#his heart replies faster than his mind on these sort of situations hahaha!

[ephemeral-sorrow]

The Sweetness of Frenemic Love

Sometimes the strangest thoughts enter my head and make me write something bizarre but really touching at the same time. :D

pairing: Lilly x Male!MC

summary: It`s one step from hatred to love.

warning: a bunch of fluff  ;)

Have you ever experienced resentment towards someone you`ve never met in real life? 

Felt irritation and anger bubble up inside your head like lava slowly filling the volcano to the brim, almost turning your eyes into two sizzling hot coals? 

Lilly had been familiar with these disgusting sensations even before she got to knew MC - the obnoxious stranger Hannah sent her number to and the one who managed to infiltrate their group and spread insurgency among everyone and everything around. Her sister`s disappearance ruined their peaceful lives, putting Lilly and her parents into huge stress, when each day with news even more horrible than on previous one, took away all their hope. So, to conclude it all, a completely unknown weirdo, who gained access to different sorts of information as well as trust of her blindly oblivious friends, now was sticking his nose into other people`s business without pangs of conscience.

The way things were progressing kept Lilly infuriated and incredibly... depressed. She refused to admit that to herself, but she was even angrier because of her own helplessness. She wanted to do something useful and finally get a clue that might come in handy or at least set things up so that the investigation would be faster and more efficient. However, guys from the group already had their own theories, sources and clues, took part in various events and furthermore, acted carelessly, not paying attention to threats.  ... They made it clear that Lilly`s advice was pointless, just like her participation.

That`s why the mere thought of some stranger doing more for Hannah than her family made something snap inside, clouding Lilly`s judgement and true character with boundless spite. Not to mention, pure fear engulfed her at the suggestion that MC may be the real culprit, and here, cards played so flawlessly right into his hands...

                                                       *     *     *

Now it was a completely different story, and it was kind of hard to believe that was how she used to think of him only a year ago. A lot happened, making those restless days seem like a distant memory or rather a thrilling movie, characters of which were another people, portrayed in another places and time.

“So, what do you make of my new car?”

Lilly blinked, snapping out of her flooding thoughts and returned her attention to the cup of chocolate icecream with gente, pink frosting before her -  and finally, stared at the rest of the group, that made themselves comfortable at the cafe table. Today was the celebration on account of Dan`s grandiose purchase - dashing, brand new Audi A3 model. It costed him a fortune but didn`t lessen his enthusiasm nor pride(having exited the hospital as soon as possible, he spent a great deal of effort in finding a good job AND cutting down on alcohol). As a result, every time he ordered apple juice at the Rainbow cafe he declared: “Cool dudes drink only juice!”.

“Dan, that was the hundredth time you`ve asked this question”, despite the fake bored tone, Cleo wore an amused smile, dropping her usual strictness.

“What can I possibly do when all of you are so short-spoken?” Dan dramatically leaned back on the soft cushion. “I need details. Not talking about this pretty girl is a sacrilege”.

“If she was mine, I`d call her ‘babe’ “, ice cubes softly clincked against the glass, as Richy thoughtfully twisted his cocktail in his hand. “And the quiet purrs of her engine are the same as a hearbeat--”

“Now, now, you`re just being ridiculous!” Hannah`s melodic laugh ringed before drowning in the chatter of the crowded cafe. Lilly`s insides warmed up upon seeing her sister smiling sweetly in the Thomas` embrace. She was safe and sound, cheerful and full of love for the surrounding world. Everything was back to normal and it made Lilly genuinely happy--

She felt hot breath pleasantly tickle her ear before a crisp, familiar voice sensually whispered to her:

“I don`t know about others, but if you asked me, the only ‘babe’ I see is you”.

Lilly couldn`t really help the flush that spread on her neck, so she coughed, pretending to be extremely interested in her icecream, which was already starting to melt.

She casted a quick glance at the man beside her, attempting to look unfazed by his sudden compliment only to be met with his mischievous, affectionate eyes.

“MC, we`re... we`re in public”, she whispered back rather shyly.

“You were kind of dreamy while looking at Thomas and Hannah, so I decided to remind you that you didn`t come here alone”.

“Hmph”, Lilly pouted, fixing the fallen lock of her hair. “as if I need your tasteless remarks to cheer up. You should come up with something more original”.

MC laughed airily, flashing his signature confident smirk. Lilly took a small breath, furrowed her delicate brows and turned away stubbornly, turning a deeper shade of red. She didn`t like her heart clenching bittersweetly at his actions, especially in front of her unsuspecting friends. It was difficult to keep a perfectly composed face.

“I`ll cook you Peking meat by my special receipt tonight”, MC continued as if nothing had happened, absentmindedly observing the lively conversation between Jessy, Dan and Thomas, and how Cleo was showing Hannah something on the phone.

“I’ll take it as an invitation to your house?” Lilly inquired. “Why are you so sure I`m going to accept it?”

“Oh please, sweetie, do you want me to list all reasons in front of so many people?” His expression was calm and serious, but Donfort knew better: he was mercilessly teasing her, not caring about precautions at all.

Lilly hit his leg under the table, earning a triumphant ‘ouch’ in response.

                                                     *     *     *

Later that evening at his place, after having had a fair piece of the most delicious meat she has ever eaten, Lilly was helping MC to wash the dishes, drying the shiny plates with a cloth and placing them into the cupboard. He was mumbling a delightful tune under his breath. She glanced at his features. Somehow simply being with this person made her forget about all troubles. But what about him?

“MC”, Lilly tried to sound not too curious. 

“Yes?”

“Why did you choose me of all girls? I mean... I`ve never thought that you might become interested in me after what I did to you a year ago with that video and vote. Like in person, let alone a woman. You`ve been best friends with Jessy from the start, so it would`ve been logical if you two have had a thing”.

“To be honest with you, your brother said the same”, he smiled with the corners of his mouth. “What I found in you”.

“Excuse me, what!?” the girl exploded with outrage, dropping the cloth out of surprise. “Jake, that little jerk!! He`s supposed to back me up in situations like this!”

MC was holding his laughter for his dear life or he would inevitably get a handful but frankly, it was getting harder.

“What did you reply? Come on, I want to know!!” Lilly was worried and frustrated at the same time, looking at him impatiently and expectantly, like a little kid who desired to know their present for birthday.

“You seem so desperate-- HAHAHA, I CAN`T!”

Lilly groaned and threw a sponge at him on full speed, not bothering that it was still wet and full of soap. What was so funny when all she wanted to hear was these important words of confirmation?

MC cleaned his face and came closer.

“I replied that you`re the one who understands me. The one who always makes my day brighter. Also you are kind and candid”, his palm rested against her cheek, tenderly caressing it, as she leaned for his touch.

“I can often be impulsive and sharp”.

“That doesn`t make you worse. You always speak your mind. I think it`s admirable. Not to mention, you are a truly charming and elegant woman”.

She didn`t let MC finish his sentence because their lips collided in a soft, albeit passionate manner. Lilly lived up to her statement - this kiss was spontaneous and full of feeling. She traced his wide shoulders, stopping when her hands found their place in his unruly hair, slightly tugging at it. 

They parted once they ran out of air.

“Jake additionally said my romantic confession would lead to this”.

“Ugh, you`re terrible!!”

[silver-imagines]

Bad Liar (Mysterio x Reader)

"Oh, hush, my dear, it's been a difficult year And terrors don't prey on Innocent victims Trust me, darling, trust me darling It's been a loveless year I'm a man of three fears Integrity, faith and Crocodile tears'

- Bad Liar (Imagine Dragons) 

Summary: Aiming to live up to her sister’s legacy, a whole lot of trouble is in heading for (Y/n), trouble in the form of a Blue eyed devil.

Word count: 2.9k+

Hahaha guess who came back from the dead ! Me! This is the first part of what I expect will be a miniseries at the least, hopefully you guys enjoy it! 

(Y/n) followed behind Fury and Hill, sharp eyes assessing the damage around them in the small Mexican village. Rubble, pieces of broken glass and wood, torn pieces of clothing, the classic aftermath of a tornado.

“This is merely a tragedy, not our kind of problem.” Hill announced, not knowing why there were investigating a natural disaster. “Locals claim the cyclone had a face, now that seems like our kind of problem.” Fury replied to her. Scanning the scene, (Y/n) spotted a young child, no older than ten, sitting on the ground with a bleeding knee and an old lady trying to help him.

Wasting no time, she leapt over the pile of rubble, kneeling down besides the kid and pulling out the small med kit out of her utility belt and helping the kid, completely oblivious to the cape clad hero that appeared out of nowhere.

/

He recognised her, of course he did, she was a regular face in the Stark Tower. He knew about her comings and goings, she was essentially an Avenger, well, more of a behind the scenes Avenger. Sort of like Black Widow but she operated at a more secretive level.

Seeing her in that Mexican village, his heart rate jumped, fearing that she would recognise him, and he’d be exposed, exposed for the fraud he was.

But it seemed like the stars and heavens were in his favour, and she looked right over him, not recognising him, gun out of the holster faster than he could blink with an intense ferocity that mirrored his rage for revenge. Her and Hill’s actions mirrored each other’s, both revolvers pointed straight at him as he raised his hands.

She was rather close to Stark, he’d heard him mention her name a couple of times, but Quentin struggled to remember, but whatever it was, all it mattered was that she didn’t recognise him and at this realisation, a devilish plan began to formulate in his mind as he thanked himself for keeping a ring on his finger, he’d make them all pay for the dead man’s sins.

“My name is Quentin Beck! I’m here to help!’ He announced, trying his hardest not to smirk.

_____

‘Mr Beck, if you would follow me, Director Fury would like to talk to you” (Y/n) announced, straightening her back, pulling her arms behind her back, standing up tall in front of the blue-eyed hero. He gave her a swift nod and she began to lead him through the maze of hallways.

She was different from what he had expected, in the time he had been here, the only words that had left her lips were short, one worded response. Perhaps it was the age that matured her mind, or the events of the last five or so years but whatever it was, it certainly made his job a little harder.

You see, every hero had their damsel in distress, Stark with Potts, Thor with Jane, the list could continue but Mysterio, he didn’t have a lady, and it would be a step up if his so-called damsel was basically an Avenger no?

______

“Peter!” (Y/n) gushed, ruffling the younger boy’s brown hair as he engulfed her in a tight hug, she hadn’t seen the kid for a while, not since the funeral.

“Ms (Y/N)!!” The younger boy beamed back at her, feeling relieved upon seeing a familiar, almost familial face. Quentin observed the pair interact, Peter telling her all about his plans for the trip and how Fury shot his friend with a tranquilliser. His eyes were set on (Y/n), she was almost an impossible book to read, the only advance he had made was the day he initially met her and all he could do now was give her long, calculative glances.

“Do you reckon you could talk to Fury for me? I really, really need this break, I, Mr Stark is gone, (Y/N) I can’t, I’m not ready for this” Peter rambled. The older girl felt her heart sink, he had suffered so, so much at such a young age. There was just too much responsibility on his young shoulders, shoulders that weren’t ready to carry the weight of the world yet. He was just a kid. Before she could respond, Fury appeared out of nowhere.

“Mr Parker, if you’d follow me.” He announced, his loud voice booming in the room, alerting every one of his presence and (Y/n) nodded and turned towards Peter, giving his warm hands a soft squeeze, knowing there wasn’t much she could do and gestured for him to follow the Director.

Peter gave her a dejected look before following Fury into another room, leaving the pair alone in the large space. Quentin quickly returned to the holographic map on the desk, pretending he hadn’t been staring at the (h/c) girl.

“Why have you been watching me?” (Y/n) soft voice echoed through the room, causing Quentin’s head to shoot up. She had noticed, of course she had, there was a reason she was one of the best in SHIELD, she never missed a detail. Of course, when she noticed a pair of blue eyes following her

It was working.

“I uh, I don’t know what you mean.” He replied, leaning back against the table as he faced her, she was no longer in her SHIELD uniform, but rather black jeans and a baggy grey hoodie.

“Don’t pretend to be naïve, I’ve seen you, you’ve been watching me, I'm a trained spy, I know when someone’s watching me Mr Beck, this got anything to do with that night in Mexico?” She asked, folding her arms and leaning sideways against the pillar, eyeing the blue-eyed man. He dropped his head as he fidgeted with the gold band on his middle finger, drawing her eyes to it.

“I uh, I should have apologised earlier Ms (Y/n).”

“Yes, maybe, but that doesn’t answer my question, why have you been watching me?” She continued, slightly enjoying the fact the hero was getting flustered.

“You just, I uh, you remind me, you remind of my wi- of someone I knew’ He mumbled. (Y/n) straightened up, a clueless expression taking over usually emotionless face and she tilted her head sideways.

“Whatever it is, just keep your eyes to yourself Mr Hero.” She chuckled, standing her guard, it wasn’t in her nature to let any of her emotions take control of her.

“Who are you? Director Fury called out, aiming his own gun towards the cape clad man. Ushering the old lady to take the kid and leave the scene, (Y/n) stood up, keeping her gun still pointed towards the mysterious man.

Luscious brown hair, a scruffy beard, light coloured eyes, she couldn’t judge the colour properly from this distance, a gold armour and a red cape, was this another Asgardian? Thinking that this would be another New York situation, she rolled her eyes, an action Quentin didn’t miss.

“My name is Quentin Beck, I’m here to help!” He called out, raising his hands in the air, praying they wouldn’t shoot him thinking he was the bad guy, but like come on, how much more obvious could it get that he was the hero? He had a cape on for crying out loud.

“You’ve got five seconds before we shoot!” Fury called out, knowing better than to be naïve and believe everyone he encountered.

“I’m from another Earth, these creatures, the Elementals, they destroyed my Earth, and now they’re using portals to attack the other Earths, and this was the wind one.” He explained, coming closer to the trio. Fury nodded, amused at the explanation and motioned for him to continue.

‘I know where the next one will strike, the Water Elemental, it’s the same coordinates as the attacks on my Earth.” He continued to explain, hoping that they would believe him. Fury motioned for Maria and (Y/n) to lower their guns and they reluctantly did, still being alert in case the situation went south as Beck continued to explain.

Another Earth, creatures called Elementals, the loss of his Earth, tear from Thanos’ snap, what a story. He was in the middle of explaining the next Elemental’s attack when a strong gush of wind appeared again, in the shape of the large animal.

“Stand back, you don’t want any part in this.” Beck yelled, flying upwards as green mist surrounded him, shooting green laser beams at the creature. Hill and Fury dove to the left side, taking cover under a half-broken stone building, whereas (Y/n) dove under the protection of a half standing wall.

Beck continued to fight the wind creature, shooting lasers at it, as the ones around it took cover. (Y/n) knew shooting at it wouldn’t help so she stood her ground, staying crouched next to the broken wall, constantly keeping her gaze on the scene, instantly spotting the same young kid she was helping before, crying as he tried to limp away, barely away from the battle itself.

Seeing her options, she crouched down, gun drawn as she moved along the length of the wall, reaching the end and waiting for the opportunity to cross the empty field. Seeing that Beck had gotten the creature down, she made a run for it.

She was so focused on the child in trouble that she didn’t see the large rock that came flying her way, hitting her on the side of her abdomen, knocking her down. She groaned in pain, feeling blood seep out as her shirt began to turn red. Grunting, she got back up, making it to the small pile of rubble the child was hiding behind. “Shhh, it’s ok’ She spoke, hugging the kid as he cried in her arm, no one else was dying on her watch, certainly not this young kid.  Wrapping one arm around his torso and one around his head, she kept him close to her body, making sure to shield him from any rubble that flew at them.

Beck defeated the creature, well, of course he did, but he couldn’t keep his gaze off of the (h/c) haired girl, her shirt was obviously covered in blood in the abdominal region, a small cut decorating her left cheekbone as she limped over to walk the kid back, out of the rubble.

She really was something, this was going to be fun

________

It was in the late hours of the night that the Director announced for them to disperse, knowing that the next predicted attack wasn’t until a week later. Excusing herself, (Y/n) made her way to the bathroom, grabbing the first aid out of the cabinet, she sat down on the edge of the small tub, groaning in pain she lifted the hem of her shirt, exposing her wound.

It was now covered in dried blood, she hadn’t gotten the chance to clean it up all day, Fury had assigned her on the clean-up of the village and when she got back to base, it was nothing but more discussion with Beck.

“Ah fuck.” She groaned, feeling the alcohol burn the wound, it was pretty deep because as soon as she cleaned the dried blood off, it started bleeding again. She had been so focused on the wound that she had forgotten to lock the door and the minute she pulled her shirt off, the door opened wide.

Quentin’s eyes widened as he saw her, sitting on the tub, a massive gash on her stomach, her shirt off, just in her sports bra. “Oh I’- uh, I must have forgotten to lock the door.” She mumbled, grabbing the towel on the counter and pulling it over her stomach.

“It’s ok, I-I should have knocked” He replied, his eyes scanning her, toned arms, glowing (s/c) skin, her hair no longer tied up but rather a mess on her shoulders, dried blood on her face and all over her abdomen.

“Do you need help with that?” He asked, pointing towards her stomach, there was no way she’d be able to bandage herself easily. He was no longer dressed in his hero outfit, but rather in sweatpants and a black tee. “I wouldn’t want to bother” She replied, not wanting to bother him as her gaze fell to the floor. “Ah it’s alright, here, don’t think you can do it yourself” He gave her a soft smile, and she handed him the disinfectant.

He crouched down in front of her, his blue eyes fixed on her stomach as he moved the towel away and began to apply the disinfectant. “It’s a deep cut” He remarked, continuously wiping the dried blood that was all over her abdomen and the sides of her stomach. Her face began to warm up under his gaze, it wasn’t everyday someone saw her half naked.

“I wasn’t going to let the kid get hurt, I’ll live” She chuckled, as he looked up to her, giving her a good view of his blue eyes. Brown hair, light skin, a scruffy beard, plump lips and most of all, eyes bluer than the ocean, actually no, they were lighter than the ocean, more like when the sun shone on the ocean and it twinkled a light blue, yeah, like that colour.

“I admire that, wait, I never actually got your name before.” He awkwardly chuckled, putting the bottle of disinfectant away as he threw the used cotton in the bin. “(Y/n), (Y/n) Romanoff.” She replied as he placed the ointment on her wound.

Romanoff? As in Natasha Romanoff? Holy shit, she was the Widow’s sister?

Shaking off his surprise, he continued to apply the ointment, causing her to hiss from pain. “That’s a beautiful name (Y/n).” He replied, beginning to bandage the wound. “Here, raise your arm up a little more.” He instructed her and she nodded, lifting her arm around so he could wrap the bandage around her waist, his face coming in close contact with her chest, causing his ears to turn red, hey, just because he was evil doesn’t mean he wasn’t human. Finishing up the bandaging, he looked up at her face, seeing the cut on her cheekbone.

“Here, there’s another cut.” He smiled at her, holding up more cotton and disinfectant and moving towards her cheek. She hissed again in pain as he placed the disinfectant on her cheek.

“Shhhh, its ok, almost over” he spoke softly, blowing air onto the cut to soften the stinging as she flinched. He finished up and placed a small band-aid on her cheek.

“Thank you for the help Beck.” She smiled, giving his shoulder a soft pat. He gave her a smile in return, leaning forward, placing a hand on her other cheek as he placed a kiss on her forehead, “Take care (Y/n)’ He mumbled against her skin, before getting up and leaving the wide (e/c) eyed girl alone in the bathroom, with a tinge of red coating her warm cheeks.

_____

“Hey kiddo, how’d it go with Fury?” (Y/n) asked, she had been given the job to escort Peter back to his hotel along with Demetri.

“I said no Ms (Y/N)-” He began but she cut him off. “How many times have I told you not to call me that, geez you make me sound old Peter, it’s just (Y/N)” She chuckled, allowing him to continue.

“I said no (Y/n), I just, I need this break, I really do, he, I-” He stuttered, not being able to find the right words to put his feelings into words.

“I get it Peter, we all need a break, but you’re so young, you have so much to do than to be dragged into this mess.” She gave him a weak smile, giving him a soft pat on the back, earning death glares from Demetri.

“Thank you for understanding.” He replied, leaning into her shoulder as she put her arm around his shoulder. “How’s the trip been going?” She asked him, rubbing his shoulder. She could still visualise Peter from the funeral, bloodshot eyes, messy hair, a loose tie, he had been crying that entire morning, she found him in the backyard, all alone. She had offered to fix his tie, to which the young boy agreed to with a weak smile. At that point, she had only known Peter for a little while, she had initially met him during the Sokovia accords situation.

She had sided with Tony on that situation, but she was fiercely against him bringing in a 14-year-old kid to make his point. He was just a kid, and he had literally picked him out of his life and put him into a situation that even the grown-ups around him couldn’t comprehend. And of course, then came Thanos, the mad Titan. One minute she was in Wakanda, fighting along with her sister, and the next, she came back to a world where she no longer existed.

‘It’s good Ms- (Y/n), there’s this girl I really like, and I, I’m th-thinking of con-confessing’ He mumbled, playing with his hands.

‘Peter that’s amazing!’ (Y/n) gushed, ruffling his hair as his face heated up, the younger boy’s face broke out into a massive grin, his pure smile melting her heart.

She couldn’t remember the last time she felt so happy, but alas their boat ride came to an end and she big farewell to Peter with a hug as he entered the shabby hotel his schoolmates were staying at.

Nat would be proud of her, she always had a way of making (Y/n) smile, and if she could make an innocent boy like Peter smile, she was content with herself.

AN: Slow start but I promise it’ll get so much better! I have some (hopefully) great things planned! Got any other requests? Shoot them through! 

[bowlcxt-blog]

H E A D C A N O N S !

Goshiki is a great student, but sometimes upon spotting situations that aren´t "fair", his short temper will act and it often gets him into discussions with teachers. Most of the times these situations doesn´t really revolve around him but rather with other people. Especially if they shy or reserved people that are afraid to raise their voice, Goshiki would help them to do so, and if it doesn´t help, he will stand for them. 

Why does he do this? Well ! it may sound childish but he grew up really attached as a kid to power rangers and heroes cartoons, and their values and morals pretty much got stuck on his mind? i can definitely imagine him as little running around with a cape and a cheap mask around with excitement ! (he had always been an energetic person afterall haha!)

[eerythingisshaka]

Some Weeks Are Better Than Others Pt. 7

*Part 1* *Part 2* *Part 3* *Part 4* *Part 5*  *Part 6*

(I hope I can still call you mine...”)

M’Baku x Reader

Word Count: 6.5k

Plot:  You and M’Baku have to be apart for a business trip you are taking.  Leaving him sucks for you both, but career is important and he supports.  But the trip is a lot more than a test of your value to your job, but to your relationship as well.

*Previously*  

“Well you just tell me when you want me gone, and I’m out.  But you’re getting a happy ending tonight, no doubt.”  You giggle, “You’d like that huh?”  “He stares at you, leaning in, “I really would though.”  You feel something you haven’t felt in what seemed like an eternity.  Something reserved for M’Baku, only achieved by him.  But here you are, in heat with someone else.  “Pass me that bottle then.”  you say.  The next morning you wake up in a daze in your hotel room.  The sun’s rays blind you as they seep in greeting you.  You sit up as the sheets wrap around your bare skin, cool and calming.  A note is on the pillow next to you.  You pick it up and read:  Thanks for the good time last night. A phone number followed.  Your heart dropped as you thought over last night.  Bar, club, and then that guy.  Oh shit, you thought as you looked at your nakedness underneath the covers.

M’Baku kept replaying the scenario over and over in his head.  He came in and went upstairs while Keni went to the restroom. Then he sees a woman sorting his clothes in his drawer -- that woman being his own mother.  After he shoos her down the stairs and gets her to leave, you call him and say to ask who he has at his house. M’Baku couldn’t get past it, it didn’t make sense that you knew a woman was in the house that quickly.  M’Baku knew you were a force to be reckoned with investigatively, but this was practically impossible.

M’Baku makes a call to Keni’s legal friend to get some assistance on the boot on his car.  Luckily they could see him tomorrow to get the situation corrected, so that was one less thing that he would  have to think about. The rest of the night was open to him to do whatever he needed before going out tonight.  Akoje and the other Jabari could party for any reason: breakups, getting laid, new job, leaving a bad one, clinic test was negative, just about anything would have a glass raised to.

But, M’Baku couldn’t stop thinking about you.   As he sat in his newly cleaned living room thanks to Mama, his heart was not in for a jovial get-together.  He flips through the TV channels without actually paying attention to the images flashing before him. His arm rests across the back of the couch, rubbing the material subconsciously.  You have been mad at him before, but this sounded different. You usually lay out everything M’Baku did wrong before giving a silent treatment to make him feel bad and grovel in apologies.  But you never accused M’Baku of Infidelity before. Even women walking down the street ogling him outright just made you hold him a little tighter and kiss him or do something to really give them something to stare at.

Now, M’Baku has heard at least ten thousand times how much you hate to know of him working with beautiful women; stretching them, squatting, touching them for any reason.  But M’Baku reassured the relationship was secure everytime you fussed. The paycheck was great, he is doing something he enjoys, and comes home to you on time, every night.  

M’Baku’s heart deflates as he stares at his phone.  He was mad initially at your tone but that quickly dissipated when he rewound the hurt in your voice over and over in his head.  This can’t be happening.

Later that night, M’Baku rechecks himself in the mirror.  A white collared button down shirt, tucked into some black high-water type slacks and some brown oxfords; it took little to no effort for him to look good in clothes.  Adding accessories of a watch and gold chain you gave him for you guys’ second anniversary, it was about time to head out. M’Baku pours out a drink to the halfway portion of his glass with brown liquor on ice before heading to the balcony.  Leaning on the rail he sips slow staring at the city lights scattered across the city. How many nights did he do this same thing before you would rub his back and whisper something that would always get him to come to bed on command. He missed you terrible as he downed his drink a little faster;  this was his fifth glass, and being a big guy, the alcohol was not hitting his system as quickly as his emotions were. A honk comes from downstairs and he sees Akoje waving from his Navigator.

“Oh, Lonely Ape-Man, let down your hair!  We have come to rescue you from your strife!”

M’Baku raises his empty glass to his Jabari, “Good Evening, enyi !”

The doors open and out pops Enache and Ogoro.  “GREAT GORILLA KING!!” They say in unison. M’Baku laughs heartily for the first time in what felt like months.  The alcohol might be starting to circulate, but he was far from where he wanted to be.

Riding down to the club, M’Baku and crew shout and hop in their seats as their jams blasted on full.

“Aye. M’Baku!  It is about time we finally got you outta the house man.  Your house arrest bracelet just die on you, or something?”  Enache howls at himself as the other join.

Akoje looks back at Enache in the rearview as he drives, “Nah, That’s not it at all.  Our man is having troubles at home, needs us to take his mind off of things.” Akoje claps a hand on M’Baku’s shoulder, who feels a little embarrassed as soon as he hears it.

“Ohhh, Kukie!  How do you have problems without a woman in the house?  Isn’t that when it is supposed to be more peaceful?” Ogoro asks.

M’Baku cranes his neck to reply, “Has your life been peaceful since you have been an adult?  Because I cannot recall the last time a woman shared a space with you in a intimate setting.”

The guys laugh at Ogoro, fueled by M’Baku’s burn.  

“Ahhh, Baku, you’re not right for that!  I am selective about the queen I choose.”  Ogoro explains.

“Selections are not bad to have, but why must they be so….thin!  You want women who have no calorie intake and burn it off just as fast.  Grab a stick outside to rub, it’d be perfect.” Akoje chimes in.

Enache claps his hands with joy, “OH, yes.  That is foul, enyi , but accurate.  Brother, if you can’t handle the curves of a voluptuous partner, at least get someone who is concentrated in one area...or another.”  He mimes his hands in front of his chest, and brings one hand down in a motion to shape a booty cheek.

Akoje offers his hand for a high five from Enache, “That’s it!  Ogoro, you and M’Baku, I can’t get past how you are with women.”

“What’s wrong with me?  My woman has...EVERYTHING I could ask for; mind and body.”

“See?  That alone is a problem.  You said mind first!”

“I can’t stand the empty headed women your circulate, Akoje.  They can’t even talk about the weather properly.” M’Baku hisses.

“It does not matter.  I’m not looking for conversation, I’m looking some eye candy, that is down for a good time.”

M’Baku shakes his head, “And how these American women fall for it over and over, is beyond me.”

Akoje smiles, sitting up a bit straighter, “See, I put my accent on a little bit thicker than usual, eh?  Then I just tell them that they would be a queen back where I’m from, your feet would never touch the ground, etc.  Make them feel like commitment is no problem for you.”

“HAHAHA!  That is the punchline.”  M’Baku guffaws.

“I am committed Kukie.  Pleasure is always a commitment and I have no complaints from anybody!”

They make it to the club which appears to be at its prime at the moment.  Everybody is lining up, chatting with their friends to make sure they have their fit straight, makeup on point, everything did.

Scoping the crowd, Akoje rubs his hands together Birdman style, “Gentlemen, follow me, I got an in with the bouncer.”  M’Baku and the the others bark in excitement as they walk up to the front of the line. Akoje signals for them to fall back a bit while he talks to the bouncer.  

M’Baku starts to get suspicious when he notices the bouncers stance and expression has not changed since before Akoje started talking to him.

“Ahh!  Akoje doesn’t know him!  The club will be closing up by the time we make it through the line.”  Ogoro complains.

Enache shoves him, “Enough of that!  He said he had us, he’s got us. Have you-”

Ogoro interrupts, “If you end that sentence with, ‘Have you ever known him to lie to us’ after the endless examples he has of doing such, Hanuman help me, my foot will be going up your-”

“Jabari!  We have gained entrance!  Come!” Akoje announce waving them through as he steps into the club.

Enache leads the party to the bouncer.  Attempting to pass him, the man stiff arms him.

“Aight, 30 a pop.”

“$30???  We know Akoje though, he said he had us!”  M’Baku perks up.

The meat headed bounce slowly shakes his head,  “Akoje gets in free, he didn’t mention friends before now.”

“You have got to be kidding me,”  Ogoro exasperates.

“Hey, if you don’t like it, just go somewhere else, or wait in line like all these other waitin ass muthafuckas.  $30, or walk.”

They grumble as they dig in their wallets and line up to pay the man.

“Man, I’m only going to be able to get a water after that mess.”  Ogoro moans.

M’Baku, claps him on the shoulder, “I need a drinking partner.  We will cover you, Brother, no problem.”

M’Baku looks expectantly at Enache who is on his phone.  “Akoje said he is by a reserved spot...by the right side.  Can’t miss it, he said.”

Walking through the area, Akoje is double fisting some bottles, cigar in his mouth.

“Eh!  You can’t smoke inside, man!”  Ogoro exclaims.

Akoje cocks his head to the side, taking it from his mouth, still holding the bottles.  “It’s not lit, mother! Please, be the first to grab a glass because you certainly need it, sir.”  Enache passes the tumblers around as Akoje fills them up like he’s Diddy.

Akoje bellows, “Raise our glasses gentlemen!  To life, to lust, to liquor. May it all find us tonight!”  The men bark as they chug their drinks. M’Baku chugs his, screwing his face up as the brown warns his throat.  It wasn’t the alcohol bothering him though, but Akoje’s toast. Lust was the last thing on his mind as far as debauchery, since you weren’t here and especially since you were mad.

The night powers on as the jams circulate, moving the crowd.  The Jabari became almost the life of the party as they sang along hyping the crowd, dancing with women.  M’Baku watched from a far but laughed his ass off at the guys getting lit, especially Ogoro’s wet blanket self.  Enough liquor had finally hit him to put caution to the wind.

Akoje comes up to M’Baku holding his phone to his ear, “I’ll be back, Fat Man, in case the others wonder.”  M’Baku nods as Akoje swiftly maneuvers the crowd toward the entrance,

M’Baku leans back in the curved couch, head resting as the alcohol courses through him.  He feels tingles in in his extremities, a sign the limit is about to hit, but the night was still far from over.  

M’Baku feels a couple slaps on the side of his face.  Raising his head, M’Baku squints through his heavy lids to see a grinning Akoje.   “Hey man, look who showed up to keep us company.”

Looking behind him, he sees a woman walking up the steps to their couch.

“Who the hell is that?”  M’Baku slurs as he sits up studying her as she switched toward you.  Smiling, she flips her wavy tresses behind her shoulder, standing with her hip poked out.  The bodycon dress hugged any and every curve her body had to show; titties gathered and presented at full mast.  Licking her lips she turns to Akoje.

“Thank you for inviting me to come out with you guys,”  she says. M’Baku gets caught up in her frame, sobers up a bit quicker than expected.  

“No problem, love.  The party is just getting good too.  Go ahead and pour yourself a glass.” Akoje sits by M’Baku, slapping his knee.  “She cleans up well, yeah? No surprise with a body like that though.”

She bends over to pour her into her glass on the table, giving the guys a full view of her behind.

M’Baku leans over to Akoje talking sideways, “Why does that ass seem familiar to me, ‘Je?”  

Akoje busts out laughing, “Oh man, you really have had too much to drink.  That’s your girl!”

M’Baku shakes his head, pinching the bridge of his nose.  “Here man, drink this. You must be losing your buzz. We don’t need no headaches tonight.”

M’Baku takes Akoje’s glass and downs the contents.  M’Baku winces at the heat that hits his chest, beating it with his fist.  

Their additional party member sits next to M’Baku resting a hand on his knee firmly with a rub.  “You glad to see me?” she whispers in his ear.

M’Baku leans back to look at her.  At this point he has drank so much that an aura halo has formed around her silhouette making it hard to distinctly focus on her features.  

“I...don’t know.” M’Baku turns back to Akoje.  “That is not, (Y/N), what are you talking about?”  Akoje rolls his eyes, “You really are going insane, eh?  Talk to her!” Akoje says grabbing the top of M’Baku’s head and rotating it towards the girl.

“You don’t recognize me?  Shit, I tried dressing up too damn nice then, I guess.”  She looks down at herself, running her hand down her torso.  M’Baku’s eyes follow, balling his hand up in a fist to keep it from wandering.

She laughs, pushing his arm as she takes a long gulp of her drink.  The music changes, making her rock and snap with the beat.

“Ohhhh, shit!  Mk, DJ givin me my shit tonight!”  She stands up swaying her hips to the music.  “Ok, Baku. Let’s see if this sparks your memory.”  Body rolling she goes into a running man dance, titties hopping and dangerously close to spilling out.  Next she drops and gets her eagle on, squatting and popping her ass towards M’Baku.

Akoje stands to hype her up, “Aye! Aye!  Go on, girl! Handle that, Kukie!” Laughing his ass off as he makes his way back down to the dance floor.  

“Wait, wait, Keni!  What are you doing-”  M’Baku starts to speak but Keni’s body comes hurdling backwards toward him as she loses her balance, falling into his lap.  M’Baku catches her, gripping her waist as she laughs, catching her breath, “Oh my goodness! I’m so sorry M’Baku! At least you remember me now; I knew that would jog your memory.”  Keni twists to look into his face, flipping her hair back. She bites her lips as she stares at M’Baku, completely in heat for him. M’Baku is still trying to hold his liquor consumption properly to stave off her advances,

M’Baku attempts sitting up, “Ah, Keni, I need to-”

“You aren’t going, are you?  The night just begun baby!” She says caressing his beard greedily.

“I’m just going to the bathroom, please.  Sit and enjoy yourself. My friends would really like your company I think.”  M’Baku lifts her up off of him as he goes towards the back of the club.

Once he makes it by the restrooms, he pulls out his phone to check his notifications.  Emails, reminders, news, but no you. M’Baku heaves a deep breath, holding it in as he raises his arms above his head.  All he wanted to do was bash the walls in, but instead he lets go of his breath, leaning his fists and head on the bricks.  He couldn’t imagine what you were doing right now. Were you hurting? You were in a city with no one you knew, who could comfort you right now?  He couldn’t wait for you to come home. Things will be better when you get back to town, he knew it; y’all could hash out all of what did and didn’t happen.

A hand snakes his shoulder; turning, Keni is leaning with her shoes in her hands.  “You left me by myself. I couldn’t find you.”

M’Baku looks at her concerned, “You’re drunk already?”

Keni puts a finger to her lips, “Shooosh.  I know it’s not in the diet plan but it’s CHEAT DAY!”  She exclaims raising her hands in the air before, falling onto M’Baku with her hands around his neck.  “You know cheating ain’t so bad. Long as you honest with yourself, and really enjoy it…” Keni slurs, poking her lips out at M’Baku, who swiftly pushes her face back with his palm.  

“I have a whole woman that I claim, already Keni.  You’re doing too much, you need to go home.”

She smiles, standing awkwardly, “YOU need to take ME home with YOU!”  She points back and forth between you, offbeat with what she said.

M’Baku takes her arm to lead her out.  “Did you drive or ride with someone?”

Keni scoffs as she drags along, “Don’t worry bout that, long as I ride them thighs later, bruh!”  

M’Baku sighed as his buzz diminishes quickly with the night air.  “You got your keys?”

Keni opens her clutch to rifle through.  Pulling out a roll of condoms, she hands them to M’Baki, “Hold on to these, we need ‘em.”  M’Baku holds a corner of them disgusted, “I don’t need these; I have a woman, I say.”

Keni pulls out her keys, shaking her hands, “I KNOW!  The girl got a sixth sense for women being in your house, I swear.”

M’Baku pauses when he hears this.  “What do you mean by that, Keni?”

Keni hands the keys and starts walking off kilter.  “She called and I picked up and I was like OOPS, hung up.  Then ya mama came and called me a hoe; why you got such rude females around you?”

“That was when you came to my house?  My phone rang and you picked up?” M’Baku asks piecing the sequence of events together.

“Like I said, she sound rude as fuck.  You need someone to keep you til she get back, I’m it!”  She does a power stance to portray herself as a catch: makeup smeared, hair disheveled, feet dirty from the streets.

M’Baku looked at her like she was crazy, “Tempting as that may be, it’s not something I am into, at all.  Did you park in that lot?”

Keni nods, leading him to the area. “Make it do the beep beep.”  she instructs him.

M’Baku punches the unlock button on the car remotes and sees it lighting up.  M’Baku trots over, getting in the driver’s side to start the engine up.

Keni goes to open the passenger door.  “You sit in the back.” M’Baku instructs.

Keni looks through her window, looking completely appalled.  Opening the backdoor and getting in, she says, “Come on, I wasn’t going to try and give you road head or anything.”

M’Baku shakes his head pulling out of the lot sighing heavily, “I just don’t want you to puke on me, but sure, that too.  Tell me your address.”

Keni giggles relaying the info, “Oh shit.”  The contents of her stomach hurl on across the backseat and M’Baku lets down the windows to try to let the stench air out.  Any attraction this lady may have possessed earlier in the evening had completely dissipated from M’Baku’s mindset, officially with the vomit.  

Keni is crying now, “I didn’t want to do this.  I was supposed to be sexy!” M’Baku turns on the radio to be somewhat a distraction, occasionally asking her to calm down until he arrives at her place.  She lived on the third floor of an apartment building, so M’Baku had to work with her dead weight and his dehydration from all the liquor to get up the stairs.  

Opening her door, he lays her down on her couch.  Going to her kitchen he finds a bucket and lays it on the floor nearest to her head.  

As he goes to leave he hears her say, “M’Baku?”

He looks to God for strength as he goes over to her.  “You’re too good, you know? Like, amazing. Soooo, stay cute.”  She roughly pats the side of his face. “We will continue this another time!”

M’Baku puts her hand at her side and heads out the door.  “Not if I can help it.”

“See you at the gym!  I drank a lotta calories!”  she yells as you close the door.

M’Baku called an Uber out to pick him up.  Once he got home, the biggest wave of relief rushed over his body as he crashed on the couch.  Covering his face, he groans as the days events fill his thoughts, laughing to himself. M’Baku had never gotten that close to a client before, to see them at his home or after hours and he certainly understood why that could never happen again.  Keni put herself out there as a kind girl, and she was; helpful and sweet. But her true colors were let out tonight. He’d make sure she was off his roster of clients immediately. There was no way they could work together again after this.

M’Baku looks at his phone and pulls up your number.  He calls you, waiting for you to pick up with every ring but it goes to voicemail.  It was late, but he hoped you would wake up to talk. Unless you were still mad. He leaves a message for you.

“Hello, my love.  I just wanted to hear your voice, but I wanted to explain something so hopefully you will listen now.  The woman you heard, was not someone I am involved with; she is, or, was a client from my job. She helped me with a ride home after the car got booted, which is probably a better reason to be mad at me but it will be corrected by the time you return.”  M’Baku says in an apologetic rush. “She picked up my phone by accident, and I know this may sound strange, but my mom made a surprise visit during, and swiftly bashed her, and defended you, believe it or not.” He laughs tiredly. “Baby, I didn’t and will never seek attention from someone else as long as I can call you mine.”  He pauses a moment before his voice cracks. “I hope I can still call you mine. I miss you, I love you. Call me as soon as you get this. I can’t wait for you to come home.” The automatic message says M’Baku ran to long and gives him the option to save it or delete it. M’Baku saves it, hoping it was enough to get you all talking again.

Tired again, M’Baku heads to the bedroom to shower and rest.  His bare skin against the sheets of the bed were the only thing there to calm him.  All he wanted was to hold you, life wasn’t so hard when you were with him. You were on his mind until the world grew quiet.  

---

You pop out of bed and run to the bathroom.  You run to the shower and wash yourself frantically; scrubbing every inch of you skin until you thought you needed a skin graft.  Out of the shower you get your toothbrush to scrub your teeth.

I remember going to the bar, or the club?  Maybe both. I danced, I drank. I met that guy….

You piece together last night’s events as best you can before catching a glimpse of yourself in the mirror.  You recall drinking with him on the bench, he rubbed your feet. You feel like throwing up at your behavior. Spitting and rinsing your mouth out, you go back to your bed to read the note, thanking you for a good night.  You truly could not recall your behavior after the bench. But it didn’t take much to figure it out since you woke up sore, in a funky room, and naked.

Plopping onto the mattress, you hold your face in your hands; your eyes start to burn as tears try to form behind your eyelids.  You look out the window biting your lip to keep it from quivering. You wanted to reverse time, make it all not happen. This isn’t how you should be behaving during your spat with M’Baku.  You haven’t even heard his side of things but you were so ready to throw skin to the wind for the first nigga that smiles at you?

You take a deep breath to collect your racing thoughts as a headache begins to build.  You reach for your purse to get your painkillers out and your phone. It vibrates in your hand to signal a message waiting for you.  Before checking you pop your pill and get some water to down it. You needed to call Niecy; hopefully she could help you figure out last night a little clearer.  But she wasn’t in bed with you so how much more could she know….or was she?

Shaking that image quickly from her head you open your phone to see a couple missed calls and texts.  There were some from Niecy around the time of last night and then 30 minutes ago today, along with a text.

Get your ass to my hotel room soon as you see this. ”  Well, shit.  What did you do to piss her off?

Then you notice a missed call from M’Baku.  Your heart swells at just seeing your boo’s name.  But then your stomach drops at the thought of speaking to him now.  First you were holding all the cards in your little guilt parade. And as much as you wanted to listen to him finally, now an even bigger element is threatening to keep you away.  

A voicemail is waiting for you to listen to and your palms break out sweating in anticipation.  Was he confessing? Was he breaking up with you? A sickening thought crossed your mind that you would be relieved if he just came out and decided to leave you for her.  No need to talk about your thing and you would still come out looking like the better person. You tell yourself to shut the fuck up as you get up and pace to work off some anxious energy.  Taking a deep breath, you select to play the message. Hearing his voice for the first time in what feels like forever, your body turns into a puddle hearing him speak calmly and you listen with no barriers, and a completely open mind.  He goes into what had happened between him and the woman you heard on his phone, and as out of the way it sounds, he does say his mother witnessed it so you know lying is not in her DNA; 100% blunt truth 24/7.

As he tells you how much he loves you, you are overcome with gulping sobs.  You cover your mouth like he is actually on the phone and might hear you but you can’t stop them from coming.  Your chest heaves as you hyperventilate when the message ends, dropping on all fours on the floor. M’Baku did nothing to hurt you, he never cheated.  You grip your hair follicles, threatening their livelihood as your heart breaks over what you’ve done. You didn’t even give M’Baku the benefit of the doubt; he has been your man for 3 years!  Why did you have such low self-esteem with him when he never gives you any inclination of being unfaithful.

You get your phone to look up douching supplies when your phone rings, making you jump.  

Your heart rate subsides as you see it is Niecy.

Picking up, you say, “Hey girl, sorry I hadn’t-”

“Come to my room now please.”  Niecy hangs up.

You look at your phone to make sure you were actually hung up on.  Niecy hadn’t been like this with you before, so you put on some clothes and head down to see what’s up.

Knocking on her door, Niecy opens it swiftly, holding a coffee cup.

“Come on then.”  she walks away sitting at her kitchenette table.  You close the door behind you following suit. “Niecy, what’s up with you? Did I do-”

“What’s up with me?  Bitch, what the fuck was up with YOU last night??”  Niecy practically hops in her seat from the force of her voice.

You pick you words slowly and carefully, “Honestly, I am not sure, but I think-”

“Why did you even leave with that guy last night, (Y/N)?  You know how bad I would feel knowing I was the last to see you alive before going missing??”  Niecy gasps at the thought before taking a sip from her cup.

You look down at your hands ashamed, “I know, I know.  But-”

“And you have a boyfriend, (Y/N).  No matter how much fun you are having you can’t just go off with a guy, whatever the case of the situation may be because it looks really, really bad!”

Tears start to well up at this part of the scolding, “Then why did you even call him over to me?!”

Niecy pushes her braids back, “I wanted you to have fun with a guy.  The type of fun that you could have in a PUBLIC setting. But not even that stops you.”

Your mouth slacks open at Niecy’s read.  “You didn’t have to go there….”

Niecy nods, “I know, you’re right.  I’m sorry. He really took things too far with you anyway.  It’s not all your fault.”

“You know M’Baku didn’t cheat on me after all.”  you confess.

Now Niecy’s jaw drops open.  “What? What did he say happened then?”

Tears roll down your face as you relive the voicemail, “A client of his gave him a ride home after the car got booted, which is a whole other story he will need to tell.  But she just picked up his phone by accident and his mom was there, so she saw them and can attest to it, but in the end as convoluted as it seems….nothing happened between them.”  

You sniff and wipe your nose as Niecy gets you a tissue and a sympathetic look.  “I’m so glad you finally heard him out, (Y/N).”

“Well, I heard him out on voicemail.  He called around the time that I probably was….”  Your lip quivers as you pull apart the tissue in your hands.

“Babe, it’s gonna be ok!  You all can finally patch things up, start fresh!”  Niecy says.

You blow your nose, which proved pointless as your sobs and tears built up again.  “There’s no way he would want to see me now!”

“Don’t be silly, so you had a little fun with a guy, it wasn’t serious, he’ll forgive it!”

“Oh come on, Niecy!  I would think you would be continuing to nail me to the cross like you were earlier!  I’m not good enough for him, I went too far for nothing!”

Niecy pulls her chair around to rub your back, “Now we all make mistakes when we are emotional.  You’ve been stressed out, homesick, and I would be going through withdrawals too if I had a slice like that waiting for me when I got home!”  Niecy sees you not laughing and continues. “Emotional cheating is a bit tricky, but maybe wait to tell him when things blow over. Love on him a little, rebuild that trust and companionship then pull apart the ugly to get to the good stuff.”

You look at Niecy like she has gone mad, “This was more than emotional, and I can’t NOT tell him about it!  If I were a guy, I’d be a dog for sleeping around.”

Niecy leans back squinting at you, “Sleeping around?”

You nod wiping your nose, “Yeah, that guy left a note.  I got really drunk, I woke up naked!”

Niecy hides her face, “Oh God, you don't remember, do you?”

You shake your head, “Which makes it even worse, if you ask me.  If the guy hadn’t left a note, I may have lived in ignorant bliss but-”

“Girl, you didn’t sleep with that guy!”  Niecy exclaims.

You look at her confused, “What do you mean?? I was drinking with him and then I wake up-”

“Naked with a thank you note, I heard you, I know.  But that’s not what happened though.”

The guy passes you the bottle so you can get right.  TIpping it back you gulp it down a little too fast you hiccup handing it back to him.

“You handle it like that, huh?”  he asks, golds glistening as he smiles at you incredulously.

You wipe your mouth sloppily, hiccuping again, “I hold my own when I need.  Now, you want my place or yours?”

He gets up holding out a hand to take yours, “Whichever works for you, Princess.”

“Chiiiiill with the ‘princess’ bull, dawg.  HaHA! Bulldog! I did that, I did!” You walk around pointing at yourself with pride at your horrendous joke skills.  You teeter against a wall as the alcohol catches up to you.

“Well shit.  You look down for the night, baby girl.”  He says.

You wave him off, “Uh-uh!  We gonna go back to mine, play some Uno or somethin, and get turnt the FUCK up!  Don’t eeen worry bout dat!” you slur.

“Ayye, your phone is going off, you need to get that?”  The guy brings it over to you with your purse.

Leaning against the cool brick wall, you try to steady your vision.  “Fuck that. It’s probably that nicca.”

“(Y/N!)  The fuck you been!”  

You turn your head a little too quick and start to tip over.  The guy catches your arm, holding you up.

“Niecy!!!  Look, this guy likes me, we gonna go have some fun.  You wanna join us, babe?” You ask drunkenly.

“I actually just want her to go home so I can dip.  This ain’t my style, for real.” The guy says to Niecy.

“I was your style in the bar!  Maaann niggas ain’t SHIT these days!  Come on girl, let’s go find some fresher meat.”  Weak from the alcohol, you try in vain to pull your arm from the guy’s grasp.

“Look at her!  I wanted you to take her mind off her spat with her man but here you go liquoring her up, planning God knows what!”

He holds his hands up, “Aye!  This was all consenting. She asked for the bottle, she said she could hold it down, but I ain’t fucking with nothing that ain’t standing straight.”

You drop to the ground with a thud.

“Shit, just pick her up and come on back to the hotel so I can get her to sleep, please.”  Niecy asks through gritted teeth, looking around her suspiciously.

“Bet.  S’all I’m tryna do”  He picks you up, damsel in distress style all the way down the street.  You take a quick snore on his shoulder.

Once you all get to your room, Niecy opens your door and the guy set you down.

Suddenly you are reinvigorated.  “AIGHT! Lemme get m cards and turn on my songs so we can fuck it up!”  You stumble to your travel bag digging through its contents.

“Aye, can I say goodbye real quick before I got?”

Niecy puts a hand on her hip exasperated, “Yeah, yeah. Hurry it up though.”

The guy writes a note on the notepad on your nightstand.  “I hope you work things out with your boy. But if not, once you feel better, hit me up.”  He holds up the paper laying it on your bed.

“Awww, come on!  The night ain’t over yet.  You got shit to do??”

He laughs, “Yeah, I got shit to do, Princess.  You were the best date I been on in a minute to be honest.  Stay cool, girl.” He saunters out.

You sit on the side of your bed, pouting, “I wanted some DICK!”

Niecy sighs, taking your shoes off to the side, “You got dick.  “It’s waiting for you on one more day.”

You focus on the dresser in front of you, but it keeps spinning, no matter how still you sat.

“Oh shit.”  Your night came up all over your dress.  Just then you phone rings.

“FUCK (Y/N)!  You really making me your mama now, huh? Gatdammit.”  Niecy holds her nose and gets some towels and a hamper.  Putting those down she looks at your phone. “That’s M’Baku but he’ll just have to catch you in the morning.  Stand ya ass up, come on.” Niecy uses the towel as a barrier to help get you up.

“I love M’Baku.  He’s got real good dick.  Niecy, I threw up.”

“I know, sweetie, alladat and then some.  We gotta get that dress offa you.” She rolls your hem up in hopes to keep the puke locked in.  You raise your arms as it slips off.

“Come on, now.  You wore NO draws??”  Niecy exclaims quickly tossing the dress to the hamper.

“I told you I wanted dick!  But no pantylines biiiiitch.”  You say crawling across the bed, plopping on it belly first.

Niecy wipes her brow.  “Ok, imma call you when it’s the morning but you call me when you get up, you hear me!?”

You begin to snore.  She covers you with a sheet, You gonna hear me tomorrow.”  Niecy says to herself before leaving.

Dumbfounded, you say, “Niecy…”

Niecy nods.

Your eyes well up again as you laugh, “I didn’t cheat!”

Niecy shrugs, “Not penetratively.  Just good ol’ fashioned foolishness.”

You are filled with regret and shame, but relief and the urge to talk to your man.  “Niecy, I’m not gonna take up anymore of your time. I’ll call you later, I owe you a meal, a drink-”

“PLEASE!  After yesterday, the scent of alcohol puts me off quite a bit.”  Niecy screws her face up in disgust.

You give her a big hug, “You been so good to me.  It’s like I’ve known you forever.”

She rubs your back, “We family, baby.  Don’t worry bout it. Call your guy.”

You leave her room and call M’Baku as you walk back to your room.  He picks up on the second ring.

“(Y/N)?”  He says sounding a bit nervous.

“Hey, M’Bop.”  Your voice quivers involuntarily.

M’Baku sounding worried, “My love, please tell me you got my message.  There was no-”

“Cheating, I know.  I know you, I know you didn’t, I love you, M’Bop.”  you say, sobbing for the 30th time today.

M’Baku breathes a sigh of relief into the phone, “I love you with every fiber of my being, (Y/N).  You don’t have to worry about anyone else getting in the way of that.”

“I’m so sorry, Baku.  You have been so good to me, I jumped to conclusions.”  You say through gasps.

“Don’t worry about it.  You had every right to question.  But I promise not to set doubt in you again.”  M’Baku says with weighty emphasis.

“And I promise not to shut you out like that.”  You wipe your face as you call the elevator. “Things really went to shit when I did that, but we will talk about that later.  I can’t wait to come home to you, baby.” you whisper.

“And I will embrace you fully.  I can’t rest the same without you next to me, you’ve kept me up at night, girl.”  M’Baku jokes.

Laughing you say, “I will talk to you later, ok?  I love you!” You blow kisses through the phone.

M’Baku reciprocates, “I will savor these until they are real again, my love.”  

Getting on the elevator, you feel extremely more at ease.  Your man loves you, and you love him. You can work through what happened, no problem; long as everyone is open and honest.

Part 8

The RagTag

@sweetpeachjones  @hairhattedghooligan  @scrumptiouslytenaciouscrusade  @universalbri @mermaidchansons  @groovybbyy @nyeebey @maliadestiny @babygirlofwakanda @3mnxnxt3r @chaneajoyyy @yaachtynoboat711

Other Works

King Kil’mawalls  

T’akia

N’Jadaka’s Helpful Hands

Song of Stevens

The Coffee Prince

Commencement Day

Wakanda Got Y’all

If I Could Do It All Again

#SundaySweat