#but yeah i was screaming when she said that | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

acynicalsweetheart · 3 days ago

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DOWN IN A HOLE

pairing: dad!jimmy x fem!reader x uncle!curly

word count: 2.4k

dead dove do not eat: 18+, daddy-daughter incest, pseudo-incest, mild dub-con, coercion, daddy kink, breeding kink, age gap, double penetration, anal, sex, implied/referenced rape, very brief jimcurly cameo

author's note: wow this sucks LMFAO. umm first attempt at writing jimmy… assholes r not my typical area of expertise so. take it with a grain of salt. feel like he has an uncharacteristically big mouth here LOL. did not mean to make it this long it was originally a drabble… read cws + any interaction/feedback appreciated as always!!

“Jim... isn’t she your daughter?”

Curly’s dumbfounded, jaw dropped to the floor, standing in the middle of the dank motel room not knowing where he should look to remain respectful—Jimmy or his own flesh and blood in a flimsy lingerie set.

Not exactly what he had in mind when Jimmy said he had a gift for him.

This is all too fucking wrong, Jimmy’s your dad, you’re one thin and translucent piece of underwear away from standing completely naked in front of both of them, he’s got his arm wrapped around your shoulder like he’s your pimp. He wants Curly to fuck you.

It’s sick and twisted and morbid and Curly’s dick is hard.

“Yeah, so?” Jimmy pinches your cheek and you flinch ever so slightly, put on your best forced smile. “Never once said no to taking daddy’s dick, did you, baby?”

You shake your head.

(It’s a blatant lie—Jimmy remembers the bloodfest on the sheets your first time, the way you screamed dad, no and dad, stop at the top of your lungs. The way your face contorted, ugly sobbing turning your eyes swollen and puffy like your cunt, his cock coated in all sorts of questionable fluids by the time he was done with you.)

“See? All good here, man.” He says, shaking you a little by the grip on your shoulder.

“Jimmy, I...” Curly pinches the bridge of his nose, rubs his forehead like he’s trying to assess if this entire thing is a dream or not. Would help alleviate the guilty boner in his pants by a little if it were.

He peeks at you through the cracks of his fingers.

“Come on,” Jimmy’s scowl returns in a second, gesturing to your body. “You’re really gonna reject her when she’s right in front of you? Thought you were better than that, Curly.”

It’s so wrong—Curly’s known you almost as long as he’s known Jimmy. He’s watched you grow up, babysat you, let you crash at his place, showed up to every one of your graduations because Jimmy couldn’t. He hung out with you just last week, for God’s sake.

Curly’s dick twitches like it’s trying to escape his pants and fuck you on its own.

Jimmy shrugs, starts undoing your top and letting it drop to the floor. He gropes your tits and bile burns in the back of Curly’s throat like ethanol. “Well, if you don’t want a piece, then you’re free to watch. Shame you gotta break my girl’s heart like this.”

“Jim, I’m not trying to—“

Jimmy pinches your nipple mechanically and you whine, stand there and take it like it’s a daily occurrence. “She’s been asking for you, you know.”

Curly falters, his heart dropping straight down to his ass, “she has?”

“Yeah, won’t shut up about Uncle Curly’s dick, how much she likes you,” Jimmy scoffs, “how she wants you to take her second virginity.” Second virginity?

“Really?” He smooths his hair back, sheepishly playing with the curls at the nape of his neck like a schoolgirl.

Jimmy whispers something to you, sends you off to where Curly’s standing with a tap on the ass. You reach out for his hand to place it on your breast and he cups it gently, sneaking glances at Jimmy from behind you in case he changes his mind.

You speak for the first time tonight, “Uncle Curly.”

“Sweetheart,” he lowers his voice, “are you sure you—“

The bottoms of your lingerie set fall to the floor silently, sheer fabric sticky with what is presumably your slick. Curly gawks like an idiot, cheeks flaming hot, eyes raking up your legs until they meet your pussy.

He thinks he hears Jimmy snicker in the background.

You keep your eyes on Curly as you saunter to the bed, getting on all fours and arching your back low, spreading yourself open for your dad and your proclaimed uncle to behold.

“Uncle Curly...” he makes eye contact with your spread holes, your pussy drooling onto the sheets, leaking down your thighs. “It’s okay, I want this,” you say with the enthusiasm of a sex ring traffickee.

Fuck it.

He looks over at Jimmy, takes a deep breath and complies.

Stupid ol’ Curly. Falling for each and every one of his lies like he falls for gambling scams, and Jimmy’s the broke one here.

Jimmy’s been in all of your holes. There isn’t a single square inch of your body that doesn’t have his fingerprints burned into it. What can he say? Jimmy made you so he owns you, simple as that. Took your anal virginity approximately a week after he took your actual one. The look on your face is welcomely ingrained into his mind, looked like you were one second away from biting the dust.

You could be his sister, his mother, a clerk at the store or a street whore for all he cares—Jimmy would fuck you all the same.

Curly should be grateful that Jimmy’s offering him a sweet piece of meat, his meat. It’s not every day somebody, let alone the grandiose Curly, gets an opportunity to stick his dick in Jimmy’s daughter.

(More so every three days, when he needs some cash for a pack of smokes he’ll pimp you out to whoever. They pay higher when you’re dressed in white and wearing pigtails. Sick fucks.)

He lets Curly play with your pussy until enough’s enough, shedding his clothes and maneuvering you on top of him. Front to front with Jimmy ‘cause he doesn’t want you giving Curly your puppy eyes and making him all sappy, start feeling bad for you. Invoke some sort of saviour complex.

The only saving you need is Jimmy’s dick—daddy knows best. Daddy fucks you the best.

He’s simply being a good friend to Curly.

You shower Jimmy’s face in kisses and he whips his dick out, grabbing the fat of your cheeks till it spills past his fingertips. Gives you a couple spanks for good measure, makes you moan.

“Such a filthy little slut, aren’t you? So wet for dad,” Jimmy slaps his tip against your entrance, sticky noises echoing throughout the room. You tilt your head as your breath hitches, looking at Jimmy like he forgot something. He resists the urge to roll his eyes, “and Uncle Curly.”

Who is still fully fucking clothed by the way.

Wagging your ass at Curly, you giggle and look back at him, very likely giving him fuck-me eyes. It works, ‘cause he seems to get the hint that he should undress. This is exactly why Jimmy needs you facing himself and nobody else.

Jimmy’s dick is harder than a rock, it’s not gonna sit there and watch you and Uncle Curly like some miserable third-wheel. The drop of pre running down the length of his shaft is all he needs to force himself into your tight cunt with a single push of his hips.

“Daddy...” You whine like it hurts and Jimmy grins, makes him feel nostalgic.

The mattress dips when Curly gets on the bed, big ass fucking horse thighs trapping you and Jimmy beneath him. Nevermind the horse thighs, Curly has a fucking horse cock. Yeah, this is the first and last time he’s ever catering to your whims.

Jimmy keeps thrusting up into you like he’s got something to prove.

Curly’s cock pokes and prods at your tighter hole, takes a good minute for him to begin sliding inside and you yelp like you’re being impaled. Curly can’t be that big, you’re just putting on a show like Jimmy told you to.

“Mm,” your teeth sink into your bottom lip, so pretty Jimmy’s grateful Curly can’t see your face right now.

“Shh, it’s okay, baby.” Please. Curly wishes you were his baby.

He feels Curly’s dick moving against his inside of you and it’s all very unsexy, but Jimmy will be damned if he’s gonna empty his balls elsewhere. Men have needs. Sometimes those needs happen to come in the form of fucking one’s daughter and Jimmy is completely fine with that.

“Oh my,” your eyes flutter shut, pressing back against him, faking it till you’re making it. “Uncle Curly, you’re so big...”

Fondly, Curly chuckles, “I guess I am.”

You’re really laying it on thick, Jimmy didn’t tell you to do that.

“Dad’s bigger, baby. Can’t you feel it?” He shoves your face into his neck, stretching you open with his pistoning hips like it’s the first time all over again. Your squeals come out muffled, voice vibrating against his skin.

The way his tip bumps your fleshy cervix with every trust should be enough proof. Curly’s pace is slow and soft, he’s not even all the way in yet. Or maybe Jimmy really is bigger.

“C’mon, Curls,” Jimmy pants, voice almost a growl as he tightens his arms around your waist, pulling you impossibly closer to his dampening body. “No time to be a pussy, you’re in her ass.”

“Not a pussy, just... starting out slow.” Curly says calmly, gentlemanly—to no avail ‘cause you’re already cockdrunk.

“Fuck her harder.” It’s a dare, a challenge, or a simple suggestion. He’s giving pointers to a significantly more well-adjusted peer. Jimmy says and Curly does nonetheless, he wonders if Curly would backflip off a building if Jimmy told him to.

Finally, Curly picks up his pace, fucking your ass the way it’s meant to be fucked. The sound of skin slapping echoes throughout the room and for a moment, Jimmy is okay with this entire thing.

“My girl likes it rough, dontcha, baby?” Jimmy asks, drilling himself as deep as he can go into your pussy. All you do is moan and whine—nonstop ‘cause they won’t let you have a second of air. “Yeah, you do.”

“Daaaad!”

“Fuck, dirty girl,” Jimmy grunts into your hair, hand on the back of your head forcing your face deeper into his neck where you’re making a mess of spit and snot and tears. “You like dad’s cock that much, huh?”

He doesn’t ask about Curly’s cock, if Jimmy wants to know if you like Curly’s cock then Uncle Curly will have to ask you himself. Seems too preoccupied with holding back his moans, though.

Your whines come out choppy, muffled by Jimmy’s neck, every jackhammer into your sloppy cunt and ass punching the wind right out of you.

“That’s right,” Jimmy makes eye contact with Curly, fucking you even harder to assert dominance, dick-to-dick and ball-to-ball with his best friend. Your walls clamp down around him, “so go on, cum on it. You know you wanna.”

You shake and thrash in his hold, legs twitching as you mumble incoherently. Jimmy feels your body go still, gushing bursts of squirt all over the place, soaking everyone and everything in sight—orgasm hitting you like a tsunami.

He fucks you through it.

You must’ve been squeezing real tight around Curly as well, ‘cause he falls on top of you and Jimmy, hands gripping the sheets next to Jimmy’s head like they’re the ones fucking. Curly’s mouth is hanging open, panting and moaning like a bitch in heat. A drop of his sweat lands on Jimmy.

It’s disgusting how much he looks like a fucking playboy bunny, straight out of a raunchy magazine page. For a second, this intrusive image passes through Jimmy’s head—his dick buried to the hilt inside of Curly instead of you.

He feels his balls tightening and he wants to kill himself right then and there.

“Gonna take daddy’s cum?”

“Such a good girl, sweetheart,” sunshine boy chimes in, like he’s been reading Dirty Talk 101 during the time they’ve been two-manning you, “take it, take both of our loads.”

“Y’hear that? Gonna take Uncle Curly’s load deep in your ass, huh?” Jimmy keeps his noises down in his throat, struggling to not groan at the way you have a fucking death grip on his dick. “And daddy’s in your pussy?”

Yes, yes, yes—

Jimmy fucks you hard, rough, mean. He keeps going till he shoots his cum deep in your cunt, till he feels Curly stiffening up, following suit with his orgasm and a loud ass fucking moan while he’s at it. Grand exit.

Curly presses a quick kiss to your head before pulling out of you with a sloppy pop! and flopping down next to you and Jimmy.

Jimmy stays inside of you, feeling his own cum dripping down his length. You’re lying boneless on his chest, mascara ruined, staining your cheeks—face the perfect aftermath of a good, thorough fucking.

You and Curly gaze at each other lovingly, reaching out your hands to intertwine your fingers like Jimmy isn’t right there. He’d cuck Curly here and now if his nicotine addiction wasn’t wearing him out.

You all stay like that for a while, panting and wondering what you’re supposed to make of this.

You’re out like a light, naked and alone in bed with two thick, white creampies dripping out of your holes, soaking the sheets.

They step outside, Curly shuts the door carefully and Jimmy lights a cigarette, shoe against the wall as he leans on it.

Curly’s hands are shoved in his denim pockets, curls still damp and sweaty as his head hangs low. He tilts his head back then, watches Jimmy smoke for a minute.

“So,” Curly breaks the silence between them, speaking over the chirps of the cicadas in the night. “That was... uh...”

Is he going to acknowledge the fact that they fucked Jimmy’s daughter or the subtly homoerotic undertones of it?

“Don’t talk,” he blows a cloud of smoke straight into Curly’s face when he opens his mouth, makes Curly stifle a cough and Jimmy a chuckle. “Gonna need some money to get out of town for a while.” It’s part true and partly ‘cause Jimmy let him have a go at you.

“Yeah.” Curly rubs his chin thoughtfully, reaching for his wallet and plucking out a few bills, “yeah, of course.”

Jimmy grabs the cash, crumpling them with his sweaty hands as he walks off. He cranes his neck to salute Curly goodbye, gets a nod back and that’s that.

Trucker cap on and pick-up engine revving, he takes off. To where? Jimmy doesn’t know. Away. Crawl out of one hole and into another. You’re Curly’s responsibility for the moment. Checked in on his behalf.

Jimmy knows Curly won’t tell.

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ang3lofdivinity · 2 days ago

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Warning: Lightly suggestive, can be seen as romantic or platonic.. BUTTTT…

I’m thinking about Calypso!Reader having some mermaid features whenever they got into the water.

The first time Jinx saw you step into the water, her jaw nearly hit the sand.

She’d been lazing on the rocky shore of your secluded island, sharpening her knife while keeping half an eye on you; because she always kept at least half an eye on you. You were fascinating, after all, with your calm demeanor, the way you hummed while walking barefoot across the sand, the way you somehow made her forget the chaos screaming in her head.

But when you waded into the shallows and the sunlight caught the iridescent scales creeping up your legs, Jinx FROZE. Her knife clattered to the ground.

You turned back to look at her, the water lapping gently at your thighs, and tilted your head in question.

“Something wrong?”

Jinx’s eyes widened, completely dumbfounded by your question. How the hell are you still acting so calm?

“What the hell is this?” she shouted, gesturing wildly toward you.

You blinked, then glanced down at yourself. The scales shimmered faintly in the sun, a mix of blues and greens like the ocean itself had gifted you its colors.

“Oh,” you said, as if this were the most casual thing in the world.

“This happens sometimes. When I’m in the water.”

Jinx was on her feet in seconds, sprinting toward the shoreline with a manic glint in her eye.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were part fish, toots?!”

“Because I’m not part fish,” you replied with a small laugh.

“It’s… complicated. Let’s just say the ocean likes me.”

The waves seemed to agree, brushing against your skin like they couldn’t bear to part from you. The wind picked up too, tugging at your hair as if to remind you it was part of your power, too.

Jinx, now up to her knees in the water, leaned in close, her gaze darting over your scales.

“Can you breathe underwater? Do you, like, grow a tail?”

You smiled at her excitement.

“You’ll figure it out eventually. When I tell you. Or, even show you if I feel nice enough.”

“That’s boring thoughhh!!” Jinx said, poking one of the scales on your arm with a curious finger.

Before you could reply, Jinx grabbed your hand and tugged you further into the water. The waves surged higher around your waist, and with every step, the scales spread further across your skin. It was as if the ocean itself was calling you home.

Jinx watched with rapt attention, her usual chaos momentarily subdued.

“Do something cool,” she urged.

Rolling your eyes, you motioned with a finger to let the wind swirl around you, sending ripples across the water. Then, with a flick of your wrist, the ocean rose in a small arc, splashing Jinx full in the face.

She sputtered, then burst into laughter, water dripping from her hair.

“You’re ridiculous,” she said, though the grin on her face betrayed how much fun she was having.

“You asked for it,” you replied, your tone light.

Jinx’s laughter softened, and she studied you with a rare gentleness in her eyes.

“Seriously, you really are a goddess. Never knew about this before..”

You felt a warmth in your chest at her words, though you tried to brush it off.

“I’m just me,” you said, stepping closer to her.

Jinx tilted her head, her grin returning, sharper now.

“Yeah, but ‘just you’ is my favorite thing I’ve ever found.”

. . .

“Do the scales also appear on your neck? Waist? Your—“

“Okay, enough questions for today about this!”

“BUT I’M CURIOUS!!”

Calypso!Reader and Jinx masterlist.

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prettygirl-gabi · 3 days ago

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Chapter 21: Timeout

Rating: General Audiences

Warning: none

Paring: Paige Bueckers x !photographer fem reader

Fandom: Women's basketball

Summary: address it...

Welcome to the chapter 21 of Through The Lens. I hope you all enjoy and there is more to come...stay tuned my loveies!! 🏀💕📸

Reader's POV

The gym was quiet except for the sound of sneakers squeaking against the floor and the rhythmic bounce of a basketball. Paige was shooting free throws while I set up my camera on a tripod, capturing the smooth arc of her shots.

I adjusted the camera, stealing a glance at her. “You sure you’re okay...we're okay, to be back here?”

Paige caught the ball on a rebound and wiped her forehead with the back of her hand. “I’m good, ma. Besides, we talked everything out, right?”

I nodded, though a lingering tension sat between us.

Coach Geno walked in, clipboard in hand, and stopped mid-step when he saw us. “You two good again.” He sighed, shaking his head. Seeing the still unresolved tension between us.

Paige dribbled the ball, looking like she was trying to decide whether to argue or stay quiet. I spoke up instead.

“We’re good, Coach. We talked through everything. I’m filming the practice plays, and Paige is just—”

“Working off some steam, til practice starts.” Paige finished.

Coach set the clipboard down on a bench and crossed his arms. “I don’t doubt that you two think everything’s worked out, but there’s a lot of emotion running high. And frankly, it’s bleeding into everything—practice, even the team dynamic. You both need to take the rest of the today as well to figure it out away from this gym. And you Y/n, I sais no drama for my team, so fix it.”

“What?” Paige’s voice was sharp, her frustration evident. “We’re fine, Coach.”

He raised a brow. “You say that, but the way you’re gripping that ball says otherwise.”

I glanced at her hands, realizing her knuckles were white against the orange leather.

“Go home. Talk. Take a breath. Come back when you’re really ready.” His tone softened slightly. “This team needs both of you, but you’ve got to get on the same page first.”

Paige reluctantly set the ball down and nodded. “Alright, Coach.”

I packed up my camera, feeling the weight of his words pressing down on me.

Back at the apartment, I went straight to the bathroom to shower, letting the hot water wash away my frustration. I’d thought we were making progress, but Coach’s words brought back the doubt I’d been trying to push down.

Paige’s POV

The sound of the shower running filled the apartment as I flopped onto the couch, staring at the ceiling. My phone buzzed, and Nika’s name flashed on the screen.

“Hey,” I answered, trying to sound normal.

“What’s going on with you and Y/N?” she asked bluntly.

I groaned, rubbing my temples. “We talked about everything, okay? It’s fine.”

Nika snorted. “Fine? Coach just sent you both home, and called me to call you. That doesn’t scream fine to me. Im all the way in Seattle, don't make me come kick y'alls asses.”

I stayed quiet, not wanting to admit she was right.

“You’ve been off since she came from covering my game in Seattle, you know she wouldn't cheat on you, and damn sure not with me, Paige.” she continued. “And it’s not just affecting you. Y/N’s walking around like she’s carrying the weight of the world. She's trying to understand being in the spotlight, when she's just a photographer. So whatever’s going on, you need to fix it, and fix it fast.”

I sighed, closing my eyes. “I’m trying, Nika. We talked about it, but I don’t know… It feels like there’s still something between us that we’re not addressing.”

“Then address it,” she said firmly. “You love her, right?”

The question caught me off guard, even though the answer was obvious. “Yeah, I do, I really fucking do.”

“Then act like it. Stop holding back. Be honest, even if it’s messy. She deserves that, tou tell her thr truth.”

I sat up, Nika’s words sinking in. “Thanks, Nika.”

“Don’t thank me. Just figure it out before Coach benches both of you for emotional interference,” she said, hanging up before I could respond.

When Y/N came out of the bathroom, her damp curls framed her face, and she was wearing one of my old UConn sweatshirts.

“You okay?” she asked, sitting beside me.

“Yeah,” I said, taking her hand. “But we need to talk.”

Her brow furrowed. “I thought we already did.”

“We did, but I don’t think we were completely honest with each other—or with ourselves.” I took a deep breath. “I’m scared, Y/N. Scared of how much I care about you and how fast this has all happened. Scared of what happens when I leave for the WNBA.”

Her eyes softened, and she squeezed my hand. “I’m scared too, Paige. But we can’t let that fear control us.”

“I know,” I said, pulling her into a hug. “I don’t want to lose you, no matter what happens next.”

“You won’t,” she whispered, her voice steady.

We spent the rest of the night in the gym, working off the tension through laughter and quiet moments. Paige filmed me trying to shoot a three-pointer, and I filmed her laughing at my terrible form.

The unspoken was there, but for now, it was enough to simply be together.

■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■

-Thank You For Reading!🩵🩶

-prettygirl-gabi🎀✨️

Tag list: @sayurireidotcom , @astroeliza , @paxaz535 , @0phantom0 , @starlighttsv , @authentic-girl03 @sevyscoven ,.... (more to be added)

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suzukiblu · 2 days ago

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WIP excerpt for derpsheep behind the cut; “a fake cryptid and a real romantic”. (( chrono || non-chrono ))

Tim is having a terrible night, by which he means the Batman is currently looming over him like a creepy eldritch nightmare of a gargoyle while he’s trying to go meet Superboy for the patrol/hunting-date they scheduled and the Batman is not at all taking the “go away, I have a date” hint.

Said “hint” for the record, was Tim explicitly saying the words, “go away, I have a date”. The Batman apparently thought that meant Calendar Man was causing trouble, though, so now Tim’s being Bat-stalked and has the Batman in his shadow, which is just really, really embarrassing in this situation. Like getting dropped off for a date by your weird neighbor who used to babysit you sometimes or something, he doesn’t know.

Definitely embarrassing, yeah. Just–way too many kinds of embarrassing. He bets Superman isn’t dropping Superboy off right now.

Ugh.

“Look, I promise, this is not a ‘Bat’ thing,” he says. “In no way whatsoever is this in fact a Bat thing.”

leaving Gotham? the Batman asks.

“No,” Tim says with a sigh, because he knows the Batman’s answer to them not leaving Gotham is gonna be–

Bat thing, the Batman says, inexorable and inarguable as a snapped grapple and the force of gravity.

Tim suffers.

“It’s just a date, B,” he says in exasperation. “I don’t follow you to go see Catwoman or Talia al Ghul, do I?”

you do, the Batman says.

. . . dammit, Tim thinks. The Batman wasn’t supposed to notice that.

“Okay but Superboy is not a criminal who’s trying to use me to case a place for a thematic jewel heist!” he protests, puffing up Robin’s feathers indignantly. Most of the time the Batman understands Robin’s body language better than anything, really, and Tim has to admit there is something sort of satisfying about being able to flare up to twice his size when he’s irritated. At least on some level, anyway. “Or an assassin who might wanna feed me to her evil dad’s weird magic pit!”

not feed, the Batman says. awaken.

“That answer is no less creepy and unnerving than the last four times, I hope you know,” Tim tells him. “Not in the least because you’ve never clarified if the League is trying to awaken something in you or something in the pit.”

“Tt,” the Batman says, which is honestly even more creepy and unnerving, given how rarely he actually makes actual noises. Or, like–correction: makes actual noises that sound, like–human, almost. The screeching and wailing and screaming is all pretty standard, but human noises . . . yeah, no.

Tim already doesn’t like to talk to the Batman when he’s in his “human” aspect as it is. He isn’t some self-absorbed socialite or smarmy politician or shallow asshole with no genuine interest in other people, is the thing; when the Batman actually uses his voice, Tim can hear what that voice actually sounds like.

As far as Tim knows, when it comes to humans, literally only Dick’s ever been able to stand the actual sound of the Batman’s voice. Jason apparently just, like–could grit his teeth through it, or hide behind Pennyworth. Tim, personally, forgets he has teeth, when he can actually hear the sound of the Batman’s voice. He doesn’t even know what Selina hears, but he does know she does most of the talking when she and the Batman are out together. And he still feels bad for Superman, after the sister-city gala incident with Metropolis.

Definitely he still feels bad for Superman after that.

#timkon #tim drake #bruce wayne #dc robin #batman #batfamily #wip: a fake cryptid and a real romantic #derpsheep

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hai7ani · 1 day ago

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mmmm no super great ideas for you but im craving for virgin!rindou and single mom reader… aaaaaauhagghg.

collection

慢一點，久一點，真一點。

Rindou initiates the talk first.

It happens on a game of WNRS in your living room, takeout boxes long forgotten on the coffee table. The TV is playing a movie you're sure neither of you are really watching, yet you still want to pretend that you are.

You've been giggling at him for the past hour. He's a pretty funny guy, you think. Doesn't have as big of an ego you thought guys like him would have.

He's a nerd who's always so observant and nice. He's nice to you, your son, the ladies living in your apartment complex who always needs help switching light bulbs because they're too old for that now. One time behind doors Yuzuha's said that she'd smash if he weren't such a loser all the time.

(You think he is, too.

But it's what that makes him so... fuckable.

You think it's bad that you keep having these thoughts, knowing that you're most probably leading him on.

You're not ready yet.

But your heart still thumps weirdly when he comes to visit with warm food and occasionally new toys that you can tell he's had a hard time picking for your boy 一 because he's somehow always one colour off, or one category away.

When he bought Hot Wheels, the kid's already moved on to playing Legos. And when he gifted an expensive Star Wars set that he saved up for, the little shit just has to be in his Mommy phase.)

He gets embarrassed easily and you can just tell he's a virgin with the way he treats porn magazines that Yuzuha has somehow gotten her hands on, stuffed behind cabinets so that Shou doesn't find them. Neither of you let her know that she's been exposed, but it's more fun this way.

He's just a guy. Genuine, very smart despite what he says. Not book smart, but he reads up on things a lot. A bit clumsy at times, but he's still responsive than most men.

He's easy to talk to. Easy to know.

Easy to一

"What's a compliment you wished you received more frequently? Oh, dang. I gotta think about this." He flips the card around, throwing his head back onto the couch.

And yet again一

"Do you wanna go first?"

What are guys like him?

"I wish more people told me I was pretty."

Your response came to you naturally. It poured like waterfall, thorny chain tightening around your heart, squeezing your flesh tight, and you busy yourself with a loose thread on your blanket.

Rindou only stares at you from the other end of the couch. Almost like a deadpan, but not really. His violets pierce through your soul, dissecting you up one by one. You don't make eye contact even when you can hear the silent screams for you to look at him.

"You're kidding."

"What? It's true."

"No. I mean, no one tells you that all the time?"

You crack a smile, glancing up to take just one quick look. He's still as handsome as ever, boyish features much more prominent under the yellow light illuminating the room.

Soft nose, pretty doe eyes. Cracked lips pink from the Malatang you love eating. Veiny hands 一 one thick, desirable finger twirling around the drawstring of his pants 一 that draws you in so close you can't help but go wild at the sight.

"What, you think I'm pretty?"

He doesn't cough like you'd expected him to. Doesn't get embarrassed or act any more like a classic, textbook virgin at your poke.

"Yeah. You're pretty." His voice gets softer with every syllable. Dodgy eyes looking away with each word.

You don't respond at that, but you can't lie that his compliment did make you feel something swirling on the inside. Something blooming in your tummy from the way his eyes look into your own.

It's true 一 you haven't been told for your looks as much as you've always wanted. You're hot, you're sexy, sure 一 but you haven't been pretty to them. You've always hoped that they could see past your body 一 to see you for who you are on the inside.

"You're一" He shifts in his seat, suddenly feeling a little too hot, heart beating a little too fast in his chest. "You're pretty, okay. You always spend too much time in the mirror but I think you're fine just like this."

You purse your lips, listening.

"You're... Shit, I'm一"

You understand him when he throws his pillow to the side to run fingers through his hair. He's not always good with words, hasn't always been. But he still tries, and you like that about him.

He always puts in effort.

"You're pretty, like music. There's no boundaries, no... box. You can be anything. It's cool."

You grin at that. "Really?"

A nod. "I can tell you that everyday from now on."

An awkward silence too heavy for any of you to handle covers the room like blanket too fast. The soft, anticipating smirk on his face drops when you shift in your seat, clicking your tongue. Fingers scratching at your brows, teeth biting into the corners of your lips.

"Rindou, I'm sorry if I have been leading you on, I一" You sigh. "I don't think I'm ready for一."

"No, wait一" He tries inching a hand towards you but you dodge. "I thought we一 Aren't we onto something here?"

Rindou feels pathetic. He feels as if he's reaching for something that seems close but is still so, so far away.

"No, I'm sorry. I'll pay you back for tonight's dinner. And I don't think you should come over so often anymore. I'll talk to Shou-chan, have him understand."

He lets out a breath too short, standing on his feet as if it'll help him figure you out better. "Why? Is it me?"

"I just don't think it's fair to you, okay? We should stop. I'm sorry."

"What isn't fair to me?"

You give him a look so sad that his heart hurts.

"You're gonna be dealing with a kid that's not yours. He's hyperactive and naughty before bed. He's picky with food and doesn't like taking showers. Worst of all you're gonna be dealing with me. I'm not easy. I'm difficult to manage, to handle, to一 You'll not like me anymore when you see it for yourself. Guys like you deserve better things."

Fuck.

Rindou scrunches his brows, face twisting into one of confusion, one that makes you seem crazy for saying what you said.

"Why do you say these things about yourself? Why do you say these things about him? He's just a kid, I'm not good with kids but I'm sure I can handle him out of all." He throws his hands up in the air a little. "And, seriously, guys like me? What am I like? Why do you assume that way about me? I'm not that kind of person. I don't like doing that."

You fight the tears threatening to fall. It hurts, to say the least.

"Like, why do you think I've been around for so long? I would've turned on my back long ago if you and Shou were so hard to love."

requests are open

#r(evol)ution #writing #rindou haitani #haitani rindou #rindou x reader #rindou haitani x reader #haitani rindou x reader #tokyo revengers #tokyo revengers x reader #tokrev #tokrev x reader #tr #tr x reader

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lanalosty0uu · 3 days ago

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⋆.˚ chapter iv: take on me ᝰ.ᐟ

previously on: 🕰️ BACK TO THE FUTURE 🕰️

"Don't worry," he says with an easy confidence. "We'll figure this out. But first, let's make sure you don't look like you're from outer space."

⋆.˚. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁༉‧₊˚.⊹₊ˎˊ˗

main masterlist!

pairing: steve harrington x fem! reader

⋆.˚. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁༉‧₊˚.⊹₊ˎˊ˗ ⋆.˚. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁༉‧₊˚.⊹₊ˎˊ˗ ⋆.˚. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁༉‧₊

The next morning, Steve takes you to Melvald’s General Store, their first stop on your journey to adapt to 1985. The whole vibe of the store amazes you, it was all retro-y, filled with posters and neon lights all over, just like what you’ve always imagined.

“You’re gonna drool over if you kept your mouth open.” You didn’t realize that you’ve been keeping your mouth open in awe at the store.

You can tell Robin and Dustin was looking at you weirdly, knowing that this is just some regular clothing store. But not for you. For you, there is nothing more magical than being in an 80s clothing store, filled with retro and disco like clothes hanging all over.

The jingling of the old-fashioned cash register catches you off-guard, and she marvels at the analog setup. There was even no card scanner! Or a QR code for cashless payment.

Steve raises an eyebrow, clearly amused when you slightly walked over to the cash register. “Welcome to the world of cold, hard cash,” he teases, handing her a few bills for small essentials.

From there, they head to another local thrift store, where Robin joins them, ready to make an event of it. The air is filled with the scent of worn leather and old fabric as Robin rummages through the racks, dramatically holding up an oversized blazer with shoulder pads. “Future girl, this screams power suit,” she jokes, earning a giggle from you.

Even Steve and Dustin helped to find you a nice pair of clothing for you to wear today, and at least a few days to come since they know it won’t be easy to fix that watch.

After much trial and error, some of it clearly for Robin’s amusement, you settle on high-waisted jeans, a striped crop top, and a denim jacket. Steve insists on adding a pair of white sneakers to complete the look.

“You’re officially a Hawkins local,” he declares with a grin as you twirl in front of the mirror, amazed of yourself. Sure, in 2025 people still dress like this. But this… All this felt so different for you. The whole vibe, the people, everything just felt like what you’ve always dreamed of.

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“Okay, so… since you’re from the future, I’m guessing you already know stuff that happened in the 80s, correct?” Dustin asked. We were just chatting on the backseat of Steve’s car, whilst Steve was driving to to the arcade, Robin sitting on the seat next to Steve. Dustin requested to take you to the arcade, wanting to show you the amazing stuff that happens on the 80a.

“Like… what, exactly?”

“Music! You know what I mean?”

“Like… Madonna and shit? Blondie? The Runaways?”

“Yeah, yeah! Like that!” Dustin was amazed when you said all those famous names.

“I’ve listened those on Spotify, kid. So… I’m not that stupid for a person who’s a maniac about the 80s.”

He looked at me confused when you said ‘Spotify’, as if asking for explanation about it without telling you.

“It’s like a music platform, you know? In this.” You showed my phone to him, unlocking it, and opened Spotify. You began searching for my downloaded playlists since you got no internet service here and played Take On Me by a-ha.

“Whoa…” Dustin let out an amused laugh. You even caught Robin’s attention. “I thought you said that’s a phone?”

“Yeah, it is! Except it’s not just for calling, and sending messages. You can listen to songs, watch movies, call people and see them through the phone, read books and magazines online, and many more!”

Your explanation about your phone caught all their attentions, including Steve, while you remind him to keep his eyes on the road.

“You’ve played Pac-Man?!” Dustin exclaimed. You tried to explain to him that you also played it on your phone.

“Oh you’ll never beat Steve. See that? That’s the highest score. And who does that belong to? Steve Harrington.”

“Oh, so the sailor likes to play Pac-Man…” You teased Steve who just entered the arcade after parking his car.

“Well, good luck on trying to beat that, future girl.” Steve challenged you, making you raise your eyebrows.

“Might as well let me try to beat your ass, Harrington.” You pulled up your jacket sleeves and began playing Pac-Man, just like what you always knew. You have to make Pac-Man eat up all the yellow stuff and make sure not to get caught by the ghosts.

On the first try, your Pac-Man was cornered by the ghosts already, and the screen immediately flashes GAME OVER.

Steve smirks. "Not as easy as it looks, huh?"

"Let me try again!" you insist, and to Steve's surprise, she improves quickly.

By your third try, you beats his high score, and the group gathers around, cheering her on.

"Looks like the newbie's got skills," Dustin says, impressed.

“Fun fact, there will be a Pac-Man movie in 2015. It’ll be called ‘Pixels’.” You said, smirking at Steve who seemed to be annoyed.

Steve, pretending to be annoyed, mutters, "Beginner's luck." But there's a glint of pride in his eyes as he watches your grin in triumph.

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As the night falls, the rink lights dim slightly as the disco ball spins, casting a cascade of shimmering lights across the floor. Dustin and Robin let Steve be your guide for tonight in the skating rink, since Steve is such a good skater deep down. Meanwhile, you and Steve sit side by side on the edge of the rink after their dramatic fall, catching their breath between fits of laughter.

The faint buzz of 80s pop hits fills the air, but you are hyper-aware of Steve’s shoulder brushing against hers and the way his smile lingers as he glances her way.

“You okay there, klutz?” he asks, nudging her lightly.

“Oh, I’m the klutz?” you retort, raising an eyebrow. “You’re the one who dragged me into that spin of death.”

Steve chuckles and raises his hands in mock surrender. “Hey, you almost nailed it. I’d give it a solid six out of ten.”

“Wow, generous,” you mutter, rolling your eyes but smiling all the same.

Steve leans back on his elbows, looking out at the rink. “You’re actually not bad, though. For someone who didn’t even know how to skate, you’ve got potential.”

You tilt your head, watching him curiously. “Well that’s encouraging.” You gave him a sarcastic look.

You’re about to press him further when he stands up, brushing imaginary dust off his jeans.

“Come on,” he says, holding out a hand. “We’ve got time for one last lap before they kick us out.” You hesitate, staring at his outstretched hand. Your eyes moved to his, watching those brown eyes carefully. There’s something in his eyes, a warmth, a quiet sincerity that makes her heart skip a beat. Slowly, you place your hand in his, and he pulls you to your feet, steadying you when you wobble.

Both of you step back onto the rink, and this time, you feel a little steadier. Steve skates alongside yourself, pacing slow but steady as the music shifts to a softer, dreamier track. The glow of the disco ball reflects in his eyes, and for a moment, the rest of the rink seems to blur away, it was like you’re the only ones left in that rink.

“You know,” you say quietly, breaking the comfortable silence between them, “I never really had nights like this. Back home, I mean.”

Steve glances at you, intrigued. “What do you mean?”

You shrug, looking down at your purple skates. “I was always so focused on everything… school, responsibilities, the future. I never let myself just… be a teenager. Not to mention the strict parents.” You sighed, looking at his eyes. “It’s not as fun to live in the future like they said.”

He nods, a knowing look crossing his face. “Yeah, I get that. I used to be so caught up in trying to impress people, be the king of Hawkins High or whatever. But looking back? None of that stuff really mattered. This…” He gestures around them, his gaze landing back on you. “this is the kind of stuff that sticks. The moments you don’t plan.”

His words hang in the air, and you feel a pang of something you can’t quite name. Nostalgia for a time you only just started experiencing, maybe, or the bittersweet knowledge that moments like this are fleeting.

“I think you’re right,” you admits, your voice soft.

You skate in silence for a while, the music wrapping around them like a warm blanket. Time After Time by Cyndi Lauper playing vividly. You find yourself stealing glances at Steve, noticing the way his jaw clenches in concentration as he avoids an oncoming skater or the faint curve of his smile when he catches you looking.

At one point, Steve slows to a stop in the middle of the rink and turns to face you. “Alright, future girl. Let’s try one more spin.”

You groan at his request. “You’re relentless.”

“Come on, it’s your redemption arc,” he teases, his grin widening.

With a sigh, you let him take your hands, and attempt another spin. This time, it’s less of a disaster, though you still stumble into him at the end, your hands clutching his jacket for balance.

“See?” he says, his voice low. “Told you you’d get it.”

Your faces are close now, closer than you’ve been all night. You can feel the warmth of his breath, the faint scent of cologne lingering in the air between them. Your heart pound in your chest, but you can’t bring yourself to look away.

“Thanks,” you whisper, your voice barely audible over the music.

“For what?” Steve asks, his expression softening.

“For this. For making me feel like I belong here,” you said.

He smiles, a genuine, almost shy smile that catches you off guard. “You do belong here. More than you think.”

The moment stretches out, the world around them fading into the background. You aren’t sure what’s supposed to come next, but you knows one thing.

For the first time since you arrived in 1985, you don’t feel like a stranger.

note: another chapter, yay! you really can see what i meant by the next chapters will be interesting, yeah? so happy i can finally finish this chapter ^^ hope u guys enjoyed it and stay tuned for the next ones <3

taglist: @xprloki @pupwrites @gorlillaglue25 @lovestrucklyuniverse @keerysfolklore @www-interludeshadow-com @pleasantsoulcolor @mochminnie @steviespookie @damon-loves-pie @imjustdreamingig @starkleila @2602moon @negomi123 @currentresidentinhell @ucannotcompare @lilgreensunshine

if there's anyone who wants to be tag as well, feel free to ask <3

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oldsoul007 · 14 hours ago

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crawling back to you

joel miller x reader

summary: you haven’t seen joel since he let you leave boston with tommy, until…

a/n: grumpy joel, angsty and fluffy

joel miller masterlist

The last thing I remember was the blinding midday sun and the crackling of the dried leaves beneath my boots. I’d been walking for hours—too many hours—with no food, no water, and no sign of a single soul. The world was too quiet, and when the dizziness hit, I knew I’d pushed too far.

I hadn’t seen the raiders coming. Not until it was too late. They burst out from the tree line, shouting, armed, and I’d tried to run. But my body betrayed me. My knees gave out before I could process what was happening, and the hard, cracked asphalt of the road rushed up to meet me as they closed in.

Then darkness.

For a while, there was nothing but a foggy void, until I felt something. A jolt of awareness. The weight of the world slowly pressed back on me: the ache in my limbs, the sting in my throat, and the cold chill of shade falling over my skin.

Voices.

“You think she’s alive?”

The words floated into my consciousness, sharp and clear. My heart raced. The raiders—had they caught me? I wanted to open my eyes, but my body wasn’t listening.

“How the hell should I know, Ellie?”

That voice was rough and edged like the bark of an old tree. Deep. Grumpy. Close. Familiar.

“She looks alive. Kinda.”

“Kinda doesn’t cut it, kid.” A sigh, heavy and annoyed. “She’s breathing, so that’s a good sign. Or bad, depending on how you wanna look at it.”

The ground beneath me was rough gravel digging into my side. Someone must’ve moved me. My knife. My hands twitched instinctively for it, but I didn’t feel the familiar weight at my belt.

“She’s got a backpack,” the girl—Ellie—said. “Maybe she’s got something useful on her.”

“Don’t even think about it,” the man snapped.

“Relax, I was just saying!”

They didn’t sound like raiders. But I wasn’t taking chances. Slowly, I forced my eyelids to lift, but it was like peeling back layers of lead. The light stung, and all I could make out at first was a blurred silhouette looming above me.

“She’s moving!” Ellie’s voice jumped an octave.

“Yeah, I can see that,” the man grumbled.

The shapes above me sharpened: a man with graying hair and a perpetual scowl crouched close, while a girl with curious, wide eyes hovered just behind him. Bottoms of their faces covered with a bandana. My muscles tensed, and instinct screamed one thing: fight.

I surged up, lashing out before I could think. My body felt sluggish, weak, but adrenaline drove me forward.

“Whoa!” Ellie yelped, stumbling back.

He moved faster than I expected. In one fluid motion, he grabbed both of my wrists and shoved me back down onto the ground, pinning me there with a strength I had no hope of matching.

“Don’t even think about it,” he growled, his voice low and dangerous. His face was inches from mine, his grip like iron.

“Get off me!” I spat, twisting against him, but it was useless.

“You wanna try that again?” he snapped, glaring down at me. “Because I guarantee it won’t go how you think.”

“Joel, should I—” Ellie’s voice cut through the wind, and I glanced up to see her pointing a gun at me.

“Hold on,” the man—Joel—said. His voice made something in my chest clench, though I couldn’t place why.

He shifted, one hand leaving my wrist to yank the bandana down from my face. The cold stung my skin as it was exposed to the biting wind, but all I could focus on was his face.

Joel froze. His eyes widened as he stared down at me, his grip slackening just enough for me to shove at his chest.

“Y/n?”

Hearing my name in that voice—his voice—hit me like a gut punch. I blinked up at him, snowflakes catching on my lashes as my brain struggled to catch up.

“Joel?” I rasped, disbelief and anger warring inside me.

He let go of my wrists, sitting back slightly, but I wasn’t done. With a grunt, I shoved him hard enough to make him stumble.

“Get off me, asshole!” I snapped, scrambling to my feet.

Ellie lowered her gun, her brows furrowed in confusion. “Wait, you know her?”

Joel stood slowly, brushing snow off his jacket, his eyes never leaving mine. “Yeah… I know her.”

“Know me?” I barked, crossing my arms against the cold. “That’s all you’ve got to say after years?”

“Not now,” he said, his voice quieter but no less firm. “We need to move. It’s not safe out here.”

“Oh, now you care about safety,” I shot back, but the storm was picking up again, and as much as I hated to admit it, I couldn’t stay out here alone.

Ellie glanced between us, still holding the gun loosely. “So… are we just letting her come with us?”

“She’s coming with us,” Joel said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

I snorted, pulling my scarf back up. “Like hell I am.”

“Fine,” Joel said, stepping closer until he was towering over me. “Then freeze out here on your own.”

We locked eyes, the familiar stubbornness in his gaze making my blood boil. Finally, I sighed, muttering under my breath. “Fine. But if you pull something like that again, I’m putting a bullet in your knee.”

Ellie raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything.

Joel smirked—barely, but I caught it. “Good to see you haven’t changed.”

I looked around us.

“Where—” My voice cracked, my throat dry. “Where are they?”

“The raiders?” Joel asked, his tone clipped. “Dead. You’re welcome.”

Ellie shot him a look. “You don’t have to be such a dick about it.”

Joel ignored her, turning to scan the horizon like he was already regretting stopping to help.

Ellie turned back to me, her tone gentler. “You need water? Food? You look like you’re about to keel over.”

I swallowed hard, forcing out a hoarse whisper. “Water…”

Ellie looked at Joel expectantly. “She needs water.”

Joel sighed heavily, like this was the biggest inconvenience in the world, and dug a bottle out of his pack. He shoved it toward me without a word, his scowl deepening.

“Don’t drink too fast,” he muttered. “You’ll puke.”

I took the bottle with shaking hands, sipping carefully.

Ellie gave me a small smile. “See? He’s grumpy, but he’s not so bad., but i’m guessing you knew that already. I’m Ellie, by the way. What’s your name again?”

“Y/n,” I croaked.

“Well, y/n,” she said, leaning back on her heels. “Looks like you’re stuck with us for now.”

Joel shot her a glare, but she just smiled sweetly at him.

As I sipped the water, trying not to choke, I couldn’t help but wonder why Ellie seemed so eager to help me—and why Joel seemed so reluctant to.

The pain in my thigh hit me like a freight train the moment I tried to stand. It was sharp and hot, radiating up my leg with every twitch of movement. I glanced down and saw the blood, dark and sticky, soaking through a jagged tear in my jeans. My stomach turned.

“Shit,” I muttered under my breath, dropping back to the ground.

Joel and Ellie were still nearby, Joel pacing with his rifle slung low, Ellie crouched by the fire, poking at it absentmindedly. I pressed my hand against the wound, trying to stop the bleeding, but it wasn’t doing much good.

“You okay?” Ellie asked, looking up.

“Fine,” I lied, my voice tight.

“Yeah, sure you are,” Joel muttered without even glancing my way.

I glared at him but focused back on my leg. I needed to stop the bleeding, clean it—do something before it got worse. My hands fumbled as I tried to tear a strip from the already-ruined part of my jeans, but my fingers were shaking too much to get a good grip.

“Dammit,” I hissed, tugging harder.

Joel finally turned, watching me struggle with an expression that screamed irritation. “What the hell are you doing?”

“I can handle it,” I snapped, not looking at him.

“Yeah, sure looks like it,” he said dryly, crossing the distance in a few long strides. Before I could protest, he crouched down in front of me and grabbed my leg.

“Hey!” I yelped, jerking back.

“Hold still,” he growled, yanking my jeans up over the wound to get a better look.

“What are you—”

“Helping,” he said sharply, cutting me off. “Because you clearly can’t do this yourself.”

“I didn’t ask you to.”

“Yeah, well, I don’t need you bleeding out and slowing us down,” he shot back, his hands already pulling a small bottle of alcohol from his pack.

I froze when I saw it. “Wait—wait.”

He didn’t stop, just uncapped the bottle and dumped it onto the wound in one swift motion.

Pain exploded through my thigh, white-hot and searing. I couldn’t stop the scream that ripped out of me, my whole body jerking away from him.

“Goddammit!” I shouted, clutching at my leg. “What the hell is wrong with you?!”

“Stop moving,” Joel barked, his hand clamping down on my leg to keep it still. “You’re just making it worse.”

“You could’ve warned me!”

“I did,” he said flatly, grabbing a clean cloth and pressing it firmly against the cut.

“Yeah, great warning!” I hissed, still trying to recover from the burn.

Ellie was sitting nearby, watching the whole thing with wide eyes. “Uh, yeah, he’s not exactly the most… delicate, if you hadn’t noticed.”

Joel ignored her, wrapping the bandage tightly around my thigh with the kind of practiced efficiency that made me wonder how many times he’d done this before.

“Can you walk?” he asked once he was done, standing and offering me a hand.

I stared at it for a second, then grudgingly took it. He hauled me up, steadying me when my leg wobbled.

“I’m fine,” I muttered, even though I wasn’t.

“Sure you are,” he said, his tone making it clear he didn’t believe me.

Later that night, we camped near a small fire Joel had built, the warmth of the flames doing little to ease the tension between us. Ellie sat across from me, poking at the fire with a stick, while Joel leaned against a nearby tree, his arms crossed and his rifle within easy reach.

“So,” I said after a long silence, my voice cutting through the crackle of the fire. “Where are you two headed?”

Ellie perked up immediately, her mouth opening before she could stop herself. “We’re going to—”

“We’re going to the Fireflies,” Joel interrupted, his voice steady and sure.

Ellie froze, her eyes darting between the two of us. “Joel!?” she hissed, clearly caught off guard by his honesty.

I frowned, looking between them. “The Fireflies? Why?” I could tell there was something they weren’t saying, something important.

Joel sighed, rubbing a hand down his face. “Because Ellie’s immune,” he said, his voice calm but carrying the weight of what those words meant. “And they’re working on a cure.”

I blinked, my mind racing to catch up. “Immune?” I repeated, glancing at Ellie.

Ellie shifted uncomfortably, clearly not used to someone new knowing. “Yeah,” she mumbled, shrugging. “I got bit. Didn’t turn. That was, like, forever ago.”

I stared at her, processing what Joel had just admitted. “And you’re taking her to the Fireflies,” I said slowly. “Because they think they can use her immunity to make a cure.”

“That’s the idea,” Joel said, his tone neutral. “Whether it’ll work or not, that’s anyone’s guess.”

I leaned back, crossing my arms as I studied him. Joel wasn’t the type to trust anyone with this kind of information lightly. The fact that he was telling me now said a lot.

“And you’re okay with me knowing all this?” I asked, narrowing my eyes at him.

Joel held my gaze, his expression unreadable. “I wouldn’t’ve said anything if I didn’t trust you.”

That hit harder than I expected. For a moment, I couldn’t find the words. Joel and I had history—messy, complicated history—but this… this was something else.

After a long pause, I finally spoke. “Where are the Fireflies at?” I glanced at Joel, trying to keep my voice steady.

“Salt Lake City,” he replied, his tone flat, as if that was the only answer he had to offer.

I nodded, thinking for a moment. “That’s a hell of a trip.”

Joel didn’t respond to that, so I let the silence stretch a bit longer, watching the flickering flames. The crackle of the fire was the only thing filling the space between us.

I shifted slightly, the weight of the night starting to press on me. “I was with a group,” I said after a beat, keeping my voice low, like the words might break something if I said them too loud. “Good people. Or… they were. Got separated after some raiders hit us a couple days back. Didn’t have much of a choice but to run.” I paused, my gaze flicking to Ellie, who was staring at the fire, her expression unreadable. “I wasn’t planning on being out here alone.”

Joel watched me for a long time, and I could tell he was taking in every word, sizing up what I said, probably weighing if it added up. “You got a place to go?” he asked.

I swallowed, hesitant. I hadn’t told him much about Jackson yet. The thought of it felt like a fleeting memory, a piece of the past I wasn’t sure I could go back to. But the truth was, it might be the safest place for all of us, at least for a while.

“Yeah,” I finally said, my voice steady. “I got a home back in Jackson. It’s… safe there. Got supplies, people. It’s not perfect, but it’s the closest thing to normal I’ve seen in years.”

Ellie looked up then, her brow furrowed. “Jackson? You mean, like, an actual town?”

I nodded. “Yeah. Walled-in, secure. We’ve got farms, housing, everything you’d need. It’s not perfect, but it’s better than out here.”

Joel’s face darkened slightly, though I couldn’t tell if it was from hope or suspicion. I felt the weight of the unspoken questions hanging in the air between us. I had to bite back the words that wanted to spill out—about Tommy, about how he was safe and well in Jackson. But I stopped myself. Ellie was sitting there, and I didn’t know how she’d react if Joel found out his brother was there.

Instead, I kept my tone even. “If you’re heading to Salt Lake City, we can stop there first. Restock on supplies, maybe grab a decent meal. Then you can keep moving.”

Joel turned his gaze toward me, his eyes narrowing a little, his jaw clenched. “You sure it’s safe?”

I nodded, my voice firm. “It is. Safer than out here, anyway.”

Ellie, still quiet, looked from Joel to me. After a moment, she shrugged, but her gaze lingered on me for a second too long. “I mean… doesn’t sound like a bad idea.”

Joel looked at her, then back at me. He hesitated for a moment, and I saw the conflict flicker in his eyes. Finally, he gave a small nod. “All right. We’ll stop there. But just for supplies. Ain’t got time to waste.”

I nodded, a small relief washing over me. We’d do this. I’d help them, guide them, and maybe even find a moment to tell Joel about Tommy—if I could. The fire crackled between us, the sounds of the night closing in as we all settled back into the quiet.

Joel leaned back against a log, his eyes flicking upward to the stars, while Ellie poked the fire again, lost in her own thoughts. I wrapped my coat tighter around myself, feeling the weight of the journey ahead pressing down.

I wasn’t sure what would come next, but I was going to get them to Jackson first. Maybe, after that, I could finally tell Joel the truth.

Joel didn’t say anything else, just turned his attention back to the fire. But the tension between us felt lighter now, the weight of unspoken things settling into something almost comfortable.

Whatever happened next, I knew one thing for sure: Joel trusted me enough to tell me the truth. And that, in this world, meant everything.

The three of us sat around the small campfire, its glow casting flickering light onto the trees surrounding us. The temperature had dropped as the sun set, and I was grateful for the warmth of the flames and the smell of something vaguely edible Joel was cooking over them.

Ellie sat cross-legged on her sleeping bag, fiddling with the pages of her battered joke book. She had already gone through a handful of them today, and each time Joel looked like he was about ready to roll his eyes out of his head.

“Okay, okay,” Ellie announced, holding up a hand as though commanding our attention. “This one’s a classic. You ready?” She cleared her throat dramatically, glancing between me and Joel. “What do you call an alligator in a vest?”

I stifled a laugh already, knowing she was probably more excited about the punchline than the joke itself.

Joel, stirring the pan of food, gave her a sideways look. “Do I even wanna know?”

“An investigator!” Ellie exclaimed, cackling as if it were the funniest thing she’d ever heard.

I couldn’t help but chuckle along with her, more at her reaction than the joke. Joel just shook his head and sighed heavily, setting the pan down on a flat rock by the fire.

“She’s been doin’ this since we left Boston,” he muttered, as though he were lamenting some great burden he’d been forced to bear.

“Damn right I have!” Ellie said, puffing out her chest with mock pride. “You know you love it, Joel.”

He gave her a look that was somewhere between amused and exasperated. “You keep tellin’ yourself that, kid.”

Ellie smirked, flipping through the pages of the book again. “Oh, I’m not done. I’ve got more where that came from.”

“God help us,” Joel said under his breath, but there was a ghost of a smile on his face.

I leaned back, my hands stretched out toward the fire, watching the two of them. “You know,” I said, grinning, “I think it’s impressive she’s been carrying that book all this way. Priorities.”

Ellie nodded vigorously, pointing at me. “Exactly! See, y/n gets it. I’m spreading joy in the apocalypse. That’s a valuable service.”

Joel snorted. “Sure. That’s what it is.”

Ellie stuck her tongue out at him before turning to me. “Okay, y/n, this one’s for you: Why couldn’t the bicycle stand up by itself?”

I thought for a second, but before I could even guess, she blurted out, “Because it was two tired!”

Her laughter was contagious, and I found myself laughing right along with her. Even Joel let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head as if he couldn’t believe this was his life now.

“Two tired,” I repeated, grinning. “That’s actually not bad.”

“Thank you!” Ellie said, pretending to tip an invisible hat. “I’ll be here all week. Or, you know, as long as it takes us to get to Jackson.”

Joel let out a long sigh, but there was no missing the warmth in his expression as he looked at her. “You’re somethin’ else, kid.”

Ellie beamed, clearly pleased with herself. “Damn right I am.”

And in that moment, as the fire crackled and Ellie started flipping through her book for another gem, I couldn’t help but think that even in a world like this, there was still room for laughter. And that was worth holding onto.

The fire crackled softly, its warmth flickering in the cool night air. Ellie was asleep, her body curled up tightly in her sleeping bag, breathing steady and slow. Joel sat across from me, his figure dark against the firelight, eyes distant as usual. There was a heaviness in the air, a silence that weighed on both of us.

I’d been toying with whether or not to tell him, but after today, I couldn’t keep it to myself any longer. It was something Joel needed to know, something that would either ease his mind or make the road ahead even harder.

“Joel,” I said softly, not wanting to disturb Ellie’s sleep.

His head turned slightly, his eyes catching mine in the dim firelight. He didn’t say anything, just waited for me to speak.

“I’ve been thinking about Jackson,” I began, feeling the weight of the words before they even left my mouth. “And… there’s something you need to know.”

Joel gave a slight nod, signaling me to go on. I hesitated for a moment, gathering the courage.

“Tommy’s there,” I said, keeping my voice low but steady.

The moment the words left my lips, I saw the shift in him. His face didn’t betray much, but his posture stiffened. He didn’t react right away, though I could feel the tension building in his body. His jaw tightened, and for a long beat, he was silent, staring into the fire.

I let the words settle in the air. I could see him thinking, piecing together the years of separation, the anger, the hurt.

“You didn’t know, did you?” I asked quietly, already knowing the answer.

Joel’s eyes flicked up to meet mine, the weight of his past with Tommy hanging between us. “No,” he said, his voice rough, like the realization had hit him harder than he expected. “I thought… I thought he was dead.”

I swallowed, knowing how much those words meant. Joel had carried the guilt of losing Tommy for so long, thinking the worst, even when he didn’t want to believe it. I hadn’t expected the reaction I got—gratitude in his eyes, mixed with that edge of disbelief.

“Tommy’s alive, Joel,” I repeated, my voice softer now. “And he’s at Jackson. He’s been there, rebuilding, trying to make a life. I thought you should know.”

For a long moment, Joel didn’t speak. He just stared at the fire, his brow furrowed, a storm of emotions brewing behind his eyes.

Finally, he exhaled a long, steady breath, as if the news had knocked the wind out of him. “I thought… I thought I’d lost him for good,” he said, almost to himself.

His words trailed off, but the gratefulness in his voice was clear, almost as if he’d been holding onto the idea of Tommy being gone as a way to shield himself from hope. It had been easier to live with the belief that Tommy was lost than to think he might have been alive all this time, somewhere out there.

I watched him carefully, feeling the rawness of the moment between us. “Maybe he’s been waiting for you,” I said quietly, not wanting to push, but knowing the door was now open. “Maybe he’s been hoping you’d find your way back to him.”

Joel didn’t respond right away, his face unreadable. He ran a hand through his hair, the weight of the past catching up with him.

I could see the turmoil in him, the complex mix of emotions he’d buried deep for so long.“You don’t have to decide anything now. But I wanted you to know.”

Joel finally looked up at me, the hardness in his eyes softened by something else—relief, maybe. Or maybe just the shock of knowing his brother wasn’t lost to him after all.

“‘preciate you tellin’ me,” he said quietly, his voice rough with something I couldn’t quite name.

There was a silence, thick with all the things left unsaid. Joel turned back to the fire, but this time, I didn’t sense the same tension in him. The news had cracked something open, a small window of possibility where before there had only been despair.

And as the night stretched on, I couldn’t help but wonder if this was the first step in bringing Joel and Tommy back together—or if the past would remain an insurmountable wall between them. But one thing was clear: the hope he’d long buried was alive again.

The snow crunched softly beneath our boots as we trekked through the wilderness on the way to Jackson. The cold bit at my nose and cheeks, but it was nothing compared to the warmth of Joel and Ellie’s banter ahead of me.

Joel led the way, his rifle slung over one shoulder, his other hand gesturing as he explained something to Ellie. She hung onto his every word as usual, peppering him with questions about the terrain and wildlife.

“Do you think we’ll see any bears?” she asked, wide-eyed.

“Nope,” Joel replied gruffly. “Too cold for ‘em right now. They’re holed up for the winter.”

Ellie groaned in disappointment. “Lame. What about wolves?”

“Let’s hope not,” Joel muttered, throwing a glance over his shoulder. “You don’t wanna see wolves, trust me.”

“Speak for yourself,” Ellie grumbled, kicking at a chunk of ice. “I think wolves are badass.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle as I brought up the rear. Ellie’s energy was infectious, even if Joel often acted like he was too old to keep up.

We rounded a bend in the trail, and that’s when we saw it.

An elk.

It stood in the middle of the clearing, its tall, proud antlers stark against the white of the snow-covered forest. Its coat gleamed in the weak winter sunlight, steam rising from its breath as it exhaled into the cold air.

Ellie gasped audibly, her mouth falling open. “Whoa. No way.”

Joel stopped in his tracks, holding out an arm to keep her from running ahead. “Stay still,” he warned softly.

Ellie ignored him completely, taking a careful step forward. “Oh my god, it’s huge. It’s so cool.”

The elk’s ears twitched, swiveling toward us, and for a moment, I thought it might bolt. But instead, it let out a low, guttural bugle—a deep sound that echoed through the trees.

Ellie froze, her eyes going even wider. “Did you hear that? Holy shit, it talked to us!”

Joel chuckled under his breath, his shoulders relaxing as he watched her excitement. “That’s not talkin’, kid. Just elk bein’ elk.”

But Ellie wasn’t listening. She took another step forward, her hands lifted slightly as if to beckon the creature closer. “Hey, buddy,” she said in a soft, awestruck voice. “You don’t have to go. We’re cool, I promise.”

The elk snorted, its breath visible in the cold air, and then—with a graceful bound—it leapt into the trees, disappearing from sight.

Ellie whirled around to face us, practically vibrating with excitement. “Did you see that? That was the most amazing thing ever! Did you hear it? That noise was insane!”

Joel shook his head, but there was a small, fond smile on his face. “You’re somethin’ else, you know that?”

“I’m serious! That was so badass!” She turned to me, her grin so big it lit up her entire face. “Y/n, tell me you got how cool that was.”

I couldn’t help but laugh as I adjusted my pack. “I got it, Ellie. You’re right—it was pretty incredible.”

Ellie groaned dramatically. “Pretty incredible? That thing was, like, majestic as hell.”

We started walking again, Ellie skipping along beside us as she reenacted the elk’s bugle. Joel shook his head at her impression, and I felt a warm glow in my chest as I watched them together.

The world outside was cold, dangerous, and unforgiving, but moments like this reminded me why we kept going. For Ellie’s wonder. For Joel’s quiet, steady presence. For the strange, beautiful family we’d become.

The cold cut deep as we trudged through the snow, the wind howling like it wanted to drive us into the ground. My leg throbbed with every step, the makeshift bandage Joel had wrapped around it holding tight but doing little to ease the pain. I wasn’t about to complain, though. Not after they saved me from those raiders.

Ellie walked beside me, her steps crunching in the snow as she glanced over. “You sure you’re okay?” she asked for the third time since we started walking.

“I’m fine,” I said, though my voice was tight. The truth was, I wasn’t fine. But what mattered was getting all of us somewhere safe, and Jackson was the only place I could think of.

Joel walked ahead, his rifle slung low but ready, his eyes scanning the horizon. Always the same—guarded and alert, like danger was lurking just around every corner. In this world, it usually was.

I’d agreed to help them get to Jackson. It was the least I could do after everything they’d done for me. And Jackson? It was my home now. A place that, for all its faults, still stood strong in a broken world.

“Not much farther now,” I said, though the storm had made it hard to tell. “If we keep moving, we’ll make it before dark.”

Ellie gave a tired nod, pulling her coat tighter around her. “Good, ‘cause I don’t think my toes are gonna make it.”

Joel glanced back at her, his expression softening for just a moment. “You’ll be fine. Just keep moving.”

We’d just crested a small hill when the sound of horses cut through the wind. My heart leapt into my throat as I turned to see them—figures on horseback emerging from the blinding snow, their weapons drawn.

“Joel,” I hissed, grabbing his arm.

He saw them too, his posture tensing as he stepped in front of Ellie and raised his rifle. “Stay behind me,” he muttered, his voice low and firm.

The riders spread out, circling us. There were at least six of them, their horses pawing at the snow as the riders aimed shotguns and rifles in our direction. My stomach churned as I recognized one of the voices calling out through the storm.

“Drop your weapons!” Maria shouted, her voice carrying over the wind.

“Maria!” I called back, stepping forward despite Joel’s arm shooting out to stop me. “It’s me—y/n!”

The tension in the air crackled like static. For a moment, no one moved. Then Maria urged her horse forward, squinting through the snow until recognition crossed her face.

“Y/n?” she said, lowering her shotgun slightly. “What the hell are you doing out here?”

“It’s a long story,” I said, relief flooding through me. “But these two—” I motioned to Joel and Ellie, who were still frozen in place. “They’re with me. They saved my life.”

Maria’s gaze shifted to Joel, her eyes narrowing. “That him?”

I blinked, confused, until realization dawned. Of course, Tommy must’ve mentioned Joel before.

“Yeah,” I said quickly. “It’s him. And this is Ellie. They’re just passing through. Please, Maria, lower the guns.”

Maria hesitated, her gaze flicking between me, Joel, and Ellie. Then she gave a sharp whistle, and the other riders lowered their weapons.

“Alright,” she said, her tone cautious but less hostile. “Let’s get back to Jackson. You look like hell.”

I almost laughed. “You have no idea.”

The ride back was quiet, the tension between Joel and Maria palpable. Ellie, for once, didn’t say much, her gaze fixed on the snowy landscape as we made our way through the storm.

When the gates of Jackson finally came into view, I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. The sight of the sturdy walls, the faint glow of firelight beyond—it was the first time in a long while that I felt like things might actually be okay.

The gates of Jackson creaked open as the group rode in, the heavy snowfall outside muffled by the sturdy wooden walls of the settlement. Inside, the warmth of fires and the sound of distant chatter greeted us. It was like stepping into another world—one where life hadn’t completely crumbled. The bustling streets, people moving with purpose, children playing—it was overwhelming after days of cold, silence, and death.

Joel dismounted his horse slowly, his eyes scanning the settlement as if it were a mirage. His rifle hung loosely on his shoulder, his posture stiff, as if he wasn’t quite ready to believe this place was real. Ellie stuck close to him, her eyes wide with curiosity as she took in the sight of people—families—living normal lives, or as close to normal as you could get these days.

Maria swung off her horse, handing the reins to a stablehand. “Y/n, go with Ethan and get checked out. You’re in no condition to be walking around on that leg,” she said, but her gaze flicked to Joel.

Then Tommy appeared.

Tommy was working on some construction, the sound of hammering and the distant clatter of tools filling the air. As we walked closer, I could see a few men working, their backs turned to us as they focused on their tasks. The moment I saw Tommy, though, my breath caught in my throat.

He was hard at work, his back bent as he nailed some boards into place, completely unaware of our approach. I could feel the tension rising in Joel beside me, the anticipation thick in the air.

And then, without warning, Joel’s voice broke through the stillness, loud and commanding:

“Tommy!”

The sound of his name cut through the air like a crack of thunder. The men working nearby stopped what they were doing, and for a brief moment, it felt like the entire world went still.

Tommy froze, his back still to us, and I watched as his shoulders stiffened. He slowly turned, his eyes scanning the area, before they landed on Joel. His face went slack for a moment—an unreadable mix of disbelief, relief, and confusion. The moment seemed to stretch on, as though neither of them quite believed what was happening.

Then, Tommy blinked, and before I knew it, he was striding across the ground, closing the distance between them. He didn’t say a word at first, just reached Joel in two quick strides and pulled him into a tight, almost desperate hug.

The sound of it—the weight of all that lost time between them—was deafening. The hard lines in Joel’s face softened, and for the first time in what felt like forever, he let out a deep breath, like something inside him had been released. They stood there for a moment, holding onto each other like nothing else mattered.

Tommy pulled back first, his hand gripping Joel’s arm, his voice gruff as he spoke, almost too soft for me to hear. “I didn’t think I’d ever see you again.”

Joel looked at him, his eyes full of that familiar pain but also something else—something deeper. “Thought you were dead, Tommy.”

Tommy’s face softened, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of the brotherly bond they once shared. “Guess I got a bit tired of waitin’ around, but I’m here now, Joel.”

The silence between them spoke louder than any words could. It wasn’t just a reunion—it was a reckoning. Years of pain, of choices that had torn them apart, now coming to a head.

They pulled back, Tommy’s hands gripping Joel’s shoulders as he looked him over, his eyes scanning every line, every scar. “You look like hell,” he said with a half-smile, though his voice wavered.

Joel gave a faint huff of a laugh, shaking his head. “Yeah, well… it’s been a long road.”

Tommy’s gaze shifted, landing on Ellie, who was standing just behind Joel, watching the reunion with quiet curiosity. “And this must be…?”

“Yeah,” Joel said, stepping slightly to the side so Ellie could step forward. “This is Ellie.”

Ellie gave a small wave, clearly unsure of what to say. “Uh, hi.”

Tommy chuckled, the sound warm and genuine. “Well, any friend of Joel’s is welcome here.”

For the first time in a long time, the weight Joel carried seemed to ease, if only slightly. It wasn’t just Jackson that felt like a safe haven—it was the connection, the bond that hadn’t been broken, even after all this time.

And for a moment, it felt like the world wasn’t so heavy after all.

Joel walked slowly down the stairs, the creaking of the wooden steps the only sound in the quiet house. The dim light of the living room pooled on the floor, where I sat curled up on the couch, my eyes fixed on him as he approached. The tension in the air was palpable, thick with the weight of everything that had just transpired. His steps faltered slightly, the heaviness of the fight with Ellie still weighing on him.

I didn’t say anything at first, just watched him with an unreadable expression, the flickering light casting shadows across her face. He rubbed his hand over his face, feeling the exhaustion in his bones. The world felt quieter in moments like this, like it was holding its breath.

“You really think that’s the answer, huh?” I said, my tone biting but not cruel.

Joel didn’t meet my gaze right away, his hands shoved deep in his pockets.

He huffed out a bitter laugh, the kind that wasn’t funny at all. “Don’t start with me. You don’t know the half of it.”

“Don’t I?” I finally spun around to face him, my voice rising with the heat of my anger. “You think I haven’t been watching this slow-motion train wreck of yours? You think I don’t know what you’re doing—pushing her away before she can leave you?”

His face darkened, the shadows casting sharp lines across his features. “This ain’t about me and Ellie. Don’t twist it. This is about you always thinkin’ you know better.”

“Oh, so it’s my fault now?” I stepped closer, my hands trembling with fury. “You don’t get to stand here and act like you’re the only one who’s been hurt. You let me leave, Joel! You stood there and let me walk out of Boston like I was nothing to you. You never even tried to stop me.”

His silence hit harder than his words ever could. I saw his throat work, his jaw tightening as he stared at me like he was trying to break me down with his gaze alone.

“You wanted to leave,” he finally said, his voice quieter but no less cutting. “What the hell was I supposed to do? Beg? You made your choice.”

“Because you didn’t give me a reason to stay!” My voice cracked, the words laced with all the pain I’d kept buried for far too long. “Do you know what it was like, leaving behind everything—leaving you—because I thought I wasn’t enough? That I’d never be enough for you?”

The firelight flickered in his eyes, and for the first time, I saw it—the guilt, the regret. He took a step closer, his broad shoulders sagging under the weight of unspoken words.

“Y/n…” He said my name like it hurt to say it. “I thought I was doin’ right by you. You deserved better than what I could give you. Still do.”

I let out a bitter laugh, shaking my head as tears threatened to spill. “You’re such a goddamn coward, Joel. Always thinking you know what’s best for everyone else. You don’t get to decide what I deserve. You don’t get to—”

But before I could finish, he closed the distance between us in one sudden, desperate motion. His hands came up to cup my face, rough palms trembling against my skin. His breath was warm, ragged as it ghosted over my lips.

“I ain’t a coward,” he murmured, his voice raw.

I opened my mouth to argue, to push him away like I had every right to, but the words caught in my throat. His eyes burned into mine, and in that moment, everything else—the fight, the years of distance, the pain—faded into nothing.

He kissed me like a man starved, like he was afraid I might disappear if he didn’t hold on tight enough. My hands found their way to his chest, gripping the worn fabric of his flannel as I kissed him back with all the anger and longing I’d been too afraid to admit.

It wasn’t soft. It wasn’t gentle. It was years of unspoken feelings, of missed chances and buried love, all colliding in one explosive moment.

When we finally broke apart, his forehead rested against mine, both of us breathing hard. His hands lingered on my face, his thumbs brushing away the tears I hadn’t realized had fallen.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, his voice breaking. “For Boston. For everything.”

I closed my eyes, my fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt. “Me too,” I whispered back, my voice trembling.

For a moment, there was nothing but the sound of our breathing and the crackle of the fire. And for the first time in years, I didn’t feel so alone.

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dyli-dadi3 · 3 days ago

Text

Knotting

Chris thought you two were the bestest of buds, two peas in a pod... Well, he isn't technically wrong... there is a p in a pod...

Tags: smut (p in v), knotting, mating, riding, hybrid animals (both puppies), mounting, getting caught.

Ever since that shit with Wesker and Jill back in Africa, Chris hasn’t been able to relax. He tosses and turns at night, plagued with the face of Jill, of all the citizens he had to kill just because they were robbed of their humanity. The whole debacle had left him feeling incredibly lonely and filled with the overwhelming sensation that he was never fully alone. Every time he closed his eyes, even for a second, it was like he was in Africa all over again. It got to the point where his coworkers had noticed.

—

“Hey, Chris, you’ve been acting off, lately. " One late night, a guy in HR spoke up when he decided to stay and mess with the thick stack of paperwork that was growing on his desk.

“Really?” Chris mumbled the words, more interested in the hissing of the coffee machine that was currently spewing out the liquid gold he needed. The sound was familiar to him, something that wasn’t the screams of pain and despair that he also got familiar with.

“Yeah, it’s like you’ve been distancing yourself. It’s making your paperwork late.” The little shit huffed, crossing his arms.

Of course, he didn’t care about him, he was just there to ensure his performance was running at full speed. Not like he expected anything else, that’s why he never really talked to the guy. He just partook in the mandatory check-ins to say what is going good and bad in management, only for nothing to be changed because it isn’t “important.” He learned pretty quickly that the BSAA was good for one thing and one thing only, fighting bioterrorism. As long as there was some new monstrosity to humans running amok, their agent’s mental health could wait.

“I hadn’t noticed,” Chris muttered, grabbing the steaming pot of instant coffee and poring it into his mug that was printed with the BSAA logo.

“You know, I think you’re due for some company,” The guy said thoughtfully. What was his actual name again? Todd? Tom? I think it was Tom…

“How I spend my very limited free time isn’t your problem,” Chris said flatly, finally looking up at Tom. “And besides, I don’t have time to foster a new relationship.”

“Oh, I’m not talking about that,” Tim said, smiling at him like it was some kind of joke.

I don’t have the time or patience for this.

“I’m thinking like a pet or something. Animals have been used for therapy forever. I think you need something to soften up that rough exterior of yours.” Ted chuckled, bringing his hand up to shove Chris’ shoulder. He just took a step back.

“…”

“If I can’t deal with a relationship, what makes you think that I can take care of a whole other life?” Chris huffed to save the man some embarrassment. Man, this guy was denser than that loaf of banana bread he tried to make for Jill when she joined S.T.A.R.S. with him.

“Geez, man, are you dense? I swear you live under a rock…” Timmy sighed.

Are you serious…?

“Haven’t you heard? Those new ‘hybrid’ things are all the craze right now.” If they’re being described as things, it can’t be good. “They’re humans, but animals.”

Chris raised his eyebrow at this. “First of all, how is that even possible? And second, why hasn’t the BSAA or government in general shut that down?”

“Well, the guy who was originally splicing all that DNA was arrested, but they couldn’t just kill the little fellows he made, so they put them up for sale. Not everyone could care for their new pet slash human baby, so some got loose and bred like rabbits. They’re everywhere now. Are you seriously telling me you haven’t seen one yet? News? Alley? Other friends?” Billy said.

Chris paused. “You’re telling me that there’s half animal, half-human creatures walking around the city?” The image in his mind was horrific.

“Yeah, they’re kind of cute, cute like a kid and a puppy at the same time,” Ben said with a smile. “But anyways, brought it up ‘cause I think you’d do good with one. They’re easier to train than animals and can do all the same things we can, so you won’t feel bad for leaving them when you’re out doing that bioterrorism stuff. Brady has one.”

“Who?” He knew a Brad once.

“...Brady? He sits right across from you.” Oh right, toupe. “Right, it’s just late,” Chris said, taking a sip of his coffee so he could at least try to properly wrap his mind around the bombshell Bill just dropped on him.

“Yeah, he says she’s the best thing to ever happen to him. But don’t tell his wife he said that.”

Chris let out a dry chuckle, his mind moving on from the papers he had to do. Maybe he could look up these ‘hybrids’ once he got off of work.

“I’ll think about it.” He said before leaving Ben at the coffee machine.

—

It took way less effort than he expected, the papers quickly being filled out since he was getting more and more eager to find out what these hybrids looked like. If Toupe and Bennie thought they were good, as well as everyone else, they couldn’t be that ugly.

Before he knew it, Chris was sitting at his desk, the word ‘Hybrid’ typed up on his monitor. His finger governs over the enter button. Despite all the admittedly cute descriptions, he still couldn’t shake off the fear that they were just the same as all the bioengineered organisms he fought against. He’s killed his fair share of zombie dogs.

Forgetting the zombie dogs, he had always wanted a regular dog. So he amended his search, changing it to ‘Dog Hybrid’ and hit enter.

The results were instantaneous, and he had to admit, they were pretty cute. The ones on the top of Google had round faces, chubby cheeks, bright eyes, floppy ears, and bushy tails. He then looked at maintenance. There was already an abundance of forums describing how to take care of them, what to expect depending on the type of species they derived from, and just some silly stories people wanted to share.

He was sold, and before he knew it, he had made an appointment to a shelter that houses hybrids to see if he could find one.

Of course, he always thought of having a tough-looking dog, big and fluffy. What he didn’t expect was to walk up to the front door and be greeted with two pups playfighting in the small enclosure just past the glass display. When he walked in, they both turned to look at him, yipping with pure energy.

He turned his back to them to greet the front lady who had been looking at him. “I’m here for a consultation? Last name Redfield.”

The lady smiled, walking to the little gate on the side of her to let him in. “Just go down the hall and to the left, there’s a lady there that will help you from there.”

The lady she talked about was very sweet. She didn’t stare at him too long, or ask about his dark eyebags, or even the fact that he didn’t have unstained clothes to wear. She just asked him how much maintenance he was willing to expend for caretaking, as well as some personality inquiries. She said it was to “match him to the perfect pup,” since they only housed dogs.

With that, he was led through so many isles of dog-human things that he didn’t know what to do with himself. Despite the tempting allure of a companion to have when he came back home, it was all a spur-of-the-moment thing. He had yet to accommodate another living being in his house, and the thought of leaving a senior hybrid or puppy alone for long periods was beginning to weigh on his heart all over again.

—

“He was cute!” You said happily, flopping onto Leon’s side. “Imagine what it would be like to be adopted by him.”

It was a pastime for the two of you to look at the people who walked past and theorize about their lives, about what it would be like to be chosen by them.

“I don’t know, he looks like he could crush my head with his bicep.” Leon grimaced, holding his head.

“Oh, but that’s the fun part!” You giggled, pressing your face to his side as your tail wags behind you.

“I guess he looked interested.” Leon smiled, pouncing on you to nip at your neck. You squealed, trying to kick him off of you as he tried to pin you down. “Leon, that tickles!” You tried to catch your breath when he finally pulled away to sit down on the padded floor of the display case. “But that’s the fun part!” He said with a mockingly high-pitched tone as he smirked.

You huffed, jumping on top of him as you tried to repay the favor.

—

“I’m sorry, none of them called out to me,” Chris said, walking back to the front as he tried to ignore the pitiful looks of the hybrids he left behind him. Man, this was a bad idea.

“No worries, I’m glad you don’t feel the need to force yourself, we get a lot of people who fold, only to return them weeks later saying that they couldn’t deal with it.” The lady smiled, waving goodbye as Chris entered the front of the shelter again.

He tried to ignore the way the two of you immediately stopped playing to lean up against the barrier of your enclosure. Both of your tails wagged, and he tried to push out the sound of “He didn’t get anyone! Do you think he came back for us?” coming from your sweet mouth.

God, this was a bad idea.

“Are the ones in the front available?” He found himself asking the first lady. “Those two?” He awkwardly pointed at the two pups that were climbing over each other now that he specifically pointed them out.

“I knew it!”

“We’re free!”

“Of course! They sure are the energetic type… Are you sure you’ll be able to handle them?” The lady said softly. He couldn’t blame her, he had answered her caregiving question with low maintenance.

“Don’t listen to her! We’re well-behaved!”

“Yeah! We’re so good!”

“I’m positive that we’ll be fine.” Chris smiled. No, I’m not, but I can’t say no to those cute faces…

“Well then, just sign these papers right right here for adoption, and then they’re all yours.” The lady smiled, reaching underneath her desk to produce two packets of papers. On the top of each of them were your names. The handwriting was messy, but the glitter pen used on yours made him realize that the two of you signed your names yourselves. The realization was heartwarming, and with the revelation, he could see the personality woven into the childish signatures. This was going to end up great.

—

He couldn’t have been more wrong.

God, he couldn’t have been more wrong. The two of you were endless bounds of energy, like two Tasmanian devils living in his flat. He had thought that the two of you were more human than dog, able to have self-control and discipline like Benjamin had said, but he quickly realized that he adopted two puppies that took a liking to chewing up all the shit in his house no matter how many times he said no.

But he was a man, a stubborn one at that, and he was determined to give the two of you a forever home.

He’s had to put child-proofing on almost all of his furniture and cabinets so that you two didn’t get into his stuff or shred the legs of all his furniture to shit. Eventually, he had to go back to work, where he’d look the two of you in the eye and say “Be good” like a disapproving father before leaving. No matter what was happening at work, his mind was preoccupied with all the things the two of you could be getting up to. He was starting to think of getting a sitter.

When he came home, his blood ran cold. Pained whimpering. Did somebody get hurt? Was someone in danger?

He rushed into his house, finding the source of his sudden anxiety spark. You. His jaw grew slack as he saw you straddling Leon’s thigh, the poor pup fast asleep as you rutted against him. “Hey!” He gasped, grabbing your arm and pulling you off of him. “No! That’s bad!” He admonished you, his ears aflame as he watched you whine and squirm in his grasp. He didn’t know what to do, and he would rather go back to Africa than see that again.

“N-No, feels good! I feel funny, and it helps.” You huffed, kicking your legs.

All the ruckus woke up Leon, his eyes fluttering open as his pupils focused on your whining form. “Huh?” He said softly, sniffing the air and leaning in closer. “Dad… She smells sweet, what’s wrong?” he said thoughtfully, bringing his nose to her crotch and sniffing.

Oh god. “First of all, I told you, I’m not your Dad. Secondly, you need to back up. She’s…sick.” He said tentatively, not wanting to even think about what she’s feeling right now. “Sick?” You said softly, looking up at him with big eyes and a tail between your legs.

“You’ll be fine; you just need to stay in your room for a bit to cool off; it’ll feel better.” Maybe if she stays alone for a bit, she won’t go into a full-blown heat…

—

That didn’t work.

You were fine for a bit, cooling down and reporting that the feeling in your tummy went away, but as soon as he brought you to the same room as Leon, you’d complain all over again. He didn’t know what to do, he read about this, but he supposed that it was his fault for not asking more questions about the… condition the two of you were in. Well, he guessed that he should have asked way more questions.

But these were the cards he was dealt, and he couldn’t keep an eye on you forever, so he left work today with a very serious talk to Leon. “Don’t let her touch you, no matter how much she begs. And if you want to nap, please sleep in your room. Alone.”

Simple, precise, and direct. Of course, he had already told you about what was happening. That it was completely normal, but that it needed to be controlled. He just hoped that you wouldn’t have to suffer for so long. He was already looking up vets to have you spayed.

—

“Dad said we can’t!” Leon sighed, trying to keep his distance as your sickeningly sweet scent saturated the air around him. He could practically see the way it colored the atmosphere. All pink and flowery and like candy. It made his head spin and cock twitch. Wait, that was new. “But it hurts, Leon! I’m all hot and achey and it’s the only thing that makes me feel better. Don’t you wanna make me feel good?” You pouted, walking closer to him again. Only this time, he didn’t take a step back.

“We’ll be quick, he won’t even know! Dad said it’s normal!” You argued your case, coming in closer and closer.

“I suppose… You do feel sick.” Leon sighed, sitting down on the couch. You immediately crawled into his lap, whimpering as you pressed your slicked-up pussy against his thigh, the wetness permeating through the pair of soft shorts you wore. Leon groaned, the smell of your arousal making him feel dizzy but good at the same time. “Maybe this isn’t so bad…” He said as you rutted against his thigh. “D-Do you need anything?” He asked, hands hovering over your hips. “You. Oh my god, you smell so good, Leon.” You groaned, burying your nose into his neck and inhaling.

Leon had no idea what was going on, only that you were sick and maybe he was getting sick, too. His skin felt feverish, and now there was a throbbing in his pants that was becoming increasingly hard to ignore. He was drawn to the scent, not like he needed to be pulled, you were drowning him in it. Choking him with your intoxicating scent that made his hips buck and his mouth water. He knew he should be stopping this before it got too far, but the voice in his head was screaming more, more, more! He groaned, wrapping his arms around your waist in a tight hug, pulling you in closer to rut against his erection.

“Oh god, yes, Leon!” You sobbed, unsure whether to continue indulging in the pleasure of the now or try and soothe the ache deep inside of you. But you had to, the throbbing was borderline painful.

You slipped out of your shorts, tugging his cock out of his sweats. You didn’t know how, but it was like you knew that this was what you needed, the voice in your head yipping in glee. You paused when Leon whimpered, his hips jerking, jolting you up with him. “That feels good, too?” You asked.

“Yeah, feels good…” He whined, gripping the fat of your hips. Never in his life has he felt this good, like putting ice on a burn, eating watermelon in the hot summer heat, or eating a sandwich after getting out of the pool. All the static in his brain cleared, and all that was left was the overwhelming urge to do something with you. He didn’t know what, but he felt like this was as close as it was going to get.

God, was he wrong. There was something better, and it was called ‘being deep inside your best friend as she bounced on your lap like a professional pogo stick rider.’

He was cussing like a sailor as you engulfed him, everything coming full circle as he realized that this was what he was meant to do for the rest of his life. Nothing else he would ever do would compare. He was sure of it. Your pussy was like a godsend and he couldn’t get enough. He tightened his grip, snapping his hips up into your sopping heat as he pulled you down, trying to get as deep as possible. It wasn’t enough, there was a missing piece.

You were a trembling mess, clenching around him and making him whine as he tried to go faster, feeling a ball of something wind up in his chest. “O-Oh my god, Leon, I-I feel something.” You gasped as he groaned, shoving the both of you to the ground as he mounted you. He pushed you into the ground as he arched your back, snapping his hips into you at a brutal pace as his voice grew higher and whinier. “M-Me, too. Wan’it.” He whimpered, moving faster, until he nearly screamed, your pussy clamping down on him as you came. He didn't stop, couldn't stop, the need to fuck you overwhelming. But he didn't last much longer. In just moments, he was cumming ropes and ropes of thick cum into your pussy. The whole thing was overstimulating and honestly a little terrifying. All of the dizziness went away, there wasn't a trace of static, nor was there a voice begging for more. He suddenly felt complete, and that was alarming, not to mention the fact that his dick was swelling inside of you. “H-Hey, are you okay?” He said in alarm. Despite your moans, the feeling of stretching your pussy like this made him nervous.

“So good… Feel so much better…” You mumbled into the hardwood, eyes droopy and body like putty. “That's good…” Leon murmured, finally relaxing with your confirmation and tugging you with him as he flopped to the side, spooning you. He stayed still, his body automatically knowing the process. It was as if he was on autopilot. The thought made him chuckle. He was made to please you.

—

Chris dropped all his things at the front door when he saw the two of you fast asleep.

“Shit!”

I love puppy Leon so much it's not even funny. Trust that he will be back for more.

#leon kennedy #leon kennedy x reader #x reader #smut #leon s kennedy #dumb puppy

75 notes · View notes

jhyoos · 3 days ago

Text

REBEL GIRL

rockstar sevika x influencer reader

Chapter 9: Shitfaced

summary : (y/n) goes to visit her family in New York before having to leave.

mentions : fluff, modern au, fame au, very suggestive smut, partying, drinking, smoking, family being supportive, my horrible attempts at writing very mild smut

notes: one more chapter to go y’all…so I made this one as long as I could. 😝

After the concert, you stepped out of the VIP section, weaving through the crowd on your way backstage. A couple of security guards flanked you, ensuring your path was clear. Just as you reached the corridor leading to the backstage area, you heard someone call your name.

Curious, you turned around and saw a group of girls standing nearby. They were decked out in Shattered Souls merch, clutching posters and their phones, some already recording. Their excitement was palpable. You hesitated for a moment, unsure if you should approach, but their bright smiles encouraged you to walk over.

“Hi,” you greeted with a warm smile.

One of the girls wasted no time and blurted, “Is it true you’re dating Sevika?”

Her boldness caught you off guard, but you managed to keep your composure. “Wow, straight to the point,” you said with a small laugh. “I mean… yeah, you could say that.”

The group erupted in a mix of reactions—gasps, squeals, and murmurs of surprise and excitement.

“You’re so pretty. No wonder Sevika is with you,” one of them said, her voice full of admiration.

You felt your cheeks flush. “Oh, thank you so much,” you replied, genuinely touched.

“Can you sign my poster?” another girl asked, holding out a Sharpie and a glossy band poster.

You hesitated, glancing at the poster. “Are you sure you want me to? I’m not even in the band,” you said, chuckling nervously.

“Yes, I’m sure!” the girl insisted, nodding eagerly.

With a small smile, you took the Sharpie and carefully signed your name in a corner, trying not to ruin the pristine artwork. “Alright, there you go,” you said, handing it back.

As soon as the first autograph was given, the other girls chimed in, asking you to sign their posters, shirts, and even their arms. You obliged, feeling a mix of awkwardness and flattery.

“I hope you guys enjoyed the concert,” you told them with a grin as you handed the last poster back.

As you were talking to the group of girls, their chatter suddenly shifted into excited screams. You caught bits of their words—“Oh my god, it’s Sevika!” and “Can I get an autograph?”—and turned to see what the commotion was about. There she was, walking toward you, radiating confidence and presence in a way that made everything around her fade.

“Damn…” you muttered under your breath, unable to stop yourself from staring. You saw her on that stage…but face to face was a different story. She wore a tight black compression shirt cropped just enough to show off the intricate tattoos running along her stomach and arms, paired with jeans that fit her perfectly, accentuating her v-line. A choker wrapped snugly around her neck, complementing her edgy look. Her hair was pulled back into a man bun, showing off her numerous ear piercings, her undercut and the eyebrow piercing that made her even more striking.

You frowned slightly when you noticed the cigarette hanging from her mouth. You hated when she smoked, but you decided to let it slide, considering the fans were watching and you didn’t want to make a scene.

Her voice pulled you from your thoughts. “Is this what took you so long?” Sevika asked, the cigarette bouncing slightly as she spoke.

“I couldn’t just ignore them,” you replied, gesturing toward the eager fans.

She smirked and took the Sharpie out of your hand before grabbing a few of their posters. Without skipping a beat, she began signing them, her movements casual but deliberate.

“You guys are so good together,” one of the fans said, and a few others chimed in, agreeing enthusiastically.

Sevika’s smirk deepened, and for a split second, you almost lost your footing. That look of hers had a way of making you feel weak in the knees. “Thanks,” she said smoothly, handing the signed posters back. Then she looked at the group and added, “If you don’t mind, we both gotta head out.”

The fans groaned softly but nodded, clearly thrilled with the brief interaction.

Sevika slid a hand to the small of your back, her touch firm yet gentle, and started guiding you toward the backstage entrance. One of the guards stationed there opened the door for you both, giving Sevika a quick nod of acknowledgment.

Once inside, the noise of the crowd quieted behind the thick doors. Sevika flicked the cigarette out of her mouth into a nearby ashtray and turned to you with a teasing grin. “You were really soaking up the attention out there, huh?”

“Jealous?” you teased back, a smirk tugging at your lips.

“Maybe a little,” she admitted, leaning down to kiss your temple. “But they’re right, you know. We are good together.”

Her words left a warm flutter in your chest as you made your way further backstage, Sevika’s hand still firmly on your back, as if she was silently reminding you—and everyone else—that you were hers.

“Who styled you today? You look really good,” you asked, admiring Sevika as you walked together.

She smirked and leaned in, capturing your lips in a deep, slow kiss that left your head spinning. When she pulled back, her voice was smooth and low. “I styled myself. Stylist couldn’t make it.”

“Dress like this more. It shows off everything just the way I like it,” you teased, grinning up at her.

“And what do you like about it?” she asked, a mischievous glint in her eyes as she stepped closer, closing the gap between you.

“That your muscles pop out, your v-line, and your piercings, and that undercut,” you said, biting your lip before adding with a playful smirk, “God… I’d let you fuck me right here if we could.”

Sevika raised an eyebrow at your boldness, her grin widening. “If there’s a will, there’s a way,” she murmured, her voice laced with temptation as she moved in closer.

Before you could respond, Jinx burst into the room with her usual dramatic timing. “You guys are not fucking in here,” she interrupted, shooting both of you a pointed look as she grabbed the last of her things. “Now let’s go, please. I wanna see my man.”

You laughed and playfully pushed Sevika away. “You heard the woman. Let’s go,” you said, shaking your head.

Sevika rolled her eyes but chuckled, grabbing her gear. You walked over to Jinx, helping her with the last few items. Together, the three of you carried everything out, loading it onto the bus waiting outside. Sevika stayed close behind you the entire time, her hand occasionally brushing against yours, as if she couldn’t help but stay connected.

Jinx glanced at the two of you, rolling her eyes with a grin. “You two are so obvious it’s disgusting,” she said with a laugh before hopping onto the bus.

The following morning, you decided to visit your family before flying back to California. The band’s tour would continue, but a major sponsorship opportunity had come up, one you couldn’t afford to pass on. You also felt that being around Sevika 24/7 might end up distracting her, especially since she couldn’t seem to keep her hands—or her mouth—off of you since you two started dating.

After packing a bag full of gifts, you hailed a taxi to your childhood home. The snow outside glittered under the morning sun, and you felt a familiar warmth bubbling inside you despite the chill. When you reached the house, you took a moment to soak it all in before knocking on the door.

It swung open, revealing your mother, who immediately gasped and pulled you into a tight hug. “Oh, my baby,” she said, her voice cracking as happy tears spilled from her eyes. She pulled back, holding your arms as she looked you over.

“You’ve gotten so skinny!” she said, frowning slightly. “Come inside—I’ll fatten you up.” She tugged you in, closing the door behind you.

“Ryan! RYAN! Our baby is here!” she shouted into the house.

You couldn’t help but snort at her yelling, and moments later, your father came rushing down the stairs, his face lighting up when he saw you.

“Oh… my angel,” he said, wrapping you in a firm hug.

Before you could respond, you heard the familiar sound of tiny paws on the floor. Your childhood yorkie, Sammie, came barreling toward you, tail wagging furiously.

“Oh, my sweet boy!” you cooed, scooping him up and peppering his face with kisses before setting him gently on the couch.

“How long can you stay?” your mom asked eagerly, her hands still on your shoulders as if she didn’t want to let you go.

You gave her an apologetic smile. “You know I can’t stay long, Ma. But I’ll be back for Easter—I wouldn’t miss the family reunion for anything.”

You gestured toward the bag you’d brought, grinning. “But I brought some things for you guys.”

The next few minutes were filled with excited gasps and heartfelt thank-yous as you handed out the gifts. Your mom beamed when she saw the expensive jacket and heated blanket, immediately hugging both to her chest. Your dad was equally thrilled with his jacket, blanket, and new work boots, which he joked would make him the envy of the entire construction site. Even Sammie wasn’t left out—he barked happily when you gave him a new dog bed, tiny sweaters, and treats specially made for his fragile teeth.

The biggest gift, however, was when you handed your parents your black card. “Use this to pay off anything you need—bills, repairs, whatever,” you said firmly.

Your mom teared up again, hugging you tightly, while your dad gave you a proud smile and ruffled your hair.

As you all sat down in the living room, Sammie curled up on your lap, your mom brought up something you’d half-expected. “So… we saw the news,” she said, her voice taking on a teasing tone. “About you and that girl—what’s her name? Sevika?”

You chuckled, feeling a little shy but knowing they’d be supportive. “Yeah, her name’s Sevika. We’re together now.”

Your mom’s eyes lit up, and your dad nodded approvingly. “Well, you’ve dated girls before, so it’s not exactly a shock. But this one… she seems like a strong woman,” your dad said with a smile.

“She is,” you replied, thinking back to Sevika’s no-nonsense attitude and her unwavering confidence. “She’s… amazing, honestly. A little rough around the edges, but she’s got a good heart.”

Your mom grinned. “Well, if she makes you happy, that’s all that matters.”

“She does,” you said softly, your heart swelling with warmth at their approval.

Your dad gave you a sly smile. “Just don’t let her scare off the family at Easter.”

You laughed, shaking your head. “I’ll keep her in check, I promise.”

The rest of the visit was spent catching up, sharing stories, and enjoying the comfort of home—a brief but much-needed reminder of where you came from and the love that surrounded you.

You let the moment sink in, warmth spreading through you as you felt the love and acceptance from your parents. But then, their words fully registered, snapping you out of your reverie.

“Wait—what? You want her to come to the reunion?” you asked, sitting up a little straighter.

Your parents exchanged a look before nodding in unison, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

“Finn came for the two years you two were together… so why not Sevika?” your mom asked, her tone light but curious.

You blinked at her, caught off guard by the comparison. “Fuck… because of Grandpa,” you blurted out, your voice tinged with frustration. “He’s very homophobic. And Sevika has a short temper.”

Your dad shrugged, leaning back in his chair. “Just ignore him. He’s old-fashioned, that’s all,” he said, as though that excused your grandfather’s behavior.

You shot him a skeptical look. “Old-fashioned? He told me I was going to hell when I brought Finn to Thanksgiving just because he had tattoos and piercings. And that was before Finn even said a single word to him. Imagine what he says when a tall, masculine woman, with tattoos and piercings comes into the room.”

Your mom waved a hand dismissively. “It doesn’t matter what Grandpa thinks. You’re our child, and you’re always welcome to bring whoever makes you happy. Sevika included.”

You sighed, running a hand through your hair as you weighed their words. The idea of introducing Sevika to your extended family—especially your grandfather—felt like opening a can of worms. But at the same time, you didn’t want to hide her away like some kind of secret.

Finally, you took a deep breath, letting it out in a long exhale. “Fine,” you said reluctantly. “I’ll invite her.”

Your mom beamed, clearly pleased with your decision. “Good! I’m sure she’ll do great. Besides, your cousins will love her.”

You weren’t sure whether that was comforting or terrifying, but you nodded anyway, already mentally preparing for the chaos Easter was bound to bring.

When you returned to the hotel, the warm hum of music greeted you as you pushed the door open. Inside, Sevika was perched on the couch, her guitar resting against her lap as her fingers skillfully strummed a melody. The rest of the band was scattered around the room—Caitlyn scribbling in a notebook, Vi tapping out a rhythm on the edge of the coffee table, and Jinx lounging on the floor, absently humming along. It was clear they were deep into working on new material, their faces a mix of concentration and quiet intensity.

“I’m back,” you announced, stepping into the room and setting your bag down by the door.

“Welcome back,” they all said in unison, their voices subdued but warm.

You paused, glancing around at their expressions. The energy in the room was heavy—bittersweet, no doubt because your departure was looming. You knew they felt it just as much as you did. Not wanting to let the mood linger, you clapped your hands together, a mischievous smile spreading across your face.

“Do you guys maybe wanna go clubbing one last time before I have to leave?” you asked, your tone light and inviting.

Caitlyn looked up from her notebook, her brows arching with interest. “Of course,” she said, her voice cutting through the somber atmosphere.

“Good,” you said, grinning as you stepped further into the room. “Because I know the perfect place we can go. It’s gonna be a night to remember.”

Jinx perked up instantly, her energy flipping like a switch. “Ohhh, I’m in! I need to blow off some steam anyway.” She hopped to her feet, practically bouncing with excitement.

Vi leaned back in her chair, a sly grin on her face. “A night out with you is always interesting. I’m down.”

Sevika’s eyes met yours from where she sat, her fingers still lightly brushing over the strings of her guitar. She smirked. “If you’re leading, I’ll follow. Just don’t get us into too much trouble.”

You laughed, rolling your eyes. “No promises.”

As the mood in the room lifted, the band started to come alive with chatter and excitement, tossing out ideas for what to wear and speculating on what kind of place you were taking them to. Sevika set her guitar aside, standing and stretching before walking over to you.

“Got anything fancy in mind for tonight, or are we going full chaos mode?” she teased, her tone low and playful.

You leaned up to whisper, “Why not both?”

She chuckled, shaking her head. “That’s dangerous.”

With plans set and spirits high, everyone began to scatter, grabbing their things and getting ready for the night ahead. You felt a spark of excitement yourself, knowing this would be a perfect sendoff—not just for you, but for all of you as a group.

You took your time getting ready that evening, pulling the delicate black mesh top over your head and adjusting the shredded, figure-hugging skirt to perfection. The ensemble highlighted every curve while maintaining a bold, edgy vibe. After ensuring your makeup was flawless, with smoky eyes and deep plum lipstick, you slipped on a pair of heels that completed the look. Checking yourself in the mirror, you nodded in approval. Tonight, you were all in.

The sound of the shower stopped, followed by the soft padding of feet as Sevika stepped out of the bathroom. The moment you turned to look, your breath hitched. She was wearing a black, tight-fitting crop top with a daring cutout that framed her cleavage, paired with low-rise black cargo pants and her signature black boots. Her damp hair was styled into a loose man bun, showcasing her sharp features and confident stance.

Sevika paused mid-step, her eyes drinking you in with an intensity that made your cheeks flush. “Damn,” she muttered, her lips curving into a sly grin as she closed the distance between you. “It’s gonna be a long night.”

Before you could respond, she pulled you close, her lips capturing yours in a deep, passionate kiss. Her calloused hands rested on your hips, and the faint scent of her body wash lingered in the air. You melted into her embrace, letting yourself be consumed by her touch until you gently pushed against her chest. “Sev,” you murmured, breaking the kiss, “this lipstick is kiss-proof, not face-sucking-proof.”

Sevika chuckled, her smirk widening as her thumb brushed along your jawline. “Noted. But don’t blame me if I lose all control tonight.”

You rolled your eyes playfully, grabbing your clutch. “Let’s just make it to the club first.”

Before you and Sevika headed out the door to meet the others downstairs, you grabbed her arm, halting her in her tracks. She turned to you with a slight frown, her confusion evident.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, her tone cautious but curious.

“Easter,” you said simply, biting your lip as you tried to find the right words.

Her eyebrow quirked up. “What about Easter?”

You took a deep breath, your fingers fidgeting nervously with the hem of your sweater. “My family has this huge reunion that day here in New York. They bring everyone—girlfriends, boyfriends, close friends, the whole nine yards. My parents… they want you to come,” you admitted, your voice soft but steady.

Sevika’s other eyebrow joined the first, her expression a mix of surprise and amusement. “Nice to know they like me,” she said with a smirk. Then her head tilted slightly. “But, baby, that’s not for another four months. Why are you telling me this now?”

You let out a small laugh, feeling a bit silly for bringing it up so early. “Just so you can put it on your calendar. You know, block the date or whatever,” you said, flashing her a small, shy smile.

Her smirk softened into a fond grin, and she cupped your cheek for a brief moment. “Of course, I’m coming. Wouldn’t miss it,” she said confidently before dropping her hand back to her side.

“Let’s go before they leave us,” she added, intertwining her fingers with yours and tugging you toward the door.

With a final glance back at the room to make sure you hadn’t forgotten anything, you followed her downstairs to join the others. The energy was already buzzing as the group prepped for a night of clubbing, and you couldn’t help but feel a little more at ease knowing Sevika had agreed to meet your family, even if the thought of introducing her to your grandfather still made your stomach twist.

When you arrived at the club, the place was buzzing, packed wall-to-wall just like the old days when you’d sneak in as a college student. The line to get inside snaked around the block, but you weren’t about to wait. Without a second thought, you weaved your way through the crowd, earning a mix of side-eyes and grumbles from the people in line.

“Excuse me, sorry, coming through,” you mumbled as you squeezed past, flashing polite smiles at anyone who gave you a dirty look.

Behind you, the others stood in stunned silence, watching you bulldoze through like you owned the place. Sevika shook her head with a smirk and leaned against the wall, her arms crossed, as the others exchanged hesitant glances.

Finally, you reached the front of the line, coming face-to-face with two familiar faces: the same security guards who used to let you and your broke college friends in after you promised to bring them food. One of them squinted at you, his face lighting up with recognition.

“Well, if it isn’t the superstar!” he boomed, giving you a playful ruffle of your perfectly styled hair. “I remember when you were nothing but a broke college student sneaking in here!”

You swatted his hand away with an annoyed huff, quickly smoothing your hair back into place. “C’mon, can you let me in already? I’ve got a valid ID now—and so do my friends back there,” you said, jerking your thumb toward the group still lingering at the back of the line.

The guard raised an eyebrow, clearly amused, before breaking into a grin. “Of course, of course. You being here will definitely get us more business tonight,” he said as he unhooked the velvet rope and held the door open for you.

You turned back and waved at the group, motioning for them to follow. Sevika pushed off the wall immediately, striding forward without hesitation, while the others hesitated briefly before trailing behind her.

As soon as you stepped inside, the pounding bass of the music washed over you, the heat of the packed club hitting you like a wave. The air was thick with the smell of alcohol, sweat, and faint traces of expensive perfume.

Before you could even fully take in your surroundings, a tray of shots was shoved into your hands. The bartender grinned at you from across the counter, shouting something you could barely hear over the music.

You smirked, already feeling the adrenaline coursing through you. This night was going to be a blur—of drinks, dancing, and undoubtedly some trouble. You glanced over at Sevika, who had already claimed her first drink of the night, her sharp eyes scanning the room like she owned the place.

Yeah, you were getting fucked up tonight—in more ways than one.

The night was wild, and the drinks had long since gone to your head. You and Caitlyn, in your usual drunken mischief, had taken over the club. Jinx joined the chaos this time, amping up the energy. Every time one of your favorite songs blared through the speakers, the three of you clambered onto tables or stages, screaming the lyrics at the top of your lungs.

Your balance was nonexistent, and your vision swam with colors and faces that blurred together. But even through the haze, one figure stood out like a lighthouse in a storm: Sevika. She was leaning casually against the wall with Vi, her sharp eyes scanning the club while she nursed a glass of whiskey.

Everything seemed perfect—until you noticed the girl.

She was tall and confident, sidling up to Sevika and leaning in far too close. Her hand rested on Sevika’s arm, her lips moving as she whispered something into Sevika's ear. Your heart sank, a fire sparking in your chest as you watched. Those were your arms she was touching. That was your girl.

The crowd around you swayed and cheered, but all you could focus on was Sevika and that stranger. Without thinking, you waved down a random guy in the crowd. “Hey! Can you help me down?”

He looked uncertain but nodded, grabbing you gently by the waist and lowering you off the table. Your legs wobbled beneath you, and you nearly stumbled, but determination propelled you forward. You pushed your way through the sea of people, muttering apologies as you bumped into shoulders and spilled a few drinks along the way.

Sevika spotted you almost immediately. She brushed off the girl without hesitation, her steely gaze softening when she saw your tipsy form struggling toward her. By the time you got close, she stepped in, grabbing your arm to steady you before you could faceplant into someone.

“What’s my pretty girl doing?” she asked, her low voice almost drowned out by the music. She pulled you close, her arm wrapping securely around your waist.

“I came to see what you were doing with that bimbo,” you answered bluntly, your intoxicated state stripping away any filter as you glared at the girl as she rolled her eyes and walked away.

Sevika let out a low chuckle, shaking her head. “Nothing. I rejected her. I’m yours, baby.”

“Mine?” you asked, a sly smile creeping across your lips as your fingers toyed with the collar of her shirt.

“Yeah,” she murmured, leaning in closer. “And you’re mine.”

She sealed her promise with a kiss, her lips capturing yours in a way that made your knees even weaker than they already were. You melted into her, your arms wrapping around her neck as you leaned into the kiss, deepening it without a care for the people around you.

With a laugh, you practically pounced on her, your legs wrapping around her waist. Sevika caught you effortlessly, her hands finding purchase—one on your thigh, the other firmly gripping your ass. She pulled back slightly, smirking at your flushed face and needy expression.

“Jesus, you two fuck like rabbits,” Vi called out loudly, rolling her eyes as she walked past. Her voice was just loud enough to cut through the music and reach your ears.

You glanced over Sevika’s shoulder in time to see Vi shaking her head before disappearing into the crowd, likely heading off to find Caitlyn and get up to the same kind of trouble.

You didn’t care, though. Your focus was locked on Sevika, her whiskey-scented breath brushing against your cheek as she whispered, “Let’s see how long you can stay on me this time.”

The next thing you knew, you were pressed up against the wall of an empty bathroom stall, your lips crashing against Sevika’s in a heated kiss. Her hands gripped your waist tightly as if anchoring you to her. The scent of whiskey on her breath mixed with the faint smell of your own perfume, a heady combination that made you lightheaded.

Sevika pulled back slightly, her lips trailing down to your neck. She found that sweet spot that made your knees buckle, sucking gently while her hand moved to steady you. “You’re so beautiful,” she murmured against your skin. “Every time I see you, it’s like you’re even more gorgeous than the last time.”

Her words made your chest tighten in the best way. You tugged on her jacket, making her look at you. Your brows furrowed as you scanned her face, noting the slight glassiness in her eyes and the way her smirk was a little looser than usual. “Wait… You’re drunk,” you said, the realization dawning on you. “I’ve never seen you drunk before.”

Sevika chuckled lowly, her hands still gripping your waist. “You’re even more fucked up,” she teased, a rare smile pulling at her lips.

You both burst into laughter, the kind that only two drunk people could share, until Sevika’s hand slipped under your skirt, making you gasp. Her fingers brushed against your damp panties, and her grin widened. “Do you love me, baby?” she asked, her voice lower, more serious now.

Your breath hitched as her fingers pressed against you through the thin fabric. “I love you so much,” you managed to whisper, your hands tangling in her hair.

Before you could fully lose yourself in her touch, a sudden click and a flash of light snapped both of you out of the moment.

“What the fuck?” you gasped, immediately looking up. Through the slight gap in the stall door, you spotted a girl standing there with a professional camera in hand, her eyes wide with a mix of guilt and excitement.

Sevika whipped around, her body shielding you instinctively. “Are you kidding me?” she growled, but before either of you could react, the girl darted out of the bathroom like her life depended on it.

“Shit,” Sevika cursed under her breath, her hand pulling out from under your skirt as she straightened up. “Paparazzi.”

You felt your heart racing, the adrenaline sobering you up slightly. “What the hell was she doing in here? What if she already sent those pictures?”

Sevika ran a hand through her hair, her jaw tight. “We’ll deal with it,” she said firmly, her protective demeanor taking over. “No one’s gonna mess with us, baby. But for now, let’s get out of here before someone else walks in.”

She grabbed your hand, steadying you as you adjusted your skirt. The two of you left the stall cautiously, Sevika’s arm draped protectively around your shoulders as she scanned the room for any more unwanted eyes.

As you both exited the bathroom, you spotted the girl near the edge of the dance floor, trying to slip through the crowd with her camera clutched tightly. You didn’t even need to say anything. Sevika had already locked eyes on her, her jaw tightening as she began moving through the sea of people with purpose.

“Sevika—” you started, but she cut you off with a wave of her hand.

“I’ve got this,” she said firmly, her voice low and menacing.

You stayed close behind her as she pushed through the crowd with ease, her towering presence parting people like waves. The girl must have realized she was being followed because she glanced over her shoulder and quickened her pace. Sevika wasn’t about to let her get away.

By the time the girl reached the club’s entrance, Sevika was on her. She grabbed the girl by the back of her coat, stopping her in her tracks. The girl let out a startled yelp, but before she could say anything, Sevika leaned in close, her voice dripping with venom.

“You think you can snap pictures of us and just walk out of here?” Sevika growled, her grip tightening on the girl’s coat. “We’re going to have a little chat outside.”

The girl stammered, “I—I didn’t mean any harm! It’s just my job!”

Sevika didn’t respond. She simply dragged the girl toward the side exit, ignoring her weak protests. You followed behind, adrenaline coursing through your veins as the three of you stepped into the cold night air.

Once in the alley, Sevika shoved the girl against the brick wall, her arm pressed firmly against the girl’s chest to keep her in place. “Start talking,” she demanded, her tone deadly calm.

“I—I’m with The Pulse! I’m a paparazzo! It’s my job to get stories on celebrities!” the girl blurted out, her hands trembling as she clutched her camera.

“Do I look like I care about your job?” Sevika snapped, leaning in closer. “What did you think you were going to do with those pictures, huh? Sell them? Ruin her career? I’ll make sure you regret ever stepping foot in that club tonight.”

The girl shook her head frantically, her face pale. “No! I wasn’t going to sell them! I swear, I’ll delete them right now!”

“You’re damn right you will,” Sevika hissed. She stepped back slightly, giving the girl just enough room to breathe, but keeping her glare locked on her. “Hand it over.”

The girl fumbled with her camera, her hands shaking so badly she nearly dropped it. She handed it to Sevika, who shoved it into your hands. “Go through it. Make sure she deletes every last picture,” Sevika said, her eyes never leaving the girl’s terrified face.

You quickly scrolled through the camera, finding the incriminating photos of you and Sevika in the bathroom. “Here they are,” you said, showing Sevika before hitting the delete button. “Gone. All of them.”

“Good,” Sevika said, her voice cold. She turned her attention back to the girl. “Listen to me, and listen good. If I ever see you again—if you even *think* about taking another picture of us—I won’t be this nice next time. Got it?”

The girl nodded furiously, tears streaming down her face. “I—I got it! I won’t bother you again! I promise!”

Sevika stepped back, letting her go. “Get out of here,” she growled, her tone leaving no room for argument.

The girl didn’t need to be told twice. She bolted out of the alley, her footsteps echoing against the walls as she disappeared into the night.

Sevika turned to you, her expression softening as she placed a hand on your shoulder. “You okay?”

You nodded, still a little shaken but relieved. “Yeah… thanks to you.”

She smirked, pulling you into her arms. “No one’s messing with you on my watch, baby.”

You let out a small laugh, leaning into her embrace. “You’re my hero.”

“Damn right I am,” she teased. “Now let’s get back inside. I need another drink after dealing with that.”

You both headed back into the club, the tense moment behind you, but a newfound appreciation for Sevika’s unwavering loyalty warming your heart.

As you and Sevika walked back toward the entrance of the club, you spotted Vi, Caitlyn, and Jinx standing near the doorway. Their expressions were etched with concern, and Vi had her arms crossed, clearly on edge.

“What happened?” Vi asked as soon as she saw you, her sharp eyes darting between you and Sevika. “We saw you both rush out. Looked serious.”

Caitlyn took a step forward, her brows furrowed. “Did someone do something to you?” she asked, her voice soft but with an underlying firmness.

Jinx tilted her head, her usual manic energy subdued for once. “Who do I need to blow up?” she asked, half-joking, though you couldn’t be sure she wouldn’t actually follow through.

You exchanged a quick glance with Sevika, who shrugged, her expression unreadable. “It’s handled,” she said gruffly, as if that was enough explanation.

Vi wasn’t having it. “Handled? Sevika, you don’t just drag someone into an alley for no reason. Spill.”

You sighed, deciding to step in before things escalated. “It was a paparazzo,” you explained, folding your arms to mimic Vi’s stance. “She followed us into the bathroom and took pictures.”

“What the hell?” Caitlyn said, her tone tinged with disbelief. “That’s not just invasive; that’s downright illegal.”

“Did you get the camera?” Vi pressed, her protective instincts kicking in.

“Yeah,” Sevika said, her voice low and gruff. “She deleted the photos. Won’t be bothering us again.”

Jinx narrowed her eyes, a sly smirk forming on her lips. “She must’ve been scared shitless after running into you. I bet you threatened the hell out of her, huh?”

Sevika shrugged nonchalantly, but the faintest hint of a smirk tugged at the corner of her mouth. “Maybe a little,” she admitted.

Caitlyn’s concern hadn’t entirely faded. “Are you both okay, though? That kind of thing can be… unnerving.”

You nodded, giving her a reassuring smile. “We’re fine. It’s just part of the territory, I guess.”

Vi still looked annoyed but finally relaxed her stance, shaking her head. “People are unbelievable. You can’t even have a night out without someone trying to pull this crap.”

“Exactly,” Jinx chimed in, now grinning mischievously. “Which is why we should totally get wasted and forget about it. Drinks on me!”

That earned a laugh from you, and you couldn’t help but feel a bit lighter. “I’ll hold you to that,” you said, reaching out to give Jinx a playful nudge.

Sevika placed a protective hand on your lower back, guiding you all toward the bar. “Let’s go. The night’s not over yet,” she said firmly, her tone leaving no room for argument.

As the five of you made your way back into the crowd, you felt a sense of comfort. Despite the chaos, you were surrounded by people who had your back no matter what.

When you and Sevika stumbled back into the hotel room, the door barely clicked shut before you burst into giggles, leaning heavily against her sturdy frame. The both of you were drunk out of your minds, but while you felt like the room was spinning, Sevika seemed to hold it all together, her usual calm demeanor intact despite the alcohol coursing through her veins.

You clung to her arm, your hands wandering as you pressed your body against hers, your lips brushing against her jaw. “You’re so… sexy,” you slurred, your voice heavy with desire.

Sevika chuckled, low and deep, her hands steady as they rested on your hips to keep you upright. “You’re the sexy one, baby. Can barely keep my eyes off you tonight,” she said, her voice dripping with warmth.

She leaned down to kiss you, her lips hovering tantalizingly close to yours, but you stopped her, placing your fingers on her mouth and shaking your head. “I can’t,” you whispered breathlessly, your heart pounding in your chest.

Sevika raised an eyebrow, a soft laugh escaping her lips. “Why not?” she teased, tilting her head as she looked at you with amused curiosity.

“Because… it’s gonna lead to more,” you said, your cheeks flushed and your voice shaky as your fingers trailed down her arm.

Sevika smirked, her thumb brushing against your cheek as she held your face gently. “I don’t mind,” she said simply, her tone deep and confident.

Before you could protest further, her lips captured yours in a kiss so passionate that it left your knees weak. You melted into her, allowing her to guide you back toward the bed. As the back of your knees hit the edge, you let yourself fall, sinking into the plush mattress as Sevika leaned over you.

Her lips left a trail of heat across your skin, from your jawline down to your collarbone, her hands expertly sliding off your shirt, and unclamping your bra. Her kisses became more insistent, her teeth grazing lightly against your skin as she worked her way lower.

Your breath hitched as Sevika made her way between your thighs, practically devouring your heat, her strong hands gripping your hips to keep you in place. “Fuck…” you moaned, your head falling back against the pillow as a wave of pleasure shot through you.

Sevika looked up at you briefly, her smirk returning. “You’re so damn perfect,” she murmured before diving back in, her tongue working magic as she made you forget everything but the two of you in this moment.

After she finally decided she was done with you, Sevika smirked lazily and stretched out beside you on the bed, her arm draped across her stomach as she let out a satisfied sigh. You were still catching your breath, your body warm and tingling, but you couldn’t help but glance over at her.

She looked utterly relaxed, her hair slightly tousled, and her lips curved in a faint grin. You shifted closer, propping yourself up on one elbow. “I wanna give you something in return,” you said, your voice soft but playful.

Sevika turned her head toward you, her half-lidded gaze meeting yours. “No, it’s okay,” she murmured, her deep voice raspy from exhaustion and contentment.

You narrowed your eyes at her, a teasing grin spreading across your face. “I’m gonna do it anyway,” you declared with a mischievous tone.

Before she could respond, you leaned over and kissed her, your lips pressing softly but firmly against hers. Despite her earlier protest, she didn’t hesitate to melt into the kiss, her hand instinctively coming up to rest on your cheek. The kiss deepened for a moment, the connection between you palpable.

When you finally pulled away, you didn’t stop there. You began trailing kisses along her jawline and down her neck, your lips brushing against her skin as you went. Her breathing slowed, and you felt her chest rise and fall steadily beneath your hand.

But just as you were about to continue, you paused, hearing something you didn’t expect—soft snoring.

You froze, lifting your head to look at her. Sure enough, Sevika’s eyes were closed, and she was out cold, her snores light but unmistakable.

You stared at her in disbelief, your mouth hanging open slightly. “Ugh… rude,” you muttered, rolling your eyes with a half-laugh as you flopped back onto your side of the bed.

After Sevika fell asleep mid-kiss, you sighed in disbelief, still hovering over her. You sat up, staring at her peaceful face, the corners of her lips still curved ever so slightly into a faint smirk even in her sleep. She looked ridiculously comfortable, sprawled out on the bed without a care in the world, leaving you to deal with her fully clothed state.

You shook your head, muttering, “Of course, she falls asleep like this.”

Deciding she needed to be more comfortable, you carefully sat up and began removing her boots. They were heavy, and you struggled to tug them off her feet. “God, Sev… you’re like dead weight when you’re asleep,” you joked, grunting as the second boot finally slipped off and clattered to the floor.

Moving on, you unbuckled her belt, sliding it off with some effort before working on her pants. Her dead weight made it an ordeal, and as you tugged at the fabric, you grumbled, “I swear, you could sleep through an earthquake.”

Finally, after what felt like forever, you managed to peel the pants off, leaving her in just her boxers. You chuckled softly at how peaceful she looked, completely unbothered by your efforts.

Next, you moved to her shirt, gently pulling it over her head to avoid waking her. As you revealed her toned torso and sports bra, you couldn’t help but admire her even in this moment. “Not fair how good you look, even when you’re passed out,” you teased quietly to yourself, tossing her shirt to the side.

Once she was finally stripped down to her sports bra and boxers, you adjusted her on the bed, tucking the blanket over her. “There. Now you’re comfortable,” you said softly, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face.

You climbed back into bed beside her, exhaustion finally catching up to you. Despite her earlier “rudeness,” you couldn’t stay mad. With a smile, you snuggled up to her side, letting the sound of her steady breathing lull you to sleep.

- (ran out of photo limits 😔)

taglist : @moodient @whatlefoop @nonexistentsourcherry @graciebloom @swordfemm4 @m00npjm @sevikasleftarm @fayecreates @artfairyyyyy @mulan-but-gay @inlovewithsevikaandambessa @sapphiellar @fudosl @nanajustnana-a

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starlighttsv · 9 hours ago

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Best of both worlds - Paige’s daughter

💌 Syn: Paige is on “the best of both worlds” podcast during her world tour

»»— warnings: none :)

»»— notes: 🗑️😃 but only 1 more fic before i’m done trying to edit these cringy stories 🤗

»»— word count: 1k

»»— pair: paige x daughter!oc || lilah bueckers

Todays the day of filming Flaujae's podcast "the best of both worlds" hosted in Atlanta currently because of overtime Queen of the Court. Lilah is also with Paige but the time of filming the podcast, is a few minutes after her nap time starts and she can never skip naps or she'll be a very grumpy sassy 1 year old. So she's gonna sleep in the room next door and Paige & Flaujae are gonna leave the filming room door cracked so Paige can hear if she wakes up or anything.

"Alright guys now moving on, today's special guest is.....Paige Bueckers!" Flaujae introduces "hey everyone! Thank you for having me." Paige replies

"So I have some questions for you" flaujae starts, making Paige nod and say go ahead.

"What is your favorite basketball highlight of yours?"

"Ooo wait...oh I'm gonna go with when I was shooting the ball and it bounced off the rim, and then straight down in the bucket. I love that highlight"

"I saw that one! That was so dope!"

"Alright, what's your favorite basketball picture of you?"

"The one where I'm looking at the fans screaming after a basket, and there all screaming back at me. I need to get that framed!"

"Y'all heard her, get that picture framed for her" Flau says making her and Paige laugh a little and joke around for a few. "Alright who has more rizz?" Flaujae jokes "oh cmon, I'm the greatest rizzler of all time" Paige laughs making Flau also start to laugh "Alright I'll give you that. People say I'm a flirty person until I'm talking to someone I like" "your just shy or?" Paige cuts in "no it's more of just like I don't want to push it to much." Flaujae adds "oh I get that, I get that"

"You need to give me some tips." Flaujae jokingly says "alright-" Paige starts "off camera, off camera" Flaujae cuts in making Paige agree "Alright alright, a little more serious questions" Flaujae starts "you have a daughter" she adds making Paige nod "what's your favorite thing about her?"

"Ooo uhh, I honestly don't know. Uhh her love for adventure maybe? She loves going to new places, seeing new people, seeing animals she's never seen before. She loves even going on like "road-trips" to the store or gas station." Paige answered "Shes been with you for your whole "world tour" so far, right?" Flau questions "yeah.“

"What was your favorite thing to do with her on your world tour? And what was her favorite thing to do, if you know?"

"My favorite was umm oh our LA trip, we did a lot there. We went to Disneyland, Universal, a few museums, few beach trips, an aquarium vist, plus some more. Lilah's favorite was probably-" Paige stops talking as she hears Lilah walking through the hallway and calling out for her

"Mama" Lilah says, obviously looking for Paige. P takes a quick glance at Flaujae asking if she can bring Lilah in here, making Flaujae do a quick nod giving Paige her approval. "In here baby" P calls out, hearing Lilah start walking towards the filming room.

When she enters and sees Paige, she starts waddling towards P a little faster "good morning babe, how was your nap?" Paige asks, going on deaf ears as Lilah just walks closer to Paige and puts her hands on P’s thighs, a sign that she wants picked up. So Paige leans down and picks her up putting her on her thigh and Lilah immediately cuddles closer to Paige.

"I 100% have baby fever now. She's so cute omg" Flaujae says making Paige let out a chuckle "thank you" Paige says "well she's in here now so maybe she can answer your question. Lil what was your favorite thing we did so far this summer?"

She just cuddles into Paige more "cmon Lilah, I know you have favorites" P tries to convince her "ball and Disney" Lilah mumbles "she said ball and Disney, which translates to all star and Disneyland"P chuckles while rubbing Lilahs back, either to help her go back to sleep or to wake her up. Paige doesn’t really know the answer yet and she doesn’t think Lilah knows yet either

"I was gonna ask her favorite part of all star but looking at her, I don't think she wants to answer" Flaujae softly says, seeing that Lilah is trying not to fall asleep in Paige's arms right now "she never really wants to talk after waking up, she just wants cuddles and silence to decide if she's awake for the day or not - but she said she loved meeting all the new people and seeing people she already knew again - especially loved seeing Diana, Sue, Breanna, Megan, Angel and Caitlyn, when I asked her." Flaujae nods and says "so we can count on her to go to UConn" "I mean maybe? But I'm not gonna force her to follow my footsteps." Paige shrugs making Flau nod again "alright I'll move the subject away from your daughter, I got carried away. That's my bad"

Paige laughs a little, "Your good. I love talking about her any chance I get." Flaujae smiles at that and says "you seem like an amazing mom"

"Thank you. I try my best for her." Flaujae nods and then looks at her cards and says "alright we're gonna play a game. I'm gonna name a few of your teammates past and present, and I want you to give me one word that describes them." Paige nods still rubbing Lilahs back, and Lilahs just playing with Paige's chain now, deciding she wasn’t tired anymore.

"Kk Arnold" "goofy"

"Azzi Fudd" "consistent"

"Nika Mühl" "I have so many words to describe her....menace"

"Aaliyah Edwards" "dog"

"And last but not least, Ice Brady" "she icy"

Lilah stayed on Paige’s lap for the rest of filming, still just playing with P’s chain - and once filming was wrapped Paige took lilah to get some food before going back to the practice facility and go over plays with “team paige”

@melpthatsme @rebecca-woso @authentic-girl03

#paige bueckers #paige bueckers x fem!reader #paige bueckers x reader #paige x reader #uconn x reader #paige bueckers x oc #paige bueckers fic #paige bueckers x daughter!oc #starlighttsv’s works ✍️

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songbirdreaped · 2 days ago

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❝ i don't care, i want you to get away from me ! ❞ lucy gray didn't care about making any kind of scene, she never cared about what people thought of her. as he said the only reason he wasn't letting her escape was because they had a child growing inside of her, the brunette scoffed. ❝ yeah ? and what about when you dragged me back here before we knew ? what was that, huh ? you were never going to let me go. ❞ she told him, kicking him in the shin. she was pissed off, mostly angry at herself for thinking she could trust a capitol boy. ❝ i want to see the covey. let go of me, coriolanus snow or i swear to god i'll scream. ❞ she wasn't above it, if it meant he'd let go of her.

anger coursed through lucy gray as he grabbed her again, blocking her vision to where she wasn’t able to see where she was headed. ❝ let go of me, coriolanus snow ! i don’t want to be anywhere near you ! i hate you ! ❞ she was thrashing, using any method she could to get away from him. ❝ i’m not being a threat, i’m trying to get away from a threat — you. ❞ she informed him, clenching her jaw so tightly that she would potentially ruin a tooth if she weren’t careful. she hated him. lucy gray couldn’t believe there’d been a time when she thought they were meant to be. that was gone now, she felt like a prisoner, trapped now because of the child inside of her. his child. she knew it linked them together forever, and she hated it.

#¸·¯ ✩ writings ⋮take me to the lakes where all the poets went to die.#@ofdrivensnow

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justabrick · 3 days ago

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A place where I can be without remorse...

You know, I've read many a discussion about MGR and occasionally polls pop up that aim to rank the bosses from least evil to most evil. And somehow Mistral frequently ends up in some kind of "misunderstood" or "lied to" category.

I have a couple strong opinions on that view.

I'll start this off with a weird thing – the dwarf Gekko.

Little recon focused UGs that follow Mistral everywhere. Here are some fun facts about them: - they vocalize in high-pitched tone that can be interpreted as childish and cute - when the player gets hit by Mistral, the Dwarf Gekko will either applaud Mistral or laugh at Raiden - in the section where you get to play as one you can applaud the other dwarf Gekko and they'll dance with you - chopping off the upper arm of a Dwarf Gekko in blade mode will result in it briefly pausing in confusion as it searches for its missing limb - Courtney thinks they're cute and compares them to little mice

- there are cute figurines of them made as merch - a lot of fanart features them in adorable chibi forms - they react to pain by wailing and screaming

So, they're little critters, right? They're cute, make cute noises, they display surprising degree of emotion through both sounds and gestures for a military UG. Like little monkeys, or mice, as Courtney put it.

Now how does Mistral treat them? Her pre-bossfight cutscene: Comforts the tripod that Raiden hurt, even holds it's hand tenderly.

To only moments later tear off it's arms and crush it as it wiggles around and squeks in pain.

Comforts something -> hurts it, keep this dynamic in mind for later.

And throughout the fight she tosses them around, obviously killing them in the process. Courtney comments on that too:

You could say that it's all intimidation tactics to get under Raiden's skin, except we get to see Mistral in her downtime in Bladewolf DLC. Boy do I have a lot of details to highlight there.

The very first thing Bladewolf sees as he comes out of VR training

Yeah, that's a freshly killed tripod just laying there, fresh enough to be smoking and throwing sparks still. Remember that "NPC gekkos will dance with you" detail? Yeah, those things are seemingly programmed to be social, and she killed and displays the remains of one of their kin to her "chair". The gekkos composing her chair are constantly whining and moaning as they try to hold up her evidently immense weight. And I mean constantly, all the time she sits in that thing, they shake and make noises. That thing is NOT comfortable or practical on account of said noises, so the reason she does this instead of opting for just a chair is because she loves hurting things. I'll dare to say that she displays more moments of pointless cruelty on screen than Sundowner does, and it's an achievement.

Look at the poor thing on the left hugging itself and rolling around looking traumatized. It jumps up in fear the moment Mistral turns around, too.

She's also not just hurting them, she frequently displays mock "affection" towards them. She does it at two different points to the chair gekkos alone:

Here and here. Let's not forget holding the hand of the Gekko in the pre-fight cutscene.

It can be argued that she does it to Bladewolf in a similar manner, calling him endearing pet names while constantly mixing them with mockery, insults and threats. The whole "shake" scene follows it to an extent as well, Wolf is being tortured while being forced to engage in what should be a friendly and affectionate gesture.

Also note all the gekkos cheering her on and acting like they adore her as it transpires.

So, what we get from all these scenes is that Mistral enjoys hurting cute things she has under her control while constantly flip-flopping between giving them affection and torturing them. Besides that she's casually abusive to every single UG we see her interact with, whether physically or verbally.

Give affection to something that trusts you and depends on you and then hurt it, rinse repeat.

If you know what exactly this resembles, I'm really sorry, if you don't – I'd rather not shatter your hope in humanity. That'd be very dark. Instead I'll just go for slightly less dark.

Look, I'm not implying that this is the pattern of behavior that indicates somebody who enjoys torturing small animals...

I'm telling you in plain text that it's exactly what Mistral displays in overwhelming majority of her cutscenes. She's an unrepentant sadist, one that will take advantage of even allies, and she won't be quick about it either.

And it's not like she's lashing out due to some kind of trigger relating to her past, this crap is done just because she's enjoying it.

Desperado really is the one place she can be without remorse, surrounded by two equally cruel partners whose ideologies only encourage her to indulge in her horrible desires shamelessly and openly. One could even say that all three of them are broken to the point that they're all eternally strangers to any kind of normalcy.

It's not like she's fighting for Armstrong's ideals of mega freedom anyway. Out of the horse's mouth:

Belonging, purpose. That's all she wants, really. Armstrong gave her a fucked up little family she can relate to and some goal to share with them. What that goal is about isn't really all that important.

#mistral mgr #metal gear rising #mgr #I feel that she's woobified a lot and it's driving me up the wall #tragic childhood doesn't justify being THIS as an adult #sorry I just always enjoyed horrible villainous characters and i hate it when they get their edges filed down #I'll analyze more aspects of her some time later cheers

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swanlakex · 3 days ago

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Ok so I’m actually in love with this plot lmk if I should make a mini-series or something.. enjoy!

Camp Counselor Sam

Sam hated his job.

Or, at least that’s what he wanted everyone else to think. His mom had forced him to apply after finding 2 bongs and a concerning amount of pills under his bed and in his sock drawer. A summer would set him straight, teach him some responsibility, she figured.

“Hey,” Sam groaned to his campers, lying down on a bench. “No fighting.” He pulled his arms over his face, his dark sunglasses not even helping the hangover he was facing. The other counselors slipped out of the cabins late last night to “The Spot”, which was really just a gazebo tucked away in the woods a walk away. It was there they drank cheap beer around the fire, strumming songs on their guitars and complaining about the kids. You were there, too. And you couldn’t find an escape to Sam’s burning gaze through the fire, staring straight through your soul. It was a little creepy.

Sam was in charge of the Chippewa cabin, boys aged 7-9. Potty trained, sure; but loud, sticky, and stubborn. Two boys were wrestling around in the dirt before lunch, obviously stir crazy. Once Sam chided them, they both stood up, and one pushed the other as a last resort get-back.

“Seriously, Jacob. Enough. Ethan’ll have another asthma attack, and I’m not going through that paperwork again.” Sam groaned. “Why can’t you go play Gaga with the others? Always gotta stir up stuff.” Jacob, one of the older kids in the cabin, looked back at the Gaga pit. “I can’t.” He whispered. Sam sighed and sat up, throwing his arms up and landing them back on his knees with a Slap! “Why not?”

“Emma’s there.” Jacob pointed to a girl around his age, braids in her hair as she kicked a ball around, smiling.

“So?”

Silence was all Sam needed to understand.

“Oh! You like her, huh?”

“Shhh!” Jacob cringed.

“Why didn’t you say so earlier? I’m great with girls.” He said quietly with a smirk.

“Like Counselor Y/N?”

“Shut up,” Sam looked away. “Go talk to her.”

“And say what?”

“I dunno. You like her shirt, or somethin’. Or- better option: show her your killer Gaga skills. That’ll impress her.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, man. Go.” Sam swatted Jacob away with his hand, pushing towards the game, smiling as he laid back down for some peace and quiet. Finally.

“AHHHHH!” Sam sat up immediately when he heard an ear-piercing scream. Wincing at the volume. As he whipped his head around, he saw little Emma on the ground, clutching her face. Sobbing. He also saw Jacob with the purest look of terror in his eyes, and a ball right beside Emma.

“Oh my god! Emma! Are you okay?” You shout, looking up from your magazine. You run to her, kneeling down to her to assess the damage.

“I’m so sorry!” Jacob cried. “I- I didn’t mean to!”

Sam came over, grabbing Jacob by the shoulders.

“Way to fumble the bag, dude.” Sam whispered in his ear. He nodded to you and Emma. “Is she ok?”

Emma moved her hands from her face. Blood gushed from her nose.

“Fuck,” Sam mumbled under his breath.

You turned to Sam, not recognizing him until now because of the chaos. “Uh. Yeah. Just gotta go to the infirmary.” You turn back to Emma, one of your campers, with a face full of pity.

“Can you walk, bug?” Emma responded with loud, inconsolable wailing. You just nod, stand, and pull Emma up in your arms, her head dangling over your shoulder. Blood was getting all over your shirt.

Sam and his camper watched in horror as you walked Emma to the infirmary. Then, the lunch bell rang.

Emma was fine. Some Kleenex, ice, and a sucker was all she needed before you walked her to the dining hall with a smile on her face. But before she could run to her friends, you two were stopped. Sam and Jacob stood awkwardly, but Sam nudged Jacob and he spoke.

“E-Emma. I’m really sorry I kicked the ball in your face. I didn’t mean to. Sorry.” Jacob then handed her a handful of picked dandelions that he was hiding behind his back. “These are for you.”

Sam whispered something in Jacob’s ear.

“And I like your shirt.”

Emma smiled gently and took the yellow flowers. “Thanks.” She said shyly. “Do you wanna sit together?”

Jacob turned to Sam beaming with pride.

“Go get ‘em tiger.” He said with a push. With that, Emma and Jacob ran off to the other side of the dining hall.

You looked up at Sam, smiling confusedly.

“The apology was his idea,” he blurted. “I just thought the flowers might sweeten the deal.” Dandelions are actually weeds, you thought. You kept that to yourself.

“That was sweet, Sam. Thank you.” You smile.

He just nodded curtly and slipped away into the buzzing crowd of people.

What a mystery of a guy, you thought.

#anakin skywalker #hayden christensen #anakin x reader #fem reader #camp counselor #fluff #sam monroe #life as a house #cute #star wars #revenge of the sith #fanfic

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earthtoharlow · 3 days ago

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HIT THE LIGHTS

Sequel to Flashing Lights series, must read Flashing Lights & Don’t Like The Lights first to understand

Series Masterlist

1. I Didn’t Mean to Fall in Love

Maryse stirred awake, stretching her arms above her head before turning over to face Jack, who had gotten home late the night before from a business trip in New York.

She blinked sleepily at him, ready to say good morning, but before she could, he pulled her closer, a sly grin on his face.

He gently placed a finger to her lips and whispered, “Do you hear that?”

Maryse frowned slightly, her ears straining to catch whatever sound he was talking about. “Hear what?” she whispered back.

He leaned in, his voice low. “Exactly. The babies are still asleep for once.”

Her eyes widened as realization dawned, and she let out a soft laugh. “Wait… no crying? No babbling? No toys getting thrown?”

“Not a peep,” he said, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “It’s like a miracle. A small, peaceful miracle.”

Maryse giggled, burying her face in his chest. “Don’t jinx it. They’ll probably be up any minute now.”

Jack laughed quietly, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “You’re probably right. But for now, let’s enjoy the silence. It’s rare these days.”

She hummed in agreement, nuzzling closer to him. Jack grinned, pulling her even closer as he rested his chin on top of her head. “You know, you could just skip that meeting and that interview today and stay in bed with me all day. Like we used to. No meetings, no emails—just us.”

Maryse laughed softly, tilting her head back to look at him. “Oh, yeah? And what about the twins? You think they’re just gonna let us lounge around like we’re on vacation?”

He shrugged with a smirk. “They’re still asleep. We’ve got at least… fifteen more minutes of peace. Maybe twenty if we’re lucky.”

She raised an eyebrow. “And when they wake up screaming for breakfast, then what?”

He leaned down, brushing his lips against hers. “Then I’ll handle it. Diapers, bottles, the works. You just stay here and relax.”

Maryse laughed again, shaking her head. “You really think we can just pretend we’re not parents for a day?”

“Why not?” he said with mock seriousness. “I’m pretty sure they owe us for all those sleepless nights.”

She playfully swatted his chest. “You’re impossible. I can’t skip the meeting or that interview, and you know it.”

He sighed dramatically, flopping onto his back like a kid who didn’t get his way. “Fine. Go be responsible and productive. But I’m telling you, one of these days, you’re skipping everything, and we’re staying in bed all day. No excuses.”

Maryse leaned over and kissed his cheek. “Deal. But until then, welcome to parenthood baby daddy.”

She started to stretch again, she paused and turned to him, resting her head on her hand. “How was your meeting yesterday? You didn’t say much about it last night.”

Jack shrugged, his fingers absentmindedly tracing circles on her arm. “It was good. We talked about the next era, ideas, plans. I’m excited… but I don’t know. I feel like I’ve made some great music, but I still don’t think I’ve dropped anything incredible yet. You know, something that no one can argue about.”

She frowned slightly, shifting closer to him. “What are you talking about? People love your music. You’ve had plenty of hits. Why are you so hard on yourself?”

He sighed, staring up at the ceiling. “I’m proud of everything I’ve done. I really am. But there’s always that little voice in the back of my head saying, ‘You can do better.’ I want the next era to be undeniable. Like, no debate—it’s legendary.”

Maryse reached out, cupping his cheek and turning his face toward her. “You’re already legendary to me. And I know whatever you do next will be incredible because you don’t settle for anything less.”

He smiled softly, leaning into her touch. “Thanks, babe. That means a lot.”

She smirked, brushing her thumb over his cheek. “Now, since I’ve boosted your ego, you can get up and make me tea before I have to get ready.”

He chuckled, pulling her into a quick kiss. “Anything for my number one fan.”

****

After getting showered and dressed, Maryse heard the unmistakable sounds of childish screams and giggles echoing from the kitchen. She smiled to herself, knowing the twins were up and in full swing, and Jack was likely handling their breakfast routine.

When she walked downstairs, her heart melted at the scene before her. London was bouncing happily in her baby bouncer, squealing every time she swung forward. Across the room, Jack was seated at the kitchen table with Noah on his lap. Noah was holding a slice of apple in his tiny hands, gnawing at it while Jack rapped quietly to himself, his phone in one hand as he quickly typed lyrics with his free fingers.

Maryse leaned against the doorway, soaking it all in. The sound of Noah’s laughter and London’s squeals, coupled with the soft cadence of Jack’s voice, filled the kitchen with a warmth she adored. Mornings like this were loud and chaotic, but they were everything to her. She almost didn’t want to leave for her meeting.

Jack glanced up from his phone and caught her watching. He gave her a lopsided grin, his voice softening. “You just gonna stand there and stare, or you gonna come say good morning?”

She walked over, pressing a kiss to Noah’s chubby cheek before running a hand through Jack’s hair. “Good morning, my favorite boys. What’s on the breakfast menu today?”

Jack laughed, nodding toward the half-empty plate of apple slices as Maryse walked over to London to give her kisses. “Apples and vibes. We’re keeping it simple.”

Maryse shook her head with a laugh. “I almost don’t want to leave.”

Jack raised an eyebrow, his grin turning mischievous. “Then don’t. I told you, skip the meeting.”

She giggled, kissing his forehead before slipping on her blazer. “Tempting. But duty calls.”

Maryse gave herself one last look in the mirror when she noticed London in the background, who was still bouncing around when something caught her eye—the tiny shoes on her feet.

Her eyes widen as she takes in the shoes: they’re miniature versions of the New Balance sneakers Jack recently designed. She crouches down and gently lifts London’s tiny foot to get a better look, her heart melting at the sight.

“Jack, when did you get these?” she asked him, her voice tinged with surprise.

He looks up from his phone, grinning. “I had them made a couple weeks ago. Wanted the twins to be rocking the best, you know?”

Maryse shakes her head with a laugh, her eyes still glued to the tiny sneakers. “They’re so adorable. I can’t believe you didn’t tell me.”

“I wanted it to be a surprise,” he says with a shrug, leaning back against the kitchen chair. “Look at them, though. Don’t they look fly?”

“They do,” she agrees, her voice softening as she gazes at her children. “Too cute for their own good.”

She leans in and kisses London on the cheek, then ruffles Noah’s hair before standing up. “Alright, I really have to go now, or I’m going to be late.”

Jack watches her grab her bag, a playful grin on his face. “Last chance to stay here with us today

Maryse rolls her eyes with a smile as she heads toward the door. “I’ll be back soon.”

***

Maryse was in the bathroom stall, changing her outfit after she spilled tea on the shirt right before her video interview with The Breakfast Club. The door swung open, and two women walked in, their voices bouncing off the tiled walls.

“I just don’t get it,” one of them said, her tone dripping with judgment. “Have you noticed he never posts the kids’ faces? That’s probably because he’s embarrassed.”

Maryse’s heart dropped, and her grip on her bag tightened.

“Exactly,” the other woman chimed in. “I mean, he’s this huge rapper, and now he’s stuck with twins? He’s probably second-guessing everything. Honestly, I wouldn’t blame him. She’s the one who trapped him.”

She shook her head in disbelief, her jaw clenching as their cruel words filled the small space. She knew exactly why she and Jack didn’t post the twins’ faces—it was to protect them from people like this. People who were so judgmental, invasive, and downright rude.

“And the thing is,” the first woman continued, lowering her voice, “it’s not like she’s some stay-at-home mom. She’s always off doing something. Does she even spend time with them?”

“I don’t know,” the second replied with a sarcastic laugh. “Maybe that’s why he doesn’t seem in any rush to marry her. Can you imagine all the baggage she’s bringing?”

Maryse bit her lip, willing herself not to react. She refused to give them the satisfaction of knowing they had gotten under her skin.

When the women finally left, their laughter echoing behind them, Maryse stepped out of the stall and stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her face was full of frustration and hurt, but mostly anger. She freshened up her makeup, trying to shake off their cruel words.

She reminded herself of why they made the choices they did—to protect their babies from this exact type of negativity. And while she knew it in her heart, it still stung to hear strangers twist their lives into such ugly narratives.

As she stepped out of the bathroom, her manager, CoCo was waiting just outside, scrolling through her phone. When she glanced up and saw Maryse’s face, her expression shifted immediately.

“Are you okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” her manager said, concern etched into her tone.

Maryse forced a small smile, hoping it would be convincing. “I’m fine. Just… a lot on my mind, I guess.”

Her manager gave her a skeptical look but didn’t push. “Alright. Well, the room’s ready for your interview. You sure you’re good to go?”

Maryse nodded quickly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “Yeah, let’s do it.”

As they walked toward the empty office room, she focused on steadying her breathing and keeping her emotions in check. She didn’t want CoCo—or anyone else—to sense how rattled she was by what she’d overheard.

She watched as CoCo set up her laptop on the desk, glancing at the clock. The interview with The Breakfast Club was about to start. Taking a deep breath, she adjusted the camera angle, brushed her hair back, and tried to focus.

The hosts greeted her warmly as the video feed connected. “We’ve got Maryse Monet in the building—or, well, virtually, but you get the idea,” Charlamagne said with a grin.

Maryse smiled, offering her own warm greeting, though the hurt from earlier still simmered under the surface. They started with lighthearted topics—her music, her kids, and balancing work with motherhood.

But then Charlamagne shifted gears. “So, there’s been a lot of chatter online lately about you and Jack Harlow,” he began, his tone slightly more serious. “Specifically, people talking about the fact that y’all have two kids but no ring yet. What’s your take on that?”

Her heart sank. It was almost as if he’d been in the bathroom earlier. For a split second, she considered brushing it off, but she knew she couldn’t let the narrative continue without addressing it.

Sitting up straighter, she kept her voice calm but firm. “You know, I think people are way too invested in things that have absolutely nothing to do with them,” she said evenly. “My business with Jack is just that—our business. We’re both happy, we’re both blessed, and we’re raising two amazing kids together. That’s all that matters.”

DJ Envy nodded in agreement. “That’s a great perspective. Social media really does have a way of making people feel entitled to your personal life.”

“Exactly,” Maryse replied. “We’ve got a beautiful life, and we’re doing things on our own terms. People should focus on their own happiness instead of worrying about ours.”

As the interview progressed, Jess Hilarious leaned forward with a mischievous glint in her eye. “Alright, so you said it’s your business, and I respect that. But I gotta ask—have you and Jack talked about marriage? You guys have been together for three years now..”

Maryse paused, her heart skipping a beat. Of course, Jess had to be messy—it was her signature style. She took a slow, calming breath, refusing to let the question rattle her.

“Jess, you’re really good at asking the questions no one should be asking,” she said with a playful but pointed smile. “But honestly, we talk about a lot of things. What we decide to do about marriage—or anything else—is between us. We’ve built a beautiful life together, and that’s what’s important.”

DJ Envy chimed in, trying to diffuse the moment. “I mean, two kids and two amazing careers. That’s as solid as it gets.”

“Exactly,” Maryse said, nodding. “We’re building something real, and we don’t feel the need to rush into anything just because people think we should. What matters is that we’re happy, and our kids are loved.”

Jess raised his hands in mock surrender. “Fair enough, fair enough. Just had to ask!”

Maryse laughed softly, her calm demeanor unwavering. “Well, there’s your answer. You and fans can stop speculating now.”

The conversation shifts back to lighter topics, but as the interview ends and she logs off, Maryse takes a moment to exhale deeply. It wasn’t easy keeping her emotions in check, but she feels proud of how she handled it.

CoCo stepped over, shaking her head in frustration.

“I swear, I hate The Breakfast Club sometimes,” she said, crossing her arms. “They’re so invasive, always fishing for drama. But you—you handled it perfectly. Seriously, you answered those questions like a pro.”

Maryse gave a small smile, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Learned from the best,” she murmured, standing up and gathering her things.

CoCo’s expression softened as she looked at her. “You sure you’re okay? You’ve been a little off today.”

She hesitated, her hand tightening around the strap of her bag. “Yeah, I’m good,” she said with a forced lightness. “Just tired, I guess. It’s been a long day.”

CoCo didn’t seem entirely convinced but decided not to press. “Alright. Just let me know if you need anything, okay?”

Maryse nodded, offering a quick smile before heading out. As she walked to her car, the weight of the day finally started to settle on her shoulders.

***

While Maryse was gone, Jack was at home with the twins when his phone buzzed. Seeing his mom’s name on the screen, he smiled and answered.

“Hey, Ma,” he greeted, balancing London on his hip as Noah sat nearby, playing with a stack of blocks.

“Hey, baby,” she replied warmly. “Just calling to check on you and my grandbabies. How are they?”

“They’re good. London’s all clingy today, and Noah’s tearing through these blocks like a little bulldozer,” he said, chuckling as London babbled in his ear.

“Sounds about right,” she laughed before her tone shifted. “So… when are you going to marry that girl, Jack?”

Jack nearly dropped the phone. “Whoa, Mom, where’d that come from?”

“Don’t play dumb,” she said, her voice light but firm. “I know you two are happy, but you’ve got two babies together now. What are you waiting for? She’s been more than patient, and you know she deserves it.”

He sighed, setting London down gently next to her brother. “It’s not that simple, Mom. I’m trying to make sure everything’s right—our lives, our careers, everything. I want to give her the world when that time comes, not just a ring.”

His mom wasn’t letting up. “Jack, that girl loves you, and she doesn’t care about all the flashy stuff. She just wants you. You’re not waiting for things to be perfect, are you? Because life is never going to be perfect.”

He rubbed the back of his neck, leaning against the counter. “I hear you, Ma. I really do. And trust me, I think about it all the time. I just…” He trailed off, trying to find the right words.

“You’re scared,” his mom said knowingly.

Jack didn’t reply right away, but her words hit home.

“Listen,” she continued. “You’re already living like you’re married. You’ve got your little family, and she’s out here holding you down. Don’t let fear stop you from doing what you know in your heart is right.”

He nodded, even though she couldn’t see him. “I get it, Ma. I’ll figure it out.”

“Okay son, I’m not telling you what to do. Just want to give you something to think about.”

“I know.”

“Good,” she replied. “Now go kiss those babies and think about what I said.”

“I will, Ma. Love you.”

“Love you too, baby.”

As he hung up, Jack glanced at the twins, who were now playing together. His mom’s words echoed in his mind, stirring emotions he wasn’t quite ready to unpack. But one thing was clear—he needed to start seriously thinking about the next step.

Do I really need to rush into this? he thought, running a hand through his hair. He kind of liked the way things were now—comfortable, happy, and stable. They had a rhythm, even if it wasn’t always perfect. He and Maryse were building something solid, raising two amazing kids, and balancing their careers. Did they really need to add the pressure of a wedding to all of that?

Of course, he wanted to marry her—one day. He gave her a promise ring for Christ’s sake. But was now the right time? Between juggling music, parenting, and their lives being constantly under public scrutiny, he wondered if Maryse even wanted to get married right now. Maybe she was just as happy with how things were.

She’d never pressured him or dropped hints, and they’d never had a serious conversation about it since having Noah and London.

As he sank deeper into his thoughts, he felt a block hit his lower leg. Turning around, he saw both Noah and London giggling mischievously, clearly proud of themselves, and he couldn’t help but smile despite the sting.

“Alright, alright, I get it. No overthinking,” he said, getting down on the floor with them, both of them crawled towards him immediately. Noah reached him first, reaching up to grab his face this time, and he held him close, thinking about how lucky he was to have this life. Maybe his mom was right—life didn’t have to be perfect to take the next step. But for now, he decided to let the idea sit, focusing instead on the moment in front of him.

The rest of the day went by smoothly. By the time Maryse came home, the twins were fed, bathed, and put to bed with a little teamwork. Jack felt a sense of peace settling over the house, but as the quiet evening stretched on, he realized Maryse had disappeared.

Curious, he wandered through their home, checking room by room until he heard the soft, melodic sound of the piano drifting from the music room. He stopped in his tracks, drawn in by the familiar voice singing a song he hadn’t heard before.

I didn't mean to fall in love

Now that I need you, baby

Tell me we'll never be apart

Leaning against the doorframe, Jack watched her. She was seated at the piano, her fingers moving gracefully over the keys as she poured her heart into the lyrics. Her voice was raw, full of emotion, and he felt every word as though she were speaking directly to him.

He didn’t say anything, not wanting to interrupt the moment. Instead, he crossed his arms and stayed quiet, letting the song wash over him. It was rare for him to see her this vulnerable—just her and the music, unfiltered and honest.

Jack’s gaze dropped to her hands on the keys. That’s when he noticed it—the promise ring, back on her finger. She’d worn it as a necklace during her pregnancy when her fingers were too swollen, but now it was back where it belonged. The sight stirred something in him, the faintest twinge of guilt for the thoughts that had been weighing on him all day.

When she finished, her hands lingered on the keys, the final note fading into the room. She looked up and noticed him standing there, his face unreadable.

“Didn’t mean to eavesdrop,” he said softly, pushing off the doorframe. “What was that?”

Maryse shrugged, her lips curving into a small, almost shy smile. “Just something I’ve been working on.”

“It’s beautiful,” he said, stepping closer. “You okay?”

Her eyes flicked to the piano keys for a moment before meeting his gaze. “Yeah. Just had some things on my mind.”

“Do you wanna talk about it?”

She hesitated, then leaned into him. “Maybe. Later.”

He pressed a kiss to her temple. “Take your time. I’m here.”

Jack’s arm stayed draped over her shoulders, his thumb absentmindedly tracing patterns on her sleeve. He leaned in, pressing a kiss to her shoulder. “I missed you today,” he murmured, his voice low and warm.

Maryse tilted her head, a small smile tugging at her lips. “I missed you too.”

He nuzzled closer, his lips brushing her ear as he added, “How about we go to bed, my Kentucky bad girl?”

She froze for a second before bursting into laughter, wrinkling her nose in playful disgust. She pushed his shoulder lightly. “Please don’t ever say that again.”

He grinned, amused by her reaction. “What? You don’t like it?”

She shook her head, still giggling. “Absolutely not. I’m a New Yorker at heart, remember? No ‘Kentucky bad girl’ nonsense for me.”

Jack threw his head back with a chuckle, clearly enjoying himself. “Alright, alright. I won’t say it again. But you can’t deny you’ve got a little Kentucky in you now.”

She rolled her eyes, standing up from the piano bench and stretching. “Unfortunately.”

Jack immediately pinched her sides making her giggle pulling her back down for a quick kiss.

“Let’s call it a night.”

She smiled, letting him lead her toward their room.

Hours later Maryse laid awake in bed, the soft sound of Jack’s breathing steady beside her as he slept peacefully. She scrolled through her phone, reading the flood of comments from her interview earlier.

While some were supportive, praising her for standing her ground and protecting her privacy, others weren’t as kind.

“She’s just gonna be his baby mama forever.”

“That promise ring? Just a way to keep her quiet.”

“He doesn’t actually want to marry her—if he did, he would’ve done it by now.”

Her chest tightened as she read comment after comment, the words cutting deeper than she wanted to admit. She turned off her phone and set it on the nightstand, staring up at the ceiling.

The weight of the comments clung to her, making her question things she hadn’t doubted before. Did people really see her like that? Did they think her relationship wasn’t enough just because they weren’t married yet?

She glanced at Jack, his face relaxed in sleep, and thought about how much love he showed her and the kids every day. She knew their relationship was strong, but the doubts stirred by strangers still lingered in her mind.

She sighed softly, shifting onto her side and pulling the blanket tighter around her. “Fuck it,” she thought.

“Why should I care what strangers think?” she whispered to herself, though the question felt hollow.

Maryse picked her phone back up and scrolled her camera roll finding the photos Urban took of them after she got home from the hospital.

Her finger hovered over the “post” button for a moment, and then she whispered, “Yeah, Fuck it.”

LIFEOFMONET

liked by urbanwyatt, chloebailey, druski, latto, torikelly, saweetie, and 856,789 others

LifeOfMonet: my whole entire world

liked by 10,577 comments

user: ahhhhhhh

Latto: BIG MAMA FR 😍

user: they’re so little 🥹

user: who cares where’s the music

user: Maryse were you even in the room they look just like Jack

saweetie: AUNTIES BABIES!!!! 😍

user: finally showing their face lol

user: we gotta get you a ring next girl

dojacat: hot mom era

As soon as the post went up, she immediately felt guilty she knew she should’ve discussed it with Jack first—they’d agreed to keep the kids off social media for the most part—but something in her needed to push back against the negativity.

Sliding her phone onto the nightstand, she settled back into bed, telling herself she’d deal with the fallout tomorrow.

The next morning, Jack woke up early, lying in bed with his arm draped across Maryse’s waist as she slept. He reached for his phone, and called Urban who picked up almost immediately.

“Yo, what’s up?” Urban said.

“I was thinking,” Jack began, his voice low so he didn’t wake Maryse. “I wanna take a trip to New York to shoot a video for this freestyle I’ve been working on…”

“You already know I’m in,” Urban replied. “When you thinking of heading out?”

“Soon, maybe next week. I just—”

“Aw, Maryse finally posted that photoshoot I did of her and the twins, huh?” Urban interrupted, chuckling.

Jack furrowed his brow, sitting up straighter. “What’re you talking about?”

“The one we did after the twins were born,” Urban clarified. “You didn’t see? It’s all over my feed. She posted it last night.”

Jack’s jaw tightened slightly as he quickly opened Instagram. Sure enough, Maryse’s post was there, front and center: the photo of her holding the twins.

He stared at the post for a moment, his emotions conflicted. On one hand, the picture was beautiful, he had that exact photo as his screensaver since Urban sent it to him. On the other, they had agreed to be cautious about sharing too much of their kids online.

“Yeah, I see it,” he finally said.

“That shot of her and the twins is adorable,” Urban added.

“Yeah… it is,” Jack admitted, his voice softer.

He hung up a few minutes later and laid there, phone still in hand, staring at the photo. He knew Maryse must’ve been feeling some type of way to go against their usual decision. With a sigh, he leaned over and gently kissed her temple, whispering, “You’re gonna make me work hard to stay mad at you, aren’t you?”

Maryse stirred awake, feeling Jack’s gaze on her. She opened one eye and saw him looking down at her, his face relaxed, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.

“What a beautiful sight to wake up to in the morning,” she joked, her voice groggy as she stretched.

Jack chuckled. “You don’t sound so sure.”

She laughed softly and leaned up to give him a kiss, her hand resting on his chest. “Good morning to you too.”

He smiled against her lips, pulling her closer for another quick peck before leaning back slightly. “So… how’d the meeting go yesterday? We didn’t get to talk about it.”

Her stomach tightened at the question, but she forced a small smile and nodded. “It was fine. Nothing crazy, just the usual.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Fine, huh?”

“Yep, totally fine,” she said, her voice a little too cheerful.

“Uh-huh,” he replied, his tone skeptical. He let it hang for a beat before adding casually, “Oh yeah? So why’d you post the twins last night?”

Maryse froze for a moment, her lips parting in surprise before she let out an exaggerated yawn and turned over. “Hmm? I’m sorry, I think I’m still asleep. Can’t hear you.”

Jack laughed, shaking his head. “Oh, so now you’re asleep, huh?”

She didn’t respond, burying her face into the pillow dramatically.

He leaned over and pinched her sides, making her yelp and squirm away. “Answer me!”

“Okay, okay!” she squealed, swatting at his hands. “I just… felt like posting it, that’s all.”

He gave her a look, clearly not buying it. “At two in the morning?”

She sighed, sitting up and running a hand through her messy hair. “I don’t know. I was in my feelings or something. Can we just leave it at that?”

Jack studied her face for a moment, his expression softening. “You sure that’s all it was?”

She nodded, her smile small but genuine. “Yeah, I promise.”

“Alright,” he said, leaning over to kiss her forehead. “But next time, just talk to me before you post something like that, okay?”

“Okay,” she murmured, leaning her head on his shoulder.

“Good, ’cause now the whole world knows how cute our kids are,” he said with a grin, making her laugh softly as the tension eased between them.

“And I know you’re not telling me the whole truth,” he said gently.

Maryse’s heart skipped a beat, but she kept her face neutral, avoiding his eyes.

“I’m not gonna push you,” he continued, his tone reassuring.

A small smile tugged at her lips despite the knot in her chest. “Okay,” she murmured.

Maryse couldn’t ignore the guilt tugging at her heart. This man loved her so deeply, so unconditionally, and yet here she was, lying to him—keeping something that clearly affected her bottled up.

She thought back to the incident in the bathroom and the interview right after. She knew she should probably tell him, let him in on what had her feeling so unsettled. But every time she thought about it, the words of those women replayed in her head, stoking her insecurities.

What if he thought she was pressuring him to marry her? What if he thought she cared too much about what people said? She didn’t want to seem weak or like the comments had shaken her. And the last thing she wanted was for him to think she didn’t trust his love.

Her fingers absentmindedly traced the promise ring on her hand as she wrestled with her thoughts.

She looked up at him and managed a small smile. “I love you.”

He smiled back, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Thank God. ‘Cause I love you more than anything.”

She nodded, holding onto his words, even as her inner turmoil continued to churn. She wasn’t ready to tell him yet, but she knew deep down that she couldn’t keep it from him forever.

***

AN: Flashing Lights is officially a trilogy crazyyyyy!! Tell me what you think and thank you for reading

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