#faded etc.. how do you not recognize him

[circusslug]

if u don't know who alan walker is.. dni.

[unadulteratedsoulsweets]

A DC X DP IDEA #27

They’re the strongest?!?!

Imagine dis…

You know … I read too much humans are space orcs fic, prompts, ideas… etc.

But I still like Danny Phantom and DC…

And I remember that one A03 fic…

…

Another alien invasion is another Wednesday for the JL but it seems like they are quite different. Not only they are known as invaders in the Green Lantern Corps but they also have some sort of code among warriors, they give a chance to the species they are invading to fight back. By having their strongest fight against their strongest. It is not through fighting to the death as different planets have different climates and terrains and thus have their version of the Olympic games but instead of rewarding the participants medals, they were rewarded their planet's safety, but Hal commented that the challenges are too staged, too well known to the invading aliens. Since the ones defending have no idea how to approach the challenges, they always end up losing. Green Arrow commented that since they can just send out the Big Blue boy scout, Hal shook his head as they have to be the same species one planet already tried it by asking aid from another planet and not only lost but the invading aliens got 2 planets, plus they’ll bring it up to the galaxy court system and put them in a tight spot. Of course, Aquaman blinked with confusion and asked if there was a court system for the galaxy.

…

So of course, when the said invading aliens landed on the Milky Way and broadcasted their intentions. The JL already have a team to fight them, of course, we have Batman with his cunning mind, Wonder Woman for her chivalry and strength, Flash for his speed, Doctor Fate for his mastery of magic, and Cyborg for technological skills. Just as they were about to tell the invading aliens that they had already picked their strongest, another announcement popped out. Apparently to even out the playing field they have a new technology to help them pick out their strongest for them. As if they were talking to kids and promptly pressed the bottom to automatically select the earth’s strongest.

The heroes at the space station as well those around the world who were debriefed about the situation a week before are already bracing themselves to be picked, while the citizens around the globe are all now watching and anticipating as not only this a new thing as the majority of their alien invasion they immediately went to evacuation.

Who appeared/ chosen immediately made both sides' jaws drop….

Three?

Only three are chosen…

An adult, a teen, and a child?

A man who wore a blue rental suit with glasses, blue eyes and black hair. Which the Metropolis recognizes as one of their own. Clark Kent, a reporter with fame and reputation on par with the famed Lois Lane. The ideal model of someone who came from the countryside and made a name and life in the big city.

An 11-year-old boy with blue eyes and black hair who wore a red hoodie, faded jeans, and red shoes, in which the city Fawcett knew of. Billy Batson was, a former foster kid on the run until he found his forever home with the couple named Victor and Rosa Vasquez who also fostered a couple of kids, which Billy claims as his siblings. A kind kid who kept doing good around him and his community.

Lastly, a teen, again with blue eyes and black hair wore a faded NASA hoodie, and blue jeans with faint eye bags which was a small town in Amity Park where he came from. Danny Fenton, the only son of the two leading scientists of ecto-biologists in ecotology, the one who realized that one of the two purple-back gorillas is a female thus avoiding extinction.

…

Clark Kent by day and Superman by night knew about the invading aliens. He also knew that he could not participate despite being raised on Earth made him unqualified to join. So, imagine his shock when he suddenly found himself with two earth children in the middle of a large arena with futuristic cameras looking at them. He is now in an internal dilemma; how can he save the two kids, while he tries to save Earth altogether?

This train of thought also passed by the young Billy Batson on the said teen, Billy already knew that Superman was already thinking of saving the both of them. Now his priority is to survive and keep his secret ID a secret for a bit longer.

…

Danny on the other hand has a completely different train of thought, he was just about to reach his room. His beautiful room where his bed is, he had just finished a four-hour exam to bring his grades back up to an acceptable level, 9 continuous ghost attacks, another nonsense quarrel between the observers and he is close to committing anarchy just so he can have the same treatment to Pariah Dark, an eternal sleep in a comfortable looking Sarcophagus of Forever Sleep.

So imagine his surprise when he is suddenly teleported to what looks like an alien ship, Danny would usually be ecstatic but they have interrupted him, he is so close to his bed. He knew that there would be some sort of an invasion as he remembered the bits and pieces from Tucker’s ramble when they last hung out together.

He doesn’t care if aliens invade Earth, but if you come between him and his bed. He will make sure of what he will do to those who disturb him, he will make his fight with his future self and Pariah Dark like child’s play.

…

The Justice League kept on insisting that they had already chosen their fighters and those who appeared in the middle of their arena were civilians, not warriors. But the invading aliens stayed on their decision and immediately began the games.

The rest of the heroes are now scrambling to not only stop the invading aliens but also save the 2 civilians who were randomly selected.

While the rest of the League is now panicking the rest of the world is now in an outrage. Sending out a civilian man and children by the alien's weird machinery.

The Fenton couples are especially rabid as, if there is anything that tops their ghost obsession, it would be their children’s safety. The family of Batson are on the edge of their seats as they worry for Billy.

…

The games begin with an opening of rules and such, as well as an introduction to the alien’s warriors who are big and full of muscles making the Earth team look so tiny.

The first game starts with a simple hunting game with very minimal clues and tools at their disposal to find what they seek. Clark can crack the code on to where to hunt but it is a dangerous environment, Clark discusses it with his teammates on how to catch it, Clark is already thinking if he should reveal himself as a meta with strength but Danny just glares at the man and grabbed capturing tools form the table and sought out the thing they are designated to hunt.

The other team took a glance at Team Earth and warbled some snickers at how they took looking/hunting too fast without any plans and went back to their planning.

Clark and Billy are worried for their other teammate but after a few minutes, they hear a roar some shuffles, and then silence.

Back on earth, most people are horrified a what could be the teen’s fate but when footsteps were heard they saw the teen again scathed, with a few scratches, and a hulking beast all tied up from its muzzle to its tails.

Clark nervously asked, still maintaining his civilian identity, how on earth Danny had caught such a beast. Danny’s only response was, back from where he came a certain ”friend” really wanted “someone’s” pelt on a wall and learned some things while HE was chasing that “something”.

That starts the Danny effect…

…

A tag sort of game as there is a hunter to hunt them down and their objective is to hide longer than the other team, with both Billy and Danny a part, while Billy lasted a few hours with his wit and skills that he honed during his time when he ran from CPS and the police during his days as a foster child, which is impressive itself as he got two of the other team’s members to be captured first before him. Danny outlasted Billy and the rest of the other team won the game in a landslide and gained some bonus points by not only redirecting the hunter and leading them into a false trail or a dead end but also messing with the said hunter without being spotted by him.

Cooking with live and weird ingredients? Clark initially volunteered to do it as he has a stomach of steel being an alien but cannot cook as he has no idea which ingredient is edible as all alien dishes and ingredients come from Krypton and he has to impress the judges who put them in a disadvantage as the judges are from the same race as the opposing team. Danny just shook his head at Clark quickly put on an apron and set to work.

Clark and Billy immediately turned green at the sight as Danny nonchalantly battled the live ingredients, from the meat section to what seems to be the fruit and vegetable section, It is bloody as it is and quite fascinating as it is disgusting. All their years in the Justice League they have seen some twisted and weird things but seeing their third teammate casually stab what looked like an unholy cross hybrid between an octopus and a shark trying to crawl away from the carnage, cleaned the weird animal from the inside out and fillet it.

Of course, they are in disbelief when the judges practically moan the moment, they taste Danny’s dish. Clark and Billy are pretty sure one of the judges is planning to spare Danny and turn him into their chef if the invasion continues, with the way they look at Danny. The judges reluctantly let Danny’s dish win.

Billy reluctantly asked Danny where he learned to cook like that, Danny’s only response was a grumble of a sound that seemed to sound like at home but that cannot be, right?

Trying to survive an onslaught of hypnotic plants native to the alien’s home world, Danny once again won and even began criticizing the plants for how their music was so horrible that it would not even wake the dead.

Play some sort of FIGHTING VIDEO GAME that is popular in 5 sectors in their part of the galaxy, Danny wins and repeatedly shoots the aliens with pure hatred and anger in his eyes, Clark has to physically drag Danny out of the arena to stop his onslaught of firing to the poor guy who was already on the verge of crying.

And so on with the Earth’s team leading COUGH Danny COUGH and demolishing the invading aliens from their games.

After a while the games are done and Team Earth wins with a massive gap to the invading aliens. They returned the three in the middle of the Metropolis and went away without so much a fuss…

Well, expect that one chef in their midst how begged the leader to take Danny and only him with them but the leader is already fearing for his life as the last few games that humans began to be more feral by the second and he was sure he is also a second away from being the one at the other end of his chopping board.

…

Back on earth everyone cheered on the three and began flashing them their camera lights to get a new scoop, and one brave reporter even tried to interview Danny but when people tried to look for the elusive teen he seemingly disappeared.

Clark knew Danny was, sleeping peacefully in the middle of the bushes a few feet away from them, and kept quiet as he was late to realize that Danny was on the verge of a crash like Red Robin is when he pulled something like this when Conner invited him.

…

PS: If someone out there wanted to continue or make a fic about this you are free to do so, don’t forget to tag me though.

[thehorrorgirlstyles]

Opposites attract

Part 1

Eddie Munson x fem!reader

Find P2 Here!

Warnings: 18+ smut, male masturbation, degradation!kink, pet names, cussing, squirting, little bit of praise!kink, derogatory words, harassment, bullying, public sex, some breeding kink, dry humping

Minors don’t interact!

Summary: You are the queen of Hawkins high, being a cheerleader and dating the football captain Jason, however after spending time with the dungeon master and getting to know just how attractive he is, while Jason shows his true colors one night, your love for the blonde slowly starts to fade away and is replaced by an ache needing to be relieved by Eddie “the freak” Munson…

——————————————————————————

Jason was the love of your life or at least that’s what you told yourself. I mean he was your first everything, boyfriend, v-card, kiss, etc… You loved him and he loved you, you couldn’t be happier, or at least you thought. One night, while your mom and dad where gone on a business trip, you and Jason were laying on your queen size bed in your obnoxiously pink room, while Kate Bush played faintly in the back room of your room, when he decided to express his hatred for the brown haired freak.

“I just don’t get what your problem is with Eddie Jason, he seems nice”. You say as you look into his eyes. “Are you serious y/n, he’s a freak that leads a cult into worshiping the devil!” He looks at you like you’ve just grown two heads. “Jason listen to me… when I talked to Eddie the other da-” He interrupts you, “Talked to him, y/n you can’t be serious, I told you to stay away from him, he’s dangerous.” “Eddie may be different but he’s not dangerous” You look at him as he stares at you in disbelief. “Babe as your boyfriend I’m telling you to stay away from him… don’t talk to him, don’t stand up for him, don’t even look at him… I’m serious y/n”. You’ve never been scared of Jason before but the look in his eyes makes you worry, he must noticed this because he continues, “I’m sorry I just wanna keep you safe, I don’t want anything bad happening to you”. You seriously doubt Eddie would do anything to hurt you, but you stay quiet and nod you head, while giving a small smile to your boyfriend, you just want this conversation to be over with.

On Monday morning, while getting dressed for school you think back to how mad your boyfriend got because of Eddie, but you brush it off because like he said, he just wants to protect you, he doesn’t want you getting hurt or anything bad to happen to you.

When you hop into his car he gives you a quick peck on the lips and heads off to school, not even mentioning the conversation you two had earlier that night.

After you arrive to school Jason gives you a hug and heads off to class, in pursuit of finding his basketball friends. You look around for your best friend Robin but can’t seem to find her in the crowd, so you head to the bathrooms to freshen up before going back out. Just as you reach the bathrooms, you collide with a tall figure. “Oh my god, I’m so sorry, I didn’t see where I was going”. You apologize without looking up. “It’s alright sweetheart, I should’ve been more careful”. You recognize the voice instantly and look up to see Eddie staring back at you with a small grin. “Oh hey Eddie, how’ve you been” you smile back. “Oh you know same old same old, still rounding up kids for my devil worshiping cult, in fact we just found a great candidate for our sacrifice tomorrow”. “Oh really” you play along chuckling. “Yup she’s a sweetheart” he smiles at you. You open your mouth to respond, but you hear someone calling your name. You turn around to be met with a not so pleased Jason. “Oh umm Jason I was jus-” he cuts you off again, “What the fuck are you doing to my girl” he seethes at Eddie, while pulling you away from him by your arm. “Oh nothing just turning the queen over to the dark side” he just smiles at Jason’s anger. Jason however doesn’t seem to appreciate it, as he grips Eddie’s shirt by the collar, “Stay the fuck away from her you freak” he spits in Eddie’s face. “Don’t go near her ever again” Eddie just grins at this, “Wouldn’t dream of it”. Jason finally lets Eddie go and turns back around to you. You notice the way his eyes are dark, burning with anger. He grips your arm and basically drags you around the corner. When he gets to a secluded area he pushes you up against the wall, “Remember that chat we had yesterday” all you can do is nod, to scared to say anything. “If you remember then why were you talking to him y/n” the way he says your name makes you want to get away from him, after a while you don’t say anything, so he bangs his fist against the wall right next to your head, “SPEAK TO ME WHEN I’M TALKING TO YOU!” He yells. You flinch in shock, Jason has never dared to raise his voice at you before, “WHY THE FUCK WERE YOU AND MUNSON TALKING!” You close your eyes and breathe, was Jason really yelling at you right now, was he really this pissed about a conversation, you and Eddie didn’t even exchange that many words, why was he so freaking pissed, “I’m sorry… it won’t happen again”. You open your eyes and look at him, he seems to have calmed down. “Alright, I-I just want you to be safe baby, that’s all I want” he hugs you against the wall and you’d think that you’d feel safe anywhere else than in his arms.

The next day you forget about the encounter with Jason and go on with your day like normal, going to English class with Robin, doing your cheer routine with Chrissy, during cheer practice, having lunch with your boyfriend, and having physics with Eddie Munson… wait having physics with Munson. As you round the corner for your physics class, you start to grow worry. The teacher recently paired the students up to work on a project and you, of course, got paired to be with Eddie. At first you thought it would be a fun experience, getting to know more about the metal head, but now, after Jason’s warning yesterday, you were terrified. Of course you liked Eddie, I mean you two got on quick a lot, considering how you were you and he was he, but Jason made you distance yourself from a potential friend and you didn’t want to find out what would happen if you were to break the distancing, for your sake and his. When you got to the door, you could see Eddie writing something down in his notes, probably working on his new campaign, you smiled at the thought. You were about to go and sit next to him, when Jason’s voice repeated in your head, so instead you decided to skip, it was the last period of the day anyways.

When you got home, you sat on your bed and wondered what things would be like if Jason wasn’t your boyfriend. You couldn’t imagine life without him, but with the way he was starting to act, it made you scared and a girl should never be scared of the one that’s supposed to love you the most, but maybe that’s it, maybe Jason loves you too much.

Friday comes around and everything has gone back to normal, except for the fact that you haven’t been attending your last period class. You know you owe Eddie and explanation, I mean he is trying to graduate this year and so are you, so you make your way to the place you know he will be.

When you get to the door, where hellfire is held, you pause, should you really be doing this, if Jason found out, you don’t even wanna think about it, but then you think about Eddie and about how nice he’s been too you, how funny and sarcastic he can be in class, how he always asks for your help on assignments, how he isn’t afraid to speak his mind, and how he doesn’t let anyone speak bad about you, not even his club members. Eddie has been nothing but kind to you and here you are blowing him off because of your possessive boyfriend, so to hell with what he cares, you are going to apologize to Eddie. Just as your about to open the door Jason walks down the hall with Patrick and chance. You mentally scream, if he saw you standing outside the hellfire door, you wouldn’t hear the end of it, so you open the door and run inside without looking back.

You hold your breathe as you hear them pass by and exhale with relief. “Umm hello” your head shoots up at the voice, Dustin you believe his name is speaks, “We’re kind of in the middle of a game here” he looks at you. You look around the room, realizing everyone stoped what there doing to look at you. You blush, you didn’t even consider to think that Eddie would be having a campaign going, “Oh right, I’m sorry” you go to leave, wanting to be gone, this was so embarrassing. As you go to turn the knob, Eddie speaks up, “Wait” you turn around and look into his eyes, he stares back and clears his throat, “Uh did you need something… what did you want” you look at him silently praying that he’ll take the hint that you want to talk in private. He looks back at you and then at his friends, “Give me five minutes” in says to them, you hear them all groan in protest, but he’s already up and out of his throne, as he calls it.

When you go out the room you start to realize how nervous you are. Eddie looks at you patiently waiting for you to speak. “I just wanted to come and apologize to you for not showing up to class… I know how much you want to, how hard your trying to graduate this year and me not being there isn’t helping, since we have to work on it together and all”you look up at him and he smiles at you. “It’s not your fault, it’s alright y/n, however I do miss you, physics is so boring without you there to laugh at my god awful jokes” you chuckle with him, god did you miss those jokes. “I’ll be there tomorrow and we can get right back to it” you make up your mind, Jason doesn’t have the right to tell you who you can’t and can speak to, he would just have to deal with it you decide. “Great I can’t wait sweetheart” he grins at you and you smile back blushing. Finally things are actually back to normal. Eddie bids you farewell and goes back to hellfire, you turn around and go to leave school. Just as you turn around and walk a little to the front doors, you see your boyfriend standing there with his arms crossed. You gulp, did he just get here or was he standing there for a long time, how much of that did he see? Telling by the look on his face, he saw all of it…

[satellite-evans]

Hi! I saw that you’re taking requests..I wholeheartedly believe that Benedict is one of those ppl who are always warm like a human furnace sooo do you think you could write something about him keeping the reader warm when it’s cold outside (i.e, holding hands, hugging, etc.)

Much love😇💜

Warm Embrace

Pairing: Benedict Bridgerton x reader

Summary: You find solace in the warm and comforting presence of your husband <3

Word count: 874

Warnings: just pure fluff

A/N:

Thank you so much for your request nonnie, You guys make me the happiest girl in the world when you sent in not only request, but also asks or questions, it honestly and truly makes my day🥹🥹🥹

English is not my first language, so I apologize if I made any (grammar) mistakes. Feedback, requests, recommendations, vents or questions are always welcome. I love talking to you guys about anything <3

Happy reading xxx

I do NOT give permission for my work to be translated or reposted on here or any other site.

The chill of the early winter morning seeped through the cracks of the old country house, the wind howling softly outside. You shivered, wrapping your shawl tighter around your shoulders as you looked out the window, watching the first snowflakes of the season dance gracefully to the ground. The room was dimly lit, the pale morning light filtering through the heavy curtains, casting a serene, almost magical glow over everything.

"You're awake early," came a familiar, warm voice from behind you. You turned to see Benedict, his hair tousled from sleep, standing in the doorway of your bedroom. He wore a simple nightshirt, the soft fabric clinging to his well-built frame, his presence comforting and reassuring.

"I couldn't sleep," you admitted, smiling at him. "The cold woke me."

Benedict's eyes softened as he walked over to you, his presence immediately warming the room. "Come here," he murmured, pulling you into his arms. His body radiated heat, and you sighed contentedly as you nestled against his chest, feeling his warmth envelop you. His embrace was familiar and secure, the perfect refuge from the biting cold.

He led you back to the bed, pulling the covers up as you both slipped underneath. Benedict wrapped his arms around you, pulling you close. His body radiated heat like a human furnace, and you felt the chill melt away as he held you tight. The sensation of his warm skin against yours was incredibly comforting, a stark contrast to the cold air outside the bed.

"Better?" he asked, his lips brushing against your temple.

"Much better," you replied, resting your head against his shoulder. "You always know how to keep me warm."

Benedict chuckled softly, his hand gently rubbing your back. "It's a husband's duty to ensure his wife is comfortable," he said, his voice filled with warmth and affection. "Especially on such a cold morning."

You smiled against his chest, feeling his heartbeat steady and strong beneath your ear. "Well, you're certainly excelling at it," you teased, your fingers tracing lazy patterns on his back. You felt the slight rise and fall of his chest as he breathed, each exhale a soft whisper of warmth against your hair.

Benedict shifted slightly, pulling you even closer, his hands roaming your back in soothing circles. "Stay here with me," he whispered, his lips pressing a gentle kiss to your forehead. "We don't have to get up just yet. Let's just enjoy the warmth and the quiet."

You nodded, closing your eyes as you relaxed into his embrace. "There is no place in the world that I would rather at than to be here with you."

The world outside seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of you in your cozy cocoon. The wind continued to howl outside, but you felt safe and warm within Benedict's arms. His fingers trailed up and down your spine, leaving a trail of warmth in their wake.

After a while, Benedict began to hum softly, the deep, rich sound vibrating through his chest. You recognized the tune – a lullaby his mother sang to him and his siblings when they were children. Violet told you that it was the only way her children slept, especially Benedict, who always found it difficult to fall asleep. The melody was soothing, and you felt yourself drifting off, lulled by the warmth of his body and the gentle sound of his voice. You couldn't help but wonder if Benedict would sing it later to his own children too.

Benedict continued to hum, his hands never ceasing their gentle movements on your back. He was like a living, breathing source of warmth and comfort, and you felt incredibly grateful to have him by your side. His warmth seemed to seep into your very bones, driving away any lingering chill.

As the morning light slowly brightened the room, you opened your eyes to find Benedict watching you, a tender smile on his lips. "Good morning again," he said softly, brushing a strand of hair away from your face. The look in his eyes was one of pure adoration, making your heart swell with love.

"Good morning," you replied, leaning in to kiss him. His lips were warm and soft, and you felt a rush of love and contentment wash over you. The kiss was slow and tender and felt like a warm lasting hug that you never wanted to break.

"Shall we get up and start the day?" Benedict asked after a moment, his forehead resting against yours.

You shook your head, a playful smile on your lips. "Not just yet. Let's stay like this a little longer."

Benedict chuckled, his arms tightening around you. "As you wish, my love," he said, settling back against the pillows with you still in his embrace. The sound of his laughter was like a warm breeze, filling you with happiness.

And so you stayed, wrapped in each other's warmth, savoring the quiet moments before the day began. Outside, the snow continued to fall, but inside, all you felt was the heat of Benedict's love, keeping the cold at bay. The world outside could wait; for now, there was only the two of you, nestled together in your own private haven of warmth and love.

[thesummerpetrichor]

𝓥𝓲𝓭𝓮𝓸 𝓰𝓪𝓶𝓮𝓼

Dads best friend!Javier Peña x afab!reader

Summary: For years he’d lived in your head like a distant memory. Something too good, too far away to attain. You shouldn’t be so hurt he’d left his old life behind, but how could you not be, when you had been such a big part of it? But you can’t hold a grudge. Not when he’s standing in front of you– doing everything to prove he’s not a stranger.

Warnings: 18+ minors DNI you will be blocked. Mentions of DEA, dads best friend trope, morally questionable relationship, minor angst, chunky age gap [reader is in her 20s Javi is in his 40s], banter, lotsa sweet moments, explicit language, explicit sexual content, couch sex, inebriated sex, cigarette and weed smoking, alcohol, dom!javi, sub!reader, pet names [cariño, baby, babygirl etc.], dirty talk, major praise kink! [lotsa good girl action iykwim] some over the clothes action, grinding, fingering, unprotected P in V [ do better!!]. Let me know if I missed anything!! <;3

Word count: 12.8k oops

A/N: Oof this took longer than I thought it would but I’m so excited for you to read it. Javier is the man of my dreams here 🥺. lotsa porn for you nasties. morally questionable relationship fr but it’s fiction so we’ll forgive Javi. I hope you darlings enjoy! Mwah 💗

Masterlist

Swinging in the backyard

Pull up in your fast car

Whistling my name

Open up a beer

And you say, "Get over here

And play a video game"

The last time you saw him you remember all but tackling him to the ground as he walked through your front door. He had bought you a special edition copy of your favourite Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale, and DVDs of ‘film noir’ movies– the kind your dad didn’t like you watching. You spent the days reading as he smoked cigars by your pool, and you remember your father joking about his ‘bad influence’ as he poured you drinks in the evenings. 

That was several years ago, and now all you had left of him was a hazy memory of that distant summer, a fading image of his golden eyes glittering in the setting sun, and your copy of “The Little Mermaid”. That had been the last that he’d visited you– before his work got in the way, before he decided he’d rather stay in Bogotá than come home. 

Your life had gone on, and while every year you wondered whether he’d make his grand appearance, as you grew older you came to terms with the realisation that it would just be you and your old man lounging on the patio on those treasured, warm, golden evenings. At university you were pursuing those dreams you always wanted to, the ones your father wasn’t so keen on you chasing, the ones you’d confess to him when he would drive you around the city–  to that faraway ice cream place no one else would take you to. 

He was all cigarettes and whiskey and secret promises.

“He’ll literally kill us, it's midnight.” It was too late, he was grabbing his keys and jacket, and despite your better judgement the thought of the fairy lights by the beach as you walked with your mint chocolate chip cones had you giggling as you followed him out the door. It was your 18th birthday. “He doesn’t need to know now, does he, cariño?” 

He’d telephone your father once in a while, you knew because your house would fill with laughter only invoked by one culprit. You wondered what adventures he was on, were they like the ones he’d tell you as you sat by his side till the early hours of the morning? You wondered if he even remembered– remembered you. 

But now you were in Bogotá, in the sweltering June heat, suitcase in hand, scanning the crowd for a face you barely remembered. You were scared, stupidly so, worried that your physical proximity would do nothing to mend his distance. You worried he wouldn't see you as he did before, wouldn't remember your inside jokes, your mischief, how you’d beg him to take you to that dance bar because your dad didn’t like you going alone. That he had somehow morphed into someone you couldn't recognize. You felt hot all over once again, and this time no thanks to the summer sun. 

Your head turned left to right, and you spotted among the crowd families reuniting, couples kissing hello, young people returning home, lone travellers, lonely travellers, and in the hustle bustle a black leather jacket walking briskly towards you. He looked older, and tired, but his eyes still sparkled the way you remembered, still turned golden when they met the sun. From the distance he spotted you, and you watched expectantly as his furrowed brows relaxed into a calm, almost surprised expression. You felt a little short of breath, felt suddenly larger than life, as he neared you, your mind spinning and hoping, praying that he was still the man you knew. 

“What have you done with my cariño?” 

He was looking down at you with that same smile. Everything about him was really the same. He still smelt like tobacco and cedarwood perfume, still wore the same leather jacket, the same faded, button up shirt– with the first two buttons undone. In a moment you felt your mind's eye reconstruct those waning images of him you once cherished, from the dells of memory. And now you saw him vividly, reclining in his chair, sipping his whiskey, leaning on your porch, hair falling in his face in soft curls as he lit his cigarette. 

He was a lot more handsome than you recalled. 

“Hi” You were smiling so wide your face hurt, and despite the years of his absence there was a familiarity you found comfort in, a sense of belonging, and maybe naively… longing. His hands moved to grab you by the shoulders, and he stepped back to get a good look at you, almost examining how time had passed. “Lookat’ ya, university girl now huh, smart cookie?” The way he looked at you had your heart pitter pattering– with so much pride, and gentleness, and adoration. 

Without any hesitation he pulled you into his chest, wrapping you up in his arms, holding your head against him. Waves of calm washed over you, an immediate reassurance you were desperate for. It was his non reluctance, his lack of worry, the way he brought you into his arms like nothing else mattered.  With a heavy sigh you collapsed into him, all the uneasiness you felt before melting away as you melted into his touch. He felt warm, and strong, and like you’d remembered. 

He was everything you’d remembered. 

You felt yourself relax. It had been a long day, a long time getting away from your father, who, despite the fact that you had been living alone for years now, had called you about a thousand times – reminding you to take all your things, to be careful, and importantly to not get into any trouble. 

If there was one thing everyone knew about Javier, it was that he was trouble, trouble, trouble. 

He was still smiling when he gently pulled away, still looking at you with the same enthusiasm. He was happy to see you. He chuckled as he let go of your shoulders, and you felt your chest swarm with butterflies when he grabbed you by the hand and twirled you around, and in typical Javier fashion produced a white lily from his shirt pocket, and tucked it behind your ear. 

“Welcome to Bogotá cariño” 

You felt your cheeks heat. For as long as you could remember you pretty much idolised him, and the longer you didn’t see him the more distant and adored he had become.  You had worked that distant memory up so much, the memory of that fateful summer, that he’d come to be a symbol of fear and dread in your head. At least until that moment.

You felt silly for ever thinking he’d be different. And there he was, standing right in front of you, putting flowers behind your ear. You mumbled a soft thank you, securing the lily, which was inadvertently an excuse not to meet his overwhelming gaze. 

“Your old man give you a hard time on the way up?”  

You laughed as you rolled your eyes. If there was one person who knew how much of a stickler for organisation and responsibility your father was, it was him. “He gave me an entire list of things to not do”. Javier’s deep baritone joined your laughter, and he shook his head in faux irritation at the mention of his best friend. 

Reaching down for your bags he leaned beside your ear, and you felt your heart race when you turned your head ever so slightly to meet his gaze– at that glimmer in his eyes, his mischievous smile, and raised brow. 

“Well, he’s no fun now, is he?” 

And with that he was heading towards the exit. 

—

I'm in his favourite sundress

Watchin' me get undressed

Take that body downtown

I say, "You the bestest"

Lean in for a big kiss

Put his favourite perfume on

Go play your video game

“He says I'm like you, y’know?” You leaned your elbow on the open window, knees to your chest as you sat curled up in the passenger seat of his car. His eyes were on the road, but his attention remained on you, and you were instantaneously reminded of your trips to the pier, your mint chocolate chip ice creams, and innocent secrets. 

You felt warm and fuzzy inside, and your eyes wandered the beautiful Colombian city –the colours, and the smell of summer flowers, and food as it wafted out of the mom and pop restaurants you passed. 

“Yeah, you a troublemaker?” He glanced at you momentarily, just in time to catch you rolling your eyes. “”M not, but he thinks Dora’s wreckless for wandering around without her parents.`` His laugh was hearty and he had that smile, that tilt of his head you were sure had all the women around him swooning. You felt your cheeks heat at the thought, especially when he chided you. “Cariño” he dragged out every syllable of that treasured pet name, shaking his head, and raising his brows in your direction, teasingly. “Okay.. maybe I like to have a little fun, but I’m still not like you.” 

Letting out an exaggerated gasp his head whipped towards you. “Fuck’s that supposed to mean?!” Your head was buzzing, he's still the same, the same. 

“I’m good.” He rounded the corner, and you couldn’t help but wonder who else had been in the passenger side of his car, getting this view you so cherished. You didn’t know why you cared, or why you were even wondering in the first place. It wasn’t any of your business, but somewhere deep down it made your heart ache. 

“I know you are honey.. Thought your dad was gonna’ have a fuckin’ heart attack when he called me.” You could only imagine. The poor man. The thought of him persuading Javier to convince you to stay with him for the sake of his peace of mind making you giggle. 

“Can you blame him? It was either you or Maria, and somehow you're the better of the two evils.” When you decided to come to Bogotá you originally planned to stay with one of your  close friends from university. She had offered you a room in her apartment for as long as you needed. The both of you had applied for the same summer program, and were looking forward to spending your vacation together. That was before you confessed that a certain somebody also lived in Bogotá. A somebody you weren’t initially keen on meeting again. Somebody you had planned to avoid at any cost during your stay. 

You weren’t really sure why– if you wanted to keep him away out of spite, or convenience, or fear, but all you did know was that when Maria had practically forced you to ask your dad to give Javier a call you were nothing short of petrified. She would not let it go, even said you’d regret not meeting him, better yet staying with him after how much you’d talked him up in the time you knew her. She was so confident she placed a bet you’d give up her house for his in less than forty eight hours. 

“I’m a cop, I’m the obvious choice here cariño” His confidence was charming. He was deceptively charming. 

“Yeah. A terrible one.” 

“Was a little shocked you wanted to see me..” sometimes you really thought he could read your mind. Not just in that moment, in fact he had a habit of hitting on right whatever you were thinking about, whatever was bothering you, things you felt you couldn’t tell anyone else because they wouldn’t understand. You were not sure if and how you wanted to respond, and if you did honestly whether he would know how much the whole situation had preoccupied you. 

“Strictly practical. Wanted to see if you remembered me..” 

“‘Course I remember you, been haunting me like a little ghost since I last visited..”. you thought you might just explode at his teasing. You asked yourself if he was being truthful, if he truly thought about you, about how he’d up and left. 

“You’re the one that disappeared into thin air!” Undeniably, despite the laughter and banter there was a tension in the air– floating between the two of you heavy and low. But what was he expecting?  

Thankfully, the car came to a slow and gradual stop at the side of a small side street, where you spotted a small glass door over which flowers blooming from the floor above had been cascading. “Where are we?” 

“Mint chocolate chip”  One hand on the wheel, the other grabbing his keys, he looked at you as he spoke, so matter of factly it made your heart flutter. Like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “No pier, or fairy lights though, and no thrill of running from your papa.” 

He remembered. 

Heart bursting with love ache, you weren’t really sure what to say. As if he had anticipated your fears he seemed like he was coaxing you into your natural rhythm. Reminding you he wasn’t some stranger whose house you were staying in out of convenience. That you knew him, and that he knew you, remembered you. 

“Thank god for the last one..” The memory fluttered between you two– the same thoughts, hovering between your heads. He was opening the door, taking a quick check of the traffic. You stayed put, finding your bearings. With one hand extended he beckoned you towards him, offering his arm when you hopped out the car on wobbly feet.  “Oh hush, you loved it, cariño. And he knew, I told him the next day.”

With locked arms you crossed the street, and as if no time had passed you had squished yourself to his side, and had smacked him against the shoulder lightly at his admission. “What?! Traitor!” 

“I handled it.” He sounded quite impressed with himself, and when you tilted your head and locked eyes with him you noticed how he looked quite impressed as well. You pressed your cheek against his arm, the leather of his jacket brushing against your warm cheeks.

“You were always the fun one.”

A large ‘OPEN’ sign stared you blank in the face, that was until Javier had gently tucked a finger under your chin, and delicately directed your eyes towards him. “He’s your dad, ‘s not supposed to be the fun one..” he softly remarked, his smile remained, and you felt nothing but warmth, and comfort from his presence. 

The moment fell naturally, and he reached forward to pull the door open for you, letting skip ahead of him and into the store.  “Feels like my 18th all over again.” 

—

It's you, it's you, it's all for you

Everything I do

I tell you all the time

Heaven is a place on earth with you

Tell me all the things you wanna do

I heard that you like the bad girls

Honey, is that true?

“You're the boss Peña, give me the word, and it’s done.” You caught Javier’s reflection in the mirror as you sat down to get ready. Fresh out the shower it took about three seconds for the summer heat to get back at you. He liked to keep his place freezing, and at times like that you could only be grateful– the cool air soothing your scorched skin. 

Carillo, Murphy– you could recognize the voices as they bounced off the wall, the same men you’d met when they barged into his home unceremoniously at six in the morning. You would have preferred to meet them in actual clothes rather than your pyjamas, and maybe outside instead of infront of your concerningly large cup of coffee, but they seemed to be used to finding unexpected guests in Javier’s apartment early in the morning. 

Regardless of the fact that they’d interrupted your quiet breakfast with Javier, they were really nice people. Carillo’s wife even sent some snacks over with him the next time he visited. One because she wanted you to try the local food, and two because “Javier had nothing in his kitchen.” 

“I will. soon as that dick Stechner gets out of my fuckin’ way” reaching to put you necklace on you watched as Javier moved out of your field of vision for a quick moment, returning with a glass filled with ice and an ashtray. What were they talking about? You never really asked about his job, you'd tried to talk him out of it many times, but he never budged. One day he hated it, one day he didn’t. 

What he was like at work was a point of endless curiosity for you– he just seemed so different. If you were being honest he seemed like an asshole. In the few times you’d seen him interact with his partners he’d barely cracked a smile, trading in his joking and teasing for curt jabs or looks of disapproval. He also admittedly liked ordering people around, telling them what to do. His phone rang about five thousand times a day, and each answered call was punctuated with an air of control, indifference, and the steady and constant confidence of a man who knew what the hell he was doing. And did not like to be questioned about it. The only people who seemed to break the ice were the two he was speaking to at that moment. 

“Javi, think this one through, don’t be fuckin crazy.” The voices drowned out as you put your attention back to getting ready. Maria was right. By the time you called her the evening of your arrival you had abandoned all plans to escape Javier's home for hers. She was in hysterics, endlessly pulling your leg over the whole situation. Your overthinking, your panic, your regret, and most obviously your complete infatuation. 

She had picked you up the next morning, and had impersonated you the entire ride to the university. You hoped that you didn’t sound the way she said you did when you spoke of him, that you weren’t all heart eyes. It only made you worried about what you sounded like when you spoke to him. 

With your bag tucked under your arm you grabbed your shoes off the floor, heading towards the dining table. “You got work this evening?” you were hoping he didn’t. His eyes lifted off his work to watch you shuffle around the small kitchen.  Opening the fridge you grabbed a bottle of chilled water, and leaned against the closed door as you spoke. 

“Depends if they call me in, they’re tracking some radio signals so we’re sitting tight till then.” He was leaning back in his chair in absolute exhaustion. Knowing that his day started around seven thirty, and never seemed to end, you didn't blame him. The few days you had been staying at his place he’d join you for dinner and be right back to work in a second. This job of his pretty much consumed him, and judging by his commitment you understood why he had no time for anyone or anything else. The guy was practically married to his job. His job and his co-workers, that is. You wouldn’t be surprised if Murphy and Carillo’s wives were envious of how much quality time Javier got to spend with their husbands. 

“So you’re staying up until they get back to you?” You didn't mean to sound so perplexed, but you were. Mostly at how unpredictable his hours were. Did he really want to leave the quiet, laid back life at home for whatever this was? He crossed his arms over his chest, and spoke to you in between puffs of his cigarette. 

“Yes, cariño, I'm in my forties, dont got a bedtime.”  The man could barely keep his eyes open, and when he lifted his glass to his lips you felt a little better about ditching him for your fun night out. Of course you wanted to sit with him, have him talk about everything under the sun, like he used to, but you didn’t want to be another thing he had to worry about. 

You barely got to speak to him outside meal times. If he stayed home, safe to say he’d be preoccupied, and if he didn’t it would be just you, and the white noise in his empty apartment, like it had been for the past four nights you had been there. 

The man looked like he needed a cup of tea. You reached for the kettle, pushing it on and leaning against the closed fridge door. “They tell you that at the old people's home?” Grabbing your buzzing phone off the counter you moved towards his surprisingly organised kitchen drawers, in which there was little besides some tea bags, coffee beans, jam, canned fruits and bars of candy. That combined with the eggs, bread and milk in his fridge came to make an almost comical representation of what most people would consider a bachelor's desolate pantry. 

Your eyes shifted to the illuminated screen of your phone, an unread message staring back at you. 

Maria: Leaving in five &lt;3

As you took the bubbling kettle off the burner you made a mental note, reaching for a cup, and a tea bag from the unopened box of earl grey you were pretty certain Javier did not buy for himself, rather became the owner of thanks to one of the nice old ladies who lived opposite him. 

“Somones in a mood today huh?” It was then you realised he had abandoned his work to watch you trudge around his kitchen barefoot in your little party outfit, one hand rested on his chin, one leg crossed over the other as he leant back in his wooden dining table chair. 

The teabag bobbed in the steaming water a couple of times, before you were pulling it out and tossing it in the trash. You grabbed his blue mug by the handle– some generic, machine made ceramic devoid of any personality, something you’d probably find in a show home. It looked like it had always been sitting on his kitchen shelf, only seeing the light of day every once in a while when he ditched his liquor cabinet for the coffee machine on the far end of the counter. Knowing him that wasn’t often.

“I'm kidding .”

“Well cariño I was thinking we could go to the dance bar tomorrow, but now I guess I'll have to stay home and rest my old knees.” He looked so surprised when you placed the mug in front of him, rested on a white paper napkin. It was almost like he had expected you to make it for yourself. The chair made a slight squeak against the floor as you pulled it back and took a seat, pulling his glass, now lined with the slight golden residue of whiskey, towards you. He was still surprised, a little taken back even, but not in offence, rather a tender, grateful smile tugged at his lips. 

“Since when do you dance?” With your focus no longer split between tasks you turned back to the conversation at hand. Making sure to emphasise you remembered just how uncharacteristic Javier’s little suggestion was. 

He took a sip of the earl grey, leaning forward and letting his shoulders fall ever so slightly. The glimmer of a distant memory played in his eyes as he met your gaze.“I don’t. But you do.” Your little reminiscence played in the back of your head like a movie reel, the soft sound of music from the dance bar by your house hanging in the air. As if transported into a distant dream you could see clusters of people twirling and dancing with the beat, like little ghosts behind Javier as he spoke. 

“And who am I going to dance with” When you said those words out loud you meant for them to sound a whole lot more utilitarian than they ended up sounding. Whether it was hope, or some odd suggestion you were in no mood to unpack where from deep in your subconscious that had come. All you could wish for is that he didn’t notice. 

“Plenty of people at the bar who’d love to dance with my darling.” And there it was, that answer you dreaded, delivered with that signature smile, with that warm, twinkling light in his eyes. “You don't have work tomorrow?” unable to bear the thought you moved along to more practical matters. 

He was already halfway through that cup of tea, and like his body was in the middle of some sort of spiritual cleanse you could see him resurface somewhat coherent and with eyes that weren’t half as dead as they were two minutes ago.“‘S friday, need the time off. Besides, I'd kick myself if I didn't make good on your time here. These fuckers still gonna be around when youre gone.” Sometimes you wondered if he was talking more to himself than he was to you. 

You felt a little buzzing in your purse, and you rummaged through it to find your phone. A text from Maria reminding you you needed to leave. “Yeah, you're gonna sit at the bar like a senior citizen while I have some fun?” 

Rising from your seat you searched the room for the last of your things. Notwithstanding the lack of time he had put into making the place home there were still small elements of him scattered throughout that little two bedroom. The fresh flowers in a glass vase on his centre table, framed pictures and art he’d been collecting over the years, small artefacts he’d brought back from his travels. It was so odd, the whole place stood suspended somewhere between home and a place far from it. Familiar yet distant. 

“Hey, they’ve got great drinks.”

He finished the last of his tea, and you picked up his mug and set it in the kitchen sink, running it under the tap water for a quick second to rinse it. Truth be told, you just wanted to sit and chat, and if half heartedly doing the dishes was going to give you a few more minutes with him you’d take it.“Don’t get too excited old man, I'm not driving us home.”

“I can take a few cariño, ‘m not like you.” You travelled to where you’d dropped your heels. 

“Slander.” pausing momentarily in the middle of putting on your shoes you lifted your head to find him looking back at you. His eyes had seemingly followed you all the way behind him, and he was still smiling. Had you not had one hand on his couch holding you in place you just might have tumbled over.  

“You be careful tonight, and don’t walk anywhere alone, especially if it's past ten. I know you– can't even read a damn map, so no wandering around, call me.” It looked like he had already given up on you, one hand rushing to his face to rub his tired eyes, the other plastered to the table. He was shaking his head the way he did when he caught you sneaking out your house one summer. 

“I’ll think about it.” of course you were going to call him, you didn't need an excuse. But you liked to see him all agitated, bossing you around like you knew he liked to do. With everyone, that is.

“No no, you're gonna call me when you get there, and you're gonna call me when you leave, and you're gonna tell me exactly how, and with whom you're gettin back.” You were already at the door, hoping to escape him, but he was yelling your name in that exasperated voice, and you heard him shuffle from his seat to stand up– catch you and drag you back in case that was necessary. 

“But-” Turning to meet his peering form over the wall of his living room you parted your lips, attempting to protest, playfully, but still protest, but he wasn't having any excuses. 

He was doing that thing where he looked at you with his soft eyes, slightly downturned, and the look could convince you to do just about anything, made you feel like you’d rather die than let them down. Anybody else’s nagging would have got you on your last nerve, but you only felt warmth, concern and care when he did it. Hell he could throw you off his roof and you’d still think the same. 

“No buts, no excuses. Thats final” You giggled, half because he sounded so much like a boring old man, and half because he was now leaning against the wall, with the top buttons of his shirt undone, and his hands on his hips, hair dishevelled from when he’d combed his fingers through it. 

“You sound like him..” With brows raised you looked at him expectantly, taunting him with your teases, and you nearly jumped out the door when he walked towards you, ready to grab you back to him as you escaped. Any insult was better than being compared to your dad, especially in this context. “Don't you say that, cariño” He was laughing, and you were laughing, and his otherwise quiet apartment building was now singing with an uncharacteristic gleam, a glow, a gaiety. 

Your shoes clicked against the floors as you scurried away, turning one last time to see him leaning against his door frame, shaking his head as he watched you skip into the night. “I don't make the rules old man”. You heard him chuckle behind you as you ‘sing songed’ your words, your heart fluttering when you noticed he waited for you to get outside before he closed his front door. 

–

It's better than I ever even knew

They say that the world was built for two

Only worth living if somebody is loving you

And, baby, now you do

“Thought I told you not to wander around alone, cariño.” You jumped, but it was too late, he had wrapped you up in his arms, and you were pressed up against his chest, and his voice was a low whisper in your ear. And you were dizzy. The alcohol in your system only partly responsible for your petrified squeak, wavering voice, and the way you swayed gently in his embrace. But when he kissed the top of your head ever so gently you could only giggle, recognising that warm hold, that faint smell of whisky on his shirt. 

“Psycho, you scared the shit outta me.” He was laughing when you turned around, exhausted, defeated almost, but his eyes were gleaming in the moonlight, and you felt yourself all but swoon at the way he was looking down at you.  “You’re lucky I'm the only psycho you ran into” Grabbing your face in his hands each word he spoke was punctuated with hyperbole, and a teasing disbelief. Your own hands shot up to grab his, and your cold palms thawed at the touch. You were sure you felt your heartbeat in your throat when his thumbs brushed the swell of your cheeks, you were sure he could feel the way they grew hot under his rough hands. “Just came out for a smoke, don’t go into cardiac arrest now” your fallen cigarette crumpled under your foot when you stepped on it, and in the midst of your eye roll you watched as he stepped back to look at you in faux disapproval. 

“Look at ya’, terrible.” He motioned his head towards the trampled butt on the ground below you. “Me? Terrible?” When you closed the distance between the both of you you stepped on it again, hearing it crush under your shoes, and shoved his shoulder playfully, poking his chest with your pointer finger. “Drinking on the job again old man?” Then he laughed again, this time at your playful yet truthful accusation, and the sound made you feel lighter than a feather. How could one person be so charming, so charismatic, at one in the morning? Like he was divulging a trade secret he raised his brow. “Keeps me awake.”

The blaring music in the club was muffled in the distance as you walked towards the steps of the church in front of you, the quiet and empty street echoing your footsteps. He walked beside you, kept you close on that pleasant summer night. When you turned your head your eyes caught a group of men huddled by a small food stall at the side of the street, hunched over some beers, smoking cigarettes. In the crowd there were two familiar faces. Steve was dressed casually, Carillo and the others in military fatigues. You wondered why he wasn’t walking in their direction, but judging by the look on their faces you concluded there would probably be a better time to do so. Besides, you weren't complaining, he was enough, he always was. 

They shot you a half hearted wave, and two strained smiles from across the road. 

Taking a seat you pat the stone ground beside you, watching as he looked around, almost willing someone to come into sight, one foot on the steps leading up to the cathedral entrance, wringing his hands. “What’re you doing here anyway?” You wondered what he had done that evening, but you knew you were better off not asking. You were glad to have bumped into him, and the last thing you wanted to do in your giggly half tipsy mood was have him explain something you were sure would keep you up at night. Not when he had that look on his face, his work look. 

“Waitin’ on an informant, but someone fucked up and well, we’re back at square one.” he was still searching the street when he bent down to sit beside you, so close your knees bumped. 

You felt your heart race a little when he pulled out what looked like a joint he had rolled moments ago from his shirt pocket, when he leaned back on his arm, lit it and looked up at the sky as he took a drag. You wondered if in your little emotional panic, your worry of his disappearance you had blocked out the memory of his striking, handsome face. You wondered if he had always been this beautiful, this captivating, everything he did set you on fire, the way he carried himself. 

“Smoke a lotta weed for a DEA agent.” 

He turned his head towards you, letting it fall lazily in your direction, and his hair fell in his face the way it did all those years ago, and he shot you that smile that felt like home. “Been a long day cariño”. He was looking back to the sky, but your eyes didn't leave him. He looked so tragic in the moonlight, half lit by its platinum glow. You weren’t sure if it was the liquid courage, or the fact that his shoulder looked more inviting than ever, or the fact that a cool breeze just blew by, and you shivered as it brushed your shoulder, but you leaned your head against him, and you felt your tummy erupt with butterflies when he placed a lingering kiss to your forehead. It was forbearing, and merciful, and you wondered if he had somehow noticed your girlish fawning, your silly admiration, and your heart dropped momentarily, but was soon resuscitated by his soft laughter. 

“Remember those cigarettes of mine you'd steal back in the day.” The breeze had picked up, and it’s cool was far more jarring when it kissed your hot cheeks. “‘S’not stealing… you knew.” you closed your eyes, and let yourself get lost in that comfortable memory. “yeah , could've told your papa” He was looking down at you, but you kept your eyes ahead, too intimidated to meet his gaze. 

“Didn’t” 

“Should’ve” His voice was a mumble beside you, and you found yourself thinking about your dad for the first time in a while, and you were instantly reminded the man you were so taken up by was his best friend, and almost twice your age, and saw you as nothing more than his buddy’s daughter. You stiffened against him. 

He took another drag of his joint. “If he was here right now his blood pressure would be through the roof”. A cold breeze tickled your skin, and he rubbed your shoulder gently and despite the murmured chatter in your head you couldn’t help but melt into his touch. 

“Darling, I can't believe you've been out this long.” He was laughing, and his horrible impression had you in a similar state. Conflict bubbled in your chest, each word slipping past his lips reminded you of your relationship, of your dad, and what he would think if he could peek inside your head, at your little thoughts. You felt guilty, but how could you hold that feeling? Not when he was shaking with joy beside you, not when he had his arm around you the way he did, not when you were tucked into his side, shielded from the winds. 

“You smell like a dingy bar” It felt so natural, your regular routine, the way it had always been, when your dad would say something funny, or outrageous, and the both of you would have a field day. It was well incorporated in your repertoire at that point, but the years apart had the memory sitting on a shelf in your brain, collecting dust. You remember when your dad made a terrible joke the day of your senior prom, and the two of you refused to let it go the entire evening. Javier had a vocabulary of his favourite phrases, and so did you, and you couldn’t help but pull them out every once in a while. 

“How am I going to survive you?!” You spoke in tandem, each letter dragged out with faux frustration, an uncanny similarity to your dad’s tone ringing in the air as your blended voices formed a familiar melody. It hung between you as he laughed heartily, and you wanted nothing more than to frame the moment, keep it tucked away where it would be yours, only yours forever. The starry night, a twinkling sky above you, the chirp of the crickets,  and perhaps your most treasured person, holding you against him. 

You wondered why he left, why he left you behind. Did he feel the same as you did in that moment? Was he happy to be there? To have caught you on your night out? After he’d called off his wedding all those years ago he’d become a rarer sight. You were too young to remember, and it wasn’t long after your parents got married. Growing up in your little town you’d heard he always had a reputation with women, but you never believed a word of the neighbourhood chatter. 

They were not the same person– the guy everyone talked about, and your Javier. While you’d never give him a break from the teasing, bringing up all the times you’d run into women in the streets, asking if you’d seen him, you could never really imagine him as the man everyone made him out to be. He was reckless, sure, and impulsive, and insolent, and a hardass, but he was also gentle, and thoughtful, and gallant.

At least he was to you. 

As if he could hear your thoughts, and they were so loud in your head you wouldn’t be surprised if he could, he broke the silence. “I wanted to come back cariño, but-” 

“But you couldn’t, I know '' There was no point going over what had happened and why, and while you incessantly wondered you knew it was a fruitless exercise. It was just how he was, he liked to up and leave, disappear, keep his distance, and you wondered if that had anything to do with you. But you didn't want to kill the moment, more for yourself than for him. 

“Glad you decided to come, cariño” It was like he was trying to convince you, of what exactly you weren't sure, but he sounded so earnest, so true.. and you felt deep down he was trying to make amends for his absence. Not just from you, but from the life he left behind. Were you an exception? Or a way to right his wrongs? mend all that had been pushed aside? You didn't know, but you’d worry about that later.

The winds had picked up, and the sky was gleaming, and for the first time in a long time you felt at peace. 

“I like it here, it's nice.” When you spoke he was almost surprised, but your words seemed to only widen his grin. He squeezed your shoulder gently. 

“Me too baby, me too.” 

— 

Singin' in the old bars

Swingin' with the old stars

Livin' for the fame

Kissin' in the blue dark

Playin' pool and wild darts

Video games

He holds me in his big arms

Drunk and I am seeing stars

This is all I think of

“Looks like they knew you were coming.” You swivelled the bar stool in your direction, hopping up on the seat. It was early in the evening, around seven, but the music was already going, and there were people on the dance floor, moving to the beat of retro spanish tunes. Javier took a seat beside you, still in his suit from work, shirt haphazardly tucked into his dress pants, tie loose around his neck. 

“Why?” the bartender placed your drinks on the counter, and you couldn’t help but roll your eyes at the fact that he’d stuck to his whiskey on the rocks. “They got the oldies on”. You were giggling, and while he wanted to pretend like he was far too tired to care about your antics he couldn’t help but crack a smile. There was a charm to it– catching a break at the end of the work week, the tranquillity of the weekend enveloping you like a safety net. One of you that is. 

Friday night was busy at any joint, buzzing with nightlife, food and drink. Somewhere along the way you’d gotten up from your seat and headed to the large empty space in the middle of the bar, where tables and chairs had been cleared to create a somewhat makeshift dance floor. Javier was right, while he sat sipping his whiskey you found plenty of dance partners. 

It was all easy, getting passed from one person to the other as the group formed a large circle. It was like you had disappeared into the crowd, bodies moving left to right in the dim green glow, only occasionally giving you a glimpse of the man sitting at the counter– face rested in his palm. Ask him to dance. These urges of yours were momentary, little private lapses of judgement that would only remind you of what was just not possible. 

When he’d take you out back in the day he’d have some minor injury to blame for his lack of participation on the dance floor, and when he didn’t he was “a terrible dancer” or “had too many drinks”. After a while you stopped asking. You realised you’d never really seen him dance. 

You had grabbed the hand of a stranger, letting them twirl you around– Javier was looking in your direction. For how much fun he liked to have you had come to recognize hardly any of it involved other people. Weddings, birthdays, barbeques. He was there. However, you’d always felt he looked at it as an obligation. A hi to the bride and groom, a bouquet of flowers, some meaningless small talk and he would disappear out the door. When he stayed it was solely in the company of a few familiar suspects– your dad being one. While he was often the subject of conversation, he was a pretty reluctant conversationalist. 

It was hot, and muggy, and if someone asked you where you were in the room you surely couldn’t place yourself. Forcing yourself out of the chatter in your head you looked up, noticing finally that your partner hadn’t changed in the past 10 minutes. 

He was looking down at you quite sweetly, he was actually quite handsome, your age, but he didn’t have a white button up on, didn’t have that sideways smirk. He wasn’t Javier. And unfairly, for that reason alone you didn’t want him. But who were you to say no to pretty green eyes, soft, delicate looking light brown hair, a black button up that wasn’t very buttoned up. Neither of you had the confidence to speak up, so you let him sway you side to side, one hand firmly planted on his chest.

You wondered what he really thought of you, if after this little visit he’d be more compelled to come visit, at least spare you a call. Would he disappear once again? Call your dad once in a while and ask him to deliver some impersonal message like ‘say hi to her for me’? You wished you could care less, but you knew you couldn’t, and something inside you told you he knew too. 

A firm arm wrapped around your waist, spinning you in the opposite direction, faces turned to motion blur as you turned on your heel. “Looks like a saved you, cariño.” He was twirling you, holding your hand in his and pulling you into his chest. He hadn’t really saved you but at the same time he had. He could pick you up from a field of lilies and drop you in a medieval torture chamber and he’d still be your knight in shining armour.  

What the fuck are you doing here? You wanted to ask, but you held back. You wondered what had prompted him on the dance floor. Did he think some weirdo wouldn’t let go of you? Had seeing you dance with someone else accomplished a task years of your coaxing couldn’t? You turned back, but the stranger had already disappeared, and Javier was directing your gaze towards him. 

As you had always suspected he was a great dancer, and he sure as hell liked holding you close as you moved along the dance floor. The songs ran over the decades, and he’d often sing lines to you– smiling and pulling you towards him. He looked so handsome, lights reflecting off his face, his smile tired, but earnest, and wide. You almost couldn’t keep up. 

“Danced your energy away?” Picking up the pace once again you twirled around him, unwilling to give in. “No! Why? your back needa rest?” You watched him laugh– shake his head and grab you by the hips. “Sure you didn't cariño.. Can't keep up with an old man?” Voice raw from yelling over the music, you pulled his leg. “Think I heard your knee pop.” His raised brow only aroused suspicion. “Oh really?” Before you could even respond his arm had hooked under your thighs, and his hand was on your back and you were being lifted into the air. “Oh my god!” Your own arms flung around his neck, both your laughs floating between you as he spun around. 

It felt different and not because something in his head had dragged him out onto the dance floor. The way he was looking at you, the way he just couldn’t let go. It hurt your heart more than anything you’d ever experienced. The pain was conflicting– the love ache and the hurt. Did he know how much he meant to you? Did he even care? Something in your heart told you he did but you chalked it up to innocent hope. 

The music slowed down, and you heard emerging from the stereo a familiar tune. 

You’d hum it all the time, so much so it would drive your father nuts. In the kitchen, while doing chores, sometimes as you read by Javier’s side. On the weekend when you woke up early to help cook breakfast it’d be the first song on the playlist. You recall how he’d watch you dance around the kitchen, truth be told rather ungracefully in the mornings– spatula in one hand, kitchen towel in the other.They played it at some wedding once, and your friends had bounded to the dance floor with you just to ensure you didn’t miss a note. You were running so fast you all but collided with him, and he had to catch your falling form as you stumbled towards your best friend, shouting a quick “sorry” as you bounded in her direction.  

He remembered. 

Words were useless when you looked at him the way you did. An expression of surprise, confusion, realisation, all at once, a smile tugging your lips, your doe eyes gazing into his soft brown ones. And his arms were around you, and you were pressed against his warm chest, and you were gently swaying to the beat of the music. 

“Looks like they knew you were coming.” 

It felt like a blip in time, but it would’ve been hours. People came and left, all around you groups of twos and threes and tens, but you stayed, and he stayed. Smiling down at you, holding you tight. You were a little light headed from it all, feet fighting the urge to take a little break. You just couldn’t let go. 

Plopping down on the bar stool you let your cheek hit the cool marble of the counter. Your legs felt like wet noodles, trembling when you finally sat down. You weren't really sure where Javier went, but it felt like an eternity he let you lay there with your eyes closed. Every second was one hundred times longer when he wasn’t holding you. His arm was firm around your waist when he finally helped you out of your seat. You realised he’d been standing only about two metres away the entire time. 

“Let’s get you home, ‘s late.” He had picked your shoes up from where you’d abandoned them, his own blazer draped over his arm– the one you weren’t hanging on to. With closed eyes you let him lead you out into the night, all your weight firmly supported by his broad shoulders, your stumbling feet only stabilised when he tucked you into his side. 

Unintelligible to anyone but him, and muffled by your yawn and cheek pressed against his upper arm you slurred your words as you spoke. “Past your bedtime?” 

He chuckled to himself, placing a soft kiss to the top of your head, his voice a faint murmur– the last thing you really remember hearing.  “Yes cariño, past my bedtime…” 

—

It's you, it's you, it's all for you

Everything I do

I tell you all the time

Heaven is a place on earth with you

Tell me all the things you wanna do

I heard that you like the bad girls

Honey, is that true?

“You been drinkin’ my whiskey….” He was leaning on the table, waving the glass you left out in the air, holding it between two of his fingers. He wasn’t upset, rather looked quite amused. You rubbed your eyes, making out his smile from a distance.  “Couldn't sleep.” Peering into the room you were staying in you were sure he saw your blankets bunched up on the bed where you had been tossing and turning for hours. Your eyes caught the clock on the wall. 

1am. 

It had been a long day. Being assigned to a new supervisor proved to be a real curse. He was quite a piece of work. Patronising, condescending, everything in between. If that wasn’t enough he rejected your proposal, and asked you to submit a new one in two days. God knows you had a lot on your mind. 

The kitchen cabinet swished when he opened it, bringing you back to the present. “God, you really are like me huh?” He still had his jacket on, but judging by the look on his face he needed a drink first. The couch dipped as you threw yourself on it, and you turned over its back rest to watch him move around the kitchen. 

“I had like one shots worth, with like a whole glass of water, so not like you.” Curled up under his plush throw blanket you sank into the cushions, eyes following him as he sat down beside you. With a deep sigh he leaned back, pinching the bridge of his nose between his thumb and index. “Fuckin’ hell” 

“Long day?” He picked up the joint he’d just rolled from the side table, groping for the handle of the drawer to grab a lighter. “Can say that..” It was just another night for him. You were lucky you heard him pull up outside, and had got yourself to look somewhat presentable so you could see him at least once that day. Granted that involved nothing but putting on a bralette. 

Maybe it was the fact that it was late, or that you had such a shitty day, or that you just couldn’t help yourself anymore, but you leaned against his chest, snuggling into his side as he took a drag. “I would try and talk you out of this job, but I think I've exhausted all my arguments..” You twiddled your fingers, just wanting to melt into him and disappear. 

“I don’t think there’s anything else I could do.” You shivered, his fingers tracing shapes on your upper arm. “Couldn’t do whatever it is you’ve been doing…” redirecting your gaze from your lap you looked up at him. “Sometimes it feels like I can’t either” He was looking ahead, voice low and rumbly, and just what you needed to hear. 

“You’ve got time, got one’ve my lifetimes ahead’ve you” He pulled you closer, head resting against yours. “Don't say that” You poked his side lightly, hearing him chuckle beside your ear. “Oh yeah, now those jokes gettin’ to you?!” 

Stewing in a comfortable silence you let yourself ease into his embrace, willing your mind to shut up for the time being and enjoy his company. The way he was holding you– so much more delicately than he ever had before had your heart clenching. “Tell me your day was better than mine.”

His words cut through the chilled air, and your heart soared at the thought that it even mattered to him. “No, sucked.” to anyone else you would have responded with a simple ‘it was good’, some white lie to avoid further questions, but you couldn’t lie to him, he’d figure it out one way or another. “My supervisor’s an asshole..”

Nothing was more comforting than the kiss he placed to the side of your head.“‘m sorry honey” He offered you his joint– seemingly having deserted his agenda of being a good influence in favour of apparently celebrating your mutual disappointment. You felt your cheeks heat. 

“I've never smoked before.” 

Gasping comically he whipped his head towards you. He tapped your nose with his index, pinching your cheek and giving you possibly the most suspicious look he could muster. At least he tried, because his smile peaked through the interrogative exterior. “You little liar.” The gesture had you jumping to defend yourself. Shifting to meet his drooping eyes you almost knocked him over as you plopped on the couch, letting him wrap his free arm around your waist to steady you. “No, promise!” You leaned your forehead against his, your eyes gazing into his in an attempt to convince him. Despite his disbelief you were indeed telling the truth. 

“Oh really? Been drinkin’ too, trouble.” his hand snaked up the nape of your neck, cupping your jaw. It was then you realised just how close you were to him. Your eyes flickered to his lips momentarily. When you realised he had beat you to the task you were convinced you were hallucinating, or had somehow gotten high off the second hand smoke. In pain, you were in utter pain, unveiled and unprotected– subjected to his piercing gaze. 

Painfully aware of the tension that had settled like a thick cloud over you, your voice came out small and strained, but also hopeful. “‘M not trouble….could be though” 

The tightness in his jaw was something you couldn’t ignore. “Yeah, I know” In a moment of bad judgement, or in hindsight good judgement you decided you knew what you needed to do. You were exhausted of having to wonder. You were exhausted of asking questions, exhausted of his absence. You slung your leg over his thighs, lifting yourself onto his lap Leaning against his firm chest you peered up at him through your lashes. 

“Baby, careful”  You knew this time those words were not for you, you knew he was fighting the urge to gather you in his arms. You could see that look in his dark eyes– hungry, and hot. You could feel him, hard against your cotton panties. He bent down to press his forehead against yours, your noses bumping. “Cariño, you don't know what you're doing.”  His actions were in direct contradiction to his words, his large hands cradling your soft cheek, pleading you to put him out of his misery. But you were selfish, like he had been all those years ago, and you needed him to put you out of yours. 

“You don’t want this, Cariño” He swiped his thumb over your bottom lip. He was doing that thing again, where he was talking more to himself than to you. But couldn’t let him decide what you wanted, because for years you’d let him convince himself you’d wanted to keep your distance to maintain his own conscience– to make him feel better about how he’d disappeared from your life. 

“I know what I want..”  You didn’t mean to, but you were pouting, and despite your best efforts to speak with conviction you couldn’t help but come off a little pleading, “show me, please.” surely he knew you weren’t just talking about the weed. 

His lips ghosted over yours, and you could just about burst into tears the way he was looking at you. He probably noticed the way your chin wobbled, the way your doe eyes blinked away from his. Because in a moment you heard him sigh heavily, painfully, and apologetically all at once. 

And he was kissing you. Soft and slow, and gentle, and benevolent and like everything you’d ever hoped for. He tasted how you’d always imagined– like whiskey and cigarettes and everything in between. Like home. His thumb stroked your cheek gently until you pulled away, glossy eyed and wobbly on his lap. 

“Want me to show you what?” And here you thought his eyes couldn’t get any darker. He mumbled into your lips, voice commanding and steady– everything you weren't. He grabbed the back of your neck and guided you back towards him. Threading your fingers through his hair you let yourself get lost in the shelter of his hold. You felt as though he could pretty much eat you alive, the way his lips were moving against yours– suddenly hot and soft and needy. 

Heart racing you chased his lips with your own, but he steadied you with his hands, amused at your zeal. “Gotten all worked up now have we?” You couldn’t help it, you tried, tried to sit steady in his lap, but you just couldn’t, not when you felt his cock, twitch against your clothed pussy. 

You rolled your hips against his, watched as his head fell back against the couch. The crease between his brows only persuaded you to continue. “Shit baby, tryna kill me?” barely audible, his rasp had you bracing yourself with your hands planted firmly on his chest. You dragged your hips again, leaning down and tugging the fabric of his shirt. He reached for the joint he’d abandoned on the side table, bringing it to your lips. 

He observed you greedily. “That's it, good girl.” His voice had never sounded more strained than it did in that moment, watching you take a drag, eyes glossing over. The praise had your heart fluttering, you’d do just about anything to hear it again. Smoking wasn’t helping either of your causes, because it only made you press your pussy harder against his clothed crotch. This time his hips rose slightly to meet you, and he cursed lowly under his breath. Already unable to maintain control. 

Taking another drag he leaned back, letting you rub yourself against him, eyes screwing shut every once in a while, just like your own. He’d bring the joint to your waiting mouth every now and then, revelling in the sight of you getting more and more desperate with each puff. 

“dirty little girl..” you whimpered at his words. “rubbin’ that drippy lil pussy all over my lap.” You looked down, only to find a dark spot on his grey jeans, for where you pressed yourself against him. Incapable of stopping your movements you continued, relishing how the friction eased the throbbing between your legs. “Yeah? few drags got you all achy cariño, got you squirmin’?” 

He was watching you, and you could make out his intense gaze through your fluttering lashes, his eyes scanning you up and down, then fixing on your face of strained pleasure. “Tell me how good it feels, Cariño” His palms smoothed up and down your thighs, harsh and slow, and exercising all the self control he could muster. It was difficult to answer, a response bubbling in your throat before you were incoherently blurting it out. 

"Feels so good..” whining, you grabbed the fabric of his shirt in your fists, bouncing on his lap lightly to feel just anything against you, you wanted more, lust and intoxication clouding your judgement. “Please, need it, need it so bad” Losing all sense of restraint one of his hands reached for your hips, squeezing and gripping firmly. 

He dragged your already rolling hips against him, sliding you against his clothed crotch to the point you couldn’t help but let your legs fall limp, your forehead press against his shoulder. “Need what?” You could feel the tick in his jaw where it was pressed up against your cheek. 

His hand slipped between your bodies, moving your soaked panties aside to feel your wetness. You shuddered when you felt him against you, grinding down on his hand. “Fuck, look at that. So fuckin’ wet for me babygirl.” 

“Need you inside me, please.” Nosing his neck you pressed a kiss there, mouth falling agape as he rubbed your clit, fingers teasing your entrance, just barely pushing into you.  “Like this?” If your laboured breaths were any indication you couldn’t take it much longer. 

You wiggled your hips, trying to bear down on his digits, but he pulled away only to squeeze the inside of your thigh. ““Gettin’ to you already? use your words baby” he was taunting you, your little ‘no’s making him smirk against your shoulder as he went back to sliding his fingers along the cut of your pussy. “What do ya’ want me to do to you? Tell me babygirl.” You knew the sweet talk was only meant to encourage you, and while it worked you couldn’t help the way your cheeks burned when you replied. 

“Want your cock inside me. Want you to fuck me.. please … need it” 

Now that he listened to, fingers pulling away and tapping at your lips. When you gazed down at them you could see how wet you really were– having drenched them in the little while he’d had his hand in your panties. Obeying you parted them, letting him slide them into your waiting mouth, sucking gently, the taste of yourself heady on your tongue. “Good girl.” Even though he looked quite composed on the outside you still noticed the way he swallowed thickly when your tongue ran along his digits. 

“Want me to fuck the cute lil pussy?” you shook your head vehemently, and he chuckled at your enthusiasm. “That's my pretty baby.” he kissed you like he wanted to devour you, frantic, and urged, voice so rough it came out almost like a growl. His hands roughly grabbed your hips, flipping you to lay back against his couch. In a moment your sleep top and bralette had been discarded, in a pile on the floor alongside your shorts and his own clothes. 

Slotting himself between your legs you looked down to where his fingers were tracing the inside of your thigh. You gazed up at him, upper body lit by the dim orange light of the side table, broad shoulders slumped as he admired the sight of you– on your back, in nothing but your panties, all for him. As he slowly pulled them down your legs, he sure seemed to relish the way the fabric of your cotton panties clung messily to your wet pussy.  

“Poor thing, just need someone to take care of you don’t you?” It was less of a question and more of a declaration, and undoubtedly it made you feel open and weak. How could you not feel that way? There you were laid out in front of him, every part of you exposed, his toned torso being the only part of him you could really see thanks to the half lit room. It felt like if he looked just a little closer he’d be able to see right through your naked body– and into your scrambled thoughts. 

His index teased your dripping hole, briefly dipping into you and coming back to rub soft circles on your clit. Gasping, your fingers flew to grip his wrist when you felt him slide his cock against your cunt, tip teasing your sensitive nub ever so slightly. “Relax babygirl, be good for me.” Bringing your hand to his lips he peppered your knuckles with kisses, willing you to ease into the cushions as he draped himself over your body. He grasped your face in his palm, kissing his reassurance against your forehead as you felt him line himself up with your leaking entrance. 

You mewled at the stretch of him, at how hot you felt against him as he eased himself into your soft pussy. “Shit- so fucking tight-” his stopped for a second, like he was willing himself not to split you open with one quick snap of his hips. “can barely fit my cock in this lil pussy.” Leaning in your lips searched for his. He let you melt into him, fingers brushing against your side as if to calm you down. 

It was so much– his weight on top of you, his hips slotted between your thighs, forehead pressed against yours. You could feel every pulse, every throb, every ridge of him inside you, nudging those spots you could never reach yourself– and he wasn’t even moving yet. 

When he did start moving you couldn’t help the whimper that slipped past your lips. Your fingers digging into the flesh of his biceps, pulling him closer. You needed him, pressed up against your rising chest, holding you. “I know cariño, I know.” His right hand squeezed your waist, “Feels so good doesn’t it? Yeah feelin’ all full?” 

His voice was so sweet, like honey, warm and sultry in your ear. You nodded a quiet ‘yes’. He cradled your face in his palm, nose nudging yours gently. Mumbling his own rhetorical “yeah?” he kissed the underside of your jaw. For the first time he felt as close as he physically was, big and thick inside you. 

You were drowning in his arms, enveloped by them, cocooned in a bubble of heat, and low breathy sighs, and his lips ghosting over yours as he thrust into you– hard, but slow, and deep.  “That’s it, just like that–” he picked up his pace ever so slightly. “Such a good girl.” His words were gruff, and stuttery and his breath tickled your ear whenever he spoke. 

Feeling the drag of his thick cock against your pulsing walls your eyes struggled to focus on him above you. He on the other hand seemed to have no trouble fixing his gaze on your trembling form. “Makin’ me feel so–” he brought his thumb to brush the swell of your cheek, “fucking good, baby”. Your head buzzed at his praise, burning face turning to rest in his palm. 

With your back lifting off the soft cushion you reached to pull him impossibly closer, wiggling your hips to meet his thrusts. “More, please, please.. Want it” you couldn’t recognise your voice, not when you were begging him, watching his eyes twinkle. “Yeah? Need me to fuck this pretty pussy harder?” you nodded– feeling embarrassed enough at his smirk of surprise to hide your face in his neck, but not enough to stop begging. Another soft “please” barely falling from your mouth.  

Rising slightly he grabbed your hips, holding your thigh against his side. Your tilted hips granted him a whole new angle, and before you knew it you were throwing your head back, letting it fall against the upholstery. “You want that, don't you baby? Need me to stuff you full of my cum?” You could only respond with your sounds of pleasure. 

He pushed you against the cushions, hovering above you to drive himself deeper, watching you turn into a moaning incoherent mess– your whimpers and whines bouncing off the walls and only exhilarating his pleasure. “That's right cariño, I gotcha’” one hand squeezed the flesh of your hip, then travelled up to brush against the exposed column of your throat– fingers tracing your skin before he was leaning down and placing sloppy kisses against you. 

“gonna fuck this pretty pussy till she’s dripping with my cum.”

He must have noticed that dumb, hazy look in your eyes when propped himself back up, still fucking you till your hips pressed into the sofa’s cushions. “Fuck, nothin in that head of yours huh?” You made out his smirk of pride as you jostled around, trying your best to keep your eyes on him as he moved above you. 

It was far easier said than done. Not when you could feel his cock against your throbbing walls, could hear his scruff groans whenever he felt you clench around him, not when he was looking down at you with his furrowed brows, and sweat gemming his hair– which’s curls had been ruffled out of place from when you’d ran your fingers through them. 

Especially not when he shifted ever so slightly, and you felt his tip brush that sensitive spot inside you you didn't even know you had. Javier cursed above you, feeling you squeeze his cock. “that the spot huh babygirl?” he watched the way your eyes fluttered shut, face scrunching in pleasure as he hit it over and over and over again. 

Your head lulled from side to side, your body in overdrive and completely overwhelmed at the sensations. That was until he was cupping your cheek in his palm, tilting your face in his direction. “Use your words for me.”. But you couldn’t, parted lips struggling to form anything coherent besides soft, little whines. 

His hips snapped in a deep, slow thrust. “Say it..” Your eyes were barely open, and you reached and tried to grab him closer, but he stayed above you, unwilling to budge as he slowed to a complete stop– waiting for you to voice your needs. “Yes-”

He mumbled against your lips, nipping, and kissing. “Good girl, my good girl.” To that you nodded, back arching as he drove you closer and closer to the edge.  Every part of you singing at his touch– how he kneaded and squeezed your hot flesh. 

The coil in your belly only tightened and tightened, and you suddenly felt too vulnerable, too exposed to meet his hooded eyes. Turning your face to the side you let the plush throw blanket hide your hot cheeks, burying your face in it. “Look at me, wanna see your pretty face.” It was an instruction. One he expected you to follow like all the others. 

You didn’t think he’d notice that hitch in your breath, the way you did the opposite and smashed your face against the soft fabric. It was all too much, and he was fucking into your soaking pussy, and his hands were roaming your body, and you could feel his skin brush yours, and you were dizzy, and overwhelmed and you could scream and–

And he was slowing down again, just enough to where he kept you on that edge, to where you could savour every bit of him inside you. – “Cariño, look at me..” God he sounded so tender, coaxing you out of your daze just enough to the point you shook your head ‘no’, whimpering and turning only further away from him. 

He kissed your cheek, cooing at your overwhelm. Not to mock you, rather he sounded quite endeared, prideful even. “Baby” Nudging his nose with yours you felt his thumb rub soothing circles against the apex of your cheekbone, urging you in his direction ever so slightly. Your eyes fluttered open, just barely, only to find him smiling down at you. 

“There’s my girl.” 

“Need you to look at me when ‘m fuckin’ you.” He held your face in place as his hips met yours, slow and languid. No part of you was left untouched, his kisses adorning every inch of your exposed skin, lips coming to press against yours every now and then. It was like he could see through your nakedness, and the thought terrified you to no end, made you feel small and defenceless, and had your sensitive cunt squeezing his cock.  

“You close honey?” When you nodded your nose bumped his, and he laughed before he was kissing you gently. He brushed the sweat from your brow, voice so mellow yet in control. “Cum for me baby-” You felt him deep inside you. So so so close. ”Wanna feel you cum all over my cock” 

It rolled over you, slow and intense and deep, in waves. He held you close, cooing at your trembling frame, holding you against him. “'M here cariño, I gotcha, just like that.” Groaning, he watched your eyes struggle to remain open, rolling back into your head as he fucked your throbbing cunt. “That's my pretty girl.” 

His own hips stuttered, thrusts becoming sloppy as he neared his release. Still experiencing the aftershocks of your orgasm you felt him fucking into your warm, pulsing pussy. You felt his cock twitch inside you before he was filling you up with his cum, a strained curse slipping past his lips. 

Ears ringing you registered him catching his breath above you, but it was all too hazy for you to make out. All you really knew is that he hadn’t let go of you, hadn’t abandoned you on the couch to smoke a cigarette or pour himself a drink, instead he was peppering your face with little kisses. “ ‘m so proud’a you cariño– did so well for me.” 

Pulling out he slid his hand under your back, flipping you over so you were snuggled into his chest. The cold air from the open window could barely touch your skin before Javier was throwing the blanket over you– keeping you warm, close. 

You were still in your daze, but even as you lay on top of him, drifting in and out of a deep slumber you couldn’t shake the worry that when you opened your eyes he would be gone. 

That he would have traded you in for the comfort of his bed, or worse would have disappeared into obscurity once again. The thought only stung more as you felt his cum leak out of you, mixing with your own to drip down your thighs obscenely. 

You never really knew if he regretted it, if he wanted you for sure, if he liked having the weight of your body against him. Flinging your arms around his neck you tugged him impossibly closer, burying your face in his neck. A silent plea to stay where he was. You didn’t care if you seemed needy, or clingy or pathetic. 

It was like he knew somehow, like your thoughts floated to him after you’d thought them. And as always there was no explaining to do, no questions to answer, nothing to say. His embrace was safe, and secure, and unwavering. “close those eyes for me cariño mìo” He planted a soft kiss to your nose, his arms tightening around you, palms rubbing soothing circles on your back. “‘m right here babygirl, not goin’ anywhere….”

You did. And he didn’t. 

It's better than I ever even knew

They say that the world was built for two

Only worth living if somebody is loving you

And, baby, now you do

Now you do

Now you do

Now you do

Now, now you do

Now you do

Now you do

I would also like to add that we are engaging with this concept solely in the realm and interest of fiction. This type of situation is a huge red flag. While the reader is seemingly consenting and enthusiastic there is a huge power imbalance between her and Javier. He has also known her her whole life and has been a significant part of her childhood. Engaging sexually or romantically in a relationship like that is creepy gr*omer behaviour. I used their past as a narrative device because this isn’t real, but please be aware of your media consumption, and that dynamics between characters in fic are vastly different from what is healthy, and ethical in real life. 🫶🐝💗

I really hoped you lovelies enjoyed it!! Please let me know what you think, I'd love to hear it! Thank you to everyone who reblogs my work, you keep me writing. Dividers and banners by @ saradika 💗🐝✨

[ddarker-dreams]

missing scarlet ribbons so bad… brain food for SR: confined space stand that lowkey locks SR reader in a really small alternate dimension space with the bucci gang. like… chest to chest on top like “aughh sorry!! its so cramped in here :((“ and the guys r j internally screaming over it

RETURNING WITH SOME SCARLET RIBBONS !!!!!!!!!!!! i love them your honor <33333333

[Scarlet Ribbons index]

Although Giorno recognizes this predicament's unique benefits, he still prioritizes your well-being. He will check you over, ensuring no harm has been inflicted. Once that’s settled, admittedly, a few mischievous thoughts flit through his mind… none that he’ll act on, however. He accommodates you to the best of his ability. Ever the opportunist, he’ll gratefully accept any physical contact your shuffling around results in. Should you find yourself bored while waiting out the Stand’s effects, he’ll humor (most) requests you make of Gold Experience. And no, he won’t agree to create an elephant, no matter how passionately you plead your case. You’ll have to settle for a duckling or something similarly small. Capybaras aren’t off the table. 

Your level-headed leader, Bruno, finds himself unusually flustered. He recoils a bit too fast from any contact and dedicates a lengthy chunk of time to clearing his throat. He steels his nerves by asking if you’re alright, feeling any adverse side effects, etc. Sticky Fingers is summoned to check for a way out of this pocket dimension, an idea that’s proven implausible. You’ll both have to wait it out. Bruno gives you as much space as he can, to the point his contortions are stressing you out from how uncomfortable they must be. He almost chokes when you offhandedly suggest sitting on his lap to ‘free up space.’ Poor man. 

Fugo’s irritated over the fight’s outcome. He feels useless, since your presence prevents him from utilizing Purple Haze, lest you fall victim to the Stand’s abilities. He critiques your strategies and lists what you should’ve done differently. Don’t take it personally — internally, he’s berating himself for being unable to do more. The self-loathing steadily fades away as he recognizes how close these accommodations have you. Fugo cuts himself off mid rant, sputtering incoherent gibberish. His heart starts beating so hard, he wonders if he might be going into cardiac arrest. Your knees are brushing against each other. Why aren’t you panicking? Why is he panicking? … And why does he feel some gratitude toward the Stand User responsibles for this? 

Narancia considers this a golden opportunity to prove how reliable (and cool!) he is. Will most likely quote an action hero for maximum effect. He reassures you that he’s ‘totally got this’ and suggests shooting the walls with Aerosmith to bust out. You have to talk him out of this brilliant plan, reminding him that ricochet is a thing. Sitting still and waiting for the Stand’s ability to run its course hits him the hardest. He wants to be proactive, primed to pummel the asshole that got you both in this situation. However, your presence greatly decreases the likelihood he’ll do anything rash. At a certain point, he finds the whole thing kinda cool, like a secret base only you two know about. 

Mista used to pray for days like these. He’s thanking all the saints (that he can remember) for this gracious opportunity. Still, he’s mindful of your boundaries, doing his best not to intrude on your space. He will be inhaling your perfume, though. In copious amounts. While escape should be a high priority, seeing as neither of you are dying, he’s rather chill about the entire ordeal. You’re his favorite person to goof around with. He jokes about offering himself up if you’re stuck here long enough for starvation to kick in. You don’t get why his mind always ends up in a Hannibal-Lecter-esque place, but it’s a nice (?) sentiment. The Stand’s ability ends far too fast for his liking. 

Abbacchio is secretly grateful it’s you he’s stuck with and not some other schmuck. He might give you a hard time, but your presence is tolerable, even if you have a proclivity for yapping. The fact that you’re nice on the eyes is an added bonus. Considering his height, it’s impossible for you to have absolutely zero contact. Abbacchio’s always been tough on himself — he wouldn’t blame you if you were repulsed by him. So for you not to shrink away when your hands touch… it warms his heart in a way he hadn’t thought possible. He’ll humor your musings, adding his own dry wit on the occasion until you’re both freed. 

[ay0nha]

Some Unholy War | Theseus Scamander (IV)

SUMMARY: Theseus was always talented in thinking clearly. Logically. He wanted you to be wrong, but your instincts pushed you to keep moving. It was the only way to stay one step ahead of Sinclair. It contrasted Theseus’ plan to stay put within the walls of the Ministry. You contrasted his very being. 

PAIRING: Theseus Scamander x f!reader  

WORD COUNT: 1.1K

WARNINGS: canon-typical things, flashback of sorts, mutual pining, semi enemies-to- lovers, always a protective Theseus, SLOW burn, etc.

A/N: HELLO. Again, this took me longer than I would have liked. So, rather than rushing it, I’m going to break it up into two parts...I’m going to take a lil break to get my head together, but I’m v excited in how this second part is going to go!!! So, stay tuned...As always, thank you, @kalllistos​​​​. Comments are always welcomed. Enjoy.

PART I, PART II, PART III

Effort was a comical notion.

Magic required it at times, just as breathing did. The effort now felt good, worth it. The icy air that reached the ends of your lungs stung. Yet, each breath was quieter, the effort only coming in the form of physical mechanics of pushing a warm breath back out that the air around you marked.

“Are you mad?” Theseus’ exclamation hadn’t taken any exertion. The pent-up anger almost made you flinch. Theseus yelled after you as you continued forward. He never begged you to stop; he told you. Sometimes you’d listen just to display your wit.

You were quiet, entering the idyllic fog, hoping it would swallow you whole.

“Keep up….” Your voice was airy, the instruction more for yourself. The memory was faded, your mind trying to hold onto it as it threatened to slip between your fingers.

It started in Theseus’ office—a muddled memory overlapping with the friction of everything around you. It was more a feeling, something foggy and unrestrained that called you forward. It felt a bit like apparating, where your body didn’t quite belong for the moments it took to find your footing again.

You scolded yourself for not seeing it clearly; that was the thing about divination.

Although studied meticulously, its real trait was its vitality.  It shifted and molded. Evolved.  It made even more concrete things seem like rubber, rejecting electricity with an uncanny ability to mold into shapes unknown. It was the type of thing that could be so exciting to happen just to become something so vague that it no longer held value to it.

Theseus’ words were drowned out as your ears produced a ringing. All you could hear was your shaky breaths, and all you could see was a faint familiarity with your surroundings. Even your stumbling steps backward felt practiced.

Your breath became labored as the hazy recollection returned. Even through the blur, you saw how the tips of his ears and nose burned red with frustration. It was a trait of his that remained as he rose so many inches he towered over you, and his hair curled the longer her let it grow.

The years did nothing to change it.

“This is it….” Your fingers fumbled with a curl at the nape of his neck. His hair was long, longer than he usually kept it. Time had gotten the better of him. How could you be so blind?

Theseus’ tirade wavered. He was supposed to be angry. He was supposed to do so many things, but your touch felt like an enchantment. It reminded him of how dangerous you could be.

The walnut of Theseus’ wand was always stiff, but it cast its spells briskly and powerfully. Ollivander told him it wasn’t rare to be drawn to the material, but it scarcely paired with dragon heartstring. Because of the extreme dominance of this wood, the core was stoic and gentle and had done Theseus well from the moment he received it. Yet, pressed against your chest to stall your next step, it felt that even the wand knew it was a misguided action.

“Don’t be foolish, Theseus.” You spat at the gesture. His wand only pressed into your chest as if trying to will away his emotions. “Don’t you recognize where we are?”

He shook his head. If he looked beside him, he knew he would crumble.

You tried to reason, “We couldn’t stay there. The Ministry—

“We’re going back.” Although his voice was steady, emotion wavered in his eyes. “I won’t fall into your trap. You can’t just—

“It’s too late.” You pushed forward, the wood digging into your clavicle with drive. “I’m ruined anyways.” The invariability of the words reflected your decision.  “By your hand or his.”

Theseus was always talented in thinking clearly. Logically. He wanted you to be wrong, but your instincts pushed you to keep moving. It was the only way to stay one step ahead of Sinclair. It contrasted Theseus’ plan to stay within the Ministry's walls.

You contrasted his very being.

“Why did you bring me here?” Anger drifted from Theseus’ voice, and the space it abandoned was soon tenanted by something else—a kind of endearment, muslin light.

Theseus first brought you there for a quiet you didn’t know you needed. It was ambient full of croaking creatures and twigs snapping from the pressure of unknown forces. It was a blissful oasis that lured you into its dark depths.

The environment was damp, still reflecting the country’s dreariness. It was hidden, though. A broken-off path Theseus—well, Newt—had stumbled upon in childhood. It was a good hiding place to play, to sneak, and for you to abuse.

“I didn’t see it coming.” It felt strange to admit your best-hidden secret. “Any of it.” Your eyes remained on Theseus, willing trust to transfer. “But I just couldn’t—I knew deep down, I couldn’t lose everything.”

One time, you came to read Theseus’ palm under the full moon—a silly excuse to feel the weight of his hand in yours. The times following grew, the touches still shy with adolescence but bolder in a discovery of emotion.

The memory was a shared favorite, an inside joke of sorts to make the other feel warmth in your fingers that spread to the center of your chest. You hadn’t meant to bastardize it, but its safety was all you could rely on.

“But this, I saw this.” You would continue until Theseus understood. You had told him of your vision all those years ago. It was your only justifiable proof. “This needs to happen.”

Recognition flashed across his features.

Theseus dropped his wand with a tight breath. Looking to the sky, he became lost in turmoil. Once his gaze hit the dirt beneath his feet, it did nothing to aid him. You watched his fingers pull through the hair at the back of his head as if unraveling an answer.

You spoke when his hand fit over his mouth in frustration. “You promised me.”

“We were teenagers.” He snapped, denying the truth. “What did I know about prophecies?”

“Enough to believe me.” You felt young again, begging Theseus to revert with you. You wanted to hear his reassurances, his bold-faced vows to remain by your side despite the trouble you found.

That holiday, you told him everything—your plans to run away, the images that flashed in your dreams of the future, and how he centered them all as an essential turning point.  It spilled out of you, and you couldn’t stop. At the time, the swampy place was at the core unbeknownst.

If Theseus had known, he may not have regretted the promise to always be there for you. No questions asked. It sounded embarrassingly naive. You could still hear how desperately he wanted you to believe him. Even then, you knew it would lead to something like this.

Even then, just as now, you diminished how well Theseus knew you. “What aren’t you telling me?”

[feelingdozy]

I love your writing omg <3 it's MARVELOUS I'm so jealous!! could you do finnick odair flirting with a shy!gn!reader? Like he calls them cute and they just freak out and hide into their shirt or a blanket, etc etc? And he just keeps flirting until reader just covers his mouth and they make eye contact and it's a HUZZAH moment before finnick just kisses them?? sorry if this is really specific!! thank you if you fulfill this request <3

A Little Shy

Finnick Odair x Reader

Hunger Games Masterlist

Summary: you go out to town to find some supplies for fishing as it's the perfect season. You find yourself inexperienced with tridents, and someone comes along to help you find the perfect one to fit your needs.

Note: this is a super cute request and will probably take awhile to post because I want to make sure it is absolutely perfect, also thank you!! I try my best to write as nicely as possible

Warnings: mention of death and killing, slap (hand over mouth)

You had wanted to go to the market in district 4 for awhile, wanting to see what there was to offer at this time of the month. It was the prime time for fishing, so a lot of people had been stocking up.

You stayed for a few hours getting the basic supplies, making your way over to the tridents. You had never been a pro even as a district 4 victor, but had always admired people who were able to use a Trident so easily.

You looked around slowly at all they had to offer, wondering at that point if maybe you should get your own and try it out.

"that one's nice, huh?"

You jumped at the voice that came from behind you, quickly turning around. You should've recognized the voice, of course it was Finnick.

Naturally, you got shy knowing how much you admired his Trident skills as he'd won with them as the youngest in the arena. You hated the games, but loved the skills of the weapons that came with it.

"are you good at using a trident? I've never seen you use one"

He was watching you? I mean he was your mentor back then, but you were really a nobody. You thought your win was a bit sad compared to other people who had won with skill. It was the career in you talking, quickly coming back to realize the horror that came behind it all and that you were lucky to be standing here alive right now.

"not really, I'd love to learn though.."

Your voice was quiet and faded off as you glared at other ones surrounding the two of you.

"how about you come down to my house later and I'll teach you a few tricks y/n?"

You turned to him, his charming smile placed on his face as he found your eyes.

"sure"

A blush found your cheeks, a little intimidated to be taught to use a trident by the Finnick Odair. Even though you should've learned how to use a Trident in the training for the games, you focused on your hand to hand combat and nature tips and tricks then the main weapon of your district. It made you feel a little more reassured that you wouldn't die by accidentally eating the wrong type of berry.

You picked out a trident fitting to your hand, comfortable in your hold. Then it was time to start walking to the victors village that was surrounded by ocean. Their backyards went out to a beautiful beach, and then water. Constant, neverending water leaving room to do anything you aspire to.

The walk was peaceful, as usual. The weather was hotter than usual so if you were going to be in the water, why not change into a bathing suit? You quickly went home and put on a bathing suit beneath your clothing, hiding it before you got to his house.

You knocked on his door, his footsteps getting closer and your heartbeat faster. The anxiety hit as he opened the door. You just now realized his height compared to yours and how shy you were. It's the Finnick Odair. How could you not be a little scared?

"come in"

He said with the same charming smile as before, gesturing for you to sit anywhere you'd like. His place was nicely decorated, ocean themed items around you at every turn. Tridents sat on the wall, some framed and some just hung as a decoration.

He had gone to the kitchen, his back turned towards the living room. You looked at his hair that always looked amazing and you wanted to ruffle it and run your hands through it- wait. We're you actually thinking of.. no. This was Finnick Odair. Loved by the capitol, loved by the people in his district and by the other victors. He was an amazing person despite what he had gone through, most not being able to handle it all.

He brought out some cookies and sat them on the table in front of you. He sat down, the couch dipping with the new weight beside you slightly pulling you toward him, slowly sliding. Your cheeks now had a light blush again from simply being in his presence. His eyes glistened in the light of his house, his hair fluffy and his face charming and cute. You thought Finnick Odair was cute. The Finnick Odair.

He stared at you for awhile before breaking the silence.

"soo, you've never picked up a Trident before y/n?"

You nodded your head no. He sort of knew when he was training you many years ago, just a year older than you, wondering why you didn't pick up a trident. He admired your other abilities back then, knowing how to identify different leafs or berries and hand to hand combat were great abilities in general, but especially because you got put in the arena where you'd need just those skills, like it was almost fit for your win.

It's funny because you were by far the shyest tribute he had ever seen, you didn't talk much or make a fuss like many other tributes had done, but instead listened and took any and all information and tips and tricks from the past victors that only wanted to help. Why did people go out of their way to make a fuss?

Your head was turned down from his, scared to actually make eye contact with him no matter your past relationship.

"you can look at me y'know. I don't bite?"

He laughed, your head hesitantly turning upwards, scared that you'll reveal the layer of red forming on your now heat-radiating cheeks.

"no need to be nervous, y/n."

He said, and you swear he was teasing you at this point. You looked into the distance again, seeing him taking in your facial features from your peripheral vision. His eyes widened a bit before his classic smile appeared on his face that he always wore, except it seems a little more.. genuine than before.

"you're cute."

Your eyes then met with his again, and now greatly flustered in front of the man. He memorized your face in the moment, how your cheeks gained more color and your eyes widened. You couldn't even make words come out of your mouth, your heartbeat pounding too loud and mind too fuzzy to make a coherent sentence.

"huh-?!"

Was all that came out of your mouth. He slowly lifted himself up to where his arms were to the side of your face. You quickly pulled up your shirt, covering your slowly reddening face to where you might've been radiating heat, heat that he must've felt through the fabrics that layered because it was so warm.

"You're so cute. Shy hm?"

Your heartbeat pounded louder and louder within your chest as you once again admired the man who was above your sitting, now laying form. You buried yourself even deeper within your shirt before he could see even more obvious and powerful hints of red on the rest of your face.

"look at you. So red. You like me calling you cute sweetheart?"

A slap echoed in the room as you couldn't handle it anymore. You put your hand over his mouth, your heart not being able to take anymore of his flirting. You could feel his signature grin form under your hand as he put his hand on your arm. His hand slowly slid up til it reached yours, taking it and kissing the outside of your palm.

Your eyes met with his sea green. His other hand creeped onto your cheek, his head slowly getting closer to yours.

his lips collided with yours with a deep need to feel your lips for the first time. He deepened the kiss, his soft lips feeling amazing on yours. You couldn't believe your first kiss was with the Finnick Odair. Part of it because you were already in your twenties and you had never kissed anyone before, not having any partners when you were younger. But mostly because it was him.

You let him take the lead, not knowing what else to do. You let go as you had to take a breath even though you never wanted to let go of his soft lips, feeling like you had been in another world while kissing him.

"promise me you won't explode if I kiss you again?"

He laughed as you nodded, going in again for another kiss that had sucked you in, captured you.

You had just kissed Finnick Odair. Twice.

[sunnyaliceart]

Hiiiii please tell me Cat's lore I love them already

Hi! Hello! Thank you for your patience for this response. I'm very glad you're interested in the AU and that you wanna know more about Cat, so let's talk about the feline friend...

Under the read more is talk and sketches relating to my No Deal AU

Cat is the kitty Sissel in the No Deal AU. He has white fur and blue eyes. He was gifted a blue bandana instead of a red one to match the blue rose of No Deal which is how I'll refer to the Yomiel of this AU.

In fact, Cat is the inspiration for No Deal's look in this AU.

After No Deal got his body back after living in Cat's body, he saw himself in the mirror and decided his red suit didn't cut it anymore.

The white fur of the cat that homed him felt like a blank slate. No Deal saw beauty in that as he lost everything and was a forgotten soul, a ghost. Why shouldn't he look the part? He traded his red suit for a white one and as he passed by a flower stall, he saw a blue rose. Drawn to it, reminding him of his own beauty as an unattainable spirit, he took it and added it to his outfit.

The little white cat still followed him around despite the man never looking back for the cat after he got his body back. After a while, No Deal decided that having a feline companion that he could possess at will could be useful for his traversal in the world. No Deal gave him a blue bandana so he could always recognize him.

While never cruel to him, No Deal is much less attached to Cat as Yomiel is with Sissel. No Deal finds Cat to be a useful asset when infiltrating certain areas, messing with people, and his revenge plan. He only takes the bare minimum care of Cat and yaps to him a lot like the monologuing villain he is.

Given that Cat was an orphan kitten that was ignored or brushed away before he found No Deal, he has nothing to compare to of what an actual loving bond looks like and enjoys being with No Deal up until his end.

Yomiel held Sissel with love and respect, valuing his friendship with him. He wanted to leave the country with his cat friend while No Deal saw it unfortunate that Cat was a casualty in his plan to put Lynne in prison, but ultimately moved on fairly quickly. His revenge plan went wel, all things considered. After all, those he wanted dead were killed or thrown in jail and his power had grown considerably. The world was a stage and its people his puppets.

It was only after death did Cat realize how little No Deal thought of him. While thankful for having someone care for him for 10 years, he was enraged by the disrespect. He was never even given a proper name!

Names No Deal used to address Cat:

Cat

Puppet

My Puppet

Stray

Kitty

Snowy

Doll

Little Ghost

Furball

Fuzzy

Fuzzball

Hairball

Phantom

Feline

Etc...

While angered at being abandoned, he didn't understand the concept of revenge and just wanted to fade away in peace, so he stayed away from No Deal in the Ghost World. That's why in the scenario where Post-Game Yomiel meets Cat, he's furious at the sight of Yomiel because it seems now he wants to talk to Cat only for Yomiel to call him a name he doesn't recognize. He knew this was a Yomiel that had someone he cared about and it wasn't Cat.

Cat is a sad tragedy and I deeply apologize for that. Like I mentioned in previous posts, No Deal is an awful man and his humanity died along with him.

I do take solace that Cat was never abused in life and was happy. He eventually found peace in the after life and even formed a friendship with Sissel thanks to Ghost World hijinks.

Feline Friends Forever!

[jeannineee]

Muhaha! I’m in love with angst so, let’s see…. Could you do 10, 15 and letter A with either Ruhn or Eris? Thank you fabulous writer!

Let Me Go

Eris Vanserra x Reader

a/n: as always, requests are open!! Angst, smut, fluff, etc.

warnings: cheating, Eris is an ass in this

A: cheating

10: “It’s always been her. I’m sorry.”

15: “You have to let me go.”

~~~~~~~~~

“How long?” you asked your mate, voice barely above a whisper.

Eris remained silent.

Tears welled in your eyes, and your voice rose to a shout as you shoved at him, “How long have you been fucking her?”

“A year, almost.”

You blinked, completely taken aback.

Part of you was enraged at how calm Eris seemed to be; how easily he to admitted the truth. But another part of you—a small, broken part of you, still needed him.

“I’m—I’m your mate,” you whispered, wrapping your arms around yourself as though it would bring you comfort.

“I know,” Eris said, taking a step towards you.

You immediately stepped back, shaking your head as tears streamed down your face. “How could—how could you do this to me? Did you ever even love me?”

“Of course I did. Of course I did. But—“

“But it’s always been her. It will always be her,” you replied, voice cracking.

Eris swallowed thickly, looking down at his shoes. “It’s always been her. I’m sorry.”

You couldn’t speak. Couldn’t hear anything beyond the blood rushing in your ears, your choked sobs filling the empty space between you and your mate.

“You have to let me go,” Eris finally said.

“How am I supposed to let go of centuries of love?” you croaked. Each word out of his mouth ripped at your soul; shredded the bond between the two of you.

“You have to let me go,” he repeated, his voice firmer. “I don’t want you anymore.”

I don’t want you anymore.

As though during the centuries you’d shared together, you were merely a toy of his. And now, he’d grown bored of you.

You met his eyes, voice shaking as you spoke. “I don’t recognize you anymore.”

Eris stared at you for a moment. Something like hurt flashed across his expression, but it faded as quickly as it came. Eris turned, and left the room.

The silence that came after was deafening.

[vodika-vibes]

Hi sweetheart; I've been feeling really down and stressed today and I was wondering if I could please have a female reader x Jango Fett scenario where he knows whenever she's stressed and depressed by how much chocolate she has throughout the day I.e. Chocolate Caff, or hot coco and triple choc chip cookies, and several pieces of her favorite chocolate block etc and he tries to ask her about it, but she brushes him off and doesn't want to talk about it, so he just hugs her until she responds and feels better? If you can't make it work with Jango Fett, feel free to go with whichever clone inspires you most for this. Thank you either way. 💖

An Observant Man

Summary: Jango knows his riduur better than anyone, so when she has a bad day, he knows just what to do.

Pairing: Jango Fett x F!Reader

Word Count: 936

Warnings: None

Tagging: @trixie2023 @n0vqni @imabeautifulbutterfly

A/N: I'm sorry you're going through a hard time right now! I hope this helps, at least a little bit. I decided to write it solely from Jango's POV. I hope you feel a little better soon.

Jango has always been an observant man.

As a bounty hunter, he has to be observant. Able to recognize the ins and outs of every place that he visits, able to determine if something is unusual or not.

It’s a talent that’s kept him alive on more than one occasion.

And it’s one of the more useful skills he’s learned over the years. Though, it’s also one of the skills that he has the hardest time turning off, even when he’s safe in the arms of his riduur.

So, when he comes home after a long hunt that turned even longer, he can’t help but take note of the things that have changed in the home he shares with his beautiful riduur.

He takes note that she rearranged the front hallway and added a bench for him to sit on when he removes his armor. He notes that there’s a new painting on the wall near the front door, likely a gift from their nephew, based on the…unique color choice.

The front hallway smells like a mix of flowers and chemicals, which suggests that she invested in some of the carpet powder to use when he’s away. So long as she doesn’t use it when he’s here, he doesn’t mind. 

He quickly removes his armor and moves through the house, taking in several of the other small changes. Several items have been moved to better locations, some pieces of furniture have new coats of paint, or stain-

There’s a new blanket tossed over the arm of the couch, one made by her own hands, if he had to guess based on the color of the yarn used. Jango releases a fond laugh as he picks up the blanket and trails his fingers over the soft material. 

Maybe he can talk his riduur into letting him bring this back to his ship. 

He just…has to find her first.

Jango folds the blanket and sets it on the couch, before allowing his feet to lead him through the halls until he reaches the kitchen. The kitchen looks the same as ever; the same pale yellow paint, the same kitchen table and chairs, the same scent of cinnamon and apples that always fills the room-

And there, absently stirring a mug, is his riduur. Her hair pulls off her neck with a ribbon, clad in one of his older shirts, her feet bare.

She truly is the most stunning woman in the galaxy.

He leans against the door frame and watches her for a moment, a small smile on his lips. Though, slowly, the smile fades as his gaze slides across the kitchen counter. 

Hot chocolate mix. A handful of chocolate truffles. The block of rich dark chocolate he brought her from Alderaan the last time he had to visit that planet. The box of chocolate brownie mix sitting, forgotten, on the kitchen table.

A bad day then.

Hopefully not longer. The idea of her suffering without him here to support her breaks his heart.

“I’m home, riduur.” He finally says quietly, and he knows that she knows that he’s there, because she doesn’t jump or start. Instead, her hand pauses from where she’s stirring her drink.

Tellingly, she doesn’t turn to look at him for almost half a minute, and when she does, her smile is painfully fake. “Welcome home, Jango.” Her smile might be fake, but the relief in her voice isn’t.

“Have you had a bad day, love?”

“I’m fine.” Her answer is absent, automatic.

“Ah, cyar’ika,” he pushes off the wall and walks over to her, slowly encouraging her to slide into his arms, where she fits against him like two pieces of the same puzzle, “I know that’s not true.” Jango folds his arms tightly around her, “Will you tell me about it?”

“There’s nothing to tell,” She replies as her hands curl into the material of his flight suit, “I’m fine.”

“Hm.” Jango’s arms tighten around her, “I’m not sure if you actually believe that, beautiful, or if you’re just trying to keep me from worrying about you.”

She shrugs and presses her face against his shoulder, “Can’t it be both?”

“I’m sure it can.” Slowly he starts rubbing her back, offering silent comfort and support. “Come on, riduur. Talk to me.”

She sighs softly, “I don’t know, Jango.” She finally says softly, “I’m just…feeling off.”

“That’s okay, everyone has off days.”

“But this has been going on for days now-”

Jango’s heart clenches painfully, “I’m sorry, cyar’ika. I should have been here to support you.”

“S’not your job.”

“It is my job,” Jango corrects, “It became my job the moment you said yes to dinner with me.” He lightly kisses the top of her head, “How about, we go and cuddle on the bed. And tonight I’ll handle everything.”

“That…doesn’t seem fair to you.”

“You’ve been carrying this burden alone for days, cyar’ika. Let me carry it for you for at least one night.”

And she sighs, and pulls back to look up at him, “I love you, you know that.”

Jango smiles softly, “Not half as much as I love you, riduur.”

Finally, a small, but genuine, smile lifts her lips and tension drains from Jango’s shoulders. Quickly, he ducks his head and drops a light kiss on her lips, tasting chocolate as he kisses her, and then he pulls back and lightly urges her towards the bedroom.

It won’t help immediately, it’s going to take time for his perfect riduur to recover, but he’s going to be there every step of the way. After all, that’s his job as riduur.

[antianakin]

@theneutralmime

I don't know that I think it would mean she'd receive LESS scrutiny, just DIFFERENT scrutiny.

A lot of the other concepts are just vastly different stories from the one they ended up telling. The confrontation on Mustafar where Padme brings a knife is sort-of connected to the original idea they had that Padme is aware that Anakin's untrustworthy and has turned on him already and is basically spying on him because she and some other Senators believe he's in league with Palpatine's corruption and treachery. I read somewhere that that really saccharine scene they have on the balcony (the "So love has blinded you" scene) was part of that storyline and the reason it was so nauseatingly sweet is because Padme is basically putting on an act to deceive him here and it turns out there's other people listening in or something.

So Padme bringing the knife to Mustafar is an extension of the fact that Padme has already turned against Anakin and been working against him for the entire film. Which is a WILDLY different story than the one they ended up with which was that Padme was genuinely still in love with him the entire time and believed in him and only realizes he's dangerous and how far gone he is when she goes to Mustafar.

By contrast, adding in the deleted scenes of Padme working on taking down Palpatine with the Loyalists change very little if anything at all, which is why most people just kind-of slot that back into canon because it's very very easy to do so without changing the story at all.

I personally LIKE the original concept of Padme realizing Anakin's dangerous and untrustworthy earlier, even if she can't bring herself to kill him in the end. I think it fits a little bit more with her characterization from TPM that she would ultimately have the romance fade away and start to recognize Anakin's flaws that she can't quite brush off as something he'll just get over in time or that her love can fix him or whatever it is we're supposed to assume she does in canon. I think it works FOR ME that whatever it is that comes over Padme in AOTC would wear off eventually and that she's intelligent enough to not let it consume her entirely.

That being said, going that direction doesn't fix anything in AOTC. It doesn't help explain why Padme loved him to begin with and how uncomfortable and clunky their romance is. So it's entirely possible to make an argument that it was better to just commit to Padme being completely blinded by the romance until the bitter end, to have Padme also be selfish in her love, rather than sort-of... walk that back in ROTS and have her change her mind. So I don't think that this concept invites less scrutiny, just a different kind of scrutiny.

I think there IS depth to Padme as she is in canon, it just might not be depths that are all that likable lol. I also think that they are depths that are perhaps not explored all that well. But the fact that Padme goes against her own morals in order to enter into a relationship with Anakin and is someone who canonically keeps lying to herself about him so that she can keep that happy fluffy feeling he gives her is absolutely an indication of depth. It's just that the depth shows us that Padme is kind-of selfish, that she's willing to brush off things like Anakin supporting a dictatorship and Anakin massacring an entire village and Anakin committing a genocide and destroying the Republic so that she doesn't have to let go of the way he makes her feel.

That's no less depth than they gave Anakin. It's just that a lot of people like to view Padme as this very moral person who is always fighting for what's right all the time, etc etc and so the idea of Padme being selfish and toxic feels out of character and like it kind-of cheapens her. Which is fair, I've definitely felt that way myself and I do think that the narrative doesn't quite explore her enough to help connect these two sides of her.

But personally I don't mind letting Padme be someone who is also selfish and unwilling to let go, that she's someone who has also given up on some of her desires for a family in order to live a life in service and, in many ways, REGRETS that choice even though she can't let go of that, either. And so when she decides she wants something she can't have, instead of making the moral choice to let go of one of those things in order to keep the other, she just decides to live a lie so she can keep both. I don't mind the idea that the 14 year old Queen from TPM went through so much when her planet was invaded, was forced to make so many hard choices that were seemingly against her morals just to do what she had to in order to save her people, that she's now sort-of morally gray and willing to do selfish things because "hasn't she given enough" and doesn't she deserve just one thing for herself?

I think there's a lot of anger in Padme, at her situation, at the Republic, at her people, at her Queen, and at herself most of all. I think she sees a lot of that in Anakin, a mirror of her own struggles and doubts and desires. In TPM, the moral thing to do wasn't always the RIGHT thing to do (like the pod race, or the vote of no confidence, or asking the Gungans for an army so she could lead them to war), and I think we see the impact of that on Padme in AOTC. She still WANTS to do the moral things, she still is trying to keep the Republic from going to war, she still advocates for the Republic as an institution that has flaws but is far better than any alternative.

But she's angry and she's tired and she's given up her dreams to be here doing this because people asked her to and it's the right thing to do and because some part of her I think can't live without being in service to her people. She doesn't know who she is without it, which is why she can't let go of it to be with Anakin any more than Anakin is capable of letting go of his desire to be a Jedi to be with Padme. Padme connects to Anakin's anger, at the Jedi, at the Republic, and most of all at himself. She gets it. But most of the time, Padme doesn't act on it and she believes that that means Anakin won't either, which is why she can brush off the Tusken massacre as at worst just a one-time thing as a response to the murder of his mother and firmly believe that Anakin would never kill Jedi younglings only three years later.

She connects to all the worst parts of Anakin because they're a mirror of her own darkness in a lot of ways, but she can't really bring herself to acknowledge her own darkness and so she's equally incapable of acknowledging Anakin's.

I have a love/hate relationship with Padme, I liked her as a kid and so there's a lot of nostalgia helping me along with her, but I also think there are some really interesting concepts floating around for Padme, some of which exist in her story and some of which exist only in the spaces in-between, the silences we're left with to try to explain why she does the things she does.

I think that a lot of representations of Padme tend to lean towards a particularly 2D version of her that I'm less invested in, this perfect honorable person who always does the right thing. I'm not as into that Padme, but I get why people do. I think that version of Padme is the one I'd be more frustrated with though, in terms of her choices regarding Anakin, because someone with perfect honorable morals should NOT be so willing to condone and encourage what Anakin does, or even the things he says. That perfect version of Padme seems irritatingly contradictory with her behavior in the films and TCW. And so, sometimes, it's really hard to like her, it's really hard to believe Padme was a good person any better than Anakin, it's hard to not think Luke and Leia were just as better without her as they were without Anakin, that Padme is just a pushover and an enabler and little else.

But I like digging into Padme, trying to figure out what makes her tick, what would connect her to someone who seems to opposite of everything she claims to stand for, someone who doesn't seem to really respect her all that much, someone who is so dangerous and unstable. What draws her to that? I LIKE her, I like her messiness, I like her flaws, I like that she's selfish and complicated and awful and that she makes choices in private that contradict the grand morals she claims to live by in public. I connect to her in a way I never have to Anakin, despite how similar I think they are.

So, sure, I like the concept of Padme slipping a little and getting swept up in the romance only to realize she's made a massive mistake and that Anakin is dangerous and untrustworthy and turning against him pre-ROTS, even as a part of her continues to love him and the fantasy she built up in her head. I think it fits in nicely with what we know of her in TPM and could've been a really great and cool story. But I also like what we DO have of Padme in canon, where she's incredibly flawed and a mirror to Anakin in so many ways and that the trauma of her experience in TPM sort-of pushes her to take this one selfish thing and it leads to her own doom because she can't let go of things any more than Anakin can, she's just less dangerous and more expendable. I think there's merit and value in both and I think that both versions of Padme COULD be equally deep and interesting if explored in the right way.

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

Wait you have Lilia listed as one of the interact-able family members. Do you intend to have Lilia show up as Silver’s father in disguise like wearing a mustache or perhaps being in a different form? I’ve seen people say something about a “true form”, but so far in-game (english server and im stuck at the sectors of book 6) I haven’t seen anything that suggests Lilia has altered his form to blend in? May I ask how you plan to do Silver’s father requests?

[Referencing this blog event!]

I believe "true form” Lilia is a popular fandom headcanon. It’s not explicitly said that he has a different form, it’s something fans have speculated about due to various lines dropped by Diasomnia (ie Malleus says in one of his chats that Lilia is in a history book yet no one recognizes him but Malleus, Sebek and Silver imply during one of the Halloween events that back in the Briar Valley Lilia was most terrifying for the holiday, etc). Some fans also think that Lilia has purposefully changed his appearance to “fit in” better as a high school student while at NRC, and/or due to a plot point brought up in episode 7 (no spoilers though).

Rather than outright say how I'm going to present Lilia for NRC Family Day, I think it'd be more fun to explain via creative writing ^^ so enjoy the pre-Family Day preparations in Diasomnia~

Family means Nobody is Left Behind or Forgotten.

Silver leaned against the door frame, his sight set on the cluttered bedroom of his vice dorm leader. Tonight, it was even messier than usual, with outfits, accessories, and bottles of nail polish strewn on the desk and floor. Instruments and antiques were knocked over, drawers and chests open and their contents splayed out. It looked as though a storm had torn through the area--but no, this was the calm before the storm.

Lilia practically had the entire upper half of his body shoved deep into the abyss that was his closet, fishing around with his hands to retrieve more lost treasures from within. He popped out with two hangers, one bearing a sharp suit and the other, a neon graphic T-shirt.

"What do you think, Silver? Do you prefer the formal look, or do you think casual wear will do?" Lilia's deep ruby eyes were absolutely effervescent, gleaming like starlight. "Or perhaps I could dust off the old battle armor for this occasion!”

Silver gathered his courage and started. "Father—”

“No, you’re right. It may be too much cuteness for their poor little hearts to take!” He set down both sets of clothing on his bed and paused. “Do you think security will at least let me bring in my cleaver? It could make for a good icebreaker with the other parents."

“I don’t think so. But more importantly, father—”

“Ah, how disappointing. There’s no help for it, I suppose.

"I know!” Lilia suddenly brought a fist down into an open palm. His teeth peeked out from behind his growing smile. “I could bake a little something to pass out to the others in attendance.”

He bounced over to Silver, clasping his hands in his own. The aura radiating from Lilia was like that of a coiled spring, packed with energy waiting to be let loose. “I'm so excited for Family Day, aren't you? There’s still so much left to do.”

Silver’s voice came firm, the strike of a blade against a shield.

“Father.”

“… Oh dear.” Lilia frowned, peering up into his son’s face. “Have I said something to upset you?”

Regret set in. Silver let the fierceness in his gaze fade. “No, not at all. I’m happy to see you so eager.”

“Then whatever is the matter?” Lilia playfully nudged him on the arm. “Come, you can confide in your old man.”

“I would like nothing more than for you to be at my side for Family Day. It’s just…” A hesitation. “It will be difficult for you to pass as my father without the other students also recognizing you as their classmate. That may put you in a compromising position—and I don't wish to trouble you for my own sake.

Before Lilia could respond, a thunderous shout cut in. A young man, broad-shouldered and hulking, muscled into the doorway.

"WHAT'S THIS NOW?!" Sebek bellowed. "I cannot believe you, Silver!! You have the gall to barr Lilia-sama from attending a school function?!"

"My, Sebek. How kind of you to join us," Lilia raised his brows in an exaggerated manner, "though I didn't take you for an eavesdropper."

The first year's expression fell. He sheepishly fumbled for the right words. "M-My sincerest apologies!! I was doing my usual round of evening patrols and happened to overhear... I-I could not help but cry out against such an injustice...!! I-It will not happen again, sir!!"

The ancient fae chuckled. "I kid. You're fine, Sebek. However, I believe that Silver is right to be concerned. It will make matters challenging to say the least if I have to play both the role of father and high school student.

"Even so, it is a guardian's job is to be there for his child. I shan't let another year pass where I sit on the sidelines twiddling my thumbs while Silver is left on his lonesome."

"Another year?" Sebek cast his fellow knight a curious look.

"You weren't enrolled at NRC yet, so you wouldn't know." Silver deadpanned, a sigh escaping him. "Father also insisted he would attend Family Day then. He attempted to sneak into the event while wearing a pair of gag glasses... and was promptly ejected from the premises. It was mistaken as an ill-mannered prank by staff and students alike."

"Why, the NERVE of them!! They should be honored that a decorated general and advisor to the queen would humble himself by attending their gathering!!"

"I don't think that was the issue."

"It won’t happen again. I must put together a cleverer disguise this time!" Lilia glanced at the items scattered around his room. "Hmm, maybe I should start by recoloring my hair to match Silver's. A trim may also be in order."

"Wh-What?! Grrr... What luck you have, Silver!! What I'd give to have a matching head of hair with Lilia-sama!!" Sebek clenched a fist to contain his frustration.

"Your family is also visiting Sage's Island for Family Day, aren't they?" Silver smiled softly, his tone reassuring. "You won't be left out of anything."

"Hnngh... That's exactly what I'm afraid of!!" Sebek cradled his head in his hands. "I'd be less inclined to protest were it only my mother and my grandfather in attendance, but I don't know how to act around that man!! Worse yet, when I think of that man making his presence known to the other humans...!!"

He shuddered, unable to complete his sentence.

Silver raised a brow. "... You mean your father?"

"STOP, DON'T SPEAK THE THOUGHT INTO EXISTENCE!!"

“It’s nothing to be embarrassed about. He’s family.”

“WHO SAID I WAS EMBARRASSED?! I-I’M NOTHING OF THE SORT!! DON’T BE SO PRESUMPTUOUS, SILVER!!”

Lilia laughed, shaking his head. "Lighten up, boys! It'll be a fun time, you'll see. I'm looking forward to catching up with Baul and the others myself."

“Will you really be able to blend in so easily? You have a very distinctive appearance. It would be hard to change you into someone entirely new and then change you back before the next day.”

“Th-That’s right!!” Sebek quickly added relieved to change the topic. “Lilia-sama oozes charm from every pore in his body! It would take considerable effort to conceal his handsomeness!!”

“... I see. So that's what this is about."

A sudden chill descended upon the room. Even the green flames that lit up the space seemed to quiver and shrink in the oppressive cold.

"Malleus," Lilia said with ease.

"Lilia." Their liege nodded coolly as he slipped out of the darkness and into view. "Silver, Sebek. It seems I wasn't invited to this lively little discussion. Please, don't stop on my account. Continue."

The sarcasm of his words was tinged with the subtly bitter pang of jealousy. A half joke, and also a half truth.

The trio fell back and parted, granting space to him. Sebek looked positively mortified—the second time that night.

“Y-Young master!! We had no intention of leaving you out of… Th-This was completely impromptu!! I beg of you, please forgive this Sebek for his impudence!!!”

“Did we disturb your sleep, sir?” Silver asked. He was as steady and soft as a lullaby, a contrast to his partner.

Malleus raised a hand—a silent command to them to stand down, to be at ease. “I only sought to investigate the tumult coming from this area. Sound has a way of traveling in these halls, and it makes a fairy curious.”

“Don’t mind us, we’re all riled up for tomorrow. Scheming for it, you know.” Lilia beamed. “That reminds me! Maleficia herself will be in attendance this year. I made certain the message got to her. Can’t risk the invite getting lost in the mail again!

“It’s a once-in-a-blue-moon event—it’s not every day when the stars align and those stuffy advisors grant her leeway in her duties. You must be just as excited as we are.”

Malleus smiled with his eyes more than with his mouth. They shone with wonder and quiet reverence. “It will be a joy to host grandmother at Night Raven College.”

“It will be a most wonderful reunion!” Lilia agreed. “Oh, idea: what if I wore something dark and atmospheric in honor of the royal family? I know I have a spiked choker and boots lying somewhere around here…“

Malleus blinked. “Grandmother may appreciate that—but attire alone will not help you pass for Family Day to the others.”

“I’ve been trying to tell him that.”

Beside Silver, Sebek stubbornly harrumphed. “Lilia-sama shouldn’t have to conform to the expectations of mere humans!!”

“There’s still time to sort out a solution,” Lilia pointed out cheerfully. “Come hell or high water, I want to be there for my family.”

“Yes, your resolve is crystal clear. It would be a shame if you could not attend.”

Malleus ran a hand along an open drawer. It was filled with knick-knacks, from beaded jewelry to talismans. Tucked between a sizable glass orb and a carving of a gingerbread man was a furry tuft. “Pray tell, what did you wear for entry last time?”

“It was a pair of those gag glasses! It had a big nose and these fluffy fake eyebrows and mustache. Why do you ask?”

Malleus hooked a finger on the furry tuft and lifted. With it came a bulbous blob of rubber attached to thick frames.

“This?”

Malleus produced thick frames from the drawer. They were every bit as ridiculous off of a face as it was on one. Strange—the glasses seemed to glow an eerie green, but when Silver rubbed his eyes and looked again, they were normal.

“Exactly those!!” Lilia reached for the spectacles with a droll laugh. “Learned the hard way that they aren’t much use for covert operations. Still, I’ll always have a soft spot for these.”

“Who is to say that it will stay that way forever?”

“Huh?”

The trio stared at their prince. Malleus answered them with a mysterious smile.

“Who is to say,” he said with a mischievous flash of teeth, “that you cannot become whomsoever you desire?”

“Malleus… You didn’t…” Lilia squinted at the glasses. “Did you cast an enchantment on these just now?”

“The glow,” Silver realized. “I didn’t just daydream it.”

“Then that was…!”

“I wove a temporary illusion spell and cloaking magic into them. So long as you wear those glasses, you will appear as if like a dream in the eyes of those who look upon you. Your face, your hair—they’re altered, the details are scrambled and made challenging to pin down. In other words, you will not be recognized as ‘Lilia Vanrouge’.”

“OOOH!!” Sebek glowed with awe. “The young master has bestowed a blessing to you, Lilia-sama!! What an honor!!”

“Congratulations, father. That’s great news.”

“Malleus…” Lilia stopped, and tried again. “I don’t know what to say. Thank you, but are you sure it’s alright for you to hand me such a handy item?”

“It only lasts until the stroke of midnight tomorrow.” The warning was casual, yet not unkind. “Go to Family Day, Lilia. Enjoy yourself. Spend time with those you love most—”

Malleus was tackled halfway through his speech. The wind in him sailed out as small arms wrapped around him, then tugged Silver and Sebek close too.

“Silly thing, you’re one of them,” Lilia tutted. “All of you are. Where would I be without my family here in Diasomnia?”

[inyomamasbed]

a/n: I accidentally deleted the request but someone asked for: "chigiri,friends to lovers" if u see this thanks for requesting,its my first ever "xreader" i hope it doesn't suck that much.

character:Chigiri Hyouma

content:fluff,a bit of angst,but mostly fluff

｡ﾟﾟ･｡･ﾟﾟ｡

ﾟ。 Friends to Lovers w/ Chigiri ♡ ﾟ･｡･ﾟ

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

As friends

•As we all know chigiri has been popular as soon as he got into highschool for his talent(and for his looks obvi)so you probably heard of him before becoming his friend

•I think it would have been hard to be his friend

•Before his knee injury, because of his football skills he always thought of himself as superior to others but i feel like he was also modest about it.

•His personality was kinda a 50/50

•After the injury that feeling of superiority crumbles but he had a hard time and ended up building walls around himself

•So yeah,to become his friend you would have to be really patient

•But lets say that u managed to overcome this arduous task and became his friend(yay!!)

•You guys would probably spend lunch together in silence enjoying eachothers company or have some small talk

•If you're somebody who's into "having a good apparece" you would probably talk about fashion,hairstyles,etc.

•I feel like before going to Blue Lock he couldn't really open up about football bc it made him remember his past

•So if you two probably didn't talk about football much and it would be better for the friendship

•He appreciates you for still being by his side since you're probably one of the few people that still recognize him for who he is,after his sister and mother. That's probably when he started to feel something for you but he kept it low-key bc he really didn't need to get hurt even more tbh😔🫂

•Also bc he wouldn't want his family to find out bc they would tease the crap out of him

•I JUST KNOW THAT HE'D BE THE TYPE OF FRIEND THAT WOULD BUY YOU SOMETHING WARM TO DRINK WHEN ITS COLD OR SOME SNACKS,OR THE TYPE OF FRIEND THAT WILL TELL U THE TRUTH YOU NEED TO HEAR BC HE KNOWS THAT IT WOULD MAKE YOU IMPROVE EVEN IF IY HURTS

•love him frfr

He starts falling for u

•I feel like with Chigiri u probably fell first but he fell harder

•You fell first but when he had girls drooling over him and he rejected all of them bc he wanted to focus only on football,gotta admit,it scared u

•And when them fake ass bitches left bc he stopped playing soccer it just felt wrong

• +100 points for u for being considerate of his feeling

•So the both of u kept ur feeling for urself and expected them to just fade away since u two we're already friends,but surprise surprise,they didn't left and u were stuck with them. Especially when he left for blue lock without saying much,u just thought about moving on but who can tbh

•Chigiri liked u for ur kind,positive and cheerful personality,the perfect energy that he needed when the world seemed against him.

•He probably realized how much he liked you when he was in Blue lock very far away from you,when no one was there to tell him that's everything was going to be fine.

•When he managed to get his hands of his phone he texted hai family and you

•You were surprised and happy that he remembered you and so was him when u texted back

•You both promised eachothers and you were gonna meet up as soon as possible

•and y'all did

•You two decided to meet up at a cute coffee shop to catch up and it's exactly what happened,you guys clicked and ended up talking for hours.

•You we're nevrvous about meeting him again since ur crush was still there but it was a relief that he was doing better and seeing him talk about football again with happy eyes

•Yup, everything was fine and you started hanging out more often when he had time

•Everyone around you probably thought you two were dating

•Everything felt so natural that u both forgot that none of y'all confessed💀

•He was so stressed about it cuz he wanted to be more than friends but didn't know how to tell u

•He was thinking to hard about it at the point that the next time u guys met up you noticed he was acting a bit weird: he was avoiding eye contact,he wouldn't even make the mistake to be close to u and his answers were really dry,but sometimes you could see him blush a little bit and noticed how sometimes his ears would get red

•While he was fighting himself to choose how to tell you about his feelings to you just managed to obtain mixed signals

•so confusing ikr

•So one day when he was taking you back to your house you decided to ask him about it

~imagine this:

You guys were side by side walking towards your house,none of you were talking,it was a bit awkward ngl.

The sun was saying its goodbye and it was getting cold but it didn't bother you since all the toughts that were going through your head were distracting you.

You stopped walking and he noticed so he stopped too after taking some steps ahead.

"Y/N..? Is everything ok?" Chigiri asked with his calm voice,but he looked at you with a bit of concern since you weren't answering.

He took some steps to get closer to you and that's when you said:" Chigiri can i ask you something?"trying to not look at him in the eyes.

"Sure" he said.

"Is everything ok between us,you've been acting a bit distant lately,did i do something to upset you?" You said,proud of yourself for managing to say it without stuttering or sounding desperate.

There was a bit of silence and you were ready to just move on and tell him that you could just walk by yourself from here.

You looked at him and it was your first time seeing him with a face color that matched his hair.

"..I'm sorry,that's the total opposite of what I'm trying to do" he said with a quiet voice audible only to you

You stayed silent waiting for him to say more.

"Actually Y/N(🤓), there's something I've been wanting to tell you for the past months"he said.

You were looking at him with eyes full of hopes that something might change from today(spoiler: it did)

"I like you..I've been liking you for a while to be precise,I don't know if it's the right time or if you-Are you crying?"

He notice you trying to opress your sobs,without much success.

"Was my confession that bad?" He asked with a nervous smile on his face.

It wasn't,in fact it was the best thing you've been told this past months.What a relief,you felt like you could finally breathe.

"No. No,it was good. Pretty good actually" you said while trying to get rid of the tears at the end of your eyes,while having a big smile printed in your face.

"It's such a relief,I'm glad" you said.

"So..Do u feel the same?" he said while coming closer to u,wanting to hold your hand.

"Isn't it obvious?" You said while laughing a bit,he also laughed,feeling at ease in the moment.

•and y'all started dating. Happy ending yay

a/n: Should I do a part.2 with chigiri as ur bf?lemme know. Thanks for reading.

[uvonobu]

blinks at you. something i’ve been rotating in my mind for the past few days: uvonobu where they’re in a long-term relationship before uvo’s death, where uvo was planning to propose (with a very stolen ring.) where he asked another troupe member — probably shal — to hold onto it for him to keep it safe & so nobunaga wouldn’t find it. the conversation having to occur later on — i didn’t know when i should give it to you. i’m sorry he never got to. etc etc...

THIS IS ABSOLUTELY VILE ?????? OH MY GOD ?????

Augh but that’s so good…. Just imagine Uvo wanting to propose in front of everyone… so he asked Shal to bring the ring to yorknew with them. And Shal being worried about him leaving because 1) They only have a few days in Yorknew, 2) He does NOT want Uvo to be fucked up during the proposal, and 3) he has a sinking feeling in his gut that for some reason, if he leaves now, he won’t be able to get back.

Oh man and Nobunaga finding out afterwards. He would probably put it on and never take it off as a way to feel closer to Uvo. To feel like a piece of him was still there. He knows Uvo is gone, but he still expects him to come through the door one day, complaining about a job he had to do.

He probably distanced himself from the troupe for a while. As a way to collect his own thoughts, and to avoid looks of pity as they noticed the ring. Their house is quiet. Nobunaga hates it. They were never really away from each other for long. If there was a mission, they were almost guaranteed to be paired up. Not to mention, they shared a house. Sleeping is hard. It’s too cold for Nobunaga’s liking. Uvo was usually beside him. His body heat was enough to keep Nobu warm for the whole night. Sleeping is too uncomfortable for him right now.

Nobunaga never really learned how to cope with grief. No one in the Troupe did. Every time he loses someone, doesn’t know what to do with himself. It’s much worse this time. Before this, he treated grief as something you had to deal with, then overcome as the numbness started to fade slowly. But Uvogin is so ingrained into his everyday life he finds it hard to live the way he used to.

He feels the overwhelming urge to talk about Uvo, because somewhere in his subconscious, he’s worried the others will forget about him and completely move on. They won’t. They could never. The troupe is quiet without him. It’s something they all recognize. Uvo was always talkative, expressing excitement or distain for their new mission. Sometimes even talking to himself, because the others knew they didn’t need to reply to him. Uvo was always the first to reply. The first to say something. Everyone is hesitant now. Talking as a group feels too awkward right now.

Nobunaga feels no satisfaction in things he used to enjoy. It’s hard when Uvogin’s image is so burned into everything he did. A downside of always being together. He’ll find himself disassociating frequently. He doesn’t know how he got that cut on his hand. He doesn’t know how he’s in the bathroom, water splashed over his face. He doesn’t know how long he’s been sitting in bed, waiting for something that will never happen.

It’s been harder and harder to focus. He has two things on his mind, and they invade it constantly. Uvogin, and the chain user. No matter what happens, he will find the chain user. And most certainly die in the process.

But that’s just my thoughts :3 thank you so so much for the ask I’ve never gotten the chance to yap about uvonaga this much I’m so happy it feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders

[wheneclipsefalls]

Ma Neteyam pt.12

Part 11  Part 13

Summary: Neteyam's hormones only increase as he nears his omega presentation. Meanwhile, Vamai enjoys an eventful outing. 

Warnings: power imbalance, omegaverse, explicit content (MINORS DO NOT INTERACT), oral, female x male smut, swearing, possessive behavior, etc.

“Undress.” Kxolo softly ordered as he began to remove the choker from around his thick neck. Neteyam let out a huff at the stalling. They had planned to bathe together after the Sully family had returned home but that idea seemed obsolete in light of the pressing information he needed from his alpha. 

“You’re stalling.” Neteyam rashly accused him. The sun was slowly starting to give way to eclipse. The fading light kicked up Kxolo’s urgency, prompting him to start untying the loincloth from his omega’s tail himself. The male put up no resistance to the act but the annoyance radiating off of Neteyam was becoming palpable. His swishing tail made it more difficult to unravel the tight knots around it. 

“I’m not telling you anything until you get in the water. We are losing daylight.” Kxolo sternly told him as the loincloth fell to the ground. Neteyam’s frustration grew as he was pulled into the water by his hand. Every racing thought was targeting the mystery behind the conversation with his parents and Kxolo. There were no obvious injuries or wounds that could be seen on the Olo’eyktan’s naked body. 

Still, Jake had been more than gruff when the family had left earlier. The furrowed eyebrows and rigid posture was something Neteyam could recognize a mile away. Something had gone amiss during their talk and it had the Omatikaya Olo’eyktan furious. 

It was not difficult to devise what could have gone wrong. In fact, there were a multitude of ideas that filled the omega’s head. When discussing the sex life of his only omega son, kidnapped son at that, Neteyam could see how his father could easily reach his limit. At home, Jake had always been very cautious with the eldest Sully. Neteyam was not left alone around other alphas if it could be helped. Neytiri and Jake had kept him pure and innocent when it came to sexual matters. Neteyam was coming to find that their overprotectiveness had put him at a disadvantage compared to many others. He had learned more in the past month than he had his whole life about sex and mating. Even Lo’ak had more experience and knowledge as he participated in one night stands and little flings. 

Now he stood naked, bathing with a man that had fucked him into a whimpering mess more times than he cared to admit. 

The drastic contrast was overwhelming. 

A reality that his father would struggle to accept. 

The water tickled at his thighs as they waded into the lake. The sun set behind the trees, drawing shadow patterns along their stripped skin. Kxolo advanced ahead of him until the surface of the water hit at the alpha’s waist. His long arms reached out and grabbed Neteyam’s hips to pull him deeper into the water. The smaller male’s feet stumbled against the rocks at the bottom of the lake before he tumbled into Kxolo’s arms. 

Neteyam looked up at the male with a slight pout in place. 

Small wrinkles kissed the edge of Kxolo’s golden eyes as he laughed warmly. 

“Why do you insist on torturing me?” Neteyam’s voice rode the line between true frustration and playful mimicry. Still, he knew better than to cross over into bratty territory. The Olo’eyktan had special ways of taming little brats, as he liked to remind Neteyam often. 

Gentle hands began to rub soap into the omega’s curves diligently. Despite the reserved nature, Neteyam could see the struggle behind those golden orbs. Kxolo was a master at maintaining his composure when needed but the omega had slowly come to learn what little signs showed his murking frustrations underneath. The most obvious tell tale give away was the persistent reaching for physical contact. Whenever Kxolo came home from a difficult hunt or tiring day, his first reprieve was to hold the omega close and usually run his nose along the slope of Neteyam’s neck. 

As he did so now. 

Apprehension coiled in his gut as Kxolo softly scented his mate without a word. 

The Olo’eyktan’s signature musky scent grew thicker in the air. A true mixture of heavy emotion that had Neteyam softening within an instant. 

“I simply want you to be calm before I tell you what happened.” Kxolo’s soft lips brushed along the skin of Neteyam’s neck as he spoke. 

The rising trepidation fought against Neteyam’s efforts to calm himself. If he could not legitimately feel peace, the least he could do was give the appearance of cool and collected. His smaller hands held to the Olo’eyktan’s biceps. Lucky for him, there was no visible tremble. 

“Do you understand?” Kxolo lifted his face from the dip of his neck to watch the omega closely. 

“Yes.” The whispered word seemed to do the trick. 

The growing shadows along Kxolo’s chest couldn’t hide the concave of it as he let out a heavy sigh. A serious tone set over the pair, but the Olo’eyktan continued to rub soothing circles into Neteyam’s hip bones. Whether the motion was for the omega or himself was unclear. His toes wiggled nervously against the rocks at his feet. 

“Your parents requested that you be returned to the Omatikaya clan for the duration of your presentation.” The controlled words were held back from a growl. A diplomatic tone that he had heard from the Olo’eyktan before. 

Neteyam’s ears subconsciously pinned back against his braids as the air was caught in his throat. 

“I said no.” 

The released tension from his muscles was disorienting. It was hard to place where the fluttering relief that drafted through him came from. Perhaps he was meant to be disappointed. Meant to yearn for the comfort and presence of his family and be grateful for his presentation bringing the excuse. Meant to beg and plead with Kxolo to change his mind. Meant to use every asset available to disarm and persuade the alpha before him. And yet, Neteyam was happy to stay. 

To endure the foretold burning sexual hunger alone would be terrifying. It was not just the sexual desires that brought this fear, however. It was hard to imagine a night away from Kxolo. A night spent from the comfort, peace, and warmth that radiated from the male freely. To wake in the morning without the lightly pressed kiss along his shoulders or see the tired but exuberant gleam in the alpha’s eyes. 

A time like that was ancient. It was only a foggy memory that felt foreign to him. There was no desire to revisit it. 

“Were they upset?” Neteyam asked softly. There was a glimmer of surprise upon Kxolo’s face evident in the creases along his forehead. It was clear that the alpha was waiting for a fit; an outburst. All he was met with was a gentle but concerned face looking up at him. 

“Yes. Your father mostly. I imagine you could tell as much though.” The silky tone was back. Neteyam watched the rise and fall of his chest subdue into deep breaths that evenly filled the male’s lungs. He absent-mindedly placed his palm flat against Kxolo’s chest. The thrumming heartbeat sent vibrations underneath his fingertips. Tension shriveled away with the gentle touch. 

Neteyam was sure this was where he was supposed to panic. Yet, there was no energy left to expel and fret over the situation. He had already seen the anger in his father’s eyes and it was quickly becoming apparent that those strong emotions were only a package deal with the situation. 

“Does he know about…what happened?” He sputtered the words while tracing lines between the glowing freckles on the Olo’eyktan’s chest. The sun had finally given way to eclipse, shifting their source of light to only the bioluminescence of the forest. Glowing fauna swam and illuminated the water around them. 

“You mean losing your virginity?” Kxolo clarified. Neteyam’s ears twitched at the blunt reminder. “We did not speak of it but I assume that stems from the fact that your father does not want to face the truth. I suspect he knows, but chooses not to fully accept it.” Kxolo hummed while slipped one arm around Neteyam’s back to pull him in closer. 

Neteyam’s sharp teeth gnawed at the inside of his bottom lip. It would have to come out eventually, but that didn’t have to be now. No matter how cowardly he knew it was, the omega was content to let his father live in denial for the time being. There was enough turbulence as it was. Let Jake assume his omega son was still innocent and clueless. That reality was sure to be more familiar to his father. 

Selfishly, Neteyam yearned to keep the inevitable storm at bay for as long as possible. 

“I suppose I do understand why your parents would rather keep you from me during the presentation.” Kxolo’s words were simply an exhaled sigh. Neteyam finally looked back up at his mate in confusion. 

“You mean because of sex?”

There was a pause. Kxolo’s ears perched in interest and his mouth set agape slightly in surprise. It was hard for the omega to pinpoint the origin of his shock. The sinking feeling that he was on the outskirts of information began to settle. It had become all too familiar throughout his lifetime. 

“Baby, what do you know about second gender presentation?” It was a genuine question. Kxolo waited patiently for a response. Even after all this time, Neteyam couldn’t fight the rising heat in his cheeks as he formulated a response. 

“Well you fully present which makes you want to….have a lot of sex. Like heat but stronger I guess.” Kxolo soaked in the information. His head nodded softly as if to spin the wheels in his mind to understand. There was something amiss in his answer. Neteyam could tell that even past those compassionate eyes, Kxolo had deemed the response lacking. 

“That’s true, baby boy. Anything else?” The Olo’eyktan’s voice was gentle and patient, as if talking to a child. 

He picked through his brain for any other information that could be provided. Unfortunately, his parents had always been very intentional with what things they told him about the matter. He could recall the restraint in their voices everytime they sat the omega down to discuss the natural processes. In the past he had been too embarrassed to press on the subject. Now, he felt the frustration at being outside the loop once again.

“Like what?”

Kxolo let out a long exhale as a kind smile graced his lips. He took Neteyam’s face between each of his large hands, cupping it tenderly and swiping one thumb along his cheekbone. 

“You’re right that presentation has some of the symptoms that a normal heat does. Your sexual appetite will burn even stronger than you have experienced in the past. Your body will yearn for the touch and care of an alpha, your alpha.” There was a but. Another piece that was sure to come along. The smooth and patient explanation was only a foreshadow of information to come. 

“However there is something else unique to presenting that you do not experience in a normal heat. Something else that you will beg for besides my cock.” Kxolo’s golden orbs dilated, drinking in the colorful rims. Neteyam could feel the beginning of arousal building within him. 

“What?” He spoke the syllable as a passing whisper, carried away with the night wind. All ideas of bathing had gone completely out the window. Whether he shivered consistently due to anticipation or the chill of the wind against his wet skin was unclear. 

Maintaining eye contact, Kxolo reached behind Neteyam. With a delicate hold, he brought his queue around to the front. The simple touch sent a prickled vibration through his body. As the Olo’eyktan gently fiddled with his braid, tendrils of sensitivity shot along his scalp. It traveled down the curves and slopes of the omega’s body until it had him wiggling his toes in the rocks to expel it. 

The tip of the alpha’s finger carefully traced down the length of his queue. 

“Tsaheylu.” 

Neteyam’s heart skipped a beat. His tail twitched and shifted with uncontrolled uncertainty. 

“A bond with a potential mate, especially with your fated mate.” It had been the first time in many weeks that Kxolo had brought up their ‘destined paths’. It solidified the significance till it weighed down on Neteyam. Mating was no simple act. Their mating would bind them together forever. They would be promised and connected as witnessed by Eywa. There was no gray area when it came to mating. There could be no confusion of his feelings. 

“Neteyam.” He could feel the word spoken from the rumbling underneath his hand more than he could hear it. The Olo’eyktan gently used both hands to angle his head and gaze upwards at him again. “Your parents do not trust that I will be able to stop our mating from happening upon your presentation.” Kxolo’s baritone sang heavily in the air. 

Neteyam gulped down the lump in throat. 

“Hear my words.” The command was tender but firm. “I will not let that happen. Our bond will not be formed simply due to the haze of heat and presentation because the connecting of two souls is more than passion or desire. It is companionship. It is a choice to be one another’s person. To be the one soul that can truly understand the other. To walk together through life.” Kxolo steadfastly declared. 

Tears burned at the back of Neteyam’s eyes. His throat constricted with upwelling emotion that could not be shoved down, and for once he did not want it to be. The combination of the mighty heartbeat prevailing against his hand and raw glimmer of emotion in Kxolo’s eyes put the omega into a trance. The rest of the world pixelated into nothing; only white noise. 

“I love you and I forever will.” They leaned in until their noses rested against one another’s “I’m going to take care of you. This I promise you.” Kxolo’s vow pulled at the straining of Neteyam’s heart. Mingled breaths tickled at the starry freckles upon their faces. 

No words could form together to create a sufficient response. Neteyam could not and would not lie, not when those vulnerable eyes gleamed in the moonlight at him. Superficial poems and extravagant devotions of love were only smoke and mirrors. This was a time for truth. 

One truth that Neteyam could speak with certainty. 

“I trust you.” 

There was no telling when it had become a reality. Neteyam’s mind could not trace back the lineage or origin of this truth, and yet that did not taint the statements' veracity. He trusted Kxolo. No shred of uncertainty lingered when it came to Neteyam’s confidence in the Olo’eyktan’s intentions. Kxolo would not betray him. His arms had always been open with peace and oasis waiting for him. This Neteyam knew. 

The glimmer in  Kxolo’s eyes was no longer a simple glow, but rather true tears held at bay. Three simple words that sounded too little to be uttered after the man’s speech, but Kxolo understood.  He felt the significance in such a sentiment. 

Trust is earned.

Trust is vulnerability. 

Salty tears stained their cheeks as their lips met. The caress in the kiss was leisurely gentle. It was not mixed in the desperation of crazed lust. It was not leashed by primal desires and obligations of an alpha and omega. It was simply two people. Two people that chose to be there. Chose to bask in the presence of one another above all others. Such a kiss could not be bound by time. A raw connection through the interlacing of tender lips. 

The yanking cord that had tied them together from the beginning had finally stopped tugging. It simply held Neteyam in place against the man that had changed his world. He was home.

“No.” 

Kxolo exhaled a sigh at the one word syllable Neteyam had recently become fond of. 

“It will only be a few hours, baby boy.” His tame reassurance was paired with a sweet kiss to the omega’s forehead. Regardless, the touch did not seem to loosen the grip Neteyam had on Kxolo’s battle band. With his head tucked into Kxolo’s chest and one leg thrown over his hips, the omega had put forth his best effort to immobilize the Olo’eyktan. 

“No.” 

It was supposed to be a short nap but that nap then led into cuddling and cuddling led to his cock taking apart the younger male and then from there yet another hour of lounging and lying together. Kxolo knew he was being a pushover. He had let Neteyam bat his pretty lashes at him and conceded to the requests to stay that came from pouty lips. He knew that the outbursts and new neediness was a result of increased omega hormones leading to Neteyam’s presentation. It was normal, even natural, to have the boy wanting to be glued to his side at every moment possible. His inner omega had recognized the alpha. The omega instincts would scream at him to stay close to the alpha as a preparation for the unpredictable presentation. 

Kxolo was more than happy to indulge these cravings, but he had responsibilities too. 

“I’m sorry love, but I was not asking for permission.” Extracting Neteyam from his frame was more difficult than anticipated. The flexing thighs and unbreakable grip were skills that the omega had obtained from hours of climbing. 

“You can stay for a little longer.” Neteyam insisted as his leg was forcefully pushed from its positions over the Olo’eyktan’s hip. 

“I’ve already stayed longer than I should have. Now be a good boy and stop pouting.” His firm voice left no room for argument as he finally managed to escape the tangled limbs and stand up. His inner alpha moped at the idea of leaving the omega when he had finally come around to showing such intense affection. Excuses were quickly being woven in his mind to find an escape from his responsibilities and indulge the boy, but Kxolo was used to drowning these voices out when needed. He knew what it meant being Olo’eyktan. There had to be balance between serving and receiving. 

Kxolo went to sheath his knife in place and grab his bow. Netyam watched with big sad eyes from his place on their sleeping mat. It was becoming more difficult to distinguish between the feigned expression hiding ulterior motives and true sadness from his omega. The Sully boy was slowly figuring out what worked with his alpha and how to bend him towards his will. This was not foreign knowledge to him, but Kxolo hated to punish his omega when he was being so sweet and affectionate. It had taken so long to get there, after all. 

“Neteyam please, enough with the sad eyes. You know that I cannot cave.” His voice fringed right on the lines of beginning while still maintaining his stern aurora. 

That little crack in his resolve had the omega quickly scrambling to his feet and pulling the Olo’eyktan close by his battle band. 

“Then take me with you.” Neteyam looked up at the taller male through thick lashes. 

“Baby boy…” A deep sigh surged through the alpha’s chest. He tried to hold tightly to the last string of his resolve and ignore the glimmering hope in those golden eyes. 

“I’ll be so good. I’ll just be quiet and watch. You won’t even know I’m there!” Neteyam urgently made a case for himself. Small hands slid along Kxolo’s waist until the omega had wrapped his arms tightly around his torso. Adoration fluttered rapidly to the surface as he felt him clinging to him. Still, he knew better than to take Neteyam’s word on it.

The omega had been an equal mixture of clingy and bratty for the past few days as they neared closer to his presentation. 

“You know how much I would love to have you come along but you and I both know it would not work out. Not only are some of my responsibilities tiresome and dangerous, they also will leave you very bored.”He placed a tender kiss along the crown of Neteyam’s head. His reluctance only increased at the sight of the omega snuggling his face against his chest. The effect let their scent mingle and linger together into a satisfying essence. 

“Please daddy.” 

Kxolo’s strong hand instantly grasped Neteyam’s jaw and maneuvered it so he was looking up at him. His stripped cheeks were squeezed together firmly as the blazing golden orbs seared through him. Neteyam’s tail was curled and on alert at the compromising position. 

“Baby boy,” The words were nothing more than a rumbled growl “do not start something you are not ready to finish.” Kxolo could feel the small shiver that raked through Neteyam’s body. Leaning down till they were face to face, Kxolo’s warm breath caressed his lips. “I’ve been very lenient with you lately because of the hormones but that does not mean you can be a naughty brat trying to manipulate me.” The raise of his browline quickly had the omega’s ears pinning backwards. 

“Is that clear?” 

Neteyam nodded as best as he could with his face trapped. The Olo’eyktan’s expression visibly softened before a warm smile graced his lips. He released the boy hastily and kissed him on the cheek before stepping away to continue gathering his stuff. 

“You can hang out with Epok while I’m gone.” The bow was carefully shifted. He looked around the space to make sure he wasn’t forgetting anything. 

“What?!” Neteyam gaped. 

“Epok. I’m sure he won’t mind looking after you.”

“I don’t need a babysitter.” Neteyam huffed with his arms crossed. 

“Then how about a friend to keep you company? Vamai is off with a group to gather berries on the west side. She won’t be back for a couple hours.” The information seemed to do little to sway the omega. Regardless, Kxolo’s mind was made up.

Neteyam squinted down at the piece of wood in his hands. The knife dragged stiffly into the timber in effort to mold and yield it to the right shape. His skills were rusty as he had not handled a knife in almost two months. Still, it was preferable to focus his energy on the badly carved bow than the curious gaze of the beta across from him. It had been an hour and they had already ran through every polite conversation topic. 

That is, except for one.

The one person they had in common between the two of them. 

“How has Vamai been?” Epok softly asked, eyes never veering from his own bow. 

Neteyam tried not to show his shock at the abrupt blunt question. It was confusing ground to be on. Vamai avoided talking about Epok around Neteyam like the plague. He was not stupid. There was more to the story than what she had explained. Still, he was caught between his best friend and her ex lover with no idea what was appropriate to talk about. 

The burning questions had been sizzling inside of him with no space to escape. 

“What are you two fighting about?” Neteyam blurted out without a forethought. It was hard to say if it was the intense curiosity that had been fostered over the past couple weeks or the boredom from the past hour that had pushed him to butt in. The sound of scraping wood ceased. Neteyam looked up to see Epok sigh softly. 

“I suppose she hasn’t told you then.” The soft timber of the beta’s voice was a calm drawl. Epok was reserved at times. A shingle of armor that Neteyam had a hard time getting through. 

“No, but you can.” He insisted. There was more to the story after all. Neteyam couldn’t help but wonder why Vamai wouldn’t explain it to him. They told each other everything. From sexual encounters to what they ate for breakfast, it seemed that nothing was off the table for conversation. So why was this? 

Epok set the bow down on the mossy ground. A large hand ran over his face as he let out a deep sigh. Apprehension was clear in his features.

“It’s complicated, Neteyam.” The omega waited for a further explanation but nothing came. He shifted to his knees, ready to diligently press for information. From the edge of the forest a group of Na’vi women came out giggling and carrying baskets of fruits on their hips. Among them was Vamai who seemed to be in a deep conversation with one of the other women. 

The talk stopped when her eyes caught on Epok and Neteyam sitting awkwardly. 

“Neteyam?” She abandoned the group in favor of investigating the situation. 

“Olo’eyktan has me watching him while he is out on business.” Epok answered before the omega had a chance. Awkward tension quickly seeped between the cracks. 

“Oh well, I’m here now so there’s no need.” Vamai said with a clipped voice. Before Neteyam knew it she was practically yanking him to his feet. He didn’t protest as he was anxious to get away from the uncomfortable interaction. Epok on the other hand was less eager. 

“I was specifically told to watch over him, Vamai.” Epok swiftly got to his feet. A calm but stern aura surrounded him. It was easy to see the shift into his warrior persona. Always a responsible and obedient soldier. 

“Yes I know how much you value your orders.” Vamai seethed. An underlying tale was woven between the words. It seemed the meaning did not evade Epok as his lips turned down into a frown. 

“Vamai-”

“If Olo’eyktan gets upset you can pin it on me, don’t worry.” Vamai rashly cut him off. Taking Neteyam by the hand, she dragged his taller form from the scene before another word could be said. 

The coiled tension in his muscles gave way as Neteyam leaned his back against the warm chest behind him. Strong arms automatically wrapped themselves around his hips to keep him in place on Kxolo’s lap. The familiar musky essence soothed his leftover nerves until his mind was simply a tingle of calm pleasure. A few hours had seemed to drag on forever. Now he was back where he felt the most safe and comfortable. 

The cracking fire illuminated the faces of his friends in an orange glow. Despite the obvious avoidance between Epok and Vamai there was still warm laughter and stories passed around their small group. Neteyam even found Pulo’s company to not be too egregious. Tamil shared a story about his own presentation that had Neteyam on the edge of his seat, or rather the edge of his alpha’s lap. It was rare to hear the reserved gentle giant speak of his love life. 

Every now and then the omega caught a glimpse of Tamil with his mate together, greeting her with a kiss at the doorway of their hut or handing off a small wriggling baby between them. The warrior did not ask for attention in his everyday life, but Neteyam couldn’t help but wonder if that came from a place of contentment. Half the time he would excuse himself to sit with his wife and child for dinner. 

As he talked of his presentation and the bond between him and his mate, Neteyam’s head wove together sweet fantasies without permission. What it would be like to spend the rest of one's days devoted to one person, but then have that responsibility and joy grow as one becomes two or three or more. 

Soft lips gently kissed the top of his spine. The omega instantly settled back in Kxolo’s arms, understanding the hidden request. Laying his head back against his chest, the omega savored the feel of a droning and mighty heartbeat sending vibrations through him. Neteyam mindlessly played with Kxolo’s long fingers while listening to the story. 

“You are lucky that didn’t send you into rut, brother. Trust me, omega presentation and alpha rut is a messy combination.” Pulo chimed in before sharp teeth ripped into the grilled fish. Neteyam’s curiosity peaked at the topic. 

“Is that a bad thing?” He asked the group softly. It was Vamai that answered him from her lounged position beside them. 

“Don’t worry, Nete. Kxolo’s rut shouldn’t be for another month or two.” 

In an instant, an unstoppable wave of emotion rippled through him. His thoughts clouded into a possessive haze that could only pinpoint the need to claim what was his. 

“How do you know when his rut is?” Neteyam seethed with bared teeth. His form arched forward, prepared to lunge forward in attack if needed. If he had to protect what was his. 

Neteyam’s sizzling hiss dissipated into a pain whimper as his queue was yanked firmly. His body was forced backward with an arched neck as Kxolo used the braided hair to manhandle him. The alpha’s hot breath tickled at his tucked ear as soft lips almost brushed it. 

“Behave.” There was no need for threats. The omega knew what would happen if he didn’t concede. Looming pheromones wrapped his senses, luring Neteyam into submission. The sudden anger dissolved into a passing memory. “Apologize to Vamai.” 

His cheeks tinted a slight pink as his eyes refocused on their setting again.

“Sorry.” Neteyam sheepishly whispered. 

To his surprise Vamai appeared completely undisturbed by the outburst. A fond laugh left her lips causing the gems of her tops to tinker softly. 

“It’s ok, Teyam. You really are close to presenting, poor thing. The Olo’eyktan’s time of rut is simply public knowledge considering his absence. Don’t worry, he’s all yours.” She cheekily winked at him. Her warm countenance washed relief over him. The grip on his queue disappeared. A sudden urge to get her alone surfaced. She knew what it was like to present as omega. He needed answers from someone that had real experience with the ordeal, but that couldn’t be done in the company of snooping betas and alphas. 

The conversation buzzed back to life as if the interruption had never happened. Neteyam found himself back in the blissful hum of his affection as he snuggled back into Kxolo’s arms. He continued to play with the alpha’s long fingers absentmindedly. The action was surprisingly calming as he traced one finger along the pronounced knuckles and roughed up calluses the Olo’eyktan had received over the years. 

Warm lips traced the back of his neck with frustrating delicacy. It sent shivers down Neteyam’s spine and made him shift in the alpha’s lap. The curve of Kxolo’s proud smirk was evident even with the omega’s back turned to him. He could already hear the words in that prideful expression.

So sensitive, baby boy. 

It seemed that every nerve had been dialed to eleven along with the stronger hormones. The simplest brush of the alpha’s tail or whisper of adoring nicknames had him wanting to curl closer. It was distinct from just simple horniness. Neteyam wanted to be held, praised, and cherished. He yearned to hear the purr of ‘good boy’ murmured from Kxolo’s lips over and over, until the omega had no choice but to believe it. 

Neteyam softly listened to the conversation as he traced random words onto Kxolo’s palm. The alpha would occasionally shiver or twitch from the simple touches. Neteyam enjoyed small moments like this where he knew that the mighty Olo’eyktan could become putty in his hands if handled the right way. It reminded him that Kxolo was affected by Neteyam’s presence as much as Neteyam was by his. 

As dinner was starting to come to a close, Neteyam prepared himself to snatch Vamai away and pester her with endless questions. His plans were quickly thwarted though when the girl suddenly stiffened, nervously fiddled with her hair and then made a hasty excuse in order to sneak off back home. Neteyam quirked an eyebrow at the sudden change of her demeanor but the thought was lost in the winds as Kxolo’s looming figure came up to hug him from behind. 

“Shall we go home?” The Olo’eyktan’s purred into his shoulder between tender kisses. 

Neteyam nodded deliriously, melting into the warmth of the embrace. 

Lo’ak wrapped the cord around the arrowhead in a diagonal pattern until it was firmly attached. It had taken him five times to complete the task for just one arrow. His nerves were starting to drive him up a wall. No amount of channeling those feelings into projects had fought them off. The sun was high in the sky as he continued to wait for her by the Hallelujah mountains. 

She didn’t promise to meet him. 

Their interaction through the throat comm had been short. Vamai had confirmed she knew the location and time but when asked whether or not she would come, Lo’ak only received a ‘we’ll see’ before the line went silent. 

It was about what Lo’ak expected from the omega after her resistance to mating was made obvious. Vamai was not one to go down easily but it was clear to see that there was something else that played to his favor. Curiosity. The flick of her tail and sparkle in her eyes was one that he recognized well. The omega claimed she didn’t get into relationships but there was always going to be a part of her that yearned to explore the spark of electricity that flowed between them. 

That idea alone was enough to stake his hope on. She could be stubborn all she wanted but at the end of the day, Eywa had chosen them for a reason. The very nature of their souls called to one another. If his own dreams were anything to go by, she would still be drowning in endless subconscious thoughts about him as she slept. 

“Boo!” 

Drowned in his own inner musings, Lo’ak was oblivious to Vamai’s soundless approach till her exclamation tickled at his ear. Naturally he jumped and immediately went to load the arrow but the familiar essence of citrus fruit and pine needles revealed the identity of his ‘attacker’. Vamai’s joyful teasing laugh settled into his muscles till they finally relaxed. He turned to face her and all annoyance at her sneak attack floated away. 

As usual her free flowing hair struck with multiple feathers and ornaments framed her elegant features, but this time there was something else. The small pendant lay sweetly along her forehead and that sight alone made his heart skip a beat. She had not only kept his small gift, but had continued to wear it.

Hope was not foolish after all. 

As always, Vamai was breathtaking. Her essence wrapped and weaved around him until it left him in a dizzying haze of lust and desire. Vamai’s eyes were pools of golden allure that Lo’ak could easily get lost in. Gently slopes of her features that all led to pouty lips. A petite figure with sweet soft curves that Lo’ak wanted to trace trails on with his tongue. In fact, he had more than a few dreams of doing exactly that. So sweet and delicate beneath his touch. A pretty angel with a devious attitude. 

She was the most gorgeous woman he had ever seen. 

“You know, maybe it would be best to not sneak up on me when I’m holding a deadly weapon, little snitch.” He warned with a raised eyebrow. Vamai gave his words hardly any heed as she simply rolled her eyes. Walking on the balls of her feet she pranced towards the cliff edge to peer down towards the ground. Her tail swished and her ears perked with interest at whatever she had observed. 

“I wasn’t sure if you were going to come. Guess you couldn’t resist.” Lo’ak teased with a smirk. 

“Well I was bored and I figured you wanted to meet here to go cliff diving.” Vamai easily produced the excuse. Lo’ak’s eyebrows bunched together warily. 

“Cliff diving? Where?” 

Vamai finally turned to face him once more with a wide grin on her face. She confidently pointed to the top of the waterfall that sprung around the bend and into a deep river. Lo’ak was familiar with the waterfall and river but never had he considered cliff diving there. The beginnings of laughter coalesced in his lungs. He waited for her sweet laughter to bubble up and inform him that it was some silly joke, but it never came. 

“Very funny, but no one jumps from there, sweetheart.” 

“Well then I must be no one.” Vamai responded without missing a beat. Her eyes twinkled with a mischief that had Lo’ak unsure if he should be excited by it or terrified of its consequences. His eyes swept to the waterfall in the distance once more before returning. 

“There is no way you have jumped from there.” Lo’ak concluded with his hands confidently placed on his hips. He stepped closer till their toes almost touched. He inwardly grinned at the obvious shift of her scent that came with his closer proximity. The mask the omega wore was one that Lo’ak was clearly finding ways to see through. 

Deciding to push his luck, Lo’ak’s softly wrapped his tail around her upper thigh. Their eyes locked. He waited to see if she would push him away. If she would crack. Vamai held her ground and stared up at him with shining determination, but nothing could hide the faint blush that painted her cheeks. The pink glow was so delicate in contrast to the sharp eyes piercing him.

The prettiest little omega. 

“I do it all the time.” The arrogance in her tone rippled away as Lo’ak gently brushed the back of his knuckles against her blushing cheek. The gentle touch made her freeze and a warm satisfaction bubbled up inside of Lo’ak as he saw her eyelids struggle to not flutter closed. This feeling was fleeting however. 

Vamai gripped his wrist tightly to stop the movement. The omega’s hand could barely close around the width of his wrist and Lo’ak knew he could rip it away with hardly a flinch, but he remained still. 

“You really have a problem understanding personal space, branch-eater.” Vamai shoved herself away from him and swatted at the winding tails around her thigh till it was detached. Lo’ak smirked at the old devious nickname she had revived. “If you want to come, you have to promise to behave.” She huffed with hands on her hips. 

“Behave? And what does that entail exactly?” Lo’ak asked with a raised eyebrow and the beginnings of a chuckle forming in his throat. His tail swished back and forth as he observed her wide stance and pouted lips that were meant to exert her dominance over him. He knew it was foolish to underestimate Vamai’s determination but it was hard to find a girl of such short stature and delicate features threatening. 

“This is my space.” She motioned to the vicinity around her. “And that is yours.” Vamai gestured to his area without daring to close any distance between them. “You stay in your space and I’ll stay in mine. Does that make sense?” 

Lo’ak didn’t miss the patronizing tone infused in her explanation. His inner alpha fringed on the edge of growling at the rebellion but he quickly calmed himself as he focused on the real meaning behind her words. His presence had an effect on her, one that worked against her little game of cat and mouse. 

“I think I grasped the basic concept.” He sarcastically teased with a faux distraught expression. “But then again I’m more of a hands-on learner.” Lo’ak’s playful demeanor did nothing to break the cold ice in her expression that worked as an authoritative front. Still, she didn’t respond directly to the comment besides a small exasperated huff. Her hair flowed in the wind as she proudly walked past him to the edge of the cliff. 

“If you fall, that's on you.” That was all she said before starting to carefully inch across the narrow pathway along the mountainside. 

Lo’ak felt his heart spike slightly as he watched her footwork along the moss covered path. It was not uncommon to scale paths such as this but he couldn’t help but feel slightly responsible and protective over her wellbeing. He gave one look back at his ikran before following after her. They each pressed their backs flat against the cold rock while shuffling sideways. The wind blew harshly against Lo’ak’s skin till it had brought a slight pink to the apple of his cheeks but he paid it no mind as he watched Vamai’s movements diligently. He kept one arm stretched outwards and ready to grab her at the slightest inclination of gravity taking over. 

In reality, her smaller form was more adept to paths like these. Vamai’s feet could almost entirely rest along the rock slab while Lo’ak’s had no choice but to hang partway over the edge. Occasional hanging roots and grooves in the rocks became aids along their journey but Vamai hardly used them as they progressed. 

The sound of rushing water became more apparent till it was drowning out every other sense and showing evidence of spray wetting their trail. Lo’ak’s sigh of relief upon reaching the normal cliffside was swallowed up in the powerful roar of the waterfall. For the first time the alpha finally had a chance to appreciate the view from their spot at the top of the cliffside. The Hallelujah mountains hung gracefully in the distance, blanketed with golden sunlight. Everything beneath them was a vibrant tangle of green forest and colorful organisms crawling along it. That is, everything but the mighty river and raging waterfall that flowed into it. 

The now apparent drop accentuated the recklessness of their decision. Lo’ak thirsted for adventure and thrill but things were different when it involved other people. This wasn’t just him blowing off some steam through mindless adrenaline rushes. He was with an omega, his omega, nonetheless and he didn’t think he could live with himself if she got hurt. 

Vamai’s bottom lip was trapped between her teeth as she looked down from their position to the side of the waterfall. They were a good enough distance away from the rushing water that upon impact it was unlikely to get pulled and stuck under the falling water but still, apprehension was thick in the air. Lo’ak could tell from the shake of her hands and hesitant rocking upon the balls of her feet that she was nervous too. She surveyed their intended path closely with furrowed brows. 

“Well,” The omega sighed, throwing her hands up. “The longer we wait here the worse it will be.” 

“Vamai, maybe we should do something el- VAMAI!” Lo’ak’s sentence broke into a booming yell as she bolted straight towards the edge and leaped into the air. Her form disappeared within a moment as gravity yanked her down. Her high pitched scream that echoed through the air punched at his gut. 

All feelings of hesitation became crushed under fear as his feet pounded against the cold slab to follow her. Lo’ak jumped out from the edge without another thought. There was not a moment to consider or process what he had just done before his body was free falling through the air. Cold wind whipped at his skin. His stomach wrenched and felt like it was rising within his chest as his body plummeted towards the ground. The fall was so much longer than he had anticipated and yet it felt as if he was flying at a hundred miles per hour. Lo’ak’s ears twitched as he heard a brassy cacophony of sound and it wasn’t until he felt the air leave his lungs that he realized it was his own yelling. 

The Sully boy had just enough wits about him to remember to position his body into a pencil dive before his feet broke the surface of the water. 

His ears ached with the sudden increase of pressure as his body sank towards the substrate of the river. Only the sound of sizzling white noise that came with being underwater filled his senses. Once his momentum had slowed and Lo’ak had managed to not scrape up against any of the rocks, he began to swim towards the top. The current yanked at his form to create a diagonal ascent. By the time he broke the surface and air was sucked into his lungs Lo’ak was good ways off from the waterfall and in calmer slope of the river. 

Once his need for oxygen had been satiated Lo’ak was finally able to register the breathy puffs of laughter coming from his right. Vamai treaded water off a ways with a delirious smile and blown out pupils. Lo’ak could still feel the buzzing of an adrenaline rush flowing through his veins. This energy was well used closing the distance between him and the flustered omega. 

“You!” A stern finger was pointed at Vamai as he swam. “You lied. You have never done that before!” Lo’ak accused with harsh breaths panting through his lips. 

“You’re right, I haven’t.” Vamai panted back with an intoxicated and bemused look across her face. “That was insane!” Her exclamation barely came out in a rushed exhale as she looked back up at the top from where they had jumped. 

Puffs of air were forced from her lips in small huffs until they slowly started to turn into breathy giggles. Giggling turned into laughter and it wasn’t long until Lo’ak felt the same convulsing pressure in his lungs. Their laughter fed off of one anothers until it became hard to breathe. The release of emotion created pathways for his adrenaline to escape through and slowly this allowed his heart beat to start returning to a normal pace. The corner of the alpha’s eyes crinkled as he laughed. Vamai’s own joy and noises kicked up until she was starting to hoot and yip with glee. Lo’ak had no hesitation in joining her. They celebrated with shrieking cries as if they had conquered death. 

Wet hair splayed around her shoulders, Vamai glowed with radiant energy. Electricity that was no longer contained. The sight stretched his grin until his cheeks hurt from the strain. The warriness from her golden orbs was absent, urging him to take a leap of faith. 

“Don’t think you won’t pay for this.” Lo’ak teased, feigning a stern tone. “You better hope you can swim fast, little snitch.” A devious glow overtook his features and immediately set the omega into a competitive headspace. 

“Do your worst, Sully.” Vamai grinned before ducking underneath the water. She was swift and agile in the water, diving down deeper at great speed with graceful rolls of her body. Lo’ak took in one last breath before diving after her.

His body moved in a powerful rhythm of breaststroke but every time he had a chance to catch the small omega she would slip away from his grasp. Large rocks and boulders that were struggles for the alpha were nothing for Vamai as she slid around and between gaps just big enough for her small body. Lo’ak quickly found that his greatest opportunities for collecting the damsel was in the short moments she would breach the surface for another gulp of air. The first time Vamai just barely managed to slip beneath the surface before he could reach her ankle but he did not make the same mistake the second time around. 

Before she could hardly gasp for air Lo’ak slips his muscular arms around her waist and heaved her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. The added weight pushed him slightly deeper into the water but he managed to find purchase on the rocky bottom at a shallower section to keep them above it. Her shrieks and pleas for release were distorted with uncontained laughter. Lo’ak held her squirming form tightly against his shoulder as he looked for an area he knew would be deep enough. 

With a mischievous grin and chuckle he grasped her hips and chucked her small form as far and high as he could. A screech left her lips as she flew through the air and straight underwater again. Lo’ak felt a wave of victory wash over him. His smile slowly faded as time went by and her head didn’t pop up. The alpha tried to remain calm and count the seconds she had been underneath the surface but eventually it was too long. Just as he was about to dive into the water a sudden weight toppled onto his back. 

Vamai crawled up his back as if he were just another tree to climb. Lo’ak was beyond relieved to see that she was in fact not drowning but his competitive nature was quick to swing back into full force. He clawed and reached for the gripping hands and feets along his back but Vamai seemed to always be one step ahead of him. A playful growl rumbled in his chest. The omega’s hands gripped at his shoulders while trying to find a way to manipulate his balance. She was finally deemed successful by crashing her knees between his shoulder blades and effectively making him too top heavy. 

The pair tumbled into the water simultaneously but Vamai found another wave of victory by shoving his head back underwater roughly before he could fully breach the surface. 

Their game continued without reprieve. Lo’ak would find ways to catch and manhandle Vamai only for her to return the favor by using his weak points to strategically control and topple over his taller form. Laughter, growls, and screeches echoed off the mountains as they each fought for an unobtainable victory. It wasn’t until they were both wheezing for air that a truce was called. 

Vamai settled onto shallows against the rocks as her breath came out heavy. Lo’ak own appearance was disheveled and askew with his arm band halfway to his wrist and braids twisted around one another haphazardly. His attention was quickly captured by her delicate fingers readjusting the feathered top. The Sully boy’s first instinct was to reach out and push the feathers away. He yearned to see the curve of her breasts and peaks that adorned them without any obstructions. To feel the weight of them in his hands, biting and sucking at the omega’s nipples until she was squirming underneath him. 

Lo’ak busied his hands with adjusting the bands of his loincloth instead. He stamped out the impulse. Vamai was not another random hookup, he reminded himself. If he wanted her to be his omega he would need to play the long game. His was trying to be what his father referred to as a gentleman. 

“Hand it to me?” Vamai’s voice broke him out of the trance and he prayed to Eywa that she somehow had missed the way he was ogling her breasts. A small bracelet floated in the way next to him. Lo’ak quickly obliged and kneeled down in front of her to slip the bracelet back on her wrist. His fingers lingered along her soft azure skin.

Looking up, he found her undivided attention aimed at him, gaze heavy and wanton. The intensity in those orbs drew him forward. 

“Lo’ak.” His name flowed like honey from her lips, thick and sweet. 

“Yeah little snitch?” Lo’ak leaned in closer till his breath teased at the baby hairs framing her face. She looked between his lips and eyes slowly with doe eyes and he immediately understood the silent request. 

It was Vamai that closed the last bit of distance between them. Her lips were just as soft and sweet as he remembered. Lo’ak held back a purr at the feel of her fingers intertwining with his braids. He kissed her back slowly, almost delicately, as if worried of breaking the enchanting girl within his grasp. However, the tune quickly changed when she sensually bit at his bottom lip without mercy. 

The coppery taste of blood filled his mouth, showing how vicious she was becoming. Without breaking the kiss Lo’ak sternly straddled her hips with his muscular thighs, making sure not to let his full weight fall on her. Their tongues fought for dominance but all it took for her to cave was one of his hands gently wrapping around her throat. Vamai’s fingers gripped his forearm as a small breathless moan leaked into the kiss. The sound set Lo’ak’s skin on fire. He captured her tongue in his mouth and began to suck it greedily. 

His efforts were rewarded with a melody of sweet noises that had his loincloth feeling extremely restrictive. He could feel her pulse beneath his fingers and her scent was no longer just a smell but a true essence Lo’ak could taste on his lips. It was intoxicating. Vamai began to arch her body against him, although trapped beneath his weight. Every nerve lit with tingles as he felt her thighs clench together to chase some sort of friction. They barely gave one another moments to gasp for air before diving back into taste one another hungrily. 

With the hand gently wrapped around her throat the alpha slowly guided her to lean back until fully laying against the rock, the other hand cupping the back of her head to ensure it wasn’t bumped. A thin layer of water rushed around her head and pulled the free flowing hair in various directions. Lo’ak gave himself a moment to marvel at her beauty before diving in to capture her lips once more. 

Lo’ak ran his thumb up and down the column of her neck, knowing it would leave a delightful trace of her scent on his skin. Meanwhile, Vamai began to get restless. The omega boldly groped and clawed at any skin within her reach. One hand managed to grip at his muscular thigh that had been hiked up underneath him. She ran it along the back of his thigh up higher and higher until it shot a shiver down his spine. He broke the kiss for a moment to let out a hazy chuckle when the omega’s delicate fingers squeezed his ass. 

“Cheeky thing.” He mumbled reconnecting their lips. Lo’ak could feel her smirk into the kiss. The smirk disappeared as her mouth formed into an o shape when he wrestled one his knees between her legs to press at her core. The heat coming from beneath her loincloth was a radiating contrast to the cold river water that flowed around her. His tail flicked ecstatically in response to her apparent arousal. He diligently pressed and massaged the sweet spot between her thighs until she had to break the kiss in order to release her pent up moans. 

The golden in his eyes was quickly conquered by his dilating lust filled irises. His cock was already at full mass, straining for release from its confines. Every roll of his knee brought a new wave of her arousal induced scent that had his nostrils flaring. The alpha couldn’t take it anymore. He needed to taste her, feel her against his tongue and lips. With that all consuming objective in mind, Lo’ak bit and kissed along her neck while running his hands along the curves of her waist and hips. It took major self control to not sink his canines deeply into throat till it left a mark that would designate his territory. 

Lo’ak mind was simply a cloud of desire and lust but even then, he tried to remember the situation he was in. 

Control was quickly slipping away as the desperate thrusts against his knee were driving his primal urges to a new high. It seemed that Vamai was not far behind as she squirmed with every descending kiss along her body.

“Lo’ak.” His ears twitched at the beautiful sound of his name along her lips. He decided he liked it even more when it came out as barely more than a panting exhale. “Don’t tease.” She gritted out. 

Lo’ak raised himself up from kissing along her ribs until he their noses nudged one another. His knee settled to the side and away from her heat, flashing a desperate displeased expression across Vamai’s face. 

“Then tell me what you want.” The alpha whispered, eyes never leaving her own. Vamai’s nose scrunched as she tried to glare at him, but the intensity was subdued by the heavy pants that trickled past her lips. 

“You asshole.” Vamai’s insult only brought a chuckle from deep within his chest. 

“Ok, then how about I tell you what I want?” He leisurely suggested while reaching one hand down to stroke along her inner thigh. Her demeanor wavered, fluttering eyelashes cuing the effect. 

His chest flared with pride. 

“I want,” Lo’ak brought his lips to the shell of her ear. “Your taste along my tongue.” Vamai’s ears twitched at the whisper. 

“I want to run my tongue between your soft folds.” Lo’ak the tips of his fingers further up her thigh in a swirling pattern. 

Vamai bit her lip to keep in the betraying noises that threatened to leave her throat. She could already feel her walls clenching around nothing, fluttering at his sinful words. 

“I want to savor every drop of your sweet arousal till it leaves an unforgettable trace in my mouth for days.” Lo’ak’s voice dropped into a deeper baritone that rumbled from his chest. One finger ran over her clothed pussy, catching on her clit unexpectedly. Sparkling pleasure rippled through her without warning. Vamai was unable to hold in her gasp. She could feel the alpha’s grin against her ear. 

“I want to feel your sweet little pussy clench around my fingers.” The pad of his thumb rubbed at her clit through the thin fabric. The added pressure had the omega’s thighs beginning to shake. Her burning skin contradicted the light trickle of cool water she lay upon. Every thought whizzed towards the burning coil gathering between her legs. Lo’ak’s toned form looming above her seemed to consume every sense. Vamai traced every ridge and line along his chest and back hungrily. 

“I want you to paint them white.” Sharp canines nipped her ear, causing her to flinch. The burning arousal was becoming almost painful as two fingers ran up and down her folds through the fabric. She knew were it not for the river already soaking her loincloth her own juices would have done the job. The fabric clung to her pussy from the sticky slick. “Make your pretty pussy cum all over my fingers and tongue.”

Vamai’s eyes rolled into the back of her head, chest rising with the arch of her back. 

“The real question is,” A dark undertone took over his word, luring her further into his filthy promises. “Are you going to let me taste this little pussy?” 

“Yes.” The confirmation came instantaneously. “Yes Lo’ak, please.” 

Lo’ak grinned devilishly. 

“Thank you, sweetheart.” He said as if she was giving him the greatest gift he could ask for. A small squeak of surprise escaped her throat as he manhandled her on the mossy bank out of the water. Still lying atop the shallow rocks of the river, Lo’ak spread her legs wide before him. He impatiently untied and threw the offending piece of drenched fabric away without fuss. 

Vamai’s arousal shone prevalently, lips spread partly to reveal the sensitive bud to his gaze. 

To say Lo’ak’s expectation of the day were exceeded would be an understatement. 

Best fucking day ever. 

“Look at that sweet pussy. Already so wet and ready.” She jerked as he placed a sweet kiss on her clit. 

With a firm grip on her thighs he flattened his tongue to lick a broad stripe from her fluttering pussy and through her soaked folds. Vamai groaned loudly, wet hair tangling with the moss as she threw her head back in pleasure. It was all the encouragement Lo’ak needed to start devouring her like a madman. 

His tongue dragged and played along her folds until her groans started to turn into little pleas for more. Her slick coated his lips and chin as he ferociously licked kissed and sucked at her cunt. The building pleasure made it difficult for Vamai to stay still, let alone hold back the crude noises and pleas crawling up her throat. She bit at her fist, trying to muffle herself and gain some sort of self control once more.  

The alpha growled against her core at noticing the sudden stifle of noises. In an instant Lo’ak was back above her, water rolling off of his wet body to drip onto her smaller form. The Sully boy harshly caught her wrist and pinned it to the mossy ground. 

“None of that, little snitch.” He tsked, eyes boring into her skull. The flow of burning intensity in his expression seeped into her bones, subduing every hesitation and letting her mind concede to her natural omega instincts. “I want to hear every sound that comes out of those pretty lips. Nice and loud for me.”

He didn’t descend again until it was clear that she would keep her mouth uncovered. Lo’ak didn’t ease himself back into the task. The only warning Vamai received was his hot breath against her clit before he was taking the small bud into his mouth and sucking on it. White hot pleasure raked through her body with such intensity, Vama considered it a miracle she did not cum right on the spot. 

“Agh nu- Lo’ak!!” The incoherent babbling only spurred him on further, sharps teeth playfully nipping at her puffed up clit. His tongue swiped the bud back and forth with just the right amount of pressure to have the omega seeing stars. “Oh Eywa! Fuck!” Vamai rattles off with an arching back that so deliciously shows off the curve of her breasts for Lo’ak’s hungry gaze. 

His cock strained and twitched underneath his loincloth as he heard the desperate groans of his name continue to rain from her lips. He had to stop himself several times from rutting against the wet rocks beneath him like a horny teenager. Her essence was all that filled his senses as it wafted through his flared nostrils and now resided on his skilful tongue. 

Lo’ak hooked the omega thighs over his broad shoulders providing her with a view that stayed burned within her memory. Her neck ached with the strain as she managed to prop herself up enough to see his muscular form laying between her legs. His tangled braids swayed as his face was smothered in the soft wetness of her cunt, eagerly feasting as if it was his last meal. His toned body still lay halfway in the river, small droplets of water rolling down his muscular back. 

This gorgeous man was going to tear her apart, she knew it. And yet the scariest part was that a part of her knew she would let him. She would let him do unspeakable things to her body without complaint, probably thank him for it too. 

Lo’ak ran his fingers through her wet folds to naturally lube them before starting to press one finger into her tight heat. He audibly groaned against her clit as he felt the velvet-like walls clench around him. Her pussy took the long finger in graciously, sucking around him like it was made for him. Images of slipping his cock into the heat of those tights walls flooded his brain. The alpha barely had to wait a moment before he was able to slip in another finger beside the first. This granted him the euphoric melody of Vamai’s squeal. 

“There you go. Your little pussy is so good for me, isn’t she?” Lo’ak cockily purred against her heat while curling the two fingers to reach the spongy spot inside. 

“Oh Great Mother! Right there! L-Lo’ak ah please!” Vamai screeched with eyes clenched shut and nose scrunched in pleasure. He watched her expression from below, enjoying the plush thighs that squeezed around his head. 

“Feel good, sweetheart?” The alpha cheekily asked while simultaneously curling his fingers and rubbing her clit into circles. Her only reply was incoherent moans and gasps that acted as gasoline to the flames that burned in his gut. 

Lo’ak carefully slipped in another fingers, savoring the stretch of her slick walls. His ears twitched as he focused on the squelching lewd sounds of her pussy over the rush of the river. Lo’ak head was locked in place by her soft thighs with little space to breath and his forearms ached from the awkward motion of pumping into her tight pussy from underneath him, but it was a sweet suffering he would take over and over again without hesitation. 

Vamai clawed at the moss beneath her as she was unable to properly reach any part of his body from this position. She found slight solace in wrapping her tail around his flexing bicep that supported his weight. The omega could feel her peak quickly approaching. Her walls fluttered around his fingers with every lewd motion of tongue along her clit and folds. 

Lo’ak hummed in satisfaction at the increasing pressure around his digits. Constant streams of sputtered screams and moans escaped from Vamai’s throat without constraint, urging Lo’ak to see what other noises he could wrench from her. Her pussy had quickly become well acquainted to his three fingers, allowing him to pump in and out while occasionally terrorizing her sweet spot. Vamai’s eyes snapped open in surprise, feeling the tip of another smaller digit wrestle in besides the others. Lo’ak managed to look up and wink at her as his pinky slipped past the rim. 

Demon blood came in handy every now and then. 

“Lo’ak! Lo- Lo- Lo- aaahhh.” Vamai screamed, her body braced for the impending climax. 

The alpha’s tongue savagely dragged along her folds to slowly spell out Lo’ak letter by letter. Vamai was too far gone to understand the meaning behind his motions but to him, it was the closest thing he could get to properly marking his omega. His name pleasurefully branded on her sweet cunt as she struggled to even say his name properly through her moans. 

“That’s it, cum for me.” Lo’ak demanded. 

Stars infringed on her vision as Vamai’s orgasm crashed through her. The pleasure seemed to shake every nerve in her body, thighs clamping around Lo’ak’s head. The alpha decided oxygen was unimportant as he could feel her cum painting his blue fingers white crudely. He sucked at her clit and massaged that spot inside of her frantically to help Vamai ride through the orgasm. The strangled whimper she produced while clenching around his fingers greatly outweighed that of his wildest fantasies. Lo’ak knew that his wet dreams from now on would only be mocking mirages of the real thing. 

He finally ceased the movements when she had relaxed in his hold and her hips jutted away due to oversensitivity. Part of the alpha was tempted to continue through the overstimulation and force another groundbreaking release from her, but that would have to be for another day. 

With heavy lidded eyes, Vamai watched him carefully extract the digits from her pussy before putting her legs down and sucking on the white covered fingers. He hummed softly in appreciation of the taste while locking eyes with her. 

It wasn’t until Lo’ak was perched on his haunches that she noticed the obvious bulge in his dripping loincloth. Her muscles ached with the aftermath of such an intense orgasm but still she tried to sit up and reach for him. 

“Let me help.” The omega tried to sensually suggest but the words came out jumbled and raw from the excessive strain that her moans and screams had put on her vocal chords. 

The offer was more than tempting, especially when his hard cock twitched at the sound of her raspy voice. However, Lo’ak tried to consider the bigger picture. This wasn’t just some sleezy hookup to him. The alpha was lucky enough to taste and pleasure her, but Lo’ak didn’t want her to think that he had called her to meet up with him for sex. He was playing the long game, one that had to be handled strategically.

“No no, it’s ok.” His deep voice soothed her as he crawled fully onto the mossy bank. “Just come here.” Lo’ak murmured while pulling the small omega into his arms to lay with him. Their soaked bodies intertwined, his large hand pushing her head to lay against his chest. Vamai’s hair was missing feathers and instead tangled with pieces of moss. Both of their lips were swollen and pink and the soft wind sent a shiver along their wet bodies, but neither went to move. 

The warmth of her small form against his own lulled Lo’ak into a deep sense of serenity. His heart rate finally began to slow and for the first time in weeks, he could feel the beginning of a deep untroubled sleep falling over him. 

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