curiosity had been eating away at her all morning. Then, when you’d breezed in, it was with a cheery hello, nothing more. Now, sequestered upstairs, she could feel your presence even if she couldn’t see you.

“What’re you thinking?” Elliot asked.

Something he wouldn’t appreciate hearing.

“Didn’t someone have something on the fingerprints?” she asked.

“Yeah.” His eyes darted up to where she knew you were sitting.

It was all the excuse she needed.

You looked up from the food you were in the middle of consuming, a sub from the bodega down the street. Wiping your mouth on the back of your hand, you grinned. Something in her chest calmed, while butterflies erupted in her stomach.

“What’s up?” you asked, leaning back.

Something in her chest settled seeing you. She straddled the chair across from you, eyes sweeping over you. You let her without question.

“You had the report with the fingerprints, right?” she asked.

“Sure, it’s sitting on my desk,” you replied.

She watched you suck on your fingertip, tongue flicking over it to remove the sauce before you reached for a napkin. With your hollowed cheeks and your pretty eyes watching her, heat skittered over her skin.

“You need help finding it?” you asked.

“Your desk is a mess,” she said, letting herself smile at you.

“Organised chaos,” you shot back, “c’mon Benson. Surely you can find a measly file on your own.”

“Indulge me,” she said.

“I always do.” Your hand lingered on her shoulder as you passed by.

“Subtle,” Elliot said as she walked past, following you back to your desk.

She ignored him, the idiot, refusing to admit to what he was saying. Or implying. Wanting you to join them help put another predator behind bars wasn’t weird. It didn’t have to mean anything.

It didn’t.

Protective

The man shouldn’t have even managed to get into the building. Let alone with a gun. He should have been stopped before he could even enter the building. Someone was going to have their ass handed to them.

But he was practically foaming out the mouth, shouting for someone, his face a splotchy red.

Olivia had been standing with you, grabbing a cup of coffee, chatting about your plans for the weekend. She wouldn’t say she’d been fishing for information but she did keep prodding for answers. She was curious about what you got up to outside of work. There was no way she would admit to thinking about it as often as she did.

At first, she’d ignored the shouting, nudging you to keep talking. With her eyes on you, it was easy to block out the rest of the world. You smiled and she found herself leaning closer.

When the first shot rang out, she couldn’t ignore it anymore.

It was instinct, the way she reached out, forcing you down. Her body covered yours, eyes scanning over the precinct, trying to find where the shots were coming from. Your fingers curled around her forearm, digging in.

She crowded you back against the wall, hidden under the table. A roar punctured the air. She could feel the tremble in your body, keeping herself between you and the danger. She wasn’t about to let anything happen to you.

He crashed through the doors, huge and imposing, lunging forward as he screamed. Your sharp inhalation of breath was loud to her ears, even with the rage. The gun in his hand was being waved around indiscriminately.

It was Elliot who took him down. Of course it was. Testosterone meets testosterone.

She extended a hand to you, helping you to your feet once the man had been disarmed and thrown in lock up. She could feel the tremble in your hand. When your gaze met hers, it was wide eyed, the glisten of tears already receding.

“Don’t you ever do that again,” you said, hand hitting her bicep.

“Do what?” she asked.

“Put yourself in danger,” you said.

She might be able to tell your legs were shaking, but your lips were pressed together and you were fierce. It took her breath away.

“Reflex,” she said with a small shrug.

“I can’t have anything happen to you,” you said, “what would I do if it did?”

Something warm bloomed in her chest.

Butterflies

You laughed, bright and happy, fingers curling around the drink she’d just deposited in front of you. Closing a case always brought out this lighter side in you, like a weight had been lifted from your shoulders and you could breathe again. She slid into the booth beside you.

Your thigh was pressed against hers, shoulder brushing her. You were leaning over the table, uncaring of how sticky it was from spilled beer and drunken antics. Elliot was leaning back, debating you about the joys of living in a dorm at college.

“You’re coming at it from the perspective of a father,” you said.

“Well, I have to,” he said back.

“Consider how much growing your kids will go through. They’ll learn to be adults when they don’t have the crutch of you and Kathy to fall back on,” you said.

“That’s what I’m worried about,” he said.

“Wouldn’t it be nice not to do their laundry?”

He just raised an eyebrow at you.

“Liv, back me up here.”

You turned to her, grinning right in her face. It happened in a moment, the flutter of something exploding in her stomach. She blinked, looking down at you, not sure what to do with the feeling. You were still smiling. Each bump of your shoulder only made it worse.

You turned away, but your hand landed on her thigh as you tried to lean further over the table, using it to steady yourself. It was like a shot went off in her heart. It was making it impossible to follow the conversation.

“None of you are fun,” you said, falling back in your seat, reaching for your drink, letting her leg go.

“Or maybe we all appreciate not living in close quarters with other young people,” Munch said.

“I guess I’m the only one who had any fun in college,” you said.

Your hand landed back on her thigh as you shifted, the butterflies going crazy in her stomach. She lent into it, letting herself feel every flap of their wings. With you, it was a pleasant feeling.

Leaning closer

Sitting together in the car, Olivia was doing her best not to keep glancing over at you. Your gaze was trained out the windshield, staring at the front door of the building the both of you were watching. She’d found herself doing that a lot, stealing glances at you when you weren’t likely to look back.

“Who do I have to screw to get a place like this?” you asked, “sorry, that’s not appropriate. Ignore me. I’m tired.”

“Someone with a lotta money,” she replied.

You turned to look at her, lips already pulling up into a smile. She could see how tired you were, dark circles beneath your eyes. It was the early hours of the morning, still dark enough for the street lamps to be lit. She liked you like this, a little loose, a little less filtered than usual.

She liked seeing the inside of your brain.

“Know where I can find one of them?” you asked.

“If I knew that I wouldn’t be out here. I’d be in there, sleeping easy,” she said.

“No you wouldn’t,” you laughed.

She laughed too, finding herself tipping towards you. You were already leaning towards her, head bent like your conversation was intimate. Her eyes dipped down to your lips then back up. Your fingers brushed over the back of her hand.

“You could never give up this job,” you said, voice quiet, “you’ll never stop fighting for the victims.”

She found herself falling into the well of your gravity. You were looking at her like she was something impressive, something wonderful, and she found herself drawing closer. She wanted to feel the heat of your skin, the heat of your gaze, the heat of your admiration.

“That guy look shifty to you?” you said, breaking her out of her thoughts, your gaze having strayed over her shoulder.

She turned away, only just realising how close she’d grown to you. She hadn’t even noticed how far she’d lent towards you. And yet she had known she wanted to be closer.

It was probably for the best that the suspect decided then to try and sneak out. She didn’t have to investigate her feelings if she was distracted by the job.

At least that’s what she told herself.

Blushing

“Yeah yeah,” Olivia called to whoever was trying to hammer her door down.

She’d just closed a case, returning to her apartment to try and catch up on all the sleep she’d lost from her nights awake hunting the sick bastard who did that stuff to those women. Halfway to sleep, the knocking on her door was unappreciated. She was going to kick the ass of whoever had interrupted.

She pulled open the door, coming up short when it was you on the other side.

“Hey, sorry, I know it’s late,” you said.

It was the early hours of the morning but she wasn’t going to get pedantic with you.

“I just… I didn’t want to be alone tonight and so I came here,” you said, “I can go.”

“No, no.” She held the door open wider for you, “come in.”

You slipped past her into her apartment and she could see the heavy slump in your shoulders. You dropped onto her couch, a long sigh passing over your lips.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with me. We got the guy so I should be fine but every time I close my eyes I just see…” You passed a hand over your face.

“It happens. Some cases stick with us more than others,” she said, sitting beside you.

You fell towards her, head coming to rest on her shoulder. Your cheek pressed to the bare skin of her shoulder, warm and soft and lovely. The weight of it was comfortable. Her irritation dissipated, enjoying the feel of you there with her.

“You’re so good at this,” you sighed.

“Good at this?” she asked.

“Catching the bad guys, not letting it fuck you up,” you replied, “making me feel okay.”

“You are okay,” she replied, finding her fingers running through your hair.

You sat up, turning to look at her. Drawing your legs up, you rested your chin on your bent knees, your gaze sliding along her bare skin. She let you look your fill, not sure what you were seeing.

“How are you still so gorgeous even when you’re woken up in the middle of the night?” you asked, almost a sigh, a small laugh at the end, “it’s just not fair.”

She laughed, even as her cheeks heated. Shaking her head, she let her hair fall forward, hiding her blush from you. Your fingers ran along her forearm, more of a brush than a touch. Peeking up at you, she found you leaning closer.

“I bet you get told all the time, but you really are beautiful,” you said.

She felt herself blush harder.

“Sorry for coming here and waking you up,” you whispered, “you were the only one that was going to make me feel normal again.”

“You know you’re always welcome,” she said.

“Especially if I keep complimenting you?” you asked, lips pulling up into a small smile.

“Those don’t hurt,” she replied.

“Then I think you should know, this nightgown is making it hard to focus on your face,” you said.

Your fingers brushed the silk of her nightgown, right over the warmth of her thigh. Her face was on fire and your eyes were sparkling.

“It’s very pretty,” you murmured.

“Flatterer,” she scoffed.

You pulled back, curling up enough to rest your head on the back of the couch as you gazed at her.

“You mind if I crash on your couch? I know there’s not exactly a plethora of hours left tonight but… my place is too quiet,” you said.

“Let me get you a blanket.”

When she lay down in her own bed, the light from her living room chasing away the dark, she listened to the sound of you settling, wondering if her proximity gave you any comfort. She hoped it did.

Finding excuses to touch you

Olivia’s fingers were soft as they reached out, gently moving your hair out of your face. It had fallen as you’d lent forward, eyes scanning over the file she’d placed on your desk. You glanced up, lips quirking up into a smile. She snatched her hands away, clutching the edge of your desk as she lent against it.

Her fingers itched from the feeling of your soft skin against her fingertips. She was still close enough to feel your warmth. You weren’t even looking at her and she felt the impulse to reach out again.

You looked up at her again, from under your eyelashes.

“Good catch,” you said, “but look at this pattern.”

Her hand rested on your back as she lent forward, looking at the file with you. You lent into her touch, your cheek coming to rest on her bicep. Her heart stuttered in her chest, but you didn’t seem to even notice.

It was like the long nights when her head would drop onto your shoulder. She wouldn’t even think about it, tired and eyes itching, head heavy, sinking into you. When her defences came down she sought out your warmth, wanting to feel you breathe beneath her.

“Gonna go bring him in?” you asked.

You were gazing up at her, lips curling up in a small smile that had her head swimming. Her fingertips brushed over your cheek, brushing your hair away again. You lent into her touch, just until she snatched her fingers away again.

Something warm bloomed in her chest along with embarrassment.

“Good job,” she said before she swept out of the precinct to pick up the perp.

Feeling hot around you

A wolf-whistle rang out across the precinct. It was late enough that the place wasn’t busy. Olivia’s head snapped up, eyes darting from Elliot to the where his gaze was focused. He was leaning back in his seat, grinning as he turned his head towards her.

You were waving away the whistle, a shy smile on your face. In the floor length dress, clinging in all the right places, you were a thing of beauty. She found her breath tumbling over parted lips. A rush of heat went through her, leaving her reeling.

“I take it you’re not going to chase down our suspect,” Munch said.

“Not unless he happens to show up at the restaurant I’m going to. Or the show,” you said with a small shake of your head.

“Hot date?” Elliot asked.

“You offering?” you shot back.

You paused by Olivia’s chair, hip cocked, hand coming to rest on the back of it. You were close enough she could smell the scent of your perfume clinging to your skin. Her skin was heating just from having you so close dressed like that. Looking like that. Leaning forward just enough to draw her eyes to the shadow of the curve of your breast.

Heat washed over her. She felt sweat gather at the skin on the small of her back, climbing up the back of her neck, spreading across her chest. You weren’t even looking at her, resting against her desk as you talked to the boys. But she was so aware of you there, right in touching distance.

“Right, well, try not to have too much fun without me,” you said.

Your chin dipped down, catching her gaze. The wink you shot her went right through her, warmth spreading in her lower stomach.

“Have fun,” you said, voice lowering just for her.

Elliot was giving her another very knowing look once you’d disappeared into the Manhattan evening.

“What?” she snapped.

“You’re looking a little flushed there. Feeling hot under the collar?” he said, that self satisfied grin on his stupid mug.

“Go chase up the ME report.”

His laughter haunted her, cooling the fire you’d left in her veins.

Craving your attention

“And why would they do that?”

Olivia was watching you from her desk, pen clenched between her teeth. You were sitting on Munch’s desk, feet continually kicking at his chair as you stirred your coffee.

“To keep the masses from realising they hold the power to control their destiny in their hands,” Munch replied, “wake up to the group mind think they force us to live in.”

“Sure but… why?” you asked.

The curl of your lips told her you were teasing him, just feeding into his conspiracy theory riddled mind. Still, she would have liked for you to be playing with her instead. She could be just as fun.

“Mass control of the population lets them test experimental drugs for biowarfare in third world countries,” he replied.

“Right. So why did they kill JFK?” you asked.

You didn’t even look at her.

“He was going to shake things up. Watch the way people responded to him. They loved him. He was going to end the mass control before they could pump chemicals into our drinking water,” he replied.

Why weren’t you looking at her?

“Now I’m being poisoned too? When will the madness end?” You scrunched up your nose at him.

Why weren’t you asking her?

“When we can all see the truth they work so hard to obscure,” he said.

She watched you make eye contact with Fin, a shared eye roll she wasn’t invited to partake in. Why wasn’t she invited? Why were you ignoring her? Had she done something to piss you off?

“Keep making that face but you’ll wish you had your freedom soon,” Munch said.

She wanted you to look at her.

“And when I do, you’ll be my first port of call,” you said, patting him on the shoulder.

She wanted you to touch her.

“Now, I’m going out for lunch. If you need me, no you don’t,” you said.

She wanted to get lunch with you.

You left her disappointed. Sweeping out of the precinct, she felt herself stewing in her want. She felt itchy, a desperation clawing up her throat, choking her with want. She wasn’t used to this feeling, a craving she couldn’t seem to sate. No amount of your attention was ever enough, even when she gorged herself on it.

She wanted to drown in it. To revel in it. To let herself split apart from how much of it she received.

Being denied was a feeling she wasn’t able to reconcile. An ache in her bones, a pang in her gut, a twist in her heart.

She was driving herself mad.

Flirting

Sliding into the chair across from you, Olivia glanced down at the paper you were reading.

“Defenestrate. Three down.”

You glanced up, the smile ready on your face. Her foot nudged yours under the table.

“Smarty pants,” you said, but it was so soft it made her heart squeeze.

A flash of blue had her reaching out, grasping your hand. With a soft brush of her fingertip, she smeared the ink stain on your skin.

“Having fun there?” you asked, a slight prod, teasing her as her finger continued to trace over your skin.

“I can think of something more fun to do with you,” she replied.

Your gaze swept over her as she looked up at you from under her eyelashes. Your eyes were sparkling, badly hidden amusement on your face.

“Did you need something from me, detective?” you asked, voice lowering.

She lent closer, her fingertips finding the pulse in your wrist. She could feel it thrumming, fast enough to let her know you weren’t as cool as you appeared. You pressed your wrist more firmly into her touch.

“Am I making you nervous?” she asked, almost a whisper, forcing you to lean closer to catch her words.

“Beautiful women always make me nervous,” you replied.

You were so much better at this than she was.

Her fingers returned to your hand, threatening to intertwine with yours. Her foot nudged at yours again, a gratified purring in her chest when you let yours rest against hers. You were leaning closer, that small smile on your lips ruining her.

“Must be difficult when you look in the mirror then,” she said.

You laughed, soft and beautiful and fond. Your hand moved forward, linking your fingers through hers. Her heart stuttered in her chest.

“How about you follow me home so you can find out?” you said.

You were definitely better at this than she was.

“Gonna protect me from all the big bad beautiful women?” you asked.

“How about some hands on exposure therapy?” she suggested.

“Careful, Liv, or I’ll think you’re serious,” you said.

You flipped your newspaper over to her as you drew your hand back. Standing, you shot her a wink before making your way down the stairs. She looked down at your half finished crossword.

Maybe she was beginning to be serious.

Getting jealous

The air of celebration was palpable. The sick pervert had been put away for a long time and the team had rolled into the usual bar. You were grinning from ear to ear, your laughter coming easy, shoulders loose and light.

And you were talking to Alex.

Olivia had been keeping half an eye on you through the night, the itch to monopolise your attention back. You were so beautiful when you were full of joy. She wanted to celebrate with you.

Instead, you’d ended up in a shadowy corner, Alex’s lips at your ear as she whispered something to you. Your smile was naughty, and when you laughed it was throaty.

Heat crept over Olivia’s skin and something in her stomach clenched. Her fingers tightened around the glass of her beer. You tipped your head closer to Alex, dragging your eyes up to meet hers as a smirk flirted with the corner of your lips.

Alex’s hand reached out, making contact with yours, sliding up, lingering longer than was appropriate. You shifted your weight, growing closer to her. When you took a sip from your own drink, she watched blue eyes focus on your mouth.

“That’s a sour look for someone who just took another perv off the street.”

It was a struggle to tear her eyes from you, focusing on Elliot again. The look he was giving her was so full of understanding it almost made her hit him. She didn’t like the clawing feeling in her chest. The whole thing was getting ridiculous.

“Mind your own damn business,” she said.

“Bet you wouldn’t be saying that to her,” he said, lifting his drink in your direction.

“You don’t know that,” she said.

You laughed again, stealing her attention and her gaze. Alex tucked your hair behind your ear, unaware of the daggers Olivia was glaring at her. You fluttered your eyelashes at her.

“Good thing looks can’t kill,” Elliot muttered, “although it looks like Alex might need witness projection again.”

“Keep talking like that and you’ll need it,” she snapped.

“Touchy,” he said, hiding his knowing smirk behind the neck of the bottle as he drank.

She drained the last of her beer then slammed the bottle down on the bar. Ignoring his continued prodding, she strode towards you. Your gaze was lazy as it dragged to her, your smirk deepening.

“I need to talk to you,” she said through gritted teeth.

“We’re in the middle of-“ Alex began to say before you cut her off.

“Sure.”

Olivia held Alex’s eye, a sense of triumph filling her. Your hand slipped into hers, tugging until she turned away, leading you somewhere more private. Somewhere you wouldn’t be interrupted. Somewhere she could be alone with you. The back corner of the bar. Away from prying eyes.

“What’s up?” you asked, leaning against the wall, looking up at her.

“You and Alex,” she said.

“What about me and Alex?” you asked.

She gave you a look, unimpressed, not playing games with you. She didn’t have the patience. Not as her heart began to tear itself apart just remembering the way the blonde had touched you.

“Am I not allowed to have other friends?” you asked, “or am I not allowed to flirt with other women?”

“So you were flirting?” she asked.

“I didn’t know I had a reason not to,” you said.

That shut her up pretty quickly.

“Liv.” Your voice softened, “what’s going on?”

She hated the pity, the softness, the uncertainty. It scrapped against the jagged edges of the sharp feeling in her chest. Shoving your shoulders against the wall, she looked down at you, really taking you in. She let herself feel it all, all the things she’d been pushing down for months, all the little things she’d begun to take notice within herself, all the things that led back to you. And all you did was look up at her with your pretty eyes and pretty lips, waiting, waiting so patiently.

So she kissed you.

Luckily for her, you kissed her back, hands sliding around her waist, pulling her closer. You didn’t try to stop her or question her. All she knew was that she’d been wondering what it would be like to kiss you for longer than she’d been able to admit to. And now she was.

You sighed into her mouth, such a nice sound it made her kiss you deeper. You were so soft against her, even as you kissed her with a mouth she hadn’t known you’d possessed. Dirty and hot, making her feel weak and desperate, even as you gave her what she wanted. She wanted more.

You made her greedy for things she couldn’t put into words.

She whimpered when you drew away, wanting more, ever more, from you. You were looking at her like she was something precious, like you were blowing her mind, like you understood her hunger.

“Liv,” you sighed.

“Can’t we just?” She lent forward to kiss you again.

You laughed, your hands on her shoulders keeping her back. The sharp sting of rejection bit at her skin until she saw the way you were gazing at her. Your fingers were soft as you tugged on the ends of her hair, fond and easy.

“I’m afraid I’m going to be annoying and ask you what’s going on again,” you said.

“I…” She didn’t have an easy answer.

“Is it maybe that you don’t want me flirting with anyone who isn’t you?” you prompted.

“No, you’re allowed to flirt with whoever you like,” she said.

“But you’d like it if it was you I wanted to flirt with,” you said, not asking, the confident tilt to your head both frustrating and endearing.

“You’re not making this easy on me,” she said.

“I really like you Liv, but I thought I wasn’t your… type,” you said.

“I’m beginning to think I don’t know what my type is,” she said.

Your fingertips brushed over the apple of her cheek, gentle in a way she wasn’t used to. With men, it wasn’t quite like this. It wasn’t so… soft.

It was hard to believe she’d been living without this for so long.

“All I know is that the way I feel about you can only mean one thing,” she said.

“What’s that?” you asked.

“Babs might have been right about some things.”

She muffled your laughter with her next kiss.

[niningtori]

our deal | preview

pairing: choi beomgyu x you

summary: beomgyu has it all. like, he's popular, handsome, rich, smart, funny, cool, tall, well-connected, and charming, if he's being perfectly honest. so when he finally settles down with a girl named yeji, he's utterly humiliated when she dumps him out of nowhere for another guy. in his desperation, he realizes there is only one girl on campus who has the ability to make yeji see what she's missing out on—the campus's very own resident misandrist: you.

genre: MAYBE smut (mdni) (if i feel like it but it'll be suggestive at the very least), romance, fake dating, fluff (probably rily corny but idgaf), prob a tiny bit of angst (likeeee have u even met me...), enemies to lovers kinda

warnings: some allusions to reader's vague past trauma with men but nothing specific

word count: tbd

release date: tbd

notes: probably the corniest thing i'll ever post on here but idc the girls that get it get it

-

“you’re a natural at this, you know? it’s almost like you actually like me,” he teases, and there’s a hint of hope in his words that he doesn't even realize is there.

“don’t be gross,” you hiss, but your face remains strangely pleasant as you do it. beomgyu can only hold back his disappointment so as to maintain the illusion of the loving couple you two are supposed to be, all while yeji’s stare burns into the two of you.

“c’mon, let’s pretend we’re flirting or something. act like i just said something funny.” surprisingly, you giggle. it’s a sound he’s never heard before from you, and he inexplicably wants to hear it again and again, especially in a genuine context. you lean in even closer as you whisper back, your breath warm in his ear.

“god, this is so fucking boring.”

“cry about it. we’ve got yeji right where i want her,” he says with a forced chuckle as he fights to maintain the facade, despite his annoyance.

“pig,” you retort with faux sweetness as you equally struggle to appear as enamored with him as you're supposed to be.

“crybaby.”

you two break apart as your professor comes in. you turn your attention towards her, but beomgyu can’t help but spend the duration of the class stealing glances at you, even when you pay him so little attention, he’s seemingly out of your stratosphere. when the class ends, the damage is done, and the whole class, and eventually the entire campus, is abuzz with rumors about how beomgyu is recently involved with the previously unattainable man-hater.

notes pt. 2: if u think this is corny literally close ur eyes n scroll i'm sensitive... but lmk if u wanna be tagged! also this is prob coming out after freudian

[matchalovertrait]

Aaand that's the end of Operation Fox! 🥳 Well done, team!! Thanks to the The Double Diamond agents of S.I.M.S. for showing us how it's done!

Start from the beginning (Gen 2)

Previous | Next

[It was Antonio knocking on the window! Once he got Dulce’s attention, he pointed at himself as if to say “it’s me!”]

DULCE: Antonio?? How???

[She opened the window to let him inside.]

[Antonio climbed through the window and that’s when Dulce noticed the... ledge? Thingy? Whatever that is. How’d he get up here? They’re on the second floor. Hold on, is he actually Spider-Man...]

ANTONIO: Why are you still here??? I was waiting for you to get out.

DULCE: I was getting the job done. I unlocked a safe and switched out the notebooks. We can go now.

ANTONIO: Oh. [Pause.] Well done.

DULCE: What were YOU doing? And what was all that noise in the hallways?

Story Time...

ANTONIO: Well before I did anything, I glanced at a tablet that one of the “guards” held. The idiots had their entire schedule on display, which confirmed my beliefs: They’re not actual, qualified ones. Meaning, they likely weren’t that threatening.

“DOG-WALKING GIG” “BUILD IKEA FURNITURE GIG” “PRETEND BOYFRIEND GIG” “TUTORING GIG” “FAKE SECURITY GUARD GIG”

ANTONIO: Still, I exercised caution. I stealthily walked to one of the rooms and closed it as loud as possible. Then, those two ran to the locked door and demanded I let them in. “Guests aren’t allowed in the rooms,” they said.

ANTONIO: I took a risk and posed as Caruso through the locked door. I do a surprisingly convincing Italian accent, by the way. I told them I was changing into a spare costume and to leave me alone.

ANTONIO: They wouldn’t budge at first and pounded at the door—I might’ve threatened to have Isabela deduct their pay. Anyway, they backed off but they got too quiet for my liking.

ANTONIO: I exited through the sliding door to access the ladder outside. I remembered the “blueprints” Matth- I mean “Fuego” had access to. I knew it was only a matter of time before “security” brought the real Caruso.. Or possibly Isabela, if she’s here.

ANTONIO: Once on the roof, I paced around and kept an eye out for you.

ANTONIO: I expected you to leave soon, but I didn’t see you. So, I made my way over here to check what was wrong. It was not easy getting down from the roof... there isn’t a ladder on this side.

DULCE: Well, we should go now if the guards have reported this! Come on!

[The two headed out the window, making sure to lock it to cover their tracks.]

DULCE: Wow, we’re so high up.

[Dulce smiled. It would be a dangerous climb, but the adrenaline was exhilarating.]

[They tried to make their way down quickly yet quietly once they saw some people in the backyard. Dulce was ever so grateful for her athleticism.]

DULCE: Careful now.

[Once they made it to the ground unharmed, they ran as fast they could to safety!]

[Antonio’s car was at a park about two miles away. They had to keep running.]

?: What are you doing?

[Who was that?! Dulce and Antonio turned their heads, ready for the next obstacle.]

[It was two girls talking to each other! What a relief.]

GIRL #1: I’m taking a break.

GIRL #2: The power turned back on! C’mon, let’s keep dancing.

DULCE: Oh my gosh! I think we made it out of this alive. Let’s get out of here for real!

ANTONIO: No need to tell me twice.

[hungryistrying]

why'd you have to go and make me like you

Chapter two

summary:

“Are you turned on?” she blurts. Then she realizes what she just said, and quickly scrambles before Ekko can even respond. “I mean– It's not a big deal if you are. We’re friends, right? We can talk about these things with each other.” Ekko looks at her as if she's grown two heads. Jinx wishes she had, maybe the extra brain would've helped her out of this mess.

Jinx puts her plan into motion rather...artlessly, frankly speaking. Good thing Ekko needs surprisingly little convincing to just go with it anyway.

rating: explicit

word count: 15958

status: ongoing

crossposted to ao3

chapter one

chapter two: i don't wanna spell it out

Here’s a fun little fact about Ekko: if he tells you what time he’ll arrive, you always have to subtract ten minutes from said time. And of course, he isn’t about to let that up now, because Jinx has only just finished frantically shoving all her clothes back into her closet and her makeup back in her vanity drawers when the doorbell rings. Twenty minutes after he sent his text. How fucking typical.

After Jinx received that panic-inducing text, she’d rushed to put on her makeup so quickly that she stabbed herself in the eye with her mascara wand three times, cursing under her breath each time, because she’d end up teary-eyed and having to redo her makeup. That alone took her fifteen whole minutes, leaving Jinx five more minutes to tug on sweatpants and an oversized t-shirt.

…Yeah, not her hottest outfit, but hey, at least her underwear’s cute (a black and lacy Brazilian cut, with a little bow on the front and everything). It’s the kind of underwear she’d only bother putting on when she expects someone to see it. So here’s hoping this goes well enough for that concern not to be unfounded.

She gives herself one final look-over in front of the hallway mirror, her face scrunching in dissatisfaction because, damn, her outfit sucks. Seriously, baggy sweats and a Piltover University t-shirt that she doesn’t even remember getting (and is three sizes too large for some reason)?

Yeah, it’s giving less “I’m about to seduce someone” and more “I have the munchies and this random Seven-Eleven is the only place I can get some damn food ‘cause my fridge is empty and it’s three a.m.”

The doorbell rings again, startling Jinx now that she’s standing three feet away from the door itself.

“Fuck– Gimme a minute, will ya!” She exhales a frustrated breath that blows the stubborn hair of her bangs out of her face.

Alright, maybe this isn’t a total lost cause. Jinx has made cuter outfits from far more dire pieces of clothing, hasn’t she? You learn to get creative when growing up your whole wardrobe was either provided by The Salvation Army or hand-me-downs from your big sis. 

Then again, she also had more than maybe thirty seconds to create those outfits, but she doesn’t have time to worry about the finer points either, so whatever.

She grabs the hem of her shirt, pulls the fabric up until it reaches her midriff, and ties the excess into a knot, turning her unsexy shirt into a slightly sexier crop top. Then she pulls her sweatpants down, only retying the drawstrings when they hang low enough for her hip bones to peek out.

Eh, good enough. She shrugs at her reflection and moves to open the door before Ekko rings that grating doorbell again.

“Thank you for that rare show of patience, your gracious host is here!” she quips, holding the door open with an unnecessary amount of flourish.

He raises an unimpressed eyebrow and deadpans, “Can’t you ever just say hi?” before kicking off his shoes.

If Ekko is even slightly affected by the generous amount of skin Jinx is displaying, he sure isn’t showing it. Though to be fair, this isn’t an unusual amount of skin for her to be showing in the first place, so that doesn’t mean this is a lost cause yet.

“Oh, don’t pretend you don’t enjoy the theatrics, mister.” She shuts the door and follows him into the living room. “That jig was up when we had to watch Annie in middle school and someone got a little too into it.”

“Hey, I got invested in the plot, alright!” He holds his hands up in defense, before unslinging his backpack and setting it down by the coffee table.

She curiously frowns and asks, “What’s with the bag?”

“It’s just my laptop and books.” He’s the one who looks confused now. “We’re studying for Singed’s exam, right?”

Jinx just dumbly blinks. Oh fuck, right, she totally forgot she said that.

“Well, duh.” She snorts, plopping down on the couch beside him. “I just can’t believe you actually paid for the books like some loser.”

“I didn’t buy these, you doofus.” He rolls his eyes. “I just borrowed them from the library on time. So you’re welcome, now you can mooch off me.”

She lets out an amused huff, resting her head in her hands while Ekko unpacks his bag, booting up his laptop and meticulously laying his study materials out on the coffee table.

For a moment she just watches him, studying his side profile. The afternoon sun bathes him in a warm light that makes everything look hazier – softer, somehow. It paints the dark brown of his lashes near golden when he blinks and they fan above his defined cheekbones. 

Her eyes greedily drink in the sight of him, as if she’s seeing him for the first time; the slope of his nose, smooth and soft, contrasted by the sharp and strong angle of his jaw, while full, pouty lips center both features.

It’s then, on an uneventful Saturday afternoon, after years of friendship, that Jinx comes to the startling realization that she finds Ekko attractive.

Jinx isn’t stupid (she has a four-point-oh GPA, for crying out loud) and so, from a purely objective standpoint, she’s always understood that Ekko is attractive. It just never occurred to her that he might be attractive to her.

Can you really blame a girl? She’s known Ekko for so long that she can vividly recall the day he tripped over his own shoelaces, bawling his eyes out when the fall knocked out one of his teeth. (“Hey– hey, it’s just a baby tooth,” Vi had tried to soothe, while a six-year-old Ekko struggled to choke back his tears.)

It’s a strange and uncomfortable epiphany to have: that someone you’ve known nearly your whole life is actually…ridiculously, offensively, and unequivocally attractive. It’s as if, up until this point, the hotness radar in her mind just never caught Ekko. 

But now that it has? Oh, he’s on her radar, alright. And not just an easy-to-dismiss blip. No, this is a bold-faced, glaringly obvious transmission signal that’s just begging to be noticed. And Jinx? Yeah, Jinx is noticing, thank you very much.

He turns to look at her, with his too-big, too-brown eyes, and suddenly she feels warm all over – her face especially, the skin burning beneath her hands. It takes her a second to realize he’s actually speaking to her.

“Huh?” comes her intelligible response.

He licks his lips before he repeats himself, and Jinx thinks she might be going slightly hysterical because now she can’t stop looking at his lips – at his tongue. “I asked why you’re staring at me.”

It's as if a shockingly cold breeze just blew past her. Too bad that rather than put out the flames, it just fanned them, and Jinx's face feels impossibly hotter now.

“Oh.” Her throat suddenly feels very dry. “I was just, uh, I was gonna ask you something. About a drink– I mean,” she shoots up off the couch so fast, it’s a miracle she doesn’t get motion sick, “I’m grabbing a drink. You want anything?”

He stares up at her nonplussed. “...No, I–”

She walks off before he can finish his sentence, yanking open the fridge door so he can’t see her anymore, practically shoving her face inside. Hopefully the cold refrigerator air will allow the redness of her face to subside.

Okay, get it the fuck together, Jinx thinks as she grabs a bottle of water, downing the thing like it’s a shot glass. She looks back to the living room and sees Ekko has actually started studying. God, how is she supposed to Netflix-and-chill this situation? Especially when he isn’t even aware that’s what she’s trying to do.

When she shuffles her way back into the living room, Ekko shoots her a quick smile before he turns back to the Organic Chemistry book in his hands, a furrow forming between his brows as his eyes scroll over the page.

“So…” Jinx takes a deep breath and sits down beside him, close enough for their thighs to press together and his body heat to seep right into her cold flesh. He’s always so warm, like a damn human furnace. “It’s kinda cold in here, right?”

Ekko turns to her with a frown, setting his textbook aside and asking, “You’re cold?” She startles when his hand comes to rest on her forehead. “You’re not getting sick, are you?”

Before she can so much as retort, he pulls away from her and gets up. Jinx is left dumbfounded on the couch, but before she can question what he’s doing, a throw blanket lands on her lap.

When he sits back down, they’re no longer touching. “That should help, right?” Ekko gives her a sunny smile like he just did her a great favor.

Jinx has to resist the urge to scream. “...Yep, you’re a real lifesaver.”

God, this is so stupid. Maybe she should stop beating around the bush and spell it out for him. Worst case scenario: He says no and she has to move countries and change her identity. No big deal, right?

…Nope, never mind, it is a big deal. The biggest deal, even. Because Ekko isn’t some random person she slinks up to at a party, drunk out of her mind, to ask if they’re down to fuck – not particularly invested in their answer either way.

No, regretfully, she cares what Ekko thinks of her and that makes it so much harder for her to just say it. But maybe she can…allude to it? Nudge him in the right direction, so to speak. After all, he always understands her, even when she’d rather he doesn’t; the language between them is one not limited to the spoken word, unique to the two of them.

Plus, he’s not stupid, surely he’ll get what she’s trying to say.

“Ekko,” she wrings the blanket between her hands, unable to bring herself to look at him, “I was wondering if…if you wanted to try something. Something different. With me.”

A weighty silence follows, so heavy it threatens to crush Jinx’s lungs. Then Ekko finally breaks it by answering, “Uh, well, I brought flashcards too?”

…

She takes it back, Ekko is stupid. He’s the biggest fucking idiot she’s ever met, save for herself maybe, because she must be an even bigger idiot for thinking he would take the damn hint.

Luckily, she’s spared the agony of having to formulate a response to that when her phone buzzes on the coffee table. Jinx grabs it, eager for the distraction, only to realize it’s not her phone she just grabbed but Ekko’s.

But it’s too late because she’s already read the notification.

Taliyah texted him asking if he wants to see a movie with her.

Oh, fuck this.

Jinx feels hot all over again, but it’s different this time. This is the kind that has her seeing red; the kind that makes her jaw clench and her stomach churn uncomfortably; the kind of heat that has her body moving on auto-pilot, as she pushes the blanket and Ekko’s phone aside and gets up.

She grabs that stupid textbook out of his hands and unceremoniously plops down on his lap. She holds the book out for him, meeting his befuddled stare with a sharp glare. “I said I wanted to try something different.”

“Okay…I just didn't think you meant like– like whatever this is.” Despite his words, he takes the textbook from her waiting hand.

One of his arms slings around her back as he reasserts his grip on it and Jinx takes the advantage to press closer – her body as flush against his as she can manage – before wrapping her arms around his neck.

She can feel Ekko tense beneath her, but she breezily says, “This is us reading– Well, whatever you were reading.”

He gives her an unimpressed look, his body slowly relaxing against hers. He's close enough now that she catches the scent of his body wash. It smells nice – something citrusy blended with warm spices. He always smells nice. “The chapter on Alkanes and Cycloalkanes. You know, the one on our exam.”

Jinx inquisitively hums, feigning interest as her eyes scroll over the page – something about carbon chains and halogen elements that she might have given a shit about under any other circumstance. 

In reality, she's sneaking glances at Ekko, whose eyes she thinks trail down the bare skin of her stomach. It's hard to tell with his head downturned like this, though. For all she knows he could just be looking down at that stupid book instead. 

The ball of anger that formed inside of her fractures, just slightly, and doubt seeps into its cracks. Maybe…maybe it’s not that Ekko can't take a hint. Perhaps he's letting her down as subtly as he can and she's the one who isn't getting it.

She swallows a disappointed sigh and shuffles to try and sit more comfortably on his lap. Ekko takes a sharp breath, but Jinx chooses to ignore it, doubling her efforts instead. Seriously, why are his thighs so damn sturdy? She should’ve grabbed a cushion or something. 

He's tense beneath her again, which isn't doing her comfort levels any favors. Huffing a frustrated breath, she complains, “Sheesh, would it kill you to skip leg day once in a while?”

She starts to move again, but freezes when she feels Ekko's hand wrap around her hip – right above the waistband of her sweatpants – calloused fingers pressing into bare skin. Then he squeezes, hard enough to still her movements, and Jinx feels heat bloom low in her stomach.

“Would it kill you to stop moving?” he grumbles.

She’s barely listening, too distracted by the hand still on her hip. Because why is his hand so big that it covers the entirety of her hip bone? How the hell are his fingers on her stomach? Is that allowed? Jinx doesn't think that should be allowed.

Then her brain actually processes what he said and–

Oh. 

She flushes, only then realizing what she was just doing.

“Are you turned on?” she blurts. Then she realizes what she just said, and quickly scrambles before Ekko can even respond. “I mean– It's not a big deal if you are. We’re friends, right? We can talk about these things with each other.”

Ekko looks at her as if she's grown two heads. Jinx wishes she had, maybe the extra brain would've helped her out of this mess.

“...We can talk about being turned on? You and me?” he incredulously asks.

“Yup.” Jinx sagely nods, as if she knows what the hell she's even saying at this point. Fuck it, she's already dug this hole, might as well lie in it. “So? Are you?”

“I–”

“‘Cause I am,” she interrupts. Then she has to physically resist the urge to jump off his lap and out of the window because god this is so embarrassing.

Ekko just stares at her and Jinx swears she can hear crickets chirping. Which should be impossible because it’s three p.m. and they're indoors, but she can fucking hear them because of how awkward this silence is.

“Never mind.” She pushes herself off his lap.

God, this was such a bad idea. What was she thinking? Of course Ekko doesn't want to sleep with her. He's probably never even thought of her like that–

“Wait.” His hand comes to wrap around her wrist, freezing her in place. Jinx apprehensively turns to look back at him while Ekko frowns, visibly hesitating before he continues, “I'm…not sure what's gotten into you, but if you're doing this because you're mad at me–”

“Oh, you gotta be kidding me.” Jinx scoffs and yanks herself free from his grip, crossing her arms over her chest. “Look, I get that you're trying to be tactful and all that, but I'd rather you don't play dumb and just say it to my face.”

His confusion bleeds into exasperation, which pisses her off more because how dare he act exasperated in this situation. “Say what to your face?!”

“That you don’t wanna sleep with me!” She plants her hands against the sofa back, caging Ekko between her arms – who quickly leans back, wide-eyed and startled – before she snaps, “Seriously! Why do you think I'm dressed like this?”

“But you always dre–”

“Not important! I was on a time crunch, alright? Just–” She sharply breathes in through her nose. Don't put your foot in your mouth. Jinx repeats the mantra in her head until she believes she can pull it off somehow. “...Look, if you don't wanna fuck me because– because you think it'd be gross or weird or whatever, that's fine, but at least give it to me straight.”

Jinx ignores the way her heart protests no, that would very much not be fine, actually, because she'd feel ten times shittier if Ekko agreed to sleep with her not because he wanted to, but because she guilt-tripped him into it.

“I–” He clears his throat. Jinx squeezes her eyes shut, waiting for his imminent rejection. “Right now?”

Her eyes snap back open…Is he being serious? He must be, because he looks at Jinx like she just revealed to him that the sky is actually neon green and Pengus can fly.

“No, I was hoping you could pencil me in sometime next week–” She scoffs. “Yes, right now!”

He stares at her – eyes trailing down her body, before snapping back up to her face – Jinx apprehensively stares back. 

Then, catching her entirely off-guard, he simply answers, “Okay.”

“...Okay?”

“Yes? I mean–” He licks his lips. Her eyes are drawn to the action like a moth to a flame. “Wait, are you just fucking with me right now?”

She blinks, forcing herself to look up at his eyes – before quickly darting down to the tip of his nose instead, because looking straight into his eyes is somehow worse. “Well, not yet, but it’s not for a lack of trying.”

Her words startle a baffled laugh from Ekko, breaking the tension between them. Jinx soon follows, practically collapsing on top of him as she buries her face in the crook of his shoulder, shaking with laughter.

When their amusement finally dies down, she moves her head back to look at him – at the same time, he turns his head to face her. Her breath hitches at the proximity, their noses brushing against each other. He exhales, the sound sharp yet quiet. And her lips twitch when his breath brushes over them.

She forces herself to pull back a little further, and tentatively asks, “You’re not just saying yes because you feel bad, right? Because if this is a pity thing, you can go right ahead and leave.”

He blinks, startled, before he scowls, looking downright offended at the insinuation. “You think I would fuck somebody because I feel bad?”

“I don’t know! You do real weird crap sometimes, boy savior. I just…wanna be sure.” She worries her bottom lip between her teeth and Ekko’s eyes flicker down to her mouth.

She sees his throat bob, before he says, voice breathy, “Trust me, this is not a pity thing...”

“Oh,” is all she manages to answer.

One of his hands sneaks its way up to cup her jaw, thumb brushing across her cheek. His hand is so big and warm on her skin. All Jinx can think about is the fact that she wants those hands all over her.

Then he leans in, eyes slowly falling shut as he comes closer and closer. Her heart beats so loud that she can hear it in her ears. Its insistent drum sounds like an alarm bell – anticipation and apprehension bleeding into each other until Jinx can’t separate the two.

Panic has her jerking her head back, only slightly, but the movement had been abrupt enough for Ekko’s half-hooded eyes to blink open fully, confusion muddying that beautiful face of his, and a question clear in his eyes.

Why?

But Jinx doesn’t know why either. She can barely think straight, her brain just unhelpfully screaming, danger – too close – too much – a line that shouldn’t be crossed.

She finds herself saying, “Just…not on the lips, okay?”

His jaw tics and Jinx watches his face turn frightfully neutral, his expression unreadable. Dread creeps its way up her throat and squeezes, because Ekko isn’t supposed to be hard to read. Not to her.

Eventually, he nods, just once. Jinx can feel his body relax beneath hers – the tension in his shoulders subsiding and his jaw unclenching – before he agrees, “Okay, no kissing.”

At his assent, disappointment sinks down to her stomach. Which doesn’t make sense because she’s the one who asked this of him in the first place. Ekko leans in again – hesitating before he closes the distance – pressing a soft kiss against her jaw, and the feeling ends up dissolving within the heat pooling low in her stomach.

“Is this okay?” he quietly asks, lips brushing against her skin from the proximity.

She minutely nods, a satisfied sigh escaping her when Ekko continues to lay petal soft kisses against her jaw, slowly working his way down to her neck.

Teeth graze the column of her throat and Jinx has to stifle a gasp at the feeling. Her hand shoots up to clutch his forearm – his own having slipped from cupping her jaw to holding the nape of her neck. His tongue soothes the skin he just bit, then he latches his mouth over it and sucks.

And the thought of him leaving hickeys on her skin – of him marking her – sets something alight inside of Jinx, forcing her to press her thighs together; a vain attempt to find some relief for her growing excitement.

Refusing to be left behind, she lets her hands begin to wander. The one on his forearm roams up and over to appreciate his firm bicep – fingers pressing into the curves and crevices of his skin. His arm feels soft and warm yet so solid beneath her hand. 

Fuck, why is he so damn jacked? Seriously, where did the muscles come from? Jinx could tell his arms got buffier over the years, but she could've sworn he was still a twig in high school.

Her other hand curiously roams over his chest, and yep, she can feel a hard chest and firm stomach beneath the cotton of his shirt too. She needs to get that shirt off him immediately.

She moves back to stand up. Ekko leans forward when she does, lips chasing her skin when the motion dislodges them from her neck.

The skin of her neck feels sensitive against the room’s air now, but Jinx couldn’t care less about that. Not when all she can focus on is Ekko, who looks up at her – lips parted and eyes dazed – with his hands lingering on the back of her thighs as he subtly beckons her closer.

She feels entirely too giddy seeing him like that. The feeling startles a giggle from her. (Jinx giggling? What the fuck is he doing to her?) She leans forward to cup his face in her hands and teases, “Slow down there, buster. I’m not going anywhere.”

He blinks as if woken from a trance, clearing his throat before he responds, “So…what do you want to do?”

“Right now,” she licks her lips, hands trailing down to his shoulders, “I wanna get that shirt off you.”

Ekko reaches down for the hem of his shirt, but Jinx pulls his hands away and disapprovingly tuts, “Hey, I said I wanna get it off, didn’t I?”

“Fuck –” He quickly pulls his hands back as if burned. “I mean, yeah, shit, go ahead.” 

Jinx has never seen him splutter like this before and can’t help but laugh at the sight, even as she moves forward to kneel on the couch, bracketing his thighs. “You nervous?”

“No, more like–” His muscles twitch when her nails tease his stomach below his shirt. “More like I, uh, wasn’t expecting the afternoon to go like this?”

There’s nothing amusing about the way he looks up at her now. Something in his eyes – big, and brown, and much too easy to get lost in – almost makes it seem like…like…Jinx doesn’t really know what it seems like, truth be told. All she knows is that it’s too much. 

She swallows, throat suddenly dry, and hurries to pull his shirt over his head. And god, seeing Ekko without a shirt on is doing nothing for the dryness in her throat. At least another part of her body isn’t dry at the sight, far from it, actually. 

She tosses his shirt aside like an afterthought, not looking away from him as she does. Not like she could even if, for some inconceivable reason, she’d have wanted to. He looks up at her with that unfairly beautiful face of his, mouth slightly agape.

Jinx can’t stop herself from running her thumb over his plush lips. And then she’s suddenly overwhelmed by want, but can’t place what for exactly. She digs her teeth into her own lower lip, trying to get some sort of satisfaction for the feeling – a woefully lacking fix.

Then Ekko pulls her wayward thumb between his lips – eyes flickering up to look directly into hers – and he sucks, tongue roving the pad of her finger. 

Jinx is fairly certain her brain short-circuits. 

Her heart skips a beat when he quirks an amused eyebrow at how stupid she must look right now, with her mouth agape.

He releases the digit with a wet pop. It feels so cold now it's no longer in the warm, wet cavern of his mouth. 

Said mouth pulls into a smirk as he leans his head back against the couch. The movement pulls the muscles of his neck taut when he teases back, “You nervous?”

Indignation snaps her out of her stupor. She scoffs, “You wish,” and moves to straddle him properly.

She may have made sure to roll her hips a little (intentionally this time) after pressing them flush against his. And she may have also had to fight back a smile upon feeling his hands wrap around her waist in response.

“Gonna take a lot more than that,” she lets her hands rove over his chest, teasing his nipple with her still-wet thumb, “if you’re trying to make me speechless.”

Ekko releases a shaky breath at the sensation, but Jinx can barely relish the sound before he leans in closer – close enough for their noses to brush and their breaths to mingle when he says, “That a challenge?”

How unfair. Jinx can’t even press her thighs together in search of relief for the excitement his question elicits. Instead, she just coolly responds, “Hm, only if you can handle it.”

“...Don't bite off more than you can chew.”

Jinx can see a fire kindling in his eyes, and she knows Ekko, knows his temper and that her words make him want to prove something; make him want to rise to the occasion – and sadly, she’s always enjoyed starting fires a little too much. So she’ll stoke the flames, even if she risks getting caught in them. 

After all, that’s part of the thrill, isn’t it?

She snorts. “Oh yeah? Whatcha gonna do then? ‘Cause right now I'm hearing all bark, no bi–”

Her words cut off into a yelp when gravity suddenly shifts around her and she finds herself lying flat on her back, Ekko on top of her, hands squeezing her hips. 

At her wide-eyed surprise, he has the nerve to laugh. “Speechless already?”

She scowls, grabbing his hands and moving them straight to squeeze her chest. “Not even close.” His throat bobs, but she can't even tease him about it before he leans down to press a kiss on her midriff, right below her shirt, and brushes his thumbs over her nipples. 

“Guess I'll have to bring my A-game, then.” His breath washes over her skin and the warmth of it spreads through her entire body. Especially when he moves his hands to slip them beneath her shirt, thumbs brushing the underside of her breasts. “Can I–”

Before he can finish his sentence, Jinx sits up – so quickly that their heads nearly knock into each other – pulling her shirt over her head and exposing her breasts to the warm afternoon sun. And to Ekko, who just stares but doesn't say anything.

Jinx knows she's doesn't have a lot of real estate in the chest department, but it's never been something she's self-conscious about (despite hoping in middle school that she might be a late bloomer before cutting her losses when she turned seventeen). Yet here she is, struggling not to fidget under Ekko's intense gaze.

Insecurity rears its ugly head again, and it has her digging her nails into the sofa cushioning while she tries to joke, “Not chickening out, are you?” 

He blinks, then his eyes snap back up to hers. The scalding way he looks at her is answer enough, with pupils blown so wide they swallow the caramel of his iris.

It's still nice to receive verbal confirmation though, when he answers, “Definitely not, was just appreciating the view.” He presses a kiss against her sternum, his next words almost slurred, with his lips still on her skin. “‘S a view worth ‘preciating, trust me…”

She flushes at the compliment, strangely affected in a way she has never been before. Ekko can probably feel how fast her heart beats beneath his mouth. How embarrassing. 

Mercifully, he says nothing, his lips too busy traveling from her sternum to her breast – gently urging her to lie back down – and then she’s too preoccupied with how good that feels to be embarrassed about much of anything.

His tongue brushes over her nipple, hot and wet, while his hand makes sure to lavish her other breast with equal attention – cupping the entirety of it and circling her areola until her nipple stiffens to match its twin in Ekko's mouth.

“So damn pretty,” he sighs, moving to grasp one of her hands and pressing a kiss to its palm, “could just touch you like this all day,” then he moves to the inside of her wrist and sucks at the delicate skin there.

Jinx feels like she can't breathe. Especially not when he moves his attention back to her torso, lips pressing reverent kisses onto her skin – scars, freckles, all of it – hands roaming over her curves as if he's trying to memorize the shape of her through touch alone.

The thought has her moaning and burying her fingers in his locs. Or maybe it’s actually because he’s firmly wrapped his mouth over her breast now, teeth scraping over the sensitive skin as he sucks on it. 

Jinx isn't sure anymore, pleasure, soft and heady, melting her every thought until she's left with only desire – the feeling dripping down to the base of her spine like honey.

His hands are like a brand on her body – searing pleasure into her very bones wherever they pass over bare skin – mouth sucking hickeys into nearly every strip of skin it touches. Jinx can see the dark, angry marks bloom on her chest, her stomach, even her wrist (and she can feel the ones on her neck).

Fuck, his hands are so big. And isn't he a little too good with his mouth? She wonders what those hands – what that tongue ⁠— would feel like should they travel further south…

It’s downright embarrassing how turned on she is. Jinx has never gotten this worked up just from having someone kiss and touch her skin a little. But as her need grows and grows, Ekko moves at the same pace; soft, gentle, and so sweet.

But it's not enough. Not when he has her this embarrassingly worked up with so little effort. And certainly not when he claimed he could leave her speechless.

She tugs at his hair hard enough to pull his mouth off her breast – a string of saliva breaking from where he was still valiantly sucking on it. Ekko groans when she does, and god, she needs him to make that sound again. Preferably louder.

At the sight of him, her own desire reflected in his dark eyes and reddened lips, it takes her a moment to find her voice. “...That all you got, lover boy?” 

She wraps her legs around his waist to pull him closer, pressing their hips together, and they both quietly moan at the feeling. Her walls squeeze down on nothing, woefully empty, when she feels the hard outline of him against her center.

Strong arms wrap around her middle, pressing her naked chest flush against his, (and a primal part of her mind screams, yes, good, need this while he’s inside me) pulling her upright until she's straddling him.

Unimpressed at her words, he raises an eyebrow and shoots back, “Patience isn't your strong suit, is it?”

“Pot-kettle much?” she scoffs, nails digging into his shoulders as petty revenge.

Ekko hisses in response, then simply brushes his knuckles over her spine, up and down the length of it. She fails to suppress a shiver at the touch. “I'm patient enough when it really counts.”

“Not sure that's a good thing, buster.” Jinx doesn't even think she sounds believable, not when his other hand moves down to squeeze her ass, grip firm enough to make her breath stutter. “Too much patience and I just might fall asleep before I c–”

Two of his fingers press against her mouth, cutting off her words. She blinks, startled.

“Suck.” It's not a question, it's a demand. All Jinx can do is open her mouth and listen, suddenly deliriously turned on as she dutifully takes his fingers into her mouth. She makes sure to firmly lap her tongue against the digits while she sucks down, looking up at him through wide eyes.

“Fuck,” he breathes, brows knitting together, “that's so good.” Jinx hums around his fingers at the praise, eagerly sucking down harder. Then he's pulling his fingers out of her mouth and gently tugging on her thighs.

“Sit back down for me.” He nods to the couch, loosening her legs from where they're wrapped around his waist. “Gotta make you come before you fall asleep, right?”

She lets Ekko sit her down against the back of her couch while the last of her functioning brain cells reboot. Then her face flushes because…what the hell was that? Jinx has never let someone tell her what to do in bed and actually listened.

He presses a kiss against her cheek. Her breath hitches at the gesture, sweet and gentle. Just like him, unfortunately.

She turns her head to face him. They’re close enough for her to count his lashes, and the individual flecks of brown in his eyes, partly hidden by dilated pupils. Her eyes rove over him; over defined cheekbones and a strong jawline; over full lips and a lovely nose.

Then down his body, the shape of him – lean yet sturdy – almost sinfully attractive, form carved out by firm muscles. Her eyes get caught on the V line of his hips, and the slight, dark trail of hair between it, starting below his navel and getting cut off by his jeans.

Life really is cruel. Why did it give Jinx a best friend this unfairly hot?

“You okay?” His voice sounds distant even though he's still so close.

Jinx forces herself to nod, pressing her thighs together as her need grows. The thought of him not touching her where she wants him becomes unbearable.

“You gonna put your money where your mouth is?” She means for it to be a taunt, but her voice is barely a whisper. 

“Alright,” he huffs an amused breath while his fingers, still wet with her spit, tease the skin of her stomach, “spread your legs then.”

She does. Embarrassingly fast, if she's being honest. Luckily, he doesn't say anything, just tugs at the band of her sweatpants. Fingers slipping down–

“Just your fingers?” The question comes out more petulantly than she'd hoped.

Ekko pauses, then he just smirks and answers, “Don't need more than that to make you come.”

Jinx glares at him and lies, “Don't get cocky now, it's not attractive,” because unfortunately it's actually very attractive.

“Hm.” He tilts his head to the side, gaze critical. Then his hand slips beneath both her sweats and panties. Large, wet fingers find her clit and Jinx gasps at the feeling. “That attractive enough for you?”

She can't respond, too busy biting her lip to muffle her voice. His touch is firm and steady, drawing unceasing circles over her clit that leave her struggling to keep her breathing even, chest rising and falling, quick and unsteady, the longer he keeps going.

Jinx shifts to twine her arms around his neck, burying her face in the crook of it. Ekko moves with her easily – always strangely in tune with her like that – moving his free hand around her back to grip her inner thigh, keeping her legs open for him.

His fingers move lower, through her folds, and down to tease her entrance. Her inner walls flutter at the feeling, desperate to be filled.

“Damn.” She feels his voice more than she hears it. Everywhere they're pressed together, the sound of it reverberates right through her. “Wouldn't have made you suck on my fingers if I knew you were already this wet.”

She raises her head just slightly, lips brushing against his neck when she starts, “So–” she takes a shaky breath when he coats her clit with her own juices, teasing the nub again, “–do something about it.”

“Want it that bad?”

She does. She really does. She's not about to tell him that though, so she raises her head further, moving to tug his earlobe between her teeth, before she breathes, “Don't be a tease…”

Ekko doesn't respond, but she feels the hand on her thigh tighten; feels his fingers dig firmly into her skin even through the sturdy material of her sweatpants. Then he finally, finally slips a finger inside.

She’s so embarrassingly wet there's no resistance, her body immediately responding to accommodate by stretching around the digit as he slips it deeper inside – until he’s buried to the third knuckle.

He tries to pull his finger back and her body immediately protests, walls clenching around him and her hips bucking forward into his touch.

“Shit,” he hisses, “you're so fucking tight.”

“Jus’ hurry…” Jinx whines against his neck, bucking her hips intentionally this time.

“Well,�� he pauses to press a kiss on her shoulder, “since you asked so nicely.”

He moves in earnest now, finger fucking in and out of her steadily. 

Ekko is laser-focused on her reactions, alternating speeds with every whine and twitch of her hips to see how he can draw more reactions from her. 

Then he curls his finger and Jinx cries out, pleasure jolting through her like a current of electricity, making her toes curl and her vision white out for a second. 

She only realizes she bit down on his shoulder when he groans into her ear.

“Still good?” Somehow, he sounds as affected as she feels.

She unlatches her teeth from his neck, pulling back only far enough so her words don't get lost against his skin, and murmurs, “Need more…”

He obliges easily enough, and a satisfied sigh leaves her at the feel of his index joining his middle finger, stretching her out further. God, his hands are so big compared to hers, going deeper and spreading her wider than her own ever could.

After that, Jinx no longer needs to speak. Ekko doesn't ask anything of her, just occasionally groans, “So damn tight…” or “Did I make you that wet?”

His words are almost as effective as his movements, fingers going in and out, hard and fast, continuously pressing into the spot that makes her hips buck into his touch; that makes her thighs twitch beneath his solid grip; that draws a litany of moans and curses from her gasping mouth.

It feels good. It feels so fucking good, in fact, that Jinx can only wonder where he learned to make her feel so good in the first place.

But the thought is quickly lost to her (and any thoughts for that matter) when his other hand slips off her thigh and down her sweats too, fingers reaching down to tease her clit in tandem with his movements.

Jinx is climbing fast – so fast she can hardly breathe, nails digging into Ekko's shoulders in a desperate bid to stay afloat. Pleasure becomes an overwhelming thing – her body caught between pulling away and leaning into his touch because too much, not enough, good, bad, so good, too good, fuck.

Ekko holds her steady through it while keeping up that unrelenting pace that's quickly becoming too much; both the anchor keeping her secure and the roaring waves that threaten to drown her to begin with.

Then it overtakes her and she's crashing.

Jinx thinks she might be screaming, but she can't tell anymore. Her body moves outside of her control, shuddering, back arching off the sofa, toes curling tight. 

She bites down on Ekko's shoulder again in a pitiful attempt to control how loud her voice is. If he minds, she can't tell. He just keeps fingering her through her orgasm, only slowing down when she relaxes her grip on his shoulders. Even then he keeps going, though.

Eventually, Jinx is forced to wrap a shaky hand around his wrist so he'll actually stop, and those violent waves finally wane until she just feels a steady throb in her center in the aftermath of her orgasm.

A whimper flees her throat when he pulls his fingers out of her. He kisses her shoulder in response, before pulling back to look at her – only slightly, Jinx doesn't let him get very far, suddenly cold everywhere he isn't touching.

He makes sure their eyes connect when he puts the fingers he just had inside of her in his mouth, sucking off her juices. “You taste good,” he hums, leaning in closer until their lips are scarcely apart. Her eyes automatically fall shut, heart racing in her chest.

Then he moves to kiss her cheek before pulling back, and Jinx has to bite the inside of it to suppress her disappointment, eyes fluttering open again to look at him.

He quirks an amused eyebrow. “Can't talk?”

Jinx blinks, awareness comes back to her slowly, but when it does she immediately scowls. “Don’t flatter yourself.” If only her voice didn't come out as a croak.

Ekko just laughs, bright, and genuine, and almost…giddy. And despite her indignation, she’s getting that fuzzy feeling in her chest again and can’t stop a smile from creeping on her own face.

“Stop laughing,” she weakly complains, smacking his shoulder.

He does, in fact, not stop. Head thrown back as he laughs even harder and Jinx is just caught staring at the column of his throat. She can already see teeth marks form above his collarbone and angry little crescents on his shoulders, and suddenly she's overcome by the desire to leave more marks on him. Preferably where everyone can see.

Jinx leans forward to press a kiss on the bite mark, shifting her hand down to squeeze his inner thigh, and Ekko's laughter dies down. She kisses her way up his neck, rubbing her hand across his thigh, until she reaches his ear and whispers, “My turn.”

She can hear him swallow, and feels the slight nod of his head before he moves to lean back on the couch–

The couch. 

That midnight blue, velvet lounge sofa. She has that stupid fucking description memorized because Caitlyn wouldn't stop droning on about how perfect it would be for their living area when she picked it out.

…And Jinx now realizes she just let Ekko finger her into an orgasm on said sofa.

Well. 

What Caitlyn doesn't know won't kill her, right?

“But not here,” she manages to say, after rubbing together her last functioning brain cells that aren't catastrophically horny.

She clears her throat and pulls at Ekko's arm so he'll sit upright again. “C'mere. We should go to my room, just in case,” she casts a meaningful glance at the front door, “you know...”

“Oh.” He sits up very quickly at that, wincing once he’s put two and two together. “Yeah, good idea.”

Without further ceremony (but with a fair amount of awkwardness) they get up off the couch and Jinx pulls Ekko by the hand into her bedroom.

Even if Vi promised to stay out as late as possible, knowing her sister, she might have just completely forgotten. Or she's left something at home and will suddenly have to turn back to get it. All while Jinx has Ekko naked on the couch.

Jinx shudders at the thought, quickly slamming her door shut and turning the lock, just in case.

She hears a quiet thud and looks over her shoulder to see Ekko has tossed both their shirts over her desk chair. Oh. That's smart. Jinx would've thought to grab them herself had she not lost all higher brain function earlier.

She locates her phone on her desk, fiddling with the settings so she can connect it to her mini speaker, putting on some mellow RnB music (that's honestly more Ekko's taste than it is hers) and turning the volume as high as she can. Again, just in case.

Large, warm hands wrap around her waist, and Jinx immediately melts into the touch. “Setting the mood?” Ekko jokes, pressing a kiss against her shoulder blade. 

She drops her phone with an eye roll before turning in his arms to set her hands on his shoulders. Jinx steps forward, and Ekko follows, automatically walking backward until the back of his legs bump into the bedframe.

She pushes him back, and he lets her easily enough, a small ‘oof’ escaping him when he lands on his back. Ekko looks much too composed for her liking, amusement dancing in his eyes as he moves to sit upright, leaning back on his hands.

“Why bother?” she muses, trailing an unhurried hand down his chest – nails teasing his skin – only stopping when she reaches that little trail of hair that gets cut off by his waistband. “Pretty sure you’re already in the mood.”

“So what are you gonna do about it?” The words trail off into a hiss when Jinx runs an idle finger over the bugle visibly poking out between his legs. 

“Oh?” That idle finger turns into a palm that strokes the hard outline of him through the material of his jeans. “What do you want me to do about it?”

“Honestly?” He pauses to lick his lips. “You can do whatever the hell you want to me.”

Jinx is again caught staring at his mouth, overcome by that strange, foreign desire. She pushes the feeling down and just complains, “You’re no fun to tease,” squeezing firmly at his bulge just to be petty.

He gasps out a laugh. “Just being honest.”

She hums in consideration, pulling his thighs apart so she can kneel between them, musing, “And I suppose you want a reward or something?” while fiddling with his zipper.

“I want whatever you’ll give.” He reaches down to tuck a stray hair behind her ear. The action makes her tilt her head up curiously. Ekko looks almost solemn, expression serious when he continues, “Seriously…we can stop if you don’t want to do this.”

Fuzzy feelings again. Jinx has been getting them more often lately and they’re becoming very annoying. Outwardly, she just scoffs and pops open his jean button. “Getting cold feet?”

“Not at all.” He raises his hips just so, allowing her to pull his pants down. “Just…don't wanna be too much, I guess?”

“Be too much,” she bluntly answers. “I'm not made of glass, Ekko. Can handle whatever you throw my way, trust me.”

“I do trust you.” He strokes her hair. Jinx has to resist the urge to lean into his touch, fiddling with the band of his briefs to distract from the strange flutter it elicits in her chest. “But tell me if you don’t like something, okay?”

Jinx seriously doubts he could do anything she wouldn’t like at this point, but she still nods in assent. “You too. Takes two to tango, right?”

“You're right.” He smiles at that, nodding down to her hands still on his underwear. “Now, wasn't it your turn or something?”

“Why?” she asks, idly tracing the text on his boxers. “You want it that bad?”

He moves his hand from her hair to her chin, tilting her head up so she’s forced to look up at him. Jinx hates how hot she finds that. “You know the lines aren't as effective if you're just stealing mine, right?”

“...Just raise your hips, smartass.” She tugs at his boxers harder than necessary, letting her nails scrape against his hip bones in the process.

Luckily, he doesn't seem to have any more retorts after that, just lets his hand fall back down on the bed to tilt his hips up so Jinx can pull his underwear down. His cock – large and heavy – springs free, bobbing at the pull of fabric before coming to rest against Ekko's stomach. 

Jinx has always been one to jump the gun, so she doesn't waste time to set her hands on his thighs and lay her tongue flat against the base of his cock. She licks a stripe up the length of him, feeling it twitch against her tongue, before pressing a kiss against his head.

“The kiss is for good luck,” she cheerily supplies.

“Why am I attracted to you?” His voice comes out slightly shaky. Jinx isn't even sure he meant to say that out loud.

“Oh, are you now?” She hopes she sounds more detached than she feels, but her face is burning and her heart is beating so loud she wonders if even Ekko can hear it.

She wraps her mouth around the head of his cock before he can answer. If she sucks his dick good enough maybe he won't notice how affected she is.

Attraction is a strange concept to her. Sure, people can be attractive, but that never really means anything to Jinx personally. Which is what makes it so infuriatingly puzzling that Ekko's attractiveness – and the thought of him being attracted to her in turn – does.

“Obviously,” he gasps, one of his hands tangling in her hair when she swirls her tongue. “You think we'd be here otherwise?”

Jinx…honestly isn't sure. Sex is just a thing people do – that she does because, ideally, it feels nice. Nothing more, nothing less. For all she knows, Ekko just agreed because he was in the mood and she just so happened to ask at the right time.

But if he's saying he agreed because she’s the one who asked, because he feels attracted to her specifically, then…

Then what? She doesn't know, but that train of thought feels dangerous, somehow, so she shuts it down and redoubles her efforts on making Ekko feel good instead.

With one hand still gripping his thigh for support, she firmly grasps his cock with the other, focusing on licking up the entirety of him over and over again, tongue tracing every vein on the thick, hot length. 

She can feel the flex of his hip muscles, straining with effort to stay still. And the hand in her hair is gentle, passive, infuriatingly so. Jinx wants him to come undone; wants that control of his to snap; wants to make him feel so good he loses all inhibitions.

She lavishes the flared head with one last lick, swirling her tongue around it before lapping up a bead of precome leaking from the slit. Ekko groans above her, thigh twitching beneath her hand. 

Emboldened, Jinx wraps her lips around the head properly, looking up at him with half-lidded eyes as she slowly takes him deeper and deeper into her mouth.

She can't take the entirety of him in her mouth – not yet at least – so she settles for wrapping her hand around his length instead. Then she works her mouth and hand in tandem, bobbing her head up and down while pumping the rest of him.

Her jaw aches from how wide she has to open her mouth, but it's worth it to see the way pleasure washes over Ekko's face, brows knitting together and his mouth falling open in a silent gasp at the sight of her – on her knees and looking up at him, while she swallows him down as far as she can.

“Fuck,” he whines, fingers carding soothingly through her hair, “you look so pretty sucking my dick like that…”

Jinx hums in satisfaction at the praise, the vibrations of it going straight to Ekko's cock, making him groan above her. She presses her thighs together as desire blooms anew between her legs. How the hell is she so affected? It hasn't even been ten minutes since she came.

But the sight of him coming undone above her enthralls her. It spurs her to keep going, to try and unravel him more with only her mouth and hands; to try and take him further into her mouth, forcing her throat to relax as she takes him a little deeper with every downward motion of her head.

“God, that fucking mouth…” His voice is as strained as his thighs, but they remain unmoving beneath her hand despite her best efforts. Jinx wishes he'd stop holding back, and is determined to make him.

She hollows her cheeks and sucks harder, reveling in how Ekko throws his head back with a long groan, his breaths coming out shallower – shakier now. But it's still not enough.

Jinx sets both her hands on his thighs for support and takes him further. She keeps going, taking shallow, measured breaths through her nose – even when tears threaten to form at the corners of her eyes – until she reaches that soft trail of hair leading up to his stomach.

“Fuck!” Finally, his hips buck up into her mouth and his hand digs into her hair hard enough for it to sting, the pleasure-pain of it making her toes curl and her nails scratch at his thighs. 

Then he abruptly pulls his hand away and Jinx mourns the loss of contact. “Shit– Sorry,” he hisses, “I didn't mean to–” 

Frustrated, she releases his cock with a wet pop, lips still pressed against the length when she slurs, voice hoarse, “Don’ apologize…I liked it…so just…” she presses a kiss against the underside of his cock, “do whatever you want with me.”

A tentative hand sneaks its way back up the base of her scalp, firmly gripping her hair now. “Yeah?” he asks, voice soft and rough.

“Mhmm…” God, his voice. Jinx honestly thinks he could talk her straight into an orgasm. “An’ keep talking too…”

He uses his grip on her hair to pull her head back, forcing her to look up at him. “You like it when I talk to you?”

Arousal pools between her legs at the question, her underwear definitely ruined at this point, but she forgoes answering him. Instead, she opens her mouth wide and lays her tongue flat beneath the head of his cock.

She keeps her eyes locked on his, both a dare and an invitation. And Ekko no longer hesitates to take it, slapping his cock against her tongue before guiding her to wrap her lips around him again.

“That's it,” he coaxes, pushing her head down on his cock. “Fuck, you're amazing. You want all of it?”

Jinx hums around his length, eagerly swallowing more until she feels him pressing against the back of her throat. Then Ekko finally, finally takes advantage of his grip on her hair and fucks into her mouth.

His cock feels so big going in and out of her mouth, hitting the back of her throat over and over again. Her walls clench down in excitement at the thought of it filling her pussy like this, stretching it out and pressing deep inside.

Jinx can barely breathe – can barely think – her lungs on fire and her vision blurring as she struggles not to choke on his length. And she loves it; loves watching him use her to get himself off; loves watching his chest heave and his face contort with pleasure; loves seeing the hand not fisting her hair clenched in the sheets.

She wants to sear the image into her brain, wants to remember what he looks like when he comes undone because of her.

“Fuck,” he groans between labored breaths, “that's it…That's a good girl. Swallowing me down with that pretty little mouth…”

She can feel the tears that had formed earlier roll down her cheeks, and she lets them, uncaring. How could Jinx care when she can tell she's almost pushed Ekko over the edge? When he's talking to her so sweetly?

He's thrusting into her mouth more frantically now, cock twitching against her tongue, and thighs tensing beneath her hands. He grips her hair painfully tight, and all she can think is good, and big, and hurts so good, and want it inside.

“Shit– Wait. Hold on. I'm gonna…gonna come–” he grinds out, abruptly pulling her mouth from his cock. 

Jinx does no such thing. She just leans forward again to greedily wrap her lips around his head, making sure she maintains eye contact when she moves her hand to stroke the rest of him.

“Fuck, you want me to come in your mouth?” His voice comes out shaky, thumbs brushing the tears from her face. Jinx just sucks harder – strokes faster – so desperate to see and feel his climax, it’s as if his pleasure is her own.

Then he moans loudly, the sound like music to her ears, and she feels him twitching in her hand, in her mouth, as he empties himself on her tongue. She can't take her eyes off him, his head thrown back in bliss, the muscles in his neck cording, and the ones in his abdomen contracting as Jinx works him through his orgasm.

She doesn't stop until a shaky hand finds its way to her shoulder, gently pushing her back while he groans from overstimulation.

He collapses flat on his back when she finally releases his cock. It drops down against his stomach, still hard but clearly spent, and Jinx can't resist leaning forward to press one last peck against it even when Ekko's blunt nails scratch against her shoulder.

Jinx is suddenly peeved that her signature lipstick is non-transferable. She should’ve picked a bolder color for today; one that leaves its mark, so she could see evidence all over Ekko's body of the places her lips traveled. 

That disappointment doesn't stop her from kissing her way up his body, though, lips languidly trailing from his pelvis up to his neck, before she moves to rest her head on his shoulder.

Ekko turns to face her, his labored breathing having subsided. His hand comes up to stroke her cheek, brushing stray strands of hair from her face. It’s a simple gesture, but it feels so intimate that her heart aches.

Then he licks his lips and asks, “You got any water?”

Jinx blinks, startled. “Uh, yeah,” she croaks, rolling to lie on her back and away from his touch. “On the nightstand.”

Ekko heaves himself upright with a groan and she tries to ignore how cold she suddenly feels without him in her space. He grabs the water bottle from her nightstand and unscrews the cap before he expectantly holds it out to her.

Oh. That's…considerate. Then again, of course it is. She's talking about Ekko here. She moves to sit up straight and grabs the bottle, taking a generous swig. The liquid washes down her tender throat like a balm.

“Thanks,” she murmurs, handing the bottle back to him. 

While Ekko busies himself rehydrating, she lets her eyes shamelessly rove over his naked body, realizing he must’ve properly undressed in the meantime. A sheen of sweat makes his muscles gleam in the late afternoon sun and his cock is still half-hard between his legs.

Jinx is suddenly very aware of the aching matter still present between her own legs.

“So, can you still go or…?” she cautiously questions, shifting to rub her thighs together.

It’s almost comical how he glares at her over the water bottle. A stray drop of liquid drips down his chin when he pulls it off his mouth, and Jinx wants to get up and lick it off. 

He nods towards the headboard, “Just lie your ass back down,” and screws the bottle shut, putting it back on her nightstand.

“Okay, okay,” she laughs, shuffling back until she’s comfortably resting on her elbows. Ekko soon follows, knees sinking into the mattress while he tugs at her sweatpants. “Didn't think you'd get so pissy, sheesh.”

“I'm not pissy.” He rolls his eyes while Jinx lifts her hips off the bed so he can pull off her sweatpants and underwear in one fell swoop. “Let me return the favor?” he asks, hands returning to stroke soothing patterns against her thighs.

“Please,” she breathes, spreading her legs for him.

The blatant desire in his eyes as they rove over her body charms her as much as it flusters her. Jinx ignores both feelings, instead focusing on how his hands begin to roam over her skin – one wandering to the junction of her thigh, before his thumb flicks at her folds. The touch is featherlight but pointed enough to make her breath hitch.

“You’re so damn beautiful,” he marvels, moving to lie on his stomach so he can swing her legs over his shoulders, “every part of you.” He presses a kiss on her inner thigh. “Like here.” Then one on the delicate skin below her belly button, making her tummy twitch. “And here.” When he presses a kiss directly on her pussy, Jinx barely catches his next words over her own gasp. “And especially here.”

Then his tongue darts out, licking long, broad stripes from her entrance up to her clit, over and over again, until she’s struggling to keep her breathing even. 

“Ekko ...” she whines, hips bucking up into his mouth. Ekko just wraps an arm around her thigh to still her unruly hips and laps up her wetness. 

He's relentless in his attention, those brown eyes locked on hers, pinning her in place and watching every shift in her expression as his tongue flicks over her clit until he finds a pattern that leaves her panting for air. Then he wraps his lips around the aching bud and sucks. 

Jinx moans, loud and needy, pleasure coursing up her spine like lightning, making her back arch off the bed, while her hand shoots down to dig into his hair. That draws a throaty groan from him, the sound reverberating straight through her center.

It feels so good. Jinx was an idiot for thinking the sex might be bad. The sex is great. Amazing, even. And she briefly thinks that might be a problem, but then he slips two fingers inside of her – her pussy so wet, it offers no resistance – and she’s not thinking much of anything anymore.

He plays her like a fiddle – talented tongue flicking just so, large fingers curling against all the right spots – drawing curses and moans from her mouth like a song. He curls his fingers at the same time he flicks his tongue over her clit and Jinx positively howls, fingers tugging at his hair painfully hard at the torturous pleasure; to pull him closer or to push him away, she isn't sure anymore. 

She wants more, but it's too much. It feels so good it's almost overbearing. A hedonistic contradiction that leaves her head spinning from desire. 

Ekko just keeps going, moaning along with her; as if the act of getting her off gets him off too. She keens at the sight of his head buried between her thighs. His eyes closed and brows furrowed as he eats her out with a single-minded focus that has her clenching her fists so tight her fingers ache.

The hand digging into her hip bone loosens, instead wandering up to squeeze her breast. Jinx's hips immediately buck up into Ekko's face, outside of her control.

“Ekko …Ahh…I'm– Fuck! Don't stop, don't stop, don't stop,” she chants, too far gone to formulate her needs more coherently than that.

Ekko just hums in response, eats her out more enthusiastically. Two fingers become three and the delicious stretch threatens to send her over the edge. Jinx grinds into his face frantically, fucking herself onto his fingers, desperately chasing that high, wanting – no, needing more, more, more, more–

He curls his fingers into the right spot again and her release hits her like a battering ram. It slams into her so hard it steals all the air from her lungs, her mouth opening in a breathless scream and her thighs instinctively clamping shut over Ekko's ears.

Her second orgasm feels so much more intense than the first, feels like it goes on forever. Jinx doesn't know if she wants it to last longer or if she wants it to end quicker. Her body is at a loss too; back arching off the bed while her heels dig into Ekko's back; her walls squeezing tight around his fingers while her hands push his head away.

Ekko, who is apparently merciless in this aspect, fucks his fingers into her faster and greedily laps up her wetness as she comes on his tongue – doesn't stop until he's reduced her to quiet sobs and trembling thighs, inner walls contracting around his fingers as her body works through the aftermath of her orgasm.

It feels like she's run a fucking marathon when he finally pulls away. Her legs are weak as they unceremoniously drop from his shoulders, and her chest heaves as she struggles to catch her breath. And through the haze and exhaustion, all she can think is: Where the fuck did he learn to do all that?

It's only when Ekko bursts out into laughter between her legs that Jinx realizes she asked that out loud.

“I just like making you feel good,” he kisses her thigh, before moving up to rest his head on her stomach, “so I paid attention to what did.”

Her hands have loosened their iron grip on his locs, instead, they roam over his fade, fascinated by the texture against the pads of her fingers.

At his response, she scoffs, “Yeah, right,” fingers tracing the zigzag pattern by his temple, “bet you liked learning how to make other people feel good too.”

He rolls his eyes, the mannerism at odds with the way he leans into her touch. “Yeah? And you just learned how to suck dick like that through osmosis?”

She scowls. He has a point, but Jinx feels robbed somehow, knowing that other people got to experience this first, got to see and feel him like this before she did. It's not fair. So instead, she pulls her hands away and responds, “Just shut up.”

“Hey, don't dish out if you can't take it.” He pulls himself up with a grunt, and Jinx's stupid, treacherous body somehow gets excited all over again when his cock brushes directly against her pussy, breath hitching at the feeling.

“...I can take it,” she murmurs, her quiet moan blending with Ekko's when she tilts her hips up against his. She swallows, before continuing, unsure, “I mean– Unless, you–”

“You better not ask me if I'm having second thoughts again,” he interrupts, eyes pointedly glancing down, where Jinx can feel his hardness pressing against her, “because at this point, I think the answer is pretty obvious.”

She follows his line of sight, sees his cock, fully hard again, nestled against her folds. Fuck, he’s so big. She needs to know what it feels like when he's inside of her. What it feels like when the full length of him spreads her wide, how deep it'll go.

“But,” at the sound of his voice, her eyes flicker back up to his face, “do you have condoms? ‘Cause I didn't exactly come prepared for…all this.”

“Hm?” Jinx blinks. “Oh. Yeah. Gimme a sec.”

She twists her body so she can open her nightstand from her position on the bed. Ekko dutifully leans back above her, giving her space to rummage through the drawer.

And to keep rummaging.

…This has to be a fucking joke, right?

“...Do you not–” Ekko startles when, in frustration, Jinx slams the drawer shut and yanks open the one below it instead. “Do you not have condoms?”

“I do! Just give me a sec,” she snaps, because she knows she has them. She hasn't had sex in months, how the fuck would she have run out? Where they are is an entirely different matter, though.

“I mean,” Ekko starts, leaning forward to help her pull open the final drawer (it's broken, stupid thing always gets stuck), “we don't have to–”

Jinx whips her head around to glare at him sharply enough to startle him into silence.

“You been tested?” she asks, slamming the drawer back shut without breaking eye contact.

Ekko looks apprehensive, but supplies, “Yeah? I'm good, but, I mean–”

“Well, so am I. And I'm on birth control for a reason. So…” The reason being period cramps, actually, but not getting pregnant is a useful bonus.

Ekko remains quiet above her and Jinx worries for a moment that he might say no, before he responds, “...You're not baby-trapping me, right? ‘Cause if you are, you should at least have the decency to wait until we graduate.”

“Oh my fucking god, will you just shut up and fuck me?” she groans, burying her head in her hands.

She feels him shaking with laughter on top of her and moves one of her hands to weakly smack his shoulder.

“Sorry,” he laughs, even as he leans back on his haunches and pulls her thighs apart, “just never done it without a condom before.”

“Me neither,” her breath hitches when he drags his cock through her folds, the head bumping against her clit, “but…I trust you.”

And she might feel the slightest bit of satisfaction at the admission, the fact that he's never done this before; that she at least got to take this one first from him that no one else has.

“Yeah,” he answers, brown eyes locking her into place, “me too…”

Jinx flushes, suddenly self-conscious under his gaze. She tries to focus on the drag of his cock instead, as he coats himself with her wetness. “Will you put it in already?” she complains over the beat of her own heart.

Ekko raises a critical eyebrow, continuing to rub his length through her folds. “No one ever taught you manners?”

Indignation flares inside of her at his words, worsened by the fact that he's not inside of her instead. She digs her nails into the skin of his knees, and grinds out, “Put. It. In.”

He lets out an affirmative hum and just slaps his cock against her pussy, the sensation maddening against her sensitive clit. “Ask nicely.”

Pride has her biting the inside of her cheek, refusing to beg, but Ekko doesn't cave. He moves his cock back and forth, maddeningly slow, head teasing her entrance before gliding up again. 

Up and down. Intermittent pauses to smack his cock against her wet pussy. Then up and down some more. Torturously slow and painfully consistent. Jinx feels everything, but most especially how empty she is.

He just meets her scowl with a sunny smile and Jinx could scream from frustration. She’s stubborn, but so is Ekko, more stubborn than she is, in fact (which he, stubbornly, refuses to admit). And her resolve is crumbling more and more every time he presses the head of his cock against her clit, the pleasure pointed, but not actually what she wants. 

And Jinx wants so badly. 

“Ekko…” she whines, forcing herself to swallow her pride when he eyes her expectantly. “Please fuck me.”

He pauses, wrapping his free hand around her thigh before he answers, “Hm, that’s a good girl.” 

Her walls squeeze at the praise. And it just reminds her how painfully empty she still is. She pouts and grinds her hips up against his. Ekko chuckles and finally, finally moves his cock down to her entrance.

The tip of him slides in, hardly meeting any resistance with how embarrassingly wet she already is. She can hardly remember how to breathe as Ekko inches in deeper and deeper – so slowly she can acutely feel every torturously pleasurable stretch of her inner walls around the length of him.

Her breath promptly gets punched from her lungs when he finally buries himself to the hilt.

“You good?” he asks, voice strained, at odds with the soothing circles he rubs over her thighs.

“Mhmmm,” Jinx whines, because the only words she can think right now are big, good, and so deep.

He slides out of her slowly, and her inner walls squeeze hard enough to try and trap him inside. Ekko groans above her at the feeling, then he slides back home slowly, pleasure dripping down her spine like honey at the feel.

The pace he sets is measured, controlled. She’s hyper-aware of everything; every drag of his cock against her sensitive walls; how his hands tighten around her hips when she tightens around him; the creaking of the bed as he slowly picks up the pace; how he thrusts just a little harder every time he hits that spot that makes her moan louder.

“Ekko…” she moans, watching his eyes track the movement of her lips when she continues, “You feel so good…”

“So do you,” he sighs, eyes flickering back up to hers, locking her in place. “Like–” he pauses, moving his hands down to grip her ass and raise her hips off the bed so he can thrust into her deeper, harder, “like you were made for me.”

She's not entirely sure what it is – his words, his eyes, the way he’s fucking her – but it has her throwing her head back against the pillow and crying out, steals the air straight from her lungs. Jinx can't look away from him, his eyes – dark and deep enough to drown in – pinning her in place and dragging her under the depths.

Dangerous, Jinx thinks, even as she cants her hips up against his and needily digs her nails into his biceps. This feels dangerous.

But she can't deny how good he feels inside of her. How perfect. Like he was made to fit inside of her. The thought draws a wanton moan from her, has her wrapping her arms around his shoulders and her legs around his hips, needing him closer as badly as she needs oxygen.

Ekko follows easily enough – gently moves with her to support himself on his elbows – and lowers his head to put his lips on her chest, mouth wrapping around her breast.

“So fucking perfect,” he sighs, squeezing her breast in his hand and flicking his tongue over her nipple. “These tits…” His hand sneaks around her waist, while he trails kisses up her neck, pressing their chests flush together. “Your body...” Ekko presses a final kiss against her jaw, and Jinx’s breath catches at the feeling. His lips brush against her cheek when he finishes, “Just you.”

He thrusts into her shallowly, movements languid and lazy. Jinx doesn't even care, just wraps her arms around him tighter, presses closer, and turns her head to press their foreheads together too.

Pressed this close together, she can hardly tell whose heart she feels beating so fast – his or hers – maybe it’s both, or maybe it doesn't even matter. Not when they're so intertwined it feels like Ekko is just an extension of her; a puzzle piece that slots perfectly into place; the positive to her negative, naturally attracted and drawn to one another.

She can feel it in every backward motion of his hips, pulling his cock out of her just barely – her walls clinging desperately to try and keep him trapped – before he slides back in, burying himself inside of her completely. She feels it in the scalding way he looks at her too, face so close to hers they're sharing the same air when they quietly pant against each other’s mouths.

They're close. So close. Too close. Danger, danger, danger her mind screams at her again. Jinx has to– has to pull away while she still can, before she loses all sense.

“Ekko,” she pants, feels his answering hum vibrate through her, “we should…Can we switch positions?”

He slows to a stop on top of her and pulls back so he's no longer crushing her. Jinx immediately mourns the loss but fights the urge to pull him closer and lets him go instead.

“Is it not good for you?” he asks, brows furrowing together.

God knows how far from the truth that is. It's concerningly good, if anything. Rather than tell him that, though, she just pushes him back further so she can move to lie on her stomach.

“No, it's just…” she tries to get comfortable, resting her cheek on the pillow while she gets on her knees, arching her back for him, “I wanna try it like this.” 

Because she doesn't have to look into his eyes like this. Because it doesn't feel terrifyingly, achingly intimate this way. 

She doesn't tell him that either.

“Fuck…” he exhales, one of his hands grabbing her ass, thumb spreading her folds apart. “Okay, I can work with that.”

Jinx shimmies her hips back, desperate to have him inside of her again. She gasps when she suddenly feels his tongue pass over her folds instead.

Ekko's responding groan when her hips instinctively buck back into his face reverberates through her, pleasure zinging through her nerves like electricity when he roves it over her clit before proceeding to fuck his tongue into her.

He’s ravenous in his desire, greedily lapping up her wetness as he works Jinx up until she's reduced to shaky moans and even shakier thighs. 

Jinx can hardly think, can hardly speak – thoughts syrupy and her tongue heavy in her mouth as she struggles to find the right words, to formulate a coherent thought. 

Because it’s good. So, so fucking good. But it's not what she wants right now. His clever tongue exploring her insides doesn't compare to the feel of his cock, spreading her wide and stretching her out properly.

Jinx wants it so badly, she manages to whine, “Ekko…” hips squirming under the firm grip he has on her ass to keep her still. She hopes the touch leaves bruises. “Wait…I need…mmm…want you inside…”

Ekko moves back at her words, and Jinx whimpers at the feel of his tongue pulling out of her pussy, leaving her empty again. 

“...Sorry.” His warm breath washes over her sensitive skin, making her shiver. “You just taste so good–” Jinx gasps when she feels his tongue lap up her wetness again before he pulls away entirely, “–I wanted another taste.”

Heat rushes to her cheeks, and Jinx can only be grateful that Ekko can't see her face like this, can't see the effect he has on her, as she murmurs, “Just…hurry up…” emphasizing the plea by wiggling her hips back in his hands.

She feels something soft and sticky – his lips, she realizes – touch her shoulder blade, before he presses the head of his cock against her entrance. 

Jinx isn't entirely sure if he's pushing his cock inside of her or if she's the one who pushes herself onto his length. Maybe it's both, the two of them moving in tandem, mutual desire drawing them together.

She's definitely sure that he's the one controlling the pace after that, though. Hands so tight on her hips that Jinx can hardly move, and breathy moans getting punched from her mouth with every well-timed thrust of his hips.

“Shit, you're taking me so well…” Ekko breathes, suddenly slowing down and leaving Jinx reeling from the abrupt change of pace. A hand sneaks between her legs, fingers drawing quick, firm circles over her clit – at odds with the slow, deep thrusts of his cock. Her walls clench tight around him in response, drawing a throaty groan from him. “Fuck …greedy little pussy sucking me back in.”

“Ahhh...Ekko…” she moans, words slightly muffled by the pillow, “do it harder…” His hand leaves her pussy, trailing back around her hips and squeezing tight. And then he's giving it to her.

The wet slap of his hips against her ass is embarrassingly loud – the sound echoing across the room, over the music – as he mercilessly slams into her. Jinx can’t do anything but lie there and take it, doing her best to keep her hips raised high and her back arched while the pillow muffles her cries.

Hard, hard, hard – and deep, deep, deep, and so fucking good that pleasure crashes into her like a wave, leaving her feeling like it might drown her, like the air has been stolen from her lungs. Jinx knows she won’t be able to fight against the current much longer, toes curling as she desperately tries to hold on, tries not to get swept away too quickly.

“Shit– Lemme hear you,” Ekko grunts, tangling his fingers in her hair, along the base of her scalp. 

Then he's pulling her head back and Jinx's eyes nearly roll back in her head at the feeling, the pleasure-pain drawing a hoarse moan from her while Ekko keeps pounding into her.

Turning on music had clearly been useless. Jinx ends up screaming so loud she drowns out the track anyway, but she can’t control her voice, not when he fucks her so well – cock hitting her walls just right every time he thrusts back into her. 

When she comes it's a sudden thing, pleasure slamming through her so hard it sends her over the edge. Her walls squeeze tight around Ekko's cock, while he just fucks her through it – pleasure so overwhelming it has her digging her fingers into the pillow so hard they ache.

Jinx can hardly breathe, hips stuttering back against Ekko’s as she desperately chases that fire, wants it more and more, wants it to go on forever. Even as it threatens to burn her out.

It's still going even as he gradually slows down, her walls convulsing around his length as her body works through the aftermath of her third orgasm(? It's hard to keep count, her brain is too muddled.) 

It’s no miracle she doesn’t collapse straight on her stomach. The hand Ekko still has squeezed around her hip is the only thing keeping her on her knees. The one in her hair loosens, her head unceremoniously dropping down on the pillow as Jinx takes shuddery breaths. 

She feels him slowly begin to pull out, and despite her weariness, her walls clamp down in protest and she desperately reaches for his hip, nails clawing into his ass as she pulls him back inside of her.

“You didn't finish,” Jinx accuses, glaring at him over her shoulder, “so keep going.”

Ekko chuckles above her, rubbing soothing circles across her skin. “I was planning to, don't worry,” he assures, reaching for the pillow by her headboard and sliding it in front of her knees. “Just wanted to make you comfortable.” 

He pulls out and this time she lets him. Just as she allows him to move her body so she's lying flat on her stomach with her hips hiked up by the pillow. 

Considerate. He's always so damn considerate it pisses Jinx off. It makes her feel strange and warm, ignites feelings she doesn't want to examine too closely.

Luckily she doesn't have to when he slides back inside of her, the pleasurable stretch in her lower back stealing her every thought. Jinx is certain her pussy's never quite been spread so far open before today, yet now Ekko slips back into her with laughable ease. 

It’s hard to laugh, though, when all she can do is let out a shaky moan at the feel of his cock filling her up again while she's still sensitive from her orgasm. Jinx just spreads her legs further and mindlessly grinds her hips back against his as she tries to meet every deep, languid thrust.

“Fuck…Jinx–” Ekko groans above her, voice breathless. “Feels so fucking good…better than I could’ve imagined…”

It takes a moment for his words and their implication to land – the delicious drag of his cock far too distracting – but when they do, Jinx gasps out, breath stuttering, “Mmm…Yeah? You thought about it a lot?”

Ekko speeds up, fucks her harder. She barely hears his response over her own cries. “All the time,” he grunts. “Wanted you for so long…Didn't know you’d be this fucking perfect for me.”

And rationally, Jinx understands he doesn't mean any of it, that he’s just saying things because he’s caught in the moment. But so is she, isn’t she? Surely that’s why her body responds by tightening around him, and she gasps out, “Come for me. Inside. I wanna feel it…Please, please, please–”

Ekko just groans above her, his breathing becoming more labored the longer she keeps talking. And Jinx can’t stop, near-delirious as she’s reduced to rambling – to begging him to fill her up. As if vocalizing the desire made her realize just how badly wants it.

She only stops when she feels his hand wrap around her hair again, but before he can tug at it, she grabs it and redirects his hand to wrap around her throat instead.

His hips stutter, breaking his rhythm and Jinx just guides him to squeeze down while grinding back against him, urging him to keep going.

Ekko groans above her, low and rough, fingers flexing above her jugular – where he can surely feel her heart pounding – pulls out until only the tip of his cock is just barely inside of her, and then he slams back in, fucking her with renewed vigor.

She's not sure what's making her dizzier, the hand wrapped around her throat – cutting off her oxygen flow and making her vision swim – or the way Ekko plunges into her, hard and fast, self-control completely lost as he chases his own release.

The hand wrapped around her neck loosens, trails up to cradle her face and Ekko slides his thumb between Jinx's gasping lips. She doesn't hesitate to suck down on the digit, tongue roving over the pad of his thumb even as she struggles to catch her breath. 

“Jinx , I’m– nnhg, I'm so close–”

Yes, yes, yes, yes she thinks, letting go of his thumb with a wet pop while clenching tight around his cock and whining encouragingly, still too breathless to vocalize anything more than the low moans he manages to pull from her throat.

He releases his grip on her face to fist the sheet beside her instead. Jinx's head unceremoniously drops down to the pillow, and she allows it to smother her voice while she listens to Ekko gasp and grunt above her. 

She can feel his cock twitching inside of her as he pumps his release into her with every unsteady thrust of his hips. Jinx allows him to work through his orgasm, too pliant and fucked-out to do more than lie there and take it.

“Fuck, you’re so…” he trails off, pulling out and collapsing flat on his back. 

She has to bite the inside of her cheek to fight back a whimper at the feeling, her pussy gaping and empty now that he's no longer inside of her. His breathing is labored enough to rise above the music as he struggles to catch his breath beside her. 

Jinx shuffles to bury herself into his side – uncaring of how they practically stick together from the sheen of sweat on both their skins –  plasters her cheek on his shoulder, slings an arm across his chest and tangles their legs together.

Ekko responds by wrapping both arms around her and pulling her closer. Jinx snuggles closer, allowing Ekko to come down from his high while she savors how good it feels to be pressed this close to him, how right. Skin to skin. Like they’re both just meant to stay this way forever.

But curiosity gnaws in the back of her mind, and so – when his heartbeat slows and the rise and fall of his chest steadies again – she can’t help but ask, “So…have you really, you know, thought about this before?”

She almost regrets asking when she feels Ekko tense beneath her, but before she can fear the worst, he winces and answers, “...Would you be mad if I said yes?”

Mad? Jinx blinks, baffled. “Ekko,” she starts, grabbing both his cheeks so he’s forced to look at her, “you just came inside me.”

He scowls but doesn’t fight her grip. “That doesn’t tell me shit. We’re talking about you here.”

So he has thought about it before. Despite everything they’ve done so far, Jinx feels strangely bashful at the revelation. Maybe it should be obvious at this point, yet somehow it still manages to stir up strange, fuzzy feelings in her heart.

Rather than reveal how affected she is, Jinx squishes his cheeks together in feigned annoyance, shaking his head back and forth as she demands, “Now what does that mean, you little shit?”

A startled cry gets pulled from her throat when suddenly the room spins and she’s lying flat on her back. Ekko laughs on top of her, no doubt at how dumbfounded she must look right now.

She should probably smack him. Or say something mean. Or do anything, really. But the words get caught in her throat as Jinx stares at him, laughing on top of her, eyes crinkled in joy and his dimples on full display. 

The early evening sun shines down on him through her window, bathing him in its warm, golden light. And she’s left awestruck by just how achingly beautiful he is, even more so when he's happy.

Had Jinx been the cautious type (or, at the very least, someone who hadn't just gotten every rational thought fucked straight out of her brain), she probably wouldn't have let her feelings overrule her better judgment. She probably wouldn't have cupped Ekko's face in her hands and pulled him down to press their lips together.

Unfortunately, Jinx has never been cautious about anything in her life.

Ekko goes rigid above her, and Jinx pulls back as slowly as she can, stalling for time as she scrambles for an excuse.

“There was a bug on your mouth,” her brain supplies, then she immediately realizes how fucking stupid that sounds because why would she remove it with her own mouth?

Before she can pull away entirely, however, his hand comes to wrap around the nape of her neck and he's pulling her in for another kiss.

Jinx gasps at the feel of his mouth moving against hers, every brush of his lips turning her thoughts syrupy. The feeling drips down her spine and pools low and warm in her stomach until all she can think is: more.

More, as she wraps arms around his neck; More, as she opens her mouth to let Ekko's tongue in; More, as she breaks away for just a moment so she can roll them over, straddle his lap, and kiss him again.

His hands rove over her body and Jinx feels hot everywhere they touch. She separates their lips with a low moan, pressing kisses on the skin of his jaw before working her way down to his neck so she can return the favor by covering him in hickeys as well.

And Ekko's using his fingers to fuck his cum back into Jinx – and fuck, that shouldn't be so hot to her but it is. And she wants to fuck him again so badly, wants to ride him until he's begging her to stop.

“Can I eat you out again?” Ekko gasps when she tugs his earlobe between her teeth. “Want you to sit on my face…”

She barely manages to hum in approval at his request, too distracted by the feel of his fingers dragging in and out of her; by the soft kisses his lips press against the side of her face that make her heart flutter.

Jinx has never felt this way before, has never had someone stir her heart up the way Ekko does. It’s terrifying, all of a sudden, to realize just how much he affects her. Her desire for him is ravenous; a gaping maw that threatens to swallow her whole if she doesn't feed it.

But she is trying to get him out of her system, is she not? Jinx reasons with herself, as she moves to bracket her thighs around his face. What’s the harm in being thorough about it?

-

It’s only in the aftermath – when her body is pleasantly sore and worn out and covered in hickeys – that Jinx comes to a terrible realization.

It happens when she turns her head and looks at Ekko, peacefully sleeping on his back beside her.

“You could stay the night, you know…” she had told him earlier, long after the sun had set, while they were cuddled up in her bed, watching some shitty movie that neither of them was actually paying attention to.

Ekko just stared at her, and somehow his gaze made her self-conscious. Which was ridiculous because why did she feel self-conscious after they’d spent hours (very thoroughly) exploring each other’s bodies?

“What?” she blurted, struggling not to squirm under his gaze.

“Nothing,” he murmured, brushing a stray lock of hair from her cheek. “I’ll stay...”

At that moment in time, Jinx couldn’t make sense of the way her heart soared at his answer.

Now she watches his relaxed face in fascination, warmth blooming in her chest at the sight of him so serene. There’s no trace of that usual scowl he reserves for her, or that confident grin that can piss her off and excite her. Usually at the same time. 

She gingerly reaches out to trace his features; his strong jawline, defined cheekbones, smooth nose, and full lips. God, he’s so attractive it pisses her off. This all happened because he’s so stupidly good-looking in the first place.

She flinches when she feels him move, pulling back her hand as if burned. Ekko just turns in his sleep, moves to lie on his side, and slings his arm across her back in the process. And Jinx feels her heart do cartwheels in her chest when he moves his body closer to hers, snuggling into her side. 

It’s then that her brain oh-so eloquently thinks oh no. Shit. Fuck. Goddammit.

Jinx flops face-first into her pillow and bites into it to hold back the scream building in her throat.

Because it’s only now that she’s fucked him and the feeling is doing the very opposite of fading, that Jinx realizes that she may actually be in love with Ekko.

[saint-cosmos]

house trained, you say? you'd have more luck socialising a coyote, but i will do my best.

price doesn't know how not to defend the property - all bark, all bite. an old, greying basset hound, that one. poor mrs. jenkins from down the street can't walk her yappy chihuahua without him peering out one of the windows as she passes. stands behind you and glares at the poor mechanic who came to look at your water heater. doesn't want to leave his birdie alone with a stranger, that's ridiculous ):< scuffs his boot on the floors and mutters something about how 'he could have fixed it for you, doll.' and you have to roll your eyes at him and tell him that the thing is ancient and replacing it will mean it will no longer be a looming issue. mopes about it until you coax him into a hot bath with you, scented with lavender oil and rosehip. got the man practically purring as you use your good body wash to lather his body. it's only the first step to getting him to loosen the reins a little, because he just can't get enough of you. he'd do whatever you asked, if only you ask nicely.

simon is a poorly socialised corso, unsure of what to do with himself. he's not used to sharing space, and for the longest time, you honestly think that moving in together was a bad idea. he looks so out of place, hunching into himself to make himself smaller, shuffling through the apartment like it's not actually his - like he's a mere guest. you can't take it to heart; it isn't about you or the space. simon is a man of routine, a man of habit, and the somewhat impromptu decision to move in together threw a wrench in his routine. part of it is because he incorrectly assumes that everything is supposed to organically fall into place once he takes that step with you, and when it doesn't, he kind of starts to self-destruct a little. gets restless, antsy. won't sit still and can barely sleep. sometimes you'll find him sitting on the couch in the pitch black at night, because he doesn't know what else to do with himself. the obvious fix to this is to develop a routine with him. pick a certain day to go grocery shopping, do your skincare and nightly routine at the same time every day. it doesn't have to be complex, but any sort of structure goes a long way for someone like simon.

gaz seems like he would already be pretty well house-trained, but i also strongly believe that gaz is kind of sort of semi-feral when it comes to relationships. he's the kind you see on the street that isn't exactly a stray, but won't come in from out the cold even if you left the door open for him. gaz is the one who, out of the 141, will struggle the most with leaving work at the door. he doesn't know how else to do it - it follows him everywhere. your first date almost didn't turn into a second date, because he walked you home but wouldn't stay for a drink, and he wouldn't tell you why. you thought he didn't like you - even if he texted you regularly every day for the next week. he's a confusing one. it feels like he misses you, when you two aren't together, and yet being in your presence makes him skittish. he expects you to ghost him one day. when you don't, that only makes him twice as nervous about it. with gaz, it's a game of patience. all about proving that you're here for the long haul.

johnny is the one with separation anxiety. most of your exes always called you the clingy one, but clingy is surprisingly the word you might use to describe johnny when you're both at home. if he can't see you, it's a problem. so what if you're going to the bathroom. so what if you're trying to change? it's nothing he's never seen before, hen. god forbid you try to go anywhere without him. grocery shopping? you need someone to push the cart. out with your girlfriends? he can pay for lunch. your boss called you into a last minute meeting at work when it's supposed to be your off day? he'll wait in the car. the point is, he really doesn't like being away from you. when either of you are at work it's one thing, but when he's at home he's less prepared to defend what's his. and good luck trying to train him out of it. you can try, plying him with attention and giving him honey-dos to distract him long enough for a few minutes of alone time. no can do, lovie. he's more comfortable when you're sitting with him, watching him work. you better get really good at body-doubling, because that's the only way you're going to get anything done.

I need the 141 men… HOUSE TRAINED 💔💔

[laurrelise]

guys i’ve drawn lila some more

decided to draw 2 of her saddest scenes for what reason????????

i actually don’t have an answer i just liked the references

(also here are the references)

and i can’t remember if ive dropped these here before but i did some pencil drawings of her a whiiiiiile ago and im actually really proud of them so i’ll just leave them here regardless :)

v also their references

[maraschinotopped]

brothership stamp collection... 2!!!! featuring mainly character stamps! ignore the top right one.

[xxlady-lunaxx]

random decision to draw charlie (can u tell how much i struggled bc the hazbin artstyle is so unlike my own :X)

[loadsofcats]

I was not expecting Master and Margarita to be so fun!!! Pleasantly surprised

[rgr-pop]

i hate how much of a inner child self healing influencer i feel like when i even acknowledge feelings like this but watching people parent little ones in good or even just normal ways just sends me back to all the things i would get in outsized, dramatic, often violent trouble for. the one that transported me back in time just now was a toddler asking about death. my mother would probably have hit me in the face and then cried about it

[e-adlirez]

Treasure Seekers 3 Review/Ramble

Welcome to the third and last entry of the Treasure Seekers trilogy :D

"Wait what?" I probably hear you ask. "What about the other four treasures they said the girls would find?"

And to that I say

yeah it do be a bit sad that they never made a book 4

But make no mistake, Legend of the Maze is a doozy of a third book, and I'd say it's almost on-par with book 1 if not surpassing it. Unfortunately there is no free digital copy of the book, so uh if you're down to spend a bit on a digital copy on the E-book site of your choosing or on a physical copy in a bookstore, I salute you for your determination.

As for the rest of you, you're just gonna have to trust me bro :] /j

Ready? Let's go :D (also this is being written by a sleep-deprived E running on hyperfixation juice so if you find any grammar issues feel free to let me know so I can fix them)

The story begins with the Thea Sisters touring the Capelletti House in Verona with their Italian friend/tour guide Sebastiano. Yes, this Verona.

So yeah Colette is fantasizing about Romeo and Juliet as a romantic ship, Vi is trying to kill her Santa by telling her that Romeo and Juliet are fictional characters (which Colette responds to with "oh hush I can dream"), and oop-- loose floorboard-- what's this package under the flo-- LE GAAASSSPPPP LANE LOOORRREEEEE

The girls fangirl about the ABL jumpscare a lil' too loudly and Sebastiano is a lil' confusion, soooooooo the squad goes out for some snacks outside the Capelletti house to explain stuff to Sebastiano

buckle up Sebastiano you're about to get two 300-page books worth of Lane Lore™

While listening to the story, it turns out that Sebastiano may or may not have heard a peep about a legend about a treasure called the Treasure of Eternal Love (adapted Scholastic name is "Treasure of True Love" which ew, snatches the original Italian name instead), which was said to have been owned by Juliet and tho a lotta people are trying to find it, they dunno where it is now. Sounds very Seven Treasures of the World to me :]

How does Sebastiano know a peep about this very obscure legend? Turns out he learned about it from a letter written by his great-grandpappy Jacopo, who was an archaeologist like Aurora :3

So Sebastiano invites the girls to dinner at his place so the girls can look for the letter. Vi don't get too comfy with the house library I know it looks very cool and antique but we got a goal and that is sifting through a lil' box of Jacopo's kept things and find some-- HOLY CRAP LANE LORE™

-

"Hi Jacopo, tysm for helping me with my research on the Treasure of Eternal Love, you're a real g my guy, regards from me and my sister Linda, also tysm for the tour of Verona."

-- ABL

-

The girls tell Sebastiano their findings over a dinner of bigoli al pomodoro, give some extra Lane Lore™ about Jan von Klawitz and Aurora's six sisters, and mention the possibility that Linda knows where the treasure is, which means that Luke is probably after it too, but also Linda might know where the treasure is, which means a lead >:3

First stop: Verona's city hall, where Sebastiano's friend Guido works and is able to help them with finding information about a Linda Lane who may or may not have lived in Verona approximately a century ago. They find a document that says yes, Linda did in fact live in Verona once, and also her address is listed there because legalities, y'know how it is.

So the girls head on over to the address, knock at the door, and are greeted by an old lady, and :0 turns out this old lady (her name is Mia) knew Linda personally.

-

Linda and Mia met when Linda was in her older years and Mia was a smol child. Mia would read for Linda since her eyesight deteriorated in her old age, and they hung out a lot together. When Linda left to return to England, she left the house to Mia, as well as a good chunk of the stuff she had in said house as mementos for Mia to remember her by.

-

Hey guys you wanna see a trick, it's called "the Lane Lore™ %", aka how fast can we get this old lady up to speed with the ABL drama-- /j

Unfortunately Mia doesn't really know anything about the treasures, but she does have this wack painting of a scenery in Japan that just won't align correctly no matter how much finagling you do to it-- oh there was an envelope inside-- LANE LORE™?

So the letter inside the envelope is a letter from Aurora to Linda basically Aurora telling Linda she found the Treasure of Eternal Love, but because Jan is on her tail, she left the treasure in the "House of the Sun" for now. Now, if you tried looking up "house of the sun", you'd get a hotel in Florida, a manga, a former Incan temple that's now a monastery-- you get the picture, it do be a weird detail and probably not it bro, besides Aurora's too much of a gremlin to be that obvious with her riddles.

At least if you're not a Shakespeare nerd like Colette is (the kind that never read past Romeo and Juliet's wedding), because if you were, you'd know that at one point Romeo equates Juliet to the sun rising in the east. Romeo is simping for Juliet, Juliet is the sun, ergo, the Capelletti house.

But uh, thing is we already went to the house and we already know that Aurora came back for the treasure and took it somewhere else. Sooooo might as well see what the last letter says--

"Hi so I'm on the run rn I can't chat for long because Jan is pissed and he wants to find me and force me to reveal the treasure, and I don't think I wanna know how not-kid-friendly this is gonna get if he does find me. Thanks for introducing me to your friend tho :D she's cool and thanks to her help, the treasure is safe and sound in the shade of the cherry trees! I'll come back for it one day, hopefully that day comes soon. Anyway, hugs and kisses, Linda." - ABL

Spoiler alert, despite having a beeg cherry tree on the painting, there was in fact nothing else hiding behind the painting.

LUKE TRANSITION

So Luke is doing Luke things, not touching grass as per usual. Cassidy comes by to give him a lil' souvenir from great-grandpappy Jan von Klawitz's house in London: Jan's old notes. Luke immediately dismisses Cassidy without even so much as a thank you -- Cassidy girlypop you're not scoring that man no matter what you do, he's the Adrien to your Marinette girlie we're only at book 3, you might as well accept your fate -- and Luke takes a lil' peek into Jan's notebook (he also calls his great-grandpappy "Jan", like just "Jan". I dunno maybe I'm just finding it weird because I'm Asian . .) for the goods.

And goods Luke does find, which he proceeds to consume like a goblin. Bit of Klawitz lore here:

-

"Grrr grrr stupid Aurora and her smartass tricks grrrrr who does she think she is grrrrr she beat me to the Treasure of Eternal Love in Verona grrrrrrrrrrrr well at least now I know how she works, I managed to find this friend of hers Jacopo, who definitely knows about the treasure even though he keeps playing stupid like I don't know that he knows Aurora. Something something cherry trees, I ransacked every single cherry tree in Verona and there was literally nothing, wth, Aurora why are you like this" - Jan von Klawitz

-

Luke responds to this seedy lore from his great-grandpappy with "hehehHEHEHAHAHAHAHAHAHH JAN YOU IDIOT, YOU COULDN'T SEE WHAT WAS RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU BECAUSE YOU UNDERESTIMATED THE LITTLE PILOT GIRL, I ALREADY KNOW WHERE TO LOOK"

Cut back to the girls, and they know where to look next, too

It's Japan, i-it's Japan, y'know Japan's relationship with their sakura/cherry blossoms

Turns out Linda has a friend named Kyoko Bianchi, a Japanese-Italian botanist who was raised in Japan. Since Aurora mentions in her letter that Linda's friend came in clutch, she was obviously referring to Kyoko and now the treasure is in Japan.

So Japan transition :D (based on my personal experience in Japan and also a bit of canon continuity consistency, I headcanon that despite being written in English, this segment of the story mostly had the girls speaking in Japanese, a language they would know how to speak a bit of at least (and apparently Vi is conversational in Japanese so c'mooonnnn).)

The girls land at Narita Airport and take a train to central Tokyo (damn Kumi from Cherry Blossom Adventure you came in clutch possibly teaching the girls how to Japanese subway offscreen because they actually didn't get lost using it on their own :D). Kyoko's hometown was Tokyo, so might as well start searching for her descendants/relatives there. First stop: Shibuya.

Colette is playfully ribbed a bit for having a big-ass bag while everyone else only brought smol backpacks around with them, the luck of the girls not getting lost using the Japanese subway must be balanced out so Paulina's GPS decides now is the right time to be a dick, Shibuya Crossing, and finally they make it to the hotel where Amrita Bianchi, their first Kyoko descendant candidate, is at.

And this is the first time the girls come across the concept of cosplaying, I genuinely don't know how they managed to sidestep it for so long especially since they've been to Japan before for a student exchange, all I can really justify it with is that university has been kicking their a-- RATSUNE MIKU??

Gahd even in 2018 Italy there was no escape from her /j

Anyway so Amrita didn't know Kyoko, so their second candidate is Shinobu Bianchi, a guy living in Shinjuku. They find him-- or more accurately run into him (literally) on his way to work, try to explain things to him but this man is running late, so he invites the girls to follow him to his workplace. They find themselves in a cafe on opening time, customers start filing in before the girls can even tell Shinobu what the whole deal is, soooooo karaoke break :D

Vi c'mon it's not like there's much else to do while waiting for Shinobu-- what're you gonna do, sit there and wait? A-actually y'know what that sounds like something Vi would happily do but c'mooonnn Vi where's your sense-a humor :D

Thirty minutes of singing later, they finally get five minutes to explain to Shinobu what they're looking for and Shinobu says "sorry I dunno Kyoko, I am half-Italian on my dad's side, but my mom has a different Japanese surname"

So the girls Peter William a bit emotionally, Pam goes to what Scholastic is telling me is a kiosk but might as well be a 7/11 based on the banger food Pam got from said kiosk, the girls take a taxi to a Capsule Hotel (judging from the illustration it looks like the Shinjuku Kuyakusho-mae Capsule Hotel), and after a bit of dinner, Peter William into their capsule rooms physically.

The next morning, Nicky goes out for a morning jog as usual (she prolly slept with her capsule open so she wouldn't get claustrophobic), and she finds a gardener tending to a Kyoko Bianchi flower :0 like no joke that's the name, it's a K. bianchi, named after a botanist who founded the Fairy Garden (Disclaimer: neither the K. bianchi nor the Fairy Garden Foundation in Japan exist, they're fictional bits for this fictional story and that's fine :3). Nicky gets the address for the Fairy Garden, runs back to the girls who are having breakfast, and they head on over to the venue.

At the Fairy Garden, the girls meet a gardener named Toshio who happily shows them around, and despite not knowing all the Lane Lore™ (yet), he knows enough to lead them to Kyoko's perfectly preserved office, where the late Bianchi has displayed some pictures from Verona, as well as her furniture and encyclopedia collection.

After a search, they find what was presumably a haiku alluding to Jomon Sugi and the writer's voice being hidden in there, and one jaunt to the record of Jomon Sugi in Kyoko's encyclopedia collection and uhp-- a hidden cassette tape inside the volume!

On one hand, victory, the girls have found a VHS tape that is implied to have a personal recording from Kyoko Bianchi herself, so they're super-close to the treasure now :D

But on the other hand, they found a VHS tape in the year of our lord 2018.

Good news, Toshio knows a buddy who's super tech-savvy, and that's including tech things. Bad news, he's in Kyoto, which is about 445 km/283 miles away from Tokyo.

So the girls quickly take a shinkansen and some bento boxes to Kyoto :D (their wallets are probably sobbing in an 86-USD ticket per person)

At Kyoto, meet Ren, are lowkey surprised that his house is a traditional Japanese house as opposed to a modern flat but hey it's a pleasant surprise, and Ren is able to play the tape for them.

In the tape, Kyoko explains the Treasure of Eternal Love, how it ended up in her hands at the ripe age of 20 through Linda and Aurora, and some Treasure of Eternal Love lore, or rather Ring of Eternal Love lore:

-

Yeah sure Romeo and Juliet were fictional characters, but reality, so it goes, isn't that much different. The Ring of Eternal Love was a courting gift from a suitor to a bachelorette of the Cappelletti household. The suitor and the girl's families had hate boners for each other for a while now, but instead of spiraling into a destructive mess of family feuding and death like in Shakespeare's play, they decided to call off the feud so the two lovers could be happy together. And now the ring, as Kyoko puts it, has been passed down from her to "one who shows love every day, in every way, towards everything that grows from the earth."

-

The girls are happy they got to see the tape and its contents, but they Peter William emotionally once more because well, they're back to square one now-- literally the only clue they have is the thing Kyoko said, and what is the thing Kyoko said? It's cryptic and weird and h a h ? Ren offers to accommodate them for the night, the girls get to sleep on futons for the first time since Secret of the Snow, and the next day they decide to have some downtime vacay-ing in Nijo Castle. A vacay that results in Vi having an epiphany about the riddle and thus who has the ring.

Meanwhile with Luke, he's planning something. Something that's got Cassidy in Japan and putting her master's degrees in Engineering, Chemistry and Computer Sciences to use by assembling a drone (I'm wondering how Cassidy has so little braincells out on the field despite having THREE MASTER'S DEGREES like holy crap--)

Cassidy tries complimenting Luke on the motherboard he sent in from Alaska and-- ew Omar why are you here I thought Luke fired you-- ooh what's that package thing-- oi don't diss on Japanese people being polite, once you see the ruder options you're gonna be pining for that shnit-- wait what how's this drone gonna find the Ring of Eternal Love--

Anyway the girls plus Toshio and Ren take the train back to Tokyo (istg if they took the shinkansen--) and back to the Fairy Garden Foundation, where they talk to the current head gardener: Mr. Murakami.

Mr. Murakami does in fact know Kyoko personally, and after a bit of persuading (it involves a bord like many good things in this world), he decides to bring them to his hometown Nara (which involves a train to Kyoto and then a train from Kyoto to Nara which on the Kodama plus the cheapest option from Kyoto to Nara is-- CHEESUS CRUST 91 USD PER PERSON AND THEY HAVE TO GO BACK TO TOKYO AFTER THIS???)

ANYWAY Mr. Murakami takes them to Nara Park, where he hid the treasure. He brings the girls to it, he checks the hiding place and

It's empty?

Wait, the hiding place is empty?

WAIT WHAT THE HIDING PLACE IS EM--

Off in Alaska, Luke is cackling in his fancy custom-made not-gamer chair.

Mr. Murakami is distraught, most of the girls stay to comfort him while Nicky and Ren scout out the area. In their search, Nicky and Ren find a big broken drone that seems to have crash-landed in the garden, and oop-- LVK logo. It was probably used to spy on Mr. Murakami to snatch the treasure. "DAAAMMMNNNN YOOOUUUU LUUUKKEEEE" Nicky probably would've shrieked at the top of her lungs if she weren't A. in Japan (it's very quiet generally), and B. within earshot of poor Mr. Murakami, who's still recovering from the horrible shock. The girls, Toshio and Ren take the drone to Kyoto while Mr. Murakami stays in Nara with the fam to recover because man, he deserves the break :(

In Ren's house in Kyoto, Paulina and Ren get to work hacking into the drone to snatch its data, and they find that the drone's memory goes as far back as to being in Alaska for some reason. Why would an LVK drone be in Alaska? Unless-- :OOOOO SECRET BASE??

With that lead, the girls depart for Anchorage, Alaska (if I plugged it into Google correctly the price for the flight totals out at a 567-USD one-way flight holy crap girlies have mercy on your wallets-- not including the mini shopping spree for winter clothes Colette was more than happy to drag the girls on). Ren gives Paulina a little flash drive with some written code that could come in clutch in whatever shenanigans they end up in in that secret base of Luke's. Yes Violet as much as I think you're the only person in the group who seems to be concerned for your wallet, ya'll are nawt surviving Alaska with those summer clothes ya'll are wearing.

Behold, a long rest/14-hour timeskip in the form of the last two letters the girls have yet to read from Aurora to Linda. (Well the girls besides Vi, God's sleepiest soldier over here is eeping in the back before the flight's even taken off--)

-

(These are the real letters this time around lmao, if you're confused, Aurora addresses Linda in these letters via her middle name Amaryllis.)

Dear Amaryllis,

I'm very sorry that, because of my job, you are taking on a responsibility that is perhaps too great, and that puts you at risk.

It's all because of the greed of my former professor, a mouse who is incapable of recognizing that beauty should be shared. My dear sister, I have thought about it for a long time, and I have come to the conclusion that the best solution is to take the Treasure of Eternal Love from Verona, where it is not safe... and put you at risk. I am sending you a copy of one of the photos I hold the most dear, in memory of the love that binds us. I hope it will help you make the best decision...

Yours, Aurora

-

Dear Amaryllis,

You wrote me that you are making a decision about the treasure. I agree that the mouse you're planning to entrust it to is worthy of that trust, and I will wait for more news. But you must be careful, even when you write to me, to not mention names or places. We need to watch out, because my former professor is more alert than ever.

It seems that he's building an underground shelter for his riches, designed as a kind of maze to test anyone who manages to enter it...

Professor Jan is clever, and he's always loved riddles, puzzles, and mysteries. I wouldn't wish for any mouse to find themselves in his maze!

Now I must say good-bye, my dear. Sending a big hug.

Yours, Aurora

-

Once the girls land in Anchorage, Alaska, they rent an SUV, pull out Google Maps, read some of the brochures Ren printed out for them just in case, fangirl over a moose (Nicky that's not something to fangirl about have you seen what they're capable of--), and accidental secret tunnel discovery?

Well, accidental secret garbage chute discovery, anyway, since the one thing that allows the girls to not break their ankles when landing is some garbage bags. Food waste garbage bags no less :D Ew :D

Some old aircraft bits are found too which is nice but it's never elaborated on whose old aircraft bits those were so we're moving on to the girls entering Luke's secret headquarters and Nicky trying not to die from claustrophobia :D

CCTVs pose an initial problem, but Ren's flash drive comes in clutch and allows Paulina to freeze the cameras so they can go in undetected (Ren how do you know how to program that is there something you wanna share to the class--). One lengthy labyrinth later, the girls manage to get out of the "we're walking in circles" loop-dee-loop they wound up in and find this little room with a little lit fire pit and an ominous riddle involving the "elements of nature". Pam has the idea of extinguishing the fire pit, and sure enough, inside the fire pit is a key that fits perfectly into the door across the room.

And right after Pam turns the lock on the door, a trapdoor opens up beneath her and she falls into the pit below. It's padded, it's kinda cozy, but it's way too deep for the girls to reach Pam from above without a rope or attempting to risk falling in and getting trapped as well. The girls are very reluctant to leave Pam, but Pam unfortunately only metaphorically slaps some sense into the girls and tells them to go on because they've gone too far to back out now so COMMIT TO THE BIT GODDAMMIT

(you guys like the rhyme-y bits? They're kinda fun to write I do like the rhyme-y bits a bit <:])

And thus the girls minus Pam go through the door to the next room, where there's this swimming pool with a key inside it, which Nicky swims down for, assuming that the trap in the room will only activate once they get the key into the door leading to the next room. Obviously she winds up being very incorrect, as the moment she takes the key from the bottom of the pool, the water starts to drain away until all you got left is a sopping wet Nicky in an empty pool and the key to the next room, which Nicky tosses over to Paulina while asking for her shoes and her dry clothes that they packed. Colette is devastated, devastated I tell you at the idea of leaving Nicky behind, on top of having to leave Pam behind, but Nicky's got faith that the girls will pull through and come back for her; so Colette, Paulina and Violet move on to the next room.

A LOT of walking down a twisting hallway later, the trio make it to the next room (which they use Nicky's key for), and we got four pots with something or other in them, lighting too dim to discern properly what's in the pots, a button sequence puzzle with no margin for error, and a wack riddle. Oh and Paulina's tablet's finally died after possibly uh, 18-ish hours of not charging it. RIP Paulina's tablet, that's gonna be set aside in the corner for the time being.

The pots turn out to have different types of sediment in them, and the wack riddle turns out to be the clue to the correct sequence to input, so the three figure that out fairly quickly and slide down the chute leading to the next room. Except for Paulina, who had to get her tablet from that corner she set it aside in, and wasn't able to make it to the trapdoor-chute in time before it closed on her face, leaving her trapped "forever", as the wack riddle states. The one time you're told to stop holding it, man, unbelievable. I'm never letting go of my tablet again /j

Now Vi and Colette find themselves in an empty room, and they only realize when they get down that Paulina wasn't able to make it out in time. Now this entire time, Colette has been going through it. Of the girls, Colette's been taking the whole leaving-my-friends-behind-for-the-greater-good thing not well at all, and it culminates in an emotional breakdown. Violet comforts her and reassures her that they'll get the ring, they'll pick up the other girls and they'll get outa here soon, but they gotta be brave now for the other girls. (Kinda hard to capture in short and sweet words what the emotion of the scene was but oh well). After a bit of calming down, Colette and Violet look around to find themselves in a... surprisingly simple room? There's a door on the other side of the room from them, and besides that there's literally nothing but thin air.

The two go to the door and move to open it. Yeah this one's surprisingly simple. Just walk on over, pull the door open, walk o-- a gust of wind slammed the door shut . .

Yeah that's right. You ever leave a window in your room open on a windy day and leave your door also open, and the wind going into the room slams the door shut? Yeah, it's that multiplied by uhhhh how much is a vent opposite the door opening up just to blow f%#ken WIMDY-level winds just to slam that metal door shut? However that much multiplies that. The two find themselves in a situation where had all five of them been there to do this puzzle, it would've been far easier; but it is doable with only two people. The plan is one of them wedges themself between the door and the frame and prop it open, while the other crawls under the first person's leg. Transitioning to the second person propping the door open for the first person is gonna be a bit dodgy, but it is doable kinda.

Now Colette has been going through the ringer emotionally, and if you've seen this trope before, you'd know that it'd be a real damn shame if they lost their emotional pillar and had to carry the entire plan on their own, riiiiggghhttt? She's been the handling this situation the worst (emotionally), and it would bring her a belly of the beast to trump all bellies of all beasts and force her to do a The Next Right Thing (hot take: Anna's arc in Frozen 2 was really good), presumably after a lot of sobbing in the corner! It's perfect for angst, and it's perfect for empowerment to see Colette pick herself up and be strong for the girls and save the day!

Which is why Colette doesn't end up being the last one standing :D

Colette was the one who propped the door open for Violet, who crawled through to the other side. The plan was to have Vi switch with Colette so Colette can get through, but one thing they didn't take into account was the fact that the vent would slowly create stronger and stronger winds the longer the door is held open for, so Colette winds up allowing herself to be trapped in the air room so Violet can do the thing. (Oh and the plan was Colette's idea too.)

Heeyyyy Viiiiiiii~ Do you have some cash left over in your wallet? Because I think it's time for you to put your money where your mouth is :DDD

So yeah Violet continues on alone.

Also if you're wondering where Luke is this entire time, he is in fact in his base, still not touching grass and none the wiser about the whole five lil' rat girls sneaking into his base because of the whole frozen cams situation. He does technically notice something's off, but he thinks that the clock in one of the cameras is broken and he ends up complaining about it to Cassidy, haha L. It is also at this point where we learn that the girls have been in Luke's base for a little over three hours at this point :D

Meanwhile, Violet goes down the narrow metal staircase in the hallway outside of the last room and finds herself reminding herself to stay calm but also inside Luke's treasure room, where treasures of all shapes and sizes reside. From whole dinosaur skeletons to ancient Egyptian statues to paintings to suits of armor and-- holy shnit Luke has the Ark of the Covenant in there too o o yeah this guy means business holy crap--

The Ring of Eternal Love is in there too, the lone treasure in the set of seven empty pedestals that Luke was prolly intending for the Seven Treasures of the World. So Vi, clearly not having watched Indiana Jones Raiders of the Lost Ark, attempts to lift the glass case protecting the ring, which sets off the alarms in the treasure rooms, and whoa holy crap there's a robot voice speaking through the alarms? WAIT WHAT DO YOU MEAN FIFTEEN MINUTES TO SELF-DESTRUCTION

Luke, having the shock of his life, comes down to the treasure room to see what's up, and of course it's one of the five brats who's been getting in the way of his endeavors. Hardly a surprise, really, those five have been a pain in the ass from minute one of Luke looking into the Seven Treasures-- from stopping him getting the Alabaster Garden (he didn't even get to see what it was smh), to duping him with the most audacious of gottems to exist only partially due to his goon's stupidity, and now sneaking into the heart of his base without him, his cameras, or his sensors noticing. Strange how there's only one of them, though.

Just like Aurora Beatrix Lane almost a hundred years prior, this young lady is naive, morally stubborn, and idealistic. She is preaching out about sharing these treasures to all, even when the worth of these treasures comes partly in the luxury of not everyone being able to enjoy them. There is value in that sense of rarity, and it's not like any of the uncaring, ignorant whelps working in the museums look at the pieces that sit before them and realize the true value that they have the privilege of looking at everyday. They wouldn't care about them-- they would do the bare minimum to these unique masterpieces and leave it at that. And this naive brat thinks that they are more loving, more caring to these pieces than Luke is?

But as naive and morally pretentious and... ignorant of time and place this woman is (did she really not hear the self-destruct alarm and is thus willing to babble to her grave?)... she is clearly very intelligent. She was able to affect the base's security system such that she could come in undetected. She was able to get past all four traps without getting trapped herself. It is strange how she is alone here, though. She is usually with four other girls-- ah, that's it. They got trapped, and she left them, so she could get to the treasures on her own. What a show of common sense, that is! She must've seen that the traps were designed such that risking oneself to rescue a trapped person is just not worth it, and that first point already makes her far more intelligent than Cassidy or her buffoons could ever be. It could even be on-par with Luke himself. What if... perhaps....

What if they worked together?

Luke, after a bit of back and forth with Violet, gives Violet an offer to ditch her friends and become his partner. If she accepts they can divide everything between each other in the vault, and together, they'll be able to uncover the treasures of the world and enjoy them all to themselves.

I mean of course Vi turns down the offer in favor of sticking with her friends but y'know what it was worth a shot, Luke, kudos to you for spotting a gemstone instead of covering it with mud and pretending it's not there.

Heavily disappointed by Vi turning him down for the sake of "the power of friendship" (I wish I was kidding)(Scholastic!Vi's (?) words not mine)(I would be incredibly disappointed too), he turns to leave her in the treasure room, and it's only then that Vi realizes she kinda effed up. Luke is the only guy here who knows the base inside-out, and thus would know a way to get the girls out so they can Not Die. And to add insult to injury, Luke made a bomb shelter out of his treasure room, so the entire base may explode and the girls might die, but the treasures are gonna be completely fine. Intact, even. Luke leaves, and the robot voice announces ten minutes before self-destruction.

As soon as she's able to, Vi calls the elevator, juggling anxiety and being able to think under pressure. She figures out that Luke oh so helpfully uses pictograms for his elevator buttons instead of numbers, and presses the button for the control room (the heliport floor is locked by a key). She arrives in the control room, eight minutes before self-destruction.

Just as Vi enters the control room, the cameras get kicked back into action, oh so conveniently showing to Violet a timer ticking down to the big kaboom in real time, and footage of Nicky waiting anxiously in the pool room (and Luke leaving), for extra stakes. One Perception check said "yeah, this is a LOT of buttons, TOO MANY BUTTONS", and the tablet sitting on the desk required a password, so oh god what do

Six minutes before self-destruction and one panic attack later, Vi manages to psyche herself up enough to roll for Investigation. She finds a button for disarming the traps, and that allows the girls to get outa the traps and meet up again in the treasure room. Happy reunions aside tho, four minutes to self-destruction

Turns out the girls (thankfully) didn't know about the self-destruct situation. No need to explain tho because Vi is deadlifting the group braincell like she's never done before. She drags them down to the base's... basement, where a train that was probably used to carry the treasures into the base sits unused and ready for the girls to figure out how to work. Three minutes before self-destruction, no pressure :D

Pam sits at the train's controls, Paulina tries to help but immediately brain crashes at the old-timey controls, thus deciding she'd rather help Nicky get the bars off the rails up ahead. Two minutes left, and Pam figures it out and is ready to-- wait they need electricity-- okay cool Nicky and Paulina are taking care of that, cool

Pam gets the train to start up, Nicky and Paulina manage to hop back into the train, and escape the base's explosion range with about ten seconds to spare :D

After stopping the train in a spot where their braincells could afford to deflate, the girls take a minute or two to breathe y'know, just take a minute to breathe, nibble on some wild raspberries growing in Denali National Park, before figuring out what the hell their next move is.

Vi suggests they tell the authorities about the whole secret-base-under-the-park situation and the treasure room and the stuff inside it (since Luke oh so foolishly gloated to Vi about the treasures being perfectly safe), on top of removing the train so it's not getting up in nature's business. They head back to the car talking about their adventure, get a bit sad that they weren't able to find the Ring of Eternal Love-- and oop just kidding, Vi pocketed it in the treasure room right after Luke dipped :D

So on top of the girls escaping with their lives, not only is Luke gonna lose the Ring of Eternal Love as quickly as he got it, he's also losing his entire treasure vault. Can I get a ripperooni

And that's Legend of the Maze :D

I would say that the hyperfixation-that-consumed-these-girls'-lives-for-a-whole-week energy is very strong in this one in the best way, and the girls' personalities are at their most showcased here. The banter is bantering, the girls' dynamics with each other is very believable here, Vi is carrying the group's braincell the entire time and she looks like she's a bit tired from carrying it but y'know wut she's still willing to carry it because it's honest work and she knows how important it is to have it :3 also her trying to kill Colette's "Romeo and Juliet are so romantic" Santa but failing miserably because Colette unashamedly likes believing in the power of love is hilarious

The main thing I wasn't sure about was.... all the infodumpy bits? The infodump goes a significant bit harder in this book than the previous ones (even more than Compass of the Stars, which is an achievement), and it's Scholastic-style infodumping, so you get the girls calling Luke an "evil mouse" or "selfish mouse" and I'm sitting here like "just call him sewer rat please ya'll had no problems calling him that before please for the love of god use that instead it sounds better--"

Don't even get me started with Amrita Bianchi explaining to the girls what cosplay is like she's the damn Merriam Webster dictionary--

Also the Japan segment with y'know Japanese culture and stuff had the terms localized for some reason??? Like haori became "dark jacket", kimono became "long, elegant Japanese dress", they didn't even mention Ren's hakama (he was wearing a very traditional Japanese look), they felt the need to explain bento boxes as "typical Japanese portable lunch boxes" even though "Japanese lunch box" probably would've gotten the point across just fine and also there was an illustration of the bento boxes, Japanese characters became "logograms" for some reason, and dango became "rice dumplings" which became infinitely more confusing for me because the illustration made it look like takoyaki--

I could go on and on but yeah, there are a lot of these and it felt very infodump-y to me. I'm hoping it's just a translation thing, because the story overall feels pretty solid. Scholastic, what happened to the asterisks? Were they just too much for one page? I feel like you would've been able to squeeze them in just fine to make the reading experience a little smoother,,, just like, so it's an optional thing for the reader to read the mini-infodump of the term if they dunno what it means,,,

Other than that tho I don't think I have much to complain ab--

COUGHS GAGS SCREAMS CRIES WRITHES ON THE FLOOR

(I have the magic-of-friendship-invocation tolerance of an angsty teen I'm sorry :'3)

Scholastic, buddy chum pal buddy chum buddy chum pal,,,,

You could've had Vi say "the only way I got here was thanks to my friends", and it would've been fine and infinitely better-sounding and probably more in-character,,, o<-<

Gahd I hate it when Vi's used as the power of friendship prophet -m-

There's a more minor one as the girls are going back to the car and Vi is telling the girls about the deal Luke offered her, and the girls ask her what she said, and she says "I told him I already had the greatest treasure in the world... true friendship!"

Meanwhile I'm sitting there like "MMMMMGGGGGGHHHHHH 'friends like you' or 'sisters like you' or 'my friendship with you' would've sounded better -m-"

(Also the girls call each other like "friends", so like "you were in fact right, friends", which is like, what happened to "sisters" or "girls" those work perfectly fine and get the girls' close relationship across significantly better than "just friends")

Most of what I'm saying here tho are just nitpicks and probably (hopefully) are just stuff with the English translation-- in all seriousness, the book is pretty good.

Aurora's trail here makes sense and is rather logical, and the interesting thing I find about it is that it feels different from the previous two books' worth of shenanigans. Aurora in this one had far less veers and nation hopping shenanigans, and I feel that it was perhaps intentional. Perhaps to give off finale vibes-- Aurora works far more closely with her sister in this one, and the main thing the girls had to work with was not Aurora's diaries, but the letter she wrote to Linda when they were discussing the Ring of Eternal Love. Something about it feels closer, more intimate, more tragic than the previous ones. I felt the need to put her last to letters in the book verbatim because they were emotional dammit -m- Damn you British Amelia Earhart you've done it again /lhj

Luke's character I think is the strongest here. He gives off in a way the most... normal? Vibes here? He's still not touching grass and muttering to himself ominously a whole lot, but his mindset is nice and easy to wrap your head around here. He literally doesn't care about his goons unless he needs something from them, he is more than happy to overanalyze the crap out of a piece of text if he feels Cassidy didn't look through it thoroughly enough, and he wants what he wants right away, and that includes the things he needs to get the thing he actually wants. He as a character literally observes everything happen from his base in Alaska and backseat gamers the crap out of his goons if he sees something they didn't, or if they fumbled the bag and it was perfectly avoidable had it not been for SM being SM--

Also his blatant disrespect for his great-grandpappy Jan is holy crap haha-- it might just be my cultural background, but when I saw Luke call his great-grandpa "Jan" and then say "you disappoint me, Jan", I was flabbergasted haha, not a criticism I just wanted to mention it because I thought it was funny

I really like the fact that Stan and Max (aka SM) didn't show up at all in this book. It would've been easy to have them show up for regularly scheduled hijinks, but in Luke's mind, none of SM's operations have ever been... up to Luke's standards. Especially with how much of a ruckus they tended to make with their presence, they were more of a liability to Luke than an asset; therefore Luke changing up his strategy to be as hands-off and clean and non-intrusive as possible feels like something he'd do, what with how laser-focused he is on min-maxing efficiency to get what he wants as soon as possible.

Omar still being there despite being "fired" might just be a Scholastic oopsie so I can forgive it, Cassidy is still simping for Luke and trying to impress this man and trying to prove she's at an equal level to him, but every time nah. Just nah. Girlie you think you're on the same level as him, which can't possibly be further than the truth. I haven't seen Miraculous Ladybug, but I'd bet Cassidy has even less of a chance of impressing Luke, than Marinette had a chance at getting Adrien to see her as more than "just a friend" before they finally got together.

Now here's something I've been wanting to ramble about for a while: Violet being left alone instead of Colette. It's actually pretty clever when you think about it: Colette is the closest the girls have to a heart (tho she plays hot potato with Paulina when it comes to that role imo), so she's been the most emotional and the most sentimental of the group this entire time. From daydreaming about Romeo, to wanting to believe in love, to happily picking up a microphone to sing karaoke with the girls, to her strong reactions to having to leave the girls behind one by one for the sake of their mission, Colette was being set up for a moment where she is the one who is left alone. You see it a lot in media: the main character is the most sentimental one and as their friend squad make their way to the Big Bad Evil Guy, the supporting characters are forced to get left behind one by one to either hold the evil minions back or because there's no way for the character to move forward with the MC; so the MC is forced to go through the five stages of grief knowing that their friends trust them to get the job they'd set out to do done. It literally happened in Geronimo's third Kingdom of Fantasy book Amazing Voyage, and in that one Geronimo was the one who desperately didn't want to be alone, but he wound up carrying on alone anyway. You see this kinda thing everywhere.

However, in this bit, it makes total sense that Violet is the one who ends up carrying the last leg of the journey alone instead of Colette. Compared to Colette (and honestly the rest of the girls), Violet is the most level-headed. She's the girls' braincell keeper (in this trilogy), the babysitter holding the leash tied to the four gremlins, the one keeping everyone on track and also making sure that the group's collective ADHD doesn't spiral down as badly as it could possibly be. Whenever the girls make a big move that could affect the whole group, Vi is the one asking if it's a good idea or if it's worth doing, and she's the one thinking ahead enough to say "if x happens instead of y, what then?" You get the idea-- Vi is the most capable of keeping herself level-headed even when she's under all this pressure, and she's good at analyzing and planning on account of her often taking the position of the quiet observer.

With this context, it sort've makes you wonder what was going through Colette's head when she offered to help Violet get out of the air room. Violet and Colette in particular get paired together fairly often, and it's probably because of how well they're able to understand each other-- so with the plan, was Colette volunteering herself to prop the door open out of "it was my idea" courtesy, or was she thinking that maybe Violet would be able to figure things out better and thus needed to get to the other side? She probably was expecting to get to the other side with Vi, but would she have thought far enough ahead to a what-if where that wasn't possible? :3c

And Scholastic and power-of-friendship funkiness aside, Violet did handle the situation well, all things considered. The one bit where she only realized Luke was hers and the girls' only ticket out of there was a bit weird, but it can be chalked up to her not being able to take that into account in the moment because of a mix of stress, sheer bafflement from Luke's deal, and the fact that when put on the spot, observers don't exactly handle taking the driver's seat that well :'D (speaking as an observer myself here)

It makes me wonder a bit if Violet and Luke were meant to be foils of each other, what with how similar they are to each other (both of them being observers and planners who delegate more often than they do the work themselves), yet different enough that the contrast between the two is striking. Said difference being

Violet touches grass. Luke does not :)

Anyway so yeah, that's Treasure Seekers 3, and while it is kinda sad that this is where Treasure Seekers ends, y'know what? It gave a solid show as the last installment in the trilogy. I liked it, I liked the canon compliant blorbo angst, I liked the characters character-ing when the dialogue was letting them breathe :]

And of course, we can't forget

God's sleepiest soldier <3

She deserves that nap after what she went through and you know it--

[queenofnohr]

Janlenoux & Odeline sketchpage by @/deadanimedads on twitter!

Inspired by the writing exercise I did for him on Ao3!

[slavhew]

a 10 panel comic about control

cont. off this