#but the more she uses it the less effective it gets

[wondrluv]

୨୧ in need ; af35

➪ summary: when you and your contagious happy energy weasel your way into azzi's life, she's hesitant to tell people. but after a bad day, all you want is her, and nothing's going to stop you from getting to her, not even the crowd of teammates at her place

➪ warnings: reader has a bad day, mentions of hiding relationship

➪ word count: 1.4k

➪ emma's notes: ahhhh my first azzi fic! i came up with this idea like in the middle of the night last night when i couldn't sleep so here this is. i'm so excited to write more for her, but for now, this is what i've written! i hope you guys enjoy as always :) i do have a new taglist system, so if you want to be added, feel free to check out the form at the bottom of this post!

© wondrluv ; do not copy, repost, or translate my work and designs on any other website or here

You were always told you had this effect on people. The kind of effect that if someone was having the worst of all days, one look at you would make it all the better. 

You got used to this, everyone saying that you had this glow about you that just made them want to smile, but you never believed it. Not until you met Azzi Fudd.

Azzi Fudd was the kind of girl that always looked like something had upset her or someone had pissed her off just moments before you looked at her. Though for you, you never thought it was because of that. From the second you met her, you knew there was another layer to Azzi that no one else knew about, hell, maybe even her closest friends and family didn’t even know about. And you were determined to figure out what it was.

So, when the opportunity arose, you sat next to her on the first day of one of your classes, grinning at her like you just won the lottery. She gave you a skeptical look, eyeing you up and down, appalled at the fact that you were so happy on a Monday at 9 in the morning. 

You just introduced yourself, your smile never wavering, even when all she did was nod and turn back to her phone, music still playing through her headphones. And for a few weeks, that was all it was. You saying hi and her giving a less than committal response before sitting in silence for the rest of the class. 

And almost two weeks of having classes with her every Monday and Wednesday, before she said something back. Four classes weren’t a lot, but maybe it was your effect, the effect you had to nuzzle your way into her heart, warming it every time you even glanced at her. 

You weren’t expecting it in the least, the small ‘hey’ she all but whispered when you gave her your beaming smile, but that only caused you to smile wider. And with each passing class, she would say more and more, and that was when your relationship with Azzi Fudd started. The sunshine girl and the black cat girlfriend.

ﾟ+*:୨୧:*﹤

Six months later, the two of you had been dating for four, and she had yet to tell anyone about the two of you. Maybe it was because she was scared of admitting she found a soft spot for someone and she would get teased relentlessly for it, or it was because she was protecting you from the teasing she knew you would get once her friends saw her with you. 

You didn’t mind, not in the slightest. You were happy to keep your relationship private if that’s what she wanted. All you wanted was her, no matter the format. But now? Now it didn’t matter if the whole world was watching the two of you; you needed her. 

This had to have been the longest day you’ve ever experienced. From almost running into class late, to the missing reports you had lying on your desk that you needed for your project, to the twisting of your ankle on the walk back to your apartment, down to the coffee you spilled over yourself in the middle of the cafe. 

To be frank, you were over it, your mind was scattered, your body was worn, and all you wanted was to curl up on your girlfriend’s chest and forget about today. So with the rest of your willpower, you bundled up in a pair of sweatpants, one of Azzi’s sweatshirts, tied your hair up in a ponytail with your phone and wallet in your hands, and headed out the door. 

The walk to Azzi’s wasn’t long, but the slight chill in the air made it seem like it went on for longer than 10 minutes, coupled with the exhaustion setting heavy in your bones. You pulled your sleeves over your hands as you walked up the stairs to her place; the elevator being broken was just another layer to your day. 

Your mind was so focused on Azzi’s comfort that you barely noticed the people surrounding you as you walked into her place, kicking her shoes off and bee-lining it to where she lay spread out on the couch, collapsing on top of her, burying your head in her chest. 

Everyone froze; KK’s hand stopped inches from her mouth, holding a piece of pizza, Paige’s eyebrows quirked, water bottle in hand, Ice glanced over from where she was fiddling with the TV remote, Aubrey looked up from her phone, and Sarah’s mouth hung open just slightly before she closed it, her attempt to mask her confusion and amusement futile. 

But Azzi paid no mind to them, her arms wrapping around almost like second nature, one hand coming to play with your hair as the other rubs soothing circles across your back, slipping beneath your hoodie. She murmured something low in your ear, a soft, “I got you,” and nothing else, holding you tightly against her. 

She pressed a soft kiss to your temple, her movements never wavering as she focused all of her attention on you. Your legs tangled with hers as you tried to push yourself closer against her, causing her to let out a tiny laugh that left everyone else exchanging glances. 

You felt safe being surrounded by her, almost like your own personal blanket that you were dead set on keeping. You gripped her hoodie, clutching it in your hands as if letting go would make her disappear. This was the only thing you needed after a long day. 

No one knew what to do, watching you, someone they didn’t know, curl up with their teammate, someone they did know who wasn’t one for physical affection or showing any signs of what they were feeling besides being annoyed. It was odd.

“Uh, Azzi-”

“Shh.” Azzi cut KK off with a simple sound, holding you tighter like she was protecting you from her friends’ words. 

Despite the circumstances, Azzi’s lips turned into a soft smile, not caring that her friends were seeing her like this, she loved having you in her arms, it was her favorite thing in the world. The feel of you against her, providing warmth both physically and emotionally, the way you looked so adorable with your face smushed against her chest, the soft snores you sometimes let out if you stayed in that position for one too many minutes. She was sure there was no better feeling than this. 

It didn’t take long for you to drift off, not even the slightest bit put off by the five or six other people staring at you as you made yourself comfortable. As long as Azzi was with you, you could fall asleep anywhere. 

A few minutes after you dozed off, Paige cleared her throat, eyes flickering between your face and her friend’s, “So…”

Azzi looked up, her previous blissful expression falling off, and a hardened one took over, “Yes?”

“Who’s this?” Paige’s face was all but amused, her lips turned into a teasing smile, a mischievous gleam in her eyes.

“None of your business.”

“Oh, c’mon, Az. She waltzes in here like she owns the place, doesn’t even bat an eye at who’s here before practically jumping on you, and then falls asleep with your arms around her. We’re dumb, not stupid.”

She just rolled her eyes, her gaze softening as she looked back down at you, brushing your hair behind your ear, away from your face. She sighed softly before nodding, “Fine. What do you want to know?”

“When did you meet her?” “What’s her name?” “How long has this been going on?” “How’d she get you to-” 

She glared at them as you shifted, their overlapping voices too loud for you to ignore. They shut up quickly at her stare, watching as your head turned to lie on the other side before your breathing evened out once again. 

“One at a time and be quiet.”

“What’s her name?”

“Her name’s y/n.”

“When did you guys meet?”

“We met six months ago when classes started, she’s in my finance class.”

“When did you-”

“Four months ago.”

“How-”

“She has that effect on people.” Azzi’s voice murmured, peering down at you again, fingers running through your hair to further calm you down as you slept. 

No one spoke again, watching their friend’s actions with small smiles on their faces. They were never really sure they would see a soft side to Azzi Fudd, but now that they met you - if you could even call it a meeting -, they were sure that would change. 

AF35 ; WBB MASTERLIST

TAGLIST ; NAVIGATION

[rebeccathenaturalist]

To Have As Much Compassion For the Coyote As the Rabbit

Spring is here, and all throughout my social media are posts by people panicking about coyotes. It’s not uncommon for these native canines to be more visible this time of year since they have dens full of hungry pups to feed and protect. You might see them on the hunt for mice and other rodents, or you could be quietly but firmly escorted away from a den site. There’s a chance you’ll even see a coyote toting a nice, fat rabbit home to her pups.

That last one tends to upset some folks. I’ve seen people say they’ve deliberately scared away predatory animals to cause them to drop their prey, or in some cases even physically wrestled the prey away. Sure, that may make you feel like some sort of hero for saving the rabbit. But why does the rabbit deserve to live while the coyote’s pups slowly starve to death? Why should a Cooper’s hawk not be allowed to eat the house finch it just plucked from a convenient bird feeder? Who says we are right to get in the way of a garter snake capturing a tree frog? And what if the rabbit you liberated has internal injuries that slowly kill it anyway once it runs away from you in fright?

Read under the cut to find out how many self-described "nature lovers" only really love part of nature.

Many of us have a Disneyfied approach to nature. We have a great deal of sympathy for herbivores* like Bambi and Thumper, and we give Flower the striped skunk a free pass since most of what he eats is insects. We might get annoyed when Bambi starts to browse on the vegetables and rose bushes, but we don’t react with the sort of wailing dismay that we do when a mountain lion takes out one of Bambi’s herd members.

And yet an American robin tugging earthworms out of the ground and swallowing them alive is no different from a bobcat pouncing on the robin. Both are examples of one animal preying upon another, a perfectly normal part of the cycles of nature for 800 million years. Without carnivores (and insectivores and omnivores), herbivores would quickly overpopulate, depleting plant communities to ecologically disastrous states, and crash life as we know it. Life is all about inhabiting niches, and carnivores fill their evolutionary roles quite effectively.

Many people who claim they “love nature” only love the herbivorous, gentle, fuzzy parts of it, and refuse to examine or change their revulsion of or violence toward the rest. That’s a big problem. The elements of nature they consider to be “ugly” or gross” are no less important than the “pretty” or “adorable” ones. And systematically removing the “bad” animals can have a detrimental effect on the entire ecosystem. The benighted person who kills every snake they see is only going to cause an increase in rodent populations, which of course raises the likelihood of diseases, crop damage, and gnawed electrical wires in the attic.

Moreover, when we try to apply the limitations of human ideals of morality to the rest of nature, we ignore the concept of existence value: that all beings are important simply because they are here with us in this amazing, vibrant world we share. What are we implying when we say that the coyote pup is less deserving of life than the rabbit?

We have interfered with nature way too much as it is, in much larger ways than this. Yet it is a simple act to allow these individual interactions between species play out as they naturally would without feeling that we have to step in and play moral referee. Our arrogance at thinking that nature exists for us and our priorities is how we found ourselves in our current ecological predicament. The least we can do is be hands-off in our local food web. Consider it good practice for having healthier boundaries toward nature, rather than constantly centering ourselves in every decisions we make regarding other living beings.

Finally, practice having some compassion for the coyote busily trying to feed her young–and herself. She can’t run to the grocery store and get a package of industrially farmed beef to make burgers for the kids. Her entire life is a constant race against death, whether from starvation, disease, extreme heat or cold, and of course the interference of humans. Imagine the relief she must feel when she successfully manages to catch something bigger than a mouse–do you think we’re the only ones whose reward centers in our brains light up at a job well done? Think of how excited your dog gets when he manages to catch the ball–that’s not only a trait of domesticated animals.

Have some compassion for the coyote pups eagerly awaiting their next meal and their parents' warmth. Photo by John Harrison, CCA-SA-3.0-Unported

Give and take, life and death, nutrients and energy endlessly cycling through body after body after body of animal, plant, fungus, bacteria–that is the grand dance in which the coyote and the rabbit play their parts. Appreciate this eons-old round without feeling the need to alter the tempo, and be glad that tonight the coyote pups will sleep contentedly with full stomachs.

*For the record, many “herbivores” will opportunistically eat meat, live or dead, for the nutrients. Bambi and his buddies are quite happy to pluck a perfectly healthy baby bird or two out of a nest as a snack, and will chew on carrion now and then, too.

Did you enjoy this post? Consider preordering my book The Everyday Naturalist, taking one of my online foraging and natural history classes or hiring me for a guided nature tour, or checking out my other articles! You can even buy me a coffee here!

[blueishspace]

Lucky life session 4

Blueishspace (He/Him) + @a-sociopath-do-your-research aka Oli (Xe/Void/It): ❤️

@bendy8me aka Bendy (She/Her) + @juno0n aka Juno (She/Her): 💚💚💚

@raeistrying aka Rae (She/Her) + @silverorchideon aka Orchid (He/They): 💚💚💚

@communistcatboi aka Catboi (He/They) + @theblackglitch aka Glitch (She/Her): 💛💛

@kazanfamily aka Kazan (He/They) + @max05nb aka Max (They/Them): 💛💛

@twisttea aka Twisttea (She/Her) + @cowgirlginger aka Ginger (She/Her): 💛💛

@italianbiscuit aka Manu (She/Her) + @lizzlylou aka Liz (They/Them): 💛💛

@thatoneloudintrovert aka Floracica (She/Her) + @not-ready-for-gaster aka Bee (She/They): 💛💛

@whats-she-gonna-post-next aka Starfall (She/They) + @frostywisp aka Fros (They/Them): 💛💛

@the-local-pineapple aka Tessa (She/Her) + @spectresharmony aka Ari (She/Her): 💚💚💚

@astoriagalaxy aka Astoria (All) + @3-pots-of-soup aka Soup (Any): 💚💚💚

This is this session's wheel:

With reds walking around the chance for Murder and Trap has increased. Monopoly has instead stopped being an option as It's way too late into the game. Also Prank is going to be less shuffling items and more arson.

Let's begin:

Kazan, after a short trip to the Nether, is able to craft some Eyes of Ender.

Astoria hears about Liz and Manu accusing Bee and rigs their base with TNT.

Liz explores the deep dark and discovers the enchanting table has been stolen.

Catboi attempts to sneak into Liz and Manu's base but accidentally ignites the tnt and explodes bringing Glitch down with them... (I can't believe that Manu and Liz's base has such an high body count). ❤️

Ari traps Twistea and Ginger's beds hoping to get them immediately out of the series should they go red.

Manu and Tessa meet up to discuss a...secret alliance of sorts.

Floracica offers Bluish (me) an offer he can't refuse. Help with killing off the greens and access to the enchanter in exchange for him not targeting the yellows. Blue agrees.

Juno traps their own base's entrance and creates a secret tunnel to get in and out safely.

Ginger attempts to steal from Bendy's chests but is caught and forced to leave leave before they can get anything good.

Max traps Fros and Starfall's Nether Portal.

Soup gathers some Eyes of Ender and crafts an Ender Chest where they hide her most valuable resources.

Bendy discovers that Floracica has stolen the enchanter and promptly tells everyone who will listen.

Oli manages to catch Tessa by surprise and kills her bringing her and Ari down a life. 💛💛

Orchid pranks Twisttea by burning her base down, this triggers the trap which ends up not killing anyone as noone is close enough to the beds.

Bee uses the wither heads gathered by her allies to summon the Wither.

The following section uses a different set of wheels entirely to decide how they deal with the...situation. First of which is the life wheel.

Starfall and Fros survive by being too busy to even notice the wither. Iconic behaviour actually.

Glitch and Catboi survive by outrunning the wither, Imagine Secret Life Scar.

Bee and Floracica survive by hiding, good, would have been a bit embarassing if Bee died because of the wither she spawned. Though they hide in different places, likely very far apart.

Orchid and Rae barely barely survive though they actually attempt to fight the wither. (Wow, this wither is like super weak.)

Ginger and Twisttea are caught by the wither and die to doubled withering effect. ❤️ (Nevermind)

Soup and Astoria also survive, probably because they are in on the plan and stay away from the chaos.

Max and Kazan survive, Max is with Orchid and Rae as they fight the wither.

Liz and Manu survive, hiding away from the chaos.

Oli attempts to get a kill in the chaos. Xey don't make it. Void are the first player out, Blue is the second. (We're dead first, this is the worst possible timeline) ☠️

Juno and Bendy survive, running away from the wither.

Tessa and Ari are the ones to slay the wither, the ones to claim It's star.

The rest of the session is not very busy, little happens. Everyone is just shocked. Everyone is rebuilding, the Wither might have not killed many but it destroyed huge chunks of the server.

[jjwolves]

Hello! Could you write something about human! reader falling asleep on ENA during a ride home. Like the both of them are done with a job but the only way back is on some sort of transport that will definitely take a while to get back home. And after all that job work the reader is a eepy sleepy since they are not built the same as ENA, literally. Gimme that cute shit between the two!

Thank you for your time!

SLEEPYHEAD · · ────── ꒰ঌ·✦·໒꒱ ────── · ·

What: A Story About ENA the Worker X Reader

Who: ENA the Worker from ENA Dream BBQ (By Joel G)

How Much: ~900 words, ~4 mins

Credits: Image Banner -> Joel G

Warnings: None

“I sense a business opportunity… this way!” ENA shouted as she grabbed your hand. You ran with her through the brush of Judgement Slope, which was less like plants and more like the twitching legs of massive insects buried upside down. It smelled like hand sanitizer. It didn’t matter to ENA, though—her client, a masked man with a scorpion’s tail, wasn’t far off and she held his trophy in a raised crimson mitt. You tripped and wiped out like your hand was tied to the bumper of a speeding car.

“Oh dear! Are you alright!? It seems your market value crashed.” ENA took a moment to slow her roll and help you up with an offered hand. Once you were on your feet again, clothes covered in reddish stains from the fall, ENA immediately shouted, “Watch where you’re stepping next time, moron! One two one two!” and began dragging you along once again with a possessive claw and a recursive march.

A few hours afterwards, you and ENA were jumping across the tops of wrecked cars and scaling the occasional crane to get to the top of the Kali Yuga Elevator. By the time you climbed the third ladder, you could only see clouds and a subtle curvature to the world. Large checkered bands ran across the sky like the ribcage of a dead titan, with balls of lightning crawling along their length. The effect was dizzying, and you held your arms out to resist the oncoming vertigo of such a dwarfing sight. Magnificent, if you hadn’t lost one of your shoes on the way here. You weren’t going to fall, but ENA’s white claw gripped and slightly pricked your shoulder.

”You’re missing a shoe. Are you kidding me?! How did you even manage—look, whatever, just take one of mine.” You respectfully declined as ENA tried to peel her one military boot off of her leg. There wasn’t much ground to cover before ENA could let the masked man’s jellyfish blower take care of the distance separating you from the skybridge, anyway; the shoe wouldn’t matter if you were flying inside of a jellyfish.

Your legs shook, one shoeless, as ENA piled another box of miscellaneous, abstract instruments onto your arms. She tapped her chin with a pencil and scrutinized a notepad. An inkling of frustration creeping into your voice, you asked why she needed four boxes of metal alien instruments. Her red side answered, “Hmm… the next client on our list appreciates naught but a good musical number which will remind him of his home planet. We can use these to close a deal with him, and cross him off of our list.” You sighed. ENA’s white side kicked in. “Crossing people off of our list is a good thing. Did you forget already?!” You were just glad the train was going to be here soon.

Hopping on, you set the musical instruments on the train’s floor as the walls pulsed red behind iron bars. Everything was getting blurry. You wanted to hang on so that ENA would have someone to talk to on the way there, but the day had drawn too much from you. You settled into maze-dreams of how much you loved the polygonal girl.

On the outside, ENA stopped jabbering about pitches and deals and managers once she realized that you were fast asleep, your head drifting onto her shoulder. “Seriously? You choose NOW of all times to hibernate?” No response except a bump in the train. She sighed and looked you up and down, taking in the stained clothes, crazy hair and missing shoe. She felt like she should be yelling, but something allowed her to keep her voice down. “I’m sorry I ran you so freaking hard today. This stupid job feels like it never ends. I put you through so much bullshit, don’t I?.” A ray of light from an electric ball passed through the train at eye level. ENA took her hat off and placed it onto your head, pulling it down so the visor would keep it out of your eyes. “I promise that one day we’ll leave this stupid world together. I’ll get us a house and I’ll make you break your fast and I’ll wear those money pants I heard of and we’ll have every other moronic thing we talk about. Sounds pretty freaking perfect, right?” She leans her head against yours and takes your warm, soft hand into her cold, sharp one.

Somewhere in the maze of dream, you’re sitting at the table with ENA laughing, her warm, soft hands in yours. You’re eating some sort of golden meat for breakfast. She’s wearing pants made out of shiny coins. The sun shines vibrant and bright flowers bloom in straight, geometric lines outside of the stained window. ENA looks vibrant as well. Soft warm hands. You give each other the world. You begin to wake and you think you stirred from a prophecy. It’s a shame you don’t remember it.

A/N: A lot of Meanie in this one. MENA if you will. We're making our way through the requests one at a time, gettin' stuff done. I'm glad so many people enjoy my writing, gosh! I've never had so many notes nor requests for stuff. I'm happy so many people get so much out of the stuff I write. Oops, sorry, the ironic mask slipped off. Putting it back on. Aah, much better. Honk honk.

[mothinked]

The openings Ellie had to attack Abby and in turn sever their truce were innumerable at this point. Weeks of travelling and fighting as a unit (quite effectively, might she add) did nothing to make Abby ease up. Everything Ellie said or did put her under scrutiny. This was valid given she'd been a damn terror and force to be reckoned with in the theatre. Undaunted by the physical advantages stacked against her, she used her speed and cunning against Abby's tactical stealth.

It was stratagem versus brute strength. Ellie's scrappy fighting style against Abby's years of military training and discipline made for a very bloody, very violent fight with Jesse, Tommy and Dina being collateral. She fought and fought until her body could no longer withstand the abuse and it took Dina's brave assault to prevent Ellie's impending death under Abby's fists... Wrath, she learned, was one hell of a drug.

Over time, Ellie adopted a different style—she fought with a swift albeit less direct efficiency. No more disregard of the damage her body could take. In Seattle, rage was her greatest weapon. Her sharpest blade. A means to an end... to Abby's end. But it hadn't been called upon since their final confrontation: she didn't kill people anymore unless it was the only option. They needed to give her a good reason. Otherwise, she evaded. Saved her energy and ammo for the infected.

Did Abby think that even after letting her go on the beach, Ellie would have changed her mind all these years later? The thought of at least cocking her rifle had crossed Ellie's mind upon laying eyes on Abby when she and Lev emerged from the snowy forest. This woman was the architect of her misery—of her desolation—and the weight of their history was... well, it was hefty. Her shame and guilt weren't easily swallowed and seeing Abby after so long brought her trauma back to the surface.

And she'd dealt with that trauma through therapy and self-reflection. Took her a damn long time to heal and move on. Then Abby showed up, unbidden, and suddenly it was like Ellie couldn't fill her lungs with enough air anymore. It was a tightness in her chest that never went away. Her anxiety worsened over the weeks she spent with Abby. It was the Abby who looked close to how she had before the Rattlers, not the unrecognizable shell she was reduced to, left emaciated and without dignity to die in the California sun.

Even at the time it was happening, Ellie knew it was wrong to have forced Abby to fight like that. And threatening a kid, an unconscious boy caught up in the cycle of violence Ellie just couldn't break? What the fuck had been wrong with her? It was a line even Joel and Tommy never crossed. The last of her humanity was cast aside that day and maybe it was something that Ellie couldn't ever seek vindication for.

And of course it always came back to Abby herself.

Abby Anderson was the living, breathing reminder of every terrible act she had committed in the name of vengeance. She thought she could overcome the internal struggle that came with being the other woman's presence but at this point, Ellie was too damn worn down to bother trying to hide how effected she was mentally. Panic attacks struck at the worst possible times. Memories of the rainy ruins of Seattle kept her from getting any decent sleep.

Once, she watched Abby bring a blunt weapon down on a runner's skull and in that moment, she was back in the basement. All she could hear, feel, was the impact of that golf club. It was the crack of Joel's head splitting open on the killing blow. The sickening smell of iron in the air. Seeing his brain matter drip onto the tiles: the final touch to Abby's canvas of retribution. Nothing could erase this image of his insides being outside. The recollection left her retching in the wake of combat somewhere out of view of the two Fireflies.

She wondered if Abby had to watch her dad die in that operating room.

Ellie's eyes were trained elsewhere during Lev's wordless exchange with Abby. It was Jack's change in behavior that drew her attention, pulling her from her thoughts. He whined softly when she spoke his name, looking over his shoulder at her while trotting ahead only to face forward sharply to indicate something in the distance. "Yeah, sure, whatever," Ellie muttered dismissively, her brows knitting together. She put away her canteen and brought out a small pair of binoculars, squinting as she used them to scan the stretch of interstate they'd been skirting for hours. Looting the vehicles for any supplies, hoping to find a pair of unbroken sunglasses.

Her other hand adjusted the cap on her head—black with a brown leather beak, a snarling grizzly on the front. Short auburn locks were stuck to her face and neck and her skin was already sunburnt so she couldn't disagree that they needed to find some shade soon.

Jack whined again and jumped up onto the roof of an SUV. The rusted-out carapace creaked under Ellie's boots as she sought a higher vantage point. "... You ever see a hoard of infected before?" she asked, glancing over at Abby with a grim expression. "They're a couple of miles off from here." They mostly consisted of runners, clustered together but moving slow. Stragglers were usually the ones who alerted to anything unlucky enough to wander in their path and she'd seen them pull down a deer once, tearing the poor creature apart while it was still alive.

"They migrate, like animals." Ellie sucked in a deep breath and dropped down from the SUV with Jack in tow. The binoculars were handed off to Abby so she could look for herself. No more time was wasted after this sobering discovery—she picked up her pace and began leading them away from the interstate, away from the hoard of infected she hoped to never see up close. They were probably two days off from reaching the forest region and that was a lot of ground to cover and navigate through. After a few minutes, Ellie slowed enough to fall into step with Abby.

She didn't talk right away. Didn't turn her head to look at her until the first couple of words came out. "We can call it a day at the lake, set up the next camp there." It was structured as a statement but her tone of voice made it into a suggestion left for Abby's consideration. Ellie had no issue leading the way but was familiar by now with how she operated. She wanted to be in the know with no surprises. They had been making joint-decisions without issue up to this point. Avoiding any of those fubars or snafus. And fortunately, Ellie was pretty adaptable to most situations she faced.

It’s the look (or more like a glare) from Lev that’s thrown in her direction that tells Abby to chill the fuck out. There’s no visual or verbal acknowledgement but instead, she allows her posture to relax a bit, shoulders lowering to let the physical tension in them flow away. Or that’s the at least the hope. Though she’s hinted to him before that Ellie isn’t to be trusted, she hasn’t gone into explicit detail into why. He’s smart. More than likely he has an inkling of why Abby feels the way that she does but she also finds him to be far more trusting of the other woman than she would like. Their travels forcing constant close quarters had done wonders for the two of them socializing while Abby had maintained a distance, sometimes to her own detriment. Despite another human being on this trip, it was more isolating than she had anticipated.

As hesitant as she was to take Ellie’s direction, this place was mostly new territory for Abby. She’d largely avoided entering Nevada on the way to Jackson even if it meant adding a day to their trip. To swing around the tip and then travel through Utah which was more familiar had felt like the safest route but now she was putting their well being in the hands of the woman she considered a great enemy. She wouldn’t label it as trust, no. Ellie would be utterly mistaken to think Abby was trusting her. It was nothing more than examining the situation at hand and making a decision based on logic. Ellie somewhat knew the area, Abby didn’t. Simple as that.

The mention of the basement is enough to give her pause on if they really want to continue forward or try to divert around. Any longer in the heat and they risk issues. There’s a few glances between Lev and Ellie before Abby finally nods her head. “Alright. Lev and I didn’t come this way. If you’ve been through here before and think it’s the best route, lead the way.” It’s the most she’s willing to offer in terms of a compromise and if Ellie is waiting for a please, it’s not going to come. She doesn’t like not knowing what’s ahead but she doesn’t have much of a choice. Doesn’t mean she has to like it though. Lev gives her a look, a look that says offer something to show that this compromise is legitimate and that if Ellie does her part, you’ll do yours. Pursing her lips, Abby can’t help but shrug as if to say like what? There’s not much to offer right now in the middle of god damn nowhere. “Get us to the forest aaaand I’ll set up camp..?” Good enough, it earns another nod of approval from Lev and she steps to the side as if offering Ellie the wide open landscape in front of them to navigate.

[itsgiovanna]

playing for love (chapter 12)

pairing: fem!character x mason mount

summary: injured and lost, mason mount begins his recovery with the help of adeline alderidge, a tough yet brilliant physiotherapist with secrets of her own. he becomes determined to break through the walls adeline has built around herself. but some wounds don't heal easily, and the closer they get, the more mason realizes she might need saving just as much as he does.

notes: hey, everyone!!! celebrating mason's goals, here's a spicy one for you. hope you like it :)

word count: 10.2k

warnings: a lot of smut & fluff.

next: chapter 13 (soon)

tag list: @avalentina @a1leexxa

The morning sunlight slipped through the sheer curtains, casting a soft golden hue over the living room. Mason stirred awake slowly, the scent of lavender still clinging to the blanket draped over them. Adeline against his chest, her cheek pressed lightly to his shirt, her breathing deep and even.

They had fallen asleep on the couch again. It was becoming a tradition neither of them acknowledged — maybe because it made things feel less defined, or maybe because it was just... comfortable.

Mason kept still for a moment, not wanting to wake her. His arms were still around her, and even after the emotionally heavy night they'd had, she hadn't let go. He looked down at her sleeping form, strands of hair tucked into the crook of his arm, and a rush of something warm spread through his chest. It wasn’t just affection. It was care. Deep, quiet care.

The night before played in flashes. Her crying in his arms. Her shaking, her silence. And then that long, slow calm when she held onto him like he was something steady in a world she couldn’t trust.

He shifted gently, grabbing his phone from the armrest and typing out a message to Jaz.

Mason: Any chance you can bring Lily around this morning? I think Adeline could really use her.

He hit send before he could overthink it. Adeline still hadn’t said a word about what triggered her panic attack, and he hadn’t pushed. But he knew it was something she didn’t feel ready to share. And, that's fine. He’d wait. He just wanted to help in the meantime.

About thirty minutes later, there was a soft knock at the door.

He moved carefully, sliding out from under Adeline without waking her and walking to the door. When he opened it, Lily stood there grinning, her tiny backpack slung over one shoulder and a glittery unicorn clip in her hair. Jaz was behind her, giving Mason a quick, knowing smile.

“Operation wake-up is a go.” Jaz whispered with a wink. "Text me later."

Mason crouched to Lily’s level. "Alright, Lils. Think you can wake up your mom in a special way?"

Lily lit up instantly, tiptoeing inside, as Mason closed the door.

He watched her creep up to the couch like a cartoon character on a secret mission, arms stretched out wide for dramatic effect. She pounced gently on Adeline, giggling.

“Mommy! Wake up, sleepyhead!”

Adeline jolted slightly, surprised, and then broke into the kind of smile that made Mason's heart full. She sat up quickly, pulling Lily into her arms.

“Bug! I missed you!” she whispered, hugging her tightly.

“I missed you too! We had candy and watched cartoons and Summer dressed up like a potato.”

"A potato?" Adeline blinked.

"A very fat potato." Lily added, dead serious.

Adeline looked over her shoulder, her eyes still soft with sleep, but lighter somehow. "You brought her back?"

He shrugged, one hand in his pocket. “Thought it might cheer you up. Plus, it’s Sunday. Figured it could be a day just for you.”

“Me?”

“Relax. Me and Lily are gonna take over the kitchen. We’re making breakfast. Right, chef?”

"Yes, Chef Mase." Lily saluted.

“You’re both insane.” Adeline laughed, brushing her fingers through Lily’s hair.

“Lovely, actually.” Mason replied, heading toward the kitchen.

Mason lifted Lily onto the counter with a dishtowel like a chef’s apron and handed her a whisk, that was way too big for her hands.

“We need eggs, lots of them.” he said dramatically, opening the fridge.

“They're pretty!” Lily said, grabbing two and holding them like precious gems.

Adeline stood by the kitchen entrance, leaning on the doorframe in her oversized hoodie, watching them. There was something about the way Lily looked up at Mason with admiration. And, the way Mason gently guided her, holding her wrist while they mixed batter or letting her pick how many chocolate chips to add.

Adeline didn’t mean to stare, but she did. Because no man had ever just… cared like that. Not for her, not for Lily. It wasn’t loud or grand, it wasn’t even romantic in the traditional sense.

It was just safe. Steady. She didn’t feel like she had to do it all alone.

She stepped into the kitchen slowly, arms crossed but a little smile tugging at her lips. “What are we making, Gordon Ramsay?”

“Pancakes. Possibly edible. No promises.” Mason turned over his shoulder.

“And chocolate chips. Lots.” Lily beamed.

“Well, if it’s in Lily’s hands, I trust it'll be good.”

Adeline waited at the table, chin resting on her palm, fingers absently brushing over the wood. From the kitchen came the occasional clatter of plates and Lily’s high-pitched giggles, followed by Mason’s low, amused replies. For a moment, everything felt suspended — soft, golden, still. Like the world outside had quieted just for them.

When they finally emerged from the kitchen, Mason was balancing two plates, while Lily trailed behind him proudly holding two cups of juice.

Adeline blinked in surprise. The plates were filled — fluffy pancakes, scrambled eggs with chives, crispy bacon, and even a small fruit bowl. Mason slid into the seat beside her, letting his arm drape around the back of her chair, his fingers brushing lightly against her hoodie.

“Well... I'm impressed.” she said.

“Lily's the boss. I'm just emotional support.” Mason said, nodding toward the little girl who was already climbing into her seat.

“I cracked an egg. Only spilled one.” Lily said confidently.

“And two on the counter.” Mason added with a grin.

Adeline let out a real laugh. One that came from her stomach and warmed her chest.

“This looks amazing, Mase.”

Mason looked over at her, his expression a mix of pride and something softer. “You look better this morning.” he said, quietly.

“I feel better.” she admitted, glancing down at her plate. “Thank you, both of you.”

They started eating in a rhythm that felt almost like routine — comfortable, filled with little sounds of Lily humming to herself between bites and Mason offering to pass the syrup. Adeline didn’t realize how hungry she was until the first bite hit her tongue. It was warm and sweet.

Then, halfway through her juice, Lily looked up and asked, voice small and curious. “Are you and Mase a couple?”

Adeline blinked and Mason stopped mid-chew.

The question wasn’t loaded with expectation. It came from the same place as all Lily’s questions: observation. Innocent curiosity. But it still landed like a stone in the quiet ease they’d settled into.

Lily looked between them, chewing on her pancake and continuing, “Like Olivia's mommy and daddy. Or Josh's. They live together and kiss a lot.”

Adeline’s fork froze above her plate. Her mind scattered in a dozen directions — memories of hotel rooms and guilt-heavy mornings. No one ever lasted. She never brought anyone into Lily’s life. Not like this.

She glanced at Mason, and he was already looking at her. There was no panic in his expression, but there was vulnerability. A flicker of concern. This wasn’t his moment to answer.

Adeline turned to Lily, her voice warm and steady. “Mason is very special to me, sweetheart.” she said. “And sometimes, grown-ups take their time to figure things out, just like kids do with new games or toys.”

Lily stared for a second, then nodded, satisfied enough. “Okay.” she said, returning to her pancakes like nothing had happened. “But if you do kiss, I don’t wanna see it. That’s gross.”

Mason coughed a laugh, nearly choking on his tea.

Adeline reached for her tea, hiding her smile behind the rim. Under the table, she felt Mason’s hand find her knee, resting there gently. A silent reassurance. She didn’t look at him right away — but she didn’t pull away either.

Some things didn’t need to be said out loud. Not, yet.

But, they were getting there.

(...)

Mason was the one who suggested they go to Afflecks Market.

The weather had no business being that perfect — sunny, warm, and just breezy enough to feel like the city itself was sighing in relief. It was the kind of Sunday that made it impossible to stay indoors.

The market was buzzing with people. The doors opened to that signature scent: a mix of incense, street food, and too many candles burning all at once. Every wall was alive — flyers layered on top of each other, vintage t-shirts hanging crooked, stalls with everything from crystal necklaces to watches.

Adeline walked between Mason and Lily, her hand grazing his arm more than once — and he didn’t move away. In fact, at one point, he linked their fingers for a beat too long when helping her through a narrow aisle.

“A unicorn candle!” Lily gasped dramatically.

Mason leaned close, his voice low near Adeline’s ear as Lily skipped off to the shelf. “Think that would survive two hours in the flat before becoming a pile of glitter wax?”

“She’d probably take it to bed and wake up stuck to it.”

He laughed, that warm, quiet kind that made her chest squeeze a little.

They lingered near a display of graphic hoodies and oversized t-shirts, most with bold "Manchester" prints or ridiculous sayings on them.

“Do you think I’d get away with this one?” Mason held up a shirt that read: ‘Proper Manchester Lad’ in fluorescent pink.

“Only if you want people to think you’re doing ironic performance art.”

“Or maybe just trying to impress someone.” He leaned closer again.

She rolled her eyes, but her cheeks were warm. “You don’t have to wear neon to do that.”

“So... I’m already impressive?” He raised a brow.

“You’re tolerable.” Adeline gave him a slow look.

“Ouch.” He held his chest, feigning injury. “Ruthless.”

Lily ran back with a sticker of a sparkly cat and Mason lifted her up easily, balancing her on his hip like it was natural to him.

As they moved deeper into the market, past a vinyl stall and a tarot reader, Adeline asked. “You grew up in Portsmouth, right?”

“Born and raised. Near the coast. Mom worked as a hairdresser, Dad coached local teams. My siblings and I used to spend summers getting muddy in the beach. Me, Lewis, Jaz, and Stacey. It was loud. Messy.”

She smiled, watching him shift Lily’s weight effortlessly as he spoke.

“Miss it?”

“Yeah. Sometimes. Life was… smaller then. Football was just fun. No pressure. No one watching. Just scabby knees, sodas, and goalposts made from jackets.”

“You sound like a storybook.”

“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

“I say that like I could picture it.” she said, her voice softer now. “You, being just some boy with a dream.”

He glanced over at her, eyes catching hers for a second longer than they probably should’ve in public.

And just then — it shifted.

Adeline felt it first. That prickling awareness. She followed the feeling to the left, and sure enough, two girls were hovering near a jewelry stall just across from them, pretending to look at earrings. But they kept glancing over. Whispering. One even had her phone partially raised — not filming, yet, but clearly tempted.

“We’ve got admirers.” She leaned into Mason with a smirk.

He followed her gaze and sighed quietly, his body tensing almost imperceptibly.

“They’re cute. Subtle. Almost professional.” she teased, brushing her arm against his deliberately.

“This is why I don’t do public much. It’s never just one photo.” Mason’s voice was low.

“I’m not bothered, Mase.” she said honestly. “I actually... kinda like it. Makes me feel like I’m in a scandalous tabloid romance.”

He snorted. “You want me to dip you back and kiss you dramatically or something?”

“Only if we get good lighting.”

He chuckled, adjusting Lily as she squirmed in his arms. “You’re ridiculous.”

“And you’re too hot to be this grumpy.”

Mason choked on a laugh, trying not to draw attention, but she caught the way he bit down a smile — the way he looked at her like she was the only one in that chaotic market.

“I’ll survive the stares.” he said, softer this time. “As long as you keep looking at me like that.”

They kept moving, slipping into another corner of the market where Lily insisted on smelling every candle she could find. Mason knelt beside her, letting her choose between a “strawberry cloud” and something called “forest dreams” which she, dramatically, claimed smelled like fairies.

Adeline hung back a little, her attention caught by a small stall of antique lockets and pins. Her fingers brushed over a delicate silver one shaped like a heart, the surface scratched just enough to feel like it had a story.

That’s when she felt it — the prickling sensation of someone watching her.

Two girls, probably in their twenties, were lingering near the opposite table, stealing not-so-subtle glances her way. One of them, a brunette in a leather jacket and platform boots, nudged her friend, who was taller and had her phone clutched like it was ready.

Adeline turned slightly, catching their eyes. They both hesitated — then stepped closer.

“Hi, sorry—” the brunette started, visibly nervous. “We didn’t wanna interrupt, but… is that Mason Mount with you?”

Adeline offered a polite smile. “Yes, he’s just over there.”

“Oh my god.” the other girl breathed, grinning. “Do you think he’d mind taking a picture with us?”

“I can ask, give me one second.” Adeline said, keeping her tone kind. She appreciated that they were respectful — not pushy, just excited.

She walked over to where Mason was crouched next to Lily, now engaged in a very serious discussion about which soap smelled like a butterfly.

“Hey.” she said softly, placing a hand on his shoulder. “You’ve got fans. Two of them. They asked if you’d take a photo.”

He looked up, following her gaze. When he saw the girls, he gave a quiet sigh — not annoyed, just resigned. “Are you okay with it?” he asked.

She shrugged. “They're sweet. Didn’t come running or anything.”

“Alright.” He nodded, rising to his feet and dusting off his jeans.

Mason approached the girls with that polite, kind smile he’d perfected — warm enough to be nice, but just closed off enough to draw a boundary. He greeted them, posed between the two girls, when Adeline stepped forward.

“I can take it if you’d like.” she offered.

The girls looked relieved. “Would you? Thank you!”

She took the phone and snapped a few quick pictures, giving Mason a small thumbs-up when they were done. The girls said how much they loved watching him play and were halfway through complimenting his jacket, before glancing quickly back at Adeline.

“You guys are really cute together.” one said with a sincere smile. “And, uh… you’re really pretty.”

“Thank you.” Adeline blinked, startled — but smiled.

They waved and left, still whispering excitedly to each other as they disappeared into the crowd.

Only once they were well out of earshot did Mason exhale, rubbing the back of his neck.

“They're nice.” Adeline said, nudging him playfully.

“Yeah. Just—still not used to it.” He nodded.

“You handled it fine, Mase.”

“I didn't mean the pictures. I just don’t like... all the eyes on the people I care about.”

She looked at him for a beat, reading the quiet honesty in his expression. Then he added, more softly, “That’s why I didn’t say anything back there. But…”

He leaned in just slightly, so only she could hear.

“They’re right.”

Her brow rose. “About?”

“You.” he said. “Being, ridiculously pretty.”

Adeline felt her cheeks flush — instantly, stupidly warm. “You’re only saying that because I handled your PR like a professional.”

“No, I’m saying it because it’s true.” He grinned. “But the PR part didn’t hurt.”

She laughed, trying to hide her smile behind her hand.

At her feet, Lily looked up, unimpressed. “I’m still hungry.”

“Alright.” Mason said, scooping her up with ease. “Let’s feed the fairy before she turns into a goblin.”

Adeline followed as they turned toward the next row of food stalls, heart still beating faster than she cared to admit.

(...)

A few doors down from Afflecks Market, they ducked into a small burger joint located between a record store and a tattoo studio. The sign above the door read “Bun & Battered” in peeling green paint, and the smell of grilled meat and toasted brioche hit instantly, mouthwatering and heavy.

It was the kind of place with red leather booths, checkered floors, and laminated menus, stuck under the glass-topped tables. A rock playlist hummed over the speakers, the windows were fogged slightly from the grills working overtime in the back.

“Shouldn’t you be on some footballer diet?” Adeline teased as they slid into a booth near the corner.

Mason leaned back, one arm draped along the top of the seat behind her. “Yes.” he said casually. “But I think I’ll survive one burger. Maybe even... chips.”

“That’s rebellious.”

“I’m a man of layers.” he grinned.

When the server came, Adeline reached for her bag — only for Mason to beat her to it.

“Mase—” she began.

“Nope.” he said, already handing his card over. “Let me.”

“I was gonna cover mine and Lily’s.”

“You’ve been feeding me emotional support tea and letting your kid cover me in fairy soap all morning. Let me buy lunch.”

Adeline shook her head, lips curving. “You’re something else, Mount.”

“Charming, though.” he said, sipping his Coke with zero shame.

Lily got a kid-sized burger that was still bigger than her face, and immediately managed to smear ketchup on her cheek. Mason didn’t miss a beat — grabbing a napkin and gently dabbing at her skin, like it was the most natural thing in the world.

“Missed a spot.” Adeline said, pointing to his own chin.

“No, I didn’t.” But he wiped anyway, then stuck his tongue out at her.

“You’re weird.” Lily giggled wildly.

“Yes, bug.” Adeline replied. “But, we’re your weirdos.”

The food was good — messy, delicious, and totally worth breaking diets for. Adeline didn’t realize how hungry she really was until the first bite. She leaned her elbow on the table, watching Mason cut Lily’s burger in half like a pro, then slide her extra napkins, before she even asked.

There were a few glances — the kind that lingered. A couple sitting by the front door seemed to recognize Mason, whispering behind their milkshakes. Another pair of guys near the counter, did a double take, one subtly nudging his phone under the table, as if debating whether to sneak a picture.

Adeline didn’t tense, but she felt the shift. Mason noticed it too.

His posture changed just slightly — less relaxed, more aware. Not angry, but alert. His fingers lightly brushed against Adeline’s wrist on the table, a silent reassurance.

But, beneath that calm, his mind flicked back to the fans earlier — to the way they’d looked at Adeline with curiosity. Not judgmental, just curious. But, curiosity spreads. Rumors grow teeth. Headlines twist things.

He hadn’t been seen with anyone in years. Not... like this.

And now? Here he was. In a public booth. With Lily trying to make her pickle “do a flip” across the tray and Adeline laughing at him like he was the only person in the room.

Something about it scared him. And something about it felt… right.

“I think she’s gonna need a nap after this.” Adeline said quietly, sipping her drink.

“She? Pretty sure I need a nap after that burger.”

Adeline leaned a little closer, her voice low and teasing. “Planning to sleep through your recovery or…?”

“I was thinking I could be persuaded to stay awake.” he murmured, eyes flicking to her. “If there’s incentive.”

“You’re not as smooth as you think, Mount.” She smirked, cheeks pink.

“I don’t need to be.” He raised a brow.

Adeline snorted into her drink, hiding her smile. Lily declared she was full and began stacking her fries like a tower, blissfully unaware.

Mason looked at Adeline again, longer this time. And the thought lingered — about the fans, the attention, the risk.

Then, she laughed again. And he thought: Screw it.

She's worth it all.

(...)

The sun was starting to dip behind Manchester’s buildings, casting golden shadows over the pavement as they walked toward the car. The city was still buzzing around them — buskers packing up, laughter echoing from nearby pubs, the clatter of market vendors rolling down their stalls.

Lily was completely knocked out, cheek squished against Mason’s shoulder, her arms limp around his neck. The chocolate chip cookie she insisted on earlier had been the final blow after an afternoon of walking and exploring. Now, she was draped in his arms like she’d always belonged there.

Adeline walked beside him, her hands tucked into her jacket pockets, trying not to stare too long. But she did — often. Because, there was something quietly disarming about the way Mason held Lily. The care, the ease. How he readjusted her slightly when she slipped, murmured something soft, even though she couldn’t hear him. How he, never once, looked annoyed or tired.

He opened the car door with one hand, the other still wrapped securely around Lily, and gently set her in the back seat, buckling her in with the kind of attention most people reserve for fragile things.

On the way to Adeline’s flat, a John Mayer song filtered through the speakers — “Slow Dancing in a Burning Room.” — the kind of song that lived in the silence more than the sound.

Without thinking, Adeline reached over. Her fingers found the nape of Mason’s neck — just above the collar of his t-shirt — and brushed gently, her thumb tracing slow, absentminded circles.

Mason didn’t say anything. He just exhaled — a breath that sounded like he’d been holding it in all day — and reached for her thigh. His palm was warm as it settled there, fingers spreading, slightly. Higher than casual. Intentionally close. He didn’t look at her, but she felt him tense a little, waiting to see if she’d move away.

She didn’t. In fact, she tilted her legs just slightly toward him. Her body answered before her mind could process what was happening.

Heat stirred inside her — slow and smoldering, like the music playing in the background. Her breath caught as his thumb began to move, slow and deliberate, just like hers had been on his neck.

Nothing was said. There didn’t need to be.

The city disappeared outside the windows. They drove through it like it belonged to someone else, wrapped up in a quiet that pulsed between them — alive and charged.

When they pulled into Adeline's building, Mason shifted the car into neutral but didn’t immediately turn it off. His hand lingered on her thigh, her hand still resting behind his neck. Neither of them moved, until Lily stirred lightly in the back, a small, sleepy murmur breaking the spell.

Mason cleared his throat, gently pulling his hand away as he turned off the engine. Adeline looked over at him, a faint, crooked smile tugging at her lips.

She didn’t say anything. And, neither did he.

Lily was already awake, blinking slowly, her cheek still marked by the imprint of her nap.

“Hey, sleepyhead.” he said gently, opening the car door for her.

She slid out with a little groan, stretching her arms high above her head. Her curls were a little mussed, her expression adorably dazed.

Adeline walked around to meet them, reaching out to adjust Lily’s sweatshirt. “Bug, do you want to head in first? George’s probably on shift.”

“Can I say hi to him?” Lily asked, already brightening.

“George?” Mason glanced sideways.

“The doorman.” Adeline explained with a small smile. “She’s obsessed. He tells her stories when she’s bored waiting for me.”

Lily looked up at Mason, her eyes round. “He was a magician in another life.”

Mason laughed at that. “Of course he was.”

Before she turned to go, Lily surprised him — throwing her arms around his middle and hugging him tightly. “Thank you, Mase.” she murmured. “It was so fun.”

His hands gently came to rest around her tiny frame, holding her with a care that felt almost instinctive.

“You’re welcome, Lils.” he said softly, bending down just a little to be closer to her height. “I had a pretty great time too.”

She beamed at him and then jogged toward the building, skipping slightly as she reached the front doors and waved at the man inside.

Adeline took a step closer, arms folded loosely in front of her. “You’ve got a fan for life now.”

“I can see that.” Mason said, watching Lily disappear inside.

He turned toward her, that familiar calm settling over him — something he only seemed to feel around her now. “She’s just like you.”

Adeline met his eyes, and for a moment, neither of them said anything. The tension between them was different than earlier that day — softer, heavier. It wasn’t just chemistry. It was something heavier, lived-in. Charged and warm.

“Thank you.” she said. “For the whole day. For lunch. For being… ridiculously patient with her. With me.”

He smiled, stepping slightly closer. “You don’t have to thank me, Ady. I meant it when I said I wanted to be there.”

Adeline’s fingers reached up, almost instinctively, brushing the edge of his jaw. “Still.” she said. “I’ve never really… let someone in like this. Not in a while. I guess it’s strange that it doesn’t feel strange.”

He tilted his head slightly. “It doesn’t feel strange at all.”

Her touch shifted slightly, and before he could think too much about it, she leaned in and pressed a kiss to his mouth — slow and warm, laced with gratitude and something deeper. And when she pulled back, her lips brushed the line of his jaw and then his neck, just enough to make his breath hitch.

Mason blinked, caught off guard for a second. But then, she stepped back with a little smile tugging at her mouth — like she knew exactly what she’d done.

“Guess I owe you again.” she murmured, fingers grazing the collar of his jacket, her voice low and teasing.

Mason chuckled, still recovering. “You’re racking up quite the tab.”

“Think you can keep up?” She tilted her head playfully.

“Oh, I can do more than keep up.” he said, voice dropping a note, his hand barely brushing her waist. “But I’ll make sure you feel every payment.”

Adeline bit back a grin, lips curling as she leaned close, voice brushing his ear. “Careful. I like the sound of that.”

And just like that, the air between them simmered again. He couldn’t stop looking at her, his mind already halfway to what might come next — if only they weren’t standing outside her building with the sun still up.

"See you soon, Mount.” she added, then, kissing him once more — warm and unhurried — before walking away.

He didn’t say anything at first. Just stood there, jaw tight, eyes fixed on her as she moved toward the entrance, tossing him one last glance over her shoulder.“

And even after she disappeared through the glass doors, Mason stayed exactly where he was, hand shoved in his pocket, heart thudding a little faster than usual.

Whatever this was… it wasn’t casual anymore. And he didn’t want it to be.

(...)

Steam curled around Adeline as she stepped into the shower, the warm water cascading over her skin in soothing waves. The bathroom fogged up quickly, the mirror already blurred behind the haze. She tipped her head back under the spray, closing her eyes and letting the heat loosen the tension in her shoulders.

But her mind wasn’t quiet. It hadn’t been since she entered her building, with Mason’s voice still playing in her head.

Her fingers, now pressed against her neck, where his had lingered hours before, and heat pulsed in her belly that had nothing to do with the water.

She shouldn’t be thinking about him like this — especially, not now, not with Lily tucked safely in bed in the next room — but, it was impossible not to. Mason Mount had been crawling under her skin for weeks. Tonight, though? Tonight made it undeniable.

She braced her hands against the tiled wall, exhaling slowly, trying to let the water clear her thoughts. But, instead, images of him flooded in sharper.

His hand resting, just a little too high, on her thigh in the car.

The teasing glint in his eye when she kissed the side of his neck.

His breath catching.

The way he’d watched her walk away, like he wanted to follow.

Adeline swallowed hard, cheeks flushed from more than just the steam. She would be lying if she said she hadn’t imagined having him all to herself. His sculpted frame wasn’t exactly subtle — probably carved from years of gym workouts, every muscle fitting just right under the fabric of his t-shirt. And those tattoos… the ones she’d caught glimpses of before. The one on his rib, that she knew was just beneath the hem of his shirt. The way the ink trailed down his right arm, bold and intricate, only made her wonder how far they went.

And, then, there was the way he looked at her mouth sometimes. Just a second too long. She noticed. Because, she did the same.

Biting her bottom lip, she turned off the shower and reached for the towel, pressing it to her skin as she stood in the lingering warmth.

Yet, her thoughts didn’t cool down. Not a bit.

Adeline stepped out of the bathroom, the warmth of the steam still clinging to her skin. A towel wrapped around her body, she padded silently into her bedroom, careful not to disturb the peaceful silence that had settled over the flat.

She opened her drawer, instinctively reaching for one of her usual oversized t-shirts when her hand hesitated. Something tugged at her.

Without really thinking too much about it, she pushed past the t-shirt and pulled out the black lace lingerie set Stella had once gifted her — expensive, delicate, never worn. It had felt like too much back then. But, tonight… she didn’t know. It felt different.

She slipped it on slowly, the silk hugging her body in all the right places. No one was going to see it. Probably. Maybe. That wasn’t the point. She just… felt like it. And, that was reason enough.

Adeline climbed into bed and lay back against the pillows, still slightly damp hair spread around her. The room was dark, the sky outside, now pitch-black, only the occasional car sound rising from the street. The day had gone by faster than she realized. Her body relaxed, but, her mind didn’t.

She tried to distract herself. From the heat still curling low in her stomach. From the memory of Mason’s touch. His gaze. The way her pulse jumped when he got close.

To her own surprise, she grabbed her phone and opened Instagram. She’d never actually checked his profile. Not really. It felt like an invasion before.

She searched his name and found him easily.

Mason Mount, 5.7 million followers. England & Manchester United

Photos on the pitch, shots of training, sponsored posts. All high quality. Clean. Distant, somehow. Everything looked so polished. So... untouchable.

Her own profile was private. Quiet. A few pictures of Manchester streets, one or two with Lily or Stella, a mirror selfie from months ago.

Before she could stop herself, her thumb tapped follow. She blinked.

He won’t see it. Not tonight, anyway.

But, he did.

Because, barely two minutes later, a notification popped up:

Mason Mount has requested to follow you.

Her heart skipped a beat. Then, came the message.

Mason: Finally decided to become one of the 5.7 million?

Adeline bit her lip, a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.

Adeline: Thought I’d see what all the fuss was about. Not bad, Mount.

Mason: Not bad? Harsh review.

Adeline: To be fair, the best post is still the one from last week. The one with me and Lily blurry in the background with grocery bags.

Mason: That’s already my favorite.

She stared at the screen for a second, warmth blooming in her chest. Then another message came through.

Mason: Wearing that towel still?

Her jaw dropped, laugh caught in her throat.

Adeline: Excuse me?

Mason: I’m just guessing. You have “still-damp-hair-and-trouble” energy tonight.

She snorted softly, fingers flying over the screen.

Adeline: You’re ridiculous.

Mason: And you’re avoiding the question.

She didn’t reply. She didn’t need to. A minute later, another message came through.

Mason: Look out your window, Alderidge.

Her breath hitched as she scrambled off the bed, padding across the room. She tugged open the curtains — and... there he was.

Down on the street, Mason stood by his car, leaning against the door like he hadn’t just casually turned her entire night inside out.

Her phone buzzed again. He was calling.

She answered quickly, a hand still holding the curtain open. Their eyes met across the dark.

“Stalker.” she murmured into the phone, a teasing smile playing on her lips.

“Guilty.” he said, voice low and amused. “But... I got impatient.”

“Oh, did you?”

“You looked too good in my imagination and I couldn’t let it stay there.”

Her pulse fluttered.

“So…” he continued, his grin audible now. “Are you going to let me in, or just keep undressing me from the window?”

“Come up.” She laughed, shaking her head.

And just like that, she turned from the window, heart pounding in her chest — already knowing this night wasn’t going to end quietly.

As soon as Adeline hung up the call, a rush of nerves fluttered in her chest — anticipation laced with something heavier.

She glanced down at herself — black lace hugging her curves a little too perfectly — and though she felt bold minutes ago, now her fingers moved quickly toward the robe hanging on the back of her chair. She slipped it on and loosely tied the belt, her heart beating faster with every step she took toward the door.

She wanted this. She wanted him. The way her body ached around that truth made it impossible to ignore.

The softest knock came, three short taps. Her breath hitched. She opened the door slowly.

Mason stood there, slightly damp hair falling just right, his skin freshly clean, and a plain white t-shirt clinging to his frame — simple, but impossibly attractive. The short sleeves pushed up just enough to reveal the tattoos on his arm, the one she had been thinking about not even an hour ago.

His eyes raked over her. “You’re really trying to kill me, aren’t you?”

She raised an eyebrow, playing innocent, even as heat surged under her skin. “I put a robe on, didn’t I?”

His mouth quirked into a grin. “And somehow, that makes it worse.”

She rolled her eyes, suppressing the laugh bubbling in her throat as she grabbed his arm. “Quiet.” she whispered, tugging him gently into the flat. “Lily’s asleep. Don’t get us kicked out.”

“I’ll try to behave.” he murmured close to her ear, the grin still there in his voice.

She led him down the quiet hallway, heart hammering, aware of the warmth of his skin beneath her fingers. The air between them was already thick, charged, every step toward her bedroom feeling like its own form of foreplay.

Once they were inside, she pushed the door softly shut, turning to face him.

Mason looked around the room just for a second, then back to her — gaze lingering, heat unmistakable.

“Still nervous?” he asked gently, stepping closer, his voice lower now.

Adeline shook her head slowly, pulse fluttering again as her hand reached for his.

“No.” she whispered. “Just... really aware of how much I want this.”

His breath caught — just for a moment — before he leaned down and kissed her, slow and full of something that had been building between them since the beginning.

Mason’s kiss was deliberate — slow at first, like he wanted to memorize the shape of her mouth, the soft sigh that escaped her lips when he deepened it. His hands moved to her waist, fingers splaying wide before slipping lower, gripping the curve of her hips and then her ass — pulling her closer, until she was flush against him, chest to chest.

A soft gasp left Adeline as he lifted her effortlessly, her legs wrapping around his waist on instinct. She clung to him, arms looped around his shoulders, mouths meeting again and again as he walked the two of them toward the bed with steady intention.

He sank down onto the edge of the mattress with her still wrapped around him, their lips never breaking apart. Her hands tangled in his hair, tugging gently, and it only spurred him on — each kiss messier, deeper, his control thinning with every breath she stole from him.

Then, he laid her back, carefully, like she was something delicate — even though everything about the way they touched said otherwise. Adeline’s breath hitched as she pushed the robe off her shoulders and let it fall open.

Mason froze for a moment, taking her in.

“Fuck.” he muttered, voice gone thick. “You’re—” He cut himself off, a half-laugh, half-groan under his breath. “That lingerie should be illegal.”

Adeline smirked, but her cheeks flushed. “Gonna arrest me for it?”

Then, he was kissing her again, deeper now — hungry. He shifted onto the bed with her, settling between her legs, his hands sliding up her thighs, thumbs tracing lazy circles on her skin.

Adeline arched into him, body burning everywhere he touched. Her fingers weaved back into his hair, pulling him impossibly close. She could feel his weight, his heat, every beat of his heart echoed in hers. Her breath caught when his lips moved down to her neck, slow and hot, and her body trembled under him.

It was like a fuse had been lit and neither of them knew how to put it out. And honestly, neither of them wanted to.

Mason's lips dragged along the curve of Adeline’s neck, warm and unhurried, his breath sending tiny shivers down her skin. She tilted her head, granting him more access, her fingers still buried in his hair, her thighs instinctively tightening around his waist.

“You’re impossible to ignore.” he murmured against her throat, his voice so low it barely made it past the thrum of blood in her ears. “You know that, right?”

Adeline’s nails gently grazed the back of his neck. “I could say the same about you.”

He smiled against her skin, one hand smoothing up her side, fingertips brushing the edge of her bra strap. He deftly unhooked her bra, pulling it off, and let his gaze roam over her. He took a moment to admire her, his eyes dark with desire. He leaned down, taking one nipple into his mouth, sucking gently while his hand cupped her other breast, his thumb brushing over the sensitive peak. Adeline arched into his touch, a soft moan escaping her lips.

Mason continued his exploration, his mouth trailing down her stomach, his tongue dipping into her navel. He hooked his fingers into the waistband of her panties, pulling them down slowly, his eyes never leaving hers. He spread her thighs wider, settling between them, his breath, hot against her most intimate place.

“Mase...” she whispered, her voice a plea.

He looked up at her, a wicked smile playing on his lips, then, leaning down and running his tongue along her slit. Adeline cried out, her hands gripping the sheets, her body arching off the bed.

He took his time, exploring every inch of her, his tongue circling her clit, his fingers sliding into her, curling up to hit that sweet spot inside. Adeline’s moans filled the room, her body writhing under his touch. He brought her to the edge, then backed off, his fingers replacing his tongue, his mouth moving to her inner thigh, nipping and sucking at the sensitive skin.

“Mase.” she whispered, her body arching, seeking more. “I need you.”

He looked up at her, a smirk on his lips. “Yeah?” he teased, his fingers still moving inside her, his thumb pressing against her clit.

“I—I'm coming.” she said, her voice hoarse with need.

His mouth closed over her clit, his fingers picking up speed. Adeline’s body tensed, her moans growing louder, more insistent. Mason, sensing her need for silence, quickly moved his hand, covering her mouth gently but firmly. He looked up at her, his eyes dark with desire and a touch of dominance. Adeline’s eyes widened slightly, but she nodded, her body trusting his touch.

Her orgasm crashed over her, her body convulsing beneath him. Her muffled moans were captured by his hand, the vibrations of her pleasure humming against his palm. Mason slowed his movements, gentling her down, his lips pressing soft kisses to her inner thighs, his hand still covering her mouth, silencing her cries.

Adeline, her body still trembling, reached down and pulled Mason up, her lips meeting his in a fierce kiss. She could taste herself on him, and it only spurred her on. She pushed him onto his back, straddling him, her hands roaming his chest, his abs, his hips. She took his length in her hand, slowly, a smirk on her lips as she felt him pulse in her hand.

Mason groaned, his hands tangling in her hair, his hips bucking up to meet her. She took him deep, her eyes watering slightly, but, not once did she stop.

Mason’s groans turned to curses, his body tensing, his hands gripping her hair tighter. “Ady.” he warned, his voice hoarse. “I’m close.”

She looked up at him, a mischievous glint in her eye. With a final groan, Mason came, his body shaking, his hands still tangled in her hair.

Adeline crawled up his body, a satisfied smile on her face. Mason pulled her down, his lips meeting hers in a soft, gentle kiss. “That was… incredible.” he murmured, his lips pressing a soft kiss to her forehead.

Adeline smiled, snuggling closer, her eyes already closing. “Yes, it was.” she agreed, already drifting off to sleep, a satisfied smile on her face.

But Mason wasn’t done. He wanted more. He wanted all of her. He rolled her onto her back, his body covering hers. He looked into her eyes, a question there. She nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. He positioned himself at her entrance, pushing in slowly, inch by inch, filling her completely. They both moaned, their breaths coming in ragged gasps.

He started to move, his hips thrusting against hers, slow and deep. She met his rhythm, their bodies syncing in a primal dance. The room was quiet, their breaths the only sound, mingling in the small space between them. Mason reached between them, his fingers finding her clit, rubbing it in small, deliberate circles. He could feel her body tensing, her breaths coming faster, and he knew she was close.

Sensing her impending cry, Mason quickly moved his hand, gently, but firmly covering her mouth. He looked into her eyes, a mix of dominance and tenderness in his gaze. Adeline nodded slightly, understanding his intent. Her body tensed further, her eyes flaring with intensity as her orgasm hit. She moaned into his hand, the sound muffled, her body convulsing beneath him.

Mason slowed his movements, drawing out her pleasure, his lips pressing soft kisses to her forehead, her cheeks, her neck. He held her as she rode out her orgasm, his body covering hers, his weight a comforting anchor.

As Mason's own release began to build, he picked up the pace, his breaths growing ragged. Adeline wrapped her legs tightly around his hips, locking him in place. Mason moaned deeply, the sound vibrating in his chest. "Shit." he whispered, his voice hoarse with need, his body shaking with the effort of holding back.

Her legs, tightened even more, urging him on, her whisper in his ear, "Show me how much you need this, Mase." With a final, deep thrust, Mason came, his body trembling, his moan a low, guttural sound in her ear. He collapsed on top of her, his body slick with sweat, his heart pounding in time with hers. They lay there, their bodies entwined, their breaths slowly returning to normal.

Mason rolled onto his side, pulling Adeline with him, their legs still tangled, their bodies still touching. He propped himself up on one elbow, looking down at her, a soft smile playing on his lips. He reached out, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering on her cheek. "You are absolutely breathtaking, Alderidge." he said, his voice low and sincere.

Adeline’s lips curved into a soft, sleepy smile, her cheeks still flushed from everything they’d just shared. Her hand found his forearm, fingers gently wrapping around his wrist as his touch lingered on her face.

“You’re not so bad yourself, Mount.” she murmured, her voice hushed in the dim light of the bedroom. There was a teasing edge to her words, but her gaze held something deeper — something that made Mason’s chest tighten just a little.

He chuckled quietly, but the sound faded as his thumb brushed across her cheekbone. “I mean it.” he said, more serious now. “That wasn’t just...”

“Casual.” she finished for him softly.

“Yeah.” He nodded once, like the word itself tasted wrong in the context of what had just happened between them.

Adeline’s eyes didn’t leave his. “I know.”

He exhaled slowly, almost like relief. And for a moment, they simply stared at each other — not in search of reassurance, but in mutual understanding. It wasn’t just about the physical. It never had been. It was the way she laughed when Lily said something wild. The way she looked at Mason when she didn’t think he was paying attention. The way she let him in, even when it scared her.

“I like this.” she said quietly, her fingers moving up his arm, resting at his bicep. “Being with you. Even... when it’s too much.”

Mason leaned in, his forehead pressing gently against hers. “Then, let’s not overthink it. We don’t have to call it anything, yet. But I want more of this. More of you.”

A moment passed, full and quiet and perfect.

Then Adeline smiled again — that small, sure smile he was quickly becoming addicted to. “You’ve already got me, Mase.” she whispered.

He kissed her again — softer this time, slower. Not rushed. Not desperate. Just... right.

And, when they finally settled under the sheets, still tangled, her head tucked beneath his chin and his hand resting low on her back, neither of them said another word.

They didn’t need to.

(...)

The apartment was quiet, bathed in the muted blues and grays of the early dawn. A soft glow slipped through the edges of the curtains, casting gentle shapes across the floor. Adeline blinked awake slowly, her body warm and comfortably heavy. It took her a second to remember why — and then she felt it.

Mason’s arm draped around her waist, his chest steady against her back, his breath slow and warm near the curve of her neck.

She smiled.

Carefully, trying not to wake him, Adeline lifted his arm and slipped from the bed. Her feet touched the cool floor, her skin still tingling with the afterglow of the night. She tugged his shirt — the one he’d taken off hours ago — over her head before quietly padding out of the bedroom.

Her first instinct was to check Lily’s room.

She opened the door just enough to peek inside. The small figure lay curled up beneath the blankets, clutching her worn-out stuffed bunny, her breathing soft and peaceful. Relief loosened something in Adeline’s chest. She closed the door just as gently and made her way to the kitchen.

The water was cool as it slid down her throat, but her mind was still warm — with the feel of Mason’s skin against hers, his mouth, his hands, his voice low in the dark. She shook her head at herself, lips curved as she set the glass down and walked toward the balcony door.

It had become a small ritual since she’d been staying in his flat — stepping out into the quiet city just before sunrise, watching the skyline blur into day. It grounded her, reminded her she was still here, still trying, still building something new.

She wrapped her arms around herself as the breeze kissed her skin. The view from Mason’s flat stretched far — rooftops, cranes, the glow of streetlights still lit below. Manchester was waking up, slowly.

Her fingers played lightly with the hem of his shirt. She could still feel him — his warmth, the way he held her without hesitation, like he’d been waiting to.

A sound behind her caught her attention — soft footsteps, then, the creak of the sliding door.

She didn’t have to turn to know it was him.

The sliding door clicked softly as Mason stepped onto the balcony behind her. She didn’t turn right away — just smiled to herself, arms still folded across her chest, the wind brushing through her loose hair.

She felt him before he touched her — his presence warm, heavy, now in a way that caught her off guard. A second later, his arms slipped around her waist from behind, drawing her back against him. His chin came to rest on her shoulder as he inhaled slowly, like he was trying to memorize the way she smelled after sleep.

“I figured you’d be out here.” he murmured, voice low and husky with sleep.

Adeline leaned back into him with a soft hum. “Didn’t mean to wake you.”

“You didn’t.” He pressed a kiss just beneath her ear. “Missed you, though.”

She smiled, cheeks heating as his hands roamed lazily — one resting under her t-shirt, the other skimming the curve of her thigh, entirely unbothered by the open air around them. His fingers traced absent patterns on her skin, slow and teasing.

They stood like that for a while, quiet, swaying ever so slightly as the sky behind the city shifted from grey to orange. She reached up and tangled her fingers with his, holding his hand against her.

Then, her phone buzzed on the balcony table.

She reached for it, still pressed against him, and lit up the screen.

Stella: Babe, I swear if the only reason you’ve ghosted me all day is because you’re too busy having sex with Mason, I’m going to scream. Or cheer. Maybe, both.

A laugh escaped Adeline before she could stop it.

Mason leaned over her shoulder. “What?”

She turned, grinning as she held the screen up for him to read. “Stella is either worried or very proud of me.”

He read the text, eyebrows lifting before a low chuckle left his chest. “She’s not wrong, technically.”

“No.” Adeline agreed, grinning as she slid her phone back down and turned in his arms. “She’s very… accurate, actually.”

Mason’s hands slid down to her hips, gripping her softly, thumbs brushing under the hem of his own shirt on her. “Should we give her more reasons to cheer?”

Adeline laughed again, but her fingers curled around the back of his neck as she leaned up to kiss him — slow, a little lazy, the kind that melts into smiles halfway through.

When she pulled back, her lips barely brushed his. “You’re insatiable.”

He nipped gently at her mouth. “Only when it comes to you.”

She rolled her eyes, playfully, but her arms stayed around his neck. “We should go back inside.”

Mason dipped his head to kiss her jaw, her neck. “Why? Balcony’s got a decent view.”

Adeline gave him a look. He gave her one right back — smug, a little too proud of himself.

And, when she slipped her hand into his and tugged him back toward the door, he followed without hesitation.

(...)

Mason stirred slowly to the soft press of lips against his neck.

He smiled before he even opened his eyes, warmth curling deep in his chest as Adeline's mouth found his cheek next, then the corner of his jaw. Her breath was gentle against his skin, and when he finally cracked his eyes open, her face was right there, tucked close, eyes still heavy with sleep but glowing with something sweeter.

“Morning.” she whispered, her voice low and close and just for him.

He hummed, fingers instinctively tightening around her waist. “If this is how you wake me up from now on, I don’t think I’ll ever need an alarm again.”

Adeline laughed softly, letting her nose brush his. “You’d miss training.”

“Worth it.” he murmured, kissing her forehead. “Though… I do have to go in today. Early session.”

Adeline let out a quiet groan, burying her face in the crook of his neck. “I’ve got a shift to cover. Not looking forward to it.”

He shifted slightly so he could look at her better. “Elliot?”

She hesitated, then nodded. “Yeah. I just… I don’t want any drama. Especially after this. After—us.” Her fingers played lightly at the edge of the sheet. “It was such a good day yesterday. I don’t want anything to take that away.”

Mason leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to her temple. “It won’t. You can handle him. But also…” His tone turned lighter, teasing. “I know something that might help start your morning off a little better.”

“Oh, do you?” Adeline teased, her voice low as she traced the edge of Mason’s collarbone with her fingertip, the sheet slipping further down her arm.

His eyes followed the movement, slow and intent. “Yes.” he said, his tone matching hers.

Mason’s hand found her hip beneath the sheet, fingers sliding over bare skin with deliberate slowness. “Come shower with me, Alderidge.” he murmured against her mouth, lips brushing but not quite kissing. “Before I decide to make you stay in this bed all day.”

Adeline let out a soft laugh, but it melted into a gasp when his palm moved across her lower back and around to her thigh, pulling her leg over his waist. “You’re getting a little handsy, Mount.” she whispered.

“Just catching up on lost time.” he said, kissing beneath her jaw, his hand now firmly cupping her ass, pressing her flush against him.

“You’re insatiable, Mase.” she said, though she made no move to stop him — quite the opposite, her nails grazed the back of his neck as he kissed lower.

“Only with you.” he murmured, his other hand slipping between her thighs, fingers grazing where she was already warm.

Adeline’s breath caught, and for a second, the only sound in the room was the rustle of sheets and the soft pull of their breathing. Her body curved toward his instinctively, helpless under the heat curling through her.

He tilted his head, brushing his mouth along her throat. “Still thinking about saying no to that shower?”

She let out a shaky exhale, lips against his temple. “I think I’d follow you anywhere right now.”

His grin was pure trouble. “Good.” he whispered, pushing the sheet away completely. “I wasn’t planning on going alone, anyway.”

Adeline slipped out of bed first, bare feet brushing the warm floor. Mason followed close behind, just as unbothered by their lack of clothes. The bathroom was only a few steps away and Adeline padded in first, heading toward the sink to tie her hair up.

That’s when Mason caught sight of himself in the mirror.

The faint, blooming marks on his back — scratches mostly, a few deeper streaks — stood out against his skin. He tilted his head, his eyes narrowing with something between amusement and pride.

He smirked, catching her gaze in the reflection. “I don’t think I’ll be able to hide these for long."

Adeline smiled at him through the mirror. “I don’t recall hearing any complaints.”

He stepped closer, chest brushing her back, his hands finding her waist like a reflex. “No, because I was too busy losing my mind.”

She laughed, breath catching slightly when his fingers traced along her sides, slow and possessive.

“You’re not exactly innocent, either.” she murmured, glancing at her own reflection — at the shadow of his handprints still faint on her hips.

“Good.” Mason lowered his mouth to her ear, voice dropping. Then, he reached past her and turned on the shower. The sound of rushing water filling the quiet space.

Adeline looked at him then, eyes holding his. No more teasing smiles. Just something hotter, deeper.

Without a word, he took her hand and guided her under the spray.

The hot water cascaded over their skin, the steam fogging up the glass of the shower. Mason's lips lingered on Adeline’s neck, his hands sliding down her sides with a sense of urgency, a promise of more to come. Her fingers dug into his shoulders, her body shifting closer to his, as they both felt the heat build between them once again. Their lips met in another kiss, more heated, more desperate this time, their moans muffled by the intensity of their connection.

Mason's hands were all over her — trailing down her back, his touch moving lower, more passionate. His lips wandered to her collarbone, down her neck, to her chest, pulling soft sounds from her throat with every brush of his lips. Adeline’s chest was rising and falling faster, and she could feel her body responding to his every touch.

But, just as Mason moved to kiss her again, a sharp knock echoed from outside the bathroom door. It was a sudden, jarring sound that made Adeline’s heart race — her breath catching as she pulled back from Mason, her eyes wide with shock, like she’d been caught committing a crime.

Another knock, this time followed by the unmistakable, sleepy voice of a certain little one. “Mommy? Are you awake?”

Adeline’s whole body tensed. “Oh my God.” she whispered, pulling back from Mason with a mixture of horror and disbelief. “It’s Lily.”

“Wait—” Mason blinked.

“What is she doing awake?! It’s five in the morning!” Adeline whisper-yelled, gripping her wet hair in one hand like she could somehow rewind time. “She doesn’t wake up before eight! Minimum!”

She nearly slipped as she tried to grab her towel, catching herself on the wall with a breathless laugh. “Of course, she picks today to become an early riser.”

Mason smirked through the steam, but she shot him a wide-eyed look of warning.

“Don’t laugh! She can’t see you here. She will never unsee this, Mase. Stay. In. The. Bathroom.” she ordered, finger pointing dramatically toward the tiles like it was a commandment.

“You're the boss.” Mason raised his hands in mock surrender, still grinning.

Adeline groaned softly, then stepped closer — water still dripping from her skin — and kissed him, quick, but warm, a spark in her eyes. “We're not done.” she murmured, lips brushing his before she pulled away.

Then, tightening the towel around her body and trying to compose herself, she rushed out of the bathroom toward the door.

Adeline cracked it open, just a little bit, poking her head out with what she hoped was a very natural, very 'I’ve-been-asleep-all-night' look on her face.

There stood Lily, barefoot in her pajamas, clutching her little stuffed bear by one arm. Her curls were a sleepy mess, and her eyes still blinked slowly, like she wasn’t fully awake.

“Hi, sweetheart.” Adeline said, voice light but tight. “What’s up? Did you have a bad dream?”

Lily yawned and shook her head. “No. I just wanted to know if I could come cuddle.”

Adeline’s heart clenched and melted all at once. Her baby. At the worst possible moment.

“Oh, my love…” she hesitated, glancing over her shoulder quickly — thankfully the bathroom door was shut. “Can you give me just a few minutes? Mommy spilled some water… a lot of water, actually. And I need to clean it up.”

“Are you okay, mommy?” Lily blinked again.

“Totally okay! All good! Great!” Adeline laughed, maybe too loud. “Just… bathroom chaos. Go lie down for two minutes, I’ll be right there, promise.”

“Okay.” Lily frowned, clearly not impressed by the delay, but nodded.

As she padded off down the hallway, Adeline slowly closed the door, exhaling like she’d just dodged a missile. Then, she turned, leaning against the door and stared at the closed bathroom for a second before cracking up softly.

“Come out, Mase.” she said towards the door.

The bathroom door creaked open slightly, Mason peeking out with a towel around his waist and a ridiculously amused look on his face. “So… everything under control?”

Adeline laughed again, padding barefoot back to him. “She just wanted to cuddle. And now, I feel like the worst mother and the horniest woman alive.”

Mason tugged her gently by the waist. “Well, you’re definitely the hottest.”

“Don’t start.” She shook her head, nose brushing his.

“You started it.” His lips hovered over hers.

And just like that, Adeline gave him another lingering kiss, even as she sighed into his mouth. “You'll have to go before she asks for cartoons and breakfast.”

“Worth the risk.” He grinned, clearly not moving an inch.

(...)

[maxie-pallet]

Rodger’s World AU | Rodger’s Detective Agency

Rodger is my favorite Dandy’s World character aside from Connie and I had this idea because of a DIFFERENT universe that me and my moots have. I’ve been working on expanding the main Rodger’s World concept because of that. I may post more about it if people are interested!

Character summaries below the cut

Rodger

“The main character of Rodger’s World. Formed the team that is the Gardenview Detectives. It’s all his fault.”

Rodger is extremely different in this AU from his canon counterpart. His in show personality is much like his canon game personality just with a little bit more enthusiasm, but his toon counterpart is significantly different. Instead of insisting on working alone cause of a sense of confidence, he more wants to work alone because he doesn’t want to drag people into things they aren’t ready for. Instead of being stoic and wise, he’s in-your-face enthusiastic and bubbly to an almost concerning degree. The kids who used to visit Gardenview liked the kinder Rodger, but it unsettled the other mains who knew something wasn’t quite right.

After the center closed, Rodger closed himself off from others but insisted he had a plan to make things right.

Brightney

“A main character of Rodger’s World. Her role in the detective’s agency is to answer and react to calls for help, making sure the crew and any one else that’s needed to help for the case is there when they’re needed. Considering herself a secretary of sorts, she also takes brief notes of everything important mentioned during investigations.”

Brightney, in episodes not focusing on a group mystery, was often paired with the more popular Connie (who in the show, haunts Brightney’s library home). As toons, Brightney and Connie are very close (yes this au is still ghostlight propaganda), but Connie can tell how much it bothers Brightney to be less liked as in other toon & main duos, the main was still more popular. She tries to push down these inferior feelings though, instead trying to focus on helping wherever she can in gardenview.

After the center closed and Rodger began to close himself off more, Brightney was the one to try and motivate the other toons again, pulling together a team to try and solve why Gardenview closed, though only really was effective after the more influential Teagan and Glisten stood with her.

Glisten

“A main character of Rodger’s World. His role in the detective’s agency is to help with crime scene investigation. Glisten has an extreme eye for detail. He’s able to scope out any suspicious objects that would be out of place in the scene thanks to his detail oriented mind.”

Glisten, before joining the detective agency, was a dancer and good friends with Boxten, a composer. Boxten often wrote and performed the music that Glisten would dance to. Even after Glisten left to join the detective agency, the two remained friends and Glisten would perform on nights where he was free. However, this would unintentionally pull Boxten into cases he had no involvement in. As toons this connection remained (the two are essentially Sprout and Cosmo).

Glisten tried to be an emotional crutch for Rodger after Gardenview closed but it didn’t take long for him to realize Rodger still had the stubbornness he was written with and no amount of talking was going to change his mind. So, Glisten gave up and joined Brightney’s plan to figure out why Gardenview closed.

Teagan

“A main character of Rodger’s World. Her role in the detective’s agency is to interview people related to the case. As a former member of rich nobility, Teagan is trained in the art of conversing, able to get information from suspects and witnesses through pleasant chats and formalities.”

Teagan keeps a lot of her motherly qualities in this version, though has more moments reminiscent of Toriel from Undertale, where she’s loving, but can be overbearing, and can be very scary at times too. Her and Rodger were written as pseudo love interests within the show, never explicitly saying they were together or having any flirting, just generally giving the impression that they were a couple (to the point many kids and parents were surprised to hear that they weren’t when visiting Gardenview).

This unfortunately has given them a dynamic similar to an awkwardly divorced couple post-shutdown, where Rodger tries to be overly nice and Teagan is more disgusted than anything. She sees Rodger closing himself off as cowardly and his kindness when he does see people as a facade. She wants to help the rest of the toons but less for their sake and more to show that she’s not second to Rodger.

Tisha

“A main character of Rodger’s World. Her role in the detective’s agency is to keep things neat and tidy around the office and during cases! She always keeps track of the evidence found so that nothing gets overlooked! Without her, things would be in complete chaos!”

Tisha is the least popular of the mains. She’s essentially a janitor or maid in show after all, but she doesn’t mind it as much as Brightney. She has her cult following and that’s enough for her. She finds humans to be extremely unpredictable in a way she doesn’t like, making her seem kind of rude to visitors. She tends to attract kids who are neurodivergent since they relate to various parts of her character, whether it be her need for organization or her more closed off and mellow personality compared to the rest of the mains. It’s made her question whether she was written to be neurodivergent herself.

She wasn’t as panicked as everyone else when Gardenview closed, but as time went on she got more anxious about what it meant for them in the long run, not to mention the change in everyone’s behaviors, and she hopped on very fast when Brightney suggested trying to figure out what happened.

Toodles & Spots

“A main character of Rodger’s World. Her role in the detective’s agency is to… well, she doesn’t actually have a role. She’s more like Rodger’s sidekick, since she isn’t quite old enough to do much work herself! Luckily, she has her Imaginary Friend and stuffed animal Spots by her side! Together, they always end up solving the final piece of the puzzle!”

Toodles had a very comedic role in the show as she was often left behind with her babysitters, Scraps and Goob, and had to find increasingly more creative ways to escape them and go to help with the case. Of course none of this could be possible without the help of Spots, her plush dog. As well as being her plush, Spots was also Toodles’ imaginary friend. Spots sort of was like an audience self insert in a way, where somehow he could figure out things about the case others couldn’t, tell Toodles, and Toodles would tell Rodger to help him solve the cases, always being justified with Toodles having a mind like no other.

Toodles was incredibly distressed after Gardenview closed, as it wasn’t only the visitors that stopped appearing, but Toodles lost spots around the same time and couldn’t see him in her imagination without the physical toy there. All the other mains tried to comfort her as best as possible, but what hurt the most was the distance that her father figure, Rodger, was taking from everyone. Though he always reassured her everything would be ok, that they would find spots and everything would go back to normal, Toodles was smart enough to know that wasn’t going to happen.

Shortly after Brightney’s search team is formed, Toodles disappears.

[skyrages]

Hi.

So I took an online NPD test out of curiosity. I don't usually do this, but I caved recently. It was a clinical based assessment, not a Buzzfeed quiz or anything. I scored high on the regular NPD and extremely high on covert NPD. I know that's not a recognized diagnosis, but whatever.

I've been going to therapy for almost a year now for my OCD, so I brought that up to my therapist. She basically told me that because I thought I had NPD I didn't have it, and didn't believe me when I told her that I do not feel empathy. I told her about how I don't attach to people and how I subconsciously surround myself with human disasters so I can 'fix" them, and she told me that was normal. She also told me that people with personality disorders were just bad people. I really think she is great and I was really stunned when she said this. I would love some advice.

Thank you!

There are some valid tests online and some fake ones. In particular, idrlabs are very popular and have the style of a clinical test and claim to have experts but actually avoid using actual researched tests (tbf, they do seem to actually look at research) and mostly make their own knockoff versions and also they spread weird right wing propaganda. You can also just find the actual ones by looking at studies. However, an issue with narcissism is researchers have like 100 different ideas about it that they made up and the meaning of types depend on the author.

I have OCD as well, which actually made me doubt my ASPD when i first started questioning it, bc i kinda dismissed it as a stupid OCD idea lmao.

I don’t believe in bad people, i think people’s worth has nothing to do with how they happen to act. Also i have paid many therapists to help me and none of them had any idea about these disorders, honestly i think they’re overrated, the whole treatment-effectiveness therapy wise in psychology is actually controversial. I did read that adhd meds helped with aspd even though psychologists willingly ignore any treatment research for npd and aspd bc they already think it’s impossible despite never trying, and actually adhd meds helped me. But i only saw that related to aspd and npd is pretty different. Though some people have told me that narcissism is related to dopamine so worth a shot. Even with my depression honestly I had a better time fixing my own life and getting meds than anything they did. Actually, i have also seen a research thing about how people with traits of npd and aspd get less symptoms after basically practicing acting prosocially routinely, like if you commit to acting like it it can reduce symptoms in general. Some people have said therapy helps them so maybe it’s a matter of trying to find someone else or someone open to learning.

The misconception about narcissists not being self aware is debunked by actual research saying that narcissists understand how they are viewed and view themselves as narcissistic (also, not having more abusive behaviours if you have NPD on its own is also backed up by research, although its more complicated with some other disorders). Honestly i kind of hate the psychology trend of I’ll assume I know more about you than you do.

This is kinda directionless but whatever i wanted to ramble about this lol

[whumpdoyoumean]

hi, I was wondering whether I could send something in for the numbers thing?

How about White collar and nr. 12?

Thank you so much!

xxx "Everything's okay, go back to sleep."

"Hey, honey."

Peter looks up at the sound of Ellie's voice, straightening in the hospital chair. She looks tired, worry etched into her features, but still beautiful, as always. Still composed and put together, her very presence a balm for Peter's frayed nerves. He, on the other hand, is an absolute mess. He's still in his suit pants and dress shoes, but is wearing half a pair of scrubs in lieu of his white shirt and jacket and tie. They'd been covered in blood—Neal's blood (some of it is still trapped under his nails and down near his cuticles)—when they got to the hospital. Multiple staff members tried to convince Peter to go home and change while Neal was in surgery, but when it became clear that he wasn't going anywhere, someone had finally offered him the pale green scrub top. The tie is the greatest loss. Ellie had gotten it for Peter for his one year anniversary at the Bureau.

"How is he?" Ellie asks, breaking him from his thoughts.

"Well, he made it through surgery," Peter says. "Hasn't woken up yet. They're keeping a close eye on him the next few days to make sure there are no complications, no bleeding that they missed..."

"And how are you?"

Peter takes a deep breath, scrubbing one hand over his face. He doesn't even know how to begin answering that question. He's been scared for Neal before. But today had been different. Neal, bleeding out under Peter's hands, crying out as Peter ignored his pleas pressed down on the wounds to try and slow the flow of blood. The only thing worse than the agonized sounds had been the silence that followed, when Neal lost consciousness. He knows that silence is going to be haunting his nightmares for a while to come.

He finally answers as honestly as he can. "I think I'll be okay once he's out of the woods. Or, I'll be a little better, anyway; I think it might take some time to get to okay again after today."

Ellie bends down and pulls Peter into a hug. The tears are flowing before Peter can try to stop them.

-

Other than the occasional medical professional stepping in to check in, it's just Peter and Neal again. Ellie had stayed for as long as the ICU staff would let her. The only reason Peter wasn't kicked out with her is because nobody wants to argue with the FBI badge. Ellie had asked Peter if he wanted to go home with her, just for a bit. She hadn't pushed when he said no. In that moment, Peter had never loved her more.

He looks over at Neal's sleeping form. There's a cannula in his nose and IVs in both elbows, and one more in the back of his hand. A pulse ox rests on the pointer finger of the opposite hand. He looks fragile, with his pale, scruffy face and bags under his eyes, propped up in the hospital bed against pillows that Peter knows from experience are less than comfortable. Certainly not the kind of luxury Neal is used to. His pillowcases are probably silk, or maybe Egyptian cotton with an absurdly high thread count.

He's still musing on this when Neal's eyebrows twitch into a sleepy frown, and he makes a small sound.

"Neal?" Peter says, reaching forward and placing his hand on the arm nearest him.

Neal's breathing picks up a little, his eyes moving beneath the lids, and he lets out something like a whimper. Peter leaves his hand in place, running his thumb across Neal's skin.

"Neal," he says again, and Neal's eyes open. There's a confused haze, lingering effects from the anesthetic, but his eyes are open and if he hadn't just almost died and then had emergency surgery, Peter would hug him. "Hey, bud."

"Peter." It sounds painful and scratchy. Neal swallows thickly. "You okay?"

"Am I okay?" Peter says, and he wants to laugh and cry all at the same time. "I'm fine, Neal!"

"Tompkins was shooting at you," Neal rasps, as if he hadn't been the one to actually take two bullets from Tompkins's gun.

"Yeah, but he didn't hit me, Neal. I'm okay."

Neal nods slowly. His eyelids are already growing heavy again.

"Go ahead and rest," Peter says gently.

Neal's eyes slip shut, and then snap open again with a small gasp.

"What if he tries to come after you here?" The words are slurred and heavy, but the urgency is clear. "You should go."

"Jones and Diana got him, remember?" Peter smiles. "He won't be going after me, or you, or anyone else for that matter, for a very long time. Everything's okay, Neal. Go back to sleep."

Neal's face relaxes and he closes his eyes. When he opens them again, Peter will be right here.

xxx

[supreme-leader-stoat]

@supersoftly

Bad examples:

Okay, so, the "bad use" that actually got me thinking on the topic was the exam arc from Hunter's Guild: Red Hood. While the story was already hemorrhaging readers in Japan, the exam arc is often credited with being the nail in the coffin that got a promising series canceled after less than twenty chapters. In the case of Red Hood, whatever internal problems the exam arc had that could've been tinkered around with are overshadowed by the fact that it was the wrong plot beat to begin with. The early chapters of Red Hood painted it as a monster-of-the-week story about a young man being mentored by a more experienced hunter (albeit one who's held back by a handicap in the form of a curse). The exam signals a shift away from the monster-of-the-week format, breaks up that character duo, and dramatically lowers the stakes. In a way, it's almost like it's there for the sake of having a school exam arc. It might have worked better if we'd had more time getting to see the main duo interact and develop their relationship on the road, with the test being a known event they were working toward rather than the first stop after leaving the starting village. Have one or two more minor 'encounters,' let Velou start to get comfortable with the idea of being a hunter, and then pull the rug from under him by separating him from Grimm, forcing him to rely on what he's learned and forge new connections on the fly. You can even use the exam to raise the stakes, going "okay, so far Grimm's effectively been sponsoring you, but if you don't manage to get this guild membership then you're not going to be able to afford all the weapons and supplies that have been making being a hunter possible so far."

Back when I spent a lot of time in My Hero Academia fanfic circles, we had a joke called "the Sport Fest of Doom," which was the observation that most 'retelling of canon with some element added/removed/changed' fics would conk out right around the time the author got to the UA sports fest, and I think it's because of a similar principle. The Sports Fest works in canon despite the lower stakes because "can Deku control his quirk well enough to win the sports fest" is ultimately a misdirection. It doesn't mater if he wins, that's just the spectacle to keep us entertained. The actual meat of the sports fest is the secondary characters: Uraraka's determination to win (even when her actual prowess can't keep up) because she wants to support her family, Todoroki's family trauma and how he treats his power (read: himself) as a result, Shinsou as Deku's foil as another outcast with heroic aspirations but with a less heroic attitude, and the first seeds of forcing Bakugou to rely on others in order to get stronger. But in a fanfic, we're already familiar with all of these characters, we're not getting to know them for the first time, so the sports fest loses it's 'meat.' What's left behind is a low-stakes "speedbump" (or pothole) between the USJ arc and the Stain arc, which robs both the author and many readers of motivation to continue the story.

Good examples:

Black Clover's exam arc is short, sweet, and to the point. It lays out the basic squad structure of the Magic Knights, it shows off that Asta's anti-magic is good for fighting but not much else (and, secondarily, that this actually makes him a poor fit for the Magic Knights as an organization), and that he's got enough guts to impress Yami when the latter tries intimidating him. A lot of the traditional "entrance exam" beats (character introductions, the fight with Magna, Noelle and Asta's friendship-by-rescue, Noelle both being humbled and finding acceptance with the Black Bulls) takes place as part of the same 'arc' but after the entrance exam proper, and the result is a lot more organic.

In Kaiju No. 8, the main point of the exam is to introduce Kikoru and establish both her badass credentials and perfectionist standards for herself, put her firmly on Kafka's side despite their clashing personalities by having him praise/save her and having her keep his kaiju powers a secret, and establishing Kaiju No. 9 as a threat that exists. Secondarily, we also get to see that despite being a smart fighter, Kafka is also still too weak to fight kaiju without his transformation power.

Actually, while I know I used My Hero Academia and the Sports Fest of Doom as a negative example above, it's worth noting that it does work in canon, because the focus is on fleshing out the secondary characters. Likewise with Asta and Kafka above, the UA entrance exam isn't about Izuku scoring a ton of points by beating up robots. It's about reinforcing the divide between his abilities and his drive to save people (only while up to that point the issue had been that he didn't have the power to back up that drive, now the issue is that he has to learn to control the power so he doesn't explode himself, and that lack of control/mastery will be one of his key struggles going forward).

In Unsouled by Will Wight, placing in the seven year tournament is presented as Lindon's endgame. He was born with virtually no magical potential in a society built on magical potential, and proving that he can meet his society's basic standards of competence is the only path he can find to a future that isn't just him being stomped into the dirt forever. So he spends all the early chapters compiling anything he can that will give him the edge he needs to meet that goal. And then the tournament happens and he gets a glimpse at a literal divine conflict that makes the strongest people in his homeland look like minnows in the ocean, as well as getting a prophecy that his home will be destroyed in a few decades unless he stops it somehow. So suddenly that "end goal" gets recontextualized as the first step on his real journey.

tl;rd: Before you include an exam/tournament arc in your story, make sure that you actually need an exam/tournament arc. Your character "passing" the exam might be their goal, but it should never be your goal. Use the challenge to establish the limitations that they will later have to overcome, and/or take advantage of the 'dazzle' factor of the challenge to sneak in some development for secondary characters. You can also introduce a glimpse of a more serious threat (Kaiju No. 9, Li Markuth and everything he represents in Unsouled) under the initial guise of a test/tournament. The controlled nature of an exam/tournament almost always makes for lower stakes, so you need something else going on to counter that "speedbump" and keep readers engaged.

At some point I want to do an analysis of what it is about exam arcs (and to a lesser extent, tournament arcs) that makes them so effective at completely killing the momentum of a story, and how some stories manage to use them while avoiding the associated pitfalls.