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Two Way Ticket

Lee Saerom & Noh Jisun x Male Reader

9441 words

categories: smut, oral, mommy kink

Read on AFF

Eight months have passed since your rendezvous with Gyuri. Nakyung made sure to keep you and Saerom well informed about the clinic’s subsequent move and how her boss was coping. You were thankful she was able to be there for Gyuri during difficult times. Things between you and Saerom were beginning to get a lot more serious: from opening a joint bank account to purchasing your first car together. Even her dog Yeoreum has grown accustomed to you, often spending time on your lap more - something that has made your girlfriend jealous on more than one occasion.

With each passing day, Saerom’s beauty continued to flourish. You wanted to preserve these memories - bringing your camera each time you two went out, something she didn’t seem to mind at all. Saerom knew how to perfectly blend simplicity with confident elegance. She chose to embrace the warmer weather by wearing a simple white crop top that showed off the curvature of her breasts and abs that were the result of many long hours at the gym. Her skirt was brown with what splatter marks decorating it. It ended just slightly below her cute buttcheeks, showing off her long, creamy muscular legs. Her white fuzzy coat appeared out of place, yet perfectly complemented her outfit at the same time. Saerom’s chosen accessories to complete the look were large pearl earrings and a necklace you gifted her on your very first anniversary together. Garnering the stares from men and women alike, you were proud to call Saerom your girlfriend.

Leading you by the hand, you passed many alleyways and streets. Telling you to trust her, you could tell Saerom was smiling through her homemade mask as her eyes formed inverted half crescents. With the two of you continuing on, you noticed two large bright red doors which led to red staircases below and artificial grass on either side. It looked like the establishment was still stuck in Christmas while the rest of the area were enjoying a fine spring May afternoon. Letting go of Saerom’s hand, you stopped and wanted to take a photograph. Not even a second after you had taken a third photo, she grabs the camera from you and wags her finger. Wearing the lens straps on her neck, she takes your hand once more and gives you a firm squeeze. The two of you walk for several more minutes until you finally reach your destination.

--

The aroma of coffee and baked pastries filled your noses as you arrived at Saerom’s favorite cafe. She discovered it after the two of you first decided to live together and moved to a new neighborhood. Due to being a regular customer, the entire staff knew who she was - all of them greeting her warmly before subsequently doing the same to you. Deciding to strike up a conversation with a few of the baristas, you took the opportunity to take her bag and find a table for the two of you. With most already being occupied, you luckily managed to find one that was mostly secluded. It was almost hidden in a sense, probably a spot most employees go to for peace and quiet. You took out your phone and began going through it, looking to pass time. Opening the photo app allowed you to view the candid shots you captured of your girlfriend. You stood firm on your belief that no camera lens could truly capture Saerom’s beauty.

The first photoset was one you took of Saerom at a bookstore. She was casually flipping through the pages of a book you didn’t get a chance to ask her the title of. The mole just below her left eye was something you found extremely cute - if concentrations of pigment-producing cells could be classified as such. Her smoky eyeshadow complimented her complexion wonderfully, making her eyes stand out even more. The next photoset was at a high-end boutique, with Saerom emerging from the curtains as she presents yet another outfit to you. At that point, you had lost count of just how many she tried on. Saerom said it seemed like you didn’t care when you said she looked beautiful in all of them - but it was true. She could be wearing a plastic bag with holes for sleeves and you would still choose her over anyone else.

You smiled, thinking about how her smile instantly made your day. While you were busy enhancing the photos to look for minor details to edit, Saerom sat down next to you.

“What are you looking at, baby?” she asked you before taking your phone. Saerom swipes through the pictures with her index finger, nodding after seeing each one. Once she returned the phone to you, you noticed a mischievous look in her eyes.

“I know that look.”

“What look?”

“You know what look.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about, baby.” Saerom said, biting the tip of her finger while her left hand gently began rubbing your thigh. Any sort of pretense about her intentions was put to rest as her other hand placed the restaurant pager on the table. The two of you made eye contact and there was no mistaking it: her beautiful deep brown eyes were now clouded amber pools of lust and desire. You were thankful no one was nearby as Saerom squeezed her breast, releasing an erotic moan while she continued massaging your thigh.

“We’re in public, babe. We could get caught.”

“Maybe we should…” she teased as she leaned closer towards you and used both hands to grab the hemline of your joggers and boxers underneath before pulling them down. You moaned as the cool air from above felt wonderful on your newly exposed cock. Saerom eyed it hungrily as she leaned down and released a small collection of spit onto it. Knowing how needy you already were she decided to tease you even more by puckering her lips and placed a lust-filled kiss onto your tip, causing it to twitch slightly.

With one smooth swipe of her tongue across the palm of her left hand, Saerom wraps her long, slender fingers into a fist around your base with a firm grip. The warmth of it causes your shaft to throb, earning a soft smile from her. Planting a quick peck on your lips, she slowly begins stroking your cock.

You let out a loud sigh of relief as the built up pressure inside your chest was being released with every up and down motion of her hand. Saerom bit the tip of her finger once again as she stroked you, feeling you leak all over her fingers when she ran her thumb across your slit. 

Sexual acts in public places was nothing new to you both - yet it made you equally nervous and aroused as if it was the very first time. It all started with almost getting caught in your car at the beach parking lot one night when the security guard strolling by shined a flashlight through the windows. Then it was Saerom giving you a blowjob inside a women’s fitting room stall. You most certainly couldn’t forget bending her over the sink of a public restroom of a black tie required restaurant. But with most of the places so far, there was at least some semblance of privacy. This was a trendy cafe frequented by many, anyone could walk by and see your girlfriend stroking your cock without a care in the world.

“How about we make a deal, baby.” Saerom said in a lust-filled tone as her thumb continued to massage your tip.

“Deal? W-What d-deal?”

“If you can last mommy stroking your cock and not cumming before our order is ready, you can fuck mommy’s ass, baby.” Saerom whispered into your ear. Your eyes widened as you looked at your girlfriend’s naughty smirk of satisfaction. She had been teasing you with the proposition of entering her other hole for some time now, only allowing you to slide yourself in between her tight, round cheeks. The way she made it sound so forbidden made you want it even more. Your eyes involuntarily closed as the pleasure began to overwhelm your senses.

Saerom gradually began to increase in speed, encouraged by your moans and the way your cock throbbed in her hand. The mixture of her spit and your precum allowed her to go even faster, creating the familiar delicious sound of wet flesh. She counted five seconds silently before slowing back down, teasing you. Saerom had plenty of experience - knowing just what you liked. Which usually meant euphoric bliss on your part; except for when she wanted to take her time and edge you until the tipping point before bringing you back down to reality.

This went on several more times, each increasingly frustrating than the last. She giggled the entire time, enjoying watching you squirm and be helpless under her control. Your mental resistance was well beyond broken - at this point, it was all about endurance and resistance. You were determined not to let Saerom win. Not this time.

… Or so you thought. Saerom knew you weren’t going down so easily without a fight, which caused her to pull out her secret weapon. Grabbing your right hand, she led you up her smooth, creamy thighs all the way until your fingers began to feel heat radiating between her legs. You gulped as you knew where your hand was, like an adventurer finding a treasure chest. Using two fingers, you swiped in front of it, unsurprised to find out Saerom wasn’t wearing any underwear. She loved wearing skimpy thongs or modest panties that usually ended up bunched between her perfect ass cheeks, but eventually chose to forego it due to how many times you ripped them off her body. There was one time she bought an extremely expensive pair as a gift for your birthday, the thin piece of cloth not even making it thirty seconds in before it was tossed to a faraway corner of her bedroom.

Knowing it was a trap but going for it anyway, your two fingers found their way to her moist folds. Feeling your girlfriend leaking as well, you slowly inserted them inside her. Saerom moaned loudly as you entered her, her walls clenching you tightly, refusing to let go. You decided to up the ante, rubbing your thumb in a counterclockwise motion on her clit. It was now a war of nerves - both of you trying to get the other to orgasm first. But as expected, it was a losing battle. Saerom added more spit onto your cock and stroked you even faster, gripping your shaft tightly. You tried to distract her by pushing your fingers even deeper, but all it earned you was her pussy tightening.

“Cum for mommy, baby.”

That was all it took for you to reach your orgasm as you felt your abdomen tighten. You grunted loudly as your hips jerked and you exploded in Saerom’s hand. Your first few ropes could be heard hitting the underside of the table as you felt it land back onto her fingers and your thighs as you continued to release more and more thick, hot semen. Saerom made sure to continue stroking your sensitive cock, determined to drain you as much as possible.

The restaurant pager’s lights began to light up in a clockwise motion before vibrating on top of the table, signaling your order was ready and your subsequent failure to endure Saerom’s deal. She gives your cock a few more strokes, causing it to release small aftershocks as you recover from your intense orgasm. You struggled to catch your breath as you could feel beads of sweat form on your forehead. Once Saerom’s motions winded down and her tight grip on your cock was released, she raised her hand and stretched her fingers out to show you how messy your load for her was. She admired her work for a few seconds before cleaning it off with a napkin. She tilts her head slightly and moves closer to you, letting her lips meet yours as she gives you a deep kiss.

“You did so well, baby. It’s really a shame though - this nice, thick load would’ve tasted so good going down mommy’s throat. Or leaking down my thighs as we walk out of here.”

--

Saerom hated spending money at the movie theater's concession stand. Often calling it overpriced garbage, she always made sure to sneak in snacks inside her purse. Today was no different as she told the cafe employees to carefully wrap the baked goods. The movie theater was fairly empty - due to it being a weekday as well as not many movies being released. Saerom handled everything, from purchasing the tickets to picking out your reserved seats. With your fingers interlocked together, she leads you through the hallway and inside the theater. The two of you arrived just as the pre-movie commercials were about to end. Once Saerom handed you the movie tickets, you shined your phone flashlight on it.

“Babe, this movie is from like two months ago. We watched it at home.” you said.

“I know.” she simply replied, snuggling closer to you.

“Then why are we watching it again?”

“Because…” she said as her mischievous fingers found their way back onto the hemline of your joggers. “We aren’t going to be watching the movie.”

You should’ve seen it coming when Saerom chose the extra wide seats that seemed to be geared towards couples. She gave you a deep kiss on your lips before descending towards your lower body. Helping her out by removing your shirt, her eyes never wavered from yours. Your cock that was trapped inside the cloth prison was finally released, hitting her cheek. She laughs, licking her lips as she removes the pesky clothing completely off you and spreads your legs apart. Saerom watched every muscle in your face react as she blew hot air on your cock. You moaned the moment her hand made contact, using the same painfully slow pace she did at the cafe. While her left hand is busy taking care of your cock, her right fondled your balls - giving each a firm yet not too hard squeeze. She teases you by repeatedly lowering her head each time you think she will finally take you in her mouth, only to fake out at the last moment and continue to stroke you. She gave the tip of your cock a quick smooch to remove some of the leaking precum, something that only increased your frustration. Deciding you have had enough, she finally parted her lips and took you inside her mouth.

Saerom’s mouth was extremely warm and wet thanks to her built up spit. She strokes your cock as the first few inches enter her orifice before removing her hand and placing it onto your thighs. You felt like you were laying on a marshmallow, about to sink deeper and deeper into the chair. The only thing you saw was a soft ball of hair as she was  bobbing her head up and down, eliciting satisfied moans and lust-filled grunts from you as your cock was getting thoroughly covered. Saerom loved giving you blowjobs as much as you enjoyed receiving them, the feeling of you throbbing needily inside her mouth felt like a sudden rush of dopamine for her. She always enjoyed having complete control over you.

“Fuck, mommy…” you moaned. Saerom took her time, wanting you to savor every sensation as she swirled her tongue around your tip before making long strokes up and down the length of your shaft. Saerom looked up at you, satisfied to see your eyes closed from her sinful act. Having decided she prolonged teasing you enough, she went to work - sucking your cock deeper and faster. As her head took in more of your shaft, her tongue flickered along your underside. Eventually she reached your base as her lips gripped onto your cock and refused to let go. Her head bobbed in a wonderfully fast rhythm that teetered the edge of getting you to climax quickly and being just enough to leave you wanting more. Having had enough practice during the course of your relationship, Saerom was a master at deepthroating cock. The sounds of you reaching the back of her throat echoed inside the empty movie theater. It was like a symphony for your ears as you mustered the willpower to look down and stroke her head softly, pushing away several loose strands of hair. 

Saerom regretfully withdrew her mouth from your cock once she began running out of air. You were released from the velvety smooth walls with a satisfied hum from her, thin strands of saliva are connecting you and her mouth as you see several spit suds formed on her pretty lips. Your cock was glistening due to light emanating from the movie screen hitting it, causing the both of you to smile at each other. She spits once more on your cock, applying a copious amount all over your shaft. You rubbed her cheeks with your thumb softly, Saerom giving your tip another chaste kiss.

“Here comes your favorite part, baby.” Saerom said as she tapped your cock on her tongue a few times, causing her eyes to form crescents at you in anticipation.

Knowing just what she wanted, you grabbed onto both sides of her head and pushed yourself into her mouth. Moaning from the extreme pleasure, you wasted no time by roughly bobbing her head up and down. Saerom’s bright, lust-filled eyes widened with delight as she gags from you taking control. Her eyes began to water as she hungrily accepted your throbbing, needy cock. She didn’t even need to talk for you to know your girlfriend was enjoying this from the sounds being emitted as she gargled a mouthful of cock. Her nails dug into your thighs painfully as she moved your body to come closer to her. You obliged, closing the distance as you grip onto her hair and made a makeshift ponytail, holding it tightly as you fuck her mouth even rougher than before. Her tongue and uvula vibrated on your shaft, adding another layer of stimulation as your girlfriend was taking your cock to her heart’s desire.

All sense of time was put to the wayside as you both savored the moment. You regretfully let go of Saerom’s head when she began tapping on your thighs. She coughs, catching her breath as drool spilled out of her mouth and began dripping from her chin onto your balls below. Saerom was a disheveled mess, the hard work she put into her hair and makeup were no longer visible. She runs her lips along your length, kissing it until she reaches the tip before doing the same on the other side. She spit on your cock once more, the all too familiar squelchy sounds you were used to hearing rang through both of your ears as she slowly stroked you.

“Look at my baby being so rough. Did you like using mommy’s throat?” she asked rhetorically, knowing full well what your answer would be. Feasting her eyes upon your cock, Saerom pondered what to do next. Giving your tip a few licks before twirling her tongue in a clockwise motion, you noticed a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.

The two of you quickly removed your clothing, discarding it along the various empty seats nearby. Saerom gave your tip a deep kiss before turning around, letting you admire her beautifully sculpted backside. The result of many long hours at the gym and a serious training regimen, it made the already divine Saerom even more unreal. Your hands naturally went to her round, supple bottom. You gave each cheek a firm squeeze, earning a giggle from your girlfriend. Saerom moaned erotically once the palm of your hand made contact with the soft flesh.

She was on her hands and knees in front of you - waiting for the very thing you two enjoyed most. You grabbed your shaft and slid your tip up and down Saerom’s folds, feeling how drenched her needy pussy was. Having had enough of your teasing, she pushed her body against you, allowing you to enter.

“Fuck…” the two of you breathlessly moaned as Saerom’s insanely tight walls squeezed the life out of you and gripped onto your cock. Her wet cavern felt wonderful as you pushed yourself slowly inside her.

“B-Baby, you feel so good inside mommy…” Saerom moaned as you closed your eyes and savored this wonderful feeling. It was Saerom’s favorite position - and thankfully, yours as well. You allowed her time to adjust to your cock as her walls clinged onto you for dear life.

You started off slow, wanting the both of you to prolong the moment. You gave her several weak thrusts as you held onto Saerom’s wide hips. Gradually building up the pace from the initial comfortable rhythm, Saerom’s moans and wordless gaps began to steadily increase in volume. She was hot, wet, and tight - all things that never changed despite the two of you taking pleasure in each other’s bodies almost every single day. She took pride in suffocating your cock to the point where it started to hurt. Whether it be her mouth or her pussy, Saerom knew how to make the most of her wonderful body. The natural lubrication from her juices allowed you to eventually move in and out of her with relative ease.

“Fuck… Fuck mommy harder, baby.” Saerom whined.

“What does mommy want?” you asked, giving her butt harsh slaps on both cheeks.

“O-Oh, fuck! Fuck mommy harder!” She screamed. Grabbing Saerom’s toned arms, you held onto her wrists delicately, causing her body to raise upwards for support as your hips thrusted inside her pussy. The sounds of flesh against flesh filled the empty movie theater, making the video in front of you rendered obsolete compared to the true main event. You felt her clench her walls against your shaft as you fucked your girlfriend harder like she wished.

The sounds of Saerom’s plump ass smacking against your lower body turned you on even more, causing you to go harder and deeper inside her. The sight of her cheeks clapping together was sort of hypnotizing - as if mocking you that your current pace was still not enough. Her pussy continues to tighten deliciously around you as you kiss her sweaty back.

“You’re making mommy feel so good, baby!” Saerom said in a half scream, half moan. Every word was dripping with pure desire and lust. You released your hold on her wrists, causing her body to plop onto the theather’s leather-bound chair. This didn’t last long, however, as you grabbed onto Saerom’s long, beautiful hair and formed a makeshift ponytail. While her raven colored locks flowed freely like cascading waterfalls - of which earned her many compliments from friends and coworkers alike, Saerom always explained she wanted to try something new. The real reason she grew it out was she enjoyed having it pulled during sex. Especially in your current position behind her.

With one hand holding her hair, your other gripped tightly on her shoulder. You were afraid you were being a bit too rough and would leave a bruise, but the way her pussy tightened around you along with the clouded, lust-filled look she gave you was all you needed. You were quick right away, thrusting into Saerom without any sort of build up. This temporarily startled her, before the familiar sounds of wet flesh, her needy screams, and the movie in the background having become nothing more than an afterthought all combined to create a wonderful symphony of pleasure as you fucked your girlfriend until she announces the end was near.

“B-Baby… M-Mommy’s going to cum.” she managed to say in between your thrusts.

You went even faster and deeper - wanting to do everything you could in order for Saerom to chase her euphoric high. It doesn’t take very long until she does so, Saerom screaming the loudest she has so far as you feel her pussy pulsating around your cock as it tightens and suffocates you. Her juices flood your shaft as her body shakes, she certainly would have collapsed if not for you supporting her upper body. You felt her begin to leak profusely, staining your thighs, balls and the leather below. Each wave of pleasure coursed through your body as you give her several more weak thrusts in order to allow her to ride out her orgasm.

You grab one of Saerom’s breasts, squeezing it gently as you pull her hair softly and lay down on your back, allowing her to rest on top of you. The both of you are heaving as you struggle to catch your breath. Saerom manages to weakly turn her head to its side as your lips meet hers. Each kiss was soft, full of satisfaction. Once you opened your eyes, you noticed hers were glazed over - returning to the beautiful amber color you always found yourself lost in. You held onto her hips and turned Saerom over so that your bodies were facing each other. Despite the exhaustion, her lower body began to grind itself against yours.

“Baby, you didn’t cum yet.” Saerom pouted. You felt her drenched folds coating your tip once more. It seemed once was never enough for her.

Saerom removed her body off you and got up on wobbly legs, grabbing your hands and helping you stand up. She gave the tip of your cock another kiss, sucking on it lightly before parting her lips and taking you inside her mouth. She bobbed her head up and down quickly, taking you all the way down to your base. You groaned as she tried her best to giggle through a mouth full of cock, the very action causing your underside to vibrate and add on another layer of pleasure. Her lips were sealed tight as the sounds of her slobbering all over your cock helped your fast approaching orgasm arrive even quicker.

“Fuck, mommy. I’m going to cum.” you announced as you felt a knot inside of you.

Saerom released your cock with a loud pop as she used her left hand to stroke you quickly, the lubrication of her mouth and juices helping make the task relatively easy. Saerom’s big, beautiful eyes looked right back at yours - eager for you to feel the same way you made her feel not even mere minutes ago. Your breaths became more shallow as she helped you reach your tipping point.

You weren’t even able to announce to Saerom that your orgasm arrived. You moaned loudly as your cock throbbed in her hand and you exploded all over her beautiful face. Thick ropes of cum are released in impressive speed as it paints her forehead. The next few land near her right eye, causing her to involuntarily close it. She continued stroking your length as you continued to release spurt after spurt of hot, thick semen. With the final two ropes landing on her cheek and her awaiting tongue, you felt all of the built up tension and pressure being released from your body as Saerom drains your balls dry. You opened your eyes and were surprised to see just how much you came on her face.

Saerom giggled as she cleans the leftover cum dribbling out of your slit, bobbing her head a few more times for good measure. She allowed you to admire your work, her chest heaving as she puckered her lips and blew a kiss at you. The two of you managed to finish just as the lights above turned on and the end credits of the film were starting to play. Saerom uses her fingers to trace all the spots she felt your load dripping down her face and puts it in her mouth.

“You taste so yummy, baby.” Saerom said. “Looks like mommy’s diet has been working out after all.”

The two of you quickly got dressed and hurried out of the theater before the cleaning employees arrived.

--

For about a month now, Saerom got you onto a strict regimen. Making you cut out “useless” carbs, sugar, red meats - basically all of the foods you enjoyed. Knowing you would whine or complain, she always shut you up by implementing a no sex rule or edging you everyday until you complied. She had everything fully planned out down to the minute. It wasn’t easy, or fun, but the results spoke for themselves. You begrudgingly admit it was working… especially in regards to your increased sexual stamina.

After a quick change of clothes at home, the two of you are going to visit one of Saerom’s friends. She never said who - always wanting to keep things a mystery until the very last moment. Saerom held your hand tightly as the two of you entered the gym. Normally the unmistakable scent of sweat and loud grunts would be heard. But this particular gym was completely empty - not a soul in sight. You and Saerom sat at a nearby table. Asking her why you two were here instead of your usual gym, you hear a door near the weight rack open.

“Oppa! Unnie!”

You looked up and smiled. Noh Jisun - Saerom’s former roommate and someone you were quite close to who was as much of a fanatic about the gym as she was. The last time you saw her, her hair was much longer with a fringe style to cover her forehead. This time, her shoulder length hair was a deeper shade of brown. She styled it in a way that it parted more towards the left side of her head. She wore a simple outfit of a black v-neck shirt, gray leggings that complemented her curvy figure nicely, black socks, and a black and white windbreaker. She ran towards the two of you and hugged Saerom immediately. Your girlfriend reciprocated, happy to see her after so long. A few minutes later, she let go and turned to you.

“Hi, oppa.” Jisun said, smiling. You returned her smile and gave her a hug as well. She pulled you in tightly - you forgot how much she loved giving hugs. She left your embrace slightly before moving her head close to your ear.

“We’re going to have a lot of fun today.”

The hairs on the back of your neck raised as her words tingled inside your ear. It was a technique you heard many times early on during your relationship with Saerom. Jisun quickly became popular in an online community, with many tuning in to her videos and occasional livestreams. You never understood the appeal of people wanting to listen to someone whisper the entire time but respected Jisun making the most out of a niche demographic.

“What brings you guys over here?” Jisun asked.

“We wanted to visit and see how you were doing.” Saerom replied.

“It seems like you’re doing pretty well for yourself, Jisun.”

“I guess you can say that.” Jisun said, rubbing the back of her neck sheepishly. “The ASMR community loves my videos. I was able to save up enough to open up this place.”

“That’s so great!” Saerom said. “Look baby, she even has the weights you like!”

Looking to the direction your girlfriend was pointing at, you noticed differently colored plates of various sizes. While gradually being able to increase how much you could lift, you also enjoyed mixing the colors together. Not a single weight was out of place - something you personally didn’t enjoy seeing at your regular gym.

Saerom interlocks her fingers with yours. You smiled - she always knew how to calm you down whenever you felt anxious. Briefly looking at Jisun, you noticed a slight glimpse of anger in her eyes. Before you could say anything, Saerom pulled you along.

The tour of the gym was rather quick - Jisun quickly cycled through each of the machines as well as the rest area filled with goodies to indulge on. Upon reaching the Pilates room, Saerom wrapped her arms around your waist as she looked up at you lovingly.

“Isn’t this place great, baby? I’m so proud of Jisun.”

“Y-Yeah, really great.”

“I just remembered. I’ve been so busy lately I forgot to plan out the couple’s workouts like you asked. Sorry, unnie.” Jisun cutely said, pouting and looking down.

“Oh, don’t worry about it.” Saerom said cheerfully. “Would you be able to help out oppa though?”

“Sure! I’d love to.” Jisun said, looking at you with a mischievous smirk.

“Oppa’s been complaining about feeling stiff. I was hoping you could make sure every inch of him is relaxed.” “Every inch?” Jisun repeated, raising an eyebrow at you.

“Really make sure oppa releases all of the tension built up lately.” “Oh... I’ll have no problem doing that, unnie.” Jisun continued to tease by forming her cute small left hand into a fist and displaying a jerking off motion while miming her cheek being full.

Giving you a quick peck on the lips, Saerom puts on her headphones and goes to a nearby treadmill. You watched your girlfriend’s wide hips sway with each step as her plump ass jiggles, causing you to sigh loudly as you could feel yourself slightly hardening.

Feeling a hand cup your crotch is what brought you out of your daydream due to staring at your girlfriend’s lower body. You looked down at the owner of said hand and felt the breath taken away from you as Jisun squeezed a bit harder this time. Bringing her right hand to your face, you noticed the cute woman you were used to seeing was gone. Replacing her glazed over eyes was a look you know all too well.

“So, unnie wants me to help you feel relaxed? That’s no problem at all.” Jisun said in a sensual whisper, each word dripping with a honey-like tone. She unzipped her windbreaker, letting you see the outline of her breasts through the loose fitting v-neck shirt.

“Mommy will take good care of you, oppa.” She continued, untying the drawstring of your joggers.

“M-Mommy?”

“Don’t act surprised.” Jisun said, still maintaining her whisper-like tone. “I know unnie has been making you call her that ever since you would visit our old apartment.”

You were surprised to see this side of Jisun. The Jisun you remembered was conservative, someone who didn’t have much self-confidence and felt comfortable playing video games or being in front of a computer screen. It seemed being independent did wonders for her.

“Maybe mommy should take care of your lower body first, how does that sound?”

Yanking both your joggers and the underwear underneath, Jisun slowly descends into a kneeling position between your legs. Your cock is now exposed to the cool breeze coming from the air conditioning. It is a wonderful feeling, causing you to twitch slightly.

“Not bad… I can see why unnie liked having you over so much.” she said, her eyes trying to soak up as much of you as possible. Licking her lips hungrily, she grabs ahold of your base and gives you slow, agonizing licks until she reaches your tip. You instinctively closed your eyes, letting out a soft moan.

“Fuck…”

Jisun dragged her wet tongue on the underside of your shaft, painting a long stripe on the exposed flesh. When she reaches your tip, her tongue swirls around it, causing you to moan even more. Collecting the precum that is beginning to dribble out of your slit, she sucks on it lightly before replacing it with a generous amount of saliva. Using her tongue once more, she spreads it across every inch. You look down and see Jisun methodically lathering your cock until it is glistening from the overhead lighting. Once she is satisfied, she grips your shaft firmly and slowly begins stroking you.

She employs a familiar technique: counterclockwise motions and smooth up and down strokes. You closed your eyes and tilted your head back, feeling the pleasure her wonderful small hand was providing you. Her hand moves up and down with ease thanks to her saliva. Your moans increase in volume the longer she continues.

“You like when mommy strokes your cock, don’t you baby?”

“It-It’s o-okay…” you replied, knowing full well you were lying.

“Hmph.” Jisun pouted, running her thumb across your slit. “Maybe this will change your mind.”

Slapping her cheeks with your hard cock, you felt Jisun blowing hot air onto your tip, causing you to throb in her hand. She lets out a giggle and kisses the tip of your cock before lining you in front of her mouth. With a simple part of her lips, you release a heavy breath as she engulfs your cock. 

Your hands hold onto the wall behind you as the pressure begins to build up, causing your eyes to close shut. Your moans continue as Jisun slowly bobs her head up and down. She takes the top half of your cock into her warm, wet mouth - each time sending waves of lust and pleasure coursing through your body. You feel her tongue dragging across the underside of your shaft. Forcing your eyes open, you look down and take in the fact that Saerom’s former roommate, Jisun was currently on her knees and looking at you while pleasuring you in a way you would have never imagined.

“Mommy, fuck… that feels so fucking good.” you moaned as your body was hypnotized by Jisun sucking your cock. You felt every muscle in your body relaxing as your cock was inside her hollowed mouth. Taking the initiative, you run your fingers through her dark brown locks before palming the back of her head. Jisun looks up at you and smiles through a mouthful of cock, happy you are enjoying every moment of her sinful act. Your hand follows along to her bobbing motions, guiding her rhythm before she temporarily retreats her mouth’s wonderful hold on you. Spitting a copious amount of saliva built up onto your shaft, she looks at you seductively as she slaps her bright pink tongue with your cock.

You looked out to see Saerom diligently exercising on the treadmill. All you could think about was how sweaty her back has become, and how good it would be to suck on her damp skin as you fuck her from behind. This, of course, does not go unnoticed by Jisun who pinches your inner thigh and causes you to slightly wince in pain as you see her slowly begin to remove her clothing.

“Mommy hasn’t been fucked in months and I am not going to let this opportunity go to waste.” Jisun said, as she removed her socks and slid her body hugging leggings down, revealing her creamy legs and wonderfully thick thighs. She makes a show of removing her shirt, leaving her in only a red lace bra and panty set. Despite feeling more self-confident, there is a hint of shyness from Jisun as she is mostly exposed to you for the very first time.

You always considered her to have a nice figure - but running her own gym and having a strict training regimen made the curvy parts of her body even more noticeable. The delicious line of her cleavage was enticing - you wanted nothing more than to bury your face in it. Jisun notices this and smiles.

“Now, now, baby. We don’t want unnie to hear mommy making you feel good, now do we?” Jisun said, placing a finger on her lips. It felt like a preemptive warning, a calm before the pleasure-induced storm. Stroking your cock several times in preparation, she opens her bra slightly in order to allow you in between her soft flesh. A soft moan escapes her lips as she wraps your shaft with her warm, perfect tits.

“Fuck, mommy...” you groaned softly, trying your best not to be too loud from the pressure quickly that striked you light a lightning bolt as Jisun takes you in and out of her hot cleavage. You were thankful Saerom wasn’t too close by and especially that she wore headphones as the sound of her treadmill helped mask the squelching sounds coming from Jisun’s tits moving up and down your cock. You sighed in content and looked down, seeing her push her breasts together against your shaft and squeezed you even tighter.

“Baby…” she moaned as she moved her large, soft flesh onto you. “You’re so hard for mommy.”

Jisun’s eyes were captivating - her soft voice causing your entire body to tingle as her breasts continued to wrap themselves tightly around your cock. Her cute features were replaced with pure lust and desire, currently focused on satisfying you. The tip and upper part of your cock constantly poked in and out between her soft flesh. Each thrust was delicious, wet and hot. Jisun was the master of pure seduction: each time you felt you were at your tipping point, she slowed down. After several minutes of teasing, she removes her heavy breasts from your cock.

“I don’t want you cumming just yet, baby.” Jisun said. “First, you have to make mommy feel good too.”

Removing the last of her clothing, you almost drooled as you finally saw Jisun fully naked. Not giving you ample time to admire her body, she leads you to one of the yoga mats nearby, pushing you gently on your back. She straddles your lap, rubbing her splayed lips on your cock. You moaned, feeling how wet she already was turned you on even more. She then dismounts your body and repositions herself, hovering just above your face. As your hands were about to hold onto her hips, she stopped you.

“No no no, bad boy. It’s rude to touch mommy without permission.”

She lowered her body just enough for you to feel the heat radiating from between her legs. It looked so soft, inviting. Jisun could sense your anxiousness as you squirmed underneath her.

“You want to eat mommy’s pussy don’t you, baby?” Jisun nonchalantly asked. 

“Well… there’s somewhere else I’d rather you eat instead.”

Lowering herself fully, you grabbed her plump ass, grabbing two handfuls of each cheek and squeezing as hard as you could. This caused Jisun to moan as your mouth met her forbidden orifice. You kissed her heavenly soft skin, parting her cheeks as your tongue painted the outer rim.

“Baby…” Jisun moaned as her tight muscles began to unclench and allow your tongue deeper entry. Satisfied with your minimal work so far, you continued to stimulate her asshole. Spreading her cheeks apart even more, you pushed your tongue inside her puckered hole.

Jisun is quickly overwhelmed by all of her senses being overstimulated at once, as you feel her juices slowly leaking out of her pussy and staining her thighs and your neck below. You swirl your tongue inside her ass, just as she did when she was sucking your cock. Each contact sent multiple shocks of pleasure coursing through her body. Despite Jisun getting progressively louder the longer you were buried inside her, both of you have little regard for anything else, only focusing on each other. She pushes her pillowy soft ass against you even more, frantically trying to chase her own pleasure.

“You’re making mommy feel so good, baby.” Jisun said, feeling your mouth and tongue drench her inner asshole with your saliva.

Gripping onto her asscheeks even harder, you move your face from side to side. This causes Jisun to scream loudly as another wave of stimulation is added to her rapidly sensitive body. She is beginning to lose control of her senses as your tongue thrusts deep inside her asshole.

“Baby… oh my- fuck!”

She arches her back completely straight as you remove one hand from her asscheek and move your way between her thick thighs. Easily finding her clit, you rubbed it with the pad of your thumb. Doing your best to keep her from bucking her hips uncontrollably, you stimulate Jisun on both parts of her lower body.

“Baby… that feels so good. That feels so good. I-I’m gonna cum!” Desperation could be heard in Jisun’s voice as you continued to provide her with the pleasure she hadn’t received in so long. Each flick of your tongue caused her to tilt her head back. You knew it wouldn’t be much longer - rubbing your thumb on her clit furiously as you squeezed her asscheek and buried your tongue as deep as it could go.

“Baby, mommy’s cumming!” Jisun screamed as she finally succumbed to her orgasm. Her hips bucked wildly as you struggled to hold her in place. Your tongue was firmly lodged inside her asshole, doing its best to not let go as long, sultry moans escape her beautifully soft lips. Her thighs are stained with her sweet nectar, causing it to dribble down onto your chin and neck. Her orgasm lasts for several minutes, repeated aftershocks causing her sensitive body to rub itself against your face.

“H-Holy shit, baby.” Jisun said once the both of you felt her body finally return to normal. She buried your face deeper inside one last time before finally dismounting. Each heave of her chest allowed you to see her large breasts move up and down. A thin layer of sweat formed on her body as she smiled at you sweetly.

“Has unnie let you fuck her thighs before?” She asked.

You shook your head.

“Guess that’s another thing mommy will help you out with.” Jisun said as she helped you to your feet.

She spit on your cock several times to help lubricate it once more. The two of you are now facing each other. Jisun strokes your shaft back to full hardness before rubbing it against her inner thighs. They instinctively sandwich your shaft as the mixture of her saliva and nectar from her orgasm allow you to slip in between. Both of you let out a satisfied moan as your cock grinds against Jisun’s lips and her delicious thighs.

Her thighs were the perfect mix of muscular and thick. They possessed a unique softness to them, with Saerom’s being mostly muscular as you felt her slowly leaking onto your cock once again. Fucking her breasts was certainly enjoyable, but her thighs were thick, wide - and warm. Your newfound appreciation for Jisun’s body helped stimulate you even more as the two of you kissed each other. Your cock was nuzzled comfortably underneath her hot walls as you squeezed her asscheeks once more. This helped you increase your pace, her natural wetness allowing your cock to glide between her suffocatingly thick thighs. Jisun’s body was taking the euphoric feeling of outercourse to new heights - the two of you moaning in each other’s mouths. You savored the feeling of her creamy thighs and ass jiggling against your body with each thrust. The tip of your cock grazes her cheeks while your balls bounce against each side of her thighs wildly. The two of you could feel the pressure building up inside. You take this opportunity to gradually lower the speed of your thrusts, both of you disconnecting from each other’s lips as you press your foreheads together and breathe heavily.

“Y-You’ll fuck mommy now, won’t you baby?” Jisun pleaded. Her eyes contained a soft sadness to them, desperation in her voice.

Jisun wraps her muscular legs around your torso and causes you to fall back onto the yoga mat. Making sure she wasn’t too rough, she smiled as she straddled your lap. The lust-filled gaze on her face causes you to gulp in slight nervousness as she takes your hard shaft in her hand, stroking you before impaling herself on your cock.

Her tight walls hugged your cock instantly. Her hips meet yours, causing Jisun to release an erotic moan at the feeling of being filled. She arches her body in the same manner she did when you were eating her ass, taking you in and out of her wanton body. Your hard cock slides at a pace with zero regard for you or your comfort.

Jisun braces herself on your chest by firmly planting her hands, creating the wonderful side effect of her breasts being pressed together, giving you a delicious looking sight of the very same cleavage that made you salivate when from her earlier titfuck. Jisun’s breasts bounced up and down hypnotically as she rode you. Her previously glazed over eyes were now replaced with a determined, almost angry look. She seemed to be working out the frustration and anger that built up from her time as Saerom’s roommate, using your cock as an outlet with each thrust of her hips.

She bit her lower lip seductively, doubling as a way to prevent herself from moaning or gasping too loud and letting Saerom hear what was going on.

“D-Do you know how much you turned me on, oppa?” Jisun asked as she slammed her body up and down your cock. “How wet I got hearing you fuck Saerom unnie? How hearing you call her mommy made me want you to call me that too?”

Her moans quickly turn into loud screams that echo throughout the room as you relish in the fact that her pussy was even tighter than Saerom’s. Both of you soon find a comfortable rhythm as Jisun grabs your hands  and interlocks them with her own. As she slams her body on yours harder and harder, her eyes roll to the back of her head from how your cock causes her to lose control of her senses. Her mouth is agape, letting noiseless screams of pleasure escape as the sound of wet skin loudly colliding with wet skin helps create a harmonious wave of euphoria. Jisun’s butt rubs against your thighs as your balls touch her lower pussy lips.

“Fuck! Just like that, baby.” Jisun yells in between bounces. “Harder. Keep fucking mommy harder!”

Your worries about Saerom hearing you both were a distant afterthought as you could only focus on the beautiful woman enjoying herself on top of you. With her hands now returning to being firmly placed on your chest for support, you begin squeezing her large tits, marveling at how heavy, yet soft they were. You squeeze both at the same time, pinching her erect nipples before giving each a firm slap.

“Holy shit…” Jisun erotically screamed. “Slap mommy’s tits again!”

You granted her demand, giving each several slaps as you alternated between slapping and rubbing the tender skin.

Jisun’s body shook with pleasure - her breathing became more erratic as the sensations of stimulating her breasts and pussy were causing her to go insane. The moment the tip of your cock reached a certain spot deep inside, Jisun screamed loudly and kept you buried into her hilt. Her body tenses up as she feels an overwhelming sense of pleasure flow from the top of her head to her toes, causing them to curl up. Her body shook violently as you felt your cock flooded by her juices. Her second orgasm was a lot stronger -  hitting with such force that it almost pushed your cock out of her body.

You bounced Jisun on your cock slowly several more times as the aftershocks of her orgasm continued to occur. Her muscles gradually loosen up and she looks at you with a fully satisfied smile, her eyes glazed over in satisfaction. She leans down and captures your lips, thanking you for making her feel good. 

You temporarily retreat from her freshly fucked pussy, causing Jisun to whimper as she gets on her hands and knees on the yoga mat.

“Fuck mommy’s ass, baby.”

Each word was dripping with pure lust and a desire to be filled.

Grabbing Jisun’s toned arms, you pushed her face onto the mat. You slapped her soft butt cheeks a few times with your cock, teasing her by sliding your cock between her cheeks. While you got a taste of it earlier, Saerom’s constant teasing about entering her other hole made Jisun’s wish for you to fuck her there all the more enticing. She moaned at your initial penetration into the tight muscle, her warm cavern constricting you.

“Fuck…” she moaned into the mat.

“Mommy’s ass is so tight.” you said, slowly thrusting in and out of her hole.

Her warm walls squeezed your cock painfully, arousing you even more. You thrusted into her slowly, yet deeply. Her asscheeks rippled from the force each time it collided with your torso. While you so desperately wanted to savor the moment, you knew it wouldn’t be long before your orgasm would be too much to suppress. Knowing this, you picked up the pace and held onto Jisun’s arms tightly as you fucked her from behind.

“Fuck, fuck fuck!” She managed to scream between each thrust. The two of you were sweating heavily as you worked together to help you achieve the same bliss you have given her.

You gritted your teeth - fucking Jisun as hard as you could. Your orgasm could be felt throughout your entire body when it finally arrived. You thrusted deep inside her, moaning loudly as her walls wrapped tightly around your cock, pulsating as you released thick, hot semen inside her ass. Jisun came immediately right after, her climax less intense than earlier, but feeling just as good.

“That was… holy fuck...” Jisun weakly said as she tried her best to recover. “I need to get fucked like this again.”

You turned her around and kissed each other on the lips, breathing a sigh of relief as you ran your fingers through her hair. The two of you were so exhausted and focused on one another you failed to hear the door open.

“Well, well, well.”

The two of you panicked and saw Saerom staring at you both with her arms crossed, tapping her foot as she witnessed the aftermath of what just happened.

“M-Mommy, I c-can explain…”

“You finished your workout that quickly?” Jisun asked.

“How could I not when your screams filled the entire gym.”

Saerom got on her knees and brought her index finger to your chin, tilting your head up slightly. You were terrified, watching as her big beautiful eyes met yours.

“You know better than to fuck someone else without mommy’s permission.” Saerom said. “Though I will admit it was pretty hot, baby.”

“How much did you hear?” you asked.

“Why don’t you find out yourself?” she said, putting her headphones on your ears. Expecting to hear something, anything - you were surprised to learn there was nothing at all.

“Mommy heard everything, baby.”

Saerom wasted no time peeling each layer of clothing off her body, causing your cock to throb at the sight of your naked girlfriend before you. She massages her breasts, moaning as she pinches her nipples.

“Jisun.”

“Y-Yes, mommy?”

“Why don’t we both make him feel good?”

“I have just the thing to help us out.” Jisun said. Reaching into the pocket of her windbreaker, she pulls out a clear plastic bottle. She squeezes a generous amount on Saerom’s breasts, with Saerom reciprocating the favor to Jisun. Both of them have a wicked glint in their eyes as they lather your cock with it as well. Stroking you to make sure you were evenly covered, both women got on opposite sides of you.

Pushing their breasts together, they sandwich your cock in between. Having experienced being trapped by each chest separately, there were no words to describe how it felt when they both rubbed themselves against you. The friction their tits created was heavenly as the wet flesh covered your cock, only allowing your tip to be visible.

“Like that, baby?” Saerom asked.

“You like mommy’s tits more, don’t you baby?” Jisun asked, moaning as her nipples brushed against Saerom’s.

“Oh, please.” Saerom said, rolling her eyes. “Your tits aren’t that great.”

“I bet I can get more of his cum on my tits than yours.”

“You’re going to regret saying that.” Saerom said as she picked up the pace. Both pairs of breasts began to squeeze and massage your cock, trapping it in between the warmth of their heavenly flesh. 

It was the end to a perfect, stamina draining day. You only hoped this wouldn’t be the last time Saerom and you would be visiting Jisun’s gym.

--

An unlocked phone vibrated, signaling a new message arrived. Attached was a picture of a woman flashing a peace sign to the camera against a beige background with her looking slightly sultry.

[10:00 PM]: Oppa! I’m coming to visit! See you soon! 🧡

[artificialqueens]

If You Ever Wanna Be In Love (I'll Come Around), Chapter Two (Branjie) - Athena2

Summary: After a mix-up at work leads to Vanessa pretending she has a wife, she uses this fake wife to get out of work events. But when she runs out of excuses and needs a wife for a party, Vanessa finds herself turning to Nina’s friend Brooke, who just so happens to need a fake girlfriend.

Previously: Brooke and Vanessa agreed to a fake dating arrangement Now: Brooke pretends to be Vanessa’s wife at a work dinner.

A/N: Thank you all so much for the amazing feedback for chapter 1! It really does mean so much to me that you enjoyed it and are excited for more! I hope you like this chapter and leave feedback if you’d like! Thank you so much to Writ for betaing, you’re the absolute best <3 <3 <3.

Brooke dumps half her closet on the bed. She hasn’t done this in a while, hasn’t stalked around her room in a robe and makeup, trying to pick an outfit. Sure, she goes to work everyday with fierce eyeliner and sharp suits and silk shirts, but this is different. She’d been extra steady with her eyeliner, blending her contour until it was perfect, but she’s not sure why. Maybe she just wants to take advantage of the night and an opportunity to look nice. Maybe she wants to impress Vanessa–who’s definitely prettier than she remembered–and show her that she’s going to be the best fake wife she can be, good enough to turn heads and have them be the perfect couple at the party.

Whatever the reason, it has her rifling through every dress and pant suit she owns, trying to decide if purple or black or red is the right color, if she should go stripes or plain, form-fitting or loose. She and Vanessa exchanged numbers after coffee, and Brooke has a text asking what to wear half-written before deleting it all. No need to bother Vanessa over this. Eventually she pulls on the plain black dress that pops against her pale skin, figuring a classic will work.

Vanessa is smiling hesitantly when Brooke gets in her car, shooting out apologies for the mess. Brooke moves aside an old magazine advertising fun kids’ activities and settles in, legs bouncing as she gets a good look at Vanessa, soft waves tumbling down her back and dazzling teeth giving the sun a run for its money.

“You look nice,” Brooke says, hoping it’s okay to say. Vanessa does look nice, and she figures compliments should be part of their fake marriage. Her dad always complimented her mom whenever they went out, leaving Brooke and her sister with their grandma whose cloud of old-lady perfume almost dissolved their lungs.

“Thanks. So do you.”

“Thanks.” Brooke looks at her lap, panic growing as blocks pass in silence. She knows almost nothing about Vanessa, and somehow she has to convince people they’re married for the night. Can they really pull this off? This could be one of the worst situations she’s been in, aside from the time she and Nina tried to dye their hair pink after finals and spent the night scrubbing the dorm bathroom clean, pink staining their hands for days.

Vanessa peeks over at her when they hit a red light. “Hey, Brooke? Thank you for doing this. You really saved my ass.”

Brooke blushes. “You don’t have to thank me, it’s not any trouble. I would’ve just been watching Gilmore Girls with my cats for the third time.”

“Gilmore Girls?”

“It’s a really good show. Really soothing, too,” Brooke says. She doesn’t add anything else, doesn’t add whether Vanessa would like or not because she doesn’t know the kind of things Vanessa likes. Vanessa could be a horror movie fan for all she knows, but from the way she jumped out of her seat when a squirrel ran in front of the car, Brooke’s thinking that’s a no.

Vanessa nods. She cranks up the radio when Beyonce comes on, chattering about work, and as they drive further away, Brooke almost forgets her nerves.

—

Vanessa’s hands are stuck on the wheel as they pull into the restaurant parking lot. Brooke looks nice–a lot nicer than Vanessa expected. Her sleeveless dress reveals strong arms that taper into clever hands and long fingers, and Vanessa has to stop looking.

Brooke fidgets with her gold bracelet, and Vanessa knows she’ll have to take the lead to get them through this. She notices her own hands are sweaty, and she dries them on her dress, forcing herself to stay calm. Paul and everyone else already bought the fake wife story, Vanessa reminds herself. All she has to do is turn up the charm until they’re completely sold.

“We got this, right?” Vanessa meets Brooke’s eyes with a hopeful smile.

“Right. We go in, we act married, we get out,” Brooke says.

Vanessa laughs. “You’re making us sound like spies! Just relax, okay? Follow my lead and we’ll be fine, I promise.”

Brooke nods, and Vanessa hands her the second fake ring she’d gotten from the thrift shop. It shines in the dim parking lot lights, gaining its second life through Brooke.

Brooke opens her door then slams it, turning back to Vanessa. “Wait. How did we get engaged?”

“What’s it matter?”

“If I’m playing a part, I want to do it right. And what if someone asks? Our stories have to match so we don’t get caught in the lie.”

Vanessa takes a breath of awe. As absurd as this whole thing is, she clearly has the right person for it, someone careful and dedicated enough to make sure they succeed. Vanessa thinks for a second. “You proposed to me on the beach, at sunset.”

Brooke scoffs.

“What?”

“That’s so lame! That’s something a boring straight guy would do for his girlfriend he knows nothing about. If I’m gonna propose to you, it would be better than that!”

“It’s not even a real proposal!” Vanessa argues, though part of her is touched that even if it is fake, Brooke wants her to have something nice.

“Still,” Brooke insists.

“Got any ideas?”

“What would your dream proposal be?” Brooke asks. “Not some generic beach thing. Something special.”

Vanessa’s pictured her wedding before—gold sun streaking through red and orange leaves as her dress flows behind her on the walk to her wife, the fall air crisp as an apple-—but hasn’t considered all the exhausting details and planning that would get her to that point.

“Well, don’t laugh, but I had a pirate thing when I was little. My mom would put coins and toys in the sandbox and give me a map and I’d dig for them. So let’s say you did a little treasure hunt that ended in the proposal.” Vanessa never knew how much she wanted something like this, something to show her wife knows her like no one else, but as she speaks, she can see it happening. Her breathlessly flipping over a tattered map to see neat lines and bright red X. Her going through each step, faster and faster as her excitement builds, until she reaches the end and Brooke is on one knee with a box—

Vanessa shakes her head to clear out the image.

Brooke smiles. “I like that. It’s nice.” She leans in closer, like she’s sharing a secret. “I had a dinosaur thing, so I won’t laugh.”

“Seems like you still have a dinosaur thing, Miss Museum Head,” Vanessa teases.

Brooke blushes, and Vanessa’s heart leaps. “I guess I do.”

There’s a beat of silence, and they both realize this is it. Doors slam, locks click, and they give each other one last nod before entering the restaurant.

The small restaurant room Paul reserved is packed with disgruntled library employees eager for a night off, and every single head spins toward her and Brooke. A few mouths drop open, and Vanessa grins. They do look impressive, Brooke’s black dress flowing down her long frame, a perfect match for Vanessa’s red dress with tiny black stars, one of her favorite thrift store finds.

But beyond the outfits is something Vanessa can’t quite describe. She gets a look at her and Brooke in a mirror on the wall, and something about them looks right, like they could be on opposite sides of the room and you would still know they were a couple. Maybe it’s the way Vanessa leans into the space around Brooke, or the way Brooke slows her pace for Vanessa’s matchstick legs, but there’s some sort of magic bubbling around them.

Couples cling like koalas and Vanessa throws an awkward arm around Brooke’s waist to look more couple-y. Brooke stiffens slightly before relaxing into it.

Paul runs over. “So you’re Vanessa’s wife,” he says to Brooke, pumping her hand up and down with no sign of stopping.

“That’s me,” Brooke agrees. “I’m Brooke, if Vanessa hasn’t told you.”

“Actually, she hasn’t,” Paul says, giving Vanessa a look. “We’ve been wanting to meet you for months but Vanessa says you’ve been sick a lot lately. I hope you’re doing better after your stomach problems last week?”

Brooke shoots Vanessa a death glare, but she still answers warmly. “I’m much better now, thank you.”

“Glad to hear it.” Paul ushers them over to the table, and Vanessa quickly pulls her arm back.

“Sorry,” she whispers. “Just thought we needed a little touching.”

“It’s fine,” Brooke says, sighing in relief as they slide next to Nina at the table.

Vanessa quickly makes the introductions to her coworkers. Silky smiles devilishly and A’keria and Yvie narrow their eyes, serving as her test panel for the night, to see if she and Brooke can really sell things for the admins.

“Now, about those stomach problems?” Brooke demands. Her eyebrows are furrowed and Vanessa has to consciously stop looking at how adorable the expression makes her.

“Well, when I don’t want to go to parties, I use you as an excuse sometimes,” Vanessa says sheepishly.

Brooke pinches the bridge of her nose. “And how many times have you said I was sick?”

Vanessa shrugs. “I kinda…lost count?”

Brooke groans, heaving a mighty sigh. “I really hope this food is better than slightly-above-average.”

—

The food, it turns out, is actually better than Vanessa expected. She makes her way through fish in lemon butter, but Brooke’s lasagna came with garlic bread that’s calling her name. They’re supposed to be married, after all, so why the hell not? She reaches over and grabs a chunk. Brooke then asks for a bite of fish, and Vanessa knows from her friends’ approving nods and the calm behavior of the others that they’re completely selling the wife thing.

Vanessa doesn’t know what exactly makes a marriage look real, but she follows stuff her parents did—sharing food and joking with each other, letting their hands brush every now and then, each one making her whole arm tingle.

Brooke does her part wonderfully, no question about it. She maintains her calm all through dinner, answering question after question about herself and work. Even though Brooke seems to hold back when she talks about her job, like she’s afraid no one is interested, Vanessa finds herself really engrossed in what Brooke does, no acting required.

Brooke does a lot more than look at bones all day, Vanessa learns. She supervises the museum’s dinosaur collection and has been working on a special summer exhibit for months, getting permission to borrow a T-Rex skull from another museum. She’s also started more kids’ programs, special events and days just for them. As she speaks, Vanessa can see it. She can see Brooke strutting across the museum’s stone floor in a sharp black suit, opening up a crate of fossils and grinning like a little kid, staying at the museum long past closing to set it all up. It makes her smile, and the smile doesn’t leave.

Vanessa also learns that Brooke likes hiking on the weekends, and she’s grateful they’re not really married, because if she ever had to tag along on a hiking date she’d probably pass out.

When they walk back to the car amidst Paul shouting his hopes to see Brooke again, Vanessa feels sad somehow, like the thrill of tonight is fading.

“I, um, I had a nice time tonight,” Brooke says quietly, after Vanessa starts driving. “I haven’t been out in a while. I’ve been focusing on the T-Rex exhibit since January. Haven’t had time for much else.”

Vanessa nods. “Yeah, I get it. We get a lot more kids in the library for summer, I’ve been pulling crafts out of my ass to have more activities. But I love it, you know?”

“Yeah,” Brooke says, grabbing her purse as they pull up in front of her apartment. “Um, I’ll text you about the party at my mom’s, okay?”

“Okay. Good night.”

“Good night.”

Vanessa almost wishes the night didn’t have to end, that they could still buzz with that same magic that overtook them in the restaurant. She wonders if she’s getting her wish when Brooke releases the door and turns back to her.

“Your ring,” Brooke explains, and it hits Vanessa again that this is all fake, just an act. Brooke’s face falls as she tries to twist the ring off. “It’s stuck.”

“What do you mean,stuck?”

“I mean it’s stuck!”

“But it went on okay.” Vanessa shakes her head. “I bet you crack your knuckles. My mom made me stop, said I’d get big knuckles—“

“That’s a myth!” Brooke shoots back, tugging harder on the ring.

“Let me help.” Vanessa twists it with her, trying not to hurt Brooke.

“If I lose my finger, I’m mailing it to you so it can haunt you forever,” Brooke says, a hint of panic creeping into her voice.

“No one is losing a finger! Hang on, I have lotion.” Vanessa grabs the mini bottle of Aveeno in her purse and rubs it into Brooke’s hand, trying not to think of how soft—albeit sweaty—her skin is. Vanessa gives one last tug that sends her flying into the door, ring triumphantly in her fist.

Brooke massages her hand, then meets Vanessa’s gaze. Suddenly, they both erupt into laughter so fierce it brings tears to Vanessa’s eyes and makes her stomach hurt. I’m that moment, Brooke becomes more real to her, shaking and snorting with laughter, her face stretched into a grin. Brooke isn’t just someone who passes dishes at Nina’s without being asked, but someone Vanessa thinks she might want to know more, and she’s suddenly grateful for the birthday party coming up, grateful for more time with her.

“Okay, okay,” Vanessa wheezes. “Good night, for real.”

“Good night.”

Brooke gracefully walks into the building, and Vanessa finds herself staring at the empty space Brooke occupied long after she’s safely inside.

—

Brooke can’t quite believe it, but dinner with Vanessa was fun. Even with the number of questions Vanessa’s coworkers threw at her and the answers she had to keep spitting out, things began to feel less like a contest to prove their fake relationship and more like a real dinner party.

Vanessa is funnier than Brooke had remembered, telling story after story about the library’s chaos, from the time a grown man got stuck in the bathroom to the woman who almost went over the library desk when she found out there was no vending machine in the children’s room. Vanessa acts her stories out like she’s on stage, changing her voice and making exaggerated faces and swinging her arms all over the place.

She and Nina meet for their weekly breakfast the next day, and it’s nice to be around her warmth, nice to be around someone who knows the previous night was fake, freeing Brooke from pretending to be someone else. Even so, all Nina can talk about is how well Brooke and Vanessa did.

“I’m just saying, you really pulled it off,” Nina says around a mouthful of toast. “And she took some of your food! That was so cute, did you plan that?”

Brooke shakes her head, turning to the waffles she won’t have to share with anyone today. Not that she had really minded Vanessa’s slim wrist darting to her plate. “We didn’t plan it. She literally just stole my garlic bread.”

“Well, it worked. You looked so natural. I know A’keria, Silky, and Yvie were impressed, and they’re hard to win over.”

Brooke smiles a little at that. You can’t assign grades for being someone’s fake wife, but Brooke likes knowing she did a good job.

“Yeah. Vanessa’s gonna be my fake girlfriend at my mom’s in two weeks, and then I guess that’s that.”

“You’re really just doing the two things and that’s it?” Nina stares at her in surprise.

Brooke looks down, suddenly self-conscious. “Yeah? I mean, that’s what we agreed to…” she trails off. After last night, she was starting to think that more time with Vanessa could be a nice thing. Vanessa is funny and kind and charming, almost like Nina in a way, and Brooke was sucked into her personality in the dim restaurant lights. But now, in the cold morning light, the effects have worn off. They’re just two people who barely know each other, pretending to be in a relationship a few times. They might keep in touch after, talk at Nina’s parties, but there’s nothing more than that.

“Well, maybe you could stay friends after and do things,” Nina says. “You seemed like you had fun.”

“Yeah.” Brooke shovels some waffles into her mouth, because Nina is right and they both know it. Luckily, Nina moves the conversation onto the library carnival they’re having, and Brooke can forget all about last night.

—

That night, Brooke’s phone buzzes while she’s curled up with the cats, watching TV. Her heart flutters a little when she sees the sender.

Vanessa Mateo: So how long do I have to wait for Lorelai and Luke to get together?

Vanessa Mateo: Is Rory gonna end up with this Dean guy?

Vanessa Mateo: I need answers!

Brooke’s fingers hover over the phone. It’s been a while since she’s texted someone besides Nina or her mom, and she’s not sure how to approach this. Just as friends, she tells herself, and begins to type.

Brooke Lynn Hytes: You’ll just have to wait and see ;)

Vanessa Mateo: Brooke Lynn Hytes did you just winky face me???

Brooke Lynn Hytes: ;) ;)

[brawlfists]

STUDY    :    Tifa Lockhart.          Repost it, do not reblog.

tagged by :   @hercbled​  ( thank you ! ) tagging :    @ultimilitiaa​  .  @wutaiiwarrior​​  .  @bllakcat​  .  @uchirite​  .  @starsfated​​  .  @angereve​ (marlene or iris)  .   @dawnryse​  .  @andscreams​  (seifer)   &   you   !

—    basics.

▸       is your muse tall   /    short    /    average ? 5′6 (167 cm)  considering   the    region    she   is   from,   she  is  considered  tall.  

▸       are they okay with their height ? Definitely.  Tifa  never  had  issues  regarding  her  stature,  since  it’s  a  trait  that   she  doesn’t  really  focus  on.

▸      what’s their hair like ? Soft   as   silk,  bearing  in  mind  her  asian  lineage  that  usually   grows  from  a  round  follicle  (which is responsible for the  straight  hair)  her  hair  is  smooth  and  has  a  remarkable  hair  growth.  Her  hair  color  varies  according  to  the  light,   beneath  the  sunrays   seems  to  be  a  hickory  hue   when  it’s  actually  a   dark  chocolate  tinge.  Tifa  fancies  long  hair,   since  a  child  Tifa  opted  to  let  her  hair  grow  longer  due  to  her  mother’s  beautiful  hair  (Tifa  constantly  used  to  comb  her  mama’s  hair  admiring  how  sleek  her   strands  are).  Sidebangs  are   her   trademark,  yet  it  wasn’t  always  in  that  style  cause  when  she  was  5-12  her  bangs  were  60s styled bangs.

▸     do they spend a  lot of time on their hair     /    grooming ? Yes.   in   terms  of   daily   basis  it  doesn’t  require  much  of   her   attention,  aside  from  wearing  the   proper  hair  brush  to  her  hair  type  (variates  between  a  boar   bristle   brush  and   wet  brush)   Tifa  does  deep  hydrating  treatments  twice  a  week  (coconut oil),   doesn’t  over-wash  her  hair   (3 times a week)   &   low-heat  setting  for  her  hair  dryer.  Tifa’s  major  secret  to  maintain  her  strands  healthy  is  shampooing  the  scalp,  massaging with  fingers  instead  of  nails  &  the  conditioner  along  the  length  of  her  hair.  Regarding  the  grooming  process,  Tifa  enjoys  to  tie   at  her  tips   or  sometimes  prefers  to  keep  loose.

▸      does your muse care about their appearance   /   what others think ? generally  speaking  she  doesn’t   care  what  other  think  unless if   it’s   a    specific    niche  (close  friends/crush).   Regarding  her  exterior  looks,   she   values   her   opinion  but   if   someone  contradicts   her   (ex :  ‘your  outfit  is  weird’ )     Tifa  will  innerly   question   &    doubt   her   current   appearance.   Personality  wise,   Tifa  is  stubborn  and  reluctant  to  change  minor  issues,  so  following  this  trace,  she  cares  by  half.   (50%)   

—    preferences.

▸      indoors    or    outdoors ?   ▸      rain    or   sunshine ?   ▸     forest    or    beach ?     ▸      precious    metals   or    gems ?       ▸     flowers   or    perfumes ?     ▸      personality    or    appearance ?     ▸      being    alone    or    being    in    a    crowd ?     ▸      order    or   anarchy ?   ▸     painful    truths    or    white    lies ?     ▸    science    or    magic ?     ▸      peace    or    conflict ?   ▸      night    or    day ?     ▸      dusk    or   dawn ? ▸      warmth    or    cold ?     ▸      many   acquaintances    or    a    few    close    friends ?   ▸      reading    or    playing    a    game ?    

—    questionnaire.

▸      what are some of your muse’s bad habits ? Have  you  ever  seen  someone  emotional  that  is  too  insecure  to  express  her  feelings  much   cause   sometimes  doesn’t   even   her   understand   what  is  exactly  is  going  on  with  her  emotions  or   that   she   believes   that   her   feelings  sometimes   aren’t   relevant  to  the  situation  they  are  inserted  such  as   ‘Prevent  Sephiroth  from  using  the  Black  Materia’  ?   That’s  Tifa  Lockhart.  No  wonder  her  name  suggests  such  a  thing.  Tifa  bottles  up  her  feelings,  not  only  due  to  the  fact  that  she  doesn’t  construe  them  very  well  but  there  are  times  that  she  outbursts     Quoting  Tifa :  “YOU’RE  JUST  GOING  TO  WALK  RIGHT  OUT  IGNORING  YOUR  CHILDHOOD  FRIEND  !? “    that’s  an  example  of  her  outburst  when  she  asks  Cloud  to  join  AVALANCHE.   Tifa  crack  her  joints  often  to  release   tension     ...  it’s  a  sign  of   her  anxiety  from  (PTSD)  

▸      has your muse lost anyone close to them ? how has it affected them ? Akane  Lockhart  (Mother),  the  death  that  inflicted  Tifa  the  most.  Considering  her  age  (8 years old)  and  the  bond  they  shared  caused  her  to  persists  in  a  denial  stage  of  grief.  Imagine  a  8   year   older   Tifa  believing  that  her  mother  was  in  Mt.Nibel  which  lead  her  to  do  multiple   things   that   harmed  her.    Brian  Lockhart  (Father)  in  an  early  age  (15  years  old)  and  the  cause  of  death  only  inticed  her  to  release  a  rage  against  Shinra,  a  painful  one  that  still  haunts  her  nightmares.   Due  to  her  coma,  her   grief   process   was  interrupted  &   the  trauma  lead  her  to  suppress  such  memories.   Biggs,  Jessie  &  Wedge  (AVALANCHE members)   guilt  grief,  mostly  inticed  by  Barret  since  Tifa  was  trying  to  deal  with  her  emotions  and  it  only  caused  her  to  be  confused  with  the  entire  situation.  Through  time,  she  does  feel  a  guilt  complex  considering  that  it  was  all  setup  by  Shinra.   Aerith  Gainsborough  (close friend)  it  was  all  to  quick  (meeting her,  her  death,  the  grief  because they had to continue with their journey)  I   believe   Aerith   inflicted   her   a    mix   of    these   3   grieves.   Denial,  rage  and  guilt     ...     The  denial  stage,  possibilites  that  was  an  image  created  in  their  head  since  in  the  Temple  of  Ancients  they  were  able  to  see  Sephiroth’s  passage  through  the  Temple.    Rage,  I  believe  she   discharges  her  anger   through  the  battles  and  her  willpower.  Guilt,  this  one  is  not  heavily  implied  but  Tifa  often  contemplates  ‘What If’  scenarios   such  as   :  what  if  I  went  along  with  them  when  Cat  Sith  shrinked  the  temple  into  the  black  materia  and  prevented  Cloud  to  give  the  Materia  to  Sephiroth   or   what  if   I  tried  to  stop  Aerith  from  going  to  the  Forgotten  City  when  Cloud  was   unconscious.   As  remark  of  her  beautiful  presence,  she  uses  a  pink  ribbon   around   her   left   triceps   to   feel   her  energy.  

▸       what are some fond memories your muse has ? Playing piano with her mother,  water tower meetings with Cloud (mainly the promise day, as much it can be considered sad cause he was leaving), Zangan lessons,  playtime with Johnny and Cloud,  Brian’s  pancakes,   7th  heaven  before  the  Meteor  /  Avalanche  schemes  (Wedge  trying  her  food,  Jessie and Biggs  drinking  games,  grooming  Marlene’s  hair  and   Barret’s  papa  bear  moments  to  Marlene),   Aerith  flowers,  Cloud  returning  from  a  delivery,  Vincent  vs  cellphone  &   Aerith’s  protection   

▸     is it easy for your muse to kill ? No.  Bearing  in  mind  that  her  weapon  is  her  hands,  Tifa  has  trouble  in  killing  ;  unless  when  it’s  a  monster.  or   Sephiroth.  When  she  is  boosted  by  rage,  her  impulsivity  might  cause  her  to  oblive  her  morals,  take  as  an  example  the  Nibelheim  incident  (no  wonder  it  incites  her  discomfort  leading  her  to  a  partial  memory  loss  (difficult to concentrate)  of  such  incident  {PTSD CAN TRIGGER THAT]   

▸      what’s it like when your muse breaks down ? EXTREME  ANXIETY.    Quoting  Tifa  “If I stayed here  ... I’ll go crazy”   I  believe  her  breaks  down  usually  occurs  in  2  cases  :   STRESS  and  EMPTY  MIND   (this  one  was  thankfully  controlled  by  her  medidation  routine)       First,  she  isolates  herself   ...  Tifa  is  convinced  that  she  has  to  be  the  optimistic  pillar  to  her  party  (Example :  Aerith’s  death.  She  caresses  Aeris’  hair  &  runs  away  to  burst  her  tears  in  private)    .    Two,  mood  swings  (this  is  a  common  one.  An  example  is  when  Nanaki  questions  his  sanity   to  Cloud,  Tifa  says ‘Be strong’  then  when  he  doubts  she  simply  shouts  ‘BE STRONG !’  ...  an  effect  that  suppressing  her  feelings  preside  over  her  breakdowns)   Third,  eating  &   sleeping  habits  are  affected.  Insomnia  mostly  and   skipping  meals.     

▸      is your muse capable of trusting someone with their life ? Yes.  I  wouldn’t   say   easily,  it  depends  how  that  someone  will  approach  them.  I’ll  use  Yuffie  &  Aerith  as  an  example.  In  the  case  of   Aerith,   her  approach  was  during  a  unfortunate  event  (Don Corneo’s  creepy  dungeon)  however  it   was  a  friendly  reach  considering  that  SHE  PROVIDED  THE  WHOLE  CONCEPT  OF  SAVING  TIFA.   When  they  arrive  Sector 7,  Tifa  request  Aerith  to  protect  Marlene.  Which  she  would only  request  someone  that  she  is  capable  to  trust  with  their  life.  About  Yuffie,  their  meeting  was  around  a  tricky  scheme  which  lead  Tifa  to  not   trust  her  easily,  cause  when  in  the  Wutai  sidequest.  Quoting  Tifa  :  “Something’s  telling  me  I  still  shouldn’t  trust  you”   implying  that  Tifa  follows   her  instincts.   Summarizing,   it   would   depend   on   the   circumstances   of   their   meeting.

▸      what’s your muse like when they’re in love ? highly   attuned   to   infatuation  —  as   long   as   she   can   trust   enough   to   let    down   her   barriers   and   allow    another   person   into   her  world.  she  loves   hard,   pursues  a   star   love   (the   kind   where   souls, minds, and bodies seamlessly merge)   Tifa  will  be  that  girl  that  attempts  to  show  her  emotions  through  actions.   She  tries  to  adjust  to  her  partner  ideals  which is  a submissive  trait,  yet  she  also  expects  that  her  sweetheart  demonstrates  somehow  (words or actions)   which  can  lead   her   to  be  that  type  of  lover  that   put   up   walls   and    say   it's   all   good   when   everything   is   clearly   the   exact   opposite,   since  Tifa  has  issues  in  dealing  with  emotions.   It  doesn’t  happen  often  but  she  feels  bad  when  she  has  to  demand  her  partner  for  affection  or   time  together.  These  walls  usually  crumbles  through  time.   Basically  she’s  a  giver  and  will  always  remind  you  how  much  you’re  worth  it  and  loved   &  how  lucky  she  is  to  have  you  as  a partner +  SUPER  ATTENTIVE &  CARING.

[deepinifhell]

Future Queens- Once Upon A Time

Summary: Princess Lia finds more than she bargained for during her bachelorette party in a beautiful waitress named Riley Singh. She is expected to find a future husband during this upcoming social season. Thankfully, her friends aren’t afraid of bending the rules to offer her the love of a lifetime.

Also on AO3 | Prologue |  Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3

Pairing: Lia(F!Liam) x MC

Series Rating: T

Word Count: 3,614

Warnings: series warning for homophobia

Disclaimer: This is a TRR rewrite of Liam’s “route”, but with a F/F pairing. I’ve added more description, filled holes, and made a few adjustments but I just want to be clear that a lot of this text is from the book itself and I’m not claiming to have written it.

Note: Happy first full-chapter release!

New York, Once Upon A Time

“Just another glamorous New York Saturday night of hauling trash to the dumpster…” Riley laments, heaving a heavy bag over her shoulder. It lands with a slick, crinkling plop.

“It could be worse. There could be—” Daniel’s voice jumps an entire octave – “rats! Riley, help!”

“Don’t tell me you’re afraid of this adorable little mouse family. They’re trying to get by, just like us.” Daniel is Riley’s friend and co-worker. They both work closing shift at a small local dive bar. Riley never needs the help, but Daniel usually tags along on trash duty to avoid the ever-present wrath of their manager. Speak of the devil—the back-door swings open, and their scowling manager pokes his head out the door.

“Hey! Riley, Daniel, quit slacking off over there!” He barks.

“You told us to take out the garbage,” Riley says.

“And now I’m telling you to wait on the bachelorette party that just rolled in. Chop chop!” The manager snaps his fingers twice.  

The previously quiet restaurant is much louder now that the aforementioned bachelorette party is here. Wait. Riley swears her manager said bachelorette party. At the front of the restaurant though, there are three men, and none of them look like they are meant to be at the same place.

“Waitress, there you are. We need your best table!” A crisply dressed man in a suit calls out.

“Forget the table. Just bring us whiskey, and lots of it,” says the only man who looks like he might actually belong here.

Daniel looks to Riley, pleading with his best puppy-dog eyes. “Riley, please take this one. I’ve got a date tonight, and I’ll never make it out of here in time…”

“You really want me to take the them?” Riley asks, thinking it over for a moment. They look like a handful but—“I’m on it. The tip will be insane! I’ll have those guys eating out of my hand in no time.” Daniel’s eyes light up.

“You’re the best!”

“Are you two still talking? I’ve seated them already. Now get over there before I dock your pay!” The manager shouts. Riley heads over to the table where the three men sit, talking. Daniel makes the smart choice to dart into the backroom before their manager finds some other task to take up too much of his time.

“Hello, gentlemen. I’ll be taking care of you this evening,” Riley says. She glues on her most charming and helpful smile.

“Waitress, steaks for the table,” declares the third man. His black polo and slacks are still too nice for a place whose menus aren’t even laminated, though his outfit is blazer-free.

“How about some filet mignon, medium rare and prepared with a bearnaise sauce?” The man in the suit phrases it as a question, but his tone of voice doesn’t match.

“The closest thing we have to filet mignon is the deluxe burger.” Maybe one of them would notice, if they took the time to look at the single-page menu in front of them.

“Dare I ask for your wine list?” The suited gentleman frowns.

“We’ve got an excellent house red,” Riley offers.

“House red?” He sounds deeply offended. Unfortunately, it’s still not enough to rank him in her Top 10 Worst Customers.

“It also comes in white,” Riley says. Seeing the situation starting to get out of hand, the lone casually dressed member of the group takes over the situation.

“We’ll be fine with a bottle of whiskey…and four deluxe burgers.”

“Four?” Riley asks. The man nods behind her, and Riley turns to see a young woman enter the restaurant. She looks just as out-of-place as the rest of her group, but the only thought Riley has time for is she’s really cute!

“Sorry I’m late. Thank you for your patience, Miss…?”

“Uh, Riley.”

“Charmed to make your acquaintance, Riley.” She introduces the group afterward, presenting their names before her own: Tariq, Drake, and Maxwell. The woman’s name is Lia, and Riley knows she won’t be forgetting it anytime soon. She nearly fumbles her words trying to answer back.

“Trust me…the pleasure’s all mine.” Focus, Riley! “It’s nice to meet you. Now let me go put your order in. Be right back!”

---

Later that evening, a little after the bar has closed, Riley is finishing up when someone taps her on the shoulder. It’s Lia, just as polite as when she first walked in. “I think we’re about ready to head out. I just wanted to thank you…and apologize. I know we kept you late, and my friends can be…demanding.”

“Demanding? Nothing I couldn’t handle,” Riley assures her. Lia smiles particularly brightly, like this is more relaxed than she is used to being.  

“I got the feeling that you could take care of yourself. If you don’t have any other plans tonight, maybe I can make it up to you by buying you a drink. We’re about to go to a club.”

“Oh? Which one?”

“We were hoping you might have some advice about that. We’re not from around here.” That would explain their voices, fluent in English but with an accent Riley can’t quite place.

“I recommend going…” she could recommend the hottest club in town, but the group didn’t seem like the partying type, especially not Lia, “to a gorgeous secret cove by the beach. Forget the club.”

“You know…that actually sounds perfect. To be honest, I’m getting a little tired of the usual bachelorette party antics. Lead the way!”

“Sure! Let me finish up here, and I’ll meet you out front.” Riley rushes to get through her work and heads back to change. I am so ready to get out of this uniform, she thinks, catching a glimpse of herself in the mirror.

It’s not often she has cute clothes to change into after work, but it’s warm enough that a casual summer dress is more comfortable than her usual after-work clothes this time of year. When Riley steps outside, the rest of the group is waiting for her, open shock on all of their faces.

“Wow,” Drake says.

“Wow?” Riley asks.

“I…almost didn’t recognize you,” he clarifies.

“That uniform wasn’t doing you justice,” Tariq says.

“Yeah, the waitress is hot,” comes Maxwell’s charming contribution. Lia clears her throat, loudly.

“Her name is Riley, and I doubt she appreciates you talking about her like that.”

“Right. Sorry, Riley.” Maxwell scrambles to apologize. “I meant to say, you look lovely. Now let’s get this party going!”

“So she’s our tour guide now?” Drake asks.

“Riley was kind enough to agree to show us around. She’s doing us a favor, so play nice,” Lia says. Riley gathers that this is their usual dynamic, given how unfazed Lia seems about having to scold both Maxwell and Drake.

---

A short time later, Riley and the group pile out of the limo at the beach, and the guys head off towards the ocean.

“We should build a bonfire,” Drake suggests. This is the first time Riley has seen him smile since he asked for that bottle of whiskey earlier.

“I’m not doing manual labor,” Tariq says.

“Sorry, I forgot who I was talking to. What I meant was, I’ll go build a bonfire.”

“This place is awesome! Skinny dipping!” Maxwell makes a point of drawing out the last sentence. Tariq is the first one to interject this time.

“Keep your pants on, Maxwell.”

“Thank you for bringing us here. I can tell the guys are enjoying themselves already,” Lia says, in a polite, indoor voice.  

“I bet you’re used to putting everyone else first,” Riley says.

“And why would you say that?”

“I can tell. I’m good at reading people. Now, forget about your friends. What about you? Do you like it here?”

“I love it.”

“It’s my secret spot, so I’m really trusting you.”

“I’ll do my best to be worthy of that trust,” Lia answers diplomatically, but Riley can tell she means every word. “Though there’s just one problem…How am I supposed to buy you that drink?”

“You’ll think of something.” Riley smirks. “Or maybe you’ll just keep owing me.”

“Fair enough. So what should we do?”

“We should…” Riley looks around the cove to remind herself of the best options, “climb up the cliff!” Lia looks startled that Riley would even think to suggest it, but not unwilling.

“Way up there?” She asks, stalling. Riley isn’t about to let her do that. She takes off for the rock face.

“Try to keep up!” Finding handholds and places for her feet, Riley quickly scales the cliff face. When she finally reaches the top, she grins, panting to catch her breath. “…Did it.” She extends a hand down and helps Lia up.

“Thanks.”

“What do you think?” Riley asks.

“Huh?” Lia may still be…just a little out of breath.

“The view. Worth the climb, right?”

“Oh, definitely.”  For a moment, they both look out, watching the moonlight play on the waves below as the wind moves through the clouds. Then Riley shivers.

“Cold?” Lia’s face twists with concern.

“Maybe just a little…” Lia peers back down the cliff face.

“I see that the guys got the bonfire going. Let’s head back down and warm up.”

---

Back at the bonfire, Lia’s friends play by the water nearby while the two of them sit together by the fire, appreciating the crackling flames as they warm their hands.

“Tonight’s been quite the adventure…” Lia trails off for a moment, searching for the words. “I never thought my night out on the town would end up like this. You’re really something else, aren’t you?”

“I’m going to take that as a compliment.” Riley beams at her.

“Believe me, it is. Spending time with you tonight has been the most fun I’ve had this entire vacation.”

“I guess that means you haven’t really been enjoying yourself very much.”

“It’s been wonderful, but there’s something missing. I really wanted to do one thing in particular while I was here…”

“And what’s that?”

“It’s…well…you’re probably going to think it’s silly, but I’ve always wanted to see the Statue of Liberty. It wasn’t really in the guys’ plan, so we just never got around to it. And now it’s my last day here…” Lia pauses, reeling in the emotion in her voice. “I don’t mean to sound so ungrateful. It was thoughtful of my friends to throw me this bachelorette party. They’ve done their best, but I’m not in the mood to celebrate.”

“Wait a second, it’s really YOUR bachelorette party?” At this point, Riley had written it off as a joke, or maybe a bad ploy to get free drinks—hah, her manager is far too cheap for that. “You’re pretty flirty for an engaged woman. I don’t think your fiancée would be too happy about that.” Riley knows that’s a bold thing to say, maybe even an act of flirting in itself, but she finds herself doing it anyway.

“That’s the funny thing. I actually don’t know who I’m going to marry yet…only that I’ll have to pick my fiancé by the end of the year.” Strange how, in spoken English, fiancé and fiancée become the same word.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Riley’s eyes go wide.

“The truth is, Riley…I’m the Crown Princess of Cordonia.”

“You’re a princess?” Riley asks. Lia already looks disappointed, and Riley can’t help but try to soothe the frown from her face. She leans closer but doesn’t dare to touch. “This doesn’t change anything. I don’t care what your title is. You’re still the same woman I met earlier this evening…caring, thoughtful…” Lia really is amazing. How do I tell her that? “I’ve seen a lot of customers come and go, but I’ve never seen any woman at their bachelorette party be concerned about whether the waitress was having a good night.”

Lia smiles now, though its tentative at first. “You don’t know how rare it is to hear someone say that. You’re the first one, in fact. It seems the more I talk to you, the more I like you, Riley.

It’s strange…I’ve known my whole life that I have to take up the duties of the monarchy. I’ve always wondered how that’s shaped me, who I might’ve been without the crown. You could be anything, do anything. What drives you, Riley?”

“What I really want is…to live every day to the fullest. Sure, I’m only waiting tables now, but…I like to make every day an adventure.”

“That’s beautiful, Riley.” A comfortable silence falls between the pair, looking out to the surf. Maxwell, Drake, and Tariq are splashing in the water.

“Got ya, Tariq!” Maxwell shouts.

“I told you, these shoes are leather!” Tariq shuffles his feet in a futile effort to avoid the water.  

“Aw, lighten up, Tariq. You’ve got, what, a hundred pairs?” Drake teases.

“Looks like your friends are having fun,” Riley says.

“Good. I’m happy for them. They deserve to have fun. Tomorrow, it’s back to Cordonia for the start of the social season,” Lia says resolutely.

“But it’s not tomorrow yet…”

“What are you suggesting?” There is a little gleam in Lia’s eye that Riley wants to keep sparkling.

“You said you wanted to see the Statue of Liberty. Let’s do it! I know a place where we can catch a boat tour. Best view in town.”

“Right now? But it’s way past midnight. Won’t all the tours be closed?”

“Oh…right. I forgot how late it’s gotten.” Riley’s disappointment lasts only a moment, and then she’s smiling again, struck by what she hopes is a brilliant plan. “In that case…you’re lucky I can call in a favor.”

Lia’s eyes are wide again. “A favor? And just like that, you can get us on tour boat after midnight to see the Statue of Liberty?”

“Well, maybe a few favors, actually, but I have some friends who owe me.” Living every day to the fullest has its perks, and that includes a lot of people she knows just well enough to ask for a favor. Riley is also banking that the opportunity to give an actual princess a tour will sweeten the pot. “It won’t be easy, but I know this is important to you, so…let’s go!”

Apparently, her speech is not enough to rally Lia, who is still standing there open-mouthed. “Right now?” she asks, again.

“It’s only getting later every minute we wait. Besides, it looks like the guys are busy enough. I bet they won’t even notice you’re gone.” Okay, I may be overselling it, just a little. But it will be worth it!

“You’re not going to take no for an answer, are you?”

“Nope.” That makes Lia grin again.

“Then I happily surrender to your demands.”

---

Riley and Lia make their way to the docks overlooking the city skyline. “…And here we wait,” Riley announces grandly.

“For?” Lia asks.

“A magical boat I’ve summoned just for you.”

“Not a bad view…” This time, when Riley glances over, Lia isn’t looking at the water. They both quickly turn their gaze back to the water. They both smile.

“Now, I’m dying to know why you’re so eager to see the Statue of Liberty.”

“Can’t you guess?”

“You want to see the Statue of Liberty..because you might never come back here.”

“You’re right. Even if I’m ever able to return to New York, it certainly wouldn’t be as a tourist. I have a feeling I’ll regret it if I don’t see the one thing I wished to when we left Cordonia. Knowing I was so close to what I wanted, but I didn’t reach out and grab it.” Lia looks back to Riley for a long moment…then looks away.

“Lia…” Just then, the blast of a horn startles them both! Looking out across the water, they can see a tour boat pulling up! “There’s our ride!”

---

A short time later, they are on their own private tour boat headed to the Statue of Liberty.

“Part of me didn’t think you’d pull this off,” Lia admits.

“You didn’t think I could pull it off? You just don’t know me very well.”

“You’re right. But I’d like to fix that. You’re fascinating, Riley. Why are you doing this for me?”

“I’m doing this because you seemed like you needed it.” It’s the easiest question Riley has been asked all night.

“That’s…so sweet of you. To be honest, no one’s ever done anything like this for me before.”

“Really? Come on, you’re a princess. I bet people do things for you all the time.”

“I do get all the perks that come with being royalty, but no one’s ever seen me as just…me. No one’s ever listened to me the way you do. No one’s ever come up with a spur-of-the-moment plan to make my dreams come true.”

“Lia…” Remember, she’s going home tomorrow. “You mean that crack team at the bachelor party couldn’t pull this off?”

“Heh. They try, but they’ve got nothing on you.” Suddenly, the boat slows and the mists of the harbor part. In the distance, the Statue of Liberty appears.

“So? What do you think?” Riley asks.

“Magnificent. I’ve heard that art has meaning because of what it makes the viewer feel. Whether it’s ink splatters on a canvas or the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, it only matters if it moves you.”

“And?” Hopefully now is not the moment Lia decides the Statue of Liberty is a rusted piece of junk.

“And right now, looking at this view with you, I feel like anything is possible. Thank you for this moment, Riley. This feeling…this means more to me than you could ever know.”

“Lia…” How am I supposed to keep it casual when you say things like that? Lia cuts her off before she can say anything else.

“I want you to know that I admire you. Your adventurous spirit. The way you follow your heart.”

“You can live that way too.”

“If only. My whole life I’ve prepared myself to do what’s best for Cordonia.”

“Well, we’re not in Cordonia now…” Riley looks up into her eyes as Lia draws close. It’s Riley who takes the plunge in the end, pulling Lia in and kissing her deeply. For a moment, Lia stands frozen in shock again, but she relaxes moments later. Riley can feel the grin on her lips before they pull away. Lia leans her forehead against Riley’s.

“You’re full of surprises, aren’t you?”

“I try.”

“I’m glad to have met you, Riley. I’ll never forget this night.”

---

The next morning, Riley gets ready for the day. “Last night was fun…but it’s time to face the real world…” Talking to herself is a bad habit she has gotten into since moving out on her own for the first time. “…and that means going back to work.”

She has just made it to the doors of the bar when she hears a familiar voice!

“Riley! Glad I caught you.” It’s Maxwell, and he doesn’t bother to wait for her response before continuing, talking a-mile-a-minute like a businessman trying to rush a phone call. “We’re heading back to Cordonia so Lia can find someone to marry and all that jazz. But before I go, I wanted to officially extend to you an invitation to join us for the festivities in Cordonia.”

“Huh?” I must have misheard.

“You wouldn’t usually be allowed to join…but I want to sponsor you!”

“Sponsor me?”

“I’m from a noble house, and usually they would select one of their own family members, but we can sponsor anyone we choose. And you’re my pick.”

“You want to sponsor me? Why me? Isn’t she looking for…a husband?”

“Technically,” Maxwell emphasizes this word heavily, “it says ‘spouse’. But I’m not just doing it for you. I saw how Lia looked at you last night. I’ve never seen her so happy. Honestly? I don’t want her to lose that. We’re kinda crunched for time, though. I’ve got a plane leaving within the hour…”

“Whoa! You’re moving a little fast, don’t you think?”

“No time to waste. The opening Masquerade is tonight! It’s the start of the…uh, I guess you could say, it’s the start of the competition.”

“What do you mean?” Lia didn’t mention last night that there would be some sort of Love Tournament!

“There’s a whole horde of handsome, rich, noble men vying to become Cordonia’s next king. And it’s not just about winning the Princess’ hand. You’ve also got to prove to the council that you can rule Cordonia with her. But I think you’ve got what it takes. You’re witty and charming.”

“Uh, thanks,” Riley says, dumbfounded. She knows this is insane, and Maxwell’s speech doesn’t make her feel any less nervous about being the only woman vying for the Princess’ hand, but her mouth moves on its own. “So…a fancy Masquerade…and what else am I getting myself into?”

“Fun stuff, I promise! You’ll get to go yachting in the Mediterranean, skiing in the Alps, and dancing in the Royal Palace… Or, y’know, you can stay here…and go back to your waitressing gig with your crappy boss. That’s probably about as good.” By the end, she can practically feel the sarcasm dripping from his mouth. Riley thinks back on everything that happened last night. That she said she wanted to live every day to the fullest, and how much she wanted to spend more time with Lia.

“I’m in,” she says. Maxwell does a little hop of excitement.

“Yeah! Go pack your bags. This is going to be the adventure of a lifetime!”

Tag List: @sibella-plays-choices​ @client-327​

[kitzatara]

Zatanna and her Girlfriend Dinah often go on double dates with Diana and her girlfriend Mera. When they go bowling Diana and Dinah get very friendly competitive while Mera and Zee cheer for their respect partners naturally. Sometimes, they share a wicked knowing smile and maybe Mera will commend Dinah on her form or Zee will remark on how coordinated Diana is adding fuel to the fire and both sit back and watch the increasingly ridiculous competition. Drinks clink as they take turns quietly betting on who will win this time.

Hawkgirl and Vixen sometimes join the other two couples but they much prefer date night alone. Looking out over cities from the clouds or having dinner on a private island beach that they flew too. Sometimes they’ll leave a mysterious map or list of instructions on where to go. Vixen creates challenges that play into Shayera’s detective skills. Shayera creates challenges that make Mari use unusual animal skills.

When all three couples are together it’s a big event. They get all dressed up (Mari and Zee always wear the fanciest outfits) Diana and Mera take close second and third and can’t figure out who the queen and princess of the group always lose to the model and the stage performer. Dinah and Shayera wear less conspicuous outfits and just love their fashion goddess girlfriends. Dates rotate between earth cities, Atlantis, or Themyscira. Everyone’s secret favorite place is Atlantis, shayera never thought she’d even be able to go underwater, Zee thinks it’s perfectly magical, Mari experiences the red so intensely under the sea, Dinah loves the way Zee lights up and how she looks in the blue lights, Diana is reminded of herself and let’s her burdens fall from her shoulders, and Mera loves being the one to show them new things and for once she isn’t the fish out of water.

[krackheadkulture]

God’s Shadow (Pt.3)

Pairings: OC X Hwang Hyunjin Word Count: 6k+ Genre: Gang AU, mafia, comedy

WARNING: MENTION OF VIOLENCE, STRONG LANGUAGE AND PROBABLY DEATH

[THIRD PERSON PERSPECTIVE]

A/N: Andddd this is the finale of the entire story! I didn’t actually know it would be this long but I hope everyone liked it! Anyways, if you haven’t read the story, you can read Pt.1 here and Pt.2 here. I’m so excited for SKZ’s comeback!!!

Kyunghee walked through the crowds, rushing through the push and pulls from people walking around her. She blended in perfectly with the crowd despite wearing such a fancy outfit but she stood out in her eyes; everyone was normal, living a normal life, and there was her, one of the greatest mafia’s daughter that was currently being chased by hitmen and assassinators just to earn a recognition from their bosses and leaders.

She had no connections or way to reach anyone, not Jisung, not Chan and definitely not even her father. She did not have any money on her, she did not know where her phone was or had Chan figured out her coordinates all because she smashed the ring onto the wall before running away; she was the definition of alone. She felt a tear dripped from her face as her pace slowed down and she was getting pushed more often now. Why did she even leave the hideout in the first place? Why did she need to rebel Hyunjin or her father that much? Why was she crying?

She finally looked up when the people stopped pushing past her, heading towards their completely normal life. Why had they stopped? How far did she walked away? She glanced around and looked across her surroundings. Instead of the noises from city life, all she could hear were the waves crashing against the shore, and the crickets frequent whistles. She glanced around before looking up in front of her. A small smile rose on her face.

“I see you have found me,” she whispered, blinking her eyes slowly and let the tears dripped down her cheeks.

-

Hyunjin’s heart was pounding when he exited the hideout. He had to take the backdoor of the hotel to avoid the people from his gang and ran straight to his car to drive away. Why the hell did he even take her phone away from her in the first place? She could’ve been anywhere now at this time. What if she was hurt? What if she was held hostage? What if she was found?

He let out a frustrated yell and slammed the steering wheel hard. He was never going to forgive himself if she was ever hurt.

-

The breeze from the sea blew past Kyunghee’s face as she stared at the waves rippling across the water, the moonlight reflected across the sea. Kyunghee felt calm at last, even if it was for a short time at least.

“How did you find me?” Kyunghee asked, not looking at the companion beside her. “I didn’t have my phone, I smashed the ring against the wall while fleeing and I was brought to an unknown place.”

The person next to Kyunghee smiled slightly. “I’ve known you since you were a kid; we’re literally childhood friends. Whenever you’re conflicted or confused or maybe in a crisis, the first place you would go is the beach, after wondering around aimlessly. It’s funny how you always end up at a beach no matter where you go,” he said. “Was anyone there with you during your escape? Because as far as I know, you didn’t bring a car along with you to the party, and you couldn’t have escape… down the building without jumping extreme lengths.”

“Chan, I- I can’t tell you,” Kyunghee whispered back. “He saved my life…”

“If you don’t tell me, how am I supposed to protect you?” He asked.

“My assassinator,” Kyunghee gave in. “He was supposed to kill me but instead, he saved my life and brought me to his secret hideout… or yeah, it was his hacker’s secret hideout.”

“A-and he hasn’t kill you yet?” Chan raised his eyebrows. “What’s his deal anyways?”

“Aren’t you glad I’m still alive?” Kyunghee scoffed. “But now I’m worried about him, he’s going to get killed by his boss for not completing his mission. And I really don’t know what to do right now because of that. It… it kills me, thinking like this. God, I shouldn’t have left him from the hideout.”

“You escape from their hideout yourself?” Chan asked. “Why don’t you come back to the gang, with a little more training, you would make a fine assassinator.”

“And that is basically the reason why I don’t want to associate with any of you,” she choked a little, suddenly thinking of the events that had occurred. “Just so you didn’t know, I had to use my bare hands to take the life of at least three hitmen targeting me just a couple of hours ago at the party.”

Chan chuckled in amusement. “Lee Young, did not know you were capable of that!”

Kyunghee could not help but smile as well. She nudged Chan at the side roughly and rolled her eyes. “Stop that, Chris. We trained together when we were younger. Both of us know I can handle more than just a few hits.”

Chan rolled his eyes and smiled. The way he smiled reminded Kyunghee so much about their time together last time. Oh, how she had missed that smile. It was the only smile she remembered from her childhood and the only real smile she had ever seen during her training times. It was still surprising enough how Chan still forgave her and still stayed by her side despite leaving everything behind, including him.

“Anyways, how on earth did you even leave the premises without anyone catching you,” Chan asked, tilting his head slightly.

“I didn’t, they just let me off,” Kyunghee whispered, now tearing her attention from the taller boy. She could not help but replay the events that had happened within the couple of hours before. That brief moment in the car with Hwang Hyunjin, how that small tension could make Kyunghee see something in him, how he cared so much for her that he brought her into his close friend’s hideout. That moment when she looked into his eyes, to just see how much worries clouded on the surface of his eyes when he walked out, stressed over whether to kill her or to just bring her to safety…

“So what do you want to do now?” Chan asked, distracting the worries from her mind. “You can’t possibly go back home and expect yourself to continue your normal life.”

“That’s why I changed my mind, I’m joining,” Kyunghee claimed.

“Joining what?”

“I’m coming back to the gang,” she glanced at Chan with a determined smile. “And I promise this time, I’m not running away. Because no matter where else I run, I still can’t run away from my past, so I learnt to just embrace it instead.”

-

Hyunjin stood in front of the plain door to Kyunghee’s apartment. He was breathing heavily as he reached over to touch the doorknob. Carefully, he twisted it open, but it never opened.

“Hyunjin?” The familiar voice of Kyunghee asked. Hyunjin twisted around almost as instantly as soon as he heard his name. And there she was, right in front of his face, the girl he had almost lost his mind searching for.

Hyunjin stride straight towards Kyunghee and wrapped her in his arms while resting his head onto the girl’s shoulders. “W-what were you thinking, Lee Young? What the hell were you thinking? Running away from the hideout? T-that was a good thing but why the fuck did you do that? Did you not know how worried sick I was looking for you?”

“I never knew you were so concerned about me,” Kyunghee whispered, a little shocked at the embrace. “Since you were going to kill me eventually.”

Hyunjin pulled himself away from Kyunghee and a gentle smile rose on his face. “Forget about killing anyone. They are looking to kill me too. L-let’s just run away together… you and I.”

“The only thing I have ever known about you is your name and your motive to kill me, other than that, we’re just strangers, Hyunjin. I don’t even know you,” Kyunghee replied. “And what do you mean it’s a good thing I ran away from the hideout?”

“The men, my boss’s men, they are set out to hunt for both you and I now and they were heading to the hideout you were in… what are you even doing here? What if they come back for you? It’s not safe for you anymore,” Hyunjin chattered away.

“That’s why I did something else,” Kyunghee replied quietly, then recalling back her encounter with Chan. “I-I’m staying with one of my other closest friend, someone who owes me a favour and I’m sure they wouldn’t find me there at all. I’m just here to get my belongings before moving away… for now.”

It was a bad idea to tell Hyunjin everything now. She thought that maybe a little white lie and leaving the fact that she had joined the gang was for the best. She gave the boy a weak smile before opening the door into her house. She sighed as soon as she looked at her small apartment. Furnitures were overturned, clothes were thrown out of the closet, and everything was not at their correct place.

“Why not you help me pack as well?” Kyunghee ignored the mess behind her as she talked to Hyunjin. “The faster we finish packing my luggage, the faster we escape out here from the eyes of the enemies… right?”

-

“You’re doing so great! What did you even eat during your entire life out of the gang to move this agile?” Chan praised Kyunghee as he clicked the stopwatch to a stop as the girl walked up to him. Sweat dripped down her face as she took the water bottle from Chan’s hand and took a big gulp of water. “Did you not see how accurately you threw the daggers at the targets while running the straight line? Incredible!”

Kyunghee chuckled. “You wouldn’t believe it if I tell you I actually train at the gym.”

“Throwing daggers at random people?” Chan raised his eyebrow curiously. He glanced around the training centre where everyone was also training as well.

“No, running,” Kyunghee said. “But… it’s too tiring to run. I don’t get where you get the motivation to run at all!” She pouted and earned a laugh from the latter.

The laughter shared between the duo didn’t last long when a man wearing a suit walked towards them. The atmosphere around him was so cold, Kyunghee and Chan literally stopped laughing altogether even though he was a couple of meters away from them. They turned heads simultaneously to the newcomer. Chan bowed his head down immediately while a frown formed on Kyunghee’s face.

“Good afternoon, Mister Lee,” Chan greeted the man. The man nodded his head at Chan’s direction but never left Kyunghee’s face.

“Good morning Chan,” he replied back. “Would you excuse us for a moment? I would like to have a word with my… daughter.”

“Yes sir,” and instantly, Chan walked away and disappeared through the automatic sliding doors that led out to the hallways.

Kyunghee stared back at the last of Chan. She did not want to look at her father at all. Despite not reconnecting for almost a decade, he still looked the same, with his gel-up hair swept to the side, his stern and cold piercing eyes, his upturned, thin lips that would show no mercy in making comments or judging someone, or the black suit he always wore. He was still the same as she had remembered, just a little older with more wrinkles crimped into every folds of his loose skin, his hair a little finer and whiter.

“It has been long since we have talked, Young. But I just want to tell you that I am proud that you have come back,” her father beamed.

“My name’s no longer Lee Young, sir,” she grumbled.

Mister Lee’s eyes twinkled as they observed Kyunghee’s face. He nodded his head and a smile appeared on the tip of his lips. “Very well… I just wanted to tell you that I am holding an event… like a party for my… business and it would be the greatest pleasure for you to be able to join.”

“Why would I even join you?” Kyunghee asked.

“You’re my daught-“

“My father’s dead,” she snarled. “Have you forgotten someone out there is still trying to kill me?”

“I am well aware that it is one of my… rivalling gangs led by a man called… Spades King,” her father began. “But that’s the entire point, I am inviting him over as well as my other rivalling gangs… to form a truce.”

“Does that include sacrificing me as well?” Kyunghee rolled her eyes.

Kyunghee accidentally made eye contact with the old man so she quickly diverged her attention to the ground as he continued to speak. “No, of course not,” he explained. “Even if anything happens to you, my men will defend you immediately… but not as if you need any help in defending yourself.”

“Fine, I’m in,” Kyunghee decided quickly. It even shocked her how fast those words came out of her lips. She did not know what got into her but her guts were telling her to go to the party.

The smile on Mister Lee’s face widen. He nodded excitedly at his daughter. “I’m so glad you want to join me, Lee- Kyung… hee. Now don’t be late for your next training, setting up and defusing bombs… it is your expertise after all.”

“How did you know?” Kyunghee raised her eyebrow. “The last time I checked, you were never interested in how I am doing since according to you, I disappoint you.”

“I was never not concerned about you,” he replied softly and placed his hand on Kyunghee’s shoulder, only to have it swept off almost immediately. He let out a sigh. “Just… just know that no matter how much you hate me, you can’t run away from your past. It will always come back to bite you whenever you least expect it to.”

Those were the last words that hung on Kyunghee so heavily that when her father walked away, she could feel tears slipping from her eyes. It was when she realised how similar she was with the person she deeply detest. How much she hated being in associated with him.

-

“Say yes?” Kyunghee looked up with pleading eyes at Hyunjin. The two of them were seated next to the beach, enjoying the breeze, the sun and the laughters of children running around the sand barefooted. “Please Hyunjin, just… join me for once?”

Hyunjin was wearing a black cap that covered his eyes, so Kyunghee could not see his eyes or read his expression. “Lee Young,” he was the only one that was allowed to call her by her real name since she had long given up with correcting him. “For the last time, have you forgot my boss still wants to kill me? And when did you even start talking to your father again?”

“I’m not,” truth. “He knew about your boss wanting to kill me and wanted to start a truce with him so he went over to find me,” half truth. “I didn’t want to talk to him but since he found me, being the concerned father he is, he begged me to agree to the party,” and that was a complete lie. She couldn’t help it because she didn’t want him to worry at all. “So… would you be the other half of me at the party?”

It took Hyunjin one last glance at the girl before giving in. “Yes, I will. I’ll go with you, Lee Young, and only because I want to look after you,” he replied and was wrapped in Kyunghee’s embrace.

“Yes!” Kyunghee giggled. “Thank you for helping me in this! You’re the only person I trust with my life since as you know, you are the best hitman ever.”

“Who tried to kill you,” Hyunjin added.

-

“Are you sure you’re ready for it?” Hyunjin asked as he squeezed Kyunghee’s hand. The both of them were neatly dressed for the occasion, with Hyunjin in a suit Kyunghee had found laying around in Chan’s room and she in a floor-length maroon dress. But it was never a real party for them if there were not any knives or weapons hidden beneath their fabric.

“No,” Kyunghee answered nervously. “I had been hyperventilating the past hour getting ready. I’m walking into the den of the most dangerous, murderous and merciless parties hosted ever.”

“So that’s why we’re here for you,” a voice added. Kyunghee twisted her head to her left side and found Chan standing next to her, smartly dressed as well. “And I brought you another companion that I saw and… adopted.”

“Me,” the most familiar voice of Yang Jeongin added. “If anything ever goes wrong, watch me switch off all the light in the split second on my phone and lock all the doors from the outside even with those old fashioned knobs.”

“I never knew you would be interested in my business, hacker boy,” Kyunghee raised her eyebrow.

“I’m not,” Jeongin replied. “I’m only interested in keeping Hyunjin safe.”

“Well, whatever, let’s get going now,” Chan interrupted them and stepped closer to the venue. He pushed the wide and grand doors open, revealing a full house of formally and elegant dressed people. “Let’s get this party going!”

-

As the people at the event moved quietly from one standing table to the next, talking in soft voices as their voices were overlapped by the classical music above their heads. Everyone who were not in the party would have thought it was a launching event for a new product or a very formal meeting, but it was a lot darker than that. Everyone was having a surprisingly pleasant time and Kyunghee took that opportunity to pull Chan away, with Hyunjin and Jeongin equally distracted to avoid their boss. Kyunghee quietly dissolved in one of the many hallways out of the grand hall, away from staring eyes.

“Are you still on board with my decision?” Kyunghee asked, her face turning serious now as she glanced at the boy. “Because if you ever want to back off, now it’s the time for you to do so.”

“Lee Young,” Chan opened his mouth.

“Kyunghee to you too,” Kyunghee corrected.

“Whatever,” he sighed. “I would never leave you alone in any situation and you know that, didn’t we make a pact together? I stick to it and I’m not going to leave you… but are you sure that’s the right thing to do?”

“The only thing I can do for everyone’s sake,” Kyunghee sighed. “I need to save him.”

Chan looked at Kyunghee for a hard second. She could see the regrets and worries in his eyes, how hard he did not want to agree but he did eventually. It was not for her sake at all, it was for someone else and she knew he thinks it was foolish for her to do so.

“I… I just hope you’re doing the right thing,” Chan replied softly and looked down at his trouser’s pocket. He fished the pocket and produced a small ring box. “Here,” he opened the box revealing a similar diamond ring that he had given her a couple of days before for the party. 

Kyunghee could only give him a weak smile. “I-I hope so too and thanks,” she said as she slipped the ring onto her finger. “Just remember to not get Hyunjin seen by anyone. Get him out of here, with my father… and just anyone you could.” 

“Ahhhhhhhhh!” A scream erupted through the crowd just before a gun shot was heard.

The two of them looked at one another in confusion. “Hyunjin,” Kyunghee whispered, looking back and froth from Chan to the grand hall. The both of them could hear and see screams from the other party guests as many scattered out of the place, while some stayed back to fight off the danger. But what was the danger at all?

Kyunghee’s legs immediately picked up their pace as she rushed through the corridor, tearing into the grand hall, barely missing a gun shot fired near her.

“Hyunjin!” She screamed. She could feel her vocal cord straining as she called out his name. “Where the fuck are you Hwang Hyunjin?” Her heart was beating so quickly now. She could not fail now, she could not lose him… just yet. It was too soon to say goodbye.

“Lee Young!” Arms wrapped around her immediately, pulling her into a hug. Kyunghee could feel tears welling up her eyes as she hugged back fiercely the boy in her arms. “I’m… I’m okay.”

“I should never have left you by my side, Hwang Hyunjin. What would happen if you were shot or killed? Oh god, it was a bad idea to have brought you here… I shouldn’t have!”

“What the fuck is going on?” Chan appeared beside Kyunghee as the duo unraveled themselves from their embrace. Jeongin stood close by. “Never mind what’s happening now! Come on into the hallway! At least we will be shielded from the sudden attack!”

“W-we bumped into our boss-“ Jeongin started.

“Former boss,” Hyunjin interrupted.

“Is it that important?” Jeongin splatted at Hyunjin before looking back at Chan. “He found us and asked us to follow him, but obviously we wouldn’t since everyone knew he would kill us the moment we’re out of everyone’s view. But Hyunjin had to be the smartass and tell him no instead of following him and losing him as soon as the crowd started blocking any path towards him…. So he pulled his gun out.”

“And now this has caused a bigger problem. Everyone is now thinking that there’s a mole around here and they’re fighting back. It’s chaos!” Hyunjin added. He faced Kyunghee. “You didn’t bring me here to have me surrender… did you?”

“I wouldn’t, you know that, Hwang Hyunjin,” Kyunghee bit her lips. Because you’re a part of my bigger plan… She looked at her childhood friend. “Where’s my dad now?”

Chan instantly glanced down at the smartwatch resting on his wrist. “He’s still in the grand hall,” Chan replied. “But I don’t think his bodyguards are alive-“

“Then I’ll get him,” Kyunghee said.

“No you’re not. Is he worth it?” Hyunjin cut in, grabbing her wrist. He was not going to lose her as well.

“No, he’s not worth it, Hyunjin, but he is my dad. He was the one that took me under his wing for my first few years,” Kyunghee replied quietly. Her heart hurt to see him like this, all battered and helpless.

“Then let me go with you.”

“No, it’s too risky for even two people,” Kyunghee explained. “There’s too many enemies and so little chance of surviving. I will… come back to you.”

Hyunjin was still not persuaded. His face folded into wrinkles as he looked at the girl in front of him. “No-“

“Now’s not the time to argue, Hwang Hyunjin,” Chan interrupted. “Look, bad people chasing after you now. Let’s get going.”

“I’ll hold them down for you,” Kyunghee volunteered.

“Hell no you’re not!” Hyunjin fought back, taking a protective step towards Kyunghee. “You’re not doing this alone! I’m not going to let you!”

“Then I have no choice but to do this,” Chan grumbled and grabbed Hyunjin by the shoulders. With one hand still holding the struggling Hyunjin, his other hand managed to grab his gun and he hit Hyunjin hard in the cranium with butt of the gun. It instantly knocked Hyunjin out cold.

Kyunghee could feel her heart breaking little by little as she watched helplessly as Chan dragged the boy away, leaving Jeongin and her alone, with very little time to spare before the men coming after Hyunjin reached them.

“Go, hacker boy,” Kyunghee commanded, slipping out a knife hidden beneath her dress. “Please take care of Hyunjin for me…”

“Are you sure you would be safe?” Jeongin asked quietly. He did not want to look at Kyunghee’s face and Kyunghee was actually hoping for that. Her eyes were wavered, filled with uncertainty and worry. Tears spilled from her eyes little by little.

Kyunghee tried to cover it up with a short laugh. “I will be, don’t worry, Jeongin. I have had the early fifteen years training with that merciless god, I can handle this… I promise.”

“And I hope you don’t break your promise,” Jeongin whispered and before she knew it, he was gone already. Thank god he listened to her. He would be free soon… just as soon as she finished what she needed to do.

With that determined mindset, she focused her attention on the three men advancing towards her. She rolled her eyes and wiped her wet eyes and that was before she started moving.

-

Kyunghee found her father at the balcony, overlooking the grand hall. She quickly climbed through the long staircase and ran through the many other hallways to reach him. She was lucky she had asked for the blueprint of the party’s venue.

She barged through the doors that led to the balcony and that was when she saw her father, still looking out of the balcony, his expression never wavered as more bodies fell onto the ground, staining the fine marble floor with crimson red.

“Father!” She cried, rushing towards her father immediately. “Why the fuck are you still here? Why did you not leave when you had the chance?”

Mister Lee merely glanced back at his daughter before looking at the wide spread of murder beneath him. “How did my party for truce turn into something like this?” Was the only thing her father asked.

“Are you fucking serious right now?” Kyunghee stared at her father with those cold hard eyes. Her heart was burning with anger as she continued staring at the back of her father’s head. She could kill him right at this instance. “That’s all you want to say instead of running to safety now?”

“We’re fighters, Lee Young. We’re not cowards. We don’t run away from situations we both know we can manage,” Mister Lee answered, now looking at Kyunghee. “You brought that boy over to this party because you had a plan… am I right?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Kyunghee whispered.

“You should start lying better, my dear daughter,” Mister Lee chuckled. “You knew that boy… what’s his name? Oh yeah, Hwang Hyunjin. He is wanted by his own gang so you decided to meet the both of them up here in this venue where I have a truce between ours and his gang… and what is this for?”

“So most people would evacuate,” Kyunghee replied.

“Evacuate? For what? You and I both know that there’s not any innocent people in here so why not kill everyone?” Mister Lee’s eyes sparkled when he spoke.

“Because I’m not like you,” Kyunghee replied. “I’m not someone who would kill people that deserve a second chance. They came into this place… this murderous background because they had nothing and they thought this was the only way of them to survive. I need to tell them they’re wrong. They do have another way of living.”

Mister Lee said nothing for a while. He just stared at his matured daughter. How fast she had grown to become, how she would have been made to become one of the greatest- if it weren’t for her kind heart.

“You remind me so much of your mother,” he whispered. “Even though your physical appearance and your skills were all adapted from me, it is your heart that differs so much from me… you took your mother’s kind heart instead. You’re not perfect but you never judge anyone else because you believe that they do good in the world.” He let out a heavy sigh he did not know he had been holding and gave a tight smile. “What do you need?”

-

“The exit’s that way,” Kyunghee grabbed her father’s arm as she sprinted across the hallway. There were not many exits left in the building and the closest one was the one where she had led Chan, Hyunjin and Jeongin out. Many people were already dead on the grand hall, their blood puddling up to form one big puddle. Why did they have to fight one another when it was the fault of only one?

She glanced around, expecting to find who she was looking for but he was nowhere to be found. The duo entered the hallway where her other acquaintances had left but Kyunghee was too distracted searching for him, she did not hear her father’s short warning and instead, tripped over her leg, falling straight down.

“Lee Young!” Mister Lee yelled, hurrying back to help his daughter. Kyunghee let out a scream as she tried to stand up, it was impossible; she had twisted her ankle.

“Go!” Kyunghee urged her father. “You have no idea where… where…the Spades King might be! He might kill you if he sees you unprotected, goddamnit!”

“A bit too late isn’t it?” The voice of the one and only Spades King asked. Both Kyunghee and her father looked to the left to see the person she was looking for walking out of the shadows from the many corridors connected to the hallway. “Oh look! Father and daughter! Hwakmin, it was really a shame that this didn’t end later, because I could’ve met your daughter… I assume, Miss Lee Young?”

“Fuck off,” Kyunghee snarled.

The Spades King chuckled in amusement. “That’s… such a bold statement, coming from a helpless girl with a twisted ankle and an ageing old man. Where’s Hwang Hyunjin, your knight in shining armours? Too scared to fight?”

“Look at you, spitting nonsense at people who don’t care a shit you said,” Kyunghee snapped.

The Spades King only laughed. “You stole my hitman away from me and I see I’ve trained him too little because he… chickened out.”

“Enough sprouting your nonsense!” Kyunghee screamed. She quickly turned to her dad. Her face softened immediately. “I love you, dad… even though you haven’t exactly been the best bad ever. Just… you have to let me deal with this alone,” she whispered before shouting,” Run!” As soon as she said that, she grabbed a knife from her heel and threw it in the Spades King’s direction. The small dagger flew swiftly through the air and dug deeply in the man’s left thigh.

Mister Lee was gone by this time and all that was heard were the agonising screams of the Spades King. “You bitch!” He yelled just as Kyunghee brought her hand to her face. She opened the diamond ring Chan had given her a couple of hours ago and smiled wickedly at the man in front of her.

“See you in hell,” she said and her finger touched the button on the finger. All she heard was a Bang! Before a rush of fire hit her.

-

Hyunjin jolted up as soon as he heard the Bang! His heart was beating rapidly, his breathing accelerated, he did not know where he was but his mind was only focused on one thing as his eyes watched the flames dancing through the event’s venue. He could feel the hotness of the heat on his cheeks. What the hell happened when he was trying to help Kyunghee? Why the hell was he outside?

“W-where’s Lee Young?” His voice came out as a stutter as he glanced around, trying to look for help. “W-W-WHERE THE FUCK IS LEE YOUNG?” He screamed.

“She’s gone,” Chan said as he approached next to Hyunjin. “I-I’m sorry.”

“S-she’s- it’s impossible! S-she can’t be gone!” Hyunjin was breathing too heavily now. “We… we were supposed to go away together! R-run away f-f-from t-this nightmare!”

“What she did saved your life,” Chan tried to stay as calm as he could but he knew it was impossible. “She-“

“Bullshit!” Hyunjin shouted. Tears were welling up in his eyes as he continued to look at the building burning down in flames. He jumped up to his feet unsteadily and started running at the burning building, only to be stopped by Chan. “S-she can’t be dead!” He sobbed. “S-she can’t!”

“She lied to me, Chan. What am I supposed to do with that?” Jeongin whispered, staring at the burning building as well. A tear dripped from his eye. “You knew about her plan… didn’t you?”

Chan stared at the empty face of Yang Jeongin. Taking a deep breath, he shut his eyes and nodded quickly. “I… I did,” he stated. “You’re free now. That was what she wanted to do: to set you free. No one will be chaining you to the grounds. You’re allowed to do anything.”

“What can I even do now without her?” Hyunjin cried.

“Help other children that were trapped under the wrong influence of the Spades King. I-I’m here,” Mister Lee added, walking out of the framing building. Chan could see redness around his eyes. “I will help as well. It was my daughter’s last wishes for me to do and I will do it for her. I will help you and the rest of the kids restart at life, give life a second chance.”

“She saved almost thirty children because of this,” Jeongin whispered. “Why did she had to do that?”

“Because she loved Hyunjin,” Chan replied and turned to Hyunjin. “Please, live up to her wishes and help the other children.”

Jeongin walked up to the older boy and wrapped him in his embrace. “Please… just do it for her,” he pleaded Hyunjin.

Hyunjin wiped his tear stained face and peeled his eyes from the fire one last time. He couldn’t smile even if he tried to. “I will… for her,” he whispered. “I didn’t even tell her I loved her.”

[transvavsquad]

title: life’s about to get good ship: freewood (background jackeoff and jeremichael) words: 1552 summary: Kings/Soulmate AU notes: a commission for @meganna2525, thank you so much!

Gavin tucked himself further into his scarf, keeping his cloak pulled close against the harsh winds of the sea. The boat rocked precariously on the waves but the man at the helm‒ Matt, his mind supplied, captain of Ramsey’s navy‒ smiled kindly towards him when he threw a nervous glance towards him at the crash of the water.

“Not long now,” the captain said. “See that monolith on the horizon? That’s it.”

Gavin smiled to himself.

Ramsey’s kingdom was isolated and rural‒ Burnie had once called it both an achievement (hence the name) and a mistake. The full kingdom spanned a cluster of islands a few days off the coast of the mainland, but Ramsey and his closest court members lived on the largest island together.

Gavin had basically been forced to go.

The message of the revolt had reached them three days before the revolt itself had. Burnie had approached Gavin with a bag, a cloak, and a letter, begging him to run. “To Geoff,” the king had said. “He’ll know to keep you safe.”

The boat lurched as it hit the shoreline, and Gavin stumbled. Someone grabbed his covered arm and steadied him with hyena laughter. “Still clumsy as ever, buddy.”

Gavin smiled sheepishly up at Geoff before being pulled into a hug. He grasped tightly at the fabric, breathing in familiar scents‒ before, when he was young, Geoff had once smelled of alcohol, but he’d dropped the stuff later on just before he’d left and begun smelling more like fire smoke and the special residue they used to preserve paper used in older books.

“I missed you,” Gavin said, feeling a bit childish, but he felt Geoff rub slightly at his back and knew it was fine.

“I missed you too, kiddo,” the older man said, pulling back and gripping his shoulders tightly. He smiled widely and pulled him around, slinging an arm over his shoulder and guiding him down onto the dock. “Now come meet the others.”

Geoff took him down to the beach and took Burnie’s letter from his hands, reading while guiding Gavin slowly into the city’s center. Gavin looked around, taking in the haphazardly made houses and the sky-breaching tower, quietly wondering what the view would be like at the top. Someone shouted in the distance, making birds appear like a cloud from the forest. Gavin watched as a few people came out from the treeline, dressed freely in varying outfits and colors. The man that came out of the mining house had Gavin smiling as he recognized another person here.

“Hello, Gavin!” Jack said, catching everyone’s attention as he came forward to embrace Gavin as well. His warmth was comforting in the same as Geoff’s, or Burnie’s‒ not only was he Geoff’s closest advisor, he had been Gavin’s nanny, so to speak, on days when the kings had been in meetings.

He was also Geoff’s soulmate.

“Boys,” Geoff said as Jack pulled away. The other three men came closer and Gavin adjusted his scarf slightly. “This is Gavin. He’s visiting from Burnie’s kingdom, for a bit, so be fucking nice. Or don’t, I don’t care.”

“Geoff!” Gavin cried, shoving towards the man, who only laughed.

“Seriously, though, don’t break the kid. Burnie picks favorites.”

Everyone laughed as Gavin pulled his scarf up around his head, flushed.

“I’m Michael,” said one, holding hands with open-shirted man. “This is Jeremy.”

“New soulmates,” Jack said. “Jeremy isn’t old enough, yet, but Michael is by a year.”

“How did you...?” Gavin asked, glancing towards where Jeremy should have had gloves on, but Michael laughed.

“He never fucking wears a shirt! It’s almost impossible to avoid skin contact with this fuck. A good thing, though,” Michael smiled, nudging shoulders with Jeremy, who laughed too.

“Oh, yeah,” Geoff remembered. “Gav, aren’t you twenty five now? Have you...” He seemed to only just notice the gloves on Gavin’s hand, and the boy shrugged.

“Not yet. A few months out.” Geoff nodded, and turned to the third man.

“I’m Ryan,” he said, and Gavin noted as he held out his hand, there was a scar running down the middle of it. It was familiar, like something from when he was young‒

“Oh my god,” he recalled. “Oh, my bloody god‒ Ryan, it’s you‒”

Gavin jumped forward and hugged him as his childhood friend laughed. Ryan hadn’t been a prince, not like him. Rather, he’d been the son of one of the cooks, and had always snuck into the halls to mess with Gavin when they were young. Ryan was older than him by a few years but had always been there to entertain him when Jack was busy. It was nice to see him again‒ when Gavin had reached about fifteen, Ryan had disappeared after coming of age and setting out on his own. They’d always been close, and it had been devastating to Gavin when Ryan had simply left.

“It’s good to see you,” Gavin said into Ryan’s chest, and the older man laughed.

“And you.”

As it turned out, the revolt was coming for the islands too, but Geoff hadn’t heard yet. In fact, he didn’t find out until they were on his land a few months into Gavin’s stay.

It was, coincidentally, the day after Gavin’s birthday.

He woke up with the feeling of wrongwrongwrong resounding in his chest and mind. The sounds of battle and pounding on his door reached him afterwards.

Ryan was in the doorway, a battle raging behind him on the square, a few more faces from Geoff’s guard on the courtyard. “Geoff told me to give you this,” he said, holding out a decorated rapier in front of him to Gavin. “But I don’t know why‒”

Gavin took it by the handle and tested its weight. “To fight, you daft idiot,” he told Ryan, who spluttered. “Why else would he have you give me my sword?”

“Your sword?” Ryan blinked, watching as Gavin moved to grab a shirt. “It’s got the crest of the heir to Burnie’s kingdom on it, it can’t be your...”

He trailed off as Gavin grinned sharply up towards him, the grip on the rapier tightening. He hadn’t know Gavin was the prince, back then‒ only thought he was another son of one of the maids, or a messenger for one of the guards. Burnie had implored him not to tell Ryan, despite wanting to. A secret prince had to be secret, after all, to everyone.

“Oh,” Ryan said weakly, flushing slightly as he realized he’d spent years of his childhood playing with the next heir to one of the biggest kingdoms. “Yeah, okay.”

Gavin was locked in a thieve’s fight with one of the last remaining members from the revolt, everyone else either locked in battle or tending to wounded. The woman was using a rapier as well, but clearly hadn’t used one before‒ in their fight, so far, she’d gotten more quick strikes in than he had as she waved the sword wildly around.

Gavin stepped back slightly to regain his breath, and she followed hesitantly, their blades crossed between them. He pressed a hand to his side, hissing slightly, before he took a deep breath, pulling back, and feinting a thrust towards her right side. In a panic, she made to block the hit, but he was quick enough to graze her left hip before pulling back to parry to thrust she made when she’d realized. She hissed, frustrated, and was distracted enough to let Gavin get in another hit.

Annoyed, the woman decided to play dirty, and kicked up a cloud of dirt towards Gavin before sweeping him off his feet. He yelped as he fell, and the others did too in the distance‒ the woman kicked his dropped rapier away before lifting her own to his neck.

She was stabbed through the chest.

As her body fell off to the side, Ryan stood above her, panting heavily, throwing his own sword to the ground beside Gavin before bending down and reaching out his hand. “C’mon, then,” he laughed. “Up you get!”

Gavin smiled and grasped his hand.

Both their breaths caught as a warmth spread through them‒ in Ryan’s blue eyes, Gavin swore he could see fireworks ignite. His own heart seemed to beat loudly in his chest, a gentle rhythm that made him sway slightly as Ryan pulled him to his feet. “There you are,” he smiled. “I was hoping...”

“Yeah,” Gavin breathed. “Me too. You’re lovely, I couldn’t imagine anyone else, really. Even when we were younger...”

Ryan smiled, still grasping Gavin’s hand in his own. “Me too.”

Geoff approached the both of them. He glanced between them, towards their hands, and then he nodded. “Yeah, that figures,” he mumbled. “I’m happy for you both, but can we continue with the other, more pressing shit?”

Ryan reluctantly tugged his hand away, instead settling his forehead against Gavin’s and whispering a soft later before picking his sword back up and going back into the fight. Gavin smiled as Jack tugged him away towards the side of Geoff’s house, worrying over the cuts on his body, but Gavin barely felt them sting.

“Yeah,” he whispered to himself, watching as Ryan threw himself into the fight, a new type of fondness blossoming in his chest. “Later.”

[trendsdresscom]

Frida Aasen Stuns In Pink Bikini & Sits In The Ocean On Instagram

Frida Aasen has been sharing lots of eye-catching professional pictures on her Instagram page lately where she’s rocking a variety of dresses and chic outfits, but she mixed things up today with a new bikini snap from Kenya. The model was photographed sitting in shallow ocean waters for the eye-catching photo.

The blonde sat facing the camera and was caught in the middle of fixing her ponytail, with her elbows extended out to the sides. She looked down with her lips slightly parted and her legs partially submerged in the water. And although her hair looked dry, the rest of her figure was damp from the ocean.

The bikini that she wore was light pink with dark pink trim, and the cups were decorated with small fuzzy bobbles that added dimension to her look. Her matching bottoms had the same circular accents as well as side ties that rested low on her hips.

The stunner accessorized simply with earrings and a pair of tortoiseshell sunglasses, keeping the focus on her ensemble and physique.

The photo was taken on a sunny day with puffy low-hanging clouds, and a beam of sunlight was captured extending from the top of the frame down to Frida’s left elbow. The ocean waters looked white and foamy where she sat, although they had a turquoise blue hue further away along the horizon.

The composition of the photo left a lot of empty space above Frida, and the bright blue skies contrasted well against the light-colored ocean.

A couple of tags revealed the brands in her ensemble: the sunglasses were by Anine Bing, and the bikini was from Hanne Bloch, a Danish line.

The bombshell’s followers rushed to the comments section to rave over her new update.

“Tell us the secret for always looking good in a photo sis,” wrote an admirer.

Others were distracted by the geotag and the picturesque setting.

“Sea looks amazing. Where in Kenya is that?” wondered a fan.

“Diani Beach? And will you go to masai mara? Magical place,” asked a third social media user.

“Welcome to Kenya @frida_aasen enjoy your stay,” expressed a supporter.

In addition, Frida shared another bikini pic on January 21, that time rocking a small black ensemble. The sensation posed outside against a blank wall and flaunted her tan bod as she placed her hand on her damp hair. Her tiny bikini top left her underboob peeking out, and her bottoms had extra-long side ties that fell down her thighs.

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from Trends Dress https://trendsdress.com/2020/02/16/frida-aasen-stuns-in-pink-bikini-sits-in-the-ocean-on-instagram/

[recentanimenews]

The Definitive Ranking of Bleach OPs

  For many years Bleach ruled the roost in the United States fandom as the coolest comic running in Shonen Jump magazine. For a period of time the anime was similarly successful, inspiring everything from cosplay to fanfiction to a live-action movie. Even more than Naruto, a far more sprawling franchise, Bleach defines a specific period of early 2000s anime fight media that briefly enraptured countless high school students as they illegally pored over multiple-part episode splits on YouTube, crafting AMVs set to Linkin Park while listening to Number One on repeat. And yes, I'm including myself in that crowd.

  The Bleach manga ended years ago, and the anime did too. That's all to the good for our purposes though, because it lets us build a genuine historical record based on the anime's most significant achievement: its range of incredible opening songs and animation. What is the best Bleach opening of them all? To craft this list I used this thorough and objective criteria:

  1. Is the song a banger?

  2. Is this opening at least as cool as Sonic Adventure 2's "Escape from the City?"

  3. How does it stand up as an artifact of its time, and how does it stand up today?

  Let's begin!

  15. "BLUE" (ViViD) 

    I like the attention to scale and space in this opening, with energy blasts blowing through whole rows of buildings and Ichigo knocking enemies over like bowling balls. But there's so much fighting happening here, crammed into such a short space, that it's hard to follow. Not a fan of the song either, so this one's placing at the bottom.

  14. "Anima Rossa" (Porno Graffitti)

Porno Graffitti has a long history composing opening themes for anime, accompanying everything from 2003's Fullmetal Alchemist to My Hero Academia. The song they've contributed here is a bluesy number that I'd rank above several other entries on this list. Then why is this #14? When watching this opening, I couldn't shake the feeling that this sequence could have been servicable for any other shonen anime series. Bleach earned its fame through a certain je ne sais quoi, and if it's not here, no matter how competent the sequence is otherwise, what's the point?

  13. "Chu-Bura" (Kelun)

  When rewatching openings to put this feature together, I was frankly blown away by the first half or so of this opening sequence. The cast being cute together and hanging out at the beach! Some unexpectedly fluid animated hijinks as Ichigo walks to school! A pretty good song! Then the fighting kicks in and the rest of the opening is comparatively boring. Worth a watch, though.

  12. "Harukaze" (SCANDAL)

  This was the last Bleach opening to be featured in the anime series, and features some fun callbacks to earlier episodes like a runthrough of every episode title card (!!). I wouldn't say this is one of the show's best, but it gets stronger as it goes along and features some neat and stylish visual tableaux. The doors opening at the end to reveal the sponsors is a nice touch, too.

  11. "Alones" (Aqua Timez)

  Watching Bleach openings on YouTube as a child, I used to be freaked out by the sight of Kon the stuffed animal very loudly singing the theme song. On rewatch, though, I think I underrated this one: it's a splintered sequence of memory, love and grief that bears the strong iconography Bleach had in its prime. Aqua Timez would later do better, though!

  10. "Tonight, Tonight, Tonight" (Beat Crusaders)

  What makes a Bleach opening? Is it the music? Outrageous poses? Fast-paced fights? This opening doubles down on "style," which is admittedly Bleach's ace in the hole. There are sequences here that refer back to the first opening sequence, but on a grander scale: like the red and black silhouettes of Ichigo and Rukia being mean to each other, but projected on several television screens! Or every character recieving their own cool spinning CD cover. The song isn't really to my taste, but overall it's a good time.

  9. "chAngE" (Miwa)

  This opening makes an immediate statement when we see Ichigo's hometown erupt into an unmistakable mushroom cloud freeze frame. My other favorite bit is when the spooky devil hand reaches towards the other hand, just as the vocals spike. What can I say, I'm a mark for scenes in anime when hands reach out to each other but don't quite connect! I'm an Ikuhara fan, sue me.

  8. "Velonica" (Aqua Timez)

  This is the first great example on this list of a classic trope in Bleach openings: The Pose. It's no secret that Tite Kubo draws not so much to tell stories (though he can do that on occasion) but to showcase characters wearing cool outfits while they do cool things. This opening wrings everything it can out of the cast of the show standing in exaggerated poses while the camera swings from one angle to another. And it works! The bit of the Vizards being swallowed up by darkness, followed by Urahara's hat tip, has been lodged in my brain since seeing this.

  7. "Ichirin no Hana" (High and Mighty Color)

  More poses! The main cast looking very tired and noble as they stand on the battlefield. Shunsui's sword kata. Screaming vocals. When I asked the barista at the coffee shop today for his favorite Bleach opening, this was his answer; the harsh sound of the Soul Society arc's grand finale. It's a great pick, but the effects are a bit dated for me in 2020. Byakuya's special attack in particular screams early 2000s CG.

  6. "Shojo S" (SCANDAL)

  More outrageous poses from your favorite characters, except that you also have Rukia, Orihime and Rangiku doing a choreographed dance! I wasn't sure what to make of this sequence when I first saw it, but it's risen higher and higher in my estimation with each successive watch. Now I'm at the point where I'd say this is the Bleach opening I initially underrated the most (though there's some real classics coming down the pike!)

  5. "After Dark" (Asian Kung-Fu Generation)

  Bleach openings can be maximalist, so I find it fascinating how restrained this one is. Ichigo's friends running in the desert, the repetition of symbols juxtaposed to flaming credits, and a black-and-white super-cool layout of Aizen's war chamber. That's it. But set to the riffs of all-time great Japanese popular rock band Asian Kung-Fu Generation, that's all you really need.

  4. "D-technoLife" (UVERworld)

  This is the Bleach opening that defines the whole series for many folks. The theme song to the start of the Soul Society arc, it harnesses the band UVERworld (still putting out songs for shonen anime even today!) to a carnival of non-stop forward momentum that keeps topping itself with cool characters and fight sequences. Within its specific niche of early 2000s anime openings about shonen heroes determinedly running toward the camera, this one's never been topped. But it's not my personal favorite, so I'm putting it at number 4! The scene where Yourichi takes a bite out of Soi Fon's sword and holds it between their teeth is outrageously good, though.

  3. "*~Asterisk~" (Orange Range) 

    It's fascinating in retrospect how little Bleach's first opening actually has to do with what happens in Bleach. We don't see much in the way of hollows or shinigami, and the only swordfighting we're given is a brief few seconds of Ichigo fighting some interchangable bad guys in kimono. Instead we're given a vibe: Ichigo's friends wearing stylish clothes straight from the manga while the camera darts from one angle to another, Orihime and her friends spray-painting the title of the theme song on the screen, the camera revolving endlessly around Ichigo as he stands in the middle of the city. The promise of this sequence was eventually crushed beneath a never-ending tide of new characters and concepts as the series collapsed under its own weight... but for me and my friends, watching this opening relentlessly on YouTube as teenagers, it convinced us of Bleach's effortless cool. The best first Bleach opening.

2. "Ranbu no Melody" (SID ❤) 

  Like the previous opening, "Ranbu no Melody" is notable as much for what it doesn't show as for what it does. We see Ichigo, the hero of the story, for only a few seconds. Instead of our heroes running endlessly toward the camera, we are given the slow unravelling of reality by invisible forces that repeatedly squish and stretch the aspect ratio and blast the viewer with impossibly fast, overlaid images. The brainchild of Masashi Ishihama, one of the best directors of opening sequences working today, this one works as both a horrifying short film of dramatic climax and as a sneakily crafted foreshadowing-laden promise to longtime fans of Bleach that the story has been building to this arc from the very beginning. The best opening.

  1. "Rolling Star" (YUI) 

  As a child, I would watch the first six openings of Bleach over and over on YouTube. I loved the first, and the second, and the third. But the one I would return to over and over again, even though it came from a section of the series that I never reached myself, was "Rolling Star." Seen in retrospect, it's a synthesis of all the aspects that made Bleach openings memorable. It's stylish, rendering Ichigo's hometown as a neon-lit sunset hangout where battles secretly play out just around the corner. It's just a bit scary, with Ichigo duelling his masked evil self as traumatic future events are carefully foreshadowed. But more than anything, this opening sells a closeness between the main cast as they eat together and fight together. A careful juxtaposition between the high school gang of friends who were way cooler than you'd ever be, and the supernatural terrror just barely poking out from beneath the surface.

  This opening was also directed by Masashi Ishihama, though the previous listed entry represents a more concentrated form of his style. "Ranbu no Melody"'s sequence may very well be superior from an animation perspective, but from my point of view, "Rolling Star" is and will always will be the best Bleach opening. And the song's a banger, so there's that!

  What is your personal Bleach opening ranking? Did I underrate "D-technoLife"? Is Bleach more or less cool than Sonic Adventure 2's "Escape from the City?" Let us know in the comments!

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Adam W is a Features Writer at Crunchyroll. He sporadically contributes with a loose coalition of friends to a blog called Isn't it Electrifying? He recommends reading David Brothers's old pieces on Bleach if you want to learn more. You can follow Adam on Twitter at: @wendeego

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