#guess they're continuing their soft launching

[rhadamanthes]

nerd!reader x fratboy!eren

warnings : cliche cliche cliche Eren calls reader nerd a lot so be prepared, reader wear glasses, unprotected sex, fingering, blowjob lot of kisses, praise, doggy style, missionary, boob play, minimal use of y/n

word count : 6,5k

You hate working with men, especially in group projects. They're unserious and careless if it was up to you, you'd rather be doing this work alone but the teacher denied your request to your great demise. Through your years of college you successfully avoid being paired with slackers and frat boys. Today you are now seated next to Eren Jaeger, the ultimate form of a frat beast. You guess this is the end of your lucky run. 

The said boy is whisper-yelling in the receiver of his phone earning angry glances from the other student in the library... Has he no etiquette about the appropriate behavior in these places ? Taking off your glasses, you massage your temple, eyes closed, face facing your desk. It's only been a few days since you started this project but you feel like you've been at it for months. The end of the semester approaching means everyone is busy. You had a hard time scheduling this work session with Eren and he's on the phone ? You can't open your eyes now because you know you want to cry. 

"Sorry about this" he interrupts your train of thoughts "It's like no one knows how to organize a party when I'm not around" he jokes, opening your eyes you just stare at him with a blank expression. A party ? You're not even halfway through this project due in twelve days and he's thinking about a party ?

"I gotta go, but after the party I'll get to work and send you my part, deal ?"

"You're telling me that you're going to get drunk tonight, analyze the market we are launching our product in and create an adequate publicity?" you ask in disbelief.

"Yes" a smirk grows on his face, picking up your glasses from the wooden table, he positions them in front of his own eyes, without wearing them he looks around the room through the frame. "You know, it's not because you're a nerd with a strict working method that everyone has to follow them" he mokes, eyes falling back on you, the glasses make his eyes look slightly bigger in another context you may have smiled at that but right now you're just pissed. You open your mouth to snap back at him but he places a finger on your lips 

"Keep it down this is a library" oh you want to kill him now, the audacity stuns you in your seat. "Listen, I'm in the same class as you, yeah ? Means I am not completely stupid, just trust your teammate ok?" he smiles, sliding your glasses on your nose until his finger comes in contact with the skin between your eyebrows. Without another word he pats the top of your head, turning his heels to make his way to the library exit.

What the fuck ? 

A long exhale  escapes your lips as you slide back in your chair, well... your mood is ruined you cannot get another word down. gathering your stuff you shove them in your bags, following the same direction your partner took a few minutes ago. 

The soft breeze hits your cheeks and your pressure lowers a little, you should take breaks more often, this feels nice. The smell of nicotine hits you and you take a long whiff, god you would love a cigarette right now maybe you can borrow one to the person ? Turning your head toward the source of your desire, here stands no other than Eren. Life is really cruel to you these days. His emerald eyes catch yours and a smile curls around the butt of the cigarette. Snapping your head back, you speed walk toward the dorm, you swear you heard him laugh behind you. 

ₓ˚. ୭ ˚○◦˚.˚◦○˚ ୧ .˚ₓ

Against all expectation Eren did send his part after the party. It didn't meet your expectations but you're seeing him again today so you'll suggest the modification and smooth it over so it looks like an actual group project and not a patchwork of personal pieces. Eren invited you to his place to continue working, originally he wanted to work at yours but you said no, you wouldn't want his presence in your personal space, it's too intimate and the way he behave like an elephant in a china shop the other days makes you sweat just by thinking of him in your own apartment. 

Standing in front of the main door of the two story house you take a deep breath before knocking twice. An unfamiliar face greets you and you're wondering if you had the wrong address, scrambling to apologize you're about to leave when you hear Eren's voice in the back

"Connie, is that my nerd ?"  The man in front of you, which you assume is Connie, tilts his head to the side, looking you from head to toe. You clutch your books tighter against your chest in embarrassment. 

"Looks like it" 

"Come on in " Eren's face appears behind the bald man and you step in the house "Just take off your shoes man" Eren says, squeezing your shoulder. Barely two words in and you're already tense. Why is he so comfortable with physical touch and stupid names? 

Nevertheless you oblige, toeing off your converse.  You hear a stream of foreign voices coming from your right, following the noises you fall face to face with a group of boys playing mario kart, laughing and screaming at each other. This cannot be real you think, feeling your arms weaken a bit.

"Eren ! If you were busy you should have told me I would've come another day." 

"No, that's fine! The boys are here but I'm taking you upstairs, it's where my desk at" he says, sliding his hand over your shoulder, looking down at you. He's close, maybe too much but you don't have it in you to fight, you can feel the warmth of his body despite your clothes. Holding his gaze you only notice now that his hair is down, fully down not half up like he wears so often his dark locks frame his face cascading on his broad shoulders. He is pretty, very pretty, your cheeks heat up a bit, you're about to change subject to get your mind off  your stupid thoughts when a voice interrupts you.

"No foolishness upstairs yeah ?" Connie giggles looking back at the two of you, controller in hand.

"Worry about yourself bro being 11th against Floch is stupid" he smirks earning a fit of laughter from the rest of the group. Hand still around your shoulder he leads you up the stairs.

His room is cleaner and tidier than you expected but you're relieved, Placing your book and laptop on his desk you start to organize your thoughts, you have a lot to do today if you want to be ready by next week.

"I've read what you sent me. It is pretty good but I would like to circle back on a few points with you if that's ok ?" you ask, taking place in one of the chairs facing the desk. 

"Sure thing, that's why we're here for" he smiles, scraping the chair against the floor in order to sit on it.  The screeching noise making your brow furrow, everything about him is so... intense.

The session goes smoothly, Eren is way more focused then back in the library. Maybe he just needs to be in a place he is familiar with to be productive ? Sure he would run downstairs whenever the boys cheered loudly to see what it was about, blow the smoke of his juul straight in your face, stretch and groan like he spent the last decade tied up to this chair. But as long as the work is done you don't think you mind anymore. 

"So I'll take care of the visual presentation, next time we see each other we could do a rehearsal of the oral presentation ? What do you think ?" you ask gathering your belongings 

"I think we are going to rock this shit" he says, holding up his hand in the air. He's he expecting a high five like you guys are some sort of football team ? You stare at his palm. "Come oooon loosen up little nerd we did such a good job today" he waves his hands and you dap it quickly, shaking your head left to right a small smile growing on your lips. You stand up and he walks you downstairs.

The group of boys sitting on the couch is smaller, no more Connie in sight, you don't recognize a single face. 

"Want to stay for dinner ?" 

"No I gotta get back home but thanks for the invite"

"Right, go back before the sun goes down and the wolf gets you" he laughs, grabbing your forearm when you lose balance putting your shoes back on. 

"Funny guy" you roll your eyes looking up at him. Behind Eren are two silhouettes, two boys that look like twins except one is slightly taller than the other, they still look very similar, upturned nose and slick hair pushed back. They are watching the interaction with curious eyes before whispering to each other. Right, the biggest gossips you know are actually men. 

"Don't take everything so personally it was just a joke"

"I know, it was just lame" it's your turn to laugh now, his eyes crinkle letting your forearm go, he opens the door for you.

"Well, see you around i guess" you nod your head stepping out, Eren sends a wink your way before closing the door shut in a forceful manner.... as always. 

Walking into the evening sun you still feel the shadow of his touch on your arm, goosebumps raise on your skin and you shove the thought in the back of your head, sliding your airpods in. 

ₓ˚. ୭ ˚○◦˚.˚◦○˚ ୧ .˚ₓ

The presentation is in two days, you booked one of the private rooms of the library to have a proper rehearsal but something is missing.. Eren is missing, and now you're about to lose your reservation.

"You know the rules, private rooms can not be booked for a single person so I think you have to go" the girl with ashy gray hair says with a fake nice smile. 

"Yeah and that's pretty selfish to do, you know ?" the one with the black pigtails add

"I'm telling you my partner is on his way. I'm not hogging this room for myself and I'm not selfish. I booked it!"

You are starting to lose your patience. They've been trying to kick you out of the room  for the past five minutes. A familiar silhouette snakes its way to the room and your shoulder relaxes. 

"Mina, Hitch" his honeyed voice interrupts.

Both girls turn around and squeals greetings once they realise who it is. He gives each of them  a quick side hug, cheeks pressing together  "Oh my god Eren i didn't know the room was for you"  You mentally check out after that sentence, their smile seems genuine now and you laugh to yourself. So all it takes for them to act normal is a popular boy ? noted for the next time you want to book a private room. Their conversation digresses to something else and you interrupt them, having lost enough time as it is.

"Eren ? Can we get to work please ?" You can't see his eyes because he's wearing sunglasses... indoors but by now you shouldn't even be shocked at this point, his head turns your way.

"Duty call ladies, but it was nice to see you" he flashes them a million dollar smile guiding them out of the room with hands on their lower back. Minna and Hitch turn around saying their goodbye as they speed walk out of the library, arms linked with one another and hushed whispers. 

Seated across from you, Eren hasn't taken off his glasses yet and now that he is close, the faint smell of weed gets to you. 

"Are you high ?" you ask, clinging to your last hopes. No answer comes from him but the cheshire smile he gives you makes you slump in your seat. "Eren! Is this why you're late ? I almost got kicked out because of you!" you try to keep your tone steady but you fail, voice pitching higher than usual.

"It's not the reason I'm late but yes I smoked." He says finally taking off the shades from his eyes, they're red, making the emerald color of his irises pop out. You won't admit it but... he looks good like that. His hair is fully tied back today, making it impossible to escape his powerful gaze. "And there's no way they would have managed to get you out, you looked ferocious with your eyebrow tight. Mina and Hitch are all bark, no bite. " he snickers, digging his laptop out of his bag. 

You don't give him credit for his attempt at loosening up the atmosphere, connecting your laptop to the monitor. The fake presentation goes fairly well, Eren seems distracted, staring at you when he's supposed to be reading his parts. You would throw a pen his way to make him snap out of it, posture straightening up he would continue the flow of speech in such a natural way, eyes still never leaving yours. His gaze is hard to maintain so you would often nod your head, looking down at the powerpoint. Everytime you look back up a smirk was displayed on his face. 

After a few more repetitions you decide that you're ready for the real presentation. Eren is waiting for you at the door, bag swinged over his shoulder displaying his beefy arm. You trot up to him so he doesn't have to wait longer. Once outside of the library he's ready to part way  but you hold onto his biceps, his eyebrows shot up in surprise. 

"Eren please don't smoke before the oral presentation on friday" you must sound pathetic but you don't care you'll probably never speak to him after this project is over. You can see that he is holding back a smile before he opens his mouth.

"You worry way too much my little nerd." Eren leans in for a hug, the same type he gave the two girls earlier, but he lingers a bit longer, his large hand rubbing your back.the embrace is somehow reassuring you take a deep breath patting his back, you choose to believe him if this goes south for any reason you'll give your all in the other discipline to compensate. 

"See ? you can actually relax when you want to" he smirks putting his sunglasses back on.

You roll your eyes adjusting your tote bag on your shoulder "Bye" you turn around. 

Walking toward the dorms you think about Eren, usually his touch would irritate you, him being so casual with everyone and anything drives you crazy. But today after you saw him being sweet to those girls, you are glad he hugged you too... and the way he refers to you as his nerd is kind of cute. A long exhale escapes your lips : remember that everything will be over after friday. Maybe it's for the better, this way you won't get the wrong idea. 

ₓ˚. ୭ ˚○◦˚.˚◦○˚ ୧ .˚ₓ

Presentation went well ! The transitions were smooth and the questions asked by the other classmates at the end allowed you to prove your work was not surface level but well rounded and constructed on serious work of research. You had to literally step on eren toes when he would space out, throwing any supply at him is not possible since  you were in presence of the entire class and not the privacy of the study room. Other than that, no bumps. It is a huge weight off your back 

The oral exam being done also means that you are officially free from any academic pressure... until next semester but still ! You can take time to relax now.  And it is exactly what you're doing, sitting on a bench you are catching up on your personal reading that you put aside due to the amount of deadline you were meeting. The three above you provide the perfect amount of shade while you still enjoy the warm breeze of the afternoon. A smile grows on your face as you read more and more of the eternal husband. It's not the book that makes you smile but the simple fact you are able to read it.

Your bliss is cut short when you feel a heavy weight on your foot, ready to brawl you put your book down with vigour. 

"It's only payback don't look at me like that" Eren of course it's him "Plus you got out of the classroom at lightning speed i might have thought the last weeks were a fever dream you disappear so quickly" 

"I stepped on your toes because you were just staring at me. It was your time to speak! And i left because i had things to do" 

"And I was staring because you missed a part of your speech it isn't like you you know ? that's why i was shocked"

"Wait ? I did ? " You mentally replay the whole scene and can't seem to find a crack in it.

"It is so easy to mess with your mind my little nerd" Eren says ruffling your hair while a laugh makes his shoulder shake. You push his hands vigorously.

"Don't joke about this, I'm serious! " 

"Soo tense, you know what you need ? To relax, to live a little" 

"I was relaxing before you tried to amputate my foot," you said, grabbing your book to emphasize your words.

"Oh come on you can't be serious we just finished exams and you're dipping your nose in that russian freak story ?"

"To each their own" you say opening it back to resume your reading but a thought crosses your mind "What do you do to relax" abandoning the printed pages to look back at him. You immediately regret your question as a devilish smirk grows on his face. 

"Would you like to know ? Or better I could show you" Eren says, picking up a leaf that has fallen in your hair, his finger traveling down so he can tilt your chin up. "Come by my place tonight ?"

"You're having a party ?" you ask sheepishly. That is why is known for on campus, parties, girls dying for him to notice them and his amazing athletic performances. You never went to one of his famous parties nor his games. Not your cup of tea but still, you were curious about it. Eren eyes are blank for a moment, fingers caressing your chin. "Yeah, something like that, so are you coming ? To have a proper end to this collaboration."  

A last goodbye huh ?  If his parties hold up to their reputation you probably won't even see him tonight due to the amount of people that would be present, and you doubt he will come to find you out of all people. You would be lying if you said a part of you doesn't want to go to his house, see what the fuss is all about... You will only stay so many years in college fuck it. "Ok i'll be there" HIs face lights up "Can't wait then" Another million dollar smile sent your way and his trotting off god knows where on campus. 

ₓ˚. ୭ ˚○◦˚.˚◦○˚ ୧ .˚ₓ

The sun sets faster than you realise, it's time to get ready for tonight, you do not know what to wear, how to do your hair and makeup, walking back and forth between your closet and the full length mirror in your living room you can't decide which dress will make the cut. Mini black  backless dress or baby pink strappy dress ? Your mind tends to the black one, it's more casual you'll be more comfortable.  Oh my god shoes, what about shoes ? If you call Annie to ask her you know she'll hang up, sighing as you rummage through your tiny shoe storage. The dress is black you might go for black shoes as well. strappy black heels they're toe open, a quick glance at your feet and you can see that your nail polish is still intact. Well looks like you got an outfit. 

Opting for a light make up you made a wing eyeliner (surprisingly fast, given the fact that you didn't wear makeup for a longtime due to your exam ) , lip gloss, mascara blush and concealer to hide the bags you accumulated for the last few weeks. You smile at your reflection, it is good to see you this primed, you feel like you again. The glasses would spoil the look so you go for lenses tonight, and for your hair, you let them sits freely around your face and dow your back, the dress being backless would call for an updo but you're having a good hair day so screw it 

22:37 reads your phone about time to go. You're feeling a bit anxious but decide to ignore it.

You call an uber and soon enough the car pulls  up in the familiar driveway.  Thanking the driver as you make your way to the steps, the absence of noise from any kind strikes you, you would've thought that the famous parties at the Yeager house have bass loud enough to feel them in your chest.  

Before you have the time to process anymore thoughts, the door swings open revealing Eren, smiling ear to ear, looking at you up and down, his adam's apple bobs up. "Come on in" he says holding his hand out, you take it, climbing up the few stairs that separate the both of you.

"Where is everyone else ?" you ask, surprised to find the house empty. 

"They'll be here" he says leading you to the kitchen, hand on the small of your naked back "Tomorrow" he adds with a grin. 

"Eren!" 

"What ? If I told you tonight was just us would you still have come ? "  he asks, filling two cocktail glasses with a thick orange liquid.  Eren takes your absence of reaction as an answer. "It's just that we spent all this time together  and I never saw you anything other than stressed,  I couldn't imagine you going to a party to be honest" he snickers, dipping his lips in the colorful mixture as he slides the other glass your way against the kitchen island. "Look at you nerd,not wearing your glasses, dress and heels on, you look good like that ! "

"You deemed me a nerd because I wear glasses and read books" you grumble looking down at your glass, not picking up his comment on your appearance but it makes your insides mushy. 

"Not really, the first time we met you literally explain to me in details the lore of the dance of the dragons because you saw my Daenerys keychain" you close your eyes mortified by the memory "Don't be embarrassed that was fun ! " he hits your shoulder, laughing at your reaction. 

You remember it all too well, it was your second year of college, Eren sat next to you, the small classroom got cramped fast and he was late, beggars can't be choosers. It is true the pop Daenerys figure caught your attention and you made small talk and might got carried away but there's no harm in that or so you thought, guess you annoyed him pretty bad if he still remembers it to this day. Feeling your cheeks heat up, you turn your head right, a few days ago this is where his group of friends were playing mario kart, now that the space is empty you got a nice view of his living room.

"You have a fireplace ? Fancy" you remark 

"What you don't ?" 

"My humble student apartment doesn't allow this type of furniture"

"That is really sad, want me to put it on for you ?" you roll your eyes and he leads you once more around his house, cocktails in hands. 

Both of you are kneeling in front of the fireplace,resting on the fluffy white rug. Eren is filling its center with different sizes of wood sticks. You admire his arms flexing and stretching as he moves around. Tonight he is wearing a tight white shirt that highlights his toned body. His dark hair is fully down once more, the ends are a bit damp, making some spot on his shoulder see through, a grey jogger is covering his legs. Damn. He looks good wearing that. Once the branches are neatly placed he adds a fire starter and hands you a box of matches, the long type ones. 

"Do me the honour" he smiles, you return his expression, scratching the red tip against the rough side of the box and sticking it to the little white cube, the flame catches quickly and you squeak, retrieving your hand from the chimney. Eren claps at your side praising you in an obnoxious manner. "She did it!" and others exclamations as if you saved the world. You laugh at his antics, eyes fixated on the yellow and orange hues  that dance in front of you.

"Did you know that in ancient Rome everyone was peeing at the same place "latrines" with the strong concentration of ammonia in urine a single match would have been enough to blow the whole place up ?" you snort, thinking about the anecdote you learn in latin classes as the fire crackles in front of you. 

"No I didn't" you turn to him and he is wearing his signature teasing expression.  You know what is thinking already, you can almost hear his voice say it; nerd. Here you go ranting about random facts because you're hampered, and being alone with Eren at his house is the reason. At least you can blame the heat coursing through your body on the nearby fire. You take another sip from your cocktail. 

"Is that a sex on the beach ?" you ask to change the subject. Eren nods looking impressed that you know. "I was going to offer you a beer but I have the feeling you would like something more refined." 

"Nice catch, I don't like beer, but I have to say I didn't imagine you drinking cute cocktails."

"I'm a versatile guy, and I like to adapt to my guests." he smiles clinking your glasses with his before you both drink some more.  

The conversations flow easily with him, against all expectations you guys have a lot of common interests, video games, movies and music taste. You realize that maybe you have judged him as much as he did you. Eren is currently refilling both your glasses in the kitchen as you scroll through his vinyl collection. You asked for a soft drink, feeling like the alcohol and the warm waves that come from the fireplace would be the perfect combo lulling you to sleep. 

Your shoes are long forgotten by the fireplace, you are sitting on your ass, feet joint by your side. Eren slides back to your side  handing you your drink. Your thighs are flush against each other, the more you were talking through the night, the closer you got, literally. The fireplace gives his face a warm light, accentuating his features, his lips are moving but you cannot decipher a single word. He is so pretty like that, the heat coming from the chimney decouples his scent, lavender and wood. You take a deep breath to ground yourself but you can't push away the need to kiss him. 

Leaning into Eren's chest, you press your lips into his, softly, to see if is going to pull back or not. He doesn't, you feel his arm wrap around your shoulder, making it impossible for you to squirm away, but you wouldn't even if you could. His lips are intoxicating, he leans more and more into you as his tongue enters your mouth. Desperate for more you set down your glass on the ground, fisting his shirt in your palms. His secondhand goes on your waist securing your place once more as your tongue battles against each other for dominance. Eren breaks the kiss, still holding you close

"Needy much ?" Eren laughs, swiping his tongue on his bottom lips, your eyes don't miss a single bit, you hum absentmindedly. Diving for another kiss this time you let your hands go to his hair pulling slightly to make him open his mouth, your tongue snakes in when he gives you access, he tastes like cherry and orange and a mix of vodka. You freeze

"Are you drunk ?" The last thing you want is to take advantage of the situation. "From two cocktails ? I'm offended" you giggle and he dips his face in your neck, licking and sucking at your skin, his lips are cold, contrasting with the warmth the fire laced your body with, a shiver parcour you and you moan. 

Eren travels lower, kissing your breath through the material of your dress "Can I take it off ?" he asks emerald eyes boring through yours you nod, not trusting your voice  under his intense gaze. He peels the black cloth of your shoulders letting it sit on your belly. "Who would've thought my nerd has those pretty little tits"  he muses fondling them in his large hands. "Do you even know my name ?" you tempt. "Of course I do, y/n" he murmurs, kissing the side of your boob, "My beautiful y/n" he adds, taking your nipple in his mouth, eyes never leaving yours.

Fuck, you should have shut up, your name rolling of his tongue ties your stomach in knots. You exhale loudly arching your back to push more skin into his mouth. You allow yourself to close your eyes, head falling back as your hand travels south to your crotch, fingers toying with your clit. Eren grunts against your areola at the sight, his own fingers entering your wet cavern, you gasp at the intrusion. "Teamwork baby we're used to this" he groans before switching to your other breast. The circular motion you're self inflicting on your bundle of nerves is slowly making you unwind. On his side Eren is curling his digits inside your cunt, in search for the spongy spot that is going to make you mewl. 

You do your best to hold back your moans not wanting to sound like a desperate mess, but another precise curl of his fingers and there you are, whining and thrashing around him uncontrollably. Eren bites your nipple as you slowly come to your senses opening your eyes, you find his emerald  orbs staring back at you amused. "That was quite a show" he directs his glistening digits to his mouth, cleaning them from any remaining stickiness. You nudge him with your foot as your eyes travel to his needy bulge, if anything this only makes you want the full Eren Yeager experience. 

Tugging at his waistband you grab his cock from the confine of his sweatpant, he's not wearing any underwear, you chuckle. "Don't slutshame me, you weren't wearing anything either " he laughs, brushing the hair out of your face. "I didn't say anything" you joke planting kisses on his length, you can tell it is not fully hard, which is quite concerning because it's almost the size of your face already but you can take a challenge, and you want to make him hard without putting it in your mouth yet. So it is exactly what you do, leaving a trail of kisses on his base, his tip, his balls and his impressive length. 

"You're killing me there y/n"  he breathes, lifting his hips off the ground in an attempt to get more friction,what a greedy man he is. But you don't have it in you to tease him any more. Parting your lips you slowly suck the head of his cock in your mouth, the newfound sensation makes him hiss. You circle your tongue around his head, flicking it on his sensitive slit. Once your jaw has relaxed you work more and more of his length inside between your lips, bobbing your head up and down. You hollow your cheeks, working what doesn't fit in your mouth with your hands. His cock is heavy on your tongue, you missed this sensation, moaning around him, you quicken your pace. 

"Fuck, you read a book to give head this good ?" he half laughs half moans. He's not far from the truth, you used to read erotic types of books when you were younger but he doesn't need to know that. Having your mouth full you can't answer him so you decide to sink your teeth lightly on his skin. "Shit baby, I'm joking!" he groans but you can tell it's not hurting him, relaxing your jaw you resume your activity, the sloppy noise filling the room alongside the fire cracking next to you . "Right, just like, that I love it when you're nice to me" his hips start to thrust up and you let him fuck your mouth, slacking your jaw to the max. 

HIs breath is getting more and more ragged as he lets curses slip past his lips. He's about to cum and you can't wait to know what he tastes like. His hands come to each side of your face lifting you off his penis. 

"Eren ?" you mumble, disappointed you haven't gone to the end. He pecks your lips multiple time "Another time baby I want to fuck that little pussy okay ?" you nod, mind too fuzzy to protest. Lowering your upper body onto the carpet Eren hikes your bottom onto his lap. He's looking intently at your pussy before you can feel embarrassed. He parts your entrance with both of his thumb, looking at the arousal ripping out of it. "Cute" he mumbles before wetting his thumb with his tongue and rumbing at your clit a few times. The action makes your cheeks burn, you won't be able to use this move with your books without thinking about this now, you groan, closing your eyes. 

"Turn around for me baby" he demands, squeezing your thigh, you happily oblige, knees sinking onto the fluffy rug you arch your back the best you can so he can have a good sight. You feel him kissing your entrance a few times just like he did your lips before and restrain yourself not to back on his face. Soon enough his tip prod at your entrance and you sway your hips in anticipation. "Come on Eren please" you mewl looking back at him. Locking his eyes with yours he let his cock fill you up, inch by inch, both your mouths part when he's fully inside. Your brows are tight on your forehead when he starts to ram into your pussy. 

You close your eyes in bliss, cheek resting against the rug and mouth hanging low. You knew you were going to have fun when you saw what he was packing, but you couldn't imagine him stretching you this good. "That's what you needed y/n ? My cock inside of you to turn that big brain off ?" he rasps,fingers digging in your hips. "Yes Eren thank you"  you cry, gripping the soft material under you. restreint is no longer a concern, each of his thrust knocks the air out of your lung filling the room with your lewd moans. "Fuck I needed that too my little nerd, driving me crazy since the first day at the librabry". His chest collapses on top of you, making you lay flat on the ground. "Looking so fucking pretty when you want to cry" he purrs, kissing your ear and  jaw. 

Was he onto you since day one ? That would explain his attitude towards you, the thought makes you clench around him. A swear slips from his lips directly into your ear. One of his arm snakes under your body in between your breasts to finally grab your jaw. "Tell me how that feels baby" he demands, ramming into you deeper each time. 

"Feelsgoodbaby" your words are slurred because of his grip. "Fuck, turn around I want to cum looking at that face" despite asking, he's the one manhandling you, he position you on your back covering your face in kisses as he stoke his cock a few time befaore entering you once again, "Don't hide or I'll stop" he threatens feeling your face nooking in his neck. "No, Eren don't stop " you pathetically whine, setting your head back down. The last thing you want is for him to stop now, you need the release, you need it bad. "Good girl" he kisses your cheek, linking your hands with each other, fingers intertwined. 

If you didn't know better, you would've thought he has feelings for you, his forehead is resting against yours, eyes chasing yours, holding hands, this is all too intimate, so much for not getting the wrong idea. Eren's hair dangles in your face, shading the whole word from this moment, right now it's you and him. Your emotions are all over the place and you feel good, so good. A familiar knot forms in your lower belly and you know you're not going to last long, not with the way he's rutting into you like his life depends on it. 

"Eren can I cum please ? " you don't know why you ask but you do "Fuck, my little nerd is so polite, go ahead make a mess" His thrust are strong now and it's all you need to unravel around his dick as you thank him over and over again. Your body goes limp on the floor, abandoning your hands Eren circles your waist head buried between your breasts as he uses your body to reach his own high, grunting like an animal. Feeling his teeth sink into your skin you know it's about seconds before he shoots his semen inside of your cunt. You feel it dripping down your hole as Eren soothes the bite mark with his tongue. 

Your hand goes to his hair, caressing as his breath slowly replenishes.

"You're coming to the party tomorrow" he asks, eyes hazy looking up at you. That's what he's thinking after an sex you wonder? "I don't know, is it going to end like tonight ?" "I can only hope" he smiles resting his cheek against your belly. "Well, I can be convinced" looking into the crackling fire you pray he can't hear how loud your heart is beating in your chest. 

[n0vazsq]

Gasoline | Pablo Gavi x Reader

pairing . . . gavi x gf!reader

summary . . . When the world starts shipping him with random girls and influencers, Gavi decides to soft launch you two to shut them up. Little did he know, that only escalated things more, leading him to 'accidentaly' post a picture of you two on his social media.

request . . . yes!! based on this request!

word count . . . 1k+

warnings . . . none!

faceclaim . . . N/A

alexavia yaps . . . gang nvm the name i was gonna do angst and this is a random ass fic bc i'm not uploading smh </3 anyway it's short and not proofread so ignore any typos or mistakes ALSO ITS VERY CRINGE I DIDNT KNOW WHAT TO PROVIDE IM SORRY

. . . "Are you sure I can post this, amor?" Pablo said, eyes full of concern as he searched your face for any hint of hesitance. This morning, he had come into your shared room, huffing and sighing as he showed you what seemed like the millionth edit of someone shipping him with an influencer.

You really didn't mind those edits, in fact, you quite enjoyed seeing Gavi get mad and annoyed at them. He had always complained to you about this, and even warned you about when you two first started dating. It was hilarious to see him pace around the room in frustration.

"I am sure, carino. Post as many pictures as you want, as long as you're happy, I guess." You shot him a playful grin, as he laughed and started showing you the collection of pictures he chose to post.

One was of your hands clasped together in front of a beautiful lake, another was of him hugging you with his face buried in your hair, another was one of you two making snow angels in the snow.

Pablo, of course, had made sure your face wasn't visible in any of these pictures, not even remotely. You saw him checking the selection of pictures over and over again, as if your face would magically appear in one of them. And when you tried to take the phone from his hands to post the pictures, he gave you a vexed face and continued inspecting.

Finally, after what seemed like millenniums, the soft launch was posted. Not even a minute later, there were over a thousand notifications, with almost eighy percent of them asking who the 'mystery woman' was. You glanced at your phone, seeing a few people mentioning you in the post.

Pablo groaned, running a hand through his already messy hair as he scrolled through the comments.

"WHO IS SHE???"

"I NEED ANSWERS. ASAP"

"this has to be an influencer bc there's no way he's soft launching some normal girl."

"omggg is it (random influencer's name)??"

You bit your lip, stifling a laugh as Pablo's jaw clenched. His grip on the phone tightened, and he let out a frustrated sigh before tossing it onto the bed.

"This is worse than before," he muttered, rubbing his temples.

"I mean…" you teased, nudging his side. "You did post the pictures. Did you really think they'd just say ‘okay’ and move on?"

Pablo groaned again, flopping onto the bed dramatically. "Amor, they're literally coming up with theories already. Look at this one." He held up his phone, showing you a tweet where someone had zoomed in on your hand and was trying to match your ring to different influencers.

You couldn't help but burst into laughter. "No way, are they seriously investigating my jewelry now?"

Pablo sat up, huffing. "This was supposed to shut them up, not make them even more annoying." His brows furrowed as he swiped through more comments. "You know what?" His voice had that familiar stubborn edge, the same one he had whenever he decided to prove a point.

"What?" you asked, watching as he opened his camera roll.

"If they want a picture so bad," he muttered, tapping furiously at his phone, "I'll give them one."

Before you could even process what was happening, he had posted a picture, one that he definitely hadn’t meant to. It wasn’t just another soft launch shot; it was a full on, undeniable, exposed confirmation.

A mirror selfie. You, standing in front of him, his arm wrapped protectively around your waist, and his lips pressed against the top of your head. Your face wasn’t even hidden, just slightly turned, but clear enough for people to recognize you.

Your jaw dropped. "Pablo!"

His rubbed the back of his neck slowly as he realized what he had done. "Mierda." His phone buzzed like crazy, notifications rolling in at an unstoppable speed.

"GAVI JUST HARD LAUNCHED AND I CAN'T BREATHE"

"NO WAY DID HE POST THIS BY ACCIDENT????"

"THE MYSTERY GIRL HAS A FACE. WE HAVE A FACE"

"she's so pretty omg?? i'm obsessed"

Your eyes narrowed as you studied Pablo’s face. His lips were pressed together like he was trying way too hard to look innocent, but the slight twitch at the corner of his mouth gave him away. "Did you really just-" You smacked his arm lightly, still in shock. "Pablo." You crossed your arms. "Did you just accidentally hard launch us?"

He blinked. "Si?"

You smacked his arm again. "You so did that on purpose!"

A guilty grin finally broke through his fake confusion, and he shrugged. "Maybe."

You gasped. "Pablo!"

"What?" he said, feigning innocence. "They were annoying me, amor. I had to make it clear. I'm your boyfriend, and I wanted everyone to know it." He leaned in, tilting his head slightly. "You're mad?"

You huffed, trying to hold onto your fake outrage, but the way he was looking at you; so smug yet so utterly whipped, made it impossible. "You could've at least warned me before declaring to the entire world that I'm your girlfriend."

Pablo just grinned, completely unbothered. "Where's the fun in that?" He held up his phone again, scrolling through the chaos he had created. "Mira esto," he said, showing you a tweet.

"GAVI REALLY SAID "HERE SHE IS, NOW SHUT UP" HELPPP"

"so…when's the wedding?"

"BRO IS WHIPPED LMFAOOO"

You bit your lip, warmth creeping up your neck and cheeks as you read the endless comments. The fans were going crazy, but instead of speculating or hating, they were supporting.

Pablo wrapped an arm around your waist, pulling you flush against him. "Carino, I'd do it again, you know." His voice was softer now, more serious. "I don't care what people say. I just wanted everyone to know that I'm yours, and you're mine."

Your heart melted right then and there.

With a dramatic sigh, you shook your head. "You're still an idiot."

He grinned widly. "Tu idiot." And before you could argue, he pressed a quick kiss to your lips; undeniable proof that, yeah, maybe he did know exactly what he was doing.

taglist . . . @barcapix ,, @f1lover55 ,, @ilovebarcaaaa ,, @notm4d1 ,, @httpsdana ,, @paucubarsisimp ,, @bernalswifeyy ,, @nngkay ,, @justaf1girl ,, @iamred-iamyellow (lmk if you want to join the taglist!)

[goldfades]

this is my first time requesting something so hopefully i do this right, but could you you a kk arnold x manager reader where kk keeps annoying manager on live so manager bans her from touching and kissing her.

idk if this made sense but nobody writes for kk so i wanted to send a request in because i like your other fics. <3

𝐒𝐌𝐎𝐎𝐓𝐇 ─ UCONN WBB MANAGER

─ word count | 626

─ warnings | nothing but cuteness, manager being sassy af, kk being a cutie pie

─ taglist | @xocherishxo @iienstein @yazmunson @euphternal @uraesthete @hello-nah817 @wanderlusturous @paigeszn @ekisokau @plushkhiii and here's a link to my taglist if anyone would like to join!!

"OKAY, OKAY" YOU mumbled as KK's arms wrap around your waist tightly. The chat didn't really react since KK had been all up on you since the moment you'd went live, which was sort of a relief.

"Aw, they're talking about how pretty you are." KK laughed as she finally let you go, a smile playing on your lips as you laid back on the chair. "I know, I know my girlfriend's really pretty," she said with a cocky smile as she kept skimming through the comments.

Your eyes skimmed through the comments as well, giggling to yourself at some of them. You shifted in your chair, feeling a sense of contentment wash over you as you leaned back, glancing over at KK with a fond smile.

The two of you had been inseparable ever since you'd met and it was kind of inevidentable that you two would get together. You would have thought when you guys finally did a hard launch on instagram, everyone would be shocked ─ but no one really was really surprised, they were more so relieved that you finally admitted it.

You couldn't help but chuckle at KK's playful boastfulness, her confidence always managing to bring a smile to your face. But as she continued to skim through the comments, she pulled you closer by your waist.

"Alright, alright, baby, that's enough," you said with a playful roll of your eyes, gently nudging her away as you tried to maintain your focus on the chat.

KK chuckled, raising an eyebrow teasingly. "Ooh, she has her serious voice now. I'm so scared." You sent her a glare as she put up her hands in mock defense, looking at the camera with a grin.

She grabbed your face, placing a sweet kiss on your lips. You couldn't help but blush as you shook your head, causing a loud laugh from KK. You sent her another glare as she smirked back at you.

"No more, KK. You're banned from touching-"

"Banned? Are you joking, I'm your girlfriend." KK paused, giving you a playful smirk as she interrupted your protest. "And as your girlfriend, I reserve the right to touch you whenever. Wait, that sounds a little weird outta context, hold up."

You laughed as you shook your head in amusement as KK read through the comments, scoffing. "Smooth, KK, real smooth," you teased, nudging her playfully as you glanced at the chat.

KK grinned, rolling her eyes playfully. "Hey, I tried. Oh, looks like the traitor joined the live."

The "traitor" was Ice, she decided to go get food with some of the other girls on the team instead staying for the livestream. You laughed as you leaned on the desk, skimming through the comments.

"She said she got you food, babe." You spoke as you read Ice's comment.

KK just scoffed in response as she folded her arms. "Well, that's sweet of her," you replied, shooting a quick glance at KK before returning your attention to the comments. "I guess we'll have to forgive her for ditching us then."

Ice responded with a "thank you" in the chat as KK sighed, pulling your hand up to hold her's. "Fine, but only because she brought food. Did you get a drink too?"

You rolled your eyes at KK's antics, only for Ice to respond with a thumbs up emoji. KK scoffed at her, "Texting like a damn dad, I'm tired of you. Hey, but at least I have a pretty girlfriend who lets me kiss her."

"Not on live, KK." You gave her a stern look as she ignored your protest, quickly pressing a soft kiss on your cheek. You just shook your head as KK laughed, a bright smile on her face. "Bro,"

↳ make sure to check out my navigation or masterlist if you enjoyed! any interaction is greatly appreciated !

↳ thank you for reading all the way through, as always ♡

[sevrd-belle]

Nothing just learned Adam Scott and Britt Lower hired the same PR publicist and an independent PR firm during the S2 hiatus

Co-stars don’t typically do this, sharing publicists is rare even between actual married couples 💀

Brad and Angelina did it

Usually this means two people want to manage a “joint image” either professionally, personally, or both. It’s when two brands merge into one.

It’s done for professional reasons (press tours, promo, shared image) and personal ones (rumor control, soft-launching something, or shielding from speculation).

The lady they hired specializes in:

- coordinated Instagram posts (like the Bendo bathroom pics)

- planned red carpets moments

- coordinated outfits (like the press tour)

- controlling public narratives (this includes even creating / feeding / ending rumours on purpose)

- crisis management (navigating controversy / fallout by making joint statements, apologies or denials on behalf of both people)

It’s joint messaging.

It basically allows the two actors to lean into their chemistry while shielding them from controversy and promoting them as a “package deal.”

I'm assuming Season 3 will lean into MarkHelly really hard or they're planning to continue working together beyond Severance.

Those are my guesses right now. But it seems like they're laying groundwork for something.

Anyways… could mean nothing.

[salford-blues]

Flowers follow

A/n: Think I might have to switch some things up. I only write smau's. Do you guys reckon I should write actual stories? I've never done it before, but I can certainly try. Pairing: F1 mystery driver x driver!reader Summary: Reader continues to soft launch her mystery man... through flowers?? (basic ass summary cause I'm bobbins at them) Warnings: like one swear word

@yourusername posted on their story

caption: I love you a lily more every day

Replies to story

liamlawson30 disgusting caption. You should be ashamed of yourself

alex_albon I know who it isssss

> yourusername who snitched?

>> alex_albon my lips are sealed

>>> yourusername count your days Albon

user.1 tell us your mystery man... please im begging

landonorris WHO IS YOUR MANNNN?? Why won't you tell me? Are we not besties?

> yourusername because you can't keep secrets to save your life

@yourusername

oscarpiastri, danielricciardo, georgerussell63 & others liked

''April showers may bring May flowers, but you bring me flowers year-round''

View All Comments

liamlawson30 whats with the corny captions lately

> yourusername you love them bc you love me

>> liamlawson30 no, I tolerate you

>> yourusername meanie :((

User.2 is mystery man Liam??

> User.3 I don't think so. They're just friends. Plus I don't think Liam rides a motorbike

User.4 Look at our girlie goooo!!

User.5 Lord... it's me again 🙏

@f1driverupdates

liamlawson30, mickschumacher & 240,000 others liked

Rumour has it that our golden girl is now off the market. But the question remains... who has taken her? Still in her soft launch era, @yourusername has not shared that much information about her partner.

View all comments

user.6 can't believe someones stole my girl

user.7 We can see you Mick... 👀

user.8 Is Mick our mystery man? I men it checks out... tall and rides a motorcycle. Also seems like a person that is very caring to her and her pets

> user.9 omg imagine little Angie added to that madhouse!! So cutteee 🥰

@yourusername

oscarpiastri, logansargeant, landonorris & others liked

In the garden of love, you are my favourite sunflower!! 🌻

View all comments

User.8 Love how he gave you crocheted ones so that they last forever

> yourusername he's so sweet!! Especially since they're my favourite flower as well

User.9 Just tell us already... I'm done waiting

liamlawson30 cool story bro, didn't ask

> yourusername rude. I'll make sure to beat your arse in monopoly next games night

>> liamlawson30 😔 noted

@yourusername

mickschumacher, danielricciardo, charles_leclerc & others liked

Guess what I said??

View all comments

alex_albon what is this? when was this? Message me back Y/n

liamlawson30 Pick up the phone Y/n!!! I need answers

user.10 noooooooo... we've lost her

user.11 you said no, right?? pls don't join the dark side 🥲

oscarpiastri I hope that's fake

> yourusername maybe it is, maybe it isn't... but hey i still said yessss

>> logansargeant yeah well me and Oscar are gonna have a little word with him when we see him next

>>> liamlawson30 me three

>>>> danielricciardo me four

>>>>> yourusername oh leave him be. You all know he's nice and takes care of me.

landonorris ????

User.12 ignore the last slide... look at the kitty 🐈 😻

> yourusername main character moment for him. He's the only one that likes the rides 🫶

[sheithfictioncatalogue]

Not sure if you're still active but do you happen to know any fic featuring an older time traveling Keith and a younger Shiro? I have a hankering :3

Yes, there's a bunch!

Equalize - stardropdream

11k. Teen.

Shiro watches as Keith (Keith, different, with long hair in a braid, broader shoulders, and older face) looks around the room wildly, trying to place where he is. Then he closes his eyes and laughs, a soft, disbelieving chuckle. Shiro watches the tension ease from Keith’s shoulders. “Right,” Keith whispers. “I remember this now.” Or: Keith from the future ends up in the present. Shiro copes the only way he knows how-- by squashing all his feelings back down again.

you can always find me here (the coming home remix) - perfectlyrose

7k. General.

Keith continues to watch himself fade and flicker. He’s staring straight at Pidge’s terrified face watching her form words that he can’t hear when he blinks out of existence. There’s a long moment of darkness, endless and complete, before he fades back into physical existence. He blinks into the dim light and recognizes the dull metal walls and purple glow in an instant, stomach sinking to his feet. Just his luck that the failed wormhole transported him straight into a cell on a Galra cruiser. A quintessence experiment gone wrong sends Keith skipping backwards through time, back to a Shiro he hasn't seen in years, and one he's never seen. Keith just wants to get back to his Shiro and his time.

Up and Down Memory Lane - SaltiSnacks

8k. Mature. Contains: Shiro/Curtis, Keith/OMC

A time-traveling Keith is on board the Atlas. Shiro overhears a conversation. The house of cards crumbles.

Yesterday, We Begin - arcadenemesis

13k. Explicit.

"Where did you come from?" Keith huffs a laugh. "A long, long way from here," he says, plucking the cherry from his glass. Shiro's eyes follow it all the way to his lips, and Keith watches his throat bob when he bites down and plucks the stem. It's an evasive answer, but if Shiro had any follow-up questions, Keith thinks they're long gone. "Do you want that?" he asks when the silence drags, gesturing at Shiro's cherry. It seems to snap him out of his trance. "N-no! You can take it," Shiro stammers, pushing the glass toward him. "Please."

A mission takes Keith back in time, and leads him straight to Shiro.

Stars Fading - zjofierose

2k. Teen.

Keith knows where to go because Shiro had told him, knows the little house by sight from the many pictures Shiro would scroll through when he was feeling melancholy or nostalgic. He’s been waiting for this chance his whole life, wondering when the moment would come - the second his ship breaks orbit above Earth while simultaneously displaying a date in the past, Keith knows: it’s time.

twenty-thousand leagues above the ocean - ErinNovelist

8k. Teen.

“Please,” he begs, glancing up at Keith again, heart throbbing against his ribs. Bare bones are the only thing stopping him from throwing himself at the man he’s known forever. “Just tell me who you are.” Keith looks up at the silver sky, at the worn jacket Shiro clenches close, at the shaky hands shoved into deep pockets to keep warm. “My name is Keith, and I know that doesn’t mean anything to you right now, but someday you’re going to be someone very important to me.” He sighs and tightens his grip on Shiro’s shoulder, leather soft beneath his fingertips. “You already are, and you’re the only reason I’m not lost right now.” “I don’t understand,” Shiro tells him because he doesn’t know what else to say. Keith only cocks his head and smiles. “I’m lost in time, Shiro. And… well, you’ve always been my guiding light, I guess.”

Life We Chose - stardropdream

3k. General.

Not too far out from the Kerberos launch, Shiro finds an unexpected guest waiting outside his quarters, both familiar and unfamiliar.

Stuck in Gravity - stardropdream

11k. Explicit. Contains: Keith/Keith/Shiro

Keith thinks that everyone should be a little more concerned about this supposed "future" him. He's just not buying that any version of himself could be so confident, so happy... so clearly loved. (Or: the "I had to go back in time to teach my younger self that he's worthy of love" time-travel threesome.)

Only an Echo - stardropdream

10k. Explicit. Contains: Shiro/Shiro/Keith/Keith

Shiro should have guessed that things were about to get weird when a wormhole opens up in his bedroom and out step the future versions of Shiro and Keith. “Right,” the older Keith says, smiling a little. “Well. There’s no easy way to explain it.” “We’re—” the other Shiro begins. “— here to fuck you,” the other Keith cuts off. “Not quite how I’d phrase it, baby.”

Or: Recently married Shiro and Keith decide that the best wedding present they can give each other is "let's go back in time and fuck our past selves." So they do.

[gamesetattach]

Hiii, I was inspired by some parts of In Sync (specifically when it’s mentioned that reader’s personality can be seen as “too much” or “showy”) for this request, and I was thinking of a similar situation where reader is also a tennis player but she’s unhinged and she’s always like mischievous and playful, making funny innuendos, etc. but overall she has a bubbly and high-spirited personality (I was thinking Sabrina-Carpenter-type bc I love her<3), and how some people (i.e. fans, noisy media) at first thought her relationship with Jannik was destined for failure because of how different their personalities are, but they compliment each other and work out so well that everyone eventually realizes it and can’t help but love them:’)

I hope this isn’t lowkey just In Sync with some changes to the story lol bc if it is… my bad! but ngl, I loved reader’s personality in it🫶🏼

Read "In Sync" here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

Heyy!! Thanks for the request!

I think I won't do an entirely new storyline, but I do plan to continue to explore the In Sync dynamic—like I kinda started to soft launch in my post-fic notes in Part 3.

I love the reader and her personality, too, so I want to continue "working" with her, I guess. And seems like you and a fair few others enjoy her persona as well. So Part 3 technically acts as the final part, but I'm thinking I'll do a time jump and go into when they're together and maybe have been for a while. And, as you've suggested, maybe the public is skeptical of them together and kind of figured they're was doomed to fail, but people slowly realize otherwise as reader and Jannik prove them wrong.

So yeah, it'll be in the future, but def planning to do something like what you've sent in. Hope that sounds good to you!! xx

[lilyswrittenworks]

Chapter One| The Search for the Truth

It was an early morning, and the sun cast a gentle golden hue over the open field where Penny was busily hand-picking an assortment of fruits. The rich, vibrant colors of wumpa fruits and a variety of berries filled her basket. Aku-Aku, the wise and friendly mask, floated beside her, guiding her from one fruitful spot to the next.

Curious, Penny paused and asked, “Aku-Aku, why are we collecting these fruits? Why not just buy them from the market or gather them all at once?”

Aku-Aku's eyes glinted with wisdom as he replied, “Ah, Penny, it's a cherished tradition here on the island. Each year, we hand-pick our own harvest as a way to honor the land and its bounty. The wumpa fruits are especially special—they're rarer and more precious than other fruits, so taking the time to pick them ourselves makes the harvest even more meaningful. It connects us to the island's rhythms and reminds us to appreciate the effort that goes into gathering our food.”

Penny hummed cheerfully, a smile gracing her lips. “That sounds lovely. I wonder why Crash and Coco don’t do this more often?” She mused aloud while kneeling down beside a small lemon tree, gently plucking the ripe fruit.

Aku-Aku, floating nearby, took this opportunity to launch into a mini rant. “Well, it’s a recurring issue! Neither of the children ever seem to find the time to join me in picking out the fruits we need to restock. It's quite the task, and since I lack a physical body to handle it myself, I could really use their help. But no, they’re always off on their own adventures—”

Penny, absorbed in her work, only half-listened to Aku-Aku’s complaints as she continued gathering various berries from the nearby shrubs. Her attention was drawn away by a soft rustling nearby. She turned to see a small rabbit emerging cautiously from the bush, its curious eyes fixed on her.

With a gentle smile, Penny reached into her basket, pulled out a plump berry, and placed it on the ground. “Here you go,” she said softly, nudging the berry towards the bunny. The rabbit approached hesitantly, sniffed the berry, and then nibbled on it before hopping away into the underbrush.

Aku-Aku, having witnessed the exchange, floated closer and asked with a hint of exasperation, “Penny, were you listening to me at all?”

Penny looked up, slightly embarrassed. “Oh, I’m sorry, Aku-Aku. I guess I got a bit distracted. What were you saying again?”

Aku-Aku sighed in defeat. “It’s nothing. Let’s just get back home. We can continue the harvest later.”

With that, Aku-Aku guided Penny back, his frustration giving way to a resigned acceptance. As they walked, Penny couldn’t help but feel a bit guilty for not paying more attention, but she was also grateful for the peaceful moments of connection with the island’s wildlife.

Penny and Aku returned with a basket filled with all kinds of fruits. As they neared the house, Crash spotted them from a distance and greeted them eagerly, a huge grin spreading across his face.

“We brought back some fresh fruits to eat!” Penny exclaimed cheerfully, holding up the basket tucked under her right arm.

Crash’s eyes zeroed in on the basket, and when he spotted a juicy wumpa fruit sitting on top, he could barely contain his excitement. He quickly reached in, grabbed the wumpa fruit, and took a large bite, savoring its sweet taste.

Penny giggled softly as she watched Crash devour the fruit in seconds, juice dripping from his mouth. Aku-Aku shook his head and gave Crash a gentle scolding for his impatience. With a sheepish smile, Crash rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment.

“Tomorrow,” Aku-Aku began, “we'll use the leftover wumpa fruits to make smoothies. I’ll teach you how, Penny.”

Penny's eyes lit up with excitement. She couldn't wait to learn more from Aku-Aku and was already looking forward to the next day.

°•. ✿ .•° ✿ °•. ✿ .•° ✿ °•. ✿ .•° ✿ °•. ✿ .•° ✿ °•. ✿ .•° ✿ °•. ✿ .•°

The afternoon sun filtered through the dense trees as Penny led Aku-Aku, Crash, and Coco to the spot where they had first found her—bruised and scratched after her desperate jump off the cliff, narrowly escaping Cortex's henchmen.

As they reached the area, Aku-Aku floated thoughtfully beside Coco, the two of them discussing the possible motives of Cortex’s goons. “What could they have been after?” Coco wondered aloud, rubbing her chin. “They must have thought Penny had something important.”

While they theorized, Penny absentmindedly wandered away from the group, her thoughts drifting as she walked deeper into the forest. Crash, ever observant, had already noticed her absence and silently followed her from a distance, keeping a close eye. She hadn’t even noticed she’d gone too far until a sudden feeling of unease brought her to a halt. 

Realizing her mistake she turned to head back and rejoin the others, when something in the surroundings clicked in her memory. The familiar rustling leaves and the eerie quiet reminded her of the place where she had been chased. Her heart began to race as she retraced her steps, following the vague echoes of that terrifying day.

Soon, she stumbled upon a small clearing, and there it was—the lake where she had first woken up, disoriented and lost. The water’s surface shimmered, still and calm now, but Penny couldn’t help but feel the weight of the memories come flooding back. This was where it had all begun.

Penny approached the edge of the lake, her steps slow and deliberate as she knelt by the water. She sat down and leaned forward, gazing into the calm surface that mirrored her face. The magic that had once captivated her when she first woke here was gone, replaced now by a quiet contemplation. Her expression was serene, but her eyes... They told a different story. They looked so lost, so uncertain.

She stared at her reflection, frustrated by the vast emptiness in her mind. Who had she been before all of this? The bandicoots had tried to help her piece together fragments of her past, but nothing had surfaced. The more she tried, the more the answers eluded her, like grains of sand slipping through her fingers. It was maddening.

As she sat there, the silence was broken by the gentle ripple of the water, disturbed by droplets falling from above. She blinked, only then realizing the source. Tears. They were hers. Penny let out a quiet, choked sob, her hand coming up to cover her face as her body trembled with the weight of emotions she could no longer suppress. She wept into her hands, muffling her cries as she sat alone by the lake.

But she wasn’t truly alone. Hidden behind the trees, not far from the clearing, Crash watched over her. His ears twitched at the sound of her sobbing, his face soft with concern. He wanted to rush to her side but held back, giving her the space to grieve, knowing that sometimes even silent company was enough.

Penny’s sobbing eventually subsided as she wiped the last of her tears with the back of her hand. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself, before rising to her feet and stepping away from the lake’s edge. “I need to get back to Aku-Aku and the others,” she mumbled quietly to herself, her voice still a little shaky. “They’re probably worried I wandered off again.”

As she began walking back through the trees, something caught her eye—a glimmer in the grass, just off the path. She paused, confused, and turned toward the source of the light. Sunrays filtered through the canopy, reflecting off a small object lying on the ground.

Curious, Penny tilted her head and cautiously approached. Bending down, she gently picked it up and was pleasantly surprised to find that it was a necklace. The delicate chain felt cool against her skin, and attached to it was a small, smooth crystal—a deep purple, catching the sunlight in a way that made it shimmer. She stared at it for a moment, her fingers brushing against the crystal, feeling a faint warmth from it, as if it had some hidden significance.

For a brief second, Penny thought the necklace seemed familiar, but she couldn’t quite place it. She frowned slightly, turning it over in her hand before tucking it into her pocket. Whatever it was, she felt it might be important. She straightened up, glancing back at the lake one last time before heading off to reunite with the others.

Penny trudged through the thick underbrush, her eyes scanning the dense forest as she tried to retrace her steps. She was sure she was heading in the right direction, following what she thought was the path back to Aku-Aku and the others. But after walking for what felt like forever, she came to a halt, the sinking realization washing over her—she was lost.

Panic surged through her chest, and she glanced around frantically. “I-I don’t remember this part of the forest,” she stammered, her voice trembling. “This isn’t the right way, is it?” Her breathing grew rapid as she scolded herself. “I wandered off again! Why did I do that?” She clenched her fists, frustration and fear swirling inside her. 

Unbeknownst to Penny, Crash had been following her quietly the entire time, hidden among the trees. He stayed back, not wanting to overwhelm her, but when he saw her starting to panic, he knew he had to step in.

She was so caught up in her thoughts that she didn’t hear him until she felt a gentle hand rest on her shoulder. Startled, Penny screamed at the top of her lungs, the high-pitched sound echoing through the forest. Crash immediately flinched, instinctively covering his ears from the sharpness of her cry.

Penny spun around, her heart racing, only to see that it was Crash. She gasped, her eyes wide with shock, before quickly spewing out apologies. “Oh no! Crash, I'm so, so sorry!” Her voice was filled with guilt, seeing him rub his ears to soothe the ringing caused by her scream.

Crash groaned a little but quickly waved it off, offering her a reassuring smile. His eyes were kind, as if saying, It’s okay, I’m fine.

Seeing that he wasn’t upset, Penny let out a relieved sigh, but her emotions quickly overwhelmed her. Her eyes glistened with tears before she threw herself onto Crash, hugging him tightly. The sudden embrace caught him by surprise, and he stumbled a bit but quickly regained his balance, awkwardly patting her back.

“I’m so glad you’re here, Crash,” Penny whispered, her voice shaking. “I thought I knew the way back, but I got lost, and I was so scared I’d be stuck here alone.” She clung to him, her fear melting away as she realized she wasn’t truly alone.

Crash’s features softened as he saw Penny in such a vulnerable state, her fear melting into relief in his arms. It pains him to see her like this, as he gently wrapped his arms around her, offering as much comfort as he could. Penny relaxed against him, the warmth of his embrace calming her racing thoughts. She wished it could last longer, but before she knew it, Crash pulled away. She tried to hide her disappointment, looking up at him with a small smile.

Crash gave her a reassuring nod, then motioned with his head to the left. It was clear he knew a way out of the forest—this island was his home, after all. Penny nodded in understanding, her heart still pounding, though this time from something entirely different. Crash reached out, gently taking her hand to guide her through the dense trees. His hand felt warm and secure, enveloping hers in a way that made her stomach flutter. She blushed, her face growing warm as she followed him, struggling to understand why she always felt this way around Crash.

As they walked, Penny couldn’t help but feel embarrassed. She had wandered off again, despite knowing better, and had gotten lost. It wasn’t the first time. Since she’d arrived on the island, there was always this urge inside her to explore every corner, to see more of this strange yet beautiful place. But she always had to be accompanied—whether by Aku-Aku or Crash—because, well... she got lost on more than one occasion, more than she liked to admit. It was usually Aku-Aku who found her first, but on most occasions, it was Crash that would find her. 

For reasons Penny couldn’t quite figure out, Crash had always been oddly attached to her. He was constantly by her side, more than he was with anyone else, and while it puzzled her at first, she didn’t mind it one bit. His presence was comforting, and he always seemed to know when she needed someone. It was like he had this unspoken sense about her.

Her mind drifted to something Coco had teased her about once. “He spends more time with you than he does sleeping,” Coco had remarked with a playful smirk. Penny had been taken aback, suddenly concerned. “Oh no, is he not getting enough rest?” she’d asked, genuinely worried that Crash might be exhausting himself just to keep an eye on her.

But Coco had simply waved her off with a laugh. “Relax, it’s no big deal. Crash is just looking out for you, like he does for all of us. He cares about you, that’s all.”

Penny had felt a wave of relief wash over her at Coco’s reassurance, but even more than that, she was touched by the sentiment. Crash’s quiet, constant presence, the way he always seemed to be there when she needed him most—it wasn’t just a coincidence. He genuinely cared, and the thought warmed her heart.

From that moment on, Penny became even more appreciative of Crash’s presence. Whether he was helping her find her way back after she wandered off or simply sitting by her side in peaceful silence, she knew that he was always looking out for her. It made her feel safe and cared for in a way that was hard to put into words. 

There was something about him that made her feel safe, no matter how lost she got—physically or emotionally. As they continued walking hand in hand, Penny couldn’t help but smile softly to herself, grateful that, once again, he had found her when she needed it most.

Eventually, they were reunited with Coco and Aku-Aku, both of whom were in full-blown panic mode. Their frantic expressions melted into relief the moment they saw her walking beside Crash. Penny waved sheepishly, her fox-like ears drooping slightly in embarrassment. “Heeey, I guess I got lost... again…” she admitted, a nervous smile framing her face.

Aku-Aku floated over to her, his voice gentle as he reassured her, “We’re not mad at you, Penny. We’re just relieved you’re safe. That’s what matters most.”

Coco, standing beside him, nodded in agreement. “Yeah, you gave us a scare, but I’m just glad you’re back. So, what did you see while you were out exploring?” Coco asked, her curiosity piqued. She knew how naturally drawn Penny was to wandering and sightseeing, especially since it had already been a month since they’d found her.

Penny’s ears perked up as she started to explain. “I was actually retracing my steps from when I was first chased by those scientists. I stumbled upon the lake where I first saw my reflection…” She trailed off for a moment, conveniently leaving out the part where she had cried by the water. Then, she remembered something important. “Oh! And I found this while I was leaving!” 

She pulled out the necklace with the purple crystal attached to it, holding it up for them to see. All three of them were stunned, especially when they realized what it was.

“You found a power crystal?!” Aku-Aku exclaimed in disbelief, his usually calm voice tinged with surprise. Penny looked visibly confused.

“Power crystal? What’s that?” she asked, tilting her head.

Coco jumped in to explain. “Power crystals are a major energy source. They’re used to power all sorts of machinery and gadgets. They're basically a limitless power source.”

As Coco tried to wrap her head around why a power crystal would be near the spot where Penny first woke up, Penny held out the necklace to her. “Here, I want you to have it,” she said, offering the crystal to Coco.

Coco blinked, taken aback. “Wait, what? No way, you should keep it! It could be valuable—maybe even important to you.”

But Penny wouldn’t take no for an answer. She let go of Crash's hand, gently taking Coco’s hand and placing the necklace in her palm. “I think it’s an important clue,” Penny said softly. "It might help us figure out why I’m here or... maybe even why I was created. I trust you, Coco. If anyone can figure it out, it’s you.”

Doubt flickered across Coco’s face, but Penny’s confident smile filled her with reassurance. Penny truly believed in her, and that belief sparked something inside Coco. Her hesitation gave way to determination as a glint flashed in her eyes. 

“I’ll work on it as soon as we get back,” Coco promised, her voice steady and full of resolve. “We’ll figure this out together, I swear.”

Penny’s face lit up, her smile the widest it had ever been. She felt hopeful, surrounded by friends who would do anything to help her uncover the truth. 

{2,923 words}

Chapter Two

[novelistash]

Rosette embodies the cordial smile of customer service. Her smile and stance is polished. Her attire, professional but colorful in the way a watercolor for children helps to soothe the senses. Behind her soft eyewear is the look of a fighter. Rosette may have retired from battling, but she's kept that edge.

She greets me with a firm handshake, no doubt anticipating a show of machismo that I never deliver. We're not alone at the outside diner, but Spiral isn't here. Standing at Rosette's side is a woman with noticeably tan makeup contrasting her graying blue hair. The woman is putting on a little weight, especially around the hips, but she has the same height as every Officer Jenny I've ever encountered. Rosette introduces her as, "Kicho. She helps me organize a lot of coordinator events here in Slateport.”

“Oh, I see. Thank you for meeting with me on such short notice. I didn't expect you to come so prepared.”

Rosette shakes her head. “We're going to a meeting right after this so it's really more of a coincidence rather than something we planned. Feel free to order anything. You're not working, right?”

Blushing, I tell her, “I have a nest egg.”

Rosette ignores me, putting her attention into food selections from her Roto-phone.

“Do I have to order from that?” I ask. “I only carry around a Poketech X.”

“You should switch over,” says Kicho. Her voice is a smoker's variation on the familiar whistle sounding voice of the Officer Jennys. “The League has already announced that they're going to phase out Poketech support with the launch of Paldea.”

“He likes to try to do things differently. ASH was a Normal trainer back in the Indigo League, and originated the Slaking-Shuckle combo in doubles,” Rosette explains with a veneer of praise.

The detail unsettles me. She knows a lot more about me then I know about her.

My scowling only makes her smile transition into worried sympathy. “Isn't that right?” She offers her Roto-phone so I can order.

Nodding, I order a hamburger steak with gravy.

“So.” Rosette folds her hands on the table. “Who is this coordinator you're looking for?”

“Esther Flowne. She used to use a Beldum, but I don't know what her specialty was.”

Kicho knows who I'm talking about right away. “Esther Flowne, she was a tough coordinator who fell into it because of her latent psychic powers. It came as a big surprise. She was training to be a triathlete like her mother until some tragedy happened. I can't remember the details, but she would always compete with this boy. I think they're married now.”

“Do you know where I can find her?”

“Lemme check our records,” Kicho says. She pulls out a Roto-phone with the back dressed to look like an Arcanine's face.

“Spiral says that you ran into her at Mauville,” says Rosette.

I nod. “She must've told you about how I forced an apology on her. You don't need to chide me for overstepping my bounds, alright? I didn't plan on making her cry. I am genuinely sorry. If you have any advice on how I should apologize, I'm open to it.”

There's this strange look on her face. I glance over at Kicho, sure that I've committed another mistake. “Sorry, I guess I shouldn't be talking about this.”

“No, maybe not,” Rosette mutters, her hand going up to adjust her glasses.

“So, um, what is it that you do, now that you've retired from battling?”

“I do battle from time to time. It's good exercise for my Pokémon.” She continues while I bite my tongue. “I work for the League to assist in civil planning.”

“Sorry. I'm sure working for the League isn't great.”

“It's actually a fulfilling job. I get to see communities at their best and bring Pokemon and people together. Most of my job is a lot of hard work, but it really is worth it when all that planning comes to fruition. A lot of people are being critical of all the big changes going on, but the League is doing things that no other organization has done before. We're bringing the world together.”

I bite back my comments about how the goals of the League mirror the ambitions of Team Plasma. “Well, it isn't easy having to rework strategies with every acquisition. I spent close to half a million pen on items that cause mega-evolutions and now I'd be lucky to get a tenth of that back on the open market. It's even worse with Z-moves. You tell me this, are they going to allow Dynamaxing once Paldea is added to the League?”

Rosette stays composed. “I can't talk about changes before the announcement.”

“Figures.”

“You know, the League actually does a lot of good for the regions they adopt. Hoenn was something of a warzone before they showed up. Team Aqua and Team Magma rose up from corrupt criminal institutions that were completely uncontested before the League's involvement. Critics accuse the League of taking from the culture and discarding what doesn't sell, but we've been keeping coordinator events going even though it's costing the League money.”

“Yeah, and they were thrilled to have that activity relegated to Lilycove in one building.”

“That was an attempt to revitalize interest by keeping everything centralized. The League actually does care about the longevity of the places they occupy. This is more than gym battles and badges.”

I sit up straight and let out a calming sigh. There's no point in taking out my frustration with the League on Rosette. She's doing her best with the job she has, it's not her fault that the League is expanding like an empire of old. “No, you're right. Hoenn is a lot safer now than it used to be. I'm sure you're doing good work. I'm sorry if I came off as ultra critical. The League wasn't supportive when I lost my main fighting team and maybe I've never forgiven them for that.”

“I've sent Esther a message and she got back to me,” says Kicho.

“What, now?!”

“We've been here for a few minutes,” Rosette says with perfect composure. She's acting like I never wronged her.

Kicho continues, “Esther says she doesn't know you.”

“Of course she doesn't know me.” With an exaggerated wave of my hands, I express my annoyance. “I'm getting in touch with her because I want to talk to her.”

“Well you haven't told us what this is about.” Rosette's tone is clear, or at least I think it is. She wants me to stop attacking the League and her friend and get to my goal.

“I'm helping Fenominal Labs research the growth rate of a Beldum. She was involved in the same study years earlier and I'd like to ask her questions about her training methods.”

“Did you get that?” asks Kicho into her phone.

Esther from the other line speaks up, “Yeah, loud and clear. Tell him that I can meet him at the museum.”

I glare at Kicho, but instead of being paralyzed she lifts her self assured chin. “Thanks, Esther. I look forward to meeting you.”

“You too,” she says before ending the call.

“What was that?” I ask Kicho. “You can't wait for me to explain things and then relay it?”

“Life is too short to waste time running back and forth. Honestly!” Kicho stands up and excuses herself.

I'm starring daggers at her until I pick up on Rosette watching me. “What?”

“She's a clone. She doesn't have as much time as we do.”

“Okay, but that shouldn't mean that she ignores social protocol.” I pause to take in the lack of a smirk on her face. “What did I say this time?”

“You know, people have to change their behavior a lot to deal with you. I would've thought that you'd be more patient about accommodating the needs of others.”

“Well, unlike you, I'm not perfect.”

“I'm not,” she snaps and it is a stoned edge comeback. “I have to work hard to be presentable too. This doesn't come easy to anyone. It's another skill, just like everything else.”

For some reason her hard composure and talk of social training reminds me of the first video I'd ever seen of her. Rosette and Spiral were fighting while they were making their rounds through the Hoenn League. Spiral humiliated her with using a Shedinja's Wonderguard. Everyone was talking about it. That was how I'd come to learn about Spiral. It was why I was prepared for my first major fight against her.

“You know, you were a good trainer back in the day,” I say. “If you'd kept with it you probably could've been a Gym Leader or better.”

“I know,” she says without shame or pride. “But I enjoy doing this more. Life isn't always about doing the big things and winning fame. There's a lot you can do when you let go of pride and enjoy life for what it is.”

I poke the bottom of my cup with a straw. “I've been trying to do that, but it never seems to fit me.”

“Maybe that's because you think you have to fit in right away. Pokemon taught me how to evolve, what have they taught you?”

Looking down at the bare plate, I see the stylistic design of Kyogre along the edge. I've never seen a Legendary and I don't know anyone who has, but we have pictures of them all over the world. Maybe being a Champion is kind of like that. Maybe I'm missing the point entirely. “Pokemon taught me to fight for what I want, but the problem is I don't know what I want anymore.”

“You do,” she says with confidence, but annoyingly she doesn't elaborate.

The server comes back with our meals and by the time Kicho and Rosette are finished eating, they get up to leave.

I shake their hands. “Thanks again for setting up the meeting.”

Kicho shrugs. “It was pretty easy. You can find people's numbers if you had a Roto-phone.”

Rosette smiles at her comment, like she's trying to give me a secret message or something and I don't get the joke. “Take care of that Beldum you're studying and be nice to Esther Flowne. I won't be around to smooth things over.”

I chuckle. “Yeah, thanks. Oh, and tell Spiral thanks for arranging this meeting. You were a big help.”

Rosette smiles, but doesn't respond. It creates a lingering effect, some rippling tension that tickles at my undeveloped foresight. I'm experiencing some kind of omen but I don't know why. Rosette and Kicho leave and I wait around for the server. It takes him ten minutes to come over and explain that Rosette already paid for everything.

[the-firebird69]

if you're too small it doesn't do anything unless you're to back off and you won't so we're going to get ready at cause your mac proper and yeah they're in fights now and real fights and they're starting to get that it's not so easy but they're not going to understand what we're saying they've got to leave it's their children now that Swiss cheese and things like that. Now we have a lot of stuff to do but this is taking front seat and it should it's very huge these are two groups that are an annoying as hell and they're fighting and to the death and it's dangerous we have other groups that are doing actions as well and we have to get ready as the Mac groups and others will try and keep people off the ships in their battle. A son is a way of killing you and it's kind of on par it's our son and daughter what he does to you is amazing we haven't seen anyone as young as him even a lot of hours come up with stuff like he does some of it's new and it really gets you and that's what we're trying to do this guy hulk Hogan and his buddy Brock Lesnar start trying to bother him by doing things in space in his head so he said I'd just sliced your neck and leave it on the other side of the embankment and people will miss it in a few weeks they'll find you like that pig out by the train tracks they'll probably even stink and they don't bother looking anymore he doesn't want you saying this **** or doing this **** or taking his beer idea and it was our idea you're dead by the way you're **** huge loser

- There's a fact about this though that these idiots would not back off and they're wrong about all their math and you try and manipulate things and it's just impossible and they're going now that they did screw things up and continue to and their failures a lot of them acts think they're still useful and it's gross they get killed by pigs who are nothing. It's happening a lot right now you would not believe what these Macs are saying to them they show up with a crew to take stuff and they workout in like the bathrobe the 12 thieves were armed heavily and so you're not going to take any of this stuff and they start walking back inside and they say why not let's see if this all have you killed later and they said why don't we kill you now and they'd say we don't think you got the guts and stupid **** like that and we've seen it in movies our son and daughter say and it never works out and it looks weird and it's coming up too in a lot of films you people in your attitude when you're in actual danger this might be a waste of time but boy do you suck

- The clones are up to 90% withdrawal from these areas and they're withdrawing to ocean going vessels spaceships and adjoining areas of theirs launching terrorist attacks on these areas I guess they can't stand their own kind either they're trying to take over they'll never take over and then happy with what they have and it's a typical story but here it is in a nutshell they're going to lose and they're going to be held out and the force is destroyed over and over and it's not enough them to continue a long term program and they're going to make their song silver chair both songs come true tomorrow and pure massive here are coming up and the song says wait till tomorrow fat boy because he's a fat boy and he's a child and goes around hurting people and doesn't get what it means and he doesn't know what will happen it's true too this guy dave is clueless and he is in a lot of trouble and with clones and they hate him and he keeps saying things like wait till tomorrow as a threat on them and others so to sing it back it's coming up pretty soon and a lot quicker than people think it might be Monday that they begin to irradiate the area and it kills tons of you who think you're immune to a radiation and you're not sick yet but it's in your skin and it's in your soft tissue and her son is off gassing it most of it's out of him already but not with you guys you're retaining it in your skin in a few days will start to fall off cause you're not treating it. And yeah you're gonna die and more of it's coming and it is a radiation and Tommy F will see today a bunch of you dying from it and he's seen it the other day there's some guy barely making it trying to get their fisherman's village to bother our son it says I'm gonna save myself using you I said geez I was thinking the same thing and it's working and your shape don't work little Weasel Yeah like a weasel you're not even healing you're so dumb and the guy said I have to make it work and he's just barely moving he had halfway he sat down on the bench and he died. And he sat there for quite awhile before people noticed and our son had already left is there for about 45 minutes rotting and they say this guy died and it's happening to you good riddance

thor Freya Olympus

[levyfiles]

Watcher fumbled their launch. No one I know is arguing otherwise; what was a hard launch should have been a soft launch to a small group in their fanspace while their website was in beta test mode. We don't know just how long this plan was in the works for them because the internet didn't let them do much in the way of explaining; any mention of their business as a reason to make the move had people calling them greedy, capitalist assholes who didn't care about their audiences. A simple statement as "we wanted to choose a price we thought everyone would consider affordable" has now been twisted to "that must mean they think I'm poor because I disagree with the price".

All it took was one commentary youtuber sitting in his bedroom in front of a single camera googling them once and saying "they have 3k patrons; they must be ad-friendly because they don't capitalise on drama like I do, and I make plenty of money on Youtube so clearly they're doing this out of greed."

They literally say in the Goodbye Youtube video that they are constantly at war with being able to make content for two different audiences: their fans and the advertisers; they cited Weird, Wonderful World, a show that most of their fans love which does not get the views that Ghost Files gets--as one of those the streaming service would give them an opportunity to give us back without the pressure of the algorithm.

You mention that Watcher's failing was that they said money was their reason for jumping platforms and in the next line you directly cite Keith and Zach complaining about being demonitized.

You see, my issue isn't that the Try Guys was a better launch. I have been a Try Guys fan and with the full roster of people joining their team I'm just as excited as I am for Andrew and Adam joining Watcher.

My issue is that the end game is the same; Watcher should have had an opportunity to advertise their new talent, their new medium and even potentially continue to collaborate with an ever broadening market of diverse content both parties are launching but the Try Guys merely dodged the front line bullet, got to watch hellfire and racism rain down on their old colleagues, delay their own announcement to pivot the spin, and their fandom is being so ugly dropping in the Watcher tag with the same old misinformed narrative like they've successfully summarised why Steven deserved the name-calling and the racism, why people telling them to lay off their employees was the answer, telling them to go back to the quality they had with their limited resources and lack of ownership at Buzzfeed, why their response to the backlash is still not good enough because the internet--for some reason- believes that entertainment and content is a human staple like food or water. Like it's some kind of justice move that people like you still believe the lie that they were privating videos at the time of launch (what?) or that they're not a smaller company than the try guys trying to make it on the scorched earth platform that is Youtube now.

It's the same damn thing and villianizing them for the move while accepting the Try Guys for it is hypocritical especially because the people who have real grievances with what this means for the industry of free internet content are being shoved toward bullying Watcher for it.

I said this before in April and I guess I gotta say it again. Creators who have any real investment in their audience and their craft are eventually all going to migrate and instead of bullying these creators or starting up an unhealthy narrative by not supporting each other or even saying a word edgewise in support when the tide was so ugly, get on the advertisers and Youtube and social media platforms for enabling the shift which values attention mining spam and distraction propaganda over really good content that we all collectively actually enjoy!

The Try Guys sure didn't mince words in their flagrant attempt to ride the wave on Watcher's mismanaged launch by acting like they didn't already have this in their pocket as they watched Watcher being raked through the coals.

Imagine supporting your fellow independent creator. Imagine going through a terrible scandal yourself that had you guys pinned as the laughing stock on SNL but you really launched the same damn thing with all the smug wording knowing that it would get people angry all over again at Watcher.

[radiance1]

Random Danny Phantom au.

The world ended, nukes launching to every corner of the world.

If the nukes didn't kill them, then the aftermath sure did.

An actual, honest to god supervillain wanted the end of the world, and they did it even when they got taken along too.

Vlad, Danny and Dani survived due to their Halfa biology, with Dani leaving for the ghost zone after everything went down.

Danny is overcome by grief, and anger with no place to direct it.

Same goes for Vlad.

And they already didn't like each other, so just one minor thing set them off on each other.

Due to Danny's victory over Pariah Dark, and Vlad helping him with the suit and pushing Pariah back into the coffin, they each became king of the Ghost Zone.

More like half-king since they both share the position but eH.

Danny got the Crown of Fire, which because of his ice core turned into the Crown of Frost.

Meanwhile Vlad got the Ring of Rage, and became much quicker to anger than he was before.

Surprisingly enough, Danny was the one who landed the first hit.

The opposing nature of their cores, fire and ice, wasn't at all helping the planet when they both went all out, especially with the added power boosts.

They fought on the wasteland planet for a few years, then moved to space. To which something of surprise happened, Danny, with his ice core and the Crown of Frost connected to the moon, meanwhile Vlad, with his Ring of Rage, connected to the motherfucking sun.

Why is this important?

Well, because even though humanity was basically wiped out, the faith left behind on things they worshipped was still around.

So Danny and Vlad both got even more boosts of power from the lingering faiths left behind on the sun and moon. Basically becoming gods.

Not that Danny or Vlad cares, for Danny he just wants the earth back to how it was, and his family by extension. For Vlad, even though he has all of this power now, Madeline isn't here anymore, nor is Vladco and everything else he worked for.

So they just, continue fighting.

The Sun vs the Moon.

They held nothing back, using every inch of power in their cores and the power gained from lingering faith of the sun and moon and caused devastation if they were still on earth.

They fought for years and years. Until one day they just, stopped.

Be it because of how much power they used up, or they just felt emotionally exhausted, perhaps both. Danny just stayed on the Moon while Vlad just kinda, drifted, around the sun.

During this time, Clockwork saw this as the best time to yoink them over to the ghost zone, and properly appoint them as Kings of the Infinite Realms.

Of course they had to have the clothes to match, and with them having a connection to the sun and moon certain ghosts had a motif to go off of.

Danny was gifted a white robe that glowed a soft light, with the edges seeming to turn into frosty mist and the area around him is extremely cold.

Vlad was gifted a golden robe that glowed intensely, the entire thing seemed to be made of fire and the area around him extremely hot.

Opposites and stuff I guess.

No other ghost really wanted to fight them and take the Ghost King title, it's honestly far more trouble than it was worth and they didn't want the responsibilities.

So Danny and Vlad had to put aside their differences and rule together properly for each and every ghost in the zone.

Safe to say, neither of them were thrilled to be working with the other. (With Danny not thrilled to be working at all.)

Which is pretty in character with them being polar opposites.

During their off time, much to some ghost's chagrin, they typically leave outside of the zone to their respective domains, the moon and sun. Both of them feel a sense of comfort when near them.

Surprisingly after their battle and working together, Vlad feels calmer around Danny because of his overall aura, whereas Danny feels the never ending chill he experiences lighten up whenever he's near Vlad.

So they're on some sort of truce right now.

Everything is going fine, the zone finally stabilized with the extended presence of both its kings, the Ghost Zone now has some sense of law and order, and everything is just better over all than under Pariah Dark's absence and rule.

Until Danny gets summoned to some far off dimension, still in the appearance of a teenager because he never aged (neither did Vlad) and is absolutely stunned to see living, breathing humans.

It's been far, far too long since he's seen humans.

So there he is, still in his king robes (Which basically become his regular clothing), sitting in a magical summoning circle with cultists all around him preaching to him about he's going to enslave the world and how they off themselves up to be his servants.

Stunned beyond compare seeing people, and then out of the blue more people come out and beat up the cultists, with the last one begging for him to help them and then being knocked out.

A stray thought entered his mind, and he doesn't even care about the other people anymore. So he steps out of the circle, ignoring the others surprise, their battle ready stances, and their attempts at talking with him and just exits the building and flying out of the planet's atmosphere.

He then turned to look at the planet, and he started crying.

It was breath taking to see the earth living again, especially when from the moon all he ever saw was the wasteland that was once his.

Some random dude came up out of the atmosphere with him, with a determined expression on his face before that melted away into surprise and concern. Who then just floated there alongside him.

Meanwhile, over in the DP outer space:

Vlad is not at all amused when he felt the sudden void of the moon. So he went to check it out, seeing the moon deity gone from his place. Usually when they go to the Infinite Realms they are still aware of the others presence.

But now Vlad doesn't feel him at all.

So Vlad goes to find Clockwork, who should surely know if his opposite decided to go back in time.

Clockwork says he doesn't know where Danny is, but he does know he was summoned to another dimension. Vlad questions how Clockwork doesn't know where Danny is since he's the literal Master of Time.

Clockwork says that he oversees all the events and timelines in this dimension, the one where Danny was summoned to however? Noooot so much.

So now Vlad feels he has to look for his counterpart and is increasingly angry that he has to do so, but then Clockwork nudged him along to go and find him.

So now Vlad has to look for the wayward moon deity; while said deity is now talking with a bunch of actual people and is not at all hiding his wonder and amazement at seeing and talking to living people again.

(Clockwork when he knows exactly where, how, and why Danny got summoned, but isn't telling Vlad a single thing other than "You have to go find him." and acting as if he couldn't just pop into the timestream and ask the Linear Men if they've seen an immortal teenage moon deity in any timelines.)

[fangirl-everythang]

Mirrors C.T.H

Summary: Calum and Y/n's schedules haven't lined up in a while. When they finally do, Calum decides to try a reflective persuasion if you will.

Warnings: Daddy Kink, Swearing, Spit, Slapping( well maybe one), Just lots of smut.

Word Count: 2691

A/N: This was inspired by @ContentCalum on Instagram. 10/10 recommend for short blurbs. (ALSO posted on Wattpad)

Can't wait to see you, princess, xxx.

That was the last text I got from Calum after he told me he was coming home. Today was my day off so I spent the day doing some housework. The four of them really do a number when they're together. Recently our schedules haven't been matching and I rarely see him. Just brief periods between my early work schedule and his unpredictable night/ whenever the fuck Michael wakes up studio times haven't left us much time together.

While that's in the oven I can shower. Deciding against pajamas I just grab one of Calums shirts because it smells just like him. Usually, I wouldn't wear a bra but a bralette won't hurt. With the hot steam rolling down the sides of the shower,  I let the water hit my sore muscles. Work has been overly stressful. Between this new launch and creating a new marketing scheme, you would think we were planning the Met Gala. Putting those thoughts work thoughts aside, lathering and scrubbing every area of my body that has seen this house today. Afterward gotta lotion up because ashyness is not an option, sliding on the matching lace panties and Calums shirt that comes down to my mid-thigh.

Going back downstairs to turn the oven off I get started on the sides. Cauliflower mac and cheese isn't as bad as it seems, hopefully. "Duke do you think your daddy will notice?" He looks at me with those cute eyes, not a care in the world, guess not. The sound of the door opening has Duke happily barking and running away from me. Following not too far behind our fury son I see Calum kneel next to Duke.

"Hey Bud, did you miss me?" he asks playfully petting the sweet creature. He cuddles into Calum further when he looks up at me, "Hi princess."

"You know I think it's unfair when you ask Duke does he miss you when I'm standing right here." I grin. He stands up grabbing my waist "Well I know you missed me love." he smiles.

"Did I? You're kind of annoying." He gasps playfully holding his heart. Leaning my head back I reach up to kiss him. He takes his time bringing his lips to mine so I put my hands on his cheek and bring him closer. His soft lips against mine send me into a frenzy. God, I've missed him like crazy. Parting all too soon he leans his forehead on mine. "I love you." he rasps.

"I love you too bub." I grin going back into the kitchen. "Did you want to eat first or?" I ask looking at him questioningly.

"It's 4 pm Y/n." he chuckles. Well, we can eat later then, he concludes.

"Well, it's our first time together in forever, what now?" He has a smirk on his face and reaches for my wrist. "What is it Cal?"  he walks away and up the stairs leaving me to follow him. I should turn the oven off. Glancing over to Duke he's in his little bed laying down. Being so cute I had to take a picture...or three. Taking my time up the stairs to admire the pictures of the cute doggo, "Cal look at these pictures of Du-What are you doing?" He continues to play with the reflective furniture.

"Do you know how good you look in the mirror? I couldn't stop thinking about all the dirty pictures you sent me," He stares at me through the mirror. "You're lucky I wasn't here babygirl." My cheeks flush as he pushes me closer to see our reflections dancing in the mirror with a tight hold on my hips.

"You're my distraction," he whispers as he slowly begins sucking underneath my ear, leaving kisses down my neck. My heart rate increases as his tongue touches a sensitive spot, shivers running down my spine. "As much as I want to tell you how beautiful you are, well you've been a bad girl hmm?" His hand lightly trails across my neck, his eye contact never leaving as he snakes his other hand towards my front over my clothed womanhood. "Answer me." His grip becoming more firm on my neck.

"Yes daddy." he hums in approval as he lifts his shirt above his head exposing his tan torso. "Look at how sexy you are baby." but he didn't seem satisfied when my eyes stay glued to the ground. He could have any girl he wanted and yet he chose me. I'm not skinny whatsoever. I have more tits than ass and rolls for days. The stretchmarks that litter my body don't bother me but most aspects of everything else does. His hand reaches for my hair in a tight fist forcing me to look up at our reflection, my core aching at the sudden pull.  "I'm speaking to you." he says very sternly, "I guess I'll just have to make you listen."

Stripping himself of his pants and sitting on the edge of the bed right in front of the mirror he opens his legs and pats me over. "Sit." I obey him, anticipation building in my core. His hands roam my body freely lingering wherever they please. He begins attacking my neck slowly dragging his finger across my thigh "Look at you, acting like a good girl hmm?" he moves the cotton fabric up to my waist giving him a view of my panties from the mirror "'gonna be good for daddy?"

I nod silently, he shakes his head in a disapproving manner. "Use your words Love."

"I'll be good for you daddy." he hums in approval, spreading my legs apart. He traces his finger along the outskirts of my panties, my hips thrusting lightly "excited now are we?" he smirks looking at the wet spot through the mirror. Calum slides the thin material to the side, lightly grazing my clit. My eyes momentarily closing at the brief touch before his other calloused hand reaches up, grabbing my jaw, forcing me to to look up. "You're going to watch as I tease your cunt. You're going to cum on my fingers, then you'll watch as I devour your pussy. Close your eyes even once and I'll force another out of you. Got it?" He has a fire blazing behind his golden-brown orbs.

"Yes sir." nodding along as his fingers begin tapping on my clit. "Good girl," he whispers before dipping his middle finger into my sex, the digit easily slipping in. "Nuh that way." he reminds me once more to look up into the mirror. The glass allowing me to see everything at once, the way he looks at me hungrily, his slender finger shining with my arousal. I can see his other hand going to reach for my breast before I feel it, the mere fact causing a moan to leave my lips.

"Awwwe you like watching yourself being played with huh?" he maintains eye contact with me through the mirror, as he adds another finger into my throbbing hole. His length pressing into my back, hardening with every sound from my mouth. "Rub your clit y/n."

My hand following his orders adding more sensation to my building orgasm. The scene before me so pleasingly intimate and erotic.  "Cal I'm goin-" My back arching into him as my orgasm takes complete control of my body, his eyes on me every step of the way.

He brings his fingers to my lips, allowing me to taste myself, whimpering himself when I take his fingers into my mouth, sucking them as if they were his member.  I release them, clean, turning to face him.  "I thought I told you-" I lean forward straddling his waist, kissing him roughly. "I know but I want to please you too Cal." Before he can respond I gently slip off the bed, face to groin. I pull down his boxers just enough to release his straining cock, gently stroking it in my palm.  "Let me take care of you," I smile at him, pressing a kiss to the side of his shaft "Please daddy." He groans, swiping his thumb over my lip and nodding. We've been apart far too long, aching to taste him once more.

I lick his shaft, tasting his pre-cum on my tongue, he lets out a sigh of relief, embedding his hand through my hair.  "Mhmmm just like that princess." He moans as I take most of him in my mouth, cupping his balls and pressing my forefinger lightly on the skin between the two. The feeling of him in my mouth forces my mind to wonder about him being inside of me, stretching me in the best of ways, a moan finds its way out from my throat around Calum causing his hips to thrust more. I clench my thighs together to provide some friction for my thoughts, I reach my hand between my legs relieving myself from all the arousal. "Get up." he demands, seeming almost angry. Not wanting to question him I rise confused by the sudden change of tone, knowing better than to say anything.

He removes any fabric left covering my body aggressively, not saying a word.  Pushing me back till my knees cave against the bed causing me to fall back onto our shared mattress. He places himself between my legs, rubbing his length along my core painfully slow. "Please, I need you Cal."  He continues gazing at me through his lust filled orbs, desire seeping from his pores. He pushes his tip in and then taking it out, the feeling gone as soon as it had appeared. A whine erupted from my lips, he chuckled to himself. "Remind me again y/n," he states in a hushed tone, "Are you to touch yourself without my permission?" He looks at me, his finger dancing over my sensitive nub but neglecting it furthermore. Accepting my silence for an answer, "And yet you did." His head dips down encapsulating my nipple in his mouth, a breathy moan leaving my lips as his hands roam my body freely. My hips thrusting trying to create some- any friction. "Cal I won't do it ever again, just please- please fuck me daddy. " A stinging on my cheek causing a gasp to leave my lips, surprised by this side of Calum. Still shocked, he places his hand firmly on my cheek pushing my face into the mattress. The only thing in view is the mirror with his gorgeously tanned tattooed body on top of mine, hand still placed on my face. He leans in dangerously close, moving a strand of hair aside slowly, his fingertip leaving the slightest touch before putting his hand back with the same pressure as before, "Now watch sweetheart." he darkly whispers.

Before I could question it his entire length thrust in me at once, a broken moan escaping me. With the side view, I can see him pounding into me, each thrust harder than the last. "Fuck- so wet hmmm, such a good whore." he moans, I nod under his hand clenching walls around him, tilting my pelvis to meet his. He removes his hand from my face to apply pressure to my clit, hitting a particularly blissful combination.  "Fuck Cal right there!" I scream as the bedrocks underneath our sweaty bodies. He slows his movements savoring the view before him, his good girl-now fucking onto him, desperate for release. Her hair frizzy, eyes fluttering from excessive pleasure, he never wanted it to end. "I love you y/n."

"I love you too Calum." I reach up grabbing his neck to pull him back to me, our lips meeting once more passionately while he thrust into me again. He presses my body closer to his as my legs wrap around him for dear life, my hands holding onto his as if he'd disappear. "Can I cum please?"  He grunts, nodding his head in approval of my very much needed release. Unable to focus on anything but the eruption of pleasure from my core, repeating a slur of Calums name over and over again like it is the only thing I've ever known. His release following shortly after, the warmth of his seed filling me. His panting is my focal point upon return, watching as each breath falls from his swollen plump lips. I giggle moving some of his sweat-coated hair from his face, "Welcome home Mr.Hood." He smiles laughing at my gesture, "Quite the welcome it is Miss Y/L/N" He pulls my face forward once more placing a soft kiss to my lips, which is happily returned before he pulls me to the edge of the bed, still seemingly connected, placing me dead center in front of the mirror once more. Looking at him with a curious glance, he notions to the mirror as I watch his every move. He pulls his softening member from my core, a gasp leaving my lips due to the newfound vacancy.

His eyes never leaving mine as the smirk on his face grows, kneeling between my thighs. I lean up on my forearms to see both him and the reflection better, the handsome bassist looping his arms around my legs, keeping me in place. "Look how pretty baby." He says watching our fluids drip out of me, his tone of admiration never wavering. My hips jut back as he strokes over my clit, still hyper-sensitive from the orgasm just moments before.  As I retract my pussy away from his devilish grin he rumbles a low growl, attaching his lips to my center, his wide hands gripping my hips with brisk strength-leaving prints in their path. His tongue lapping my hole over and over again. He replaces his mouth with his fingers, the scissoring motion driving me on edge once more.  He leans over me, tapping on my lips to which I comply with his wishes, opening my mouth. He smiles before releasing the cum-mixed spit down my throat, swallowing our combined fluids moaning as he returns his mouth to my pussy. My wetness glistening all over his face as he continues to but himself in me. Seeing his back muscles contract in the mirror each time he moves, watching him devour me in the most sinful of ways. I can see it all, moans leaving my lips between my pleas for him to stop his assault but nonetheless, he persists until my legs are a quivering mess around his head. My bare breast rising with every sharp inhale, my back arching further into him, hoping to get away but he keeps me planted there in front of him.

"I need to- Cal can I-I- fuck please" The words barely able to leave my lips, he stares at me nodding but never removing himself from my core. My orgasm ripples through me, forcing my body to compromise, stiffening as I release on Calum's tongue. My hips riding his tongue exactly where I need him as my fingers grip at his hair, hearing him moan at the feeling sending an aftershock of vibrations through my center.  An unholy slurping noise from Calum is the last thing to be heard as he joins me again on the bed, pulling me into him. His lips providing every emotion needed. "I missed you."

I laugh at his cute post-sex neediness, "I missed you too Cal." He pats my head, letting his hands rake through the mess of hair on top of my head as I trace over his feather tattoo. "Did I ever tell you how good you taste?" he murmurs, shrugging lightly to himself, "Fucking delicious." His hands lingering the curves of my body before he places two fingers on my clit. "No, no, no not again." I chuckle pushing him away as my body shudders from the sensation.

"Hmmm I suppose we'll have more time today." he rasps. "Indeed we will." I smile placing a kiss on his cheek. Let's just say the night was more than eventful, happy to be in each other presence again.

A/N:

WOW long time no see! I can't wait to get back into the flow of writing and now that the semester is over I have more time lol.

I hope you're all hanging in there alright!

xoxo-Janelle

[wanderlustphatty]

You deserve to be loved:: DMxFem!Reader

Summary: Draco unlocks a little more of her tragic backstory than he planned and it breaks his heart. He makes it his goal to reverse all the trauma she's endured.

Warnings: 18+! Angst, fluff, oral (female receiver), finger action, cynicism, adult topics, mentions of seggs (no actual seggs), allusions to abusive relationships, squirting, kisses, cussing, alcohol

Word Count: 2322

Notes: I really hope you all enjoy this. It offers up a softer side of Draco and allows him to kind of be the knight in shining armor he's been told he isn't.

Masterlist

Moonlight cast a halo around the top of her head, but their discussion was far from innocent. He had tried to make her blush, spoil her cool composure. The question was embarrassing, but she handled it with ease. "How many people have you been with?" Her top lip curled for a moment as she genuinely gave it some thought, then she replied "Enough to be experienced and teach some things, but not enough to know it all. Makes me sound like a whore." A soft chuckle escaped her and she shrugged.

"First of all, you could never convince me you're a whore. Secondly, I support promiscuity just as much as I support abstinence. Finally, you were really casual about that." She didn't even look up. Instead she took a pebble that was close to her and started scratching at the concrete beneath her. "Sex always comes up eventually." Although her tone was rather matter-of-fact, the lack of emotion led him to believe there was an intricate web of hurt and lies supporting that statement. 

"I can talk about sex like I'm talking about something mundane; like the weather. It's lost its wow factor, and I've given up on finding that exciting, toe curling, two souls become one type. Nobody wants that anymore, I guess. Now I show up and it's business as usual. Maybe that's why my relationships never work out. There's only business and no passion." There's a slight pause as she seems to almost disassociate for a moment, but then she continues with a new underwhelming observation. "Probably why I don't go on dates anymore either. I'd rather get to know someone in their entirety, and not just what's in their pants. Everyone else wants to know everything in someone's pants - soul be damned." 

With a quick flick, the pebble is launched from her fingertips and she leans against the wall. Wordlessly her pain radiates to where even he could feel it. "Sex isn't that, though," he says, making her scoff. "It's not supposed to be business as usual. Those people were assholes."

"Hedonists," she chimes in. "They're only out for themselves. The world's full of them nowadays." A heavy sigh heaves past her chest and she finally looks toward the platinum blonde sitting a little way away from her. "Listen, I'm not looking for sympathy or for someone to change my mind. I've just...I've been through some shit. I'd rather be touch starved than to be used again."

"Used?"

"Yes, used."

"For…"

"For everything. You name it. That's why I refuse to let others feel down. I've been there. I know what it's like to feel alone at rock bottom. I can't let anyone sit there alone."

With that, she shut down again. For a while they sat in silence. Eventually she stood up and offered him a hand. "Want to go drink my wine stash?" Not wanting to be anywhere else but with her, he took her hand and agreed.

Before he got half way through his bottle, she had locked his keys in her safe box and told him he was staying in the guest room because she didn't want him out alone while intoxicated. A ripple of excitement spread through him, but he merely nodded and held up his bottle in a toast. Unfortunately he found himself up way later than her, her words still echoing inside his head. 

Even inebriated he deduced that she had never been touched lovingly in such an intimate manner. Oh how he yearned to be the one that would. She offered him such peace and he wanted to do the same for her. Like a book, he wanted to run his finger down her spine, take his time appreciating the stories on her pages, memorizing every wonderfully flawed detail. For the past year he had been in love with the woman who became his best friend, but was too afraid to say anything. 

The pair hadn't become friends until after their departure from Hogwarts. She found him at his lowest and refused to give up on him until he realized he was worthy of friendship, love, affection, and anything positive. It took her a lot longer to open up, though. Little by little Draco would learn deeper aspects of the girl, but she would never completely unload. Last night was no different, but it broke his heart.

This led him to where he stood now, an anxious mess, staring at a beautiful disaster of a woman.  Everything in him shook. His heart sent electricity through his veins with every pump, his lungs forbade a decent breath. Could he really be doing this? Would she feel the same? Sweat beads on his forehead as he stands in her bedroom doorway, a terrified expression on his face.

"Are you ok?" It sounds like music when she speaks. Not realizing he had been staring, lost in thought, he clears his throat and blinks a few times. "I didn't really sleep last night," he admits. Brows knit over her soulful eyes, now filled with concern for him. As if reading her mind, he nervously continues. "Um, I was thinking about last night," he begins, his gaze drifting to the floor. "Some of the things you said didn't sit well with me."

Sadness and dejection wash across her face. The relaxed posture she once held became more rigid. Apparently this sounded too familiar to her, but in an instant she had already made up her mind to face the situation with strength and dignity. "Oh," she breathes. There's a slight hesitation before she adds "What did I say wrong?"

"Wrong? You didn't say anything wrong. I was actually referring to your mistreatment." He notes the slight tilt of her head and how she fidgets with her fingers. A muscle tenses within her jaw and her breathing gets just a little faster. "I was up all night thinking about how amazing you are and wondering why so many hands chose to take advantage of the love you tried to give." 

At this point he feels as if it's all or nothing. Lay everything on the line and hope for the best. As he tries to walk forward his knees wobble and he chooses to only allow himself that single step. "I've been so fortunate to be a part of your life for the past year and a half. You terrify me, but make me feel like I can conquer the world. This probably isn't the best time to tell you, but I've loved you for a year now. Last night destroyed me because I could tell no one had loved you like you deserve. If you would let me, I want to be the one that shows you every day just how much you deserve. You deserve to feel worthy of every good thing that happens. Please, let me try and show you that not everyone's the same."

For a moment he thinks he might fall over from how hard he's shaking. A mixture of nerves, fear, and adrenaline rattle his very core. Silvery eyes stare at her, waiting for an answer. Any answer. Finally she looks back at him, her eyes wide with disbelief. At this point her heart's beating so hard, it's visible through her chest.

"Come sit with me," she finally manages to say as she pats the bed next to her. With a good deal of concentration, he does. The two stare at each other wordlessly, the tension between them palpable. Finally he gathers the courage to look between her lips and her eyes, asking silently for permission. Her answer comes in the form of a timid head nod and cautious eyes. 

Slowly and tenderly he brushes his fingertips along her face, allowing his thumb to graze over her lips. He can feel her hot breath against his finger as she sighs at his touch. His eyes drift from her mouth back up to her eyes, this time getting a more solid nod. A warm palm cups her cheek and he leans in to brush his lips against hers. 

They're soft, just like he had always imagined. The kiss is broken only for a split second before another, more firm, one takes its place. Before long he feels her fingers lazily curling in the hair on the back of his head. Licking her lower lip softly, he asks for entry. She smiles at the gesture before allowing him in. Before long their tongues were dancing in a passionate waltz. 

"Let me," she breathes when they pull back for a breath of fresh air, her eyes darting toward his growing arousal. A deep shade of red spreads across his cheeks, ashamed that his body would betray him in such a moment. Of course he found her attractive, but his pleasure was the farthest thing from his mind. 

"That's not what I want. This is about you. You deserve a man that will worship your body, as it should be. May I make you feel good?" Cool grey eyes plead with hers. Long fingers stroke down her neck to her shoulder.

Blood rushes to her face as she considers what she wants for once - a pleasant change considering others would inform her of what they were going to do. Again she nods, but doesn't say a word. Draco shakes his head softly and asks again. "May I? I'm not taking a nod for this one. I don't want to pressure you into anything. We don't have to do this at all if you don't want to. Literally I'm happy just being by your side."

"You can go ahead," she finally replies. "I want to." She hasn't been nervous for anything sexual in so long, but she can hear the truth in his voice and feel the love in his caress. For a few months she had wanted more from their relationship, but was too scared to pursue it. What if he was just like the others? Admittedly, that's why she brought up her views of physical relations. She wanted to see how he reacted. Most people who had heard it found reasons to disappear soon after. When he came to her door, she expected the same, not for him to dive head first into a confession. 

A devastatingly handsome smile parts his lips before he starts to kiss every piece of visible skin. Slowly he traces the hem of her shirt, raising it just below her breast line. Chills scatter her skin as he plants kisses across her stomach, his hot breath tickling her as he moves. Involuntarily she wiggles and he chuckles. "Relax. Enjoy the way it feels." She takes a deep breath and closes her eyes, allowing him to make his way farther down.

When he reaches the top of her shorts he scoots off the bed to stoop down next to her legs. Gentle bite kisses are placed on her hips as he carefully pulls her panties and shorts off, discarding them at the corner of the bed. He picks up one leg and rubs down the inside, trailing his lips behind. As soon as he finishes one, he treats the other the same before turning his attention to the beauty before him. 

Moisture accentuates her slit and he bites his lower lip gently. Curious as to what he is about to do, she pulls a pillow down to prop herself up. He flashes her a quick smile before getting on his knees between her legs. Slowly he runs his tongue along her folds, warranting a gentle moan. She tasted exquisite, more intoxicating than the wine they'd had the night before. A few more licks and he starts to explore, making sure to memorize every reaction. In his heart of hearts he wanted to please her in a way no one was able to before. 

Occasionally she would lock eyes with him, then release a guttural moan as she watched him hit every spot that could make her writhe. After a while she found herself begging for more. "Please, I want to feel you in me," she pants before he obeys and plunges his tongue into her entrance. Her head tosses back and she grips the sheets, but her gaze snaps back, pleading. "Not your tongue."

He gives a final lick and chuckles as he drags himself up to lay beside her. A single finger traces from her sternum to her hips. "You can have that another time, if you still want it. Today my goal is to make you cum without my dick getting involved. I've told you, it isn't about me." As he finishes he hooks a finger into her tight pussy and curves it to hit her pleasure spots. 

"Draco!" Her hips buck against his finger, eager. After a few times he adds another finger, making her hiss. His lips find hers again and he pushes his fingers deep within her before steadily increasing the pace. Their lips move wildly against each other's and her whimpers vibrate their kiss.

It doesn't take long before she breaks away to urge him "right there, like that". "Cum for me baby," he says against the skin of her neck before trailing kisses to her collarbone. Like a prayer his name rolls from her tongue until she crescendos. She nearly screams as she squirts, covering everything underneath her. He slows his pace, gradually bringing her down from her high. Her cheeks are dusted pink, chest heaving as she pants, and he kisses up her jaw to her lips.

"How did that feel?" His grey eyes gaze upon her dewy face and he gently brushes a lock of hair away from her forehead. She turns to him and smiles before letting go of a breathy laugh. "Amazing. When can we do that again?" He laughs and licks off his fingers before cocking an eyebrow and replying "Any time you want, my love."

Masterlist

[cocastyle]

Change - Ch. 1 | N I N E

Pairing - Bill Denbrough x reader

Word Count - 5,692

A/N - sooo I’m about to go out of the country for spring break so let’s hope I don’t get the corona virus ahaha (trying not to freak out but oh well). my school is out for the rest of the week and I leave early Friday morning so I’m going to try and write as many updates as I can tonight and tomorrow to prepare for next week :)) anyways, I hope you all are healthy and doing well! enjoy this chapter!

if you would like to be added to the tag list for this series let me know!

C H A N G E

Change Series Masterlist

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N I N E  - Post-Breakup Stage

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Y/N had never had friends before. At least no friends that were anything like the Losers Club. So when the group split up, Y/N took it pretty hard. She began to fall back into old habits and the girl who had first arrived to Derry at the beginning of the summer was back and maybe even worse than before.

Her smile was mostly non existent, the light gone from her eyes. She rarely talked, only ever speaking to her cousin when needed, and often spent her days silently bird watching in the backyard with Stan while the two tried to ignore the loneliness that was slowly creeping over them.

All she could think about were the Losers and how much she missed them. Mike, Ben, Beverly, Richie, Eddie, Bill. . .she missed them all.

The only person keeping her from falling into the darkness was her cousin. Stan was her best friend for a reason and maybe that's why things weren't as bad as they would've been if the two were to split up as well. They were each other's wall that kept the other from falling apart before their very eyes.

They stayed by each other's side as the days began to creep by. Stan helped keep Y/N's mind off of the Losers and her parents while Y/N helped distract her cousin by rehearsing his lines with him. It was a system that allowed both of them to forget the pain they were going through. But it was those times during the day, when the two were alone and away from each other, that the two were left to their own thoughts.

Having each other was enough to keep them going, but without the Losers by their side, it all just felt sort of meaningless.

Y/N wouldn't admit it, but she missed Bill the most. All she could see when she closed her eyes was the heartbroken look on his face as she had left. But how could she have stayed? She didn't want to be killed or worse get someone else killed in the process. Leaving had seemed like the only logical thing to do, but she didn't realize how losing her friends would hurt more than anything the clown threw at her.

At that thought, Y/N glanced down at her calf which was almost completely healed by now. Only a few scabs were left over from the scratch marks It had given her, but it was obvious there were going to be a few scars left over. The realization that It had made marks on her body that would last a while made Y/N feel sick, so she was quick to look away and pulled on her dress nervously instead.

Today was the big day in which Stanley Uris was supposed to 'become a man.' Y/N and Stan were still not quite sure what that was supposed to mean, but it was obviously important by the size of the crowd that was slowly shuffling their way into the synagogue that warm summer day.

Stan had left with his father about an hour before Y/N left with her aunt, so Y/N was left alone once they got inside while her aunt mingled with the guests before the ceremony was to start. The h/c girl let out a soft sigh as she looked around at the people around her, hoping to maybe see a familiar face.

As if someone had heard her prayers, Y/N suddenly caught sight of a pair of very familiar glasses and it was like her breath caught in her throat once the person's gaze locked with her own.

Richie Tozier let out an audible gasp as the people between him and Y/N moved out of the way, leaving the two standing in front of each other. They hadn't seen each other for a while now and it was obvious neither of them knew what to say. Both of them had left with the same opinion in mind, but the group splitting up meant that Y/N and Stan hadn't even talked to Richie since the big fight.

All Y/N and Richie could do was stare at each other, an awkward silence filling the air around them. Richie coughed awkwardly and pushed his glasses up his nose, but just when he went to open his mouth and say something, Y/N launched forward and wrapped her arms around the boy.

Richie stumbled back slightly and had to gain his balance once again before he looked down to find Y/N hugging him tightly with her head resting against his shoulder. Richie stiffened almost immediately before he swallowed thickly and muttered, "What the hell, Uris?"

Y/N could hear the slight shake in his voice and smiled sadly as she let out a breathy chuckle. "Calm the fuck down and just hug me back, Tozier," she whispered. "You and I could both use one right now."

Richie went silent at that and Y/N merely hugged him a little tighter, knowing that the boy wanted a hug just as desperately as her. He could try and deny it as much as he wanted, but Y/N had always been able to read him and Richie knew that.

There was another moment of silence before Y/N finally felt Richie's arms wrap around her, hugging her just as tight if not tighter than she was him. He tucked the girl's shoulder under his chin and leaned into her embrace more as he held her like he was afraid she would leave him again. His breath was shaky as he held onto her and Y/N had to blink her eyes a few time just to keep tears from coming.

For it was in that moment that the two finally felt a small feeling of relief wash over them after the hell they had been through since the fight. Even if the whole group hadn't made up yet, at least they were on their way and if that meant just the two of them making up at the moment then so be it. It was better than being alone.

The two didn't pull away until everyone was starting to take their seats and even then the two stayed by each other's side, sitting by each other in one of the many rows of the synagogue as they watched Stan walk up to the microphone.

Stan looked around for a minute as if he were looking for someone and it was only when he caught sight of Y/N and Richie that he paused. His eyes stared at Richie like a deer caught in headlights, but the moment Richie sent the curly haired boy a small smile and a thumbs up Stan instantly relaxed.

Stan's eyes then flickered over to his cousin and the reassuring smile she gave him was enough to have the boy smiling softly back before he gained the courage to begin his readings. Richie and Y/N were silent as they listened to the boy speak and both of them secretly fist bumped each other once Stan had finished without mispronouncing a single word.

"Reflecting on the meaning of what I just read," Stan began, gulping slightly as all eyes suddenly turned to him. "The word 'shana' comes up alot. Which means. . .uhm. . .to change, to transform. Which makes sense I guess, because today I'm supposed to become a man."

Stan hesitated for a moment and his eyes flickered over to lock with Y/N's. The girl gave him a questioning look, already recognizing the look in his eyes that said something was wrong.

Stan had to look away and he took in a shaky breath before saying, "It's funny though. Everyone, I think, has some memories they're prouder of more than others, right? And maybe that's why change is so scary."

That was enough to make Y/N still while Richie looked to her confused. Y/N merely shrugged and the two looked back to Stan who was looking around the room as if he were seeing everyone for the first time.

"Cause the things we wish we could leave behind, the whispers we wish we could silence, the nightmares we most wanna wake up from, the memories we wish we could change, secrets we feel that we have to keep, are the hardest to walk away from," Stan said and it was only then that he looked back over at his cousin, his eyes staying locked with hers and he continued to speak.

"The good stuff, the pictures in our mind that fade away the fastest, those pieces of you it feels the easiest to lose. Maybe, I don't want to forget. Maybe, if that's what today's all about, forget it, right?" Stan whispered, his eyebrows furrowed together as if he were coming to a realization and it seemed like Y/N and everyone else in the room was hanging onto every word.

Everyone except for his father.

"Thank you, Stanley," Mr. Uris said as he went to grab for the microphone, but Stan was quick and moved away from his father.

"Uh, uh, today I'm supposed to become a man but I don't. . .I don't feel any different," Stan continued as he walked away from his father who was trying to walk after him. But then Stan was suddenly stopping and he turned to look at his father with a look in his eyes that made Y/N raise her eyebrows in surprise.

"I know I'm a loser," Stan announced, his words making even his father stop. "And no matter what, I always fucking will be."

A loud gasp filled the air as Stan dropped the microphone and walked out of the room. Everyone stared after the boy in pure shock while Richie began to clap and cheer. As for Y/N, she couldn't help but burst out laughing and yell out in pure pride, "That's my cousin!"

Richie's mother was quick to hush her son while Mrs. Uris sent a small glare in Y/N's direction, but both of the kids merely shared a look before getting up from their seats and running out of the synagogue before anyone could stop them.

"Holy shit, Stan the Man!" Richie cried out as him and Y/N began to jog after Stan who was pacing around in the front yard. Stan looked up at that and he visibly relaxed at the sight of his friends before he was tackled in a hug by Y/N.

"I'm so proud of you," Y/N whispered as she squeezed the boy tight. Stan smiled at that and hugged her back just as tight before his eyes flickered over to Richie.

The cousins slowly pulled away from each other and Stan and Richie both stared at each other before smiling softly. "We good?" Stan questioned as he nervously put his hands into his pockets.

"We're good," Richie assured him with a nod while Y/N looked between the two boys with a warm smile on her face. "I cannot believe you fucking did that, Stanley. You should've seen their faces!" Richie exclaimed before dying with laughter, Y/N quickly joining in while Stan blushed.

"My father's going to kill me when I get home," Stan muttered out with a breathy laugh.

"Then let's not go home," Y/N suggested causing both boys to look to her. "At least not yet anyways. You're already in trouble, why not have some fun before we go back?"

"That's the best idea you've ever had, darlin'" Richie laughed as he wrapped an arm around the girl's shoulder and turned to look at Stan. "Come on, Stan the Man. We can go to the arcade or something."

Stan was silent as he let his calculating eyes flicker in between Richie and Y/N. But Y/N knew he was only pretending to think about it. After all, her and her cousin were similar in numerous ways and she knew how much they had both been yearning to hang out with at least one of their friends.

"Fine," Stan said as he let out a dramatic sigh that had Richie and Y/N both rolling their eyes with small smiles on their faces.

That was how the three ended up at the Derry arcade not too long after that. None of them had brought their bikes since they had come with their families, so the three had to walk all the way there in their dressy clothes. Richie complained nonstop, but it didn't take much for the Uris cousins to figure out that he was only doing it to hide his excitement about getting to hang out with them.

Y/N had only been to an arcade a few times in her lifetime, each of them being in the Derry arcade during the summers she would spend there. It was Richie's favorite place to go and Y/N still remembered the first time he had introduced her to Streetfighter, his favorite game. The two had played that game endlessly it had felt like and it didn't take long for the two to fall back into their old habits, the two friends trash talking each other as they tried to beat each other.

"Yes! Take that, Uris!" Richie yelled as he not only beat her, but the high score of the whole game as well. Y/N rolled her eyes, but couldn't stop the small smile beginning to play on her lips.

"You just got lucky," Y/N tried to say, but Richie only scoffed and gave her a look. "Okay, fine. You win," she sighed earning a smirk from Richie before the boy judged her playfully with his elbow.

Y/N smiled at the boy while Stan watched the two fondly. "Okay, my turn," Stan announced as he walked over to the console, Richie instantly by his side.

He began playing and before she knew it, Richie was yelling at the curly haired boy what he needed to do while Stan was yelling back at Richie to just shut up. It was enough to make Y/N laugh and she couldn't help but think about how much her mood had changed just by being able to be with one of her friends again.

This was the happiest she had felt since the argument and for a moment she seemed to forget about everything that was going on.

Y/N began to look around the arcade to see if she could find another game they could play later, but found herself looking out the window. She smiled softly as she watched the people all walking by, some of them laughing and smiling while others conversed with their friends. Y/N didn't even realize she had walked up to the window until her hand was pressing against the cool glass.

A feeling of calm washed over her as she watched the town of Derry go about their lives, the sound of the arcade and her cousin and Richie's bickering in the background.

Something then flashed at her eyes and Y/N grimaced before blinking a few times only to find that the sun had reflected off a silver bike and into her eyes. However, the light was quickly forgotten as soon as she read the word 'Silver' written across the bike, her smile being replaced with a look of pure shock as her eyes flickered up to lock on the person on the bike—Bill Denbrough.

Her breath hitched in her throat at the sight of the boy, his hair gently blowing in the wind while he leaned his head back ever so slightly to enjoy the sun's warmth and the gentle breeze. He was perfect just like always and Y/N swore her heart skipped a beat just at the sight of him.

She watched as the boy suddenly sat up straight and, as of sensing her gaze, his eyes flickered over to the window as he began to ride past it. His eyes widened ever so slightly and his jaw dropped open a little as their eyes locked.

It was like a scene from one of those movies where time stood still. A million words were spoken just through that one glance and Y/N felt a sudden sadness wash over her as she was reminded of the heartbroken look Bill had given her as she walked away.

Y/N had to quickly look away, ignoring the furious beating of her heart and the sickening feeling in her stomach. She waited a moment before looking out the window again and watching as Bill rose down the rest of the street, his head hanging a bit lower than before. She frowned at the sight and the sickening feeling in her stomach only got worse.

All she wanted was to run out of the arcade and run after the boy, but she knew she couldn't. After the fight, after the way Bill had acted and after he had punched Richie, she didn't know what to expect. Would he even want to talk to her? Would he even care?

Y/N swallowed thickly as those thoughts began to swirl around in her head. Then, with a shaky breath, the girl turned around and walked back over to Stan and Richie who were complaining about the best strategy to use for the game.

She let her eyes flicker between Richie and Stan and tried to smile, but the happy feeling she had gotten earlier was gone. After all, she had just been reminded about all of the people who weren't with them. She was reminded of the fight and how most of the group was still all on their own. And the pain of the realization was enough to make her happiness disappear.

"Y/N?" Stan whispered causing the girl to snap out of her thoughts and look at the two boys who were watching her with a hint of concern in their eyes.

"You okay, Uris?" Richie questioned, tilting his head slightly.

Y/N blinked and gave the boys a forced smile as she nodded her head. "Yeah, of course. Why wouldn't I be?" she questioned. The two boys shared a look, but didn't get a chance to say anything before Y/N was gesturing towards the game.

"Come on. I want a rematch and there's no way in hell I'm letting you beat me again," Y/N said earning a loud laugh from Richie as she walked over to the console.

"Oh, you are so on, Uris," Richie laughed as he too took his place at the console.

Y/N smiled softly at that before her eyes caught sight of Stan giving her a look that asked if she was really okay. Y/N nodded ever so slightly but the look Stan gave her practically screamed that he didn't believe her. However, before Stan could question her, Y/N was already looking back at Richie was a smirk on her face.

"Loser has to buy the other whatever ice cream they want."

"Oh, you are so going down!"

- - -

August

Weeks passed and the Losers were still no where close to reuniting. Y/N had seen a few of her friends in passing, but the fight was still too fresh in their minds for any of them to talk to each other. Eddie was the only one Y/N hadn’t seen.

She had seen Mike from across the street and given him a smile and a wave, but he had only smiled at her sadly before walking in to a shop to make a delivery. She had been walking past the library when she caught sight of Ben sitting by a window, but the boy had only lowered his head sadly and focused on his book until she left.

Y/N had been walking out of a store with her aunt when she saw Beverly, but the red head had only given her the smallest of waves before disappearing around a corner. Then there were the few occasions she had seen Bill riding on his bike only for him to stare at her like it physically pained him to see her before he biked away as quick as possible.

Stan and Richie were the only reason Y/N hadn't gone spiraling down the rabbit hole. She spent almost every day hanging out with the two of them whether it be at the arcade or just biking around town. She was starting to do a little better now that she not only had Stan by her side but Richie as well. However, that sinking feeling of her stomach that came from missing the others never went away, especially when it came to Bill.

It wasn't until a couple of days after seeing Bill at the arcade that she had allowed herself to realize why she missed him so much. She liked Bill. She really liked him. And the realization of the fact only to remember that she now didn't even have him as a friend was enough to have her sobbing until Stan found her in her room. He had held her for what felt like hours after that while she just cried and Stan gave her the comfort she needed.

Y/N had confided in Stan about her crush after that and she had never seen her cousin so happy yet so upset at the same time. He was happy that she liked Bill, after all, he thought the two would be a perfect match. But then he saw his cousin's pain and it was like he felt it as well, his heart aching for the girl as he knew how much the fight with Bill must have affected her.

After that night, Y/N tried not to think about the Losers or Bill as much. It was hard, especially when she was alone. However, Richie and Stan helped her get by and before she knew it, it was August.

That meant she didn't have long before she would have to head home and Y/N hadn't realized how much she didn't want that to happen until it was slowly growing nearer with each passing day. Spending the summer with her cousin in Derry may have had some rocky moments, but it was also the happiest she had ever been in her whole life. She didn't want for it to end and she sure as hell didn't want to leave, so there were a few days at the beginning of August where she was a little quieter than usual and wanted to be left alone with her thoughts.

Stan didn't push it, knowing that the subject of her parents and her life back at home was a touchy topic for the girl. He and Richie had made it their sworn duty to make to rest of the summer the best Y/N had ever experienced and they hadn't been doing too bad so far.

In fact, Y/N was going to head down to the quarry with them that very afternoon. But before she could do that, the girl had promised her aunt that she would run to the pharmacy to pick up a few things that they had needed.

Stan had wanted to tag along, but his father was still upset about what had happened at his bar mitzvah, so Stan had to spend at least a couple of hours every day reading from the Torah. Wanting to go to the quarry later that day, Stan had decided it was best if he stayed home to read the Torah then rather than go to the pharmacy with Y/N.

Y/N didn't blame him and had taken the small list of things to get before making her way into town by herself. She hadn't been in the mood to ride Stan's bike, so the girl had resorted to walking, knowing that she didn't have to grab much anyways.

It took a little longer than riding a bike would, but Y/N didn't mind. She got to the pharmacy not that much later and went to open the door only for it to suddenly be thrown open and for someone to rush past her.

Y/N blinked in surprise and let her eyes flicker over to the person who she immediately recognized as Eddie. Her eyes widened at the sight of her friend, but she didn't have long to be shocked because she had caught sight of Eddie's distraught and completely red face as he struggled to hold back tears.

"Eddie?" Y/N questioned in a soft yet concerned voice as she hesitantly walked after the boy. She knew she probably shouldn't be talking to him, especially if his mother were to be around, but she frankly didn't care. If Eddie was upset, then whatever was his problem was now her problem whether his mother liked it or not.

Eddie froze at the sound of her voice and hesitated before slowly turning back around, his eyes widening slightly at the sight of her. "Y/N?" he whispered, his voice shaky as he quickly went to wipe his tears away with the arm that wasn't currently wrapped in a white cast.

"Eddie, what's-?" Y/N began, but she didn't even get a chance to finish what she was saying before Eddie had taken a few quick strides to hug the girl. Y/N blinked in surprise, but didn't hesitate to hug the boy back, squeezing her eyes shut as she held onto the boy who she hadn't even seen since that day at the Neibolt house.

Eddie was shaking as he hugged her, his one good hand balling into a fist around her shirt as he held her like he was afraid she would leave him. For a moment, it reminded Y/N of the hug Richie had given her, but this one was different not only because it was Eddie but because she could practically feel the emotions that were radiating off the boy.

Y/N frowned and pulled away to look at the boy, ignoring Eddie's confused face as she furrowed her eyebrows and wiped away his tears, whispering, "What's wrong, Eds?"

Eddie smiled ever so slightly at the nickname before lowering his head. He let out a pained laugh before whispering, "Oh, it's nothing." However, his eyes betrayed him by flickering down to his cast which Y/N finally was able to see well enough to notice the giant word 'Loser' that had been written in black marker across his cast.

Y/N frowned at the sight and looked back at Eddie who was looking at his cast sadly. With a sigh, Y/N reached out and pat Eddie's shouldn't before saying, "Wait right here, okay? I'll be right back."

Eddie's head shot up at that and he went to question her, but the girl had already turned and was walking into the pharmacy he had come out of only moments before. Eddie frowned slightly before looking back down at his cast, the guilt of what his mother had said to Y/N the last time they were together eating away at him and making him feel sick.

Y/N returned a couple of minutes later to find that Eddie hadn't even moved an inch from the spot she had left him in. She began to rummage through the bag she had as she walked over to the boy, pushing past the things her aunt had needed until finding the one item she had bought on her own.

Eddie could hear the rustling of the bag and glanced up in time to see Y/N pull out a red marker with a smile on her face. The boy furrowed his eyebrows, but Y/N was already gently grabbing his arm and dragging him over to the curb for them to sit down.

Eddie watched as she set her stuff down before the h/c girl turned to look at him with a shy smile on her face. She gestured towards his cast and whispered, "May I?"

Eddie didn't quite understand what she was doing, but he trusted her. He trusted her with his whole life in fact and he had ever since the day the two first met. So nodding his head was almost an automatic response, knowing she would never do anything to hurt him or make him upset.

Y/N smiled softly at that before gently picking up the boy's cast and moving his arm to rest in her lap. She pulled the cap off the red marker in her hands before she began to write on his cast, her tongue sticking out in concentration while Eddie observed her quietly.

He thought back to when he was younger and how, for a whole summer, he had the biggest crush on the girl that sat before him today. She was just so kind to him and made him feel happier than most people did, not to mention she was the prettiest girl he had ever seen.

It wasn't really a surprise when he ended up having a crush on her, but it took a school year away from her and seeing her the next summer to know that his feelings had changed. Y/N was nothing more than a sister to him and he knew that Y/N felt the same way. The love they had for each other was strictly platonic and always would be.

And in that moment, Eddie wished he had been lucky enough to have been given a sister like Y/N. But it only took him a moment more to realize that although they may not actually be related, he had been given a Y/N as his sister and he would forever be grateful for that.

"There," Y/N smiled as she looked to Eddie and showed him his cast. The boy looked down and couldn't help but smile at the sight. She had taken the word 'Loser' and corrected it with the red marker so that it now read 'Lover,' something that made Eddie blush and let out a breathy chuckle.

His eyes flickered up to look at the girl and he stared at her for a moment before smiling and whispering, "Thank you.”

Y/N merely smiled in response before asking, "Is it okay if I sign it?"

Eddie was a little hesitant to say yes, but he couldn't help himself when his smile grew just a tiny bit. He instantly nodded his head and Y/N grinned before gently taking ahold of his arm once again and neatly writing her name across the white cast, knowing that the boy would want his cast to look as nice and clean as possible.

Once she was done, the girl put the cap back on her marker and shoved it into her bag before looking to Eddie who was already watching her with an unreadable expression on his face. "What?" Y/N questioned curiously as she tilted her head at the boy.

"I'm sorry," Eddie suddenly blurted out making Y/N blink in surprise. "What my mother said was not cool and none of it was true. And I’m just. . .I'm so sorry she said those things to you."

Eddie looked down at his cast and rubbed a thumb over the girl's signature before frowning and whispering, "I really hope you don't hate me for it."

Y/N blinked once before giving the boy a surprised look. "I could never hate you for something that your mother did," Y/N assured the boy as she wrapped an arm around him and rested her head against his shoulder. Eddie leaned into her touch and let his head rest against her own as the two sat there on the curb together.

"Your mother can try and stop us all she wants, but we're still going to be friends no matter what she says," Y/N whispered making the boy crack a smile at that.

Eddie reached his hand over and placed it on top of Y/N's before giving it a small squeeze. "I've missed you," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.

Y/N smiled warmly and held the boy a little tighter as she whispered back, "I've missed you too, Eddie."

A beeping from Eddie's watch was enough to make him snap back to reality, a panicked look on his face as he muttered, "Fuck." Eddie was quick to pull away from Y/N and stood up before wiping the dust from his pants. "I'm sorry, but I've really got to go. If I don't get home soon, my mom is going to go batshit crazy."

Y/N let out a chuckle and accepted the hand Eddie held out to her before he helped her into her feet. "No, I get it. You get home safely, okay?" she said as she smiled at the boy.

Eddie stared at her for a second before quickly reaching out and pulling her in for one last hug, relishing in the feeling of having the girl by his side once again after a torturous and lonely few weeks.

"Bye, Eds," Y/N whispered as she hugged the boy back and for a moment Eddie wanted nothing more than to have a mother who wasn't so overbearing so that he could stay with Y/N for a little bit longer.

He pulled away and let his eyes flicker over the girl's face one last time before giving her a soft smile, "Bye, Y/N."

Eddie then turned on his heels and began on his way back home while Y/N watched after him until he had turned the corner. With a small sigh, the girl bent down and picked her bag back up before beginning the long walk back home to where Stan would no doubt be waiting for her return.

Although this time, she felt a little less alone than before and that was enough to put a small smile on her face.

* * *

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[mobius-prime]

271. Sonic Universe #4

The Shadow Saga (Part 4 of 4): The Ultimate Lifeform

Writer: Ian Flynn Pencils: Tracy Yardley! Colors: Jason Jensen

Before we get started, it's important to note that this issue likely takes place a short time after the upcoming two issues, but for the sake of continuity as well as plot pacing, I've decided to cover this one first, especially since it doesn't overlap with the events of the next two issues at all. Shadow and Rouge are suited up and ready to go into the Special Zone in search of another Chaos Emerald, and Shadow is unconcerned, as he thinks the mission should be fairly routine. They're teleported into the zone by Hope's device, and sure enough, the giant freaky panda god Feist is there, ready to test some mortals for funsies in return for a Chaos Emerald.

Feist cackles and says that since he creates the rules of this zone, Shadow's own powers won't work, as even if he's the "ultimate lifeform" Feist is a god and therefore holds power over him. Shadow and Rouge quickly start trying to navigate Feist's little maze, using their respective strengths to dodge obstacles, but Feist has deliberately set them up for failure, and laughs at them as they run out of time just a moment before Rouge can grab the green Chaos Emer- wait, what? The green emerald? That one was already retrieved from the Sol Dimension! For whatever reason, Jason apparently completely forgot that not all the emeralds are green anymore, and miscolored this one, which was intended to be the red one. Ian handwaved it away later by saying Feist made it look that way to confuse them or whatever, but the color was also quietly corrected to red in future reprints, so it clearly wasn't intended. Anyway, Shadow and Rouge are booted out of the zone without their prize, much to Hope and Commander Tower's shock.

Okay, first of all, Tower, there's literally no need to be an asshole about this. There were already problems just getting into the Special Zone in the first place, it's downright idiotic to think it would just be a total piece of cake to retrieve one of the emeralds within after all that. And second of all, for goodness' sake, Shadow, stop blaming yourself for goddamn everything! Oh no, you didn't immediately succeed at everything you've tried! Ultimate lifeform or not, you're still an ordinary sentient being with ordinary sentient thought processes. Shadow, moping and upset, heads to the facility's gym and begins beating the crap out of Omega, who is surprised and makes a weird comment about how it's he who "usually" comes to Shadow for sparring practice. I'm… a little baffled at this comment, honestly, because it makes it sound like Omega's been around for a while now and he and Shadow regularly beat each other up, even though the very last issue implied that this issue's story is taking place like, the day after recruiting him. But anyway, Shadow dodges all of Omega's questions and attacks, while Omega rather tactlessly points out that now that he's received his clearance for duty, he can come with them on their next mission and blast Feist for them. This pisses Shadow off, and he stalks away to find a quiet spot near the top of the base.

Oh, speaking of which, has anyone been wondering where GUN is actually based? We know they're part of Station Square's security force, but multiple past issues have made vague allusions to the United Federation having more than one territory around the world, and generally being a lot bigger than it was previously portrayed as being (remember when the Mobians and entire outside world didn't even know Station Square existed? Ah, the weird old days). Well, here we get a clue as to where this GUN base is located. Shadow is moping at the top of the mountain that houses the base, and Hope appears there too, surprised to see Shadow as she'd thought this was her own personal hidden thinking spot. She tries to make conversation, enthusing about the view and how "On a clear day, you can see all the way to Soleanna!" I've already noted that Sonic '06 technically took place, if you can call it that, in the comics universe, so obviously Soleanna would have to exist as well. My point here is more about the location of Soleanna. The aesthetic of the kingdom's capital city is vaguely Venetian, indicating it's probably located somewhere analogous to modern-day Italy, so for it to be visible from the top of this mountain, this GUN base would have to be somewhere in Europe. Because I'm extra, I took a look at the position of these two relative to the sun in the background, and if we assume this scene takes place in the afternoon, then the base would be somewhere north of Soleanna - so if Soleanna is indeed located on the coast where Italy currently, then that all checks out nicely. Just a fun fact for y'all!

Anyway, I'm getting way too into the small details here. Hope, noticing that Shadow refuses to make conversation despite her efforts, tries to comfort him, but Shadow just insists that since he's the ultimate lifeform he's not supposed to fail. This is, of course, ridiculous, and Hope points this out, adding that in her opinion he hasn't failed as badly as she has. She tells him the story of how Snively encouraged her to leave Knothole and how she feels too guilty to go back after its destruction, which rouses Shadow somewhat, becoming concerned when she starts to cry. He tells her that leaving was hardly a failure, that she had no way of knowing what would happen and that it wasn't a bad thing to want to push her own boundaries by exploring her role in the world. She smiles and fires back that he can't blame himself for his own failures then, and points out that in the end his "failed" mission was actually excellent reconnaissance and that now that he understands better what he'll be facing, he's just set himself up for future success. This makes Shadow pause, as he's obviously not thought of it like this before.

Now that is how you write a Shadow. It's weird when people try to characterize him as this edgy, brooding, angry violent character who would never allow himself to be soft or emotional. Sure, he has an ego that he has to protect, and he likes to show off how tough he is on occasion, but Hope's analysis here is accurate - he's literally an eternal teenager who's just trying to figure out where he belongs in the grand scheme of things. Furthermore, Shadow the Hedgehog is great with children and no one will ever ever change my mind on this. So there.

Soon after their talk, Shadow, Rouge, and Omega have gathered at the teleporter for their next foray into the Special Zone. They've christened themselves "Team Dark," something which Rouge and Hope both seem a bit baffled at but which Tower seems to think is apt. They make it back into the Special Zone, and when Feist gloats at them for coming back for another round, both Omega and Shadow become riled, wanting to go on the offensive, though Rouge holds them back. Feist conjures up another challenge for them, this time in the form of a weird 3D-cube-maze-thing, and mocks them as they do their best to find the center. They eventually end up in a chamber with spikes at the bottom and the Chaos Emerald at the center, but Feist covers the emerald with a bunch of multicolored, useless gems, giving Omega the chance to use his beloved guns to blast a hole in them, giving Shadow an opening.

Feist, you're a real asshole, you know that? He brings them back to his sphere… platform… thing to mock them some more, and Omega begins begging for the chance to pursue "Plan B" like an excited child on Christmas. He's delighted when Rouge gives her permission, and immediately launches half his weight in ammunition into Feist's face, having to be literally dragged away from the screaming panda by Rouge to prevent him from standing there and firing at him for the rest of the day.

Woo! Go Team Dark! Hope hugs Shadow and congratulates him, and Tower is similarly pleased, accepting the emerald from his agents and eager to make GUN a "force to be reckoned with" with the power of their two emeralds. Normally, that statement might set off a few red flags, especially concerning these guys' history of, y'know, murdering innocent terminally ill children who get in the way of their bullets, but luckily fifty years has been enough for them to change for the better (I sincerely doubt Shadow would ever agree to work for them otherwise). This issue ends with a single page teasing the next arc of SU, featuring an adult Knuckles and Julie-Su getting ready to leave on some kind of trip and trusting their daughter Lara-Su to take over things while… they're… oh for the love of Chaos, this again?! We're really going back to the future? Only this time, it's thirty years into the future instead of twenty-five. Ugh, I wanted to be done with this AU, but I guess we're careening right back into it… But first, of course, the two-part finale to the sixth era of the preboot, the shortest era so far!