#crawling out of my cave to post a funny everyone laugh

[raincor]

how the date night went

[sadachmesarthim]

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm anxiety brain go brrrrrr starker brain go FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFHHHHHHHHHHPPPTPTTTTTTTTTFFFFFFFFHFHHFHHHHHHHH

ᶦ'ᵛᵉ ᵒⁿˡʸ ˢᵉᵉⁿ ᵐᶜᵘ ᶜᵒⁿᵗᵉⁿᵗ ᵘᵖ ᵗᵒ ᵉⁿᵈᵍᵃᵐᵉ, ᵃⁿᵈ ᶦ ᶠᵘᶜᵏᶦⁿᵍ ʰᵃᵗᵉ�� ᵉⁿᵈᵍᵃᵐᵉ. ˢᵒ ᵗʰᶦˢ ᶦˢ ᶜᵃⁿᵒⁿ ᶜᵒᵐᵖˡᶦᵃⁿᵗ ᵘᵖ ᵘⁿᵗᶦˡ ᵗʰᵉ ˡᵃˢᵗ ᶦᵈᵏ ˡᶦᵏᵉ ,, ³⁰ ᵐᶦⁿˢ ᵒᶠ ᴵᵂ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵗʰᵉⁿ ᵗʰᵉ ᵍᵒᵒᵈ ᵍᵘʸˢ ʷᶦⁿ ᵃⁿᵈ ⁿᵒ ᵒⁿᵉ ᵈᶦᵉˢ ʷᵒᵒᵎ ʰᵒᵒʳᵃʸᵎᵎ ᵇᵉᶜᵃᵘˢᵉ ᶦ ᴰᵒ ᴺᵒᵗ ᴸᶦᵏᵉ ᵁⁿʰᵃᵖᵖʸ ᴱⁿᵈᶦⁿᵍˢ™

content: weighted blankets, post iw-fix-it, talk of therapy but in an okay way

- peter's the only one that likes traditional therapy. sit down for 50 minutes and talk to the same person once a week every week type shit - he's so into it. because peter's so good at bouncing ideas off people that can click with him on a brainwave level

- and even though he’s more into biochem than he is psych, he can still rattle off dsm5 diagnoses and criteria better than the average trauma therapy patient. he likes seeing his therapist, even if she doesn’t have compound clearance yet (she’s technically not even licensed to practice in the state of new york, just california and washington, but tony pulled some strings for his favorite young adult. she’s the highest rated and regarded clinical psych social worker on the west coast and peter took to her so well... what was he gonna do, say no?)

- but peter’s been so active in his mental health journey - he’s been facetiming at least one friend every single day, getting a few hours of outside time every week, making sure to eat at least a couple of meals every day and getting to sleep at a ,, semi decent time. 

- but his anxiety is still off the charts a year into grief and trauma therapy - he’s doing everything right but he’s still restless at night, still jumpy during the day, still can’t do serious missions because he’s too reactive

- and he feels like no one in the compound gets it. none of them want to talk about his appointments with him. no one was willing to look into therapy for themselves, so talking about their feelings is like talking to a bunch of brick walls. 

- none of his normal/human friends get it either. sure, some of them are in therapy. but for, like, normal human reasons. how the hell are they gonna be able to relate to fighting an alien in outer space 

- they aren’t 

- so he decides to look into weighted blankets

- he honestly thought they were bullshit, for a long time. how can a blanket full of beads make him less flighty?? less lonely?? less likely to punch the nearest unidentified footsteps in the face without warning/cause?

- but he caves, and decides to buy one anyway. he finds a nice one online - 30 lbs, the heaviest he can find - and purchases it. 

- it arrives at the compound a few days later, and peter’s actually a bit more excited for it than he initially thought

- he pulls it out and tries it out that night and oh,,, ,my god it’s the best sleep he’s gotten in fucking months dude

- he wasn’t even intending to but peter ends up napping for five hours after crawling underneath the grey blanket, brain completely shutting off. even his spider is calmed down, not getting overwhelmed by the smelltexturepressure presence of the new, unfamiliar fabric

- usually he’d have to get used to something like this. the blanket hasn’t been his long enough to be ,, fully comfortable around it. it’s foreign it’s new it’s not something he’s used to but it’s still the only thing in the world that can get peter parker to have a completely nightmare-free 8 hours of sleep 

- so his spider shuts its god damn mouth, and peter is ,, so much better. 

- it only took a week for his headaches to get better, his nausea to completely go away. his hands don’t shake anymore and he can talk without feeling his blood turn cold. it’s new and it’s exciting and it’s so nice to finally be able to do things anxiety free

- so peter starts bringing his blanket EVERYWHERE - i’m talking to breakfast, to meetings, to team debriefs, to the lab, to his telehealth sessions

- the team is starting to notice his new shadow and they’re ,, obviously a bit confused because the kid is 20 for fucks sake why does he need a security blanket but he excitedly explains the science and physiology behind it to thor one day during dinner when the god very blatantly questions him (totally without malice though, he’s just a big dumb god who wants to know if the blanket is a friend like the Strange man’s cape or if it’s somehow different)

- and they all seem to get it - they might not be in traditional therapy but it kinda clicks for them after listening to peter explain it in thousand year old asgardian terms 

- peter kinda forgets about the conversation until he smells another new blanket as he’s coming into the common room one day

- when he rounds the corner he sees sam, curled up on one of the couches, covered in a blanket just like his but a much darker grey, snoring softly and completely unaware of just how loud the movie in front of him is (argo, for some reason. why the fuck would you watch a show about exfiltration and prisoners of war, sam, that’s literally so triggering)

- the next person to get one is thor, but he’s not really a fan. says he “cant find one that is truly heavy enough” and “are you really sure they make them for men as superior and strong as i, young spider?” which is really fucking funny because peter can literally lift 11 million tons and could probably throw thor halfway across the planet before the blonde could say “what” 

- and peter kinda laughs and agrees, like “yeah dude, mine’s way too scratchy but it gets the job done”

- and they voice their complaints loudly enough that tony can hear. and, of course, being simultaneously the best friend and the perfect housewife, he makes a call to wakanda to see if he can’t get some vibranium to them within the next couple of days

- he and bruce and peter spend the next, like, week in the compound labs figuring a way to design enhanced-friendly weighted blankets. it took a bit longer than expected - tony wanted them to be soft enough for peter’s sensitive skin, resilient enough to handle hulk’s temper tantrums or thor’s lightning blasts, and dense enough that anyone enhanced could actually reap the cocooning weight benefits

- but they eventually found a design that worked ! really well actually, and peter was so excited he ditched his old blanket immediately

- and soon, everyone was carrying around their own custom stark weighted blanket - nat and peter’s with matching spider and web designs, cap’s with the shield, tony���s covered in blue triangles (like the core he made in IM2) 

- if they all kinda agree that the kid might have been right about this one, no one says it out loud. but it was understood, and very apparent

- especially when they started having family movie nights in the common area, and they all brought their blankets. to show peter he wasn’t alone, to show him that he was right, and maybe to show him that yeah, he’s making them better

- especially when, one right after the other, they all start going to therapy. some in person, some with telehealth, some... offworld... but they all start going

- and especially when, eventually, they stop needing the blankets altogether

[bloopbyoop]

weep woop

ayo. ive read my scheduled email and its time for freewriting shit again. lmao. I want this post to be like a small light from a lit match stick inside a very hollow, icy, and numbing cave. (sounds cartoonish right? I know. Im obsessed with Adventure Time.) I want all people to be genuinely happy.  Spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Upon reaching my 24th anniversary in this world, I finally learned how to truly embrace all my emotions. Some are more overwhelming than the other, but we have to heed in our treacherous yet perplexing minds that everything is fleeting and we are in control. The feeling of extreme sadness fades, but so does joyful states. Everything can change in a matter of minutes or years. You are in control of all your emotions. You are in control of all your life choices. Your actions. Your words. Your perspective. It feels weird to actually write about it. I've wanted to talk about it. I never wanted help from anyone as I firmly believed that I was alone. Sure, I have a family and friends, but it is hard to see that when your head is clouded with negativity. I've even come to the point where I was too overwhelmed, I found being physically hurt less painful. The pain I felt distracted me from what I was thinking. My mind tended to go bonkers. lmao. But bro, I was so good at concealing my bonkers mind. It's easy to fake any emotion that you have. Slap anything sunshine-y or happy to anything and people would believe you. It went on for years. Long story short, thousands of bracelets collected, it became worse. The physical pain could no longer withhold the emotional pain. Couldn't sleep. Couldn't stop thinking. And voila! I found a good amount of self help books (from tumblr) and novels. Novels that brought me to different places. Self-help books that made me understand what I feel and what to do. I've read that taking the easy way out will leave everyone sad. AND IN THE FIRST PLACEEEEEE, I NEVER WANT THATTTTTTT. I want everyone to be happy. I would act foolish and do dumb shit to make everyone happy in a heartbeat. So, that idea made me push a few more years. Later on, the crippling shit came crawling back again to my head, sooooooo I needed new shit to keep me distracted again. Films, series, music, and short clips from YouTube helped me out a lot. Every single time that my mind is going to think like anything that can think of, even to the point that I was just going to think that I might be hungry, I'd watch something. There's just something about silence for me. Because of this new habit of mine, I've learned more about myself. I love different types of things. I like horror. I like thriller. I like comedy. I like romance. I love all types of films, but there is something about the horror genre that interests me. I still can't point out what, but I love watching horror films. With regards to music, I've learned that I love Indie, Punk Rock, Rap, and Pop. We all can't like a specific genre. It's stupid to ask "what genre of music do you like?". It's not actually stupid-stupid, it's just stupid. Ya know? Anyway, passing this phase, I needed to find something again because it's not doing the shit that it was supposed to, I tried investing more time on video games. By investing more, I mean a whole shit lot. I love video games since I was young cuz.... u know.... they keep u... try to guess it! oh yeah. you got that right! distracted! I love the aggressive plays and trashtalks that my friends and I make. The short stories we tell one another. The rants. The lame jokes. The late night we sound drunk but we are not drunk jokes. The roleplays. The lame jokes. The memes. And once again, The lame jokes. Something about lame jokes and the laughs and curses after that always gets me every single time. Oh shoot. Yup Yup. Few years later, I finally noticed the pattern that my sadness is temporary. I got over it one way or the other (or another. depends on how you wanna read it. i dont wanna say another cause i might write about one direction like what im doing now so-). Happiness is temporary as well. But, we are the ones who are actually in control of our emotions. If you wanna feel sad, be sad for a while. You're getting too sad? Try hanging out with your funny friends. Can't do that? Find an alternative. Watch a movie, knit a sweater. Anything your mind could think of as long as it will keep you mentally distracted from being physically and mentally hurt. I do have a few notes though. We cannot and should never assume what people are going through. It may be petty for you, but it may be very crucial to them. So never everrrr say things like: -Some people have it worse than you -At least you have ..... These sheetsss are annoying as heckkk and could really down someone. I know it is not your intention to annoy but people react differently. alsooooooo, it is not okay or normal to hate on things for bandwagon. that is just plainly crazy and stupid. let people enjoy things. anddddddd never suppress your emotions. admit what you feel inside and try to think of a way to resolve ittttt. keeping it to yourself will just make it worseeeeee. find your own outlettttttttt. hihihi ️ alsooooo. being more spiritually full with God's words and ideas really help me to be spiritually happy. ps. im christian but i dont discredit other religion and even applaud other religion's ideas and beliefs. this is a really long, selfish post so i might as well recommend some things I like : Songs with their lyrics that made me go through life. “I’ve got soul but I’m not a soldier” -All These Things That I've Done, The Killers “It's not too late, I'm still right here” -Breaking Your Own Heart, Kelly Clarkson "And the salt in my wounds / Isn't burning any more than it used to / It's not that I don't feel the pain / It's just I'm not afraid of hurting anymore / And the blood in these veins / Isn't pumping any less than it ever has / And that's the hope I have / The only thing I know that's keeping me alive" -Last Hope, Paramore “There is not a single word in the whole world / That could describe the hurt / The dullest knife just sawing back and forth / And ripping through the softest skin there ever was / How were you to know?” -Hate to See Your Heartbreak, Paramore "It's holding on, though the road's long / And seeing light in the darkest things And when you stare at your reflection / Finally knowing who it is / I know that you'll thank God you did" -1800, Logic "Did some things you can't speak of / But at night you live it all again / You wouldn't be shattered on the floor now / If only you had seen what you know now then" -Innocent, Taylor Swift (My bb) "10 months sober, I must admit / Just because you're clean don't mean you don't miss it / 10 months older, I won't give in / Now that I'm clean I'm never gonna risk it // Rain came pouring down when I was drowning / That's when I could finally breathe / And by morning gone was any trace of you, I think I am finally clean" -Clean, Taylor Swift “I guess I always knew / That I had all the strength to make it through.” -Believe in Me, Demi Lovato "I'm addicted to the madness / I'm a daughter of the sadness / I've been here too many times before / Been abandoned and I'm scared now / I can't handle another fallout / I am fragile, just washed upon the shore / They forget me, don't see me / When they love me, they leave me" -I Hate You, Don’t Leave Me, Demi Lovato “I'm overwhelmed / I need a voice to echo / I need a light to take me home / I need a star to follow / I don't know” -Nightingale, Demi Lovato "I'm a walking travesty / But I'm smiling at everything. // Arrogant boy, Love yourself so no one has to." -Therapy, All Time Low "I tried it once before but I didn't get too far / I felt a lot of pain but it didn't stop my heart. / But maybe I'm alive 'cause I didn't really wanna die / But nothing very special ever happens in my life / Take the blade away from me I am a freak, I am afraid that / All the blood escaping me won't end the pain / And I'll be haunting all the lives that cared for me / I died to be the white ghost / Of the man that I was meant to be" -Ghost, Badflower "Are the pieces of you / In the pieces of me? / I'm just so scared / You're who I'll be / When I erupt / Just like you do / They look at me / Like I look at you" -DNA, Lia Marie Johnson Movies and series to try : -The Perks of Being a Wallflower (The book is bomb af. if yall havent tried, ur missing out) -The Kings of Summer -Never Let Me Go -The Art of Getting By -Silver Linings Playbook -Winter’s Bone -The Lovely Bones (The script. The words) -Me and Earl and the Dying Girl -American Horror Story -Black Swan

pps. remember that every one has their own pace and point of view. don’t push yourself too hard, and don’t overthink. give yourself time, and respect all your emotions. analyze them but not more than like 5 minutes as anything beyond that might cause you to overthink and be sadder. and sad is not rad. hehe. you got this. you got you. self love is the best even though it can be tricky to do. nobody else is like you. you’re the only one of you (i just remembered me.......... i might have hummed it while typing it mid sentence). consider other people’s opinion but do not let it cloud your own judgement as you know yourself best. dont let other comment’s define you. spread love. vibe people you vibe with. ayeeee lets go!!! 

ppps this is my last post bc im happier now and know myself better. i no longer limit myself on the age that I want. I want to live as long as how God wants me to be. hehe. 

x :D

[girlofmanyfandoms]

A/n: Next chapter is out! This one has a lot of setting up of the future plot points, it’ll be fun if y’all can pinpoint it. If the next chapter takes too long, I’ll post more of “The Plot out of context,” if it’s wanted!

Key:

Tater - @a-lonely-tatertot

Lynn - @lesbilynnette

Gray - @silver-snow

Lilah - @tribblemakingalicorn

Cadence - me

Ivy - @imaramennoodle

Molly - @molly-sencen

Farris - @everyonehasthoughts

Speens - @an-absolute-travesty

Holes - @holesinmyfalseconfidence

Connor - @linhammon-roll-bromance101

Panda - @worldwidepandamonium

Meg - @ultralazycreatorfan

Word count: 2,740

Warnings: Nothing makes sense.

“Lynn, can you have the next shipment of the Gatorade sent to my address in Peru?”

“Farris, what did you do now?”

“Nothing!” They grinned nervously.

“I swear if you moved to Peru just so you could buy an alpaca, I will-”

“It’s not that, I swear! Well, not just that. Boss called and said I have to be at the excavation site by tomorrow, that it might be a big break.” Farris scoffed. “As if. Last time, the only thing I found with my metal detector was someone’s Betty Boop keychain.”

“Yeah, I can ship them there,” Lynn sighed, exhausted from a night of getting a deal with the investor and setting prices for the products. “And that’s crazy.”

“I know right?” Farris answered. “Betty Boop? When was this person born, the 1950s?”

“That’s not- yeah, you’re right, Farris.” Lynn changed her sentence halfway through. “Any word back from Panda?”

“Yeah, Panda got back to me. Said that her sign is a Scorpio.”

“What?”

“Exactly, who would’ve thought Panda was-”

“Farris, you were supposed to ask about the chain restaurant idea!” Lynn massaged her forehead. “Why did we agree to be partners?”

“Because I threatened to blackmail you,” they responded, taking a bite out of an apple. “And I did ask about that. The zodiac sign was probably the question I wrote on my arm so I wouldn’t forget.”

“And?”

“She said the chain restaurant idea is a good thing to look into, as soon as we can make a good menu, hire some staff, good prices, nice locations, accessibility, y’know, all that jazz.”

“Because that’s so simple.” Lynn sighed, shuffling through the paperwork that had accumulated within the past week. “Alright, tell you what, I’ll get an artist to make an ad, maybe a social networker, I’ll set up a blog and we get the word out. As soon as you get back from the gig, you call me, alright?”

“Yup,” they agreed. “Oh, and Connor just texted saying he needs your help. I told him to wait ‘til I got back so I could teach him how to properly rollerblade, but the kid’s a madlad.”

“Anything broken?”

“His sanity.”

“Farris.”

“And a lot of furniture.”

“Guess I’ll have to find out for myself, huh?”

“You sure will.”

“Alright, I’m checking in with the supplier. Talk later?”

“Cheerio, mate,” Farris grinned, saluting her before ending the call.

Lynn opened her laptop and emailed her supplier, who had requested to remain anonymous. This was fine though, identities shouldn’t be known when dealing with the black market and pyramid schemes. Lynn was fine with using her real name because of her position as co-founder of Forbidden Incorporated. If she was going to go deviant, she’ll be damned if she didn’t do it with style.

_________

Cadence’s phone buzzed, as an email from a client had just arrived.

“Forks do not work with ice cream,” Tater yelled for the umpteenth time.

Holes clutched their head in a mixture of disappointment and annoyance. “Why would you use a spoon? It’s not soup, you can’t just spoon it out!”

“Then pop it in the microwave for a few seconds, for fu-”

“Crank it down 12 notches,” Molly suggested.

“-for Pete’s sake,” Tater acknowledged Molly. “And didn’t you just eat an entire bag of flamin’ hot Cheetos in one sitting?”

“They were good! And I’m fine,” Molly insisted. “Sure, we’re out of milk, and I have strep throat, but I just took a shower and I don’t think I’m gonna pass out just yet.”

Tater and Holes pulled out a Lysol can, masks, gloves, and a plexiglass barricade within seconds, clearly getting flashbacks from 2020. Cadence wasn’t paying attention, as usual, and kept writing her response to the email.

“Relax,” Molly laughed, clearly not finding it strange that they had those on hand at least a decade later. “I got my antibiotics, it’s not contagious anymore. And hey, good news: I made a questionable decision, and that’s also not contagious.”

They threw the equipment behind them, seemingly into the abyss, and relaxed a bit.

“Ok, now to address the real problem,” Holes started. “Who is Pete and why are we doing everything for his sake?”

“Oh my gods, it’s an expression, Holes,” Tater sighed.

“No, no, Holes, is onto something,” Molly said, grabbing the detective hat Lynn had designed for her and putting it on. “And I intend to find out.”

“Cadence, please make it two against two,” Tater pleaded.

Cadence glanced up from her phone. “What’s happening?”

“Oh my- you know what, I should’ve expected that, considering the Paint Water incident.”

“Ok, the Paint Water Incident was ONE TIME!”

“The what?” Holes looked interested.

“We don’t talk about it,” Cadence chimed in. “Think of it as the Great Gulon Incident of our group.”

“Great,” Holes sighed. “Another mystery. You’re all high.”

“I was fully aware of what I was doing in that incident.”

“Even better,” Holes commented dryly. “Nevermind, I don’t need to know.”

“Besides, there are great puzzles to be solved,” Molly continued enthusiastically. “Onward! We must scavenge for our first clue of Pete’s identity.”

Tater closed her eyes, telling her conscience to shove it for a moment. “Where do we start, Detective?”

Holes raised their eyebrows.

“If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em,” Tater shrugged.

Molly looked at Holes in expectation. “Alright, fine,” Holes caved. “But I’m taking Cadence with us, I’m not going crazy alone.”

“That ship has sailed for both of us,” Cadence commented, not looking up from her phone.

“Yeah, haha, very funny. Let’s check out the corner opposite of the one they’re searching.” Holes paused, waiting for them to be out of earshot. “We don’t have to do anything, just pretend to search, I’ll be watching to make sure they don’t get killed.”

Cadence looked down at the email from her client. A shipping of 500 bottles, and 3,000 containers of newer products. And to Peru? Why had they changed the shipping address? She sighed. It was going to be a long day.

________

Connor’s house was on fire. Connor’s house was on fire. Why was Connor’s house on fire, you ask? Well, if you need to ask, you clearly haven’t met him. Lynn gazed at the sight in front of her tiredly, not knowing how she hadn’t expected this to happen.

Speens was calmly watering the bushes surrounding the house, not giving a second thought about putting out the fire with the water they had.

Lilah appeared beside Lynn, startling her. “Oh, good, you came. Gray has been trying to help Connor stand up for the past 30 minutes, but he’s way too drunk and he keeps refusing to ditch the rollerblades. Oh yeah, and his house is on fire.”

“About that, how’d it happen?”

“He was rollerblading on the stair railings when he fell onto their lamp, which tilted over and fell onto the seance that he was holding earlier in the day so the candles fell onto the hardwood floor, and then he spilled vodka everywhere, and then the flames turned blue, so here we are,” Lilah recounted all in one breath. “It’s kinda beautiful to be honest.”

“Beautiful isn't the word I would use to describe it,” Speens called. “It’s interfering with the plants. Well, except for Suzy, she’s a stubborn one. She wouldn’t burn, and believe me, I tried to make her.”

“I believe you,” Lynn said, quite understandingly. She had seen Speens around on the Deep Web, but had respected their secret. They all had secrets, after all.

Lynn walked inside where the hose was already uncoiled and ready to be used. Connor, however, was clinging to Gray’s leg. “NO, DON’T USE A HOSE, THE HOUSE DOESN’T LIKE SHOWERS.”

“Connor, the house is an inanimate object, it does not care,” Gray told him, trying to get control of the fire in the kitchen.

Connor gasped. “How DARE you talk to Cynthia like that?! She deserves better!” He crawled over to a wall that was, inevitably, about to burn down, and he stroked it. “You’re gonna be okay, sweetie. Don’t listen to the mean person, they’re just a hater.”

Gray shook their head and sighed. “Hey, Lynn. Can you increase the water pressure?”

Lynn did so, much to Connor’s dismay. To make up for it, Lynn handed Connor a piece of a floorboard that had undoubtedly been broken into pieces when they fell off of the stairs. He hugged the floorboard close to his face, crying happy tears, not thinking about the possibility of splinters. Lynn was confused, but had a feeling she would need him as an ally soon, and this was the best way to start.

Lynn babysat Connor as Gray put out the fire. When they had finished, none of the house had fallen down. It was weaker, and very charred, but somehow it hadn’t fallen.

Gray reached behind them and pulled out a ladder and a blueprint covering the new design of Connor’s structurally damaged home. Everyone had become acquainted with such things being summoned when needed. “Alright, I got the materials in the car, but we need to fix this house, er, Cynthia, up.”

“Renovating a house, huh,” Lynn muttered. “Better than spending all day dealing with paperwork. But if I’m going to help you and Connor, I’m going to need both of your help. So, how about an offer?”

Gray narrowed their eyes. “What would that offer entail?”

“Well, for you, Gray, I’d need help renovating a certain building. We’re talking about new elevators, knocking down walls, putting up new ones, new furniture, everything businessy. As for you, Connor,” Lynn paused, waiting for him to look at her. “I need a spy. You don’t have to be sober, but you have to keep them talking alright?”

“I’m feelin’ woozy,” Connor giggled.

“Can you overhear what people say and report back to me when you hear something important despite the wooziness?”

“Yup, and I can be a skater dude, too,” he grinned goofily. “We can all live our dReAmS.”

“Well, I’m in,” Gray said, helping Connor lay down. “I’ll certainly need a team for that building of yours, but I’m in. I can’t repair a house on my own anyway.”

Lynn nodded. A team, huh? For that she needed customers, crazy, loyal, and determined enough to support her products. She had a few people in mind who might be able to deliver.

______

“Meg, you got the snacks?” Ivy called over her shoulder, setting up the gaming consoles. They had finally stopped procrastinating and organized a group hangout between Speens, Ivy, and Meg, making it a game night. Ivy brought the video games, Speens brought the hands-on games, and Meg was in charge of snacks.

“Yup,” she smiled, wheeling in a wagon of junk food. “Anything you could want, it’s here. What games you got?”

“Rocket League, Mario Kart, only the best of the best. How about you, Speens?”

“Uno, Jenga, Connect Four, Scrabble, Twister, Monopoly, you name it, I got it. Where do you want to start? Virtual or hands on?”

“Virtual, I guess,” Meg decided. “Haven’t played in a while, ever since a pigeon yeeted my controller out of a window.”

Ivy tilted her head, asking for an explanation.

“T’was like a message from an angry god,” Meg said wistfully, resting her head in her hands. “A god who preached ‘live, laugh, yeehaw, and stop playing The Last of Us 2 because it’s a trash game.’”

“Are you on drugs?” Ivy looked sincere.

“I mean, I wrote ‘gay’ and ‘yeehaw’ all over my dad’s truck, and later that night I had a dream about falling in love with the sister of this prince that I had to stop from destroying everything at exactly 12 AM, but I don’t think that’s what you’re looking for.”

“No, that answered my question,” Ivy said, setting up the board out while the sunset shined brightly onto their faces in the cool evening light.

Meg chose the monster truck token. “Refresh my memory, how do you play again?”

“It’s literally just capitalism for kids, and I am above you mere mortals,” Speens helped, choosing the rubber duck token, and taking a Snickers and KitKat from Meg’s snack wagon. What happened next was ungodly. Speens opened the KitKat bar and ate it. Without. Separating. The Bars.

Ivy reeled back in horror, and Meg hid behind her, terrified of the scene going on before their eyes.

“What?” Speens finished the chocolate and wiped their hands with a tissue. “Are we going to play this game or not?”

“Oh no,” Ivy said, pulling her hair slightly. “You don’t get to gloss over that. The Forbidden Spicy Gatorade is for all of us to share and enjoy once we get our hands on it, but you never, never, disrespect the KitKat bar.”

Speens scoffed. “You’re really going to dwell on that?”

“Going to dwell- I can’t even-“ Ivy took a deep breath to steady herself.  “I will not allow this in my house. So you know what? Let’s raise the stakes. We need this Monopoly game to be a game-changer.”

Speens narrowed their eyes. “What are you saying? You’re betting something?”

“Yup. If I win, you have to wear a hoodie that says “I love Holes” and you have to help me with a plan of mine. If you win, I’ll help you get revenge on someone.”

“And if I win,” Meg continued. “Y’all owe me a lifetime’s supply of fro-yo and you both have to agree to each other’s bet deals.”

“Deal from my end,” Ivy pitched in, selecting the top hat token. The other two agreed, and the game commenced.

By 3 o’clock in the morning, Ivy had been in jail 17 times, and Speens had one hotel left. With a few lucky turns, Speens was bankrupt.

Ivy smirked, having a good feeling about this. “I call upon the power of the almighty Top Hat!”

“Oh, don’t look so smug, Ives,” Speens scowled, opening their suitcase of vodka and pouring their version of two shots. “You can still lose to Meg, and she bet a lot.”

“True, but in reality, would you rather lose to Meg or me?” Ivy flashed a grin. “The hoodie’s in my room, by the way. Don’t worry- it’s washed!”

Sighing, Speens went to retrieve the hoodie. A deal’s a deal, after all. When they returned, they looked ready to kill someone. They wore a baggy bright pink hoodie with “I Love Holes!” spelled in purple glitter. “You better win this, Meg.”

Meg stuffed a hand in her bag of snacks and nodded. Ivy’s turn was next, and it brought Meg down to $100. Speens muttered something under her breath and waved her hand in an elaborate motion. Seconds later, a loud crash was heard, followed by the breaking of glass and the sound of spraying water.

Ivy frowned. “What was that?”

“Go check,” Speens suggested.

Ivy looked out of the kitchen window to see… no window. The top of a fire hydrant had come bursting off of its mounted position and had crashed through her window. “No!” She frantically ran to the street to assess the damage from outside.

“Well, what are you waiting for?” Speens stirred their beverage casually. “She’s not looking, you can win this.”

“Even if it means you always have to pay for my fro-yo?”

Speens shrugged. “Beats having her win. Besides, I’ll eat just as much fro-yo as you do if I’m paying for it.”

Meg went through the cards quickly, ignored whatever magic just went on. With a lifetime supply of such an other-worldly snack, who wouldn’t? Meg found her card just in time, as Ivy came back in, looking surprisingly calm.

“I boarded up the window, insurance will cover it,” she explained. “Your turn, Meg.”

Meg pulled the card she had placed on top of the pile and made her move. She had done it. Ivy was bankrupt. Not only that, but she was going insane. She flipped the board, sending everything tumbling into the depths of her house.

“How did you- you had no chance-”

“Breath, princess,” Speens joked. “I know what’ll take your mind off of this: some good old fashioned revenge on an old rival of mine. Whaddaya say, pal?”

“This day could not get any worse,” Ivy whined.

Except it could. And it did.

The electricity cut out and Ivy let out an ear-piercing screech.

__________

A/n: Not my favorite chapter, but I have some freaking PLANS for the next ones. Stay tuned! And if I made any errors, let me know because I can’t sit still for more than 5 minutes, so I only corrected a few things.

[subconfessions]

Day 17

Hellooooo everyone 😋 I know you usually expect a blog post from Emma, and last time you got a blog post from Daddy, but today is Princess Tattle Tales turn 😜 don’t worry Emma will be back soon, but this has been a fun week for me hehe

The beginning of the week was a bit rough. The weekend held a lot of car problems and I was stuck out of the house for most of it. Meh. But thankfully by Monday things were pretty sorted out, and I was able to start catching up on tasks. I finally got my blog posted about my orgasms four days prior 🙈 and Daddy made sure to have a talk with me before reading it. As soon as he said that I knewwww I was in trouble. Punishments galore 😖☹️ some really not so fun ones too. Daddy had me change my name on wire to Naughty Girl, I lost my rope and plug to wear at nights, all my stuffies got put back in the box, and my brand new stuffie had to spend his last night with me in the corner ☹️🥺🙇🏼‍♀️ and of course the talking daddy gave to me really helped that lesson sink in.

After that daddy asked about the other sub and if he took my side when I got punished. That made me laugh. Oh boy was that funny. Every time I get in trouble the other sub either says I deserved it or a worse punishment or he tries to come up with a way for me to brat against the punishment and get me in more trouble 😛

Daddy was shocked by that hah

The other sub is basically prince tattle tale

Always looking for something to get me in trouble 😛 and daddy took dirty pictures of me away from him and I think he’s finally starting to miss them 😂 trying to convince me that videos and FaceTimes are technically not dirty pictures.

But I finished my edges for the night and went to bed, after daddy teased me about my bush for a bit 😒🙇🏼‍♀️ talking about how fun showing off was gonna be now and how humiliating it would beeee 😳😩

The next day haha oooooohhh the next day was a lot of fun for me 😋😂

Daddy let me become the sheriff of the sub police hehehe and he had a plan to send me after the other dom for abuse of power 😂

I was absolutely giddy about this idea hehe it’s always fun getting to meddle around with them again ever since the group chat disbanded 😂 so of course I took up the rank of sheriff and got to work, although I was a bit nervous about how she was going to respond to me threatening to arrest her.

And hehehe oh it was fun getting into character 😂 I wasn’t totally expecting her to respond to me and just accept my newly appointed position. But I definitely had fun coming up with ways to talk around her excuses and so called witnesses she had.

But oof she had a better case than Daddy did 😛 and she started hinting at me being a corrupt American cop and I couldn’t let that fly so I had to play this game as by the law as I could 😂 which I don’t think is daddy’s style considering he told me to arrest my sub friend purely for being Australian.

Eventually I was debating back and forth with her and with my sub friend who was her newly appointed lawyer and man he was not playing nice with me 😛☹️🙇🏼‍♀️ he was making it so hard and since I didn’t have alllll the facts of the story it was veryyy hard to defend daddy the way I wanted tooooo 🙄🙇🏼‍♀️ but I still stalled and did my best to go toe to toe with this bloodthirsty shark 😛

Eventually daddy got back and started defending me in the group chat to the other sub 😂 which was when he lost his dirty picture privileges and when daddy told me I should arrest him. I was so amused by how big this had snowballed 😂 but eventually Daddy went and fought his own battle with his dom and recalled his report, and sadly my lawyer friend lost his job on the case, and we closed the investigation into the abuse allegation.

Tragic.

It would’ve been fun to witness that court case 😜😂

But aside from that I got to go and experience the wrath of my little friend that day. After going behind her back and stealing her orgasms I knew she was going to be sooooo mad at me hehehe but when daddy suggested the idea I honestly couldn’t resist the idea of having a denial buddy, no matter how mean it would be if I’d actually accomplished it 😅 I know Emma was definitely hoping that Tim wouldn’t say yesss but for some reason the Baby Yoda I offered sealed the deal 😁

But going over to her house was scarryyyyy

She didn’t know yet 😅 and I knew when she found out she was gonna be soooooo mad at me.

And yikes when she found out. I ran for the hills.

I didn’t have many places to go though sadly 😛

So I crawled under their kitchen table and hoped I could just hold on so she couldn’t get me out from under it

But I really forgot how strong she could be when she wanted to 😅

So she dragged my ass out from under there, me pulling chairs along with me, desperate to stay away from her, and she grabbed my pony tail and yanked it and sat on my stomach and licked my face like what the fuck 😒 I was lucky she didn’t like spit on me or something though.

But in all it was faiiirrrr I pretty much gifted her with a month and then some of denial 😛

So I left her house and left Baby Yoda with her, I was sad to see him go after only having him for a few dayssss

Daddy though was mean and decided that every edge she does I have to do two 🙇🏼‍♀️ no faiiiiirrrr, and on top of that I have to still do all of Daddy’s edges toooooo

That wasn’t the end of me messing with my friend though 😅 in the morning she had quite the message for him, which I of course passed along. And not long after did Daddy get her to say looootttssss of naughty words 🙈 uh ohhhh

You know what that means

Tattling

But.

I was feeling a little bad for all the trouble I’d been getting her into. So daddy suggested I try blackmailing her 😅😂

For a stuffie.

I was sold.

So I went right too it, and it was honestly so easy to get her to cave and trade me a stuffie for the rest of the denial. I knew she didn’t want those spanks she would get for alllll of those very very naughty four letter words. I was feeling pretty proud of myself hehe managing to get a stuffie out of her, especially since she has my Baby Yoda 😋

And Daddy was proud of me toooo hehe and that definitely made me feel fuzzy inside.

And it was certainly nice when my friend handed me the dragon unicorn I requested the other night 😋

Till next timeee 😋😋😋

[hystericalrogertaylor]

As The World Crumbles (Chapter One)

Collaboration with @bentaylorrogerhardy

Pairing: Ben Hardy X Reader

Word count: 1833

Summary: Ben and (Y/n) have been dating since Bohemian Rhapsody’s release. Everything seemed perfect for the young couple, until the night of the Golden Globes. Russia has bombed the United States, destroying everything and implementing a ruthless dictatorship. With the country in tatters, Ben, (Y/n), Rami, Lucy, Joe, and Gwilym form the Killer Queens, a vigilante group aimed on destroying the new government, and the cold-blooded dictator, Cornelius Vanzant. 

Warnings: Light cussing, explosions, apocalyptic themes 

A/N: This is a story I’m writing with my friend @bentaylorrogerhardy . We’ve been talking about this a lot and we think it’s going to be great. We will alternate posting chapters, so when chapter two is ready, she’ll post it on her blog. Thank you, and enjoy! 

Master list in my profile description!

~~~ 

Everything can change in an instant. Everything. And then there is only before and after.

For example, Ben Hardy led a fairly normal life, for an actor. He had friends, family, fans. He thought he had everything he’d ever want. But that was before he met you. It was then that he realized what his life had been missing.

He met you on the set of Bohemian Rhapsody. You were there because your father was part of the crew, and you two had immediately hit it off. You two had tried to spend as much time together as possible; going out to lunch regularly, hanging out in his trailer between scenes, cracking jokes about anything. Ben was the first best friend you’d ever had, and you were too focused on enjoying that to notice how in love he was with you.

Until he invited you to the film’s premier and kissed you on the red carpet. Then the feelings you had for each other became crystal clear. You’d never had so many pictures taken of you as were taken at that moment.

“Finally!” your other friend, Joe Mazzello, had shouted. “That took forever. Gwil owes me five bucks!” Ben flipped him off while you laughed.

“Oh no no no,” Gwilym Lee interjected. “The bet was that if they got together before ten o’clock, you would owe me! It’s only eight.” Joe huffed, pulling a wrinkled bill out of his back pocket.

The movie was fantastic, but not as fantastic as that moment.

---

“And the Golden Globe goes to...Rami Malek.” Julianne Moore read the name while Richard Gere pointed to the table everyone was seated at.

The long-anticipated night of the Golden Globes had finally arrived. Though only Rami, Brian, Roger, and a few producers had been invited, you and the rest of the cast had been watching with sweaty palms, waiting for the moment when these awards would be announced. As soon as the words came out of Moore’s mouth, a collective jubilant shout erupted from the members of your group.

“He did it, he won!” Joe shouted, the loudest of the group. He grabbed Ben’s shoulder, shaking him a little. “Our boy’s made it!”

“Ow ow ow, ow!” Ben forcibly removed Joe’s hand from his shoulder. “Careful! I’ve still got a whole night to go!”

Everyone quieted down fairly quickly so they could hear Rami’s speech, which made everyone emotional, to varying degrees. Once he was done talking, Nicole Kidman took the stage to announce the winner for Best Drama film. Ben grabbed your hand, giving it a squeeze. “Please be us, please be us…” he whispered.

“And the Golden Globe goes to…” Kidman slowly opened up the envelope in her hands. Your breath hitched in your throat; the moment was tantalizing. “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

Everyone shot out of their seats, screaming twice as loud as before. Everyone had wanted this award more than most had ever wanted anything. It was a moment for the books.

“We won!” Ben shouted. “Baby, we won!” He grabbed your face, kissing you passionately. You held onto the front of his shirt, pulling him closer.

He pulled away only a few seconds later, giving the biggest smile you’d ever seen. He stared into your eyes, wishing the moment could somehow last longer. After a few moments, you giggled. “What are you staring at?” you asked innocently.

“Nothing, I just...I love you,” he said, wrapping his arms around your waist.

You leaned your head on his chest. “I love you too,” you said.

You felt him let out a breath. “I’ve wanted to say that for so long,” he admitted.

“Ha!” You jumped out of Ben’s arms at the sound of Joe’s shout. “You owe me twenty dollars!”

Gwil rolled his eyes. “Okay, fiiiiiiine.” He handed a bill to Joe.

Ben frowned. “Did you guys bet on when we’d say ‘I love you’?”

“It was ten dollars for me if you said it first and another ten if she actually said it back,” Joe explained. “Ten for Gwil if she said it first and another ten if you also said it.”

You thought it was hilarious, but Ben didn’t. “Is this just going to become normal?”

“Yes,” they said at the same time.

You held onto Ben’s arm, trying to calm you laughter. “You have to admit it’s kind of funny.”

Ben softened under your touch. “Not really, but whatever you say, sweetheart.”

You smiled, giving him a kiss on the cheek.

---

At the afterparty, it didn’t take Ben long to get drunk and start taking suggestive picture with the award they’d just won. You stood off to the side at that point, more content to watch your boyfriend do stupid things. You were more looking forward to going home and relaxing with him.

The boys were all together in one group while you and Lucy sat a little bit away, chatting. Brian May and Roger Taylor sat on the same couch as you, talking about the events of the night. You two were beginning to feel tipsy, which meant you were the only two logical ones when an exceptionally loud boom sound rang throughout the room.

“What was that?” Lucy asked, eyes wide.

“I’m not sure.” You looked over at the boys, who were all laughing like maniacs at the ceiling.

“Fireworks!” Ben and Joe chanted. “Fireworks, fireworks, fireworks!”

“There’s no way that was a firework,” you said. Lucy stood up, looking for the door. A few more booms went off, these much quieter but still considerably loud.

Lucy came back several minutes later, looking extremely panicked. While the boys continued to joke around, she sat down quickly and whispered in your ear. “I saw a mushroom cloud. I think we’re being bombed.”

“What?” you asked, incredulous. “That can’t be.”

Roger leaned over. “Everything okay? You girls look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Lucy shook her head. “I think a bomb was just dropped.”

Roger shook his head. “There hasn’t been a bomb threat to us in forever. I’m sure we’re fine. It’s probably fireworks, like those weirdos think.”

“She saw a mushroom cloud,” you clarified.

Roger blinked. “Okay, hold on.” He stood up, going to investigate. You filled Brian in on what you thought was happening. Smaller boom noises continued to resonate in the room.

It took Roger even longer than Lucy to come back. He looked like he’d seen more than a ghost. “We have to go,” he said urgently. “We’re under attack.”

You felt adrenaline course through your veins. Never in your wildest dreams would this be happening. “But why would--”

You were cut off when a wall of the room caved in, a loud and bright explosion coming from outside. Roger grabbed you and Lucy, shielding you both. You heard screaming as debris rained down on everyone.

After ceiling tiles had stopped falling, Roger let you go. You looked around, seeing only dust and smoke. “Ben!” you screamed, cautiously stepping towards where he was only a few seconds ago. “Ben! Where are you?!”

“(Y/n)!” you heard him shout. “Help, I’m stuck!”

You tripped over something, falling onto your hands and knees. That something turned out to be Rami, who lay on the floor, unconscious. “Lucy!” you shouted into the smoke. “Lucy, Rami’s over here!” Figuring she’d be able to help him, you began to crawl towards Ben’s voice.

You found him pinned to the floor by a couch. Or, rather, half of a couch. Coughing violently, you got off the floor and began to try to move the couch off of his body. He groaned in pain with every little move the furniture made, and you prayed he hadn’t broken anything.

Eventually, Joe came up behind you and helped you move the couch. It was much easier after that; it fell to the side and Ben was able to sit up. He took several deep breaths before having you pull him up.

Through the smoke, you could see Gwilym’s silhouette, with Lucy standing next to him. Gwil had Rami, who appeared to still be unconscious, in his arms. Ben held your hand tightly as the group began to move through the room as fast as they could, even though no one could see and everyone else was running around, screaming.

Once everyone made it outside, you gasped. Everything was a mess. Most buildings in the area were either on fire or collapsed, and bodies were strewn across the street. You gagged, trying to look away.

Your group took off down the sidewalk. You and Lucy had abandoned your heels at the after party, but running on concrete was still difficult.

In sudden realization, you skidded to a halt. “We left Roger and Brian back there!” you exclaimed. Before anyone could stop you, you turned around and sprinted back towards the hotel, ignoring the shouts of Ben.

As the building came into better view, you could see various A-list celebrities making their way outside, clothes tattered and faces black with smoke. Another fire had broken out at some point, and you could hear the building crack under the pressure.

Ben, Joe, and Lucy had turned around to chase after you. They all stopped when they saw you staring at the door, knowing you could and would actually go back in there.

“She’s going to get herself killed,” Joe whispered in disbelief. Ben was way ahead of him; he’d already begun to sprint towards you in hopes of stopping you.

You began to cautiously step towards the building’s entrance until you heard Ben shouting. Before you even registered his voice, he grabbed your arm and yanked you away from the door.

“Are you crazy?!” he exclaimed. “You’re going to die if you go back in the--” He was cut off by the sound of stone grinding against stone as the upper part of the building began to pancake down on the rest of the bottom floors. “Go!” he screamed, pulling you with him as he began to run away.

By the time you made it back to Gwilym, Rami was conscious and the hotel was out of sight. The dust, however, was billowing up towards the sky.

Tears ran down your face and sobs racked your body. “Brian and Roger were in there! We left them behind!”

Ben wrapped his arms around you, pulling you to his chest. Your tears soaked his shirt, but it was the least of his worries. “They would’ve wanted us to get out,” he said, stroking your hair. “They would’ve wanted us to save ourselves.”

“They could still be alive,” Gwilym said. “Maybe we just didn’t see them?”

You shook your head. “There was a group of people standing out there from the after party. They weren’t there.” Gwilym lowered his head, a few tears slipping from his eyes.

Joe looked around, breathing heavily. “Oh, my God,” he said quietly. “What the fuck do we do now?”

Rami sighed heavily, still leaning on Gwilym for support. “Survive.”

[pajamaplants]

Michael: 1, 3, 4, 7, 11, 12, 14, 16, 19. // Ian: 2, 16, 19. // Charley: 4, 5. // Dahlia: 10, 11. // Rosie: 1, 8. // Bia: 9 (specifically her interactions with Ian before vs. after their breakup). // This is a lot so you don't have to do long descriptions but yeah! Love you lots

sorry for the long post to everyone who isn’t anna, the only one who will know or care about any of these characters......... lol but anyway anna none of these are in the actual book 1 story, it’s all either prequel/flash backs or book 2 stuff (and also i skipped some prompts bc this is already a lot and i want your input, i craaaaave it, love you so much thank you for sending me these and kickstarting a writing mood <3)

Michael

1. Them as a child:

He’d had trouble falling asleep, and now the forest was on fire. Michael had only wanted to go back to the lake shore for a bit, and sit by the waves to settle his racing thoughts, but he’d gotten lost on his way there and wandered down a too dark trail. Narrow flashlight beam the only light a head of him, he prayed he was going the right direction back to his family’s campsite. It was dark and freezing and Michael’s eight year old limbs were getting sore, when suddenly he smelled the thick smoke of burning wood in the breeze. A campfire, he thought. Good, he must be getting close. But as Michael traveled closer a hazy fog surrounded him and the nearby trees, his flashlight beam illuminating the smoke. He saw light ahead, fire glowing through the trees, but no wait, this was much too much flame to be a campfire. Michael stopped walking and watched bright clumps of fire crackling in the underbrush. This is really bad, his tired mind registered. Nervously he tried to move down wind away from the fire, coughing as he went, but the fire grew faster than Michael could walk. He hurried through he underbrush now, chest feeling heavy and head dizzy from inhaling smoke. Suddenly Michael had run himself into a rocky cliff face, the fire sparkling dangerously at his back. What do I do? he panicked. I don’t want to die, please. Michael moved around the rocks until he saw a natural crevice traveling back into the earth. Was that a cave? Fire could burn wood, he reasoned. But probably not stone. He crawled in between the rocks, shining his flashlight as he entered to check it was uninhabited, and saw it went back a few feet. The air in here was clear of smoke and much easier to breathe. Crouching in a small cave wasn’t ideal, but it was better than burning to death. Outside Michael saw the wildfire grow in intensity slowly. As it crawled along bark and dry leaves, a soothing crackling noise came from the charred forest. Tucked safely in his cave, Michael watched, cinders in the air reflecting on spellbound eyes. The blaze passed him by and devoured entire trees, cracking apart branches. Somehow now Michael felt less afraid; the air was warm, the fire’s glow bathing the opening of the cave in a lulling orange gleam. Eventually, Michael fell asleep lying curled in place on the rocks, the wildfire’s presence helping him find sleep better in a cave than back in a sleeping bag in a dark tent. In the morning he awoke, crawled out into the ashy remains damp with smoke, and traveled by the morning light through the destroyed forest until he found a path back to his family.

3. Their parent(s) (ok listen, this post is long enough, i going to just split all the ones i didn’t do here in another part 2 post later okay? so i’ll do this one later)

4. Their laugh: (and i’ll do this one later )

7. Their interactions with their pets, if they have them:

Every night his cat played a game with Josh, a one in which Josh always ended up losing as yet again Cannelle settled innocently on Josh’s chest or kneaded her way to resting on his legs and he felt too bad to disturb her. “Well, once she’s comfortable, what am I supposed to do?” Josh told him once. Now in bed trying to fall asleep, Michael rolled over, and with a lurch his heart beat rose sharply in distress, realizing there was his cat, lying in the same space as his space. The left side of the bed, that had once been Josh’s. The left side that Michael still some how always managed to sleep to the right of, despite the bed being his alone now. Michael pulled his blankets up. “Cannelle, c’mere, c’mon girl.” he called. He’s not there, I’m so sorry, and you can’t understand why, I’m sorry. He apologized silently to the cat. She blinked her brown eyes, then rose, tail in the air, and settled down under the tent of the comforter Michael kept open for her. He stoked her fur for something, anything, to latch on to other than the buzzing ache that settled into his muscles. The first week is the hardest, he’d been told. That’s a lie, he thought. It doesn’t really get easier. Michael counted her exhales, inhales, exhale, inhale, exhales; until his eyes finally closed and he slept.

11. Their interactions with a stranger (feel free to say who the stranger might be! wink wink):

Michael stepped casually from the elevator, fidgeting hand needing to readjust the fake access badge clipped to his chest. Bia gave it to him, had it forged for him to blend in better, and Michael appreciated the way eyes never stayed on him long. Down the hospital’s long corridor of drywall-white patient rooms he stopped when he found the one he sought, slipping inside. Michael had read this man’s profile. Daniel Keaton, 25, paralyzed from the waist down, the loss of total lower motor control result of a nasty accident. Bia gave him information on a couple of her patients that were in conditions no amount of surgery would help. Understand me, she had said, when she handed him the ID. I’m not letting you do my job for me, since I am more than capable. But not everything has a cure. The man in the bed looked away from a bland television program, saw the hospital staff badge, brown leather jacket, and the lack of any hospital scrubs and asked, “Hi, are you my new counselor? I don’t feel like talking, sorry.” “No, I’m a... physical therapist.” “I don’t mean to be rude, but you’re kinda useless at this point. Maybe you’re in the wrong room but I’m past the point of ever using my legs again, the doctors already told me.” ”I know. There’s a method that might bring you some relief, at least. Will you let me try?” “Knock yourself out.” Daniel sighed, closing his downbeat eyes in resignation. Michael carefully helped Daniel into a seated position in the hospital bed and proceeded to gently knead over the dead spinal nerves of his lower back. The accustomed electric warmth pulsed through Michael’s core, seeping up from his bones into the tissue, a faint glow emanating from the flat pressed palms on Daniel’s back. “Wait,” Daniel said suddenly, registering the strange sensation. “What are you doing?” “Don’t worry,” Michael assured. “It’s safe. This will help.” Daniel looked over his shoulder at Michael, slack jawed. “But... I shouldn’t be able to... why can I feel my legs?” Michael sensed his repair work was finished. He backed up a few steps. “Stand up.” “I can’t.” Daniel helplessly shook his head. “Can’t you?” Michael raised an eyebrow. Hesitantly, Daniel pulled his knees up and then gasped. He swung his legs off the side of the bed and stood up, devolving into startled tears as he did so. “I-I don’t understand. How? What are you?” “Just a man trying to help.” “What’s your name?” Michael held a finger to his lips. “Lie back in bed, Daniel. When asked, say it was a miracle recovery. You never saw me. Take care.” Before speechless Daniel could utter a question or thank you, Michael left the hospital room.

12. Them in their favorite outfit (i’ll do this one later)

14. Them in an uncomfortable outfit (i’ll do this one later)

16. Them sleepy (i’ll do this one later)

19. Them drunk:

One moment Michael was hiking side by side with Josh on the edge of a hilly forest trail, drunkenly laughing at something, but what he couldn’t remember, Josh had said something funny— when a pile of trail rocks under his feet slid loose and the world hitched violently sideways and down. As if his coordination wasn’t impaired enough by his boozy afternoon at their secluded campsite, all he saw as he tumbled down the leafy slope was green and browns, no sense of up or down. He yelped rolling on his back until he landed face first on something sharp in the creek bed that scorched his lips and face with pain. His hands clamped to his face in shock. Josh shouted something indistinguishably after him, clambering down the side of the ravine a lot more gracefully to the stony creek shore below. Michael covered his left cheek with a large hand, palm pressed to his mouth, and when Josh reached him and moved his hand to see, it came away red. “Tabernac, tabernac, tabernac, Josh cursed under his breath, quickly shedding his coat, stripping away his own t-shirt, and folding it over as a makeshift bandage to the jagged diagonal cut on Michael’s face. Tears welled in Michael’s eyes but Josh was quicker, wiping away the wetness and applying pressure to his stinging split lip. “Look, it was this broken glass right here you fell on. What the fuck is that, someone’s beer bottle?” “Fuckin’ bottle, why’s that there? ‘S not the brand you drink.” “Don’t speak Michel, god you’re sure bleeding a lot,” He paused. “I think we need to go to a hospital.” Michael was preoccupied with the trail of blonde hair traveling up Josh’s naval. He reached out and smoothed his thumb and forefinger down Josh’s naked chest. “You look... good like this.” “Ce n'est pas le moment pour ça!” his boyfriend chided. “Tabernac, you’re lucky that wasn’t your eyes!” “But...” It wasn’t supposed to go like this, they were supposed to be at camp tonight, where Josh would eat those cheap grocery store cherry danishes he liked while Michael would build a good fire for their dinner. Josh gently stood up. “No buts. I know you’re hammered but get up please, you gotta get stitches, there’s no way you couldn’t with a cut that deep,” Michael held Josh’s shirt in place over his copper-tasting mouth and Josh helped him to his feet. “Might even have a scar.” he continued. “Would you, y’still love me if I did?” “Obviously, now c’mon cher, we’ll go back and pack our things and take my bike into Fredericton.”

Ian

2. Them several years past their main adventure: (not gonna do years later, just making this book 2 Ian lmao)

Ian traced wandering lines in his sketchbook, taking his restless energy and channeling it into activity, distraction; one of the little tricks gained in the rehab center. Sobriety had been a bitch to learn, and often Ian flexed a muscle of self control he’s carefully crafted to hold him steady. Temptation tickled the back of his neck in his most stressful moments, and the times Michael left him alone for too long. And Michael, the man who took him to rehab, who brought art supplies to his room at the clinic For something nice to do, he had said. Ian had never loved a set of pencils so dearly. Michael had visited daily, talked with him about his therapy as he sat still in his chair and let Ian draw him. Ian never took Michael’s presence for granted, it was familiar and warm, a stark contrast to the first night they met. Time does strange things to people, Ian decided. But... Ian had to appreciate the change. Michael managed his medicines for him, took care of him with every meal he made for the two of them, and he made Ian laugh even in a dark moment of handling some sticky Orion business. Gradually he’d become his foothold in sobriety, his anchor point. His Michael. Ian shook the idea away. No, Michael’s not mine to have, Ian thought. Michael surely didn’t get the pesky flashes of impossible possibilities like the kind that plagued Ian’s headspace lately, of... more. He disdainfully flipped to a new page in his sketchbook, landed on a page of Michael sketches he’d drawn secretly and quickly ignored them by flipping to a fresh sheet. Ian settled back in his chair, and argued back and forth silently until he’d convinced himself Michael was his friend, his partner in literal crime, and that was enough. That had to be enough.

16. Them sleepy:

Michael returned home in the early morning, only to discover his bed was occupied. Ian was in boxers and nothing else, sound asleep. His partner’s limbs were bent up among his blankets, mouth puffing open slightly whenever he breathed out. Used to seeing Ian sleep in odd positions on the couch, Michael knew the way he tucked his arms under himself in his sleep. But it was strange to see him in here. How often did he come in here, even when Michael was awake? Michael stood silent by the bedside and watched Ian snooze peacefully, not wanting to wake him just yet. Did he miss me? This time, instead of dismissing it immediately, Michael let this thought settle. Michael imagined the way Ian must’ve been up waiting for him, maybe even worrying about him, before coming to open his bedroom door. Michael How Ian must have settled his head, nose against the pillow, and arranged the comforter Michael slept with over himself. And then his hand slipped, drifted downward, sinking down into Ian’s hair. Soft and thicker than he imagined, he combed through the wisps of black lightly enough to not disturb him. Missed you, came a hushed sentiment in his mind. Michael swept the bangs that fell messily over Ian’s forehead when his hand grazed across Ian’s temple. There had been times Michael touched Ian before; when injured pieces were in play and Michael stitched up the wounds. The burst of warmth when fingertips brushed Ian’s skin took him by surprise. Ian stirred from this touch however, and Michael’s hand flew to his side. Extending his arms, green swatches fluttered open; Ian stretched his legs and flopped his head on the pillow. “Hi, you’re back,” he mumbled, words languid like the hand that rubbed at his eye, then curled loosely on the sheets. “Hi,” Michael replied, the way Ian looked up at him striking some tender feeling in his throat. “What are you doing in here?” Starting to understand his indications, Michael saw the light flush of embarrassment rise as Ian rolled into sitting. “Did I fall asleep in here? Sorry man, my mistake. Been pretty tired lately,” he explained, kicking away the sheets and getting clumsily out of Michael’s bed. “I had all the lights off and must’ve walked in here instead of my room. Didn’t think twice, my head just hit a pillow.” “S’alright. You looked comfortable.” Michael smoothed his hand over the blanket and Ian’s eyes followed it. “... I was.” Ian shrugged before sheepishly fleeing the room for his own bed.

19. Them drunk:

“Hey, buddy.” A firm hand nudged Ian's shoulder. “Buddy.” The faint sounds of a bar swam to his ears; the clink of glasses against wood, quiet voices agreeing to go home, chairs scraping and the drone of a late night talk show host floating somewhere above him. “C’mon Ian, you need to get out of here.” With a soft sigh that left his chest slowly, he knew where he was. He sat on a stool in his favorite local dive, his body glued to the counter in his usual spot. Graham the bartender, to his credit, waited a full minute before poking Ian in the shoulder. “Mm, can I get one to go?” Ian’s voice came muffled from the crook of his arm. The sticky countertop was a comfortable place to lay his head and he liked the support it gave his loose limbs which currently felt curled up on each other. “No,” the barkeep responded firmly. “And you’re not staying the night… I’ll call you a cab.” Ian’s head popped off the counter, fingers clinging to the glass in his hand. “Don’t have to.” Ian stood, waiting for the lightheaded rush that made his knees wobble to pass before knocking back the dregs of his screwdriver and slipping a few crumpled bills under his glass. “Someone’s coming to get you?” Graham asked. Ian basked in the heat lingering in his throat, he swallowed. “H’yeah, sure.” He waved off the question with a flip of his hand and ambled outside.

Charley

4. Their laugh:

Samuel pulled through the discount rack, casting coat hanger after coat hanger aside flippantly and frowning. “Why’s this all ugly?” she lamented. Charley shrugged, back against the wall, eyes trained on the crummy mall clothes outlet across the way from the display window of theirs.  They did this as part of their job sometimes, building profiles. It helped understand daily routines a target had and was the best way to learn potential vulnerabilities. “Oh, now this is good,” Samuel piped up. “I should get these Dahlia for her next birthday.” Charley turned and saw her considering a set of women’s pajamas, with blue penguins printed on the pants and another pudgy penguin on the shirt with a speech bubble saying ‘Out Cold’. Charley took one look at the pajamas and burst out laughing. “Are you fuckin’ kidding?” he snickered, gesturing. “These? With these cute little bastards on them? Are we thinking of the same woman?” He deemed Dahlia maybe a little too serious and brooding.  “She could use these, I hate seeing her going to sleep in just whatever outfit she’s got on. She actually would like something goofy like this, she just doesn’t say so.” Samuel held the shirt and flipped flopped the long fleecey sleeve, before then using it to wave to Charley. He chuckled and checked his watch. “You’d know better than anybody, I suppose.” “There’s a lot of things about Dahlia you don’t know.” “Really?” Charley asked interested, hands busy tying long black dreads into a bun at his neck. “Care to share with the class?” Samuel shook her head. “I don’t betray her trust like I promised I wouldn’t betray yours.” Aside from the very first time, he thought. Samuel hadn’t broken her promise to him since. “I respect that,” Charley rolled his shoulders and glanced over into the clothing store opposite the one they stood in. An unassuming young man with green sneakers had just entered it.“Spotted him. Do your thing.” he said to his partner. The two watched him moving around the counter of the neighboring store. “He’s late for work,” Samuel said. “That’s why he’s rushing. He’s nervous his manager might be annoyed with him... here she comes. And he’s very attracted to his boss, he’s thinking about her...” her nose crinkled. “I’m not relaying that.” Samuel watched the manager cross her arms as the man blabbered on. “She thinks he’s nothing but a tiny-dicked idiot. Got him.” she concluded and Charley laughed again.  

5. Their crying:

Charley sat across from his partner Samuel at a cafe table in Ireland. His panic had brought them far across the ocean, further than he meant to travel but Charley chalked it up to stress and a need to just run. Their mission to hunt a certain target ended successfully with the target’s death, but included the death of an innocent bystander. Just thinking about it made Charley’s guts coil. He fucked up bad this time, he lost control and a man lost his life because of the mishap. “You’re still learning control over your power, you did not abuse it, the reins slipped from your hands. An accident, Charley. That’s all it was.” He wiped a stubborn tear from the crease of his eye. Samuel’s brow furrowed. “You don’t need to be brave in front of me,” she murmured, reading the shame and denial of his emotions from his mind. “I’m not like him.” Charley blinked his chestnut eyes, the sour rise that made his nose tingle bringing more tears as he thought of the man who had turned him this way. His partner saw through him like tissue paper, and she saw the replaying memories; the way his face had looked, the reason he hated to let anyone see him cry, and the way that the innocent man had been knocked below to his death. He reached for her ivory hand and she took it supportively, politely looking to the far end of the cafe while Charley mopped his brow with a cloth napkin, the older man’s torso shaking with low rumbles and sniffs. A couple other lunch goers nearby looked in their direction a few times, but left them undisturbed. “... We need to see Meissa.” Samuel said finally. Charley wiped his eyes once more looked morosely at his untouched scone. “What do I tell her?” “The truth.” she suggested, wrapping her coat a little closer to her. “I’ll vouch for you, I saw them both die. The other man was not supposed to be there. It’s unfortunate, yes, but we live in the present and must go on.” Charley thought that seemed a bit harsh. “It’s survival,” Samuel added gently. “You had to change to survive and here you sit. I survived the bear trap of my childhood and here I sit. This doesn’t end here,” She retrieved her wallet and left some money on the table. “Ready? We’ll make it through this too.” Charley nodded, took a deep slow breath to collect himself. Then Samuel placed her hands in his on the table and the two vanished from their seats.

Dahlia

10. Their interactions with an enemy/rival

Dahlia kept certain rooms in her house well furnished and comfortable, and others purposefully devoid of distractions. She was leaning against her desk in such a room now, desk and a single bookshelf holding some of her dream journals the only objects beside bare floor and walls, with of course, the projection system. Projected on the walls all around her was a calming cloudy ocean scene with the horizon stretched before her. She lit a cigarette, smoke curling bright in the projection light. She glanced at her watch. The chair and the man tied to it materialized a half second later. Dahlia didn’t bat an eye. Charley stood behind the chair, palms flat on the grizzled older man’s shoulders. “I appreciate the trouble,” said Dahlia. “I know you could’ve handled him alone.” “No trouble, and thank Sammy, she lured his greasy ass into the motel room. In fact, thank her yourself.” He disappeared and within five seconds he reappeared, this time hand in hand with Samuel. Her peacock blue heels clicked on the hardwood as she moved concentric circles around the man in the chair. “Still out cold, I’m impressed Charley-boy.” “Pleasure, I’ve been practicing my right hook. It’s nice to test it out on this freak. A five year old kid, that’s sick.” he shook his head. ”Good work both of you,” Dahlia hummed approvingly. “Now we wait.” “Mind if I bounce?” Charley asked. “Gotta teach my class in an hour.” “Go right ahead. Just be back here after for disposal.” Charley nodded and vanished. Dahlia coolly regarded the unconscious man, puffing on her cigarette, lost in thought. Samuel silently watched Dahlia thinking. Samuel became a usual presence to Dahlia in this way, like a friend sitting beside her on a windowsill, simultaneously looking out the same window as herself, seeing the same vivid world outside. At last, the large man stirred, opened his bleary eyes. “The hell?” he groaned, then his eyes fell on Dahlia, then Samuel. “Who are you people? Where the fuck did you take me, you pasty bitch?” Dahlia didn’t waste time. “Mr. Clark, you don’t know me and I certainly don’t care to know you, but I do know what you did to the five year old son of your next door neighbors.” The man tried to wiggle out of his restraints. “You’re crazy, I don’t know what you’re talking about, let me fucking go!” “Take a look around Mr. Clark, this is the last room you’ll ever see.” “What?” he froze mid struggle and stared at Dahlia, who tapped her cigarette calmly in a porcelain teacup on the table. He looked to Samuel whose pallid eyes pierced daggers in his direction. “You’re not serious... I’m not scared of some dumb bitches.” “He’s lying.” Samuel contributed. “Choosing to pursue that particular disgusting fantasy of yours was the wrong choice.” Dahlia said, then extended her arm into the blue projection light and Samuel handed her a bottle of liquor from a shelf. Dahlia uncapped it and poured amber liquid into a large glass. “What are you doing?” Mr. Clark clamored as Dahlia approached him with the glass. “I swear I didn’t do it! I never touched the boy!” “It’s tacky to lie,” Samuel commented, watching as the man squirmed in place. Dahlia grabbed him by the hair, yanked his jaw up in the air, and poured the cup down his throat. The liquid spilled over the mans chin and down his shirt as he spluttered and fought, but Dahlia made sure some went down his throat. “How does it feel to be robbed of your agency?” Dahlia asked, stepping back. “I want you to meditate on that while the darkness comes. To feel like– what was his name?” she asked the man. “Evan Watson.” Samuel supplied when the man kept quiet. “Yes, like Evan when you raped him.” The man coughed out a sting of curses at Samuel and Dahlia, but the words quickly subsided until both the room and the man were still. Dahlia shuddered and turned away. “You know I like to stay distant and trust you and Charley and the others to handle this part,” she said to Samuel. “But I hated the dreams I saw. The ones with kids are the worst.” “You don’t need to explain to me, I’ve seen the way it hurts.” “Right.” Her friend’s view into her mind let Samuel understand best, but that didn’t stop Dahlia from wanting to explain things to her anyway. I appreciate you Sam, she thought. In all the ways you help me stop these people. I’d be lost without you. Samuel smiled her pearly teeth at Dahlia and Dahlia wished then that she could also see into Samuel’s innermost thoughts.

11. Their interactions with a stranger (feel free to say who the stranger might be! wink wink)

Dahlia was an early riser, and like clockwork every morning she went to her chair on the front porch and smoked under the morning sun. But this spring morning she waited to receive her brother visiting for Passover, and this morning’s cigarette was interrupted by the arrival of Michael and his boyfriend Josh with suitcases in tow. She ran down the steps to hug her brother, and then shook Josh’s hand, thinking he somehow wasn’t what she was expecting. Not that she had any big expectations but she wanted only the best for her brother. She thought he was ordinary but handsome, with a wide friendly smile, crooked at the edges. He looked eager but nervous as Dahlia introduced herself. “So you’re the mysterious Canadian man my brother’s been dating huh? Good to finally meet you. I hope you’ve been keeping him out of trouble.” Josh laughed, a bright pleasant sound. “I’m studying criminal justice actually, if anyone will be keeping him on the straight and narrow it’s me.” His accent was noticeable and musical, and Dahlia saw Michael’s eyes shining as he glanced over at Josh. Her brother looked proud and happy she realized, happier and younger looking than when she’d last seen him. “Good, well we have some lovely matzo brei mom made on the stove, you’re welcome to it for breakfast.” “Thank god, I’m starving,” said Josh. “We left too early to have breakfast and nothing at the airport sounded good.” Josh left to go bring their luggage inside, and Michael stayed out on the porch with his sister. “I’ve got a good feeling about this one.” Dahlia remarked. “What makes you say that?” Michael wondered. Dahlia offered him her cigarette and he took it. “You’ve got a love glow about you.” “I do not have a ‘love glow’,” he grumbled, blowing smoke through his nose. She laughed and took the cigarette back. “No, but seriously, you look really happy with him, not like with anyone else before. Seems like the real deal.” “Maybe. I hope so. I want mom and dad to like him.” He’s serious with this guy, Dahlia mused. Her brother caring about his parents opinions? That was a first. “I’m happy you’re home, Mike. And I wouldn’t worry about what mom thinks at least,” she said, peering into the doorway. “Look at her, she’s already fussing over him in there getting him enough on his plate.” Michael chuckled. “Better get in there and rescue him before he’s overfed.”

Rosie

1. Them as a child (i’ll do this one later)

8. Their interactions with their significant other(s), if they have them (the significant other is outta the picture, so you get Rosie and her daughter instead)

Bia clinked her raspberry gin lemonade against her mother’s glass. They sat in a private VIP room at the King’s Throne, celebrating Bia’s acceptance into one of the top medical schools in the country. Rosanne frequented this particular night club for abundance of potential customers and good relations with the owner. They were on their second round of drinks. “To the start of your career! This is all for you sweetie, enjoy yourself.” Rosanne toasted her glass and took a long sip. Bia followed suit. “Honey, I want you to know I’m proud of you.” “Thanks mom.” “I’ve been proud since the first time I held you crying in my arms.” Maybe it was the alcohol, but Bia felt a lump rise in her throat. "Even if... I turned out differently than you expected?” Rosanne set down her amaretto sour. “You’ve surprised me a lot as you’ve grown,” she started. “But never negatively. Never wanted you to work in my trade, and you surprised me by never wanting to follow in my footsteps, by picking medical school and gettin’ accepted. I’ve watched a little boy grow into a wonderful, resourceful, fucking intelligent, brave and beautiful woman. Nothing could make me prouder.” Happy tears dripped down over Bia’s expensive make up but she didn’t care. Her mother pulled her into a hug and Bia let her mascara disintegrate.

Bia

9. Their interactions with their best friend

“Your quiet magical friend told me you were here in rehab. I’m really proud of you for being here Ian.” Bia sat beside him on the edge of his bed in his room at the inpatient rehab center. She looked much healthier now, but a different version of the woman he’d known once, before Phil Lancaster had ever touched her. “Thank you Bia, and you haven’t told anyone else about what Michael can do, have you?” “No, you made me swear.” “Okay, cool.” “But listen I... I’m not the reason you’re in here now, am I?” “What do you mean?” Bia shifted her shoes on the carpet and smoothed her hair. “Well, you and me were trying different shit a lot when we were together and I’d feel terrible if I–” “No,” Ian interrupted. “Trust me, you’re not the reason I’m here. I was an addict before I met you.” Bia sighed, still looking concerned. “Okay, just wanted to apologize for ever turning you onto it.” His time dating her had been comfortable and some brief, needed stability. They spent it trying drugs and having sex, but Ian’s favorite memories had been the late hours of the night when they lay beside each other and she shared stories; these including tales of her life as a surgeon and her wild experience of growing up with a drug mogul mother like Rosanne Madaki. “I’m the one couldn’t stop Bia, and you never forced me. You were one of the few things keeping my head above the water. Taking Xanax was my own choice and so is quitting it.” She smiled meekly. “That’s the spirit.” “So, how have you been recently?” “In constant therapy for... y’know, what he did. There’s no better relief than waking up in my mother’s house and remembering he’s dead and will never be anything but dead. Mom’s barely let me out of her sight, and when she does she has one of her bodyguards tail me around, she thinks I don’t notice.” “She loves you.” “I know, she just blames herself for everything still.” “We’ve all got our struggles,” Ian said patting her arm. “We’ll try and get better together, okay?” Bia nodded and smiled at him. “I’d like that.”

sorry for the long post to everyone who isn’t anna, the only one who will know or care about any of these characters……… lol but anyway anna none of these are in the actual book 1 story, it’s all either prequel/flash backs or book 2 stuff (and also i skipped some prompts bc this is already a lot and i want your input, i craaaaave it, love you so much thank you for sending me these and kickstarting a writing mood <3)

Michael

1. Them as a child:

He’d had trouble falling asleep, and now the forest was on fire. Michael had only wanted to go back to the lake shore for a bit, and sit by the waves to settle his racing thoughts, but he’d gotten lost on his way there and wandered down a too dark trail. Narrow flashlight beam the only light a head of him, he prayed he was going the right direction back to his family’s campsite. It was dark and freezing and Michael’s eight year old limbs were getting sore, when suddenly he smelled the thick smoke of burning wood in the breeze. A campfire, he thought. Good, he must be getting close. But as Michael traveled closer a hazy fog surrounded him and the nearby trees, his flashlight beam illuminating the smoke. He saw light ahead, fire glowing through the trees, but no wait, this was much too much flame to be a campfire. Michael stopped walking and watched bright clumps of fire crackling in the underbrush. This is really bad, his tired mind registered. Nervously he tried to move down wind away from the fire, coughing as he went, but the fire grew faster than Michael could walk. He hurried through he underbrush now, chest feeling heavy and head dizzy from inhaling smoke. Suddenly Michael had run himself into a rocky cliff face, the fire sparkling dangerously at his back. What do I do? he panicked. I don’t want to die, please. Michael moved around the rocks until he saw a natural crevice traveling back into the earth. Was that a cave? Fire could burn wood, he reasoned. But probably not stone. He crawled in between the rocks, shining his flashlight as he entered to check it was uninhabited, and saw it went back a few feet. The air in here was clear of smoke and much easier to breathe. Crouching in a small cave wasn’t ideal, but it was better than burning to death. Outside Michael saw the wildfire grow in intensity slowly. As it crawled along bark and dry leaves, a soothing crackling noise came from the charred forest. Tucked safely in his cave, Michael watched, cinders in the air reflecting on spellbound eyes. The blaze passed him by and devoured entire trees, cracking apart branches. Somehow now Michael felt less afraid; the air was warm, the fire’s glow bathing the opening of the cave in a lulling orange gleam. Eventually, Michael fell asleep lying curled in place on the rocks, the wildfire’s presence helping him find sleep better in a cave than back in a sleeping bag in a dark tent. In the morning he awoke, crawled out into the ashy remains damp with smoke, and traveled by the morning light through the destroyed forest until he found a path back to his family.

3. Their parent(s) (ok listen, this post is long enough, i going to just split all the ones i didn’t do here in another part 2 post later okay? so i’ll do this one later)

4. Their laugh: (and i’ll do this one later )

7. Their interactions with their pets, if they have them:

Every night his cat played a game with Josh, a one in which Josh always ended up losing as yet again Cannelle settled innocently on Josh’s chest or kneaded her way to resting on his legs and he felt too bad to disturb her. “Well, once she’s comfortable, what am I supposed to do?” Josh told him once. Now in bed trying to fall asleep, Michael rolled over, and with a lurch his heart beat rose sharply in distress, realizing there was his cat, lying in the same space as his space. The left side of the bed, that had once been Josh’s. The left side that Michael still some how always managed to sleep to the right of, despite the bed being his alone now. Michael pulled his blankets up. “Cannelle, c’mere, c’mon girl.” he called. He’s not there, I’m so sorry, and you can’t understand why, I’m sorry. He apologized silently to the cat. She blinked her brown eyes, then rose, tail in the air, and settled down under the tent of the comforter Michael kept open for her. He stoked her fur for something, anything, to latch on to other than the buzzing ache that settled into his muscles. The first week is the hardest, he’d been told. That’s a lie, he thought. It doesn’t really get easier. Michael counted her exhales, inhales, exhale, inhale, exhales; until his eyes finally closed and he slept.

11. Their interactions with a stranger (feel free to say who the stranger might be! wink wink):

Michael stepped casually from the elevator, fidgeting hand needing to readjust the fake access badge clipped to his chest. Bia gave it to him, had it forged for him to blend in better, and Michael appreciated the way eyes never stayed on him long. Down the hospital’s long corridor of drywall-white patient rooms he stopped when he found the one he sought, slipping inside. Michael had read this man’s profile. Daniel Keaton, 25, paralyzed from the waist down, the loss of total lower motor control result of a nasty accident. Bia gave him information on a couple of her patients that were in conditions no amount of surgery would help. Understand me, she had said, when she handed him the ID. I’m not letting you do my job for me, since I am more than capable. But not everything has a cure. The man in the bed looked away from a bland television program, saw the hospital staff badge, brown leather jacket, and the lack of any hospital scrubs and asked, “Hi, are you my new counselor? I don’t feel like talking, sorry.” “No, I’m a… physical therapist.” “I don’t mean to be rude, but you’re kinda useless at this point. Maybe you’re in the wrong room but I’m past the point of ever using my legs again, the doctors already told me.” ”I know. There’s a method that might bring you some relief, at least. Will you let me try?” “Knock yourself out.” Daniel sighed, closing his downbeat eyes in resignation. Michael carefully helped Daniel into a seated position in the hospital bed and proceeded to gently knead over the dead spinal nerves of his lower back. The accustomed electric warmth pulsed through Michael’s core, seeping up from his bones into the tissue, a faint glow emanating from the flat pressed palms on Daniel’s back. “Wait,” Daniel said suddenly, registering the strange sensation. “What are you doing?” “Don’t worry,” Michael assured. “It’s safe. This will help.” Daniel looked over his shoulder at Michael, slack jawed. “But… I shouldn’t be able to… why can I feel my legs?” Michael sensed his repair work was finished. He backed up a few steps. “Stand up.” “I can’t.” Daniel helplessly shook his head. “Can’t you?” Michael raised an eyebrow. Hesitantly, Daniel pulled his knees up and then gasped. He swung his legs off the side of the bed and stood up, devolving into startled tears as he did so. “I-I don’t understand. How? What are you?” “Just a man trying to help.” “What’s your name?” Michael held a finger to his lips. “Lie back in bed, Daniel. When asked, say it was a miracle recovery. You never saw me. Take care.” Before speechless Daniel could utter a question or thank you, Michael left the hospital room.

12. Them in their favorite outfit (i’ll do this one later)

14. Them in an uncomfortable outfit (i’ll do this one later)

16. Them sleepy (i’ll do this one later)

19. Them drunk:

One moment Michael was hiking side by side with Josh on the edge of a hilly forest trail, drunkenly laughing at something, but what he couldn’t remember, Josh had said something funny— when a pile of trail rocks under his feet slid loose and the world hitched violently sideways and down. As if his coordination wasn’t impaired enough by his boozy afternoon at their secluded campsite, all he saw as he tumbled down the leafy slope was green and browns, no sense of up or down. He yelped rolling on his back until he landed face first on something sharp in the creek bed that scorched his lips and face with pain. His hands clamped to his face in shock. Josh shouted something indistinguishably after him, clambering down the side of the ravine a lot more gracefully to the stony creek shore below. Michael covered his left cheek with a large hand, palm pressed to his mouth, and when Josh reached him and moved his hand to see, it came away red. “Tabernac, tabernac, tabernac,” Josh cursed under his breath, quickly shedding his coat, stripping away his own t-shirt, and folding it over as a makeshift bandage to the jagged diagonal cut on Michael’s face. Tears welled in Michael’s eyes but Josh was quicker, wiping away the wetness and applying pressure to his stinging split lip. “Look, it was this broken glass right here you fell on. What the fuck is that, someone’s beer bottle?” “Fuckin’ bottle, why’s that there? ‘S not the brand you drink.” “Don’t speak Michel, god you’re sure bleeding a lot,” He paused. “I think we need to go to a hospital.” Michael was preoccupied with the trail of blonde hair traveling up Josh’s naval. He reached out and smoothed his thumb and forefinger down Josh’s naked chest. “You look… good like this.” “Ce n'est pas le moment pour ça!” his boyfriend chided. “Tabernac, you’re lucky that wasn’t your eyes!” “But…” It wasn’t supposed to go like this, they were supposed to be at camp tonight, where Josh would eat those cheap grocery store cherry danishes he liked while Michael would build a good fire for their dinner. Josh gently stood up. “No buts. I know you’re hammered but get up please, you gotta get stitches, there’s no way you couldn’t with a cut that deep,” Michael held Josh’s shirt in place over his copper-tasting mouth and Josh helped him to his feet. “Might even have a scar.” he continued. “Would you, y’still love me if I did?” “Obviously, now c’mon cher, we’ll go back and pack our things and take my bike into Fredericton.”

Ian

2. Them several years past their main adventure: (not gonna do years later, just making this book 2 Ian lmao)

Ian traced wandering lines in his sketchbook, taking his restless energy and channeling it into activity, distraction; one of the little tricks gained in the rehab center. Sobriety had been a bitch to learn, and often Ian flexed a muscle of self control he’s carefully crafted to hold him steady. Temptation tickled the back of his neck in his most stressful moments, and the times Michael left him alone for too long. And Michael, the man who took him to rehab, who brought art supplies to his room at the clinic For something nice to do, he had said. Ian had never loved a set of pencils so dearly. Michael had visited daily, talked with him about his therapy as he sat still in his chair and let Ian draw him. Ian never took Michael’s presence for granted, it was familiar and warm, a stark contrast to the first night they met. Time does strange things to people, Ian decided. But… Ian had to appreciate the change. Michael managed his medicines for him, took care of him with every meal he made for the two of them, and he made Ian laugh even in a dark moment of handling some sticky Orion business. Gradually he’d become his foothold in sobriety, his anchor point. His Michael. Ian shook the idea away. No, Michael’s not mine to have, Ian thought. Michael surely didn’t get the pesky flashes of impossible possibilities like the kind that plagued Ian’s headspace lately, of… more. He disdainfully flipped to a new page in his sketchbook, landed on a page of Michael sketches he’d drawn secretly and quickly ignored them by flipping to a fresh sheet. Ian settled back in his chair, and argued back and forth silently until he’d convinced himself Michael was his friend, his partner in literal crime, and that was enough. That had to be enough.

16. Them sleepy:

Michael returned home in the early morning, only to discover his bed was occupied. Ian was in boxers and nothing else, sound asleep. His partner’s limbs were bent up among his blankets, mouth puffing open slightly whenever he breathed out. Used to seeing Ian sleep in odd positions on the couch, Michael knew the way he tucked his arms under himself in his sleep. But it was strange to see him in here. How often did he come in here, even when Michael was awake? Michael stood silent by the bedside and watched Ian snooze peacefully, not wanting to wake him just yet. Did he miss me? This time, instead of dismissing it immediately, Michael let this thought settle. Michael imagined the way Ian must’ve been up waiting for him, maybe even worrying about him, before coming to open his bedroom door. Michael How Ian must have settled his head, nose against the pillow, and arranged the comforter Michael slept with over himself. And then his hand slipped, drifted downward, sinking down into Ian’s hair. Soft and thicker than he imagined, he combed through the wisps of black lightly enough to not disturb him. Missed you, came a hushed sentiment in his mind. Michael swept the bangs that fell messily over Ian’s forehead when his hand grazed across Ian’s temple. There had been times Michael touched Ian before; when injured pieces were in play and Michael stitched up the wounds. The burst of warmth when fingertips brushed Ian’s skin took him by surprise. Ian stirred from this touch however, and Michael’s hand flew to his side. Extending his arms, green swatches fluttered open; Ian stretched his legs and flopped his head on the pillow. “Hi, you’re back,” he mumbled, words languid like the hand that rubbed at his eye, then curled loosely on the sheets. “Hi,” Michael replied, the way Ian looked up at him striking some tender feeling in his throat. “What are you doing in here?” Starting to understand his indications, Michael saw the light flush of embarrassment rise as Ian rolled into sitting. “Did I fall asleep in here? Sorry man, my mistake. Been pretty tired lately,” he explained, kicking away the sheets and getting clumsily out of Michael’s bed. “I had all the lights off and must’ve walked in here instead of my room. Didn’t think twice, my head just hit a pillow.” “S’alright. You looked comfortable.” Michael smoothed his hand over the blanket and Ian’s eyes followed it. “… I was.” Ian shrugged before sheepishly fleeing the room for his own bed.

19. Them drunk:

“Hey, buddy.” A firm hand nudged Ian’s shoulder. “Buddy.” The faint sounds of a bar swam to his ears; the clink of glasses against wood, quiet voices agreeing to go home, chairs scraping and the drone of a late night talk show host floating somewhere above him. “C’mon Ian, you need to get out of here.” With a soft sigh that left his chest slowly, he knew where he was. He sat on a stool in his favorite local dive, his body glued to the counter in his usual spot. Graham the bartender, to his credit, waited a full minute before poking Ian in the shoulder. “Mm, can I get one to go?” Ian’s voice came muffled from the crook of his arm. The sticky countertop was a comfortable place to lay his head and he liked the support it gave his loose limbs which currently felt curled up on each other. “No,” the barkeep responded firmly. “And you’re not staying the night… I’ll call you a cab.” Ian’s head popped off the counter, fingers clinging to the glass in his hand. “Don’t have to.” Ian stood, waiting for the lightheaded rush that made his knees wobble to pass before knocking back the dregs of his screwdriver and slipping a few crumpled bills under his glass. “Someone’s coming to get you?” Graham asked. Ian basked in the heat lingering in his throat, he swallowed. “H’yeah, sure.” He waved off the question with a flip of his hand and ambled outside.

Charley

4. Their laugh:

Samuel pulled through the discount rack, casting coat hanger after coat hanger aside flippantly and frowning. “Why’s this all ugly?” she lamented. Charley shrugged, back against the wall, eyes trained on the crummy mall clothes outlet across the way from the display window of theirs.  They did this as part of their job sometimes, building profiles. It helped understand daily routines a target had and was the best way to learn potential vulnerabilities. “Oh, now this is good,” Samuel piped up. “I should get these Dahlia for her next birthday.” Charley turned and saw her considering a set of women’s pajamas, with blue penguins printed on the pants and another pudgy penguin on the shirt with a speech bubble saying ‘Out Cold’. Charley took one look at the pajamas and burst out laughing. “Are you fuckin’ kidding?” he snickered, gesturing. “These? With these cute little bastards on them? Are we thinking of the same woman?” He deemed Dahlia maybe a little too serious and brooding.  “She could use these, I hate seeing her going to sleep in just whatever outfit she’s got on. She actually would like something goofy like this, she just doesn’t say so.” Samuel held the shirt and flipped flopped the long fleecey sleeve, before then using it to wave to Charley. He chuckled and checked his watch. “You’d know better than anybody, I suppose.” “There’s a lot of things about Dahlia you don’t know.” “Really?” Charley asked interested, hands busy tying long black dreads into a bun at his neck. “Care to share with the class?” Samuel shook her head. “I don’t betray her trust like I promised I wouldn’t betray yours.” Aside from the very first time, he thought. Samuel hadn’t broken her promise to him since. “I respect that,” Charley rolled his shoulders and glanced over into the clothing store opposite the one they stood in. An unassuming young man with green sneakers had just entered it.“Spotted him. Do your thing.” he said to his partner. The two watched him moving around the counter of the neighboring store. “He’s late for work,” Samuel said. “That’s why he’s rushing. He’s nervous his manager might be annoyed with him… here she comes. And he’s very attracted to his boss, he’s thinking about her…” her nose crinkled. “I’m not relaying that.” Samuel watched the manager cross her arms as the man blabbered on. “She thinks he’s nothing but a tiny-dicked idiot. Got him.” she concluded and Charley laughed again.  

5. Their crying:

Charley sat across from his partner Samuel at a cafe table in Ireland. His panic had brought them far across the ocean, further than he meant to travel but Charley chalked it up to stress and a need to just run. Their mission to hunt a certain target ended successfully with the target’s death, but included the death of an innocent bystander. Just thinking about it made Charley’s guts coil. He fucked up bad this time, he lost control and a man lost his life because of the mishap. “You’re still learning control over your power, you did not abuse it, the reins slipped from your hands. An accident, Charley. That’s all it was.” He wiped a stubborn tear from the crease of his eye. Samuel’s brow furrowed. “You don’t need to be brave in front of me,” she murmured, reading the shame and denial of his emotions from his mind. “I’m not like him.” Charley blinked his chestnut eyes, the sour rise that made his nose tingle bringing more tears as he thought of the man who had turned him this way. His partner saw through him like tissue paper, and she saw the replaying memories; the way his face had looked, the reason he hated to let anyone see him cry, and the way that the innocent man had been knocked below to his death. He reached for her ivory hand and she took it supportively, politely looking to the far end of the cafe while Charley mopped his brow with a cloth napkin, the older man’s torso shaking with low rumbles and sniffs. A couple other lunch goers nearby looked in their direction a few times, but left them undisturbed. “… We need to see Meissa.” Samuel said finally. Charley wiped his eyes once more looked morosely at his untouched scone. “What do I tell her?” “The truth.” she suggested, wrapping her coat a little closer to her. “I’ll vouch for you, I saw them both die. The other man was not supposed to be there. It’s unfortunate, yes, but we live in the present and must go on.” Charley thought that seemed a bit harsh. “It’s survival,” Samuel added gently. “You had to change to survive and here you sit. I survived the bear trap of my childhood and here I sit. This doesn’t end here,” She retrieved her wallet and left some money on the table. “Ready? We’ll make it through this too.” Charley nodded, took a deep slow breath to collect himself. Then Samuel placed her hands in his on the table and the two vanished from their seats.

Dahlia

10. Their interactions with an enemy/rival

Dahlia kept certain rooms in her house well furnished and comfortable, and others purposefully devoid of distractions. She was leaning against her desk in such a room now, desk and a single bookshelf holding some of her dream journals the only objects beside bare floor and walls, with of course, the projection system. Projected on the walls all around her was a calming cloudy ocean scene with the horizon stretched before her. She lit a cigarette, smoke curling bright in the projection light. She glanced at her watch. The chair and the man tied to it materialized a half second later. Dahlia didn’t bat an eye. Charley stood behind the chair, palms flat on the grizzled older man’s shoulders. “I appreciate the trouble,” said Dahlia. “I know you could’ve handled him alone.” “No trouble, and thank Sammy, she lured his greasy ass into the motel room. In fact, thank her yourself.” He disappeared and within five seconds he reappeared, this time hand in hand with Samuel. Her peacock blue heels clicked on the hardwood as she moved concentric circles around the man in the chair. “Still out cold, I’m impressed Charley-boy.” “Pleasure, I’ve been practicing my right hook. It’s nice to test it out on this freak. A five year old kid, that’s sick.” he shook his head. ”Good work both of you,” Dahlia hummed approvingly. “Now we wait.” “Mind if I bounce?” Charley asked. “Gotta teach my class in an hour.” “Go right ahead. Just be back here after for disposal.” Charley nodded and vanished. Dahlia coolly regarded the unconscious man, puffing on her cigarette, lost in thought. Samuel silently watched Dahlia thinking. Samuel became a usual presence to Dahlia in this way, like a friend sitting beside her on a windowsill, simultaneously looking out the same window as herself, seeing the same vivid world outside. At last, the large man stirred, opened his bleary eyes. “The hell?” he groaned, then his eyes fell on Dahlia, then Samuel. “Who are you people? Where the fuck did you take me, you pasty bitch?” Dahlia didn’t waste time. “Mr. Clark, you don’t know me and I certainly don’t care to know you, but I do know what you did to the five year old son of your next door neighbors.” The man tried to wiggle out of his restraints. “You’re crazy, I don’t know what you’re talking about, let me fucking go!” “Take a look around Mr. Clark, this is the last room you’ll ever see.” “What?” he froze mid struggle and stared at Dahlia, who tapped her cigarette calmly in a porcelain teacup on the table. He looked to Samuel whose pallid eyes pierced daggers in his direction. “You’re not serious… I’m not scared of some dumb bitches.” “He’s lying.” Samuel contributed. “Choosing to pursue that particular disgusting fantasy of yours was the wrong choice.” Dahlia said, then extended her arm into the blue projection light and Samuel handed her a bottle of liquor from a shelf. Dahlia uncapped it and poured amber liquid into a large glass. “What are you doing?” Mr. Clark clamored as Dahlia approached him with the glass. “I swear I didn’t do it! I never touched the boy!” “It’s tacky to lie,” Samuel commented, watching as the man squirmed in place. Dahlia grabbed him by the hair, yanked his jaw up in the air, and poured the cup down his throat. The liquid spilled over the mans chin and down his shirt as he spluttered and fought, but Dahlia made sure some went down his throat. “How does it feel to be robbed of your agency?” Dahlia asked, stepping back. “I want you to meditate on that while the darkness comes. To feel like– what was his name?” she asked the man. “Evan Watson.” Samuel supplied when the man kept quiet. “Yes, like Evan when you raped him.” The man coughed out a sting of curses at Samuel and Dahlia, but the words quickly subsided until both the room and the man were still. Dahlia shuddered and turned away. “You know I like to stay distant and trust you and Charley and the others to handle this part,” she said to Samuel. “But I hated the dreams I saw. The ones with kids are the worst.” “You don’t need to explain to me, I’ve seen the way it hurts.” “Right.” Her friend’s view into her mind let Samuel understand best, but that didn’t stop Dahlia from wanting to explain things to her anyway. I appreciate you Sam, she thought. In all the ways you help me stop these people. I’d be lost without you. Samuel smiled her pearly teeth at Dahlia and Dahlia wished then that she could also see into Samuel’s innermost thoughts.

11. Their interactions with a stranger (feel free to say who the stranger might be! wink wink)

Dahlia was an early riser, and like clockwork every morning she went to her chair on the front porch and smoked under the morning sun. But this spring morning she waited to receive her brother visiting for Passover, and this morning’s cigarette was interrupted by the arrival of Michael and his boyfriend Josh with suitcases in tow. She ran down the steps to hug her brother, and then shook Josh’s hand, thinking he somehow wasn’t what she was expecting. Not that she had any big expectations but she wanted only the best for her brother. She thought he was ordinary but handsome, with a wide friendly smile, crooked at the edges. He looked eager but nervous as Dahlia introduced herself. “So you’re the mysterious Canadian man my brother’s been dating huh? Good to finally meet you. I hope you’ve been keeping him out of trouble.” Josh laughed, a bright pleasant sound. “I’m studying criminal justice actually, if anyone will be keeping him on the straight and narrow it’s me.” His accent was noticeable and musical, and Dahlia saw Michael’s eyes shining as he glanced over at Josh. Her brother looked proud and happy she realized, happier and younger looking than when she’d last seen him. “Good, well we have some lovely matzo brei mom made on the stove, you’re welcome to it for breakfast.” “Thank god, I’m starving,” said Josh. “We left too early to have breakfast and nothing at the airport sounded good.” Josh left to go bring their luggage inside, and Michael stayed out on the porch with his sister. “I’ve got a good feeling about this one.” Dahlia remarked. “What makes you say that?” Michael wondered. Dahlia offered him her cigarette and he took it. “You’ve got a love glow about you.” “I do not have a ‘love glow’,” he grumbled, blowing smoke through his nose. She laughed and took the cigarette back. “No, but seriously, you look really happy with him, not like with anyone else before. Seems like the real deal.” “Maybe. I hope so. I want mom and dad to like him.” He’s serious with this guy, Dahlia mused. Her brother caring about his parents opinions? That was a first. “I’m happy you’re home, Mike. And I wouldn’t worry about what mom thinks at least,” she said, peering into the doorway. “Look at her, she’s already fussing over him in there getting him enough on his plate.” Michael chuckled. “Better get in there and rescue him before he’s overfed.”

Rosie

1. Them as a child (i’ll do this one later)

8. Their interactions with their significant other(s), if they have them (the significant other is outta the picture, so you get Rosie and her daughter instead)

Bia clinked her raspberry gin lemonade against her mother’s glass. They sat in a private VIP room at the King’s Throne, celebrating Bia’s acceptance into one of the top medical schools in the country. Rosanne frequented this particular night club for abundance of potential customers and good relations with the owner. They were on their second round of drinks. “To the start of your career! This is all for you sweetie, enjoy yourself.” Rosanne toasted her glass and took a long sip. Bia followed suit. “Honey, I want you to know I’m proud of you.” “Thanks mom.” “I’ve been proud since the first time I held you crying in my arms.” Maybe it was the alcohol, but Bia felt a lump rise in her throat. “Even if… I turned out differently than you expected?” Rosanne set down her amaretto sour. “You’ve surprised me a lot as you’ve grown,” she started. “But never negatively. Never wanted you to work in my trade, and you surprised me by never wanting to follow in my footsteps, by picking medical school and gettin’ accepted. I’ve watched a little boy grow into a wonderful, resourceful, fucking intelligent, brave and beautiful woman. Nothing could make me prouder.” Happy tears dripped down over Bia’s expensive make up but she didn’t care. Her mother pulled her into a hug and Bia let her mascara disintegrate.

Bia

9. Their interactions with their best friend

“Your quiet magical friend told me you were here in rehab. I’m really proud of you for being here Ian.” Bia sat beside him on the edge of his bed in his room at the inpatient rehab center. She looked much healthier now, but a different version of the woman he’d known once, before Phil Lancaster had ever touched her. “Thank you Bia, and you haven’t told anyone else about what Michael can do, have you?” “No, you made me swear.” “Okay, cool.” “But listen I… I’m not the reason you’re in here now, am I?” “What do you mean?” Bia shifted her shoes on the carpet and smoothed her hair. “Well, you and me were trying different shit a lot when we were together and I’d feel terrible if I–” “No,” Ian interrupted. “Trust me, you’re not the reason I’m here. I was an addict before I met you.” Bia sighed, still looking concerned. “Okay, just wanted to apologize for ever turning you onto it.” His time dating her had been comfortable and some brief, needed stability. They spent it trying drugs and having sex, but Ian’s favorite memories had been the late hours of the night when they lay beside each other and she shared stories; these including tales of her life as a surgeon and her wild experience of growing up with a drug mogul mother like Rosanne Madaki. “I’m the one couldn’t stop Bia, and you never forced me. You were one of the few things keeping my head above the water. Taking Xanax was my own choice and so is quitting it.” She smiled meekly. “That’s the spirit.” “So, how have you been recently?” “In constant therapy for… y’know, what he did. There’s no better relief than waking up in my mother’s house and remembering he’s dead and will never be anything but dead. Mom’s barely let me out of her sight, and when she does she has one of her bodyguards tail me around, she thinks I don’t notice.” “She loves you.” “I know, she just blames herself for everything still.” “We’ve all got our struggles,” Ian said patting her arm. “We’ll try and get better together, okay?” Bia nodded and smiled at him. “I’d like that.”

[astroshadowdeviant]

Shadow Hunters - Rough Draft Excerpts

So I'm starting over with writing the rough draft of my Shadow Hunters project the name of which I am thinking of changing to Hunters of Shadows for branding sake. These are some short starts- I am basically scene/idea dump writing as I flesh out plot and characters- that I have posted over on my blogspot. I'll likely be writing out a first draft for the entire series and then going in and breaking things up where needed to make each book. Not all scenes presented here may end up in the final story. Of course I will be going through in later drafts to fix stuff like the tenses and POV which I know are currently all over the place. Also it should be noted that except for Bethesda (and maybe Lucy)any names you see are just place holders for the final character names.

Bethesda stared at the purple stick in her hand with its strange yellow-orange topper. Bringing it closer to the light she squinted at the scraggly black swirls that arched across the round surface at odd angles. If Bethesda had to call it anything she would describe it as a wand or a scepter for some person of regalness. The stem wasn't particularly ornate but she couldn't think of anything else it could be if not a wand. And if it did happen to be a wand then her next question was whether or not it actually worked. Heaving a heavy sigh Bethesda stuffed the fancy stick in her backpack and got up to track down the rest of their motley crew. She hoped no one had fallen in a pit or gotten their head bit off by some unholy night crawler while she wasn't looking.

Thankfully it didn't take long to find where at least a few had wandered off to. Bethesda raised an eyebrow when she entered the cavern. “What exactly are you guys doing?” Three pairs of eyes look up at the question. Two sets look slightly guilty and the third...

-

We were lost and wandering through the woods alone. I sniffed; it was the smell of smoke. Someone had to be near. I stiffened. Halo, who was walking behind me stopped right in her tracks. “What is it?” she asked. Not answering her I moved to crouch down into the bushes and started moving in the direction of the smell of the smoke. Even having woken up seemingly in the middle of nowhere and lost I remembered enough from the last time I was here that there shouldn’t be anyone else here whatsoever. I could only think of one group that it could possibly be. And I didn’t like it. “Kaolin?” I held up a finger to signal Halo we needed to be quiet. We had come to a rather thick tangle in the brush. Still crouching, I carefully crawled through a small opening. Halo followed me closely. The opening led to a small nook in between a couple of trees on the edge of a large clearing. The small nook coupled with the thick surrounding brush and dim lighting of the forest offered adequate concealment.

Behind me I heard a muffled gasp from my friend when she looked over me to see through the nook. What we saw confirmed my suspicions from earlier. Huge hulking bipedal beasts were scattered around the clearing.

-

John stares at the blank word document in front of him. The blinking cursor is mocking him he swears. It is laughing at him. It thinks it’s so funny poking fun at him just because he can’t start a single sentence. And now it’s giving him a smug look like I bet I could write this essay better than you all by myself and-

John stops himself and rubs his eyes tiredly. It’s 3:34 in the morning and he has been sitting here for hours. Getting. Nothing. Done. And now he has morning classes in four hours, one of those has a test he still needs to study for and-

He really just needs to go to bed.

Sighing, John sits back in his chair tilting his head to stare morosely at the ceiling. A tiny black spider crawls across the stark white plaster. John tracks its progress idly as he lets his mind start to wander. He really wishes he had taken his sister’s advice against scheduling most of his classes for the morning. At the time, he had figured that he might as well just get the bulk of it done early so that he could spend the rest of the day working and studying. He did not realize how burnt out it was going to make him feel. Not until after he had been doing it for a few weeks. The spider stopped its trek before turning and moving to its left towards the wall with the window.

-

Fighting. Fighting, crying, running away from the sounds of violence. Panic and urgency at the forefront of your mind. I stumble and scrape my knees, my leg, my arms and I’m up again and fighting through the mud and the leaves. It hurts. Oh, it hurts so much- the pain, the sting of the brambles as they nick and dig into my skin. I think my ankle might be twisted. Keep running you can’t stop you can’t- If you stop then it’s the end. No. It can’t be the end you have to keep going. Your breathing is heavy and your throat feels raspy as you pant from exertion. Thud. They’re closer. Thud. Thud. Thud. They’re closer and closer and they’re almost on top of you.

Breathe.

You suck in the air, find a burst of speed you didn’t think you had. You spot the cave up ahead to the side on your left. You don’t think you just run over roots and rocks and dive in. You hunker down and press your back against the wall as you try to catch your breath

It’s a small opening of a cave. Maybe they won’t notice it.

There’s an explosion in the distance- shouting. Footsteps thunder past.

You take this chance to stand back up and run further into the cave. No time to think about where it leads as long it’s away, far far away. You can barely see and your lungs heave from the continued exertion, but you have to keep going you just can’t stop-

Your foot slips.

There’s nothing beneath you.

Darkness.

-

Stop thinking you’re overthinking this it’s so simple really the solution why didn’t you think about it before? So stupid. Estupido. Just pick the rock up. Throw it. Throw it hard like it’s going to burn you if you don’t. Throw it straight into their ugly laughing face. They deserve it. You feel light headed but not the bad kind .This is the kind where it feels like you’re free and you’re looking down on all the tiny insects in the world. It’s addictive and you feel dangerously powerful. You lift your arm and pull back to throw.

“Ella, what are you doing?”

Ella blinks snapping out of it. Startled she looks at the rock in her hand and arm positioned to launch it. I don’t remember picking it up.

-

You pull the chair up and and climb on top of it. You hope no one passing by looks into the room to see you up on the window sill and standing on top of a chair.

-

Raise the broadsword above your head and bring it down swiftly. One quick stroke and they’re done for.

-

Take my hand and watch my life seep slowly out of my eyes like water going down the drain of the kitchen sink. Water is there in my blue eyes and then it’s gone down, down into the dark abyss. What was once a wellspring is now a waterfall running dry.

-

Pulling dirty tricks like that- It’s so… frustrating. I hate it. Am I really any better though? With that stunt I pulled at the museum?

-

Settling down beside the fire I draw my knees up under my chin. All is quiet in the night except for the distant chirping of the crickets. The fire is a delightful break from the harsh cold of the tundras.

-

Cold. Cold. Cold, cold, cold why is it so cold? Teeth chattering temperatures bite at my skin threatening to turn it blue. Water. Hah!

Well-

I guess ice is a form of water. It sucks though

-

“Oh, yes and we’re all just dying to meet you.”

“Well, obviously.”

“Does she understand sarcasm?”

-

You’re at your wits end. You can’t go on like this any longer you just- can’t. You’re exhausted and dirty, honestly you feel like you’ve just been run over by a herd of elephants and then dragged through their dung. And you smell like it too. Lying there in the dark you stare at the ceiling of the sewers you’ve taken shelter in. You’re too tired to move, yet also too tired to fall asleep if that makes any bit of sense. You don’t really think it does, but then when has what you think ever actually mattered in any of this. You’re just sick of it all. You want to go home.

-

1: Burgers are nasty 2: Are… are you okay? 1: There is nothing wrong with not liking burg- 3: No this is sacrilege there is no such thing as not liking burgers how could you even say that 4: That’s not normal bro 1: There is nothing wrong with not liking burgers! 4: *Shaking their head* That’s not normal 3: *Squinting at her* Are you sure you’re a teenager? 1: Yes! I just don’t like burgers 2: Okay, Stacy’s questionable food preferences aside- 1: *Throws her hands up*

-

“Is that a monopoly game?”

He grinned. “Yep!”

Rachel looks at him like he just suggested we go dumpster diving again “……we are not playing monopoly” she deadpans.

“Oh come on”. He plops the box in the center of the floor. “Not like it’d kill you to play one game.” Still grinning.

Lucy cheerily hops up from her spot by the window. “I’m game!” she declares.

-

And now everyone’s looking at him like he just lost the last of his loose screws.

-

I’m at my last straw now. The noise. It just keeps going over and over and over and it won’t stop. There it goes again. I resist the urge to grind my teeth.

[probably-not-star-lord]

Guardians of the Galaxy Volume Two: Part 7 (Peter Quill x Reader)

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6

A/N: I’m sorry it took me a little longer than expected to post part seven but I hope you enjoy it! Also PLEASE keep sending me asks and stuff in my inbox cause they are so fun to answer while I’m writing. Thanks loves!!

Warnings: swearing, mild violence, fluff if you squint

-

You and Peter join the others on the ship just as Drax and Rocket bicker over if Rocket is really helping. 

"We had it under control!" Drax argues.

Just before Rocket can reply, Mantis speaks up. "We did not." She shakes her head. "That is only an extension of his true self. He will be back soon."

Ignoring Mantis' warning, Peter notices Nebula the second he steps into the ship. "What's Smurfette doing here?" he asks.

"Whatever I need to do to get a damn ride home," she answers.

"She tried to murder me!" Rocket exclaims.

Nebula rolls her eyes. "I saved you, you stupid fox!"

"He's not a fox, Nebula," you correct.

"I am Groot."

"I'm not a baboon, either," Rocket replies.

"I am Groot."

Rocket brushes the correction off. "Raccoon whatever..."

Suddenly, the blue tentacles that were stabbed through Peter only moments ago break free from the ground. More follow as each tentacle rips through the floor until there are several surrounding the ship.

Drax looks outside the window, fear in his eyes. "How do we kill a celestial?"

"There's a center to him," Peter explains. "His brain, his soul, whatever it is...some sort of protective shell."

"It's in the caverns below the surface," Mantis announces.

Peter climbs up to the flight deck, you following not far behind. He notices Yondu flying the ship and is taken aback. "Yondu?"

"Thrusters are out," Yondu delivers as Peter takes a seat next to him. The tentacles wrap around the ship and rock it aggressively, making it hard to stand. Noticing you're wobbling, Peter pulls you onto his lap and holds you close so he can still manage to have his hands on the controls. 

Yondu turns to the two of you and smirks. “You better keep her around, boy, she seems about the only person that knows how to take care of you.”

“Don’t worry,” Peter tells him. “She ain’t goin’ anywhere.”

“Good. I like her.”

You smile at the surprisingly kind man. “You’re not so bad yourself, Yondu.”

"Guess I should be glad I was a skinny kid," Peter says, the ship rocking continuously. "Otherwise, you'd have delivered me to this maniac."

"You still reckon that's the reason I kept you around, you idiot?"

"That's what you told me, you old doofus."

"Once I figured out what happened to them other kids, I wasn't just gonna hand you over," Yondu assures him, causing you to notice that he has always been the true father figure for Peter. You keep your thoughts to yourself as they argue.

"You said you were gonna eat me!" Peter defends.

"That was being funny!"

"Not to me!"

"You people have issues," Rocket retorts.

"You're telling me," you add, nodding in agreement.

"Well, of course, I have issues," Peter scoffs pointing to the horrifying form that Ego is now. "That's my freaking father!" He plays with a few switches allowing the ship to fly properly again. "Thrusters are back up."

His arms come around you quickly as he grabs the wheel and takes control of the ship. He flies it right through Ego's form and crashes into the window, allowing the ship to fall straight downward. As it falls, Peter leans forward as much as he can, squeezing you close to him to prevent you from falling out of the seat. Screams erupt from the entire ship.

"We should be going up!" Yondu acknowledges.

"We can't! Ego wants to eradicate the universe as we know it. We have to kill him." Peter smiles at you and you realize he's aiming for the ground. You’re going to fight Ego like the countless other people you fought before. "Rocket!"

"Got it!" Rocket nods, turning on the blasters and destroying the ground before your impact with it. As the ship continues to dive down, Rocket continues shooting to make more open space to fly through. Peter lets out a cheerful yelp.

"So, we're saving the galaxy again?" Rocket questions.

Peter turns to you with a smirk. "I guess."

"Awesome!" Rocket renders excitedly. "We're really gonna be able to jack up our prices if we're two-time galaxy savers."

"Rocket! That's really what you're worried about?" you ask the raccoon.

"I seriously can't believe that's where your mind goes." Peter shakes his head.

"It was just a random thought, man. I thought we were friends," Rocket answers. "Of course, I care about the planets, the buildings, and all the animals on the planets."

"And the people," Peter adds.

"Eh," Rocket shrugs.

"The crabby puppy is so cute," Mantis squeals. "He makes me wanna die!"

The ship continues digging downward toward Ego's core. You remain seated on Peter's lap and feel slightly bad that you could be distracting him from piloting the ship. Yet, if he isn't going to say anything or deliberately ask you to move, then you sure as hell are fine right where you are.

"Tell me why Ego wants you here." Yondu demands.

"He needs my genetic connection to the light to help destroy the universe. He tried to teach me how to control the power."

"So, could you?" He inquires.

"A little," Peter says. "I made a ball."

"A ball?"

"I thought as hard as I could. It was all that I could come up with," he clarifies in response.

"You thought?" Yondu laughs. "You think when I make this arrow fly, I use my head?"

Suddenly, the ship smashes right into something, causing a few pieces to fall off as it bounces into a few more rocks that are in the way. You hold onto Peter tighter for stability until the ship slows down and floats. Sitting before you is a red and blue orb with numerous pathways attached to it.

"That's Ego's core," Mantis announces.

"That core is thick, Rocket," Gamora states worriedly.

"I got it covered," Rocket reassures

"We must hurry. It will not take Ego long to find us," Mantis mentions nervously, shaking in her spot. Peter lines the ship up to face the core, therefore signaling Rocket to get the guns ready.

"Keep it steady!" he calls from below, firing up the weapons. The guns blaze and fire right at the core. The bright, fiery light from the impact creates smoke as it burns through the thick shell.

"We drill into the center, we kill him!" Peter exclaims.

The core continues to get a hole burnt right through it and you know you're getting close. A sigh of relief washes over you for the first time in a long time. You are going to be able to go home soon and be back in your normal life with the rest of the Guardians.

The speaker that rests beside Yondu buzzes. "Captain?" A voice says.

"What is it, Kraglin?"

"Hey, remember that Ayesha chick?"

"Yeah, why?"

You and Peter share a look. "Fuck," he mumbles.

"Uh..." Kraglin stutters just as the ship is blasted with countless shots from a Sovereign fleet led by the High Priestess.

"Oh, hell!" Yondu shouts. He and Peter steer the ship away from the core, tearing you away from your desire to head home. As the ship is hit again and again, Drax, Gamora, and Mantis hop out. Luckily, they land on the ground safely.

Peter discovers that no one is defending the ship as it dodges the attack. "Why aren't you firin’ the lasers?" He asks Rocket.

"They blew out the generator,” he explains. “I think I packed a small detonator."

"A detonator is worthless without explosives," Nebula hisses.

"Well, we got these," he says. Peter lifts you off of him and the two of you head below the flight deck to see Rocket holding up the Sovereign's batteries.

"Is that strong enough to kill Ego?" Peter questions.

"If it is, it'll cause a chain reaction throughout his entire nervous system," Rocket discloses.

"Meaning what?"

"The planet will explode," you answer, shocked.

"Yup." Rocket nods. "We'll have to get out of here fast. I rigged a timer."

The three of you line up at the edge of the hole in the ship. Groot hops on Rocket's back as he readies his aero-rig. Peter puts on his mask and activates his own aero-rig. He slaps one onto your back and turns it on, taking your hand in his with a nod.

"Go!" He hollers as you all fly around, avoiding shots from the small aircrafts. Peter directs you into a cave that leads to the core, everyone slamming onto the ground abruptly on impact.

You all stand up with some groans. Rocket turns on a flashlight to illuminate the rest of the cave. "The metal's too thick. For the bomb to work, we'd actually need to place it on Ego's core. And our fat butts ain't gonna fit through those tiny holes." He discloses.

"Well..." Peter yammers, turning down to look at Groot.

You follow his gaze. "I can think of someone who might fit."

Rocket looks back to see the two of you staring at a dumbfounded Groot. He furrows his eyebrows. "That's a terrible idea."

"Which is the only kind of idea we have left," Peter asserts truthfully.

"Unbelievable," Rocket huffs crawling into one of the holes with Groot and the bomb. "'Rocket do this. Rocket do that.'"

Peter takes his mask off and his eyes meet yours. He looks exhausted and you know you're both concerned for each other. "How you holdin’ up?" he asks.

You shrug. "I'm alright I guess. I just...I really want to go back home."

He strides over to you and his hands find themselves at your hips. "We'll be home soon, I promise," he assures you as your arms wrap around his neck. He wiggles his eyebrows with a smirk. "Now that we're alone I want to tell you that your ass on my lap earlier was pleasantly distracting-"

"Peter!" You chuckle with a bright grin on your face.

"But, while you were being super hot and totally distracting, I still somehow managed to fly a spacecraft. So, like, I'm kinda badass," Peter brags obviously, looking to you for validation. "I could be the next Han Solo or somethin'."

"Sure, Peter, you are totally Han Solo," you laugh, placing a quick kiss to his soft lips.

"You can be my Princess Leia."

"For sure," you agree. "And I could remind you all the time that I think you're the most badass man in the entire galaxy. I have no idea how you manage to do it all, Star-Lord."

Peter quietly moans at your words, but your moment alone is interpreted by approaching ships. He takes a step away from you and puts his mask back on. He prepares himself for the two of you to fly outside the cave and kick some Sovereign ass.

"What a day," he exhales, flipping his blasters around in his hands.

"Peter," you state, gaining his attention as you pull him closer to facing you. "I love you."

Those are three words Peter never thought he would hear from a woman in his life. At least, he never thought he would enjoy hearing them. Yet, after all this time has passed since the day he met you, it's the only thing he's been longing to hear. You couldn't keep the way you feel inside anymore, and Peter is so glad you made the unspoken thing so spoken. He grins wildly within his mask. Peter thinks of exactly the right words to say.

"I know."

With that, Peter leaps from the edge and fire profusely at any surrounding ships. Leave it to the man you love to pull a Han Solo right before a deadly battle. Laughing, you jump from the edge and fight alongside him. Your anger from the past few days bubbles to your surface and you feel stress wash away as you take it out by shooting your guns at the enemies.

After several minutes, you land back inside the cave, doubling over as you take a breath. Peter follows quickly behind. He takes off his mask and meets his green eyes with yours. The two of you are breathless.

"I love you too, Y/N," he finally says. "More than you'll ever know."

The both of you share a genuinely sweet smile. It had taken a long time to reach the point of properly communicating your feelings with one another, but you finally did it. You love him. He loves you. Even with the Sovereign attacking you and Ego trying to dominate everything, you feel a sense of peace within the galaxy knowing Peter Quill will always be by your side. You wouldn't have it any other way.

Suddenly, you hear Rocket scolding Groot in the distance and you retreat toward to the smaller caves, Peter following. "Rocket? How's it going?" You ask. "You better not being worrying him!"

The only response is more yelling from Rocket. Peter takes off his mask and glances down to where they are. "Hey, you're makin’ him nervous!"

"Shut up and give me some tape!" He responds. "Does anyone have any tape out there? I wanna put some tape over the death button."

"I don't have any tape. Y/N do you have any tape?"

You raise an eyebrow at him. "Do you think I have tape on me right now?"

"So...I'm gonna take that as a no."

You shake your head and laugh. "No, I don't have tape, Peter."

Peter puts his mask back on and flies out of the cave. "Lemme check! Yo, Yondu! Do you have a-" An explosion cuts him off. "Do you have any tape? Gamora! Do you have any tape? TAPE! Ah, never mind!" More explosions interrupt his quest for tape and you can't help but snicker to yourself quietly. Only Peter and Rocket would worry about this during a battle. "Drax! Do you have any tape? Yeah! Scotch tape would work! Then why would you ask me if Scotch tape would work, if you don't have any?" He reappears in defeat.

"Let me guess, no one has tape?"

"No, nobody has any tape."

"Not a single person has tape?" Rocket grunts.

"Nope!"

"Did you ask Nebula?"

Peter hesitates, thinking for a moment. "...Yes!"

"Are you sure?"

"I don't think I heard you ask Nebula," you mutter sarcastically to piss him off.

"I asked Yondu, and she was sitting right next to him!" Peter defends himself.

Rocket groans with an eye roll. "I knew you were lying!"

"You have priceless batteries and an atomic bomb in your bag!" Peter points out, shooting at a few more passing ships. "If anybody's gonna have tape, it's you!"

"That's exactly my point," Rocket spits. "I have to do everything!"

You sigh. "You guys are really wasting a lot of time here."

Peter puts his mask on and goes back to fighting off ships. Just as you're about to follow him, you see Groot snatch the bomb and head for the core. You silently wish that he will know the correct button to press when the time comes. You whip your head back around to focus on the battle, but Peter is nowhere in sight. Your eyes follow where all of the Sovereign crafts are and they're surrounding the ship, Peter laying down on the floor.

"Guardians," you hear Ayesha's voice ring out into space. "Perhaps it will provide you solace that your deaths are not without purpose. They will serve as a warning to all of those tempted with betraying us. Don't screw with the Sovereign."

Your eyes widen in terror as they all fire immensely at the ship, explosion after explosion occurring. The flames grow more and more and you know that the entire ship will blow. You fall to the ground, unable to find your breath all of a sudden. Everyone is so close, this can't be how it ends. Rocket made a stupid mistake and you're all being prevented from saving the entire galaxy from Ego just because of it. You crave Peter by your side, back in this cave or running around asking people for tape. You want him anywhere but where he is right now.

You look up to see them firing lasers, demolishing every single Sovereign ship. Your spirits lift, but only for a mere second. A flaming ship part launches right next to Peter on the ground. You're instantly panicking again and all of your worst fears come true. The ship creates a massive explosion with the glowing, orange flames you have seen too many of today. You just want everything to be over and to go home. You want to be back on the Milano with your best friends. You want to be sleeping in bed next to Peter on a lazy morning again. Is that too much to ask for? Is being with him too good to be true?

Tears fill your eyes and your lip quivers as you search the debris falling from the sky after the explosion. "Peter...Peter!" you scream. But there is no answer.

He didn't make it out.

A/N: I’m sorry this part was short and basically sucked cause it was literally just the plot of the movie. Also, y’all can’t be upset with this cliffhanger cause I assume you have all seen the movie.

Part Eight: Here

taglist: 

@ikbenplant @ggclarissa @octo-cow52 @peterfromtheavengers @londonalozzy @mymandrake @condy-wants-a-cookie @greenarrowhead @spn-is-baee @verkyun @seninjakitey @kiersten-xoxo @lookclosernow @theflash-trash @itskitties4life

[head-and-heart]

Cry With Me - Part 2

It’s been a century but I’m finally back again with part two of “cry-with-me-about-how-ridiculous-book!bellamy-is-and-THIS-is-why-we-can’t-just-”read-the-books”-and-solve-all-of-our-bellarke-angsty-heart-induced-problems-CAUSE-THEY-AIN’T-THE-FUCKING-SAME-JASON!!!” 

aNYway ...

If you don’t remember what the purpose of this post is: to put it short, I decided to go through all of The 100 books and pick out all of book!Bellamy’s best (worst) lines that truly show just HOW different he really is from show!Bellamy. At the very least, it cracked ME up when I was reading. So hopefully someone else will find it entertaining too.

You can read some gems from the first book here. This part will be about the second book, “Day 21″ (my personal favourite). 

Fair Warning: Potential Book Spoilers Lie Ahead

1. “I think the radiation must’ve finally scrambled your brain.”

2. “You really shouldn’t have done that.” Bellamy’s voice was low and menacing, and for a moment, Clarke thought she might’ve actually upset him. But then he grabbed the hem of his shirt and pulled it over his head in one swift motion. [i can’t believe him look how dramatic he is]

3. The moon was so large and bright that there was no mistaking the grin on Bellamy’s face as he reached down to undo the button is pants, tossing them aside like they weren’t the only pair he had on the planet. [*sings* it’s gettin hot iN hEre - so TaKe oFf aLL yOuR cLoTHeS]

4. 

[Clarke] shivered again, and Bellamy slowly unlocked his lips from hers. “You must be freezing,” he said, rubbing his hands up and down her back. She cocked her head to the side. “You’re wearing even less clothing than I am.” Bellamy ran his finger up her arm, then tugged playfully at her damp bra strap. “We can fix that, if it bothers you.”

5. “You should get some rest. I’ll keep an eye on Sleeping Beauty here, and let you know if there’s any change.” [can you imagine bellamy saying this about clarke in the show lmao]

6. 

Bellamy twisted her arm behind her back, just like he used to do to the boys in the care center he caught teasing Octavia. “You’d better tell me right now [where Octavia is], or you’ll wish you never crawled out of whatever cave you came from!” [...] He reached over and yanked on the girl’s hair, bringing her face up to his. “You tell me right now, or this is going to get really unpleasant, really fast.” [...] Bellamy didn’t care if the girl was radioactive, or if she had goddamn wings. All he cared about was finding out where she and her friends had taken his sister. [...] “We kill her,” Graham stated [...] “Not before she and I have a little conversation,” Bellamy growled. [don’t you just wish you could maintain your composure as well as book!Bellamy?]

7. 

Her friend giggled. “I bet that’s why she smells like the recycling deck.” “And you’re going to smell like a rotting corpse when they finally find  you,” Bellamy interrupted.

8. Did trying to choke that piece of space trash who’d been bullying his sister count as an Infraction? [iconic]

9. “That’s a pretty name.” The words slipped out before he realized how stupid they’d sound.

10. “My reputation precedes me. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. How could you not talk about someone this good-looking?” [i CAN’T]

11. 

“You only brought two [rabbits]?”, Lila asked, trying to exchange a disdainful look with her friend Tamsin, a reedy blond girl who struck Bellamy as a quieter, and somehow even stupider, version of Lila. [ROOD] [...] “Good counting, Lila,” Bellamy said slowly, as if praising an accomplished toddler. “You’ll make it all the way to ten soon.” [...] “You’re an asshole, Bellamy.” “Ever hear the saying ‘Don’t bite the and that feeds you’?” he shot back with a grin. “Or, why don’t I put it to you this way? There are two rabbits, as you so astutely pointed out, and there are way more than two of us.” [...] “Not everyone is going to get a bite. And you just made that decision a little easier for me. So, thank you.” He extended his hand as if offering it to Lila to shake. “I’m very grateful for your help.”  She smacked his hand away and sun on her heel, tugging on the uneven edges of her shorts as she strode away. Typical Wal-ditz, Bellamy thought, using the term Octavia had coined for the girls on Walden who purposefully acted like airheaded Phoenicians.

[I’M SCREAMING I CAN’T BELIEVE HOW SAVAGE HE IS]

12. 

A curly-haired girl approached him, trailed by two giggling friends. This trio had taken the cutoffs trend to the extreme, and were now tugging at the frayed edges of shorts that barely skimmed the tops of their thighs. “Hey,” the first girl said. “We need a tall person to help us fix the roof on the north cabin. It’s caving in already.” Bellamy barely glanced at her. “Build a ladder.”

13. “There’s the spot where I almost dropped you,” he said, pointing vaguely into the distance. “That’s where I stopped to make sure you weren’t choking on your own vomit. And, oh, look, that’s where you regained consciousness for a few seconds and told me that I had the biggest-” He cut himself off with a yelp as Clarke jabbed him in the stomach with her elbow. 

14. 

“Jazzed? What does that mean? Like you’re so happy, you’d be willing to listen to jazz music.” [Clarke speaking] “Willing to listen to jazz music? You must mean ‘happy because you get to listen to jazz music.’ So happy that your heart starts beating a jazz riff.” [Bellamy speaking] [...] “So what does a jazz riff sound like?” “It’s more about what it feels like,” Bellamy said, reaching for Clarke’s hand. He began tapping a rhythm up and down her arm. She shivered as his fingers danced on the inside of her elbow. “So jazz feels like some weirdo tickling your arm?” “Not your arm. Your whole body. You feel it in her your throat . . .” He brought his fingers to her neck and tapped along her collarbone. “In your feet . . .” He knelt down and tapped along the side of her boot, and Clarke laughed. “In your chest . . .” He stood up, bringing his hand to rest lightly on the top of her heart, and was very still. [show!Bellamy I-can’t-flirt-for-shit Blake is shooketh]

15. He’d kissed girls before, and it had never done anything except scramble their brains, turning them into a walking mass of giggles who always wanted to hold his hand. [BUT BELLAMY YOU LOVE HOLDING HANDS *betrayal*]

16. “Don’t you dare tell me what I understand,” Bellamy cut her off. “I never want to see you again. Maybe you can offer yourself up to the Earthborns. Wouldn’t that be fun? A whole new population of children to experiment on.” He spun around and strode off, leaving Clarke alone and trembling in the woods. [BELLAMY HOW DARE YOU SPEAK TO YOUR WIFE LIKE THAT]

17. Now he was leaving for good. He’d dealt with Wells’s mind games and Clarke’s treachery for the last time. As he stuffed a few protein packets into his pocket, a new wave of anger rose in his chest at the thought of everything he’d given up to bring Clarke safely back to camp. [...] He should’ve left Clarke in the woods, letting her limbs swell and her airway close up so that she’d never be able to utter another lie again. [DAFUQ?? this is like Day Trip except written by Satan]

18. 

Was that Clarke really in there? The Clarke who could look so gravely serious one moment and then burst into laughter the next? The girl who found everything on Earth miraculous, and kissed him as if he were the most incredible find of all? “You look creepy standing there. Either come down or get going,” he said gruffly. [way to woo a girl, Bellamy]

19. “If he knows what’s good for him, he’ll go find a blond. Redheads are nothing bu trouble.” Bellamy grinned and reached for the book. “Give it to me. That thing is half your weight . . .  Carrots.”

20.  “Are you okay?” Clarke asked. “It’s just Jim Dandy.” Clarke reached over and squeezed his hand. “Aren’t you excited? You’re finally going to meet people who understand your weird, old-man Earth slang.” [TBH this isn’t that notable but I just thought it was funny since the fandom always jokes about how Bellamy’s just a soft old-man-teddy-bear]

21.  “Half-brothers,” Clarke said for what was probably the twenty-ninth time that night.. She reached out and ran a finger along Bellamy’s cheek, as if she might find some sign she’d overlooked that he and Wells were related. Bellamy smiled as he gently removed her hand, then brought it to his lips to kiss it “I know it’s hard to believe. I’m just so much better looking.” [listen to this cocky asshole]

22.  “Look at that,” Bellamy whispered in her ear. “What?” He took her hand, gently extending one of her fingers, and pointed it toward a pinpoint of light moving quickly across the sky. “Did you ever make wishes on meteors on Phoenix?” [again, this quote isn’t so much about Bellamy himself as a character in the book but it just struck me because it’s basically the reverse of “can you wish on this kind of shooting star” in 1x05 so I thought it was interesting to point out]

That concludes all of the main Bellamy parts of book two! He still has some pretty ridiculous (and SAVAGE, holy crap) moments but to be honest this is probably my favourite of the four books in the series (just in general). Hopefully you found this post entertaining - stay tuned for book three: “Homecoming”. 

[evangelineartemiasamos]

Red Queen Fan Fiction - Remember That You’re Mine

More Fade smut, as requested ;-) Inspired by @gisabarrow http://gisabarrow.tumblr.com/post/160954097797/i-feel-like-shade-would-be-the-type-of-boyfriend

Warning 1: Smut

Warning 2: Imagine Shade is still alive AU. Don’t be shocked when you realize this will never be canon.

Time: December 320 (fyi: Shade teleported 50 cm to the left during the prison break and Mare was never captured.)

Find this on wattpad

Enjoy!~

It was a glorious feeling to wake up without feeling sick for the first time in weeks. Stranger it was to see the simple white walls of the Tuck barrack. It took Farley longer than she would've assumed to get used to it again after the two months she'd lived with Shade, Mare, Kilorn, Cal and their Newblood recruits at the Notch. Its caves were, compared to austere Tuck, dimly lit, rarely tidy and as crooked as the mountains around them. But it had been cozy there, a kind of home. For her, Shade was the reason for this, he and the love and the passion they'd found with each other. She tried to remember all of those trysts, most of all the earliest ones before the Notch - those which led to their current situation.

This morning, Shade had not slept beside her. He'd returned from a task late yesterday, hugged her and dashed off again. She had been too tired to wonder about it.

The explanation for his absence was written on his back, for everyone to see as he arrived to the debriefing Farley was holding with Ada, Kilorn and Mare. They had been on the same mission as him. Before the good mornings were out, before she could berate him for coming late, Shade walked up to her, took her pen and started to write on the whiteboard behind her.

No one looked at what he was writing on the board. All eyes were focused on what was written on the back of his T-shirt.

This ass belongs to Diana Farley.

Apparently, he had done this himself, painted the white shirt with red and black slashes, slanted but legible.

A white noise ringed in Farley's ears, muting the sounds around her, and the only thought she could make was, well, it's a very nice ass. And nice shoulders, and a pretty back in general, and - stop it!

She didn't want to know how much she was blushing. She glared at the others giggling at the sight, Ada sipping form her cup, Mare amused but even more surprised than Farley, and Kilorn looking like he won some bet. He was probably in on the joke.

Well, she would shut them up soon enough. At first, she'd ignore the stupid thing. She turned to Shade again. "Barrow, what is it you're writing?" she barked. "Can you explain ... ," she stopped as Shade winked at her while writing, “The confession of Shade Barrow - Captain Farley and I ...,”  on the board. "I hope you like it," he whispered. "Just for you."

"How about you take it off right now?!" she hissed in reply.

He pulled back for the board and laid a hand on his chest. "This early in the morning, Captain? But why not," he inclined his head, "as you wish." And then he made a show of removing the shirt, slowly, while she stood frozen in front of him and Mare started to gasp and Ada seemed to choke on her tea.

Kilorn was about to speak up when Farley exclaimed, "Enough!" She grabbed Shade's wrist, took hold of the shirt in his other hand and began to drag him along.

"Dee, what is it...?" He never used the nickname in public, he was truly flabbergasted

"You come with me now," she answered, "and tell me exactly what you've done yesterday as you seem have made many experiences."

Chairs moved when they reached the door. "Didn't we have a plan for today, Farley? To do something?" Ada asked.

"Oh yes, we all have" she said." You know the schedule the best, Wallace, until later."

She pulled him outside of the building before she let go of his hand. She knotted his shirt in a belthole as Shade crossed his arms over his chest. "Dee, what? It's bleeding cold out here."

She stemmed her hands on her hips. "Too late! You should've thought about the weather before you did a striptease."

He made a noise between chuckling and shivering. "The captain is chastising me," said he. "So cruel," he added and came closer, "and mean," he finished as his hands found her waist. She hugged him back without further prompting.

"I'm not cruel," Farley insisted. "If you want warmth, you only have to come closer to me.”

Her lips nuzzled his chinline. She felt his breath against her throat as she embraced him even tighter, her hands travelling over his bare back. She sensed the warmth beneath his skin, cold from the winter air and coated with goosebumps. She had the impression the cold wasn't the only cause of them, not with the way he buried his face between her neck and her shoulder, while kissing her collarbones. They took a few steps backwards until Farley fell against a wall. Pressed between Shade and the stones, her desire only grew. She longed to wrap her legs around his slender hips, despite knowing there wasn't enough leverage for that. Instead she proved what Shade's shirt had proclaimed: Her hands slided into his pants and she grabbed his butt until he groaned.

"Bed?" she asked, her voice panting.

"Bed," he agreed, sounding as aroused as she.

She heaved herself from the wall and was about to pull him along. "Come," she said, but he merely grinned with a gleam in his eyes.

"We don't have to walk, you know," he proposed and winked. "It's freezing out here."

She snorted and batted his chest. "Shade Barrow! You have no idea how wonderful it was to wake up today without feeling sick for once?" He gasped. "Since my current  ailments are your fault, I strongly advise you not to ruin my mood."

"It's not exactly -"

"Shh," she interrupted him and kissed him quiet, their hands intertwining.

"Seems like I've warmed you up, just as promised," she panted, sitting astride him on her bed. The waves of her climax still pulsed through her as she leaned down on Shade's chest, his heart beating beneath her palm as he came to a finish himself. The grin on his face was delightfully stupid and she had to assume she looked the same. She eased herself off him and pulled him into an embrace as if to taste the air he was breathing in.

His fingers played with the curls of her hair falling into her face. He was close to making her ticklish.

"Can't believe the trick with the silly T-shirt actually worked," she said after a while.

He shrugged. "You didn't make it too difficult for me either," he replied. "They're probably true, these rumours about horny pregnant women."

She batted him again, speechless and almost offended, were it not for the adorably mischievous smirk on his face. "How dare you!" she hissed finally.

He giggled and continued to play with her hair. "Am I wrong? Oh, it must be true, given how much you blush right now."

She grabbed the blanket and pulled it over her face. "Oh stop it," she gave in, her voice muffled by the fabric covering her. "Okay, I confess, I can't keep my hands off you, are you satisfied now?"

She heard another giggle. "I thought I already was, but I'm not so sure anymore. Hey," he said with amusement, his hand shoving the blanket away from her head. The warm and smiling face of Shade Barrow was just inches above her and in that moment, she forgot about everything else.

He crawled under the blanket with her and she let him roam his hands over her naked skin. Another emotion flashed over his features.

"Maybe we should tell the others by now?" he asked and insecurity lingered in his voice, as always when he talked about their unborn child. He was less skilled than her at hiding how scared they both were deep down. Yet his jesting tone returned in an instant. "I mean, you are already putting on weight."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Her voice was indignant. "Where should I -"

"Oh, I think you do know." He moved away and kissed her breasts. "Everywhere. And I love it."

She tsked. "You're just like every boy," she teased him but began to caress his hair and the base of his head. "And I have told people."

"Yeah, Command, because you had to. Meanwhile your- I mean the colonel, walks around frowning and glaring as intense as you, with a huge question mark in his face."

She cackled. "It's hilarious to see him like that. But I think most people guess it anyways."

Shade looked up, leaning on his elbows positioned left and right to her waist. "Yes, some do. And then they ask me about it."

"You?" Her surprise wasn't an act. "What do you reply?"

He shrugged. " 'The captain has her own priorities.' "

"Good answer." She laughed.

He didnt fall in with her amusement. "Seriously, Dee, we have to be open about ... " his index finger moved down, tapping from her breastbone to her navel, "..our ...," - tap - "..little..." - tap - he thought for a moment - "...cherry."

"Cherry?!"

He sighed. "Dee, I want to tell my parents. They can help us."

"Sure."

"Right -"

"But I'd like to see your sister clueless for a few more days," she added.

Shade rolled over and sat up. "It's not funny to see her ignorant about us, she has other things on her mind, and I," he lowered his gaze, "I've hardly paid attention to her."

Farley was well aware that Mare wasn't okay but that didn't mean she knew how to help her, not without giving away too much of herself. "Of course," she agreed quietly and drew her legs to her chest. She was selfish to keep Shade to herself and she was her own woman after all; she didn't need to cling to him, but - but.

It was way too late to imagine her life without him.

From the corner of her eyes, she noticed Shade's damn T-shirt on the floor in the heap of their clothes. She fell forward, stretched herself, and picked the T-shirt up. She grinned. It was time for distraction. "You know how this will become even more accurate?" she asked rhetorically before she pulled it over her head.

Shade chuckled. "It doesn't become you, it's way too sma-"

"Way too what, Shade?" She gave him her infamous glare.

"Too ... made for men, I wanted to say." He struggled with the words as she loomed above him, kneeling on the bed. "Not tailored for your pretty curves ... "

It seemed like he had the ability to blush even redder than her after all, Farley assessed as she rose from the mattress, standing in front of him on in nothing but the self-painted T-shirt that was truly too tight and too loose in all the wrong places. More too tight than too loose, though. She smirked and turned around, so Shade's scrawl of This ass belongs to Diana Farley pointed right to her own ass. She bend forward, as if to pick something up. Behind her, she heard Shade groan a curse. "Damn, Dee. You really don't intend for us to get out of this bed again today, do you?"

She rejoiced at the sound of her own ingenuous laugh. "Should we? I'm ready for a day off duty."

Title from Blue Jeans by Lana Del Rey:

Blue jeans, white shirt Walked into the room you know you made my eyes burn

Yeah, that one was just too long.

I wrote two of these enumerations (?), and I don’t how to write those correctly. I hope they’re transported well enough.

@queenmareena @lilyharvord @maudthebookeater @clarafarleybarrow @universegamer @didmavenkillyou--metoo @redqueenfandom @red-queen-em-for-a-dream @myeyesonthehorizon @queeniriscygnet @tiberiaschooseme @mikey-waysjawline

[botanistlester]

The Summer Epilogue Part Two (33/33)

The Summer (33/33) | Dan Howell has spent the last three summers at Camp Bergamot, but it’s never been quite like this before. This year, he faces a summer full of new friends, a new relationship, and an entirely new view on his own sexuality. Perhaps Camp Bergamot should be renamed camp self discovery for all the changes Dan has gone through, but one thing’s for sure - despite all the hiccups and the drama, he just might have found the love of his life. | Phan | Mature | Smut, Misunderstandings, Insecurity, Panic Attacks, Bullying, Minor Violence, Physical Fight | 400,000+ Words

Disclaimer: In no way do I claim that this is real or cast aspersions on Dan or Phil.

This Part: 28,772 Words

For reference, @botanistlester is Dan, @snowbunnylester is Phil.

(Previous) (AO3) (Masterlist)

Warnings: schmoop, romantic baths, proposal, multiple orgasm, humour, edible body paint, penetrative sex

A/N: Wow, I can't believe this story is over! It's been literally such a wild ride and I'm so overcome with emotions now that we've officially posted all of this story for the world to see. Thank you SO MUCH to everyone who's been here with us since the start, and thank you to everyone who we've picked up along the way. Your support means the world to us. We love you all and will hopefully see you again soon with another RP <3

Chapter Thirty-Three: Epilogue Part Two

"Okay," Dan said, trying to keep his eyes open so he didn't fall asleep. Phil hummed in question as Dan tried to separate their sweaty limbs. He ended up giving up after a moment and just groaned, falling back into the bed. "Why did we think having a round two was a good idea when we are literally the least athletic people in the world?" Dan muttered, and smiled when it made Phil laugh at him. This time when he got up, his thighs were shaking and it felt like his legs were going to give out, but he stood his ground, staring down at a naked Phil buried underneath the blankets. "Get up before I drag you into round three. I don't think our bodies are quite ready for that, do you?" He shuffled around the room until he found his (slightly wrinkled clothes) and slid on his boxers, tossing Phil his own. "I swear to god Phil, if you don't get up right now..." Dan threatened, eyeing Phil up and down.

Phil did not want to get up right now. Why was Dan making him get up again? At this rate, he'd take the round three over getting out of this bed, where he was all warm and the sheets were cocooning his sore, shaking limbs. His heart rate had gone back up again, and he felt fucking amazing, but he didn't think he was ever going to want to go for a round two again. He'd just missed Dan so much, and Dan had made him feel so safe with him, able to discuss things like a breathplay kink of all things, that Phil had just... not been able to help himself. It didn't help that Dan was incredibly sexy. Groaning, Phil managed to get himself to sit up, and glared at the pair of boxers Dan had tossed his way. "Why do we have to get up again?" he asked, "And you can't tell me you didn't enjoy the hel/ out of round two," he added, managing to make himself stand and wincing as his bum started to ache. His legs were jelly, that wasn't helping, and he was far more sore than he probably should have been, but, well, they had had really rough sex the first time round, with a nice, calm, grinding session the second time.

Dan glared at his boyfriend, but there was no venom behind his gaze. In all honesty, Phil was endearing as hell and Dan was completely and utterly whipped. He wanted to just crawl inside of bed and hold Phil forever, just as Phil seemed to want as well. "While round two was fucking fantastic, I think we're forgetting an important thing." Phil stared at him dumbly and Dan shook his head, rolling his eyes and smiling. "It's our anniversary, you spoon." Still, Phil said nothing, and Dan threw a clean pair of jeans at Phil's face. "I'm taking you out to dinner. So get up! Rise and shine, motherfucker!"

Phil's jaw dropped. Had Dan just said that? Instantly, before he could control himself, Phil was laughing, throwing his head back with it, having failed to capture the jeans Dan had thrown at him until they were falling to the floor in a heap at his feet. Phil hadn't forgotten about the fact that it was their anniversary, but he hadn't really considered the fact that they would probably be going on a date for Dan's plans. He didn't know what was more funny - what Dan had said, or the fact that Phil had pretty much ruined and rumbled Dan's dinner clothes. "What are you going to even wear to this dinner you're taking me to? I've ruined all your clothes,” Phil said, eyeing Dan’s crumpled and soiled shirt in particular. “And where did you get any money for a dinner, anyway? It better not be fancy, Dan, whatever money you have should go to school," Phil complained, but there was affection in his voice, and all he really wanted was to tug Dan in and kiss him again for even thinking of a romantic evening. Phil's gaze flicked to the floor, then, and as he went to collect his pants, something small and black caught his attention. Heart leaping into his throat, Phil looked up to find Dan was yanking a shirt from Phil’s closet over his head, and kicked the box he'd just seen until it slipped under the bed, desperate that Dan not find out about the ring until Phil was ready for him too.

Like a light had switched on in Phil's head, he started laughing. Rather hysterically. Dan tried to glare at him, unimpressed, but he ended up giggling along as well. He busied himself by riffling through Phil’s closet for a dress shirt to pull on. "I'm just gonna wear some of your clothes, obviously, considering there is an actual cum stain on my nice shirt." He gave the offending object on Phil’s floor an affronted glare before turning his attention back to Phil, who suddenly seemed more flushed than he was before. He decided not to question it. They had just had two rounds of sex, after all. Dan was pretty flushed as well. "It's not too fancy, don't worry. We're just going to get some food and eat some dessert. Just like old times." Dan's voice had gone soft at the end, thinking about their very first date and how it'd been so, so long ago.

Now that the ring box was properly hidden, Phil turned back to Dan, yanking on the jeans he'd picked up as well, and smiling a little at the way Dan complained about the cum stain on his nice shirt. Some part of Phil was kind of happy for it, to have this little mark on Dan even if he wasn’t going to wear the shirt, just like the bite marks at Phil's throat that marked Phil as Dan's. It was the memory of old times, of the dates they used to go on in High School, their very first public date out at that coffee shop before the movies that really made him melt, though, and he felt his heart stutter in his chest. Phil was so, so tempted in that moment to crawl under his bed, retrieve the ring, and just propose right then and there - but he didn't. He wanted to wait until the right moment, the perfect moment, and that was hopefully tomorrow during the picnic he'd intended to prepare. "Alright, cool. I can't wait," Phil admitted, abandoning his search for a nice shirt to push in close to Dan so he could kiss him, cupping his cheeks softly in his own and sighing against Dan's mouth.

Dan tugged on his jeans, grumbling more about how he looked all raggedy, but he didn't actually care if he was being honest. It was worth it, and he didn't care about his own appearance as long as he was with Phil. As soon as his trousers were buttoned, Phil was crossing the room and giving him a sweet kiss, cupping his cheeks. Dan smiled and reciprocated, loving the feeling of Phil against him. He was the luckiest guy in the entire world. "Are you ready?" Dan asked when they pulled away, but Phil looked so kissable and smaller than Dan was used to, so he ended up kissing him once more, sighing. "Can't stop kissing you," Dan murmured, pecking Phil multiple times on the lips. "Let's leave before I start making out with you again, otherwise I don't think I can stop."

It wasn't fair. Dan had gotten far too tall, and he was using that to his advantage with all of the little kisses and the hovering over Phil and the staring with the softest look imaginable, Phil being forced to look up at Dan not for the first time, but the first time to this degree. Phil pouted, but his heart was still fluttering away happily,and all he could think in that moment was that he wanted to marry this man. He wanted to marry Dan, and he didn't care if they couldn't' actually get married until after school, didn't care that if they did get married anyway, they'd still have to be a part until they got their degrees or whatever, he was just ready to be engaged, to know that Dan would say yes, and that Dan would forever be his. Phil was one of the lucky ones, having found his one so early on in life, his first love. Dan was everything to him. He pushed up on his heels, and kissed Dan again. "Wouldn't be such a bad thing, in my opinion," he murmured, but sighed, knowing Dan really wanted to take Phil for this date, and made himself pull away. "Okay. Come on. Take me wherever - I'd follow you to the ends of the Earth.”

"You make a convincing argument," Dan murmured between kisses. He grinned, his dimple making a cave in his cheek as Phil said something so incredibly cheesy that Dan could feel the butterflies eating away at his stomach. He kissed Phil once more before backing away and taking his hand. "Ready then?" he asked softly. At Phil's okay, he started to lead them out of the house. The restaurant was a short distance away so Dan decided to just walk there and bask in the pretty summer scenery, holding hands and just enjoying each other. Dan had decided on a little Italian place that had the best Fettuccini Alfredo Dan has ever tasted. They'd gone here a few times and loved it, so Dan decided to take Phil here again. He planned to buy them a nice bottle of wine as well, just for the celebration.

They made their way out of Phil's house at a leisurely pace, something comforting after the day they'd both had already - what with the angst of Dan lying, and then the copious make up sex. It as nice now to just meander down the stairs, lock up the house, and then meander down the street as well. The walk was familiar to Phil, and he knew before they arrived at the italian restaurant where they were going. Phil found himself chuckling to himself, nudging at Dan lightly with his hip and sending him a happy smile, but otherwise not speaking. They were both rather quiet, actually, just basking in each other's company, knowing they could play catch up at dinner when they got there. For now, Phil just enjoyed their time together, staring up at the sky, and basking in the fact that he could hold onto Dan again. Being home was nothing without Dan. Phil always missed him so much.

It was perfect. Phil's hand was entwined in Dan's and they were swinging them between them happily. They weren't talking, but that didn't matter. They were just enjoying their time together, loving how they could be comfortable enough to walk in complete silence. Eventually, they reached the restaurant, and the hostess took them to a booth where Dan and Phil slid into the same seat together. They always sat in the same seat together, thighs pressed together and their hands still entwined. "I've missed this with you," Dan murmured, looking over the menu and giving Phil a sweet smile. "I can't wait for the day I can finally be with you every single day."

After their first fateful date, sat next to each other at a cheap but cute little burger joint, Dan and Phil had chosen to sit next to each other from then on, finding it far more comfortable and enjoyable to be pressed up together next to each other on the same seat. No one seemed to notice or care, and it left Dan and Phil able to hold hands while they ate, with Phil always sitting on the outside so their non dominant hands would be free to hold between each other. "I missed it too," Phil agreed instantly upon being seated, Dan taking his hand in his again, their menu's dropped off in front of them. Neither boy needed the menu tonight - which was why Phil was surprised when Dan picked his up. "Thinking about changing up your usual order?" he asked, surprised.

"I may change a couple of things," Dan mused, giving Phil an amused glance. He understood why Phil was so taken off guard; they always got the same thing to eat, so Dan didn't really need to look at the menu, never really did anymore. He was mostly looking at it now so he could check out the wine. He had a general sense of what sort of wine Phil liked, the sweet ones that tasted more like grape juice than alcohol, and Dan was glad because he was the same. What came along with growing up together seemed to be their sense of tastes and likes as well. They were practically the same person now. Except Dan was a drama queen and Phil was rather insecure. "I like to weigh my choices," Dan told him, but when the waitress came back and asked for their drink orders, Dan bought them the sweetest kind of red wine, making Phil complain. "Hush, let me do this for you," Dan whined, making pouty eyes at Phil.

Phil should have known when Dan started behaving strangely that he was up to something, and yet he didn't see it until it was too late and Dan was ordering them a nice red wine. Phil whined as soon as the waitress was out of earshot, not getting even the chance to say a word before Dan was shushing him and staring at him with puppy dog eyes. "Dan," Phil admonished, even as he tried to prevent himself from smiling. "Wine is expensive. I appreciate the sentiment, but, like, you need that money for school. Please don't waste too much on me," he insisted, even as he remembered the rather expensive ring he'd bought back home. That was different, though. Phil had been saving for that specifically, had - mostly - kept himself from dipping into his university money. Phil had a terrible idea that Dan had not been able to do the same. He was on a scholarship; he didn't need a job, and his parents gave him money for the semester. Phil didn't want to take that money from his boyfriend.

Dan batted Phil away with the hand that was free. He knew he didn't need to do this, but he wanted to and Phil was important. Today was important. He wanted to celebrate, and what better way to do so than to celebrate with a glass of wine? "Hush. I know it's not necessary but let me do this for you. I want to celebrate us." Dan grinned at Phil and kissed him on the cheek, loving how the gesture made Phil smile. "Look- it's not even the most expensive wine. I think I can spare a few extra quid if it's spent on you." Dan didn't dare tell him about the locket necklace sitting in his pocket either. Phil would probably have a fit that he'd spent money on that as well. And not to mention the other surprise he'd spent a few dollars on, but that one could wait until later.

The sensation of Dan kissing him on he cheek would always make Phil smile regardless of how upset he was. It made him warm to the core, made him feel loved, and he found himself sighing and giving in before he could stop himself. With small pout, Phil crossed his arms over his chest but nodded his head. "Okay, fine," he agreed. "But please promise me you won't overspend on me today, or this week we have together," Phil insisted, "and promise me you aren't breaking the bank to do this," he added for good measure.

Dan laughed, shaking his head fondly. Of course Phil would want him to keep from spending his money. He always seemed to have an issue with Dan spending money, but then he would turn around and spend a lot on Dan. Hypocrite. "Okay, mum," Dan teased, flicking Phil on the nose. "I promise I won't go too overboard, and it's not eating at my bank account at all. Let me spoil you today." It was then that the waitress came back with the two glasses of wine, and Dan watched with a smile as she placed them down in front of Dan and Phil. Dan took his glass and held it up to Phil, raising his eyebrows and smiling easily. "Here's a toast to two years," Dan murmured. "I'm sure there'll be many more years as well."

Phil couldn't exactly argue with something like that. Phil spent more than half of his own time spoiling Dan; it was only fair that he allowed Dan to spoil him as well from time to time. Giving in with a sigh, Phil nodded his head and offered Dan a small smile, reaching down to take Dan's hand. Not long after, the waitress returned with glasses of wine for the two of them. She offered them a smile before she too was gone, and then Dan was picking up his glass and offering it up to Phil's, like he wanted to toast. Phil picked his up as well, feeling something warm and giddy fill him at Dan's words. "To two years," Phil agreed softly, his eyes melting at the way Dan promised they'd have more time yet to come. Their glasses clinked, and Phil raised his own to his lips for a sip, eyes never leaving Dan's.

Two years. The realization that they had been dating for two years was pooling with excitement and warmth in Dan's chest. He couldn't believe it. After they'd been through so much, they’d made it. They’d made it through jealous ex girlfriends, separate high schools that moved to even further universities, and people telling them over and over again that they couldn't do it. Dan wanted to shove it in their faces, tell them all to look at them now. Two years. Dan couldn't have gotten luckier. He sipped at the wine, humming pleasantly. "So," Dan started, kicking Phil's foot lightly under the table. "What have you been up to lately? Tell me about what you do whenever I'm not around."

"Hmm?" Phil asked, lowering his glass and swallowing his mouthful of wine carefully. "I tell you like, everyday," Phil laughed, shaking his head a bit. "Well, I mean, when we talk on Skype...although I guess we have a bad habit of getting distracted." At that, both boys giggled, and Phil found himself smiling fondly up at Dan. He hadn't known a person like Dan could exist let alone want to be with him, so to have all that he did have with Dan was the most wonderful sensation in the world. Phil just wanted to cling onto it forever, wanted to marry this man, and soon enough, hopefully he would. He sighed, and lowered his gaze so Dan wouldn't' see the sheer emotion shining there. "Uhm, well, since school ended I've been pretty bored. Summer just isn't the same without you," Phil teased, thinking about how last year they'd gone back to summer camp one more time with their friends, and how they'd spent the weeks not at camp with each other, curled up in either of their bed's. "But it's been good. Mariah and Caleb visited, and so did Kim, but it's not the same without you either. School's good though. I've been doing some student teaching with one of my professors. That's actually the best thing," Phil said, proceeding to gush about teaching astronomy and how amazing it was to talk about all the things that interested him. He'd even taught a lab last semester, showing the kids later at night how to see certain constellations even in the summer with the telescope the school had. They'd gone on a field trip later on, as well, that Phil had joined in on. "The last semester has probably been the best of my life, aside from all the time I get to spend with you."

Dan grinned as Phil started talking about his summer, his school year, and all of the positives that came with it. If he was being honest, he could probably listen to Phil talk about school all day. The way that Phil's eyes lit up and sparkled in the dim lighting of the restaurant was intoxicating, and his cheeks would get a little rosy, and he would start to gesture with his hands. It was obvious that his studies were something that Phil loved a lot, probably only second to loving Dan, and he definitely showed it whenever he talked about it. Dan nudged Phil's shoulder with his own, smiling as he mentioned spending time with Dan being the best thing in his life. "You cheese ball," Dan murmured fondly. "It sounds like you've been having a good time. I'm so happy you like your studies. You've got to be the best teacher, in my opinion. I can see it now, how you probably go on little rambles about the stars and the stories behind them, and what constellations there are." Dan squeezed Phil's hand lightly and gave him a cheeky wink. "You're probably the hottest teacher around, as well. I'm a lucky man."

Phil's cheeks went instantly rosy, and he found himself staring wide eyed at Dan as he teased him. It wasn't all that much of a surprise; Dan flirted with Phil every chance he got, despite them being together already. It was just the idea of being a teacher, and having Dan crushing on him that kind of got to him - made him feel kind of awkward and like that was bad, but also kind of happy in a strange way. Phil had always been seen as the strange person, that would never change, and being a teacher wasn't exactly an "attractive" profession to most people, so to have Dan imply that he would still be attracted to Phil, even dressed up as a teacher... it was just. It was good. It made him happy, something fluttery happening to his stomach as he leaned in closer to Dan and pressed his lips solidly to Dan's. "Happy anniversary," he said again, grinning as he pulled away, fingers latched onto Dan's hip, and when did that happen? "You're the actual best thing that has ever happened to me."

Phil didn't answer in so many words, but he did surge forward and pressed his lips to Dan's in a way that made Dan melt. They kissed for a few seconds, lips soft and not demanding in the slightest, a complete contrast to just an hour ago. Dan grinned immediately when Phil pulled away, happiness bubbling in his chest. "Happy anniversary, babe. Thanks for being you and loving me and supporting me through all of my decisions." He kissed Phil on the cheek, loving the way the skin heated up under his touch. "Best boyfriend award goes to you."

Phil blushed and shook his head instantly, because Dan was the best boyfriend. Phil might be supportive, but Dan was like, the best person in the world, in Phil's opinion. He couldn't even quite explain that, really, but he did know that he loved Dan with all of his heart, and he didn't know what he would do without him. Reaching over, Phil squeezed Dan's hand with his. "No, that's you," he insisted. Before either boy could reply, the waitress returned to take their orders, and once they'd placed their usuals, they got to talking again. It was nice, just having this time with Dan, no rush or worry that they only had so little time left together and they needed to take advantage of it, do as much as possible in as little time as possible. It was nice because they never had this anymore, and all Phil really wanted was to spend all the time in the world with Dan - or all of his free time, at least. He already did that as best as he could, but it was different when the person was solidly in front of you. The two played footsie, teased each other, fed each other bites of their food once it had arrived, and giggled over their silly stories, until Phil finally stopped Dan to ask him "So what have you been up too, Mr. Scholarship? We talk about your art all the time, but how are you really? How is school really?"

It was like they were on their first date again. They were giggling messes, playing footsies under the table, making intense eye contact and blushing bright red. Dan's stomach was filled with butterflies and his cheeks hurt from smiling so much. He appreciated this time more than anything. The downside to going to school year-round was that he didn't get to see Phil nearly as much as he wanted to. Not even during the summer. He just got to see him on the off chance that they both were completely free, which was a rarity with Dan's school load. This was nice though, having their food arrived and being too distracted by each other to eat it much as they continued to joke and tease and love each other. Dan hummed at Phil's question, lips quirking upwards at the mention of his scholarship. When he'd applied to the school and sent in his portfolio, the university apparently thought he was good enough that they offered him a full ride scholarship. In other words, Dan didn't have to pay a dime. Of course, that meant he couldn't really have a life, but it was going to be worth it in the end. "I love it, honestly," Dan said, knowing that Phil already knew this. Maybe Phil just liked to hear him talk about his artwork, just like Dan liked to hear Phil talk about astronomy. "It gets really hard though, and I don't have much free time. I'm taking a glass blowing class, though, which is super interesting. I had to make a weird 3D sculpture using bits of glass that I glued on a little log to make it look like leaves. It was strange, but somehow aesthetically pleasing." That was one of Dan's hardest projects, in all honesty. His professor had told him not to superglue the glass to his project but he'd procrastinated so badly that he did it anyways, and on the way to class, his sculpture ended up falling apart. Dan cried so hard that his professor gave him two extra days to redo it. "I've also been messing around with a project series about skeletons in my drawings class. It features a skeleton named Billy Bones who likes to wear turtle neck jumpers and smokes cigarettes. It's really strange but I think it's one of my favorite projects I've ever done."

Phil remembered vaguely hearing about the glass blowing class this summer, but Dan hadn't gone into much detail about what had happened after he'd burst into tears for a half hour on skype, something he'd insisted on being comforted through with some dirty talk and his own hand, and then he’d disappeared for two days to finish a project he'd apparently failed. Hearing the details now made Phil smile indulgently, knowing Dan and his procrastination habits, but proud of him nonetheless. Phil would have to force Dan to let him keep all of his art projects when he eventually moved home, so that Phil could hold onto those bits of Dan he'd missed out on when he was at school. They still had a long way to go, but Dan would be done with school one day, and they'd live together, and hopefully... hopefully Dan would agree to marry him in the interminum. "That sounds amazing!" Phil said, laughing at the idea of Billy Bones in his jumpers and smoking a cigarette. "Let me guess; did you design him after Sans?" Phil teased.

"I may or may not have designed him after Sans," Dan admitted, letting out a little giggle. Undertale had been Dan's favourite past time whenever he actually had some free time during uni. On those rare nights, Dan and Phil would get on skype together and play Undertale together until the early hours of the morning when Dan was literally falling asleep on his keyboard. It was nice, relaxing, and Dan was thankful he could have something that simple and relaxing to look forward to after a hard day of studying. "Wanna know something funny about my glass class?" Dan asked, grinning as Phil nodded eagerly. "We call the furnace we put the glass into to heat it up the 'glory hole'."

Phil had just been about to take a sip of the wine Dan had gotten them, the glass near to half by now, when Dan asked him if he wanted to hear something funny. Unthinkingly, Phil nodded, and took a sip, only to promptly choke on the wine at Dan's comment. No way, no way did they call it that!? Thumping himself on the chest, Phil managed to choke down the wine, and slammed his glass down, only to turn and look up at Dan with huge wide eyes, lips pulling into a smile as a laugh built up in him. "They call it a what!?" he asked, already starting to chuckle, the sound loud and gruff from Phil's coughing fit seconds ago. "There's no way," he gasped through the laughter. "The kids call it that, but not the teacher, right? That's not like - that's not like, the name for it, is it?"

Dan snickered as Phil started to choke on his wine, thumping himself on the chest and practically looking like one of those characters from a television show. It was cute, how his face went completely red and his voice went all gruff as he asked Dan to repeat himself. "A glory hole!" Dan said excitedly. If he was a dog, Dan would probably have been wagging his tail in excitement and joy. "The very first day of class, my professor was explaining all of the equipment in the room, and he literally told us to call it a glory hole, because that's what it looks like. So now every time one up us has to use it, we just say, 'hey I gotta use the glory hole' in the most nonchalant way possible. It's amazing."

Phil was laughing so hard by now that he was crying. He could not believe it had been the professor all along who'd gotten the students to call it that. Phil's chest hurt from the choking, from all the laughing, and he reached out to grab Dan’s hand in order to steady himself, shaking his head as he tried to pull himself together. By the time he finally did, he was still kind of shaking with mirth, and he looked up at Dan with wet eyes. "Daniel Howell, are you telling me you've been using a glory hole without me on the other side? How rude."

Grinning triumphantly at his ability to make Phil laugh so hard, Dan squeezed Phil's hand tight and pressed his thigh into Phil's. His cheeks flamed red at the insinuation however, and he hid his face with his free hand, groaning. Despite his groans, he was still laughing, smiling so hard it started to hurt. "I suppose you could say I have been," Dan replied after his own giggles died down. He wiggled his eyebrows at Phil, trying to make his voice deeper and huskier. "What can I say? He blows me better than you do," Dan teased. Then he nudged Phil's side with his elbow, vibrating in his seat. "Get it? cuz it's a glassblowing class?!" Dan snickered at himself. He was so fucking funny.

For a second, Phil was going to get fake offended at the idea that anyone could blow Dan better than Phil did, but then it hit him what Dan was getting at, and before Phil could help it, he was bursting into laughter once more. He couldn't believe Dan's puns had gotten worse since the last time Phil had seen him, but he didn't mind it. It was cute, and endearing, and made Phil's heart do funny little flutters. He loved Dan so much that he leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. "You're a dork," he stated fondly, "But I love you.'

Dan was proud of himself, he could admit that. He liked making Phil laugh, liked watching his face light up as he realized what Dan was saying, little giggles bursting out of his throat. It was Dan's favourite thing in the entire world, how happy he could make Phil with his dumb jokes."I'm your dork at least," Dan murmured, smiling at Phil's lips on his cheek. "I love you bunches." It was then that the waitress appeared with their check, dropping it off with an overly enthusiastic smile on her face, and Dan had to quell his surprise because he'd forgotten that they'd come to a restaurant for a meal and not just so he could flirt with his boyfriend. Dan started to dig into the food he’d mostly forgotten about, groaning appreciatively at the delicious food. Going here to eat had definitely been a good idea.

Phil rolled his eyes at Dan, despite knowing he was right, and turned back to his plate, finishing off the last few bites of his pasta and then grabbing his cup of wine to finish the last few sips of that as well. He closed his eyes with a small sigh, feeling a bit tipsy, a bit light, and full in all the best of ways. Dinner with Dan was something Phil had not realized he'd needed so bad, and he was so, so ready to just head home with his boyfriend now and get him in bed to cuddle and watch a movie. They'd had enough sex for the day. Meanwhile... Phil had to pull together his plans for tomorrow, and for his hopefully successful proposal.

***

Waking up next to Phil was something Dan wanted to do for the rest of his life. He smiled sleepily and snuggled further into Phil's chest. He could hear Phil's heartbeat pounding rhythmically through his ears, so calming in the morning sun. It seemed as though Phil was still sleeping, so Dan just let himself enjoy the morning cuddles, thinking about how lucky he was to have such a wonderful boyfriend. Last night, they'd watched a movie called In Bruges, and Phil had laughed as Dan fed him popcorn, trying to be 'romantic'. It ended with a fight between them trying to shove an entire handful of popcorn into each others mouths, but it had been the most fun they’d both had in ages. Dan fell asleep before he saw the end of the movie, but that was okay, because he fell asleep with Phil next to him so he didn't mind all too much.

It had been a long time since Phil had woken up wrapped up in someone's arms like this - so long, in fact, that for a moment he was disoriented as he came awake, confused and a little bit afraid he'd managed to do something really stupid last night. The thing was, Phil knew himself better than that though, knew he could never ever cheat on Dan, and so after a quick shake of his head, his eyes fluttered open and he knew exactly whose arms he was in; Dan's. Dan was here, and Dan was spending the night for the time in months, and it was their anniversary. Two years. Dan and Phil had been together for two years, now, managed to survive a year apart going to school, and Phil wanted nothing more than to marry his man. His lips curled into a smile as he rolled over in his bed only to find Dan's face this close to his own, eyes open as well. "Morning," Phil whispered, voice gone all husky and rough. There was popcorn on his bed, he could see it now, from where they'd fallen asleep in the middle of a movie, but Phil didn't mind. He could clean it up later; for now, he was just going to soak up the fact that he was finally, finally waking up in Dan's arms again.

It wasn't long after Dan woke up that Phil started to wake up as well. Dan could tell when he started to wake when his breathing sped up slightly and his body started to move underneath Dan. Dan turned his face up to stare adoringly at his boyfriend, watching as his eyelids fluttered and then his eyes slowly opened. Dan grinned, leaning up to press his lips to Phil's, not caring about his own horrendous morning breath. "Morning," Dan murmured. He shivered at Phil's husky voice, and curled himself further into Phil's chest. He tucked his toes under Phil's calves. "How was your sleep?"

It was so, so wonderful to have Dan kissing him awake like this. Could this moment get any better? Really, this was the best morning Phil had had in ages, and he sighed a little as Dan kissed him, a little put out to have Dan pulling away from him. despite the fact that he knew they both had horrible morning breath just then. If Phil had it his way, they'd kiss for far the rest of the morning, maybe get themselves worked up... and then Phil remembered his plan for the day, and his heart skipped a beat at what he wanted to do. Hissing a little as Dan's cold toes pressed up against his calves, Phil tucked his chin over the top of Dan's head, happy Dan still seemed to want to be the little spoon, even if it was backwards. "Amazing with you here," Phil replied.

"I like being here more than anything," Dan replied quietly. The entire mood was quiet, almost raw, gentle. It was sleepy and filled with complete affection that made Dan's heart swell in his chest. He littered kisses over Phil's collarbone, just wanting to kiss every inch of Phil that he could possibly reach. Phil was warm and his arms were tight around him, and Dan could feel his small breaths puffing against his head. It was such a soft atmosphere, and Dan didn't ever want to move. He would probably be able to die happy here, as long as he got to stay in Phil's arms for the rest of his life, as cheesy as it sounded. "Don't ever wanna move. You're comfy," Dan murmured against Phil's collarbone, lips brushing against the skin as he kissed it again.

Phil shuddered a bit under Dan's kisses. Dan always made him feel incredibly sensitive, like he was on fire from every tiny little touch. He let out a little sigh, because Dan was getting comfortable all settled in against him again, but the kisses were still there and they were almost unfair. Phil didn't want to get worked up this morning. Dan's mouth was hot, though, always hot, and so, so good. It was impossible to resist him. "Me neither," Phil agreed softly, voice probably breathy enough to give him away. "But we have to. What time is it? I have an anniversary to plan, seeing as you ruined my plans last night," Phil teased, pushing Dan away so he could climb out of bed

Phil's voice was breathy when he responded, and it made Dan grin triumphantly. He loved how easily he could work Phil up, even through the tiniest touches and (almost) innocent kisses. Dan liked having that impact on his boyfriend, and it made him feel good about himself. But then Phil was pushing Dan away and getting out of bed, and Dan whined at the loss of a warm body under him, the coldness of the outside air chilling him to the bones. He stole all of the blankets and buried himself beneath them, glaring at Phil through a tiny hole in his self-made burrito. "I can't believe you would just get out of bed when your boyfriend so obviously wants a cuddle," Dan scoffed. He wasn't really offended though, smiling blearily up at Phil as he started to move around the room. "At least let me take a shower before we do anniversary things. I feel like a ball of trash."

Phil had fully intended to take advantage of Dan curling up in bed to go downstairs and take care of their picnic for lunch when Dan stopped him one foot into his boxers to suggest a shower. Phil turned to look at Dan slowly, all curled up and warm, and melted. He wanted to save the sex, or hopefully celebratory love makin, for after the proposal, but a shower he would be on board with. Even better; "How about a bath?" Phil suggested, dropping the boxers and turning to smile at Dan. Dan really did look warm and soft and perfect in Phil's bed.

"A bath!" Dan exclaimed excitedly. He nodded furiously, a grin lighting up his entire face at the suggestion. He hoped Phil would be joining him, that way he could curl up and just feel Phil against him, warm water cascading around them. It was a nice thought. "Can we make it a bubble bath?" Dan asked innocently. At Phil's nod, Dan started to peel the sheets away from his body, shivering at the coldness that touched his skin. When he stood up, he attached himself to Phil's side, throwing his arm around his shoulders. "Join me?" Dan whined, kissing Phil's cheek sweetly.

Phil chuckled at Dan's enthusiasm, and nodded his head as Dan moved into his side. "Course I'm coming with you. Did you think I'd spend more than a few minutes outside of your company these next few days, really?" Phil teased, immediately wrapping his own arm around Dan's waist to pull him in close. Dan nestled into Phil's side where Phil wanted him for the rest of their lives. He sighed. "Not that we'll fit very well, but I'll force us to fit," Phil added, and then started to lead Dan away so they could both get warmed up. Hopefully it wouldn't be a cold day, therefore ruining Phil’s picnic.

Dan did a little hop as Phil said he was definitely going to be joining him in the bath, humming in triumph. "Good! I get you all to myself then," Dan teased, squeezing Phil's shoulder. They started walking to the bathroom, still tangled in each other's arms, and Dan was so happy he could be as disgustingly in love with his boyfriend as he wanted to be. When they got to the bathroom, Phil immediately started to prepare the bath, and Dan sat on the edge of the tub, a small grin on his face as he watched Phil start up the water. "Bubble bath," Dan demanded, getting up to go through the bathroom cabinets. Then he gasped, eyes wide. "I take that back. When the fuck were you gonna tell me you have bath bombs?!" Dan exclaimed, taking one out and shoving it towards Phil. "We are so totally using this. I don't care what you say."

Phil was just about to point out where the bubbles were to Dan when Dan gasped and apparently found Phil's mum's supply of bath bombs. Phil didn't mind, and it made him laugh a lot to see, so he reached past Dan in the cupboard for a night sky one. "Galaxy," Phil insisted. "If we're borrowing from my mom, I insist on picking what we borrow," he added, giggling. Instantly, Phil was turning back to the bathtub with the bath bomb in hand, and preparing to drop it. Once the bathtub was filled, Phil turned off the water and said, "Ready?" to Dan, who nodded enthusiastically. Phil dropped the bath bomb, and they both watched as it turned the water a beautiful menagerie of colours, reflecting the sky Phil studied night and day.

Dan pouted a little as Phil completely disregarded his choice of bath bomb, reaching past him to grab a different one. But then he brightened up, seeing it was the colours of the galaxy, swirling with pinks and blues and whites. It was much better than the pink one Dan had picked out. He watched excitedly as Phil dropped it into the water, the bomb immediately fizzling and spreading colour through the bath tub. Dan smiled, nudging Phil's shoulder. "It does look like the night sky," he murmured. "Reminds me of you. Good choice." Then he began to strip himself of his clothing, not waiting for Phil to give him the okay. Phil had seen him naked plenty of times anyways.

Phil couldn't help beaming. Dan was so cute, and obnoxiously sweet. Honestly, Phil should be sick of him by now, but he wasn't, so as Dan moved to start stripping, Phil moved into his space and kissed him. He couldn't help it; Dan just made him so happy. Dan was his ray of sunshine, and after spending so much of yesterday laying around moping in bed, assuming his boyfriend was cheating on him like a jackass, and then having the heat pulled out from under him like a rug, he'd really needed this. He just needed Dan. His lips played with Dan's for a moment, sucking and licking at him, as they both hummed, but before they could get heated or too interested, Phil drew back, grinning fondly up at Dan. "Still can't believe you're taller than me," he complained, and then started to strip himself of his own clothes too.

Dan smiled as Phil kissed him, his lips gentle before gaining intensity. He bit down and sucked on Dan's lips, and Dan just let him. He loved the feeling of Phil getting like that, anyways. He wasn't even in a particularly horny mood for once, didn't feel the need to press their dicks together to get some friction, didn't feel the need to get down on his knees and take every inch of Phil into his mouth. The entire aura of the room was loving and gentle. They were enjoying each other's body heat and company, and Dan's heart swelled in his chest. He giggled and rested his forehead on Phil's, nuzzling their noses together until Phil pulled away and started to get undressed. "I think I've won the trophy for 'Tallest Awkward Noodle'," Dan said, licking his lips as Phil's skin was revealed. He stepped closer to Phil and laid a kiss right on his bare shoulder, humming. "I kind of like being taller than you. Gives me easier access to forehead kisses." To accentuate his point, he then kissed Phil's forehead and grinned like an idiot.

Phil snorted. Dan was such a dork. There was nothing but fondness in the sound, however, and Phil sighed at the feeling of Dan so softly and sweetly pressing a kiss to his forehead. It made him feel warm inside, made him feel loved, something he didn't get as often as he'd like anymore. Of course he always felt loved talking to Dan, but the physical touches were something even better. Phil honestly couldn't wait for the day where they could just have each other like this all the time, never have to leave each other's sides for days at a time instead of hours. One day, Phil was going to get to come home to Dan every evening, and he couldn't wait for that day to come. "Come on you nerd," Phil complained jokingly, stripping out of the rest of his clothes, happy when Dan finished undressing as well. "Let's get in the bath. I have plans for us today, remember? And they're important!" Phil complained, already climbing into the bath and deciding that despite Dan being taller than him, Phil was going to act as the big spoon. Dan could sit between his legs for once, and that was that.

"Fine, fine," Dan huffed, but he was grinning, watching as Phil got into the bath. Water splashed around his ankles, blue and sparkling, and the scent of lavender and honey was making Dan's head spin pleasantly. They were going to smell so fucking good after this. "They better be good plans if you're making me hurry up my loving attitude!" Dan joked. He stepped into the tub after Phil settled down, seeming to want to be the big spoon by the way he settled against the back of the bath and opened his arms and legs for Dan to sit between them. He did exactly that, sighing as he made himself comfortable between Phil's legs, his back to Phil's chest. He hummed, the bath water licking warmth against his skin. "This is the perfect start to the morning," Dan murmured, leaning his head back and resting his head against Phil's shoulder.

Phil couldn't help the way his lips tugged upwards at the mention of Phil's plans being good. Phil didn't doubt that Dan would eventually come to agree that Phil's plans were definitely more than good, and if he had his way, and everything went according to the plan, he thought this might be their best anniversary of all time. Well, maybe not best, but best up until now. Phil wanted nothing more than to be engaged to Dan by the end of the night, and his thoughts flickered to the ring he'd bought earlier again. It was beautiful, just like Dan... Phil could not wait to present it to him. He found himself chuckling after Dan settled against him, and wrapped his arms around Dan's waist. "I promise, you won't regret hurrying up for me," Phil whispered in the shell of Dan's ear, before kissing just behind it and humming to himself. The water was licking against their skin, pleasant, warm, and smelling amazing. Phil hadn't had a bath in forever, and he was kind of amazed that he and Dan fit, even if it was tight. Honestly, he could not have been any happier. "You're right," he agreed. "This is the perfect start to the morning, and it's all because you're here."

**

Later, when they were finished with the bath, Phil sent Dan downstairs so Phil could get ready in secret. What he said was that he wanted to surprise Dan with his outfit of choice, but what he really meant was that he needed privacy to find the ring he'd kicked under the bed sometime last night. With his bedroom door locked behind him, and Dan bustling around downstairs, Phil scrambled to his knees and crawled under his bed to the best of his ability, head stuck under uncomfortably and his fingers scrambling around the crap underneath for the little silken box. His heart was racing in his chest when, after five minutes of searching, he came up empty handed. Heartbroken and devastated all over again, Phil pulled himself out from under his bed, and started to shake. No, no, this could not be happening. How had he lost the ring he'd spent all of his savings on? How could he have done that? How was he so stupid? Phil was mortified, but just as he was getting up to scramble around in his desk drawer, praying he somehow maybe put it away rather than throwing and kicking it around, his foot landed on something hard under a crumpled upshirt he'd uncovered a few minutes before. He hissed, and then kicked the object, only to watch as the ring box was uncovered from the movement of it rolling across the floor. "Oh thank God," he said, releasing a heavy breath and working to regulate his nearly panicked breathing. "I found it," he expressed happily. and picked it up, placing it carefully on his night stand so he could get dressed. He did so quickly, in a nice pair of jeans and a cute button up, suitable clothing for the current weather, for a picnic... for a proposal. Before he left the room, he shoved the ring box into his pocket, and felt excitement began to fill him.

Dan was a bit surprised when Phil kicked Dan out of the room almost as soon as they were done bathing. He'd allowed Dan to take his straighteners into the bathroom downstairs, but Phil was smirking as he did it, his eyes warm as Dan complained about being kicked out. Of course, that didn't change Phil's mind, saying something along the lines of how he wanted his appearance to be a surprise to Dan, but Dan liked to complain anyways. He obliged, grumbling to himself as he went to the downstairs bathroom and did his hair, effectively straightening out those god awful curls he'd been born with. It didn't take him long, only about ten minutes, and Phil was still not downstairs by the time Dan was sitting at the table, bored and scrolling through his phone. "Where is that fucker?" Dan wondered aloud. It was then that he was interrupted by a throat clearing and Dan turned to grin as his boyfriend walked into the room. "About time!" Dan exclaimed, standing with a large grin on his face. "I feel seventy years older just waiting for your slow ass." He did a once-over of Phil, whistling as he took in his beloved boyfriend's appearance. He was wearing a blue button up that accentuated his eyes and a nice pair of jeans that had Dan's mouth watering. Phil was seriously the most gorgeous person in the entire world. "You look lovely," Dan commented, swooping over and kissing Phil on the cheek lovingly.

By the time Phil got to the kitchen where he'd heard Dan waiting for him, he was starting to feel the nervous, terrified butterflies filling his stomach and making his heart race. He was honestly terrified about his plans. What if this was too soon? Or not what Dan wanted for them? He knew they'd talked about marriage before, but proposing? Actually proposing? What if Dan said no? Phil was knocked out of his thoughts by Dan moving over to him and kissing him on the cheek, complimenting him on his appearance and helping to settle his nerves some. Dan loved him; even if Dan refused now, Phil knew better than to believe that it was an actual no. Dan loved him, regardless of the outcome of today. Phil just had to remind himself of that. "Thank you," Phil murmured back shyly, grasping Dan's hip and drawing him close to kiss him again. His fingers played with Dan's towel, and he grinned. Later. Later, he wanted to make love to all of that beautiful tanned skin. But for now - "Go get dressed! Lazy bones. I'll take care of... the rest of my plans while you're upstairs. Off you go," Phil insisted, swatting Dan playfully on the bum.

Dan pouted as Phil insisted he go and get dressed. If he was being honest, he quite enjoyed the nakedness. Besides, it wasn't his fault that he hadn't gotten changed yet. Phil had pushed him out of the room as soon as a towel was wrapped around his waist, so he blamed everything on his smug looking boyfriend (who also looked too damn good to be a real person). He obeyed anyways, excited about their plans. What did Phil have in store for him today? Especially that made him have to get together some stuff downstairs? Dan shrugged it off. He'd find out soon enough. In the meantime, he hummed as he slipped on his clothes, slightly crinkled from being in his travel bag overnight. It was pretty hot outside so he wore a pair of nice shorts and a gray button up, trying to look half as nice as Phil. When he was finished, he poked his head out of the door. "Phil?" he called, "Can I come down?"

Phil hadn't even felt this nervous yesterday, or the days before as he'd mentally prepared and even gone shopping for picnic foods. He supposed then the idea had still been far too insubstantial for him to really feel anything about it, though, and now the idea was looming in front of him, about to happen, taunting him. In a few hours max, Phil was going to be getting down on one knee, something he'd almost never foreseen for himself as a kid. He could not believe that Dan... might finally be someone he could really call his. Fiance. What a beautiful concept... Phil sighed, trying to pull himself together, and got out the picnic basket he'd bought before pulling out the makings for the perfect picnic lunch; he made sandwiches, deli meats and cheeses, smeared with mayonnaise because Dan loved it so, and a little hint of spicy mustard, cut to perfection just how his mum had taught him, and wrapped up in cellophane before being packed away on top of ice packs wrapped thickly in napkins. Next came the soda's, a few of them, because Phil could see now that it would be hot, two water bottles as well just in case, and then the chips and the snacks and the fruit bowl and - "Almost! Just one more minute!" Phil shouted back, panicking once more as tried to fit everything, including the desert he'd gotten in the hopes that Dan would say yes. As soon as everything was packed away, and Phil's heart had managed to settle into something close to normal, Phil sighed and tried to relax. "Okay, Dan, I'm ready!" Phil shouted up to his boyfriend, before straightening out his clothing, and checking once more in his pocket for the ring. It was still there, a great relief to Phil, who suddenly wanted nothing more than to get this over with.

Dan made sure to groan extra loud as Phil told him to wait just a little longer. He didn't want to wait. He wanted to get himself back in Phil's arms as fast as humanly possible once more. Phil was just so warm and welcoming and Dan didn't want to be away from him for even a second. But he knew that Phil was planning something out that would make Dan the happiest man in the world, probably trying to come up with something surprising and cute for them to do. So he didn't try to rush him. He just leaned against the door, waiting for Phil to tell him when he could come back down. True to his word, it didn't take much longer at all. Only a moment later, Phil was yelling at Dan to come downstairs, and he threw the door open, bounding down the stairs to go meet Phil in the kitchen. There he was, with a big brown wicker basket, looking slightly nervous. Dan raised his eyebrows. What the hell was Phil nervous about? It was just him, not Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson. "You good, babe?" Dan asked slowly, smiling as he walked over to Phil. "What's in store for me today?'

Phil could hear it as Dan started to race down the stairs from his bedroom, clearly excited to see what Phil had planned for them, but Phil mostly just felt... terrified, in the strangest of ways. He couldn't' seem to get past the lump quickly forming in his throat, now, couldn't' get past the part of him suddenly terrified that nothing was going to go to plan. Dan was going to think the picnic was dumb, was going to think Phil was proposing too soon, was going to be angry at Phil for - for - who know's what, but Phil knew it was going to happen. Things had been going far too well... there was just no way they wouldn't crash and burn now. Then, quite suddenly, Dan was stood in front of him, smiling as he moved slowly towards Phil. Phil's mouth was dry. "'M fine," he muttered, blushing darkly, He shifted his eyes down and away from Dan's face, and lifted the wicker basket in his hands. "The - the weathers nice. I thought we could go on a picnic?"

A picnic. It was perfect. It was different, something people didn't really think about doing anymore. They could sit outside and eat with each other, enjoying each other's company and just chatting. It wasn't too fancy, wasn't too stressful. It was perfect. It was them. Dan grinned widely, leaning in to press his lips to Phil's forehead, just because he could. "That's the best idea I've ever heard," Dan assured his boyfriend softly. He could tell Phil was still nervous, so he brushed his fringe out of the way and stared into his eyes. "I couldn't have thought of anything better for us."

Phil could see the confusion on Dan's face, despite the gentle way he spoke to reassure Phil that he thought Phil had the best ideas in the world. Phil could see that he didn't understand why Phil was so nervous, and he couldn't imagine Dan's mind right then. Phil, at least, knew what was coming. Dan could only see that Phil was insecure, the way Phil was always insecure, and he knew how to handle that at least. It made Phil's heart swell with warmth; this is why he wanted to marry Dan so bad. There was no one in the world as perfect for him as Dan was for him. Dan was just... amazing. Lips curling up in a hesitant smile, Phil nodded his head. "Okay... okay, yeah, great. Uhm, so I know this really pretty spot," he insisted, and reached out with trembling fingers to take Dan's hand in his. The feeling made him sigh with relief as Dan squeezed around his fingers, and despite the way his heart was racing away in his chest, he felt better already. They started to walk, then, heading out together, Phil grabbing his keys to make sure he had them, his wallet in case he needed it, and a surreptitious grope at his pocket to check for the ring, and shoved everything into his other pocket. He locked the door behind them, fingers unsteady, and offered Dan a heartfelt smile when he looked at Phil carefully, cocking his head like he wanted to check to make sure Phil was alright. "Let's go," Phil insisted, and started to lead Dan down the street. This was going to be okay. Dan wasn't going to say no... was he?

Why was Phil so nervous? Dan didn't understand. He could see the way his fingers were quivering as he grabbed the remainder of his items before they walked out. His pretty eyes were filled with uncertainty and his voice was soft, hesitant, as he answered Dan, trying to assure Dan that he was okay. Dan didn't believe him because he didn't sound sure of himself at all. But he couldn't exactly tell Phil that he didn't believe he was alright. So he just followed along, tried to understand why Phil was so nervous when they were just going on a picnic for their two year anniversary. Maybe Phil was worried Dan wouldn't like it? That was the only thing Dan could think of, the only thing that actually made sense. It's not like Phil was breaking up with him or anything, so that was out of the question. Dan pressed his lips together and didn't say anything. Instead, he grabbed Phil's hand to calm him down, rubbing his thumb over Phil's smooth skin. "Love you," Dan reminded him easily. He wanted Phil to be okay, wanted him to be happy and without uncertainty.

"Love you too," Phil murmured back, soft, but too shy to turn and look at Dan in the eye. He didn't want to look at Dan, not just then. He was too afraid Dan was going to see it on his face what Phil wanted to do, what he planned to do. Phil just wanted to take Dan by surprise, but he also wanted Dan to say yes, and he wanted this to be the best picnic either of them had ever had in their lives. "I really hope you like this," Phi added, talking anxiously because what else was he going to do? "I made the sandwiches myself, and I got chips and dip, and theirs fruit and soda and water too," he went on, dragging Dan around the corner to a park he'd stalked out the other day in order to find the absolute best place for this picnic. He'd almost picked right next to the lake, but then he'd seen the ducks harassing people for food, far too friendly and terrifying for Phil to face, and then he'd nearly picked a nice little bench with pretty trees just overhead, and then a fucking spider had fallen on him, and then he'd found it - their spot, the perfect place, in the perfect weather, just waiting for them. "You can't imagine how hard it was to plan this without telling you outright, either. Remember when I texted you about the scary duck's and the spider? Yeah, I was trying to find the right spot," Phil said, as he led Dan into said park and down a path he knew far too well now because he'd walked it six or seven times just checking if everything was still perfect - nature had a bad habit of fucking everything up, after all.

Phil didn't look at him, but he replied with an I love you, so Dan tried not to worry about it too much. Phil was just so tense. Dan could see the way his shoulders were all tense and his eyebrows were slightly furrowed and his eyes were troubled as he stared straight ahead. Dan wanted to reach over and smooth the crinkle from his brow, to kiss him over and over again and tell him that this was perfect, that Dan was so happy to be with him. There was nothing else Dan wanted except for Phil, so there was no need for Phil to worry. "I already love it," Dan assured, squeezing his hand tightly. He was dragging Dan to a little secluded patch of grass and he was babbling words without taking a breath and Dan just wanted to lean over and kiss the breath out of him, make him stop worrying so much. Dan laughed as he remembered Phil telling him about the ducks and spider and how there had been several terrified emojis following the texts. "I was wondering why you'd been out somewhere with ducks! Your excuse of just going for a walk was shit! Since when do you go on walks?" Dan teased, bumping their hips together before pulling away as he watched Phil open the basket and drag out a quilted blanket.

They managed to reach the small secluded area Phil had found a few days before, a little patch of grass just on top of an almost hill far enough from trees and lakes that nothing could bother them, but with a wonderful view at the same time. Phil could not wait to point it out to Dan, who was distractedly teasing him just then. "Hey," he complained, hip checking Dan now they were putting all their stuff down. "It fooled you, didn't it? You can't tell me you saw this one coming," he added, eyes twinkling as he looked at Dan, their fingers brushing as they both worked to smooth out the blanket Phil had had the foresight to bring. Phil's lips were twitching in happiness, though. This was Dan, the love of his life, the only person he would ever want to know him so well, they could see right through his silly surprises. Clearing his throat, and pulling back from Dan, Phil stood up straight as soon as everything was prepared, and then pointed out the view. "Look, Dan. This is what I wanted to show you."

Giggling, Dan helped Phil smooth down the blanket. The teasing seemed to calm him down a little bit, allowing him to actually joke back with Dan, and it made warmth spread through Dan's entire chest. He was just so fucking happy, especially because it seemed as if Phil hadn't been thinking about breaking up with him after all. Not like Dan thought he was going to anyways, but it was still a relief. "I didn't see it coming," Dan admitted, shaking his head. "But I still thought it was weird you suddenly took up walking. Since when do we like getting exercise?" Dan was then pulled out of his thoughts by Phil pulling him up and spinning him around to look at the view. Immediately, Dan's eyes widened and he lost his breath. "Wow," he whispered, taking in the scenery around them. It was a sunny day in London for once, and the sky was a beautiful eggshell blue with puffy cotton candy clouds. They were on a slightly raised hill, so he could see a vast expansion of green grass, only interrupted by foliage and a pond in the distance. Further away, Dan could see a group of children playing what looked to be tag, and he could even see the ducks Phil was talking about fighting over bread an elderly woman was throwing to them. "It's fucking beautiful, Phil."

Phil was watching Dan when the other male turned around, wanting to see the look on his face when he finally seemed to take in what Phil wanted to show him. He was eager, probably too eager, terrified that Dan wouldn't love the view as much as Phil had hoped he would, but when Dan turned around, it seemed Phil's fears were unfounded. Dan was - breathless, it seemed. Phil had done something good, and as he watched Dan take in the sight before him, he felt his heart flutter anew. This was going to be fine, this was going to be okay. Dan... Dan loved him, and Phil hadn't fucked up the place to propose, and hopefully he wouldn't mess up when he got down on one knee, and soon, so soon, he was finally going to be with Dan... hopefully, forever. Grinning softly, Phil leaned over and pressed his lips to Dan's cheek. "You're fucking beautiful," Phil shot back.

Dan hummed and leaned into Phil's embrace, letting his eyes flutter shut. Phil's lips were warm against his cheek and his breath tickled his skin as he spoke, making Dan's entire body feel as if it was alight with flames. His cheeks heated up at Phil's compliment, and he smiled softly. "You're the one who's beautiful," Dan murmured quietly. He turned and grabbed Phil's hand, tugging him down to the blanket. "Now show me what you made! I'm starving!'

Dan was the most perfect person Phil had ever known. The way his cheeks went all soft and cute, reddened from their mutual compliments, the way he smiled, and his eyes twinkled. Phil was so, so in love, and he couldn't stop thinking about it, couldn't stop thinking about the ring resting in his pocket, couldn't stop thinking about how amazing this moment was going to be. He laughed at Dan's pushing for them to sit down and eat finally, and rolled his eyes affectionately as he willingly let Dan drag him onto the blanket. They settled in together, and then Phil started to pull out their meals, sandwiches wrapped as well as he could make them, drinks, depending on what Dan was feeling for, and some fruit and crisps for them to share. Dan stared like he was the hungriest man alive, and Phil laughed at him. "Does it actually look good, or are you just hungry?"

"It looks fucking amazing," Dan moaned, taking in all of the different kinds of food Phil had packed for them. There was literally an abundance of food, so much that Dan had no idea how they were expected to eat it all. He made grabby hands at one of the sandwiches, smiling softly as Phil laughed heartily and passed him one. "How did you even fit all of this in one basket?" Dan wondered, unwrapping the sandwich. "There's so much food!" He then took a rather large bite of the sandwich, groaning as the taste of it exploded across his tongue. It was amazing, and Dan didn't know whether it was because it was a damn good sandwich, or if it was just because Phil had made it. "You're amazing at making food and I'm signing a petition to make you my own personal housewife."

Phil blushed. He had packed a lot of food, but it was mostly because he wanted to make sure he had all of his bases covered. Besides, it was a good way to distract them both from what Phil was about to ask Dan, if things went well. "I brought a card game as well, if you wanted to play that later, so we don't have to go home for a while?" Phil offered, though he was slightly unsure if he was really going to push forwards and do so when all he really wanted was to propose to Dan, and then make love back at home. He'd see where the day brought them. Phil just... wanted to be with Dan, that was all that mattered in the end. He chuckled at Dan's comment about the food, though. Dan always seemed to love when Phil cooked for him, and it made him feel warm inside. He'd cook for Dan forever, he promised himself that now. "Yeah, well," he murmured, and started to dig into his own sandwich. "Anything for you."

Dan nodded and scooted closer to Phil, pressing their thighs together because he wanted nothing more than to be close to him, to feel him. "Sounds perfect," Dan replied, settling his hand on Phil's knee and rubbing circles there with his thumb. He was extremely hungry and had apparently not realized this beforehand, either, so he was scarfing down his meal as if it was his final one. Dan hummed, smirking sideways at Phil. "You'd do anything for me?" Dan purred, winking seductively. "Would you..." he looked around, trying to figure out what he wanted Phil to do. "Would you hug one of those geese for me?" Dan asked, pointing to a group of geese at the bottom of their cozy hill.

Phil had been expecting Dan to find the comment romantic, had been expecting a blush or some kind of positive, romantic gesture in return; instead, the jerk that he was, Dan asked Phil to go and hug a goose for him just to prove his love. Smile slipping into a frown, Phil glared at Dan for all of a few seconds while his boyfriend laughed at him, and then his own expression morphed into something like wry amusement. With a sigh, Phil heaved himself from the floor, and glared at Dan again. "If I do this, I expect you to marry me immediately," he teased, heart racing and lodging into his throat the second the words were out of his mouth. They were so close to the real proposal Phil wanted to make tonight. What was Dan going to say in return? Phil tried not to let the terror show on his face. If Dan agreed, surely the real proposal would go alright?

Dan was wheezing by the time Phil started to stand, glaring at Dan as if this was all his fault. Which it was, but Dan didn't care. Because, was Phil actually going to hug a fucking goose? It seemed like he was, because the next words out of his mouth had a mixture of both seriousness and teasing in it, and Dan found himself gaping at Phil. His cheeks were steadily turning redder as he processed the words, the tone of voice, everything in that little sentence that made Dan's heart want to escape from his chest. But then he giggled, nodding up at Phil. They'd already discussed marriage before and Dan had known for the longest time now that he wanted nothing more than that. Even if it did take him some getting used to, hearing Phil saying something as sappy as that. It made him feel like a teenager again. "If you hug a goose and then don't ask me to marry you, I'll be mildly offended," Dan replied dramatically, putting a hand to his chest. He could feel his heart beating against his fingertips, and he grinned at Phil so wide that it hurt.

Phil's eyes went wide for a moment, and his heart stopped in his chest as he stared at Dan. Had he just said that? Phil felt his mouth go dry... He really couldn't believe Dan had said that. But now that the words were out of his mouth, who was Phil to deny him. Suddenly feeling a thousand times more confident than he had pretty much all day, Phil turned around, and marched right on up to the geese at the end of their hill. Dan was shouting behind him about being half joking, but Phil ignored him, filled with determination now. His sights were set, and before he could stop himself, he was there, stood right in front of an angry looking goose who wanted nothing more than food. Phil turned to look behind him; Dan was there, still giggling, staring at him. The ways his eyes twinkled... Fuck, Phil loved him so much. He stopped to stare for one more second, and then he turned around, and did his best to scoop the goose into his arms. It honked at him, ruffled its feathers, panicked, and Phil couldn't blame it as he tried to grab hold of it's tiny little body, fighting against it, but it ran, and Phil ran after it,shouting "Come back here!" all while Dan giggled behind him.

Holy fuck. Holy fuck. Was Phil actually going to do it? Was he going to hug a fucking goose? Just because Dan said he'd marry him? That probably wasn't the reason why, but the way that Phil turned towards the geese with such determination in his eyes made Dan's chest flutter with warmth and love. Christ, he was an absolute sucker for Phil. "Phil! I was kind of kidding!" But Phil didn't stop. He just kept going. It was fucking hilarious and Dan didn't know what Phil was expecting. He was surprised the goose hadn't bit him yet, if he was being honest, instead just honking at Phil like it was mildly offended by the picking-up. Dan was pissing himself, clutching his stomach as he doubled over in laughter, watching as Phil chased the geese around the park. It was amazing seeing something like this, seeing his lanky boyfriend trying to catch a goose that was much faster than he was. Dan fell in love just a little bit more.

The goose was not having any of it, and every time Phil managed to catch up and scrabble for it's feathers, nearly pulling it into his arms, the goose fluttered its wings and scared Phil so much, that he dropped the creature. He found himself growing more and more frustrated, but he as amused at the same time, because he could hear Dan laughing at him, and if there was one thing Phil loved above all else, it was the sound of Dan's laughter. His heart lifted and fluttered, and he grinned to himself, finally letting it all go when he grasped for the goose one more time and it honked at him, nearly bit him. He dropped it, and promptly fell on his ass. Dan was running up to him now, and Phil's heart was hammering away in his chest, painfully hard. He could feel the emotion swelling in him, the love for this man, and he thought, fuck it. What better time to propose than now, like Dan had said? Phil lifted himself up, reached into his pocket, pulled out the ring, and got on one knee all at one time, staring as Dan's movements slowed to a walk the closer he got to Phil. Phil could see the surprise filling his eyes, the smile dropping from his lips, the humor gone, but Phil didn’t think he was upset. Dan was just surprised, and Phil could hardly blame him as he stared until Dan came to a stop right in front of him. Slowly, Phil looked up, and opened up the ring box to present the shiny diamond inside to Dan. "I didn't quite manage to hug the goose, but will you still marry me anyway?"

Phil, the idiot, didn't stop running after the goose, trying to get it to hug him, and Dan's cheeks were hurting from laughing so hard. He watched as the goose got a tad angrier, hissing and trying to bite him, and Phil, the nerd, got so scared that he dropped the bird and then fell straight to his ass like a wet log. Deciding to intervene now that the hell birds were starting to disperse, no longer a threat to him, Dan started to jog over to Phil, the grin still not gone from his face. He thought it'll be there for forever, his lips frozen in place, and then Phil began to move. He got to his knee and reached into his pocket and Dan could hear his heart pounding through his ears. He slowed down a bit, confusion flowing through him as he gaped at Phil, coming to a stop in front of him. His cheeks were red, and he wanted to speak, but no words would come out. And then Phil was opening the little box, presenting a diamond ring to him, and Dan had to bite the inside of his cheek to stop from crying and flinging himself at Phil, forcing himself to listen to what Phil was saying. He laughed wetly, putting his fingers on his eyes and pressing down because he could feel his eyes stinging with tears. "You're the only person who would propose after trying to hug a goose," Dan exclaimed, sniffling slightly. But then he nodded, dropping his hands and looking at Phil with warmth. Phil, who had been with him for two years. Phil, who has made him happier than any other person. Phil, who was now on one knee and presenting a ring that probably cost more than Dan's life with fingers that were quivering so badly, and a green stain on his ass from where he'd fallen. "Of course I'll marry you, you nerd."

Phil was shaking, from head to toe, absolutely trembling with the terror that Dan was somehow going to say no. There was no way, right? But Phil couldn't possibly know, watching as the confusion swelled over Dan's face, and then the tears as Dan reached up to press his fingers to his eyes before they could truly fall. He was grinning, and that should have been good news, but Phil still didn't know. For all he knew, Dan was gearing up to tell Phil it was too soon, or asking if this was a joke, or saying yes but not realizing that Phil meant this with all his heart, had, to some extent, planned this whole thing out. It took a moment, but eventually, Dan started to speak, and his voice was choked with so much emotion that Phil couldn't even begin to decipher it in that moment. And then, Dan was saying yes, and Phil's heart soared, his face splitting into a grin as he stared up at his boyfriend, who was staring at him with all the love in his eyes. "Really, though? Cause, like, I wasn't kidding this time, and I kind of spent a fortune on this ring for you," he teased, just checking, eyes glistening with love of his own.

Dan laughed, shaking his head. He was truly crying now, wet tear drops dripping from his eyelashes and cascading down his face. He didn't think he would be a crier when it came to something like this, but he should have guessed that he'd have this kind of reaction. Considering how much of a drama queen he was and how much he loved Phil with all of his heart, Dan should have assumed he'd be a sobbing baby. "I'm not kidding!" Dan said loudly. He waved his hands at Phil, trying to get across all that he was feeling in that moment. His emotions were going to suffocate him. "Now put that ring on me and get off your knees so I can kiss the daylights out of my fiance." Fiance. Holy shit. Holy shit. Dan was getting married. To Phil, to the person that he had been in love with since he was sixteen years old. He felt like he was going to faint.

Dan's voice was so broken up, but so happy that Phil could do nothing but do exactly as he'd been asked; he was up in an instant, fingers still shaking as he worked the ring free from the box and took Dan's hand in his. Dan was shaking as well, the both of them staring at each other, Dan with tears dripping down his cheeks, and Phil with a lump in his throat so big he was certain he would start crying as well any second now. He smiled at Dan, eyes going misty, and finally slipped the ring onto Dan's finger, staring between them at the way the delicate metal framed his hand. Dan looked beautiful. Not to mention, the word finance kept dancing through Phil's head, until it was all he could think about. "So kiss me," Phil insisted, then, and then Dan did. Dan practically threw himself at Phil, his arms winding around Phil's neck as he drew him in flush to Dan's body, and pressed their mouths together rough, but sweet. There was the clash of teeth, and then nothing but lips on lips, and them loving each other, the tears breaking free from Phil until he was finally crying as well.

Having metal around Dan's finger was undeniably strange, but he couldn't have been happier. Dan was shaking, they both were, and the ring was absolutely stunning against his tanned skin. He laughed wetly again, and then he was launching himself at Phil, pressing their lips together urgently. It was messy and painful when their teeth clashed together, but it was perfect nonetheless. Dan dragged Phil closer by his hips, not giving a fuck that anyone could see them. He was too happy, too wrapped up in their own little world, to give a crap about anyone else. He pulled away slightly, lips still brushing against Phil's, foreheads resting together. "Fiance," Dan giggled, smiling dopily at Phil. He still had tear tracks on his face but they both didn't care. "We're getting married!"

Phil made a small humming sound at Dan pulling away, fully intending to take Dan's mouth back into a searing kiss when Dan kind of prevented that by pressing their foreheads together, sniffling and speaking up instead. The reminder once again that Dan had just said yes coursed through Phil like nothing else, and he giggled as well, this time forcefully moving to kiss Dan again, gasping into the kiss and finding himself taking Dan's mouth over and over and over again, enjoying the feel of it, the affection coursing through him. Dan was such a beautiful soul. By the time Phil pulled away again, he was full on crying. "We're getting married," he agreed softly, and didn't even care when. It was just the fact that Dan was promised to him now, and all of his own free will. Phil kissed him again, just for good measure.

Kissing Phil was so much better now that they had a promise to get married. Dan had thought he'd known what Phil's kisses were like, but there was nothing in the world that he had experienced like this. They were both crying, Dan could feel the wetness on both of their cheeks and lips, and he could feel how urgent Phil was feeling by the way he drew him in close and refused to let go. Dan couldn't fucking breathe. He kissed back just as passionately, and he couldn't stop smiling, so Phil kept kissing his teeth, but then Phil was smiling too and it was sort of sweet amidst the way their teeth knocked together. Dan didn't want to stop kissing. He didn't want to let go. He wanted Phil to kiss him until his lips were numb. Fuck the picnic, fuck the geese. Dan was happy and nothing else mattered right then.

Eventually, eventually, the two let their mouths come apart, eyes closed, to breathe softly against each other, grinning like two idiots who were completely in love; which is exactly what they were. If Phil had it his way, he'd do nothing but kiss Dan for the rest of eternity, but as it was, he kind of wanted to get home. Or, you know, finish that picnic. "I have desserts. For if you said yes," Phil finally said, grinning like a fool as he finally opened his eyes for Dan. "And, you know, we didn't' really eat much," he explained. The faster they ate, the faster Phil could get Dan home and love him so, so freaking hard.

Phil all too suddenly pulled away and reminded him of the rest of the food sitting just up the hill. Dan whined a bit, kissing Phil on the mouth once more. "Wanna eat you for dessert," Dan snickered, but then he pulled away fully and started bounding back up to their picnic blanket. "Can't let this food go to waste, I suppose. It's too delicious for that." He plopped down on the blanket and patted the area beside him, smiling warmly up at Phil. "You can't just let your fiance eat by himself, you know." Now that he was using the word, Dan couldn't seem to stop himself from throwing out that they were fiances every chance he got. It made him feel warm, loved, and he wanted to shout it to the world. Not to mention, he couldn’t for the life of him stop grinning, and he felt like he was vibrating in place with happy energy.

Heat surged through Phil like no other at Dan's heated comment, and he let out a soft sound close to a moan, eyes closing, as he felt himself twitch with interest. He needed to try and control himself, especially as Dan started to run off back to their food, clearly intent on finishing his meal despite their jokes. Phil kind of wished Dan would eat him for dessert instead, but they could do that anytime, technically. Well. One day, they could do it anytime. For now, what they had was wonderful, and they had a few days still together, and Phil was going to make the best of it. "No, I suppose I can't just let my fiance eat on his own, can I?" Phil teased back with a little roll of his eyes, though the continual use of the word was making him happier than he could say.

Dan ate his meal as quickly as he could. It was probably disgusting because he was quite literally shoving food into his mouth like a homeless person, but Phil was staring at him like he was the most precious thing in the entire world despite it all. He tried to keep a straight face, but ended up grinning into a bite of fruit. "Stop staring at me," Dan whined, shoving a strawberry at Phil and laughing as the entire thing - stem and all - went into his mouth. Phil glared at him and spit it out, but Dan couldn't stop grinning anyways. "Eat quickly! We need to get back home to have our actual dessert!" And then just because he could and because he liked to tease, he watched as Phil quickened his pace slightly, and then Dan started to eat slower in reply.

As soon as Phil settled back down on the blanket, far closer to Dan than before, the two started to eat again. Dan was so ridiculous that he was making a mess, however, a mess unlike any other, almost hilarious in his ridiculousness. Phil just grinned at him, fond as ever, until Dan shoved a strawberry into his mouth that he nearly choked on, because he'd given him so much of it. Phil spit it out, moaning at Dan a little, but ate it anyway, another thrill going through him at Dan wanting to get home for their real desert. Just as Phil started to speed up his eating, however, Dan started to slow his down, and Phil reached over to shove at him. "You're a tease," Phil whined. "Aren't you supposed to like, give me everything I ask for now that we're engaged?"

Dan snickered, beaming as Phil called him a tease. Of course he was one, he wouldn't be Dan without being a tease. As Phil shoved him, he bounded right back and leaned against Phil's side, putting his head on his shoulder. Phil was always so comfortable. "Everything you ask for," Dan snorted, shaking his head and feeling his hair tickling Phil's neck. "Hell no! I get to make your life hell now, remember? Got you under lock and key." He knew it wasn't really like that, but he thought it was appropriate anyways. "Now I get to torture you for the rest of my life."

Even as Phil continued to shove bites of his sandwich into his mouth, he was distracted by Dan. He wanted to finish eating as soon as possible though, work up the energy to go home and have sex with his beautiful boyfriend, but Dan was so annoying in the best of ways. Even with sex on his mind, even with Dan teasing him, Phil couldn't help feeling anything but affection towards him. Everything Dan did was just so fun in the oddest of ways. Dan made Phil feel light inside, always had. He laughed at his boyfriend, shoved him over, and he would have climbed on top of him for good measure if he wasn't afraid he'd lose control of himself and do something stupid in public. Instead, he just said, "If you get to torture me for the rest of my life, then I get to torture you back, Daniel Howell." Phil couldn't help wondering, in that moment, whose last name they were taking. A slow grin took over his face. "Wait. Since I was the one to propose, does that mean you'll be taking my last name? Daniel Lester, my husband," Phil thought dreamily.

Dan opened his mouth to tell Phil that he would let him torture Dan right back, that he would rather have that than nothing at all. Having Phil teasing him was so good and pure, and if the rest of their lives were how the past two years had been, Dan would be the happiest man in the entire world. Hell, he already was. His stomach flipped as Phil interrupted him before he could speak, asking about what their last names would be. He was beyond excited. Daniel Lester. It had a nice ring to it. But he couldn't tell Phil that, no. So he just kissed Phil on the cheek, smirking, and said, "We'll have to fight to the death for last names, I suppose. Whoever wins the brawl gets to keep their last name." Dan snickered, tickling Phil's sides with dancing fingers. "You'll be Philip Howell before you know it!"

Phil wasn't exactly expecting Dan to agree to taking Phil's last name, but he also wasn't expecting the sudden attack of tickles, and he found himself giggling before he knew it, gasping and shouting "I don't like it!" as he squirmed away from Dan's relentless fingers. "No!" he complained, giggling and falling backwards, sandwich thankfully landing mostly on a napkin on the blanket below them as he squirmed and fought against Dan. "Stop it!" he moaned, and pushed Dan over until they'd both rolled onto the grass, tickling Dan back to the best of his ability. He was breathless with laughter, breathless with the sensation of being like this with Dan at all, beyond happy, and filled with endorphins. This man was his. Before he knew it, they were kissing all over again, with Phil muttering, "I'll take any last name, if it means I get to have you," before licking into Dan's mouth passionately.

"Take your punishment!" Dan squealed, chasing after Phil and refusing to let up. He giggled along, and then screamed as Phil pushed him over to return the favour. Dan groaned and wriggled his body around. He was laughing so hard that it hurt, and after all of the laughing he'd done today, he'd probably have some really nice abs by tomorrow. Then the tickling stopped, and Phil's hands were steady on his hips as he held him in place, his lips coming down to meet Dan's. Dan moaned quietly as Phil whispered to him, licking into his mouth, and Dan couldn't fucking believe that he was now engaged. If Phil had this planned the whole time... oh. Oh. No wonder Phil had been so upset by Dan’s idiocy yesterday. He'd been planning to propose and Dan had 'cancelled' on him. Dan could punch himself. But instead, he just intensified the kiss, biting at Phil's bottom lip and sucking it into his mouth, running his hands down Phil's back.

The little moan Dan let out was making Phil well excited. He couldn't help himself; suddenly, his cock was growing stiff in his jeans. It didn't help when Dan started to kiss him back just as passionately, biting on Phil's bottom lip and then sucking on it, forcing Phil's tongue back into his mouth. He let out a moan of his own, surprised by the sound and feel of it, deep from within him. Dan... Dan was his, and it had never felt as real as it did now. To be fair, it never felt real in general, like Phil was always in a dream every time he got to touch Dan, but this was so much more now. Dan and he were going to get married, how amazing was that? Phil pressed his body down on top of Dan's, and he kissed him harder, lips pulling back from his mouth to trail down his chin and to his ear. "Are you full, yet?" he asked, voice husky and hot.

Phil was pressing his body down onto him and Dan could feel the way their hips were pressed together. Just a small movement and Dan would be able to get some friction on his responding body... No. He couldn't do that. Not here, no matter how hot Phil sounded when he spoke, his voice deep and wrecked just from kissing. They were both obviously excited, the emotions from Phil's proposal making them revert back to their sixteen year old selves already. "I'm full," Dan gasped, biting his lip harshly to try and hold himself back from bucking up into Phil's body. "I think I'm ready for dessert," Dan teased, but the joke fell flat because of how turned on he was already. Damn himself and his body's hormones.

Phil could hear how wrecked Dan was just from the way the joke fell flat from his mouth, and it made him shudder on top of Dan. He was so tempted to roll his hips down and really make Dan crazy, but he wanted to get Dan in private even more, so he pulled back some, grinning down at Dan's flushed face. "That was a faster picnic than I was expecting," Phil murmured. "But we can finish the rest later," he added with a small wink, and then pushed himself to his feet. He stretched, and then adjusted himself in his pants, before going about getting the food put away. He was grinning from ear to ear, still hyped on the fact that Dan had said yes. He laughed because he couldn't contain it.

Dan grinned as Phil said they could finish later and pushed himself to his feet as Phil started to pack everything up. He was painfully hard, but he couldn't bring himself to care in the slightest, knowing they would be able to celebrate when they got back home. In the meantime, he had to adjust himself to hide just how turned on he was, and tried to help Phil pack up what was left. There wasn't much after throwing away the empty wrappers from what they had eaten, but there was still a hefty amount to save for later. It didn't take too long, and then they were walking home at a fast pace, holding hands and just drinking in each other's company. Phil kept playing with the ring on Dan's finger, and it made Dan smile at the reminder of what had just happened.

As they walked, Phil found himself obsessively playing with the ring that now adorned Dan's left ring finger, twirling it around his fingers softly and smiling to himself. He kept wanting to stop walking and make out with Dan some more, so fucking happy that they were engaged now, but he knew it would only dissolve into more if he didn't wait until they were home. He did his best, turning to smile at Dan nevertheless, until finally, eventually, they made it back home. Phil unlocked the front door, was the one to get it open,and before Dan could distract him anymore, forced himself to put the food and the picnic basket in the fridge, too lazy to get it all put away himself.

Dan was kind of expecting Phil to push him against the wall and take him as soon as they were in the house, but that didn't happen at all. Not in the slightest. Instead, Phil went and started to unpack their lunch, sticking everything uneaten into the fridge, and Dan whined pathetically. He grumbled all the while, until Phil quite literally put the entire picnic basket into the fridge. Dan grinned triumphantly and crowded Phil against the refrigerator, humming as he nudged their noses together. "I've been waiting all morning," Dan murmured, breath fanning across Phil's lips. "Best not make me wait any longer, dear." And then he pressed his lips hungrily to Phil's.

It wasn't until Phil got the fridge door shut that Dan pressed him into said door, and he found the breath knocked out of him. He'd nearly forgotten how amazing it felt to have Dan pressed to him like this. He didn't have much time to react before Dan was kissing him hungrily, reminding them both of the fact that Phil had avoided sex that morning as well. He moaned against Dan's mouth, but fought against him until he had room to speak as well. "Wanted to wait - wanted to make love to you with a ring on your finger," Phil explained. "Would have waited yesterday too but I was mad at you," Phil explained, before kissing Dan back just as hard.

"At least I can see what you were mad about now," Dan breathed against Phil's lips. He felt like his entire body had burst into flames, like he needed to get doused by cold water to put himself out. He shivered as Phil dragged him closer, his lips unforgiving, and Dan couldn't speak anymore. His body was Phil's and there was nothing else he wanted in that moment. He was already panting, already so hard, just from being kissed. Perhaps it was from the excitement of the proposal, or perhaps it was just from Phil kissing him and saying he wanted to make love to him, but Dan didn't know how long he could possibly last if he was this worked up already. "Phil, please," Dan whimpered quietly. And then, to be funny, he said, "Talk about the future to me," in a sultry voice, as if asking Phil to talk dirty to him.

Dan was always so unforgivingly pliant under Phil’s touch. It was kind of amazing and wonderful, to have someone trust him so much. Phil sighed into Dan's mouth, hands moving to his hips in order to drag him in closer, already pushing his shirt up and running his palms over Dan’s back. Dan just felt so good. Already Phil's mind was a mush of want and desire and not very much else. He wanted to take Dan to bed almost more than anything else. So, when Dan asked him to talk about the future, Phil almost didn't know what to say for a moment; therefore he just said whatever came to mind first as Dan’s crotch finally met his. "Gonna get a dog with you," Phil gasped into Dan's mouth.

Dan moaned low in his throat and his hips stuttered forward of their own accord. Why was that so sexy? Why did Dan's dick twitch with the words? Of course, it could have to do with the fact that Phil's voice was so completely wrecked, throaty and filled with lust, paired with the promise of a future. Dan attacked his lips with more fervor, and he felt sort of like an animal. He pulled away only to press kisses along Phil's jawline, trying to calm himself down because he was way too turned on. At this rate, he wouldn't last. "Yeah?" Dan breathed. "Fuck, how many dogs do you want?"

Dan's mouth was hot and hard on his, harsh in the way he kissed, desperate and needy. Phil found his cock twitching all over again and they were hardly grinding on each other yet. His hips kicked, and his fingers found Dan's hips as he pulled him close, got their bodies lined up, and started to press them together properly. A low moan fell from Phil's lips, but honestly, he just wanted more. He was about to suggest they take this to the bedroom when Dan pulled back from attacking Phil's mouth and asked him instead how many dogs they were going to have. Why was that a turn on? Maybe it was the way Dan asked, desperate, like having a future with Phil was the only thing he needed in life. Phil didn't even think, forcing Dan's hips into a steady rhythm rolling into his own, and pronounced, "Four, four dogs, Dan, fuck."

This shouldn't have been such a turn on. Why was this such a turn on? Dan already felt like he was going to explode, and it worsened when Phil dragged his hips forward and started to grind against him. He groaned, dropping his head onto Phil's shoulder and just letting Phil rock their bodies together. Phil's breath was hot in his ear as he spoke, and Dan was glad that Phil was actually going along with his request, because fuck, this was good. Dan was riding on endorphins and lust and it was the most amazing combination. But then Phil bucked into Dan in just the right way, where he could feel their hard ons sliding together through their trousers, and Phil's words washed over Dan, and then he was coming. He let out a loud choked noise and dug his teeth into Phil's shoulder, shaking with the force and surprise. "I- oh fuck!" Dan squealed, spilling into his jeans as his hips stuttered to give him the stimulation he needed. He didn't even have time to be embarrassed before Phil started to giggle and Dan's cheeks were flaming red. He couldn't believe he just came in his pants. Was he sixteen again?!

It was clearly a surprise to both of them; one second, Phil was grinding their hips together as a kind of foreplay, trying to get them both worked up enough to head upstairs, to want to strip out of their clothes so they could properly touch, and the next, Dan was coming in his pants purely from the sensation of Phil speaking hot words into his ear that weren't even that hot. Before he could help it, Phil was giggling, holding Dan in place as his boyfriend bit into his shoulder, and rocked forward with the force of his orgasm. Phil knew it was there from the way Dan had tensed, from the way he'd moaned, and his pants started to grow wet. Phil didn't mind so much as he was a little bit confused, and hella turned on now. He found his hands moving up from Dan's hips to press up under his shirt, caressing his skin as he moved to press kisses down his throat. "Well, now I know how badly you want a future with me," Phil murmured against his skin, biting down at Dan's clavicles as he went.

"Don't laugh at me," Dan whined, lifting his head to glare at his boyfriend. He knew it was all in good fun by the way Phil was grinning widely at him, amusement and fondness in his gaze, but he was embarrassed, damn it! Phil started to run his hands all over him, brushing against his skin under his shirt. He connected his lips to Dan's neck, making Dan whimper quietly. He was so oversensitive from his orgasm that each touch made Dan feel like he was on fire. He shivered and pressed closer to Phil. "Of course I want a future with you," he muttered. "Didn't we establish that with your proposal?" Phil shushed him by biting down harshly on his neck, and Dan's eyes rolled with pleasure. He could tell he was going to have a second orgasm already, and the excitement made his spent cock twitch in interest.

Phil found himself chuckling against Dan's skin, and while he had yet to have an orgasm of his own, Dan's orgasm seemed to have calmed him down some. He was kind of glad for it. He hadn't intended rough, heated sex just then. He wanted to make Dan feel loved, amazing, like he was the most important person in the world to Phil, because that's what he was. Phil found his hands moving more gently against Dan’s skin, his lips trailing back up to his mouth to take him into a kiss, but this time, he took charge, licking into Dan's mouth sweetly, trying to show Dan just how much he loved him. "M not laughing at you," Phil said as he drew away again. "I'm just so happy you're mine, and that this is real."

Before he replied to Dan's complaints, Phil kissed him so sweetly, so lovingly, that it made Dan's knees weak. He hummed, reciprocating with just as much love as Phil was putting into it. It didn't last too long before Phil was pulling away and speaking soft words to him. Dan's eyelids flickered closed and he smiled happily. "I'm happy too. The happiest man in the world." He giggled and nosed Phil's jaw. "I wanna show you off to everyone. Just wait until all of my friends and family know we're getting married. I'm never gonna shut up!" He kissed Phil once more, sighing softly. "Wanna go to your room?"

Dan was still kind of shaking in his arms, clearly trying to come down from his orgasm, but the way Phil had kissed him had made him melt all over again. Phil loved the feeling of Dan melting in his arms, loved the way it felt to have Dan seeming to come apart for him. He loved Dan so, so much, and knowing how much Dan loved and trusted him in turn was the best thing he had ever experienced. He rolled his eyes a little at the way Dan nosed his jaw and suggested they head up to his room, feeling arousal surge through him once more. "If you keep touching me like that, we might not make it at all. Think you can come for me again, Dan?" Phil asked, nosing him back and kissing his way along his jawline. "I think it gets us both going, talking about the future. God, I can't wait for everyone to know you're mine..."

Dan nodded eagerly at Phil's question, not letting up and just breathing against Phil's skin. He liked the way Phil felt so hot against him, how he leaned into his touch just that little bit more. "Might take me a bit, but I'll get there," Dan admitted, pulling back. He stared into Phil's eyes, loving the amount of adoration and fondness he found hidden in their depths. Dan felt his stomach clench with love, shivering. "I can't wait for our future. Love you so much." He grabbed Phil's hand then and started to drag him away from the refrigerator and back to his bedroom. He was eager, eager to have Phil show him just how loved he was and eager to show Phil how much Dan wanted himself to belong to him for the rest of their lives.

Dan's hand was warm in his as he dragged them both on their way, Phil smiling like a mad man at Dan and the ring on his finger. The band was pressed to Phil's skin, and one day, it would be accompanied by an actual wedding band. Phil truly could not wait. He knew that moment was going to be the best in the world for him, knew that every first of his from here on out would be made amazing by the fact that it would be Dan guiding him through them all. All he wanted was to kiss the living daylights out of Dan, so halfway up the stairs, Phil stopped and shoved Dan against the wall to do just that. He kissed him fiercely but lovingly, with as much soft passion as he could manage. "You are the love of my life," he whispered against Dan"s lips.

They were almost to the bedroom, almost where Dan could lay Phil down and kiss him all over, show him how much he loved him, when Phil stopped them both. Dan turned to look at him in question but didn't get to stay confused for long, because Phil was quite suddenly pressing him to the wall and kissing him hotly right on the staircase. Dan made a small noise of surprise, but didn't complain. Instead, he wrapped his arms around Phil and brought him in closer, opening his lips to let Phil explore his mouth. He giggled when Phil spoke and showed him just how much the words meant to him by squeezing Phil's love handles and kissing him softly. "You're the love of mine. Forever and ever."

Phil shivered under Dan's touch, appreciating it because it made him feel so overwhelmingly loved. Dan loved all of the parts of Phil that Phil didn't always love about himself and vice versa. Not bothering to reply to Dan, Phil let himself get lost in the sensation of kissing, and pressed his own hands up the bottom of Dan's shirt to play with his chest, nails scratching gently down the skin. Dan hissed under him, and Phil grinned, pulling back from his mouth to lick down his neck. "Where were we?" he asked, teasing, knowing Dan would want to get back to Phil's room now.

Dan didn't know how Phil did it. He'd literally had an orgasm not even five minutes ago, and his body was already responding so strongly to Phil as if he hadn't just busted a nut. It was amazing, and Phil had some really talented hands and lips. "You better get me up to your room before I make you fuck me on the stairs," Dan threatened, glaring at Phil as hard as he could. Phil didn't seem to find him scary, though instead just giggling and dragging him back towards his room.

The threat was less of a threat and more of a turn on; for one moment, Phil even considered it. He'd quite like to fuck Dan on the stairs, and in the kitchen, and just about everywhere, really. Phil wanted to have an imprint of Dan's memory all over the house, even if it wasn't sanitary. Despite the temptation, Phil wanted to make love to Dan more than anything else tonight. They could be kinky anytime, right now, Phil wanted to love Dan until Dan couldn't take it anymore. "Don't tempt me," he whispered, voice husky, before pulling away from Dan and tugging him by the arm gently back up to his room, letting out a small giggle at Dan's attempt at a scary face. "Or I might just fuck you here. Later. Right now, I want you on the bed," Phil decided.

Dan muttered under his breath how Phil was an evil man who just wanted to see how much he could turn him on in a short period of time. It wasn't fair. "Deal. Fuck me on the stairs later, love me in the bed now," Dan mused. He flung open the door to Phil's bedroom and didn't wait a moment before literally throwing himself on the bed. Then he froze and a smile came to his face. "Phil, Phil, Phil," he said darkly. Phil looked at him with confusion as Dan stood back up and made his way over to his luggage, rifling around in it. He snickered to himself when he pulled out something he'd been saving for this exact week. "I bought this the other night. Can I paint on you?" And then he flung the package of edible body paint at Phil. "No kinks involved. Just me, you, and my fabulous painting skills."

Phil couldn't help the next surge of arousal at hearing Dan suggest that Phil fuck him on those stairs later, just as Phil had admitted to wanting to do, and he bit back a moan as he stared at his boyfriend's ass as he pranced across his bedroom floor to jump on Phli's bed. Phil, meanwhile, was busy pulling his clothing off - or attempting to, all while he stared at Dan all pretty and spread out for him, just waiting for Phil to come and make love to him. Phil loved sex with Dan so fucking much, and while Dan had come in his pants mere minutes ago, Phil was still rock hard and desperate. Therefore, when Dan stopped everything to head to his bag, suddenly asking if he could paint on Phil, Phil frowned. He didn't want Dan to paint him right now, didn't Dan know how horny he was? But then he saw the name on the paints, and realized that Dan wanted to literally paint on him and lick hun clean afterwards, and while the foreplay almost seemed too much, Phil couldn't say no. "Fuck yes," he agreed, and stripped off his shirt instantly.

Dan could have started purring just from hearing Phil's agreement. He watched hungrily as Phil stripped his shirt from his body, revealing his pale chest and stomach. Dan wasted no time and practically attacked Phil, shoving Phil backwards until he was sprawled on the bed with Dan hovered over him. Dan licked his lips as he stared down at his boyfriend, trying to decide which part of him he wanted to paint first. Every part of Phil looked like a canvas; it was hard to make a decision. Dan attached his lips to Phil's collarbone first, biting and sucking on the skin while he ran his fingers down Phil's sides until they rested on the waistband of his jeans. "Take these off. Don't want to stain your clothes," Dan purred, tugging on the material. He couldn't wait to get his mouth all over Phil.

The shirt was on the ground the same second that Dan was shoving Phil onto the bed this time, climbing over top him and staring at his body like he wanted to eat Phil - which, technically, he did, when he leaned over and bit at his collarbones, sucking to soothe over the mark he'd made. Phil could feel his cock twitching in his jeans from the sight, and was tempted to reach down and palm himself, but before he could, Dan was interrupting his movements to instead tug at the waistband of them, purring out a demand that made Phil's skin prickle with heated tension. Nodding his head dumbly, lips parted as he panted, Phil reached down and undid the button and zip, wiggling out of his jeans almost instantly afterwards; all the while, Dan stared on, looking almost cat like as he stared at Phil's body.

Phil obliged Dan's commands, shoving his jeans off as fast as he possibly could while Dan just sat back and watched. When he was sat in just his boxers on Phil’s bed, he made a noise in the back of his throat that resembled a growl more than anything else. Phil's boxers left close to nothing to Dan's imagination, his milky thighs revealed and a large tent in the fabric. "So gorgeous," Dan murmured, wasting no time getting his hands all over that beautiful pale skin. He leaned in for a kiss, rubbing his fingers over Phil's thighs. He was still fully clothed, but Dan paid no mind to it yet, instead directing his entire attention to how good Phil felt underneath him, all laid out for him and ready to be made into a piece of art. Ready for Dan to lick him clean.

Phil's favorite thing in the world was Dan petting over Phil's thighs. He didn't know why but it was a massive turn on, and only made more so when Dan was calling him gorgeous and admiring his body like this. Phil often spent so much time in control that he forgot how wonderful it felt to have Dan saying sweet things to him. Phil made a small moaning noise as Dan leaned in to kiss him, and hummed sweetly into the kiss, feeling small and vulnerable in all of the best ways. His body shook under Dan, and he was suddenly cold as Dan pulled back to stare at him again, blushing darkly to be stared at like Dan wanted to eat him. Biting his lip, Phil said, "Are you going to paint me now?"

Dan was shaken from his awed stares by Phil asking him if he was going to paint him. He'd nearly forgotten what he was going to do because he was so caught up in how gorgeous Phil looked, how Dan had gotten so lucky to have Phil as his boyfriend- no, Fiance. He shivered, realizing he'd been getting lost in thought again, and nodded. "Of course,” Dan murmured. But first... he started to strip himself of his own clothing, starting with his shirt before moving to his trousers. His boxers came off with them due to how tight his jeans were, but he hardly cared. "Oops," he said noncommittally, dropping all of his clothing to the ground and then grabbing the box of paints. He smiled at Phil, trailing one of his fingers over Phil's chest. "I figured I'd experiment and try finger-painting this time." And with that, he dumped the little of bottles of paint on the bed.

Dan, newly galvanized into action, made Phil remember that he still had his own boxers on, so while Dan stripped, Phil did too, pulling off his last article of clothing to leave himself open and exposed to Dan. He shivered under the cold evening air, but was happy to see Dan getting undressed, giggling a bit at the way Dan accidentally yanked off his boxers and his jeans all at the same time. Seeing all the skin newly revealed to him, though, was amazing, and he stared hungrily until Dan reached for the paints, declaring he was going to try finger painting this time around. Quite suddenly, Dan was sliding a playful finger down Phil's chest and dumping the paints out all over the bed next to him, something that made Phil shiver in anticipation. "Fuck," he muttered, and arched his chest into Dan's chest. "Paint me, then. Wanna see what you can do to me, wanna see you lick me clean"

Dan shivered at Phil's words. Fuck, how was he so attractive all the time? Dan didn't know how he'd gotten so lucky. He hummed, rubbing over Phil's abdomen and thighs before finally reaching for the paints. "Lay down, love, let me take care of you," Dan purred, cracking open the jar of red paint. It was apparently supposed to taste like cherry. Dan didn't know how he felt about that. He dipped his index finger in, swirling it in the paint while he stared at Phil thoughtfully. When he was presented with such a beautiful canvas, where could he even start? As it stood, Dan pressed his painted finger to Phil's chest, drawing a heart. It was quickly followed by more paint and him drawing the words, i love you in sloppy script. "Love you," Dan murmured quietly, just before leaning in to lick the paint from Phil's chest. It was slightly strange, a thick and chalky consistency, but it wasn't terrible in the least. He liked laving his tongue around Phil's skin, even caught Phil's nipple between his teeth playfully, his fingers splayed on Phil's thighs while he leaned over him.

There was something particularly erotic about having Dan painting his skin, painting his chest. Something erotic in the way his fingers moved over Phil's body with a purpose that wasn't exactly sexual, but was all the same. Maybe it was the knowledge that Dan was going to lick it off, or the way Dan looked at him, but Phil's' cock started to strain painfully, and he was panting before Dan had even properly done anything to him. He could see that Dan was starting to grow as well, until he was nearly fully hard again so soon after his first orgasm. Phil was never going to forget the way he'd made Dan come just from talking about their future together. Even now, it turned him on, until he was gasping out an "I love you, too," and moaning at the feeling of Dan leaning in to kiss and lick away the paint on his body. It was.... an amazing feeling. He gasped as Dan licked around his skin, and then let out a proper, loud moan at Dan biting his nipple, body bucking up into his touch, legs shaking at the way Dan stroked his thigh along with it. Dan knew all of Phil's spots, knew everything he loved, and he was going to scream with how intense everything suddenly seemed to feel. "Dan," he said.

"What?" Dan purred, loving how needy and wrecked Phil sounded already. And he hadn't even really touched him yet. Dan was lucky because he had already had an orgasm, while Phil was probably desperate by now. Dan was starting to get there too, ignoring how his own body reacted to each slide of Phil's skin against his own and how good Phil looked laid out for him like that. "You like that? Like me licking all over you and cleaning you up?" To prove his point, he dipped his finger in blue and dashed it right under Phil's chin. He didn't give him time to process before he was leaning forward and lapping that off as well, his mouth exploding with the taste of Phil and blueberries. Phil shivered under him, and Dan smirked, trying not to just give in and grind down on Phil right then and there. It'd be so easy. Phil was just laid out underneath him, Dan could feel Phil's dick brushing against his stomach. He marvelled at how much self control Phil had not to just tug him down and have his way with him right then. Dan knew he wouldn't have done that if he hadn't just come.

Dan was hot like this, taking charge. It happened so rarely, but now, two days in a row, Dan was the one making love to Phil and taking care of him in all of the best ways. It made Phil heady with desire, and his eyes were half mast as he stared at Dan hover over top of him, made him grunt in agreement when Dan leaned in and licked a stripe of something blue from his chin. Phil was so, so tempted to forcefully drag Dan down, to make him grind against him, but Phil wanted this to last. He wanted Dan to make him feel loved and marked all over. "Love it," Phil agreed, closing his eyes now as Dan swiped something along his neck, only to chase it with his tongue. He shivered, cock throbbing at the feeling, and clenched his fingernails into the duvet underneath him. Shit, shit, Dan's mouth felt so good on him. He turned his head, gave Dan better access to his neck, and arched once more, though he was doing his best to keep himself in check. He didn't want to come too early.

"Good," Dan said, and he went to town on Phil's neck. He liked the way it made Phil shake under him when he licked along the sensitive skin, how he seemed to be doing everything in his power not to just buck up into Dan right then and there. Dan bit down lightly on Phil's collarbone, sucking to make a mark, and then leaned back to look at his work. He pressed a purple finger into it, drew a star, and then licked it off again. He made his way all the way down Phil's body, laving along his skin and tasting grape and lemon and apple. He licked orange off his hipbones, smiling into the skin when Phil moaned loudly and tried to thrust into his touch. He had to force Phil's hips down with his hands to keep him in place while he sucked love bites into Phil's hips and his inner thighs. He liked the way it made Phil whine above him. Heat pooled in Dan's abdomen and he panted against Phil's skin, rubbing his erection against the bed to get some of the pressure off. He wanted this to last, wanted Phil to make love to him. Phil was just so attractive like this. Dan moaned lowly and took a bit of green on his finger, pulling away from Phil's thighs. He smeared the paint on Phil's lips, chuckling as Phil's tongue immediate flicked out to lick it up. "No," Dan ordered, tapping on his lip and leaving a green smear again. "Don't lick." Phil obeyed, his eyes blown wide with lust as he looked at Dan. That's what spurred Dan forward, pressing their lips together sloppily. It tasted like apples and Phil and everything that Dan loved when he sucked Phil's lip into his mouth. His tongue lapped off the paint and he groaned low in his throat, finally collapsing on top of Phil and feeling their bodies slide together.

It seemed to take forever, Dan painting over him and licking it back up, sucking marks into his skin and driving Phil crazy. It reminded him of back when they'd first gotten together, first had sex, and Phil had loved every inch of Dan's body with his mouth. That's what Dan was doing now, what Dan had done many times in the past, but this time, this time, he was eating literal food off of Phil's skin, and somehow, that made it so much more erotic. The feeling of Dan painting on him, only for his tongue to come along and warm up the cold bits of skin, sucking and biting marks into his body, the most sensitive of places, was driving Phil furcking insane in the best of ways. His hips kept pushing up, trying to get something, but Dan was good, Dan was good at keeping them in place, in pushing them back down, even as he bit and licked at Phil's inner thighs, so close to where Phil wanted him most. Phil was glad for Dan though, glad Dan was taking his time with him, glad that Dan loved him so fucking much. When Dan finally moved back up to his lips, Phil immediately licked at them, only to have to force himself to hold back when Dan asked him to, painting over his lips all over again before surging in for a proper kiss. It felt so fuckin good, to finally have Dan's mouth there, and then, just as it was getting good, Dan pressed his body over Phil's and Phil gave in. His hands fell to Dan's hips, instead of the bed, and he shoved them both over until he was climbing on top of Dan, rutting his hips down into his boyfriends - fiances - and licking into his mouth hotly. He took control, fingers trailing up Dan's skin, nails scratching, mouth yearning, and he let his hips take over. They rutted together in the best of ways, with heat pooling in Phil's belly, only he didn't want to come like this. He wanted more, wanted to take Dan, to have him, to make him feel amazing, and so, despite the way his body screamed at him to keep going, Phil pulled his hips back and panted down at Dan, pupils blown wide. "Fucking - fucking love you," he groaned, and then he was attacking Dan's mouth all over again, scrambling for something to use to prepare Dan's body to take him.

The paints dropped from Dan's hands as Phil surged forward and kissed Dan back as if he'd been waiting his entire life just for that one gesture. Dan almost felt bad; he could tell that paint had gotten on Phil's bedsheets. But then, Phil was pushing them over, climbing on top of Dan, dominating him like he knew Dan liked, and he didn't have the willpower to care about the dumb paints. Why would he, when he had the man of his dreams grinding into him so deliciously and devouring his mouth like it was the best thing he'd ever tasted? "Love you more," Dan gasped, opening himself up for Phil. He put his legs around Phil's waist, dragging them closer together while Phil tried to scramble for something, probably lube. He just wanted to hold Phil closer, to feel him against him. To show him how much he loved him. Dan groaned, scratching his nails down Phil's back hard enough to leave marks behind. "I can't wait for you to make love to me," Dan admitted softly, pressing a kiss to Phil's jawline.

Somehow, Phil's fingers came into contact with the paints, first, and while there was no way he was sticking that up Dan's bum, it did make him pause. As Dan pressed a kiss to Phil's jawbone, wrapped his legs around his waist, and generally made it known that he wanted Phil to fuck him now, Phil couldn't help thinking of the fact that he hadn't really gotten to work Dan up at all. Slowly, very slowly so as not to upset his fiance, Phil untangled himself and stared down at him with a soft, predatory gaze. He licked his lips for good measure, grinning widely, and then shimmied down the bed while Dan watched, popping the lid on the green paint he'd accidentally grabbed. Dan hadn't done this, so maybe it wasn't the safest thing, but Phil had heard of people eating whipped cream off each other... surely...surely. Phil lathered his hand in the green paint, and then slowly reached for Dan's cock, stroking it gently but avoiding the slit as he watched Dan stare with his mouth open at Phil. Phil winked, and then, when he thought Dan was worked up enough, when his eyes went half mast, Phil leaned in and sucked Dan's cock into his mouth, moaning around the taste of him. It was some strange appley thing, but it was nothing compared to the taste of Dan on his tongue, and Phil moaned as he realized he could still taste Dan's last orgasm on him. He sunk down low to get more of the taste, more of the sensation, before bobbing back up, gasping around Dan's cock and pressing his fingers into his hips when Dan started to buck into the sensation. Lube. They needed lube. Phil couldn't for the life of him remember where he'd stashed it last night. Gasping as he pulled off of Dan's dick to a whine of protest from Dan, Phil reached for the green paint again, coated it over his hand, and said, "Find the lube, and I'll finger you too."

Dan let out an immediate whine as Phil started to disconnect himself from their embrace. How dare he try to get away? Especially when Dan was so comfortable and turned on, kissing him like that! But then Phil reached for the paints, seeming a mix of cautious and curious, and Dan kind of just went, oh. His mouth dropped open and he stared at his boyfriend with heavy lidded eyes and ragged breaths. Was he...? His question was answered when the bottle of green was popped open with a loud pop and Phil smeared the liquid on his hand. He looked between the paint, and then to the area between Dan's legs, and Dan spread his legs further subconsciously. His mouth dropped open as Phil reached for him, wrapping his hand around Dan's cock and smearing the green paint all over it. Dan wanted to make a joke about the Hulk, but his thoughts came to a screeching halt as Phil leaned forward and quite suddenly sucked him into his mouth. Dan gasped loudly, his hips bucking into the delicious heat of Phil's mouth. He could feel Phil sucking around him, running his tongue over his skin to lick off the paint, and Dan's eyes rolled back with pleasure. It didn't last long before Phil was pulling back, demanding Dan find lube, and he scrambled for the drawer as Phil coated more green on his hand. He couldn't find it. Where could the lube have gone?! They couldn't have thrown it that far! Dan rifled through the drawers and all over the bed, coming up empty handed. He was about to say fuck it and just tell Phil to take him raw, when he looked on the floor and found it amidst a pile of clothing. "Finally!" he gasped, reaching for it and chucking it at Phil. "Finger me open. Please!"

Phil hadn't actually thought about the fact that, if Dan went looking for the lube, he wouldn't be staying still enough for Phil to suck on his cock some more, so when Dan started to move around just as Phil reached for his dick again, he found himself pouting and instead reaching for his own cock with his paint less hand, stroking over himself languidly as Dan went about searching for the lube everywhere. His lips were parted, his breathing heavy, and he couldn't stop staring at all of the skin left exposed to him. Dan was so, so beautiful. Phil grunted a bit, his hips bucking into his hand, and then, just when it seemed like all hope was lost, Dan was reaching over the bed and coming back with the lube, which he then tossed at Phil with the demand that he finger him open. Phil grinned, letting go of his own dick and pushing Dan back down against the bed, the hand coated in paint going straight for his dick to stroke over it again. Dan let out another moan, and Phil reached for the lube with a grin and popped open the cap one handed. It was a messy struggle, but Phil managed to get his fingers wet with lube, and then he was leaning in and taking Dan's cock back into his mouth to suckle at it, messy as ever, fingers prodding at Dan's bum. Dan spread his legs further for Phil, which he appreciated, and then, when Dan seemed to have relaxed, Phil pressed the first finger forward, all the while never once moving his mouth from Dan's cock.

There were so many sensations. Phil immediately got his hands back on him, his hand wet with paint that he smeared all over Dan's dick the second Dan laid back down. He moaned and bucked into the touch, his eyes hungry as they followed Phil's fingers where they opened the bottle of lube. He watched through half lidded eyes as he poured it over his fingers, a bit messily, and then let the bottle fall back to the bed. Dan spread his legs, presenting himself to Phil, and awaited for the moment Phil sank his digits into him. Before Phil got his fingers in him, he leaned forward and took his cock back into his mouth, sucking it down as far as he could take it. Dan moaned, and then keened even louder as Phil suddenly prodded at his hole, sinking his finger into him. Dan didn't know whether to fuck his hips forward or back, and he ended up messily thrusting into Phil's mouth while simultaneously trying to grind back into Phil's fingers. It was messy and didn't really work, and they both knew it. Phil ended up slapping Dan's thigh as a warning, and Dan stopped moving his hips. It was so hard, though, especially when he was so hard he could feel the pleasure of Phil all the way through his toes.

It was the strange sensation of Dan attempting to fuck forwards and backwards that threw Phil off, and he ended up slapping at Dan's thigh to make him stop despite his whine of protest. It was just too difficult to keep any kind of rhythm when Dan was fucking himself messily like that, and besides - "Wanna take care of you myself. Let me take control," he insisted, knowing Dan liked it best that way regardless, even as he always acting like a bosy bottom. Dan moaned at the words which spurred Phil on even more, and he found another rythym despite pulling away from Dan's cock to instead lick at his belly. His intent was to kiss the soft, tender flesh of Dan's tummy, but he was distracted by Dan's hips where Phil had pressed some paint on accident. He nuzzled at Dan, fucking him slowly with his finger, before biting into that bit of flesh on his hips and licking it over for good measure. Dan always tasted so good.

Dan gave into Phil without a fight. He liked having Phil take control anyways, liked to just let him do as he pleased without any input. He always made Dan feel so, so good no matter what he did. He let his head fall back onto the pillows, his hands bunching into the duvet as he tried to hold himself back from grinding into the feeling. Phil fingered him skillfully, knowing exactly where to press and how to curl his fingers. He knew just how to pleasure Dan now that they'd been together for so long. Dan was then distracted by Phil pulling off of him, whining at the loss of warmth. That was then turned to a moan of surprise as Phil bit his hip. He soothed the wound with his hot tongue, and Dan shivered. "Want you," Dan murmured quietly, practically shaking in his skin.

Grinning against Dan's skin, Phil just continued to nip at his hip lightly, the bone there tender and warm. Dan always seemed to like when Phil bit into places like that, usually preferring his collarbones, but he'd have to make do down here because the sweet scent of Dan's dick was so intoxicating that Phil didn't want to move too far away from it. Besides that, he had a finger pressed deep inside of Dan at just the right angle. Shifting up to bite Dan's collarbones would only cause him to lose it. Panting a little, Phil pressed a second finger to Dan's entrance, and really started to stretch him, spreading his fingers apart inside of Dan and watching him writhe under Phil's ministrations. "Want you too," Phil finally muttered back, licking over Dan's hip again now, and moving down to the supple skin of his thigh. "You are so, so beautiful Dan. My fiance," He whispered, reminded once more of the fact that Dan was so, so his.

Finally, Phil was adding another finger, stretching Dan open further. This was one of Dan's favourite parts of sex with Phil. He loved how long Phil's fingers were, how delicate and gentle they were. He also liked the feeling of being fingered open slowly, getting him ready for something much, much bigger. Maybe Dan had a kink for Phil's hands. He wouldn't put it past himself, if he was being honest. By now, he practically had a kink for everything to do with Phil. Dan shivered, whimpering out high pitched and needy. "Your fiance. All yours. Can't wait to marry you."

Shit, fuck, there was nothing like hearing Dan say those words to him, nothing like Dan being so desperate to marry him, nothing like having him whine and shiver under Phil's touch. It did something crazy to Phil's insides, and he bit down harshly on Dan's thigh to hide the overpowering whine that was about to slip past his own lips. His fingers kept working, but they stuttered inside of Dan's body, pressing into that little bundle of nerves he knew Dan loved so much. He heard Dan cry out and felt him arch his hips, and had to fight to keep himself from pulling his fingers out and just fucking Dan right then and there. "Shit, shit, Dan," Phil groaned, and crooked his fingers, rubbing the pads of his fingers against that little spot. "I am so in love with you."

A sharp pain notified Dan of Phil's teeth biting down harshly on the sensitive skin of his thigh. He cried out, squeezed his eyes shut, to try to contain himself. He felt like he was going to lose it already and he hadn't even gotten Phil's dick in him yet. He was probably going to last a total of two seconds when Phil finally got inside of him at this rate. “Fuck!" Dan cried out, his body lurching violently when Phil's fingers crooked and they were pressing into his prostate. Hard. Dan let out a moan akin to a sob and arched his hips, unable to stop himself from moving with the pleasure. "I love you, I love you, please Phil!" Dan sobbed, wriggling on the bed. Phil's fingers were relentless, rubbing into the same spot with no cares in the world. Dan was mumbling gibberish, but he couldn't bring himself to care when he was this pleasured just by Phil's fingers.

God, Phil wanted to make Dan sound like this forever. He could already see Dan's cock dribbling pre cum, and Phil knew he'd only come maybe a half an hour ago now. Seeing Dan getting so close already was particularly hot, but it wasn't helping the way Dan was gasping out "I love you's" you like that. Phil loved that sound more than anything in the world, loved getting to hear Dan say those words so close to him now, when he could kiss them off of his tongue - only he couldn't, and he wouldn't, not just now. Instead, he slipped his fingers out only to press in three instead, and, doing his best to avoid Dan's sweet spot, stretched him open the rest of the way to take Phil's cock. "Tell me when you're ready for me, love," he whispered against silky skin, and kissed his thigh all over again.

Instead of just fucking him senseless like Dan wanted, Phil took his fingers out instead. Dan whined with the loss, trying to chase them, to shove them back inside so he could be in blissful pleasure for the rest of time. Then Phil was pressing in three fingers, narrowly avoiding his prostate, and Dan didn't know what was worse: nearly coming again with just two fingers, or being stretched open without any prostate stimulation. Apparently Dan was just insanely sensitive today, because he could hardly hold himself back from screaming at Phil to just forget the third finger and fuck him already. He made himself wait. It wouldn't be very pleasurable if Phil was forcing him past his breaking point just because he was too impatient to be stretched properly. So he waited, breathing heavily through his nose with his mouth gaped wide open. His eyes were closed and he was trying not to focus so much on the amazing feeling, but rather whether he was okay to continue or not. It worked to calm him down a little bit, just enough so he didn't feel like he was going to come at any moment. Finally, after a few agonizing minutes, Dan caved in. "I'm ready," he panted, opening his eyes and staring down at Phil. "Love me, Phil. Please."

Phil could practically see the struggle painted across Dan's face as he attempted to control himself, not wanting to come before the real fun began. It made Phil tempted to take a break, but it wasn't as easy as that. It was clear Dan didn't want to stop, regardless, so Phil just continued to prep.him all while avoiding any actual prostate stimulation. He knew Dan didn't prefer that, but Phil was more concerned with getting them to the end; therefore, when Dan begged him to love him, Phil could do nothing but groan and pull his fingers out of him. "Yes," he agreed instantly, wanting nothing more. Being pressed to Dan like that - it was all that Phil could ever want. He reached for the lube once more to coat it over his dick, and leaned over Dan at the same time to finally kiss him again. The touch was electric. It made Phil feel loved in a way not much else could as he panted into Dan's mouth, lining his hips up with Dan’s. He wanted to do this face to face for once. "Dan," he whispered. "Ready?" he asked, just for good measure.

Dan was glad that Phil had opted out of a condom this time. Sure, sometimes he preferred to do it with, just because he was lazy and didn't like to clean up after himself, but he wanted to feel Phil today. He wanted to feel every inch as Phil pressed himself into him, and every slide as he pulled out. He wanted Phil to show him how much he loved him, wanted to feel connected. He watched through lidded eyes as Phil rubbed lube over himself before lining himself up with Dan. He kissed him, his mouth hot and passionate, and it was all that Dan had wanted. He hadn't noticed that he'd closed his eyes again until Phil was whispering his name. Only then did he look up, staring into Phil's gentle blue eyes. Dan nodded wildly when Phil asked him if he was ready. He could feel the head of Phil's cock pressing against his entrance, and his hole was practically twitching with anticipation already. "Oh, fuck yes," he whispered breathlessly.

Lost in the moment, Phil couldn't even consider stopping to find a condom, and Dan wasn't complaining. They both liked it bare sometimes, and today seemed like as good a day as any to go without. Phil was waiting, though, waiting for Dan's approval, so when he got it, Dan's voice already gone, Phil grunted and shifted his hips forward with a drawn out sigh of pleasure as the head of his cock pressed past Dan's rim. This was always one of the most wonderful parts, the feeling of sinking so slowly into Dan, a tease to both of them, but the best kind of tease. Phil’s stomach curled with pleasure, and he could feel heat flaring through him from head to toe. His mouth dropped open, and Dan was crying out beneath him, so Phil leaned in and kissed him just as passionately as before, but doing his best to make this feel like love, rather than getting so lost in the pleasure that he just took. Once he'd bottomed out, he stayed there, just reveling in the sensation of being connected to Dan, in the sensation of being pressed so far into him, cock warmed by his body. "Dan," Phil whispered once more into his lips, and then kissed him again, soft and lazy.

As soon as Dan was giving his approval, Phil was sinking into him. He went slowly, making sure that he didn't hurt Dan, but it never really hurt much more anyways. It was always the same overwhelming feeling of being full, of being connected, and it was always much more intense without the condom. Dan was glad they decided not to use one this time. His mouth fell open and his eyes fluttered shut so he could just focus on the amazing feeling of Phil's cock entering him, dragging against his walls and opening him up little by little. He whimpered, reached down to clasp a hand around the back of Phil's thigh to urge him forward. When he bottomed out, it was the most amazing feeling, as it always was. Except this time, Dan had the knowledge that this was their first time having sex engaged, that he was able to keep Phil with him for forever. Phil's groin was pressed snugly to Dan's ass, letting Dan adjust to his length, and he just stayed there while Dan clenched around him. "Phil," Dan whined. His eyes were still closed but he could feel Phil bending down to meet his lips, kissing him with so much love and passion that Dan could feel tears start to prick at his eyes. He was just so happy.

This time, when Phil started to move, it felt like something entirely different to normal. His mouth was still on Dan's, sweet and gentle, his tongue stroking sweetly along Dan's, and his hips shifted just the barest amount. He didn't truly want to leave the warmth of Dan, not even for pleasure, but he knew what they both wanted, both needed, and he picked up a slow pace of rolling his hips, pulling out the tiniest bit before pressing back in. Dan was whimpering underneath him, one of his hands on Phil's thigh, and the other locked in his hair, but Phil didn't mind. He had both of his own hands braced on Dan's sides, holding him as gently as he could while he rolled his hips into Dan, taking him slow and neatly. It felt so fucking good, even these tiny little movements, and Dan's cock kept sliding along his belly, and it made Phil feel warm inside. He could feel all of Dan, so tight and warm around him, his rim fluttering to take Phil, his body sucking him in. He groaned against Dan's mouth, felt tears starting to prick his eyes. This man was his, all his now, and always would be. They were engaged, and God, God, did that feel amazing.

So slowly that Dan probably wouldn't have felt it if he weren't so sensitive right then, Phil started to move. It wasn't their normal, needy fucking. Instead, it was just Phil gently holding Dan while he made love to him. He was so soft, as if he was scared Dan would break, and for once, Dan didn't try to hurry him up. He was happy with the pace, happy to have Phil showing him how much he meant to him. He was whimpering, never breaking their kiss, and tried to meet Phil's tiny thrusts each time. He stopped that after a minute though, wanting to have Phil take control and decide where they went next, so he just reveled in the feeling of Phil's cock stretching him open and the slow and steady movements. This way, Dan could feel every inch as Phil pressed into him, every slide as he pulled back out. It made it so much more intense. "Love you," Dan breathed once again, not being able to say much else. He kept his eyes closed, knowing that if he opened them, he would probably start crying right then and there. Sometimes, he just couldn't help it though. Phil just made him feel so loved that his tears came out, and there was not much he could do to stop them.

Phil smiled at the words, at the breathless way that Dan said them, whispered them against his lips, and finally stopped kissing him to press his lips to Dan's ear instead. The pleasure was sending sparks of fire up and down his spine, and his body wanted to move faster, to take and take and take, but Phil wasn't having it. No, he pressed his lips to Dan's ears, and he started to talk, all while he kept up the slow, steady pace of his hips, rolling them into Dan, back and forth, pulling out a little bit more here and there, and pushing back in, but never in a rush. "I love you so much, Daniel Howell. You're the love of my life, God, all I want is to marry you. All I want is to spend every waking moment of the rest of our lives together. How did I get so lucky with you? You're so amazing, Dan, so, so fucking amazing. You make me feel alive," he whispered, gasped as Dan clenched down around him, hips stuttering, and then groaned as he leaned further down to bite down into Dan's shoulder. He could feel his body starting to shake from the effort of taking this slow, could feel himself starting to sweat, but he didn't care. "Beautiful," he whispered then, and kissed at Dan's perfect skin. "And mine. My fiance."

The words were exactly what Dan needed to hear, and were too much at the same time. He was shaking, his hole clenching down and his cock jumping with the praise. He moaned loudly, his fingers squeezing tighter to Phil's thigh and his head nuzzling into the crook of Phil's neck. His heart swelled in his chest, adding onto the sensitivity of the experience. "Oh God," Dan choked out, and then he made the mistake of opening his eyes. Phil was staring down at him with a look of complete adoration, his hair messed up from where Dan had tangled his fingers. His cheeks were tinged pink from the exertion of taking Dan slow, and there was a fond smile on his lips. He was looking at Dan like he was the most amazing thing that he'd laid eyes on, and Dan believed it too. Lips quivering, Dan could feel his eyes well up with tears, and he threw his arms around Phil's shoulders to bring him closer as the tears started to overflow. Dan clenched his eyes shut and wrapped his legs around Phil's waist, doing everything in his power to get Phil pressing deeper into him until he could feel the extra burn, the extra stretch. It was Dan's favourite feeling. "I love you, I really do. I don't want anyone else, Phil. I can't wait to marry you and call you my husband soon. I want-," Dan cut himself off, gasping as Phil moved a bit and consequently rubbed against his prostate. The responding fuzzy feeling was welcomed. "I want to be a Lester more than anything in the world."

When Dan opened his eyes, Phil could see the tears there, and the only reason he didn't panic instantly at the sight was the fact that there were tears in his own eyes, and he was certain, so certain, he wasn't hurting Dan. Dan was crying because he was so overwhelmed with love for Phil, and when he threw both his arms and his legs around Phil's body, dragging him closer and getting his cock ever deeper, Phil knew that he was right. He gasped at the sensation regardless, hips jerking for more, but he tried to hold himself in place, tried to keep up that same pace, making a small whimpering whining noise when Dan gasped and Phil realized he was pressing into his prostate. Dan's tears had started to fall, but Phil's did not until Dan told him he wanted nothing more than to be a Lester. In that moment, the tears flowed freely, and his hips really started to take Dan, fucking into him, deep and that little bit faster. Phil just wanted now, wanted so much, and he pulled himself up to kiss Dan sloppily and deeply. "Daniel Lester," he gasped, giggling out a half sob of desire, and closed his eyes to just take this moment in.

Like a switch had been turned on, Phil let out a noise akin to a sob and started to actually thrust, fucking into Dan like he physically couldn't hold himself back anymore. They were overwhelmed with the feeling of each other, of the promise of a future, and it made everything feel so much more intense. Dan let out a giggle as Phil kissed him hard, sloppy, so overcome with joy that they couldn't even try to make it good. He was pressing so deep into Dan, and his body was responding accordingly, precome dripping from his slit and his toes curling with pleasure. Phil was pounding repeatedly into his prostate, and it was making his head spin and his stomach clench. "Phil, Phil," Dan gasped, throwing his head pack and panting. He was squirming, trying to keep himself from coming undone. "I'm close! So close!"

His hips were well and truly out of his control now as he rutted into Dan, chasing his pleasure despite wanting to make this good for Dan. His balls were clenching up tight to his body, and his stomach was clenched as well, his breathing broken and ragged as he panted against Dan's lips. He wanted to touch Dan, to pet him, to tell him again how much he loved him, but he couldn't. He was just so overwhelmed, so desperate for Dan, so needy and ready to come, the orgasm drawing out of him impossibly slow. Phil gritted his teeth, the feeling of fucking Dan so deep giving him the most intense of pleasure, but if he was honest, he was so ready to come now. He'd been hard for ages, and Dan was clenching up around him as well, gasping out that he was close, squirming under Phil's ministrations as Phil's cock continued to rub along his prostate, stimulating him from the inside. That's when Phil started to feel the pull behind his belly button, the tell tale sign that was he was going to come, and he gasped out his own warning as he reached between their bodies to grasp Dan's cock in his hand. He collapsed, half on top of Dan, as his hips lost their rhythm, fucking Dan good and proper now, and then he was well and truly coming, feeling himself fill Dan up with his come, and overjoyed with the fact that Dan was well and truly his.

Phil only fucked him harder when Dan gasped out, hitting his prostate each time he pushed back into him. Dan could feel Phil's cock pulsing, growing impossibly harder as he drew closer to the edge, and Dan sobbed with pleasure. It was almost too much when Phil reached between his legs to stroke him, his thumb sliding over the head of his cock to gather the leaking precome. He knew the moment that Phil started to come, slamming into his hole hard, once, twice, and then there was the feeling of warmth as he came in Dan, filling him to the rim. "Fuck, you feel so good!" Dan moaned, long and drawn out, his eyes rolling with pleasure and his mouth slack as Phil continued to ride himself through his orgasm. It was with that that Dan came as well, his body going completely still and a sob tearing from his throat as he came in hard spurts over his stomach and Phil's hand. It was almost like he'd never orgasmed the first time, and he was left twitching as Phil stroked him through it until he was squirming away from the overstimulation.

The orgasm had basically knocked everything else out of Phil, and it was kind of a miracle that Phil even managed to keep stroking his hand over Dan's dick, his hips pressing pressing, pressing inwards until his own crotch was flush to Dan's ass and there was nowhere for either of them to go. It was one of the most intense sensations of Phil's life, something he got often with Dan, but never like this; never when he was still high off the feeling of love that came with being newly engaged to Dan. He managed to work over Dan's dick with his hand until his boyfri- fiance came as well, and then he just kept going until Dan was squirming away. "Sorry, sorry," he whined, still panting and trying to come down from his own high. "You just - you're amazing," he gasped out.

Dan was still feeling extremely fuzzy, shaky like he'd just run five kilometers. He breathed out a laugh, shaking his head fondly. "You're even more amazing," Dan admitted, relaxing into the pillows. He was so tired all of a sudden that he felt as if he could sink into the bed and through the floorboards. He made grabby hands at Phil, pouting. "Well?" he asked, teasing. His voice was tinged with both warmth and tiredness. "Aren't you going to cuddle me until I'm sick of you? Fiance?"

Phil could hardly hold himself up, let alone pull out of Dan, so at the pouty face and grabby hands, Phil merely moaned and tried to move himself so he could at least properly pull out of Dan. "Let me, just - shush, you can't use that as a weapon against me!" he complained, even as he did manage to push himself up so he could feel free of Dan. Dan would only be even more sore later if Phil stayed in him too long. Meanwhile, his mind was fuzzy with the love he felt for Dan and the ecstasy of the orgasm. "I just. Love you so much," he said once more, and let himself collapse into Dan's hands once he was free of his body.

Dan giggled as Phil whined at him, catching him red handed. "I'll do as I please!" Dan argued. He groaned as Phil pulled out of him, and he crinkled his nose at the feeling of Phil's cum leaking out of him. It was always the weirdest thing, and Dan wasn't sure if he liked it or not. He ignored it in favour of Phil collapsing on top of him, snuggling into his chest with a sigh. Dan wrapped his arms around him, trailing his fingertips over Phil's spine softly. He nuzzled his face into Phil's neck, smiling. "I love you very much, dear," he replied. He didn't know what he'd do without Phil, to be honest. This was all he'd ever wanted.

It felt so good having Dan reach his arms around Phil to hold him, and he smiled when Dan nuzzled his neck, reassuring Phil that he did indeed love Phil as well. He knew that, he did, but it was good to hear it. It was good just feeling loved. Phil pressed a kiss to Dan's neck in return, sighing as Dan's fingers pressed to his spine and caressed down them lightly. It felt so nice. "I'm tempted to have another bath with you, if you keep petting me like this," Phil explained, voice whisper soft and content. He just wanted to be in Dan's arms like this forever. They still had like, six days together. Phil was going to treasure every second.

Dan laughed, pressing a dozen kisses to Phil's neck and shoulders. He kept doing that over and over, just wanting to sprinkle Phil with as much love as he possibly could. "I might have to take you up on that offer," Dan admitted against Phil's skin, nipping his shoulder teasingly. Then he perked up, almost shoving Phil off of him completely. "Ah!" he exclaimed. Phil gave him a strange look and a glare, like he was mad Dan was disrupting his comfort, but he definitely wouldn't be mad in a couple of moments when he understood what Dan's fuss was about. "Get up, get up," Dan urged, giving Phil a quick kiss on the lips and gesturing him to roll over. With a lot of complaint, Phil complied. It allowed Dan to hop out of bed with sudden energy and to rifle through his backpack. His fingers came in contact with the little black box and he smiled, straightening up and walking back to Phil. "Here," he said, handing it to him. "Happy anniversary. Again."

The worst feeling in the world was having to roll off of Dan when Dan had been treating him so well, those tiny little kisses and the warmth of his touch the best thing in the world. Phil missed it already, and it was worse because he couldn't for the life of him figure out why on Earth Dan would insist on getting up and moving now. So when Dan returned to him with a large silky box, something that was also clearly jewelry, Phil felt his breathing stop. "What is this?" he asked, sitting up and taking it tentatively in his palm. "Dan.... you got me too much, I," he started, only to trail off as he opened the box and found a heart shaped locket necklace glinting up at him. He felt a grin starting to tug at his lips as he gingerly picked it up. "Dan..." he whispered, taking it gently between forefinger and thumb, and then carefully pulling it open. He laughed, bright and loud, when he saw the pictures of them inside, and turned to grin up at Dan. He was so tempted to throw himself bodily at him, gross sweat and body fluids be damned.

"Consider it your engagement ring for now," Dan teased, smiling warmly. He watched with complete and utter adoration as Phil opened the box and started to tear up upon opening it. Dan knew how it felt, considering he'd had the man of his dreams kneeling on one knee only hours before. "You deserve the world. How could I not get you a bunch of stuff?" He motioned for Phil to turn around, taking the necklace from his fingers. Delicately, he put the locket around his neck and kissed his nape. "You deserve the world. This is the least I could do."

Phil would never understand how he'd gotten so lucky. It seemed impossible that he had a boy securing a locket around his throat just then, seemed impossible that he could have someone who'd want to give him the world, and he found himself covering his mouth over the soft sound of a hiccuping laugh that was half sob. He was crying again like an idiot, and he didn't know whether or not to hate himself for it, but mostly, he just wanted to kiss Dan some more, so the second the necklace was hanging freely on it's own around his neck, Phil turned and really did throw himself at Dan this time. "It's perfect. You're perfect, Dan, fuck, I love you so much. Come here," he said, and pulled Dan into his arms, dragging them both back down and onto the bed in a messy tangle of sweaty limbs. He laughed, and Dan laughed, and Phil kissed him soundly on the lips the second they were available to him, sinking into the feeling and thinking, this is it. This is the future I want, and the future I can't wait to have. "You are my world," he added for good measure when they pulled apart. "And you already gave me you. Happy anniversary, Dan," Phil said, and kissed him once more.

fin  

[bagelgarlic-blog]

#1. Plato’s Cave

What kind of person am I to those around me? Am I the hot-headed sister that starts every fight in the family? Am I the jittery classmate that talks too much and too little? Am I the unhygienic friend that always has dandruff in her hair? Or am I the difficult roommate who can’t stand the smallest of noises?

I’ve been called many names, a few of them ever pleasant. I was the girl no one wanted to be friends with. She’s dirty, they said. She smells. How long did she not shower for? A week? Maybe it’s been a month. What do you mean you’re going to ask her? You’re only going to stutter. Cue laughter. Not the friendly, loud, harmonious one. The echoing, the nervous, the sudden kind. It is the laughter I’m used to.

It is the laughter that I carried with me for as long as I can remember. It was there, everywhere I went. It taught me to be the person I am today. Don’t raise your head. Don’t speak up. Don’t stand out. Did someone laugh at you? You will pay with punishment. You will want to shove a knife in your stomach, over and over. But that’s not going to make the laughter go away. It’s only going to add to the echoes.

Deal with it. You’re an adult now. Every person goes through it. You’re a coward. Just learn to be like everyone else. Learn how to do make-up. Learn how to smile. Be on social media.

Be normal.

Why can’t you be normal?

It is not a question anyone bothers to ask, really. It is the question I torture myself with, a question with a potential answer that no one could really give two fucks about. My mother turns to me with that huge fake smile of hers and says, you’ve always been special to me.

It’s funny. I don’t hate myself. I hate everyone else. I hate judgement. I hate eye contact. I hate the cave I chose as my refuge, the entrance wide open. I hate watching the campfire as it dies. Its shadows fade. I hate knowing I have to bring it back to life. But I like it this way. No, they say. You’re going to be cold without it.

It must have been three years ago. I stopped responding to my only friend’s texts. I stopped scrolling through Facebook because every post was another stab in the stomach, made from a different knife. The kind that doesn’t hurt, but scares the shit out of you. By the time I was in my second year, I had built a wall from drawers on wheels, boxes, and a chair and crawled inside, hidden from my roommates. The mental part of personal space was not enough. I must not see anyone. But more importantly, I must not be seen. I think I found comfort in it.

Hey, maybe Plato built my cave.

[the-quitter]

Story Time - 3

Wow. It's been forever since I've done a storytime post.

I'm planning to have these kind of posts talk mostly about me and my lyfe(tm) .

So today, we were camping, and it was a three hour drive. For some reason, I decided to actually not forget something and brought along my sad pitiful G1.

My father, probably vexed by the idea that all my friends can drive cars, and all my friends have full licenses, and all his friends kids have full licenses as well, while it's basically just me who still has a sad pitiful G1.

SO

He's already been driving, and decides to give the last 20 minutes of driving to me. I sit in the driver's seat, and LISTEN.

I Already Know I Fucked up.

I got out of the car shaking. And as I walked up to the driver's seat, all I could think was how much I was already going to regret this.

And I hate that I'm this way. That all it takes is a raised voice to shake me like this. To the point of shivers and fear. To the point where I am so ready to drop everything and crawl into a hole. And then be yelled at some more about being shameless.

I mean what does that even mean? What should I do? Am I being sorry the wrong way???

Nevermind, back to the road.

I'm behind the wheel. Thinking over and over, 'oh no. Why are you doing this, just say no. Just say no. Oh man.'. Because I know my family. I've kind of been living with them for 20+ years now. Yeah that failure you see living in the basement. Heh. I once had a teacher tell my father that I was to hard on myself. I look back and I laugh at her words. And deeply regret crying when I heard them.

Heck, I regret crying now, but, I just. Want to try and get it out. While I still can.

I know my family. My father has good days and bad days. Lately I feel like, things have changed. Before this camping trip I had a preview, my dad just yelling, 'speed up, slow down, press the brakes, get closer to the yellow/white line', while I drive. And you know what.

I'm certain of it now.

I'm not meant to drive.

Look if I'm driving soo bad that I need someone in the shotgun to drive the car for me, then there's just no point. I mean there's a certain part of the population that really can't drive, which is why we have shows that showcase the worst drivers, I just happen to be one of them.

This was ironed down again when I drove today.

My father was again present. And you bet he did it again. But much worse this time.

He was yelling, angry, loud, I didn't have the courage (or whatever the heck you're supposed to have/feel) to even look at the man.

I'd be in the middle of driving, alright, going the speed limit, check, but mans starts yelling, 'faster! Speed! The limit is 70! Go faster!'

And I mean, he. Is. Yelling. Like not screaming, but almost. It's loud enough to make my head hurt. And me being me, born and raised the way I was, I couldn't talk back or defend myself. I couldn't tell him that on the dash, the car is telling me that I'm already a bit past the limit. But he still continues to yell.

So of course I cave, and go faster.

Now obviously stop signs and signals exist, and with me going so fast, I'm bound to find them again and again. So when they do show up, and I'm already picked up lots of speed by then, my dad yells, 'slow down! breaks! Slow! Go slow!'

And me, not being familiar yet with the car, well I happen to press the breaks lightly. I can feel the car slowing down so I feel like it'll work. In actuality I hadn't pressed the brakes hard enough, and end up slamming it at the end of the road. This of course fans the flames of my father's hatred of me, and he takes this time to insult me. He tells me a list of things I can't do when I'm driving, that everyone else is doing perfectly well. And to be honest, I'm actually compelled to listen to him.

I got the urge multiple times to just stop the car, in the middle of the road because I honestly want them to never have me near a car ever again, and just eject. Walk away. Like yeah. You're all fucking right about me.

I suck at this. I can't even breathe in the damn seat, you think I can't drive it and you're absolutely correct!

Good job!

No wonder you're my parents, you know me so well.

I got home magically without a scratch (both car and me), and I just wanted to throw away my damn G1 in the best shredder, mix up the pieces and watch it burn. Because that's going to be about the most satisfying thing in the world. Watching it melt to nothing.

And I know this is probably a very funny joke, and wow I can't believe I'm actually saying this, but, Fuck it.

I quit.

[shiroe-is-my-baby]

Domestic AU - 1

First chapter of my domestic au fluff chapters. I had this as a linked page for a while, but decided just to post it regularly so everyone can see it! For now, it’s just a simple, slice-of-life, story that continues one of my favorite au’s. ^.^

               “Are you going to let me carry these all by myself?” I asked, setting down another box onto the carpet.

               Shiroe emerged from the hallway, raising an eyebrow curiously. I’d brought in several boxes into the apartment, waiting for him to come back out to help me. Today was the first day that I would be moving in with him. I was pretty excited, not having been able to sleep much the night before. I practically lived with him already, having stayed over countless times. But today it would be official. We would be a couple living together. The thought made my heart pound a little.

               “No,” He said with a small smile, “I didn’t think you’d move that fast. You’re practically done already.”

               “Well, yeah! I’m ready to get this shit inside and start unpacking.”

               Shiroe chuckled, stepping towards me and grasping my waist. He pulled me close, pressing a small kiss to my forehead. With a giggle, I leaned into his touch and wrapped my arms around his chest. I breathed in his soft scent, and nudging my nose against his own. It was good to see that after a long relationship together, we were still this cheesy and close. Although since we were living together now, I knew that this would be a constant thing.

               His eyes met my own, shifting a few hairs from my face.

               “I’m so glad you’re moving in with me,” He said.

               “Me too.”

               I could tell by his voice that he was in fact excited. Every day leading up to it, he’s constantly telling me how happy he was that I agreed to live with him. Shiroe was very open with his excitement, which only made me fall in love with him even more. I’d always loved how he and I could be open about our feelings, without the other feeling too exposed. We trusted each other, and I saw this relationship going on for a long time.

               He smiled wider, letting go of my waist and holding open the door for me.

               “Let’s finish up,” He said, “Then, we can have some lunch.”

               “Sounds good to me. I’m starving.”

               He chuckled, grabbing my hand and pulling me out the door to finish grabbing the boxes. The hot sun made us very eager to get finished, having not too many left over. Since it would just be the two of us, all I needed to bring over was my clothes and other things that I didn’t sell. I had brought picture frames from my apartment, most of them having us two or our friends in them. Neither of us had any pets yet, but I had hoped to talk Shiroe into having a dog pretty soon.

               Although, I’m sure that he would want a cat first.

               We carried the last bit of things into the house, and Shiroe shut the door behind us. Now that everything was inside, the two of us were exhausted and ready for a break. But we still had one last thing to do. Decide on what to have for dinner.

               The two of us plopped down onto the couch, breathing heavy sighs and wiping sweat from our foreheads. Shiroe glanced over at me, chuckling softly and squeezing my hand in his own. I smiled, scooting closer and lying my head on his shoulder. Now that everything was inside and we were on the couch together, I felt more at home. He and I were finally moved in. We would be such an even closer couple now.

               I was really excited to see what the future held for us.

               Shiroe kissed the top of my head. “What do you want to do for dinner?” I asked him, “Do you want me to cook?” I knew that he would be excited that I moved in partially because I would cook for him more often. He tells me all the time how much he loves my cooking, and I could always tell. Especially when I learn to cook something he likes a lot. But he would never be honest with me if he didn’t like it.

               I’d always know, though.

               He’s not very good at lying to me.

               “I wouldn’t mind,” He said, giving me the begging eyes.

               I laughed, hearing it all in the tone of his voice. He didn’t want to ask me to make anything since I was tired, but he really wanted to eat something I made. Rolling my eyes, I planted a kiss to his cheek and jumped up from the couch. “Alright, well then… let’s get started,” I said with a wink. Grabbing his hand, I yanked him up from his spot and towards the kitchen. The protests I heard weren’t enough to let him off the hook. If I had to stand up and do it, the least he could do was help me.

               We’d cooked together before, but this time was a lot different. It felt even more relaxing, like it could become a usual routine. I practically knew my way around his apartment already, having been in it plenty of times by now. But I found myself moving a little differently now that it was considered my own. I found myself asking him to make sure I could touch things. As if he would mind about simple things like that.

               It was funny how quick I was to shy away now that we were living together.

               And it was only the first day!

               When we sat down to eat, I calmly fell back into the routine as if it had been any other day. We sat at the small dinner table, exchanging quiet conversation together. Normally we’d sit here unless there was something we wanted to watch while we ate. But I enjoyed having the time to sit and talk with him during a meal. The fact that he didn’t argue was nice. Although, a lot of times neither of us say a word. Especially if it’s delicious. Tonight was not one of those nights. We were more talkative than usual, which I assumed was from the excitement in the air.

               “So are you going to be home tomorrow?” I asked, looking up at him while my utensil stabbed at the plate in front of me.

               “Yeah. I’ll be home for the next few days. I was thinking we could go shopping one day. Make sure you have everything you need.”

               “Sounds good to me. I could use some good snacks.”

               I gave him a wink, leaning onto my hand and giving him a teasing smile. One of the next thing on my lists was to go grocery shopping. Although I get used to the food that he has in his house, it’s very limited and definitely the opposite of what I like. But, in his defense, not everyone can survive off of sweets as a snack.

               I might have a slight problem.

               “I figured you’d cut your habit by now,” He retorted, cutting his eyes at me over the rims of his glasses.

               I laughed, “Yeah right. You obviously don’t know a damn thing about me.”

               Jabbing the fork in his direction, I watched his own teasing smile grow. I sipped my drink, letting my laughs fade into soft chuckles. “How could you say that?” He asked, obviously joking. Raising my eyebrows, I continued to play along with him.

               “If you knew me like you said you did, then you’d know that my habits are always gonna be there.”

               “That’s because you’re stubborn and afraid of change.”

               “Obviously that isn’t true since I’m here.”

               Smirking triumphantly, I sat back in my chair and lifted my eyebrows. He let out a defeated sigh, caving in and letting the matter drop. I loved being right, especially since he likes showing me up a lot. Not that he really means to a lot of the times. When he is, it’s mainly in a joking manner. Not that I minded much when he picked on me. It was one of the ways that we got along and something that turned me on to him. I didn’t think when I initially got to know him that he would be this fun to tease. Eventually, it became a common theme in our relationship.

               Shiroe and I finished up our dinner and moved to the couch, where we ended up staying the rest of the time. One of our favorite activities to do together was watch TV or a movie. The two of us didn’t mind sitting around, and it became apparent in the beginnings of our blossoming love that it was a time that we treasured. A day where we could be silent together and watch a decent show for the entire day. Neither of us cared that we wasted the day away.

               I crawled into his lap once I became tired, nudging myself into the crook of his neck. The whole time I was trying to get comfortable, Shiroe was chuckling and mumbling softly under his breath. “You never looked like much of a pillow,” I said, “But you’re pretty comfortable to lay on.” His arms wrapped around me, pulling me closer against him and squeezing until I started to complain. He laughed again, letting his fingers slowly sift through my hair.

               “I know. You tell me all the time.”

               “It’s true.”

               “You’re lucky I love you.”

               “Shh,” I mumbled, relaxing into his chest, “Pillows don’t talk.”

               He laughed again, quickly shutting his mouth before I said anything else.

               The sound from the TV turned into soft background noise as we cuddled, no longer saying anything. I felt myself slowly dozing off, but I didn’t have the heart to tell him. I wanted to stay in this place for as long as I could. The thought of even moving to the bed was exhausting. Although, not too much more of time passed before I felt Shiroe moving from underneath me. I shook my head roughly, trying to convey to him that I was still awake.

               But he didn’t care.

               “Where are you going?” I asked, fluttering my eyes open.

               He finally got me off, pushing me to the side and standing up. He stretched, turning around to plant a small kiss on my forehead. “Going to bed. Are you going to join me?” He asked. I nodded, slowly and with lots of struggle, pushing myself up from the couch. Rubbing my tired eyes, I glanced up at him and tried to give the best puppy dog eyes I could. Almost immediately he was understanding my body language.

               “I’m not carrying you to bed.”

               “But whyyyy noooot?~”

               I whined and started batting my eyelashes. He continued to stare at me, further narrowing his eyes down at me. Although he could give me that look now, it wouldn’t be for long before he caved in. He could never resist my puppy dog eyes. “You’re not kid,” He said, “And you’re… not light.” Now it was my turn to narrow my eyes, hitting his arm playfully. It was obvious that he knew the comment would struck a nerve, since he said it slower.

               “Asshole. Are you calling me fat?”

               “No! I just said you weren’t light! You’re a grown woman!”

               “Just for that, you have to carry me now.”

               I huffed, folding my arms over my chest. Shiroe knew that I wasn’t going to move from this spot. He let out a heavy sigh, unfolding his arms from his own chest. “Alright, fine,” He said, “Just this once.” But that wasn’t going to be enough. I continued to stand in the same spot, my eyes begging for more. He stared at me with confusion at first, and then more frustration and irritation.

               “And?” I asked.

               “I’m sorry for saying you were heavy.”

               “So you were thinking it!”

               “What do you think the opposite of light is!?”

               I let out a laugh, no longer able to keep up the charade. His comments were making it hard for me to pretend to be mad at him. Shiroe was always too cute to be mad at for long. Especially, since I knew that he (almost) always meant well.

               He mumbled something about what he was going to do with me, but I figured I’d let the comment slide. For now. I stepped forward and outstretched my hands. He took the gesture, knowing exactly what I was waiting for. Sliding an arm underneath my legs, and the other securing me from my back, he picked me up and carried me bridal style. I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed his cheek, watching him roll his eyes.

               “You love me too much to stay mad at me,” I said in a teasing voice.

               “Yeah. You got that right.”

               I grinned, leaning into him and letting him carry me into the bedroom. It wasn’t very far down the hall, and I even let him put me down before we got too far inside. Although, being in his arms was both fun and nice. He set me down on the floor and shut the door behind him, yawning as he did so. The two of us were both equally tired from today, even though we didn’t do a whole lot. I didn’t have too much things to bring inside, but that didn’t make us any less tired.

               Again I felt the nervous feeling once again. We had slept together several times before today, but something felt different now. I knew that this would be my room from now on. I would always wake up with him, and I would always fall asleep next to him. The thought was more than exciting and romantic.

               Shiroe grabbed my waist and pecked my lips, letting go to change out of his clothes and into something more comfortable. As I watched him stifle through his drawers, I realized that I hadn’t unpacked any of my clothes yet. My pajamas were stuffed at the bottom of my duffle bag, and I didn’t have the energy to go and grab them.

               “Shit,” I mumbled under my breath.

               “What is it?”

               “I haven’t unpacked my clothes yet. And I really don’t feel like getting them all messed up right now.”

               “Then don’t.”

               I raised an eyebrow, meeting his eyes as he threw his shirt to the floor. Since I was tired, nothing he said was clicking very well. All I could think was how I had no idea what he was getting at, and how adorable he looked right now. He took off his glasses, setting them down on the nightstand and pulling me closer to him. His lips pressed against my ear, his breath tickling my skin. It caused a ripple of chills to flow down my spine, alerting my senses and slowly waking me up a bit.

               He whispered softly into my ear, helping me gain traction to his own thoughts. I felt really stupid in the moment, knowing that I knew exactly what he was going on about. It was just taking me a while to understand it. Pursing my lips, I felt his hand shift and rub my sides. I giggled softly by both his hushed words and the softness of his fingertips as they traveled up my skin.

               He chuckled, pulling me towards the bed. The sound told me that he knew I was going to listen to him and let him guide me. I was no longer as tired, letting my mind race to how night’s with him would be from now on.

               And that ended our first night after I moved in.