#but your brother is gonna send you to the hospital instead | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

dyinglikenarcissus · 1 year ago

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The Help

I kinda hate this title but it was inspired by the movie and I couldn’t make my brain think of anything else

Lee Bodecker x his black female maid reader who is way overqualified for the job

14k words

Warnings: 18+ only!!! Contains: mommy and daddy kink, a bit of breeding kink, smut, protected sex, unprotected sex, and here’s the big one: there’s one ‘negro’. It’s a period fic and a sign of the times so there you go. You’ve been properly warned. Consume at your own risk.

Please don’t copy or repost my work, thanks! Plagiarism is rude

Comments, likes, and reblogs are always appreciated ☺️

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“Lee! This place is a fucking mess!” Sandy calls as she steps into her brother’s house.

“What the fuck am I supposed to do about it?” Lee grunts back from the staircase, cigarette hanging from his lips as he pulls on his jacket.

“It’s embarrassing! You’re the sheriff. You live in sty,” she sighs picking up a shirt from the floor. “Really?” She asks holding up the garment. “Do you expect mom to get up out of her grave and clean up after you?”

He just ignores her continuing to the kitchen to make a sandwich.

“Are you listening to me?”

“Hard not to,” Lee mutters.

“These ash trays haven’t been emptied since the last time I came over. And what’s with all these wrappers?” Sandy brushes a pile of candy wrappers into an overflowing trashcan. “Why don’t you hire someone?”

“Ain’t nobody got money for that,” Lee replies into his sandwich. He had to avoid three slices of moldy bread and all he had was cheese and mayonnaise in the fridge. He’d just grab something else on his way to work.

“You have a Cadillac and Lincoln and if you had someone cooking for you, you wouldn’t spend so much at the diners and drive ins.” Lee continues to ignore her to grab a Coke from the fridge. “What are you saving all this money for? Hoping one of those hoes you fuck around with will show up with a kid?”

“God, I hope not,” Lee sighs. Maybe he should hire someone. Be nice to have a home cooked meal. Not just add to the mess anymore. He could use a woman’s touch around here…

“You know someone?” He finally asks, a lazy drawl in his voice as he levels his gaze with his sister.

She just smirks back at him. “A friend of mine’s sister is looking for work.”

“Friend of yours? You got shitty friends, Sand,” Lee goads.

“She’s a friend from work,” Sandy explains.

“‘Nother waitress?” She nods. “And it’s her sister?” She nods again. “Ever met her?”

“I have. She comes around the diner sometimes. She’s nice. Educated. She just graduated from college.”

“Why the hell she want to be a maid?”

“She moved back here to take care of their mom. It’s temporary. Until you finally find a wife that can take care of you.”

Lee let’s out an exasperated huff. “Send her over Monday morning.”

Sandy grins triumphantly. “You’re gonna love her.”

“Whatever,” Lee grumbles and lights another cigarette. “Get out of my house. I gotta get to work.”

The next Monday, you stand waiting on an unfamiliar porch in a starched blue dress with a canvas bag of cleaning supplies. You were desperate for anything at his point. Meade was a place you hoped you never had to return to. After you got accepted into Spelman you kissed this place goodbye and refused to look back.

Then your mom got sick your senior year.

So you started to spend your summers out here instead of having fun with your friends. And after graduating nursing school, instead of taking an offer from a innovative hospital with competitive pay in San Francisco, you were stuck back in your backwards home town that still had signs for ‘colored’ and ‘white’ over the water fountains.

There wasn’t a position for a black nurse here. They’d let you work as a custodian but they “didn't have a place for a woman of your stature”. The ‘black’ hospital was thirty minutes away and they couldn’t afford to take on anyone else. They could barely afford their skeleton staff alone. Unless you wanted to work for free with an hour long commute, you were stuck either cleaning or waiting tables or stocking groceries because this place was stuck in the 1800s!

“It’s just for now,” you remind yourself under your breath. Just until you could convince your mom to move to California with you. Your sister has two kids and a full time job. She can only help her so much. So you turned down that job to take care of her. She’d have better care in a bigger city. A better life in general. But old people are reluctant to change. It’d take some time to convince her but you refuse to waste away in this hell hole with the worst people in America.

You’ll have an apartment overlooking the water and be working at a cutting edge hospital by next summer.

“It’s just for now,” you repeat. You hear a heavy set of footsteps approach the door.

Your sister said he was the sheriff. Her coworker’s brother. Figures in Meade County that the sheriffs’s sister would be a waitress and not a lawyer or a politician or a doctor or something more prestigious. You roll your eyes that you’ll be working for the man that continues to enforce Jim Crow after it’s been deemed unconstitutional.

You just hope your mouth can keep in check.

“It’s just for now.”

The door finally opens revealing a wall of a man. You look up to see him dressed in a grey button up stretched over a bit of pooch, stubble forming on his cheeks from not shaving that morning, perfectly cropped dark hair, and a gorgeous set of blue eyes. Sandy’s eyes weren’t nearly as bright.

A small smirk forms on his lips as you stare up at him.

“You the cleaning girl?” He drawls, watching you stare at him dumbly.

“Uh, yeah,” you whisper. “I mean, yes,” you respond a little more confidently. “Yes, sir, sheriff, Mr. Bodecker...”

He lets out an amused noise at your flustering. “Just Lee’s fine. Come on.” He nods toward the house, leading you in and you notice you have your work cut out for you. “You got a name?” You nod and introduce yourself. “You cook?”

“I can cook,” you agree. Your family likes your cooking enough.

“You know anything about gardening?”

“Like a vegetable garden?”

“Yeah. I’m looking to start one. It’d be nice to have some help.” You just nod again not looking forward to getting dirty but your dad taught you some things about flowers while he was still alive.

“I’ll have you make three meals a day. I can offer $5 an hour, five days a week. That sound alright?”

That’s perfect! Plenty to help you save, buy a car, get a home in California. You just nod, attempting to not look so eager.

“Alright. It’s a fucking mess around here so you have your work cut out for you. I work ridiculous hours so i ain’t home a lot. I’m just gonna trust you to find something to do around here.” You nod as you follow him around the house. Two stories, three bedrooms, two bathrooms, the kitchen could use more than a little organizing, and the bathroom looked like it requires a hazmat suit to take care of. “As you can see, you’ll have plenty to do. I’m not a tyrant. I just expect mutual respect.” You nod again as he stops in the kitchen. “Alright. It’s my day off so I’ll be around if you have any questions.” You nod again.

Then he leaves you alone.

Alright. Where to start?

“Oh! Have you had breakfast?” You call after your new employer on his way upstairs.

“Sure haven’t. That’s your first assignment.” You smile and look through the refrigerator for breakfast food.

You step into your crowded mother’s house after a long day of cleaning and cooking to find her in her favorite chair listening to the radio while your sister’s kids chase a ball.

“Will y’all take that outside before you break something?” You scold.

“Leave those babies alone. They aren’t hurting anyone,” your mother laughs weakly.

“You are so much softer on them then you were on us,” you lament walking over to press a kiss to her forehead.

“How was your first day?”

“It was fine. He seems nice enough. Kept to himself mostly but he gave me a key for tomorrow because he doubts he’ll be back home when I’m off.”

“What’s the sheriff’s house like?” She asks ready for all the gritting details.

“It was a mess in there, momma! I’m tackling one thing at a time. It’s nice but I don’t know, I expected him to have one of those plantation homes passed down since the 1800s,” you joke.

“Well, he ain’t a real white.” You cut your mother a look at her statement. She can’t end with that. “His momma immigrated here.”

“Really?” Your mom knows all the good gossip.

“One of those little European countries. There’s a million of ‘em. She was pregnant with him when she showed up and got pregnant with his sister a couple years later. Never did marry. Never did know who the girl’s father was.”

“What’d she do out here?”

“You know I hate to gossip.” Liar. But you don’t say it out loud. “No one ever saw her going to work but folk would see her coming home early in the morning if you follow.”

“Ohhhh,” you laugh at the scandal. You began to wonder how an immigrant became the sheriff in this small town. He was elected while you were in Atlanta so you had no idea that he even existed.

Interesting situation.

“But that was all speculation. Don’t go spreading that around, you hear?”

“Yes, momma,” you smile while rolling your eyes. “I’m gonna start dinner, alright? How’s gumbo sound?”

“Oh Lord, girl! What d’you know about gumbo?” She laughs herself into a coughing fit.

You hand her a handkerchief and rub her back until it passes. “I know plenty, momma. Been in Atlanta for the past six years.”

“Alright, girl. You go on ahead,” she smiles skeptically making you giggle.

You go to start dinner for the house and hope Lee enjoyed the dinner you made him.

Soon your sister come home and shortly afterward her husband and it was a full house. It was noisy and crowded and you never missed your little apartment more than you did in the evenings.

At least you didn’t have to share a room with anyone. It may be small, basically a refitted pantry, but it was private.

You finally retreat to your room alone after showering and wrapping up your hair. You let out a soft sigh as you fall onto your bed. You curl under your covers, exhausted but a little restless for some reason. You aren’t sure why. You should fall asleep the second your head hits the pillow. You know you’re going to be so sore in the morning after today but you can’t settle down.

You jiggle your leg in frustration.

You know what will help you sleep…

You hate doing this in your mother’s home. It was so much easier when you had your own place.

But you need some sleep.

You slip your hand under your night gown. You easily find your clit and apply a little pressure. You bite your lip and let out a soft moan as you let your imagination run wild. Normally you imagined Sidney Poitier or Paul Newman having their way with you but tonight a new face entered your mind.

Oh no.

Brain! No!

Not him! He’s your boss! You whimper at the idea of wanting to fuck the giant man. Stop…

But it felt so good. It was so easy. The idea of his big hands all over you, his lips pressed against your skin.

You let out a quiet whine as you cum far too quickly.

This is bad. This is so bad. But you did manage to relax yourself. You were too tired to overthink it. You’ll figure it out in the morning.

But you didn’t figure it out in the morning. You made Lee his breakfast and sent him off to work before eating something yourself and tackling another mess in his home. You didn’t see him much after your first day. Just in the morning as he got ready for work and, as promised, he normally didn’t make it home in time to see you off. But you kept yourself busy and before you knew it your weekend came. You enjoyed time with your family, took a bus to the city with your mother and sister to shop, went to a movie with some childhood friends, and ended it all with church on Sunday.

And not once did you think about how you got off to the image of your boss. It went to the back of your mind where it belonged and didn’t resurface until early Monday morning.

You let out a soft sigh as you step into Lee’s house. All those images of him unwillingly flood back into your brain as you see him leaning over the kitchen counter looking over the newspaper. His cigarette hangs from his mouth precariously. His weekend clothes are a far cry from his work ensemble. So loose with a slight hint his preferences. You guess his favorite color is red since he owns so many button ups and polos in varying red tones. He also has a collection of colorful socks. They all have interesting patterns and designs. You enjoyed looking at them while folding his laundry.

“Morning,” he greets breaking you from your trance.

“Oh! Good morning,” you squeak in surprise. You hope he didn’t notice you staring.

“Didn’t startle you, did I?

“Yes! I mean no. I mean I don’t-”

“It’s alright,” he chuckles. “It’s early.”

You just nod, taking the out, and place your bag on the table by the door. “What would you like for breakfast this morning?” You ask redirecting your very explicit thoughts.

“I saw you got some thick cut bacon at the store,” he trails expectantly.

“That was meant to be a surprise,” you smile.

“You should’ve hid it better,” Lee grunts.

“Coming right up,” you laugh and head into the kitchen. Lee has Mondays off strangely enough. You think he also has the weekend off. It was odd that he wanted you around on his day off but you did your best to stay quiet and out of the way. It helped that he spent his time outside mostly, working on his garden and mowing the lawn.

He came in a little before noon asking about the lunch you were plating.

“Looks good. Thank you.” You just nod in response as he takes his plate to the dining table leaving you to eat at the kitchen bar.

“You gonna join me?” Lee calls after a moment.

“Oh, no. I couldn’t-“ you start but he reappears just to grab your plate and place it next to his. “I really couldn’t,” you try to explain but he just pulls out the chair next to his and waits for you to sit.

“We can stand here all day staring at each other but I know you’re hungry,” Lee goads when you refuse to budge.

“Fine,” you sigh and roll your eyes.

“See? Ain’t this nice?” Lee laughs while pushing in your chair after you reluctantly sat. You attempt to eat in silence, making yourself as small as possible but the sheriff has other ideas. “My sister said you went to nursing school?” He asks braking your concentration on your green beans.

“Yeah. Um, I graduated from Spelman in Atlanta.”

“Smart girl,” he deduces. “What are you doing cleaning up after me?”

“My mom got sick and there’s no place for a black nurse around here.”

He hums softly in response. “You been to that hospital?” You shake your head softly. “I’d prefer it if you were working there than half those nurses. Some of the meanest women I’ve ever met.” You giggle. “Last time I went in there I swear this woman had never seen a patient in her life. She jabbed me three times to try to get my blood and acted like it was my fault. Ain’t that the first thing y’all learn?”

“Not the first thing,” you smile. “But it’s pretty high on the list.”

“Well, I don’t want you to leave me but I can put in a word for you. Just so there will be someone that can properly draw blood.”

“How do you know I can draw blood?” You smile jokingly.

“You could be worse than that woman but at least you’d be nice to look at.”

“Mr. Bodecker!” You gasp with a smile.

He just smirks back at you. “And what did I tell you about that ‘Mr.’ Shit?”

“Calling you ‘Lee’ is…weird,” you explain shyly glancing away.

“Well, calling me ‘Mr. Bodecker’ is even weirder. Call me fuck face before you call me that.” You can only laugh at his antics, covering your mouth with you hand as you giggle. “Got it?”

“Yes…Lee,” you respond through your laughter.

“Good girl.”

Those word haunt you for the rest of the day and all the way back home. You walked right past your mother with the briefest of greetings on your way to your room. There was left over spaghetti from the night before for dinner so your didn’t have to worry about cooking. You just need to get to your room. You just needed a minute.

Maybe five.

Your hips desperately rocked into your fingers as you think of those two simple little words. That drawl around them. The smirk on his lips as he said them. Fuck! You want to be his good girl forever. It felt so good to be good for him. You whimper into your pillow as you cum around your fingers, soaking your hand. A soft curse escapes your lips. You wish it was Lee’s hand. Lee’s mouth. Lee’s cock…

“Shit.”

This really isn’t good.

Your contact with Lee is minimal for the rest of the week but it all just seems to get worse. The lingering smell of his cologne, the feel of his clothes, his presence left in his house. It’s all so intimate. You can hardly stand it!

Weeks pass like this. You living absolute torture by a man who had no idea what he was doing to you.

Until there’s a lull in one of your days and you hear the strangest noise coming from outside.

You were dusting the selves around the living room when you heard crying outside. It must just be a neighborhood kid but you investigate anyway. When you deduce that it’s coming from the backyard you stick your head out the back door tentatively. Maybe the back neighbor? But it’s coming from a bush…

Maybe the tiny borrower neighbors…

Your speculation that it’s just the neighbors is getting slimmer and slimmer.

You squat down to see under Lee’s freshly planted ground covering and notice a little white ball of fur.

“Oh?” A kitten. Barely even had it’s pretty little blue eyes open. When it sees you, it’s crying gets louder and it toddles its way toward you. “Oh, poor baby. You crying for your momma?” It makes its way to your out stretched hand and continues to scream. You better not mess with it. It’s mom will be back.

Your work day was over two hours later and the screaming has continued nonstop. You find an old sheet and make a little bundle for the baby, a cup full of milk, and your left over turkey from lunch and take it outside. It seems like it could just start eating solids as it gnaws on the turkey slice and happily laps up the milk. “There,” you sigh contently as the kitten stops crying and curls on the makeshift bed you made it. “God, I can’t leave you out here.” You were sure the night time animal activity was pretty minimal but anything was a threat to a kitten this small. And you really can’t bring it home…

You hear the front door open and stiffen. Was it already that late? It takes him a moment to walk out on the back patio but you can’t help but notice the relived look on his face.

“You still here?” You nod and open your mouth to explain but he sees the kitten before you can start. “Where’d that come from?”

“It was in the bushes. I just found it today.”

“Well, bring it in and get it cleaned up. I’ll see if I can find some proper bowls.”

To your surprise, Lee kept the cat overnight.

And when you opened the door the next morning, it stumbled over to you greeting you with a loud meow.

“I told you your momma would be back,” Lee rumbles, his voice is still rough from sleep, coming down the stairs in just a plaid pair of sleeping pants and white tank top. There’s a prominent outline where his cock is and you practically start drooling. You’ve never seen him like this. You want more.

“She’s been crying for you all night. Get her something to eat, will ya?”

“Her?” You ask, shaking yourself from your sex crazed stupor.

“Yeah ‘her’! You gave the little tyke a bath and didn’t notice her lack of balls.”

“Oh my god,” you whisper behind a giggle. Lee disappears back upstairs to finish getting ready while you make breakfast for him and the kitten.

“What are we naming her?” Lee asks, stepping into the kitchen with much more clothes on to your disappointment.

“We?” You ask lifting an eyebrow while you stir grits.

“Yes, momma, we. The kid gotta have a name.” Your face heats at him calling you the kitten’s mom.

“Does that make you her dad?” You smile and place a bowl in front of him as well as a plate of scrambled eggs.

“Kid needs a father,” Lee smirks.

“How about ‘Baby’?”

“Baby, huh?” The sheriff laughs.

“Too simple?”

“Nah, she’s got a ‘Baby’ about her. Definitely gonna be a stripper.”

You laugh softly at his teasing. “Well, what do you suggest? Lee Jr.?”

“Nah. Baby’s good,” Lee grins and starts to eat his food. “So, you got a boy?”

“A boy?” You question placing a bowl of canned tuna in front of Baby leaving her to meow happily and make a mess around her, getting more food on the floor than in her mouth.

“Don’t make me ask you twice?” Lee warns.

You let out a soft sigh. “No. I don’t have a man or a significant other.” He just hums in response, focusing on his eggs. “Do you have a girl?”

“I have you.” You can’t stop your laughter at his statement.

“You don’t have me,” you deny, with a smile.

“Don’t I?” Those bright blues meet your gaze and hold it for a moment. You bite your lip softly wanting nothing more than to be his but you aren’t giving in without a fight. He probably feels so good. His lips probably feel like heaven and he must be amazing to cuddle with. A strong warm body to wrap yourself in. You wish you had him every night. That you could wake up to him every day.

“Even if I don’t have you,” Lee starts again and breaking the spell between you, “I know how to get you to come running to me.”

“How’s that?” Your words come out in a soft whisper. It honestly wouldn’t take much. All he’d have to do is ask.

He gives you a once over from the other side of the kitchen island. His blue eyes gauging you before he answers. “I have your Baby.” You burst into giggles at his words. He’s such a flirt.

“I need to get to work. Watch our little girl for a minute. Daddy,” you add. You can practically hear him purr at the word.

Two can play at this game.

As the weather gets warmer, the days get longer, the less you see of Lee. You make him his breakfast before you leave the night before because he leaves for work early and still gets home late. You watch Baby grow during the day while he watches her at night. The only time you get to talk to him are Mondays and sometimes he still goes into work so you don’t get any quality time.

You miss him.

You miss him immensely.

You sigh while you play with Baby. An old bowtie that Lee got as a gift decorates her neck while she leaps after a ribbon.

“How’s your daddy doing, little girl?” You ask the kitten while she plays. You notice her freshly brushed fur and trimmed nails. He takes such good care of his little girl.

You’ve gotten Lee’s house to the point that basic upkeep was all you needed to do. It left you with a lot of down time. You let Lee know that you weren’t doing much besides fixing his meals but he still wanted you around. So you kept yourself busy. You organized his clothes, cleaned out his garage, and your next task was the basement. The place was full of old stuff left over from when his mother was alive apparently. He explicitly told you to ‘throw all that old shit away’ but it had to be sentimental. He had a reason to keep it at one point. You plan on meticulously going through the boxes, getting rid of moth eaten things, and organizing whatever photos and documents you find. You just felt a need to preserve that for him. Maybe it was because your ancestors were a mystery. Maybe because your history was stolen from you.

You just didn’t want that for anyone else.

Baby follows you down into the dim underbelly of the house. There were boxes stacked on boxes stacked on boxes. You definitely had your work cut out for you.

You get so lost in your work, you almost forget about Lee’s dinner. The only thing that reminds you is Baby crying for her lunch. You quickly run upstairs to make a quick gumbo that you can leave simmering while you go back to work.

You come across a box full of old photos that obviously weren’t taken in America. This must be Lee’s family. There’s a woman that jumps out at you in a lot of them. She looks so much like his sister. This must be their mom. She’s beautiful.

You find a smaller box and place all the photos in it carefully. You’ll sort them later. You fill another box of stained and damaged clothes and tug it toward the stairs. You might have to have Lee haul it to the trash for you.

“You still here, momma?” Well, speak of the devil. Baby goes running to greet her father

“I’m down here, Lee,” you call up the basement stairs. Lee’s form fills the door at the top of the steps and you let out a relieved sigh.

“What’re you still doing here? It’s late,” Lee sighs descending the steps to you. He’s in his full uniform. You can see how he’d be so intimidating out in the world. He such a big man.

“It is?” You whisper in embarrassment. “I got kinda distracted.”

He glances around at the meticulous organizing you’re doing before leveling a hard gaze on you. “I told you to throw it out. Not create a bigger mess.”

“You can’t just throw it all away, Lee. I’m sure some things are sentimental,” you insist.

“I can do whatever I want! It’s my house and I want it gone,” Lee frowns at you. You take a frustrated breath and cross your arms. He gives you an amused look. “Are you sassing me?”

“I don’t know, am I?” You counter, pulling your lips to the side, unimpressed by all of it.

“Why can’t you just throw it away?”

“Because I don’t want you to miss it,” you argue placing your hands on your hips.

“Why would I miss it? It’s just a bunch of hoarded garbage.”

“What if your kids want to see it? Or your sister’s kids?”

“They will never see that.” He glares at you resolutely. There’s finality to his statement but you’re far from done with this argument.

“But, Lee-“

“That’s enough. Get your butt up those stairs. We’re gonna eat and then I’m taking you home.” You let out a disgruntled huff and press passed him. He grips your elbow, halting you in your tracks, and pulling you back towards him. If you weren’t so frustrated with him, you’d be a flustered mess from being this close but right now you just want to knock some sense into him.

You frown up at him, his icy gaze searching yours, waiting for you to break under is scrutiny but you refuse. You’re too feisty for that. He had every intention on telling you to watch your mouth, fix your attitude, that he’s the one in charge around here. But he knows all that is a lie. There’s no arguing with you and you’ve been running this place since he brought you home. Lee finally sighs before releasing you.

He can control you about as much as he can control Baby.

“Let’s just eat something and calm down, alright? I miss seeing you. I don’t want to spend the evening arguing.” You blink up at him. You could just go home. You don’t have to stay.

But you miss him, too.

You nod once and head upstairs. You call home to let your mom know you’ll be late before setting two places at the table while Lee changes up stairs.

It’s a tension filled dinner full of clipped responses and frustrated eye rolls, mostly on your end. To Lee’s credit, he’s making every effort to be civil. You’re just being stubborn for a future you have no real vested interest in. You finish your food with Baby curled on your lap, completely oblivious to the tension between her parents.

Lee gets up and starts clearing the table. You start to get up to help him but he just presses a hand to your shoulder. “Sit. The baby’s sleeping.” You smile up at him and settled back down while he cleans the kitchen. Your fingers stroke Baby’s soft fur. She looks so comfortable. You can’t help but close your eyes as well, leaning back in the chair comfortably.

You didn’t even notice that you fell asleep until you awaken in Lee’s arms. You gasp, jerking in his grip making him chuckle softly.

“Calm down. You’re alright.” You settle back into his embrace, wrapping your arms around his shoulders comfortably.

You’ll let him take you wherever he wants like this.

“I’m still mad at you,” you mutter, nuzzling into his shoulder.

“I know.” He lowers you onto a bed. You instantly recognize the floral comforter of the spare bedroom bed. Baby happily curls up near your head while Lee sits on the side of the bed. “We’re not supposed to go to bed angry,” Lee smiles down at you as you watch him. He presses a loose strand of hair from your face.

“I’m not the one not making any sense,” you yawn, stretching across the bed to get comfortable.

“Alright. Can I explain?”

“It’s your house,” you parrot.

Lee holds his tongue but he wants to tell that mouth of yours off so bad. Then he wants to kiss it until you can’t think straight…

“No one can see that stuff, momma.”

“Why?”

Lee groans at the thought of even needing to explain it. He scrubs his eyes but your stare is unwavering, giant brown orbs waiting for a good explanation.

“It’s easier to just integrate, to forget that I’m from somewhere else, than to be an immigrant.”

“Is that right?” You smirk, completely unimpressed. “Must be nice.” You roll away to face away from him, staring at the wall.

“Look, I don’t,” Lee groans, frustratedly. “I didn’t choose this. My mother never even taught me Romanian. She never talked about it. Never once mentioned my father. She wanted us to be American. Nothing else. She wanted it to be easier for us.” You roll your eyes at the idea. The ridiculousness of it all. “I know you can never take off your skin color. It will never be easier for you. But I can help. I want to help.”

“Do you have any idea what I would give to know where I came from?” You whisper, tears stinging your eyes. “And you just want to throw that away?” Your voice breaks at the last word.

“Hey,” Lee soothes, pulling you to his chest. “You know this world we live in. You’re either white or nothing.”

“The world won’t always be like this, Lee!” You cry, pressing away from him.

“I hope to God it won’t. But for right now, everyone else need protection. I just don’t want you to be hurt. I don’t want anyone to be hurt.”

Tears spring from your eyes. “It’s all so stupid.”

“I know.” Lee pulls you into his arms as you cry into his shoulder. “It’s ridiculous. I hate it. I hate it so much.” He holds you while you cry, rubbing your back and pressing kisses to your temple. You eventually sniffle and start to calm down.

“You still mad at me?” Lee mutters, squeezing you a little tighter.

“No,” you grumble. You’re mad at the entire situation but you can’t stay mad at Lee. Lee just hums and continues to rub your back.

“Stay here tonight.”

“Oh no! I can’t! I should really go home,” you trail.

“That wasn’t a question. You’re gonna stay right here. I need you close.”

“My mom will throw a fit,” you warn.

“I’ll explain it all to her,” Lee smiles watching you. Pinning you under his pale gaze.

“You’re going to explain how a single man and a single woman stayed in a house together and nothing happened?” You laugh darkly as you rub at your swollen eyes.

“I don’t mind bending the truth for you,” Lee smirks. “Besides, it won’t be a lie if you stay in your room and I stay in mine.” He pulls one of your hands from your face to rub the back of it with his thumb.

“What if I have a nightmare?” You whisper.

“Well,” Lee clears his throat and the most naughty look crosses his features, “you can always come tell me about it.” Lee’s hand slides from yours to grip your thigh. “You know where everything is.”

You smile up at the man and he presses a kiss to your cheek. “Goodnight, daddy.”

“Goodnight, momma.” He pats Baby on the head before leaving the room.

You take a calming breath and settle into the loaned bed before picking your way to the guest bathroom to get cleaned up. You find a set of pjs Lee left for you on the counter. You’re absolutely swimming in the shirt and the pants won’t stay on your hips so you forgo them but they’re so comfortable and smelt of him.

There was so much of him in this house.

You sigh softly and curl around Baby but sleep is fleeting in the unfamiliar environment. You try to be good and stay put. You really do. But thirty minutes into your attempt, Baby gets up and starts scratching at the closed door. You call her back to bed but she just ignores you so you get up to let her out and watch her trot right up to Lee’s door to start scratching there. She must miss sleeping with her daddy.

You probably would, too.

You were sure he’d hear the little kitten whining outside of his door, but when he doesn’t answer you go to let her in. You start with a tentative knock before opening the door to his call.

Lee’s sitting on his bed in just his boxers, a lit cigarette in his hand. You know you should be more flustered but your body moves all on its own. It knows where home is. Lee doesn’t even say a word. He just opens his arms and accepts you into his lap as you press kisses to his lips. A bit chapped and he smelled of smoke but you knew you were right where you need to be.

“Nightmare?” Lee smirks as you pull away for air.

You smile and shake your head. “Your little girl missed you.”

“Can’t fuck with her routine.” Lee pulls you back into him. You didn’t know how much was actually wrong until you felt this right. Strong arms wrapped around you, cradled so delicately against a warm body. Your fingers cling to Lee’s shoulders while his hands encircle your waist. “Stay with me?” This was a question. A request really. One you can’t say no to. You nod once and curl back into him. He pulls you down into the bed, holding you tightly against him. Lee takes a last drag of his cigarette before putting it out and focusing solely on you.

“You have no idea how long I’ve wanted you in my bed,” Lee sighs, pressing his face into your shoulder. His stubble tickles your skin so pleasantly making you smile. You probably have an idea but you keep that to yourself as one of your fantasies plays out.

Here, comfort is easy to find. It feels right, smells right. It’s better than your own bed. Baby curls up on the pillow behind you. Her soft purrs lulling you as Lee strokes to back of your neck, his fingers tracing the top of your spine, exploring just a little under your borrowed shirt. Just enough to keep you warm and close. You let out a soft content sigh and fall asleep almost instantly.

Waking up is hard. You don’t remember sleeping so deeply. You attempt to detangle yourself from the unfamiliar sheets before you feel a body behind you. The events of the previous night flood back to your mind as you stretch and yawn. “Lee?” He hums softly, thwarting your attempt to sit up as he immediately pulls you back down against him.

You smile at his stubborn tiredness. “We have to get up.”

“We’re playing hooky,” he mumbles.

Hooky? Is the sheriff allowed to just take the day off? “What about me?” You laugh tiredly.

“What about ‘we’re’ don’t you understand?” Lee grumbles.

“Are you sure?” You ask in disbelief.

“Go back to sleep, momma.” Getting some extra rest did sound amazing. You turn over, giving your shoulder a break, and curl back up in Lee’s embrace. You rest your head on his warm chest, your fingers curling into the thick hair there. You close your eyes as your leg wraps over Lee’s hips. Sure, you could just fall back to sleep. Falling back asleep sounded amazing…

“Lee,” you whisper. He lets out another gruff hum. “I’ve never slept at a man’s house before.”

“Don’t tell me you’re a virgin,” he chuckles.

“No!” You quickly deny. “I’ve just never stayed over.”

A deep hum rumbles through his body. “Glad I could be your first.” You smile up at him and place a kiss on his lips. “One more,” he requests softly and you happily obliged. “Last one?” You giggle and kiss him again. “Can’t get enough of those pretty lips pretty girl.” You curl into his side and actually start to nod off.

For a moment.

Before Baby leaps onto the bed and lets out a questioning chirp.

“Now you’ve gone and woke the baby,” Lee accuses turning over to hold you with both arms.

“Me?” Your voice causes the kitten to let out a happy meow and jumps over Lee to lick your nose. “Oh! Baby!” You laugh pulling her from your face.

He yawns and squeezes you. “She never does that to me.”

“She’s happy her momma’s here,” you goad. Lee retaliates by spanking you softly. “Aren’t you so happy your mommy’s here? You don’t have to play with your mean old daddy,” you coo at the little kitten, stroking her stomach when she rolls over for pets.

Lee’s big hand runs over your stomach much more intimately than any other touch he’s given you. His thumb runs just under your breast sending heat radiating straight down to your pussy.

“If you two are busy playing,” his hand comes to a rest between your breasts as he rolls over you slightly, pinning you under him, “who’s gonna play with me?” You let out a soft gasp. Your hips lift to find any kind of friction for your core but your lack of panties makes that impossible.

Until Lee’s thigh fills that space. You let out a soft whimper as he grinds back against you.

“Do you need daddy to play with you, too, momma?” You can’t find your voice but you can nod. Lee kisses just behind your ear and you feel like you’re floating. “Let me hear you tell me.” He grinds a little harder against your fluttering core making your whine.

“I-I need you, daddy,” you whimper into the pillow.

His voice is a deep rumble through him as he nuzzles his face against your neck, nipping lightly at your ear lobe. “What do you need?”

Ugh! This should be criminal. His thumb strays to brush against your clothed nipple making you arch against him.

“Need you, Lee!” You cry out.

“That’s all you had to say.” You can hear the smile in his voice. “Since you’ve never stayed with a man then I’m guessing you’ve been missing out on the joys of mornin’ sex?”

“Uh-huh,” you whine, your hips gyrating against his thick thigh, taking what you need from him.

“Well, that’s one of the best games a man and a woman can play.” His fingers undo the top couple buttons of your borrowed pjs just enough for your bare cleavage to show through.

“When do we start, daddy?” You breathe. You’re so close. So fucking close. Lee can barely focus on anything but the way your hips move for him and you can’t focus on anything but the way he feels against you. “Oh fuck,” you groan as you cum against his thigh.

“Now,” Lee smiles watching you come apart before him. Your thighs constrict around his as you feel your high pulsing through you. Your whole body rolls slightly at how good it feels until a telltale bulge presses into you. You let out a soft, surprised chirp and roll your head to face him. Your hand finds his soft belly and travels lower and lower until you can palm his hard on.

Oh. He’s big.

You bite your lower lip and grip him through his boxers.

“Now, look who’s playing,” Lee grunts and sits up to press his boxers down. You unbutton your shirt the rest of the way before Lee notices. “Come here, beautiful.” He pulls you onto his lap and presses your shirt from your shoulders. “Gorgeous,” he sighs and palms your breasts.

“Me or my boobs?” You smile.

“Both.” You giggle and reach between your thighs to jack him off. He makes the most blissed out face. It’s gorgeous. You rub the bead of precum he produces over his tip and down his shaft and, God, you can’t wait for him to fill you up.

“You do have condoms, don’t you? Or do you really want another baby?”

“I’d love to have a baby with you,” Lee mutters pining you with those icy eyes. Your pussy flutters just thinking about him fucking you until you’re pregnant and completely full of him. “Top drawer.” He nods to one of the bedside tables and you shake yourself from your perverted thoughts. You climb over him to find them giving him the perfect view of your ass. He grips it roughly as you rummage through his beside table until you find what you’re looking for.

“I’m surprised you didn’t know exactly where they are,” Lee jokes as you reclaim his lap.

“I don’t go through your things,” you quickly deny.

“Then you’d have no idea where I put my spare car keys?”

“First drawer in the table by the door,” you recite quickly.

“Don’t go through my things, huh?” Your face heats after he catches you red handed but Lee only laughs at your embarrassment. “This is practically your house, momma. I’d expect you to know where everything is. Now, if we can get back to what we were doing,” he trails making you smile and focus back on his cock.

You roll the condom down his shaft as you continue to jack him off until he’s practically begging for you. Then you finally lift your hips to feel the bliss of his heavy cock filling you so perfectly.

“Fuck, daddy,” you whine as he stretches you.

“God, you’re tight,” Lee grunts. You hold yourself there with him deep inside of you as your body adjusts. You could live on this cock alone. You take a shuttering breath before finally meeting his gaze again. “Come ‘er, momma,” Lee groans pulling you down to his chest. He flips you onto your side and pulls your thigh over his hip once more. “Liked having you like this. Felt so good.” You start to rock your hips experimentally making Lee groan out your name. Your hips roll into his while he holds your ass, encouraging your pleasure, until you find that spot. Deep inside of you, there’s a little spot that you know will have you screaming in no time. You aim Lee’s tip there over and over leaving you a whining mess for him.

“Right there? Is that where you want me?” Lee asks with a small smile. You can only nod and push further into his chest. Lee chuckles at the mess you’ve made of yourself and can only think of how much more he’s going to ruin you.

He rolls you completely under him, his bulk a settling weight over you. Lee carefully arranges your thighs around him, placing them safely over his own.

Then he fucking destroys you.

You don’t know where you end and he begins but you know it’s perfect. Your voice comes out in sharp shouts at the peak of each of his thrusts. “That’s my girl,” Lee grunts as he rails into you. His movements so precise. So perfect. His weight, his hold on you. It’s all so good.

Lee presses a kiss you your lips to still your whimpers but you can’t help it, it feels so right. Your cries get louder as you feel that knot inside you get tighter and higher. One of your thighs hooks around his back while the other presses into his hips. Just a little more. Just a little deeper…

“Right there! Please, Lee! Right th-aaah ah ah ah!” You squeak as you cum undone. Your eyes flutter shut and stars dance behind you lids as waves of pleasure pulse through you.

You hips spasm into Lee’s sporadically as he chuckles breathlessly. “That good, momma?” You can only bite your lip and squirm under him in response. He presses his lips against yours once more, kissing you until you come back around and start kissing him back. Your hands cup his face pulling him into more kisses before wrapping your arms around his shoulders.

“You’re amazing, daddy,” you sigh contently against his lips.

He grins back at you before rolling back over on his back, pulling you with him. “Your turn.” You smile sheepishly at your chance to pleasure him.

“My turn,” you whisper. Your hands find his shoulders and lean over him, finding some leverage on your knees.

You bounce on his hips experimentally, feeling his girth drag against your walls until he’s back against that spot but this is for him…

You spread your legs a little wider to allow for his frame to fit a little more comfortably between them. Then you lean back, one hand resting somewhere near his knee while the other rubs his soft belly. Your hips loose another experimental wave before letting go and humping into him. It feels like he’s ripping you apart in such a good way. Lee’s hand finds your hip as he guides you slightly but you didn’t need much. You seemed to fit each other perfectly. Know each other carnally. Neither of you need much coaching. It all seemed to flow.

“Fuck, momma. That’s it. Little faster,” he spanks your thigh to egg you on.

“You like that, daddy?” You smile.

“I fucking love that,” Lee groans. You lean over him to press a kiss to his lips while you continue to ride him. Fuck he feels so heavy and good and right inside of you. You let out a soft moan.

So perfect.

His other hand wraps around you and starts to help you along, thrusting up into you and meeting your soft waves. Curses tumble from your lips every time he hits a particularly sensitive spot inside of you until it starts to feel like he’s aiming for it. Over and over until you’re like jello in his grip, holding on limply while he fucks you within an inch of your life.

“Fuck, I’m gonna cum, momma,” Lee groans.

“Please, Lee! I need you,” you babble, so close to your own breaking point.

“Gonna get you there,” he promises and his thrust get rougher and faster and he knows right where he needs to abuse you. Before you know it you’re gasping and tossing your head back in a silent scream as you cum around him.

“Shit,” Lee groans and quickly follows you, spilling his seed into the condom still buried inside of you. You both pant for air, watching each other as you glow in your after shocks.

Those bright blue eyes watch you, taking all of you in from your mussed hair to your soft curves. “You okay, momma?” Lee asks after catching his breath. You just nod and collapse into his warm chest. He chuckles softly and wraps his arms around you. “Fuck, you’re beautiful.”

“You’re beautiful,” you counter with a small smile burying your face in his chest. You could stay like this forever.

But Lee’s growling stomach says otherwise.

“I’ll go make us some breakfast.” You attempt to pull away but Lee keeps his grip on you.

“I’ll help,” he insists and help he does. Helps by swatting your behind under his borrowed shirt and helps by pressing kisses to your neck while you fry eggs and he really helps when he pulls down his pants and has you keep his cock warm for him while he eats. He’s such a good helper you think as he rails you against the dining room table after he finishes his breakfast.

Lunch are simple ham and cheese sandwiches after you choke on his cock and dinner is your pussy spread over the kitchen counter right before your roast finishes in the oven.

You really don’t want to leave but you didn’t have a change of clothes and living the rest of your life in Lee’s borrowed shirts didn’t seem practical. So Lee begrudgingly takes you home after a long day of hard work with his help.

“Where the hell have you been?” Your mother shouts the moment you set foot through the door, breaking you from the spell Lee put you under.

You freeze before you even have a chance to close the door behind you. “Get in this house before anyone else sees you running the streets!” You’re floored by the accusation but follow her direction and silently stepping into the house.

“Where are have you been?” She repeats a little more calmly but you know better. There’s a level of anger you’ve never met under that calm.

“I called and told you I’d be at Lee’s late.” Yesterday you don’t add and hope she forgets all about that by keeping your tone even.

“Lee’s?” You mother frowns. “That’s awfully familiar for the sheriff.”

“Oh my god,” you mutter under your breath. Were you really about to get yelled at because of this?

“Girl, you know I don’t allow that kind of back talk in my house. Now, you told me you’d be home late and then we never heard another word from you for an entire day! Where have you been?”

Oh boy.

“Well, it’s just that, mom. I lost track of time and stayed late so he had me stay for dinner and at that point it was so late he just told me to stay in the guest room. I didn’t want to call and wake the whole house…”

“I don’t care if you wake the whole neighborhood. I want to know where my daughters are once the sun sets.”

This is ridiculous.

“Mom, I’ve been in an entirely different state for the past six years,” you argue.

“As long as you’re under my roof, you’re under my rules! You could’ve been dead in a ditch! You could’ve been hanging!”

“Oh, mother! Honestly,” you sigh, stamping your foot lightly on the ground.

“To your room. Now.”

“I’m almost 30. You can’t just send me to my room,” you argue. “I’m only here to take care of you. Not to be treated like a child. I should be in California but I’m stuck here. For you. And as long as I’m here for you, I can do whatever I want outside of this house!”

Shock is written all over your mother’s face by your words. You’re shocked by your words. You’ve never talked back to your mother. The look of hurt and anguish on her face is heartbreaking.

You take a calming breath and move to sit on the couch across from her. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t speak to you that way.”

“No, you shouldn’t,” she agrees.

“I haven’t done anything to make it seem like I’ll make bad decisions in life, have I?” You ask the woman, resting your elbows on your knees tiredly. “I didn’t drop out of college, get pregnant, and work at a dinner. I’m not the one that needs to be policed. If I want to spend the night at my boss’s house, then you just have to trust me.”

She watches you for a moment. “What’s he like?” She finally questions.

You contemplate the question for a moment. “He’s very sweet. And so smart. We have a cat. Her name is Baby. He just wants to help people.”

“Was it good?” She laughs.

“Mother!” You cry out of embarrassment, covering your face.

“You can tell me,” she smiles. “He’s a good looking man. I may be sick but I still have eyes, girl.”

You regard her with a shy smile for a moment before deciding to answer. “It was amazing.” She cackles at your answer making you giggle. “I hear a lot of talk about white men but I’ve never heard anything about Europeans,” she trails.

“Alright, I’m not talking about this anymore,” you laugh and stand up. “What do you want for dinner?”

“What’d you make Lee?” Your face immediately heats as you spin away to the kitchen.

“Not talking about it!” You cry as you rush away.

You hum softly to the radio while sweeping. It was a hot day. The sun was working over time but you were enjoying the slight breeze from open windows and the freshly made lemonade and iced tea you conjured up this morning. But that wasn’t the only thing changing. Lee was taking Mondays off again and sometimes Fridays. You loved when he took Fridays off. Lee was always in such a good mood. You’d let yourself in and crawl into his bed and curl up next to his warm sleeping body. Sometimes he’d fuck you until you couldn’t think straight and sometimes you’d just sleep in and only get out of bed because of Baby’s screaming.

This morning was one of those fuck your brains out mornings.

It left you feeling like you were walking on a cloud. It always made it impossible to do actual work in this condition. Lee didn’t expect you to. He expected you to be his little house wife on days like this. To serve him food and ride his dick accordingly. And you were happy to oblige.

“This one’s about you, Baby,” you smile at the cat perched on the back of Lee’s couch as she watches the broom go back and forth. Desi Arnez’s voice crones through the speakers with one of the songs from the popular sitcom.

“There’s a brand new baby at our house, the nicest little gift we've ever had,” you sing along, dancing around the broom while Baby watches on in amusement.

You remain oblivious to a second set of eyes on you, watching you twirl gracefully around the living room. You’re so beautiful.

Lee waits until you’re facing away from him to make his move. He slinks up behind you and wraps his arms comfortably around your waist making you jump in surprise.

“Oh, Lee!” You giggle swatting his arm.

“Did I scare you, momma?” He chuckles before burying his face in your neck and dancing along with you. Your hands wrap over his while you sway to the music. He releases you into a turn before pulling you back into him. “I didn’t know you liked dancing,” Lee sighs into your skin.

“You never asked,” you smile.

“I should take you out.”

“That would imply that we’re actually dating.”

“Aren’t we?” He questions but you know it’s not really a question. This is something the two of you have yet to really flesh out. Dating meant marriage and marriage meant…

“You know I can’t stay here forever,” you remind the sheriff gently.

“Can’t you?” There’s another one of those fake questions. He knows you can’t. You have a passion beyond cleaning houses. You want to help people. “You can just move in here. I’ll take care of you. Give you whatever you want. Give you a baby.”

“We have a baby, Lee,” you smile sadly. He spins you in his grip to make you face him but you avoid his gaze.

“Look at me-“

“Lee.”

“I’ll talk to administrators over there-“

“Lee.”

“I’m the law around here and what I say goes-“

“Lee!”

“And I want you to stay!”

“I won’t work somewhere I’m not wanted!” You cry, finally looking up at him. “Every day will be an uphill battle and I don’t want to fight.”

“Not even for me?”

Shit.

That breaks you. You didn’t know how much of a hold he had on your heart until this moment. Could you leave him? Leaving him would mean one of the most devastating things in your life just happened. Could you live without his comfort? Without running home to him when you could no longer run home?

“I-I wish we could stay like this forever,” you whisper, dropping your head to his chest.

“I would never let you do it on your own. You know that. You’ll always have me. You just need to choose me, too.”

He makes it sound so simple. Like he can just go in and threaten an entire hospital and come out victorious. But you know better. That’s a fairy tale and the real world doesn’t work like that.

He holds you like that for a long moment. Long enough for Baby to come paw at your skirt to check on you.

“Your momma’s trying to get rid of us, little girl.” The kitten screams up at you as if she knows exactly what Lee’s talking about. Her giant blue eyes stare up at you expectantly. Just like her daddy’s.

“Lee,” you warn, not wanting to discuss it anymore.

“One date,” he asks. “I’ll come pick you up and we’ll dance all night. Then you can tell me to leave you alone and it will go back to me being your boss and nothing else.”

“But Lee-“

“It’s gotta end somewhere,” he argues. “We can’t keep playing house forever.”

Can’t we?

You got all dolled up under the scrutiny of your sister and mother. “Who are you going out with? Where are you going?” You just ignore them while blushing your cheeks. You don’t know why you’re getting so dressed up. Lee’s seen you at your worst and still seems to find something he likes. It was nice knowing you didn’t have to look your best for him. That was the kind of thing you wanted in a man.

There were a lot of things about Lee you wanted…

But you couldn’t stay here.

Right?

You can’t stay here?

It’s backward and racist. You have a one way ticket to California. A brand new place built on different principles. You could finally kiss this bible belt southern town goodbye for good. And that’s exactly what you want?

You’d find someone your age. Maybe a lawyer or a doctor.

But they wouldn’t be Lee.

There’s a knock at the front door while you apply your powder numbly.

“I’ll get it,” you sister sighs and makes her way to the door. You hear Lee’s deep drawl and you’re instantly drawn in. His voice, his laugh.

“You’re in love.”

Your gaze snaps up to your mother in the mirror’s reflection. There’s a smug look on her face that says it all. “You’re in love and you’re scared.” She shrugs with a soft laugh. “The heart wants what the heart wants. Stop fighting it, girl.” She leaves to go greet Lee and tell him you’ll be out in a minute.

Tears start to fill your eyes. Is it that obvious? Are you in love? How were you supposed to go out and have a good time with all of this on your mind? A tear escapes your control as you hear your mom directing him back to your room. You attempt to quickly wipe it away but he sees you just as you dab at your eye with a tissue.

“You that upset to go out with me?” Lee jokes, leaning against the door frame. He looks so nice in a blue dress shirt and slacks. Like your own personal dream. You just want him to hold you but you don’t want depend on him. Right? You want to be your own woman but you want to be his so badly…

He gives your reflection a once over. “You look fucking gorgeous, momma. Too beautiful to be crying.”

“I’m just feeling a little lost,” you admit after sniffling softly.

“Well, finish up. We’ll talk in the car.” You nod slightly and attempt to finish you makeup quickly while your family entertains Lee.

This is as good as it’s going to get. You give yourself one last once over. You brush a hand down your blush pink dress and make sure your curls are perfectly placed. Some part of the back of your mind reminds you that you need to look good on Lee’s arm and that not just anyone can go out with the sheriff. You need to put on a smile and act like everything is-

You quickly squash that notion. Lee’s never expected any more of you than to take care of yourself, him, and Baby. That wasn’t going to change now.

You take a deep breath and step into the living room. Lee is instantly on his feet. “There’s my girl.” Your face heats as you look away.

“You mind your manners and have a good time,” your mother bids placing a kiss on your cheek before Lee wraps his arm around you.

“She’s in good hands,” he promises and leads you out to his car. “We have a reservation to make,” Lee sighs opening the door for you.

You give him a dubious look when he settles into the driver’s seat. “None of the restaurants around here need a reservation,” you frown skeptically.

“We ain’t eating around here,” he smirks. “Come here, momma. What’s going on in that pretty head?” You smile slightly up at him before sliding across the bench to sit at his side. His strong arm wraps around you as you rest your hand on his belly. “Or we can just cuddle if you don’t feel like talking.” He rubs his hand up and down your arm comfortingly. You don’t exactly feel like talking but it seems like you have a bit of a drive ahead of you. He peels out of your neighborhood and on to the main road as the radio crones on with big band music.

“I want to talk,” you whisper. Lee only pulls his hand away for a moment to turn off the radio before focusing back on you. His hand finds your waist and pulls you a little closer. “I-I don’t want to stay here, Lee. You know that. But I love you. I can’t see having to go on without you. I don’t want to go on without you.”

A soft hum rumbles through him before he speaks. “Then what are we going to do about that?”

“I’ll apply for the local hospital again, I guess.”

“You guess?” Lee jokes. “Or you can be my little stay at home wife. Pretend you’re in California all you want. I’ll plant some palm trees and put in a pool. You can take care of Baby all day. She would love that.”

You laugh softly. “Maybe I’ll have to be your own personal nurse. Take care of my big strong man when he’s sick.”

“Will you dress up in one of those skimpy little outfits?”

“For you, of course.”

You reach up to press a kiss to his cheek but he pulls you back for a quick kiss. “I love you so much, momma. I’d do anything for you. Don’t ever forget that.” You nod and let out a little giggle. “Now, give me another kiss.” You happily oblige. “One more. So fucking good for me. Now sit back before I have to stop this car and remind you why you love me so much.” You let out a laugh and curl back into him.

A little over an hour later, he stops at a very popular looking club in Columbus.

“We came all the way out here to go dancing?” You smile, scooting across the car bench to look out the window.

“The clubs in town are stale as hell,” Lee sighs and moves to get out of the car.

“Wait!” You cry, stopping him as the valet reaches his door. “Thank you for this, daddy.” You press another kiss to his lips that quickly turns into a show for the valet.

“Save some of that energy for later,” Lee smiles and presses a kiss to your forehead before finally stepping out of the car.

You expected to get all kind of looks: the sheriff out with that little black girl that ran off to the big city and had to come crawling back with her tail between her legs…alright, no one’s ever said that but you know someone’s thinking it. Maybe. But this far from home…

No one knows you here. They don’t even seem to care that you’re different races. It was…nice. You giggle softly as Lee dips you only to pull you back up into a soft kiss.

“I’m really glad I said yes,” you smile as he holds you close.

“So much for all those tears,” Lee chuckles making you roll your eyes. That was one time. “I gotta talk to you,” Lee mutters against your lips before pulling you back to your table. “I didn’t know a good time to tell you this but I talked to one of the managers at the hospital.”

“Ugh, Lee! I don’t want to think about that drama! Can’t we just enjoy our night?” You whine taking a drink of your cocktail.

“You think I’d tell you bad news right now? I’m trying to get laid tonight.” You can’t help but laugh at him. “Got you another interview.”

“But we just talked about this,” you argue in disbelief. You literally just told him you’d stay less than an hour ago in the car.

“I might have done some shit behind your back,” the sheriff admits. When you let out an annoyed huff but he quickly continues. “I just knew you wouldn’t leave me.”

“So sure of yourself.” You roll your eyes at him. “And what’d you do to get this interview? Hold him up at gun point?”

“Somethin’ like that,” Lee drawls, leaning back in his chair with a smug look on his face. You just smile and shake your head at him. “All we did was talk. I promise no one got hurt. No threats were made.”

“Really?”

“Why would I lie to you, momma?”

“You’d certainly arrange things without telling me,” you pout but then give him a once over, pulling your bottom lip between your teeth. He is doing this for you, too. He knew how hard it was being away from family while you were in school. You loved your independence but you liked the comfort of having a steady place that’s home. He wanted to be that home. Your steady place.

You don’t want anything else in the world besides that.

“I guess you’re getting laid tonight.”

He gives you a shit eating grin that tells you all you need to know before leaning back on the table. “How do you plan on thanking me?”

“What would you like, daddy?” You ask innocently, looking at him through your lashes. “I can suck your big, fat dick? Or keep you warm all night? Or maybe…”

“Maybe?”

“Maybe I’ll let you fuck a baby into me.”

“Fuck, momma,” Lee groans before adjusting his pants not so subtly. “You done here? I gotta get you home.”

“Maybe we should get a hotel,” you suggest thinking about how long the drive is.

“Car’s free,” Lee grins pulling you from your seat and toward the door.

It doesn’t take him long to find a dark alley and it takes you absolutely no time find yourself on your knees at his side choking on his cock.

“Fuck, momma,” Lee groans spanking your ass as it wiggles in the air. “Didn’t know you had all that in you.” You let out a satisfying hum as you swallow him making him moan. You feel his fingers hitching up your dress inch by inch. He spanks you again once he clears the fabric and grips your cheek through your panties. “That’s it. My perfect girl.” He slides his hand under the fabric to find your slit already soaking for him. “You want my cock, momma? You’re so wet for me.” You nod as much as you can around him and Lee grips the roots of your hair, dragging your face up to meet his with a sloppy kiss. You moan into his mouth as you cup his face with your hands, feeling the rough stubble from the day.

Lee lets out a soft grunt as he repositions you across the car bench. His face nuzzles kisses against your neck. “I love you so fucking much. You know that, momma?” He mutters. His finger trace the band of your underwear before slipping them down your legs. You can only whimper as your mind races to how he’s going to destroy you.

“Need you, daddy.”

Those bright blue eye flick up to you, pinning you with his gaze. “You got me,” he assures you. You hear his belt buckle and moments later he’s stretching your core to its max. He’s so big and fills you so perfectly. You can feel every bump and vein and it’s so right. You’ve had sex with him regularly but this time felt special. You’ve never taken a man raw before. You felt ready.

Lee’s hips start to thrust into you erasing everything from your mind but him. He knows you so well that he doesn’t need to search for that spot. He just goes straight for it and has you screaming for him. Your stockinged foot finds the steering wheel for a bit of leverage so you can thrust back into him.

His hand grips the back of your thigh, helping you out while he folds you into yourself just so he can get a little deeper. You curse as he grinds against that spot mercilessly. His weight is so comfortable on top of you. You always want this. You want him by your side, to wake up next to him every day, to grow old with him. And as he gets you so close to your peak, you know you can’t live without him. “Lee! Fuck! P-please! I’m so close!”

A soft chuckle emits from the man before he presses a kiss to your lips. “You’re so fucking cute when you’re falling apart for me. Let go. I’ll catch you.”

You nod vigorously. Your eyes squeeze shut as your focus is set on your core and how much pressure he’s putting on you.

Whimpers falls from your lips as your hips sputter into his smooth thrusts, chasing your high.

“Please, please, please, please,” you chant just loud enough for Lee to hear.

“Begging for it now?” Lee laughs. His hips snap into yours now, giving you exactly what you need.

You’re a whining whimpering mess when you finally cum. Stars shoot across your closed lids as you try to smoother your face between the bench and Lee’s kisses.

“Good girl. Always my good girl,” Lee praises. Your body clenches around him at his words and he instantly knows something new about you.

He pulls away from your kiss covered jaw to watch you with an amused look. Your body is still writhing with pleasure under him and he can’t wait to give you move.

“You like being my good girl, momma? Wanna keep me happy?”

You moan at his words, humping against him, wanting him to move again but he continues to grind into the spot driving you crazy.

“Use your words,” he chuckles brushing a mussed curl from your forehead.

“I-I wanna be your good girl,” you whimper, finally cracking your eyes open to meet his gaze.

“Then you’ll make me happy and stay here?”

You stare at him for a beat before you nod. “I’ll stay.”

A smile spreads across his lips before he gets back to destroying you.

“Fuck,” he groans softly, your core keeps squeezing him mercilessly but you can’t control it. He can’t control it either as he slams into you despite your grip on him. You need him so bad. You need him to make you his wife. You need to take care of him. You need him to take care of you. You’ve never needed anything or anyone so bad in your adult life.

“You feel amazing, momma. Made just for me, you know that?”

“I’m yours,” you cry, your head tossed back against the seat so close to your peak again.

“All mine,” Lee sighs. “You gonna cum with me?”

“Uh huh!” You exhale. “Wanna be your good girl! Wanna cum for you, daddy!”

“Fuck!” Lee growls gripping your thigh a little tighter. The thought that it might bruise ghosts through your mind but you welcome it. He’s leaving his mark on you. Claiming you. It just makes you hotter. Tighter. Wetter.

“That’s it, momma. Cum for me,” he begs, his hips snapping into yours now.

So close. So close. Just a little- “Lee-eh-eh-eak!” You scream as you cum, spilling onto his stomach and the base of his cock. Lights flash behind your lids and you’re left a moaning mess as he fills you to the brim. You feel his seed leak past your lips to pool between you but he stays buried deep as ribbons of cum paint your insides, ready to do it’s job and make sure you’re full of him for the next nine months.

Of course, you know that its a relatively safe day for unprotected sex.

But part of you hopes it took.

Lee’s breaths come in quiet huffs as you writhe under him. He stays buried in you while he slowly softens, giving you just that little bit of extra friction. “You alright, momma?” He smiles before pressing a kiss to your lips. You chase after them blindly as he pulls away, not ready to open your eyes. No ready for the euphoria to end.

“More kisses,” is your only response and Lee happily obliges. He bombards you with kisses until you’re both gasping for air and space. Lee lets out a soft sigh and sits up, pulling you up with him. He easily slips from you and you contract, attempting to keep all of his essence inside.

“Fuck,” Lee chuckles seeing his handy work between your legs. “Look at you just leaking with cum. You’re gonna make me hard again.” You smile and glance away, embarrassed. “Let me clean you up.” Lee finds his handkerchief in his back pocket and gently cleans up your core. “Relax or you’ll be holding it the entire drive,” he jokes. You let out a soft sigh and attempt to push out what you’ve been holding on to. “Good girl,” Lee praises making you giggle and bury your face in your hands. “Shit. If I knew that had so much power over you, I’d have said since day one.”

“You did once pretty early on,” you admit. “I fell asleep with my fingers in me that night.”

Lee laughs softly and is such a nice noise. You want to hear it forever.

“Well, shit! Tell me next time you need to jack off to something I said. I wanna watch.” You giggle even harder leaning back against the door as Lee finds your panties. He slips them back up your legs and over your hips so gently. He knows by now that he has to be careful with you after fucking you into a stupor. You watch as he slips on your shoes and places a soft kiss on each ankle.

He’s perfect.

“Lee?” He hums softly before looking up at you. “I love you.”

He just smirks back at you. “I love you more.”

You doze at Lee’s side as he drives you back to town. He hasn’t decided if he’ll take you home or to his place. You don’t care either way. You mom knows not to wait up. But you hope he’ll take you home. His home. Where your Baby is. And where your man is. Your fingers grip his thigh in your sleep, trying to keep him close even in your dreams. Your little hand is so close to his cock he starts to get stiff again.

He chuckles softly so he doesn’t wake you. “Guess you're coming home with me, huh?”

You wait in the sterile administration room of Mead General. Lee pretty much had to drop you off at the entrance to make you come. No amount of convincing could calm your nerves that morning. You fiddle with the new ring on your finger in an attempt to calm them.

The engagement ring Lee gave you.

It was enormous. You could practically see yourself in the diamond. It wasn’t you at all but Lee insisted on it. Nothing less than perfect for his girl.

Who knew it would become such a comfort.

A secretary calls your name and you gather up your resume and credentials to go through this torture one more time.

“Head up, momma. You’re the sheriff’s fiancée now. I need you to act like it.” Lee’s voice echos in your mind from when he dropped you off. You roll your shoulders back and add a little more confidence to your step.

Here goes nothing.

Lee leans against his car as he waits. It’s far too hot to sit in there and bake so he found a spot under a tree to wait for you. He glances up from lighting a cigarette to see the hospital security guard walking up to him like a man on a mission.

“Shit,” Lee sighs. The last thing he wanted to deal with was the public.

“Mr. Sheriff, Sir,” the man grins and holds out his hand.

Lee puts on a smile and tucks his sunglasses into his shirt pocket. “Sir,” Lee greets. “How can I help you?”

“Ronald, Sir. I just wanted to thank you for all that you do for our town. Keeping the social order and all.”

Lee can’t help but cock his brow at the phrase. Keeping the social order?

“This is one of the few places not assaulted with progressive ideas. Separate but equal will always prevail.”

He hadn’t enforced Jim Crow is over a year. Had nobody seemed to notice law enforcement stopped responding to their ‘coloreds using whites only facilities’ calls? They probably had their heads too far up their asses.

Lee gives the man a once over. “Right.” He looks up to notice you leaving the hospital. He sees you stop and glance around for him before he decides to go get you.

“What’s that little negro doing in there?” Ronald asks immediately noticing you. Apparently he wasn’t that great at his job if he never registered that you were there.

Lee smirks at your lithe form in the pencil skirt and blouse you picked out for your interview. He couldn’t wait to get you home to peel them off of you.

“I’ll handle this,” Lee sighs before stamping out his cigarette butt and making his way toward you.

You instantly light up at the sight of him, you almost fall into his arms in relief at a friendly face.

“How’d it go, momma?”

“I felt like they were interrogating me,” you breathe, letting out a soft laugh.

“Trying to scare you off,” Lee sighs. “What’d they say?”

You smile up at him excitedly. “I got it!”

“That’s my girl,” Lee grins. You notice his hands placed firmly on his hips but continues to regard you with beaming pride.

You cock a brow at him. “What are you up to out here?”

Lee bites his bottom lip, trying to hold back a laugh. “I gotta tell you something first. I know I threw a fit and started all that mess about that old junk-stuff in the basement,” he corrects himself with a soft eye roll.

“Oh, Lee,” you coo softly at the start of his apology. “That was so long ago. I’m not upset-”

“Just let me finish,” he interrupts. “I’m glad you made me keep it. I want our kids to see it. To know where they came from.”

You smile up, suddenly so proud of this man that was about to become you husband. You prepare to leap into his arms but he stops you with a gentle hand. He gestures toward the elderly security guard standing cross armed in the shade. “Now, back to what I was up to. That man over there thinks you’re up to no good.”

You burst into watery laughter at his words, attempting to hold back your happy tears long enough to let Lee play his joke. He really does pick the worst times to get sentimental. “What’s he gonna do? I work here now. Should we give him a show? Make his day?”

Lee’s smirk turns into a grin. “Really play it up for me, alright? Don’t hold back.”

You nod and stifle a giggle as Lee grips your forearm and attempts to drag you to his car. “Unhand me, you-you side burned Neanderthal!” You cry while flailing aimlessly. Lee stops to look back at you. “Too much?”

“That kinda hurt, momma.”

“Sorry,” you giggle glancing away, hoping your little character break isn’t caught. “I didn’t do anything! I had an interview! I swear!” You continue loudly, attempting to garnish attention.

“Anything you say can be used against you, ma’am, and I happen to know on good authority that this hospital doesn’t hire colorereds.”

“Are you calling me a liar?”

“If the shoe fits.”

“What are you arresting me for?” You counter, fruitlessly attempting to tug out of his grip.

“Lying to an officer, resisting arrest, trespassing, belligerent behavior-”

“Belligerent?” You bark.

“Just stating the facts,” Lee smirks, proud to deliver a low blow to return yours.

“Oh, you pig!” You hiss, just as Lee gets you to his car.

“Tell me how you really feel,” Lee sighs pressing your back into front passenger door. Those glaciers blue eyes meet yours and you just want to dive into them. They’re perfect.

“Well, sheriff daddy,” you whisper just for him. His hands circle your waist as he crowds you into the tiny space he made for you. It’s perfect. “Truth is, I’m really grateful for you. I wouldn’t have this opportunity without you.”

“Anything to keep you with me, momma.” Then Lee shocks the entire crowd of hospital spectators and presses a soft kiss to your lips. You smile against them and wrap your arms around his shoulders as he pulls you into a tighter embrace. “I love you,” Lee whispers against your lips.

“I love you,” you smile and press back into him. He’s perfect.

——————————————————

Master List

#lee bodecker x female reader #lee bodecker fic #lee bodecker x black! reader #lee bodecker x black female reader #lee bodecker smut

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teabreakpancakes · 2 years ago

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Hi! I’m curious how Wu Chang, the Violinist, and Evil Reptilian would react to their s/o kissing them to escape being chaired.

Also I love your work!

You and Your Little Tricks! Wu Chang, Antonio, and Evil Reptilian x GN Reader

Genre: Fluff

Warning: A tad bit suggestive

𝐖𝐔 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐆

𝐅𝐀𝐍 𝐖𝐔𝐉𝐈𝐔

"Wuuu~, c'mon, I just wanted kisses" you bemoaned, pouting as you faced the tall man. The black guard grunted, rolling his eyes, "You do not attract someone's attention by screaming obscene things at them" he chided, nearing a rocket chair.

"I'll send you back, we can deal with you af—" before he can continue his sentence, you press your lips against his, cupping his face gently with both of your hands. Wujiu's eyes flutter shut, attempting to deepen the kiss. He releases the balloons, leaning into you.

'I'm gonna feel horrible after this and I will likely feel sore in the morning but Emily said she'd be mad if we lost again because I let myself get chaired on purpose' they thought to themself, wiggling out of the black guard's grasp before fleeing.

They make a beeline for the abandoned hospital, but not before blowing Wujiu a goodbye kiss. "I'm sorry but I don't want to deal with a prissy Emily later!" they shouted apologetically. Fan grits his teeth, glaring into your back, how dare you kiss him in a match only to deprive him of your affection, how cruel of you. He licked his lips before chuckling darkly, he was making you pay after the match, if your body wasn't already sore from the match, he'd make sure you woke up bruised and unable to walk in the morning.

𝐗𝐈𝐄 𝐁𝐈'𝐀𝐍

"Bi'ann, look at me please" you pleaded, disliking how he refused to gaze at you. "I... can't bring myself to, not when you're facing me what that, that gaze of yours" he mutters apologetically. You huff, visibly frustrated with how he was acting.

"Have I upset you because of how I acted earlier?" you feigned dejection, jutting out your bottom lip for more effect, hoping that it'd get the man to look at you. Bi'an swallowed, feeling his steel resolve waver at the sound of his beloved being upset. "Darling—" before he could even utter another word, your lips silenced him; his words, his thoughts, and his every reservation, and he had to admit, he loved every bit of it.

His grip gradually loosens around you, melting into your touch. Slowly, you break free from the balloons, ensuring that he wouldn't notice that you had gotten rid of the restraints. You did feel bad for taking advantage of him and his weakness like this but you'd rather deal with an upset lover, not an angry teammate—in this situation at least.

You let go of the balloons, successfully escaping Bi'an's clutches. You dash away using a nearby pulled down pallet near you. Bi'an stares at your back, his mouth slightly ajar as he sighs. "Brother... I agree with your suggestion" he replies to Fan, before disappearing into the umbrella and reappearing near another survivor—trading places with his counterpart.

𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐎𝐍𝐈𝐎

The violinist sighs, shaking his head, "My dear, at least attempt to act the part of a terrified survivor fleeing from a hunter" he says, tendril-like locks still laced around your limbs. He stares at you with an unamused expression, lips pursing into a thin line as scrutinised you.

You pouted at him before slowly smiling. You see, normally, Antonio usually keeps the survivors at a distance when he carries them using his hair, but when it's you he's carrying, you're a lot closer to him, as if embracing you instead of immobilising you.

"'Toniooo" you called out to him, successfully drawing his attention. "Yes?" he replied, leaning down slightly. You grinned cheekily before connecting your lips, startling your lover. His grip tightened around you, one of his hands lacing around your waist, pulling you closer.

Slowly, he pulls away from you, allowing you to intake the air you needed. He rests his forehead against yours, closing his eyes. "Now, just what made you do that darling?" he whispered breathlessly, gazing into your eyes. With a flick of his hand, he surrenders, surprising you. His gaze is dark yet loving as he caresses your cheek, "I want more... and besides, this is just one quick match, it won't affect my win rate much" he says, carrying you with his own hands as you both returned to the manor.

𝐋𝐔𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐎

Luchino's hand supports you against his chest as he carries you to the farthest rocket chair on the map, knowing you wouldn't struggle out despite being perfectly able to.

"Luch.." you droned on, lying against his chest. The hunter hummed, passing the basement as he headed towards the chair near the cathedral's exit gate. "I like it when you carry me like this" you giggled, smiling. He shakes his head, "I can carry you outside of matches, just don't do this next time alright? You can give me all your affection outside of matches, that way, I'm able to return it" he chuckles, bringing you up to his face before nuzzling into your neck.

You cup the reptilian's face, kissing him. He smiles against your lips, pressing his... skin against your lips. He hummed before shaking his head. 'Oh what a fool I've become, well, for them at least' he thinks to himself before heading to the nearest shaking cipher.

"Just this once, I'll go friendly because," he paused, perching you on his arms as he leapt through the air, landing near the cipher. "I wish to spend more time with you. Oh, and tell your teammates, please" he winced, remembering the gleam of the coordinator's flare gun.

#lawless.writes #idv.writing #idv wu chang x reader #idv fan wujiu #idv xie bian #idv violinist x reader #idv antonio x reader #idv evil reptilian x reader #idv luchino x reader #idv luchino diruse x reader #idv xie bian x reader #idv fan wujiu x reader

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gatitties · 2 years ago

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hellaur! can I request some HCs for Mikey's reaction to reader when someone revealed that reader is a illegal car racer? So the scenario is reader is Draken's younger sister, and when Draken got stabbed, ofc no one gonna pay the bills (but reader actually has money, she plans to send Draken to college (bcs she sees potential to him) that's why she's been winning the illegal race over and over again. she's known for being a champion there.) and when Draken was hospitalized, the money that reader saved wasn't enough to cover it up all that's why she's been on a race in straight 6 days just to earn money. and when it's the 7th day of winning car race again, someone tipped Draken and the gang that his sister is in that illegal shi and when they got there they saw reader celebrating her win but they also noticed the tired and drained look in her eyes, and ofc reader saw them and ykyk Draken and reader fought in the back of that place (away from people). I just wanted to see Mikey's reaction because he is romantically interested to reader 🫶🏻 sorry if this is long, thank u so much!!

—Mikey x reader

─Summary: Mikey discovers a new side of you and helps with a sibling argument

─Warnings: none

(Draken's part)

There you go!! 🫶🏻

— Your brother shouldn't be there (although neither should you).

— You tried to be as careful about the places where you moved and competed because you could meet certain gangs.

— You were even twice as careful with your steps now that you signed up for practically daily illegal competitions.

— Despite being in a state of euphoria and semi-consciousness from the exhaustion of staying up late, you knew that Draken's expression was not a good thing.

— Your celebration was cut short when you were dragged into a nearby alley, Mikey silently watching everything from a distance.

— Screams were launched from one side to the other, taking the discussion to the minimally physical end with a couple of shoves.

— It was clear that you were both stubborn and despite the fact that Draken was right that you were too young to enter the world of illegal racing, you stood up for your position to give him as much money as possible for a good study, or now, to be able to pay his recent bills.

— That same night you didn't reach any middle point between the two of you, he left kicking hard because he needed to think while you decided to stay in the alley letting everything settle in your mind.

— Mikey appeared after hearing everything from behind the corner, honestly he didn't have much to say about your life decisions because he was clear that if someone messed with you they would be indirectly involving Toman.

— He admired your perseverance in raising the money and supporting your brother in something that even Draken himself didn't think of.

— You thanked him for not saying much, your mind was at the point of collapse between exhaustion and the recent fight.

— Mikey is very attentive to his loved ones and he knew when you enjoyed silence instead of a conversation so he offered you his shoulder to rest.

— No doubt his romantic interest will increase, he already likes everything about you, knowing that you were an almost undefeated competitor made you more incredible in his eyes.

— Definitely Mikey sides with you in a second argument with Draken (Takemichi probably cried thinking that this would be the event that would split Toman in two).

— And it's thanks to him that your brother is less angry or 'accepts' that you compete. Mikey is just playing to please both of you to earn your love and (if possible) more respect from Draken.

— He is just paving the way to tell your brother that he's interested in you, but Draken already knows because he can tell how stupid Mikey gets when you're next to him.

#tr #tokyo revengers #tokyo revengers x reader #mikey #mikey sano #reader insert #x reader #mikey x reader #manjiro #mikey x y/n #mikey x you #toman #draken #draken's sister #request #sfw

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hareofhrair · 11 months ago

Text

A hypothetical

In the future, technology is developed that allows one to upload a "backup" of their memories and personality, to be downloaded into a cloned body at the moment of your death, making you functionally immortal.

Because of this, the legal definition of death becomes contingent on continuity of consciousness and not brain death. Ie, if your conscious experience of life is interrupted for x reasonable amount of time, you are considered legally dead. Therefore, if you somehow found the cryogenically frozen head of Walt Disney below Space Mountain and were able to upload his consciousness to a cloned body today, he would not, legally speaking, be Walt Disney and would therefor have no claim to his estate. This avoids a number of tricky legal hangups.

To circumvent this, it's necessary for your clone to be "woken up" as quickly as possible after death, to guarantee continuity of consciousness meets the legal standard to allow you to resume your life. Therefore, the process is triggered by the cessation of brain function.

A man is in a dreadful accident, and dies. A doctor manages to revive him, but he was dead just long enough to trigger the automatic process to wake his clone.

The man's consciousness was not interrupted long enough to meet the legal definition of death, so he is still legally himself. But what about the clone? Is it also legally him? It also has the same uninterrupted experience of life within the same legal limits. It's also a whole ass person in no way meaningfully distinct from any other, so you can't just euthanize it. Do you just give it a new identity and send it on its way? From the clone's perspective, he is still the man who died in the accident. He wants to go home to his family. Do you simply tell him that's not his family anymore? Not his career? Not his pets, his record collection, his half finished painting, his half written novel? He has no legal right to any of it?

So you have to fold him into his previous life, right? It's the only thing that's fair. It gonna be a confusing mess but you can't just tell the man his life isn't his anymore just because, by an accident of science, there's two of him now.

It's difficult on the family. Do they consider the first man the "real" one, and treat this new one like some kind of long lost twin brother? Well that's not going to go well. The clone wants to kiss his spouse and parent his kids. It's a good thing monogamy went out of fashion in the 30's. The spouse tries to accept they just have two husbands now. After being reasonably freaked out, the kids are optimistic about having two dads.

What about the first man? He's still recovering from a traumatic accident. He might never be the same. He might be disabled for life. And here's this perfectly healthy doppleganger taking over his life, kissing his spouse, holding his kids, working his job, living in his house. Logically of course he understands the man is him, that in his place he would, almost by definition, be doing the exact same thing.

But resentment is inevitable. What if he doesn't want to share his life? What if he wants his spouse here with him while he struggles through physical therapy to try and put his ruined body back together, instead of out to dinner with his clone as they try to build new romantic memories without him?

Maybe he starts to feel like he should have died in the accident. Like he's the problem here, the fact that he's still around. It's not a happy thought.

The clone is having problems too. He's not blind, and he knows himself. He knows how the other man must feel. The guilt keeps him up at night, lying in his familiar bed in his familiar house. His empty bed. His spouse is still at the hospital, sleeping in an uncomfortable chair at the other man's bedside. The clone took the kids home to get a decent night's sleep. It warms his heart, in a strange, strangling way, to see how devoted his spouse is to the other man, to the old him. They really loved him. Not everyone would be so steadfast in a situation like this. It doesn't stop him from wanting them here, next to him.

Should he do something, some gesture to separate himself from the other man? To bow out gracefully from his own life, and leave his old identity to someone else, and let the official record state he is not the man who died in that accident? Could he give up his name? His professional and personal achievements, his paternity of his children? What else would the other man expect him to give up, once he started to back down? He can he see himself being slowly edged out of his own life, one claim at a time, slowly erasing the connections to who he was before the accident. When he does sleep, he has nightmares about dying.

Things come to a head when the first man comes home from the hospital. It's different here, being reduced to an invalid in his own home, struggling just to get to the bathroom on his own, while the clone smiles and effortlessly takes out the trash and plays with the kids, and finishes that painting.

He shouldn't have finished the painting. The clone realizes what a mistake it was the second he sees the other man's face. It was just that he'd woken up next to his spouse for the first time since the accident, and he'd gotten out of bed in the quiet of dawn, and looked out the window at the brightening sky, and realized he was alive. He'd survived something that should have killed him, that had killed him. And he was here, seeing the sunrise again. He'd felt inspired for the first time in ages. He'd been picking up the brush before he knew what was happening.

But now the other man is in the door, looking at the canvas, and the clone knows this face better than anyone. He recognizes the rage and the grief and the miserable jealousy and the guilt.

They both come to the same decision at exactly the same moment.

And somewhere in a medical facility across town, a man wakes up.

#mun's art #writing #transhumanism #scifi #original writing #horror

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mugiwara-rosewolf · 2 years ago

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Hi again. Requests on Sabo at your service 😂 I love it too much 😍 anyway. I'm still here because the first request was great! You write very well. I put you if you allow me in the favorite writers that I discovered on this site! ♥ and also if ever another idea comes to me, let me come back to let you know *bows*

Good ! we're going to go to my dear and adorable Sabo.... I don't know if you write nfsw? Let me know if it's yes or no (so I can see what kind of request I'll send you)

So, reader will be in the revolutionary army before Sabo, she meets him at her mission in fuschia. Then after his accident, she helps him to overcome this ordeal and years later, Sabo discovers that he loves her but how to tell her given how much he is not comfortable with himself and says to himself he doesn't deserve happiness

I don't know if it's angst or not, but it's too hard to be soft... Especially the last sentence. Sabo-chan, you deserve all the stars in the universe, don't think like that 🤧 a happy ending at the end where I (reader) comfort him. I trust you to bring sabo's insecurities to the fore and how reader comforts him

Hello friend! Thank you again for such a wonderful request! I appreciate the compliments and would be honoured to be included among your favourites. I love this idea, and I really hope I did it justice.

(P.S. - I'm okay with writing NSFW stuff. I haven't had the chance to update the rules section of my blog to say so because I am fairly new to the genre, so just a fair warning).

(P.P.S. - HOO-boy, this got out of hand. IDK what possessed me but ~ I'm afraid I'm gonna have to break this fic into two parts. I hope that's okay 😅).

Anyways - Enjoy!

All My Life

Part 1

Sabo x F! Reader

Warnings/Tropes: Slight Canon Divergence, Revolutionary!Reader, Besotted!Sabo, Childhood Friends to Lovers, Canon-Typical Violence, Canon-Typical Amnesia, Light Angst & Mild Cursing.

This was the life - her life. Ever since birth, she'd been raised under the credo of the Revolution. It was as a favour to Dragon himself that Y/N and her parents left HQ to live under deep cover in the East Blue. A secret of the highest clearance was hiding there, he told them. The orders were to 'guard it with your life'.

She'd been born this way. The Army's youngest ever spy.

And that's precisely what she did. The moment she met a kid named Monkey D - she knew her mission had begun. Guard it with your life. Guard it with your life. Her leader's words rang in her ears for years after that. Keeping a razor-sharp eye on those blasted pirates that blew in and out of town with the wind. Biting the hands and feet of those blasted bandits whenever they invaded. Their leader, 'the Bear,' would never risk the humiliation of admitting half his wicked scars were from the end of her daggers.

When young Monkey D came away from those tumultuous times with merely a few stitches under his eye (self-inflicted, mind you), Y/N was half tempted to consider her mission a success. Little did she know -- the lion's share of her protective duties had only begun.

***

He wouldn't remember this for years. For years. And part of him was still ashamed to admit it to this day. He wouldn't remember the (h/c) girl with those fierce (e/c) eyes and that wicked pair of daggers at her sides. He wouldn't remember how she was his brother's first protector. Bandaging his rubber-skinned wounds and wiping his cry-baby tears with calloused hands. He wouldn't remember how the dappled sunlight of the jungle would play across her hair, sparking the flint in her eyes. How she could swing from the branches as limber as the wind and carve all their initials into the trunk of their tree house. Years went by, with him never knowing those golden days existed.

What he remembered, instead, was a hospital room. Bandages prickling his skin from head to toe. The smell of cotton was overpowered by night sweats and disinfectant. Not to mention the stench of Ivankov's various perfumes and powdered shoved in his face as soon as he awoke. Y/N would always laugh remembering that part, telling him he 'screamed like a monkey'. She'd be laughing so hard she'd be wiping tears. Mostly happy ones, he thought.

She was right there at his bedside when he woke up. Gripping the brim of his hat so tight, her knuckles were white. She handed it to him so he could see his name embroidered on a little tag on the inside. Sabo. Part of him feared he wouldn't remember that much if not for her.

When Dragon and the others discussed the idea of sending him home...remembering that jolt of fear of panic stills sends a shudder down his spine to this day. He cried out against it. Begged them to let him stay. He's not sure his please would've worked if Y/N hadn't protested alongside him. Telling them about the horrors she'd witnessed in Grey Terminal. The cruelty of the Goa Kingdom. When she spoke, there were tears in her eyes.

Years passed, and together they stayed.

She brought him books while on bedrest. Told him stories when his eyes got tired. Shared meals with him by candlelight in that lonely hospital den. Not all the stories were happy, but that was okay. Cause her voice captured each emotion expertly. Even when she wandered to his bandaged side, he learned to read her voice as clearly as any picture book. Learned what it sounded like when she smiled when she laughed.

She was right there beside him when he woke up from night terrors. Or when the headaches set his vision on fire. When shivers wracked his body, locking his bones together till he couldn't breathe. She was right there beside him. Her calloused hands pawed at hospital sheets when they finally removed the bandages. He saw his fingers for the first time. Her breath caught. She wouldn't think he heard her, but he did. How could he not?

The Doctors held up a mirror - and he saw it all. The molten skin coating half his left side gleamed in the dim light like a spider's webbing buried into the cracks of his flesh...absorbing his left eye. The blue of his eye had exploded like those supernovas he had read about in books. He tried to look, to see the doctor without turning his head, but all he saw was a blurry minty white. Like the sheets beneath his hands. Like the pallor on Y/N's face when she finally saw the damage done with her own two eyes. --And she cried.

He never thought it'd hurt so much to hear her cry.

She was on his left side the first time she told him about her family. How mercenaries had captured and tortured her best friend. How her parents had been lost trying to help others escape this huge fire that Nobles had set in the slums of her home. She told him spontaneous fires started there sometimes with discarded metals or glass catching the light in the summertime, but it had never been so bad as that day. From the pit that swallowed his gut, he knew instinctively that fire was no accident. All those people... razed to the ground on someone else's whims. Sabo felt sick to his stomach.

It was the first time he had tried to reach out to someone. What with his squeaking-taut skin, stiff muscles and aching bones. But he swore his heartbeat stopped when she wrapped her arms around his ribs. When she buried her salty tears into his collar, everything paused. Frozen in time. In the moment when her warmth was pressed against him. Where the drumbeat of her heart somehow eclipsed his own.

Looking back now, it seems almost silly how long it took him to figure it out. They knew how much trouble they'd get into sneaking into each other's barracks at night to read, study, or just talk until the candles burnt out - but they did it anyway. Sometimes they'd goof off in class just cause they knew they'd get detention together. He'd volunteer to peel apples and potatoes with her and Koala for kitchen duty. He'd drape his coat over her shoulders when she fell asleep in the library. He knew she'd always pick up his hat if he ever forgot. Or if some punk was dumb enough to try and swipe it off his head. Sabo swore she was even more protective of that hat than he was, sometimes.

She tried to brush him off when he teased her about it. But even though he could no longer see the blur of her hair on his left side - he could still hear how her callouses brushed that little tag stitched on the inside. The one with his name embroidered in small, crooked blue letters. He took that hat and shoved it atop her head.

She squawked and shoved at him, 'What the he-Sabo!'

Sabo laughed. 'Come on, why so serious, Y/N? The hat's just as much yours as it is mine. You can wear it whenever you like.'

Y/N stilled. It took him a few strides to realize he could no longer hear her boot strides beside his. He turned and looked at her. Really looked at her. There, rooted to the spot. Dust mites danced in the sunlight around her, glinting off her hair. Her face was cast in shadow beneath his hat. But her fingers clutched the brim, pale white and trembling. She knew that shiver in her grip. That warbled in her voice, even if it was just one word:

'R-really?'

The ground was swallowed beneath his feet in a matter of seconds. He clasped her shoulders, stilling her shivers. 'Really, really,' He ducked his head. Bowing down just enough so he could see the saltwater glint in her eyes. 'Besides,' he grinned. 'My stuff looks good on you.'

She snorted at that. 'I thought you were just saying this hat was ours?'

'I am,' he straightened. 'The fact that it was mine first just makes it better.'

Another indignant squawk. 'You jerk!' Sabo burst out laughing, dashing down the hall way before she could catch him. 'Hey! Get back here, you!'

Sitting around those crates of apples and potatoes, they'd poke and prod and nudge at each other. Just enough to screw with their carving job and *usually* not enough to result in injury. Then Hack would scold them or Koala would scoff at them something like 'grow up' or 'get a room, you two'. Sabo would duck his head from Hack, rubbing at the burn in his neck. Other times he'd stick his tongue out at Koala, even if he knew he was blushing. But for Y/N, the effect was immediately and vastly different.

She would sit stiff and ramrod straight. Her skin burned red from the crown of her head to the tips of her fingers. Then she'd jerk her head down. (H/c) hair falling and obscuring her face, chin tucked to her chest. Hands nimbly returning to their task with almost machine-like accuracy. Sabo's stomach always swooped at the sight, not in the good way he'd grown to like around her. This was like an icy chill washing down his spine, though he didn't know why.

When he'd turn his head to look at her, the growing darkness on his left side could nearly convince him that Koala and Hack weren't even there. That it was just the two of them. Whittling together to their heart's content. And at that moment, he knew exactly what to say to break Y/N's spell.

'Tell me about the brothers again.'

In an instant, the whole world would light up. As if by magic. Y/n would jolt to look at him. (E/c) blown wide and- and precious. He didn't know how else to describe it. Only when she searched his gaze, it was as if she were raking over his very heart. Searching every nook and cranny until - she smiled. Whether it was a dandelion, sunshine, or a supernova kind of smile, he could never help himself from smiling back. Nodding her along to make sure: go on, I'm listening.

And then off she'd go, launching into one of her infamous tales of 'The Pirate Brothers and me'. She told him about how they'd hunt together in the mountains. All their misadventures learning to beg, borrow and steal from the upper crust of Goa Kingdom. They and their little crew of wild kids saving up to sail into the great unknown. He loved how she gave each of her friends' little nicknames like 'Blondie' and 'Freckles' and 'Meathead' and laughed when she remembered their antics. Sometimes she cried for missing them. Sabo knew it was the good kind of crying, but that didn't make his chest ache any less.

It wasn't until news hit the papers that he knew exactly why.

ROGER'S SON, FIRE FIST ACE, DEAD AT MARINEFORD

The moment he read that headline and saw Fire Fist's, Portgas D, Roger D -- Ace's portrait on the front page news--the floodgates opened. Every nightmare. Every seizure. Prickling fiery pain over his skull. The aching squeak of taut skin. Stiff muscles. Fused bones. Nightsweats and feverish blurs of memory across the back of his eyes. His blind eye burned and ached. But never saw a thing any more.

The burn of water and smoke washed through his lungs. Flashes of sensation flared in his mind, behind his eyes, beneath his skin. The weight of an iron pipe, the breeze of the jungle, the light of the sun - he felt it all. Everything came crashing down at once. His knees cracked against the stone floor. His chest ached. He couldn't tell if he was set on fire or drowning. Everything was damp. He couldn't breathe. Everything within him, every fibre of his being rebelled, shocks along every nerve, pain from every thought. Ace is dead. Ace is dead. Ace is dea- Ace!

He screamed. Everything turned black.

***

27, Oct. 2023: PART 2 OUT NOW!!

#sabo x reader #sabo x y/n #sabo the revolutionary #one piece sabo #one piece #rosewolf writes #mugiwararosewolf #portgas d ace #ace one piece

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wawamouse · 2 months ago

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Oz Rewatch 3: S6E02: See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Smell No Evil

Storylines

Shirley guest narrates

2nd day of riots after Mayor Loewen is on trial; Loewen is convicted; Seroy is pinned for the murder of Beecher’s father; Loewen is placed in Unit J with Beecher and Yood; Beecher saves Loewen from choking, so Schillinger vows not to fuck with his parole; Beecher is released; Lopresti informers Keller

Penders, White, and Martinez fall ill; Glynn doesn’t want the news to get out even though Gloria wants to send him to Benchley; Brass menaces Martinez

Morales wants to be transferred to the hospital and hears about Martinez; Morales worries about Martinez jabbering

Rebadow and Stella bond; Stella explains her backstory and interest in working at Oz

Busmalis refuses to see Norma but Rebadow tells him he should;

Kirk continues his Satanic act; Mukada comes to compromise but Kirk buckles down; Eleanor arranges for a Death Row photoshoot for Maxim magazine; Hoyt forces a lightbulb into Kirk’s mouth during the group shot and then goes crazy; Mukada is off the hook but feels guilty because he prayed for Kirk to die

McManus and Said finish reading Hill’s book; Redding has a breakthrough in the meditation maze; he decides to get the Homeboys away from dope slinging by getting them into telemarketing instead;

Morales tries to recruit miguel to spy on the Homeboys; Miguel’s mom visits; Miguel calls Maritza

Peter scares Ryan with the evil eye stuff; Ryan manipulates Pancamo into killing Peter; Pancamo tries to kill Robson; Robson tries to get protection from Cutler; Robson meets with Sister Pete;

Sister: Ohhh, this time it’s different.

Sister: (as Beecher) What about my father?

Sister (jabbing at screen): Don’t you dare mess it up for him! I see your eyebrows knitting an evil little sweater….

Sister: (gasp) Is she giving out STDs?! All getting sick? Same symptoms? Damn… what did she give them…

Sister: Why would he say that… “Books for the dead”? Me: He’s feeling the Halloween spirit…

Sister: I’m just looking at all the things that have here that can kill people. This ain’t going to end well.

Sister: You wanna lay down some quotes for us to judge or are we telling not showing…

Sister: Close up! Let’s see how evil this lady looks…

Sister: What, she got family there? She got stock? Murphy: For Chrissakes, Howell, what do you got stock in Kentwell Communications? Howell: No, a brother. Sister: I’m so good at this.

Me: I still think they should’ve make him a communist… Sister: He’s not a communist? What is he, a socialist? Me: He doesn’t have a concrete ideology, really… They never gave him one… Sister: I just assumed he was a communist this whole time, to be honest.

Sister: Crapped his pants.

Sister: Wrong! That’s the problem with people in this place. They’re always telling each other their plans… (also tbh i included that first screencap because i always thought it was cute that Peter was trying not to laugh there)

Sister: Girl! He’s only 36?!

Stray Thoughts

Hecht and McArthur are mentioned as minimum security prisons

Plymouth House is mentioned as a juvenile hall

Sister was disappointed to learn last week that Adebisi never guest narrates

Sister thinks Beecher will die before he gets out

It’s mentioned that Said makes 2.50/wk at R&D

Final thoughts: Sister: So sad about Antonio… forgot his name… Michael? Good thing I didn’t decide to become his guardian angel again. That would’ve been so embarrassing… Very confused about why, um…. Mr. Linguini believed the guy who always lies when he came to sell his wares. Like that guy’s never just coming over to gossip normally, but oh, let’s hear him out? How tiny does your brain have to be to still believe him. He’s like the pied piper, he’s gonna be pying those pipes. Don’t listen to him, little rat… And I’m so disappointed they didn’t do an STD episode and expose that lady so she can finally get fired.

#oz rewatch #oz hbo

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true-to-the-rp · 2 years ago

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RP Request (Open)

(Update: 2024)

Hi, Im Satan, Im 24 years old. Im looking for an RP partner for Discord (but can be convinced to RP on Tumblr never done it before). This is also my side blog for RP search, and probably looks terrible dont mind it. I dont have a computer to fix it.

I have fandom RP Ideas right now, and only do Canon x Cannon. I like Original stuff, and have a few original ideas but I have been craving some Cannon/Cannon action. There are some AU ideas for some, and Headcannons for the characrers Im playing. I'm open to work on a different plot or ideas that you have in mind, Nothing I writen for the character section is Set and Stone! Dm me - lord_satan_ on discord or on tumblr messanger

If there is another pairing you wanna do instead of the ones listed just ask! Even if there from a different fandom! I might be willing to rp them.

Information

Im 25

He/Her/Them

EST Time Zone.

I like making playlists for the rp, sending art of the pairings (not my own, I only draw clothing) and when Im really in the mood yammer about stuff.

I have moments where I go silent, sorry about that. I sometimes just not in the mood to chat.

I have Autism, and sometimes suck at spelling.

I RP mainly on Discord but I can be convinced to RP on Tumblr if you are comfortable with it.

I write in 3rd person

Canon/Canon Pairing Only (M/M)

Semi lit to Lit, depending on the partner.

Rules

Be patient, I sometimes forget or get busy with life. If its been more then 24 hours please ping me again.

Be honest, if you arent enjoying the rp, or getting tired tell me.

No 1st person

No one liner, Im looking for Semi Lit.

No Minors, 18 plus Partner (I want 21+, but Im not gonna be picky). If You lied to me about your age, and I find out. Ill ban you.

Limits

Nothing with Eyes, Im down to clown withgore (cause I have two killers in this list)

Dont jump to sex please. I want build up.

No R*pe in the rp, the person can be sexually herrassed and it can be a thing that happened to the character in the past. But no R*pe in the rp.

Fandoms, Bold and coloured are character I can play!

Persona

Akechi Goro × Kurusu Akira

Akechi and Akira are from the same school/collage, and both are rivals. Enemies to friends to Lovers.

CoD | Call of Duty

Horangi x Kongi

Horangi has been a big fan of a ex porn star, unknown to him that star works right next to him and Kongi is clueless that he is big fan of Horangi music when he was an idol. (Based of a Fanfic I read)

Price x Graves

Graves didnt want to betray the group but he had to, for his young daughter. Group unaware of this, even Price someone he was having a romantic relationship with. (Am Open to other stuff turn to page Soup x Ghost (x roach?) for AU ideas if you don't wanna do this plot)

Soap x Ghost (x Roach?)

Monster AU, Camboy Au, Streamer AU, Flower shop/Tattoo Shop Au, Mermaid Au, or anything

South Park

Butters x Kenny

Theres a rumor that Choas has crated a formula that could give people superpowers. Making heads turn. Enemy to lovers.

Tweek x Craig

Collage AU. I dint have a detail plot idea, but open to discuss stuff for these two!

Evil Within

Sebastian x Ruben "Ruvik"

AU: Ruvik is a doctor at a hospital, he cares for his younger brother. Sebastian as a daughter who lways in and out of hospitals cause of her health. (AUs and Other stuff Welcomed if plot doesnt interest you)

Outlast

Eddie Gluskin x Waylon Park

I dont really have a plot idea for this one, open to suggestion and AUs!

You made it to the end, perfect. Hit me up with headcannons for the character you wanna play, Im so down to discuss Plot and Themes, also send ne your Triggers and No Nos.

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yjano · 2 years ago

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Who I am now?

Part 19.

Pairing: Jake x Mc.

Genre: Angst, comedy, dark romance.

Warnings: Strong language, angst scenes. 18+ content can be found.

Words: 6.2k

Author's note: This story contains mature topics and is not fully related to the duskwood game. A different parallel with different personalities. Thank you everyone for following and liking this! lly.♡

•

Mc focus.

"Alright, what's your question for me?" Nymos muttered, driving one-handedly as his other hand used a balled-up paper towel to clean up any traces of coca cola on his skin.

"I don't have anything in mind, to be honest." I coughed, adjusting my shirt. "Um, do you have any photographs on you of you and Jake when you were kids? Like the ones in your home?"

"...I'm giving you the most perfect opportunity for you to find out more about my brother through me but you just wanna waste the opportunity by looking at our baby photos?" Nymos tutted, shaking his head in disapproval, but still reaching inside his jacket pocket for his mobile phone.

"Like, I can tell you so many things about bro that he'll never bother to share with you. Things like the first time he had sex with someone. Wasn't a great experience for him I'm guessing since he accidentally knocked her out, because she squeezed his bud too hard. He woke me up at 3 am in the fucking morning and made me drive him home because his dick hurt too much to do it himself." Nymos concluded, laughing and handing his unlocked phone to me. I took it with my eyes widening at his words.

I glanced down at his phone screen to see I was in his photo album app, staring at a grainy photograph of young Jake and Kaden grinning so hard at the camera.

"Swipe right for more." Nymos smiled. I did that as he said, giggling at the next photo which happened to be of either a ten-year-old Jake or Kaden glaring viciously at the camera whilst being kitted out in a black turtleneck, black skinny jeans, several pieces of chunky silver jewelry, and boots studded with little spikes. Additionally, the boy's eyes were heavily lined with black, and his face was powdered a ghostly shade of white. In the background, I noticed an infuriated elderly lady lifting a sandal in the air, seeming to be in mid-warrior cry.

Nymos, noticing me laughing especially hard at this photo, grinned widely.

"Bro tried going to school like that one day but our grandma saw and beat his vampire-looking ass, telling him she wasn't gonna drive him to the hospital if he got heatstroke."

I laughed harder in reply, swiping right with my thumb to find yet another low-quality photograph of both the twins in their final year at high school, dressed in muddied football wear and looking a lot more like how they look now. Tanned by the sun, muscular, dark hair tousled, and wearing grins that left me a tad bit breathless.

Fuck, I bet they were super popular in high school. I wanted to send this specific photograph to my phone so I could privately drool over them in their red and black colored football uniform. I suppressed the urge to do so and instead forced myself to swipe right.

"Oh my god, oh my god! What is this?"

"Hmm?" Nymos took a peek at the photograph and grinned widely.

"Oh, those are my old high school nudes," He hummed, amusement evident in his voice as he studied the image depicted on his mobile phone screen.

"Man, I was tiny back then. Don't worry, I swear I'm way bigger now."

"Why would I fucking worry about your dick size?" I choked out, hurriedly throwing his phone back as if the phone casing could potentially burn a rectangular-shaped mark onto my palm.

"Because you know, you might think Jake's tiny too. Because we're identical twins." Nymos shrugged, chuckling. "Don't wanna have Jake hunting me down later for spreading false information about his dick size."

"Kaden, please stop talking."

"So it's your turn to ask a question now, screaming baby."

We've been playing twenty questions for quite a while now, probably passing the limit of twenty long ago.

I thought for a second, chewing contemplatively on my straw before glancing at Nymos.

"Why...Why did you believe Ikari instead of Lex and Jake?" I asked, almost kicking myself for my incapable brain-to-mouth filter because as soon as those words spilled out from my lips. I found myself wanting to swallow back a very single word.

But what happened? There was nothing I could do to redraw the flinch that Nymos reacted with.

"Damn, we're going for the big questions now, huh?" He coughed, and the hand that was not on the steering wheel reached upwards to cup the back of his neck as he laughed awkwardly. I thought that he might have a habit of touching his neck whenever he felt uncomfortable.

I cleared my throat now, looking down at the half-empty contents of my can of coke that I stirred silently with my straw.

"Um, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to," I mumbled, feeling like I crossed the line with my question.

"No, I'll tell you. It's just a question that people surprisingly haven't bothered to ask me," He replied quietly.

-a year and a half ago-

Nymos focus.

"Try not to hate me too much for making Lex work overtime on your birthday," Black shadow called over his shoulder as he walked away with a grin forming on his face when he heard me groan behind him.

"It's hard not to, fucker!" I yelled after him, watching the black shadow languidly draping his winter coat over his shoulders.

"But thanks for coming, bro." I grinned, lazily wiping the messily smeared buttercream icing off my cheek.

"We appreciate it."

"Of course, I'll come. You guys are family." He chuckled, walking towards the front door whilst reaching into the pockets of his coat in search of his lighter and the hand-sized box of cigarettes.

I was about to reply warmly back to my friend's statement when I was suddenly interrupted by someone flinging their entire, full weight into my side, throwing their heavy arms around me, and engulfing me whole in an overly tight bear hug.

My attention was immediately cast down on the mess in my arms.

"Kaden, your younger bro wishes you a happy birthday!" Jake exclaimed loudly against my neck as he clutched at my denim jacket. I almost instinctively wrapped my arms around my twin brother and laughed into his dark hair, responding with a muffled. "Happy birthday too, baby bro."

"No, happy birthday to you." Jake persisted in a croak before he started sniffling loudly and just as I had preconceived it, my baby brother broke down completely, sobbing and crying into my shoulder and weakly mumbling something along the lines of.

"Wish mom and dad were here to see us." And. "Fucking hell, aasshole, when did you get such a nice physique?"

Whilst Jake sobbed quietly and distractedly squeezed my left bicep, from his left, I heard Sam groans.

"Oh god, who the hell gave the sad drunk alcohol?"

"I'm not a sad drunk, asshole!" Jake protested tearfully, pulling away from me to glare at Sam through narrowed eyes before returning to my inviting arms and bawling like the sad drunk he is.

"Yeah, yeah, sure you aren't, dick." Sam smiled fondly, rolling his eyes when Jake mumbled a sequence of incomprehensible words directed at him. I, still laughing, comfortingly petted my baby brother's soft hair.

"Babe, come on, you're stifling Kaden." Ikari giggled, coming out from nowhere and resting her hand on Jake's back, patting him comfortingly.

The rather emotional Jake reluctantly shuffled away from me upon hearing Ikari's softly spoken words. But he doesn't let up at all on being a baby because the next thing he was doing, was crushing Ikari in a bear hug.

Making the startled, smaller girl stumble a few precarious steps backward as he tearfully choked out.

"I love you so so so much, Kari, you're the best."

Ikari, in reply, laughed softly, letting her emotional hulk of a boyfriend wrap his arms around her waist and draw her suffocatingly close to his chest.

"Love you." Jake hiccuped, "I love love love love you."

"Mm, I know you do," Is what she hummed to him as she reached up and soothingly ran her perfectly manicured fingers through Jake's tousled, jet-black locks. Glancing upwards, she met my warm eyes and she shivered under my gaze, smiling sweetly at me before mouthing.

"I'm gonna take him to the guest room and let him sleep it off. Is that okay?"

In response, I nodded and smiled gratefully at my baby brother's girlfriend before shifting my attention back onto a disgruntled Sam.

"There's something off about her today," Sam muttered, folding his arms over his chest as he followed Ikari's back with narrowed eyes.

"I mean, there's usually something off about her but today it's maximized a hundred times," Sam explained, flickering his calculative brown eyes onto me. "Hm, just be careful, Nym."

"Bro, you make it seem like she's a witch out to get me specifically." I laughed, shaking my head with disbelief.

"She is one," Sam muttered under his breath.

"Sam, Ikari's not gonna grow warts and green skin overnight and attack me in my sleep, okay? I think that is near impossible so stop worrying. She's a good person come on, you know that, you've seen her with Jake-she loves him with all her heart." I grinned, feeling happy about my baby brother's relationship.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Sam dismissed, relaxing his stance and shooting me a small smile. "Happy birthday, sexy, you've grown well."

"You've grown well and sexy? What the hell does that mean? Are you a simp for me? Lex's going to leak your nudes to the government if she finds out, and Asher is going to get jealous." I laughed, raising an eyebrow at Sam. He just simply smiled knowingly at me before glancing over his shoulder and calling his friend's name. Asher was currently strewn across my and Lex's couch, chugging down the celebratory vodka he had bought for me and Jake as a gift.

"Ash, for god's sake, quit drinking already. I don't wanna have to spend all night holding back your bangs whilst you throw up," Sam groaned out loud as he walked away from me and towards Asher who giggled at Sam, not-so-discreetly tucking the bottle of alcohol behind his back and chugging some more.

I tore my attention off the 'couple' when a small "ding!" emanated from the phone in my palm, indicating that I'd got a notification. Glancing down at my phone, I smiled at the instant heartwarming message sent to me by Lex.

Baby L.

I might've missed out on your birthday party but I'm determined! To! Finish! Hacking this godamn database within an hour so we can celebrate your birthday a little before midnight comes. ;) Save me some birthday cake and alcohol if the dickwhores haven't downed it already!

Baby L.

So see you in an hour! I love you, my dumb idiot. <3

Baby L.

Oh and if Jake's still there at the apartment, tell him I said happy birthday and I love him lots and that his birthday gift's in the back of our wardrobe!

I pocketed my phone, smiling at my petite girlfriend's message. I was still smiling to myself like an idiot when I waved goodbye to an annoyed Sam and his bumbling drunk of a friend or boyfriend, we will never know. I was still smiling when I locked the door after them and moved to my hideously untidy kitchenette, fumbling around with the now-empty takeaway boxes of greasy pizza and the stray, half-melted candles decorating the kitchen countertops.

"Hey, there."

I glanced upwards at the sound of Ikari's greeting, offering her a small smile.

"Is Jake asleep?"

"Mhm," She reassured, "He's off to dreamland and snoring the entire way."

"Yeah?" I chuckled, heading towards the kitchen's bin and dumping the pizza boxes by its side, setting it as a reminder for me to take the trash out tomorrow morning. Remembering her presence I glanced back up at her.

"Oh hey, if you're tired, feel free to stay the night here with Jake. There's no need for you to make the journey back to yours so late at night."

"Thanks." Ikari grinned.

"No worries."

"Oh, and, Kaden, honey? You're not meant to clean up on your birthday," She hummed disapprovingly, shaking her head as she fully walked into the kitchenette's small space, her cream-colored heels click-clacked against the tiled marble floor.

"It's the unwritten rule." She laughingly announced as she strode over to the steel beast of a refrigerator, opening the appliance up and procuring more of Asher's celebratory iced vodka. Her neatly painted, red fingernails encompassed the glass neck of the bottle, its hand waving the said item tauntingly at me.

"I don't think that rule applies to the boyfriend of my beautiful baby Lex," I chuckled to myself, rolling up the sleeves of my thrasher hoodie and dutifully resuming my self-assigned task of cleaning the kitchen.

"Better to clean this all up than have my baby whining my ear off tomorrow."

"Oh, I'm sure Lex could let this pass," Ikari assured, walking towards the kitchen island where I was situated and she leaned against the polished counter.

"Come on birthday boy, I haven't seen you drink at all during the party." Ikari coaxed. Softly, settling the bottle of vodka down on the countertop with a pleasant 'clink'.

In reply, I raised a dark eyebrow at her persistency-to which she fluttered her eyelashes in response, smiling innocently.

"I really shouldn't-"

"Have one sip as least."

I rolled my eyes playfully.

"Just one sip?"

"Just one sip." Ikari agreed, handing me the bottle of alcohol for me to pop open. I did it with a soft sigh before lifting the opened bottle to my lips, tipping my head back, and swallowing more iced alcohol than just a mere sip.

"Thanks, Ari, but I think I should finish up on-"

"Come on, Kaden," Ikari drawled, gazing at me through her lashes, "Don't make me drink all this by myself."

-present-

"Next thing I know I'm in the hospital for alcohol poisoning and my friends and family fucking hate me." I sighed, almost tiredly. I glanced at Mc, "Screaming baby, I never intended to drink that much, and I never intended to do anything with Ikari. That night, I had no fucking clue what I was doing, I wasn't moving off my own accord. The selfish bitch just kept pouring alcohol down my throat until I was so fucked I could barely think."

"For fucks sake, I didn't even realize, she had drugged me and manipulated me into her selfish game. I broke my brother's and Lex's hearts. But the worst thing is she had recorded something when I was unconscious, and she pretended that I was harassing her. She told me everything when visited me in the hospital and told me she'll post the video online if I tell Lex and Jake the truth."

"God she's so fucking disgusting," Mc stated quietly. She looked up at me. "Why haven't you tried to talk with them still?"

"As soon as I was discharged from the hospital, I tried to meet up with Jake and explain what'd happened but he didn't let me speak, didn't even bother opening the door when I went around to his apartment. And then Black shadow who took Lex in didn't allow me to speak to her. All of our friends stopped talking to me after they found out what I 'did' with Ikari. I didn't have anyone apart from fucking Sam who kept staying over at mine. Yeah, he's the only one who knew the truth and kept it to himself when I begged him to. I was an idiot, I should've found a way to tell them. Now they're just hating me."

"You're not an idiot. You were alone and hurt. I knew you weren't the bad guy and Ikari was the bitch in your story."

I looked momentarily startled by her words. I wasn't expecting Mc to believe my words so easily let alone console me.

"And Kaden," Mc mumbled, gnawing on her lower lip, "You didn't give consent. So what Ikari did to you is sexual assault. You, you need to explain this to Jake and-"

Mc focus.

"I know what she did," Nymos mumbled and I noticed his blunt nails digging into the soft leather of the steering wheel as he spoke softly.

"But I'm not gonna file a complaint because it's kinda unfair, don't you think? Me getting her charged with sexual assault when I've done so much worse? Screaming baby, for god's sake, I once worked for a fucking human trafficking ring when I was eighteen."

Swallowing hard, I looked away from him at that, feeling so fucking angered, disgusted even, by what he just claimed. Looking plenty disgusted himself, Nymos continued speaking with his nails burrowing crescents into the leather of the steering wheel.

"And, I've already thought about explaining it to Jake or Lex but after really thinking it through. I've decided not to tell them because I despise nonconsensual sex, and I don't even remember what I told them that night, yeah. But in a way, I've still cheated on my baby bro and Lex. It's, it's just pointless now to explain my situation back then and try to win them back. It's been a year and I don't want to open the old wound I caused especially to Lex."

I didn't reply to his words and Nymos made no effort in trying to change my response from me. We both sat in the car in heavy silence and air too thick to breathe in without feeling suffocated.

Isa's passive-aggressive growls can't even mask the tension within the car as she was sleeping peacefully in her carrier.

"Do you, do you love her?" I asked quietly.

"Yes," Nymos replied firmly without a second thought.

"Then why aren't you still with her? Why are you not trying to win her back?" I asked simplistically, staring at his side profile as he was driving. "Win her back already and make amends with your friends."

"It's-" Nymos sighed, "It's not that easy, screaming baby."

"You make it sound like Lex is nothing to you anymore. But she's indeed your life support." I turned away, mumbling, "Maybe she's mad and hurt but I know that she loves you too, she even trusted you with her pup."

Nymos didn't say anything for a few seconds and again, I didn't press him for a response. I rested my head against the headrest of my seat and stared out of my window at the scenery flitting by until Nymos spoke up.

"... I know that she loves me. But I am bad for her." Nymos murmured, not looking at me but keeping his eyes on the road ahead. "That's why I keep my distance from her. I pretend to be playful and we end up having one-night stands and all. I'd rather suffer instead of hurt her."

Furrowing my brows, I swiveled my head to face Nymos.

"What?

He sighed.

"I'm not a good person, screaming baby. I'm a bad guy, and bad guys never get the good things they don't deserve it. It's practically a written rule that they should never get the girl, or in this case, Lex. They don't get good friends or a nice, easy life. I don't deserve to have Jake or Lex, I deserve nothing, of course, I try to stick by them but-. Do you..." He exhaled tiredly, "Do you get what I'm trying to say?"

I narrowed my eyes at him.

"That has got to be the most idiotic ideology I've ever heard in my entire life."

Nymos frowned at my strong words.

"Screaming baby, I-"

"Yeah, you're a bad guy. But so is Jake. He does bad things for a living, but that doesn't stop me from loving him, does it? Kaden," I exhaled, "Love has no bounds." I started almost fiercely. "Just because you're bad, it doesn't mean you can't love and be loved."

He didn't say anything in response.

The two of us were quiet after that. He was driving silently and I was resting my elbow on the ledge of the window, cupping my palm and staring past the glass. The radio was still on, playing so softly that it was not soon before it lulled me to sleep.

Nymos focus.

I noticed her head tilting forwards and jerking back suddenly with her bleary eyes blinking in bewilderment at her surroundings before closing once more.

"Screaming baby, if you wanna lie down, you can sleep in the back with the rabid bitch." I suggested.

"I'm okay," It was what Mc replied softly but made no movement to climb into the back. I quirked an eyebrow at this but let her doze off, not bothering to wake her up.

Five minutes later, whilst in traffic, I reached into the back for my denim jacket that lied across the seats and picked it up, balling the item into a makeshift pillow for Mc to use. Unbuckling my seat belt, I leaned over to cup Mc's cheek, lifting her head slightly to shuffle my denim jacket under before letting her go.

I smiled when I noticed Mc cozying up to my makeshift pillow. Drawing the seatbelt over myself, I turned away, still smiling.

"Thanks screaming baby. Thanks for believing me." I murmured.

Isa decided to wake up at that moment, immediately starting her bout of incessant growling. I rolled my eyes and replied to her.

"Oh, fuck off."

Mc focus.

I stirred in my sleep at loud laughter coming from my left, the sound of persistently loud chatter made me reluctantly open my eyes and blearily study my surroundings.

Isa yippee excitedly behind me, causing me to tear my gaze away from the denim jacket sitting on my lap as a crumpled mess, at Isa's little barks. I looked over my shoulder to see the small pup looking up at me expectantly, pink tongue lolling out of her mouth.

I was surprised, to say the least when she started whining, nudging at the latch of her pet carrier dejectedly-so dejectedly, it pulled at my heartstrings and I immediately found myself reaching for the latch. I stopped myself short though, remembering this morning when she looked like she wanted to dismember me.

Isa whined again making me feel conflicted.

"Please don't bite my fingers off." I finally said, sighing before reaching for the pet carrier with shaky hands, unlatching it slowly, and allowing the pup to gingerly nose the front open. Delighted, she barked in what presumed its joy. Cute.

"Hey," I peered to my right when I heard Nymos by the car door opening. I sleepily watched him slide into the driver's seat, a packet of strawberry laces in his hand which he soon proffered to me.

Still half-asleep, I took the packet and simply held it in my hand, yawning.

"Are we nearly at my angry bird place?" I murmured, finally looking out of the window to see that we were currently parked at a busy petrol station and the cacophony that had woken me up and the smell of petrol that I now wrinkled my nose at. I wasn't one of those people who liked the smell of petrol.

"Yeah, we'll be at his in around thirty minutes." He hummed nonchalantly.

I, suddenly awakened, swiveling my head around to face Nymos with my eyes widened and jaw slackened with surprise.

"What? Thirty minutes?"

"Yeah, it's-"

Isa barked at Nymos. He glanced at the pup through the rearview mirror and immediately sharply inhaled at the sight of her proudly parading around atop the backseats of his car.

"Who the hell let the rabid bitch out?"

"I did," I muttered, distracted with tearing open my packet of strawberry laces, "She looked sad."

"Oh god, oh god, don't make eye contact with her," Nymos told to himself, "Don't make eye contact. Making eye contact with her is like challenging her to pee all over the seats. Or worse she's gonna claw the leather upholstery apart-"

"She seems sorta sweet," I said, chewing on a strawberry lace. "Come here, isa," I said, setting my gifted confectionary down on my lap and reaching carefully for the elated ball of caramel-colored fluff that practically jumped into my arms.

Giggling, I pulled her close to my chest before turning around to beam at scared Nymos.

"Fuck, screaming baby. She turned you over to the dark side-"

I burrowed my cheek against her soft fur and rolled my eyes at his words.

"Oh, don't be dramatic, Kaden."

Isa glanced up then and Nymos could swear the puppy was smirking at him.

Thirty minutes passed by in a flash.

Panicked I scarf down my strawberry laces, hurriedly shoveling them into my mouth and only slightly choking on them. I dismissed the concerned expression Nymos was wearing on his face when he glances over at me.

I climbed haphazardly into the back, taking isa with me and settling in the back seats with her. Nymos frowned at me through the rearview mirror, wordlessly questioning my actions with furrowed brows.

Completely oblivious to his quizzical eyes on me. I set isa on the leather seat beside me and once she was comfortable, I moved quickly to work on my appearance. I re-tucked my white tee back under the waistband of my jeans, throwing it atop the striped sweater I'd taken off earlier when it got too stuffy in the car, and carefully retied the laces of my sneakers.

I felt a little shy though when I unzipped my backpack and draw out my small vanity bag-feeling a tad bit self-conscious about the possibility of Nymos playfully teasing me for trying to look my best for Jake. But all Nymos said when I applied my moisturizing face cream was.

"Damn, that smells like fucking roses."

I smiled at his words.

Satisfied with my efforts, I climbed back into the passenger seat, not bothering to take isa this time as she was too busy gnawing away at one of the seatbelts much to Nymos' chagrin.

I draw my seatbelt over my chest, settling against the leather upholstery and sigh softly as my lidded eyes study the slow sunset taking place outside, the grey winter sky now consumed with soft pinks and delicate purples that had me smiling subconsciously.

"Excited?" Nymos asked, smiling.

"Mhm. Nervous too."

"I'm excited too," Nymos grinned. "I don't have to deal with you and Jake moping around me anymore."

"Oh, shut up," I laughed. "I know you've enjoyed this."

"I have, I have." Nymos agreed, chuckling.

I started biting my nails distractedly, staring at the sunset absconding behind silhouetted skyscrapers that tower overhead, resembling large, black, ugly shapes. I swallowed nervously.

Nauseating nerves overwhelmed me, easily outweighed my excitement from before.

I feared I was going to throw up. There are two minutes left.

There is one-

"Alright, we're here."

"What?" I choked out, straightening up in my seat and watching Nymos unbuckle his seatbelt with a grin on his face.

Busy with overthinking the idea of Jake casting me away with a look of distaste and a new partner on his arm, I hadn't even realized Nymos had pulled up to a six-story apartment that exuded the amount of wealth invested into the building.

What was stunning about the apartment was its sleek, smoked glass that covered a good two-thirds of the entirety of the building, the glass easily reflecting the city's bright lights and creating a kaleidoscopic effect of a thousand differently colored lights playing on the glass.

"Oh fuck," I cursed, turning away to face Nymos who already had opened his car door, slipping out without a word to me.

Panicking, I hurriedly opened my door and stumbled out, swearing under my breath when I nearly tripped over my own feet.

"Fuck, fuck. Kaden, I can't do this." I breathed, locking eyes with Nymos over the roof of the car.

"Yes, you can, screaming baby," Nymos replied, leaving his car door slightly to check on isa.

"But, I- Wait! How do I punch someone?"

Nymos quirked an unimpressed eyebrow at me.

"Is this necessary to know right now?"

"I swear this is necessary." I quickly said, resulting in Nymos. He narrowed his eyes at me.

"Make a fist like this- Not with your thumb tucked away, okay? Because, like I don't know? Some bad shit could happen to your thumb?" Nymos sighed sounding resigned.

"Screaming baby, you really shouldn't ask me this since I've dislocated my thumbs, fractured my hands, and bruised up my fingers way too many times to count."

I was oblivious to his warning and only focused on balling my hand into a fist like how he had demonstrated it. Nymos rolled his eyes at this.

"Alright. You practice, making a fist while I call up Jake and make sure he's at home."

"Wait, what?" I halted my ministrations, frowning at Nymos. "You drove us out here and you don't even know if he's at home??"

"He will be, he will be. Don't worry."

Jake focus.

I regretted not bringing my leather jacket with me to the convenience store opposite my apartment complex. Because now I was shivering in the winter weather, my nose and cheeks colored a soft red courtesy of the wind.

I sighed at my stupidity, lifting my lit cigarette to my mouth, inhaling the grey tendrils that creep down my throat and burn in its wake, at least now I had my cheap cigarettes to warm me.

Exhaling softly, I crossed the road, haphazardly. Ignoring the angered drivers I left behind, pressing their horns aggressively and spitting harsh insults in my direction. I didn't bother replying, just lifted my cigarette to my mouth and breathed in its dangerous fumes, continuing walking.

I was in one of those moods. One where you're oblivious not passive to almost everything. You just don't care about anything. I didn't care for the winter weather biting my fingertips numb. I didn't care for reporting that twelve-year-old kid who stole a packet of strawberry-flavored bubble gum. I didn't care what brand of cigarettes I wanted to smoke. I didn't care now for the crude words a middle-aged man threw at me from his cruddy-looking ford fiesta.

I continued walking, walking down the pavement towards my apartment complex, smoking my cigarette distracted. However soon I was broken away from the trance I seemed to have fallen into when my phone vibrated quietly in my pocket.

Taking my phone out of my pocket, I swiped a thumb over the damaged screen. Courtesy of when I was in one of those moods, angry, frustrated, and desperately needing an outlet to vent my rage into. I placed my phone against my ear, listening and smoking.

"Hey, bro? Are you at home right now?"

Nymos said at once, almost excitedly. Rolling my eyes at the realization that Nymos was calling me. I sighed, replying with.

"Why do you wanna know? Are you coming over again with another one of your shitty mixtapes?"

"Shitty? Excuse me, you fucking love that mixtape, and no. Unfortunately for you, I'm not here with another one of those mixtapes."

"Then why the fuck are you coming over?" I grunted, stepping into the private parking lot allocated beside my apartment complex, walking past parked cars, and smoking.

"Wow, I'm hurt. Can I not visit my favorite brother without an ulterior motive?"

"First of all, you only have one brother, fuckass."

"And that's you! What a lucky boy."

"Kaden, I'm not in the mood to deal with you today so-"

"But I brought you something!"

"If it's not food, you're not coming in."

"Well... I guess you could consider it to be food."

"What the fuck does that mean?" I snorted.

"Because you could eat her between her le-Ow! What the fuck, screaming baby?"

I frowned, hearing indistinct, angry muttering over the phone but waited impatiently for Nymos to return to our conversation. Whilst waiting, I placed my cigarette between my lips, using my now free hand to run it through my tousled hair. Contemplating distractedly whether or not I should cut my overgrown mess of hair.

"Sorry, so sorry about that." Nymos wheezed, sounding ready to burst into a bout of laughter. I raised an unimpressed eyebrow despite him not being able to see me.

"Kaden, if you've seriously bought me a prostitute, I'm gonna-"

"Hahahaha, he thinks you're a prostitute-Ow! Fuck! Screaming baby quit it!" More angry muttering ensued, causing me to sigh. I was tired already of this conversation.

"Kaden, I'm hanging up."

"No, bro wait! I gotta- Hey, is that you?"

"Huh?" I frowned, glancing at my surroundings but I was utterly unable to identify if there was anyone around what with the weak, artificial light of the streetlamps limiting my sight to only my nearby surroundings.

"Shit, hold on." With that, Nymos hung up abruptly, without another word.

Furrowing my brow at the rather crude conversation I just had with my twin brother, I slid my phone back into my jeans pocket and with a sigh, I dropped my cigarette to the cemented ground below, purposefully crushing the cigarette to a stub underfoot.

I walked my way towards the entrance of my apartment, praying that there wasn't a- God save Nymos if more than one prostitute was warming my bed for tonight.

Shaking my head at the rather absurd thought, I was about to climb up the few steps leading up to the entrance of the building when someone timidly tapped me on the back, causing me to glance over my shoulder and- And abruptly get hit in the face by a fist.

Somewhere to the far left of me, I swore I could hear Nymos choke out an

"Oh, shit!"

Almost at once, pain pulsated throughout my nose, causing me to cry out, alarmed. Stumbling back and nearly tripping on the steps behind me, instinctively, my hands fly to my face, protectively cupping my nose, seething with both blinding pain and rage.

Who the hell dares to attack someone from behind? A coward, that's who.

My eyes blazed with fury, I looked upwards with pure anger thrumming through my veins, looking ready to swing my fist at my attacker when-

"Mc?" I breathed, with my eyes widening.

Mc fucking Estrada was standing a couple of steps before me with her tiny balled-up hands trembling by her sides, her shoulders were shaking with sobs she failed to suppress and her eyes were shiny with tears. That fell steadfastly down her cheeks, staining them. My breath instantaneously got caught in my throat.

"M-Mc? What-What the?" I choked out, all of sudden incapable of making eligible sentences for myself. Out of shock, my hands fell from my face, causing Mc tearfully wince at my now bloodied nose.

"Y-you! You were supposed to come back for me, you asshole!" Mc cried out, "Y-you were supposed to come back! I waited so many months for you!"

"Mc, fuck. Mc, I'm so- I'm so sorry." I breathed with tears prickling my eyes, "I'm so sorry for leaving you alone. I- fuck, I'm sorry. So sorry, baby."

Mc cried harder at my words, stumbling blindly towards me and reaching out for me. Her hands found purchase on my white tee and used her grasp on the soft cotton. Mc drew herself into my inviting arms. I wrapped my arms around her almost instinctively.

Now, I almost sobbed when I ducked my head slightly, burying my face in the junction of Mc's shoulder and inhaling vanilla and freshly washed cotton sheets. A scent I've missed sorely over these past few months.

"Fuck, baby. I missed you so much." I croaked out with tears falling freely from my eyes.

"I missed you too, angry bird."

I can't tell if I was laughing or crying at her words but I pulled away from her neck a little reluctantly though and lifted a hand to Mc's cheek. Cradling my face when I caught her tears with my thumb.

"Sorry for punching you on the nose." Mc breathed out shakily, her eyes flickered downwards with evident embarrassment on her face.

I chuckled softly in reply, tilting Mc's chin upwards so I could meet her gaze.

"It's okay, baby. I deserved it."

"Hmm," Mc nestled her head against my neck, finding relief in my touch and the slight warmth I emanated. I murmured something softly in her ear and noticed in the corner of my eye, Nymos leaning against the side of his car with arms folded over his chest and smiling at the two fondly.

I had caught his eye and mouthed a "Thank you. Thank you so much." To him. He simply chuckled to himself, shaking his head slightly when Mc started crying again.

#duskwood #duskwood jake #duskwood mc #jake x mc #mc and jake #duskwood family #duskwood fandom #duskwood fanfiction

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clonerightsagenda · 2 years ago

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Ok, it is time.... the Promised Day in the college AU.

As I mentioned, election day coincides with a solar eclipse. The college is in the path of the totality, and people are streaming into town from all over, clogging the roads and destabilizing the Internet and cell service. This sounds like plot device bullshit, but this happened at my campus and for weeks beforehand administration kept sending us emails that made it sound like civilization was going to crumble when we had that many people trying to use the wifi.

At my school grad student presidents were elected by the graduate student government in a short and boring parliamentary process. That's not dramatic enough for this AU, so here it's a full graduate student vote that includes a final campaign speech by both candidates on the quad. Roy's election team (his housemates, Riza, Ed, and Greed) show up early to help get set up. Ling was supposed to be there but woke up to a low blood sugar episode and is in his dorm sulkily eating sugar packets Lan Fan got him from the dining hall. (How much of this au is autobiographical? Wouldn't you like to know.) Riza sends Greed to get everyone coffee under the logic that even if the lines are hellishly long, he won't give up because he'll want his coffee. This would normally be true, but he runs into Wrath in line at the first coffee place, gets into an argument with him, gets tossed out, and has to go find a different coffee place, so he's gone for ages.

While he's gone, Roy runs into Envy, who's helping Wrath set up for *his* speech. Envy foolishly makes a crack about Hughes that tips Roy off to their identity as the hacker. This is the thing Roy is sensitive about, and he threatens Envy with Riza's pepper spray before Riza yells at him that you can't just threaten to pepper spray undergraduates!! Is this presidential behavior?? He comes to his senses, returns the pepper spray, and rubs his face. Unfortunately the pepper spray had leaked a little, he gets it into his eyes, and Riza has to half carry him to one of the folding chairs they just set up. This also may have happened to me. Not the threatening an undergraduate bit though. Wash your hands after handling pepper spray.

MEANWHILE Al intends to join up with the rest of Roy's campaign team in a while, but it's his week to take care of the vet program's animals, so he's way down at the vet building (a good distance from the main campus) along with Mei. There, he has one of his attacks, the worst yet, and faints. Mei freaks, tries to call Ed, doesn't get through because of the network usage, and tries calling Ling instead with the assumption that they're together. Ling has a much better phone and picks up, but he's still in his dorm room. Mei gives him a garbled report on the situation (she knew Al was having health issues, but she doesn't think this is normal, it could be bad) and Ling, who is still woozy from low blood sugar and unfortunately unsupervised because Lan Fan left to go get some juice, has a 'no time to think, have to trust my instincts, instincts bad' moment. Wrath's car keys are on the table. (Greed stole them for the sixth time so far this semester and Wrath hasn't been by to get them back yet. Yes, those were Chekhov's car keys earlier.) He knows where the chancellor's residence is, and he can get there a lot faster than they're likely to get through to emergency services and have an ambulance get all the way to the vet school. It's only borrowing, right?

No, it is not only borrowing. Also he is an international student and a college freshman so he definitely doesn't have a US license and may only have a theoretical understanding of driving. But that's not gonna stop him.

So, Mei is freaking the fuck out at the vet school until a car that her brother definitely does not own screeches out front. Al is semi awake but not really aware of anything, but they manage to get him into the back and then tear off toward the university hospital. As they near the main campus they pass Wrath, who goes 'is that my car?', tries to stop them, and then has to jump out of the way before he gets a good look at who's behind the wheel.

"What's happening?" Al says woozily from the back seat.

"I-almost-hit-the-president" Ling says through clenched teeth.

"Nothing" says Mei.

When they get to the hospital, the front desk person insists only family can go up with Al. Ling, aware of how many creative ways chemistry major Ed could poison him if he lets his brother out of his sight, goes "It's fine, I'm his cousin."

The desk worker looks at him skeptically.

"Adopted," he clarifies. "Also this is my half sister so she's... his half cousin?"

The desk attendant is still skeptical, but they're a student worker who skimmed the mandatory HIPAA training and there's an eclipse happening in 5 minutes that they don't want to miss because they're arguing with hysterical teenagers, so they wave them through.

And this is getting super long and my cornbread is about to be done, so I guess this will be a two parter! Stay tuned.

#fma college au #this is all pretty extreme but who would not go to extreme lengths for alphonse elric #fma

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lesbianrobin · 2 years ago

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@sharpbutsoft tagged me in a wip ask game!! thank you!!!

Rules:

Post up to five (5) filenames of your WIPs; not titles, file names.

Post a snippet from one of them. Snippet must be words you wrote in the last 7 days. We’re posting progress here. If you haven’t made any, go make some and come back to post.

After you’ve posted, people can send you an ask with one of your file names. You must then write 3 sentences in that file.

That’s it! You can invite others to join in or just post.

WIPs:

young strangers

spooky harrington

i hid behind smiles and crazy-hot clothes i learned to kiss boys with my tongue

OH VICKIE YOU'RE SO FINE YOU'RE SO FINE YOU BLOW MY MIND HEY VICKIE!

Snippet:

(from spooky harrington)

The story goes like this:

Julia Davis was sitting in the emergency room at Hawkins Memorial waiting for her brother to get a cast on his arm after he fell off his bike. It was taking a long time, and she hates hospitals, so she decided to take a walk outside around the parking lot just for something to do. Here’s where Eddie knows the story’s at least a little bit bullshit; Julia Davis buys from him every week, and he’d bet anything that she was smoking in the parking lot for a bit of stress relief.

The rest is as follows: She heard sirens right as she was about to go back inside. It wasn’t an ambulance, it was a cop car, so she decided to watch what was going on. Eddie personally suspects that she was keeping an eye out because she smelled like pot. Either way, she watched as a cop pulled Will Byers’ limp form out of the backseat. Will’s mom climbed out from the passenger seat, and instead of immediately following after her son, she opened the other back door to the car, and the whole world shifted.

What she saw has changed a little bit over time. It’s different depending on who you ask, whether anybody on the basketball team is within earshot, or if Tommy Hagan is anywhere near you. If Tommy Hagan’s around, she didn’t see shit.

If Hagan’s fucked off, though, if you aren’t around the basketball team? Harrington’s hands were caked in dried blood. Maybe it was mud, Julia always hedged, but it just… looked like something else. Whatever it was, it ran down his chin, too, stains dripping from his lips all the way to his bare chest. She could see some awful scrapes and bruises down each arm, angry red slashes criss-crossing his back and his pecs, and his sweatpants seemed to be drenched in mud or blood or something awful that stained his bare feet as well.

i'm not gonna tag anybody jfcjdjcj but yeah 💖

#em talks

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zepskies · 10 months ago

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Oooh I was so very excited for this one! 🙌🏽 🙌🏽 Thanks for posting a bit early. I may do the same since I have a lot of Easter plans as well tomorrow. 🤔

Holy shit, Dean feels dangerous and cagey as hell, but I have to respect the reader for giving literally no fucks and not letting him getting away with bullying her and telling her what's going to happen.

“You’re my true mate? Fucking act like it. Alpha.”

PERIOD. 👏🏽👏🏽

Like damnit, Dean. 😅 (Sorry not sorry for your bruised dick tho.)

“He made me help kill people so he could make a profit. He stalked my little brother for seven years, made sure to send me pictures to remind me to keep up my end of the deal.”

What a fucking scumbag his handler was, but now the pieces are all starting to fit together. This is some amazing honesty after all that BS he tried to putt in the beginning.

“Three years ago I got a letter detailing my exact scent profile, even the shit only my true mate is supposed to be able to scent. Somehow, he knows what I smell like. All it said was that I was next. Thank god he doesn’t know my name or my family would be dead by now. But that letter? It came from the town of Mount Dusk.”

Man, this is taking scenting to a whole new level I feel like. I love how you're incorporating this in both scientific ways and in criminology, making it part of the mystery that is this Dean Winchester.

“Sweetheart, you might be the Alpha but there’s no way I’m leaving you here alone to deal with some asshole that wants to hurt you.”

This was so damn sweet! 😭 See? Here's what a little honesty will do. You'll get understanding and support. 💗 I really like this about the reader; she's not going to tolerate BS, but she will give him the benefit of the doubt once he actually explains about his past and why he thinks they can't and shouldn't be together.

Though I'm curious about who this "doctor" friend is. Are we in for a cameo, I wonder?

“Despite the evidence to the contrary, I’m not an asshole that wants to control you,” he said, taking out a package of cheese and some sliced tomato on a plate.

Lmfao I snorted. There's a LOT of evidence, Dean, but I like how he finally asked her nicely instead of being a caveman about it.

“It makes sense. Make your dinner, Dean.” He hummed, trailing his finger down your thigh before he broke away and moved to the stove. He didn’t speak while he worked on assembling his sandwich but his shoulders did ease slightly.

😍 I love the little detail of him touching her. He's already so into her, and I don't think it's all about the bond he can barely feel. She's tenacious and mouthy, which he seems to respect, but she's also just shown him incredible tenderness -- something I doubt he's had in a long time, after what he's gone through, and I'm sure, how alone he's been.

“...I’m the person you were supposed to kill that day. I was the mark. I was…”

WHATT?!

I'm winded loll. It feels like I just read an entire series in one chapter, and I mean that in a "wow" way. That was an epic twist after twist. It was her dad who organized this the whole time? She KNEW. At least, from the morning in the hospital. That's why she was so adamant that Dean stop lying and tell her the truth.

“Yes she is,” you said, a sudden wave of exhaustion hitting you. Your knees buckled, Dean catching you in his arms and guiding you to the bed. “Do not say I told you so.”

Aww lol I love how he finally came around and is gonna take care of her tonight (but plans to make things right tomorrow 😏).

“What if I want it to hurt?” you said through eyelashes and you swore you felt his heart skip a beat. “Fuck me so hard I feel you for days. Fuck this heat right out of me.”

HOlyyyy shit. What a line. 🫠🫠🫠

That entire scene was very, very hot...and then you literally ripped the rug out from under me, HOLY SHIT again!! She's going to be in so much damn pain... But also, that is a cliffhanger of epic proportions!! 😰😰

I can't wait to see where you go with this next! 💗

The Ranger (Part 2)

Summary: The reader is trying to deal with the secret Dean's dropped on her but things still don't add up. And despite her Alpha trying to convince her they can never be something more, she's not ready to give up so easily...

Masterlist

Pairing: Alpha!Dean x Omega!reader

Word Count: 6,400ish

Warnings: language, angst, mentions of murder/manipulation, smut

A/N: Please enjoy!

_______

He what? Hunting people? What kind of answer was that? You figured he was hiding some sort of criminal background, something to do with DNA. Yeah, maybe even the fact he could have killed someone crossed your mind during your research.

But there was a damn big difference between killing a guy and hunting him.

You were so dumbfounded by his response that Dean took pity on you and moved away, lips pursed. “Y/N, I’m going to say this one more time because I know that’s a lot to take in at once. I will never harm you. I can smell the fear coming off of you but you don’t need to be afraid of me.”

He took another step back when you continued to stare, his eyes darting away.

“You wanted the truth and now you have it,” he said as he headed for the hallway.

“Bullshit.” He froze outside his bedroom, frowning when he glanced over his shoulder. “You haven’t told me anything, Winchester.”

You stormed over, poking him in his muscular chest, Dean’s eyebrows raising. “I told you what you need to know. I kill people. It’s that simple.”

“No, it’s really not.” You grabbed the back of his neck, pulling him down close, your nose burying itself in his neck. You inhaled sharply before he managed to pull away.

“The fuck are you doing?” he growled, backing away. You narrowed your eyes, Dean matching your expression. “You can’t smell-”

“I had to take a psychology class as part of my major. It was to understand why people lie, break laws when they know they shouldn’t, stuff like that. I was very good at scenting during interviews. I went a different route but I remember what scents under duress meant.” You backed him up against the door, Dean’s chest vibrating with the low threatening growl he was emitting. “Terror had a very specific profile if I recalled correctly. Very difficult to conceal-”

He grabbed your shoulders, pushing you back against the door, hand planted firmly over your mouth. You swallowed thickly, Dean breathing hard.

“Listen very closely because I won’t repeat myself. You are going to quit your job. You are going to call your family and tell them you met your true mate. Then, I’m going to make it look like you died.” Your eyes went wide, Dean’s jaw clenched so hard you thought it might break in half. “You will have your freedom but you will do what I say, when I say, without question. Do you understand?”

Oh, you understood alright. You responded in kind by grabbing his crotch and squeezing so hard he made a squeaking noise as he fell to his knees. He gasped and tried to breathe, hands over his surely bruised cock as you squatted down. You took his chin in your hand, Dean letting out a tiny shiver of pain.

“Do. Not. Bullshit. Me. Stop pretending to protect me and start telingl me the goddamn truth because I have a feeling something seriously fucked up is going on. So you go take a long hard look in the mirror and figure out exactly what you want to say. Or next time? I’m going to crush your dick so hard it never works again.”

You released him and stood up, walking back towards the living room.

“You’re my true mate? Fucking act like it. Alpha.”

It was an hour later when you heard the soft opening of the bedroom door. You glanced away from the TV playing an old movie, Dean now wearing a plain black shirt and gray flannel pants. He smelled clean and watched him carefully approach the other end of the couch. He gestured to it and you nodded, Dean taking a seat. You turned off the movie and sat up, taking your blanket with you.

Dean sighed, criss crossing his legs and facing you. He rested his elbows against his knees, leaning forward, head bowed.

“I joined the bureau after college. FBI. I was a data analyst for a year while I worked on getting into the field office program. I’d wanted to be a cop originally but this was like being a detective for the whole country which I thought was pretty cool. The senior handler in my group did these…side jobs and I got pulled into it. This guy came after me at my apartment in Kansas City and I barely made it out alive. That’s when I found out I was targeted because my handler pissed someone off. They wanted to hurt his team, send a message, and I was the least experienced. They thought they’d kill me.”

Dean shifted in his seat, folding his hands together, still not meeting your gaze.

“When you unknowingly kill a member of the mob, you kind of become target number one for the mob.”

“So you’re in witness protection?” you asked, Dean immediately shaking his head.

“My handler and the team took care of this mob family. They weren’t particularly large, but they did it. Killed close to fifty people to protect me.” He grabbed his wrist, squeezing it gently. “But it was all a lie. That story I just told you? It’s the same bullshit they told me. My handler it turned out was…”

He breathed deeply, rubbing his palm against his head.

“The whole damn team was crooked. They lied, made me feel like they protected me and that I owed them. They said if we went through proper channels the mob would find out and I’d be dead. They’d torture and kill my family. I was grateful to my team for about five whole minutes,” he breathed out with a dry laugh. “They set me up. It was one big sham. The mob ordered the hit on their own guy and hired my handler to do it. My handler, well he wanted me to be crooked too. And by me killing the guy? By not going through the bureau? He had evidence that I’d committed a murder, made it seem like I was some murderous vigilante. From that day forward, he told me he owned me and he fucking did.”

You pushed your blanket to the ground, inching closer to him. Dean’s back shook, his head buried in his hands.

“He made me help kill people so he could make a profit. He stalked my little brother for seven years, made sure to send me pictures to remind me to keep up my end of the deal.”

“What happened that changed all that?” you said softly.

“The handler and two other agents on the team died during an operation a few years ago. It was a miracle. The other three agents were injured but…in the chaos, I saw my out andI slit their throats. I needed my family to be safe. FBI believes it was the culprit we were chasing that day. I’d been injured too so I was never suspected. My DNA was on the bodies though, in evidence. I had to change mine and fast. My friend is a doctor…”

“Your friend told you about Novi-Alpha.” He nodded. “So you have to stay on it so you don’t get caught for their murders.”

“If I go off of it and my DNA gets entered into any police database, they’ll know what I did. I can’t let that happen. Not yet.”

You crawled closer, taking his hands into yours, Dean finally looking you in the eye. His own were bloodshot, tired and sad. “But you’re not actually scared about the police finding you. Or the FBI.” He shook his head. “So why do you need to hide your DNA?”

“You assumed I take Novi-Alpha for what it does to DNA. I’m not worried about them connecting me to the murders four years later. If it were that simple, I’d have been off the stuff years ago.” He held his wrist up to your face. “Scent is…unique. Novi-Alpha blocks scent to other Alphas. All they smell is the same base component in any Alpha. I can’t be identified.”

“But…”

“When you said you hunt people…” you trailed off, Dean nodding. “That’s why you were walking in the pouring rain this morning. You’re searching for this person.”

“There are some recluses around these parts. I’m narrowing it down but it’s difficult. The last thing I wanted, the last thing, was for my true mate to come here of all places. I’m pretty sure this person wants to kill me. I’m still missing pieces. At best, you’re in danger. At worst, this person gets ahold of you and…”

Dean squeezed his eyes shut when you moved his hand to your neck, grazing over your fresh mark.

“I wish things were different,” he whispered. His head was low, hand only still on you because you held him there. “It’s not fair to you but you can’t have your true mate. In the morning, I’ll get ahold of my doctor friend. He lives a few hours away. He’s nice and it’ll be like having a roommate is all. He’ll make sure you have a good safe life away from all this-”

You leaned forward, capturing his cheeks in your hands as you planted a hard kiss on him. Dean jerked in his seat, wide eyed when you broke it off quickly.

“I don’t understand. You can’t feel our bond,” he said when you put your arms over his shoulders and wrapped your legs loosely around his waist. You sat in his lap, Dean’s skin flush, scent like smoky pines. “Why did you kiss me?”

“Sweetheart, you might be the Alpha but there’s no way I’m leaving you here alone to deal with some asshole that wants to hurt you.”

“...Alright,” he grit out, clearly not liking that response. “But again, why kiss me? You can’t feel our bond.”

“I can’t feel a stupid bond. It doesn’t mean I can’t feel something for you. I’d like to like you. Deep down, ou’re not the dickhead Alpha you keep acting like. You're just scared. I understand. But I need to stay with you and help you solve this thing that way you can get off that damn medication and we can start our lives together.”

He shook his head, yours shaking right back. “Did you miss the part where I said I was a hitman for years? The Ranger? I had a fucking name in the business and everything I’d killed that many people.”

“You ever kill anyone innocent?” He was silent, frowning at you. “Exactly. And I still feel like you’re making it sounds worse than it was. Let me help you. You may have given up on yourself but I know you’re good.”

“Why would you think that? All I’ve done is yell at you.”

“You saved my life today, Alpha. Before you knew we were mates.” You hugged him tight, Dean burrowing his face in the crook of your neck. Warm breath tickled your skin, Dean’s limbs finally squeezing around you. “We’re soulmates. We’re meant to be together and if this is what we’re meant to get through right now then we will. But promise me something.”

“What?” he whispered.

“Don’t give up on us being able to feel our bond the way we’re supposed to. Someday you can be off that medicine and you won’t have to hide anymore. Promise me that.”

“I promise, Omega,” he murmured over your mark. You sat in a content silence for only a moment, his stomach rumbling loudly. He pulled back and set a hand over his stomach, rubbing it gently. “Sorry. I didn’t eat much today.”

“To be honest, I’m pretty hungry myself. My appetite’s come back since earlier,” you said, moving to your feet. “I bet we can find something.”

“I eat a lot of frozen meals,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck as you headed over to the kitchen. “Omega.”

You hummed as you stopped in front of the refrigerator, Dean putting a hand on your arm gently.

“Please let me get it,” he said quietly. You sighed but held up your hands. Your eyes widened when he lifted you up and sat you on top of the counter easily, his fingers brushing lose hair behind your ear. He smirked. “So you are capable of listening to me.”

“I am fine but it stresses you out, me doing anything more than sitting on my ass right now, doesn’t it.”

“Despite the evidence to the contrary, I’m not an asshole that wants to control you,” he said, taking out a package of cheese and some sliced tomato on a plate. He set them beside you along with a stick of butter. His green eyes found yours, Dean settling between your legs, hands on either side of your thighs. “Tomorrow you can be the strong, capable person I know you are. Tonight, let me take care of my omega. It’s not much but I can feel some Alpha instincts for my mate and they are twitchy as hell right now.”

“And me listening to you calms them down?” He nodded, his nostrils flaring briefly. “And you can scent me?”

“Barely but yes. It’s how I know you’re not at a hundred percent right now. It’s different than normal scenting. It’s hard to explain.”

A man on the run, hunting down someone who wanted to hurt him. The last thing he wanted was his true mate in the thick of it. A true mate he felt for more than he was letting on but still tried to keep you at arms length to protect you.

“Dean,” you said quietly from the countertop as he dried the pan. He hummed, setting it back on the stove top before leaning back against the island across from you. “You said your Alpha senses towards me, you can feel them?”

He paused a beat before nodding.

“I know I’m the one that was in the hospital today but are you okay? That’s…a lot to try and deal with and be the strong guy. I get it. Your Alpha brain is going a million miles an hour cause you have a recovering Omega on your hands and you’re hardwired to get crazy protective.”

You slid off the counter down to the floor, taking two steps to reach him. Your hands settled on his firm waist, Dean tensing under the touch.

“I don’t think you’ve been okay in a long time and today was a bad day. I just…want my Alpha to know he can lean on me too.” Large hands rested over yours, sliding them down until he was holding them, resting them against his thighs. You swallowed, biting your bottom lip. “You strike me as the kind of guy that’ll blame himself for thinking he nearly killed me when that’s the furthest thing from the truth.”

“Y/N-”

“You saved me today. My Alpha did. You hurt me by blaming yourself so just don’t, alright? Don’t do that to me.” He parted his soft pink lips, waiting for words to come. But he only sighed, closing his pretty green eyes. “Today’s supposed to be a happy day for us. So let’s be happy, alright?”

“Y/N, it doesn’t work like-”

“You promised you would try. Is my Alpha a liar?” He opened his eyes to stare at you, brow furrowed slightly. “I didn’t think so.”

“Has anyone ever told you how frustratingly annoying you are?” he sighed. You simply smiled, Dean throwing his head back. “Fine.”

He bent down and scooped you up in his arms, your own wrapping around his neck in an effort to cling to something. “What are you doing?”

“You’re quite a needy little Omega, aren’t you,” he said, a flicker of mischievousness in his eyes as he walked down the hallway and into the master bedroom.

“Are you teasing me, Alpha?” you shot back, Dean shrugging, a sliver of a smirk on his face. “So he does have a fun side.”

“Oh, I’m quite fun,” he said, gently resting you on top of the bed. He tucked the covers down and then over your body, hesitating before bending down to press a kiss to your lips. “I’ll be in the room across the hall if you need me.”

“What?” you said, sitting up quickly. His heavy hands caught your shoulders before you could get further. A beat passed and he sat on the edge of the mattress, one of his hands cupping your cheek. “You promised you’d try. You-”

“I can’t share a bed with you. I don’t think I can even kiss you again.” Anger pooled in your core but Dean was already puling away. “I’m sorry.”

“What the fuck was all that out there then?” you spat back at him. Dean glanced to his lap when you pushed his hands away from you. “I know you feel something here. You want me so don’t pretend you don’t.”

“Omega.” He looked away, shaking his head. “You’re asking me to sleep in a bed next to my true mate. My sweet little mate that I can’t go more than a few minutes without wanting to knot. If I keep kissing you…and if I sleep in here…all I’m doing is putting you in danger of me not staying in control.”

He frowned when he met your face, taking in your confused eyes.

“You need to start taking that medicine the doctor gave you to help suppress your scent. Tonight. Because all I want to do is claim you properly and if I do, I’ll have fucking killed you.”

“Then stop taking Novi-Alpha and claim me,” you said, stabbing him in the chest. His eyes darkened and you poked him again. “You want to do this right now? Fine. I was going to save this for the morning but I think you’re missing something really fucking important. This person that’s after you? They had your complete and total scent profile? With the true mate stuff? Well guess what? They were bluffing you. It’s physically impossible for anyone except your true mate to know that. Any guesses why they’d do that? Hm? Maybe so they’d get you to move here and look for this guy. Maybe so they could get you alone and isolated and scared while they did what they actually wanted.”

“Which is what?” he asked quietly. You sighed, shaking your head.

“Get you out of the way so you wouldn’t question why the operation with your team lead went bad in the first place. Why you wouldn’t question that the FBI clearly has DNA evidence you killed those other team members but never did anything about it. Did it cross your mind they set it up to kill all of you and they realized you weren’t a part of it so they let you go? I mean how long did you get this threatening note after the murders?”

“...Next day.”

“Which means they have someone working for the FBI undercover out here who knows exactly who you are. They sent you on a wild goose chase to a small town so you’d be out of their hair.”

“Why would they let me go? I’m such a loose end-”

“Jesus christ you idiot,” you said, grabbing his shoulders, yanking him closer. “You are not the bad guy. They are keeping an eye on you out here to make sure you aren’t but that is all it is. There is no one coming after you. If there was, don’t you think they would have gone after your family already? It’s been three years since you killed those your team.”

His hand shot to your throat in an instant, squeezing just hard enough to make you gasp.

“I never told you how long it was.” He let go just in time to grab your arm, pushing you back against the wall, caging your body in. He towered over you, eyes narrowed. “Who the fuck are you and don’t give me that corporate forensic bullshit.”

“Fuck,” you muttered, holding up your hands. “I’m…”

“You’re what?” he growled, grabbing both your wrists in one of his large palms. “A spy? An agent? Someone meant to watch me? Kill me?”

“...I’m the person you were supposed to kill that day. I was the mark. I was…”

“Songbird.” You nodded, Dean’s grip loosening on you. “Songbird wasn’t even a college age girl. Not even eighteen. You’re older. I don’t-”

“They used my highschool picture and altered it with AI. The mark you got from your team leader to kill was a girl that never existed. My dad hired the hit if you want to call it that to see if they could catch them in the act. He’s the senior field officer that was investigating your team. It was always…everyone was supposed to die except for you. You were let go because you were innocent and he knew that. They knew you were manipulated and forced. No one blamed you for killing the others to get out. If you hadn’t done it, they would have. But they couldn’t let you be an agent anymore. It looked bad that they left you on your own to protect your family so it was either kill you or kick you out. My dad advocated that you were a good man and they agreed to keep you under supervision for five years. If you didn’t make any moves in that time that showed you were a killer for hire, you were free to live your life normally. The only person that’s watching you in this town is a retired field officer named Harrison Y/L/N. He goes by Harry.”

“You came here on vacation to visit your fucking dad,” he said, releasing you, taking two large steps back. “You knew this whole time-”

“I found all of this out at the damn hospital today when they called my parents so don’t you blame me,” you said, voice wavering as you felt his anger stir in the air. “My dad dropped the fucking bomb on me and told me not to tell you you a word. And you were so mean and angry and I was scared cause I almost died. He told me you killed people and I was scared you were lying about why you were on Novi-Alpha. I thought maybe he was wrong and you still killed people…because you liked it…I didn’t want you to hurt me if I brought it up. I thought…”

You wrinkled your nose when wetness built up in your eyes, swallowing thickly to try and will it away. Dean approached you, your gaze shooting to the floor.

“Why did you stay if you thought I was a monster?”

“You’re not a monster,” you whispered. You forced your head up, blinking back tears when he tilted his head at you. “The only people you ever killed were those three teammates and a mobster and it was basically self-defense. My dad said those are the only people you ever killed so why would you lie? Why would you make it seem like you did it all the time?”

“To scare you into leaving. It didn’t work obviously. And I might not have pulled a trigger but I did research, I helped those other kills.” You smiled, sniffling once as a tear rolled down your cheek.

“You’re not that scary, Alpha. I stayed, didn’t I?” He wiped his thumb under your eye, brushing away the wetness that threatened to spill over once more. “I’ll go away if you want me to. But you don’t have to stay on that medicine anymore. No one will hurt you or your family.”

“I am not happy to be used like some pawn in a game. Your father should have come directly to me and I would have told him everything he wanted to know. I’ve been hiding for three years because of this. I haven’t seen my family in three years.” You nodded, looking away. You stepped past him, going to a chair and picking up your hospital clothes into your arms. “And where do you think you’re going?”

You turned around slowly, Dean ripping the clothes out of your hands, throwing them back in the chair.

“Here’s what’s going to happen. You are going to go wash your face and go to bed because goddamn you have no idea how stressed the fuck out you smell right now. Tomorrow, we are going to the hospital for your follow up check up and I am getting a blood test to make sure there is no more Novi-Alpha in my system. Then we are coming home and I will be claiming you and you’re gonna stop fucking crying because it feels like my soul is tearing in half whenever you do. And when we’re good and ready, we’re going to visit Harry and he will get the FBI off my fucking back so I can get on with my damn life with my Omega. Is that clear?”

“Okay,” you whispered, letting him take your hands. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you right away.”

“Don’t apologize. It’s been a long day and…can we agree to not keep secrets anymore?”

“Yeah,” you said, Dean pulling you into a crushing hug. You relaxed into it, Dean kissing the top of your head. “I thought kissing wasn’t allowed.”

“Fuck it. I’m claiming you tomorrow. A few kisses won’t hurt.”

“Good cause I can use them.” You rested your head against his shoulder, breathing deeply. You felt another across the crown of your head, a tiny smile crossing your lips. “If it makes you feel any better, I told my dad to fuck off for asking me to lie to you.”

“It does a little. My omega is the protective type I’m learning.”

“Yes she is,” you said, a sudden wave of exhaustion hitting you. Your knees buckled, Dean catching you in his arms and guiding you to the bed. “Do not say I told you so.”

“I said nothing.” He smiled as you laid back down, closing your eyes. “Get some sleep. We’ll get you cleaned up in the morning, alright?”

“Are you sure you can’t stay?” you asked, catching a big whiff of his scent as a blanket was laid over top of your body.

“Not tonight. Soon,” he said, turning off the light. “Goodnight, Y/N.”

“Night, Dean.”

You woke up to the smell of cinnamon rolls and fresh pine floating through the air. Had Dean baked? Throwing the covers back, a wave of scent slammed into you.

“Morning,” said Dean with a coy smile. He sipped from a coffee mug, leaning against the doorframe. You blinked as you took him in, hands fisting in the sheets when the urge to pounce on him crackled through you like lightning. He chuckled, cocking his head. “Yeah, I know the feeling. You’re like…”

You stood up, crossing the room quickly, Dean catching you in one arm.

“Calm Omega,” he shushed you when you slammed your lips to his. “After we both pass our checkups.”

Heat pooled between your legs and your eyes flashed wide when you felt something very wet. You both looked down, your face on fire when you realized you’d just made slick…in his fucking boxer briefs.

“I-I’m…”

“To be fair,” he said, taking a long sip of his coffee before offering the mug to you, “You did proposition me yesterday so this is really nothing.”

You smacked his arm gently, Dean laughing quietly. “I was in serious pain! A-and I think I’m going to go into heat again soon.” You took a drink from the mug, happy to find it wasn’t straight black coffee.

“Why don’t you get dressed then and we’ll head over to the hospital so we can…” he trailed off, roaming his eyes down your body, shaking his head. He grabbed your arm and started heading for the front door.

“Dean, I’m not even dressed,” you said. He paused, leaving you in the kitchen before he hurried into the guest room. He exited not five seconds later with a pair of your joggers in hand. “You really can’t wait to knot me, huh?”

“No, I really can’t,” he said, letting you lean on him as you tugged the pants up. He went to the front door, groaning when you started to look around. “Y/N. I’m gonna bust a knot over here.”

“I know, I know. I just wanted one of those cinnamon rolls before we go.” He raised his eyebrows at you.

“I have no…we can swing by the bakery tomorrow. They normally have really good-” He stopped when you approached him, inhaling sharply with a smile.

“Oh my god, you spell like cinnamon rolls! Like you have all those classic rugged Alpha scents that are to die for but cinnamon rolls? I didn’t know Alpha’s could smell like that.” Dean’s lip ticked up, dipping his head as he put a baseball cap on his head.

“Winchesters have been known to…smell like baked goods to their mates,” he mumbled, handing you your rainjacket. “Apparently it’s true.”

“Can you scent anything new on me?” you asked, sliding into the jacket, holding onto Dean as you put on your rain booties.

“You’re not in pain anymore which I like…and you smell like fresh peaches which I didn’t notice before. It’s…nice,” he said as you stood. He flipped your hood up for you, stroking his thumb over your heated cheek. “It, uh, rains a lot here. We’ll have to get you some better gear.”

“We will,” you said, Dean’s fingers tucking your hair under your jacket so you wouldn’t get wet. “Let’s get out of here, Alpha.”

“After you.”

Approximately two hours and thirty seven minutes later, not that you’d been counting, you were shoving a more than wet Dean back against the front door. The urge to mate was strong and now that you both had the all clear, you couldn’t wait another second to have his knot and claim again.

It wasn’t your fault your pulled him out of the car so fast he didn’t have time to get his hood up.

“Alpha,” you purred, reaching for his belt, ripping it out of the loops and tossing it aside.

“Down girl,” he said in a low, husky voice but his hands were moving as fast as yours. Coats and boots landed in a wet heap on the floor. Your hoodie, which was his hoodie but was your hoodie from now on you’d already decided, was tossed aside as he shrugged out of his flannel.

You growled when he walked towards the fireplace but he shushed you, taking your hand and holding up a finger. You let him have roughly eight seconds to start a fire before you were behind him, reaching for the hem of his heather gray tee shirt. He spun, planting his large hands on your hips, squeezing them so tight you shivered in the best way.

“Someone’s eager,” he murmured, nipping at your jaw. Hot breath fanned over your mark, Dean brushing his lips over the still healing gland, barring his teeth against the flesh. It was too hot and you slid his shirt up his body, Dean responding with his approval by growling against your skin. “Fuck, we doing this fast?”

“Wasn’t it obvious?” you said, Dean breaking away to rip his shirt off one handed. You barely had a second to take in his muscular body before he tugged your shirt clean off of you, leaving you in only his underwear you still wore.

“Holy shit, you’re gorgeous.” The way he looked ready to devour you made your stomach do flips, voice caught in your throat when he slowly dragged his zipper downwards. Thumbs hooked into the waistband of his jeans and he shoved them along with his underwear over a round, tight ass and long, lean legs.

Your eyes shot to his hard cock as he straightened up, a devilish smirk on his face. He made a show out of stretching his arms overhead, showing off the raw strength of his body, just how fucking broad and powerful he was.

“My omega like what she sees?” he teased when your gaze finally found it’s way back to his handsome face. You licked your lips, Dean chuckling. “S’all yours, sweetheart. Come and take it.”

“Cocky bastard,” you said, making a show out of stepping out of the underwear and tossing it somewhere on the other side of the room. His eyes trailed up and down your body, grin reaching his eyes when you stalked over slowly in front of him. He leaned in close, so many pheromones filling the air you were having a hard time concentrating on not coming on the spot.

“Omega,” he murmured, kissing under your jaw. “Hold on tight.”

You were in the air, spun around, back hitting the wall by the fireplace as your legs shot around his trim waist. A greedy moan filled the air when the tip of his cock hit your clit, rubbing it once, twice and you were literally shaking.

“Stop or you’ll make me come,” you whispered. “I-Inside.”

“I’ll torture you another day. Promise.” He winked and shifted his hips back, lining up with you. “Tell me to stop if it hurts.”

“What if I want it to hurt?” you said through eyelashes and you swore you felt his heart skip a beat. “Fuck me so hard I feel you for days. Fuck this heat right out of me.”

It was like a switch in his head flipped, the primal Alpha side of him determined to make that happen. He slammed his hips forward, a sharp shock to the system as you stretched around him, just shy of taking his knot. You were absolutely going to be sore but it wasn’t painful thankfully.

The fact you were wetter than the fucking ocean probably had something to do with it too.

Dean rutted into you again, your fingers digging into his back so hard he’d be covered in bruises tomorrow. “Fuck, sweetheart. Fuck yeah, mark me up.”

You threw your head back when he planted a hand by your head and fucking rammed his cock so hard you screamed. Dean settled into a punishing pace, driving his cock harder and harder, trying to wedge his knot inside your fluttering walls.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” you breathed out when you were both covered in sweat, pooling down your chests, Dean’s grunt and groans loud in your ear.

And then…on the edge of too much pleasure, you felt his swelling knot slip inside, knocking the air out of your lungs. You could feel it expand inside you so rapidly, pushing you higher and higher, you were holding onto Dean for dear life.

“I’m…” he panted as you nodded. Soft pink lips locked around your bonding gland, Dean’s thrusts becoming erratic and then you felt him bite.

It was a damn good thing Dean didn’t have neighbors with the shout you let out. The tightly wound pressure in your core exploded as warmth flooded your insides. You were floating, flying, head going blank and a million miles an hour.

You couldn’t think, couldn’t do anything but cling to Dean as an overwhelming feeling of calm washed over you. It was like you’d never know what it was to be alone ever again.

When you opened your eyes, Dean was laying on his back on the floor, staring up at you with the softest smile in the world.

“Hi,” you breathed out, Dean tucking your hair behind your ear as you straddled him.

“So that’s what it feels like when you feel it too,” he said, planting his palm on your chest, trying to catch his breath. “Wow. I feel-”

“Lighter,” you said, lowering yourself down, planting your arms on either side of his head. Dean leaned up and kissed you, hand winding it’s way to the back of your neck, keeping you close. It was less urgent, gentle in how he moved his lips. He grinned when you ran a hand through his sweaty, damp hair.

“I think you’re stuck with me now, sweetheart,” he teased, dragging his knuckles over your cheekbone.

“Such a shame. I thought you’d be taller.” He laughed so hard you felt it in your bones, Dean grinning when you splayed out on top of him and rested your chin on his chest. “So you’re not all broody every moment of the day after all.”

“Careful, Omega. Your grump might even let on that he likes to cuddle.”

“Oh, he does? Well we’ll be sure to explore that side of you,” you said. You grinned as he stroked your face, a warm cozy feeling settling deep down inside. “You know, I-”

Dean’s gaze flickered away to something behind you, his eyes flashing wide before two things happened very, very quickly.

The sound of multiple windows breaking and the door being kicked in crashed through the air, letting the sound of the pouring rain become even more pronounced. You may have paid more attention to the deafening sounds if it weren’t for what Dean did.

He was knotted to you, buried to the hilt inside of you with at least twenty minutes remaining before he would deflate and the two of you could separate. It was a way of being close, being intimate, feeling one another. Knots could not be removed without severely injuring the receiving partner.

And yet, in what felt like less than a second, Dean literally ripped you off of his body and dropped you onto the floor in one swift motion. It felt like a sucker punch as you waited for the pain but all you felt was Dean standing, grabbing you with one hand to push you behind him.

There were people in the house, dressed head to toe in black and with large guns. And you and Dean were trapped buck naked backed up against the fireplace with nowhere to go.

________

A/N: Read the final part coming 4/7!

#the ranger #dean winchester x reader #dean winchester #spn #alpha!dean x omega!reader #abo #lovely mutuals #zepskies reads

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kiarazuri · 2 years ago

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Chapter 6: JJ

The Cakerie opens at 7:30 AM but JJ doesn’t want to look too eager so he waits till 9:30 AM to go in instead—even though all he wants is to finally get inside one of the DuCiel storefronts without AJ lecturing him about not taking food from strange supernatural creatures. JJ’s tried to tell him it doesn’t make sense for the DuCiels to fuck with their own customers, but his little brother is moreso of the CC Hunters’ belief: supernatural = bad. It’s only because it’d look suspicious if JJ denied Lottie DuCiel’s hospitality while still hanging around Bonbon Street that AJ’s allowing him to go in the first place. (How’d my little bro become my keeper?) Eya thinks the situation is amusing. AJ thinks JJ has a death wish. JJ’s choosing to trust his husband’s judgement—after all, Eya is less, uhh, biased when it comes to supernatural creatures. When JJ opens the Cakerie’s front door, the bell attached gives a bright, tinkling chime. “Bienvenu!” A semi-familiar voice calls out from behind the display counter. Lottie DuCiel’s beauty hits JJ like a freight train. He’d assumed he’d over-estimated just how beautiful the man would be beneath the custard. He was so, so wrong. Lottie’s glass skin is a deep, almost black brown gleaming with life. His thin black dreads are styled in the same messy beehive as the day before, this tine with purple and gold ribbons threading through the strands. The definition in Lottie’s thick black brows is immaculate, topping his deep brown eyes like crowns. His waterline is painted a bright purple that compliments well against the ribbons, dapper purple suit, and gilded fake lashes. His lush lips are tinted purple and topped with a thick layer of gloss. He’s got three little unicorn-skin gemstones dotting his cheeks like beauty marks. His beauty is—inhuman. JJ’s chest clenches hotly. When Lottie finally recognizes him his face lights up like a kid on Gift Day morning. The clench that follows that gorgeous glance is so painful, JJ almost thinks he’s gonna have a heart attack. The gorgeous man finds an empty expanse of counter and begins to lean over, mouth open to say something else, when he suddenly jerks, squeaks “sugar!,” and falls forward, slamming his chin against the counter. Hard. The Cakerie erupts into concerned gasps and a few loud giggle-snorts from someone JJ recognizes as another DuCiel. Shit! JJ rushes forward. “You okay?” Lottie groans and gingerly lifts himself from the counter. He sends a death glare to the other DuCiel before giving JJ a strained, wobbly smile. “You keep seeing me at my worst.” There’s a hairline fracture snaking across the glass but Lottie’s chin looks unhurt. Pristine. Definitely magic, the man should be covered in blood. “What happened?” Lottie leans down, and picks up a banana peel. JJ blinks at it owlishly. “You serious right now?” Lottie smiles conspiratorily and leans in, motioning with a crooked finger for JJ to do the same. This close, JJ can see the slight sprinkling of glitter in the DuCiel’s gloss. When his blackberry scented breath brushes across JJ’s cheek he wonders if his lips taste the same. Fuck, I wanna kiss him. Lottie is definitely JJ’s type. Damn. “Trickiness is next to godliness in this household,” the glimmer in Lottie’s eyes is warm and terrifying, like a fire beckoning to a moth. JJ can’t deny it’s call. Lifting a hand to cup Lottie’s miraculously unhurt chin, he touches his thumb against the cleft before he can think the action through and gives it a soft, almost imperceptible, push. Ostensibly the action is to check him over but in reality JJ just wants to feel how soft his skin is. “You sure your okay? You went down hard.” The glimmer in Lottie’s eyes turns molten, his plush lips parting slightly. JJ wants to press his thumb to the bottom lip till he opens wide and— Stop it, JJ reprimands, running his thumb across the soft skin of Lottie’s chin instead. Lottie smiles. Then grimaces in pain. JJ lets go—to both their disappointment. “You came,” Lottie says into the resulting silence, relief and happiness in those two simple words. “What would’ya like?” he asks, motioning to the counter beneath them. When JJ looks down—the crack is gone. He stops himself from bringing attention to it and looks pointedly at the cakes inside. His eyes go wide and he takes a step back to take them all in: chocolate, carrot, cheese, sponge, angel, pound, cup, fruit. More cakes than JJ’s ever seen in his life. “What can I have?” “Anything you want.” You. JJ coughs. Pushes the thought down. “Don’t take this the wrong way but… this selection kinda scares me.” It’s a truly daunting amount of cakes. Lottie’s smile grows wide and—fangy. JJ double takes. The fangs are gone. Not human, JJ really needs to stop forgetting. “U-uh, any limits or restrictions?” JJ stammers, eyes dancing back to all the different options. “Nope; any cake, any amount.” JJ’s eyes widen. “Uh, what d’you recommend?” The overwhelmed hunter doesn’t fight as the DuCiel moves him down the counter where a single seat sits separated from the rest. The second JJ’s ass connects with the seat though, it’s like a switch is flipped. Instead of lights flipping off or on—it’s sound. Silence fills his ears. Not silence like what happens when you’re ears get clogged but like… suddenly the waves on a beach died and the water became still as stone. It’s so encompassing that for a moment JJ thinks everyone in the Cakerie just dropped dead, but when JJ turns his head even just a little, his body rebels. Like it’s refusing to see whatever’s overshoulder or even in the corner of his eye. It has to be magic. When JJ turns back to Lottie, he’s leaning over the counter with his elbows on the marble and his head in his hands, watching JJ with excited, sparkling eyes. What are you? “Wanna play a game?” JJ’s warring fear and attraction have very different reactions to the seemingly innocuous question. He takes a deep breath to calm the churning in his gut and smiles. “What’d you have in mind?” “A blind taste test.” The surge of fear that shoots through JJ’s entire being shows plainly on his face. Lottie laughs. “Chill, cher, I ain’t gonna poison you. Promise.” JJ shouldn’t believe him but for some reason… he’s not suspicious at all. “A’right, I’ll play.” This is why AJ’s my keeper. “Perfect,” Lottie’s smile grows manic. “Why don’t you put this on.” He says, pulling a long, thick ribbon from behind his back and placing it on the counter between JJ’s hands. It matches the purple ribbons in his hair. More fear surges in JJ’s blood. “Uhm.” “Come on now, you said you’d play with me,” Lottie pouts, eyes dancing merrily. JJ swallows. And picks up the ribbon. It’s soft and silken like a crisp, cool river. As JJ ties it obediently around his eyes, the soft sound of Lottie’s amused laughter is the only thing he hears in the unnaturally quiet room, sweet but slightly mocking. “Ready for the first round?” He asks, his voice mischievous and playful and curling around JJ’s ears. It slides across the silk like a caress. A plate clinks against the counter as a fork is pushed into JJ’s hand. “Bon app’!” The fork glides smoothly through the cake like a knife through warm butter. Only at the very bottom does it meet resistance. The bite is larger than JJ intended, and when it enters his mouth fear rattles in his blood—until the flavor explodes over his tongue. A silky cheesecake with a slightly maple syrupy taste, a buttery graham cracker crust, and topped with a jam that’s soft and sweet. “What d’you think?” “Incredible. What is it?” “Candy cap mushroom cheesecake with olallieberry coulis.” JJ chokes, coughs. “MUSHROOMS?!” Lottie’s laughter is loud and boisterous, definitely please. “You should try the ice cream sometime. It tastes like maple syrup.“ “I’ll have to check it out,” JJ admits. He’s simultaneously nervous and curious about the next flavor. “Next?” JJ can feel the smile on Lottie’s lips. “As you wish.” Clink! The second cake feels like normal cake cake—and when JJ tastes it, the texture is kind of like a funfetti cake but instead of little sugar bits the pips are like pieces of fruit. Like… “Raspberry?” “Very good. What other flavors do you taste?” “Definitely vanilla cake. I think the frosting’s some kind of tropical fruit and… that’s all I’ve got. It’s delicious though.” Lottie’s laughter is sweeter than the cake. “It’s vanilla cake with raspberry pips, lychee jam, and light mango cream cheese frosting.” “10 out of 10, hands down.” “It’s one of our best sellers, though I usually only make it for birthdays.” “But you had some for me? How sweet. Happy Unbirthday to me.” Lottie laughs, and places another plate in-front of him. The fork does not go smoothly through this cake. The top has a hard but crumbly layer that breaks apart with a crackling sound. The cake is moist and clings to the fork as JJ pulls it through. He expects the top to taste like a streusel and is surprised to find it’s actually—kettle corn?! He takes another bite just to be sure. Definitely kettle corn. And the cake itself is very similar to carrot cake except instead of carrot it’s sweet corn. Moist and sweet and spiced. “I… I’ve never had corn in a cake.” “Sweet corn cake with kettle corn crumble and a light weaving of buttercream frosting.” Lottie explains. “What d’you think?” How the hell is the popcorn still crispy? Shouldn’t it have soggified or something? JJ wonders, running through the possibilities in his head. He reaches up to take the blindfold off, curious to see the cake for himself, when Lottie’s hand curves over his own. His skin is warm and soft and stops JJ in his tracks. He goes stiff as a board, barely even breathing. Waiting. “None of that now, Cher. You’ve still got a cake to try,” his voice is melodic and warm and— He’s caressing his thumb across the back of JJ’s hand, pulling it gently from the blindfold. “Yes, Sir,” JJ acquiesces. “Bring it on.” Lottie places a plate down and waits patiently for JJ to take a bite. And JJ bites confidently—only to immediately choke. To say he was surprised to bite into a piece of dense cake and taste tamarind and mango chili candy would be an understatement. Lottie doesn’t stop him from snatching off the blindfold this time. The DuCiel’s expression is mischievously victorious. JJ meets his eyes a total of 5 seconds before looking down at his plate and laughing at the straight up tamarind paste candy latticeworking beautifully across a spiced pound cake. “Who the hell thought of this?!” He asks, breathless. “I don’t actually remember. But it’s good, non?” Lottie asks, a knowing gleam in his eyes. “Hell yeah it is,” Eya’s gonna be so confused when he smells my breath later. “Confusing as all hell, but delicious nonetheless.” “Thought you’d say that,” Lottie announces, pulling a finger through the candy-laced frosting. JJ can barely concentrate when he licks the skin clean. He coughs to clear his throat. “Oh yeah? I predictable or somethin’?” Lottie shakes his head. “You’re from the West Coast, I made an educated guess and took a shot.” How’d you… JJ doesn’t know whether to pass that off as logic or magic. “You guessed right. Damn.” JJ replies, and continues eating. He goes between the flavors, commenting on them left and right till each one is finished. “Okay, so every single one of those was amazing,” JJ praises. “My fave was the corn cake, second was the chili-fruit cake, then mushrooms, and my unbirthday cake coming in last,” JJ lists, rubbing his stomach with a satisfied groan. At some point Lottie pulled out a little notebook and started jotting down JJ’s comments. What am I, your guinea pig? “How do you decide which recipes to sell every day? Lottie stops writing to glance up at him through his gilded eyelashes. The look is calculating and JJ can almost see him doing the math in his head. He sets his purple and gold pen down, smiles, and gives JJ his full attention. “Do you like baking, Jay?” JJ rears back, blinks, and laughs nervously. “Uhm, yeah I love it. I cook more than I bake though ‘cause otherwise I’d eat everything,” much to Eya’s annoyance. “Then what d’you say to seeing our behind the scenes?” Lottie asks. JJ’s eyes widen in surprise. “You serious?” “O’ course, but that’s only if you don’t mind getting here before sun-up.” “……how early?” Lottie purses his lips. “5 AM, give or take.” JJ groans. Unless it’s to stake-out nocturnal Supes coming home after a night out or for the purposes of a road-trip, as a rule JJ doesn’t usually wake before 8 AM. At 5 AM he’d probably be a zombie. Still… JJ wants to say yes. He knows it’s reckless but he wants to be alone with Lottie (actually alone, not magically cut off from those around them like they are now), baking in the Cakerie with him and seeing him in what JJ can only assume is his natural element. So of course he says: “Tomorrow?” AJ’s gonna kill me. Lottie smiles like the cat who caught the canary—fear and arousal bloom in JJ’s gut at the expression, a confusing mix of moths and butterflies churning nauseatingly inside him. “It’s a date.”

To Be Continued in Chapter 7 💗

#me #mine #catct #tct #charlotte and the chocolate trickerie #the chocolate trickerie #chapter 6 #tct chapter 6 #catct chapter 6

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ahundredtimesover · 2 years ago

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The Light of Dead Stars (01) | KSJ

Pairing: Seokjin x (f.) Reader; side Seokjin x (f.) OC; side Reader x Namjoon

Genre/Tags: arranged marriage, fake romance, boss/workmate aus; angst, drama, fluff, smut; slow burn

Chapter Warnings: Foul language; mentions of injury; alcohol consumption; allusions to past toxic relationsips (18+)

Chapter Word count: 9.4k

Series Masterlist | Muse Moodboard | Setting Moodboard

Status: Complete

Series summary: Your unconventional arranged marriage with your company’s President, Kim Seokjin, is necessary, practical, and simple - both your families benefit, and he minds his own business and so do you. But when a slip-up causes his parents to believe that you and he are in love, you have no choice but to pretend you are, especially with the trip to France for his brother’s wedding coming up. When you get back to Seoul, things start to change, and Seokjin is faced with the most difficult decision he has to make.

Love–he seemed to have missed it. Or was the love that others told about a mere fabrication of perfervid imagination, an exaggeration of the commonplace, a glorification of insipid monotonies such as made up his love life?

You sigh in relief as you enter your house, luggage in one hand and a pair of heels on the other. It’s been a tiring last few days and a whirlwind of a morning. Perhaps that’s what happens when you get disrupted during your business meeting by your mom, frantic on the other end of the line over a family emergency, and you spend the rest of it stressfully booking a flight and rushing back to Seoul.

But you’re home now, appeased that your dad is going to be okay and that you have time to freshen up before you meet them at the hospital.

The kitchen counter is clean and the living room is devoid of the usual mess that Seokjin leaves after a night of watching movies. His car is in the driveway and you think he probably slept in; you know he’s had a tough week, too.

He’d sent you voice messages last night ranting about one of the board members being a total asshole to the hotel staff during their meeting. Your husband was so angry and wanted to call for a vote of no confidence but Yoongi, his secretary, had thankfully stopped him and suggested sending you those messages instead.

Bless that man, but you really weren’t prepared for a howling Jin, cursing in his high pitched voice then laughing contagiously about a dog jumping its owner that he’d seen on the street.

Your husband is a handful, that much you could say. You had sensed the charm - it’s one of his weapons, after all - but you didn’t expect the bursts of passion underneath his always calm and professional exterior, a subtle contrast to the perfectionist character of the man who was just your boss not long ago. Three months in and he still surprises and annoys you to no end, and with how you found yourselves in this situation, you really can’t ask for anything more.

You laugh at the memory of the night you got “engaged” and proceed to your room, take a nice long bath, and dress up before you head to the kitchen to make yourself a meal. You’d just ended a call with Hoseok, your brother, when you exit the room and stop in your tracks, a familiar face meeting you at the other end of the hall.

Seri’s bright eyes widen as they focus on you, her lips parting and from several feet away, you could hear her hold her breath.

“___,” she stammers, finally coming around to calling you by your first name instead of Mrs. Kim, which is the most awkward thing she could say, considering who she is in your life. “I didn’t know you’d be home. Jin said that you were—”

“Oh, it’s okay; he didn’t know either. I had to come back a day early from my trip,” you smile awkwardly. “Have you and Jin had breakfast? I’m gonna make myself some pancakes and I can make some for you guys, too.”

“That would be, uh, good, yeah,” she says nervously. “I don’t really cook so…”

“Ah, alright. No problem,” you say, walking down the stairs and mentally calculating the measurements for pancakes good for 3.

Seri follows and stands on the other side of the large kitchen counter, nibbling on her lips before she offers. “I can help you, though!”

“It’s fine,” you say, not too keen on having someone inexperienced help you around the kitchen.

You see her smile fall and you don’t really want her to feel that you’re antagonistic towards her because you really aren’t. “But you can slice some bananas for your pancakes if you want. Prepare some strawberries for Jin, and some kiwis, too.”

“Okay,” she responds, taking the kitchen tools and fruits that you pass to her and nodding when you tell her to be careful. “Sorry for not being much help, and for, uh, yeah…” she trails.

“Seri, we’ve talked about this. Jin and I have an arrangement - he doesn’t question what I do and who I meet, the same way I don’t question anything or whoever he does,” you say too casually. “And he’s always been honest about his relationship with you, and that’s always better than lying about it. Think of it like an approved extra-marital affair or something,” you shrug, as you mix in the ingredients.

“It’s just… not a normal thing, you know?”

“Oh, I know,” you chuckle, as if preparing a meal for your husband’s lover in your kitchen is not as odd and twisted as it is. “But he’s doing me - my family - a big favor. You make him happy and I don’t wanna take that away from him.”

The one time you turn to look at her, she flashes a shy smile. One thing you appreciate about her is that she’s not some entitled witch just because your husband prefers her to lay in his sheets over you. For lack of a better phrase, she at least “knows her place,” as Jimin, your ever supportive best friend and colleague, says.

You and Seri both let the sounds of fruits being cut up and pancakes sizzling on the pan echo in the kitchen. You start munching on a few pieces while you continue to work, deciding to not stay long enough to actually have to share a meal with them. You may be preparing their food and you may be okay with all this, but you’re not some dysfunctional family that’d have you eating with them like all is normal.

It’s in the middle of your third piece of pancake while stacking a few on one plate that you hear hurried steps down the stairs, and you meet your husband’s curious eyes and furrowed brows.

“You’re… home,” he starts, walking over to you and peeking to see 3 plates in front of you. “And you’re making us breakfast?”

He asks you, eyeing Seri, as if questioning if he should be worried, but she shakes her head and flashes him a grin.

“Ah, yeah. I was just going to make my breakfast and I thought I could make for you guys, too. I’ll leave for the hospital after this,” you respond.

“The hospital? Is everything okay?” He asks, genuinely worried.

“Dad was rushed to the ER last night and needs to have surgery in the afternoon, that’s why I took an earlier flight.”

“What’s wrong? Did you have him checked in the VIP suite? Until when is he here?”

“His colon. And no, the private room is fine. I’ll have him and Mom stay at a hotel while he’s recovering before they go back home to Gwangju next week.”

“Oh, okay. Do you need anything else? I can ask one of the chauffeurs to drive them home,” he offers.

“That’d be great, yes please,” you smile, pouring caramel syrup over his pile of pancakes before he even asks for it. “Hoseok will have to go back to Tokyo tomorrow so he can’t take care of it. Thanks, Jin.”

“Sure, no problem,” he says, taking his plate and Seri’s while you clear the counter. “What about you?”

“I ate while I was cooking,” you grin. “Mom texted and asked me to drop by the supermarket to get her some things before heading to them, so I’ll have to get going.”

“Okay. Have Mr. Lim drive for you, alright?” He calls out as you walk up the stairs.

“I will! Thanks!” You yell.

Seokjin looks at Seri nervously as he pours the coffee in cups and takes out the orange juice from the fridge. He motions for her to eat and she smiles after she’s taken a few bites.

“This is delicious,” she says. “I don’t think I’ve had pancakes quite like this before. ___ makes this a lot, doesn’t she?”

“She usually makes our breakfast more elaborate than this,” Seokjin hums. “But she makes pancakes when she’s stressed; we’ve even had it for dinner a few times. And well, her dad’s in the hospital so maybe that’s why.”

He internally sighs at the thought, wondering if he should have offered to bring you to the hospital instead. But knowing you, you’d probably insist that he doesn’t need to.

He and Seri eat in peace until you’re rushing down the stairs and calling Mr. Lim, telling him that you’re ready to leave.

“Send my regards to your parents, okay? And let me know how your Dad is.”

“Will do. Bye!” You wave at them then head out the door.

Seokjin releases the breath he’s been holding in, then turns to Seri. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know she was gonna be home,” Seokjin apologizes.

“It’s fine. I should be the one who’s sorry,” Seri shakes her head. “I shouldn’t have drank that much and stayed the night. I apologized to her and she said it’s okay. I’m not being too naive, am I?” She wonders.

Not much has changed with her time with Seokjin since his marriage with you 3 months ago. Sure, she still only gets to be with him when he’s not so busy with work like before, but she still sees him, still gets to talk to him over the phone at night since he doesn't sleep in the same room as you, at least when he’s not working or passed out in bed. And he’s never mentioned any argument with you about her.

She was scared the night he told her about the arranged marriage with you, which was the same night that he found out about it. She was ready to let everything go, to accept her fate that she’d never been good enough for him - and she never will be - but he surprised her when he said that things didn’t need to end. You’d insisted that he didn’t have to sacrifice that relationship, and she’d never felt more thankful in her life.

But she somehow expected that, too. She only gets to see you during company-wide events - you have a senior position unlike her, after all, but the few times she’s been around you or even crossed paths with you in the office, you’ve always been laid-back and welcoming.

She’s only heard from others that you’re good at what you do - you wouldn’t have reached your executive position as quickly as you have if you weren’t - and that itself should give you a reason to crucify her, humiliate her, even, but you never did. You never looked down on her, and not once did you ever make her feel small, or like a gum stain on your shoe.

“And well, it wasn’t so bad, was it?” She continues at Seokjin’s silence.

“I guess not,” he hums, his mind wandering to you, hoping he didn’t shoot himself on the foot by bringing his lover to your shared home while you were away, and then being caught by you.

You’ve been nothing but accepting and tolerant of the whole situation, but he also knows one thing you have is pride. Being a kind person doesn’t mean you’ll give that up just because you feel you owe his family something. He just hopes he didn’t push his luck this time; he doesn’t know what he’ll do when shit hits the fan, and you’re not there to figure things out with him.

“You didn’t have to cut your trip short for me, bug,” your dad tells you as you caress his hand. “It’s not that serious.”

“You fainted due to pain, Dad. What’s not serious about that?” You frown at him.

“It’s not a bullet to the chest,” he smirks, earning him a roll of your eyes.

“Don’t think you’re invincible just because you survived that. And that was years ago. Your body isn’t the same,” you reprimand him.

“Yah, am I really getting a scolding from my daughter before my surgery,” he tries to laugh. “Cut your old man some slack.”

“I will, when you start listening to the doctor,” you cross your arms. “You’re so hard-headed.”

“Like father, like daughter, hmm?” Your mother laughs from next to you.

You continue scowling at your father while he’s being wheeled away by the nurses, with you yelling an I love you when the door closes. Your mom goes with him and says she’ll call the insurance for some questions, leaving you with your brother in the room.

“Am I really hard-headed like him?” You ask Hoseok, who merely laughs at your question, one you’ve asked him a bunch of times.

“Only sometimes,” he says, sitting next to you on the couch.

“I have my reasons, though,” you defend.

“Reasons I’ll never understand. Like agreeing to some bullshit marriage arrangement, and letting your husband keep his mistress.”

“I forgot we’re still not over this,” you pout at your big brother, whose displeased face quickly turns into an endeared smile.

“It’s still too soon. I’m just a little upset that you didn’t talk to me about it, about any of it,” he sighs. “I could’ve convinced you of another way and protected you from all that.”

“Protect me from what, exactly?” You say. “We’d be needing more protection if I hadn’t agreed to the marriage. And I’d be way more stressed than I need to be if I made a big deal out of Jin having a girlfriend.”

“I told you, we could’ve figured it out, borrowed money from friends and relatives or something, instead of being indebted to a family like theirs.”

“We can’t pay our debts by having more, you know that,” you argue. “It was the only way. His grandparents offered; it felt like a win-win for everyone - their name protects us, their son gets a wife.”

“You do know they expect you and him to have children, right? He’s the eldest, after all. How are you supposed to do that if he has a girlfriend?”

“Well, they’re not in a rush,” you argue. “There’s still time to get out of the marriage and still be free from danger without having to have a family with Jin. I’ve been saving up to pay off Dad’s debt with interest. I just need time.”

“Wait, that’s your grand plan?” Your brother turns to you. “You’re gonna pay off what Dad owes while carrying the Kim name so we’re all protected, and then divorce your husband? That’s… cruel.”

“Hey, he’s in on it, too!” You pout, hating being called out. It did sound better in your head and when you pitched it to Jin, who agreed that it was a sound plan.

“You’re both dumb.”

“Do you really think I want a relationship?” You exclaim. “Do you think one Kim Seokjin will make me want one?”

“Well, not if the man is cozying it up with another woman under your watch!”

“That’s not the point. The point is, I don’t really care. I care about my career, my family, my friends… and Jin doesn’t want this, either. He’s just following orders, and I don’t want him to be miserable just because he didn’t have a choice.”

“So letting him keep his lover is his consolation, that’s it?”

“They’ve been together a while,” you mumble. “As far as I know, he hasn’t had a girlfriend in years so he’s probably just waiting to be in a good position to introduce her to his family or something. I don’t want to stand in between that, you know? Jin is a good man. He deserves to be happy.”

“What about you?”

“I am! Our ideas of happiness are just different,” you say. “His is being with her, among other things like fishing and gaming and caramel syrup on fried food, and mine is all this - work, a safe and complete family, Japanese mayo on fried food,” you chuckle.

“Aish, I just wish you thought this through more,” your brother sighs, wishing as well that he’d been around to help you figure out other options that didn’t require you to give things up.

“Well, Dad got the aggressive message and old Mr. Kim just happened to check up on him like he does every year and I just…. Blanked out. Nothing else mattered. I’m sorry,” you finally say, knowing that as the big brother, his primary job is worrying about you and your younger sister. “We’ve all had to make sacrifices. This was mine.”

“Just be careful, okay?” Hoseok gives in, knowing just how hard-headed you really are. “And I know we owe them big time but if that husband of yours does anything to hurt you, I will hunt him down,” he frowns, one of the rare times your usually jolly brother gets serious.

“I’ve worked with the man for years. He wouldn’t even hurt a fly,” you laugh. “And really, Jin and I are like housemates - I cook breakfast, he cooks dinner, we get groceries together, manage the budget… but other than that, we mind our own business.”

“Fine, as long as you don’t get caught in any drama that would jeopardize your career,” he continues. “And your personal life, too, especially if Mom and Dad find out. It may seem real simple in your head, but feelings can get involved, you’ll never know. You seem to like him already,” he warns.

“Not in that way,” you chuckle. “He’s a lot of good things but I’m not attracted to him; he’s not for me.”

“A handsome face like that can turn anyone into a believer, though,” he bites back. “He may not be my favorite person but I can appreciate great looks and they didn’t name him as Asia’s most sought-after bachelor for nothing.”

“I know, I have eyes,” you nudge him. “But I can tell him he’s handsome with a straight face and he can smile at me without me getting flustered.”

“I hope it’s a humble smile, at least.”

“Hmm, it depends. Most times it’s quite cheeky,” you chuckle. “He’s kinda full of himself in that way but you get used to it. I mean, I am, and it’s funnier than anything. It doesn’t affect me, though. But everyone else just falls for his charms but not me.”

“Funny that you’re now his wife.”

“Life works weirdly sometimes but I’ll take it. As long as I’m safe, as long as we all are,” you smile at Hoseok, hoping that it’ll be enough to ease his worries.

He envelopes you in a hug and that’s all the comfort and affirmation you need.

Taehyung walks over to his balcony and lies on Seokjin’s back, curses and groans escaping the elder’s mouth at his younger brother’s antics.

“Get off my back, Tae.”

“You’re the one lying on my couch, hyung,” he answers, stretching as he does.

“I bought this couch for you.”

“It’s still in the apartment that I own.”

“Ugh, can you act your age? Or at least someone who’s about to get married?”

Seokjin says the magic word and it’s what gets his brother off his back, literally. Taehyung sits down and starts going on about his suit fitting and finally finding the pair of shoes that he’s going to get shipped from Italy.

“Also, please free up your next week. We’re doing food tasting of the menu for the wedding and I need your palate,” Taehyung says casually.

“You’re gonna fly me to France?”

“You’re the President of the company, hyung. You’re flying yourself to France. I’ll pay for your hotel, though. You can even take ___ with you. There’s a suite so no need to stay in one room since you know, you’re both stupid that way.”

Seokjin smacks the back of his brother’s head the way he always had growing up when the younger would tease him endlessly.

“We’re not stupid; it’s the arrangement,” he corrects.

“It’s the arrangement,” Taehyung repeats, rolling his eyes and mocking his brother’s tone of voice as he likes to do. “Fine, whatever. Anyway, what brings you here on this fine Saturday? No meeting? No date? No extra-curriculars?” He smirks.

“Nah, just bored. I just dropped off Seri at her place… after ___ got home and saw us there.”

“Your wife saw you and Seri doing the deed?!” Taehyung dramatically exclaims. “How the fuck did you let that happen!”

“No!” Seokjin groans. “She came home a day earlier from her work trip and Seri had just left my room. ___ made us breakfast and then left to visit her dad in the hospital. It was a little awkward. For me, at least.”

“Well duh. Your arranged wife makes breakfast for you and your official lover? That is weird. But wait, how’s ___’s dad?”

“He’s fine,” Seokjin says. “But yeah, that was my morning. And I drove here after dropping Seri off because my house does feel a little weird right now. Too soon.”

“Hmm, you agreed to this, though. But then again, ___ never cared for boyfriends because her exes sucked so I’m not so surprised that she’s not making a big deal about you and your little affair.”

“You know about her exes?”

“Yeah, don’t you?” Taehyung wonders.

“Not really. Other than work and what we’re going to eat, we don’t really talk about anything else,” Seokjin shrugs, wondering why he hasn’t made more of an effort to get to know you, his wife.

Perhaps it’s the shock that he still hasn’t gotten over, even if at some point before all this, he’d accepted that he’d most likely have an arranged marriage, although the case with you is totally different from what he prepared for. Maybe it’s the idea that it’s all temporary; you have that grand plan of getting a divorce down the road, after all, even if he’s not quite sure how that will go, given that his family actually expects you and him to have children.

Or maybe, it’s that odd feeling that he’s being unfaithful to his girlfriend with his wife by getting to know you on a deeper level, and the thought makes him sick to his stomach. He really should’ve thought about this much better.

“When does she even have time to hang out with you?” Seokjin asks. “She’s almost as much of a workaholic than I am.”

“Hmm, during those dinner and drinks we’d sometimes have since you know, I actually spend that time getting to know my colleagues and not hooking up with the— ouch!” Taehyung gasps, nursing his arm that his brother just pinched. “It’s true, though! That’s how you and Seri started!”

“Yeah, but you make it sound so… shallow or like, not meaningful.”

“Isn’t it? She’s still that person for you, isn’t she? Otherwise you would’ve introduced her as your girlfriend to our family a long time ago,” Taehyung bites back. “You could’ve avoided this whole arranged-marriage-with-a-love-affair-on-the-side thing and be with someone you’re actually attracted to and like.”

“It’s not that easy,” Seokjin huffs. “Seri works for us.”

“So does ___, and she’s now your wife, so you can’t make that excuse. Our family isn’t that conservative, you know? They don’t really mind who we get married to, as long as we do, and then give them lots of grandchildren,” Taehyung shrugs. “But seriously though, how come you never introduced Seri?”

“I… never really thought about it, I guess. It just all seemed so convenient. She understood my schedule, the women I’d meet, the places I’d go to… She never asked for more, she just… settled. And I, well, I guess I…”

Seokjin trails, the words getting stuck in his throat. Why had he never made things more with Seri? What was he so worried about? What was holding him back?

“Well, that’s dumb,” Taehyung remarks, jerking away from his brother’s attempt at hitting him again. “You’re dumb. I mean, you just kept her around until time caught up with you and you decided to still keep her even when you have a wife - who, by the way, is really nice and cool - and you don’t even think Seri’s worth it.”

“I didn’t say she wasn’t.”

“You didn’t say she was.”

“Look, I’ll admit, I didn’t really think it through. Father told me about the arrangement, ___ asked me what was holding me back and I said I had a girlfriend and she said it was okay that I did, then I proceeded to meet with that girlfriend right after and proposed the whole, ‘let’s continue seeing each other even if I’m married since it’s not real and my fiancé is fine with it, anyway’ thing,” Seokjin groans; hearing himself say it out loud does sound stupid. “Ah, smart people do dumb things sometimes.”

“No, dumb people do dumb things,” his brother corrects. “Seriously. How are you the most brilliant person that I know but still be so dumb when it comes to your personal life? Now you’re in this situation. It may seem simple to you but it’s a whole ass mess from out here.”

“You’re right, I’m dumb.”

“Thank you for agreeing with me for the first time in my 30 years of living.”

“You’re dramatic.”

“Yes, but like you also said, I’m right,” Taehyung arches his brow. “But you know what the silver lining is?”

Seokjin turns to his little brother, one who, despite his eccentricities and being the annoying little shit he’s supposed to be, actually makes sense sometimes. “What?”

“You aren’t alone. You have ___. You’re gonna figure it out.”

Seokjin goes around the deli he frequents and finds the ingredients he’s looking for, getting enough for the meal he’s about to prepare.

He called you after he left his brother’s apartment and asked what time you’ll be home. You said you’d leave the hospital after you’d bought takeout dinner for you and for your family, but he insisted he’d cook instead and send some for them, too. You sounded thankful, and perhaps relieved. He can only imagine that it’s been a long day for you, and regardless of how your arrangement is, you actually look out for each other, and preparing each other's meals is how you both do it.

He gets to work once he arrives home, merely asking Mrs. Kang to get him some containers for the food he’ll send to your family. He packs up, sends it through the chauffeur, and works on your dinner while waiting for you.

You enter your house some time after, tired legs dragging you up the foyer steps and into the kitchen.

“Is this what I think it is?” You squeal, scurrying to where Seokjin is and immediately taking a teaspoon to try the sauce he’s making.

“More seasoning,” you say.

He promptly follows and you assess the counter to see what he’s made - scallops with truffle, hanwoo beef, and some cold noodles.

“The deli finally had some scallops and beef available?” You ask, and he nods in response, plating the food now.

There’s only two, and you don’t know why but you half expected he’d have Seri over for dinner instead of you, given that he’s spent the day with her anyway. Maybe they’d eaten already, but he was at the deli not long ago and he wouldn’t have had enough time, especially since he made food for your family, too.

You don’t think much about it and remove your coat. You take your place on the dining table and pour him and yourself some wine. Seokjin takes the appetizer while he lets the meat cool down.

You’re singing your praises when he finally speaks up.

“Look, I’m sorry about this morning. I didn’t know that—”

“So this is an apology dinner?” You arch an eyebrow teasingly.

“Uh, sort of?” He laughs nervously. “And well, I may not know much but I know enough that anything about your family stresses you out, even if you seemed fine earlier. I just didn’t want you to worry about what you or they were gonna have for dinner or something.”

“And that’s worth this super fancy meal?”

“It was just gonna be a ribs kind of night but I saw they had the ingredients that weren’t there last week and I just went for it,” he explains, and you’re reminded of last Friday when you’d both planned to make this very dinner together after an intense executive committee meeting that you both just wanted to get out of, but the store didn’t have the ingredients you wanted so you had curry instead.

“Hmm, at least we could make up for it,” you smile. “But yeah, I had a long distressed call with Mom while I was in Singapore this morning when she told me about my dad; she had to be the one to calm me down. But other than that, there’s really nothing to apologize for.”

“There is,” he insists, putting on that pout of his that you always laugh at because it reminds you of that one cartoon character with fluffy cheeks and the fullest of lips.

“There really isn’t. Because it’s really okay, Jin. We’ve talked about this.”

“Yeah but, it’s the first time that you've caught us here. Seri was supposed to leave before you got back.”

“Not your fault. I should’ve let you know I was on the way home,” you argue, moaning at the taste of the beef that he cooked perfectly.

“But still, that was disrespectful of me, taking her home while you were away.”

“And where do you plan to spend time with her, hmm?”

“Uh… her place?”

“And risk being found out?”

“Well, it’s worked the last few months.”

“And for how long do you expect that?” You press him.

“I… don’t know,” he sighs, sounding defeated.

You look at Seokjin, distress painted on his face. You know enough that he feels guilty, even if you don’t think he has any reason to be. But you’re starting to think after that talk with your brother that it’s not always so simple and that maybe, there are still things that you and Seokjin haven’t fully discussed yet. But you want to assure him more than anything. Regardless of your arrangement, you don’t want him feeling bad.

“Look, Jin, I know it’s an odd dynamic,” you start. “Mrs. Kang still looks at me apologetically sometimes and I have to remind her that I’m not bothered by your relationship with Seri. Your family’s been so kind to mine, and you didn’t want this in the first place; you weren’t given a choice.”

It’s the reason you always give - to him, to your brother, your 3 best friends, to yourself… and it’s always worked to make you think it’s all worth it.

“But I know your father and your grandfather; they’re not gonna be happy if they find out the truth. I’m just saying, be careful,” you add. “There’s a guest house on the property; it’s why I wanted this place. Just think - this is the most I could do for you… as your wife. I’m not being manipulative or vengeful, if you think this is some sort of ploy to make you comfortable and then ruin your life after. This is really the least of my worries,” you continue, seeing that shy smile of his appear.

“Plus, you cook me really good food, you’re honest, and you’re not an asshole, nor narcissistic, nor abusive in any way, so…”

“Your standards in men are so low, huh?” He says, wondering what your experiences with those exes who sucked might have been for you to be like this, as he learned from his brother.

But Seokjin has never asked; you’re more colleagues or distant friends than you are husband and wife, anyway, and with how things are going, he thinks it’s really the best he could get out of the situation you were both thrust into.

“Sadly,” you sigh. “All I want is a kind man as a companion. You’re at least fun to talk to,” you smile. “Also, you’re handsome.”

“Finally, you agree,” he cheekily smiles.

And you shake your head in laughter as you think back to what you’d told your brother earlier in the day.

“Still not as handsome as your brother, though,” you tease.

“Yah!” He frowns. “I’m not feeding you the macarons I bought!”

Seokjin hauls his luggage up the foyer stairs and parks it by the couch, too tired from his evening flight from France after having helped his brother and his fiancé finalize the menu for their wedding that’s happening in 3 months. It was a good few days, but he wishes he got to actually savor it, but with so much work to do, he didn’t have time to go around like he wanted.

You were the one left at home this time, and the one who sent him a voice message saying that one of your teams finally perfected the vegan dumpling recipe they’ve been working on for months. You sounded so proud and said you couldn’t wait for him to taste it when he got back home, and he didn’t know what to feel about the thought that the only reason you’d make that message is when it’s about work.

Sure, he did that with you last week - that board member was really a rude one - but he did send more of his messages talking about this new character in Maple Story and how he wants to buy Nexon one day so he could design all the items he wants.

He laughs at the thought before his phone ringing rattles him, and he smiles seeing Seri’s name on the screen.

“Hey,” he hums. “How are you?”

She’s fine, she says, on the way back from visiting her parents in Ulsan and that it was a good trip.

“I miss you, though. When can I see you?” She asks.

“I miss you, too, Seri,” Seokjin smiles. “I’m tired from the trip but I can see you this week. We can have dinner from somewhere nice, anywhere you want.”

Seri starts listing some restaurants, unable to make up her mind.

“Yes, it’s fine if you don’t know where you want to eat yet. As long as you can wear that other dress this time,” he hums. “We could maybe—”

The words get caught in his throat as he stares at 2 pairs of shocked and dare he say - disgusted - eyes glaring at him.

“Shit,” he mutters under his breath, quickly ending the call despite Seri’s repeated calls of his name.

“Mr. and Mrs. Jung, good morning,” Seokjin bows, not missing Mrs. Kang behind them and her petrified yet apologetic face for having the worst timing of letting your parents in the house while he was on a call with his girlfriend.

“I, uh…” he trails, looking around the house and scratching the back of his neck, too terrified to look at them again. He can feel their stare boring through the side of his head, and he’s never wanted to disappear in his life more than now.

Fortunately, he hears you running down the stairs, calling for him and saying that you’re gonna head to the hotel where your parents are before they leave.

You stop in your tracks as you see your parents near the living room, looking as if they’d just seen a ghost.

“Mom, Dad. I was just about to head to you,” you say, wondering what’s got them in a sour mood.

“We wanted to drop by instead; you’ve been visiting us everyday,” your mom says nervously, eyes constantly flitting from your dad to Jin.

Your father, on the other hand, stares at your husband as if in disgust and you’re trying to find out what’s going on.

“Dad?” You walk closer to him. “Are you ok—”

“Who is Seri? And why is your husband talking to her as if they are in a relationship?” He glowers, and you feel your heart drop to the ground because you definitely didn’t want them to know, not just for your sake but most especially for Jin’s.

You see your father’s clenched fists and know that you have to clear the air right now; he’s more than capable to take your husband, given his background.

“Because they are,” you admit, taking his hand and unclenching it. “I’ve known it all along. And I don’t mind it at all.”

Your father looks at you in shock, as if he’s powerless, like his heart has just broken and he doesn’t know how they could be pieced back together with what you’d just admitted. After everything you’ve been through, this is the situation you end up in, and to think your father agreed to this because he thought it would do you good.

It may not have started due to love or attraction but the least he could hope for is for you to be respected as a wife, as a woman, as a person.

“Why don’t we head to the study and talk there, yeah? Jin will just help Mrs. Kang prepare lunch for us,” you say, motioning for him to go to the kitchen and start working.

Seokjin promptly moves and bows towards your parents again, and you hear him comforting Mrs. Kang who profusely apologizes.

You lead your parents to their seats and ask how their stay was, when the next check up would be, and how much the medicines cost. Your mother answers all your questions, too afraid to get into the discussion of what she really wants to know, so your father is the one who does.

“How long has this been going on?” He asks angrily.

“Ever since we got married. I told you, I’ve always known,” you say calmly, hoping it would appease them somehow, though your father’s clenched jaw tells you that it isn’t.

“How is this even okay with you?! We didn’t agree to this arranged marriage for you to be disrespected like this!” He exclaims, trying to fight the tears.

“No, you agreed with his parents and grandparents so we could be protected, so his family can make good on their word that they will protect us the way you protected them,” you remind him. “Jin had no choice in this. He followed like the good son that he is, and that took so much away from him. Seri was part of his support team when he was the Vice President, and they’ve had something going on for a while, but he couldn’t come out with it, until this arrangement happened, and it was all too fast.”

“But sweetie, you’re married now. That’s not something he should be doing, or you should even be condoning,” your mother says, trying to understand you, woman to woman.

“So what, then? He’ll be miserable being married to me, and I’ll be miserable as well? Did you really expect that being married to him means that we’ll fall in love?” you sigh. “That’s not how it works, and you know it’s… it’s hard for me to get into love and relationships right now. All that matters to me at this moment are work, you, and being able to do things I want, to do things that make me happy.”

“Well, we didn’t expect you and Mr. Kim to fall in love, at least not right away, but we didn’t expect this at all. It’s unlike him, and unlike you,” your mother reasons. “You said everything was good between you two.”

“They are. Just because—”

“I spent years serving that family,” your father interjects, the sadness in his voice, unmissable. “I took a bullet for them, and I don’t regret it one bit. But this… this isn’t how it’s supposed to be. He should at least be trying with you, and you should be doing the same. You don’t deserve this, ___. You deserve to be loved and respected.”

“And I am, just not in the way you think,” you argue. “Jin is a good boss, and a good person. I don’t want this marriage to take that away from him, to change him just because things are difficult for our family. And I know it may not seem like it but he does care about me. He checks up on me, cooks for me… he doesn’t yell at me and not once has he laid a hand on me. He respects me as a colleague, as a person, and—”

“Well, he should; he’s already disrespecting you as a wife with that affair he has,” your father scoffs.

“Mom, Dad, I don’t expect you to understand. But if there’s anything that you both taught me, it’s that I should choose my battles, and this is one I’m not willing to fight,” you say, putting your foot down.

“Whatever happens with Jin and Seri, that’s their issue, not mine. But I’m just minding my business here, focusing on doing well at my job, proving that I earned the position not because I’m his wife or was being prepped to be one. And there's both of you. We still have debts to pay, so let’s focus on that, okay? I didn't want you to know because I didn’t want you to worry. So please, don’t. You know me, I don’t take shit from anyone, not anymore. I know how to step away now when it isn’t good for me; you taught me that, too.”

It’s that confident, assuring smile of yours that for years, disappeared, and even if it’s not ideal, your father knows it’s sincere when he sees it. You’re a big girl; you know what you’re doing. He did put this on you because of his mistakes, and he just has to do the hard thing and trust you.

“You’re a stubborn one, aren’t you?” He nudges your knee, causing you to smile wider.

“Well, you raised me, so, there you go,” you laugh now.

“Just… at any point it becomes too much, you let us know. I’ll beg his family to let you go if I have to, trust me on that,” he says.

“No one’s gonna be begging anyone. I’ll be fine, Dad. Trust me on that.”

He stands up and hugs you, whispers how you’re still his little bug and that he’ll protect you no matter what, and you hug him tightly, thanking the universe that he’s as amazing he is, even if your luck when it comes to boyfriends is the opposite of your luck when it comes to your family.

The knock on the door prompts you to look up and see Jin peeking in, saying that the food is almost ready.

“You okay?” You ask, as you lead your parents to the dining room then walk towards him.

“Yeah, but I can’t join you since Father wants to meet with me about the issue with one of our distributors and their scandal,” he answers.

“Ah, I heard about that, they were talking about it the other day. But yeah, sure, we’ll leave some food for you,” you answer.

Seokjin excuses himself then heads up the room, purposely missing lunch so he doesn’t have to face your parents again until he has to say goodbye. He refuses to look them in the eyes when he does, and his anxious face says enough.

You lead your parents to the car and head back inside, assuring your husband that things are okay.

“I’ll just meet Dara and Jimin at the mall. You good here?”

“Yeah, I have some things to work on,” he responds, thankful for once that he’s got something to preoccupy his mind. “Dinner tonight?”

“Yeah, sure,” you say, grabbing your bag and heading out.

You spend the afternoon with your best friends, narrating to them what happened with your parents at home, and some days you wished you’d surrounded yourself with less blunt companions instead.

“I really don’t know how you and Mr. Kim managed all these months,” Dara says. “Is he so desperate to get his dick wet that he keeps his side chick while married to you?”

You slap her arm at her non-modulated voice while you walk around COEX.

“First of all, can you stop being formal with him and calling him Mr. Kim?”

“He’s a sexy bitch, okay? Calling him by just his name doesn’t give him justice. It makes him less handsome,” she argues. “I can just call him Mr. President if you want,” she chuckles, earning her a glare from you. “Anyway, so what’s your second point?”

“I don’t know about his sex life but you make him sound so shallow. I don’t think Seri’s just a booty call. They’ve gone on for so long.”

“Someone can have the same booty call for years, ___. You know how Dara does it,” Jimin laughs.

“Yeah, and she still hasn’t settled down with him,” you point out.

“Because it’s convenient. He’s convenient,” she explains. “Some nights Jae and I don’t even have sex, you know? We just talk, and that’s convenient, too. He’s just not… it. He’s fine for now since I don’t wanna settle down yet. We’re 33, hun. We’re young. And he knows that, and he doesn’t mind. He never demanded anything more because he knows I don’t want anything serious.”

“So what’s your point, exactly?” You turn towards her with furrowed brows.

“My point is that maybe Mr. President has just kept her around because that’s all he wants her to be… a secret. There’s something exciting about that, you know? But she’s probably like, a secret who serves whatever purpose he wants for her, and she’s probably down for it, too. I mean, hooking up with your hot boss? Who’s never fantasized about that?” She chides.

“Me,” you reply.

“Well, you’re too focused on work so all the other men around you fade into the background,” she responds. “But you’re also this saint who let him keep seeing his side chick when you’re married but that girl is… I don’t even know what to call her but the fact that she didn’t seem to demand anything or like, fight you that he’s her man? That she also got the short end of the stick by being his secret for years and then now his mistress? Girl’s got it bad. He makes it up somehow, I guess. His dick’s probably as pretty as his face.”

Jimin can’t help but laugh and you can’t stop yourself from wanting to strangle her, but you can’t deny that it also makes you wonder.

What is it about Seri that made him keep her around for so long? What’s lacking that’s kept him from making anything official?

“We don’t know their story, okay? He’s nothing like Taehyung who’s an open book. Jin likes to keep to himself, bury himself in work and do his duties as son and heir of the company,” you defend. “How he’s managing is agreeing to arrangements and making them, I guess.”

“It’s either he’s a selfish prick who can’t make up his mind, or he just doesn’t know what he’s doing. And I don’t know which is worse,” Dara shrugs, and you hate how valid her points are, too.

“Hmm, better than the ones I’ve had, at least,” you sigh.

“Obviously, but don’t lower your standards, okay?” Jimin hugs you. “I know you said you’re not giving into love and relationships - for how long, we don’t know, but even with just a companion or partner like he is, don’t settle for less.”

“I know, that’s why I keep telling you guys and Kook and my brother - if it were someone else, I wouldn’t have agreed,” you state. “Other than the fact that Jin makes amazing food and he’s nice, he makes me feel safe.”

You smile, thinking about how the past months have been living with him - cooking for each other, going to work and going home most days together, attending events, and minding each other’s business. There hasn’t been anything to complain about.

“And wanted, even as just a housemate or something,” you add. “Three months in, and that’s all I’ve ever felt with him.”

You enter the restaurant that Jin had texted you an hour ago to go to, and your eyes would’ve blown out of your head if it was possible because of the place he chose.

You take the seat he pulls out for you and you eye him curiously. “Still feeling guilty, huh?” You say.

“Hmm?” He looks at you innocently while sipping his wine.

“You don’t like this restaurant but I do, and you’re treating me to dinner.”

“Their whole menu has garlic. I’m allergic to garlic,” he grimaces.

“You’re not. You just say you are but you just really don’t like it.”

“How did you know?” He looks at you surprised.

“I remember 3 years ago, one of the interns mistakenly served you dumplings with garlic oil and nothing happened to you,” you recount. “No rash, no shortness of breath or nausea… you just went on and finished a whole glass of soda, which we all know you also don’t like.”

“How… what? Why were you watching me?”

“I wasn’t; I was watching him. He was the intern from my team and I got to him too late when he served you that thing, and I swear my life flashed before my eyes,” you chuckle. “I wasn’t about to kill the Vice President of my company. But you were fine, just made a face and I knew… you were just pretending.”

“And for good reason,” he defends. “I don’t want people to feel uncomfortable when I say I can’t stand the taste.”

“Fair enough. I’d say that about green tea if it was a more common ingredient,” you shrug.

“But I can’t ever put anything past you, huh?” He chuckles.

“Hmm, not really,” you laugh. “I’m quite observant.”

“Is that why you knew about me and Seri this whole time?”

“Ah, I see you overheard my conversation with my parents, then,” you say, his actions from earlier to now suddenly making sense.

“But yes, that’s why I knew. I mean, we had that Christmas party one time and almost everyone was drunk except for me, and my ever flirty best friend Jimin had his arm around Seri’s shoulder and you looked like you were about to tackle him to the ground, but you didn’t do anything and just left,” you explain. “And so when we spoke before we agreed to the marriage and I asked you if there was something you wanted to tell me, I felt relieved that you admitted your relationship with her. I guess it should’ve been easier to lie to me and hide it, because there was a chance I’d tell you to stop.”

“But you didn’t.”

“I didn’t see the point. Like I said, you’re a good person. You don’t deserve to be trapped in this with me.”

“What you said… about not being keen on love and relationships. Is that true?” He wonders, remembering what his brother had said about your exes.

“Yes, but I don’t want you to feel bad for me so that isn’t something I’m willing to share yet.”

“Okay, fair.”

“But sorry, too. My dad went pretty hard, huh?”

“It’s okay. I expect him to be protective as a father,” Seokjin responds. “And I don’t give you enough credit but you’re a good person, too. You didn’t have a choice in this, either. That must be hard for him to accept - letting his daughter be with a man who can’t treat her right. But what he said, about taking a bullet for my family… I didn’t know about that.”

“It’s not really something he broadcasts or anything,” you say. “He didn’t realize that being part of the building’s security team would put him in that much danger. It was after a controversial merger and your grandparents had left the building to go to a press conference and some sniper started shooting towards their car. My dad was assigned outside and protected your grandmother, taking a bullet to his chest. I was a teenager, then.”

You recall running to the hospital after your brother had called you, in fear that your father was going to die, but the Kims made sure that he got the best treatment, and they’ve felt indebted to your family ever since.

“Dad asked to be left out of the news articles for fear that we would be in danger. He quit his job after that, but your grandfather always looked out for us, would check in on my dad regularly and that’s how he found out about the threats to my family because of a debt that my parents couldn’t pay,” you narrate. “And now we’re here. So yeah, it’s on us. I’ve been saving to pay it off so we’ll no longer need your protection, and you can be free from me.”

“You make it sound like being my wife is a terrible thing,” he laughs, masking his disappointment that he’s somehow let you down.

“I’m not. It’s fun being your wife, actually,” you nudge his foot, trying to encourage him. “I mean, it felt weird at the start, don’t get me wrong - you’re my boss and I look up to you as a colleague - but it was easy,” you smile, recalling how everything happened so fast but you and Jin kept assuring each other that it was all gonna be okay. “We found a rhythm, a routine, and things worked out. But Seri’s important to you and I’m just glad you told me about her right away.”

“So you would’ve hated me if I lied about her?”

“I would’ve lost respect for you, actually. I can’t stand liars, cheaters, abusers… And you’re not any of those.”

Your face falls a little but you turn to him with bright eyes right away.

It’s something you’re not yet comfortable to talk about, and that’s something he respects.

“Seriously, you gotta raise your standard higher. I’m telling you as a friend and as your husband,” he laughs, the irony not being lost on you both.

“I did! I found him, too,” you say, your eyes wandering, and Seokjin is glad that at some point in your life, someone hadn’t hurt you deliberately. “Seeing the world was just more important to him than me; something always is. He said he’d come back for me but he hasn’t.”

“And now you’re stuck with me. I’m sorry,” Seokjin says, wanting to have your smile back.

“Well, that was 5 years ago, and he still isn’t back, which is another reason why I agreed to this. I’ll never know what will happen. Five years is a long time to wait for someone.”

“It is, huh?” He asks, suddenly feeling a tightness in his chest that really started since you came home last week.

“Yeah, I mean, people make promises to comfort us, to give us hope, even if half the time, they’re broken. But he said he’d come for me so we can be together without the distance, and I believed him; I still do,” you share. “Why, how long have you and Seri been together?”

“Five years.”

“Oh, well… Uh, your situation is different,” you backtrack.

“Is it, though? I…” Seokjin trails, fumbling his words as the thoughts start to make him wonder.

First, it was fearing you’d hated him for bringing Seri to your house, and then his brother slamming a cannonball at him about why he’d never taken his relationship with Seri further, and then humiliating himself in front of your parents, and then tonight.

You, specifically, and how comfortable he feels around you despite your situation and how you always try to make him feel better about everything, especially about himself.

And how the thought of 5 years being too long to wait for someone hits him more than he cares to admit.

“Yeah, maybe you’re right. It’s different,” he settles, not wanting to argue.

He knows you’re right, in a way that unlike whoever it is you were talking about, Seri is here, and that makes it different.

But he also can’t help but think that so many times, he had a chance to admit his relationship with her, yet he never did. That in all these 5 years, all he’s done was make her wait, because something else was always more important to him than her.

Work, perhaps? Maybe it’s his time, his convenience, his comfort that mattered more. But as he watches you eat and critique your dish, the soft smile painting your face whenever you talk about food, he thinks that maybe it’s something else entirely, and he’s only now finding out exactly what that is.

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