#but yeah y'all gotta take a step back for a hot moment

[gnometa233]

Possible Hot Take but most people's problem's with gender as a whole would be gone the minute the majority of the world population gets rid of gender roles and sexism. Lol

[universalitgirlsblog2]

🧁🍥SONGS FOR SELF-CONCEPT/SELF-LOVE🍥🧁

🧁ME TOO BY MEGHAN TRAINOR

" If I was you,I'd wanna be me too"

🍥7 RINGS BY ARIANA GRANDE

" I see it , I like , I want it , I got it "

🧁I AM THE BEST BY 2NE1

" I am the best "

" Who? You are better than me ? No No No na na na"

" I am hot hot hot hot like fire "

🍥FANCY BY IGGY AZALEA AND CHARLI XCX

" I am so fancy "

🧁ESPRESSO BY SABRINA CARPENTER

" I can't relate to desperation "

" My " give a f**ks" are on a vacation"

" Walked in and dream came trued it for you"

🍥IT GIRL BY ALIYAH INTERLUDE

" I-T G-I-R-L , You know I am that girl "

" While y'all busy hating, I am flying across the country "

🧁YES AND BY ARIANA GRANDE

" My tongue is sacred, I speak upon what I like "

" Yes and ? "

🍥I AM BY BABY TATE FT FLO MILLI

"I am healthy, I am wealthy, I am rich, I am that ,I am gonna go get that bag and I am not gonna take your s-"

" I am protected, well respected, I'm a queen, I'm a dream I do what I wanna do and I'm who I wanna be 'Cause I am me"

🧁HEY , MICKY BY BABY TATE

" Oh, Mickey, you're so fine! So fine, you blow my mind,Oh, Mickey, you're so fine! So fine"

🍥ON A ROLL BY MILEY CYRUS/ ASHLEY O

" Hey, yeah, whoa-ho, I'm on a roll , Ridin' so high, achieving my goals"

🧁QUEENCARD BY G-IDLE

" Queencard, I am hot , my boob and booty is hot"

" I am a star,star , star "

"Look so cool, look so sexy like Kim Kardashian Look so cute, look so pretty like Ariana"

🍥AFTER THE STORM BY KALI UCHIS

"Whatever goes around eventually comes back to you So you gotta be careful, baby"

" But everybody's gotta go on , Don't they? (Yes, we do, baby), So if you need a hero (if you need a hero) , Just look in the mirror (just look in the mirror) No one's gonna save you now,So you better save yourself"

" But you just can't give up now, 'Cause you gotta save yourself"

🧁FEARLESS BY LE SSERAFIM

"I'm fearless a new bitch, new crazy climbing up, next one"

" If my scars are a part of me, I got no fear, no fear"

🍥BORN TO BE SOMEBODY BY JUSTIN BIEBER

" I was born to be somebody, Ain't nothing that's ever gonna stop me,I'll light up the sky like lighting,I'm gonna rise above,Show 'em what I'm made of,I was born to be somebody,I was born to be, And this world will belong to me"

" Feel it , believe it , Dream it ,be it "

🧁KNOW YOUR WORTH BY KHALID

" Find someone you know will put you first ,Find someone who loves you at your worst"

" Gotta keep, gotta keep, gotta keep your head up"

🍥WATCH ME SHINE BY JOANNA PACITTI FROM LEGALLY BLONDE

"I will prove I can conquer anything,So from my head to toe I'm taking full control"

" Better watch out,Going for the knockout,And I won't stop,Till I'm on top now,Not gonna give up,Until I get what's mine,Better check that I'm about to upset,And I'm hot now,So you better step back,I'm taking over,So watch me shine"

🧁WHO SAYS BY SELENA GOMEZ

"Who says, who says you're not perfect?Who says you're not worth it?"

" Who says you don't pass the test?Who says you can't be the best?Who said, who said?Won't you tell me who said that?Yeah, who said?"

🍥DANGEROUS WOMAN BY ARIANA GRANDE

"Don't need permission,Made my decision to test my limits'Cause it's my business, God as my witnessStart what I finished,Don't need no hold up,Taking control of this kind of moment"

" Somethin' 'bout you,Makes me feel like a dangerous woman"

" Nothin' to prove and I'm bulletproof andKnow what I'm doing"

🧁LOOKING AT ME BY SABRINA CARPENTER

" If you think they're looking at you,They're looking at me"

🍥FASHION BY BRITNEY MANSON

"She's so gorgeous, she's successful "

" Style icon, size zero,And my boots from Valentino,I'm a self-made runway queen,And my dad is Alexander McQueen"

🧁LOVE DIVE BY IVE

" Narcissistic, my God, I love it"

🍥TOMBOY BY DESTINY ROGERS

" I'm a girl's girl, I'm a boss in a man's world"

" My mama said, "Marry a rich man" ,And I was like, "Mama, I am that rich man"

🧁LOOK AT HER BY SELENA GOMEZ

" Of course she was sad,But now she's glad she dodged a bullet"

🍥KILLSHOT BY MAGDALENA BAY

" Can you make my heart stop, Hit me with your kill shot baby"

🧁CONFIDENT BY JUSTIN BIEBER

"She's got my attention, she's confident"

🍥GO HARD BY TWICE

" We just go hard,We just go hard till we see the light"

" Even if the waves hit and sprinkle thorns, I'm the winner in the end,Even if you shake and push me, I'm unbreakable,My opponent is Woman in the mirror,I told you no matter how much the world tries to put me down,You make me feel special"

🧁PROMISCUOUS BY NELLY FURTADO

" I want you on my team,So does everybody else"

🍥UNSTOPPABLE BY SIA

" I put my armor on, show you how strong I am,I put my armor on, I'll show you that I am"

" I'm unstoppable,I'm a Porsche with no brakes,I'm invincible,Yeah, I win every single game,I'm so powerful,I don't need batteries to play,I'm so confident,Yeah, I'm unstoppable today"

🧁GOD IS A WOMAN BY ARIANA GRANDE

"When all is said and done,You'll believe God is a woman"

🍥TELL ME SOMETHING I DON'T KNOW BY SELENA GOMEZ

"Everybody tells me that it's so hard to make it It's so hard to break in, there's no way to fake itEverybody tells me that it's wrong what I'm feelin'I shouldn't believe in the dreams that I'm dreamin'I hear it every dayI hear it all the timeI'm never gonna amount to muchBut they're never gonna change my mind, noTell me, tell me, tell me something I don't know"

"I'm on my way,I know I'm gonna get there someday,It doesn't help when you say, "It won't be easy"

🧁ANTIFRAGILE BY LE SSERAFIM

" Riding over the trail of thorns,You made me boost up "

" Walk like a majestic lion,Eyes glinting with so much desire "

" I'll climb higher,Top of the world I itched for ,No biggie if I were to fallI'm antifragile, antifragile "

🍥I WANT IT ALL BY ASHLEY TISDALE FROM HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL

"Imagine having everything we ever dreamed"

" You've gotta believe it"

" Bigger is better And better is bigger?"

"You've got to have your star on the door,You want the world, nothing less,All the glam and the press,Only giving you the best reviews"

🧁OBSESSED BY MARIAH CAREY

"And I was like, "Why you so obsessed with me?"

🍥KINARE BY MOHAN KINNAN FROM QUEEN

" Even if all the boatmen together become strangers to us(that is, even if everyone turns against us)Then we will become oars ourselvesand cross (the sea) on our own"

"Why others, we'll ask ourselves only,about the path to followWe'll find it here somewherein the waves only"

🧁SUE ME BY SABRINA CARPENTER

"So sue me, For looking too pretty tonight"

" But I'm not gonna dull myself because you dull yourself"

" Feelin' myself can't be illegal, illegal"

🍥SUCCESSFUL BY ARIANA GRANDE

" Yeah, it feels so good to be so young,And have this fun and be successful, yeah,I'm so successful, yeah"

🧁I AM BY IVE

"That's my life is a beautiful galaxy, Be a writer, the genre is fantasy"

🍥ECOUTE CHERIE BY VENDREDI SUR MER

"Écoute chérie"

I don't know about lyrics but I like vibe of the song !

🧁GIVE IT TO ME BY NELLY FURTADO AND TIMBALAND

" I'm the Wonder Woman, let me go get my rope,I'm a supermodel and mommy, sí, mami"

🍥THE HYDRA BY LE SSERAFIM

" Do you think I am Fragile?"

"I am not afraid of storms,For I am learning how to sail my ship"

🧁CHERI CHERI LADY BY MODERN TALKING

I LOVE THE VIBE OF THIS SONG !!

🍥ECSTACY BY SUICIDAL IDOL

This song vibe reminds me of those mog edits lmao , you can listen to this song to upgrade your beauty self-concept!

🧁BARBIE GIRL BY AQUA

" Imagination, life is your creation"

🍥DANCE THE NIGHT BY DUA LIPA FROM BARBIE MOVIE

" Diamonds under my eyes"

🧁JUST LIKE MAGIC BY ARIANA GRANDE

"Manifest it (yeah), I finessed it (I finessed it)"

"Just like magic ,I'm attractive ,I get everything I want 'cause I attract it"

🍥16 SHOTS BY STEFFLON DON

AGAIN THIS SONG MAKES ME FEEL LIKE A BAD BITCH !!

🧁COPINES BY AKAMURA

I LOVE THE VIBE OF THIS SONG !!!

🍥MY SATISFACTION BY IVE

"I'm just in love with myself,Crush on me "

"I'm sure of myself every moment,I'm more confident than scared,I'm unaware about fear,I hope you and I will always shine"

"Trust me more than anyone else ,I make myself shine "

"Love myself so that I don't lose myself,I don't mind such prejudice that never end,I'm satisfied with myself reflected in your eyes"

"I'm my own wannabe,I'm a masterpiece for me"

"The confidence in me shines more on me,You always shine on your own,My satisfaction that will make me shine more perfectly"

🧁BEAUTIFUL LIAR BY BEYONCE AND SHAKIRA

It is all about the vibe !!

🍥BABYDOLL BY ARI ABDUL

" Call me babydoll "

This song can help with beauty self-concept.

🧁WASABI BY LITTLE MIX

"Love to hate me, praise me, shame me,Either way you talk about me"

"I'm glad to be your inspiration.Who, baby, who's (guess who?)The topic of your conversation?,I am "

🍥GIMME MORE BY BRITNEY SPEARS

I don't even need to explain this one lol !

🧁LONG WAY TO GO BY CASSIE

GOOD VIBES !!!

🍥QUEEN BY TWICE

"I know what you are,Uh you’re a queen"

"You are the main character,You are the bright one,You’re a queen"

"No matter what anyone says,By yourself,You’re a queen"

🧁IDOL BY BTS FT NICKI MINAJ

"I know what I am (I know what I am),I know what I want (I know what I want),I never gon' change (I never gon' change)I never gon' trade"

"You know I've been a boss for my whole career"

🍥PERFECT DAY BY HOKU FROM LEGALLY BLONDE

"On this perfect day,Nothing's standing in my way,On this perfect day,Where nothing can go wrong"

🧁BOSS BITCH BY DOJA CAT

"I'm the whole damn cake and the cherry on top"

"I'm a bitch and a boss, I'ma shine like gloss"

🍥MALAMENTE BY ROSALIA

I like the vibe of the song !

🧁SHE LOVES CONTROL BY CAMILLA CABELLO

"She doesn't cry anymore, no looking back"

🍥I HAVE GOT MAGIC BY BARBIE

"Life has its dings,Oh, thanks for the wings!"

"It is my fate to be so great!"

🧁BADDIE BY IVE

"I'm a baddie, ba-ba-baddie, baddie,Pretty little risky baddie"

🍥SOLO BY JENNIE

"This time I'm only lookin' at me, myself and I,(I'm goin' solo) I'mma do it on my own now"

"Like the flowing wind,Like the stars above the clouds,I want to go far away, I want to shine brightly"

🧁BARBIE WORLD BY NICKI MINAJ AND ICE SPICE

"All of the Barbies is pretty (damn),All of the Barbies is bad,It girls (It girls) and we ain't playin' tag"

🍥KICK IT BY BLACKPINK

" Never needed nothin' else,Just a lil' love from myself"

🧁CIRCUS BY BRITNEY SPEARS

"Don't like the back seat, gotta be first"

"All eyes on me in the center of the ring just like a circus"

🍥FOCUS BY ARIANA GRANDE

"I know what I came to do,And that ain't gonna change,So go ahead and talk your talk,Cause I won't take the bait,I'm over here doing what I like,I'm over here working day and night"

"Let's find a light inside our universe now,Where ain't nobody keep on holding us down"

🧁ANSWER:LOVE MYSELF BY BTS

"You've shown me I have reasons,I should love myself"

🍥KITSCH BY IVE

"I live the way I want, what more do you want, That's my style

"Who cares if I only do what I like, huh,This ain't your life,Useless thoughts can go away"

🧁MONOPOLY BY ARIANA GRANDE FT VICTORIA MONET

"Bad vibes, get off of me"

"Treat my goals like property,Collect them like Monopoly"

🍥MIKROKOSMOS BY BTS

"You shine brighter than anyone else One"

" Shine , dream , smile "

🧁SHAKE IT OFF BY TAYLOR SWIFT

"And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate,Baby, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake,I shake it off, I shake it off "

🍥SUPERMODEL BY JILL SUBOLE FROM CLUELESS

"When I'm a supermodel,And my hair will shine like the sea,Everyone wants to look like me"

"Cause I'm young and I'm here and so beautiful"

🧁OUTRO: WINGS BY BTS

"I believe in myself,My back hurting is for my wings to come out,I believe in you, even if things are bleak right now,The end will be great"

"I made a decision, I will have unconditional trust"

🍥THAT'S MY GIRL BY FIFTH HARMONY

"You've been down before,You've been hurt before,You got up before,You'll be good to go, good to go,Destiny said it, you got to get up and get it"

"Get mad independent and don't you ever forget it"

🧁MANEATER BY NELLY FURTADO

" You either wanna be with me, or be me"

🍥RICH GIRL BY GWEN STEFANI

"If I was a rich girl,See, I'd have all the money in the world, if I was a wealthy girl,No man could test me, impress me, my cash flow would never ever end,'Cause I'd have all the money in the world, if I was a wealthy girl"

🧁STEP ON UP BY ARIANA GRANDE

"You say I'm sexy,So bad, they should arrest me"

🍥FEELING MYSELF BY NICKI MINAJ AND BEYONCE

"Feelin' myself, I'm feelin' myself, I'm feelin' my"

🧁FABULOUS BY SHARPAY EVANS FROM HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL

"The whole world according to moi"

"All things fabulous,Bigger and better and best"

🍥CONFIDENT BY DEMI LOVATO

"I'm the boss right now"

🧁I'M THAT GIRL BY BEYONCE

"It's not the diamonds, it's not the pearls,I'm that girl, it's just that I'm that girl"

"From the top of the morning, I shine"

🍥PRETTY & RICH BY SASWEETIE

"Y'all study my fashion, it shows in your pics"

"I look better in person, you'll see when we meet"

"I been in my Birkin, I stay on my grind,I stay on my hustle, I stay on your mind"

"Ooh, I'm so perfect, I make them nervous"

"Prettiest out here, that shit for certain"

🧁HARD WHITE BY NICKI MINAJ

"I'm the trophy of the game, everybody tryna win me"

"Uh, I'm who they wishin' to be"

"I'm a prodigy, R.I.P Thun-Thun '

🍥BO$$ BY FIFTH HARMONY

"C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T,That's me, I'm confident"

🧁SUPER LADY BY G-IDLE

"I am the top, super lady"

"Those irresistible eyes are savage, got all qualities of a Queen, The Baddie"

🍥NICE TO MEET YA BY MEGHAN TRAINOR FT NICKI MINAJ

"I am blessed by the Heavens"

"Now I'm givin' myself,Nothing but love"

"Please, no comparisons, 'cause you know they can't"

🧁PERFECT NIGHT BY LE SSERAFIM

"I got all I need, you know nothing else can beat,The way that I feel when I'm dancing with my girls,Perfect energy, yeah, we flawless, yeah, we free,There's no better feeling in the whole wide world"

[theunquenchablethirst]

Hooked (Jerome X Reader)

Ok, so this is a thing. I was kinda surprised nobody had used this scene yet, because the Gotham fandom seem to collectively agree that Jerome is BIG KINKY and yet the one scene where he canonically has people cuffed up and hung from the ceiling... nobody has touched??? Y'all have been sleeping on that scene! It's fanfic gold! Anyway, enjoy the hedonism. Much love xxx

Warning: SMUT, 18+, GRAPHIC SEXUAL CONTENT, BDSM, bondage, cuffs, dom/sub, vaginal fingering, oral sex, biting, spanking, slapping, pussy slapping, light choking, spitting, belt whipping, praise/degradation, marking, mention of scratching, Jerome is big meanie pants mean man

The new mayor of Gotham is having a meeting with his council members, but things take a turn when the Legion of Horribles show up to kidnap them and reader. When the victims are being unloaded from the truck, Jerome Valeska notices reader, because she isn't exactly on the guest list.

Tag list of lovelies: @gabile18 @valeskaduh @fangirl--writes @persephoneblck

Masterlist

I had been working as a housekeeper for the new mayor. It was a good job, but I wasn't appreciated. I was just there to clean and serve when needed. I don't think he even knew my name. I was just hired help to him. To all of them.

He was hosting a dinner for his council that day. I had been placed in the corner of the room with a bottle of expensive wine where I was to wait until wanted. He gestured for me to come forwards and fill their glasses while they started talking about their displeasure with the rising foul play in the city, like it was anything new for Gotham. The chairwoman wanted to know what he was going to do about it. Very little in my opinion. He was just coasting. In too deep over his head. He had been appointed far too fast and everyone knew it. He wasn't going to last.

He made an attempt to save face and talk about how he too was disturbed by the recent goings on and was doing everything he could. Trash, utter trash. As he rose from his seat, the lights fizzled out. I stopped pouring. Had this been any other city I would have assumed it was a simple power outage, but nothing was that simple in Gotham. The security guard closed us in and went to see what was happening. The air turned icy. No, this was not good. Gunshots and screams came from the hallway and everyone rose from the table terrified. We quickly started walking towards a door hoping to make an escape, but there was something about the windows. They were freezing over.

The doors burst open and I dropped the wine. It smashed into pieces as a blueish man in some kind of robotic suit and a weird looking, but huge gun stepped into the room. Was that Victor Fries? Then through the second set of doors another man in a top hat who I recognised as Jervis Tetch burst in with some other strange looking friends.

Before I could comprehend the situation, we were all being cuffed and taken outside. Our kidnappers pushed and pulled us towards a huge truck, all the while the mayor tried to buy his way free. He was showing just how little he really knew about the underbelly of Gotham. I knew just by looking at them that they were probably Arkham escapees and couldn't be bought like a sane man could. They had their own plans and you can't bargain with crazies.

We got to the truck and they opened the back door. My blood ran cold when I saw that standing there waiting for us was Jerome Valeska. Of all the criminals Gotham had seen he had been the only one that had scared me, truly and thoroughly. He didn't have any kind of reason for what he did. He just enjoyed death and chaos. And after his last escapade he looked like madness personified, his scars circling his face and eyes and giving him a permanent evil smile. Dread consumed me as I realized that he was no doubt the leader of this operation and if that was true, we were already dead.

I felt myself jolted forwards. The mayor had pushed me in front of the rest of the council to get whatever was coming first. If I wasn't cuffed, I would have turned around and broke his nose. I was lifted into the truck, my hands were pulled above my head and fixed to two hooks. I had to stand on my toes to keep standing which made it awkward and difficult as they pushed me to the back of the truck.

Was that Penguin? What was he doing here? He didn't belong here. I had gone to Penguin looking for a job in his club when I was 16. He was impressed with my audition, but when he asked my age, he rejected me.

"This establishment is not a playground for children. It's a nightclub." He had told me. At the time I had been steaming mad, but in hindsight he was probably right. Even if he was rude. So, after that, I found it hard to understand why he was here and working with Valeska. Maybe he had been kidnapped too?

The rest of the council were loaded on and hooked. The mayor was still trying to offer them money and pardons. When he saw it wasn't working, he resorted to empty, unintimidating threats. Jerome was completely unfazed and even a little disappointed in the lack of smiles.

"Nobody knows how to have fun anymore, right?" He said putting his arm around Penguin. So, he was a part of this.

Jerome pointed to a scary looking figure dressed like a scarecrow. Johnathan Crane? Crane released some kind of purple gas in the face of a member of a council. She started laughing and convulsing violently.

"What have you got to lose? Except your sanity?" Jerome joined in the crazy laughter. So, this was his plan. He'd figured out a way to forcefully drive everyone insane. With a gas.

I silently prayed to God in my mind for any kind of help.

After sufficiently terrifying us half to death, they left us in the back of truck. None of us could say anything and after a few minutes the truck started moving.

"Is she ok?" I asked looking towards the victim of the insanity gas.

"Who cares?! We have to figure out what they want and get out of here." Replied the mayor.

"Maybe they want publicity for whatever that gas is. Offer them some TV time." Guessed the chairwoman.

"Don't you get it?! This isn't a situation you can buy your way out of!" I snapped, frustrated with their idiocy.

"These aren't normal criminals. They don't want your money. They want chaos and madness." They stood there silently stunned. They had never heard me speak with such confidence, but in that moment, they knew I was right.

After what felt like hours the truck finally stopped.

"What's going on?" The mayor whispered.

Everything was quiet. We listened for any noise or sign of life. All we could hear was our own breath.

Then suddenly the doors flung open once again and in hopped Valeska, Tetch and Crane.

"We're here!" Jerome grinned.

The other two started to pull the council one by one off the hooks and walk them out of the truck, closely watched by Jerome. Until they got to me.

"Wait..." He stuck an arm out to stop Tetch from unhooking me.

"Who's she? She wasn't on the party list." He took a few steps closer to me.

"This poor young girl is an unlucky maid. Wrong place, wrong time. Very bad day." Jervis explained looking at me.

"Would you like me to... dispose of her?" Asked Crane, stalking close to me and lifting needle covered fingers to my throat.

"Not so fast, Mr Potato Head." Jerome said pulling him away from me.

He came so close that we were only inches apart. He looked down at me as if he was thinking for a few seconds then smirked and turned around to the others.

"Guys, go and see that our guests are comfortable, will ya? Get everything ready." He ushered them out of the truck. Fear travelled up and down my body. This had all been a bad situation, but being alone with Valeska scared the hell out of me.

"You're lucky I have a soft spot for pretty little girls." He closed the truck doors and turned to look at me.

"Freddy Krueger there... not so much." He relaxed, leaning back against the doors with his hands in his pockets. "You got a name?"

I stayed silent, more out of fear than defiance. He sucked his teeth and stood up straight.

"I get it. You're scared. Who wouldn't be, right?" He started slowly walking closer. "But things will go a lot smoother if you just play nice."

I still couldn't find any words.

"Aw, come on, doll! I'm getting awful lonely over here." He brought his hands up out of his pockets and leaned against a wall of the truck.

He was quiet for a few seconds and I noticed that his eyes were making their way up my legs. Being held up by my wrists on my tip toes had pulled my uniform skirt up and almost all of my thighs were exposed. I blurted out my name in an attempt to distract him from my bare legs. He smiled.

"What a pretty name. Now, was that so hard?" He pushed himself off the wall and came a little closer.

"So, you're the mayor's dust bunny, huh? I gotta say, doll, I can see why he keeps you around." He chuckled, eyeing me.

My whole body flushed and my face turned hot and red.

“But, uh, the thing about mayors in this town, they don’t last very long.”

"Please let me go." I whimpered.

"Oh, but we're having such a good time! Plus, if I did that, you'd scamper off to the GCPD and I can't have good ol' Gordon crashing the party early."

I scoffed at his suggestion. Not likely. I had a distinct distaste for the GCPD. They hadn't helped me when I needed them. I would never need them again.

"What's the matter? He book ya before or something?" Jerome smiled with intrigue.

"My parents... they... did things to us. When I ended up in the hospital one too many times..." Tears stung my eyes as I remembered. "They left me there and disappeared with my little brother. No one ever managed to track them down."

I didn’t fully understand why I was opening up to Jerome, but for a second, I saw a spark of humanity in his eyes. Like he understood my pain. I'd heard his first kill had been his mother, so maybe he did?

"I'd give anything to see him again." I sniffed and a tear rolled down my cheek.

"Yeah, I had shitty parents too." He sighed. "I killed them both."

I had thought about what I would do if I ever saw my parents again. What I would say, what I would ask. I could never think of the right words. But the thought of killing them, well that made me smile.

"What was it like?" I asked.

Jerome grinned from ear to ear and stepped closer so that we were toe to toe.

“Have you ever stood at the edge of a really tall building? You know that little voice in the back of your head that says ‘Jump! You can fly!’ even though every other part of you is screaming ‘No you can’t! You’re gonna kill us!’”

I nodded shakily.

“It’s like finally giving in to that voice. Like jumping off Gotham Bridge and finding out you can fly. And realising you never have to walk again.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat and my heart felt like it was going a million beats per minute. His eyes were locked on mine and it felt like he was looking straight into my soul.

“You wanna fly, doll?” He brought his hand up to cup my jaw and ran his thumb along my bottom lip.

It wasn’t humanity I saw in Jerome Valeskas eyes. It was freedom. A freedom that I had wanted for as long as I could remember. And I could have it right now. He was offering it to me. The only thing standing in my way was myself.

“Yes.” I breathed. “Yes, I do.”

The next thing I knew, his lips were crashing into mine and he had hooked his hands under my thighs and was holding them around his waist. His kiss was desperate and hungry, like he had been starved for days and his grip on the bare flesh of my thighs was rough enough to leave bruises. I locked my ankles together behind him to steady myself from swaying underneath the cuffs. When I did, he drove his crotch forwards, grinding into my centre, a quiet moan escaping me as I felt him.

He slowly trailed a hand from my thigh, up my back and to the nape of my neck, before balling my hair in his fist. I gasped as I felt the sudden, sharp tug of him pulling my head back.

His eyes wandered down to settle on my exposed throat, before yanking my head to the side and nestling in the crook of my neck. He must’ve left a hundred open mouth kisses, but as he started to suck, I felt his teeth sink into my skin. I pulled back with a hiss at the sting, but he wouldn’t let go. He just kept on leaving harsh, red bitemarks and pulling my hair, all the time grinding harder into me.

He licked over the bruises he’d left and gently kissed them, before trailing his tongue up my neck to nip at my ear. He smiled darkly and pulled back away from me, dropping my legs back to the floor. He stalked around me, eyeing me up and down like a predator. I felt him behind me, his hands softly holding onto my waist, pulling me close to his chest.

“You know what’s great about this?” He cooed. “You’re already pre-cuffed.”

I flushed and my core swelled hot, his breath so close to me made my skin tingle all over. He pulled at the top of my skirt and dragged it down my hips, letting it fall down around my feet. He caressed my thighs and then stepped back, tugging at my underwear, playfully letting the elastic snap back to me.

“Y’know...” He said, before the familiar sound of a belt unbuckling. “Marquis de Sade said ‘sex without pain is like food without taste’...”

My eyes widened at his words and my heartbeat quickened.

“So, let’s make this... delicious.”

A million thoughts raced through my mind, but before I could process any, I felt the sharp snap of leather against my ass. I jolted forwards and let out a high pitch yelp.

Even though I couldn’t see him, I could tell he was smirking. I could hear it in his voice. I bit my lip in an attempt to brace myself and he landed the belt across me again.

“Please, Jerome...” I whimpered at the sting, closing my eyes.

He brought it down again, making me arch my back in a gasp. A couple of tears rolled down my cheeks and I realised there was little point in resisting the torment. So, I gritted my teeth and prepared for another lick of the belt.

He whipped me once more, harder this time and a small scream escaped me.

“Please!” I begged.

I heard him chuckle with dark delight. The bastard was enjoying this. Of course he was. What else had I expected from someone like him? I tightened all my muscles for the next sting...

But it didn’t come. Instead, I felt him pulling my underwear down. Relief washed over me when I heard the belt drop to the floor and I realised Jerome was finished and was now crouched, ready to inspect his work. He ran his fingers over my burning flesh, taking in the bright red lashes he had left on me.

“What a pretty picture?” He said, landing a spank. “I wish you could see too doll, but having you cuffed is half the fun.”

His voice was dripping with venom and arousal and I could practically feel his grin in the air. He traced the marks with his fingers a little longer, before grabbing my flesh in fistfuls and sinking his teeth in. I gasped loudly at the hard bite. I wasn’t sure how many more of Jerome's surprises I could take. He laughed and ran his tongue over the new bruise.

“Yep. Definitely a pretty picture.” He smiled, giving me another spank. “I like those little noises you make, doll. Why don’t you make some more for me?”

He snaked his hand up my inner thigh and began stroking along my slit, relighting the fire in my stomach. I moaned, biting hard on my lip and tried to bring my thighs together, wanting friction.

“Naughty.” He said, landing a swift slap on my entrance causing me to let out a little yelp. “I need you to keep those legs open for me.”

It wasn’t as bad as the belt. In fact, it felt quite good. The heat inside me swelled as Jerome returned to running his fingers back and forth in my slickness. I hummed softly in my throat, fighting the urge to close my thighs again, my knees starting to shudder underneath me.

“Look how wet you are and I’m barely touching you.” Jerome chuckled darkly. “I wonder what happens if I do this?”

Jerome plunged two fingers deep inside me and slowly started pumping them. I let the warmth roll through me, moaning blissfully. He gently started to pick up speed, making it nearly impossible for me to keep my thighs apart. The faster he got, the deeper he dove, making me tighten around his talented fingers and struggle to keep steady on my toes.

My legs were shaking and despite my best efforts I just had to squeeze them together. As soon as I did, Jerome removed his fingers from me, leaving me feeling empty and spanked me hard.

“What did I say about that?” He barked, laying down another spank.

His spanking felt different this time. It felt pleasurable and sent a thrill up my spine.

“Sorry.” I whimpered.

“Sorry for what?” He spanked me again. “For being a needy little whore? Hm?” Another spank.

“Yes!” I gasped. “I’m a needy little whore! I just...”

“What? You just what?”

Jerome landed another slap at my core. It made my muscles clench, but it also aroused me so much more in a way I’d never thought I’d experience.

“What? What do you want, whore?”

“Please...”

“Big words, princess. What...” Spank. “Do you...” Another spank. “Want?”

“I want... I want you...” I forced, breathlessly.

“You want me? What do you want me to do, princess?” Jerome teased, tracing a finger along my burning entrance, just barely touching me.

“Please... Make me feel good, Jerome... Make me cum.”

“Are you gonna be a good girl?”

“Yes...”

“Are you gonna do as I say?”

“Yes, I will.”

“Exactly as I say?”

“Yes! Yes! Yes! Just please...Jerome.”

I couldn’t take it any longer. I felt so pathetic and needy. I needed him to touch me.

“So desperate.” He giggled sadistically. I supposed he loved seeing me beg.

Then, finally, he spread me open and dove his tongue deep into my wanting warmth. I closed my eyes and bit down hard on my lip as he swirled his tongue around inside me. I wanted to grab his hair and feel it in my fingers, but all I could do was squeeze my fists together in empty frustration.

Jerome grabbed a hand full of my ass, gripping it tightly, digging his nails in and rose his other hand to my pelvis front, pulling me down further onto his tongue. I squealed, a delightful mixture of pleasure and also pain from the tugging on my aching forearms. He ran his front hand down to play with my swollen clit, circling his fingers around beautifully.

He grinded his face deeply into me, sliding his tongue up, down, around and around inside me. He pressed his fingers down harder on my clit, forcing a loud moan out of me. I felt the pressure inside me build, coiling and tightening like a burning spring. I squeezed my thighs around his head in a desperate attempt to pull him deeper, his tongue nestling inside finding all of my sweet spots and lighting them on fire.

I could feel myself ready, ready to burst. He was pulling an amazing orgasm out of me and I wanted nothing more than to just let it go. All it took was one more upward jolt of his head, pushing his tongue that last little bit deep enough to push me over. I screamed out in erotic pleasure, letting the feeling flood me like warm water. My back arched and my legs convulsed until I withered, letting myself dangle from my cuffs in a breathless defeat.

Jerome slid his tongue out of me and pulled his face back away.

“You sing so pretty, dollface. Like a little birdie.” He said, squeezing the flesh off my ass.

He gave me one more light bite and a spank, before he rose back up to stand, snaking his hands along my sides all the way. He let his hands wander up to cup my breasts, massaging them softly. He leaned in close and began leaving wet kisses in the crook of my neck. I shuddered, his touch sending a cool tingle down my spine. He let his hands squeeze my breasts slightly harder, then pulled away and crept back around in front of me.

He stood facing me, his eyes locked on mine. They seemed to burn holes right into my flesh, creating a sense of fear in me. I was scared of Jerome Valeska, I truly was. But everything he was doing to me right now... The way he touched me, kissed me. I wondered how he managed it. How he was able to both terrify and arouse me in equal amounts.

Lost in my thoughts, I didn’t register his hand rising until it was firmly wrapped around my throat. He leaned down to kiss me, dominating my mouth with his tongue, making me taste myself. Once again, I felt the familiar warmth build in my core as I sensed we were not quite done here. He finished the kiss with a little nip to my bottom lip.

“Are you scared of me, doll?” He purred.

I swallowed hard, unsure if truth was wise here. Then I felt him increase the pressure around my throat, not wanting to wait for an answer.

“Yes.” I breathed.

“Good.” He said through an evil smirk.

He crashed his lips to mine once again, his free hand picking up my thigh to wrap around him. I locked both my legs around his waist, wanting to feel him close against me. I felt his erection hard, under his clothes, grinding into me and I wanted it. Badly. He pulled away from the kiss, leaving his taste on my tongue and raised his hand from my throat to grab hold of my face. He took his other hand away from my thigh and pulled at his tie. I didn’t drop my legs this time, instead I gripped tighter as he slid his tie from around his neck and scrunched it in his fist.

“Open your mouth.” He ordered.

I did as he said and he smiled, before spitting into my open lips and gagging me with his tie. I’d never had anyone do that before and it shocked me a little, but then again, I’d never had anyone like Jerome Valeska before.

He backed up slightly, just enough for him to reach down and unzip his trousers and pull down his underwear, freeing his erection. I couldn’t help but look down at it. It was bigger than any I’d taken before and I wasn’t sure how prepared I was. He started to slowly stroke himself, lifting up my chin to look at me.

He gently stroked a single finger across my jaw and then, suddenly, landed a harsh slap across my cheek. I yelped at the slap, causing a dangerous smile to form on Jeromes mouth. I should’ve been repulsed by him. He killed people and was aroused by my pain and fear, so why was I so attracted to him?

He angled himself underneath me so he was lined up and ready. He wrapped his hand back around my throat and then pushed forwards into me, causing us both to let out deep moans.

“You like that?”

I nodded and whimpered through the material of the tie. Jerome giggled darkly and with his free hand, gripped onto my waist.

“Brace yourself, princess.” He warned, through a poisonous smile.

He pulled back slowly, until he was almost completely out of me and then, like a bullet, ploughed himself right back in, jolting me backwards with force. He continued his thrusting rough and fast, making me whimper and bite down hard on the tie. I closed my legs tightly around him, pulling him closer and forcing him in deeper.

He let out a low, guttural groan and moved his hand upwards from my waist to slap me again, spitting at my face as he did so. I closed my eyes to endure the onslaught of him pounding inside me like a raging animal. I felt like a toy, dangling there for him to use as he liked, but still the searing pleasure of it all made me moan lustfully.

“Open those peepers, princess.” He commanded. “I want you to see exactly who’s in charge here.”

I opened my eyes and saw him grinning at me like a man possessed.

“You like this? You like me fucking you?” He growled, gripping my throat tighter.

All I could do was whimper and moan in response.

“I cuffed you and hung you up, hurt you, spat on you... even made you cry! And you still let me fuck you?” He laughed through shallow breaths. “You’re pathetic, you know that? A pathetic little whore.”

Jerome threw another slap at me and I felt myself tighten around his considerable length, taking him all deep inside me. He drove up into me like he was trying to break me open with his girth and I welcomed every inch of it.

“You’re so fucking tight.” He moaned.

I clenched my walls around him, the feeling of being filled by him sending flutters through me as he pushed in deeper and laughed.

“I don’t think your pussy ever wants to let me go, doll!” He grinned. “But I already know you like taking my cock like this, cause you’re such a good girl for me... I like that.”

I flushed at his words. I didn’t know why, but it made me feel good to please him and, in that moment, I would have done anything for him. I could feel my ecstasy creeping up on me, like magma rising inside a volcano. I cried out wantonly, the heat rising as he worked me, exploring every detail of my canal with his thick shaft.

He let go of my throat and moved both his hands to grab onto my ass and squeezed, steadying me so he could pound me harder and climb to release. His thrusts became erratic and sloppy and I could tell he was just as close as I was. I moaned loudly as he rammed into me harder and faster, burying himself deeper and making my arousal burn.

I could feel it coming, so close. I was about to boil over and all I needed was him. Just him. He continued thrusting like a raging animal, digging his nails into my flesh and scraping them along my ass, stinging sweetly. I whimpered at the sensation and tightened my legs.

“Cum for me, doll.” He panted. “I wanna feel you cum on my cock.”

He plunged into me, pushing the magma higher and just so close to bursting. It was coming. I could feel it.

He pounded again. So close. Again and again, so hard inside me. Just a little more...

I screamed out, closing my eyes and letting everything go. The feeling of my orgasm washed over me like a tidal wave of pure elation. My whole body shook from the force of it and I trembled like a leaf. Jerome continued to thrust into me until he too reached his climax. He growled like a beast and I felt him throb, releasing his hot load of sticky lust deep inside me.

We both relaxed, catching our breath and he stared down into my eyes. He unlatched his hands from the flesh of my ass and brought one round to gently stroke my cheek with his fingertips. It was quiet, but only for a minute.

He threw his head back and laughed like the madman he was, before pulling out of me and stepping back. My legs dropped to the floor and he began to put himself away and zip his trousers back up.

“Well, that was fantastic, dollface. Thanks for playing nice with me.” He said, throwing me a wink.

There was a loud metallic knock at the truck doors and I guessed whoever it was, was trying to get Jeromes attention.

“It’s been fun princess, really. But time waits for no man and I’ve got a party to attend” He said, smiling at me. “Well, more like crash.”

When he turned to leave, I tried to speak, but all that came out was intelligible muttering. He wasn’t going to leave me here, dangling, half naked and gagged like this? Was he? He began walking to the truck doors and I tried to call out.

“Oh! Wait, almost forgot.”

I felt a flood of relief when he began walking back to me.

“I’m gonna need this back.” He said and pulled the tie out of my mouth.

I was glad to finally be rid of it, but my joy was short lived, because he was starting to leave again.

“Hey...” I croaked; my mouth dry.

“Yeah, I’ll have someone come get you later.” He said, too nonchalantly for my liking. “For now, you can just... well, why don’t you just hang out?”

He laughed at his joke and opened the doors.

“Hey! You can’t leave me here!” I tried to shout, but my throat was too dry.

And then... he was gone. He really did just leave me alone, half naked in the back of a truck. How long would it be before someone found me? An hour? Two? The rest of the day?

All alone with my thoughts now, I decided the only thing to do now was wait. Wait and try and go over what the hell just happened between me and Jerome Valeska.

[putseraphinaonthaphone]

Groupchat pt. I

CW// recreational drug use, group sex, poly dynamics, virgin reader, queer reader who uses she/her pronouns and feminine descriptors, intoxicated sex

It was an interesting group of friends that you had. Well, 'friends' was a stretch, but you had a groupchat. The name was simply 'fuckers' because for some reason Bakugou was allowed to name the chat. You had the same group of stoners you ended up partying with every weekend, getting high off the strongest shit you could buy and letting loose to work off the stress of the week. It was cliche but true, you blew off steam getting high and dancing like a slut-- self care. Somehow it had evolved to more of a four person party that wasn't really a party, but you played music, smoked, and the boys watched you dance while devouring the healthy but tasty food you prepared because when you're high everything tastes 100 times better and you'd been on a restricted diet because of your chronic health issues since you were a teenager. When you'd explained this in the group chat, the most concise response you got was "so you'll cook for us?" Stoners were just your people honestly. Or maybe it was these stoners.

Bakugou mellowed out considerably after a few blunts, and he offered to blow up whoever made you cry the first time you met coming out of a party to smoke after you had a call with your best friend from back home. He'd told you that your dynamic as friends only worked if he was single. You didn't know if you'd ever have another friend like him. And there was Bakugou, offering you a blunt and violence that seemed like just the kind of friendship you craved in that moment.

Shinsou was one of the few people who came to the party simply to find people to smoke with. He rarely talked, but he was really good company you thought. He always brought indica strains-- your personal favorite as well as his you found out. Sometimes you guys talked about how it was cruel to have so many dreams but so little energy to pursue them. Sometimes you guys went back to his place and smoked yourself into a sleepy haze that always ended up in the warmest cuddles you've ever experienced.

Dabi had a viper's tongue and an even worse attitude than Bakugou. But he was cool, you bumped into him at a party when you were looking for another smoker to borrow a light from. You were feeling caustic after a phone call from home. "You got a lighter bro?" He seemed a bit amused by your masculine energy wrapped in a lush femme presenting form, like he was relieved to finally seeing someone interesting. "You look like you got all sorts of daddy issues, why haven't we met before?" His tone was both flirtatious and condescending at the time. "Whatever gave it away?" You snorted as you lit up your blunt, white grape game wrappers. But your tone was flirtatous as well as you handed your blunt to him, "We're meeting now. To shitty dads who deserve to sleep in the bed they made."

Shoto was the anomaly. You saw him around your department, guessing he was an upperclassman in your major. And one day he was at Dabi's place when you all got together to celebrate finally getting an off campus hangout spot. Apparently Dabi was an old friend, kind of like an older brother to Shoto. They definitely had a thing going on, but thinking about it too long made your face burn. His preppy appearance was shattered when he wore a short sleeve shirt instead of his usual button downs, and you saw the traditional japanese tattoos that made a full sleeve in white ink. You also noticed his silver gauges that were almost hidden by his white hair and when he pushed his hair back you saw more piercings on his ears. But when he smoked you under the table you decided you were almost in love.

If you happened to hope that one day at least one of the hot but dumb fuckers you smoked with took the hint of your many personal dance shows and fucked you, that was no one's business but your own.

You worked through the week, bullshitting assignments- but well because you were a fucking genius in your field, and on friday you decided to just wear a bra, shorts and an over shirt to the party with a beanie on your shaved head to complete the look. The pregame was at Shoto and Dabi's place this time, a short walk if you thought about the liquor and weed waiting for you. You weren't prepared for the brisk wind to meet you when you stepped out of your dorm.

"Hoes don't get cold." You chanted under your breath as you started walking. Your construction boots kept your feet warm, but the black booty shorts that were frayed at the edges left your lush thighs and your entire legs exposed to the cold wind. But after a few more minutes of walking you gave up- you weren't a good enough hoe, and you were cold. So you bit the bullet and put into the group chat:

smokerdeepthroat 11:19pm

Someone come pick me up, I'm freezing my literal ass off.

blueflamer 11:22pm

Walk bitch.

boomboi 11:24

Cash gas or ass, you know the drill.

smokerdeepthroat 11:25

Y'all can run a train on my ass if someone just picks me up before I freeze to death.

sleepystoner, icyhot, boomboi, blueflamer | read

Shit. You hadn't actually meant to send that. And of course the one time Shinsou checks the chat had to be now. "Fuckers," you grumbled under your breath. At this point it was almost like calling them your boys in a fond tone, and that thought had you almost puking onto the concrete. The fact that you were blushing was completely irrelevant.

Before you could freak out too much- internally of course, you were not going to be caught simping with one of them on the way to pick you up- you heard the familiar roar of Bakugou's car coming down the street. The bass of his emo ass rock music shook the street and you were climbing into the car before he could yell at you to get your ass inside.

You might have moaned at the heated seats, rubbing your hands over your freezing thighs. "Thanks Bakubro. It's cold as fuck and I was too excited to pregame to bring a jacket."

"A jacket isn't the problem. Your ass is hanging out." His words as usual were followed by a plume of smoke. His crimson eyes trailed over your body and a heated smirk curved his lips. "But that just means easier access for us."

"Y'all dusty ass hoes know I was joking-" You tried to bluff, tried to deflect with bravado as you took the blunt from him. But your hands shook, and Bakugou met your gaze with a quiet intensity that was somehow worse than his explosions.

"You dance like you need a dick in you. And only for us. We waited for you to make your choice, but this is less complicated." Damn it, he was smoking the horny weed. But if you were honest all weed was horny weed to your squad. There was an eroticism in the craving just one more hit. Just one more epic high. Just one more shudder of pleasure, as touching yourself to the thought of the boy's eyes on you when you got back to your dorm was as much a part of your friday night ritual as the weed.

Whenever you started smoking you felt yourself happily descending into hedonism. Bakugou's voice certainly wasn't helping. Your throat was impossibly dry- from the smoke, from desire- as you admitted quietly,

"I'm a virgin." You weren't going to apologize, compromise or argue. It was a statement and he could take it or leave it.

Bakugou wasn't an idiot. But he also was a possessive bastard in a way that made you wet even though you rolled your eyes at it.

"I'll make it good for you when I pop your cherry. I met you first, I'll take you first. I got you." It wasn't a promise, it was confident statement you knew he would stop at nothing to make a reality. His relentlessness was something that drew you to him in the first place if you told yourself the truth. He shifted gears smoothly and rested his warm hand on your bare thigh as he drove you back to the off campus house. You smoked half the blunt listening to his music and getting wet from his hands wandering higher and higher up your thigh.

You walked in to the house and realized how much you'd underestimated how serious Bakugou's words were. It seemed like it was a long time coming when you walked into Dabi's low lit living room to find him with his hand on Shoto's dick, Shoto's hand on his, and Shinsou lazily palming himself.

"It's about time you got here, you can't just drop shit like that in the chat when you're not here to bend over for us." Shoto's white and red hair was a mess, and given that it looked like the two of them were edging each other (sadists), his fucked out face made sense.

"She's a virgin, Icy Hot, you're gonna have to wait. I gotta open her up first." You in the mean time were going to start the music while smoking a bit hurriedly, hoping you were well and truly high before they actually started to run a train on you.

"Play the dick down playlist." Shinsou rasped from the couch and you wanted to cry at the head assery you had to put up with from these morons. (/s) But they're your morons, some lonely part of you whispered.

"It actually better have good music on it." You griped, but yeah, you were feeling the impact of whatever Bakugou had given you to smoke because your words weren't as harsh as you meant them to be.

"I call dibs on her ass cherry." Dabi's low voice cut throat the soft grunts from Shoto.

"Next time." Bakugou muttered watching the way you started to dance, having shed your overshirt to simply dance in your shorts and bra. None of the boys danced with you, a rule you'd had to put in place when they literally started fighting like children over who's turn it was to dance with you. Somehow it hadn't gotten better, these jealous bitches would sulk if you didn't give them all equal attention during your provocative performance. You solved this by closing your eyes and not looking at any of them while you let your body follow the nasty beat of the playlist. Sometimes you murmured lyrics if you remembered them and all four men were enraptured by the sight of you surrounded by smoke and dancing like a ancient goddess that could command them all in an instant.

It was moments like these that made you think maybe you were all a little more than friends by now. More than just groupchat contacts. But friends. Maybe more?

The blunt you finished yourself, until you were light headed and craving more. More music, more bass to move your hips too, maybe something to move your hips against. You didn't hesitate when Bakugou patted his thighs.

In fact, the weed in your system convinced you it only made sense to take your shorts off before straddling him. Better that than having to stop just when you're finally getting what you want right? You forgot you were just wearing some lace boyshorts with pale pink roses framing your luscious curves and dusky skin until you heard;

"Slutty girl." It was a groan as Shoto's grip on Dabi's cock tightened from the view of your fat ass sitting on Bakugou's lap.

"Nah, not yet. She's just needy." Katsuki smirked when you blushed from his words, even as you started grinding down on him in revenge. The choked moan that escaped him and the cocky glare you turned on all of them made all of them crave you that much more.

"You're needy to fuck me too, you all are. Don't forget that, explosion bitch."

"Point made. But watch it, little girl. It's gonna be a long night." His words were low and raspy from smoke, and even thought it should have been a threat your pussy gushed and soaked your panties anyway.

Four pairs of eyes watched your every move, drinking in the sight of you half naked, boldly staking your claim on all of them-- which only made them want to return the favor. Claiming you over and over until you wouldn't deny you belonged to them.

A long night, huh?

To be continued.....

[prismadog]

Found Family AU: Bee [Emptober 10th]

I am just so behind and this time, I have an excuse - eh, I mean - an explanation! past few days I've been setting up a desktop computer so that I can upgrade from console Minecraft to pc Minecraft! that, and I just never know what to do for these prompts - except the next two! I just gotta write them out!

now, this one. Shrub's back at it with bug-eating...sort of. you'll find out if you read! hope y'all enjoy!

[btw, there's very little editing. what you see is basically what you get and I apologize if it's a bit crappy. I kinda just busted it out in an hour and don't feel like making it any better atm]

-

Bee

"ooh! your home is so pretty!" Shrub exclaims as Katherine leads her into her kingdom.

"aww, thanks!" Katherine replies with a gentle smile. "this little area is the flower village where we make all our dyes! and up this path is the fountain where you can leave a tribute - that is if you want?"

Shrub doesn't even hesitate, "I'd love to! I brought a wonderful gift for your kingdom!"

the fairy gladly leads her new friend to the fountain - its crystalline waters glitter in the midday sun. she then watches as the gnome twitches, an odd look on her face.

she takes a step forward, then to the side, humming.

"is everything okay, Shrub?" she asks.

"umm..." golden eyes look up, concerned, then back to the fountain and in a small voice, she says, "I don't think I can reach the chest. there's so much water."

the fairy blinks slowly, it's barely a block deep? "ah, right, you don't like the water, do you?"

"yeah, gnomes can't swim." Shrub studies the fountain for a moment longer, then turns to the Fairy Queen. "can I give you my tribute instead?" she gets a nod from Katherine and pulls out half stacks of crimson and warped stem, a quarter stack of sprouts, and quarter stacks of twisting and weeping vines - the sprouts and vines are actually a gift from Dad to the Fairy Queen, but they said to keep it a secret. why? she doesn't really know.

"oh! all of this?" Katherine asks, blinking in surprise as she's handed so many things. "that's so generous of you!" the other rulers only left a few items, this is at least four times as much as their tributes.

"is it okay? I remember you mentioning that you don't like going to the Nether."

the Queen nods. "it's really scary there and hard to navigate."

a thoughtful look crosses the gnome's face and her nose twitches. "well, how about from now on, anything you want from there, lemme know and I'll get it for you?"

is she insane? no one willingly goes into the Nether if they can help it - it's dangerous and hot and there's lava everywhere and to be frank, it's dangerous. "are you...sure?"

"yeah? I love it there! it's so much fun!"

yep, she's insane. "well, if you're sure, then I'd be happy to make a deal with you," Katherine smiles. "but we can discuss that later. right now, we need to continue the tour!"

"okay!" the gnome grins and follows her happily from the fountain. "say, Potato Man mentioned that you have bees?"

"Potato Man?"

"oh! I mean..." she hums, thinking, "the um...the guy? that smells like gunpowder - and has a red scarf?"

"Fwhip?"

Shrub nods, "yeah, that guy!" she looks up at the fairy. "he said you have bees. I've never seen bees before."

maybe they don't have bees where she's from? "you didn't have them in the land you came from?" she asks, leading her towards the bee sanctuary.

"nope! only bugs we got are beetles and mites - and they're quite tasty."

curious. wait. what?

"...tasty?"

"yup! Dad says I shouldn't eat them but they're sooo good!" the gnome grins up at her. "are your bees tasty?"

she blinks once, twice, "I...I don't know. I've never eaten a bee."

"Fwhip said they were tasty. think I can try one?"

she's seriously insane, or just really weird - says the cute flower fairy that collects heads for fun. "I...don't think you should." maybe showing her the bee sanctuary isn't the best -

"ooh! what's that?!" Shrub spots Katherine's Queen Bee statue and darts off at the speed of light.

Katherine follows, hoping her new friend was joking about wanting to...eat a bee. "this is one of my builds. the bees are below," she motions to the honeycomb-shaped pockets in the ground. "the entrance is over here." she moves to the ladder and descends into the sanctuary.

Shrub meets her at the bottom just as some of the bees take notice of the Fairy Queen's presence - they start to crowd their queen, bumbling and buzzing happily.

"hello, friends! I hope you're all doing well," Katherine greets the bees. it looks like there's some offspring in the mix. "this is my new friend, Shrub of the Undergrove, say hello!"

she introduces her new friend with a smile and...

"Shrub," she says in a flat tone.

the gnome looks back, gold eyes wide.

one of the bees calmly sits in the gnome's small hand, taking no notice of the tongue pressed to its fuzzy back.

she...

she...wasn't joking.

"please don't lick the bees."

"sorry," Shrub releases the bee who bumbles off happy as ever to the nearby flowers. "I wasn't going to eat it, promise."

"I should hope not." well, at least she looks apologetic? Katherine hopes anyway.

will the Fairy Queen ever meet anyone who isn't two degrees to the left of weird?

-

[harrysbbby]

Don’t Forget Where You Belong - JJ Maybank x Reader - Part Fifteen

A/N:  OMFG the moment you’ve all been waiting for!!! EEK I think y'all are gonna like this chapter also she’s LONG so grab a snack and settle in cause you’re in for a WILD RIDE!!!

gif by @rudypankows

moodboard by the lovely @tcmhollnd

You were sat around a table at The Wreck. Kie placed a meal in front of you and a hot cup of coffee. You looked down at it numb. You knew you were hungry, but the thought of eating made you feel nauseous.

The moment JJ had turned around and spat in your face replayed in your head like a scene from a movie. The way he looked at you… it was like he had never cared for your before, like you were the root of all his problems.

“Y/N, please eat,” Kie urged you. You sniffled, wiping a stray tear that feel from your eye, reaching forward, slowly munching on a singular fry, and taking a small sip of the coffee. Your stomach churned, as the lump in your throat made it difficult to swallow, but you wanted to make sure you showed her you were okay. She seemed satisfied with your efforts, placing a warm hand on your arm, rubbing slowly. The bottom of your vision blurred as tears threatened to fall once again, keeping your head down as Pope, Sarah, John B and Kiara spoke around the table.

“He’ll come around, alright?” John B sighed, “he’s doing a JJ thing.”

You nodded, grabbing the sandwich of your plate, bringing it up to your mouth and taking a miniscule bite. Any other time you wouldn’t wolfed it down in two gulps, but the mention of his name made you feel as if you could never meet again.

“Do you think he’ll go home?” Kie asked quietly.

“There’s about a zero percent chance JJ goes home,” Pope said.

“You okay?” John B asked Sarah. She looked drained, mainly from having to keep up with the drama of the group she was now inducted.

“Yeah,” She nodded, “are you?”

“I’m in one piece so…” he laughed lightly before turning to you, “are you going to be okay Y/N?”

You finally brought your eyes up to meet the rest of the group. Their eyes conveyed their sorrow as they took in your blotchy face. You took a deep breath, throwing your head back to blink away your tears.

“I’m fine,” you said, “I’m… going to be fine,” you corrected, collecting yourself, “seriously, guys don’t worry about me. We’re got… bigger fish to fry.”

You sent them a small smile, the only one you could muster at that moment. Your friends smiled at you.

“That’s my girl,” John B said, as Pope grabbed your shoulders from his standing positing behind you, leaning down to wrap his harms around you. You cradled his as you laughed lightly, “That’s what we like to hear,” John B said, happy to hear you laugh.

Pope let go of you, moving back to pace as he spoke,

“It's too dangerous to pawn this thing off piecemeal. So, our best bet is to go down there and get the rest of it. Bring it all up at once. Put it in-- in a safe or a vault or something. I-- I don't know. Just until we can find someone who won't rip us off. I can figure it out tonight, get it done, and we can be out there tomorrow morning.”

“Sounds good,” you said, but with barely any enthusiasm as you took a melancholy bite of your sandwich.

“Let’s go,” John B said, before Sarah threw him a look over the table.

“What about that thing with my dad?”

“Shit,” he cursed.

“What thing?” Pope questioned.

“I have to go fishing with Ward.”

“You can't get 400 mil 'cause you're gonna go kill fish?”

“Look I have to go.”

“Blow if off,” Pope suggested, “It’s 400 million in gold!”

“Make something up,” Kie added.

“Look, I-- I have to, okay?” John B said, “He... he saved me, all right? If it weren't for Ward, I'd be in foster care. I have to go. Plus, it'll be better to do it at night. Right?”

The 5 of you sat in silence. Kie sighed, looking over at Pope, who hung his head but conceded,

“Fine. Fine, go fishing.”

“And at least JJ will probably have washed up by then,” Kie said but her flat tone didn’t make it sound hopeful.

You sighed at the mention of his name, standing abruptly, chair screeching against the floorboards as you went.

“I think I’m gonna head home,” you sniffed, wiping your nose with the back of your hand. Your friends nodded silently. You stood for a moment before moving towards the door, before a hand rested on your shoulder.

“Y/N,” you turned to see John B standing behind you, welcoming arms opened for you. You tucked your head into his chest as his arms wrapped around you, “he didn’t mean it.”

You started to cry quietly as he held you, “I know, I know,” you whispered, “it still hurt though.”

“He’ll come around. He loves you,” he held you at arm’s length looking into your bloodshot eyes, “just like I do.”

You gave the skeleton of a smile, holding out your fist for him to give you one of the Pogue bro handshakes.

“I love you too, JB,” you waved to your friends before grabbing your keys, jumping in your car and heading him.

As you stepped over the threshold of the door, you heard your mum call your name.

“Y/N! I’m so glad you’re home, I went to the store today and I wanted— What’s wrong?”

She came to a halt, watching you standing the entryway arms limp by your sides and bottom lip quivering. She rushed to your side, engulfing you in a hug. She stroked your hair as she shushed your small cries.

“Honey, what happened?”

“JJ and I got in a fight.” You let out slowly, stumbling over the words as your body trembled, “it was… it was pretty bad.”

“Oh, shhh,” She continued to rub your back as your cried into her neck. As you calmed, she let her grip falter, allowing her to lead you up to your room. She sat you down on your bed, taking your shoes off your feet as you sat there numbly. “I’m gonna go make you a nice hot cup of tea to make you feel better, alright?”

You nodded, flopping back onto your bed. But as your mum made her way back into your room, freshly made tea in her hand she noticed your closed eyes, and slow breathing. She smiled at your sleeping form, glad to see you peaceful. She slowly leant forward and pulled your door shut quietly, allowing you to sleep off the long and emotionally draining day you’d had.

You woke up to a hand shaking your shoulder, Kie leaning over your body. Your room had an orangey glow, alerting you to the fact the sun was setting. You rubbed your eyes, confused.

“What’s going on?” you mumbled quietly, stretching your arms as you woke up slowly.

“Morning sleepy head,” Kie joked, “we’re heading to John B’s to get the stuff set up for tomorrow.”

“And you need me for that?” you asked. She laughed,

“Of course, we do, you’re in this for the long run love,” she told you. You groaned, rolling over to face away from her.

“I want to sleep for the rest of my life,” you whinged, a longer groan coming out of your moth as Kie laid on top of you laughing.

“You know you can’t do that,” she joked, before throwing you a sideways glance, “What’s this about you not being JJ’s girlfriend?”

You groaned again, covering your face with your hands. Kie laughed, pulling them away from your face. You sighed,

“I may have kissed him again last night.” You said, causing Kie to squeal quietly, grabbing your shoulders and shaking you as her body pressed you into the bed. The first genuine laugh of the day escaped from your throat. Your smile dropped as you looked sideways at her, “I thought we were good, but you heard him this morning, I.. I just ugh.” You shrugged. Kie grabbed you in a hug.

“He’s just stupid ad insecure, you know, JJ.”

“Yeah I do,” you agreed quietly. You truly did know, everything about him and you knew why he was acting this way. He was taking his insecurities out on you because he didn’t know how to deal with them. And although you were upset with him, you weren’t mad, cause you knew that it meant he truly cared because he was terrified of messing it up.

“Come on,” Kie said pulling your laissez-faire body off the bed, “Pope’s waiting downstairs.”

You conceded, allowing her to drag you out of your house.

You pulled into the Chateau as Pope and Kie discussed the plans.

“Gotta be done before my scholarship interview in the morning,” Pope said, pulling the truck and bringing it to a stop.

“Okay, well, we gotta focus,” Kie said, jumping out of the car, and slamming the door shut. You exited Pope’s door, as he held it open for you.

“Don’t worry Pope, you’re gonna smash that interview. He smiled as he shut the door behind you before turning back to Kie,

“I know. It's gonna be fine. We got John B and JJ inside the well, and me and Y/N up top. You and Sarah will be outside transporting.”

“yeah got this,” she affirmed, shifting through the things in the back of the truck.

“Cool, I got a winch and that tin can hold over like… 200, 300 pounds.”

“Thanks,” Kie said quietly. Pope shot her a quizzical look.

“Uh, what for?”

“Stranding us. You know, making us make up.”

“What makes you think that was me?” He smiled at her. However, the cheeky grin slipped from his face at the sound of electricity whirling and fairy light illuminating the backyard.

“What the hell?”

The three of you cautiously made your way around John B’s house to be met by a string of multi-coloured lights, a hot tub and JJ popping the cork on an expensive champagne bottle. The three of you stared at him astounded.

“What did you do, JJ?” Pope asked, throwing his hands in the air as he looked around at all the stuff. Your eyes wandered across the miscellaneous items, your mouth hanging open. You could tell that this was the final straw for JJ. Your solemn eyes cast up at him as he spoke.

“I got a jet going straight in my butt right now,” his words slurred slightly as he giggled, “Y'all should get in immediately, you hear me?” he clumsily filled two flutes with the bubbly liquid, “Salud!”

“How much did this cost?” Pope demanded.

“Well, with the generator, the petrol, and oh, hey, express delivery…” he let out a drunken chuckle, “…pretty much all of it, yeah.”

“All of it?” Pope fumed.

“Tread lightly Pope,” you said through gritted teeth, knowing that this was the end of a very long, withered tether and it was threatened to break.

“Yeah, all of it,” JJ said nonchalantly, taking a swig from the bottle.

“You spent all the money in one day?” Pope asked dumbfounded.

“Yeah, burned a hole right through my pocket. But, I mean, like, come on, guys, like, look at this! Finest in jet-based massage therapy, that's what they told me.”

The three of you continued to stare at him. Unimpressed by your lack of enthusiasm he pressed,

“Kie, what?” he challenged, “Can't a man have a little luxury in life?” his voice faltered as he took off the sunglasses he’d been wearing, his tone shifting, “Come on, all this scrimpin' and scrapin'… I mean, like... guys, we— You only live once, right?”

“JJ,” you started quietly but he cut you off.

“I know you’re disappointed, it might not be up to your Kook standard but whatever, Y/N” his ability to dismiss you as if you’re nothing to him caused a deep pang in your chest but you knew it was a façade protecting him from what was really happening, “Enough of this emotional shit. Get in the Cat's Ass. Come on.”

He beckoned you all, but was met with Kie’s disapproving look,

“In the what?”

“In the Cat's Ass. That's what I named her,” he clarified, “Hey, yo, almost forgot,” he reached over flipping one of the switches causing the motor to run faster and water to trickle around him, “Yeah, that's right, I know. Disco mode. That's right, baby!”

“Are you kidding me?” Pope was fuming, “You could have paid for restitution!”

“Or literally given it to any charity!” Kie joined in angrily.

“Guys,” you tried to warn them, but your voice was too hoarse from crying that they couldn’t hear you over their anger (or the hot tub jets). They were pulling on that thread, yanking and tugging, and JJ was on the other end unravelling more quickly than he had before.

“You could have helped us buy supplies—” yank

“-to get the rest of the gold—" tug

“-- out of the well!” pull

“Okay, well, you know what? I didn't do that!”

JJ had stood up displaying the purple bruises on his body. A hand slipped over your mouth to cover your gasp as you stared at his body. His entire torso had been mangled. The three of you stood shocked as he continued,

“I got a hot tub! For my friends. I got a hot tub for my friends. You know what? No, you know what? Screw friends,” his voice became shaky, “I got a hot tub for my family!”

“What the hell?” tug

“Guys, look what I did for you! All right? Look at this! Look at this!”

“JJ” pull

“No, you stop being emotional. It's fine, okay?”

The thread had lost its elasticity. It had snapped. JJ had unravelled. Years and years of the string being yanked and tugged had led to him falling apart and he was spilling out in front of you, in the form of hot tears streaming down his face.

“I mean, it’s sweet, right? Everything—”

You pushed past Kie and Pope, your own hot tears streaming down your face for the countless time that day. You climbed up onto the sidestep of the hot tub. You reached for him, desperate to grab a hold of the shell of the boy you loved before he shrunk away so far you couldn’t get to him.

“Just get in!”

You wrapped your arms around his shoulders as his face fell into your stomach. His arms gripped around you manically, feeling for any piece of skin he could find. He held onto you, scared that if he let go, he would go back to where he was, getting kicked down and down further by his father. He grabbed his sides as he sobbed into you, allowing you to bring him out the hole he had been kicked down into.

“I just couldn't do it,” his voice was so broken you swore you could feel your heart shatter. Your vision was completely gone as you sobbed, rubbing one hand along his back and tangling the other in his hair, “I can't take him anymore!”

You shushed him as you placed a kiss on the back of his head. His body violently shook causing you to rock with him.

“I was gonna kill him.”

You couldn’t help the cry that left your lips. It broke you just as much as it did for him. You leant over his body cradling your head atop of his, desperately letting quietly whispers out of your mouth to centre him.

You felt extra pairs of arms wrap around you. Kie’s hair tickled the back of your neck as her head nuzzled in your neck. You could feel Pope’s arm rubbing soothing along your arm as JJ’s quiet voice came from the huddle of bodies.

“I just wanna do the right thing.”

“I know, I know,” you reassured him, voice cracking as it struggled to get the words out.

You held him for a while, all of you nestling into your group hug. You could feel JJ being to shake, from being cold in the wet and from crying so heavily.

“Come on let’s get you inside.”

You guided him out of the hot tub and into the Chateau. Pope and Kie followed you to the door but stopped before they came inside. You turned to them, pushing JJ towards the bathroom.

“I’ve got this, guys,” you assured them, “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

They nodded in understanding. They both moved forward engulfing you in a hug. You smiled as you wrapped your arms around them

“Thanks, I love you guys,”

“I love you,” they chorused back. They let go exited out the door

“Good luck with the interview, Pope!” you called to him weakly, your voice not giving you much to work with. He shot you a grateful thumbs up before disappearing around the corner with Kie.

You retreated into the bathroom seeing JJ on the sitting on the toilet seat, his head in his hands. You leant down in front of him, grabbing his hands and pulling them away from his face. You ran your hand threw his hair moving it out of his face as he looked at you.

“I’m sorry,” his voice came out weakly. You nodded, showing him you accepted his apology but stayed silent, showing him you expected more, “I shouldn’t have treated you like that. You don’t deserve it.”

“Thank you, JJ,” you said sincerely. “What happened?” you asked lightly, pushing him back to lean against the wall to inspect his bruises.

“I took the restitution money I stole from Barry home to my dad,” he told you as you grabbed a cloth, running it under the water before dabbing it lightly across the bruises. “He said he wanted to use to gamble.”

You shook your head, “unbelievable,” you muttered under your breath.

“So, I tried to take it back from him and he—” his words trailed off, but you gave him another nod letting him know you understood.

You stood up, placing the cloth on the sink before holding both your hands out to him. He took them allowing you to slowly pull him up. Once he rose, he was standing close, his body almost touching yours. You leant away from him, turning the facet on allowing warm water (as hot as you could get it in The Cut after a storm) to strain out.

“You’re shivering, you need a shower,” you said turning to walk towards the door. But he grabbed your wrist, you turned back to him, eyebrows furrowed.

“Stay,” his voice was so small it was almost unrecognisable. You hesitated for a moment before nodding your head slightly.

He took his board shorts off leaving him in just his underwear as he stepped in under the water. You stripped yourself of your t-shirt and shorts leaving you in your bra and underwear. You followed him into the shower, careful to not get your hair too wet.

You both stood there for a while allowing the water to cascade down, relaxing your muscles. You slowly grabbed the soap bar, lathering it on your hands before daintily sliding your hands over JJ’s body, careful to avoid the bruises. He stood there numbly, allowing you to wash him, wishing that you would wash away all of the dirty things about him rather than just the physical on the outside.

“I really am sorry, Y/N,” he said again. You stayed focused on washing his body,

“I know,” you said.

“No, I mean, I’m so sorry. You’ve done nothing but look after me since the day we met yet I treat you like shit. I’m just, terrified that I’m not going to be able to be what you deserve. What you need. I— you’re perfect, Y/N. I just don’t know if I can…”

You stopped the movement on your hands as you looked up at him. His eyes were rimmed red and his cheeks were puffy. Your hands slowly slid up his body to rest on his neck as you pulled him towards you.

“You’re perfect to me,” you whispered before placing your lips on his. He returns your passionate kiss immediately, placing his hands on your hips as he pulls you as close as possible. You don’t even care about your hair getting wet as he deepens the kiss, his hands sliding around to your butt. Your hands tangle in his hair as you moan into his mouth.

He reaches behind you to turn the shower off. Both of you getting out, quickly reaching for the first towel you see you pat yourself dry so you’re not dripping before handing the towel for JJ to do the same. As soon as he’s done he tosses the towel to the side before grabbing your face and leaning down to capture your lips into another kiss, walking you backwards into his room at the Chateau. The back of your knees hit the bed, causing you to fall back. JJ’s body hovers over your own as he kisses down your neck. Your breathing quickens as you tug on his hair. He trails his feather-like kisses back up you neck before pressing a passionate kiss onto your lips, before pulling back, staring at you in the dimly lit moonlight.

“Y/N, I love you,” his voice is nervous, but at the same time certain. It sounds different to the other times he’d said it- not like the time you bought the boys burgers after a long day fishing, or when you successfully hooked him up with the hottest touron at the party, or when you would help him with his school work. This time, and you could tell by the look in his eyes, he meant it.

“I love you too, JJ,” you said back with as much certainty. He smiled as he pulled you into a kiss, catching the backs of your thighs and pushing you further into the middle of the bed, allowing him to crawl on top of you.

He continued to kiss you and you could feel him get hard between you. You moaned as he grinded into you before a hiss escaped his lips.

“What?” you asked, watching him retract from you quickly, a hand flying to his side.

“Ahh, sorry,” he sounded in pain, “it still really hurts.”

You crawled out from under him, kneeling on the bed with him. You grabbed the sides of his face, pulling him in for a deep kiss as you guided his body down onto the bed, before carefully straddling his hips. He pulled back, a curious look on his face.

“Just trust me,” you whispered, smirking as you murmured against his lips, “besides, weren’t you the one saying you wanted to be beneath me?”

A grin spread across his face as he eagerly grabbed the back of your head, smashing your lips against your own.

And so, you and JJ loved one another. It was something you had always known, or dreamed about, or both, but had never imagined actually happened. But as you spent that night with him in the spare bed in the Chateau, admiring each other in a more vulnerable light than ever before, you somehow fell even more in love with him.

And the butterflies in JJ’s chest flew viciously as his heart pumped blood so fast he felt like he might’ve died at times. But the feeling of kissing you, loving you and knowing you were his allowed him to let his guard down, pass you the thread, and allow you to stich him back together again.

like & reblog and lemme know what you thought (bet you all like me a lot better now hey?)

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im sorry if I missed anyone or if it wouldn't let me tag you 🥺

[fanimesenseiwrites]

So I had piece commissioned of my MC, Hoshiko Higure, presenting as both female and male.

The artist is karoshin_arts on Instagram.

And to go along with the art is a little fic I wrote, mostly, about Hoshiko coming out to the boys.

This fic takes place after Belphie gets out of the attic and before the MC goes home for the first time.

Hoshiko's Coming Out

Hoshiko stood in front of their full length mirror in their bedroom, staring at their reflection.

They were dressed for school but instead of wearing the skirt, they had decided to wear uniform pants today. They were also wearing a binder underneath their dress shirt, effectively hiding their breasts. They tied the top half of their hair back before putting on their circle rim glasses.

They stared at themselves in the mirror once they were totally ready.

"Okay... you look good. You can do this. Everything is gonna be fine," they told themself, trying to psych themself up.

They nodded at themself in the mirror before walking out into the hallway.

Mammon was headed to Hoshiko's room as they were walking out.

"Hey Ho... shi..." Mammon stopped mid step and mid sentence and just stared at Hoshiko. He narrowed his eyes at them, seeming suspicious.

Hoshiko turned a bright red. "It's me! I swear! I'm just... wearing pants..."

"You're doing more than that..." Mammon told them as he finished walking over to them.

"Yeah, I just... sometimes I..." They couldn't look at Mammon. "I don't feel like a girl all the time... sometimes I feel like a boy..." They wrapped their arms around themselves.

"So what, you just wanna wear pants and not have boobs sometimes?"

They looked up at Mammon. "I mean, in not so many words, yeah."

Mammon pouted and crossed his arms over his chest. "Why didn't you tell me?"

Hoshiko sighed and looked down at the ground. "You don't wanna be my friend anymore, do you?"

"What? Quit your mopin'! I didn't say that!"

Hoshiko looked back up at him.

"I'm your first! You're s'posed to tell me everything, no secrets between us, remember?!" Mammon perched his hands on his hips.

Hoshiko teared up. "Oh, Mammon!" They threw their arms around him and cried into his chest.

"Hey! Don't do that..." he blushed and pushed them away gently. "You'll break your glasses." He offered them a handkerchief from his breast pocket.

Hoshiko nodded and took the handkerchief with a soft sniffle. They took off their glasses and wiped their eyes.

"C'mon, you gotta eat some breakfast before school."

They nodded and headed to the dining room with Mammon. "... Will you stay with me all day?"

Mammon looked at them. "Huh?"

"I... I'm actually afraid of being by myself, looking like this..."

"Oh... yeah, of course. You gotta know the Great Mammon will always protect ya!" He flashed them a brilliant smile.

Hoshiko smiled at him. "Thank you." They grabbed Mammon's hand.

Mammon blushed but squeezed their hand in return.

Everyone looked at them when they entered the dining hall.

"Hey! So today Hoshiko feels like a guy and we're gonna make her feel- well, him-"

Hoshiko nudged him.

He stopped talking and looked at Hoshiko.

"You can just use they/them," Hoshiko told him.

"Right!" He looked back at his brothers. "So we're gonna make them feel comfortable and if ya don't, I'll kill ya," he was actually the most serious Hoshiko had ever seen him.

Hoshiko squeezed his hand. "Calm down, it's not that serious."

He looked back at Hoshiko. "Yes it is. Your feelings are important."

Hoshiko smiled at him. "I appreciate you saying that."

"Mammon is right," Lucifer spoke before dabbing his mouth with a napkin.

Hoshiko and Mammon looked at him.

"Your feelings are important, Hoshiko. If there's anything you need or if anyone gives you any flak, you let me know," only Lucifer could say something so sweet, yet so venom filled.

Hoshiko nodded. "I will, thank you."

Lucifer nodded. "Of course."

"Have you always felt this way?" Satan asked Hoshiko.

Hoshiko looked at him. "Uh... it's hard to say. It's only been in the last like... 3 years that I had the terminology to describe how I feel."

"And what is the correct terminology?" Satan asked as he pulled out his DDD and opened up a note taking app.

"I'm genderfluid. Which means I don't fit into the typical binary model of gender. Even though I am biologically female, I don't always want to present myself as traditionally female."

"Conforming to gender norms when it comes to clothing is so boring," Asmo commented. "You should just do what makes you happy."

Hoshiko smiled at him. "I like that. Thank you."

Asmo smiled brightly at them. "Of course, love!"

"So wait..." Belphie started.

Everyone looked at him.

"This is new to everyone, not just me?"

Beel nodded. "This is the first I've heard of it."

"So, you've felt like this for at least 3 years?" Belphie asked Hoshiko.

Hoshiko blushed and nodded, understanding what Belphie was getting at.

"Why didn't you say something sooner?" Levi asked.

"I didn't feel comfortable showing y'all until now. Even getting ready this morning I was nervous as hell."

Levi only nodded.

"Okay, I think that's enough questions for now," Lucifer interjected. "It's time to get to school."

Hoshiko was actually grateful that Lucifer had stopped them from asking them questions, they could feel themself getting overwhelmed.

Hoshiko smiled slightly at Lucifer before getting up and clearing their plate from the table.

The brothers followed suit, then everyone left for RAD together.

True to his word, Mammon stayed next to Hoshiko all day, though they didn't really need any protecting as they had originally thought.

After school, at the student council meeting, Diavolo asked Hoshiko how their first day presenting as a male was.

"It went well! Most folks were more curious anything. Azazel asked if I actually did have magical abilities because of how I changed my appearance. I thought that was funny. And Solomon offered to teach me how to make potions to deepen my voice for when I want to present as a guy. And Mephistopheles said I was stunning no matter how I presented..."

Most of the brothers rolled their eyes, but Mammon let out a little growl.

Hoshiko smacked his arm. "He was just bein' nice."

"Uh huh..." he crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair.

Diavolo chuckled at their interaction. "Well I'm glad today went so well for you, Hoshiko."

Hoshiko grinned. "I was really surprised, I thought that maybe at least a couple folks would give me hard time, but no one did."

"Demons are not usually so concerned with presentations of gender like that," Barbatos informed them.

"Oh... well I wish I had known that sooner, I wouldn't have been freaking out as much about today."

"That's not true," Barbatos corrected them.

Hoshiko pouted. "I don't like it when you call me out like that."

Barbatos chuckled softly.

Diavolo grinned. "Well I'm glad that our residents didn't take advantage of Hoshiko being a human when they changed their appearance. This is good for the exchange program!"

"I concur," Lucifer interjected.

"Well that concludes today's meeting," Diavolo announced before standing up.

Everyone else stood up with him.

Diavolo left the table before anyone else moved.

Asmo ran over to Hoshiko. "Hoshiko! Do you want to go shopping? We can pick you out some more masculine looking clothes if you want."

Hoshiko grinned. "I'd like that."

"I'm goin' too," Mammon declared.

Asmo pouted. "Why do you have to go?"

"Hoshiko asked me to stay by their side all day, so that's what I'm gonna do!"

Hoshiko chuckled. "That was when I thought I was gonna get made fun of or even beat up. I know I'll be okay now, so you don't have to stay with me."

"Nope. You asked so I'm gonna stay with you all day. The Great Mammon doesn't break a promise."

"What?! Since when?!" Levi interjected. "You still haven't paid me back!"

"Yeah, you obviously just want to be next to Hoshiko," Asmo pointed out.

"What?! That ain't so!" Mammon protested as a blush appeared on his cheeks.

Hoshiko chuckled at them. "Come on, we can all go shopping. It's not that big of a deal."

Asmo sighed. "Alright, as long as you're happy." He smiled slightly.

"We'll all be happy, I'll treat you two to dinner afterwards," Hoshiko promised.

Asmo beamed. "Okay!"

The trio went out to go shopping and went out to dinner before returning home to the House of Lamentation.

Hoshiko walked in sporting a new lavender suit and purple dress shirt.

Asmo insisted on showing them off to everyone in the house.

Hoshiko got a little embarrassed when Asmo dragged them to Lucifer's study. "Asmo, he doesn't care..."

"That's not true! Lucifer!" Asmo called as they walked into the study.

Lucifer looked up at them from where he sat at his desk.

"Look at our handsome little exchange student!" He exclaimed as he spun them around, giving Lucifer the full view.

Hoshiko was blushing.

Lucifer chuckled. "You look nice, Hoshiko. Though it is apparent that Asmo picked out that suit."

"That doesn't sound like a compliment," Asmo said with a pout.

"I just think Hoshiko would look better in something darker."

"There's more colors besides black and red, Lucifer," Asmo informed him.

Hoshiko chuckled at their interaction.

Lucifer glanced at Hoshiko briefly. "Asmo, would you leave us? I'd like to speak to Hoshiko alone for a moment."

"Ooh, okay!" Asmo sang just before leaving the room.

Hoshiko felt their ears get hot. "Uh, am I in trouble?"

"No, not at all. Please, take a seat." He motioned to a chair right in front of his desk.

Hoshiko nodded and sat down, crossing their legs as they did so.

"I just wanted to ask how your day went."

"It went well, you were there in the meeting when I told Lord Diavolo how it went."

"I just wanted to verify that nothing has changed since then. Make sure my brothers haven't harassed you about it."

Hoshiko laughed. "No, it's been fine. I appreciate your concern though."

Lucifer smirked. "How has your stay in Devildom been, thus far?"

"Aside from nearly dying like four times, it's been great!" Hoshiko teased.

Lucifer pursed his lips. "Right..."

"I'm only kidding with you. I've actually had a good time and I've learned a lot... it's kinda sad to think about how I'll be leaving in just a couple months."

Lucifer smiled slightly. "I'm glad you think of it that way."

"It certainly helped that all my housemates were hot too," Hoshiko told him with a wink.

Lucifer couldn't help the blush that rose to his cheeks. "Hoshiko," he chided.

Hoshiko snickered. "I'm just teasing you. That's a good thing. It means I'm comfortable with you now."

Lucifer hummed. "Should you be?"

"Is there a reason I shouldn't be?" Hoshiko asked with a sly smile.

Lucifer stared them down, frustrated at his inability to give them an answer. "... Regardless, we've been happy to host you. I'm glad you were chosen for the program."

Hoshiko rolled their eyes. "Are you going to continue to be this formal until I leave?"

"Perhaps," Lucifer replied simply.

"Uh huh." Hoshiko stood up and straightened their suit jacket. "Well I will be upfront with my feelings and tell you that I like you and all your brothers and I'm really enjoying my time here... I hope we can all still be good friends after I leave."

Lucifer watched them and smiled slightly. "I think my brothers will be lost without you here."

"I think I'll be lost without all their crazy antics keeping me busy," Hoshiko laughed.

Lucifer chuckled.

"Hoshiko!" Asmo squealed as they ran into the room and went to hide behind Hoshiko.

"Speaking of crazy antics," Hoshiko said to Lucifer before looking at Asmo. "What is-?"

Hoshiko jumped at being suddenly sprayed in the back of the head with water. They whipped around to see Mammon standing in the doorway with a water gun.

"Oh you're gonna get it now!" Hoshiko told him with a grin.

"Good luck catching me!" Mammon told them before running away.

Hoshiko quickly ran after him.

Asmo ran after the two, not wanting to miss out on the fun.

Lucifer shook his head with a soft smile on his face. He knew the "crazy antics" would never stop, but he was grateful for a particular human that had caused them to become less deadly.

[jd-loves-fiction]

could you write a soulmate au drabble with agent whiskey or din? thank you <3

🌙 i made the reader female i hope that's alright 🥺 but i really enjoyed this idea :)) also this is a genuinely interesting idea to me that I'd love to expand on if y'all are ever interested on a full one shot or something ❤️

[16:10] "You really ain't gonna make this easy, are you, sweetheart?"

"You're gonna have to try a little harder, cowboy!" You shout back to the man currently shooting at you, clutching the arm one of his bullets managed to graze.

“Just give up, darling!” Agent Whiskey tries again to coax you out of your hiding spot and into his arms.

You don’t answer, instead running out of your hiding spot and hoping that he’s turned away from you. He’s not.

The moment his eyes catch your form running from one cover to another, Whiskey reaches for his lasso, remembering to keep in on the non-lethal setting, per his boss’ order to bring you in alive.

The rope catches your ankle, throwing you off your feet and into the snow covered grow. You immediately try to stand again, which makes Whiskey give out a frustrated groan before he sends you hurling towards a nearby tree, knocking you out instantly. He feels a strange, harsh tug at his heart as he watches your limp body hit the ground.

"I'm sorry, sugar, I know that's gotta hurt." Jack throws you over his shoulder more gently than he usually does to enemies. He can't find a reason for it though.

You wake up what you assume is a few hours later, aching all over and groaning at the excessive amount of lights in your face.

You attempt to move your arms, only to find that they're tied to the chair you're sitting on.

You assume you're about to be interrogated, but the room you sit in would make you think otherwise in a different context.

The room is completely white, all the walls and the ceiling, even the floor. A large reflective window stares back at you. Or at least you think it's a window, could just be a big mirror. There's also a table with a chair in front of you and maybe if you try to knock it over you could-

The door opens and in steps the man who had chased you. You can see it even without turning your head, not wanting to show him how lost you are. But you do feel the need to scoff, purely due to the situation, and not due to something in you, as your heart feels weirdly tight in the man's presence.

He walks slowly towards the vacant chair in front of you, boots clicking against what you assume is something like concrete. You keep your head lowered as he sits, legs spread while he has an arm on top of the chair, clearly meaning to establish some sort of superiority, but you won't have it. This is what you excel at.

The agent looks you over for a moment before taking off his hat and placing it on the table behind himself, exposing his curly brown hair that looks way too soft and his eyes bore into you with such intensity despite they're apparent softness-

"Are you comfortable?"

The question throws you off completely. What the hell?

You glare at the man after getting over your initial shock, figuring out that he's serious.

"Can I get you any--"

"Can you just get to the point?"

Whiskey blinks at your bluntness for a moment, before shaking his head. He looks back at you, meeting the fire in your eyes with the curiosity of his. Your fire wavers at the dept before you.

"Just tryin' to be polite, darling. I'm a gentleman, you see." The way he nods his head as he speaks let's you know he would've been tipping his hat in that moment if he hadn't taken it off.

"A gentleman, huh?" Your voice drips with mischievous intent at first, then with poison as you grow bitter while your back and head keep pounding as a reminder of how you got your ass handed to you. "Not very gentlemanly to hit a woman, is it?"

The unnamed agent leans back, seemingly to get away from the hostility you exude.

"I really am sorry, sugar. I do feel bad for it." Why though?

"But how about we start this again?" He offers amicably before you can comment on the absurdity of an agent being regretful of hitting their target. Woman or otherwise.

"You can call me Agent Whiskey. What can I call you, sweetheart?"

"Cola." The man is once again surprised, but also interested, by your answer. But he nods.

"Alright, Cola, who do you work for?" Jack doesn't expect a straight answer, it just doesn't happen. But you seem determined to surprise him.

"A woman named Poppy. That's all I know, it's all I've been told." You have to admit, that expression does look good on him. The wide eyes, raised brows, slightly parted lips.

"How is that all you know?" Jack swallows thickly as you adjust your position, leg brushing his and lighting a fire beneath his skin that he'd felt before when carrying you back to headquarters. Are you just always hot or-

That question answers itself, he thinks.

"Listen here, Agent," Your voice is silky smooth as you lower your volume, hoping to appear mellow and helpless. You know his type of guy and how they work. You also decide to pointedly ignore the stutter of your heart and the sudden heat on your cheeks at his close proximity when he moves, as expected, closer. "I don't work as one of her goons, or something. I'm a mercenary and I work for myself. So, yeah, that's all I know about my employer."

Regret settled on the pit of your stomach at your own callous tone. What are all these emotions, that feel yours but also distant, disconnected.

"Can you let me go now? I have work to do."

Agent Whiskey leans back once more, crossing his arms and sighing. This was much easier than he had pictured, given how hard you fought back when he attempted to capture you.

But he still needs to get some more answers out of you.

"Let's make a deal, shall we?"

"And why would I do that?" You sigh, rolling your eyes in exasperation.

"You wanna get out of here, right sugar?" He offers, lip curling just slightly into what looks like a cocky smile to you. Your blood still sings at the sight of it. "Plus, we can trade secrets."

Your brows furrow. What secrets could he possibly have that would interest you? Perhaps something negative about Poppy to try and get you to change sides.

"If it's about Poppy, save your breath. Whatever it is, I already know."

"Not quite." Jack comments, southern drawl dripping like honey before he moves his chair closer. You get distracted by his sweet voice before the scrapping of the metal chair breaks you out of your haze and you lean back and away from him. He seems apprehensive because of this, lowering the hand that had reached out to you.

"You ever wonder about that little symbol on your arm?"

You look down at the limb he points at, your upper arm, wrapped in a bandage which is stained red. "You mean the one you shot?"

"I already told you I'm-"

"Doesn't change shit. What are you implying?"

"It's unfinished, isn't it?"

"Why do you say that? Could just be a choice I made." You instantly turn defensive at what you interpret as a know-it-all tone. How can he be so sure he knows literally anything about you?

The irony of the fact that you feel as if you know everything about him, despite truthfully knowing nothing at all, isn't lost on you.

Jack begins shedding his dark blue suit jacket, placing it on the table behind him. He then starts rolling up his sleeve on the same arm as the one of yours he shot. You would've blushed if you weren't so interested in what he has to say.

A dark symbol is revealed on his tan skin, just as seemingly incomplete as yours. The ink shifts slightly, like moving mist, as the agent shuffles closer.

It looks almost like a still wet, watercolor painting. And you know that, on your arm, there's an identical symbol.

But you still motion for Whiskey to at least untie your one arm. He unties both, upon seeing that you had no intention of hitting him, at the moment. Your legs are still tied but that's not what you want to focus on.

You look at the dark ink on your arm, just below the bandage. It's bigger, larger than it's ever been before. And it matches his.

You slowly raise your arm, watching as he does the same. As you do, the symbols complete themselves just as slowly.

Until your palms meet his warm and rough ones and you're sure the images look whole now, but all you can look to is his deep brown eyes.

You feel the pull from before, tugging at your heartstrings and burning up your blood like dynamite, slowly waiting to explode in an outburst of affection you wish to avoid.

Slowly, carefully, as if approaching a wild animal, Jack intertwines his fingers with yours, squeezing in reassurance.

Poppy will be left waiting for your return for a long while.

[peppermint2d]

F#$%ing uh Calm After the Storm cuz the Storm Thing

guys this is 10k words already ripppp

chapter 1, chapter 2

Chapter 3

The emergency lantern was still on, dimly illuminating the room. That's when you spotted the alcohol from last night or perhaps lack thereof. The bottle was completely empty. Luckily it was not that large or both of you would have died from alcohol poisoning. (Drink responsibly!) The terrible hangover symptoms make a lot more sense now, normally you barely suffer from a night out.

You snuggle into the bed as much as your constraints would allow, the warmth and comfort easing your headache. As you move, you feel something crumble on your neck. You use your burnt arm to lightly touch what it was, only to find it to be dried snot. Ew. You were going to need a shower later. 2D lightly snores his head by your shoulder like how it was last night, not that you remembered. A trail of dried snot fell from his nose, and the thought that he sobbed on you tore you up. At least he looked at peace while he slept. With the soft light from the lamp, his eyebags were barely visible. His worry lines disappeared completely. His big, lost eyes were closed. He looked innocent and untroubled, how you imagined him to be were it not for Murdoc. You appreciated the rest of his face too. His button nose twitched while he slept. The clean line of his jaw. His thick eyebrows, surprisingly, do not make him look angry but adorable. It was about time that you admitted, to yourself at least, that you found all of him adorable, not just his eyebrows. His smile, his clumsy movements, his accent, his habit of being so attentive, it was all adorable. You liked adorable. You liked drawing adorable, you liked watching movies with adorable, you liked holding hands with adorable, you liked getting drunk with adorable. Hell, you even liked having hangovers with adorable, so long as you got to wake up captured in adorable's embrace.

Adorable, adorable, adorable.

His whimpers and flinching snapped you out of your trance. He frowned, "No...no..." he whispered, sounding in pain. "Lemme out! I'm in 'ere!" He started to shout and thrash around, messing up the covers, and even hitting you a couple times (only slightly less adorable than normal). None of which helped your hangover.

"2D, wake up. You're having a nightmare." You gently pushed him. That did nothing to change his behaviour. "D!" you said more forcefully. He calms down and then opens his eyes.

He sits up and rubs his eyes. "What's, What's goin on?"

"You were having a nightmare. How are you doing?" It was awkward. You didn't know if he was aware of how you two were sleeping before his nightmare. Would touching him be inappropriate right now? You refrained from doing so.

"From one nightmare to anofer, this 'angover will be the deaf of me." he grumbled.

"At least only one is real." You stand and go over to where he took out the ibuprofen yesterday. You open the drawer and find it filled to the bring with drugs. Thankfully, most of the bottles were empty, but 2D had enough pills here to turn quite a profit. Most had unpronounceable names and were completely foreign to you. Why does he have so many painkillers?

"Bof were real for me. I was relivin me coma." He said nonchalantly. He saw you shuffling through his pills. "Jus bring the lot of 'em ofer, I take make me mornin mix."

You grabbed as many as you could and brought them over. You wanted to ask about his experience, but if it bad enough to give him nightmares, then perhaps it's best left alone. "I guess it was a good thing I woke you up then?"

"It's always good to wake up to yew." He dumped around six pills into his hand and dry swallowed them like a professional. You were concerned about his drug habits and confused by his forwardness.

"Yeah, thanks for letting me crash here."

2D's grin slightly fell as he looked at you. He reached out and touched your neck with his finger, brushing away some of the dried goop on there. "Sorry for cryin on yew last night."

You lightly chuckled and you could still feel his ghosting over your skin. "I thought that might have been you."

"Yew don remember what 'appened?" He pulled his hand away.

"Should I?" Did something important happen last night? You worried that you were forgetting a pivotal moment.

"No, it's fine. I'll take yew to the showers to wash up." He got up and stretched, the shirt rising to expose his stomach, causing you to flush and turn away. You hoped you would remember if you made any advancements in that department. He leaves his outfit from last night on the floor, adding to the piles of clothes already there, as he walks to his closet. "Do yew need somefin to wear after your shower?"

You flush even deeper. You had forgotten about that. "Yes, please. Sorry."

"Don apologize! I 'ave enough for the bof of us." He pulled out a white tee and some loose black shorts. "These are the cleanest clothes I 'ave. I'll throw yours in the wash."

You grab them from him. "Thanks, D."

He leads you to the showers. "I'll be waitin in the kitchen for yew. See if I can grab us some breakfast."

You thank him and step inside. You set the clothes down and lock the door, stripping down now that Murdoc won't accidentally enter. 2D insisted that Murdoc doesn't even shower in the first place, but you still felt apprehensive. You nearly screamed when you turned on the water and it was ice cold. You fiddle with the knobs a bit. Burning hot, freezing cold. You start to understand Murdoc's position better. You finally managed to get it slightly not cold and reached for the soaps, finding 2D's cedarwood and vanilla scent.

It was so intimate. You felt like you were violating his privacy like you were borrowing a piece of his identity, his scent, at least until it wears off. You were secretly thrilled by it, smelling like him. Would he care? Would he notice? Would others notice? And, as Russel had before, suggest something that you desperately wanted? The smell washed over you like it did the first night you were with him. Only two days ago, you wanted nothing more than the interview to be over, to be finished. But now, you had made a great friend, and, you selfishly hope, something more.

After you finished rubbing your neck raw, you step out and put on the clothes 2D gave you. You took off the bandage he wrapped, and the edges of the burn had started to scar. He forgot a towel, so you were soaking wet. You left a trail of droplets as you navigated the halls you have memorized by now.

You were shivering by the time you reached the kitchen, your soaked through clothes doing little to help with the heat. 2D saw you enter and turned slightly red at the sight of you in his clothes. He wouldn't tell you, but it was the first time since Paula that someone else was wearing his clothes. He then noticed that you were shivering. "Yew cold again? Russ managed to get the stove on wifout anyone burnin so I'll bring you a cuppa."

"When you and 2D disappeared halfway through yesterday, Noodle got worried and thought y'all were kidnapped. She'll be glad to see that I was right about what really happened to you." Russel said, sitting on the couch, smirking again.

You blush furiously, getting his implication, and join him on the couch. "Russel! We didn't do anything!" You say in hushed tones, hoping 2D in the other room doesn't pick up on anything.

"Who said I said about you to doing anything?" He raised his eyebrow and grinned. Checkmate. You groaned and shield your blushing face from Russel, causing him to chuckle. "You know, I haven't seen 2D this open since-" He stopped himself.

"Paula?"

He nodded. "I'm surprised he told you about that. Look, you two are very close, hell you're wearing one of his favourite shirts and you smell like him. You seem to bring out a new version of 2D, he isn't even that worried about Murdoc anymore. I like this 2D. But, I gotta warn ya, other people may not. A broken person is easier to control than a happy one." Russel looked at you knowingly. "That being said, if you make him broken again. I will break you. Understood?"

You nod vigorously. "Crystal clear!"

"What are yew talkin about?" 2D comes over with a tray of food and two steaming mugs.

"Weather!" You blurt out as Russel says "Politics!"

2D looked confused as he set the food down. "Right. I brought us some oatmeal and I 'ope yew like peppermint tea."

"What? Come on, why does she get some, but when I want to use just one teabag, you smack it outta my hands!" Russel complained, throwing his hands into the air.

"It was the last one in the box!"

"You and I both know that you keep three boxes in Kong" he grumbled.

"Some pretty special tea then?" You ask.

"I drink it whenefer I need a pick-me-up!"

"Explains why you drink it so much," Russel said.

"To fink I was gonna give yew a cup too!" 2D feigns hurt as Russel vehemently apologizes. 2D eventually concedes and leaves to make a cup.

"See," Russel turns back to you, "two weeks ago he slapped me. Now, I get the tea. Not much has changed here other than you."

You blush. "I really didn't think I was doing anything."

"You help remind him of the outside world. That is doesn't always have to be how it is in Kong. This place can really suck the life out of you. You should stay in contact, even after you leave."

"Are you doing okay, Russel?"

He avoided your gaze. "Not really. But it helps to have a new face here. Somethin to shake things up a little."

You saw 2D approaching again. "Well, then I hope his tea is as good as he promises."

"What are yew talkin about dis time?" 2D said again, as if on repeat.

"Politics." you say as Russel goes "Weather." You look at each other and start laughing.

"We really need to get that down." You insist. 2D sets down Russel's matching mug and sits by you. "Always loved tea. It reminds me of Austen's writing."

"Friendship is certainly the finest balm for the pangs of disappointed love." 2D recites in a posh accent. You all chuckle at his poor imitation of it.

"I didn't know you could read!" Russel jests.

The conversation then shifts towards literature and you learned how well-read your companions are. It goes unspoken that 2D remembered the quote because of Paula's disappointed love.

The impromptu book club breaks up when Noodle and then Murdoc enter the kitchen. Noodle grabs a box of cereal and starts eating from it. "Ohayo!"

"Good morning!" You call back. Russel and 2D both look surprised. "You're telling me that you've been living with someone who exclusively speaks Japanese and you haven't tried to learn any?"

They both grumble. "We... make do." Russel finally manages.

"Hello, pet." Murdoc gently whispers, suddenly appearing by your ear, causing you to yelp. His presence scared off 2D who went to the kitchen to refill the tea. He breathes in. "You smell like the Face Ache." He growled. "I know what you're trying to do. You can't take my singer away from me."

He then stepped away from you and walked to the windows, saying loudly: "Would you look at that, the storm's slowing down."

You got his hint. "Right. Then I best pack my things."

2D looked crestfallen. "What? Yew's leavin already?"

"Yeah, sorry D, but I think I may have overstayed my welcome."

"I'll 'elp yew pack up then." He sighed and led you to where your clothes were.

It was a rather anticlimactic packing up. You kept trying to drop hints ("Your bed was so comfy, I'd love to sleep over again." "Your hair was so soft last night, I'm sure I dreamt it up") which he kept avoiding ("Yeah, it's a nice bed, innit." "Nah, it's normally pretty soft."), so you decided to stop altogether.

When you reached the front door, the rest of the band was waiting. Noodle acted first, giving you a hug "Sayonara!" You wished her farewell in return.

Russel was next and gave you a bear hug. "Don't forget our agreement." He whispered into your ear. "Wouldn't dream of it." You whisper back.

You hold out your hand for Murdoc to shake, but he just scoffs, so you move on to 2D.

"I'm going to miss you."

"I'll miss yew more, love!" He gave you a tight squeeze. You two were slow to pull away, but when you did, you caught sight of tears in his eyes that matched your own. He hands you something. "'ere's me number so yew can call."

"This won't be the last you hear from me, D." And with that, you got back into your rusty company car and left Kong Studios, but couldn't leave behind the thought of a blue-haired singer.

[idy-ll-ique]

Will You Marry Me?

Pairing: Jake Gyllenhaal x F!Reader

Warnings: None

Genre: Pure Fluff

Requested: Nope

Summary: Y/N babysits her sister's son and Jake decides to propose.

Author's Note: Hi! I'm currently working on a fanfic requested by @rougese7en but it's not over yet so till that time enjoy this already written fic.

Y/N - Your Name

Y/S/N - Your Sister's Name

[Husband]- Your Sister's Husband's Name (tf)

---

Y/N POV:

"Really, now, you want me to look after Try?" I sighed. My sister looked at me pleadingly. "Please, Y/N, [Husband] and I have not enjoyed for 4 years, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity!"

"Exaggerating but alright," I chuckled. Really, Tristan was a handful. He was my nephew, my sister's boy. At only 4 years old, he knew how to wreak havoc very well. "Please?"

"I'll stay, don't worry. Dates with Jake will come and go," I told her and she hugged me tightly. "Thank you so much, Y/N, you're the best," [Husband] grinned. They were already dressed for the evening. 

Tristan then came out of the kitchen, covered in flour, coughing. "Tristan!" my sister sighed as I burst out laughing. "I'll look after him, you guys enjoy," I wheezed as my sister gave Tristan a look of disappointment. 

Tristan simply grinned at her. "Alright, baby, mommy's not gonna hug you because then you'll ruin her dress. Goodbye!" she cooed at him. "Say goodbye to mommy and daddy?" [Husband] asked. 

"Bye!" Tristan squealed and ran back into the kitchen. Two minutes later, we heard a thud. My sister groaned as her husband dragged her out of the house, laughing. Tristan walked back outside. 

"Did you fall?" I asked him as he sat on the floor in front of the couch, teary eyed. "Yes, auntie Y/N," he sniffled. I snorted and dialled Jake's number. If you didn't know, I was dating Jake Gyllenhaal. 

We had been dating for seven years now. "Y/N? Aw come on, don't tell me you're cancelling?!" Jake whined as soon as he picked up the call. "Sorry, bubba, I have to. I'm looking after Tristan, you're welcome to join."

"That monster? Hell no," Jake scoffed and I laughed. Jake and I knew each other's families very well by now. "Your call. I'm staying, my sis and bro have already left, I have no choice."

"I understand, sweetie. Well, why don't we reschedule for tomorrow?" he offered. "Sounds like a plan. I gotta go now, Tristan's covered in flour and I have to give him a bath and clean the kitchen."

"Enjoy," Jake cooed condescendingly. "Duck off, you a-hole," I growled and the last thing I heard as I ended the call was Jake's wheezing. "Tristan, let's give you a bath, come on darling."

He stood up and walked towards the bathroom. I first went to his room and got his towel. When I returned to the bathroom, I had to refrain myself from laughing. Tristan, clothing still intact, was sitting in the bathtub. 

The faucet was on, spraying water on Tristan. This was too cute not to tape. I whipped out my phone and started recording him. "Tristan, what are you doing?" I asked him. "Taking a bath!"

"You… you gotta take off your clothes, little man," I chuckled. "No you don't," Tristan scoffed, grinning and squealing at the cold water falling on him. Geez, this kid. I ended the video and sent it to Jake.

Trying to bathe him, gone wrong. 

I helped Tristan undress, turned on the hot water and finally gave Tristan a proper bath. I don't know how my sister had been doing this for 4 years. After we were done, I wrapped a towel around him. 

I carried Tristan to his bedroom and put him in his pajamas. I heard a 'bing!' on my phone when I was putting him in a t-shirt. Tristan ran out of the room as I picked up my phone. Jake had replied. 

Nearly died laughing. That kid is chaotic 🤣

I chuckled and kept my phone away. I walked out of the room and went to the sitting room. Tristan was sitting on the couch, trying to turn the TV on. "You need help, little guy?" I asked him. 

He handed the remote to me and I put on Peppa Pig on the TV. Tristan was silent for a long time after that, so I decided to go clean the kitchen. Thankfully, there was only flour to clean up, nothing else. 

As soon as I was done with that, I heard Tristan screaming. I ran outside, scared and laughed when I understood what was going on. Tristan was crying grossly because Peppa dropped her ice cream onscreen. 

One more memorable moment. I paused the TV at the exact time Peppa had dropped the ice cream and started recording Tristan. "Tristan? Honey, what's wrong?" I asked him. 

"Ice cream," Tristan sobbed, hastily wiping his tears as more and more tears rolled down his cheeks. "But it's not your ice cream…" I said, a small chuckle escaping my lips. 

"Huh? It's not?" Tristan asked, his breath hitching. "No!" I laughed this time. "Okay…" Tristan muttered and sniffled, wiping his tears. I cleaned up his face and planted a kiss on his forehead. 

"Auntie Y/N is going to make dinner for you now. What do you want to eat?" I asked him with a smile. "Chicken nuggets!" Tristan said with a broad grin. To be honest, I wanted those too. 

"How about we eat dinner from McDonald's today? Only if you won't tell mommy," I whispered to him, recording him for the second time. "Yeah! You promise, auntie?" he whispered back. I nodded. 

His face lit up as he gave me an enthusiastic high-five. I sat next to him and sent both the videos to Jake. He's crying because Peppa dropped her ice cream smh and Don't tell mommy ;) 

I called up McDonald's, placed our orders and ended the call. I sat watching Peppa Pig with Tristan afterwards. Honestly, why did I stop watching this show, again? It was so freaking hilarious for an adult. 

I heard a 'bing!' on my phone and checked it out. Jake had replied to both the videos. Little kids 🤦🏻‍♂ and You're spoiling him. You're spoiling your nephew, Y/N. I laughed at the second one. 

What? I'm his best auntie, you have to use dishonest means to maintain that position. A few seconds later, Jake replied, Whatever, you dishonest woman. I think he had nothing better to do. 

Shut up. I kept my phone away after sending that message. A few minutes later, the bell rang. "Me!" Tristan yelled and ran to open the door. I started recording him again. Whatever he did was funny. It was the delivery guy from McDonald's.

He struggled a bit to open the door but finally when he did, his face fell as he realized there was another door outside. I captured the expression perfectly and laughed to myself. 

"Step aside, baby, let auntie handle it," I cooed at the boy and he walked away, sulking. I paid for the order and brought the bags inside. "McDonald's!" Tristan grinned, following me to the kitchen. 

It was comical how fast his mood changed. "Wait, let me put it on a plate, it'll be easier for you to eat," I laughed as he bounced on his feet next to me. He stood still as I took out his box of chicken nuggets. 

I put them on his plate, emptied two sauce packets in the side compartment and put his fries in the plate. "We're sitting in the dining room." Tristan screamed, "No!" I sighed. I loved him too much to deny him anything. 

"Fine, we can sit in front of the TV, only if you don't spill anything," I told him with a small smile. "Yay!" he yelled out happily and ran outside. I chuckled and texted Jake. He's throwing tantrums. 

What did he do? Jake replied a few minutes later as I prepared my own plate of food. Chicken nuggets, fries and a Big Mac. Tristan didn't like burgers yet, so I knew he wouldn't steal my food. 

I told him we were sitting in the dining room, screamed until I told him we could sit in the living room. I love him too much to deny him anything :') I texted back. 

Sheesh, Y/N. Be a little firm on that young man, he'll become spoilt. Hold up, I'm joining y'all. My eyes widened and I grinned broadly. I kept my phone away and carried the food outside. 

Tristan was patiently waiting for his food, watching Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom. "Uncle Jake is joining us," I told Tristan as he delved right into his food. "Uncle Jakey? From TV?"

That's how Tristan knew Jake. Tristan and I were watching Spider-Man: Far From Home one day and when Mysterio came on, I told Tristan he was my boyfriend. Tristan was in awe. 

Then, when it was revealed Mysterio was the bad guy, Tristan spent the rest of the movie crying. "What if he hurts you, auntie Y/N?!" Tristan had reasoned. Us adults had a good laugh about it. 

---

I was finished with my food and Tristan had finished his fries when I heard the roaring of a bike outside. "Uncle Jakey?" Tristan asked happily, leaving his food as he stood up. 

Again, I began recording it. Tristan went to the window and looked outside, trying to see in the dark. I noticed Jake straight away as he parked his bike in the driveway. Then he made his way to the door. 

Jake rang the bell and Tristan squealed. He was chanting 'Uncle Jakey' the whole time he tried to open the door. I was recording him the entire time, stifling my laughter. Tristan opened the main door. 

He opened the safety door by himself successfully too. I openly laughed as Tristan threw himself on Jake, yelling 'Uncle Jakey!' for the last time. Jake took a few steps backwards, catching Tristan with an 'oof'. I was definitely putting this on Instagram. 

I ended the video as Jake carried Tristan inside. "Miss me that much?" he chuckled. "Yeah!" Tristan grinned. "Ooh, do I see chicken nuggets? Are they for me?" Jake asked excitedly, trying to get Tristan to go back to his food so he could say hi to me. 

"No! Mine," Tristan screeched, running back to his food. I swear, he was so energetic sometimes. "Hi babe," Jake said, looking at me with a soft smile. "Hey," I smiled back, giving him a small peck on the lips. 

"I missed you a lot," Jake whispered to me, putting his arm around my waist as we walked back to the couch. "I've been gone for 4 hours," I chuckled, "But yeah, I missed you too."

Jake and I sat down on the couch. "Uncle Jakey, do you know Ben and Holly?" Tristan asked the grown man, looking up at us with sauce all over his lips. I laughed, sitting next to him on the floor. 

I grabbed the tissue Jake handed to me from the nearby tissue box and wiped Tristan's face. "No, buddy, who are they?" Jake grinned at Tristan. "These guys! They're elves and fairies!"

"Really? That's awesome! Who's that man in the blue clothes with that white beard?" Jake asked Tristan. "He's the Wise Old Elf! He's wise, he's old and he's an elf!" Tristan said and pretended to blow a horn. 

"Wow, that's awesome." I was watching Jake and Tristan interact with a small smile on my face. Honestly, I would love to start a family with Jake. Jake would be an amazing father. We weren't married, though; I wanted to be married before having kids.

After Tristan was done eating, I took the empty plates to the kitchen while Tristan got up and sat on Jake's lap. I could hear Tristan explaining the show to Jake, who listened patiently to humor him. 

I chuckled and cleaned up the plates, keeping them away. I walked out after wiping my hands on the washcloth and sat next to the two boys. We changed the channel and searched for some good movies. 

Avengers: Age of Ultron was on one channel. "This one! Captain America!" Tristan squealed, excitedly pointing at the screen. "Alright, kiddo, your call," I chuckled. We watched the movie until it was Tristan's bedtime. 

Thankfully for Jake and I, Tristan was very sleepy by the time his bedtime rolled around. "Goodnight, baby," I cooed as I carried Tristan to his bedroom. I helped him brush his teeth and clean up before bed. 

When I was about to put the half-asleep baby on his bed, he whined. I brought him away from the bed and he fell silent. I took him near the bed and he whined again. "No!" he sobbed. The third time, he leaked a few tears. I could wait until he was fully asleep… 

I took him back outside and Jake muted the TV. "What happened?" he asked, frowning. "Try wouldn't sleep on the bed. I'll wait until he's fully asleep," I whispered to Jake. He nodded. 

I sat back down next to Jake and cradled Tristan in my arms. The tiny tot laid his head on my shoulder and I patted him on the back, rocking him until he was out cold. I sighed in relief but as soon as I tried to stand, Tristan whined. 

"Oh God," I sighed. When I sat still, Tristan became quiet. I decided to hold him for a while longer, until I was sure he was fully asleep. Jake laid down on the couch, putting his head on my lap. "What am I, a pillow?"

"Yeah. You're comfortable." He smiled at me. "You know, this would be so awesome. You, me, our baby…" he whispered, taking my hand. I held Tristan with one hand as Jake caressed the other one. 

"I know, I was thinking about it. But we have to be married for that," I chuckled. "Alright, then. Y/N Y/L/N, will you marry me?" Jake asked, sitting up. My breath caught in my throat. 

"For real?" I whispered, tearing up. "Yes, Mrs Gyllenhaal," he smiled, tears shining in his own eyes as he took out a ring box from the pocket of his jeans. I nodded gently, trying my best to not wake Tristan up.

"Wait, were you going to propose on our date tonight?"

"I was, yeah."

Jake slipped the beautiful ring on the ring finger of my left hand, leaning in to give me a kiss. "I love you, Mrs Gyllenhaal," he whispered, pulling back. "I love you too, Mr Gyllenhaal," I chuckled. 

Jake laid back down on the couch, his head on my lap as he caressed my left hand, kissing the palm, the fingers and the ring. A few minutes later, Jake fell asleep. He had had a busy day. 

I smiled softly as I looked at my two precious boys. "I love you two so much," I whispered to myself, kissing Tristan on the head. I stayed up, watching a movie on mute with subtitles until my sister and her husband came home. 

"Y/N? Oh my God, thank you so much! Jake's here too, I guess you got that date after all," my sister whispered happily as they stepped into the room. Jake woke up immediately, sitting up. 

"Hey Y/S/N, hey [Husband]," he yawned, rubbing his eyes. [Husband] took Tristan from my arms and carried him to his bedroom. "Hold up, Y/N, what's that?" my sister asked as Jake and I stood up. She was looking at my ring. 

"Jake proposed an hour ago," I told her and she teared up, smiling broadly. "I'm so happy for you guys! Congratulations!" she grinned, throwing her arms over both of us. Jake and I chuckled. 

"[Husband], come here!" Y/S/N called out and he walked out of Tristan's room. "Yeah?" he asked his wife. "Jake and Y/N are getting married!" she told him and he grinned too. "Congratulations!"

"Thank you so much, we should leave now," I said, hugging [Husband]. Jake hugged him too and we walked out of the house. Y/S/N and [Husband] stood at the door until Jake and I got on his bike. 

"Bye!" I waved at them and they closed the door as Jake drove away. It was nearly midnight, but our house wasn't far from here. "We have to plan a wedding now," I whispered to Jake.

"We'll make it the best shit ever," he told me and I laughed. "I love you so much, Jake," I whispered to him, kissing his cheek as I wrapped my arms tighter around him. "I love you too, Y/N, so much." 

---

A/N: Ah, domestic fluff. So cute. Please leave a like!

[silver-wield]

Fan fiction dork is back again. This is long.

"No!"

The flat refusal made Aerith pull a face and roll her eyes. "Such a mood." She turned towards Tifa, stationed over by the grill and asked, "How do you put up with him?"

Tifa glanced up, a questioning look on her face. "Huh?" Her gaze went from Aerith to Cloud, who had his arms folded and was staring at her like he expected back up. She shrugged one shoulder and went back to staring at the burgers sizzling away. "He's got his charm," she replied in a light voice.

When Aerith glanced at Cloud she caught the tail end of a smug smile. "You're so easily pleased when you wanna be," she teased, poking his bicep.

Cloud leaned away and scowled. "Is there a reason you're here?"

Aerith's eyes widened. "Wow, rude." She looked around the new Seventh Heaven and smiled. The people of sector seven really loved Tifa. They rebuilt the whole bar by the time the group returned to Midgar. Even better, they added a daytime cafe where Aerith could help out and spend time with her bestie. "I'm here to collect on a date," she said with an evil grin.

Cloud choked and turned to look at Tifa. "What!?"

Aerith would've bet all the flowers in her garden that he was hoping she hadn't heard that. Letting him hang in suspense for a moment longer than she had to, she finally put Cloud out of his misery by saying, "Tifa and I have a date in sector eight later." She was evilly amused at the sigh of relief from him. Leaning closer and ignoring how he moved away, she added, "Did you forget I have a boyfriend? Zack doesn't like you enough to share." She giggled when she spotted Cloud's face turning red.

"Quit it!" He got up and went to sit at the counter.

He's such a kid. Aerith shook her head and smiled fondly at his back.

Tifa looked over her shoulder and smiled at him. "You okay?"

"I've been better," he replied, shooting Aerith a dirty look.

Tifa sighed. "Can I trust you two to play nice while I call everyone in?"

"Tifa--!" Cloud pouted.

"Sure thing!" Aerith waved Tifa's concerns away.

"Great. Be right back." With a friendly nod, Tifa swiftly plated the food, set it on the counter ready for pick up, and came through the swing door. On her way out, she paused beside Cloud and laid her hand on his back. "Be nice," she whispered in his ear in a teasing tone.

"I'm doing my best," he replied, a small smile appearing and disappearing like lightning. With Tifa so near, Cloud took the chance to sneak a swift kiss on her cheek, leaving her blushing and biting her lip.

"Be right back," she repeated in a soft voice, before jogging out of the bar.

Aerith clasped her hands together. "You two are so adorable!"

Cloud pulled a face and rolled his eyes.

"I told you she was someone special," she went on.

"You want a medal?" he asked, half joking.

"You got a medal?"

"Nope." He got up and started moving plates to a long table set up that morning.

Aerith watched him move with methodical precision. Even a casual black t-shirt and blue shorts couldn't hide his natural grace. Nothing Cloud did was without purpose. He used words sparingly before he was himself again, but Aerith half-expected him to become more chatty afterwards. She hadn't realised Cloud was Cloud, just a little less moody, more obviously kinder and even more stupidly in love with Tifa. She supposed that kindness was the reason she and Zack survived in the end, despite what she did to fate. She wanted him to live so badly, she defied the will of the planet. But, as she said to Cloud that night in her dream, everyone dies eventually. Whether she and Zack have years, months, weeks, days or less together before that happens, they still have so many moments more than what they did before. She was more happy now than she can remember being in her entire life. She has a life and can laugh with the people she loves. She has friends and Zack. She has Cloud and everyone else to thank for it. Tears gathered in her eyes and she swiftly brushed them away.

Not swiftly enough.

"You good?" Cloud paused between the bar and table.

Aerith gave him a bright smile. "Sure am!"

He raised a doubtful eyebrow, but didn't pry further.

Aerith ducked her head and laughed to herself. Cloud never cared enough about her to want to dig deeper. And she never trusted him enough to want to share. Not like Zack. That was who she'd been so desperate to see in him when they first met, but it was all too obvious she was deluding herself when the way he acted wasn't anything like Zack. Not deep down, anyway. A few similar poses, a uniform and mako infused eyes didn't turn Cloud into her one true love. She flushed with guilt and shame thinking about the way she acted. Did I ever apologise for that? "You know, Cloud," she began, finding she couldn't look at him.

"Yeah, I know Cloud," he said, stopping a foot away from her and crossing his arms.

When Aerith looked up she saw a friendly smile on his face. She laughed and shook her head. "I'm sorry."

Cloud frowned. "For what?"

"For not being all that nice to you when we first met." She pulled on her bangs, using the physical pain as a focus. "I was...trying to make you someone you weren't. Someone you could never be."

"S'alright," he replied, shrugging it off. "I was, too."

Aerith looked at him then and nodded. "Yeah, I guess you were." She laughed. They both missed Zack so much they fooled themselves. But now they didn't need to because he was here. Alive. With them.

Cloud nodded. "So, we good?" He turned to grab the last of the plates.

Aerith felt lighter. "Yeah. We're good."

"I spy an angel." Zack greeted Aerith with a broad smile as he entered the bar, using the shirt he held to wipe his sweaty face. "You should have joined us, Cloud. Barret kicked the ball at Red, so he burst it with his tail!" He laughed and shook his head.

"Maybe later," Cloud replied, shrugging. Exercising in hot weather reminded him of pointless drills Heidigger made the grunts do until they dropped.

"What? Not a fan of team sports?" Zack headed straight for Aerith and squatted a little. He tapped a finger to his cheek and said, "To the victor goes the spoils."

Aerith laughed and put her hands on her hips. "Oh, I'm a prize now, am I?"

He turned his head to meet her eyes. "Absolutely, yes."

Cloud snorted and turned his back on them, muttering, "Weirdos."

Aerith giggled and playfully pushed Zack. "Oh, you!" As Zack rocked backwards Aerith grabbed his hand and pulled him to her. She wrapped both arms around his waist and hugged him tight. "Ew, you're all sweaty."

"Ah, sorry," he said, stroking her hair. "It's really hot out today. You guys made the smart choice staying inside." He tried to untangle her from him, but she held on tighter.

"It's okay," she buried her face against his bare chest, "I don't mind."

Zack kissed the top of her head.

Tifa re-entered the bar, followed by Barret, who had Marlene on his shoulder, Red, Yuffie, Cid, Vincent, Biggs and Wedge, who carried Cait Sith. "Great, everyone's getting along," she said, smiling at Cloud.

"You were only gone five minutes," he replied, a smile tweaking one corner of his mouth up. "How much trouble do you think I can get into?"

She leaned forward and smiled. "Lots."

Barret let out a gut busting laugh. "She's gotcha there!" He jiggled Marlene until she giggled. "Right, baby?"

"Uh huh, yeah!" Marlene nodded and wagged a finger at Cloud. "You're trouble, so you gotta let Tifa look after you!"

Cloud nodded, a serious look on his face. "Yes, ma'am."

Marlene giggled and Tifa smiled.

"Why's this boy such a goddamn fool, would someone tell me that?" Cid barged past everyone and took a seat at the table. "Well, we eatin' or not?" He slapped a hand on the tabletop.

Tifa looked flustered for a moment, then saw the food laid out ready.

"Maybe if the rest of you losers get to the table!" Yuffie mocked from her seat.

Zack's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "When did she--?" He stepped back from Aerith and put his shirt on, much to her disappointment.

"Ninja!" Yuffie gave him a finger gun salute and winked.

"Okay, everyone, let's sit down and eat before the food gets cold." Tifa urged with a cheerful smile.

"You know I don't need to eat," Vincent muttered, though he sat anyway.

"I appreciate the adaptation," Red said, perching on a footstool.

"You guys are family, and family eats together," Marlene said, wagging a finger at them both.

"You heard her, and nobody argues with Marlene," Biggs said, taking a seat beside her.

"I'm starving! If Vinny doesn't wanna eat I'll have his!" Wedge gave Vincent a huge smile.

"That's not my--"

"He'll still do it," Cloud said, interrupting him.

"Aww, thanks for sticking up for me, bro." Wedge targeted Cloud with an even larger smile.

Cloud gestured at him and said, "See?"

Vincent snorted, but pushed his plate over to Wedge.

"Okay, who wants drinks?" Tifa moved to stand behind the bar and grabbed a cocktail shaker.

"Ooh, can you teach me how to make something?" Aerith bounced up from beside Zack and darted over to Tifa.

"Uh, sure, I guess." Tifa smiled and nodded. "What do you want to drink?"

"Can you make a pink one?" Zack asked, turning in his seat and resting his forearm on the back.

"Pink isn't a flavour," Cloud joked, also turning around. His gaze locked with Tifa's. "Something sweet?"

"Oh, how about grapefruit!?" Aerith bounced on her toes.

Tifa looked at Aerith and tipped her head to one side. "But...that's not sweet?"

"I didn't ask for sweet, he did." She grinned and jabbed a thumb over her shoulder towards Cloud.

"Aerith likes drinks with a kick." Zack frowned thoughtfully. "Pineapple?"

Aerith clapped her hands together. "Yes!" She half turned and blew Zack a kiss. "You know me so well."

Zack looked stupidly pleased at her praise.

"Can y'all hurry it up. Feels like you're taking forever for just one drink." Barret gestured as he spoke. "People dyin' of thirst over here."

"Ah, sorry!" Tifa ducked her head.

Cloud got up. "I'll give you a hand." As he walked towards the swing door separating the front of the bar from the back, he said over his shoulder, "Beer good for everybody?" It's what they'd get even if they said no. A round of murmurs had him nodding.

"And juice for the kids," Cid added. "Two cups."

"Hey! I'm not a kid!" Yuffie huffed and crossed her arms.

"You're pouting like one." Biggs reached across the table to poke her cheek. "You look twelve."

Yuffie leaned back and stuck her tongue out at him.

Biggs chuckled. "And now you look like a ten year old."

As those around the table laughed, bickered and joked, Cloud moved around them and placed drinks within reach. He then went back to the bar, where Tifa, Aerith and Zack were still discussing cocktail combinations that included a bunch of fruit he'd never heard of. He felt like he couldn't contribute, so sat and watched Tifa. A slap on the back jolted him from his thoughts and he automatically scowled at the culprit.

"Woah, what'd I ever do to you?" Zack acted hurt, then chuckled. "Looks like you had something important on your mind," he said in a low voice. "Wanna talk?"

Cloud grimaced and half-turned away from the girls, just in case Tifa overheard. "Not really."

Zack put his hands on his hips and laughed. "You know, for a minute there I thought you changed, but I guess you'll always be the same Cloud." He ruffled Cloud's hair until Cloud slapped his hand away.

"Cut it out. It's not like that," he said, glancing at Tifa again.

"What?" Zack laid a hand on Cloud's shoulder. "Trouble in paradise?" He put on his best confidant expression. "Need some dating advice?"

Cloud shook his head and replied in a low voice, "It's been three months since, you know..."

"Sephiroth found his promised land, Jenova dissolved and we won it all?" Zack said this in a light tone, but tears still gathered at the corner of his eyes. The Sephiroth he knew wasn't the one Cloud hated for so long. He couldn't feel victorious about losing a good friend. Though that friend seemed lost for a long time, at the very end Sephiroth smiled like the man Zack remembered. He found himself again, and peace. Angeal and Genesis better be looking out for you over there. He blinked away the tears and focused on Cloud. "Yeah, so...?"

Cloud drew in a deep breath and let it out. "So, how long is long enough?"

Zack frowned. "For what?" He tried not to think too far ahead. Aerith already explained the planet could take them both back at any time, so he lived from moment to moment, never taking anything for granted. He had a home in sector five with Aerith and Elmyra, friends, his life and the freedom to choose what he wanted to do with the time he had. He was overflowing with gratitude and good cheer. And he'd promised some of that time would be spent helping Cloud not be such an insecure dork around the love of his life. Three months of dating and he still thinks she isn't as crazy about him as he is her. Zack wished Cloud could see the look on Tifa's face whenever he wasn't paying attention to her, scant as those moments were. It made Zack feel like a voyeur, and Aerith laughed hysterically when he said it because she felt the same.

Cloud sighed again. "Forget it."

"Has anyone ever told you that you think too much?" He patted Cloud on the back.

"No, Aerith, wait, the lid isn't--!"

Too late. Aerith turned the blender on and pink liquid sprayed up in an impressive geiser, tossing lumps of fruit in its wake.

"Tifa!" Cloud vaulted the bar and tried to get her out of the way.

Tifa cringed and tried to duck, but somehow both ended up covered, despite Cloud blocking the worst of it.

"Oops!" Aerith put her hands up and shrugged. Despite being the one to turn the blender on, she didn't have a speck of drink on her pink top or white skirt. She shot Zack a split second wink and he smothered a laugh.

"That's one way to help," he said to her in a low voice.

Cloud scowled to himself, then looked at Tifa. "You okay?"

She tried not to smile at how the juice flattened his hair. Reaching slowly, she picked a piece of pineapple clinging to his cheek and put it on the side. "Yeah, thanks."

Cloud stared into her eyes until they were all he could see. "Tifa, I--"

"You guys okay?" Wedge half rose from his seat before Barret and Biggs shoved him back down.

"Dummy!" Cait Sith hopped onto the table and hit him with its megaphone.

"Ow! Hey, what did I do!?" The ow was for show, Wedge had an indestructible body thanks to Hojo's "helpful" interference after he fell from the Shinra building. He was lucky to be more than a splat on the sidewalk, but that didn't make him grateful to the monster who made him.

"Gonna need to go wash up," Barret said to Tifa and Cloud. "Don't worry about us, we'll be fine by ourselves for a bit."

"Yeah," Aerith added, circling around them both and pushing them towards the stairs. "Better get that out of your hair before you have to cut it off."

Tifa drew in a sharp breath. "Right." She stopped and looked at the mess behind them. "What about--?"

"Don't worry about the bar."

"We got this!"

Zack and Biggs gave her a thumbs up.

Tifa looked at Cloud, who looked bemused. "Uh, okay, I guess. We'll be right back."

"Take your time!" Yuffie and Aerith said in unison. They looked at each other and giggled.

"What are they laughing about?" Cloud crossed his arms and tried not to drip too much as he and Tifa stood in the hallway outside the bathroom. He tried not to assume it was him, but old habits died hard.

"Hmm? I'm not sure." Tifa shrugged. She knew exactly what they were laughing at, but she didn't want to say and risk her face looking like a tomato. "Do you want to go first or should I?"

"You go, I'll wait out here."

Though they'd spent the night together before the final battle, they hadn't actually repeated it since. Maybe neither of them expected to survive, so if one night was all they got they'd make the most of it. But, they had won. They saved the planet and everyone got to go home. Together. Cloud kept up his merc work alongside Zack. The pair were almost too popular, and Cloud regularly finished his day emptying his pockets of scrap paper that had hastily written phone numbers scrawled on them. He pushed the pile across the bar and Tifa had the bin already waiting on her side. He always finished up by asking her to go somewhere with him.

Dates were fun and had no theme. Just the two of them wandering Midgar or going out on his custom bike the seller named Fenrir and Cloud developed a habit of treating like a treasured pet. The guy got a lifetime supply of food and drink from Seventh Heaven in exchange when gil alone wouldn't persuade him to sell. Tifa couldn't refuse when she saw the look of longing on Cloud's face. He had so little joy in his life until recently, there was no way she'd be responsible for taking any of it away.

The first time Cloud took her out on Fenrir, showing off and doing insane moves, it made her heart race with excitement. She locked her arms around his waist and laid her cheek against his back. She trusted him to keep her safe. She whooped and laughed, which encouraged him to show off even more. It was fun. When he eventually pulled up on a ridge overlooking Midgar, Tifa swung herself round to sit facing him. The look of adorable, wide eyed surprise made her beam. This was the Cloud she remembered best. Her Cloud. She leaned forward the same moment he reached for her. Their kiss, sweet and electrifying, left them both breathless and resting their foreheads against each other.

Coming out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel after a hasty shower, Tifa smiled at the sight of Cloud leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. He had his eyes closed, so she could look her fill, though she could still feel a blush heating her cheeks.

"You done?"

Tifa jumped. Does he know?

Cloud opened his eyes, glanced at her, then smiled and looked away. "Can I get in there now?"

"Uh, yeah." Tifa tucked a strand of wet hair behind her ear.

Cloud pushed away from the wall and she tried not to smile at the drink stain he left behind. He thinks he's so cool. But, she found her feet stuck to the floor as he moved closer. Her eyes lowered from his face, which didn't improve anything because it drew her attention to his loose limbed walked instead. She swallowed and glanced at him through her lashes.

Cloud stopped with an inch of space between them. "Can I...get by?"

Flustered, Tifa realised she was blocking the door. "Oh!" About to step away, she caught sight of a teasingly smug smile on Cloud's face. She stopped and smiled back. "I dunno, can you?"

This time, Cloud swallowed. A slow blush lit his cheeks before he looked away. "You're dripping on the floor," he mumbled, pointing to the small pool spreading around Tifa's feet.

"And you're all sticky," she replied, gesturing at the patch on the wall.

Cloud glanced at the wall, then her and back again. "Uhh..."

Tifa ducked her head and laughed. Cloud never could keep up the bravado for long. She preferred his sweetness, anyway.

Surprising her by clasping her upper arms, Cloud gently urged Tifa aside while holding her gaze. His head darted forward and he stole a swift kiss before releasing her and heading into the bathroom. "Be right back."

Tifa licked her lips and tasted something sweet. "Uh, sure," she replied in a faint voice.

Was three months a long time to date before taking the next step? Tifa hadn't thought about it. She'd never dated before. Not really. Cloud lived at Seventh Heaven with her, but they had separate rooms. After the first time, she hadn't wanted him to think she was easy, or she expected anything from him. She didn't want him to feel pressured to move faster than he was ready for. Or maybe she was just scared. She didn't want to push for more in case he suddenly left. What if he didn't really feel the same way?

"You're a coward." Tifa sighed and stared out of the window. She'd changed into an aqua coloured dress and left her hair loose so it could dry. Thanks to the heat it almost was. "Why can't you just ask him?" She glared accusingly at the washed out reflection of herself framed in the window pane.

"Ask who what?" Cloud appeared behind her, dressed in a white t-shirt and shorts and roughly drying his hair with a towel. The gravity defying spikes were already rearranging to stick up in his signature style. When she didn't answer, he stopped and stared, then swiped a finger along her upper arm.

Tifa turned, eyes widening as he put it to his lips.

"Punch," he said, referring to the sticky drink residue.

"Oh." Tifa laughed. "Guess I missed a spot." She tried to hold onto the playful mood, but worry made her frown. "So, I guess everyone's leaving soon." She crossed her arms under her breasts and tried to smile. "They couldn't stick around forever, right? Cid and Yuffie have homes that aren't here. Nanaki, too. Barret wants to rebuild Corel, so I guess he'll be gone for awhile. It'll be quiet."

"Hmm." Cloud tipped his head to the side. "Not that quiet. Marlene'll need looking after and there's still Biggs, Wedge and Vincent." He paused and added, "And did you forget about Zack and Aerith? You really think it'll be quiet with them around?"

Tifa shook her head and smiled. "Guess not." She looked up at him. "I guess...I just hate goodbyes."

"It won't be for good. They'll come back and visit."

She couldn't help but look at him with hopeful eyes. "You think?"

Cloud swallowed and nodded. "Yeah."

She nodded, but grew apprehensive as she asked, "And you?"

Cloud frowned. "What about me?" He took a step closer. "I live here. With you."

"Yeah, we're neighbours again," she joked, referring to their separate rooms. Though, right then, Cloud was in her room and came in as though it belonged to him. She hadn't noticed, but he did that a lot.

"Don't have to be." His eyes were earnest and hopeful. He took another step, then waited, leaving her to close the remaining distance between them. "Tifa...You don't have to be afraid. I'm not leaving." He smiled and added, "So, suck it up."

Tifa ducked her head and laughed. "Did I really say that?" She walked towards him and he was already opening his arms to draw her in.

"Yup." Pressing his face against her neck he mumbled, "Scared the shit out of me. Don't go places I can't follow, okay?"

Tifa got the sense he meant emotionally, since there wasn't any place he couldn't find her if he wanted to. Oh. She wrapped her arms around his neck, threading her fingers through his hair. "I won't," she promised. Feeling daring, she kissed his cheek, then whispered in his ear, "You wanna sleep in here tonight?"

For once, Cloud one-upped her into speechlessness when he replied, "Every night." Moving to press a kiss to her lips, he added in a murmur, "But, can we save the sleeping for later? There's something else I've been waiting for first..."

As night drew in and the guests of Seventh Heaven cleared out calling goodnight to each other and still passing jokes back and forth, Aerith slotted her arm through Zack's and snuggled into his side. "So?" She looked up at him, a huge smile on her face and her eyes shining like emeralds.

Zack chuckled and tapped her on the nose. "Good job today! Mission success!"

Aerith giggled. "Those two." She mock sighed and shook her head. She stopped suddenly and pulled a face. "I didn't get my date with Tifa!" She growled with disappointment, making her sound like Red. "Cloud better appreciate this!"

Zack laughed. "Oh, I guarantee he does."

Aerith shook her head. "You perv."

He pointed at himself, then her. "If I'm one, so are you. It wasn't me who said those two need to stop overthinking things and just do it."

Aerith squealed and laughed. "Don't say it like that! People will send us to jail!"

Zack wrapped both arms around her waist and picked her up. "Wherever we go, it'll be together, so that's fine by me!"

Linking her fingers behind his neck, Aerith urged Zack to lower her enough so she could kiss him. "Yeah," she agreed, coming up for air and trying not to blush. "We're together and that's all that matters." She hugged him tight. "Let's go home. Mom's probably waiting up to give you a lecture."

Zack chuckled. "I'll win her over some day."

Aerith nodded. "Yeah, you will."

[gifsbysimplysonia]

Fleeting Connection

Pairing: Bisexual TJ Hammond (Political Animals) x Female 

Word Count:  3,544

Warning(s): fingering (female receiving), hand job, oral sex (male receiving), t!tty f*cking, badly written smut (but yeah?)

Summary: She is on the hunt for some alcohol and stumbles onto so much more. If you've seen Political Animals, this story opens in a familiar scene from the series and I use a direct TJ quote in the story.

Author’s Notes: it's July 4th. This time last year I posted some smut so I wanted to do so again this year. Also available on AO3. Thanks to @jillybean1217​ for always reading my stuff before anyone else, once again making me a graphic to go along with the story, and cuz she adores Teej. 

I apologize for this mess 😋 Very unexpectedly, Hamilton brought up a lot of emotions in me. I was listening to songs about what a prolific writer he was and how he seemed to live to write. I remember that feeling and have been trying so hard to get back to it and I suspect the only way to do it is to post the stinkers too. Gotta stop being afraid!

She needed a drink. And when she heard the party raging across the hall, she figured there was no better place to get one since her supply was depleted. Plus, her neighbor wouldn't care if she issued her own invite, went over and helped herself. He was generous that way, although she supposed it probably helped that his parents footed his bills. That was how she found herself in her current predicament, quite literally caught by her neighbor whom she had not even seen as she was walking by the couch on the hunt for alcohol. But a hand grasped hers, stopping her in her tracks, drawing her attention to him where he was sat on the couch, another young man to his left.

His eyes pleaded with her as he pulled her onto his lap. As her knees framed his hips, she saw the sadness he tried so hard to hide with booze and drugs. Now he thought he would pull her into his tangled web. She would allow it, for the moment, only because his perfect rosy lips looked tastier than the cherry candy she had been sucking on. 

She slipped that same candy out of her mouth and raised her eyebrows at him expectantly. His right hand cupped the back of her neck and pulled her forward. She opened her mouth to say something, exactly what she didn't know, but he took the opportunity to taste her. His tongue tangled with hers while his firm lips pressed up into her mouth. He tasted of cheap beer which she never had a problem with. But as his teeth bit at her bottom lip and she heard a little growl from him, she felt light headed. His kisses were big and wet and left her breathless. 

She put her hand on his chest and pushed him away. She watched his closed eyes open in surprise and the way his swollen mouth gasped for air as he looked at her with longing made her want to rock her body against him. Just as she thought she might go in for a second helping, the hand at the nape of her neck tried to push her towards the man next to him on the couch. As the other man leaned in, she shoved her lollipop into his mouth. He didn't look pleased and neither did TJ as she climbed off of him. 

"What the fuck?" Ah, there was the petulant spoiled young man she was familiar with. Immediately aggravated when he didn't get what he wanted. She tilted her head and looked down at him with a smirk she knew would piss him off more. 

"Just because you two like to share doesn't mean I do," she answered with a shrug. His face screwed up and she knew he was upset, but that's how she felt when he tried to push her off on some strange dude. He owed her for that. So without warning she bent over, grabbed his head in her hands and made him motorboat her. She had heard jokes that he appreciated a good pair of breasts and her top tonight certainly left nothing to anyone's imagination. It was no doubt why he caught her hand and tried to pull her into his game. Well, too bad for him, when she decided to play with anyone it was only by her own rules. She pushed him away from her and she laughed out loud at his disheveled hair and dazed expression. Served him right.

"Y'all enjoy the rest of your evening." She tipped her imaginary hat to them before she turned and disappeared into the crowd. She grabbed a couple of those cheap beers before she found the door and took her leave. She walked straight across the hall to her place. 

Before she closed the door, she took a pull off of one of the beers. Her eyes drifted shut as the taste invoked the memory of his kiss. It made her shudder. For his many many faults … at least she knew for sure now that he could kiss. When she opened her eyes, she saw him. He stood in his own doorway, forearm leaning on the doorframe. He stared at her, and the look in his eyes made her feel like prey, but she liked it. She swallowed slowly, not wanting to give herself away too quickly. 

She calmed herself by taking another swig of beer. He stepped forward and closed the door behind him. Alright then. She moved to close the door but stopped short of closing it all the way. She made her way towards her bedroom, wondering if he would accept her silent invitation. Once in her bathroom, she heard the very deliberate slam of her front door and knew the answer.

She was just finishing her beer when he appeared in the doorway behind her. They locked eyes in the long rectangular mirror over her sink. He raised his arms over his head, grasping at the top of the door frame with his fingertips. He tilted his head and she saw the faintest of smirks appear on his lips. And he noticed when her eyes focused on his mouth because he tantalizingly licked at his upper lip with just the very tip of his tongue. Feeling her heartbeat jump, she broke the spell with a few fast blinks and a shake of her head. She focused on the act of dropping her now empty bottle into the waste basket to her left, wondering what she had gotten herself into. As if he heard her mind racing with the question, he spoke, his voice raspy. 

“Take off your shirt,” he softly commanded. Her eyes widen at the demand and goosebumps popped up all over her skin. His lips slowly curved up into a smile and his teeth dug into his lower lip as he watched; as he waited. She crossed her arms in front of her, grasped the hem of her blouse, took a deep breath, and did as he told her. 

She shivered at the feel of cool air on her newly exposed skin. Her nipples peaked at the rush of sensation, poking through her lacy bra. Daring a look at him in the mirror, she saw that one of his hands now palmed the front of his dark wash jeans. She nodded at his action.

"Does that mean that you like what you see?" Her voice came out breathier than she intended. She felt warmth crawl up her neck and into her cheeks as he answered by meeting her eyes in the mirror. With slow measured steps, he entered the bathroom and walked right up behind her. His presence behind her was teasingly close but he did not touch her.

"More," he demanded. His breath was so hot against the back of her neck and yet, she shivered at the feel of it. He was not looking at her now. She saw in the mirror that his head was bowed, his eyes glued to her back. When she made no move to acquiesce, it was a few quickened heartbeats before she felt the tips of his fingers on her skin. He started at her shoulder blades and ever-so-slowly dragged them downward. She tried so hard to remain still, her own head bowed so he couldn't see how she bit her own lip or the hunger reflected in her own gaze. But her skin once again erupted with anticipation and he noticed, humming his approval.

His fingers undid the clasp of her bra with one snap. The holder slipped forward, and she lowered her arms until it met her shirt at her feet. She raised her head to see him staring at her over her right shoulder. Her nipples puckered to hard nubs. She felt a heavy ache in her breasts under his gaze. His gaze, his expression was so eager it made her tremble. 

Feeling bashful under the force of that look, she raised her arms to cover herself. His response was a pointed, "Tsk, tsk, tsk" as he repeatedly popped his tongue against the roof of his mouth. He swept her hair back and over her left shoulder so when he turned towards her, his breath tickled her right ear and side of her neck. 

"Your tits are much too beautiful to hide, " he whispered. His whisper held a note of awe and he slowly circled her with his arms so his hands could carefully pry her cover away. When her arms hung at her sides again, his hands moved towards her breasts.

“Is this what you want?” he practically purred. She could feel the heat of his hands hovering near her tits. She tried to lean forward to force herself into his touch, but he pulled his hands back. When she groaned her frustration, she heard his low tone laugh. Her eyes snapped up at his reflection and the smile on his face was radiant, one of pure delight. How does he do that? she wondered.

"Use your words," he said, leaning his face toward her, using his teeth to nibble her earlobe. She inhaled sharply. "I don't move until I hear you say it." Her neck snapped forward so her head could hang. She did not want to have to voice her desire.

Suddenly, she felt whisper soft touches at her lower back. He had his knuckles barely brushing her skin, but just enough contact to tickle slightly as he dragged them upward. She swayed backward, wanting to lean into him. His hands turned and she felt the heat of them against her upper back, keeping her body from his.

"Tell me what you want," he said. She sighed heavily. 

"I want you to touch me. Touch...my tits." He immediately molded himself to her, his hips against her ass, his chest to her back, and his arms hugging hers as his hands finally cupped her in the way she wanted.

His fingers curved around her breasts, weighing them then massaging them. His hands moved from underneath to over them, his slightly roughened palms rubbing against her stiff nipples. He moaned and the vibration against her back caused her eyes to drift shut. Her body arched, ass grinding against his crotch. The friction caused his hands to tighten around her tits; he abruptly squeezed. 

"Mmm, fuck yes," she hissed, grinding harder, hands covering his to encourage him. 

"Slow down," he whispered. Her head leaned back onto his left shoulder but she kept her eyes shut. He teased her with a hot, wet kiss at the junction of her neck and right shoulder. The warm suction was delicious, tingles raced up her spine. He continued the moist trail, lapping at her skin and sucking different spots into his mouth. She vaguely hoped he did so hard enough to leave some marks behind; arousing reminders that this actually happened. 

She was torn from her thoughts by his fingers pinching at her stiff nipples. Her eyes flew open and met his in the mirror. His expression was one of wicked enjoyment as he played with her breasts. His lips were wet and parted as he watched himself tease her body, and she felt him press his erection against her, his body moving in a way that let her know he was just as affected as she was. He eased up the pressure on her tits before he palmed them and dug his fingers in. He pressed them together, all the while as she gasped and panted and moaned. She caught his gaze in the mirror.

"I think I wanna fuck them," he whispered into her ear. "Would you like that? Would you like it if I slid my cock between your lips, made you taste me, only so I could put you on your knees and I put my hard wet dick in between your tits?" She could not form coherent words; the best she could do was groan. He smirked in response. "You would let me do that?" She was nodding frantically without hesitation, surprised when his answer was a soft kiss against her cheek. "Well, then...if you're going to be so generous with me…"

One hand abandoned her chest to make its way down. He managed to get underneath her billowy skirt with ease. His dark chuckle in her ear as he found her panties soaked with arousal caused a whine to bubble up her throat and out of her mouth.

"Jesus, the sounds you make," he whispered, sounding wrecked. Her gaze cut to his quickly. The intensity of his stare shook her to her core, literally. He hugged her entire body tighter when he felt it. "I should be embarrassed that I'm so close to cumming just from those God damn sounds and how you're trembling in my arms."

"TJ…" His name was a desperate cry torn from her lungs and she punctuated it when she turned her head and captured his mouth. Teeth clashed as he stole her breath with the kiss; if there was one thing he knew how to do, it was kiss. 

The moment his fingers worked their way past her panties and touched her slick flesh, her mouth was torn from his as her body pitched forward. She braced herself on her sink, and felt his teeth nip at the nape of her neck as he followed. His left arm moved between her breasts so his hand could lightly clasp the bottom of her neck. His other hand was busy, thumb circling but not touching her clit as two fingers penetrated her. There was a vague thought somewhere in her mind that she should be embarrassed at the wet sound of him fucking her with his fingers. Then he drew his fingers completely out of her and used them to finally touch her clit, and all thought vanished from her mind. Her body snapped back against his. Her hands went to his forearm, clinging, and his grip on her throat tightened just enough. 

"I'm gonna...I'm gonna…" she tried to warn him but he knew. 

"Look in the mirror," he growled. Their reflections were wild and crazy, him fully dressed with his hands on her half naked body, his hand furiously working under her clothes. Somehow not being able to see what he did but feeling it intensified the experience. 

"I want you to watch me take you apart." With no warning, he plunged his fingers back into her and her pussy clenched as her orgasm crashed into her. The tension in her veins finally snapped, warmth spreading throughout her limbs, electricity racing up her spine. Her head fell back, face turned to him and he covered her mouth with his. His tongue mimicked what his fingers now did and all she could do was melt against him. She gasped when his thumb lightly teased her clit once, twice as she came back to herself. Her body was covered in a light sheen of sweat and there was still an energy that tickled the base of her neck.

She didn't want to lose her nerve so when her knees were solid again, she peeled his hands off of her and turned. He didn't give her a chance to act on her desires as he immediately began licking and sucking at her decolletage. His clever mouth moved lower as his hands cupped her breasts. He was generous with his wet and sloppy attention as he licked his way between her tits, sucking and teasing them, moving quickly from one to the other and back again. 

After enough attention, she dropped to her knees. Beating her to the punch, his hands quickly undid his jeans. When he hesitated with the zipper in his fingers, she shifted her eyes to his face. His smirk made her throb and she could hear the slow descent of his zipper as he finally dragged it down. Eagerly, she grabbed his open jeans and the band of his boxer briefs and yanked them to his knees. His erection sprang free, and he wrapped his hand around it, fucking his fist.

"Play with your tits," he demanded. The broken low tone of his voice made her shiver as she tipped her head back to look up at him. She bit at her own lips as her fingers spread his spit around, tugged at her nipples, and pushed her tits together the way he seemed to like. When she did, he growled and positioned his dick between them. He moved his hips and fucked her tits, sliding easily between them as she kept the pressure surrounding his dick as tight as she could. 

"Yes...YES…" he muttered. "I'm already…" she pulled herself away from him to take his cock into her hand, twisting as she stroked him firmly again and again. She licked at and around the head while maintaining eye contact. 

"Let me have it," she pleaded, popping the tip in between her lips and sucking. Her name fell from his lips and she pulled back, aiming his dick at her chest and felt his hot cum paint her chest. His head was back and she watched the muscles in his neck work as the veins in his neck stood out, as if they wanted to break through the skin. TJ groaned in a way that made her want to get off all over again, knowing she made him make those sounds. 

He panted and moaned until the very last drop had been drained from him, only to sigh at the very end. She watched his shoulders rise and fall on that sigh and found herself sighing too. She released him and he moved to lean back against her sink. His head fell forward and his whole body slumped. Seeing that, her own body finally released tension and she felt her own shoulders fall and her eyes drifted shut. 

It was a while before there was anything but the sound of their own heavy breathing and her heartbeat in her ears. When she heard the water running, she opened her eyes to watch him clean up. When he had himself put away, he looked into the mirror and she watched his eyes roam over her own disheveled appearance. 

"Breasts…" he paused to smirk at her in that way that set her on fire, "are awesome." She laughed at his declaration, looking down shyly, which was dumb after what they had just done. He surprised her by crouching down and wiping his mess off of her with a warm washcloth. 

"YOUR breasts are particularly…" his sentence fell off and she looked up to see his gaze focused on where he was cleaning. The way his lips were parted and he looked almost...hungry...took her off guard. When he felt her heart thud harder in her chest, he looked back at her face and instead of a sexy smirk, it was an unexpectedly soft smile. 

"It's already done, TJ, you don't have to compliment me now," she told him, taking the tiny towel from him and finishing what he started. He inhaled sharply, as if to say something in response, but the sound of heavy knocking interrupted. 

"I know you're in there, TJ!" The male voice was muffled but they both heard it. She cocked an eyebrow at him as reached up to get a grip on the sink to help her stand. Her body protested but she managed to make it to her feet. 

"Your date is mad," she told him. "You better go put a leash on him cuz it won't be pretty if I gotta deal with him doing any damage to my door." She threw the washcloth in the hamper and retrieved her clothes off the floor. She folded the bra up and put it on the sink but put her shirt back on. They both faced the mirror again. 

"He's not my date," he explained. She was not sure why he felt the need to clarify, nor why she felt a tiny hint of satisfaction at the information. She shrugged as nonchalantly as she could at him. He walked up behind her and rested his chin on her shoulder. 

"Later?" he asked. She lightly shrugged again, bouncing his chin off of her shoulder. 

"Never can tell," she answered, hoping her tone was as noncommittal as the words she chose. That damn smile reappeared and he kissed her cheek before he departed. 

She heard him trying to calm down whoever the guy was at her door before she heard it softly shut behind him. That sound was like a trigger and the night caught up with her all at once. She leaned heavily on her sink and stared at herself in the mirror. Everything about her reflection told the story of what had just happened. 

When she caught the look in her own eyes, she snorted out loud. One part satisfaction, one part wanting more, and maybe another part… She rolled her eyes at herself and sighed. Where was that other beer she had swiped from his place? Cuz whatever she didn't know about what had just happened, the one thing she knew for sure? She needed a drink. 

Author’s Notes Part 2: if you have not seen Political Animals before, HERE​ is the scene that inspired this story. Hopefully it is familiar now that you read the fic. If not, I did not paint as good of a picture as I wanted to!

As for the direct TJ quote I used:

By @bobbiemorley HERE

[mysterycheerio]

Lights Up, on Washington Heights up in the break of day…

Peter closed his door, keys rattling in his hand. Across the street sat his little corner shop - the coffee shop he had worked in since he was small, and in front of it, the gang of graffiti artists painting the roller door in front of it.

The customers were gathered around, watching the artist, mumbling to themselves in disagreement for the pseudo Banksy.

Frustration filled him, and he ran towards them, shouting, "Hey, HEY!"

They ran off.

I wake up and I got this little punk I gotta chase away,

He entered the shop, asking the polite customers to bear with him a moment while he got everything ready, humming to himself as he did his chores.

Pop the grate at the crack of dawn, sing while I wipe down the awning-

He stepped outside, flipping the sign to 'open', and said in a good-natured tone, "Hey, y'all, good morning."

Piragüero, the man selling a sweet, shaved ice type dessert, called a 'piragua', rounded the corner, like he did every day, "Ice cold piragua! Parcha, China, Cherry, Strawberry, and just for today, I got mamey!"

"Yo, Piragüero! ¿Como estas?"

"¡Como siempre, Señor Parker!"

He smiled as the old ladies brought in their grandchildren, pulling them up to the desk. He greeted them the way he knew the ladies wanted.

"They call me Peter, and you prob'ly never heard my name - reports of my fame are greatly exaggerated," he said in a sing-song voice. The guardians began to shop, leaving the children at the front of the store listening to his story - how he's a first generation immigrant, who now sells coffee in his little corner shop.

He went into the back for the second, talking loud enough so that the kids could hear him. He opened the fridge and sniffed the milk, checking to see if it was still fresh, but all that met his nose was the scent of putrid dairy.

The door opened, and in stood Maria Carbonell, known to the community as Abuela Maria.

"Abuela, my fridge broke," he said, voice hinting at desperation as he tried to speak quietly so the kids wouldn't hear him, "I have café but no con leche!"

She smiled, "Try my mothers old recipe: one can of condensed milk."

They walked back out, winking at the kids, "Nice!"

"Ay, Paciencia Y Fe!"

He turned his attention to the kids, "That was Abuela, she's not really my Abuela but she practically raised me, this corner is her esquela," he said, the kids laughing as he turned on the spot.

"Excuse me," a middle aged man said politely, "Can you tell me how to get here?" He pointed at a picture of downtown.

"Ah, you're probably thinking, 'I'm up shits creek'. Have you ever been North of 96th Street?" He shook his head. Peter figured as much, "Well, you must take the A train, go even farther than Harlem, to Northern Manhattan. Get off at 181st and take the escalator. And you're there!" 

"Thank you so much," he said, grateful, before holding his hand out to one of the kids and pulling him out of the shop, "Come on Michael."

"But dad, I want to listen to the man's stories!"

He smiled.

Soon the kids had to depart with their guardians, and he gave a friendly wave at their departure.

I'm getting tested, times are tough on this bodega, two months ago somebody bought Ortega's. Our neighbours started packing up, and picking up, and ever since the rent's went up-

"It's gotten mad expensive," a kid said, making small talk as Peter handed him his coffee.

"But we live with just enough," he said, smiling.

"Amen, brother."

Next up to bat, the Starks! They run the cab company, and struggle in the barrio, see - their son Harley is off at college, tuition is mad steep, so they can't sleep, everything they get is mad cheap.

"Good morning, Kid," Tony said, hand in hand with his wife, Pepper.

"Pan caliente café con leche!" 

Tony nodded, "Put 20 dollars on today's lottery-"

"One ticket, that's it!"

"Hey, a man's got a dream."

Peter laughed at the couples banter, when Pepper addressed him, "Don't mind him, he's all excited cause Harley flew in at 3 am last night-"

Peter set down the drinks, "Don't look at me."

They took their drinks, and as a parting message, Tony said, "Underoos, come over for dinner, there's plenty to eat!"

Peter barely got five seconds before he heard the sound of distinct chatter, "So, then Yesenia walks in the room-"

"-Uh huh."

"She smells sex and cheap perfume, it smells like one of those trees that you hang from the rear-view!"

"No!"

"It's true! She screams 'who's in there with you, Julio!' Grabs a bat and kicks in the door, and she's in bed with Josè from the liquor store."

"No me diga," the younger of the two said.

"Wanda and Nat, going to the salon?"

Nat nodded, and the two chorused, "Thanks Pete!"

Monday is a busy day for him, to say the least. 

The bell on the door dings for the umpteenth time that morning, but instead of a customer, it's a small, black boy, fourteen, who's rubbing sleep out of his eyes.

"Miles, you're late," he says, his tone annoyed, but Miles knows there isn't any real bite behind it.

"Chillax," he says, making his way to the back of the store, "You know you love me."

He rolls his eyes.

Me and my cousin running just another dime-a-dozen, Mom-and-Pop, stop-and-shop and oh my god, it's gotten two darn hot-

He turned on the AC. The weather man said this summer will be one of the hottest in history.

People come through for a few cold waters and a lottery ticket, just a part of the routine, everybodies got a job, everybodies got a dream. They gossip as I sip my coffee and smirk, the first stop as people hop to work.

That's his day really. An endless blur of one dollar, two dollars, one fifty, one sixty-nine, I got it, you want a box of condoms what kind?, that's two quarters, the New York Times, you need a bag for that? The tax is added.

Like he was saying to Miles when he first came into his life, "Once you get some practice at it, you do rapid mathematics automatically."

Miles then comes out of the back, preparing himself to work the counter so Peter could do the coffee's - Peter was the only one who knew the secret recipes that kept the customers coming- successfully snapping him out of his thoughts.

"How are they today?"

"Practically everybody's stressed, but they press through the mess."

Miles nodded.

"You ain't got no skills," a voice said, as they walked into the store.

"Ned!"

Ned smiled, leaning against the counter. Peter and him were best friends growing up, so naturally, Ned was a regular in the shop, despite working long hours for a boss that didn't respect him.

"Yo, let me get a-"

"Milky way?" Peter guessed.

"...Yeah. Let me also get a-"

"Daily news."

"And a-"

"Post."

"And a most importantly, my-"

"Boss' second coffee, one cream, five sugars."

Miles wrinkled his nose at Ned's boss's absurd amount of sugar, and Ned began to talk to Peter about his job while he waited.

"I don't get it! I'm the number one earner! He can't keep me on the damn back burner-"

"Yes he can."

"I'm making moves, and I'm making deals, but guess what?"

"What?"

"Ya still ain't got no skills!"

"Hardee-Har," he said, sarcastically, pouring the creamer in.

"Has Michelle shown up yet?" Ned asked Miles, who was smiling.

"Shut up!" Peter said hastily.

"Hey, dude, don't be upset. You should tell her how you feel. Buy the girl a meal,on the real, or you ain't got no skills."

The doorbell dinged. This is why Peter was so anxious to be talking about Michelle. She normally came in around this time. Right now, she was looking at the ground, phone to her ear.

"Mr. Johnson, I have that security deposit. I've been saving to make a down-payment, and pay rent… no, no, I won't let you down-".

Ned whispered to him, "Here's your chance, ask her out."

"-I'll see you later, we can look at that lease," she said, before hanging up.

"Do something, make your move, don't freeze!"

"Hey," he said, buzzing with nerves.

"You owe me a bottle of cold champagne," she said, her voice soft and soothing. Despite this, her words made a heavy feeling form in his gut. It was something they'd thought about years ago, but only if-

"Are you moving?"

She shrugged, "Just a little credit check and I'm on that downtown train."

He tried to shake off the sad feeling, "Well, your coffee's on the house."

"Okay," she said with a smile, before turning to leave.

"Peter, ask her out."

"No way," Miles said.

But Michelle turned around, "I'll see you later… so…"

And with that, she left.

"Oh, smooth operator, oh damn, there she goes," Ned teased, before taking a look at Peter’s still kinda sad face, "Hey, dude. Take five, get some fresh air, a walk outside. You look exhausted, lost…"

"I kinda feel that way," he joked, but was it a joke?

Ned looked at him with sympathy, "Hey, the whole neighbourhood is struggling, and times are tight, and you're stuck to this corner like a streetlight…"

Ned looked at his watch, and rushed out of the shop, saying he was gonna be late and bidding adieu to the two guys, but Peter could say it back, his friends words bouncing around in his head.

Yeah, I'm a streetlight, choking on the heat. The world spins around while I'm frozen to my seat. The people that I know all keep on rolling down the street, and everyday is different so I'm switching up the beat.

Cause my parents came with nothing, they got a little more, and sure, we're poor, but yo, at least we got the store. It's all about the legacy they left with me, it's destiny, and-

One day, I'll be on the beach with Miles writing checks to me.

That's what he wants to do. His parents died, along with his aunt and uncle, leaving him in the care of Abuela. He longs to go to a beach, and reconnect with his roots. A better life, one where he isn't stuck serving coffee's.

It gets more expensive every day, in their little corner of the world. 

Turn up the stage lights, we're taking a flight to a couple of days of what it's like-

In Washington Heights.

[the-last-cuddlebender]

5 for kataang

Sorry for the wait!🙏 Crazy two days of life and work and family

(Kataang + #5: “You’re burning up.”)

(This is in the same AU as THIS hurt/comfort ficlet ask)

Fire Breather

Words: 1,248

Rating: G

ArchiveOfOurOwn

************************************

The snow was soft, wouldn’t stop falling, and cloaked Katara in a powdery cape. The grown-ups and big-kids were all at pick-up, but her best friend still hadn’t come out.

Aang wasn’t on the stairs.

He wasn’t with Mister Bumi, either.

Katara tightened her arms around the apple Aang didn’t pick up. Mister Bumi always brought one for Aang’s invisible friend, and Aang never forgot Appa’s daily treat.

Miss Kyoshi hadn’t seen Aang since recess, but Mister Roku said Aang went to play hide and seek with Hide.

Katara didn’t like that one bit. Hide had a face that made her want to hit him, especially when he flicked Aang where it hurt or when he tried to take her best friend’s beanie.

Katara bit her lip, puffed her cheeks, and held Appa’s apple a little bit tighter. The snow reached past her knees as she followed the tracks trying not to be found. She passed the body-sized holes where Aang had tripped once and then twice. The tracks went under the chainlink fence and turned a corner out of the grown-ups’ sight.

Katara stepped into the inky blue shadows behind the schoolhouse. Chilly cold like jumping into the snow after a hot bath made her skin tingle.

Aang’s nothing-voice—the cry that needed his breathing-box—had her sprinting and her stomach flipping like it was jumping off a teeter-totter.

“Aang—!”

Hide, the bully, was grabbing Katara’s best friend with one big-kid hand and holding Aang’s beanie in the other. Aang’s breathing was rough and gritty like running on frozen mulch, and his little tears made Katara’s heart hurt. He jumped and struggled more than he ever should, all in his desperation to get his beanie back. It was useless. The snow swallowed him nearly to his waist, and Hide was the biggest kid in their class.

Katara remembered how Sokka threw his baseball with their Dad. She also remembered what Suki did to Sokka when the softball player first met her brother.

Hide dropped Aang like the boy half his size had caught fire. The bully first held his bruising head where Appa’s apple left its mark, but then Katara was in front of him and furious, and Hide fell to his knees to cradle where she kicked him.

“You leave him alone!”

Hide limped like something was broken and sped up like Katara was something ferocious disguised as a girl. “I-I’m telling Miss Kyoshi!”

Katara lunged at him. Hide flinched and slipped in the snow.

She couldn’t wait to hear what Miss Kyoshi would do to the meanie.

“Aang?”

Aang wheezed. His nothing-voice was panicked and thin as he fumbled for his breathing-box. It was white, shaped like a bison, and anchored to the inside of his coat pocket by a string of beads.

Katara dropped to her knees in front of him. They sat in a bowl of snow with walls nearly two feet high. Aang’s fingers were stiff as if frozen, and Katara scooted closer like sharing her warmth would somehow help.

She remembered how her Dad helped Aang with the breathing-box when he and Katara played for too long in the park. She also remembered what her Mom said to help Aang back then, too.

“It’s okay, sweetie.” She helped Aang prep the white bison and guide it to his mouth. “It’s okay. I got you, Aang. You’re okay.”

She counted slowly and out loud like Sokka did when Katara was scared. Aang’s breathing fell in line with it, and he looked at her in teary awe.

“You okay?”

“Mhm…” Aang hiccuped. “...’m, okay…”

The beanie Hide tore had a blue arrow and was Aang’s favorite. Katara made it for him when her Mom first taught her to crochet.

Katara took it from Aang’s hand and tucked it—very carefully—in her backpack. She could mend it later.

In the same moment, she took off her own beanie—blue with black and white fishes and made by her Mom on the Solstice—and slid it over her best friend’s head.

Aang wiped his eyes. Katara could read the ‘thank you’ in his smile even though she couldn’t read all her letters. And she knew for a fact that hugs made Aang’s hurts go away better than any bandaid.

His voice was even smaller than him when she pulled away. “...T-Thanks, K’tara.”

“Do you wanna go play together? Before my Mom picks us up? The big-kid side of the playground is empty.” Aang’s shy smile got a little bigger. “We can make a snowfort if ya wanna. I saw how Sokka made his tower yesterday.”

“Can Appa play, too?”

“Well, duh.” Katara lent him a hand and didn’t let go even after she tugged Aang to his feet. “We might have to make a snowcastle for him to fit, though.”

“Yeah! Yeah!” Aang bounced a little bit, even though it made his breathing harder and faster and had Katara’s heart hurting again. “And you can be the knight like in the storybook Miss Kyoshi read today! And I—I...I, um…”

“You can be a knight, too. Appa can be your horsie.”

“...But I can’t be a knight.”

“Why not?”

“I can’t run a lot…” Aang scratched his chest and over the breathing-box in his coat pocket.

Katara still held his hand, but now a bit tighter. “That doesn’t mean you can’t be a knight. You don’t have to run a lot a lot.”

“It makes my chest hurt real bad. Gyatso said Imma get a puppy, though. He said it’ll help.” Aang tried to smile. “You can be the knight, though! You’ll be the best knight! You’re really, really brave, K’tara!”

Katara didn’t like that one bit. Aang had a face that made her want to hug him, especially when his teary eyes hit her where it hurt and his shaky lip tried to hide his hiccup.

Katara bit her lip, puffed her cheeks, and held his hand a little bit tighter. She scowled like she was threatening an answer to come out of hiding.

“Okay. I’ll be the knight, but you’re gonna be my princess.”

Katara puffed her chest and picked up her stride. Aang tried not to be dragged as his best friend marched them to the shallow snow where they played.

“What?” His voice was breathless, but in a good way. “Really?”

“Yeah-huh! And as my princess, you need to stick with me so I can protect you.” She showed him their held hands. “So I’m not gonna let you go, okay?”

“...Promise?”

“Promise.”

She looked him in the eye like when her Dad told her Mom he would be home by Christmas.

Aang smiled like it really was Christmas, and Katara’s best friend sucked in air like he might have trouble breathing again.

“Okay! Okay!”

Katara was nothing if not a knight of honor. Her princess was wounded and slow (and short) in the deep snow, and he had to lift his knee almost to his chest with every step he took.

This was unacceptable.

Katara had no sooner said her vows than herded her too-light princess (and both their backpacks) onto her back.

She struggled a bit, but then Aang laughed. It drowned the memory of his nothing-voice and filled Katara with something like strength. She liked it when he laughed. It made her heart run and jump like Nyla did when June got off the bus at her house.

It nearly left her breathless.

Her best friend was in never such a danger with her around to protect him.

“Oh, thank you, Miss Mighty Knight Katara!” Katara’s princess swooned just like in the storybook. “You’re my hero!”

He kissed her cheek just like in the storybook, too.

Lava gushed under Katara’s cheeks, and Katara waited, frozen, for her body, now on fire, to melt through the snow and into the center of the earth.

“K’tara? Katara!” Katara’s princess patted her cheeks, and her best friend looked ready to cry. “Katara, you’re burning up!” Aang patted a little bit of snow on her and sounded like he would need his breathing-box. “I’m sorry! I’m sorry!”

Katara hugged him, laughed until he did, too, and patted his back when she pulled away.

“Shush, princess! The dragon is coming!”

“A dragon?”

“The dragon! Now hurry, princess!” Katara spun and made room for him on her back. “The dragon’s super strong and is gonna burn the school down! We gotta run away! With Appa! Into the storm!”

Aang tugged his best friend’s beanie more snugly on his head and giggled as his brave knight herded him onto her back. Katara ran fast and long enough for both of them. They dodged fireballs and firestorms until princess, knight, and Appa were covered in frost and snow and safely hidden from their enemies.

Sokka found their hideout and poked a hole that broke it open from top to bottom.

Katara bowed and Aang did the same, and they finally broke character to hug.

It had never been harder for them to leave the schoolhouse.

Tomorrow felt like a hundred years away.

************************************

👏I👏stan👏childhood👏friend👏AUs👏

I broke my rule to keep this under 1,000 words but I just...I had half of another answer to the ask written when this idea hit me like a truck. I just couldn’t resist. And it felt criminal to cut any more words than I already did😭

Hurt/comfort dialogue prompt ask: Send me a number with an ATLA ship and any other details you want❤️

(I’ll add a read more + I’ll post this and the other dialogue-ask-prompt-ficlets on my ao3 when I get to my PC!)

Also just a PSA I love this fandom and everyone in it y'all are so kind and sweet it’s making me short-circuit😭

[scribbling-stiks]

Puppets - XXXII - Player Six

Russia tries to relax, but he can hear creatures scramble around them just out of sight. He feels very grateful that they had a light; he doesn't want to know what those creatures are here to do. Russia feels Texas sit up and sees him experimentally use his arm, but he hisses and relaxes.

"How's it look?" Texas asks, gesturing to his shoulder with his good arm.

Louisiana leans over and unwraps his wound. There is still swollen, angry tissue visible. Still, the sharper edges had begun stitching themselves back together.

"Ya shouldn't use it, but I think you'll be alright. You feelin' okay?" Louisiana asks, rewrapping the wound.

"It still hurts, but I'll be good. Y'all wanna start lookin' around?" Texas suggests and begins to stand.

"Wait," Massachusetts says, removing his sweatshirt and uses it to tie a makeshift sling, "that should help."

"Thanks," Texas mumbles, and he ducks his head for Massachusetts to secure it.

Canada looks at Russia. "Can you stand?" Canada asks.

Russia shrugs, and using the wall for support, he stands. His leg had stopped bleeding an hour ago, but it is still painful to stand. He limps for a few steps before he gives up using the leg; instead, he sinks against the wall.

"You can lean against me," Canada suggests, "We shouldn't stay in one place for too long."

Russia agrees. Canada comes over and ducks under his arm. Suddenly, Massachusetts' head perks up, and he scrutinizes the area around them.

"I sense Dad's magic. It's faint, but it's here," he says enthusiastically, " he's gotta be here somewhere!"

"Well, what are y'all waiting for? Let's go!" Texas exclaims, rushing forward toward the opening in the wall.

"Wait," Louisiana interrupts, and Texas turns his head to give Louisiana an annoyed look. "We shouldn't go runnin' into this. Illusion magic is everywhere. Might mean that the walls and rooms change," she advises.

"What're we gonna do then? We can't just do nothing!" Texas exclaims.

"Tex, chill. We will go soon, but we havta be careful," Massachusetts replies. Texas huffs in response but slows his stride none the less.

"We should have Mass lead the way, eh? He's the one who senses America's signature," Canada suggests, and Massachusetts takes this as his opportunity to step in front of Texas with a smirk. Texas looks disgruntled but doesn't say anything.

Walking out of the room, Russia finds that a series of deep tunnels surround them. Some looked planned, with rail tracks built into the dirt and stone, but others look like someone had given a child a drill, with messy outlines and strange angles. They continue walking along a set of rail tracks until the path begins to deteriorate the farther they walk visibly.

Seeing that it is getting risky to proceed down the same route, Massachusetts looks around their position, and they backtrack to where the path was up against the wall. In the wall, there is a gaping tunnel a good three times Russia's height. The opening radiates humidity and heat. There is a step up into it around three feet off the ground, and Canada and Louisiana help Russia and Texas up and over the step.

Russia looks around at the murky darkness and the muddy sides that occasionally come into view. He wants to walk by himself but knows that it isn't possible in his current status.

The green glow leaks into only a few of the crevices buried in suffocating darkness only illuminated bare details. Looking around, Russia wishes he had been able to keep his flashlight because the shadows in the corners of his vision keep spiking his heartrate.

The faint light is definitely preferred over complete darkness, but Russia thinks that it could be a little more radiant. Even still, Russia ultimately decides against asking Massachusetts to make a brighter light, as the green glow cast along the walls is enough to see what he needs to, and he knows that Massachusetts already exhausted most of his magic before they were taken.

Russia's nerves also aren't helped by the scuttling things that remain just out of view. He shivers. He hears distant screeching that echos from around them, too distant to locate. The heat and humidity get more intense with every step, and Russia is beginning to get uncomfortable. The states don't seem to be affected by the change in the climate.

"It's getting hot, eh?" Canada comments with a chuckle.

"Yeah, a little," Massachusetts replies with a shrug.

"It's the humidity that's gettin' to me," Texas interjects.

"Well, I think you're just weak," Massachusetts retorts.

"HEY!" Texas exclaims.

"Will both of y'all just settle down!" Louisiana exclaims. Once her brothers quiet down, she turns to the countries, "do y'all need a break? I know y'all aren't used to warmer temperatures," she asks.

"No, I think we're fine," Canada replies.

Louisiana grins, "well, y'all let us know if y'all need anythin'," she says.

Suddenly, Massachusetts stops walking.

"Wha-" Texas starts, but Massachusetts shushes him before he could finish.

"Show yourself!" Massachusetts demands.

After a moment, a face pokes out from behind a nearby rock formation. Their flag is white with a blue cross. Texas readies himself to attack, but Massachusetts signals for him to stand down.

"Tell us who you are where we can see you," Massachusetts directs.

"I'm Finland," the figure responds while emerging from behind the pillar. Finland approaches them slowly, her head swiveling around, searching for any signs of danger.

"Finland? What are you doing down here?" Canada asks, perplexed.

"I was shopping with Sweden. He went into the shop, and I stayed outside. I was taken," she explains, staring at Massachusetts hands. "How are you doing that?" she asks.

"My dad taught me," Massachusetts replies, "are you okay?"

"I have been in the dark for a very long time," she replies.

"Hey, it's okay. Y'all can stay with us," Louisiana offers.

"Thank you," Finland replies, relieved. She walks around Massachusetts immediately notices Russia. Russia looks up and feels a little sheepish. He had never got along with Finland, especially not since they had fought in The Winter War.

She smiles."Hello Russia, are you alright?" she asks.

"I have a wound on my leg," he answers.

She hums in acknowledgment before turning to the rest of the group, "you seem to be looking for something," she prompts.

"We're lookin' for dad," Texas replies. Finland looks at him, confused by the sentiment.

"We're looking for America," Massachusetts corrects, and realization flashes in Finland's eyes.

"He has children?" she asks, bewildered.

"Yup. This is Texas and Massachusetts. I'm Louisiana," Louisiana introduces. Finland hums in thought before shrugging.

"Let's go find your father," she suggests.

Russia doesn't know what to think about Finland's appearance, but he decides that he would play nice, even if just for the states.

~

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[fuckyeahscienceparty]

*quietly steps in* writing prompt........ one of them gets badly injured in a scenario where respawn is down. :) *quietly steps out*

ok this definitely isn't what you were expecting and i actually broke 2k w this one but. hoo boy. this was a beast to write. i hope it's worth a read :'>

-

Play Doctor

It's the final wave and everyone's just about ready to keel over, including and especially Medic. 

...Whoops?

-

After weeks upon months of battling the infernal things, the last wave of Grey Mann's robots had finally come. Miss Pauling had called in the night before, warning them that this was going to be the biggest one of all, but even then, none of them were quite ready for the sheer amount of metal men coming after their asses that day.

From the current trajectory, Engie could tell there were going to be almost, if not, a thousand of them, having stayed most of the wave on top of the building directly in front of where the robots came through with his Wrangler in hand and shotgun at the ready.

"Hey, Engie, you holdin' up aight?" Scout asked as he sprinted his way up the stairs and directly for the dispenser to pick up refill of bullets.

"Just about holdin' down the fort. How about y'all?"

"We're managin', I think! Doc's not lookin' too hot though."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, we're tryin' to make it easier for him since he's literally like the only thing other than your dispenser keepin' us alive right now ever since respawn went kaput, but compared to him there's lots of us and even more robots so it's kinda hard to keep together 'n' stuff."

It was then that Soldier had let out a rather annoyed sounding "BIG ROBOT!" at the sight of a giant Heavy approaching, both Engie and Scout looking over when they'd heard him.

"And I think that's my cue! Thanks for the bullets, Hardhat!" Scout nodded at him, reloading his Scattergun before hopping down the stairs two at a time and running back in for a rumble.

Engie, meanwhile, looked out over the sea of crumpled dollars and miscellaneous robot parts, scanning the field before his eyes locked on Medic. Even though he was a little ways away from him, he could see what Scout meant, frowning slightly as he let go of the Wrangler's joystick so his sentry could pick off any robo Scouts that happened to make themselves a nuisance.

Medic looked both mentally and physically exhausted, but he was still running after everyone else at top speed, deploying his shield and uber as often as he could while making sure that anyone who died, no matter how far away, got revived as soon as he realized they were no longer breathing.

It was excruciating work and Medic had been doing it almost every day for at least the past 2 months, having been practically forced to sharpen and hone his skills when the respawn machine had finally decided to kick the bucket when they were in the middle of repairs.

As the rest of their teammates focused on getting the giant to its knees (Scout in particular going around and bullying the two robo Medics it'd been sent in with), Medic had deployed his shield and stood directly in front of the robo Heavy, slowly backing up as it made its way forward with the bomb on it's back with various teammates standing a ways behind him.

In his concentration to not fall over or let anyone get riddled with bullets, however, he didn't notice the Spybot that had crept up behind him, Engie's eyes widened as he yelled out a startled "MEDIC!" in an attempt to get his attention.

However, Medic could only barely hear him over the explosion of the giant, turning around only to get stabbed right in the back of his left shoulder and letting out a scream that made Engie's blood run cold.

Without even thinking, he activated his sentry's shield and grabbed his shotgun before flying down the stairs to his left and running directly to where Medic had fallen over, shooting the Spybot to death before turning his attention to his healer boyfriend.

"Hey sweetheart, you still with me?" Engie asked as he carefully picked up Medic and all his gear, only getting a pitiful gurgle in response as Medic coughed up some blood onto his sleeve.

"...Ok, on second though, just don't talk," He grimaced as he hurried his way back up the stairs, carefully laying Medic on his side in front of his dispenser and unclipping the Medipack to reduce the stress on his body.

In the meantime, there seemed to be a reprieve in the number of robots coming, most likely so that Grey Mann could get ready to send out whatever final punishing attack he had stored up his sleeve. The rest of the team made quick work on the stragglers before making their way back to resupply one final time as Engie reached for some of the supplies he kept in the dispenser, pulling out a towel, a vial of healing gel, bandages, and medical tape.

"Alright, I'm gonna take this little number out of your back now so you can actually heal up properly so uh. Sorry, in advance," Engie mumbled as consolingly as he could, Medic barely mustering enough strength to gurgle back before he was screaming in pain again.

"I know honey, I know, I'm sorry," Engie winced as Medic coughed and wheezed for breath, throwing the knife over the edge before applying pressure to the stab wound to lessen the blood flow while letting the dispenser do it's work in actually healing it.

When he started wheezing less, Engie let go and wiped his hands with the towel he took out so he could actually hold things. He then took the vial of healing gel, popped off the cap, ripped through a bit of Medic's clothing, and used the towel to soak up some of the excess blood before slathering gel on his still rather awful looking wound and covering it in bandages and medical tape.

He then readjusted Medic so that his head was in his lap, carefully pushing his hair out of his face and pushing his cracked glasses further up his nose so they wouldn't fall off.

"That a little better?"

Medic coughed a few times but nodded, attempting to sit up and reach for his gear only to collapse back into Engie's lap.

"Fuck. No, no, no, not now," Medic whined softly, Engie grimacing slightly.

"Sorry starry eyes, I don't think you'll be getting back up any time soon."

"I don't have a choice. They- they're going to get destroyed out there without me," Medic hissed, making another attempt to get up before Engie stopped him.

"Honey, you're exhausted. I was honestly surprised you were still standing before you got stabbed in the back but I think that was the tipping point that told your body to give up."

Medic didn't say anything for a few moments but Engie could see the deeply panicked look in his tired eyes as he tried to think of something he could do.

"I. I can't. They need a healer, what.. What am I going to do?"

Engie thought about it before taking a deep breath.

"I'll do it."

"...What??"

"I'll do it. II'll take your place until the wave is over."

"Engie... Are you sure? Do you really think you can keep up with them all?"

"Honey, I have no idea, but I know if you go in there again, you're going to die. Full stop. And if you die, everyone else is gonna follow after. Besides, I've worked on the Medigun enough to know how it works, and a rusty healer is better than no healer."

Medic seemed to mull it over before sighing, still obviously unhappy about the situation but a little less... reluctant."

"Ok. Alright. Fine."

"Yeah?"

"But... What am I going to do, then? I can't just sit here and watch you all suffer," Medic frowned.

An idea then came to Engie's head as he reached for the Wrangler (that he may or may not had carelessly thrown to the side before he'd gone to get Medic), offering it to him.

"Think you can still aim?"

Medic looked at both him and it warily.

"It won't fire at the team or nothin' if you accidentally point the beam at one of us. Safety's still on. And you could always just let go and let it autoaim if there ain't anythin' you need to focus."

He hesitated once more before sighing.

"...Alright. At least help me up so I can see them, though."

Engie nodded, handing it to him and guiding his hands to where they should hold it before moving him up so he was sitting up and leaning against the dispenser, legs dangling over the ledge of the building.

"That good?"

"Mm."

"Ok. I think they're gonna start back up soon so..."

Engie hurriedly went over to the small pile of Medic's gear he'd put down, removing his wrench from his pocket (but keeping his pistol), clipping the Medipack onto his overalls, and inspecting the Medigun's various apparatuses.

"This one's for uber, this one's for shield. This dial ups the intensity and this one activates crits," Medic said, leaning over a bit and pointing to indicate what he was talking about.

"I know that, I helped you upgrade it for Christ's sake."

"And I'm reminding you. You've never done this before and I'm worried," Medic insisted. Engie merely moved over to push his hair back again, giving him a kiss of the forehead.

"It'll be fine, Sunshine. I promise. Stop worryin' your pretty little head off."

Medic's expression softened.

"Well you've never given me a reason to doubt you so. Good luck, mein Lieber. And if we uh..."

"Yeah?"

"...If we. Fail. Or if one of us doesn't make it, I just want you to know that I love you. I really do. Please never forget that."

"I love you too, baby, more than you could ever know. And we're going to make it. I know we will."

Medic smiled weakly, managing to bap his head against Engie's softly.

"You should head over. The robots are coming any minute now, I know they're expecting me. Well. You, now, I suppose."

"Roger that, boss," Engie grinned playfully, bapping him back before standing up and making his way down the stairs and over to where the other 7 mercenaries were huddled in a group, trying to plan out their final attacks.

"...and I think there's gonna be another 4 tanks this time so we gotta- oh hey Tex!" Demo smiled, waving at him.

"Howdy, y'all."

"Engineer! Is good to see you but. Where is Medic?" Heavy squinted.

"Sorry big guy, but uh. Medic's out of commission for now."

"So then who's gonna..." Scout trailed off before realizing that he was holding the medigun.

"No way."

"Yeah way."

"You- you're gonna be Medic now?"

"It's either me or you die. Pick your choice."

"Well-"

Scout paused.

"Ok, that's fair actually."

"What's Medic doing then?"

Engie turned back to wave at Medic from where he was sitting on top of the building, fiddling with the Wrangler, the rest of the team turning to see him wave back.

"Huh. So you guys are switchin' places today?"

"In a way."

Before anyone else could say something, they were all silenced by the slight rumbling beneath there feet, looking over to the large carrier over the horizon.

"Well, enough chitter chatter. See you on the other side, everyone. I looked forward to our victory," Spy hummed before clicking his watch, disappearing in a cloud of smoke.

Sniper nodded to everyone before heading to his usual sniping area, the others forming a sort of spaced out wall across the battlefield with Engie front and center.

"Everybody ready?" He called out as he pushed the handle of the medigun down and hovered his finger over the shield switch, getting various affirmations and war cries in response.

However, they were once again cut off by the feeling of the ground rumbling, the last of the hordes came into view. First up was dozens and dozens of robo Scouts and Demos led by a rather large Pyrobot, everyone getting a proper grip on their weapons in anticipation.

Engie let out a nervous sigh before cracking his neck on both sides, flipping the shield on, and mumbling softly to himself.

"Alright, Dell. It's time for you to play doctor."