#ft. salem castillo.

[stayliquid]

closed starter for @tripzon3 !! muses. piper & salem.

"i want you so bad, but i'm such a trainwreck. it would be so unfair to—" cutting herself off, she let out a sigh. "oh, fuck it." closing the gap between them, her arms circled his neck to claim his lips.

[stayliquid]

letting someone in was the hardest thing for piper. even in the most casual of ways. trusting someone to the point where she could be around them was foreign to her until salem. he was a breath of fresh air, even if there were times when she felt like he kept her a bit at arms length. he indulged her in every way he could; was always there for her, and she felt like she contributed little to their friendship. beaming as he got the same order, her head tilted upward to glance at him as she remained glued to his side. "you are very interesting." at his question, she scrunched her nose as if thinking harder. "if you weren't here with me right now, where would you be?"

it　was　easy　being　around　piper,　easy　to　be　himself,　that　was.　salem　didn’t　feel　like　he　always　needed　to　be　looking　over　his　shoulder　or　being　on　guard　all　the　time.　she　made　him　feel　normal　although　he　was　certain　that　he’d　never　actually　be　normal　anymore,　not　when　he　knew　what　he’d　have　to　do　the　next　job　that　would　come　through.　the　dark　haired　male　couldn’t　help　but　smile　as　he　listened　to　her.　a　woman　after　his　own　heart　─────　“　make　that　two.　”　he　finally　spoke　up　before　the　waitress　left　with　their　order.　“　i’m　not　all　that　interesting,　not　when　you’re　here.　”　his　attention　turned　back　to　the　beauty　that　was　still　linked　to　his　arm.　“　but　i’ll　tell　you　anything　you want　to 　know.　any　burning　questions　on　your　mind?　”

[stayliquid]

everything with salem had to be handled delicately. normally, she wasn't one to shy away from what she wanted — especially after keeping it at bay for so long, but she couldn't help but wait to get some sort of sign from him. his feelings for her could remain under the realm of friendship, even if he did more than a best friend should ever have to do. her words were vague, but also rather pointed if he could follow her train of thought. "i don't want to stay in your room alone anymore." whether it had been her follow up or her initial words, there was a moan of relief as his mouth finally collided with hers. she was quick to respond, aggression behind the kiss as if to get it out of her system before moving onto a more gentle, meaningful kind. hands slid from around his neck, down his chest as she parted from his lips to take a small breath. "what took you so long?" she breathed.

if　only　he　had　the　courage　to　make　a　move　&　risk　their　friendship,　salem　would’ve　closed　the　gap　between　them　as　his　lips　would　take　hers　with　a　hunger　that　he　continues　to　keep　at　bay.　granted,　it　wasn’t　easy　given　how　much　more　time　they　have　been　spending　together.　his　eyes　never　once　pulled　away　from　her　gaze,　his　heart　steadily　thumping　against　his　rib　cage.　“　yeah,　of　course.　you　know　i　would　never　tell　you　no.　”　which　wasn’t　a　lie.　salem　couldn’t　fathom　the　idea　of　telling　her　no.　“　everything　okay?　i’ll　help　you　pack.　you　can　have　my　room　until　we　can　get　a　guest　room　extension　built　for　you.　”　he　reassured　the　beauty.　it　hadn’t　fully　clicked　for　him　that　she　had　basically　asked　for　him,　the　male　had　been　a　bit　oblivious　to　it.　however　the　moment　it　clicked,　his　eyes　slightly　widened　as　he　sucked　in　a　deep　breath.　it　was　now　or　never,　salem　was　certain　of　if.　without　notice,　his　hands　gently　cupped　her　face　before　his　lips　desperately　collided　with　hers.　

[stayliquid]

she relied on salem a lot and he never once made her feel bad for it. yet in a way it felt like in some ways he kept her at arms length. piper was a mess, so she often needed him more than the other way around but it felt one sided at times. it made her feel like she wasn't holding up her end of the friendship. yet, he still offered her his perfect smile every time, telling her everything she needed and wanted to hear. "as if i've had the chance to actually have a conversation with her?" she mused, chewing lightly on her lip as she emitted a small chuckle. as hard as it was to not act automatically when it came to urges with him, it was moments like these that kept her in check not wanting to do anything to risk it. getting to her feet again, she moved to slip into the side of the booth along next to him, linking an arm with his as she tilted her head up at the waitress. "can i have two orders of fries? a cheeseburger and lots of ketchup?" she grinned, before letting him also place his own order. "we alway talk about me, doesn't it bother you?" she questioned once the waitress had disappeared.

since　　the　　day　　that　　he　　met　　her　　,　　piper　　had　　been　　a　　constant　　in　　his　　life　　.　　something　　that　　salem　　didn’t　　even　　realized　　he　　needed　　until　　as　　of　　recently　　.　　she　　was　　everything　to　him　　&　　he　　couldn’t　　even　　tell　　her　　.　　having　　to　　keep　　part　　of　　his　　life　　a　secret　　from　　her　　had　　to　　be　　the　　hardest　　thing　　that　　he　　has　　endured　　.　　however　　the　　risk　　that　　came　　with　　her　　knowing　　absolutely　　　everything　　was　　a　　risk　　that　　salem　　was　　not　　willing　　to　　take　　.　　he　　would　　never　　be　　able　　to　　forgive　　himself　　if　　something　　happened　　to　　her　　because　　of　　his　　job　　.　　&　　so　　as　　much　　as　　he　　wanted　　to　　tell　　her　　,　　the　　deadly　　male　　continued　　to　　keep　　that　　information　　to　　himself　　.　　it　　seemed　　their　　strides　　had　　fallen　　in　　sync　　with　　hers　　as　　they　　made　　their　　way　　into　　the　　building　　.　　　“　　now　　that’s　　not　　smart　　of　　her　　.　　have　　you　　pointed　　that　　out　　to　　her　　?　”　　he　　questioned　　with　　curiosity　　.　　piper　　had　　the　　more　　interesting　　life　　,　　at　　least　　in　　his　　eyes　　.　　“　　promise　　there　　will　　be　　plenty　　of　　quiet　　.　　”　　the　　homme　　reassured　　the　　girl　　once　　more　　.　　salem　　couldn’t　　be　　more　　thankful　　to　　live　　alone　　at　　the　　moment　　.　

[stayliquid]

it didn't matter how much she looked down on herself, because he was always there to push her back up. it was impossible for her not to want him and she was tired of that want being the one secret, of sorts, between the two of them. the thought of losing him after pushing their relationship further was a terrifying thought, but she was determined to not let anything fuck something up between them. "can i stay with you forever?" she whispered, a smile forming over her lips as she peered up at him. it dawned on her, she'd essentially just asked to move in, but it hadn't been what she meant. "not necessarily here, in this apartment, but just with you." her arms looped around his neck, making no indication she planned on leaving his personal space anytime soon.

salem knew the girl was harder on herself than anyone else . only he wished that he could change the way that she viewed herself . because in his eyes , there was absolutely nothing wrong with the femme . in fact , the male couldn't help but see her completely out of his league . she was beautiful , confident & kind . all three big turn ons for him , if only he could just tell her that . salem found himself hopeful that after tonight , maybe she'd finally see that he cared for her as more than a friend , since he was unable to find the strength to verbally admit it . ──── ❛ you can stay here as long as you like , piper . honest , if you don't feel comfortable alone then stay with me for as ever long as you need . ❜

[stayliquid]

he knew her better than anyone and for as close as they were, there was always a part of piper that felt he was keeping things from her. it was never something that came between them though — it wasn't like he lied to her and beyond everything else he was always there for her; always supported her. it was always more than a friendship in the connection sense, even if it wasn't quite romantic. but the hold on that was more or less due to the shame she held for her occupation — and of course, the hesitation to ruin the relationship and overall bond they had now. how could he ever really want someone that was literally so used? "good," another smile tossed at him as he gave her hand a squeeze. "busy is an understatement. i don't really think they've come up for air. she blows off work, too." her roommates boyfriend often lost it in regards to their job, but ultimately stayed with her. a pause as she lingered while they stood next to the booth, enabling her to hold on to his hand a moment longer before she moved to slip into the seat. "relatively quiet is all i need, and someone who can cuddle me really well."

maybe　　it　　was　　the　　connection　　between　　the　　two　　but　　whatever　　it　　was.　　it　　came　　so　　naturally　　that　　there　　were　　times　　that　　it　　took　　salem　　by　　surprise.　　the　　two　　were　　so　　close　　that　　there　　was　　not　　much　　that　　piper　　didn’t　　know　　about　　─────　　other　　than　　his　　job.　　but　　that　　was　　something　　that　　he　　had　　never　　really　　cared　　to　　talk　　about　　especially　　with　　her.　　however　　it　　never　　failed　　to　　surprise　　him　　whenever　　she　　flirted　　even　　in　　the　　slightest.　　a　　half　　smile　　spread　　across　　his　　lips　　as　　his　　eyes　　lingered　　on　　the　　femme.　　“　　i’ll　　be　　sure　　to　　keep　　that　　in　　mind.　　”　　he　　lightly　　taunted.　　as　　her　　fingers　　intertwined　　with　　his,　　salem　　gave　　a　　light　　squeeze.　　“　　&　　we　　can’t　　be　　having　　you　　sad.　　it’s　　never　　a　good　　thing.　　oh,　　they’ve　　been　　busy.　　”　　he　chuckled　　before　　nodding　　his　　head　　as　　he　　walked　　along　　side　　of　　her.　　“　　my　　place　　is　　relatively　　quiet　　so　　we　　can　　head　　back　　there　　after　　so　　much　　needed　　food.　　”　　he　　agreed　　completely　　as　　he　　could　　imagine　　how　　old　　it　　was　　getting　　for　　her　　to　　hear　　her　　roommate　　fucking.　

[stayliquid]

there was always a deep seeded hatred piper had for herself. it was something she had never really noticed until she met him and suddenly there was someone in her life who she was afraid to disappoint. afraid of what he really thought about her; afraid of ruining everything she already had with him. his mouth had her forgetting her hatred in that moment as her body closed the gap entirely to fold her own against his. "can i stay here with you? i don't want to go home alone." she murmured against his lips.

brows barely pulled towards each other as his chestnut orbs searched her face. it wasn’t until he felt her arms around his neck that reality came at him with a force. “ you are far from a train wreck. ” softly murmured as his lips brushed against hers. breath slightly hitched in the back of his throat, his calloused hands firmly rested upon her hips.

[stayliquid]

piper felt that he deserve the world and more from someone. he was the one person that made her feel ashamed of her career, but was also the only one to never actually judge her. as apprehensive she was about ruining the relationship they had now, the pull to him on other levels was getting harder to ignore. "uh huh, definitely sexy." she hummed lightly close to his ear. laughter of her own bubbled as they arrived at their destination, and her feet finding the way to the ground. "good, cause you know, i'll be mad if you go first." hand laced with his, turning to face him as she tugged him into the restaurant before whirling around. "burgers and then we go back to your place? my roommate has her boyfriend over and i barely get any sleep nowadays."

˛ ⠀ * ⠀ ♡ ⠀ ⠀ continued - salem + piper. @stayliquid

while    he    never    openly    admitted    to    the    attraction,    the    pull    that    he    felt    towards    piper    —    he    often    wondered    if    she    felt    the    same    or    even    simply    knew    the    true    depth    of    his    feelings.    the    worry    of    ruining    their    friendship    was    the    only    factor    that    continued    to    get    in    the    way.    salem    knew    that    he    would    rather    have    her    as    a    good    friend    than    to    not    have    her    in    his    life    at    all,    although    he    was    certain    that    was    a    given    known    fact.    her    words    caused    a    single    brow    to    lift,    head    turning    just    enough    to    catch    a    glimpse    of    her    from    the    corner    of    his    eyes.    ❛    oh    so    that    is    what    you    find    sexy?    ❜    his    voice    laced    with    a    light,    teasing    tone.    making    a    mental    note    to    remember        what    all    that    she    actually    admitted    to    finding    attractive.    a    true,    blissful    laugh    erupted    from    deep    within    him,    only    stopping    as    he    finally    reached    the    restaurant,    gently    putting    her    back    on    her    feet.    ❛    circle    of    life,    babes.    we    all    die    at    some    point.    but    i    will    try    to    stay    alive,    just    for    you.    ❜