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harryskalechips · 4 years ago

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Illicit affairs Part two

A/N Hi here is part two!!! I’m sorry for it being so delayed I’ve been busy taking care of my new sick puppy. I hope you enjoy this one! Please show some love and send me your thoughts hahaha enjoy ❤︎

Y/N and Harry decide to end their affair and she thought it would be okay since her internship was ending. Too bad she was offered a permanent job and she took it.

Tw: Cheating, smut

Thank you @harrysleftchelseaboot for letting me participate in your writing challenge! Here is my part two! Any new writers or readers please check out the masterlist! So many cool stories written from prompts!

here are my prompts:

“Letting you go was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.”

“Do you think soulmates are real?”

“I still love you. I’ll love you for the rest of my life. Even if you don’t love me back, and even if we both move on, there will always be a part of me that will always love you no matter what.”

“Your hands look so cold.”

Note: I do not condone cheating whatsoever! Please mind that this story is fictional! As much as it makes me sad to paint Harry as a cheater, it’s part of this storyline I thought of as I listened to Taylor’s album, Folklore.

Word count: 8.6k / Masterlist // Part 1

It’s been three months since Y/N accepted her job in marketing for Columbia Records. It wasn’t too bad. Matter of fact, it’s been the only thing that has been distracting her since her breakup last year. She got her own office and had a bit of privacy too. Luckily, she was no longer sorting papers on a tiny desk in the middle of the hallway nor was she on coffee runs every morning. The only thing that seemed to stick, however, was seeing Harry Styles.

When Rose, Rob’s assistant called her three years ago about the internship Y/N was ecstatic. Not only was this an opportunity to go celebrity sightseeing every day but this company gave people like her great opportunities and a great recommendation too. There was no possible way that she could turn down Rob’s offer. She’s been dreaming of a career like this for years!

What truly sucked about her job at the moment, however, was the pop star, her marketing team was taking care of. Over these past months, not only was he able to ignore her presence, he became a bit of an ass too! Maybe that’s not even the right word to use…. He was being petty! That’s what Y/N thinks. To be honest, during the countless meetings they had over these past months Y/N would drain him out. As he spoke all she could do was repeat that word in her head as she mimicked his British accent. But can you blame her? They were together for a year and he constantly led her on. She fell in love with a married man who promised that he cared for her. She found herself compromising a lot of things in their relationship that she shouldn’t have needed too. Not only was she twisting her values for him, but she was also forced to take the second bits of him.

On her birthday, he arrived late at night because he and his wife had an interview with Vogue. He bought her a necklace and made love to her a countless amount of times but the next morning... he was gone.

there would be times, he wasn’t able to spend time with her since he was in London with his family. Yes, he video-called her and made sure to speak to her for a reasonable amount of time but he also went M.I.A for another two days.

The last example she could think of at the top of her head was when everyone had a date at their company’s charity ball. She had to witness Harry and his wife put on a show for the cameras. He looked at his wife as if she was his star and touched her like he’s been doing it for years. The whole night, he had his arm wrapped around her, constantly keeping her close. The only problem is in reality he’s been acting like that with Y/N -not her.

So yeah although she broke up with him -she was angry. Yes, she said they shouldn’t keep in touch but she thought she was leaving the company! Now, he’s acting as if he never spent a night at her place, fucking her. He’s been acting as if he never had a meal with her nor snuggled her on the couch. He’s cold and she hates him for that. Not only was this hurting her, but she also loved him! And for that...he’s cruel. She can’t even remember how many times she had to run to the washroom during work so she could cry in one of the stalls. Sometimes, she felt like he was purposely picking on her. Calling her out for her mistakes or for her lack of attention. She was new to everything and she was still learning. She just never thought the man she shared her bed and her secrets with would be so indifferent. That’s why she calls him petty.

“Y/N? I’m heading out. Want me to get you some food?” Marissa asks her as they sit in the boardroom with Harry. Their meeting ended a while ago but they decided to work through lunch since Mr. Celebrity wanted to fix a few things with them.

“No, I’m alright.” She looks up from her paper as she replies. She notices Harry in front of her leaning on the table as he hunches over flipping through a few papers.

“Are you sure?” Her co-worker frowns as she leans across the doorway. “You haven’t eaten yet?”

“Marissa, buy her some food.” Harry interrupts Y/N before she can speak up. He stands a bit straighter as he reaches down to grab his wallet. He pulls out a black card and gives it to the girl.

“Oh.” Marissa’s eyes widen as she stares at the card in her hand. “Would you like anything?”

“No, buy for yourself too. This one’s on me.” He nonchalantly replies as he goes back in his old position to read through the contracts.

Marissa was confused if she was being honest. She worked for Harry’s marketing team ever since he started going solo. She loved working for him because he was outgoing and respectful but for the past few months, he seemed to be too serious and a bit pissier. Maybe it had to be because of his wife? Little did she know it was because of the girl who was sitting a few feet from him.

When she left, Y/N choked. It wasn’t noticeable but she could feel her throat tightening. She has never been left in a room with him since their unbearable breakup. Funny enough, although the company celebrated her new job, Harry mindlessly ignored the event. He came to the party but he never congratulated her. So from that, Y/N knew he was far more than upset about their breakup. He was being salty.

“Y/N,” Harry speaks up as he walks towards her with the contracts in his hand. Y/N didn’t even want to look up. Was he speaking to her for the first time...again?

“Yeah?” She replies, trying not to make her wobbly voice sound apparent.

“What do you mean about this part of the contract?” Harry coldly asks as he puts the paper in front of her face.

“I’m not sure. Marissa wrote the contract. I worked with Yvonne on your merch shop.” Y/N replies in a monotone manner.

“How are you not sure? You didn’t even look at the paper.” She can almost hear a sigh under his breath. Y/N finally looks up and glares at him. She takes the sheet out of his hand and reads the new highlight from his pink pen.

“I don’t know, Harry.” She gives it back to him and continues to work on her list without saying another word. She didn’t want to look up again because she could already feel his eyes staring at her. He somehow always loved to do it. “Stop looking at me.” She blurts out. She and Harry weren’t expecting her to say that. He awkwardly coughs as he runs his hand through his hair. He walks back to his usual spot in the room and pretends as if nothing happened. In reality, however, his heart was racing. Although he was so pissed at her, she looked pretty today.

“Have you ever been on a date before?” Marissa asks Y/N as they walk out of her office together. Y/N wasn’t going to lie. She’s pretty lucky that she became close friends with Marissa. Now, they have a routine of picking each other up from their offices. It made her feel a bit less lonely since she sees her ex every day and he gives her nothing but a cold treatment. It’s a bit ironic how a few months back, her heart would flutter when he visited the building. Now, she sees him a bit too often for their liking.

“Yeah.” Y/N shrugs her shoulders and gives a funny look to her co-worker. “Why are you asking?”

“I don’t know you never talk about your love life. I always talk about my husband but I never heard anything coming from you. I know you like to have privacy but I was wondering.”

“It’s complicated.” She lets out a laugh. “I broke up with him two months ago.”

“Who was he?” Marissa smiles as her mouth opens in shock.

“A liar.”

“What did he do?”

“All men are the sam-”

“Have a good night, ladies.” A voice interrupts them. The women stop walking as they catch sight of Rob and Harry looking at the contracts they were previously working on earlier in the day. They sat on one of the many couches with many papers sprawled out onto the coffee table.

“Gosh Rob, you gave us a fright!” Marissa laughs. “Sill looking at those papers? Call me tomorrow if anything needs changing.” Marissa rolls her eyes as she smiles at them.

“Don’t worry.” Rob laughs. “Mr. Styles here is just going through the contracts with me one more time. You girls go home.”

“Alright, hope you and Harry have a good night too.” Y/N says nothing but waves as she follows Marissa to the elevator.

“Wait!” The familiar voice calls for them. Y/N and her co-worker turn around to see Harry still sitting on the couch looking at them. “Y/N, just because he lied to you. It doesn’t mean he wanted to lose you.”

You would think that Y/N repaired herself and became more comfortable working with her ex after that last encounter with him…. But no, wrong. In fact, she was dreading going into work today. How does this man ignore her for two months and then suddenly, he’s acknowledging her presence?

“You know what I find funny?” Marissa blurts out. Their marketing team had a conference room for themselves apart from the other room they were in yesterday. Yvonne and Jasmine look at her, waiting for her to reply while Y/N slouched in her chair out of distress. “Harry’s been a total ass to you ever since you got a job here.” She wasn’t lying, the whole office knew Harry was extra hard on her. “It got me thinking… why did he say that to you yesterday?”

“What did he say?” Yvonne gives a confused look to Y/N. Y/N just closes her eyes and turns her chair away from her colleagues and instead, to the wall.

“He said something like oh just because your ex-boyfriend lied to you, it doesn’t mean he wanted to lose you.” Marissa mimics his deep British voice. “Who on earth says that! And you guys barely speak to each other? How could he possibly know about him?”

“Wait a minute. Is he like siding with Y/N’s ex?” Jasmine’s eyes widen at the thought. “If her boyfriend lied then it is his fault!”“

Right I-” Before Marissa can continue. Y/N turns her chair towards them again and interrupts their juicy gossip.

“Guys!” Y/N calls them out. “It’s not a big problem. H-he has probably been in a relationship where he was in that position and he said that.” She tries to reason with her hands. “J-just let it go.”

“Oh shit, I forgot. Your breakup is still fresh.” Marissa covers her mouth in pity. And this is a reason why Y/N will never talk about her love life again.

“Excuse me, girls.” Rob knocks on the door and lets himself in. “I need one of you to go with Harry tomorrow back to London for his interview.”

“Rob, why’d you let us know so late?” Yvonne complains. “I would go but my sister’s wedding is tomorrow!”

“I’m sorry hun, I thought he would just need someone from publicity but it seems like he also has a pop-up shop there opening soon.”

“I can’t.” Jasmine shrugs her shoulders. She doesn’t even bother saying why. Y/N knew she had to say it before Marissa. She can’t imagine being on a whole ass trip with her ex. Yet somehow the girl beat her to it.

“I can’t go either. Sorry.” Marissa speaks up. She was planning something. It was obvious from the way her eyes connected with Y/N’s.

“Alright, Y/N please be ready by 4 A.M. Harry will have a driver sent to your place.” Rob looks at her and smiles. “This is going to be a great experience for you.”

Coffee wasn’t going to cut it. Y/N barely got any sleep since she had to pack as soon as she got home. Apparently, they were staying for 5 days so this meant more torture for her. At 4 A.M on the dot, a black car picked her up in front of her building and drove her straight to the airport. There she saw Harry and Emily already sitting in the VIP lounge, laughing about something.

“Good morning!” Emily says to Y/N as her eyes catch sight of hr entering. Emily was a nice woman from publicity. She’s been working in PR for over 25 years, making her a pro in handling any scenario.

“Good morning.” Y/N smiles back as she pulls her hand carry with her to one of the seats.“Why are you sitting so far?” Emily laughs. Harry seemed to be too interested as he read something on his phone. “We don’t bite.”

“Oh no, I’m okay here. Thank you. I just have to stretch my legs.”

“Alright. Well now that you’re here to keep Harry some company, I’m going downstairs to get a bagel.” The old lady stands up and grabs her purse. She waves at them one more time before leaving the room.

Silence.

Nothing but pure awkwardness and it was driving Y/N mad. She hated that this man was making her cry even though they were over. Maybe, she shouldn’t have stayed with the company.

“They have really good smoothies downstairs.” Harry blurts out, still looking at his screen. “I know you really like having one in the morning. Thought you should know.”

“Thank you.” Y/N was playing with her cuticles but gave him a quick glance. “I’m fine though.” Nothing but distant conversations can be heard as the ex-couple continued to act disinterested in one another.

This is the final call for flight BA111 to Thailand.

What caught Y/N’s eye, however, was Harry reaching something into his back pocket. It made her have to speak up. “Putting on your ring again? Funny how no one seems to notice how hot and cold you are with it.” Harry scoffs as he stays frozen staring at her.

“None of your business.” He slides the ring on successfully and goes back into his old position.

A brief pause happens before Y/N decides to speak up -she was tired of his attitude. “You know what?” She glances around the empty room before whispering back at him. “I don’t understand what got your panties in such a twist. You need to stop being such a jerk to me!” Harry’s face shows no emotions as he listens to her.

“You don’t know why? How about out of the blue your girlfriend breaks up with you.”

“It was destined to happen, Harry!” Y/N’s eyes widen at his response. “You’re marr-”

“They had so many bagels to choose from! I had to buy two since I couldn’t pick!” Emily walks in, all innocent. “You guys okay?”

“Perfect,” Harry mutters but it wasn’t. As they boarded his private plane, he watched Y/N walk in front of him, trying to wipe her tears.

The whole plane ride was quiet since he realized most of them had to catch some sleep but for some odd reason, he couldn’t. Harry’s bodyguard was at the very front row, snoozing off. Emily had her own chair and she crashed the moment the plane took off. He didn’t know if Y/N was awake but he hoped she was sleeping. When he saw her the first time this morning, she looked so drained out.

Harry just didn’t know what to say nor what to think. His breakup caught him off guard and now he’s been in a bad mood ever since. Sometimes, he wondered if his divorce would make him feel this way and in all honesty, he knew it wouldn’t.

There was something still tying him to that depressing marriage and he’s starting to think that maybe Y/N was correct. He was scared to be like his parents but that didn’t make him regret anything he said to her that night. He knew he would keep her a secret even if he was single again. The idea of reporters picking on her didn’t settle well with him. Just the thought made his stomach sick.

So although he’s heartbroken, the only way he found himself coping was by picking on Y/N. Y’know the girl that broke his heart. He didn’t mean to but his first instinct was to ignore her until her internship ended -And that went well until Rob announced her permanent position in the company. He was mad at her for torturing him. He told himself that he would let her go because she wasn’t happy with him. So why the fuck does it feel like she’s teasing him.

Every time he walks into those meetings, he can feel the tension between them. It makes his head go crazy as if he needs to beg on his knees so she can take him back. But like every love story, it’s just not that simple. It’s his pride and his reputation on the line. He needs a gap after his divorce before he can even go public with her. Oh, what is he thinking? No matter how much time he thinks can fix this, people will still attack them. He lost so many girlfriends because of his fame and he won’t let Y/N deal with it too. Especially, since she’s not a celebrity. She has no idea what this lifestyle can truly be like.

“London is quite… big.” Harry puts his shades on as he watches his bodyguard put the last luggage in the car. They were in a hidden corner outside of Heathrow Airport, Y/N and Emily stood next to him as they waited for his instructions. “You ladies can travel and explore the city. But, I was wondering if you would like to stay at my home this week. It will save you some money.”

“Oh no, Harry we don’t want to bo-” Emily speaks up.

“No, I insist. I had to bring you ladies along the last minute. Tom, you have my car ready right?” His bodyguard nods. “Perfect, you girls hop in with me and Tom will drive behind us.”

“Harry, your house is so beautiful.” Emily’s eyes shine as they step out of his car.

“Thank you.” Harry smiles proudly as he glances at Y/N. “Let’s go inside so you can pick out your rooms.”

The house was gorgeous. Y/N wanted to tell him too but after their little fight at the airport today, she decided to keep her mouth shut. To be honest, there were so many things she wished she could tell him but he’s been acting so unapproachable.

As they walked inside, the house smelled faintly like him, making Y/N forcefully hold in her breath a couple of times. How can this man barely be here yet the place smelled just like him.

“Oh, Harry…. You and your wife are very lucky to have this house. I love this rustic theme. It feels so homey.” Emily compliments him. “Y/N when you get married, make sure you take care of the decorating portion, so you can have something like this.”

“Oh-” Y/N’s eyes widen as she hears Harry cough behind her.

“My wife has actually never been here before. She’s not a fan of London.” Harry tries to say nonchalantly. In reality, however, both of their hearts were racing. Their brains synced up with one another as they thought about a distant memory.

It was a couple of months into their affair as they cuddled naked against each other in Y/N’s bedroom. The moonlight was shining right onto them as they both stared at random objects in her room, appreciating their intimacy. Harry’s hand comb her hair back while she let her fingers mindlessly trace his tattoos. Their breathing was in sync as they whispered sleepy thoughts to one another.

“What’s it like in London?” Y/N mumbles as her lips touch his chest while she speaks.

“It’s rainy,” Harry replies back. He scoots himself closer to the girl and kisses her forehead. “Have you ever been?”

“No.”

“I’ll bring you one day, I promise.”

“Really?”

“Mhm, I’ll bring you to all my favourite places and fuck you so hard in the hotel rooms.”

“Why does that sound so appealing?” Y/N laughs as she looks up at him. “Can we go soon?”

“When I find out how to not get seen by the paparazzi, sure.”

“Does this mean we have to have all our meals in our hotel room?” Y/N pouts -because as much as Harry can request a secluded room, he’s still married and people will talk.

“Baby, don’t make it sound depressing. I’m sure we’ll find ourselves a loophole.”

...

“You’ll try?” She pulls away immediately looking at him. “What do you mean? Have you not been trying to do that these past few months!” He rubs his face in frustration.

“It’s hard Y/N. I told you countless times.”

“I know it’s hard but what’s stopping you from doing it! You told me that you don’t want to lose me but for some odd reason, it seems like you don’t want to lose her!”

“She was my first love Goddammit!” He finally yells back at her.

It’s been two days since their stay in London and Y/N was enjoying every minute of it. Although she had to give some of her hours to work, she couldn’t deny her excitement as she and Emily walked through the unknown streets.

Funny enough while they were eating at a small cafe for lunch, she ended up meeting a new guy. His name was Elliot and he came from New York to visit his family here in London. He was just having lunch with an old friend of his. He noticed her accent and decided to approach her table.

Although, Y/N thought he was cute - she wasn’t interested? It confused her because the moment he asked for her number, she thought of Harry. Which automatically made her say yes. She just doesn’t know if she’s ready for a new relationship but what’s the problem with trying?

“How was your day?” Harry watches the women come into his home as he sits on his couch watching TV. It was around 8 PM and he had nothing to do. His schedule this past year was made to be available for Y/N (excluding PR events) and since they broke up, he never planned on changing them.

“Harry, oh we didn’t think you’d be home. You’re a celebrity! Shouldn’t you be out partying?” Emily laughs as she sits on the couch. She rests her bags on the floor as Y/N does the same.

“Oh no. I’m not really into those. I don’t know it’s a nice Friday night to relax. Tomorrow, we have that interview in the morning so I wanted to sleep early.”

“What a smart boy! Well, Y/N and I did some shopping. London is so beautiful. I’m glad I’m here again. Actually, that reminds me! Y/N tell Harry what happened today!”

“Huh?” Y/N’s face pales as she looks at Emily. Her co-workers seemed to invade her love life without seeing a problem. The problem is, however, is that they don’t know what’s truly been happening. “Elliot.” Emily gives her a comforting smile.

“Oh, do you know him?” Harry gives her a serious look as he turns down the TV.

“No, he came up to us while we were having lunch.”

“He was so cute Harry! I hope they get together.” Emily squeals. “He’s from New York but I think he was truly interested in you Y/N. He was bold enough to ask for your number!”

“Did you give him your number?” Harry asks Y/N without looking at her. He was biting the inside of his cheek pretty hard trying to pretend as if he didn’t care at all. Suddenly he was too focused on watching the show on his TV.

“Yeah.”

“Cool”

And although Emily continued the conversation, Harry didn’t think it was cool at all.

Knock...knock…

Y/N hears the soft knocks on her door as she leaves her ensuite. A couple of hours ago the conversation in the living room ended leaving them to rest in separate rooms of the house.

“Hey.” She catches herself off guard as she sees Harry in front of her when she opens the door. She glanced at his familiar outfit and for some odd reason, it made her feel good. He was wearing his sweatpants and an old band tee she used to wear when he stayed at her’s for a few nights.

“I was wondering if we could uh talk.” He glances at the hallway he’s standing in. He was scared Emily would walk out of her room.

“Oh yeah Sure. Come in.” Y/N opens her door a bit wider to let him in. Her luggage was messily opened in the corner of her room while her shopping bags stayed on the other side. She mindlessly hides her arms in her sweater and sits on the bed. “Funny how you want to talk but you’ve been ignoring me for 3 months.”

“Uh just thought it was a good time to talk to you since we’re not really at work and we’re not surrounded by people.” Y/N rolls her eyes. He had to be bullshitting her.

“Why are you here Harry? Are you thinking you can sleep with me tonight? That this is an opportunity?” Y/N gives a disgusted look as she watches Harry standing in front of her with his arms crossed.

“What? No. Y/N… I just- Fuck.” He lets his arms out in disbelief. “ I don’t know why I’m here. I’ll leave.” He turns around but her voice calls him out.

“No. Stay. You obviously have something to tell me.” He turns around and sighs. He sits beside her on the mattress and looks at his hands.

“I miss you.” He blurts out. Y/N rubs her eyes, not from tiredness but because she misses him too -so mainly from frustration.

“You can’t say that.”

“You told me to stay and tell you what I needed to tell you.”

“You didn’t need to tell me that.” Y/N pulls her hands from her face and sarcastically laughs at him. She knew she was still in love with him but she also knew their break up was for the right reason. Their affair was wrong. He didn’t know what he wanted and she knew too specifically what she needed.

“Well, you’re right.” He replies with a bit of an attitude. “I don’t know- just forget this ever happened.”

“Okay good, I’ll go back to texting Elliot.” Y/N shrugs her shoulders and reaches for her phone but before she knows it, Harry grabs her phone and unlocks it. It was still his birthday as her passcode and although that made him feel a bit better, he stood up to recite to her the stupid messages on her phone.

He tries to hide his red cheeks as he scrolls through their text messages. “Did he just ask you what your favourite colour was?” Harry squints his eyes as he looks at her. He was carefully observing her reaction to his texts. “That’s a stupid question.”

“I found it cute.” Y/N speaks over him. “Are you done looking at MY messages.”

“Bub, you actually think you’re going to get with this guy?” Harry looks away from the phone and looks at her. “He seems like a total wim-”

“Don’t call me bub Harry!” She interrupts him. “Especially, since you’ve been calling me stupid in front of all my colleagues at work during these past two months!” Y/N furrows her brows as she takes her phone back. She hates that he’s here right now. He’s acting like he wasn’t a total ass to her at her work.

“Shit Y/N.” That’s when he realized he fucked up. “Okay, I’m sorry about that.” He watches her as he combs his hair back.

“You can’t just come in here, say you miss me and look through my personal text messages. You pretended as if I didn’t exist these past few months and that hurt me!”

“Y/N, I’ve been hurting too!” Harry walks closer to her and shakes his head. “Don’t think our relationship meant nothing to me.”

“Well, you sure as hell mastered the acting skill! Don’t try to manipulate me, Harry. You ignored me. You embarrassed me. You’ve been treating me like shit!”

“I needed to move on from you Y/N. I had to manipulate myself into thinking I was making the right choice. Our relationship was the only thing making me happy.”

“Do you have any proof of our relationship?” Y/N sarcastically replies as she closes her MacBook and places it on the nightstand. “You have all these pictures of you and your wife but everything about us is hidden.” Harry’s eyes widened. “I lie to my family. You come to my apartment taking the hidden roads and a thick cover-up. Do you think that makes me feel better? Knowing you’re not just hiding me but your affair from the public.”

“Okay, what the actual fuck? What is wrong with you? What’s up with your obsession with us being public? Do you want fame or something?”

“How dare you?” Y/N stands up to meet his height. “Is that what you think of me? Using you for fame!”

“It sure damn seems like it.” Harry rolls his eyes as he walks forward to her, making them the closest they’ve been in for months.

“Harry, I’m 23! Everyone I know makes it clear they’re in a relationship. Just because people know about us, it doesn’t mean I would publicize everything we do. I just need evidence that this relationship we have between us is real!”

“YN are you bloody kidding me right now. Of course, it’s real! What have we been doing these past years?”

“Messing around?” Y/N scoffs. “You’re married and for some goddamn reason you won’t leave her!”

“Even if I ended things with her, I would still keep you a secret Y/N. I don’t know what you want from me.” Harry calmly states as he closes his eyes.

“There’s a difference in keeping me a secret and having our relationship known to the public but being very private.”

“I don’t know why this matters to you so much. You know I care about you and I want to be yours. Fuck -I was yours.” Harry wipes his eyes a bit.

“You don’t know why it matters to me so much because you aren’t me. You don’t know how it feels to have the second bits of someone. You don't even understand how I feel -to be so in love with someone, only to know from the beginning they were never fully yours, to begin with.”

“You love me?” Harry chokes on his breath as he looks down at her. He obviously knew they had such a deep connection but he never thought about love when it came to them. You want to know why?

Love always makes everything complex and hurtful. He fell in love for the first time with his wife and look where it led him? In a broken marriage where he no longer had hope. He had wishes and dreams for the two of them and throughout the years, they all disappeared in a drought.

Love is such a pleasing and attractive feeling that every human wants but why does it always end opposite for him? To be in love is different. You have to be vulnerable and Harry has never done that with Y/N. He doesn’t even know if he can do that again. He already fell in love and found someone who he would call his partner. In sickness and in health. Till death do us part. That didn’t go as planned.

“Yes.” Y/N looks down but Harry’s hand rests on her chin to make her look at him again.

“Why couldn’t you tell me sooner?” He was stalling. He was asking her questions so he wouldn’t have to explain his feelings for her. He was also trying to let her down slowly.

“Last time I spoke to you, you told me you wouldn’t leave your wife because she was your first love.”

“Oh.”

“Is she your only?”

“My only what?”

“Your only love?”

Silence.

There’s your answer.

“For a husband to cheat on his wife, people would say you have a big ego but I don’t think so. Elliot isn’t the wimp Harry… you are.”

“It takes two to tango Y/N. Don’t just blame me.” Harry lets his hand fall. “I have rules I stand by when it comes to marriage and you know how much of a pain she is!”

“You told me you wanted to leave her but that never happened! I kept telling myself that our relationship was okay but why was it still killing me?” She furrowed her eyebrows as she looked at him. “ Do you still love her?”

“No,” Harry answers immediately.

“Why are you still holding onto her? Why can’t you see that she’s not making you happy and you need to get out of this marriage.”

“Because it’s marriage Y/N! I committed myself to her for my whole life!”

“You sure as hell weren’t committed last year!”

“You don’t understand because you aren’t married!” Harry finally screams the loudest. His face was red and it seemed like the blood vessel in his neck was about to burst.

“You’re telling me… you rather have me continue compromising my morals and keep this relationship hidden just so you can have the best of both worlds?” Y/N scoffs. “You’re stupid.”

“I know.”

“You can’t have everything. I know you’re famous and rich but you made the choice not to fight for me two months ago and now I’m choosing the same.” Y/N shakes her head and rests her back on the wall. She looks at him with disappointment in her eyes. “I don’t know why we keep having this same fight. We always go through the same topic and the same arguments. Although I’m fighting for what I need in a relationship, I’m also fighting for you to realize you’re better off without her.”

“I guess you can say I’m a bit stubborn.” He speaks up in a soft voice trying to communicate with her in a more respectful tone. “It’s okay if you don’t want me again. I just needed to tell you I miss you. Ever since we broke up, I realized how much of an impact you made on me.” He repeats.

“Ok.”

“Do you miss me?” His mouth pouts as he watches her. “Have you ever?”

“Of course I did Harry. I loved you.”

“Wait a minute. You don’t love me anymore?” Harry was quite offended to hear that from her.

“What? No… it’s complicated. I can’t describe it.”

“You either love me or you don’t.”

“I’m trying to move on. Why can’t you let me? You don’t seem to love me back anyway!”

Silence.

"Letting you go was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do” He admits to her., letting his confession easily slip through his lips.

“Resisting you was harder yet I failed.”

After their conversation, Harry left Y/N’s room to get some sleep. Although he approached her with the main goal of receiving closure he realized that his true main reason was to win her back. Maybe it was because of this Elliot guy but Harry couldn't imagine her with someone else. It made him drown in jealousy and sadness -A feeling that his lover knew all too well. That night, he realized he couldn’t have what he wanted. He’s confused about his feelings and how he could win back Y/N.

“Thank you for meeting with me.” Harry lays his head on his mum’s couch as she sits in front of him. Today was their last day in London since tomorrow morning they were going to the airport. Harry knew he had to visit his mum and ask for advice since he needed someone to talk to.

“You’re my son. Of course Harry. What are you saying?”

“I don’t know.” he closes his eyes as he explains everything to his mother. He began with the cold turn of his marriage and later on shared his affair with Y/N and how confused he’s feeling right now.

“For god’s sake. I can’t believe you.” Anne expresses her disappointment. “Harry, I’m not proud of you cheating. I never thought you would do this. Now you-”

“I think I love Y/N.” Harry interrupts her as he rubs his hands on his thighs. Anne lets out a sigh but displays an understanding look.

“If you love her, you’d be willing to compromise and fix things to make her happy. She’s right you know? Why are you still tied up to that other woman if she barely acknowledges you? You never told me about this.”

“Because I don’t want you to worry mum.” He looks at her and rests his elbows on his thighs. “I thought the whole marriage thing would fade away since I’m barely in it. I just thought everything would slowly change and I’d be back to who I was before I became a husband. I was hurt when she became cold to me but I slowly just forgot about her and went on with my day. I was only seeing her 5 times a day and I was starting to be okay with that but whenever someone would ask me something about her or I’m at an event, I realize I’m married. I made promises that I barely kept.”

“She never kept them either.”

“I know. Our marriage was over years ago before we truly started. I just -I don’t want to have a divorce like you and dad. I know you might be offended but I cried my heart out when you told me and Gem you two were splitting up. I promised myself I would never do that.”

“You were 8 Harry. You didn’t understand how love and marriage were so complex. Your father and I just didn’t work but that doesn’t mean I can’t find another person and have that life I always imagined. Rob was that man for me. I think you’re thinking about everything a little bit too hard that you don’t even realize the girl you love is slipping through your fingertips.”

She’s right.

“I’m scared that she won’t be happy with me after I change everything for her. I’m scared she’ll be just like the other woman I married.”

“You can’t let that stop you. It’s unfair for the two of you. You need to fight for her. And don’t think I’m encouraging you and your cheating but I want you to be happy and if that’s with her. I’m okay with that.”

“I need to talk to her.”

It was around 6 PM by the time Harry came home. He barely parked his car into his garage as he entered the house. He noticed Emily was just about to leave.

“Harry! Our interview went great today.” Emily looks up after rummaging in her purse. “Why are you in such a rush?”

“I-um have to pee?” Harry’s cheeks turn red as he leans on the railway and slowly climbs the stairs.

“Oh go then! My uber is here. I forgot to buy some treats for my kids.”

“Oh okay. Is uh Y/N here?” He bites his lip as he watches Emily walk to the front door.

“Yeah, she’s packing. She finished her marketing meeting for your shop like an hour ago.”

“K, thanks. See you tonight.” And with that, Harry jogged up the stairs to go to her room.

Knock… knock…

Deja-vu hits Y/N as she opens her door and sees Harry standing behind it. “Hi, you’re here again. The most I’ve spoken to you after the last three months.” Harry says nothing as he steps inside the room and closes the door.

“I’m leaving her.” He blurts out. He glances at her cozy outfit and her messy room before looking at her again.

“Oh.” Y/N’s eyes widen but she turns around and continues to fold her clothes into her luggage. “That’s a good decision to make. What made you change your mind?”

“You.”

“Harry, We were together for a year and you still didn’t want to leave her.” She sits on her bed and gives him a knowing look. “What made you change your mind?” She repeats.

“Um, I’ll share it with you. When I was eight, my parents divorced. After that, I promised myself I would take love and marriage so seriously -There would only be one person meant for me.”

“I never knew that. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I was scared to be vulnerable with you.”

“But you opened up so easily to me about who you were. I just never knew this side of you.”

“I know.” Harry clears his throat and walks towards her. “It’s stupid to think about that rule I made to heart when I was younger. Things are different and I have you or at least I want you.” He closes his eyes for a brief second.. “I spoke to my mum and she told me you‘re right.”

“I know I am.” Y/N lets out a small laugh.

“I just needed someone other than you to tell me it was okay to leave her. I know she and I aren’t even really together but everyone we know thinks we are.”

“Oh.”

“Look I’m sorry that I make things harder for us. I hated talking about the consequences of our relationship because it made me feel guilty and you don’t deserve to be the reason why. You make me so happy and I- I never took into account how truly you felt about our relationship. I continued to put you in a position you didn’t want to be in.”

“Thank you, Harry.” Y/N purses her lips and looks at him, “Even though you were a total ass after our break up you know I still love you. I’ll love you for the rest of my life. Even if you don’t love me back, and even if we both move on, there will always be a part of me that will always love you no matter what.”

“Y/N I made myself promise that I would only love one woman and I never really thought about loving you when we were together. Maybe because it was so natural, the feeling went straight to my heart and I never thought about it. B seeing you at work yet feeling so distant from you and our relationship made me recognize how serious I was about you. With that, my wife never made me feel the way I’m with you. You taught me things to make me a better person. She’s different from who I fell in love with before and that’s okay because I’m different too now. ”

“So you aren’t just bluffing. You’re going to leave her. Not just for me but for you too?”

“Yes, I’m doing it for us.” He smirks at her and rests his hands on her waist. “I don’t know why I was stalling.”

“Well, now you’re here.” Y/N smiles as she reaches out to him. “I miss you.” She immediately kisses him as his hands intertwine with her hair, making him desperately kiss her back.

“I miss you too baby.” He pushes her down gently on the bed as he carries her clothes off the bed and onto the bed. “I don’t know if I want to make love to you or fuck you so hard because I miss you.”

“Just do both. Over and over again.” Y/N whispers as she unzips her hoodie and takes off her shorts, leaving her in just her underwear. Harry locks her door and returns back as he quickly takes his shirt off.

“Fuck you look so beautiful. My sweet angel. I can’t believe I had to lose you for a while.” He eyes her greedily before leaning down to leave soft kisses down her chest. His hands pull her down the bed and spread her legs open as his mouth continues to go south. “You don’t know how many times I thought about just fucking you over the desk at your work.”

“You barely spoke to me.” Y/N laughs as she watches Harry kneel on the floor. She quickly shuts up, however, as she feels his hot mouth teasing her covered wet center.

“Didn’t change the fact I had sleepless nights craving your body and needing your cuddles.” His cheeks turn red.

“What else did you want to do then.” Y/N takes her bra off and lets her fingers tug his hair. She was impatient, was it obvious? Both of them only had their hands to keep them happy.

“Last month when I screamed at you in the meeting about merch prices, I was so hard because of your unbuttoned blouse. I couldn’t focus and I needed you out of the room.”

“I wasn’t even doing-”

“You were staring at me and rolling your eyes baby. I know my bad girl when she’s mad. I was so tempted to just pull you by your hair and make you suck my dick.”

“Then let me suck you off now.”

“Nuh, It’s about you,”Harry mumbles and kisses her inner thigh before ripping her thin underwear apart. “Fuck, so wet. I missed the way you taste baby.” Harry immediately dives in, letting his mouth suck on her clit as his fingers dance their way to her needy core.

“Har-”

“Call me what you want to call me.” Harry looks at her as his mouth bites and sucks on her thighs.

“Daddy.” She moans out as his fingers quicken their pace. Her hands holding onto his hair as his mouth greedily attacked her. Licking and sucking without any mercy.

“Play with your titties baby while you watch me fuck you with my fingers.” He instructs as Y/N holds herself with one arm and plays with her boob with the other.

“You make me feel so good. Oh my god.” Harry quickens his pace as he spits on her center, making him watch his saliva drip down to the sheets.

“Turn around.” He helps her into the position before slapping her butt cheek. “Guess I’m going to fuck you first.”

“I need you so badly. Fuck, you ruined me for any other guy out there.” Y/N rests her head on the mattress as she feels him tease her centre. His pants were half off since he was too focused on his girl.

“So no boyfriends these past couple months.”

“No.”

“What about Elliot?”“

I was just starting to talk-” Harry inserts himself in. His hands tightly holding onto her waist.

“You’re going to stop talking to him right? Cuz you’re mine.”

“Mhm…” Y/N turns herself around after a couple of thrusts, making her look directly at him. “Have you been uh seeing any-?”

“No. Couldn’t get my mind off you and I just wanted your company.”“

Oh fuck, harder.” Her eyes roll back as Harry hits her most sensitive spot. His hand rests on her stomach as the other wondered around her body.

“You’re so good for me baby.” He grunts as he leans down to kiss her.

“Fuck, I’m going to come.”

“Just let go, it’s alright love, I'm here.” Harry softly reassures her with his hand wrapped around her neck.

So, this is what it feels like to be in heaven? Y/N thinks to herself as she finally reaches her high. Harry quickened his pace and by the time, he knows it -he spills his seed right inside of her.

“I love you Y/N.”

The trio was now back in America as they stood outside of LAX. Emily was in the car talking to her husband while Harry and Y/N decided to stay outside and talk. They were still waiting for the airport’s security to lead them out of the lot since there were paparazzi outside of this VIP parking area they were in.

“Do you think soulmates are real?” Y/N asks Harry. They stood 5 feet apart, both resting their backs on the car. They were acting as colleagues, as friends -not lovers.

“Yes.” He glances at her through his shades. “No matter where we go or what happens, the universe would lead us back to each other.”

“Are you saying I’m your soulmate?” she sucks on her lollipop innocently as she smirks at him. Harry just smiles back and nods as he crosses his arms again.

That’s cute.

“I’m happy I have you again.”

“You better not be a bitch to me when you visit the office.”

“Me? A bitch?” Harry laughs at her statement.

“You’re sassy! Why else do you think I angrily stare at you at work.”

“I know. It pained me to walk right past you the first day after our breakup.” Harry stares at the concrete wall in front of them. “Did you notice I was in the office more though? I kind of hated you but I had this constant need to see you all time. I even started bugging Marissa and Paul about the marketing contracts so I could work with you through lunches.”

“A simp.” Y/N laughs.

“What’s that?”

“Nothing.” She laughs at how clueless he is.

“Your hands look cold. Mind if I warm them up.” Harry intently looked at her hands that seemed to be doing alright.

“We’re in LA and you think I’m cold.” She gives him a funny glare.“Just accept my flirtatious attempt to hold your hand.”

“Emily is inside the car and there’s paparazzi outside.”

“And?”

“You can’t just

“Thought you wanted physical proof we’re together. No one is going to see us.”

“Security camer-”

“Walk closer to me.” Harry interrupts her. She follows along and stands beside him. He secretly reaches behind them to grab her hand. Now they were holding hands but no one could see.

“You’re cute y’know.”

“Thank you.” He smiles at her.

“Well, I should go in the car. There’s AC.” Y/N laughs at his cute attempt. As she walks away, her hand is still intertwined with his leading him to quickly pull her into him so he can kiss her.

“Sorry I couldn't stop myself.” His eyes widen.

They immediately pull away. Harry looks inside the car to see Emily talking on the phone looking outside the window towards the other way. Thank the lord, she didn’t see them.

“Mr. Styles, the security is outside already. We can go.”

“Harry!” Y/N yells out his name through the speaker.

“Hi baby, I just woke up.”

“You have to rea.. read the news.” She was crying so badly that she could barely breathe.

“Why? What happened?”

“They know Harry. Everyone knows about us and Paul just called me in for a meeting.”

His heart was beating fast as he hung up the call without bidding her goodbye or comforting her. His wife was sleeping in the other room but he could already hear the vases and picture frames being thrown at the walls.

TMZ

Harry Styles is Caught Cheating on His Wife With Mysterious Girl!!!

Daily mail

Harry Styles is a Womanizer!

People

Harry Styles’ mistress is Y/N L/N!!!

Hollywood Life

All About Harry Styles’ Affair with Columbia Records Employee!

part three ici

#Harry Styles #solo harry #harry styles fanfiction #harry styles angst #harry styles smut #harry styles fluff #harry styles imagines #harry styles oneshots #harry styles fanfic #boyfriend!harry #husband!harry #folklore #taylor swift #harry styles story #one direction #one direction one shots #zoeyswritersappreciationwc

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unmaskedagain · 5 years ago

Text

Rock Star

I was feeling a bit of writer’s block this morning. So I went through my prompts and found this awesome one. It has a bit of angst.

She lost her friends. The boy she was in love with broke her heart. No one in class apart from Chloe would even speak to her anymore. Lila’s lies had taken root in class, leaving Marinette in the back alone and abandoned. The worst part was that Marinette didn’t even know if she could be friends with any of her classmates again after the truth was exposed. In the effort to cling tighter to the coattails of someone who promised them the world, they had abandoned a childhood friend as if the friendship meant nothing; as if Marinette meant nothing. And as if that wasn’t enough, Akumas were getting stronger every day. Chat Noir was pushier than ever before. Most days it was all too much.

Most days Marinette didn’t want to get out of bed. She rarely smiled anymore. She couldn’t find it in her to design. It was like the life force had been drained from her. It didn’t take long for her parents to notice. However, after weeks of trying, when it became clear that Marinette wasn’t going to talk to them and that she wasn’t getting better, they sent her to a therapist. After they managed to get her to promise to at least try.

Dr. Vanderbilt was a kind woman with greying red hair and a Scottish accent. It took multiple sessions before Marinette started to open up about her problems at school; about feeling overwhelmed. One day after a session, the doctor gave Marinette a notebook.

“What’s this for?” Marinette asked taking the black notebook. The front of it said it had a 1000 pages.

“Whenever you’re feeling overwhelmed, I want you to write.”

“Write what?”

“Whatever you want,” Vanderbilt smiled. “What you’re feeling. Poetry. Songs. Quotes you know. Write a story. Whatever helps you get what you’re feeling out, lessen the load you’re carrying a bit.”

So Marinette did.

It was a struggle at first. She never thought of herself as much of a writer. Then she started writing random quotes she knew. Then Marinette started writing a bit of poetry just to try to express herself in a way she could understand. However, during a particularly troublesome day, when Alya accused her of being lazy and not being a good class president, Marinette resigned her position much to the shock of the class and started writing song lyrics.

One of the recommendation from Vanderbilt was to always stop doing things she didn’t want to do just because it made other people happy; especially if it was at harm to herself.

The doctor made Marinette write 100 times: I will not set myself on fire to keep you warm.

Marinette always hated being class president; the stress alone could kill a dozen elephants. She hated doing free commissions so she stopped that too. She hated doing the whole birthday celebrations, when everyone was quick to forget her that year. Or plan parties and fundraisers for trips that class made sure to make clear they didn’t want to her go to or on. So she stopped that too.

It was freeing.

Writing lyrics to songs were freeing. Soon she was writing them during class, lunch, after school, when there a moment of free time when helping out at the bakery.

And Vanderbilt was right. It did help her.

Marinette to smile a lot more. The pep in her step was back. She started hanging out with Chloe and Luka more and more. She made friends with others kids in class. She created a website and started selling custom designs.

One Friday, after school, Marinette found herself in Jagged’s Hotel room with Chloe and Luka. Jagged had asked Marinette to bring his new concert wardrobe that he had commission from her. He had and Clara Nightingale were going on tour together.

After Jagged had reviewed the clothes and approved them, proclaimed each outfit to be, “Rockin!”

Marinette found herself writing a song in her notebook while Luka and Jagged discussed musical influences. Chloe and Penny discussed a potential internships.

She was so invested in writing that she didn’t notice when the talking stopped. Or when Jagged asked her if she wanted Pizza.

Marinette jumped back when a hand suddenly waved in her face. “Wait! What!” She looked around and saw the amused faces of Jagged, Penny, Chloe, and Luka. Even Fang had a long grin on his face.

“What’s this love?” Jagged asked pointing to her notebook. “I’ve been trying to get your attention for ages.”

The bluenette blushed and tried not to hide her notebook; it would only make them more curious, “Nothing; just a notebook for ideas.” Technically that was true.

“Right on, can I see?” Jagged asked.

Marinette instantly pulled the notebook to her chest and her blushed turned a dark red. She was not going to show a Rock Star the song she wrote. She’d rather die. “Nope! Nah ah, nothing to see here.”

Chloe rolled her eyes, “Yes, because that’s totally what someone with nothing to hide does.” The blond looked at Penny. “She writes song lyrics. They’re pretty good.”

Marinette glared at the blond, “Traitor.”

Luka looked a bit curious. Jagged had a full blown grin on his face, “I knew it!” he shouted. “I knew there was a rocker in you. I had just had to wait a bit, love. Come on. Let me see then! Show Uncle jagged your songs.”

It took about twenty minutes to get Marinette to agree and then another ten to pry the notebook out of her hands. She watched with a pit in her stomach growing bigger and bigger as she watched Luka, Chloe, Jagged, and Penny flip through her notebook. Reading the lyrics that came straight from her heart.

What if they hated them? What if they thought she had no talent? What if they thought she was a freak? What if! What If!

“This is good, mate,” Jagged suddenly said. An impressed look on his face. “These are really good.”

“Told ya,” Chloe said smugly.

Penny nodded, “I wouldn’t mind commissioning some songs from you.”

“I’d like to jam together,” Luka said. “Maybe we can do a duet.”

Jagged suddenly shot up, “Penny! Call the guys. We need a band! Marinette’s gonna sing for us!” He ran for his guitar.

“Marinette’s going to do what now?” Marinette shouted.

Marinette was going to sing.

She sat on a dark brown wooden stool, in front of Jagged’s backup band, with Jagged and Luka on guitar. Chloe and Penny watched in the background. An assistant help up a camera.

Jagged had decided to give Marinette a rockstar makeover; well as much as she would let him. Her hair was pulled back in a faux hawk with a few curls framing her face, her makeup was flawless, her face was painted to look like she had been crying and her mascara had gotten everywhere.

It took a while for Jagged, Luka, and she to work out the music would be good for her songs and what songs she’d use. She decided to let the four: Jagged, Penny, Luka, and Chloe decide on the best ones. Marinette was too bias, she knew.

They had practiced. Everyone assured her she had an amazing voice but Marinette thought they were a bit biased too. They loved her too much to hurt her by saying anything mean.

“Hey fans watching!” Jagged said into the mic. “Today, I got a special guest here. My honorary niece and personal fashion designer; Marinette. She’s written some kick ass songs and agreed to prove that she’s a rockstar like her Uncle. Give her some love!”

Marinette got up and waked to the mic.

The drum beat started slowly. Marinette took a deep breath. The guitars and piano started.

Marinette opened her mouth to sing,

“Someday I won't be afraid of my head

Someday I will not be chained to my bed

Someday I'll forget the day he left

But surely not today.”

The beat picked up a bit.

She fought not to close her eyes as she sang. Instead, she thought of why she wrote the song; all the pain, all the mess going on inside. Her blue eyes got a faraway look to them.

“One day I won't need a PhD

To sit me down and tell me what it all means

Maybe one day it'll be a breeze

But surely not today

But surely not today”

Admitting she was in therapy was hard. Penny comforted her and admitted she went a lot too. Jagged hadn’t been happy when Chloe told the two adults just what was happening in Marinette’s class.

“Oh you don't know what sadness means

'Till you're too sad to fall asleep

One day I'll be snoozing peacefully

But surely not today

Surely not today.”

Marinette voice carried across the room. She let herself get lost in the music. Otherwise, she’d be too panicky over the fact that she more or less admitted to being depressed.

“One day I'll swear the pain will be a blip

I'll have the hardest time recalling it

I'll be the king of misery management

But surely not today.”

This song was a promise to herself. That she would move on. She would get better. Somehow, someway, Marinette would conquer all that she was going through and be better for it.

“One day that song won't make me cry anymore (oh no no)

One day I'll get up off the bathroom floor (hey yeah)

Oh, piece by piece I'll be restored

But surely not today (surely not)

Eh, not today”

Marinette swayed to the music, dancing in place. The other people in the room watched, entranced by her voice.

“oh you don't know what happy means

If it's only in your dreams

I'll be acquainted with my jollities

But surely not today

Yeah, surely not today.”

There were days when Marinette swore she forgot what it meant to be happy; questioned if she had ever been really happy. Or if she had just fooled herself into thinking she was. She knew better now. And Marinette refused to let the dark thoughts win.

“Surely not, surely, surely not

Surely not (surely not today)”

Marinette sang that part softly. She knew she wasn’t going to get completely better right away. But she would… One day.

“One day the thought of him won't hurt the same

Won't need distractions to get through the day

I guess I hope I'm gonna be okay

'Cause I'm not today.”

The song slowly died down. Silence filled the room. Then there were claps and cheers. Jagged’s new manager Harvey Boyd looked ready to wet his pants from excitement.

“Yes!” jagged yelled. “That’s how you do it!”

Marinette blushed again and ran off stage as Luka readied himself to perform. Penny and Chloe both assured her that she had been amazing but Marinette couldn’t stop her heart from racing in her chest.

Chloe helped prepare her for her next song as they watched Luka perform.

He had gotten used to being Solo since Kitty Section kicked him out the band. Luka sang a called, She will be loved. A sad melody that was fit him to a T.

“I don't mind spendin' everyday

Out on your corner in the pourin' rain

Look for the girl with the broken smile

Ask her if she wants to stay awhile

And she will be loved, and she will be loved”

When he was done, once again Harvey Boyd had that hungry look on his face.

Then Jagged performed one of his hits. After that he brought Marinette up on their makeshift stage again.

Marinette didn’t feel any better performing the second time. She’d be singing the song Jagged chose.

“Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

So much for my happy ending

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

So much for my happy ending

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh”

The song was definitely more Rock than her last one. And she wrote it most about Adrien, some of it geared toward Alya and the rest of her friends.

“Let's talk this over

It's not like we're dead

Was it something I did?

Was it something you said?”

Marinette had wondered for months what she had wrong. Why it was so easy for them to just ignore her; disregard her, end their friendships.

“Don't leave me hanging

In a city so dead

Held up so high

On such a breakable thread”

They left her alone. Adrien left her alone. She trust them, and just left her.

“You were all the things I thought I knew

And I thought we could be…”

Marinette closed her eyes for just a moment as the beat of the music changed.

You were everything, everything that I wanted

“We were meant to be, supposed to be, but we lost it

All of the memories, so close to me, just fade away

All this time you were pretending

So much for my happy ending

So much for my happy ending.”

The song went on for a few more minutes. She had let the music as the guitar solo slowly died down. The song was met with applause.

Marinette performed a few more songs, along with Luka. After one of them, Harvey had come directly up to her and Luka and offered to be their manager. Apparently, Jagged’s label had been watching them and wanted to give each of them a record deal. If Penny and Chloe hadn’t been there, both Luka and Marinette wouldn’t fallen her their butts in shock.

Jagged called Boyd away to discuss something.

Luka gripped his guitar so tightly Marinette feared it would break, “That didn’t just happen, did it?”

“Nope,” Marinette shook her head, earnestly. “It’s the fumes from all their hairspray. It must have knocked us out. We’re in coma right now.”

Chloe glared at them. “Oh. Shut. UP! You were amazing. You both were. Marinette you screamed Girl power. And Luka, there’s probably a million girls planning on marry you right now.”

“I have to call my mom!” Luka and Marinette said at the same time.

Her parents were excited about the news. But they made it clear as long as it didn’t interfere with her school work, she could do whatever she wanted. Sabine and Tom were just happy their little girl was back.

Luka said his mom was the safe. School first, hall of fame second.

Jagged pulled Marinette on stage for one last song. The song was chosen by Chloe. It was the song Marinette wrote once she realized she was done. She was done with the drama in class, done with fake friends. Done with game and lies. Done with mean comments and ice cold glares. She was over it. And Marinette didn’t care anymore.

“You wanna play, you wanna stay, you wanna have it all

You started messing with my head until I hit a wall

Maybe I shoulda known, maybe I shoulda known

That you would walk, you would walk out the door.”

Marinette watched Penny smile as she turned on the big fans pointed at her.

Said we were done, you met someone and rubbed it in my face

Cut to the punch, she broke your heart, and then she ran away

I guess you shoulda known, I guess you shoulda known

That I would talk, I would talk

She remembered Alya standing in class renouncing their friendship, and nearly everyone joining her. The look on Lila’s face as she finally fulfilled her promise. Adrien not doing anything, and avoiding contact. He never stood up for her; not once. He blocked her calls, stopped answering her texts, until finally he let Nino and who else in class convince him to end his friendship with Marinette outright.

But when got over the loss, the heartbreak; she decided it was for the best. Marinette didn’t need them. She didn’t want them. Marinette swore she’d never be friends with them again.

“But even if the stars and moon collide

I never want you back into my life

You can take your words and all your lies.”

The fire in Marinette’s eyes caused a few people to step back; including Luka. Then a wide smile spread over her face and

“Oh I really don't care

Even if the stars and moon collide

I never want you back into my life

You can take your words and all your lies

Oh oh I really don't care

Oh oh oh I really don't care?”

When the song ended, everyone cheered.

Jagged grabbed the mic, “Wasn’t she pure Rock and Roll, or what?” He picked up Fang. “What do you think, Fang? You loved it! For those of you who don’t know; this is my pet,” He told the camera. “Totally coolest guy ever. I’d never do anything mainstream like get a cat or anything.” He said with a wink. “For those of you who loved today’s acts; I’ve got some good news. All songs are going to be on itunes. Just look them up! In Addition; my label wants to offer both Luka and Marinette records deals. Who knows, maybe I’ll reach out to Clara about them coming on tour with us; we could use a couple of awesome opening acts.”

Marinette went home with the biggest smile on her face. She didn’t think much what happened. She figured the record deal wouldn’t go anywhere; someone would realize just how lame she was and stop it dead in her tracks. Marinette also figured that Chloe had exaggerated about how many watched; no one wanted to see some Amateur sing, even if it was on Jagged Stone streamed it.

It wasn’t a big deal, Marinette thought when she went to bed, tomorrow no one would even remember her. Still, it was a pretty fun.

By Monday morning, Marinette would learn just how big of deal it really was. Little did she know that, overnight, her song ‘Not Today’ was downloaded over 2 million times? Her song ‘Happy ending’ sold over 3 million. But ‘Really Don’t Care’ broke records. The rest of the songs had had performs sold well too; each selling over a million copies. The world was listening to her music, and she had no clue. Luka did pretty well too; his songs were just trailing after Marinette’s in sells.

Marinette had been helping her parents in the bakery’s kitchen, listening to the radio, when a new song started to play. Marinette turned white as a sheet, “M-Mom! Dad!” She said, her voice trembling.

“What’s up, honey?” Tom asked, worry clear in his eyes.

She pointed at the radio with a shaky hand, “That’s mine.”

“What?” Sabine asked confused.

“That’s mine,” Marinette repeated. “That’s my song!”

Her parents looked even more confused. Until they listened closer to the song and recognized their daughter’s voice.

Sabine dropped the pans she was holding, “You’re on the radio,” She whispered. “You’re on the radio.” She yelled, cheering.

Tom pulled his daughter into a giant bear hug, “My sugarplum’s a Superstar!”

After Marinette’s song

Once, she finished in the bakery, Marinette ran to Chloe’s. When she was let into the penthouse, she rushed to Chloe’s room, and as soon as she saw the blond, she yelled, “I’m on the radio!” And screamed. Chloe screamed with her.

Then Luka called and screamed, “I’m on the radio!” The sound of his mother cheering the background. As far as he was concerned it was the best day of his life. The year had sucked so hard; first his sister became one of Lila’s groupies, then he got kicked out of his own band, he realized he and the girl (Marinette) he had a crush on were better off as friends, and he broke his lucky guitar and had to fork over his savings to buy a new one.

But getting a record deal, being on the radio, nearly made all of it worth it. Luka still really wanted his sister back though.

The three friends spent the rest of the weekend hanging out and being amazed at their luck. Chloe got the internship she was after in the PR department. Thanks to Penny, she’d be Luka and Marinette’s promotor. Or least learning firsthand how everything works.

When Monday morning came, Marinette was still oblivious to just much had changed in so little time… Until she got to school, and some random girl asked for her autograph. Marinette stuttered out a, “Sure.” And signed the girl’s notebook. While she was doing it, four other kids lined up behind her. She signed each one with a smile.

“I really like your song: Not today,” One guy told her. “It’s nice to know I’m not the only one that gets that way sometimes.”

Marinette was so touched, she nearly started crying right there. She would’ve if Chloe hadn’t dragged her away, with a hiss about not crying in front on fans.

On the way to class, a few kids stopped and asked her for a picture. She agreed. But when more and more kids tried to get her attention, Marinette, once again, had to be saved by Chloe.

“You are not getting mauled on my watch,” Chloe tossed her hair over her shoulder. “I’d never get to work in PR again.”

Marinette giggled. Chloe rolled her eyes with a fund smile.

The smiles died when they reached class. They had gotten there early. Marinette was rarely ever late anymore sense she had lighted her work load. Only a few kid were there. Max, Nathaniel, and Mylene; they all looked at Marinette with wide eyes.

Marinette ignored them as Chloe and she went to their seats. They made light talk and ignored the looks of the other students as more and more arrived. Most didn’t say a word to her; not knowing what to do or say.

When Rose arrived, she immediately rushed over to Marinette, “I love your music. I didn’t know you could sing!” She chirped. “I can’t believe you performed with Jagged Stone. You’re so lucky.”

The bluenette gave the other girl a small smile, “Yeah it was amazing. Luka was great too,” She added. “He’s ecstatic about the record deal. He was so bummed when Kitty Section kicked him out; something about him holding you guys back. Did you guys ever find a new singer and lead guitarist? It’s been months, right?” It was spiteful. It was the meanest thing Marinette had ever done. And they deserved it.

Rose visibly wilted. So did Ivan and Juleka. Every member of Kitty Section regretted kicking Luka out of the band the moment they saw him performing with Jagged Stone; getting the break of a lifetime. And when they heard about a potential record deal… well, let’s say regret didn’t begin to cover it.

“Oh, we’re working on it,” Rose smiled, a big fake smile on her face. “We got a lot of people we’re considering.” The truth was, and it was hard for Kitty section to learn, that most people who had a fraction of Luka’s talent didn’t want to work with a bunch of teenagers. And without Luka there, no one was reminding them to practice or book gigs.

Rose returned to a seat, feeling more bummed than she had when she got to the class. She had been happy for Marinette, and for Luka. But she had so many dreams for Kitty Section and herself that just because she was happy for them, didn’t mean she wasn’t unhappy for herself.

Chloe pulled Marinette back into the conversation, just as the last of the students arrived, “So, once you sign the record deal, are you going to go on tour with Jagged and Clara. Luka said he’s going.”

Marinette frowned. She hadn’t really considered it much. Clara had reached out to her congratulate her on the record deal and tell her how much she loved Marinette’s songs. Clara had hinted hard that she’d love Marinette to come on tour with her. But Marinette didn’t know. Being a rock star wasn’t ever one of her goals in life.

“I still want to design,” Marinette admitted.

Chloe shrugged, “So do that too.” She suddenly gripped Marinette’s arm. “You can wear design your own dress to the Teen Choice Awards, and the MTV music Awards. You can design my dress!”

Marinette laughed, “My song came out like three days ago, and you’re practically writing my acceptance speech; I might not get nominated.”

The blond scoffed, “Oh you’re getting nominated. Do you know how many people downloaded your songs? Records were broken. Even my mother played ‘Really don’t care’ whenever she wants someone to stop talking to her now. Go on tour!”

“I’d need more songs,” Marinette said. “I’ll need to release like an actual album.”

“Penny went through all yours songs, remember?” Chloe said. “She sent me a list of all ones that she think would top the charts. She wants to record, ‘Fight Song’ as soon as you sign with the label. And she swears, ‘I kissed a Girl’ is going make people lose their minds.”

Marinette sent her a smirk, “That song’s half yours remember; we wrote it after you and Kagami got closer.”

“Won’t even hide the body, Dupain-Cheng,” Chloe growled.

Marinette laughed, “Fine! If I go on tour, I want you there with me. I couldn’t do it with you! You’re only one I’d trust me my social media accounts.”

“How could you invite Chloe,” Alya asked hearing the end of the conversation as she arrived just after the bell rang. “I’d be a much better social media influencer than her!”

Chloe raised an eyebrow, “Uh huh, and how’s the traffic for the Ladyblog?” She asked.

Alya flushed with anger. It was bad. They all knew it was bad. Ladyblog had died dramatically after Ladybug vocally for the other press to hear told Alya she didn’t work with reporters who didn’t fact check. “Marinette’s my bestie; I should be going with her.”

Marinette snorted, “Last I check your bestie was Lila. Or don’t you remember ending our friendship?”

“Well, I, uh,” Alya stuttered out. She had completely forgotten disowning the bluenette. She had been so excited when her mother told her friend’s name was trending, thinking she’d see Lila Rossi, only to see Marinette Dupain-Cheng on the top search list of the day. Then she watched the video of her performing, when Jagged mentioned the record deal, Alya lost her mind. Her mind was filled with images of her and Marinette at music awards shows and on tours; movie premieres. It was all going to be amazing.

Except it wasn’t. She and Marinette weren’t friends anymore. A balloon popped inside Alya.

Marinette gave her a sad smile, “What did you think I forgot? Or you must have.”

“The chances of that happening or as likely as Jagged Stone owning a cat,” Chloe smirked as Lila walked into the door. “Or did you forget that part too? Wonder how Lila saved something he never owned?”

To her credit, Lila didn’t bat an eye. “He doesn’t own one now. He must have forgotten the poor thing once he got really famous and they went out of style. I wonder what happened to it.” It was good performance. Lila even got teary eyed.

Still, Lila was met with suspicious looks. The class started to wonder if she was really their golden ticket. Or if the pissed of the real one instead.

“Congratulations, Marinette,” Lila simpered, jealously flaring in her eyes. “Who knew Jagged Stone was your Uncle?”

“Shouldn’t you?” Chloe poked yet another hole in her story. “You said you were oh so very close.”

Marinette smirked, “I had get my rock and roll genes from somewhere.”

#ml fic #ml salt #marinette dupen chang #luka couffaine #chloe bourgeois #Marinette deserves better #adrien salt

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blackswaneuroparedux · 4 years ago

Photo

Skill without imagination is craftsmanship and gives us many useful objects such as wickerwork picnic baskets. Imagination without skill gives us modern art.

- Tom Stoppard, Artist Descending a Staircase

Sir Anish Kapoor’s ArcelorMittal Orbit tower was completed in 2012 at a cost of £19 million ($27 million). It was intended to be a permanent lasting legacy of London's hosting of the 2012 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games, assisting in the post-Olympics regeneration of the Stratford area. At 376 feet (114.5 metres) it became the UK’s tallest public artwork.

London Mayor Boris Johnson put into motion a design competition that was held in 2009 and it called for designs for an "Olympic tower". A 9 panel commission made of the great and the good was set up to recommend to both Johnson and the government. It received about 50 submissions. Boris Johnson had said that his early concept for the project was something more modest than Orbit, along the lines of "a kind of 21st-century Trajan's Column", but this was dropped when more daring ideas were received. Boris Johnson was believed to want something like the Eiffel Tower or the Statue of Liberty what he and the government settled on was something completely different with Turner-Prize winning artist Sir Anish Kapoor in partnership with Cecil Balmond of Arup Group, an engineering firm.

Kapoor said that one of the influences on his design was the Tower of Babel, the sense of "building the impossible" that "has something mythic about it", and that the form "straddles Eiffel and Tatlin". Balmond, working on the metaphor of an orbit, envisaged an electron cloud moving, to create a structure that appears unstable, propping itself up, "never centred, never quite vertical". Both believe that Orbit represents a new way of thinking, "a radical new piece of structure and architecture and art" that uses non-linearity – the use of "instabilities as stabilities." The spaces inside the structure, in between the twisting steel, are "cathedral like", according to Balmond, while according to Kapoor, the intention is that visitors will engage with the piece as they wind "up and up and in on oneself" on the spiral walkway.

The Independent described Orbit as "a continuously looping lattice ... made up of eight strands winding into each other and combined by rings like a jagged knot". The Guardian describes it as a "giant lattice tripod sporting a counterweight collar around its neck designed to offset the weight of its head, a two-storey dining and viewing gallery". According to the BBC, the design incorporates the five Olympic rings.

Upon its launch Johnson said "It would have boggled the minds of the Romans. It would have boggled Gustave Eiffel." Nicholas Serota, a member of the design panel, said that Orbit was a tower with an interesting twist, with "the energy you might traditionally associate with this type of structure but in a surprisingly female form.”

When Anish Kapoor’s commission for the Olympic Park in London was unveiled no one really noticed, as most viewers thought it was still under construction.

Orbit confused viewers for sometime, but when they realised that the twisted metal structure in place was indeed an artwork they were up in arms. It was soon slammed by critics and citizens alike.

Overall reception to Orbit was mixed, but mostly negative. With regard to its potential as a lasting visitor attraction, The Guardian's Mark Brown reflected on the mixed fortunes of other large symbolic London visitor attractions such as the popular, but loss-making, Thames Tunnel; the Skylon structure, dismantled on the orders of Winston Churchill; and the successful London Eye. When plans were first reported for an Olympic tower, the media pointed to a manifesto pledge of Johnson's to crack down on tall buildings, in order to preserve London's "precious" skyline. The Times criticised the idea as a vanity project of Johnson's, with a design "matching his bravado", built to "seal his legacy", surmising it would be compared to other similar vanity projects such as the "wedding cake", the Monument to Vittorio Emanuele II built in Rome, or the Neutrality Arch, a rotating golden statue erected by Turkmenistan's President Saparmurat Niyazov, while comparing Johnson to Ozymandias. Art critic Brian Sewell said "Our country is littered with public art of absolutely no merit. We are entering a new period of fascist gigantism. These are monuments to egos and you couldn't find a more monumental ego than Boris."

The Times reported the description of it being the "Godzilla of public art". In October 2012, ArcelorMittal Orbit was nominated and made the Building Design magazine shortlist for the Carbuncle Cup - an award for the worst British building completed in the past year, which was ultimately awarded to the Cutty Sark renovation.

Jay Merrick of The Independent said that "[Orbit's] sculptural power lies in its ability to suggest an unfinished form in the process of becoming something else", describing how its artistic riskiness elevated it above the banal artworks of the public art movement that have been built elsewhere in Britain's towns and cities. Merrick was of the opinion that it would be either loved or hated, being a design which is "beautifully fractious, and not quite knowable".

Jonathan Glancey of The Guardian described Orbit as "Olympian in ambition" and a "fusion between striking art and daring engineering", and said that, the Aquatics Centre apart, it represented the architecturally striking Joker in the pack, given that the rest of the landscaping and architecture for the Games "promises little to get excited about". He believed it would become a "genuine eyecatcher" for the Olympics television coverage, with its extraordinary form being a "strange and enticing marriage of sorts" between the Eiffel Tower and the un-built early Soviet era Tatlin's Tower, with the biblical Tower of Babel as "best man".

The Times writer Tom Dyckhoff, while calling it "a gift to the tabloids" and a "giant Mr. Messy", questioned whether the Olympic site needed another pointless icon, postulating whether it would stand the test of time like the London Eye and become a true icon to match the Eiffel Tower, or a hopeless white elephant. Suggesting the project had echoes of Tatlin's Monument to the Third International, and especially Constant Nieuwenhuys' utopian city New Babylon, he asked whether Orbit was just as revolutionary or possessed the same ideological purpose, or whether it was merely "a giant advert for one of the world’s biggest multinationals, sweetened with a bit of fun".

Rowan Moore of The Guardian questioned if it was going to be anything more than a folly, or whether it would be as eloquent as the Statue of Liberty. He speculated that the project might mark the time when society stops using large iconic projects as a tool for lifting areas out of deprivation. He questioned its ability to draw people's attention to Stratford after the Games, in a similar manner to the successes of the Angel of the North or the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. He also questioned the piece's ability to strike a chord like the Angel, which he believed had at least "created a feelgood factor and sense of pride" in Gateshead, or whether it would simply become one of the "many more unloved rotting wrecks that no one has the nerve to demolish". He postulated that the addition of stairs and a lift made Orbit less succinct than Kapoor's previous successful works, while ultimately he said "hard to see what the big idea is, beyond the idea of making something big".

Fellow Guardian writer John Graham-Cumming rejected comparisons to icons like the Eiffel Tower, which had itself not been intended to be a lasting monument, only persisting into public acceptance as art through being useful; he also pointed out the Colossus of Rhodes collapsed within a few decades, and the Tower of Babel was "constructed to glorify those that constructed it." He suggested that a future mayor should reconsider whether it should be pulled down. Questioning its corporate role, he believed that meant it looked less and less like a work of art and more like a vanity project.

Even Sir Anish Kapoor acknowledged the criticism and said of its clunky features,“It’s an object with all its elbows sticking out and it is slightly awkward, but I think I made it for that reason, I wanted it to be slightly awkward.”

After the 2012 Olympic Games, the Orbit tower was used as an observation tower, running at a loss of £520,000 ($884,000) in 2014–15, according to the BBC—or losing up to £10,000 ($17,000) a week in 2014, according to the Guardian newspaper.

Amidst the rising clamour of the costs matched only by the disdainful disinterest in the massive sculpture, something had to be done.

To appease Londoners, ex-London Mayor Boris Johnson brought in Carsten Höller to add a slide to the 376 feet tall artwork, making it the highest slide in Europe.

Kapoor later said he was pushed into the high profile collaboration by Johnson. Kapoor would later say that Johnson’s request “felt to me as if it was turning the whole thing in the wrong direction.”

“It was not always my thinking. The mayor foisted this on the project and there was a moment where I had to make a decision - do I go to battle with the mayor or is there a more elegant or astute way through this?,” he told the Guardian.

“I knew of Carsten’s work so I thought, well, who better than a fellow artist to join up with and make this a positive story rather than a negative… Luckily, and thankfully, Carsten was open to it, so we found a way round this,” Kapoor explained.

Judging by the unforgettable success of Höller’s slide installation at Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall, it’s easy to imagine what made Kapoor click and extend the invitation to the Belgian-born Stockholm-based artist.

“One makes artworks for other reasons than profit,” Kapoor told the Guardian. “I understand this is run as a so-called attraction, which I have problems with personally… I want it to be slightly more highbrow than that, without wanting to be pompous about it. There’s a difference between a fairground ride and art,” he added.

Höller, meanwhile, took a more lighthearted approach, urging people to embrace “the amusement side of it.”

“A child might be here purely for the slide, while the serious art lover might see this in purely formalistic terms. I personally like the confusion, that you don’t know what it is but it still creates a very unique experience,” he told the Guardian.

The ArcelorMittal Orbit re-opened to the public on 5 April 2014. Since then it has done below average business in attracting people to come and visit it or try the slide.

The London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC), which runs the park where the sculpture is located, released numbers revealing the sculpture’s sizeable debt and a steep drop in visitors. Steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal had provided a £9.2 million ($11.2 million) loan to help pay for the original construction of the sculpture, but this loan has ballooned to £13 million due to the accrual of interest.

Ticket sales to the observation platform and a tunnel slide designed by Carsten Höller were meant to help repay the loan, but low visitor attendance prompted a £58,000 ($70,000) loss in 2018/19 alone. Visitor numbers have dropped from a high of 193,000 in 2016/17, when Höller’s slide was introduced, to 155,000 in 2018/19.

It’s not just an artistic folly but a commercial one too.

It's not wholly fanciful that such artistic scuptural landmarks can help lift places. No one can put a figure on jobs created or investments made in Gateshead thanks to the Angel of the North, but it has at least created a feelgood factor and sense of pride. The Bilbao Guggenheim of 1996, still the archetype of such town-boosting, certainly placed a relatively obscure city at the centre of attention.

Buildings can't do it alone and if people find their attention has been drawn only to a wasteland, they will go away again. The Guggenheim worked because there were also dull practical things in Bilbao such as new transport infrastructure and business parks.

But the most important ingredient of a successful icon is that it works artistically. It has to strike a chord, sound the right note, catch a mood, win hearts and confound sceptics. In other words it has to be aesthetically pleasing because it’s good art made by equally by great craft and graft.

The ArcelorMittal Orbit has become an unloved rotting wreck that no one has the nerve to demolish.

#orbit #stoppard #quote #britain #art #sculpture #modern art #olympics #society #culture #aesthetics #anish kapoor #carsten holler

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hollyxqx · 5 years ago

Text

playing with fire // yoongi // 01

↪ PARING: Min Yoongi x Reader ↪ GENRE: angst » smut » idol!au » enemies to lovers ↪ SUMMARY: Yoongi hates you. Or at least he thinks he does. (AKA the one where you work for BigHit and Yoongi is bad at feelings). ↪ WORD COUNT: 9k ↪ WARNINGS: angst | sex | oral sex (both m&f) | secret relationships | jealousy | mild possessive behaviour

ONE | TWO | THREE | FOUR | FIVE

The instant Min Yoongi laid eyes on you, you annoyed him. You were introduced for the first time in another boring meeting he didn't want to attend, on his day off of all days and he was grumpy, having to be dragged here for your benefit. You annoyed him because you were obnoxiously positive and cheery. You annoyed him because everyone liked you straight away. Most of all, you annoyed him because you were beautiful, and he was willing to bet this fuss wouldn't have been made if you weren't.

He made a point to be polite but cool with you. He wasn't going to flap around you like some desperate teenage boy like the others were doing. Jin had already made not one but three bad jokes in an attempt to make you laugh, making Yoongi roll his eyes. Namjoon had even offered to take you out for lunch as a way of welcoming you to the team, which meant that Yoongi would be dragged along too, forced to spend even more time in your presence.

The restaurant Namjoon selected was one Yoongi hated, but Namjoon loved it for some reason. Yoongi hated the way they put garlic on everything. The group was led to a private room in the rear of the building and seated. You were sat opposite from Yoongi, which made him secretly glad. It meant he probably wouldn't have to talk to you much. You were animatedly talking away to Jin, anyway. Yoongi smirked to himself. Of course you liked Jin's lame jokes.

You excused yourself to go to the bathroom and Yoongi couldn't help but watch you walk away. He knew he was checking you out, your tight black jeans leaving nothing to the imagination and it bothered him. You were not his type of person, yet he was still succumbing to your looks like an animal. "She's really nice, isn't she?" Namjoon's voice tore him away from his thoughts.

"Hm, yeah, wonderful." Yoongi mumbled in reply, shovelling some more pork into his mouth, not even meeting his bandmates gaze.

"Do you like anyone?" Namjoon joked, nudging Yoongi playfully with his elbow. Yoongi rolled his eyes. "I think she's really cool. She seems like she will work really hard for us." The younger man mused.

"That's what she's paid for, Joon." Yoongi muttered. Namjoon just smiled, used to his friends attitude.

"Give her a chance hyung." Namjoon said, going back to his own food now.

Yoongi pretended not to notice when you returned from the bathroom, feeling a stubborn urge not to give you any more attention. He wondered if you secretly enjoyed having all these eyes on you. Probably. You were now talking to Namjoon in English, since it was your native language and Yoongi lost track of the conversation. He wasn't fluent enough to translate at the speed you were talking, plus you had an accent. Your English voice was actually quite pleasant, he thought. Although your Korean was good, you sounded starkly different in another language.

"Yoongi?" You were addressing him directly now, back to Korean. His eyes locked with yours. "Do you want the rest of my pork? I'm too full to finish."

He politely declined your offer. The pork was way too garlicy for his taste and he'd barely managed to finish his own, let alone second helpings. Once more he silently cursed Namjoon for recommending this place.

The group finished up their meal not long after and made to leave. As everyone filed out of the room, much to Yoongi's discomfort he was left to walk out next to you. He felt awkward. He had barely said anything to you since meeting you, and he was worried he was starting to come across as rude. Yoongi let out a deep breath and decided to make some conversation. "Did you like this place?" He asked you.

You quickly scanned around before leaning in closer and lowering your voice. "Don't tell Namjoon but..." You began quietly. "This place puts way too much garlic on everything. I swear it was even in my water."

Yoongi felt a smirk tug at his lips. He'd made almost that exact joke the first time he'd ever been dragged here by Joon. "At least you won't get bitten by a vampire on the way home." He joked. You laughed, giving him a big bright smile. God you really were pretty, he would be blind not to see it. For some reason he felt himself wondering if you had a boyfriend as he followed you out the restaurant.

Yoongi shook his head, as if to shake the thoughts out of his mind. Get a grip, he thought to himself. You were just a pretty girl. Nothing more, nothing less.

***

"Guess what?" Namjoon asked Yoongi, as they sat in the recording studio one night, just the two of them. They'd been working on a song together and had been having a bit of writers block, choosing to just hang out and wait for inspiration to come. Namjoon was lazily swirling in a swivel chair, aimlessly tossing a small ball up and down.

"What?" Yoongi asked, only half paying attention. His mind was focused on the computer screen in front of him, desperately thinking the longer he stared at it something would change.

"Jin kissed Y/N yesterday." Yoongi's mouth fell open in shock, eyes finally tearing away to look at Namjoon who didn't look phased in the least, still throwing and catching the same damn ball.

"Is she trying to get fired or...?" Yoongi said with a frown. An image of you and Jin, mouths locked and hands roaming each other appeared in his mind. It made him feel...weird.

"It's cute. Jin's had a crush on her ever since she started working with us." Namjoon said with a little smirk.

"So? She's staff." Yoongi reminded him. He turned back to the computer screen but he was still picturing you and Jin. Yoongi would be stupid not to pick up on how Jin tried to flirt with you. He noticed how Jin was always finding reasons to be alone with you. He was just surprised it worked. Even worse, a part of him was irritated it had and he wasn't sure why.

"If they wanna fool around and keep it secret, who cares?" Namjoon scoffed.

"Jin will if our fans ever find out about it." Yoongi muttered. "They sleeping together then?" He asked. He didn't mean to, it just kind of slipped out but he wanted to know.

"I think it was just a kiss." Namjoon shrugged. He threw the ball to Yoongi, who surprisingly reacted fast enough and caught it. Namjoon stood up and walked over to him. " Come on, I have an idea for this song."

Namjoon took the mouse from Yoongi and started editing and moving tracks around, but Yoongi was hardly paying attention. He couldn't understand why Joonie was so unbothered by the idea of you and Jin. Not only was it strictly against the rules, it was shocking. Jin never really hooked up a lot with girls. As Namjoon added some finishing touches to their work Yoongi couldn't help but ask himself, why does this bother me so much?

***

The next day at practice you were there. Namjoon's assumption of you at that first meeting had been accurate, you were very hard working. Technically, you were Sejin's assistant but you did anything and everything that was asked of you, often going above and beyond your call of duty. Even if it meant making sure Bangtan were fed and their laundry was done. Yoongi definitely picked up on that, noting how kind he thought you were to do so. Today you were filming their practice as they had a comeback scheduled soon and everyone was going hard.

If Yoongi hadn't known you and Jin kissed he'd never have been to tell, judging by the behaviour you two displayed. It was business as usual, as far as Yoongi could tell. Jin was still lamely flirting and you were still playfully ignoring it.

"This is it, I think you guys have nailed it." You said, as the eight of you watched back the footage you just recorded. Yoongi noticed Jin practising even harder and he wondered if it was because of you. You didn't usually sit in during dance practices. "You look great at this part here Yoongi."

The compliment took him by surprise. "Thanks," He mumbled, feeling himself blush a little.

"What about me?" Jin asked, a little defensively Yoongi noted.

"You look great too Jin." You added, playfully rolling your eyes. "I was just distracted by Yoongi.

Yoongi blushed again, cheeks heating up even more this time. He couldn't help his body react to you. You were distracted by him. What did that mean exactly? Had you been checking him out or just been impressed by his dancing?

"Let's go again." Namjoon announced. Everyone got into formation again while you went to the stereo player. You pressed play and stepped back to watch. Yoongi had his cap pulled down low on his head, the brim shielding his eyes, that way every time he caught you watching him you never noticed. It strangely made him feel a little proud having your gaze on him.

The song ended and Yoongi collapsed on the floor, panting and sweaty, the rest of the boys following suit. You turned off the music, so the song wouldn't play again. "Even better this time." Your voice broke the sound of the heavy breathing in the room. "This comeback is going to be the best one yet."

No one said anything at first, everyone spent from practicing all morning before Jin spoke up. "Can we order food now Y/N?"

"Of course. The usual, boys?" You asked. There were murmurs of agreement amongst everyone. You had fetched lunch for them so many times now you knew pretty much exactly what everyone wanted. "Ok, let's take a break then and I'll run out and pick some stuff up for you."

You walked over to your bag, lifting your handbag and keys. "I'll come with you?" Jin asked taking Yoongi by surprise. He eyed the older male carefully as he stood up. This was new. You always went alone on lunch runs. Yoongi watched you to see your reaction. If it phased you, you didn't show it. Instead you gave Jin a small smile.

"Sure. We won't be long, guys." You said to the room.

Evidently no one else seemed to think it was weird that Jin offered to go with you. No one mentioned it after you left together, although Namjoon gave you a knowing smirk. The idea of you and Jin sneaking off to make out made Yoongi feel uncomfortable. You were at work. Surely you wouldn't be so unprofessional. His stomach rumbled. He hoped you would be back soon.

"Joon?" Yoongi asked, pulling Namjoon to the side, out of earshot. "Who else knows about Y/N and Jin?"

"Just us." Namjoon replied, looking a little confused at the question. "And Jin obviously. Why?"

"I just wanted to know." Yoongi replied. Namjoon still looked confused but he dropped the subject. The two men re-joined the rest of the group, who were fooling around and laughing about something. "What is so funny?" Yoongi asked, reaching over to snatch his water bottle from Jimin.

"I found Y/N's secret instagram." Jimin snickered. Yoongi cocked an eyebrow in surprise. "Here." Jimin held out his phone. On the screen was your instagram feed.

"Why were you even looking for this?" Yoongi muttered as his eyes scanned the images. He froze when his eyes landed on a very scantily clad y/n sitting by a pool. He knew you would a nice body, he was a man who had eyes, but seeing it bare and not wrapped up in oversized clothes made his breath hitch.

"I was curious about her. She's foreign and I wanted to know more." Jimin shrugged.

"You're a creep." Yoongi pushed the phone away. He wanted to see more but didn't want the boys to know that fact. Jimin just grinned like a cat who got the cream.

About 30 minutes later, Y/N returned with Jin, food in tow. "I've got food!" You called, entering the practice room. The boys all rushed around you, Yoongi lagging behind. He was thinking about your half naked picture and he felt a little guilty, like you would be able to tell by looking at him. "Here you go guys." You and Jin set the many bags down on the table.

Yoongi noticed Jin snatch his food and storm off to one side of the practice room. That was unusual. His whole demeanour had changed since he left. You seemed the same, but Yoongi often struggled to read you. You were a lot like him, keeping your emotions very close to your chest. He collected his own lunch and walked over to join Jin.

"Are you ok hyung?" Yoongi asked, letting out a puff of air as he sank down on to the floor next to him.

"Yup." Jin replied coolly.

"You sure?" Yoongi prodded.

"100%" He knew Jin was lying but he also knew him well enough to not push it further. What had happened when you and Jin were alone? Yoongi couldn't help but wonder.

***

Yoongi didn't have much time to think about you and Jin over the next week. Schedules had intensified even further and any spare time Yoongi had he was working on new music. His body ached from the amount of time he had spent dancing and working out the last few days. He decided to go for a swim. The company building had a gym in the basement, equipped with it's own pool. Yoongi decided a late night dip would be perfect. It was after midnight and he'd have the whole pool to himself.

He walked in to the pool area topless, already in his swim shorts. Usually he would wear a t-shirt as well but he had expected to be alone. Which is why when his eyes landed on you, mid lap in the pool he felt suddenly shy.

He watched as you reached the edge of the pool, placing both palms on the tiles and hoisting yourself out of the water. You strode over to your towel that was tossed over at the seating area. Yoongi gulped as he took in your frame. That bikini you had on was the same as the one in the photo he saw, except this time he was seeing it in person. It had bunched up a little at the back and he couldn't help but check out your ass.

"Yoongi!" You gasped, finally noticing him standing there. He hoped you didn't catch him gawking at you.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt..." Yoongi trailed off, unsure of what to say.

"That's ok!" You replied, towelling off the excess water on your face, catching your breath. You must have been swimming hard. "I just didn't expect to see anyone else in here."

Yoongi shrugged. "I just felt like a swim. Body is sore after practicing."

"You've been working so hard. You all have." You replied. An awkward silence hung in the air, neither of you sure what to say next. Yoongi wanted to swim and he wasn't sure if you were done or not. You both sort of just looked at each other. "Do you...mind? I won't be much longer." You asked cautiously.

Yoongi kind of just wanted to look at you for longer. "Sure. Go for it." He sat his towel down and stretched a little. His back was towards you but he heard you dive back into the pool and begin to swim again. He took a deep breath and turned round. You were halfway across the length of the pool already. He noted that you swam really well. Mimicking your actions he dived in to the cool water too.

As he started to swim he held back in a groan, even though he had stretched his muscles were still stiff and sore. He completed one length of the pool and took a moment to rest at the edge. You had already nearly lapped him. A desire to ensure you didn't think he was weak pulsed through him. He kicked off the wall and dived into another lap. By the time he was at the shallow end of the pool his body was screaming at him, forcing him in to another rest break.

"Are you ok?" You panted, joining him at this side of the pool. Yoogni nodded but the way his face was scrunched up gave him away. "What's wrong?"

"My body hurts, I think I just need to take it easy." He finally admitted. Before he could even blink you were by his side, a worried look etched across your face.

"Is it your shoulder?" You asked, taking him a back. His body language certainly wouldn't have told you that information and he never told you he'd injured it previously. It wasn't widely known either.

"How did you know about that?" He asked, surprised.

You shrugged, giving him a tiny smile. "I know everything about you boys. It's my job."

Without meaning to Yoongi frowned a little. "It is my shoulder." He sighed.

"Listen, I had a really similar injury, let me show you something." You said. Yoongi raised his eyebrows at you. He was realising how little he actually knew about you, even though you had worked with Bangtan for months now. His eyes were on you as you gently took his elbow and pulled it in to a stretch. With your free hand you started to massage his shoulder. Yoongi gulped.

It worked, and most of the ache he was feeling was instantly relieved. He made a mental note to remember this stretch. As you worked your hands his eyes raked over you, falling to your breasts that were just above water level. A droplet of water ran from your neck and down your chest, disappearing in the space between your cleavage. Yoongi knew he shouldn't have been staring but he couldn't help it when you were this close to him.

Between the view before him, your hands touching him and your body against his he felt himself start to grow hard. Mentally he cursed himself. This was his punishment for ogling you. "How does that feel now?" Your voice was a welcome distraction, even if the slight huskiness to it sounded sexy.

"Good, thank you." Yoongi managed to get out. You took a little step away from him and smiled. He noticed for the first time how short you were, realising he'd never seen you out of a heel of some sort. He liked it, it was rare that he got to feel tall. He watched as you adjusted your bikini top and the way your breasts bounced made his dick throb, bringing his attention back to his hard length.

"Just make sure you rest it soon ok?" You advised. Yoongi nodded, distracted. He was trying to will the erection away with sheer mental strength. The last thing he wanted was to be caught and embarrass himself. He can't believe that he'd actually got hard in public, it hadn't happened since he was an hormonal teenager. "You're still in pain." You stated, having noticed Yoongi's strained expression.

"No, I'm fine." He said, a little too quickly. You reach out to touch his arm and he leapt away at your touch, feeling guilty at your confused expression.

"Is it just my company then?" You joked, the corner of your mouth lifting up slightly. Your tone was light and playful but Yoongi could sense there was an underlying sense of truth there.

"No," He muttered. "Just trying to stay professional. I'm not Jin." The words spilled out before he could stop himself. He was a man of few words but he was always honest, and sometimes that got him in to a little bit of trouble. Yoongi hated falseness in people, which was part of the reason why you made him so irritated.

"I'm very aware of who you are, Yoongi." You replied with a frown. "I don't see why me helping you isn't professional but whatever. And as for Jin, you don't know what you are talking about."

Clearly Yoongi had struck a nerve, the jab at your work ethic seemed to be a sore spot. "That's your business, I'm just saying I keep work at work, and personal stuff out it."

"So do I." You said coolly.

"So kissing Jin is part of your job now?" He said quietly, rolling his eyes. Your expression remained steely and collected.

"Yoongi," You stated. "He kissed me. I had zero intention of that happening, ever."

"I don't care." He stated. He went to move away again, hoping to end this conversation once and for all. You gripped his arm.

"I'm serious. He took me by complete surprise...and when I told him that it could never, ever happen again he threw a tantrum." You said looking a little sad. "I don't like that you think of me like that."

Yoongi's mind went back to that day at practice, where Jin was extra moody after going out to pick up lunch with you. Was that really the reason for his strop? Maybe Yoongi had underestimated you after all. "Fine, whatever." You were still gripping his arm and he was hyper aware of your touch. "You scared you gonna drown or something?" He muttered, pointing to your arm.

"Sorry." You said sheepishly, withdrawing your hand.

"I'm going to swim now." That was the last thing Yoongi said before moving away from you and beginning another lap. You took that as your cue to leave.

***

Two days later, the boys of Bangtan were in a meeting with you and Sejin, discussing the upcoming comeback and tour schedule. Yoongi wasn't sure if he was secretly pleased or upset that you were coming on tour with them. Tour life was intense, and you'd be spending even more time in close proximity. His eyes flickered over to Jin to gauge the older boy's reaction. He was staring at the itinerary in front of him, with a frown.

You hadn't said much during the meeting, letting Sejin take the lead. Yoongi had tried to avoid looking at you directly since the stint in the pool, but he let his gaze fall on you now and as usual, your expression was neutral.

The schedule was packed, the tour spanning at least 3 months straight overseas. Yoongi noted there was even going to be a tourbus this time. He really wasn't looking forward to the idea of sleeping in a claustrophobic bunk. At least there were plenty of nights booked in hotels along the way.

"And lastly, if there's anything you need before we leave in two weeks, please let Y/N know now." Sejin's voice brought Yoongi's head up and he looked at his manager, racking his brain to think if there was anything he did need.

"My suitcase is broken, can you get me a new one please?" Jungkook asked first.

"Of course." You made a note in your phone. "I know which one you had before, do you want the same again?"

Damn, Yoongi thought. You really did know everything about them. He was starting to think he was wrong about you.

***

Tourbus life was as crappy as Yoongi expected it to be. By day 3 he could barely take it anymore. The only thing getting him through it was knowing day 4 was a hotel night. He was looking forward to sleeping in a bed bigger than the width of a bunk and maybe even having a bath. The tour bus had a shower but again, it was just as claustrophobic as the bunks.

1am rolled by and Yoongi still wasn't able to sleep. It was so hard to get comfortable in the confined space. To add insult to injury his bunk was directly above Taehyung's and he could hear his bandmates snoring so loudly, he may as well have been in bed next to him. He sighed and checked his phone for the 10th time, feeling restless. An idea occurred to him.

There was a huge sofa/lounge area at the back of the bus. It folded out in to a double bed but in the interest of fairness, the whole team agreed no one would have it as their sleeping quarters, instead it would just be a place to hang out. Yoongi thought no one would mind if he just spent one night there. So he grabbed his phone and a blanket and scrambled out the bunk, making his way to the back of the bus.

The dim spotlights in the room gave it a cosy atmosphere and he knew he had made the right decision. He would sleep well here. There was even a T.V which he flicked on, keeping the volume low so as not to wake any one. Yoongi fluffed up the pillows and made himself comfortable. It wasn't long before his eyes started to feel heavy, the low hum of the tourbus engine soothing him to sleep. Just as he was on the cusp of actually being asleep, the door opened.

"Oh god, sorry!" Yoongi's eyes fluttered open at the sound of your voice, instantly awake. "I didn't think anyone would be in here..." You trailed off. He couldn't help but notice you looked a little embarrassed.

"Couldn't sleep." He yawned.

"Me either." You said quietly. "I get so claustrophobic in those bunks. Feels like I'm in a coffin."

"I'm the same." Yoongie mumbled. You had had the same idea he did. Typical that it was on the same night. "In here is better though, I was nearly asleep before you barged in."

"I know, I slept here last night." You were always so unphased by Yoongi's snarkiness. Part of him wanted you to react, push it until he was being borderline rude.

"You did?" He asked, and you nodded. "Well it's my turn tonight then."

"Play fair, Yoongi." You quipped back, a slight frown on your face.

"I am," He retorted. "You had it last night, so tonight's mine."

"That bed is big enough for two people." You pointed out, gesturing to the empty space next to him.

"What?" He said, letting out a puff of air. "You are not suggesting what I think you are."

"Definitely am." You said boldly. "I'm small you won't even notice me."

"No." He stated, bluntly. "Not happening." He settled back in, making himself comfortable and closed his eyes once more.

"Yoongi, although tomorrow is a day off for you, I have 12 hours worth of meetings, press and errands to do. I need to get some sleep." You were almost begging now. Yoongi smirked but you stood your ground.

"Say please."

You huffed and rolled your eyes. "Please," You repeated.

"Now say 'please Yoongi'." He added, smirking harder than ever.

"Yoongi." You said in a warning tone. His expression didn't falter, a gleeful tint in his eyes. "Fine," You sighed. "Please Yoongi."

He laughed, enjoying teasing you. Yoongi patted the space beside him and you carefully, almost reluctantly climbed in to the bed next to him. You both had separate blankets, so it's not like you would be touching but he still felt insanely aware of your body next to him. He rolled over, his back to you and shut his eyes. He could hear you trying to get comfy and it wasn't long until you settled in to sleep, Yoongi following you shortly after.

***

You were gone when Yoongi awoke the next morning. His eyes flickered open, the room bright with sunshine and he rubbed at them sleepily. He looked at the empty spot you had occupied in the bed. It still smelled like your perfume. You must have not been long gone. He sat up in the bed, trying to orientate himself when he noticed something on the small shelf by the window. It was a note and some...food?

'Yoongi Even though you are a DICK I wanted to say thank you for letting me sleep last night. I left you breakfast and ordered you a starbucks, it's downstairs.

- Y/N '

Yoongi let out a little laugh when he notice the word 'dick' was underlined three times to emphasize it. He didn't think he was that bad but he liked that you had a sense of humour about it. You seemed to understand him and in some ways, be quite similar to him. Dare he say it, you were starting to grow on him and Yoongi was not an easy person to win over.

He gathered his things and made his way down stairs to the lower level of the tour bus. The section on the first floor was a lot smaller, but it had a nice kitchenette and dining area. There on the counter was an iced americano. Yoongi wasn't surprised to see you remembered it was his order. You always did. He grabbed it and sat down, unlocking his phone and scrolling through some news.

"Morning Yoongi." Jin said, appearing in the kitchen. Yoongi hadn't even heard him come down the stairs. "Where'd you get that?" Jin asked, pointing to the starbucks cup.

"Y/N." Was all Yoongi replied, going back to his phone. He wasn't really a morning person, unlike Jin.

"She only got for you? No one else?" Jin asked, not letting the subject drop. Yoongi sighed inwardly. He knew Jin was only pressing because you got that for him. If it was Sejin he wouldn't give a fuck.

"Yeah, I guess." Yoongi mumbled, deliberately being vague.

"Why?" Jin pried.

"Why do you care?" Yoongi challenged.

"I don't." Jin said so defensively, he practically contradicted himself. "I'm just curious."

Yoongi smirked. "It was to say thank you." He replied, watching Jin's face carefully to see the reaction.

"For...?" Jin flicked his wrist in a circle, motioning to Yoongi to elaborate.

"I let her sleep with me last night." He said to the elder, deviously phrasing the sentence in a misleading way, making it sound as if the two of you had had sex. Jin's eyes went wide, practically bulging out of his head.

"What?!" He almost shouted. Yoongi laughed. "You slept with her?"

"Yep." Yoongi nodded, sipping his coffee. He knew he should have explained but he wanted to enjoy the outrage from Jin just one more time.

"On the bus? Last night? Next to my bunk?" Jin asked, outraged.

"Nah, in the back room." Yoongi corrected. Jin looked annoyed. "Don't worry hyung, all we did was sleep." Jin's expression relaxed a little but he still didn't look happy. "She's claustrophobic, like me. We both had the same idea and ended up in the back lounge. It was just by chance."

"You let me think something else on purpose!" He yelled, punching Yoongi on the arm playfully and the two men laughed, both knowing it was true.

"I know you like her, don't worry." Yoongi said quietly. Jin's cheeks tinged pink slightly at the revelation. It was kind of an open secret any way but Yoongi wanted to let his friend know he knew.

"She doesn't like me though." Jin admitted. "She told me it can't ever happen."

"That might not be totally true," Yoongi countered. "She takes her job very seriously. Doesn't want to fuck it up."

"Yeah, maybe." Jin said, with a sigh. "Come on, we need to go check in to the hotel now anyway."

***

Yoongi didn't see you again until 9pm that night. He thought you looked tired the moment he laid eyes on you, and then remembered your comment the previous night about a busy day. He had to remind himself that all of your hard work was for his and Bangtan's benefit and he was grateful.

The crew had eaten dinner, celebrating a successful start to the tour. Today's stopover was in Texas for the show tomorrow night, the second one of the whole leg. Yoongi had only ever been here once before and he was looking forward to it. Even more so, he was looking forward to his hotel bed.

Yoongi was unlocking the door to his hotel room when he noticed you walking down the hall, suitcase in tow. You locked eyes. He gave you a small smile. "Thanks for the coffee, Y/N."

"Thanks for the 8 hours of sleep." You replied, grinning as you walked to your own room, which happened to be opposite to his.

"Do you want a hand with that?" Yoongi asked, pointing to your suitcase. It looked heavy and he could already see you struggling a little.

"Oh yeah, thanks." You said. Yoongi let his door swing shut and lock once more as he walked over to help you. He grabbed the case from you, moving it easily and you let him in to your room. His eyes fell on the bed, eyebrow raising.

"You're not sharing a room with anyone?" He asked. Usually everyone had to pair up in a hotel. Yoongi was stuck with Namjoon for this particular stay. He hoisted your suitcase on to the luggage rack.

"No," You said, yawning slightly. "There was an odd number. I'm a loner tonight."

"Lucky you."

"Y'know, I actually hate sleeping alone." You confessed with a laugh. Yoongi raised his brow in surprise. "If I'm alone I always need the tv or a podcast on."

"Is that why you begged to sleep with me last night? Pretended to be claustrophobic so you could get close to me?" Yoongi teased, earning him an eye roll from you. "Don't get any ideas tonight. That was a one time thing."

You threw the nearest pillow at him but Yoongi caught it, laughing at your attempted attack. "Just when I think you're being nice, you act like that." You sighed.

"I am nice." Yoongi defended himself.

"Not to me." You mumbled, but he caught it.

"Why do you think that?" He asked. You shook your head, dismissing both him and the question. Yoongi dropped the pillow and walked over to you, grabbing your arm. "No, go on, have some courage. Be honest with me."

You looked at each other in the eyes for a moment, yours searching his for an explanation for this sudden question.

"You have been cold, borderline rude to me since the day I started at BigHit." You said confidently, accepting his challenge to be courageous. "Every other person in that building has been more welcoming than you." Yoongi stayed silent, but his grip on your arm didn't falter.

"But you're used to that, arent you?" He said lowly, leaning in closely. You held your reserve, not even blinking as his face inched closer towards yours. "Attention." The word drips off his tongue like poison, almost as if it was a curse word.

"Says the Kpop Idol." You replied, coolly.

"I get attention because I work hard, not because I'm a pretty girl batting her eye lashes at every one." He replied, just as coolly as you had. You were going toe for toe here.

"So you're not a hot guy doing the same thing? Pfft." You were the first to break eye contact, rolling your eyes away from him. Yoongi couldn't help his stomach lurching at the fact that you just called him a hot guy. He never would have thought you would think that. He yanked your arm, pulling you closer so that your bodies were touch, your attention forced back to him.

"You're attracted to me, Y/N?" Yoongi said, his tone almost deadly now.

"As much as you are to me, I'd say." You said. His eyes flicked down to your lips, watching you wet them with your tongue. Before the logical side of his brain could intervene he grabbed the side of your face with his free hand, and crashed his lips against yours. It knocked you for a moment and he noticed you didn't kiss back right away but that quickly changed when he ran his tongue against your bottom lip, asking to be let in.

You parted your mouth for him and he dropped the death grip he had on your arm, bringing that hand to the small of your back, pressing your body even further in to his. The kiss started to get sloppy, he was losing control and he could tell you were too, nipping at his bottom lip and running hands through his hair.

Yoongi was vaguely aware of the bed behind him and he stumbled back, sitting on the edge. He guided you to his lap so that you were straddling him and he couldn't help but run his hands up your thighs, cupping your ass. "Yoongi," You moaned, breathless. He looked at you, your pupils blown wide, lips plump from kissing. "Yoongi we need to stop."

He knew you were right. But that didn't stop him from sliding a hand round the back of your neck and pulling you in for more. The hand that was on your ass slid up the back of your shirt and he expertly undid your bra clasp. His mouth went to your neck as he placed wet, desperate kisses there, relishing when it made you moan out loud.

His hands slid to your still clothed front and he moved them up under your bra, groaning in your neck at the feel of your tits. He'd wanted to touch them like this ever since he saw you that day at the pool. He couldn't take his eyes off of them then. And now he was so desperate he hadn't even bothered to remove your shirt. "Yoongi, ah - You moaned when he rolled your nipples between his thumbs. "Stop, stop, stop." Your words were coming out like moans.

Hands still on your breasts, he pulled away, using all of his willpower not to continue. Your chest was heaving. He couldn't help but want to fuck you right then and there. "You really want me to stop?" He asked, searching your eyes with his own. You nodded.

"Yes, this is a bad idea." You said quietly. Yoongi removed his hands from you and you rolled off his lap, sitting down beside him. He watched you reattach your bra and he couldn't help but feel a sting of rejection in his chest. You clearly wanted this too, so why were you denying him?

"At least I got further than Jin." He muttered, sighing. The next thing he felt was a slap on the arm. A rather hard slap on the arm.

"You're a fucking asshole for that, Min Yoongi. Get out of my room now!" You shouted.

"Gladly." He rolled his eyes, stuffing those hurt feelings down again once more and stormed out of your room.

***

Yoongi wasn't surprised when you completely ignored him at the show the next night. You didn't even glance in his direction once, he was almost impressed at your will and determination. When the show was done and everybody was leaving the venue, making their way to the tourbus his attention was on you, eyes on the back of your head as you walked with Jin and Namjoon. Even the screaming fans waiting outside the arena couldn't pull his attention away from you.

Once everyone was on the bus, most of the team settled downstairs for some drinks and to hang out. Yoongi noticed you excuse yourself and disappear upstairs. This was his moment. He seized the opportunity and followed you, slipping away unnoticed.

His eyes landed on you at your bunk, holding some clothes to sleep in. Clearly you were headed straight for bed. "Y/N?" Yoongi spoke quietly and although you didn't look at him he saw you freeze for a second. You ignored him and carried on getting your things ready for bed. "Y/N." Yoongi sighed. "Y/N look at me."

Why was it so easy for you to blank him? He was getting frustrated now. "Y/N I'm sorry!" He said louder.

"Keep your voice down." You said calmly. At least you'd acknowledged him. Still, you refused to look at him.

"I really am sorry, I was such an asshole yesterday." He said, his voice hushed now. You sighed and turned to look at him, hugging the bundle of clothing in your arms to your chest.

"That's ok." You said, almost coldly. You began to walk away but he stepped sideways, blocking your path, no way round him in the narrow space between the bunks.

"I mean it." He said, trying not to sound as frustrated as he was at your lack of emotion. You looked at him, almost bored. He felt that same flare of rejection in him as before. It stung, bitterly. "I'll be sleeping in the back again tonight if you want to talk." He offered.

You said nothing, pushing past him and walking away.

***

To Yoongi's utter and complete surprise you were already in the back lounge by the time he made it to bed. Propped up against the pillows, arms crossed and watching TV you didn't even look at him when he opened the door. "You're here." He said, shutting the door behind him. "Are you....sleeping here?"

"Depends on what you've got to say." You said quietly, eyes still on the screen. It was annoying him that you wouldn't look at him, so snatching the remote he turned it off. He wanted your full attention. Yoongi sat on the bed opposite you, not even asking permission if he could. At this point even if you had said no he wouldn't have listened. The fact that you were here meant you wanted to listen so he'd talk no matter what.

"I'm an asshole." He stated.

"Correct."

"You didn't deserve that." He paused.

"Even more correct." You added before he could speak again.

He sighed. Of course you weren't going to make it easy for him. You reminded him so much of himself in that moment he almost wanted to laugh. Did his friends feel this way too when he was being stubborn? "I really would like it if you would forgive me. Because I am sorry. Because we have to work together....and mostly, because I don't want to hurt anyone, let alone you."

He noticed your face soften a little at the last part of his apology. "I just don't understand why you would even say such a thing. Do you think I'm some kind of slut? Trying to fuck my way through BangTan?"

"No, no of course not..."

"Then why?" You pressed. "Have some courage, Yoongi." You mocked, using his own words from last night against him.

"You rejected me like you rejected Jin, and I was...hurt." He admitted. Yoongi hated feeling vulnerable and you were making him very vulnerable in that moment. He was the kind of person to just store up his negative feelings, letting them manifest themselves in other ways, mainly pouring the sadness into his songwriting.

"That's technically true." You agreed. "But I rejected Jin because I wasn't interested. I told you to stop because it was a bad idea to continue. I was definitely interested."

Yoongi raised a brow at you. That certainly made your shut down of him more bearable. "Is it really such a bad idea though?" He asked before he could stop himself.

"You know the answer to that." You rolled your eyes.

"What if it happened just once? I wouldn't tell anyone..." He tempted.

"It's too risky." You said, almost in a whisper. The way you were looking at him made Yoongi realise you were definitely at least considering it. Eyes studying his face, pupils wide.

"That's a shame, because I think it would be great."

The way you bit your lip in response sent desire shooting through his entire body. He picked up the edge of the blanket that was covering you and moved the entire thing to the side, exposing your body. Yoongi eyed your tiny shorts that barely covered your ass, marvelling at how amazing your legs were. "Yoongi," You whispered. "What are you doing?"

He didn't answer. Instead, he shifted so he was on his knees and crawled over you, using his hands to prop himself up, hovering just above your face. He was waiting for you to tell him to stop again but the words didn't come. He went for it, pressing his lips to yours, hungrily. You responded straight away, kissing him back with just as much need. He dropped down on to his forearms, holding you more comfortably and pressed himself in to you. The way you moaned in to his mouth only spurred him on.

He kissed down your neck to your collarbone, dragging down the material of your pyjama vest top along the way. His breath trapped in his throat when he saw you were braless. He palmed and grabbed at your tits, moving his mouth to the exposed nipple. He couldn't stop himself from grinning when you moaned. "Shhhh," He whispered, kissing back up to your throat. "We have to be quiet." He said against your skin, sucking and nipping the flesh between his teeth.

You were burning hot beneath him, panting with want. Yoongi let you pull his lips back to yours in a heated kiss, and he groaned into your mouth when you rubbed your hand over his clothed erection. "Fuck, Yoongi." You whispered at the contact, feeling the girth of him. He roughly took hold of your hand that was touching him and pinned it next to your head. He didn't want to get too worked up just yet.

With his free hand he pulled your pyjama shorts down your legs. His hand traced the outline of your pussy, teasing you. The way you shivered only turned him on more. "This is ok, right?" He murmured and you nodded. He took the consent and went straight for your clit, enjoying the way you squirmed beneath him. He watched you for a few moments, just taking it in. "Unbelievable." He murmured.

"Yoongi," You panted. He didn't relent, choosing to slip two fingers in to you. "Yoongi, god - ."

He couldn't wait any longer. Yoongi tore his hands away from you, pushing down his shorts and freeing his cock. He silently smirked at the way you eyed him in surprise. He took the hand you had stroked him with before and guided it to his length, encouraging you to move it up and down. It felt so good to him he was reluctant for you to stop, but after a few minutes he teared your hands away. "Can I fuck you, Y/N?" He whispered, kissing your lips, your cheeks, your neck, anywhere he could reach. You nodded.

He positioned himself at your entrance, giving you one last look before pushing in swiftly. You gasped at the sensation. "Shhh," He mumbled, kissing you in to silence. "Do you want everyone to know you're getting fucked?" You blushed at his words and he couldn't help but smile a little.

Yoongi started to move, pistoning himself in and out of you, your mouth falling open in a silent moan. The way you were squeezing around him was making him light headed. He didn't know how long he was going to be able to hold on for, but he really wanted to watch you come undone around him. He guided your hand down to your clit, encouraging you to touch yourself. You looked incredible to him like this.

"Shit," You moaned. His thrusts were unsteady now and he was sloppily sucking on your neck. "Shit, I'm going to come."

Yoongi barely held on feeling you clamp around him. His release followed shortly after, and he groaned louder than he would have liked but it was involuntary. He collapsed on top of you, his shirt clinging to him, damp with sweat. "Fuck." He muttered, out of breath. He rolled off you and watched as you pulled your pj shorts back up. "I hope no one heard that. You're so loud." He gave you a lopsided grin and you flushed with embarrassment.

"Please don't tell anyone about this." You said quietly, once you'd sorted your self out. He laid on his back next to you, watching you curiously.

"I won't."

"I mean it," You stressed. You rolled on your side to face him. "They can't fire you, but I can be replaced in a heartbeat."

He felt a pang of guilt in his chest at your words. He knew you were right, and he knew he had got carried away. "I won't." He repeated. "It'll be our secret, ok?"

"Ok." You said, assured for now. He didn't even realise he was doing it but he leaned in and kissed your forehead, a surprisingly intimate gesture. He just wanted you to know he would keep his promise.

"Lets get some sleep, ok?" He mumbled, closing his eyes and getting comfortable. He felt you relax next to him and it made him feel strangely happy, warm even.

↪ chapter 02 | masterlist

#bts fanfction #bts fanfic #bts scenarios #min yoongi fanfic #min yoongi fanfiction #min yoongi smut #yoongi smut #yoongi fanfic #yoongi angst #yoongi fanfiction

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connectedfeelings · 4 years ago

Note

favorite fics?

I’m assuming you mean SS fics, so here you go!

Time Travel AU

An Inch of Gold by @kuriquinn | Complete

Team 7 is sent on a mission to investigate a disturbance outside of the village, where they encounter an unconscious girl in a crater. The mysterious Sarada insists she's a shinobi from the Hidden Leaf trying to rescue her teammates. When the team discovers she possesses a Sharingan, things become even more unbelievable. [Part of the Legacy of Fire Series]

Probably my absolute favorite Naruto fic. @kuriquinn is an amazing writer, and has written many great SS fics. Though this one is more focused on Sarada meeting genin Team 7, it has cute SS moments and Uchiha family moments. I definitely recommend reading this fic if you haven’t already!

A Twist in Time by @wolf08 | Complete

With Konoha on the verge of destruction, Sakura is sent on a last-resort mission to save her world by travelling to the past. Join her in coping with her old body's shortcomings, testing the natural laws of time, falling in love all over again, and rediscovering who she is. Time-travel. SasuSaku. REAL publication date: Jan 2015

I followed this fic from 2016 until its end, and I still reread this from time to time. Well written and has a great plot. LOVE LOVE LOVE.

Reversing Time by havanatitianna | Incomplete

The shinobi nations had been burnt down to the ground by the Ten Tails, but Sakura had been given a chance to change everything. To make everything right. However, and as years passed by, things would turn out to be so much more difficult than she'd ever imagined. Not your regular Time travel. Sasusaku. MAJOR CHARACTER DEATH

This one hasn’t been updated in over a year, but it has over 40 chapters and 300K words. I love the plot progression in this one, and it definitely is worth the read.

Modern AU

Trial & Error by @manhattanchase | Ongoing

[Saku/Sas] - AU - Slow Burn - Life as an associate at Konoha's most revered law firm was hard enough without Sasuke Uchiha showing up . . . .

Found out about this fic through my SS twitter mutuals, and they were right in promoting it because it’s so good! Things have gotten more interesting and I love the SS development here.

All I Want for Christmas by @theredconversegirl | Complete

Sakura's rude (but still oh-so-hot!) boss loves to see her suffering. Sasuke can't believe his annoyingly, perfect assistant can be so stubborn. After months working together, do they really know each other? *Full Sumary & Disclaimer inside. [SasuSaku] [Slow Burn] [Eventual Smut] [Office AU] [Holiday Special Gift Fic]

This fic was not what I had expected, but it’s so good! Also the smut. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Dispatch by okashira | Complete

A comprehensive collection of online articles, magazine clippings, etc. documenting the dating history of pop stars, Uchiha Sasuke and Haruno Sakura.

(AU in which the K in Kpop means 'Konoha.')

This fic is written through blog posts and news articles with fan comments and it is so creative! It made it feel like SS were actual Kpop stars! It’s two chapters, and it’s a really fun read.

On Truth and Lies by the general girl | Complete

Karin just knows that she will marry Uchiha Sasuke. Then one day in walks Haruno Sakura. — AU SasuSaku, one sided SasuKarin.

This fic is told entirely through Karin’s POV, and I love it when I read fics from a different POV. This was well written, and you can really feel how Karin feels when she sees SS. Loved SS’s relationship in this too.

Blank Period

Touch by GreyCatsidhe | Complete

After the war, Sakura suggests a new therapy to help Sasuke heal and get better sleep. The recovering Uchiha is uncomfortable with the implications of the healing and what the fluttering in his stomach means. Cannonverse, after the war, pre-Gaiden.

My favorite SS blank period fic. I love how we start with Sasuke in the jail cell before he was set free by Kakashi to go on his redemption journey. There’s plenty Team 7 moments here, too, which I’m a sucker for, but SS’s relationship development was my favorite part of this fic. It’s sooo good.

In Times of Peace by @southsidestory | Complete

The war is over, and like Konoha, Team 7 has rebuilt itself from the ground up. Everything has changed, but Sasuke and Sakura remain much the same. Eleven years, she thinks, is a long time to be in love. SasuSaku.

@southsidestory has written a lot of great SS fics, but this has to be my fave. Well written and it just made me feel, you know?

Home is Where the Heart Is by @xxlovendreamsxx | Complete

/SasuSaku./ And with every moment together, they get just a little closer, a little more comfortable with each other. Fall a little more in love. Post-war. Pre-epilogue.

This was the first blank period fic I followed and it still holds up to this day. @xxlovendreamsxx has been writing ss fics for as long as I’ve been in this fandom and they never disappoint!

Quietus by @angel-chu | Ongoing

When first he laid eyes upon her, he thought her the very personification of spring. He watches, from the depths of shadow; waiting to steal her away from the land of the living. Waiting to make her Queen of the Dead. Hades/Persephone retold. SasuSaku.

What is there to say about Quietus that hasn’t been said already? It’s honestly a masterpiece. I found this fic in 7th grade and it’s such a long, well-written, absolutely well thought of fic. I haven’t read all of the new updates yet, but this fic has been ongoing for a while and still captures everyone’s attention including mine because of the plot, the progression, and @angel-chu‘s magnificent writing.

A Breathless Sort of Attraction by WellHowAboutThat | Complete / Oneshot

Every twist of her hips had Sasuke struggling to remember how to inhale and exhale. Sasusaku Oneshot

( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) That’s alldfjksdksjdkvcv

The Last Will and Testament of Uzumaki Naruto by BlushingLotus | Complete

Naively manipulated into believing his death may be imminent, Naruto starts to enforce his will while he's still alive… much to Sasuke and Sakura's dismay. Slightly AU since Sasuke has returned. Rated for language and lemon SasuSaku

This fic is hilarious! The funniest one on this list, tbh.

Ripples by Yellow Mask | Complete

Complete. AU from 309 onwards. Following a botched mission, Sakura is made a slave by Sound, a position that could very well alter the future…especially concerning a certain familiar missing-nin. SasuSaku.

There are not enough Shippuden era SS fics now, y’all! This one’s my favorite by far.

I also have an SS Fic Rec page on here with some other really good fics! It hasn’t been updated though, so some fics on this list are not yet on that page.

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arlome · 5 years ago

Note

phrack: librarian/avid reader au

Helllloooo, dear anon! Sorry, this took a while.

I....have no idea what this is. Hopefully, you’ll like it.

“Ooo, he’s here again – second day in a row; that’s a record!”

Phryne squints at the catalogue number on the spine of a massive tome on eastern husbandry – something about yak-rearing in Tibet – and huffs; she bloody hates the new cataloguing system and its needlessly intricate design.

“Who is, Dot?” she asks noncommittally, not even bothering to lift her head from the offending book. Seriously, it’s going to take her bloody ages to get used to this new system!

“Your dour subscriber no’ 6478! He’s back, and he’s not wearing a suit, for a change!”

Phryne’s head shots up fast enough to pull a muscle, and she winces, cursing softly. Dot sniggers and rolls her lips together as her colleague massages the smarting area and glares at her in mild annoyance.

“Surely you mean my incredibly fit subscriber no’ 6478, Dot dear,” Phryne smiles smugly and chances a glance at the figure that’s just walked in through the double doors, wearing jeans and a leather jacket, a biking helmet held loosely in his left hand. “Oh, you’re right! He’s deliciously casual today.”

Dot shakes her head and smiles indulgingly.

“You’re hopeless,” she mutters, and Phryne shrugs.

“I look for joy in all the dark places, Dot,” she whispers and winks, “and speaking of – has maintenance been to change the lightbulb in Isle 39? You can barely see the books!”

Some days it just seems like the entire building is crumbling down around them.

Dot reaches for the phone, efficiency mode activated.

“I’m on it,” she says, nodding towards the entrance, “and, heads up - 6478 is coming your way.”

Phryne lifts her eyes above the counter just in time to greet the ridiculously attractive man.

“Mr Robinson!”

“Miss Fisher.”

He’s leaning on the counter, his mouth set in a slight twist – a maddening, enigmatic half-smile – as if he’s in on some outrageously clever joke that nobody’s aware of. Phryne returns the lip quirk; she’s rather convinced she’s in on the joke, too.

“Back so soon! Even you can’t read a week’s worth of books in one night!”

The half-smile quirks upwards and scrunches the man’s nose in the most adorable way; Phryne’s smile turns a little wicked. Well, there’s no escaping it now – she’d have to seduce him.

“Oh, no, I’m nowhere done,” he explains, leaning a little closer. “It’s my day off, you see – “

“And you decided to spend it in the library…?”

The man spreads his hands, shrugging in a self-deprecating way that makes Phryne a little hot under the collar.

“Well, where else?” he asks in his deep, husky voice. “Books are like portals to other worlds. I could be visiting the Shire, Ankh-Morpork, Lyme, Verona, without even getting off my ridiculously lumpy sofa in Melbourne.”

That does it; she might have to seduce him in the back office right now.

“How very true,” she purrs delightedly and notes in great satisfaction how the man appears to colour a little at her praise. “And what is it that you do, Mr Robinson? No, wait, don’t tell me – I enjoy a good mystery – you’re an English professor, or, rather, a writer...?”

The self-deprecating smile strikes again, and Phryne finds her day improving considerably. Sod the new cataloguing system, nothing can ruin her good mood now.

“Nothing so romantic, I’m afraid,” he says, reaching into his inner jacket pocket. “I’m a detective inspector, homicide. See?”

He hands her his warrant card, and she flips it open, inspecting it carefully.

“Senior Detective Inspector Jack Robinson.”

“Guilty as charged,” he confirms, retrieving his card and pocketing it. “And you might as well call me Jack. Everyone else does.”

Oh, he’s a delight.

“Very well, Jack,” she replies, grinning, “then I’m Phryne, and this lovely lady to my right is Dot Williams.”

The man with the face that launched a thousand fainting fits nods in the direction of her assistant.

“Miss Williams.”

Dot’s cheeks bloom at the oddly endearing old-fashioned address, and she acknowledges the man with a soft smile. “Nice to meet you, Inspector.”

Sensing a lull in the conversation, Phryne shoves the yak-rearing tome out of the way and rises from her seat. She notes that the Inspector’s – Jack’s – lovely blue eyes widen a little at the sudden gesture. Smiling reassuringly, she crosses her arms and leans over the counter, her face just a few centimetres away from his. He does not move away.

Oh, but he’s going to be fun.

“So, what can I help you with, Jack?” she asks suggestively, delighting in the man’s flushed cheeks. Really, he should probably go ahead and arrest himself; it must be illegal to be this delicious in public.

“W-well,” he stammers a little, clearly thrown by her obvious flirting, “I’m looking for a book about Eastern erotic art, and I was hoping you could… recommend a title?”

Well, this day just keeps getting better and better. She must have done something right in her previous life.

“We have some fascinating books on the subject, Jack,” she purrs, reaching for her notepad and a pencil. “What exactly did you have in mind?”

“Anything by Yanagawa or Hokusai would be perfect,” he supplies without batting an eyelash, and Phryne’s mouth drops open. Jack smiles that maddening self-deprecating smile and rubs the back of his neck with long – and probably very dexterous – fingers.

“You’re not used to coppers who have more than half a brain cell, are you, Miss Fisher?”

Okay, mind changed; she might have to seduce him right now on this very counter.

“I must say it does go against the stereotype, Inspector.”

His lips curve downwards just a tad in that odd half-smile of his; his eyes glint almost mischievously.

“It’d be a tactical error to think you had me pegged just yet, Miss Fisher.”

She tries to smother her laughter as he arches one eyebrow in challenge.

“This sounds a lot like an invitation, Jack,” she chuckles. After all, it takes two to waltz, and she can give as good as she gets.

The half-smile stays in place, but the man leans backwards, keeping most of his space to himself.

“The books, Miss Fisher…?” he asks and nods towards the isles. “Am I ever going to get my recommendation?”

Cheeky bastard. She likes him already.

“You will if you call me Phryne,” she challenges, scribbling something down on the entirely forgotten notepad.

“Alright, Phryne.”

She shivers a little at the way his voice dips at the end of her name, and she briefly wonders how it will sound falling from those generous lips in passion. She vows to find out soon enough.

“Here,” she says, thrusting the little yellow piece of paper into his large hand. “That wasn’t so hard, now, was it?”

Jack squints at the scribble on the tiny paper and frowns.

“Damn, I can’t make this out,” he mutters, patting down his jacket. “Hang on….”

Phryne nearly chokes on her tongue when he produces a pair of reading glasses and smiles embarrassedly at her.

“Not even forty and already farsighted as a bat,” he laments, smiling. “Very ‘old man’ chic, I know…”

She tries not to drool all over the counter in answer. It could be considered bad manners.

“I think it suits you,” she croaks, instead. There; much better.

“Mhmm,” he acknowledges the compliment with another arched eyebrow and lowers his head to regard the paper in his hands once again. “Um…what’s this? It doesn’t look like a serial number…”

“It’s not.”

He looks up at her, and his eyes are unreadable, but the flush is back in his cheeks. Honestly, she considers this a win.

“That’s my number, Jack,” she adds, smiling a little smugly now that the small twist in his lips is back online. “If you want a proper recommendation, you should call it. I have a rather large collection of books on eastern erotica… in my personal library back at home. I’m sure a scholarly bloke like yourself would be in the perfect position to appreciate them properly.”

Phryne can hear Dot choking on her tea to her right, one sideways glance confirming her frantically wiping at the liquid coming out of her nose. Jack produces a tissue paper out of his pocket and offers it to the poor girl.

An officer and a gentleman. Well, well.

“Never let it be said that I turned down the opportunity to expand my horizons,” he quips and pockets the little note. “I hope you have comfortable chairs in your personal library, Miss Fisher. I’m quite the thorough reader.”

Phryne suddenly finds it very hard to scold him for his stubborn objection to using her first name. There’s something to be said for formality; that something is positively filthy.

“I do appreciate a man who takes his time.”

Another little twist of his upper lip, and he stuffs his hands in the pockets of his jeans. This short interview is clearly over.

“G’day, Phryne,” he says with some finality and turns to nod at Dot. “Miss Williams.”

Both women smile at him. “Jack.”

When he leaves, Phryne lowers herself back into her seat and sighs contentedly. Dot shakes her head and mutters something unintelligible under her nose. The lightbulb in Isle 39 flickers back to life.

He calls her ten minutes later.

She seduces him in her very comfortable library chair.

He’s very thorough.

#au prompt list #mfmm fanfic #phrack #my fic

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bangtanxm · 5 years ago

Text

Review-List; Bookclub

This month’s theme is “Fluff, Fluffier, Bangtan!” asking for our bookclub members to find the most fluffiest stories to recommend for this month. Here is the list of fics we collected for everyone to read and to review. Just follow these simple steps:

Choose a story to read from the list below (you can read as many as you like).

Go to this form (you can revisit the form with each story you read and rec)

Write a review and leave some love for the author in the form!

All of our followers, supporters and bookclub-members can participate and write your thoughts / recommendation / constructive criticism (only positive feedback is allowed) on as many stories as you like. If you want to become a regular member of our bookclub however, please join our discord. All Readers, Writers and Supporters of MxM fics are welcome!

All of the reviews from our bookclub members and followers will be summarized in a highlight-post at the end of the month! You can find all of this month’s chosen stories below the cut! Happy Reading! Your Bangtanxm; Team

HOME written by @cassiavioletblue & @softjeon

» Series; Namjoon x Yoongi (Platonic) » Summary; Namjoon watched Yoongi strutting after him over his shoulder and sighed. He couldn’t believe he’s really done it; paying too much money for a hybrid that would bite him if given the chance when all he had wanted was a cute, little - very much harmless - kitten to begin with. » Disclaimer; anxiety, insomnia

UNEXPECTED COMPANY written by @yoongified

» One-Shot; Yoongi x Jungkook (Platonic) » Summary; In which Yoongi is terribly afraid of spiders. Luckily, Jungkook isn’t. » Disclaimer; spiders

THE GARDEN WALL written by @chimknj

» One-Shot; Namjoon x Fairy!Jimin » Summary; The window in the garden wall has been boarded up forever, but tonight a dull, violet light pulses in the cracks…

KISS ME QUIETLY written by @cassiavioletblue & @softjeon

» Series; Yoongi x Jungkook » Summary; Yoongi always said what was on his mind, while Jungkook was shy, fearful and just like a wallflower he was quickly overseen. Yoongi wore leather jackets, had tattoos while Jungkook wore soft, baby blue sweaters with sleeves that were way too long. Yoongi was everything he wasn’t. Not that he cared, but men like Yoongi didn’t care about boys like Jungkook. That’s just how it always been like until… » Disclaimer; mentioning of alcohol, selective mutism, tooth rotting fluff

SWEETER THAN SWEET written by @yoongified

» Series; Yoongi x Hoseok » Summary; In his second year, Hoseok discovers dance, befriends Jungkook and his silly friends — and makes the mistake of falling head over heels for Park Jimin’s boyfriend. » Disclaimer; mentions of smut, implied smut, alcohol, swearing, toxic relationships (from the past)

WOLFSBANE written by @cassiavioletblue & @softjeon

» Series; Wolf!Yoongi x Wolf!Jungkook » Summary; For a a few short hopeful minutes he thought that maybe he could just have Jungkook here at his place for a little while longer, maybe it would take the others a few days to find him, maybe they were busy with something else - but he was fooling himself, he knew that and when he could hear the sound of paws drumming on earth he knew that this little adventure of Jungkook’s was already over. » Disclaimer; mention of violence, light graphic content, smut

PAGE BY PAGE written by @sujigguk

» One-Shot; Yoongi x Jimin » Summary; Bookworm and frequent bookstore dweller, Park Jimin, has been harbouring a crush on Yoongi, the assistant at his favourite establishment, for months now. Min Yoongi, heir to his father’s beloved bookshop, has been dropping subtle hints that he’s into Jimin, waiting for him to realise that the novels he offers as recommendations aren’t simply a coincidence.

SING ME TO SLEEP written by remi_niscent

» One-Shot; Yoongi x Jungkook, Jimin x Taehyung » Summary; When Yoongi finally pulled himself out of his bedroom and fell asleep on the park bench during a rainstorm, he never expected to wake up to a world full of colours. Jungkook never thought that he would meet his soulmate in a park during the rain, but he could suddenly see the colours from the light across the road. Neither of them thought that a conversation could be held on your arm with pens, but they chatted until there was no skin left to write on. So what happens when one of them is ready to take things a step further but the other is still figuring himself out? » Disclaimer; mentioning of alcohol

WASTE IT ON ME written by @yoongified

» One-Shot; Taehyung x Jungkook » Summary; A troubled artist, in search of inspiration, stumbles into a bar and finds everything he’s been looking for. » Disclaimer; casual drinking

SAMHAINS BLESSING written by @cassiavioletblue & @softjeon

» One-Shot; Witch!Yoongi x Vampire!Taehyung » Summary; How little vampire Tae found his way to Yoongi. » Disclaimer; mentioning of blood

A SONG OF FIRE AND FRUIT SMOOTHIES written by teecysh

» One-Shot; Dragon!Namjoon x Jimin » Summary; Namjoon is part dragon, and to his complete and utter embarassment, he can't stop collecting cute things for his hoard. Which would be fine except Jimin is the cutest person he's ever seen and it's becoming a real struggle not to collect him too...

— join the bookclub here! — official post — faq

#bangtanxm #review-list #bookclub*#bts #bangtan #bts fluff #fluff

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darkestwolfx · 5 years ago

Text

Recharge - Re-Review #18

Here was another episode I didn’t remember very well - clearly isn’t one I’ve ended up rewatching all that much, but I do love it for so so many reasons!

So firstly, where have Grandma and EOS gone lately?

*I’ll just tap my foot and patiently (not so) wait for their return.*

Secondly;

“Last one there has to do the dishes for a week.”

“Well you better put on your rubber glove now.”

“You guys go for it. I’m just glad to be home.”

This is so believable. They are in many ways still children, and yet at the same time, they are and have to be grown ups. Indulging moments like this is something I can completely see Scott doing - especially when IR are really busy. He’s kinda in charge now and he does sometimes have to think a little like his dad would, and find the ways to bring some light-hearted humour back. I can also see how Virgil would not dive into as much, because he is older and more able to appreciate the returning home part. For Alan and Gordon, I can imagine this is a necessity.

All Thunderbird being out was a nice touch too.

Getting Jeff’s desk in the shot was a nice touch too, especially as his absence is a real focus in this episode (I do remember liking that before - I remember writing a couple of episode tags about it, oh and I’ve just had the idea for one more)!

And then look at Alan - sleeping again! Even Gordon’s giving in. Scott too looks really tired - I can so see lines under his eyes.

“Scott and I will take care of it.”

“We will?”

“They stay here.”

You tell him Virgil! I don’t think Scott is used to that happening, but strap yourself in everyone - that is the whole point of this episode! I love Scott’s new catchphrase too.

“We will?” “You will?”

The way both of those were said just make me chuckle.

MAX got his own moment! I loved him coming up into Thunderbird Two, it was a lovely change to the launch sequence (which I will be honest, I don’t often watch as I use them as my catch up with ‘typing/correcting spelling errors’ on these things time)!

Ah, the view! Closest I’ve ever got to it was Lapland... still gorgeous from there though.

It’s rare that we get to see John but-in like this either, but even he is telling Scott what to do this episode.

“I can do this.”

Sometimes, Scott, you have to accept that you can’t, and that doesn’t make you any less. Trust me on that one, I know the feeling.

MAX getting lifted int the back of the pod!

Yeah, we so know where Alan gets his crazy from.

“Scott, follow the route. It’s too dangerous!”

“We’ll be fine. Trust me!”

You were saying, Scott?

“This is actually quite fun!”

I’m glad Brains is at least enjoying a rescue for once. It’s like a man and his dog with MAX and Brains too. Really nice touches with the photo too.

“You can go faster than that. Step on it.”

No wonder he has a love for speed - so did Grandma in ‘Unplugged’, and his Father too apparently.

Mechanical Assistant eXperimental. I’m glad someone finally told us - Scott’s face though.

“That’s it. We are going to have to wait until the fog clears.”

Keep putting your foot down Virgil, because now we get the tent and one of my favourite scenes!

“What’s going on with you today?”

“Me? We’re on a mission. We need to do everything we can to get their ASAP, and you’re taking the scenic route.”

“It’s the safe route.”

“I didn’t come here to be safe.”

“You can’t keep pushing everyone and everything to the limit.”

“I don’t push anyone harder than they need to be pushed.”

“You’re so darn determined you don’t see the danger.”

“You don’t know what you’re capable of unless you keep pushing.”

“But we are not machines.”

“Someone has got to step up. I’m just doing what Dad did; he never gave up.”

“Dad worked hard, but even he knew there were limits. He couldn’t do it all.”

“But I have to do it all. I couldn’t save Dad... but maybe I can make up for it.”

“By saving everyone else?”

Look after yourselves everyone! But particularly the men out there! You can be strong and still have feelings. We all need to talk more and I have admired the writers of TAG for a long time for putting this scene into what is essentially a children’s tv show and writing it between two men. Often you might find something like this in content aimed at adult audiences - which is great because you’re targeting the generations who have been brought up on the nonsense of keeping some feelings closed off, but children are the future generations and often that is when we learn our responses to big things like grief - and we usually copy it from those we see around us (mainly adults) and how they deal with the situation. This is the way to change things, with positive media messages. Honestly, I could write on essay on the merits of scenes like this in the entertainment industry towards helping open up about mental health. I think I might have just written a good chunk of it above, but honestly, it is another reason why I praise this first series of Thunderbirds Are Go - even with injuries and talk of events, the writers really pushed the limits for what you can feature in a children’s program and it really shows.

“I miss him.”

I feel like that is something Scott hasn’t said aloud or in company for a long, long time.

“If I let myself think about... Keeping busy with International Rescue is the only thing that I have to stop me going crazy.”

I really do get it, Scott. I reckon a lot of us out there can relate. Or if you can’t yet, one day you’ll know the feeling. It’s nearly impossible to describe, but you’ll just know.

Way to go MAX in this episode! He was so amazing.

“Ok, Brains. Send MAX in.”

“MAX was a real hero.”

I love how they brought back everything that mattered, but thought it was the end of the world because there wasn’t anything much to bring back. Remember with computers to never just keep one copy of things! Another valuable lesson.

Rescue count: 25 (I am so including Virgil rescuing MAX).

They must really need the sleep too. I get jet lag flying every so often - the amount of times they cross the time lines... they must be exhausted.

Yeah... you’ll have to handle this one, John.

“We’ll take this one.”

Good call Gordon. I hope it’s something they can deal with - although this would suggest that the boys have made sure (to some extent) that they can cope with each others crafts... I mean, maybe this was something Three and/or Four could handle, but I do think that would be a real spot of luck. And we know Gordon can fly Two because he does in series 2 and he did via a pod in the 1st half of series one. That makes sense, because he could then get Four wherever it was needed, and he and Alan potentially would be able to go on a rescue without these Two because they would have all the equipment needed variable to them within Two.

What was that Virgil? I thought you mumbled something about cookies? And I think when Scott wakes up (and is less tired), he will have something to say about you putting your feet (and shoes) on his legs...

Phew, that was a long one.

And remember, there are charities out there such as Mind etc. Mental health matters and this episode is an ambassador for that!

Also, if you ever get the chance to go anywhere close enough to see the Northern Lights, I do highly recommend it.

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ask-de-writer · 5 years ago

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DARING DO and the ADVENTURE of the X'IBIAN VASE! : MLP Fan Fiction : Part 9 of 21

Return to the Master Story Index

Return to MLP Fan Fiction

Daring Do

and the Adventure of the X'ibian Vase!

De Writer (Glen Ten-Eyck)

And

Carmen Pondiego

Cover Art by

Doctor Dimension

52630 words

Writing begun 08/26/15

//////////////

Users of Tumblr.com are specifically granted the following rights. They may reblog the story. They may use the characters or original characters in my settings for fan fiction, fan art works, cosplay, or fan musical compositions, provided that such things are done without charge. I will allow those who do commission art works to charge for their images provided that I receive a copy of each image for my archive.

All sorts of fan art, cosplay, music or fictions is actively encouraged.

///////////////////////

Jeremy had out a small telescope and was scanning the shore as the Sea Sage and her escort river monitor pulled into the channel leading to the Dunn See. He was focusing on the dock that should have been theirs. Cranes aboard the motor ship were lowering modern looking motor trucks to the dock.

They had no trouble getting the trucks to the dock. It was the other cargo that was already unloaded that was the problem. There was no room for the trucks to get clear of the dock.

Jeremy was chuckling as he watched a pony from the ship stride confidently up to the Longshore Pony in charge, a bulging sack in hoof.

There was an altercation. The dockworkers began to shift the cargo about so that as much was moved to a warehouse as possible while still blocking the trucks from moving.

As their position blocked the view, Soree, standing beside Jeremy, and using field glasses, said, “I can tell by how you chuckled, that you were expecting something like that. Why?”

Without hesitation, Jeremy said, “I was given lessons last night in the etiquette of bribery and some other issues of courtesy. Especially of the bowing.

“I was dead wrong about everything. Qushi Han Le set me straight on it. I got my first practical lesson by watching Mister Overthrow try to bribe the Dockworkers.

“He started off by not bowing at all. That is bad. Then he publicly asked the lead pony to name his price! That finished THAT. There is courtesy involved. ROT seems really short of it. Even shorter than I was!”

Daring Do had silently joined them. “That is for sure. So, Qushi paid you a visit?”

“Yes. I am alive right now because of you, Doctor Do. She could have killed me herself and let me know it. She spared me because she respects you and, by bringing me along, you showed her that you valued me.

“Instead of killing me, she taught me about bribes and bowing. It put a lot of what you recommended for reading into sharp perspective.”

The busy shoreline and waters of the port were falling behind, to be replaced by the busy waterfront of the residential parts of Singapone. The shipping channel was clear of any but the proper river cargo traffic but over in the shallows by the many homes and estates of the well to do, was what appeared to be a mad house of dinghies, sampans and other craft too numerous and tightly packed to sort out.

Soree was having delightful time sketching and writing in her journal. “Look! The ponies that live near the water don’t have to go shopping! Those boats are ALL selling things!”

Jeremy watched with wonder as a rickety dock crowded with buyers was swarmed about with small boats selling everything from seaweeds, hay and grain from up river, to fish, crafts, pots and pans and other goods beyond number.

His eye now alerted to the courtesy issues, Jeremy saw how a boat with the goods that a buyer wanted was signaled for and a bow offered at the same time.

Daring Do looked on and listened as he muttered, “I see. Wave is I want you, bow is for respect to merchant. Return bow recognizes and pays respect to the buyer. It all flows from that.”

Daring Do nodded agreement and said, “Soree, are you following what Jeremy is pointing out? This is important to know.”

Soree held up her pen and replied, “What Qushi Han Le thought important enough to teach in that way, I have been recording most carefully.”

Jeremy paused, embarrassed.

The Sea Sage forged on up river accompanied by the iron clad river monitor with its massive, slope sided turrets carrying two guns each. Jeremy pointed to the characters painted on its bow and stern. “Do those really mean 'Flower of Peace?'” he asked, incredulously.

Soree looked up from her latest sketch and nodded. “They really do mean that. Peaceful Flower would be a good reading too. It is an example of the Chineighese ironic thought.”

Daring Do looked on with a smile, proud of her students and their developing skills. Down close to the water’s edge, there was a road. That drew Soree’s eye. “If there is a road, wouldn’t it be faster to take it rather than ride the ship up stream?”

Daring Do smiled almost evilly as she replied, “If you were from Equestria, where roads are the main transportation arteries, you might think so. Those roads are for river bank maintenance and for salvage gear transport in the event of a river or canal accident.

“The Chineighese Empire is held together by the most modern and advanced system of river, canal and railroad transport that I am aware of.” She made a fluttering gesture with her hoof. “Roads, except near cities, not so much. They only feed the harvest, mine and factory goods to the canals and railroads.

“I suspect that ROT will be finding out all about that, really soon.”

Her brows drawn down in vee of thought and concentration, Soree asked, “Why would they make a blunder like that? Your book on the Darkling Expedition and your official reports make it clear that you really couldn’t manage with modern trucks.”

Daring Do tried and failed to look innocent as she stared over the rail at the road along the shoreline. “It MIGHT have something to do with the expedition proposal that I gave them as part of the negotiations before we agreed to disagree.”

Lights dawned in the expressions of both Jeremy and Soree. With a giggle, Soree put it into words. “You knew that you weren’t going to work for them so you set them up!”

A quiet nod was her only answer.

Jeremy was watching the shoreline scene more carefully now. “Look! There are the trucks of the ROT expedition! They are going to pass us really soon. What will slow them down?”

Soree pointed ahead a fair ways up river, where a canal came down through a lock to the river. The bridge, at the lock, was a high, steeply arched affair. They could all see foot traffic crossing the bridge in both directions.

While they watched, a cart rose up from the far side of the bridge and descended slowly to the road by the canal. There, a pair of Chineighese ponies in flat, conical hats, hitched to it and pulled it to a waiting warehouse. While they were doing that, another, seemingly identical cart came across the bridge. It too, was pulled to the warehouse.

Jeremy, watching closely, pointed out, “There is a rail spur leading to the warehouse!”

Soree retorted, “I am more interested in how those carts are crossing the bridge without anypony pulling them!”

That was answered as the Sea Sage drew nearer to the lock. Alongside the canal was a heavy water mill that was driving the the cargo moving mechanism. A cart was pulled from where the canal boat was being unloaded. The ponies pulling it hauled it into guides and unhitched. The mechanism, driven by the water mill, snagged the cart and carried it up and over the steep arch of the bridge to similar guides that freed the cart to be hauled away.

Suddenly Jeremy brayed laughter. “That bridge isn’t made for trucks at all!”

That simple prophecy was borne out by the arrival of ROT’s trucks. There was nothing that those on the ship could hear, but plenty to see! The swarm of ponies in their flat conical straw hats, the obviously important lock officials and the drivers of the trucks all in a right tangle!

The mess disappeared astern as the small convoy sailed serenely upriver! Dining on the afterdeck later, Jeremy snorted his amusement. “If their bribing skills are as good as they were at the dock, they are still going to be there tomorrow!”

Soree giggled at the memory of the trucks being neatly blocked by cargo.

Nearly to the busy river port of Cantrot the Flower of Peace suddenly accelerated! A steam siren blasting for emergency right of way, the iron clad roared upriver, her wake smashing in waves on the shore and putting smaller craft at risk.

The Sea Sage was being pulled into her dock when the echoing reports of heavy gunfire came rolling faintly back downriver. Emergency boats, that always had steam up, blasted a cacophony of warning whistles and cast off, charging up river toward the sounds of battle.

The port went about its business as if nothing was happening.

The Sea Sage safely secured to the dock, Daring Do led the way down the gangplank and into a port office.

Jeremy and Soree were watching curiously as Daring Do approached the official behind the desk. She bowed the bow of equals as she offered, “Good sir, while I do know that we must pay the proper fees for our port clearance and further travel permits, I would first ask your assistance.” She hoofed over a golden cash and the first few of a substantial sheaf of papers. “I have learned that wherever paper work is involved, there are subtleties that one such as myself does not grasp. What I would have of your great experience, is to explain these to me in detail so that I make no error of ignorance in the future.”

Smiling broadly, he gave a small duck of his head and began. He laid out the papers before him on the shabby desk blotter and began to go through them in detail.

Each new batch of papers was preceded by its coin. At the end of the exchange, the official smiled up at Soree and Jeremy and asked, “I hope that the lesson given you by Doctor Do was well learned?”

Surprised, but having had a powerful lesson already, Jeremy bowed deeply from the waist, and Soree, seeing him do so, did herself. “We did learn well, good Port Master. You were a teacher of excellent wisdom.”

~~ ~~ ~~ ~~

<==Previous Next==>

Return to the Master Story Index

Return to MLP Fan Fiction

#DARING DO AND THE ADVENTURE OF THE X'IBIAN VASE #Part 9 of 21 #MLP Fan Fiction #Written by De Writer and Carmen Pondiego

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isnotys · 5 years ago

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Seamless Part 5: The Finale

Summary: After being Shane Dawson’s assistant for a year, things couldn’t have been going better. However, Shane had other plans. He has decided that your next move is to jump headfirst into your true passion and with some unexpected partners.

Warnings: None

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Inspiration for the name of this series

*Two weeks after the New Years Party*

The clock strikes 7 am and I am abruptly awakened by Shane. He never comes into my room, so I think this is an emergency and we might have to evacuate the house.

“Y/N! Wake up, sunshine!,” He yells excitedly and I can barely open my eyes because of the light coming through the windows.

“It’s too bright and too early for this, Shane. Who died? Did you get canceled again? I’ll write the press release don’t worry.” I say standing from the bed looking for my computer. He motions for me to stay where I am and I look out the window. It’s a perfect blue sky day and I can see Ryland playing with the dogs outside while Morgan bathes in the sun by the pool. And by bathing, I mean wearing her usual sweatshirt and sweatpants, but with her feet submerged in the pool.

“You are so negative!” he snorts, “I need you to get ready and meet me downstairs in an hour.”

“We don’t have anything scheduled for today, Shane. What is going on?”

He smiles, “We have an important meeting today at 9am.” He gets up from the bed while I am still trying to process what’s happening. Suddenly, he turns to me before reaching the door and says, “wear something cute!” Then he leaves the room quickly.

I have absolutely no idea what is going on, but there is no reason for me to think something bad is going to happen. I am trying to stay positive, that is one of my resolutions for the new year. Well, that and getting my shit together. But hey, one thing at a time, right?

I am sure that Shane is most likely taking me to Jeffree’s so we can work on some video ideas and marketing strategies for the new march launch. Say what you will about Jeffree, but no matter what he is going through, he is hustling through it.

I make my way downstairs and Shane orders an Uber.

“Are we going by ourselves? Where’s Andrew?” I ask.

He puts on his backpack and fixes his jacket then answers, “He’ll meet us there. No more questions, y/n!,” he yells jokingly.

We get in the car and I am now convinced that we aren't going to Jeffree’s. In fact, we arrive at Shane’s office and Morgan’s former apartment. It’s almost 9am and it’s a chilly morning for LA. I try not to worry about what is going on, but Shane is rarely ever this secretive. Plus, we haven't even been to this place in months, there’s definitely something going on here.

I don’t understand what we are doing here and after walking into the apartment, I notice Andrew is nowhere to be seen. This apartment feels as creepy and as haunted as ever. It also smells a little funky, I think Garrett might have left something in the refrigerator again and it’s definitely rotten.

“Go into the meeting room, I’ll meet you there in a bit. I have to go get the door,” he says motioning that I go up the stairs.

I calm down a little, that must mean Andrew is here and we are most likely going to brainstorm some ideas for new videos.

As I settle down, I hear more than two sets of footsteps going up the stairs. Then, the door opens and I finally see them. The meetings is with none other than the Dolan Twins.

“Good morning,” Grayson says as Ethan smiles avoiding eye contact with me.

“I brought you all here together today,” Shane breathes in deeply and continues, “to make sure that the negotiations go smoothly. He says and they all join me at the table that is in the middle of the room. Unlike the rest of the apartment, this room has great windows that make it seem less like a dungeon.

“I don’t understand, Shane,” I say as calmly as possible even though my heart hit the ground floor of this building. I was afraid he was going to fire me, it’s not like he really needs an assistant that much, but why would he invite the twins for it? I pretend to seem ok, but I am so deeply hurt that Shane would just end our partnership like that, it is so embarrassing.

“Let me explain, y/n” Ethan starts, “Back when we met up with Shane at his house, the day we met you, to discuss our next move he recommended that we started working with you because you are such a great writer and a great addition to the team -,”

“So you became “friends” with me to make sure I wouldn't say no to working for you?” I say catching my breath, not letting him finish the sentence, I really want to run out of this room. “You could’ve just said so, Shane. That you didn't want me to work for you anymore. I would've just moved back to NYC.” Shane just sits there perplexed, as if I was speaking another language.

“I told you both that she was going to get the wrong idea, we should've just told her from the beginning,” Grayson snaps at Shane and Ethan.

“You’re not working for us, you are working with us, y/n. We absolutely loved your script and we want to produce it,” Ethan says softly looking at me and going to grab my hands as if to comfort me.

My heart feels like it stopped for a full minute, “You let them read my script, Shane?” I say finally losing it and I jerk away from Ethan and towards Shane. “That copy was for you, and you only!” A feeling of anger overtakes me, I feel betrayed. If only he’d asked, if only they would’ve told me about all this. And here I thought the twins wanted to actually be my friends.

“We are the ones who wanted to read it, the plot was interesting, it’s really good, y/n” Ethan assures, stopping Shane from even saying a word.

“For the record, I wanted to tell you from the beginning. To avoid exactly this, you thinking we are using you to help our careers,” Grayson almost whispers, brown eyes never leaving mine and I just want to drop down to the floor and cry.

“So you just pretended to be my friends instead,” I say holding back the tears.

“We never, ever pretended to be your friends,” Grayson emphasizes.

“The only reason we didn't tell you about Shane’s idea was so we could have a real friendship and then see if the whole partnership would actually work,” Ethan interrupts Grayson.

“We wanted this to be real, not just about business. We have had issues before, so it was easier to just connect without any pressure,” Grayson continues.

“Yes, we’re only doing this because we felt like we’ve known you forever and we want to help you tell the story you’ve written and have you as a partner in our production company,” Ethan says.

“But only if you want to, if you don't want to work with us or even talk to us again, that’s ok. Just please understand that it was never our intention to use you. We wanted to be your friends and if that worked out, it would lead the way to us working together,” Grayson reassures me and grabs my shoulders. My head is spinning and I don’t even know what to think anymore.

“We do really believe in you and think that you are a very talented writer,” Ethan says putting his arm around my shoulder.

“I thought you wanted to get rid of me,” I say looking at Shane, “And that you guys just wanted me to be your stepping stone for the next chapter,” I say looking at Ethan and then at Grayson.

“That was never the intention, y/n. You’re like a daughter to me,” Shane says and I run to hug him tightly.

“I am sorry for overreacting guys, there is nothing I’d love more than to be able to make the story I wrote into a movie with you,” I say trying to keep my tears from falling. I’m such an emo baby.

“Don’t worry, we get it and probably would've done the same thing. You can't trust just anyone in this city, but you can trust us,” Grayson smiles.

“We’re with you ‘till the end,” Ethan says and they both hug me. Somehow, it feels like I am finally where I belong.

I am scared, but I know this is the start of something wonderful. There was one thing better than welcoming the decade with the people you most admire after all, and that is getting to work alongside them.

The End

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friendshiptothemax · 6 years ago

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Hey guys! Sorry for taking a while to get back to this! Spent time hanging out with my fam, but now I’m back. My episode party in LA was pretty sweet except that the grill caught on fire and we had to extinguish it out! My parents’ party in Texas was also awesome. My dad didn’t know I was coming, and when my best friend and I pulled up, he started to tease her for being early before he saw me and he got all choked up!! Also my high school creative writer came, and my dad’s best friend showed up in Red cosplay (and when we opened the door he was down on his knees facing away with his hands behind his head and said he’ll only talk with Elizabeth Keen, which was v. funny). An awesome episode weekend all around! I also loved the reception from you guys – I got a lot of really sweet comments from you that I really appreciated. You guys are the best!

Now a few little BTS details that I promised:

The thing I’m most proud of that made it into episode 618 is the Weepies song at the end. Something a lot of people know The Blacklist for is our music – JB loves to pick out the perfect songs for each episode. I put The Weepies in my very first draft and was delighted to see them make it all the way to the final cut – it’s actually quite a high honor from JB, that he likes my taste in music!

My other favorite thing is the Ms. Pac-Man stuff. When I started writing the outline, all that was written there from Aram when Ressler gives him the quarters is “What’s this?” I think Aram is a really fun character, and I wanted to give him something more distinct to say, so I put Aram saying he used to hold the high score in Ms. Pac-Man. What is really cool about that is the second part, at the end of the scene, where Ressler calls it back, was added by the Johns later. It was a fun “yes-and” – they saw my original joke, and they liked it enough to build on it! Even more flattering? They’ve shot a callback to it in another scene this season! I’ve created a part of Aram’s character, y’all!

So a few notes on the development of the episode. Typically, when lower-level writers/assistants pitch for the show, we don’t know the specifics of where the plot will be in that episode. We might know the general arc, but not exactly what the B/C/D stories in the episode will be, and I was no exception. My idea was specifically that there was a true-crime podcaster who was killing people to make it look like the crime was resurfacing. The seed of this idea was my love for this true crime explosion that’s going on right now (if you love Serial, Making a Murderer, the Keepers, etc, my go-to recommendation is Criminal, which is a really excellent podcast). What intrigued me is that you listen to a true crime podcast, you are putting an extreme amount of trust the podcaster to give you all of the facts – when they might have biases you don’t realize.

My original idea had what I called the “wrong things for the right reasons” ending, where in the end, we find out that Tobias is innocent, the professor is guilty of the original murders, and Kimberly has been committing the new ones because she fervently believes the police got the wrong guy and is willing to go vigilante to correct their mistake. This is what I pitched in the room, BUT, from pretty much that first pitch, JB got really excited by what I call the “spiderman-pointing-at-spiderman.jpg” ending, where Kimberly kills people because she believes Tobias is innocent, but after she gets him out, she learns that he really did do the original murders.

The Spiderman ending stayed for a really long time! We were well into breaking the episode when we realized it didn’t really work – it made the final two acts SO CLUNKY. There had to be a scene where they each realized the other was a murderer, learned why the other did it, and we got their perspective on how they felt about the other being a murderer. Which was A LOT. It also left us without an innocent person for the FBI to be rushing to save (we call this the “muffin”).

At one point earlier on we had discussed the version where Kimberly had been the killer all along, which I hated when we initially discussed it. I couldn’t get my head around why, if she’d gotten away with it all of those years ago, she would not only return to her old ways, but also make a podcast about it? It seemed like a very broad villain move to me. But then, when we were banging our heads against the wall trying to get the Spiderman ending to work, someone suggested that she had done all of this, from the very beginning, out of love for Tobias and suddenly it was like *angels singing sound effect* and everything fell into place!! It’s funny how that works sometimes – I’m sure some of you fic writers can relate! Sometimes it seems really hard until just one little puzzle piece makes it all work. And thus you got the ending you saw on screen.

In my position as script coordinator, I name probably about a quarter of the characters on the show, so I didn’t have a ton of names in the bank that I really, really wanted to use, but I did get a few special ones in there. Tobias is for Tobias the Animorph, who I knew I was going to get a tattoo of to celebrate my first episode (he doesn’t have a canon last name, but I have used Tobias Carlyle in fic before). Kimberly is for my college roommate, who has done some radio work. I wish I could have used her full name, but her last name is REALLY FUCKING METAL. Imagine that her name is, like, Kimberly Swordsteel. It’s not quite that, but you get the idea. I knew the Johns would never let me get away with using it, so I just gave her a random last name (she was still honored!). I wish I could have named the professor after one of my faves, but since he was a creepo obviously that would not be a compliment, so I named him after Anne McCaffrey, the author of Dragonriders of Pern. Everyone else is just a jumble of first and last names from my Facebook feed.

Anyway, I hope you liked it! I had a great time writing it and an even better time watching it on the TV! I decided I wanted to be a TV writer back in 2007 when I was in the height of my Heroes fandom, so that I can say I wrote an episode of something on NBC twelve years later is pretty fucking surreal! As I’ve said in other places, James Spader is a master of his craft, and it was an absolute honor to have him perform words I wrote. I couldn’t have been luckier for my first episode.

I’m also really excited because I’ve been asked to record DVD commentary for this episode, which I’m looking forward to! :)

#the blacklist #the blacklist script coordinator #the blacklist episode writer #episode 618

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ianalizz · 5 years ago

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To the Moon and Back

Disclaimer: If you like surprises, please do not read blurb!

Two past lovers encounter each other once again. While trying to distinguish the new boss and employee relationship they find themselves in strange encounters. Explosions and retaliations are the residue left over from their past. Both Mila and Harry wish to move on in order to work in a tranquil environment. The only way to acquire said wish is to talk out their past, but it seems like they can never get on the same page. Will they ever move on? Or will they shove the past in to the back of their minds in order to work harmoniously? One question that strides to Mila's mind is why did he come back? Short story! Hope you like it 🖤

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Also, I have a wattpad that you guys can follow: https://www.wattpad.com/Ianalizz?utm_source=web&utm_medium=tumblr&utm_content=share_profile

Would I lose myself in him or would he enhance the better parts of my writing? Mila always wondered what would happen if the right guy swooped her off her feet. Now it seems so distant since she’s distracted. She doesn’t have to worry about guys now with her new job promotion being just in reach. It took three years to get (or almost get) to this point of her life. She is not going to let anyone ruin this for her. Not even the clueless barista at the coffee shop her boss loves. “Is this four pumps of caramel and one shot of coconut because I saw you do two caramel and two coconut. I’m going to need another iced coffee. I beg of you please make it right this time, my potential job depends on this order.” Her brown eyes pierce into the teenager and he simply nods and scoffs while taking her order back and replacing it. She mouths a loud thank you and walks out of the crowded coffee shop with a huge smile. As she says good morning to bystanders, they feel warm and can’t tell if it’s the well dressed brunette or the summer sun.

Mila makes her way into the tall glass building in the middle of New York City. The famous building is owned by Jeff Finn, one of the most famous writers in the country. The security guard greets Mila with a wave and she waves back rather aggressively while entering the elevator. Her excitement cannot be contained. She knew she was getting the job the minute it was presented to three interns: herself, snoring Steve, and Kelsey. Let it be known that Kelsey has been on maternity leave for three years and no one has heard of her since. There’s a rumor that she died, but according to her Facebook status she’s just... inactive.

The elevator dings on floor three and she leaps out while looking at her watch. Just in time, she thinks. Just in time to be early. A whole hour and seventeen minutes early. The front desk lady, Denise smiles as Mila leans over to say hello. “Hi, sweetheart. How are ya doing?” She asks with great concern.

Mila finds this confusing because it is obvious that she’s doing great. “Um amazing! How can you even ask me that Denise? Mr. Finn will give me the promotion and I’ll finally have,” She breathes deeply and almost tears up, “benefits.” She bites her lips and does a little dance showing her enthusiasm.

Mila slowly stops when noticing Denise’s facial expression. She reaches out of Mila’s arm, “Oh no. I thought someone would have told you.” Her thumb rubs Mila in a comforting style, but Mila jerks away slowly.

“Told me what? Don’t say that snoring Steve got that position! He talks out of his ass.” Mila’s voice grows into a whisper as Denise points toward the doorway revealing Steve. “G-good morning… man” She nervously says with a false smile.

Steve pulls out one of his apple air pod headphones and responds with a, “Huh?” and Mila thanks God silently.

She turns her attention to Denise, going back to their previous conversation. “Mila, no one is getting a promotion anytime soon. Jeff died last Friday.” Denise’s sorrowful eyes matches Mila’s. “I’m sorry, hun.”

Mila tries to make sense of this, but it hits her like a moving truck. “S-so... no benefits?” Denise’s shocked expression makes Mila feel the need to defend herself. “What? No one liked the guy.” Denise hits Mila on the hand like a child. “Ow! Okay, okay. I do feel for him and no one deserves that. No matter how rude and despicable they are-- were.” Mila recalls the times Mr. Finn would come to her cubicle and drop papers just to watch her pick it up and the amount of times he called her Mimi makes her gag to this day. She could have simply quit, but the pay was good and it will take more than a man to make her quit her dreams in being a published poet. Her current job was only phase one in her seven year plan. Let’s include the fact that we are in year 3 and still on phase one. Phase two was the editor position, but that dream quickly crumbled. “Iced coffee?” She hands the four pumps of caramel and one shot of coconut to Denise.

At work, she can’t get her mind off the editor position that’s still open. There has to be a way to get it. Part of her thinks it’d be easy to just pretend she already got the job and the other part of her doesn’t want to risk it. I mean, it would be easy. Just go in the editor’s office and start working. I’m perfect for the job. No one will have a clue. Except maybe for snoring Steve. She glances over to Steve who seems to be asleep and drooling. Okay, maybe he won't even notice. She gets up, careful not to wake Steve because if she does she’ll have to again hear the story of how his grandmother ice skated naked eight years ago on New Year’s.

She takes the elevator to the fourth floor where all the editors are. The last office on the left is where she believes dearly that she belongs. The only obstacle that was in the way was that Mr. Finn’s office would be diagonally next to hers, but now that doesn’t seem like a problem anymore. She walks in and her white heels clack on the dark hardwood floor. Her heart beats as she floats toward the desk, letting her fingers dance on the fine dark oak and slowly makes their way to the black plush chair. Her eyes envision her clients seated right in front of her desk and on the leather seats. She sits down on her dream chair and spins while laughing a little.

Suddenly, she hears Mr. Finn’s office door open and she ducks down under the desk. She hears footsteps approach the desk and she remains frozen in place, hoping it isn’t the ghost of Mr. Finn. The footsteps come to a stop right in front of her. The figure crouches down to her level of eyesight. The man’s green eyes locks with her as their faces are merely inches from each other. His grin turns into an even bigger smile when he notices her eyebrows raise. “Need help?” His British accent as thick as the tension in the room. He extends his hand.

Mila takes his hand and rises to her feet with the help of green eyes. “Thank you.” She lightly says while brushing off any dust on her blazer.

“No problem.” He says. He scratches his head before saying, “S-so, um. How have you been?” His face bright red and sweaty hands deep in his pockets.

“Fine. Yourself?” Her arms crossed and eyes are now attempting to burn him or make him disappear like in her poems she’s written about him, but it isn’t going to be that easy. “Good, good.” He runs his fingers through his curls and out of his eyes, gaining the confidence to say, “Look Mila,”

“Save it.” She cuts him off quickly while turning to exit, but in the back of her head she needs to know; why is he back? “W-what are you even doing here Harry?” Her lips press together as she cocks her head to the side waiting on his answer.

“Well, I…” She cuts him off again.

“Why would you think for one second I would want to see you again?”

“I didn’t mean to,” There she goes again.

“To what? Leave without telling me? Move to a whole other country without telling me?” Her voice bounces off the walls.

“Mila, I…”

“You what?” Just let him talk! Oh sorry. I’m getting too into this.

Finally, once Mila is ready to hear his excuses as to why he left two years ago, a knock appears at the door. The pair looks at Mr. Finn’s assistant, Griffin, as he pops his multicolored dyed head into the room. “Mr. Styles, you have a meeting at eleven with the board and where would you like the interviews held for the new editor position?” In between his flamboyant words Mila makes the connection as to why Harry is here.

Harry clears his throat and says, “I’ll be out in a minute.” With that Griffin closes the door and the pair regain eye contact.

“You’re replacing Mr. Finn aren’t you?” Mila questions with her shoulders hanging low. Although she is really vexatious due to the fact he left, deep down she wanted him to say he had come back for her. He nods his head while walking toward the door, opening it for her. She glances back in to the editor’s office longingly before kissing her seven year plan goodbye.

Walking back to her cubicle, she runs in to Denise who notices that Mila is nervously picking at her nails. “Oh so you didn’t hear yet?” Denise smiles.

“Hear what?” Mila shrugs her shoulders, but maintains her distinguishably sad posture.

“The new boss flew in last night and is rescheduling the editor’s position interviews! Isn’t that great? You’ll get benefits!” Denise starts to happy dance and notices that Mila isn’t doing so, therefore killing the vibe. “Uh uh, nope. No moping. You’re a shoo in for that job.” She states convincingly while wagging her finger at Mila.

“I don’t think so. It’s Harry.” Mila mutters.

“Why do you still have that asshole in your mind? It’ been two years.” Denise says throwing her arms in the air, but whispering yet shouting.

“No, Denise. The boss is Harry.” Denise’s eyes widen and she looks at Mila with such sorrow once again.

Mila has no choice but to drown herself in work. It distracts her from thinking of Harry and the fact that she might not even have an intern position by next week. Yelling at the boss on his first day isn’t really… recommended. The only thing keeping her going is the fact that she already paid the next three months rent in advance. At least that’s something she did not have to worry about. She’s also looking forward to the full moon tonight. Something about that circle in the sky always intrigued her.

The thoughts of Mila and the snores of Steve are interrupted by Griffin. “Steve!” Steve awakens belligerently with a low groan. “Boss-man would like to see you,” Griffin says. Is Harry interviewing for the position now? Mila thinks. She can feel her heart frown as well as her lips.

“I thought he was dead.” Steve says while wiping the crumb out of his eyes.

“New boss. Now wipe that drool off your face and look somewhat presentable. See you up there in 5.” Griffin says as he shoots Mila a small smile and Steve one more glare. Steve does as told and gets up, possibly to rob Mila of her temporary dream job.

Steve hasn’t come back and it’s already past clock out time. Mila has to do last minute touches before she can leave her desk. She skims the window to take in the scenery of the sun setting. The yellows, oranges, and pink mesh together to create intangible beauty, humans barely deserve to look at it. She looks at her reflection and notices that she isn’t the only one there. She turns back swiftly and sees Harry yet again. “Oh hi?” She questions more than says.

“It’s 5:37. What are you still doing here?” He questions while leaning on Steve’s desk.

“I just had to do some work before the... before I leave.” She packs up everything on her desk and grabs her purse.

“Before the full moon?” His voice, light, almost hesitant. “I remember you wanting to finish everything so you can focus on your writing under the moonlight.” He smiles to himself losing eye contact with Mila.

This small talk and walk through memory lane breaks Mila’s heart all over again, but she can’t be mean to her new boss. “Yeah. Anyway, I must go. Good night.” He looks at her directly one last time before moving out of her way.

“Good night, Mila.” She passes him and walks out, not looking back. He stares at her, hoping for one more dose of her brown eyes, but he is left craving.

Now in sweats, fuzzy socks, a Southern Connecticut State sweater and no makeup, Mila sits on her fire escape waiting for the muse of the moon to unleash the breathtaking and wishful words. C’mon moon. Give me something. How about her eyes danced as she searches for… Nope. Human nature is… No. Two years is a HUGE AMOUNT OF...Nada. She can’t seem to focus. All she can think about is how her ex boyfriend is now her boss and she might possibly have to find a new job. Maybe I can work as a barista. I’d be the best damn barista in the… Nah. As if on cue, an unknown number calls Mila. Maybe talking to a tax scammer can clear her mind. “Hello?” Her monotone voice earns a familiar chuckle from the other side.

“Glad you haven’t changed your number.” Harry mumbles over the phone taking Mila back a little. He had saved her number all this time. “Listen, I wanted to apologize if it seemed like I ambushed you with my presence today.” His voice is dim. There is a pause between them. Harry’s side of the phone captures the pops of his fireplace. Harry can also hear the wind howling through Mila’s side. “I’m also sorry that I left.” Those words takes Mila’s breath away. “It was selfish and I can never forgive myself for hurting you. It was never my intention. Seeing you today took me back to before and it,” he gulps before saying, “and it tortured me all day. I just hope we can work past this. Good night.” With that, Mila is left with the dial tone and inspiration.

Her fingers cramp up begging her to stop typing and editing, but she has to or else the moment will be gone. She can see her reflection on the laptop screen and her smile is ear to ear as she finishes up her last line. The moon came through for her tonight like it always has.

The next morning, dreadful. The elevator doors ring as they open up to the third floor revealing Griffin. “Mila! Yes, Mr. Styles has been looking for you! Go upstairs and meet him right away.” He chimes pressing the fourth floor button and walking out, barely giving her time to acknowledge him or even breathe.

She does as told and walks slowly toward his office, and of course she can’t help, but to take a peek into the new editor’s office to see if Steve really got the position. As she peers in, her eyes spot Harry sitting on the desk with his legs up revealing his Chelsea boots and his phone in his hands. Confusingly, she enters capturing Harry’s attention. “Mila!” Taken off guard, he stumbles back with the chair and falls over.

Mila rushes to his side in a fit of laughter. “Oh my God. Are you okay?” She asks in between giggles. Harry joins her with a chuckle that’s infused with a groan of pain. She looks at him and extends a hand, “Need help?” She questions. Harry smiles and accepts her kind gesture.

As soon as the chair is back into place, Harry commands Mila to sit in it. She awkwardly does as Harry goes around to the leather chairs across the desk. “How do you feel?” He asks while sitting down slowly.

“I think I should be asking you. Are you sure you’re okay?” She now seriously asks. He nods and points to her with his hand, directing the question back to her. “Well, I feel pretty good. Why?”

Harry can’t hide the huge smile any longer and says, “I’ve considered deeply who deserves this editor position and you earned it.” Mila’s face doesn’t know if it should smile, roll her eyes or frown. “I thought you’d be happy.”

“I am. I would love this job, but I can’t help but think that it’s because of our history. Therefore, I do not want it if it’s coming from you.” She wants to earn this job and she genuinely believes she did, but it seems so given to her if it’s by an ex.

Harry stands up, flabbergasted at what she just said. “Mila, look it was between you and Steve. Kelsey doesn’t work here so we ruled her out. Steve? Snoring Steve?” He knows about that? “He was fired yesterday because of the five hour security footage of him sleeping in the janitor’s closet.” He comes closer to Mila’s desk and leans over, using his arms to balance him leaning over Mila’s face. “You were the only who came close to earning this position. If you even think for one second it was magically handed to you because of some past feelings, you’re wrong. This is a business, so do your job.” Harry says sternly and turns around slamming his office door. Mila believes that she has earned this job after what Harry said, but how he said it makes her feel a fire in the dark places of her heart. He didn’t have to scrutinize her in such an impassioned form. I’m taking this job, she thought, and then I’ll take his. Whoa there, Mila, what happened to the plan?

The next few days involve work and longing looks between Harry and Mila that morphs into rolls of eyes and scoffs. They haven’t spoken since Harry’s big blow up and to be frank, Mila doesn’t mind not talking to him. She’s done it for two years, she can handle it. You know who can’t? Big boss man Harry. He can’t stand watching her and not being able to speak to her, so he enters her office. “Yes?” She acknowledges him without looking directly at him. He hasn’t step foot in her new office since he gave her the job and now realizes that she has made it her own. The original poetry on the wall he recognizes from times Mila would read to him at night. The empty shelves were now stacked with her favorite books from To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee to Pillow Thoughts by Courtney Peppernell. On the pale gray wall there are wooden picture frames that matches her desk with her family in them. She looks up when she realizes that he hasn’t said a word and it is because he is in awe of how much this empty room changed within days. “Yes?” She asks once more.

“Oh, well I was stopping by to apologize.” He says nervously playing with the sleeves of his button down.

“You’ve been doing that lately.” Mila puts her pen on the desk heavily to place her attention on him.

“I didn’t mean to explode like that. I just don’t want there to be a problem between us because of our past. I owned up to my mistakes and you still treat me so cold. Can we both grow up and put this behind us just to have this a decent place to work.” He says, finally letting go of his sleeve and making direct eye contact with her. He can almost feel himself burning from the inside out with the look she’s giving him.

Mila sucks her teeth and contemplates before she nods her head toward the door, signifying him to close it. He does as so and turns to her as she walks around her desk and sits on it. She crosses her legs and let out a breath. “I would love to, but in order for that to happen we must clear the air. Talk about everything and then leave it behind. It’s the only way I can move on and I’m betting the same thing goes for you.” She feels proud handling this so maturely. It’s true, she wants to get along for the sake of their jobs.

He inches closer and sits on the leather couch. “Do you want to start or should I?” He looks up to her gaze and fights the urge to remove the strand of loose hair covering her eyes.

“Well…” She elongates the well and raises her voice high and hops off the desk walking toward the window wall that has the most perfect view of the busy streets and billboards hoping the flashes of light and speeding cars would distract him a bit.

“What did you do?” He tilts his head while his eyes dilate.

Mila hesitates before saying, “I was just so angry at you and I-I…”

“Mila,” He warns.

“I called the board and said that you called me on my personal phone late at night and I found it completely inappropriate and I’m sorry.” She rushes her words and turns to Harry, who practically jumps off the chair causing it to scrap the floor.

“You what?!” Harry snaps and looks at her in disbelief. He inhales deeply and exhales loudly.

Mila can feel her face heat up because of the embarrassment of her retaliation toward Harry’s outbursts. “We can fix this. All I did was leave a message, they probably haven’t heard it.” She says.

“It’s useless.” He whispers putting his face in his hands. “Hopefully I’ll just get a warning or something.” Harry knows a warning is far from reach. Calling an employee of the opposite sex late at night and suddenly giving her a job promotion in his first two days isn’t really a great impression. Harry knows his job was on the line, but he doesn’t want to worry Mila.

“No, no. I have a plan.” She has that determined look in her eyes that Harry is all too familiar with. He begins to protest, but Mila’s brain is already calibrating. There is no stopping her now.

They both make their way to the elevator and head toward the second floor where the board member's offices are. Mila ignores Harry’s pleas to stop her from getting him in anymore trouble. “Okay,” Mila says. “We can’t let them see us or they will know somethings up. We have to crawl past front desk and see where they forwarded my call.” Mila knows her plan sounds strange, but 78% of the time they work, which are good odds for her.

They did as so. Mila leads the way and Harry follows her past the front desk. Harry respectfully attempts to keep his eyes toward the floor and not toward Mila. Mila’s positive that Harry’s tight pants would have ripped by now. They continue to crawl until they are out of sight. “How do you know they won’t be in their office?” Harry questions with a whisper.

Mila tries to come up with a softer way to say, I called again today to report you, but the front desk said they would be in a meeting until eleven. “Not important.” That works, too. “Now check those offices on the left and I’ll check the right ones. We’ll cover more ground.”

There are five offices Harry and Mila must check and only seven minutes to do so. The first office for Mila was dark and only lit by what she assumes was a blueprint mistake. The light source is a small and narrow window place awkwardly on the far left corner of the office. Mila tries to keep her mind on the plan, but the multiple cat painting hanging on the wall distracted her just a tad. Focus Mila. She tells herself over and over while nearing the phone. She picks it up and dials 1, which automatically directs her to the voicemail box, but no luck. The second one for Mila is also a dead end, but Harry’s second one is the winner. He feels the need to listen even though the little voice in his head tells him not to. Which is me. DON’T DO IT HARRY. IT ISN’T GOOD. He ignores and listens to the message.

Hello, I would love to speak to a board member. My name is Mila Castillo and I’d like to report one of your employees. My new boss and I have history. I tried to keep it out of my mind, but I can’t. Especially with him calling me at an unreasonable hour on my personal phone. It was completely inappropriate and I’m hoping you can deal with this. Thank you. Call me back.

Harry’s breath feels like it’s been punched out of him. He deletes the call and walks over to the door, but upon opening it, Mila runs in and shuts the doors. “Board members! Hide!” She whispers. Harry opens the supply closet filled with coats and brooms and grabs Mila by the wrist, pulling her in with him. As soon as the door closes they can swear someone entered. Mila and Harry have no choice but to stand chest to chest in this small supply closet. Mila looks up at him, “Did you find it?” Harry only nods and looks away from her eyes. “And you listened, didn’t you?” Mila wants him to shake his head no, but based on his current expression she already knows the answer. He nods again. “Look, I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking and I…”

“You were right.” He announces in a faint voice, cutting her sentence short. He moves back into some coats, maintaining a few inches from Mila. The silence in the closet makes Mila want to wish herself out of the situation, but wishful thinking can only go so far. Once Harry realizes there isn’t anyone in the room he leaves in a hurry. Mila stays in the closet a little longer hoping to catch the next elevator up.

Harry has been in his office all day with a closed door and Mila feels guilty. She can’t help it. Harry’s words keeps entering her mind as she tries to work; Can we both grow up and put this behind us just to have this a decent place to work. They echo repeatedly until she finally builds up the courage to knock on his door. A deep, “Come in.” is her cue to enter and so she does.

She walks into Harry’s office slowly and sees him looking out the gigantic window that matched Mila’s. He turns to her and offers that false pressed smile that no one wants. Mila closes the door and it vibrates the whole room. “That’s a heavy door.” She says chuckling the awkwardness away. Or so she thinks. Little did she know her chuckling summons more awkwardness. “Okay, I still think we should talk in order for us to work.” She speaks her mind and only hopes he would do the same.

He looks at her and nods, “I do too.” Mila grins, but it soon turns back into a straight line when he says, “When should I schedule our appointment.” He sits down on his chair and pulls himself closer to the desk to take a look at his calendar. “I’m free tomorrow after lunch.”

“Appointment? This isn’t some business deal, it’s about us.” Mila argues.

“You were right. On the phone. It was completely inappropriate and I’m your boss.” He says with such conviction. Mila cannot believe what she is hearing. She scoffs as she turns around and walks right out of the door, slamming it harder this time.

At home, all Mila can do is lay on her bed and think. She looks up to the white ceiling and throws her pillow up then catches it. The bed squeaks every time she uses all her force to throw the fluffy pink pillow up with both hands to the ceiling, but it fails to touch it every time.

Once she gives up, she grabs her phone. She looks at her recent call list and looks for the unknown number Harry called from nights ago. She presses it and breathes out preparing to have the talk with him. Unfortunately she gets his voicemail; You’ve reached Harry Styles. Please Leave a message: “Hey, hi. Listen, um. I’m sorry. I know what I said on the voicemail must have affected you and I didn’t mean them. I was just mad. I get mad and retaliate, you get mad and explode. We’re not perfect. I’m still getting used to this boss and employee relationship and still trying to figure things out. You wouldn’t believe the amount of times I sat on my fire escape and contemplated if quitting would work, but you’re right. We both earned these positions and the only way to get through this rough patch is to talk it through and leave nothing in the air. So schedule me for tomorrow after lunch please.” Mila giggles at that last part and hopes that Harry can find it in his heart to not leave her guessing in the dark on where they stand.

The night falls and the moon isn’t as radiant as when it’s full. Especially with the fog and the rain. Mila thought the pitter patter on her window would help her focus, but tonight lightning accompanied with thunder ruined the mood. Mila blames her horrible writing on the night sky. She attempts to write on paper, but soon realizes why she hated it. Crumbled pieces surround her on the gray covered bed and hardwood floors. Her mini trash can from five below overflowed with loose lines of poetry. Her mind yearns for a break from this depressing session. She finally agrees and goes into her kitchen to grab a water bottle from the fridge. As she chugs it down, she grabs her phone from the kitchen charger and realizes that she has 2 missed calls from the unknown number. She curses under her breath and attempts to call him back, but it goes straight to voicemail. She hangs up and regrets her willpower and rule of no phone while writing.

Unexpectedly a knock appears at her door. She goes to open it and reveals a drenched Harry. She takes a moment to figure out her words, but Harry comes in abruptly. “I can’t wait until tomorrow at lunch.” He says dripping on to the floor. Mila didn’t care that he’s making a mess at this moment. She closes the door and turns to him. “We need to talk and you said fire escape in your message so I was hoping you still live here. Can we please talk?” He says breathlessly. She nods and drinks the rest of her water to calm her sudden dry throat.

After Harry changes into Mila’s extra large SCSU shirt that she would normally sleep in and her brother’s basketball shorts that he left the last time he was here, she lit the fireplace and gave him a blanket to get him warm. He protested on all of that, but Mila was not letting him get hypothermia on her watch. After putting his clothes in the dryer, she finally sits on her plushy couch, joining him. “So,” She starts off, “let’s talk.” She leans her head on her hand which rests on the top of the couch.

Harry admires her soft features he hasn’t seen in years. The fresh face girl has rosy cheeks and plump pink lips that are foreign to him now and he can’t take it anymore. What other reason would he have to walk in the rain than to tell her his feelings that he has been fighting the moment he saw her again. “I,” He says barely audible. He looks at her eyes getting more than a dose and he’s suddenly in a trance. Mila snaps her fingers in his face returning him back to reality. “I left.”

In a flash, Harry remembers the day particularly. Mila and him were a few months in to their relationship and were at a good place. They were never in love, but almost there. Harry and Mila started working straight out of college as interns in a publishing office. It was exciting, adventurous, perfect. Almost like high school where the principle can’t catch you sneaking around. They were both hard workers though and that did not go unnoticed. They were both recommended for the manager position in Eastern London. Harry was the one that got it. Mila would have been supportive of her boyfriend, but what Harry doesn’t know is that Mila dropped out of the running so Harry can have the opportunity of a lifetime. She believed their relationship was strong enough at this point to overcome obstacles such as distance, but she wasted a wishful thought. Unfortunately, what Mila encountered was Harry leaving without telling her. Slowly they became emotionally distant to complement the physical distance. It was simply easier to forget about each other.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Mila’s eyes become glossy as they relive one of the most heartbreaking part of both their lives. The tears threaten to come down, but she puts her chin up and tries to gain control again.

Harry can’t look at her because he knows if he does, he’ll break. His eyes stare at the warm flames trying to distract himself, but once he hears her gasp through the tears, he crumbles. “I knew you gave up that job.” He admits. She looks at him with such confusion. “That’s why I left, because I knew that you giving up that job meant…” He can’t finish that sentence because the fear of him being wrong all these years haunts him and it just can’t be true because leaving would have been for nothing.

Mila sniffles as she calls his name for the first time since she found out she was his employee, “Harry?” He shuts his eyes moments before turning toward her and having a tear stain his pale cheek. “It meant I loved you.” She confesses. Their eyes now can’t look away from each other. “You were scared that I loved you?” She questions.

Harry nods and bites his bottom lip trying to fight back anymore tears before saying, “And I didn’t know if I loved you so, I left.” The truth behind his words makes Mila feel peaceful inside. She isn’t wondering what she did wrong anymore. It feels like a weight has been lifted off her shoulders. Harry finally feels like he can breath thin air. “And I’m really sorry. Walking into your office today, I noticed that a lot can change in a short amount of time. You decorated it and it look unrecognizable. Maybe we both are too.” He says removing a piece of hair that always manages to cover her eyes. She takes her hand to return a favor and wipe his tear with her thumb gently.

“Maybe it’s good. A fresh start. It seems like we need it.” While their hands touch one another slightly, they never want to let go of each other or the moment. “So,” Mila chuckles lightly, this time comfortably with no awkwardness at all, “there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you.” Harry smiles and tells her to go on, “I know you’re my boss and everything, but can I not call you Mr. Styles. I mean it’s weird, isn’t it?” He laughs along, placing his free hand to his chest as if he’s having a laugh attack.

“Harry is fine.” He smiles at Mila and lets go of her hair finally

While waiting for Harry’s clothes to dry, the romantic comedy, The Kissing Booth, played on her living room TV, keeping them busy. Mila decides to grab her laptop and give writing another chance tonight. She sits with Harry on the couch and types away. “My God Mila, don’t you ever take a break?” Harry teases. Mila retaliates by throwing him a throw pillow. He lets out a whine, “Hey! Just because it’s in the name, doesn’t mean you should throw it!”

Just then, the dryer buzzer goes off and Mila puts her laptop on the ottoman. Harry watches her walk to the hallway with a smile plastered on his face. His eyes look down toward the laptop which has her files open. He doesn’t mean to pry, but if a file had your name on it, wouldn’t you? He grabs the laptop and open the Harry files. The last update to it was 5 days ago, when Harry called Mila. He opens the document and the little voice returns; HARRY C’MON! DON’T DO IT, but Harry doesn’t listen.

Bitter green eyes.

Ones that burn you from the inside out.

You disintegrate and put your molecules back together.

Just to be broken again.

Pall pink lips.

Like all the others.

You melt and become lost at sea trying to find yourself.

Just to be lost again.

-Mila Castillo

Harry cannot fathom what he just read. He turns as soon as he hears a creak coming from behind him. He makes eye contact with Mila and she automatically knows what he’s done. “Were you snooping on my laptop?” She puts the basket of his clothes down on the dining table and places her arms crossed against her chest.

“Did you really mean those things about me?” Harry stands up still utterly shocked at her piece. He walks toward her. “Mila, what was all that about? Bitter green eyes? Pall pink lips? Is that really how you felt about me just days ago?” He questions towering her now.

Mila maintains her position and her eyebrow furrow as she states, “I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings, but that’s my priva…” Harry’s lips connect with hers, cutting her off. Surprised, Mila’s eyes open wide, but closes slowly as she melts into the kiss.

Harry grabs her waist pulling her in closer and Mila wraps her arms around his neck playing with his brown curls, pulling him closer also. She feels the kiss activating every single part of her body from the hairs standing up to the tingles in her spine. Harry pulls apart gently leaving Mila begging with her eyes, but keeps their foreheads connected as he whispers, “I guess your poetry is fictional.” They smile at each other for a little bit before reattaching their non pall lips.

In that moment Mila realizes that the full moon isn’t her only source of power. The words to describe this sensation of warmth between their bodies run through her mind as she pulls him closer by the hem of the shirt. She might have loved him at one point and this kiss may be epic, but the truth is she is living in the moment and hoping to forget it tomorrow when Harry is her boss once again.

Harry, drunk off the kiss, stumbles a bit trying to secure his balance. He pushes Mila into the wall gently to help him obtain good footing. Although, this is taking lots of focus from Harry’s part, he can’t erase the fact that he left something out of the story. He came back and the only reason he would ever come back is because he still loves her.

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