#cross-subsidization

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Amazon’s financial shell game let it create an “impossible” monopoly

I'm on tour with my new, nationally bestselling novel The Bezzle! Catch me in TUCSON (Mar 9-10), then San Francisco (Mar 13), Anaheim, and more!

For the pro-monopoly crowd that absolutely dominated antitrust law from the Carter administration until 2020, Amazon presents a genuinely puzzling paradox: the company's monopoly power was never supposed to emerge, and if it did, it should have crumbled immediately.

Pro-monopoly economists embody Ely Devons's famous aphorism that "If economists wished to study the horse, they wouldn’t go and look at horses. They’d sit in their studies and say to themselves, ‘What would I do if I were a horse?’":

https://pluralistic.net/2022/10/27/economism/#what-would-i-do-if-i-were-a-horse

Rather than using the way the world actually works as their starting point for how to think about it, they build elaborate models out of abstract principles like "rational actors." The resulting mathematical models are so abstractly elegant that it's easy to forget that they're just imaginative exercises, disconnected from reality:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/04/03/all-models-are-wrong/#some-are-useful

These models predicted that it would be impossible for Amazon to attain monopoly power. Even if they became a monopoly – in the sense of dominating sales of various kinds of goods – the company still wouldn't get monopoly power.

For example, if Amazon tried to take over a category by selling goods below cost ("predatory pricing"), then rivals could just wait until the company got tired of losing money and put prices back up, and then those rivals could go back to competing. And if Amazon tried to keep the loss-leader going indefinitely by "cross-subsidizing" the losses with high-margin profits from some other part of its business, rivals could sell those high margin goods at a lower margin, which would lure away Amazon customers and cut the supply lines for the price war it was fighting with its discounted products.

That's what the model predicted, but it's not what happened in the real world. In the real world, Amazon was able use its access to the capital markets to embark on scorched-earth predatory pricing campaigns. When diapers.com refused to sell out to Amazon, the company casually committed $100m to selling diapers below cost. Diapers.com went bust, Amazon bought it for pennies on the dollar and shut it down:

https://www.theverge.com/2019/5/13/18563379/amazon-predatory-pricing-antitrust-law

Investors got the message: don't compete with Amazon. They can remain predatory longer than you can remain solvent.

Now, not everyone shared the antitrust establishment's confidence that Amazon couldn't create a durable monopoly with market power. In 2017, Lina Khan – then a third year law student – published "Amazon's Antitrust Paradox," a landmark paper arguing that Amazon had all the tools it needed to amass monopoly power:

https://www.yalelawjournal.org/note/amazons-antitrust-paradox

Today, Khan is chair of the FTC, and has brought a case against Amazon that builds on some of the theories from that paper. One outcome of that suit is an unprecedented look at Amazon's internal operations. But, as the Institute for Local Self-Reliance's Stacy Mitchell describes in a piece for The Atlantic, key pieces of information have been totally redacted in the court exhibits:

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/02/amazon-profits-antitrust-ftc/677580/

The most important missing datum: how much money Amazon makes from each of its lines of business. Amazon's own story is that it basically breaks even on its retail operation, and keeps the whole business afloat with profits from its AWS cloud computing division. This is an important narrative, because if it's true, then Amazon can't be forcing up retail prices, which is the crux of the FTC's case against the company.

Here's what we know for sure about Amazon's retail business. First: merchants can't live without Amazon. The majority of US households have Prime, and 90% of Prime households start their ecommerce searches on Amazon; if they find what they're looking for, they buy it and stop. Thus, merchants who don't sell on Amazon just don't sell. This is called "monopsony power" and it's a lot easier to maintain than monopoly power. For most manufacturers, a 10% overnight drop in sales is a catastrophe, so a retailer that commands even a 10% market-share can extract huge concessions from its suppliers. Amazon's share of most categories of goods is a lot higher than 10%!

What kind of monopsony power does Amazon wield? Well, for one thing, it is able to levy a huge tax on its sellers. Add up all the junk-fees Amazon charges its platform sellers and it comes out to 45-51%:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/04/25/greedflation/#commissar-bezos

Competitive businesses just don't have 45% margins! No one can afford to kick that much back to Amazon. What is a merchant to do? Sell on Amazon and you lose money on every sale. Don't sell on Amazon and you don't get any business.

The only answer: raise prices on Amazon. After all, Prime customers – the majority of Amazon's retail business – don't shop for competitive prices. If Amazon wants a 45% vig, you can raise your Amazon prices by a third and just about break even.

But Amazon is wise to that: they have a "most favored nation" rule that punishes suppliers who sell goods more cheaply in rival stores, or even on their own site. The punishments vary, from banishing your products to page ten million of search-results to simply kicking you off the platform. With publishers, Amazon reserves the right to lower the prices they set when listing their books, to match the lowest price on the web, and paying publishers less for each sale.

That means that suppliers who sell on Amazon (which is anyone who wants to stay in business) have to dramatically hike their prices on Amazon, and when they do, they also have to hike their prices everywhere else (no wonder Prime customers don't bother to search elsewhere for a better deal!).

Now, Amazon says this is all wrong. That 45-51% vig they claim from business customers is barely enough to break even. The company's profits – they insist – come from selling AWS cloud service. The retail operation is just a public service they provide to us with cross-subsidy from those fat AWS margins.

This is a hell of a claim. Last year, Amazon raked in $130 billion in seller fees. In other words: they booked more revenue from junk fees than Bank of America made through its whole operation. Amazon's junk fees add up to more than all of Meta's revenues:

https://s2.q4cdn.com/299287126/files/doc_financials/2023/q4/AMZN-Q4-2023-Earnings-Release.pdf

Amazon claims that none of this is profit – it's just covering their operating expenses. According to Amazon, its non-AWS units combined have a one percent profit margin.

Now, this is an eye-popping claim indeed. Amazon is a public company, which means that it has to make thorough quarterly and annual financial disclosures breaking down its profit and loss. You'd think that somewhere in those disclosures, we'd find some details.

You'd think so, but you'd be wrong. Amazon's disclosures do not break out profits and losses by segment. SEC rules actually require the company to make these per-segment disclosures:

https://scholarship.law.stjohns.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3524&context=lawreview#:~:text=If%20a%20company%20has%20more,income%20taxes%20and%20extraordinary%20items.

That rule was enacted in 1966, out of concern that companies could use cross-subsidies to fund predatory pricing and other anticompetitive practices. But over the years, the SEC just…stopped enforcing the rule. Companies have "near total managerial discretion" to lump business units together and group their profits and losses in bloated, undifferentiated balance-sheet items:

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/public-purpose/publications/2021/dec/crouching-tiger-hidden-dragons

As Mitchell points you, it's not just Amazon that flouts this rule. We don't know how much money Google makes on Youtube, or how much Apple makes from the App Store (Apple told a federal judge that this number doesn't exist). Warren Buffett – with significant interest in hundreds of companies across dozens of markets – only breaks out seven segments of profit-and-loss for Berkshire Hathaway.

Recall that there is one category of data from the FTC's antitrust case against Amazon that has been completely redacted. One guess which category that is! Yup, the profit-and-loss for its retail operation and other lines of business.

These redactions are the judge's fault, but the real fault lies with the SEC. Amazon is a public company. In exchange for access to the capital markets, it owes the public certain disclosures, which are set out in the SEC's rulebook. The SEC lets Amazon – and other gigantic companies – get away with a degree of secrecy that should disqualify it from offering stock to the public. As Mitchell says, SEC chairman Gary Gensler should adopt "new rules that more concretely define what qualifies as a segment and remove the discretion given to executives."

Amazon is the poster-child for monopoly run amok. As Yanis Varoufakis writes in Technofeudalism, Amazon has actually become a post-capitalist enterprise. Amazon doesn't make profits (money derived from selling goods); it makes rents (money charged to people who are seeking to make a profit):

https://pluralistic.net/2023/09/28/cloudalists/#cloud-capital

Profits are the defining characteristic of a capitalist economy; rents are the defining characteristic of feudalism. Amazon looks like a bazaar where thousands of merchants offer goods for sale to the public, but look harder and you discover that all those stallholders are totally controlled by Amazon. Amazon decides what goods they can sell, how much they cost, and whether a customer ever sees them. And then Amazon takes $0.45-51 out of every dollar. Amazon's "marketplace" isn't like a flea market, it's more like the interconnected shops on Disneyland's Main Street, USA: the sign over the door might say "20th Century Music Company" or "Emporium," but they're all just one store, run by one company.

And because Amazon has so much control over its sellers, it is able to exercise power over its buyers. Amazon's search results push down the best deals on the platform and promote results from more expensive, lower-quality items whose sellers have paid a fortune for an "ad" (not really an ad, but rather the top spot in search listings):

https://pluralistic.net/2023/11/29/aethelred-the-unready/#not-one-penny-for-tribute

This is "Amazon's pricing paradox." Amazon can claim that it offers low-priced, high-quality goods on the platform, but it makes $38b/year pushing those good deals way, way down in its search results. The top result for your Amazon search averages 29% more expensive than the best deal Amazon offers. Buy something from those first four spots and you'll pay a 25% premium. On average, you need to pick the seventeenth item on the search results page to get the best deal:

https://scholarship.law.bu.edu/faculty_scholarship/3645/

For 40 years, pro-monopoly economists claimed that it would be impossible for Amazon to attain monopoly power over buyers and sellers. Today, Amazon exercises that power so thoroughly that its junk-fee revenues alone exceed the total revenues of Bank of America. Amazon's story – that these fees barely stretch to covering its costs – assumes a nearly inconceivable level of credulity in its audience. Regrettably – for the human race – there is a cohort of senior, highly respected economists who possess this degree of credulity and more.

Of course, there's an easy way to settle the argument: Amazon could just comply with SEC regs and break out its P&L for its e-commerce operation. I assure you, they're not hiding this data because they think you'll be pleasantly surprised when they do and they don't want to spoil the moment.

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/03/01/managerial-discretion/#junk-fees

Image: Doc Searls (modified) https://www.flickr.com/photos/docsearls/4863121221/

CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

[tarudce22]

I need my brain to please stop trying to jump into a new hobby when I still haven't finished my current project (the chirithy plush) in a hobby I haven't done in around 10 years.

I saw a needle felt kit for a highland cow and need to not get sucked into another hobby when I already barely do the ones know I love and have stuff for.

[astarmaux]

Nothing like getting festive with your favorite person in the world. Spooky picnics are the best. There are always a few tricks and a few treats!

@voidtekarc - my favorite person irl too alongside my children. ♥

[mangocatastrophe]

Stakeout Homework

I’m sorry if this is hard to read on mobile or PC, I like doing page layouts for practice in case I decide to make my own graphic novel.

This took me 8 hours in total, from May 2 to May 4, after a period of really intense artistic self loathing. Thankfully, loathing has subsided! For now XD.

The most fun part to draw was the background in Panel one. I used to fear background, but I’m slowly starting to rlly like them!

Some cross-over/au details:

- All three boys are on season one of their respective shows, so Danny and Randy are 14 and Peter is 16

- This is Spectacular Spider-Man specifically (he’s my favourite)

- Danny and Randy go to the same school. Decided to mesh together Norrisville and Amity Park. Since Randy’s school is more relevant to his lore, I decided to keep their school as Norrisville High, while the city is Amity Park.

- They’re on a field trip to New York, where they met Peter.

I might make a follow up comic where Peter helps them with their homework. The lucky bastard is the only Smart Kid ™️ (afaicr anyways, I havent seen RC9GN in a while)

Ik that usually Jake Long is the third member of the trio, but I’ve never seen that show and Im a big TSSM fan, so yanno, wanted to build my own trio XD

Ps. If anyone that likes to voice act/practicr voice acting sees this, feel free to dub it! Would love to see it

[syncaleb]

-> caleb ‘jealous’ of a vibrator colonel:

jealousy, thy name is caleb. caleb crosses his arms, glaring at the bedside table like it’s personally offended him. or, more accurately, at the small, traitorous piece of technology sitting on top of it. his eyes narrow.

“so that’s the competition.”

you stifle a laugh, adjusting your position on the bed as you watch him go through the five stages of grief over a vibrator. “competition?”

He scoffs. gestures at it. “i mean, what else would you call it?”

“a necessity.”

his jaw drops. “necessity?”

you shrug, feigning innocence. “it doesn’t tease. doesn’t make me beg. doesn’t get all cocky when i—”

caleb lunges, pinning you under him in a second. his hand wraps around your chin, tilting your face up so you’re looking right at him. the usual mischief in his golden eyes darkens, something possessive creeping into his expression.

“you think i don’t give you what you need, pipsqueak?” his voice is low, slow, tracing fire down your spine. you bite your lip, letting your lashes flutter just to provoke him. “…maybe i like the consistency.”

his smile is dangerous.

“alright then,” he murmurs, fingers ghosting down your stomach. “let’s see if you still think that when i’m done with you.”

guess you shouldn’t have challenged caleb like this, you’ve realized it long ago. the way his evol pins you down, vibrator smudged between your folds against your clit, pulsating, throbbing— for what feels like a long time. Your legs are pressed together, hands tied behind your back, “caleb-“ you mumble, mewling at the ache. Your scalp is sweaty, like you’ve done a rigorous workout. guess three orgasms is all it took to make your voice sound so tired and sexy.

you loved the first orgasm, the way the vibratore tore through your walls of pleasure and dropped you from that delicious high. Then… when it didn’t stop, when you could feel your nerves fry up, that you realized that caleb isn’t playing around. “caleb, please —“ you whimper and whine, feet moving like a caterpillar because of how closely your ankles are tied. It only adds to the torturous pleasure.

“caleb!” you exclaim, you beg, and when the third orgasm comes in…. Forcing you to see god. You break down. “caleb—“ sobs and sniffles echo through the room. “My name isn’t a safeword, honey.” Caleb soothes your back, kissing it softly, peppering tender lovings.

“do you think the vibrator is all you need pips?” Caleb asks once more, and you shake your head no frivolously and adamantly. “no no no caleb— please s’ too much!” your breath is ragged and bated, nerve endings hurting from every corner of your body.

it feels like caleb wants to associate discomfort with the vibrator so you only come to him and him alone… when you need pleasure. When you need anything really… “can’t— no more.” you struggle against his evol, feeling your begs and moans subside into something submissive, something broken.

it’s okay though, you know caleb would piece you back together. He carefully removes the vibrator, looking at your disheaveled body, your eyes drenched in tears. the warmth of his hugs feel like a necessity right now. you sob & cry in his arms, and he holds you through it, telling you how good you are, telling you how amazing you are and just how much he loves and adores you. until you finally calm down, body shaking every few minutes from post orgasm bliss, curled up in fetal position against him as he runs his hands through your hair.

“Gonna fucking get back at you.” You scowl, pouting when you feel your senses powerful enough to move again, to speak again.

“sure pips, but i don’t use anything apart from your delicious cunt to help me… you got nothing to be mad about.” Caleb smiles, kissing your forehead.

hmph…. That jerk.

[solxamber]

"Let's Break Up" with: Vice-Housewardens + Ruggie

more hurt/comfort for the soul

Other parts: Housewardens ; First Years ; Cater, Floyd, Silver

Trey Clover

The words slip out in frustration, sharp and final.

"Let's break up."

The mug in Trey's hand shatters.

The crack of breaking porcelain jolts you, the sound cutting through the tense silence like a gunshot. Shards spill across the floor, tea splattering everywhere, but Trey doesn’t even flinch.

Before you can react, before you can take back what you didn’t mean, he’s there—crossing the space between you in an instant, his uninjured hand cupping your face, warm and trembling.

His chest rises and falls too fast, his breath unsteady. His eyes search yours desperately, raw emotion flickering in their depths. “Please,” he murmurs, voice rough. “Reconsider.”

You open your mouth, but nothing comes out. His grip tightens, just enough to ground himself, just enough to keep you here, with him.

“Take it back,” he pleads, his forehead nearly pressing against yours. “Tell me you didn’t mean it.”

Your heart is racing, but all you can focus on is his other hand—the one that had been holding the mug. Blood is pooling in the creases of his palm, little crimson beads welling up where porcelain had cut into his skin.

You inhale sharply. “Trey, your hand—”

“I don’t care,” he says, and he means it. He would let it bleed if it meant keeping you here for another second. “Please.”

Something inside you cracks.

Your anger, your frustration—none of it matters when you see the way he’s looking at you. When you hear the break in his voice. When you realize how much he loves you, enough to throw away every bit of his usual calm, enough to bleed for you if it meant making you stay.

“I’m sorry,” you whisper, voice tight with guilt. “I didn’t mean it. I—of course I didn’t mean it.”

His shoulders sag with relief, a shaky breath escaping him as he presses his forehead against yours. “Thank you,” he murmurs.

Your fingers curl around his wrist, pulling his injured hand between both of yours. “We need to take care of this.”

He exhales, his body finally catching up to the pain now that the panic has subsided. “Yeah,” he says, but instead of letting you go, he pulls you into his arms, wrapping you in a firm, desperate embrace.

“I’m sorry too,” he murmurs against your hair. “I didn’t mean for things to get like this. I should’ve listened more. I should’ve—” He swallows hard. “I’ll do better.”

You squeeze him back just as tightly, breathing in the scent of him, the warmth of him, the realness of him. “We both will.”

For a long moment, neither of you move, holding onto each other as if letting go would undo everything. Eventually, you tug him toward the sink, already fussing over his hand.

Trey watches you, still catching his breath, still feeling the lingering ghost of fear in his chest. But for now, you’re here. He's still yours.

And that’s all that matters.

Ruggie Bucchi

The words slip out before you can stop them.

“Let’s break up.”

Ruggie freezes.

For a second, there’s just silence—heavy, suffocating. Then he lets out a laugh, but it’s wrong. It’s forced, brittle, a sound that cracks at the edges.

“That’s a joke, right?” His voice is light, playful—too playful—but his hands reach for yours, gripping them tight. “Your sense of humor sucks.”

His fingers are trembling.

You feel something deep in your chest twist at the sight of him, trying so hard to brush it off, to act like you didn’t just rip the ground out from under him. His tail is stiff behind him, his ears twitching with every unsteady breath he takes.

You want to say something, to take it back, but the argument still lingers in the air between you—frustration, hurt feelings, words neither of you should have said.

He swallows hard, staring at you like he’s willing you to laugh, to say just kidding, to let him believe this isn’t real.

But you don’t.

And in that moment, something in him wavers. His ears droop, and his fingers tighten around yours like he’s scared you’ll slip away if he doesn’t hold on.

His voice is smaller this time.

“…You didn’t mean that.”

You inhale shakily, stepping closer.

“No,” you whisper. “I didn’t.”

He exhales a shaky breath, and before you can say anything else, he’s pulling you into his arms, holding you so tightly it almost knocks the air from your lungs.

His face presses into your neck, his whole body going slack as if he’s only now realizing just how much those words had broken him. You can feel his breath against your skin, uneven, like he’s trying to keep it together, like he doesn’t want you to see how much it hurt.

You hold him just as tightly, one hand coming up to thread through his hair, the other rubbing circles into his back.

“I’m sorry,” he murmurs against you. “I shouldn’t’ve—I didn’t mean—”

You shake your head, cutting him off gently. “Me too.”

His arms tighten around you.

For a long time, neither of you speak. He just holds you, pressed close, his tail weakly brushing against your hand in a silent plea—stay.

When he finally pulls back just enough to look at you, his eyes are misty, his lip caught between his teeth.

“Don’t say that again.” he says quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. "Not even as a joke."

You cup his cheek, wiping away the dampness there with your thumb.

“I won’t.”

Ruggie exhales shakily, leans into your touch, and this time, when he lets out a breathy laugh, it’s real.

“…Guess we both suck at fighting, huh?”

You let out a weak chuckle, pressing your forehead against his.

“Yeah.”

And for now, that’s enough.

Jade Leech

The words slip out before you can stop them.

"Let’s break up."

Silence.

Jade just stares at you. The ever-present amusement in his eyes is gone, leaving them bare, unguarded in a way that makes your stomach twist. He doesn’t smirk, doesn’t scoff, doesn’t even tilt his head in that condescending way he does when he’s about to say something cutting.

He just looks at you, frozen in place.

You don’t know what you expected—maybe anger, maybe something cruel and sharp to push you further away, to give you an excuse to slam the door behind you. Instead, there’s nothing. Just the way his eyes widen ever so slightly, like you’ve said something impossible.

Your chest feels tight, but you force yourself to turn away. You don’t get more than two steps before a hand grips your wrist—firm, but not forceful. You barely have time to react before he pulls you back, arms wrapping around you from behind, his face pressing into the crook of your neck.

"Don’t go."

It’s a whisper, but it shatters something inside you.

You tense, your breath catching in your throat. And then—you feel it. The faintest, almost imperceptible wetness against your skin.

Jade is crying.

A cold wave of fear crashes over you. You’ve never seen him cry before, never even imagined him capable of it. He’s always so composed, always in control, always one step ahead. But right now, he’s shaking.

Your frustration dissolves instantly, replaced by something heavier, something unbearable.

“I didn’t mean it,” you say, barely able to get the words out. “Jade, I didn’t mean it.”

His grip tightens around you, like he’s afraid you’ll slip through his fingers. His breath is uneven, ragged in a way that makes your heart ache.

You turn in his hold, reaching to cradle his face in your hands. His eyes are glassy, red-rimmed, his expression raw in a way you’ve never seen before. He looks lost.

“I—” His voice breaks, and he swallows hard, trying to compose himself. “I didn’t think… you would ever say that.”

You shake your head, your own eyes stinging. “I was angry. I didn’t mean it.”

For a moment, he just stares at you. Then, with a quiet, shaky exhale, he presses his forehead against yours.

“I pushed you too far,” he murmurs, his voice hoarse.

You close your eyes, fingers curling into his shirt. “And I let it get to me.”

Neither of you say anything after that. You just stand there, holding each other, breathing in the quiet between you. The storm of emotions still lingers, but it’s softer now, no longer a force trying to tear you apart.

Jade exhales slowly, his hands settling on your back, grounding himself. When he finally speaks again, his voice is steadier—but there’s still a fragility to it, something uncertain.

“Don’t do that again,” he whispers.

You nod, wiping a stray tear from his cheek with your thumb.

“I won’t,” you promise.

He doesn’t let go for a long, long time.

Jamil Viper

The words leave your lips before you can stop them. Sharp, impulsive, thrown like a dagger meant to wound.

“Let’s break up.”

The room falls into an unnatural silence.

Jamil stands frozen, his expression unreadable—no anger, no sadness, just… blank. It’s unsettling. You almost wish he’d lash out, argue, anything but this suffocating stillness.

Then, he laughs.

It’s soft, bitter—nothing like the amused chuckles you love hearing from him.

“…Okay,” he says.

Two syllables. Two syllables and he sounds so distant, so removed, like he’s already walking away from this, from you. Like it doesn’t matter.

But it does. It does, you can see it in the way his hands are clenched into fists at his sides, in the way his breath shudders ever so slightly, like he’s forcing himself to stay composed. Like he’s holding himself together by sheer will alone.

“If that’s how little this meant to you…” His voice is calm, even. A practiced neutrality. But you hear it—the smallest break, a splinter of something raw and aching beneath the surface. “Then fine.”

And he turns away.

And you see them.

The tears in his eyes.

He turns too late to hide them from you, but he still tries, tilting his head just enough that you almost don’t catch it. The effort, the control, the desperate attempt to maintain his composure even now.

Your stomach twists violently.

“Jamil.”

You reach for him without thinking, grabbing his wrist, tugging him back. His skin is warm beneath your touch, but his body is stiff, unyielding. He doesn’t move, doesn’t look at you.

You don’t let go.

“I didn’t mean it,” you breathe, voice shaking. You’re already shifting closer, hands moving from his wrist to his arm, to his shoulders, to his face, desperate to get him to look at you. “I didn’t mean it, I swear.”

His breath catches. He still won’t meet your eyes.

“You can’t just say things like that.” His voice cracks, and your heart breaks into pieces. “You can’t.”

The weight of what you’ve done crashes down on you. You had wanted to make him feel the frustration, the anger, the helplessness you’d felt in the heat of the argument. But not like this. Never like this.

His shoulders shake.

“Jamil…” Your hands cradle his face now, fingers trembling as you wipe at the tears streaking his cheeks. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

For a moment, he stays frozen beneath your touch.

Then, with a shuddering breath, he moves.

His hands grasp at the fabric of your clothes, clutching onto you as if you might disappear if he doesn’t hold on tightly enough. The tension that’s held him rigid for so long crumbles, and he presses his forehead against your shoulder, his entire body trembling.

“I don’t want to fight,” he whispers. “I don’t—” A breath, uneven, desperate. “I don’t want to lose you.”

The sheer vulnerability in his voice threatens to unravel you.

“You won’t,” you swear, voice raw with emotion. “You won’t.”

He lets out something like a laugh, but it’s broken, strained, wet with the remnants of unshed tears.

Then, his legs give out beneath him, and you both sink to the floor, tangled together, arms wrapped around each other like lifelines.

Neither of you let go.

Rook Hunt

"Let's break up."

The words barely leave your lips before Rook is on you.

One second, he’s standing before you, the next, he’s grasping at your arms, pulling you close, desperate. His hands tremble as they cradle your face, and his voice—normally so composed, so theatrical in its beauty—is breaking apart at the seams.

"Non, mon amour, non, non, non—tu ne peux pas—please, don’t do this." His words spill out in frantic, overlapping murmurs, a tangled mix of languages, as if one language alone isn’t enough to hold the depth of his despair. His breath is uneven, his hold almost frantic. "Je t’en supplie, tell me this is but a cruel jest. Tell me you do not mean it!"

You’ve never seen Rook like this before.

You've seen Rook in many states—amused, playful, reverent, even solemn—but never like this. Never so utterly shattered. His eyes, always gleaming with some unreadable mystery, are bare now, stripped of all their usual playfulness. He looks at you like a man standing at the gallows, waiting for the final blow.

His hands tighten around you, as though afraid you might slip through his fingers. "I will fix it, I swear it! Whatever it is, however I have failed you, tell me, je t'en prie! Let me make amends!" His voice hitches, and when you finally dare to meet his gaze, your breath catches.

His eyes—so often gleaming with mirth, with mischief—are glossy with unshed tears.

Your heart clenches. "Rook—"

His hands cradle your cheeks, thumbs brushing over your skin with a reverence that makes your chest ache. "I love you, mon cœur. I love you more than words can weave, more than poetry can hold." His voice breaks—an unsteady breath, barely a whisper—"Ne me quitte pas."

You reach up, pressing your hands over his, steadying them. "Rook, stop."

He freezes, breath caught in his throat, as if waiting for a verdict that will decide his fate.

You swallow past the lump in your throat. “I didn’t mean it.”

For a moment, neither of you move.

Then, a sharp inhale—a breath of air after near drowning—and suddenly, he’s crushing you against him, arms winding around you with near bruising force.

"Mon dieu," he breathes, his face buried in your shoulder. "Merci, merci, merci—" His grip tightens, as if he still can’t quite believe it, like he needs to feel every inch of you to be sure you’re still here.

“I’m sorry,” you whisper against him, voice thick with emotion.

"Non, mon amour, I'm sorry." He pulls back just enough to meet your eyes, shaking his head, remorse etched deep into every line of his face. “I have hurt you, haven’t I? Tell me how, tell me where, and I shall do better, I promise.”

You nod, hands gripping the fabric of his shirt. "Then we’ll both do better."

A breathless laugh escapes him, half relief, half lingering disbelief. And then he's pulling you close again, arms firm around you, his lips pressing against your temple, your hair, your hands—anywhere he can reach as if to assure himself you won’t slip away.

And you let him, because neither of you are willing to let go.

Lilia Vanrouge

"Let's break up."

At first, Lilia laughs.

It’s soft, breathy—almost amused. “Oh, that’s quite the joke,” he chuckles, his usual teasing lilt in place. “You nearly had me for a second.”

You don’t respond. You just look at him, expression unreadable, arms crossed, waiting.

His smile twitches, just barely, but you catch it. His amusement fades as realization sinks in, and something shifts in his eyes.

“…Oh.”

The room feels quieter now, despite the argument that had sparked this in the first place. He tilts his head, as if examining you from another angle will make this not real. Then, slowly, he reaches for you, his movements careful in a way that is deeply uncharacteristic of him. His fingers hover near your face, uncertain, hesitant—like he’s waiting for you to flinch, waiting for you to pull away.

"Come now," he says, softer now, a touch strained. "Don't do this. You don't mean it."

Your lips press into a thin line. You’re still frustrated, still convinced you have a point, but the sight of him—his sharp, knowing eyes turning glassy, the slight tremor in his breath—makes something uneasy settle in your chest.

"Lilia," you say, but you don’t get to finish.

Because he pulls you in.

His grip isn’t suffocating, but it’s desperate. One hand cradles the back of your head while the other clings to your waist, firm and pleading. His breathing is uneven, his usually composed demeanor cracking at the edges.

"I—" He stops, swallows, tries again. "I am sorry. I never meant to make you feel like this." His voice is quiet now, almost fragile. "If you truly wish to leave, I won’t stop you. But please, tell me—tell me this was only spoken in anger."

You exhale, your hands resting lightly on his shoulders, feeling the tension in them. His heartbeat is rapid against your own, and for the first time since knowing him, you think he’s the one who might fall apart first.

"It was," you say at last, barely steady. "I didn’t mean it."

Lilia lets out a breath that shakes, just slightly, before pulling you in impossibly closer. His fingers curl against you, grip tightening for a fraction of a second before he steadies himself.

He exhales a weak laugh against your skin, a smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “You mustn’t be so cruel to this old heart of mine,” he murmurs, his voice uneven with something too raw to name. “One day, you’ll be the death of me.”

His hold lingers—just a little longer than necessary—before he pulls back, just enough to look you in the eyes. There’s something softer in his gaze now, something fragile and achingly sincere.

"Promise me," he says, and though his voice is gentle, it leaves no room for refusal. "Never again."

You huff softly. "Alright."

Lilia presses his forehead to yours, exhaling slowly. “And I’m sorry for pushing you to that point.” His voice is quieter now, reverent. “I love you.”

You nod, your grip tightening around him. “I love you too.”

Lilia hums, gently swaying as he holds you. “Then let’s stay like this a little longer, hm?”

And you do. You stay, wrapped in his arms, letting the warmth of his embrace soothe the lingering ache.

Masterlist

[samcat18]

Waking up with a headache and a text that i'm in the lobby for a full day for the first time in a while -- the only lucky part is that today is one of my 6 hour days, but we'll see how i do with it 🙃🙃🙃

[snicker-snacc]

When the cold brew hits

[rafeslvbug]

when military!rafe realises lovebug!reader has more brains than him..

It was in the soft glow of his study, where rafe stressed, nearly pulling out his own hair over the plans in front of him. Calculating the number of soldiers that he could take with him next deployment, figuring out how to distribute the rations amongst them and trying to calculate costs had taken a toll on him. After hours of staring at numbers on paper, they had begun to mingle, swirling before him and evading his bloodshot eyes when they darted out to each digit, trying to claw back the remnants of his sanity.

Rafe wasn’t bad at math. He just wasn’t an expert. After graduating school he left straight for the marines, but ever since he rose the ranks, securing a higher role yet safer job, the type of calculations he’s had to do weren’t taught in state school - and his calculator isn’t much help when he doesn’t know what to put in it.

Tossing his pencil onto the table, led worn down with the numerous scrawls he’s had to rub out, rafe officially gives up, aching head in his calloused hands while he mutters a, “fuckin’ calculator doesn’t tell you shit.”

For the past hour, his mutterings and grumbles have bothered the peaceful silence of you painting your nails on the leather couch of the study. Glancing up when you hear his hopeless mumble, you let out a soft huff, rolling your eyes only slightly since you’re sure rafe has a sixth sense for when your attitude slips out. You untangle yourself from the mass of blankets surrounding you, wading from the depths of your personal corner towards his dreary state.

Half-painted nails run along his broad shoulders as you attempt to soothe him, his murmurings having subsided when he leans back in his chair, arms crossed over his chest. An unmistakable invitation, you perch yourself onto his lap, until one arm draws you closer into his chest. “ ‘s work that hard, sweetie?” you ask in that doting tone, the one that earned you your nickname from rafe. He lets out a hum as if in acknowledgment of what you said, never wanting to admit out loud that maths is too hard for him.

He tries to hold back a chuckle though when a pout crosses your face, that familiarly determined look appearing when you turn your head towards the scatter of papers on his desk. “Don’t bore yourself with that, bug, you won’t get it,” he cajoles, rough hand sliding onto your thigh, giving it a squeeze to turn your attention back to him. You, however, only lean more towards the desk, twirling the pencil inbetween your fingers as you make sense of the scribbles rafe has put down. Amused by your stubbornness, although it would annoy him any other day, rafe leans forward too, elbow on the desk beside you, resting his cheek on his palm, as he watches your attempt.

It’s only when actual numbers, that make sense, and are going in the right places are put down on the paper, does his smirk begin to fade. You’re faintly humming some ridiculous song he’s played a thousand times for you in the car, so peaceful as you navigate the work like second nature. Twenty minutes later, and he’s in awe at how fast you work ; his papers are stacked into a neat pile and every calculation he couldn’t do, you did without even using the “stupid digital thing”. And when he asks, “where the fuck did you get that smart?” You just shrug and chuckle, like it was the easiest thing in the damn world.

Now he’s been dragged onto the couch with you, forced under your bundle of blankets as he half-watches the dumb sitcom you’ve got on his tv, while you resume painting your nails that cherry red colour. And he’s decided in his head, that you’ll be doing all his stupid maths work from now on - better to spend thirty minutes watching you do his work than spending an hour away from you without progress.

[three-o-clock-things]

i am in so much goddamn pain but this is the one week where i really can’t miss class :(

[cherrysinner]

can you do bsf!rafe and reader getting a pregnancy scare and rafe gets a littleeeee excited but its negative at the end.

COUNT THE LINES

pairing: bsf!rafe x sweetie!reader

summary: you and rafe have a pregnancy scare.

warnings / tags: fluff. angst. suggestive.

author's note: thank you for the request!! writing this was sm fun

late for 7 days was displayed on your period tracker, your heart beating so loudly you could hear it in your ears, your head in your hands. the doorbell rang, and you rushed to it, already knowing who was going to be behind the door.

rafe had a casual smirk on his face when you opened the door, quickly dropping when he saw the panicked expression on yours. “what’s wrong?” your friend asked, his hands taking hold of your forearms as you let out a sob, “hey, talk to me, baby. what’s wrong?”

“my life’s over…” you mumbled through a sob as rafe pulled you into his chest, letting out soft hushes, his hand at the back of your head, pulling you into him, “‘s okay… just talk to me, baby…”

rafe led you to the couch and sat you down, still keeping you pressed against his sigh as he patiently waited for your cries to subside. you took a deep, shaky breath, wiping the tears off your cheeks. “i… i have to tell you something, rafe,”

“go ahead.” he tugged a strand of hair behind your ear, “whatever it is, i’m sure we can-“

“i think i’m pregnant.” you could basically hear rafe’s jaw drop open at the confession you blurted out, turning to look at the boy who was moving his lips without any words leaving them, making you backpedal, “i-i mean, i don’t know for sure.” you cleared your throat, your voice scratchy, “i’m late by a week. i… i haven’t taken a test yet.”

“fuck…” rafe let out a long breath, his eyes wide, “you, uh, do you have one? a test?”

“i do. i’ve just been busy freaking out.” you scoffed out a laugh and shook your head, “i haven’t been late in… years. i don’t know what else it could be…”

“alright, let’s just… take the test, yeah? we can talk about things after we get the result.” rafe pressed a kiss on top of your head, tugging you close.

as rafe waited for you to get out of the bathroom, tapping the heel of his shoe against the floor, his hands crossed in thought. he couldn’t help but wonder what it’d be like if you actually were pregnant. how you’d look with your stomach round with his child, wearing one of those sundresses you were obsessed with during summertime. a twisted part of him thought about how having a baby with you would tie you to him forever, to force you to be in his life for the rest of yours.

he thought about you being a mother, holding your newborn in your arms for the first time, a tired smile on your face, your hair sweaty as you rocked the baby in your arms, rafe’s heart warm as he sat down on the hospital bed, wrapping his arm around you and pulling you close to him as he looked down at the baby. “they’re perfect.” he’d mumble into the side of your head as he pressed a kiss there.

if it was a boy, he’d teach them football. if it was a girl, he’d keep a shotgun in hand to make sure no boy would come near her.

rafe’s thoughts were interrupted by the bathroom door opening and you coming out, a wide smile on your face as you held up the pregnancy test, one red line visible, “i’m not pregnant.” you sighed in relief. he got off the couch and walked to you, pulling you into his arms.

“that’s good. that’s a relief.” rafe mumbled, yet a part of him couldn’t help but be disappointed. the boy just knew you’d make a great mother. and you were to have a child with anyone, it better be him.

oh well. rafe would just have to try harder to knock you up.

feel free to send requests and check out my masterlist! 𓏲 ˖ 𓍯 . ⁺ 🪽

[misshuntereevee]

The Winner Takes it All, part 2.

( part 1. )

Synopsis: You look like the MC, and you actually remember bits and pieces of the myth (not all.) But MC finally shows up, with no memory, and Sylus can’t help but be drawn in. What will happen?

Notes: Thank you guys so much for the love. Part 3 will be coming probably in a few days as I prepare to start a new series for Raf. However, there has been some interest in a taglist for this series. I won’t be doing this at this time, but I will keep considering. Comments, likes and reblogs are encouraged but not necessary. Enjoy the groveling. (Also don’t forget I’m not beta-read.)

Sylus knows he fucked up. The moment you were gone -- Miss Hunter ceased to exist. Multiple calls from her went unanswered. And he didn’t even wonder once if she was okay. But every moment since you’ve been gone, Sylus has been searching.

If you’re mad at him, that’s one thing. But he has a duty to you to make sure that Ever never lays a hand on you. And no matter how mad you are at him, he refuses to let that promise go. If he has to rebuild the trust… he will. Brick by brick.

But the pit in his stomach doesn’t subside when he sees you. He’s not a jealous man, never felt the need to be. But right now -- he understands he’s the closest he’s ever been to losing you. And he is feeling envy creep up into his veins.

You were flirting with the cashier. Well, he started it but you definitely were returning it. In all honesty… the attention felt nice. It had been a few weeks since you felt like you got this sort of attention.

The cashier is already blushing. “You know, I get off around -,”

“We don’t care,” a smooth voice comes from behind you, and a shiver runs down your spine. Sylus. You hate that it elicits such a reaction, but there would never be a day it didn’t. Your memories of your past life were hazy at best, but his voice — you don’t remember a single time it didn’t made you fall head over heels.

A hand comes to rest on your shoulder but with a loud huff, you yank it off spinning around. You’re angry. Passionately so. “Don’t you dare,” you hiss at him. “You don’t have a right—,”

“Keep the change,” Sylus tells the cashier, ignoring you.

The cashier looks between you both before he lets out an awkward low whistle and backs up. “Sorry, ma’am, but I’m not risking my life for a date with you.” And with that he leaves the customer service desk, leaving the two of you alone. You swivel around to face him, and you notice a swirl of emotions around his face.

Relief. Anger. Annoyance. Relief again. Adoration. And then finally in lands on one thing you didn’t expect —

“You were actually flirting with him,” he points out, his eyes looking… hurt somewhere underneath an accusatory jealousy. You don’t say anything. In fact, you grab the book you purchased and start walking out the door. He follows you, and you try to put your earbuds in. He takes them immediately with his Evol. You scowl at him and yank him into a nearby alleyway.

“What the hell are you doing?” You spit at him. “Leave me alone. If I wanted to talk to you, I’d answer my phone.”

A flicker of hurt crosses his face for a moment. But finally, he forces a calm look on his face. “My little bird, I know I forgot our —,”

A flicker of surprise crosses his face when you laugh loudly and bitterly. “Are you kidding me? You think that’s all I’m upset about?” He stays quiet, seeming to realize you aren’t done with him yet. In all honesty, he needs to hear what you say. Sylus knows he can’t fix anything until he knows how you’re feeling.

You frown at him before continuing: “She comes along and just because she looks like me she grabs your attention? Oh and that stupid fucking linkage bond thing ---,” How could you forget? You could resonate with him, yes, but there has never been any physical bondage connecting the two of you. That was new -- something only Miss Hunter had. And you had wondered —

Was it enough that you should doubt? Your fears were confirmed when he forgot your anniversary to take her home after a mission.

“And Ever wants you both,” he adds, his eyes narrowing. “Which was enough for me to wonder if you left… or disappeared.”

“Ha, no, more like your ego couldn’t handle that I left!” You say, poking his chest. He scowls at you. “And you know what -- I fucking remember. Does she?! I might not remember everything, but I remember! She can’t… she’ll never —��

You stop, your voice about to shake with tears. A lump forms in your throat, your chest tightening. You remember when he forced the blade through his heart. You remember slaying the dragon. And you remember the pain your past self carried -- everywhere. “Does she remember losing you like I do? However hazy it may be, she doesn’t carry that pain.”

And that’s when you turn away from him. A hand comes up, pushing tears away. “Oh, my little bird,” he murmurs behind you, his voice sounding raw. He can’t stand the fact you’re crying… over him. Self-loathing was the only thing swirling in Sylus’ red eyes right now. “I’m sorry.”

“No. I don’t forgive you. I’m not willing to fight with another version of myself for you. Go away,” you spit. You need time. And you start to walk away from him. However -- You’re only about two feet away from him when you’re yanked backwards. Something is tethering around your wrist, pulling you back.

“Stop it,” you hiss at Sylus. “Let me go!” But as you turn around completely, you can tell — this is not his Evol. You’d be able to resonate with him and make him stop. This isn’t that.

Sylus stares at it for a moment before there’s a small smirk on his face. “Well,” he says. “It looks like you’ll have to hear me out now.” A linkage.

***

“No, don’t you even start,” you say to him, staring at the link. “I’m sure if I just resonated with you — when you finally resonated with her, it went away right?”

You try to resonate with him but —

“You’re blocking it!” You accuse him. “You’re trying not to resonate with me.”

“What can I say? If my little bird flies away before I can tell her how sorry I am, that just won’t do,” he nearly purrs.

“Oh, I hate you. Stop this!”

“You have every right to be angry,” Sylus starts. Granted, you weren’t expecting that, so your response doesn’t come quickly. He keeps talking. “I admit… seeing her threw me off. But anything drawing me to her was pure curiosity, nothing more. Any other pull I felt — it felt empty. Like it belonged to you. Because it does.”

You cross your arms, pretending not to be fazed by his declarations. He leans down, gripping your chin. “You’re right, my Queen. You remember me,” he says. The other hand — the hand linked to yours by the bond — laces fingers with yours. You don’t lace them back right away.

“I’m sorry,” he whispers. “If you wish for me to never see her again, I’ll let someone else investigate her appearance for me. I have to know — for both our sakes why she’s here. Just please -- I can’t lose you. You’re right.”

“Sylus —,”

“Please. You don’t understand. These last two weeks have been — eye opening.” He lets out a deep, ragged breath. “I’ll do whatever it takes to prove to you that I mean it.”

A deep breath. Your thoughts are so consumed with confusion. Because you’re also curious to why there seems to be two of you - albeit two crazily different lives. You mean, she had her life and you certainly had yours.

But you also missed him. Your dragon. And the look on his face. You found it remarkable how this crime boss of a man could look like a kicked puppy, begging for forgiveness. And you absolutely hate how much you’re softening. How much you’re still attracted and pulled to him.

“Mhm. Fine. Come back tomorrow and apologize again just as passionately… and I’ll think about it,” you finally say.

His mouth opens and closes. “My little bird — okay. If that’s what you want.” And he takes your hand, ready to resonate and undo the linkage so he can leave you for the night. Sylus doesn’t want to. He doesn’t want to give you a single chance to overthink it and -- not forgive him. But he also knows -- if he pushes this, he could lose you forever.

The glow of resonating begins — but nothing happens. Your heart drops. It’s not working. So… it wasn’t Sylus that was holding it together. A brief moment of confusion flits across his face.

He remembers what the scientists had told him when he failed to resonate with the hunter. That they wouldn’t be able to resonate because she was disgusted and angry with him. And in striking clarity -- he knows for a fact that it’s not him holding them back from resonating like he previously thought. It’s you.

“What’s happening?” You says, seeming a little panicked as the bond only tightens the more you try to pull away. In fact, the link tightens so much that you stumble forward into his arms. The more you try to get away from him, the closer you get.

“Hm.” Sylus says, staring at it. He’s currently trying to make sure he isn’t smiling -- this might be a small win, and he knows he has more opportunities to remedy your relationship. “I have a theory.”

“Okay -- so spill,” you say, your eyes widening at him. “I have work tomorrow, and I can’t bring you with me! You’re a crime boss!”

“We’re linked because you’re mad at me,” he finally says. “Or disgusted. Or --- you hate me.” He almost can’t get the words out. Because you can’t. You can’t hate him. There is so much he never got to do with you. You blink at him several times before it clicks -- you’re both bonded until he can fix what he broke.

[dmitriene]

cw: hookup with an implication for more, aftercare.

you thought that this is where it would all end, a good sex, a mind blowing orgasm, a limp, shaking body, your skin tingling from the kisses, bites, and hickeys left by hungry thrill, leaving you covered with bruises and marks all over, from neck to feet, still parted thighs trembling in ecstasy that has not yet subsided, sticky from drying drops of cum and your slick, glistening under the dim lighting of the bedroom, and the pale light that comes from the crack in the bathroom door, while you rise from the tangled, rumpled sheets on trembling hands.

simon comes out of the bathroom just in time to see you hunched over the side of the bed, reaching for your clothes that are carelessly scattered all over the floor, deciding not to get up out of distrust of your currently wobbly legs, you hear his bare feet landing on the cold parquet floor, getting closer and closer to you until you have to muster up the courage to meet his face, clutching his white blanket around your naked body even more tightly, as if he didn't just fucked you, as if you're trying to put up a barrier, hide away from him.

his dense eyebrows furrow together in displeasure, like a tightened seam, drawn to cast a shadow over his already coal black, bottomless eyes, the pupils of which are lost in the shadow of the room around him, making it impossible to discern the hidden emotions within, trying to see at least a hint, hands hidden in the pockets of his sweatpants, sitting low on his muscular hips, enough to reveal the defined line of his abdominis muscles, coarse hairs that spill down from his belly button and below the waistband, hiding you know where, simon raises his arms to cross over his broad, muscular chest, softened slightly by some extra weight that covers his ​​muscles, each flexing with the movements, his voice quiet, and somehow that only makes it all more uncomfortable, the low, gravelly timbre with which he addresses you

“wher' do you think you're going?”

weren't you supposed to? gather all your belongings, get dressed and vanish from his apartment without a trace, leave no room for taking a shower or saying goodbye, that was the expected course of events, but what you didn't expect was the peculiar look of discontent in his squinted gaze and voice, which caused your eyes to widen like beads, your lips to purse and then pout in confusion, pressing your hands to your chest, withdrawing from touching your scattered clothes, and he won't let you, because before you have time to squeak, simon reached out to lift you up, suprised gasp filling the quiet room, tumbling from your mouth.

laying you back against the pillows propped up against the headboard, simon adjusts the blanket to wrap it comfortably around your bare skin, letting you feel the comfort of gentle intimacy before he turns around, as he turns around and walks back towards the bathroom without saying a word, and you're too stunned to ask or protest his actions, especially when he comes back with a damp, warm towel, sitting on the edge of the bed on your side, reaching out under the blanket gently to pull your leg out, rough, calloused fingers skimming a strip up your calf, to your knee, spreading apart and running the pleasantly warm terry cloth up your thigh.

his gaze is downcast, and you don’t have to maintain eye contact, taking in his features for countless times that night, the sharp jaw, the hollow cheekbones, the pale skin lined with silver scars that have long drawn together and served as memories, the thin line of his pale, chapped lips pressed together in concentration, the flutter of his long, blonde lashes, swooping down to the dark circles etched deep into the thin skin beneath his eyes, before focusing on the feel of his touch, the relief of having a clean, not sticky skin, the way his fingers press into your quivering muscles over the towel, as if massaging.

the towel comes into contact with your pussy and you clench your teeth slightly, whimpering quietly beneath your breath, it doesn't hurt, far from it, you're just sensitive enough, your gummy walls are probably now shaped just for his cock, remembering the feeling of searing warmth, the sheer girth, the sensation of being full, stretched at the seams and pulsing, sopping down his pistoning length, trembling in the tight, secure hold of his hands, pulled down to meet each relentless thrust, and now, it was catching up, making you a little bit achy, clit still hyper sensitive, limbs almost numb, as simon reacts to your quiet sound of discomfort right away, anxious, stroking your leg with his thumb as if to comfort you, rubbing circles in the warm skin, calming, whispering a low, raspy apologies under his breath, wiping you a little more before setting the towel aside entirely.

the sound causes simon's cock to twitch in interest, he knows, in his mind, that you whimpered because your body was still sensitive, however, his voracious hunger demanded to hear more, so he forces himself out of bed to take the towel away, to find out if you were thirsty or hungry, spreading his legs wide, though it didn't do much to hide the pronounced outline of him beneath his sweats, since he put no underwear, you noticed it right away, your gaze fluttering away in mild shyness, though it seemed like there was nothing to be embarassed about, before you looked away, but didn't move to leave the comfort of the bed, obeying his words when he grunted about you staying the night.

he won't let you go alone into the night, not in your current state, not after everything that has happened, so this time, you fall asleep pressed against a solid body and wrapped in a warm, tender embrace, his hands tightening their grip around the curve of your waist with each movement, as you adjust to find a better position, before letting yourself drift off to sleep, becoming limp in his arms, only to wake up in them, with the enticing aroma of a freshly prepared breakfast wafting through the apartment, prepared for you since simon opened his eyes this morning.

it's all too new, too unexpected, and what should have been a casual hookup is turning into more than that, however, you feel compelled to refrain from complaining, especially since he sits across from you with a peculiar look of fondness swirling in his warmed tawny irises, thumbing over your knuckles as you eat the meal he made, guided by his encouragement to finish your food, maybe take a refreshing shower, a kiss pressing against your forehead, lingering, and you find yourself nodding to his every word.

main masterlist. quidelines.

[planet-hwa]

3:42AM — 윤호

✎ summary after a late night dance practice, the adrenaline in yunho's body kept him awake... but he was so desperate

pairing yunho x reader genre established relationship, sleepy smut word count 1.2k

warnings MDNI somnophilia, dry humping, quick handjob, fingering, clothed sex?, unprotected sex [bad!!], cowgirl, slight cockwarming?

The night was quiet, the only white noise being the midnight streets of Seoul, but it wasn’t distracting enough for Yunho. His brain was wide awake, so was his body. Looking over at the digital clock on the nightstand, reading the bright numbers that showed the early morning’s age, he sighed. He shifted onto his back and stared up at the ceiling, attempting to count his way back to sleep with invisible sheep.

But it was no use.

The adrenaline from the late night dance practice still pumped through his body, refusing to let him sleep. Usually after dance practices, his body was as energetic as ever — and as horny as ever. And usually you would be awake to greet him with open arms and open legs. But tonight’s practice ran just a little too late, and you tried to stay awake for Yunho but ended up drifting into a deep sleep, you didn’t even hear him return home.

Lifting the covers, he looked at the large tent in his sweatpants, it begged for his attention. He tried his hardest to ignore it, quickly shuffling and turning to face your back. The soft shimmer of the moon illuminated your figure through the sheets, the curves in your body calling Yunho’s name. Wrapping a long arm around your waist and pulling your body against his with ease, in hopes of calming him to drift back to sleep, only for it to increase the growing erection in his pants.

Unconsciously wriggling into his embrace, your ass grazed deliciously into his hardened cock, Yunho bit down on his lip to stifle a moan that tried to escape. The friction was exactly what he needed, craving more in an instant. He knew he shouldn’t but it was like he couldn’t control himself no matter how hard he tried to. His hips began to slowly grind against your ass, it being extremely exposed due to the small pajama shorts you wore. His grip around your waist tightened as his clothed length rutted into you, pre-cum already beginning to trickle through his sweats.

He tried his hardest to stay quiet, kissing your shoulders lightly as he humped you like a dog in heat. The way your ass curved perfectly against him drove him insane, his imagination growing wild and wishing he was deep inside of you. His brain was growing foggy as his orgasm was fastly approaching, holding tightly onto your hips enough to leave a bruise. Just as he was about to crack, he heard you mumbling his name as you started to shuffle awake.

“Y-yunho, are you okay?” Worry subsiding in your voice at the soft grunts you heard him making.

Turning your head towards him, your body pushed up against him at the perfect angle, another low moan escaping his lips. It was that moment you processed the situation, the hard rod poking at your lower back, the way his breath was heavy, the look of lust deep under his hooded eyes.

“I-I’m sorry baby, I just wanted to touch you… I couldn’t help myself.” He whined quietly, a sense of guilt filling him thinking he had crossed the line. But it couldn’t be furthered from the truth.

It turned you on immensely to see him so desperate for you, to feel his erection twitch against your back. You spun your body now fully facing him, the sheen of sweat across his forehead glistened in the moonlight, quickly moving him to lay on his back as you climbed atop him. His obvious erection wedged itself into your heated core as you lent down to place a few chaste kisses on his lips, kisses which turned fiery and passionate within seconds.

You both were moaning into each other’s mouths messily, tongues exploring and tasting every inch they could. His hands roamed your body, eventually planting themselves on your hips to guide your movements. You could feel your wetness drag across your pajama shorts as you grinded your hips into him, with every movement hitting your clit in a way that made your body shiver. You swiftly pulled away panting for breath, his lips attempting to chase yours for more but you were already on the move. You played with the waistband of his sweats, now coated with an obvious wet patch from his pre-cum and your own, his hips lifting automatically as you pulled them down just enough for his thick cock to spring out and slap against his stomach.

Wrapping your hands around it, you traced over his leaking tip that held a shade of dark pink, collecting his pre-cum before slowly pumping over him. His head threw backwards against the pillow, soft groans filled the previously quiet room. You loved watching every bit of his desperation, but now you were desperate too. He watched as you moved your loose pajama shorts to the side, lining up your entrance and slowly descending onto his dick, the familiar stretch causing the both of you to moan in extension. The tip of his long cock tickled your g-spot as he bottomed out, your gummy walls molding around him and pulsating — the feeling almost made him cum on the spot.

Once your body was used to the full feeling, you began to rise and fall at the slow pace, Yunho’s hands moving back to grasp at the plush of your hips and help guide your movements. The tension was too much to bear, both of you wanting so badly to fall over the edge, so you started to follow a steadier pace, bouncing up and down like a bunny. It wasn’t quick before the two of you filled the room with hopeless moans and lewd sounds — hopefully your neighbours didn’t mind. One of Yunho’s hands replaced itself on your puffy clit, circling and squeezing it between his fingers, your back arching at the sensation.

Both your highs were so close but you needed his lips back on yours, leaning down whilst he was still deep inside you, creating a new pleasurable angle before pashing your lips together in another dance of desire. He began bucking his hips desperately upwards, fingers still wedged between your sweaty bodies and playing with your sensitive bud, waiting for your high to crash over you.

And it did. 

Wave of pleasures spilled through your body, your brain growing hazy and the only thing falling from your mouth was loud moans and a mantra of Yunho’s name. Your walls clenched around him tightly, milking him of his orgasm, the feeling of hot white ropes filling you up, overflow leaking out and dripping down your thighs. Both of your brains were a dazed mess, the room filled with the smell of sex and the sounds of your heavy mixed breaths.

Your body was limp atop his, and his limp underneath you yet his arms stayed tightly wrapped around your waist. You lifted your head from the crook of his neck, gazing at him in the darkness through hooded eyes, the only sliver of moonlight shimmering across his soft features. His cheeks and ears were painted a rosy pink, strands of hair sticking to his forehead from the sweat, a small smile curled on his lips. You placed a chaste kiss on his cheek before mumbling. “You know baby, you could’ve just woken me up.”

author's note i'm ovulating or whatever yeosang's ig username is... (this is an apology for making yunho such a dickhead in the bad boy facade series) also thank you for 300 followers, very sweet angels >.<

✉ taglist @ayanahru @betda @solaris-amethyst @sleepyheadyunho @tyudeongii @e3ellie @atzlordz @hwalighters @hwachronicles @autieofthevalley @yuhsanxxx @dejatiny @songmigimylove @hotteokimnida @yunhoserotonin @saniioveyk

written by planet-hwa™

[pixxievomit]

he found you curled against the far corner of the room, your back to the wall like it was the only thing that wouldn't give way. the words from earlier still hung in the air, sharp and cruel, the kind you didn't mean but said anyway because the world had spun too fast, too loud, and it felt safer to push than to fall.

damian stood in the doorway for a moment, silent. he didn’t look angry. he didn't look cold. just… steady. like he always did. he crossed the room without a word, lowering himself slowly until he was knelt down, settling on the floor beside you.

"i'm not going anywhere," he said. not tender, but sure. like a vow. "you could scream at me. tell me you hate me. burn everything we built to the ground.. and i would still stay until you felt safe again." he reached out, palm open, not touching you unless you gave permission. "you don't have to be soft for me. you don't have to be easy to love. you don't have to force yourself to be anything else. i chose you knowing exactly what storms live in you. and i'm not afraid of drowning."

you didn't speak at first but your hand found his, trembling, unsure if you were even allowed. damian's fingers closed gently around yours like he was holding something sacred. that's how he always held you. before and after a split. like he still saw the same person either way.

"the way your mind turns on you," he mumbled, "i've seen it. you tell yourself i'll leave. that i'll grow tired. that i'll use this moment to walk away. but i need you to hear me, beloved, i don't love you in pieces. i love you even when the pieces are sharp. even when they try to cut me. even then, i will never stop reaching for you. i will not step away over something you can not control."

he stayed there long into the night. holding your hand, forehead pressed gently to your temple, grounding you with the weight of his presence alone. not trying to fix it. not offering empty reassurances. just being there. letting you fall apart and still be loved. teaching you that falling apart didn't mean pushing him away.

that he could handle the screaming. the crying. the breaking. because he would still hold you, whisper to you.. he would still be there when the thoughts and aches subsided.

[tobeholyistobeempty]

“here’s what’s gonna’ happen.” he mutters, kissing the gun up your neck, leaning an elbow on your thigh. “m’gonna answer this call, you’re gonna’ talk. be honest for daddy. tell em’ you’re tied up.”

so fucking obsessed with the idea of a you x ghost lovers-turned-enemies who just can’t stay the fuck away from eachother. it’s gross and it’s toxic and it’s brutal and it’s probably more insane than it should be but with all the war around you it’s one of the only fucking things left that makes you actually feel alive, so inevitably you end up back under him in new inventive ways each time you cross paths.

maybe you’re working for shadow company during the time graves decides to betray 141 - perhaps you didn’t know it was going to happen because you weren’t directly involved with that mission, after all, but with your rank, ghost has a hard goddamn time believing anything otherwise - no matter how many times he turns it over in his head.

so when he sees you - rather, when you all too conveniently find yourselves in the same map dot city, some shithole for some hellscape intel search while graves and his team are still actively after them - it’s all a little too much for him.

ghost doesn’t know who you’re serving, what your loyalty is, and decides that maybe he’ll just have to get that information out of you himself.

but that’s all little to your knowledge - because you don’t even know the fucker knows you’re here. it’s been a long fucking day. you’re already exhausted, graves has all but sent you to deathrow to chase dead end leads in circles, and everything just keeps getting worse with each passing day. but it’s late, and the motel that you’re staying in has a decent bar that you think you’d like to take advantage of.

you decide one quick drink can’t hurt, can it?

ha.

about as famous last words as any. because, turns out, it can. yes, it can hurt.

it can actually hurt real fucking good when the living embodiment of every mortal man’s nightmares decides (at the most convenient of times, because just so happens you left your gun back in your room) that he’s got questions for you, and isn’t too fucking keen on waiting for answers.

he strikes when the lights have gone out and the bar has closed. when the motel has fallen silent and the only noise is your footsteps as you creep down the hallway that leads to your door. you, however foolishly, drop your guard, thinking you have fuck all to worry about at this point - when suddenly the shadows by your door shift, and the owner of the hand that has the muzzle of a fucking gun pressed to the back of your head tells you that your mistake was waiting until so late, coming here so alone, and not realizing that the shadows in this place are not empty but instead filled with men that can see you just a little bit better than you can see them.

but when the voice sinks in, and you merely smile - dread subsiding as you ask him what took him so damn long to find you - he decides he isn’t too fond of the response. you’re inside your decrepit room only in a few moments after that, tied to a chair, and he’s just looking at you like he can’t quite figure out what’s so damn funny.

you let him have the win, you always do. you know that despite it all, when he’s infront of you like this, it’s never as ghost.

simon riley could never hurt you. not truly.

“who knows you’re here?” he husks, pale eyes surveying the room in a quick sweep. for show, you’re sure. he mapped every inch of this room before he’d even stepped foot inside.

you suck your teeth, fighting to let that shit-eating grin spread. “you mean like, my mom? dad? sister—“

“watch it.” he cuts you off, and the muzzle made of cool steel is pressed at the side of your jaw, shifting your head, turning it away from his. “y’know how i feel about tha’ smart fuckin’ mouth of yours.”

“stupid questions get stupid answers.” you reply back sweetly, tilting your head a little so the steel digs in harder, amplifying the ache for the hell of it. “you’ve got a gun at my jaw, LT. talk to me straight.”

there’s silence, until there’s a hum - he shifts then, crouching beside your chair, stalling at eye level with you. “talk t’ya straight, huh.”

“you act like i don’t know why you’re here.” your chest feels tight, with the way he’s looking at you. it’s a battle with an army of its own to push it down. “you’re looking for the big man, aren’t you? graves. heard he—“

the press of his gun softens momentarily as his free hand finds the other side of your jaw, tilting your eyes back to him, forcing you to look him right in that dead fuckin stare of his.

“y’best be real careful about lying t’me, princess.”

“you can kiss my ass.” you smile thinly, and in the darkness you think you see his eyes gleam, but whether it’s out of irritation or out of something else entirely, you can’t be sure. you exhale. “i had nothing to do with graves’ little villain arc. i don’t know fuck all about it, or where he currently is. you’re wasting your breath.”

the muzzle of his gun trails down, down along your jaw and throat, sparking gooseflesh to life.

“liar.” he rasps, and despite all your moral instincts screaming at you that this is all but a shade off insane, when it comes to this behemoth of a man before you your depraved instincts are just a tad stronger. and when your thighs tense, he notices. “what’s it gonna take, mm? t’get ya talkin.”

you exhale a breath you didn’t even know you were holding - and ghost smiles. you see it through the crease in his mask - but just when he goes to speak again, your fucking cellphone, buried in your jacket pocket, starts to ring.

“well if that ain’t just my fucking luck.” you don’t need to see it to know who’s calling. you ignored check in twice already. too busy at the bar, drowning your sorrows. “ghost, listen—“

oh, he’s listening, alright. listening to the sound of that fucking ringtone filling the space between your words. you can’t tell he’s cocking an eyebrow at you, his eyes not leaving yours as he shifts a hand, reaching for your pocket. you open your mouth, but he’s already withdrawing your phone, snorting after a fleeting glance at the name lit up on it.

he turns it to you, and you try to fight it - but you can’t stop the deadpan. no matter how much you’d already known it would be him.

graves.

“here’s what’s gonna’ happen.” he mutters, kissing the gun up your neck, leaning an elbow on your thigh. “m’gonna answer this call, you’re gonna’ talk. be honest for daddy. tell em’ you’re tied up.”

oh, dear go—

“this your fucking idea of a loyalty test?” you hiss, and you can suddenly feel your blood roaring in your ears, your heart hammering. “are you insane?”

that’s a redundant question, you think, and ghost must agree, because his only answer is to shift the gun in a way that allows him to press a fingertip against your pulse.

you swallow - he’s checking for pulse leaps like a fucking lie detector.

“mhm.” he purrs, absolutely loving this - before pressing a button on your phone, and a low rumble of anticipation rocks through you.

he’s put it on speaker - and the second it connects, graves is talking.

“sergeant.” he all but barks, and you tense, closing your eyes at the sound of his voice. he’s pissed. “where the fuck are you? you missed two of—“

“sorry, sir.” you say through your teeth, flicking your eyes to ghost. he just tilts his head, as if he’s saying go on, show me that you’re still mine. christ. “i uh, got a little…tied up.”

there’s a brief silence, presumably as graves just stands there (you can envision it in your head, crease in his eyebrows, hand clutching his phone - trying to determine what the fuck that means) before he eventually clears his throat.

“and what could you possibly have gotten yourself so tied up with that you can’t report in on time?” he asks, and you want to laugh, because if only he knew. your hands tense against the ropes, and he speaks again. “that was a rhetorical question, sergeant. you’d better have a damn good excuse for this.”

oh, you definitely have a good excuse, though you’re pretty sure that if you were to tell graves who it was that had you so very busy right now, he might just turn into fairy dust and transport himself through the phone to try and kill you both. (keyword, try.)

you open your mouth to answer but words disintegrate as ghost shifts, standing to his full height.

you look up at him, and the blood that rushes to your stomach is something catastrophic - so disarming that you almost forget graves is still on the goddamn line. you blink, and you’re about to say something, when ghost does something you don’t expect; he tucks the gun back into his holster, before moving to the buckle of his belt.

oh - oh.

“christ,” you breathe out, before you even realize it. and when ghost shoves the phone closer to your face, you realize you couldn’t give less of a fuck about graves at this moment. “sir—graves, i was fucking busy, okay? i had shit to do. you’re the one who sent me out here, into this goddamn nightmare, to do your grunt work. should i be really sitting around waiting for your call while you’re out sucking off the general?” the silence that answers you is deafening. and so is the rage you can suddenly feel permeating the air. you suck your teeth when he doesn’t answer. “right, well. if you don’t mind, i’d like to go the fuck to bed. i’ll call in first thing tomorrow.”

ghost’s fingers drift, starting to undo the latch and you know, with your heart and bloodied soul - that he’s smiling right now.

you hear a low, rumbling growl coming over the other end of the line - it takes you a moment to realize it’s coming from graves - and the next thing you hear is the dial tone as he hangs up, presumably plotting the ways he’s going to make your life hell for the next unforeseeable future.

but then, the belt buckle of ghost’s belt is undone, your phone is tossed somewhere behind him, and you find yourself smirking up at him with glistening lips.

“now, look what you made me do.” you whisper, a lazy drawl. “always doubting me, huh. insane fuck.”

and ghost just snorts at the insult, before taking off one of his gloves with his teeth and shoving it into your mouth. you groan at the sudden taste of leather and dust that touches your tongue - but when he leans over you, lips at your ear, it’s a little too easily forgotten.

“quiet now.” he murmurs, with an audible smile. your eyes close at the sound, and his breath against your neck makes you want to scream. “no more talkin’ less you’re good n’ beggin’ f’me put that mouth to proper use.”

you want to spit at him, just for the fun of it, but settle for biting down on the glove as you shift, trying to bring your legs together. but then he’s crouching between them again, pushing them back open with his bulk, and you can only groan as he rips the leather from your mouth.

“if he finds out,” the words spill out without much thought - as you stare into his eyes. “he’ll—“

“mmm.” he hums, leaning in to press his teeth against your jaw. “he’ll what.”

oh, the things your mouth should say. but if you’re being honest, the only thing you want your mouth to say right now is please.

“i’ll - i’ll be the next one getting shot at.” you hiss out as his hands find your thighs. “christ. untie me, asshole.”

“y’jus told the boss you’re tied up.” he mutters back, and from the heat of his breath alone, you know he’s smiling again. “wouldn’t’ wanna’ make a liar outta’ y’self now, would ya?”

————————————-

a/n: the way i would let this man ruin me is concerning.