#drink hoarder

[freshhotflavors]

Why yes, I do need all of these drinks at once, thank you for asking.

[asmodeauxx]

Let’s put that dead meat in its place!

Suggestive below cut;

women make me insane

[pea-petal]

Nonbinary Hoarder Alex Stimboard!

credits: divider by me

💛 | 💛 | 💛

💜 | 🐁 | 💜

🖤 | 🖤 | 🖤

[lostinhistory]

Sometimes I worry I buy too much stuff, but then I read a story about people lining up at 4:30 in the morning to buy a reusable drink cup (to add to their collection of reusable drink cups) and I'm like, actually, I'm fine.

[stripesysheaven]

went on a 3 hour cleaning spree im so alive

[dufrau]

favorite drink? or at least the top few

Most of the time i just drink beer tbh.

But when I don't drink beer I tend to prefer very boozy classic sorts of cocktails like old fashioneds and manhattans etc, if not just a neat bourbon or scotch.

But I also will typically order the fruitiest pinkest drink on the menu if there is one, because i like to celebrate Pink Drink Friday, which, for the record can be celebrated any day of the week. This is a made up holiday that is really just an excuse to post a selfie holding a pink drink. It's fun. I recommend it. Occasionally somebody will tell you you look cute, and what could be better than that?

(edited to add: and also negronis! i forgot them at first because its a very springtime drink and it is very winter right now so i am in whiskey mode. they also have the added benefit of being pink)

I was assuming you meant alcoholic drinks since i mentioned "the bar" in the tags of the post that I am also assuming sent you to my ask box lol but IF NOT, then my favorite or at least most consumed drinks are black coffee and water.

[stillinthatweirdfaze]

Obsessed with how amazing elementary school valentines parties were compared to the actual holiday. You made it so much better in every conceivable way and then expected us to go to this ass version in our adult hood it’s so fucked.

[lovelyrotter]

were supposed to go out to get new sneakers with our dad tomorrow (which we desperately fuckin need cause we could only bring back our sandles and boots. guess whos parents tossed all 2 pairs of their shoes while they were abroad this time. again) but goddamn i do not want to leave the house. i dont even wanna be a person. i wanna stay in bed and be a stuffed animal. inanimate object behaviour. i should talk to someone abt that probably

[obligatory-name-change]

anyway i think claw and hoarder could have been really good if they had rick literally fuck the dragon

[girlfailureblog]

Paracetamol (acetaminophen in the US) is max like $8 for a normal sized package. Even specialised paracetamol-based cold medicine like theraflu is around $10.

ok

i am not from the us but good to know u guys aren't getting extorted for paracetamol lol

[ilhoonftw]

not me thinking white claw is like tonic or sparkling water idk and there's no alcohol there ??? i mean from the branding etc i wasn't aware it's booze

[satrs]

A/N; working on alll of ur requests rn sweeties!!! It's gonna take me a good while tho, so here is a lil sum sum I wrote abt the guys sum time ago ^^ Hope u enjoy my late night yapping and plzzzz be patient with meeee, I didn't forget ur requests my lovelys!!!

Random/unpopular headcanons of Weird stuff they do! (MDNI! SFW ans NSFW)

ZAYNE

SFW

Drink his coffee HORENDOUSLY. It looks like a brew straight out of hell. Honestly, it’s closer to motor oil than anything drinkable.

Eats like a pregnant woman with the wildest cravings. I’m convinced he mixes sweets with damn near everything, pickles with ice cream, shit like that.

Uhhh, I also think he’s messy??? Like, his house looks tidy at first glance— floors clean, dishes done, nothing crazy. But if you actually live with him, you realize he doesn’t have time to handle allat!!! There’s always clothes flying around, jackets tossed over chairs, hoodies crumpled on the couch, random socks disappearing into the void. Not necessarily dirty clothes, just... clothes littered across the house. It's like he tries to stay organized, but life moves too fast and the laundry pile moves faster.

NSFW

Tries to optimize things. It's kinda weird but also hot??? "What if we adjust the angle by 12 degrees—oh. Oh, that's better."

One time, he came with one hand on the wall like a man in mourning and didn't say a word, just stood there. (Post-nut trauma pose lmaooo)

Looses track of time when he's with u. You've been at it for 3 hours with barely any break before he realized that he has 2 hours of sleep left before he has to get up for work. But he'll worry about that in the morning.

He's giving you a clinical review when you ride him. "Your pelvic tilt just now was exceptional. Ten out of ten."

SYLUS

Bro im ngl… i feel like he's a hoarder. Antique stuff probs like old pennies from 1500s or sum shi.

Props a history nerd on the low. Knows every event ever happening around the word from the stone age to modern times. (Rants to you about them sometimes)

Caffeine Dependency, But in odddd forms.He refuses to drink normal coffee so, instead, he's obsessed with fancy stuff like matcha lattes, cold brew espresso, or even herbal teas that are supposed to enhance mental focus. If you catch him on a "bad caffeine day," you'll see him get irritated if he had to settle for a drink that doesn't meet his exacting standards (He's gonna pull out the glock ain't he).

NSFW

Discovered his wax kink one time when candle wax happend to drip on him turing sexy time, and he moaned so loud it scared you. That's when you both began to involve wax as a main actor during the act more often.

Oh he's soooo horny when you patch him up after a deal gone wrong. Grows soooo hard when you're shocked self runs up to his all bloodied form:(( Just such big baby and a suckerrr for your nursing skills!!!

Guns are everywhere. Like, casually. Sometimes there's one just sitting on the nightstand, loaded, of course— the barrel practically staring at you while he's fucking you. It's kinda terrifying if you think about it too hard.

Okay, hear me out!!!! When he's really exhausted, like dead-on-his-feet exhausted, he comes home, takes a quick, half-awake shower, then just slumps onto the bed, still wet, still half-dressed, a lit cigar hanging from his lips as you ride him. He's barely doing anything, just lying there with this lazy, heavy-lidded look, letting you use him however you want. Smoke curling up toward the ceiling, his body all warm and loose under your hands. It’s messy, raw, and honestly addicting if you admit.

CALEB

SFW

Constantly challenges himself to do backflips in inappropriate places. "Bet I can flip off this railing" No, Caleb. You can't. But he does it anyway(urghhh). It's even grown to a point that he makes a quick backflip when you two meet up as agreeting mane. It's sooo embarrassing when the bystanders eye him but he thinks it's soooo cold LMAOOO

Caleb still doesn't know how to use a lot of things properly. He'll try to fix things around the house and end up breaking them worse than they were. You'll catch him watching YouTube tutorials, struggling with the basics of cooking, or just trying to figure out how something works.

NSFW

Tries to make you laugh mid-stroke. Literally says stuff like "What would you do if I'd start moonwalking right now?" You're crying laughing while he's still inside you.

He high fives you after sex. Every damn time. Yep. Its canon bc i said so!

Treats you on top as if he's ur personal trainer. "Yeahhh, get those megan-kness working. One, two, three— heyheyhey you gotta put your legs into it!“

XAVIER

SFW

Despite him sleeping so damn much, I feel like hes a light sleeper. If you move away slightly his eyes shoot open bruh. (They also glow in the dark and scare the shit out of you when ypu come back to the room after taking a piss)

Incredible memory for faces, but not names. He can remember every single detail about a person's face—the way they looked when they smiled, the exact way they tilted their head during conversation—but when it comes to their names? Not a clue. He js couldn't give less of a fuck.

Always late for your dates. At least half an hour. Not bc he's been sleeping but because he's so slowww man! You're so mad bc you can't teleport like a certain someone cough cough, but still manage to show up on time!!! And when he shows up he acts so innocent and clueless as if you didn't wait for him for half an hour.

NSFW

Thinks it's soooo sexy when you scold him. Say his full name with force and he's rock solidddd 'm tellin youuuu!!!

Always insists on so much foreplay it's frustrating. Don't get me wrong it's sexy! ....until it's been 45 minutes and you’re still begging for him to finally put it in.

Has a thing for u playing with his hair, especially if you pull it when he's eatin you out. But even if you just genuinely move it out of his face after a heated make-out shesh, he whines as if you got his dick in a headlock (you do).

RAFAYEL

Props has a journal and draws little doodles of you next to his entry of the day!! When he's feeling espacially romantic, he'll begin with a small doodle but get lost in it end end up drawing the most breathtaking portrait of you. He hides the journal too, a bit too embarrassed to show you his rambles of how much in love he is with you. Yeahhh for his eyes only!

Rafayel is full of bizarre superstitions. He's the type to refuse to walk under a ladder, always carries a lucky charm, and insists that everything happens for a reason. If you spill salt, you're definitely going to have to throw it over your left shoulder. Was a literal sea god but bad luck are the most of his worries ig...

His desk is a mess, but somehow everything is in its right place. Papers are scattered everywhere, but you can not touch them. He has his own chaotic filing system, and God help you if you try to reorganize anything.

NSFW

Sucker for you when ur in heels. I dare you to step on his foot by accident in heels!!(he almost came in his pants). Loves to fuck you in heels from that point onwards.

Ok so this is ridiculous but I have this headcanon that you both made out in the ocean once and got so into it that you didn't notice rafayel turned into a merman until his fishtail grazed your legs and you fucking screamed for your life. He had to make it up with some sloppy toppy head underwater ofc!!!

Will literally stop mid stroke to get his sketchbook and sketch you when he has the urge to capture your beautiful form splawed out for him. Like, this is for him, like.... oh my godddd yu're so perfect???

[missadangel]

MAKE HIM DISLIKE LOVE YOU

Harry Castillo x Reader (The Materialists)

Chapter 5: Falling Hard

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Chapter Summary: Harry is becoming increasingly attached to you, while you remain absorbed in your work. Despite your efforts to keep your distance, his persistence pulls you in somehow without you even realizing it. Warnings: 18+ (smut, MDNI) kinda romantic comedy stuff, fluffy, angst, lying, soft and caring Harry Castillo, Lucy as his ex, John as Lucy's ex, wealth, expensive gifts, drinks, money, cars, language, sexual tension, oral sex, p in v sex, kissing, slow burn, power imbalance, I might have missed some warnings; I will update them in due time. Chapter Word Count: 11,5k, oops, feelings!!! fluffy, rom-com and little angst... authors note: Thank you all for your support, asks, comments, reblogs and likes. I appreciate each and every one of you! Love you all!

Monday…

The building superintendent handed you the key to the penthouse you were tasked with cleaning. He pointed out where to find the cleaning supplies and outlined the dos and don’ts for the job. Although you were already familiar with these details, it was evident that the penthouse owner was either extremely meticulous or had a unique approach to things.

Donning your black maid uniform with the white collar, you loaded all the essential supplies into the elevator. Since you were heading to the top floor, you knew you needed to bring everything with you, and the other cleaners—who were incredibly kind—offered their assistance since it was your first day. It felt almost as if they had been instructed to help you, although you might have been less surprised if your boss wasn't someone like Jack. Nevertheless, you appreciated their kindness; you had landed the job you’d been searching for much sooner than expected, and you didn't want to question the situation too closely.

Once you stepped into the elevator, you didn’t bother to look back and see how many floors the attendant pressed. But you wished you could. The floor indicator ticked up: 28, 29, 30, 49, 59... Just how many floors did this building have? It finally reached 69, 70, 71, and 72 before the elevator chimed in to announce your arrival. If you hadn’t visited the Empire State Building and stood on its observation deck, this might have been the tallest building you had ever entered.

As you exited the private elevator, you turned right toward a large, wide door that led directly into the penthouse. Stepping inside, you couldn't help but gaze around in wonder. The penthouse was a two-story, full-floor duplex with ceilings towering about 14 feet high, providing stunning 270-degree views of the city.

From this high vantage point, the beauty of Columbus Circle and Central Park unfolded spectacularly alongside a stunning view of the Hudson River. Even the distant outlines of New Jersey and the airport were visible, while Harlem looked simply incredible from above. The building reach such heights that you felt almost level with the Empire State Building visible in the distance.

On the first floor, there were two-bedroom suites featuring a spacious living room, two adequately sized bathrooms, and a fairly large kitchen. One of the suites had a locked door, and the doorman mentioned that the landlord had specifically warned against entering that room. You found yourself curious about the reason behind it but ultimately shrugged it off; surely, there must be a good explanation. Perhaps the owner was someone who kept cash hidden away due to a distrust of banks, or maybe someone who was just a hoarder of illicit funds—who could say? You didn’t really mind as long as you were being compensated well for your work. 

Upstairs, you discovered the largest dressing room you'd ever encountered, along with a spacious bedroom, a generous bathroom, and a terrace that resembled a mini-garden. The walls were adorned with white plaster, and the beautiful oak hardwood floors featured a unique pattern, with seamless AC diffusers tucked into the corners. Between the living room and kitchen, there was a wet bar that was almost larger than the living room itself, stocked full of drinks. Two wine racks, a wine fridge, and a long counter occupied the space. Above it, a full glass cabinet showcased an impressive collection of wine glasses, clearly displaying its contents. Just around the corner sat the dining area, furnished with a table that could seat twelve. Every corner was lined with glass panels and columns, offering a stunning, panoramic view that made getting too close to the edge feel a bit precarious.

The sheer size of the house and its mesmerizing views left you unsure of where to begin your cleaning tasks. Fortunately, it seemed the landlord wasn’t a messy person. Aside from some unwashed dishes in the kitchen and a few scattered clothes in the dressing room, there wasn’t much to tackle. You hadn't encountered luxury homes like this often, and each experience made you a bit anxious. Typically, wealthy landlords tended to throw frequent parties, making cleanup afterward a real chore. Thankfully, it was clear that a single man inhabited this space; there were no signs of a woman or child around. The state of the sheets on the bed indicated he wasn’t a frequent one-night-stand type either. This was a relief, especially when recalling the dirty, grimy sheets you had encountered in other homes. Meticulous and solitary clients were truly the best. 

However, there was one aspect that unsettled you: the home security cameras.

Damn technology.

The owner could easily connect to them at any time from his phone or tablet. Since you’d never experienced anything like this at Jack's house, the presence of cameras here felt intrusive. But you tried to push the thought aside; they surely weren’t going to monitor your every move, were they?

After vacuuming the house and mopping the floors, you leaned against the wall for a moment to catch your breath. The chairs looked high-end, and you hesitated to sit down, feeling uneasy about using someone else's belongings, especially with all those cameras around. 

“Oh, I’m so thirsty,” you mumbled, wiping the sweat from your forehead. Frustration bubbled up as you recalled the water bottle back in your bag downstairs, the room where you changed was on the ground floor. Just then, you heard a noise coming from the kitchen, and you could have sworn you heard the sound of water.

Was the refrigerator actually filling a glass with water?

You blinked in disbelief. “Is it broken or something?” you wondered aloud. “Has technology really come this far that a fridge can respond to our needs?” But your throat was parched, so you decided to drink. To your surprise, when you placed the glass back, it started to fill again. Hesitant yet curious, you took another sip and jokingly told the refrigerator to stop. To your astonishment, it actually obeyed. “Is this place haunted or what?” you looked around. “Even ghosts are picky about where they hang out. I can’t blame you, buddy—if I were a ghost, I’d want to haunt a place like this too.”

You chuckled at the thought. 

“What’s so funny?” 

Harry looked up from his iPad, embarrassment crossing his face as Maria scolded him. He had completely lost track of the meeting. Disengaging the network communication with the fridge while keeping the app active in the background, he took out one earbud and tried to refocus on the discussion. However, the urge to laugh lingered, your voice still echoing in his mind. 

"This is the most fun I’ve ever had at work," he thought to himself. 

Once the meeting wrapped up, he headed to his office and opened the app again. A smile crept across his face as he saw you bustling around in the kitchen. For reasons he couldn’t quite pinpoint, he derived joy from watching you wash the dishes. Zooming in on your face, he let out a deep sigh.  

“How can you be this beautiful?” he murmured.

He continued to watch you, lost in thought.  

“You really-,” Maria chimed in, hovering over him and staring at his iPad. “That’s not right, Harry.”  

Without tearing his eyes away from the screen, he snapped, “Don’t start.”  

“Seriously, go talk to her instead of watching her on camera like a creep,” she said.

“I did.”  

Maria leaned against the edge of the table. “And? Did she turn you down?”  

Harry swallowed hard and closed his eyes.  

“Wow, this girl is truly something. All right, as your buddy, I’ll help you win her over. I’ll be your wingwoman.”  

Harry rolled his eyes. “No need. I’ll handle it. I’ve hurt her enough already.”  

"Really? You think it'll be better if she finds out you've been watching her like this? Honestly, if someone did that to me, I'd want to kick their asses. I thought there were no more lies between you two."  

"I'm just trying to make things right. The company wasn't going to call her anytime soon, so I helped her get a job."   

“Well, I can’t be mad about that. Why don’t you invite her to the wedding? The invitation is for two, you know.”

“I know,” he sighed deeply.  

“You’re worried she won’t want to go with you.”  

“She keeps saying she doesn’t belong in my world,” he said ruefully. “I don’t want to pressure her.”  

“I get that, but you won’t lose anything by asking,” she said, standing up and heading towards the door. “And just a heads-up, Harry, don’t get too comfortable with her working in your place without knowing anything about it. The truth has a way of coming out eventually, so keep that in mind.”

Harry knew she was right, but he felt more helpless than ever. All he wanted was to be near you, to close the distance between. As he watched you walk toward his bedroom on the screen, he focused on how he could win your heart.

As you were changing the bed sheets, a familiar scent caught your attention, causing your heart to skip a beat. You picked up the pillow and took a whiff—it was the same as Harry's perfume. You smiled, remembering him, and thought about if he lived in a house like this, maybe even one a bit more luxurious. As you draped the new sheets over the bed, memories of your last conversation took hold. Part of you yearned to toss aside all your pride and aspirations, eager to leap into his arms. Yet another part of you felt terrified—more scared than ever before. The ache from that night in the hotel room was still fresh, and the thought of facing that pain again filled you with dread. 

All these years, you had pondered what love truly felt like. The relationship you once believed was love had ended, morphing into something you never wanted to undergo again.

You had sealed that chapter away. 

But this feeling was different, far from what you had experienced before. 

Could this be love?

Could it encompass both joy and heartbreak simultaneously? The answer frightened you, yet it also ignited a desire you couldn’t shake.

You wanted to belong to him, and deep down, you knew you couldn’t resist him for too much longer. 

And it frightened you.

Damn it, he occupied every thought.

No, you needed to clear your head.

After finishing up in the bathroom, heading back to the living room, your phone rang. It was Melanie, and she was a bundle of frustration. Jack made it clear he didn’t want her back and wouldn’t forgive her. Anger bubbled up as she said she wouldn’t live in your "disgusting little flat." 

“Then leave!” you shouted, exasperated. 

Hearing your voice, Harry looked back at the screen and wondered who you were talking to.

“Don’t you have any rich friends with big, fancy houses?” you asked. She certainly had plenty, but it looked like even they weren’t willing to lend a hand on a day like this. What a way to show friendship! 

“I already tried! None of them will help me because they’re scared of my father!” Melanie's voice was laced with desperation.  In the background, you could hear water running. “What’s wrong with this damn shower?” she yelled. 

“You’ll just have to wait; the hot water takes its sweet time,” you replied, dusting off the bookshelf with a cloth. 

“Oh great! Even the water in this pathetic house is terrible!” she exclaimed, her voice echoing through the phone, prompting you to pull it away from your ear. 

“Then why don’t you just go wash at the homeless shelter? It’s free!” you shot back. 

“Ha-ha! Very funny!” 

After hanging up the phone, you glanced at the clock, your stomach tight with hunger. You were almost finished, but the house was so vast that it would take you another hour. You sank into one of the kitchen chairs and rested your head in your hands. Just then, your phone rang again. With a sigh, you answered without checking the screen.

“I told you to get the hot water-”

“Hey, beautiful.”

You froze. It was Harry's voice.

“I was wondering if you would consider avoiding me over lunch?”

You exhaled sharply. “I can’t, I’m still not done here.”

“Let’s just grab lunch, and then you can get back to work. How would the owner even know?” He stifled a giggle.

“Actually, he does. There are cameras all over the house. Some people are just strange like that.”

“Smart move to have cameras in the house. He must be clever.” he bit his lower lip to stifle his laugh.

“Wait a minute, I didn’t tell you my job today is cleaning this place.”

There was a pause.

“But you're a housekeeper. Isn’t that what you do?” Harry mentally kicked himself for that slip.

“Um, yeah, right. Anyway, like I said, I can’t join you for lunch. Enjoy your meal.”

“But-”

You hung up the phone and rested your head sideways on the kitchen counter. Harry let out a frustrated sigh as he watched you on the screen, mirroring your position by placing his head down on his table. “You don’t know how much this hurts,” he muttered. “Seeing you so worn out and down. I could make it all easier for you. When will you let me?”

Just then, Oliver opened the office door and peeked in. “Hey, aren’t you going to lunch?”

“No, you go ahead,” Harry mumbled, still not looking up. As soon as Oliver left, a lightbulb went off in his head, and he grinned as he dialed a number on his phone.

“But I didn't order this.” 

As you were in the middle of ironing, you noticed the elevator bell ring and saw the delivery guy from the Chinese restaurant at the door. 

“Well, this was sent by the cleaners downstairs. They insisted I bring it to you since they ordered it for themselves,” he explained, his words tumbling out quickly and nervously. It was clear he was in a rush, but the delicious aroma from the food wafted through the air, making you squirm to eat something.

“Okay, thanks then,” you replied. “How much do I owe you?” Then you remembered that you had left your bag downstairs and sighed.

“No, no, no, it’s already paid for. Bye, ma’am,” he said, stepping back into the elevator and pressing the button. 

“Bye,” you mumbled, waving farewell. After he left, you picked up the bag, walked inside, and set it on the kitchen counter. You bit your lip in excitement as you began unpacking the food. You were so hungry that the thought of being watched on camera didn’t bother you; after all, your back was to it.

“Eat well, kitty,” Harry murmured, checking you. The young man who delivered your meal had just brought his order to his office and now he was now enjoying his own food while watching you—unbeknownst to you, you were both savoring the same meal.

Once you finished eating, you tackled the rest of the ironing and neatly put everything away in the wardrobe. You noticed there were quite a few suits and casual clothes in there. It struck you as peculiar that they all seemed to reflect Harry's style, but you brushed it off, thinking that plenty of other people must dress similarly. 

Finally finished in the afternoon, you gathered all the cleaning supplies and made your way to the elevator.

“She works like a bee,” Harry remarked, glancing at you as you dragged the supplies into the elevator. He was packing up to head home. 

Yes, the very same house you had just meticulously cleaned.

At that moment, your phone rang again. It was Melanie. You let out a deep sigh before picking up, feeling a surge of annoyance. “What now?” 

“Did you talk to my dad? You’re the only one who can convince him—please,” she pleaded.

What the fuck?

Pleading now, huh?

Bitch must be desperate.

“Who said I would?” you said, pushing the vacuum cleaner into the elevator. “Why would he listen to me? He kicked me out too, remember? I warned you, Melanie! I warned you from the beginning that this was how it would end.”

“Did you just say ‘Melanie’?” Harry murmured.

“Because of you, I lost my job and...”

I fell for someone I shouldn't have.

“Then call your boyfriend and let him sort it out! I can't stick around here any longer!” she barked.

“My boyfriend?” you exclaimed in disbelief.

Harry's surprise matched yours. “Boyfriend?” he echoed, frowning as he focused intently on the screen.

“Harry is not my boyfriend!” you shot back.

“Oh really? He was banging on the door of our house like crazy that day, looking for you,” Melanie said.

You sighed in resignation. “It doesn’t matter. It’s over.”

“You really believe that, beautiful?” Harry muttered. “Then you clearly don’t know me at all.”

“Whatever! I need to do something—anything—to get Dad's attention,” you replied, your frustration mounting.

“It’s none of my concern. Do what you want,” you snapped, hanging up the phone and pressing the elevator button.

“Oh, she's gone,” Harry said, pursing his lips. He closed his iPad, slipped it into his briefcase, and left his office.

As you stepped out of the building and made your way toward the subway, the sky was gradually darkening. You attempted to call Jack again; you really needed to do something to help Melanie find a place to stay. She was like a ticking time bomb, and you were tired of dealing with her drama. Unfortunately, he didn’t answer, still seemingly caught up abroad. Frustratingly, you were left with only one option—the one you most dreaded: reaching out to Melanie's mom. But that fell flat too, as a maid informed you that she was busy attending some special event. Clearly, that was more important than her own daughter. But you knew you had to tackle this tonight. 

When you got home, Zoe was eating food at the table and waved at you. “How was your day, honey?”

“It would’ve been fine if someone hadn’t been calling me constantly and whining,” you replied, casting a glare in Melanie's direction.  

She looked somewhat out of place in your homewear outfit.

“Listen, your mom is attending a charity event tonight. Why don’t you go there? She can give you a ride home while your dad is away, and maybe she’ll help mend things between you and Jack. After all, you are her daughter.”

Melanie shrugged like a petulant child. “She doesn’t care about me.”  

Well, she had a point.  

“I’ll go with you and try to convince her, okay?”  

Her eyes brightened. “You’d really do that?”  

You rolled your eyes. “Yeah, I guess.”  

“Let's go now!” she exclaimed, rushing for the door.  

“Are you sure about this?” Zoe asked.  

“You want to get rid of her, right?”  

“I definitely do, but what if it becomes a hassle for you?”  

“Don’t worry; I’ve dealt with worse,” you said with a wink.  

“Oh no!” Melanie moaned.  

“What’s wrong now?” you asked, turning to her.  

“I have no clothes! What am I going to wear? All of your clothes are terrible.”  

“What the—” Zoe snapped, shooting her a glare.

“I’m this close to changing my mind,” you said, squinting at her and gesturing with your fingers.

She crossed her arms defiantly. “If this is a private event, there’s no way I can go there dressed like this. They wouldn’t even let us through the door. Oh, wait! I’ve got it!” she exclaimed, whipping out her phone to call someone.  

Of course, it was exactly who you suspected.  

Nate.

"I hate my life," you muttered under your breath as Nate's limo pulled up alongside the street.

"Good night, ladies. Need me desperately huh?" 

You rolled your eyes and crossed your arms, feeling the frustration bubble up inside. 

“Shut up chucklehead! Did you bring the dress?” Melanie shot back at him.

“It’s inside, so come on and change babe,” he replied with a cheeky grin.

Without a second thought, Melanie hopped in, but you hesitated. 

"I brought you one too, babydoll. Why not wear it? I'd be happy to help," he grinned wickedly.

“I wouldn’t wear that even if it was the only dress left in the world,” you snapped back.

He let out a maniacal laugh. Once Melanie finished changing, she called you over, and reluctantly, you climbed in. The charity event was being held in a private hotel reception hall. Just as Melanie had warned, the door staff were strict about who they let in. The guests were all dressed in tuxedos and elegant dresses, an atmosphere that highlighted your discomfort.

“Listen up, four eyes,” Melanie fired at the doormen. “My mother, Roxelana Johnson, is in there, and I’m her daughter, Melanie Johnson. Let me in now, or I’ll create quite a scene!”

“You’d be surprised how scandalous she can be,” Nate added with a smirk. “My father has covered up plenty of scandals, but maybe tonight he'll let the hotel earn a notorious reputation. And guess what? You’ll be the one to blame for it. After all, you know my father—the whole of New York does.”

They exchanged glances, and eventually, they allowed them to pass. But you were left standing outside. There was no chance they'd let you in looking like this. Frustration washed over you as Melanie and Nate didn't even look back.

What the hell?

You just stood there, questioning your decision to come at all.

"Why did I even bother?" you whispered to yourself. 

They could have walked in wearing anything, thanks to their wealthy father, but you didn't have that kind of privilege. You had no wealthy father, no reputation.

“I’m such an idiot,” you grumbled, turning to head toward the exit when suddenly someone called out to you.

Oh no. 

Alan appeared before you, dressed in a sharp, tailored suit, and with a woman on his arm.

Fuck my luck, you thought.

“I didn't expect to see you here,” he said with a smile. 

“Same here,” you replied, feeling a tad anxious. 

“Why don’t you come in?” 

“I was actually just leaving, Alan. Clearly, I’m not dressed for this. Good night,” you said, glancing at him and his date. 

That’s when your phone rang. It was Harry. 

Perfect timing.

“Harry, this really isn't the best time,” you answered. 

“Why not? Are you okay?” 

“Let the lady through. She’s my special guest,” Alan interjected, gesturing to the doormen. 

You immediately turned your back. “Alan, there’s really no need for that.” 

“Did you say Alan? Why are you with him? Where on earth are you?” Harry growled from the other end of the line. 

You hung up and looked at Alan. The woman beside him shot you a strange look. “Alan, it wouldn't be right for her to go in looking like that anyway.” 

Alan ignored her gaze, stepping away from his date to approach you. “You can go in first, Lucy.” 

She looked taken aback but narrowed her eyes at you before complying. 

What was her deal? 

“Alan, you didn’t have to do that; you brought your date. You should go with her.” 

“Don’t worry about it. It looks like you’re dealing with something. Lemme help you.” 

“Honestly, it’s been a long day. All I want is to go home and unwind.” 

“Where are you? I’ve been looking for you!” 

You heard Melanie's voice and turned to see her. She looked at Alan and then back at you. 

Finally, you stepped inside. Alan offered you his arm, but you gently pushed it away. The moment you entered, however, you noticed everyone staring at you oddly. You were used to it, though. Melanie’s mom, Roxelana, didn’t look pleased to see you or even Melanie. They had a small chat and instead of sending her daughter home, she decided it was better to make alternative arrangements for Melanie to stay. Without missing a beat, she turned her attention to her friends, completely ignoring her daughter’s presence.

Yeah just like that. 

Melanie was accustomed to her mother’s self-centered behavior, so it didn’t bother her too much. As her spirits began to lift, she and Nate decided to stay for the rest of the night. But you felt the urge to leave. When Alan introduced you to a few guests, you were taken aback when he referred to you as the assistant chef at his hotel. 

Why the hell was he being so kind to you? 

The others, however, were anything but kind. The way they looked at you was unsettling and harsh. They maintained eye contact that felt uncomfortable, speaking about you in a derogatory manner. It was clear they didn’t care if you overheard or were hurt by their words. 

You didn't belong there. You felt it deep in your bones. 

You had intended to leave anyway, but when Roxalena approached and dismissed you so coldly—accusing you of embarrassing her—you turned and hurried out. No one at the event seemed to notice your departure; some even let out a sigh of relief. 

What did you expect? Was it not obvious this was how things would go?

As you made your way to the lobby, you heard Alan’s voice calling after you, but you didn’t stop; you only quickened your pace. You felt a wave of relief wash over you when you stepped outside through the revolving door, yet Alan followed you. 

“Why did you leave?” he asked. “Look, don't mind them, okay?” 

“How can I not?” you retorted. “Why did you even let me in? What were you expecting?” 

Alan reached out, gently brushing away a tear from your cheek. 

Were you crying? 

Damn.

You hadn’t even realized it. 

A sudden screech of tires caught your attention as a car came to an abrupt stop in front of the hotel. Harry jumped out and rushed towards you. The moment he spotted your tears, he seemed to lose it, pushing Alan's hand away with enough force to make him stagger. 

“What did you do to her?” he shouted, taking a step toward Alan. 

“Harry! Stop!” you exclaimed, extending your arm to block him. 

Alan simply smiled, which only fueled Harry's anger. 

"It’s not what you think; please, calm down,” you urged, grabbing Harry's arm. 

Ignoring him, Alan turned back to you. “I’ll see you at the hotel then. Good night,” he said, and you nodded. “Good night, Castillo,” he added awkwardly before walking back inside. 

Harry glared after him, his jaw tight, muttering under his breath. 

What on earth was going on between them? 

“How did you know I was here?” you asked. 

“I was invited tonight,” he replied, still focused inward, not meeting your gaze. “But I turned it down,” he said, taking your arm gently. “Come on,” he insisted, tugging you towards his car. 

“But I—” 

“Get in,” he ordered, his tension palpable as he closed the door a bit too roughly before sliding into the driver’s seat.

Harry pulled up his car on the street in front of your building, parking awkwardly on the sidewalk. You bit your lower lip to stifle a laugh. 

"You might want to reposition the car; there's still space on the curb," you suggested, glancing at the sidewalk in the rearview mirror.

"Instead of thanking me for the ride, are you being sarcastic?" he asked, a lopsided grin on his face.

You barely mumbled, "Thanks."

"Why were you at that place?" he asked.

"Because of Melanie, but that's not important anymore. I've handled that situation; there's truly nothing left to talk about," you replied, looking down at your hands in your lap.

A tense quiet settled between the two of you. 

“You,” he cleared his throat, “You always manage her this way all that time. Why?"

You hesitated, unsure how to understand his inquiry. "Why what?"  

"Why did you decide on this job?"  

You shrugged. "I didn’t get accepted into any top university or secure a high-profile position. When I got here, this seemed like the simplest option. I had already been taking care of the house after my mom passed away," you said, a trouble laugh escaping your lips. “I could never manage waitressing like Zoe; that job is simply not for me.”

“But your dream is to be a pastry chef,” he said thoughtfully.

"To make that dream a reality, I need to work hard, save money, and eventually open my own restaurant. At Jack's place, I didn’t have to stress about rent, food, or even clothes; it felt like a closer step to my dreams. I thought if I could just endure anything, I’d save enough. But then there's Melanie..." You lowered your gaze once more. “Anyway,” you said, brushing a stray hair from your face. "I'm going to push on, I'm going to have my bakery one day," you said with determination.

He reached for your hand and took it, his touch surprising you as it always did. 

“Let me help you get started with the restaurant.”

"Harry—"

“As a loan,” he interrupted. “Think of it as an investment; I believe in your potential. When your restaurant gains traction, you can pay me back.”

"That sounds a bit too idealistic, don’t you think? I thought you were more of a realist or a materialist?"

The intensity in his eyes deepened. “That perspective changed when I met you.” His gaze drifted to your lips as he leaned in closer. Your heart raced, but you instinctively pulled back. Your hair brushed against his face, causing him to close his eyes and smile softly.

You grasped the handle of the car door. “I should probably get going now.”

"Are you free this weekend?"

Turning to him, you responded, "I'll be at the hotel helping Chef Bruno."  

“At Alan's hotel,” he retorted harshly.  

"Is there some issue between you and him?"  

"You should stay away from him."  

"Excuse me?"  

"Can't you work somewhere else? There are plenty of other chefs."  

"Don't pull that with me.”  

“What do you mean?”  

“You're acting like you’re my husband.”  

Harry grinned at how the words slipped from your lips. “Your future husband.”  

You raised an eyebrow. "Says who?"  

"Me." He flashed a smile.  

You rolled your eyes and opened the door. “Good night, Harry.”  

“Hold on,” he said, reaching for your door and shutting it again.  

“I’m invited to a friend's wedding this Sunday night. I want you to come with me.”  

"Why on earth would you want to go with me? I’m sure there are plenty of women who would kill to go with you," you replied with a hint of sarcasm.  

He frowned, "Cut it out. I want to go with you, not them."  

As you looked into his eyes, memories of the previous moments crept back—the way people had stared at you. You knew it would only intensify when they saw you and Harry together. It wasn't your realm, and the fear of being hurt loomed over you.  

"I'm sorry, Harry, but I can't go."  

“Yes, you can,” he insisted.  

You shot him a glare.  

“Just think about it before making up your mind,” he said, flashing his charming smile.  

He never gave up.  

“Give me your phone,” he said, reaching out.  

“Why should I?” you asked, frowning.  

“I realized you don’t follow me on Instagram,” he mumbled, searching for your phone while glancing over at you.  

"What did you say?”

Suddenly, he wrapped his arm around you and pulled you close, causing you to gasp as your heart raced in your throat. As he tightened his hold, your back arched, his other hand slowly slid up your leg and pulled your phone out of your pocket. He laughed softly as he let you go, leaving you feeling tricked when you noticed your phone in his grasp.

“Hey! Give that back!” you shouted, lunging at him, but he leaned back out of your reach.

“Here, now you're following me, and I'm following you,” he said, flashing your phone. "Why is there nothing on your profile? The last post was six months ago."

Ah, that was a photo of you and Zoe at the beach in Florida, six months prior.

“Nice bikini,” he commented with a grin. "I need to like it right away. You’d better like mine too."

"Really? I had no idea you were into Instagram," you snapped, reaching for your phone, but he showed no signs of giving it back. “Hey, what are you doing?” you exclaimed as he opened his profile from your instagram, liking all his photos while giggling.

“Cut it out,” you growled.

He acted like a mischievous child.

Once he was satisfied with his likes, he handed your phone back to you.

"Happy now?"

He grinned and nodded. “Yep.”

You felt the urge to slap him, but damn, that face.

His ridiculously handsome face.

“Okay, if we’re done here, I’m heading home to get some rest,” you said, opening the door.

“Hey, you look so cute here, like a little kitten,” he teased, showing you one of your Instagram photos.

Rolling your eyes, you stepped outside and closed the door behind you. “You better put that phone away while driving,” you frowned.

He rolled down his window and looked at you. "Why? Worried about me?"

“No, I’m worried about this stunning car,” you mocked.

“Yeah, right. Keep saying that, kitty. I know you better than that,” he said suggestively, winking at you before starting the car and driving off. 

Tuesday…

The next day, as you woke up and read the message from the cleaning company, you could hardly believe your eyes. It said, "The owner was very pleased with your service. He'd like you to come back on Thursday. If it works for you, we’d love to schedule you for Mondays and Thursdays moving forward. I’ve also credited your account with the tip he left for you. Thank you for your hard work and for partnering with us."

When you opened the app to check your bank account, you sat up in bed and even stood up in disbelief. Was this real? Typically, tips hover around 10% of your earnings, and if you’re lucky, you might get a 20% tip from especially generous clients. But this customer had tipped you more than 50%. If you kept earning like this, your weekly pay could turn out to be much better than you ever imagined. It brought you joy, but a nagging suspicion lingered. The house hadn’t been particularly messy or dirty, so you hadn’t exerted yourself much while tidying it up. Perhaps he was just a generous soul, and you decided to sincerely thank him.

However, Thursday still felt far off, and with the company notifying you that there was no other work until then, it made you uneasy. They reassured you that you’d receive general payment every two weeks, but something didn’t sit right. You pulled out your phone to investigate the company online, and that’s when a message from Harry popped up.

Harry sent you a photo. After a moment of deliberation, you felt compelled to change his contact name. You opened your contacts, found his number, and edited it, removing "H.C." and replacing it with "Mr. Ol'man" before saving it. You chuckled at the change, amused by your little joke. 

You clicked on the photo, noticing Harry was already at work. The image showed him in the middle of a meeting, chin resting on his hand, lips pursed. Directly below the photo, he’d written,

B-O-R-I-N-G, I wish I had my kitty with me. 😓😓

He used emojis???

You couldn’t help but laugh; he was undeniably adorable.

You texted back, "I wish I could be there to..."

Wait, what?

Were you his girlfriend? You quickly deleted the whole thing. 

Hang in there, monsieur. 😊 It’s tough, but I’ll manage. ☺️ You’ll get through it; trust your biceps. 💪 Were you dreaming about my biceps? What was that like? Nasty? Filthy? 😏 😉😌😇😚 Don’t you dare make a cleaning joke!

The banter made you both laugh; it was fine since you were at home, but Harry was in a meeting, earning surprised glances from those around him.

Since you didn’t have work that day, you decided to drop by to see Danilo and the others. Apparently, Jack was still away, and neither Melanie nor her mom was home—perfect timing. You spoke with Danilo about Chef Bruno and the cooking certificate you aimed to obtain. He mentioned a pastry fair soon to be held at a convention center in NYC, emphasizing how crucial it was to participate and showcase your talent. But first, you needed that certificate, and weeks were slipping by.

You had paused the certification program while working at Jack's house—understandably so. However, that time frame had lapsed, so it was time to restart the petition. That’s why securing Bruno’s reference for your application was so vital. Everything had to be ready before the fair, leaving you with no time to waste. As Bruno’s shift started at noon on weekdays, you resolved to visit him during your free hours—and thankfully, he didn’t turn you away. In return, you promised both to him and yourself that you would work hard and strive not to disappoint him.

Wednesday…

On the way to the hotel, Harry called you, and when you shared where you were going, he got a little whiny. Whatever issues had arisen between him and Alan didn’t concern you anymore; you simply didn’t have time for either of them. In a way, it was a blessing that you were busy with the certificate training because if you weren’t, thoughts of Harry would have preoccupied your mind, stirring up feelings you had never experienced before. It felt as though you were being drawn towards him, and you worried about losing control of your heart. So, it seemed best to avoid being alone with those feelings.

The less you saw him, the easier it was to keep him off your mind, which was for the best.

But he was persistent. 

When you arrived at the hotel during lunchtime, Bruno was sitting with a newspaper and a cup of coffee, getting ready for his shift. He assigned you the ambitious task of preparing the desserts for lunch, which could very well be the biggest job you’d had so far. Still, it was far better than scrubbing someone’s filthy toilet bowl with bleach. You focused on preparing the desserts and took a seat next to Bruno, feeling the fatigue set in.

Just then, a waitress approached you.

“Ugh, it’s one of those customers again!”

“What’s going on?” you asked while stretching your legs out under the table.

“He has a complaint about dessert and wants to talk to the chef who made it.”

You exchanged glances with Bruno. “I swear I did it perfectly,” you protested.

“Then go defend your work, my dear. That’s a lesson you need to learn,” he said, taking another sip of his coffee.

You stood up and took a deep breath, confident that you had indeed done everything right. Surely, this customer just had high standards or a grumpy ass.

You were taken aback when you stepped into the dining room and saw Harry. He flashed a grin when he noticed you and leaned back in his chair. You narrowed your eyes as you approached him. 

“What on earth are you doing here?”

“Just having lunch like everyone else,” he replied casually.

“Isn’t there anywhere else you could eat?”

He pulled out his phone and showed you a recommendation app featuring the hotel with a glowing review. “They rave about the chef and the food here—look, it’s rated 4.8.”

You crossed your arms. “I’m not a chef yet, Mr. Castillo.”

“But you made this dessert,” he countered.

“True, but clearly it didn’t meet your expectations.”

“I never said that.”

“Yet you wanted to see me.”

“To ask if you’d join me for lunch,” he said, leaning over the table and resting his arms on it.

“I’m on the clock,” you reminded him.

“Please, I insist.”

You leaned in closer. “Or is it that you want me fired because you don’t want me working here?”

He smirked. “If that were my aim, I’d find a more subtle way to go about it.”

You sighed. “Harry, please, I really have to work.”

“I’ve missed you and thought it would be nice to savor something you made during my lunch break,” he said, sounding genuinely sincere. “But I suspect your stomach is growling; you probably skipped breakfast. Why not give the dessert a try? I have a feeling there’s something unusual about its fruits.” He nudged the plate toward you. “As a paying customer, I expect nothing less than the best.”

With a roll of your eyes, you reluctantly picked up the plate. “Alright, Mr. Castillo, let me show you that you’re mistaken.” You took a forkful and sampled the dessert. “See, I think it's quite fresh.”

“I’m still not convinced. Have some more,” he said, barely containing his laughter. “Otherwise, I might have to leave a bad review on that site.” He glanced at the others around.

You shot him a sharp glare and quickly finished off the dessert, clearly not bothering to be polite. “Are you happy now?” 

“That's my girl,” he whispered, chuckling softly.

“Please give us good points, Mr. Castillo,” you said with a forced smile, relieved that the people around you were preoccupied with their own meals and hadn’t noticed your exchange. 

Harry stood up, reached for your lips, and swiped the remnants of dessert with his thumb, licking it clean. “Hmm, you were right—it’s delicious,” he said with a grin. “Have you made up your mind? Will you come with me?”

Oh, right, you had completely forgotten. 

“Shall we go dress shopping? What time do you need to leave?” he asked, glancing at his watch.

“Harry, I really shouldn’t go.” 

He took your hand, his grip firm. “No, it’s better if you do.”

“But your friends, your circle, your acquaintances will all be there.”

“And?”

“What will you say when they ask about how we met? How will you introduce me?”

“That’s none of their business. I don’t care about any of them; all that matters is that you’re with me.”

You lowered your gaze. “But I do care.”

He pinched and lifted your chin, his gaze intense. “Don’t do this. You know how much I care for you. I know you do.”

You locked eyes, and for a moment, the clatter of forks, spoons, plates, laughter, and conversations faded into silence. You were on the verge of saying yes, of becoming his, but you shook yourself back to reality when someone called you from the kitchen.

“I have to go,” you murmured.

“I’m picking you up Saturday night, and we’re going dress shopping,” he said, and before you could reply, he turned and walked away.

You couldn’t help but smile as you watched him leave.

Thursday…

You left the house at the same time as Zoe that morning, rushing to avoid being late for work. It was nearly 8 o'clock, so you hurried along the sidewalk, gathering your hair into a ponytail as you ran.

“Crap. Crap. Crap.” 

By the time you reached the building, it was just after 8, but fortunately, you managed to avoid a scolding. Just like on Monday, you quickly changed, grabbed your cleaning supplies, and hopped into the elevator heading to the top floor. When you opened the door to his apartment, he was already on his iPad, waiting for you with a smile. “Seven minutes late,” he smirked. 

"What are you doing?" Maria appeared next to him, and upon seeing you on the screen, she narrowed her eyes at Harry. “Again?” 

“I was just checking,” he replied defensively.

“Yeah, right.”

Harry let out a sigh and flipped the iPad over onto the table. “She didn’t leave me much choice. I offered to help her, but she’s so stubborn and prideful. She left me feeling desperate.”

Maria raised her eyebrows, intrigued. “Seriously? Wow, I’m impressed. I thought women like that were a thing of the past. She must be one of a kind.”

“Yes, she is,” he said, looking troubled. “For the first time in my life, I’m not happy about having money. To her, my wealth doesn't matter. What good is money if she’s not in my life?” 

Maria smiled softly. “Harry, she might just be feeling scared or hurt right now. Just give it some time; if it’s true love, it will work itself out. But I have to be honest, it might be a bit challenging for you.”  

“I get it,” he replied with a sigh. “I’m really trying.”

"I am your witness champ. You'll win her over." she patted him on the back.

After she left, he opened his laptop to work but found himself too curious about you to focus. He picked up his iPad again to check on you. He watched as you swept and mopped the house, dancing around and murmuring songs while doing it. He couldn’t help but chuckle quietly when he saw you scrubbing the sink with a frown, grumbling to yourself as you battled the dirt.

Saturday...

“What in the world happened to you?” 

As soon as you got back from the hotel and walked into the house, you were stunned by what you saw. Zoe was sprawled out on the couch with her ankle all wrapped up, and John was right there with her. 

“Oh, just a little accident,” she grumbled. 

“It’s totally my fault,” John said, sounding really upset. 

You dropped your keys and bag on the table and went over to check out her leg. 

“John wanted to pick me up on his motorcycle after work, but I guess that plan got derailed,” Zoe said with a half-smile. 

“It’s not broken, is it?” 

“Nope, just a sprain,” he replied, looking glum. 

“Then why do you look like you’re on your last legs?” 

“I can’t go to the wedding tomorrow like this,” she said sadly. 

“Then just skip it.” 

"Besides, the doctor said you won't be able to stand on your foot for a few days." John added.

“But the pay is really good,” Zoe whined. “The boss is gonna be mad, and I’m sure he won’t call me again.” 

“C’mon, it’s a medical issue,” you said, frowning. 

“Our boss isn’t as easygoing as yours,” she sighed. 

Well, that was kind of true. 

“She’s got a point, Zoe. I’ll talk to him,” John offered. “Maybe I can get that kid from last time to cover for you. What was his name?” 

“Nick? No way! There’s no chance the boss will hire him again after that mess,” Zoe muttered, then looked at you. “Babe. Can’t you go instead?” 

You stared at her in disbelief. “Me? But you know I’m not great at waitressing.” 

“You’d totally be better than Nick,” she insisted. “Plus, John will be there to help you, right?” she said, looking at him. 

John nodded. “Sure, we’re leaving early anyway. You just have to handle serving drinks. I promise I won’t wear you out.” 

You sighed and glanced from him to Zoe’s pleading eyes. 

“Alright, fine,” you murmured.

Sunday, the day of the wedding...

“Guess what? Your tuxedo is here—perfectly pressed and ready to wear,” Oliver announced as he walked into the apartment. Harry was at the window, staring out at the beautiful city lights, his whiskey glass in hand, the ice nearly melted. He was so lost in his thoughts that he hardly realized it.

You had called him about half an hour ago to let him know you couldn't make it to the wedding and hung up without realizing the depth of the hurt you had caused him.

“The dress and accessories you ordered have arrived too,. Where should I put them?”Oliver asked, glancing at Harry, who still hadn't responded. The dress had been bought for you, with the hope that you would be there by his side.

Harry turned sharply, slamming the glass down on the counter as he looked at Oliver. “Somewhere I won’t see them,” he replied curtly before heading off to the bathroom to shower and prepare himself.

Oliver let out a deep sigh. “So she’s not coming,” he muttered to himself, a hint of worry in his voice.

They arrived a bit early since the wedding kicked off with a church ceremony. Maria, noticing Harry's somber demeanor and understanding the reason behind it, felt a wave of concern mixed with anger. Yet, as his friend's best man, Harry set his own feelings aside for the day, striving to support him through the difficult moments.

It was tough.

He longed for you to be there with him, wanting to introduce you to his friends and proudly declare, “Here’s my future wife.” 

He felt a mix of anger towards you, but even more frustration with himself. Why couldn’t he make things work? Why was this time so different? He thought back to his previous relationships, and suddenly, all the emotions from those experiences felt trivial compared to the warmth of your genuine smile—the one he missed dearly.

Things took a turn for the worse upon arriving at the reception venue. The empty chair beside him at the reserved table served as a painful reminder of your absence. Conversations swirled around him about life's changes, but he spoke only of work, avoiding the topic he truly wanted to share.

Then he spotted her.

Lucy.

To his surprise, he felt nothing.

It was a strange peace that washed over him, as if a burden had been lifted from his heart, shoulders, and mind. But soon enough, the resentment toward you crept back in. Lucy glanced curiously at the empty chair next to him, a slight smile gracing her lips as she noticed his solitude. She had come to the wedding with her new boyfriend, Alan Finnegan—a widower and wealthy businessman who owned three hotels in Manhattan. Seems like a good match for her.

Harry felt a sense of satisfaction, not because his ex wouldn’t hurt him anymore—he had already stopped caring about that. No, his pleasure came from knowing that Alan was off the market. With Alan in a relationship, it meant he wouldn’t be trying to make a move on his girl now.

Later, someone approached Harry to inform him that the groom was looking for him. Rising from his seat, he made his way over to the room where he found his friend pacing restlessly.

“Harry! Dude, don’t ever get married!” he exclaimed, his voice laced with stress.

Harry raised an eyebrow, checking his watch. “Come on, man, you’ve only been married for three hours. Besides, it's your wedding reception.” he shot back sarcastically.

“Ugh! Everything is a mess! Gabriela is unhappy with the flowers, her cousin’s late, the harpist is hurt, and our moms just had a huge argument! I feel like I’m drowning! Should I just jump out the window?” 

With a chuckle, Harry placed his hands on his shoulders. “Relax; we’ll figure this out. Oliver is currently searching for a replacement harpist. Today is the most important day of your life—you’ve been waiting for this forever. Just hold it together.”  

“Yeah, you’re right. Okay,” he replied, trying to steady his nerves.  

“Take a deep breath and remember why you’re here. Soon, it’ll just be the two of you together—nothing else will matter. Just get through tonight, and I’ve got your back, alright?”  

He pulled him into a warm embrace. “Thanks, man! I really appreciate you being here. I’ll do my best to make your wedding as great as possible.”  

Harry smiled to himself as he pictured you in a breathtaking wedding dress.

After leaving his friend to deal with the flower situation, he noticed a woman at the end of the hall with her back turned. She had your hair color and height, moving in a way that felt distinctly like you.  

Driven by curiosity, he quickened his pace, eager to find out if it really was you.

"Damn it!" you muttered to yourself as you sprinted away, frantically searching for any exit. You were convinced it was Harry. Why did it have to be at the same wedding?

Why, God why?

You set the tray down on the nearest table and dashed outside, struggling a bit in your high heels. You were hesitant to look back, but you could feel him coming after you.

“Fuckin' hell,” you muttered under your breath.

You made it outside and rushed toward the stairs, but your foot tripped over the edge, and your right heel came flying off.

Great!

You tried to awkwardly hop down on one foot, but it was a dumb move, and you could hear footsteps closing in as you held onto the marble ledge.

“You must be a real Cinderella.” Harry's voice rang out, causing you to freeze. When you turned to face him, you were taken aback. He was holding your shoe and looked absolutely stunning in that tuxedo. You weren’t certain if you were Cinderella, but you certainly felt as though Prince Charming was right before you. 

As he saw you raise your other foot, he came closer and knelt down in front of you. You looked down as he carefully slipped the shoe back onto your foot, admiring his hair and how handsome he appeared while he softly held your ankle. 

Your heart racing.

He chuckled as he stood up. "The shoe fits perfectly, my princess. But why did you run away? The clock hasn't struck midnight yet," he said with a laugh.

You mumbled while adjusting your foot, “I thought you'd be angry with me.”

“I tried, but I couldn't bring myself to do it.” He continued, “When you mentioned helping Zoe, you didn’t say anything about being a waitress. I thought you didn't like this job."

"I don't, but I had to help her out by covering for her," you replied.

“You’re already worn out during the week,” he said, his tone almost frustrated.

“Where’ve you been? I was looking for you!” John's voice called out, breaking the moment.

You both turned to him, and he fixed his gaze on Harry, looking annoyed. 

Just like the way Harry looked at Alan.

What the fuck was going on between them seriously?

Then he turned to you. “Come on,” he said, walking away.

“Okay, I’m coming,” you nodded, glancing back at Harry. “I need to get back to work.” Harry met your eyes, looking serious. “Look, I know this is all super awkward, but just ignore me, and I’ll do the same. No one has to know we know each other, okay?”

He grabbed your arm as you started up the stairs, you looked at him, surprised.

“Don’t ever say that you’re going to ignore me again,” he said, his voice low and deep. He looked upset, while walked ahead of you up the stairs.

What did that even mean?

Did he hurt?

The rest of the evening turned out to be quite challenging. It was hard to avoid making eye contact with Harry as you served drinks to the guests. And, of course, Alan was among them—just what you needed! Great, now both he and his date were watching you. To make matters worse, Melanie and her mother were there too.

As you stepped into the kitchen, you noticed John's mood had shifted—he was nursing a beer. 

"So, you know Harry Castillo?" he asked, a troubled smile on his face.

"Yes, and I assume you do too?"

“Oh, believe me, I know him.”

You were about to pry into his comment when Alan's date, a woman named Lucy, walked into the kitchen. The two of them exchanged a strange look before she turned her gaze to you. "You again? Who exactly are you?" 

“I beg your pardon?”

"First Harry, then Alan, and now my ex? What’s going on with you?"

"Cut it out," John said, clearly annoyed but trying not to escalate things. “Let’s talk outside,” he suggested, pointing to the back door.

Lucy rolled her eyes but followed him out. "Do you have a cigarette?"

"Doesn't your new rich boyfriend get you any?" 

"Shut up."

You couldn’t quite figure out their history, but you knew Zoe would be upset if you told her about it.

“Damn it!”

When you turned around, you were met with the furious face of the head waiter. The kitchen staff and waiters looked equally concerned. Curious about what had gone wrong, you approached and saw that part of the wedding cake had been ruined; one of the staff had accidentally collided with a waiter, causing whatever was on the tray to topple onto the cake.

That was when chaos erupted.

"The bride and groom's families are going to freak out - they're going to kill us all!

Everyone exchanged worried glances. By then Harry and the other best man had come over to tell the staff it was time for the cake.

Great!

The maitre d' and kitchen staff kept apologizing, glancing at each other in a panic, unsure of what to do. 

“He’s probably going to lose it when he sees this,” Harry muttered while inspecting the mess.

Sure, the edge of the cake was damaged, but it wasn’t beyond repair. The staff, who had dedicated their day to making this event perfect, now looked defeated. Harry, as the best man, shared in their disappointment.

In that moment, inspiration struck, and you made a decision—perhaps one of the boldest choices you’d ever made.

“I’ll take care of it; just give me some time.”

Harry and the others stared at you in surprise. 

“Are you sure?” Harry asked, raising his eyebrows.

You looked at him with determination and pulled your hair back into a bun. "Do you have doubts, Mr. Castillo?"

He grinned, "Never. So what do you need? Let me help out." He grabbed an apron.

“No way, your tux will get ruined,” you said, reaching out to stop him.

“We’ll handle it, just tell us what to do,” one of the staff member said.

“All right,” you said, assessing the cake carefully. “If we fill in that section and cover it with the same color sugar paste, we can save its appearance.” 

Harry stood with his arms crossed, watching you with a proud smile on his face. 

“Get me the same color sugar paste right now, or if you don’t have any, grab some white and pink instead. I also need ready-made cake and icing for the filling.” 

“But it’s time to take the cake to the bride and groom for the cutting,” said the other best man.

“You keep them busy; we need a little time,” Harry said.

“How am I supposed to keep them busy?”

“I don’t know, share some of your memories about the bride and groom or something,” Harry suggested.

He shot you a nervous glance. “I hope you can wrap this up quickly because most of my memories are pretty embarrassing.” 

Harry chuckled, “The guests won’t believe their ears.” 

You shot him a look while whipping the cream. "Your friend from way back, I guess?”

“Yeah, my coworker too.”

“Can you hand me that spatula?”

Harry passed it to you from the counter. “We’re lucky to have you around.”

“It’s a bit early to say that, Mr. Castillo.”

“I trust you,” he said with a warm smile.

You smiled back.

You managed to save the cake in about half an hour with the staff's help and Harry's supportive words. You were feeling super tired, but it was worth it.

“Oh no, man, not the birthday story,” Harry muttered, peering through the kitchen door. "Darling, I hate to rush you, but the cake better be done, or the bride's family will kick the best man's ass." 

“It’s done,” you said, wiping the sweat from your brow. 

Everyone stared at you and the cake in amazement, bursting into applause. 

“You’re amazing,” one of the staff members exclaimed. 

“You saved the day,” said another. 

A big smile spread across their faces; they were all genuinely happy. You beamed too, feeling proud of your achievement. 

When you caught Harry’s eye, he was filming the moment with his phone. 

“Hey, what are you doing?” 

“Getting proof.” 

“Proof of what?” 

“Proof that you deserve that certificate.” 

“Thanks.” You looked at him and smiled, grateful. “I hope I get it,” you murmured. 

"You will." He took your hand and kissed the top gently. “Thank you for saving my friend’s wedding day.” 

“Happy to help,” you whispered, feeling your cheeks heat up. 

Then, the waiters took the cake inside, and Harry followed them, while the staff kept praising you. You smiled back at them, feeling proud of yourself.

Luckily, the cake still looked the same, so nobody suspected a thing. After the cake was cut, the bride and groom hit the dance floor for their first dance, and soon everyone paired up to sway to the soft music playing in the background.

While serving drinks inside, you and Harry locked eyes from a distance through the dancing couples. He texted you, and you looked at your phone.

Dance with me?

You looked over at him and shook your head. Just as you set down some empty glasses on the tray, another message came through.

I won't ask twice.

You turned around in a frenzy and noticed him standing. Just as you began to feel a rush of excitement, Melanie and her mother Roxelana approached him. She wore a broad smile as she shook Harry's hand. Looking at them from a distance and seeing the real Melanie and Harry side by side, you felt left out.

You turned away and went back to your work.

Of course.

Who were you kidding?

You never had the right puzzle piece to fit into his world. It was okay if he chose to dance with her; after all, how could he possibly dance with you?

Especially with your waitress clothes on. 

He must be joking or something.

You filled the tray with empty glasses and were just about to pick it up when someone grabbed your arm. You were taken aback to see Harry—wasn’t he just across the hall? When had he come over to you?

He took your hand, pulled you close, and started leading you toward the dance floor. 

“Harry,” you whispered, anxiously glancing around at the curious faces and the gentle hum of conversation. Turning your head, you spotted Melanie and her mom watching intently. “What are you doing? It's not—”

“Shh, just put your hand on my shoulder,” he replied, placing his other hand on your waist and drawing you in a bit too firmly. You looked up at him, wide-eyed, and he flashed you a reassuring smile.

As he began to sway to the beat of the music, you decided to stop resisting. After all, he was gripping your hand tightly, and his hand on your waist felt possessive enough to silence any rebellion. 

And then there was his gaze. 

Shit, it was intense. 

As if he didn't already look incredible in that tuxedo.

“Everyone's watching us,” you whispered, a surge of nervousness coursing through you as you felt the weight of their gaze.

“I don’t care,” he replied, his voice low and deep. He slid both hands around your waist, pulling you closer, his forehead resting gently against yours, creating a bubble of intimacy around the two of you. “I got you a dress, you know,” he murmured, his breath warm against your skin.

You pulled back slightly, searching his eyes. You didn’t want to dampen the moment with any negative things, especially with the way he held your gaze so intensely. 

“I wanted you to wear it tonight,” he continued.

“Um… sorry. I’m stuck in these clothes. I guess it’s not quite what you had in mind,” you said nervously.

“It doesn’t matter,” he said. “You’re already beautiful just as you are, no matter what you wear.” He tilted his head, leaning in closer, his lips tantalizingly close to yours.

“Harry,” you whispered, your breath hitching as you turned your head to the side, trying to regain your composure.

But he gently grasped your chin, guiding it back to face him. The rich brown of his eyes was mesmerizing, drawing you in like a moth to a flame.

“I love you,” he whispered, his words hanging in the air like the sweetest melody.

You swallowed hard, your heart racing.

What?

Was what you had just heard real?

You remained frozen, blinking in disbelief, completely caught off guard.

He frowned slightly. “This is where you say 'I love you too,'” he grunted.

Suddenly, the music came to a halt, pulling you back into reality. You looked around in surprise, noticing that the dance floor was emptying. Everyone had returned to their tables, and some guests were already beginning to leave. The wedding had come to an end. How long had you been lost in this moment with him?

Time had blurred into an unrecognizable haze. With a whirlwind of emotions, you finally pulled away from him and, without turning back, made your way over to John and the others; they were preparing to leave.

“For a moment, I thought you might never show up,” John said, a hint of reproach in his tone. But as he noticed your expression, his face softened. “Come on, get in,” he added, pointing toward the truck. You nodded and headed to the coat rack to grab your jacket. Just then, the kitchen door swung open, and Harry walked in, catching your arm once more.

He really needed to stop this.

“What are you doing?” you asked.

"I'm driving you home."

“No need, I—” You halted as he shot you a piercing glare.

Why was he looking at you like that?

John stepped closer. “Is there a problem?” He eyed Harry, his expression turning just a bit menacing.

“Mind your own business,” Harry snapped.

“John, I’m fine. You go ahead,” you said.

He looked between you and Harry before giving a reluctant nod. “Okay then,” he replied, turning back toward the truck.

As Harry pulled you outside to his car, Oliver spotted you and approached.

“I'll drive,” Harry declared. He opened the door for you and closed it gently after you got in.

“Is everything all right?” Oliver asked, concern creeping into his voice.

Harry glanced at him, his focus unyielding. “Yeah, don’t worry.” He settled into the driver’s seat and started the engine.

“All right,” Oliver muttered before walking over to Maria, who was also getting into her car. She paused, noticing Oliver's presence.

“Harry ditched me."

“Yeah, I just saw that,” she said, gesturing toward the car. “Get in.”

As Harry awkwardly parked the car near the apartment building once again, you decided to hold your tongue this time. The ride had been silent, and that strange atmosphere hung heavily between you. The tension was palpable, and it was starting to get on your nerves. 

You glanced at him, and he met your gaze, but you quickly looked away, afraid of getting lost in the depths of his eyes again. Suddenly, he opened his door and got out, catching you off guard. 

What was he doing? 

Was he hoping to be a gentleman and open your door for you? 

Or maybe he just wanted to talk outside?

His eyes never left yours as he walked around to your side of the car. But there was something intense in his gaze, almost unsettling. He opened the door, and just as you were about to step out, he leaned in, cupped the back of your neck, and pressed his lips against yours.

Your first instinct was to freeze; you never saw that coming. His kiss was rough, demanding and insistent, even a bit angry, yet it sent shivers down your spine. He held you too tightly, and although it almost hurt, you tried to push him away, but he wouldn’t let go. 

You kissed him back but kept your mouth closed, refusing to let his tongue in. But he kept forcing you to open your mouth for him. When a tear rolled down your cheek and touched his, he stopped and pulled away. 

Then, he got down on his knees and reached out his hands to you. You turned slightly in your seat and took his hands. Words were unnecessary; your eyes spoke volumes. 

When he kissed you again, it was gentle this time, passionate, and full of remorse. You reciprocated with the same tenderness, but he could sense your hesitation.

He realized you weren’t ready to fully give yourself to him.

Pulling back, he studied your face, then wrapped his arms around you, kneeling on one knee and drawing you closer. As he gently stroked your hair, his lips brushing against your ear, he whispered, “I love you, baby. When will you be mine? When will you come to me?”

You didn’t say a word, but you held onto him tightly, every part of you yearning to confess that you loved him too.

Yet, this wasn’t the right moment.

Not tonight.

Time seemed to stand still, the world around you fading as you sank deeper into his embrace.

In that instant, one thing became crystal clear: you loved him unconditionally, and the thought of living without him felt unbearable.

Sooner or later, you would carve the right words out of the tumult in your soul to give him the answer he yearned for.

Thanks for reading! I really appreciate your comments, likes, and reblogs. I'd love to hear what you think about the chapter!

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[hitomisuzuya]

The Balladeer always gives his Fav Fatui Agent praise and the most "special" tasks, then insulting the rest of the agents

harbinger!scaramouche x fem!reader. smut. cock warming. degradation. clit play. edging. creampie.

i really indulged myself writing this, ngl😳 the degradation get a little harsh in a couple spots but it's not consistent. purely for my own self indulgence.

the air between you and the rest of scaramouche's subordinates is very, very different. the contrast was quite grand to him. you, standing there with a shy but pleased smile on your face. while the rest of his squad lingered behind you looking frightened.

"to think i actually had the audacity to think that you lot would be at least a little coordinated enough to pull off such a simple mission," scaramouche scoffed, glaring at anyone who dared to even think about opening their mouth while he is talking.

he sighs in approval seeing the shy blush dusting your cheeks as he comes to stand in front of you. you radiate utter submission and adoration for him as you look up at him.

he reaches an elegant hand out and puts it on your head. "this little thing here has a bigger brain than the rest of you combined. all you had to do was steal some very important documents back from bottom feeding treasure hoarders," he smooths a hand through your hair, much like someone would a pet.

"not only did she steal back what i asked for, she wiped out every single one of them," he brought your head to rest against his chest, drinking in the sight of the rest of his squad cowering in fear.

"they dared to stand against you," you said, nuzzling your cheek on his chest, "i had to do something," you glance up at him for a only a moment, the fluttering in your heart causing you to look away shyly. "i wasn't gonna stand for it."

fuck, you made his cock ache like nothing else.

"the rest of you, take notes. this," he pets your hair again, "is what true subservience looks like. now scatter like the rats you are. now," he snarls before tilting your head up so you would look at him. "as for you, you are coming with me. i have a special task in mind for you."

nodding, you follow scaramouche back to his room in the fatui operated hotel. "what do you need me to do for you, sir?" you only want to please him and do whatever he asks.

your eyes follow scaramouche as he walks over to the bed, unbuttoning his shorts before lying on the bed. "be a good girl and strip for me," he commands, relishing in the way the blush on your cheeks darkens as he took out his cock.

"yes, sir," you reply shyly. one by one, your clothes fell away to the floor. you feel slightly embarrassed at how wet you got just from hearing a few words of praise from him outside.

scaramouche strokes his cock watching you undress. "i need to be kept warm for awhile," he smirks seeing you come to him without hesitation. "but who i am kidding, you'd spend all night with my cock stuffed inside you, wouldn't you, kitten?" he taunts as you crawl on the bed and straddle him.

here's the truth, he is absolutely right. you would. and he knows that. he wasn't above taking advantage of it. putting his hands on your hips, he prefers to lower your pussy onto his cock himself.

a soft moan sounds from you feeling his cock part your folds, grazing over your swelling clit. scaramouche groans as you needily grind your pussy on your cock, shivering with the anticipation of feeling even just the head start to stretch you apart.

"so wet from just a few words of praise and head pets. what a little slut," he smirks feeling how relaxed your body is, drunk on how much control you willingly let him have over you. your back arches as he slowly lowers you onto his cock. he knows it wouldn't take long for you to start moaning for him. always pathetically craving any form of attention from him.

"such a good girl, taking my cock so well," he praises, shivering as your pussy clenches around his cock. he took his time bottoming out, teasing his cock little by little to rest against your sweet spot.

"i..i only want to be a good girl for you, sir," you moan shakily. he could tell how badly you want to bounce yourself stupid on his cock, but he has other plans for you.

"you just continue to be a good girl and let me use you," he loops an arm around the small of your back as he sat up, bringing your chest to his mouth. his tongue flicks out to slowly swirl around your nipple. flattening his tongue, he licks until the nub hardens on his tongue.

scooping it into his mouth to suck on, his free hand found your clit. a string of louder moans spills from your mouth, your clit throbbing as he rubs circles with the pads of his fingers. your walls clutch tight like a glove on his cock, your body twitching and begging for friction on your sweet spot.

"well go on, spill those words of worship on your lips, slut. praise me. cry about how good my cock feels stretching you apart," he glares in command up at you, pinching your clit.

you let out a loud gasp of pleasure. he only got harder watching you struggle to stay still, his commanding tone sending a stronger jolt of pleasure hitting your clit. more wet pools onto your pussy. "nobody is more powerful than you, scara! no one stands a chance in the wake of your raw power!"

scaramouche chuckles as he switches to sucking your neglected nipple, rolling and rubbing your clit enticing you to continue. you are falling apart so fast and so well. "keep talking, whore," he moans, enjoying and indulging in your worshipping adoration.

"i worship you, scara! your cock feels so, so good. if i am a good enough girl, will you fuck me, please? i'm on my knees for you, scara! i only want you! please, please." you moan, tinged with whimpers. the way he is building up your orgasm is almost torturous.

"please, please, please," he mocks, rolling his hips teasingly, dangling the momentary promise that he would maybe give you what you want. he enjoys hearing you whimper, edging you relentlessly.

he leaves you hanging, indulging himself in sucking your nipples and playing with your clit. today has been stressful for him. your warm and pliable body, your tight, dripping pussy were both perfect ways for him to use to unwind.

you tremble as his beautiful fingers work your clit over. he couldn't get enough of looking up at you, watching the look in your eyes melt into further adoration for him the longer he edges you. he snickers hearing you whimper more consistently.

"now cum all over my cock, how pathetic you can barely hold it together," his taunt makes your pussy clench tighter. he rubs your clit just right, suddenly making the knot of your orgasm snap apart.

you nearly scream in pleasure as your orgasm hit you. he only continued to bully your clit, pinching your nipples through your orgasm. you are dazed and drooling by the time he lifts you off his cock and shoves you on your back on the bed.

"good girls deserve to be filled," his gaze softens for a moment seeing your fucked out eyes light up being called a good girl. pinning your wrists above your head, he pushed his cock inside you, bottoming out all at once.

scaramouche lost every modicum of control he had, mindlessly pumping his cock inside of you. thanks to your strong orgasm, his cock made the unholiest squelching noises, hitting your sweet spot with generous accuracy. you'd worshipped him and his cock so thoroughly, begging like a bitch in heat for him.

damn it you are being so good for him.

"what a good girl. the perfect slut. all for me," he groans as his cock empties inside of you. he didn't stop until he was satisfied, marvelling at the gift underneath him that was somehow dropped into his lap after getting fucked over by life no matter what he did.

pulling out of you, he fingers his cum back inside you, smearing leftover cum on your clit. you obediently lift your hips to grind your clit on his fingers.

scaramouche knows what he has to do. fucking marry you. you deserve to be the wife of the great balladeer.

[dollyswishingwell]

hiiii ฅ^•ﻌ•^ฅ i just found your blog recently and IM OBSESSED AHAHRGD I was wondering if you could do the lads boys with an mc who is sentimental (bordering on hoarder but that's besides the point) like she keeps everything they give her even if its like a pen and when they ask she's just like ? u gave it to me I can't not keep it?? u can ignore if you don't like ty for blessing us with ur work make sure u take breaks :D

ᯓ★ˎˊ˗ You gave it to me, so i kept it

𝒲𝒾𝓈𝒽 𝑔𝓇𝒶𝓃𝓉𝑒𝒹 𝒻𝑜𝓇 ˙⋆✮ Rafayel, Zayne, Xavier, Sylus, Caleb

𝒢𝑒𝓃𝓇𝑒/𝒲𝒶𝓇𝓃𝒾𝓃𝑔 ˙⋆✮ i hope this is what you wanted

૮ ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶ ა just fluff and more fluff hehe

> ִ ࣪𖤐.ᐟ The boys find a drawer of what they think is trash

𝙍𝙖𝙛𝙖𝙮𝙚𝙡 °‧🫧⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

Rafayel’s looking for your necklace when he finds the drawer. It’s tucked under silk scarves, barely cracked open, but packed with the strangest things:

A broken pen. A faded napkin with his sketch. A dried shell. His old paint tube, nearly empty. A frayed ribbon from his shirt.

At first, he thinks it’s just trash.

Until he sees a scribbled receipt from the first food stall date you had, with your handwriting on the back:

“He ate the garnish again. Still cute.”

You walk in just as he’s holding up the paint tube.

“That’s my collection drawer,” you say, casual.

“…You kept this?”

You shrug. “You gave it to me. I can’t not keep it.”

He stares.

“You kept all of this. Even the junk.”

“It’s your junk.”

Something shifts behind his eyes. Like your words cracked open a secret part of him.

He crosses to you slowly, touches your cheek.

“You’ll keep me too, right? Even the broken parts?”

You blink, then smile. “Obviously. You gave yourself to me.”

And that’s it.

He’s obsessed all over again.

That night, he leaves a dull pencil on your pillow.

You don’t ask.

You just tuck it into the drawer

𝙕𝙖𝙮𝙣𝙚 ⋆꙳•❅‧*₊⋆☃︎ ‧*❆ ₊⋆

He’s looking for a clean towel when he finds it.

The drawer.

Neatly tucked beneath your vanity. Unlabeled. Unassuming.

Inside: a mess.

A broken pen. A hospital visitor tag. A faded ribbon from a gift box. A paperclip bent into a heart. An unopened coffee sugar packet, his favorite blend.

He stares.

Then recognizes the pen. One he handed you absentmindedly months ago, during his rounds. The ribbon from the clutch of flowers he gave you after your first gala. The tag from the day you visited him post-surgery, still flushed from recovery but refusing to skip your date.

“Why are you in my important drawer?” you say from the doorway, arms crossed.

“…Important?”

You walk over, nonchalant, and pick up the pen. “That’s the one you lent me when we were filling out your new apartment paperwork.”

Zayne raises a brow. “You mean the one that barely writes?”

“It’s yours. I had to keep it.”

He exhales, quiet. Looks down again.

All this time, you’ve been keeping him. In bits and pieces. Even the insignificant ones.

He picks up the sugar packet. “…You hate this blend.”

You nod. “I still keep one. You always bring it.”

Zayne’s gaze lingers on you.

Steady. Unreadable. Then,

“You’re absurd,” he murmurs. But he doesn’t mean it.

He slips the packet back into the drawer and closes it carefully.

Later that night, you find one of his cufflinks in the drawer.

You didn’t put it there.

You smile.

And leave it.

𝙓𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙧 ⋆⭒˚.⋆🪐 ⋆⭒˚.⋆

You’re asleep on the couch when he finds it.

A drawer. Half-open. Stuffed with… things.

A crumpled drink voucher from a Lightseeker gala. A bent plastic spoon. A faded wrapper from his favorite protein bars. A receipt with the total circled, exact change, the day he bought you a snack and accidentally calculated it aloud.

Xavier squints. Lifts a cracked purple pen.

“…This one doesn’t even work,” he mutters.

“I know,” you mumble from the couch.

He turns. You’re still curled in a blanket. Barely awake.

“You gave me that pen,” you yawn.

“…So you kept it?”

“Obviously.”

He’s quiet.

You watch him pick through the drawer like it’s full of evidence. One of his gloves, stitched from where you fixed it. A loose button from his coat. A paper you once caught him doodling on.

“These are all… mine.”

You nod.

“You gave them to me. Why wouldn’t I keep them?”

He blinks slowly, then looks at you, expression still unreadable, but softer somehow.

Then:

“…Do you keep everything I give you?”

You smile sleepily. “Only the important things.”

He glances at the wrapper in his hand. “I gave you this because I thought it was shaped like a bunny.”

“Exactly.”

Xavier stands still for a moment.

Then carefully, silently, tucks the wrapper back into the drawer.

“…I see.”

Later that night, you wake up to find one of his kitty card pins sitting next to your pillow.

You didn’t put it there.

You tuck it into the drawer.

And Xavier, watching quietly from the doorway, says nothing.

But his faint smile lingers.

𝙎𝙮𝙡𝙪𝙨 ✮ ⋆ ˚｡𓅨⋆｡°✩

He’s not snooping.

He’s browsing, thank you. Looking for his missing cufflink.

Instead, he finds a hidden drawer behind your vanity mirror.

Inside: a neat pile of clutter.

His torn gloves (stitched up clumsily). The fancy red wax seal from a wine bottle he opened on your first “date.” A shredded paper target, he recognizes the one. The one where you made your first dead-center shot.

He flips it over. You’ve scribbled:

“Still not as good as you. Yet.”

Sylus grins, slow and sharp.

“Ambitious and sentimental,” he drawls.

You lean on the doorframe, caught. “That’s my drawer.”

He raises a brow. “Is it now? I thought I burned this glove.”

“You did,” you say. “I salvaged it.”

He pulls out a crushed feather, silver-tipped. From the shoulder of his jacket.

“…You kept this?”

“Why wouldn’t I?” you blink. “You gave it to me.”

He tilts his head, smirking. “I dropped it. During a fight. You weren’t even supposed to see it.”

“You bled on that jacket.”

He stares.

Then laughs.

Low, rich, and dangerous in the way it always is when he’s charmed against his will.

“You’re ridiculous,” he murmurs. “I should be worried.”

“You should,” you say. “You gave yourself to me. I keep things.”

He steps closer. Voice dropping.

“Do you keep all of me, kitten?”

You don’t answer.

You just close the drawer and say, “Only the parts you don’t mind losing.”

His smile twists, sharp and warm.

“You can keep all of it,” he says. “But don’t be surprised if I start taking things back.”

That night, you find his brooch under your pillow.

He never says a word.

𝘾𝙖𝙡𝙚𝙗 ⋆｡ ‧˚ʚ🍎ɞ˚‧｡ ⋆

He’s rummaging through your things.

Not in a weird way. not in a ‘Caleb’s trying to steal your panties again” way. Just looking for the backup key to the ship hangar.

Instead, he finds it.

The box.

The one with all the old stuff from when you were still “just” family. Just childhood best friends.

A bent model wing from the first paper plane he folded for you.

The glowing star sticker he gave you when you cried after falling off the swing cause he pushed you too hard.

A crumpled candy wrapper with “DON’T TELL GRAN >:(” scribbled on it.

He’s crouched over the box when you walk in.

You stop in the doorway, frozen.

“You found my stash,” you say flatly.

Caleb’s purple eyes widen, then soften.

“You… kept all this?”

You look away. “Obviously. You gave it to me.”

He lifts the wrapper between two fingers. “I gave you this ten years ago. You weren’t even supposed to have candy.”

“You smuggled it for me.”

He stares. You fidget.

“It was sweet,” you mumble. “You were sweet.”

He doesn’t answer right away.

Then, slowly, he puts the wrapper back. Closes the box carefully. Sets it aside like it’s priceless.

“You kept me, too,” he says, voice quieter. “Even when you didn’t know what I was.”

You smile faintly. “Of course I did.”

He walks to you, gentle hand resting at your lower back.

“…Can I give you more things?” he asks, almost teasing.

You raise a brow. “Like what?”

He leans in, brushing a kiss to your cheek. His breath warm, his smile darker now.

“Like my last name.”

Your heart skips.

You’re about to respond when he adds:

“And my dogtags. And my Fleet access chip. And— hey, hey—don’t run. You said you keep everything.”

You’re blushing too hard to argue.

He’s grinning too smugly to stop.

[orchidsarchives]

Even more Jason Todd headcanons

- He’s a really fast typer, like unbelievably fast (this is so hot) and this is both while texting or on a computer

- Speaking of texting, he sucks at texting back. He’s a horrible texter, super dry, boring and extremely late. If you need something, just call him

- I know everyone says that his everyday shoe is a pair boots, but I would like to argue and say that its actually a really beaten up pair of sneakers (maybe adidas gazelles or a pair of vans)

- Also, he has an accent, it’s not super thick when he talks normally, but when he’s tired or angry, it definitely comes out more

- He blasts music while he’s gearing up for patrol, he subconsciously raps/sings and dances along to the song (and he looks SO fine doing it)

- He feels lonely in his apartment so he doesn’t spend much time there, it feels like the quite haunts him sometimes

- He gives really tight hugs almost as if he’s afraid the person is going to disappear if he hangs on too loosely

- He gets nightmares and they’re bad. They’re not frequent but they’re bad - wake up in cold sweat with tears pouring down your face type of bad. He rarely talks about it.

- Okay enough angst lets talk about something silly

- He says sorry to inanimate objects and animals when he bumps into them

- He’s a hoarder. Anything from books to clothes to tupperware

- He also doesn’t use normal bookmarks, it’s almost always an old receipt or a scrap piece of paper that he scribbled random shit on

- I know SOME people also love to headcanon him as this big broody ominous nonchalant dude - he is not

- Jason is a chatty boy and he rambles a lot (but like only once hes comfy with you)

- Also, super random, but his fav food is probably shawarma

- He’s had his nose pierced once and then got punched in the face and it hurt like a bitch so he took it out immediately

- He’s the type of guy to drink really boring soda flavoured slushies like coke or sprite