#but things should calm down soon enough so hopefully I'll get back into it

[sheepfish03]

Sooo... I finished the sketch from May, despite the horrors (school)

I'm actually pretty happy with it :D

[junabyclairo]

hi! i'd really like to read something with carmy x shy virgin!reader please thank you <33

labyrinth - carmen berzatto x fem!reader

warnings: smut, swearing, feeling overstimulated/overwhelmed, my grammar and spelling? idk not proof read

(listen to labyrinth by taylor swift)

"hey kid, you alright?" carmy asked. you were in the midst of breakdown outside. everything was getting to be too much, with your personal life being a mess, your social life nonexistent, and your work life constantly being plagued by screaming and bickering.

"yeah i'm fine." he put his hand on your back and gently rubbed up and down to (hopefully) calm you down enough to where you would be willing to go back inside. he knew you too well to not be convinced by you saying you were fine so he pressed on, leaning close to your ear to whisper,

"i don't believe you," he looked into your eyes making eye contact that made you squirm with how intense it was.

"really i'm fine, just overwhelmed i think. stuck in my head mostly."

"yeah? i know something that could help." you smiled at him after he said that. you and him had been together for a couple months at this point, and he practically knew you like the back of his hand.

"why don't you go home chef, take the rest of the day off, i'll cover for you." he pressed his forehead to yours, eye contact never wavering.

"you sure? i don't want to inconvenience everyone or-"

"yes i'm sure. go to my place and hang out okay? i'll get there as soon as i can." he placed a kiss on your forehead, urging you back inside to grab your things and go to his apartment.

once you got to his apartment, you started making yourself a late lunch since carmy sent you home before family was served. then, you went into his bedroom and found a fresh pair of underwear and a bralette you left after one of your previous stays and stole a shirt and pair of sweatpants from carmy. after cleaning off your face of the rough day you've had, you slipped into his bed and quickly fell into a dreamless sleep.

when carmy got back he was stressed and tired. momentarily forgetting that you had come over hours before and made yourself comfortable until he entered his room and saw your sleeping form tucked into his bed.

he quickly stripped himself of his clothes and took the fastest shower of his life in order to quickly get into bed with you and fall asleep.

however, once he slipped into bed with you, you woke up. groaning as you shifted your body to face him. him, the man who swore he would do anything if it meant that you would be in his arms.

"hey. how'd you sleep, baby?" he hummed into your hairline, pressing a sweet kiss there.

"i slept great, how was the rest of work?"

"shh don't ask about work, okay? just wanna make sure my girl is okay first." you two smiled at each other and you pushed yourself further into him, snuggling against his warm chest.

"i still know something that could make you feel better." he whispered.

"i already ate carmy." you whispered back.

"no, something different."

"like what?"

"s-sex? maybe? if you're okay with it."

"oh."

"that sounds like a bad oh."

"no! it's just that, i'm still a virgin."

"oh.

"that sounded like a bad oh."

"no baby it's not, just want to know if you wanted to, you know if you're comfortable."

"i think i'm ready carm." you whispered.

"yeah?" he breathed out.

"mhm. i want to do this with you. only you." you looked up at him in a way you hadn't before.

"okay." he slowly moved away from you, only to immediately move down to the waistband of yours his sweatpants and gently take them off.

he then started kissing your waist and thighs before pushing off the shirt you were wearing.

"what is it with you and wearing my clothes?" he smirked up at you.

"they're comfy." you pouted back.

he slipped off the shirt and you were left in your bralette and underwear.

"this feels unfair."

"what does baby?"

"you're still fully clothed. i think you should take your clothes off too." you said, still pouting.

"oh yeah you think so?" you nodded.

he got up and started taking off his sweatpants and shirt, his damp hair sticking to his forehead, he went back to his position between your legs saying,

"is that better for you?"

"much better. levels the playing field."

"not for long." before he barely finished the sentence he started pulling down your panties, revealing your pretty pussy to him. he slowly sucked on one of his fingers, lubricating it so he could rub slow circles on your clit, before slipping it inside you.

"f-fuck carmy," you moaned out.

"feel good pretty girl?"

"feels so-so fucking, oh fuck, good, carmy"

once he felt you were ready for it he slipped his ring finger in you, gently thrusting in fingers in and out of you while you slowly became a moaning mess.

not too long later he leaned forward and started licking your clit and gently sucking it until you finally came all over his fingers.

"do you think you're ready for me?"

"yes i am i promise im ready for you."

"okay sweet thing," he leaned down to whisper in your ear, "i'll take care of you." you shuttered at his words.

slowly, he slipped his cock into you. making sure you could take all of him inside you before thrusting so deep in you that you became a blubbering mess of person just moaning his name over and over again because you were just so full of him that the only thing you could think of was how far his cock was buried inside you.

when the two of you came (he insisted that you came with him ofc) he slowly slipped out of you, making sure not to hit your puffy clit and laid down next to you.

"how was that honey?"

"better than i could've ever expected."

"you mean that?"

"of course i do carmy. you are amazing." you leaned over and kissed his cheek.

"thank you for taking care of me." you whispered, you eyes closing and sleep taking over you again. this time with you in his arms.

a/n sorry this took so long i couldn't decide how to write this but i hope you enjoyed, thank you for requesting and i hope you trust me enough to write any others you have <33

divider by @cafekitsune

[themastaralex]

hellooo i would like to request a fic with Kiri if i can:)) Kiri x fem reader aand they like each other i'm thinking maybe something with a love triangle? like y/n trying to show one up to Spider or Rotxo or someone and Kiri actually does like her back

Yes, requests are always welcome! Hopefully this is good! Sorry if it took a bit longer than you'd hoped.

Jealous

You and Spider weren't always so.. competitive.

It's only started recently, ever since you realized you liked Kiri. You told the boy how you felt, and he soon felt jealousy.

He knew he couldn't compete with you much, with you being Na'vi, and a warrior/hunter at that. Whenever you all hung out together, he could tell you were trying to impress Kiri. He also knows that you and her hang out alone together a lot, which did in some way make him jealous.

But he also knows that him and Kiri are close, maybe close enough that he shouldn't be worried of you stealing her.

"Spider?" You tap his shoulder, making him focus back to the present. He jumps a bit, worrying you. "You okay?"

"Yeah. Nothing to worry about." He lies right through his mask, not wanting you to see his jealousy. Instead, he perks up his head, moving his dreads out of his face.

"Maybe you should get a haircut, bro.." You grab one of the braids, imagining a shaved look on his head. "Maybe a buzz?" You chuckle, although you don't see any semblance of a smile on his face.

"Yeah." To you, Spider seemed oddly distant, yet you weren't sure as to why.

You pat his shoulder, hopefully giving him some comfort. "Let's go."

During that, you were busy training, practicing to draw and fire arrows more rapidly and effectively. Spider saw you and he was curious as to how you did it.

Weirdly, you're not a left-handed Na'vi, which is a rare case. Although your father always said you were special.

Oh, your father, Tsu'tey. He always knew you were special, from the moment he saw you. From the moment you could walk, he started teaching you about being Olo’eyktan.

Guess you could say you and Neteyam are friendly rivals, being quite close since childhood and all. You and Neteyam were the youngest Omatikaya to ever do the Iknimaya rite of passage. Through and through, you and him were attached at the hip.

As you walk back into the camp, multiple people greet you, as you greet them back, Spider following your lead.

Your bow hangs around your chest, as you and Spider go your separate ways. As you walk inside the hut, you see your father sitting down, seemingly meditating.

"Y/N. Sit." He opens his eyes, his gaze unwavering.

You nod and sit, removing your bow from your chest and placing it next to you.

"I was hoping we could talk about your Olo'eyktan training and possibly finding you a mate. Just a possibility." His voice is calm and slow, a result of years of handling you.

"Father, my Olo’eyktan training is going great, but I don't think we need to talk about finding a mate. I don't exactly..want one."

He moves his gaze all over you, contemplating something.

"Are you sure? As I've seen some interesting things. I know you like Jake Sully's daughter. If anything, she'd be a fine mate for you, daughter-"

You interrupt him, which isn't something you do often. "Father, please, I don't want to talk about it." He dons a softer face, giving you his nod.

"Alright. I'll stop. At least for now."

He's a stubborn man, but for his only daughter, he'd give the world. But for now, he can only give you his word.

"But I do want to make sure you're okay. After all, you're my only daughter, my only child. You make me proud." He smiles at you, which isn't too often done.

"Thank you, father. May I go now?"

He nods, allowing you to leave.

You often feel bad for him, knowing he lost both his arm and his mate, but he's normally a proud man, too engrossed in his own thinking to worry about what has happened. Instead, he thinks about the future, as to what will happen, mainly for you.

You love him dearly, both as your father and instructor. You couldn't imagine life without your father's input, his voiced opinions, and his wisdom.

You walk towards where your ikran is, perched along the rocks.

"Hey, girl." You step up to her, petting her neck and under her mouth. You smile, as someone comes up behind you, grabbing you by the waist.

You yelp, taking your hands off your ikran. Instead, you reach for your knife, but realize it's no threat.

"Spooked?" You sigh, turning around, facing the perpetrator: Kiri.

"Yeah. Almost got my knife out." You stand a few inches taller than her, as you cross your arms. "So, you need something? Whenever you do this, you almost always want something." You grin.

She scoffs, rolling her eyes. "But yeah. I do want something."

You nod, the smirk on your face a knowing one. She thinks it's funny; the way you always know when she wants something from you, which is almost always a small thing.

"Okay. What is it?"

"I was just hoping you'd come with me to gather some herbs, it isn't far."

"Why not just go it alone since it's close?" Now you're asking too many questions, but she thinks it's cute.

The way your ears perk up when you get extremely excited, how you and Neteyam gladly do all the grunt work for the other four, the way your hands became calloused after getting your bow, the way she fixes you up after a hunting mission.

She can't help but like a lot of little things about you, and she's sure you like her too, and if she's not, then she's been seeing fake signals.

"Because I need someone to cover my back, just in case." Lying, how barbaric. But it works, and you both depart soon after that, not realizing the two boys that were listening in to your conversation.

They follow you both, careful to not reveal themselves.

The one time they actually attempt to do something right it's the aftermath of them being nosy.

They talk on the way to the spot, staying back a bit.

"So why do you think Kiri's really bringing Y/N there?"

"Dunno, bro. Probably to make out and shit." Lo'ak laughs, and Spider follows, with the fakest laugh anyone's ever heard, although Lo'ak doesn't question it.

"Funny, though I don't think it's that. I think they're just gonna do girl stuff." Lo'ak fake gags, giving Spider a real laugh.

"Yeah." They fly in silence for the next few minutes, and as you and Kiri land, you instinctively grab your bow and arrows, but she says you won't need them.

"Then why'd I come along?"

"You'll see." You walk behind her, following. You walk for a few minutes, climbing the occasional tree or rock formation, until you catch sight of a beautiful waterfall and pond.

You always knew there was secret places around the mountains, just never this beautiful.

"Speechless?" You nod, kneeling in front of the water.

You grab one of the rocks under your feet, perfect for skipping across the water. You throw it, as it skips twice.

"Yo! We skipping rocks?" Lo'ak comes out of seemingly nowhere, as Kiri scoffs.

"Yeah, I mean, I am. Not sure if Kiri's in it." She grabs a rock as well, as Spider pops up too, encouraged to one up you in this.

"Alright. Whoever gets the most skips with a rock wins, easy as that. Or do you need me to make it more simple?" You interchange looks between Lo'ak and Spider, the resident goofballs and known idiots.

The joke ends and you begin, flicking that shit with maximum efficiency.

Ultimately, you end up winning, in which you were sure no one else had much chance.

"You cheated, 'cause ain't no way you got 5 on one."

"I'm just better. And how the hell would I cheat?" You feel almost offended, offended Lo'ak would accuse you and not back it up.

You two bicker for a moment, and soon get back to your normal routine.

You grab Kiri's hand, taking her to a different part of the waterfall, while Spider and Lo'ak are busy discussing what just happened, and how you beat them.

"Hey, so, I was hoping we could talk." You say it shyly, which is odd for you, since you normally always have a bit of pride in your words.

"I- I was too, actually." She sounds almost startled, given she wasn't exactly ready for this today.

"Okay, uhm, have you noticed how I always act tough around you?" You start feeling nervous now, weirdly enough, your prideful self starts to wither, backing down.

Only now you've started to realize why Spider's been acting weird: jealousy. It makes sense as to why he's always starts acting weird whenever Kiri shows up and you and him are both there.

"Yeah. But it's okay, I think it's..cool. I think it just shows you'd do whatever for the people you love." You keep your eyes on her, even as she's turned around.

Spider listens in, as Lo'ak's sat down and started taking a nap, as if he doesn't sleep enough already.

But Spider, he knows this is a confession from both of you, and he so desperately wants to confess as well, but he knows he'd get rejected, always. His jealousy got the best of him, and he's repulsed at the thought of even getting in between both of you, considering Kiri sees him as a brother.

So, while he will cry, and maybe even hurt, he will get over it, for your and Kiri's sake.

He listens back in from his thoughts and sees you two holding hands, facing each other.

He sadly smiles, all the while, you thank the boy in your mind, knowing he could have interrupted, yet he didn't.

"I see you, really."

"I see you too. Really."

[1shcakes]

UIS Chapter 2

June 1st, 20XX

It's been at least 3 hours since I, Father, and Mother have been set free from that... uncomfortable ink scroll, and after a questionable time at the beach, the newdle boy has given me a gift. I am currently writing in it. THE GREAT RED SON DOES NOT NEED A PERSONAL DIARY!!!! Although the cover is pretty nice. It's made of leather, and very nice to the touch....Perhaps the newdle boy has SOME taste after all. Hopefully my parents do not find this I will hide it under my bed tonight.

Anyway it's quite nice to be back in the fortress, I have already missed this old thing. I'm glad to see none of my inventions have been stolen by those pesky mortals as well for their """ world saving """ nonsense. BAH! We can do better! But I do applaud that newdle boy for saving the world, hell, even the ENTIRE UNIVERSE!!! I still hate him though.. I am supposed to hate him, as Father and Mother said so...

Speaking of which, they have been acting odd lately I hope they are okay. Probably side effects from being in that lousy scroll. WE WILL BE BACK TO POWER IN NO TIME!!! >:)

June 2nd, 20XX

Another day in the realm of greatness, and I, Red Son, shall document it for posterity. This diary, a gift from that insignificant newdle boy, was under my bed, and Father and Mother have barely noticed it! MWAHAHA! Maybe I should use this for writing down my inventions... YES YES! PERFECT! Is this lavaproof? May have to test later during my bath.

I must admit the newdle boy's gift is growing on me. The leather cover does have a certain charm, even if it's a bit cheap-feeling for my taste. But I'll give credit where it's due; he does have a knack for surprises. Doesn't mean I'll stop plotting his downfall though it's a matter of principle you see.

Speaking of the newdle boy, I cannot shake the feeling of begrudging respect for his foolish actions, no matter how much I despise him. These actions may have saved the universe, nut mark my words I shall reclaim our rightful place atop the cosmic hierarchy. DEMON BULL FAMILY FOREVS! >:D

And, as for Father and Mother, their behavior continues to perplex me. I was welding armor for Father earlier this day, and he has been looking rather off. A bit dull don't you see? He seems tired too. Burnout? Father never experiences burnout. And Mother has kept herself isolated all day today. I wonder what happened?

No matter, they'll regain their strength soon enough. We shall rise back to power and the world will tremble before us once more. Victory is inevitable! >:)

June 3rd, 20XX

This journal continues to evade the attention of Father and Mother. Their ignorance amuses me to no end. Maybe I shall indeed utilize this tome to write down my awesome inventions! I can finally stop using those flimsy parchments. A stroke of brilliance if I do say so myself. Also journal did not pass the lavaproof test. I, Red Son, am a bit sad about it.

But enough about the newdle boy and his paltry gifts. Today, Father had asked me to throw out some Demon Bull Clones. WHAT?!?!! I threw them out anyway didn't want to dissapoint Father. Such weakness is uncharacteristic of him. And I heard Mother crying in her room today and the banging of the walls. I'm beginning to think she is not okay.

Therefore to display my duty as the Prince of the Demon Bull Family, I shall check in on her tomorrow like a good son would! Maybe Father will be proud of me for caring for Mother. The thought excites me. >:D Speaking of which I've been noticing trails of ink around the fortress lately. I took it upon myself to clean it up and I accidentally some got on my precious coat! EW! Will be doing laundry tomorrow too.

I've been using this pathetic journal more as a book to write down my thoughts rather than my inventions, and I have to say it's rather calming gets rid of the chaos inside my brain cage. Of course I note down potential inventions too I don't write down my thoughts all the time. Otherwise I'd need to ask for a new journal from the newdle boy.

It's late now must sleep. GOODNIGHT PATHETIC JOURNAL! Yes, that's what I will call it from now on! >:O

June 4th, 20XX

I woke up at 3AM to write this entry! What an eventful day! First off, Father has indeed been acting more sour lately, asking me to do this and that and this and that. There are only so many things a Prince can do! At times like these, I wish he was more like other fathers.

Anyways, Mother cried in her room last night too. I felt really worried, but luckily she seemed fine when I checked on her. Her tears looked really black though has she been using too much mascara? Eh, whatever.

After that, I went to help Father with the machines he wanted me to repair. It was difficult to get all the parts needed for repairs in one go, especially after hearing Father complain for several hours about how long it takes me to build stuff. So I decided to take a short break before finishing everything.

I was eating a bowl of noodles given to me by the newdle boy, I suppose. A tacky drawing was stuck in front of the bag too of me and him. Not that I care. It's stupid but a bit endearing. I guess it makes me feel less alone or something.

Speaking of the newdle boy, why hasn't he tried to contact us? I haven't seen him since the beach but not like I'm looking out for him or anything, well I wonder if something happened to him. Oh dear. I hope he isn't dead or dying.

It's getting late now, I'll be sure to finish this entry tomorrow. Goodnight! >:)

June 5th, 20XX

Father attacked me today. I don't even want to think about it let alone write about it. It just doesn't make sense to me. It's like every time I leave them alone they somehow manage to screw something up and it's ALWAYS my fault. I guess I shouldn't blame them for my own incompetence after all I was there for most of that mess.

Anyway, this morning was horrible. Mother wouldn't look me in the eye and Father just kept staring into space. They were acting so strangely I wasn't able to concentrate on my duties. Something is going to change, I can almost feel it. All my work for Father and Mother was nothing but dust.

Oh well. Whatever.

Maybe I should write about the time Father attacked me that might help. Yes it did happen. I was just fixing up one of my inventions (my awesome race car) and then Father grabbed me by my neck and slammed me against the wall. His eyes were glowing blue and the next thing I remember was waking up on the floor.

So yeah that was fun to tell, wasn't it?

I feel strange.

Next (TBA)

[m1dnyt3-w0lf]

Chapter 1: Moving In

Word count: 4,948

I prepared my surroundings to be at least presentable. I fiddled with this and fiddled with that. At this point, I was nervously cleaning. How could I tell? Because my room was already spotless. I gulped and attempted to take a calming breath, sitting at my desk to look at my open laptop. I was moving to New York City soon for school in the fall, and I needed to find a roommate. I tried looking for an apartment, but I was not able to afford any of the available apartments, so rooming with someone was my best bet. I glanced at the time. Eleven-fifty-five. Five more minutes, and I'll be on a call with, hopefully, my future roommate. I got up again and started to pace. I needed to release the nerves. I shook out my hands, then twisted them together, then shook them out again. I'm not sure when, but I started to mutter to myself, just started voicing my thoughts out loud. Like, what if I'm not able to find a roommate? What if this one doesn't work out like the rest? What if he's a creep like the others? What if-

BEDOO-DOO…BEDOO-DOO…

I lunged for my laptop and quickly answered, shifting in my seat to sit correctly and smile. Although, I was sure my hair was a mess from the rush.

"Hi." I say, looking at the man in front of me. He had dark brown hair that was brushed back with one strand falling forward over his forehead. His dark brown eyes held a cold and calculated look that made me nervous but excited at the same time. His face was nothing short of a model, high cheekbones, full lips, the whole works! I wouldn't put it past him if he was awarded the most handsome man on earth. He also seemed to have quite broad shoulders with the way he took up the screen.

"Hello, you're Ashley Hernandez, correct?" He asked, his voice a deep lull that sounded on the brink of boredom, his accent not helping in his overall tone. I gulped.

"Yes, I am! And you're…" Shit, what was his name?! "Manuel?" My own accent seeped out.

"Miguel." He corrected, annoyance leaking into his voice as his eyes seemed to gaze into my soul. The blood drained from my face. "Miguel O'Hara."

"Oh, right. Heh, sorry, I'm not the best at names." I let out a nervous chuckle. He looked unimpressed. So much for first impressions.

"Right. Well, you'll have time to learn it soon enough." He said, taking a sip from his mug. I assumed it was coffee. I bit the inside of my cheek, trying not to laugh or snicker at his words.

It's a dirty joke just waiting to happen! I thought. I took a slow breath. No, I can't do that. I don't even know the guy! Or if he'll even get the joke. How old was he anyway? Forty? Fifty? Whatever, he was old.

"I will?" I ask him instead, destroying my train of thought. His eyes flashed to me as he set his mug down.

"Yes, just looking at your application tells me you're the perfect candidate for my new roommate."

"I am?!" I yelp out. I quickly cleared my throat and backtracked, speaking in a much calmer tone. "I am?"

Somehow, my shenanigans pulled at a small smile from my future roommate, seemingly amused. But just as quickly as it appeared, it disappeared. I could feel his eyes boring into me after that. It made me feel the need to shift my shirt slightly, making it appear baggier than it already was.

"When should I expect you to move in?" He asks finally.

"Uh," my nervousness seeps into my voice. I clear my throat once again. "In about a month."

"A month? Why not immediately? I was under the impression it would be immediately." He questions, confusion seeping into his voice.

"Well, it would be a bit hard to move in immediately since I currently live in California, and I didn't expect to actually be accepted to being your new roommate. And, anyway, I've got things to pack and ship out before I can make my way over." I ranted to him, waving my arms about as I spoke. He listened until I had finished speaking, nodding.

"I wasn't aware you were across the country." He looked at me, brown eyes looking into my own blue ones. "Alright, I'll wait until then. Any designated date of when you'll be here?"

"On the thirtieth of July, or rather, the thirty-first for you." I told him with a firm nod.

"I suppose I'll see you then."

"Miguel?"

"Yes?"

"Would you mind picking me up from the airport on the thirty-first?" He looked taken aback. "I promise to pay back the gas and trouble."

"No need." He tells me, holding his hand up to stop any other words. Geez, his hand looked huge. I couldn't help glancing at my own hand, tiny compared to his.

"I'll gladly pick you up, just let me know when your arrival time will be and I'll be there."

~~~One Month Later…~~~

"Miss? Miss, we'll be landing soon." The stewardess gently shook my arm, successfully waking me.

"Hm? Oh, okay." I say softly, rubbing my eyes as I sit up. I yawned into the back of my hand as I looked out the window beside the other passenger. He was an old man reading a book, though he was only now in the middle of the book from where he started at first. My gaze looked out the window, eyes widening at the sight of all the twinkling lights of the Big Apple. My breath caught in my throat. I was here. I finally made it. I've officially completed one of my dreams. A small smile appeared on my face as tears brimmed my eyes.

I did it! Me! I thought. The old man looked at me and smiled.

"I know that look." He said, chuckling. I look at him, sheepish.

"Ah, sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt your reading." I say in apology.

"No worries, I was done for the night." He says with a chuckle. "What are you coming to New York for?"

"Schooling. I plan to be a writer someday." I told him. The plane starts to descend.

"Oh, maybe I'll read a book of yours soon." He says with a bright smile.

"What about you, sir? What brings you to New York?"

"Ah, it is the place I grew up. I have family waiting for me." He smiled nostalgically.

"That's sweet."

"How about you?"

"Pardon?" The plane landed.

"Do you have anyone waiting for you?" He asked. I looked into his eyes. They were a handsome hazel that dazzled in the dim plane lights and shone dull from his years.

"Um, no. Just a roommate. He's picking me up." I told him.

"Oh, a 'he!'" He chuckled. I felt my cheeks burn with heat.

"Oh, it's not like that! He's just a roommate." I quickly told him. The old man only chuckled as the plane stopped.

"I only tease! An old man can joke." He chuckled more. I chuckled with him as the surrounding people started to get up to get their things.

"Right, right." It took roughly five minutes for the crowd to disperse. During this time, I turned on my data and turned off my ringtone. I didn't want to disturb anyone if I got a buttload of messages which, knowing my family, I would have many. I helped the old man up and asked if he had a carry-on with him. He said he didn't but thanked me for the sentiment anyway. He then walked away as I turned to my duffle bag in the luggage compartment.

It was an old one I used to use when visiting family. It was small but could hold at least a week's worth of clothing in it, along with some essentials. I plan to hit the market this morning so I can buy the other necessities I couldn't exactly bring with me.

With my bag in hand, I make my way out of the plane and out into the waiting area. I moved out of the way for the remaining passengers as I surveyed the area. No Miguel. I should've known he wouldn't have come to greet me like that. He's just here to pick me up. I hurried on to the designated pick-up location, checking my phone to see if he sent a message. Nothing. I chewed my lip as I wondered if I should send another text. Maybe he was still sleeping? Maybe he forgot? I walked out into the lot, looking around but not seeing that man anywhere. I started to get worried even though I just got there.

"Ashley?" A voice says from behind me.

"Yeah?" I turn around, eyes landing on a large chest. "Oh my-"

I looked up, needing to crane my neck slightly to meet Miguel's eyes. He was tall and buff. He wore a fitted, black crew-neck shirt with gray, flannel pajama bottoms. He took my breath away, just the sheer size of him was enough to dwarf me. I wasn't the only one staring either. Many people were staring. I backed up away from him slightly to give some ease on my neck.

"Miguel?" I asked in astonishment. He only nods.

"Shall we go now?"

"Uh, yeah, sure." I quickly say, adjusting the strap of my duffle bag. He wordlessly led me to his car. A sleek black car that shined under the lights. I wasn't a car person, but it looked beautiful.

"Nice car." I complimented as Miguel unlocked his car, opening his trunk.

"Thank you. Bag?"

"Hm? Oh, here!" I quickly handed him my bag. Once placed in, he closed the trunk and walked over to open the passenger door.

"Ah, thanks." I tell him, flushing a bit from embarrassment. I hurry in, hearing some lady passing by as I get in.

"Lucky girl." I felt even more embarrassed, but Miguel seemed unaffected. Did he get those kinds of comments all the time? I mean, he must, right?

He got in the driver's seat and started the car, driving out of the parking space and driving off onto the highway. For a while, we stayed silent. I looked out my window, settling into the thought that I literally knew no one except Miguel. Well, actually, not even him. I hoped I could change it, but between school and my hunt for a job, I doubted I'd even have enough time for socializing.

"Hungry?" Miguel asked, tearing me out of my thoughts. I looked at him.

"A little bit." He only nods and starts merging into the next two lanes.

"Wait, where are we going?" I ask him.

"I know a place to eat."

"This late at night?" It was two in the morning. What the heck was going to be open?

"I know a place." He simply repeated. I felt uneasy. Was I supposed to just let him take me somewhere foreign in a foreign place trapped in a foreign land? Foreign sounds weird now, doesn't it? It wasn't like I could stop him anyway. I was stuck under his mercy. All I could do was hope he wasn't going to murder me. I tried to keep a tab on all the turns and street names passing by, but nothing stuck. I was never the best with directions. I watched street after street pass by until, finally, Miguel slowed the car to a stop by a small shop. From the outside, it wasn't much. There was a blocked and barred window with an open sign on it. The door was wide open and emitted a sickly, pale light.

"This is the place." Miguel killed the engine and got out. I went to do the same, taking my mini backpack with me. However, my movement came to a complete standstill as my nose was assaulted by the most delicious smells I've ever smelled in my life. Miguel had come around by then, sticking a hand into his pocket. It was then that my stomach chose to growl loudly. Miguel held open the door as he looked at me with a mildly amused expression.

"Sounds like you're hungrier than a little bit." He repeats my words in a teasing tone. I huff and get out of his car.

"Oh, hush it." I tell him, flushing from embarrassment. I've been in this man's presence for only thirty minutes, and I've felt nothing but embarrassment. Miguel lifted his hand up in defense, waiting until I was out of the car to close the passenger door and lock the car.

"After you." He offered. I give him a smile as thanks and head inside. I felt Miguel's presence loom behind me and give me a shiver. I walk into the shop and give a look around. The shop was small. On my right, there were a few empty tables and some chairs pushed into them. There was a long counter on my left, the dish pans inside holding varying meats, veggies, and salsas. I look up to the menu above the counter and see Mexican meals from tacos to burros ahogadas to even menudo. Obviously, that's only on the weekend. My mouth started to water as I read through all the familiar foods.

"Señor O'Hara!" A lady who seemed to be in her fifties walked up to the counter from the kitchen and smiled. "¿Como estas, hijo?"

"¿Muy bien, y gusted?" He asked her. I looked between the two as they spoke, feeling like a sore thumb between them. They spoke civilly until the lady's attention was on me.

"¿Y quien es esta dama tan bonita?" She asked. Miguel opened his mouth to speak, but I beat him to it, a blush on my cheeks as I spoke.

"Hola, soy Ashley." I said simply with a wave and a shy smile. Miguel gave me a look, his expression unreadable.

"¡Ah, hola Ashley! Soy Betitua, pero me puedes llamar Beti." Beti said with a smile. I giggle slightly, my nerves easing. She chuckled and reverted to English, her accent a little on the thick side. "What can I get you both?"

"The usual, Beti." Miguel told her then looked at me. I quickly looked back up to the menu, chewing my lip in thought. They all sounded so good! Then my eyes landed on the prices.

Oh. That's expensive. I thought as my heart sank. I was smart and had saved some money for necessities and groceries and whatnot, but if just this shop was this expensive, then what was the rest going to look? Worry began to seep into my head. What if I wasn't ready for this? What if I failed? What if I go broke?

A hand rested gently on my shoulder, making me jump and pull me out of my thoughts.

I looked up and met Miguel's eyes. They shined with kindness, an odd softness I didn't think he was capable of.

"I offered to go eat, I'm paying. Choose what you want." Miguel crouched slightly as he spoke to me. Damn my shortness.

"Oh, no, Miguel, I couldn't-" A gentle squeeze from his hand halted me. He looked into my eyes, sincerity pooled deeply within those chocolate drops.

"I insist." He rumbled. I gulped. "Besides, it'd be rude to deny a nice act from your roommate."

Conflict plagued my brain. On one hand, I was raised to never take handouts as that would make me a beggar. On the other hand, I was also raised to never be rude in any way. Oh, he had me cornered, but my hunger won out. I look away from his eyes in defeat and let out a sigh.

"Alright, alright." I look up at the menu again, choosing one of the cheap options. "May I have a burro de birria?"

"Coming right up!" Beti said before walking back into the kitchen. Miguel straightened and finally removed his hand from my shoulder. He walked to one of the tables and sat. I quickly did the same, sitting across from him and laying my bag down between my feet. Silence befell us, and with the silence came my fidgeting. With nothing to distract me, I start to look around, bouncing my leg and twisting my fingers this way and that. The shop was simple, some pictures hung on the wall for random landscapes and a mural on the far end of the shop. There was a fridge behind the counter that held many drinks and desserts within it. After seeing everything there was to see, I grew bored.

I tried not to glance at Miguel, but I found it impossible to. I kept giving quick flashes at him, observing him in quick spurts. He simply sat there, not really staring at anything. At one point, I stopped giving quick glances and started to get bold. I stared for longer and took in his features. His high cheekbones, the way his hair fell over his forehead, his eyebrows that seemed to cling to the top of his eyes, everything. At this point, I memorized his features. I tried to read for any sign that may indicate his emotions, but he was about as blank as a piece of wood. Scratch that, wood had more emotion than he did at this moment.

Then his eyes met mine.

It happened so fast. I jumped and quickly looked away, pointedly moving my body away from him as my cheeks burned from embarrassment. I'm such a fucking idiot, how could I allow myself to stare?!

Ugh, he probably thinks I'm a weirdo now. I thought as I thinned my lips. We sat in a more awkward silence. I knew I did this, I hated it.

Say something, damn it! I screamed in my head. But just as I started to think about what to say, Miguel spoke.

"What part of California are you from?" Miguel asked. I looked back at him, surprised to see calm eyes looking back. I shifted in my seat to better face him.

"In Gardena, around the Los Angeles area." I answer.

"What's it like there?"

"Uh, it's warm practically year round. It's kinda on the poor side. I lived right by the beach, so that's kinda cool. Morning fogs during the spring and fall seasons." I tell him, brows furrowed as I try to think of everything.

"Sounds nice. Why come all the way out here?" He sounded almost accusatory. I bit my tongue to stop any retort from escaping. I needed to stay civil.

"I'm going to school here. I heard Fordham University was the way to go for my writing major." I say a bit tersely.

"Writing? Like journalism." He had a small scowl on his face.

"No, creative writing, like stories." I huff out.

"And how do you plan for this degree to help you?" Now he was just jabbing at me.

"It's helping me better my craft."

"Oh, so you came with the dead end."

"Dead end?!"

"You can't become a writer overnight."

"I'm willing to put in the work."

"And if it takes you nowhere?"

"It will."

"How do you know?"

"I-"

"Here's your food!" Beti said suddenly, placing the plates of food in front of me and Miguel. I immediately turned to Beti with a warm smile.

"Thank you, it smells really good." I say. It smelled just like how my grandma made it. It made me a little homesick, but I suppose that's a good thing with food. Beti returned the smile and gave my cheek a loving pat.

"You're welcome, mi linda. Is there anything else I can get you?" I shake my head.

"No, thank you."

"Por su puesto, mi hijita." She turned to Miguel and gave him a very disapproving glare. "Comportaté."

I shot him a smug look as his face reflected offense, staring at the lady's back as she walked away.

"¿Y yo qué hice?" He called after her. He turned to me and glared as I smugly grabbed my utensils and dug in. Miguel huffed and ate as well. The entire meal went by in silence. There wasn't much room for me to talk anyway as I shoveled bite after bite into my mouth. I hadn't eaten since yesterday morning due to nerves, and now that I was here and safe, I had nothing to worry about. I told my parents I'd be fine.

Shit! My fork and knife fell with a clatter as I hurriedly dug my phone out of my bag. Miguel glanced up at me, his taco inches away from his mouth for his next bite.

"Are you alright?" He asked, eyeing me as I quickly unlocked my phone and typed away. I chewed my lip as my leg bounced with nerves.

'I've landed safe and sound! Currently eating some food with my new roommate'

"Fine, just letting-" I was cut off by my phone's ringtone going off. I look at the caller ID and see my mom's contact. What the hell is she doing still up?! I answered quickly and put the phone to my ear. "Hey, mom!"

"Oh, it's so good to hear from you! Why didn't you text me as soon as you landed?!" She reprimanded. I chuckled nervously, trying to avoid Miguel's questioning look. How could he arch his eyebrow that high when they seemed to be glued to his eyes?

"I'm sorry, I got distracted." I tell her nervously. If there's one thing you don't mess with, it's a Latina mom.

"Ay, you and being distracted. What am I going to do with you?" I opened my mouth to speak but heard my dad on the other end and stopped, knowing he was going to take the phone next.

"Hi, mija, we're glad you landed safely."

"Hi, papí." I didn't miss how Miguel nearly choked on his food. I spared him a glance before focusing back on the conversation at hand. "How's everything on your end?"

"Oh, you know, same old same old." My dad said. I could imagine him waving his hand to dismiss my question, the image making me smile softly.

"Mhm, that so?" I asked, not believing him.

"Okay, okay, you got me. We miss you muchos, mijita." He admitted. I smiled sadly, missing them just as much.

"I miss you guys too. I promise you the holidays will come by faster than you think!" I reassure them, my tone light and happy while my face showed just how devastated I was that I wouldn't be able to see them until then. Miguel watched me, something simmering in his eyes I couldn't quite catch. I was still trying to avoid his eye, obviously.

"Bueno, ojala, it is soon." My dad tells me, his voice full of sadness.

"It will be, I promise you that." I was barely keeping myself together. "Alright, I have to go. It's pretty rude of me to be talking on the phone while with company."

"Ah, sí, of course, of course." My dad said with a chuckle. "Enjoy your date."

"He's not-" I started but was interrupted by the click of the hangup sound. My cheeks erupted in pink as I put my phone down, clearing my throat.

Every damn time. He's not my boyfriend, dad! I thought in my head as I plastered a smile on my face.

"Sorry about that, you know how family is." I explain quickly, going back to my food. Miguel only nodded.

"Feeling homesick after hearing from them?" He simply asked. I hesitated.

"A little bit. But this is something I have to do. I can't quit now." I say with a determined voice. I worked way too hard and way too much for a little homesickness to tear it all down. No, I will see this through! Miguel only nodded and went back to his food. I did the same, though I was no longer hungry. I picked at my food more than I ate it. When Miguel had finished his meal, I asked for a box and packed up what I couldn't finish. Miguel paid, and we were back on our way to the apartment. We were silent again, simply in our own minds, as music played softly through the radio. I could feel my mind starting to overthink my decision to come out here.

What if it's not all it's cracked up to be? What if I'm not able to wow everyone here like I did back home? What if I'm actually a mediocre writer with an inflated ego? Oh gods, what will I do then?!

"What do you write about?" Miguel asked me suddenly, making me jump. I looked at him, blinking away the remnants of my thoughts.

"Uh, any sort of fiction, really. I've only written short stories before." I told him. If you could call fanfiction that.

"Maybe you should let me read something." I looked at him suspiciously. When did he suddenly have an interest in my writing? The last time I checked, he thought it was a dead-end career.

"What's the catch?" I ask him. He sighs.

"The way I talked to you wasn't fair. I just want to avoid seeing you fail. I'm sure you've got plenty of potential, but I don't want your hopes and dreams crushed. Call it the father instinct in me." He says with a shrug.

"You've got a kid?" I ask him. I wasn't expecting to room with a dad, that wasn't in the advertisement he put out. His lips thinned as his gaze hardened on the road.

"No." He went silent after that, so I didn't press. Was he experiencing baby fever because I was around? That doesn't make sense, I'm twenty-three. How could he be? My eyes slunk back out the window as the air between us grew awkward and left a sour taste in my mouth.

Quick, think of something! I chew my lip in thought before looking over at Miguel again.

"So, what do you do for work?" I ask, thinking an icebreaker question will alleviate the tension building up. Miguel glanced at him, his gaze softening ever so slightly before he looked back out to the road. It was something, at least.

"I'm a bioengineer." He says. I couldn't help the look of disbelief that took over as I gave him a once over.

"You? A bioengineer?"

"Yes, I study the-"

"I know what they do, Miguel, I just don't believe you are one."

"And why is that?"

"I mean, look at you! You're the spitting image of a gym rat." I joked. Though, that quickly died down as he gave me another glance with an unamused expression this time.

"And what is a bioengineer supposed to look like?" Miguel questioned, his eyes narrowed on the road as if challenging me to answer.

"Uh…like a nerd?" I tried. I chuckled nervously as this only caused Miguel to look more pissed off than before. I gulped.

"I'm starting to rethink this arrangement." He said with an annoyed tone.

"No, no, please! I'm sorry, I was only joking, I swear!" I quickly told him. I couldn't lose this apartment, I had nowhere else to go!

"So was I." He smirks. An offended look makes my jaw drop.

"You didn't sound like you were joking."

"I sounded like that to myself." He said with a shrug. I huff and look back out the window, crossing my arms.

"It wasn't funny." I mumble.

What an asshole. I think, glaring out my window. Silence falls between us as Miguel continues the drive back to his apartment.

I take my phone out and click on Tumblr. It was the only place where I posted my works. Mostly fanfiction, really, but I was working on a book. I had high hopes I'd be finished by Christmas. But hope and reality were two different things. I sigh and click on the "notes" of my most recent post. I read through the comments and reblogs, smiling to myself at the positive feedback I received. The piece was of that Spider-Man guy. The news had been crazy about recently. I noticed a goldmine of fans obsessed for any bit of work to thirst over, so I figured, why not? Might as well give some fan service. The post had reached higher numbers than I expected. It satisfied me. I didn't care about the numbers or anything, but I'd be lying if I said it didn't boost my ego. I smirk to myself. Miguel didn't know what he was talking about, I knew I could make it.

After reading through all the feedback, I lock my phone and look out the window once more. I realized with a shock that I was in New York. Home of Spider-Man. How weird, right? I mean, here I am, a fanfiction writer, in the homestate of Spider-Man, the very man I wrote my recent piece about. What are the chances I'd actually see him in action? It's probably slim, but a girl can hope. Hell, it would help with learning his moves and better portray him in my writing. Clips can only do so much justice, and, what can I say, I'm a sucker for accuracy.

I yawn into the back of my hand, getting more comfortable and sinking into the seat. I'm sure just resting my eyes for a few moments wouldn't hurt. Just a moment to let my mind think of new ideas and whatnot. Just…a few…moments.

Before I knew it, I was out like a light.

Translations

Ch 2

If you'd like to be tagged/untagged let me know!

Tags: @crocs-blogs @madschiavelique @arithestrawberry @eveandtheturtles @myownsimp @thel0velykey190 @obi-mom-kenobi @thelaundrybitch @raphsmuneca @symmetricalkazekage

[peachymilkandcream]

Levi coming home frustrated and pissed and using Evelyn as stress relief please.

Love your writing BTW ❤️

Levi x Evelyn -> Shut Up and Take it

(A/N: Thank you so much Anon! It's always so sweet to hear people liking what I do. I might take a hot minute to get through all my asks because today (Sunday) is kinda my day off but I still want to put a little something in for all of you guys and I'll get to each as soon as I can ^^)

WARNINGS: noncon, dubcon, manipulation, domestic abuse, yandere themes, forced marriage, forced pregnancy, stockholm syndrome, violence, mind breaking, misogyny, etc.

============================================

Evelyn should have known from his steps on the stair, she should have known from the way he was cursing about "fucking" this and "fucking" that. At home language was just another part of his vocabulary, but when it was said with such venom and aggression there was something wrong.

"Evelyn!? Evelyn! Get your sorry ass over here if you know what's good for you!"

She cringed at his voice, something or someone had pissed him off, majorly. And now she was getting the consequences of it.

"I'm right here Levi." She says as she comes into the foyer just as he takes off his boots and hangs up his jacket.

His eyes find hers, they're not arrogant or cold or even lustful. They're simmering with anger, and unspoken rage that she had a feeling would be very spoken in a few moments. "About damn time."

He walks over and grabs her face roughly, bringing her face to his and claiming her mouth in a kiss, biting her lips until the skin broke and droplets of blood formed in her mouth. It was a kiss of teeth and his tongue going down her throat, making her gag and try to pull back enough for air. The defiance just made him grip harder, bruises forming under his palms from the pressure.

When he finally releases her it's only to wrench her arms behind her back and bend her over the nearest surface. The nearest surface which happened to be the dining room table, the wood pressing so hard into her stomach it was making her nauseous.

"Levi stop I'm gonna puke-"

"Can you for once shut you fucking mouth? All day long I hear your noise-" He lifted her skirt with ease and ripped her panties down, not hesitating to shove himself in.

It was dry and painful, but Levi was used to her blood and discomfort this would be no different. He just needed to get his rage out before he did something drastic and seriously harmed her. Plus her body would just have to get used to this or bleed.

He reasoned it was her fault anyway that she was in this mess, the reason he was so pissed off in the first place because some officer from the Military Police had asked Levi to name his price to have one night with Evelyn. Had his wife not been so desirable he wouldn't have had to kill the man to teach him a lesson.

The memory of the man's smug expression and cocky words fuelled him forward, the bastard had seriously though Evelyn was worth a few coins. His blood was boiling and he just had to find some way to calm down before he did some real damage.

Evelyn had shut her eyes and didn't bring up the pain, she wanted to scream at him for how badly it hurt but she just couldn't risk angering him further. Even her tears she was hiding in her sleeves so he wouldn't see them and find displeasure. Thankfully her body had made some arousal so it was less dry scrapping and just the piercing force of him taking her over and over. There was always some small amount of mercy given to her at least.

Levi could tell he was close, his rage making his pace more rough which only brought his orgasm on faster. He knew she wouldn't cum, she was nowhere near close. That didn't matter, his pleasure was the only thing that ever really mattered in their hell hole of a marriage.

Evelyn nearly sighed with relief when she finally felt him paint her walls with white, at least he was done and hopefully had calmed down even slightly. Once he pulled out she was determined not to let him see how much she hated it, she didn't think she could take that ordeal and a beating on top of it. Plus in this state who knew how far he would take it. For once she would pretend to be a loving and doting wife, no matter how much it killed her inside.

Plastering on the best fake smile she could she turned to him and kissed his cheek. "Why don't you come lay down Levi, you look exhausted."

They both knew it was all an act, but neither cared. They both needed a sliver of normalcy, without it they'd both go crazy.

[graces-mindscape]

A Demon-Vamp side story; Truth/Conclusion.

My eyes flutter as my mind slowly comes back into consciousness. I groan as I try to sit up again, my body feeling like it weighed a hundred pounds. What happened? I rubbed the back of my neck as I sat up, trying to recall the last of the details. I had woken up this morning, like always..then it hit me like a bolder......we got attacked....the hellhounds! I ended up in Gabriel's house! It all came rushing back. I looked around the room; it seemed like I had fallen out of my chair. I noticed Gabriel cleaning something up in the kitchen, he soon took notice of me.

"Grace!!! Thank goodness you're awake!"

he set down a plate and came over to me, looking up and down as if examining me.

Nnnn.....urg, what happened?

"You passed out right after I gave you that drink." he replied

Oh.

I begin rubbing my sore head as Gabriel sighs.

"Grace...there's something I have to tell you." he said with a sad expression.

What is it? Why do you look like you're upset?

"......something happened in those woods. After you fought the hellhounds. Someone was standing beside you. I just happened to be flying by. I couldn't get a clear glimpse and the moment I got closer, they ran away. whoever he was...he saved your life. You know there's NO cure for a hellhound wound, and you know you should've died that night. And....in a way.... you did."

I look at him starting to get a little annoyed.

What are you talking about? You're not making any sense!

He sighs.

"What I'm trying to say is- ...Whoever that was, whatever his reason to save you, it wasn't just anyone."

he falls silent, the words so hard to say.

"Grace.....you've been turned into a vampire."

I froze. the words felt like lightning.

Wh-What...? But- It- That's impossible! I-It can't be...There's no such thing as-!

before I could finish, I noticed Gabriel looked a little offended.

S-Sorry. I didn't mean it like that.

"Grace, whether you like it or not, it is possible, and it did happen to you."

my heart started to feel like it was going a hundred miles an hour, my hands started to shake, my eyes frantically darted around this way and that. Gabriel grabbed my cheek and carefully turned my head to look at him.

"calm down..." he says softly "those are just your heightened senses kicking in"

I glare at him.

Heightened senses?? I grab his shirt, annoyed, as I start to yell

I already HAVE ADHD, how much MORE heightened do my senses need to be???

my anger slowly turns to sadness as a subtle but painful thought sets in.

I-If...I really AM a vampire, then that means that-.......that means I-.....tears begin to swell as I gasp

I-I'll have to-......Gabriel frowns with a sad look in his eyes right as he pulls me into a hug.

I-I'm scared Gabriel.... I don't want to hurt anyone...

"Hey....I know. Everything's going to be ok. I have a friend who has resources that will help you. You wont ever have to hurt anyone. I promise."

he smiles as he slowly lets go.

"Now, why don't you go wash up and get into a clean change of clothes?" he smells the air as he gives me a look of disgust.

"You reek of hellhound ash."

I look up at him a little sadly before nodding my head.

"There should be a few clean clothes in box in my closet leftover from my mom, one of those is bound to fit you."

Yeah......ok.

I get up and give him one last sad look as I walk to the bathroom, contemplating the news of my new reality.

--------

I've been getting a few small ideas for some mini demon-vamp, self-insert comics, but I had a feeling I should wrap up the previous comic I made first; I decided to write it out instead of drawing it because it does feel more like banter than anything really significant happening (and it would take awhile lol)

I'm not that good at writing, but hopefully it's ok ^^

I tried my best to stick to the main story's events while still keeping it different enough to be its own thing

As always, the original demon-vamp au is by @koko-doodle , so go check it out!

[moonieshinesims]

Generation One - Chapter Twenty Eight

River should be hearing back about her application soon...! However, because of some interesting news that Cassandra has received from her brother, she is leaving school for the semester (possibly longer). Bella is preparing the new recruits for their induction in a week, and on top of all this, River gets a strange offer.

"I'm sorry you didn't hear it from me." Cassandra sighed, sitting next to River. "People here like to gossip apparently. But yes. I know the semester just got started, but I'll be finishing it up online. My brother just gave me some big news recently... And I can't just ignore it."

"Is it something you can talk about?"

"...Not yet." Cassandra shook her head, "But if this all works out, you'll hear it straight from me, okay?"

"Okay." River nodded, respecting her right to privacy.

"They're having a going away party for me this weekend. Will you be there?"

"Of course! I wouldn't miss it for anything!"

That night...

A couple hours later...

The next morning, Fig regaled River with tales of her abduction.

Cassandra turned towards the two of you and pretended not to be listening, but eavesdropped on the entire conversation.

Hopefully she's enjoying this more than I am... River thought to herself. She'd experienced run-ins with gang members, human traffickers, vampires, and potentially ghosts, but so far had been lucky enough to never have a run-in with an alien. She wasn't sure if Fig was right about her experience from the night before, or if she just had a really weird nightmare (as she was prone to do).

"Oh, right! I am super hungry... I'll see ya later Bella!"

Bella smiled as Fig walked away. While the others will remember her rants about alien abductions, she herself won't remember it, and therefore the others will just chalk it up to bad dreams and an overactive imagination.

Bella had her own well-being to think about after all. She couldn't have someone like Fig outing her to everybody.

A few days later the weekend happened and it was time to say goodbye to Cassandra.

Before she left, Cassandra pulled Bella to the side...

"Don't think I'm not onto you and your kind..." The usually demure and kind Cassandra glared, venom in her eyes, aimed at Bella.

"Oh dear," Bella smiled coyly, "What are you talking about?"

"First you abduct my mother, then you take her name... Then you even take Fig to toy with her?"

"Oh please, as if anyone would believe you..." Bella rolled her eyes. "I'm living a perfectly normal life here, I've done nothing wrong and there's no way you can prove otherwise."

"Oh, I will though." Cassandra said through gritted teeth.

Before Bella had a chance to respond, Cassandra turned around and left... Leaving Bella to think about what she just said...

A few nights later, which had been about a week since River sent in her application to the Arakawa Family Internship, Ako appeared in her room.

"I've got news!" He boomed.

"SHHHH!" River pointed to the bed beside hers, "Fig is sleeping!" She whispered.

"So? She won't wake up! I've got good news! But I'm gonna need you to give me some blood first before I tell you..."

"Oh, calm down. The quicker we do this, the quicker I get to the news."

"Ugh, fine. Do the thing so it doesn't hurt as bad..."

Ako nodded and pulled River in front of him.

Suddenly Fig rolled over and sat up, catching the two of them in the act.

"Oh..." Fig stared at the two of them sleepily. "I... didn't realize you had that kind of relationship. Maybe next time don't do that while I'm in the room?"

Fig laid back down and covered herself back up.

Ako rolled his eyes. He didn't realize that Fig knew him by name. He tossed River back in her bed. She was passing out, so he would have to give her the good news later.

[casspurrjoybell-29]

Healing Ties - Chapter 7

*Warning Adult Content*

Yore slept with his arms around the mage, the smaller body tucked in safe and secure against his.

He'd missed sharing his bed with another person, though as he'd had to make clear this was not like that.

Still, it didn't have to be for it to be nice.

There was something about the warmth and the smell of another person that made him feel soothed.

He wasn't so sure it made the mage feel soothed, though.

His heart had calmed down eventually but it was clear that there was a lot about this situation that made him nervous.

That was fair enough.

He was entirely at Yore's mercy and he was having to tolerate Yore telling him hardly anything.

Someone had badly hurt him and Yore didn't even feel like he could promise that he wouldn't without risking giving away too much.

It would be over soon, though or at least Yore hoped it would.

Today they would pass by the Griffin's Roost campsite and if anyone was there they would hopefully be able to point him towards Lucas' whereabouts.

The mage couldn't be allowed to see the campsite, though.

Not when there was still a possibility that he was acting as a spy.

Early that afternoon, Yore carefully put the mage down next to a tree stump and set the bag down next to him.

"There's something I need to take care of quickly. You sit here and have something to eat and drink and I'll be back soon. Don't go anywhere, okay?"

"Yes, sir," the mage murmured, head down.

He had started out with a bit of defiance in him but over time he seemed only to have become more submissive.

Well, for now that was useful.

Hopefully they could get this situation cleared up soon enough and be honest with one another and then the mage could stop being scared.

The campsite was far enough away that there was no risk of the mage seeing or hearing anything he shouldn't but not so far that there was any sense in shifting.

The smell of a campfire on the air told him someone was there.

Three men and two women were gathered around the fire, fresh fish filleted and laid out on a grill that sat over the fire just starting to cook.

The first woman who spotted him started to reach for a weapon before recognition slid over her face.

"Oy. You're one of those werewolves, aren't ya?"

The man who had been laying out the fish to cook looked up from his work and let out a bark on laughter.

"Nah, he's the werewolf. Yore, wasn't it?"

"That is my name."

"You're like the werewolf prince, yeah?"

"Hmm," Yore said.

That wasn't exactly true but he didn't feel like explaining their power structure and where he sat in it to a bunch of bandits.

"Do you know where Lucas is by any chance?"

The man who had spoken frowned and shrugged, looking between the others.

"He's at the Inn," the woman who hadn't spoken yet volunteered.

"Burton got hold of some fancy alcohol and sent him up there to see what he could trade it for."

"Ah, that'll be popular. Think he'll still be there by the time I get there? I've got someone with me, so I'll be walking on two legs."

"Yeah, should be. He's always up there for at least a few days. Likes to socialise. Not sure if that means networking or fucking, though."

"I'm not sure those are entirely separate things for him," Yore said.

"Thank you. I'd stay and chat but I have someone waiting for me."

"Careful if you go near the water," the man with the fish told him. "I swear something tried to grab me when I was gutting the fish. Got out of there real quick."

"Smart man," Yore commented. "And thank you. I'll be careful."

********

Fanner hadn't expected to be handed an opportunity like this.

Part of him really wanted to just ignore it and wait for Yore but he knew it could be his only chance of escape.

And maybe, probably... escape would mean death but he just kept flashing back to being tied down on the table, helpless, as Whelan cut into him.

He couldn't let that happen again and no matter what Mr Burrows had planned Fanner highly doubted he'd abandoned the idea.

If he didn't escape it would happen and it would be worse because Mr Burrows would make sure it was done right next time.

Part of his body would be removed and he would have to live with the horror of that as it slowly grew back, just like his finger had.

Fanner took a bag of shelled nuts from the bag and left everything else.

He would probably regret it later but taking things without permission felt like stealing.

Though technically he was property, so running away was the biggest theft of all.

He tried not to think about that as he started walking.

Fanner tried to move quickly but the terrain was rough and his side hurt and his body was screaming at him to just lay down and rest for a while.

But he couldn't.

Yore would be back soon and if Fanner wasn't far enough away, he would find him.

Ahead of him the ground gave way to a rocky ledge.

The drop was only approximately as tall as he was and he was not very tall but he was afraid of what trying to drop down would do to his wound.

He could try to go around but that would slow him down.

There was a tree root growing down over the drop at the far end.

It was a bit further to the ground at that end but if he could climb down he could avoid jarring his injury.

He grasped the root firmly in his hands and dug his feet into the side of the rocky wall as he eased himself over and then he abruptly realised he was stuck.

He didn't have enough strength to hold on with just one hand.

If he let go to try to lower himself down or even pull himself back up, he would fall.

The rocky wall crumbled beneath his feet as he scrambled for a foothold and he could feel his hands starting to slip.

He braced himself for what was about to happen.

And then a hand wrapped around his arm and effortlessly pulled him back up.

Yore's eyes met Fanner's and he didn't look happy.

"What are you doing? You..."

Fanner grabbed hold of Yore's wrist and Yore looked down, confused as Fanner pulled.

He wasn't trying to kill him, just render him unconscious like he'd accidentally done to the cow once but as he drew energy from Yore he found the pool was far deeper than he had anticipated.

Whelan hadn't had anywhere near this much energy.

Confusion flooded Yore's face and he started to pull away.

Fanner pulled harder, rapidly drawing energy from him now he was no longer worried he would kill him.

Yore wavered on his feet and then fell to the ground unconscious but Fanner made sure to check, definitely not dead.

Fanner had to get away.

If Yore woke up and caught him again, he would be in so much trouble.

He had never done anything like this before, never been openly defiant and certainly never attacked someone.

At least... not on purpose.

He had to keep reminding himself that he had killed someone.

He found the shortest point in the drop and slid down as gracefully as he could.

He felt a sharp jolt in his side as he hit the ground but it wasn't nearly as bad as he'd been expecting.

With Yore's energy coursing through him, he felt high.

He was moving faster now, clearing enough ground that he might actually be able to get away from Yore.

He'd heard stories of children who got lost in the woods accidentally simply because their parents took their eyes off them for a few minutes and they wandered off.

If a child could become so difficult to find accidentally, surely he could do it on purpose.

His stomach cramped from hunger and his mouth felt dry.

He found a narrow river and gulped down the clear, fresh water and then sat next to it and ate some of the nuts he'd stolen.

Despite everything else he'd done, he still felt a little guilty about the nuts.

He felt guilty about a lot of things.

Fanner could feel his body healing itself.

His side hurt less already.

He finished the nuts and knelt next to the stream again.

He would have another drink and then he would keep walking, putting more distance between himself and Yore.

What he would do after that... well, he would worry about that later.

He was afraid he'd lose his nerve if he gave it too much thought and there was no going back now.

Fanner reached his hands down and just as they touched the surface of the water, something grabbed his wrist and yanked him forward, into the river.

[bejoomi]

joomi nods, but somehow, yejun telling him he did good with dead calm makes him feel a little worse. he feels bad leaving yejun behind in particular. he knows yejun, and how heavy the world feels to him sometimes. joomi doesn't even know if they were really friends the entire time they played together in eat schmidt, or anything more than just guys that played in a band together. that mattered to both of them, though, and they're certainly friends now. joomi doesn't think either of them cared much about anything outside of music in the beginning of it all.

maybe it is good that it hurts so much, then; evidence that they truly cared about something in a sea of grey apathy. experiencing dead calm was definitely worth it, though, even with the pain of saying goodbye to it. he hopes all the others feel the same way. he's sure they do.

not to be dramatic but you probably saved my life by making me join, yejun says, and joomi freezes for a moment. his first thought: what happens without dead calm, then? will yejun be okay? part of him wants to ask, but he knows yejun doesn't want joomi to worry about him. that's not why he said it. "pretty sure the others would've given me some kind of aneurysm without you, so you saved mine too," he jokes instead. he doesn't know how sincere to be, but then he considers the fact that yejun might not have anything to live for now, and figures it's better not to hold back, just in case...something happens. he tries not to entertain that concern for long, and says, "thank you. for joining. i know i told jaebeom to go fuck himself but it would've been a lot harder doing everything by myself. i might've just ended up giving up, so...yeah."

it's a little awkward, toeing this line between lightheartedness and genuine emotion, but that's just how he and yejun are, isn't it? yejun tells him he deserves good things, and joomi feels it in his chest. does he? does he really? maybe. he certainly didn't deserve all the bad handed to him throughout his life. it doesn't feel like getting a break just yet, but maybe, once he bids dead calm goodbye and fills his life with training, it will. he hopes so. he hopes he'll be able to breathe then. sometimes it feels like he's been holding his breath his entire life; like he is always two steps away from drowning.

"thank you," he says at last. i don't think anyone has told me that before, he almost adds, but he doesn't want yejun to pity him. "still plenty of time for it to not be a break, but i'm...optimistic. weirdly," he chuckles. the definition of cautiously optimistic. he hopes that optimism isn't misplaced.

he nods once more. "we still have the group chat, too. i'm not sure if the others will keep using it at all, and i feel like half the time you just leave it on read anyway," another chuckle, "but i'll check in there sometimes too, i think. so we can still be...a friend group, even if we're not a band anymore." he cares about them too much to let them slip through his fingers altogether. even if playing music doesn't unite them anymore, their experiences together still matter. hopefully it'll be enough.

"yeah," he agrees with a sigh, trying to expel his worries with his breath. there are still plenty of fun things to do. "we should probably try to track the others down soon anyway, right? i trust cam to be a babysitter but like, a short-term babysitter."

yejun can't help his face from twisting up in a scowl as joomi suggests that the remaining members of the band become the trot trio that no one asked for or ever wanted. could they do it? probably. but that doesn't mean they should or that yejun wouldn't want to literally disappear into the earth because of it. playing drums was easy. he was always in the back, blending into the stage but keeping the band on time together nonetheless. important, yet hidden. he doesn't need the glitz and glam and spotlight that comes with pretty much anything else.

"please never mention that idea to anyone else," he all but begs joomi, who probably knows exactly what yejun is thinking right now. "kian will like it too much and you know that kid is hard to say no to." he's endearing; yejun couldn't help but like him once he got over the awkward gap in maturity between them.

joomi always finds a way to get into his emotions about everything. again, probably what makes him so great as a creative, but it's not always something that yejun knows how to handle. he's barely holding his own emotions together most days and taking on someone else's becomes far too much to bear. but... this is joomi. this is the guy he's known and played with for years, who made yejun do something that actually made him happy and colored his days with something good instead of the world of grays he usually lives in. it's the least he can do to hear his friend out, to smile sympathetically and pat him on the back, even if it feels a bit awkward.

"you did good with dead calm," yejun agrees. it's too bad it couldn't have lasted longer, it's too bad that it's over all too soon. but it was good while it lasted... for all of them, really. yejun knew what a piece of shit the frontman of eat schmidt was. he knew the courage it probably took for joomi to own his own creativity, to put his soul on display for everyone to hear and know who it belonged to. he knew it was a place that made all of them felt like they belonged. and... yejun himself, it gave him something to look forward to, a reason to get out of bed. something he hadn't felt in a very long time. "not to be dramatic but you probably saved my life by making me join." he's not sure how close to the truth that truly is.

"you deserve good things, joomi," yejun knows pain when he sees it, he feels his soul recognizing the things that neither of them want to speak aloud. he knows how much joomi can endure but that never meant that he should have to endure it. "so... it sucks to have to make a choice, but i'm glad these good things are happening to you. it's about time you finally got a break, you know?"

it is a little depressing, but it's not like yejun would be the one to mind. he feels like eeyore, always tired and pessimistic, but at least it means that no one can make him feel worse than he himself already does. he smiles again, just the tiniest bit, and pats joomi on the back. "i'll try," he agrees, though he's not sure how well he'll be able to keep that promise. "you don't disappear either, then. you have my number and you know where to find me." it would be nice to keep in touch. it'd be nice if things didn't have to change this much in the first place. it finally hits yejun how much he'll miss joomi and his reliable presence in his life. but again... that's life. yejun should have known better than to expect good things to last.

"let's just enjoy today," yejun sighs, unwilling to force himself to dwell on all the sadness and good byes that will inevitably follow. "we can cry about the end tomorrow."

[ladylannisterxo]

Conversation Starters

Pairings; Steve Harrington x fem!Reader

Words; 0.9k

Warnings; mentions of blood, mentions of character death, but mostly fluff

Summary; { request prompt } "I'll take care of you." - "It's rotten work." - "Not to me. Not if it's you."

A/N; Soooo okay, I originally posted this back in idk 2019 / 2020 on another blog which has since been deleted... then I posted it here and deleted it... and now I'm posting it again because why not? This time it'll stick around... hopefully... definitely.

{ masterlist }

The bite on your leg was grotesque and yet, you couldn’t look away from it. Those demodogs, as Dustin had begun calling them, were vicious little creatures and when their faces opened up, teeth… just rows and rows of teeth. You blink rapidly, attempting to erase the images from your mind but you know you won’t be forgetting those monsters anytime soon, if ever.

You had stumbled through the doors of that lab, Bob Newby hot on your heels and for a moment, a nanosecond, all was calm. You had made it. But, as always, all good things must come to an end and the door wasn’t nearly as strong as you had hoped. They took Bob down quicker than the scream could rip itself from your throat and then one turned its attention to you. It clamped down onto your leg with such ferocity, you were sure it was going to tear it from you completely. Hopper made his decision rather quickly, shooting at the one making a meal out of you over the four covering Bob. When the demodog recoiled from the bullets, Hopper lifted you into his arms and carried you to safety outside the lab. Bob was left behind and that guilt would weigh on you for a long, long time.

Joyce busied herself with patching you up when you all arrived back at her home. You’re certain it was to keep her mind off of losing Bob. You couldn’t blame her for that. Afterwards, Hopper insisted on a twenty-four hour observation period because as far as you all knew, no one had survived a demodog attack so it was unclear as to what would happen next. Would the bite become infected? Would you mutate? Would you get some type of power? Would you die?

You were now situated in what you could only assume was Jonathan’s room with a plethora of pillows and blankets and your leg propped up. You had nothing left to do except wait, considering you were officially out of the game until further notice. You hear quick footsteps coming down the hall and then Steve is standing in the doorway, eyes wide and out of breath.

“You’re alive.”

You arch an eyebrow. “Were you told I wasn’t?”

“They said you were hurt.”

“That doesn’t make me dead, Steve,” you laugh, patting the spot next to you, “come sit with me.”

He approaches you slowly and sits down more gingerly on the bed than you thought was possible for him to achieve. He eyes your leg warily, all patched up with flecks of dried blood donning the stark white bandage. You take his hand in your own.

“Hey,” you whisper, “are you okay?”

He scoffs. “I should be asking you that.”

“I didn’t die.”

“Thank God,” he mumbles and you’re not sure if the statement was meant for you to hear or not. You choose to ignore it.

“I should have been there,” he says after a moment.

“No, you shouldn’t have,” you say, squeezing his hand, “none of us should have been there. Besides, you were helping the kids and I think that was pretty cool of you.”

A smile pulls at the corner of his lips and he shifts his eyes from your leg up to your face. You grant him a soft smile in return, squeezing his hand once again.

“I’m so sorry this happened to you.”

“What’s life without a little adventure?” You shrug. “Although, injuries like this tend to make adventures very short. Mrs. Byers was kind enough to put me up in here and Hop insists I take it easy.”

“I’ll take care of you,” he says quickly, a small blush rising in his cheeks a moment later.

“It’s rotten work,” you laugh, gesturing to your wounded leg.

“Not to me.” He shrugs, eyes searching your own. “Not if it’s you.”

Your breath quickens as you melt underneath his searing gaze. He rubs his thumb gently across your hand and his tongue darts out to wet his lips. You follow the movement with your eyes and for a brief moment, you wonder what exactly Steve Harrington tastes like. It’s like he’s reading your mind when his eyes flit from your own to your lips and back up. He shifts closer to you and your breath hitches.

“[Y/N], I-”

“Steve!”

The shout from the kitchen shatters the moment entirely and you can’t help but snort a laugh. Only Dustin could achieve such a feat. Steve shakes his head, letting out a harsh sigh.

You nod toward the door. “You should probably go see what he needs. If you don’t, you know he’ll just come find you.”

“Yeah, you’re probably right,” he mumbles with a nod.

He squeezes your hand once before letting go and you’re surprised to discover how much you miss his touch already. He crosses over to the door, turning back to take in your disheveled appearance. He hesitates.

“We can finish this conversation later, right?”

You smirk. “This was a conversation?”

“The beginning of one,” he confirms, eyes focused intently on you.

“Yes, Steve, I would like us to finish this conversation later,” you say with a sweet smile, “I’m intrigued.”

He chuckles quietly, drumming his fingers against the wood paneling of the door. “Good,” he whispers and with a trademark Steve Harrington wink, he disappears.

You bite your lip, holding back the bubble of laughter building inside you. Twisting your fingers in your lap, you turn your attention back to your bandaged leg and realize that it doesn’t hurt quite as much as it did before. Tonight was bad, there is no denying that, but perhaps a new adventure awaits you on the horizon.

[momiji-bookhouse]

I forgot to add 🤦‍♀️ That I'm requesting for a oneshot heh!

A couple more details, I promise!

- Reader avoids everyone, specifically Kazu, like the freaking plague (how?? On a ship too?? Kazu is an expert in finding people?? idk) and after the fight, she goes dead silent. She doesn't even communicate with Beidou, her childhood best friend. She tells herself that she has no rights to speak. She still does her work though, just.. really quietly. Until one day (weeks after? Days after?), Kazu catches her, per say. (Yk, the classic.. wrist grab, kabedon.. I'm a sucker for clichés I'm so sorry)

- I don't remember if I mentioned this but she left her comfort space (Liyue) for him, so...

Also if this is too complicated for you, just any simple angst to fluff will do!! So it's easier for you if you find it difficult to write. ((: My apologies again if I'm all over the place.

Scent of the Earth

pairing: Kaedehara Kazuha x Fem!Reader

genre: Hurt/Comfort

words: 2.9k

summary: A few words won't be enough to undo what he said, but he will spend a lifetime making it up to you.

a/n: Stan Beidou

part 1

Kazuha doesn't need to hear the wind taunting and berating in his ears to know that he messed up. He has become aware of that fact as soon as he leaves the Alcor, but the maelstrom of anger and worry and disbelief still swirled in his mind, preventing him from going back to you less he says something he doesn't mean to.

A low sigh escapes his lips as he remembers your reaction, unable to get your stunned and shell-shocked expression out of his mind. His gut twist when he thinks about the things he said to you. He shouldn't have been so calloused, he should have been gentler and calmer.

But just thinking about it makes him remember seeing you on the ground with the Whopperflower looming over you. He remembers how a hole had suddenly open up in his stomach and how his heart stopped and became nothing more than a lump as fire burns around him. He remembers feeling the wind urging him forward, but a darker part in his mind whispers into his ears and telling him he will never make it in time.

Bile rise to his throat, and Kazuha clenches at his kimono, feeling the erratic thumping of his heart against his bandaged hands. He doesn't even want to envision what would happen if the Traveler hadn't been there.

He takes several deep breaths in and out to regulate his breathing and let the sounds of nature calm his nerves. As soon as he gets his thinking straight, he will go back and hopefully talk this out with you, unwilling to let this argument simmer.

He wants to make things right, especially when it comes to you.

The first thing Kazuha notice when he steps aboard the ship is the look on Beidou's face as he glares at him. He unconsciously gulps at how stormy her ruby eyes have become, arms cross over her chest and lips a thin line as she stares him down. Surely this is what the sea monster Haishan had witness before it was slain by her great sword.

"Captain." He tries to keep his voice even.

"Kazuha," the stoic way she says his name makes his heart skip a beat. "I need to speak with you. Now." She emphasizes the word and turn on her heels, not even sparing a glance to see if he is following her. She leads him to the bow of the ship, where there is no one on deck except for Liushi on the crow's nest, but he is too high up to listen to their conversation.

"What in the name of the great dark sea were you thinking talking to (Y/N) like that?" Beidou half-yelled as her eyes narrowed. "I want you to explain to me this instance, and depending on your answer I'll decide if I'll throw you off this ship or not."

Kazuha swallows, knowing full well that she isn't making an empty threat and will throw him overboard without hesitation.

He recounts the day's events to her, faltering when it comes to the part where you were almost burned by the Whopperflower. There is only silence as he finishes, and when he meets her eyes the storm is still there, although he now also sees hints of resignation.

She sighs heavily. "Look, I don't know how much you think your words affected her, but when I came in, she was having a panic attack. She couldn't breathe, Kazuha."

It feels like the pit in his stomach has open up again, bubbling with anxiety as his eyes widen. "What? Where is she? Is she okay?"

Beidou lays a hand on his shoulder to calm him down. "She's fine, I got her to calm down and she's currently resting. Kazuha, how much do you know about her family?"

"I know she doesn't have the best relationship with her parents and siblings." His eyebrows furrow. "She told me that they're going around Teyvat adventuring while she stays in Liyue."

Beidou purse her lips. "I'm afraid it isn't as simple as that. I don't want to get into many details, but (Y/N) didn't have the best childhood. Her family has never made her feel like she's enough, and it only got worse when it turns out she's the only one in her family without a Vision. Growing up, I remember (Y/N) coming to me crying whenever her parents would tell her she's worthless. A burden." The brown-haired captain tightened her hold on him as the faint sound of lightning crackle in the air. "She didn't chose to stay in Liyue. Her family abandoned her."

Kazuha's blood boil in fury while simultaneously feeling sick to his stomach at the thought of you being treated that way by the people who were supposed to love you the most. He has half the mind to track them down and show them how amazing you are without them.

Then, he remembers everything he tells you during your argument and it's as if though a lightning bolt has struck him down.

Beidou inwardly sighs at the look of horror and realization on the young man's face. "Now you see how your words have affected her. It may have been things said in the heat of the moment for you, but it wasn't like that for her. (Y/N) is currently resting in my cabin for the night, and I don't want you to disturb her. See to it that you make it up to her in the morning."

Before she leaves, she smacks him on the back of his head and gives him a hard look. "And Kazuha, if you talk to her like that again, I will throw you off overboard myself without letting you explain yourself."

Kazuha has all the determination in the world to apologize for everything he's done to you and more. He'll even get on his knees if he has to, filled with guilt at how he treated you.

The gods, unoblivious to his determination or wanting to mock him, makes the task extra hard for him.

One of the crewmates of one of the smaller ships of the fleet has gone down with a contagious disease, and you were called in the middle of the night to take care of her. Since the risk of the disease spreading is high, that entire ship was quarantined and he had to spend days not being able to see you.

No holding you in his arms. No sneaking around and making excuses to slide into the same hammock with you to cuddle. Not being able to see the way the corner of your lips curve into a beautiful smile that makes the world seems brighter. No whispering cheesy lines of poetry and musings into your ears and hearing your laughter that makes his heart melt. Not being able to walk around hand in hand with you or kiss you on the lips and see that gorgeous shade of red splashed across your cheeks.

The other crewmembers notice how listless he has become – the carefree Kazuha always with an easy smile on his face now performs his task methodically and robotically. The poetry and flowery words that used to flow easily from his lips have essentially ceased, his wellspring of inspiration have dried up without you, his muse, around.

Kazuha finds his eyes directed towards the ship where you're at a couple of times a day, even in the middle of doing his work.

Are you faring all right? Are you eating and sleeping well? Please don't get sick.

Please come back to me.

He is lost in thought until he hears Juza scolding him for neglecting his duties.

Finally, when everyone has recovered from the sickness thanks to your efforts and the period of quarantine is over, Kazuha feels a flicker of hope in his heart. However, that hope is quickly dashed when Yinxing tells him that you're at the Bubu Pharmacy, occupied with something. And even before he could ask if he can go, Beidou and Juza have began to pile duties and tasks on his shoulders.

The Crux is preparing for another trip to Inazuma to deliver some important shipment, and all hands are needed on deck to arrange everything. The captain works everyone to the bone, to the point where at the end of the day all he wants to do is slump down and sleep the night away.

Before he drifts away, however, he notices the empty space of your hammock and curls into a ball, aware of the cold chilling him to the bone without you there.

"Please, Captain." Kazuha entreats for the second time, standing ground against Beidou's stare. He woke up that morning with even more conviction than before, doing all his work with time to spare by using his Vision to boost his speed. He will talk to you today, no matter how much the gods want to make it hard for him.

Beidou, not oblivious to the dark circles under his eyes and the forlorn expression on his face that he only shows when he thinks no one is looking. It makes her shudder to be reminded of how much it is similar to how he used to act when she first take him on.

"All right," she acquiesces. "You can go, but I don't know where she is."

"She's at the Bubu Pharmacy," Yinxing joins in. "I think (Y/N) said something about a job offer."

Beidou's eyes widen, this information new to her as well. She's just about to say something when a breeze blows up her hair, and when she turns around all she sees is the faint image of autumn leaves drifting down.

Kazuha has never run so fast in his life, even faster than the time he has to escape the Shogun's forces. His Vision shines and rattles as he concentrates Anemo energy onto his feet to boost himself forward. All the while, the wind – or his own mind – sneers into his ears.

Will you make it this time, wanderer? Or will she too slip through your fingers?

He sprints through the streets of Liyue, stirring up a gale wherever he passes, but he disregards the surprised shouts and yells of the people. He only has one destination in mind, and he has to make it. He has to.

Even when his legs beg for him to stop and his heart is just about to beat out of his ribcage, Kazuha does not stop running until he finally arrives at the flight of stairs leading up to the pharmacy. He halts to catch his breath, and when he lifts his head he spots a familiar head of (h/c) hair.

You stare at him like a prey being cornered, and before he can even say anything you have already dash down the stairs and sprint toward the path leading to Mt. Tianheng.

"(Y/N)!" Kazuha screams and run after you, not even minding the curious looks the others are giving him. He silently curse under his breath, wondering how he doesn't know you can run that fast. But he still does have the blessing of the wind on his side, and soon enough he is able to catch up to you.

"Wait! Please!" He grasp onto your wrist as gently as possible, but not loose enough that you'll be able to run away from him, as even now you're struggling to escape from his hold. "You don't have to say anything, but please, just listen to me." His eyes are pained as you turn your back to him, obscuring him from being able to look at your face.

"I know what I said was wrong. I shouldn't have snapped at you like that, no matter how angry I was. I should have been calmer, should have been gentler with you. I was just–" Kazuha feels like a lump is caught in his throat. "I was so scared when I saw you there on the ground. Almost everyone dear to me has been taken from me right in front of my eyes, and I couldn't bear the sight of you being in danger. Losing you would mean the death of my soul, and the world will become dull and gray."

He keeps going, briefly noticing how you have become still for a moment. "Even so, that does not excuse my behavior. I made you feel like you are less than your worth, and for that mistake I can never forgive myself. You are enough. You are more than enough. No matter what people say, you are brilliant, remarkable, extraordinary, that and more. The other crewmembers would not have recovered from that illness if not for you. After every celebration everyone would have been hungover until the end of time if not for your miraculous hangover cure. The soldiers at Watatsumi is thankful for your help in tending to the wounded. Even I would not have gone through that fever without your caring touch."

You still don't say a word, but he is more than willing to pour his heart out to you. "Do you want to know one of the reasons why I love you? It's these hands." His fingers leave your wrist to hold your hand, his thumb caressing the back of it. He breathes a sigh of relief when you don't flinch away from his touch. Kazuha shivers at finally being able to hold your hand after days without you. Your hand is small in his, but he knows the hidden strength behind them.

"These hands that have picked and plucked flowers and dug into the ground for roots. These hands that have pounded and mixed herbs and ingredients tirelessly until they became paste. These hands that have soothed and wiped away sweat and tears. Countless wounds and injuries have been dressed and tended to by these hands."

He holds back the desire to raise your hand to his lips and kiss each of your fingertips. "You are worthy. You are irreplaceable. No one can compare to you."

There is only silence as he finishes, and Kazuha's stomach twists into knots the longer you remain quiet. "(Y/N), you really don't have to say anything. You don't even have to forgive me if you don't want to. But please, will you look at me?"

Another moment of silence pass, this one making him even more anxious than the last. He opens his mouth to say something when suddenly he hears your voice.

"Those Duskblooms are said to have cooling properties that can treat burns," you say softly. "You've been telling me that your burn has been bothering you lately, so I was hoping that I can develop a new kind of ointment that can help with that."

His mouth drops open and his heart skips a beat, not only from finally being able to hear your voice, but also due to the rush of guilt overwhelming him.

"By the Archons," his voice shakes. "I really don't deserve you."

You finally turn around, but your eyes are still downcast. "I'm sorry."

Kazuha shakes his head vigorously. "I should be the one saying sorry to you. I'm sorry for making you feel like a burden. I'm sorry for comparing you to the Traveler. I'm sorry for implying that I don't want to travel with you anymore."

You raise your head to meet his eyes and is immediately struck with the sincerity and remorse swimming in them. But there's a far more important emotion that you see.

Unbridled, unrestrained, ardent love.

You choke back a sob as you let yourself fall into his chest, letting yourself be swathed in the warmth that you have missed so much. He immediately wraps his arms around you, feeling like he can finally breathe normally again.

"I was so scared–" You tremble in his embrace. "I was so scared you've finally realized I'm not worthy to be by your side. I was so scared you realize you can do much better than me."

He holds you even closer, completely enveloping your small form with his. "Never. Never, never. You will always be the one for me. There will never be anyone else that I want to fall in love with. You are my muse, my inspiration, the light of my life. You help anchor me to the ground when I find myself lost in the clouds, but you never hold me back." He's aware of the fact that your tears are making his kimono wet, but he doesn't care. For tears too, are falling from his eyes. "A place is not home to me if you're not there."

Kazuha let you empty out all your emotions while he run his fingers through your hair and occasionally whispering affectionate and reassuring words into your ears.

"I promise I won't place myself in a position of danger so recklessly again," you say once your crying dies down.

"And I promise to always protect you and never make you feel anything but less than yourself." Kazuha kisses the top of your head. "You are, and forever will be, truly wondrous in my eyes."

"And perhaps, if need be, some people say running is the best thing to do."

He laughs lightly at your attempt at a joke. "You, my dear, have certainly proven yourself to be a fast runner indeed."

The Alcor's crew's ears perk up at the sound of your laughter, mixing in with Kazuha's airier one. Some of them peer overboard to see the two of you walking along the shore hand in hand, lost in each other's eyes.

And all seems right with the world.

[4joonkookie]

27 Candles

💜 Pairing: Namjoon x Reader

💜 Words: 3.5K

💜 Summary:

A 12 hour diary of Namjoon’s 27th birthday.

💜 Tags/Warnings:

Smut, angst, breakup, DaddyJoon, Dom/sub, Daddykink, collars, Daddy/Babygirl, birthday sex, breakup sex, makeup sex, blindfolded sex, butt play, rough sex, spanking, riding, grinding, dirty talk, back scratching, fluff, Happy Birthday to the only man I’d call Daddy, not beta read, wish I had more time.

2:30 PM

After spending hours agonizing over your approach, you call Namjoon to wish him a happy birthday. It’s been a while since you’ve heard his voice. The low rumble sends vibrations through your body.

“We should celebrate,” you insist, exposing your ulterior motive.

“What do you want to do?” he muses.

You're quiet for a while, then take a deep breath.

“It's your birthday. I want you to tell me.”

The request is bold, but subtle enough. He lets out a low laugh, a knowing one, and clears his throat.

“Yeah?” his voice lowers, probably in an area with others. “You wanna be my good girl? Be good to me?”

“Yes,” you reply, just as low though, no one is around you. “I want you to have what you want for your birthday.”

Arousal pools in your belly while you fidget with your nervous hands.

“I like that idea,” he hums. “So I'll come by the apartment when I'm done?”

“No,” you assert, disrupting your compliance. “Can I see your new place?”.

He’s had his own place for over a month now but the place you shared is still “the apartment”.

“Sure, there’s not much there. It’s basically empty,” he replies.

You assure him that's just fine. Adjusting to living in “the” apartment without him has been hard enough. A new, less familiar place might make it easier. A place not-so-lived-in.

A place he can’t leave you again.

He’s quiet for a long time again before speaking.

“Is this a good idea?” he asks, in the exhale of a heavy sigh. His tone has changed, reality settling in.

“No,” you confirm, shaking your head although you’re alone.

The line is hushed, again. The silence is heavy with all of the unspoken “I miss you”, “I need you”, “something is missing without you”.

You both know where this goes, neither having the strength to step away.

3:37 PM

When the elevators open to his apartment corridor, there is a young woman kneeling at the door. Heart pounding, you walk slowly, keeping your head down and avoid eye contact altogether when she stands and begins to walk toward you. You quickly turn your head and breathe a sigh of relief to see her disappear behind the elevator doors.

A decorative basket sits at the front doorstep. You snatch it up, enter the lock code quickly and shut the door behind you.

The basket holds a bottle of champagne on dry ice. Also, a pair of lace panties. Two fixture items, surrounded by decorative flowers, candies and a notecard.

The note is a handwritten message about missing Namjoon on his birthday and a promise of wearing the panties “next time”; a drawn heart and scribbled name.

You open the champagne, chug from the bottle and toss the rest to the trash, attempting to discard the jealousy panging in your gut.

The breakup was two months ago. You hadn’t exactly agreed to “be friends”, it just happened. Though, you haven’t seen each other in person since he moved his things out.

You take in the view of the place. It’s enormously empty. The refrigerator and cabinets are empty, a layer of dust covering the bottom of the inside. A laptop and recording equipment are the only things set up in the living room alongside a couch. The Bedroom has no walls and sits on a raised platform in the living room, a total bachelor pad. Condom wrappers lay on the bedside table near the unmade bed. The bathroom counter, cluttered with his products and potions. You pick up the bottles one by one, searching for what’s new about him. Finally, the closet. You choose a shirt and to put on and discard everything else.

Your phone buzzes, Namjoon saying he’ll be there in about an hour. It’s sooner than you thought but you order groceries anyway. It always takes longer for him to get home than he says.

“Home.” You think. This isn’t home.

4:58 PM

Surprisingly on time, he arrives carrying handfuls of delivered bags.

“You bought groceries?” He uses his foot to close the door behind him.

“Yes,” you reply, removing bags from his hands. “Why don’t you have groceries? Just hire someone to do it.”

“Why hire someone when you’re willing to do it for me?”

“I didn’t,” you banter. “I hired someone to do it.” You shrug.

You close the refrigerator behind you. His phone starts to ring, he silences it.

“Where did you get champagne?” He questions.

When you casually mention the name of the woman who signed the card, he stiffens. Checks his phone, frantic.

“You talked to her?” He remains calm, but you can tell he’s uneasy.

“Yeah, I ran into her dropping this off on my way in. She’s sweet,” you string him along, feeling a little bratty “She said she wishes she could’ve seen you on your birthday.”

He gives you a long look and you hold his gaze.

“Liar!” he laughs, approaching you. His demeanor is calming, his smile relieves something in that “something is missing” category.

“How do you know her name?” He asks curiously.

You stall, not wanting to admit your resentful gesture.

“Oh there was a note, I must’ve misplaced it,” you say, appearing (hopefully-to-be) absent-minded.

He reaches a hand to peek in the trash can. Before he can, his phone rings again. He silences it immediately.

“Is that her?” You ask, casual, distracting.

He shifts uncomfortably but is honest. “We were going to meet up today. I cancelled.”

You tilt your head. “You said you didn’t have plans.”

“I didn’t,” he says plainly.

You hide a shy smile, briefly ducking your head. “And if I hadn’t invited myself over?” you tease.

“I’d be wishing you had.” He gets closer and a familiar electricity buzzes through you. He rests his hands too comfortably on your back, pulling you in, hugging you too tight, smelling your hair.

“I missed you,” He nuzzles his cheek to yours, brushing against you. The moves are slow, requainting.

His lips press against yours and you feel yourself slipping back into him. You try to shake off the feeling, remembering what you discussed on the phone.

“So, what do you want?”

He follows along, seemingly eager to take the edge off of these heavy feelings for a while too. He guides you back to the wall.

You can feel the undertones changing. His gaze darkens, your body being enclosed in his arms.

A hand moves to your bare neck, strokes the soft skin. Your heartbeat quickens. After some back and forth, you ultimately decided not to wear the collar. Not his to claim anymore, anyway. He silently acknowledges the absence of it and moves to your waist.

“It was very rude of you to throw away my things just because you’re jealous.”

“Not jealous,” you pout, and his lips drag against your neck. He bites down at your words causing you to gasp. He pins your hands above your head, against the wall while continuing work on your neck.

“Say it,” he chides. “Tell me how jealous you are that someone else can be good for me.”

Your blood boils, thinking of the woman at the door, condoms on the nightstand.

“And how many good girls do you have?” You query, calmly.

He squeezes your wrists above you. “Say it. And I'll tell you.”

You sigh heavily and give in. “Ok, I’m jealous, you admit.

He giggles between kisses on your skin. “I know.”

“So? How many?” Not giving in to his touch yet, still wanting to know.

He shrinks the grip on your wrists to one hand and uses the other to brush a finger against your lip.

“There are many girls who are good to me but I have only one good girl.”

He releases your wrists and your lips crash together, tongues passing sloppily. You drink each other in after months apart.

“Don’t move,” he instructs, and pulls away. You stand still, watching him disappear into the bedroom. He quickly reemerges with hands behind his back.

“Turn around,” he says, before he can make it all the way back to you.

Without hesitation, you turn and place both hands on the wall, bracing yourself. You feel his presence behind you and it all goes black. A silky fabric drapes over your eyes, a knot being tied just behind your head.

You reach behind yourself to grab at him. “What are you doing?!” The sudden darkness is startling, shocking.

He wraps arms tight around your body to still you.

“Shhh….,” he soothes. This is what I want.” A hand slides beneath the hem of your panties, circling fingers at your wet center, free arm holding you tight to his chest.

He raises his fingers to your lips, offering a taste of yourself.

When you release his fingers, he loosens his grasp on your body and grips a hand at the back of your neck. You straighten up on two feet.

“Walk,” he demands.

After walking a ways, your back hits the mattress.

You can’t see him but his hands are hot on your skin, traveling in unseen paths. You can hear your breath, loud. The quiet in the room is loud.

It’s dark, but the fear begins to fade. All other senses are heightened.

There is a sense of right with his hands on your skin again, lips on yours again, his scent filling your nostrils again, feeling his weight above you again.

He drags his tongue slowly down the center of your body, between your breasts, over your navel and fastens his mouth to your center making you squirm as he sucks below, arms hooked around your thighs.

He licks lovingly, skillfully, and pulls away too soon. He pulls you up by your arms and guides you to sit up.

“Show me what a good girl you are?” he whispers above you. The whisper is crystal clear, echoing in your ears.

You nod into the darkness and hear him removing clothes. Cock free, he pushes the tip to your lips and pushes in slow, to the back of your throat, holding himself there.

“No hands,” he warns. He slides out just as slowly and you do your best to control your gags.

He pushes in again, too quickly and deep. You pull away, coughing and trapping his shaft with your hand.

“No.” he pushes your hand away. He grabs your chin, prying your jaw open and pushes in again. Drool spills and tears moisten the fabric over your eyes. He grabs the back of your head and pushes it flush against his pelvis, no room for grabby hands.

You choke and back off of it, using both hands this time to remove it. You cough when he pulls out, a string of saliva still connecting you.

It’s been a while since you've done this but somehow, it’s more difficult because you can’t see.

“Bend Over,” he growls.

You turn over and feel the familiar caress over your cheek before he moves, muscle memory. He lays a hard smack and you moan, spine lighting up. You smile gleefully to yourself. A familiar warmth overtakes you.

“You’re out of practice,” he taunts, “Need to remember how to behave.”

Another hit, and you cry out again. Spanks, all the more exciting and titillating behind a blindfold.

“You want to give Daddy what he wants, you said?” you hear his voice from behind you.

You nod, zoned in on your lack of vision.

You don’t sense the next hit coming, it’s so much more intense. You’ve been punished for not using words. Without hesitation, they come spilling out.

“Yes, Daddy.”

This.

This was definitely missing. Not so much that you need to be punished but that you want to be tamed.

And no one does it like him.

He slides two fingers into you from behind. You moan and buck back, bouncing on his fingers.

He leans down to lap you, licking up from your pussy and his fingers up to your ass, prodding his tongue inside the tight muscle.

He moves away and you hear the click of a bottle. Cold lube spills over your exposed skin.

Two fingers still in your pussy, He gruffly pushes a third to your bum, pouring more lube with a free hand. He pushes to the webbing of his hand and holds it, giving you time to adjust.

“Good girl loves being filled up, huh?”

You nod before catching yourself. “Yes, Daddy.”

He adds a second finger inside, two in each opening now, scissoring and stretching you open.

You sob, everything feeling that much more intense and full in the dark.

He pulls his fingers out of your body with a lewd pop.

“Are you ready to try again?.”

“Yes.” Something clicks in your mind and has your body assuming the previous position.

The shock of the sensory change and overwhelming emotion before had you too frantic, unable to focus.

Now, bridled in just the right way, he pushes into your throat with no objections from your body, only eager acceptance.

He begins thrusting at the back of your throat. You relax your jaw and control your gags. The darkness isn’t so startling anymore. It helps you focus on controlling your muscles, a meditation almost. You grip the sheets to keep your hands away.

He pulls out and you try to even your desperate breath, swallowing pooled saliva.

He tests your compliance, pushing to the back again, using two hands to hold your head down, letting your face slide off silently.

“There she is,” he strokes your hair as you wipe your mouth. “There’s my good girl.”

The praise fuels you, feeling pleased and settled.

He turns you over again and slides inside right away, slapping hips against you. You whimper and move your body with his.

You nearly ascend when he pushes his index finger into your stretched ass while still thrusting inside.

His cock thrusts against your g spot and presses against his finger behind your walls.The repeated pressure on both sides makes your knees shake. The sound you make is almost primal, body falling limp, spiraling through an orgasm.

He frees his hands and pushes your shoulders flat to the bed to slam inside. You lay, boneless as he grunts and growls through his own orgasm.

Falling beside you, he removes the blindfold and gestures for you to lay on his chest.

He pets and strokes the places he’s left marks. He slides his thumb along your worked jaw.

You didn’t realize how badly you’ve missed this feeling of safe, being claimed again.

8:09 PM

Limbs draped together laying on the bed, Namjoon carries on about his most recent lyric-writing.

Words, spilling out a mile a minute, eyes focused outward, trying to find a lyrical solution by talking aloud.

You study him, just as you always had. The same ,familiar motions and conversation but a different background.

It’s unmistakable.

It’s not any particular location that’s “lived-in”. This place echoes with empty and still smells of fresh paint.

It’s the relationship, the vibes. You and Namjoon are lived-in.

His voice, his touch. You know it’s everything you need but know it won’t last. You broke up for a reason, a dark cloud lingering over your temporary reconnection.

You try not to think of it, letting this temporary elation carry you both to the point where you must eventually take stock of what’s happening and acknowledge that you’re worse together, no matter how good it feels right now.

Despite your silent spiral, he continues talking, unbothered. You watch him, endeared, absorbing every morsel of himself he has to offer before you part again.

Eventually, he catches himself. “Sorry, should I stop?”

You climb on top of him and snag the nearby blindfold. You playfully spread it over his mouth and a giggle erupts from underneath. You slide it up to his eyes, mimicking your position from earlier. He inhales sharply and smiles.

You take his earlobe into your mouth and suck marks to his collarbone, not caring of the consequences. He doesn’t stop you, hissing and grabbing at your hair.

You relish In taking him like this, the breakup, giving you freedom to reciprocate this notion and him, the freedom to surrender to it.

You lean down and graze your teeth over his nipples, a secret sensitive spot.

He gasps and lets out a whimper. It was beautiful. You chase it again, sucking and blowing cold air over them.

Still naked, you grasp the shaft and wrap your pussy over him, eyes rolling back at the pleasing friction.

You slide up and down, chasing the high.

He’s moaning in a way you’ve never heard, the intensity of not having vision.

Still above him, you plant a foot on the ground and slide his length inside of yourself.

Your hips move above him, slowly at first. You watch him, every pant and bead of sweat dripping. You get to see him in a way you couldn’t if he could see you back.

Soon, it feels too good, dick rocking right on your spot, fast and deep. He moves his hips faster below you, a signal to speed up.

You rock back and forth, squirming and squelching on his cock, feeling a little freer that he can’t see you, but only feel you so intensely.

He sinks and drags fingernails down your back with a hiss and a moan. He keeps his nails buried in your skin and holds your hips down.

“Fuck,” he pants as you pull the blindfold loose to see him come.

His hands grab yours and you use your laced hands to brace yourself, squeezing fingers tight when you both come.

It feels like an official reuniting, coming together again. Having more even ground this time, just experiencing this together.

Now, all is right again. Doubt, drowned just a bit longer.

11:51 PM

You’re in a marathon of a conversation, catching up on the last few months.

You laugh and talk and joke, just like old times. He grabs you by the waist.

He kisses you. Long and full of expectation.

“Just remind me why.” He exhales and pushes his forehead to yours.

“No, Joonie, we can’t do this_” You feel thorns grow on your skin and try to push away.

He doesn’t remember yet. This is a beaten path. As much as you missed the four walls you shared, by the end of it all, it was suffocating. Walls, closing in.

“Please,” he pleads. “Because i’m looking at you and we’re here talking and kissing and fucking, perfect as it always was and I can’t, for the life of me, figure out why we’re not together.”

You shake your head as tears burn at your eyelids.

“No, Namjoon, we cannot have this fight again…” you try to free yourself again. There’s so much more to it all than sex and conversation.

“Who’s fighting?”

“You know why we’re not together,” you argue. It was bad for a long time. We fought and fought_…”

“Maybe we didn’t try hard enough,” he interrupts.

You look at him, shake your head.

“I did.” Tears falling freely now. “We can’t see each other anymore. It’s not fair. Not to either one of us.

You laugh to yourself. “We both knew it was a bad idea. We knew we’d end up right back here.”

“And where is that?” he asks, soft tears spilling from his sharp eyes.

You don’t answer. Just offer a weak smile as you quickly dress.

“Happy Birthday.”

And just like that, it’s all over, 2 strokes to midnight.

12:13 AM

You turn on the lights to “the” empty apartment and intentionally don’t look around. Any progress you had made at making the place feel like just yours are back at square one.

Your body is heavy with regret, can’t believe you let yourself drown in him again.

You crawl under the covers and wait for it to be just not so hard, back turned away from the side of the bed that feels so devastatingly empty.

2:30 AM

You stir awake from a noise at the door. The knock sounds again, waking you completely.

You sleepily drag yourself to the door.

There he stands, eyes swollen, looking lost and vulnerable.

You stare at each other in the doorway, unable to tell if there are a million unsaid things being spoken or just emotions spilling sloppily around with no rhyme or reason.

The same electricity fires inside. Even though you can’t remember what you said when you left.

The only thing you can remember right now is how right it is that he’s here. And how wrong it was when he was gone, and how empty his side of the bed is.

You extend your hand out, inviting him in. He looks for a long time and finally accepts. You shut the door behind him, locking you both back into those four walls.

[moonshotsx]

pirate au but it's two mermaids saving a stupidly long human

for reference, kam is a blonde with a light blue tail while paloma is a redhead with a dark green tail!

--

"I'm bored," Kam announced, as she looked out to the port from the hiding spot she and Paloma had found on the rocks.

"Should we do one more boat? I saw one human play with something shiny over there," the redhead pointed to the boat on the far west side.

"I want something more exciting! These humans are stupid, they don't even notice things are going missing! The batch from last week was more entertaining," the blonde mermaid pouted, crossing her arms over her chest.

"The way those two humans wrestled and fell into the water was hilarious," Paloma nodded, recalling the event from a few days prior.

Kam was about to respond when a loud bang followed by a bright flash interrupted the calm evening.

Her eyes widened as she realized the sudden commotion came from a ship just appearing in the distance - engulfed in flames while another seemed to flee away in the chaos.

"What in the hell just happened?!"

Paloma let out as soon as she and Kam had gone back underwater to avoid been seen by the curious crowd that was forming in the piers of the port.

"Let's find out!"

The younger mermaid didn't lose time as she swam her way to the shipwreck, guided by the ominous lights underwater. She knew to not get too close in case a human saw her, but she found herself unable to resist her concern.

The closer she and Paloma got to the burning vessel, the more lifeless bodies she saw float away, some still clutching parts of the ship.

"Goodness me... there's so many of them," the redhead said, sadness veiling her voice, "It must have been the other ship that caused this"

Paloma's voice got drowned out as Kam's eyes spotted something floating away from the rest of the debris.

She started swimming in its direction, ignoring her best friend's warnings.

As soon as she realized what she was looking at, she gasped, "Palo! Come here, quick!"

The redhead cursed under her breath, saying how Kam was going to get them into trouble, but the blonde could not care less at that moment.

Kam tentatively brought her hand up to the human, she swore she had never seen someone so beautiful. Even with blood gushing down her forehead, the unconscious brunette looked ethereal in her eyes.

She leaned forward over her chest, resting her ear against it, and she let out a breath she didn't know she was holding.

"She's alive, but barely, she needs our help," she looked up to Paloma, the latter having caught up to her by then.

"She's losing too much blood, she won't make it to the shore in time, even if we swim her there," the older mermaid tried to reason, now too gently caressing the cold skin.

"Unless...we..." she trailed off, her thumb stroking the soft lips as they slowly turned purple.

Paloma's eyes widened, "Are you sure? It will link us and this human forever..."

"We can't let her die!" Kam argued, "It'll buy us enough time to get her help if we both do it"

The redhead bit her lower lip, her eyes darting from Kam to the human between them.

She knew she would regret not saving her if she had the chance to, her conscience wouldn't let her.

"Okay, okay," she caved in, "I'll help you!"

Kam gave her a slight smile before she leaned in.

The moment her lips made contact with the woman's cold ones, she knew she had made the right choice.

-

Sure enough, they got the tall human by the shore in time, her skin looked more lively despite the blood loss - she was alive and it was all that mattered to the two mermaids.

"We have to get another human's attention without being spotted, so that they can properly take care of her," Paloma reasoned, her eyes locked on the small group of people that stood just outside of their sight, "Any ideas?"

Kam looked around the shore, settling on a small rock, "Hopefully this does the trick," she said before throwing it as far as she could, hitting a tall sturdy woman in the back of the head, she was pretty sure she owned the town's tavern.

"Hide, now!" the blonde grabbed Paloma's hand, swimming away to their hiding spot.

It took them a moment to hear anything.

"What the?!"

"What's the matter, Bertha?"

"Something hit me from- Oh my goodness! We got another survivor here!"

The two mermaids watched as their human was lifted off the sand, rushed to have her injuries treated. They followed them as much as they could from the water until they couldn't spot them anymore.

Once the adrenaline had worn off, Kam was the first one to speak up.

"We have to see her again"

"I'm sure we will soon, mon amour, I'm sure we will"

[kuroos-babie]

falling in love with a single mom hcs

INCLUDES: nishinoya, tsukishima, yaku

you spent a good part of your childhood with nishinoya, chasing away the dogs that had a penchant of scaring your best friend shitless, climbing trees and playing treasure hunt

it was funny, to say the least, seeing how he grew from such a scaredy-cat to the energetic and confident noya everyone knows

throughout highschool you watched him chase girl after girl and he watched you turn down guy after guy

the dynamic you two had was that of a feral gremlin child and its chill owner holding the leash and everyone, including you two, thought you would always be together

everyday was fun with nishinoya's energy hanging around you, no doubt

but when he asked you to travel the world with him right after graduation, he was met with a hesitant refusal

"i'm planning to go to college, yuu"

"it'll be fun, y/n! like going on an adventure!!"

"visit me once in a while"

his heart clenched at the way you smiled at him with teary eyes, "i can't change your mind can i?"

with a soft shake of your head, he sighed

he leaves in three days

the first few months of him being away were filled with calls and pictures of his trips, smile seemingly wider and brighter than before and a part of you regretted not coming with him

but college starts in a week, and with that came missed calls and ignored messages

at some point, neither of you just remembered to hit the other up, caught up with the stresses of your own life and before either of you knew it, 5 years have passed

he came to visit home for the first time in years, no longer the boyish noya you knew but he still had that warm aura around him

you were the first thought to come to mind the moment he step foot in town, his whole body buzzing with excitement at the mere thought of seeing you again

so of course he went straight to your house, feet taking step after memorized step and hands clutching bags of things he got from his travels

"Y/N!!!!!", he calls out as he enters your house which was answered with a harsh shushing

turning a corner he saw you in the living room, lovely as ever-- he thought, and with a baby sleeping soundly in your arms, "the baby's sleeping, yuu"

"whose...?"

you laughed at the cracking in his voice, "mine, who else's?"

man, he looked like he was about to cry

he quietly approached you, careful as to not wake the baby

"for you", he mumbled while handing you the bag of snacks and stuff

the room was filled with silence after you hummed a short thanks

he was looking at the child's face, it looked like you, he thinks

he asked when you got married, "you didn't tell me, didn't even invite your best friend to your wedding", he whined

"i didn't, i'm not married"

his eyes were wide as they looked at you

you told him about getting pregnant shortly after college graduation and getting ditched

he thought of himself selfish as he heaved a sigh of relief

"it's fine though, my parents are helping me a lot", he notes how you looked at your baby with such fond eyes and his heart swelled, he felt like crying

you chuckled at the look on his face, "hey don't look so sorry for me, can't be happier to have her"

"what's her name?"

you looked at your daughter's face and pet at her cheek with a finger, "yui"

nishinoya couldn't hold it in anymore and so he let himself cry and pulled you close

and for the nth time since the day of your college graduation he asked you again, "come with me, y/n, let's travel the world" but you have a child "i'll stay with you here until she's old enough", he said while kissing the tears that slipped down your cheeks

"then we can all go travel the world together"

he liked working at the museum, he really does

at least that's what he tries to tell himself as he led the group of preschoolers through the sendai museum

they were cute, yeah, but also very chatty

especially this one little boy with the frog hat

"what's this called?"

"it's a fossilized remain of--"

"how about this one?"

"it's--", and before he could answer, the child was already running to the other side of the exhibit

he just sighs

the tour ended and he was getting ready for his lunch break, proceeding to the cafe by the entrance as he always does

his eyes almost caught the flurry of green that passed beside him but he chose to ignore it

but of course it wasn't long after he sat down with his order when he heard a familiar bubbly voice

"mama that's the dinosaur guy!", he heard the little boy whisper loudly, "he's so tall, like a brachiosaurus!"

he couldn't supress the chuckle at the child's remark and he turned in his seat, "so you were listening, i thought you were just bouncing all around the place"

"oh sorry, did he give you a hard time?"

your voice drew his attention and he smiled at the sight of your worried face, something that surprised even him, "not really, no"

he invited you two to sit and eat with him and he listened to your son ramble all about dinosaurs and prehistoric animals

"a smart one, i like him"

your son really liked him too and asked you to take him to the museum again and see tsukishima

and so it became a habit for you to visit the museum every friday with the little boy, waiting for the tall blonde to get off work so you three could grab something to eat

and every time he sees you in the little cafe by the entrancne with your son, tsukishima couldn't help but smile a little and pat at his chest to calm the subtle fluttering as he push the door open

it was a weird feeling he never knew would come so naturally at the mere sight of you two

he bought your son picture books and and figurines and copies of the "walking with dinosaurs" documentary

"we should watch it this weekend..." his eyebrows shot up for a moment at your meek suggestion

of course the little boy was elated, excited to have him over at your house "yes! let's go now! i wanna watch it with tsukki now!!!"

tsukishima returned his gaze on you, "if it's not too much trouble then i'd love to go now"

and so the rest of the friday night was spent on your couch with all the lights turned off and a narration of al the allosaurus' life

you looked over at the other side of the couch to see your son laying on tsukishima, eyes fluttering shut with the man passed out and lightly snoring

he must've been tired

you draped a blanket over the two of them and waited for sleep to visit you too and it soon did

morning came and you woke up to the smell of coffee

"i borrowed your coffee maker, i hope you don't mind", his voice was still low, trying not to wake the little boy

"yeah, sorry i didn't wake you up last night... you looked tired"

he chuckled as you walked over to the kitchen to take out two mugs and prepared some toast, "i don't mind, it was the best sleep i've gotten in a while. i hope it wasn't too much of a bother for you though"

you leaned on the kitchen counter as you took in his appearance; hair ruffled and eyes puffy with sleep, "i don't mind it one bit"

he huffed a laugh and looked over to the sofa where your son still laid

"he likes you a lot"

"so it seems, i hope you do too", his face was smug but you didn't miss the red that tinted his cheeks when you told him "of course i do, in fact i was thinking maybe we should do this more often"

his smirk grew, "just say you want to wake up everyday to the sight of me and leave it at that"

you rolled your eyes at his comment but smiled nonetheless, "oh shut up"

he had just come back from the nekoma volleyball team reunion, head lightly buzzing from the few bottles of alcohol kuroo forced down his throat

making his way through the carpeted hotel hall, he could barely make out the sound of little feet hurriedly padding on the floor and quiet sniffles

taking out the keycard to his room with the blissful thoughts of finally sinking into the soft mattress was interrupted by a soft bump on his thigh, a muffled thud and a small "ow..."

it took a few moments before the sight of the little boy on the hotel floor registered properly in his brain

it was well past 2 am... why the hell is there a child running around the halls

"uh... hi?"

big bright eyes looked up at him and he can't help but sigh at the sniffles increasingly growing louder

"where's your mama, little guy?", yaku crouched to the little boy's level, careful to keep his balance as the booze and exhaustion was catching up to him

however, at the mention of his mother, the little boy's eye filled up with more tears and was ready to burst anytime, "mama..."

"oh no no no no"

yaku's too tired for this

so with a sigh and a groan, he took the boy in his arms and entered his room

"let's look for her in the morning, okay? i think i still have some cookies in my room, would like some?"

the little boy nods his head, earning a relieved sigh from yaku

the rest of the night was spent with cartoons playing on the large hotel room tv, yaku leaning against the headboard with the little boy snoozing away while being tucked in his arm, cookie on his hand and crumbs all around

morning came and panic surged through your body the moment you realized your 3 year-old son was nowhere inside your hotel room

your hurried to the security desk to report and hopefully make an announcement, head reeling and aching with the sudden rush of adrenaline first thing in the morning

with your head in your hands, you let out a groan while trying not to cry at all the possibilites flashing through your mind

your wallowing was cut short with an "excuse me, i found this child last night"

turning your head back to the security desk, you see a man in his pajamas and slippers, hair ruffled from sleep and a sleepy little boy laying on his shoulder

"oh my god"

the whole conlict ended when you came up to them and introduced yourself, the little boy quickly recognizing your voice and whipped his head over to you, "mama!"

your son reached out for you and yaku couldn't help but notice how pretty your glossy eyes were despite how disheveled you looked

"mama, yakkun gave me cookies and we watched cartoons aaaaall night!"

yaku's eyes widened at the little boy's words and let out a nervous chuckle, "you make me sound so suspicious"

he turned to you and explained how your son bumped into him at 2 am and he was just too tired to bring him down to the security desk

"my tired tipsy brain thought it was a better idea to just let him sleep in my room and look for mama in the morning", he ended with the tips of his ears tinged red

you laughed at his nervousness, "well we can talk more about it over breakfast, what do you say yakkun? my treat"

with the way you were smiling at him, how could he even refuse?

the rest of the morning was spent with coffee and waffles, juice and fruits and chatter

he learned you and your son were in town for a few days, "i wanted to go see the fishies in the aquarium!", the little boy quips

with the new volleyball season just around the corner, yaku knew he'd have practices but he offered to tour you two around tokyo

he wanted to see you two again

briefly taking care of the toddler last night and having breakfast with you, he realized, were very much a welcomed change of pace in his hectic pro volleyball life

"are you my dad? mama told me daddy was working in tokyo" he remembered your son quietly mumbling last night, "i haven't seen him though, not ever"

the rest of your stay in tokyo was spent hanging out with yaku, your son growing more and more attached to him and slept over at his room every night

as promised, he took you and your son on a tokyo tour and even brought you to practice, introducing you to the national team and teaching your child receives

of course your trip eventually reached its end, promises of meeting again drowned in the little boy's tears as he tried to reach out to yaku

"we'll meet again, little guy", he says while ruffling the boy's hair, "i'll even go visit you and we'll play lots, okay?

of course he made a point of contacting you frequently, often video chatting during meal times and bedtime and a few more hours after, relishing in the time he could spend talking alone with you

"i can't wait to see you two again", he always says right after "good night"

taglist: @churochuu @bakarinnie @faithieeee @strawberriimilkshake @paulazockt @pattys-got-cakes @hidden-otaku-stuff @haikyuubabie @sachirou-senpai @your-local-abyss @stcrryskies @toosaltyforacookie @mrs-kuroojinguji @shawkneecaps @miyastrology @galacticstxrdust @wakaushi @boosyboo9206 @sugawara-sweetheart @threeconsecutivefs @chichibia @diyosku @curiouslilbeast @cowbeboppy @tsukkaria @yyvveess @kirakirasaku

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[luvlyrv]

Uncover | Seulgi x F!Reader

Genre/warnings: fluff, angst, homophobia (religious)

Summary: You quickly learn that while it was easy to be dishonest with yourself, it was nearly impossible to lie to Seulgi.

Word Count: 4.7k A/N: This has been something wracking up in my brain since June. It's kind of embarrassing that it's taken this long but it's a lovechild of my emotions. Enjoy, and I hope you feel things.

Date: 9/21/21

You can't imagine a day without her, because she's always been there. Right from the day you could remember. You bet that she could be your last memory too.

Your first memory has you sitting in the living room playing with your toys as you anxiously eye the other child in the room. Some strangers had rung your doorbell and your mom and dad had welcomed them into the house. Now they were in the kitchen, their voices blending into each other in the background.

The small girl in front of you decided to take the liberty of picking up your toys and playing with them. She ran around playing in the imaginary world in her head. You think that she's having fun and that you want to have fun too, but you can't seem to move from your position. As you slowly try to build up the courage to talk to her she approaches you.

She had been glancing at you from the corner of her eyes too. She watched your shy self idly playing all alone. She found it hard to approach you, scared of you pushing her away or being mean, but she thought maybe it was worth it. You could be a friend.

"Hi!" The strange girl is right in front of you with one of your stuffed toys in hand. "Do you want to play with me? I'm Seulgi!"

"I'm Y/N…"

For the rest of the hour the two of you chased each other in a shared adventure. Enraptured in your own little wonderland until your parents had to pull you apart.

Soon it became a ritual for those strangers, who you later learned to be Mr. and Mrs. Kang, to visit your house. Along them was always their daughter Seulgi, who wouldn't hesitate to pull you into a large hug right before starting a new adventure with you.

You slightly trail behind your best friend. You smile at yourself from the sight of Seulgi happily skipping, somehow filled with even more vigor than she usually has. She's always been filled with much more energy than you, amazed by even the smallest of things. You suppose something truly spectacular must be happening today for her to feel so extra. She turns her head over to look at you, flashing you her perfect smile with her perfect cheeks. The ones you always want to squish when you remind her of how cute she is.

She continues to bounce but slows down to be by your side. One of the favorite parts of your day, and hopefully hers too, would be the peaceful walk the two of you would always share before and after school. It always reminded you of how close you are. How you can always rely on her to listen and to brighten up your day.

She bites her lip while still smiling. She must be thinking about something.

"What's got you so excited today?" You ask her with a giggle.

"Guess!" She pesters leaning into you. A familiar feeling emerges in your chest from the contact.

"You know I'm really bad at guessing…"

"Well why can't you try?"

"All I know is that it has to be something really special, right?" You decide to lean back and push her a little as a tease.

"It is! Mom and dad bought me my favorite ice cream that we can share later today!"

You laugh at her as she continues giving her dumb smile. Seulgi moves in front of you with her eyebrows raised, waiting to hear your opinion about the news.

"Is that it?" You ask still laughing. She pouts a little.

"What do you mean 'is that it'? It's my favorite! And I get to share it with you!" With that you pull Seulgi in for a side hug.

"I'm kidding, I'm excited too."

You enjoy listening to whatever nonsense Seulgi thinks about and decides to spill to you as you guys continue walking. You feel a bit disheartened at the sight of the school building, but looking at Seulgi again is enough to make the disappointment go away.

As much as you wish it did, your schedule wasn't entirely with your best friend. Instead you had to split up as you entered the school grounds to your different classes. Fortunately you shared at least some classes with her, and most importantly lunch. So when you sit down at your desk with nobody talking to you, you don't feel too lonely. The anticipation of being reunited with Seulgi was enough for you.

As usual Seulgi finds your figure sitting down at a lunch table and immediately rushes towards you. She taps your shoulder as she sits down, hurriedly opening up her lunch box, her beastly appetite striking again.

"Oooh." She oogles as the both of you breathe in the sudden aroma of homemade food. You peer over to look at the contents of her lunch box. You swore that you can see the steam coming off of her rice.

"Open up!" Seulgi playfully demands of you. You oblige as she not so carefully throws a grape your way. It would've been lost if you didn't move your head to make up for the completely inaccurate trajectory.

"How are you still bad at this?" You ask her after chewing.

"Maybe I just like to see you work for your food." You laugh at her response as you carefully pick up a spring roll from your box and place it in hers.

"Mom fried it this morning so you better enjoy."

You enjoy the long-time tradition of sharing food and eating in relative silence. That time was short lived though as a small group of girls joined your table. You didn't mind them much, you'd even consider them casual friends. At the same time though, they were bothering you.

You found it strange that despite finally being with Seulgi you felt so lonely. So lost.

Seulgi's popular, you know that. A lot of people try to befriend her and fight for her attention. Being the social butterfly she is she never hesitated to say hello back and return the friendliness. By proxy you met a lot of nice people, a lot of not so nice people, and more. They never really stuck by for you though. They stayed for Seulgi.

You wish you understood why you were so bothered by those that stayed. Why you were always feeling jealous recently. You wonder if it's natural to feel so intensely sick when you watch your best friend's attention be pulled away by several different girls at a time, or laugh at a guys joke. Well, maybe you do know why.

You quietly sigh and push the thought away, instead trying to join in the chatter and laugh with everyone at the table. Just as you were about to calm down and ease into the group a sudden large group of guys and girls approach. One boy in particular seems to be leading the pack. You purse your lips as you silently watch them come over. Seulgi absent-mindedly continues talking, completely unaware of what was about to occur.

You tighten your hands into a ball as a feeling bubbles inside you. You can't place what it is. Is it fear? Anger? Jealously? It's probably both.

The boy also tightens his hands as they grip onto his shirt. You watch him bite his lip and see how a red color crawls up his neck and reaches the tips of his ears. You hold in a breath as he finally arrives at the table and Seulgi looks up at him.

"S-Seulgi." He barely manages to say her name aloud.

"Huh?" She looks at him cluelessly but gives him her full attention anyways.

"I like you! A lot! So if you can, please go out with me!" The boy's words spill out, as if his mouth was a floodgate holding them back. He reaches behinds him and quickly bends over to give Seulgi a piece of red paper, shaped like a heart. He probably wrote about his feelings extensively on it.

Your eyes had been focused on the love-stricken boy. It's hard for you to move your eyes towards Seulgi. You realize now what you're feeling. You fear what you'll see when you look over at Seulgi to see her reaction.

You notice that she's red too, the color slowly blossoming across her cheeks.

Why does this hurt you?

"Erm, ah, thank you." She says out of politeness and bows back. She gives him a smile and that seems to excite him. "I'll think about your confession."

He eagerly nods his head and leaves the table, happy with the results of his actions. The crowd around him seem to think that was a good ending and started whispering and congratulating him. You look back at your table and the girls are murmuring too.

"He's cute, you should definitely go for him!"

"I heard he treated his last girlfriend nicely. They're still on good terms."

"I've never seen you date before. Isn't now your time to explore?"

Seulgi just takes it all in and nods along with what they say. Your head hangs low as you pick at your food. You don't dare look up. You're scared of seeing Seulgi's face again. You're scared that tears will start falling.

It was like the weight of the world had fallen on your chest.

When the bell dismisses you from lunch you quickly go to your next class. You don't say goodbye to Seulgi or any of the other girls. You feel the light graze of Seulgi's fingertips as she tries to stop you, but you're too fast.

The rest of the school day is you trying to focus on studying, and when your last class finishes you're not sure what you'll do. Everybody leaves the classroom before you as you take some time for yourself. Breathing in and out, you mentally prepare yourself to face Seulgi, as if she was some type of monster.

As you exit the building and get near the gates you see a swarm of people with Seulgi in the center. They're probably there to ask about how she feels about the confession that happened. You sigh and almost contemplate leaving without her, but her eyes quickly find yours. Seulgi politely but abruptly says her goodbyes and runs towards you.

As Seulgi's figure grows nearer there's a feeling of satisfaction. It was like you had won some petty fight, and that feeling was able to erase the fear and nerves you had earlier. A smile grows on your face she reaches your side, your bodies automatically matching your steps. You enjoy the warmth when she locks her arm with yours. Not knowing what to say, you let silence fill the space in between the two of you until Seulgi decided to break it.

"So, do you wanna stay at my place for a bit so we can eat that ice cream?"

Seulgi's keys jingle as she unlocks her front door. You follow in after her, putting your shoes away as she dashes towards her refrigerator to retrieve the ice cream from the freezer. You walk up towards her as she hands one to you. Naturally, both of you make your way outside into her backyard.

Her backyard is quaint, housing a nice garden that her mother often tends and one large tree. The two of you rest under it, appreciating the winding arms of the apple tree that has always given you and Seulgi refuge. You enjoy the taste of the ice cream, perhaps the shade was enhancing its flavor. Either way you understood why its Seulgi's favorite. The refreshing taste and Seulgi's presence puts a smile on your face. You feel yourself opening up again as you guys joke and talk about your day in between bites and licks. By the time you finish eating your ice cream she had managed to convince you that she needed your extra help in math. As always you agreed to tutor her.

She argues that you should stay underneath the tree as she gets up to throw away the trash. You watch as she goes back inside the house, coming out again with a shiny apple in hand that was picked only a couple days ago. You laugh a little as you ask,

"Still hungry?"

"Enough for a little snack."

She sits by you and takes a rest on your lap. You brush her hair away as you look into her eyes. You can tell she's thinking about something.

"What's wrong?" You ask her.

"Well, I was just wondering, why were you upset earlier?" She says in a serious tone.

"Huh?"

"You didn't even say goodbye at lunch, and don't pretend I didn't notice you almost leaving without me." There's a hint of hurt in her voice. You feel bad for not keeping your emotions in check better, that you threw a fit over something so small.

"Well," Your voice trails off as your mind struggles to think of a response, "what does that boy mean to you?" You decide to ask.

"Oh so now you want to know about that too?" There's only a slight annoyance in her voice as she gives you an eyeroll.

"I'm your best friend, of course I'm curious." Seulgi huffs at your response. She can't blame you for wondering so she takes a moment to think before answering honestly.

"I mean, I guess they weren't wrong. He's kinda cute, and I know it took a lot for him to say that to me. I admire him for it." She said it in a casual manner, as if it wasn't a big deal. Yet for you it meant everything. And it hurt.

You can't control the frown that found its way on your face.

"Hey…" Seulgi quickly gets up from your lap. She has a confused expression as her eyes scans yours. "Hey, what's wrong?" Her voice is soft as she puts a hand on your shoulder.

Your chest is about to explode.

"Do you like him or something?" She continues to grip onto your shoulder with a confused face. She thinks she was the one who did something wrong. That she's stealing someone away from you, but that was so different from the truth.

"No, Seulgi, I-" You pause to think about what you're going to say. Something was about to come out instinctively, and you don't know whether or not that was the best decision.

"You what?"

She presses you for an answer but you're still thinking. You're thinking about you know you can't handle her possibly being close to someone else. To share all of her laughs with that boy. To smile at him and spend time with him. To do all the things that exists between you and her. Living would feel wrong if you were no longer the one she ran to and spilled her secrets to.

Who are you if not Seulgi's biggest and only confidant? The only one who could soothe her in her darkest moments? The one who understands every feeling and thought just by the way she blinks?

You're intimately familiar with the feeling in your chest now. You think that you know what it is too, but that doesn't make you hate it any less. If you could, you'd sacrifice every fiber of your being to forget that feeling and throw it away. To pretend it doesn't exist. But your wishes don't make it go away.

You can be dishonest with yourself, but it's impossible to lie to Seulgi. Not when she looks at you like that.

"I like you."

The words are barely a whisper but she hears. Seulgi's hand falls off your shoulder and you want to cry again. You said the wrong thing. She was going to think you're disgusting. She would never go on a walk with you again. You'll never smell her perfume again. You'll never hear her laughter again. She'd never touch you again. Never speak to you again.

Her mouth is open slack. Your eyes water and you breathe in, readying yourself to apologize profusely. To rescind the blasphemous words that slipped out of your foul mouth.

"I'm so sorry. Just ignore it. I take it back. I think I'm sick or something, you know, delirious. Just ignore it please. Please." Tears begins to fall down your face as Seulgi seemingly snaps back to reality. She reaches towards you, taking your face in her hands as her thumbs swipe away the tears.

"Oh my god, no, don't cry." She begs you to stop, but you can't.

"I-I'm, I'm sorry." The tears continue to make their way down your face. A horrible sickness wells in your stomach and suddenly it feels below freezing as you shake uncontrollably.

"No, don't be." She hugs you tight and whispers in your ear. "I like you too. So stop crying. For me, please." She strokes your back as you cry, hoping that the touch could settle you down.

It takes a while for you to register what she says, but as soon as you do your body seizes up. You think that maybe your everything, your soul, has shattered into a million pieces from Seulgi's words. How in the world could it be true? It couldn't be, not in this universe, not in this timeline.

Yet it was.

When Seulgi hears your sniffling stop and your body letting go of its tension she separates her body from yours. Her eyes are all you can see, and all you can see in them is pain.

"I'm sorry for making you worried." You felt guilty that she had to see you cry. The outburst at school wasn't great either.

"Don't worry about it" She reassures you by taking a hand in hers, stroking it with her delicate fingers to show you her affection. For several moments you allow yourself to breathe. Seulgi also took the time to process everything, and the two of you stared at each other with the new understanding of your feelings. Time seems to pass so slowly when you observe each other with care.

"Seulgi…" You mumble when what felt like years passed. She understood what you meant when she saw the way you looked at her lips.

In that moment you couldn't care anymore. Neither could Seulgi, it seemed, as you pressed your lips on hers and she pressed back. Greedily, the two of you dived in for a taste. Your lips on hers, her tongue in your mouth, it was something you needed. It was a flavor you could relish forever, perhaps this is what sin tasted like. Yes, this is what they'd call it. A sin.

It feels like everything has changed, but at the same time it hasn't. You still spend every second possible with Seulgi. You spend your time doing the same things. Yet everything feels so different, it feels brand new. Magically, it feels better than before. Is this the power that Seulgi has over you?

Nobody knows, nobody needs to know. After all, you're still Seulgi's bestfriend. Is there really anything different? Maybe just the tighter hugs, the kisses, and the alluring smiles, but that's all. Life is easy this way.

After bidding Seulgi goodbye in front of her house you go home to eat dinner with your family. You come home and greet your parents with a smile as you rush to join them at the dinner table. They share that smile as they take note of your enthusiasm recently. As you eat quietly for a while your mom finally asks you what's been going on to make you shine so much.

"Well..." You debate on what to say. It's been over a month since you confessed to Seulgi but you were still feeling high. You've been holding it for so long you wished you could tell someone. Why not them? You want them to be happy with you too. "I've been dating Seulgi."

"Hm?" Your mom asks you somewhat aggressively for clarification. The sudden stillness in the air alarms you. You look up from your food to see your mom staring as your dad stops eating.

"I-I told her I liked her and she liked me back." You say hoping to clear whatever confusion was occuring. Yet the look on your parents didn't fade.

"What happened?" You father's question sounds more like a statement as he sternly places his utensils down.

"What do you mean what happened? I just told you."

"What happened to make you like this?" His cold voices breaks a little as you notice his eyes tearing up. Was he seriously upset about this?

"You're joking, right?" Your mom joins in with an angry tone.

"Of course I'm not. Mom, she makes me really happy." You struggle to keep yourself composed under the scrutiny of both of your parents.

"Y/N. You are not happy. You're messing with the devil right now and he's fucking up your mind."

"Have you not been doing your prayers?"

You can barely fight for yourself at the dinner table. Your parents argue with and over you, about the causes and the whys. About the signs and what happens next. You cry as you watch your decision unfold into your nightmare.

You knew deep down inside this would happen, but you hoped and prayed that it wasn't true. Perhaps Seulgi made you too happy, too brave. Everything else felt like it was going right so you convinced yourself this would too. You've flown too close to the sun and it backfired. You should've never said anything.

As you try to block out the fight unraveling in front of you you could only scream one thing while crying. "Wouldn't God want to love me? Wouldn't He want you to love me too?"

The scrape of the wooden chair echos as your mom shoots up straight. "I will not house some heathen under my roof. Get out until you realize what you've done to this family."

It's raining. The relentless torrent of water against your body traps in the coldness from the night, leaving you shivering as your feet move on their own. They move to the only other place that feels like home. The only other person that feels like home.

Soon enough you find yourself in front of a familiar door, incessantly knocking. Muffled footsteps come from the other side of the door as you hear locks being undone until the door finally opens. Instantly there's a look of worry on Mr. Kang's face as he takes in the scene in front of him. He quickly ushers you in and shuts the door.

"Who is it?" A voice rings from upstairs.

"It's Y/N!" Mr. Kang yells back, and soon enough you hear a flurry of footsteps coming downstairs. Seulgi, in her tired glory, appears. She rushes towards you as her father went off to find you some towels to dry off with.

"Oh my god, what happened? Why are you here? Are you okay?" Seulgi's honey eyes are glistening with worry. She doesn't seem to care too much about the fact that you're soaked as she embraces you in a hug. Her body soothes you, its warmth penetrating the cold, wet clothes that clung to your body. You let her ground you back to reality before speaking.

"I don't wanna talk about it right now." You barely manage to get the words out. Your throat feels tight, constricted. Throughout the entire time the tears haven't stopped running down your face as it mixed with the rain water. Seulgi rubs your back as her father comes back. Both of them begin patting you dry.

It feels a bit pathetic as you have two people fretting over you so much, but you're too tired to move. Maybe not even tired, but rather stuck in your own thoughts.

"Go get her something to change into. Are you gonna stay the night?" Her dad asks after making Seulgi go back upstairs to find clothes. You just nod in response and follow her.

When you enter Seulgi's room you find her hastily going through her drawers, finding something comfortable for you to wear. After digging through her clothes she hands you some sweatpants and an oversized shirt, much like her own outfit she was sporting. Your hands are in front of you and holding onto the clothing, yet you still can't seem to move much. Instead your lips tremble as you look at the floor. Seulgi sighs as she nears you, unfolding the clothes and looking at your trembling hands.

"Don't make me dress you." She half-teases. When she realizes you can't will yourself to move a grim line stretches across her face. She wonders what has gotten you so riled up to act this way.

Carefully, she removes your clothes and throws them into the laundry pile. Her fingers innocently skim your body as she puts on the clothes for you, with you doing the minimal movements required to help her. Over the years she's already been more than familiar with your body, and the same for you with her touch. Although you can't vocalize it you silently appreciate the care and intimacy she demonstrates.

Soon enough she finishes though and pulls you towards her bed. Sitting you down she places herself behind you after grabbing a dry towel. She begins to dry your hair while letting you stay silent. Another thing you appreciated about her. She let you take your time.

"Seulgi..." Your voice croaks out as if you've aged several decades.

"Yes?" She stops drying off your hair, instead placing the towel down as she wraps her arms behind you and leans forward.

"They know." She doesn't say anything but her body is still for a minute. Afterwards she finishes drying off your hair, at least one of you can stay calm in this situation. That's what you need. "They told me to come back when I come to my senses."

"It's okay. Everything will be okay. We'll figure something out." You let her guide you down on her bed. Your crying had stopped a while back, but the shock coursing through your body didn't. As Seulgi pulled up the sheets and began to hold you you turned around and looked at her. You looked into the eyes that told you everything. Right now they told you that all Seulgi had on her mind was you.

So you think that you should only think of Seulgi too, because you can always forget about the consequences when you're with her. With a kiss on your forehead she tells you to sleep. She gets impossibly closer to you, holding you tight. Holding you as if you are her treasure.

The familiar trees and houses enter your view as you drive down your childhood neighborhood. Your fingers tap on the steering wheel as you listen to the song Seulgi played in the car. Out of the corner of your eye you see her smile at the thought of visiting her parents. It's enough to make you happy as well.

As you near her parent's house you pass by your own. It's been years since you've been inside, years since you even saw it. You're okay with it though, but your mind still wonders how your parents are doing. You wonder if the house is lonelier now, if they ever think about the sparse letters and phone calls you have exchanged and how they always were fights. Do they know you and Seulgi are coming to visit? Will they want to see you?

Whatever the answer is it doesn't matter. The only family you have to worry about is the girl right next to you and her parents. You feel thankful that she's your first love and hopeful that she's your last. Despite how many times your lives have separated you two, how you both dated other people and had your own quarrels, you guys came back to each other in the end. She changed you during your formative years and supported you as the two of you have grown up.

No one else can make you uncover these sides and feelings like she does.