#chap 10

[untaemedqueen]

At Your Service

Escort!Jeongguk x CEO!Reader

Genre: Strangers to Lovers!AU, Angst, Fluff, Smut

Chapter 10.

Series Warnings (Will Be Updated): Angst, Fluff, Cold Heartedness, Emotional Trauma, Healing, Smut, Dark Humor

Warnings For This Chapter: Morning Sex, Unprotected Sex, Praise, Daddy Kink

Normalcy in your house is to wake up with a frigid chill running through your bones. It shocks you awake, steeling your mind and getting you ready for your work day.

But this morning, you have a wave of warmth wrapping your body in such a serene sheet of paradise that you find it difficult to crawl out of bed.

You just lay there, allowing Jeongguk's arm to hold you like glue against his own body.

You don't know what time it is, you don't know what day it is.

You're just serene.

The ten foot long black out curtains shroud your bedroom in darkness and you only know Guk is awake as well when his lips drift over your bare shoulder.

His hand against your bare stomach roams higher and your immediate childish response is to cuddle backwards into his embrace.

His hips thrust needily with morning desire and his face nestles into the nape of your neck sweetly.

His eyebrow piercing is chilly against your flushed skin and you're ready to fall back into your lustful ways from last night.

"Morning, gorgeous," the escort breathes, his voice laced with deep tones of sleep.

His hand palms at your breast, pulling you so close that there's barely any room to breathe.

"Hi," you whisper, clearing your throat.

You can feel his perfect smile against your skin, like this is the only interaction that should happen at any given morning.

"Last night was amazing," Guk whispers, squeezing your breast gently.

You hum in agreement, seemingly at a loss for words.

It was amazing.

But it was also impulsive.

You aren't sure if it was right but it felt right…

It felt natural.

"I can practically hear your thoughts screaming from back here," Jeongguk prods, drifting his hand from your breast to the apex of your thighs.

Your breath catches and your eyes squeeze shut.

You don't want to stop him, you want this to be natural and to continue on without having to expend any extra thoughts on it.

Your legs mindlessly spread for him and he groans in agreement.

"Your body is so beautiful," he hisses, letting his erection become smothered by the globes of your ass.

With a whine, you press yourself back into him as his fingers begin to work circles against your clit.

His teeth nip at the thin skin of your neck and he's ready to claim you again as his own.

Climbing over you, his forehead rests against yours.

"I don't want to do this with anyone else," Jeongguk avows, drifting a hand over your cheek.

The escort gently slides himself inside of you, furrowing his eyebrows at the tight wetness that enwraps him.

"What do you mean?" you ask breathlessly, drifting your hands over his arms.

He buries himself to the hilt, kissing your lips so softly that it feels like he can crumble to dust above you in mere moments.

"I mean," he begins sweetly, pulling out of you slowly, "be mine."

He thrusts back into you with one quick snap, muddling your thoughts and tearing moans from your throat.

"W-We don't know each other!" you gasp, gripping onto his muscled arms.

"Yes, we do," he groans, sitting up on his knees.

His hands grip at your thighs, butterflying them open wide.

When your chest heaves and bows off the bed, he whispers your name reverently.

"I know how much I adore you. I want this. I want you," he whines, fucking you fast with smooth motions that turn any response you could have into babbles.

"Daddy!" you moan, letting your head loll back.

He moans in agreement, palming your breasts and letting your thumbs swipe against your hardening nipples.

He feels like everything good for you in this moment and in a way it's exhilarating. He's proving to be the only exception in your icebox of a heart.

"God! Your pussy feels so fucking good!"

Your nails scratch at his honey skin, leaving bright red lines of pleasure in their wake.

When your eyes spring open, even in the darkness of the room, you can see pure adoration written all over his face.

He's looking at you.

He adores you.

And that's never happened before.

Your stomach coils at how doe-like and wondrous his face is above you.

"Give it to me. I feel it. I want it," he begs, rubbing rough circles to your clit until you're gritting your teeth.

"I want every orgasm of yours. I want it so badly, baby," he whines, snapping his hips rougher to yours.

"Jeongguk!" you cry out and he groans in agreement.

That coil within your stomach bursts like shards of glass and he holds you close to him as you tremble.

"Say my name again," he begs, burying his face into your neck.

"Guk," you whisper, combing your fingers through his long black hair.

"I-I'm so close, baby. I'm gonna cum!" he whimpers, fucking you faster and faster until he simply stops and shudders.

"Y/N!" he sobs out against your skin, filling you with his seed.

He coddles you immediately, giving you no time to process anything that's just happened and you don't pull away, you don't become awkward, you just… exist happily.

"Hey Y/N! You didn't come into work toda-" Namjoon bellows, entering your bedroom with gusto until he sees the sight before him as he turns the lights on.

Jeongguk simply lifts up the covers over the both of you, a smug grin etching onto his face.

You squint at the bright light, trying to pull away from Guk who keeps you glued to his body with his arms.

"What the fuck?" Joon breathes, tilting his head in confusion.

"I didn't know what time it was… I…" you begin, losing yourself halfway through.

"She's been busy, I made her lose track of time," Jeongguk sighs, burying his face in your shoulder and closing his eyes tiredly.

"I never thought you'd… I can't believe… Jesus Christ," Namjoon scoffs, you can hear the pain and the annoyance in his voice and something inside of you twists awkwardly with guilt.

"Joon," you breathe, pulling the blanket closer to you.

Your coworker takes off without another word with wide eyes and folded arms.

"Let him go, baby," Jeongguk whispers, putting his head down on the pillow.

"He's…" you begin, only to be kissed softly enough to stop your thoughts.

"He'll get over it. He's upset right now, just give him time, Wednesday," the escort suggests, putting his arm behind his head.

"It just doesn't feel right, he shouldn't be upset because of me," you sigh, cuddling into his bare chest.

Guk can only smile at how naturally you do this, he can only be grateful that you're allowing yourself to feel and accepting it without delving much thought into it.

"He's probably been in love with you for ages, he needs time to process this."

"I haven't even processed this yet," you mumble, drifting your fingers over the ink on his chest.

"You have time. All the time in the world," Guk promises, kissing the top of your head and closing his eyes.

This feels too natural to go sour and you like the thought of that… maybe a little too much.

The escort groans loudly, setting down the weighted bar above his head.

"I want you guys to meet Y/N," he gasps, sitting up on the bench and grabbing his protein shake.

Jimin's eyes hone in on him through the large mirror and he almost immediately drops the barbell through his fingers.

"What?" Taehyung hisses, letting go of the rowing equipment.

Guk leans his sweaty head against the weighted bar, almost magically entranced when he thinks of you. "I want you guys to meet her. She's… incredible."

His two best friends eye each other curiously before turning their attention back to the youngest who seems to have love in his eyes.

"No," Taehyung breathes, grabbing his towel.

"What?! Why not?!" Jeongguk gripes, furrowing his eyebrows.

"She's gonna be just another Chloe and I'm not going to stand there and watch you devolve into some subhuman again," Tae announces, wiping away his sweat.

Jimin cringes almost immediately, finishing his set of reps before taking a seat beside Jeongguk on the bench.

"She isn't like Chloe! She's so much more incredible. You don't know her! She's so much more!" Guk defends you, folding his arms.

Jimin sighs softly, leaning back on his hands. "We're just worried about you. It hasn't been long since Ch-"

"Y'know, I'm not a kid anymore. I'm a fucking adult. I know what Chloe did to me, I know it fucked me up but Y/N is different! She's-"

"He fucked her," Tae breathes, nodding to the youngest who's golden honey skin is now shading pink with unreasonable anger.

"So what if I did?!" he booms throughout the empty private gym.

"We're just protective of you," Jimin whispers, putting his hand on the youngest's back.

"Well maybe you guys could try to be supportive instead of protective! I think I'm really falling for her! She's different, she's not like Chloe at all. She has a soul, she has character, she understands me!" Jeongguk rambles on, squeezing the towel between his fists tightly.

Taehyung looks him over before sighing softly. "She means a lot to you."

"Yes! She fucking does! She does mean a lot!"

"She's your client, Gukkie," Jimin murmurs awkwardly, grabbing a water bottle.

"No, she isn't. I made it perfectly clear. She's not paying me. And she didn't pay me to sleep with her either! It's what I wanted to do! I'm so fucking into her that her money doesn't mean shit to me!"

Taehyung presses his lips into a straight line.

The youngest knows how his two best friends would fight tooth and nail for him but for once he needs them to be supportive.

They've seen him through some of the darkest times he's ever been through and he'll always be grateful for it but now it's time to move on.

"Just meet her like she's just a new friend. I promise you guys are going to love her. Just give her a chance… Please," the escort practically begs, throwing the towel over his sweaty black hair.

"We'll meet her," Jimin promises with a soft smile.

"Fine, but that doesn't mean we're going easy on her," Taehyung sighs, grabbing the rowing equipment again with the shake of his head.

"Tomorrow! We'll be at my place!" Guk smiles widely.

"Tomorrow then," Chim breathes, standing back up.

The youngest is so happy that he doesn't focus on the others, he can't see the way Jimin and Taehyung stare at each other through the mirror like they're having this unspoken conversation.

They're going to test you and only when you pass will they be supportive.

Only then.

You're not used to embarrassment.

At least you haven't been for years, not since your heart has grown dark and hardened by the sins of your ex.

But the embarrassment of being seen by your coworker Namjoon after knowing him for so many years is such a hard pill to swallow.

In some weird way you feel as if you've betrayed him.

He's been open with liking you from the minute he met you but he just wasn't for you… He didn't make you want to open up.

Not like Jeongguk.

So you've decided to hide away today in your sterile mansion.

There's not much for you to do in your large home but you feel comforted and locked away.

Sipping your espresso, you stare at the figures from last week's report. All of the numbers swim aimlessly through your brain and it's difficult for you to pay any attention at all.

It's incredibly unlike you.

You're too busy thinking of the words Jeongguk said in the middle of having sex. He wants you to be his.

He wants you.

And you vowed that you'd never go through heartache again…

You don't know what to do with yourself.

It's only been a short time and the escort is already on your mind way more than he should be. Or so you think, anyway.

He seems like everything good in this world. When he holds you it feels like the frozen block in your chest was never frigid to begin with.

It feels natural.

"Good afternoon!"

Even now just hearing his voice while he enters your home makes a smile spread over your face.

He isn't intruding, he isn't unwelcome, he's here to brighten your day and your spirits.

When you turn to him, the big box he carries in with one arm makes your eyebrow quip up.

"What's that?" you inquire, setting down your espresso cup.

"A television," he replies, setting it down gingerly.

"Why did you buy a television?" you guffaw, forgetting all about the report from last week in your hands.

"Because you don't know any pop culture references and you're missing out on watching hours of mindless television," the escort announces, putting his hands on his hips.

You simply blink at his statement, simply at a loss for words.

"So where are we putting this? In the bedroom?" Jeongguk asks, pushing the large box further into the house.

"Why the bedroom?" you chirp, following after him.

"So we can cuddle and watch movies… Duh," he breathes cutely, hoisting the box up with a wink.

And suddenly, that guilt you've felt all day has been wiped clean from your mind like an empty slate.

"I don't get it," you whisper, running your fingers down Guk's bare chest.

He tilts his head towards you, the red licorice stick dangling past his pretty lips. "What's not to get? It's a fantasy movie."

You pull the licorice from his mouth, giggling when he fights back against you cutely. His arms squeeze you tighter and he tugs his head in the other direction until you become the victor with the spoils in hand.

You enter the licorice into your mouth with a sigh.

"There are so many times when someone could just kill the villain with the killing curse and the whole series would have been over by now," you breathe, leaning back into his chest.

"But then there'd be no series. It's a fantastical masterpiece, babe," Jeongguk replies, burying his face in your neck.

"It is fun to watch," you offer, letting his fingertips drift down your bare thighs softly.

"After this movie I want you to pack a bag," he announces, kissing over your shoulder.

"Why?" you inquire, turning to him fully when he pauses the movie.

The escort settles his hands on your hips, staring up at you with a loving gaze that could rival many romance flicks.

"I want you to meet my dog. I told you that yesterday. And I'm gonna cook you dinner," he replies, booping your nose gently.

You simply sit on his lap with curiosity written all over your face.

He chuckles sweetly when your head tilts curiously.

"That sounds like a relationship kind of thing to do," you whisper, allowing him to intertwine both of your hands.

"I know, that's why I'm doing it," he chuckles, pulling you toward him.

"I never gave you my answer," you remind him with wide eyes.

There's something so peaceful with Guk that it seems to throw all of your caution to the wind. When you're truly together like this it feels as if you've been with one another for eons, it's just that comfortable.

Heartache doesn't seem to be an option when you're with him.

"When you go pack your bag it'll give me my answer," Jeongguk says with a cheeky smile etching onto his face.

You tilt your head, allowing the moment to truly sink in.

"How many days would I be packing for?"

The escort begins to kiss up your intertwined hands, until he can pull you down to his chest with a heady huff. "As many days as you want. For the rest of your life, if you would like."

"Alright," you whisper, laying your cheek down on his bare chest.

What you didn't realize here was just how wrong it was for you to open up to him like this.

He makes you so comfortable that you lose yourself, you lose all your senses.

You don't know which way is up until it's too late.

[summontale]

✸ Summontale Chap 10 // page 5 ✸

With great responsibility comes great burden

::Chapters list  :: Cover | Previous | Next Chap

Deviantart Tapas

[bridgeportbritt]

Creeksbrey Palace | Umbrage, SimDonia

Knock on door 

Ella: Come in.

Emmitt: Hey, Ella. You busy? We need to talk.

Ella sighs: No, just ripping my eyes out trying to find a stinking outfit for this summer festival Kali wants us to go to while I’m there. This isn’t about my trip to Simerica, is it?

Emmitt: No, this isn’t about your trip. It’s about your mother.

Ella: Oh, I was wondering when this was coming. She’s been in major sulk mode this week. She’s barely come out of her room! Is everything okay?

Emmitt: ...Not exactly. Your mom had an audience with Diana and... well, she asked her to step down from KBE.

Ella: WHAT?!? Step down? Mom, can’t step down! It’s K.B.E. What does Diana think the B stands for?

Emmitt: I know. I’m just as surprised and upset as you are.

Ella upset: Dad! This- this isn’t fair, right? She can’t just take KBE away. Do I have to step down, too?

Emmitt: Yes, honey. I’m sorry.

Ella upset: Oh, my Watcher! This isn’t fair! No wonder mom is so sad.

Emmitt: Look, honey, I know how unfair this is. Trust me. Your mom is devastated. I’m devastated. She needs us to rally for her.

Ella sniffles: You’re right. I can rally for mom. Whatever she needs.

Emmitt: Thanks, Ella. Your mom needs our support so she can get back on her feet and fight this.

Ella: What do you mean?

Emmitt: I mean that we’re not just going to take this. I don’t know how, but we’re going to find a way to resolve this without your mom losing her business. She’s worked way too hard and loves it way too much for that.

Ella: But, what about Diana? She is the Queen. Doesn’t see have final say?

Emmitt scoffs: We’ll see about that.

Ella: I think I have an idea that might cheer mom up. Do you think she’ll talk to me if I go to her room?

Emmitt: Of course, honey. Just try not to mention KBE too much.

Ella: Okay, thanks, Dad.

Ella sighs

Ella is going on a trip to Simerica to see Bria’s cousin, Maia and her kids. This is her last summer before senior year so she’s trying to make the most of it. But, with her mom in a funk, our girl can’t help but feel bad! As an advisor for KBE kids and the E in KBE but a future Grand Duchess, Ella is also out of the KBE game. So, this is just as upsetting for her. We can see though that Emmitt isn’t going without a fight. We’ll see how Ella wants to cheer Bria up soon!

[iamhereinthebg]

Trust

[abstract-hellbender]

what if hey were cowboys,,, all im saying...

[jabamint]

Commander's Honor

inspired by @pikapeppa 's Hardiest Desert Blooms fic and this ref

[petite-phthora]

Do you think it was a date?

[DP x DC fic]

[Love at first... murder? - part 5]

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Part 1

Ao3

---

In-chat nicknames:

Daniel = Danny

Sharpshooter = Jazz

TooFine= Tucker

Chaos = Sam

TheCoolerDaniel = Danielle/Dani/Ellie

---

Private chat nicknames:

Bill = Danny

Pants = Jazz

---

As soon as Danny enters his apartment, face bright red, he takes his head into his hands and lets out a silent scream.

He could have said anything, and he panicked and went with Toodealoo Kangaroo???

At this rate, he’ll never get a partner.

As Danny stands there in misery, his phone starts buzzing with messages. Curious, he checks his phone to see what going on.

Uh oh.

---

Team Phantom 👻😎

Chaos: Guys check this out

Chaos: *link*

Chaos: The Joker escaped from Arkham again, but no one’s heard anything of him since, nor have they been able to find him

TooFine: @Daniel 👀

TooFine: ok the @ had been a joke but the fact that he has read it and not replied is concerning

Sharpshooter: @Daniel, what did you do?

Sharpshooter: @Daniel

Sharpshooter: I can see that you’re reading this, don’t ignore me.

TooFine: ohhhh someones in troubleee 👀

Sharpshooter: Tucker.

TooFine: 🤐

---

Danny takes a deep breath.

Well, it’s now or never. Let’s hope Jazz is feeling merciful.

---

Private chat

Bill: ok so you know how you said you would still love me if I was a worm?

Pants: I have no clue how this ties into the previous conversation, but yes. Why?

Bill: hypothetically

Bill: would you also still love me if I

Bill: hypothetically

Bill: accidentally

Bill: vibe checked someone that tried to uh

Bill: hypothetically

Bill: kidnap and or kill me??

Bill: 🥺🥺🙏

Pants: Danny, did you accidentally kill the Joker?

Bill: yes or no Jazz??!? 😩🥺

Pants: Yes, Danny. I would still love you if you, hypothetically, accidentally killed the Joker.

Bill: this is why you’re my favorite sister 🥹🥰😘

Bill: don’t tell Ellie 😳🫣

Pants: Danny, what happened?

---

Danny lets out a sigh of relief before proceeding to tell Jazz what happened.

---

Pants: Oh Danny.

Bill: are you mad at me?

Pants: I’m not mad at you, I just want you to stay safe.

Pants: While I don’t condone murder, I understand that it was self-defense and an accident. I‘m just glad that you’re alright.

Bill: 🥰💞😘

---

With a small smile on his face, Danny goes back to the groupchat.

---

Team Phantom 👻😎

Daniel: you know

Daniel: if I had a nickel for every time I’ve had to fight off an insane clown that attacked me 🤡

Daniel: I’d have two nickels

Daniel: which isn’t a lot but it’s weird that it’s happened twice, right? 🤔

Chaos: Damnit Danny, we leave you alone in a new city for a week and you already manage to get into a fight with one of Gotham City’s most infamous rogues

TooFine: actually its been 6 days 10 hours and 17 minutes

TooFine: so not even a full week yet

Chaos: Did you at least get a good few punches in?

Chaos: Danny?

TooFine: @Daniel ???

TooFine: if i had a nickel for every time danny said something concerning and then didnt provide context id be richer than vlad

Daniel: anyway, for completely unrelated reasons, @TooFine I need you to wipe some cams for me 😃

TooFine: danny im not wiping the cams again so no one will have proof of you tripping backward and falling ass-first into a trashcan

Chaos: Speaking of, Tucker do you still have that footage and can you send it to me?

TooFine: already done

Daniel: noo it’s nothing like that this time 😫

Daniel: pleaseeee 🥺🙏🙏

Daniel: I’ll get you an autograph from Tim Drake-Wayne?

TooFine: deal.

Daniel: 🥳🎉

Daniel: ok so the footage from somewhere around 3 am last night

Daniel: around some place named park row??

Daniel: I think it’s called?? 🤔

Daniel: though I’m pretty sure I’ve also heard some people refer to it as crime alley

Daniel: not sure why tho 🤷

TooTine: aye aye captain o7

Chaos: Danny, in an alley getting attacked by the fucking Joker: I wonder why this place is called crime alley

Daniel: stop bullying me 😠

Chaos: No

TooFine: hey danny r u sure thats right? i checked the cams n stuff but theres no available footage from the area n time u described

TooFine: its like someones already wiped it all

Daniel: oh!

Daniel: that’s so sweet of him  😊

Chaos: Wait who is this ‘him’?

TooFine: the joker????

Daniel: oh no not the Joker

Daniel: just some cute guy I met last night  

Daniel: he witnessed me killing the Joker 🫣

Daniel: and didn’t call the cops on me afterward 🥰💞

TooFine: def green flag

Chaos: Oh hell yeah, he’s a keeper

Chaos: Wait you killed the Joker?! I thought you just fought him off!

Daniel: it was an accident!! 😭😭

Daniel: he crept up on me and tried to grab me 😓

Daniel: so I got startled and because all I saw was a clown

Daniel: I just kinda punched his face in with my ghost strength… 😰

TooFine: f

Chaos: f

Sharpshooter: Have you gotten rid of the body yet? Did you leave behind DNA at the crime scene? Will I need to start saving up bail money or getting ready to enact the Fenton Break Out plan?

Chaos: Jazz asking the important questions here

Daniel: well, considering the footage was wiped

Daniel: and also the fact that no one’s found him yet

Daniel: I think it’s safe to assume it’s all taken care of

Daniel: that’s honestly really sweet of him though 🥰😊

TooFine: oohhhhh ur mystery boo??

Daniel: yeah, this random guy saw me vibe-checking the Joker

Daniel: and let me go home without any trouble

Daniel: pretty sure he’s the one who wiped the cams 🤔

Daniel: and then today he showed up at my apartment with flowers 🥺

Daniel: they were sweat peas!!!! 🥰🤩

Chaos: Was that to thank you for the murder orrrr?

Sharpshooter: Oh those are your favorite, was that on purpose?

Daniel: well I didn’t tell him

Daniel: so I’m not sure if he knew or if it was a coincidence 🤷

Daniel: but yeah then he took me out to this restaurant called Pete’s for dinner

Daniel: they had some amazing cannoli

Daniel: you should try it sometime if you get the chance

Daniel: and then after dinner he took me to the observatory!!!!!!! 🤩🥰

Sharpshooter: Gotham observatory?

Sharpshooter: Isn’t that the one with the special telescope, I think you mentioned it before

Daniel: yeah, the crystal-powered telescope!! 😍💞✨🤩❤️

Daniel: and at the end, he brought me home

Daniel: and he asked for my number!!!

TooFine: nice dude!

Chaos: The guy really went all-out and planned your dream date hu? So, what’s this mystery hunk’s name?

Daniel: oh I’m not sure, I didn’t ask 🙃🤭

Sharpshooter: Danny…

Daniel: yes?

Sharpshooter: Did you go on a date with a complete stranger who witnessed you commit a murder?

Chaos: How do you not even know his name?

Daniel: two words Jazz: Johnny 13

Daniel: and he’s not a stranger!! 😠

Sharpshooter: But you don’t know his name?

Chaos: We just can’t leave him alone, can we? Less than a week on his own and he already murdered one of Gotham’s most infamous rogues and then completely forgets the concept of Stranger Danger

Daniel: I mean he probably just found it when he tried to do some research on me or something

Daniel: probably got it from the school’s system now that I think of it 🤔

TooFine: dude who the hell is this guy??

Chaos: Who the fuck did you go on a date with?

Daniel: do you really think it was a date? 🥺😳

Daniel: I wasn’t sure

Daniel: cause he mainly took me out for dinner to thank me for the night before

Daniel: but then again

Daniel: he did get me flowers and ask for my number after he brought me back to my apartment 🤔

Daniel: like I wasn’t sure if I was reading the signals right…..

Daniel: but do you think that was a date? 🫣

Sharpshooter: Danny, for the love of the Ancients.

Sharpshooter: Who was it?

Daniel: oh, it was Red Hood 🥰

TooFine: damn dannys got that vigilante rizz

Sharpshooter: Red Hood? The crime lord?!

TooFine: former, actually

Daniel: what he said ^^

Chaos: Danny, you really have a type huh? Vigilantes with a Red theme. Who’s next? Red Robin?

Daniel: stop bullying me

TooFine: never

Chaos: Never

Daniel: on a different note, who changed my name in the chat again?

Sharpshooter: Ellie did.

Chaos: Ellie

TooFine: @TheCoolerDaniel

TheCoolerDaniel: 😎

TheCoolerDaniel: wait i just read back, danny’s dating a crime lord?? :0 👀

---

Taglist (for now, I’ll probably stop if I cant keep up):

@i-always-say-yea  @uraniumwizard

[whumblr]

Shattering

Crossed out - Continued from ch.9 - Prologue

-

“Nothing to clean this time, sir?” Lucas bit when he was dismissed from Nero’s office after a relatively quiet evening. Yeah. He was still sour about having to clean up his own blood that Nero punched out of him last time.

Nero, unfortunately, was always sour.

He didn’t even deign to give him an answer. A hint of exasperation crossed his expression and he replied in his own way. He reached for the glass of water on his desk and threw it with all his force at Lucas.

It flew just past his face and Lucas flinched back hard. “Whoa!”

He turned just in time, throwing his arms in front of his face to avoid a second assail of splintered glass as it shattered against the door.

Dumbfounded, he looked at Nero, to the thousand pieces on the floor and back, mouth slightly agape, shock pumping through his veins.

“There is, actually,” Nero merely said, calm as if that outburst never happened.

Lucas reared up for an ‘are you out of your fucking mind?!’ but before he could even open his mouth, Nero glared up at him, instantly shutting down any back talk.

“Clean that up,” he said, maintaining eye contact. “Before I’ll make you kneel on the shards for the rest of the evening.”

His fight left him in a laboured exhale, his shoulders relaxing. “I’ll… be right back. Sir,” he said haltingly. He carefully stepped around the glass, splinters crackling under his feet. Moments later – now knowing where to collect cleaning materials – he returned and sank to the ground, scraping glass into a dustpan.

Nero watched him over his folded hands. “If I hear so much as a crunch under my boot later…”

Yeah, yeah, Lucas forced back, you’d smash my face in the remains, yeah I know. “Yes, sir,” he replied instead, dutifully, only the barest hint of resentment in his voice. He crept over the floor, reaching with the brush to the far corners catching every splinter of glass that skittered away, careful not to place a knee or rest a hand on the floor.

As he stood the glass jingled against the plastic dustpan and he shot Nero a glance that spelled, ‘satisfied?!’.

Nero merely replied with a curt nod up. Dismissed.

The next evening he didn’t bother with niceties as he entered the office. “What’s on the agenda for this ev—"

Nero barely pointed a finger to his lips and Lucas instantly fell silent.

He watched as Nero languidly pushed himself from his chair. Heard the leather creak, the tires squeak against the floor, the groan of wood when Nero leaned on the desk as he walked around it. Slow footsteps, heavy thumps, a squeal of rubber against the floor, and as he approached, he took a final step almost as in slow motion. And Lucas heard a very feint crushing sound under his boot.

He froze up. Swallowed.

Nero noticed. “That means I don’t have to explain. Good.” He stepped back, pressed a finger to the floor and straightened up again, brushing his finger almost right under Lucas nose. A tiny glass crystal perched on his fingertip.

The tension in the room was palpable. In fact, Lucas was sure it radiated from his rigid frame. Not a word was spoken and he was sure the thundering of his heart could be heard loud and clear. He knew what this meant. But hope still had a tight grasp on him and he didn’t dare shatter the tension, because speaking out didn’t have the most amazing results lately.

Nero moved slowly, eyes on Lucas’, and reached out and picked up the empty vase on the filing cabinet next to them. Probably prepared this afternoon because Lucas had no memory of any decorations brightening this gloomy room.

He let the glass fall. Lucas closed his eyes in resignation at the following crash.

The shards pooled under him, larger than the ones from yesterday where the force behind Nero’s throw had pretty much obliterated everything larger than a pebble. Now, sharp pieces poked up, ready to dig into the skin of anyone careless enough to slice a finger along the edges.

“Get on your knees.” Nero rested his hand on his belt, near the baton.

“You can’t—” Lucas started in a feeble voice but fell silent when the hand casually slid over to rest on the handle of the baton. This was going to happen. And if Nero were to strike him, he’d crash down right into the glass. Maybe, if he was cautious and lowered slowly, his trousers would take the brunt.

“You seem very sure about what I can and can’t do.”

“Yeah, I have this little reference guide. It’s called the law.”

The bit of fire flared up but instantly quashed out again as he looked at the pointy spikes under him.

He took a step back, attempting to do as he was told and sink to his knees, just not, you know, right there. But Nero grabbed him by the collar, held him firmly where he was and simply said, “No.”

Lucas swallowed again. Then bent his knees and slowly, right under Nero’s expectant gaze, lowered himself down. Very carefully he rested his knees on the pieces and gradually let more weight shift forward. He winced, but luckily the glass didn’t fully pierce skin. All he felt was an uncomfortable pressure – that would probably turn worse and worse if Nero kept him here until ten again – and light pricks against his skin as the glass dug through the heavy cotton of his trousers.

Larger shards snapped under the weight, smaller pieces merely crunched uncomfortably under bone, and luckily the splinters couldn’t get through the rough cotton to nestle into sensitive skin. His shoulders firmly lodged high up into his neck, as if he would somehow weigh more and put more pressure on the glass if he were to lower them. But he slowly started to relax. There was no blood, merely a few tiny pinpricks in his trousers and while it hurt, it wasn’t as bad as he’d thought.

He could do this. As long as he stayed still and was careful.

The challenge in his eyes must’ve been visible as he glared up.

All of a sudden, Nero took a firm step towards Lucas and in one swift movement pulled his baton from his belt, aimed a backhanded strike straight at his face and—

Lucas recoiled hard. “No!” He threw his hands up, scooted back on his knees. Cried out as the glass dug harder into his knees as he braced himself. A brush of air that signaled the force of Nero’s blow swiped at his cheekbone. But the blow didn’t land.

His eyes squeezed shut in anticipation, in pain, and he slowly peeked out when he wasn’t blasted away. The baton hovered right in front of his face. A shivery exhale of relief hesitantly brushed over his lips. But the relief was a short one as a sharp pain stabbed into his knees.

Nero merely put the baton back on his belt, walked back to his seat, and slid the piece of paper to the front of his desk. “You know the drill.”

Lucas bared his teeth in a grimace. His eyes watered and he slowly pulled himself back upright on his knees. This time he did feel a wetness seep into his trouser leg and a sharp pressure that didn’t let up. With each micro movement he felt the shards stab deeper into his skin. Every wince only made things worse. And if that wasn’t enough, he could already feel the familiar numbness creep up.

His previous strategy of shifting his legs as much as possible was no option this time. He was sitting in a pool of glass and he could already see long shards precariously close waiting to snap under his weight and bury into his legs. Leaning forward on hands and knees was definitely out of the question. Keep his hands off the floor at all times.

The static in his legs mingled with dull throbbing pressure of dozens of unyielding crystals poking against unyielding bone.

“Pick up the pieces around you—no. Stay like that. When you’re done, then you can get up,” Nero said after half an hour in an unexpected display of mercy.

Or, well, was it?

In his eagerness Lucas bent forward and not only stabbed his knees even further, but also sliced his finger open when he picked up a shard and winced at the same time. It jingled back against the hard floor and he took a deep breath. His legs were already so numb, if he wasn’t careful he’d fall right into the broken pieces. Easy does it, slowly does it.

He carefully picked up the larger pieces first, gathered them into the unbroken base, and looked at Nero when all that remained were the pieces smaller than the tip of his finger. Nero shook his head.

A frustrated growl seeped into his exhale. He wiped the blood away, before he’d have to clean that off the floor too, and pressed his fingers into the tiny shards, picking them up one by one.

It still took him half an hour. Only his muffled grunts and small clinking noises of the crystals falling on glass broke the silence. He skidded across the floor, the pieces under his knees following right along or finding fresh undented patches of skin to bruise as he inched back and forth to reach the pieces further away from him.

Only when mere splinters remained, Nero nodded and allowed him to get up. To get the dustpan again.

Straightening his knees felt like all muscles snapped like those crackle sticks and he couldn’t help a hiss. His trousers weren’t soaked but there were distinctive red stains welling up from the inside out.

He resisted the urge to rest his hands on his thighs and bent forward, stretching his muscles. There were probably still sharp pieces stuck in the fabric. At least he didn’t have to do this on bare feet in his boxers. So to make sure Nero didn’t have a reason to make him walk on fresh glass tomorrow, he swiped the entire floor extra well.

He didn’t look to Nero for approvement, just kept working in silence, prolonging his own torture with squats and strains. And when he was finally done, the word of mercy was delivered in an unimpressed baritone:

“Dismissed.”

-

Tag list: @gala1981 @chaotic-orphan @lolrpop @andithewhumper @tippytappytyping

@suspicious-whumping-egg @cherrychupachup @alexmundaythrufriday @defire @withdrawingramen

@light-me-on-pyre @treasureguardingdragon @notactuallyluska @fortunately-cool-penguin

[chasingthe2000s]

Lil timeline sheet

[i-ran-into-a-lampost]

Save the Last Dance you will always be famous

I read those goddamn 'One of Ben's necrofriggian kids return' fics and now I think about them everyday help.

[definitelynotshouting]

in case you're wondering how its going rn

[bridgeportbritt]

Pepper Apartments | Del Sol Valley, Simerica

Gianni straining: Finally the last box from the van. Explain to me, again, why you don’t want to utilize perfectly good movers?

Miki chuckles: Movers? Really Gianni? It’s not like we have that much stuff. Besides, we got all the muscle we need.

Gianni flat: How flattering. Well, these muscle are ready for a break.

Miki: Well, I’d say your break is well-deserved. You can enjoy your payment of lukewarm pepperoni pizza while I finish unpacking this kitchen stuff.

Gianni: No well-deserved break for Miki?

Miki: Nah, I want to get as much done today as I can. There’s just so much. I guess I’m just eager to get rolling on this fresh start.

Gianni: Well, I’m here to help. Feels like we’re both starting fresh.

Miki: Yeah, how so?

Gianni: You’ve got your new job, new place. I’ve got my new job and, idk, just feels like I’ve got more responsibility now to do better all around.

Miki: Aw, I’m proud of you, Gianni! Your help with my fresh start means a lot and I can already see you on your path to being better.

Gianni chuckles: Thanks. You’re feeling particularly optimistic and inspired this morning, I see.

Miki laughs: Aren’t I always?

Gianni: Sure. Or it’s in the water of this new place you got here.

Miki: Well, another reason to love it, I guess.

Gianni: How’d you find this place anyway?

Knock on the door

???: Knock knock!!!

Miki: Ah, here’s your answer!

???: Hi! You’re officially moving in. Yay!!!

Miki: Well, obviously, with a big thanks to you, Jennifer, for scoping the place out for me and putting in a good word!

Jennifer: Aw, well, when I saw there was a two bedroom available here, it seemed like fate! And, I did have some ulterior motives, with you being in the same building and all.

Miki chuckles: Ah, yes. That will surely have its advantages.

Jennifer: Gosh, I wish I could help but I’ve got this killer final to cram for. I was on my way to the library when I saw your door open.

Miki: Oh, don’t even worry about it! You’ve helped so much already.

Jennifer: Well, I promise once it’s over, I’ll bring over some snacks and we can have a unpacking party. 

Miki: That sounds really fun. But really, don’t feel bad. I’ve got help. You remember, Gianni, don’t you?

Gianni: ‘Sup.

Jennifer: Oh, hi! Yes, I remember. Nice to see you again.

Gianni: Nice to see you, uh, good luck on your exam.

Jennifer: Thank you! I need it. I should get going, but I will be stopping by as soon as I can.

Miki: Cool, just text me. Oh, and if you happen to pass by Fletcher on the basketball court out back, will you tell him to come in for dinner?

Jennifer: You got it! See you. Bye, Gianni!

Miki and Gianni: Bye!

Gianni: Miki.

Miki: What?

Gianni: You have GOT to hook me up with your friend.

Miki: Jennifer? I don’t know, Gianni. She doesn't seem like your type.

Gianni: What? She’s a cute girl. Of course, she’s my type. 

Miki: Yeah, okay. I’ll see what I can do. 

So last time we saw Gianni, his life got turned upside down lol. As you can see, Miki didn’t stay with him long and was eager to move out once Gianni helped her with a job. She got a little apartment in Del Sol.

Gianni is navigating being the president of his dad’s companies. We will see more on how that’s going later. But, what do we think about Gianni eyeing Jennifer???

[aztarion]

[the-kr8tor]

Re-reading my notes on bdas 2 and I go "man I might've bit more than I can chew on this one" but my god i will have so much fun chewing this! I'd be gnawing with gusto.

You guys are not prepared for what I have in store for book 2

[squidokja]

Feeling like a toxic ex rn because wdym jjk is ending in 4 chaps now im sorry gege come back gege stay come back home pls

[loverslakes]

chapter 4 of "holding the stars in place" is finally here!

“I know, I just,” Will stops, the words stuck in his throat. “I don’t know.” Frustration bubbles up as he pushes himself off the ground starting his way down the hill without waiting for Mike’s response. “You were right though, we do need to go back.”

“I just said that because I didn’t want to do anything dumb,” Mike calls after him, his voice sharp but not unkind. “On your orders, by the way. If you want to talk, then let’s talk.”