#but she's still going to not want to sleep for very long

[fgojous]

silver springs ( satoru g. )

satoru's life was planned down to the very last detail. every clinical rotations, every exam, especially his future—laid out carefully like a surgical procedure. but then you came along—loud, sarcastic and seemed to have no remorse when your ice cold coffee was dripping down his onto white coat—and into his perfectly planned life. and now? he can't stop thinking about you. everything he had planned? yeah, that went sideways.

med student!gojo x pre-med student!reader

tags. romance, fluff, light angst (hehe), hurt/comfort, friends to lovers, slow burn, medical au, college au, age gap, banters (a lot), sexual tension, use of profanities, explicit sexual content, kissing/making out (like a lot too i think? lmao), unprotected sex (pls always use protection), little hair pulling, fingering, p in v, creampie, overstimulation (?), pillow talks | eighteen plus only!

word count. 13.4k

status. completed (one-shot)

note. i know! 13.4k is crazy but i love satoru sm can u blame me. anyway, i can't get enough of med student satoru, he drives me insane. this is kinda self-indulgent (cos yn is a pt student, and me too hihi). btw, satoru is 25 and yn is 20! <3 i think that's all i wanted to say. anyway, i love u <3

Satoru was—safe to say, pissed. 

He hasn’t slept for hours. There’s his clinical instructor breathing down his neck. He’s still got to study after this. 

Then you, wide your eyes wide, jaw slightly dropped, are just staring at him. Like you were sent by the heavens above to add to his problems today—maybe they said, it wasn’t enough, you had to come.

Fuck this day, really.

“Are you fucking serious right now?” his voice was low, irritation unmistaken. 

You blinked, frozen in place, your caramel macchiato—wasted, dripping down his white—very white coat. Does this day get any better than this? You think not.

You stared at the man in front of you. His jaw was clenched and his specs are slightly askew, and there’s obvious irritation dancing in his sharp sapphire eyes, his long white lashes fluttering. Goddamn, he’s tall.

And you are pissing him off.

“Uh—what—you bumped into me!” 

His figure was towering over you—his white messy hair caught a glimpse of the fluorescent light. 

“Because you weren’t looking. You’re on your phone.”

Well, sorry, if you were stressing about your upcoming long test—but you were here in the hospital instead of studying, accompanying your mother. Maybe she thought it’d be better to string you along in the hospital on the weekends.

“And you’re walking too fast.” you retorted, your chest was brewing. “Can’t you watch where you’re going?”

His lips twitch, almost smirking. You’re so fucking… irritating. “Wow. Was it your mission to irritate me today?”

You scoffed, my god, you hate him already and you don’t even know his name yet.

You reached for a napkin from your purse, attempting to ‘alleviate’ this situation but you know that there is nothing you could do anymore. You were about to dab on his coat when he stepped back.

“Are you seriously going to dab it in?”

“Wow. You’re so grumpy.”

“And you are irritating.” 

Yes. You get it.

“Then maybe you should get some more sleep?” 

He paused, for a moment, before he laughed. He actually laughed. 

Not that loud, but enough for you to ease a bit. He can’t believe that you still have something to say—and yet to say the one thing that he’s waiting for you to say.

“You’re unbelievable.” he muttered, he adjusted his glasses before peeling the coat off. “You owe me. Dry cleaners.”

You blinked, he’s only wearing his dark navy scrubs now, you see his badge clipped on his breast pocket. 

Gojo Satoru | Clinical Clerk

His name lingered in your mind longer than it should be. Where have you heard that name again?

But you didn’t have any time to rack your brains out when he handed his white coat to you with care, like it’s something so fragile it almost makes you scoff. But you took it anyway, because taking it to the dry cleaners was the only thing that you could do now—and you know, it’s kind of your fault too.

“Don’t put bleach on it. I’m serious.”

“I know how laundry works.” you rolled your eyes, folding his white coat carefully in your arms.

“Really? You’re not just a spoiled brat who spills coffee on someone’s coat?”

You deadpanned, not bothering to answer him because seriously, you can’t argue with him anymore. You handed him your phone and his brows furrowed, “Your number. How could I give this back to you if I can’t contact you?”

He snatched your phone from your hand, “For once you were actually thinking.”

Oh my god, give me the strength not to wipe his coat on the floor right now.

You just watched him type in his number, he called his phone from yours so he could save your number. 

“There.” he says, handing you your phone back. “I expect my coat to be sparkling clean.”

“Yeah, fine.”

He didn’t answer you anymore and just turned to walk away. But before he disappeared into the hallway, he waves over his shoulder. 

“Talk about dramatic.”

Three days have passed before he reached out to you.

You had honestly forgotten about the coat—well, you blame the myriad of long tests and practical exams for the past three days. You’d gotten immersed in studying that you forgot that you had to actually give his coat back. 

But it was already clean and hanging neatly in a garment bag, just forgotten for a bit.

And honestly? You didn’t know how to face him again without getting embarrassed. You may have been too much of a brat that day. 

[grumpy med student | 6:57 PM] where’s my coat i need it

[grumpy med student | 6:58 PM] you’ve thrown it away, didn’t you?

You rolled your eyes, typing on your phone.

[You | 6:59 PM ] i can bring it to you right now, my classes have just finished. 

[You | 7:00 PM] i had it cleaned, don’t worry. u asked for bleach, right?

[grumpy med student | 7:01 PM] stop fucking with me. meet me at the ER entrance in 20

You stared at the screen for a bit too long. How in the hell did he manage to annoy you with just a text?

But still, you were there twenty minutes later with his coat draped over your arm. You’re still wearing your white uniform, your ID badge hanging on a lanyard embroidered with the hospital’s name—you’re scrolling through your group chats to read about the practicals that were coming up.

“Huh.” you looked up at the voice, his face etched with surprise as he looked at you, “ You actually look so miserable.”

Your eyes fell on him and there he was with his navy scrubs with a stethoscope slung around his neck and the only thing missing was his white coat that was hanging from your arm. 

“Thanks. I just came from a six-hour lecture.” you say, voice laced with sarcasm then you handed him his coat. “Here. We’re even now.”

“Didn’t know we study in the same university,” he says. 

How could he even know when you’re in different buildings? And he’s already in med school?

“So, what are you?” He didn’t give you a chance to answer when he reached for your badge, “Physical Therapy, huh?”

You snatched it from his hand, “I’m leaving.”

He smirks, “Don’t trip and spill some coffee on someone else now, YN.”

“Try opening your eyes while you walk, Satoru.”

You stuck your tongue out at him and turned away. God, he was so annoying. 

Your mother’s rounds were running longer than usual.

She keeps on insisting you wait for her at the hospital so you could have lunch together. With you, living in the dorms and your long, grueling classes eating up most of your days, this was the only time you get to spend together.

And she’s late. And you’re hungry.

Now, you’re in the hospital cafeteria, eating the chips that you got from the vending machine. 

This is the only place you could think of where you could spread your books and notes. You can’t afford not to study right now. 

Your mind was full of some terms you’re not even sure you’re understanding. You were muttering words, teaching yourself like it actually helps. You didn’t even notice a group of med students passing by your table until a voice cut through the noise going on in your head.

“Hey, Miss PT.” 

You looked up at him.

He looked the same. Glasses perched on top of his nose, same navy scrubs except he was the one holding the coffee now. 

“Are you planning to get back at me?”

Satoru stared right at you, eyes flickering between you and your notes, “As much as I’d love to stain your white uniform, fortunate for you, I’m not as clumsy as you.”

“Aren’t you too busy to irritate me right now?” you retorted, looking back down at your notes to… read? 

Anything. 

Just so you could look away from him. 

Then you hear him laugh lightly—annoyingly, before turning away. You stare at his back as he walks away then you see him talk to a dark-haired med student who looked just as tired as he is before disappearing.

Then you look down, something caught at the side of your eyes.

Then you see a small chocolate bar on top of your open notes.

Huh.

You muttered a curse under your breath. How else are you going to go to your dorm when it’s pouring?

A heavy breath escaped your lips as you tuck your arm in your chest, watching the rain splatter down the pavement. The rain was cold, loud—and seemed like it would not stop any time soon.

“Let me guess, you’re trying to catch a cold to miss clinical exams?”

Your head tilted to the side quickly. That familiar voice grazing through your ears.

It has been almost a week since you saw him. He wasn’t wearing scrubs anymore. He’s just wearing his white uniform just like you are, a university hoodie for med students draped on his arm.

“Let me guess, you’re going to annoy me to death now?” you gave him a sarcastic smile, “What are you doing at our building?”

“Had to drop off something. Why? You thought I was looking for you?” a menacing grin tugging on his lips.

Does he really have to be this annoying? And unbelievably good looking?

You ignored his comment, “I don’t suppose you have an umbrella?”

“Nope.” he answered, you just sighed and looked away—you frown a bit as you saw some of the students from different programs were looking your way, you just shrugged it off, trying to wait the rain out. 

Satoru stared at you, really stared at you like you’re a mnemonic that he was memorizing—you were hugging yourself, teeth clattering slightly, your hair strands stuck in your cheeks.

“Here.” you glanced back at him, your eyebrows furrowing.

“What?”

“Take it. Don’t want you dying from hypothermia over there.” 

It’s his hoodie. 

You looked at him and back at the hoodie again. You blinked once trying to comprehend what he’s offering you right now. 

Is he really? This grumpy, annoying med student is offering you his hoodie?

“Are you going to take it or not? My arm is killing me.” he says, nudging it closer to you. 

You sighed, taking it from him with slight hesitation, if you weren’t so cold right now—but you are, so you swallowed your pride, “Thank you.”

“Huh?” he leaned closer as if he didn’t hear what you said, but you know he did because there’s a smirk pulling on his lips right now. “Didn’t hear what you said. Come again?”

You leaned closer, whispering in his ear. “I said, fuck off.”

You slipped on his hoodie, it was annoyingly soft and smelled like him. That’s actually the first thing that you noticed—and you suddenly realized, you actually know what his scent is.

You actually know what Satoru Gojo smelled like even if you’re not around him that much.

And it pisses you off just a little how nice it felt around you. 

“You know you’d have to return that to me, right?”

It’s been two days and you still have his hoodie.

You told yourself you’re going to return it. That’s why you’re here again.

In front of the emergency room entrance, in the middle of the day. 

If anyone sees you, maybe you could say that you were going to see your mother.

Or, maybe because your professor had canceled his lecture for today and you had nothing else to do.

You’ve got about two hours before your next subject and you got time to kill. Your friends had already gone to the nearest mall and you had no energy to walk around right now.

That’s why you’re here.

That’s what you’re telling yourself because you’re seeing him so often these days, it’s almost becoming a routine and it weirds you out in a way that you can’t explain.

“Hey.” 

You turned and there he was again, tall as ever, just a few steps from you.. 

“Your hoodie.” you say, lifting it. “Thanks.”

His eyes just flickered to the fabric on your arm then back to your face again. “You busy?”

“Not as busy as you.” you say with a mischievous grin.

He almost rolls his eyes, “Have you eaten yet?”

“No.” you answered, a teasing smile escaping past your lips.  “Why? You want to eat with me?”

“You like hospital food?”

And that’s how you ended up in that cafeteria again, except you’re sitting across from him now and his hoodie was still on your arm. So, you set it down on  the chair beside you—it’s just sitting there, waiting to be brought up.

You’re twisting the pasta with your fork, and stared at it like it hurt you—how could it look this… bland? 

But that’s not what concerns you the most, it’s the fact that the silence between the two of you was more comfortable than it is awkward. 

Like you had done this before—or, like this isn’t going to be a one-time thing.

Satoru was about to bite on his sandwich when he looked at you. “Do you always stare at your food like it has done you wrong?”

“Do you always sound this irritating when you’re chewing?”

“Yeah. There’s actually a class in med school for that.” he bites on his sandwich, not shying his blue eyes from you.

You stare back at him, sipping from your cup. “You think you’re so funny, huh?”

“I know I am.” his smugness didn’t escape past you. Annoying.

You huffed a breath, “Should’ve gone with my friends.”

“Uh-huh.” he agreed, nodding his head. “Then I wouldn’t have to sit here and endure this torture.”

You scrunch your nose, glaring at him and he just gives you a sheepish smile. 

Isn’t he the one who invited you here? And now he’s acting like you’re the one who interrupts his peace. 

You didn’t answer—but you glared at him enough to let him know that he’s an exhausting little prick.

When is the bickering ever going to stop?

You bite back your breath before finally bringing it up, “Aren’t you going to take your hoodie back?” 

You couldn’t take the way his hoodie just stares at you. It’s too weird—like it’s really meant for you when it’s not.

It shouldn’t.

“You keep it.”

“Why?”

Satoru looked at you, “So you’ll have to return it again.”

So here you were, in your next class, wearing his damn hoodie because the air conditioning in this lecture hall was on full blast. 

“Medicine.” you hear Maki say. 

“Huh?”

She pointed at the back of the hoodie with her lips, “You’re wearing a hoodie from the college of medicine and surgery. You’re a med student now?”

“It’s not mine.”

“Then why are you wearing it?”

Yes. 

Why?  

Why are you wearing it?

It has been two weeks since you last saw him.

Not that you were counting. 

Well, maybe, it’s because your mother hasn’t been begging you to eat lunch with her and you had no business being at the hospital.

Not that you were hoping for him to drop something off at your building again. My god, why are you even thinking about him now?

It’s because you were staring at his hoodie right now, just sprawled across the backrest of the seat of your study table. You looked away, reaching for your phone to check if he had messaged you—

No, what business does he have messaging you? You tossed your phone away and buried your face on the pillow.

This is so goddamn embarrassing.

The next day, you were about to finish your last class for the day when your mother had texted you and wanted you to come.

And, fuck, you couldn’t get out of your building fast enough. You were almost sprinting to the hospital.

Then you slowed down… why in the hell are you this excited? Isn’t he annoying to you?

So you walked—tried to walk normally, but you were clearly searching for that white hair as you walked through the hallway. 

And then you paused, your heart gradually pounds inside your chest, until the only thing that you could feel was your heart trying to claw its way out of your ribs. 

There he was, standing just outside the exam room, reading something on the charts when you sneaked behind him.

“Hey, annoying.”

Satoru pauses for a fraction of a second before looking at you, your eyes met, and he looked like he hasn’t slept for about a year. 

“Hey.” he greeted you back, his voice was flat—tired.

You blinked, letting out a faint smirk. “Wow, don’t get so excited now.”

You could almost see that grin tugging on his lips but… none. He just adjusted his glasses and scratched the back of his neck. “Just had a long day.”

You searched his face. Yeah, he looked so tired like he hasn’t slept—which, really he hasn’t. But there was something else.

“Oh, you okay?” you swallowed thickly, clutching on your bag—where his hoodie sits heavy just like that feeling creeping up on you.

“Fine.” he says, “I gotta go back.”

Satoru didn’t give you any chance to answer, he walked past you—not a single grin or snarkiness. He didn’t even give you a second glance.

So, you stood there, words still stuck on your throat, standing there a few more seconds than you should have.

[grumpy med student | 11:58 PM] u still up?

You stared at your phone. The bright light from your laptop screen illuminating the frown etched on your face. 

[You |11:59 PM] what do u think

[grumpy med student | 11:59 PM] studying?

[You | 12:00 AM] how else am i supposed to answer the long test tomorrow

[grumpy med student | 12:00 AM] what topic

[You | 12:01 AM] orthopedic conditions

You hated how much you stared at your phone, your conversation still open as if you’re really anticipating everything that he’s going to say. 

Then three minutes passed and he still hasn't answered and you thought that he had vanished again. And that was it. 

It was three days since he gave you the cold shoulder in the hospital, you were supposed to be mad at him for reasons that you don’t even know—or if you even had the right to, and now you’re just waiting for him to respond—

The shrill ringing of your phone cuts off your thoughts.

You looked at the screen and there was his contact. 

grumpy med student Calling…

Don’t answer it, you say. Why is he even calling you this late? 

Your fingers hovered over the screen, thinking it over, debating yourself if it’s a good thing that you talk to him right now.

But then you sighed, your finger clicking the answer button. 

 “Hi.”

You heard him breathe on the other side of the phone, “Sorry.”

“For what?” you were almost whispering, like you couldn’t believe that you were talking to him right now.

“Three days ago. I wasn’t in the mood.” 

You didn’t say anything right away. 

The silence filled with quiet breathing from either of you. 

Why is he saying sorry, even though it wasn’t a big deal?

It really isn’t.

Right?

“Okay.” you say softly, and then it was his turn this time to stay quiet. Then you hear him shift, maybe from his bed.

“You still have my hoodie?”

Then your heart pounds. Because you were wearing it. You’re fucking wearing it. It’s wrapped around you, clinging on your skin along with his scent that still lingers in it.

“No, I threw it out.” then you heard him laugh, a breathy laugh that made you slightly insane. “Cause you pissed me off.”

“I said I’m sorry, didn’t I?” he paused for a bit, “Are you still mad?”

You huffed, “Am I allowed to?”

You hold your breath waiting for his answer. What kind of question is that?

“You are.”

You didn’t know how to respond to that. So instead, you say, “I’m hanging up. I’m studying.”

“Wait.” 

“What now?”

“I’m studying too.” he says, you can hear shuffling on the other side, “Don’t hang up.”

An irritated groan came out of your mouth, refusing to lift your head up from your desk. If you could get just a minute of sleep you’d be fine. 

But there’s someone pissing you off by nudging your arm. Repeatedly, to say. 

You haven’t had the chance to sleep, thanks to a certain someone who called you at midnight and kept you talking until your brain turned to mush.

And the nudging doesn’t stop.

You finally lifted your head, your eyes stinging from the lack of sleep. “What?!”

Then you froze, just seeing who it was.

Satoru was standing there, looking down at you with an infuriating smirk on his lips—his eyes flickering down briefly to his hoodie that you were wearing. “Now, you’re the grumpy one.”

“And who’s fault is that?” your brows furrowed as you narrowed your eyes. 

Then you suddenly realized, he’s in your building. 

In your lecture hall.

Right in front of you—in front of your entire block.

You blinked—a little stunned as he placed a coffee on your desk, with a chocolate bar just like the one he left you last time. 

Did he just come all the way here to give you a cup of coffee?

Your eyes darted around slightly, your block mates were already watching—whispering like you’ve brought someone famous. Because how often do you see a third year med student in his scrubs, dropping off some coffee for a second year pre-med student?

Exactly. Never.

Then all of it clicked into place like a perfect puzzle.

Satoru Gojo.

You’ve heard his name before. From all around the campus—from the whispers, he’s that med student your block mates were all talking about.

You just didn’t realize it was him. Took you a month. 

“Now we’re even.” he says casually, “Bye.”

Then he left you there, with your mouth slightly open—and with the knowing looks that your block mates were giving you. 

Especially the one beside you.

“Oh.” Maki smirks, “So, that’s Satoru Gojo.”

You blinked at her, mouth shut tightly. 

“Didn’t know you were dating the med school’s golden boy.”

Dating?

Is she kidding right now?

Your eyes gaze upon the coffee he left for a little too long.

“We’re not—he’s… not—”

“Uh-huh.” Maki nods, now staring at the hoodie that you are wearing. “Sure.”

The one thing that you were wishing as of now was for the ground to swallow you whole.

“You’re being weird.”

There you were, elbows propped on the table, cheeks resting on your palm as you shamelessly stare him down.

It didn’t matter that he was famous in your university and everyone was talking about him, blah blah. It bothers you that it took you this long to realize.

Well, you really don’t pride yourself on engaging in senseless gossip, much less about some handsome someone you don’t even know—well, now you know.

Because you’re eating with him side by side, at the hospital cafeteria, with the shitty food.

“You know they call you the ‘golden boy’, right?”

Then he groaned, poking on his food. “So?”

“How come I didn’t know?” you murmured, “I mean, I always hear them talk about you, I just didn’t realize it was you. I just felt stupid?”

“It’s because you are.” and he said that with a straight face, you glare at him and he smiles, “Can you just eat?”

“Okay, golden boy.” 

“Can you stop?” 

You scrunch your nose and give him a little smile before snatching a fry from his plate, “Make me.”

“Ah.” he laughs—adjusting his specs before leaning in, “You really want to go there? I don’t think you can handle it if I do.”

It was safe to say that you’re flustered, you tried to hold your ground but something in the way he stared at you made your stomach churn in a way you hadn’t anticipated.

“Shut up.” that’s all you could say before pushing his forehead away using your index finger. “Just eat your food.”

─── MONDAY ───

[grumpy med student | 5:45 PM] i’m outside your lecture hall

[You | 5:46 PM] why? u miss me?

[grumpy med student | 5:46 PM] no. i’m just not irritated enough today, maybe seeing ur face would fix that

You purse your lips, trying so hard not to let a smile slip past your lips. Your professor was still on the last slide of her lecture, wrapping things up.

While you were already shoving things in your bag rather hastily for someone who ‘doesn’t care’ whether he’s there or not—and when your professor said the class was dismissed, you said a quick goodbye to Maki before stepping out the hall.

He was leaning against the wall, arms crossed—hair messy, specs looking unfairly good on him. 

He looked up from his phone, “Took you long enough.”

You raised your brows, “Well, I’m sorry if my studies are a bother to you having your need to be extremely irritated today.”

“Apology accepted.” he says, pushing off the wall to step beside you. “Library?”

You started walking, side by side—not minding the looks coming your way. “Uh-huh.”

Maybe you could see now why they called him the golden boy.

It’s not just his looks, but the way he’s so focused—head dipped down on his books like his eyes were glued on the paper. He was scribbling notes, tapping his pen lightly—his lips parted slightly.

You could see why they’re talking. 

He’s like an all-in-one package—the looks, talent, skills… the way his face looks intent but calm while he’s studying.

But for you, he’s just the grumpy med student who bumped into you and made you spill your coffee on him.

─── TUESDAY ───

[grumpy med student | 3:12 PM] i think my legs would fall of if i moved

[You | 3:12 PM] why

[grumpy med student | 3:13 PM] they made me stand for 6 hours straight. fuck it, i’m never moving from this gurney

[You | 3:14 PM] aw, poor baby. want me to carry u home? );<

[grumpy med student | 3:15 PM] yes baby

[You | 3:16 PM] fuck u

─── WEDNESDAY ───

[grumpy med student | 6:17 PM] bring highlighters, forgot mine. not YELLOW

[You | 6:17 PM] what’s your beef with yellow

[grumpy med student | 6:17 PM] hurts my eyes

[You | 6:18 PM] you know what hurts your eyes? lack of sleep

He looked up at you when you laid out a bunch of highlighters in front of him, “Don’t worry. Not one of ‘em is yellow.”

“Did you go around and ask a bunch of people for highlighters?” his eyes followed you as you sat in front of him. 

You just shrugged your shoulders, opening your own notes—hiding a grin behind the paper.

─── THURSDAY ───

[grumpy med student | 6:45 PM] where are u? some freshmen stole our table. the fuck

[You | 6:46 PM] our prof is still wrapping up

[grumpy med student | 6:47 PM] get here fast

You roll your eyes as you read his text. Your professor ended the class and you stood up almost immediately. 

“Going on a date again?” 

You glanced at your friend, brows furrowing. “It’s not a date.”

Maki doesn’t know why you’re still fooling her, maybe because you don’t know yourself what this is. 

“Oh. Okay. Say hi to Gojo for me.” she says, laughing before stepping out the door. And you just huffed out a breath before picking up your bag.

You walk slowly—just to spite Satoru, and to think about what really is this. 

Well, you’re just studying together. There’s nothing wrong with that, right?

─── FRIDAY───

[grumpy med student | 4:45 PM] i forgot to tell u earlier, someone just came up to me and asked if MI stands for mild infection

[You | 4:46 PM] my god

[grumpy med student | 4:46 PM] haha right.

[grumpy med student | 4:46 PM] what time’s your out? lecture just finished

[You | 4:47 PM] i'm here at the 2nd floor lounge w my friends. why?

He didn’t respond after that, you didn’t think much about it. Maybe he got pulled into a case, or he thought it’d be better to annoy his friends other than you.

Not until Maki nudges you with her shoulder, looking at the figure walking up to your table. 

And there he was, Satoru Gojo, gracing your building with his presence—still in his lecture uniform, his hands were in his pocket like he’s a walking drama that’s about to happen.

“I don’t think you belong here.” you say as soon as he sat beside you, in front of your friends who’s just looking at him with their jaw slightly dropped.

“Yeah? I was told I could find the most irritating person here. And, yeah. Here she is.” 

Your eyes were flickering in between your notes and him. 

Because for the past ten minutes, he’s been blinking slowly—nodding off just a little before snapping his eyes back open.

You try not to stare at him but it’s really hard not to.

Satoru  shifts in his seat, his cheek dips down on his folded arms—and then, poof, out cold.

Seriously?

You pressed your cheek against your palm and let yourself stare at him. His white hair was messier than usual, his specs almost out of place—his lips are parted slightly, small huffs of breath shuffling out. 

He looks so exhausted. 

This is so stupid, my god.

Your eyes darted around the library to see if someone else is looking—but they’re caught up in their own world, so you extended your arm, reaching out for his glasses before removing them slowly and placing them neatly on the table.

You should’ve stopped there.

But your fingers lightly grazed his hair strands, brushing it gently out of his face. 

It doesn’t make sense why—you’re here tucking his hair like you’re meant to do it. You don’t know why you keep meeting up with him when he’s just supposed to be a stranger you accidentally spilled your coffee to. 

It’s like suddenly you’re looped in each other’s orbits and you can’t go on a single day without even talking to each other. 

This is so stupid.

You sighed, leaning back on your chair and focused on your notes again. 

Twenty minutes later, maybe more, he stirred.

You look up just in time to see him squinting his eyes against the light, he looked at you still a bit disoriented.

“You didn’t leave?” he mumbled—voice hoarse from sleep, now sitting up and stretching his arm.

“No.” you replied, “I’m afraid the librarian might kick you out.”

He lets out a soft laugh before rubbing the back of his neck. His eye catches yours—neither of you says anything for a moment. 

You coughed a bit, handing him his glasses. “Here. I thought you might need it.”

[grumpy med student | 6:30 PM] cafe’s too loud

[grumpy med student | 6:30 PM] someone got our table in the library again

[You | 6:31 PM] find another place, we’re almost finished here

[grumpy med student | 6:32 PM] it's all packed

[You | 6:33 PM] are u sure

[grumpy med student | 6:34 PM] ?

[grumpy med student | 6:34 PM] yes im sure, u wanna go check it yourself?

[You | 6:35 PM] ugh so maybe next time?

[grumpy med student | 6:35 PM] how about my place? it’s quiet

You were having a staring contest with your phone again.

His place and quiet didn’t quite add up to you. Your brain was reeling its wheels trying to conjure every possible way going to his place for the first time ever might entail.

It’s not like this is the first time you’re going to be alone together. It’s just that—this feels different, too different.

[grumpy med student | 6:37 PM] unless you don’t want to, it’s fine we can study tomorrow

[You | 6:37 PM] no it’s okay

[grumpy med student | 6:37 PM] okay, i’m outside your lecture hall

And that’s how you ended up in his place, at the living room floor with your notes and books splayed on the coffee table and on the floor—just anywhere near. 

His place was surprisingly clean. Not too clean, but enough to surprise you considering he’s too busy. There were a lot of medical textbooks near the coffee table, some takeout containers but that was it. 

And there’s definitely his scent that lingers around the air. 

It was silent between you two—it’s always like that, not awkward silence but comfortable. You were both flipping through books, handouts and whatnot. 

You were scribbling left and right and sometimes mumbling mnemonics like you’ve lost your mind.

Sometimes he’d ask you some questions about anatomy because he needs to recall something—or when you’re spacing out, he’d nudge your knee with his and you’d flick your pen or a yellow highlighter to his direction.

Yeah, well, it was a mix of peaceful yet chaotic. 

Satoru looked up from his book, arching his brow when you sprawled on the carpet, your handouts placed above your face.

“If I read the word vertigo one more time, I swear I’ll jump off the balcony,” you say, your voice a little muffled due to the papers that were covering your face.

“Neuro?”

“Uh-huh.” you replied, groaning. 

“Okay, I get why you’re being so dramatic now. Take a break?”

You pulled the papers out of your face as you sat up, “Yes. Please.”

You lean the side of your  body against the couch, elbows resting on the cushion as you look at him. “So, were you like this when you were in college?”

“Like what?” He removes his glasses, massaging the bridge of his nose.

“Uh—annoying?”

“Yeah, it’s innate.” and you both snorted, “It’s a gift, don’t you know?”

You waved your hand off, “But seriously, what were you like?”

He turned, mimicking your position. “Just like this but minus the parties. Kinda reckless. Uh, handsome?”

Then you threw your handouts at him. 

“And you, after college are you going straight to med school?”

You hummed, because that was always the plan. It never changed. 

“Yeah. That’s always the plan.” you answered, “So, you partied in college, huh? I could see it.”

He raised his brow, a smirk appearing on his lips. “Oh, yeah?”

“Uh-huh.” you narrow your eyes, looking at him carefully like you are analyzing him. “You’re wearing a backwards cap and oversized long sleeves with the first few buttons unbuttoned, probably holding a red cup—then there’s girls hovering over you, while you give your number left and right, did I nail it?”

Satoru blinked for a bit, then he suddenly laughed. “That’s oddly specific. What are you, a witch?”

You snorted a laugh, pointing at the small picture frame on his TV console. It’s a picture of him with his friends at a party—and he was wearing exactly what you had said. 

Satoru blinked, looking at the photo then back at you. 

Then he suddenly flicks your forehead—not too strong, but enough for you to glare at him.  “You saw it earlier, didn’t you?”

“Ouch?!” you winced, a menacing smile slowly creeping up to your lips. “Even if I didn’t, I know you were like that.”

“Okay, miss psychic. But you were wrong about one thing.” he stretched his arms, and you could almost see the electrical field of smugness around him.

“And what is that?”

“I never gave my number to anyone.”

You raised a brow, “And why?”

“Because they wouldn’t stop texting.”

“But you gave your number to me.” 

He stops for a bit.

“Yeah, because you have my coat. I was afraid you’ll throw it out of spite,” he smirks.

“You’re so annoying.” you roll your eyes, your lips trying to twitch into a smile. “So you never dated anyone serious?”

He hummed, like he’s trying to think of every girl that he dated and you almost threw a pillow in his direction. “Just the one. But we broke up after a year.”

You were about to speak when he did it first. “How about you? You ever had a boyfriend?”

You shrugged, “I had a boyfriend. First year. For just a few months. But it’s fine, we’re just friends now.”

You swore you saw his grin falter a bit—his jaw clenched slightly before speaking, “Ah. Dark-hair, looks like he hasn’t slept in quite a while, that guy?”

You blinked, “How did you know?”

“That day in the lounge,” he paused, “He was  staring at you and he looked pissed when I sat beside you.”

Your brows furrow a bit then you laugh, “He always looks like that.”

“Right.” he paused, he was smirking but his eyes told a different story. “Totally normal.” 

Both of you just stared at each other until you looked away and he cleared his throat like there’s something stuck in there that he couldn’t quite say. 

“Okay. Break’s over.” he says, and just like that he’s got his specs on and a book on his lap again.

“Yeah.” you mumbled, and reached for your handout then you turned away.

The silence envelops the two of you again. All you could hear was his AC unit humming, his shallow breaths and the papers rustling. You were tapping your fingers on the carpet over and over again while you tried to read what was on the paper.

But all the letters all seemed mushed as you try to comprehend the look he gave you earlier. 

What the fuck. 

It was ten minutes until you spoke again.

“Satoru.”

“Yeah?” he answers, gaze not leaving the book.

“Let me try the Dix-Hallpike maneuver on you.”

Then he looked up—you were holding the book up to show him the illustration, his eyebrow creased. “You really think you could pull me down without dislocating my neck?”

You thought about it. He’s taller than you, probably a bit heavy. But, hey, there’s no harm in trying, right?

You squint your eyes, “Come on. I just want to practice. It’s for the sake of medicine and my future patients.”

He groaned, removing his glasses, then he stood up to sit on the couch. Thank god his couch is L-shaped, you have plenty of space for him because he is freakishly tall. 

You had him on the couch in a long sitting position, then you stood in front of him. Your hands shake a bit when you hold his face on each side, tilting it gently.

Your heart was pounding, how can it not when this  six-foot tall med student was staring at your face like you’ve got all the answers in the world—

“You’re shaking.” his voice was low.

“I am not.”

“You are.”

“It’s because you’re annoying, put your weight on me.” you say a little bit pissed, and he just laughs. “I’m going to lean you back now.”

And you tried, like, really tried but his muscle mass and gravity weren’t on your side. He leaned a little bit too enthused, his shoulders were also hanging because you hadn’t calculated the size of this couch.

This maneuver isn’t meant for this couch, really.

He burst out laughing and you did too, “You broke your patient.”

You were still laughing, hands clutching your stomach, he sat up. “Let me try it on you.”

“You don’t even know how.” you say, still giggling.

“I saw you did it, didn’t I? And lucky for you, I’m a fast learner.” he reached out to your book and read the section for a bit.

You just watched as he read for a while, a smile creeping up on your lips.  “Okay, I’m ready.”

“Don’t break my neck.” you say as a warning.

“Yeah, yeah.” he says, tapping the couch for you to sit on. Then it was your turn.

Your breath hitched when he placed his hand, his palm on your jaw—his thumbs placed on your cheeks, and his fingers were supporting your neck. 

Then he leaned you back, your head hanging from the couch—you didn't realize that he was too close until you felt his breath on your cheeks. 

“So, tell me,” he says, his voice almost a whisper. “What signs to look out for when your patient is positive for this maneuver?”

“Uh—” you paused, your voice was close to cracking. “Nystagmus.”

“Good.” he mumbles, his breath getting heavy. “For how long?”

Then you tilt your head to look at him, he was still holding you. His thumb was brushing your cheeks.

“For… uh—seconds to minutes…”

My god, this felt like hours.

You could feel the air shift and all the nerves in your body had awakened.

Your gaze locked into each other and it just clicked.

Then he pressed his lips onto yours, not a sliver of hesitation like he was sure he wanted to do this.

The kiss felt inevitable. 

Your eyes widened before you closed them, tugging on his shirt to pull him close—his hand moved to the back of your neck before pulling you up without breaking the kiss. 

You could feel your body warm up despite the air conditioning being on low temperature—the nerve endings on your skin were working full-time as his fingers grip the back of your neck a little.

Then his back hits the cushion with a soft thud.

His hands settled on your hips—your weight hovering over him as you straddle his lap—he deepened this kiss, biting your lower lip—pushing his tongue in, making you whimper in his mouth.

Your hands travelled to his hair, grasping the locks in between your fingers. His hands were circling in on you now.

He was kissing you like he was being starved—like he wanted to devour you whole.

Then the kiss turned deeper, messier and louder—teeth clashing, lips biting, tongue delving inside just to taste every inch of your mouth—none of it was neat, he was kissing you sloppy.

Satoru groaned into your mouth when you moved your hips a little. You could feel him bulging underneath your clothed sex, he gripped your hips trying to keep you steady.

Then he pulled away—his eyes lidded, lips were swollen as you looked down at him, both your breaths uneven.

He didn’t say anything—just looked at you like he was memorizing the way your lips quiver as you breathe.

“We should stop.” he finally says, his voice rough.

“Why?” you ask softly, chest heaving—your hand still tangled in his hair, your fingers combing his soft locks.

“Because if we don’t,” he swallowed thickly, gripping your hips like he’s holding to what restraint he has left. “I don’t think I’ll be able to hold back anymore.”

Your ears pulsate, your face warms up as you stare at him. 

God, you’re making him crazy.

The walk back to your dorm was silent. Not the tense silent kind of thing, where someone is about to throw a fit or cry.

It’s a ‘we-just-full-on-make-out-and-don’t-know-what-to-say’ kind of silence.

The kind that made your footsteps heavy on the sidewalk—you can’t even look at him, and you know he can’t look at you too. 

Because he hadn’t said much since he offered to walk you back to your dorm—just took your bag without even saying a word, his skin brushes against you a bit and that was all, that was the last contact that you two ever made.

You were asking when the bickering would stop, and here it is. It stopped.

You used to walk like this together all the time. To the library, to the hospital cafeteria, to the café—bickering, nudging each other, making stupid jokes and annoying the hell out of each other and now it’s just… all gone.

You have no idea what else to do now. It’s like an itch on your brain that you can’t scratch. How are you supposed to act now? How do you even walk normally? How do you even breathe normally?

You swallowed hard, your brain was starting to irritate you. It’s screaming at you over and over again. You kissed him.

Nuh-uh, not just kiss, you made out with him. On his couch. With his hands gripping your waist. His fingers tracing your spine. Your lips clashing, molded into each other like it was the most natural thing in the universe.

You pursed your lip, huffing out a small breath that you wish he didn’t notice. Your thoughts were scattered, you couldn’t even think straight. You couldn’t find any right words to say.

And yet, you caved.

Your eyes looked forward, “You’re awfully quiet.” 

“So are you.” he replies, then you look at him and he is staring at you.

And there he was calm. He always looked like that. Like this didn’t shake him.

Was he spiraling too? Is he pretending right now? You don’t know. You can’t even tell.

What now? What are you going to say? Are you going to ask him now what that kiss meant?

You looked away again. Wouldn’t it be better if he said something—maybe joke about it a little or annoy you, tease you—like he always does. But none of that was happening. 

He stayed silent. And so did you, until you reached your dorm building.

“This is you.” he finally says, handing your bag to you.

You took it, and his fingers brushed into you again.

You open your mouth to say something but none of the words come out. Your throat felt like something big was stuck in it and you couldn’t spew what you wanted to say. 

“Good night,” he said, and you just gave him a faint smile  then you nodded.

What even is this? Why can’t you say something—

“Is this going to be weird now?” 

He blinked, frozen in place but then he gave you a smile. Not that annoying, smug, teasing smile of his—it was a genuine smile, the kind that makes your heart squeeze. 

“Only if you want it to be.”

You wanted to scream because how does he do it? How does he say it so casually while you’re here, like a ticking time bomb, about to explode?

Your fingers tightened around the bag that you were holding. 

No, of course, you wouldn’t want it to be weird.

“I don’t want it to be.” you said, almost whispering.

Because that’s the truth. You didn’t want anything to change. Even if you’ve crossed that line. Even if you didn’t know what it meant for the two of you. 

You don’t want to lose whatever this is.

He nodded, then stepped forward—placing a soft kiss on your forehead. “I’ll see you tomorrow, YN.”

You just swallowed hard. Your eyes followed his figure while he walked back to his place that was just a few blocks from yours. 

Your heart was pounding inside your chest. It’s funny you realize this now—but you know, it’s the truth.

That he’s either going to be the one… or the one you’ll never recover from.

You just didn’t know which is which.

You both said you were just taking a short break.

But now you have no idea how long you’d been like that on the couch.

Your back on the armrest, while he’s above, pressing his body against you—your legs curled up beside him and the other, slightly on him. It was getting kinda hard to breathe—from the kiss but also from the fact that whatever this is, there’s no coming back from this.

Your grip on his hair tightens when his lips trailed down to the side of your lips, to your jaw down to your neck—sucking and licking, “Satoru—don’t… don’t put—mhm!”

Then he presses his lips on yours again, and you could feel him smile—his teeth grazing on your lower lip.

“You know we should be studying, right?” he says in between, breathing heavy, then he was on you again—biting and nibbling on your lips.

“Mhm—hmm.” you hummed into his mouth, pulling him closer, like there’s any space left in between. Your lips were probably swollen—wet, from all the sloppy kisses that he was giving you but you didn’t have any care in the world.

Your notes and books were long forgotten on the floor and on the coffee table. 

Your hair was probably a mess, a few buttons on your white uniform were unbuttoned—his white shirt was wrinkled from all the tugging that you did.

His hand moved to your hair, gripping on it a bit to angle your head—you moan into his mouth, and he pushes his tongue, swirling it around then sucks your tongue in—

“Yo. You weren’t answering—oh. OH.”

You both froze, eyes now open and you’re becoming painfully aware that he’s still above you. Then you heard another voice coming in.

“Hey! We brought—my god, we’re so sorry!” Then you heard a soft thud on the floor. 

You pushed Satoru off you so fast that you almost hit your head against his. You sat up, fixing your hair and buttoning your white uniform again—while Satoru, this dumbass, was groaning—his back leaned on the couch now.

“For the record,” the tall guy with a dark-hair tied loosely into a bun—the one you saw in the cafeteria, started speaking, “We knocked.”

Satoru was about to speak when a voice cut into the conversation. “Hey, what’s up?”

“What’s happening in here?”

And another.

Now, there’s four of them. Looking back and forth at you and Satoru.

“Hi. I’m Yuki!” the tall blonde girl cracked the awkward silence, she walked towards the couch where you were sitting, then she pointed at her friends. “That’s Choso. Shoko then, the one who interrupted you first was Suguru.”

You smiled at them, still catching your breath—pulling your uniform down slightly, “I—uh… I’m YN.”

Then her eyes widened, “Oh! You’re YN?! The YN?”

Was he talking about you to his friends?

“The YN that spilled a coffee on his coat then he bitched to us about it like a fucking baby?” Shoko—the short-haired girl nudges Satoru to move so she could sit beside you.

Satoru glared at her but he moved anyway. Then slowly they were placing the food here and there, Suguru even handed you a soda.

“He was so dramatic about it,” Choso says, “We almost kicked him out of the group chat.”

You whip your head to look at Satoru, “I can’t believe you told them.”

“What was I supposed to do? I was pissed off.” he says, groaning. “And you didn’t even say sorry!”

“Uh—what? Cause you’re the one who bumped into me like you’re walking with your eyes closed! And I did say sorry!”

Did you? That memory was kind of a blur now.

Satoru laughs, “Uh. If I could remember, the only thing you said to me was I needed to get some sleep.”

And just like that the whole room burst into laughter—they were watching with amusement as you bicker back and forth with their friend, like they haven’t caught you making out with him on this very couch. 

They were very loud—but funny, and so comfortable with each other and yet, you didn’t feel left out. Not even for a bit. 

Now you’re all on the floor, your back leaning on the couch and Satoru was seated beside you.

Yuki was looping you in on the jokes. Shoko was asking you how pre-med is now and then, Choso and Suguru were asking you a bunch of questions about anatomy like you were in a trivia game. 

They like you.

And that made you feel overwhelmed—in a good way, maybe? How are you supposed to feel in this position anyway?

You didn’t even notice the embarrassment gone out of your body like it was nothing. The room was filled with jokes, banters—and god, Satoru’s laugh. His laugh was annoyingly good. It was driving you insane. 

You were still laughing when you looked at him and he looked back at you with a faint smile etched on his face. 

Then your eyes landed onto his, he was looking at you like there’s something brewing on his mind—like there was something that he wanted to say but he couldn’t. 

“You okay?” you asked him, nudging  his knee slightly.

“Yeah.” he slung an arm around your shoulder, “Good.”

You smiled and looked away because you can feel something shifted. You can feel something tiny—an ache, pressing onto your ribs that was supposed to be protecting your heart. 

You just didn’t know what it was.

Your days felt the same but at the same time it wasn’t.

You were still talking. 

He was still messaging you. 

You were still studying together—not at his place, but at the library. 

And he was quieter than usual.

He wasn’t nudging your knee, flicking your forehead or grumbling about his back-to-back rotations where they made him stand for hours again. 

He was just… there. Reading. Writing something in his notebook. Not even sparing you a single glance. 

“Are you okay?” you asked and he just hummed, you took a deep breath, “Am I annoying you?”

He stopped for a bit, still not looking. “No.”

You were expecting that his answer would be ‘yes, you’re annoying me. you always do.’  because… that’s how he’s supposed to answer you, right?

With a cocky grin and a teasing tone. That’s how. 

Maybe he was just too tired. Maybe his instructor was too much. Maybe he was just… you don’t know what reasons you could come up with anymore just to justify him acting like this.

But still you brushed it off. Holding onto some stupid reason that you don’t even know. 

But the next day came. He canceled lunch, saying he was backed up. Rounds were taking too long. 

He said he’ll see you later at the café, that he’ll text you once he gets there.  

But he didn’t. 

But you let it slide, maybe it slipped his mind. Come on, he’s a third year med student, of course, he’s busy.

And for the next two days, he was silent. He wasn’t messaging—and how you hated that every single time you stepped out the lecture hall, you were wishing he was there, leaning on the wall—waiting for you.

But he wasn’t. 

So, you’re staring at your phone for the whole lunch break. Contemplating whether to send him a text. Typing then erasing, then typing again—and the cycle just continued until you had the guts to press the send button.

[You | 12:32 PM] u still alive? haha

So, you waited. Until the lunch break finished. Until it was time for your one pm lecture.

None. 

Then you check your phone.

[grumpy med student | 4:45 PM] just busy

It took him four hours.

Four. fucking. hours. It was starting to piss you off. Why is he acting like this? Why is he avoiding you like you’re some plague?

Was it something that you did? Was it the kiss?

Your mind can’t comprehend why he’s acting this way. You were good, right? 

You were so good. Not just good. Everything felt right, everything was into pieces like a puzzle locked in together and now it shattered, and the pieces were missing.

You already felt like you belonged. 

And suddenly, it’s just… this?

[You | 4:55 PM ] okay

And that was the last thing you sent him.

Then a week passed by agonizingly slow—just like this elevator ride up to your mother’s office. 

There were days that you found yourself staring at your phone—reading the old texts, and his damn hoodie wrapped around you while you slept, just to fill a large chunk of space that he left.

You hated how much you noticed the space where he was supposed to be. You hated all of it because he wasn’t just ignoring you—he’s making you feel his absence, and no matter what you did—you can’t escape this raw, aching feeling that’s clawing its way to your chest.

Like it wanted to rip your heart and lungs out.

Maybe it was all too much for him? Maybe he regretted it now. 

Maybe.

You looked at the elevator door when it opened—

Your breath caught in your throat. Your heart stopped beating for a short while before screaming inside your chest.

There he was—Satoru, standing in front of you, his hair was messy like he ran his fingers through it a lot of times, his specs still perched on top of his nose and a stethoscope was hanging around his neck.

You could see the look on his face—like you’re a ghost that he was trying to avoid. But then he stepped in and stood up a few inches away from you.

You knew this was going to happen if you went to the hospital. You know you’re going to bump into him—the problem is, you didn’t know what to say, you didn’t know how to act anymore.

This was the kind of silence that you hated—it was heavy with the words that you couldn’t utter. Words that you don’t know how to get out.

You wanted to say something. 

Open your mouth but all you could do was look straight ahead.

Like he’s just some stranger who you share memories with.

You know he was about to say something by the way he breathed but then the elevator door opened again.

But you didn’t wait—didn't look back, didn’t spare him a glance and just walked out until you were out of his sight.

And that was the moment you realized—it was all gone. 

The bickering, the coffee, the waiting outside your lecture hall so you could walk side by side to the library—the mnemonics, the late night calls and—the kiss.

It was all lost. 

Just like that.

The cafeteria was just the same. It was a little more crowded than usual but it was just the same. 

But instead of him, you sat across from your mother, quietly eating her food while her phone was buzzing nonstop, and she kept looking at her watch while you just poked on your food like it done you wrong.

“Sorry we can’t eat outside,” she sipped on her coffee, “The surgery took longer than I expected and I still have a consult after this.”

“It’s okay.” you answered softly, absentmindedly poking. You hadn’t said much since you saw him earlier.

You hated him for doing this to you.

“You alright?” your mom asked, staring at your face and you lift your head, giving her a faint smile.

You nodded, but something caught the side of your eye and it darted past your mother’s shoulder—to the table at the corner of the cafeteria, why is the universe playing with you today?

There he was, sitting with his friends, and he looked how he was earlier—except he looked like the skies fell on him.

She followed your line of sight, furrowing her brows a bit before turning to you.

“You know Gojo?”

Your ears pulsate with just a mere utterance of his name. 

You looked away, “No.”

“I hear he’s a bit popular in the university,” she continued, giving you a look like she was looking out for your reaction, “Even here. One of the top students. Brilliant.”

You just hummed, and she just kept on talking about him—and you just wished she would stop. “He’s in his third year, right? His mom and I were residents together.”

You blinked, looking at her. “Okay. Tell me what happened.”

“It’s nothing.” you puffed out a small breath, and you avoided her gaze. “It’s really… nothing.”

She looked at you, gaze softening as she watched you push your food around. “Hm. Okay, you don’t have to tell me what happened.”

“It’s really nothing, Mom. It’s fine.”

She just chuckled, her hands cupped yours above the table. “If it was nothing then you wouldn’t be looking at him like that.”

Satoru doesn’t even know what he’s doing.

He bought food but he was barely touching it. It was hard to breathe when he knew that you were there—just a few tables from him.

He hated this. He hates himself—he always does this, when everything feels too good—too real, it terrifies him that he turns away.

Except, when he had done this before—he didn’t get hung up, he had protected himself before it got real, before everything went too deep. 

He doesn’t just let anyone in, but then you came, you invaded his space—and this barrier between him and his emotions just came crumbling down.

“Satoru,” Suguru called him, tossing a crumpled tissue his way, “You good?”

“Yeah.” he just nodded, a bit distracted. 

Yuki was ranting about her rotations when she suddenly stopped, squinting across the room, to the table where you were sitting. “Wait. Isn’t that Dr. LN?”

Shoko and the others followed her gaze, “Yeah. It is.”

“Isn’t that YN with her?” Choso says, turning away and suddenly, all of them were just staring at him—Satoru, like he had done them wrong too.

“What?” he asked, his eyebrows creased.

Yuki waved her hand first, “Wait. Before we get to Satoru’s stupid ass, why is YN eating with Dr. LN?!”

Satoru lifted his head—he couldn’t help but look in your direction, your chin was resting on your hand, you were looking at the food again like it said something that offended you.

He muttered, “Dr. LN’s her mom.”

“Whaaat?” Yuki shrieked and Shoko was taken aback too.

“You’re kidding?”

But he didn’t answer them. He wasn’t surprised at his friends’ reactions because Dr. LN is one of the top surgeons at the hospital, maybe it just shocked them that you’re her daughter.

Well, it wasn’t a surprise. You’re smart—just like her. You’re…

Fuck. Why can’t he look away? He made his decision, right? Why can’t he get you out—

“The fuck was that for?” his train of thoughts vanished when he felt Shoko smack his head. “Are you—”

“You’re a dumbass.” she hissed, and the other three hummed in agreement. “She’s the only girl that we liked. Like, ever.”

“I mean,” Suguru started, “No offense to your past trainwrecks.”

“She just clicked, you know?” Yuki said, sipping on her juice, “I mean, she didn’t even look nervous around us. She laughed with us, she never had that awkward silence, you get me? Like, you could feel her—ah, I’m rambling. Bottomline, you’re fucking stupid.”

He knew that—and that’s what terrified him, you fitted in so easily. You slid so easily in his life like you really belong there. 

The problem was never with you.

He used to be content with what you two had—the endless bickering, the studying together quietly—all of it was enough for a person like him. Enough for him who didn’t have time, who couldn’t offer anything more. 

Because what if he couldn’t give you what you wanted? What you deserved?

And it scared him when you two kissed for the first time. Because it felt like whatever you two had, could be something more.

But he wasn’t ready for more.

Not when his life was already hanging on a balance with the endless responsibilities, pressure, expectations—he couldn’t bring you into this.

He was hunched into the desk when Suguru placed a paper bag in front of him. He looked at him and frowned. “What is this?”

“Nurses said someone dropped it off. It’s yours.”

Satoru sighed then reached for the bag. 

And his heart stopped.

It was his hoodie. 

The one that he gave you so that you could have something of his, that you could return—so you could—he could see you again. 

He knew what this meant. He knew why you gave it back.

Because he wasn’t going to see you again.

He just stared at it, barely moved, afraid that if he touched it, it would explode. It didn’t smell like him anymore—it smelled like you.

“You know, it’s the first time that I saw you like this.” he looked at Suguru who was leaning on the wall, staring right at him as if watching him come to his senses.

But he didn’t speak, he just looked away as if scared that the truth would hurt him. And it did. 

It does.

“She was really good for you,” Suguru added, “I mean, granted that you ditch us for her like an asshole but still, she made you breathe just for a bit.”

Suguru didn’t say this just to be cruel. He was just telling the truth. Because that’s what he saw. 

Satoru’s fists clenched, “I didn’t mean for it to get this far.”

“It’s too late for that, you know that, right?”

“And I told you before,” Satoru muttered, “I can’t do this. I don’t have enough time, space—”

“And yet you did.” Suguru pressed, “You made time. You brought her into your space. You let her in, man. She even met all of us. And I know you, you don’t do that.”

Satoru’s breath caught into his throat. 

“And it was a mistake.” he says quietly, like he was trying to convince himself. But he’s too smart for that.

They both know it wasn’t. He never regretted it once. He’s just too terrified.

Because you weren’t supposed to matter. But then you started showing up in places where he was. Everywhere he went you were there. Everywhere he looks, he sees you.

Even in his thoughts—you were there.

You were in every goddamn thing that he touches. 

And now all of it is just… just. 

There’s no more lunch breaks where you kick his leg slightly under the table, no more yellow highlighters flying to his direction just so you could annoy him.

He would never see the crease in your brows again whenever you were muttering mnemonics like the world would end if you didn’t memorize it all.

He would never get irritated now that you’re not here to pester him about practicing something on him—and he’ll say yes anyway.

Now, there’s no more pretending that he wasn’t falling for you. Because he did, he fell hard and he crashed.

There’s no coming back from that.

He really fucked up, huh?

You were about to drift off to sleep when you heard a knock on your door. 

You groaned, clutching the paper that was on your face. You hadn’t slept properly in days and of course—of fucking course, just when you’re about to, someone decides to knock on your stupid door.

Great. Just fucking great.

You  removed every paper that was on you and set it aside.

You drag yourself up pulling the blanket over your shoulder to cover up the fact that you were only wearing your cami top and shorts—meaning, you’re not to be disturbed, god, it’s late.

You walk to the door, barely awake, cracking it open just to see who it is.

And it’s like a cold bucket of water was splashed onto your face. 

Sleep? Gone.

Your heart? Gone. It exploded.

“What are you doing here?”

He was staring at you like you stole all air from him. 

You looked around the hallway before pulling him in—shutting the door behind you. You don’t even know how he got in your dorm building—but here he is, interrupting your sleep, your life.

You turned to him, clutching the blanket around you, waiting for him to speak.

“The hoodie,” he whispered, breathing heavily, “You gave it back.”

“That’s what you came here to say? That I gave you your hoodie back?”

He parted his mouth like he wanted to say something. But he didn’t. He just stood there, staring at you like he’s afraid that you were going to slip away.

So you did, “I gave it back because it’s pointless. I gave it back because I know you weren’t going to talk to me anymore. I didn’t want to hold on to something that… that you clearly don't want.”

His heart dropped when your voice cracked.

“YN—”

“What?” your tone was sharp, like you were protecting yourself. “What do you want, Satoru? Are you going to show up again, act like I fucking matter to you and the next few days, ignore me?”

You laughed bitterly, tears cascading down the side of your eyes. You said you weren’t going to cry. 

You didn’t cry in the past two weeks that he didn’t talk to you.

But seeing him here, in front of you, it’s like a dam broke inside of you.

“It’s not that—It’s not that I didn’t want to talk to you,” he muttered, trying to step closer but his feet wouldn’t move. “I fucked up.”

“You did!” you snapped, wiping your tears hastily, “So what was it? You were busy? You forgot I existed?”

“No.” he paused, “Because you weren’t part of the plan. You weren’t supposed to happen—I don’t fucking do this, YN. I don’t stay up late with someone, I don’t just eat lunch with someone because I want to—I… fuck.”

“So you just pushed me away? Because life didn’t go the fucking way you want it to?”

He just looked at you, every word that you were saying sits heavy on his chest.

“Because, God forbid, you feel something real?” your voice shatters, “You made me think, I mattered. Then you just up… and leave. You didn’t even say goodbye.”

And that’s what hurt the most. How easily he walked away like none of it meant anything to him.

You buried your face in your palms, sobbing—the blanket that was hugging you pooling on the floor. 

“YN.” he stepped forward, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry I fucked up. I’m sorry I was such a fucking jerk—”

“You are!” your voice was muffled, your shoulders shaking as you cried. Then you feel him—his arms circling around you to pull you close, the side of your head resting on his chest.

“I didn’t know what to do.” he almost choked, resting his cheek on your head. “I didn’t know how to deal with something like this. You weren’t just a distraction, you weren’t just a girl who flirted with me at a party—you were, you.”

You could feel his hand tremble by the way he held you, but you let him speak. “You were there almost every day. God, you were the first person I think about whenever I hear something funny or someone irritated the fuck out of me.”

“Then I got scared when I saw how easy it was for you to slip into my space, into the people I care about.”

You pull away from him, your hands wiping your tears. Your gaze finds each other.

“When I was watching you laugh with them… I realized that I care so much about you. And that scared me because I don’t want to lose you—I didn’t want that moment to end, and if I said the wrong thing or did something stupid then I would lose you for good? I could not let myself do that.”

“What changed?” you paused, “So, what? You’re not scared now?”

“No. God, I’m scared.” his eyes didn’t leave yours, “But I’m scared of not being with you at all—of walking away, then spending the rest of my life wondering what we could’ve been.”

You didn’t know what else to say.

Or if there is something else to say.

You were just standing there, his hands trembling on your hips—his lips flutter every time he took a breath. 

“Kiss me.” 

You say but you didn’t even let him react when you tugged on his shirt, pulling him close to press his lips against yours—your teeth grazing his lower lip to let you in.

And he did, he let you in.

“Fuck,” he muttered, breathing heavily before letting you jump into his arms, he carried you to your bed—pushing everything on the floor, the sheets under you rustles as he set you down along with the sound of the papers scattering on the floor.

And just like that, he was all over you again—on top of your body, pressing himself against you.

“I missed you,” you let it slip in between the kisses, in between the whimper into his mouth. “I miss you, Satoru.”

His fingers trail inside your shirt, skimming your waist up to your ribs until he reaches the underside of your breast. 

He groaned into your mouth before pulling away, his kisses trail down to the skin of your neck, peppering you with desperate—hungry kisses, “You have no idea how hard it was to stay away.” 

“Then don’t.” you gasp as he bites the skin just above your collarbone, “Just stay… with me.”

God, you’re driving him insane. 

Then he was back on your lips again. His kisses getting frantic—desperate, he pushed his tongue past your lips—hot and heavy, swirling his tongue inside your mouth like he needed to taste every inch of you.

Because he does. Satoru needed you, he craved you.

You moan against his mouth, his fingers tracing the strap of your camisole before pulling it down—the strap falling flawlessly from your shoulders. 

His hand gripped your shoulder—like he was making sure you were okay with his hands all over you, but you reached for his wrist almost immediately and placed it on top of  your breast yourself.

Then he froze for a bit, both your eyes opened—until a startled laugh broke out of him—and next, you. 

“I thought you were getting shy or something,” you say breathlessly, laughing softly. 

“I was being respectful,” he brushed the tip of his nose against yours and yet his hand was still on your breast. 

“Don’t you think that went out the window when you stuck your tongue down my throat?”

“Point taken.” he says before his mouth crashes on you again, licking your lips as he starts to knead your chest—he presses soft kisses against your jaw until he is down to your chest, pulling your cami top down with his teeth.

Fuck, he’s so hot.

You catch your breath as he takes your breast into his mouth, his tongue swirling on your nipple while the pad of his thumb brushes over the other. 

Your fingers find their way to his hair—gripping it desperately, like you were aching for more, more touch, more of him.

He lets go of your breast with a pop, his eyes staring at you like he was burning your skin. 

“Satoru,” you look up at him, your fingers tightened on his hair, “Fuck, please…”

“I know.” his breath stutters when he sees you part your swollen lips, “I got you, baby.”

His lips were back onto yours—greedy, breathless as his hands roam everywhere, he grips on your hips like he’s melding his hand onto your skin. His fingers trace the waistband of your shorts before pulling it down in a swift motion, throwing it on the floor. 

His fingers dug into your thighs, coaxing them apart before moving his hands up, his fingers drawing the fabric of your underwear to the side.

You whine against his lips when he slid his finger up and down your folds, his fingers slick with your juices before sliding one finger in, “Mhm—fuck.”

“You like that?” he murmured, his voice was almost reverent—but the smirk tugging on his lip betrays him, your lips part—breathless moan leaches out of your mouth when he adds a finger. 

Then he moves his fingers in then out—hooking it just enough to make you tremble and grip his wrist when he moves it fast. 

His fingers coated with your wetness creates a hungering sound, he watches as you arch into his hand—and it makes his stomach curl in an animalistic way. He couldn’t even think straight, he was just watching your every gasp and shiver like he was memorizing it.

“Sa—toru! Mhm, fuck, more—please.” you moaned, tugging him close to pull him close just so you could feel him more, it wasn’t enough that his fingers were inside you—you needed more. “I want you. Please.”

“Ah.” he half laughs, breathlessly—almost moaning, his fingers still pumping in and out of your cunt, “You’re driving me crazy.”

“I know.” you lift your head a bit to reach his lower lip, you graze your teeth into the wet skin of his mouth, “Let me—ngh—drive you even crazier.”

“Yeah?” he groans, and you nod, your fingers reaching out for the waistband of his pants, until you reach the button of his pants—your hands reach inside cupping his hard dick with your palm, moving your hands agonizingly—slowly.

“Ah—fuck—” you whimpered when he stopped pumping his fingers—you didn’t even know how he rid himself of his clothes that fast, then he was on top of you again.

Maybe he was just that desperate—and fuck,  you know you were too.

His body was hoisted slightly as he stroked his cock above you while pressing sloppy kisses on your mouth.

Then you pulled away, you watched with heavy-lidded eyes as he tilted his head back slightly—your fingers tracing the line of his abs—guttural moans came out of him like he came straight out of porn, his hand still pumping his cock.

You loop your legs on his waist, pulling him close—you both gasp as the tip of his dick almost dips in your cunt. “Impatient, are you?”

“Mhm.” you pull him more—his jaw clenches, eyes darkening at how maddeningly desperate you are. 

“Fuuuck. You’re killing me.” he slides his tip up and down, just to tease you—and it loses his mind how you're faltering with even a small touch. He’s ruined.

You ruined him.

“Please—Satoruuu—OH.” 

You both gasp when he suddenly pushes in, slowly—deliberately, like he wanted to relish in the way that you clench around him, walls hugging his dick so tight he might’ve come right there and then.

“Shit,” he groans, voice cracking while pushing in deep—until you take all of him, “You’re so—tight, ah, fuck. So good.”

You dip your fingernails into his shoulder, lips apart—your head tilted back slightly. Your eyes flutter shut as you take the abrupt stretch—the pleasure.

“Satoru—mhm, please. Need you to move, baby.” 

He groans into your neck—the pet name added to the things cutting into his restraint, he gripped your hips trying to keep you still—god, he couldn’t move. He was getting overwhelmed with the way you feel soft and tight around him. 

There was a hitch in your voice when he started moving, slowly—then deeper, faster—harder. 

The shaky, uneven—heavy breathing  fills the air. The sheets rustle just below you as the bed starts creaking but all you could focus on was how delicious his hips slaps into you—wet, sloppy thrusts fills your ear, making your body ache in ways you didn’t even know.

Your moans grew louder, air catches on your breath with every thrust that he makes. 

“Satoru—ah. Fuck!” you close your eyes from the hundreds of pleasure coursing through your body. 

He pulls back just a bit, to see your face. 

“Look at me,” he breathes, and when your eyes meet his—he loses it. He was all over you—on your mouth, on your face, neck—pressing wet kisses while he rams you into oblivion. 

And fuck, how it drove you insane when he gripped your hair and tilted your head just so he could lick your collarbone up to your jaw—then it suddenly hit you like a wave, his name left your mouth broken.

The muscles on your abdomen contract, toes curling into the sheets.

Your grip on him tightens as your thighs quivered, hips arching into him. “Sat—nggh—toru! Feels so good,”

“Fuck, you came?” he groans, his grip on your hips tightens as he fucked you into overstimulation.

You make him crazy. So crazy—he’s losing his mind—you’re going to make him lose his mind until there’s just a scintilla of sanity left on him. 

Satoru cursed under his breath—hips curving slightly as he pushed in deep. Your name leaves his lips, strained—low. His hips stutter a bit before he collapses on top of you.

You could feel his chest rise and fall against yours, your breathing in sync. 

“You’re heavy.” you muttered, and he just hums—sinking himself deeper against your body.

“I think I just went to heaven.” 

You laughed, swatting his back lightly. “You’re so dramatic, you know that?”

“Well, I’m sorry—but you ruined me.” he groans—you let out a whimper when he shifts slightly, aware that he’s still inside you. You both winced when he pulled out, but still not getting off of you.

“I ruined you?” you arch your brow, he places his head on your chest—listening to your heartbeat like it was the only thing  grounding him. 

“Hmm. Completely ruined—like my coat was.”

You groaned, your fingers absentmindedly playing with his hair. “Are you ever going to let that go?”

He lifts his head and greets you with a smug grin, “No. I’d be annoying you with that forever.”

Forever, huh?

[witchthewriter]

𝐁𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐉𝐨𝐞𝐥 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫'𝐬 𝐬/𝐨 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞

⤷ gender neutral, ambiguous race, and any size reader. Requests are open, thank you for reading!

ᴹᵃˢᵗᵉʳˡᶤˢᵗ | ᴹᵃˢᵗᵉʳˡᶤˢᵗ ᴵᴵ

ISTJ

Gryffindor

True Neutral

Capricorn Sun, Scorpio Moon, Aries Rising

𝑺𝑭𝑾🌿

・Closed off but kind, it took a while for the two of you to evolve into something romantic

・Unspoken love; his way of showing how he feels is through action...fixing things for you, watching your back - making sure you're safe, guarded. But also making sure that you've eaten, you're hydrated and healthy.

・Your smile gives him heart palpatations.

・Nights would involve quietly tending to each other's wounds—physical and emotional—and, on rare occasions, him opening up about “the time before.”

・Forehead Touches

・When you're at home, he's always fiddling with something; a radio, guitar, he's even trying his hand at sewing.

・Tries his best not to smile when you do something sassy. But you always see the corners of his mouth quirk upward.

・Pretends to be cranky when you call him 'old man.'

・You have a brilliant relationship with Ellie; she feels safe with you, like she could come to you with anything.

・Whenever you ask him to play the guitar, he grumbles and groans.

・And then plays something so beautiful, you nearly cry.

・Neither of you sleep well if you aren't together. The rhythm of your breathing is the only thing that cuts through his ghosts.

・His pure happiness is rare, and therefore sacred.

・Ties your shoelaces, buttons your clothes, dries your tears

・Loves doing domestic things with you; changing the bedding, hanging the washing, cooking together

・Pretends to grown when you act needy for attention. But he loves feeling wanted.

𝑹𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑 𝑻𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒔

You Fell First, But He Fell Harder

The Moon and His Star

Husband Is Scary To Everyone But Me

𝑷𝒍𝒐𝒕 𝑻𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆

Timeless Love

Unbreakable Bond

Bickering and Banter

𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒆 𝑺𝒐𝒏𝒈

The Chain by Fleetwood Mac

Walkin' Back To Georgia by Jim Croce

Milk and Honey by Jackson C. Frank

𝑁𝑆𝐹𝑊 🔞

・Joel likes overpowering you.

・He'll slap your ass as you're walking past him (not out in public though)

・Shoving you down onto the bed and smirking as you wiggle backward:

"Nowhere to go, baby."

・Likes having your juices in his beard after he's gone down on you

・The smell of you drives him nearl animalistic; he has to have your scent on him

・When he cums, he makes a very gutteral sound, pulls your hair and bites your shoulder.

・He stays inside you until you've both let the high completely come down... well really he still likes to bury himself in you for as long as you'll let him

・Loves cockwarming.

・Would crawl on hands and knees if you asked him to

・Kisses the arch of your foot when you're on the bed, limbless and spent after fucking

・Slow and deep rather than rough and fast; but don't think he won't fuck you into the bed. He loves doing that after you've been bratty all day

[littlelamy]

     you felt so refreshed; you’d just had your nice long bath. the kind where your fingers pruned and your cheeks flushed, while the steam clung to you like a silk robe. lavender milk and vanilla salt, two bath bombs fizzing into pearly haze until your whole body smelled like sugar and sleep.

you'd tied your hair up in a fluffy white towel, wrapped another one around yourself tight—tighter than usual, because rose had warned you the upstairs wing was off-limits this week and you didn't want to scandalize the house staff—but the hallway was empty, so you tiptoed out barefoot, slippery and squeaky-clean and humming the tune from your bath playlist.

you turned the corner and slammed chest-first into a brick wall; except it wasn't a wall, and it grunted. you stumbled, towel sliding. fingers scrambling to keep it clutched around your cleavage. and before your brain caught up, instinct kicked in—one that had been drilled into you at exactly one sorority safety seminar before you dozed off during the glitter glue portion.

“ahhh! stranger danger!!” you yell out, then ran, all four limbs flailing like a cartoon rabbit in a horror movie. you ducked into the nearest door, slammed it shut, heart hammering like a kettle drum in your chest.

you froze, taking note of the room, linen closet. stood there surrounded by sheets and lavender sachets, clutching the towel like it was body armor, with a face flushed and lips parted.

it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. said man mutters a “what the fuck...?”

you stayed in the closet for six whole minutes.

at minute two, you debated calling rose to tell her the estate had been invaded by a very handsome burglar. at minute four, you considered crawling through the laundry chute. at minute six, you realized the closet didn’t have a laundry chute, and you were just going to have to come out and face death.

so you cracked the door peeked out like a bunny from her burrow and there he was.

leaning against the hallway wall, arms crossed, eyebrows arched like he was trying to decide whether you'd lost your mind or just come from another planet. he was tall, about 6'2, with his shirt half-tucked, a nice chest broad, tousled blond hair and those icy, lazy blue eyes that blinked slow, like he was either incredibly calm or incredibly high.

you whimpered seeing his smirking face, “you done?” he chuckles.

you stepped out, cheeks glowing, arms full of spare pillowcases you'd grabbed in your panic.

“i’m not supposed to talk to handsome strangers in the hall…” you mumbled. he blinked at your words. “are you…” you tilted your head. “a delivery man?”

his face twitched as you hugged the pillowcases tighter. “did rose order something? she likes those candles from that one shop—wait, no, they don’t deliver on thursdays…”

he pushed off the wall and walked slowly toward you; making you squeak, backing up.

“you live here?” he asked, tone teasing but curious, eyes trailing over your towel, your bare legs, your little "juicy" headband still looped around your forehead like a crown.

you blinked, “umm.. i think so?”

he laughed, like he couldn’t help himself; the sound seemed foreign coming out of his mouth.

“you think so?”

you squinted. “why do you keep asking me questions, mister delivery?”

“because i also live here.”

you two, stared at each other for a couple seconds. you broke the silence by whispering, “no you don’t, i've never seen you before.”

he stepped closer, and you could smell him so much better now. mhm, cologne and leather. your thighs pressed together, making your small towel slip another inch.

he smirked again, “i’m rafe.”

you frowned, “…rafe what?”

“rafe cameron.”

your knees almost gave out, “like…like rafe tannyhill cameron?”

“that’s the one.”

you gasped, hands flying up, pillowcases tumbling down in a cotton waterfall. “you’re rose’s son?!”

he shook his head with a lazy smile. “not that bitch's son, but i am rafe. who did you think i was?”

“i dunno! a burglar! a model! a very confident exterminator—!”

he chuckled at your sillyness.

you slapped a hand over your mouth, “oh my god. i called you stranger danger.”

“you screamed it.”

“i ran into the linen closet!”

“like it was gonna save you.”

you squealed, “oh my god.. i’m so sorry!”

he stepped even closer, making your back hit the wall and sucking in a breath. he was big. not just tall, he was very sharp too, smiling like he could see through your towel and knew exactly how much you shaved.

you tugged the towel higher, while he watched your hands.

“so,” he said, voice lower now, “what’s your name, house fairy?”

“i’m the house manager.”

“uh-huh, and how long have you been streaking through the halls like that?”

you flushed, “i wasn’t streaking! i bathed, in the tub. rose told me i could use when no one’s home! because you weren’t supposed to be home!”

he tilted his head, “you got a schedule for my arrivals?”

“rose said you’d be back saturday!”

“yeah, i came early.” you glared yet he grinned wider. “you always tiptoe around in just a towel?”

you gasped again already, “i live here!”

he laughs under his breath, glancing at his buzzing phone. “well, princess, you’re a hell of a conversationalist—real captivating—but i gotta jet. barry’s waiting.”

he brushes past you with a wink, eyes flicking down to catch your flustered face. his palm slapping your ass as he walks off.

“i’ll talk to you later,” he tosses over his shoulder.

❤︎ tags below

@rafesbabygirlx @namelesslosers @drewsephrry @maybanksangel @averyoceanblvd @iknowdatsrightbih @rafesheaven @anamiad00msday @ivysprophecy @wearemadeofstardust0 @rafesangelita @rafedaddy01 @bakugouswaif @skywalker0809 @vanessa-rafesgirl @evermorx89 @outerhills @ditzyzombiesblog @slavicangelmuah @alivinggirl @rafesgreasycurtainbangs @lil-sparklqueen @rafessweetgirl @esquivelbianca @p45510n4f4shi0n @palomavz @cokewithcameron @donaldsonsgirl @yncoded @lilbunnysfics @solaceluna @icaqttt @alphabetically-deranged @bevstofu @wintercrows @emluvsuxo @rafestoothbrush @cadhlabear @st8rkey

[musicforastylesrestaurant]

If you’re still taking ideas for tonight 🫶🏻 maybe H and y/n going on their first walk as a family - either baby in the carrier on Harry’s chest or y/n pushing the pram, all wrapped up warm on a winter walk then going to meet Anne for a coffee so baby could have nanna cuddles 🥰

Spring Walks.

masterlist || ask me anything <3

my blurb masterlist is here!!

in which, it’s your’s and harry’s first walk as a family of four, and even though it’s spring, the weathers very chilly and your little one is in the pram whilst your four year old is sat on his daddy’s shoulders.

word count - 1k.

It’s just past ten on a chilly spring morning, the kind where the sky is washed in soft blue and the clouds seem like afterthoughts. The forest trail beneath your feet is damp from last night’s rain, but it smells incredible—earthy, fresh, and full of that green-sap scent that only comes with early leaves.

You wrap your coat tighter around you and glance down into the pram. Your daughter is sleeping soundly, her tiny chest rising and falling under the knit blanket Anne gave you just before she was born. Her face is impossibly small, features still undefined in that newborn way—more like a dream than a person just yet.

“S’out cold,” Harry says, leaning over your shoulder to peek in at her. “Like her mum, snoring by nine.”

You laugh quietly, nudging him. “I do not snore.”

“Y’do a little puff. Like a baby hedgehog.” He makes a tiny snuffling sound and then grins, proud of himself.

“You are so lucky I’m sleep-deprived and too tired to argue.”

He chuckles and shifts his grip on your four-year-old son, who is perched high up on his shoulders, little wellies bouncing lightly against Harry’s chest with each step. His tiny hands are tangled in Harry’s curls, his cheeks rosy and wind-bitten.

“Daddy, look!” your son shouts, pointing toward a squirrel sprinting up a tree. “He’s got something in his mouth! Is it a sandwich?”

Harry squints. “Looks like a bit of leaf or something, buddy. Probably not a sandwich. Squirrels don’t have lunchboxes.”

“They should,” your son decides seriously. “We could give them some snacks.”

You join in, “That’s how you make forest friends, you know. You leave them tiny peanut butter sandwiches, and they send thank-you notes made of twigs.”

“Really?” He gasps, eyes wide.

Harry laughs, “Well, sort of. But you’ve got to be very, very quiet so you don’t scare them.”

Your son nods solemnly and immediately whispers, “Okay.” Then, a second later: “BUT IF I SEE A FOX I’M GONNA SCREAM!.”

You and Harry both burst into quiet laughter, trying not to wake the baby.

You fall into step beside him, the gravel crunching underfoot. The path is scattered with fallen blossoms from some early-flowering tree, pink petals caught in puddles and clinging to your boots.

“Can you believe we’re here?” you say softly. “Family of four. Two whole kids.”

Harry exhales, long and warm, like he’s been holding that feeling in his chest and is only just letting it out. “I know. Feels unreal. Like we blinked and suddenly… we’re outnumbered.”

You laugh. “You’re the one who wanted more chaos.”

“I did,” he admits, smiling. “And I’d do it all again. Every nappy, every midnight bottle, every ‘I want juice’ at four in the morning.”

You glance at him with a smirk. “That last one was you.”

He shrugs. “What can I say? Apple juice tastes better at night.”

A soft wind stirs the leaves around you. You adjust the pram handle, and Harry watches you for a moment before speaking again.

“Y’amazing, you know,” he says quietly. “Like. I watch you with them, and I think—how did I get so lucky?”

You look over at him, touched. “You were charming. And tall. That helped.”

“That’s it then?” he laughs. “Tall and charming?”

You lean into him a little, shoulder brushing his. “And you make a very good climbing frame.”

From above, your son yells, “I’m a tree-climber! I’m on top of Daddy Mountain!”

“Hold on, little explorer,” Harry says, pretending to wobble. “Daddy Mountain’s feeling an earthquake in his back.”

“Don’t fall, Daddy! I’m too small to raise a baby!”

That has you both laughing so hard you have to stop for a moment. You reach up and steady your son’s leg while you catch your breath.

The trail starts to widen, and ahead you can see glimpses of the high street through the thinning trees. The edge of town greets you with the smell of fresh bread from the bakery and a faint bell from someone opening a shop door.

Harry glances over. “Mum said she got us the corner table outside. Figured we’d want space for the pram.”

You nod, grateful. “She always thinks of everything.”

“She’s been dying to show off the baby,” he adds. “I think she’s printed pictures for strangers on the bus.”

“She’s so excited to have another granddaughter, she’s got so many plans already.” Harry adds. “For both of them.”

You smirk. “Like what?”

“She wants to take her first grandbaby to the petting zoo, just them two. And she said we should have a nap together while she watches the baby.”

You blink, surprised. “A nap together? Like… sleep?”

“I know,” Harry teases, “remember that?”

You let out a soft laugh, feeling the warmth in your chest bloom. You’d give anything for just one afternoon of that quiet kind of closeness again. But for now, this walk—this moment—is enough.

As you turn onto the main road, your son gasps. “There’s Nana! I see her!”

Anne is already waving from her spot at the café, wearing a scarf you bought her last Christmas and holding a takeaway cup in one hand. When she sees you, her whole face lights up. She stands before you even reach her, arms out.

Harry gently lifts your son off his shoulders, setting him down. “Go on then, give Nana a cuddle.”

He doesn’t need to be told twice—he races ahead, nearly colliding with her in a hug. Anne laughs and scoops him up effortlessly, planting a kiss on his cheek.

Then she turns to you, eyes misty.

“There’s my girl,” she says, kissing your cheek, then leaning over the pram. “And there’s my littlest love. Oh, she’s perfect.”

Harry wraps an arm around your shoulders, drawing you into him. “We made some good ones, didn’t we?”

You lean into him, smile tugging at your lips as you watch your family. “We really did.”

Anne looks up. “Well, I’ve ordered you both tea, and I got extra pastries because you’re both barely eating anything proper—”

“We eat!” you protest.

“You nibble. Like nervous mice,” she says, waving her hand. “Now sit. Warm up. I’ll cuddle this one in a minute.”

[tobesolnelyx]

i just saw ur post that frat boy! jackie is next, but also…. frat boy nat <3 always standing outside the frat house door smoking cigs, checking girls out, telling guys they can’t come in if they look sleazy <33

— a little bit harder now || fratboy and g!p natalie scatorccio headcanons 🕸️

a/n: ahh i have too many headcanons for her. i could make whole ass playlist for her.

summary: people are annoying but turns out you’re the exepction. college modern au. girlfriend!nat.

warnings: NSFW - content - MDNI

★ — the weird part about her is that she knows absolutely everyone around the campus. like, everyone. that’s why frats tell her to stand in front of the house and check who’s coming in. like some stoned bodyguard. not like she’s complaining. she can smoke as much as she can. and there’s pretty girls! coming in and going out, giggling at her, in shorts skirts with messed up make up…she gives them crooked smile, leaning against the cold wall.

★ — it’s her way to choose with who she wants to hook up tonight. if some girl is particularly pretty, she starts flirting and before anyone notice, she drags her to her room for a quickie.

★ — that’s how she met you! she was already a little bit high by that time. she looked at ,you and thought that you’re gorgeous. like, real fucking pretty. and okay, maybe she wasn’t very sober but when she woke up next to you in the morning after heated sex, she was certain it weren’t only drugs. you were still unfairly beautiful.

she didn’t know what to do, obviously. it’s not like nat ever had one meaningful relationship in her entire life. she froze in place when you stirred awake.

“hey” you mumbled. voice thick with sleep, deeper after whole night.

something in her chest fluttered. fucking hell.

“hey” she breathed out, starring at you, ghost of smile played on her lips. a moment of silence passed, and she closed the distance between the two of you again. and you both melted into the kiss.

★ — you learned that she knows everyone cause she’s a campus dealer. it’s not like she’s a druggie. maybe a little bit. but at least she has money, right? and she’s not constantly drugged!

★ — she owns old motorcycle! goes everywhere by it. she even bought you a helmet so you can ride with her without getting hurt. always making sure you’re holding on to her tight. never driving too fast when you’re with her.

★ — and okay, maybe she has idiotic reputation, maybe she’s blunt and doesn’t really likes anyone (maybe besides other frats). she just has trust issues. but for you? oh hell, she’s a softie. not exactly the clingy and sappy type, but always near you. you learned that her small gestures speaks louder than any words.

★ — she ties you shoes, soothes your clothes and gently fixes your make up whenever it gets messed up. always here when you pick up an outfit before going out together.

★ — and once you’re done? she fingers you in front of the mirror. she can watch you squirm in your pretty clothes, riding her long fingers. you have to change your panties after that. they’re completely soaked after all. she discreetly snitch the ones that are dripping with your cum to probably jerk off later. while pressing dirty fabric to her face. freak.

★ — she’s possessive and she’s sure as hell gonna manifest this by grabbing your thighs or ass in public. especially when someone’s trying to hit on you. doesn’t say much about it, but it’s obvious, she will show you later in her bedroom.

★ — natalie is audible. she can get really loud when she’s fucking you really good. not a big fan of smashing cock into your cunt when someone might catch you tho. you’re hers. only she can hear your moans and watch how her dick disappears in your hole.

★ — going back to — she loves to praise you in bed. always telling you how good you are for her. how beautiful you are. and she loves to massage your scalp while you’re sucking her off.

★ — usually so closed off and cold, but once when she’s in the mood and there’s only the two of you, she makes the dumbest jokes on earth. having much more fun with that than you do. i mean, you laugh too, from how stupid she is.

★ — everyone says she’s an asshole. she kinda is. very bold, not scared to tell people what she really thinks about them. she might not getting into fights for you, but sure as hell she’ll be arguing until she win. she makes people feel like idiots for even starting stupid conversations with you. her mouth is really something. really something.

★ — she’s not a cheater but she might be a little too friendly with other girls. she knows many of them. half because of her multiple hook ups, half because of dealing. you get jealous easily because of that. unfortunately, she doesn’t seem to see the problems.

“really? what was that bitch name?” you huff while she’s trying to put on you your motorcycle helmet.

“who?” she asks furrowing her brows. she’s oblivious to that. it’s normal for her to talks with girls on parties like that. besides, she genuinely doesn’t understand. she loves just you, so where’s problem? “oh, c’mon, pretty girl” she says pressing kiss to your nose. “im yours, get over it”

she gently puts helmet on your head. “i love you, stop that.” she murmurs. and god help her, she never loved anyone like that.

★ — when you argue, she’s mad or frustrated, she starts yelling in italian, gesturing so much that her rings are clinking against each other.

★ — right, her hands! always cold, covered in jewellery, fingers tangled with yours. seriously, she always holds your hand. actually she might have a thing for your hands. kissing your knuckles, sucking on your fingers…

★ — tank tops. loose tank tops with band logos and tight jeans. the bulge is extremely visible in them tho. this might be a bad thing, too. her cock is aching inside when she gets hard. (and she gets hard often. girl definitely has massive libido.)

★ — weirdly good at cooking and baking. makes you dinners and breakfasts, saying that going out is too expensive. and she’s better at this anyway. you’re pretty sure it has something to do with her italian roots.

“we could just order food from that—“ you start but she’s already in the kitchen. doing things pretty aggressively. very italian of her.

“no” she says with an accent. and there’s no further discussion. it’s tempting to continue anyway. she likes to shutting your mouth with kisses. or…other things.

★ — shitty at comforting but she always tries to make you laugh! she’s good at that. even if she’s just being silly.

★ — she’s not really good at expressing feelings verbally but sometimes when she’s high she starts making love confessions.

★ — family issues. to this point that when she broke a glass, she was prepared you’re going to tell her how much of a failure she is. poor baby. but she has you, and you’re doing everything to show her how healthy relationship looks like

[salty-autistic-writer]

Tommy prepares for Bobby's funeral. (AO3 Link, tw: grief)

On the morning of the funeral, Tommy wakes up from a night of tossing and turning, feeling like he barely slept.

He has never been a heavy sleeper and is used to short periods of rest being interrupted by waking up from a noise or a sensory discomfort like the air being too warm, but this is different. This time, he had trouble sleeping because he is scared of what he has to do today.

In the bathroom, Tommy washes his face with cold water until he feels a little more aware and looks himself in the eyes, repeating the truth to himself that still feels so surreal it hasn’t had a chance to settle in yet.

Captain Bobby Nash is dead. Today, they are going to lay him to rest. And Tommy is going to be one of the people carrying his casket. One of the six pallbearers.

Tommy can still feel the aftershocks of surprise that hit him when Athena had asked.

“Are you sure?” He had to check. After all, he hasn’t been part of the 118 for a long time.

“I’m absolutely sure. Bobby would have loved you being one of the pallbearers,” she told him, putting her hand on his. “You saved his life eight years ago, you saved it again when you flew a helicopter through a hurricane to search for that damn cruise ship and you helped save Chimney’s life. Of course, you are going to be one of the pallbearers.” 

Tommy was touched and had to blink back tears. He didn’t even know she was aware of that night eight years ago, when Captain Nash stumbled into that room and almost broke through the collapsing floor before Tommy managed to grip him in time and pulled him back from the edge, away from that abyss filled with raging flames.

“Athena is right,” Evan told him. “Bobby would have wanted you there. He … He spoke very highly of you.”

Tommy almost winced at the unsettling formality in Evan’s voice and the serious expression on his face, which had been there ever since Evan emerged from the lab, stone-faced and pale, his eyes red-rimmed but empty, staring straight ahead.

You don’t have to pretend with me, he almost said. I saw you.

I know you’re not okay.

You can not be okay with me. 

But then, before he could say anything, the moment was over, and Evan left to check on Chimney.

Evan.

Evan, who said Bobby was the dad he never had.

Tommy’s heart twists.

Evan is going to be one of the pallbearers too, of course.

Tommy is more unsure about what they are or what they aren’t than ever. He just knows no one made him feel like this before. Like he wants to tear his heart out of his chest and put it into a box, hand it to Evan and tell him: Here. It’s yours. Do with it what you want.

He slowly puts on his dress blues, his throat tightening when he remembers Kevin’s funeral and Chimney ringing the bell, looking so shocked and broken. Since then, Tommy has been to three more funerals of fallen firefighters. Two of them were pilots. He wonders when it’s going to be his turn. Wonders who is going to carry the casket.

It could happen any day now. Any moment.

Death is their constant companion after all. Death is with Tommy when he flies his helicopter. Death is with Evan when he steps into burning houses. Death.

There are things Tommy wishes to say before it’s too late. And he can feel them bubbling up to the surface of his thoughts, now that they are about to bury someone who shouldn’t be gone. Someone who was such an exceptional and solid presence in everyone’s life.

Tommy has his own memories of Bobby Nash. Some of them changed his life.

* Family dinner. That’s what Hen called the new routine Captain Nash decided to introduce. And that’s exactly what those shared meals start to feel like.

It’s nice. In the beginning, though, a persistent part of Tommy, that has lived through too many disappointments, wonders if this is some kind of trap.

He keeps his walls up, waiting, watching, suspicion nagging at him, until he finally decides that Captain Nash isn’t doing this because he is so desperate for people to like him or because he wants to find out things he can later use against someone he’s crossed with.

No. 

He is doing this because he wants to do it. 

Because he likes to cook, and he likes to watch people enjoy what he makes. It’s visible in the way he sits at the table, watching and smiling.

Tommy relaxes gradually.

Bobby Nash is a good Captain. He’s … different from the people Tommy has worked for so far.

In the field, he’s calm. Precise. Determined. He gives orders in that certain way that speaks of experience. But his eyes soften with emotion ever so often. His voice cracks when he promises a father he’s going to save their kid or when he’s talking to a dying woman, telling her everything will be okay.

Bobby Nash cares. Maybe too much, sometimes. He tells Tommy, “Well done,” and pats his back and smiles at him. It’s a real smile that reaches his eyes. The change from Kinard to Tommy feels almost natural. As does the shift from Captain to Cap to Bobby.

One day, one of the civilians they saved from a car has to be airlifted. They watch the helicopter start and take off, Tommy’s heart doing a flip when he remembers flying. Bobby looks at him. “That’s pretty cool, huh?”

So cool. And Tommy can’t help himself. He tells Nash everything he knows about this specific model of helicopter. All the technical facts. His brain just releases them from some corner of his mind where he buried them with all the other facts about aeronautics. They were never gone, and once he started, he can’t stop.

Minutes later, he realises he’s been rambling and feels his face heating up with a blush. Suddenly, he’s twelve again and his father tells him to finally shut up because no one in the world wants to hear so much about something they don’t give a single fuck about. He ducks his head. “I’m sorry. Kind of got carried away.”

Nash smiles. “It’s okay, I didn’t know all that. Impressive. You were flying for the army, right.” It’s not exactly a question. He probably took a look at all the files of his subordinates before starting to work as a Captain. It only makes sense.

“Yeah,” Tommy nods, his cheeks still burning.

Nash hums. He doesn’t add anything. They return to the firehouse and have dinner together with the team.

A little while later, Bobby tells him, “You know, there’s an open position for a pilot at Harbour Station. If you’re interested, I can put in a good word for you.”

“You would do that?” Tommy asks, baffled.

“Of course. I’m not going to lie. I would hate to see you leave. But if this is something that would make you happy, I’m going to help you get that position,” Bobby says.

Tommy is at a loss for words. The mere thought of getting to fly a chopper again makes him feel lightheaded. But at the same time, the 118 is starting to feel like family. He has friends here now. Real friends. And a Captain who respects him. He would walk into a fire for Bobby. Literally.

But they don’t know you. Not really, a voice in the back of his mind whispers. You’re still wearing a mask when you’re with them. Still hiding. Still pretending. Because you’re scared. Because you’re scared to lose it all again. When have good things ever lasted?

Tommy swallows around the lump in his throat. Who knows. Maybe becoming a pilot and switching things up is going to help him be braver. Flying has always made him feel free.

He accepts. Of course he does. And when he enters a chopper for the first time in years, he can feel the joy of his inner child who spent so many hours on the floor of his room, reading every book about planes and helicopters he could find.

A little while later, Tommy meets the 118 at a call. It’s a big accident. One that requires the help of many stations.

He finds time for a short chat while a patient is lifted into the helicopter.

“Flying looks good on you,” Bobby tells him with a smile. “How are you doing?”

“Great,” Tommy says. And means it. “Turns out getting my wings back was exactly what I needed. Thank you, Cap. But I have to say, my partner isn’t as thrilled about my career path as I am.”

“Is she worried about the risks?” Howie chimes in, grinning. “You just need to tell her about the crazy stuff you did in the army. After that, being a firefighter pilot is going to seem like a walk in the park.”

Tommy chuckles. “I doubt those stories are going to help in this case. My boyfriend is scared of flying.”

There.

He said it.

He said the word.

For a horrible moment, Tommy feels the clutch of familiar fear around his heart. Feels the urge to retreat. To hide behind his old walls. This is the first time he comes out to someone from his past. They are going to see him now. It’s terrifying to be seen. And he’s not Hen. He’s not that brave …

“I can relate,” Howie says, grimacing. “Humans weren’t made to be up there. Only the crazy ones. Hey, if he needs someone to rant to while you’re in the air, you can give him my number!”

Oh.

“And you’re always welcome to dinner,” Bobby adds with a warm smile. “You can bring your boyfriend.”

Oh.

A heavy weight falls off Tommy’s chest.

He breathes.

They see him. They do.

It feels good. Feels freeing.

“Take care, Tommy,” Bobby tells him, putting a hand on Tommy’s shoulder. Warm. Solid. Comforting. “It’s a shame you won’t meet our new probie. You might have taught him some important things.”

* He’s in that casket, Tommy thinks, grasping his own hand. This can’t be real.

But it is.

It’s a hero’s funeral. Everyone is there. Everyone is very composed. Unshed tears sparkle in eyes that are focused on Chief Simpson as he talks about the life of Robert Wade Nash.

Tommy blinks his own tears back and glances at Evan’s tense back, his chest clenching.

This is not fair. This shouldn't be happening.

But life is rarely ever fair. Tommy knows that well enough.

He can hear Gerrard’s heavy breathing right beside him and suppresses a shudder. 

Tommy didn’t forget the medal ceremony. He didn’t forget the slur. And when Gerrard tried to act like nothing happened, even offering Tommy a hand to shake, Tommy ignored him, just taking his seat and staring straight ahead, his heart pounding in his chest and his blood rushing in his ears as rage mixed with his grief. 

It’s bad enough he has to breathe the same air as this man, this bigot. He doesn’t have to force himself to interact with him. At least Gerrard seems honestly upset about Bobby’s death. At least.

But Tommy doesn’t care about him.

He cares about Evan.

Evan, who looks like he’s sleepwalking, when they prepare to carry the casket.

Evan, who is rigid and wears his chin up while they walk behind the truck, but Tommy can see his hands clenching hard. 

Evan, who watches as they load Bobby’s casket into the plane, his lips slightly parted and eyes starting to mist.

Tommy watches Evan.

And his heart is breaking for him. With him.

* “Evan.”

“Oh. Hey, Tommy. I was just about to do the groceries for Athena, so she doesn’t have to worry about -”

“Evan. I saw you.”

“What?”

“I watched you on the monitor. I saw you crying.”

Evan goes tense. His mouth is open, but he doesn’t say anything. He just stares at Tommy, blinking.

“Evan,” Tommy says softly. “You can’t keep doing this. You can’t act like you’re fine. Not after this.”

“I’m fine,” Evan says. “I’m … Bobby said I’m going to be fine. And I am.”

I have to be. That’s what he doesn’t add, Tommy knows.

He can see the cracks.

They start in Evan’s eyes.

“You don’t have to be fine with me,” Tommy says quietly. “I know what Bobby meant to you.”

The father I never had.

“Tommy …” Evan exhales shakily and slowly shakes his head. “I don’t know. I … I don’t want to take advantage of you again.”

You won’t. Because you already own a box with my heart in it. I know where I want to be in the time we have left. I want to be right here. With you. Please let me.

“Why do you think I’m here?” Tommy asks, smiling weakly. “I’m here for you.”

Evan’s eyes gleam with fresh tears. “Are you sure?” He whispers hoarsely. “Are you … Can I …”

“Yes,” Tommy says.

Always.

Evan looks at him for a few heartbeats more, a tear running down his cheek. He takes a deep breath. And then he breaks open. Tommy sees him. Sees the walls crack and crumble. Sees the waves of grief. He sees. And he feels.

Tommy holds Evan in his arms as he sobs and shakes, as the grief wrecks them both.

He holds Evan in his arms, sharing memories that make them cry and laugh.

He holds Evan in his arms and says, “There are things I have to tell you, Evan. If this showed me anything, it’s that we never know how much time we have left. We only know how dangerous our lives are. So … I need to say these words now.”

Tommy holds Evan in his arms. And he talks about a box.

[prettycalla]

|| litatio ||

Pairing: Geta/Reader/Caracalla

Summary: You have heard tale of the monsters that lie within the Palace walls. Little do you realise, they have their sights set on you.

Word count: 6k

Tags and warnings: Vampire AU, smut (not terribly explicit, but still very obvious), horror elements, mentions of blood and death (but nothing too graphic), biting, this is not emperor shipping - they're solely interested in reader, reader has the "mark me down as scared and horny" vibe, reader is she/her, no use of Y/N. 18+!! Minors, please do not interact!!

(All of this started as comments about Geta that got way out of hand, and well, here we are. Whoops. @getaapologist also has a fantastic Vampire AU, please check out her work! She's like, the Queen of writing Geta to me.)

Masterlist || Taglist

There are rumours that echo through the halls of the Imperial Palace. Whispers passed quickly between servants.

Of the monsters that lurk within the grand walls.

Try as you might, it is difficult to ignore them. At first, you had thought they were merely the overactive musings of bored kitchen workers. But now…

A third person has gone missing. Stolen from their bed. If the violent scene left in their quarters is anything to go by, it was not quick.

Whatever it is, it knows what it does.

You do your utmost to keep yourself safe, keeping solely to the kitchens and the servant’s quarters as best you can. The Palace is deathly silent at night now, and everyone travels together in pairs or more where they can.

It is strange, but even with all of your safety measures, you cannot help but feel as though…something is watching you. It makes the hairs on the nape of your neck stand on end. You try to convince yourself that it is the collective fear of those around you that is causing these deluded thoughts, but it does not work.

The feeling persists. You are losing sleep. The paranoia continues to loom and spread like a disease.

A fourth servant is soon found to be missing from their bed. They, too, met a violent end.

You mention the idea of passing the information along to the Emperors. It is immediately dismissed.

“As if they would care about what happens to us” is the sentiment you are met with, again and again.

“Perhaps if it were to be framed as concern for their safety,” you argue, but still you are met with resistance.

You decide to take matters into your hands. The next morning, you rush through your tasks as best you can, so that you may have a little time to slip out and make good on your word, at least to yourself. You tell no one, wanting to avoid the ridicule that would certainly follow.

It is a long walk, made longer by the dread that sits like lead in the pit of your stomach. It is not purely from why you must make such a visit to the Emperors - it is the Emperors themselves that leave you filled with apprehension.

Geta and Caracalla are the most feared men in the Roman Empire, and you, lowly servant that you are, have never been in a room with them alone. It has always been at grand banquets and festivities, pressed against a wall and hidden in the shadows until you are called upon. Never have either of them called upon you personally, and so you have yet to see them other than from afar.

You can feel the palms of your hands growing clammy from the very thought of it.

When you finally reach the throne room, you are met by a pair of large, intimidating Imperial guards, standing on either side of the grand doors. They cast a brief glance in your direction, but say nothing.

You muster what little courage you have.

"Excuse me," you say, your voice smaller than you would like it to be. "I need to speak with the Emperors."

One of the guards raises an eyebrow at you, before returning to a neutral expression once more.

You try again, determined to complete your task; however scared you may feel.

“Please, it is an emergency,” you beg, your hands clasped tightly to your chest.

The guards give you their full attention then, looking over your form before casting a glance at each other. They seem to decide that you alone are of no threat, as they push the heavy doors open to announce your arrival.

You immediately cast your gaze to the floor, for fear of incurring the wrath of the Emperors before you have even started what you have set out to do. You carefully make your way across the room, stopping a few metres short of where the Emperors sit, and greet them with a low bow.

"Speak," a voice commands.

It is low, with a smoothness to it. Geta, you realise.

"My Emperors," you begin, your voice already beginning to tremble.

A wild laugh interrupts you, high-pitched as it echoes through the high-ceilinged room.

"Are we really so frightening to look at?" this new voice asks.

It is Caracalla who speaks now. His voice is hoarse, with a rougher edge to it.

You reluctantly raise your head to look at them, keeping your gaze just shy of theirs. Both sets of eyes watch you carefully - it is intimidating, to say the least. Now that you are so close, you are able to see the differences in them. The fullness of Geta's mouth, the curve of Caracalla's nose. You knew them to be handsome, of course, but this...You are finding yourself growing distracted.

Geta sits on the right, elegant and composed in how he presents himself. Caracalla, by contrast, is almost slumped in his throne on the left, legs spread with his hand resting on his cheek. His robes mercifully provide him with some modesty, you cannot help but think to yourself.

"What business do you have with us?" Geta asks. "We do not have all day."

"My Emperors, forgive my intrusion, but there have been attacks in the servant's quarters of late," you reply, clutching your shaking hands tightly.

Caracalla lets out another high-pitched giggle. You hold your tongue, in spite of your irritation.

"We are concerned, Emperors, that you may both be in danger if this...creature is not stopped," you continue.

"Creature?" Geta asks. "What makes you think it is a creature?"

"The...The deaths," you manage to say, your voice failing you for a brief moment. "There is such violence to them. It cannot possibly be mortal."

There is a moment of silence then, that stretches long and uneasily across the grand room.

Caracalla sits up suddenly, as if he has realised something. He leans in close to his brother, whispering something in his ear that you cannot decipher. A small smile tugs at the corners of Geta's mouth. It sends a chill down your spine.

"I must thank you for bringing this matter to our attention," he says.

His tone is different now, but you cannot quite place why. It is still calm, even pleasant, but...

Whatever it is, it escapes you.

“You will certainly be rewarded for your efforts,” he continues, with a little bow of his head.

Caracalla's smile is too wide as he looks at you.

“Yes,” he says, nodding enthusiastically. “Most certainly rewarded.”

You cannot help but feel uneasy at their words, but you dare not show it. You bow politely instead, with a gracious smile.

“I am most grateful for your time, my Emperors,” you say. “I will leave now to return to my duties.”

It takes everything in your power not to run from the room the moment you have turned your back to them. As soon as the grand doors close behind you, you take off, scurrying back to the safety of the kitchens.

You say nothing of your visit, and no one is the wiser. You hope that you have been able to make a difference. Something has to change, things cannot go on as they are.

Your thoughts are unfocused as you go about your work. You cannot stop thinking about the Emperors. You knew them to be unsettling in their presence, but even so...

Something eludes you. Something that feels important.

You are unable to sleep as you lay in bed that night. The two other servants who share space with you have since fallen asleep, their soft snores echoing through the otherwise silent room. Normally it is soothing to you - you find comfort in knowing that you are not alone, particularly recently - but now your mind knows no rest. You think back to the events of the day, of meeting the Emperors. Of Caracalla's cruel laugh when you relayed your story, of the disconcerting smile Geta had given you.

What had Caracalla said to him?

You go over it all, again and again, until your eyes are unable to remain open any longer. You try your best to resist, but it grows more difficult, nearing impossible.

Just where are you hiding?

A voice, sudden and unbidden, as if from somewhere in the recesses of your mind. You know it, you are sure of it. But from where?

You sit up, straining your ears as you listen for it again. You do not dare leave the room, but you must know who it was that spoke.

Perhaps the paranoia that lurks within each of the servants has finally infected you too; yet still you sit in wait, hoping that you will hear it again.

Hours pass, and your exhaustion finally defeats you. You think no more of it, as you drift off into fitful dreams of fiery hair and dripping blood.

Time passes, and the situation is only growing worse. More and more servants are disappearing, only to be hastily replaced with new ones. Tensions rise ever higher, and no one dares even speak the names of the disappeared, for fear that it will bring some sort of curse upon them. Even you, polite as you are, barely stop to recognise the newcomers anymore, as you know that it will not be long before they are gone once more. It is a miracle of the Gods that you are still living. It is a sobering thought, and one that has cost you much sleep, amongst the many others that plague you night and day.

But it is not only that. Your dreams, having become more violent and terrifying as a result of the growing carnage in the servant's quarters, have now taken an even more unsettling turn. Almost every night since your meeting with them, you have dreamed of the Emperors. They are not unpleasant dreams, and this is what worries you most.

Of deft hands trailing across your bare skin, low voices drawling enticing, sinful words in your ear. Of sharp teeth, tearing into your flesh, rivulets of blood cascading into eager mouths.

They leave you sweating and trembling in the dark. They should leave you filled with terror, yet they do not. You speak of them to no one.

It has not escaped your notice how close it is to the arrival of Dies Sanguinis - the Day of Blood. It should not matter; surely whatever monster that lurks within the Palace does not give care to festivities. But even so…It feels too much of an ill omen for you to ignore.

The preparations for the upcoming celebrations leave everyone so busy that it is difficult to think of anything beyond the task at hand. Even you are struggling to remain vigilant when you are constantly called back and forth from various parts of the Palace.

The warning you had passed to the Emperors has clearly gone unheeded, as instructions for preparation for a full feast are passed down to the kitchens early one morning. You, of course, held no illusions as to whether they cared about their servants, but you had thought that they would care enough about themselves to reconsider the usual display of imperial grandeur. You cannot shift the sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach, even as you are run entirely ragged with errands.

It had been an unusually warm day for so early in the year; closer to the hazy heat of summer. Even the evening air still holds a thickness to it, and you are struggling to keep up with everything you must do. You know it is not the wisest decision, but you need a moment to cool yourself, lest you faint and make yourself an even more enticing target for…whatever it is that roams as freely as it does.

You allow yourself a brief detour through the gardens. It is simply another route back to the kitchens, you convince yourself, and there are enough people enjoying the festivities within the Palace that you feel a little safer, should anything happen.

You stop for a moment at the stone fountain situated in the centre, cupping little handfuls of water to drop across the insides of your wrists. Immediately, you feel the cloying heat that has followed you for most of the day begin to lift.

You find yourself momentarily distracted by the relief of the fountain water, and it takes a moment before you realise that someone is speaking. You lift your head. There is no one there; rather it appears to come from behind the large columns that run along the outside of the Palace.

It is a familiar voice, but you cannot decipher what it is saying.

Another voice follows, higher in pitch. A woman, perhaps.

You still cannot understand, but if their tones tell you anything, it is not a conversation you should be eavesdropping on, you quickly realise with burning cheeks.

You move to continue on your way, to give them their privacy, when-

It is then that you hear it.

A sharp shriek, followed by a sickly snap and a dull thud. Your heart is quickly gripped by terror, and you frantically whip your head up to see if you can find where the petrifying din had come from.

There.

A shadow, a shapeless silhouette lurking behind the columns. The voice you had heard before?

You try to move, to make your escape, but you are so focused on avoiding the attention of the thing that lurks in the shadows that you are entirely unaware of what is now standing behind you.

"Well, well," comes a low voice, close to your ear. "I have never had such eager prey."

With a terrified yelp, you take off running, not thinking of where you could possibly go where you will not be found. Faces are little more than blurs as you pass; so caught up in the fear that threatens to throttle you that you do not think to stop and ask for help.

I cannot be found, is what you think to yourself over and over, as you keep running.

Eventually, the stitch growing ever greater in your side becomes impossible to ignore, and you run into a nearby room. Mercifully, it is empty. You close the door as quietly as you can, wincing as it creaks beneath your trembling hands. As soon as it is shut, you slump to the ground, desperate to catch your breath. It is painful, but gradually your breathing begins to settle.

You manage to stumble to your feet once more, in the hopes of finding something that would be of use as a weapon. It is a bedroom you have hidden yourself in, you realise with a sweeping glance, and one far grander than you are used to.

As you search for something, anything, to defend yourself with, you think back to what the voice in your ear had said in the gardens, replaying the words over and over. You know that voice, you are sure of it.

And what of the creature lurking in the shadows? Were there two of them?

You have to escape, return to the servant’s quarters, warn them-

You are so caught up in the tempestuous whirlwind of your own thoughts that you do not hear the door opening.

You do not hear the footsteps across the floor.

It is only when a hand, strong and cold, slides around your throat that you realise.

You are no longer alone.

Your fingers scrabble to release yourself from your captor’s hold, nails biting into skin.

A voice shushes you, almost mockingly.

“Come now, there is no need for that,” it murmurs, low and smooth.

“Do you realise how long it took for us to hunt you down?” asks another voice, rougher around the edges.

Fear grips you suddenly, and your eyes widen.

“Emperors?” you manage to gasp out.

The wicked cackle that echoes around the otherwise silent room is more than answer enough.

“She is wiser than we gave her credit for, I must admit,” Caracalla says, amused.

“Please- I-” you try again, your voice weak.

The hand around your throat squeezes, and you immediately fall silent.

“Hush,” Geta says softly, thumb stroking gently across your skin. “Save your strength. You will need it.”

He lets go of you then, and you stumble forward, your knees hitting the ground harshly. A hiss of pain escapes you, as you frantically turn yourself over to finally look the Emperors in the eye.

Geta is as calm and collected as ever, hands neatly folded in front of him. He looks down at you with an expression almost akin to pity.

“You were most kind to come and warn us as you did,” he says. “But your efforts, while laudable, were for naught.”

Caracalla crouches down in front of you, and you instinctively pull back, moving until your back hits the wall behind you with a soft thump.

“You need not have warned us of the “monsters” that lurk within the Palace,” he says, almost gleeful, “for they stand before you now.”

He grins, and your blood runs cold as your gaze drops to his mouth. Glinting in the low light of the lanterns are two elongated teeth, sharp as knives and equally as vicious-looking.

Fangs.

"What- What are you?" you manage to stammer out.

You feel as though you are about to choke on your heart. You have never felt terror like it.

"We are as the Gods made us," Geta replies.

The simplicity of his answer surprises you. That cannot be all there is.

Caracalla is still crouched in front of you, blue eyes eerie in how closely they watch your every movement. His gaze flicks from your face to your neck, over and over. It makes your skin crawl.

"You...are the ones responsible," you murmur. "For the...For the deaths."

Geta hums in response.

"When you are made as we are, there are certain rules that must be followed," he explains. "We cannot eat as we once did. So, other...arrangements must be made, shall we say."

Caracalla bares his teeth once more, as if to impress upon you the point Geta is making. It is not necessary.

"And now that you have seen us..."

Geta trails off for a moment, as if savouring his next words.

"...I am afraid that we cannot allow you to leave."

You shake your head vehemently.

"Please, I- I will not tell a soul," you beg. "I swear on my life. I will keep your secret until my dying breath. Who would even believe me?"

Geta tilts his head, dark eyes watching you closely, as if in appraisal.

"You misunderstand," he replies. "While there are certain loose ends that must be tied up, we are not entirely concerned as to who you might tell of this. No, it is more than that."

Caracalla leans closer to you still, shaky breaths passing his parted lips.

"It is you," he murmurs with an unsettling smile.

"When you came to us, to warn us," Geta says. "It was then that we realised. What we had been searching for."

"Where you had been hiding," Caracalla finishes.

"Me? What are you talking about?" you ask, brows knit together in confusion.

"The servant's quarters are small, and there are so very many of you," Caracalla replies, "I have had great difficulty in seeking you out."

Your head feels as though it is swimming. With each new piece of information they provide you, you find yourself understanding less and less.

"Why me?" you persist. "It does not make sense."

"Oh, but it does," Geta replies. "My brother and I have particular tastes, myself more so. We are Gods, we do not drink swill."

He smiles then. For the briefest moment, his face contorts into something beyond your worst nightmares. You quickly blink, and he is once again as handsome as he ever was. You cannot have imagined it, surely.

"You will be far sweeter than anything we have yet tasted, I can already assure it," Caracalla says, bringing your attention back to him.

He is much closer now; his cold breath ghosting across your skin. You cannot move, entirely trapped as you are.

Your pulse is thrumming beneath your skin. Erratic, convulsing. How the air feels just before Jupiter strikes the sky with his mighty ire. In this very moment, you are little more than a rabbit, cornered by a hungry wolf.

And Caracalla…

Caracalla is ravenous.

He moves then, with a swiftness you cannot possibly have anticipated. He presses close to you, his mouth not quite touching the juncture where your neck meets your shoulder. You dare not move, for fear of what he might do. Trembling sighs escape him, sending shivers through you and leaving gooseflesh in their wake.

He is fighting for control. With what exactly, you cannot say, but he appears to be losing.

He breathes in; a long, shaky sound that leaves your blood running cold in your veins. In an instant, he rises, dragging you to your feet as well. His hands grip harshly at your arms.

“Caracalla,” comes Geta’s voice, low and commanding.

Warning.

He is closer than before, but no longer within your line of vision.

Caracalla snarls in response, a gust of breath beating against your skin, and you jolt in his hold. Your heart stammers, and his grip on you tightens.

“How long do you expect me to wait?” he demands. “Let me take-“

“No,” Geta interrupts harshly.

Fabric rustles against the marble floor as he draws closer still. Finally, you can see him. Your eyes meet, and the little safety you felt at his presence quickly wanes. His eyes are dark, almost black now; his gaze hypnotic in its intensity. You cannot bring yourself to look away.

He reaches out to you, taking your chin in his hand. His thumb gently strokes across your cheek, before dragging across your lower lip.

“You will wait,” he says lowly.

He is addressing his brother, yet his eyes never leave yours.

“Why should I?” Caracalla snaps in response.

He is close, so close to losing his temper, yet Geta's words still hold him in place.

“It will be all the sweeter for it, I assure you,” he replies.

A smile spreads across his face, exposing the sharp fangs that lurk within.

If it were not for Caracalla’s unnaturally strong grip on your arms holding you up, you would surely have fallen to your knees by now. Your pulse thrums beneath your skin so violently, it leaves you lightheaded.

“Perhaps we might…indulge her first?” Geta suggests, his gaze raking over you as he does so.

Caracalla draws back then, however reluctantly. His bright gaze roams across your face, sharp teeth biting at his lip.

He looks feral. No other word can possibly describe him better.

“Yes,” he replies thickly. “Yes, we…we should.”

You cast a glance between the two of them, hoping that perhaps they might explain themselves, as your mouth is so dry from fright that you are unsure if you can even form words.

Geta’s hand has not left you; his touch leaves your skin scorched.

“Tell me,” he begins, finally addressing you. “What thoughts have you had of us?”

Your eyes widen. He laughs then, as if he is mocking you.

“Do not pretend as if you are a Vestal,” he says. “There is no use in hiding it.”

You try to swallow, anything to make your mouth move-

“Did you know that each of us has a different gift?” Geta asks.

Each of us.

There are more of them.

“My brother has a sense of smell that could rival a shark’s,” he continues. “That is how we were able to find you in the first place.”

He leans in, his tongue licking at the corner of his mouth.

“And my gift…”

Caracalla lets out a giggle. He knows, of course he does.

“…is the ability to read thoughts.”

You feel your stomach drop at his words.

“So, I will ask you again,” he says lowly. “What thoughts have you had of us?”

He tilts his head.

“Or perhaps, you have had thoughts of only me,” he says with a smirk.

Caracalla snarls as he rounds his attention on Geta.

“Either way,” Geta continues, not even acknowledging his brother. “You may keep them to yourself. But I will know.”

You desperately try to keep your mind blank, but your thoughts betray you, and an image comes to you in a flash, unbidden. Of you, between the Emperors, undressed and entirely at their mercy. Of the dreams that have been haunting you, night after night.

Geta’s smile widens.

“My, my,” he murmurs. “What filth you keep locked away from us.”

Caracalla looks between the two of you, as impatient as he is frustrated.

“What thoughts does she have?” he demands. “Tell me.”

Geta shakes his head with a small smile.

“Surely you can sense it, even without my help,” he replies.

Caracalla pauses, before his mouth splits into a vicious-looking smile.

“Oh, little dove, you have certainly been hiding that, have you not?” he sing-songs giddily, as one of his hands dips under the hem of your tunica.

You instinctively squeeze your thighs together as Caracalla’s hand drifts up along your skin. You do not want this, you think to yourself over and over.

But you are lying.

And when you meet Geta’s gaze, his expression speaks volumes.

He knows.

“Do as we wish, and we will give you everything you desire,” Caracalla murmurs, fingers tracing little patterns against your skin.

You bite your lip in hesitation. Terrified. Curious.

Wanting.

“It will not hurt,” Geta adds. “It will be as if you are dreaming.”

You do not miss the emphasis he puts on his last word. Surely he cannot…?

You look between the two vicious wolves that stand before you. You do not trust them. But oh…

How you wish to give in.

“Then give in,” Geta murmurs in answer.

Before you can even process his words, Geta’s lips are against yours in a bruising kiss, as Caracalla finally pries your legs apart and claims what is his.

Having so much attention focused on you at once, it is an intoxicating feeling that leaves your head spinning. Your thoughts halt in their tracks, and you desperately fight to remember how to breathe. Caracalla’s fingers move against you in such a way that it forces a sharp gasp to escape you. Geta’s tongue licks into your mouth, coaxing out a barely stifled moan.

Caracalla’s patience quickly wears thin all too soon, and he pulls back. You cannot stop the little whine that escapes you at the sudden loss of his touch. Geta withdraws then too, nipping gently at your lower lip as he does so.

“I cannot endure this any longer,” Caracalla says, his voice high and strained. “I must have her.”

Geta nods, holding out a hand to you. Without a thought, you take it, allowing him to lead you across the room.

It is with ease that you go, and you cannot understand why. Geta's grip on your hand is light; it would yield easily should you pull away. But you cannot bring yourself to do it. Surely it is a madness that you have been afflicted with. You have lost all sense of reason in your terror.

But there is more, more that lurks beneath the surface. More that you cannot begin to understand.

"You are but human," Geta says, as if in answer. "You will always fall victim to your baser urges."

You cannot find the strength to argue with him, with any of it.

Geta climbs onto the bed, settling himself comfortably in the centre. He truly is the very picture of royalty, lounging against the plush pillows. He reaches out for you once more, as Caracalla's hands press against your shoulder blades, urging you forward. He need not bother, as your mind is so rapidly becoming lost in your growing desire.

You allow Geta to pull you up onto the bed with him, Caracalla mere millimetres behind you. The stark contrast in the two of them is astounding: Caracalla is hasty, impatient; whereas Geta looks as though he could not care less, legs spread in a languid manner and eyes half-lidded as he watches you.

Caracalla's hands fidget with the hem of your tunica as you sit on your knees in front of Geta. He is clearly restraining himself from what he truly wants, and you cannot help but wonder how much control Geta holds over him.

"Not as much as I would like, I assure you," he murmurs, a lazy smile spreading across his face.

Your eyes widen. How many times will you forget this ability of his?

Caracalla lets out a huff of impatience, harsh against the nape of your neck.

"Undress her," Geta instructs, resting his cheek in his hand. "And mind your manners."

Caracalla mutters something obscene under his breath that under normal circumstances would have made you laugh. But this...

This was far from normal.

Eager hands tug your tunica from you, and your shoes and undergarments are quick to follow.

Geta's gaze travels slowly along your body, now bare before him. He sucks in a small breath as he stops at your thighs. You try to clench them together, but it is too late. He has seen it. The evidence of your arousal.

Caracalla's hands slide around to your front to cup your breasts. You gasp at his touch, and a moan escapes him n response. He presses closer to you, and you can feel how hard he is against you. You have a suspicion that Geta may be faring no better, though you cannot see under the folds of his voluminous robes.

"It seems you have quite the high opinion of yourself," Geta says.

Warmth rushes to your face in embarrassment.

Caracalla squeezes you harshly, as if to bring your attention back to him.

"If you two are going to continue this little charade, then I will take what I want and have done with it," he spits in irritation.

You jolt as his lips press firmly against your neck, one hand trailing up to your hair to hold you in place.

"My apologies," Geta says coolly, though he does not look in the least bit sorry. "She is just so...talkative."

You cannot help but glare at him, and he laughs, a soft sound that makes your stomach flutter. Geta rises then, kneeling in front of you. His hands ghost lightly down along your sides, to the curve of your hips, thumbs pressing firmly into the skin there as he grips you.

"Will you take her, or shall I?" he asks.

The question is obviously meant for Caracalla, but his dark gaze is focused on you as he speaks, leaving you squirming in their collective hold.

"I will," Caracalla replies, eager in his haste to answer. "You have drawn this out long enough. I will have no more of it."

Geta lets go of you then, returning to where he had been sitting before. He takes your hands in his, as Caracalla releases his grip on you, and you all but tumble into his lap. He positions you as he pleases, as if you are little more than a puppet, spreading your legs over his. He is built thicker than you had realised, hidden under so much fabric as he is, and already you can feel the muscles in your legs begin to protest being stretched across his lap as you are.

Neither of them allow you much time to adjust. Geta's hand dips between your legs, dragging across your core, and you bite your lip hard to stifle the moan that is almost ripped from you. You are suddenly made very aware of how clothed the two of them are, and your cheeks burn in humiliation.

It is difficult to focus on it for long when Geta's fingers are moving as they are against you, back and forth, too lightly, too slowly. Already you can feel yourself growing impatient. How you wish they would take already.

Geta tilts his head as he looks up at you. His smile is downright dangerous.

"As you wish," he murmurs, and before you have time to comprehend his words, he presses two fingers into you.

Your mouth drops open involuntarily at the stretch of him. You feel so full, it aches, and yet it is not enough. Not nearly enough.

He draws back from you slightly, before pushing back in again. You feel your eyes roll back at his touch.

Geta gives you a knowing smile, but holds his tongue. He allows you a moment to adjust, for which you are grateful. Caracalla presses a hand over your breast, and he laughs breathlessly.

"Her heart is beating so fast," he murmurs, a tremble in his voice. "I do not know how much longer I can wait."

It is not long before Geta is pressing harder, deeper, again and again, until you are trembling in his lap. You can hear yourself, hear how obscene you sound; yet you can no longer bring yourself to feel shame, overwhelmed with pleasure as you are.

Not one to be easily forgotten, Caracalla presses a hand to your jaw to tilt your face towards him, and you go all too willingly. He kisses you, messy and vicious and everything you need in that moment. His other hand slips down your form, to rub tight little circles where you desperately need it most.

You gasp as your tongue drags over the point of one of Caracalla's fangs. Even retracted as they appear to be, they are sharp, and a brief feeling of terror blooms in you, before it is quickly lost once more.

“If it were not for him,” he murmurs as he breaks away, his gaze lingering on Geta momentarily in annoyance, “I would have torn you to pieces by now.”

Geta clicks his tongue. In spite of how he has you now, he is still able to appear as if he is completely in control.

“You have always been a glutton,” he replies tersely. “You must learn to savour your meals.”

Caracalla snarls in response, holding you closer to him as Geta presses into you, again and again.

They will surely ruin you. You do not know how much more of this you can take.

Geta's hand is on your jaw then, eyes swallowed black with desire.

"She draws close," he murmurs, his voice trembling as he finally begins to lose his composure.

If you had thought they were overwhelming before, you are sorely mistaken. Now they seek to devastate you, dragging you closer and closer to the edge of release you so desperately long for.

It is too much, all at once, and with a sharp cry, you feel that blinding, overwhelming, wonderful wave of ecstasy crash over you.

It is then that they strike. Caracalla is first, desperate in his need, his fangs plunging into your neck. You stiffen in pain, convulsing in his hold, before a soothing warmth envelops you, leaving you docile and dizzy, as if you have overindulged on sweet wine.

Your head lolls against Caracalla's shoulder as he continues to drink from you. Geta takes your wrist in his strong grip, and pliant as you are, you give no resistance. His tongue drags across your skin, across your fluttering pulse, and another sharp sting of pain follows, quickly dulled to a pleasant ache.

You are truly and utterly lost to pleasure; you cannot bring yourself to care if they do not stop. You would gladly let them take and take and take if it meant that you could stay in this dreamlike haze forever.

Time seems to slow, and your eyes feel heavy. It is too much to hold them open, and you wish to let sleep take you.

Rest now, you hear a voice command, as if from within your very thoughts.

You think no more of it, as sleep drags you under.

Voices seem to float around you. Faceless, bodiless. You cannot say where you are, or who you are. It is as if you are floating. It is not an unpleasant feeling.

“What shall we do with her now?”

It is Caracalla’s voice, you think, but it is hazy. As if he is cloaked in fog, somewhere far away.

A long stretch of silence passes, then-

“We shall keep her,” another voice replies - Geta, perhaps. “She is of far greater use to us alive.”

The voices fall silent once more. Another long moment passes, before you are once again lured away by the siren song of sleep.

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[scariusaquarius]

rehab. 37.

Avenger! Bucky Barnes x Winter Soldier! Fem! Reader

Summary: While on a mission to find any more possible super soldiers that were a part of the Winter Soldier program, Steve and Bucky make a discovery in an abandoned HYDRA base that was cleared out a few years prior to their mission. They discover the Reader, a long-forgotten soldier that was still asleep within a functioning cryostasis pod; still awaiting orders. While Bucky isn't happy about it, he is put up to the challenge of helping to rehabilitate the soldier in Wakanda where she may be able to become a person again.

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A/n: I'm very sorry that this took so long to write. A lot of things are happening irl that need my attention, and my sleep has been prioritized because of how little I actually sleep. And i have a massive headache today, so that's why there is no story summary ;-; I'm sorry yall Also, if you enjoy my work, please consider buying me a coffee! If you would prefer to read Rehab on Archive, you may do so right HERE!

This is an au where Bucky joined the avengers but still rehabilitated in Wakanda (sometime before Infinity War [canon divergent cause NOPE]). I am NOT fluent in Russian, so I did use google translate cause I couldn't find a good translator that I trusted. If anything is wrong, PLEASE let me know!! Also, I tried to list as many warnings as possible so you know what the story will contain as chapters are posted. Stay safe!

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Genre: Slowburn, Enemies to Lovers/Friends to Lovers, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Fluff, Humor, Drama, Dark Content Rated: Explicit Warning: Angst, Dark Content: Graphic Depictions of Sexual Assault, Blood and Gore, Mentions of Manipulation, Kidnapping, Canon-Typical Violence, Body Horror, Nonconsensual Body Modification/Scarring, Emotional and Physical Abuse, Mentions of Murder, Mentions of Suicidal Thoughts/Ideation, Graphic Depictions of Human Remains, Mentions of Sexual Coercion/Manipulation, Death, Misuse of Drugs/Forced Drugging, Self-Harm (Graphic Depictions and Mentions), Nightmares

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Author: ScariusAquarius

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rehab masterlist. / rehab masterlist 2. chapter 34 / chapter 35 / chapter 36

Knock, Knock, Knock

In the sleeping quarters of the Wakandan Citadel, Steve Rogers had been drawing in his temporary quarters when the knocks came at his door. The second he opened the door, Bucky came in with a frown, pushing past Steve and turning.

"We really need to talk."

Steve's eyebrows shot up slightly, but not at Bucky's words. It was (Y/n), who was looking small, cheeks wet and eyes puffy from crying. She was following closely after Bucky, looking nervous and distant as she glanced around the room, and Steve glanced at Bucky with a look of confusion before shutting the door.

Wordlessly, (Y/n) sat down where Steve had been drawing, her eyes drawn to his notebook, and though Steve didn't mind, his ears still turned a little red from the self-consciousness that tickled at his mind.

"What's going on?"

Bucky looked over at (Y/n) before looking at Steve with a stressed look on his face.

"I'm really doubting having Raynor here. I know she just wants to help, but I don't think her methods are going to be helpful. She's too pushy."

Steve immediately sighed, his shoulders falling slightly, and he sat down on his bed as Bucky paced slightly, Steve watching him closely. Steve mulled over his words for a moment before he settled on asking.

"Alright, why do you think that?"

Bucky stopped pacing, looking at Steve with a frown and talking quietly despite being aware that (Y/n)'s enhanced hearing was going to pick up his words either way.

"Raynor sent her into a panic attack. It was so bad, (Y/n) practically launched me across the room with a single punch. One."

"She hit you?"

Steve glanced at (Y/n), watching the way her fingers ghosted over his artwork; her eyes staring sadly at the page as her ears pricked to listen. Bucky immediately said, raising a hand to gesture at Steve.

"She didn't do it intentionally. She had a flashback, and I fucked up."

At the sound of (Y/n) sniffling, Steve glanced at her, his shoulders falling slightly.

"I-I didn't mean to...I just...I..."

Her voice trailed off, and Bucky sat down next to her, the woman looking up at him with the saddest look he had ever seen her wear. Steve watched quietly as Bucky comforted her softly, his voice just above a whisper as he spoke.

"It's okay, I promise. I'm not mad. If anything, I'm the one who should be apologizing for touching you without warning."

(Y/n) then shook her head as she looked down at Steve's artwork again, a doubtful look within her eyes as she murmured.

"I don't belong here...I...I should've...went back."

Her words made Steve and Bucky's blood run cold, and Steve finally sat down across from (Y/n), who refused to look the man in the eyes as he spoke.

"You were scared and had a trauma response. That's not a crime...but what would be a crime is to go back where they would make you feel the way that you did in the moment over and over again."

(Y/n) was quiet, blinking silent tears out of her eyes, and she whispered brokenly.

"I remember them...I remember all of them...all the people I...I had to hurt..."

Blood on her hands, the taste of flesh in her mouth, the sound of a man screaming as she tore his throat out with her bare hands.

"I don't...want to do that to anyone again...but...I don't know how to complete this mission...I...I don't know how to proceed."

She sniffled and gently thumbed the artwork again, and Steve shared a look with Bucky. They weren't sure what to say at first, silently communicating with each other before Bucky sighed.

"I remember them all too."

(Y/n) glanced up at him, staying quiet for a moment as his words struck a chord in her, and Bucky continued, looking down at his hands as he messed with his vibranium fingers.

"I dream about them, think about them...sometimes, I'll even hear them too...see them...feel them."

Bucky then glanced up at (Y/n), stating earnestly.

"But we owe it to them...to make amends for what we've done. To try, even if it's hard. We might not know how to complete this mission, but as long as we do, that's what matters."

"But what if I fail? What if I never...make things right?"

Steve then gently spoke up, his voice gentle as he looked at (Y/n) the way a brother would their younger sibling.

"You can, and you're going to. Everyone here believes in you and wants to help you achieve that. It's not going to be easy, but even if it's hard, we're going to make it."

(Y/n) as quiet for a moment before she asked quietly.

"Do I even deserve it?"

Steve sighed slightly before he offered carefully.

"I think that's a matter of opinion, not fact. And if you ask me or Bucky? I think the answer will always be yes."

(Y/n)'s eyebrows furrowed a bit before she looked down at her hands, whispering shakily as tears filled her eyes.

"I remember...a target...HYDRA effectuates no witnesses...but...the witness that was with my target...they were just a child."

Her breathing became shallow as she stared down at Steve's artbook, her sketched eyes looking back at her.

"He begged me not to kill her...used her as his shield, but if she had lived and told someone...HYDRA would be at risk. So...I wrapped my hands around her skull, and I squeezed and squeezed until her head cracked and her blood gushed around my hands...they tried to erase me...but no matter how much they tried, I couldn't stop seeing her."

(Y/n) then looked up at Steve, her face contorting into a serious expression as the tears fell down her cheeks.

"Can you still say yes now?"

The room was silent; so quiet that if a pin had dropped, it would sound like an explosion. (Y/n) was still looking Steve in the eyes, but her lips were quivering; hands trembling, and she had to look away. She didn't understand why she felt so angry, but there was a part of her that was furious.

Her fists were clenched, the fear and confusion coursing through her veins like an intrusion, and (Y/n) clenched her jaw as her heart began to pound within her chest. It was quiet for another moment, the only sound of that of the blood rushing through her ears, and suddenly, Steve spoke firmly.

"I can't forgive what HYDRA made you do, but I can forgive you."

Her eyes flicked to his for a second before her lip trembled. The tears hit her like a freight train; the emotions that were trying to spill through finally breaking through the wall, and she began to cry quietly. Her fists clenched again, and Bucky shared a look with Steve before he gradually placed his hand on her shoulder.

(Y/n) didn't flinch. Instead, she allowed Bucky to comfort her through his touch; the warmth of his hand contrasting greatly with the cold that was permeating through her flesh and bones. Steve felt horrible for making her cry, but Steve couldn't lie. It wasn't in his nature to be anything but honest.

But honesty always came with a price.

Bucky spoke softly, his tone twinged with sadness and regret that haunted his words like an unforgiving ghost.

"We can't change what we've done...we can't take back our actions...but we have to take responsibility and be accountable."

(Y/n) glanced down at her lap then, her face blanking slightly, and although both Steve and Bucky became confused by the way she seemed to completely shut down, they were both patient; simply sitting with her in silence as she slowly processed both of their words collectively.

Sighing, Bucky then sat back and took his hand off of (Y/n)'s shoulder, glancing at Steve, and Steve slowly gestured to the door with a nod of his head. Standing up, both men stepped out of Steve's temporary sleeping quarters to talk quietly. Steve's shoulders were tensed, his blonde brows furrowed, and he placed his hands on his hips as he turned to Bucky.

"Bucky, I really think you should let Dr. Raynor take over on this."

Bucky sighed heavily, staring at the door that was separating the men from (Y/n), and Bucky said quietly.

"I don't know, Steve."

Steve shook his head, his eyes gentle but his words firm.

"Listen, I know that you care about her, Bucky, but it's starting to get dangerous. We're too close to this-to her. If we push too hard, we're going to push her away."

"So, what, you want me to just not care?"

Steve gave Bucky an annoyed look, retorting.

"That's now what I am saying, and you know it."

Bucky scoffed, shaking his head as he quipped.

"Sounds a lot like you just said that."

Steve sighed, giving the man a moment to relax before he stated.

"Bucky, I know that this means a lot to you. I'm not saying to walk away, but I am telling you to be careful. You can't pull (Y/n) out of therapy just because you might not like Raynor's methods."

As much as Bucky didn't want to agree, as protective as he was becoming, Bucky knew that Steve was right. He wasn't properly equipped for this; to be helping like this, and he sure as hell wasn't in a position to give advice on how to feel. The only thing that he could do was be there for her.

But Bucky didn't know how to do that without being, well, him.

Steve then clasped Bucky on the shoulder, breaking the man out of his thoughts as Steve encouraged him softly.

"Be there for her, but let Raynor do her job, Bucky. Your job right now is to just be there, alright? She trusts you more than anybody else right now, and that is a really big deal."

Bucky slowly nodded before he glanced at the door again and murmured.

"Alright."

When the men went back into Steve's temporary sleeping quarters, (Y/n) was staring out the window, her eyes distant, and Bucky gently sat down next to her with a sigh. (Y/n) glanced at him through the corner of her eye, and Bucky asked her gently.

"(Y/n), do you want to try again with Raynor? I know it was difficult earlier, and you don't have to if you don't want to, but I think...maybe trying again would be good."

"What if I hurt you...or Raynor?"

Her voice was soft, anxious and small, and Bucky shook his head comfortingly.

"You don't have to worry about that."

He didn't add anything else to his words, but there was no need to. (Y/n) could pick up on the weight of his words; of the promises he was silently offering, and (Y/n) nodded after a moment. Bucky smiled slightly, and he glanced back at Steve, who nodded to him encouragingly. Bucky turned back to (Y/n) when she asked him softly.

"Why did this happen to me?"

Bucky wasn't expecting the question, and he pursed his lips after a moment of thinking. Glancing down at the table, Bucky wasn't exactly sure how to answer.

"Bad things happen to good people for no good reason...it's just the way that life is."

(Y/n) bit her lip then, saying softly.

"I want it to stop hurting."

Bucky was quiet, mitigating his thoughts before he settled and agreed gently.

"I know. Me too. We're going to get there though, okay? One day, things won't seem as heavy or confusing...and you won't feel so lost."

(Y/n) stared at him for a moment, her (e/c) eyes seeming to glow within the sunlight that was filtering through the window, and Bucky's heartbeat began to quicken for a second. His jaw slackened just the slightest, and (Y/n) turned away from him then, her facial expression almost sad.

"I don't...know what is real and what isn't. All the things that I remember...from before HYDRA...I can't make sense of them."

In her mind, (Y/n) knew that the memories had to mean something, but how could she connect to those memories when the main part of her mind was certain these things had never happened? (Y/n)'s existence came about when she was introduced as a Winter Soldier. That's who she had always been...so how was it possible that she had lived a life before it?

These were the thoughts that were starting to get to her; this unknowing and confusion and uncertainty of what is real and what wasn't. It was leaving her mind jumbled, panicking her every time she started to remember because what if it wasn't real? What if these memories were just things that her scrambled mind were putting together?

What if they were implanted memories?

What if they were a part of her programming?

What if they were never hers to begin with?

The woman took a deep and shaky breath, and she finally nodded, whispering softly.

"I would...like to try again."

Bucky nodded before he stood, informing (Y/n).

"I'll go get Raynor then. In the mean time, why don't you get something to eat with Steve?"

(Y/n)'s eyes flicked over to the named man, Steve's kind eyes glancing to her, and he smiled softly as he teased slightly.

"I hear lunch is supposed to be pretty good today."

(Y/n) nodded slowly and stood, glancing back down at the sketchbook, and she asked Steve slowly.

"Did you do that?"

Steve's ears reddened slightly, and he grabbed the sketchbook with a shy gait to his movements.

"Yes. I like to draw when I have the time."

(Y/n) was surprised by the notion, and she bit her lip before the curiosity ate at her enough for her to ask softly.

"Can I...see more?"

Steve was stupefied before he shrugged, Bucky smirking at Steve's shy demeanor as the man agreed.

"Sure, I don't mind."

(Y/n) grabbed the purple crochet bag, murmuring.

"I can...show you the journal too."

Steve's eyes lit up, and he nodded.

"I would enjoy that. Come on, let's get something to eat before you meet with Raynor. A full stomach is always best."

-

STORY NOTES:

TRANSLATIONS:

None

TAGLIST: @softpia @thebl00dwyrm @buckvoidsyy @chonkybonky @seemsxsketchy @tilldeathripsusapart @vicmc624 @mgchaser @aash3 @samfunko @seventeen-x @valckenaux @babybeeelle @sc4rrc @cjand10 @bane-y-zane @notsostrangerthing @thenameswinter99 @bumblebeebutter @torntaltos

[watchingblsnowandforever]

Heesu in Class 2: A personal reminder why I watch queer media

As always I am super late to the party

I recently binged Heesu in Class 2, and I've read a lot of posts about it on here, both positive and negative.

All I need to say or will say has probably already been said in the posts I'm going to reference (notes at the end), but I still wanted to make this post because I watched the series on a whim, but it hit really close to home.

Before we go any further, some things that I need to point out: I have not read the webtoon (I started it after watching the show) and this post is going to have personal takes that might not resonate with everyone. Also, this is only my second meta analysis post, and I haven't watched very many BLs to truly comment on the nature of BL or queer media of a particular kind (though I try to maintain diversity in what I watch), so if I say something incorrect, I'm always open to constructive criticism.

Firstly, as a queer person who'd been in high school not so long ago, I could really relate to the characters and the narrative.

I had an unrequited crush on a really close friend. I never confessed. To this day, I think about the what ifs. Using Heesu's words, I had used up all my feelings for her so I got over her, but maybe confessing when I had the chance would have given me the closure too.

So when I saw that the story started with Heesu having feelings for his best friend that might or might not be returned, I was instantly hooked.

Secondly, the narrative is much more than it seems, and every single scene has a purpose, a meaning, a layer that might just go unseen if you don't know to look for it.

The het narratives are important. Did it frustrate me? To no end. Did I actually consider for a short period to put this show on hold? Heck yeah. Did I finally understand why the het narrative was important to highlight the queer one? Yes.

Let us take the het plot lines one by one.

Chan Yeong and Ji Yu. The most important, the most highlighted. This is a very common story in high school. Girl likes boy, boy likes her back, and they date. I had a lot of friends with boyfriends in school (I attended an all girls school) and I see even more het couples in college. Every single time, it reminds me of what I cannot have. I can't be too close with my partner (if I were to have one), I cannot publicly show affection that goes beyond friendship, I cannot sleep on their shoulders, I cannot laugh over lunch together, I cannot go on dates. That was the same for this show. In Class 2 bolds and underlines het privilege, putting it side by side with the internal struggles Heesu has to go through.

Ho Sik. How het people can be open with their affections, but also how beauty standards play out. One girl thought he was ugly even though he worked really hard to make her a whole ass scarf, while another girl found him cute enough to pursue him even from afar.

Hee Sin. Her repeated confessions. I relate from experience when she says that when she has feelings for someone she can't help but confess, and even if she faces rejection, and dramatically mopes around till her next crush, it helps her move forward. Quite a while after I had feelings for them and even gotten over them, I confessed to a few people. Fortunately, all of them took it in stride, one of them told me she used to have a crush on me too, one was really happy and wanted to know more even though I told her my feelings for her were very short-lived, and the third person is still my friend. And confessing to people does make them happy. Unfortunately, not a lot of queer people have the freedom or confidence to do it. There are just so many things that could go wrong. Especially when the person you like is a close friend, it's incredibly hard. But in the end, her confession gets her a boyfriend, one who was in a relationship at that too. Miracles do happen.

Hee Jae. Her arc shows how easily a comfortable relationship can shift into a toxic one. I don't know how to put what I think about this relationship into words, but it's explained really well in @soypim's post (notes, reference #8).

Hee Jeong. Her story tells us to jump, to take the leap, to prioritize one's own self and dreams. Initially she was afraid to go abroad and study even when she wanted to; this fear may have stemmed from worry about her siblings (also an arc about eldest daughters), or fear from going to live in a completely unknown milieu. But Heesu's words act as a catalyst, and she is ready to take this step. Through her relationship, Heesu is also shown how a friendship doesn't have to end when one person confesses, that despite being in a relationship and breaking up and not seeing each other in a long time, Hee Jeong was still friends with her partner/best friend.

And finally, let's talk about the queer narrative.

I loved the conflict resolution. I loved how Heesu got to be angry at Seung Won. I've seen a lot of BLs, especially Thai BLs, where the lead just sort of forgives the romantic lead for playing with their feelings, and I really do not like that. I love that they cleared that, that Seung Won actually confessed, loud and clear.

They might not have kissed, but boy do I love them.

Personally, I think the scene where Heesu confesses to Chan Yeong is very realistic. I have been lucky to have queer or ally classmates, but I have seen when an indirect reference to a person not being heterosexual confused someone, and they didn't really even understand how it could be. Chan Yeong's parental pressures and expectations were also very relatable, as an Asian only child.

When Chan Yeong called Heesu to the tennis court and hit him with balls, I understood where he was coming from. I'm glad he took the time to process what he'd been told and very clearly told his friend his actual thoughts on the matter. I was glad to realize he values their friendship more than Heesu had given him credit for.

How Heesu in Class 2 was a personal reminder why I watch queer media. I feel like after watching all the BLs I have, I developed certain expectations from what I want from a 'BL'. This show reminded me that at the end of the day, I'm just another queer person searching for queer narratives not only for catharsis through fictional characters, but also to hold on to hope about queer stories. This show reminded me of my high school days and every moment was so real. I lived this show, I could see it unfolding in real time, and that made me really giddy. I want to watch more shows like these.

Finally, some moments that stuck with me in no particular order:

When Heesu saw Hee Jeong coming in late and told her to do what she wanted to, that he'd always support her.

When Heesu came out to Hee Sin. Hee Sin was visibly trying to come up with the best reply, but she handled it well.

When Heesu learns Sweong Won has two moms and he thinks "at least he won't hate me for who I am" I almost cried.

The tennis court scene.

The hand holding scene. I absolutely adored it. I want more scenes of boys giggling over holding hands.

Notes and references Posts that inspired this one (so sorry for the long list of tags 😭):

@alien-ally (post)

@bengiyo (post)

@dramalove247 (post 1 & post 2)

@jackandjoker (post)

@lurkingshan (post)

@nabi-unveiled (post)

@neuroticbookworm (post)

@soypim (post)

@wanderlust-in-my-soul (post)

and this critique by @my-rose-tinted-glasses

MY GOD this took me so long (I've been here for almost 3 hours) my eyes are dead my laptop is cursing me out.

Anygays, I really hoped y'all liked and enjoyed this!

If you read all the way till here thank you so much I love you <3

Remember to hydrate and eat properly, and here's a cupcake for you 🧁

[returnofeternity]

basically adult mistynat BUT reader is in nat's position. misty who is OBSESSED with her former crush (maybe even gf?) from the wilderness and once she finds you again because of the yjs shit happening again she plants the cameras in your house and watches you whenever she has the time. maybe she invites you to a bar and you guys get drinks but she lowk purposefully gets you drunk so she can take you back to her place and you know what happens next... :) she's such a perv i ❤️ her

misty and you had.... something going on in the wilderness. it was more of misty being hopeful, but you genuinely did have feelings for her. you were always the nicest to her and would stick up for her when shauna or van's teasing went too far. she was glued by your side until rescue came tbh. always followed you around like a lost puppy and would be the first to back up anything you said. love the idea of misty just thinking that you two are a thing, because it's not exactly a friendship per se... but there were never any talks about it. misty who just randomly starts holding your hand out in the wilderness and moves her bedding to the hut you share with melissa, gen, and mari (they hate their new roommate).

you two kinda just drifted off after rescue. even after the pact to keep in touch, you decided that you just needed to go off the grid and be alone. she was very upset that you never told her where you were going. she doesn't even know if you're in wiskayok still or not. and this is misty freaking quigley we're talking about, if she can't find you, then you must really not want to be found. and it kills her because she thought you'd still be with her after the rescue :/

it takes her weeks, but she finally does locate you. with the help of walter 😑 she starts stalking you, and you swear you keep seeing flashes of an old friend in your neighborhood. maybe after the crash, you found out about the black box incident and started resenting her a bit. or maybe you just don't want to associate with the yellowjackets anymore. either way, you're perfectly fine on your own (you still look up misty's name every few months just to see what comes up).

she takes the time to admire your place when she breaks in 😭 she's literally in there for 20 mins just touching everything and thinking about how this place is so you. she even watches you sleep for a bit, carefully reaching out and touching you because she can't believe it. she sets up a whole bunch of cameras... one in your bedroom, one in your bathroom, and one in the living room. she'll watch your livestream at work, she dgaf! she's watching you eat while taking care of the elderly and still manages to inject the correct medicine that they need even when her eyes are on her tablet the whole time😭

you dont know what to think, or even say, when she 'bumps' into you one day. it's a shock to you. she tells you that she was just in the neighborhood (you dont believe her) and that she can't believe she ran into you! "it's been so long!" she says as she pulls you into an unwanted hug, her nose rubbing against your neck as she inhales your scent. all you can do is smile awkwardly while trying to push down old feelings because she looks so good....

she convinces you to get a few drinks with her and says its all on her (she'll pay for as many drinks you want :) also as many as it takes to get you drunk). you guys end up talking about what you've been doing and the drunker you get, the more she tries to pry out of you because you're only giving her tiny details that she already knows from watching you 🙄 she def tries to act sexy and squishes her boobs together while leaning her arms on the table, and she just gets so much more confident when she catches you staring. honestly, she just takes you back to her place so she can take care of you 😭 both of you are equally as drunk, and she's a stumbling mess while leading you to her room. just all giggly with each other and you're sighing at her little touches as she undresses you. nothing really ends up happening but there is a longggg make out session that lasts so long that you guys end up falling asleep with your lips on each others lol.

misty waking you up by giving you head though 👀 misty who tells you that she kept all your old clothes from the wilderness and would touch herself while wearing them sometimes.

misty who won't let you leave when you sober up and keeps you trapped in her house ❤️

[thedeviltohisangel]

Give You My Wild

a/n: happy belated birthday to my sweet baby @jetjuliette who i bullied into watching the pitt and rotted her brain for shawn hatosy in the process. love you long time girlie and i hope you love this xoxo

warning: smut

There was something about Alex being his that would never cease to amaze him. And this morning was proving to be no different. Her alarm went off, Jack never set one, and she was off to the en suite bathroom to run a wipe over her face, brush her teeth and hair before it was put right back into her favorite messy bun. Then she would crawl back over the top of their comforter to kiss her admiring husband on the lips, just as she did this morning.

“Good morning, bunny,” he whispered as he sat up against the headboard and held her face to his lips for a few extra pecks. “You look beautiful today.” She blushed under his attentive gaze but had learned not to try and look away. His eyes always had a habit of finding hers.

“Thank you, baby, not looking too shabby yourself.” It hadn’t been until after their wedding last year and Ollie starting preschool that she had managed to convince him to start moving towards day shift at the hospital. And to start treating his days off as actual days off. She would never be able to break him of the habit that was listening to the police scanner but it at least meant they were able to establish a routine for themselves and their toddler. “You want breakfast or wake up duty today?” Jack hummed in contemplation but his fingers were moving towards the buttons of her pajama top. 

“I think, you got every inch of me waking up and I need your help calming it back down.” Alex laughed. Just the night before he had swore that he was too restless to sleep and tangling up between the sheets with him was the only way to soothe his mind to sleep.

“Is that your official diagnosis, doctor?” she asked with a smile. The sight of her skin slowly but surely becoming exposed to his eyes was the only thing that tore the browns of his away from her face.

“All I can do is follow the research.” The white top slid from her shoulders as he moved his mouth to the side of her throat and marked her as he always liked to do. 

“We don’t have time for the full scientific method. We still have to make breakfast and pack lunch and-” Her protests silenced into a moan as he pulled her nipple to his tongue.

“Bunny?” She hummed her acknowledgement, “Are you doubting my ability to get you there in the time we have?”

“No.” Not when that man knew her body better than she did.

“Okay. Good. I’m very proud of my ability to take care of you.” And it had taken so long for her to let him. To prove that he wasn’t going anywhere and he was ready and stable and willing to be all that she and their son needed. It had taken time for them to find their way back to each other but they had. Sometimes stars were meant to be in each other’s orbit.

“Today might just be an ‘underwear to the side’ kind of day.” She rose to her knees as Jack threw the blankets back, freeing himself from the pajama pants he had thrown on in the middle of the night when Oliver had needed help using the bathroom, and squeezed his hands around her hips as she settled back over him.

“Eyes on me,” he whispered. One hand moved to pull her hair free from the top of her head, wrapping it around his fist for leverage, the other grabbing at the curve of her ass as he slowly disappeared inside of her.

And Jack Abbot was still the only man she had slept with that leaned in with his pleasure. He didn’t throw his head back and close his eyes. He didn’t settle in to watch and enjoy the show. He wasn’t afraid to explore each and every erogenous zone on her body. He derived more pleasure in making her fall apart than he ever did in falling apart himself. “You take me so fucking well everytime, Lex.” 

Their foreheads stayed pressed together as their tongue tangled to the same rhythm her hips were moving to, the gentle brush of curls to her clit agonizingly tantalizing with every motion.

“Fuck me, Jack, please,” she panted as her body thrummed with the need for more, more, more. His hips snapped up to meet hers before she had even finished fully making the request of him. He had known what she needed before she even did. The arousal leaking onto his shaft was evidence enough.

“Is that the right spot, baby?” His hand moved from her ass to press his thumb to her clit, pulling back the hood so the sensitive pearl could chase the friction of their bodies coming together.

“Yes!” she chanted as she used both hands to pull his lips to her, teeth clashing as they lost the ability to focus on anything other than the way he felt inside of her. “Don’t stop,” she moaned as she gave his curls a little tug to spur him further.

“Mommy? Daddy?” The little voice was accompanied by a timid knock. “I’m hungry.” 

“Okay, maybe you should stop!” Alex paused her grinding and shrugged her short back onto her shoulders, her hand flattening to Jack’s chest to push him back into the pillows. 

“Don’t move,” he said through gritted teeth. He pressed his mouth to her collarbone just as the door to their room creaked open ever so slightly. 

“Mommy?”

“I’m right here, my love!” Once again she tried to move and his grip on her hips tightened. It was as his back muscles quaked beneath her palms that she realized why she couldn’t move. His orgasm was washing over him in waves and his release was hot and thick inside of her.

“Waffle time?” Oliver padded a few steps closer to the bed, his trusted blanket trailing alongside him and Zeus, the German Shepherd they’d rescued a few months ago after his veteran owner had coded during Jack’s shift, trotting dutifully behind as the little boys assumed bodyguard.

“If I move, how badly will he be scarred?” she whispered as her husband seemed to be catching his breath.

“Move slowly.” Alex lifted her hips and gasped the sensation of him slipping out of her, pulling her panties back to their rightful place and frantically doing back up the buttons of her shirt. Jack reached forward and pulled the lace waistband then let it snap back against her skin. “Don’t lose any of that.”

“Mommy, waffles!” 

“Yes, yes, waffles, my love. Let mommy use the bathroom and we can have waffles.” one last kiss to Jack and a throw of the blanket over his lap and she was off to start their day. 

They had just recently decided to try for another baby. It had happened completely by accident with Oliver that they were hoping they would have some of the same dumb luck. This time, Jack would be there for all of it. The appointments and the cravings and the nursery painting and the birth. He had missed all of that with his son and he planned on making up for all of the lost time. 

“Hi, Daddy!” Jack kissed his son soundly on the cheeks as he toddled over, scratching Zeus behind the ears and smiling at the way his tongue lolled to the side with the attention.

“Hi, buddy. You excited for school today?”

“No.”

“No? Why not? I thought you loved school.” Ollie hadn’t even shed a single tear when they had dropped him off on the first day. He had immediately realized all the new friends he could make and wanted nothing to do with his parents in the hallway and everything to do with new coloring buddies and playground partners. 

“I miss you,” the little boy answered honestly and simply. 

“Come here.” Jack lifted him onto the bed and held him close, pressing a kiss to the top of his black, curly mop. “I miss you, too, when you’re at school or when I’m at work. But I love you so so so much and school is making you so so so smart.” 

“Like you?” he asked with a raise of his eyebrows and pride flickering in his eyes. Jack hadn’t been around for the early months of Oliver’s life and he was often afraid that the boy would hold it against him. Even though Alex had told him that she never spoke ill of Jack to their baby, and even though Jack believed her and her word, it was moments like this that reminded him why he was so thankful for her. She had given him the opportunity to have a relationship with his son before he had even known he existed.

“Just like me and your mom,” Jack answered with a tap to the tip of Ollie’s nose, who giggled in response. 

“Okay, who wants waffles?” Alex emerged from the bathroom and Zeus barked while Ollie frantically cheered that he did.

“I’ll be down in just a minute.” She leaned down for a kiss and lifted their wiggling monster onto her hip, immediately nodding along as he launched into a story about Zeus almost eating a worm in the backyard yesterday afternoon. 

He listened to the chatter of his son until it faded with distance, a soft smile on his face. Sure he had regrets about the time that had stacked between them and prevented him from having all of this even a moment sooner. But he would do nothing different knowing he ended up right here.

----

All day, her feet had been bothering her. She had given up on wearing heels as soon as she was pregnant with Oliver and had never looked back. The pink ballet flats were worn a breadth away from being thrown out because they were her comfiest pair. Her favorite thing to wear on the days spent organizing the studio. But today they just weren’t doing the trick.

And that wasn’t the only thing that was bothering her. She couldn’t get the sheets to drape right for her shoot that she was supposed to have the next day. The editing software in her office was moving so slow she was ready to throw it out the window. Then, when it had finally loaded, she was working on her favorite photo of Jack and Oliver from their long weekend in Houston last month when it made her body wrack with sobs. Something was off and she knew what that something was even before she took a detour to the CVS just outside her neighborhood. Even before she was standing in the reproductive health section and looking at lubricants and pregnancy tests and condoms. One of every kind. That should do.

It smelled like barbecue sauce when she walked through the door and the sounds of Oliver’s remote-controlled car zipping around the kitchen and the clacking of Zeus’ nails as he chased after it greeted her. 

“Hey. You’re home a little late. Everything okay?” Jack was setting the table for dinner but paused to kiss her forehead as she hung her coat by the door. 

“Yeah, sorry. Got lost in my own head editing for a little bit. Everything go smoothly with his little play date?” Oliver had made one of his first friends all on his own at school and had asked if they could play after school together. Alex had organized an afternoon for the boys to play on the playground together after school to see how it went, Jack offering to chaperone since it was his day off from PTMC.

“He had a great time. It was cute to watch him run around with Eli and listen to their little conversations.” She followed him back into the kitchen and moved to grab milk from the fridge for her son and fill the other glasses up with water.

“I’m sad I missed it. How was Eli’s mom?” When she turned around, a glass of water to her lips, Jack was standing still at the dining room table, a pot of rice in his hands and ready to be served. “What?” There was always something about his gaze that could read her as easily as the alphabet. God, he fucking knew. She hadn’t even had time to take a test and somehow he fucking knew.

“Something I should know?” 

“Not yet.” Jack could accept that. His wife would tell him when she was ready. Not that it would do anything to quell the absolute buzzing in his veins at the possibility of his intuition being right. Which he was certain it was. As it usually was.

He abandoned the pot and made it to her, prying the glass from her hands and cradling her face in his palms like the precious artifact that she was. “I love you.” No matter what. Always and forever.

“I love you, too.” He kissed her slow and lazy and with a smile on her face the entire time. It felt so good to be loved. It was warmth and comfort and safety and a place you knew you would always belong. Even though they had taken time apart, there was a reason they had found their way back to each other. And it was for moments like this, right here in their kitchen. 

“Ew!” They broke apart to see Ollie with a grimace on his face and an accusing finger pointed in their direction. “Mommy only kiss me!” 

“Is that right?” Jack asked rhetorically as he smirked at Alex before turning to face their son. “I think that deserves a visit from the tickle monster.” Oliver shrieked and ran for cover, calling for Zeus to protect him as Jack pretended to chase him around the living room. 

“Mommy, help!” he squealed. Alex opened her arms just in time to catch her little leapfrog as he landed against her chest and buried his face under her chin. 

“You’re safe now, baby, Mommy’s got you.” Zeus barked in agreement, his tail wagging as he waited for Jack to reward him for getting Olliver to safety.

“Yeah, yeah, you can have a piece of chicken in your bowl.” Zeus preened. 

Alex adjusted Oliver into his booster seat on the chair and helped cut up his barbecue chicken as Jack finished serving the two of them. “I hope the next one’s just like him,” he whispered before tucking into his dinner. Alex kissed the top of Ollie’s curly hair.

“I hope so, too.”

----

“Hey! Look who it is!” Alex smiled at the warm welcome, hugging Dana tightly as she made it only a few steps into the Emergency Department before she was enveloped. “To what do we owe the pleasure?”

“Thought Jack might like a little surprise for lunch,” she held up the paper bag that held two patty melts from their favorite greasy hole-in-the-wall, “but I can take mine to go if he’s too busy.”

“He’s wrapping up with a snake bite so he shouldn’t be too much longer. Let me see some pictures of that beautiful little boy of yours.” 

A few minutes later, Jack walked out looking at an iPad but recognized the beautiful twinkle of his wife’s laughter coming from central. There were a few nurses huddled around her phone and they were all cooing over whatever it was she was showing them. Maybe a video of Ollie and Zeus cuddled together and asleep from last week. Or maybe photos of the sprinkler day they’d had outside when he had insisted on wearing goggles.

“Hey, baby, what are you…” He trailed off as he went to press a kiss to the top of her head as his eyes narrowed in on the video that was playing on her phone. He had been right that it featured their son being adorable, he was playing on his plastic xylophone, but it also featured Jack, a rapt audience member who was swaying and singing the lyrics to Hot Cross Buns. “Okay this feels like collusion.”

“Look how cute you two are!” Dana beamed. 

“They didn’t know you could smile, my love,” Alex teased, tilting her head back and puckering her lips for a kiss. He granted it with a huff.

“Mr. Ray is good to be discharged and the teenaged girl in South 15 can be moved to the hall for monitoring to free up a bed,” Jack said with a tone of authority. The nurses dissipated to enact his orders and begin the process of bringing back someone new. It was a never ending cycle that he was never able to get ahead of but he tried his hardest every shift anyways. “You okay? Ollie okay?” His brow furrowed with concern as he sat on the desk to get a good look at his wife.

“I just thought you could use a little lunch time pick me up.” She motioned to the greasy paper bag. 

“And?” Because of course he knew there was more to her visit. 

“And maybe…there was a room where we could check on something?” Jack called to ask Dana what was open and guided Alex with a hand on the small of her back. 

He pulled the curtain closed to give them privacy and sat next to her on the bed. “How worried do I need to be?” He was doing his best to stay calm and even but his brain couldn’t stop thinking of all the different reasons why she would be here. For her to come here in person, it had to be bad.

“The other night when you noticed something was off, it was. I’ve had 10 positive pregnancy tests since then.” She reached to hold his hand for her own comfort and squeezed as she watched him process her words and distill them into a thought.

“10?” She nodded. “Holy shit.” His arms were around her in a heartbeat, bringing her to his chest so tightly that she thought their hearts were going to merge into one. He was laughing into her shoulder and kissing at the skin of her neck.

“I wanted to get an ultrasound and a blood test just to be safe.” He pulled back and thumbed at the tears of happiness spilling over her waterline. He knows Alex had been through a miscarriage before, a couple of years before Ollie, so he could feel the way her brain was threatening to bring back those emotions of anxiety and fear. 

“We can do that. Just lie back for me.” Jack moved to the ultrasound machine as she got comfy against the pillows and undid the buttons of her pink cardigan to expose her stomach. She hissed slightly as the cool gel hit her skin and reached for her husband's hand on instinct for comfort and solace. He welcomed the tangling of their fingers without a second thought. “Let’s see what we can find.” Jack moved the wand for a few seconds and couldn’t see anything clearly on the screen.

“I’m sorry I took you away from work for this. I should’ve known they were false positives,” she began as the anxiousness rose into her throat. 

“Come on, little one,” he whispered to himself as he pressed a little harder into the skin. 

“Jack.” Alex felt like she was bordering on a breakdown. 

“There they are.” It felt like the world paused as the grainy image took shape on the screen in front of them. “Mama just didn’t drink enough water today and it made you a little hard to see.” She let out a wet chuckle.

“There’s really a baby in there?” 

“Our baby. Ollie’s going to be a big brother.” Her hands came to cover her mouth as a sob of relief wracked through her body and Jack gently toweled over her skin before placing a kiss just below her belly button. “Thank you for giving me a second chance to experience this with you. To experience every step of this baby and their life and the life we are building together. I’m going to do it right this time, I promise.” She reached for him, capturing his cheeks in her palms and kissing him hungrily as the adrenaline of joy raced through her veins. 

“I love you, Jack Abbot. There is no one else I could ever want this with.”

“You’re my world,” he whispered against her lips, “You, Oliver and our new little angel. There is no me without you three.” His trips to the roof had been less since she’d come back into his life. The sleepless nights and the police scanner were fewer and farther between. She had settled him. Just as she had in the desert against the backdrop of war when they’d first met all those years ago. “You and me, bunny, whatever comes our way.” Because there was a whole world waiting for them outside the exam room doors. Beeping and screaming and itching to test them to their very limits. But as long as they had this space to retreat back to, to find respite, then they would be okay. And for Jack Abbot, who knew how dark the world could be, okay would always be enough. Anything more would be dangerous.

[wheneverfeasible]

Sticky Sweet: A Marshmallow Story

wc: 8k || rating: E || cw: perceived slut shaming || tags: underage Steddie, o!Steve Harrington, a!Eddie Munson, intersex omegaverse, chubby!Eddie Munson, vaginal penetration, anal sex, fingering, mild dacryphilia, rough sex, knotting, angst/comfort, smut with feelings || brief summary: Set several hours after the events of Marshmallow, Steve and Eddie come to certain understandings. || ao3

🔞🔞🔞🔞🔞🔞🔞🔞🔞🔞🔞🔞🔞🔞🔞🔞🔞🔞🔞🔞🔞🔞🔞

Many years ago, when Homo heidelbergensis branched off into split evolutions, the evolution of Homo hominilupus fought with the branch of Homo sapiens for territory and dominance, ultimately winning and annihilating the ancient branch in a course of evolution that changed the future of Earth as we know it.

This was something that every pup learned in school. Which was, Steve thought, something he would forever be grateful for since it led to this exact moment.

He was bruised, sore, and most noticeable of all, sticky.

Eddie was collapsed against him, curled against his side with his small breaths of sleep brushing against Steve’s utterly annihilated neck covered in Eddie’s teeth marks and Steve’s ruptured capillaries. The only spot unblemished was the one spot that meant so much to every omega.

It ached that it was unblemished.

Steve could be patient, however. He had waited this long, of course, and it did not seem like Eddie would be entirely opposed to the thought. Hopefully.

Steve knew he was deficient in many ways. Sure, he was the most sought after omega at Hawkins High, perhaps in Hawkins in general, but he also knew that his promiscuity could be a deficit. Some alphas had a real issue with omegas enjoying sex just like alphas did.

Which really, how fucking hypocritical was that?

Alphas were expected to be sex crazed, to be fucking anything they could at any given opportunity, yet omegas were expected to be chaste and innocent? If that was the case, then just who exactly were alphas supposed to be fucking? Each other??

Though, Steve certainly didn’t mind the thought of a couple alphas going at it with each other. Some of his favorite porn was the bitching sort. There was just something so intriguing about putting an alpha in their place and taking control over them.

Yet, Steve never wanted to stud. He didn’t want to stud anyone to become an alpha or have the alpha of his choosing bitched, much less doing the bitching himself. He loved being an omega. Loved feeling his pussy or ass being filled with a thick cock and knot. Taking control though? Yeah, he got into that shit. It didn’t matter if his partner for the night was an alpha, beta, or omega; he just liked fucking and being fucked.

Maybe that made him a slut, but he was having fun. And truthfully? There was only one person he could see any real sort of relationship with.

Sure, there was Nancy. She’d intrigued him, and she was certainly very pretty, and he thought that maybe in another life he could see himself being very happy with her and the pups he secretly always wanted. But if he was being honest with himself? His heart had already belonged to another.

And then it happened.

He’d honestly thought Eddie would be another omega, if not a beta what with how late he presented, but to everyone’s surprise the contrarian boy had instead presented with the most delicious toasted marshmallow scent. Like fucking s’mores on a cold night with a side of honeyed bourbon.

Perfect, in other words.

Steve could admit it to himself; he had been gone on Eddie Munson for a while now. He’d have propositioned him long before now had he been given the opportunity, but Eddie had made it clear that he hated all things jock. Until now.

Steve knew he would be touching himself to the memory of Eddie fucking against him on that wrestling mat for years. Of Eddie calling him his. Fuck, that had been hot.

But it paled in comparison to right now.

Hell, he could still feel his pussy leaking Eddie’s spend even hours later. He felt full, stuffed, completely filled with Eddie in a way that made Steve wish he wasn’t on birth control.

Made him wish he was with Eddie’s pups right now, even though he didn’t know if Eddie felt the same way.

Even though Eddie probably saw him as just the slut omega who fucked anything with a pulse, no matter what he said while in his fever.

It didn’t matter. Even if this was all that Steve got, he would cherish it. Would never ask for anything more. No matter how badly he wanted it.

“—eve,” Eddie’s gruff, raspy voice broke into his thoughts as the alpha’s nose and lips snuffled against his sore neck, sending a thrill down Steve’s spine.

Steve could admit that he maybe took advantage of the situation. His fucking crush had gone into a presentation rut for him; of course he would take advantage of it. He had made certain that Eddie was lucid enough to make that decision of course. He would have left had he thought Eddie hadn’t been aware of what he was consenting to, hadn’t been aware of what was happening, and been done with it all.

And then Eddie’s fever had grown scalding.

“M’here, baby,” Steve murmured, turning his head to press his lips against the sweaty crown of Eddie’s head. His arms encircling Eddie’s middle tightened, enjoying the slight give that the alpha’s plumpness gave him.

Fuck, he wanted more of it.

While he dreamed of growing round with pups with dark brown eyes and curly hair, he also dreamed of providing for his mate so that his mate never had to worry for anything, no matter their designations.

Now, he thought about how fulfilling it would be to make his alpha softer, rounder, wider; to provide for his alpha and make certain his alpha wanted for nothing.

For now, however, he had his desired alpha plastered against his side, slowly becoming more aware.

Eddie’s dark eyes were hazy when he finally lifted his head, awareness and cognizance slowly returning to him. Which meant that he soon became aware of just where he was at, and just whose nest he was in. And just what they had done.

Steve had never hid his sexual appetite or his sexuality. He liked sex and he had a lot of it, no matter the designation or gender. He’d been knotted more than once and enjoyed every minute of it. Hell, he’d helped both his alpha friends through their presentation ruts, though they’d since taken to helping each other now. He’d be surprised if Tommy wasn’t bitched by their senior year.

All that said, however, he had no idea how Eddie would feel about such things. He didn’t regret his past at all, didn’t feel ashamed about it, and wouldn’t change any of it for the sake of his preferred mate. If his intended couldn’t accept this part of him, then he knew that his intended would never be able to be the one.

He wanted Eddie to be the one, though.

Wanted Eddie to want him outside of his rut too.

Hazy but bright brown eyes met his, and then chapped lips pressed against his chin in a sloppy kiss. He would need to get his baby some water. As soon as he could extricate himself from his hold.

“Omega,” Eddie breathed in a way that had a fresh wave of slick leaving Steve, no matter how much he had come in the last twelve hours. He honestly didn’t know how he’d survive a full heat with Eddie if he was ever lucky enough to experience that. Never had he been so satisfied in bed before.

Even still, Steve rolled his hips up against Eddie, a soft though quiet moan leaving him. “Alpha,” he answered back without hesitation. He had no intention of hiding his desires either. He wanted Eddie. More than he had ever wanted anything in his life before. And not just for sex.

Eddie’s eyes sharpened at the thrust against his hips, the presentation haze leaving them as he obviously began calculating his situation. Playing dirty, Steve’s hand slid down over the bulge of plumpness above Eddie’s wide hips, further evidence of the baby fat that, despite being nearly legally an adult, had never left Eddie’s frame.

Christ, Steve wanted to mouth all of it, taking all of Eddie into him. The soft give of Eddie’s stomach causing a curl of arousal through Steve he had no hope of hiding with Eddie’s thick thigh between his own.

“Harrington,” Eddie gasped as awareness returned to him, his muscles tensing against Steve, and oh, oh that hurt. A whine left Steve entirely without his permission, because Christ, what if this meant nothing to Eddie after all?

He had thought, perhaps, that Eddie returned a mere fraction of his feelings. But if Steve had just been an easy way to get through his rut?

Fuck.

How depressing.

Except an answering whine left Eddie at Steve’s hurt, the alpha’s nose nudging under Steve’s jaw as his arms tightened around the omega, causing a purr to escape Steve immediately after.

“Steve,” Eddie corrected himself, though even then he sounded hesitant, as though he wasn’t certain he was allowed.

“Eddie,” Steve answered with a grin, turning his head to press his lips over Eddie’s cheek, then over the bridge of his nose, then his other cheek, and then he was swinging his leg over Eddie’s hip and pressing him back against his nest until he was once more straddling Eddie properly.

“Ff-u-uck…”

He’d come this far, had pushed his luck this much, and…maybe Eddie wasn’t entirely opposed to the idea of something more, given the possessive way in which his thick fingers were digging into Steve’s hips at present.

“I love the way you say my name, baby,” Steve murmured, lowering himself against Eddie and beginning to slowly roll his hips over the alpha. “But I like it when you call me ‘omega’ even more.”

Eddie’s eyes widened, even as his own hips began to thrust up to meet Steve’s movements. Yet, Steve could tell that there was still a bewildered quality to Eddie’s eyes, as though he didn’t know what was going on beyond the physical aspect of things.

“Baby,” Steve sighed, sitting up as he pressed a hand to Eddie’s supple chest, pushing him back against the nest. “Are you with me, baby?”

Dark eyes drew themselves away from Steve with seeming reluctance, darting about the nest room Steve’s parents reluctantly allowed him to have. It wasn’t necessarily that they opposed the idea of an omega son. Sure, there had been brief disappointment about not having an alpha, but people frequently looked over the power of an omega.

It was hilarious how so many people thought alphas were the leaders of a pack. Even his parents suffered that delusion, even as they accepted his independence. Steve knew the truth though; omegas were the only ones who knew how the world truly worked, the only ones who could get their way against any designation.

The only ones who could take an alpha and mold them into the perfect mate.

Except Steve didn’t want to tame Eddie. He wanted Eddie exactly as he was.

“I want you, baby,” Steve whined, repositioning himself before rocking against Eddie in a way that had the alpha’s thick cock nestled against Steve’s folds, the tip rocking against the crease of Steve’s ass.

”Steve!” Eddie once more gasped out, and oh yes, there was the further thickening of the alpha’s cock as Eddie’s body woke up beneath him. It had been fascinating seeing the way Eddie’s cock engorged as his alpha hormones changed the molecules of his body, leaving him with something one could never mistake as anything other than alpha dick.

Hell, after Steve’s presentation heat and physical changes to his body, he’d spent almost every spare moment alone playing with his new pussy and learning what made it feel good. He’d barely slept for a month straight as he tested out his fingers and then later what toys he convinced his friends to buy for him.

Steve was very passionate about omega sexual liberation. He just hoped that one day to be able to have Eddie use those toys with him.

“That’s it, baby,” Steve breathed, rocking his hips as he felt his slick leaking out of him to coat the turgid length beneath him. He was undeniably sore, however, as he’d let Eddie use him quite thoroughly through his little mini rut.

Which did give him quite the idea, however.

Smirking, Steve bent over to slowly lick up Eddie’s neck, savoring the dried and fresh sweat and taste of arousal there. He pressed his lips to the shell of Eddie’s ear in a soft kiss. “Do want to fuck me in the ass, alpha?” he whispered, feeling his own arousal heighten at just that thought alone. “I want to feel you there…”

A sharp keen left Eddie at Steve’s words, his fingers digging into Steve’s flesh hard enough to leave bruises, and when Steve pulled back to check, his dark eyes were even darker with pupils blown in clear arousal.

“Shit, Steve,” Eddie moaned, pulling down on Steve’s hips as he started softly thrusting up against him. ”I-is this…for real?”

Steve could only let out a soft laugh, moving to take one of Eddie’s hands from his hips and bringing it up to his mouth. He kept eye contact with Eddie as he slowly wrapped his lips around one of the alpha’s thick fingers, flicking his tongue over a callus the older boy no doubt obtained from his sinful guitar playing.

He slowly sank his lips down the alpha’s finger past the first knuckle to the second, only breaking eye contact when Eddie’s gaze dropped to Steve’s lips around his finger with a small gasp. Humming with pleasure at the way Eddie twitched beneath him, he laved the digit with his tongue before slowly pulling away, leaving it spit slick.

“Touch me, alpha,” he ordered with a hint of a whine, lifting his hips just enough to indicate just where he wanted Eddie to touch him. “I want you to prepare me for your cock. I want you to fuck my ass and spill your seed deep inside me. I want you to claim me in every way imaginable.”

Eddie, the good boy he was, had already begun moving his hand behind Steve to do just as he was instructed, but Steve’s words made him pause. He blinked up at Steve, confusion and something Steve hoped was a desire of a non-sexual sort filling his eyes.

Christ, he looked so cute with that puckered brow, his nose scrunched up ever so slightly.

“In every way?” Eddie asked, eyes darting back up to Steve’s, and there was a note of his usual distant tone there, as though it was unheard of for a jock to want anything to do with a freak like him.

If only Eddie knew that Steve loved him at his freakiest.

Because that’s what it was, truly. Love. Maybe it was too soon, too much, to call it that, but Steve didn’t care. His heart wanted what his heart wanted, and it wanted Edward Munson.

Now, if only Eddie’s heart could want someone like him too.

“Every way,” Steve quietly reiterated. “Any way that I can get you, baby, I’ll take it. Even if this is all I get, even if you never want anything to do with me after you’ve taken what you need from me right now, I’ll take it. I’d give you everything.”

And maybe it was too much, considering neither of them were even eighteen yet and Steve was just a junior in high school, but Steve tilted his head and arched his neck in a way that made his intent unmistakable with the way it emphasized his unblemished mating node.

Eddie’s eyes widened.

“Harrington,” he sharply rebuked after a tense moment of silence, and fuck, Steve could feel the rejection like a solid blow to his solar plexus. He felt the sharp and warm sting of tears behind his eyeballs, but blinked them rapidly so nothing could truly form.

He really should have known. What alpha would want a used up omega like him? He had thought, perhaps, that Eddie and all his talk of non-conformity and ‘mine’ during his mini rut would be different, but perhaps that had simply been wishful thinking.

Whatever. At the very least he had gotten a few good fucks in, and hopefully if he hadn’t botched it all up, he could get at least one more.

Except Eddie’s eyes were widening in pained horror, a scent of distress leaving him, and the alpha was pushing off the bed with one hand to wrap his free arm around Steve’s back and pulling him against him. He snuffled along Steve’s jaw with a small punched out whine.

“I’m sorry,” Eddie whispered, sounding so sincere that Steve couldn’t help but close his eyes and wrap his own arms around the alpha. “I didn’t mean…I just…Steve.” The sound of Eddie thickly swallowing was followed by a soft exhale. “Omega, sweetheart, you can’t actually want me like that.”

Steve frowned even as the pet name caused his chest to clench, pulling back with a petulant scowl as he glared down at Eddie. Though, considering he was still naked in his lap, it probably lacked his typical kingly gravitas.

“And why not? Because I’m too used up to be anyone’s mate?” he scoffed. He could see the way Eddie’s nostrils twitched so he could only guess how his scent had changed. Bitter, probably. Sour. Rejection could do that to you.

He hoped the scent didn’t permeate into his nest. He’d probably have to throw the whole thing out and start afresh after this. Which would suck, since his parents had only reluctantly allowed him use of their scents and it’d be awkward to request something of theirs again. Not to mention having to ask Carol and Tommy again. Questions would be had.

Though, perhaps he’d have to do all that anyways, just to get rid of the memories of when he almost had what he so desperately wanted.

A small snarl left Steve as he tossed his head back with an eye roll. “So I like sex, sue me. You certainly weren’t complaining earlier.”

“I’m not complaining now,” Eddie quickly pointed out, sliding his arm from around Steve to lightly cup his jaw, though there was a panic behind his eyes as though worried this much wasn’t allowed. “I just…Christ, Steve, I thought I was going to be an omega. Am I really the sort of alpha you’d want to be shackled to?”

“I’d want your bite even if you were an omega. I…I like you, Eddie Munson. I have for a while now,” Steve quietly confessed, unable to keep himself from nuzzling gently into Eddie’s palm.

Eddie made another punched out sound at that which quickly grew into a whine. Then, in a move that could only come from wrestling class, Eddie wrapped his large hand around the back of Steve’s neck as he pushed his hips forward and knocked Steve back against his nest, causing the omega to let out his own punched out sound. Without a pause, Eddie was then covering Steve with his weight, pressing his lips and nose against the other boy’s throat and jaw.

“Shit, Stevie, who even are you?” Eddie mumbled against him, but the appellation and the way Eddie’s teeth grazed against his flesh made it impossible for Steve to answer him. “You’re like the…quintessential high school god. You’re young, popular, athletic, rich, and fucking hot. You’re supposed to be a douchebag, man, not…not this.”

“A-and what is…’this?’” Steve gasped out, hands scrambling along Eddie’s back, hooking a thigh against Eddie’s hip to pull him even closer. He didn’t know if he wanted to bite Eddie out of anger or desire.

“You’re still kind of a bitch,” Eddie snorted, but there was a tease to his tone that took the sting out of his words. And…yeah, okay, Steve was a bitch. He never denied that. “But you’re also…caring, protective. I’ve seen you, you know.” Eddie pulled back just enough that Steve could see his face again. “I’ve seen you look out for those younger than you, and those the rest of the school turn a blind eye to. Even random pups on the street.”

Steve felt his face heat up at Eddie’s words, utterly taken aback. Sure, he stepped in if he noticed Tommy or the others going a little too far, but he wasn’t some avenging angel or whatever. He just did what anyone else would do. Well…what anyone else should do. And the only pup he’d really helped recently had been Nancy’s little brother, not that the jerk had appreciated it at all.

No, if anyone was an avenging angel for the less fortunate, it was the alpha currently pinning him to his nest. Eddie was…fuck. Eddie was something else. He was a freak in all the best ways. He never stayed down for long, never let bullying go, always stood up for others in a way that had been what had inspired Steve to do it in return. If Steve was caring, it was because Eddie had made him want to be caring.

“Baby,” Steve choked out, reaching up to brush Eddie’s hair behind his ear. No one had ever thought him admirable like that before. For being rich, and hot, and popular, sure. But not for being anything other than what society told him he should be. “Baby, do you even know how amazing you are?”

No, of course Eddie didn’t; Steve could see that clearly enough in the alpha’s bewildered gaze.

“You’re the caring one, Eddie. You protect everyone who needs it, whether they’re part of Hellfire or not. You draw so much attention to yourself to keep it off the others, and you don’t care about this bullshit high school and who they try to tell you to be. You’re unapologetically you and you refuse to back down. How could I not fall for you?

“You’re everything I want in a mate, baby. You’re kind, and brave, and protective, and talented, and smart, and Christ, Eddie, do you even realize how fucking hot you are?” Steve let out an aggrieved sigh because it really was unfair. Eddie was the whole fucking package.

Eddie blinked down at Steve, mouth dropping open in surprise. Steve could see the way Eddie was calculating everything, could see him trying to decide if he believed everything Steve was telling him, and…fuck, maybe all hope wasn’t lost? Because Eddie wasn’t laughing at him, wasn’t saying Steve was delusional, or stupid, or crazy, and if anything, Eddie seemed more like he was uncertain that Steve could truly mean his words.

So Steve would make certain that Eddie had no reason to doubt him.

“I wasn’t lying back on the mat, baby. I really do want you no matter your designation, though I won’t deny the thought of those little mini Munson-Harringtons have me preening,” he murmured, causing Eddie to shudder and give him another startled look. “I’ve been halfway in love with you since sophomore year,” he laughed without humor, tightening his legs around Eddie when the alpha looked like he might bolt.

“Steve,” Eddie choked out, but Steve wasn’t done. If this was his one chance, he was going to lay it all out there. He knew he was physically and sexually desirable, knew he was unbearably cocky because of it at times, but he wanted to be desired as a person too. For more than just his pussy, as succulent as it was.

Steve sighed. “I don’t expect you to feel the same way about me, no matter what you said then. I know I’m not the typical sort of omega,” he mumbled with a self-deprecating shrug of a shoulder. “I know I’m a slut, a jock, popular, and everything else you despi—mmf!”

It wasn’t the first time they’d kissed during all this, but as Eddie surged in to capture Steve’s lips in a bruising press to silence him, it felt like none of the kisses of passion they’d had before during Eddie’s presentation rut. Sure, there was passion there, but there was something else as well, something that had Steve’s toes curling and a moan erupting out of him. And slick leaving him.

“I could never despise you,” Eddie whispered against his lips when he finally pulled away. “I…I can’t tell you I love you right now because I don’t know if I do yet, but…”

Eddie swallowed, pulling back to dart his gaze back and forth between Steve’s eyes as though plumbing their depths for the truth. “But I think I could,” he hoarsely whispered. “My inner a-alpha…it wants you too.”

Sparks shot up Steve’s spine at that admission. It was so much more than he could have expected after everything. He had let himself hope for the briefest moment when Eddie’s alpha woke up because of him, had laid his own claim back there in the gym when he threw caution to the wind and decided to take Eddie home to his nest, but…

He’d wanted this. He just hadn’t been certain he’d ever actually be able to achieve it, didn’t even think he was truly worthy of it, if he was being truthful with himself. But the open and honest way Eddie was staring at him as though surprised with himself at his own admission?

Fuck. It was everything.

It was Steve’s turn to surge forward, wrapping his arms back around Eddie’s shoulders and sliding one hand into his sweaty mess of hair to pull and hold him close, smiling against his lips.

And maybe he wasn’t the one supposed to be saying it, maybe he should have been the demure omega and let his intended alpha take the lead, but instead he found himself whispering against the only person he ever wanted to mate, the words a needy croak.

“Let me court you.”

Eddie shivered against him, but he wasn’t pulling away in disgust. No, instead he moved his mouth to Steve’s neck, to that unblemished spot that craved the bite of teeth, and suckled a soft bruise there instead. “Yes,” the alpha breathed against him. “Court me, Stevie. Court me, and if you still want me after everything, after we graduate, I’ll give you my bite.”

A happy, trilling chirp left Steve at that. Eddie’s bite, truly? He hated the thought of waiting, wanting it right here and now, but he understood the need for the wait. They were both still underage, even if Eddie was almost legally an adult, and Steve still had another full year of school after this one.

Plus, there was the fact that his parents would never approve of the match and would seek to break it if he went ahead with it while still a minor.

Assholes.

Though, speaking of assholes…

“Fuck, Eddie,” Steve gasped as Eddie leaned in once more, nipping at his mating node. “Alpha, please…”

Eddie’s fingers skimmed over Steve’s side, sliding up his throat to tap lightly at his chin. “How about we pick up where we left off, omega?” Eddie teased with a purr, and even though Steve could tell that Eddie was still nervous, still unsure, the alpha was still playing his part in taking the lead and actually initiating something outside of his fever.

Fuck, he loved him.

Steve, always oh so willing to top from the bottom when necessary, happily let himself submit to the silent request and dropped open his mouth to allow Eddie to push his first two fingers inside. It was heavenly, and while he was eager to get his lips around wrapped around something else too, it didn’t stop him from closing his eyes in pleasure as he suckled at the digits against his tongue, coating them with slick spit.

”I might not be able to say I love you yet,” Eddie murmured close to Steve’s ear. “But I’d be lying if I denied how much I’ve been drawn to you, even when I tried to convince myself you were off-limits. That it was foolish to even hope that you could look at me and see me as something desirable.”

Steve very much wanted to protest, wanted to proclaim just how desirable Eddie had always been, but Eddie’s fingers were currently pushing down on his tongue leaving him only able to whimper at the thought.

“I want to make you mine, omega,” Eddie continued to whisper, slowly pulling his wet fingers from between Steve’s lips. “So why don’t you be a good little omega and present for me?”

A sharp bolt of arousal lanced through Steve at those words. Perhaps in part because, even now, he could tell that Eddie was uncomfortable speaking like the typical knotheaded alphas he hated and taking lead in this way while clearheaded, but fuck if it wasn’t hot.

Eager to please his alpha-to-be, Steve scrambled around in his nest, rolling over under Eddie who moved away just enough to allow the omega to reposition on his elbows and knees, legs spread and the swollen lips of his pussy shiny with slick below his far too empty ass.

“Fuck,” Eddie breathed, looking absolutely dazed as he took Steve fully in for the first time since his fever hit, Steve feeling utterly pleased about it as he glanced over his shoulder at the alpha; his alpha.

“Want your knot, baby,” he whispered. “Want your knot in my ass, want you to claim me. M’yours, baby. Only yours.”

Eddie’s expression only looked more and more stunned at Steve’s words, as though he couldn’t quite believe he’d said what he said, despite the hours long fuck session they’d had during Eddie’s mini-rut.

Then again, this was said when they were both fully mentally cognizant, so Steve had to admit that it was probably more than Eddie might have ever expected him to say.

Which, truly, only made Steve fall more and more.

“I mean it,” he murmured, though maybe it was a whimper. “Fuck, Eddie, I want you. Not just any alpha, or anyone with a dick. I want you, Edward Munson. Now and forever. Only you. Wanna mate you, marry you, be pupped by you. Please.”

This was, apparently, the right thing to say. Eddie made another punched out sound, and then he was covering Steve’s back with his chest and pulled Steve’s chin further back over his shoulder to press their lips together once more, if only briefly.

“Shit, Stevie,” Eddie breathed. “Keep sweet-talking me like that, and I’ll make sure you’re rounded with my pups when you walk that graduation stage.”

A needy whine left Steve at that, fresh slick coating his insides, an ache of want settling into his core. Want for Eddie’s magnificent dick, certainly, but a deeper want as well, a want that desired the warmth of a pup in his belly and his arms. His and Eddie’s pup.

Eddie’s fingers trembled ever so slightly as they grazed over Steve’s ass, hesitating for a moment, but then the spit-covered fingers slipped between Steve’s rounded cheeks and pressed against the spot Steve so desperately craved him.

“Fuck,” Steve gasped, dropping his head between his shoulders as he pressed back again the searching fingers. “That’s right, baby,” he groaned, arching against the touch as Eddie pulled back enough to watch what he was doing. “Just like that.”

“Christ, you’re unreal, Harrington,” Eddie groaned, and Steve didn’t need to look over his shoulder to know that Eddie’s gaze was firmly trapped by his ass. He could feel it burning him as Eddie traced his puckered entrance. The use of his unfortunate surname did not sting quite as much in this moment, the drag of Eddie’s callused fingertips sending a sharp flare of arousal through him. He did nothing to hide his gasps or moans, wanting Eddie to know just what he was doing to him.

“Need you inside me, alpha,” Steve groaned. “Please let me feel you inside me. Fuck my ass, baby, please.”

A muffled swear left Eddie’s lips, fingers stuttering where they rubbed at him, and then Eddie’s hot mouth was nipping at Steve’s lower back which pulled a startled yelp from the omega. “This ass is mine now, Stevie. Right? No one else gets to touch it except for me.”

The possessive growl in Eddie’s voice caused a fresh wave of slick to coat Steve, but he wasn’t given a chance to answer before Eddie’s index and middle fingers slid from his ass and over his taint to spear inside his wet cunt all the way to the final knuckles. A sharp cry left Steve instead, his own fingers scrambling and flexing in the material of his nest for purchase as Eddie pumped inside him.

“If you ever need a dick in your ass, your pussy, or your mouth, it’s gonna be mine, understand?”

“Y-yours,” Steve shakily moaned out, clenching around the fingers moving inside him. “Only yours, alpha.”

A whimper left him when Eddie’s fingers did, but he wasn’t given time to truly complain as those thick fingers were swiftly returned back to his ass, slick and warm and stroking over his hole until, finally, the first one pressed inside.

The feeling, like always, was exquisite, but there was a certain something else to the knowledge that it was Eddie knuckles deep inside him, and soon a whole lot more. A startled chirp left Steve, jerking forward on instinct before pushing back against the intrusion with a groan of anticipatory pleasure.

The thing was that he knew that Eddie was inexperienced. That much was obvious, even with his alpha instincts thoroughly working Steve over during his mini rut. The boy had never had a chance to properly explore his sexuality before his presentation, which Steve could slightly relate to, though he had presented earlier than most of his classmates.

Which had, of course, lent himself to becoming probably the biggest known slut at Hawkins High since perhaps its founding. Steve liked sex and he saw nothing wrong with that. The only reason he slept around so much had been because he’d never had anyone he truly wanted in this way, and then after falling for Eddie…

Well. Maybe it was a bit premature since they were only just now talking about this being an official thing, but he was ready to settle down.

That didn’t mean he had to stop being a slut for his alpha though.

“Fuck, Eddie,” Steve gasped out as Eddie worked him open with his finger. His pussy clenched around nothing, but he really couldn’t complain as his ass was filled with first one finger, and then two. “Feels so good, alpha…”

Eddie grunted behind him, his free hand moving to cup Steve’s ass before pushing his cheek aside to open up the view, watching his slick fingers disappear inside Steve over and over again.

“You take me so well, omega,” Eddie breathed, and Steve could tell he was trying to sound confident and alpha-like, but there was no hiding the awe in his voice. It made Steve preen, pushing back against those fingers with a moan.

“Want all of you, baby. Only you. My alpha,” he whimpered, fingers curling in the materials of his nest as Eddie’s own fingers pushed in as deeply as they could go. The burn of the stretch did nothing to end his pleasure, and it in fact only heightened it as Eddie’s thick digits began pumping in and out of him in earnest, the wet sound of it a symphony to Steve’s ears.

This was his alpha. Steve didn’t know if he believed in fated mates, and yet he knew that Eddie was his. He’d watched Eddie from afar, had sought to learn everything he could about him, and thought they were at polar opposites of the social spectrum, there was no denying just how similar they were to each other.

“Alpha,” Steve whimpered, Eddie’s fingerings curling almost instinctively to hit that spot inside Steve that sent sparks through his synapses. “Please, baby, need more,” he groaned, fingers curled in his nest and pushing back against the intrusion.

“Shit, Stevie, you really are a slut for this, aren’t you?” Eddie breathed, but the awe was still there, Eddie’s arousal still ripe in the air.

“Only for you now, baby,” Steve breathlessly grinned, his slick trailing down his thigh with want.

“Good little omega,” Eddie groaned, and Steve clenched his empty cunt with a sharp moan as Eddie thrust his two fingers inside Steve hard and deep. He could only whimper when they withdrew before a third one speared inside him with the others, a choked out cry leaving him.

“Shhh,” Eddie soothed, his free hand sliding over Steve’s arched spine. “Gonna fill you so good, omega,” he whispered. “Everyone will know you’re mine after today.”

“Please,” Steve groaned in agreement. “Want everyone to know. I’m yours, baby.”

“Mine,” Eddie breathed, or maybe it was a growl, or maybe it was something else entirely. Steve could hardly care about the specifics when, after working him quite open, Eddie drew away and pulled out his questing fingers.

He was not given time for disappointment.

Eddie’s fingers moved then to grip him roughly by the hip, and then the alpha’s cock was slamming into his cunt in a way that left Steve breathless, stars exploding behind eyes, the slick sound of his wet pussy as Eddie thrust into him repeatedly filling the air with the salty scent of arousal. It was exquisite, yet not the end goal.

Mere moments later, Eddie was once more pulling free, thick cock coated in Steve’s juices. The shiny head was then pressing against his asshole, the ring of muscle fluttering in anticipation.

“Can’t wait to make you a Munson, sweetheart,” Eddie breathed so quietly that Steve didn’t even know if the statement was for his benefit or not. Eddie might not be in love with him yet, but Steve’s most hopeful thoughts imagined that he might very well be on his way to be.

And Steve had no intention of letting the alpha he claimed for his own go again.

A sharp keen left Steve then as Eddie’s cock pressed in, lubricated with Steve’s own slick. He slid his knees farther apart to allow his alpha greater access, arching his back both to show off and from genuine pleasure.

“Fuck, baby,” he gasped, breathless as Eddie’s thick cock sunk deeper and deeper inside him. “Y’feel so good. So big.”

Eddie’s fingers squeezed where they had returned to Steve’s hips after guiding himself in, thrilling Steve as he knew they would bruise in such a lovely and telling way. There would be no denying what sort of bruises they were. Steve would need to remember to wear some of his more low hanging pants to show them off.

“Can’t believe you’re this tight,” Eddie groaned, pausing halfway in to catch his breath, though it left him again in a muttered curse when Steve clenched around the hard length inside him with a smirk. His pussy game was strong, but he knew how to use his ass as well.

He could feel his empty pussy throbbing with desire, could feel even more of his slick gathering at his lips to drip out of him. He’d never been more turned on in his life. Sure, he had always been the sort of omega to get wet easily, always had a Slip ‘N Slide pussy, but he couldn’t recall ever being this wet outside of his heats before.

And it was all because of the boy sliding deep inside his ass at that moment.

Any pain that came from Eddie’s thick cock spearing him open was forgotten in the pleasure of it all. Drool gathered in Steve’s mouth, dribbling out of him as he panted and keened as Eddie bottomed out inside him, the slap of the alpha’s balls sending another pulse of arousal through him.

Eddie’s weight draped along Steve’s back, their sweat mingling together, just like their scents. The older boy nuzzled at Steve’s equally sweaty hair, licking a slow path up his neck and over the mating gland.

“My perfect omega,” Eddie whispered, though his voice was strained with the effort it took not to fuck and claim in that moment. “I will ruin you for every other alpha out there.”

Steve could only grin. “You already have,” he wheezed, arms and thighs quivering with the effort of not letting himself fall, as well as the effort to not push back for more. “Please, baby. Don’t hold back. Claim me.”

Eddie let out a shuddering breath, a hand sliding around to stroke over Steve’s chest and down over his cocklet, fondling the smaller though no less hard length before moving once more to dip between Steve’s legs.

“I already have,” Eddie purred, and though Steve could not see it, he could feel the smirk Eddie placed as a kiss against his shoulder blade. “Mine.” Giving no more warning, Eddie sharply bit Steve’s shoulder as he twisted and hooked his fingers into the omega’s pussy to use as leverage to pull him back against him, at the same time harshly thrusting forward.

“Eddie!” Steve cried out, both in shock and in pleasure, unable to miss the loss of those fingers when they were pulled from him as Eddie finally began to move.

Slick coated fingers gripped him tightly by the hips once more as Eddie slid nearly all the way out of him, only to thrust forward with a force that nearly toppled Steve. And it would have, had it not been for the way Eddie pulled Steve back onto his dick at the same time, only to repeat the process again.

Steve could hardly catch his breath at the near-punishing intensity of Eddie’s thrusts as he fucked deep into Steve’s ass over and over again, the sound of his balls slapping Steve’s skin and the wet schlick of Eddie’s dick pumping into him nearly drowning out their combined gasps, grunts, and swears.

Tears gathered at the corners of Steve’s eyes from the pleasure, nearly going cross eyed with it, salivating tongue all but lolling out of him at the brutal pace Eddie set. Eddie had been quite…energetic during his mini rut, had left Steve quite bruised and sore, but this here now was unlike anything before.

Firstly, Eddie was fully cognizant of himself this time, moving with genuine desire over presentation instinct. Eddie’s words were thus far more meaningful, his actions far more telling.

Secondly, Steve loved anal. Sure, there was nothing quite like his pussy being filled with hard cock, but there was just something a little special about letting someone take him from behind. It required a certain level of trust, after all, but dear god, the feeling was exquisite. It scratched an itch he sometimes didn’t realize he had, his pleasure points igniting like fire at the stretch and ache of it all.

Perhaps that was a shallow reason, but Steve never claimed he wasn’t shallow at times.

Thirdly, lastly but not leastly, this was a mere promise of what was to come for their future. He had hoped that Eddie had understood everything he’d said in the gym, but he had mean more than prepared for this to be a one-time occurrence. Now, Eddie’s possessive bruises literally his body in promise, Steve knew that tonight was merely just the first night.

Now Steve knew that the future he’d always desperately wanted, one with a spouse that loved him and pups underfoot as they travel near and far, might not just be a fairytale after all.

A large hand pushed between his shoulder blades below his neck, forcing his face into his nest already damp with sweat, spit, and tears. He went willingly, rolling his hips as well as he was able in his position to meet every one of Eddie’s strong thrusts. They were becoming more erratic, quicker and more pounding, and he could feel how his ass and hips were already reddened by skin slapping skin.

Of Eddie’s inflating knot signaling how desperately Eddie wanted him too.

And then there was the way Eddie was growling Steve’s name in litany like a prayer, of the way he claimed him as his omega over and over again in promise, the way Eddie gave Steve everything he had ever wanted.

Steve was going to come with Eddie’s dick in his ass and Steve’s heart in Eddie’s chest.

The blunt press of Eddie’s dick head hitting those spots inside him with every thrust, the way his dick swelled even more inside Steve in preparation, the way Eddie’s knot banged at his entrance…Steve felt the tight coil tightening further, could feel his slick dribbling out of him like a spring.

He couldn’t breathe. He didn’t want to breathe. All he wanted was to stay in this moment with the one he loved.

Of course, such a thing was impossible, and biology had other ideas. Eddie apparently did too, which Steve could hardly find fault with as it led to the best approaching orgasm of his life.

Eddie’s thick fingers left his shoulder blades to curl into Steve’s hair, jerking him back roughly to arch his neck even as his other arm wrapped firmly around his middle to pull him back onto Eddie’s dick until, with a cry of pained pleasure, Eddie’s knot popped inside him. At the same time, Eddie’s teeth bit down into the sensitive skin of his neck over his gland, though not enough to break skin or spill Steve’s mating blood.

That promise of future, the feeling of Eddie’s fingers twisting and pulling his hair, of Eddie’s knot buried deep inside him in the most intimate way…

The coil at the base of Steve’s spine snapped, arching against Eddie’s body as much as he could with a sharp cry, tears spilling down his cheeks as a flood of slick left his pussy and his cocklet squirted from the sheer intensity of his pleasure.

Ropes and ropes of Eddie’s seed spilled deep inside him, hot and comforting in its claim, Eddie’s own cry of orgasm muffled against Steve’s neck.

Pure…bliss…

After a few jerking switches of Eddie’s hips as his knot tethered them together, his cock even now still twitching and spilling his seed inside Steve’s ass, the alpha carefully maneuvered them to their sides in the nest, keeping Steve clasped firmly against his soft chest. Blindly, Steve sought out Eddie’s hand to hold, intertwining their fingers and holding them tight to his own chest, the occasional soft keen of pleasure leaving him as Eddie’s knot worked desperately for a pup that (for now) would not be.

“Stevie,” Eddie breathed, voice full of affection and awe. Slowly, carefully, he licked at the bruise mating gland, hips briefly jerking once more, before carefully lifting himself just enough peer over into Steve’s face. Whatever worry puckering his brow was wiped away at the expression on Steve’s wet face, the omega knowing it was flushed with contentment and pleasure.

“My Stevie,” Eddie whispered again, leaning again to lightly lick at the salty trail of Steve’s tears on his cheek. “My beautiful omega.”

“My perfect alpha,” Steve sighed happily in return. He brought up their joined hands to lightly nuzzle against them, placing a soft kiss of his own over Eddie’s knuckles.

He knew they would need to talk more, would need to figure out all of the logistics of their changed circumstances and new roles, but he couldn’t find the strength to care at the moment. He was nestled in his future mate’s arms, bound together in the most intimate way imaginable, and he knew that whatever may come their way, they could handle it. Together.

“Samwise.”

Steve blinked in confusion, his alpha’s sudden voice pulling him from the dozing slumber he’d been slipping into. “What?”

“For our first pup. I like the name Samwise. It can be a middle name too.”

Though still confused about the name, something warm fluttered deep in Steve’s chest at the idea of Eddie already looking forward to their first pup together. First, Eddie had said. A sleepy smile tugged at his lips.

“What if it’s a girl?” he lightly teased, though having never heard the name before, he supposed that it could go either way.

“Elanor, obviously,” Eddie snorted, kissing the back of Steve’s neck, causing him to shiver, clenching around the knot and still hard cock inside him. Eddie let out a small hiss at that, his arm underneath Steve to hold him close tightening as he rocked his hips against Steve’s ass.

“Hmm,” Steve said after a breathless moan. “Sam and Elanor. I’m not opposed, though I get to name the next ones.”

Eddie let out a soft, almost disbelieving chuckle. His toasted marshmallow scent bloomed with his happiness. “I look forward to it, sweetheart.”

Steve slowly slid Eddie’s hand still clasped in his lower, clenching again as he felt his pussy pulse in response. “Maybe we should get some practice in, first,” he whispered, his words becoming a soft gasp at the end as Eddie’s fingers obediently began to lightly probe at his folds.

“As you wish,” Eddie quietly breathed, and while Steve knew that they really did need to talk about their future, as well as eventually clean up and preferably shower, he found himself instead basking in the sticky sweet scent of his beloved.

Hello again everyone! So I might have disappeared for a bit due to unfortunate circumstances but I am doing my best to get back into fandom shape so that I can enjoy these lovable idiots with you all again. I hope this story makes up for my absence some!

note: the original Marshmallow story was written for my beloved @scoops-aboy86 based on one of her prompts, while this continuation was an idea sparked by the lovely @curiouserstrangeone (EmOfCrows on ao3) so I hope this satisfies the both of you 😉

Hostage Hotties (open):

@derythcorvinus @katyawriteswhump @scoops-aboy86 @dotdot-weirdlife @everywherenothere @bumblebeecuttlefishes @hiei-harringtonmunson

Fic tag: @mugloversonly (you wanted to be tagged for the first one so tagging you here too jic)

[promise-of-soup]

┊┊❁ཻུ۪۪♡ ͎. ｡˚ Picking Favourites°︶︶︶︶༉‧₊˚.

☆Synopsis: (Off-screen) The Ghouls have grown frustrated attempting to figure out who your favourite is among them. You have been repeating the same thing: "I don't pick favourites", but do you actually?

AKA: Jiro Kirisaki, your closest friend among the Ghouls, has been acting a bit strange lately, despite this, he has remained the only Ghoul not to ask you who your favourite is, does he know?

☆Tags? Jiro Kirisaki x Reader, lots of pining, MC refered to as 'girl' and 'she', no physical descriptions but MC is shorter than Jiro, Kaito is hella jealous (I always imagine that he's extra jealous if MC likes Jiro), Lucas is there too, physical affection, fluff, suggestive but not directly, you and Jiro share a bed, Haru mention, Ed mention, Rui mention, this kinda builds on my Jiro affection headcanons post, a bit unedited because yes, potential for part two :)

☆Notes: this might be a part one if I feel like writing more of this, I am also not opposed to making smut within this same scenario if you'd like me to, this is a bit all over the place ngl, atm since my blog is new I am doing non-smut stuff first... CAN YOU GUYS TELL I LIKE JIRO????

✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧

Pale morning light gently touches your eyelids, having entered your currently messy dorm room through the beautiful window overhead. You blink awake the day. Everything is warm. It had been a long week, this feels nice, relaxing.

The scent of wood faintly radiates off the floor planks, having been warmed by the very sunlight that had woken you up. Your blanket has been warmed by the comfort of a much needed night's sleep; the likes of which you have not felt for a long time. Your body itself is encompassed with another kind of warmth: it is heavy upon your limbs. Your eyes go wide at once when you realize how such warmth came to surround you: a pair of large arms hold you in place from behind, one is drapped over your own arm, and the other holds your waist with a loose grip that proves to be enough to keep you from wiggling away. The figure's long legs are adjacent to yours, and its head is buried into the crook of your neck, leaving a warm spot where quiet breathes slowly feather air onto your skin. At what point of the night has he gotten this close?

When Jiro first suggested he sleeps over before Anomalous Combat class he had pitched the idea as a non-intrusive way to "increase effeciency", this makes sense, of course, because the class happens to be relatively early in the morning, in a location that is quite close to your dorm room, and he was already walking you to it every week with no exceptions. So clearly if he slept over in your dorm the night before, he wouldn't need to wake up so early to make it in time, and could just go straight to class with you. Right?

What he failed to mention is that this would entail holding you against him so tightly, he specifically said he sleeps very still and would keep to his designated side of the bed, after all, you insisted he slept on the bed. You're unsure if you should push his arms away and fall to the floor coughing in shock, or if you should enjoy the fleeting time you have been blessed with to be this close to him. He's so warm, and his hands are so soft against you... it would be really difficult to push him away too, he's so strong, you wouldn't want to wake him up so suddenly, he barely gets to sleep for this long. So you just take it all in: the way his soft hair presses against your bare skin through a small gap in your pajama shirt, the way his fingers flutter ever-so-gently against you, how his chest rises and falls against your back; you're so aware of every slight movement he makes, and can tell that he is about to wake up and take it all away from you, but nothing prepares you for the manner at which he wakes.

"G'morning..." the edges of Jiro's lips brush against your neck when he speaks, his voice rough and deeper than usual, causing your entire body to shiver at once as your hands clasp around nothing and your face heats up.

He can tell, he always can, so he giggles, making sure to press even further into you when he does, so that his lips are directly against your skin and the sound echoes through your entire system and leaves a mark in your heart.

"G-Good morning" you respond, as best as you can.

Jiro doesn't falter, nor does he take his hands away from you. In fact, he tightens his hold, directly inhaling your scent in a manner that is both sharp and obvious as he shifts so that his torso and your torso are folded together, digs his fingers into your waist, and chuckles into your neck again. Your mind reassures you that he's simply moving around in a sleepy state, he's just woken up, he can't tell what he's doing, nor can he tell that he is pressing against you. You flinch, shocked. You're just friends, this is a natural thing men go through, he's not doing it on purpose. But he's not moving away, has he not noticed?

He shifts again, ever so slightly, and you feel his length through the thick layers of fabric that seperate you. It is echoing through your core and you cough, using all the strength you can master to open his hands up like a door and to step through it, away from the bed, muttering about how you're going to be late for class if you don't make haste to get ready or whatever and stuff.

The fucker has the audacity to smile up at you, telling you to go get ready first and turning around to lay on his back like he owns the place.

━◦○◦━◦○◦━

You lock yourself in the bathroom, splashing your face with cold water, but it remains ever as hot, and no amount of cold water cools it down, it seems.

You week has been so difficult. You have been dragged to here and there, told to do this and that, and all under the guise of the same motive: so that those who had requested your "help" could batter you with the same question, over and over and over again.

━◦○◦━◦○◦━━◦○◦━◦○◦━

"I'm so your favourite." Haru elbowed your side as you arose from picking a stray cup off the ground. He had requested your assistance with feeding the anomolous animals that day, and at that point you had spent what had to be at least three hours running around Jabberwock with various bags of dry food.

"I don't pick favourites." you told Haru the same thing you have been telling everyone, and watched his bright smile dwindle down into a forced frown.

"C'mon," He urged, grabbing your sides and shaking you ever so slightly, "There has to be someone?" his tone was questioning, but it was definetly a statement.

"I love you all equally." you insisted.

The same exact situation, perhaps with different levels of intensity, kept repeating itself, buried under layers of forced labour and endless tasks.

━◦○◦━◦○◦━━◦○◦━◦○◦━

Of course you have a favourite, and it's obvious too. You've slept in the same room as some of the other Ghouls while on a mission before, but you can't imagine letting anyone other than Jiro sleep in your actual dorm, let alone in the same bed as you. He makes you feel safe, more so than anyone else you've come to know, and he's always there for you, no matter what you need him for.

Hell, even the fact that he's here now, in the other room, is proof of how he is there for you: he's been kind enough to walk with you to class every week with no fail, and suggested to sleep over just to make it easier to do that, it's not his fault he's so tired all the time, you wouldn't want to make him walk over here so early in the morning, and Yuri barely lets him sleep. This is a nice thing for him, you went and made it weird with your heated face and suggestive thoughts.

You feel the ache in your muscles, and the dread you've felt all week begins to climb up your body again: yet another day of being asked to pick favourites. You wish they just let it go already. It's worse now, too because even worse than the ache in your muscles is the ache in your chest, your face is still hot, seemingly having spread to the rest of your body with an unstopable force of awareness from what had transpired earlier.

Nothing happened.

You reassure yourself, but in all honestly, you are kind of mad at yourself that nothing happened. You shouldn't be.

So you just sigh and do your best to brush your hair into a ponytail, accidently touching along the spot on your neck where his lips linger. Taking off your pajama to replace it with a tracksuit is making you imagine his hands running over your skin, and even brushing your teeth is difficult, because you can't help but think of something else that could have been in your mouth if you were stupid enough to stay. This is not normal, he's your friend, you should be ashamed of yourself... so you cover your face with your hands and let out a, very quiet, groan of annoyance.

When you leave the bathroom, you are greeted with the sight of your friend Jiro sitting on the edge of your bed, shirtless. Searching his duffle bag for the upper components of his tracksuit. He sits up when he hears you approach, leaning into his arms and nonchalantly displaying his toned body, talking casually.

"This is the best sleep I've had in a while," he confesses, "Maybe you affect my sleep like you do my eating and drinking," he nods, "curious."

"Maybe." You respond, averting your gaze. Well, if you help his sleep-deprived self sleep better, then it justifies everything, right? Allowing him to sleep over again would be a good thing, you're literally just helping your friend, "Glad I could be of help..."

He chuckles again, and continues searching for the missing part of his tracksuit, "I apologize if I got a bit handsy in my sleep."

Oh, so he does know, you still can't look at him, but you do your best to mummble a "no, no it's alright," finished with an uncomfortable laugh.

Eventually, after Jiro gets fully dressed, and you pack all your needed equipment for the day, both of you grab your respective bags and make way towards class.

You sure did sleep kind of late today; you might be frustrated but at least you're refreshed, and if anyone asks you annoying questions, you would at least have more energy to deflect them.

━◦○◦━◦○◦━

Kaito and Luca have already started stretching in the enclosed field, even before Professor Moby showed up, and they are quick to greet Jiro and you. The two of you drop your bags on the corner of a bench they had already claimed, making it a neat pile of four bags. You bury your hands in your pockets and huddle into yourself from the chilled wind that rams itself into you, and when you are close enough to Kaito and Luca, and are just about to ask them how they're doing and carry on as usual, Jiro suddenly blurts a "I think I left my water bottle in your dorm."

You turn rigid, turning around like a plank of wood to face him, as Luca smiles in confusion and Kaito's face turns a shade of red you've only ever seen on tomatoes before.

"He- He? What?!" Kaito screechs, "Wh-Why would he leave something at your place?" he sweats with every word, unsure if he's afraid, jealous, or purely confused.

Before you can form any part of a sentence, Jiro answers with his signiture unbothered monotone, but his words no-doubt carefully selected, "We slept together."

"You what?!" Kaito's voice comes out higher than a dog-whistle at this point.

Your face is hot again, but you do your best to calm the situation, "What he means to say is that he slept over."

"Yeah, sorry." Jiro agrees, scratching the back of his neck.

"St-still! He's a guy! Why would you let a guy sleep over in your dorm? You're a girl! Why him and not me?" Kaito mummbles incoherently, you can barely make out what he's saying, but honestly, you can't be bothered to try.

Truth be told, even if Jiro meant to say it in a way that would come across as suggestive, you don't like the idea of Kaito implying you're incapable of making decisions like these purely because you're a girl. "He's my friend, Kaito, I know what I'm doing."

Jiro hums.

"But still! he- the - hm? you? What if the-" Kaito tries to prove a point, you have no idea what that point is.

Regardless, Mobi shows up and class promptly begins.

You join in on as much as you can: doing the never-ending warm up, dodging projectiles Mobi hurls at you, and even a small part of the standard practice; cheering Luca on as he takes fiercly battles a scary piece of cardboard.

When you can't go on, not because you can't, but because there's nothing you can do, you take a sit on the bench and watch your three friends struggle against an ongrowing array of moving targets. Jiro looks so handsome slashing through things with his massive chainsaw, it's such a cool weapon in your opinion and the way that he manouvers it just serves to highlight how strong he is, you bet he could pick you up just as easily and-

Friend.

You clear your throat and continue to watch, trying to focus on Kaito instead, but it is very difficult to not look at Jiro, they're standing close together so you can always pretend to be looking elsewhere, and you are not checking out his sweaty form and how good his muscles look under the warm sun, or how his pale skin almost glistens, he looks so focused with his sharp red eyes staring ahead and his movements following such clear pathways to perfectly attack anything coming his way. Urgh.

Your phone pings, "Grandpa Ed💜", good, a distraction.

----

"Dear MC😃, I hear👂that Rui and company👬are trying to figure out who your 💖favourite💖 Ghoul🧟 is?💭 Is it me?💭"

----

Seems you can't escape even when you're not physically there... You respond back to Ed with the same old answer, and he responds with a sad emoji. At least this did distract you enough for class to end.

━◦○◦━◦○◦━

You all make your way to the changing room, yes, changing room singular. Darkwick's lack of diversity in Ghouls has led to the men's changing room being the only opperational one, but you had grown accustomed to changing into your uniform in a shower booth and waiting for your friends to finish getting dressed before you step out. It's just your friends, so it isn't that big of a deal.

You are quick to change into your uniform and just as quick to exit back into the main room: Kaito searches for something in his bag, Luca is drinking water in the corner, and Jiro is slumped over a bench with his back to the lockers, head drooping to the side, his uniform shirt unbuttoned, and his expression sickly.

"Jiro-Kun?" you ask, rushing over, "Are you alright?" You sit beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder.

He turns to look at you, and so does Kaito, and weakly responds "Could you please help me get dressed?"

You nod with a concerned smile, "of course."

With a careful hand you begin to button up his shirt from the bottom to the top, it takes a bit of a struggle given the awkward to manouver position he is sitting in, and also the general proximity between you two, but you do your best because your friend needs your help.

He groans in pain at nothing, and you silently coo at him, forgetting the fact that you're not alone in the room. As you reach the top button of his shirt, he grabs your wrist suddenly, keeping you there. his hand shakes slightly with a weakness and you smile gently at him, keeping your hand where he holds it and reaching out with your other hand to your open bag, grabbing your water bottle and lifting it up to him like a wounded animal. You help him tilt the bottle, now with both hands, and he takes a few slow sips from it, careful to not attempt too much at once, some of it drips down his chin and onto his neck: you wipe it off with the corner of your blazer and smile at him.

You ask, "Do you need me to take you back to Mortkranken?"

"I think I'll be alright," he reassures you, placing his hand on top of yours again and carefully smoothing his finger along your knuckles, "Thanks for helping me."

"What are you doing?" Kaito jolts, "You- You're, I-"

Oh you, there are other people in the room.

Luca cuts in, trying to make use of his brilliant social awareness, "Is Jiro your favourite Ghoul?"

"What? Of course he isn't! It's a- I- the-" Kaito answers for you, once again red and sweating.

You look at Jiro, hoping to finally judge his reaction on the matter. After all, he has remained the sole Ghoul to not ask you that question even once. His face remains blank and hard to read, nice.

"I don't pick favourites." You respond, smiling up at Luca and Kaito, your hand is very much still being held by Jiro.

"But if you had to choose?" Kaito questions you with a cocked eyebrow, fists clenched and knuckles spasaming.

Jiro stares at you, expression still a mystery, and you clear your throat with diplomacy, "I love you all equally."

You do your best here, because not doing your best here might accidently start a sequel to the infamous clash, and you do not want to be caught in the middle of that. Similar to how all Ghouls have reacted to the same line you had been reciting all week, two of the three Ghouls in the changing room give you a slight pout and a disappointed sigh, the third, though, is smiling very faintly; the kind of faint smile he does where only someone who has stared at his face for as long as you have could tell apart from his usual expression. This is preplaxing you, because why would he be smiling at this?

"I changed my mind," he coughs suddenly, "I think I need you to take me to Mortkranken."

You give Jiro's head a slight pat, help him up until he is standing straight and towering over you, and greet your two friends goodbye as you make your way out of the room, leaving them confused and cringed out of their heads.

━◦○◦━◦○◦━

The two of you walk side by side in comfortable silence. This silence always falls between you, and you enjoy it, because it's a rare occurance for you nowadays to get any kind of silence, let alone a comfortable one that is accompanied by a friendly, cozy, aura.

"So," he breaks it, observing you from the corner of his red eyes.

You fidget slightly, but turn your head to look at him nonetheless, he carries the same smile from earlier, looking ever as bright and not at all sick.

"Why is everyone so keen on figuring out who your favourite Ghoul is?" Jiro's tone is coy, unsure, and still somehow knowing in a way you can't place yet.

"I wish I knew," you respond candidly, "I don't know why it matters that much."

He nods, "Do you even have a favourite to begin with?"

Your face heats up for the nth time today, and you fumble to formulate a response that doesn't give it away, ending on a really unfortunate, "No?" which sounds unconfident and forced.

He laughs at you. Really laughs, like he always does when you witness something scary; screaming and huddling to his side. He laughs and places a hand on your hair, ruffling it, mimicing the way you always do the same to him, and then his eyes close from the force of his laughter, and he confirms, "I knew it."

"Knew what?" You ask, letting him slide his hand from your hair down to your shoulders, you know what he had figured out, but you don't want to say it just to retain the benefit of the doubt.

"I'm your favourite." he chuckles.

With a sigh, you nuzzle into his side as the two of you continue to walk, "Yeah."

-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈

A/N: YEEEE HAWW lemme know if you want a part two bbgirls, sorry for the lack of editing I have to work my adult job of editing lmao

[wenclairfamily]

Brand New Wenclair Family Story: "THE LOVE OF A MOTHER"

"Sleep well my family. Tomorrow is Friday, and you'll need your energy... considering it will be the 13th of the month..."

*PICTURE CREATED BY THE SUPER TALENTED: @emeriart

Links to the Full Story: Wattpad, Archive Of Our Own, Fanfiction.net

-Or just click keep reading to see the full story immediately!

Wednesday Addams and Enid Sinclair. They were a duo that shouldn't have worked... but they did... and somehow their relationship resulted in marriage and two twin children - Harmony and Ana: two incredibly resourceful and talented teenage girls. Harmony, who carries both of her mothers' special abilities, continues to grow and explore the world alongside the love of her life: Megan. Ana meanwhile is a very "different" type of girl without special powers, who is still trying to figure out what she wants to do with her life, while going on adventures with her boyfriend Gerard... who just so happens to be a ghost.

Recently, Harmony met a little werewolf girl named Luna, and quickly developed a strong bond with her. This resulted in Harmony and Megan beginning the series of steps to adopt the young werewolf child. However, Harmony has had very little experience working in the field of child care; thus her main frame of reference to what a mother should be like comes from her childhood memories of being raised by her own mothers...

"The Love of a Mother"

Written by: "Fun But Shy Girl"

A 23 year old Wednesday Addams sat at a desk in her bedroom, typing up a new novel on her typewriter. From the nearby bathroom, Wednesday's wife: Enid stepped out wearing a long pink dress as she said, "Okay, I'm about to head out to the office. You sure you're okay staying home with the kids today?" Wednesday only glanced at Enid while she said, "Enid, I've faced off against serial killers, demons, killer dolls, and most importantly: your mother. I think I can manage working from home with our children present today." Enid smirked, quickly gave Wednesday a kiss on the cheek, and then said, "See ya later roomy."

Suddenly, Wednesday and Enid's five year old twin girls: Harmony and Ana came into the room looking upset. Harmony, a blonde girl with braids was holding a burnt doll in her hands. Ana, a dark haired girl with a bob cut, was trying to reach out to get the doll from Harmony's hand. An upset Harmony then yelled, "Mom! Ana pinched me!" Then an upset Ana quickly said, "Mom! Harmony took my burned Joan of Arc doll without asking!" Enid meanwhile remained very calm as she simply said, "Girls. I have to go to work. If you have any problems, you're going to have to sort them out with your mother."

Then Enid leaned towards Wednesday as she whispered, "Which includes some form of conflict resolution that does not include torturing one another." Wednesday looked angry as she whispered back, "Are you still serious about that Enid? Torture is what siblings are supposed to do to one another." Then Enid, with a very direct tone to her voice, said, "We compromised on this Wednesday, and I am not changing our deal. Our girls can torture strangers that offer them candy, criminals, and politicians; but never family. Find an alternative."

Then Enid quickly left the room, leaving Wednesday alone to stare at her frustrated looking children. Wednesday took a deep breath... and then pulled out two bundles of hair that were in a nearby drawer. Harmony looked confused as she said, "Mother, is that our hair from last time you cut it?" Wednesday then began to tie the bundles of hair tightly around Harmony and Ana's wrists, while she said, "Indeed. Harmony, you have a bundle of your sister's hair tied around your wrist now, and Ana: your wrist now has Harmony's hair tied around it."

Ana looked very confused as she said, "Why did you tie our hair around each other's wrists?" Then Wednesday raised her eyebrows as she said, "It's not just hair anymore. It's also been enchanted with a very rare herb made from a near extinct plant my parents obtained while having their third honeymoon in the jungles of the Darien Gap. I was going to use it to create voodoo dolls of you both to help keep you in line, but instead have decided that the best individuals to keep you both line are each other. Now then... work out the issues with your doll now."

An angry Harmony then held up a burnt doll as she said, "I wanna play with this doll." Then an angry Ana reached out and yelled, "It's mine!" Ana quickly pinched Harmony, only to suddenly feel pain in her own body. Both Harmony and Ana yelled, "Oww!" Then an angry Harmony yelled, "Don't do that!" Then Harmony quickly pinched Ana, only to suddenly feel pain in her own body too. Both Harmony and Ana again yelled, "Oww!" Ana turned to look at Wednesday as she said, "What's going on mother?"

Wednesday kept a straight face as she said, "Essentially, by tying mystic infused hair of your respective sister around your wrist; you both have become living voodoo dolls of the other. Any pain you make the other feel, you will feel as well. Also, the mystic infused hair cannot be removed from your wrist until I decide so. So work out your issues as soon as possible. For if not, any pain you continue give the other, you will feel as well."

Harmony sighed, and then looked at Ana as she said, "I'm sorry for taking your doll Ana. I just think it's really cool." Then a smiling Ana said, "How about we play with the same doll together at the same time. We can put Joan of Arc on trial again. We can pretend she's in purgatory, and a judge is trying to decide if her soul should be damned to hell." Then an excited Harmony exclaimed, "Yay! That sounds like lots of fun!" A very excited Ana then said, "Okay. Lets make some demons out of papers and pipe cleaners first." A very happy Harmony immediately yelled, "Oh boy!"

Harmony and Ana then happily ran out of the room. Wednesday made a little smirk, and then went back typing on her type writer. However a moment later, Harmony ran back into the room, and hugged Wednesday as she said, "Thanks for helping us mother." Wednesday looked a bit uncomfortable as she said, "I... was glad to help Harmony." As Harmony continued to hug Wednesday, she said, "When I grow up, I wanna be an awesome mother just like you."

~Thirteen Years Later:

An 18 year old Harmony Addams was frantically putting a small bed together with Enid inside an apartment. As Harmony was putting the last of the bed together, she looked worried as she said, "Does this bed look ready to use? What if a piece is missing, and then it comes undone at night, which causes Luna to be traumatized forever!?" Enid smiled as she said, "The bed is fine Harmony. Also, Luna is a werewolf. You and I both know that werewolves of made of tough stuff. She'll be okay." Harmony sighed for a moment, and then said, "I know. It's just... I can't believe this is really happening. I mean, when me and Megan first applied to adopt a werewolf child, we sort of thought it was a million to one shot. I mean, me and Megan are just 18 years old for crying out loud! But then when the adoption got approved, it's like... it all became so real."

Meanwhile, Wednesday walked into the apartment through the front door as she said, "I was able to procure all your favorite books from your childhood, in order to ensure Luna begins her life here with a substantial personal library on hand." Harmony made a relieving smile as she said, "Thank you so much mother. You are amazing. By the way, did Ana say if she was gonna come by today?" Suddenly, Ana's ghostly boyfriend: Gerard flew into the apartment through a window as he quickly said, "Open this window NOW! Ana is coming in at full speed!" A worried Harmony quickly opened the window, and then Ana suddenly flew through the open window with a jet pack on her back, and a large bag in her hands. The jet pack immediately shut down as Ana entered the apartment, causing her to fall to the floor face first. Harmony looked very worried as she said, "Oh my God! Ana, are you okay!?"

Ana then jumped up with an excited smile as she said, "Aw yeah! My new jet pack is awesome!" Enid however looked very worried as she said, "Ana, where did you get a jet pack!?" Ana then just casually said, "Found it." Gerard meanwhile smirked as he said, "Ana was looking for an easier way to essentially fly beside me." Then as an excited Ana held up the bag she was carrying, she asked, "Anyway, is Luna here yet?" Harmony turned her head as she said, "No. Not yet." Ana moaned in frustration as she said, "Aw man. I wanted to make a cool entrance in front of her."

Wednesday then stepped towards Ana as she said, "Ana, what is it that you're carrying in that bag?" Then a grinning Ana opened up the bag, and from it: over twenty stuffed animals fell to the floor. Then an excited Ana loudly exclaimed, "The greatest collection of stuffed animals I could obtain around the globe! Nothing but the best for my brand new niece! I am about the coolest aunt ever! So where is the little tyke I plan to spoil for the rest of my life hiding?"

As Harmony began to look worried again, she said, "She's being driven here by Megan. We both agreed since I've spent more time with Luna than Megan has, it would be good to give them some more one on one time together... while I begin questioning if I'm still up for this. I mean... am I up for this? Was I insane to try to adopt a child so soon after I was done being a child myself? I mean... all of a sudden, all my plans for the next fifteen or so years of my life have been dramatically changed. What am I even doing?"

Suddenly, the apartment door opened, and Harmony's wife Megan stepped in while holding the hand of a little blonde girl. Megan smiled as she said, "Hey everyone. We're finally here." Harmony suddenly made a big smile, walked over to Luna, got on her knees, and then said, "Welcome home Luna." Luna however looked very nervous as she hugged a stuffed cat she was holding while saying, "Hello."

Harmony looked a bit uncertain of what to say, but then held out her arms as she said, "Well, this is the apartment that you get to live in now. The door you see to your left is me and Megan's bedroom, the door to your right is to the bathroom, and the door to the middle is your bedroom." Luna however just looked up at everyone with a confused face as she said, "Do all these people live here too?"

Harmony then stood up, looking slightly nervous as she said, "Oh, no. Um. These two older women here are my two moms." Enid then got on her knees looking excited as she said, "Hi Luna. It's a pleasure to finally meet you. We are so happy to have you be part of our family. You can call me Grandma Enid if you want... or the Fun Grandma!" Then Wednesday crossed her arms as she simply said, "You may call me Grandmother Wednesday... or the intellectually superior grandmother if you wish." Meanwhile Ana was shoving a bunch of stuffed animals into Luna's bedroom, as she excitedly yelled, "And you can call me if you ever want more toys, because Aunt Ana is here to have your back girl!"

Gerard meanwhile waved as he said, "Hi Luna. I'm Ana's boyfriend, Gerard. I'm a ghost. We met once before. I hope I don't seem so scary now." Luna turned her head and said, "No." Then Megan got on her knees next to Luna as she said, "So Luna, that bedroom over there is yours. Now there is a bed and dresser already in there, but we wanted you to decorate the room however you want. Do you want us to help you decorate it, or do you wanna do it by yourself?" Luna simply hugged her stuffed cat tighter as she said, "I can take care of myself." Then Luna quickly walked over to her new bedroom, as Harmony called out, "Dinner is at six!" Then Harmony turned away looking sad as she said, "Oh God, she's already here, and she'd rather do anything but be with me. I am already failing at this."

Then Wednesday suddenly faced Harmony as she said, "Harmony, try to look at all issues from all sides. As you yourself explained, Luna has spent time in multiple group homes and foster homes. She is used to taking care of herself, and her multiple experiences at being rejected from society has also caused her heart to harden, thus she has difficulty opening up to others. It's something I can easily relate to. For now, you simply must give Luna enough intentional non-judgmental affection for her to come around. It will be difficult and require a great deal of patience to unconditionally love someone with such a hardened heart... but thanks to the DNA you acquired from your other mother... I know you have the capability to accomplish this." As Enid looked at Wednesday with an affectionate look, Harmony smiled at Wednesday as she said, "Thank you mother. I only hope I can be as strong as you were when I was little."

~The Past:

A 23 year old Enid sat in a public school classroom facing a young female teacher. Sitting beside Enid was a five year old Harmony and Ana. Suddenly Wednesday entered the room as she said, "Apologies for arriving to this parent teacher conference late. I was stopped by a large number of strange teachers and volunteers smiling at me and insisting they introduce themselves and make small talk as I entered the building. It was extremely uncomfortable and nauseating." The female teacher then stood up looking happy as she said, "Mrs Wednesday Addams. I'm your girls' teacher: Mrs Jefferson, and it is such a pleasure to meet you." The teacher: Mrs Jefferson immediately shook Wednesday's hand. Wednesday began to look very uncomfortable again as she said, "And there returns the discomfort and nausea."

Enid then stood up, smiling as she said, "I already talked with Mrs Jefferson for a bit, and plus we already know each other. But I wanted to give you a chance to meet the girls' teacher. Anyway, I promised to help work in the kitchen for the school bake sale. See you all in a bit." Then Enid left the room, as an annoyed looking Wednesday sat down in her place. Mrs Jefferson then happily sat in front of Wednesday as she said, "Well Mrs Addams, after spending so much time with your children, and after your wife has spent many hours here volunteering, it's so wonderful to finally put a face to the name of the woman that has helped lead the most unique family to ever attend this school."

Wednesday meanwhile kept a very straight face as she said, "Well, go ahead. List all the infractions and laws my children have broken, and how close they are to expulsion. That is why I have been brought here, is it not?" Mrs Jefferson however looked confused as she said, "What do you mean Mrs Addams? Parent teacher conferences are something all parents are invited to attend. However, I have nothing negative to say about your children. They are exemplary students that are perfect role models to their peers, and show great potential to become productive members of society." Wednesday suddenly had a look of shock and horror go across her face as she said, "They are?" Mrs Jefferson happily nodded her head as she said, "Indeed. That's all I wanted to share. Anyway, have a good rest of your day."

Wednesday then got up, and took Harmony and Ana into the hallway. Once they were alone in the hallway, an upset looking Wednesday said, "Really? Perfect role models? Harmony, Ana, I am completely disappointed in you two. I raised you better than to conform to societal expectations." Harmony however looked a bit worried as she said, "But mom said we should obey the teachers. Also... none of the other kids at school know we're outcasts. We thought... if we make no trouble, people will be nicer to us."

Wednesday sighed, took a moment to compose herself, and then said, "Harmony, conforming to the world doesn't bring peace. It just allows a system of inequality and injustice to thrive. In order to take control of yourself and bring some meaningful change to this realm of existence, you have to make necessary trouble at times. To put it simple, if no one in the world is ever mad at you, you're not making any meaningful impact."

Then a grinning Ana started to look around the corner as she said, "Actually, we do make trouble... but we do it in secret. Watch this." Then Ana pointed to a large bully far away pushing a little kid into the wall. The large bully then said, "Give me your lunch money kid! I want extra chocolate milk today." Ana meanwhile grinned as she said, "Harmony, get out the doll." Wednesday looked confused as she said, "Doll?" Then as Harmony got a doll out of her backpack, she said, "That bully over there... we took some of their hair the other day and made a voodoo doll with it." Then as Harmony handed Ana the voodoo doll, Ana said, "Watch this."

Then Ana stuck a pin into the doll. The bully suddenly stopped moving and yelled in pain. Then Ana stuck more pins into the doll. The bully immediately yelled in pain many more times as they ran away yelling, "Mommy! I hurt all over!" Wednesday's eyes widened in admiration as she said, "Impressive." Meanwhile Harmony looked very nervous as she said, "We... we stole the last of those special magic herbs from your special cabinet to make the voodoo doll. I'm sorry."

Wednesday then got down on her knees, and looked at her daughters in the eyes as she said, "No. In fact... I'm very pleased. You both broke my rules and the rules of this school to fix an injustice which those in authority had overlooked. However, the only thing I wish that you both do differently in the future is not hide your abilities or heritage with your classmates and community. You both are indeed outcasts, but should have no reason to hide that fact. I am proud of you both just the way you are, and it is your role to show the world you are proud our yourselves as well."

Harmony and Ana smiled, and then they both hugged Wednesday. Wednesday looked a bit uncomfortable, but then hugged her children back. Harmony meanwhile smiled contently as she said, "I love you mother."

~The Present:

In the middle of the night, young adult Harmony and Megan were laying in bed together in just their underwear. Suddenly, the two women heard Luna scream. Harmony and Megan both jumped out of a bed as a frightened Harmony yelled, "Luna!" Harmony and Megan then rushed into Luna's bedroom, to see Luna had turned into her werewolf form, and that the bed beneath her was broken. Luna had tears in her eyes as she said, "I didn't mean to break the bed. But... I turned into a werewolf when I was sleeping, and when woke up and felt fur on me, I got scared and jumped up and down hard."

Harmony then stepped towards Luna as she said, "It's okay Luna. All werewolves only wolf out at night the first few times it happens to them, and many can't even control it the first bunch of times it happens too." Then a smiling Megan said, "In fact, I learned at school that most werewolves only werewolf out at night their entire lives. However, many werewolves can't talk in werewolf form, but you can. That makes you special."

However Luna looked scared as she tried to pick up the pieces of the broken bed while saying, "No, I broke the bed. I should fix the bed." Harmony then stepped towards Luna as she said, "Luna, don't worry about the bed." Luna however looked very upset as she waved her hand and yelled, "Let me fix it!" However, Luna's werewolf claw unintentionally hit Harmony in the arm, scratching her. Luna's eyes suddenly widened with terror as she said, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry I'm a monster." Then Luna fled into a corner and began to cry.

Megan however stepped towards Luna as she said, "Don't talk like that Luna." However as Luna continued to cry, tears began to appear in Harmony's eyes. Then Harmony rushed out of the room trying to hide the tears on her face. Meanwhile a sympathetic looking Megan just sat near Luna as she said, "It's okay Luna. I'm just gonna sit right near you. Don't worry. It's gonna be okay."

Meanwhile Harmony fled into her own bedroom, fell to the floor, and began crying too as she softly said to herself, "I don't know what I'm doing. I am a terrible mom. Oh God, I don't know what I'm doing. I am such a terrible mom."

~The Past:

A young adult Wednesday and Enid were sitting in bed wearing their night gowns each reading a book. Soon, Enid put a book down as she said, "So... the kids have been quiet for over a half hour now. Ready to get frisky in bed my gorgeous gothic wife?" Wednesday raised one eyebrow as she said, "Gladly." However before anything else could happen, there was a knock on the door, followed by Harmony's voice saying, "Mom. Mother. Can we come in?" Wednesday groaned in frustration, and then said, "Come in."

Little five year old Harmony and Ana opened the door, and walked into the room. Enid looked slightly worried, but kept a smile on as she said, "Hey girls. What's wrong?" As Harmony crawled into bed next to Enid, she said, "We were both having nightmares. Can you make us feel better?" With a confused face, Wednesday asked, "What were you having nightmares about?" Then as Ana sat in front of her two mothers holding a stuffed cat and toy ghost, she said, "Well... you know how you told us to not to use the computer without your permission? Well... we kinda did, and we... we watched... a video of Barney the Dinosaur." Then an upset Harmony said, "Yeah. Now we keep having scary dreams of a big giant dinosaur trying to force us to hug him and ignore 'stranger danger'." Enid chuckled a bit softly, and then turned to Wednesday as she said, "Wednesday, you got this?" Wednesday sighed a bit, and then looked at her children as they and Enid cuddled close to her.

Wednesday then spoke in a soft voice as she said, "As you prepare to go to sleep, let me tell you the true story of Barney the Dinosaur. You see, Barney is not a strange dinosaur that has been brought to life through magic or the power of imagination. Rather, he is a man in a suit that had to give up his dreams of being a respected stage actor in order to take any work he could to pay the bills. Now this is a man would rather perform for the royal Shakespeare company or star in a major Hollywood movie; but because of the uncertainty that is the entertainment industry, he had to remain in the role of Barney the Dinosaur to pay off his student debt from school. However, even when he would finally audition for other roles, he would find that the reputation of playing the main character in a children's show that had no actual education value would result in him unable to find any work. Thus, the seemingly jovial man who played an incredibly upbeat dinosaur seemingly on drugs, would eventually find himself actually drowning his sorrows with real drugs, and would then die a miserable death all alone; thus becoming someone that could never cause harm to anyone ever again."

Then just as Wednesday finished telling her story, she saw that Harmony and Ana had fallen fast asleep, and a pleased looking Enid was asleep as well, with her head leaning on Wednesday's shoulder. Wednesday then made a smile as she gently touched Enid's hand while softly saying, "Sleep well my family. Tomorrow is Friday, and you'll need your energy... considering it will be the 13th of the month..."

~The Present:

In the early hours of the morning, Harmony stood in the middle of the kitchen as she looked out the nearby window with a worried expression. As Megan walked out of the nearby bedroom, she noticed Harmony's distressed face. Then Megan walked over and gently placed a hand on Harmony's shoulder. "You okay?" she asked softly. Harmony took a deep breath, her eyes misting as she said, "I just don't know if we're doing the right thing. What if we're not cut out for this?" Megan hugged Harmony as she said, "We're learning to be moms Harmony, just as Luna is learning to be a werewolf. We'll figure this out." Then as Harmony hugged Megan, sadness was still in her voice as she said, "But I should've been better than I am now. I mean... as Luna's new mom, I should be better at this."

Suddenly the door to Luna's bedroom opened. Luna, who was now in her human form, stepped out cautiously as she said, "Is is time for breakfast?" Harmony then put on a smile as she said, "Yeah. What would you like me to make you Luna?" Luna meanwhile opened up one of the lower cabinets where she saw some cereal and said, "I'll just have this cereal in my room." Then Megan stepped towards Luna as she said, "Whoa. Hey Luna. You don't need to eat cereal alone in your room. Here, we all get to eat together as a family at the kitchen table."

Luna looked confused for a moment, but then nodded as she picked up the box of cereal and walked to the kitchen table. As everyone sat down together to eat, Luna looked around the table at the various food items that were laid out. Harmony then noticed Luna was starring a plate of bacon nearby, and asked, "Did you want some bacon Luna?" Luna however looked down as she said, "It's okay. I'm thankful for the cereal." Then Megan happily gave Luna a plate of bacon as she said, "Hey. We share all the food in this house. If you see any kind of prepared food on the table, feel free to ask for some. Also... it's very natural for werewolves to want to eat some meat every now and then."

Luna slowly took a piece of bacon, and then took a bite. Her face immediately scrunched up as she said, "It's salty!" Megan laughed as she said, "It's okay. Not everyone likes everything. That's why we have options. We have some chicken in the frig, or I can make pancakes." Then as Luna began to focus on her cereal, she said, "No. I'm okay. Thank you for the cereal."

Suddenly a knock at the door was heard. Harmony quickly got up as she said, "I got it." Harmony then opened the front door to the apartment where she saw Ana standing. Ana waved as she said, "Hey sis. Just wanted to check in and see how my new niece is doing." Harmony however quickly stepped out of the apartment, closing the door behind her. Harmony then covered her face, as tears began to appear while saying, "Ana, Luna is a mess. She spent most of the night crying, she lashed out at me, she's seems too afraid to ask for food or even sit at the kitchen table with me for breakfast, and I don't know what the hell I'm supposed to do."

Ana then quickly hugged Harmony, and spoke with a smile as she said, "Hey, hey. It's okay sis. It's okay. Luna has been through some rough times. There's gonna be an adjustment period. Also... maybe none of us should have come by yesterday, and it should've been just you and Megan in that apartment as Luna was starting to get adjusted to things." As Harmony began to lean on a nearby wall, she said, "Maybe. It's just... growing up, mom and especially mother always seemed like they knew exactly what they were doing. I keep wondering, why I can't be as good a parent as them..."

~The Past:

A young adult Wednesday Addams sat on a darkly painted bench in the park on one cool fall day, her eyes buried in a book titled 'The Complete Guide to Necromancy for Beginners'. A dead leaf fell from a tree and landed right on Wednesday's book. Wednesday then smirked as she said to herself, "Excellent. Soon these trees will be completely devoid of their bright colors, the grass will turn brown, and I will be able to finally enjoy this park actually having some true beauty."

Suddenly, Wednesday heard her five year old daughters: Harmony and Ana screaming. Wednesday looked up, and saw Harmony and Ana running towards her with a little bit of mud on their clothing. Immediately, Harmony said, "Mother, some mean boys tried throwing mud at us. Stop them!" Wednesday however calmly looked at her daughters with a deadpan expression as she said, "Children, I cannot be everywhere you go, and I cannot solve all your problems for you. If you believe peers of yours have dishonored and disrespected you, then you must enact proper vengeance on them yourselves." Ana however looked confused as she said, "How do we do that? Throw mud right back at them?"

Wednesday then suddenly began to show some genuine interest and mild amount of excitement as she said, "Exactly, but you must do more than just overpower your enemies. You must take their sense of power and control from them. You see, it's not just superior strength that causes those boys to feel like they have power and control over you. It's also their belief that they can cause you distress and humiliation by throwing mud at you. So in order to take that power and control away, cover yourself in mud before you fight back. Show your enemies that you no longer fear their weapon of choice, but instead own it. By letting your enemies see you have no fear, you will ironically instill more fear into them."

Suddenly Ana looked excited as she said, "I know! How about we put cat masks on, and then once we cover ourselves in mud, we can pretend we're Kitty Mud Ninjas! The boys won't know what hit them! Come on. Lets use our allowance to buy some cat masks at the nearby party store!" Harmony looked excited as she yelled, "Yay!" Then Ana and Harmony began to run off to the nearby party store... but then Harmony suddenly took a moment to run back and hug Wednesday as she said, "Thank you mother." Wednesday looked slightly uncomfortable for a moment... but then hugged Harmony back as she said, "You're welcome Harmony."

~The Present:

As the afternoon rolled into evening, Luna was sitting in her bedroom on a sleeping bag while looking at a book. Harmony then stepped into the bedroom as she said, "Hey Luna. Wanna play a board game? I got Monopoly Millionaire, and Clue. It's actually a version of Clue based on my mother's teenager years weirdly enough. Her and my mom's faces are literally on the box." Luna however kept her face focused on the book as she said, "I'm fine."

Harmony then took a deep breath and said, "All right. Well how about we watch a movie tonight? I got a big collection of classic horror films my mother let me watch when I was little." Luna didn't even look up from her book as she simply said, "No thank you." Harmony felt a bit rejected, but decided to keep trying as she said, "How about I show you how to make a nice dinner?" Again, Luna simply said, "No thank you."

Harmony looked defeated as she walked away... but then stopped, turned back, and walked back towards Luna as she said, "Luna, why do you not want to do anything with me or Megan? We're a family now. We want to spend time with you and care about you." Luna then looked up from her book, and simply said, "I know. Everyone does... until they stop caring. No one cares about me for very long."

A look of sadness entered Harmony's eyes as she said, "Luna, that's not true. There are lots of caring people in the world." Then a suddenly frustrated Luna yelled, "No, they're not! Every foster home and group home tries to get rid of me! Even my own real mommy tried to get rid of me! No one wants to keep me! No one! I... I..." Then suddenly as the early evening moonlight began to enter the room, Luna felt her body begin to change. Suddenly hair began to grow all over Luna's body as she turned into a werewolf. Luna then looked at her werewolf claws as horror entered her face. Harmony however remained calm as she stepped forward while saying, "Luna, it's okay." Then Luna immediately yelled, "Stay away!"

Then as Luna moved her arm, her claw hit Harmony in the arm, causing Harmony to scream for a second in pain. Luna looked horrified as she said, "Oh no. I did it again! I'm a monster!" Then Luna ran to the corner of her bedroom and began to cry. Megan immediately entered the bedroom from nearby as she said, "What's going on?" Tears were now in Harmony's eyes as she said, "I... I didn't mean to upset her. She just got angry, and wolfed out, and..." However before Harmony could finish, Megan just sat near Luna and said, "Don't worry Luna. It's okay. No one is mad at you." However as Luna continued to cry, a crying Harmony quickly stepped out of the bedroom.

Then as Harmony was walking away, she heard a knock at the front door. Harmony immediately opened the door, seeing Wednesday holding a bag of food. Wednesday had a straight face as she said, "As your other mother has requested, I have brought sugary sweets here, despite them having no nutritional value that..." However Wednesday stopped talking as she realized Harmony was crying with a distraught face. Wednesday immediately put the bag down as she said, "Harmony, what troubles you?"

As Harmony wiped away some tears, she said, "I don't know what I'm doing mother. Luna is constantly sad or scared or both, and I don't know how to handle it. There's nothing I can do that makes her better. Mother... how were you able to do this so easily when me and Ana were kids? How did you always know what to do when I was growing up!?" Wednesday then crossed her arms and looked at Harmony with a straight face as she said, "Harmony... the truth that I would never admit to anyone except you is... I entered parenthood with no clue what I was doing. In fact, with many passing moments, I felt like I was enduring a hellish torture that I had no control over; barely holding onto my very sanity..."

~Flashbacks from the Past:

A young adult Wednesday walked in the kitchen seeing her five year old children: Harmony and Ana looking very sick while sitting at the kitchen table. Wednesday immediately approached her children as she said, "What's wrong?" A sick looking Ana then said, "We ate all our Halloween candy in one hour." Then Harmony covered her mouth as she said, "Uh oh. I think I'm gonna..." Then Harmony and Ana immediately vomited all over Wednesday's clothes. Wednesday meanwhile looked very uncomfortable and uncertain what to do.

Wednesday and Enid were sitting in front of a computer, while Enid said, "Okay. With all our major debts paid off, I think we're finally ready to take our first major family vacation to Transylvania next year. I know you're really excited about this Wednesday." Then suddenly the sound of an explosion was heard, which caused the house to shake. Harmony and Ana quickly ran into the room as Harmony said, "It's not our fault. Uncle Fester's present to us exploded on it's own!" Then Ana casually said, "Also, it's sort of his fault for surrounding it with caution tape. I mean... it was practically begging us to open it before our birthday. Also... I think half the living room is gone now." Wednesday then closed her eyes, breathing in and out deeply as she said, "It would seem our trip to Transylvania is about to be postponed for another year or two."

Wednesday was analyzing a metal cube in the basement as Harmony and Ana came down the stairs. A smiling Harmony then asked, "Hey mother. Whatcha doing?" Wednesday put the metal cube down as she said, "Trying to find a way to understand this artifact I discovered. It's some sort of ancient puzzle. Apparently if I solve it, it will result in..." Suddenly Ana held up the metal cube, which was glowing now, as she said, "I solved the puzzle in three seconds mother! What do I win!?" Suddenly the metal cube opened up as a terrified Wednesday said, "According to legends... centuries old demons are about to released." Then an excited Harmony and Ana innocently yelled, "Yay!" Then a terrified looking Wednesday grabbed both her children, and ran out of the basement as fast as she could while several demons began to appear from a portal created in the metal cube.

Wednesday sat in the living room blind folded as she said, "You girls know I don't like surprises." Meanwhile a happy Harmony and Ana stood in front of Wednesday as Harmony said, "Well, you'll like this one. Okay. Take off the blind fold." Wednesday quickly took off the blind fold, only to see Harmony and Ana holding a large colorful dress in front of her. An excited Ana said, "Ta da! We made you a new dress mother, all on our own!" As Harmony pointed to the dress she said, "See how we put all the colors of the rainbow on the dress! It even has a picture of pink unicorn on it!" Wednesday suddenly began to look terrified, her eyes were very wide as she said, "Oh my... children... this is... too extravagant a gift for me to wear."

Then an excited Ana said, "I know! It's so pretty! Wear it right now mother!" Then an excited Harmony and Ana yelled, "Wear it! Wear it! Wear it!" Wednesday then reluctantly put the bright rainbow colored dress on her body. Wednesday tried to remain calm as she looked at the dress on her body, while she softly said to herself, "It's just clothing. It cannot harm you. It's just clothing. It cannot harm you." Harmony now looked confused as she said, "Mother, are you okay?" Wednesday then quickly stood up, and tried to look calm as she said, "Yes. Thank you for your thoughtful gift children." Then after one moment of standing still, Wednesday immediately ran into her bedroom, locked the door, took off the dress, and then screamed bloody murder while hugging herself. Meanwhile, as Harmony and Ana heard the screaming, a smiling Ana said, "I think she really likes it."

~The Present:

Wednesday stood before Harmony in the apartment hallway as she said, "Harmony, being a mother is a life of madness, and feeling like you're always on the verge of losing your sanity. The truth is, when I performed the experiment that resulted in you and your sister being born, I was not fully aware of the challenges being a parent would entail... but with that being said, I had no intention to fail you and your sister. So I persevered through every mistake, looked for every creative solution to every problem, and remained confidant I could meet every challenge. However, when I did face a set back or obstacle, it didn't make me feel weak. Rather, the moments where I realized my skills were at a lower point than required, it provided me the opportunity to force myself to rise higher than ever before. You and your sister did test me Harmony... but through raising you, I became stronger... which I am certain Luna will do for you."

Harmony looked amazed as she said, "Mother... I... I don't think I've ever heard you speak in such an inspirational way before... but thank you. Thank you so much." Harmony immediately hugged Wednesday. Wednesday, without any hesitation, then immediately hugged Harmony back, keeping a straight face as she said, "Don't mention it... to anyone... for the rest of your life." Harmony smirked as she let go of Wednesday while saying, "Well mother... it's time for me to go be a mother now." Then Harmony walked back into her apartment as Wednesday left.

Within moments, Harmony dragged two sleeping bags into Luna's room, where Luna was sitting still scared in the corner while Megan was sitting nearby. Megan looked confused as she said, "Harmony, what are you doing?" Harmony looked straight at Luna as she said, "Luna... if you'll let us... me and Megan are gonna sleep with you in your room tonight. The two of us will sleep in sleeping bags near you. We can sleep right next to you, or on the other side of the room. Whatever you're comfortable with." Luna, still in her werewolf form, looked confused as she said, "Why?"

As Harmony sat down on the floor, she said, "Because I want you to know that me and Megan are never gonna leave you, and we'll always be right here for you. Even if you're in werewolf form for the rest of your life, and you accidentally scratch me a hundred times, we are never leaving you." As Megan sat right next to Harmony, she smiled at Luna while saying, "Luna, we don't want you to be here for a short time. We're your family now. We want to be your mothers forever... if you let us."

A nervous Luna crawled closer to Harmony and Megan, and then said, "Lots of people said they liked me and even loved me... but they never meant it. They always sent me away. Even my real mom sent me away. I don't even remember her. Why did she give me away? Why did she not love me!?" Then Harmony scooted closer to Luna as she said, "I don't know the story behind your real mother Luna. I wish I did. Maybe we'll find out one day. But until then... all I can do is promise you that me and Megan wanna love you with all our hearts, as if we were your real moms. I know other people have said stuff like that to you before. So we know it'll take awhile for you to believe we mean what we're saying... but tonight, we are not leaving you alone; just like how you never have to feel alone for the rest of your life now."

Luna however just looked away from Harmony, a sad look still in her eyes. Harmony looked slightly devastated, until Megan whispered to her, "Harmony, you've been trying to tell Luna you love her, and that she doesn't have to hide. Yet, you've been hiding a part of yourself from her. I think you need to show Luna the part of you that relates to her most of all. She's only seen you show it during an emergency. Now is the time to let her see it's an acceptable and normal part of this home."

Harmony nodded, and then closed her eyes. Suddenly Harmony's body grew as fur began to appear everywhere. Soon, Harmony was in her werewolf form. Luna now looked at Harmony with wide surprised eyes. As Harmony starred at Luna with her big wolf like eyes, she said, "I know I take up more space in this form. Is it okay if I sleep like this with you tonight?" Tears appeared in Luna's little werewolf eyes, and then suddenly she rushed into Harmony's arms and hugged her. Soon, Harmony and Luna lay on their sleeping bags together, hugging one another. A smiling Megan then lay beside them and embraced her new family in a hug as well.

~The Past:

A young adult Wednesday and Enid lay together in bed as little Harmony and Ana lay between them nearly asleep. As the two little girls looked very content, their eyes slowly closed while Wednesday said, "And so the three little pigs learned what they built their homes out of was meaningless, because the simple wolf who was only obeying his natural instincts was going to eat them anyway at the slaughter house where all pigs are inevitably sent. The end." Wednesday then looked at her two daughters, seeing they were completely asleep now. Enid smiled as she said, "Look at them Wednesday. So perfect. You ever think they'll have their own families like us when they grow up one day?" Wednesday kept a straight face as she looked at Enid while saying, "If they fully understood what we go through for them on a daily basis, they wouldn't. For only a completely insane person would ever want to raise a family like ours." Enid however smiled as she reached out, placed her right hand under Wednesday's left hand, and then said, "Well... thank you Wednesday... for giving me this insanely beautiful family of ours."

~The Present:

In the middle of the park in the evening, Gerard was flying through the air as he said, "Come on Luna. You have to pass through me if you wanna get a point." As Gerard flew through the air, Luna was in her werewolf form as she was happily running on all fours under Gerard. Luna then leaped into the air, but wasn't able to reach the height Gerard was flying at. Meanwhile Ana stood nearby as she said, "Come on Luna! You just have to put a little more power into your jumps. Remember, your Aunt Ana believes in you!"

Meanwhile at a picnic table nearby that had a large street lamp near it, sitting together were Wednesday, Enid, Harmony, and Megan. As Enid watched Luna running around, she smiled while saying, "Luna looks like she's really starting to enjoy herself." Harmony, with a look of relief, said, "Yeah. Although even after a month of living with us, she does sometimes still get sad at night, and gets scared by the occasional loud noises. Her therapist says she likely has issues with anxiety... but since I still do too, me and Megan realized instead of seeing this as a bad thing, we should just view this as one more thing that can help me and Luna grow closer as we both work through our issues together." As Megan held Harmony's hand, she said, "It actually inspired us to start attending family therapy sessions together... and we think it's really helping us."

Meanwhile, Luna jumped high into the air, with her little werewolf body passing right through Gerard's ghostly form. As Luna landed on the ground, she yelled, "I did it!" An excited Ana yelled, "You did! Great work Luna!" As everyone at the picnic table clapped a bit, a happy Harmony called out, "Awesome Luna. Now come over and eat some dinner." Luna then happily rushed over to the picnic table, while Gerard floated down next to Ana. As Ana and Gerard watched Luna sit next to Harmony and Megan, Gerard asked, "So Ana... do you think that in some way maybe... we could have something like that one day?" Ana turned to look at Gerard with loving eyes as she said, "Maybe. But for now... Gerard, I just want you to know I am happy with the life we've made already with each other. I mean we've never even kissed, and may never will... but that's okay because I'd still rather have what we have now than anything else in the world."

A moment later, the entire family began to place themselves around the picnic table. As everyone began to talk and enjoy themselves, Enid scooted closer to Wednesday as she said, "Look at this family Wednesday. None of this would've happened if you hadn't combined that weird mystic plant extract with my DNA in your body to make yourself pregnant... and even though I was totally freaked out when you did that crazy experiment without my consent... I just want to say thank you... for all of this." Wednesday looked at Enid with an expression that showed no emotion, but then her actions spoke louder than words as she quickly gave Enid a romantic kiss.

However the kiss was interrupted as Megan said, "Oh. Guess what. Luna has gifts she made for her two new grandmas." An excited Luna then opened up a nearby bag as she said, "Oh yeah. I made them with help from Aunt Ana." Then Luna suddenly held up two matching rainbow colored dresses, each with a picture of a pink unicorn on them. An excited Luna asked, "Do you like them?" An excited Enid slipped into one of the dresses as she said, "Aww. I love it. Thank you Luna." Wednesday however began to look terrified, her eyes were very wide as she softly said to herself, "Oh God. The nightmare has returned."

Meanwhile an excited Luna said, "Come on Grandma Wednesday. Wear the new dress. Wear it! Wear it! Wear it!" Wednesday then reluctantly put the bright rainbow colored dress on her body. Wednesday tried to remain calm as she looked at the dress on her body, while she softly said to herself, "It's just clothing. It cannot harm you. It's just clothing. It cannot harm you." Luna now looked confused as she said, "Grandma Wednesday, are you okay?" Wednesday then quickly stood up, and tried to look calm as she said, "Yes. Thank you for your thoughtful gift Luna." Then after one moment of standing still, Wednesday immediately ran out of the park, jumped into her car, took off the dress, and then screamed bloody murder while hugging herself. Meanwhile, as everyone else heard the screaming, a smiling Ana looked at Luna as she said, "I think she really likes it."

THE END

...

..

.

EPILOGUE:

One More Bonus Scene from the Past:

In the middle of the park two seven year old boys, and one little five year old boy were walking around with buckets of mud. One of the older boys yelled, "Come out of hiding girls. The 'Boys Rule and Girls Drool Club' is about to cream you with mud!" Meanwhile, the little five year old boy said, "Devin, is this a good idea? Those girls looked scared when you tried to throw mud at them earlier. I thought you said this would be fun." The older boy then said, "Shut up. I'm your big cousin, and I know what's best. Now lets find those little girls and take them down!"

Suddenly, emerging from a nearby mud pit was a five year old Harmony and Ana; their bodies drenched in mud while they were wearing cat masks that covered most of the upper section of their faces. Harmony and Ana immediately made roaring sounds, followed by Ana yelling, "You drew first mud. Now prepare for vengeance from the Kitty Mud Ninjas!" All three of the boys immediately looked scared as Harmony and Ana immediately began throwing large buckets of mud at them.

The two older boys suddenly got out some water balloons and threw them near Ana's feet. The sudden wet ground caused Ana to fall as she said, "Oww! Uggh. That hurt." Harmony then looked determined as she said, "Don't worry Ana. I'll get them!" Then Harmony immediately chased after the two older boys with a big bucket of mud while saying, "You don't get to hurt my sister and not face my wrath! Raaaaaahhhh!" The older boys suddenly screamed in fear as they ran away from Harmony.

Meanwhile, the younger boy, whose face was partially covered in mud, approached Ana as he said, "Are you okay? I'm sorry you got hurt. I'm just visiting my cousin today, and he sometimes does stupid stuff." As Ana tried to sit up, her face was still covered in mud and her cat mask as she said, "I'll be okay. I'm used to it. All the boys at school hate me too because I'm so weird."

As the young boy sat next to Ana, he said, "That sounds awful. Why are they like that? I mean, my mother taught me to treat all girls like they're special." Ana shrugged, and then said, "Well my mother said most men are intimidated by independent women with clearly superior skills... but that's okay. I don't need a boy to like me or kiss me to make me feel special." The young boy then scooted near Ana as he said, "Well... even if you don't need this... I hope it makes you feel a little more special."

Then the young boy leaned his head forward and immediately kissed Ana on the lips. Ana was surprised for a second... but then kissed the boy back. After a moment, their lips parted, and they both looked at one another with smiles and blushing cheeks. Then the young boy stood up, still smiling as he said, "Nice to meet you Miss Kitty Mud Ninja." The young boy then walked away, waving to Ana, while a smiling Ana waved back.

Soon, the young boy reached the edge of the park where an adult woman was standing near a car. The young boy smiled as he said, "Hi mom. I'm ready to go home." The young boy's mother groaned in frustration and then said, "Didn't I tell you not to get dirty? Oh well. I hope you had a good time playing with your cousins and the other kids in the park today. Come on. Lets go home Gerard."

*Next Week: WEDNESDAY ON SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE

...no seriously, THAT is the entire premise. ;)

Trivia:

-The final picture in this story was created by fanfiction writer/ artist: Konge (with tweaks by myself).

-All of the flashbacks in this story take place before Chapter 17 - Gomez and Morticia Come to Visit.

-Ana and her ghostly boyfriend Gerard first met in Chapter 64 - Ana's Amazing Adventure.

-Luna was first introduced in Chapter 79 - Love Finds a Way.

[supersillykai]

more little shouto hcs!!

hehe i love agere shoto

padded regressor, he didn’t want to admit he needed to be padded so it ended up in him having many accidents

HATES training when little. (for obvious reasons)

he likes coloring in coloring books

he slips sometimes when he’s crying because his emotions take over

he likes wearing very soft things when little, but prefers to wear just shorts and a t shirt because it’s still comfy

he likes having socks on, even when big too i don’t know i’m basing this on my sister who doesn’t take her socks off whatsoever she literally wears them while sleeping

took him awhile to come out as a regressor to his classmates, they ended up finding out before he told them anyways because he had slipped in class, and wouldn’t stop clinging onto izuku

very closed off when little, he will never tell anyone that he slipped into little space, they’ll just have to find out on their own (which they do)

LOVES when fuyumi and natsuo give him cuddles, he feels warm and fuzzy and happy.

when given milk in a bottle, he requests that it should be changed to water/juice or sugar put in the milk.

when he’s feeling little, he has LED lights in his room and turns it to blue to remind him of natsuo, fuyumi, and rei (occasionally green and orange for katsuki and izuku)

best way to distract him is give him a paci and his favorite stuffed bunny or give him a phone with games on it or a drawing app and hope for the best

when him and izuku are outside, he likes to roll in the grass because idk i like to roll in the grass (im slightly allergic to grass)

refuses to drink tea. it reminds him of his mom throwing boiling hot water his face and he can’t stand looking at a kettle (goes for his big headspace too, but it’s more scary for him when little)

he likes taking naps, he doesn’t get to sleep long very often so aizawa makes exceptions for him when little and lets him sleep in class or go back to his dorm

[t0paz616]

Part 3- Unedited

I finished this chapter, finally! I was able to drag myself out of the black hole that is fanfiction. Sorry it took so long 😭😭😭

Remember, if you have any feedback, please tell me! Constructive criticism is my best friend.

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Optimus froze all at once. “...What. Do you. Mean.”

Solus threw herself into standing and paced wildly, dragging her hands through the long cords that covered her helm. “She will not die.”

Optimus wrinkled his brow. “Solus, are you feeling alright? Your spark may be all that is left of you, and you may lack a processor to corrupt–”

“I am not crazy!!” Solus abruptly screamed at him, hands clawed and raised halfway above her head. Optimus reared back, startled. “It is another process of the Armor. I’m not quite sure how I managed to create most of it in my addled state, my memories from that time are quite sparse, but I know that my coding is sound.

“When Miko goes to sleep tonight is when the Armor will begin to invade her body. As the Armor is covering her entire body, it will cut off and dispose of her clothing. It may decide to either burn them inside the armor or push them out, depending on what they’re made of. It will begin analyzing her body processes, determining where it needs to enter in order to siphon her mind from her organic body.”

“Siphon–” Optimus started, eyes wide. The older Prime slashed her hand in the air, cutting him off. He continued anyways. “Solus, I am very worried about this. I would prefer you tell me how to disable the Armor or damage it enough for us to remove it from her. Miko is certainly one for adventure, but I am certain that even she will become panicked at the prospect of staying trapped inside forever. It would be best if she was released and allowed to live out the rest of her life as an organic in peace.”

These were the wrong things to say. Solus went eerily still, and turned her face towards him slowly. Her expression was blank.

“Do… not… DARE TO PRESUME YOU HAVE ANY AUTHORITY TO TELL ME WHAT TO DO!!” The elder Prime thundered, her form growing larger and larger and larger above him until she was the size of a city-former. Optimus scrambled a few meters back, tripping over his own pedes and falling. Solus’ titanic hands slammed into the ground with enough force to send shockwaves vibrating through the ground and air. 

Her wild yellow eyes glowed hellishly in the dark shadow of her face. “I AM ONE OF THE THIRTEEN PRIMES. I LIVED THOUSANDS OF TIMES LONGER THAN YOUR LIFETIME AS OF YET. I HAVE SEEN HORRORS YOU CANNOT EVEN DREAM OF! I AM THE ONE WHO GIVES YOU INFANTS WISDOM, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND! YOU FORGET YOURSELF.”

Optimus’ jaw opened and closed soundlessly. Solus had never lashed out at him like this before. 

“I… I am very sorry, Solus. I have grievously overstepped,” Optimus stammered softly, ashamed. 

“For all the wisdom your team believes you possess,” Solus boomed above him, “I still have lifetimes more. You would do well to remember that, little brother.”

The younger prime nodded meekly.

Solus Prime stood once more, still unfathomably tall. She began to shrink again. “And, Optimus, as I have said already, multiple times, there is nothing that can be done. It has already locked her in, and the Apex Armor is indestructible. Miko will have all of eternity to come to terms with what is happening to her, even if she reacts badly.”

Returning to her normal size a few heads taller than Optimus, Solus summoned her chair back and sat as if nothing had ever happened.

“The nervous system is likely going to be the Armor’s first target. It will want to put in a connection as close as possible to her brain. Probably immobilize her neck and take out one of those little vertebrae covering her spinal cord,” Solus mused, chin in her hand.

“You… certainly know a great deal about human biology,” Optimus tentatively put out, pushing away that disturbing little tidbit of what might happen. Solus perked up at that.

“Oh, yes! You know we can see everything you see if we wish, even if you are not focusing on it. I in particular have been watching Ratchet’s research on human biology and medicine from the corner of your optics. Such interesting little creatures, and their biology is almost a perfect organic mirror of our own… Yes, I’m sure the entire process will be very quick and painless since it will be so easy to figure out!”

Optimus thought over this. “Very quick” for a Cybertronian could mean months or even years for this entire process to take place. He was going to break the news of this to Miko first, of course, and then to the rest of the team. Including Agent Fowler. Miko’s family, both her host parents and biological parents, would have to be brought in on the secret of the Cybertronians' existence on Earth. They would have to handle this all very delicately once he got the entire process out of Solus…

“Solus, if I may, when you said ‘siphon her mind out’ earlier, what precisely did you mean?” Optimus inquired.

“Her organic body is weak and fragile,” Solus said rather bluntly. ”It will not last long. Cells never do, even when they’re pumped full of life-giving chemicals. I certainly tried extending organic lifetimes during my period of insanity, but it was impossible.

“The Apex Armor, once it establishes the connection to the nervous system, will spend a bit simply learning how her body processes work through how the brain tells the body to perform its functions. It’ll observe how her neurons fire, how her digestive system works, her muscular system, everything. I programmed it to mimic organic digestive systems as closely as possible, for when she will run on energon. As for the muscular system, it only watches that to decide how best to alter her brain to connect directly to the suit’s motors and hydraulic system.

“At the beginning of the process, Miko will be able to feel the Armor’s surface and all its parts as if they were her own organic body parts. She will feel both of her bodies at once. Over time, as her body degrades naturally, it will separate her brain from her old body, numbing it to help the disconnection along. I imagine feeling yourself rot is rather disconcerting, even for her. It will keep her organic remains in a sealed pod; they will stay there forever. Her brain will be kept active and alive for much longer than her body. After all, that is where her mind will be for a long time.

“Despite the artificial longevity of her neurons the Armor will induce, they too will decay at some point. Before that time arrives, it will put her in a coma. Then, it will deepen the technorganic connection and download all of her memories, habits, personality traits, speech patterns, and all that she has learned over the course of her life into a processor the Apex Armor will build. The brain will be disposed of into the pod with the rest of the body.”

Optimus sat in shock for a long, long moment. “That is quite grisly, Solus. I do not know how to even begin to approach this topic with Miko.”

Solus chuckled. “Mmn, you may find it easier than you think. She might find it fascinating. From what I’ve observed of her behavior through your optics, there is a good chance she’ll be very excited to spend the rest of eternity with her Wrecker friends.”

Optimus smiled weakly, and stood up. “I had best leave now. Thank you for giving me the information about the Apex Armor, Solus.”

Solus waved her hand dismissively, also standing. “Ah, not a problem, Optimus.” She paused. “...Except for the part where you acted like you had authority over me.”

The younger Prime winced. “I apologized for that already.” His fellow Prime scoffed.

“You’ll need to try harder than that for me to forget,” Solus said, a wry smile on her face. She walked over to the Matrix-shaped door and opened it, stepping one foot in.

“Oh, Solus, one last question–” Optimus blurted. She turned back and raised an eyebrow at him. “What will she do when she outlives all of the rest of us? When she outlives all Cybertronians and organic species?”

“She can throw herself into the core of any blue star,” Solus replied. “That’ll be hot enough to melt her.” The dead Prime turned back to the door glumly and stepped the rest of the way through, slamming the door behind her.

Optimus stood in the “lobby” of the Matrix of Leadership, alone. The silence pressed in on him. He could hear quiet, very muffled talking emanating from behind the door. Sobbing, and Solus’ other siblings softly cooing comforting words to her.

He shut his eyes, dread pooling in his spark, and pulled his mind out of the Matrix.

-------------------

Masterpost

Part 2 <- -> Part 4