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laligraves · 7 months ago

Text

chp.2 - poolside

morning run series

joel miller x fem!reader

[18+] | wc: ~2.7k summary: Your nap is interrupted by Joel. masterlist | AO3

warnings: HBO Joel, TLOU AU, dubious consent (i'm so serious, don't read if it makes you uncomfortable), NSFW, pre/no outbreak, some proofreading (not enough so sorry for mistakes), Joel is a tall and very strong man, older man/college-aged reader, no use of y/n or too many details on reader's appearance, alcohol consumption, pet names, some degradation, breeding kink (yeah), fingering, squirting, unprotected sex, creampie

a/n: i'm still here <3! just busy with real life :( i don't have a huge plan for this series except to make little one shots here and there since i have a lot of fun with these two characters lol. other stuff on the way i promise <3

You left two days after that encounter with Joel Miller. Your head was still spinning and your pussy still sore, but the semester started and you needed to be back on campus.

The first night back in your dorm, you debated throwing out the roses that now sat on your desk. You lasted 10 minutes just looking at them before you were touching yourself to the memory of him. You could still feel the scratch of his beard on your neck and remember the smell of his cologne.

He’d put his phone number in your contact list and you debated calling him. But what would you even say?

You should be mad at Joel for what he did. Yet somehow, he managed to reach into the deepest corners of your mind and fulfill one of your darkest fantasies.

Now, back in town, you can’t help but feel a little excited to see him again. Even if the more sane part of your brain is trying to convince you to slap him across the face if he comes near.

“Hey, lazy girl,” your sister calls out.

“Hey,” you respond softly, not moving from your spot on the lounge chair.

“I’m leaving. Are you sure you’ll be okay?”

“Yeah,” you reply, knowing you’ll probably spend the entire week swimming and sunbathing by the pool.

“I left money on the counter and the keys to my car in case you need it.”

“Okay, mom,” you say sarcastically.

She throws a pool noodle at you and leaves with her friend after that, promising to text you when she reaches her destination. Any other time you’d be disappointed that your sister was leaving for a full week just as you arrived for summer vacation, but she’s been working so much that she deserves a trip.

The stress from the semester leaves your body with each lap around the crisp pool and the warm sun. You go back into the house to make yourself a tequila soda and make your way back out to the chairs underneath the canopy.

A sudden thought pops into your head as you look around the empty backyard. The fences are tall enough and the gate leading to the backyard is locked. Your sister doesn’t have cameras that face this side of the house yet, so there’s really no reason for you to be so nervous.

You’ve never sunbathed in the nude, there’s just never been an opportunity for it. But now, with the house empty and the tequila coursing through your veins, it would be the perfect time to do so.

Before the courage leaves you, you slip off the strings of the bikini and spread out on the lounge chair.

“Absolutely nothing to worry about,” you whisper.

You eventually doze off, moving around until you’re once again face down. A text message from your sister lights up your screen, but at this point you’ve fallen asleep and don’t pay any mind to it.

I forgot to tell you that Joel Miller from down the block is stopping by. He’s going to plant the roses Susan wants, but needs to take a look first. Help him with whatever he needs. Tell him thank you!

You start to dream of Joel massaging sunscreen on your back, trailing his hands over your sides until they land on the soft, plump flesh of your ass.

His hands massage and spread your cheeks open, presenting your asshole and pussy for his eyes. Joel lands a glob of spit right on your little winking star and you flinch slightly.

“It’s okay, babydoll,” he coos.

The tip of his finger circles your asshole just a bit, enough for you to shiver from the sensation.

His fingers trail down to your pussy where he slowly teases a finger up and down your slit, gathering the wetness.

“Joel,” you whimper.

You push back on his hand, overcome with need.

Joel laughs at your desperate attempts to fuck yourself on his hand and moves your thigh to the side, giving him the perfect view of your cunt.

Before you have a chance to complain, he spreads you open and runs his tongue through your folds. Your hands grip the towel and you almost scream in surprise.

At the scrape of his teeth on your inner thigh and the scratch of his beard on your skin, you begin to wake. This isn’t a dream.

“What–”

“‘bout time you woke up,” Joel growls. “Dreamin’ about me, babydoll?”

You lift your head, slightly delirious, still grinding back on his face.

“Joel, whatthefuck–” you whisper, words slurred from sleep.

He tongues your entrance and swipes a finger over your clit, a movement that has you almost seeing stars. Joel ignores your pleas for him to wait, choosing instead to push two large fingers into your pussy. You choke down on your words at the stretch, still confused.

“Can barely fit my fingers in this sweet cunt,” Joel says.

“Wait–” you whimper, “fuck, wait.”

With his fingers still in your pussy, he moves up to lie partially on top of you. He bites your shoulder, neck, runs the tip of his tongue over the shell of your ear.

“No waiting, babydoll. Gotta stretch this tiny hole,”

Vulgar. He’s so nasty with his words, still, your pussy beats with its own heartbeat.

“Joel–”

“All this time waitin’ for you to call me,” Joel hums into your ear, “just used me for my cock, didn’t you? Little slut.”

“No, I didn’t. I–”

“I knock you up?”

You give a tiny, jerky shake of your head, no, unable to form words.

“Guess we’ll have to try again, yeah?” he murmurs in your ear. “Gonna’ fill up this pussy.”

“No—“

You mean to say it with conviction. But your voice wavers, and you cum right into the palm of his hand, soaking him.

You grind down on his hand and bite into the towel to muffle your screams.

“Good girl,” Joel groans, “just love makin’ a mess, don’t cha’?”

Your hands slowly let go of the towel and your body becomes limp. Joel stands from the chair and you hear the clatter of his belt and the soft rustle of his clothes landing on the ground.

Your nap being interrupted by Joel is not something you were expecting. In fact, what is he doing here?

“Joel, what are you–”

His hands reach for your hips and he’s flipping you over on your back, making room for himself between your thighs.

“Needa look at your pretty face and pretty tits while I fuck ‘ya.”

“We can’t–”

Joel’s calloused fingers pinch your hard-tipped nipples and as if your body is already conditioned for him, you push up right into his hands.

“Fuckin’ gorgeous,” Joel groans.

Before you know what’s happening, Joel leans down to drag his tongue over each peak. He bites, leaving only a hint of pain and shushing your needy whines.

He grinds down between your open thighs, covering his cock in your slick. You moan and writhe on the lounge chair, twisting your hips with each bump of his mushroom head right on your swollen button.

“Joel, please,” you beg.

But you’re not quite sure what you’re begging for. The sane part of your brain tells you to put an end to this, to send Joel far away from you. But then he sucks your nipple into his mouth and your mind goes blank.

Joel keeps biting, sucking, lapping at your tits until you feel the familiar sensation in your lower belly. As if sensing another orgasm, either from your moans or the way you're grinding up on his cock, Joel stops, placing a soft kiss on each nipple before leaning back.

“I needed to taste those tits before I fuck ya’,” Joel rasps.

You tremble beneath him, laying there in a sweaty heap. Joel’s face is slightly flushed and his chest rises with each ragged breath he takes.

Fuck, he’s handsome. Salt and pepper hair, creases around his eyes, a hooked nose and a huge cock make him the most attractive man you’ve ever seen.

The second he releases your hands, you drag your fingers down his hairy chest and over his soft belly. He’s hard and soft, muscular from working outside but with a belly that you want to lay your head on.

He moves your hand away, linking his fingers through one of yours and uses his other hand to bump the tip of his length at your entrance. You try, in a small voice that’s just about surrendered to the lust swirling in your head, to stop Joel, suddenly remembering that this is not your house, but your sister’s.

“Joel, my sister is inside–”

He tsks in disappointment. “She’s gone for the week,” he interrupts, swirling the tip of his cock on your clit, “don’t lie to me, babydoll.”

Your mouth opens to ask how exactly he knows that, but Joel takes that moment to slide right in. A high-pitched squeal claws its way out of your mouth at the stretch of his cock.

Joel groans, sounding almost pained. His eyes shut and his mouth drops open while you fight to push him off of you. You forgot just how large he was, and even if your cunt is slick and this isn’t the first time, it’s still a little painful.

Joel places your hand above your head, still keeping his fingers linked, and uses his other hand to push up your thigh. His nose brushes yours and he gives you a soft kiss.

He rocks his hips slowly, pushing his tongue into your mouth and matching the pace. You don’t kiss him back, too preoccupied with the cock spearing inside of you and the loss of air in your lungs.

“Too much–”, you mumble, “too much!”

Joel moves his lips down your chin, the tip of his tongue dragging a hot path down your neck. Goosebumps erupt on your skin as you try to catch your breath. Each thrust of his hips make you lightheaded.

“No,” Joel murmurs into your neck, “you can take it, babydoll. Take it like a good girl.”

With your free hand you try to push at his hips, for him to just give you a moment to breathe. Joel quickly takes your other hand and places it above your head, locking both of your wrists in his grasp.

Your tits are in Joel’s face, pushed up by the arch of your back. Joel takes full advantage and runs his tongue over your swollen nipples.

You’re not speaking coherently anymore. Between your pleas for him to slow down, please you whine with each hard thrust into your pussy.

“Fuckin’ greedy,” Joel groans, “pussy keeps suckin’ me right back in.”

“You’re so fucking nasty,” you mumble in half-hearted anger.

But he’s right. Your pussy flutters with each slide of his cock and your thighs bracket his hips, keeping him as close as possible.

The thick head of his cock bumps your womb and you’re almost certain he’s growing bigger inside of you. You can smell him, his cologne and sweat, the scent of a man who spends his time working outside with his hands.

If Joel were any other man, you’d hate the smell. But with him, it’s intoxicating.

The first time together was quick, in his front yard where you were forced to stay quiet and take whatever he gave you. Now, your whimpers are loud and he’s in no rush to finish quickly.

“Gonna breed this little cunt,” Joel slurs, “gonna make you a mommy.”

His hips move faster and tears begin to fall from the corner of your eyes. Joel invades your space and kisses every inch of skin he can reach. Imprints of his teeth and his saliva are left on your neck, tits, and mouth.

“You want that babydoll? Wanna make me a daddy?”

Any other man, especially one who is practically a stranger would make you cringe. But Joel’s breeding kink doesn’t phase you. You fall into the fantasy of him cumming inside of you and giving you a baby.

He pushes his tongue almost down your throat while he fucks you. You kiss him back and suck his tongue on instinct. He whimpers, a sound that makes your pussy tighten in response.

“Jesus–,” Joel groans.

“Joel, please,” you whimper, “m–more, please!”

The chair shakes with each of his thrusts, just about able to hold your combined weight. Joel lets go of your hands and leans back to watch his cock slide into you, seemingly mesmerized at the sight.

Your hands reach for his sweaty chest, arms, caressing his heated skin. Joel pushes your thighs open and you hear every sticky, wet slide of his cock.

He’s suddenly sliding a hand underneath your neck.

“Look, babydoll,” Joel gasps.

You don’t pay him much attention, your eyes barely able to focus on his face.

“C’mon–fuck.”

You lean up on your elbows with the little energy you have left and watch his length, veiny and large, covered in your slick, piston in and out of you.

If it didn’t feel so good, it would be almost scary to look at. Joel, so much larger and stronger than you, somehow able to fit so perfectly inside of you.

You fall back on the lounge chair and Joel places your ankle on his shoulder. He turns his head to nip your soft skin, leaving another imprint of his teeth on your body.

He pushes his thumb inside of your mouth and doesn’t even flinch as you bite down.

“I almost drove down to that college of yours,” he moans, “wanted to drag you outta the dorm and fuck you in the hallway.”

You moan around his thumb, lost in the fantasy of big, broad Joel dragging you by the hair and fucking you out in the open, in front of everyone to see.

His words are slurred at this point. But he's so drunk on pure lust that he can’t help himself but keep talking.

“Wanted to show everyone who owns this slut pussy.”

The way he speaks to you should make you angry, but you pussy only flutters and squeezes as he calls you his little slut.

He removes his thumb from your mouth and gently slaps your cheek before swiping his spit-covered thumb over your clit.

He swipes over your swollen bud, once, twice, using your spit and slick that now covers both of your lower bodies.

Your orgasm tears through you, washing over you in warm waves of bliss.

Joel keeps fucking you, moving faster until his hips piston and you're being used as a toy while your orgasm courses through your body.

He lays on top of you, keeping your thrashing and whimpering body bracketed onto the chair. Joel’s moans grow loud in your ear and you know he’s close.

“Not inside–” you whimper, “don’t cum–” your words not having any real meaning behind them except to add to your fantasy.

“Fuckin’ mine, my little cunt,” Joel snaps, “gonna cum in my babydoll–”

He swells impossibly larger inside of you and then you feel it, the hot splash of cum. Ropes and ropes fill your cunt and he grinds his cock into you, buries his head in your neck and groans your name over and over again.

Your body, still recovering from your orgasm from only a few moments ago, trembles once more. The warmth of his cum painting your womb shakes another one out of you.

You’re not sure how long it lasts. Joel continues to whisper in your ear about how fuckin’ sweet you are and how you have the tiniest cunt ever, babydoll while his cock fills you with cum.

Joel continues to lay on top of you and while he’s larger in every sense of the way, his weight is comforting. The setting sun is blocked by the canopy which you're grateful for because you don’t want him to move.

“How are ya’ feeling?” Joel asks.

You’ve almost fallen asleep at this point.

“Full… and sore,” you whisper.

“Maybe this time I’ll actually knock you up,” Joel whispers, placing a kiss on your forehead.

You roll your eyes and push him off of you.

“Not going to happen, old man. I’m on birth control. And we just met!"

“Shame,” he sighs dramatically. “How about I grill us some steaks?”

#joel miller x reader #joel miller x you #joel miller x female reader #joel miller smut #joel miller tlou #dark joel miller #dark fic

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spookbooh · 7 months ago

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please do kinich?

[KINICH X OBLIVIOUS READER]

In which you misunderstand his need to pay you back. ♡

→ Loading game data

▂ ▃ ▄ ▅ ▆ ▇ █ █ ▇ ▆ ▅ ▄ ▃ ▂

“ψ (｀∇´) ψ

Again, Kinich left to the peaks of Coatepec Mountain for the 10th time this week. It’s like he took on 10 times his usual rate of commission with how much he has been away recently. At first, you thought that maybe he lowered his prices and now people were flooding him with tasks and errands he could do fast and efficiently- but after speaking with the tribe members of the Scions of the Canopy, you learned this was not the truth at all. In fact, Kinich was quite free of commissions as of late- with the arrival of new friendly faces from afar and their low rates for their own charges. So why was he leaving so terribly often? It was like every time you went to see him, he would leave in a matter of hours. This left you two options.

Option 1: He was tending to a personal matter. Though unlikely, he could be out gathering supplies for a personal project or event for himself. He definitely wasn’t the type, though- especially with how much Ajaw had been complaining as of late. So that left you with option 2: He was avoiding you.

It was strange, you thought, that he left after you would go visit him. Ever since you hired him for a simple commission of gathering Quenepa berries- you felt like you two had become good friends over the weeks. However his disappearances were more and more frequent.

The first time you noticed it after you had come to visit him after a commission that had him away for 2 days. He had come back with scrapes and scratches so you helped him bandage his wounds to make sure they weren’t infected, as you didn’t mind helping him. But then he left a few hours later and returned late at night with Quenepa berries for you. You assumed it was to excuse what he had really been doing, whatever the case.

So it became a strange routine. He would take a commission, you would visit him after and bandage his wounds- gently wrapping his tanned skin in soft cloth and ailment to keep from infection and then he would leave once again before bringing you foraged materials like flowers or berries or even brilliant chrysanthemum. It was an odd behavior to you and to fellow Scion tribe members. Some suggested that he was avoiding you, while some just said to leave it be since Kinich was quite respected in his tribe and no one wanted to get in his bad graces by spreading such rumors, especially to someone he might consider a friend.

So all that was left was you to your thoughts. It didn’t help that you still had this stuck on your mind while you were bandaging Kinich’s torso from his most recent commission where he had run to an antagonized Saurian and gotten quite the scratch on his stomach from it. Although the moment felt very intimate, you were too distracted to notice Kinich’s heart racing under your touch.

“AURGH!! Why must we go out AGAIN, Kinich?! The Great K’uhul Ajaw has MUCH better things to be doing than lugging around with our lowly servant all the time!”

Kinich was still a little dazed from you bandaging his stomach wound just 2 hours before, but was conscious enough to tune out Ajaw per usual- including the sharp yelp he made when Kinich grabbed his tail mid-air to scout the area for materials.

“What should I repay them with this time…?”

Perhaps in his mind, paying his dues to you would encourage you to take care of him more often… at least, it seemed to be working so far.

— Written by Booh ♡

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revelboo · 4 months ago

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I would sell my soul for a Thundercracker update. I love that hopeless romantic so much ♥️♥️♥️

He wants to be in love so bad and can’t understand that it doesn’t work that way. 18+ content

Better Open The Door Pt 10

IDW Thundercracker x Reader

• Servos rubbing against his canopy, he keeps thinking about what he’d done. That he’d stopped you from touching him even though he wanted to feel those fingers cradling him, stroking over his spark. Wanted to trust himself to you and had stopped you instead. You’d reached for him and he could have let you. Without a spark of your own, nothing could come of it. No bond. He could have had that euphoric connection with no strings attached. So why had he stopped you from touching him and creating a connection? Because he wants everything, wants you to want him. Walking back to his quarters, he passes Star. Sees the fresh scruffs and welds and knows he was fighting again. And that he won’t appreciate him asking about it as he strides past from Soundwave’s quarters. With his human in hand. Like they’re no longer a secret to be guarded and something about the look on both of their faces makes him draw his wings closer to his body.

• I want you. Those words keep floating up from the depths of your mind, snagging at you and making you aware of him in ways you’re not comfortable with. Because as much as you want to dismiss his romance attempts, that had felt different. Like he’d bared his soul to you, showing you his spark and you want to ask questions, but also don’t want to pry. But you keeping thinking of that warm, living light. That unconscious urge you’d had to reach for it. To feel it. Him. Pretty sure you’ve been stuck with him too long, sliding into Stockholm’s. Starting to grow attached to your captor. To look forward to spending time with him. To listening to his voice as he talks his way through movies. The gentle slide of his servos against your spine when you’re half asleep.

• Your head comes up when he lets himself into his quarters, brow furrowing until he realizes he still has his wings tucked close. “Everything okay?” You ask, sitting up some as he goes and fidgets with the rigged datapad he has tied into his communication screen for watching movies with you. Wondering about Star and his human, that brokenness he’d seen on their faces when he was sure they’d been close before. What had happened? You stand up when he approaches, arms lifting some so he can pick you up and sprawl on his back on the berth, settling you on his chassis as the movie starts. His pick this time.

• Servos lingering against your spine as you sit on him, you can’t figure out why he’s so distracted when he usually is focused on you completely. “My brother has a human,” he says and you inhale. Because there are other humans here? “I think they’re fighting.” Not a big surprise there if his brother had just kidnapped someone like he’d taken you. “Mates squabble, though.” What?

• “Um. You said mates?” Head lifting to see you staring at him, he smiles weakly. Hadn’t meant to say that, talking to himself as much as to you, but it’s out there now so he just nods. And you shift on top of him. “How?” How? Oh. Fingers reaching to rub along your jaw as Romancing the Stone begins playing on the screen, he’d picked an action romance, hoping to compromise. And as you push at his servos, he mass shifts under you. Hears your sharp gasp as you splay your palms on him, eyes squeezing shut. You’re straddling him now as he vents raggedly and cups your cheek.

• “Sorry about that. Should have warned you,” he says. Falling without falling, when you open your eyes, he’s closer to your size as you sit on him, warm servos stroking your cheek. Brain struggling with him shrinking and his revelation that his brother has a human mate. One of his hands shifts to rest on your hip possessively. Making you realize that when you’d been needling him about how his kind reproduced, he’d shown you his spark. But hadn’t explained anything really. “You can touch me if you want,” he adds, deep voice hesitant as he lifts his hands away from you. As if to say he’ll be good and keep his hands to himself. Tempting you.

• Your bottom lip is between your teeth as you stare down at him and he’s sure you’re about to bolt. That he shouldn’t have pushed so soon for more. That now he’s spooked you, but Starscream has him unsettled. Then you hesitantly reach those soft hands up, your hips sliding against him as you lean forward to cautiously touch his jaw. His own servos curling into fists to keep from touching you in return. Especially as you shift against him and his spike responds where it’s trapped and hidden. Because showing you that probably would send you running. “How does that work? Between one of you and a human?” Fingertips skimming his cheek, leaning so you’re laying on him and he can feel the beat of your heart, every intake scenting of you. Realizes this was such a bad idea as on the screen, the main characters and argue, working at cross purposes. Because now it’s all he can think of. Claiming you.

• Had his optics ever been so bright before? His lips parting and you see a slip of his glossa and denta, watch his throat work. Realize he’s making a low, rumbling noise under you that sounds almost like purring as you sit up and that noise becomes a growl of protest. He’s handsome, you think. Wholly alien, but still familiar to you. “We fit,” he says hands lifting to rest on your hips, servos rubbing circles on your skin through your clothes. And his meaning sinks in. Fit as in sex? Know you should put a stop to this, get off of him and pretend this never happened. Definitely not lay your hands on top of his or shift against him again deliberately just to watch him shiver, optics shuttering. Because it’s too surreal to have this kind of power over him, the way his optics always follow you, his devouring, hungry stare sparking a whole new feeling in you. Because he wants love, but sex and love aren’t the same thing. You can have one without the other.

#transformers x reader #thundercracker x reader #idw thundercracker

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jsooly · 1 month ago

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death in the family (6) / sully family x human!daughter/sister!reader

synopsis, you finally get to the bottom of what eywa was trying to show you. she didn't tell you it'd try to kill you.

!! LINKS ARE INCLUDED FOR REFERENCE! i used these to help visualize so i wanted to include them to help you guys too <3

this is a loooooooong chapter enjoy !

(1) / . . . / (10) / (11*) / (12*- ur here! ☆)

+ chapters with an * beside it means that it’s following atwow plot line as opposed to disconnected scenarios

when did you move from your bed?

the ground cradled you. your figure imprinted into the pillowy dirt and the blades of grass brushed delicately along your cheek, like the great mother's herself was beside you peppering butterfly kisses on your skin. it figured that she was the only one able to lull your restless soul into slumber.

blinking awake, you felt abnormally light. like gravity had been lowered significantly. like the weight of the world had been lifted from your shoulders. no matter how hard you tried, you couldn't muster any worry for the state of your family or the dangers that threatened them.

you smiled, squinting as the sun peeked through the holes in the canopy. this is nice. you breathed the fresh air deeply, your lungs expanding slowly. this is nice.

then you focused on the tree before you. the tree of souls, standing proud in all its glory, was calling to you. whispers unheard yet drawing you in all the same.

you cocked your head to the side, thinking this has never happened before. you've visited the tree of souls on more than one occasion, and every time it stood listless.

you pushed yourself off the ground and walked closer.

with each step, the atmosphere grew darker. the only thing constant was the thrumming neon blue and lavender lighting of the tree's long weeping leaves. you stumbled onto the hill it was rooted in, falling through the curtains of neural links and—

listen.

you squinted towards the apex of the tree, overwhelmed by the glittering lighting beating its way through your pupils. huh? the voice you heard was warped, indescribable in terms of tone or pitch, neither coming from your right or left, it was just... there.

follow me and listen.

when did it become nighttime? your bones were growing heavy. a low groan tapered its way off your lips, your head teetering on the edge of dizziness once again. you curled into yourself as the whispers intensified into a crowd's roar—

your eyes flew open. you didn't dare to move. seeds of eywa covered your body, surrounding you in a halo of cool lighting. you could feel their presence along the fat of your thigh, back, stomach... they were everywhere. the one beside your cheek caressed you with its tentacles.

your body felt tired. you remained completely still, trying to hold on to the bliss you felt moments ago in your vision. but here the walls were painted grey and your mattress was stiff.

your eyes darted back to the closest woodsprite, the message echoing in your mind. follow me.

"what are you trying to tell me?" you mumbled, your voice still thick with sleep. "to follow you?"

its movement was almost imperceptible.

"fine." you closed your eyes one last time.

at your confirmation, the sprites lifted into the air, floating out the window. one remained, patiently waiting for you to complete your morning routine and grab your tools. you climbed out the window behind it.

the grass was frigid under the soles of your feet as you strolled behind the sprite. your head was still pounding uncomfortably from your psychedelic vision.

you wandered along a familiar route towards the tree of souls. it was sunken into a crater of its own, the bedrock around it hollowing out to give it space to grow. some sprites fluttered past you, descending to take their place back at the epicenter of the great mother's presence.

"okay, here we are." you said, your tone exasperated. the sprite stood still, like an NPC character stuck at the end of its script. without any further instructions, you elected to climb down the cliff towards the tree.

you landed gracefully on the rocky terrain, despite the morning dew making it a bit slippery. the sprite was following you now, it seemed, and you fought the urge to roll your eyes.

how do you communicate with something you can't connect with? this question has been part of your life since forever and has extended past just the people. forget the language, there was an unspoken energy around you that you weren't built to harness.

though this situation was making you reconsider that fact.

"you brought me here." you hummed, extending your arm to let the bright rods brush over it. "what do you want to show me?"

you weren't completely serious as you spoke into the crisp morning air. if your thoughts were out there, maybe something other than silence would respond to you.

you stood there expectantly for a few minutes. if you didn't get any answers for eywa's confusing persistence, at least you could soothe yourself before you attempted to switch spider's mask.

you sighed, giving your ethereal companion a sheepish look. "i'm sorry, i just don't understand."

you stepped past it, your mind already plotting how far you were from spider's location.

then a cool wind passed over you. your eyes fell to the ground, watching a large shadow zip along.

weird.

you crouched low to the ground, scurrying to the cliff wall and pressing your back tightly to the surface. when you finally looked up, you felt the blood drain from your face.

ikran don't often hang around rocky terrain, not this low to the ground anyway, much less slotsyal. stormgliders.

your eyes snapped to eywa's sprites. they were all buzzing with life, zipping through the air more excitedly than usual. your companion floated under your hand, lifting it up and up and up until you were pointing at the apex predator.

"are you crazy?" you whispered urgently, pulling your hand back and looking at it incredulously. "no, no. i am turning the other way, thank you." you muttered, turning towards the wall and feeling for a good ledge to start your climb.

the sprite brushed along your face, making you splutter and step back out of the shade of the cliff wall. others surrounded you, drifting off and illuminating a path towards the animal.

you glared at all of them. "this is what you want from me? what am i gonna do, make friends with it?"

they floated there, steadfast in their instructions.

you gave it a look. "i will die if i get close. eaten! that's your big plan for me, great mother? really?"

you knew it was her doing. stormgliders never hunt this low to the ground, and they are never around the forest. similar to toruk, they cruise at super high altitudes and only ever descend when they're hungry.

this guy was descending, and you hated to think you were the food.

but if this was eywa's plan, you were a fool to turn away.

you gripped your bow, stringing it expertly as you gave one last glance at the sprites. "i'm listening as you've asked of me." you grumbled stubbornly, like a child complaining to their parent. "but if i die, that's on you."

"are you some kind of... freak?" aonung smirked down at kiri, his entourage chuckling behind him.

"he asked if you are a freak." one echoed.

"...no." kiri answered dismissively, walking away. they followed behind her, circling her like vultures.

"are you sure? you're not even real na'vi. look at these hands." aonung continued, swiping at her wrist to prove his point. she pulled back, her eyes narrowed. "i mean, look at them!" he laughed, grabbing her hands and turning them over, as if inspecting something grotesque.

kiri yanked her hands away, her glare sharp as her heart pounded with anger. the sounds of aonung's friends' laughter erupting behind her.

"hey!" lo'ak sauntered up, his expression hardened. he was already pissed off. "back off, fish lips."

"oh, another four fingered freak." aonung teased, a low laugh following as his friends began to pull on lo'ak's tail.

"leave us alone!" kiri pleaded, her voice laced with frustration.

she didn't have to say anything further—neteyam stormed into the scene, grabbing aonung's shoulder and ripping him away from his little brother.

"you heard what she said." neteyam threatened, his voice menacingly calm for the irritation he was feeling inside. "leave them alone."

"ah, big brother comin—"

aonung slapped the back of his hand to his friend, shutting him up without breaking eye contact with neteyam. his mind calculated the risks of stepping toe-to-toe with the foreigner, scanning for weakness.

"no, you're wrong," aonung corrected his friend with a smug look. "he is no big brother. he is the little brother to a demon. a human they've left behind because they are ashamed."

lo'ak lurched forward with an angry growl.

"lo'ak." neteyam snapped and the boy froze, pacing behind the older sully.

"you're gonna let them talk about her like that?"

"aww," aonung cooed, condescension dripping from his tongue. "they say birds flock together. i see the same idea extends to half-blooded demon freaks such as yourself."

neteyam gave lo'ak one more warning look before returning his attention to the metkayina kids. "my family is of no concern to you."

"yes, they are." aonung shot back. "we don't want your contamination. i would respect you, sully, if you didn't bow your head to the human you call your elder sibling."

neteyam exhaled sharply through his nose, shaking his head. aonung had no idea who he was insulting.

"you speak as if you know her. as if you understand what she is." his voice, when it finally came, was low and precise.

he took a slow step forward. "this demon you speak of is our sister, out protector. she bled for us before she had even grew into her own strength. that alone makes her more of a man than you are." his golden eyes burned with something lethal. "we all know she isn't made for this world. that doesn't mean the planet itself hasn't accepted her as she is. she belongs here just like we do."

it made aonung hesitate for a second.

"you would not be standing if she was here. she would've knocked you into the sand without hesitation." neteyam continued, his fists tightening. " but she is not here. i am. and if you bother my family again, i won't think twice about following her example."

aonung paused. then, he raised his hands, that stupid smirk on his lips as he stepped back in surrender.

"smart choice." neteyam hummed, satisfied as he leaned back. "and from now on, i need you to respect my sister." he jabbed a finger in kiri's direction.

one of aonung's friends hissed. kiri responded by sticking out her tongue.

"let's go." neteyam ordered, patting lo'ak's head as he stormed past him.

"bye bye!" one friend sang mockingly, laughing as they turned away.

lo'ak's eyes rolled as he slowed to a stop.

"lo'ak." neteyam warned.

"i got this." lo'ak sweetly reassured him as he walked back to the group. he smiled as he approached them. "i know this hand is funny. but it can do something really cool. watch."

aonung made the mistake of humoring him.

at this point, your brain was tired screaming DANGER! the warning bells were going off, and you weren't listening.

the wind underneath the stormglider's wings rustled the leaves and vines of the trees below it. you were currently running for your life.

i knew this was a bad idea i knew this was a bad idea

you squeezed your eyes shut, yelling out in exertion. running in a near constant sprint for almost half an hour straight was not on your agenda today. your arms pumped at your sides, carrying you farther with every step.

the only logical conclusion to eywa's... gift was that you needed to bond with the stormglider. or escape it? but then why would she bring you and light the path towards it?

you were hesitant to accept the message she was clearly sending your way. how? you wanted to yell. how am i going to bond with this gigantic creature?

though juvenile, this slotsyal was much larger than a fully mature ikran. their wingspan was massive, and their barbed tail swinging behind them was the nail in the coffin.

the stormglider thrashed its great wings, carrying it higher and higher in the air.

your heart dropped. that only meant it was rearing to dive down and strike. its venomous tail was too much for the armored fauna of pandora to handle. one touch and you were a goner.

exactly as you predicted, you heard the piercing whistle as the stormglider dived.

holy shit. your mind was in overdrive. every thought occupied your attention for less than a second. a primal need to survive filled your veins and in the next moment you were moving on autopilot—

a screech echoed along the tree trunks as if broke through the canopy. you gripped the weighted lasso tighter, racing out of its line of sight. you scrambled up a tree, leaping down onto its head and slinging the lasso around its beak.

it landed on the ground, tumbling onto its side, wailing as it clumsily flailed its wings to regain balance.

that was the good thing about large animals. the bigger they were, the harder they fell. their size didn't leave much room for agility. get the jump on them and you're already halfway there.

you laughed to yourself as it struggled against your hold. "that's right," you grinned, peering into its eyes. it's pupils dilated upon seeing you. "you're mine."

in a burst of energy, it raised its head, catapulting you into the air. you grunted, gripping onto the lasso that was still binding its beak.

oh great mother, this better be what you intended.

it shot back into the air and it was a miracle you were able to hold on. the vertical ascent allowed you to flatten onto its head. you wrapped your legs around it's neck and clung to the long fin in the middle of its skull.

there was nothing much you could do but hold on your life until it burned out again.

it warbled in pain and you perked up. hurt?

now that it wasn't actively trying to kill you, you noticed that it lacked a neural queue. you knew stormgliders were solo agents, but almost all big animals had a queue. was this one defective? perhaps a mutation down the line?

in an instant, it dropped from the sky, crashing onto the top of a mountain. you were thrown off its head, bouncing on the hard ground with an oof as you teetered off the cliff's edge.

a white hot flash of panic flashed through your body as you clung to the lasso. you pulled yourself up, but you were surprised when the stormglider started to tug you back to safety as well.

you panted heavily, the spike of activity finally registering in your body. you winced. it was painful to stand up.

you stumbled over to the fallen stormglider. it was restless, whining as it slumped over on its side.

"you just had to make it hard for me, huh." you groaned, huffing as you assessed its state. "i guess great mother threw us both for a loop."

as the nausea died down, your vision cleared and you saw it. a clean cut through a portion of its underbelly.

you pursed your lips, already rifling through your kit for supplies to mend it. you walked back to its head, stroking your hand down its side and staring into its blue eyes.

"if i take this off, promise you won't try to eat me?" you proposed. it blinked. you sighed wondering if you were unwrapping your killer or new companion.

you got to work on patching him up. a light drizzle rained down on top of you, but it was a welcome sensation after the heat of the moment.

opposed to the tough top exterior of the slotsyal, its belly was soft and easily patched up by your tools. after plastering some gauze over the wound, you gently pat its ribs before returning to its head.

"truce?" you sighed and sat crisscross beside him.

his beady eyes locked onto you before he nudged your thigh with its snout. you accommodated him, petting the curve of its head gently.

truce.

the pieces were falling into place. since you moved to high camp, you realized how important ikran were in forest na'vi culture. only together can they reach the heights the terrain has to offer. you couldn't visit your family via the helicopters, and now you had your own mount to get there.

you've got to hand it to eywa. she may be mysterious in her ways but she does hear her children's cries and dries their tears.

the light rain subsided as the sun poked out through the clouds.

"huh." you hummed as a rainbow bent its way through the sky. "katir." (rainbow.)

lo'ak fucked around and unfortunately, found out.

if it wasn't clear that the metkayina kids were praying on his downfall, it was now.

joke's on them, he thought bitterly. cuz i've got a new friend.

he was having the best time with payakan—the best few hours of his life since moving to awa'atlu.

his laughter echoed across the open waters, tapering off when he saw a large shadow pass over him.

he looked up, covering his eyes with his hands as he tried to make out what was circling above them.

mom? he thought in a panic. oh shit.

then he saw the glint of a tail. he stood there dumbly. wait, ikran don't have pointed tails, do they..?

"lo'ak?!" you screamed above the wind.

"y/n?" his eyes widened.

"katir, no!" you pulled on the your new stormglider friends' ears wrapped around your entire arm, similar to the reins of a horse. "not food!"

with a screech, katir's wings extended. the sharp drop was reduced to a clumsy glide down, the gusts of wind knocking lo'ak off his feet. katir swerved, turning around and landing on a nearby rock. he churred as he shook his wings of the saltwater, bending his head to let you drop onto the ground.

"y/n!" lo'ak's grin was so wide it hurt his cheeks but he couldn't stop. he slid onto payakan's front fin, signing please, over there!

he arrived as you were chewing katir out.

"if this is gonna work, we've gotta set some ground rules." you scolded him. he huffed and turning his head away from you. "hey, i'm talking to you."

"y/n!" lo'ak screamed in delight, jumping onto the rock and promptly slipping. "wha—what are you doing here?! how are you here?"

you grabbed his wrist and pulled him back to safety. you didn't stop there and pulled him into your arms. he hugged you back readily.

"this is katir," you grinned, walking over to your new friend and patting his head.

lo'ak blinked in disbelief. "i—how?"

"divine intervention." you shrugged. "i don't exactly know either. i had a vision, and eywa's seeds lured me to the area where this guy was lurking around. long story short, we tried to kill each other then reached an understanding."

"bonded?"

you shook your head. "no. he doesn't have a neural queue."

"just like you." lo'ak scrunched his face. "weird."

you hadn't thought of it that way.

"anyway," he shook his head, his beaming smile returning. "this is so crazy! i can't believe you're really here! wait until i tell—"

"wait." you gripped his arms. "you can't tell anyone else. not yet, anyway. i don't fully understand the implications of showing up here."

"what does it matter?" lo'ak scoffed. "we're fine. dad said you could join us anyways."

"when you're settled."

"we are!"

"are you?" you narrowed your eyes. "why are you out here alone?"

lo'ak's jaw snapped shut, his eyes drifting to the side. a look that told you all that you need to know.

"do you wanna talk about it?" you smiled kindly, sitting on the wet rock. he sighed and dropped down beside you.

"they were... being jerks. making fun of kiri and you."

you blinked. "is kiri okay?"

"yeah, she's fine."

"how do they even know about me? i thought dad would keep that under wraps."

lo'ak rolled his eyes, grumbling. "tuk and her big mouth."

you laughed softly. you missed this. you missed complaining about each other. "i assume you got into a fight?"

he nodded.

you smiled and ruffled his head with a smile. "still looking out for me oceans away, huh? thank you, lo'ak."

he got bashful, dropping his head and letting his free strand of hair poorly cover his face. "it's whatever. neteyam jumped 'em too."

you chuckled softly. "you won, no doubt."

"yeah."

"proud of you." you praised him. in the next second, your comm buzzed.

"y/n, they're moving."

lo'ak's ears popped up. "was that—"

"spider? yeah." you pressed your fingers to your choker. "copy." you responded, rising to your feet.

lo'ak's mind was struggling to keep up with all the new information. he was still shocked that you were really standing in front of him. "y/n, what have you been up to?!"

you smiled and pat his shoulder. "keeping kiri's promise. hopefully. and some sabotage."

katir blew a puff of air directly onto your head. you huffed and brushed your hair back into place. "yeah, yeah, i'm coming."

lo'ak stared at you in awe. in the month and a half they've been gone, you've already ascended to another level. or maybe you were always on this level, and only without the watchful umbrella of your father were you able to realize it.

"you can tell the other kids, not mom and dad." you called to him as you jumped onto katir. "make sure tuk doesn't blab, okay?"

"you got it." lo'ak mumbled. "you're... are you gonna come back?" he asked timidly, out of character for a confident guy like himself.

you gave him a tight lipped smile. "yeah."

his grin was the last thing you saw before you yipped, urging katir into the air. with a boom, he lifted off, unfurling his great wings and zooming back to the forest.

you stationed katir at a safe distance away from high camp. as a natural predator of ikran and na'vi, you didn't want to risk any mishaps.

before you went to spider, you needed to replenish your stockpile. naturally, the research base you were staying in didn't carry things like arrows and knives. everyone didn't think twice when they saw you rifling around. you were a familiar face, after all.

"y/n."

you squeaked as you whirled around, not expecting anyone to approach you, much less speak to you.

tarsem's eyebrows raised at your reaction, tilting his head as his features settled into an unreadable expression. his lips curled slightly as though amused by your surprised.

"hey." you quickly recovered.

"you are uneasy." he said, gaze sweeping over your fresh bruises and scars from the scuffle with katir earlier. his eyes were tender as they lingered on your injuries, concern threading through his words. "that is unlike you."

"first time for everything." you smiled politely, pocketing more arrowheads.

tarsem's lips twitched into a smile. "i do not remember you showing your discomfort so openly." he observed, curiosity in his tone.

"are you always so attentive with your people?" you hummed, your focus back to the trunk of treasures you were fishing through.

tarsem remained quiet studying you for a moment before he spoke again. "scouts spotted a rouge slotsyal above the plains this morning." he informed you. "be careful when you're out there."

"i wouldn't worry about that," you mumbled without thinking, stilling indistinctly before continuing your search.

"hm?"

"nothing. thanks for letting me know."

he nodded curtly, smile returning as he strolled past you. "you should visit more often." he suggested softly.

you eyed him, caught off guard by the shift in tone. "maybe." you answered truthfully.

your confusion of the interaction was overshadowed by the time crunch. you could review tarsem's conversation later. right now, you had a plan to bring to fruition.

you only prayed the great mother will look out for you in this, too.

. . .

thanks for reading! <3

taglist (lmk if you want to be added/removed): @dae-dreamer @delirious-dolce @strawbaerriesvt @avatar-lover @ryiana @lxon-kxnnedy @zukki33 @chalahyung01 @ssc7514 @shmaptainbonky @aureolinb @whosbibi2000 @childishname @nen-nyy @moonchildxoxx @hdjfvnd

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bomber-grl · 10 months ago

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Feeling the Waves

~ Damian Wayne x Gn!Reader

~ 1.5k words

As much as you’d normally love to eat the rich, you really couldn’t decline Damian’s offer. Your boyfriend had invited you to go spend a week at his family’s private Island and you just couldn’t help taking up on the offer.(which you later learned was in possession of a secret base somewhere)

The private jet contained everyone in the Wayne family and finally landed on the island after a good 6 hours. From Tim, Jason, dick, and Barbara all the way to Cass, Stephanie, Duke and obviously bruce. Of course we can’t forget about Alfred and Tim’s boyfriend, Bernard.

As soon as you landed, attendants on the island began getting your bags and you were guided in. The heat alone was no joke and if anything you felt like melting as a result wouldn’t be an improbable outcome.

The estate alone was to die for, worth more money than anything you’d probably ever own. The building was huge and the exterior design was only what you could describe as similar to that of Italian architecture.

The inside wasn’t much different either. The front desk was right up front and so was the extravagant stairs that welcomed you all in. The stairs were enormous and split into two different directions.

Chandeliers, fountains,and a snack bar??? They were all calling your name but your ears were drawn elsewhere. There was a vast amount of staff right besides the stairs you were admiring not so long ago, they addressed “Mr. Wayne” in unison and welcomed you all in.

You were all quickly sorted and escorted to your individual rooms. They were extremely gorgeous and you quickly learned that the view from your balcony rivaled their beauty.

You were bursting with energy as you looked through your abnormally large bathroom, and you were delighted to see your stuff all moved in.

Not to mention how Damian had gotten your rooms next to each other

It was barely 2:00 P.M but with the heat stroke you almost suffered in all about 5 minutes paired with you looking around, you were stumped.

You plopped onto your king sized bed on your belly and began to truly relax. The AC was blaring in all the right ways and sleep was calling your name.

6:00 P.M

A rapid knocking at your door was what scared you awake. Your body felt sweaty despite it being freezing inside and you quickly wiped away the drool on your face in favor of grabbing your phone.

“6:00 P.M” you’d been asleep for the past 4 hours???? What the hell???

The person at the door’s patience seemed to quickly thin as it opened. The face of the person that barged in was familiar, and someone you knew as non other than your boyfriend.

“Hey we’re going to the beach, wanna go?” Damian was already dressed for the beach and had a bag and a sun hat on him, presumably belonging to either steph or Cass.

Still riddled with sleep you responded “uhh sure let me just get ready”. Damian nodded and left to let you do your thing.

After a good 10 minutes of you quickly rushing to get your things for the beach you made your way down the stairs. Just for Jason and Dick to be spraying each other with water guns.

“Hey” Damian approached you while you sat at a common area that was on the first floor near the entrance. “Hey,… why’re you wet?” You couldn’t help but ask since he was drenched in water. He sighed “no reason let’s just go now” and he began walking towards the back where you knew glass doors that led to pools were, and basically the beach was.

It was only then that you realized that he came from where the stairs were, where Dick and Jason were.

You giggled at the fact that he got essentially jumped by them and the assumption was only reinforced when his face and exposed shoulders flushed.

You finally made it to the beach and made your way to where everyone was. There was a big canopy spanning over the large group you knew as Damian’s family. There were a several chairs spanned under this canopy and had a comfortable set up with some outside couches and coolers with drinks.

Bruce, Alfred and Cass were under this canopy while Tim was building sandcastles with Bernard, Jason was swimming out in the ocean and Dick was just chilling. Others were either lounging or spraying each other with overly tampered with, water guns.

The rest of the day passed quicker than you realized as you were swimming with Damian one moment, making seashell jewelry, and eating pizza at another moment (while simultaneously avoiding the beer that was currently being jugged down by a good amount of others)

Either way, the sun soon set and the night air was more humid against your face than dry. Cass, Barbara and a few others already went in so you decided to do so too. The cold air of the inside was more than jarring as you tightly wrapped your towel around yourself and made your way upstairs to shower and change.

As you passed the dining room you also passed the buffet that was filled with enough people you assumed it was the after party. Once arriving to your room you quickly made work of your soggy, wet and sand filled clothes and took a well deserved warm shower.

You probably would’ve went back down to the second level to get some wings, pasta or maybe some sweets like cookies, brownies, flan or even ice cream. The thoughts were washed away as you washed up and put some comfy pjs on along with some slippers.

Your bed was as appetizing as your favorite dish and you indulged in laying in it. The sheets were light and airy as to not suffocate you in heat. You sighed in content, you could hear the ocean waves clashing, you might as well have felt them against you as you laid here, too.

You quickly reached over for your phone on your nightstand and the time read “11:23P.M” A familiar knock reverberated throughout the room. The door from which it came was letting in light from under the door crack. Two feet shadows were smeared across the floor of your room as it faded into the darkness surrounding you and everything else.

It was Damian, you already knew and although you’d love to see him, you really didn’t have it in you to get up. Your phone began angrily buzzing and as you opened it you read three messages, each second adding a new one.

“You awake?” Seen 11:24pm

“Open the door”

“Bruh”

“Cmon it’s locked “

As if he couldn’t just unlock it himself…

“I know you’re awake 😾”

You sighed and grumbled as you moved the sheets away and made your way to the door. “whattttttt” you whined and Damian quickly pushed his way in. He laid down onto your bed and made himself comfortable. All you could bring yourself to do was stand there like a toddler.

“What?” He pat the spot next to him, the spot you were previously laying in. You grumbled and just made your way under the covers next to him. You two began talking about whatever came across your minds and somewhere along the way, the hallway light was turned off. You were in pure darkness.

“Hey” you asked, you and Damian were facing each other and your legs may or may not have been intertwined. “What’s up” he obviously moved his head but you couldn’t see beyond the light that seeped in through your balcony window.

“Were you wet because-“ Damian quickly covered your mouth with his hands and when you managed to peel them off he quickly pulled away from you and tried to escape. “Haha cmon damiannnn” you held onto his waist and tried to get him to lay down again.

After a little while of you prodding at him he finally answered “yes….” It was practically a mumble. “Huh? Sorry I didn’t hear you” you teased him and he grumbled and said it loud enough to be normal so you let it go. God forbid he get so fed up he leaves to his own room.

A long silence followed and you had assumed Damian was already asleep but then you felt him scratch his arm. “Damian?” It was the only time you might get to yourselves….

“What?” He moved again to face you and give you his full attention. “I love you” he grumbled and faced away while mumbling a small “you’re cringe.”

That seemed to have been the end of your conversation as it faded and your consciousness began to slip away. Before you could fully sleep, you fortunately felt Damian kiss your forehead and whisper back and ‘I love you too.’

The next morning you and Damian happily managed to get up early and eat breakfast together at a bar table that had a baristaon duty that made you and Damian some smoothies to go with your breakfast. While eating, the zombie you knew as Jason made his way towards you.

Clearly the beer consumption from last night was finally taking a toll on him…

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vampiriito · 2 months ago

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Summer was my first solace.. (JJ Maybank x shy! kook! reader) Chapter 4

A/N: Hi loves! Here's the fourth chapter of summer was my first love! Again, if you have anything to share don't forget to comment or send asks, i love interacting with you ^.^ have fun reading (this was more JJ's POV focused for some reason, so enjoy JJ freaking out over the fact that he's starting to crush over our sweet reader.)

Summary: You and JJ both share the love for the marsh, and one summer day you cross paths after a few weeks of sharing secret looks and sweet smiles from across the street.

The marsh was your sanctuary, a haven where time seemed to slow and the cacophony of the world faded into a gentle symphony of nature's whispers. It was always full of spots so breathtakingly beautiful they stole your breath away—mundane and earthy in their allure. The emerald moss cloaked the ancient trees, while iridescent insects flitted over the bark, like living jewels adorning the forest. Sunlight filtered through the canopy, casting dappled patterns that danced upon the ground. The way the rays pierced the foliage, making the tranquil ponds glisten like scattered fragments of sky, compelled you to keep the camera pressed to your eye, desperate to capture every fleeting moment. You found yourself constantly photographing and admiring, each click a testament to the beauty that surrounded you.

You cherished how your small interactions with JJ had become more frequent, even if words were seldom exchanged. It was as though timid glances and shy smiles were a secret language spoken only by the two of you. Those brief connections were enough—they became the highlights of your quiet, unassuming days. Each shared moment sent a gentle thrill through you, adding a layer of warmth to your solitary explorations.

The ground beneath your boots squelched with each step, the thick mud pulling at your feet as if the very earth sought to keep you there. A heavy mist clung to the air, wrapping around you like a cool, damp veil and mingling with the rich scent of decaying plant life and brackish water. Tall reeds swayed gently in the breeze, their whispering rustle the only sound aside from the occasional splash as unseen creatures darted through the waters. Every movement required effort, your legs sinking into the spongy ground as you weaved between clusters of wild grasses and shallow pools. The marsh was alive, teeming with the quiet hum of insects and the distant croak of frogs—a hidden world thriving beneath the veil of mist. Each step was uncertain, the mud thick and unforgiving, clinging to you as if reluctant to let you pass.

Yet, despite the marsh's resistance, you felt an inexplicable connection to this place. It mirrored the depths of your own soul—lush yet secluded, vibrant yet understated. Here, in the embrace of nature's raw beauty, you found solace. Your camera became an extension of yourself, capturing not just images, but emotions—fragments of time that spoke to your heart.

As you paused to catch your breath, a beam of sunlight broke through the mist, illuminating a cluster of wildflowers that peeked through the dense foliage, causing you to raise your camera to your eyes for the countless time in the last 10 minutes. Their petals glistened with dew, fragile yet resilient.

JJ, ever the restless teen he was, often found himself wandering the winding paths of the marshlands. It was a sanctuary of sorts—a place where the world's noise faded into the background, replaced by the gentle whisper of rustling reeds and the melodic calls of distant birds. The marsh wasn't just off the beaten path; it was a hidden realm untouched by the throngs of tourists that flocked elsewhere. Here, the air was thick with the scent of damp earth and wildflowers, and the golden sunlight filtered through the canopy, casting intricate patterns on the muddy ground. Something about this place resonated with him deeply, drawing him back time and again.

On this particular day, as JJ trekked along the familiar, muddy trail, his boots sinking slightly with each step, he was lost in his thoughts. The chorus of crickets and the gentle lapping of water against the banks provided a soothing backdrop. Suddenly, a soft but distinct sound caught his attention—the gentle click of a camera shutter. It was a sound he recognized instantly, one that stood out amidst the natural harmonies of the marsh. A spark of curiosity ignited within him.

A sly smirk tugged at his lips as his eyes scanned the landscape, searching for the source. There you were, crouched among the tall reeds, completely engrossed in your art. The delicate breeze played with a stray strand of your hair, and the focused determination on your face was palpable. The way the light caressed your features made you seem almost ethereal, a seamless part of the serene environment you were so intent on capturing.

JJ watched you for a moment, a mix of amusement and something softer warming his chest. You were so absorbed that you hadn't noticed his presence. The sight of you in your element was both familiar and captivating—a silent testament to why he found himself drawn to these marshes more often than he'd admit.

The way you focused intently on your photography, the way your gentle smile curved on your lips as you looked through the viewfinder, the way the sunlight danced in your hair, it all felt strangely captivating to him.

He waited a beat, debating with himself whether he should approach you or just leave you to your hobby. But his curiosity and strange pull towards you won out.

"Hey, little mouse."

He called out, the familiar nickname slipping off his tongue with ease. He sauntered over to where you were taking pictures, his boots squishing through the mud. He stopped a few feet away from you, shoving his hands into his pocket, and looking down at you with a casual smirk.

At the sound of the familiar nickname and voice, you peered away from your viewfinder, blinking a couple of times and adjusting your glasses. You didn't expect to see JJ there, even more so all alone, his friends nowhere in sight.

"Hi.." you mumbled in greeting, standing up from your crouched position, smiling sweetly at him.

JJ chuckled at your shy little greeting, his smirk transforming into a lazy, lopsided grin that sent a flutter through your chest.

"Fancy running into you here," he drawled, his voice carrying a teasing undertone.

He took a few casual steps closer, the space between you narrowing as his gaze roamed over you with a warm, appraising look. You stood amidst the tall reeds, clad in your favorite photography attire—a comfy jacket layered over a simple shirt, jeans slightly damp at the hems from the marsh, and well-worn boots caked with mud. Your trusty camera hung around your neck, its weight familiar against your chest.

JJ couldn't help but notice every little detail about you. The way your hair was slightly wind-tousled, stray strands escaping to frame your face in an effortlessly charming manner. A few wisps clung to the corner of your mouth, and he had the sudden urge to brush them aside. There was a smudge of mud on the lens of your glasses, a testament to your dedication and the dorkiness he seemed so captivated by.

The soft light filtering through the canopy cast a gentle glow over you, highlighting the delicate flush on your cheeks. Your eyes reflected the shimmering waters nearby, mirroring the hues of the marshland. To him, you looked like a part of the landscape you loved to capture—natural, unpretentious, and undeniably beautiful.

He smirked when he saw the smidge of mud, gesturing with his chin at it.

"You got mud on your glasses there, little mouse."

He teased, the smirk on his lips widening. He had a strange urge to just reach out and wipe the mud off himself but he shoved his hands deeper into his pockets to stop himself.

"I know.." you frowned, your eyes un-focusing a little to study the smudge of mud on the lenses of the glasses. You haven't been able to wipe it off, given you forgot your cleaning wipes at home. Classic you.

JJ chuckled, watching you frown at the smudge. He found the little frown on your face oddly adorable.

"What, you don't have anything to clean it off?"

He said this with genuine curiosity, taking another step closer so that he was standing just a foot or so away from you. He tilted his head to the side, his gaze studying your face closely.

You shook your head, your frown still in place.

JJ found the frown still on your pretty features amusing, and he chuckled again. Seeing you in such a situation somehow made him feel... a little protective. Which took him by surprise because he never felt protective over anyone.

He took a step closer yet again, his smirk replaced by more of a soft smile than a smirk. "Here, let me..." He said, gently reaching up and slowly removing your glasses from your face.

He held your glasses delicately in his hands, his fingers gingerly grasping the frames as if they were the most fragile of artifacts. Without the familiar barrier of the lenses, his eyes met yours directly, unfiltered and penetrating. He studied you closely, taking in every subtle detail—the way your lashes framed your eyes, the faint freckles dusting your cheeks, the vulnerability that seemed more pronounced without your glasses shielding you. The world around you appeared softer, edges blurring gently, casting everything in a muted glow. Without them, you seemed almost ethereal, a delicate presence in an otherwise sharp world.

A sudden, inexplicable urge welled up within him—a desire to protect you, to wrap you in his arms and shield you from anything that might cause you harm. It surged through him like a quiet storm, unexpected and intense. He quickly brushed the thought away, mentally shaking his head. That's silly, he chided himself. Why would I feel the need to protect her? Yet, the feeling lingered, a warm ember nestled in the corner of his heart, resisting extinguishment.

Glancing down at the glasses cradled in his hands, he became acutely aware of the faint blush creeping up his neck, the warmth rising to tint his cheeks a soft pink. The realization made his heartbeat quicken ever so slightly. He hoped the dim lighting might conceal his flushed complexion, that you wouldn't notice the subtle betrayal of his composed façade. The delicate frames felt almost weightless between his fingers, yet they carried the significance of this intimate moment. Gathering himself, he looked back up, offering a small, almost shy smile. His eyes searched yours, a mixture of uncertainty and something deeper flickering within them.

You pressed your lips together nervously, looking down at your own glasses in his big hands, feeling a bit exposed without your glasses on. The way he was holding them like they were fragile and priceless made your heart stutter and the pink dusting your cheeks intensify for some reason.

JJ couldn't help but notice the way you looked down at the glasses in his hands, a tinge of nervousness on your face. It stirred something within him, a strange softness that he didn't know he possessed.

He cleared his throat, a bit awkwardly. "Uh, hold on a sec," He reached into the back pocket of his shorts, pulling out completely the bandana which was tucked half way in.

He looked back at you and found himself staring into your wide, nervous eyes. For a brief moment, the world around them seemed to blur, and the only thing he could focus on was your pretty eyes, gazing at him with a mixture of anticipation and vulnerability.

He swallowed, his heart suddenly beating faster as he gently lifted his hand and used the bandana to carefully wipe off the smudge on your glasses.

The tenderness he used to wipe your glasses made you shift in your spot nervously, trying not to look like a lovestruck idiot. You were already doing that while waving at him across parking lots and across streets when you saw him. Why were you so goddamn inept at socializing?

JJ could feel the tightness in his chest, his hands trembling as he wiped the lenses with an almost frantic precision. His heart pounded in his ears, a heavy rhythm that felt far too intense for something as simple as cleaning glasses. But there was nothing simple about this moment. The way your body shifted nervously, the subtle flush creeping up your neck and staining your cheeks—it all felt too intimate, too close. And in the chaos of it, JJ could feel a tide of emotions he wasn’t prepared to face. He had spent so long building a wall around himself, convincing himself that he didn’t care about anyone. Not really. Especially not a kook.

But there he was, standing too close, unable to escape the pull of your presence. The weight of the moment pressed on him, suffocating him with feelings he had long kept buried. He was JJ—wild, untouchable, and fiercely independent. Yet here he was, handing your glasses back with a lingering hesitation, careful not to meet your eyes. He was terrified of what he might see if he did.

"Thank you.." you thanked him weakly, the world becoming much more sharper and clear with the help of your glasses back on. The smudge was gone now and although they weren't completely clean they had to do for now.

You found yourself just staring at him, your hands lingering on your camera, fidgeting with it once in a while, your expression bashful and admiring.

JJ was completely captivated by the way you stared at him, your eyes soft and unguarded as your fingers absently toyed with the camera. In that moment, his heart beat a little faster—this wasn’t the smoldering, lustful gaze he was accustomed to, but rather one filled with pure, innocent wonder. It disarmed him, unraveling defenses he’d built up over years of being seen as nothing more than a bad boy. The contrast left him reeling, emotions swirling in ways he hadn’t anticipated.

He cleared his throat, the sound breaking the fragile silence that had wrapped around the two of you. Sliding his hands back into his pockets, JJ fought to mask the vulnerability simmering beneath his cool exterior, desperate to reclaim some semblance of nonchalance even as every part of him felt exposed by your sincere admiration.

"What were you taking pictures of, anyway?"

He asked, his voice a little bit huskier than he would have liked. He glanced around, noticing how the sun was beginning to set, casting a beautiful golden hue over the entire marsh.

"Moss and... bugs." you spoke, your words so quiet that they almost looked they were only being mouthed, "i dunno if you remember... but i told you i usually use the pictures as inspiration for my paintings.."

JJ remembered that, though he would never admit it. He noticed that his mind wrapped around things you mentioned and later mulled over them when he was lost in thought. The small—and frankly not often enough, conversations were the highlights of JJ's days and he didn't know how to process the notion just yet.

He looked over your shoulder at a spot you'd been taking pictures of just before he walked in, noticing all the tiny, iridescent little insects scattered on the mossy ground. "Mosses and bugs."

He murmured to himself. There was a hint of a smirk on his lips, but it was a soft, almost fond one this time. He opened his mouth to crack a joke about how bizarre it was to find inspiration in something as ordinary as moss and bugs, but the words vanished the instant he met your gaze. You were still there, your eyes soft and unassuming, that same shy expression lingering as if you were hiding a secret only the sunset knew. The warm, fading light bathed you in a gentle glow, making you appear almost angelic, and for a heartbeat, his usual cool composure shattered into silence.

Clearing his throat once more, he averted his eyes, struggling to mask the tender vulnerability stirring within him. With a hesitant smile and a feigned casualness that didn’t quite reach his eyes, he ventured, "Right. So... you do that often?"

"Uh yeah... i like the marsh and the beach... they're usually full of small critters and such.." you nodded with a hint of excitement in the small grin tugging at your lips, although it was still reserved and quiet.

JJ found himself nodding along, amused by your soft, reserved excitement. Seeing you get so animated about the things you loved was somehow beautiful to him, and it made him curious to learn more. He studied your face as you spoke, his gaze following the way your lips moved.

"Sounds peaceful," He mumbled, shoving his hands deeper into his pockets as another silence fell between the two of you.

He knew he should probably go. The evening was slipping away, and here he was—standing in the twilight and chatting with a kook as if you were one of his closest friends. And JJ liked to think he was your friend. Even though his pride and prejudice against kooks stood on the way sometimes.

Yet, something about this moment made him want to stay. The gentle cadence of your voice, the quiet comfort of your presence—it was unlike anything he had felt in a long time. It reminded him of the distant memory of his mother, the way she'd smile down at him and speak in a soft, reverent voice as if she was scared JJ would break. He didn’t want the moment to end.

He turned his gaze back to you, and for a heartbeat, your eyes met his. The final rays of sunlight danced across your face, wrapping you in a soft, golden glow that made you seem almost otherworldly. In that fragile, beautiful light, he found himself utterly breathless, caught in the wonder of it all.

Your eyes darted away from his nervously, noticing the golden hue washing over the marsh and the small pond to your side. You hesitantly raised the camera to your eyes, adjusting your glasses before snapping a couple of pictures of the sunset before lowering the camera to gaze back at JJ. In times like these when he looked so beautiful and glowy, you'd snap a picture from afar, but you couldn't do that now. So, you just stuck to staring up at him like a dumb idiot.

JJ noticed the way you raised your camera, focusing on the beautiful scenery around you. He watched you quietly, his gaze studying the way the light danced on your face as you got lost in the moment.

He was about to speak when he saw you lower the camera, your gaze returning to his. He froze under your intense stare, the silence growing between the two of you. For a brief moment, he forgot where he was and who he was with. You just looked at him with those wide, innocent eyes of yours, and he was frozen in place...

He swallowed, trying to think of something to say, something to break the silence. His mind was a jumbled mess, and he could feel the heat creeping up his neck. Damnit, why was he getting so flustered? He was JJ Maybank, the loose canon, the complete opposite of you. He didn't get flustered. He didn't get lost in the beauty of a pretty girl with innocent eyes. He did not get caught in the moment like some stupid lovestruck idiot...

"Sorry... I'm staring like an idiot again.." you mumbled, frowning gently. You felt compelled to speak, to apologize for being a dumbass and just going quiet on him.

JJ was snapped out of his daze by your soft, quiet voice. He quickly shook his head, a small smirk appearing on his lips. "No, it's... it's fine. I, uh..."

He ran a hand through his messy locks, looking away from you. He didn't know why he was suddenly so nervous. He felt flustered and off-kilter, like you had thrown him completely off his game, and he didn't know what to do about it.

He looked back at you, his gaze tracing the lines of your face. The last remnants of the sunset were fading, bathing you in a soft, golden glow. You looked even more pretty like this, and his heart did a strange little flip in his chest, coming to the realization that his stomach was full of butterflies.

"You know, uh... it's getting late." He said, his voice a bit hoarser than usual. He hated the way he sounded so flustered, so off his game for such a little thing as looking at you...

"Oh yeah... sorry, I'm holding you off aren't i?" you quipped up nervously, adjusting your glasses and fidgeting with your camera.

JJ chuckled softly at your nervous apologies, shaking his head. "Nah, you're not holding me up. I just... I should probably get going."

He shoved his hands into his pockets again. He wasn't sure why he was so reluctant to leave. There was a part of him that wanted to keep talking to you, keep standing here with you under the twilight sky. But he squashed the feeling, reminding himself that you were a kook. Kooks and pogues could never get along...

You found yourself frowning at his words, small and imperceptible but still a frown. You probably made it weird and awkward, again. And now he was trying to leave politely, as someone would.

You nodded, humming, "yeah.. uh, don't mean to hold you off from... stuff."

JJ noticed the tiny, almost imperceptible frown that formed on your lips, and it confused him. Why were you frowning? Were you... disappointed? That he wanted to leave? The idea made his heart skip a beat for some reason.

He shrugged, trying to act nonchalant. "Ah, it's not like I got anything special to do. Just gonna hang out with the guys, nothing exciting."

He found himself talking, almost rambling on, as if he didn't want to leave.

Of course he did, he wasn't a loser like you whose only friend was now out of town and you were stuck just walking through the marsh like a troll.

You opened your mouth to say something but closed it again, nodding like a dork once again, fidgeting with your camera still.

JJ was beginning to feel desperate for something, anything to keep this conversation going. He didn't want to leave yet, but he didn't know what to say. Why was he being such a dumbass? He was usually so confident, so cool and collected. Why were his palms suddenly sweaty and his heartbeat suddenly out of control?

He looked at your camera, which you were fidgeting with still, and blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

"Can... uh... can I see your camera?"

"Oh yeah… uh, here," you murmured, stepping a little closer as you nervously extended your camera toward him. There was a tentative relief in your voice—a quiet gratitude that he had finally said something to break the heavy, awkward silence between you. You kept the camera hanging from your neck, a small act of defiance against normalcy, even though you knew that most people would have taken it off to smooth over the moment.

JJ accepted the camera, his fingers gently wrapping around it. He was suddenly very aware of how close you were standing to him, and he felt a strange flutter in his stomach.

He studied the camera in his hands, noticing the way you hadn't taken it fully off from around your neck. He suddenly smiled, an idea forming in his mind.

He raised the camera and suddenly pointed it at you. "Smile for me," He said, the grin on his face growing wider. He loved this, seeing your eyes widen as he suddenly raised the camera and aimed it at you. Your nervous, flustered expression on your face just made him want to tease you even more.

You were taken aback, your camera had never been pointed at you. You hated having your picture taken, and you usually hated the way you looked in photos, your eyes looking weird and your expression tense and awkward.

You furrowed your brows, frowning gently, "i usually, don't like my picture taken.."

JJ smirked at your comment, noticing the way your frown deepened slightly. He knew he was getting under your skin, and it was fun.

"Oh, come on, don't be so shy. Don't you wanna see how pretty you look through the lens of your own camera?"

He chuckled, his finger hovering near the shutter-release button, ready to snap a picture of you at any moment...

He watched the way you fidgeted nervously in front of the camera, your eyes widening slightly as you realized he was serious. He could see the way your hand clenched the strap of the camera around your neck, and he couldn't help but find it amusing how flustered you were getting from something as simple as him taking your picture.

He took a step closer, the camera now just a few inches away from your face. "Smiiiiile, pretty girl..."

You found yourself smiling weakly, your fingers reaching up to adjust your glasses in case he actually decided to take the picture. If not, you would just be sitting there smiling like an idiot. Which would be worse than the awkward, chopped conversation you had up until now.

JJ chuckled at your weak attempt at a smile, his eyes fixed on your nervous expression. You looked adorably cute, like a little bunny, and it was making his heart race like crazy. He loved how flustered you were getting from just a picture, and he was tempted to tease you even more. "Nah, that won't do. Smile bigger, come on.."

He moved the camera even closer, his finger still hovering over the button.

"Don't-.. you're not supposed to get this close when taking a picture." you scolded gently, the words not even sounding like a scold.

JJ smirked at your scolding, rolling his eyes. He took a step even closer to you, the camera now only an inch away from your face. He could see every detail of your pretty features at this distance, the way your eyelashes fluttered as you blinked, the way your cheeks were dusted pink, the way your lips parted nervously...

"Who cares about rules, yeah? Besides, now I can get a really good shot of your pretty eyes.."

JJ's gaze lingered on your face for a moment, his eyes tracing the contours of your cheeks and the shape of your lips. He was suddenly overwhelmed by a powerful urge to reach out and touch you, to feel the softness of your skin beneath his fingers, to cup your face in his hands. He shook the thought away, clearing his throat.

"Just smile for me, nice and wide. Think of something funny, something that makes you happy..."

Your thoughts drifted back to that one sunlit afternoon on the beach, when his laughter floated over the waves and filled the air with an effortless joy. You remembered the way you’d leaned in, peering through your viewfinder to capture that radiant smile—the subtle upturn of his lips, the spark in his eyes—as if each detail was a secret waiting to be discovered. In that quiet moment, your own smile, though still shy and tentative, had bloomed into something more honest and heartfelt. You couldn’t help but laugh softly at the memory, realizing with a blush that you must have looked like a lovestruck idiot, utterly captivated by the magic of his simple, unguarded happiness.

JJ, who had been preparing to tease you some more, stopped suddenly, his breath catching in his throat. Your smile was suddenly wider, more genuine. It was beautiful, radiant, and it lit up your entire face.

For a moment, he was speechless. Seeing you smile like that, it was like a punch to the gut. His heart was hammering in his chest, and he could feel his palms getting sweaty. "There we go," he mumbled, his voice surprisingly hoarse.

He continued to aim the camera at you, his finger hovering over the shutter-release button. But he didn't take a picture, not yet. He was too caught up in the sight in front of him, the way your beautiful smile widened as you continued to think of something funny.

He swallowed, unable to tear his gaze away from your face. You were so goddamn pretty, it almost hurt to look at you...

JJ finally pulled himself together, reminding himself that he was supposed to be teasing you, not getting lost in the sight of your pretty smile.

"Okay.. say cheese, mouse." Before you could even react, he pressed the button, snapping a picture of your smiling face.

He lowered the camera, looking down at the screen to check the picture he had just taken. He expected it to be a silly, awkward picture of you as you made a funny face. But what he saw instead was something completely different.

You looked beautiful, radiant, your smile lighting up your face. But there was something else, something in your expression that he couldn't quite place. He just stared at the picture, his heart thudding faster and faster in his chest.

"I look so silly.." you mumbled, stepping a little closer to inspect the picture, your voice tinged with something like insecurity and disappointment.

JJ glanced up from the screen as you stepped closer, his breath catching in his chest for a moment as you stood right next to him. Your shoulder was almost touching his, and he could smell the faint scent of your perfume, something light and flowery that made his head spin, even with the different smells coming from around you both.

He looked back down at the camera, at the picture of you smiling so beautifully. Silly? How could you think that? You looked breathtaking. "What do you mean? You look gorgeous.."

The words slipped out before he could stop them. He felt his cheeks flush as he realized what he had just said, but he didn't take it back. It was true, you looked beautiful, and he suddenly had the urge to tell you just how absolutely stunning you were.

"Well... it's taken too close and... i look stupid.." you rambled a bit completely glossing over the fact that he called you 'gorgeous', grabbing the camera gently from his hands, studying the picture.

He watched as you grabbed the camera back, his fingers grazing yours accidentally.

He could see the insecurity in your expression as you studied the picture of yourself, and it made his heart ache. You didn't see it, didn't see how beautiful you were. He wanted to reach out and wipe away that frown on your face, to pull you closer and tell you just how beautiful you looked.

"You don't look stupid," he said, his voice a bit hoarser than usual.

You swallowed, looking up at him. You felt a sudden strike of confidence, aiming the camera at him nervously. You had a reason to take a picture of him now, given he also teased you. You adjusted the lens and stepped back a bit, your finger hovering over the shutter-release button, waiting for him to have a reaction.

JJ blinked as you suddenly aimed the camera at him, a surprised expression on his face. He hadn't expected you to turn the tables on him, but he couldn't help the thrill that raced through his body.

He had a brief moment of panic as he realized how unprepared he was. But instead of being his usual cocky self, he found himself feeling strangely giddy and nervous. He flashed you a quick, charming smile, trying to act nonchalant. "Go on then, take the picture." he drawled softly, his southern accent a little more accentuated since he was feeling nervous.

You smiled widely behind the camera, captivated by the way his smile lit up the fading light. In that golden hour, as the sun dipped over the marsh, his grin seemed to ignite the whole world—radiant, infectious, and utterly sincere. He looked breathtaking, as if he were glowing from within; even the soft breeze played with his hair, adding a touch of effortless charm.

You had taken countless pictures of JJ before, secret snapshots kept hidden away, but this moment felt different—special—because he’d actually asked you to capture it. With a gentle press on the shutter, you immortalized his smile, preserving his expression before it could fade away. Lowering the camera, you studied the image, your heart swelling with a tender warmth as you cherished this rare, genuine moment.

JJ's heart skipped a beat as he heard the shutter of the camera go off, the sound seeming to reverberate through his entire body. He suddenly felt incredibly self-conscious, wondering if he had looked okay in the picture. Had he smiled too much? Not enough? Had his hair looked weird? He couldn't tear his eyes away from your face as you studied the picture, his stomach doing somersaults in anticipation.

"Well, how did I look?" He asked, his voice cracking slightly.

"Beautiful..." you murmured reverently without realizing, "-i mean you look photogenic.." you mumbled, tilting the camera screen towards him to see the picture. The small flash from your camera had illuminated his face just a bit, combining with the hue from the sunset, giving the picture such an intimate soft look that you hoped he wouldn't tell you to delete it.

JJ felt a shiver run down his spine as you called him beautiful. It was a word that he had never associated with himself before, but coming from you, it sounded like the highest compliment in the world.

He looked down at the screen, his heart pounding as he saw the picture of himself. He had to admit, he looked pretty good. The light from the sunset gave his hair a soft, golden glow, and his smile was... sincere.

"Damn, I do look good," he joked, the corner of his mouth twitching.

He looked back up at you, his eyes fixed on your face. You looked so soft and pretty, holding the camera in your hands like it was a fragile bird, just how a Disney princess would. He suddenly had the urge to reach out and touch you, to run his fingers through your hair and pull you closer to him. But he resisted, knowing that he couldn't do that. It was too risky, too dangerous. Pogue and kook relationships didn't work out, he knew that.

Instead, he cleared his throat, forcing himself to look away from you and back at the picture in the screen.

"I can delete it if you want me to..." you spoke up hesitantly, looking at the side of his face adjusting your glasses.

JJ's heart sank at your words. Delete it? No, the last thing he wanted was for you to delete that picture. It was the first picture of himself that he actually found good, and it was taken by you.

He swallowed, trying to keep his voice casual.

"Oh, uh... nah, you can keep it. I mean, I look so good, it'd be a shame to delete it, right?" He forced a cocky smile onto his face, but it felt like a lie.

You smiled up genuinely at him, nodding "i just don't want you to think it's creepy that I'm keeping it."

JJ felt his heart flutter at your smile. You looked so adorable, a little bundle of sweetness and innocence. How could you possibly be creepy?

He cleared his throat again, trying to sound nonchalant "Nah, it's not creepy. I mean, it's just a picture, right? And I do look pretty damn good in it, can't blame you for wanting to keep it."

"Okay.." you looked back down at the picture, your eyes scanning over his smiling face in the screen of your camera. He looked so pretty it almost hurt.

JJ watched as you looked down at the photo, your eyes tracing the contours of his face. He could see the way your expression softened as you took in the sight of him, and it made his heart race even faster. He wanted to say something, to tease you and make a snarky comment, but he couldn't find the words. Instead, he just stood there, his eyes fixed on your face, watching the way the light bounced off your hair and glasses. He was starting to think he got it bad for a stranger..

"I'm telling you, Maisy... look!" you exclaimed, your eyes sparkling with excitement as you pointed to the screen of your laptop. Your voice held a rare enthusiasm that immediately captured Maisy's attention.

She leaned in closer, her strawberry-blonde hair cascading over her shoulder as she peered at the images displayed. The glow from the screen illuminated both your faces in the dim light of your room, casting a soft, warm hue.

"It's like those pictures that couples take of each other," you continued, a shy smile tugging at the corners of your lips. Your cheeks flushed ever so slightly, a gentle pink that hinted at the emotions swirling within you.

On the screen were two photographs—one of you, captured by JJ that day at the marsh, and the other of him, taken by you moments later. In JJ's photograph, you stood amid the tall reeds, the golden rays of the setting sun enveloping you in a radiant glow, camera fairly close to your face. Your eyes reflected the shimmering waters, and a serene smile graced your features, natural and unguarded. In your photograph of JJ, he was bathed in the same golden light, his carefree grin infectious, eyes bright with a hint of mischief. The soft breeze had tousled his hair just so, making him appear both rugged and ethereal.

Maisy's eyes widened as she took in the images. "Wow," she whispered, a knowing smile spreading across her face. "These are... incredible. There's so much chemistry here."

You felt warmth flood your cheeks again. "Do you really think so?" you asked softly, biting your lower lip. Your fingers nervously traced the edge of your laptop, the significance of the photos settling deeper into your heart.

"Absolutely," Maisy replied, nudging you playfully. "I mean, look at the way he's looking at you in this one." She pointed to JJ's photo of you. "And the way you captured him... it's like you both see each other differently than anyone else does."

You gazed back at the images, your mind replaying the moments from that day. The marsh had been your special place, but sharing it with JJ had made it feel even more magical. The unspoken connection, the comfortable silences, the shared appreciation for the beauty around you—it all seemed to culminate in these photographs.

"Maybe," you murmured, a hopeful glint in your eyes. "It just felt... different. In a good way."

Maisy grinned, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Sounds like someone has a crush."

You laughed softly, shaking your head. "It's not that simple. He's... well, he's JJ. And I'm just me."

"Exactly," she said confidently. "And maybe it's time he sees just how amazing 'just you' really is."

You sighed, a mix of happiness and uncertainty swirling within you. You shifted closer to your best friend on the floor of your room, smiling brightly, "i can't believe he actually came up to me in the marsh on his own agenda.."

Maisy shook her head in disbelief, a small smile on her lips. "I know, right? He actually talked to you. And he let you take a picture of him." She looked at the photo of JJ's smiling face on your laptop screen, her eyes narrowing in thought.

"You think he has a crush on you or something?"

You smiled appreciatively at her question, the possibilities dancing in your mind. Turning back to the laptop, you allowed yourself to linger on JJ's image for a moment longer, your heart fluttering softly.

"Why would he? I looked like a swamp troll when he saw me... maybe he didn't even recognize me at first.. that's why he came up to me." you furrowed your brows, studying JJ's face with a look of longing.

Maisy rolled her eyes at your comment. "Are you serious? You looked adorable and he knows it. Trust me, guys have a sixth sense for when a girl looks good."

She poked your shoulder teasingly, a smirk on her face.

"And he definitely knew it was you. Why else would he come up to you out of the blue like that and let you take his picture?"

"Yeah he did call out to me using that nickname... the mouse one. And besides who else would be in the marsh crouched down between reeds to take pics of bugs..?" you chuckled, shaking your head.

Maisy laughed, nodding her head.

"Exactly! Only you would be doing something like that. And he knows that. Trust me, there's no way he didn't recognize you."

She leaned closer, a mischievous gleam in her eye.

"And the nickname? That's a dead giveaway. He clearly has a thing for you, babe."

"You think so? You know at the party... when the whole thing with 7 minutes of heaven happened? He offered to help me with speaking to people... and he was like: 'you could talk to me.'" you turned to face her fully, "Since that day; he kept waving back and smiling whenever he saw me around town... winking sometimes too."

"Are you kidding? That's, like, the biggest sign ever." Maisy said, her eyes widening in disbelief.

"He offered to help you talk to people? And he waves at you and smiles? And FLIRTS?! Come on, girl, he clearly likes you." She grabbed your shoulder, giving you a little shake.

"You need to make a move before it's too late."

"How am i supposed to?" you laughed, adjusting your glasses after she shook you gently, "i told you, i barely even speak whenever we interact."

Maisy rolled her eyes, letting out an exaggerated sigh. "You don't need to do any fancy pickup lines. Just try actually talking to him sometime. I know you're shy, but I think he likes that about you. He wouldn't be waving and smiling if he didn't."

She thought for a moment, a sly smile spreading across her face.

"You know what? I have an idea..."

Maisy grabbed your shoulders in excitement. "I've got it. You need to find an excuse to talk to him again. Like, ask him for something, anything. Just get him alone so you can have a decent conversation."

She paused, her eyes narrowing in thought.

"But it can't just be a normal conversation. You need to catch him off guard. Surprise him. That way, you'll be in the driver's seat and he'll be the one flustered."

Easier said than done. You despised surprises—they made your heart race and your palms sweat, catching you off guard every time. Yet, despite your aversion, you'd confidently told Maisy you’d figure it out and win over JJ in no time. As if that was possible. The mere thought made you scoff internally; JJ was like the wind—free, unpredictable, and impossible to capture.

The afternoon sun bathed the town in a warm, golden glow as you strolled along the familiar streets. Shopkeepers were beginning to prop open their doors to let in the summer breeze, and the scent of freshly baked bread wafted from the bakery on the corner, mingling with the sweet aroma of blooming jasmine and the ocean breeze. You made your way toward the quaint bookstore nestled between the café and the antique shop—a favorite haunt of yours since childhood.

The sidewalk was dotted with clusters of wildflowers pushing through cracks in the pavement, their tenacity a quiet inspiration. You felt a pang of melancholy realizing that summer was slipping through your fingers like grains of sand. The stack of books in your tote bag was a tangible reminder that the season of freedom was nearing its end.

As you approached the bookstore, its faded sign creaked softly in the breeze: The Novel Nook. The peeling paint and ivy-covered bricks gave it an ageless charm, a sanctuary for dreamers and seekers of stories. Pushing open the heavy wooden door, a tiny bell jingled above, announcing your arrival. The familiar scent of aged paper and leather-bound volumes enveloped you, calming your restless thoughts.

You wandered between the tall shelves, running your fingertips over the spines of countless books. Each title whispered promises of distant lands, epic adventures, and lives so different from your own. The hushed atmosphere was occasionally broken by the soft rustle of pages and the distant sound of whispered conversations. This place was your refuge, a world away from the uncertainties that awaited with the start of your senior year.

The thought of returning to school filled you with a mix of apprehension and resignation. Hallways buzzing with chatter, the pressure of exams, the unspoken social hierarchies—it all felt overwhelming. And then there was JJ. The corners of your mouth twitched upward involuntarily at the thought of him. His easy laughter, the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled, how a single dimple appeared on his left cheek—it was ridiculous how effortlessly he occupied your thoughts.

"Thinking of anyone I know?" A familiar voice pulled you from your reverie.

You glanced up to see Maisy leaning against the end of the aisle, a playful smirk on her face. Her strawberry-blonde hair was piled into a messy bun, wisps escaping to frame her freckled face. She sipped an iced coffee, condensation dripping down the sides of the cup.

"Just lost in thoughts," you replied with a modest shrug, a slight blush creeping into your cheeks.

Maisy sauntered over, her eyes glinting mischievously. "Let me guess—tall, blond, and infuriatingly charming?" She nudged you lightly with her elbow.

You rolled your eyes but couldn't suppress a smile. "Am I that transparent?"

"Only to me," she laughed. "So, have you made any progress on that little mission of yours?"

You sighed, glancing down at the book in your hands—The Great Gatsby. "Not exactly. It's not like I can just walk up to him and say, 'Hey, JJ, fancy a date?'"

"Why not?" Maisy challenged. "What's the worst that could happen?"

You shot her a skeptical look. "Public humiliation? Crushing rejection? Need I go on?"

She waved a dismissive hand. "Please. JJ's not like that. Besides, I've seen the way he looks at you."

Your heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean?"

Maisy grinned knowingly. "Like you're a sexy Rubik's cube that he can't wait to solve. Trust me, there's more to that boy than meets the eye."

You pondered her words with a small amused chuckle, a flutter of hope stirring within you. Could it be possible that JJ saw you as more than just a passing acquaintance? The notion both excited and terrified you.

"Maybe," you conceded softly.

Maisy linked her arm through yours. "Tell you what, there's a beach bonfire this weekend. Perfect setting for a little serendipity, don't you think?"

You hesitated. "I don't know, Maisy…"

She squeezed your arm gently. "Come on, what's summer without a bit of adventure?"

Looking around the cozy confines of the bookstore, you took a deep breath. Perhaps Maisy was right. Maybe it was time to step out of the pages of your books and start writing your own story.

"Alright," you agreed with a tentative smile. "But no meddling."

"Scout's honor," she said, holding up three fingers in mock sincerity.

As you both headed toward the register, the weight on your shoulders felt a little lighter. The prospect of the bonfire filled you with a mix of nerves and anticipation. Outside, the sun began its descent, casting long shadows across the town and painting the sky with hues of pink and orange.

Exiting the bookstore, you glanced back at The Novel Nook, its windows aglow with warm light. You bid your good-bye with Maisy, given the red-head was in one of her moods and 'desperately needing to run by the beach', and started walking down the side-walk leisurely.

JJ was leaning against the wall of a corner store across the book store, his arms crossed over his chest as he talked to his friend John B. He was smoking a cigarette, his head tilted back against the bricks as he blew out a plume of smoke into the air, waiting for his other friends to exit the store so they can dip.

He was in a good mood. The day had been nice, the weather warm and the town fairly peaceful. He was enjoying chatting with his buddy, when something across the street caught his eye.

He lifted his head off the brick wall, a small frown on his face as he squinted at the figure walking down the sidewalk.

"Is that...?" he muttered to himself. He watched as the figure came closer, their face becoming more clear with each step. His heart skipped a beat when he realized it indeed was you.

He took another puff of his cigarette, his eyes not leaving you. He felt the familiar jolt of excitement in his stomach as he watched you approach, his mind going blank for a second.

John B, noticing his friend's distraction, followed his gaze to see what he was looking at. He smirked, elbowing JJ in the side.

"Hey, why don't you go say hi?" he teased, a mischievous grin on his face.

JJ's head whipped around to look at John B, an agitated expression on his face. He tried to brush off his friend's comment, pretending like he didn't care.

"Who, her? She's a kook. She's probably here to shop for some fancy dresses or something."

Just then, your gaze caught sight of a familiar figure across the street. JJ was leaning against the weathered brick wall of a narrow alley, one foot casually propped behind him, his hands tucked into the pockets of his worn jeans. The golden rays of the late afternoon sun cast a soft halo around him, highlighting the tousled strands of his sun-bleached hair. His eyes were hidden beneath the shadow of his lashes as he watched and laughed with his friend intently, a picture of effortless cool that made your heart skip a beat.

Ever since that conversation at the party, these chance encounters had become a cherished part of your day. Gathering your courage, you offered a shy wave, your fingers barely lifting from the hold on your wallet. A gentle smile curved your lips, a silent greeting that you hoped conveyed more confidence than you felt.

JJ's gaze shifted from John B, his piercing blue eyes locking onto yours across the expanse of the street. For a moment, everything else seemed to fade—the chatter of passersby, the distant roar of the surf—all muted in the background. A slow, genuine grin spread across his face, dimples appearing as he lifted a hand in return. The simple acknowledgment sent a warm flutter through your chest, like the wings of a small bird taking flight.

Traffic passed between you—a blur of colors and movement—but neither of you looked away. The world continued its hurried pace, yet here, in this shared moment, time felt suspended. You noticed the subtle way his posture shifted, as if he was considering crossing the street. The possibility sparked a mix of excitement and nervousness within you.

Mustering a bit more bravery, you called out, your voice carrying over the ambient noise. "Hi, JJ!"

He cupped a hand around his ear playfully. "Can't hear you!" he shouted back, a teasing glint in his eyes.

Chuckling softly, you took a step closer to the curb. "I said, 'Hi, JJ!'" you repeated, louder this time.

He laughed, the sound genuine and infectious, his best friend watching the scene unfold curiously. "That's better!" he replied. "What brings you out on this fine day, mouse?"

"Just picking up some books," you replied, holding up the bag as evidence. "Summer reading list waits for no one."

He nodded appreciatively. "Always the studious one. Any good titles?"

Before you could answer, the pedestrian light changed, and without thinking, you began crossing the street toward him. Each step was a blend of eagerness and hesitation, the distance between you shrinking with every heartbeat. As you reached the other side, JJ pushed off the wall, standing a little taller. You shot John B a hesitant nod of acknowledgement, the brunette smirking slyly.

JJ was once again struck by how adorable you looked. Your soft voice, the way you looked at him with those big eyes behind your glasses, it sent a thrill down his spine. He mentally cursed himself for feeling this way.

He cleared his throat, his mind racing to find something to say, deciding that he'd be more content on talking to you without his best friend watching the 2 of you.

"I'll be back in a minute," he mumbled to John B, signaling for you to follow him down the sidewalk, a bit further away from the prying ears of his best friend.

"Books, huh? What kind of books are you into? Fancy romance novels or something?"

He mentally slapped himself for asking that question. Romance novels? Seriously? What a stupid question.

"Doesn't really matter... i read every genre, if the book is nice." you smiled almost reassuringly, shrugging nervously.

Despite his teasing, JJ actually found your answer interesting. It's not what he would have expected from a kook, but then again, he was starting to realize he had a lot of misconceptions about you.

"Every genre, huh? Damn, that's a lot of books. You must read like, 3 books a week or something."

"Well... yeah especially since i don't really enjoy social stuff.." yeah dumbass, he found you lurking around alone 2 separate times, once on the beach and the other in the marsh, you thought sardonically.

JJ found himself secretly pleased at your confession. Yeah, he knew you didn't enjoy social stuff, but hearing you say it out loud made him feel... special in a way.

He raised an eyebrow at your comment, a small smirk playing on his lips. "Well damn, you're really an antisocial little mouse, huh?"

He stepped a little closer to you, his eyes roving over your face. He wanted to see if he could get a reaction out of you, to see if he could get you out of your shell a little.

"So you'd rather sit at home and read a book than party or hangout with your friends?" he teased, his voice just a bit lower than usual.

"Friend. I only have one friend.." you corrected almost shyly, shuffling on your feet.

JJ found himself chuckling at your shy correction. One friend? Only one? How was that possible? You were so damn cute, how did nobody want to be friends with you?

"And who's your only friend, mouse?" he asked, his smirk growing wider.

"You saw me get dragged around by her... Maisy? She's got the strawberry blonde hair? kinda bubbly and confident?" you mumbled thoughtfully, trying to describe your best friend in a way that made sense. "...and well... i assume you're also my friend in a way." you added more quietly, hesitant that he might think it's weird and correct you.

JJ's heart skipped a beat as you mentioned him being your friend. Damn, he was not expecting that. He tried to keep his expression neutral, but inside he was practically jumping for joy. It was silly, but for some reason, the idea of you liking him as a friend made him really happy.

"Yeah, I remember Mimsy. She's pretty cool. And uh... you consider me a friend, huh?" he asked, his voice a little softer than he intended.

He took another step closer to you, reducing the gap between you to almost nothing. His eyes flicked over your face, studying your expression intently. He was secretly hoping to see some sign that you felt the same fluttering in your chest that he was feeling right now.

"That's, uh... that's interesting. I didn't think you'd want to be friends with someone like me."

"Why not? you... uh, you said you wanted to help me to speak with people more freely... if you remember.." you felt like your awkwardness was rubbing off on him, like a disease. You tried to gauge out his expression, for any hint of being weirded out by your declaration.

JJ's heart skipped a beat once again as you brought up that conversation where he'd offered to help you to speak to people more. He remembered it vividly, the way he'd felt an unfamiliar draw towards you after the party game.

At your question of why he'd be surprised that you wanted to be friends with him, he let out a small chuckle, shaking his head.

"Mouse, I don't think you realize just how different we are from each other. It's not normal for a pogue and a kook to actually want to be friends."

You furrowed your brows in confusion. Status was never your concern, especially having been in love with JJ for years now. But maybe he minded? and he was selective about that stuff. "oh.. well i don't-... care about that. I'm sorry if i came off weird.." you mumbled, stumbling over your words a little now.

JJ was quick to step closer to you, his arms moving to gently grab your shoulders as you stumbled over your words. He didn't want you to think that you had somehow messed up by saying you wanted to be friends with him.

"Hey, hey, hold on. You didn't come off weird at all. I'm just... I'm just surprised that you want to be friends with me, that's all. No matter the status difference between us."

"Well... the whole thing with people living on figure 8 is that they almost never see past the kook thing.. i like every part of the island. I prefer the cut anyway.." you swallowed hard, adjusting your glasses and clutching the wallet you were holding in your hand nervously.

JJ couldn't help but be amazed by you. Here you were, this shy, antisocial, bookworm kook who preferred the cut to her own home, who saw past all the nonsense between different social classes. You were so much different than all the other rich, snotty, entitled kooks he knew.

He realized he had still been holding on to your shoulders, his hands moving down to grab your wrists instead. He gently squeezed them, his eyes locked on yours.

"You... you're really something else, mouse."

JJ continued to hold your wrists, his fingers subconsciously tracing small circles against your skin. For once, he didn't feel like he had to keep up his usual laidback, arrogant act around you, and it felt nice.

"I gotta say, it's refreshing to hear a kook say they like the cut. And it's even more refreshing to hear a kook talk about people and not just status or things."

He gave a slight shrug, his smirk growing sly once again.

"You know, I'm beginning to wonder if you're really a kook at all."

"Maybe I'm not even real.." you joked quietly, your heart racing and your palms sweating a little as he held onto your wrists, a small smile making its way on your lips.

JJ chuckled as you jokingly mentioned not being real. His fingers continued to run gently across your wrists, enjoying the feel of your skin under his touch.

"Nah, you're definitely real. I can feel you right here."

He gave your wrists a small squeeze, his eyes looking at you in a way that made his stomach flutter.

Your expression became a little more bashful as he squeezed your wrists, feeling like you were losing the sense to speak again, especially while you looked up into his eyes. They looked so pretty, like ocean water and jewels, the look in them was genuine, like he actually enjoyed speaking with you.

JJ didn't miss the way your eyes softened and your expression grew bashful as he gently held your wrists and squeezed them. He felt his heart skip a beat and his pulse quicken. Looking down into your eyes and seeing the way you looked up at him... he'd never seen a more beautiful sight.

He took a tiny step closer, his body almost pressed up against yours now. His voice was a little softer than before as he spoke again. There was no teasing in his tone anymore.

"Y'know, mouse, I gotta admit something."

His voice was low, almost a whispered murmur. His gaze was glued to yours, still gently holding onto your wrists.

"When I offered to help you with talking to people, I didn't really think you'd actually take me up on the offer. But... I'm glad you did."

"Well another friend won't hurt... that's one more than... well one." you chuckled, grimacing awkwardly. Your brows raised a bit as if you remembered something. Maisy's idea! Surprise him-

You fidgeted slightly, your wrists slipping from his grasp as you dug through your tote bag, pulling out a couple of small polaroid looking like pictures. The ones you took in the marsh, the one of him and the one he took of you.

JJ's heart leapt when he saw the pictures you held out to him. They were the pictures from the marsh, proof that you had actually taken them. He took the pictures from you, his fingers brushing against yours, causing a small shiver to run down his spine.

He looked down at the pictures, then looked back up at you. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

"You... you went and got these developed, huh?"

"I thought you uh, wanted... the one of you. Since you said it looked good" you extended the picture of him slightly, holding the one he took of you in the other hand. He probably wasn't too interested in that one anyway.

JJ's eyes flicked from the picture of himself to the one of you. He wasn't expecting you to have gotten one of you developed as well. He was a little surprised (and maybe a tiny bit excited) to see it.

"Actually..." He hesitantly pointed at the picture of you, his heart thudding loudly in his chest. He was curious to see your reaction.

"I wouldn't mind having both."

Oh my god. You probably looked like a dumbass again. You felt your self blush furiously at his words, your brows raising. Why would he want that? A picture of you? "Uh yeah.. sure here.." you fumbled with the picture of you, almost dropping it to the ground as you handed it to him.

But you also wanted to have the one of him, so he'd have the one of you and you the other. You pointed shyly to the picture of him mumbling nervously, "can i have this one then?"

JJ couldn't help but chuckle as you fumbled with the picture of yourself, your cheeks going adorably pink. Seeing you flustered like this... He couldn't help but smile as you handed the picture of yourself to him, and then shyly pointed to the picture of him, asking to have it.

"Yeah, it's all yours, mouse."

He didn't even hesitate as he handed you the picture of himself, secretly loving the way you looked as you blushed and got all flustered.

JJ watched as you carefully tucked the picture of him into your wallet, a small smile on his face. The fact that you had gotten the picture developed, let alone wanted to keep it, sent his mind reeling.

He wasn't used to people wanting anything to do with him, let alone someone actively wanting a picture of him. It made his heart flutter in an unfamiliar, but not unpleasant way.

He cleared his throat, trying to keep his voice steady. "So... uh, how come you decided to get these developed, anyway?"

"Well i developed so many more and uh yeah..." lies; liar liar, pants on fire, you scolded yourself mentally. You were gonna develop the one of him alone, but somehow you ended developing the one of you too. So him asking you to keep yours felt so... i dunno, romantic to you? Like couples doing stuff for each other.

JJ raised an eyebrow at your response, his eyes narrowing slightly. It was kinda weird that you had developed so many pictures all of a sudden. But he didn't pry too much further. He mentally shrugged it off, secretly enjoying how adorable you looked as you blushed and fidgeted nervously.

He silently stared down at the picture of you in his hand, his fingers gently tracing the edges. The soft, shy look on your face made him feel weirdly giddy. Like there was a swarm of butterflies all fluttering in his stomach.

JJ continued to stare at the picture as if in a daze, his thoughts racing. The more he looked at the picture, the more his heart thumped in his chest. He didn't understand why he was feeling so flustered. This was just a picture, right? So why did it feel so damn important to him? Like the picture was suddenly the most precious thing in the world?

He could feel a slight heat rising in his cheeks. He took a small breath, trying to calm himself down. He glanced down at you, studying your expression.

"You don't have to keep it if you want to... i won't... mind." you found yourself speaking, anxious that he was rethinking the whole thing now that he was staring at the picture of you more intently. Beside he had no reason to keep it right? you had barely known each other. Well he barely did, cause you knew him pretty well given how long you had been in love with him.

JJ's eyes snapped up from the picture at your words, his heart skipping a beat. Did you really think he didn't want the picture? He quickly clutched the picture tightly in his hand, his heart fluttering as he spoke.

"No... no I want it. I definitely want it."

He gave a shake of his head, his thoughts awhirl. Did you know how cute you looked in the picture? How it sent a strange, fluttery feeling through his body every time he looked at it? How much he found himself wanting to study it?

JJ's heart continued to race as he held the picture in his hand tighter. He found himself glancing from you, to the picture, to you again, his head practically spinning. Why the hell was he feeling so flustered and nervous now? He always had some sort of control over his emotions, but not anymore. Not with you around..

He was torn between wanting to look at the picture and wanting to look at you. Both made his heart race and butterflies swarm in his stomach, but he just couldn't force himself to look away from you.

"That's good then..." you smiled up at him, adjusting your glasses and glancing down at the picture of you in his hand. You had glanced over his shoulder, noticing his best friend still waiting for him intently. "i think your friend is waiting for you." you pointed shyly at John B over his shoulder.

JJ's eyes flicked up to look in the direction you were pointing towards. Sure enough, John B was still standing there by the corner store, a slight curious but impatient expression on his face.

JJ muttered a small curse under his breath. He'd been so distracted talking with you, he'd forgotten that he'd told John B to wait for him.

He glanced back at you, his heart sinking even more now. How the hell was he supposed to leave you?

JJ let out a small sigh, his shoulders slumping a little as he realized he had to reluctantly leave you to go back to John B. His heart was practically doing cartwheels in his chest as he spoke.

"Yeah, I guess I should get going. Sorry, I didn't mean to keep you, I know you were probably walkin' home.."

He mentally scolded himself for the disappointing tone of his voice. He really didn't want to leave you, but he didn't want to upset and ditch his best friends either. Damnit, it was so confusing.

"Oh no it's okay... besides you said you wanted to help me speak to people more easily, and it kinda helped a little... -talking to you i mean.." you reassured him almost too quickly hands shooting up on a assuring gesture, cursing yourself inwardly at how desperate you sounded.

JJ's heart thumped hard as you reassured him that you didn't mind talking with him, the small, almost giddy feeling welling up inside him more and more.

He didn't want to admit it, but he was actually really happy that his presence somehow helped you. And he secretly couldn't wait to have another excuse to talk with you again as well. But he didn't want to seem desperate either - or admit that he actually wanted to spend more time with you.

He quickly nodded his head at your words, stuffing the picture carefully into his pocket. He tried to keep his voice steady as he spoke again.

"Yeah, anytime. I... uh, I enjoy talking with you too, Mouse."

His eyes flicked over to John B behind him, then back to you. Damn it, why did he feel so reluctant and torn about leaving you?

Another small curse went through his head as a thought suddenly occurred to him. What if he didn't see you again? Even though he'd said he'd help you with your shyness and talking to people... there was no guarantee he'd see you again. The thought was somehow painful, even though he could just walk away from you right now.

He hesitantly took a small step towards you, a bit of nervousness in his voice now.

"So, uh... can I see you again sometime? Just so I can help you... y'know, more with talking to people?"

"Yeah of course." you agreed almost too quickly once again, your eyebrows shooting up in nervousness and excitement. "of course we can hang out.."

JJ felt his heart flutter once again as you eagerly agreed to hang out with him more in the future. He mentally cursed his excitement and anxiety, trying to keep a cool, collected expression.

He nodded his head at you, a small smile on his face. It was a struggle to keep the smile off his face actually – he suddenly felt like grinning like an idiot. But he had to keep his cool, he couldn’t show how excited he really was.

"Awesome, mouse. I’m looking forward to it."

You gave him a small grin, not being able to keep it off your face as looked up at him, reaching up to pat his forearm awkwardly and quietly. How casual, just an awkward pat? how's that for making a move? Maisy would be disappointed if she saw you right now. She'd be expecting at least an awkward side hug or something.

JJ felt a sudden rush of warmth at your timid pat on his forearm. It was a small gesture, maybe even a little awkward, but it somehow made his heart skip a beat. He couldn't help but admire the shy smile on your face, his eyes lingering on your lips for a brief moment.

He silently scolded himself as his thoughts strayed to what it might be like to kiss you, to cup your face and finally taste the lip gloss adorning your pink lips. He'd like to think it was cherry, maybe peach? He tried to brush the thought away, telling himself that this was just an innocent, casual interaction - not some romantic moment.

Damnit, he was feeling conflicted and frustrated now.

He quickly shook his head, trying to clear away the conflicted thoughts and confusing emotions swirling in his mind. He couldn't let himself dwell on these thoughts, he had to keep it casual.

He forced a small smile and raised a hand in farewell.

"Uh... I should probably get going before John B flips out. I'll, uh, see you later, yeah?"

You raised your hand, waving at him shyly as he started to walk away, flashing him a genuine smile. Although you were disappointed the moment had to end, you got to keep a picture of him. And he kept one of you. The thought actually sounded insane. It was absolutely out of this world and the little girl in you who fell in love with JJ Maybank that day in 3rd grade was swooning, having a field day and freaking out; all at the same time while you sat there awkwardly waving to him.

JJ was secretly tempted to look back at you as he walked away, to get one more glimpse of your shy, genuine smile. But he resisted the urge, making himself keep walking. He had to keep up his 'cool, collected, don't-care-about-anything, badass' persona.

But as he approached where John B was waiting, he couldn't help but pull out the picture you gave him from his pocket.

He took a quick glance at it, studying the picture closely, taking in your shy expression and the smile on your face.

God, JJ was crushing hard..

—♡‧

A/n: Too long? Also reader's picture definitely looks a little 0.5x, just because JJ is silly 😋 Love the 'she fell first- he fell harder trope.'

Tag-list*:･ﾟ✧ @cali-888, @bee-43, @jjscoquette, @melsbels-zip, @stanseventeen Join the tag-list!

Divider credits: @cafekitsune @fairytopea @strangergraphics-archive

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zulumarketing · 5 months ago

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sundays-sims · 1 year ago

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K E L A P A . (early access, patreon)

Hi all!

A few of you guys have been asking for a child bedroom set, so I decided to go for it this month! The kelapa set is quite big, 29 new items in total, and is focused on creating a soft beach-y vibe. I always loved ocean, surf & sea themed bedroom for kids, and really wanted to create something that would recreate this atmosphere. The palette includes neutrals, soft & dark green, light blue, yellow, dusty pink, rusty orange & medium/dark blue. You will have a lot of options to mix & match any tones, including the bedding as I made it in separate parts (pillows, cushions, throw blanket, folded duvet etc).

Lastly, I would like to add that the bed is a child-type bed, so children & adults can use it, and even though fully functional, your Sim will sleep on top of the main blanket. The animations when the Sim slips into bed, or is making the bed wont animate the duvet, but everything else will work correctly.

Happy simming, I hope you enjoy this set! ♥

↓ details & download link under the cut ↓

D O W N L O A D L I N K : [X] (patreon, early access)

S E T D E T A I L S :

Kid's bed - 16 swatches

Folded duvet - 11 swatches

Pillows - 9 swatches

Throw pillows - 10 swatches

Throw blanket - 9 swatches

Sitting corner - 9 swatches

Monstera rug - 10 swatches

Shell pillow (2 versions) - 10 swatches

Pouf - 12 swatches

Canopy (3 heights) - 9 swatches

Shark plushie - 13 swatches

Rattan toy basket - 2 swatches

Nightstand - 4 swatches

Dresser w. tassel - 4 swatches

Shelf (2 versions) - 2 swatches

Bookcase shelf - 10 swatches

Origami mobile (4 versions) - 1 swatch

Frame set - 7 swatches

Book (2 versions) - 13 swatches

Deco origami paper boat - 1 swatch

Wallpaper - 6 swatches

** kelapa will be released (free) on May 8th**

→ terms of use / TOU ← / / → instagram ←

#ts4 #simblr #ts4cc #sims 4 cc #sims 4 interior #sims 4 #sims 4 inspo #sims 4 cc finds #sims 4 cc download #sims4

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smusherina · 1 year ago

Text

yard work - chapter 9 (regina george x reader)

fandom: Mean Girls (all media)

pairing: Regina George x OFC/Reader

summary: You'd been in the same class as Regina George since kindergarten. You'd lived on the same street even longer. Once upon a time, when life was sandbox disputes and who got the swing first arguments, you'd even been friends. Now, in junior year of high school, you doubted she even remembered you. The same couldn't be said about you. You definitely remembered her.

warnings(s): use of the d-slur, the one for lesbians. use of the q-slur, the one that’s been taken back.

chapter 1 / chapter 2 / chapter 3 / chapter 4 / chapter 5 / chapter 6 / chapter 7 / chapter 8 / chapter 10

You lost track of time, mind consumed by Regina's mouth on yours. The feel of her lips, her hands playing with the hairs at the back of your neck, made you tingle. You didn't know much about actual technique when it came to kissing, but taking cues from and mirroring Regina seemed to work. When she opened her mouth and bit your bottom lip, you chanced a little tongue. Met with welcome, the kiss deepened. The sensations had you shivering, hands gripping tightly at Regina's waist.

"Bed, now," Hazy and a little slow, you chased Regina when she pulled away, making a pathetic little sound at the loss of her. She stood up and pulled you with her, roughly pushing you onto your back. Sprawled on the bed, you could only watch as she climbed over you. Soon, her lips descended down on yours again and your eyes blinked shut.

Then, startling you like a bucket of cold water thrown onto you, her hands snuck under your shirt. Her nails brushed at your ribs and you, despite the nervous excitement bubbling, began to feel apprehensive.

"Reg," You mumbled, hands moving from her shoulders to her upper arms. "Reg, I- hold on."

"What?" She kissed down your cheeks to your neck.

"Hold on, I-" Your breath hitched, the tickle of her lips in such a sensitive place hindering your ability to speak. "I don't wanna have sex."

As if shaken from a trance, Regina pulled away abruptly. Her hands slid out of your shirt and rested on either side of your torso, looming above you. The dim, warm tinted lamp light from the nightstand made her hair, hanging around you, seem like a halo. Or a canopy.

"You don't want to have sex." She said, voice a little hoarse and eyes betraying something until she pulled the shutters closed. "You're lucky I'm letting you get this far."

You stared up at her, stunned. "What? Letting me? You're on top of me."

"I know you want this. You've been wanting this for a long time. I've seen the way you look at me, the way you act around me." She spoke fast as if she was trying to convince both you and herself.

Panic was beginning to constrict around your throat. It took a while to find your voice.

"Reg, I'm sorry, but-"

"You should be sorry." She crawled away from on top of you and stood up. You leaned up on your elbows to keep looking at her. "You should be so sorry."

"I- I am," You tried to reassure her, tried to hold down your own hurt. "I just thought this was a little fast."

She rolled her eyes at you, though the action seemed jilted. "You've been pining the whole time we've been friends, I'd say it's been long enough. And now, when you have all you want offered to you, you reject it."

"Is this what this is about? Rejection? Regina, I just meant not yet."

"You're so fucking full of yourself." She accused, pointing a finger at you. The whole display was made weaker by the glistening in her eyes and the redness covering her from neck to ears.

"You think you can walk into my life, cause all sorts of chaos, take my family from me, and then reject me?" She hissed, gesturing with her arms all the while. You swallowed, unsure of what you should do.

She was firing insults at you and the only thing you could think to do was sit there and take it.

"Chaos? I'm not trying to take your family from you, Reggie, where's this coming from?" You stood up, feeling too awkward to be on the bed.

"You think I haven't seen the way you act around my mom or my sister? You want to be me so bad, you're acting like they're your family. They're mine and you're never gonna have them! You're never gonna have a family!"

You reeled back, offended by the uncalled-for insult.

"You have the gall to come to my home, my family's Thanksgiving dinner, acting all holier than thou meanwhile Kylie fawns over you and mom dotes on you."

"Are you jealous? They love you, Regina." Your ability to argue was getting flimsier by the minute, the stinging in your eyes inhibiting any power you could've drawn from.

"Jealous? You think I'm fucking jealous? I have everything and you have nothing!"

"I don't think that's true, Reg. I think that you're hurt and saying things you don't mean."

"You always put words in my mouth, try to manipulate me and change me into someone you think I should be. I'm good the way I am!"

"Change can be good, Reg, I just-"

"God, you're actually so insufferable. Genuinely, I cannot stand to be around you. I hate you." She turned away from you, hands going to her hair and tugging. "I don't need to change. I hate that you try to make me. I hate that you've already done it, with your fucked up mind games."

You blinked rapidly and breathed in deeply, trying to stay calm. She was just being destructive because she was hurt. She didn't mean any of it. She was just earlier kissing you. Didn't that count for something?

"I don't play mind games. I just wish you were kinder."

"You wish I was this and that, and what about me?" She whirled around and strode up to you. "I am this way. I am not kind, I'm not soft, and I thrive."

"Are you thriving, Reg?"

"Do not call me what stupid name!" She yelled, getting right in your face. You flinched back, startled and scared. "Oh, you're gonna cry now that your other tactics don't work anymore? I see right through you, you freak."

"Don't yell at me, Reggie." You said, biting your lip to keep it from trembling. You wiped at your eyes furiously. "I'm sorry, okay, for rejecting you, for trying to change you. I didn't mean to manipulate you."

"I'll do whatever the fuck I want to you." She hissed. "I'll fucking ruin your life. I'll tell people you're a lesbian and what you tried to do to me."

"What?" You breathed. "What do you mean? What I tried to do to you- do you hear yourself?"

"I hear myself, jorts, and so will everybody else when I tell them what a disgusting, perverse little dyke you are."

You wouldn't have described it as something snapping, but you'd had enough by then. It stung, hearing that from her, of all people. It stung more than you liked to admit because you knew her.

You knew she didn't mean it, she was lashing out, and desperately trying to cling to the power she'd lost the moment she'd been vulnerable with you- kissed you.

You didn't want to feel it, so you were mean instead.

"Just like you did to Janis then. Did you kiss her too and when you got scared you decided to ruin her life. Is that how it went?" You laughed bitterly and before she could interrupt, went on. "Is that how you're gonna live your life, Regina? Anytime you feel those dirty, lesbian urges you'll use some innocent bystander to sate your lust and then, because they know too much, you ruin them? Sounds very sustainable."

"How dare you accuse me of being that," Her face was scrunched in anger, red like the devil.

"Oh, I dare, I seem to recall you were just kissing me, on top of me, hands up my shirt. You're not fooling anybody, Reg, you're a filthy queer just like me." You were aiming to hurt now, wanting her to feel like you did. "The truth is, Regina, that you fucking hate yourself. You hate yourself and you just don't know what to do with yourself so you make everybody around you feel the exact same way."

"No, that's not true, I-" Seeing her face crumble, her posture turn defensive, stoked the fire of your anger. You wanted her to hurt, wanted to punish her for leaving you back then and insulting you now.

"You're like some shitty reincarnation of Heather Chandler, all high and mighty until you're inevitably toppled by some nobody you were so sure was so below you that they couldn't even pose a threat."

"Great film analysis there, loser." Regina quipped weakly, already backing down. You weren't done, though.

"It's only a matter of time before Cady Heron pours you a glass of drain cleaner too, and I'll be looking forward to the day." You sniped, watching as Regina's lip curled in an exaggerated show of being unaffected. You knew her. You knew she'd seen Heathers and you knew the parallels weren't pleasing to the eye. You knew you were going too far, but you couldn't stop.

"You think you're such a martyr, you think that-"

"I thought we were friends, Regina! All I wanted was to be your friend. Sure, I liked you, but that didn't have to mean anything until you kissed me."

"It meant something the whole time! You can't act like it was nothing, our whole friendship is tainted by it!"

"Get over yourself, Regina, you could've ignored it like you do every flaw you have!"

"I don't have flaws, I'm above that." She scoffed, but the tremor in her voice told you that even she didn't think that was true. "I'm doing everyone a favour by showing who's on top."

"Who are you? A fucking dictator? Is that how you truly see yourself? Because I see a scared little girl, confused and angry, taking it out on the easiest targets."

"Nobody gets to feel okay when I feel like this! It's not fair! It's not fair they get to be happy and I have to be like this all the time! I hate this and they deserve it!"

You fought to ignore your heart breaking for her, how her words and obvious cries for help made you want to bleed for her. You'd stood idly and let her hurt you for long enough, it was about time you stood up for yourself.

"Oh, well, I'm so sorry then. I'm starting to fucking get Janis. Maybe I could've come up with the Homecoming sprinkler prank myself. Maybe I should've let you use the lard for your face."

You regretted it the moment the words left your lips.

A beat, both of you staring at each other, faces slack and chests heaving from all the screaming, regret and betrayal swirling in the air like a toxic tornado, passed.

"You knew?" Regina whispered, suddenly so quiet the wind from your sails wooshed away. "You knew and you didn't tell me?"

"I... I did." You looked down. Fuck. You'd fucked up. You'd insinuated you wanted to see her die. You didn't want that at all. Tears sprung to your eyes again and you pressed the heels of your palms to them.

Could this even be fixed at this point? You should've just shut up and it wouldn't have escalated like this. You knew why she'd reacted the way she did, you knew, but you hadn't been able to stay level-headed when she'd started coming at you.

"Get out." She spoke normally, volume steady. She was shaking, you could see that even with your faltering vision.

"I'm sorry, Reg, I really am. I should've told you. I shouldn't have said those things to you. I'm sorry."

"I said get out."

Unable to hold it any longer, a sob burst out and you decided to leave before you humiliated yourself any further. You grabbed your overnight bag and practically ran out of the room.

You should've been quieter because Mrs George came to see who was stomping down the stairs so late. She had a wine glass in hand, a silken robe tied at her waist, and a worried look on her face.

"Oh, hi, I packed some leftovers for you to- oh, honey, what's wrong?"

"It's- it's nothing, Mrs George." You hiccuped and looked away, embarrassed by your crying. You couldn't look her in the eye. Did you want her to be your mom? Did it matter when Regina clearly saw it that way even if it wasn't true? Taking any comfort from her now felt like proving her right.

"It doesn't seem like nothing. Why don't we go sit and you can tell me what happened. Did Regina say something mean?"

"I don't wanna talk about it, please."

Mrs George sighed. "There's leftovers in the fridge for you." She lingered as you passed. "Honey?"

"What?" Usually, you didn't have the heart to be so rude to her.

"You're welcome here anytime." She smiled at you gently. Clearly, she was experienced in dealing with volatile teenagers. You turned and headed for the kitchen.

Walking home, bag on your shoulder and various containers of delicious food in your arms, you felt numb. You'd left through the garage door, grabbing your clothes from the mudroom as you went, but you still had on the sweatpants.

Tears dried on your cheeks, eyes swollen and nose stuffy, you didn't know what to do. Snow was falling and the streetlights made the scene look more beautiful than was warranted. You felt empty, hollowed out like you'd spilt your guts, heart, and most other internal organs on the floor of Regina's bedroom.

You got home, put the leftovers in the fridge, and stood in the kitchen. Swallowing on a dry mouth, throat scratchy, you figured there was little else you could do other than smoke a cigarette.

You stepped onto the porch and sank down onto the bench swing. Lighting up and inhaling, you closed your eyes as the smoke passed through you.

Regina by the poolside in her bikini, Regina eating pizza on your couch, Regina on the passenger seat of your car, Regina smoking a cigarette with you under the bleachers.

That was all gone, then.

Notes: I was a little wary of having the chapter be only the argument, but it got so long that I figured it'd be nice to have the next chapters work towards a resolution straight away. No need to stretch out the acute misery for any longer than necessary. I'll say, though, that just like IRL something like this isn't just fixed right away. So look forward to more chapters! This is getting so long. I started writing this like, hey, a cute oneshot with a butch OC! Here we fucking are.

Taglist: @autorasexy, @wedfan2, @unadulterated-moron, @modernsapphicism, @9unknown0, @sage-rose2000, @massive-honkas, @nattys-swiftie, @likefirenrain, @luz-enjoyer, @dandelions4us, @natashamaximoff-69, @alexkolax, @jareaul0ver, @here4theqts, @charleeeesworld, @natsbiggestfan1, @brocoliisscared, @yellowwallflowers, @scarlettbitchx, @ayoungexwife, @cyberbonesworld, @syddie-reads, @screechcat, @theenglishswiftie,@gabby-duhh, @sweetmissnothing, @masterofpuppets-10, @l1lass, @starved-mortal

#mean girls #mean girls 2024 #mean girls 2004 #regina george #regina george x reader #regina george x you #regina george x oc #regina george x ofc #lesbian regina george #mean girls x reader #wlw #fic: yard work

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