#girl was the white sheet with eyes cut out i wore my whole life & now im trying to remove the sheet but

[mechawolfie]

is there an alternative to dykefag/fagdyke for people who aren’t attracted to anyone really. like i just want the gender of it

[gothicminxx]

Satosugu x afab! Reader

Word count: 5.2K

CW: Angst with comfort, mentions of blood, major character death, polyamory, mentions of established relationship with Gojo, pet names (angel, pretty girl, my girl, sweet girl, etc.), instead of Y/N Name will be used instead, all around sad af

Part 2 here

Summary: Has a connection to the movie JJK 0, similar but not quite.

I think of Satosugu and I sob.

Hope you enjoy!

Twilight arrived over the horizon, painting the sky of soft purples mixed with pink and blue. Mountain tops capped off with sheets of white that sparkled underneath the setting sun. Silence loomed overhead with the subtle sounds of a breeze, the air crisp with a harsh bite. The grass is glacial from the previous snowfall a few hours ago.

But the world was covered in darkness as the giant hand that pertained to Satoru lay flatly over your eyes, sitting in between his legs on a rock. A habit that he had formed in recent years to mollify the bitter head of anxiety that crippled your body. When the thoughts began to race and the hammering of your heart refused to disperse from your side, Satoru placed his hand over your eyes. The rasp of his voice tickled your ear as he requested you focus, following his deep breaths, and hushed praises for succeeding. When the dark silence consumed the crevices of your brain it pacified the cavernous void that Suguru left behind. The reason for every apprehensive thought that consumed the confinements of your brain. A gaping hole resided in the depths of your pumping heart, one he had overfilled before-- a spilling pool of red wine: warm, gentle, and welcoming, the essence of pertaining to two lovers.

Satoru shared the absence of light with you simply by covering your eyes. He wore blindfolds to protect his six eyes, to keep the core of his energy balanced so as to not fatigue himself, he experienced the bliss of darkness daily listening to the calmness of his breath, the steadiness of his heart, and the sounds of his surroundings. It was peaceful when things seemed to spiral out of control, tensions at an all time high giving Satoru that moment to ease his mind. It was the only thing he could think to do to alleviate the strain of life that gnawed at you constantly like a tender cut of meat.

The coolness of this year's harsh winter stung your cheeks, penetrating at the surface to numb your whole face. You placed your hands on top of Satoru’s, holding it in place to increase the darkness, focusing on the environment you found yourself in. Snow that the wind carried tickled your skin, dampening it slightly as the flakes melted. The comfort of your puffy jacket and beanie kept you toasty to endure the frozen conditions, but in this very moment the cold brought you solace as you embraced the blackness. You could feel the warmth of Satoru’s chest radiate into your back like a warm blanket, the breeze that blew on the side of your face howled softly, swooshing of powdered snowflakes followed. The plateau you and Satoru sat in was desolate of noise, it calmed the erratic beat of your heart and soothed the harrowing thoughts in your mind.

Since Suguru’s impetuous departure from the both of you things had been difficult, words left unsaid with various questions that had gone unanswered. An empty spot on the bed that used to belong to him had now turned cold and desperately clung onto his scent, you and Satoru had found yourselves leaving that space open, as if he’d ever walk through the front door again and reclaim the life he once had. His hoodies still hung up in the closet, his toothbrush still had a spot in the holder, boxes of his favorite tea littered the cabinet-- you preferred coffee, and Satoru liked soda. Suguru’s things were left untouched in your home, things he left behind, and things you and Satoru held onto tightly; protecting the last bit of residue on those items.

Satoru snaked his free arm around, pressing his palm flatly against your abdomen, fingertips caressing the polyester fabric of the puffer jacket that adorned your frame. He gently removed his hand from your eyes as he felt you relax in his hold, leaning forward to rest his chin against your shoulder. The world had come back into your view, the sky had become a darker shade of blue accompanied by a few stars that twinkled. The sun had fully hid behind the snowy mountain range taking away the last bit of warmth it had offered in the winter months. Satoru had insisted on taking you far from the city today despite the ice on the roads, the sunken bags underneath your eyes had prompted worry that he could not ignore. You were the only thing keeping him sane since Suguru had left, Satoru had grown petrified of losing you too. He could sense the ugly cloud of melancholy looming over your head, the way you slouched at the kitchen table-- barely touching the food on your plate, a frown etched on your lips, and tears left to dry on your cheeks. The way you stared at Suguru’s spot in bed wearing one of his hoodies, the yearning and agony you felt all too evident to him that he had to get you away from home for a few hours.

He had always been better at tucking away his emotions so as to not worry you. But Satoru felt the same agony, the cavernous hole in his heart that felt as though a knife had stabbed through and ripped a chunk out. The bile that burned the back of his throat and left a bitter taste that it didn’t matter how many times he brushed his teeth; it remained. That each time he smelled Jasmine or cedar wood he immediately burst into tears, teeth piercing his bottom lip as he tried to mollify the dreary emotions that raked his body. Oftentimes he found himself wearing Suguru’s clothes, wrapping his arms around his own body and pretending as though it was Suguru comforting him. Satoru grieved the relationship that once was, in silence, wanting to be strong for you, the most precious thing in his life. You needed Satoru more than anything in moments where you barely found the strength to get out of bed. When anxiety consumed you like the last meal on earth, he had to be strong for you.

Placing a kiss to your cold cheek Satoru hummed, “You calm now, angel?” He held you tighter in his embrace, shutting his eyes to engrave every curve of your body, the warmth you provided as you sat in between his legs, and your scent. The trepidation he felt of losing you too was one that made him lose his appetite.

Leaning your head back on his shoulder, your eyes followed the depth of the night sky, each star glimmering like a diamond. With the darkness the cold in the plateau stung your face, your nose runny and icy to the touch, but you could only focus on Satoru’s arms, “Yes, shutting out the world always seems to help,” A small smile reached your lips, “Thank you.”

Intertwining your gloved hands together he brought the back to his lips placing a kiss there making your heart flutter. Since Suguru deserted his lovers, through the agony and stabbing wound in one's heart, you still had Satoru. The six eyes refused to leave your side even for a moment, clinging onto you as a sort of life support.

The anguish was evident in his cerulean eyes, deep purple bags had found their home under his eyes, hidden under a blindfold so as to not worry his students— to worry you. Even if a part of his heart clung onto the memory of Suguru, the rest was yours. Glowing sun of warmth that caressed his cheek, holding him tightly to always feel the ardor of your heart. Lulling the anxiety he felt with lingering kisses, fingers tangled in snowy white tuffs, and the sound of your sweet voice covered in honey— speaking saccharine words.

Even if he tried to hide from you, keeping his emotions tucked away in a metal safe— you knew, of course you saw right through him. Having the privilege of meeting Satoru Gojo years ago meant understanding every single emotion he felt. A strong intuition to sense when something was off, he never truly spoke about it, only on the rare occasion of dawn drawing near, his eyes half lidded, and voice coaxed of sleep that he spoke— tired of the torment of a racing mind. You would hold him tightly in your arms, resting your chin on his hair as he sobbed into your chest, allowing his emotions to ripple like a waterfall. He was yours, you wanted to be there as much as he was there for you.

His giant hand cupped your cheek, leading your lips to his. The kiss was gentle, slow, and filled with love, Satoru’s tongue was warm as it found yours, eager to taste more of you to have more of you— he couldn’t get enough. He held you tight, pressing against your abdomen as it bunched up the polyester fabric in between his fingers. His thumb caressing your cheekbone, kissing you was a piece of heaven; Satoru’s sanctuary. The way his lips connected to yours reminded him that you were perfect for him in every sense of the way. That you were still here with him.

Satoru pulled away, resting his forehead against yours to catch his breath. His eyes remained closed but a goofy smile was ever present, his heart thudding loudly he truly believed you could hear it, light pink dusted his pale skin, “My girl. Mine.” He murmured, attaching his lips to yours once more.

It was moments like these that you truly cherished, engraving his every word into your brain like a chanted prayer. Satoru was here to stay, he could not imagine parting from you; it wasn’t possible.

Together you grieved Suguru, the fallen angel that had big aspirations of changing the world for the better. Ideals that you could not see eye to eye on, the raven haired man swore up and down it was a world for his lovers. Even if it seemed selfish at the time he would burn down the entire world for you and Satoru. If it had meant taking the life of the innocent— the weak, for those he loved, he’d do it over and over again. But the question had always remained: Would either of you do the same?

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧

The sun blazed down on the asphalt in a persistent manner, the heat waves radiated off of the dark pavement that burned the soles of shoes. Summer was unforgiving this year, humid and sickly that shade did little to provide an escape. The metal bleachers burned to the touch from constant heat smacking against them, the grass seemed as the only comforting place to sit underneath a Japanese cedar tree. Strands of green sticking to your thighs that you regretted wearing a skirt, almost.

First grade Jujutsu students practiced their combat skill in the enormous field, sweat dripping down their faces after an hour of intense training. The new student Yuta Okkotsu showed promise— improving his cursed energy little by little. Satoru had taken a liking to him, a powerful curse that followed him around— killing those that harmed him without a second glance. Your husband had a soft spot for teenagers that had a tough life, a man that could come off as arrogant had a huge heart. A few weeks ago Satoru had come to you, announcing he would be pleading Yuta’s case to avoid an execution even if it meant losing his job. You could never argue with him, standing next to him as you petitioned for the young boy as well.

Training had gone as any other day, students complaining about the heat but refusing to go inside— each competitive. Satoru stood with Yaga on the far end of the field coaching Maki and Yuta, while you and Shoko sat under a tree watching over Toge and Panda. The smell of tobacco wafted into your nostrils as Shoko lit up another cigarette, stating it would help with her irritation as she wiped sweat from her brow. Your fingers found the roots of grass to slowly pick at it, a distraction from the unbearable heat that made your body feel as if it would combust into flames.

Leaning back on your elbows you sighed loudly, throwing your head back further into the shade to look at the intricate leaves— hiding from the wretched sun. “How much longer are we going to torture the students in this goddamn heat?” Shoko groaned beside you.

“‘Dunno, until one of us drives Yaga up the wall with our complaining.” You chuckled, “Knowing Satoru I’d say soon.”

Due to Satoru being born in the winter season the six eyes preferred the cold and icy snow over the blistering heat. He thrived at the first snowfall, dragging you out of the warmth of your cozy bed to admire the sheet of white. His long legs would race to the backyard without the proper clothing to handle the freezing temperatures, slender fingers grabbing a handful of snow to feel the cool softness on his flesh. He’d spend a few hours outside admiring it with childlike wonder, you would oftentimes fight him to come inside as if he were a husky— stubborn and flourishing in the snow. It wouldn’t surprise you if your husband was currently throwing a fit about the sweltering heat to Yaga.

Booming voices ricocheted from the trees in the field, snapping you out of your thoughts. Shoko’s ears perched giving you a confused glance as she licked her finger to put out her cigarette, “What could that be?” She wondered.

Together you stood, requesting Toge and Panda to follow along in case it happened to be something serious. Sweat decorated your brow as the impending heat found you, raising the temperature within the confinements of your body. In the distance a large bird bigger than a human flapped its wings, the radiant golden color catching in the sun, throwing its head back to emit a loud squawk from its enormous beak. Bodies of students surrounded the creature, tuffs of milky white hair came into view as his tall lanky figure pushed past bodies. From where you walked you could see the tension in his shoulders, jaw clenched, and fists white-- something was wrong.

The length of your legs began to take lager hurried strides, loud pounding rang in your ears from the erratic beating of your heart. Heads turned as you drew closer, wandering eyes with a look of confusion stared back at you, “Satoru, long time no see!” A silky voice called, sweet like honey, a soft melody to listen to. A voice that closed up your throat, heart dropping to the depths of your stomach, eyes stinging with ocean water because it had been so long since you had heard it. The voice that comforted you when a tough day crossed your path, made you laugh until you cried, talked you through it in moments of ecstasy, and spoke sweet nothings to you.

As you pushed your way into the circle Satoru stood taut, a white blindfold covered his cerulean eyes, expression hard to read but his tight jaw spoke for him. You followed his gaze, time had frozen still as long raven hair met your eyes, glistening in the light of the sun. A smile adorned his features as he greeted Satoru with an arm around Yuta’s shoulder, he had yet to notice you. It had been nearly a decade since you had seen the familiar face, had him in close radius. “Suguru?” Your voice barely above a whisper, cracking pathetically towards the end.

His attention drifted towards you, “Name, it’s been a while.” The smile he wore faded the moment brown eyes truly caught a glimpse of you, the sight nearly broke his heart. You looked on the verge of tears, the yearning to run into his arms was evident as your hand blindly reached out-- but you held back, taking a hold of Satoru’s sleeve too paralyzed to move. The white haired man placed a protective arm on your waist as if to challenge Suguru to take a step further to either of you. But in truth Satoru would break down if given the opportunity, trying his best to remain strong, to come off as intimidating to the man that ripped his heart open; you both knew this.

“Step away from those kids right now, Suguru.” Satoru’s voice held a stern edge, the man in front of him was the only one that could affect the usual confident demeanor he had.

Suguru held back a smirk as he slowly removed his arm from Yuta, “ I heard the first years were quite special, it seems you still have an eye for talent, Satoru.”

Your gaze was fixed on the raven haired man, it felt like a sick joke, one that your mind deemed fit as a punishment for past mistakes you had once made. He looked different than before, his hair was much longer, reaching his waist. The purple eye bags and look of misery that had become a part of him almost a decade ago had disappeared, his skin practically glowing, he looked happier-- cockier than the man you once knew. You wanted to be as calm as Satoru, to appear stoic and un-bothered but the air felt heavy, the lump in your throat had formed so thick that it was nearly impossible to swallow back. For a decade you still found yourself grieving his sudden departure, the closure he had refused to give you and Satoru, leaving nothing behind but memories and a freezing empty spot in bed. “What are you doing here?” You asked, voice hostile yet the sense of longing was still there.

He tore his gaze from Satoru avoiding your watery eyes over to his entourage, “I came to declare war,” Suguru put it simply, “Five days from now I’ll be in Kyoto, I hope to see you all there.”

“A war?” Shoko scoffed, “Your ideals truly have gone to your head.”

“I’m simply creating a better world.” Suguru’s words left a bitter taste in your mouth, like rusty metal that had sat out in the sun long forgotten for an extended period of time. He no longer sounded like himself, his voice remained velvety and yet, the disconnect of the man he used to be was immense. It had brought you back to the time you were once a student, noticing his distant demeanor with hazy eyes that he looked unrecognizable. He closed in on himself, shutting you and Satoru out. Most nights had been spent sleeping on the couch or too wired as he stayed up an entire night frantically scribbling gibberish in his journal-- ideas to cleanse the world of the weak. He refused the assistance of the comforting arms of his lovers, rejecting their words of reassurance. Suguru had lost a drastic amount of weight, the churning of his stomach accompanied by a burning in his throat that kept him away from consuming food. He had become a shell of himself until one day his radio silence became permanent; leaving his lovers to fend for themselves without another word.

Only for him to return months later in the crowded square of downtown Tokyo claiming that it was all for his lovers. The world he was creating was the perfect one for those he cared about, asking to accompany him in the journey of discovering it together, only to be met by your tears and Satoru’s anger. It was the irreparable end of a relationship.

Biting your bottom lip harshly, you could taste the tang of metallic blood on your tongue, holding Satoru’s sleeve tighter, only for the milky haired man to search for your hand to intertwine your fingers-- squeezing it tightly, he could feel your agony, resentment, and pining. Focusing on his features, you wanted to burn them into your memory, hold them close to your heart because you would be damned if you forgot his face, “I think it’s time for you to go, Suguru.” You muttered, digging your nails into the palm of your hand imprinting crescent moons in the flesh; fighting back the tears that threatened to spill as you urged the man that still owned half of your heart to go.

Silence loomed overhead as Suguru processed the words that escaped your lips; soft that he almost missed them, how desperately he wanted to ignore them to take you and Satoru in his arms and make things better. The version of him you had known before was gone, that man was no longer a part of who he truly was, the weak and strong simply could not co-exist. Why couldn’t either of you understand that for his own selfish reasons, this was all for you? He turned on his heel, sauntering over to the enormous bird, only turning his head enough to catch a glimpse of the two people he adored the most, “I’ll see you in Kyoto. Until next time.” With that the creature expanded its wings, descending in the air with the man that still held onto your hearts.

Satoru watched as the massive bird disappeared into nothingness, the stitches in his heart that had once existed ripped open-- crimson blood gushing out, the ache unbearable. Holding your smaller hand tightly he began to walk toward the direction of his classroom, a small sob escaped your lips before you tried your best to hide it but he had heard it. The tall man stopped, only to see your pretty face covered in fat tears with quivering lips as you tried to fight off dramatic sobs. “Oh, my sweet girl.” Satoru cooed, bending down to envelope you in his arms. His large hand cupped the back of your head, stroking your hair as he held you tightly. He buried his nose in your hair, a small tear falling from his own eye but he was quick to wipe it.

“I- I miss him,‘Toru,” You choked out,“So much.”

“Me too, angel, me too.”

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩

Dark gray clouds covered the sky, leaving Kyoto in complete darkness. The sounds of war engulfed the city with crumbling buildings, destroyed vehicles, and thick clouds of smoke from small fires that had started. The perfect distraction Suguru had created to get to Yuta, it hadn’t registered in your minds that it had been his plan to get everyone away from the vicinity of Jujutsu High School.

You stood in a medical building to assist in healing those injured alongside Shoko, gifted the same ability of reversed curse technique with the upper hand of bringing those back from the dead on rare occasions. A skill you had spent most of your life trying to achieve, it had only been possible with the help of Tengen and Satoru. The consequences of cheating death had yet to show themselves to you, bringing back countless from watery graves— a draining task that consumed most of your cursed energy for a few days, it wasn’t used often.

Crouching over a severely injured fourth grade student the grand glass door of the building opened, as footsteps scrambled to deliver another injured student you felt the familiar cursed energy of your husband. “I have to go back to Jujutsu High, he set this whole thing up. Suguru is after Yuta.” He stated, gritting his teeth.

“I’m coming with you.” The urgency in your voice was hard to miss.

Satoru could only shake his head, holding his hand up to stop you from coming any closer to him, “No, it’s too dangerous, Name. Stay here and treat the wounded.”

He was always overprotective of you, your safety had always been the six eyes priority only growing ten fold the moment Suguru abandoned the both of you. You understood, but at the same time you weren’t weak, classified as a special grade two weeks after attending school. Training day in and day out when it came to combat, craving to be as perfect as Satoru and Suguru— the two strongest sorcerers. “I don’t care! I’m going with you and that’s final.” You had always been stubborn, constantly standing your ground and refusing any form of rejection when it came to proving yourself. It was a trait Satoru adored about you, but oftentimes it drove him crazy with worry, he knew you were strong but you were the last person he had besides Megumi.

Determination painted your features, clenching your fists at your side to show Satoru you weren’t going to give up. He couldn’t argue with his beautiful wife, especially with the way you looked at him as if you would follow him to the ends of the Earth. “So stubborn.” He huffed, taking your hand before teleporting the both of you to Jujutsu High.

It was silent the moment you arrived on campus grounds the smell of burnt wood wafted in the air as you walked hand in hand. A knot formed in your gut as if it were signaling you that something had gone terribly wrong, it made you tighten your hold on Satoru’s hand. The silence was deafening as the residue of a previous battle remained in the air and grubble of buildings.

Turning the corner of vacant buildings, you could see a figure in the distance covered in crimson liquid, missing a limb, long raven hair a disheveled mess as his signature bun had come undone, “You guys are late as usual.” Suguru weakly chuckled, clutching his side.

“The students in Kyoto were under your control?” Satoru asked, though he held no confusion, you both knew the answer.

Suguru leaned back on a cement wall letting out a ragged breath, “Yes, they all were.”

Letting go of Satoru’s hand you couldn’t care less about the things Suguru had done, the misery he caused when he disappeared, or even those he hurt. Your vision became blurry with tears as you took in his condition, bloodied and bruised as he struggled to maintain a steady breath. You could not bear to listen to much more, this time you had allowed yourself to run to Suguru as you had longed since seeing him on school grounds five days ago. Not giving Satoru a moment to think as he watches your figure bolt for the raven haired man.

Kneeling in front of him your arms wrapped around his neck bringing his body close to yours, without hesitation he wrapped his arm around your waist burying his bloodied face in your neck. The smell of jasmine and cedarwood welcomed you, the scent that had always belonged to him, the one that caused a sob to escape your lips. “You idiot.” You cried into his hair, clutching him tightly, afraid to let go and discover that he was a figment of your imagination.

You were warm, skin silky soft— he had forgotten how good it felt to have you in his arms, if he was being honest with himself he had forgotten your scent, how sweet and delicate it was. “There’s my sweet girl.” Suguru croaked, after a decade of pushing away the hurt he caused himself for leaving, was finally flooding out. Trembling as he hugged you tightly, burning your scent, curves, and hair into his memory. A treasure he’d lock up and guard with his entire being.

“I can fix it, let me fix it… let me heal you.” You begged, cupping his cheeks, blood staining your hands.

“Name, you can’t.” Satoru whispered, tilting his head down.

“What?! No, I'm going to fix h-“

Before you could finish your sentence Suguru took your hand, placing a kiss to the back of it, “It’s for the best, angel.”

You shook your head frantically, sobbing loudly as you looked between Satoru and Suguru, begging to not allow it to end this way. Burying your face in Suguru’s neck, closing your eyes as if to wish to wake up from this nightmare. To wake in your huge bed with them on either side of you, each wrapped around you as they slept soundly. The harsh cold breeze flowing in through your window as it snowed outside, dreading the moment Satoru woke up because he’d drag the two of you outside. Wanting a life back that once was, when Suguru was content with the things he had, when the two of you were enough for him, just one more time.

Suguru grabbed your hand, swaying your two bodies together. Noticing the rays of sunshine bouncing off of a rather large diamond on your finger nearly blinding him, he took a moment to admire it, chuckling bitterly as a wave of jealousy flooded over him. “My love’s got married.” Suguru could only blame himself for abandoning you both, envious he wouldn’t be able to share the Gojo last name with the both of you. A part of him was truly happy for you two, moving on after his selfish act. It wouldn’t have been fair to request either of you to remain stagnant.

“In October two years ago.” Satoru smiled sadly, twiddling with the diamond band on his ring finger. Proud to call you his wife, to be the one to take care of you and cherish moments spent together. It hurt that Suguru couldn’t be a part of it.

“I can fix you… then… then we can try to mend everything. Sugu please.” You choked.

But the decision had been made for you, the conclusion that Suguru was on death’s doorstep had become destiny in the moment. Your pleas and cries went unanswered even if it pained both of the men to cause such agony for you. In the end Suguru no longer had the ability to change, too stuck in his ideals to let them go. “I still love you.” You weeped.

Suguru’s heart sank at your words, even after the crimes he had commited and the torture he had put you through your emotions remained in tact, “I love you too.” The raven haired man kisses your temple, “and I love you, ‘Toru.”

A few tears had finally escaped his cerulean eyes, “I love you too… I’m sorry.”

A flash of purple came into your peripheral vision, the ringing in your ears was painful. Time had slowed as Suguru’s muscular body fell limp in your arms, the look of horror on your face was one that Satoru would remember forever. A loud scream erupted from your lungs that it felt as though they’d rip open at the seams, oxygen became impossible to inhale as you wailed out to the sky clutching his lifeless body in your arms. “No! No, ‘Toru… no. Suguru please,” The only thing you could muster was to beg and wail, preparing to use the entirety of your cursed energy to bring back your dead lover.

But Satoru pulled you away before you could do anything, holding your flailing body in his arms as he howled alongside you. He would hold onto this guilt for the rest of his life, ripping Suguru away from your lives as he meant nothing when he was everything would tear him to shreds. Suguru had perished by his own hands, he felt like a monster. All he could do was throw you over his shoulder and listen to the heart wrenching wails that left you as he dragged you away from Suguru.

He’d never forgive himself.

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧

[anaiswriterr]

My Darling,

Pairing: Deku x Reader

Rating: M

Warnings: smut, light cursing, nsfw, soft dom Izuku (Characters are aged up, Y/N is 20 and Izuku is 23) Forgive me, I’ll go to church after this I promise. I tried my best, one day my smut writing will get better but until then I’m practicing. Um.. yeah this isn’t as graphic as other but damn I had to take multiple breaks. THIS IS 18+

Request: 18, 63, 72, and 150

SYNOPSIS: A simple tribe girl picking flowers for her mother’s shop and Dragon King who was in desperate need for a wife. He met her on a warm spring evening, and was set to marry her the next night.

Y/N wouldn't necessarily call herself lucky, though, many girls would remind her of the soft skin she possessed, the darling smile she was blessed with, and the warmth her heart carried within as she handed out lilies to the little girls that ran all throughout the village. Blessed with Aphrodite's beauty, undoubtly she caused heads to turn everywhere she went.

Y/N L/N, daughter of the villages flower shop owner, was the most beautiful in the land.

A proud tribal woman of the Dragon Kingdom, who never paid attention to politics, who never saw the wrong in most. The one who caught the wandering eye of King Izuku when he made his frequent visit to the village for it's annual festival.

The golden hew that surround her crouched body, as she continued to pick the roses from her garden. She hadn't noticed his eyes, she was to busy cutting off the thorns off its stem before handing the rose to a small boy who watched in awe as she filled her basket with more roses. "This ones for you," She says softly, dropping the flower into his small palm; he clutches onto the now non threatening stem. His eyes grow large with his smile as he wraps his arms around the girl, "Thank you, Miss L/N!" He runs off the other direction.

Her kindness is what drew Izuku Midoriya. Like a magical love spell casted on the man, love at first sight.

Who knew the King would come back with a wife who wasn't even remotely close to royalty, no, she was a normal tribal girl who ran with her heart never her head - surely she never thought she'd be Queen one day to King Midoriya. But like all fairytales she married, and fell madly in love with the king as he held his palm out to help lower her from his horse.

She sighs, "Do we have to attend this party?"

Izuku smiles at his bride, hold her hand close to his chest placing a chaste kiss on her fingers, "Just for a little while, I promise you'll have fun. Besides, I'll be with you the entire night."

"Is that a promise?" Y/N asks nervously, chewing on the insides of her cheeks. Still new to the whole royalty transition, she looked the part but inside she was still the girl who picked up flowers for her mother. Izuku can feel her nervousness radiate off her body, arching a brow he smiles at her in hopes to lift her sprits. "I know you're still new to this, but there's a reason why I married you."

"Why is that?" She lifts her head to meet his emerald green eyes, ones she'd often found herself most nights staring deeply into.

"That's for me too know and for you to find out later." He places a kiss on her cheek.

Y/N scoffs as his playfulness at they enter the castle, hundreds of bustling maids scurry around in preparations for tonight's ball. "Continue to say things like that, and we both won't be attending the party tonight."

"Why is that?" He smirks looking directly down at his wife with hungry eyes.

"That's for me to know and for you to find out later."

***

Y/N wears a sly smile as she makes her way around the busy ballroom, taking in small sips of her champagne as she converses with the girls she's recently befriended. Uraraka and Mina, both who were recently married to Bakugou and Kirishima. Y/N found it easy to talk to them, simple, all three were new to the life of being royalty. Y/N hums in agreement at something Mina says, giggling at Uraraka's blushing cheeks till she feels two strong arms wrap around her waist, "Excuse me ladies, but if you don't mind I'll be stealing my wife for a moment." Izuku says playfully, before latching his arm into yours.

"Where you taking me?"

"I haven't told you how beautiful you look in this dress," He whispers into her ear causing a warm chill to run down her spine, "I can't wait to rip it off."

A scarlet red blush creeps onto her cheeks, biting her bottom lip in comfort Y/N stands on her tip toes to lean in closer to his ear; "What makes you think I'll let you." Y/N pulls him onto the ballroom floor, throwing his hands on the small of her back as the two sway to the music played by the orchestra. "I should be mad at you; you left me all by myself Zuzu. After you promised you'd stay with me all night." She cooed into his ear, reprimanding him of his broken promise. A faint blush dusts his cheeks, twirling her to the music.

"Well then, let me make it up to you. Besides, you made friends at least."

Y/N shrugs, "You're right, but Zuzu I wanted to spend more time with you."

His hands grasps at her hips, pulling her in close. "Then we can spend the rest of the night together, in bed." He says suggestively, Y/N pretends to think, wondering if she could drag this conversation on longer. He sure was persistent, a small giggle escapes her lips, she places a small peck onto his lips.

"And why don't we spend time together, here? After all we are the hosts, right Zuzu?"

Izuku chases her lips fighting back the urge to nibble her ear in plain sight - she was toying with his emotions.

"I don't need an audience to watch me fuck my wife," He growls in anticipation - He can already tell he has an effect of her. Her movements to the music still and her demeanor slightly changes, her eyes grow dark. Izuku has Y/N right where he wanted her; but preferable he'd rather have her underneath him. Izuku cheekily leans back into her ear, "Just know I'm gonna fuck your brains out after tonight."

***

The two run hand in hand down the hallway to their bedroom, laughing the entire way down until they finally reach the door. Izuku nearly breaks the door down before slamming it shut behind him, his hand moves forward to cup her cheeks, pulling her in for a deep searing kiss.

Y/N moans in delight when he has her back against the door, her hands pull at his dark curly locks as his tongue explores her mouth, "I want you," she managed to pant between each kiss, falling in complete bliss as his lips trail down from the corner of her lips and down her throat; latching onto her collarbone.

"Izuku,"

"Patience."

Groaning in annoyance, she rubs her thighs together to ease the growing ache between them. With her fingers entangled between his locks she pulls him off her neck, revealing the small bruises and bite marks he left behind. His hands roam all throughout her body, squeezing, pulling, grasping. "This is getting in the way," he groans as he tugs on the fabric of her dress, biting his lip she mumbles, "Then take it off."

"Yes ma'am." He chuckles, turning her around untying the strings to loosening the corset, his lips hungrily latch to the back of her neck. "Izuku!" She whines, "Hurry up!" He pulls off her dress, ripping the back into shreds, twisting her back around. Y/N hops into his arms, legs wrapped tightly around his waist as he carries her off to their bed.

His hands fiddle with the waistline of her panties, playing with the lace material between his fingers - gently pressing her down into the mattress. She whines beneath him, watching as he trails down her body, his lips leave trails of tiny bruises and saliva down her chest. Placing two bite marks just above her breasts, eyeing the lace white bra she wore. His eyes plead for her to take it off, "Please daring." His dark green eyes bore into her E/C ones, "Please," Nodding, Y/N arches her back unclipping the hooks off her back and tossing it onto floor.

His lips attach onto her hardened nipple, the pleasure of his warm mouth against her breast seizes her. Her fingers curl through his hair pulling him closer towards her chest, his hands placed firmly over her hips as he traveled down the valley between her breast and onto her belly, placing soft lips against the soft skin of her naval. She giggles at his gentleness - still not used to the feeling of his roaming hands. He stops just above the waist band of her panties, eyeing her down as he kisses her through the fabric. Sending waves of pleasure throughout her body - the warmth surrounds her like a burning fire.

Fingers curling over the fabric, pulling them down slowly.

"Don't tease."

Izuku's head ducks down to her inner thighs, biting and sucking against the soft skin, he smiles, "I'll take as long as I want," he kisses all along her legs, his hands wrap around her ankles pulling her closer as he slowly slides down her panties, throwing it off to side. Izuku licks a long strip against her aching core, moaning into her folds and sucking against her aching clit.

Y/N pulls against the roots of his hair, he lets out a low groan - the vibrations only making her shiver. "Fuck.." Y/N throws her head back, massaging Izuku's scalp with her fingers, a series of "please" and "yeses" string past her lips - her volume only increases with his speed. Dark green emerald eyes lock with her hazy half lidded orbs, "Darling, you have to be more quiet. Or else they'll hear us."

Was that necessarily a bad things? If people heard?

Y/N covers her mouth with her palm, one hand grasping at the sheet for some kind support and the other holding back the increasingly loud moans from her vocal cords ripping out into a soft harmony with his grunts.

"Oh fuck," Izuku suddenly plunges two finger deep inside, pumping in and out of her tight hole, licking at her sweet folds and sucking hard on her clit. Increasing his speed, a hot coil of pleasure overtakes her core, legs shaking, he drinks up all her juices. He smirks, leaning back to admire the mess he made, "Perfect." Y/N's quick to cross her legs - suddenly left feeling insecure as his hungry eyes wonders all along her. Her hands cover her breasts.

"Woah, don't cover up." Izuku leans in to uncover her chest, pressing a small kiss to her temple. His hands go to unbutton his shirt, throwing off his royal tunic and off his white long sleeved undershirt. Y/N props her self up with her elbows - biting her bottom lip, chewing in anticipation. Unbuttoning his pants, Y/N points towards his large bulge - arching a brow sheepishly at her husband, "Do y-you want me to help you with that?"

Nodding his head no, he gently presses her down shimmying out his pants. "Tonight's about you." His lips connect with hers in a heated passionate kiss, his strong hands wrap around her ankles - throwing her legs over his shoulders positioning himself in front of her entrance. "Please?" He asks, eyes begging to be let in.

"Yes, please."

Her husband pushes himself into her tight aching hole a small moan escape's past her lips. Her head cradled by two strong arms; his thrusts start out slow as he bottoms himself out into his wife, rocking back and forth with his hips. Moaning out into her lips.

Mimicking one another's pace, Y/N claws away at his back. Nails digging into his skin, creating crescent shaped marks and long red lines being scraped into his skin.

Izuku lays in forehead against her shoulder blades, kissing and napping away at her skin, groaning from the hot painful marks on his back.

"Zuku.." She moans clinging onto his back for support, his arm shoots up to the bed frame rocking his hips harder into hers, hitting perfectly at her g-spot. A silent scream forms from her lips, whimpering beneath him at his quickened pace.

Pounding Y/N into the mattress he mutters, "I love you."

Y/N is moaning mess as Izuku moves her hiked up leg over his shoulder slinging it over his waist, hitting a whole new angle her nails dig into the flesh of his back even deeper, penetrate the skin and drawing blood. Throwing his head back groaning at the pain he pumps in faster, plunging deeper into her hitting a new angle. Her mouth forms an 'O', arching her back from the mattress Izuku presses his weight onto her increasing his speed hitting her in all the right places.

His tight grip to the bed frame loosens to fall beside her head, encasing her with two muscular forearms - it's not long until she feels a hot twist in her core moaning for him to slow down with a hand pressed down to his abdomen. "I-I'm gonna-"

"M-me too." Izuku pants, his trusts turning sloppy and faster. Y/N's vision blurs as the coil releases with a small "Please" - and not long after that Izuku collapses on top of her.

The both a panting mess with stupid smile pained on their lips, a doopy look in Y/N eyes as she smiles towards the ceiling while Izuku chuckles - pressing his forehead onto hers before rolling onto his side. A breathless giggle escapes past her lips, Y/N turns to her side propping her head up with her palm using her other hand to pull up the covers she sighs in content, "I love you, you know that right?"

"I love you more."

"Not possible."

Izuku pulls her in by the waist smiling as he lays into her chest, "sometimes I feel like my hearts gonna burst, that how much I love you."

Y/N rakes her fingers through the messy curly green locks , thumbing away the sections that stuck to his forehead nuzzling her chin on top his head; maybe she was lucky. Luck was always a possibility for her but one thing she was certain was the pure happiness she was blessed with.

[mediocre-writerr]

cardigan [quinn fabray]

Quinn Fabray x fem reader

Requested: Hello! I love your imagines! This is a bit of an odd request, but I was wondering if I can have Quinn Fabray imagines based on the love triangle in Taylor Swift’s Folklore album. The r is betty and you can just go from there! Thank you!

A/N: hey everyone i’m back! finals went well and i’m back, you don’t know how much i wanted to not study just so i can write this one. i was thinking about making this a 3 parter, one for each song? i think by the way this ends we may need it, lmk what you all think!

You place your head in between your legs as you sit in your room in agony. It’s been a couple months yet it still hurt. 

Everything was still fresh. 

Finding everything out from Rachel. Confronting her. All of it. It kept replaying in my mind like a nightmare that just won’t go away. 

“Honey,” your mom knocked on your door and opened it softly.

 She found you in the same spot that you have been in the past two months. The only time you were in a different spot was when you were at dinner or at school. 

“Sam’s here.” she whispers.

Sam comes into the room smiling at you sadly. He takes a spot next to me on the floor of my bedroom. I lied there clutching my cardigan that had too many memories attached to it. 

Wordlessly, you sidled up next to him and placed your head on his shoulder. He places his own head on top of yours as you just laid together. 

It became a routine: Sam or Finn would come by and just sit there with you to make sure you were okay. Sometimes neither of you would say anything and other times they did their best to try and cheer you up. 

“Quinn Fabray, you are drunk right now.” you giggled as the two of you decided to walk home back to your house after the party at Rachel’s. 

“And you are absolutely gorgeous.” she says whispering. 

Her arm was wrapped around your waist as the two of you were walking home. She liked to have a hold on you in anyway that she can. 

Around other people she didn’t like to show off too much, but alone she had a hand on you all the time. It seemed like she couldn't get enough. 

“Dance with me Y/N.” she whispers. 

The two of you were stopped under a streetlight. The streetlight shining onto the two of you. The Lima Ohio air was cool in the month of February. But as she wrapped the both of her arms around you, all you could feel was warmth. 

Your foreheads rested on top of one another’s, lips were mere inches apart. The two of you just swayed to the sound of crickets in the neighbor’s grass. The smell of alcohol filled your nostrils, but you didn’t mind. 

You just enjoyed her presence. How close she was. How warm and safe she made you feel. All of it. 

Quinn’s hand drifted from around your waist to under your sweatshirt. Her cold hands sending chills throughout your body. 

“Love, your hands are cold.” you whispered into her neck softly. 

“I’m sorry.” she whispered back, but she didn’t move them. 

As time went on her hands weren’t icy, but rather warm. And in that moment there was nowhere else you’d rather be. 

“How are you doing?” Sam asks, “You looked pretty out of it during glee club today.” 

“Not the best.” you whisper back. 

Your short answers are something that the rest of your friends have had to get used to. You were always the bubbly talkative one, no one found you annoying, but rather adorable at your childish antics. 

But when reality struck. They lost that. It was like your innocence was gone and every bad thing flooded your thoughts. 

“Do you wanna watch a movie?” he asks, trying to get you to do anything that’s not lying in a puddle of sorrows. 

“Sure.” you shrug. 

He gets up from the spot on the floor and flips through a bunch of movies that you had lying in a cabinet under your TV. You didn’t bother looking up from whatever he was picking. You just continued to lay there staring at the piece of clothing in front of you.

“My mom used to put this movie on for me every time I was sad or sick. It became one of my comfort movies. Even to this day.” he says as the movie commercials start to play on the TV.

The Peter Pan title screen brightened the room. It caused a blue hue to fill the white walls. Your heart dropped at the sight of it. 

“You know I feel bad for Peter.” she whispered softly. 

Her bare body was on top of you. Your legs were tangled under the sheets of her room. The bright TV screen causing the whole room to light up. 

“Why?” you whisper back as you rub your hands up and down her body. 

From her shoulders, to her back, to her ass, to her thighs, and up again.

“He could have changed the story. He didn’t have to lose Wendy. If he just stayed, they could’ve grown up and had an actual family.” she says.

You hum in response, too captivated by the girl in your arms. You kiss her forehead softly and she sighs in contempt, nuzzling in closer to you. Quinn places a soft kiss to your throat. 

You deepen your head into her hair, taking in her sweet scent. Before you place a kiss to the top of her head. 

You know Sam was just trying to help. He didn’t know that Peter Pan was your go-to movie with her. Whenever one of had a bad day you would just play Peter Pan and hold each other tight. Hoping to drift off into your own Neverland. 

“What are you going to do for your birthday?” Sam asks as Peter and Wendy fly off to Neverland. 

“Nothing. I’m not into the party scene right now.” you shrug, not bothering to look at him.

“Come on Y/N! It’s your 18th birthday! You’re officially becoming an adult. You can’t just not have a party.” he exclaims, “Let me and Finn throw you one. Nothing too big, just the kids in glee.” he suggests.

You finally turn to look at him for the first time since he’s got here. He was staring at you as his trouty mouth was in a huge smile. For the first time in forever you finally cracked on of your own smiles. Everyone’s just been trying to help and this is least you can do to show them you’re grateful. 

“Okay.” I nod.

“Okay?” he asks stunned by your answer. 

“Okay.” I say smiling slightly.

“Yes!” he yells, immediately taking you into a hug. 

The next day during glee club you took your usual seat next to Sam. As Mr. Shue waited for everyone to come in and for the bell to ring. 

You always saw when she walked in, but for some reason your gaze seemed to linger. Her eyes had bags underneath him and her usually tamed blonde hair was disheveled. 

You’ve heard rumors that she wasn’t doing the best either. That she hasn’t been doing well in school or sleeping much. But you didn’t know what to believe. 

Her green eyes met yours and your heart skipped a beat. It’s crazy that she still has that hold on you. That even by a simple look she still manages to make your heart go boom!

“Hey everyone!” Sam announces breaking you away from her gaze. 

He goes to stand up in front of everyone, “Since Y/N’s birthday is coming up. Me and Finn here have decided to throw a party for her! Only us glee kids, at her house, on Friday. Be there!” 

The two of you were slow dancing as Rachel was singing Jar of Hearts. Her arms wrapped around your waist tightly as yours was wrapped around her neck. 

There was a millimeter of space between the two of you. You couldn’t express how much this girl had a hold of you. How much you were falling in love with her. 

“What are you thinking about?” she whispers as she notices your loving gaze on her face.

“All my life I’ve felt like I was just there. Existing for no reason. Yeah, I had friends, but I always felt like the oddball. I was just there.” her gaze softened as you continued, “I don’t know how to explain it, but I always felt like an old cardigan you got when you were younger that you never wore. But you always kept because you felt bad if you got rid of it. So you just stored it under your bed, so it just collected dust.” 

“Y/N-” she begins to say, but you cut her off. 

You shake you head smiling, “But you, Lucy Quinn Fabray, you engulfed me in love and care. You took me out from under the bed and put me on and said that I was your favorite. You chose me despite me being not special. So thank you.” 

“You’re selling yourself short love. You’re so special and if people don’t see that then that’s okay. Because you are special to me and my heart. I love you Y/N Y/L/N.” she says softly. 

You closed that millimeter of space and kissed her softly. Your lips touching igniting fireworks. Every single time. 

“Are you okay?” Blaine asks snapping you away from your false fantasy. 

You shook your head, “Yeah, yeah. I’m fine.” 

Everything about your relationship haunts you. Even the good. 

Because what if everything was different? 

What if you weren’t just an old cardigan? What if you were actually something special? What if you were enough for Quinn Fabray?

[butterflies-dragons]

SANSA STARK & TARGARYEN IMAGERY

A list of Targaryen Imagery around Sansa Stark in A Song of Ice and Fire

Fire and Blood

Black and Red

Silver and Purple

Dragon's Tail

Dragon Wings

Dragon Eggs

Dragon Skulls

Golden Dragons

Dragon Knights

Valyrian Steel

Dance of the Dragons

Maegor the Cruel

Baelor the Blessed

Aegon the Unworthy

Prince Aemon the Dragonknight

Aerys the Mad King

Rhaegar the ast dragon

Bonus: Fiery Hair

1. FIRE AND BLOOD

Sansa slid off her mare, but she was too slow. Arya swung with both hands. There was a loud crack as the wood split against the back of the prince's head, and then everything happened at once before Sansa's horrified eyes. Joffrey staggered and whirled around, roaring curses. Mycah ran for the trees as fast as his legs would take him. Arya swung at the prince again, but this time Joffrey caught the blow on Lion's Tooth and sent her broken stick flying from her hands. The back of his head was all bloody and his eyes were on fire.

—A Game of Thrones - Sansa I

The point of Ser Gregor's lance had snapped off in his neck, and his life's blood flowed out in slow pulses, each weaker than the one before. His armor was shiny new; a bright streak of fire ran down his outstretched arm, as the steel caught the light. Then the sun went behind a cloud, and it was gone. His cloak was blue, the color of the sky on a clear summer's day, trimmed with a border of crescent moons, but as his blood seeped into it, the cloth darkened and the moons turned red, one by one.

—A Game of Thrones - Sansa II

The blood orange had left a blotchy red stain on the silk. "I hate her!" she screamed. She balled up the dress and flung it into the cold hearth, on top of the ashes of last night's fire. When she saw that the stain had bled through onto her underskirt, she began to sob despite herself. She ripped off the rest of her clothes wildly, threw herself into bed, and cried herself back to sleep.

—A Game of Thrones - Sansa III

When the king's herald moved forward, Sansa realized the moment was almost at hand. She smoothed down the cloth of her skirt nervously. She was dressed in mourning, as a sign of respect for the dead king, but she had taken special care to make herself beautiful. Her gown was the ivory silk that the queen had given her, the one Arya had ruined, but she'd had them dye it black and you couldn't see the stain at all. She had fretted over her jewelry for hours and finally decided upon the elegant simplicity of a plain silver chain.

—A Game of Thrones - Sansa V

Then she realized that the blood had soaked through the sheet into the featherbed, so she bundled that up as well, but it was big and cumbersome, hard to move. Sansa could get only half of it into the fire. She was on her knees, struggling to shove the mattress into the flames as thick grey smoke eddied around her and filled the room, when the door burst open and she heard her maid gasp.

—A Clash of Kings - Sansa IV

When she crawled out of bed, long moments later, she was alone. She found his cloak on the floor, twisted up tight, the white wool stained by blood and fire.

—A Clash of Kings - Sansa VII

"The dwarf's wife did the murder with him," swore an archer in Lord Rowan's livery. "Afterward, she vanished from the hall in a puff of brimstone, and a ghostly direwolf was seen prowling the Red Keep, blood dripping from his jaws."

—A Storm of Swords - Jaime VII

As the boy's lips touched her own she found herself thinking of another kiss. She could still remember how it felt, when his cruel mouth pressed down on her own. He had come to Sansa in the darkness as green fire filled the sky. He took a song and a kiss, and left me nothing but a bloody cloak.

—A Feast for Crows - Alayne II

2. BLACK AND RED

The queen wore a high-collared black silk gown, with a hundred dark red rubies sewn into her bodice, covering her from neck to bosom. They were cut in the shape of teardrops, as if the queen were weeping blood.

—A Game of Thrones - Sansa IV

Tyrion wore a doublet of black velvet covered with golden scrollwork, thigh-high boots that added three inches to his height, a chain of rubies and lions’ heads. But the gash across his face was raw and red, and his nose was a hideous scab. “You are very beautiful, Sansa,” he told her.

—A Storm of Swords - Sansa III

3. SILVER AND PURPLE

Sansa closed the shutters and turned sharply away from the window. "You look very lovely today, my lady," Ser Arys said.

"Thank you, ser." Knowing that Joffrey would require her to attend the tourney in his honor, Sansa had taken special care with her face and clothes. She wore a gown of pale purple silk and a moonstone hair net that had been a gift from Joffrey. The gown had long sleeves to hide the bruises on her arms. Those were Joffrey's gifts as well. When they told him that Robb had been proclaimed King in the North, his rage had been a fearsome thing, and he had sent Ser Boros to beat her.

—A Clash of Kings - Sansa I

"You've waited so long, be patient awhile longer. Here, I have something for you." Ser Dontos fumbled in his pouch and drew out a silvery spiderweb, dangling it between his thick fingers.

It was a hair net of fine-spun silver, the strands so thin and delicate the net seemed to weigh no more than a breath of air when Sansa took it in her fingers. Small gems were set wherever two strands crossed, so dark they drank the moonlight. "What stones are these?"

"Black amethysts from Asshai. The rarest kind, a deep true purple by daylight."

—A Clash of Kings - Sansa VIII

Sansa wore a gown of silvery satin trimmed in vair, with dagged sleeves that almost touched the floor, lined in soft purple felt. Shae had arranged her hair artfully in a delicate silver net winking with dark purple gemstones. Tyrion had never seen her look more lovely, yet she wore sorrow on those long satin sleeves. "Lady Sansa," he told her, "you shall be the most beautiful woman in the hall tonight."

—A Storm of Swords - Tyrion VIII

4. DRAGON WINGS

Tyrion scarce touched his food, Sansa noticed, though he drank several cups of the wine. For herself, she tried a little of the Dornish eggs, but the peppers burned her mouth. Otherwise she only nibbled at the fruit and fish and honeycakes. Every time Joffrey looked at her, her tummy got so fluttery that she felt as though she'd swallowed a bat.

—A Storm of Swords - Sansa IV

"What wife?"

"I forgot, you've been hiding under a rock. The northern girl. Winterfell's daughter. We heard she killed the king with a spell, and afterward changed into a wolf with big leather wings like a bat, and flew out a tower window. But she left the dwarf behind and Cersei means to have his head."

—A Storm of Swords - Arya XIII

5. DRAGON EGGS

Butterbumps arrived before the food, dressed in a jester’s suit of green and yellow feathers with a floppy coxcomb. An immense round fat man, as big as three Moon Boys, he came cartwheeling into the hall, vaulted onto the table, and laid a gigantic egg right in front of Sansa. “Break it, my lady,” he commanded. When she did, a dozen yellow chicks escaped and began running in all directions. “Catch them!” Butterbumps exclaimed. Little Lady Bulwer snagged one and handed it to him, whereby he tilted back his head, popped it into his huge rubbery mouth, and seemed to swallow it whole. When he belched, tiny yellow feathers flew out his nose. Lady Bulwer began to wail in distress, but her tears turned into a sudden squeal of delight when the chick came squirming out of the sleeve of her gown and ran down her arm.

—A Storm of Swords - Sansa I

In the Queen's Ballroom they broke their fast on honeycakes baked with blackberries and nuts, gammon steaks, bacon, fingerfish crisped in breadcrumbs, autumn pears, and a Dornish dish of onions, cheese, and chopped eggs cooked up with fiery peppers.

[…] Tyrion scarce touched his food, Sansa noticed, though he drank several cups of the wine. For herself, she tried a little of the Dornish eggs, but the peppers burned her mouth.

—A Storm of Swords - Sansa IV

6. DRAGON’S TAIL

The morning of King Joffrey's name day dawned bright and windy, with the long tail of the great comet visible through the high scuttling clouds. Sansa was watching it from her tower window when Ser Arys Oakheart arrived to escort her down to the tourney grounds. "What do you think it means?" she asked him.

"Glory to your betrothed," Ser Arys answered at once. "See how it flames across the sky today on His Grace's name day, as if the gods themselves had raised a banner in his honor. The smallfolk have named it King Joffrey's Comet."

Doubtless that was what they told Joffrey; Sansa was not so sure. "I've heard servants calling it the Dragon's Tail."

"King Joffrey sits where Aegon the Dragon once sat, in the castle built by his son," Ser Arys said. "He is the dragon's heir—and crimson is the color of House Lannister, another sign. This comet is sent to herald Joffrey's ascent to the throne, I have no doubt. It means that he will triumph over his enemies."

Is it true? she wondered. Would the gods be so cruel? Her mother was one of Joffrey's enemies now, her brother Robb another. Her father had died by the king's command. Must Robb and her lady mother die next? The comet was red, but Joffrey was Baratheon as much as Lannister, and their sigil was a black stag on a golden field. Shouldn't the gods have sent Joff a golden comet?

—A Clash of Kings - Sansa I

7. DRAGON SKULLS

Within, the dragon skulls were waiting, and so was Shae. “I thought m’lord had forgotten me.” Her dress was draped over a black tooth near as tall as she was, and she stood within the dragon’s jaws, nude. Balerion, he thought. Or was it Vhagar? One dragon skull looked much like another.

[...] After, as they lay entwined amongst the dragon skulls, he rested his head against her, inhaling the smooth clean smell of her hair. “We should go back,” he said reluctantly. “It must be near dawn. Sansa will be waking.

[...] The Others can take my guilt, he thought as he slipped his tunic over his head. Why should I be guilty? My wife wants no part of me, and most especially not the part that seems to want her. Perhaps he ought to tell her about Shae. It was not as though he was the first man ever to keep a concubine. Sansa’s own oh-so-honorable father had given her a bastard brother. For all he knew, his wife might be thrilled to learn that he was fucking Shae, so long as it spared her his unwelcome touch.

—A Storm of Swords - Tyrion VII

8. GOLDEN DRAGONS

"The queen raised her voice. "A hundred golden dragons to the man who brings me its skin!”

“A costly pelt,” Robert grumbled. “I want no part of this, woman. You can damn well buy your furs with Lannister gold.”

[...] Shortly, Jory brought him Ice.

When it was over, he said, “Choose four men and have them take the body north. Bury her at Winterfell.”

“All that way?” Jory said, astonished.

“All that way,” Ned affirmed. “The Lannister woman shall never have this skin.”

—A Game of Thrones - Eddard III

"Petyr Baelish put a hand on the rail. "But first you’ll want your payment. Ten thousand dragons, was it?”

“Ten thousand.” Dontos rubbed his mouth with the back of his hand. “As you promised, my lord.”

[...] “But he saved me.”

“He sold you for a promise of ten thousand dragons.

[...]“Sansa felt sick. "He said he was my Florian.”

—A Storm of Swords - Sansa V

“Your sister’s had no difficulty finding witnesses to your guilt.” Ser Kevan rolled up the parchment. “Ser Addam has men hunting for your wife. Varys has offered a hundred stags for word of her whereabouts, and a hundred dragons for the girl herself. If the girl can be found she will be found, and I shall bring her to you. I see no harm in husband and wife sharing the same cell and giving comfort to one another.”

—A Storm of Swords - Tyrion IX

Someplace no stag ever found … though a dragon might.

—A Feast for Crows - Brienne III

"A good melee is all a hedge knight can hope for, unless he stumbles on a bag of dragons. And that's not likely, is it?"

—The Winds of Winter - Alayne I

9. DRAGON KNIGHTS

She shouted for Ser Dontos, for her brothers, for her dead father and her dead wolf, for gallant Ser Loras who had given her a red rose once, but none of them came. She called for the heroes from the songs, for Florian and Ser Ryam Redwyne and Prince Aemon the Dragonknight, but no one heard.

—A Clash of Kings - Sansa IV

"True knights would never harm women and children." The words rang hollow in her ears even as she said them.

"True knights." The queen seemed to find that wonderfully amusing. "No doubt you're right. So why don't you just eat your broth like a good girl and wait for Symeon Star-Eyes and Prince Aemon the Dragonknight to come rescue you, sweetling. I'm sure it won't be very long now."

—A Clash of Kings - Sansa V

They continued down the serpentine and across a small sunken courtyard. Ser Dontos shoved open a heavy door and lit a taper. They were inside a long gallery. Along the walls stood empty suits of armor, dark and dusty, their helms crested with rows of scales that continued down their backs. As they hurried past, the taper's light made the shadows of each scale stretch and twist. The hollow knights are turning into dragons, she thought.

—A Storm of Swords - Sansa V

10. VALYRIAN STEEL

Lord Tywin waited until last to present the king with his own gift: a longsword. Its scabbard was made of cherrywood, gold, and oiled red leather, studded with golden lions' heads. The lions had ruby eyes, she saw. The ballroom fell silent as Joffrey unsheathed the blade and thrust the sword above his head. Red and black ripples in the steel shimmered in the morning light.

[…] "A great sword must have a great name, my lords! What shall I call it?"

[…] The guests were shouting out names for the new blade. Joff dismissed a dozen before he heard one he liked. "Widow's Wail!" he cried.

—A Storm of Swords - Sansa IV

But she had another longsword hidden in her bedroll. She sat on the bed and took it out. Gold glimmered yellow in the candlelight and rubies smoldered red. When she slid Oathkeeper from the ornate scabbard, Brienne's breath caught in her throat. Black and red the ripples ran, deep within the steel. Valyrian steel, spell-forged. It was a sword fit for a hero. When she was small, her nurse had filled her ears with tales of valor, regaling her with the noble exploits of Ser Galladon of Morne, Florian the Fool, Prince Aemon the Dragonknight, and other champions. Each man bore a famous sword, and surely Oathkeeper belonged in their company, even if she herself did not. "You'll be defending Ned Stark's daughter with Ned Stark's own steel," Jaime had promised.

—A Feast for Crows - Brienne I

11. DANCE OF THE DRAGONS

Later, while Sansa was off listening to a troupe of singers perform the complex round of interwoven ballads called the "Dance of the Dragons," Ned inspected the bruise himself. "I hope Forel is not being too hard on you," he said.

—A Game of Thrones - Eddard VII

He sang of the Dance of the Dragons, of fair Jonquil and her fool, of Jenny of Oldstones and the Prince of Dragonflies. He sang of betrayals, and murders most foul, of hanged men and bloody vengeance. He sang of grief and sadness.

—A Feast for Crows - Sansa I

12. MAEGOR THE CRUEL

The room where Sansa had been confined was at the top of the highest tower of Maegor's Holdfast.

—A Game of Thrones - Sansa IV

In the tower room at the heart of Maegor's Holdfast, Sansa gave herself to the darkness.

—A Game of Thrones - Sansa VI

13. BAELOR THE BLESSED

"Baelor starved himself to death, fasting," said Tyrion. "His uncle served him loyally as Hand, as he had served the Young Dragon before him. Viserys might only have reigned a year, but he ruled for fifteen, while Daeron warred and Baelor prayed." He made a sour face. "And if he did remove his nephew, can you blame him? Someone had to save the realm from Baelor's follies."

Sansa was shocked. "But Baelor the Blessed was a great king. He walked the Boneway barefoot to make peace with Dorne, and rescued the Dragonknight from a snakepit. The vipers refused to strike him because he was so pure and holy."

—A Storm of Swords - Sansa IV

14. AEGON THE UNWORTHY

Aegon the Unworthy had never harmed Queen Naerys, perhaps for fear of their brother the Dragonknight . . . but when another of his Kingsguard fell in love with one of his mistresses, the king had taken both their heads.

—A Storm of Swords - Sansa II

"A king can have other women. Whores. My father did. One of the Aegons did too. The third one, or the fourth. He had lots of whores and lots of bastards." As they whirled to the music, Joff gave her a moist kiss. "My uncle will bring you to my bed whenever I command it."

Sansa shook her head. "He won't."

"He will, or I'll have his head. That King Aegon, he had any woman he wanted, whether they were married or no."

—A Storm of Swords - Sansa III

15. PRINCE AEMON THE DRAGONKNIGHT

He took her by the arm and led her away from the wheelhouse, and Sansa's spirits took flight. A whole day with her prince! She gazed at Joffrey worshipfully. He was so gallant, she thought. The way he had rescued her from Ser Ilyn and the Hound, why, it was almost like the songs, like the time Serwyn of the Mirror Shield saved the Princess Daeryssa from the giants, or Prince Aemon the Dragonknight championing Queen Naerys's honor against evil Ser Morgil's slanders.

—A Game of Thrones - Sansa I

"Father, I only just now remembered, I can't go away, I'm to marry Prince Joffrey." She tried to smile bravely for him. "I love him, Father, I truly truly do, I love him as much as Queen Naerys loved Prince Aemon the Dragonknight, as much as Jonquil loved Ser Florian. I want to be his queen and have his babies."

"Sweet one," her father said gently, "listen to me. When you're old enough, I will make you a match with a high lord who's worthy of you, someone brave and gentle and strong. This match with Joffrey was a terrible mistake. That boy is no Prince Aemon, you must believe me."

—A Game of Thrones - Sansa III

She pulled a chair close to the hearth, took down one of her favorite books, and lost herself in the stories of Florian and Jonquil, of Lady Shella and the Rainbow Knight, of valiant Prince Aemon and his doomed love for his brother's queen.

—A Game of Thrones - Sansa IV

For those who remained, a singer was brought forth to fill the hall with the sweet music of the high harp. He sang of Jonquil and Florian, of Prince Aemon the Dragonknight and his love for his brother's queen, of Nymeria's ten thousand ships. They were beautiful songs, but terribly sad. Several of the women began to weep, and Sansa felt her own eyes growing moist.

—A Clash of Kings - Sansa VI

16. AERYS THE MAD KING

"Ser Ilyn has not been feeling talkative these past fourteen years," Lord Renly commented with a sly smile.

Joffrey gave his uncle a look of pure loathing, then took Sansa's hands in his own. "Aerys Targaryen had his tongue ripped out with hot pincers."

—A Game of Thrones - Sansa I

"The battleground is right up ahead, where the river bends. That was where my father killed Rhaegar Targaryen, you know. He smashed in his chest, crunch, right through the armor." Joffrey swung an imaginary warhammer to show her how it was done. "Then my uncle Jaime killed old Aerys, and my father was king."

—A Game of Thrones - Sansa I

"You can't talk to me that way. The king can do as he likes."

"Aerys Targaryen did as he liked. Has your mother ever told you what happened to him?"

Ser Boros Blount harrumphed. "No man threatens His Grace in the presence of the Kingsguard."

—A Clash of Kings - Sansa III

17. RHAEGAR THE LAST DRAGON

"The battleground is right up ahead, where the river bends. That was where my father killed Rhaegar Targaryen, you know. He smashed in his chest, crunch, right through the armor." Joffrey swung an imaginary warhammer to show her how it was done.

—A Game of Thrones - Sansa I

"My father told everyone my bedding had caught fire, and our maester gave me ointments. Ointments! Gregor got his ointments too. Four years later, they anointed him with the seven oils and he recited his knightly vows and Rhaegar Targaryen tapped him on the shoulder and said, 'Arise, Ser Gregor.'"

—A Game of Thrones - Sansa II

18. BONUS: FIERY HAIR

Robb and Sansa and Bran and even little Rickon all took after the Tullys, with easy smiles and fire in their hair.

—A Game of Thrones - Arya I

"You will be the most beautiful woman in the hall tonight, as lovely as your lady mother at your age. I cannot seat you on the dais, but you'll have a place of honor above the salt and underneath a wall sconce. The fire will be shining in your hair, so everyone will see how fair of face you are. Keep a good long spoon on hand to beat the squires off, sweetling. You will not want green boys underfoot when the knights come round to beg you for your favor."

—The Winds of Winter - Alayne I

[binniedeactivated]

saint. || soobin💦

a/n: ya’ll forgive me someone requested soobin smut and I could not find the request on my page lolololol so whoever requested this i hope you enjoy!

saint m.list

🖤┊𝔰𝔞𝔦𝔫𝔱 . ೄྀ࿐ 𝖕𝖆𝖎𝖗𝖎𝖓𝖌: 𝖘𝖔𝖔𝖇𝖎𝖓 𝖝 𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉𝖊𝖗 𝖌𝖊𝖓𝖗𝖊: 𝖘𝖒𝖚𝖙/𝖆𝖚 𝖐𝖎𝖓𝖉𝖆? 𝖎𝖋 𝖞𝖆’𝖑𝖑 𝖜𝖆𝖓𝖙. (𝖑𝖊𝖙 𝖒𝖊 𝖐𝖓𝖔𝖜) 𝖜𝖔𝖗𝖉 𝖈𝖔𝖚𝖓𝖙; 1893.

he was tall. sorry for stating the obvious but that was the most noticeable thing about him. I mean if you got really close maybe you could see his deep dimples that waded in both of his cheeks when he talked. Or if you were paying close attention to him you’d notice the way his eyes enveloped when he smiled or laughed. but enough of that though, choi soobin was nothing to admire. 

well, at least personality wise. he’d come to school in his snazzy maroon sweater vest and suit jacket and wore his hair in the side part that drove all of the girls crazy. you had to admit, it was reasonably so. he was a good looking guy. so why wouldn’t they? 

if they hadn’t been obsessing over him maybe they’d see him dump their textbooks in the trash when they weren’t looking or him cutting their ponytails or even worse, him lying to the priest about the sluts they were at the confessionals. poor father benjamin. 

luckily though you stayed low on the radar. I mean you weren’t completely invisible but at least your were the person who rather keep your head inside the book of Ecclesiasticus than choi soobin. you were one of the few at least. he even had the boys all over him, wanting to be him, wanting to act like him and dress like him. if this wasn’t a catholic school you’d think they’d rather be his girlfriend, too. but you couldn’t hold your school to a high standard I mean Melissa Mccarthy’s sex tape was floating around the school for months. And she was so called one of the most ‘attractive’ girls in school before she got expelled of course.

but back to choi soobin. he was a shit head. you knew in your heart of hearts he was. this is what mainly infuriated you when sister helena assigned him as your partner for a video watching. yeah a video watching. in which she’d pull out that big fat old tv and put on a black and white movie and expects you to write down the answers based on events that were happening in the film. she always assigned partners though because she thought two brains could capture better details than one. 

anyway he slides in the seat next to yours in the back of the room with a snarky grin on his face. he always had that dumb snarky grin. you pull down your plaid pleated skirt a little more over your knees. sister helena smiles at the both of you while passing out the question sheet and a couple of pencils. Soobin grabs it before you. not that you were racing to get it anyway. You saw him concentrating to write, must’ve been hard for him since he does little to no work. Then you realized he was writing his name and you wondered if how he even made it to senior year. 

it was your turn to write your name on the paper so you did so quickly before the movie started. you weren’t even 10 minutes into the movie before soobin began laughing and goofing off with his friends in the front of him. Sister helena shot you a severe look signaling the fact that she wanted you two to tone it down. but why did she address you and not soobin?

you nudge him on the arm. 

“hey quit it. sister helena is going to give us an F if you keep going”.

“and what does that have to do with me?”. soobin snarls you roll your eyes. 

“it has a lot to do with you because if i get a bad grade over you It’s going to be a serious problem”.

soobin laughs as if to say, ‘yeah right’. it only made you angrier. soobin tilts his head at you. you were kinda cute in a way. he never really looked at you before like he had now. he acted as if he were looking elsewhere and placed his hand on your knee. you flinch.

“soobin?-- what are you doing?”. 

you ask pushing his hand off. he does this sheepish grin that makes him the cutest but you didn’t want to admit it. 

“come on. we’re in the back of the room. don’t you want to have some fun?”.

“we have an assignment to do you idiot”. he places his hand on your knee again, only he raises it a bit more, dragging up your skirt a little. you had to admit, his hands felt nice. 

“you’re so worried about this assignment. trust me. I’ll make sure we have the answers even if we weren’t paying attention”.

your nerves ran endlessly as he dragged his fingers higher, now reaching the top of your thighs. you were grateful that you two were in the back of the room and that the table you two shared was enough to cover his movements. 

“s-s-soobin i don’t think we should”. you stuttered. it was weird how you forgot all the bad things about soobin as soon as he started touching you. He leans in your ear, 

“just relax. I’ll make you feel good i promise. have you ever been touched before?”.

no. and you would probably be the envy of the whole school if everyone knew who was waiting to touch you. 

“no i haven’t”. 

he ghosted his finger tips at the front of your panties, rubbing your slit lazily. you closed your eyes, feeling sorry for father benjamin and your confessions in advance. 

“you’re actually pretty cute”. soobin flirts with his lips still to your ear. you ignored his compliment letting him slip his fingers inside of your panties. he teases your clit with his fingertips before he touches it softly. 

you twitch and tap your foot so you wouldn’t be too suspicious to sister Helena. Not that she was paying you two any mind anyway. you don’t know what the hell gotten into you, but it was too late to stop it now. 

soobin scoots his seat closer to you and uses his other hand to grip his pencil in. He wanted to make he looked like he was doing as much work as possible. He pulled your panties back a bit more, using his finger to gently rub your clit in small circles. you shuddered. this was your first time experiencing something as mind blowing as this. 

with your priest of a father and religious mother you never had time to...explore. you finally saw what you were missing in life. soobin pauses his actions to spread your legs a little wider before he kept rubbing you. With each rub he’d do it more forcefully than the last. you bite your lips trying to detain any noises. it was hard though. 

“you’re so cute. you like getting your virgin pussy touched don’t you?”. soobin speaks in your ear with a low tone. he fastens the pace of his fingers feeling your puffy clit slick up in excitement. surges of electricity sprints through you. you pull your skirt over his hand. 

he casually pretends he’s watching tv and you’re suffering. If you don’t whimper, or wail, or anything you felt like you were going to explode in the next two seconds. He rubs you faster and you could feel your hips grinding against his fingers desparately. 

“don’t do that. fuck--you’re going to make me hard”. he warns in a casual whisper. you ignore him of course and clutch the table. you close your eyes and let his fingers slide through your pussy as you grinded. you opened your mouth hoping nothing came out. but you were in for a surprise when you created a small squeal by accident.

luckily though, no one but sister helena looked at you. With her pointer she pointed to the tv, meaning ‘pay attention or you will have detention’ . you’d sure liked to see her contain herself if she ever got fingered in the back of a classroom by a cute boy. but then again you wouldn’t like to see that, because  for a 50 year old woman that’d be fucking gross. 

soobin is chuckling lowly in your ear like the menace he was. “your pussy is so fucking wet holy shit”. 

you continue to bite your lips while he swiped your clit from side to side aggressively with three fingers. your heart pounded in your chest. you wanted to shriek, you wanted to scream but you couldn’t and it was killing you. 

you decided it was best that you left your small cries in the lowest volume as possible, only audible enough for soobin to hear. you were sopping through his fingers though. you panicked when you felt yourself pulse intensely. soobin grinned. he knew your were close. 

“that’s it, cum for me you little fucking saint”. he groaned in your ear. with your stuttering hips a wave of pressure came over you and you felt something leaking out of you. with your heavy breathing you had to come to terms with the fact that that was your first orgasm. 

holy shit.

the bell rung and classes ended and somehow someway you and soobin’s paper was full of answer by the time he turned it in. “Hey, you. come here I need to have a word with you”. sister helena grumbled looking directly at you. your heart raced. soobin gave you a small smirk before walking out the classroom. as almost if he was wishing you good luck. 

“yes?”. 

“I want to say that choi soobin is very misbehaved. But i am so glad I paired him with you. I’ve never saw him complete a whole paper his whole time here and this is his senior year here. hey, if you don’t mind i think i’d like to pair you two more often. Is that alright with you?”. she smiles. 

you blink. not believing what the hell you were hearing. 

“yes why not?”. you blurt out laughing playfully for good measure. 

“good good! I know what to do now. Have a nice day!”. you bow to her hoping she does as well. you walk out the classroom to see soobin standing on the wall next to the door smiling down at you like an idiot.

“what?”. you scoff. 

“have you ever had sex before?”. he asks casually as if he were asking you what your favorite cereal was. you shake your head no. 

“no. why?”. 

“do you want to?”. 

“what makes you think i’d want to do it with you? you’ve probably had sex with the whole school by now”. 

you scoff again walking away. he chases after you. 

“if that’s what you think then boy you’d be surprised by the truth”. 

“why are you even bothering? I’m a virgin it’s not like i’m some slut who can pleasure you and actually know what I’m doing”. 

“I can teach you”. he says confidently. 

“what?”. 

“It’s your senior year. I’m sure you don’t want to be a virgin for long. I mean, you can agree to let me teach you or i’d just might have to tell poor father benjam--”.

“alright! soobin. no need to go that far”. you adjust your backpack strap. 

“I’ll let you teach me. but where?”.

“my parents are having a church meeting tomorrow night. Meet me at my house around 7″.

[out-of-jams]

One Chance || myg

(Amazing, incredibly badass banner made by @kimtaehyunq​ )

↠ One Chance ↞ Min Yoongi was a lot of things.

A musical genius, a guy with a bad reputation, your assigned partner for your final project.

And the last thing you ever would have expected.

Word Count: 7.4k

Warnings/Genre: College!au. Music producer!Yoongi x Singer!Reader. Fluff. Explicit language. Some angst. Mentions of alcohol. s2l. Oneshot.

A/n: Hey all you cool cats and kittens. Hope you’re all staying safe out there! I wasn’t intending to write this, but I had no other choice.

All of my works are purely fiction. Everything I write is my intellectual property and therefore belongs to me. ©out-of-jams. Do not copy or repost without permission.

                                | | Navigation | |

Min Yoongi.

The name stared up at you in size twelve font, black letters printed onto the white sheeted paper. Every other word on the page blurred around the edges as you tried to place a face to the name. You weren’t good with names, never had been. So with a sigh, you leaned to the side and mumbled to the girl sitting next to you in class.

“Hey, who’s Min Yoongi?”

She--Mira? Mina? something like that--glanced up from her portfolio opened up on the desk and shot you a disbelieving look. You couldn’t blame her, not really. It was nearing the end of the semester and your vocal class had worked with the music production class multiple times throughout the course of the year. Neither class was very big, so you probably should have known the names of all twenty students. Total. Ten in each class.

But hey, in your defense you’d had a lot on your plate, seeing as how you were about to graduate from university and all. Which was a pretty big deal, so memorizing the names of people you only saw a few times ever-so-often wasn’t high up on your list of priorities.

But Min Yoongi.

You recognized him the moment you saw the soft outline of his profile through the glass window of the studio door a day later. He had his attention trained on whatever was on his laptop screen, pale hand sliding across the mousepad. His dark brows were pinched in concentration and you could see the tip of his tongue digging into the side of his cheek.

Even though the overly-bright lights in the room were on, the guy still somehow managed to blend in with the slate grey walls. Hell, his icy blond hair was the only color to stand out amongst all the black clothing. The oversized hoodie and black joggers he wore looked comfortable, and had you glancing down at your own outfit self-consciously. Had the sweater, skirt and high heeled boots combo been too much? Should you have dressed down a little?

Whatever. It was too late now.

Watching him through the door made you feel like some kind of stalking creep, but you couldn’t help it.

You’d seen him around campus a few times and recognized him from whenever your classes joined together and was a little disappointed at yourself for not recognizing his name. Even though you'd never spoken a word to him before, you were a little apprehensive about being partnered together. Min Yoongi had a reputation, and not a very good one. Sure, he was talented at what he did, producing music, to the point where a lot of people in the music department called him a genius. But he was known for being standoffish. Rude. And could cut someone down with a few words from his naturally pouty lips.

You didn’t like to judge a book by its cover, or by the rumors that circulated about them. However, that did nothing for the intimidating aura that bled from the man like cologne the second you stepped foot into the room.

He didn’t even pause in whatever he was doing to spare you a glance. Just announced in a dry, rumbling voice, “You’re late.”

“Uh.” You hesitated halfway into the room, the door swinging shut behind you automatically. Two seconds in and he already hated you. Great. “Sorry. I got lost.”

That made him look up and watch as you pulled the only other rolling chair back from the desk and plopped down. God, his eyes were just as daunting as the rest of him: onyx in color and cat-like in shape, they were bottomless as he blinked at you lazily. And he slowly raised a disbelieving eyebrow.

“You got lost.” Yoongi repeated slowly. So sarcastically that you didn’t even hear a question mark at the end of it. “Aren’t you about to graduate? How are you still getting lost on campus?”

Your mouth opened and closed, embarrassed heat blossoming across your cheeks. You were blushing hard and you knew it, but that sure as hell didn’t mean that you had to acknowledge it. So you just sniffed and dug through your backpack for an excuse to break eye contact. “I haven’t been in here before.”

It was true. In a way. The hall of studios that you were in now were for the senior music production students. There was a completely different area for each year, but each student had their own assigned as theirs for the semester. So you weren’t lying when you said you hadn’t been to his exact studio before.

Which he seemed to catch on to, if the way Yoongi’s second eyebrow raised to join the first told you anything. But he let it go and turned back to shut his laptop, which you could now see was opened to a music production app. You weren’t very schooled on how to operate it, but even you could tell that he seemed to be very far into whatever it was he was making.

Though you didn’t get a good enough look at it before he closed it.

“Even though we have a month to do this, we should figure out what kind of song we’re making now instead of later.” Yoongi stated in that gruff voice of his and clicked a few things on his laptop. “Since you’re the one singing, you’ll be setting the tone--”

“Wait.” You interrupted.

Yoongi stopped whatever it was he was about to say to give you a blank look, the corners of his lips turned down. “What?”

Clearing your throat, you continued on despite the way his expression tried to cow you into shutting up. “How’re we splitting this up?”

A valid question. Not every person who created music worked in the same way. Some liked to do things a completely different way than somebody else might’ve. Last time you’d worked with one of the students from the music production class, the two of you had butted heads the whole way. He hadn’t wanted to hear your input at all, and you weren’t about to be shoved off to the side like some kind of un-opinionated mouthpiece again.

Yoongi made a noise in the back of his throat that sounded like a hum. “I normally make the track and leave the lyrics up to the singer unless they need help.”

He looked at you from out of the corner of his eye as he clicked a few buttons on the keyboard in front of him to bring the giant monitor above the control panel to life. “Can you write?”

“Yes.” The word left your mouth before you could even think about it.

“Good. You’ll take care of that then.” Yoongi slid a blank yellow notepad into the empty space on the control panel between you. “Though we’ll need to do the melody before that.”

The next time the two of you met was almost a week later. It’d been sometime late in the afternoon when you both finally had time in your schedules. Because for some stupid reason, even though both of your classes were combined to work on the project, it had to be done outside of class.

Ugh.

As if you didn’t already have enough things to stress over. Like say, securing a job for after graduation.

During the first meeting between the two of you, you’d already decided on what kind of song you wanted to make. Something upbeat, but not over the top, though not boring either. You weren’t a huge fan of sounding like every other music artist out there and apparently Yoongi had felt the same. So it’d been easy to come up with.

He’d texted over a few ideas for the concept and you’d been pleasantly surprised at how serious he took it. At how complex and layered the ideas he’d come up with were. They were a lot better than anything you could have ever dreamed up and you were beyond astonished.

Especially when he met you outside of his studio door, blond hair was secured back off his forehead by a white headband,  and greeted you with, “I finished the track.”

“Already?” Shock was clear in your voice and you watched open mouthed as he unlocked the door and held it open for you to follow him inside. The lights flickered on overhead, but you were too busy staring at his back to notice. “That was quick, holy shit.”

Yoongi shrugged off your awe and wiggled the mouse to bring his computer to life. “It was no big deal. And now we can work on the melody.”

Still gaping at the blond, you shuffled forward to drop your bag next to your chair. “Okay. Um. Where should we start?”

Pulling out his chair, he sat down and lazily dragged the mouse over to open up his production software. “Listen to it first and let me know if you want to make any changes.”

“Yeah, okay.” You plopped down into your own chair and watched as he pressed play.

The music that poured from the expensive speakers started off slowly until it tapered off into what you assumed would be the first chorus. And you found yourself unconsciously tapping your fingers against your thigh when the bridge finally hit, you had to bite your lip to contain an excited smile. The moment it ended, you twisted in your chair to see that he was already looking at you. Though he kept his face blank, you could literally see question lingering behind those cat-like eyes of his.

“Mm.” You hummed, nodding your head and trying your damnedest to keep the grin from your face.

When you failed to say anything more, Yoongi raised his eyebrows. “Mm?”

“Mm.” You finally let the smile touch your lips. “I really liked it. It’s good.”

“Yeah?” He reached out to stop the track from replaying on a loop. “Any changes?”

“Nah. I like it just the way it is.”

“Alright.” Was what he responded with, but you could tell that he was pleased beneath that hard exterior of his. “The melody then.”

“The melody.” You agreed.

Min Yoongi was extremely anal when it came to anything he attached his name to.

That was probably why he had so many music companies vying for his attention. Not only did he produce nothing short of perfect tracks, but he’d even made some cash on the side selling some of them. Or so you’d heard through the grapevine.

Which was exactly why you were left staring at the blank notebook settled across your crossed legs. The pen in your hand had yet to put ink to the blank pages hours after you’d gotten home. All because some guy intimidated the hell out of you.

Most of the songs you wrote were fine. But that was the problem.  

Min Yoongi didn’t do fine. And you had no doubt in your mind that he’d tear your work to absolute shreds should you present him something lackluster. Maybe you shouldn’t have been so quick to jump the gun and tell him you’d be fine writing by yourself.

It was way too late now.

“How long are you going to stare like that?”

Snapping out of your self-degrading thoughts, you turned to look over your shoulder. Jennie, your ever present roommate, was standing behind the couch shoving spoonfuls of cereal into her mouth. By the lack of makeup on her face and the messy bun her long black hair was thrown up into, she was more than likely about to go to bed.

“Stare like what?” You asked with a poorly concealed pout, pulling out your earbuds that’d been playing the track on a constant loop.

“Like you’re constipated or something.” Jennie waved her spoon at you before dipping it back into the bowl to scoop up more soggy cereal. “Project really giving you that much trouble?”

She didn’t necessarily know exactly what was going on with you, not exactly. Sure, she knew that you were partners with Yoongi and had been spending a lot of time with the man for the project. But she didn’t know just how much pressure you were under. Self-inflicted or not.

“These lyrics are kicking my ass.” Groaning, you leaned to the side until you were sprawled out on the couch.

“Why?” Jennie rested her arms against the back of it, bowl of milk and cereal hovering over you dangerously. “They don’t normally.”

She had a point. It wasn’t usually so difficult to write a damn song, but you also didn’t usually have a perfectionist genius as a partner. Instead of saying that though, you just threw your arms over your face. “I don’t know. Maybe I’m just not cut out for this, ‘ya know? I should drop out while I still can.”

“O-kay.” You could hear her exasperated eye roll. “Don’t stress so much about it. You know, whenever you’re done being overdramatic.”

Jennie successfully dodged the couch pillow you chucked after fleeing footsteps. A buzz from your phone had you reaching for it blindly and the text on the screen had you burying your face into the cushions.

Min Yoongi: you free tomorrow?

Y/n: yeah. Same time?

His response came in not even five seconds later.

Min Yoongi: works for me

“So, see you tomorrow?” The question left your lips as you packed your stuff back into your bag. You still hadn’t been able to come up with any lyrics. At least none good enough to show your partner. So while you’d both been in the studio, you’d busied yourself trying to write and Yoongi had been doing whatever it was that he did.

He’d just powered down the computer he’d been working on and shook his head without looking at you. “I can’t tomorrow. I have plans.”

“Oh, really?” That came as a surprise. The fact that there was something or someone out there that could force the Min Yoongi to ditch working on a song. “What kind of plans?”

Ever since you’d showed up with food two weeks ago, he’d been a little more amicable towards you. Not as closed off. Which, of course, only led to you bringing some with you every day. Maybe food being the way to a man’s heart really applied to every man. Nonetheless, with the way the two of you would banter back and forth without heat made you hope that it wasn’t just you who considered him a friend.

Yoongi paused, only for a moment, but he paused all the same in throwing his bag over his shoulder before he answered. “I...have a show.”

“A show?” Your eyebrows raised in surprise as you stood up. That was the last thing you would have expected to leave his mouth. “What kind of show?”

“It’s not the type of show you’d want to watch.” He headed for the door and you scrambled to follow after him.

Leaning against the wall while he locked up the door, you folded your arms across your chest. “Why? You a stripper or something?”

Yoongi didn’t even spare you a look, just pocketed his keys and started down the hallway, apparently assuming that you’d follow. “You saying I wouldn’t be a good stripper?”

He’d assumed correctly. Your legs raced to catch up. “I never said that. You insinuated that all by yourself.”

An amused scoff passed his lips, but that was all you got in response. You weren’t about to letter the matter drop though. “So, are you?”

“Am I what?”

“A stripper.”

A pause. And then Yoongi met your sparkling gaze and shook his head with a huffing laugh. “No, I’m not a stripper.”

“Well, if your show isn’t anything rated NC-18, then can I go?”

“Why would you want to go?”

His question had you sending him a hesitant look. “Because we’re friends, aren't we?”

A heavy sigh escaped him. “If I say no, will you stop asking?”

You pretended to think for a minute before clicking your tongue. “Nope.”

He looked over at you, feline eyes squinting in contemplation. As much as Min Yoongi liked to act like he came across as aloof, he was a lot easier to read than he probably thought. And he must have found whatever it was he was looking for, because his thoughtful pout turned into a careless shrug.

“Whatever. Fine.”

“Sweet.” You grinned up at him and finally let him go on his merry way.

It was difficult to find a parking spot. You’d had to loop around the block at least ten times before you were finally able to squeeze your car into a space between two giant SUVs. The spot wasn’t exactly close to where you were supposed to meet Yoongi, but it was the best you could do.

When he’d texted you the address, you’d be lying if you said that you weren’t a little apprehensive at first. It was located on the outskirts of downtown where you’d never been before. Because the further out you went from the center of the city, the more dangerous it got.

Y/n: I’m here.

You sent the text off to Yoongi and cut the car engine. Throwing a glance at the clock on the dash, you silently thanked yourself for leaving a bit early in order to get there in time. The sun had long gone down and the moon had taken its place, so the streets were dark. Only lit up by the street lamps and lights that bled from apartment windows. Most of the businesses were closed for the night, the corner store half a block down was the only one still open.

You had about six blocks to walk and was just about to get out of your car when your phone started vibrating in your hand.

“Hello?” You answered the call, voice pitched with barely concealed amusement.

“Where are you?” Yoongi’s voice was even deeper over the phone, if that were possible. And you could hear the sounds of cars driving past him in the background.

You rolled your eyes even though he wasn’t there to see it. “I told you that I’m here.”

He sighed into the phone and you just knew that he was making a face. “Where is ‘here’ exactly?”

“Like, parked a few blocks away.” You popped your car door open, turning back to the passenger seat to grab your bag. “Give me a few minutes and I’ll be there.”

“Stay where you are.” Yoongi demanded and you raised an eyebrow. “I’ll come get you.”

“You don’t have to.” You huffed a laugh. “I have two legs, ‘ya know.”

“Really? Never noticed.” In the background, voices blended in with the sound of cars. “This neighborhood isn’t exactly the safest. So just tell me where you are so I can make sure you don’t get stabbed or something.”

“‘Stabbed or something?’” It was difficult to hide your amusement now, but you obeyed and got back inside your car anyway, letting him know what street you were on. “My knight in shining armor, you say the most romantic things.”

Yoongi rolled his eyes. You knew he did. “Nevermind. Maybe I’ll just let you get stabbed while I make my escape.”

The bark of laughter that left you was impossible to contain. “I could run faster than you and you know it. So try me.”

“I’m hanging up.”

“Yeah okay. You wouldn't--”

A click told you that yes, he would. And you were left staring down at your phone with open mouthed disbelief. How dare he? You were just about to call him back and tell him as much, when a knock on your car window had you jumping with a small shriek.

Yoongi stood right outside your door with his fist still raised and a gummy grin on his pouty lips. You just stuck your tongue out at him childishly and grabbed your bag before slipping out of your car. “You’re a bully.”

He slid his hands into the pockets of his dark colored jeans and shrugged. “Would a bully walk all the way over here to make sure you don’t get robbed?”

Now it was your turn to shrug, taking him in and pretending not to see his onyx eyes slide down your body. Yoongi was dressed casually like usual. With a plain white t-shirt and a black zip up jacket thrown over it, he pulled it off like he’d just stepped off a magazine cover. How in the hell he always managed to do that was a mystery to you. And you knew you didn’t compare to him, even with your high-waisted white joggers and grey crop top.

Whatever. It wasn’t like it was bright enough outside to matter anyway.

“That sounds exactly like something a robber would say.” You flicked your hair over your shoulder and took off down the cracked sidewalk, making sure to lock your car behind you.

“Not like there’d be much to steal.” Yoongi’s voice caught up to you right as he did, walking side by side with the occasional brushing of his shoulder against yours.

You responded to his playful jab by lightly smacking his arm. “Careful there. Keep saying such poetic words and you’ll make me fall in love with you, Min Yoongi.”

He went quiet, but you could feel him looking at you from the corner of his eye. His gaze was a weight that burned through you, a light shining through the night.

The rest of the walk passed by pretty quickly, especially when nobody jumped out of an alleyway to rob you at knifepoint. Whether or not that was because of the man walking at your side, or something else, it didn’t matter. Not when the building you were headed to for the night popped up in the distance.

It looked like any other building on the street, with rough brick siding and a glowing red and green sign advertising the bar. Situated on the corner, you were just about to head inside when Yoongi’s hand caught your arm.

“It’s this way.” He answered your confused look by tugging you gently down the alleyway right next to the bar.

“But I thought it was inside.” You glanced back behind you before looking back towards the dead ended alley.

Yoongi dropped his hand from your arm. “It is.”

“Ah, makes sense.” You nodded sarcastically, successfully drawing a smile from your escort.

“Be patient and you’ll see.”

True to his word, you saw what he meant when he came to a stop outside of a side door. There weren’t any signs or anything indicated what it led to, but you could take a guess as Yoongi pulled it open and gestured for you to enter first.

It was dark inside and you had to squint in the dim lighting in order to see anything. You were in what appeared to be some kind of entrance that reminded you of one of the speakeasies downtown. Though there wasn’t a soul in sight, just a staircase at the end of the short hall. Unless you counted the loud base of music pounding through your feet and straight to your bones. The door slammed shut behind Yoongi and then he was taking the lead towards the stairs.

The further down you went, the louder the music got until it was all you could hear. And once you got to the bottom of the stairs and turned into the room, you found out why. Bodies were packed wall-to-wall, some moving to the music pouring from the speakers and others nodding their heads with drinks in their hands. Red and purple lights made the room seem bigger than it actually was, made it easier to lose yourself in the crowd.

Yoongi had taken you to an underground club. Which just made you all the more curious about just what kind of show he was going to be performing in.

“Want a drink?” Yoongi’s voice, even though spoken directly in your ear, was barely distinguishable from the lyrics bleeding through the room.

You simply nodded, taking care not to bash your head into his nose from where he was leaning over for you to hear him. He said something you couldn’t hear, words lost to the crowd. But you assumed he wanted you to follow him when he started to merge himself into the throngs of people. Just when you thought that you’d have to try and fight your way through to keep up with him, he was reaching back to grab your hand.

Wrapped his slender fingers around yours without sparing you a second look.

He was just trying to make sure you didn’t get lost in the crowd. Yeah, that was it. There was no other reason for it, so therefore your heart had no reason to speed up. To thump in time with the bass as you followed behind him. Especially when the warmth from his palm slid into yours.

“What do you want?” Yoongi turned back to speak in your ear. Shit, you hadn’t even realized that you’d already reached the packed bar. So you forced yourself to focus on the two bartenders running around behind it, rather than the hand still in yours.

“Tequila.” You answered. Yoongi raised both eyebrows in surprise before turning back to the bar. With his eyes no longer on you, it made breathing a whole lot easier. And you turned your attention away from Yoongi’s slim back and towards the stage.

It was all the way on the other side of the room and you watched as a guy walked across it with a mic in his hands. The music was lowered and his voice cracked to life through the speakers. Whatever announcement he was making went in one ear and out the other because Yoongi turned back around with a plastic cup extended out towards you. His other hand was empty and you sent him a questioning look.

Whether or not he knew what you were silently asking, or was just making a general announcement, he answered your question. “I have to perform soon.”

You made an ‘o’ with your mouth and accepted the drink with a smile in thanks. “You still haven’t told me what you’re gonna be doing.”

You had to stand on your tippy-toes in order for Yoongi to hear you, which didn’t go unnoticed by him if the amused gleam in his eyes was anything to go by. “You’ll see.”

Which was exactly how you found yourself with another drink in your hands and your back leaning against the bar. If you were being completely honest, you hadn’t been sure what to expect. A lot of different things had popped into your mind about what kind of shows your partner liked to put on. Some ranging from completely ridiculous, to weird, to funny.

But none of them had been this.

Min Yoongi was a lot of things. A talented producer, a deep thinker, a musical genius.

Never would you have thought to add “rapper” to the list. You should have known, was a little surprised at yourself for not being able to guess. Like all other things Min Yoongi, he was incredibly good at it. Took to the stage like a natural. And you were completely awestruck, unable to look away the whole time he was up on that stage, letting words flow from his lips like some kind of poetic river.

Calm, yet bubbling over with the effortless way he captured the attention of everyone in the room. The track he rapped over was fast paced, but he had no trouble keeping up and keeping the crowd engaged at the same time. He performed three songs, but it wasn’t enough. And judging by the one last look at the crowd Yoongi took before exiting the stage, it wasn’t enough for him either.

Whoever took his place didn’t have one ounce of your attention. And maybe that was rude or whatever, but you didn’t care. Not when you caught sight of his blond head making its way towards you. He got stopped multiple times along the way by people congratulating him with pats on the back or short conversations.

By the time Yoongi finally made his way back to your side, your second drink was extended out to him with a grin on your face. You’d barely even taken a sip from it, so it was completely full and beginning to sweat water. “That was amazing!”

The performer on stage was loud, but you could tell that Yoongi heard you by the smile he tried and failed to hide behind the rim of the plastic cup. But you weren’t going to leave it at that, grabbing a hold of his shoulders and squeezing to make sure you got your point across. “Like, incredibly amazing! Why didn’t you tell me you could rap like that?”

“You never asked.” He shrugged. Yoongi wasn’t the type of person to feed off of compliments, you knew that. But that didn’t mean that he didn’t appreciate them. The way his onyx colored eyes glittered told as much. And when he tilted the plastic cup back and drained the contents, the confidence that flowed beneath his skin gave it away too. “You wanna get out of here?”

“Where are we going?”

“Patience, young padawan.”

A snort of amusement from the passenger side of your car had you throwing Yoongi a wink. He completely ignored you in favor of thumbing through the playlist on your phone. It was hooked up to the radio via bluetooth and ever since you’d left the underground club, he’d been focused on silently judging you for your music choices.

When Yoongi had suggested bailing on the club, he hadn’t really had a particular place in mind. Which you’d soon figured out the moment you stepped out the door. He’d taken the subway to the place, so you’d all but shoved him into your car before he had a chance to say no.

“You really have Ariana Grande on here?” He wiggled your phone in your peripheral and you would have rolled your eyes if you weren’t too busy merging off the freeway.

“What’s wrong with Ari?” You huffed in mock offense.

“Nothing.”

“I can literally hear the judgement in your voice.”

“Maybe you should focus on the road then.”

Now you really did roll your eyes. Though the bark of laughter that accompanied it showed your lack of annoyance. “I would if we weren’t already here.”

Yoongi looked up from your phone just as you were putting the car into park. His eyes squinted into the dark with a furrow of his eyebrows. “We’re at the beach?”

“Nope.” You popped the ‘p’ and turned off your car, quickly hopping out before you could fall victim to his flatline stare.

The scent of sea salt lingered in the semi-humid air and you paused for a moment to inhale deeply. There was nothing quite like the smell of the ocean, and when the passenger side door opened and closed, you rounded the car to wave Yoongi along. He caught up to you right as your shoe hit the wooden planks of the boardwalk. You’d had to park way back in one of the lots far away from the beach for whatever godforsaken reason.

Shopfronts, closed and shuttered by metal grates due to the late hour, greeted you as you walked down the path. And Yoongi’s presence at your side was calming. Hell, everything about that man was. Never would you have thought that about him, not at first. Not with the rocky way your friendship had started.

Neither would you have expected the warmth that bloomed in your chest everytime he looked at you with those pretty eyes of his. Or flashed you one of his patented gummy smiles. He’d somehow wormed a place into your heart with that sarcastic wit of his. No, the last thing you would have expected from your final project was this.

But you didn’t mind. Even if he didn’t feel the same way, only looked at you like a friend, you didn’t mind. Because you’d take anything he offered you. And if a friendship was all he was willing to give, that was okay too.

“Where are we going exactly?” Yoongi’s voice snapped you out of your thoughts and you glanced up at him to see that he was already looking at you.

“Do we need to have a destination?” You shot back with a wiggle of your eyebrows. “It’s all in the journey.”

He rolled his eyes skyward as if silently asking why me, but let a smile touch his lips anyway “And this journey leads to the beach I’m guessing?”

“Maybe.” You dragged out the syllables, nudging your shoulder with his playfully. “Don’t tell me you don’t like the beach.”

“Who doesn’t like the beach?”

“That’s exactly what I’m--whoa.” Your feet came to a halt right as you stepped out from between two shops, where the boardwalk met the beach. Yoongi stopped at your side, but you didn’t even notice.

Because you were too busy staring at the apparent concert that was being held further down the beach. Apparently the loud music you’d heard from the parking lot wasn’t from one of the many speakers placed throughout the boardwalk. Well, that would explain the lack of parking at least.

Even from where the two of you stood, you could tell that the crowd was huge. They took up a big chunk of the beach, bodies nothing but a dark mass in the distance as they danced to the music from the stage. You couldn’t tell who it was, not that far away. But the multicolored lights flashed into the sky like a beacon.

“I wonder who’s performing.” Yoongi’s mumble had you bending down to unlace your shoes. “What’re you doing?”

“You wanna know who’s performing?” Slipping off your socks, you threw both those and your shoes into your bag. Once it was closed up, you sent Yoongi a conspiratorial wink. “Let’s go find out.”

He didn’t move, just gave you a look before realization dawned on his face. “You want to sneak in.”

It was a statement, not a question, but you nodded your head anyway. “Come on, when will you ever have the chance to do something like this again. Don’t tell me you’re scared we’ll get caught.”

Yoongi scoffed, but leaned down to slip off his shoes in an uncharacteristic move. You knew he wasn’t much of a partier and didn’t do things like this very often. So the fact that he was caving to your suggestion had your mind whirling. “I’m just surprised, is all.”

“At what?”

A smirk was thrown your way as he stood back up, but that was all the answer you got. After all the time you’ve spent with the man, you’d like to consider yourself a Yoongi Whisperer. So that smirk probably meant something along the lines of: I’m surprised that you’re a super awesome badass.

Or something.

“Just come on.” You grabbed his hand without thinking, dragging him behind you onto the sand. When he failed to complain, you took that as a greenlight to continue doing so.

When his fingers linked themselves with yours, it took all you had to not falter in your steps. To pretend like you weren’t affected by such a thoughtless action. To calm the rapid beating of your heart.

The closer you got to the concert, the louder the music got, until you could hear the roar of the crowd over the artist on stage. It was EDM, or at least sounded like it. Of course, as soon as you got closer, you spotted your first hurdle. One you’d been unable to see from far away.

A chain link fence stood between the two of you and a night of fun. It had your shoulders deflating before you even realized it, and you turned to the blond at your side. “Should we climb it or something?”

Biting your lip, you eyed just how far up it was. Even if the two of you managed to climb it, there was no way that you wouldn’t be spotted by security. And being arrested was the last thing on your to-do list.

“Or.” Yoongi crossed over to the fence and wrapped his hands along the bottom of it. With a quick glance around to make sure that no one was looking, he lifted it up and back, bending it backwards with just enough space left at the bottom for someone to squeeze underneath.

There was no way that he would have been strong enough on his own to lift it, and a closer look had you snorting a laugh. Apparently the two of you weren’t the only ones who’d had the idea to sneak in.

“You going?” He questioned and you started forward before a smartass remark could leave his mouth.

The sand was cool beneath your body as you shimmied underneath the space between the fence and the ground. And once you were on the other side, you crouched down and grabbed the fence from Yoongi to pull back towards your side. “I’m surprised that you’re going along with this, to be honest. Don’t you hate music like this?”

He grunted as he crawled across the sand towards you. “You wanted to.”

“So?” Your voice was soft, but he was still able to hear you over the pounding bass. The fence dropped from your fingers once he was on your side, but you didn’t move, just stared up at him as he stood.

“So.” Yoongi started, extending a hand down to help you up. “Are you coming?”

His answer had warmth blossoming in your chest and a tiny smile blooming on your face. Had you reaching out to let him help you up off the sand. He didn’t let go while you brushed yourself off, but he did guide the both of you towards the writhing crowd, if only to avoid being spotted by security.

It was a good thing that Yoongi was a slim man, because it made slipping through the numerous dancing bodies closer towards the stage a whole lot easier. You’d made it to about the middle when he stopped and tugged you closer to join him in a pocket of space between two different groups of people. The scent of marijuana mixed in with sea salt from the ocean in a cocktail that usually accompanied things like that.

“Dance with me.” You spoke into Yoongi’s ear, ignoring the excited flush you felt at being so close to him.

“I can’t dance.” He stated, despite the hand he slipped around your waist and pressed into your back. Whether or not to move you out of the range of the group of girls dancing wildly behind you, or something else, you didn’t know.

Chest to chest, you’d be surprised if he couldn’t feel how fast your heart was beating. “Mm. I don’t believe you. Everyone can dance.”

“That’s a lie.” Yoongi’s lips were titled up at the corners and his gaze on you was soft. Gentle.

The flashing lights on the stage flickered through his dark colored eyes. Turned those once pools of onyx into a glittering galaxy that you couldn’t look away from. That hypnotized you like the beat that pulsed beneath your skin and drowned your ears.

“That’s not true.” Your mumble was lost to the crowd. Buried somewhere underneath the music as he moved closer. And the butterflies nestled deep in your gut fluttered their wings when his other hand cupped the side of your face.

Your eyes fluttered closed when his nose brushed yours and his breath fanned across your cheek. That was the only warning you got before his mouth was on yours. His lips were soft and he tasted like the strawberry chapstick he liked to wear. And the kiss, like everything Min Yoongi, was slow. Not in a lazy way. More like he was taking the time to savor it. To remember what your hair felt like as he slid his hand into it.

Or the way you involuntarily sighed into his mouth when his teeth caught your bottom lip. How your fingers found their way into the short hairs at the nape of his neck when you pulled him closer. How he’d had to hold back a laugh at the way you were standing on your tippy-toes in order to reach him.

You probably wouldn’t have pulled away and neither would he, if it weren’t for the rain that suddenly tore from the sky like an opened dam. Drenching anything and everything around it faster than you could blink. It had you forcing yourself away from the magnetizing pull of Yoongi’s lips to give him an eye crinkling smile.

“What was that for?” You didn’t care if you were getting wet.

Neither did he apparently, because he ran a thumb over the lips he’d just kissed, sending shivers down your spine. “Isn’t it obvious?”

“No. Break it down for me.”

He met your imploring gaze almost bashfully, eyes squinting from the rain. “I’ve liked you since practically the beginning of the semester.”

Your eyes widened in surprise. “What? Why didn’t you ever say anything?”

Yoongi shrugged. “I don’t know. I didn’t know how.”

Shaking your head in disbelief, you let out a small laugh. “I can’t believe you, Min Yoongi.”

He opened his mouth to respond when he was cut off by a loud clap of thunder. Both of you glanced up at the dark sky at the same time.

Everyone around you was either ignoring the torrential downpour or shrieking and attempting to use anything to shield themselves from getting wet. Once the sound of thunder echoed a streak of lightning, you knew what was about to happen next and turned to meet Yoongi’s eyes. He, like everyone else, was drenched and his blond hair stuck to the damp skin of his face. It had you grinning at the pout on his mouth and you leaned forward to press your lips to his one final time before pulling away.

“We should get out of here before everyone else decides to do the same.” You had to shout to be heard over both the rain and the noise from everything else. It was only a matter of time before the concert got either canceled or postponed due to the thunderstorm and you didn’t want to be caught in the middle.

“Yeah, let’s go.” Yoongi wiped water from his eyes and grabbed your hand to start navigating the hell out of there.

And as your eyes trained themselves to his slim back and your fingers interlocked themselves with his, you smiled. The lyrics that you’d been struggling so hard to write came to life beneath the fire in your chest. You had no one but the man in front of you to thank for the inspiration.

Min Yoongi was a lot of things.

A musical genius, a poet, a light in a sea of darkness.

Min Yoongi was nothing if not beautiful.

[clnriswood]

ARCHIE ANDREWS X READER

Big Little Town: Part Four

a/n: so happy to be back on this series -- also -- first chapter at rdh! prepare for a world of pain, hehe. don’t forget to ask to join our tag list! x

gif dobhennig

tag list: @my-soul-is-the-moon @lghenry4 @megumii-606 @a-littlebreak-for-b

. . . 

First day of school. Again. Except this time the girl was going to put forward her best foot, as she had no intention of letting her troubled past or awfully introverted persona be the talk of the school. When she awoke that morning her alarm had yet to go off, for her nerves alone brought her stinging eyes open. She lay on her back, staring at the ceiling and listening to the thrum of her heart until her alarm rang, at which point she coolly turned it off and sat up with an extended sigh. The girl flipped on a lamp switch and headed for the shower, scrubbed herself three times over, washed and curled her hair, and grabbed the outfit she’d hung the night before. To make sure it was suitable for a first day at Riverdale High she’d sent a message to Betty for help, at which point Betty re-directed her to Veronica, at which point Veronica, appalled by her choice of jeans and a plain shirt, fixed the girl up with something better.

Standing in front of the mirror, the girl gave a long sigh and fluffed up her hair with the tips of her fingers. She wore a satin rosy crop top with thin straps that clutched tightly to her skin, a short black skirt that swirled around her hips, and some tannish ankle high boots with thickly chunked heels. This was certainly far classier than she normally would’ve gone for school, but first impressions were apparently important as ever at Riverdale. The girl caught herself scowling at her reflection, at which point she leaned forward, topped up her sheer lip gloss, and practiced smiling… literally. After giving up shortly after, she resumed her scowl, picked up her black leather backpack, and went to open her thin white curtains. As she did so, none other than Archie Andrews caught her eye.

He was wearing only boxers and a pair of black jeans, leaving his completely exposed chest open to the glittering sunbeams that seeped into his room. He’d let out a huge yawn, one hand running through his auburn locks, and his eyes were adorably sleepy. The girl felt a lump grow in her throat when her eyes caught sight of the not-so-subtle six pack Archie was sporting, one that was deathly attractive and connected sharply to the prominent V shape that connected from his hips to his-- well--

Archie, locking eyes with her, went still. His eyes seemed to glaze over the same exact way hers surely had done when she looked at him. Both of them just kind of stood there for a good few seconds, like deer in the headlights, absorbing one another. Then the girl, awkwardly shooting her gaze from his abs and to the ceiling with a forced fake cough, turned and bolted from her room. Archie, seeing this, fumbled to grab his dark blue Riverdale hoodie, and pulled it over his head as he too went stumbling away. The girl met her mother on the stairs, insisting they leave now, and went speedily out the front door to avoid making further contact with Archie after that embarrassing incident. But they hadn’t made it two feet onto the grass before Archie came jogging out to meet them.

“Mrs. (Y/L/N)!’ he called, panting and giving a jovial wave and smile.

The girl’s mother smiled sleepily, “good morning Archie.”

“Morning,” he said through a short breath, stopping to meet the two in the middle of the lawn.

The morning dew settled on the girl’s shoes, as she dug her heel nervously into the ground and pursed her lips into one of her fake smiles and grumbled a hello.

“Mrs. (Y/L/N),” he said again, slinging his bag over his shoulders, “I was wondering if I could take your daughter to school, since it’s her first day.”

Please say no.

Her mother raised her brows with a smile, “that sounds lovely, actually. My work is on the other side of town so it’d be a big help.”

Fuck.

“Doesn’t that sound lovely?” her mother elbowed her with a very obvious wink.

The girl widened her eyes in horror and her mother’s indiscretion, to which Archie, completely obliviously, beamed.

“Right,” the girl laughed uncomfortably, raising her eyes to Archie’s big brown one’s.

And he looked so excited that she couldn’t help but soften, giving him a genuine smile, “it does.”

“Great,” Archie nodded, giving her mother a squeeze, “have a great day at work ma’am.”

“Thank you Archie,” her mother cooed.

As the girl followed Archie, she threw a glance over at her mother, who raised two giant thumbs up, making the girl go beet red as she tried desperately to get away faster.

Archie went ahead, unlocking his truck and opening the girl’s door for her with a happy little grin. She climbed in, sighing with nerves as Archie entered beside her and brought his truck roaring to life. But before he pulled out, he turned to look at her, his eyes flashing with like.

“You look really nice,” he said, clearing his throat and giving her a timid smile.

She felt herself stiffen, “thanks, Archie. So do you.”

At this Archie glanced down at his own clothes, checking himself out skeptically like she must be unaware of what she’d just said. But she’d meant it. Only Archie Andrews could make a hoodie and jeans look that flattering.

“Thanks?” he raised his brows with a chuckle. The girl just let out an airy laugh and turned her eyes to the road as he pulled his car back and made way down the scenic road. They didn’t talk much on the way to school. The churning in her stomach made her too nervous to. But Archie didn’t force it, he just kept his eyes forward with contently upturned lips. It looked like he was keeping on his promise to look out for her after all.

. . .

The halls were packed at the school. Blue lockers were thrown open and swarmed by students of all sorts, most of whom seemed to be completely familiar with one another. It was for that reason that it was unsurprising to see them collectively taking second looks when they realized there was fresh meat walking down the hallway, accompanied by Archie himself. At times when she’d been jostled she’d wanted to reach for his arm, but resisted the ridiculous urge by folding her arms tight over her chest. Soon thereafter she saw a blonde ponytail bouncing down the hall.

“(Y/N),” Betty beamed, “I see you had a chat with V.”

Betty herself wore a pink sweater with little polka dots, tucked neatly into her skinny blue jeans. It was weirdly suited for her.

“You look great,” she elaborated. Then, turning, she said, “here’s your locker, it’s near mine.”

Betty brought the girl to the locker located to the right of her own, whispering, “I made sure they gave you this one.”

“Thanks,” the girl smiled bashfully, unloading her schoolbooks into the locker by her new friend.

Archie stayed quiet the whole time, leaning lazily onto the next locker down as he surveyed the two.

“If you get lost at lunch just look for me and Jug. Oh, and we have AP Gov together by the way,” Betty continued on, handing the girl her schedule which was neatly printed onto a crisp white sheet of paper. “And Psychology!”

“Great,” the girl said, feeling a little overwhelmed.

Archie pried the paper from her hands, noting, “my first period is with you.”

An unfamiliar voice chimed in, “mine too.”

The girl brought her eyes slowly up to look behind Archie’s shoulder, where a fiery redheaded girl stood.

“Cheryl Blossom,” the girl extended her perfectly manicured hand.

Her long red hair fell perfectly around her pale face and perfect features, and her bright red lips bent upwards into a smile as she stepped confidently forward. The girl felt instantly intimidated.

“(Y/N)(Y/L/N),” she replied, extending a nervous hand in return.

Cheryl shook it firmly, “I know. Well, I know of you.”

The girl raised a confused brow, to which Cheryl leaned forward, whispering, “you’re not the only Riverdale nutcase around.”

She felt her heart drop.

“Don’t ask,” Cheryl cut her off before she could open her mouth, “I know everything about everyone. But don’t worry, your secret’s safe with me, new girl.”

Archie and Betty, who were just close enough to hear her whisperings, exchanged confused glances. But Cheryl just smiled and pulled away, patting at her red dress with a clear of her throat.

“Anyways,” she said, loudly this time. “I’m having a seniors only party this Friday, you know, to kick off the school year, and I hope to see you there. Until then, first period,” she winked and gracefully swept away, leaving the girl with an opened mouth and glazed eyes, which were interrupted only by the sound of the bell.

Betty, bewildered as ever, said her goodbyes, Archie looking similarly confused as he escorted the still dazed girl into a nearby classroom where she’d be studying-- literature-- according to the whiteboard her eyes landed upon. The boy took a seat near the back, hitting off a fellow classmate so the girl could sit beside him. This fellow classmate looked displeased until he saw what, or who rather, this was for.

He was tall with jet black hair that was slicker perfectly atop his head, minus a loose stray dangling in front of his dark eyes, He wore a Riverdale jersey and a kind of permanent smolder, and he extended a hand to the girl as she sunk into her seat.

“And who might this be?”

“(Y/N),” the girl responded as the room’s lights and sounds came back into focus, her eyes now preoccupied with the rather attractive boy who towered over her.

She took the boy’s firm hand, to which he smirked a “Reggie” in reply. “You didn’t tell me the new girl was hot,” Reggie said quite loudly to Archie as he continued shaking her hand, to which the both of them grew red.

“Shut up Reggie,” they said in unison, making the boy snicker.

He beamed, flickering his finger between the both of them, “that’s funny. You two are funny.”

“Take a seat, mister Mantle,” a stern female voice said from the front of the classroom.

Reggie, obeying the teacher, scoffed and took his seat in front of (Y/N), keeping his eyes lingering on her for a second longer than comfortable. He soon after procured a notebook, tore a sheet out, and began jotting away with a stray pen. As the teacher gave her introductions, Reggie leaned back and stretched over his head, dropping the paper onto the girl’s desk. Baffled, she unfolded it.

Want a date to Cheryl’s?

The girl felt herself grow warm in surprise. Clearly this boy got straight to the point with things, she thought. As she picked up her own pen she saw Archie leaning not so subtly over to get a look at the paper, at which she chuckled softly and moved it out of his view.

Wasn’t planning on going.

She folded the paper neatly up as a student began passing around textbooks, giving her enough of a distraction to pass the paper onto Reggie.

She’d meant what she wrote. Parties weren’t really her scene, especially not one led by the girl who apparently knew everything about everyone. The thought alone made her stomach churn, at which she recalled the note she’d received the night earlier, one she’d stashed away in her dresser the minute she’d gotten inside. Maybe it was someone playing some sick practical joke oh her, or something. Maybe Cheryl knew.

Reggie apparently read over the reply, as he had turned back in his seat to give the girl an unimpressed raise of his brows. He dropped his voice an octave and leaned into her to mouth a quiet reply.

“Change your mind.”

His voice raised a little at the end like it might be posed as a question, but the confidence in his tone simultaneously ruled that out, making it instead appear as a heavily influenced suggestion.

“Mr. Mantle,” the voice from the front of the classroom called sternly again.

He gave an exasperated sigh, running his long fingers through his jet black locks as he gave a disgruntled “ma’am” and resumed his silence.

Archie gave an inaudible scoff, his steely eyes remaining forward for the rest of the class.

. . .

“What did Reggie want?”

Not two seconds after class ended and Archie was on her case about it, blindly trailing her out of the classroom with his fists stuffed cooly into the front pocket of his hoodie.

The girl shrugged half heartedly as they entered the hallway, “he asked to escort me to Cheryl’s.”

“Oh,” Archie said, quickly clearing his throat and trying at it again when he realized it came off sounding upset. “And what’d you say?”

The girl stopped at her locker, leaning against it to look at the stony faced boy and feeling herself getting caught up in his stupid gorgeous eyes.

“N-nothing,” she shook her head with a sharp inhale, “I said I wasn’t going.”

“Oh?” the boy replied.

“Yeah uh, not my thing,” she pursed her lips with a shrug, leaving out the other little part from her reasoning. “Are you going?”

“We are!” a voice exclaimed.

Veronica Lodge seemingly poofed into existence behind Archie, wrapping her arms around his back with a big grin, “right Archiekins?”

She wore a black dress and sleek matching heels, something that, once again, only she could seemingly pull off at school.

Archie blinked down at his girlfriend in surprise, giving her a squeeze back, “uh, yep. We are.”

“Cool,” the girl feigned interest, switching out the books from her locker before shutting it a little too hard.

“Walk you to your next class?” he perked up hopefully.

But the sight before her was making her grow increasingly uncomfortable, and somehow the thought of the two of them trailing behind her to class entwined like that did the opposite of reassure her, so she gave a forced smile and happy wave of her schedule.

“I’ve got it, actually. But, thanks.”

The rest of the day sort of blurred past in a haze. The classes were fine. The people were fine. Everything was… just alright. It didn’t seem like there was anyone or anything in particular to cause her worry. She’d met a few new people, one of whom went by Toni Topaz and fought Reggie off with a textbook when he tried sitting by the girl in calculus. Turns out she was Cheryl’s girlfriend, which she wouldn’t have guessed from their stark differences in personalities, but seemed generally lovely. She’d also sat with Betty, Archie, Jughead, and Veronica at lunch, but felt herself the target for many eyes in the cafeteria, and a major fifth wheel to say the least. At the end of the day, she found herself alone in the halls, at which point she checked the coast before promptly slamming her forehead into the locker with a groan. It was going to be a long year, she knew that much. Taking a deep breath, she aligned her back once more and gathered her thoughts. While going home now was certainly an option, she couldn’t help but recall Archie’s mention of some sort of cheer team. Of course, she had no interest in joining, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t check it out, right? At least, that’s what she told herself as her feet took her striding down the halls and onto the back field, where she was greeted by a blast of light to the eyes.

Shielding her face, she approached the neat green grass and uniform clad girls who were assembling on it. They were led by none other than Cheryl, who was barking inaudibly at them all from a high chair. With her were Toni, Veronica, and about a dozen others. The girl felt her stomach lurch at just the sight of all of them, but what really did it for her was seeing the boys run in from the opposite end of the field, led by Archie, of course, who hadn’t noticed her. His eyes had fallen right on the raven haired girl, not that she was blaming him. The sweaty auburn haired boy, suited full in his football uniform, jogged over to his girlfriend for a short lived embrace and kiss on the lips, which brought the bystanding girl swiftly back to reality. Realizing where she was and the stupidity of what she was doing, she stumbled backwards in a frantic effort to leave. Of course, in her panic, she twisted her ankle and yelped in hurt, drawing attention from all on the field.

“Joining us?” Cheryl snapped from her chair, her big red lips parted.

Archie squinted sunbeams from his brown eyes, an attractive slick dripping from his brows as his mouth hung open in a half smile at her.

“Um,” she yelled back awkwardly, “no.”

“Come on, (Y/N)!” Veronica encouraged with a dazzling flash of her teeth. “Come try out!”

“Yeah!” Archie beamed hopefully.

The girl just stood there, eyes flickering between the teens who stood awaiting her reply. She was suddenly very aware of the blistering heat that chomped at her flesh. And then there came no reply. Rather, she hooked her fingers in her bag straps and bolted back into the doors from which she came before she could answer in full. Panting and red in the cheeks, the girl half-sprinted down the halls in an effort to distance herself from her painfully awkward encounter. She wasn’t halfway out of the school before Betty came bobbing into sight, however.

The peppy blonde smiled a big hello as she interjected her in her path, “what are you doing here?”

The girl stuttered a wordless reply and rubbed at her temple, not sure how to explain what’d just gone through her dumb head. Luckily, Betty seemed to piece the answer together for herself.

“You weren’t trying out for the Vixens, were you?” she chuckled.

“Uh,” the girl laughed sheepishly, “I considered it.”

“And?” Betty smirked knowingly.

“Not for me,” she laughed with embarrassment.

Betty grinned, “don’t worry, me neither. I used to think it was, but the only reason I really joined back in freshman year was because I liked Archie.”

Pure panic ensued.

“Ridiculous, right?” Betty chortled on.

“Yeah,” the girl snorted unconvincingly, “ridiculous.”

Betty arched her brow ever so slightly with faint curiosity, but she dropped it and gave her the benefit of the doubt.

“Anyways, what’re you doing?” the girl asked in an effort to divert the subject.

“Oh, I work yearbook after school sometimes,” Betty explained.

“Ah,” the girl nodded in understanding, her lips pressing together. Then, not having anything else to say, she concluded, “well, have fun!”

But she hadn’t raised a toe before Betty stopped her in her tracks, her pony swinging as she gave her new friend a warm smile and a cheeky perk of her brows, “wanna help?”

. . .

Yearbook was much more her pace. It was calm, organized, came with good company, and most importantly, was air conditioned. Betty walked the girl through her usual procedures, and soon enough they were both at work, sometimes in silence, sometimes making easy conversation. The girl’s creativity along with Betty’s logical practices mingled well. Afterwards, Betty offered the girl a ride, to which she now happily obliged. On their way out of the abandoned classroom they were held up in, the doors down the hall came bursting open, at which point the cheer and football team made its way flooding down their direction. The stench of hot grass and sweat followed them in. At their front, Reggie led the pack, his long black locks plastered to his forehead and his chest heaving as he took swigs of the icy water contained in the bottle he held. The girl made the mistake of stopping in her tracks to stare, gaining her an instant visit from the boy, who swaggered his way over to her as the students passed. Betty’s eyes flicked between Reggie and the girl once, twice, and a third time before she put together what was happening and sauntered in the other direction with a giggle.

“Betty!” she called, “my ride?”

Betty didn’t even turn her head as she replied, “meet me out front when you’re done.”

The girl sucked in an annoyed breath and forced her eyes up to the boy who towered above her, “yes?”

Reggie sniggered, “hey now, sass.”

Her pursed lips softened into the smallest of smiles.

“Reggie,” she said.

“(Y/N),” he beamed back, flashing her one of those killer smiles. “Reconsider my offer?”

The girl gave a sarcastic laugh, “you’re persistent, Mantle.”

His dark eyes flashed with like, “mhm?”

“But I’m still not interested,” she said, running her tongue lightly over her teeth and avoiding eye contact with the impossibly attractive boy before her.

Her gaze, looking for anywhere else to land, settled on Archie, who just now emerged from the pool of light at the end of the hall, his arm loose around his girlfriend’s shoulder. He looked surprisingly clean in comparison to the other boys, she noticed. Likely this was Veronica’s work. The two smiled at each other, inseparable as they made their way down the hall. Archie’s large hazel stare seemed to suddenly gravitate to the girl’s, like he knew she was watching, at which point she snapped her jaw firmly back up to Reggie.

Reggie, unbothered, continued.

“Not true,” he hummed, his lips twitching into that infuriating smirk.

“What’s not?” her brows furrowed in mild aggravation.

“You not being interested,” he shrugged with a tilt of his head.

“Oh yeah, Mantle?” she crinkled her nose and folded her arms.

“Yeah,” he chuckled amusedly, “otherwise you wouldn’t be flirting with me right now.”

Her eyes went steely and her jaw went stiff, the girl’s blood suddenly sounding very loud in her ears as she brushed off his remark with a grumble.

“Come on,” he pleaded, extending his large hands and peeling the girl’s arms from her chests so he could hold her little wrists in them. His eyes softened in menacing adoration, “please?”

Feeling her face flush, she stuttered wordlessly and found her eyes wandering, once again, back to Archie’s. Archie was now standing up against his locker, waiting for her, as Veronica leaned into his front, her view of the two obscured. He seemed to watch her with some sort of unidentifiable expression, his forehead creasing as he observed Reggie’s gentle grip on the girl. But whatever strange thing he was thinking was interrupted by Veronica leaning up to kiss his lips, at which point any trace of him that could be read was stifled.

“Yes,” the girl decided at once.

Reggie’s lips split into one of those huge grins, “wait, really?”

The girl sighed in defeat and tucked a lip between her teeth, “what can I say, Reggie? You’re persistent.”

“YES!”

He whooped, releasing her wrists so he could half dance half punch the air. It was ridiculous. And cute.

The boy beamed down at her and flickered his black eyes over hers, his gaze softening like he wanted to, well, kiss her or something. But like a gentleman, he didn’t. Instead, he once more reached for the girl’s wrist, bringing a hand up to his lips, where he pecked her gently with a stupid little laugh, making her half scowl half chortle in embarrassment.

“Pick you up Friday?” he winked, releasing her.

“Whatever,” she shrugged, not giving him the satisfaction of her flattery as she pursed her lips in an attempt to suppress her smile.

Reggie half walked half skipped down the rest of the hall, turning a good few times to throw her glances as he disappeared out of sight. Once the coast was cleared and the halls had drained empty, Archie’s voice rang out.

“(Y/N),” he said.

She turned to meet him. Veronica now stood beside him, fingers intertwined with the ginger’s ones. Archie looked like he had something sour in his mouth.

“Uh, can I- do you-” he started, his words coming fast and tripping confusedly one after the other. He shook his head and pressed his tongue to his teeth, trying again. “Need a ride?”

She shook her head, “thanks, Archie, but I’m good.”

She gave him a little smile, which he exchanged for a forced one of his own, “alright.”

And he watched her go.

. . .

The ride home was hazy. The girl’s head was swimming with thoughts, the last day playing over in her mind like tapes. Betty exclaimed gleefully at her newfound interest in Reggie, adding that it was no wonder she’d been interested in joining the Vixens. By this she meant to get closer to Reggie, of course. The girl played it off accordingly. After Betty dropped the girl home, she made her way across the stone path towards the little red door. There was a little pep to her step, a hopeful sway that told her maybe this year wouldn’t be so bad after all. But her thoughts were short lived, when they focused instead on the new note that lay upon her doorstep.

I’m watching.

[sweetestlamb]

Teenage Dream

Genre: Molasses level fluff and teenage hormones. 

Summary: What if our babies didn't have such traumatic lives and they went to the same high school? Teenage Gang-Tae falls for Mun-Yeong, the moment he sets eyes on her. He just doesn’t notice that she’s not far behind. The misadventures of a boy blindly in love. 

Gang-Tae let his best friend tow him into the their recent hangout spot, Subways, around the corner from their high school. It was always bustling with kids their age after classes were dismissed, most of his classmates came here to relax or the brainiacs would use it as a spot to continue their studying. Gang-Tae alternated between both category depending on the day, he wanted to have a high ranking to impress his mother and older brother, Sang-Tae. But studying all the time was tiring and made him stressed out about all the material he didn't know. He also wanted to impress her. The prettiest girl in their grade and probably all of Korea. Ko Mun-Yeong. He sighed thinking about her, her lustrous chin length hair perfectly curled around her beautiful face, those dark eyes framed by long lashes, her aquiline nose that made her face even more interesting and finally those rosy plush lips. She was the smartest girl in their class, quiet and confident, he read all of her short stories in the school newspaper. His recent favorite was a story she had written about a young boy who learned that bad memories could be helpful for emotional growth. All of your life experiences crafted who you are, if you only remembered the good then you wouldn't have empathy or coping devices when something went askew. She had a unique way of looking at the world and he couldn't stop the crush he had developed on her if he had a choice. She was the whole package,beauty and brains. Unfortunately, this resulted in her immense popularity, which made her unapproachable, there were barely any moments that she was without a crowd of people. Students hanging off her every word, and with the warm timber of her voice he couldn't fault them. Her voice filled all his dreams. Especially the riskier ones. He didn't mean to think of her in such a manner, tried his upmost to respect her, but in the depths of his slumber his imagination created scenarios that made him wake up tangled in moist sheets. Shaking those memories off, he joined the conversation his classmates were having around him, "We need to study for Mr. Kan's science test, if I bring home any more low grades my mom promises she will lock me up in the basement with textbooks." He groaned in agreement, he hadn't done his best on the last exam either and desperately need to do well this time around. They all agreed that this was the best course of action, opening their textbooks to the correct section. The study session went by in a blur, they took a quick break to get sandwiches as brain fuel and then went back to studying. Before, he knew it his head started to feel heavy, he jerked up, taking a big gulp of soda trying to wake himself, it was a short term fix and soon he stopped fighting and laid his head on the table. His classmates voices white noise in the background, he drifted off into a light sleep. Minutes passed by before he was shaken awake by Jae-Su, "Moon Gang-Tae! Are you sleeping? You always slack off when it's time to studying...", he groggily rubbed his sleep laden eyes and then he felt lightning rush through his body. There she was. Alone. Casually sitting, her cute nose in another book, before she checked the time and began to pack up, collecting her trash and without full awareness, he stood with her. "Where are you going? Moon Gang-Tae! We're not done studying!" Jae-Su exasperated voice shouted after him, as he haphazardly snatched all his belongs and raced after her. She hadn't noticed him yet. Peacefully crossing the street, her delicate hands gripping the straps of her book bag, he had ached so many times to offer to carry it for her, to carry her books to class for her and maybe get a smile in appreciation. If there was one thing that made her even prettier, it was her smile. She had the kind of smile that could light up a room. He would do anything if it meant seeing that smile. He stalked closely, it felt invasive following her this way without her consent, the last thing he wanted to do was made her uncomfortable. He raised his fingers through his fringe, hoping his quick nap hadn't completely ruined his hair and with a deep inhalation both for courage and necessity, he called out "Hey....excuse me... um hey." Although he had trailed her for this very purpose he still wasn't mentally prepare to meet her eyes when she turned around. Curiosity and then recognition running through them. A small smile graced her lips as she tilted her head in concession, hands now clasped in the center of her body. Wow. She is even prettier in person, up close. Look at those eyes. They are the prettiest eyes I've ever seen. I could die right now knowing I saw those ey-- "Yes?" Her voice cut through those his traitorous thoughts and he snapped back to reality. She has started to nibble on her lips, question still in her eyes and his mouth felt like a dessert, dry and brittle. He thinks of what he can say that won't scare her away, he doesn't think professing his undying love is right for their first conversation. Maybe their third. Maybe he can ask her what she thought about the school lunch today, what did kids there age even talk about? He feels like an alien in his own body, screaming at himself to say something, anything before she loses her patience and walks away. But all his months of wanting and wishing hadn't prepared him for this moment. In all his dreams, they magically got together and there was none of this overwhelming sea of awkwardness that he was currently drowning in. Say something. Anything!! "I...um I like....you...r um... I like your outfit!" He blurted out, immediately wanting to smack himself in the face, she was wearing the damn school uniform! The same uniform that thousands of other students wore, she was going to think he was a moron and walk away. He had wasted his first impression. Starting to plan his exit, he opened his lips to apologize for wasting her time, he should have just kept watching her from afar, anything was better than this humiliation. But then, she started to giggle, the most melodic soothing giggle, his eyes snapped up from their permanent spot on the ground, to see her covering her mouth with her dainty hands, soft pink nail polish this week. He couldn't believe she wasn't gone. She was here giggling. At something he said. Granted what he said was ridiculously stupid but it didn't matter because she was giggling. He made Ko Mun-Yeong giggle. He wanted to shout it from a rooftop. "Oh this?" She tugged at her uniform collar, "It's one of a kind." With a twinkle in her eye, she knocked him off his metamorphic feet. Laughter burst out from his winded lungs and she laughed with him, shifting comfortably on the heels of her feet. "I know you, I've seen you at school. Moon Gang-Tae? That's your name right?" She knew his name. He tried not to show how much she was knocking his world off balance. He was able to muster up a shaky nod in agreement. "So what did you want to say to me Moon Gang-Tae?" She inquired, checking her watch once again. "I....um....do you have to be somewhere?" He asked in return, hoping he wasn't getting in her way. "My driver, Sang-In was supposed to pick me up but he messaged saying I should just head home on my own." She responded and without a second though his mouth said, "I can walk you. It's dark, I don't ....um what anything to happen to you. I mean if you want me to, I'm using sure you can walk home on your own and..." "Okay." She cut off his rambling, turning to continue her trek as he stood frozen. "Are you coming?" She looked back over her shoulder, and he ran to catch up out of breath and not from his sprint. They walked in silence, his brain racing, disbelief that he was really walking next to her. Maybe he was still asleep in Subways? How could this be reality? He looked over and her, turning his head away when he found her eyes already on his face. Absently, he wondered if he had food on his chin or something, that would be just his luck. Casually, he wiped at his face pretending to have an itch. "Do you always walk girls home? Everyone always says you're so nice but I didn't know to this extent." She teased, making his cheeks redden in shame and pride. He didn't feel very nice right now, he was doing this for his own selfish purposes. After a long pause he broke his silence, "No. This is my first time walking someone home." He answered honestly, knowing that most boys his age had done much more than walk a girl home, but he was as his older brother Sang-Tae described a "hopeless romantic". He knew that other girls at school liked him, or at least found him attractive. He wasn't bad to look at, and he had enjoyed a growth spurt over the summer, making him taller than most boys in his grade and all of the girls. After months of convincing, the basketball coach had convinced him to join their team and that had increased his popularity overnight. But none of those girls were Ko Mun-Yeong. He was polite but never flirty, there was only one girl that had taken a hold of his heart. "Honored to be your first." He blushed at her words, his mind instantly sinking to the gutter. She looked at him as if she knew exactly what he was thinking but thankfully did not comment. Suddenly she stopped, looking up at a high rise building, he quickly realized that they were in the more affluent part of town, with modern buildings and luxury cars. He tried not to be intimidated. He failed, spectacularly. "This is me." She pointed at the sleek building. "Oh. Okay. Get inside safely." He said with a downward shift of his lips, he had hoped that this walk would never end. He hadn't garnered the courage to say anything to her during the rest of the walk. Just quick glances to confirm that she was still there and he hadn't lost his mind. She walked towards large glass doors, before turning back, "Thank you for walking me home, Moon Gang-Tae." She said, beatific smile on her face. He was too stunned to respond and then she was gone. His heart raced as he jogged home, grin on his face, he felt untouchable. Tossing his shoes and book bag at the entrance, he bounded into his house. He heard voices in the kitchen, his mom and Sang-Tae. He rushed to join them for dinner. "What's got you so happy?" His brother instantly questioned him, string bean hanging from his lips. Gang tried to tame his smile, not wanting his too perceptive brother to find out anything. He was always so embarrassing when it came to girls. "Nothing, nothing. I just had a great day." His mom turned around with a smile, "That's great sweetie, how about you go wash up and help your brother set the table?" Knocking Sang-Tae's hand that reached for another string bean. His brother always got hungriest right before they ate dinner. As he washed his hands, with soap and water, his brother swaggered in with a knowing smile on his face. "Okay, who is she?" He dropped the bar of soap at the question, putting all his focus on washing his hands. Giving it his full attention. With a war cry, his brother grabbed him and easily put him in a headlock, he wriggled trying to free himself, splashing water on his brother to counter his attack. "Tell your big brother, there are no secrets in this house!" Sang-Tae shouted ruffling his hair and he groaned at the rough treatment, until his mother's voice called out, "Boys come for dinner, stop playing in the bathroom. You would think I'm raising toddlers..." With one final twist, his brother set him free. "You'll come to me in due time, little brother. " Dinner was delicious as usual, he feigned fatigue to escape early, eager to relive the day. Thoughts of her smile filled his dreams.                     

                       <3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3 Nerves churned in his stomach as he nodded and hmmed to whatever Jae-Su was talking about, he had already berated him for quote, "Abandoning him like a stray animal to fend for himself." And after his fifth apology, he had ultimately tuned him out, he had bigger things to worry about. Like how he was supposed to act now? He didn't know if walking her home had changed anything? Was he allowed to say good morning to her now? Or did she want him to act the same as before, strangers who didn't acknowledge each other. He didn't want to do the wrong thing. And he couldn't ask Jae-Su, who had adamantly declared that they didn't need girls because they led to the decay of friendship. The only person he could think to ask was his brother, but he didn't want to deal with his smug smirk, You'll come to me in due time little brother. There had to be an easy way to know if a girl wanted you to say good morning to her? Maybe he could say good morning to other girls and use their reactions as a gauge for how Mun-Yeong would respond? He was so consumed in his thoughts that he didn't that the object of his thoughts was right in front of him. "Good morning Moon Gang-Tae." Tripping over nothing, he reached out to grab Jae-Su for support. She had said good morning to him. She was standing with her best friend, Seung-Jae, a quirky girl known for her eccentric style, who always had loads of buttons and stickers on her bag. Before, he could locate his tongue and answer she continued cheekily, "Do you like my outfit today too?" She turned around as if on her own personal run way and his cheeks scorched with the embarrassing memory. He groaned placing his head in his hands. Jae-Su and Seung-Jae both looked on in confusion. With a lift of her lip, she clutched her books to her chest, walking off to her class. "What was that about?" Jae-Su chased him down, as he shook his head, too bashful to explain that particular incident. The day dragged, he was itching to see her again. He wondered what she was doing right now? Definitely not thinking about the idiot who had complimented her uniform. He would never live that down. But still he smiled, it was almost as if they had an inside joke. It was safe to say that he didn't learn anything today, all of his brain capacity busy thinking about his next encounter with Mun-Yeong. Jae-Su had left as soon as school ended, leaving him by himself and he stalked the hallways hoping to accidentally run into Mun-Yeong but after the third lap he gave up, sighing in disappointment. Pushing the school doors open, he squinted his eyes as at the influx of bright light. Due to this light he didn't see the figures, a few places ahead of him. He saw her before he heard her. "I don't need you to wait with me. I would prefer to wait alone." Mun-Yeong. And she sounded.....annoyed. He walked closer, instinctively yearning to protect her from whoever was bothering her. A male voice responded, Gang-Tae vaguely recognized it, Daniel Choi, he was one year above them and the school's heart throb. He even had his own fan club, according to the flyers around school they met on Mondays and Fridays. "It's no problem, I could never leave a pretty girl like you alone on the street, who knows what creeps are out there?" He answered, magnanimously, moving further into Mun-Yeong's personal space. Gang-Tae watched her take a step back. The look in her eye reminded him of his neighbor's cat right before he scratched you for daring to pet him. "You mean like creeps who don't take no for an answer and pester girls who aren't interested, creeps like that?" Daniel laughed, humorlessly, reaching out a hand as if to grab her and Gang-Tae moved before he registered the intent, "Don't touch her." "Don't touch me." They uttered at the same time. Her eyes cut to Gang-Tae in surprise and maybe a bit of relief. Daniel yanked his hand out of his grasp, snidely looking at him, "This has nothing to do with you Moon, mind your business." He stood between them, shielding Mun-Yeong's body with his own. "She said she didn't want you to wait with her, how about you respect that and leave her alone?." He didn't know what was coming over him, he had never been in a fight before. Never even argued with anyone, but he knew in this moment he would do anything it took to maintain her safety. Daniel eyed him, annoyance clear on his face, lips snarling before he rolled his eyes and scoffed, "She's not even that hot. Not worth all this trouble." With that dig, he turned away stomping down the sidewalk until they lost sight of him. Gang-Tae took a deep breath to control his anger, before turning back to Mun-Yeong. "Are you okay?" He briefly scanned her body, she looked fine, perfect actually. Finally she spoke, "Yeah I'm fine. He was just very persistent." "I'm sorry." He apologized, wishing he could have been there sooner, whenever she needed him he wanted to be there, it felt natural to protect her almost like his body was made for it.  "Why? You didn't do anything." "I'm still sorry." She laughed breathlessly, "You really are nice, huh? Probably why you're so popular with the girls." He knew she was teasing him now, her nosed crinkled in the cutest way when she did, but he ached to ask her if she was part of that group. He would trade in all those girls for a chance with her. He was too much of a coward though so instead he said, "What are you waiting for?" She jostled her books in her hands, trying to find a comfortable position, "My driver again, he said there was traffic but he would be here soon." Wordlessly, he extended his hands, gesturing at the heavy textbooks in her hand. She looks back with a blank stare and he almost retracted his hands, but then she leaned forward, placing them in his hands. The tips of their fingers brush during the exchange and he wonders how long he could reasonably go without washing his hands. His mother would have his head. Like their walk the other night, they lapse into silence. He clutches her textbooks to his chest as if they were the finest jewels. He can faintly smell her intoxicating scent lingering on them. Then he recalled her newest story in the school paper, "Zombie Kid", he had tried showing it to Jae-Su but he had denounced it once the mother gave the child her limbs, calling it cryptic and weird. Gang-Tae thought it was brilliant, raw and thought-provoking. Like all her short stories, they had a message if you were willing to look past the surface. "I liked your story. Zombie Kid." He forced the words out, desperate not to waste a second opportunity with her. " You did? Did you get the message?" He nodded, meeting her eyes, "Love is truly what everyone wants, not just to sate their base desires." She lit up  at his answer, excitedly replying "Seung-Jae said I should have probably left out the cannibalism but I thought it served its purpose. Fairy tales should help us wake up from our sugar coated dreams and face reality."

He smiled at her, blown away by her mind. He’d never met anyone like her before.  Suddenly, a car pulled up at their feet, tires screeching and a man in a suit jumped out, "My dearest apology, Ms. Ko, I'm sorry to keep you waiting. I hope it wasn't too much of a bother." He proceeded to collect her bag, and open the car door. "Oh, but I see a friend waited with you. " He looked expectedly at Gang-Tae with clinical eyes, "This is Moon Gang-Tae. He's the nicest boy in my grade." She answered for him, he coughed choking on his own spit. Was nice a good thing? Did girls like nice boys? "Is that so? Well thank you for waiting with Ms. Ko. Would you like a ride as well?" The man offered but he shook his head in refusal, it was such a small space to occupy with Mun-Yeong, he wasn't quite ready for that. "Okay, well we need to get going. Thank you again." And Gang-Tae turned to return Mun-Yeong's textbooks, gently placing them back in her arms. "Thank you Gang-Tae, I'll see you tomorrow." She beamed up at him, hopping into the car, her uniform skirt bouncing distractedly with the movement and he watched it drive away. He smiled all the way home.                               <3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3 It was their first game of the new season, coach had been putting them through the ringer, lap after lap, drills until they were sweaty messes on the ground. Gang-Tae wasn't particularly competitive, but he did enjoy the discipline and team building that came with sports. The best team was only as good as their weakest link, coached had drilled that into them, especially the first practices when they were all finding their footing. A fight had broken out because someone had been upset that the ball hadn't been passed to him, claiming that he was the better shooter. Coach Hwai had made them all run 10 extra laps, stating that they suffered as team and won as a team, they would practice until everyone was great shooters. There was literally no "I" in team. They had learned that with sweat and tears. He sat on the bench, stretching, usual nerves in his stomach but also excitement, above all he enjoyed basketball. He searched the stands looking for his brother, he had taken the day off work to watch his first game, his mother hadn't been able to do the same. But she had woken him up with favorite breakfast and a kiss on the cheek for good luck. He spotted Sang-Tae, in the back row, frantically waving at him, proud smile stretched across his face. He hadn't been able to find Mun-Yeong after classes, he had no intention of inviting her to the game, that was too much pressure but he had wanted to let her know that he wouldn't be able to wait with her today. After the first time, it had become a routine, he would wait with her for her driver, Lee Sang-In, and he would happily hold her textbooks. Most times they were silent, sometimes they would talk about their day. He was still extremely shy around her, finding himself tongue twisted at random moments. Still in disbelief that he was allowed to be this close to her. But he loved listening to her, the excitement in her voice infectious when she talked about new ideas for her short stories. How could someone so beautiful also be so smart? It just didn't seem fair. He had given up finally after looking for her for fifteen minutes, coach would have his head if he was late for the game. He sighed, hoping she made it home safely, tensing at the thought of Daniel bothering her again. With a shrill blow of the whistle, the game started with a blur of passes, dribbling and shots. He tried his best to pace himself, taking deep breathes, not wanting to get winded too soon. Suddenly, the ball was in his hands and quickly scanning the court to see if anyone was in a better position than him, seeing that no one was he took the shot. The ball easily slid through the hoop. 2 points. He pumped his fist in the air before turning with exuberant pride, needing to know if his brother saw that and that's when he met the eyes of Mun-Yeong. She was with a group of girls that he had seen at school, but her face was the only one that stood to him. Had she gotten even prettier since yesterday? She cutely waved the pompoms the school provided to everyone in the stands at him, mouthing "Wow." Her lips looked lovely forming around each letter. He didn't feel his team mates pats of congratulations and forgot to look for his brother. It was a struggle after that, he was hyper-aware of her presence and he couldn't focus. He dropped the ball so many times his teammates stopped passing it to him. It was like his first practice, all over again, nerves shooting up and down his skin, his heart beating like a drum, boom, boom, boom.  Half time was a blessing. "Okay team, we're looking good but I need to see more passing. Remember this about teamwork so use each other. But don't be afraid to take shots, you shouldn't be looking for anyone specific, everyone here is capable." He sighed in relief when he wasn't singled out, albeit prematurely, "Moon, I don't know where you are but you need to get your head back in the game. Go for a walk and come back ready." "Yes Coach." His first stop was the bathroom, to splash water on his face. He glared at himself in the mirror, pointing at his reflection, "What are you doing? This is not how we get the girl. Get it together. You can do this." Then with one last shake, he left the bathroom only to collide with Mun-Yeong. She stumbled backwards and impulsively he reached out to steady her by her shoulders, when she looked balanced he pulled his hands back, suddenly shy, he was all sweaty and gross. "So I was waiting for you outside and you didn't show up, when I came inside I heard all the noise coming from the gym and I found out you had a game. How come you didn't tell me?" She inquired, eyes glimpsing down his body, so fast he almost missed it,  she was probably disgusted by how sweaty he was. "I'm sorry. I tried to find you to tell you I couldn't wait with you. Are you okay? Did anyone bother you?" His fist clenched at the idea. She shook her head side to side, "No you worrywart I was fine on the sidewalk, I was just curious why you didn't tell me about your game. Did you not want me there?" He detected....hurt in her voice but that couldn't be right, right? "I..um.. well." He stuttered over his words scared to tell her how much he wanted her everywhere with him but how distracting she was and how much he liked her. He was saved from saying any of that by his brother bursting out from the doors, "Little brother, why are you hiding out here? The game's going to start again soon, your coach looks like he's going to pop a vei--" Sang-Tae paused noticing Mun-Yeong, looking back and forth between them. "Now who might this be? Little brother you didn't tell me you had a pretty girlf-" He ran over, clasping his hand over his brother's big mouth before he would finish that sentence. "Shut. Up." They started to push each other, his brother licking his hand to free himself, ew, he shoved him in retaliation before his brother grappled him into his signature headlock. He tapped in concession until he was freed, only to see Mun-Yeong's retreating back. "Gosh, you're so annoying." He puffed at Sang-Tae looking longingly at her back, not wanting to leave their conversation like that, he hadn't even gotten a chance to explain himself. Hadn't built up the courage to tell her his true feelings yet, he was working hours to it. Slowly. Molasses dripping in summer slow. "Hey miss, with the short hair? I'm sorry I didn't mean to interrupt." Sang-Tae called out, ignoring his punches, beckoning her back. She stopped. Then turned back towards them, as he shuffled awkwardly, not comfortable conversing with her around other people, much less his brother, who knew what would come out of his mouth? When she reached them, Sang-Tae offered his palm, "I'm Gang-Tae's older brother, Moon Sang-Tae and you are...?" She politely shook his hand with a sweet smile, "I'm Ko Mun-Yeong." "Are you two just friends or..." He mischievously glanced between them, his eyebrow wriggling up and down.  "Can you stop? This is why I don't introduce you to anyone." He grumbled, shooting apologetic glances at Mun-Yeong. I'm so sorry my brother is an idiot, please don't stop talking to me.  "We're friends, your brother has a knack for showing up right when I need him, some would say it's destiny." Nose crinkle. She was teasing again. Sang-Tae looked at him with mock awe, "Oh helping ladies in distress huh? I'll take credit for that little brother, you clearly learned that from me." Then one of his team mates slammed the gym doors open, calling his name, there was two minutes until the second half started. Half time over and he didn't feel any more prepared to be back on the court. He started to walk away, unsure of what to say to Mun-Yeong, so instead choosing to run, but his brother had other plans in mind. He grabbed his jersey, bodily yanking him back. "Now miss Mun-Yeong, are you superstitious? Little brother here looks like he could use some luck, he seems a bit distracted. Would you be willing to help him out this time?" He watched her head tilt inquisitively before she answered, "Sure, how can I help him?" "Well, of course a good luck kiss." Gang-Tae felt his brain go offline, shut down. There was no way his brother had actually said what he thought he heard. Sang-Tae was not that crazy. He must have heard wrong. "He's just joking", he smacked his brother, hard, in the stomach, "He has a sick sense of humor, I'll just be going, I'll see you both aft--" "Okay, if you think it'll help." She answered resolutely, calmly approaching him, catching his wrist in her small hand. He held in a gasp. His eyes fixated on her lips, the same lips that had starred in his dreams. He’s never kissed anyone before, but thoughts of doing that with her kept him wake at nights, tossing and turning. At one low point, he had even considered kisses his damn pillow to have some sort of practice for the real thing. 

He couldn’t breathe, it was like all the air had been sucked from the room and his vision blurred until all he could see were her lips. Moving closer, she lifted herself on the tips of her toes, looking like a real ballerina in her black ballet slippers. Her hands taking a hold of his shaking shoulders for balance, and finally soft as a butterfly’s wing, her lips met his cheek. She pressed a little bit harder and with a mwah, it was over. 

Words escaped him. 

“I hope that was enough luck.” With that those final words and a wave, she sauntered away. 

He let out the breath he had been holding in, touching his warm cheek, before turning to his brother in shock and pure jubilation, and did he already say shock? 

“See little brother, I told you all you needed to do was come to me. She seems nice, make sure to keep being a gentle man, impress her.” Sang-Tae clapped him hard on the back, before dragging him back into the court, his legs felt like they jelly.  

They lost the game. He really didn’t care. 

                                                 <3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3

Mun-Yeong hadn’t come to school today, it was her birthday and as usual she was missing. He hoped that meant she had plans with her parents, everyone knew about her parents, her father was a renowned architect known for his amazing skyscrapers in the heart of Seoul and her mother was a famed mystery writer, consistently on the bestseller’s list. Clearly, she had inherited her mother’s passion for words, her own short stories were read by everyone in the school. 

He was sure that her birthday was a huge spectacle in her house, with a banquet of food and gifts that spilled to the floor, she always came in the day after with a new trinket. Gold earrings, a ruby hair pin that made her hair look glossier than normal, designer boots, obviously all birthday gifts. 

That knowledge made him wilt in chagrin as he thought of the measly gift he had gotten for her, when he had mentioned it was her birthday to Sang-Tae he had all but dragged him out the house to purchase a gift for her. “You can’t not get her a gift, haven’t you ever courted a lady before?”  He blushed recalling, the answer was clear, he had never courted anyone and Mun-Yeong was not just anyone, she was perfection.  It was intimidating to say the least. He also wasn’t completely sure what they were? After the kiss incident, they had continued on as normal. 

Greetings in the hallways when they crossed paths, he had started walking her to her class in the morning, happily carrying her books and helping her store them in her homeroom locker. The first time he had felt everyone’s eyes on him in the classroom, as if their presence had paused all conversations in the room. Whispers erupting, “Oh my god are they dating?” “She has never let anyone carry her books before!” “Didn’t she turn down Daniel Choi?” 

Mun-Yeong had acted on as if she didn’t hear the gossip surging around her, instead placing a warm hand on his cheek, thanking him for his help. She sent him off with a honeyed smile, “Thank you. I’ll see you later?” 

He nodded. Walking away, touching his cheek in wonder, again. 

Then it became a routine. He would show up early, waiting for her and carry her books to class, savoring her little touches of gratitude. A warm hand on his cheek, syrupy sweet smiles, eating it all up like he was starved for affection. 

But maybe that’s how friends behaved when they were of opposite sexes, he’d never had a female friend besides Nam Ju-Ri but that was different they barely spoke, he would just find her staring at him at odd times. He didn’t think too much about why. 

Whenever he thought of Mun-Yeong touching others the way she did with him, the urge to punch something came over him. Preferably whoever else was getting her attention. But he never saw her with other boys. Despite all the attention she received, she seemed ignorant to their interest. 

As he caught sight of Seung-Jae he snapped out of his thoughts, he needed to ask her a favor. She was on the phone has he approached her, voice soft but audible, “I’m sorry, do you want me to come over? I can be there in ten minutes..” She trailed off as she turned around to find him standing there. Her eyes lit up as if she had just conjured an extraordinary idea. “You know what, let me call you back. Destiny just showed up.” 

His face twisted in confusion at her words, but he didn’t question her, still thinking of the favor he needed to ask. 

“Moon Gang-Tae, what a pleasant surprise, do you know that today is a very special day?”

Great, they were already on the right track. 

“Yes, I know. I wanted to ask you a favor actually.” 

He had gotten closer to Seung-Jae as a result of hanging out with Mun-Yeong, she was nice and fiercely loyal to her friend. He was happy that Mun-Yeong had a friend like that, at times her other “friends” didn’t seem completely genuine. 

“A favor? What favor? I have something I want to ask you too.” 

She swung her arms, inquisitive look on her round face. 

He clumsily reached into his back, pulling out a box that was wrapped with shiny paper and a simple silver bow. It was thin and rectangular in shape. 

He handed it to Seung-Jae, “Can you...um if you don’t mind, can you give this to Mun-Yeong? It’s nothing special but I wanted to give her a gift.” He mumbled under his breath.

Seung-Jae slowly took the box, surveying it with spacious eyes, illustrating why Mun-Yeong’s playful nickname for her was Bambi. 

“I want to counter your favor with a different favor. Can you bring this to Mun-Yeong yourself?”

He stood silently, perplexed by her question. Why would he do that? He’s never been inside Mun-Yeong’s house, the few times her driver didn’t show up and he walked her home, he had simply done that, walked her home. He would stutter out a quick goodbye and be on his way. 

“You really don’t know huh?” She looked at him like he was the stupidest person on earth before sighing and whispering under her breath, “This guy is really something else.” 

This was hands down the most confounding discussion he had never had. 

“Just take it to her yourself, trust me.” She pushed the box back into his hands, rolling her eyes at him before striding off, “Don’t just stand there. Bring it to her, now.” 

That was how he found himself at the sleek building, twisting his fingers, he didn’t even know how to get to Mun-Yeong. With trepidation, he finally entered going to the front desk, he had never been in a place this fancy. 

“Good afternoon sir, how may I help you?”

“Um...I..um..well.” He floundered over his words, cursing Seung-Jae for placing him in this predicament. Until he got a savior in the form of a snappy, loud driver. 

A strong hand landed on his shoulder and with a jolt, he twisted around, to the calculating eyes of Mun-Yeong’s personal driver, Mr. Lee. 

“Moon Gang-Tae was it? What are you doing here?” 

He felt minuscule under the intense gaze and it took all of his fortitude, not to look away, it felt like a test he couldn’t afford to fail. 

“I am...um I came to bring Mun-Yeong a birthday gift. I know today is her birthday.” 

Mr. Lee’s hand tightened on his shoulder, he quietly winced in pain and then the hand was gone. And he was rewarded with a slight curve of the lip, it was too small to call a smile but it was on its way. 

“Is that so? Okay.” Mr. Lee then turned to the smiling worker at the front desk, and within second he was given a name tag that he carefully placed on his uniform shirt. Moon Gang-Tae. He was informed to go to the sixtieth floor, only one elevator took you there. 

“Don’t hurt her.” Mr. Lee said with iron in his voice, and his steps echoed on the marble floor as he stomped away. 

Gang-Tae stood speechless at his words, hurt her. He would never dream of it. He didn’t have the capacity to even think of hurting her. He was counting the seconds until she decided this friendship was no longer worth her precious time, on that day he would know pain like no other. But him hurt her, inconceivable. 

He shuffled outside the glamorous door, it looked more expensive than everything in his own home. He knew that Mun-Yeong came from wealth, but to see it so visibly was daunting. 

With his heart in his throat, he brought his shivering fist up, curled his fingers and knocked. First softly and when that went unanswered he knocked harder. 

He heard movement behind the door and then she appeared. Looking like a fallen angel in all black, she donned a short black dress with long sleeves and a short pleated shirt, gold buttons shined remarkably on her chest. On her creamy long legs were knee-high socks, his brain stopped and then reset at the sight. 

“Gang-Tae? What are you doing here?” She pulled him in the lavish space, all smooth marble and hard wood. Everything was neat and organized, it looked like something out of an architectural design magazine. 

She looked up at him with dewy eyes and that’s when he noticed the slight red that rimmed them as well. She had been crying and on her birthday, why? That was unacceptable. 

Instinctively he reached out with sure hands, brushing against her eyes, “You’ve been crying? Are you okay?” He yearned to draw her into his arms and fight whoever had made her cry on this special day. 

Her head descended as she rubbed at her eyes, before looking back with a joker smile, only the corners of her mouth moved, “I’m fine. Just had something in my eye.” The lie settled in the air and he allowed her this moment of dishonesty. Sometimes it was hard for him to put his true feelings into words too. Pushing her wouldn’t yield the desired outcome. 

“Anyway, what are you doing here? Did you come to check on me? How did you even get in? I haven’t added you to the guest list yet.”

Yet.  She had plans to add him to some exclusive list, he straightened up in satisfaction. 

“Happy Birthday Mun-Yeong, I brought you a gift.” He pulled the box from where he had it hidden in his pocket, looking away as he pressed it into her hands. 

She gasped, looking between him and the box, unraveling the box and lifting the cover. If he had been looking at her, he would have seen the tears that filled in her eyes, the soft o that formed on her lips, the way her body melted as she saw his present. 

Unfortunately he missed all that. 

On a plush bedding, laid a gold pen, besotted with small diamonds, on the very top sat a larger diamond that sparkled with the natural light that filtered into the room, as she turned it over, her own named stared back at her in looping letters, Ko Mun-Yeong. 

Her silence was unsettling. 

“I know it’s not much....but when I saw it I thought of you. You write such beautiful words, I thought it was..fitting that you have a worthy pen.” 

Silence continued. 

Until there was a whimper and suddenly he had an armful of crying Mun-Yeong. He stood paralyzed as she clutched to him, fingers twisting in his uniform shirt, her tears wet on his chest. Delicately, he brought his arms up to encompass her, trembling fingers on her back and she grounded in closer and that broke his resolve, he wrapped her up tightly, ever so carefully stroking her hair. 

His own heart felt shattered as he felt her break apart in his arms. 

“It’s okay. Don’t cry. Everything is going to be okay.” 

He uttered those words to her, they were lies even to his ears. He was not okay. He needed a minute for his brain to catch up with everything that was occurring. But his drive to protect her overrode his drive to protect himself. 

She tearfully started to talk, “Every year, they tell me they’ll be here. That we’ll eat together as a family, I get so excited. Everyone thinks it’s great having rich parents, but I never see them. I spend all my time alone in this huge apartment, the only person I ever eat with is Sang-In. Then the day after gifts show up, pretty empty gifts that mean nothing to me. I just want...”

The sentence is left incomplete, but the rest is clear, want my parents. I just want love. Zombie Kid becomes clearer. 

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”  He lets her cry into his shirt, until her whimpers peter off. She doesn’t leave his arms, but he feels her head lifting and he glances down to meet her gaze. 

“Gosh, I’m so sorry I cried all over you.” 

“I didn’t mind, I’m glad I was here to be your tissue.” He means it with all his heart. 

She lets out a wet laugh, “You are the most ridiculous person I’ve ever met.” 

You’re the most amazing person I’ve ever met. One day he’ll say it out loud. 

“I’m relieved my awful gift didn’t make you cry, my brother always says I’m a horrible gift giver.” He reaches back to scratch his neck nervously. 

She looks back down at the pen with wonder-filled eyes, “I love it. It’s the best gift I’ve ever received, every time I write I’ll think of you.” 

Their eyes meets and its as if there is a gravitational pull, she grabs his shoulders and he finds himself leaning down bridging the gap between them, their lips inching closer and closer together, his heart thumping out of his chest, he’s sure she can hear it. She licks her delectable lips, now millimetres away and then his stomach grumbles loudly. The sound loud enough to smack them out of the moment, he violently blushes, wishing that he would sink into the ground. 

Her light giggle permeates the air and as he watches the joy on her face, his shame fades, he would be the butt of every joke if it meant seeing her smile. 

                            <3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3

He hadn’t expected her to agree, actually hadn’t even meant to ask her, but as usual when around her his brain wasn’t able to function properly. That’s how he found himself inviting her for dinner at his house. Her enthusiasm was unanticipated therefore he knew that he couldn’t rescind the invitation after seeing her elation.  

Alas, they got on a bus and ventured off to his house, he was too terrified of her driver to accept her offer to have him drive them, and once she had put on heeled boots he knew he wouldn’t let her walk the distance. 

Her beauty did not go unnoticed on the bus ride, several times he found himself seething at random men who deemed it appropriate to devour her with their eyes. He didn’t notice her knowing smile as he had placed his body directly behind her, shielding her from their hunger gaze. 

It was with a huge sigh of relief that they finally exited the bus and made the quick walk to his humble abode. Their fingers brushing, the temptation to clasp her hand in his was astronomical. But he fought it off, too much of a coward for something so bold and revealing. 

His house was nothing compared to her luxurious apartment but still her first words were, “It’s lovely.” And his... fondness grew, if that was even possible. 

They both removed their shoes at the door, and his mother’s voice shouted out at the familiar sound, “You’re home a bit late, we were just about to start eating without you.”

He’d thought of calling ahead and asking threatening Sang-Tae to be on his best behavior, he knew they would both make a big deal about this, he’d never brought a girl home before, and never thought his first would be the girl of his dreams but his life was out of control lately. But he’d gotten distracted by the creeps on the bus and defending Mun-Yeong had taken priority. 

“Hi mom, actually.... um I have a...guest.” 

“Oh, is it Jae-Su? Come on in sweetie, I made more than enough food, he can join us.” 

Then he heard Sang-Tae join in, “No, tell him to go eat at his house. He’s always here, doesn’t he have his own family? Little punk.” 

He heard his mother’s resounding smack and Sang-Tae’s answering cry of pain and he walked further into his house, Mun-Yeong following closely behind with folded hands in front of her. He’d never seen her nervous before. 

All of  a sudden, her hand grabbed onto his arm, stalling his progression. He looked at her in question, watching as she nervously fixed her already faultless hair, “How do I look? Do I look okay?” 

She couldn’t be serious. He searched her face for the joke but found nothing but earnest honesty. That took his head for a spin, she didn’t know she was perfect. Wow. 

“You look pretty.” He found himself saying exactly what was on his mind for once, and was instantly glad about his decision, she rewarded him with the most brilliant smile, he desperately hopelessly wanted to kiss it and see if it tasted as mouthwatering as it looked. 

“Listen, it’s not that I don’t like you but you gotta eat at your house.....”  Sang-Tae’s voice trailed off as he rounded the corner and his eyes landed on them, then settling on just Mun-Yeong, his eyes widening in shock and then mischief. Gang-Tae mentally groaned. 

“Brother you brought your pretty...lady friend! How wonderful! Why didn’t you say so? She is always welcome here, come in, come in. Don’t spend all evening in the doorway.” He watched as his brother took Mun-Yeong by her shoulder, guiding her into the house, excitement bubbling in his voice. 

He followed behind them. 

Dinner was loud as usual with his family, he was scared that she would feel overwhelmed but after a few wide-eyed stares she joined the ruckus. Answering all of Sang-Tae’s ludicrous questions and politely complimenting his mother’s cooking, causing her to blush and wave it off.  With a heavy heart he realized that the most important people in his life were all in this room. He blinked away the happy tears that gathered in his eyes as he slurped his noodles. 

“So Mun-Yeong, you look beautiful today.” His mother gestured at her outfit, “Is it a special occasion? Or..”  She nodded and quietly stated, “Yes. Today is my birthday.” 

Gang-Tae watched more questions wash over his family’s face. Why was she spending it here with them? Why wasn’t she with her family? But with a quick slap of his hand on the table, he got their attention and firmly shook his head, no. They understood. 

“Well, thank you for joining us on such a special day. We should sing for you.”

His mother found some candles in a drawer and they stuck it in a cupcake, with only the soft glow from the candle, they sang for her, all ignoring the wetness that swam in her eyes.  Happy birthday to you. 

He waited with her outside, an old jacket of his wrapped around her slender figure, he’d noticed her shivering and shed the jacket immediately to give to her, ignoring her arguments. Lifting her hand and placing it on his stomach, “It’s okay I run hot.” Her fingers had trembled at bit on his stomach, sudden heat in her eyes as well before she drew her fingers back. 

Mr. Lee had sounded surprised that she was not home but had agreed to come collect her. 

The wind blew as they waited for him, sitting on the steps at the entrance of his house. She looked so small swimming in his jacket. His eyes darkened with desire seeing her wrapped up in him. 

“Usually, I spend my birthday alone, ignoring Sang-In and Seung-Jae because I want to believe my parents are going to show up. It’s always so shitty, but today, it wasn’t shitty at all. That’s thanks to you. You always show up when I need you.” 

He tried to decipher the emotion brimming in her eyes, but couldn’t quite place them, he had to be projecting, it was impossible that she was looking at him, the way he looked at her. His brain and his heart warred, screaming opposite messages rendering him lost. 

Then in the blink of an eye, he was found. 

Easily closing the distance between them, her lips found his, a soft press, skin against skin, time slowed down and all he could hear was their staggered breathing. He felt his body move on auto pilot, his hand reaching out to cradle her head, deepening the kiss, her mouth slide open and his tongue slithered in. Her taste exploded on his taste buds and he was eager for more. Her hands sunk into his thick hair, tugging softly, bursts of pain shot through his scalp and he moaned in pleasure. She crawled into his lap and he held on for dear life, pulling her back when she shifted away, lifting her easily and swallowing her gasp. 

They pulled apart with puffy wet lips, the desire in her eyes hitting him like a tidal wave. 

“Where did you learn to kiss like that? How many girls are you saving?” She panted out teasingly, but he could hear an edge of truth in her voice, he blushed both at her inquiry and how unbelievably sexy she sounded. 

“No one. Just you. It’s always been just you.” 

“Good.” And he was pulled into another mind-melting kiss. 

                     <3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3

Suspended. For a week. Principal Oh had scolded him until his ears were scarlet, he’d sat squirming as the man berated him for using his fists instead of his words. His mother was not going to be happy with him, his grades were subpar at most, Mun-Yeong had tried tutoring him but they often got..distracted and most session would end with someone’s tongue in the other’s mouth. It was the absolute best. 

Jae-Su had also not been happy with him, “You’re my best friend what I am going to do without you for a week? Why did you have to punch him? What’s wrong with you lately?”

He hadn’t meant to really, it was like his body went primal and when he came back he was smashing in Daniel’s pompous face. He’d stayed late for practice, Mun-Yeong seeing him off with a warm kiss and “Have a good practice” and he still wasn’t used to that, the fact that he got to have that. Her kisses and her hugs and her smiles. They were all gifts and somehow he’d been lucky enough to be on the receiving end of those precious things. 

That’s when he had heard the voice, “You know she’s just trying to make me jealous right? There’s no way she’d choose you over me, girls like her they enjoy the chase.” The smarmy voice invaded his ears and he walked around him, pushing back his angry and insecurity. He, himself had thought similar ideas before, wondered what a girl like her could see in a guy like him? But she was steadfast, always quick to praise him and tell him what a great boyfriend he was, how happy he made her.  Soon, her words soaked into his skin and he started to believe her. He clung to that now. 

“Or maybe she likes slumming it, has some weird fantasy about being with someone beneath her. Bet she likes it roug--” And he never got to finish that disgusting sentence because Gang-Tae’s fist interrupted, slamming hard into his mouth, Daniel grabbed his face in shocked pain and suddenly they were wrestling limps on the ground. Coach had been the one to break them up, all of his basketball teammates looking on in awe, in pure disbelief at the participants of the fight. 

He sighed at the memory, it wasn’t his proudest moment, he was of the mindset that fighting didn’t solve anything but damn it had felt good to knock the smug smile off that bastard’s face. He could eat shit in the nicest way possible. 

However, now with time process, he was definitely second guessing his sporadic decision, how would Mun-Yeong feel about his fighting? She had mentioned on many occasions that she hated men who acted like women were a prize to be fought over, that’s why she loved how calm and rational he was. He groaned. 

He was so lost in his thoughts, that he missed the knock at his door. Then he jumped as it turned to pounding. He dropped the towel filled with ice that he was using to ice his knuckles and went to the door, cautiously pulling it open. 

Mun-Yeong instantly pushed her way in, speedily removing her shoes, before taking his hand and dragging him into his living room. She shoved him into the couch before plopping next to him. 

The stark anger on her pretty face shifted to worry when she saw the various bruises on his face, his lip was busted and he had a cut next to his right eye. it stung a little but he had carefully cleaned it when he got home, employing all the first aid techniques his mother had taught him. 

“I heard you got suspended! What happened? Why didn’t you call me right away? Who were you fighting? Are you crazy?” She fired off question after question, voice raising in octave after each other and he placed a finger on her lips to stop the diatribe of words. 

“I can’t answer your questions, if you keep asking me new ones.” 

She scoffed crossing her arms but quieted down, looking at him expectedly, okay go ahead, explain. 

“Well as you heard I got into a fight. I’m not proud of that but he had it coming, I would do it again.” He answered with conviction, her eyebrows lifted in surprise at his eyes. 

“What were you fighting about?”

The one question he didn’t want to answer. He loathed the idea of being another neanderthal in her eyes, someone who couldn’t control themselves and lashed out like a child. That wasn’t who he was, but his actions today said otherwise. The last thing he wanted was for her view of him to be altered. Losing her would break him, he knew it. 

But he also couldn’t lie. When they had stumbled into this relationship, she’d made him swear that no matter how painful it may be, she always wanted the truth in its entirety. Up until today, that had been an easy request to honor. 

So he stayed silent. 

She moved closer, gentle fingers brushing over his bruises, pulling back as he winced. “Tell me, why did you fight today?”

With a quiet plead he begged, “Please, I don’t want to.” 

With finality she responded, “It was about me then, you fought someone trying to defend me.”

His head snapped up to look at her- how an earth did she know?-  expecting to see disappointment and instead he was met with....passion? She took his silence as agreement and her next words knocked him off his feet, “I know I shouldn’t but I find that really.....hot.” 

He gaped at her and suddenly, she lunged at him and he was knocked onto his back on the couch, her body smashed against his. “Will it hurt if I kiss you?” She breathlessly asked and he grabbed her neck, pulling her into a heated kiss. Wet tongues twirling and stroking, her breath hitched when he grabbed her waist, dragging her impossibly closer. Wet smacks reverberated in the room and he hissed when he felt her cool fingers creep under his shirt, nails scratching across his abs. 

The first time she’d seen him shirtless, she had gasped and then reached out with a bold hand, caressing his skin, “Mmmm all mine.” His cheeks had burned but he hadn’t argued, he was all hers, there was no competition. 

But they hadn’t gone beyond kissing yet, she would eagerly reach under his shirt during their make out sessions but he had yet to return the favor, despite her encouragement. He was scared of his own reaction. 

She loved bulldozing over his comfort zone though and seeming emboldened today she leaned back, he missed her body on his instantly, suppressing his own sad whimper, he raptly watched her.  She plucked his hands from there stationary position on his sides and lifted them, then slowly she brought them closer to herself. Soon the destination became clear. 

Her breast. 

His hands tense in fear and anticipation, before he felt the soft mounds underneath his hands. Electricity rapidly moved through his fingers. “Touch me.” She whispered with a sultry look from beneath dark lashes and he squeezed. 

She easily climbed into his lap, rejoining their lips, forcing his mouth open with her tongue, as she moaned at his hands exploration of her breast, he could feel her hard nipples through the thin material of her uniform shirt. She began to grind on his him, he realized with thunderous clarify that he was hard, all of the blood surging to his burgeoning erection. 

Instinctively, he grinded up into her, moving one hand to tug her skirt up and out of the way, groaning at the sudden heat he could feel though her panties. She was panting, bobbing in his lap, as they grinded through their clothes. 

Wet mouths met over and over, until they just hovered over each other’s lips, breathing into each other as their bodies met in harsh collisions. She was moving faster now, grinding with intent as he roughly handled her breasts and he felt the moment she reached euphoria, she threw her head back, nails digging into her shoulder as she shuddered in his arms. 

He watched her face intently, her pretty red lips, her eyes closed in pleasure and that was all it took to push him over the edge, his orgasm knocked him back, his vision clouded up and he groaned at the warm stickiness in his pants. 

“Next time we’ll do that with less clothes.” 

He mewled at her words, too spent to become hard again so soon. 

After freshening up in the bathroom, she’d dragged him into his bed, snuggling into his arms, he started to pull away knowing that this was a dangerous game they were playing, they couldn’t fall asleep. His mother was accepting but even she would not want two horny teenagers in bed in her house. She soothed him, “Don’t worry, I’m not staying I just want to cuddle a little. I set an alarm, I’ll leave soon. Just hold me.”

He wrapped her up in his arms, as she placed her hand and head on his chest. Fingers rapping on his chest before she fell into a deep slumber. He watched her sleeping face in awe, she was his girlfriend and they had just...did that on the couch. 

He felt his own eyes getting heavy with sleep, and soon started to drift off too, for once not having any dreams, because his biggest dream was already a reality. 

[abloomntime]

A Bloom In Time Ch27 Welcome To Mafia Town

You know. It feels a lot better sleeping on something soft than it was sleeping on a hard cold wooden floor. Also much better to wake up with having sore muscles for a third time. Slowly waking up, blue eyes peered out awake to the world, blinking away the blurry vision that came with it. Where was she again? The first thing she saw was a very dark purple and she blinked. Was it still dark? Well, yes. It was still dark and other than a blue light filling up the attic making it clearer to see for her.  ......And slowly she started to remember what happened last night. Groaning, the grown woman slowly sat up on the bed and reached a hand up to push the long bangs out of her face, she felt so tired even after sleeping. But strangely relieved in a way. The memories of last night poked through the morning fog and Poppy groaned, rubbing her face more remembering the nightmare and talk the two had last night. Man. And here she thought her new life adventure wouldn't get any weirder than what it already was. Poppy paused feeling something soft bump against her hand and a grumble that was deeper than her own voice. Pulling her head away from her hand she blinked over and saw Snatcher of all people laying curled around her like some giant shadow snake, his head resting on his claws as he laid there just a foot or two away from her. He looked rather peaceful. Was Snatcher here the entire night after she drifted off back to sleep? Did he fall asleep too? Could ghosts even sleep? Do they even need it? She thought the whole 'Rest in Peace' thing was always just a nice way of showing respect for those who had passed on, but now she wasn't too sure how literal it might've been at this point. Meeting a ghost like Snatcher was definately an eye opener, he wasn't like the usual descriptions of ghosts at all she had heard. Ghosts were supposed to be white as sheets and yell 'BOO' all the time, or stay invisible and silent. Snatcher wasn't white OR invisible, and with his loud mouth he definately wasn't silent either most of the time. But she felt an odd gratitude upon seeing him right there after she still fell asleep. He had cleared up a lot of the mess for her and she couldn't have been happier. Yellow eyes opened up once he felt the floor shifting next to him and he stared right at her.

"Oh. You're awake," he said pushing himself up with his arms and stretching his long body out similar to a bushcat before his body as usual floated up into the air, looking at her. "It looks like you had a nice nap."

"Uh. Yeah.'' She gave a small tired smile yawning again and stretching her body out, stretching her arms out and looking behind her. A part of Snatcher's tail was behind her and she guessed that must've been the super soft thing she was sleeping against. She had no idea ghosts could be solid or so soft, another surprise she guessed. Poppy slowly pushed herself to her feet. Weird dark blue dress still on her and the fake rubies around her collar shining in the dim blue light, her long braid already messy from her sleep. Smiling, Poppy looked back up to him. "Were you really with me all night?"

Snatcher stared at her for a moment before frowning a bit. "Well didn't you ask me to? I'm not completely heartless you know. I make sure all my employees are situated well. "

"I did kinda ask that didn't I?" She yawned and walked over to one of the shopping bags when she saw it. Oh yeah. She still had a few things to put away from yesterday didn't she? "You mind leavin'?"

"What for?"

"So I can put on somethin' else besides this dress reject." She gestured to her dress.

"Oh." Of course she would want to do that. With a cough he turned away and started to melt through the floor. "Right. You get on that."

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

Poppy was feeling great! Better than she had been feeling in a whole while! After a brief moment of switching clothing and putting her newly aquired tools and clothes away, Poppy appeared in the control room riding the orange platform down from the attic. Hair retied back in a neat long braid and her wearing one of the new dresses she had bought for herself. The white one with purple flowers, she felt good enough to wear one of her favorite things today. FLOWERS!! And of course the glittering gold bracelet on her wrist. Oh. And the heavy duty leather apron around her shoudlers, she never left home without it. The small bag of pons sitting in the larger of the two pockets of it. When she rode down she found Snatcher frowning, arms crossed, listening to the two children babbling on about something and stuffing their faces with those take out things Cookie ordered for them to go, she thought Cookie said they were called 'Hamburgers' if she remembered right. Like some kind of fancy greasy sandwhiches. But he looked up when he saw a blur coming towards them from the corner of his eye, said eyes blinked in surprise a bit in the cute purple flower printed dress she wore. Well this was different from her usual blue attire he was used to her wearing, but he had no right to judge someone's clothing.

"Fancy new clothes. It-...I-It looks nice on you,'' he complimented.

She smiled in thanks making her way down the ramp heading towards the two children and Snatcher. Both were now staring at her silently eating. "Thanks! I bought it just yesterday. And I see ya two are already up and ready to cause trouble ah presume." Both nodded with big smiles and she noticed they were wearing the same kind of outfits again but with different patterns again. Hattie's whole outfit and hat were a pink minus the pants she wore which was a beige color, and bow was wearing a light blue dress with a white jacket with purple buttons, light blue cat pockets, and a pink bow on the back, another pink bow in her hair, and purple boots. These kids must really like the same style of clothes. "You two look hungry huh?"

"Better than apples!," Hattie mumbled holding up what looked like one or two bites remaining of her burger.

Poppy chuckled. "Well lucky for all of us I aim to change that today! Cookie mentioned how they sell a lot of human food in ..Mafia Town right? Well, that's where I'm headin' today!"

"What?!," Snatcher asked bewildered, "You want to go there?! Bad idea! Very, very bad idea! That place is full of foul men who'll rob you for a single corn chip! I thought you already had enough excitement yesterday!"

Poppy just smiled triumphantly back. "Well, yeah. I did have a rough start, but now I'm all fired up and ready to see where the day takes me. And right now it's tellin' me ta get these girls and myself some food!" Both girls happily threw their hands up with a loud cheer at the mention of yet another trip out together for the three of them, but Snatcher looked slightly worried.

"Now? Don't you even know what kind of people live in a town like that?!," he argued back shaking his head, "It's asking for trouble to happen AGAIN if you go there. Aren't you dealing with enough stuff?"

"We can protect her!," Bow happily said before tossing the rest of the burger she ate for breakfast into her mouth.

Snatcher didn't look the slightest bit convinced. "Yeah because that worked so well last time."

This time Poppy frown one hand on her hip the other pointing at him. "Ok purple onion. If you have a problem with mahself goin' out and gettin' food for YOUR kids and taking care of them while yer galavanting off haunting whatever forest ya want, then please. Feel free ta get off ya rump and go buy them food yerself if you have a problem with ME taking care of their needs like YOU wanted. If not shut her trap! I'm not a pet bird you can just keep in a cage. I'm a human and we need food!" Snatcher stared at her silently for a moment, stunned at the sudden berauge of sass thrown his way...but he frowned at the children who giggled at him being put in his place.Poppy waved a hand. "If you're so worried 'bout what happened yesterday, you're more than welcome to join us. I'd appreciate the company and help you'd provide, but otherwise ya'll can go back to your fore-"

"OH ALRIGHT!!" He scowled and recrossed his arms like a pouting child. "I might as well since someone has to keep you out of trouble!" Actually it was because he was worried about her. The kids can hold their own against the mafia, and to him they were nothing but pesty mice. But he LOATHED the idea of Poppy being around so many men especially ones like the mafia. So it would be better to do, besides. His head minion could handle things without him for a little while longer.

Poppy nodded smiling again and waved a hand at the girls. "Go wash off those greasy hands of yours and we'll leave ok?" Both nodded and ran off towards the kitchen, Hattie shoving the rest of her food into her mouth as she did.

"Shouldn't you eat something too before we head out?," Snatcher asked her raising a brow.

"Nah. I'll be fine. Not the first time I'd skip breakfast-" She was cut short when Snatcher literally grabbed her by the shoulders, turned her around, and pushed her towards the kitchen. "Hey! What gives!?"

"Fat chance. You go eat something before you leave right now. I'm not going to be following a growling stomach all day."

She protested but relented after Snatcher said he wouldn't teleport them easily to this Mafia Town, and she STILL wasn't fond of the kids' version of travel, and it'd be easier with Snatcher teleporting them. So reluctantly she agreed but just grabbed an apple out of the small basket in the fridge. Taking notice that there was only a few eggs left in the carton after Cookie's omlets, only a few apples left, and half a wheel of cheese. How could these kids just eat these all the time? Following the children out of the kitchen back to the waiting Snatcher, while also carrying a giant woven basket she found as it'd be easier to carry the food in, he sighed again and held out his hands to the small giggling girls, who both grabbed onto his large clawed hand with ease, and he held out the other claw to her.

"When someone hangs onto me it's easier to teleport them and saves energy for me. Since I'm teleporting long distance I suggest you hold on so we're not seperated in town."

Well that was certainly something she didn't want happening so she grabbed onto his hand and he curled his claws gently around her before summoning the magic to transport them all down there.  The teleporting worked as quickly as any other time he did it. Purple energy completely took over the world around them like the many times he's done this before and swallowed them all whole. He's done this plenty of times before teleporting himself places or taking the girls home against his will when they fell asleep in his forest. Poppy closed her eyes when purple invaded her vision out of habit. One moment of dark black-purple later the four of them ended up somewhere much more warmer by how Poppy felt the air suddenly shift.

"You can open your eyes now."

And she did. And blinked at WHAT she saw now. They were on a beach! A literally sunny beach with the sun beating down on them and in front of them was a small lot of sand, filled with palm trees and picnic table with umbrellas sticking out from the top of them. A blue and white striped tent was set up to the far right end of the sand lot and a giant stone building of some sort in front of them. Snapping her head behind her, the sparkling reflection of the vast ocean met her confused gaze with the gorgeous view of the morning sun making the soft waves sparkle as they rolled by. Directly in front of them all was a giant pair of red doors and two men standing guard on either side of them. In fact there was a lot of men in fancy blue suits and aprons walking around where they were, most gawking at them from the sudden apearence of a grown woman and two children in a flash of purple.

"Wow." Poppy said breathlessly staring out at the ocean. She could see some kind of land in the distance, a bouey, and some kind of ship slowly passing by. "Look at that view! I've never been to the ocean before!"

"Yes, yes. Very pretty," came the annoyed voice of Snatcher making her snap outta it. "Don't we have something to do?"

She blinked. "OH! Right I-" She paused...looking around but not seeing the giant sixteen foot ghost anywhere. "Hey. Where are you?"

"Look at your shadow."

She did and humped a few steps back seeing two yellow eyes from her shadow staring back up at her. "Snatcher??"

"Who else?," he asked and she saw his glowing yellow mouth as he spoke from her shadow. "You think it's easy to be walking around in the open for someone like me? It'll be easier for both of us if I remain in the shadows unless nessasary."

Well...It might be easier for her to walk around freely without drawing a bunch of attention to her being followed by by a giant ghosts babysitting her like she was a little girl herself, and if this place was as dangerous as he said, she's appreciate the extra help. He had a couple good points.

Nodding she looked around, basket in hand. "Ok. Now let's see. Where do we go from here?"

"This way!," Bow called from over by the blue and white tent before running up a large pair of stairs behind it.

Poppy followed across the sand lot with Hattie running past her and joining Bow up the stair case and waiting for her at the top of the stairs. Around the tent she went looking around and up the stone stairs she went. At the top was a cobblestone floor and more tables. The two continued to lead Poppy down a cobblestone pathway and all the while gave her a wonderful view of the ocean, seeing a couple boats and rocks sticking out of the water. A couple times they would pass another blue suited man and they would either walk past or gave them a passing look but nothing else. Didn't seem so bad so far. But she was curious about all the contruction and spray painted walls as they passed. When she asked, Hattie said 'This place is always being rebuilt' and explained the graffiti was done by Mu before Cookie took her to live with her away from this place. She saw a bunch of 'Down With The Mafia' sprayed on walls, some kind of man with a giant mustache and red hat, and few of MU herself. Guess Hattie was telling the truth about all that.

"So where are we supposed to buy food around this ..Uh.. Rebuilt place?" She asked them glancing at all the incomplete buildings they passed.

"Past the docks," Bow answered slowly down her pace from in front of her to walk next to Poppy. Gazing up at her with a neutral gaze before staring at her free hand not carrying the basket before reaching up and grabbing it. Poppy without giving it much thought curled her hand back to hold hers making the small girl light up light a firework as they both followed Hattie skipping a few yards in front of them. Snatcher smiled with glee at the sight between Bow and Poppy.

They continued along the cobblestone pathway until it collided with an actual docks. A large building that looked like a giant seafood resteraunt was on the left side of the docks with blue tables was there and on the right side was a pair of docks, with a few more strong looking men there  unloading fish from a ship stationed on one side of the docks as they passed, passing then some kind of giant barrels on their sides and then back up yet another cobblestone path leading up to what looked like a town square to Poppy. Cobblestone everywhere. With three Green, red, and orange-tan giant buildings on the right side of the water fountain that was smack dab in the middle of the square. The green building had a giant sign saying 'Blooming' but looked dark inside, the red building had a hamburger with the words 'Spicey Buns' on the signs but was blocked off by yellow rope, and the only one that seemed open was the tan building who was currently being manned by a single man with the sign reading 'Juice'. The left sight of the square was just a giant brick wall and clock tower, showing it was nine thirty four in the morning. Still an early day. She continued to follow Hattie until she stopped in front of another pair of stairs leading up to another level of the stone wall and she pointed. Of course Poppy followed her holding Bow's hand and up the slightly bigger steps they went until meeting another cobblestone floor and the first thing she saw was a stand with another one of those blue suited men behind it.

"Here it is!," Hattie said standing next to her and pointing down the left where it turned into a street like market.

Guess this was the market of human food Cookie spoke about and Poppy smiled. Well at least now she could be able to get what she needed now. The only stand to the right seemed empty so Poppy went right up to the first stand in front of her already catching the man's attention as he sat behind it and looked at her as she approuched. Looking at the products on the shelves behind him and next to him was a bunch of cheese wheels. The entire area was kinda dark being in a closed in area and torches ran down the length of the market area. Poppy stopped in front of the stand as the man looked at her.

"Mafia sell finest cheese aged by Mafia. Would red haired lady like to buy?," the man spoke in a deep voice as she looked around.

Eventually stopping at one cheese wheel that looked pretty good and pointed at it. "Yeah. That one there please."

The man smiled and grabbed it. "Mafia enjoys sells. Mafia will sell it to red haired lady for fifthteen pons."

Poppy blinked at him for a moment raising a brow. "Fifthteen pons for one cheese wheel?"

"Mafia make good pure chedder. Take it or leave."

"....." Well considering things were a lot more expensive than when she was alive that she remembered, then she guessed it was a fair price and she had over twenty five thousand of the small things. Reaching into the front pocket of the apron she pulled out a handful of those small green emeralds and counted out fifteen before dropping them into the man's outstretched hand. She also noticed that he was wearing an apron, that said 'Kiss The Cook' with a small red lipstick kiss mark. How odd.

The man took the pons and counted the ones in his hand with his eyes for a moment before smiling. "Mafia thanks lady for purchase. Here is cheese." He held out the cheese to her and Poppy happily took it from him.

"Thank you." Placing it into the giant basket she carried and started off towards the other stands, children following.

"You know you shouldn't have paid that fool such a large amount." Snatcher whispered out from her shadow that barely showed in the dim torch light. "I can be very persausive."

"The last thing  need is you scarin' off the people I'm trying to buy from," Poppy shot back tossing a quick frown over her shoulder at him before she continued. "As a fellow storekeeper let me do my own business and hush up." Snatcher grumbled but hushed up much to her pleasure. She didn't want to explain why she was talking to the ground behind her to strangers. The next stand was just a couple yards from the first and this one looked like it was selling fruit, mostly bananas and apples. Poppy breifly wondered if this is where the girls originally got their apples back on the ship before stopping in front of it and admiring the bananas. She had only seen a couple of them once. When the royal food wagon was making it's way to the Queen's summer home she visited whenever the prince did. They were tropical plants and as her father said tropical plants and fruits were impossible to grow where they were due to the fall and winter seasons. So seeing the oppertunity to obtain some she happily smiled and pointed at a couple bunches that looked ripe to her. "How much for three bundles?"

"Mafia sells Mafia island bananas for pens pons each,'' the man explained and Poppy blinked at him for a moment looking exactly like the other men she'd seen but shrugged it off.

"And those apples?"

"Mafia sell those same prince as Mafia Island bananas."

"Oh." So about thirty or forty pons. Seemed a little expensive for bananas but she wasn't going to complain about getting food she could actually eat. To cut losses she decided to only buy two bundles of bananas and one bundle of apples instead of the three bundles of bananas and into the basket they went. The kids giving dirty looks to the mafia men around them as they went. And FINALLY she found something she was hoping to find around here. A meat market...Or a stand what sold fish in this market. A bunch of fish were hung along the stands wall and the man manning the stand had his sleeves rolled up currently deboning a fish but looked up when Poppy stopped in front of him gazing up at the fish hung around. "Hello. Can you tell me how old the fish are?"

"Mafia caught fish from ocean this morning,'' the man explained pulling his hands away from work and wiping them down with a damp towel next to him. "Straight from docks. Super fresh."

She smiled at that glancing around and setting her eyes on two very nice looking bass on the right hand side and pointing. "How about those two bass there? Those looking mighty juicy."

"Mafia needs thirty five pons for fish."

.....She blinked. "Hold up. You want thirty five pons PER fish?" He nodded and she frowned. "Back in my day in was ten per fish! That's ludacris!''

"Mafia want paid is what mafia is owed. If lady won't pay price, lady no gets fish," she stated back firm,

Poppy could feel her eye twitch as her annoyance spiked a bit but took a breath to cool herself down. Just remember. This wasn't her time. Things were different now. No use getting upset over a thousand year difference she couldn't control. "Ok, I'll pay. Just please get me those two fish."  Reluctantly and much to Snatcher's silent annoyance she did end up paying another seventy ones for two fish. Poppy was starting to think her choice to accept Mr. Grooves offer was the right one after all. She needed the pons for this definately. They all watched as the man took some kind of paper from under the stand and pull the fish down to wrap them all in....after he carefully counted all the pons she gave him of course. And she took them with a 'thanks' tho it did come off a bit annoyed as she moved along the last few stands now in just a slightly more sour mood. And slowly the basket filled up with just a few more things. Some eggs one man claimed to be taken from the birds that morning, she found someone trying to sell what looked like slightly spoiled milk but managed to find a whole bottle of it that was pretty fresh, and bacon stri-......Bacon? How the peck did that get there? .....Snatcher snatching bacon from Cookie's dishes suddenly flashed across her mind and she shot a look over her shoulder to Snatcher who still remained hidden as the girls boredly/curiously walked around near them and looked around. By the time they got to the end of the stands(where the market ended in a dead end meaning they'd have to turn around and go back the way they came to exit), the basket was heavy with a giant cheese wheel, a glass bottle of milk, one carton of eggs, two bundles of banansa, a bag of apples, two large fish, and a mysterious pound of bacon that just appeared out of no where. Usually the basket would've been heavy for someone but considering her less than normal strength, it was pretty easy to carry without tiring. The last stand didn't look like it sold any kind of food items like the others but a man sitting there noticed her curious look at it and he pointed behind him at the white shirts Saying 'Mafia #1' hung up near him.

"You like Mafia? Buy clothes supporting Mafia! Mafia is number one!," he gladly stated.

Oh. He was selling clothing? Well she already saw what everything else had to offer, might as well see what this had to offer her too. And too Snatcher's protests of lightly tugging her dress to get her to stop, she walked over to him. The stand on closer inspection sold the same blue suits and aprons all the men here wore along with OBVIOUSLY spray painted gold statues of said men and those white t shirts. ......Not really things she was really interested in or needed....Except maaaybe that one thing right there-

"I can't BELEIVE you actually wasted ten pons on that!," Snatcher's rasped out as they walked along the cobblestone back towards the town square.

"Oh shush. I could use one of these for regular house work," Poppy muttered placing the newly aquired 'Kiss the Cook' apron neatly into her larger leather apron pocket to keep it off the food. She could use an apron just for cooking and other things besides her work apron. "Besides, why are you complaining about me buying an apron? You couldn't even pay for the bacon ya'll snuck into mah basket."

"Hey! You have no proof it was me firstly! Secondly even if I did do that, what purpose would I have to do it? I'm DEAD. It's not like I could eat it if I wanted too anyways. I can't even taste anything if I wanted to," He argued back from her shadow as Poppy walked back down the steps towards the square holding Bow's hand again as the child happily smiled at her. "I bet it was one of those two."

"No it wasn't!," Hattie retorted back sticking her tongue out at Snatcher.

"Guys. Please, ya'll are out in public. Act like civilized people will ya-....." Poppy stopped at the last step down before stepping back onto the cobblestone streets of the square she had passed before, Hattie running into her leg and falling onto her behind on one step, her hat falling over her face. Shaking her head, Hattie pushed the hat back up from her face and asked Poppy what was her big deal but the grown woman just stared at something. Beinf on the flat ground, Snatcher couldn't see what was going on either and was about to bark at Poppy demanding what she was staring at when the red head suddenly scowled. "HEY!" Her eyes narrowed at the sight of two of those big burly men corning a poor little old man back against a brick wall, but she had shouted when one of them pushed him down gaining their attention and began stomping her way over to them. Bow grabbing and pulling back on her hand to try and get Poppy to stop.

"Wait, Poppy! Don't!"

Poppy didn't listen to Bow's words and instead pulled her hand away before placing and big basket into her arms. "Hold this for a sec." And then stomping her way back over to the men and stood before them, hands curled into fists on her hips and deep scowl present on their and her faces. "HEY! What the bloody PECK do ya think yer doin' to that poor old man!?" Old man? Huh. Well compared to Poppy's age that old man was probably a baby, but never mind that now.

"Shoo! Mafia can't have lady witness while Mafia teaching lesson!," one of the two men sternly said back but Poppy remained unbudging.

"You'll got one chance and I'm only askin' nicely once. Please leave that man alone," she spoke as calmly as she could despite the annoyed tone on her face and in her voice.

"What do we do with eye witness?," the mafia man asked the other mafia man.

The other man looked at Poppy like she was a harmless flower raging at them. "Teach lesson to those who interfere with Mafia!" He reached a hand out but it was quickly smacked away with a loud WHACK sound making the man recoil and cradle his hand to his chest.

"Do. NOT. Touch me!," Poppy warned in a low and slow voice. "I'm only going to warn you once."

"Mafia won't bow to small lady!!," the other one suddenly bellowed looking at her with anger but Poppy just rose a bored brow when he raised a hand to punch.

"POPPY!! LOOK OUT!!"

"Prepare to feel Mafia's Wrat- GAH!!"

That was it. How it all ended. As soon as the bigger man went to punch her, Poppy grabbed a hold of his arm and in an impressive desplay of speed, turned on her heel and literally threw him over her body by his arm and slammed him quite hard to the ground with a very loud thud. Everyone stood there for a moment quietly stunned from what just happened, except for the man who was laying on the stone ground groaning with the face of Poppy looming over him scowling as if she had the fury of a thousand burning suns....Before blowing the bangs from her face and snapping her scowl over her shoulder back to the other man who flinched at the sudden blue eyes flashing at him.

"Ya'll got somethin' to say 'bout this?" The man still cradling his hand shook his head no furiously with a look of fear on his face and Poppy nodded still scowling. "Good. Now take your buddy here and scram!" The mafia man had just run off without another word as his pal just remained unconcious on the ground. Not that she really cared and turned around to the little old man who through all of this just flat out leaned against the wall slack jawed. But Poppy gave him a soft smile down at him. "Hey there, Mister. Are you alright?"

"Uh-...I-..Y-Yes! I am!," he answered back in an old but happy sounding voice. Smiling behind that white mustache of his, he slowly got up and reached a hand up to readjust his glasses. He couldn't have been a foot or two taller than the girls. Such bullies for picking on a poor defenseless old man like this. Dusting himself off he smiled at Poppy. "Thank you very much young lady. You won't believe how many times a month this happens."

"What did they want?"

The old man sighed. "Money. I've been saving all my pons to move out of this pecking town to go live in a nice quiet neighborhood, but every week they harass me for 'protection' money. But I never give in."

"Oh wow. That sounds aweful." She thought she heard Snatcher give a small 'mmhm' like he was right all along, but didn't comment on it. "I'm very sorry for that."

He waved her off. "No. Don't be. Just two more weeks and I should have enough to get out of here for good." He looked her over again and frowned. "You're a young  one. If I were you I'd get out of town while the getting's good. You don't want to get caught up in a place like this."

Poppy nodded in understanding. "Well, I'm glad you're ok." She held out her hand. "Do you need any help?"

He shook his head. "No, no. I'll be alright getting my way home. Not the first time this has happened and probably won't be the last before I leave."

"Alright. Be careful on your journey now.''

Hattie looked at the long shadow pertruding from Poppy and the yellow eyes blinking up from the ground. "Why didn't you do anything?"

"You ever heard the metaphor hell have no fury like a woman's scorn?" The raspy voice of Snatcher asked the child and Hattie shook her head. "Well it means a woman's anger is something you don't want to get the reveiving end of, Kid. And that saying happens to apply to this situation."

Poppy continued to stand there and waved the little old man good bye with a smile on her face sighing as a wave of calm came over her and she turned back around to look for the basket. She found it on the ground by Bow, who had been standing there watching the whole thing with one hand on the basket's handle patiently waiting for her. Poppy still smiling walked over and reached down to pick up the basket from Bow and pat her on the head...When another shadow fell over her. Poppy paused seeing the long shadow come over her. The head of the shadow was pointy and had a wide brim obviously some kind of hat and Poppy looked up towards the maker of the shadow over her, blinking at the sun's gleam blocking her veiw of the smiling pink wearing woman right in front of her.

"Well, well. Is THIS the famous woman he spoke of?," asked an obviously female voice.

"HAZELLE!?", Snatcher suddenly blurted out in shock blinking his yellow eyes out from the shadows....And immediately wanted to punch himself when the witch's copper orange eyes shifted their gaze over to the ghost attached to Poppy's shadow laying on the ground. But it was too late to stop the smug look on the witch's face as she seemed to quickly putt two and two together right in front of him.

"Well, I guess so! Hello, Snatchy.~ Fancy seeing you out here in broad daylight. Was the forest finally too gloomy for your tastes?," she asked in a calm manor that made the ghost growl.

"YOU WISH, WITCH!! WHAT THE PECK ARE YOU DOING HERE-" His question was answered immediately.

"TIMMY!!"

Hattie and Bow had run up to a small boy who looked maybe one or two years older than them in a hug and Poppy slowly stood up staring at the new comers to the party, the boy(Timmy as she heard) hugged his friends back and gave Hattie a friendly shove to her shoulder which she giggled and pushed back playfully. But Poppy still stared at the witch as she went back and forth with the ghost like she did it every day.......A witch?....A REAL WITCH?! Like the kind who rode on brooms, cooked up potions, had black cats, and did magic willy nilly!? HOLY PECK!! And there was one right here right in front of her. Poppy couldn't help but stared wide eyed at her. She didn't look like a typical witch like the tales she was told about. No green skin. No warts or black robes. Nothing. In fact she looked like a regular person. The only way one could really tell she was a witch was the pointy witch hat on her head which was a pink and white color, along with the rest of her clothes. Really bright  girly clothing if she said so herself.

"Can't a respectable witch and her apprentice go out and about practicing our trickery spells on all these meatheads?", she replied calmly back. "How was I supposed to know you all would be here too?"

"HMPH! Strange coincidence." Snatcher narrowed his eyes in annoyance with a scowl from her shadow.

"I'm sorry...Who are you?,'' Poppy asked confused to Hazelle.

The witch looked over at her and Poppy had to admit, she was very pretty for a witch. She thought they were all supposed to be ugly old ladies. The witch bowed tipping her hat at Poppy politely. "Oh sorry. How rude of me. My name is Hazel but with an extra L E at the end. Exactly how it's pronounced too! Nice to finally meet the lady behind my dear old friend's-...." She paused giving the scowling ghost a sly smirk. "...'New helper' he spoke about."

"Hazel?....You mean like Witch Hazel?"

Hazelle waved a hand. "Yes, Yes. The famous Witch Hazel. Yada yada. It's an old family name passed down to every man in the family in one form or another, but since the next generation was a girl they just decided to slap an extra L E at the end to add that feminine variation. It's complicated I know."

"Oh wow! I've never met a real witch before!" Poppy gawked wide eyed like a puppy. "Can you really do magic?!"

"Absolutely. But I don't think you've told me your name, Miss."

.....Poppy blinked. "OH!! Oh. How rude of me!" She smiled and stuck out a hand in polite greeting. "Howdy! Mah name's Poppy. Poppy Rose Bloomington! Nice ta meet ya!"

Hazelle smiled and shook her head besides Snatcher's grumbles before turning her head over and to the ground and the groaning mafia man on the ground raising a brow. "Well I must say, Ms. Bloomington, you really did a number on those goons. I like your style."

Poppy chuckled nervously and reached her free hand to rub her neck. "Well...I couldn't just let stand by and let them push around that poor old man could I?"

"What a coincidence! Timmy and I were just about to try out his new slime rain summoning on them! But then he noticed his little friends over there and stopped to watch the fireworks." She nodded her head over towards the children moving towards them.

"Timmy?," Poppy asked looking down to the little boy with strange blue markings on his face and a brown cap on his head. "Oh. Is this your son?" She flinched when Hazelle suddenly released a few high pitched giggles.

"Him? Oh no! It may look like it at first glance, but in reality I'm more of a teacher. He IS my apprentice after all. Gotta make sure those magical powers of his develope properly."

"Oh." Poppy looked down to the young boy smiling up at her and she smiled back. "Hello, there lil guy!"

He reached over to her and she blinked in surprise when he grabbed her hand and pulling his hat off his head before kissing the back of her hand like a gentlemen. Before smiling back up at her again. "Hello, Ma'am. A pleasure to make your aquiantance."

SNatcher all but bristled in sudden anger behind her and Poppy giggled at the adorable sight. "Well aren't ya a lil gentleman? Such nice manners!"

"Yes, Ma'am. My father taught me everything I know," Timmy said proudly letting go of her hand and placing his hat back on his head.

"Well he must be quite the gentlemen too raising such a polite young man."

Hazelle smirked again. "OH! Moonjumper's quite the nice and friendly guy. I'm sure he'd just LOVE to meet you too-'

"DON'T YOU HAVE PECKING HOCUS POCUS TO FILL YOUR HEADS WITH?!," Snatcher demanded in an angry voice already sick and tired of this ridiculous encounter.

"Oh. I guess you're right," Hazelle smiled down at Snatcher with a wink and turned. "Then I'll chat with you later, Snatchy dear.~ See you back in the forest." Throwing a look over her shoulder she tossed Poppy a smile and motioned for Timmy to follow her. "And I'll definately be seeing YOU later too, Red head. "

Snatcher growled as she left with Timmy trotting after her, and could feel anger oozing off of him like a building volcano would. He WOULD talk with Hazelle later, and she was NOT about to go flapping her gums to Moonboy and blow his cover!!!!

"You have a witch friend?," Poppy asked looking down to the shadow curiously waving bye and he growled.

"Unfortunately!.....She has her uses with her magic and potions, but she has absolute foolish behavior when it comes to personal boundaries," he huffed, "Are we done here? We better leave."

Poppy just rolled her eyes but agreed with Snatcher it was probably better to go before they all got in more trouble. Considering what she saw  with the poor old man and the unreasonable prices in her opinion, She figured it was better to leave while the getting was good. Beckoning the girls behind her, Poppy turned and started walking off back towards the way they came, leaving the man she flipped who was just now starting to push himself up. It'd be easier if Snatcher took them back the way they came right? While walking she thought she saw some of the men looking over at her when they passed but they quickly looked away when she snapped them a glare that could crack a diamond. She guessed the fella who ran off gossiped about what just happened to his pal by the water fountain, ok. Not that she cared. Let it serve as a warning to anyone else if they tried any funny business now. The small group went back the way they came. Back down the cobblestone path onto the docks and slowly making their way across it, some men on the docks still unloading some shipment from the ships there. Poppy took a glance or two at the ocean and admired the pretty blue scene. One mafia man walked out of the seafood cafe with a frowning face and turned in their direction. Absolutely freezing once he saw Poppy calmly walking along admiring the ocean, and his eyes became wide with fear.

"B-BOSS!! SCARY LADY IS AFTER MAFIA!! HELP!!," The man yelled at the top of his lungs before running back through the open doors of said resteraunt slamming it behind him with a bang.

......

.......

"So. We meet again Kid With The Hat!"

[witcherwrite]

Disaster Dads Chap 1

This is also on my ao3 account at https://archiveofourown.org/works/22091329/chapters/52722004

Feel free to comment and share.

BLOOD MOON

He was roused from sleep by the sound of small footsteps making their way up to his solar. Geralt let out a soft groan cracking his eye open. Likely Ciri coming to badger him into anything else other than studying. She had become quite crafty in her excuses as to why she shouldn’t have to sit and read for the day but was still alright to swing a sword.

He huffed and nuzzled further into his pillows hoping to protect his head from an incoming Ciri attack. Oddly, when the doors to his room opened he didn’t hear her rush across the room so that she could leap into the bed as normal. Instead, she just stood in the doorway.

“Geralt?” she said uncharacteristically soft. Gods, was she that good at acting now?

He groaned into his pillows not yet worried enough to leave the confines of his blankets.

“I can’t train today.”

That’s new. He unburied himself enough for his sleep laden voice to be heard. “What?”

Sleep still fogged his mind, preventing him from making any clear reasoning as to what her excuse today would be.

“I’m bleeding.”

He sighed; if she thought a cut was going to get her out of reading or drills today.

“How’d you manage that?” he brought his hands to his eyes, rubbing them and yawning.

“I don’t know! I was sleeping!”

Geralt suddenly shot upright at the sound of panic in Ciri’s voice. His gaze shot over to her and immediately a hot rush went through him.

She stood there, hair a mess and a slightly worried expression on her face. She wore her bedclothes, but instead of their normal linen color. A bloodstain at the front of it, right where her legs met.

His head went blank. He must have failed at hiding his shock as her face suddenly morphed into that of panic.

“Why do you look like that?!” she sounded as if she was going to cry “Geralt am I dying?!”

“What?” his focus returned to her panicked expression, confusion taking over “No?”

Ciri gripped the front of her bedclothes tears in her eyes.

He lept from bed rushing to fix his mistake. “Ciri. No.” he tried to sound surer “No. No. No. No. No.” walking to her only wearing his own bedclothes.

He stood in front of her trying to hide his own panic. He had no idea what to do or say in this situation. He didn’t know how this worked and there were no women near Kaer Morhen who could explain this to her either. Vesemir. Vesemir would know.

Geralt grasped Ciri’s hand, realizing a moment too late that it was also bloody. Schooling his expression he said “Let’s go find Vesemir.” he tried to give a reassuring smile, something he never did and it only made her panic increase tenfold.

“Geralt! Why do you look so worried?!” Ciri was becoming louder and more upset every step they took. She never cried, not even when injured, and now she was near tears.

“Vesemir!” he bellowed. He had no idea what to do and he was only upsetting Ciri further. Gods he was horrible at this why didn’t he think to- “Vesemir!”

“Geralt what’s going on?!” Ciri was shrill with panic, and it took every fiber of his being not to lift Ciri and run to get someone to explain this.

“This is fine! It’s all natural! You’re fine!”

“Natural?!” she shrieked.

Both of their panics were feeding into one another's making everything worse. Geralt burst into the dilapidated main hall and bellowed again. “Vesemir!”

He saw the old witcher rush around a random pile of junk. “Geralt, what’s go-” the words died in his throat as laid eyes on the two of them. Both wild with panic and embarrassment.

“Oh. I see.” he said resolutely, uneasiness in the lines of his face. The pair saw the ambivalence in his face immediately, causing Ciri to finally cry out.

“I’m dying aren’t I?! I’m dying!”

Geralt glared at his master and growled out “Vesemir help me please!”

Vesemir walked forward trying to be comforting to Ciri while also arguing with his oldest pupil “I don’t know what you expect me to do Wolf. I’ve raised boys for the past century. I don’t know what to say here.” Ciri’s crying grew in volume.

“I don’t either!” he snapped back.

Ciri’s wailing attracted the other witchers in the keep. Eskel stood by with a similarly uneasy face.

“What’s going on?” the scarred face witcher said. Before anyone could answer Ciri wailed. “I’m dying!” she sniffled “I’m dying and no one will tell me why!”

“You’re not dying Ciri.” Geralt said gripping her hand tighter. “It’s fine. I told you-”

“You’re lying!” She howled as Lambert approached, assessing the scene. He would have been amused by the whole thing if it weren’t for Ciri’s legitimate distress.

Out of nowhere and with perfect ease he said “Oh, your moon blood. Congratulations.”

Ciri’s cries stopped immediately at the youngest witcher's calm demeanor.

“W-what?” she said between sniffles.

“You got your moon blood. You’re a woman now. Congratulations.”

The pandemonium that had filled the keep moments ago was brought to a screeching halt. Everyone stared at Lambert and he merely shrugged. Walking towards her.

“You bleed on your sheets too?” he said matter of factly.

Ciri nodded dumbly and Geralt’s gaze bounced between the two of them, still gripping her bloodied hand.

“Alright, well go up and strip your bed. Then bring a change of clothes, we’ll go wash ‘em out.”

He put a comforting hand on her shoulder, softly removing her from Geralt’s protective grip.

“You remember how to get blood out of cloth?”

Ciri sniffled slightly, the only sign that she had been crying were her red eyes.

“Yeah,” she said sounding surer. “cold water and goats milk.”

Lambert nodded a far more comforting and easy smile on his face.

“Well go on, you get the sheets and meet me out front. I’ll get the rest.”

She nodded, then looked at the other witchers, still a little nervous and shaken. They all had lost expressions so she focused back on Lambert’s sure one and ran off to her room.

Eskel looked at the youngest witcher incredulously “How did you-”

“I grew up with three sisters.” Lambert said sharply and Geralt was struck with the realization that they had never asked about Lambert’s life before Kaer Morhen.

Vesemir looked at him seriously, “Well, we thank you Wolf. I’m not sure that could have gone much worse.”

Lambert laughed loudly, shaking off the focused praise. “I’ve never seen three grown witchers shit themselves so badly!” a teasing smirk returned to his face. “And Geralt. With all the women you sleep around with you never bothered to learn about a woman’s moon blood?”

He prickled at the association between the women in his life and his surrogate daughter. “I know about it. I just don’t know how to talk to Ciri about her first time having one.” he growled.

Lambert’s face twisted in irritation “Alright, alright.” he threw up his hands “no need to go all Papa Wolf on me.”

Geralt softened instantly “Lambert, I-”

“I’m gonna take Ciri down to the lake and we’re gonna wash everything.” He paused and thought for a moment, looking back to Geralt “You ever have a girl leave one of her pairs of panties here?”

Geralt fought not to become angry again. “I’m not letting Ciri wear- ”

“No, not those genius!” Lambert said exasperated “The ugly cotton ones that they tie around themselves.”

Geralt was reeling and tried to think if anything like that could possibly be in the back of one of his drawers “No, I don’t think- ”

“ I got a few.” Eskel said, drawing shocked expressions “Deidre left a good amount of her things here.”

Lambert nodded “Glad someone knows what’s going on.” a wide grin was directed the white-haired witcher’s way.

Geralt tried not to be embarrassed by his lack of knowledge on this important time for Ciri. Feeling rather helpless all over again, even with the help that he asked for.

“Mind grabbing them?” Lambert said. Eskel nodded. As he walked past Geralt he gave him a few reassuring pats on his back. Somehow that only made him feel worse. He was sincerely thankful for Lambert’s help and his taking control of the situation, but the bastard was making it hard with his smug ass expression.

“Hey, Vesemir.” Their master’s piercing gaze switched from Geralt to Lambert. “Know if we got any bloodmoss or cotton lying around in the stores?” Vesemir nodded an inkling of pride on his face.

“Great, I’ll go grab-”

“No, no.” Vesemir interrupted. “I’ll go grab those and a bar of goats milk. Need to be able to do something here.”

He turned to gather things from the stores and Geralt simply looked at his bloodied hand.

Something unknown formed in his gut. Ciri had come to him for help, and he not only wasn’t able to do anything, but he made it worse. His gaze moved over to Lambert who was doing everything in his power not to look Geralt’s way.

He felt guilty and useless, sure he could protect her and train her, but what did he know of Ciri’s upcoming change? Future feelings and hurts that couldn’t be solved with the swing of a sword? She was becoming a woman and Geralt was wholly lost.

“Lambert-”

“Don’t.” The young witchers gaze shifted over. “ I know she’s your surprise child and all, but we can take care of her too.”

There was a lump at the back of Geralt’s throat and a stone in his chest as he spoke.

“We-” Lambert took a steadying breath and rocked from foot to foot. “We love her as much as you do alright? And sometimes other people may know better than you.”

He was frustrated and angry but Lambert was right. Much in the way that Yennefer was. Ciri needs more than one person to look out for her. He can’t be the only one and he can’t know everything she’ll need.

Geralt sighed and stood in front of Lambert to look him in the eye. The discomfort Lambert had at confessing his own feelings grew as he watched Geralt. “Don’t do that. I hate that look, you-”

“Thank you.” he said soundly a hand landing on his shoulder and giving him a solid shake.

Lambert’s face pinched in feigned discomfort while another expression ran through his features, softening him for a moment. “Yeah, happy to help.”

They both heard Ciri rushing down the steps at the same time they heard Eskel and Vesemir returning.

Lambert broke away, quickly refocusing on the task at hand. “I’m going to give her the whole talk on the way down. You cool with that?”

“You know the whole talk?” Geralt said amused.

“The bits I remember from my mom talking to my sisters. Merigold and Yennefer can fill her in on the rest when she sees them next.”

Geralt nodded and looked as Ciri approached them with a bundle of linens and a change of clothes stacked on top.

“Ready?” Geralt said.

Ciri looked at him a little worried. “Are you going with me?”

Geralt fought the hurt in his chest about Ciri no longer wanting him involved. Though he felt resolved by the fact that she had Lambert to talk to about it now.

“No, Lambert’s clearly better at this anyway.” Geralt caught Ciri’s relieved expression right as he saw a hint of pride on Lambert’s face. Eskel and Vesemir handed him their supplies.

“Oh! Ok!” She still ran up and hugged him, dirty linens and all pressed against his bare chest and sleep pants.

“Alright then woman! Time to go wash your mess out!” Geralt made a face at Lambert calling Ciri ‘woman’ but she was clearly overjoyed by the new moniker. Bounding away from him to chase Lambert out of the keep.

As Geralt watched them leave he felt Vesemir’s hand on his shoulder. “Looks like our little witcher is growing up.”

He hummed, watching them open the hall doors, Ciri already asking dozens of invasive questions and Lambert answering them easily.

Eskel snorted, walking away. “We react this bad to her moon blood. Imagine what will happen when she introduces us to someone special for the first time.”

Geralt froze at the thought. “Fuck.”

[ladyblastexecution]

☽Cold City☾ |Todoroki Shouto|

A/N: Man... i don’t know how i feel about this one.

The clock flashed three a.m, and you were sitting in the balcony of your apartment once more with a cigarette burning in between your fingers.

The hot smoke entering your lungs was the only thing combatting the chilling air that started to appear in the city. Summer was walking away, and the cold was bothering you once more.

Your phone was once again turned off, forgotten on top of the lonely chair next to you. What was the point of having it turned on? There was no one to apologize for not responding, anyway.

The bright lights of the streetlamps took a toll on your tired eyes, and you wondered how everyone lived their life, if someone was feeling the same heaviness in their chest caused by the loneliness that haunted you. You were used to it already, your heart and stomach constantly coiled tight, as if someone was squeezing them in a fist.

The whole day you spent it on bed, doing nothing more than to watch sappy tv that promoted an idealized version of loneliness that you could not relate to, because, yes, your days were spent alone, but it wasn’t because of a mean girl pushing you to the sidelines, or a traumatic experience that changed your ways.

The reality was fairly more simple and unamusing

Ever since graduating the U.A and joining an agency where no one you knew worked, and you found yourself drifting apart from your friends more and more. Your texts were ignored because they were busy saving the city, just like yourself, and there was no free time to hang out like you used to when you shared a dorm.

A year later, you were a loner. No more close friends or family. The only thing that kept you company was the cloud of smoke exiting your mouth drag after drag of your cigarette. The nicotine entering your veins gave you the solace you so desperately needed, warming up your insides in a similar way a hug from a loved one would do.

Sighing, you threw the butt of your cigarette into the ashtray and leaned on the railing, allowing for the wind to brush your face and erupt goose bumps in your flesh. Tank top and shorts were not the ideal outfit to wear on those ocasions.

Glancing back at your bed, you pondered on forcing yourself to sleep. There was no use in staying there, exposed to the cold, imagining someone was coming to pick you up and you were just waiting for them to arrive. There was no one to do so.

Why your brain kept torturing you with those scenarios that would never happen? It was a mystery to you. The sweet oblivion of a dream might be just what you needed.

you could almost feel the softness of the sheets and the warmth caress your skin, but a panicked scream on the street made you jump, startled.

Looking to your right you saw a woman struggling to keep her hold on her purse while a thief was pulling with all his might on it a block away from your building

Without thinking, you jumped from the balcony, climbing down from the third floor with the dexterity of a pro hero and ran to where the assault was taking place. You felt needles on the skin of your bare foot as the freezing pavement made contact with it, but the adrenalin rush coursing through your veins helped you focused, as well as the cries of help of the girl that was now being dragged to the floor, trying to break her hold on her possessions.

The back of the thief was to you. And without thinking too much about the possibility of a gun or knife you threw your body, flooring him with a force that reverberated on your bones. A cry of pain came from him as you pinned his wrist behind his back and tried to avoid his claws. Apparently his quirk resembled a tiger, with fangs and claws and night vision.

Your grip was steel hard as you trapped his body against a wall, hating his trashing around.

“Stay still tough guy.” You warned, flashing your quirk to intimidate him. You looked back to the girl and noticed her torn appearance. Scratches were all over her face and a nasty cut was on her cheek. She trembled like a leaf and tears and makeup were dripping down her face. “Don't worry honey... You're okay now.” You assured, tightening your grip out of anger, earning a hiss from the scum on your hands.

She nodded her head and hugged herself for some sort of comfort. You took in how thick her coat was and the fluffy scarf she wore, making you realize that the wind was merciless on your skin, the cold making your lips tremble and your fingers numb from the pressure and the temperature.

“I- I'm going to call the police if you can restrain him...?” She offered.

“Yeah, that's a good idea.” You sent her a curt nod and a small smile.

She dialeld and as the first ring sounded, a slide of ice came down from your left, lowering the temperature. You didn't even need to look far to know who it was, and your pulse fluttered. Todoroki Shoto was to the rescue, only a little too late.

You both were classmates, and even if you were not best frieds, you were on good terms, an acquaintance of some sort. You admired him for his strenght and resiliend, and even if he oly spoke a few words to you, you apreciated the stokic teen you shared classes with. You hadn't seen him for over a year, since after graduating, you both were busy with your new jobs and different locations. You even had a small crush on him for a while, but after noticing how impossible it was for him to see you in another way than a classmate, that small infatuation died down.

But now that you saw him again, ice particles shining around him as the wind blew the hair out of his face, you felt your heart pang with something that resembled that old feeling. You felt like you were fifteen again, fangirling all over his gorgeous face and shiny hair.

He skidded to where you were and landed right in front of you, taking in the scene in front of him.

You were pinning a guy to the wall dressed in a thin tank top and short shorts, barefoot and with messy hair. He couldn't fight the confused glance he had on his face, head slightly tilted to the side as he tried to figure out how in the two minutes it took him to get there you reduced a guy in that.

“(Y/N)?” He asked, “Why are you so lightly dress when it's this cold outside?” His question was dumb, but the cute way he uttered it made you want to squeal. An involuntary shudder traveld your body as you sent a sarcastic smile his way.

“Well, Shoto” You said his Hero name and hoped it didn't sound too awkward since you never called him anything besides the usual Todoroki-kun “The agency changed my attire to hopefully get more popularity.” You joked, but judging by lack of smile or laughter, it was safe to say he didn't get it.

“I Never thought you'd agreed to be an R- rated hero like midnight, but you still look good...”  He said taking you by surprise.

A blush rose to your face, making you forget momentarily how cold it actually was. He didn't seem to notice the small compliment, and you felt dumb for letting something so tiny fluster you..

In your moment of distraction, the robber twisted away from you and slash at your arm. Sharp blazing pain throbbed, and your torn skin screamed. A sting of curses flew from your lips and in a heartbeat Todoroki grabbed your bare shoulder and pulled you protectively to his side, sending a blast of ice to your attacker, encasing him in an coldshell.

Your back was pressed to his left side and the heat from his body seeped into your cold one, soothing you locked muscles and taking your mind away from the injury. You looked up at him and the air was almost knocked out of you. He looked fraigthening with fire burning in his eyes and a murderous scowl on his face, eyebrows pulled together and white teeths showing.

“Are you okay miss?” The girl you helped asked, getting a step closer, and just ike that the spell that  was upon todoroki broke.

As if noticing the position he was in, his warm hand gently grabbing your bare skin and you pressed tightly against him, he cleared his throat  and he let go, taking a step back, and watching carefully as she got over and examined your wound.

“Please, allow me to help you.” She said, searching for consent on your face, and when you were about to dismiss her concern, stating that you had worse before and that it was just a scratch, she hovered her hand above the gash. A blue light emitted from her fingers and you watched marvelled as the wound mended back together, as if there was nothing in the first place. The pain receded, and it left you startled. “I'm not as strong as recovery girl, but I Can manage minor cuts and bruises...” She said sheepishly.

“That's an awesome quirk to have, thank you so much!” You praised a small smile dancing on your lips.

You glanced back at Todoroki, only to notice him already looking at you, a soft smile on his lips, and the contrast from the previous expression he wore surprised you.

The faint sirens could be heard in the vecinity, and relief washed over you. In a few minutes you could be in the warmth of your home, snuggled on your bed, back to being a loner, and preparing for an early day of work with little to no sleep. You know, the usual.

As you waited for the police to arrive, you scooted closer to Todoroki, standing by his side and observing the girl calling her friends to pick her up. A wave of longing hit you on the chest, but you tried to forget it by starting up a conversation with Todoroki.

“So... It's good to see you, Shoto. It's been... What, Nine months?” You asked, with a light tone, that didn't match the feeling on your chest.

“Eleven actually...” He said, surprising you once again. You turned to him and he was piercing holes in the villains figure, whose lips had turned blue from the cold and his body thrashing to break free from his enclosure. “It was at the reunion Deku Organized  after we graduated, remember?  You had that black dress...” He trailed off turning to you, and when he noticed what slipped from his mouth, he adverted his gaze, scratching the place below his ear and coughing lightly.

“Yeah, I remember... How everybody doing?” You asked, sparing him the embarrasment, but you couldn't deny the weight on your shoulder lifted a bit.

“They're fine. We try to gather as much as we can. Deku and Ground Zero are getting along better, and Red Riot and me often work out together... What have you been doing? You kindoff disappear suddenly...”

“Oh! Um...” You hesitated, now it was your turn to be embarrased, how could you confess that your days were spent patrolling, and eating junk food on your couch, and smoking a worrying amount of the time? That wasn't something you were proud of. “I've been working a lot, and recently I moved to that building...” Your answer felt vague and you worried he might think you were avoiding him, wich you were, but it still made you fidget with your hands.

Looking down at your finger, you noticed how blush the tips looked, and when the wind picked up again, a shudder recorded you from head to toe once more. Now that you were reminded of how cold the weather was getting, you noticed the sharp stabs of cold on your feet. You had been jumping slightly from one to the other without noticing, trying to make the bite slightly better.

“It wasn't the smartest decision to change your suit to something lighter when the autumn is around the corner (Y/N)” He said, concern lacing his voice.

You laughed at how dense he was, and he frowned, getting closer.

“I was joking, Todoroki.” His eyebrows went up and a small 'oh' slipped past his lips  “I was awake and I heard her asking for help and ran here. “

“With no shoes on...”

“Yeah, with no shoes on” You laughed at how irrational you had been, and now you were trapped in the cold with no shoes on until the police go your statement.

Todoroki looked at you and with a straight face he grabbed your arm and pushed you flushed to his side again, not meeting your eyes as if it was the most normal thing to do. You noticed how he increased his body temperature a little more to warm you up faster.

“Your lips are blue, and you are shivering” He stated, looking to the police car turning the corner and tightening the arm that was circling your shoulders.

Your face was snuggled into the fabric of his suit and a hint of his cologne made it into your nose, taking you back to highschool when he would sit next to you and the breeze from the open window would carry his perfume. Your boy was warmer, whether it was from his quirk or your embarrassment it didn't matter.

None of you spoke and only when the slam of a car door and the voices of the police were heard you took a step back from him.

Two policemen were talking with the girl that made the call, and she was explaining what happened. When she got to the part when you showed up, the attention of the three went to you, and the policemen opened their eyes at how naked you were. One of them, the younger one that couldn't be too much older from the both of you, got closer, only two feet away from where you were standing.

“Damn miss...” His eyes wandered over you and you gave them a sheepish smirk while Todoroki kept quiet, staring at him. The guy shrugged off his jacked and hurriedly tried to place it around your shoulders. “Please take my...”

Todoroki's hand slapped the fabric away and silence fell. Everyone around was stunned at his action.

“That's very kind officer, but it's fine. I'm taking her home right now and I'm going to warm her up personally... I would hate for you to be cold and get sick.” With no time to respond you felt the floor underneath your feet disappear and Todoroki's arms lifted you up, carrying you bridal style as your mouth flopped around like a fish trying to articulate something.

“What was that?!” You asked in a hush tone when you were far enough to not be heard. “I could've just walk home, you didn't need to go nuts there for him offering me a jacket.

“You didn't know the guy, why would you accept his jacket?”

“Uh... Because it was freezing and I'm not really dress for it?” You countered.

“I can warm you up faster and more effectively,” He said again. Apparently he didn't realize how bad those words sounded together. “You can't trust someone just like that.”

“It's a police officer, Todoroki, I think we can trust them just fine”

He didn't respond after hat, but if you weren't as perceptive, you would0ve missed the way his fingers pressed harder on your thigh or the way his eye twitched with annoyance at you arguing with him about it.

Your apartment door came into view faster than what you expected, and you wished you lived far away to enjoy Todoroki's warmth a little bit longer.

He carefully put you down and stared at you, waiting for you to open the door, only to realize that with those pocketless shorts, there was no way you had your keys on you. You noticed this too and smiled reassuringly at him.

“I left my balcony open, I can climb the side of the building and get there in no time.” You smiled at him, but the doubt swam in his eyes.

“That sounds dangerous... You should lock your windows.” He said.

“I live in a third floor...?” the confusion laced on your voice, and his frown deepened.

“Villains can climb.” He said, face straight and serious tone, only for you to laugh.

“Good night, Todoroki...” You smiled at him “See you around”  You slapped his shoulder lightly and walked to the side of the building, expertly climbing the stairs, avoiding making too much noise to disturb the neighbours, and landed on your balcony without breaking a sweat.

You looked down one last time, only to notice Todoroki still standing there, looking at you with his arms crossed. You waved at him and he smiled, lifting his arm up in a small salute. He definitely had changed since the last time you saw him. He was a man now, completely rough, but his voice was still gentle, and his hand was soft.

As you turned on the shower to wash the grime that got stuck to your feet, you couldn't help but to think about the girl talking with her friends about what happened to her, and asking them to pick her up at the station. If you ever were on that situation, you had no one to call. And the realization of it sunk your heart like a rock on the sea.

There was not much you could o about it now, you didn't get along with anybody on the agency, and the ties with your classmates were far too severed. It was you against the world, and yourself had to be enough.

The next sunday you had off was spent exactly in the same way the previous one had. Phone off balcony and lit up cigarette between your fingers. The whole week you spend it staking your former friends Instagram and regretting you forgetfulness that pushed you away from them. Pictures of them eating pizza together and watching cheesy comedy movies from the early 2000s  made you wished you had something like that with someone, ideally with them, but the anxiousness you felt every time you opened up your chat with Deku, that you had left on read almost six months ago. What if he hated you for it? It was partly your fault, but you just had the tendency to shut yourself away from the world, you weren't consciously ignoring them.

Photos of Todoroki on sweat pants as he plays a videogame with Uraraka that  Deku posted to one of his stories made your stomach flutter, an awestruck expression on your face. Thankfully, your coworkers were having lunch togheter, and they left you alone to thirst without shame.

Getting up from one of the chair from your balcony to go and get a glass of soda from the kitchen, you heard the faint sound of raindrops hitting the pavement. A small drizzle was pouring, and the clouds turned everything darker. Thunder resonated in the distance and you sighed. Once the storm broke out on full blast, you wouldn't be able to sit on the balcony for much longer.

Glass in hand, you returned to your usual spot that overlooked the busy street below, and you saw everyone scattering around trying to take cover from the first storm that happened since the summer ended. You lighted up another cigarette and took a drag.

As your eyes travel from one person to the other, your attention was drawn to a couple walking in the street with no care in the world, as if the cold and the rain couldn't pop their bubble of happinnes. The people gave them odd looks for not having an umbrella, or raincoats, their clothes getting soaked, but they paid no mind, eyes trained on each other. 

 A fantasy in your mind started brewing.

What would it be if someone looked at you in that way? Like you were their ray of sunshine and when they were with you, a gloomy day couldn't turn your light off.

You imagined you were there, in your balcony, wearing a cute dress and your favorite shoes, with pretty makeup and your hair just the way you liked it. Counting down the seconds for him to arrive. The guy you loved and had a date with.

He would come, not caring about the threat of rain, and the knock on your door would send a wave of excitement through you, limbs buzzing with happiness, and you would open the door, and there he would be... Bi color hair wet and sticking to his forehead, hetorocromatic eyes gazing into your face as yours took in his damp, blue shirt that clung to his chest and the droplets glistening in his neck...

A heavy knock on your door ripped you from your daydream, and you cringed at how you pictured Todoroki. You were seriously starting to sound like a creep, more than a girl with a crush.

Sighing, you suffocated your cigarette and walked to the door, smoothing your hair down with your hands in case it was too frizzy from the humidity in the air.

The door swung open, and for a moment you though you were still dreaming, because right there, in the hallway, Todoroki was standing.

He was just as you imagined, but the only difference was that his shirt was white, and with the rain it was almost transparent. Words escaped you, and you just stood there, stunned into silence.

“Hi.” He stared, hands clenching by his side. “I would ask you to patrol with me today, because I enjoy your company, but since it's raining, they gave me the rest of the day off...” He trailed off, not knowing what to say.

“Oh... I woul've liked that. I always end up wasting my day off, so it would've been a nice change of routine... It's a shame really... Maybe next time?” You proposed, and Todoroki relaxed, hands going limp at his sides.

“Yeah, I would like that.”

Both of you stayed there, just looking at each other with gentle smiles and shiny eyes.

It took you a moment of that comfortable silence to notice he was still outside, wet and probably cold.

“Oh, god... Come in, Todoroki. Please don't mind the mess.”  You took a step aside, and he got inside, brushing your shoulder together. “The city is getting cold and I don't want you to get sick.”  

You walked him to the couch and took a sit beside him.

“it's fine... My quirk keeps me warm.” As if to prove his point, he rose his body temperature and a wave of steam rose from him, the water that clung to his body evaporating.

“Oh man, I'm so jealous... When the city gets cold, my fingers turn to icicles.” You presented both of your hands to his eye level. The tips of them were redder than the rest.

Todoroki looked at them and almost on instinct he gently grabbed them, his left one, trapping them in between his chest and palm

Warm tingles went up your arm, and you looked dumbfounded. He was so casual about it, his thumb casually caressing your knuckles, his eyes never once leaving your hands.

“Is that better?” He asked in a whisper.

“Y-yeah... Thank you.”

“Don't ask anyone else to help you warm you hands...”  He asked, almost timidly, and the meaning behind his words had your heart doing flips on your ribcage.

He needed no answer.

When he glanced back up and noticed you smile, any concern he had dissipated like smoke in the air. He scooted closer to you, pressing his left side to your right, and the heat transferred to the rest of your body.

The city was indeed getting colder, but having a Todoroki willing to be your personal furnace might be just what you needed to fight off the bothersome cold.

[jaxsteamblog]

Legend

Click here to read the full fic on AO3

The metal under her feet made Sokka’s nervous tapping very obvious. In the mirror, Katara watched as Sokka held his chin and nodded, going over something in his head. But as his boots continued to tattoo against the floor, Katara sighed. The woman doing her hair paused, her hands hovering above Katara’s head, and looked nervously in the mirror.

“What is it, Sokka?” Katara asked.

At her question, Sokka stopped all of his movement and looked up at her. His eyes meeting hers through the mirror, his eyes were wide and innocent.

“Nothing?” He replied curiously. “I’m just thinking.”

“But why are you nervous?” Katara asked.

“I think I’m allowed to be nervous.” Sokka retorted.

“You’ve already gotten married!” Katara snapped.

Grinning, Sokka looked down and twisted his wedding band. “Yeah, but I knew that was going to be perfect so there was nothing to worry about.”

“And this is going to be fine.” Katara said with a sigh. “Why don’t you go check the flowers?”

“Why? Because I’m the florist and it’s my job?” Sokka asked.

Katara glared at his reflection and just grinned wider, standing from the couch behind her.

“Alright. I’ll come and get you in a little bit.” He said as he walked to the door. Once he was gone, Katara nodded to the hairdresser and she continued.

There were many things in life that Katara would never have chosen for herself but still ultimately enjoyed. This overly feminine dress up was not something she, or others, would assume about her, but Katara did enjoy the process. The whole group went for a spa treatment; Toph stayed longer in the mud bath than anyone else and it was almost impossible to get Zuko out of the steam room, but they all had a good time drinking tea in overly soft bathrobes.

Now the hair dressing was something that Katara relished. The oil and combs worked through her thick, wavy hair till it shone. Then it was braided, coiled, and pinned. Beads of colored glass and dyed bone that matched her dress were constellations in her hair. Two large, circular beads, holding the main loops on either side of her head, were carved with different symbols. One was the matched set of Tui and La, the other was the stylized version of the sun.

After the hair came the dress.

It was blue and cut to swirl around her body. Black fish swam around the hem and a spray of sea foam leaped up the bodice and down her arms. Katara touched the fabric lightly, fearing that it would dissolve under her fingers.

“You look beautiful, Majesty.” The attendants said. Katara smiled.

“Thank you.” She said.

Sokka came to collect her, wiping away tears as they walked down the cramped metal corridor. The sounds of the metal shifting were unnerving, but Katara focused on keeping herself calm. Coming to a door, Katara took a deep breath while Sokka pushed it open. Sunlight blinded her and she walked out holding a hand above her eyes.

“Oh my baby girl.” Hakoda said as he stepped into view, blocking the sunlight enough for Katara to see. Sokka was wearing a tux, but Hakoda had chosen to wear a traditional parka. The caribou skin was richly embroidered and his own hair had the same beads threaded in. Seeing him represent their home, Katara started to sniffle and Hakoda embraced her.

A breeze came up over the deck of the ship and blew Katara’s skirts, making her shiver. Hakoda chuckled and kissed the top of her head before putting his arm around her.

“Let’s go get you married.” He said, his voice thick with emotion. Katara nodded and they walked off to the side of the ship.

They stopped at the top of the ladder, Hakoda and Sokka standing at either side of her, and Katara shook out her hands. Just as she brought her arms up, Sokka yelled.

“Wait!” He said and darted off. Katara looked at Hakoda, puzzled, and then laughed as Sokka came sprinting back.

“Forgot your bouquet.” He huffed. The flowers were pristine - the whites, reds, and blues all distinct yet blending well together - and Sokka held them gingerly. Katara shook her head and gently brought her arms up, conducting the waves to her intended score.

The iceberg was a short distance away. She and Zuko had flattened the top yesterday, alternating between melting and reforming the ice. The audience now sat in glistening blue chairs of ice, while Zuko stood waiting. He stood out, dressed in red robes, but he wasn’t the only one. Rohan, fully dressed in orange robes, stood as the officiant. Suki, having quietly bonded with the Fire Lord over the years, wore her Kyoshi Warrior outfit as she stood at Zuko’s side.

Now, in the southern arctic sea - the only international waters that belonged to all four nations - Water joined the other elements.

The sides of Katara’s gown were woven wide, so her arms were able to move freely. Among their friends and family, and the few special political guests, Katara called up the sea to carry her across. Making a sheet of ice wide enough for the three of them to sand, Katara stood patiently with her father and brother as the water ferried them to the iceberg.

When they made it, Katara dismissed it as if she were shedding a cloak. Sokkka handed her the bouquet, kissed her cheek, and then walked to the altar. Hakoda wordlessly offered his arm and Katara took it, the two sharing a very small smile.

Speakers had been embedded in the ice, giving the sound better acoustics than if played in the open air. To a bridal march, Hakoda escorted Katara down the aisle.

“You look as pretty as Kya did on our wedding day.” Hakoda whispered as they approached the altar.

“Dad.” Katara gasped, abruptly in tears.

“Oh Kat, no tears. Look, the sun is shining and the ocean is beautiful. When your mother and I got married, it rained.” Hakoda said. They reached the altar and Katara could only nod. Hakoda then turned to Zuko and held out his hand.

As Zuko placed his hand in Hakoda’s, Katara looked at her intended.

“You don’t need my approval or blessing, but understand that I am here to support you.” Hakoda then joined Katara and Zuko’s hands. “I love you both.”

Zuko started to tear up and Katara chuckled. Hakoda kissed Katara’s forehead and went to sit down, making both Katara and Zuko start to sniffle as they stood in front of Rohan.

Rohan looked at both of them and smiled. They then held out their hands and looked at the rest of the audience.

“Today, we are all watching something amazing. For the world, we are seeing the first time that two nations have chosen love over all else. For us gathered here, we are witnessing something more important; the marriage of two of our favorite people.

“I have not known Katara for very long, but there is no way I couldn’t be in awe of her. At fifteen she bound her soul to the Ocean Spirit to protect her people in a place that was not her home. At sixteen, she sank the entire Fire Nation fleet to help swiftly end the Hundred Year War. She is the Avatar’s master, she is Queen of the Three Tribes, and most amazingly, she can routinely and on demand make the Fire Lord smile.” Rohan said and various people chuckled while Zuko ironically fought down a smile.

“Zuko I’ve known for longer. As a spiritual cousin, Zuko and I have been friends since we met. He is also the kindest person, as he has faced more ugliness in his life yet not only accepted it but moved through it with genuine compassion. And as a very wise man once told me, when one is clothed in honor, filth will not stain them.

“Zuko never asked for anything. He never asked for his position, but always did what was right. I certainly know that he never asked to be rewarded for his actions but, as you can see, he has been.” Rohan smiled at Zuko, who was more openly crying. Katara, handing back the bouquet to Sokka, took both of Zuko’s hands and squeezed them.

“Now, to the serious part. Katara, do you promise to respect Zuko, to treat him with dignity, and to honor his value as a person?” Rohan asked.

Katara smiled at Zuko. “I do.”

“Zuko, do you promise to respect Katara, to treat her with dignity, and to honor her value as a person?” Rohan continued.

Zuko smiled back at Katara. “I do.”

“May we have the rings?” Rohan looked from side to side.

Katara turned to take the band from Sokka, her hands shaking as she moved slowly back.

“The bride and groom have prepared their own vows.” Rohan announced and then leaned in toward Katara. “Go ahead.”

Taking Zuko’s left hand, Katara focused on his fingers as she spoke.

“Zuko,” She paused, took a breath, and brought her face up to look at him. “I have sworn to protect my people above all else. My place as Queen transcends any other oath or bond, save for my connection to La. But I give all of my earthly self to you. Every mortal want and faulty need, every good moment and every bad day, every morning bedhead and every nightly kiss are yours. Time will wash away our human lives, but it is in that tide where you and I will exist.”

She slid the band onto his ring finger and Zuko paused to take her ring from Suki.

“Katara, you have taught me the fallacy of opposites. After all, we can’t make tea without both fire and water.” He said and Katara laughed softly.

Zuko smiled and went on. “I promise to embrace the opposites with you. I promise to push when you pull, so that we can strengthen each other. I will be with you in every dark moment and every light. I will heal your sickness so I can rejoice in your health. I will abide with you in lean times, so that we may feast together in good ones. I know that nothing will ever stay the same, so I promise to never abandon you as we wait for the tide to come in.”

Zuko slipped the wedding band onto Katara’s ring finger and Rohan clapped their hands.

“With the promises made and the rings exchanged, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may seal your pledge with a kiss.” They said.

Katara propelled herself at Zuko, who caught her and kissed her deeply. The gathered group cheered and applauded, fadinging into the sound of waves crashing against the iceberg.

It was then that rain started to fall.

With a yelp, Katara jumped back and Zuko put his arm around her shoulder as they both looked up.

“A sunshower?” He asked.

Frigid rain splattered on her face, running into her tears even as she smiled.

“Legend says a sunshower happens at a fox wedding.” Katara said and looked over at Zuko.

He smiled and kissed her again.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67

[neroesecuzioni]

watching your devil side

two.

The conference room in the Passione headquarters was barren with small windows and harsh white lights. You lounged in the leather office chair at the table, already regretting making a deal with Giorno. The convincing little shit.

You crossed your legs and waited.

La Squadra di Esecuzioni had said they’d meet you at headquarters if only to assess the proposal you sent to Giorno. The deal you’d cut them was nearly too perfect for people in their field. A steady flow of money wasn’t always guaranteed for the mafia, especially assassins. It was nearly perfect, if their client wasn’t you.

The conference room doors opened and you blinked when three men walked through.

Three extremely attractive men walked in.

No one warned you about that.

Two were giants in their own right and would tower over you even in heels while the other was tall but dwarfed by the others in comparison. They were all built like Grecian statues and wore outfits on par with Buccellati’s gang’s penchant for flashiness.

In the center was a man with tanned skin, deep rep eyes, and silver hair hidden beneath a hat with bells. His serious but serene expression rested on you with a weight you were used to. To his left was a taller man with a much deeper tan and deep brown locks tied into several pigtails but his plum purple eyes sparked with a mischief. His outfit looked...a little strange but you forgave it considering it clung to every inch of him. The man to the right was the shortest with bright blond hair tied back into several little buns and he wore a fashionable suit complimenting his blue eyes. Despite being the shortest of the three of them, he looked the sternest.

Armani, you surmised.

“Hello.” You stood up to greet them. “La Squadra di Esecuzioni. I’m your client... people in the business know me as Devil Yin but you can just call me Yin.”

“A pleasure to meet you,” the man at the centre said, eyes surveying you. “My name is Risotto Nero. The Capo of La Squadra di Esecuzioni. This is Prosciutto and Illuso.”

Prosciutto? Risotto?

Well, Bruno had Pannacotta and you couldn’t exactly rag on anyone when people still referred to you as Devil Yin.

“It’s a pleasure. Take a seat. I trust you have some questions considering my proposal isn’t....one of your typical assignments.”

They all sat on the opposite end of the conference table and settled in, all of them guarded and packed. They all carried some type of weapon on them along with their stands.

“You’ve requested us as your bodyguards,” Risotto said, eyes intent, “are you aware of our position in the Passione?”

“You’re assassins,” you acknowledged, “and stand users. I’m well acquainted with the inner workings of the Passione.”

“There are squads dedicated to protection and guarding. Why did you ask for us?” Prosciutto asked, his shoulders tensed beneath the sleek indigo suit

“The squad is ran by Bruno Buccellati, I’m well aware,” you said and decided to drop the bomb. “I’m friends with Giorno.”

The three of them exchanged glances.

“Friends with Don Giorno?” Illuso asked flatly.

“Long before he came into contact with the Passione,” you said, “I also know Buccellati.”

“You would not prefer Buccellati’s squad as your protection detail?” Risotto rested his arms on the table.

You tried not to run your eyes along the defined muscles on his arm. It was a terribly difficult thing to do.

“I’ve had Buccellati as a bodyguard before and while we are...friends, it is not an arrangement I’d prefer. I’d be scolded the entire time for my lifestyle,” you said breezily. “I hope some of you don’t sleep early. I typically don’t get home until four in the morning but I have rooms in my villa for you to stay in when you’re guarding me overnight.”

“What do you need guarding from?” Prosciutto’s eyes narrowed.

“Kidnapping, being held hostage, someone trying to steal my art from the studio, those kinds of things. It’s pretty mundane.” You shrugged. “Giorno didn’t appreciate the fact I was held hostage a few months ago and insisted I take on some bodyguards. I offered a payment plan for the whole group since I know your specialties might be needed for different hits outside of my schedule. As long as there’s two of you for most of the time, I don’t mind whatever you do outside of guarding me.”

“And the pay?” Risotto’s deep voice filled the quiet room.

You didn’t know what you regretted more; stepping foot into Italy, contacting Giorno, or thinking of this idea.

“As outlined in the contract. Two hundred dollars per hour per guard on a twenty-four hour detail. I’ll even pay overtime if someone clocks in more hours than they’re supposed to and you’ve seen the clause about vacation pay? I’d also prefer if you’re able to allow two members travel around Europe or to the Americas on short notice when needed.”

Anything to get Giorno off your back about becoming an assassin again when you finally got out of the business.

"And you can afford us?" Risotto asked.

"I thought you'd ask that." You stood up and reached under the table. The men tensed but you brought out a few briefcases and set them down on the table. You slid them over. "Here's two-hundred sixty-nine thousand dollars in payment for the first month to split between your seven members."

The three of them flipped open the briefcases and scanned through the euros.

"So, do we have a deal?"

Risotto glanced at his companions before he gave an imperceptible nod.

“Fantastic, here’s my schedule on a daily basis and the addresses of the places I’ll be frequenting. The safest trade-off times would be nine in the morning, five in the evening, and one in the morning and you can start tomorrow if your team is ready." You slid over a folder towards them.

“It would be best if you met the team beforehand,” Risotto said after he finished flipping through the papers.

///

La Squadra di Esecuzioni’s headquarters was a discreet series of townhouses connected together, hidden behind walls, gates, and bushes. The pale stone exteriors were a little worn by time but the iron gates were polished despite age dulling the metal slightly.

You walked along the paved path towards the front door obscured by foliage, behind Risotto, Illuso, and Prosciutto. They opened double-layered iron-wrought doors to a barren entryway.

You frowned as you looked around. This place had so much untouched potential with the stone floors and walls; a house like this would cost a fortune to make today but there were few decorations and even fewer signs of life. It was as if no one had inhabited this place in years and from what you knew, La Squadra lived here.

Risotto lead you to a larger room with threadbare couches where four other men lounged. 

“This is our long-term client,” Risotto said, tone brooking for no arguments. “Become familiar with her. Formaggio, Melone, you begin with her tomorrow at nine in the morning. I’ll give everyone their schedules tonight.”

“You can call me Yin,” you said and stepped up. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

The man with a buzzed grey-blue hair and a playful smirk leaned deep into the couch. His studded jacket clung to his lean muscles as he flexed subtly and winked at you. “Well, if you had said we’d be guarding such a cute girl, I wouldn’t have argued at all. I’m Formaggio, babe. You’ll be spending the day with me tomorrow.”

“...hello?” you said.

“Don’t mind him.” A man with pale lilac hair and bright blue eyes framed by thick lashes smiled at you and took your hand into his, placing a kiss onto your knuckles. “I’m Melone. It’s rare we have such a beautiful woman for a client. I’ll also be guarding you tomorrow.”

“Thank you?” You pulled your hand out of his. How were you supposed to introduce yourself to fellow assassins outside of the job and not across rooftops or while on the run? “I hope we’ll get along.”

Prosciutto clicked his tongue. “Pesci, Ghiaccio, introduce yourself.”

A man with neon green hair styled upwards and black eyes shining with hesitance stepped up. “H-hello, I’m Pesci! It’s nice to meet you.”

“It’s nice to meet you too,” you said, sending him a gentle smile.

The last man on the end of the couch scowled harshly, the red glasses perched on his nose contrasted against his bright blue hair and barely obscured his black eyes.

“I’m Ghiaccio,” he mumbled reluctantly.

“And now you’ve met all of us,” Illuso said, smirking as he looked down at you. “Regretting your decision yet?”

“Better than being kidnapped,” you said and turned to Melone and Formaggio, handing them a sheet of paper. “Well, here’s the address to meet me at tomorrow. I hope you bring yourself something to prevent boredom...I’m not really doing anything interesting as of yet.”

///

Prosciutto rested in the chair across from Risotto in his office, long legs crossed as he leaned in the chair.

He rolled a cigarette between his two fingers.

“Do you think Giovanna is planning something?” he asked lowly, meeting Risotto's black and red gaze.

His Capo folded his hands on his desk bare of anything besides pens, paperwork, and a laptop. “Be prepared for anything. We’ll warn the others tonight.”

He ran his tongue along his overbite.

///

The sun gleamed through the front door of your villa.

You waited in your entryway for your newly hired bodyguards, already dressed for the day in sleek black leggings beneath a loose, blue one-shoulder sweater and a black lace tank top.

A knock sounded at the door five minutes before nine.

You opened the door to Formaggio and Melone. The former was dressed similarly to yesterday in studded clothes, leather pants, and a half-open top from the bottom. The latter, however, was dressed in a skin tight purple outfit revealing a lot of skin unlike the long-sleeved shirt and sweatpants from yesterday. Somehow, you were the only normal looking one in this trio.

Formaggio whistled as he looked into your home and ran his eyes over you. "Hello, hello."

“Uh, hello, welcome to my home? Sorry, I’d offer refreshments but the driver is arriving in five minutes.”

“It’s not a problem, babe.” Formaggio grinned. “We’re all ready to go.”

“We always come prepared, bella.” Melone rested his hip against the door, lips curled almost like a cat. “We’ll be given a tour of your home another time, yes?”

"If you'd like?" you said. "Oh, there's the driver. We better go."

///

The driver parked outside of a large apartment building near an old library close to the heart of Naples.

Your bodyguards followed you out and into the building, past the security already patrolling, and you took the elevator to your new studio.

It was a second-floor, concrete loft you bought to convert into a studio and there were already boxes of furniture, unfinished seating, and decorations sitting on palettes inside. The small kitchen was tucked beneath the stairs leading to the second floor. A drink fridge with a clear door was the most prominent feature besides the bar counter on the opposite side.

"This will be the most boring job you've ever had I hope you know,” you said idly as you dragged a sofa off the palette. "At least until my brand of luck turns up. Hold on, please take a seat on the bar stools. I'll have the sitting area built soon."

"Your brand of luck?" Formaggio grinned. "Want a hand, babe?"

You sent him a dry look. "Have you ever had to learn archery to prevent a Prince of Brunei from marrying your friend while being held hostage in his palace?"

"And he didn't want to marry you, cara?" Melone leaned over your shoulder, voice barely a murmur.

"Not at all," you said idly as you set down the couch on it's back and flounced back to the kitchen. "Hold on, do you have a drink preference? I don't think there's much besides iced coffee and flavoured sparkling water."

"Aren't we your bodyguards?" Melone asked, lips tugging into a smile.

You blinked. "I guess Risotto didn't explain everything? Your team is just a precautionary measure but really, this is a way you're making quick money unless another Prince decides I'm a good morsel to kidnap. Oh, we have fruit juices as well."

"We'll get our own drinks, babe." Formaggio leaned against the bar counter. "You didn't answer my question though, need any help? Looks like a lot of work for someone like you."

You hummed and went back to the sofa to start attached the legs from the box it came with. "Not right now."

You glanced at the two men's heavy gazes following you and went back to building the sitting area. You weren't sure what to make of them but they definitely were better than becoming an assassin again when you could be an artist.

///

(ao3 link)

Author Notes: I normally write fiction that’s more literary but this is purely here for self indulgence so if you see something that you squint your eyes at....skim over it. We’re in horny hours.

[opulentcherries]

this is love- reddie 1/3

ship: reddie [richie tozier + eddie kaspbrak]

age: 20/21

song: sober by bazzi

synopsis: richie only admits he loves eddie when he's drunk, but that's not enough for eddie anymore.

eddie kaspbrak was in pain.

and no, it wasn't because he foolishly had drank too much the night before andr had a raging headache. it wasn't because his voice was hoarse and his throat was sore from the screaming out his sorrows. and no, it wasn't from the cut above his eyebrow left untreated because the drunken haze afflicted on him last night.

no, this kind of pain was one that burrowed into your skin and festered into something dangerous. the type of pain that bruised you, that haunted you throughout all your days, and most horribly, your nights. this pain you couldn't escape. this pain was love.

eddie kaspbrak was in love.

he looked beside him at the mess of curls laying on his pillow. his eyes traced the trail of freckles dusted upon perfect cheekbones and a structured nose. eddie's small fingers reached and ran themselves through the dark locks, brushing his thumb along his bed mate's plump bottom lip.

suddenly eddie remembered how these things went. eddie retracted his hand like he'd been burned, tears threatening to spill out his eyes. no matter how many times they'd been in bed together, how many drunken confessions they'd shared, nothing ever changed.

richie tozier wasn't his, and he never would be.

the thought sent a ripple of pain through eddie's chest and suddenly the world became too blurry to see. this always happened. richie called him, he'd ask him to come out with him, they'd get drunk, and end up in bed together, whispering promises of things they both knew would never come.

eddie knew how these things worked, he knew richie. you see, drunk richie would make promises of love and future, of happiness and appreciation but sober richie, oh sober richie was quite the opposite. sober richie was eddie's friend. sober richie slept with anything that moved and didn't care about how it made eddie feel. sober richie didn't even look at eddie as more than just his best friend.

the pain bubbled in his stomach at the thought. images of last night and various others flood his mind; his hands tugging at richie's curls, eddie's name falling from richie's lips, a soft bubble of want and need swirling between them.

eddie then remembered how it was after the last time they slept together. how it felt to catch richie coming out of his neighbor's apartment without a single care in the world. or the ripping of his heart when he danced with guy after girl after guy at the club they went to.

eddie couldn't take it. since he was 14, since they were in the eighth grade he'd been in love with this idiot, yet the two still couldn't seem to get their act together. staring up at the pale white ceiling, the tears started to fall rapidly. all eddie wanted was richie. to hold and love like his own, instead of catch him at fleeting moments between hookups.

then eddie was angry. how could richie treat him like this? treat him like he wanted to give eddie the world when he had alcohol flowing through his veins, but completely ignoring him when in his right frame of mind. eddie didn't deserve this. he didn't deserve to cry himself to sleep each night, mind littered with constant 'what-ifs' and silly hopes for the future.

eddie got so angry he couldn't stand to be around richie. he slid out of his dark blue sheets, the tears still falling and picked up all of richie's clothes off the floor. he gathered them in one hand and with all his strength, hurled them at the sleeping boy.

richie woke up with a start, flinching at the clothes he saw next to him. he looked up at eddie with hooded eyes, heart momentarily skipping a beat. eddie's somewhat curly hair was messy and adorable, his small frames draped only in richie's shirt from the night before. richie never told him, but he secretly loved it when eddie wore his clothes.

he almost smiled right then, but suddenly remembered the way he was awakened. richie looked closely at eddie's face and his eyes widened, taking note at the tear stains down the beautiful boy's face. "eddie?" richie's voice was soft and raspy. "what's wrong?"

"get out."

richie froze, eyes glazing over. "what?"

"I said get out, richie. get out and never come back." eddie could feel the words clawing up his throat and he hated the way they tasted.

"eddie- I don't understand-"

"of course you fucking don't," eddie scoffed. "you never get it richie. i'm done with this, I'm done with us.”

"eddie, what are you talking about? what happened? last night was fun, it always is, so why are you upset?" richie had a dangerous feeling he knew where this conversation was going and he didn't want it. he rounded the bed, now only a couple feet from eddie.

"that's the problem, richie. it's always just fun. it's always just a night. I can't do this anymore."

"eddie, baby, listen-"

and then, eddie snapped.

"no, you fucking listen, richard! " eddie screamed, closing the distance between the two. he poked richie's harshly, causing richie to back up. "you do this to me again and again, and I can't any more. no more hookups. no more calling me when none of the others will answer the phone. no more spending the night. no more drunken promises that never carry to morning. I'm done, richie."

richie's blood ran cold at the words. at the amount of heartache placed beneath them. "eddie- stop. we have something good, don't ruin it. don't make us stop-"

"good? tell me richie what's good about this?" he was chalked full of unbearably heavy thoughts and his heart was on fire. "i'm in love with you, idiot!"

he had never said it sober before, neither or them had, but now it hung in the air around them, painfully loud. richie looked at eddie desperately, begging him to take it back. to say "just kidding!" so that they could go back to what they had before. richie tozier didn't do love, he couldn't.

"and I know you don't love me, rich. or you won't, whichever one, but I can't put myself through this anymore. it hurts, richie. seeing you with somebody else feels like my heart is being torn out of my chest. I love you, richie tozier, but I won't destroy myself anymore because of it."

richie's throat closed up and his chest constricted painfully. he wanted to say a million and one things, but all he could do was sit and stare heartbroken at the boy in front of him.

he could see the decision set in eddie's eyes and he hated it. when eddie was sure of something there was no getting around it.

"eddie, please." eddie nearly lost it at the crack in richie's voice but didn't, instead throwing him his keys.

"get out, richie. of my apartment and my life. lose my number."

richie wanted to yell, he wanted to scream that he loved eddie too, but he was scared, so fucking scared of what that means. he wanted to kiss the tears off his face and tell him he needs him, and that all those drunken promises were still valid now. he wanted to say so many things, but he couldn't.

so instead he grabbed his shoes off the floor, and headed across the apartment to the front door, pausing once more to look at the probable love of his life. eddie looked down, shoulders shaking in seeming agony and richie tozier swears he could hear his heart break at the sight.

"goodbye, eds.”

he closes the door with a soft click, and before his body can comprehend what's happening, he's crying, sliding down the door slowly.

eddie is on the other side as well, on his apartment floor, grasping the thin fabric he wears with conviction, scent of richie, cigarettes and vanilla, cloud his brain and weary heart as he sobs.

and eddie realizes that this is love. wanting but not obtaining. love is needing someone so severely but realizing that sometimes it can't always work the way you want it to. love can be kind but love is cruel and selfish, stripping away at the very foundation of your heart. love is fearing your worth will only bring someone down, or fearing you'll never be what they deserve. love is throwing out the one person who makes you so happy you could burst, but also makes you cry harder than you've ever known. love is richie tozier and eddie kaspbrak, on opposite sides of the same door, two halves of a whole heart, sobbing because all the things that could never be.

this is love.

[cilliansaccent]

Class of Temptation - CHAPTER ONE

Leave a like, reblog or comment below to show your support and love! Enjoy...

PLEASE READ:

No mention of Cillian's true family or relatives. All names are made up. 

This is a TEACHER x STUDENT fanfiction, it's going to be kinky and very taboo! 

I will write whenever the mood grabs me, so I apologise if there are long breaks between chapters :)

——- ——- ——- ——- ——- ——- ——- ——- ——- ——- ——- ——- ——-

Background: Tessa is a twenty-three-year-old model from a broken-up family, living in London with her best friend and starting a course on Drama and Theatre. Though, when she gets closer to the super hot Mr Murphy who is her much older teacher, there is a battle of lust and love between them. They’ll have to figure out what to do with their tight relationship as other issues begin to rise and nip at their heels... 

Word Count: 1,977

!!Warnings!!: None. 

Chapter Name: Happy Birthday

Brief Chapter Outline: Tessa celebrates her 23rd Birthday with friends and her two eldest sisters. 

——- ——- ——- ——- ——- ——- ——- ——- ——- ——- ——- ——- ——-

The pretty apartment was full of people chatting and drinking champagne or wine or beer. Pop music played from the stereo which set the mood pretty well. Esther had thrown her best friends twenty-third birthday party and invited all the girls and guys they had worked within the modelling agency. So it was well over twenty people. She looked over to make sure Tess was enjoying herself and spotted her chatting with her two older sisters. 

"Yeah, I am quite nervous though holy crap," Tessa laughed, pushing back her black hair behind a multi-pierced ear, "I start under three weeks now." "What course you gonna do again?" Aria asked, sipping her wine. "I picked Drama, Theatre and Performance Studies. I've also nailed myself in their band as a cello player." Tessa nodded, twirling her bubbling beverage between her fingers. "Oh! Right! I very happy for you." Aria gave her youngest sister a smile and a hug. Aria tends to forget things. "Yeah, I wanted to do more than just modelling. I want to expand." Tessa smiled. "Wonderful. It's good to do something different." Mila agreed, "Like me. I got out of modelling and now I own a cute boutique in Dublin showcasing Irish culture with the hubby." "I have yet to come down and see it. Maybe when I am on break." Tessa grinned, "Could show it off." "Ooo, you can! And Aria can show off her jewellery to." The girls let out soft laughter. Tessa was glad she had her two sisters here. It made her birthday's so much better to celebrate and no matter what they always got her something as if it was her twenty-first all over again. Mila had moved to Dublin when she was twenty-five with her then-boyfriend whom she had married about three years ago, they opened a shop together and now run a successful and famous store for about six years. Aria went to Glasgow with her fiance who been engaged since she was twenty-four, now shes thirty. There she makes hand-made jewellery and accessories for all sorts of people, no gender tags attached to it. And Tessa looked up to them the most, they were honest and hard-working and she aspired to be like them. So she would work hard in her new course and start a life that she was able to finally claim her own in some way. Though, within her, she would always miss her father who was forgotten in Amsterdam. Despite the bad falling out she had, she hoped one day to find a card or something from him. But nothing since she was nineteen. "Tess! Get your damn ass to this table! We got you your fave cake!" Esther called out. She was a beautiful girl, pale skin with freckles and rust coloured hair. Her eyes reminded Tessa of the emerald that Esther wore around her neck. Bright and ever-glowing. She came over and plopped down on the chair, giggling at the huge chocolate cake that had professionally made flowers that decorated the top. "Oh my god, I love it!" Tessa laughed and clapped her hands. "I'm glad you do, babe." She kissed her cheek. Tessa and Esther were... not really a couple but they acted like one. Neither of them was good with men so they pleasured each other on a daily occasion. But there were times when Esther would bring a man home, but Tessa wasn't jealous either. All she cared was that he was treating her right. She gazed up at her bestie, "Always knows what I like." She said and everyone began to sing Happy Birthday to her. She blew out all twenty-three candles after she made a wish, a wish that she would one day make her father proud. She thought of that every day. Everyone cheered and then took photos with her and made sure to update their social media. Tess had a large following on Instagram, it happened when you worked for pretty big fashion brands. And it seemed the majority lived in London for some reason and she would find some people walking up to her and asking for photos. Didn't happen all the time but it does happen. A good pro of being a model was that she got to travel, mostly to America or France for fashion shows or to model brands or make an ad. She loved it despite the tiresome work, she loved it a lot. "Tess, hey. I wanna tell you something super important." Mila came over as the cake was cut up and sent around. "Okay, sure." Tessa got up and walked with her back to Aria who seemed to be also waiting for this news. Mila took in a deep breath, her smile wide, "Jordyn and I are expecting our first child!" Aria and Tessa gasped, "Oh my god! Mila!" Aria cuddled her sister tightly, "Oh congratulations!" "Yes! I'm gonna be an aunty!" Tessa cried with joy as the three sisters hugged each other. "Oh god. Its been like two months now but I had to tell you guys. I wanted to like, keep it a secret and throw a surprise party but you know how I am." Mila laughed. "No wonder you aren't drinking." Aria laughed, "Usually you finish like five bottles by now." "Shut up, I am so not like that." Mila jabbed her shoulder with a finger. "Ow!" Aria pouted. "But no, seriously. Congrats. That is so cool. Are you going to find out the sex?" Tessa asked. "Oh, no. I want that to be a surprise for all of us." Mila nodded, "I'll make sure to throw the baby shower while you are on break so you don't have to stress out from exams or anything." "Okay, sounds like a good idea. But I'll also help out with ideas." Tessa said. "Same here," Aria chimed in. "Awesome. This is gonna be great." Mila beamed. The night continued on, rain pelted outside but it didn't take away the warmth inside the cozy, boho styled apartment. Esther loved her plants and animals, so she really made it nice when they had gotten enough money to start decorating. Plants hung around and colourful carpets beneath super soft couches that had fluffy throws and equally colourful pillows with animal patterns. They had a wall that was dedicated to just books which were Tessa's must-have. The whole apartment had a very chill and spiritual vibe, which made it so good to come home after a long and stressful day. The main room was all open, kitchen, dining and living room all visible and easy access. Opposite each side was their bedrooms and had their own private balconies. Most nights Tessa spent in Esther's bedroom in her bed. Naked. Esther's bedroom was also boho-inspired, white walls and dark grey ceiling and a low double bed with plenty of soft sheets and throws. More plants and a large desk with her laptop and other little items scattered across it. The french doors that led to the balcony had fairy lights that hung between the door and the heavy curtains. She had polaroid photos on a wall that she took when they were overseas, Tessa counted over a hundred photos that were still going higher. But when it came to Tessa's bedroom, it was more minimalist but had that touch of rustic. Mostly white with light grey tones and splashes of reds, browns or blues. Her bed was also a double but raised up with an oak coloured frame. Esther wanted some more colour in the room so she had added some pretty hanging pots off the wall above the bed, a crawling vine that outlined the doors to the balcony. She had said that it would make the photos she takes in the room to stand out more on her Instagram. Both rooms had a walk-in wardrobe that still didn't seem big enough from the clothing they had. That's what happened when you became a model, couldn't get enough with the fashion. The party died down as people began to go home, Tessa said good-bye to her sisters that were leaving early in the morning to go back home. Tessa came back inside and helped Esther clean up. "No, let me do it. You go pour a glass of red wine and I'll be right over." Esther said. "You sure? It's a lot to clean up." Tessa frowned. "I'll do some then do the rest tomorrow. I wanna see what you got." Esther kissed her lightly on the lips. "So eager." Tess laughed and went to the couch, poured herself a glass and waited. It wasn't long when Esther came over, "Okay let's see what everyone got you." Tessa began to open the mountain of presents, she got clothing and jewellery and shoes and money. Her sisters had a joint present of a super nice Prada hand-bag that Tessa always wanted. "So much nice stuff. Here is mine." Esther handed her a little gift bag. Tessa opened the letter and read it before she looked into the bag. She pulled out a box and inside the box was a pretty gold chain with a small diamond pendant. About half a centimetre in length. "Oh wow! Thank you, Esther! It's so pretty!" Tessa gasped. "Here, let me put it on." She said as she took the chain and slipped it around Tessa's neck. She kissed her soft skin gently. "Perfect," Tessa nodded as she turned and gave her a kiss on the lips. "Better than the rest of the presents?" Esther smirked. "I love all my presents equally, Es." She nudged her and gathered the wrapping paper in a bag and left it beside the front door. She yawned, it was already past midnight. "I might head to bed," Tessa said, as she left her empty glass in the sink. "Yeah, same. Today was busy." She nodded as they met in the middle of the room. "Thank you," Tessa hugged Esther tightly. "I appreciated what you did today." Esther beamed and hugged her back, "I'm glad you enjoyed yourself! I'll see you in the morning, beautiful." She kissed her cheek and they parted ways. Tessa changed into flannel pants and a shirt before she combed her hair and cleaned her make-up off. As she came over to her desk she spotted an envelope with her name written neatly on it. She didn't think someone would come in here, unless it may have been her sisters or Esther. But who could this be from? Why wasn't it given to her right away? Either way, she opened it up. It was a birthday card and quite a lot of cash fell out. At least a thousand pounds. And she knew who would be able to afford that much money and send it. Her father. She read the words as she sank into her chair. She had not heard from him for so many years since the day she left. So why now and send a heartfelt card? He had left an address on the envelope. She picked up the money and stared at it. More than a thousand. She sighed and laid it on the desk. She wasn't sure what to make of the card or the money. He had written how much he has been missing her and her sisters and how only Aria wasn't still speaking to him but Mila has. Tessa's gut feeling told her something was up, but she wasn't going to let this shit eat her up again. She wasn't going to fall into that dark hole she had managed to crawl out of. She left the money on the table next to the card. She didn't know what to do with it so she crawled into bed once she turned off the lights and tried to get some sleep.