#honestly so astonished this fic is being read 4 years later

[pacific-rimbaud]

Hi PR, I wanted to say thank you for your fics, your writing is such a good part of life. I recently read The Secretary after seeing it recommended for Best Smut by someone in the @hprecfest. I have already flailed in the comments over there but wanted to come here too, to say it's been like two weeks and I am STILL thinking about it.

The smut is absolutely definitely god-tier, but I think what has really gotten me is the character development and the emotions of their relationship. The way it's so good for both of them. How Pansy is so much happier with the structure and discipline, quitting the day-drinking and smoking, and feeling treasured and cared for--"There isn't a more careful man in the world, and I wanted to be the subject of that care" now lives rent-free in my head--and Percy gets all his rigid little boxes blown open and to be seen, accepted, and desired for all of who he is, even the parts he wants to reject and it's just AAAAHHHHHH!!!

Imagining how he is feeling and what he is thinking during Pansy's big bridesmaid-dress speech and the subsequent 72 hours of nonstop working to free her, omg it's just peak romance.

I wondered two things--if you have ever considered writing a Percy POV, whether a full fic or just a one shot, I would EAT IT UP.

And also if you can recommend any other fics with a similar dynamic? I'm absolutely in love with this Percy, so if it's Percy, whether with Pansy or someone else, great, but really any pairing that has this particular dynamic I would be so grateful. <3 Thank you!

AAAAAHHHHHH, to you, too! I know @heyjude19-writing recced The Secretary recently (thank you so much, my friend!) and even before that there was a noticeable influx of comments, so thank you to whoever else posted about it somewhere out there in the wild. It's the best, best feeling as a rarepair writer when something manages to find new readers. And I love this ask, because yeah, the fic is about sex, but it's MUCH more about how kinks are incredibly personal and idiosyncratic, how isolating and shameful they can feel, how genuinely off-putting they can be to a partner who doesn't share them, and how liberating it is not just to be accepted but to be wanted and affirmed. Pansy comes into their situation with NO fear of the kink and power play dynamics, and proceeds to gloriously "Yes, and . . ." Percy's really very idiosyncratic and aesthetic desires, which is how he ends up feeling safe enough to fully explore them.

Percy is possibly my favorite POV to write (I've done it twice in shorter fics), so I won't say I won't ever do it again, but I am trying to wean myself from fic writing. I also haven't written explicit smut in a very, very long time, so it would probably be sort of sketching the erotic in the margins, which I personally really love.

As to the power play dynamics, I'm honestly not sure of any other fic (or fiction, honestly) with quite the same thing going on. I've mostly come across domination/submission fiction that focuses on either a sexually reserved/inexperienced or a highly driven female character being taught how to be submissive by a confident male dominant, which is not their dynamic in The Secretary, like. At all. If anyone knows of another work that handles these themes in a similar way, please speak out in the comments! Thank you for reading and for the ask!

[keelywolfe]

FIC: The Rose and the Thorn: Chapter 13 (Mafia AU)

Summary:  Rus fled after his argument with Blue, leaving his brother behind to try to pick up the pieces. Blue has already been forced to choose between the devil and the deep blue sea, what other deal might he have to make?

Tags: Spicyhoney, Cherryberry, Mafia AU, Flower Shop AU, Violence, First Meetings

Warning: Warnings for implications of prostitution.

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 12

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Read Chapter 13 on AO3

or

Read it here!

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“Wait!” Blue cried. Too late, far too late, his little brother was already gone, stepped into one of those shortcuts of his that Blue usually appreciated, relieved that his brother could easily escape from any awful confrontations. He hadn’t used that particular skill against Blue since he’d been a frustrated child, chafing at the limits Blue put on his wandering in the Underground. He’d never needed to, until now, and Blue sank to sit again on the bathroom rug, burying his skull in his hands and struggling to breathe through the heavy, steamed air from the still running shower.

Stupid, Blue thought tiredly. Blaming Papy for his own idiocy, taking out the frustrations he didn’t dare let loose anywhere else on his undeserving little brother. Papy was so sweet and kind, still clinging to some of his naivety even in this unwelcoming Human world; how could Blue ever have expected him to handle someone like that Edge fellow? If Red made him deeply uncomfortable and fearful, then Edge was so much worse. Red at least he understood, he knew what that brother wanted of him, product and sex, in that order, and once he got it, Red would dismiss them out of hand, hopefully without leaving too many scars behind.

Edge held mysteries behind that polite demeanor of his and Blue rather wished either he was taller or Edge was a great deal shorter, because he would have liked a good look in the large skeleton’s eye lights, trying to read exactly what was hidden within them. If only he simply wanted sex from Papy, that at least would only break his brother’s heart. Blue was far more worried about the state of his soul.

And then he went and gave stabbing through it himself a good try, Blue thought glumly. The brief, bitter satisfaction of watching his words strike home was almost immediately swamped by horrified regret as his little brother’s expression crumpled, the first tears falling. Blue couldn’t know how much truth any of his accusations held, but even if they were, Papy didn’t deserve that. Not when Blue well knew how easy it was to make mistakes.

He really was just like their father, blaming others for his blunders—no.

No, it was this place. He needed to get them out of here, away from the Fells, any way that he could.

Blue dragged himself upright and to the shower, reaching inside to turn off the taps and barely wincing as steaming hot water soaked through his shirt. He felt brittle and exhausted, had since late this afternoon when the weight of cameras watching him grow golden flowers became too much to bear. An uncaring mechanical eye watching as he did the very thing he’d promised himself he wouldn’t by getting involved with this sort of people. It brought back too many memories of living in the Underground and doing whatever it took to support him and his brother after their father…well…after he was gone.

He’d sworn he wouldn’t do such things again, made a promise to himself when they came to the surface and knowing he was breaking it left him nauseous, sickened by his own deceit. In the end, Blue filled most of the planting boxes in that room until it became too much, claustrophobia swarming over him, dimming his vision even as his gorge rose. He’d nearly staggered out the door and begged the guard outside to take him for some fresh air.

The Dog, Dogamy, he later learned, did so with some haste, perhaps worried that Blue was about to vomit on his very nice shoes. Instead of bringing him downstairs or to a handy window, Dogamy led him up to the rooftop and both the fresh air and the small garden was a blessing. Something to take his mind off of what he was doing in that closed off little room and when he’d finally brought Papy back upstairs with him, Blue could almost pretend this was why they were here, tending to an overgrown garden for some wealthy benefactor and soon they’d go back to their own little house and plants, back to their simpler life of flowers and hard work.

Then he’d looked up to see his brother and Edge kissing, and his meager daydream shattered.

Blue felt far too old for his years as he shuffled back out into the bedroom, stripping off his sopping shirt and tossing it into the discreet hamper next to the closet. The closet itself held plenty of clothes, far too many for what was only supposed to be a short stay here, and a brief pang of worry tightened in his chest as he wondered about their closed shop slowly losing their regular customers, his garden overgrown and going to seed without his care.

He shook it away. It didn’t matter, they’d managed before and they could do it again. Nothing mattered but keeping his brother safe.

Blue chose one of the shirts in his size at random, forced to yank it down and leaving the hanger at an awkward angle. He shrugged into it, buttoning it up as he made his way to the loveseat to sit and wait.

And wait. Hours passed and his brother did not return while the heavy weight of worry and regret nesting in Blue’s soul hatching into something closer to panic. He’d been angry and even cruel, but surely Papy wouldn’t hold a grudge for the entire night…would he? Either he was too angry or hurt to return, or he’d gotten himself into trouble and Blue couldn’t bear to wait any long to see which it was. He only hoped he wasn’t making another reckless decision based on his worries.

Opening the door revealed one of the seemingly endless supply of the Fell brothers’ Dog guards. This one had large, floppy ears and a mottled patch of white around one of their soulful brown eyes. They looked at Blue curiously as he stepped out and said, firmly, “I need to see Red.”

He didn’t know what orders they’d been given but the Dogs who wouldn’t take him look for his brother yesterday readily took him to Red, leading him down the corridor with none of their ridiculous backtracking and fuss of before. Not that it ever fooled Blue, he prided himself as being something of an expert at puzzles, but it wouldn’t do to tip his hand about that. Let the Fells think him lost in their silly little maze, they could gape in astonishment if ever he needed to make a quick escape.

The room he was led to was the same one he’d first seen here, Red’s office. Only this time, that enormous desk was covered in scattered papers and Red sitting behind it looked harried for once. His jacket was gone, tossed over the back of one of the sofas, his tie raggedly loosened, and there was a teacup at his elbow that he loudly slurped from, not the whisky glass Blue was growing accustomed to seeing in his hand, and honestly, why did these people insist on dressing up so much in their own home?

A glance back at his current guard confirmed that the Dog was wearing a fine suit of its own, honestly, everyone here dressed like they’d gotten a clearance deal on leftover costumes from the set of ‘Goodfellas’. That was one of Papy’s favorite movies, scrounged from the dump years ago and it made it to the surface with them for occasional re-watching. Perhaps that should have been a clue for Blue from there, a premonition of the sort of trouble his brother would be wont to find.

Then again, Blue was acutely aware that the clothes he was wearing weren’t his own. None of the clothing in that large closet was any he’d’ve chosen on his own, but even he could reluctantly admit they were flattering. This one was almost too cutesy for his tastes with its billowy sleeves and pale, delicate floral pattern, but he had no doubt he wore it well.

Not that it helped in the slightest. Red only barely glanced up from his paperwork, the first Blue had seen in this place aside from his own contract, reluctantly signed even as he wondered precisely what sort of devil he’d made a deal with.

“whatcha want now?” Red asked brusquely, shuffling a clumsy stack of papers to the side, “wanna whine about our deal again? gonna have to wait until morning, i got other things to handle aside from you.”

“My brother is missing,” Blue said, bluntly. That was enough to at least get Red to look at him, brow bones raised. “We argued and he…left,” Blue finished, lamely. He hardly wanted to explain to Red what they’d argued about, “and I’m worried about him, I’m sure he didn’t leave the building but—” Left unspoken was that surely Papy didn't need to leave the club to find trouble.

Red’s sharky teeth curved into a sly grin. He slouched back in his chair and it creaked ominously under his shifting weight, "lost him, already, huh. how many times you expect me to play fetch with your boy?"

"Woof!" Blue snapped, too harried to care about irritating this…this…but Red’s grin only widened, his deep crimson eye lights gleaming.

"heh, cute.” His gaze shifted to the Dog. “doggerel, g'wan and check downstairs, kid snuck down yesterday to hang out with the morning shift.” Red’s expression soured as he added, “may as well tell edge, if you shitstains haven’t gone behind my back and done it already. he’ll pitch a fit if ya don’t.”

It was on the tip of Blue’s tongue to protest telling Edge anything, but instead he only sputtered out, “Downstairs! He was down there yesterday with all those horrible people??”

A sudden coldness abruptly dropped over Red’s face like a storm cloud. “might wanna watch what ya say about our downstairs personnel. they work fuckin’ hard, don’t need the likes of you judgin’ ‘em.”

“What?” Blue said, aghast, and shook his head, “I don’t mean the ladies, they’re perfectly lovely, do you know how often I’ve delivered flowers here? I mean the patrons!” He shivered helplessly. “I don’t even like to think what that sort would do to my brother, please, you need to—”

“calm your tits, it ain’t like he snuck out on the stage to shake his ass.” But some of the cold tension in his expression eased. Red jerked his chin at the dog, who nodded and went back out. Which left the two of them alone, again, and that was not something that ever seemed to end well, in Blue’s opinion.

“this wasn’t part of our deal, ya know,” Red pointed out lazily. “already found your bro once on my dime, now we’re gettin’ greedy.” He stood and came from behind the desk, sitting instead on the leather love seat. His bulk took up more than his fair share, but then, he didn’t invite Blue to sit next to him. Rather, he spread his knees wide in silent, obscene invitation, smoothing a hand along the inner seam of his trousers with his rings glimmering against the dark material. “whatcha gonna give me for this, baby blue?”

Blue took a deep breath, calming the thin tremor that quivered through his soul. He’d known this was a possibility from the start, braced for it before he’d ever left that borrowed bedroom. He lifted his chin and said, stoutly, “Whatever it takes to keep my brother safe.”

He stepped forward boldly without another word, dropping to his knees on the plush carpet and reached up to scrabbled roughly at Red’s belt as he tried to work up a little moisture in his suddenly dry mouth before there were complaints about his sandpapery tongue. He could do this, Blue told himself, it was to help his brother, he could do this, do anything for Papy, anything at all, and he never needed to know what Blue had done, never, even as his own hypocrisy burned acrid on the back of his tongue.

But before he could even manage the shiny buckle, hands took a rough hold of his wrists, stopping him.

Startled, Blue looked up, “What--?”

Red never seemed to lose that smirk of his, but now it was more lopsided, startlingly reminiscent of Edge, and never had he and Red looked so much like brothers. “stand up, baby blue. keepin’ little bros safe is free of charge.”

“I pay my debts,” Blue said, low, even as he wondered wildly why he was arguing in favor his own defilement. Red only gave him a withering look, reaching inside his vest pocket for a fat cigar. He popped a wooden match alight with the sharpened tip of his thumb and the pungent smell of smoke filled the air.

“i don’t need to barter for sex, honey,” Red said in a cloudy exhale. “you wanna pay me back, you just make sure you stick to our deal.” He leaned in suddenly, cigar held well away in one hand as his mouth barely brushed the side of Blue’s skull in a low murmur, “when ya finally get on your knees for me, ya gonna be beggin’ me to be there.”

“I’d love to see you try,” Blue said unthinkingly. It earned him a startled laugh even as he quailed inwardly.

“oh, sweetheart, ya never let me down.” Red drew back and offered him that wider grin. “gonna try, fer sure, that’s a bone-ified promise.” He set a hand in the middle of Blue’s chest and gave him a light shove, sending him toppling on his backside as Red stood and went back to the desk. “now get out, the dogs’ll bring your bro back to ya when they find ‘im.”

Blue wobbled to his feet, already heading for the door. He hesitated there, uncertainly, he should be grateful for what he’d gotten, he should flee with all due haste and yet, he could help a soft, heartfelt, “Thank you.”

He didn’t wait for a reply, the door closing softly behind him as he fled. There wasn’t a Dog in sight, hopefully they were all searching for his brother, and Blue headed back to their room alone. He was halfway there when he realized, a niggling, absent thought in the back of his skull suddenly coming clear. The teacup he’d been drinking from; when Red leaned in, beneath the layer of cigar smoke, he’d smelled like golden flower tea. Why would he be drinking his own profits? It made no sense, or none that Blue could make of it.

That didn’t matter, not right now, he could worry at that sore spot later. For now, all he wanted was his brother back with him, as safe as circumstances allowed. He hoped fervently it wouldn’t take long.

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tbc

[clan-sayeed-fic]

Let me earn your trust (Kamilah Sayeed & MC)

Previous chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

Book: Bloodbound (property of Pixelberry Studios) Pairing: Kamilah Sayeed & MC: Amy (I do not own those characters, they're the property of Pixelberry Studios as well) Warnings: only some fluff Rating: Mature Author's note:  I'm not a native English speaker, I'm sorry for any mistakes (feel free to correct me).

I know it's been a while since the last chapter. I hope you still remember the story somehow. 

I finished writing it, so you can be sure that there will be a finale of this fic😄

Summary: I think we need a little reminder of what happened before I went on hiatus. Sorry, I’m not so good at writing summaries.  *  Amy was working at Priya's party, and that's when/where she saw Kamilah for the first time.  *  They met again at the event. That was the night when newly turned vampires attacked in the hall.  *  Lily got injured seriously during this event. After Amy's begging, Adrian turned her best friend into a vampire. *  Amy was living with Kamilah since this night. They were getting closer to each other with time.  *  That's how we got to the Council voting. Lily became a member of Clan Raines. But at the same time, Amy made a deal with Adam Vega.  *  Amy and Lily threw a party in Kamilah's penthouse, after which Kamilah and Amy had their intimate moment.  *  The next day both women got into a fight, and Amy left. *  She started working for Adrian, and Kamilah went on a trip to Paris. *  After she came back, it turned out she got scratched by feral, and Amy took care of her. *  They had an honest talk during which Amy gave up secrets about her past. *  After that, women had another intimate moment, which ended up with them sharing a night.

So here we are. Now both, Amy and Kamilah can catch a breath before things get complicated more than before.

~ 2400 words

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Chapter 19

Another morning was something different.

Sun hadn't shined like this for days. It made the bedroom brighter despite blackout curtains.

Kamilah didn't really like the sun since the day she was turned into a vampire. She got used to not feeling it's warmness on her skin. Even if she was born as an Egyptian, the majority of her life she spent in shadows, hidden from the natural light.

But that day, sunlight made her feel peaceful.

The woman lifted herself on one elbow, looking at this beautiful human being lying next to her on the bed. The blanket fell from her upper body, exposing gorgeous, light skin. She gently pulled it up to cover Amy, smiling softly to herself. Some mumbles escaped the girl's mouth while she was still sleeping deeply.

"What have I done to deserve having someone such remarkable next to me?" Kamilah whispered quietly, not wanting to wake her up.

She leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on Amy's forehead before getting out of the bed.

She had a meeting scheduled with Adrian in her office.

***

It was around 10 a.m.

Amy was stretching her body on the bed, arching back with a soft moan escaping her lips when her muscles loosened up after this long night. Even before she wholly woke up, she knew that Kamilah wasn't by her side anymore.

The girl turned around, looking on the clock. She rubbed her eyes to see clearly and fell again on the mattress with a loud sigh.

"Good job, Amy," she said aloud, angry at herself for oversleeping.

She overslept and missed the meeting with Lily and her real estate agent.

They wanted to find a new place for Lily to live in after Amy would leave the city. Lily wanted her best friend's advice on this topic, and there she was, lying naked in the bed of some CEO.

Amy laughed at this thought, biting her lower lip when the memories of the night hit her.

Enough, she scolded herself and quickly got out of the bed, putting on a shirt from the last day. After that, Amy immediately reached for her phone to find there an immense amount of missed calls from her best friend. The girl dialed her number without second thoughts and prayed for her to pick it up.

When she did, all Amy heard was silence. And that was enough for her to know what exactly was going on at that moment.

A silent treatment.

"Lily, I know that you probably hate me by now, but..." Amy said quickly, afraid that her best friend would hang up. She had an explanation created in her mind, the truth, but she gave it up. "You know what actually, there is nothing that would explain why I wasn't there for you. I should have been, and I'm sorry."

Still nothing,

still silence.

Amy lifted a free hand to her mouth and bit on her own thumb in anticipation. But then, she came up with something that would possibly cheer Lily up.

"What would you say if there was a chance for me to stay in New York?" nothing. "You wouldn't have to move out anymore."

At first, Amy wanted to hear anything from her friend. But then, when Lily squeaked into her phone, the girl started to miss the sound of sweet silence.

"OMG, FOR REAL?!" Lily shouted, making Amy put her phone away from her ear if she wanted to hear anything again in her life. "You're not joking? Because if you are..."

"I'm not," Amy said reassuringly.

For a moment, there was no response, as her best friend was rethinking if she should trust Amy's words.

"Let's say that I believe you... for now," Lily teased. "By the way, why weren't you home last night?"

Amy opened her mouth to answer, but before she was able to say anything, Lily already figured it out on her own.

"OMG!" she repeated with the same high-pitched tone, "you're with HER?!"

Amy moved to the kitchen, filling herself a cup of coffee while Lily was still excited. She was screaming into her ear some speculations and questions about her night in Kamilah's place.

"Lily, listen," Amy interrupted her never-ending talking about how hot Kamilah was, "I love you so much, but I have to go."

"But you didn't tell me how it was," Lily sounded like a sad puppy and probably, at that moment, looked exactly like one.

"We'll talk later," the blonde laughed and hung up, knowing that her friend wouldn't let go quickly.

Amy took a sip from the cup, coming closer to the fridge on which she found a little note left for her. It didn't take much to recognize beautifully written words from under Kamilah's pen.

I reached the conclusion that you will be hungry when you wake up, so I ordered something to eat. I will be back at 5 p.m. I'm hoping to see you there, my little firefly.

Amy's heartbeat raised, and she smiled, blushing at the same time. Even if Kamilah didn't call her like that in person, it still made warmth spread all over her chest.  

The girl turned around, lost in her thoughts. She laid her eyes on the envelope on the coffee table in the living room. Amy came closer and lifted it from the table.

A tiny smile appeared on her face.

***

"I owe you a huge thank you for taking care of my business during my absence," Kamilah said after Adrian finished reporting things that had happened.

"It wasn't an easy task," he said honestly. "I am impressed by how you manage to keep this place growing."

"It's not an easy task," Kamilah repeated his own words with a smile, surprisingly, she was in a mood for jokes.

Adrian looked at her curiously. Something about Kamilah seemed different to him, but he couldn't figure it out. Not yet, at least.

With help came a message from Amy on his phone. Adrian read it fast, trying to hide his happiness.

"What was that?" Kamilah was paying too much attention to not notice a difference in his behavior.

"Um," he gritted his teeth, not wanting to say another word.

He looked like a five years old child that did something wrong and was afraid of confessing.

"Adrian," the woman's voice sharp, "I'm a big girl, I can handle it."

His shoulders lifted and fell with a deep breath as he gave up.

"It's Amy, she decided to stay at my company," Adrian moved away with his chair like he was afraid of some sudden reaction.

But, to his great astonishment, there was none. Instead, he saw Kamilah smiling softly with her eyes looking through the window.

"She is truly a sleepyhead," the woman spoke to herself, quietly. But of course, Adrian heard all of it.

"So, you two..." he pointed at the woman, feeling truly happy for her. "My life will finally come back to normal," he said, leaning back in the chair with his hands behind the head, relaxed.

"Your life?" Kamilah lifted one eyebrow with surprise and amusement.

"Did you think that your weird behavior didn't affect me?" Adrian asked, faking hurt look on his face.

Kamilah rolled her eyes. What on Earth made her keep in touch with this kid for so long.

"Anyway," Adrian spoke with his normal voice, that made them go back to serious topics, "it's a good thing that she is at your place."

"Why is that?" Kamilah asked curiously.

"There are rumors that some vampire in New York is planning another attack any day from now." Kamilah was angry that Adrian didn't tell her earlier. But he managed to add before her interruption. "We are working on it, Kamilah. It's hard to find this guy. It's like..."

"Like he is already one of us," the woman finished the sentence for him.

***

Kamilah came home on time.

The woman went to the kitchen, leaving her purse on one of the chairs.

She looked at the fridge to see her own note with a little addition to it. It made her smile when she recognized a cute firefly similar thing drawn by Amy, referring to her nickname.

But beyond the drawing, there was no sign of the girl in the house. Kamilah looked around automatically, even if there was no use of doing that. If Amy was at home, she would already sense her presence.

A feeling of uneasiness filled Kamilah's chest. She looked over her phone to see if Amy was calling her, but there was nothing, not even a message. Nothing beyond this small firefly drawn on the note.

The woman thought of picking Adrian's number, but she gave up this idea right away. Kamilah saw him a few minutes ago, and there was no chance Amy would have got there without running into her.

But there was another person worth calling.

Lily.

The Vampire Queen inhaled deeply, trying to stay calm. She picked Lily's number, already preparing herself for the worse. They weren't on good terms since Amy's and Kamilah's argument. Actually, they had never gotten well on with each other, but especially not after this incident.

Finally, the purple-hair vampire picked up Kamilah's call.

"Oh damn, what is it with today. This isn't a number for the hot couples to ring every time they want to," Lily laughed proud of her jokes.

"I'm calling you because... wait," Kamilah frowned, "what did you say? No, I changed my mind, don't tell me. I wanted to make sure that Amy is safe."

"Well, I guess she is," Lily kept on laughing.

"You guess?" Kamilah's voice sharp.

"I didn't see her since she got lost in your bedroom ma'am," Lily stopped with jokes, suddenly feeling concerned. "You didn't see her either?"

"I was working the whole day," Kamilah gulped. Fear was showing in her mind after long years of indifference. Then, she heard someone stepping into the elevator a few floors below. "She is here," Kamilah hung up after those words without much explanation.

After a moment, the elevator's door opened, and Amy walked in, smiling to herself.

She was concentrated on the small box that she was carrying in her hand. Her mind was totally somewhere else, so the view of Kamilah standing in the center of the penthouse with her arms crossed made the girl jump from surprise. Fortunately, Amy managed to hide the package behind her back, not causing the woman's attention.

"Where were you?" Kamilah asked, her voice cold.

"Um..." Amy wasn't prepared for this situation, she assumed that she would be able to make it before the woman return.

Maybe if she wasn't so caught up in thoughts, she would look around in the garage and notice Kamilah's car. That, for sure, would make her less surprised.

"Do you comprehend how dangerous it is for you to be out there?" Kamilah couldn't deal with this new emotion in her body. Was it a concern?

"I... was outside before," Amy spoke slowly, not understanding the woman's attitude. "Why are you angry?"

"I'm not," Kamilah frowned. Finally, she regained control over her emotions, adding calmly, "I was simply expecting you to be here."

Amy looked at her suspiciously but decided to let it go. She had something better in her mind.

"Well," she moved closer to the woman, "I was planning to be here before you and make you a surprise," they were barely an inches apart from each other.

"Surprise?" Kamilah lifted her eyebrows, not knowing what to think.

Amy climbed on her toes since Kamilah was a little taller than her. And on top of that, the woman was wearing high heels at that moment. The blonde moved her face close to her right ear, her hair brushing Kamilah's cheek.

"Close your eyes," Amy whispered, making Kamilah shiver ever so lightly.

"For what reason?" Kamilah asked, unconvinced.

Amy stepped back, looking directly in her eyes. Unable to hold back a smile.

"Because I'm asking nicely," she said, tilting her head to the right," please?"

Kamilah rolled her eyes but followed Amy's words. With her eyes closed, she was hearing some noises of Amy's struggle with unpacking something close to her. It made the woman smile softly. This girl was so clumsy, and it only made her more adorable in Kamilah's eyes.

Finally, Amy stopped what she was doing and approached Kamilah. She put her hand on the woman's shoulder, gently going down to her wrist, which she kept close to herself. Kamilah moved a little when she felt something cold touching her skin, but she didn't open her eyes.

The woman felt Amy's presence closer, and next, she remembered, was her lips brushing against her own. Amy kissed her softly, stepping back, leaving Kamilah craving for more.

"You can open your eyes," the girl said.

Kamilah did this and looked at her wrist. She saw a beautiful gold bracelet with a symbol of a cross shape having an oval loop on its upper bar.

It was an Ankh, hieroglyphic symbol of life used in ancient Egypt.

It took Kamilah's breath away, she stood there, speechless, looking at well known for her symbol.

"I thought that if you don't want my money for living here," Amy started explaining, afraid that she did something wrong, "that this is the least I can do for you."

Kamilah lifted her gaze to look into Amy's eyes. There was an uncertainty growing in the girl's expression, so she finally spoke.

"You did way much more than that," the woman said, closing the distance between them, kissing Amy deeply.

The girl returned the kiss, but she didn't want to get lost in the moment. So she placed her hands gently on Kamilah's chest and broke the kiss, even if the taste of her lips was too tempting to stop.

"So, do you like it?" Amy looked at her as a puppy desperately searching for attention.

Kamilah couldn't stop a smile, watching her excitement.

"I do a lot," she answered, causing a broad smile on Amy's face.

They stood silent for a moment, drawing energy from each other's presence. Then, unfortunately, Kamilah's phone rang, and she looked at it, rolling her eyes. She read the message and looked at the girl without previous happiness.

"I'll have a chance to wear your gift soon," she forced a smile, pointing at the bracelet.

"What's happening?" Amy felt the unsureness in Kamilah's body, the feeling so strong that she could almost touch it.

"We got the invitation to Adam's birthday gala," the woman answered with a serious voice.

"We?" Amy was shocked, she wasn't the part of the Council after all.

"Yes, because you, Amy Campbell, are going to be my date."

Next chapter: 20

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tag list: @onyxgaytrash, @lightning-fury, @scarlet-letter-a0114, @caliseds, @myonlybae-joohyun

[sorrynotharry]

You don’t be on here no more and that don’t sit right with me. This was my go to page in 2014-2015. Then you left!!!

Aww hello anon! Thanks!

I am definitely almost always lurking on this page, like a ghost in the night haha, however I know that I’m not nearly as active as I used to be, and I haven’t posted any fic in like.........3 years? Maybe 4? Jeez time really flies!!

I do often get messages like this, usually very sweet anons like you who ask where I went, how I’m doing, saying that they miss the times when my page was more active and I was posting Harry fics pretty much weekly and honestly, I miss it too! It was overall a very positive experience during what ended up being some overall not-very-positive years of my life. 

I’ve wanted to post a little ‘update’ for a while and I think this is as good a time as ever to do that. I’m gonna put it under a cut for 1, length 2, potential triggering content regarding death/grief. So anyway here goes:

This is mainly me kind of going on a reflection rant so it may not make a lot of sense but I’m going to do my best!

So I started this blog in February of 2014, and I think I pretty immediately started posting my writing and to my astonishment I ended up getting lots of new followers and readers really quickly. I was not at all expecting this blog to EVER reach as many people as it has, but I’m so grateful for it. To be honest, of course the 1D fandom can be a complete clusterfuck, but in comparison with other fandoms that I’ve been involved in, this is definitely the one that I felt most “at home” in, and had the most fun being a part of. So so so many of you who are still around to this day (which is incredible to me!) were SO kind to me, so lovely and accepting and supportive of my writing and my little blog corner of the internet and it meant so much to me. There are friends I’ve made through this blog who I still talk to, people who have been there for me when life was really kicking me down the road.

For some context, since the start of this blog, both of my biological parents and my stepfather have passed away. My dad (who I wasn’t super close to but you know, still my dad) passed from cancer in April 2014. My stepfather who I lived with died in June of 2015, also from cancer (if you’ve been on my blog for a while you might remember this, I posted about it because it was very sudden and I was really struggling with it). 

Then, in August of 2017, my mother died. This has been part of the reason I really kind of stopped being active in this blog; I wanted to talk about it, if even just to say that I was going on hiatus or something but my grief has been so powerful that it’s in the last few months that have I felt like I can actually type these words out on here. 

My mom was chronically ill for most of her life, and her health really deteriorated in the last 7-8 years of her life. She was also my best friend and my biggest supporter in everything from the time I was a child. The last 6 years of her life I was her main caregiver with some help from my stepdad - when he died all of her care fell to me to handle on top of grieving him. It was May of 2017 that my mom made the decision to go into hospice (if you don’t know what this means, it basically means she didn’t want to have life-saving treatments anymore and wanted to be allowed to pass away in peace). My sister and I begged her to hold on for a few more months so that we could prepare, get her affairs in order, and be on summer break from school while we accepted the fact that we were losing our last living parent. 

That summer passed in a very weird and painful blur, and honestly I don’t remember much of it, but I remember most the moments in her last weeks when we would just hold each other’s hands and talk, laugh, cry, whatever came up. If you’ve ever begun grieving someone before they even pass, you probably know what I’m talking about. It was in those moments that she very insistently made me promise her that I would keep taking care of my sister (who was only 16 at the time) and graduate college, that I wouldn’t just lay down and give up because she was gone. So I have done my best to honor that promise to her. I quickly got legal guardianship of my sister (she’s an adult now but we still live together and are very close), and less than a month after my mom passed, I was training for a volunteer position at a center on my new college campus which later turned into a paid position. And this past June I graduated!!

If you’re reading this and also class of 2020, you know it’s a sucky year to graduate lol, but I hope you’re able to be proud of your accomplishments because regardless of the circumstances, you still did it! It’s taken me years and years to get my Bachelor’s because of changing my major, having to take breaks due to mental health issues and relocations, and having to take only 2 classes at a time while working 2 jobs. I finally did it and now I have to figure out what my next steps are from here (in the middle of a whole ass pandemic no less, smh!). 

I realize that I just basically wrote a whole essay that I didn’t necessarily mean to, but I promise I’m not saying all of this to make you feel sad for me; I just want you all to understand why my presence has been so sporadic the past few years and I feel like I just have to be honest.

Coming back around to this blog, every once in a while I check my activity and follower count, very much expecting to see naught but 12 bots left and a single tumbleweed blowing across a dry activity page...but that’s never the case. So many of you are still here, I get new followers all the time, my fics and posts still get notes almost every day, and I still get messages like this from people who care about me, who remember the heyday of this blog and miss it.

I’ve said ‘thank you’ to you guys so many times I don’t even dare to count, but really, honestly, truly, thank you. It’s because so many of you are still here, even though it’s been 4 full ass years after I’ve even posted any fic at all, that I haven’t deleted this blog or gone on indefinite hiatus and just archived this blog. 

I can’t promise that I will ever post any new writing again. I still love Harry but it’s almost in a different way...the heart-racing, goosebumps raising, heart-eye inducing giant crush I had on him in the earlier years of this blog has significantly subdued, even though it’s been known to make its presence known from time to time. And I honestly am just a different person in general. You can’t go through stuff like what I described above without changing at least a little bit. 

That being said, I don’t think I’ve written anything that wasn’t a college essay or long-winded work email since I posted my last one-shot on here, which I think was early 2016. I very much miss writing for pleasure, and particularly if anyone remembers the fic ‘On Fire’...that story sits untouched and neglected in my Masterlist, haunting my steps and my dreams, because I had all kinds of grand ideas for it and it was pretty well-received I think! I’ve toyed with the idea of just trying to finish that fic up, if only so I can say that I finished at least ONE multi-chapter fic in my whole life. Again, not making promises, but it’s a possibility. 

Anyhoo, if you have made it this far down on this very long and dramatic post, again I say thank you and bless you! I hope for those of you who have been around for a while (and for that matter those who are newer followers as well, hello!), this provides some clarity and maybe some closure if you were just wondering where the hell I went and what I’ve been up to. I didn’t mean to kind of drop off the face of the earth like I did, it was just how I was dealing with everything at the time. I’m heading into a new chapter of my life now that school is finished, and who knows what that will bring, but for now, I’m still around, and I hope you’re all as safe, healthy, and happy as you can be right now :)

Thank you again and take care <3

[thewhitegoddesshylia]

Zelink Week Day 4~ Hazardous

“I, I'm waiting for the afterlife To show me a good time, baby Somebody save me, I just wanna be loved”~ “Afterlife” by XYLØ 

Please Note: The following fic contains mild adult situations. If that kind of stuff isn’t your cup of tea then never fear! I have another fic planned for tomorrow’s prompt that’s full of fluff and slightly less angsty. Thank you guys so much again and as always I hope you enjoy it.

Link's stare was so penetrating that Zelda could have swore he could see right into her very soul. His eyes continued to search hers as his hands resumed the path they were taking along the length of her arms, causing her to shudder all over. 

Zelda wasn't new to this type of reaction. She often wondered to herself just how was it that Link was the only one who could possibly make her feel so delightful yet conflicted at the same time? Despite how good it all felt just being held in his strong arms, she was always left with a bitter hole in her heart, because she knew whatever this was between them couldn't last. And she knew he was aware of it as well, which was why he always took his leave once dawn approached. 

It had been a year after the Twilight Invasion when it first happened. In that short amount, Link left his home in Ordon and moved into Hyrule Castle, where Zelda appointed him as Commander of the Hyrulean royal army. The two had spent so much together, that coupled with the fact they were the only two besides Midna of course, that understood the ordeals each of them had gone through together, that the two became very good friends. 

They were sitting under a large peach tree in Zelda's private gardens as she was reading one of her favorite books to him.  Normally Link always looked so invested in whatever story Zelda had to share with him, but that day there was a certain tension in the normally calm atmosphere. Zelda tried to ignore whatever the nagging feeling was, resuming where she left off, despite the whole time she could feel Link's unrelenting gaze burning into the side of her head. 

Eventually his staring became too much for her and she turned around to look at him. She couldn't recall another time before where he looked at her like that, his light blue eyes betraying his emotions that he had been holding back for so long. 

Her name fell from his lips-if only he'd known just how much she loved to hear him utter those words in that sweet voice of his. The small fire in her chest started to burn even more brightly as he brought his hands up to cup her face. They'd stared at each other for what seemed like days to them, nothing else could be heard except for the sound of their heavy breathing and the gentle rustling of the wind through the trees. 

They continued in this manner until an almost painful urge began to overtake them both, causing Zelda to lean forward involuntarily-and Link-who finally started to regain control of his senses after Zelda began to make her move-did the same. The kiss was everything Link had imagined, but never dared to hope. The combination of her soft lips and floral perfume was enough to drive him over the edge.

And just as soon as it begun it was over in an instant. Much to Zelda's dismay Link kept apologizing to her profusely. She kept explaining to him he had no reason to be sorry, not when she was clearly enjoying herself and in response he simply smirked in that boyish grin of his, which only served to excite her even more then the kiss had already done.

His hands were resting at her sides now, his teeth nipping against the base of her neck. Zelda let out a quiet groan, as she wrapped her arms around his neck and her fingers twirled locks of his dirty blonde hair. As she appeared to relax more she closed her eyes and lolled back in a wordless plea for more. Just how was it that they always ended up in this position nowadays?  

Two months later he'd finally given in to her once more. Since that fateful day 8 weeks ago he had been angry at himself that he allowed a temporary moment of weakness to slip past him, but he swore to the Goddesses it wouldn't happen again. He couldn't allow himself to hurt Zelda anymore then he already had.

That day, Zelda had called Link to her study so that the two could go over the castle's defenses. It was true that the kingdom was once again living in an era of peace, but considering what had happened just a year ago nobody was taking any chances. 

Zelda was sitting in her chair with a piece of parchment with the castle's layout in front of her as Link was going over details with her, taking an opportunity to hunched looking over her shoulders so that he could point out where he thought the castle could use a little more security. Such close proximity to him again since their previous encounter was causing Zelda to become quite flustered. All she wanted to do was to turn around so that she could trace her lips along the strong outline of his jaw until she found her way to his lips again. She knew she had to stop thinking such thoughts about him before things got out of hand again, but how could she after having a taste of it already?

His hand folded over hers as he dragged her pencil over to a particular spot which showed the inner ward of the castle could easily be breached if one chose to climb their way in. Zelda couldn't concentrate over his words at all though, all she could think about how hot his breath tingled against her ear and the way it made her hairs stand on end. 

The second he was finished speaking he was taken aback by how swiftly she turned around and hugged him around his waist tightly. He knew it should have bothered by the act, should have gently pried her off him, but he couldn't find it in himself to do so. Instead, he returned the gesture, wrapping his arms around her and gave her a light peck on the forehead.

The tender action astonished them both, and she dared to look up to glance at his face and was met with a warm smile. And before either of them were aware of their precarious situation, Zelda stood up so she could be on the same level as him and connected her lips with his. Like before, this kiss had ignited her senses, only this time it was much more passionate and their was an urgent need building up inside her, causing a wave of dizziness to run through her as she pushed him backwards onto the bed.

She returned to kissing him again once she was settled over his waist. It was then both of them reached the same conclusion, to cast aside their reservations and become one in both body and soul...

Her mind began to replay those days' events in her head. The feeling was something she struggled to describe, the only word she could come up to with was "intense." That day was the first time she had honestly considered confessing her feelings to him, but instead all she got in return was a broken heart. 

She snuggled into him as Link continued to stroke patterns up and down her back while she slept. He smiled to himself as he watched how peaceful she looked, his fingers combing through her long, brunette hair. He knew it would be risky if he stayed too long as Zelda's chamber maid's would come to wake her in the morning, so he decided he would stay with her until dawn and would sneak out of her room before he could be caught. And even though he knew they would eventually have to separate from each other, they would always have memories of their time together, however short they may be.

When Zelda finally awoke, the first golden rays of the sun had begun to creep in through the windows. She immediately became aware of the lack of warmth in her bed until she heard some shuffling noises coming from behind her. She had turned around to see Link gathering his clothes and putting them on. She proceeded to watch him with a look of something Link could only describe as something close to guilt on her face. She thought for sure that Link hated her now, most likely felt she took advantage of him while he was still in a state of shock.

She was glad this wasn't the case. As soon as he was done getting dressed he walked back over to her and knelt down beside her as he brought his left hand up and began to caress her cheek. He was speaking to her in hushed tones as he knew the castle staff were beginning to get ready to start their daily chores, but his words were enough to leave her an emotional mess. He told her their relationship was improper, knew if her council were to ever find out what had transpired between them they would  likely punish them both. He would be forced to resign from his position as commander, would never be allowed to be by her side again, or even worse. He would never want to tarnish her good name, knowing no noble would ever want to take her if they discovered she had already given herself to some farm boy with no status or wealth, leaving Hyrule without a King or heirs. 

He told her it was for the best if both of them tried to forget about this whole incident and bury whatever feelings they might have for each other. But it was already to late for promises, for not three nights later as he came to inform her that preparations for them to travel to Kakariko Village to assess how repairs were coming along were now finished that the two were locked in an intimate dance again.

His lips came crashing down hers and she was utterly lost to the sensation. She missed having him this close to her, she only wished they didn't have to pretend in front of everyone so that the two of them could express their emotions freely and openly without fear of judgement. She wished that she could marry him so that his face would be the first thing she sees every morning, instead of being greeted to an empty bed. But she knew royal mandate would never allow her to be with the man she loved wholly and completely. 

She knew their time together would soon be coming to an end, as her twenty first birthday had already passed and reconstruction of Castle Town had concluded her council would be pressing for her to find a suitable husband. Yet in knowledge of this sobering fact Zelda found herself smiling in spite of herself, knowing that no matter what happens she had already given herself up to the one man she knew she would love for the rest of her life, and knowing he feels the same about her. And there wasn't a thing her damn council could change about it. 

She entwined her legs around his lower half, heedless of the tears that were streaking down her face. Her fingers slowly traveled down his toned chest, causing him to elicit a low growl as he pulled her hands away and had decided to pin them above her head as he trailed kisses along her collarbone.  

The day Zelda and Link left for Kakariko seemed like any normal day around that castle, that was until Zelda's council had requested her presence at an emergency meeting.

Much to Zelda's outrage, those conniving old men had gone behind here back and found her a handful of suitors she would have to pick from, and was informed that if after one years time she still hasn't chosen one of them to marry, then they would be the ones to make the decision for her. What tiny fragment of hope that Zelda might have been desperately trying to hold onto that she might one day be allowed to court Link was shattered into a million pieces that day.

And now, here they were again. Not only five days into their stay in Kakariko that they were lying in bed together, simply holding one another in a loving embrace. She knew this would be the last time they could be together like this. She knew she should have told him the truth, but deep down she couldn't bear the thought of having to reject him. She wondered to herself, just when had she become such a coward? He had done so much for her, overcoming many arduous trials and battling hordes of ferocious enemies, even at the cost of losing his best friend. And he did not only just for her kingdom's sake, but for hers as well, which he wouldn't have had to do if it wasn't for her weakness in the first place that she couldn't stand up to Zant. She hadn't even known she had started to cry until she felt Link's hands on her cheek, a look of concern evident upon his features. 

All of a sudden Zelda started apologizing to him over and over again, but as to what for Link did not know. He patiently waited for her to tell him what was wrong, wiping the tears from her eyes until she was to tired to cry anymore.

"Link, there's something I have to tell you," she mumbled once she was able to collect her thoughts. "I'm so-so sorry Link, we should have never let it get this far. The council has made up their minds, they told me that I have exactly one year left before I must marry one of the nobility and it seems I don't have a choice in the matter..." By this point Zelda couldn't stand to look into his eyes anymore, glancing down at the bed-sheets so she wouldn't have to see the look of rejection on his face once she broke the news to him. 

"Zelda, I-" Link began, a hand lying on her shoulder.

"Please know that I do not want this." Zelda interrupted. "I'd give anything to stay with you like this, but I cannot abandon Hyrule for a second time. If only I could make them understand why I love you so much...”

"Then we'll just have to make them understand," Link answered in conviction. "I'm not about to let you go so easily Zelda. I know I don't have anything to offer you Zelda, but if you truly still think of me as a man worthy of your affections, then I promise you we will find a way to make this work, together. And then once all of this is over I'm going to ask you to marry me."                      Zelda needed no more coaxing from him as she held onto Link closely, burying her head against the crook of his neck. 

A short while later, she sighed and nodded her head, pulling away a short distance and pulled him in for a kiss.

"Things will never be easy for us, will it?" She happily responded.

"Nothing worth having is ever easy. But I swear I will never stop fighting for you, my queen."

[flyswhumpcenter]

Spilled Coffee [Whumptober 2019 - Day 10: Unconscious]

Summary: Anzu's evening gets turned upside down when someone familiar passes out right in front of her.

Fandom: Ensemble Stars (coffeeshop/college AU) Relationships: platonic Anzu & Mao friendship, implied pre-rel Anzu/Hokuto

Wordcount: 1,374 words

Content Warnings: None.

Notes: Finally catching up on my lateness with an Enstars fic! It's a missing scene from my only other Enstars fic at the moment, Nurse Café. It's a Hokuto-centric HokuAn sickfic in case you've *somehow* not heard of it while lurking around their tag lol (and it's like 4-chapter-long, albeit said chapters are short). I'm afraid I did write this story with the idea that the reader would have read Nurse Café first, or at least its first chapter, as it provides the context and implied conversations taking place here between Anzu and Hokuto. Anyway. I'm not sure of how much I've actually filled the "Unconscious" prompt, but do I ever properly fulfill a prompt, especially for challenges like this? Technically someone's unconscious here, so that has to make up for it, right? Riiiight? Also how do you write Mao? I feel like I've gotten him very, very wrong in this story lol. It's my first time actually writing him, though, so there's that I guess. woops.

Event hosted by @whumptober2019

AO3 version available here.

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It had been a normal evening shift at the coffeeshop. The regulars had bought their usual drink, some new faces discovered the shop, some people changed from their habits, others continued discovering the other drinks they had never dipped a tongue into. Things were calm, almost soothingly so, making for a comfortable after-class shift where she had managed to squeeze in some college work too. Reading a book between clients was a way to both earn some precious money and advance in her school business.

Alas, Anzu hadn’t gotten to closing the shop yet when things drastically changed.

 The atmosphere until then had been of a cosy coffeeshop right before closure. The radio played softly the latest hit songs in the background, all chairs were empty and having been cleaned, her workmate had left already because his shift was ending before hers. Anzu had always appreciated this specific mood the shop could slip into once the sun was setting down, cleaning her counter before closing for the night. She had ten minutes left before shutting the lights off, a time that seemed very short compared to the rest of the day…

…and yet that had left the time for an unusual client to come in.

 The bells ringing surprised her out of her cleaning affairs, making her rise her head to the doorway, only for her to notice the client was already right in front of her face. Her eyes then directly met with a long-time friend, perhaps someone that was just a bit more than that: second-year literature major Hokuto, whom she could swear she had never seen even looking through her shop’s windows. It was odd for someone like him, who usually prided himself in his stricter living style compared to their friend group (Subaru being his favourite person to tease), taught to him by his grandmother, to step into her shop at such an hour of the night, at almost eleven o’clock.

The state his face was in didn’t ring any better bell. She had almost not been able to recognize him: a low and raspy voice, fluttering eyelids, glassy eyes with deep dark bags under them, swaying on his feet and words half-making sense. Clearly, this man needs a good night of sleep; and yet he orders an espresso of all things. If not having seem him for almost two weeks wasn’t rising enough red flags, then seeing him this obviously sleep-deprived could only have made her worry even further.

 Still, here, Anzu wasn’t Hokuto’s friend: she was an employee, a seller, a barista. She served him his cup, let him sit wherever he wanted, got his money. The full price wasn’t there: in fact, there was a chunk of the cost that he’d have usually noticed was missing. Still, she decided to brush it aside: it was the end of the day and some leftover coffee, it wasn’t a big deal, she’d pay the rest herself with some tip money. She could at least do that for him.

As she finished cleaning the counter, she noticed eleven was very near. Closing hour was coming next and she absolutely had to lock the door, prompting her to walk up to and inform him of the situation. He barely lifted his head from the hand barely holding it up. Concern and curiosity mixed together and, unable to help herself, Anzu put a careful hand on his forehead. He didn’t flinch, nearly didn’t blink, almost relishing in her palm; it felt like putting her hand on a stove that hadn’t fully gone cold yet.

She didn’t like it in the slightest.

 What followed was a confusing mess. As if he had regained back the energy he missed, Hokuto jerked away and gulped his cup in a couple swallows, most likely parching his throat in burning coffee, before trying to get up, giving her nonsensical mumbles. Despite the signs she had noticed that kept piling up, she got astonished to see his body pitch forward, his eyes rolling in the back of his skull, without a word more comprehensible than a grunt. Her arms almost failed catching him in his fall, nearly sending him crashing onto the floor; instead, she managed to put him softly to the ground, using her lap as a pillow for his head before she had taken off her apron to do so.

Okay, now that she had an unconscious friend and a shop to close on her hands, what was she supposed to do? She couldn’t leave either of them like that, so she ran to get her phone from her purse, until she spotted something, or rather someone, interesting in the corner of her eye through the main window: Mao, a common friend of them. Anzu immediately began waving her arms in his direction, trying to get his attention.

 To her relief, her friend immediately got the signal, running to her shop with a smile until it disappeared from his face as soon as he realized what was happening.

“W-wait…” He told her, face twisting in disbelief. “Is that really…?”

“Yeah…” She quickly replied before kneeling back.

“Quick question: how did you end up with a knocked-out Hokuto in your shop?”

“I… don’t really know. He stumbled here and ordered an espresso, but when I went to tell him I needed to close the shop, he got to his feet and fainted right here and there. All I know is that he looks severely sleep-deprived and that he’s running hot.”

Mao peered from above, crouching next to her, putting his own hand to make sure.

“Ah, yeah, I confirm, he’s burning up,” he shook his hand almost as soon as he had put it on their friend’s forehead. “He’s wasted for sure. How the hell did that even happen… I wouldn’t be surprised if that was me, but Hokuto? That’s a whole other puzzle!”

 Anzu didn’t take her eyes off the unconscious boy in front of her, instead mechanically brushing his bangs from his forehead. Her fingers were wet from the gesture, but her brain was blanking out from how weird the situation was and how worried she was getting.

“Should we call an ambulance?” She eventually mused out loud.

“Honestly? I’d have if it wasn’t Hokuto we’re talking about. If we do, his parents will know about it, and his grandma too, and he’ll scold us for having indirectly told his parents…” A nervous giggle. “What I’m trying to say is that, if you ask me, Hokuto is the kind of person who doesn’t like suddenly waking up in the hospital with four people looking over him.”

She hummed as a reply.

“Still, I wouldn’t let him alone in his place either. If he’s passed out right here and there, he probably can’t even stand properly, so taking care of himself is out of the question until he’s slept for something like three days. How the hell did that happen…”

“Then, let’s bring him to my place.”

 Mao froze for a solid thirty seconds.

“…huh?”

“Don’t you usually bring Ritsu to your place whenever he falls asleep in public?”

“I do, but we’re childhood friends, that’s not the same thing!” His face suddenly brightened up. “Heh, if you see it that way, I suppose it’s not too bad. I’d even say Hokuto would like waking up at your place!”

“What do you mean by that?” Her face felt a bit warmer, weird.

“Ah, nothing,” his smile was kind of going against that statement. “Let’s bring this guy to your flat then. Help me get him on my back so you can close the shop.”

“Got it,” she said as she rose to her feet, doing as she was tasked to do, and recovering both her apron and the keys inside its pocket.

 A couple minutes later, Anzu had left the shop in its optimal closing state: all clean, lights switched off, door locked behind her. Once that was said and done, glancing at both of her friends, she let out a sigh of relief.

“Thank you, Mao.”

“You’re welcome! Now, that was nothing, let’s get him home, shall we?”

Glancing one last time at the unconscious Hokuto propped on Mao’s back, she nodded.

“Yeah, let’s go.”