#hold on let me pull up what i said earlier i think the people deserve to know

[cigsaftersuh]

૮ the chosen one ྀིა .ᐟ

the room felt suffocating in its silence, the kind that wasn’t peaceful but heavy and crushing. jaehyun hadn’t said a word since you both crawled into his bed, his back pressed against the headboard as he stared blankly ahead. his eyes were distant, but you could still see the raw pain lingering in them, the words from earlier still cutting into him like shards of glass.

you sat beside him, close but not close enough, your hands gripping the blanket in your lap as you tried to figure out how to break through the walls he was putting up. finally, you couldn’t take it anymore.

“jae…” your voice came out smaller than you intended, holding the emotion yours couldn’t. “please don’t shut me out.”

he didn’t look at you right away. his jaw clenched, his throat bobbing as he swallowed hard. “what do you want me to say?” his voice was hoarse, barely audible. “that she’s right? that we’re a mistake?”

“don’t,” you said sharply, your own voice cracking as tears pricked your eyes. “stop punishing yourself for something that isn’t true. i chose you because you’re everything i’ve ever wanted. because i love you.”

he let out a bitter laugh, his hands gripping the fabric of his sweatpants like he was holding himself together by a thread. “how can i not? she said everything i’ve been afraid of since the day we got married. that i’m ruining your life. that i’m not enough for you. i love you too much to let you ruin yourself for me.”

“stop,” you said, your voice breaking as you reached for his hand, but he pulled away, his head shaking. “jae, look at me—”

“no,” he cut you off, his voice rising slightly, though it was laced with desperation rather than anger. “you don’t get it. i’ve heard people talk about us before, but this- this was different. it was her. someone from my own family. and the worst part is, i can’t even tell if she’s wrong.”

your heart shattered at his words, and tears spilled down your cheeks as you scooted closer, placing a trembling hand on his arm. “jaehyun, she is wrong. she doesn’t know what we’ve been through, how hard we’ve fought to be where we are.”

“but what if she’s right?” he whispered, his voice cracking as he finally turned to look at you, his eyes filled with tears that refused to fall. “what if you wake up one day and realize this was all a mistake? that you deserve more than me?”

his words broke something in you, and before you even realized what you were doing, you threw your arms around him, holding him tightly. “don’t you dare say that,” you sobbed into his shoulder. “don’t you dare think for a second that you’re not enough for me. i chose you, jaehyun. i chose you because i love you more than anything in this world.”

he froze for a moment, like he couldn’t believe what he was hearing, but then his walls crumbled. his arms wrapped around you, clutching you like a lifeline as the tears he’d been holding back finally fell. his body shook against yours, and the sound of his quiet sobs broke your heart all over again.

“i’m so sorry,” he choked out, his voice muffled against your neck. “i’m sorry you had to hear her say those things. i’m sorry i can’t protect you from people like her. i’m sorry for—”

“stop apologizing,” you interrupted, pulling back just enough to cup his face in your hands. his cheeks were wet with tears, and his eyes were red and swollen, but to you, he was still the most beautiful person you’d ever seen. “none of this is your fault, jae. you’ve given me everything — your love, your trust, your heart. that’s all i’ve ever needed.”

he shook his head, his lips trembling as fresh tears slipped down his cheeks. “but what if that’s not enough? what if i can’t be the person you need me to be?”

“you already are,” you said fiercely, your thumbs brushing away his tears. “you’re my everything, jae. you always have been. i don’t care what anyone else says, because they don’t know you like i do. they don’t know how we are.”

he stared at you, his expression crumbling as more tears spilled over. “you’re too good for me,” he whispered, his voice so broken it made your chest ache.

“no,” you said softly, pressing your forehead against his. “we’re good for each other, jae. and i’ll spend the rest of my life proving that to you if i have to.”

he shook his head, his expression crumbling as he wiped furiously at his eyes. “i don’t deserve you,” he murmured, his voice barely audible. “i never have.”

your chest tightened, and you felt your own resolve breaking. without thinking, you scooted closer, reaching out to cup his face in your trembling hands. he stiffened at first, but you didn’t let go. “jaehyun, listen to me,” you said, your voice thick with emotion. “you are not a mistake. this, us, we’re not a mistake. we’re young, we’re figuring it out, but that doesn’t mean we’re wrong for each other.”

he closed his eyes, leaning into your touch as if he wanted to believe you but couldn’t quite bring himself to. “but what if i can’t be enough for you? what if i can’t give you the life you deserve?”

“you already are enough,” you said, your voice cracking as you brushed a tear from his cheek with your thumb. “you’re enough for me in every way that matters. do you even realize how much i love you? how much i need you?”

his eyes opened, and the vulnerability you saw there made your heart shatter all over again. “but what if—”

“stop doubting yourself, doubting us. yes, it’s hard. yes, people will have opinions. but none of that changes how much i love you. how much i believe in you, in us.” you pleaded, your hands tightening on his face.

he pulled you into his arms so tightly it was almost suffocating. his body shook against yours, quiet sobs racking his chest as he buried his face in the crook of your neck. “i’m so scared,” he whispered, his voice broken and raw. “i’m so scared of losing you.”

you held him just as tightly, your own tears soaking into his shirt as you ran your fingers through his hair, soothing him as best you could. “you’re not going to lose me,” you whispered fiercely. “not now, not ever. i’m here, jae. i’m always going to be here.”

he clung to you like a lifeline, his hands gripping the fabric of your shirt as if letting go would make you disappear. “i don’t know what i’d do without you,” he choked out, his voice muffled against your shoulder.

“you won’t ever have to find out,” you said, pressing a kiss to the side of his head.

the vulnerability in his eyes was almost unbearable, but when you leaned forward to press a gentle kiss to his lips, he melted into you completely. his hands moved to cup your face, his touch tender yet desperate, like he was afraid you might slip away if he let go.

when you finally pulled back, his forehead rested against yours, and his breathing was still uneven, but there was a newfound softness in his gaze. “i love you,” he whispered, his voice barely audible.

“i love you more,” you said, a tearful smile tugging at your lips. “and i’m not going anywhere, jae. not ever.”

he pulled you into his arms again, holding you so tightly it was as if he was trying to fuse your bodies together. his tears had slowed, but the way his hands trembled as they ran soothingly up and down your back told you he wasn’t completely okay yet — and that was fine. you would stay here with him for as long as he needed.

as the minutes passed, the weight in the room began to lift, replaced by a quiet, fragile sense of peace. jaehyun pressed a kiss to your hair, his lips lingering there as he whispered, “thank you.”

“for what?” you asked softly, your voice muffled against his chest.

“for choosing me,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “for loving me. for staying.”

you tightened your arms around him, your heart swelling with a love so strong it threatened to overwhelm you. “always, jaehyun,” you whispered. “i’ll always choose you.”

and as you lay there together, tangled in each other’s arms, you knew that no matter what anyone said, no matter how hard things got, the love you shared would always be enough. because at the end of the day, you had each other—and that was everything.

prev. 𐙚 next

ㅡ my forever only.

with love,

© cigsaftersuh

ʚ taglist - open ɞ

@cstarry @hyuckleberriii @beacauseimmaya @jeongjaeleftbicep @lesuneczka @cryingforjae @ctrlstar @youaremysecretworld @douqhnxtss @dearlyminhyung @jaemnationnn @jaeyunluvbot @nonverdolly @dudekiss3r @rubiiisyeon @jae10velies

[harrysfolklore]

husband and wife - harry blurb

those harry pics gave me major new husband!harry vibes so here we are, hope you enjoy !

MASTERLIST | MY PATREON

//

The Caribbean sun, the man you loved and your friends. There was definitely no better way to start the year.

In good old fashion, you decided to travel down to Anguilla for New Years, just like you did back in 2019 and it ended up being one of your best trips ever.

You were soaking up some sun, laying comfortable on a beach chair and occasionally sipping on the fruity drink Harry provided for you earlier, totally blissful as you enjoyed the moment.

That was until a muscular body that you knew too well blocked the sun for you.

“Enjoying yourself, gorgeous?” Harry asked, in his shirtless glory and wearing just some black swimming trucks.

“I was a few seconds ago,” you teased, “You know, before someone interrupted me.”

“Heyyyyy,” he used his topical fake hurt voice, “That’s not a nice way to talk to your husband.”

You smiled at this, feeling butterflies on your stomach as he called himself your husband.

It happened after the end of the tour and before his infamous haircut. Your weeding took place on your Italy villa and all your close friends and family were there to celebrate your love. It was a beautiful and intimate ceremony that everyone always would hold close to their hearts.

The public and fans still had no idea about it and you loved how much you were enjoying your marriage with that kind of privacy.

“That’s right, you’re my husband now,” you said as Harry squeezed himself next to you on the beach chair, “I can’t bully you like I used to.”

“Mr and Mrs Styles, come join us!” Jeff’s voice interrupted was Harry was about to reply and made you turn your heads his way, noticing that your friends were gathering around to watch the sunset.

“I think we’re good mate,” Harry replied sassily, “Don’t feel like sharing my wife right now.”

Your friends laughed at this, yelling some stuff like “you’re whipped!” and “she must be sick of you.

“You’re mean to them.” You joked, closing your eyes and leaning into him, feeling his hands rubbing up and down your back.

“They deserve it, they haven’t let me be alone with you all day,” he shrugged, making you roll your eyes and look up at him, holding his jaw and rubbing the stubbled skin of his chin, “Besides, an I mean for wanting to love on my wife?”

“You’re not,” you said, grazing his bottom lip with a smile on your face, “You drive your wife absolute mad.”

Harry smirked, throwing his head back at your words and grabbing your chin to kiss your lips.

“I love to hear you call yourself my wife,” he smiled widely, his eyes full of love and glee, “I still can’t believe we’re married, It’s the best thing that happened this year.”

You only smiled, connecting your lips again before Jeff’s voice interrupted you one more time,

“Seriously lovebirds, get in here. You already had your honeymoon!”

Harry groaned as he let go of your lips, standing up and facing your friends.

“Fine, we’ll join you,” he grabbed your hand to walk towards them, “Don’t you hate when lonely people ruin the moment for happy couples?” Harry said to you, making the entire group laugh.

“We’re literally married!” Glenne said, pointed to herself and Jeff.

Harry only shrugged with a smug face, sitting down beside Tommy and pulling you to his lap, laying his chin on your shoulder.

The sun sank lower, painting the sky pink and golden. Harry's arm was around your around your waist and he occasionally placed kisses on your shoulder as you engaged in conversation with your friends.

"This is perfect." You leaned back into him, whispering so only he could hear him, his heartbeat steady against your back and his breath hitting your neck.

"Absolutely perfect," Harry whispered back in agreement, his lips grazing your skin as he nestled closer.

You were starting the year at one of your favorite places, surrounded by your friends and as husband and wife, and you couldn't wait to see what 2024 had in store for your perfect life together

[sam24]

Man on a Mission

Summary: Apparently, someone called Bucky's girl a whore. He has now made it his life's mission to find out who.

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x fem!reader

*****

Bucky sat at the kitchen island, eyes narrowed, leg bouncing, and the same scene from last night replaying in his head.

Bucky drew random patterns on your bare shoulder, his nose buried into your hair. You were being quieter than usual, but he knew you were awake as he could feel your hands fidgeting.

He didn’t want to press you to tell him about it, so he settled on making you feel as loved as possible, pressing kisses into your hair.

Suddenly, you broke the silence, taking Bucky by surprise.

“Buck . . . do you think I’m a whore?”

“Wha-” Bucky lifted his head immediately, trying to look at you. But you hid your face in your hands, turning away from him.

“God don’t look at me. Fuck, this is so embarrassing,” You groaned into your hands. “Forget I said that.”

“No, honey, look at me please,” Bucky gently pulled your hands down, cradling your face. “Who called you that?”

“No, no, no one,” You shook your head frantically. “I’m sorry, just forget I said anything. I don’t know what I was thinking.”

“No, sweetheart, who- okay we’ll get back to that later. But you are not a whore, okay? No woman deserves to be called that in the first place. Who-”

“No, no one. I was just . . . I just randomly thought of it.”

Bucky wasn’t convinced, but he let it slide.

For now.

“Well, I don’t want you thinking these things about yourself.” He pressed a kiss to your forehead. “Okay?”

You nodded, seeming relieved and a little surprised that he dropped it that easily.

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

It was now the next morning, and you were at the gym with Natasha, which gave Bucky the perfect opportunity to figure out who to murder.

Steve walked into the kitchen with Sam trailing behind.

“Morning Buck.” Steve greeted. His head stuck into the fridge, trying to look past the shit ton amount of edible cookie dough you had made a couple days earlier.

“How come you didn’t come run with us, you lazy fat ass.” Sam teased, leaning on the island.

“Didn’t feel like it.” Bucky narrowed his eyes.

Suspect 1: Sam Wilson, The Most Annoying Bird Alive

Sam had a tendency to poke fun at people, but some might not take it as well as others. For example, when a barista burst out in tears last week when Sam joked about her being “all over the place” with all the orders coming in. (He came in with flowers the next day)

Bucky wondered if Sam had said something that was supposed to be funny, but you didn’t think it was and got upset.

A part of Bucky wanted to settle on Sam so he had an excuse to beat him up, but the more rational side of him realized that you had gone on one too many missions with him to think he was being serious about anything he said.

Tony then came in, holding a bunch of empty coffee mugs in his hand, practically throwing them into the sink.

“Bruce said my mugs were ‘taking up too much room’ in the lab,” Tony rolled his eyes. “Well why doesn’t he try being the goddamn genius backbone of this team.”

Bucky stared at him intently.

Suspect 2: Tony Stark, The Dick Who Can’t Set His Metal Rock Music Lower Than 98

Tony had a tendency to snap easily, especially when he was low on sleep (which was basically all the time). Everyone usually steered clear of Tony when he was moody, because he would most definitely say the meanest things, but not really mean any of it.

Bucky tried to think if it was logical that Tony would snap at you and say something. However, he came to the conclusion that even if Tony had said something, you had known him for too long to take his sleep-deprived words to heart.

“What are you looking at, Winter Schnitzel?” Tony challenged, noticing Bucky staring at him.

“Nothing.” Bucky replied, his stare shifting over to his best friend, who was grinning in amusement, but still trying to find something to eat that wouldn’t give him diabetes.

Suspect 3: Steve Rog-

Bucky stopped himself, almost laughing at himself for thinking Steve would ever call a woman a whore.

Even though you always kept the fridge full of random items you would make, Steve would never say a single bad thing about you.

For now, Bucky was stuck.

⭃⭃⭃⭃⭃⭃⭃⭃⭃⭃⭃⭃⭃⭃⭃⭃⭃⭃⭃⭃⭃⭃⭃⭃⭃⭃⭃⭃⭃

6 hours later, and Bucky was still stuck.

You and Peter were out (God knows where), which was another perfect chance for Bucky to think.

But the problem was he couldn’t think of anyone.

Everyone in the compound adored you, so Bucky couldn’t figure out who the hell would deliberately say something to make you upset.

He dragged his shoes across the floor, cursing Steve in his head for making him go on a “stroll” because he apparently looked “pent-up”.

There was no way in hell Bucky would walk around outside, so he opted to take a walk inside, using Mother Steve’s demand to his advantage to scout out potential targets.

He halfheartedly glanced around the floor, stopping when his gaze landed on you.

He immediately grinned, not caring about the fact he probably looked crazy, and started his way over to where you were.

You were talking to someone with a bag in your hand. Bucky remembered you saying something about picking up a dress from the store for your friend. Peter was next to you, and for some reason, puffing his chest out?

But, as Bucky got closer, he realized you were talking to Jacob, the little dickwad who couldn’t take no for an answer,

“How many times do I have to tell you? Get out of my way. I’m trying to get this to someone.” Bucky heard you snap, tuning in with his enhanced hearing.

Bucky stopped, trying to assess the situation and figure out if you would appreciate him stepping in or not.

He knew you didn’t need anyone to stand up for you, but his overprotective side rippled through his body, his jaw clenching and fists balling.

“Baby, stop acting- “Jacob was cut off with a sharp slap.

The little bastard was taken by complete shock.

Meanwhile, Peter was still trying to look as intimidating as possible.

“Jacob, what the hell is your problem? I’ve told you to leave me alone more times than I can count. How fucking thick is your skull?”

Jacob was about to reply, with probably something bitchy, but he caught sight of Bucky in the corner with the most murderous glare and stopped himself.

He instead looked down and stepped to the side, giving you and Peter room to go.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought. Beat it.” Peter growled in the most non-threatening way possible as you two left, giving Bucky the perfect chance to slide in before Jacob could hightail out of there.

“Barnes.” Jacob greeted, clearing his throat.

“Callaway.” Bucky’s blood boiled at how differently he treated other men than how he treated women. “Didn’t your mother ever teach you to respect a lady?”

Before Jacob could reply, his equally dumb friend, Brody, walked past the two men.

“Damn, Jake. Barnes finally here to beat you up for calling his girl a whore?”

Bucky and Jacob both stared at Brody.

Jacob looked sickly pale, and Bucky looked calmly terrifying. Clear sign he was fucking enraged.

“Oh shit-” Brody finally put the pieces together, practically sprinting away.

Bucky turned back to face a petrified looking Jacob.

“So,” Bucky reached out, fixing Jacob’s tie and smoothing down his collar. “It was you, huh?”

Jacob tensed under Bucky’s touch.

“Chill pal, I just wanna talk.”

⭃⭃⭃⭃⭃⭃⭃⭃⭃⭃⭃⭃⭃⭃⭃⭃⭃⭃⭃⭃⭃⭃⭃⭃⭃⭃⭃⭃⭃

A bruised cheek, wet underwear, and hurt ego later, Jacob’s talk with Bucky was over.

Bucky threw his feet up on the ottoman, but not before telling Friday to make sure Jacob was apologizing to you, as instructed by Bucky himself.

He patiently waited for you on the couch, a wide grin appearing on his face as you walked in and cuddled up next to Bucky, but not without pressing a kiss to his lips first.

Halfway through the movie, you turned to look at Bucky.

“Thank you,” You smiled.

“For what, doll?”

You turned back to face the movie, a smile playing at your lips. “C’mon. I know that was you. He would never apologize on his own will.”

Bucky laughed, turning you around once again to pepper kisses all over your face.

“I love you, my little smartass.”

“I love you too, pops.”

Mission accomplished.

[shitsndgiggs]

Could u do a first kiss one with yamal at a family party

FIRST KISS - LAMINE YAMAL

Your first kiss with Lamine

Lamine Yamal x fem! reader

︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿

The laughter and chatter of Lamine’s family party drifted up the staircase and into his room, where the two of us had retreated for a brief moment of quiet.

The party downstairs was in full swing, but the noise felt distant up here. Lamine and I had found a small reprieve from the crowd, escaping to his room to catch our breath and enjoy a bit of privacy.

“I didn’t expect to get so overwhelmed by all the people,” I said, laughing softly as I sat down on the edge of his bed.

Lamine followed, sitting beside me and leaning back against the headboard. “I know what you mean. It’s always a bit chaotic here, but my family means well.”

I glanced around his room, noticing the framed photos and personal touches that gave it a cozy, lived-in feel. “It’s nice, though. It’s clear how much they love you.”

He smiled, his gaze turning towards me. “Yeah, they do. And I’m really glad you’re here with me.”

I felt a warm flutter in my chest at his words. “I’m glad to be here, too. It’s been a lot of fun.”

Lamine’s eyes lingered on mine, a playful smile tugging at his lips. “You know, we don’t have to stay in here. But… I’m kind of enjoying the quiet with you.”

I raised an eyebrow, teasing. “Are you sure? I’ve heard your mom can be pretty persistent when she’s looking for someone.”

He chuckled, leaning in closer. “True, but I think we deserve a little break.”

His smile faded into a more serious expression as he brushed a strand of hair from my face. There was an intensity in his eyes that made my heart race. “You know, I’ve been wanting to do this for a while,” he said softly, his voice low and steady.

Before I could fully process his words, Lamine’s lips were on mine. The kiss was gentle at first, but it quickly deepened as he cupped my face in his hands. I responded eagerly, my hands sliding up to rest on his shoulders.

The kiss became more passionate, our lips moving together in a rhythm that felt both thrilling and comforting.

His hands roamed to my back, pulling me closer as our kisses grew more intense. I could feel the heat of his body, the softness of his lips, and the undeniable connection between us.

It was as if the world outside his room had faded away, leaving just the two of us in this perfect, private bubble.

Just as I was getting lost in the moment, we heard a voice calling from downstairs. “Lamine! Where are you?”

We both froze, our lips just inches apart. I could see the surprise and panic in Lamine’s eyes as he pulled away slightly, his breath coming fast. “Oh no, that’s my mom. We better not keep her waiting.”

I laughed softly, feeling a mix of exhilaration and embarrassment. “Yeah, we should probably go.”

Lamine smiled sheepishly, brushing a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “Sorry about that. I didn’t mean to rush things.”

“It’s okay,” I said, reaching up to give him a quick peck on the cheek. “It was… nice.”

His eyes sparkled as he grinned, his earlier nervousness melting away. “Yeah, it was. Let’s get back downstairs before my mom comes looking for us.”

We both stood up, straightening our clothes and making sure we looked presentable. As we headed back to the party, hand in hand, I felt a newfound sense of closeness with Lamine.

The kiss had been a beautiful and unexpected moment, and it made me even more excited for what the future might hold for us.

When we rejoined the party, Lamine’s mother was all smiles as she greeted us. “There you two are! We were just about to start dessert. Come on, everyone’s waiting!”

[its-avalon-08]

it all fell down (ln4)

part7

multipart story! part1 part2 part3 part4 part5 part6

✦ pairing - lando norris x female reader

summary : lando norris and y/n were friends for 20 years, fell in love and dated for five. until it all fell down. they left each others lives abruptly and never spoke again, until they met again in the most unexpected way. can they find their way back or will certain scars never heal?

Y/N stood by the refreshment table, her mind swirling with thoughts. I need to apologize for what I said, but how? She glanced around, searching for an opportunity to speak with Lando without the awkwardness that had engulfed their last encounter.

Just then, she heard small cries coming from the play area. Her heart skipped a beat as she saw Penelope on the ground, tears streaming down her face. Lando was already there, trying to console her, but the little girl was inconsolable.

Without thinking, Y/N rushed over. “Penelope, sweetie, what happened?” she asked gently, kneeling down beside her.

Penelope hiccuped through her tears. “I fell and hurt my knee,” she cried, holding up her little leg to show a small scrape.

Y/N scooped Penelope up into her arms, cradling her close. “Oh, sweetheart, it’s okay. Let’s get you cleaned up.” She reached into her bag and pulled out a small first-aid kit. “Look at you, being so brave,” she cooed, dabbing the cut with antiseptic and blowing on it gently.

Lando watched in awe, a mix of affection and surprise washing over him. She’s always been so good with kids. That’s one of the things I loved about her. He couldn’t help but notice the way her hair flowed around her shoulders, catching the light in a way that made it look like spun gold. Her familiar, comforting perfume wafted through the air, bringing back a flood of memories.

Penelope sniffled, her tears slowing as Y/N’s soothing presence worked its magic. “Does it hurt less now?” Y/N asked, her voice soft and calming.

Penelope nodded, a small smile breaking through. “Yes, thank you, Auntie Y/N.”

Y/N kissed the top of Penelope’s head and set her down gently. “All better. Now, go show Max and Kelly your brave smile.”

Penelope giggled and ran off, her earlier distress forgotten. Y/N stood up, dusting off her knees, and turned to find Lando watching her with an expression she couldn’t quite read.

“Thank you,” Lando said softly, his voice filled with genuine gratitude. “You’ve always had a way with her.”

Y/N smiled, her heart aching with a mixture of warmth and regret. “It was nothing. She’s a tough little girl.”

Lando took a step closer, the tension between them momentarily replaced by a shared affection for Penelope. “You were always good at this. At being there for people.”

Why does it still hurt so much to hear him say that? Y/N thought, fighting back tears. “Thanks Lan -Lando.”

Lando started to walk away, his hands in his pockets, the air between them still thick with unspoken words. Y/N felt a pang in her chest, knowing she couldn’t let him go without saying what was on her mind.

“Wait, Lando,” she called after him, her voice trembling slightly.

He turned back, surprise flickering in his eyes. “Yeah?”

Y/N took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the moment pressing down on her. “I need to say this. I need to apologize for what I said. ‘Maybe dating was a mistake,’ that was such a hurtful thing to say, and I didn’t mean it. Not for a second. Please just hear me out.”

Lando’s expression softened, but he remained silent, giving her the space to continue.

She took another shaky breath and started to ramble. “I was angry and hurt, and I lashed out. You didn’t deserve that. You were such a huge part of my life, and we had so many good memories. You were my everything, my whole world and what I said, it was unwarranted. That should have never left my mouth. You are were the love of my life and that can't change just because we broke up. I’ve regretted those words every single day since. I’ve been trying to move on, but it’s been so hard because I never really let go of the guilt of hurting you. I just want you to know that you were never a mistake. We weren’t a mistake.”

Lando’s heart swelled with affection as he listened to her. She’s always been so passionate, so sincere. That’s one of the things I loved most about her. He watched her struggle to find the right words, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. She’s really hurting.

“I don’t know if we can ever go back to how things were,” she continued, her voice breaking slightly. “But I needed to say I’m sorry. Truly sorry, Lando. You deserve to hear that.”

By now, tears were streaming down Y/N’s face, and she wiped at them furiously, embarrassed by her emotions. “I know I messed up, but I never stopped caring about you.”

Lando took a step closer, his heart aching at the sight of her distress. He could see how much this was hurting her, and despite everything, he felt an overwhelming urge to comfort her. She’s always been so hard on herself. She deserves to know she’s forgiven.

He smiled softly, his eyes gentle and understanding. “Y/N, it’s okay. I forgive you. We both said things we didn’t mean. It was a tough time for both of us.”

Y/N looked up at him, her eyes wide and full of emotion. “Really? You mean that?”

Lando nodded, his own eyes misty. “I do. We had something special, and that doesn’t just go away because of a few bad moments. We were both hurting. I get it.”

Before she could say anything else, Lando pulled her into a hug. Y/N melted into his embrace, the familiar warmth and comfort of his arms around her bringing a sense of relief she hadn’t felt in years. She buried her face in his shoulder, letting herself cry freely.

“I’ve missed you,” she whispered, her voice muffled against his shirt.

Lando held her tightly, his heart full of a complicated mix of emotions. “I’ve missed you too,” he admitted, his voice soft and filled with sincerity. This feels right. Like coming home.

They stood there, wrapped in each other’s arms, the world around them fading away. For the first time in a long time, they both felt a glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, they could find a way to heal the wounds of the past and move forward together.

taglist ---> @misspygmypie @kol67-t @sltwins @f1fantasys @sarx164 @imboredway2much @demandealalune e @elz-xo o @bellelovesharryy @hey-there9-its-me @marauders-wife @itsjustfranzi @l-sofiamia-l @ironmaiden1313

comment to get added to taglist

[save-the-villainous-cat]

Hellooo :D Could I request a villain who suddenly realizes that hero was once a terrifying supervillain? (Maybe a situation lead to the reveal or something? It's up to you!!) If my request doesn't tickle ur fancy then feel free to ignore <33

The other villain cocked their head.

"Change that uniform all you want," they said, grinning as they kept squeezing the hero's throat. "But it will never change what you are inside."

The other villain leaned in and put all the pressure they could come up with on the hero's windpipe, going as far as using their entire body weight to crush the hero's throat. Thus, tears ran down the hero's cheeks as they tried to force some oxygen back into their lungs.

They grabbed the other villain's wrists as they struggled but there was no mercy in the other villain's eyes, there was no escape. It wasn't even a fruitful attempt at defense.

It burnt, everything burnt. It was an indescribable pain, something so horrible that they gave up immediately. The hero wanted this to be over; they couldn't fight back.

It was true that the hero had regenerative abilities to some degree. But the other villain had also poisoned them earlier.

So, all in all, the hero's day wasn't going great.

"You will always be that disgusting piece of shit you've always been. It doesn't matter how many people you save. It doesn't matter what you do. You are rotten to the core and I can't wait to see you die." They smiled callously but the hero knew their lights were gonna go out in a few seconds. At least that meant they wouldn't have to see that horrible smile anymore. "Yeah, that's right. Look at me when you die."

Both of them heard the hero's throat crack.

The pain was completely out of this world and although the hero couldn't tell what exactly was broken, they knew it couldn't be good.

The hero wished it would be over soon.

They were about to pass out but then, suddenly, someone grabbed the other villain and yanked them across the floor. The hero couldn't move. They lay there and wheezed but nothing changed. The pain was still there and it felt like an endless limbo of violence.

It was hard to imagine that they could make it home today.

Breathing hurt. Survival hurt. Deep down, they wished the other villain would have just killed them.

They were right about everything anyway.

Whatever the hero tried to do, deep down they knew they were a horrible person. Old sins weren't any less significant. They knew it was foolish to try to make up for all the damage they had caused, for all the evil things they had done.

They had thought to escape all of this one day but it followed them around like an evil shadow. They didn't deny that they deserved it but they could also barely tell if their heart could take all of this.

They were trying so hard to be good. God, they were trying.

Although the hero's vision was horribly bad, they were able to recognize their nemesis eventually.

Their nemesis who was kneeling in front of them. Their nemesis who had just saved them.

"Silly hero," the villain said. They moved some hair out of the hero's vision and touched their bruised throat with their fingertips. The hero flinched but they couldn't say anything. "Come here."

They sat down on the floor of the empty warehouse and pulled the hero into their lap.

"Let me see..." With their index finger, the villain pushed up the hero's chin which was painful enough for the hero's body to twitch and produce some sort of desperate sound. "Shh..."

The hero didn't dare to try speaking. Their throat wasn't even remotely close to starting to heal. It would probably take hours.

"You are pretty bold for attacking them on your own," the villain said softly. They raked through the hero's hair with their long fingers, holding eye contact relentlessly. The hero couldn't really think. Was it true that they couldn't have defeated them? Or had they just given up because the other villain's words had been too cruel?

"I-"

"Shh. Don't speak," the villain said. They took off their cape and blanketed the hero. Gently, the villain traced the hero's injured throat repeatedly.

It didn't even matter to the hero that it hurt. They needed the touch, they needed skin on theirs with kind intentions. They would have let the villain push their fingers into an open wound of theirs if their sweet words had accompanied them.

"I would've never guessed that your past could be...so complicated."

The hero didn't know what they had anticipated. After all, they had lied to the villain, hadn't they? The villain was surely not happy about that.

"You're better than the rest of them. Living proof that people really can change and learn." The hero closed their eyes and pressed their cheek against the villain's torso. Although those words were nice to hear, they knew it wasn't true. Not really. The villain just tried to make them feel better. "But it was foolish of you to go up against the other villain. We both can be grateful that I have some information on them that shouldn't be available to the public. But you? You're not that desperate to save people, are you? So desperate that you will attack with no plan?"

The villain's fingertips stopped on the hero's clavicle and the hero took their hand, too tired to even think about a response.

"I guess, you not being able to answer me does have its perks. You can't protest when I say that you're good at this. Better than anyone I have ever met," the villain said. The hero didn't know why. They didn't know why the villain was doing any of this. Saving them, talking to them, touching them.

The hero didn't know how on earth they deserved this.

"Forgive your younger self," the villain whispered. "Or this will have to become a regular thing."

Again, they touched the hero's throat. It was still soft but their skin and muscles were still too sensitive. The hero tried to pull away and groaned but they also knew this was a warning.

It dawned on them. The villain was toying with them, even if it was playful, even if it was gentle. They were toying with them.

"Promise me you will work on this. You need to be able to take care of yourself. Unfortunately, I can't always be your knight in shining armor."

For whatever reason, the hero simply nodded. It didn’t matter what the villain had planned for them or if they wanted to use the hero. If they wanted to manipulate them and turn them into a weapon.

All of it didn’t matter right now. It didn’t matter. The hero closed their eyes and allowed themselves to rest for just a minute with their cheek against the villain’s body and their head on the villain’s thigh.

[legomonkiefics]

Hi, I would like to request Mk with a fem! Reader who is mean for him. This guy is TOO sweet he really needs a partner that can yell at people for him. How about a short fic? (It's been a minute since I've requested anything from anyone)

-🐙

💛🍜 Defending the Successor — MK x Fem Reader Drabble 🍜💛

Genres: Fluff, Romance || she/her pronouns for reader, he/they pronouns for MK || No warnings needed

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆˚｡⋆୨🍜୧⋆˚｡⋆✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖

It wasn't often that you got to do deliveries with MK, as he always seemed to jump around so much, and you had responsibilities of your own. But Pigsy tended to insist. He knew how easily distracted his son was, and you seemed to ground them. One day your schedule was clear enough to finally agree.

MK was happily chatting to you as he drove the noodle cart, the two of you making it to one of the few stops they had left for this shift. "And theennn Monkey King showed me all the stuff he's collected! He's got so much junk, but it's all really shiney". You chuckled as you nodded "Eyes on the road, hun" you reminded. "Right," MK said, pulling up to a stop a few feet from the house. He got out first, scrambling to open the cart door for you. You gave him an appreciative smile as you took their offered hand to get out. He held your hand tightly, his other hand carrying the delivery bag. "So, yeah! That's basically how my first week with Monkey King went" he wrapped up, before knocking on the door. A very unimpressed man opened it from the other side.

"Finally, you're here" the customer drawled irritably. MK raised an eyebrow, tilting their head a little "Oh- yeah, traffic was kinda bad today. But I made it within the time!" They replied, holding out the bag. The customer frowned, snatching the bag out of his hands. "This better be good then" he grumbled, opening up the box. After letting him look through it for a bit, MK spoke to the customer. "Soooo anyways, that'll be-"

"I'm not paying for this" the customer interrupted. MK blinked. "Uh... I don't know what to tell ya, guy, but you gotta pay for the food". "It's practically late, I'm not paying for you to be able to slack off" the man replied. MK wilted a tad. They knew they had a problem with being off task, but by his standards he'd been doing better recently. "Well, I still gave it to you, so". The customer scoffed. "Then go tell your boss you didn't do it fast enough" he said, attempting to close the door then and there. Before he could, he felt something stopping it. He looked down, seeing your shoe holding his door from closing.

"I think you owe him something" you said firmly. The customer rolled their eyes "I'm not-". "I'm not asking" you cut off. "He worked hard to come here and deliver this to you. He did it as on time as he could, and there's not a thing wrong with the meal". You nudged the door open, giving the customer a hard stare "so pay up". The man groaned, but pulled out a fistful of money from his pocket and held it out. You took it from him, before handing it to MK. "Enjoy your meal" you said flatly before closing the door on him. Once that was done, you sighed, relaxing again as you stood beside MK. "You didn't have to do that" the successor said with a small chuckle, walking with you back to the cart.

"You shouldn't let people walk over you like that, hon" you said to him, taking his hand like they'd done earlier "I know you like being the happy-go-lucky hero, but sometimes you gotta be a bit tougher than that. You deserve better". MK gave a small smile before nodding. He brushed his hair back with his free hand and said dramatically, "Would you like me more if I was a rebel, then? A real bad guy with a even worse attitude?". You chuckled, pecking his cheek so his faux serious expression melted away "I like you as how you are, MK. You're very sweet. But don't let that mean you get trampled on". "Got it" MK replied determinedly as they opened the door for you once more.

After you got in, MK gave you a cheek kiss "Thank you, though. For helping out back there". "It's no problem" you replied, ruffling his hair. He smiled and turned on the tunes to the radio, cranking up the volume for you two as you began heading off to the next stop as the sun started setting

[severefartoholic]

who is this guy😂😂😂😂😂

im not going to do a pafl tierlist like all of you im not a sheep

[yana-bananai]

The cold night air bit at your skin as you stood alone in the middle of Mondstadt’s empty streets. The argument from earlier still echoed in your head, every word cutting like a blade. You had tried, you had tried to break through to him. But Diluc’s walls were impenetrable, built too high and too thick for you to climb.

His parting words haunted you:

*"You deserve someone who isn’t broken."*

You clenched your fists, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill. How could he think that? You knew Diluc’s past was painful, but that didn’t mean he had to carry it alone. You wanted to share his burdens, to help him heal—but instead, all you got was his cold distance, his insistence that you’d be better off without him.

The sound of footsteps behind you pulled you from your thoughts, and your heart skipped a beat when you realized who it was.

“Wait.”

Diluc’s voice was hoarse, almost breathless, like he’d been running after you. You didn’t turn around immediately. You couldn’t. Not after the way he had shut you out, as if your love for him was just another burden he didn’t want to bear.

“Please…” His voice softened, and you could hear the crack in it. “Don’t go.”

You slowly turned to face him, the sight of him standing there in the moonlight stirring something painful in your chest. His usually composed demeanor was fractured—his hair wild from running, his clothes slightly disheveled, and his crimson eyes filled with an emotion you rarely saw from him: vulnerability.

“I can’t do this anymore, Diluc,” you whispered, your voice trembling. “I can’t keep trying to break down your walls when you won’t even let me in.”

Diluc’s face fell, his shoulders slumping as he took a hesitant step toward you. “I know,” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. “I know I’ve hurt you. I didn’t want to… but I’m scared.”

You blinked, surprised by his sudden confession. “Scared? Of what?”

He looked away, his fists clenched at his sides as if he was battling with himself. “Of losing you. Of you getting too close… and then realizing I’m not worth it.”

You felt your heart ache at his words. Stepping closer, you reached out, gently placing your hand on his arm. “Diluc,” you said softly, your voice laced with concern, “you don’t get to decide what you’re worth to me. I love you, every part of you, even the parts you think are broken.”

His eyes met yours, wide and uncertain. For a moment, neither of you spoke, the silence between you heavy with emotion. And then, with a quiet, almost defeated sigh, Diluc took your hand in his, gripping it tightly as if he was afraid you might slip away if he didn’t hold on.

“I don’t want to push you away,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. “But I’ve spent so long keeping people at arm’s length that I don’t know how to let anyone in.”

You squeezed his hand, offering him a small, reassuring smile. “You don’t have to do it all at once,” you said gently. “We’ll take it slow. But you have to let me in, even if it’s just a little. I’m not going anywhere.”

Diluc’s grip on your hand tightened as he pulled you closer, his forehead resting against yours. His breath was warm against your skin, his body trembling slightly with the weight of everything he had been holding in for so long.

“I’m sorry,” he murmured, his voice barely audible. “For everything. For pushing you away when all I want is to keep you close.”

You closed your eyes, feeling the warmth of his apology seep into your heart. “I forgive you,” you whispered, leaning into him, your free hand coming up to gently cup his face. “But next time, don’t wait until I’m walking away to say it.”

A soft, breathy laugh escaped him—something so rare from Diluc that it made your heart skip a beat. He pulled you even closer, his arms wrapping around you as he buried his face in your shoulder, as if he was afraid that if he let go, this moment would vanish.

When Diluc finally pulled back, his eyes were softer, the usual hardness replaced by a gentle vulnerability that made your heart swell. He leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to your forehead—nothing rushed, just a quiet, tender gesture filled with more emotion than words could ever express.

“I’ll try,” he said quietly, his voice steady. “I’ll try to let you in. To be the person you deserve.”

You smiled up at him, brushing a stray lock of hair away from his face. “That’s all I ask.”

And as you stood there together, wrapped in each other’s warmth beneath the soft glow of the moonlight, you knew that this was only the beginning of healing—together.

---

Pick another character for me to do pls

[saintship]

humbly would like to request konig seeing s/h scars on his s/o for the first time :’)

fun fact i got dumped one time over em one time, my ex saw em on my thigh and was like “yeah no”

First of all I’m hunting this fucker down, what the hell??

People who get stranger’s IP’s do your shit

I’m so sorry that happened to you, that little boy did not deserve you, I hope you enjoy<3

SIDE NOTE I saw a headcanon on tiktok saying “König is NOT shy” And I kinda loved that so I tried to explore it a bit

Warnings: S/H scars, revealing of traumatic events

König x Reader

Outer Patrol

Of all the assignment you cycled through, outer patrol was the easiest on the eyes. The forest surrounding the base consisted of thin birch trees packed together, so that slivers of sunlight would reach through and grace the east grounds. Your favorite was the early morning outer patrol with König—he shared your fascination with the forest, and slung a loose arm around you when it had been truly freezing last winter.

Now, in the warmth of July, the sun casted its light aggressively through the gaps of branches and leaves, the humid air clouding your thoughts.

The sticks and leaves crumpled under both of your boots, König bringing up the rear on the narrow path.

“Do you think there are bears out here?” You murmur, looking carefully through the gaps of the trees.

“Nein. We make too much noise..” König pointed out. The camp certainly made itself known during artillery drills.

You hum, letting the air settle in silence again. Suddenly, you stopped in your tracks, causing König to nearly topple you over.

“Hey!”

“Sh!” You hold up a gloved hand, staying as still as possible. Slowly, you lifted the other to point ahead of you, where a fox pawed at the ground, investigating the lush grass.

“That’s not a bear.” König’s whisper nearly made you laugh, but you swatted his shoulder instead, smiling.

“He’s so cute..” you whisper. The fox lifted its head, spotting the two of you and bounding away quickly.

“I guess it’s not too loud for him.” You turn around and walk backwards to face your partner as the path widens ahead.

“Maybe we’ll see kits in the spring.” König said softly.

“Aw..” You cooed at the thought, smiling.

The path continued, but there was a faint fork that led off to the right.

“Have you seen this?”

König shook his head.

You pushed back a branch, stepping through the threshold. The path was littered with overgrown ferns, bushes, and a few fallen logs you had to vault over. Finally, the path opened to a clearing, where a small stream expanded into a large pond nestled underneath a trickling waterfall. The rocky ledge slanted down, the falling water sparkling beneath the late morning sunshine.

“Oh..my god..” you breathed. You turned to see König’s reaction; he was transfixed on the water, his eyes shining under the dark paint and hood.

“This is insane..” you knelt by the water, removing a glove to feel the temperature. “Not bad. I bet people used to swim here.”

Suddenly, König’s pager buzzed, and he was broken from his trance to retrieve the device from his hip.

“König, outer patrol..” He greeted.

“Price is tellin’ me to inform everyone off base to not come back until the afternoon; apparently we’ve got more people than we’re supposed to have on the property, and the hounds are here earlier than he thought.”

Simon’s voice rang gruffly through the transmitter, sounding irritated.

“So just don’t come back for a few hours, yeah?”

“Ja.” König replied.

“Thanks, Ghost!” You called from where you knelt at the water.

“Whatever.” The line clicked, leaving them alone with the sound of running water again.

“Well, we couldn’t have been in a luckier spot to stay put.” You stated, pulling off your backpack. You set down your gun next to it and hugged your knees, watching the water.

“That is true.” König conceded. He shed the bulk of his gear, along with his weapon, but remained standing, wandering along the shoreline. He knelt for a moment, seemingly inspecting something, before standing again and tossing a stone sideways, the rock skidding a total of four times before plunging into the water.

“Woah!” You got to your feet, walking over to him. “You could go Olympic..” You found a stone that seemed thin enough, turning it over in your ungloved hand.

“Just turn your hips. Put your soul into it.” König instructed, enacting his ridiculous stone-skipping stance. You laughed a bit, but followed his direction, skipping the rock twice.

“Ha!” You threw your arms up, connecting your hands with König’s for a double high five.

“Not bad..” He chided.

The sun rose in the sky over the next hour, you and König perfectly content with skipping rocks, wrestling, and splashing each other. All the movement combined with the beating sun made for a layer of sweat underneath your uniform.

“Wish we could swim; I’m melting..” you laid on your back dramatically, feeling the warm stones through your shirt.

“Why not?”

“Because, we have work, and someone might- hey!” You sat up, gaping as König lifted his shirt. He was careful to keep his hood on, but dared to strip of his pants, boots and socks.

“What are you doing?” You couldn’t help but smile at his tenacity.

“Just to my waist!” König gestured to his bare torso, his black briefs and hood being the only fabric left on him. You watched as he waded in, the muscles of his back enough to have a warmth climb your neck. You look away, feeling uncertain about ogling your coworker.

“It’s so nice!”

You turned back to see him hip-deep, running his hands back and forth along the surface. The definition of his chest and shoulders was criminal, accentuated by the patterns of light reflecting off the water’s surface.

“Come on!”

“No way!” You grinned, trying to hide the sense of dread the idea brought onto your mind.

“I am willing to use force!”

“Oh, god..” you sighed, removing your boots and socks. You waded to your shins, rolling up your pants so they didn’t get wet. The water was cool, washing away the sweat prickling on your legs. “Happy?”

“I don’t think so..” He sang, wading back to the shore. The water cascaded down his lower stomach, along his thighs. You found yourself furiously studying the pebbles at your feet, rendering you unaware of König’s attack.

He lifted you from the water with damp hands, ready to drop you in the further depths. You yelped, laughing but terrified of coming back with a soaked uniform.

“Alright! Alright!” You shouted. “I’ll get in, crazy!”

A gentle laugh rumbled from his chest, which sounded right by your ear as he set you down. You had felt the muscle of his chest through just a layer of fabric; the thought enough for you to avoid his eyes.

With all the laughter, you almost forgot the reason you didn’t want to undress in the first place. While König returned into the water, you pulled off your shirt, your sports bra being the only covering for your chest. The high-waisted underwear that you wore so your belt didn’t dig dents into your skin acted as bottoms, but you were hesitant to remove your pants. König noticed your labored breathing, returning to your side again.

“You don’t have to..if you really don’t want to.” He said gently, holding out a surrendering hand.

“No, it’s not..I just..” you sighed, irritated, and sat down in the sand.

“Is there something bothering you?” König’s gentle question shouldn’t have made you shrink the way it did.

“I’m sorry I pressured you, I didn’t-"

“König, it’s not your fault.” Your words escaped a bit snappier than usual, your shame building into frustration. “It’s..there are parts of myself you haven’t seen. Things that might upset you.”

König continued to look in your eyes, his concern drifting to confusion.

“There is nothing I would hold against you..” he assured. “If you want to do this, you shouldn’t hold yourself back, it’s alright.”

His words grounded you. He was right; a bodily feature is not grounds for hiding yourself away for the rest of your life when you don’t want to.

You nod, finding it easier to just get to it. Your belt came off first, the sound of the sliding leather deafening in the air of trickling water and chittering birds. Sliding your pants down your legs, the scars stretching over your thighs seemed especially defined under the sunlight. You discarded your pants, resisting the urge to cover yourself. You heard an intake of breath from König; a noise of realization.

“That is why you didn’t want to?” He asked gently.

“Scars like these don’t sit well with most people.” You murmur. Standing, you wade fully into the water, letting the water come up to your shoulders. König followed quietly, the same depth with his height letting the water only reach his sternum.

“I don’t think of you differently.” He admitted softly. “I’m honored you trust me to share something like that..I believe you have nothing to be ashamed of.”

You study his eyes for a moment, the water around you soothing your worries. “Really?”

König nodded, then let the silence stretch its legs between the two of you for a moment.

“Do you wanna go under the waterfall?” König asked.

You smiled. “Your hood will get wet..”

He hummed in realization. “I suppose you’ll have to go under for two?”

You laugh gently, swimming toward the waterfall with a splash at his chest. The water fell gently, soaking your hair and cooling your scalp.

“That’s nice..” you murmured, your eyes closed. “They’re totally going to know..”

Opening your eyes, you spot König already looking your way. The water is deep enough here that the edge seams of his hood are dipping into the water.

“I think it was worth it..”

You know he doesn’t mean it was worth it to escape the heat. Or threaten to dunk you underwater, or watch you tilt your head back under a glittering waterfall. You’d admitted something raw—deeply personal. There was a tie that bound you now, separate from that military based trust that everyone shared. With the others, you’d devoted the sacrifice of your body; your role in the fight. But to one Colonel, you had devoted your mind.

[dollishbabess]

A NEW KIND OF LOVE - dollish

Song: a new kind of love

A/n: this fic is based off the song “a new of kind of love” by frou frou <3 I hope you enjoy!

Suggested nsfw? (Not really, if your gonna smth like this credit please or Aleast reblog this

Divider @cafekitsune - dollish

The rain pelted the windowpanes, echoing in the dimly lit apartment. It was the kind of evening that made Jason Todd’s mind wander into the shadows of his past, the memories of blood, betrayal, and endless battles. But tonight was different, for you were here, sitting across from him, tracing the rim of your coffee mug, completely unaware of the effect you had on him.

He leaned against the window sill, gaze drifting toward you as you spoke about something that happened earlier in your day. He was only half-listening, not out of disinterest, but because he was too focused on memorizing the way your lips moved, the softness in your eyes, the faint smile you wore when you thought no one was paying attention.

“… and then he spilled his entire coffee on himself, seriously I think he might’ve had too much to drink? After all it was a Sunday morning!” you finished, laughing lightly.

Jason smirked, shaking his head. “Sounds like he had a rough day.” (🐰)

You nodded, then shifted your gaze to him, eyes softening. “You seem distracted. Are you okay?” Your feeling a bit hurt ‘what if he he found you cringe?’ But you shook it off

Jason hesitated. He was never good with words, not when they mattered. “Yeah, just… thinking.”

“About?” you pressed, leaning forward, curiosity dancing in your eyes.

He rubbed the back of his neck, stalling. How could he explain it to you? How could he tell you that every time he was with you, he felt something he thought was long dead, something he had buried beneath layers of pain and anger? “You make me feel…” He trailed off, searching for the right words, then gave a small, almost defeated laugh. “You make me feel things I didn’t think I could anymore.”

Your brows knitted together, concern etching into your features. “Is that… bad?”

“No,” he said quickly, and then softer, more vulnerable, “No, it’s not bad. It’s just… new.”

He paused, taking a deep breath before continuing, “You know, when you’ve been through as much as I have, you start to think that you’ve seen it all, that you’ve felt it all. But then you show up, and it’s like I’m experiencing everything for the first time.” He swallowed hard, his eyes never leaving yours. “It’s a new kind of love.”

You didn’t say anything, just watched him, your heart pounding in your chest. The silence stretched on, not awkward, but heavy with the weight of unspoken words, of shared feelings that neither of you were quite ready to acknowledge until now, it felt like a situation ship at first but.. he really loved you.

When you finally spoke, your voice was barely above a whisper. “You’ve seen the worst of the world, Jason. You’ve faced things most people can’t even imagine. But maybe…” You took a step closer, your hand reaching out to rest gently on his arm. “Maybe that’s why you deserve something new. Something good, I got a feeling you are-“ you cut off worried of how he looked at you.

He stared at you, a million emotions flashing in his eyes—hope, fear, longing, disbelief. “You really think I deserve that?” he asked, his voice cracking just slightly.

You nodded, not a hint of doubt in your expression. “I do. And if you’re willing to take the chance, I want to be the one to give it to you.”

Jason let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding, his heart thudding painfully against his ribs. And for the first time in a long time, he allowed himself to hope, to believe that maybe, just maybe, he was capable of this—of loving and being loved in return.

He closed the distance between you, pulling you into his arms, his head resting against yours. “I’m scared,” he admitted, his voice muffled against your hair. “But for you… I’m willing to try.”

You smiled, wrapping your arms around him, holding him close. “That’s all I ask.”

And in that moment, with the rain washing away the remnants of the past, Jason Todd found himself falling into a love he had never known before—something raw, something real, something entirely new.

Later on patrol with dick “dude, are you falling in love? Or what you totally fumbled the confession.” said dick grinning at his younger brother or little wing he called him, the same grin Jason swore he thought of committing just not to see it, “shut up dickhead.”

(🐰)

—love is the embodiment of you and Jason, you fill each other perfectly, he never felt like he’s been loved this hard ever by anyone which gives him suspicions that your a spy but your perfect in his eyes always and forever you always find each other in different universes together.

Made by @dollishbabess please do not put in any other platforms ty ever much!

Again divider credit @cafekitsune

I ACCEPT REQUESTS PLEASE REQUEST MY LOVES!

[wynnyfryd]

it’s what the people deserve

@steddieas-shegoes said i owed her and @wormdebut some smut as payment for subjecting them to @steddiemicrofic angst, so here ya go, ya nasties (affectionate). an absolutely feral little rewrite i did forever ago where eddie replaces nancy in the s1 post-swimming sex scene. rated e, obviously, minors go away

-

“Ow!” Steve winces, wrenching back from the kiss. His fingers reach up to touch the wound. “Munson, what the fuck?”

Eddie did that. Bit his lip until he bled.

He grins and swings a leg over Steve’s lap, shoving him down onto the bed. Steve looks up at him through long lashes, tries to look haughty despite the blush blooming across his cheeks. Eddie leans in and licks a hot stripe up the side of his neck.

Steve makes a disgusted noise in the back of his throat, but his hips jerk all the same.

“Thought you were gonna just lure me up here and pull all your King Steve moves on me, huh?” Eddie teases, sucking a bruise into the spot behind Steve’s ear. “You want to bet I can guess all your little tricks? Bet I know exactly how it goes when you get all those cute, breakable girls in your bed. Let’s see…”

He shifts in Steve’s lap, wiggling further down. Peppering gentle kisses to the underside of Steve’s jaw.

“You probably start off real soft and sweet with them, don’t you? Get ‘em all nice and relaxed ‘til they’re moaning pretty in your ear.”

He reaches down, grabs both of Steve’s hands and brings them up to either side of Steve’s head, pressing them into the mattress and interlocking their fingers. Steve’s chest heaves under him, eyes wide and dreamy beneath those long lashes, his lips full and flush. Just waiting for Eddie’s tongue to slide back in.

Eddie holds back. Hovers with his mouth just over Steve’s. “Bet you say stupidly sincere shit to them, too, don’t you? Bet you say the dumbest stuff. ‘God, you’re so beautiful,’” he mocks on a breathy moan.

Steve’s eyes flutter shut.

“Go on,” Eddie goads as he grinds his hips down, lines their hard-ons up between them; pressing through the thin fabric of his borrowed sweatpants, oh, fuck. “Tell me what the girls say to that.”

Steve bucks up into him with a long, low groan, his head tipped back. Eddie bites at his adams apple.

“They don’t— unh— they don’t say anything,” Steve whines, wrapping a leg around Eddie’s hip to pull him closer, rolling up into him in a slow, filthy circle. Eddie squeezes Steve’s hands, feels his cock twitch in his pants. Christ, he’s leaking so fucking much.

“They’d be- be too into it to think,” Steve says, and he’s moving faster now, rubbing Eddie’s cock into the growing wet spot between them. “They’d just say please.”

It’s the ‘please’ that does it. Steve says it on a broken moan — a whimper, high-pitched and filled with such need that Eddie cums in his pants. Right then and there; his whole body stiffens as his hips jolt under Steve’s bent leg, and he buries his face into Steve’s neck with an embarrassed sound.

“Oh, my— oh, my fucking god,” Steve laughs. Like, really laughs, his shoulders shaking under Eddie’s weight, and when Eddie looks up his smile is all teeth and tongue, his eyes squeezed shut. “Oh, my god, you actually just came in your pants.”

“Shut up! Shut the fuck up,” Eddie hisses, scrambling to clap a hand over Steve’s mouth. Steve just bites it, digs his teeth into the meat of Eddie’s palm until he yelps and pulls away; payback for earlier, and Steve doesn’t look sorry at all as he lifts his head to lick the wound.

“You’re a feral little fucker,” Eddie huffs, hiding in the bend of Steve’s neck again.

“Oh?” Steve asks. He slides his hand down between them, squeezes Eddie’s wet dick in his wet pants. Like rubbing a dog’s nose in a piss stain on the new carpet. “And you’re not?”

“Fuck off, holy shit.”

“Mm,” Steve murmurs, “I’d rather fuck you.”

He sits up then, flipping their positions so Eddie’s laid out beneath him, his spent dick twitching in the cooling mess in his pants. “Guess I’ll have to, anyway. You know. Since you’re already out of commission.”

[matchadobo]

Can I request Kid x reader (established relationship) where he and the crew find out the reader is a run away princess beacuse she was arranged to get married to a prince who was awful? You can expand on this concept as much as u want!!

KIDD; runaway princess

wc: 2003

warning/s: none, very fluff, kidd's being violent tho

"snap at me when you've taken down more than half of what i had done, cutie." he taunted, pinning down enemies one after the other that almost got to you. "so i don't gotta watch your back all the time."

"i'll point the gun at you instead, numbskull."

once the lot of you had reached a quiet alley, you all settled down. some had got a hold of their knees, sat on the ground with their backs on the cold, bricked walls, or face flat on the asphalt trying to catch their breaths.

but you were too occupied with thinking if you should out yourself because you are overflowing with guilt. some of your men have been injured but thankfully enough no one died. while some of your mates tended to their wounds, you couldn't take all the guilt so you stepped up.

"why are you standin' like that?" kidd looked at you funny. he stood tall with his back against the wall, his arms crossed, a puzzled expression on his face.

"i... have something to confess to you guys." you said with your head hung low, fists balled up. the others figured that it was serious, so everyone stopped lousing around and had their eyes on you. you took your time gathering your thoughts and words and they anticipated patiently.

"out with it, love." kidd nudged you, placing his human arm on your shoulder. he donned a gentle smile which cheered you on. a smile only known to you and for you.

"the real reason why we're being chased by the royal guards of my village is not just because we're pirates. it's mostly because i-i'm the lost princess who ran away on her wedding day." you spat bitterly, bile rising across your throat.

you pulled out a bounty poster of you that you snatched from the pub you lot were drinking at earlier. "i colored and grew out my hair so i wouldn't be recognized." you placed the poster side by side. the utter astonishment in their eyes as even the littlest resemblance was not evident. you got too careless that your hair later grew out and your roots were showing. even with the make up, the people from your village were able to recognize you.

you took a look at them and they all had the same expression, jaws dropped on the floor. but you especially took a long glance at kidd, his face was unparalleled and you couldn't read him. was he angry? shocked? sad? amused?

he sucked in his teeth and tsked, "sounds like my little rockstar." he looked at you, eye-to-eye as he watched how tears pooled by your eyes. "kinda figured you're somewhat of a princess though, you're too damn pretty to be in my world."

"yeah?" you placed your hand above his which was clutching your cheeks. "i-i'm sorry i lied... i was... scared."

in a millisecond, kidd pulled you to his grasp by the back of your neck. he stroked at the back of your head, combing his fingers through your locks. "that ain't a problem, alright? i'm more than happy to take you away whatever reason you got going on." he pledged by your ear, his embrace tightening. "you better tell me all about it though, aye?"

"i'm really sorry, this is all my fault you guys got hurt." you sobbed silently yet you don't even think deserve to cry. "i-i'll just surrender so you guys can get off the hook-"

"name, no! what?!"

"now that's going too far, name!"

"don't even think about it, name! as if we'd let you!"

"what the hell do you think you're talking about?!" kidd fumed, eyes furious alternating between your glassy ones. "you do realize that when you became part of the crew, you're stuck with us, aye? whatever bullshit you're planning, get it the fuck outta your mind." he kicked a lone rock by the asphalt before turning his back to you. "don't go dropping shit like that like it's some normal fuckin' thing. think about what you really want, and maybe consider my goddamn feelings along the way, why don'tcha." kidd strutted deeper into the alley, with each click of his heel you felt guilt boring through your soul. you couldn't see it but his eyeliner was starting to fuck up because of the forming tears.

you fell to your knees, frustrated. some of the crew members gave you a hug as you started crying your heart out, remembering all the excruciating days of royalty. it was tormenting. but you wanted your crew to go free. if it means to save them, you'd do anything. so you made your way to consult your lover by the corner.

"if you want to surrender. you're just being selfish at this point, name." kidd said through gritted teeth, bitter words making your heart break. "you don't even think about what we want? what i fuckin' want? i know for goddamn sure that you don't want that, why else would you run away then? so let me ask you, what do you really want?" he looked you in the eye, both hands on your shoulders.

"i-i want to be with you. i feel the most free when i'm with you. i want you to be the one i marry. i don't want to be shackled by these posh shit, i want to sail the seas with you. i want to celebrate every birthday with the crew. i want to see everyone reach their dreams, especially you. i want to be with you every step along the way. i-i want to have that, b-but if this princess thing-"

"no buts, i heard you loud and clear, baby." he interrupted with a kiss on the forehead. "you wanna settle this the kidd pirate's way or what?" he suggested with the most manic grin against your ear. "i'm tempted to hunt down that moron prince who had the nerve to marry you. gotta teach 'em to not meddle with someone else's treasure."

"don't tell me you're burning the whole village down..." you looked up at him, though there was no shred of empathy in your eyes. seems like he and the crew had rubbed off on you.

"you bet i will."

hiii thanks for the request! very sporadic updates bc i'll have exams in a week 😞

[azrielslightintheshadows]

Hello!! I went back

I would like to ask Rhysand something, I imagine something where maybe in the store where the reader works some people don't like the reader and make fun of her, and the reader always stays quiet about it, not fighting back, and maybe her bond with Rhys is recent and they are still getting to know each other, so no one respects the reader and Rhys doesn't know anything, but after a while, maybe one day when Rhys goes to visit the reader in the store where she works, Rhys sees people making fun of his partner and gets angry and defends her?

High Lady.

Rhysand x f!Reader

Warnings; swearing, scary Rhys.

Masterlist.

Hiii welcome back in my requests I'm so happy to see you again! I had so much fun writing this! Hope you enjoy it!

“Hey Colin have you heard what Y/n says?” Ivy your coworker shouted.

“What?” Colin quirked a brow, amusement flashing in his eyes.

“She told one of her friends that came here earlier that she went on a date with the High Lord” Ivy burst into laughter with Colin following suit.

“Is that true y/n? Did you dream about being Lady Night yesterday?” He exclaimed making your cheeks flush with embarrassment.

“I wonder what our High Lord would say if he heard the rumors this peasant spreads around. I mean have you seen him? He would never waste his time with someone like her.” Ivy looked at you with an arrogant expression.

You lowered your gaze to the ground and gritted your teeth trying to hold back the tears. “Aww you’re making her cry” Colin cooed with a smirk.

“She deserves this for disrespecting our High Lord.” She scoffed and turned her attention to the customer that walked in.

That was your daily life ever since you started working in the jewellery store. The first day on the job you managed to sell the most expensive necklace of the store and the owner immediately became quite fond of you. Your coworkers though feared that you would get a promotion and decided to make your life a nightmare in hopes you would quit. It hurt you deeply, but you decided that the job was more important, so you didn’t give up, you just tried to ignore their comments.

You focused on the costumers and once again you sold more jewels than everyone else.

Great, tomorrow they will treat me even worse. You mentally groaned.

“Bye” you mumbled as you grabbed your bag and left the store.

“Look at her, she is in such a hurry. Is the High Lord waiting for you?” Colin howled.

You shook your head and quickly walked away. You wanted to scream “Yes he is” but you knew they wouldn’t believe you. Usually, they liked to mock you for your looks and intelligence but now they found the perfect topic. You cursed your self for talking loudly with your friend, you didn’t mind when they made fun of you but making fun of your relationship? It hurt you deeply. You only met Rhysand two months ago and the insecurities of not being enough for him were still on the surface, so their mockery cut you like a knife.

With a sigh you unlocked the door of your apartment and walked in. You hanged your coat in the closet and hurried to the kitchen to cook dinner.

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧

A knock on the door pulled you out of your thoughts and you smiled. You quickly took off the apron and checked your self on the small mirror next to the door before opening.

“Hey beautiful” Rhysand’s deep voice filled the silence. He gave his signature feline smile and offered you a bouquet of roses.

“Hi” you chirped and stood on your tiptoes to give him a soft kiss. “It smells so good.” He murmured into the kiss, and you giggled.

“I’m kissing you and you’re thinking about the food?” you feigned a hurt expression. “I have to stop spending so much time with Cassian.” He chuckled and let you guide him inside.

After dinner you sat in front of the fireplace with two glasses of wine, talking about your days and stealing kisses from each other.

“I feel like something is wrong” Rhys said softly.

“What do you mean?” you furrowed your eyebrows.

“Like something is bothering you… you usually smile more” he explained.

“Oh I’m okay just tired.” You avoided his gaze.

He stared at your face for a few seconds and sighed “you know you can tell me everything, right?”

“Yes my love. I’m okay.” You smiled.

You spent the night in his arms, sleeping peacefully as his warmth made you feel safe.

Morning came and you slowly got up without waking him up. You got ready for work and left a note on the counter before leaving.

Off to work, I left a key so you can lock the door.

Have a nice day ♡

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧

The moment you stepped into the store Colin raised a brow and smiled mischievously. “How’s the high lord?”

You rolled your eyes and placed your stuff in your drawer.

“Oh come on, we care about our High Lord… is he okay?”  he continued.

You had hoped that he wouldn’t make fun of you today that Ivy isn’t working.

The day went by painfully slow, your hands shook by the constant mocking and even some customers looked at you with pity. Colin was telling everyone that you are so desperate for attention that you started rumors about dating the High Lord.

The sun was setting, and you started cleaning the counters and preparing for closing when Ivy walked in.

“Oh hello Lady Night” she chirped and exchanged looks with Colin.

“Hi” you replied and continued counting the money you made.

“So, are you really dating the High Lord or he’s just wetting his dick?” She howled.

“Is this the way to speak to your future High Lady?” a growl sounded from behind you.

“Rhys?” you gasped and turned around. Your mate was standing in front of the door looking more intimidating than ever. His night-kissed power shook the floor making some of the jewels clink against each other.

“My Lord…” Ivy gaped “I’m so sorry I- I didn’t know.”

“Who do you think you are to treat my mate like that.” He snarled, his voice was different, more intimidating, more terrifying and it made your knees tremble. You quickly understood that this voice was filled with authority. This voice didn’t belong to your mate but to the High Lord of the Night Court. The most powerful High Lord in Prythian. Thus, your colleagues fell on their knees, bowing their heads and shaking in fear.

“You’re both done here. If I ever see you again near my mate I will fucking end you. I will turn your brains into mist.” He smirked as both got up and sprinted out, nodding their heads repeatedly.

“Rhys, what is my boss going to say? He will fire me.” You spoke.

“He wouldn’t dare.” He replied and moved closer wrapping his arms around your waist. “And even if he did, you wouldn't have time for this job anyway. You will have a court to rule my High Lady.”

Your eyes watered and you pressed your forehead on his chest.

“Thank you for defending me.” You whispered.

“Anything for you my mate. I love you.” He said softly and you gasped, you had never said it until now.

 “I love you” you replied.

He cupped your jaw and lifted your face so you could stare into his eyes.

“My High Lady.” He whispered and captured your lips with his own.

[obxone]

Pogue Like Me (Part Four)

Edited-ish. ~5.4k words

Warning: NSFW (Do not engage if you are underage!)

Tag list: @gillybear17 @i-love-rafe @sublimepenguinpeach-blog @nomorespahgetti @lmg-stilinski24 @f4ll-for-you @user3737338292 @iheqrtaustin @jayblackpanther @calmoistorm @paintygirl @honeynicoole

Master Page

Rafe’s arm tightens around your waist, pulling your back against his chest. His face nuzzling into the back of your neck. “Not yet,” you groan, fingers lacing through the spaces of his against your stomach. “’ is too early.”

“Someone is at the door,” he mumbles against your skin. 

“No,” you groan loudly, tightening the comforter around you. “It’s too early.”

He cannot help but to smile before his lips brush across the top of your spine. “Stay here.”

“Mmhmm,” you hum in satisfaction. The weight of his arm and the warmth of his body disappears. You snuggle deeper into your bed and wait for him to return to you. His side of the bed is already growing cooler. 

His voice calling through the house breaks through your hazy sleep and desperate desire for his return. “It’s JJ!” 

Your eyes snap open, and dread fills you. What could he want this early, and how were you going to handle having the two in the same space? You slip out of bed and hurry to the front door while tugging Rafe’s t-shirt down. Rafe holds the front door partially closed behind him as he talks to the unexpected visitor. “She’s happy, and you can’t stand that she is without you, can you? She’s finally getting what she deserves.”

“Rafe?” You question, wiping sleep from your eyes and easing the door open. He huffs in annoyance that you had to get out of bed despite your earlier wishes. But he lets the door handle go, and you slip underneath his arm to see JJ. Anger burns in his eyes, and he glares at Rafe, his jaw clenched so hard you are sure his teeth would shatter. “JJ?”

His attention snaps to you, and he shakes his head. “Really?”

“What are you on about?” You ask, tugging Rafe’s arm from where it is blocking the door frame and you from fully stepping out of the house. Once you do, he braces it against your body, keeping you inside the house despite your attempt to prevent that. “It’s early, JJ. What do you want?”

“I came to apologize!” He states harshly. His face screws up with his next words. His words are sharp, and it wakes you faster than a cold shower. His anger for you is clear in his face and his tone. “But it doesn’t look like you need one. All cozied up with your kook boyfriend. Is he worth it? Is it worth throwing your friends away for just sex?”

You roll your eyes. “Hardly, and not that I owe you an explanation, but he stayed over to sleep since my parents are out. Kind of like my best friend used to.”

It is like a punch in the gut for JJ, and he looks away, his jaw flexing under the weight of your accusation. Your words are just as sharp as his. The tension thickens the air between you. You do not back down as he expects, and instead, you stand your ground because you have done nothing wrong. 

“Besides, he is my boyfriend, and he can sleep over if he wants to.”

“Sleep, right,” JJ snorts, shoving his hands into his pockets. “You look like you slept all right.”

His eyes travel over Rafe, who is standing shirtless in low-slung joggers, and you in only his shirt and your underwear. The picture paints itself, but the image is false, and you know it. But JJ is angry, and he will not believe you no matter what you say, especially after the past few arguments between yourself and the other pogues. 

“Not everything is about sex, Jay!” You snap at him. “Some people do not constantly think about getting their dick wet.”

He rolls his eyes before glaring at Rafe again. “Is that why you are dating her? An easy lay?”

It is a cold shock to your system, the implication behind his words. JJ does not realize what he has said, or he does not care that he has. But you do, and so does Rafe. He tenses beside you, his body stiffening, and his hand fists against the door frame. Your hand presses against his abs to stop him, and he looks at you. The warning is clear on his face that one more insult from JJ about you and Rafe will make him regret it. You shake your head once; this is not the time to start a fight. Not here, not in your yard with the neighbors to see. 

But JJ is true to himself and will not let it rest. “You’ve forgotten all the shit he has done then. All the bullshit he and his kook buddies have put us through over the years. Just like that because he fucks you?”

You roll your eyes this time. You would not take the bait even if Rafe does as he tenses again. “Whatever, JJ. This does not seem to be shaping up to be much of an apology.”

He laughs, rubbing his hand over his face. “It’s because you are choosing a miserable future with this kook, who we both know is a drug addict, instead of your friends. Is that what you want?! To be a kook princess whose boyfriend cares more about coke than her?!”

“JJ!” You glare at him now, but his words have dug too deep, and Rafe’s fist connects with JJ’s face sending him down the front steps and onto the lawn. You gasp, but Rafe is faster than you are ready for as he slips past you with ease and charges after JJ. “Rafe, no!” 

JJ launches at Rafe after scrambling to his feet. Rafe catches him by the back of his shirt as JJ attempts to tackle him. Rafe throws him backward again, but JJ does not stop and neither spare a glance at you as they fight. JJ’s fist connects with Rafe’s jaw, and Rafe lands a punch to JJ’s abdomen. A blur of fists and insults mixed with curse words that would make your elderly neighbor gasp in horror if she heard them. 

You hear Rafe insult his paternity and taunt him about a future in prison while grabbing the collar of his shirt. And JJ retaliates by insulting his need for Daddy’s approval and how you will one day realize that Rafe is just a coked out piece of shit. Rafe’s fist strikes JJ’s face, busting his lip. 

It is a stupid idea to get between two fighting men, but no one else is here to help, and you would rather not end up with someone dead on your lawn. And with the way they are tearing into each other, you know they are both out for blood. 

You tense, hands gripping the hem of Rafe’s shirt as you leave the house and step off the steps. Rafe’s arm rears back in preparation to deliver another harsh blow to JJ’s face, but you catch his forearm. Your grip is tight but not harsh as you attempt to pull him back. He turns, glaring down at you, but then his expression softens when he sees the worry on your face. 

“Fuck you, Rafe!” JJ shouts at him, and you nudge your way around Rafe, pressing your back to his chest, and you glare at someone you thought you knew so much better. But he does not wither under your heated gaze. Instead, he pants, balling his hands up into tight fists again. JJ would not hit you, you know that, but in his current state, you are not sure if he does. 

“Stop it!” You yell at JJ. “That is enough!” Your body is a shield between them to stop the fight, and you hope it is enough. No matter how angry Rafe is, you know that he would not purposefully hurt you. You hope the same goes for JJ. “Go home! Now!”

His hands curl into his chest, his eyes widening at your demands. “Me?!”

“Yes!” You glare at him. “Go!”

JJ shakes his head. “So much for being your best friend, huh?” He waves his hand at Rafe. “You start fucking this kook, and now we can’t be friends? I should have known that when you did get a boyfriend, you would throw us all away, especially if he is a kook. You’re a liar, y/n! A kook’s slut and a liar!”

You gasp, recoiling into Rafe, and he attempts to grab your hips to move you out of the way. But you stop him. Your hands tighten on his to keep his touch there but to keep him away from JJ at the same time. Anger and hurt explode wave after wave inside of you, and you worry you will be the one to hurt JJ now. After all, he had been the one to teach you how to defend yourself properly. He knew you could punch him square in the face if you wanted to, and you were beginning to want to after all the insults he had hurled at you. 

“JJ Maybank! How dare you?!”

He shakes his head, jaw clenching. 

“You are so worried about me screwing Rafe that you do not see how you are treating me!”

“How I’m treating you?!”

“Yes,” you breathe, trying to calm down. “You have called me so many names and insinuated disgusting things about me that no friend would ever dare to do. Much less a best friend for ten years. Go away, now. I don’t want to see you or talk to you again. Go, JJ. You are not welcome here.”

“Fine!” He snaps, taking a step back. “Fine. You’re a kook now, anyways. I should’ve known better,” he mutters with a shake of his head and storms off. 

Deflating a little, you turn to Rafe and look at his face for any serious injuries. He stares down at you, worry creasing his forehead because he can see how much JJ’s words have chipped away at you. His hand brushes through your hair, an unspoken calmness spreading between you.

The sound of JJ’s motorbike starting and then fading as he drives away tells you that the fight is truly over for now. Rafe’s grip tightens around you before you attempt to put space between you and get a better look at him.

“Are you okay?” You worry over him, the tip of your index finger brushing a drop of blood away from the corner of his mouth. 

“Are you?” He asks, his hand trailing down your back. 

“No,” you whisper, the hard façade crumbling in the wake of your adrenaline dissipating. Tears collect in your eyes, and a frown tugs your lips down in disappointment. You try to ignore the burn of tears, but Rafe collects you in his arms, cradling you against his solid frame. 

“I’m sorry he spoke to you like that.”

“Thank you,” you mumble before pecking his cheek. “Can we go inside? The neighbors are probably staring.… I’m already not decent enough without becoming a crying mess right now.”

Rafe attempts a smile, but it fails as he lets you go and grasps your hand guiding you back inside the house. “Come on.”

“We should get you cleaned up before we do anything else,” you whisper, gripping his hand tightly after securing the front door. You lead him back to your bedroom before you sit him on the foot of your bed. He watches you struggle with your emotions as you head for your bathroom. Ignoring his worried gaze, you dig around until you have rubbing alcohol, antiseptic wipes, and bandages. He looks up from his bloodied knuckles when you emerge. “I would say shirt off… but.”

“You’re wearing it,” he states. The outer corners of his eyes soften, and his fingers brush over the cotton material. “I prefer it this way.”

You blush a little and hook your finger under his chin, tipping his head back. He looks up at you with a grin when you nestle yourself between his legs. 

“Ready?”

He stays where he is like a good patient, and you get to work. He sits as still as he can for you as you wipe the few smears and drops of blood from his face and chest. The cuts sting, and his hands shaking hands tighten on your hips when you brush the pad soaked with alcohol across his lower lip. You are sure his knuckles and jaw would be bruised come nightfall.

“Why do you have this stuff?” He asks when you begin to work on his knuckles. The middle finger’s knuckle is split open. 

“Umm…” You toss around the answer before glancing at him. He waits for your explanation, and your cheeks warm before you focus back on your task. “In the past, when Luke Maybank was hard on JJ, he’d come here afterward, and I patched him up.”

Rafe frowns, not liking the idea of you doing this exact task for the pogue that had just torn you apart with his words.

“But I guess he has Kie now, and you have me,” you attempt to soothe the burn of JJ’s anger toward you. “What about you? Are you okay?” You ask, your tone as gentle as you can make it with all the worry flooding through you. 

He nods, his tongue probing the inside of his cheek. 

“I’m sorry,” you whisper and clean up the mess you have made with antiseptic wipes and the bandages for his knuckles. 

“I’ll be fine.”

“I know,” you toss the trash and move back to him. Your body slots between his legs, and you trace your index finger on his lips. “I hate this.”

He hooks his arms around your hips to shuffle you closer. Your noses are nearly touching from how close together you are. “I know.”

“Rafe,” you whisper, skimming your fingers through his unusually messy hair. His mouth hovers near yours, and you smile a little before leaning in and pressing your lips to his. He kisses you back, his large hands trailing down your sides to tuck under your shirt. His palms warm against your skin. And you run your finger through his hair, deepening the kiss. “I’m really sorry he said those things about you and that you had to do something like this to defend yourself.”

“I punched him for you, Baby, not me. No one should ever talk to you like that.”

You frown, brushing your fingertips across his jaw. “The pogues will talk him down, hopefully. I will be fine eventually. Your knuckles are going to be sore, and your jaw too, probably.”

“Worth it,” he mutters with a shrug. “He does not know anything about our relationship. None of them do.”

“You’re right,” you admit before pecking his lips. “No one does but us.”

He smiles before catching your chin between his index finger and thumb. He tugs your lips down to him for more. You giggle, hooking your arms around his shoulders, and kiss him just like he wants. 

“I want to try something….” You mumble against his lips. He waits for you to tell him. His hands stroke up and down the back of your thighs. “I want to try third base…”

Rafe laughs lightly, and you blush, biting your lip. 

“Is that not, right?”

“No, it is,” he reassures you. “But I want to hear it.”

“Oh.”

“Tell me exactly what you want,” he murmurs, shifting in his seat. You watch him, pulling your bottom lip between your teeth. “I want to hear it come from your mouth, pretty girl.”

You exhale, tightening your hands around his shoulders. “I want you to make me feel good.”

“How?” He asks, his hand cupping the back of your neck. His thumb strokes back and forth over your flushed skin. His touch and words encourage you to ask for what you want, what you need. 

“I want you to…” Nerves threaten to swallow you whole, and you clear your throat. “I want you to touch me down there… with your mouth.”

Rafe’s eyebrows rise in surprise, and you flush hotter. 

You clear your throat, biting your lip before nails scratch at his shoulders. “I want to belong to you intimately. I want you to understand how I feel right now.”

He leans into you, his breath mixing with yours, and the desperation in you turns him on more than you will ever understand. “You want me to fuck you?”

“Not yet,” you giggle, fingers pressing to his lips. “Eventually… yes, but right now, just these,” you murmur, tracing his lips with the pad of your thumb. “And maybe your tongue if you want.”

“Oh, believe me, Baby, I want to. ”Rafe’s lips part, and your thumb slips into his mouth. Your breath hitches, and your body tingles at the feeling of his tongue working over your thumb. He smirks before his teeth graze over the pad of your thumb. “Are you sure?”

Your breathing increases before you nod eagerly. “I’m sure.”

His hands hook around your thighs, and he lifts you. You laugh when he turns and drops you into your bed. His body moves over yours, and his fingers snake under his t-shirt that you now know you will keep forever to tug on your underwear. His breath fans over your hip. “This okay?”

“Yes.” You give him your assurance, combing your fingers through his hair before cupping his face. A smile spreads over his lips, and he tugs your underwear down and discards them. You bite your lip and grasp the hem of his t-shirt before tugging it up and over your head. 

“You’re so beautiful,” he murmurs, layering kisses across your lower stomach and hip. “So fucking beautiful.”

“Rafe,” you plead, spreading your legs for him. He dips his head to press his lips to your inner thigh. His blue eyes find yours, and your heart skips a beat. “Please.”

“You’re mine, Baby, all mine,” he mumbles before pressing a kiss to your lower lips. You gasp, your fingers slotting through his against your thigh. Your free hand nestles into his hair, urging him for more because you want that. You want so much more from him. You want to belong to him in ways you had only ever had the opportunity to think about. 

Your eyes flutter shut, and you moan loudly, surprising you both when he drags his tongue over you and flicks it against your clit. He smirks, proud of how eager you are to be taken care of before he repeats his actions. You shiver, pressing down onto his face. 

“That’s it, Baby,” he encourages as he snakes his free hand down between himself and the mattress. He begins to palm himself as he tastes you. Your moans and cries of pleasure tell him just how much you are enjoying his attention.  

Rafe finishes before you do, and he holds you down, continuing until you are pushing him away from oversensitivity. He nips at your hip bone, leaving a small red mark that will bruise to claim you before he moves up your body. His lean frame presses you deeper into your mattress, and he layers his claim of kisses against your neck and up to your mouth. 

You shiver, brushing the tip of your nose against his. You are still panting, your body thrumming with the aftershocks, and it feels so good. “If I had known that it could feel like this, I don’t think I would’ve waited this long,” you whisper with a laugh against his lips. 

He laughs before pecking your lips once more. “This is only the beginning, Baby.”

You bite your lip, glancing down at his soiled pants. “Did you…?”

“Yes,” he answers, tangling his hands in your hair, and he kisses you like you are his life source. “You are fucking perfect, pretty girl.”

You kiss him back, pulling him closer to you, feeling every inch of him on your skin. Your nails rake down his back, and he nestles against you, already hardening at the feel of your naked body caged under his. 

“We should get cleaned up and dressed soon….” Rafe mumbles against your temple. “I want to take you to brunch before you go to work.”

And it is the truth, he does, but he also knows if you stay naked and pressed to him that he will only grow harder in desperation for you. 

You blush, running your hand down the length of his muscled arm. His words declaration that you were all his echoes in your mind as a teasing smirk plays at your lips. “All yours, huh?”

Rafe has dropped you off at the Island Club for work after brunch with a promise to see you later. Another party is tonight, and he wants you there, so you have agreed to be his date again. This time no pogues are allowed, not even Sarah. 

“How many more days until summer is over?” Cass groans as she refills a water pitcher. The Island Club restaurant is hectic for a Saturday afternoon — many of the wealthy locals choose to golf and socialize while the tourists take over their beaches.

“38,” you answer, collecting orders to take out to waiting patrons. “I’m keeping count.”

She laughs, nudging your hip with hers before collecting her plate. “Mrs. Johnson seems extra moody today, Ralph. Please tell me this is cooked how she likes!”

Ralph laughs from behind the grill. “It is Cass, I promise.”

She winks at him before sashaying out, and you giggle, shaking your head at them. 

“What?” Ralph asks, leaning down to look at you through the gaps in the shelving. A knowing smirk is already on his face. “Not all of us can date the kook prince himself.”

You roll your eyes, lifting the serving tray up. “Don’t try to pin this one on me. You two have been doing this dance for months. I’m just ready for you to ask her out on a date. You and I both know she’ll say yes.”

He laughs, flipping over a burger before turning the radio up. 

“As I said,” you retort and turn on the ball of your foot to take out the orders. You smile at your table as you drop off the four plates before letting them know you will return in a few minutes to check on them. 

“Hey!” Lexi, the hostess, smiles at you as she passes by with Kiara and Sarah behind her. After the initial wave of surprises passes, you attempt a smile for them, but it is only half-hearted. “Right here, ladies.” She directs them to an empty table in your section. They sit, and she places the menus down before coming toward you. Without realizing it, your face is not encouraging because she immediately frowns. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah.” You try to lie but fail. “I thought it was Elliot’s turn to be sat.”

“They requested you.”

You frown. “Great.”

“I thought you guys were friends…”

“We are,” you lie again, but better this time when you paste a bright smile on. “Thanks, I’ll take care of them.”

She bobs her head before going, only looking back once. You huff out a breath and dig out your notepad as you approach their table. 

“Good afternoon, ladies,” you put on your best customer service smile. “What can I get started for you to drink?”

“Lemonade, please,” Sarah smiles at you, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. The awkward tension flows between all three of you. 

“I would like the same,” Kiara responds, glancing at the menu. You smile and turn to go to get their drinks. At least they would be kind and easy to please. You spot JJ as he rushes past the bar to go outside and work the deck area. He does not see you, and you feel relief, not ready to address this morning with him at all. His face is bruised, and he sports a busted lower lip as does Rafe. If you had to be honest, you would admit that JJ looks worse, but you also know that it is because of how he had spoken to you in front of Rafe. 

“What happened to him?” Cass asks once she notices you are looking at him. Her gaze fixated on the blond pogue. “He looks like he had the shit beat out of him again.”

You clear your throat, punching in the lemonade order, and go to prep it. She follows eyebrows raised in concern at your lack of response. You typically knew everything about JJ, and this is no different, even if it could be counted as your fault that he looks like he does. At least you are sure that is how the other pogues would see it. But you try to remind yourself it is not your fault. JJ had spoken horribly to you, and he had dug his own grave by doing so. 

“Was it Rafe?”

You nod, glancing at her before filling their cups with ice and then lemonade. Hot shame washes over you from her next words. 

“What the fuck happened?”

“JJ said some things. Very unkind things, and Rafe stood up for himself and for me.”

Cass whistles low. “This is really fucked up if you aren’t talking to your two best friends out there, and JJ looks like he does. What did he say?”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

She nods, crossing her arms over her waist. “I’ve got your back; you know that, right?”

You sag forward, hands bracing against the countertop. “Thanks, Cass.”

She frowns, her hand skimming up and down your back. “I’m sorry. If you ever need to talk, I’m here.”

You nod, squeezing your eyes shut before exhaling. “I appreciate that, but I’m just ready to get them fed and gone.”

She nods. “If you need me to take them, let me know.”

“Thanks.” You smile at her and peck her cheek before hurrying out with the two glasses. After checking on your other tables, you place them down in front of each girl. “Are we ready to order?”

“Yes,” Sarah responds, closing her menu. “House salad with house dressing. I would like grilled chicken added.”

“Same,” Kiara agrees with a tight smile. 

You jot it down before smiling at them. “I will get these put in and have them out shortly.” 

You turn to leave, pausing in your steps, when you spot JJ moving through the tables. He stares at you, and you see Kiara shift out of your peripheral. His hands brush over his black polo shirt, and his tongue toys with his injured lip. It looks painful and probably should be iced, but you have to tell yourself that it is not your responsibility anymore before you let yourself suggest it. You turn away, extending your time back to the kitchen, but you do not want to talk to him right now, if ever. His words of full of venom are echoing in your head. 

“Y/n, wait.” Sarah starts to get up. Her hand reaches for you. You step back with a shake of your head, trying to ignore the threatening sting of tears. “Please!”

“No, Sarah. I’ve told you I want to talk alone or not at all.” You answer sharply, hating how you have to be with her because of JJ’s presence. “How many times do we have to do this before our friendship is ruined?”

“Hey!” Kelce’s arm drops over your shoulders as he announces his presence. “What do we have here?”

A sense of relief tugs at you from their appearance. These are Rafe’s friends, and they would protect you if Rafe had anything to say about it. Topper smirks from your other side. His gaze fixated on JJ, daring him to try something. 

“Stay out of this Topper,” Sarah snaps at him. The unspoken rocky history from their failed relationship flaring up. “This has nothing to do with you.”

Topper laughs, glancing at Kelce and then at you before turning back to Sarah. “But it does… you see, your brother, her boyfriend, asked us to keep an eye out for her because he knew you pogues would try to pull some shit like this.”

You swallow, leaning into Kelce’s side for a little support. Rafe knew them better than you thought. He pats your upper arm before looking at Sarah. 

“Y/n?” Kiara begs from the other side of the table. Her body shifts to be between the three of you and JJ. “Please talk to us.”

“I’ve tried,” you state, an unexpected boldness spreading its wings inside of you. You were in your place of work, and you had Rafe’s friends protecting your back. They could not bully you here. You would not let them. “I’ve tried, and you guys won’t listen to me. You all only want to be heard and not actually participate in discussing this.”

“Because it’s Rafe!” JJ glares at you.

Your jaw clenches, hands fisting at your side. “He isn’t the one that called me a slut this morning, JJ! Don’t try to be innocent now. You were an asshole to him and me!”

Sarah’s lips open in surprise, and Kiara’s head whips to the side to look at her boyfriend. He has not told them the full story. He likely left out his part in starting the fight in the first place. 

JJ nods, looking away; the tip of his tongue probes at his injured bottom lip.

“You called me a slut, a liar, and said I was a kook,” you state, the harsh bitterness in your words pushing into his chest. His hand lifts to rub the spot right above his heart. Kiara and Sarah stare at him in shock. “You said you should have known better, so now you do.” You turn your attention to the other two with a sad smile on your face. Kiara shifts uncomfortably, her fingers fidgeting with her bracelets, and your eyes shift to the teal and white one you had braided for her last year. You lift your gaze to her, your eyes watering and your voice shaking as you speak. “I wish I was surprised that you are taking his side without talking to me, but I’m not. Not with you because you got JJ at the end of the day, and that is all you seem to care about now.” Kiara opens her mouth to protest, but you lift your hand, stopping her in her tracks. You turn your attention to Sarah, tears welling over in your eyes. “But Sarah, you have surprised me. I thought we were closer than this. Before all of this started, you would have asked me and heard me out.” She attempts to take a step closer to you, but you shake your head. “It’s too late to undo this damage. I think it is best if we all go our separate ways. I no longer want to be friends with you guys. I don’t know you anymore,” you whisper, reaching up to wipe the tear that rolls down your cheek before you untie the same matching bracelet you had with Kiara, along with the ones you shared with Sarah and the ones you shared with all the pogues. “Cass will be your server for the rest of your time here today. Please let her know if you need anything, Ms. Cameron or Ms. Carrera.”

You drop them on the edge of the table and take a step back before turning. Kelce goes with you, glancing at Topper. Without a word, Topper understands and blocks them from coming after you. Kelce leads you back to the kitchen, where Cass is waiting. She has a sad look on her face because she has watched the whole thing. 

“We’re around for a few more hours if you need us,” Kelce murmurs, patting your back. “We have a card game with Judge Holden in a few minutes and golf after. Rafe will be here for golf.”

“Thanks, Kelc,” you mumble, wiping the tears and exhaling a breath. “I appreciate it.”

“Anytime.” He pecks your cheek before leaving you in Cass’s capable hands. She hugs you, and you cling to her, trying not to fall apart now that you have officially lost your friends. 

“Take a break. Go sit in Raz’s office, and I’ll bring you some water in a minute, okay?” She cups your face with both hands. Her thumbs wipe the tears. “I’ll finish up your tables along with those two.”

“Thank you.”

She smiles weakly. “Want me to get Ralph to kick JJ’s ass?”

“No.” You laugh despite the tears and hug her again. She sways with you for a moment before releasing you towards Raz’s office. 

(Chapter Five)

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[samfkiszka]

Paper Bag: Chapter Two

Vampire!Jake Kiszka x F!Reader

Hunger Hurts, and I want him so bad, oh, it kills...

★・・・・・・★

Forced to move back to your father's hometown the summer before your first year at college, you had resided yourself to the fact that the next few months were going to suck.

But that was before you were reacquainted with Danny next door. And before you got a brand new job at a dusty old bookstore run by an eccentric old woman. And before Jake walked into said bookstore, poised to turn your entire world upside down.

Word count: 4,347

Warnings (for this chapter): Light cursing, cheesy writing, dialogue heavy, half naked danny (deserves a warning…), kinda mildly angsty, maybe some slight spelling errors... (that's literally it)

Chapter 1

Master list

taglist form if you're interested <3

★・・・・・・★

If you had told a single soul back home that you were currently sitting in the passenger seat of a man’s car– much less a man you had only met a week ago– headed to an unknown location, they would have lost their minds. Not that you would blame them, this behavior was beyond anything you would ever dream of doing. The fact that it was Jake made it feel slightly different. Maybe the fact that no one in this town knew you well enough to judge you helped too. Well… no one but Danny.

When Jake had pulled into your driveway you were already standing behind your door, anxiously running over every possible scenario in your head. You had let him lead you to his car– shiny, black, almost too gaudy for a town where most people opted to drive beaters– and open the door for you. Of course, you had pretended like you hadn’t noticed Danny peering through his window, his face conveying an emotion you couldn’t quite read. You had pushed all worries out of your brain, instead turning the entirety of your attention back to Jake. The interior was just as clean as the outside, which made sense for him. The speakers played a quiet tune, but it wasn’t a song you recognized. Nevertheless, the beautiful acoustic melody made you feel even more relaxed as he slid out of the driveway and onto the road. In your haze you didn’t even think to ask where he was taking you. 

Instead, the two of you sat in a comfortable silence, letting the music fill the gaps that your words couldn’t. 

The trees sped past as he drove on, and you suddenly didn’t recognize the area. Granted, it had been years since you had last actually seen this town in full, and you were never one to explore it anyway. But as he slowed to a stop in front of a heavily wooded area, you wondered that maybe Danny was right to worry. 

“You’re not going to kill me out here, right?” You break the silence, half teasingly, as he opens your door and offers you his hand. 

“Would I really tell you if I was?” He poised. 

“Touché, Kiszka.”

He pulled you towards a clearing in the woods, denoted by a worn down footpath. 

“You trust me?” His brow furrowed as he stopped to turn towards you, carefully holding both of your hands as he spoke. 

“Probably more than I should.” 

“Definitely more than you should.” 

“You do realize that makes it seem like you really are going to kill me.” 

He laughed, the earlier worry that painted his face melting away. He fixed his position so that he was facing the path once again. 

“I just wanted to show you there’s more to this town than what you’ve seen. I can tell you aren’t enjoying it as much as you should,” He whispers gently, leading you onto the beaten down dirt that wove through the heavily crowded trees. He hummed softly as you walked, and you were almost too scared to breathe– you were worried he would stop if he remembered you were there. 

“Is it really that obvious?” You wonder aloud after a moment. 

“No, not that obvious. I’m just… really good at reading people,” He muses, slowing down as he speaks. 

The two of you had come into a clearing that opened up much farther than you would have expected. At first glance that’s all it was: an opening in the woods that was just as dark and dreary as the rest of the town. Jake stared at you expectedly, studying your face with such intensity you wondered if he could actually see the inner workings on your brain. But then the initial emotions settled, and you were able to take it in as a whole. The large douglas firs that bordered the perimeter, the wide array of colorful flowers spattered about the grass. An ode to resilience in the face of an unshining sun. Birds chirped, bees buzzed, you even saw a butterfly flit pass in the corner of your eye. It all seemed entirely too wrong for the climate of the town. 

“How did you even find this?” You whisper in awe, staring at the vast scenery and trying to absorb it all as quickly as possible. 

He shrugs, a pleased smirk gracing his delicate features, “I have a lot of free time on my hands.” 

“Clearly,” you scoff, “Seriously, Jake, this is–.” 

His cold palm gently squeezed your hand three times in short succession, and a bubble of warmth erupted in your chest. 

“I had a feeling you’d enjoy it. I know it can be… kind of depressing. Never being able to fully see the sun.” He sounded far off as he spoke, his eyes scanning the opening much like yours had been for the past few moments. “You don’t really hate it here, though.” 

It sounded more definitive than a question. 

“No. I guess not. I like Danny, and I like working at the bookstore. And…” 

“I like you too,” He interjected as you trailed off. “You’re… interesting.” 

“Me? Interesting?” You couldn’t think of a single thing about yourself that anyone would find interesting. 

“Different. You’re not like anyone else I’ve ever met.” 

“What, none of the girls in this town want to discuss French literature with you?”

He rolled his eyes but his smile stayed the same, “It’s not a bad thing to be different, you know. Most people value that. You know, you’re very confusing to me.” 

“Confusing?” 

“Confusing. You really should be scared of me.” 

“Okay, you really aren’t helping your case with the whole serial killer schtick.”

“I’m being serious. Why do you think Daniel acts so odd around me?” 

“Danny,” you corrected reflexively, “And… I don’t know. I assumed he was jealous.” 

“Well, yes for the most part,” his voice took on a cocky tone, “but he’s also scared.” 

You thought back to your first night Danny walked you home, and how he was constantly looking over his shoulder as he spoke about Jake. He had a point: Danny did seem frightened. 

Jake leads the two of you over to a flat rock, sitting down as you thought. Danny had in fact acted scared. You even pointed it out to him. 

But why? 

“See, that’s why you’re so confusing. You should know why. You’re smart. It should be obvious. Or, at least your instincts should be screaming at you to be scared. But, you’re not.” 

“Why would I be scared of you?” You whisper softly, more confused than ever. You were sure you hadn’t spoken aloud, and yet he answered your question anyway. Despite this, despite his odd behavior, despite everything you simply couldn’t bring yourself to feel any negative emotion about him. You scoot closer, your hand still clasped in his and he stiffens at the sudden contact. 

He studies your face for a moment, and his mouth quirks up in an odd smile. You couldn’t begin to think of anything else but how the pale pink of his lips contrasted his equally pale skin. How could you be afraid of someone so beautiful? 

“What exactly has Danny told you?” He asks, still smiling a halfhearted smile. 

“Well,” you thought back to every previous night, everytime Danny brought up Jake and his family. You felt bad at the prospect of hurting Jake’s feelings. Surely he knew about the rumors, but repeating them felt unnecessarily cruel. 

“You won’t hurt me by telling me. I know you don’t believe what he said,” He urged you to continue. 

“He really didn’t tell me that much. Just told me about your brothers, that you guys prefer to keep to yourselves. Really Jake, it was nothing bad,” you conveniently leave out everything beyond that, hoping he would drop the subject. 

“That’s all?”

“That’s all.” 

It wasn’t technically a lie. Most of what Danny had told you was purely based on feeling, not objective fact. It didn’t feel right to reinforce this ideology that you should be scared of someone who seems utterly fine to you. 

“I know you’re lying. You don’t need to protect me… or him.”

“Seriously, what is the beef between you two?” You let go of Jake’s hand in a moment of exasperation. 

Jake laughs, an honest-to-god laugh, one that had him doubling over where he sat. For a brief moment all the annoyance over this ridiculous conversation faded away. 

“I have no issues with him. He has several issues with me, however. You don’t have to tell me anything you know, I’m already pretty aware that everyone in this town thinks I’m-” 

“Freaky?” 

“I was going to say odd, maybe even creepy, but freaky works too I guess,” he chuckled again. 

“I know you think I’m confusing, but have you met yourself?” You were seriously getting whiplash from his mood swings. 

He rose up from beside you with a sigh, staring off at the opening the two of you had walked through earlier. 

“I don’t mean to get all macabre. I just wish you’d look a little past the surface before we continue anything. I really tried not to… get too attached to you. I don’t-” he hesitated before stopping completely. 

You wished you had his innate sense for reading people. It seemed like he lived in the depths of your mind, reading each thought before they even came to surface. 

“I suppose I should be getting you home.” He glanced at the darkening sky with a grimace, before reaching his hand back out to you. 

You took it, of course, yet you still felt strange. Nothing about this conversation had enlightened you in the slightest. In fact, you felt entirely more confused than ever before. Still not frightened. No, nothing about him had ever frightened you. Confused you, sure. Gave you butterflies, definitely. But scared you?

The walk back was wordless once again, but this time the silence held a different meaning. 

Look beyond the surface. 

What did he even mean by that? You felt like you had already glimpsed past his mysterious exterior, past the front he put on. Sure, Danny’s insight helped. Not the emotional tangents that painted a picture of a weird creep that the entire town hated. But a boy who lost his family, who grew up with his just brothers, who supported them the best he could. A guy who was into classic music, old French philosophers, and even the odd book on pirates that he tried to sneak into stacks of more profound literature. You simply didn’t understand what he had meant by anything. And it’s not like you had anyone to talk to about the situation. Danny was only going to confirm everything Jake said. In fact, you were sure he would jump at the opportunity to make you hate the guy. 

Even the drive back lacked the beautiful music from before. Sure, he still opened your door for you, still graced you with a smile that displayed all of his entirely too perfect teeth. Yet, you couldn’t help but feel like you had done something wrong. You analyzed your early conversation over and over again, picking apart every word, every shift in tone. You were so lost in thought it took you until you had reached your driveway that his cold palm was resting on your thigh. The silence felt even heavier, all the comfort from early gone, as he rushed to let you out of the passenger side once more. His hand felt unnaturally freezing against your anxiously sweaty once as he led you to your front door before pausing. 

“I’d really like to see you again. I honestly don’t have the willpower to stay away at this point,” he began, his hand snaking up to rest against your blushing cheek, “But I suppose I’d rather make this a quick goodbye before the wolves descend.” He nods his head in a direction behind you, and you turn to see Danny standing on his porch eyeing the two of you looking perturbed. 

You roll your eyes, leaning back to Jake begging him to get closer, to close the distance, to just kiss you. 

But it was too late. He was already walking down the steps, giving you one last look over the shoulder before sliding into his car and peeling out. You didn’t even have a moment to process the weirdness of the night before Danny appeared beside you. 

“Holy fuck!” You jumped, clutching a hand to your now racing heart. “You scared the fuck out of me Danny,” you breathe out, smacking him lightly. 

“So, how’d it go? Glad to see you back alive.” 

“Seriously, Danny, you have to stop with this whole thing. You’re both so dramatic,” you groan, pushing the heavy oak door open with a huff. Of course, Danny was right on your heel, begging for more information. 

“Was he as creepy as I told you he was?” He continued. 

“Danny, I’m really going to stop telling you anything if this is how you’re going to act.” 

“Okay, okay, I’m sorry. For real, how’d it go?” 

“It went…” you pause, searching for the right words. 

“Awful? Horrible? He tried to bite you and you freaked out and told him you never wanted to see him again?” 

“Bite me? What are you, twelve? It went fine, and he wants to see me again.” 

Danny grimaced, plopping down on a chair at the kitchen table. 

“Try not to look so upset.” You rolled your eyes. 

“I’m not upset. I just thought you were smarter than this.” 

“Okay, am I just the stupidest person in the world because there’s no way you’re the second person to question my intelligence today,” you grumble as you grab a water bottle out of the fridge, sliding one to Danny despite your annoyance towards him. 

“No! Not stupid. I just find it hard to believe that you don’t see him for what he really is.” 

“God, quit with all the cryptic ‘look deeper’ shit.” You sit down across from him with a groan, dropping your head on the table in frustration. 

“It’s hard not to be cryptic when I can’t actually tell you anything specific.” 

“That. Doesn’t. Help.” You emphasize each word by banging your head against the wooden table. 

“Hey, hey, hey, stop that.” He jolts up and grabs your shoulders, forcing you to look him in the eye. “Just promise me you’ll think about everything. It’s all laid out in front of you.” 

“Absolutely nothing is laid out in front of me,” you whine, sounding more like an annoyed toddler than anything. 

“Yes, it is. I know it is,” He sighs, letting you go, walking slowly out of the kitchen, and opening the front door– the one you always struggled with– with ease. “You’ll figure it out.” 

Figure what out? Your brain screamed as Danny left you sitting in the kitchen alone. You wished for someone to just tell you what everyone else was dancing around. It was exhausting trying to read everyone else’s mind all the time. 

What was laid out in front of you? What were you supposed to figure out? What was the big secret that everyone was so desperate to find out, yet refused to tell you outright? 

“All I wanted was to go on a date with a hot guy,” you whisper aloud to no one but yourself. It didn’t even feel like a date. He never even kissed you. 

You realized you sounded absolutely ridiculous, complaining over something so small. But everyone was driving you up the wall with their refusal to tell you the truth. Unfortunately, you were once again left with no alone time to think before your Dad waltzed in the door. 

He tossed his work bag on the kitchen table, ignoring your slumped form. 

“Rough day?” He asked, leaning against the edge of the counter facing you. 

You groan in response, rubbing your temples exaggeratedly, “Dad, do you know anything about the Kiszkas?”  

“The Kiszkas?” His brow furrowed in concentration. 

“Yeah, um, Jake, Josh, Sam. Danny said they live kind of on the outskirts of town.”

“I believe I know Josh. He’s around town a good bit.” He scratches his chin as he thinks, “He’s a great guy. Never met anyone nicer to be honest. Why do you ask?” 

“No real reason.” 

“Yeah? Not because you went out on a date with that Jake boy?” 

“How do you know about that?” 

“Danny is very persistent.” 

“Goddamn it.” 

“So, do you- do you like him?” He cringed as he spoke. 

“Are we really going to talk about boys dad?” 

“I guess not.” 

“Anyways, why are you home so late?” 

“Work emergency,’ he sighed. “So if you’re going out with boys… do you really hate this town as much as you thought you would?” He asked, his voice hopeful.

“I’m not going out with boys, I went out with one boy. And I thought we weren’t talking about this.” 

“We’re not talking about boys. We’re talking about you. Are you at least slightly happier than you expected?” 

“Yes, dad, I’m slightly happier. I’m still leaving at the end of summer.” 

“I know,” he sighed, “I just want whatever’s best for you. You know that, right?” 

“Yeah Dad, I know.” 

“Good. Alright, get some sleep. Goodnight, I- I love you.” He cleared his throat in an attempt to cover up the end of his sentence. 

“Night, dad, love you too,” you sigh as you get up from the table and trudge up the stairs. 

Your head was spinning. The first nice thing you had ever heard about the Kiszkas and it wasn’t even about Jake. You weren’t even sure it counted, since it came from your father of all people. 

Dig deeper. 

You weren’t even sure what that meant. Dig into what? No one had given you any bit of helpful information, not since you had moved here. Nothing anyone had told you had enlightened you in the slightest. 

You flop down in your bed with a huff, ignoring the disarray of clothes from early that lay around you. 

DIG DEEPER. 

You scream into your pillow, racking your brain, turning over everything that had happened today in your mind. Why couldn’t anyone just tell you the truth? What was stopping everyone from simply telling you what you were supposed to be so frightened of? Why did it have to be some big mystery that you were supposed to figure out yourself? 

You thought about Jake, how he stood out against everyone in this town. How his hands flexed when he held yours. How his skin was so cold that every touch gave you goosebumps. How his perfect smile flashed perfect, blindingly white teeth at you. 

You thought about how pale his skin was, nearly the same color of the book pages he’d flip through when he thought you weren’t looking. 

You thought about how he seemed to know everything you were thinking even before you did.

You should be scared of me. 

Scared of what? 

Your instincts should be screaming at you to run. 

Run from what?

Your thoughts became even more muddled. If anything, everything was just as frustratingly confusing as before. 

What were you supposed to think? Pale, cold skin? Vampire? 

You felt absolutely ridiculous. Vampires weren’t real. Next they were going to be telling you that Danny was a werewolf. 

You laughed at how ludicrous the thought was. 

Vampires.

Vampires. 

‘Glad to see you back alive.’ 

‘He tried to bite you and you freaked out and told him you never wanted to see him again?’ 

VAMPIRES.

Maybe you really were losing it. This wasn’t some cheesy horror movie. You weren’t some helpless girl. Vampires didn’t exist. God, the thought was so crazy you actually laughed at yourself. 

Jake wasn’t a vampire. He was just a guy. You felt stupid for even considering the thought in the first place. 

Vampires.

No way. 

Vampires. 

Nope. You were acting like a moron. Maybe you really weren’t as smart as everyone thought you were. Maybe they were right to question your intelligence. 

But… maybe not. Unless Jake really was a serial killer, that honestly made the most sense. 

No, no that made no sense. None at all. 

Vampires. Aren’t. Real. 

You were so consumed by fairytales and idiotic beliefs that you hadn’t realized the storm that had picked up outside until a jolt of thunder woke you from your stupor. The only way to know if you were right… was to ask. You couldn’t ask Jake. If you were wrong you would ruin any chance you still had left with him. You only had one person to ask. 

Danny. 

You ran down the stairs and tore the door open, for once not struggling with the weight of it. Adrenaline pounded through your body, your heart beating so hard you could feel it in your throat. The rain was falling down in blinding sleets as you ran through your muddy yard towards Danny’s. You banged on the door, knowing the only person who would ever answer at a time like this was him. 

The door ripped open in a flash, and he stood in front of you in nothing but a pair of plaid pajama pants. 

“A vampire?” You yelled over the clap of thunder that roared above you. 

“What? Get inside, are you insane?” He shouted, pulling you into his entirely too warm body and closing the door quickly behind him. Rain water dripped down your face and you shuddered at the feeling of your wet clothes clinging to your now freezing skin. 

“Is Jake a vampire?” You pant out, leaning into Danny’s warm embrace. 

“W-what?” 

“Don’t call me stupid, or… or crazy, just tell me the truth. I know I sound absolutely ridiculous but is- is Jake a vampire?” 

“I- I can’t… What?” He pulls back to stare down and you, a nervous smile etched onto his face. 

“Danny, please.” 

“I can’t answer that.” 

“Why not?” 

“I just can’t.” 

“Danny, you are driving me fucking insane! I feel like I’m going psycho, can someone for once just tell me the tru-” You begin to shout before he clamps his hand over your mouth, effectively silencing you. 

“Shut up. I’m sorry, just be quiet for like two seconds, okay?” 

You nod from behind his hand.

“I can’t actually tell you anything. I want to tell you, I swear. But I physically can’t tell you.” 

“What does that even mean?” You mumble from behind his hand, but you hope he understands despite how muffled you sound. 

“It means… I can’t tell you what it means. But, if you were wrong I would laugh at you, call you an idiot, and then we’d be fine. But if- if you were right then I wouldn’t be able to tell you anything at all,” he speaks slowly, watching the gears turn in your head. It takes you a minute to understand his roundabout way of confirming your once ridiculously held belief. 

“Are you gonna yell at me again?” He whispered cautiously. 

You shake your head adamantly, allowing him to remove his hand from where it rested over your mouth. 

“So, Jake’s a…” 

He nods once. 

“How do you even know that?” 

“I-” 

“You can’t tell me. Okay. Can you tell me why you can’t tell me?” 

He shook his head no. 

“Fuck. Okay. W-what do I do?” 

“Stay away from him. He’s not safe.” 

“I’m not scared of him, Danny.” 

He sighs exasperatedly, turning away from you and running a hand through his ragged hair. He had droplets of rain clinging to his bare skin from where you had latched onto him earlier. 

“You really are extremely confusing.” 

“So I’ve heard.” 

“Just… go home. Change into dry clothes. Think things over.” 

“Danny, there’s nothing to think about. I still don’t even think this is true,” you laugh once again at how comical the situation seemed. 

“I know it sounds crazy, and I know I can’t control you, I’ve said it before. You’re your own person. But… you’re really on your own here.” 

“What are you saying?” 

“I’m saying that… if you keep seeing him I can’t protect you.” 

“Protect me? I’m perfectly capable of making sane decisions. You barely know me, Danny.” 

“Sane decisions? Hanging out with that- thing is a sane decision?” Now he was yelling, loud enough that you were worried he’d wake up the entire neighborhood, much less his parents. 

“Thing? He’s a person. And if you really cared about me, why wouldn’t you tell me sooner?” 

“Because I couldn’t!” 

“Why not?!” 

You were both screaming at this point. Screaming at each other, screaming over the downpour outside, screaming out frustrations that had been building for over a week. 

“I just can’t.” 

“That’s it?” 

He shrugged, his face red with rage. 

You storm away, throwing his door open so hard that it slammed against the wall. If his parents hadn’t woken up before they were definitely up now. You didn’t even bother to shut the door behind you as you trudged through the flood that had built up in the grass. You could barely see through the torrential rain as you stomped up your porch and into your house, dripping the entire way up the stairs. 

How had everything gotten so crazy when you had only been here a week? It was like you had entered a completely different universe the second you stepped into this town. Danny was no help and you didn’t know anyone else well enough to talk to. God forbid everyone in this town found out you thought one of their citizens was a… 

Well, the word sounded even crazier now. Maybe Danny only told you that so you’d stop hanging out with Jake. Like you’d stop seeing him now. Surely if he was a… Well, surely he wouldn’t have kept you alive this long. 

You sounded insane. Maybe you really had snapped. 

There was no way in hell that Jake Kiszka was a vampire.