#except for the moments me and my friends were laughing at something clearly the rest of the audience did not find funny sdkfjlsdkfj

[sapphicscience]

poll for people who attended eras, inspired by a tag on my post about fandom demographics

[p0orbaby]

I Feel Alive in the City That You Like

summary: who doesn’t like a bit of gossip?

warnings: none !

a/n: something short for our fav actress, with a little cameo from ale

word count: 1.5k

part 1

-

The bar is tucked away in a side street that smells of sea salt, diesel fumes, and hot pavement—the kind of place you only find by accident or through someone who’s “been coming here for years.” It’s called La Mala Vida, which feels pretentious in an almost charming way, like it’s trying to convince you it’s grittier than it actually is. Inside, the walls are painted a deep crimson that almost glows under dim lights. The ceiling is low enough to feel oppressive, and every table is crammed with people leaning too close, talking too loud, the air thick with cigarette smoke despite the supposed indoor ban.

Your friends are already at a corner booth when you arrive, practically shouting over the music—something vaguely Latin remixed with techno—and you spot Frances first, her sharp red lipstick and a blonde bob so precise it could have been cut with a laser. She’s dressed for drama, as always, in a vintage YSL blazer so cropped it’s practically a shrug, paired with leather trousers that look like they might have been painted on.

“We’ve been here for an hour,” she announces the moment you approach, her tone loud enough to carry over the din of the bar. “I thought you’d forgotten about us.”

“Don’t be dramatic,” you reply, pulling off your jacket—a lightweight cashmere thing that you’d brought only because the evening forecast had mentioned a breeze. You hang it over the back of the chair, careful to keep it away from what looks suspiciously like a puddle of spilled sangria.

“She thought you were avoiding us,” Georgia chimes in, already halfway through her first glass of wine. She’s dressed in an oversized white button-down that she’s knotted at the waist, paired with frayed denim shorts and silver hoop earrings big enough to be used as hula hoops. The effect is effortlessly cool, though you know for a fact she spent 45 minutes in front of a mirror before leaving her hotel room.

“I don’t avoid people I love,” you say, sliding into the seat between them.

“Except Alexia,” Frances says, her grin razor-sharp. “When she’s too far away for you to stalk”

“Frances,” you warn, though your voice lacks any real edge.

“Oh, please. Don’t pretend we haven’t all read the headlines. ‘Football Star’s Mystery Lover’—that was my personal favourite. Or was it the one about how you’ve been jetting between continents like a lovesick heiress?”

“Stop,” you groan, but Georgia is already laughing, her wine glass wobbling dangerously in her hand.

“Don’t worry,” she says. “We didn’t fly all the way to Barcelona just to interrogate you. But we will be taking the opportunity since we’re here”

“You didn’t fly here to see me at all,” you point out. “You’re here for Georgia’s ridiculous ‘self-discovery retreat’”

“It’s not ridiculous,” Georgia protests, though her tone suggests she knows exactly how ridiculous it is. “It’s wellness. I’ve been stressed”

“You live in a Soho loft and do Pilates every morning,” Frances deadpans. “What could you possibly be stressed about?”

“Life,” Georgia says, as though this explains everything.

Frances rolls her eyes, but before she can respond, the waiter arrives to take your drink order. You glance at the menu briefly before asking for a vodka lime and soda.

“Make it a double,” Frances adds for you. “She’s going to need it”

As soon as the waiter disappears, Frances leans forward, her elbows on the table, her chin resting on her hands like a particularly nosy house cat.

“So,” she says, drawing out the word. “How’s Alexia?”

“She’s fine,” you reply, keeping your tone deliberately neutral.

“Fine?” Georgia echoes, clearly unimpressed. “That’s all we get?”

“What do you want me to say?”

“I don’t know,” Frances says, her grin widening. “Something juicy. Like how she’s already convinced you to move here and start a life of domestic bliss”

“Or how she’s secretly awful in bed,” Georgia adds.

“She’s not awful in bed,” you blurt out before you can stop yourself, and both of them pounce on the admission like hungry wolves.

“Ah-ha!” Frances crows, pointing at you. “See, now we’re getting somewhere”

“Stop being so tight-lipped,” Georgia says. “You’re glowing. Look at you. That’s post-orgasm skin”

“Stop it,” you hiss, though your face is already burning.

“Don’t be shy,” Frances says, leaning back in her seat with a satisfied smirk. “We’re your friends. We’re just curious.”

“She’s curious,” Georgia corrects. “I just like making you uncomfortable”

“Why do I hang out with you?” you mutter, though the question is purely rhetorical.

“Because we’re fabulous,” Frances says.

“And because we rescheduled our chemical peel to spend time with you,” Georgia adds. “Now, come on. Give us something. What’s she like when the lights are off? Or on, we won’t judge”

“Jesus Christ,” you groan, covering your face with your hands.

“Fine,” Frances says, waving a hand dismissively. “If you don’t want to talk about that, tell us what you two do when you’re not shagging”

“Normal couple things,” you say.

“Like what?” Georgia presses.

“Like… cooking together,” you offer.

“Boring,” Frances declares.

“Or watching TV”

“Also boring”

“Taking her dog for walks?”

Frances sighs dramatically, as though your relationship is personally offending her. “You’re no fun”

“I’m plenty of fun,” you argue.

“Prove it,” Georgia says.

“How?”

“Call her,” Frances says, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Right now”

“She’s busy,” you protest, though your hand is already hovering over your phone.

“She’s not too busy for you,” Georgia says in a sing-song voice, grinning like the devil.

Frances leans back in her seat, folding her arms. “Prove it. Call her. Right now. Or we’ll start making assumptions, and you know we don’t hold back”

“Fine,” you snap, swiping your phone off the table. “But if she gets annoyed, I’m blaming both of you”

“Blame away,” Frances replies, looking positively gleeful.

You don’t bother stepping outside for privacy—this is what they wanted, after all. The bar’s music fades to the background as you scroll for her name, your thumb hesitating for a brief moment before you press call.

She picks up on the second ring.

“Hola,” she says, her voice warm and slightly hushed, like she’s leaning in closer to the phone to hear you better.

“Hi,” you reply, already feeling the tension ease at the sound of her voice. “What are you doing?”

“Dinner with the team,” she says. “What about you?”

“Out with Frances and Georgia,” you say, shooting them a look across the table. “They’re being infuriating, as usual.”

Alexia chuckles softly, and even though the distance between you stretches across an ocean, it feels like she’s right there. “What did they do now?”

“They’re insisting I call you so they can be nosy,” you admit, ignoring the way Frances pretends to yawn theatrically beside you.

“Well, I hope I’m living up to the hype,” Alexia says, the smile evident in her tone.

Frances immediately leans forward, practically yelling into the phone. “She’s not doing you justice, Alexia! We’ve heard nothing spicy”

You slap a hand over the phone’s speaker. “Frances!”

Alexia’s laugh is louder now, melodic and unrestrained. “Is that Frances?”

“And Georgia,” you say, glaring at them both as they descend into a fit of giggles.

“Hi, Alexia!” Georgia shouts, waving as if Alexia could somehow see her through the phone. “How do you feel about long-distance frustration?”

“Ignore them,” you say, lowering your hand from the speaker, though Frances has already leaned halfway across the table.

“Alexia, quick question,” she calls into the receiver. “On a scale of one to ten, how insufferable is she as a girlfriend?”

“Frances!”

“Eleven,” Alexia replies without missing a beat, her voice warm with amusement.

Frances clutches her chest in mock offense. “A woman with taste. I approve”

Georgia’s cackling now, practically falling off her chair. “She’s funnier than you. I like her more already”

“Okay, this was a mistake,” you mutter, though you can’t help the way your lips curl into a smile.

“You’re handling it well,” Alexia teases. “And you haven’t hung up yet, so maybe you secretly enjoy it”

“Maybe I just like hearing your voice,” you counter, softer this time.

There’s a slight pause, just long enough for Frances and Georgia to exchange exaggerated ooohs like a pair of primary school children.

“I miss you,” Alexia says, the sincerity in her voice cutting through their antics.

“I miss you too,” you reply quietly, forgetting for a moment that you aren’t alone.

Frances doesn’t forget. She leans so close you can feel her breath on your shoulder. “Tell her you love her!” she stage-whispers, loud enough to draw stares from the next table over.

You shove her back, pressing a palm to your forehead. “I’m hanging up now”

“Coward,” Frances mutters, smirking.

“Goodnight,” Alexia says, and you can hear the smile in her voice.

“Goodnight,” you reply, the word carrying more weight than usual.

When you finally set your phone down, Frances and Georgia are watching you like vultures circling a carcass.

“Admit it,” Frances says, taking a triumphant sip of her drink. “You’re smitten”

“Completely pathetic,” Georgia adds.

You don’t even bother denying it. Instead, you flag the waiter down for another drink, shaking your head as they burst into fresh fits of laughter.

[dumbseee]

just friends, right?

when you and daniel are just friends, or maybe more?

daniel ricciardo x reader.

fc: kendall jenner.

liked by y/n, landonorris, maxverstappen1 and 1 729 991 others.

danielriccardo: happy birthday to the light of my life (and the bane of my existence.)

_

fan1: anthony bridgerton said the same thing about his future wife 🤭

fan2: the whole world knows except them

fan3: JUST DATE UGHHH

fan4: drop the act and get married omg

landonorris: mommy and daddy <3

fan5: not lando shipping them too

fan6: i just know his camera roll is full of her

maxverstappen1: @.fan6 it is.

fan7: AAAHAJJSOSLSOPXPCPC

fan8: not lando AND max exposing them

fan9: they’re so meant to be

fan10: "the light of my life" when is someone going to refer to me like this??

fan11: daniel is so sweet with y/n :(

fan12: mind you he posted that one minute before midnight so he could be the first one to wish her a happy birthday :((((

view all comments.

you were dancing along the music with your girls when you suddenly felt a presence behind you. you were in a crowded club with some friends to celebrate daniel’s return to the grid as a driver for alpha tauri. you turned around to face the guy who clearly was seeking your attention and you smiled when you saw a cute blonde guy smiling back at you. the two of you started dancing together, his hands on your waist and yours around his neck. he was cute, and you could take him home with you but something was off. your mind tried to think of why but your heart already knew.

suddenly, the guy was ripped away from you and pushed far back. you blinked in confusion and saw daniel, now standing in front of you, he glared at the guy before returning his attention to you. his usual warm smile was gone and his eyes were now cold. "what is wrong with you?" you yelled over the music. he didn’t respond but instead he grabbed your wrist and dragged you out of the crowd. he ignored your complaints and finally stopped when you two were now in the parking lot. "care to explain what’s gotten into you, joseph?" you crossed your arms. he took a step closer to you which made you frown and almost take one back. "he was too close to you for my liking." you scoffed and laughed at his answer. "so what? you’re not my dad." you rolled your eyes and tried to go back inside the club but daniel blocked you again. "then what am i to you?" he asked in a low tone, sending shivers all over your body.

"daniel. you’re my-…" he cut you, closing his eyes and pinning you against the wall. "say that we’re just friends, i fucking dare you." you looked at him, completely lost, your cheeks were burning hot because of the way he was looking at you and how close the two of you were. your lips remained shut as you didn’t know what to say, you knew daniel your whole life, he was your best friend, your favorite person on earth, basically your soul mate. in all those years or friendship you did question your true feelings for him, but you never crossed the friendship line. what you had with daniel was too precious to ruin it because of your feelings. "say it, y/n." he repeated, you swallowed and closed your eyes, keeping the eye contact was way too hard for you. you couldn’t see it but seeing you being so flustered made daniel smile, he was happy to see the effect he had on you, and that his feelings weren’t one sided like he feared. "can i kiss you?" you opened your eyes and nodded slowly. daniel gently kissed your lips, his hands resting on your hips while you wrapped your arms around his neck, pushing yourself against him. the kiss grew more passionate, more eager.

you dreamed of that moment for years, you couldn’t believe that it was finally happening. you were kissing your best friend, and it felt right.

liked by landonorris, maxverstappen1, isahernaez and 729 019 others.

y/n: random dump because i still don’t have a jpg account to empty my camera roll

_

fan1: AAAAAAH THE CUTIES

fan2: the first couple pictures we get 🥺

fan3: that’s mom and dad right here

isahernaez: finally!!

maxverstappen1: @.charles_leclerc you owe me 100€ man

charles_leclerc: damn it

fan4: NOT THE BOYS MAKING BETS ON THEM

fan5: y/n was already the queen of wags even before she became a wag

fan6: their love story is the cutest ever

fan7: who said friends to lovers was a boring trope because look at THEM

fan8: the speech he did after his first race since his hiatus, when he thanked her was so cute tho

fan9: i just hope it won’t end badly bc their friendship was superior

fan10: now be happy

fan11: YESSSSSSSS

view all comments.

taglist: @ferrariloverr

[weneeya]

not as expected m.list | rules

pairing. sugawara x reader

note. i had this idea and as my bestie loves suga so much then here we go!! i hope you'll love it too <3 requests are still open!

Sugawara Koushi was a menace to society, even if anyone who didn’t know him was sure that he was the sweetest person on Earth. He was adorable and caring, obviously, but he was mostly a tease who liked to annoy his poor friends ; and you were no exception to this fact. 

You were in third year, just like him. At first, you met Daichi because you were in the same class as him, and soon you met the rest of them from the volleyball club. You weren’t an official member, but you were spending so much time there that it was almost like it. You were helping Kiyoko and now Yachi as much as you could. 

This year was special, because it was the last chance for the third years to finally go to the Nationals. It was their last opportunity, but you were sure that they could do it ; especially with the first years that joined the club. 

You were talking with Kiyoko when she left you alone to go say something at Nishinoya and Tanaka. It didn’t last long though, as Sugawara quickly approached you with his usual smirk. “Scared that we’ll lose?” He said, and you almost jumped because you didn’t see him arrive. You turned your face to look at him, before rolling your eyes.

“Never. I know you can do it,” you started, and it made Suga giggled slightly. You punched his shoulder a little, and it made a fake offended face. “It’s not what I heard.” You glanced at him with a little frown. Was he listening to your conversation with Kiyoko? This little…

“You know, it could be private.” You told him, and he simply shrugged his shoulders like it was nothing. He looked back at you with a smile, clearly amused by the situation. “Don’t worry too much, we’re gonna win, trust me!” He said with a proud smile, and it made you look away. 

It caught him off guard, because it wasn’t your type at all. But it was nothing next to what he saw on your face. Your cheeks, they were burning slightly, and it made him blink a few times. You were blushing, because of him. He was trying to process the situation when he heard your voice. “I always trust you,” you said almost in a whisper, and he felt his ears burning at your words. 

He stayed silent for a few moments, not able to think straight anymore. Especially not when you turned your eyes to look at him with this adorable expression on your face. He had some difficulties to swallow, his eyes blinking slowly like there was nothing in his head. Except that his mind was running fast. 

“God. You’re so adorable,” he said in a low tone, his eyes locked into your gaze. Your eyes widened and you quickly turned away from him, hiding your face from his gaze. It was an overwhelming feeling but it wasn’t so bad at the same time. You cleared your throat, before you fell his hands on your shoulders, making you turn to him once again. 

“Sorry, I couldn’t keep it for myself. You really are so pretty right now.” He said with a smile, chuckling a little. You were sure that your heart was going to jump out of your chest, and you must look like a real tomato right now. He wasn’t helping you calm down at all, but maybe it was on purpose. He leaned over you, leaving a small kiss on your cheek. “You can trust me,’ was the only thing he said before laughing softly. You pushed him a little, but you couldn’t help the gentle smile that appeared at the corner of your lips. 

Maybe it was their last year here, yes, but you were more than sure that everything was going to be fine.

thank you!!

[gothgirlscream]

ᯓ ᡣ𐭩 My first kiss went a little like this ! Leo Valdez x Fem!Reader

⭐︎Synopsis: I got you on my lips (I got you on my lips) !! ⭐︎Tag(s): mutual pining, kissing/making out, just two cutie patooties being down bad !!

"Have you had your first kiss before?"

Leo's eyes widened at your outburst of a question, clearly taken aback by it. He slowly turned his head to face you, who just so happens to be the prettiest girl Leo had ever laid his eyes on, and quickly shook away his surprise.

"Um, yeah duh," he tried sounding confident, it didn't really work. "Of course, everyone has. Why do you ask?"

Your lips pouted to the side, and Leo started feeling self-conscious as he noticed you staring at his lips. Obviously he's never had his first kiss, its clear by the way he only knows how to talk to machines. Him making you his friend, his best friend at that, was a feat he didn't know how he accomplished.

"I haven't."

That may have been the most shocking thing Leo has heard all day. You? Never having kissed someone? Leo's been at the despair of having to tell many guys that you in fact, were single, and watched them all merrily make their way to you, but that wasn't something the two of you ever talked about. He would rather die than hear about you with another guy.

"Seriously⏤"

"And I know you haven't either, y'know."

Leo's mouth quickly dropped before he cleared his throat and shut it, turning back to whatever little gadget he was fidgeting with at the moment. "I don't know what you're talking about, and I know your lying."

You gave him that mischievous side-eye he's grown to love, and an even more mischievous smirk paired with it. Leo's face started to heat when he heard your chuckle. It was low, almost dismissible, but he couldn't ignore anything if it had to do with you. He found that quite annoying.

"I know you better than you think I do, we are best friends after all."

Best friends. Friends. Stings, but it shouldn't since its true. Tell someone you like them? Leo would rather let you punch him in the face. He was known for having a thing for girls who hated him, except he had a thing for you, and you couldn't be any sweeter to him.

"And maybe I was saving my first kiss."

Leo put down his wrench and wiped his hands off with some rag on his workbench. He felt confident enough to lean his back on the bench and face you fully, crossing his arms. "Saving it? You could kiss anyone you want."

You took a step closer to him, uncrossing his hands and holding them in yours. You stared at them, then up at him through your lashes. "Maybe I was saving it for.. you."

Yeah, this is what whiplash felt like. "..me?"

"Yeah," you softly laughed, "who else would be more perfect than you?"

"Well⏤," he looked upward, pretending to think before you bumped him in the chest.

"Stop that, I couldn't ask for anything more, so please Leo? Be my first kiss?"

Yeah, this is what heaven looks like. This is what angels sound like when they sing. He nervously rubbed his thumbs on the back of your hands, slowly looking back to your face. You looked shy, nervous, just like him, and that fact made him feel a hell of a lot better. You slipped your hands out of his grasp, sliding them up his arms and resting on his shoulders. You looked up, closing your eyes and leaning forward. Leo did the same, and thanked whatever gods he had to for the fact he didn't miss your mouth.

Neither of you really knew what you were doing, not really moving your lips, just a soft peck before slowly separating. The two of you were a nose lengths apart, while sliding your hands down on his chest, "your lips are soft."

"Thanks," Leo whispered, almost regretting, but thankfully didn't have to after he heard that adorable laugh of yours. You took his hands, letting them rest on your hips, closing in his fingers onto your body before moving your own hands back to his shoulders.

Leo didn't even have the chance to register the fact that his hands had just been stupidly hovering at your sides before your lips were back on his. This time, he felt a little more confident in himself, pulling you closer so you were chest to chest, and wrapping his arms fully around your waist, and yours around his neck. You took the lead, opening your lips, closing in on his bottom one, agonizingly slow. Leo copied your movement, moving in sync, like puzzle pieces slowing falling in place as your heads moved from side to side. He felt your smile, making him smile with you.

His hands at your sides made the butterflies in your stomach go crazy. The heat on your face spread to the tips of your ears, and your knees felt wobbly. Of course, Leo wasn't doing any better. The tips of his hair were steaming and he was making sure those little flames didn't spread to any other parts of his body.

The both of you parted with the need of air getting too strong. You looked at Leo longingly as you played with his curls. "You're a better kisser than I thought you'd be Valdez."

"I can't tell if you just dissed me or not."

You chuckled and kissed his nose, sliding your hands into his. "We can practice some more later, but let's get to lunch. I'm starving." Some more later? Leo's day just keeps getting better !!

The two of you just joked and laughed as you walked hand in hand to the dining pavilion. Yeah, best first kiss ever.

[oceaneyesinla]

this got longer than I expected, but I had the idea and I had to write it! I don't normally write child characters, but I like how this little universe is turning out

Chuuya x reader, reader and Chuuya have a child together, nickname 'angel' used

Divider by @/cafekitsune

"Chuu, why is Kiko carrying around a limited edition Pokémon plushie that's bigger than she is?" You lean against the study door frame, admiring the sight of your boyfriend at his desk, leaning back in his chair with his sleeves pushed up to his elbows. He turns at the sound of your voice, a soft smile crossing his face.

He beckons you over, letting you slot between his legs and wrapping his arms around you, "Hey, angel. We missed you today."

You can't help but melt at his words, especially when he nuzzles into your tummy, hands resting on your lower back. You stroke a hand over ginger locks, leaning down to press a kiss to the crown of his head, "I missed you too. Now, answer my question. A Pikachu met me at the door instead of our daughter."

Honestly, the sight had been hilarious. A giant plushie, with two little legs sticking out of the bottom and two little hands clinging onto the yellow fabric. A bright, happy greeting from behind the plushie made your chest warm, as did the huge smile splitting Kiko's face when you relieved her of the giant toy.

Chuuya lets out a laugh, blue eyes shining with mirth, "We went out today, and you know Pikachu is her favourite. She was looking at it; what was I supposed to do?"

You can't fault him - not that you were in the first place. It's lucky for you both that Kiko doesn't have a penchant for evil, because those big eyes and squishy cheeks could convince you to do just about anything. Chuuya especially is physically incapable of refusing her anything, even if the only way she asks for it is by staring longingly. Clearly, that's what happened today.

"How did you even get it home?" You knew they were planning to use the subway, and you were pretty sure they wouldn't have gotten far with Kiko's new friend in tow.

Chuuya smirks up at you, "Being an executive has its perks."

You roll your eyes, "I don't think the boss expects you to use Port Mafia resources to transport giant plushies."

"Pretty sure he said our subordinates were at our disposal. Today, I needed help transporting precious cargo." Whether he was referring to the plushie, or to Kiko, you weren't sure. Probably both.

A rush of affection leads you to drop another kiss on his head, cradling the back of his head in one hand. Nobody ever expects Chuuya to be like this; soft, relaxed. It's a side of him precious few get to see, and you always consider it a privilege to be one of those allowed to sneak beneath the mask he wears for the rest of the world.

"Angel, you haven't been into our room yet, have you?" You narrow your eyes at his playful tone, and he just stares up at you, blue eyes big and 'innocent'. He keeps talking, and you can tell he's trying to hold back a smile.

Slowly, you come to a realisation, "You didn't ..."

The smile he's no longer able to hide says it all. You pull away from him and rush out of the room, hearing him laugh behind you. Moments later, you're standing in your bedroom, staring at a plushie the same size as Kiko's, except this one is your favourite Pokémon. You feel something bump into you, and you find Kiko behind you, still carrying her Pikachu.

"Mama, we got it special for you!" She's peeking out from behind her plushie, and she sounds so excited.

Chuuya appears behind her, resting a hand on her head, "She insisted that if she was getting one, Mama had to have one too."

Every time you think you can't love them more, they do something to prove you wrong. You remove the plushie from Kiko, placing it on the bed next to yours so you can lift her into your arms and snuggle her close, "Thank you, baby." You look at Chuuya, watching the two of you with such love that you swear you can see hearts, "Thanks to you too, Chuu."

"Anything for my girls." He steps closer, wrapping you up in his arms and you know he means every word.

[cosmichorrorsarestillnicerthanme]

contributing to the curse (ask number) and your request for anything persona x reader (whims)

any game goes, but how about the characters with a reader that doesn't seem to mash with the rest of group too well? i'm talking someone who is quiet, the complete opposite of a team player, doesn't get the inside jokes, and doesn't hang out much with the others outside of persona ass-kicking pursuits...

this errs on the platonic side of things :3c just for fun

I had fun putting this together, though I feel it is a tad sloppy in the middle section but I am pretty sure that's just me.

Now! Your Wish Is My Command!

Ren drank his can of soda through a silly straw as he watched you, the hat he received from The Boss for his birthday which matched Sojiro’s own save for Ren’s being black with a red band as opposed to white with a black band sitting snugly upon his head.

Ren had to go through hell to get you out here, he was going to make sure you didn’t slip away when no one was looking.

The sound of billiards cracking against one another rang out.

“ARRRRGH!!! C’mon man!Cut me some slack here!” Ryuji cried as Akechi laughed.

“Hmph, and why should I do that? You’re the one who carries around a blunt instrument all the time, perhaps you should learn a bit of delicacy!” Akechi said as he moved to the sidelines and next to Yusuke who seemed to be pondering something.

“Crow, tell me, have you noticed?” Yusuke asked vaguely.

“I have, our dear Joker has been glaring at them for quite a while. Then again, it quite is rare for them to come out for a “Team Bonding” exercise.” Akechi stated as he briefly turned his gaze onto you from the corner of his eyes.

“I… was talking about the scene we are currently in being perfect to paint…” Yusuke meekly muttered, causing Akechi to sigh.

Was Joker the only one with a brain cell in this group?

He was promptly reminded that his favorite and most powerful Persona was a Jack Frost that can nuke anything and anyone. He chose Jack Frost purely because it was cute.

Joker most definitely did not own any brain cells.

“I am well and truly surrounded by idiots…” Akechi hissed to himself.

How could Joker believe such sacrilege?

Jack-O-Lantern was clearly the cutest.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Haru kept her eyes on you as the Mona-Mobile rattled down the halls of Mementos.

This was the first time she had ever been sent out with you on the same team.

It was proving to be… enlightening.

Especially with your Persona, Robin Goodfellow.

Trickery, illusions, and misdirection to position an enemy in the perfect spot to ensure defeat.

That is what your Persona specializes in.

And when Haru took your weapon into account�� It made her think of the tricksters in the old stories she used to read as a child.

A wiley trickster causing mischief and chaos as they pleased to both friend and foe alike.

And to a certain point, that fit.

Except… you were always a bit off to the side.

Watching everything, working with the others for only as long as was needed.

The jokes the thieves made were lost on you and the moment they were done with Mementos or a Palace you were gone on the wind.

Now that she thought about it, that is probably why you were only able to do a Showtime with Joker who seemed to be the only one you listened to.

And it was certainly a mindblowing sight.

A “Midsummer Night's Dream” if she had ever seen one.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

“It's Showtime!” Joker shouted with a grin as you walked forward, spear in hand.

“Do you Shadows dream?” you asked as you reached for the mask on your face.

Joker rushed past you, knife in hand and carved through the enemies before them.

You tore the mask from your face and your Persona appeared behind you with a manic laugh and an impish grin upon its face.

“I know that I do.” you declared evenly as you stabbed the tip of your weapon into the ground and the world changed.

A forest at night in the dead of summer with a hundred fireflies flying through the sky and a clearing filled with flowers stunning the thieves and the shadows.

“Unfortunately, dreams are but illusions without the will to make them real.” You stated as you appeared behind the shadows, speartip stained with their black Ichor.

Then, as quickly as it came the illusion shattered and an explosion rained down from above, courtesy of Joker.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Haru continued to be vexed by you.

She was not alone in that if the way the others talked about you was any indication.

“So then Joker, is ya pal gonna be joining us tonight?”

“I am desperate to paint their Persona, its whimsical beauty has truly enraptured me!”

“I got these sweets earlier today! I want to share them with everyone! Wait! They’re not here!? You better not eat their share, Ryuji!”

“C’mon! We can’t have a party discussion about what we’ll do in the next Dungeon if we’re missing our Illusion caster!”

“Joker, shouldn’t we try to get them to show up to at least a few of these to ensure everything runs smoothly?”

“If they bring me pancake mix again I am going to break their fingers.”

Haru was happy to see that everyone was treating you as part of the team despite how distant you were.

But… she just hoped you knew they had your back if they needed it.

They all knew what it felt like to be the odd one out as well as anyone could ever hope to know it.

They were outcasts, misfits, social pariahs, delinquents, and weirdos.

They were the Phantom Thieves Of Hearts, and you were one of them.

[sofreddie]

Resigned 11

Summary: Y/N and Jensen are more than ready to be back home in Texas. But it seems the OE is determined to pop their bubble of happiness.

Characters: Alpha!Jensen x Omega!F!Reader, Jared, OE Agent Gus Fowler

Warnings: A/B/O Dynamics, Angst, Fluff, Smut (Unprotected sex, Knotting)

WC: 3,063

A/N: Another chapter! Woo, yay me! And yay you!

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Part 10

Jensen was excited about the hiatus and more than ready to have Y/N home. There, they began to correct and make things right between themselves. Y/N had already spent time packing and shipping some items, so come morning, all they had to do was grab their travel bags and go.

Y/N made sure that she strictly followed the laws. Her collar was on and clearly visible. She kept her head down, mouth shut, and followed Jensen's lead, which she noticed put him at ease. He'd have less to worry about when she 'acted right,' and she tried not to beat herself up over doing that to him, even if she didn't mean to.

The studio had arranged a smaller, private flight for Jensen and Jared, so they didn't have to worry about traveling with an Omega like before. However, they couldn't avoid the paparazzi entirely, who were outside his condo building and waiting at the airport. With all the pictures, he knew someone would catch his mark, and the news would likely blow up by the time they landed in Texas.

Jared, Jensen, and Clif worked to shield Y/N as they boarded the small jet, and soon enough, they were in the air. Jensen let out a long breath, finally feeling like he could relax, if only for a moment.

Jensen relaxed in his reclined seat as Y/N and Jared chatted together. She seemed utterly comfortable around Jared, relaxing and laughing as he talked with her. He'd never seen her quite so animated and alive. The thought made jealousy bubble up again that another Alpha could have that effect on her.

But he knew Jared was only trying to make her feel better and included. He was looking out for her because he considered them family and pack. Except it occurred to Jensen that he was the only thing Y/N had. If something happened to him, she'd be alone and in danger.

He thought it might be in her best interest if they were a pack. Jared could be registered as an alternate Alpha—instead of a father, brother, or uncle—and could be a legal pack member. Jensen was confident that Jared would take care of her if anything happened.

When Y/N excused herself to the restroom, Jensen took the opportunity to talk alone with Jared. While he would need to speak with Y/N, he could start with Jared and see if he would be willing to do so.

"Hey, Jare?" Jensen spoke as he settled next to him. "I was just thinking, you know, about how alone Y/N and I are or feel."

"Hey man, you know I'm here for you. Both of you."

"We're practically pack," Jensen nervously chuckled. "But I was thinking maybe we could make that legal."

"What?" Jared chuckled.

"I want you to be her alternate Alpha in case anything happens."

Jared was quiet for a moment as he thought it over. "Have you talked to her about it?"

"Not yet."

Jared nodded, "I need to talk to Gen, but I think it's a good idea."

Jensen smiled and patted Jared's thigh before returning to his seat just as Y/N returned. She paused to peck his lips before returning to her seat and talking with Jared. This time, Jensen wasn't jealous. Instead, he was grateful and settled in for a nap.

-

While all three were well-rested on the flight, it didn't take long before the guys were full-on Alpha, and Y/N was panicking. She focused on the laws and what was required of Omegas. The overwhelming scents of angry and protective Alphas filled the sealed cabin, soothing and choking the Omega.

As feared, news of Jensen's claim had gone viral. When they landed, his phone was flooded with social media messages and messages from friends and family. Most of the messages he received were supportive. The media and public had mixed reactions, further fueled by the international debate over Omega's Rights.

Thankfully, Clif got them from the plane and took them to their respective homes without incident. As the doors of their homes closed, shutting out the world behind them, Jensen and Y/N let out a collective sigh of relief.

"I'm so happy to be home," Y/N sighed.

The last time they were here was like a honeymoon. The trip to Vancouver hadn't been as great as they had hoped. Back in their home, their nest, where their family would one day grow, they could move past the ugliness and into a happy normal.

"Me too," Jensen agreed, wrapping his arms around her from behind and kissing behind her ear.

She tilted her head as he brushed her hair to the side, gently removing her collar before carelessly tossing it somewhere in the room. Her eyes followed where it landed, and she fought the urge to retrieve it. Instead, she gave in to the sensations that jolted through her as her Alpha kissed sweetly over his claim.

Turning in his arms, her eyes landed on her claim on his neck. Gently covering it with her hand, she fought back tears. Once again, he was facing worry and ruin because of her.

"Don't," Jensen interrupted her thoughts, feeling as if he could hear her through their renewed bond.

"I feel like I just make things worse for you. If I just behaved-" She cut herself off, sobbing.

Jensen kissed her, deep and passionate, trying not only to chase away her invasive thoughts but to show her how wrong she was. He was grateful for her, loved her, and would do anything for her happiness.

Jensen scooped her into his arms, delighted in her surprised squeal and giggle. She buried her face against his neck as he carried her upstairs. Teasing him, she kissed and nipped at her claim. He growled as he burst into the bathroom, putting her on her feet only to cup her face and kiss her fiercely.

"Get naked," Jensen spoke against her lips, and he hastily removed his clothes. She grinned and followed his command, knowing it was a request. One she was all too eager to comply with.

The moment she was nude, Jensen had her in his arms, kissing her as he ushered her into the shower. He turned on the water, kissing and caressing as the water cascaded down upon them. He needed her to feel and know he wasn't upset with her, disappointed, or having regrets about anything between them. It was the world that was wrong, not them.

Driven by a desperate need to prove himself, Jensen turned Y/N against the tiled shower wall and dropped to his knees. She gasped and clung to him as he lifted one of her legs on his shoulder, opening her up for him. He places kisses from her knee and up her thigh, building her up for what was coming.

It didn't take long for him to have her coming, her sweet tang on his tongue easing his cravings for her. He left her leaning against the wall, catching her breath, watching her with a sly grin as he hastily washed himself.

Once Y/N gathered herself, she was flushed and hungry for her Alpha. Returning his grin with a coy smile, she lowered to her knees, desperate to taste him. Jensen stopped her, lifted her to her feet, and kissed the pout from her lips.

"Not yet," he spoke as he turned, putting her under the warm spray. "Let me?" he asked, holding a washcloth.

Y/N bit her lip and nodded, letting Jensen bathe her from head to toe. He lingered, kissing in various spots, gently washing her skin. It both relaxed and aroused her. Once the water was off, Jensen dried them off before scooping Y/N in his arms. He carried her into the bedroom and laid her gently on the bed, climbing over her as he did, keeping them close.

The silence enhanced every look and touch. Neither of them needed words to understand what the other wanted and needed. They moved in sync, changing positions and taking turns giving and taking pleasure, driving it out until the need to release was too much to bear.

With a final change, Y/N was on her knees, legs wide and belly pressed into the mattress as she presented and mewled for her Alpha. Jensen groaned in approval, sliding deep within her core, a feeling of coming home. Angling his hips, Jensen fucked Y/N hard as he drove them both toward their final release.

Y/N came first with a shout, Jensen's knot popping and locking them together as they rode their highs. Kissing her claim, Jensen carefully moved them to their sides to spoon while they waited for Jensen's knot to recede.

-

Leaning her hip against the frame, Y/N gazed out of the glass doors into the backyard, sipping at her coffee as the sun began to rise. She had already made breakfast, knowing her Alpha would wake soon.

As if thinking him into existence, she smelled her Alpha before his hands slid around her waist from behind. Her eyes fluttered closed, and she hummed content, tilting her head as Jensen placed featherlight kisses around his claim.

"Morning, Alpha," she whispered, turning in his arms. She handed him her mug, giggling as he mumbled something that sounded like "mornin'" and chugged the remainder of the coffee. Without a word, Y/N took the mug and maneuvered around Jensen, pouring two fresh cups and handing him one.

"You cooked?" Jensen asked, finally awake enough to speak and notice the food.

Y/N simply smiled and prepared him a plate. Setting it on the table, she ushered Jensen to sit, kissed him on the head, and headed to make herself a plate.

Before Jensen could take a bite, a knock on the door interrupted their morning. Glancing at the clock, Jensen saw it was only nine in the morning. Looking through the peephole, he saw a large man with an OE badge hanging on a lanyard around his neck.

Y/N could sense the presence of an Alpha other than Jensen. She took a deep breath and rushed to retrieve her collar. Another series of knocks sounded as she secured her collar in place, and Jensen opened the door to greet the man.

"Jensen Ackles?"

Jensen huffed as he stood tall and squared his shoulders, nodding minutely to the Alpha on his doorstep—a threat to him and his Omega. The man smirked at Jensen's display.

"My name is Gus Fowler, Omega Enforcement Officer assigned to you and your Omega's probationary cases. May I come in?"

Jensen wasn't sure if he had given access or if Agent Fowler had forced his way in as they moved in sync, granting him entry to their home. He couldn't refuse him if he wanted to, not without causing even more trouble for Y/N and himself. Jensen closed the door, focusing on the Alpha in their home as Agent Fowler glanced around the place.

Y/N stood still in the foyer, her head bowed and hands clasped in front of her, silent and waiting. Jensen hadn't even seen her out on the collar. He'd never seen her so obedient, which made him feel sick and enraged. She knew Jensen was uncomfortable and decided to take the lead.

"Welcome to our home, Agent Fowler," Y/N greeted, her eyes and head lowered to the ground as she spoke. "I have just made breakfast and coffee."

"Coffee would be great," he answered, following Y/N with a satisfied smirk.

Pulling out a chair, Y/N gestured for him to sit as she moved to the kitchen. Jensen sat at the table, focused entirely on the Alpha in his home. Y/N brought coffee service to the table, setting the tray between the men and standing off to the side like a servant awaiting orders.

Now, Jensen was thoroughly confused. First, he had no idea they even owned a coffee service, but it was a pleasant and seemingly useful surprise. Second, Y/N was acting entirely out of character. She was the picture of an obedient Omega and wife, to a point that made his stomach churn. It was everything he didn't want for her.

He knew she had been studying. Now, he could see that put to work, playing her part to the legal letter. She was sending him soothing vibes to keep him calm, but it was only helping so much.

Agent Fowler smirked as he looked over Y/N and prepared a cup of coffee for himself.

"Can your Omega join us?" he asked Jensen as he sipped.

Nodding, Jensen gestured Y/N to him on his side, out of reach of the other man. Agent Fowler grinned at the action, opening a file and sipping his drink. Y/N kept her gaze on the table. Jensen kept his hand firmly on her thigh, both protective and possessive.

"So, as I mentioned, I'm here on behalf of the OE to explain your probationary terms now that you're home and on break."

Jensen tried not to scoff. This man represented everything Jensen had come to despise. While making it seem like a courtesy call, he knew it was anything but.

"I'll start with the Omega."

"Y/N," Jensen spoke through gritted teeth.

"Very well," Fowler jotted down notes with a huff before continuing. "Y/N. As of now, you are not to leave this property unless you are with Jensen or another authorized Alpha."

"I understand," Y/N whispered, trying to fight back her emotions and remain calm for her Alpha's sake. She could feel he was on edge, and she didn't want either of them to suffer further.

"I'd like to add an alternate Alpha," Jensen requested.

"Are they blood or pack relation to you or Y/N?"

"We're a pack," Jensen responded. "Just not on paper yet."

"Alright," Fowler nodded, pulling papers from his file and handing them to Jensen with a pen. "If you fill out these forms, I can submit the pack and Alpha registrations for you."

Jensen huffed but began completing the forms. Perhaps naively, he thought this would be a quick visit. He hadn't even talked to Y/N about his talk with producers. The OE wasn't messing around and determined that he and Y/N would comply with their terms.

As Jensen completed and returned the forms, Agent Fowler put them away and focused on the Alpha.

"Mr. Ackles, you have been ordered to complete Alpha Ownership and Rut Management classes. The OE has coordinated through your manager and lawyer on your schedule, so there are no overlaps, and you can complete the legal requirements without issue."

Jensen growled under his breath as Fowler jotted more notes. He was constantly making notes as he spoke, questioned, and observed.

"As discussed with your team, you cannot leave the state until the classes are completed; all other things fit around that."

Jensen sat a little taller, and his eyes narrowed at the Alpha across from him. Fowler’s eyes drifted to the claim on Jensen’s neck, his disapproval evident.

“I recommend you cover that,” Fowler said as he jotted more notes, gesturing to the claim with his pen. “At least while you’re attending classes.”

“Is it illegal for an Alpha to have a claim?” 

Fowler sighed, dropping his pen and clasping his hands together as he looked between the pair before him. 

“No. No laws prevent an Alpha from being claimed by their Omega. But it is frowned upon and might make things harder for you, especially with other Alphas.” 

Fowler sighed again, some of the tension and assertiveness going out of him. “Look, I’m not here to judge you. I’m here to enforce the law. Whether I or you agree with it or not, the law is the law.”

Agent Fowler jotted down a few more notes before finishing, standing from his seat and tucking the chair back in. “I’ll visit with your Alpha friend and complete the Alternate and Pack establishment registration. You’ll receive official copies, which should only be a few days, a week at the most. Here’s a copy of the schedule for your classes.”

“I’ll show you out,” Jensen grumbled, kissing Y/N’s head before following Fowler to the door. 

The second the door closed behind him, Y/N took a deep breath, relaxing a little from all the stress. She dashed out the back glass door into the garden, inhaling a deep breath with her eyes closed. The overwhelming stench of Alphas in a pissing contest wasn’t doing her any favors. Jensen was so angry and on edge with having an unwanted person and Alpha in his home. It took everything she had to keep her composure and not whine over her Alpha’s distress.

“Omega?”

Y/N turned to see Jensen approaching her with an inquisitive gaze, though he was still agitated, and his scent was thick.

“I’m so sorry.”

“For what? You were fucking perfect in there,” Jensen defended. “Which, by the way, really freaked me out.”

“You have to go through all of this because of me because I wasn’t a good and proper Omega.”

“Y/N-”

“I’m so sorry,” she whined, and Jensen could no longer resist the urge to have her in his arms.

He hugged her tight as she dealt with her surge of emotions. He could feel the rollercoaster inside her and gave her the comfort she desperately needed, taking the chance to scent her, her essence calming him.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about my talk with the producers, Jared, or any of it,” Jensen softly spoke. “I was going to this morning, but I didn’t know he was coming, so he just dropped all that.”

“It’s okay,” she said. “I knew after everything and the claim that you’d probably have to talk to someone about it. Again, my fault.”

“Stop.” Jensen insisted, pulling back just enough to capture her gaze and hold it firmly. “The world is wrong, Baby, not us.”

Y/N nodded and smiled, tucking herself back into his hold, her head under his chin as she soaked up his warm and rich scent, now less angry and more just him. One way or another, they’d get through this. Together.

PART 12

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[captainsophiestark]

Come Here Often?

Cassian x Reader

Masterlist - Join My Taglist!

Written for my personal fic writing challenge for 2024, Sophie's Year of Fic! Featuring a new fic being posted every Friday, all year long :)

Fandom: A Court of Thorns and Roses

Summary: Everyone in the Inner Circle knows Cassian and Y/N have feelings for each other, except the two idiots in question. Thankfully, the IC's not known for minding their own business, especially in matters like this.

Word Count: 1,772

Category: Fluff, Humor

Putting work into an AI program without permission is illegal. You do not have my permission. Do not do it.

"Are you sure you don't want to go see a show at the Ampitheater tonight?" I asked, trying to give Mor a guilt trip with no more than a look as we carried bags towards the river house. She just scoffed at my attempt.

"I already told you, I can't. I wish I could, but our lovely High Lord has me doing work all night tonight."

I huffed. "Fine. Let me know if I can do anything to help with the work, since I'm losing my theater buddy."

Mor shot me a grin. "I'm sure you could find somebody to replace me if you really wanted to."

I narrowed my eyes at her. I knew what she wasn't saying: that I should invite Cassian. To do something, if not to go to the amphitheater. I regretted ever telling her I'd caught feelings for the Illyrian general.

"Whatever, Mor," I scoffed, failing to come up with a better comeback. She grinned, clearly sensing her victory, but luckily for me I'd reached my room. "Enjoy all that work you have to do tonight!"

I didn't wait for her response before ducking through the door and shutting it behind me. I could hear her laughing as she continued down the hallway to her own room, but I did my best to block it out as I dropped my bags.

I hovered a little longer in my room, taking my time putting away the things we'd brought back from the market, until I heard Mor leave to go do whatever work Rhys had her doing. I checked both ways in the hallway when I finally emerged before heading down to the kitchen.

All of my friends had been hounding me about Cassian lately, and as much as I loved them, if I heard another word from anyone trying to nudge me into asking him out or whatever, I was going to lose it.

I made my way towards the kitchen, intending to make myself a snack before figuring out what I wanted to do with the rest of my evening, but I stopped short at the sound of harsh whispers coming from within. It sounded like somebody was having a heated conversation, and I didn't want to interrupt anything. But then my stomach rumbled, and I decided to go in anyway.

I cleared my throat and made as much noise as possible so I wouldn't interrupt any Inner Circle members in the middle of something serious. When I rounded the corner, I found Cassian and Azriel sitting at the table in the middle of the space, leaned back in their chairs and trying way too hard to look casual.

"Hey guys..." I said, eyeing them both suspiciously as I slowly moved further into the room. Az gave me a little nod, and Cassian gave me a smile that looked more than a little forced. "What, uh... what are you both up to?"

"Rhys needs my help with something," Azriel said, standing abruptly. I narrowed my eyes at him, but of course his expression gave away nothing as he headed for the door. "I'll see you both later."

I watched him go, then turned my gaze to Cassian once Az was gone. His back was to me, so I couldn't read his expression, but his shoulders were tensed and he hadn't turned from the doorway Az had disappeared through.

"Okay..." I said, deciding to just move past it as I turned to the counter to start making myself a snack. "What about you, Cass, you got anything going on tonight?"

Cassian cleared his throat. "Me? Nope."

I heard him shifting in his chair behind me, and a moment later he was standing at my side. I prayed he couldn't hear my heart racing faster at his proximity as I tried to keep my focus on the fresh fruit in front of me.

"So, uh, you..." Cassian's wings rustled behind him, usually a sign of nerves. I frowned. "You come here often?"

I paused, setting the knife down and opting to slowly turn to face Cassian, one eyebrow raised. He fidgeted as he stared back at me, and I caught him forcing a grimace off his face in favor of a small smile. I'd never seen him look so nervous before.

"I... Cass, we both live here."

The grimace returned in full force, and I couldn't help smiling as Cassian brought a hand to his forehead.

"That's not what I meant to ask you," he said, shaking his head and meeting my eyes again. "What I meant was, uh... do you have a bandage?"

"A bandage? Did something happen? Did you get hit-"

"Dammit! No, I'm fine. Never mind, I need to go find Az-"

He started to push off the counter, but on a reflex, I stopped him with a hand on his forearm. He stopped dead in his tracks and stared at me, and my heart almost stopped in my chest at the intensity of his gaze.

I quickly pushed down the butterflies in my stomach to give Cassian a once-over. No matter what he said, he clearly was not fine. I didn't see any obvious physical injury, but a hard hit to the head would definitely explain some things, and when I met his eyes again he had a weird look in them.

"Cassian, are you sure you're okay? What's going on?"

He took a deep breath and then hesitated, his eyes darting over my face and his brow furrowed. Then, he sighed, his face and shoulders relaxing with him.

"I'm sorry, I just... I was trying to ask you out." My eyebrows shot up, but Cassian continued before I could muster a coherent response. "I've been wanting to do it for a while now, but I lost a bet to Az last week and my 'punishment' that I finally had to go through with it. I've been trying to figure out the best way to do it, but... I guess that wasn't it."

Cassian huffed a little laugh at himself, his expression drooping as he stared at the ground. I just blinked at him for a few seconds, trying to process everything he'd just told me.

"Hold on... you're asking me out because you lost a bet to Az?"

"Not just for that," Cassian assured me quickly, looking worried. "Or, I guess, if you're not into it, then maybe yes?"

I just laughed, which didn't seem to make him feel better. I felt guilty, but I also just couldn't help it. My heart leapt as I put a hand on Cassian's shoulder and his eyes snapped to mine again.

"Cass... I barely escaped that exact same bet with Mor last week."

His brows furrowed. "What?"

"Yeah," I said, laughing a little. I couldn't quite help it. Cassian apparently felt the same way about me as I did about him, as evidenced by our friends' ridiculous tactics. My heart soared, and I stepped a little closer to him. "I cheated a little to get out of losing, but she's been pressuring me to ask you out somewhere anyway for the last week and a half."

"Because... you like me?"

"Yeah. A lot."

The frown finally lifted from his face, replaced with a beaming grin that made my heart race. Slowly, he moved one arm to wrap around my waist, pulling me a little closer to him. I let one hand rest against his chest, and Cassian's lopsided smirk almost made me faint.

"Our friends are going to be rubbing this in for a long time, but I can't make myself care," he said, voice low. I bit my lip and smiled up at him.

"Same. Especially since I think they're all out of the house right now on a fake assignment for Rhys."

"That's definitely a perk of all their bullshit."

"So... what now?"

Cassian's eyes flashed as he leaned forward, pulling me flush against his chest. He dropped his mouth towards mine until they were barely inches apart, then met my eyes. Based on his grin, I knew he could hear my heart beating out of my chest.

"I have a few ideas," he breathed.

A heartbeat later, his lips were on mine, and fireworks exploded in my chest. Being with Cassian like this just felt right, and now that we were finally together, I never wanted to let him go.

I wasn't sure who initiated it, but we deepened the kiss as Cassian's grip tightened on my waist. I let my hands wander over his chest, to his shoulders and arms, but stopped dead in my tracks when I heard a disgusted scoff from behind me.

Cassian and I broke apart, arms still around each other, and turned towards the door to find our friends standing there, staring at us with their hands on their hips.

"Well, I guess this is what we wanted," said Mor with a shrug.

"Pretty sure I told him to ask her out, not make out with her in the kitchen," Az chimed in from beside her. Rhys and Feyre just grinned at us, while Amren stared, clearly unimpressed.

"Do you all mind?" Cassian ground out, his hands tightening a little more around my waist. Mor just grinned and skipped into the kitchen completely undisturbed, heading for my unfinished fruit platter.

"Not at all," she said. Cassian sighed, but I couldn't keep myself from laughing. Our friends were absolutely ridiculous, but I loved them dearly. And Cassian and I had just made out in the kitchen, so I really don't think much in this world could've ruined my mood.

"Why don't the two of you go see a show or something?" Feyre suggested, following Mor into the kitchen, the other batboys following behind her. Cassian narrowed his eyes at his brothers, but I just smiled, at last stepping out of his grasp and taking his hand.

"That's a great idea, Feyre. Cass? What do you think?"

His expression softened the minute his gaze shifted to me. My heart melted.

"Sure. How about we go to Rita's after, too? Do some dancing?"

"Sounds like a plan. Just let me go get changed."

"I'll meet you back down here."

We shared a smile, and I leaned up to give Cassian one last quick kiss before turning on my heel to go get ready. Rhys and Az both smiled at me as I left the room, and I shot them a wink as I left. I would've preferred it if they'd all given Cassian and I our space tonight, but at the end of the day, we wouldn't have admitted our feelings for each other without our nosy, pushy friends. So I couldn't exactly stay mad at them, at least not this time.

****************

Everything Taglist: @rosecentury @kmc1989

[mrsportgas]

The Neighbor. Chapter 2

Summary: The story takes place in the real world. Shanks, your unbearable neighbor, makes you a proposition that you're unsure whether to reject. It could be the start of a friendship, or maybe something more?

SHANKS X YOU

WARNING: Except for the first chapter, the rest will contain scenes of sex and violence, making this fanfic strictly +18.

TAG LIST: @buggsclownie @commanderfreethatdust

"I'd rather freeze," I whispered to myself.

"Are you coming or not?" Shanks repeated as he approached the porch of his house.

"I'm not going into a stranger's house, thanks."

"You're friends with Luffy, right? Tell him you're at my place, and tell your friend too. Anyway, I don’t think I’m a stranger. I wasn’t going to do anything weird to you."

"That's what you say." The truth was, the cold I felt was unbearable. I figured if I told Nami or even Luffy and something happened, at least they’d know where I was. "Fine, but as soon as Nami arrives, I'm leaving."

Shanks left the bags at his door and walked over to where I stood, shielding myself with the umbrella. "Shall we?" He started walking. I had to jog a little to catch up and fit under the umbrella. As we passed by his car, I noticed it was the same Range Rover that had splashed me earlier.

"Hey! You were the one who drove through a puddle and soaked me!" I said, pointing at my drenched clothes. Shanks scanned me from head to toe with his eyes, licking his lips as he did. Realizing it, I felt so embarrassed. Was he checking me out? At that moment, I couldn't tell if it disgusted me or if I liked it.

I snatched the umbrella from his hands and ran to his front door. "Open up, I'm freezing to death, you freak."

Shanks hurried to the door, running his hand through his wet hair. Damn, he might be older, but he looked amazing. He quickly opened the door, holding it for me to pass.

"Don't look at my butt," I said curtly.

Shanks burst into laughter. "Do you ever relax? What do you think I am, some pervert? A kid like your little friends?"

I entered the house quickly, and honestly, everything was perfectly decorated. Every piece of furniture, every painting, was meticulously placed, and it was all beautiful. There were paintings, statues, and various trinkets from around the world, along with elegant rugs, sofas, and tables.

"Do you like it?" Shanks asked with a smirk as he leaned, arms crossed, against one of the tables.

"Don’t get ahead of yourself. I’m not as easily impressed as your other friends."

Shanks laughed out loud. "Come on, you'd better take a shower before you soak all the rugs in the house."

"A towel will do."

Shanks motioned for me to follow him to the bathroom. We went upstairs to a huge room with an even bigger bed, and behind one door, the bathroom. "There’s the shower and towels. Do whatever you want."

The bathroom was enormous, with a large shower and a jacuzzi. Clearly, the man had money, unlike our rented house where the faucet barely worked.

Once inside, I locked the door. I didn’t want that pervert opening it or trying anything. I took off my wet clothes, trying to spread them out as much as possible on a radiator on the wall. I took out my phone again to see if anyone had messaged me, but there was nothing. I called Robin, and finally, it started ringing.

"Y/N? Is everything okay?" Robin answered on the other side of the line.

"Are you with Nami? I locked myself out and can't get in," I replied, hoping Nami was there.

"HEY Y/N!!! COME HERE NOW!!!" I heard Luffy shouting in the background.

"I don’t have my keys, and my clothes are soaked. I need to wait for Nami to get home. Luffy, I’m at your friend’s place."

"Okay, Y/N, I’ll try to contact Nami, or if she comes here, I’ll tell her to bring you the keys," Robin replied.

"HUH? What friend?" Luffy could be heard asking in the background.

"Shanks."

"That’s awesome! Have fun!!! I didn’t know you two were hanging out!" Luffy responded without thinking.

"Luffy, he's just my neighbor, that's all," I said, knowing he wouldn't understand the situation and would keep thinking there was something going on with Shanks. "Robin, we'll talk later. I'm fine. I hope Nami replies soon."

"Don’t worry, I’ll keep an eye out. Call me if anything happens."

We hung up. I grabbed a towel and got into the shower, cranking the water up to boiling. I really needed it; my body warmed up almost immediately. Shanks’ smile when he looked at me came back to my mind, and I found myself daydreaming about his body and that smile.

Someone knocked on the door. "I left some clothes on the bed. I imagine you’ll want to change; I doubt you can wear your own," Shanks said from the other side of the door.

"Thanks," I replied, unsure of what else to say and feeling embarrassed by my recent fantasies.

I finished showering and wrapped the towel around myself, slowly opening the door just in case he’d decided to wait for me in the room. But no, even the bedroom door was now closed. I quickly grabbed the clothes Shanks had left—a pair of sweatpants, a hoodie, and some slippers—and took them back to the bathroom to change, feeling secure knowing the door had a lock. When I was ready and mentally prepared, I checked my phone again, but still no word from Nami.

I hesitantly went downstairs. Shanks was in the kitchen, leaning on a high table while looking at his phone.

"Want something to drink? Are you hungry?" he asked, not taking his eyes off his phone.

"I’m fine, thanks," I replied, feeling a bit awkward, rubbing my arms to warm up a little more. "My name’s Y/N, by the way."

Shanks lifted his head and walked out of the room, returning with a blanket. "Here… Y/N," he said with a smile on his face again.

He placed the blanket over my shoulders, brushing my body lightly with his hands. I shivered, feeling his warm touch on my skin, and a part of me wished that moment would never end.

"So, Y/N, what brings you to this city?"

"My Ph.D., and you?"

"I work as a CEO for a multinational," he responded cheerfully.

"I see…"

"You know, I grew up with nothing, so when I realized I could use my brain, I worked hard to get all this so I’d never go hungry again, nor would my parents, although now it’s just me."

"Wow… I’m really sorry."

"Thanks, but I’m fine. As you’ve probably noticed, I spend my time traveling the world and working now and then, although I’ll be stuck here for quite a while," he added.

I responded with a kind of nervous laugh.

"What's your PhD about? What do you want to do with it?" he asked as he sat next to me at the high kitchen table.

We spent quite a while talking about my PhD, university, and our mutual friendship with Luffy. It turned out we had much more in common than we initially thought. So much so that I lost track of time.

"Are you hungry? I was thinking of ordering dinner," Shanks said suddenly, moving a bit closer.

"Actually, I am hungry, but I was supposed to meet my friends for dinner. I hope Nami replies soon."

"Well, I'm going to order something, and if you have time, you can have some. If not, no big deal." A big smile appeared on his lips again, making me blush. "What do you like?"

"Order whatever you like."

"Do you like sushi? Check this place out—they just opened. Let’s try it."

"Yeah! Luffy mentioned it yesterday, but they say it's the most expensive place in the city. I'll pay you half."

"You're at my place, you're not paying anything," he laughed.

"Then order something cheaper."

"I don’t care about the money. I’ll get this; it looks good." Shanks started picking out all kinds of sushi, condiments, and appetizers.

Suddenly, my phone started ringing. It was Nami finally calling.

"Y/N!!! I stayed late at university, and then my phone died, I'm so sorry! I just talked to Robin and charged my phone. I'm on my way now. Are you okay?"

"Nami! Yes, I’m fine, I’m at the neighbor's place. Call me when you get here."

"I just ordered everything. Consider it an apology for splashing you with the car," Shanks said with a playful grin. "If you want, sit by the fireplace so you can warm up while you wait for your friend."

We both got up and headed to the sofa. I sat on the end closest to the fireplace, and to my surprise, Shanks sat in the middle. Though I was feeling more and more comfortable, I had to admit that I was starting to enjoy his company.

After a while, the doorbell rang, and we both assumed it was the delivery. Shanks stood up and opened the door.

"Hey, old man, I hope you didn’t do anything to my friend," Nami said, walking right in without caring if she was invited or not.

"Your friend’s just fine, don’t worry," Shanks replied, surprised by her boldness.

"Nami! Let’s go home," I called from the sofa.

"So, it’s true you’re doing okay," Nami teased me, trying to get a reaction.

I got up, folding the blanket, and headed toward the door.

"I know we ordered food," I said, looking at Shanks.

"Don’t worry, you had plans with your friends first."

I smiled slightly, "See you around."

I followed Nami out the door, and we quickly headed back to our place, going straight up to my room. Nami closed the curtains quickly. "Tell me everything."

"Nami, nothing happened. He was just being nice."

"Y/N, you’re wearing his clothes…"

"Oh my god! My clothes… I left them in his bathroom…" We both burst into laughter. I recounted my little adventure as we laughed.

"So, you like him, huh?"

"Nami… He’s just our neighbor, and he’s nice, that’s all," I said, trying to brush off Nami’s mischievous grin. "I should go get my clothes and return his."

"Okay, so I shouldn't wait for you to go back?" Nami asked with a little nudge to stop teasing me.

"You can go ahead if you want, I'll go later."

The truth was, I felt bad since he had ordered dinner for the two of us. And honestly, I wasn’t sure why, but I wanted to keep talking to him. So, I changed my clothes and headed back to his door, ringing the bell. "I brought your clothes," I said as soon as he opened the door, hoping he’d ask me to come in.

"Thanks, that was fast," Shanks replied.

Seeing that he hadn’t picked up on my hint, I tried again. "Has the food arrived? I’m hungry."

"Aren't you supposed to have dinner with your friends?" But seeing that I wasn’t making any move to leave, he added, "Do you want to come in?"

Shanks stepped aside, leaving the door open for me to enter. I felt a small sense of relief as I crossed the threshold, returning to the warmth of his home. It was strange how such a short time had been enough for me to feel more comfortable around him, although there was still something about his demeanor that kept me on my toes.

He led me back to the living room, where a low table was now set up with all sorts of sushi, colorful rolls, and some dishes I didn’t even recognize. There were several bottles of sake and tea, and the fireplace was still glowing, casting a warm and cozy light around the room.

"Sake?" Shanks asked, lifting one of the bottles and pouring into two small cups without waiting for my answer.

"Just a little," I replied, taking a seat on the sofa while he sat down beside me, this time closer than before but not uncomfortably so.

I tried my first bite of sushi, and it was delicious. Luffy was right about the food, as always. Shanks watched my reaction with a satisfied smile.

"Good, right?" he asked, sounding confident.

"It’s not bad," I said, trying to sound indifferent, though I knew my expression gave me away. I couldn’t help but smile.

We spent the next few minutes chatting about trivial things: the food, Luffy’s adventures, and our lives before ending up in this city. Shanks spoke with such ease that, for a moment, I forgot about the age difference between us or the fact that, until a few hours ago, I barely knew him.

When we finished eating, he offered me more sake. I hesitated at first but accepted a second cup. I could feel the warmth of the alcohol starting to relax me, and little by little, my guard came down.

"You know, you’re different from what I imagined when I first saw you," Shanks said as he leaned back on the sofa, gazing at the fire in the fireplace.

"Oh yeah? What did you think?" I asked, curious.

"Well, when I soaked you with my car, I thought you’d hate me. Then, when you resisted coming into my house, I knew you had a lot of character. But you’re more… interesting than I expected. You have more layers, you know?"

"Layers?" I laughed at his choice of words. "Like an onion?"

"Something like that," he replied with a smile. "But seriously, I’m intrigued by what you do. The effort you put into your PhD, the passion you have for your studies… It's refreshing to meet someone with such clear goals."

His gaze locked onto mine, and for a moment, the atmosphere filled with a tension I didn’t know how to interpret. It wasn’t uncomfortable, but I wasn’t expecting it either. I couldn’t help but blush.

“I’m just trying to do the best I can,” I replied, attempting to steer the conversation away from myself. “And you? You must have had to work incredibly hard to get where you are.”

Shanks set the sake glass on the table and got comfortable, now looking at me directly.

“Yeah, but I’ve also been lucky. I think in life, you have to be in the right place at the right time… and know how to seize opportunities when they come.”

I felt the weight of his gaze, making the air feel thicker. We were sitting closer now, and the spark in his eyes wasn’t something I could easily ignore.

“And what do you plan to do now that you’re here for a while?” I asked, trying to break the silence that had formed between us.

“Right now?” he asked with a small smile, as if he knew what I was trying to do. “I suppose I’ll take the time to enjoy the company… and see what comes up.”

I couldn’t help but notice the hint in his voice. I bit my lip, feeling the atmosphere fill again with that strange mix of attraction and hesitation.

Suddenly, the sound of my phone vibrating on the table broke the tension. It was Nami.

“Excuse me,” I murmured as I picked up the phone and stood to answer it. Looking at the screen, I saw a message:

Nami: “Are you coming in the end? Everything okay?”

I looked at Shanks, who was still watching me with that same smile on his lips, then back at Nami’s message. I hesitated for a moment, then typed my response.

Me: “I’m fine, don’t worry. I think I’ll stay here.”

I put my phone away and turned back to Shanks, who had now also stood up.

“Everything okay with Nami?” he asked casually.

“Yeah, everything’s fine. I told her I’d stay a bit longer. I hope you don’t mind.”

“Not at all,” he replied as he slowly approached, his eyes still locked on mine. “In fact, I’m glad you decided to stay.”

I felt a slight shiver run through me, but this time it wasn’t just from the cold.

Shanks was slowly getting closer. I could feel his presence filling the space around me as his gaze remained fixed on mine. The warmth of the fireplace still filled the room, but it wasn’t the only thing making my senses sharper.

Without a word, Shanks sat down next to me on the couch, closer than he had been before. His fingers brushed against my leg with a softness that surprised me. It wasn’t intrusive, but the warmth of his hand on my bare thigh, right where my sweatpants left the skin exposed, made me hold my breath. I glanced down, seeing his hand moving slowly as he traced soft circles with his fingers.

“Are you comfortable?” he whispered, his voice low and deep, filled with a sweetness I hadn’t expected.

“Yes…” I replied in a murmur, my body reacting faster than my mind could process. His hand moved up slightly, now caressing my arm with the same care he had shown on my leg. His touch was gentle, almost as if testing the limits.

The contact was disconcerting but also exciting. My thoughts tangled between the sensation of his fingers on my skin and the uncertainty of what would come next.

I could feel the tension building in the air, a mixture of nervousness and anticipation. I bit my lip, trying to organize my thoughts, but the moment felt as if it were about to burst in any direction.

Just when it seemed everything was about to overflow, Shanks slowly withdrew his hand, giving me space and a smile full of intention. “It’s late now. Shall I walk you home?”

I wasn’t sure how to interpret his words, but I nodded. “Yes, that would be best. Thanks for dinner and for letting me stay here a while.” I stood up, feeling the warmth of the fireplace and the touch of his hands still lingering on my skin.

Shanks grabbed the jacket he had left on a chair and offered it to me. “It’s cold outside. I don’t want you getting wet again.” I put it on, grateful for the gesture. We walked together to the door, and with a subtle motion, Shanks opened and held it for me to pass through.

The night air was cold, but less biting than it had been earlier. We walked in silence the few meters separating our houses. When we reached my door, Shanks stopped and looked me directly in the eyes.

“It’s been a good night, Y/N. I’m glad you came.”

“Yes, it was… interesting.” I smiled shyly. Though the air was still charged, the proximity to my door made me feel a bit safer.

“Goodnight, Shanks.”

“Goodnight, Y/N. Sleep well.”

I watched as he turned and crossed the street back to his house. When his door closed behind him, I sighed and opened mine, climbing the stairs to my room, my mind still swirling from the events of the night.

The next morning dawned fresh and quiet, and to my relief, I didn’t have any academic commitments. Nami, Robin, and I had planned to go out that night. A new nightclub had opened in town, and we had decided it was the perfect occasion to dance and forget about the hectic week we’d had.

Around nine at night, we gathered at the apartment. Nami, as always, looked stunning in a tight dress that fit her perfectly. Robin had opted for something more casual but equally elegant. I, for my part, had chosen a fairly sexy but flattering dress, not wanting to go unnoticed.

“Ready?” Robin asked as she touched up her makeup in front of the mirror.

“Yes, let’s go. I need a couple of drinks to relax,” I responded, still thinking about what had happened the night before with Shanks. I hadn’t shared all the details, just mentioned that I’d had dinner at his place, but Nami kept making playful comments whenever she had the chance.

We walked together to the nightclub, which was already packed. The neon lights and the music pulsed through the air, making the floor vibrate beneath our feet. We entered, and soon we were lost in the crowd. As we danced and laughed, I began to relax. The rhythm of the music made me forget, for moments, the nervousness I had felt since the night before.

Suddenly, I saw a familiar figure at the bar. Shanks. He was surrounded by a group of friends, all laughing and drinking, clearly enjoying the night. He was wearing a tight black shirt that highlighted his physique, and his red hair was slightly messy, giving him a carefree, seductive look. I froze.

“What’s wrong?” Robin asked, noticing my reaction.

“Nothing, it’s just… Shanks is here,” I replied, discreetly pointing toward the bar.

Nami turned and saw him. “That’s Shanks? Wow, I didn’t expect to see him here,” she said, smiling mischievously.

“Are you going to say hi?” Robin asked, raising an eyebrow in curiosity.

“I don’t know… I don’t want him to think I’m following him or something,” I replied, feeling a bit awkward.

“Oh, don’t be silly. Let’s go to the bar anyway, I need a drink,” Nami said, already pulling us by the hands toward where Shanks was.

As we approached, Shanks looked up and saw me. A wide smile spread across his face, and he stepped away from his group of friends to come closer.

“Y/N, what a surprise to see you here,” he said, his voice rising above the music.

“Hi,” I responded with a nervous smile. “We came out to have some fun.”

“Do you want a drink? My friends and I have already ordered a bit of everything. Help yourselves, girls,” he said, also addressing Robin and Nami.

“Yes, sure, why not?” I replied, feeling my nerves intensify. Shanks offered me a drink and gestured for me to join him in a quieter area.

While Robin and Nami stayed chatting with the rest of the group, Shanks and I found a corner where the noise of the nightclub wasn’t as overwhelming. We sat on a couch, our legs brushing accidentally.

“I thought about you today,” Shanks said suddenly, looking at me intently.

“Oh, really? Why?”

“I felt like our evening was cut short. I was tired, but I wanted more. How about another dinner? What do you say?” he asked, his tone serious but filled with a slight provocation.

I stared at him, feeling that same tension from the night before returning all at once.

“That could be a good idea,” I replied, smiling shyly.

Suddenly, Nami appeared abruptly, dragging Robin by the arm. “I have to go to the bathroom.”

Shanks leaned toward me, whispering, “I’ll see you later. Enjoy your night.” With that, he stood up and returned to his friends.

Nami pulled us toward the bathroom. “Girls, emergency. One of the friends from next door is my PhD advisor.”

“And what’s the problem?” Robin asked, confused.

Nami blushed instantly. I already knew what was going on.

“That’s why you stayed so late the other day and didn’t answer my messages. You like him!”

Nami quickly covered my mouth as if anyone could hear us. “Maybe, I don’t know.”

“He’s very handsome,” Robin said

The three of us laughed and took the opportunity to tease Nami for a while, returning all the comments she made to us daily.

“Girls, I’m going to refill my drink, I’ll be right back,” I said, noticing that the drink Shanks had given me was empty.

As I approached the bar, Shanks and some others from his group were laughing and chatting with a group of girls. One of them, in particular, couldn’t stop touching and flirting with him, and Shanks didn’t seem to mind much.

I timidly approached the bar and ordered my drink. Suddenly, someone put their arm around my shoulders.

“Y/N, I didn’t expect to see you here… are you stalking me?”

Kid.

“Kid,” I said, rolling my eyes. “What do you want?”

“Are you alone? Come with me outside for a while, let’s talk,” he said, grabbing my hand.

“No, I’m with friends, thanks,” I replied.

I grabbed my drink, intending to find my friends and leave. I spotted Nami and Robin, who had joined the group and were each talking with one of Shanks’ friends.

Kid pulled me toward him, gripping my hand tightly. “Who did you come with? Your new boyfriend? I bet he’s got nothing on me. I’m better,” he said.

I tried to pull away from his hand, but his grip was strong. “Come back to me, or I’ll break that idiot’s face.”

“Leave me alone, Kid.”

“Come on, who is it? You probably made him up,” he said, loosening his grip just slightly but not enough for me to escape the situation.

“Him,” I said, pointing at Shanks.

Kid burst out laughing. “Yeah, right, like anyone would believe that. Prove it, then. Go over there and show me you’re with him, and I’ll leave you alone.”

I turned and saw the worried looks on my friends’ faces and Shanks glancing in our direction.

Kid let go of my arm, and I used the opportunity to escape from him.

“I’m waiting, Y/N,” he shouted after me.

I had to do something; I had to get rid of him. I downed my drink in one gulp to gather the courage and make a decision. Okay.

I quickly made my way through the crowd toward Shanks. He greeted me with a look of surprise, though there was an intense look in his eyes, scanning me from head to toe, not missing a single move I made.

I got closer, and Shanks instinctively leaned toward me, much to the astonishment of the girl who was gripping his bicep. Without thinking about the consequences, or anyone else around us, or even what Shanks might think or want, I grabbed him by the neck. My hands moved to his face, and I quickly pressed my lips toward his, not giving anyone time to think about what was about to happen.

Our lips fused together passionately. Shanks grabbed my waist, and his other hand moved to my hair, gripping it firmly. After a moment, his tongue pushed past my lips, deepening the kiss with fiery intensity while his friends began cheering and laughing. I was so embarrassed that I pulled away from his lips. Shanks let go of me, but his gaze lingered on my wrist.

“Did he hurt you?” he asked with concern.

I looked down at my wrist, which was red from Kid’s rough grip.

“What happened, Y/N?” he asked again as I remained silent.

The ringing in my ears grew louder and louder. I had been too impulsive, and now everything was crashing down on me.

Shanks took my other hand and led me to a quieter part of the bar, where the atmosphere was calmer.

“Are you okay pretty? Do you want me to take you home?” he asked gently.

I shook my head. I needed to calm down and get back to normal. I didn’t want to ruin the night.

“Who is that guy?” he asked again, his tone more relaxed, as he moved a little closer and gently massaged my back.

“He’s my ex. He won’t leave me alone,” I said, closing my eyes, trying to clear my mind. “I’m sorry about earlier. I was stupid. I shouldn’t have kissed you without your permission.”

Shanks leaned in even closer, slowly pressing his body against mine, and once again, his lips met mine with great passion. He kissed me for a few seconds, then moved toward my ear.

“Do you trust me?” he whispered while gently biting my ear.

I nodded, completely surrendering myself.

He lifted my dress slightly, slipping his hand under it and grabbing my butt firmly, massaging it while he returned to kiss me again, fiercely.

NEXT CHAPTER

[agi-ppangx]

💭summer romance (100 followers special)

chan | minho | changbin | hyunjin | jisung | felix | seungmin | jeongin

“oh my god, i’m so sorry!” you panicked as soon as you spilled your soda on a random guy in front of you. he only smiled at you, his soft gaze not leaving you for a moment. 

you decided to go on vacation with your friends to clear your mind and relax before another year of college. the exams had taken a toll on you, making you a walking ball of stress and after they were finally done you felt as if a huge weight was taken from your chest. you’d worked hard and you deserved some peace of mind now, basking in the presence of the ocean and your friends. 

but to be honest, since everyone brought their significant other with them except you, after a few days you kind of started feeling excluded from the group, not exactly knowing what to do with yourself. everyone was going on dates or romantic walks along the shore and then there were you - sleeping until midday and visiting local shops with handmade goods. even though you were happy for your friends, you were also kind of jealous, but who wouldn’t be in your situation? that’s why you tried to enjoy your vacation nonetheless and not think about your chronic loneliness. 

“shit, i feel so bad, i’m really sorry. is there anything i can do for you? to compensate for the t-shirt,” you babbled, looking as his white shirt was now stained with your grape soda. you took a moment to examine his features - his blonde hair was slightly combed back and his freckled cheeks were tinted with pink. he looked as if he was heading to the hotel pool. “it’s okay, some detergent should cope with this stain just fine,” he grinned, running his hand through his hair. you still tried to figure out how to apologise to him. “wait, how about we go to the bar later?” he frowned, quite lost in your sudden question. “as an apology of course. my treat,” you added and his features softened. “sure, why not?” “really? oh, that’s wonderful! let’s meet up at the hotel reception at 8, okay?” he nodded at your words, clearly amused by your slightly chaotic energy, but he didn’t mind at all. “oh, i’m yn by the way,” you said after a moment of silence, smiling awkwardly. “i’m felix.” 

and that’s how you ended up with felix in a local bar, sipping your drinks and talking about your lives. It amazed you, how easily it was for you to talk to him. you found out he has two sisters and he used to live in sydney, just like you. he asked you about your major at uni and your plans for the future. and you felt good throughout the whole evening - you two even danced a little to the music playing through the speakers. felix and you laughed a lot and even though you thought your meeting would be shorter since you didn’t know each other, you felt so comfortable with him, his presence was relaxing in its own way. you two were sitting really close to each other, your head was resting on his shoulder and even though it was getting close to midnight, you didn’t want to leave his side, feeling safe with him. you missed the moment when you started to get sleepy thanks to the alcohol you’d drunk. 

you didn’t remember the rest of the evening, including getting to the hotel and falling asleep in felix’ bed. you woke up with a slight hangover, felix was already up, sitting in a hammock on his balcony. you immediately got up and approached him panicked. “hi- whoa, you okay?” he asked when he saw your worried face. “did… did anything happen?” you whispered. would you mind? no, but at least you wanted to be aware if something happened. felix giggled at that. “everything is fine, i slept here,” he pointed at the hammock. you exhaled loudly, the weight from your chest gone. “i’m sorry, i know i should’ve taken you to your room but you insisted you wanted to be with me and you nearly cried and-” “please, stop, it’s embarrassing,” you interrupted him, hiding your face in your hands. he only laughed at that and took your hand in his. felix guided you to sit next to him in the hammock and you compiled, immediately sinking into his open arms. he silently started running his fingers through your hair and you suddenly thought that your life could be like this forever. maybe with him by your side. “hey, you wanna go for a walk? I heard the views are even better outside the town,” felix suggested after a while and you agreed without hesitation. 

that’s how your vacation went, with felix by your side you explored the island, shared ice cream at 5 in the morning at the beach and simply basked in each other’s company. the whole two weeks were filled with hugs, soft, innocent touches and hushed conversations at night. “i feel like i’ve known you my whole life,” you confessed on your last evening with felix, when you decided to head downtown for some kind of festival. there were plenty of sellers with different goods, from jewellery to delicious homemade buns with honey. you were wandering slowly through the streets, hand in hand, and even though you should be relishing in felix’ presence you were haunted by the thought of leaving the island instead. felix knew you were going home the next day, but he didn’t want to talk or even think about it, deciding to celebrate the past two weeks with you instead. “look, they sell those jelly things. you want some?” felix snapped you out of your reverie. you looked at him, confused at first, but then you remembered you wanted to try the local snack from the island and you nodded, smiling faintly. 

“do you not like them?” felix asked you some time later. you were sitting on a bench, the sound of waves hitting the shore in the background. you let out a small “hmm?”, still chewing on the jelly. “i'm just sad that i’m leaving you tomorrow,” you mumbled and felix sighed at that. “maybe i should just stuff you in my suitcase and take you home with me…” felix chuckled at that, hugging you. “i’d like that.” you melted into his arms with a miserable expression and didn’t say anything more. “hey, i have an idea, come on,” felix suddenly broke the silence between you and took your hand in his. he led you to one of the stalls with jewellery you had passed before. he pointed to two rings with little suns engraved in them. “do you like them?” he asked you and you nodded slightly. without hesitation felix bought the rings and led you to the same bench you had left minutes ago. you sat and waited for him to do the same so you could hug him again, but instead he kneeled in front of you with one of the rings in his hand. before he said anything he giggled slightly at your frightened expression, but then he spoke. “let it be our promise, to not forget each other. what do you say, angel?” you felt the tears fill your eyes and you immediately fell into his arms, ugly sobs leaving your body. you were nodding frantically, i love you's leaving your mouth over and over. after some time you moved away from him a bit and observed as felix put the ring on your finger. then you took the second one from him and did the same thing, giggling. felix placed a soft kiss on your forehead and gently cradled your face in his hands, as if you were the most delicate and precious thing in the world. god, you were going to miss him.

feedback and reblogs highly appreciated🫶🏽

[drvirgus]

Protecting (my heart)

Idol! Minji X bodyguard! Reader

Description: getting a new job as NewJeans bodyguard isn't really something Y/n thought would happen to her. What exactly happens when she suddenly felt attracted to one of the NewJeans members? Can Y/n stay professional or are her feelings for Minji too much to handle?

Warnings: stalking; harassment; kys jokes; suggestive language; death threats; mention of abuse; mention of murder; Violence

Chapter: never leaving (fully-Written)

Masterlist

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Smiling, I stood before the arriving car and opened the door. My smile widened immediately as I took in the sight of the beautiful woman before me. "Hey," I said softly, extending my hand to her right away. Fortunately, my back blocked the reporters from snapping a photo.

I watched as Minji looked at my hand and then placed hers in mine with a sigh. I helped my ex-girlfriend out of the van before releasing her hand and assisting the others out, except for Hyein, who was still injured and couldn't attend the event.

The conversation I had with the others had somehow managed to resolve Danielle and Hyein's anger towards me, which honestly was a huge relief. Danielle, especially, was quite terrifying when she was angry.

I took a deep breath of the fresh but warm evening air as I observed the NewJeans members posing for photos and interacting with the reporters. My eyes, however, were fixed on Minji, which made me smirk a little. Minji was always beautiful, but all dressed up like this, she was the most stunning.

I flinched slightly as I felt Mr. Wick-oppa nudge me and give me a reproachful look. "Focus," he said quietly, making me nod immediately. I cleared my throat and closed the van door so it could drive away, making room for the other idols' vans to arrive.

My feet carried me toward the entrance of the event while Mr. Wick-oppa had already gone inside to check the security one more time. My task was simply to wait for the idols and then follow them in. My eyebrows raised as I watched the NewJeans members strut further down the grand carpet, posing for more reporters. The amount of flashing lights was truly extraordinary.

How on earth could they still see anything?

I stood by the entrance, ready to guide them inside once their photo session was over. My eyes remained glued to Minji, who radiated confidence and elegance. Her every movement seemed to command attention, and I couldn't help but feel a surge of pride and admiration.

The girls finally finished posing and began making their way toward me. I gave them a reassuring nod and gestured towards the entrance. "This way," I called out, my voice steady despite the chaotic environment.

As they approached, I fell into step beside Minji, my presence a silent promise of protection and support. She glanced at me, a small, grateful smile playing on her lips. The brief moment of connection was enough to send my heart racing, but I maintained my composure.

I licked my lips once more as I felt my heartbeat automatically accelerate when our eyes met. My hand naturally rested on the lower back of the taller woman. "You can relax. There are no fans or cameras here," I said with a smile.

Minji's eyebrows raised as she looked at me slightly skeptically. I chuckled softly at her expression. "Hey, I'm here to protect you. Don't forget that," I added with a light laugh, which made Minji smile a bit. She tilted her head slightly, a grin forming on her face. "And who protects you?" she asked, clearly amused.

I smiled as well, removing my hand from her back and looking up at the much taller woman, who was even taller now with her high heels. "I don't need protecting," I replied, which made Minji roll her eyes.

"Oh, there's Kyujin," I heard Haerin say, and I watched as she slowly walked over to her old school friend. My eyes followed her and I immediately recognized Haewon standing next to the other Nmixx members. I smiled and nodded before turning back to Minji.

"Have fun, baby," I said, which made Minji's ears turn a deeper shade of red. She quickly hid them behind her long black hair as she playfully pushed me away from her shoulder. Her laughter filled my ears, which made me visibly relax. "You all should have fun too," I added, looking over at Danielle and Hanni, who were watching us with knowing grins.

The evening continued smoothly as the NewJeans members mingled with the other guests, their interactions a mix of catching up with old friends and making new connections. I stayed close, my eyes scanning the room for any signs of trouble, but also allowing myself to enjoy the moment. Seeing Minji and the others so happy and relaxed brought a sense of satisfaction that made the night's work worthwhile.

Danielle and Hanni eventually joined a group of their peers, leaving Minji and me with a brief moment of solitude. She turned to me, her eyes sparkling under the soft lights of the venue. "Thank you for being here," she said, her voice soft and sincere.

I nodded, my heart swelling with affection. "Always," I replied. A gentle smile spread across my lips. "You won't get rid of me, Minji," I said softly, my eyes sweeping over the entire event before lingering on her. "Not anymore," I added even quieter, causing Minji to let out a soft sigh. I noticed how she bit her lip slightly.

"Promise me?"

My eyebrows shot up again as I detected the vulnerable and fearful tone in her voice. My heart pounded even faster as I realized just how much pain I had caused the younger woman. My decision had hurt our bond, our relationship, and Minji herself...

Why did I ever think it was a good idea to break up with her?

The air between us changed drastically as I turned my whole body towards her and looked at her earnestly. "I promise," I replied with a seriousness I had never felt before in my life. "I never want to be separated from you again. Never," I added, causing Minji's lip to tremble slightly.

I could see Minji's thoughts swirling wildly in her head. Her eyes scanned my entire face, searching for any sign that I was lying or uncertain. But I wasn't.

"Minji," I continued, taking a step closer, "I was a fool to think I could protect you by pushing you away. I know now that the best way to keep you safe is by staying by your side."

She looked down at me, her eyes still glistening with unshed tears. "I was so scared," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't know what I did wrong or why you left. It hurt so much."

I reached out, gently cupping her face in my hands. "You did nothing wrong, Minji. It was my mistake, and I'm so sorry for the pain I caused you. I thought distancing myself would keep you safe from the stalker, but all it did was hurt both of us."

Minji closed her eyes, leaning into my touch. "I don't care about the danger," she murmured. "I just want you with me."

I felt a lump form in my throat as I fought back my own emotions. "I want that too, more than anything," I said. "From now on, we'll face everything together. No more running, no more hiding."

She opened her eyes, a small but genuine smile forming on her lips. "Together," she echoed.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"As I can see, you've made up?"

My head turned to the person next to me offering me a drink. Fortunately, Mr. Wick-Oppa had informed me earlier that my shift was over and I should just enjoy the event, as he would take care of everything. It was his way of thanking me for helping him so far.

I swallowed and accepted the drink Haewon was still holding out to me, taking a small sip of the cola. I turned my body slightly more towards Haewon, smirking a bit. "She's still mad at me... but, in my mind, we're together. At least for me," I said with a light laugh, causing Haewon to roll her eyes noticeably.

"I'm happy for you," Haewon said with a smile as she sipped her wine. "Maybe now you'll stop spamming our chat with messages about her," she added sarcastically, making me groan slightly. I gave the younger woman a playful nudge on the arm. "Oh, come on. I'm not that bad," I replied, which clearly amused Haewon.

She laughed softly, shaking her head. "You are, but it's cute. It's clear how much you care about her. Just make sure you don’t mess it up again."

I nodded, my expression growing serious. "I won't. I promise," I said, my eyes briefly finding Minji again, who was now laughing with her group members. My heart swelled with affection, and I knew I would do everything to keep my promise.

"So," Haewon began, leaning against the wall and looking at me with curiosity, "how did you manage to patch things up with her? I thought she would never forgive you after what happened."

I sighed, looking down at my drink for a moment. "It wasn't easy. I had to be completely honest with her, explain why I did what I did. It was the hardest conversation I've ever had, but it was worth it. She needed to know that I was just trying to protect her, even if it was the wrong way to go about it."

Haewon nodded thoughtfully. "Well, I'm glad it worked out. You both deserve to be happy."

I smiled, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. "Thanks, Haewon. That means a lot."

We stood there in comfortable silence for a moment, watching the event unfold around us. The flashing lights, the chatter, and the occasional bursts of laughter filled the air, creating a lively atmosphere.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My brow furrowed as I caught sight of a familiar face out of the corner of my eye, but the person disappeared when I turned my head. I frowned more deeply, my expression growing serious.

The stalker? No way....

Mr. Wick-Oppa had secured everything... and there were several bodyguards and managers here. There was no way someone could sneak in... right?

My eyes immediately searched for my beautiful ex-girlfriend, and I sighed in relief when I saw her dancing intimately with Haewon on the dance floor. A smile crept onto my face.

Thankfully, I knew Haewon wasn't into women, or I would have been really jealous....

However, as I continued to scan the room, my gut feeling that something was off wouldn't let me relax. I kept a closer eye on the surroundings, just in case.

Across the room, Hee-jin, a middle-aged woman with an obsessive glint in her eyes, watched Minji and Haewon dancing. Her thoughts twisted and darkened as she saw Minji's bright smile and graceful movements. To Hee-jin, Minji was just another seductress, no better than the others she had fixated on in the past. Her obsession had turned into a dangerous delusion.

Hee-jin's eyes landed on a table nearby, where a few knives were laid out for the catering service. Her heart raced, and her mind made a snap decision. She couldn't let Minji continue her charade. She couldn't let this "slut" ruin more lives with her allure.

Determined and enraged, Hee-jin slipped through the crowd, her eyes locked on Minji "You don´t deserve to live, you fucking bitch" My heart sank as I noticed her erratic movements and realized her intent. Time seemed to slow as I bolted towards Minji, my instincts screaming to protect her.

I pushed my way through the crowd, my voice shouting Minji's name in a desperate attempt to warn her. Minji and Haewon turned, confusion and alarm on their faces as they saw me running towards them.

Hee-jin raised the knife, her eyes wild with hatred and disgust. She lunged towards Minji, but I threw myself between them, feeling the cold steel pierce my side. Pain exploded through my body as I collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath. I could feel the warm blood seeping out of the wound.

Minji's scream echoed in my ears as she dropped to her knees beside me. Her hands pressed against the wound, trying to stop the bleeding. "Y/n! No, no, no! Stay with me, please!" Her voice was filled with panic and desperation.

Hee-jin was quickly subdued by the security team, her face twisted in anger and confusion as they dragged her away. "She's a seductress! A liar!" she screamed, but her words faded into the background.

My vision blurred as I looked up at Minji, her tear-streaked face the only thing I could focus on. "You're safe," I whispered, my voice weak and trembling. "That's all that matters."

"Stay with me," Minji pleaded, her voice breaking. "Please, don't leave me."

I tried to smile, reaching up to touch her face. "I promised... I'd never leave you... remember?" My hand fell limp, and darkness closed in, but Minji's face remained etched in my mind.

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Taglist: @itzzyyyyyyydaaaa@acegaydar@alexxeey @sixflame438 @pandamiswifey

[writingsoftarnishedsilver]

Sleep Aid | Sebastian Sallow x OC #35

Summary: The classic I-had-a-nightmare-sleep-with-me trope except its Evangeline and Sebastian :)

Words: ~4,600

Tags: Sharing a Bed, Fluff, Not Actually Unrequited Love, Mutual Pining, Friends To Lovers, Slow Burn, Longing, Unspoken Feelings, Fluff Again, Romance, Trope-y, Idiots in Love, Soft Moments

Read more stories about Sebastian and Evangeline

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The quiet in the cottage was different now. It was the sort of stillness that made the rooms feel bigger, the silence heavier. Anne and Ominis had left for London just the day before, their trunks rattling behind them as they departed for the city to celebrate New Year’s. Sebastian had stood beside Evie in the doorway of the cottage, watching them go, waving until they were out of sight.

It wasn’t like he hadn’t known they’d be leaving. He’d been prepared for it. Yet, it still stung.

His thoughts lingered on the few days they’d all spent together over Christmas. He hadn’t expected the warmth, the ease with which everything had fallen into place. Anne, laughing in his living room again. Ominis, looking so damn pleased with himself every time their hands brushed. Evangeline, sitting across from him during meals, her hazel eyes alight with mischief as she teased him mercilessly.

It had been perfect. And painfully fleeting.

Sebastian turned onto his side, pressing his fist against his forehead as his sister's words from that quiet moment by the fire came rushing back.

“Sebastian.” Her voice had been soft, but there was a note of insistence in it that cut through the hum of conversation around them. Ominis and Evangeline were busy bickering good-naturedly over the arrangement of ornaments on the tree, their laughter filling the room.

He looked at her, his brow furrowing slightly. “What is it?”

She didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she reached out, placing her hand over his where it rested on his knee. Her touch was gentle, but firm enough to draw his full attention.

“I have a question,” she said quietly, her brown eyes searching his face. “You have to be honest with me.”

Sebastian shifted uncomfortably, sensing the weight of her words before she even spoke them. “Alright,” he said cautiously. “What’s on your mind?”

Anne glanced toward the tree, where Evangeline’s laughter rose above Ominis’s exasperated protests. A small smile tugged at her lips before she turned back to her brother, her expression turning serious.

“You love her, don’t you?”

Sebastian blinked, his mouth opening slightly in surprise. “What?”

“Evangeline,” Anne clarified, her gaze steady. “You love her. I suppose it’s not really a question, I can see it all over your face."

Sebastian felt his stomach twist, heat rising to his cheeks as he glanced quickly toward the others, half-expecting them to have overheard. But they were too caught up in their decorating to notice the conversation happening by the fire. Evangeline was perched on a chair, carefully reaching for the higher branches of the tree, while Ominis stood below, offering directions.

“Anne, I—” he started, his voice defensive, only to be cut off.

“You’ve been in love with her for ages, clearly,” Anne said, her tone matter-of-fact. Her lips curved into a knowing smile, though her eyes softened with something warmer, gentler. “It’s so obvious, it hurts. How she hasn’t realized it yet is beyond me.”

Sebastian let out a soft, frustrated huff. "You come back for two days and you're already the expert on my love life?”

Anne’s lips quirked into a smirk, but her gaze remained steady. “Oh, please. We’re twins. And you’re not exactly subtle, you know. The way you look at her? It’s like… watching some tragic romance novel play out.”

Sebastian groaned, leaning back against the armchair and glaring up at the ceiling as if it might offer some kind of escape. “You’re exaggerating.”

“I’m not,” Anne said firmly. She leaned forward, her expression softening as she reached out to touch his arm. “Sebastian, listen to me. Don’t let fear keep you from something that could make you happy.”

Her words played over in his mind endlessly, circling like a bird trapped in a cage. Don’t let fear keep you from something that could make you happy. Easier said than done. What if he told Evangeline and ruined everything? What if she didn’t feel the same? Or what if she did, but it didn’t last? He wasn’t sure he could survive losing her—not after everything else.

Sebastian sighed heavily, the weight in his chest refusing to lift as he closed his eyes, willing sleep to come.

But it didn’t.

Instead, the stillness was shattered by a sharp, muffled scream from down the hall.

Sebastian bolted upright, his heart leaping into his throat. Without thinking, he threw off the covers and leapt out of bed, his feet hitting the cold wooden floor with a dull thud. His mind raced with possibilities, each worse than the last, as he reached her door and pushed it open without hesitation.

The sight that greeted him made his heart clench.

Evangeline was sitting up in bed, her knees drawn to her chest and her hands gripping the tangled sheets tightly. Her hair was damp with sweat, sticking to her pale forehead, and her wide, tear-filled eyes darted to him the moment he entered.

“Sebastian?” she croaked, her voice trembling and hoarse.

He was at her side in an instant, crouching by the bed so they were eye level. His hands hovered just above her arms, unsure if she wanted to be touched. “Evie, what happened?” he asked, his voice low but urgent. “Are you alright?”

She shook her head quickly, her breaths coming in shallow gasps. “I’m fine,” she stammered, though her trembling hands and tear-streaked face told a different story. “It’s nothing. Just... a nightmare.”

Sebastian’s jaw tightened, his chest tightening with a mix of worry and frustration. “That didn’t sound like nothing,” he said gently, his dark eyes searching hers.

Evangeline hesitated. “It doesn’t matter,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. “I forgot to… I’ll cast a silencing charm next time. I’m sorry I woke you.”

Sebastian’s frown deepened. “A silencing charm?” he echoed, his voice tight. “And don’t—don't apologize. That’s not what this is about.”

Evangeline’s eyes flickered back to him, her gaze clouded with guilt. “I’ve been managing it,” she insisted weakly. “You don’t need to worry—”

“I do need to worry,” Sebastian cut in. “Evie, you’ve been having these nightmares for how long? Months? And you didn’t think to tell me or Ominis that they hadn't gotten better?!”

Her lips pressed into a thin line, her shoulders hunching as she looked away. “I didn’t want to bother you,” she admitted, her voice barely audible.

Sebastian let out a quiet sigh. “Evie,” he murmured, his tone gentler now. “You’re not a bother. You know that by now, don’t you?”

She didn’t answer right away, her fingers twisting the edge of the sheet in her lap. After a long moment, she said, “They’ve been worse since… since the boggart.”

Sebastian’s heart sank. He'd known the memory of the boggart had shaken her—how could it not? Seeing herself as a vessel of destruction, twisted by the power of the repository, had left an invisible mark on her. But he should’ve realized that something like this wouldn’t simply fade away.

“I should never have pushed for us to go in there." He muttered.

Evangeline’s head snapped up at that, her tear-filled eyes narrowing slightly. “Don’t,” she said, her voice firmer than he expected, though it still trembled. “Don’t blame yourself for that, Sebastian. I went in there with you. I chose to.”

Sebastian looked at her, his brow furrowed, the guilt in his eyes plain as day. “But I should have listened,” he countered softly. “You and Ominis both told me not to. I was too damn curious, and now—now your nightmares are even worse.”

Evangeline shook her head, her grip on the sheets loosening slightly. “It’s not your fault,” she said quietly. "Seriously, I'm fine. You don’t need to add my nightmares to the list of things you worry about.”

Sebastian let out a soft laugh, shaking his head. “Evie, you’re on the top of that list whether you like it or not.”

Her lips parted slightly, surprise flickering across her face, but she didn’t respond. The room fell into a heavy silence, broken only by the sound of their breathing and the faint crackle of the fire down the hall.

Sebastian leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees as he met her gaze. "Have you been trying anything to... make them go away?"

Evangeline hesitated, her fingers still twisting the edge of the sheet. “I’ve tried a few things,” she admitted softly. “Dreamless Sleep Potions worked for a while, but I didn’t want to rely on them too much. And… sometimes I read before bed, or practice some of the mindfulness spells Professor Weasley suggested.”

Sebastian frowned, his expression softening as he listened. “And none of it helps?”

“Not really,” she murmured. “The potions made me feel groggy the next day, and the spells…” She trailed off, shaking her head. “They help a little, I suppose, but not enough. It’s like my mind keeps finding its way back there, no matter what I do.”

Sebastian’s chest tightened. He hated this—hated that she’d been suffering in silence, trying to handle it on her own while he and Ominis had been completely oblivious.

“Anything else?” he asked after a beat, his voice gentle but laced with a desperation to help, to understand. He couldn’t imagine how exhausted she must be—physically, emotionally—trying to fight her own thoughts night after night.

"Ominis suggested changing my sleeping environment, but that hasn’t helped, obviously," she said with a small shrug, her voice tinged with defeat.

Sebastian frowned, her words sparking something in his memory. "What about... having company? What if I stayed?”

Her brows knit in confusion, a flicker of surprise in her hazel eyes. “Stayed?”

“Yeah,” he said, nodding slowly. “Here. With you.”

Evangeline blinked, her mouth opening slightly as if to protest, but no words came out. Instead, her gaze searched his, hesitant and unsure.

“I mean it,” Sebastian added, his voice firmer now. “Ominis suggested it ages ago—changing the company you keep before bed. Maybe… maybe it'll help?"

“You don’t have to,” she said quickly, shaking her head. “You need your sleep too, Sebastian.”

“I’m not going to get much sleep knowing you’re in here suffering alone,” he countered gently.

Evangeline’s lips parted, but she didn’t respond immediately. Her fingers twisted in the sheets again, her hazel eyes darting to his as if searching for any hint of insincerity. When she found none, she let out a soft sigh, her shoulders slumping slightly.

“Alright,” she whispered. “But only until I fall asleep.”

Sebastian gave her a small, reassuring smile. “Sure.”

He stood, brushing off his hands nervously as he glanced around her room. The bed wasn’t particularly large, but it would fit the two of them well enough if they kept to their own sides. He hesitated for a brief moment before moving toward the far side and sitting down, keeping a respectful distance between them.

Evangeline shifted slightly to give him more space, pulling the blanket back up to her chin. She looked smaller somehow, bundled in the covers, her hair still damp with sweat and her expression clouded with residual fear. Sebastian felt his chest tighten again at the sight.

“You don’t have to do this,” she murmured, her voice barely audible.

“Evie,” he said softly, his tone firm but kind. “Stop trying to convince me. I want to help you.”

Her cheeks flushed faintly, but she nodded, turning her head away slightly. Meanwhile, Sebastian leaned his head against the headboard, his legs stretched out in front of him, and crossed his arms loosely over his chest. He didn’t know if his presence would actually help her, but if it gave her even a shred of peace, it was worth it.

After a moment, quiet sigh escaped Evangeline’s lips, breaking the stillness. “Sebastian?”

“Yeah?”

There was a long pause, the kind that made his stomach twist with anticipation. Finally, she spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’m... I’m afraid to go back to sleep.”

Sebastian’s chest tightened as he turned his head slightly to look at her. “Evie,” he said gently, “I’m here. Nothing’s going to happen to you.”

“I know,” she murmured, her voice tinged with frustration. “It’s just... every time I close my eyes, it’s there again. The repository. Like it’s waiting for me.”

Sebastian’s jaw clenched, a surge of anger bubbling up—not at her, but at whatever remnants of that cursed place still haunted her. He hated that she had to carry this weight, that it followed her even in her dreams.

He exhaled slowly, forcing himself to keep his tone light. “You know, when we were kids, Ominis told me once that the best way to banish bad dreams is to think about something ridiculous before bed. Something so absurd your brain can’t help but latch onto it.”

Evangeline let out a soft, reluctant laugh. “Like what?”

“Like...” He tapped his chin, “Like Professor Sharp trying to bake a soufflé. He’s got the apron on, the whole deal. Or how about this: Professor Weasley choreographing a synchronized dance routine for the house elves. Complete with costumes.”

Evangeline snorted softly, and the sound sent a rush of warmth through Sebastian’s chest. “Now that’s something I’d pay to see.”

“See? Ridiculous works.” He leaned his head back against the headboard again, glancing at her out of the corner of his eye. “Think about it enough, and maybe it’ll sneak into your dreams instead of... other things.”

She didn’t respond, but her shoulders seemed to relax slightly beneath the blanket. Sebastian thought that might be the end of it, that she might be reassured enough to let herself drift off, but then she turned toward him.

“You’re being too stiff,” she said simply.

Sebastian blinked, caught off guard. “Too stiff?”

She nodded. “You’re sitting there like you’re afraid the bed’s going to bite you. Relax.”

“I’m relaxed,” he said, though his posture completely gave him away.

Evangeline raised an eyebrow. “Sebastian, you’re the least relaxed person I’ve ever seen right now. Just... lie down. You’re making me nervous.”

This was dangerous. Sebastian knew that. Sharing a bed with Evangeline, lying next to her in the quiet intimacy of the night, was something he wanted more than anything. And that was precisely the problem. He wanted it too much. Wanted her too much. But the look she gave him—the quiet insistence, the softness in her gaze—was undeniable. So, Sebastian slid down from his sitting position, stretching out beside her.

“There,” he said as folded his arms behind his head. “Satisfied?”

“No,” she said, narrowing her eyes at him with the kind of exasperation that only Evangeline could muster in the dead of night. “You’re going to get cold.”

Sebastian blinked, his pulse stuttering in his chest. “I’m fine,” he said quickly, his voice tight.

She sighed, lifting the edge of the blanket in silent invitation, and he hesitated, his body taut with indecision. The logical part of his brain screamed at him to stay where he was, to maintain the already precarious boundary between them. But then his gaze met hers and he knew he was done for.

He relented, sliding beneath the blanket beside her. The warmth enveloped him instantly, and he was acutely aware of how close they were now, the faint scent of his laundry and something distinctly Evangeline filling the small space between them.

“Better?” he asked again, his voice coming out lower than he intended.

“Much,” she said softly, her lips curving into a faint smile. She shifted slightly, her movements careful as if trying not to disturb him, and then settled back into her pillow. “See? That wasn’t so hard.”

Sebastian huffed a quiet laugh, though his heart was pounding in his chest. “You really know how to boss me around, don’t you?”

“It’s a skill,” she murmured, her tone laced with amusement. But as the quiet stretched between them, her voice softened. “Thank you. For staying.”

“You don’t have to thank me,” he said quietly, turning his head to look at her. “I’ll always be here for you, Evie."

“I know,” she said, sounding so resolute even though her voice was barely above a whisper. “That’s why I’m not afraid now.”

Sebastian swallowed hard, forcing himself to look away. “Now try to get some sleep,” he said, his voice quieter now, almost hoarse. “I’ll be here.”

She nodded, keeping eyes on him, studying him. Then, to his surprise, she shifted closer. Her hand, small and hesitant, reached out from beneath the blanket to rest lightly on his forearm, the warmth of her touch sinking through his skin like a brand.

“Goodnight, Sebastian,” she murmured, giving his arm a gentle squeeze before withdrawing and tucking her hand back beneath the blanket. Her eyes fluttered closed, and the corners of her lips curved faintly into what could only be described as a contented smile.

~

When Sebastian woke the next morning, it wasn’t to the usual pale gray light filtering through the window or the soft crackle of the fire in the hearth. Instead, it was to an unfamiliar warmth pressed against him, the faint, steady rhythm of breaths that weren’t his own.

He blinked groggily, the fog of sleep still clinging to his mind as he tried to piece together why he felt so utterly comfortable. Then the memories of the night before came rushing back: Evangeline’s scream, her trembling form in the bed, her whispered admission that the nightmares hadn’t stopped.

His heart skipped as he realized what the warmth against him was—who it was.

Evangeline.

And for once, she wasn’t awake before him.

He blinked slowly, the realization settling in as he tilted his head to glance at her.

At some point during the night, the careful space he’d tried to maintain between them had disappeared entirely. Her head was resting against his chest, her soft, steady breaths warming the fabric of his shirt. One of her hands was fisted loosely against his chest, her other arm draped across his stomach as if it belonged there. And his own arm—Merlin, when had he done that?—was wrapped securely around her shoulders, holding her to him as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

His gaze flicked to the faint light filtering through the window, then back to her, and another realization struck him: she must have slept through the night. He hadn’t woken to her tossing or turning, no muffled cries or sudden gasps. Just peaceful, uninterrupted sleep.

Apparently, a change in company had worked after all.

Evangeline shifted slightly against him then, nuzzling her cheek against his chest in her sleep. Sebastian froze, his entire body going rigid. His heart was pounding so loudly he was certain it would wake her, but she remained blissfully unaware, her breathing deep and even.

He should move. He should. But he couldn’t bring himself to. The thought of pulling away, of leaving the comfort of this moment, felt impossible. Instead, he let his head fall back against the pillow, his eyes drifting to the ceiling, willing his heart to slow down.

You love her. Don’t let fear keep you from something that could make you happy.

He closed his eyes briefly, the words cutting through the haze of warmth and contentment. Of course he loved her. He’d known that forever. But what, exactly, should he do about it?

Then Evangeline stirred, her fingers curling slightly against his chest, and every coherent thought evacuated his mind.

“Sebastian...?"

His eyes snapped open, and he tilted his head to look at her. "Mhm?"

Evangeline's eyes fluttered open, her gaze bleary with sleep and still soft around the edges. For a moment, she didn’t seem to realize where she was—or more importantly, where he was.

“What time is it?” she murmured, her voice hoarse with sleep.

“Too early,” Sebastian said quietly, tilting his head toward the window. “You should go back to sleep.”

Evangeline blinked at him, her gaze finally focusing as the haze of sleep began to lift. Then her eyes widened slightly, and she shifted, her cheeks flushing pink as she seemed to fully register their position.

“Oh.”

The single syllable came out in a small, breathless sound, and Sebastian felt his pulse quicken. She didn’t pull away, though; instead, she stared at him, her expression flickering between embarrassment and something he couldn’t quite place.

“You slept,” he said softly, his tone careful, almost cautious. “Through the whole night.”

Evangeline blinked again, her hand still fisted loosely in his shirt. “I did?” she asked, as if she actually needed his confirmation and couldn't put it together herself.

Sebastian nodded, his chest tightening at the way her lips parted in surprise, her brow furrowing as though she were trying to make sense of it. “No tossing or turning,” he added, his voice a little steadier now.

Evangeline’s brows knit together. “I don’t even remember falling asleep,” she murmured, almost to herself.

Sebastian smirked slightly, though the warmth in his gaze softened the teasing edge. “That’s usually how it works.”

Her lips twitched, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. But the moment was fleeting, and her expression shifted, her eyes growing serious as she looked up at him. “Sebastian... thank you.”

“For what?” he asked softly, his brow furrowing.

“For staying,” she said simply, her voice quiet but resolute. “I haven’t gotten so much sleep in…” She furrowed her brow, her lips pressing together as if she were genuinely doing the math. Finally, she exhaled softly, shaking her head. “In months, maybe."

“You’re acting like I’ve made such a sacrifice,” Sebastian teased, his voice light, though it didn’t quite mask the way his chest tightened at her admission. A lopsided grin tugging at his lips. “All I did was sleep.”

Evangeline gave him a look, her brows lifting slightly as if to say don’t downplay this.

In response, he let out a soft chuckle, shrugging one shoulder. “Okay well, I guess that makes me your new dreamless sleep potion, then. Much less groggy in the morning, too.”

Evangeline gave him a pointed look. “Yeah, well. One problem with potions is I try not to be reliant on them.”

Sebastian tilted his head. “Potions? Or me?”

“Both,” she said lightly, though the faint blush on her cheeks betrayed her. “I mean, what am I supposed to do? Just expect you to sleep with me every night?”

He shrugged, his grin easy despite the tightening in his chest. “Why not? Seems like a foolproof solution to me.”

Evangeline rolled her eyes, though her smile lingered. “Sebastian, we’re in two different houses. Even if you wanted to—”

“I do.”

She blinked, startled by the directness of his interruption. Her voice grew a little firmer as she pressed on. “Well you can’t exactly waltz into the Gryffindor common room and get to my dorm, now can you?”

Sebastian waved her concerns away, his grin sharpening with a mischievous glint. “That’s what the Undercroft is for.”

Evangeline’s lips parted in surprise before she let out a quiet laugh, shaking her head. “Sebastian, the Undercroft doesn’t have a bed.”

“Not yet,” he countered with a smirk, straightening as though the problem were already solved. “Give me an hour. Two, tops. I’ll have it sorted.”

She stared at him, her expression hovering between amusement and disbelief. “You’re not serious.”

“Oh, I’m completely serious,” he said, though his tone didn’t quite mask the faint tremor beneath his words. Logically, he knew this was a terrible idea. Sleeping next to her every night would be practically masochistic—prolonging the ache of wanting something he couldn’t have. But logic held no weight against the thought of her waking up rested, the shadows under her eyes fading, the tension in her shoulders easing.

He couldn’t stop himself. Not when it came to her.

Evangeline shook her head, letting out an exasperated laugh. “Sebastian, you can’t just transfigure a bed into the Undercroft.”

“Why not?” he shot back, his smirk widening. “It’s our space. No rules against redecorating.”

“Except the rules of common sense,” she said, crossing her arms with a raised brow.

Sebastian leaned closer, his grin softening into something warmer, more sincere. “Evie, if it helps you sleep, I’ll do whatever it takes. Bed in the Undercroft? Consider it done.”

Her smile faltered slightly at his words, her hazel eyes flickering with something he couldn’t quite place. After a beat, she sighed, shaking her head again. "Merlin, help me. Fine. I can see this isn't an argument I'm going to win.” Her smile returned, a little softer this time, her eyes filled with warmth. “But we only have a sample size of... one to prove you're an effective sleep aid. So... No promises you’ll be able to get any sleep.”

Sebastian’s mind immediately went blank. No promises you’ll be able to get any sleep—the words hung in the air between them like a soft, suggestive challenge, even though she didn't mean it that way.

It made the room feel too warm, and his thoughts too scattered. He couldn’t stop the image from flashing in his head: him, hovering over top of her in the dim light, leaning down just inches from her face, the soft weight of her breath mixing with his. He could imagine the proximity, imagine her completely bare and completely his as he pressed his lips to the sensitive skin of her neck—

“Sebastian?”

The sound of her voice snapped him out of the daydream, and he blinked rapidly. "Yeah?" he managed to croak, willing his body to stop reacting so intensely.

Evangeline was looking at him with an unreadable expression, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly. “You alright?”

He cleared his throat, trying to steady himself. "Yeah, just—just thinking," he said quickly. "You know, trying to decide what color sheets to get for our— the bed. In the Undercroft."

Evangeline raised an eyebrow, her expression slipping into one of bemusement. "Our bed? I’m pretty sure you haven’t even gotten past the 'preliminary planning' stage of that idea."

"Right, right," he muttered, trying to laugh it off. "One thing at a time. I’ll start with, you know, practicing the transfiguration first."

"Good idea," Evangeline said, her tone light. "Now," she rolled away from him, swinging her legs off the bed with a soft creak of the floorboards, "I think the first order of business is getting some tea in my system before I do anything else."

She stood, stretching her arms over her head, her shirt riding up just slightly to reveal a sliver of skin at the small of her back. Sebastian immediately looked away, though not fast enough to stop the heat that crept up his neck. Damn it.

"Tea sounds good," he agreed, though his voice was a little less steady than he'd intended, because she was doing it again—the thing she always did, making him feel something even when she was doing something mundane.

When her heard her puttering about in the kitchen, he let out a long, exasperated sigh, collapsing back into the sheets that still smelled far too much like her. With a frustrated groan, he threw an arm over his face.

Sebastian Sallow was completely, utterly, and irrevocably doomed.

Read more stories about Sebastian and Evangeline Read on AO3

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[judysxnd]

Interrupted

Okay so I got my first request, thank you so much !! It got me so excited!! Also, I have no idea why I can’t tag you, I guess I’m still struggling to understand tumblr 😂 I hope you’ll like what I wrote.

Summary : y/n and Pedro are going out for dinner. As they walk out, a small group, apparently fans of y/n, recognize them. As they interact, it does not go as planned, which makes Pedro pretty jealous and uncomfortable.

——————————————————————————————

You and Pedro have been dating for over a year now. Being both actors, your schedules were always a little tight. So, from the beginning, you secured a moment for a date, and you both agreed on Thursday night. So every Thursday, you chose a restaurant and went. At the beginning you were very nervous about going out, as your relationship was yet to be official. So you were ordering, or went out of the city. After 10 months, it was official, so you decided not to hide anymore.

Fans were nice and respectful not to disturb you if they found you while having dinner, but before and after it was inevitable. And today was no exception. Today is Thursday, and you were about to leave. Pedro chose a nice Italian restaurant that you’ve both never went to.

“You look absolutely gorgeous mi amor” he said as he entered the bathroom. You were finishing getting ready, putting your earrings. You looked at him through the mirror as he settled himself next to you.

“You too look amazing mi cariño” he let out a little moan when he heard mi cariño. Oh how he loved when you spoke his native language.

“Okay we need to go before I change my mind” you laughed.

Thirty minutes later you were walking in the restaurant. It was not that much crowded. It made you less anxious. Less people meant less people looking at you. Yes, you were not a fan of the attention when you trying to enjoy your private life.

The dinner went great. The food was great, you and Pedro talked a lot, you joked, had serious conversations. It actually amazed the both of you how you could never run out of things to talk about, even if you live together and have been dating for a while. After finishing dessert and your glass of wine, you decided to leave. It was not too late, but you wanted to spend the rest of night alone with him.

After walking for two minutes hand in hand, you were interrupted by a group of two guys and one girl.

“Hi we’re so sorry to bother you, but we wondered if we could take a picture with you y/n?” The girl said.

“Oh yes, of course!” You said enthusiastically. You and Pedro parted. You took a few pictures with the girl. The two guys stayed on the side, eyeing and checking you, looking up and down at you, but you quickly avoided them and drove your full attention to the girl. But Pedro didn’t. It was making him jealous. How could they look at you like that? He was literally next to you.

“I really loved your last movie, it was amazing, I can’t wait for the second one!”

“Thank you so much, yeah I can’t wait either, I think you’ll like the second one better!”

“Have you finished filming it yet?”

“Almost actually”

“Are you going to be in that pool again?” One of the guy suddenly asked, smirking. You looked at him confused, not saying anything. Pedro was frowning.

“Oh- are you going to fight that dude again? It was pretty h-” the other guy said but was interrupted by Pedro before you got to say anything.

“Okay! I think that’s enough” he said coming closer to you. “As much we appreciate the attention, there’s more to the movie and y/n’s acting than that” he said, staring very intensely at the guys. They were shocked. “Did you actually watch the entire movie? Or just got to watch those parts for something else?”

“We- no, we did wa-” Pedro didn’t let them finish.

“I think you should apologize” he said. “And at least behave like your friend here and actually have some interests” he said pointed to the girl who was clearly embarrassed by her friends.

“We’re sorry”

“Yeah sorry..” they said.

“Thank you” you finally said barely looking at them. “And you to you, you were very nice, have a good night” you said to the girl. Pedro put his arm on your shoulder and you left.

“Thank you” you said to Pedro, holding him tight.

“I hate those kind of people, I don’t know at least pretend to give fuck in front of the person” he said a little aggressively. He was still upset.

“Calm down, it’s over now. Forget about them, let’s not let them ruin our night”

“I know you’re famous too and I’m used to people looking at you, but the way they were checking you out and how they talked about you, it just makes me so mad. They were looking at you like- I saw their eyes wondering on your body, hm hm, scanning you and all, nope I can’t” your right arm was around Pedro’s waist, and you put your left arm on his stomach.

“The entire world worships you, it’s like that every time we see your fans, you know how I feel now” you joked, he stared at you. “Too soon?”

“Too soon”

“Okay, I’ll try again in twenty minutes” you joked again. This time Pedro couldn’t help but smile. “There it is” you pointed to his mouth.

“Okay okay” he said laughing a little bit, putting your hand away. You were now at your car.

The drive home was silent, music playing in the background. It was not awkward nor anything. You could see that Pedro was more relaxed now. Everything was fine, and you were going to be able to enjoy the rest of the night together at home. This date night was not over.

[cryscendo]

Kurtbastian + a kiss to prove you don’t have feelings for them 👀

(except we all know it's a lie there's totally feelings there)

i saw this prompt and my mind starting thinking about the potential of dalton era kurtbastian……. i MAY have gotten a little carried away with it, but i hope you love it <3

Pairing: Kurt Hummel/Sebastian Smythe (+ platonic Kurt Hummel/Blaine Anderson)

Word Count: 1599

Rating: T

if you would like to send me a prompt, check out the prompt list here!

fic can be read under the cut <3

“God, he’s the worst, isn’t he?” Kurt muttered in mild irritation. He and Blaine were sitting in one of Dalton’s many study rooms, going over their… English homework? Or was it History? Well, considering they were discussing The Grapes of Wrath, he supposed it could be either. But it didn’t matter, because he could hardly focus on the assignment in front of him anyway.

“Oh, c’mon Kurt, he’s not that bad,” Blaine argued and it was in one of those moments that Kurt greatly questioned his friend’s sanity.

“Are you kidding? We’re talking about the same guy here, right?”

Blaine laughed, nodding. “Yes, we’re both talking about Sebastian,” he replied and even the guy’s name alone put Kurt on edge. Kurt’s transfer to Dalton had been generally pretty breezy. For the most part, the guys here were kind and accepting. Apparently Dalton Academy was serious about their ‘zero tolerance policy’.

But then there was Sebastian, who stood to be an outlier in terms of Kurt maintaining his peace. He was insufferable, to say the least. And it’s made so much worse given that he has chosen to target Kurt specifically. Kurt wasn’t sure if it was because he was the new kid or what, but Sebastian seemed to go out of his way to irritate Kurt. It wasn’t like he felt threatened by Sebastian, — this was hardly a Dave Karofsky situation — but he could most definitely attest that Sebastian was a consistent annoyance.

“I just don’t get how you can tolerate him,” Kurt went on, and Blaine rested his chin in his hand, listening patiently to Kurt’s rant with an amused grin. “Ever since I transferred here, he’s been antagonizing me. Like doesn’t he have anything better to do than exist like a gnat in my ear?”

Kurt could see it clear as day in Blaine’s poorly suppressed grin; he had something that he clearly wanted to say, but just wasn’t. Well, Kurt wasn’t really all too fond of being out of the loop, so to speak.

Kurt gave Blaine a look of suspicion. “What’s so funny?”

“Nothing,” Blaine replied, attempting to disguise his expression by taking a sip of his coffee.

Kurt wasn’t buying it, though. “No, what’s so funny? Is there some joke I’m not in on?”

Blaine paused for a moment, contemplating speaking up again. Finally, though, he sets his coffee cup back down on the table and holds his hands out in front of himself defensively. As if Kurt is some kind of threat. “Okay, if I say this, you can’t bite my head off about it. That fair?”

Well, Kurt didn’t exactly love the implications of that. But he liked being in the dark about things even less, so with some reservations, he released a sigh and shrugged. “Fine. What’s such a big deal that you don’t wanna say it? I promise I’ll be nice.”

“Well, I just noticed that any time you like a guy, you start talking about him a lot. I mean, that’s how you were with that Sam guy from your old school.” Kurt felt heat rise to his cheeks at Blaine’s accusation. He wanted to protest because he didn’t really think he had talked about Sam that much, but he decided to keep his mouth shut as Blaine continued. “And, y’know, you do talk about Sebastian an awful lot so could it be possible that you maybe have a bit of a… crush on him?”

That… truly stunned Kurt. What was Blaine thinking? Sure, he talked about Sebastian a lot but it wasn’t like that. His friend has really, truly gone off the deep end. “Are you serious?”

“Hey, I’m just thinking aloud here! I could be completely wrong, I get that. But you have to admit that he does stay on your mind a lot.”

“I can’t believe you would even suggest something like that,” Kurt responded in disbelief. “I have not, nor would I ever, have a crush on him.”

“A crush oh who, Kurt?” A voice that Kurt is unfortunately painfully familiar with cut in. Kurt and Blaine both turned towards the doorway to find Sebastian standing there, snarky expression and all. Then, with complete and utter audacity, he came in and sat down in one of the empty seats at Kurt and Blaine’s table.

“Nobody,” Kurt said immediately. He really did not need Sebastian to be here right now. Of all the examples of the worst possible timing, this has got to be a top contender in the ranking. “Nobody worth mentioning, anyway.”

“Oh c’mon, Hummel, I don’t believe that. Who’s the lucky guy?”

“Don’t you have a line of grown men on Facebook offering to be your sugar daddy for the low, low price of one sad handjob a week and no less than five weekly texts offering them ‘the boyfriend experience’? You must be far too busy to be spending your time here with us.”

“Ah, unfortunately, they couldn’t meet my rates,” Sebastian countered Kurt’s insult easily, letting the words roll off him without care. “But hey, no worries, I gave them your information. I know you could use the money. DaddyDom69 seemed particularly interested.”

“What are you doing here, Sebastian?” Kurt questioned, unimpressed.

“Well, I was here to visit with my old pal, Blaine, but then I heard that the great Kurt Hummel has a crush and realized I had to get more details on that! So, who is he?”

It was then that Kurt looked over at Blaine, shooting him a look that was a mixture of apprehension and frustration. Because this was Blaine’s fault. This entire discussion wouldn’t be happening if Blaine hadn’t insinuated that Kurt had a crush.

Apparently, the look that they shared was enough to tip Sebastian off. Either that, or he’s just such a narcissist that he believed that everything revolved around him. Regardless, he lets out a mocking gasp, bringing his hand to his chest as if pretending to be shocked. “Oh my, is it me? Kurt, I’m flattered, you could’ve just said that!”

“Never, not even in your wildest dreams, would I ever have a crush on you. Trust and believe.” Kurt spoke in such a way that he hoped left no room for argument. However, it seems like with Sebastian, there’s always room for argument.

“Yeah? Then prove it,” Sebastian challenged.

“How would I even do that?”

Sebastian’s smirk turned conspiratorial. “Kiss me. If it’s not a crush then nothing would happen, right?”

Immediately, Kurt could sense Blaine’s tension beside him. Blaine knew about Kurt’s history of being kissed in ways that nobody else did. It was sweet that he cared so much, but this was pretty much his fault to begin with.

“You must be joking,” Kurt said after some time.

“Do I look like I’m joking?”

Well he looked like a joke, that’s for sure. But that also wasn’t the question. And sure, he could end this. He could just say that he’s done entertaining this, but wouldn’t that be just the same as admitting guilt?

“Sure, fine, let’s do it.”

“Uh, Kurt,” Blaine began to cut in, “you don’t have to do that. Don’t feel pressured.”

“I don’t.” Well, he does a little bit. But he’s not going to say that. “Like Sebastian said, if it’s not a crush, it’s not like anything would happen anyway.” He scooted his chair closer to Sebastian and briefly caught a glimpse of a guilty looking Blaine out of the corner of his eye. Blaine didn’t need to feel guilty, at the end of the day, this was Kurt’s choice. “So… let’s do it.”

Sebastian readjusted in his chair. “I’m ready when you are, Hummel.”

So the ball was in his court. That’s fine. He could do this. It’s just Sebastian. No big deal. He’s never willingly kissed another man before, but it was fine.

Kurt leaned in, and before he could possibly talk himself out of it, he pressed his mouth to Sebastian’s. He didn’t know what he was doing really, but Sebastian didn’t seem to complain. In fact, he all but leaned into the kiss, carding a hand through Kurt’s hair in an act of unusual tenderness from the boy. It lingered for a bit longer than anticipated and—

Oh shit.

Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit.

Kurt pulled away from Sebastian, trying not to come off as alarmed. He stood abruptly, and had two pairs of eyes locked on him. Wide, concerned ones from Blaine, and inquisitive, searching ones from Sebastian. God, Kurt hoped he didn’t find whatever he was looking for.

He knew his face must be hot from nerves. That, and the fact that he just found the kiss with Sebastian to be… pleasant? That was not supposed to happen.

Kurt cleared his throat anxiously. “See. Nothing. Just like I said.” He haphazardly picked up his belongings as he continued. “Well, I’d hate to leave so soon, but it’s getting late and my dad’s going to be expecting me for dinner. Bye.”

And with that, he rushed out of the room, not willing to be under the scrutiny of his best friend and his rival any longer.

It wasn’t until later that night when he received a few texts. One of them made his heart skip a beat. The one from Blaine was expected. It was an apology and it read Kurt, I am so sorry that happened. I shouldn’t have said anything, please don’t be mad at me.

But the other text; that one, Kurt could never have anticipated.

From Sebastian: Hey, Kurt. You wouldn’t happen to be doing anything this weekend, are you?

[saccharinesunsetretired]

Safe With Me | Gothbur x Reader

This took fifty years and it's not even that long MY BAD I've been working on a million writing projects at once and I'm terrible at time management.

Summary: An attempt to lose your virginity to your boyfriend doesn't quite go as planned. Of course, he's a sweetheart about it.

Warnings/Tags: Virginity loss (sorta?), smut, discussions of sex/boundaries/comfort levels, mention of an uncomfortable (but consensual) past sexual experience, Gothbur is a demisexual icon and also an absolute sweetheart, brief alcohol usage but nothing crazy, hurt/comfort, reader is AFAB but gender neutral 

Word Count: 2k

MINORS AND AGELESS BLOCKS WILL BE BLOCKED

The bed had been made earlier in the day—Wilbur’s red sheets still smelled fresh. They were warm against your back, having been taken out of the dryer not long before. Clearly, he’d finished setting everything up only moments before you arrived.

It had all started with a conversation over a few drinks in Wilbur’s apartment, just two new lovers up late at night with nothing to do. You’d just started dating him after being friends with him for months. The transition felt as natural as breathing. Wilbur was a steadying force, a calming presence. It was impossible for you to be upset when he was around. At least, you were never truly upset for long.

So that’s why, after a few shared drinks and stories, Wilbur asked you for a secret. He said it jokingly, like he expected a sarcastic answer. Instead, you’d been honest.

“I’m a virgin,” you’d said. You felt your cheeks get slightly hot as you waited for Wilbur’s judgment. As per usual with him, no judgment came. “And I haven’t told you yet, because I was worried it’d…I dunno. Be a dealbreaker or something, because I’m so inexperienced.”

Wilbur’s brows had furrowed as he gazed at you. The lights in his apartment were all turned off except for the purple LEDs that lined the walls of his bedroom. “Sweetheart, you don’t need to hide that from me. It’s fine. I don’t have any issue with it.”

“…You don’t?” you asked, hesitant. 

Wilbur shook his head and scooted closer to you, setting his drink aside. He gave you the softest of smiles. “Of course not. I promise.” He rested his forehead against yours. “We’ll move at your pace, okay? Whatever feels comfortable.”

“How about soon?” The words left your lips before you could think twice about them. And then, it got worse. “Tonight, maybe?”

Wilbur laughed softly. “Sorry, darling, but I’d rather not take your virginity when we’ve both been drinking.” He gave your cheek a quick kiss. “But soon, okay? Promise.”

And he’d stayed true to his promise, because there you were—naked, lying on his clean sheets as you gazed up at him. His fingers were inside you, curling in all the right ways as you gasped and tried not to completely lose your composure. It was almost too much, the feeling of his hands on you, inside you, touching you. His face occasionally dipped down to where your neck met your shoulder so that he could press a kiss there and murmur more soft reassurances.

“You’re doing so good,” he said, voice soft and quiet. “Is this okay?” You couldn’t do anything but nod as you tried to hold back the noises that threatened to fall from your lips.

You were so, so close. You finally let yourself moan, small whines as he got you closer to the edge. “That’s it, baby, just like that,” he murmured. He pressed a quick kiss to your jaw as he continued working his fingers, pressing them to your g-spot while massaging your clit gently with his other hand. 

It didn’t take long for you to finish, panting, grasping at his wrist to make him stop his movements. He immediately caught the hint and pulled his hand away. You didn’t have words for how overwhelmed you were. It felt good, better than you could describe. Your legs trembled slightly, and they only stopped when Wilbur laid his hands gently on your thighs. “Hey, sweetheart, are you okay?” he asked. His brows were furrowed in concern as he looked down at you. “Do you need a minute?”

“I’m okay,” you said. Truth was, you were a little freaked out. It was odd, being naked in front of someone else, even if that person was just Wilbur. Every sensation felt so foreign. Sure, you’d gotten yourself off before, but this was a completely different ballpark, and you found yourself hesitant. “Can I just have a quick minute?” 

“No worries,” Wilbur said. He pressed a few kisses to your jaw. “I’ll grab a condom.” He shifted away, reaching for the bedside drawer. It gave you a moment to try and calm yourself down.

You told yourself there was nothing wrong, nothing to be afraid of. Wilbur loved you. This was right, this was good. So why did it feel so overwhelming?

You glanced at Wilbur as he rolled on a condom. You knew he was bigger than average—he’d warned you before taking his sweet time stretching you out—but seeing him put on the condom was a stark reminder. You glanced away quickly, not wanting him to see you staring.

He scooted back over to you. “Alright, love. Are you sure about this?” He looked at you with that same concerned expression.

“I’m fine, Wil. All good.” You managed a small smile as you parted your legs. He smiled back as he settled between them.

“Hey,” he said softly, “if you ever change your mind, tell me to stop, okay? I’ll stop, and we can try this some other time. It doesn’t all have to happen tonight.” 

You nodded and relaxed slightly before giving him a quick kiss. “I trust you,” you replied. And it was true. You did trust him. You trusted him with everything, even if you were a little on edge.

“Okay.” He lined himself up. You could barely feel the tip of his cock pressed against your entrance. He slowly entered you, pushing in just the tiniest amount. “Still alright?” he asked.

“Y-yeah…” Your voice was shaky. It didn’t hurt, but it was a bit of a stretch, and it felt…odd. “You can keep going.”

Wilbur nodded and pushed in a little more. He let out a shaky sigh as he did, a sign that he was thoroughly enjoying this. He was over halfway in. After a slight nod from you, silently urging him to go all the way, he did just that.

You let out a soft moan. He filled you completely. “Wil…”

“You’re doing so good for me,” he said quietly. He kissed your forehead. “Does it feel okay? I’m not hurting you?”

You shook your head. “You’re not hurting me.” But as you said that, the anxiety swelled back up within your chest. It was so much. His skin on your skin, the sheets, his cock, the muscles in your legs straining slightly to hold them in a position you weren’t used to. Every sensation felt like a little too much, but you wanted to keep going. Or, at least try. “You can go.”

Wilbur smiled down at you, but there was a hint of anxiety on his features. “Alright. Just relax, and tell me to stop if you need to.” He started moving, slow, languid movements of his hips. You let out a few quiet noises as he did so. Meanwhile, your mind spun.

You hadn’t expected to feel so vulnerable or so nervous. This wasn’t like what you thought it would be. It was simultaneously more and less intense. As Wilbur moved, and you felt every movement both inside and out, the anxiety got more and more prominent.

After a few more thrusts, you couldn’t take it anymore. “Could you please stop?” you asked. Your voice was quiet and shaky, but Wilbur immediately got the message. 

“Oh, sweetheart, of course. Are you okay? Do you want me to pull out?” You nodded. To your utter embarrassment, tears were stinging your eyes. Wilbur immediately did as you asked, pulling out and sitting by your side so that your legs could rest. 

He took off the condom and tossed it in the trash before quickly settling beside you, a clear sign that he didn’t expect this to continue any time soon. “Hey, darling, can you look at me?” he asked. His voice was soft but worried—there was a slightly higher pitch to it that he only took on when he was nervous. You looked at him despite your tears, and he immediately pressed a few quick kisses to your cheeks and forehead. “There you are, love. You’re safe. It’s just me.”

“I’m sorry,” you croaked out. “It—I was having fun, but then…it was…it was too much, and I got freaked out, and…” The words got more and more strained as you got closer to tears, and Wilbur ended up quietly shushing you.

“It’s okay,” he said. “It’s alright. You’re gonna be okay. There’s nothing you need to apologize for.” He laid beside you, allowing you the option of cuddling if you wanted it, and of course you did.

You buried your face in his chest, and he wrapped an arm around your shoulders. “Deep breaths, darling. I’ve got you. You’re safe.”

As you laid in his arms, you knew it was true. Wilbur would never even dream of hurting you. You could still feel the slight tension in his muscles, an unspoken worry that he’d done something wrong and scared you away. “I’m sorry,” you said again. “It’s not your fault, I just…”

“It’s okay.” He kissed your forehead as he ran his fingers through your hair. “Do you want to talk about it?”

You sucked in a small breath. “I…I guess I didn’t realize how overwhelming this would be, being with someone like this. And I know that I’m safe, that it’s just you, and that you’d never hurt me, but it’s just a lot to process. And I feel stupid, because people lose their virginity all the time, and most of them aren’t crying about it.”

“It’s not stupid,” Wilbur said softly. “Not at all.” He continued playing with your hair as he spoke. “You know…I had my first time before I found out I was demisexual.” 

You had somehow never thought of that, but it made sense. He’d only figured out his sexuality recently, earlier in your relationship. “Oh,” you said quietly. “And was it…okay?”

“Embarrassing, mostly,” he confessed. “It was awkward. I didn’t know them very well, and I wasn’t really attracted to them, so it took me forever to get hard. It was sort of terrible. Fine and consensual, but really overwhelming.” His eyes met yours as you looked up at him. “I should have gone at my own pace, you know? The last thing I’d want is for you to feel rushed when you’re uncomfortable.”

“I’m sorry that happened,” you said quietly. You couldn’t imagine that, trying to lose your virginity to someone you weren’t particularly interested in. After all, you’d chosen Wilbur for a reason. “Really, you deserved a better time than that.”

“And so do you,” Wilbur said. “So keep that in mind, okay, love? We can take things at your pace. I don’t mind waiting at all.” He pulled you into a gentle hug. “I love you. Remember that.”

“I love you too.” You settled into his arms, accepting the affection gratefully. After a few moments of silence, you spoke again, still worried that he’d taken offense. “I trust you, I really do. I just…”

“I know you do,” he replied. “I’m not hurt, if that’s what you’re worried about.” He kissed your forehead. “I’m happy, honestly, that you felt comfortable enough to say something.” A pause. “I would’ve been horrified if I learned later on that you only put up with that to make me happy. Nobody deserves that.” 

That finally settled your nerves. “And you’re okay? You’re not disappointed?”

“Nah,” Wilbur said. “There are other things to do.” He ran his fingers through your hair, calm, slow movements to help settle you. “We could cuddle up, watch a movie…? Maybe?”

“Can we focus on the cuddling part first?” you asked, tone slightly teasing.

He smiled, and you could tell that he hadn’t been lying; there truly wasn’t even a hint of disappointment in his expression. It was almost hard to believe. Part of you had assumed that your first time would be uncomfortable, because wasn’t everyone’s? But Wilbur seemed to completely reject that idea. It was reassuring. “We can definitely focus on the cuddling part,” he said.

You pulled a blanket over the two of you and buried your face in his neck. He was right. There were always other things to do. And one day, you’d be ready. For now, the sheets were still warm, and Wilbur’s arms provided a reassuring shelter from the world. You could hear the soft sounds of his breathing and the slow beating of his heart. It was more than enough.