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casspurrjoybell-19 · 2 years ago

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CLAIMED - Chapter 31

*Warning: Adult Content*

The space between the Head Warrior of the Crescent Moon Pack, Corey Cahill’s eyelids burned and everything was heavy, an invisible force compelling his limbs into immobility.��

'Why can't I move?'

On second thought, were they even attached to his body?

He couldn't tell.

No, this wasn't right.

He was too open, too exposed, too defenseless to hold his own if someone were to attack.

Any Warrior would know that.

He needed to get to safety and fast.

'I just need to figure out how to use my hands, first.'

A shrill beeping echoed to the back of his skull, growing more rapid by the second as it taunted him.

The sound reverberated endlessly, the void of his brain warping any sense of time to the point where he wondered if it would ever stop.

‘Was I dead?’

Certain religions dictated that his preferences for men would eventually lead to his descent into hell and the ache in his forehead coupled with the state of defenselessness that he currently found himself in quickly led to the beginning stages of entertaining such a horrid concept.

Luckily, before his mind could take that evil thought and run wildly with it, something interrupted his outlandish flight of ideas.

A sensation.

In the form of a barely detectable pressure on his phantom arm.

Someone was here.

"Hey, it's okay," that someone soothed. "Don't worry. I've got you."

Corey knew that voice. That voice was unmistakable. That voice was home.

The soft, slightly husky drawl rushed over Corey’s rigid nerves like the warm, rising tide of a beach and instantly lowered his guard in some raw, indefinable way.

The sensation increased as whatever was touching him stroked a gentle caress up and over his body to finally rest on his forehead.

And just as quickly as it started, that echoed beeping began to slow and the knife behind his forehead dulled it’s assault to the whisper of an ache, leaving nothing but exhaustion in it’s wake.

‘How did he do that? Maybe this person was magical, too.’

The world wobbled behind closed eyelids as enervation became him.

He needed to sleep.

"Go back to sleep, my love. I'll be right here when you wake up. I promise."

The Voice spoke as if he had managed to extract just what Corey needed directly from the jumbled confines of his mind and his skin buzzed with contentment and something much stronger than joy when something plump and indescribably soft pressed against his lips.

Corey’s immediate instinct was to lean into the touch, to press back with a force so bruising that the owner of The Voice wouldn't be able to escape his claim even if they tried.

But seeing as to how his brain and body were still more than delighted with existing on completely different planets at the moment, acting on said desire was not a current member of his exceedingly slim arsenal of options.

Maybe once he got all stitched back together, whoever owned The Voice would let him take them on a date.

Yeah, he could settle for that.

Maybe.

Why was everything so heavy?

He needed to sleep.

*****

The sun was just a small sliver of light over the horizon when Corey’s mind finally caught up with his body and decided that it was a good time to bring everything back online.

Mostly everything.

His head still felt like it had been stuffed so full of cotton that it was bursting at the seams and his left arm was tingly, like a swarm of bees had used it as a pincushion.

But at least now, he could feel it.

It took every ounce of strength that he possessed to drag his eyelids open, the feat somehow proving more difficult than even the most strenuous days of Warrior Training.

But it didn't matter if he needed to tear his soul apart to achieve it, he would do whatever it took.

‘This was more important than me, more important than anything. Because more than anything else, I needed him.’

Crescent Moon Beta, Jaxson Ortiz.

‘My Jax. Was he safe? Was he happy? Where was he?’

After peeling his eyes open with the force of a thousand Goddesses, a glance to his left answered all of Corey’s questions.

A familiar shock of black curls greeted him, adorning the crown of the only man who held the key to the kingdom of his heart.

Jaxson was more than a vision as he lay curled up in the slim amount of extra space in the infirmary bed, freckled arms and thighs clamped tight around Corey’s bicep and forearm like a human koala.

Even in the depths of slumber the Beta was unyielding in his grip and although it was likely that Corey’s arm would require medical attention after blood flow was restored, it was without a moment of hesitation that the Head Warrior decided he would much rather risk an amputation than deny his Mate anything.

His love for his Mate was a boundless thing, so ingrained into the basis of his will to exist that it physically hurt sometimes.

It weaved an everlasting web of Jaxson throughout every ounce of Corey’s being, one that he would voluntarily tangle himself up in for all of eternity.

‘My Jax. My gift. My mate. I would give him everything.’

Corey did not realize what he was doing until he felt movement stir underneath his palm.

He tried to salvage the situation by staying as still as he could manage but a quick tap into their Mating Link revealed that it was already too late.

Jaxson was awake.

Luckily Corey’s guilt was short-lived, far surpassed by the way his chest swelled at the sight of Jaxson yawning, leaning his cheek into his Mate’s palm, and fluttering open sleepy lids to reveal the emerald beacons that blazed beneath them.

‘If he got any more beautiful throughout our lifetime together, I certainly would not be able to stand it. Nor would I be able to let him leave our home without an army of trained bodyguards by his side.’

Now that Corey thought about it, that actually was a very good idea.

But now was not the time to be an Overbearing Mate, so the Head Warrior forced himself to add the bodyguard plan to a mental to-do list with the intention to revisit it at a later, or sooner, date.

Corey managed to wrangle his drifting thoughts back to the present, albeit with much more resistance than expected, only to be met with wide eyes staring back up at him, their verdant depths a sea of shock and stupefaction and he bristled with concern.

"Who hurt you?" Corey demanded, more so than asked, skipping the pleasantries in favor of getting straight to the issue at hand.

His voice crackled like a fire, the quiet sound uncharacteristically rough around the edges as it escaped his throat.

His beloved blinked at him wordlessly for a long moment, something peculiarly introspective swimming around in his sleepy expression.

Then, after an eternity and a half of torture, Jaxson leaned up, replying to Corey’s worried inquiry by pressing those impeccably soft lips against his Mate’s own, currently chapped ones.

‘Oh. I suppose that's the sensation that had happened earlier. Jax had kissed me.’

A kaleidoscope of butterflies erupted within Corey and he certainly would have gotten lost in Jaxson like limbs to quicksand if it hadn't been for his Mate assuming the responsibility of the reasonable one and dragging their faces apart at the last moment.

"I'm totally fine, you earthworm," Jaxson whispered playfully, although Corey could tell that his Mate was using the jest to conceal a monumental volume of relief.

The Beta’s eyes held the Head Warrior’s eyes with an intensity that would have sent Corey to his knees if he were standing, so he instead released the urge by crushing Jaxson against his chest.

"Hmm," Corey grunted, yanking his right arm extra hard when his IV resisted the distance at which he was stretching it in order to wrap his arm completely around his Mate's lean body.

Jaxson giggled at Corey’s brashness but the Warrior ignored it, instead opting to satisfy the unavoidable need to bury his face into the Beta’s neck and nip at the Claiming Bond Mark that decorated his skin.

‘What had we been talking about, again?’

A stifled moan rattled a growl out of Corey as he pressed his canines down firmly but not hard enough to puncture and his fingertips dug into the skin of Jaxson’s lower back with enough pressure to turn them white.

The Beta’s Bond Mark was a lot more healed than Corey remembered it being the last time that he saw his Mate.

That didn't make sense, as did many things at the moment but remedying this situation was much more important of a task than figuring out why.

‘I need to Bond Mark him again, to sear my Mate’s insides with the proof of my claim. If I could just Bond Mark him again, it would fix everything. Because Jax is mine. Mine... mine... mine.’

"As much as I love it when you hump me like a rabid wolf, I'm going to have to ask for a rain check this time. I'm too damn worried about you to get slick right now, anyway," Jaxson said, pressing his palms flat against Corey’s chest, pushing as if to ask for an unacceptable amount of distance to be put between them.

Corey could have easily resisted, his impressive Beta strength bearing a laughable challenge to his own.

But naturally, the Pack Warrior’s instant surrender to his Mate’s desires was a testament to Corey’s weakness for Jaxson.

"Worried?" Corey tilted his head, confused "About me?"

Jaxson's brow furrowed in an adorable display of puzzlement and a slim hand slid up to brush through Corey’s hair as they locked eyes once more.

"It's okay. You don't have to always be strong around me," Jaxson whispered, leaning in to rest his forehead against Corey’ own.

The Beta’s lips were so close that the Head Warrior almost had another out-of-body experience in his attempt to resist them.

"You can't just ignore the pain. Trust me I've tried it and we all know where that got me."

Corey blinked, the gears in his head freezing over as he tried to piece together what in the hell Jaxson was referring to.

"Pain?" he questioned, attempting to coax out any additional information that could possibly key him into what was going on.

Maybe if Corey figured it out, he could then find a way to entice Jaxson towards their bedroom and complete his very good, very genius plan of mauling him.

"I am not in pain."

Jaxson was the one who blinked this time, long lashes bouncing against star-freckled cheeks as he gazed deep.

His mouth opened, closed and then opened again before he finally spoke and Corey found his eyes obediently following behind the movements of Jaxson’s lips.

"Wait..." Jaxson began, shuffling back and pushing up to sit on the bed instead of lying next to Corey. "Can you... can you tell me what happened yesterday?"

Inside of Corey’s head, he frowned.

What was the point of this route of questioning?

"Jax. Are you feeling alright?" Corey counter-questioned while moving to sit up, only to be immediately met by a searing headache that forced him to flop back down into his previous position with a barely-concealed wince.

"Don't try to sit up too fast yet, you'll hurt yourself," Jaxson instructed, pressing down on Corey’s shoulders to make a point.

The Head Warrior relented with an unhappy grunt but even that couldn't stop him from reaching over to wrestle his Mate’s hips into straddling his thighs.

Corey needed Jaxson as close as he could get him right now.

"I need you to tell me what you remember about yesterday. Please, just humor me," Jaxson pressed on, hands resting palm-down against Corey’s stomach and the patient sighed in defeat not even half a heartbeat later.

Corey didn't know why Jaxson desired so desperately for him to recount such a mundane thing for him but quite honestly, he would sell his left kidney if it would help ease whatever anxiety had grabbed a hold of his Mate so tightly.

"Well..." Corey started, looking up toward the ceiling with concentration. "We went to Suzy's Restaurant, you apologized to everyone and then you sat on my face and I fucked you with my tongue until..."

"Okay, okay. That's good enough," Jaxson clamped a hand over Corey’s mouth to halt the very obvious direction in which his saucy recollection was going, cheeks red as a fire hydrant though his expression was unexpectedly dire.

Corey couldn't help himself as he stuck out his tongue to lick his Mate’s palm in an attempt to entice a happier look onto his face but concern filled the Head Warrior as he was only met with a distressed whine.

‘Oh No. My Omega was scared and somehow I was the source of his fright. I would fix it. Even if it killed me, I would fix it.’

Corey’s body moved without him, his Wolf, Dashiell thrashing around wildly as he flipped Jaxson like a pancake.

The previous headache bloomed behind his forehead with a newfound vengeance but this time he didn't care about making the pain go away.

The only pain that he cared about, the only pain that mattered, was that of his Omega's.

Corey caged Jaxson between his limbs like a zookeeper gone mad as he hovered over him, dipping his head to rub his cheek over any exposed skin that he could reach.

He would give his Mate his scent, bathe him in his essence and leave him dripping with it if that's what it took.

Corey just needed Jaxson to be okay again.

‘I couldn't help myself. I couldn't bear it. I couldn't lose him.’

Corey was so engrossed in the quest of scrubbing himself into every molecule of his Mate's beautiful soul that he hadn't even noticed that, at some point during his assault, Jaxson had pressed the nurse call button.

But it was abundantly clear once the instinctual recognition of someone else entering the room made every hair on the back of the Head Pack Warrior’s neck stand up.

Lowering himself down on top of Jaxson, Corey shot a glare so sharp that it could cut diamonds across the room at the unwanted intruder.

The man had pink hair and sported a slim, less-than-daunting stature but it didn't matter.

Stunted in height or not, he was a threat that Corey simply could not risk.

Something much more than a roar worked its way out from the pit of the Warrior’s chest and the room echoed with it as he maintained his protective stance over his Omega.

If the pink-haired trespasser didn't take that as a notice that he was more than unwelcome, Corey was not above launching himself across the room to invent new ways for his arms and legs to bend.

"Hey, hey Corey, look at me. Everything is going to be alright, he's here to help us."

Jaxson's voice penetrated through Corey’s rage and he felt hands cup his cheeks and yank hard in the opposite direction to which the Warrior was staring but this time he wouldn't allow his Mate to win.

He had to keep the danger within his range of sight in order to ensure his lover’s safety.

No matter what Jaxson said, Corey would stay firm.

He had to.

Jaxson yanked at Corey’s face again, the act much more desperate this time as the Warrior bared his canines at the threat.

His muscles tensed in anticipation of bloodshed when the pink-haired man did not vacate the premises at his demand.

"Corey, it's Doctor Benji. You know him, he's a part of our Pack, our Medic. He won't hurt me, I promise."

‘Benji?’

Corey’s resolve only slipped for a fraction of a second at the familiarly-unfamiliar name but that was all that his smart Mate needed to force his head to swivel down to him.

"See? I'm perfectly fine, Alpha. Doctor Benji is only here to help. Come on baby, remember for me."

Corey’s fists shook where they had punched into the mattress on either side of his Omega and he resisted the urge to fall to his knees at Jaxson’s request.

He tried his best to remember, to dislodge something from the steadily worsening itch between his eyes but trying to extract anything useful was like swimming from a shark through molasses.

The task was simply impossible.

His breath hitched, the passage between his mouth and lungs narrowing with an overflow of emotion.

“I... I...”

"Shh, it's going to be okay. Take your time, my love. There's no rush."

Corey nodded gently, wheezing out a few resistant breaths in an attempt to form the truth on his tongue.

It took a bit to gather up the courage and even when he did, the words came out as a solemn whisper.

"I... I can't remember," he finally admitted, the lump in his throat sprouting barbed wire. "I can't... why can't I remember?"

A drop of wetness dripped from Corey’s chin, adding to the gallery of freckles that dotted Jaxson's cheekbones and his Mate’s thumbs instantly came up to wipe at the moisture under his eye.

If Corey’s vision wasn't so blurry he wouldn't have missed the way Jaxson glistened with similar wetness but the wobble in his Mate’s voice filled in the gaps.

"I know you must have so many questions," Jaxson replied in a fractured whisper. "And I wish that I knew what to say. But we don't have the answers quite yet. I'm so sorry, my love."

Corey’s elbows weakened and then gave out and he used the opportunity to curl his entire body around Jaxson like a lifeline.

He wondered if he was crushing his Mate’s smaller frame but the Beta made no movement or sound of discomfort, so Corey decided to allow himself the momentary indulgence.

‘I need him. He is the only thing that I know, the one person that I would never forget, even if it meant cracking open my own skull to retrieve our memories.’

Jaxson's body shook against Corey’s but the smaller man continued speaking through his tears nonetheless.

"I know it's scary. I know."

‘That was the understatement of the year but I didn't bother to correct him.’

"But this?" Jaxson shimmied their position so that he could grasp Corey’s wrist and place it on the left side of his chest.

‘The way it pulsated underneath the expanse my palm was nothing short of holy.’

"This won't ever let anyone hurt you. You just have to trust me. Please."

Corey nodded, clutching his Mate ever closer into the confines of his body as Jaxson’s warmth flooded through him.

There was no question.

"I will always trust you."

It was then that a high-pitched cry rang out and Corey groaned, hunching to hold his head in his hands as if that could do anything to soothe the sensation that made his brain feel like it was about to herniate straight through every single hole in his skull.

"Oh, sweet baby. Shh, it's okay."

Corey could hear a pair of feet scatter across the infirmary room, as well as a voice that he definitely recognized somewhere deep down.

And then, just as another helpless cry sounded out into the room, something shattered.

A single memory.

A memory that was certainly not his.

A memory of...

"A baby..." Corey breathed as the pain in between his eyes suddenly abated to an itch.

"My brother..." he continued as the memory flashed across his mind like the clearest movie.

"Theon."

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ugly-anastasia · 1 year ago

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happily ever aesthetics: jaxson brady king

I left town when we were over 'Cause it didn't feel the same Every backroad had a memory And every memory held your name

#inspo #swynhea #feat jaxson #jaxson #doing lil aesthetics for my npc children bc i love them

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thursdaygrl · 6 days ago

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dove's expression softens and she nods, somewhat earnest in her response. "can you blame me? i want to be great." she's never been ashamed of her big dreams, nor embarrassed at the idea that someone might think she can't reach them, but she's a little shy when it comes to jaxson. she has a suspicion there's an understanding between them, though, because they're both trying to make it in different ways. she nods at his question about the wings, finding that since she hasn't eaten since a few hours before the show, she's actually kind of starving. her eyes will typically be too big for her stomach, but for now she's figuring she can just give him anything she can't finish. she makes a face as he admits that he hasn't been to a musical before and reaches for one of his hands idly, fingers toying with his. "i won't dock points, but you're so missing out."

"ooh, very determined to be the next great broadway star, aren't you?" elbow nudges her shoulder in a teasing manner, really seeing her going far. the determination reflects -- how she would rather go on than allow her understudy to, unless they had some beef going on... he noted to jokingly question about it later... but for now his mind drafts back towards the female sitting across, couldn't wait to see her name on the big screen plastered everywhere in new york city. "now, you have good taste... a woman after my heart," making sure he indicates his clear interest for her -- not wanting her to be confused. "do you want to share the wings too?" he inquires curiously -- deciding to just add it on. jaxson sucks in a breath, "how many points do i get docked if i say yes?"

#dove threads.#dove feat. jaxson #angelsdvsts

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lcvestricken · 2 years ago

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The Disaster Gang™ as AO3 Tags [ 2 / ? ] // for @sungisms

BONUS:

#part 2 because i needed a pair/multi version too #group: disaster gang #dg.ao3series #edit: mine #usfw #ch: luka #ch: jaxson #ch: hyeseong #opp: lim doyun #opp: hyun subin #feat a small appearance by #ch: teddy

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josiebc · 3 years ago

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closed: for @threadedgold

location: outside of josie’s apartment

after such a great night going all of the way into the morning hours, unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. and so, she and jaxson were on their way out of the apartment, josie not yet too exhausted to head to sleep. she’d been adjusting slightly to his crazy schedule, and thankfully, she technically worked for herself which didn’t make it such a difficult feat at all.

in what josie believed to be the privacy of her doorway in her ironworks apartment, she pulled jaxson in for one last kiss before they were to part ways. she was planning on heading out for breakfast and he had to leave for a shift at work, so she took advantage of it knowing she likely wouldn’t see him for a few days. not until one of them eventually called up the other, and.. well, history would repeat itself. she waved after him, and in turning around to lock the door, noticed a figure in the corner of her eyes. when she glanced over.. “are you okay? you look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

#♡ selin kavas.

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justasparkwritings · 4 years ago

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Troll In Love: Part 1

Pairing: Park Jimin x Reader

Genre: Enemies to Lovers / Exes to Lovers, Non-Idol AU

Rating: PG-17

Word Count: 4.6k

Warnings: Swearing

Summary: What happens when your work nemesis and your ultimate troll team up to flip your world upside down?

Note: This piece is for the #thebtswritersclub fic exchange! Look out for Part 2 later this week.

This fic is dedicated to, written for the incomparable @xjoonchildx, who I have been lucky enough to be paired with. A major fan, this was an intimidating endeavor, and I’m kind of in love with what I’ve created for her. And if she hates it .... it’s trash okay? jk... kind of.

Banner by me.

Monday: Pitch Meeting

“Everyone has an inherent archnemesis,” Claire began her presentation, eyes peering across the conference room, attempting to make thoughtful eye contact with her peers.

Finally, a staff writer, this pitch marked her first foray into feature writing. It wasn’t like she hadn’t tried, in her three years at the company as a freelance writer, it wasn’t that she didn’t draft proposals, complete preliminary research, no, she absolutely did. But there was always someone in front of her, someone who always came around the corner, nicking first place with seconds to spare. Claire hated you from the moment you arrived, bright eyed and excited, a recent college graduate gunning for a position at the magazine. While it took her years to pitch a cover story feature, years to move from an assistant to full-time staff writer, you had done so in a handful of years.

Today, Claire decided, that would change. She had prepped and planned for weeks, laid in wait for Marissa to give her the go ahead to pitch her idea to the team. Adjusting her Dior, she shifted from heel to heel before speaking again.

“We all have that one person who no matter what we post, they find a way to demean it, turn it negative, make it about something completely unrelated. Whether that’s politics, or religion, or sex, there is that one troll we can’t help but root against. My proposal is to use a few members of staff to find their internet trolls, to engage with them over a period of time, and if they’re willing, interview them, both separately and together. I want to discover what it is that makes them keep commenting, why they always seem to gravitate towards certain posts, who their audience is and how it relates to our greater understandings of our enemies.” Claire sighed, the heavy lifting of her presentation just beginning.

“I like it, who do you want to use?” Marissa asked.

“Someone from each of our most high-profile teams, or the people in our office that have the largest social media followings. For a few that overlaps,”

“Who are those people?”

“Y/N, Jaxson, Hoseok, Emma and Bridgette,” Claire explained. “They have an average Instagram following of ten thousand, and on Twitter it’s twelve thousand.”

“What do you post that gets you so many followers?” Gillian questioned.

“My ass,” Jaxson laughed. “But really, it’s Drag Race content,”

“Good, you have a list. I need written permission from each of you to interview you and your top internet harassers.”

“I’d like to request that my name be off the list,” You asked, hand still raised.

Hoseok asked, knowing the answer deep in his bones. “Why?”

“I just, I don’t think it’d be a –

“Nonsense, you have a large following, I’m sure there’s someone who pisses you off regularly,” Marissa interrupted.

“Yes, there is! What’s his name? Jimin?” Claire pretended to scan her page, her cursory glance perfunctory instead of practical.

You heard the gasp leave Hoseok’s mouth before you registered what was happening.

“Fuck you!” You snapped. “I’m sorry, that was inappropriate, but the sentiment remains.”

“It was, but it also sealed your fate.” Marissa stood. “Start assembling your team and listen to Claire, I’m sure she has a list of things she needs from you.”

“I do!” Claire chimed.

“Great, get me the contracts from legal and get it to each of the people you’ve listed before 5PM today, I want signed consent before you leave this building.”

“What if I don’t want to?” You asked, your final plea.

“You owe her for the debacle with your last interview,” Marissa reminded you.

“It’s not my fault they were drunk both times! I got the article done and out. It was one of our biggest issues in the last year and was followed up by two other feature pieces by me that beat that record,” You countered, your success an unnecessary brag in a room full of people who feared and admired your work.

“I don’t care, Y/N, handle it,” Marissa sauntered out, her assistants following close behind.

Slouching in your chair, your eyes landed on Claire, glaring daggers into her perfectly straight midnight bob. She was everything you hated, a brown noser, a narcissist, a career driven monster who had been biting at your heels since you arrived. She was jealous, blinded by some lofty goal that she’d be an editor or editor in chief before 28, a feat rare in fashion, unless you were Elaine Welterwroth or Margaret Zhang, of course. They had become editors and editors in chief by ages 29 and 27 respectively. Though Zhang had begun her career blogging at 16, a fact that only infuriated Claire who was too busy popping pimples and trying to lose her virginity to her junior varsity boyfriend.

Claire could spend days listing everything she hated about you. She hated your easy interactions with coworkers, the ability to have the entire room stop and listen when you spoke, the craft of your written work and relationships maintained with subjects years after interviewing them. She hated how you left work with Hoseok on your arm or went to drinks with the assistants and interns. How you achieved so many bylines, becoming an editor in your own right without so much as breaking a sweat, while she was scraping the barrel to be noticed. You seemingly had everything Claire wanted, and Claire was sick of it.

Monday: Your Office

“Thank you, for your participation,” Claire said, sitting across from you in your office.

“You aren’t welcome, I’m actually rather unimpressed with your ability to ambush not only me but the other people you’ve trapped into doing your article,” You crossed your legs, adjusting the waist band of your trousers and continued to scowl at her. Claire had only heard of your less than cheerful personality, though it remained largely rumored, she had never had it confirmed or dared to see it in person.

“How, charming,” She rolled her eyes.

“Look, you don’t want to be talking to me, I don’t want to be talking to you. Just tell me what you want so I can send you on your way.”

Claire watched as you reached across your desk to grab your black and white planner, flipping open to the weeks page and holding your pen at the ready. The inside, covered in stickers and hand lettered phrases, fit the persona Claire so desperately wanted to mimic.

“I need you to read and sign this,” Claire slid the agreement across your glass desk. “Then, I need you to identify the username of your troll, and I need to borrow an intern from your team.”

“You can’t have one,”

“Marissa said I could have whatever I needed, and I need an intern to comb through your tweets.”

“I can save you the trouble, I rarely tweet, when I do, it’s addressing the same ass hat,” You explained.

“Well, I need their handle,”

“Fine,”

“And the intern,” Claire was firm.

You rolled your eyes, before pressing the intercom. “Hey Alexis, can you send Erin to me?”

“Sure thing,” Alexis replied.

“Thank you,”

Claire rolled her eyes.

“Jealous?” You questioned.

“Read the contract, sign it and send it back to me along with answering the Form that’s in your inbox,” Claire directed.

“Great,”

“I’ll be back on Friday to go over your tweets and exchanges before we decide on a tactic to reach out to them and ask them to come in for an interview,” Claire explained. It didn’t annoy you that she was prepared, but it did piss you off a little to know how much she had thought this through. Maybe you should give her a chance, professionally, not socially, Claire would remain a bottom feeder.

“Who says they’re in the city?” You questioned.

“If not, we’ll Zoom with them, okay?”

“Excuse me, you wanted to see me?” Erin peered through the door; wavy bangs parted slightly to expose her forehead and freckled cheeks.

“Yes, your projects are on hold. Claire here needs your help with her feature article, and as my intern, you are to report to her for the remainder of the project,” You explained.

Erin’s eyes widened, never had she been reassigned to a special project, let alone with Claire who was notorious for running interns and assistants into the ground. “Who will take over my work?”

“Can you make a list of where you’re at and send it to me? I will meet with the team tomorrow to talk about where we need to fill in the gaps,”

“Okay,”

“Claire, this is Erin, if you are a bitch to her, I will ensure you don’t ever write a feature piece or move past copy editor here or anywhere,”

“I don’t know where you get off thinking you can speak to me like –

“I am your superior, and you will respect my intern or face the consequences,”

“Fine,” Claire turned and left, leaving Erin wondering what on earth she had been roped into.

Tuesday: Happy Hour

“You gave the real handle?” Hoseok asked over drinks after work, a little happy hour to celebrate leaving the office before 7PM.

“What was I going to do? She could easily look at my Twitter and Instagram and find out, why lie?”

“What happened to preservation?” Hoseok mocked.

“Either I give in and get Claire off my back, or I get called to Marissa’s and have consequences, like I’m a fucking child.”

Hoseok eyed you suspiciously. “Did you give her his name?”

“You saw in that meeting, she already knows. I blame you,”

“Me?”

“Yes you, always talking about dance classes with Jimin, the good old days of photographing him and styling him in college. He abandoned me to go to school with you, and you’ve taken it all in stride.” You explained. It wasn’t a new story, a new plea, a new exploration of your tempestuous non-relationship with Jimin. It was sad, really, listening to you express the hurt you’ve never let go of.

“He didn’t abandon you to come to school with me,” Hoseok laughed.

“Potato, Tomato,”

“You should talk-

“Nope, you made your once monthly ‘you should talk to Jimin’ comment a week ago over margheritas, you don’t get another for ten more days,” You scolded.

“Fine, fine.”

“I don’t even know where he is,” You muttered, pink liquid of your Paloma slipping down your throat.

“That’s a lie,”

“Can you stop calling me out and let me hate him?” You hadn’t meant to snap, but the constant chatter revolving around Jimin was too much to handle, it was too much in two days, too much in the years since you last saw him. Park Jimin was, and has remained, too much.

“Fine,” Hoseok resigned. “Have you looked at your tweets lately?”

“No, I refuse to go back and read whatever horrors I wrote in 2019,”

“You should,” He suggested.

“I guarantee Claire will force me to read them. Probably aloud at some last-minute staff meeting she puts together on Friday to fucking fillet me,” You rolled your eyes again, the last dregs of grapefruit clumping together as they slid down the side of your glass.

“Maybe if you weren’t so,” He starts.

“Bitchy?”

“Your words, then she would like you,”

“She’s hated me since I got there, I’ve tried being nice. I’ve tried being cordial. Claire and I will never mix,” You explained.

“He’s gone blonde you know,” Hoseok’s eyes have flittered past you, glancing down the street at the setting sun, glad he brought his latest Gucci jacket to keep him warm in the early spring evening.

“Didn’t you hit your moratorium on how long you can talk about Jimin in a conversation?”

“You said his name!” Hoseok argued.

“He isn’t Trump, Hoseok. I can say his name, sometimes.”

Hoseok let the moment simmer, cooling gently before turning it up to a raucous boil. “I’m having a kick back next Wednesday, will you come?”

“If he’s not there,” You answered.

“I can’t promise that,”

“Then I can’t promise either,” Chewing the ice from your glass, you let your mind wander to the possibilities of what might happen should you show up to Hoseok’s party and are greeted by Jimin. Blonde Jimin. Jimin with the sparkling eyes and winning smile. Jimin who harasses you on the internet weekly, Jimin who you haven’t spoken to since you were 22, Jimin whom you hated with every fiber of your being.

Worst case scenario, you couldn’t avoid him and would be forced to speak words to him. Best case, you time it perfectly and he’s either just left or hasn’t arrived and you can doll out pleasantries before Irish-goodbying and never having to confront him.

“Y/N, please, you haven’t seen my new place yet and it’s finally furnished,” Hoseok pleaded.

“I’ll think about it,” You resigned.

“Great!”

“I fucking hate you and our friendship,” You scoffed, signaling the waiter to bring you the check. You should’ve ordered food, being buzzed and talking about Jimin was never a good idea.

“I know you do.” Hoseok winked before picking up the tab for you both.

“At least tell me you haven’t invited Seokjin,” You asked, slipping your coat over your shoulders.

“Well-

“You’re fucking with me, right?” You questioned. “You fucking invited both of my exes to a, I’m sorry, kick back? Hoseok, no.”

“I love you, and I’m sorry, Seokjin helped me find some great pieces for the place, and you know he’s friends with Namjoon and Jungkook,” He tried to explain.

“That doesn’t mean I want to stare at them over my tenth flute of champagne and my plate which will be piled high with cheese and crackers and pieces of salami.”

“You and Seokjin are fine though, you ended-

“Don’t say amicably,” You cut him off.

“Well, close to it. Please,” He begged. Begging never looked good on Hoseok.

Staring into his dark irises, a shade mimicking your own, you couldn’t hold the anger brewing. Being around Seokjin was always a better alternative than Jimin. Though the pity he often felt towards you, at your angered state which has never really subsided, was embarrassing. “I’ll think about it.”

“I love you,” Hoseok pulled you into a hug.

“Yeah, yeah, then why do you keep doing this to me?”

“Because I love you,”

“Tell Taehyung to call me,” You said, waving to him before stepping into the waiting Lyft you’d called at the bar.

“I will, can’t make any promises,” Hoseok winked before turning towards the subway, where he’d pull out his head phones and scan through the photos he’d taken throughout the day, waiting to get home to Taehyung to analyze, edit and critique them.

Thursday: Claire’s Makeshift Office

“Are you ready?” Claire asked, sifting through the papers on her desk.

“You had me come to your office, after you scheduled a meeting to ask if I’m ready? Yes Claire, I’m fucking ready,” You snapped.

“Erin,” Claire gestured towards your intern who tried to hold her eye roll.

“So, I combed through your tweets, sifting through your interactions with Mochimin, which is a very creative username,” Erin began.

“Yeah, his name and nickname combined,” You rolled your eyes.

“And we read through them all, well mostly me… and I have to ask, are you sure these are your tweets?” Erin questioned.

“Yes, and what should be his responses,” You answered reaching forward to grab the printed copies waiting for you. You scanned over the interactions, the subtweets, the blatant tags, the retweets and comments not just by Jimin, but a few of your friends too.

“Why have you been telling us he’s the troll?” Erin asked.

Her question caught you off guard, eyes wide, shock echoing in your bones.

“What the fuck? What do you mean? Look at how he fucking responded!”

“Y/N, you’re the troll!” Erin laughed. “It’s you, not him,”

“I am not! This is a fucking joke! It’s not April Fools yet, way to put the cart before the horse!” Your voice radiated throughout the small conference room.

Claire, not having an office of her own, had requested it to conduct most of her teams work. It was your least favorite of the conference rooms, colder both in décor and temperature than the others, it was situated on the corner leading to the kitchen. Glass on two walls, it was the definition of exposed. Everyone could see your outburst. Everyone could watch you fall to pieces. You guessed Claire had planned it this way, to demonstrate how focused her team was, how dedicated to the project they were, to show everyone her value as a staff writer instead of a freelancer. You also assumed she did this to ensure that whatever break down you were beginning to have, would have at least ten witnesses, ten people to side with her that your behavior was irresponsible and reckless.

“Oh please, get over yourself,” Claire chuckled. The light in her eyes proved your assumptions, she was enjoying this. “Do you see how you interact with him?”

“What do you mean how I interact with him? He started this!” You lowered your volume, side glances from colleagues passing by alerting you to the unprofessional decibels you’d began reaching.

“In almost every interaction, you bait him, hook line and sinker. It’s you, Y/N,” Erin explained.

“No!”

“Yes, this poor man, just living his life while you’re purposefully harassing him!” Claire feigned shock, eyes widening, mouth slightly open. It was taking everything in you not to resort to physical violence.

“I would never,” You glowered.

“You have! For years, it’s always you,” Erin said again.

“I, no, that’s impossible. He started it!”

“Admitting is the first step,” Claire’s placid smile was demanding to be smacked off.

“Fuck you! This is ridiculous!”

“July 10, 2020: Thinking of one man in particular, hoping the bleach in his locks burns in the summer heat.Followed by his comment: thinking of one woman in particular, hoping she knows I wear a hat and use purple shampoo.” Erin read.

“I, I, no!”

“October 13: Nothing makes me happier than not being invited to a birthday bash with all my friends. He responded: All you have to do is ask. On your birthday, he tweeted: Happy B-Day to the girl who … oh never mind she hates me. You responded: nobody asked for your half-hearted bullshit, next time I hope you choke on it.”

“He started it!”

“Why are you so awful to him?” Erin wanted to know.

“I am not, he began harassing me first,” You tried to argue.

“Does Hoseok know?” Claire chided.

“Know what?”

“About your vendetta,”

“It’s not a vendetta!”

“Then explain why you tweet or subtweet him at least twice a week, and then when he responds, tweet him again! You don’t even tag him, just vaguely mention discernable parts of his personality or appearance,” Erin explained.

“I do not! How do you know what he looks like?” You tried to counter.

“His profile picture, and a certain friend of yours doesn’t mind sharing-

“You asked Jungkook? Or was it Taehyung? Or I’m sorry, both?” Your eyes were wide, breathing labored, anger boiling to inhumane levels.

“Well, if we asked Hoseok you would’ve kno-

“You called or texted or DM’ed Jungkook and Taehyung, and asked about Jimin?”

“Yes,” Erin bowed her head, guilt written into the freckles her blush tried so desperately to hide.

“I cannot believe you, Erin,” You spat.

“I’m sorry Claire wanted me to,”

You turned your gaze to Claire, who had begun to cower in her seat.

“You did the one thing, the absolute one thing that you knew, you fucking knew, would set me off. You did this on purpose, you fucking bottom feeder, you fucking dillweed you crossed the fucking line, Claire,” You spat. Your volume had lowered into a low growl, far more deadly and intimidating than any yelling you had done.

“We have the proof, Y/N, you can’t deny it, you attack Jimin regularly,” Claire unskillfully attempted to move the conversation away from Jungkook and Taehyung. Like you would balk at her intrusion.

“You don’t get to violate my personal life, to violate the lives of the people I care deeply about, to expose sources and put them in danger should this article go south, poking and prodding into the lives of people who are dealing with their own bullshit to push your own fucking agenda, Claire,” You were seething, Te Fiti in Moana, Mrs. Weasley against Bellatrix, Kim Kardashian against the ocean searching for her diamond. Your wrath knows no bounds, and Claire had finally crossed the line into territory she could never come back from.

“It’s for the job, nothing personal.” Claire shrugged. You could see it in her eyes, she wanted blood and was elated to be getting it.

“This is entirely personal.”

“Well, you can ask Jimin about it when we interview him,” She smiled, lips upturning revealing her veneers, red lipstick perfectly matte and shaped against her thin flesh.

“No, absolutely not,” You shook your head.

“Yes, that’s part of the deal you agreed to,”

“I take it back. I revoke my consent!”

“It’s non-negotiable,” Marissa said. She had sauntered in during your berating, watching as you tried and failed to continue believing that you weren’t the troll. “You have agreed to this, and you will sit through the interview and cordially answer Claire’s questions.”

“Marissa, this is crossing a line,” You stated.

“You have to be held accountable,” Claire said.

“Fuck you, Claire. Believe it or not, there are somethings that are beyond your understanding and a few that are not appropriate for work,” You continued to scold her.

“Y/N, why are you being so hostile?” Claire was mocking you, with Marissa by her side, she was invincible.

“You picked me on purpose. What have you been working with Hoseok? Is this some larger plan to get me to talk to Jimin? I don’t want to talk with Jimin or talk to Jimin, isn’t it bad enough he’s being brought into my work? Oh and let’s not forget you using Erin and Hoseok to gain access to Jungkook and Taehyung, who are beyond off limits.” You listed each of her offenses, careful to leave out indiscretions that occurred before this project of hers began.

“You agreed to-

“No, I was forced to do this by you, Marissa,” You began.

It wasn’t hard to glower at Marissa, one of the most decorated editors in chief, beloved by Condé Nast, best friend of Anna Wintour… Everyone aspired to be her, but in the last year, through your promotion and growing turbulence within the magazine, her leadership had begun to falter. Her steady hand, guiding each staff writer and editor towards success and elevating everyone’s work, was crumbling at an alarming pace. Yet, no one knew why or if anything was being done to rectify the damage her wake was leaving.

“I was coerced into this under some pretense that I owe Claire something for a so called fuck up that resulted in the biggest boon in our magazines readership in the last year, which was followed up by not one but two feature bylines and my promotion. I have done more than enough at this company, in this industry, to sit here and be forced to engage with a man who destroyed my world. I will not speak with him, or to him or listen to him. I will not, and if you force me, I will get legal involved. Should this bullshit continue, you can expect my letter of resignation next week.”

Standing and shoving your chair in, you turned on the heels of your Oxfords and marched straight to your office. Closing your laptop and shoving your planner into your tote, you grabbed your phone.

“Where are you going?” Hoseok asked. He moved in time with you, following down the many corridors of your office and towards the elevators.

As you stepped in, you pressed lobby and waited for the doors to be closed before turning to him.

“Did you tell Erin she could contact Jungkook and Taehyung?” You asked.

“She did what?” Hoseok yelled, soundwaves bounding off the metal and plastic of the elevator, reverberating in your ears.

“Did you?”

“No, I can’t believe she, are you serious?” Hoseok couldn’t lie, a fundamental flaw in his design made it impossible for him to tell the smallest fib.

“Did you work with Erin and Claire to get me involved in this feature? To get me to talk to Jimin?” You didn’t mince your words or pad your language to make him feel less attacked. You needed the answer, and you needed it now.

“No, I didn’t know Claire was doing this until she pitched it. You think I would-

“Hoseok, they called Jungkook and Taehyung. They want Jimin to come in to be interviewed, they won’t stop until I-

“Until you what?”

“Marissa has always supported me, championed me. But Claire has her number, she has her locked and loaded, aiming for me and I don’t know why,” You confided.

“She has been slipping lately,” He agreed. “There’s only one way to stop this,”

Together you stepped out of the elevator, moving past the turnstiles to the revolving door.

“Am I crazy?” You asked, the insecurity beginning to overtake your bravery.

“No, something weird is going on,”

You clarified, “No, I mean, am I crazy for… for doing this to Jimin?”

“I don’t know if you’re crazy, but you’ve definitely not been your best self,” Hoseok answered.

“He makes me so-

“You still love him,” Hoseok interrupted.

“I-

“Go talk to him,” Hoseok encouraged. “Call me after, we can get drinks and wallow or pick out an outfit for your hot date.”

“What if he-

“Just, talk to him, okay?” Hoseok requested.

“Okay,”

“I’ll check in with Jungkookie and Taehyungie,” He assured.

“Thank you,”

“I’ll also scope out open positions, we can’t stay here,”

“I love you, Hobi,” You confided, a statement that flowed so easily past your lips, you didn’t have to think or parse through the emotions that went along with it. You’ve always loved him, always will.

“I love you too, Y/N,” Hoseok draped his arm around your shoulders before placing a kiss to your forehead, a gentle embrace, a squeeze of confidence, a gesture of love. He moved swiftly from you back into the building, and as you watched him walk away, you took a deep breath.

Taking your phone out of your pocket, you dialed a number you had tried to forget.

“To what do I owe this unexpected delight of a call?” He asked. His voice was the same, chipper and cunning in the same breath.

“I need to speak with you, ASAP,” You told him.

“Okay, I’m working from home today, come over whenever,” He invited you without hesitation.

“You still live at the same place?”

“No, moved up. I’ll send you the address,”

“You know who this is?” You asked, uncertainty back in your bones.

“What, Y/N, you thought I deleted your number?” Jimin laughed, one of only a few sounds that shot right to your knees, making any posture unstable in the docile sounds of his joy.

“I, I don’t know, I guess. Look I’m going to hail a cab, I’ll be there in 20,”

“I look forward to it, just tell the doorman you’re here for me and he’ll let you up,” Jimin said.

“Okay, see you soon, I guess,”

“I can’t wait,” Jimin was smiling, you couldn’t see it, but the lilt in his voice was all the assurance you needed. Bracing yourself for the impact of him, of his voice, of his laugh, of the way he looked at you, you hailed one of the last remaining cabs in the city and prayed for courage.

Next: Troll in Luv Pt. 2

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cccat-in-a-meat-sack · 10 months ago

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ALRIGHT AUTISTICS, HERE ARE SOME OF MY FAVORITE SONGS

Stronger - The Score

Frozen Heart - The Cast of Frozen

Ur Vampire - 6arelyhuman

Hands Up! (Nightcore) - 6arelyhuman

RAHHHH - Alt!

Ick - Lay Bankz

GMFU - Odetari & 6arelyhuman

Sonne - Rammstein

parents - YUNGBLUD

Mmm Yea (feat. Pitbull) - AUstin Mahone

Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger (Remix) - Mr. Pandemy

i love techno -Kiraw

XOXO (Kisses Hugs) - 6arelyhuman

Guys Dont Like Me -It Boys!

Arabian Nights (2019) - Will Smith

Rein raus - Rammstein

Teir Abhaile Riu - Celtic Woman

Princess - FLETCHER

Queen of Kings - Alessandra

DADDY (feat. CL) - PSY

Monster Hight Fright Song - Monster High

Rich Boy - payton

Madness - JAXSON GAMBLE

Troublemaker (Cutmore Radio Edit) - Olly Murs

Monsta - CUlcha Candela

Queen - Loren Gray

Go Down Deh -Spice

Grind Me Down (Jawster Remix) - Lilianna Wilde

Don't Threaten Me with a Good Time - Panic! At the Disco

Turn down for What (Remix) - DJ Snake & Lil Jon

Lights Down Low -Maejor

Charmer - Stray Kids

local autistic person realises that in order to discover new music they have to listen to new music: 4 dead 26 injured

#reblog with your favorite songs if you can <3 #autistic things #actually autism #actually autistic #autistic community #autism #It Approves #It Talks

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dravenxivuk · 4 years ago

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Tag Game

Tagged by @nobloodnoart to answer these questions

I’ll tag @elizabethoart @moosethren @countbars-mainblog @janzoo @elfydrell and anyone else who wants to play

Five songs I’ve been listening to on repeat lately (not including the Nioh 2 soundtrack or the Deus Ex HR & MD soundtracks that go on when I’m writing my RP replies) -

Daughty - Heavy is the Crown

AmaLee - One Hell of a Team

Hollywood Undead - Heart of a Champion

Jaxson Gamble - Kingdom

Lauren Babic - Erase (feat Jenny Palacios)

I have music on almost constantly and what I have on changes over time.

Currently Watching -

nothing, I don’t really watch TV shows. Great British Sewing Bee I guess, does that count? a new season just started and I quite like it for feel good TV.

Last Movie -

Mortal Kombat (2021) - enjoyed it, Hiroyuki Sanada is wonderful as Hanzo Hasashi / Scorpion, but overall the film left me unsatisfied. Like something else should have happened.

Currently Reading -

Nothing at the moment. The amount I read has plummeted over recent years, but the last thing I read was either Deus Ex Black Light by James Swallow or Hunger Pangs: True Love Bites by Joy Demorra aka @thebibliosphere here on tumblr

#dash game

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lunarten · 4 years ago

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Songs for Fire Signs

Aries

Amen (Halestorm)

Gladiator (Zayde Wolf)

Wild Thing (Jaxson Gamble)

Leo

Stone Cold Classic (AKA George)

Born for This (The Score)

Salute (Little Mix)

Sagittarius

Woman Like Me (Little Mix feat. Nicki Minaj)

I Like It Loud (Cash Cash)

Can’t Stop Me Now (Oh The Larceny)

- - -

Songs for Water Signs

Songs for Earth Signs

Songs for Air Signs

#astrology #music #suggestions #songs #fire signs #aries #leo #sagittarius #zodiac

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casspurrjoybell-19 · 2 years ago

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CLAIMED - Chapter 18

*Warning: Adult Content*

"And then he used his big-ass needles to draw my blood. You should be proud of me, I almost didn't pass out this time," Beta Jaxson Ortiz grinned, flashing his pearly whites proudly up at the Crescent Moon Pack Warrior Tyrus who smiled back, raising a teasing brow back down at the Betta as they walked alongside one another down the hallway that led to the elevator.

"Oh, yeah? I'll tell Doctor Benji to miss a few times before he sticks you next time, then."

Tyrus' comforting chuckle resounded through the hallway as Jaxson nudged his side with his shoulder, his hands coming up in surrender as he stumbled a few steps away.

"I'm never telling you anything ever again," Jaxson groaned, arms crossed firmly against his chest as he glared at the larger man.

"I was jooooking, it was a joooke, ease up on a guy," Tyrus chuckled again as he went to fall back into step with Jaxson but not before slinging his heavy arm across the Beta’s shoulders and pulling his body unceremoniously into his broad side, "Goddess help me, I've got a drama queen for a future brother-in-law. You'd think we have enough of those in this family already but I guess you'll fit right in." the Pack Warrior added, winking down at Jaxson, grin only widening as they approached the elevator.

"I liked you a lot better when I thought that you were dumb," the Beta grumbled as Tyrus' leg simultaneously flew up, only to mash his big toe down on the up button. "Actually... maybe I spoke too soon."

"I am not dumb," Tyrus retorted as he lowered his leg, drawing out the last word. "I just choose the use of my brain cells wisely."

After Jaxson’s first bout of therapy with Dr Benji this morning, he was shocked to see Tyrus and not Head Warrior Corey Cahill, waiting for him with a giant grin on his playful face.

He explained that Corey had planned to pick him up afterward but his mate had somehow gotten coerced into taking care of the Alpha twins by his Omega brother, Luna Berlin Cahill while he and Alpha Oasis Amador went on what they called a ‘much-needed parenting break.’

On their way toward the Alpha Suite, where Jaxson’s Mate was allegedly being held captive, he'd explained some of the basic things Dr Benji and he were planning on working on during their sessions.

One of which was genetic testing to determine if he had any indicators for mental health disorder susceptibility.

‘What can I say, after our little talk in his car outside of the restaurant, there was a new level of unspoken trust between the two of us.’

Tyrus was easy to talk to and gave damn good advice, even if he did still have a few brain cells loose.

However, despite his new friendship with his Mate's loyal brother, there were still many things that he kept to himself.

For example, he doubted Tyrus wanted to hear about the budding Dominant and Submissive relationship that he had with his brother, or the fact that the 'genetic testing' that Dr Benji was doing was also looking for any abnormalities to explain how in the ever-loving fuck he managed to make slick.

*****

After he'd yelled out their safe word at the top of his lungs last night, Corey's entire demeanor shifted.

Jaxson could've cried with the way that his heart swelled as he witnessed Corey force his Wolf, Dashiell, his Rut and his very genetic makeup back as his immediate priority became his Mate’s safety.

To comfort him, to hold him through his stress, to respect his desires.

To do so was not easy by any sense of the word, as Alpha Instincts are known to be the hardest of all to subdue.

But as Jaxson had steadily learned over time, Corey's ability to control and command his own psyche was a feat to behold.

But, as the Jaxson’s breathing slowly calmed with the help of his Mate's guidance, the Beta had begun to notice the slip of Corey’s mental capacity in the slightest tremble in his thick, strong arms that encaged him against his body and the incessant flickering of the Warrior’s eyes to the Beta’s neck, to his Bond Mark.

"It's okay, you can still mark me," Jaxson whispered as he lifted his hands up to cup Corey’s sharp jaw, his stubble scraping across the planes of his palms.

At this point, the Warrior's eyes were glued to his Mate’s neck, unwavering and piercing.

If looks alone could bite, he undoubtedly would have marked Jaxson about twenty times by now.

"But you said -"

"No," Jaxson cut Corey off before he could finish, tilting his neck to the side as he offered himself to his lover. "I can feel your stress too and your emotions are just as valid as mine."

Corey’s eyes flickered back up to capture Jaxson’s own at his honest words, the corners of them twitching as the Warrior’s brain refused to allow him to change his facial expression to match what he undoubtedly felt inside.

"Mark me, Corey. Mark me, Dash."

It took not a moment more of contemplation for Corey’s head to snap forward and canines to pierce Jaxson’s skin, to reclaim his Mate as completely and utterly his.

*****

DING

Jaxson jumped as the elevator doors slid open in front of them and Tyrus pulled him out of the small elevator vestibule to turn into the short hallway that led to the Alpha Suite.

"Alright, this is where I leave you," Tyrus finally released Jaxson’s shoulders but not before annoyingly ruffling his curls. "I've got to get back to Daffodil before he somehow finds a way to use that cute face of his to convince the kitchen staff to give him sugar again. That stuff is straight crack to the Fae, I swear."

"You mixed up the words cute and creepy,” Jaxson retorted, a reflexive shiver slithering down his spine as he recalled Daffodil's giant, creepy eyes or the odd way that he spoke, as if all semblances of grammar went completely over his little yellow head.

"Nah. Daffodil is the cutest little thing to ever grace this Goddess given earth and that is a fact. I'm just the lucky guy that gets to witness his cuteness every day." Tyrus' grin grew wider, surely at the thought of his Fae Mate. "I'm sure that Corey feels the same about you. Speaking of, you'd best get going before he comes out here looking for you and then I'm the one who gets in trouble."

“Ugh, fine," Jaxson tried to feign annoyance but he couldn't help the blush that betrayed him as he felt it working its way up his neck at Tyrus’ comment about how Corey feels about him. "Go find your little mutant before he activates his tractor beams and abducts somebody or somethin'," he sarcastically chided.

Tyrus, un-phased, simply flashed Jaxson an amused smirk before he turned toward the other corridor that held his room, one that he pretty much fully shared with Daffodil at this point.

However, before he could go more than a few steps, Jaxson’s arm suddenly jolted out to grab the hem of his orange hoodie in an effort to pause his exodus.

Tyrus's head snapped back around to the Beta as his eyes found the place at which he grabbed him, waiting patiently for an explanation of his actions.

Jaxson cheeks flamed even brighter under the heat of his inquisitive gaze but he quickly swallowed the stress-spit that had accumulated on his tongue along with his toxic pride as he quietly murmured...

"Thanks for everything, Ty," Jaxson breathed, his eyes flickering up to meet the Tyrus’ own before the Beta finally released the hem of the Warrior’s hoodie. "I mean it."

"I'm always here if you need me, O," Tyrus flashed his teeth as he grinned down at Jaxson, his expression unequivocally genuine, before he finally disappeared down the other hallway.

Puffing out a breath, the Betta turned and continued down the short walkway that led to the tall double doors of Alpha Oasis’ Suite.

Quickly typing in his pin number, Jaxson pushed the heavy doors open, only to be met with the high-pitched sound of excited screams and baby babble, as well as a sight that he wished that he could somehow photograph with his very own eyes.

Hale and Cassius somehow looked even smaller against the backdrop of Corey's huge body.

The Alpha Wolf gently swayed each infant as they laid, one in the crook of each strong arm.

A low voice undoubtedly vibrated their tiny forms as he... sang to them?

"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine.You make me happy, when skies are gray, You'll never know dear, how much I love you, Please don't take my sunshine away."

The heavy sound of the door clicking shut immediately triggered Corey's freaky Warrior reflexes as his head snapped up to face Jaxson.

A brief sparkle flickered across his eyes as they took in his Mate’s figure and a barely noticeable blush simultaneously filled up his cheeks at being caught in the act.

“Ah... They were being fussy and my parents used to sing that song to us when we were scared or needed comfort, so I thought..." he trailed off, shifting in his spot as he continued to bounce the twins with the gentlest of movements.

"Don't let me stop you, super uncle," Jaxson teased, snatching an apple off of the kitchen island before making his way over to Alpha Oasis' couch.

He had a plan to make himself at home on it’s leather surface but not before sending an urgent prayer up to the Goddess that they'd had enough courtesy to disinfect it from all of the bodily fluids that surely had been spilled on it in the past.

"Plus, you have a really nice voice. I, on the other hand, probably would've just dropped 'em or something."

Corey made his way toward Jaxson as the Beta kicked what looked to be some sort of weird ass rattle out of his spot on the couch, wiggling his butt to get comfortable and taking a generous bite out of the apple he'd stolen.

Alpha Oasis' family was so baller that they must have had some kind of access to the rich people fruit black market too because that shit was bomb.

He literally would have moaned if it wasn't for Corey's voice distracting me.

"You would not drop them, Jax," he started, taking the opportunity to steal my personal space and sit right beside me on the couch. "In fact... you should hold Hale, he has been staring at you this entire time."

"Well, duh he's staring. He can already sense that I'm the coolest motherfucker in this entire pack, its called having taste," Jaxson said, rolling his eyes and slumping down in his spot. "But I'll pass. I doubt Oasis and Berlin would appreciate coming back home to their babies asking for me to be their dad instead. It's just this magnetic personality I've got, even infants aren't immune," he bragged, wiggling his brows in an effort to subdue the flight of butterflies in his lower stomach.

If he was being really truthful to himself, this vibrato was just a... somewhat sad... attempt to distract from the fact that he was scared as fuck of kids in all ways, shapes and forms that they came in.

‘Don't get me wrong, it's not like I have some irrational baby-phobia. Even a somewhat rational person knows that they aren't going to kill you in your sleep or some stupid shit like that. No, my fear stemmed from another place entirely. That place being... a lack of trust in myself.’

‘It's easy as hell to fuck up a kid, I mean just look at jolly old me as a prime example. Just a few slip-ups and a kid could be addicted to opioids, crying alone under a weighted blanket and unable to accept the reality that they might just like the occasional dick up the old ass.’

‘Therefore, with my unique knack for doing and saying all of the wrong things, I had absolutely no doubt that somehow, all the shit that I faced as a kid would inevitably find a way trickle down to any kids I even so much as touched, like I was some fucked-up, modern King Midas.’

Corey's eyes were red hot lasers as they seared into the side of Jaxson’s face and the corner of the Beta’s eye twitched as he could almost feel them boring straight into his brain, revealing the entirety of his thoughts.

"Jaxson, you will not hurt him."

The Beta abruptly paused in the middle of his assault on his rich-people apple, staring straight at the wide, wooden floorboards as he realized just how fast Corey clocked him.

This man seriously had to be some sort of mind-reading wizard, some kind of real-life Edward Cullen with the way he could seemingly read his thoughts as if they were his own.

Jaxson gently set down the apple next to him on the couch, closing his eyes for an excruciating moment as he contemplated how to respond.

"How do you know that?" came a broken whisper, Jaxson’s voice almost unrecognizable to even his own ears as he maintained eye contact with every single grain in the wood below their feet.

Corey did not hesitate at all to respond, apparently not needing a single moment to gather his thoughts on the matter.

Instead, he just leaned slightly closer to his Mate and lowered his tone of voice to a soft caress.

"Because you are gentle and kind. Because you are my Mate and I know your heart. Because you are not Ortiz, you are Jaxson."

Jaxson’s eyes shifted up to take in Corey's handsome, blank face as he stared right back down at him, a strong emotion that was not his own zipping through their bond.

"Jax, you are more than the weight of your darkest memories. Do not let them dictate your now."

The Beta had to force his esophagus to function as he swallowed down the salty tears that threatened to work themselves up his throat, instead focusing on filling his lungs full of air for a few breaths as he took a moment to process the way Corey’s words made his heart palpitate uncontrollably.

‘You are more than the weight of your darkest memories.’

Instead of replying with the jumble of incoherent words that he’s sure would come out if he attempted to speak, he simply held out his arms as an invitation, very likely failing miserably in his attempt to mimic the angle that Corey expertly utilized to hold the babies safely.

Jaxson was pretty sure that he blacked out in the time between Corey transferring Hale's tiny body into his waiting arms and wrapping his Mate’s now-free arm loosely around his waist to keep him grounded.

But...

As the Beta gazed down at the little one that was somehow not crumbling to dust at his very touch, the little one whose tiny lips opened with the smallest yawn known to man, the little one whose hand reached up to grab onto Jaxson’s index finger for dear life, the little one who stared up at him with eyes of amazement and trust...

It was as if another dejected corner of his burnt up brain lit up with sunlight for the first time in forever, shining an inescapable spotlight on yet another set of feelings that he forgot even existed.

Tenderness.

Care.

Some of the many, complicated things that Jaxson had absolutely zero perspective about how to provide to others because it simply wasn't his reality throughout his life.

But... he could do his best to give it to them.

The wonderful, fun, loving life that he never had.

The life he always craved.

"Hi Hale," Jaxson jiggled the tiny hand that held tight to his finger. "I'm Jax, your papa's crazy best friend," he croaked, unsure when the tears got past his esophageal dam as they dripped down his chin in a steady rivulets. "It's so nice to meet you."

Corey's arm tightened around Jaxson’s waist as he held him tight to his side, chin resting atop his curly head as he whispered, likely intended only to be heard by himself but the Beta still caught it.

"You are going to make the best dad one day."

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